singuler vertue hauing dispersed and broken the armes and malice of all his enimies if before he were curteous and liberall after these so stout aduentures he became more than Princely in his déedes and if somtimes he had done one curteous act now he doubled the same But such was his Magnanimitie so noble were his indeuours tempred with such measure and equanimitie as the whole worlde clearely might discerne that not to contende with his soueraigne Lorde but to honour him to expresse the Maiestie of his Prince he imployed the goods and liuing which the King and Fortune had boūtifully bestowed vpon him Who vntill his dying day famously mainteined him selfe in the good grace and fauour of his Prince in such wise as the King more clerely than the shining Sunnebeames knew Ariobarzanes to be framed of Nature for a christalline mirrour of curtesie and Liberalitie and that more easie it was to berieue the fire of heate and the Sunne of light than despoile Ariobarzanes of his glorious déedes Wherefore he ceassed not continually to honour exalte and enriche him that he might vse the greater liberalitie And to say the truthe although these two vertues of 〈◊〉 and Liberalitie be commendable in all persons without the which a man truly is not he wherof he bereth the name yet very sitting and mete it is for euery riche and welthie subiect to beware howe he doth compare in those noble vertues with Princes and great men whiche béeing right noble and péerelesse vpon earth can abide no comparisons which according to the Prouerbe be odious and hateful Aristotimus the Tyrant ¶ LVCIVS one of the Garde to ARISTOTIMVS the Tirant of the Citie of 〈◊〉 fell in loue with a faire maiden called MICCA the daughter of one 〈◊〉 and his crueltie done vpon hir The stoutnesse also of a noble Matrone named MEGISTONA in defence of hir husbande and the common wealth from the tyrannie of the sayd ARISTOTIMVS and of other actes done by the subiects vpon that Tyrant The fifth Nouell YOu haue heard or as it were in a manner you haue beholden the right images curteous conditions of two well conditioned persons mutually eche towards other obserued In the one a Princely mind towards a noble Gentleman his subiecte In the other a dutiefull obedience of a louing vassall to his soueraigne Lorde and Maister In both of them the true figure of Liberalitie in liuely orient colours described Now a contrary plotte yll grounded vpon extreme tyrannie is offred to the viewe done by one Aristotimus and his clawbacks against his humble subiects of the citie of Elis standyng in Peloponessus a countrey of Achaia which at this day we call Morea This Aristotimus of nature was fierce and passing cruell who by 〈◊〉 of king Antigonus was made Tyran of that Citie And like a Tyran gouerned his Countrie by abuse of his authoritie with newe wrongs and straunge cruelties vering and afflicting the poore Citizens and all his people Which chaunced not so much for that of himself he was cruel and tyrannous as for that his Counsellours and chief about him were barbarous and vicious men to whom he committed the charge of his kingdom the guarde of his person But amongs al his mischiefes wrongfully done by him which were innumerable one committed against Philodemus the same which afterwardes was the cause of the depriuation of his life and kingdom is speciallie remembred This Philodemus had a daughter called Micca that not onelie for hir right chast and honest qualities and condicions which 〈◊〉 florished in hir but for hir extreame goodlie beautie was in that Citie of passing 〈◊〉 and admiration With this fair maiden one of the Tyrants guard called Lucius fell in loue if it deserue to be called loue and not rather as the end full well declared a most filthie and heastlie lust This Lucius was derelie beloued of Aristotimus for the flendish resemblāce and wicked 〈◊〉 of his vile abhominable condicions and therefore feared and obeyed as the Tyrants owne person For which cause this Lucius sent one of the 〈◊〉 of the kings chambre to 〈◊〉 Philodemus at an appointed houre al excuses set apart to bring his daughter vnto him The parents of the maiden hearing this sodain and fearefull message constrained by Tyrants force and fatall necessitie after many teares and 〈◊〉 sighes began to persuade their daughter to be contented to goe with hym declaring vnto hir the rigour of the magistrate that had sent for hir the 〈◊〉 that would be executed that there was no other remedie but to obey Alas how sore against their willes with what trembling gessure with what 〈◊〉 the good parents of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were affected to consider the purpose of that dreadfull message all dere fathers and naturall mothers can tell But this gētle maiden 〈◊〉 which was of nature stout 〈◊〉 lessoned with sundrie right good and holsome instructions from hir infantes age was determined rather to die than to suffer hir self to be defloured This 〈◊〉 maiden fell downe prostrate at hir fathers féete and clasping him fast about the knées louingly did pray him and pitifully besought him not to suffer hir to be haled to so 〈◊〉 and vile an office but rather with the piercing blade of a two edged sword to kill hir that thereby she might be rid from the violation of those fleshlie and 〈◊〉 varlets saying that if hir virginitie were taken from hir she should liue in eternall reproche and shame As the father and daughter were in these termes Lucius for the long tariance and 〈◊〉 dronke with the wine 〈◊〉 lechery made impacient and furious with 〈◊〉 spéede posted to the house of Philodemus and finding the maiden prostrate at hir fathers féete wéeping hir head in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with taunting voice and threatning woordes commaunded presentlie without longer delaie she should rise and goe with him She refusing his hastie request and crying out for fathers help who God wot durst not resist stoode still and would not goe Lucius séeing hir 〈◊〉 full of furie and proud disdnine began furiously to hale hir by the garments vpon whose struggling he fare hir 〈◊〉 and furnitures off hir head and shoulders that hir alablaster necke and bosome appeared naked without compassion tare and whipt hir flesh on euery side as the bloud ranne downe beating that tendre flesh of hirs with manifold and grenous blowes O 〈◊〉 tirant more 〈◊〉 and sauage than the desert beast or mountaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Could crueltie be so déepelie rooted in the hart of man which by nature is affected with reasons instinct as with out pitie to lay handes and violontly to hurt the tendre bodie of a 〈◊〉 Maiden Can such inhumanitie harbor in any that beareth about him the shape of man But what did this martyred maidē for al this force Did 〈◊〉 yeld to violence or rendre hir self to the disposition of this mercilesse man No surelie But with so great stoutnesse of minde she suffred those impressed woundes
and honoured And therefore I conceiue greater delight in Quintius Lincinatus in Scipio Affricanus good Marcus Portius for contemning of their offices than for the victories which they atchieued For victories many times consist in Fortune and the not caryng for honorable charge in onely wisedome Semblably thou thy selfe art witnesse that when myne vncle Cocceius Nerua was exiled to Capua he was more 〈◊〉 and better serued than when he was at Rome Whereby may be inferred that a vertuous man maye bée exiled or banished but honour he shall neuer want The Emperour Domitian if you doe remember at the departure of Nerua made me many offers and thée many faire promisses to entertain thée in his house to send me into Almayne which thou couldest not abide and much lesse consent déeming it to be greater honour with Nerua to be exiled than of Domitian to be fauored I sweare by the Gods immortall that when the good olde man Nerua sent me the ensigne of the Empire I was 〈◊〉 ignorant therof and voide of hope to atteine the same For I was aduertised from the Senate that Fuluius sued for it and that Pamphilius went about to buie it I knew also that the Consul Dolobella attempted to enioy the same Then sith the gods did permit that I should be Emperour and shoulde gouerne the Empire and that myne vncle Nerua did commaunde the same the Senate approued it and the Common wealth would haue it to bée so And sith it was the generall consent of all men and specially your aduise I haue greate hope that the Gods will be 〈◊〉 vnto me and Fortune no enunie at all assuring you that like ioye which you doe saye you haue by teaching me and seing me to bée Emperour the lyke I haue to thynke that I was youre Scholler And sith that you will not call mée from henceforth any other but Soueraigne Lorde I wyll terme you by none other name than Louyng father And albeit that I haue bene visited and counselled by many men since my commyng to the Empire and by thée aboue the reste whome aboue all other I will beleue considering that the intent of those which counsell me is to drawe my minde to theirs where your letters purporte nothyng else but mine aduauntage I doe remember amongs other words which once you spake to Maxentius the Secretarie of Domitian thus saying that they which doe presume to gyue counsell vnto Princes ought to bée frée from all passions and affections for in counsell where the will is more enclined the mynde 〈◊〉 prompte and readie That a Prince in all thyngs doe his will I praise not That he take aduise and conusell of euery man I lesse allowe That which ho ought to doc as me thinke is to doe by counsell 〈◊〉 for all that to what counsell hée applieth his mynde For counsell ought not to be taken of hym whome I do well loue but of hym of whome I am beloued All thys I haue written my Maister Plutarch to aduertise you that from henceforth I desire nothyng else at your handes but to bée holpen with your aduise in mine affaires and to tell me of my committed faultes For yf Rome doe thinke me to bée a defender of their common wealth I make accompte of you to bée an ouerséer of my lyfe And bycause that I séeme to you sometymes not to béevery thankefull thorough the defaulte of that whereof you haue sayd your minde I pray you maister not to bée displeased therwith For in such case no griefe can rise in me for telling me my fault but rather for shame that I haue committed the same The bringing of me vp in the house the hearing of thy loctures the folowing of thy 〈◊〉 and liuing vnder thy discipline haue bene truly the principall causes that I am cōmen to this Empire This I say Maister thinking that it were an vnnaturall part not to assist me to beare that thing which thou hast holpen me to gaine and 〈◊〉 And although that Vespasian was by nature good yet greate profite 〈◊〉 to him by entertainyng of the Philosopher Appolonius For truely it is to be counted a greater felicitie when a Prince hath chaunced vpon a good and faithfull man to be neare about him than if he had atchicued a great 〈◊〉 and Kingdome Thou sayest Plutarch that thou shalt receiue great contentation from 〈◊〉 if I be such a one as I was before vpon condition that I ware 〈◊〉 worse I beleue that which thou dost say bicause the Emperour Nero was the first fiue yeares of his Empire good and the other nine yeares excéedyng euyll in such wise as he grew to be greater in wickednesse thā in dignitie Notwithstanding if 〈◊〉 shinke that as it chaunced vnto 〈◊〉 so may happen vnto Traiane I beséeche the 〈◊〉 Gods rather to depriue me of life than to suffer me to raigne in Rome For tirants be they which procure dignities and promotions to vse them for delight and filthy 〈◊〉 and good Rulers be they which seke them 〈◊〉 of cōmon wealth And therfore to them which before they came to those 〈◊〉 were good and afterwardes wared wicked greater pitie than enuie ought to be attributed considering specially that Fortune doeth not 〈◊〉 them to honour but to shame and villanie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then good maister that sith hitherto I haue 〈◊〉 reputed 〈◊〉 I will 〈◊〉 by Gods assistance to aspire the better rather than to the worsse And so the Gods preserue thée The Letter of the Emperoure Traiane to the Senate of Rome wherein is conteined that Honour ought rather to be deserued than procured COcceius Traiane Emperoure of the Romanes euer Augustus to our sacred Senate health and consolation in the Gods of comfort We being aduertised here at Agrippina of the death of the Emperour Nerua your 〈◊〉 Lorde and my predeccssour and knowing it to be true that you haue wept and bewailed the losse of a Prince so noble righteous as we likewise haue felt like sorow for the death of so notable a father When children lose a good father subiects a good prince eyther they muste dye wyth them or else by teares they thinke to raise them vp againe for so much as good princes be in a common wealth so rare as the Phoenix in Arabia My lord Nerua brought me out of Spayne to Rome nourished me vp in youth caused me to be trained in letters adopted me for his 〈◊〉 in mine old age Which graces and benefits truly I can not forget knowing that the ingrate man prouoketh the Gods to anger and men to hatred The death of a vertuous mā ought to be lamēted of all men but the death of a good Prince ought to be extremely mourned For if a cōmon person die there is but one dead but if a good Prince die together with him dieth a whole realme I speake this O ye Fathers for the rare vertues abounding in mine vncle Nerua For if the Gods were disposed to sell vs
therfore was there redie to sacrifice his life at his maiesties disposition and pleasure Acharisto by nature coulde tell his tale excedyngly well and the more his tongue stode him in seruice the greater appered his eloquence Whiche so pierced the minde of the King and persuaded the Counsellers and other of the Court as he was demed giltlesse of the treason and the matter was so debated and the King intreated to graūt him pardon as he was accompted most worthie of his fauour Then the Kyng by the aduise of his Counsell was persuaded that by force of hys proclamation his daughter should be giuen to Acharisto in mariage and his Kingdome for a dowrie bicause hée had offered his owne head accordyng to the effecte of the same So the King repenting him self that he had offended Acharisto in the ende agréed to the aduise of his counsel and gaue him his daughter to wife Whereof Euphimia was so ioyful as they bée that atteine the summe of their heartes desire The father liued one whole yeare after this mariage and Euphimia so pleasant a life for a certaine time as was possible for any Gentlewoman Hir father was no sooner dead but the vnkind mā nay rather brute beaste had forgotten all the benefites receyued of his kinde and louing wise and hauing by hir only meanes gotten a Kingdom began to hate hir so straungely as he could not abide hir sight Such is the propertie of cancred obliuion which after it crepeth into ambicious heades neuer hath minde of passed amitie ne regardeth former benefite but like a monster and deadly enimie to humane nature ouerwhelmeth in his bottomlesse gulfe all pietie and kindenesse and determined in the ende for recompence of such great good turnes to despoile hir of hir life Howe thinke you faire Ladies was not thys a faire rewarde for the loue the trauailes and sorrowes susteined for this ingrate and villainous man by that royal ladie to saue his life and to take him to husband Here is manifest probatum that in a vile and seruile minde no vertue no duetie no receiued benefites can be harboured Here is a lesson for yong Gentlewomen to beware how they contemne and despise the graue aduise of their auncient fathers Here they maye sée the damage and hurt that vnaduised youth incurreth when neglecting their parentes holeseme admonitions they giue them selues to the loue of suche as bée 〈◊〉 their estate and calling For what should aile the gentle pucell borne of gentle bloud but to match hir self in like affinitie not to care for currish kind or race of 〈◊〉 Bée there no Gentlemen to be founde of personage and beautie woorthie to ioyne in loue with them Bée they so precious in nature or tēder in education as their like can not be vouchsafed to couple in mariage yoke Compare the glistering golde to drossie durte and such is the difference betwéene gentle and vngentle But perhaps bringing vp may alter nature and custome transforme defect of birth As Licurgus the lawemaker dyd trie betwene the Currish whelpe and the Spaniell kinde both by training vp running to their contraries the Spaniel not vsed to hunte eigre vpon the potage dishe the other nouseled in that pastyme pursuing his game But that Metamorphosis is seldome séene amongs humane sort and therfore I aduise the gentle kind to match them selues in equall lotte and not to trust sir Customes curtesie in choise of féere Returne we then to vnkind Acharisto who now in full possession of his desired praio reuerting to his puddle of carlish will and cancred nature after many thousande wrongs done to this moste noble and gentle Quéene accused hir to be an adulteresse and as one in déede although most innocent she was condemned to the mercilesse fire Philon King of Peloponessus which as we haue said before loued Euphimia as did the balles of his owne eyes vnderstanding the crueltie that this wicked mā vsed towards hir to whom both his life kingdome did belong moued with nobilitie of minde determined to declare to Euphimia the inwarde feruent loue which 〈◊〉 bare hir and to chastise Acharisto for his ingratitude with due correction Wherfore depely debatyng with hym selfe of this aduenture thus hée sayde Nowe is the time Euphimia that Philon shewe what faithful loue he hath euer born vnto thée and that he deliuer thée bothe from the present daunger wherein thou art and from the hands of that vnkynde wretche that is farre vnworthie of such a wife For if thou haddest agréed to thy fathers will and yelded to the pursute of him that loued thée best thou haddest no néede of rescue nowe ne yet bene in perill of the wastful flames of fire which be readie to consume thy nesh and tender corps full tenderly sometymes beloued of thy deare father and of thy louing friend Philon. When he had spoken those wordes he earnestly disposed him selfe vpon that enterprise There was in those days a custome in Corinth that they which were condemned to death were caried iii. miles forth of the Citie and there the sentence pronounced against them wer put to execution Philon hauyng intelligence hereof did put in readinesse a good troupe of horsemen and being secretely imbarked arriued at Corinth and closely the nyght before Euphimia shoulde be brought to the fire harde by the place where the miserable Ladie should be burnt into a wood he conueyed his people and so soone as the Sergeants and officers were approched nere the place with the ladie he issued forth and did set vpon the throng not suffering one of them to remaine aliue to carie newes When he had deliuered Euphimia from that prcsent daunger of hir life the companie dispercled he said to the Quene Now thou mayst sée faire Quéene the diuersitie betwene the disloyaltie and vnkindnesse of Acharisto and the faith and loue of Philon. But for that I meane not to leaue hys ingratitude vnreuenged thou shalte stays here vntill thou heare newes of the due 〈◊〉 whiche I shall giue him Those dire and cruell wordes foretolde of hir husbandes death moued hir honest and Princely hearte which by no meanes coulde be altered from the gentle nature which it had first tasted and receiued And although she had suffred mortall solemne iniurie of hir vnkinde husband for manifolde benefites yet she good Gentlewoman woulde permit no duetie of a trustie and faithfull wife vnperformed Wherfore she besoughte Philon vpon hir knées not to procéede to further reuenge of Acharisto telling him that enough it was for hir to haue escaped that presente perill from which he like a Princely Gentleman had deliuered hir and therfore during hir life was most bounde vnto him Philon greately wondred at the goodnesse of this Ladie howbeit the ingratitude of that 〈◊〉 by no meanes he woulde suffer to bée vnpunished And béeing aduertised that Acharisto remained in his Palace without any suspicion of this aduenture banded neither with Guarde or other assurance committed Euphimia to safe
of the charge whiche it pleaseth you to giue me and wherevnto for lacke of trainyng vp and vse of suche a dignitie I am altogether vnfitte But 〈◊〉 that the graces of God and the 〈◊〉 of Kyngs oughte neuer to be reiected by acceptyng this benefite wyth humble thankes for the clemencie of your royall maiestie I reste the seruant and slaue of you and yours The Kyng hearyng him speake so wisely toke him vp and imbraced him saying Would to God and his greate Prophete that all they whiche rule Cities and gouerne Prouinces hadde so good a nature as thine then I durste be bolde to say that the people shoulde lyue better at theyr ease and Monarches without greate charge of conscience for the yll behauiours of theyr officers Lyue good man lyue at thine 〈◊〉 maynteyne thy people obserue our lawes increase the beautie of the Citie wherof from this time forth we do 〈◊〉 thée possesser And truely the present was not to bée contemned for that the same at this day is one of the fairest that is in Affrica and is the lande of the black people suche as the Spaniards call Negroes It is very full of gardeins furnished with aboundaunce of Spices brought from the Molucces bicause of the martes and 〈◊〉 ordeined there To be short Mansor shewed by this gift what is the force of a gentle heart which can not abide to be vanquished in curtesie and lesse suffer that vnder forgetfulnesse that memorie of a receiued good turne be lost King Darius whilome for a litle garment receiued in gift by Silofon the Samien recompenced him wyth the gaiue and royall dignitie of that citie and made him soueraine Lord therof and of the Isle of Samos And what greater vertue 〈◊〉 illustrate the name of a noble man than to acknowledge and preferre them which for naturall shame and 〈◊〉 dare not behold the maiestie of their greatnesse God sometimes with a more curteous eye doth loke vpon the presents of a poore mā than the fat and rich offerings of him that is great and wealthie Euen so a benefite from what hande soeuer it procedeth cannot choose to bring forthe the frutes of his liberalitie that giueth the same who by vsing largesse feleth also the like in him to whome it is imployed That magnificēce no long time past vsed the Seigniorie of Venice to Francesco Dandulo who after he had dured the great displeasures of the Pope in the name of the whole Citie vpon his returne to Venice for acknowledgement of his pacience and for abolishmente of that shame was with happie and vniforme acclamation of the whole state elected and made Prince and Duke of that Common welth Worthie of praise truly is he that by some pleasure 〈◊〉 an other to his curtesie but when a noble man acknowleageth for a 〈◊〉 that which a subiect is bound to giue him by dutie and seruice there the proofe of prayse caryeth no fame at all For which cause I determined to displaye the historie of the barbarous king Mansor to the intent that our Gentlemen norished and trained vp in great 〈◊〉 may assay by their mildenesse and good education to surmount the curtesie of that Prince of whom for this time we purpose to take our Farewell The Conclusion with an Aduertisement to the Reader 〈◊〉 thou hast gained for thy better instruction or what conceiued for recreation by reading these 〈◊〉 Nouells I am no iudge althoughe by deeming in reading and perusing thou mayst at thy pleasure gather both But how soeuer profite or delight can satisfie mine appointment wherfore they were preferred into thy hands contented 〈◊〉 I that thou doe vouchsafe them Good lessons howe to shunne the darts and prickes of insolencie thou findest in the same The vertuous noble may sauor the frutes and taste the licour that stilleth from the gummes or buds of Uertue The contrary may sée the blossoms fal that blome from the shrubs of disloyaltie and degenerat kind Yong Gētlemen Ladies do view a plot founded on sured ground and what the foundation is planted in shattring 〈◊〉 with a fashion of attire to garnish their inward parts so well as sparelesse they imploy vpon the vanishing pompe Euery sort and 〈◊〉 that warfare in the fielde of humaine life may sent here the sauourous frute to outward liking that fanished the sensuall tast of Adams wife They sée also what griftes such fading frutes produce vnto 〈◊〉 what likewise the lustie growth and spring of vertues plant and what delicates it brauncheth to those that carefully kéepe the slips therof within the orchard of their mindes Diuerse Tragicall she 〈◊〉 by the pennes description haue bene disclosed in greatest number of these histories the same also I haue 〈◊〉 and swéetened with the course of pleasant matters of purpose not to 〈◊〉 the deyntie mindes of those that shrinke and feare at suche rehersall And bicause sodainly contrary to 〈◊〉 this volume is risen to greter heape of leaues I do omit for this present time sundry Nouels of merie deuise reseruing the same to be ioyned with the rest of an other part wherein shall succéede the remnant of Bandello specially suche suffrable as the learned Frenche man François de Belleforrest hath selected and the 〈◊〉 done in the Italian 〈◊〉 also out of Erizzo Ser Giouani Fiorentino Parabosco Cynthio Straparole Sansouino and the best liked oute of the Quéene of 〈◊〉 and other Authors 〈◊〉 these in so good parte with those that haue and shall come 〈◊〉 as I do offre them with good will curteously 〈◊〉 such faults and errors as shall present themselues either burying 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 or prefermitting them with the beck of Curtesie The which in déede or the most part had not offended thée if time had not ben spent before the Printer could 〈◊〉 to an ende hereof FINIS Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman for Nicholas Englande ANNO. M. D. LXVIL Nouembris 8. Diuers Faultes escaped in Printyng Faultes Correction In the Summarie of the Nouels Tarquinus Tarquinius Fol. 5. line 12. bicause for that Fol. 39. page 2. line 19. On Or Fol. 41. line 22. conciacion Conciliacion Fol. 47. line 33. and to Fol. 53. page 2. line 26. these the Fol. 76. page 2. xiij Nouel xij Nouel Fol. 87. line 7. xiiij Nouel xiij Nouel 〈◊〉 Fol. line 22. the these Fol. 92. line 15. page 2. she a word 〈◊〉 Fol. 94. line 2. 〈◊〉 Sestertios Eodem line 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eodem page 2. line 8. must be was Fol. 95. line 5. Nouel xv Nouel xiiij Eodem Zenobia Quene of c. who although she was a gentle Quéene yet a Christian Princesse c. Zenobia Quéene of c who although she was a Gentile Quéene yet a Princesse so worthy of c. Fol. 102. line 31. 〈◊〉 susteined Fol. 105. line 12. committing to commit Fol. 135. line 25. Dicilia Sicilia Fol. 141. line 27. Paolina Paola Eodem line 3. In a word 〈◊〉 Fol. 154. page 2. Tinnagoras Timagoras Fol. 161. line 26. fawcons 〈◊〉 Fol. 163. line 8. grislie 〈◊〉 Fol. 167. pag. 2. line 〈◊〉 insūmate insinuate Fo. 178. line 2. page 2. qualitied qualified Fol. 185. line 8. page 2. Romida Romilda Fol. 214. line 22. To a word 〈◊〉 Fol. 242. line 22. then when Fol. 249. line 6. pa. 2. Sansantino San Fantino Fol. 292. page 2. line 3. his hir Fol. 306. page 2. line 17. arriued approued Fol. 359. line 30. ssued issued Fol. 404. page 2. line 32. mans man is Fol. 407. line 22. To So Le buone parole onzeno Le cattiue ponzeno
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 workman Howsoeuer then the ablenesse or perfection hereof 〈◊〉 shall content or particularly displease the Boke craueth milde construction for imployed paines And yet the same liking or lothing the licorous diet and curious expectation of some shall beare regarde with those that more delight in holsome viandes voide of varietie than in the confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farre of Who no dout will supply with fauorable brute default of ablenesse and riper skill in the mysteries of sorren speche Which is the guerdon besides publique benefit after which I gaze and the best stipende that eche well willing mynde as I suppose aspireth for their trauell And briefly to touche what comoditie thou shalt reape of these succeding Histories I deme it not vnapt for thine instruction to vnfolde what pithe and substance resteth vnder the context of their discourse ¶ In the Nouell of the AMAZONES is displaied a strange and miraculous porte to our present skill of womens gouernment what states they subdued what increase of kingdome what combats and conflicts they durst attempt contrairie to the nature of that sexe ¶ In ALEXANDRE the great what ought to be the gratitude and curtesie in a 〈◊〉 Prince toward his slaue and captiue and to what perilous plundge he slippeth by exchange of vice for vertue ¶ In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to auoide the beastly lust and raging furie of Tyrants ¶ ARIOBARZANES telleth the duetie of a Subiect to his Prince and how he ought not to contend with his soueraine in maters of curtesie at length also the condition of Courting flaterers and the poyson of the Monster Enuie ¶ ARISTOTIMVS disgarboileth the iutrails of Tyrannie describing the end whereunto Tyrants do atteine and how that vice plageth their posteritie ¶ The two Romane Queenes do point as it were with their fingers the natures of Ambition and Crueltie and the gredy lust hidden in that feble sexe of soueraintie ¶ SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beautie and what poison distilleth from that licorous sappe to inuenim the harts of valiant 〈◊〉 ¶ The Gentlewoman of HYDRVSA the sicklenesse of Fortune ¶ The Empresse FAVSTINA and the Countesse of Celant what 〈◊〉 blome of whorish life and what fruites thereof be culled ¶ The Letters of the Emperor TRAIANE do paint a right shape of vertue a good state of gouernment and the comely forme of obedience ¶ Three Amorous Dames 〈◊〉 the sleightes of loue the redinesse of Nobles to be baited with that amorous hooke and what desire such infamous Strumpets haue to be honored ¶ Queene ZENOBIA what the noble Gentlewomen whom the fates ordaino to rule ought to do how farre their magnanimitie ought to stretch and in what boundes to conteine their soueraintie ¶ EVPHIMIA a Kings daughter of Corinthe and the vnfortunate Duchesse of Malfi what matche of mariage Ladies of renowme and Dames of Princcly houses ought to choose ¶ Mistresse DIANORA MITHRIDANES and NATHAN KATHERINE of Bologna and SALADINE the mutual 〈◊〉 of noble and gentle personages and for what respectes ¶ Queene ANNE of Hungarie the good nature and liberalitie of a Queene and with what industrie Gentlewomen of priuie chaumbre ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant and of such as haue well serued the Common welth ¶ ALEXANDRE de Medices a Duke of Florence the iustice of a Prince and Gouernour to the wronged partie what 〈◊〉 ought to shine in Courtiers and with what temperance their insolence is to be repressed ¶ IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the hartie affections of two incomparable louers what secret sleightes of loue what danger either sort incurre which mary without the aduise of Parentes ¶ Two Gentlewomen of Venice the wisdom and policie of wiues to 〈◊〉 and restraine the follies of Husbands and the stoutnesse they ought to vse in their defense ¶ The Lord of Virle and the widow ZILIA giue lessons to Louers to auoide the immoderate pangs of loue they pronosticate the indiscretion of promised penance they warne to beware all vnsemely hestes lest the penalties of couetise and 〈◊〉 glory be incurred ¶ The Lady of Boeme schooleth two noble Barons that with great boast assured themselues to impaire hir honor ¶ DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA recorde the crueltie of women bent to hate and the voluntarie vow performed by a passionate knight with the perfect frendship of a true 〈◊〉 in redresse of a frendes missehap ¶ SALIMBENE ANGELICA the kindnesse of a gentleman in deliuerie of his enimie and the constant mynde of a chaste and vertuous mayden ¶ Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom lustes do lurke vnder the barke of fading beautie what stench of filthie affection fumeth from the smoldring gulf of dishonest Loue what prankes such Dames do plaie for deceite of other and shame of themselues ¶ CAMIOLA reproueth the mobilitie of youth such chiefly as for noble anncestrie regarded riches more than vertue She like a Mistresse of constancie lessoneth hir equalles from wauering myndes and not to aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts with those that care not vnder what pretence they come by riches ¶ The Lords of Nocera foretell the hazards of whordom the rage of 〈◊〉 the difference of 〈◊〉 betwene Prince and subiect the fructes of a Rebell the endes of Traiteric and Tiranny and what monstrous successe such vices do attaine ¶ The King of Marocco describeth the good nature of the homely and loiall subiect the matuelous loue of a true and simple Cuntry man toward his liege soueraigne Lord the bountie of a curetous prince vpō those that vnder rude attire be 〈◊〉 with the floures of vertue To be short the contēts of these Nouels from degree of highest Emperor from the state of greatest Queene and Ladie to the homely 〈◊〉 peasant and rudest vilage girle may conduce profit for instruction pleasure for delight They offer rules for auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue to all estates This boke is a very Court Palace for all sorts to fixe their cies therein to view the deuoires of the Noblest the vertues of the gentlest and the dueties of the meanest Yt is a Stage and Theatre for shew of true Nobilitie for proofe of passing loialtie and for triall of their contraries Wherefore as in this I haue continued what erst I partly promised in the first So vpon intelligence of the second signe of thy good will a Third by Gods assistance shall come forth Farewell ¶ Authorities from whence these Nouels be collected and in the same auouched Strabo Plinie Quintus Curtius Plutarche Titus Liuius Dionysius Halcarnasoeus Appianus Alexandrinus Ouide Horace Propertius Cicero Valerius Max. Tribelius Pollio Xenephon Homere Virgilius Baptista Campofulgosus Bandello Bocaccio Gyraldi Cynthio Belleforrest Boustuau Pietro di Seuiglia Antonio di Gueuarra THE SECOND TOME of the Palace of Pleasure The Amazones ¶ The hardinesse and conquests of diuers stout and 〈◊〉 women called AMAZONES the beginning and continuance of their reigne and of the greate
〈◊〉 of one of their Queenes called THALESTRIS to visit ALEXANDER the great and the cause of hir 〈◊〉 The first Nouel WHere the first boke began with a Cōbate foughte and tried betwene two mighty cities for principalitie and gouernment the one hight Rome after called the heade of the world as some thinke by reason of a mans head foūd in the place where the Capitole did stand the other Alba. To which Combat 〈◊〉 gentlemen of either citie wer appointed and the victorie chaunced to the Romaine side In this second parte in the forefront and first Nouel of the same is described the beginning continuaunce and ende of a Womans Common wealth an Hystorie 〈◊〉 and straunge to the vnlearned ignorant of the 〈◊〉 fickle ruled stay which contended with mighty Princes and puissant Potentates for defense of their kingdome no lesse than the Carthaginians and Romaines did for theirs But as it is no wōder to the skilful that a whole Monarche and kingdom should be inticrly peopled with that Sexe so to the not wel trained in Hystories this may seme miraculous Wherfore not to stay thée from the discourse of those straunge and Aduenturous women diuers be of diuers opinions for the Etimologie of the word wher of amonges the Grecians 〈◊〉 diuerse iudgementes These Amazones were moste excellent warriers very valiant and without mannes aduise did conquer mighty Countreyes famous Cities and notable Kingdomes continuing of long time in one Seigniorie and gouernment These people occupied and enioyed a great part of Asia Some writers deuide them into two Prouinces one in Scithia in the North parte of Asia other by the hill Imaus which at this day is called the Tartarian Scithia different from that which is in Europa the other sort of the Amazones were in Libia a prouince of Africa But bicause the common sort of Authors doe vnderstand the Amazones to be those of Asia I meane to leaue off the differēce The Scithians were a warlike people and at the beginning of theyr kingdome had two kings by whome they were gouerned Notwithstanding the nature of dominion being of it self ambicious cannot abide any companion or equal Which caused these two Kinges to beat variance and afterwardes the matter grew to ciuill warres wherein the one being Uictory two of the principal 〈◊〉 of the contrary faction called Plinius and Scolopithos were banished with a great number of their 〈◊〉 all which did withdraw themselues to the limites of Cappadocia in the lesser Asia in despite of the Countrey Pesantes dwelled alonges the riuer of Thermodon which entreth into the sea Euxinum otherwise called Pontus And they being made Lordes of the countrey of the places adioyning raigned for certain yeres vntill the peasantes and their confederates made a conspiracie against them and assembling by policie ouercame them and slewe them all The newes of their deathe knowen to their wiues dwelling in their countrey caused them to cōceiue great heauinesse and dolor extreme And although they were womē yet did they put on māly courage and determined to reuenge the death of their husbandes by putting their handes to weapons wherwithall they did exercise themselues very ofte And that they might all be equal their sorow commō they murdred certain of their husbands which remained there after the other were banished Afterward being all together they made a great army and forsoke their dwelling places refusing the mariage of many suters And arriuing in the land of their enimies that made smal accōpt therof although foretolde of their approache they sodenly came vpon them vnprouided and put them all to the sword This being done the women toke the gouernāce of the Countrey inhabiting at the beginning along the Riuer of Thermodon where their husbands wer stain And although many Authors do differ in the situaciō of the place where the Amazones did dwel yet the truth is that the beginning of their kingdome and of their habitacion was vpon that Riuer But of their manifolde conquestes be engendred diuers opinions declared by Strabo and others They fortified them selues in those places and wanne other countries adioyning chosing among them two Quenes the one named Martesia and and the other Lampedo Those two louyngly deuided the armie and men of warre in two parts either of them defending with great hardinesse the Lands which they had conquered and to make them selues more dreadfull such was the credite and vanitie of men that time they fained themselues to be that daughters of Mars Afterward these miraculous womē liuing after this maner in peace iustice considered that by succession of time for wante of daughters that might succéede warres and time wold extinguishe their race For this cause they treated mariage with their neighbors named Gargarians as Plinie sayeth with condition that vpon certaine times of the yeare their husbands shold assemble together in some appointed place and vse them for certaine dayes vntill they were with childe which being done and knowen they shoulde returne home againe to their owne houses If they brought forth daughters they norished and trained them vp in armes and other manlyke exercises and to ride great horsse They taught them to run at base to follow the chace If they were deliuered of males they sent them to their fathers And if by chaunce they kept any backe they murdred them or else brake their armes and leggs in suche wyse as they had no power to beare weapons and serued for nothing else but to spin twist and to doe other feminine labour And for as much as these Amazones defēded themselues so valiantly in the warres with Bowe and Arrowes and perceiued that their breasts did verie much impech the vse of that weapon and other exercises of armes they seared vp the righte breastes of their yong daughters for which cause they were named Amazones which signifieth in the Gréeke tong without breasts although that some other do giue vnto that name an other Etimologie Afterwardes increasing by course of time in numbre force they made great preparation of weapons and other 〈◊〉 for the warres and leauing their coūtrey which they thought was very small in the keping of some whom they specially trusted the rest marched abrode cōquering subduing all those which they foūd rebellious And hauing passed the riuer of Tanais they entred Europa where they vanquished many countreys directing their way towardes Thracia from whence they returned a whyle after with great spoile and victorie and comming again into Asia they brought many prouinces vnder their subiection proceding euen to Mare Caspium They edified and peopled an infinite numbre of good cities amōgs which according to the opinion of diuers was the famous Citie of Ephesus the same béeing the chiefe of all their Empire and the principal place that stoode vpon Thermodon They defended them selues in warres with certaine Tergats made in fashion of a half Moone and entring into battaile vsed a certaine kinde of flutes to giue the people corage to
house Upon this Anniuersarie day of Artaxerxes coronation when all things were disposed in order the King desirous to accomplishe a certaine conceiued determination cōmaunded one of his faithful chamberlains spéedily to seke out Ariobarzanes which the sayde faithfull chamberlaine did and telling him the kings message sayd My lord Ariobarzanes the King hath willed me to say vnto you that his pleasure is that you in your owne person euen forthwith shall cary your white stéede and Courser the mace of gold and other 〈◊〉 due to the office of Senescall vnto Darius youre mortall enimie and in his maiesties behalfe to say vnto him that the king hath giuen him that office and hath clearely dispossessed you thereof Ariobarzanes hearing those heauie newes was like to die for sorowe and the greater was his griefe bicause it was giuen to his greatest enimie Notwithstanding like a Gentleman of noble stomacke woulde not in open apparance signifie the displeasure which he conceiued within but with merrie cheare and louing countenance sayde vnto the chambrelaine Do my right humble cōmendations vnto the kinges maiestie and say vnto him that like as he is the soueraigne lorde of all this lande and I his faithfull subiect euen so myne office my life landes and goods be 〈◊〉 his disposition and that willingly I will performe his 〈◊〉 When he had spoken those wordes he rendred 〈◊〉 his office to Darius who at dinner serued in the same And when the king was set Ariobarzanes with comely countenaunce sat downe amongs the rest of the Lordes Which sodaine deposition and depriuation did 〈◊〉 lously amaze the whole assemblie euery man secretly speking their minde either in praise or dispraise of that fact The king all the dinner time did marke note the countenance of Ariobarzanes which was pleasant and merie as it was wont to be whereat the king did greately maruell And to attaine to the ende of his purpose hée began with sharpe wordes in presence of the nobilitie to disclose his discontented minde and the grudge which he bare to Ariobarzanes On the other side the king suborned diuers persons diligently to espie what he sayde did Ariobarzanes hearing the kings sharpe wordes of rebuke and stimulated by the persuasion of diuers flatterers which were hired for that purpose after he perceiued that his declared pacience preuailed nothing that his modest talke his long and faithful seruice which he had done vnto the king his losse and hinderance sustained the perill of his life which so many times he had suffered at length banquished with disdaine he brake the Bridle of Pacience and sorted out of the boundes of his wonted nature for that in place of honor he receiued rebuke in stede of reward was depriued of his office begā in a rage to cōplain of that king terming him to be an vnkind prince which amongs the Persians was estéemed a worde of great offence to the maiestie wherefore faine he would haue departed the court and retired home to his coūtrey which he coulde not doe without speciall licence from the king and yet to craue the same at his handes his heart would not serue him Althese murmures and complaintes which secretely he made were tolde the king therfore the king commaunded him one day to be called before him vnto whome he sayde Ariobarzanes youre grudging complaints and enuious quarels which you disparcle behinde my backe throughout my Courte and your continuall rages outragiously pronounced through the verie windowes of my Palace haue 〈◊〉 myne eares whereby I vnderstande that thing which hardly I would haue beleued But yet being a Prince as wel inclined to fauour and quiet hearing of al causes as to credite of light reports would faine know of you the cause of your lamentation and what hath moued you thervnto For you be not ignorant that to murmure at the Persian King or to terme him to be vnkinde is no lesse offence than to blaspheme the Gods immortall bicause by auncient Lawes and Decrées they be honored and worshipped as Gods And among all the penalties conteined in our lawes the vice of Ingratitude is moste bitterly corrected But leauing to speake of the threates and dangers of our lawes I pray you to tell me wherin I haue offended you For albeit that I am a king yet reason persuadeth me not to giue offence to any man which if I shoulde doe and the Gods forbid the same I ought rather to be termed a tyrant than a King Ariobarzanes hearing the King speake so reasonably was abashed but yet with stoute countenaunce he feared not particularly to remembre the wordes which he had spoken of the King and the cause wherefore he spake them Well sayd the King I perceiue that you blushe not at the words ne yet fear to reherse the same vnto my face wherby I doe perceiue and note in you a certaine kinde of stoutenesse which naturally 〈◊〉 from the greatnesse of your minde But yet wisedome would that you shoulde consider the reason and cause why I haue depriued you from your office Doe you not knowe that it appertaineth vnto me in all mine affaires and déedes to be liberall curteous magnificent and bounteous Be not those the vertues that make the fame of a Prince to 〈◊〉 amongs his subiects as the Sunne beames do vpon the circuit of the worlde Who ought to rewarde well doers and recompence eche wight which for any seruice and aduantage haue all the dayes of their life or else in some particuler seruice vsed their painful trauaile or aduentured the perill of their life but I alone béeing your soueraigne Lord and Prince To the vertuous and obedient to the Captaine and Souldier to the politike and wise to the lerned and graue finally to eche well 〈◊〉 wight I know how to vse the noble princely vertues of Curtesie and Liberalitie They bée the comely ensignes of a King They be the onely ornaments of a Prince They bée my particuler vertues And will you Ariobarzanes béeing a valiant souldier a graue counsailer and a politike personage goe aboute to dispossesse me of that which is mine Will you which are my seruant and subiect of whom I make greatest accompt and haue in dearest estimation vpon whome I did bestowe the greatest dignitie within the compasse of my whole Monarchie grate benefite at my hands by abusing those vertues which I aboue other do principally regard You do much abuse the credite which I repose in your greate wisedome For hée in whome I thought to finde moste graue aduise and déemed to bée a receptacle of all good counsell doth seke to take vpon him the personage of his Prince and to vsurpe the kingly state which belongeth only vnto him Shall I be tied by your deserts or bound by curteous dedes or else be forced to rendre recompēce No no so long as this imperiall crown shall rest on royall head no subiecte by any curteous déede of his shall straine vnwilling minde which meant it not
euen now began to presage his fall and ruine But yet meaning to 〈◊〉 his best aduantage went vnto the prison where the 〈◊〉 of the banished were fast inclosed and bicause he was of a troublesome and tyrannicall nature he concluded with him self rather to vse intreate those wiues with hun and threates than with humanitie and fayre wordes Being entred the prison he sharpely and with great fiercenesse commaunded them to write vnto their husbandes that besieged him without earnestly to persuade them to giue ouer their attempted warres otherwise said he if ye do not folow the effect of my commaūdement in your owne presence I will first cause cruelly to be slaine al your little children tearing them by piece meale in pieces and afterwardes I will cause you to bée whipped and scoutged and so to die a most cruel shamfull death At which fierce and tyrannicall newes there was no one womā amōgs them that opened their mouthes to answer him The most wicked vile tyrant seing thē to be in such silence charged them vpon their liues to answere what they were disposed to doe But although they 〈◊〉 not speake a word yet with silence one beholding eche other in that face fared as though they cared not for his threates more readie rather to die thā to obey his commaundement Megistona then which was the wife of Timolion a matrone as well for hir husbands 〈◊〉 as hir owne vertue in great regard and estimatiō and the chiefe amongs all the women who at his comming in would not rise but kept hir place nor vouchsasing to do any reuerence or honor vnto him and the like she bad the rest In this wise sitting vpon the ground w e vnlosed tongue and libertie of spéeche stoutly she answered the tyrants demaunde in this maner If there were in thée Aristotimus any manly prudence wisedome or good discretion truly 〈◊〉 woldest not cōmande vs poore imprisoned women to write vnto our husbands but rather suffer vs to goe vnto them and vse more 〈◊〉 wordes and mylde behauiour than wherewith of late thou diddest entertaine vs by scoffing mocking cruelly dealing with vs and oure poore children and if nowe thou béeing voide of all hope dcest séeke to persuade by oure meanes likewise to deceyue oure husbandes that bée come hither to put their liues in perill for our deliuerāce I assure thée thou vainely 〈◊〉 thy self for wée henceforth do purpose neuer to be 〈◊〉 of thée we require thée also to thinke and stedfastly beléeue that our husbands heads be not so much bewitched with follie as despising their wiues and children neglecting their dueties towards them will béeing in this forwardnesse abandon their preseruation and gyue ouer the libertie of their cositrey Think also that they litle esteme or wey that regard of vs their childrē in respect of the great cōtentation they shal attaine by vnyoking the libertie of their countrey from thy pride intollerable bondage which is worst of all from that tyrannie whiche neuer people felt the like For if thou were a King as thou 〈◊〉 a tyrant if thou were a Gentleman borne of noble kinde asthou art a slaue proceding from the deuil thou 〈◊〉 neuer execute thy curssed crueltie against a féeble kinde such as women be werest thou alone ioyned in singular cōbat with my baliant dere beloued husbande thou durst not hande to hande to shew thy face for cōmonly it is séene that the Courtely 〈◊〉 backed on wyth such mates as he is him selfe careth not what attempt he taketh in hande and stareth with haire vpright looking as though he would kill the deuill but when he is preast to seruice of the sielde and in order to encountre with his Princes foe vpon the small sway by shocke or push that thaunceth in the fight he is the first that taketh flight last that standeth to the face of his ennimie Such kinde off man art thou for so long as our husbands were farre of absent from their Countrie not able to ridde vs from thy thrall thou wroughtest thy malice then against their wiues at home doing the greatest crueltie towardes thē and their sucking babes that euer deuill could doe vpon the 〈◊〉 sorte and now thou séest them arriued here vnder our countrie walles thou fliest and séekest helpe at womens hands whose power if it serued them according to their willes would make thée tast the fruit of thy committed smart And as she would haue proceded further in hir liberall talke the Caitife tyrant not able to abide anie further speache troubled beyond measure presently commaunded the little childe of hir to be brought before him as though immediatly he woulde haue killed him as his seruaunts sought him out the mother espied him playing amōgs other children not knowing for his small stature and lesse yeres where he was become and calling him by his name said vnto him My boy come hither that first of all thou maist loose thy life to féele the proufe and haue experience of the cruell tyrannie wherin we be for more grieuous it is to me to sée thée serue against the nobilitie of thy bloud than dismembred and torne in pieces before my face As Megistona stoutly and vnfearfully had spoken those woordes the furious and angrie tyrant drew forth his glistering blade out of his sheathe purposing to haue slaine the gentlewoman had not one Cilon the familiar friend of Aristotimus staid his hand forbidding him to commit an acte so cruell This Cilon was a fained and counterfeit frend of the Tyrant very conuersant with other his familiar friendes but hated him with deadly hatred was one of them that with Hellanicus had conspired against the tirant This Gentleman then seing Aristotimus with so greate furie to ware wood against Megistona imbraced him and said that it was not the parte of a gentleman procéeding from a race right honoble by any meanes to 〈◊〉 his handes in womans bloud but rather the signe token of a cowardly knight wherefore he besought him to stay his hands Aristotimus persuaded by Cilon appeased his rage and forsoke the companie of the women Not long after a great prodige and wonder appeared in this sort before supper the tyrant and his wife withdrue themselues into their chāber and being there an Egle was séene to soare ouer the tyrants palace and being aloft by little and little to descend and letting fall from hir tallands a huge and great stone vppon the toppe of that chamber wyth clapping wings and flying noyse soared vp againe so farre as she was cleane out of sight from them that did behold hir With the rumor and shouts of those that saw this sight Aristotimus was appalled and vnderstanding the circumstance of the chaūce he sent for his diuine to declare the signification of this Augurie which greatly troubled his minde The Southsayer bad him to be of good chere for that it did portend the great fauor and loue which Iupiter bare vnto him
Prudent personage he dissembled his conceyued griefe expecting occasion for remedie of the same Now the time was come that Laelius and Massnissa wer 〈◊〉 for to the campe But to declare the teares lamentable talke the great 〈◊〉 and sighes vttered betwene this newe maried couple time would want and 〈◊〉 nesse wold ensue to the reader of the same He had skarce lyen with his beloued two or thrée nights but that Laelius to their great grief and sorow claimed hir to be his prisoner Wherfore very sorowful and pensiue he departed and retourned to the Campe. Scipio in honourable wise receiued him and openly before his Captaines and men of warre gaue thanks to Laelius him for their prowesse and notable exploites Afterwards sending for him into his Tent he said vnto him I do suppose my dere frend Massinissa that the vertue and beneuolence you saw in me did first of all prouoke you to transfrete the straites to visite me in Spaine wherin the goodwill of my valiant friend Syllanus did not a little anaile to sollicite and procure amitie betwéene vs both which afterwards induced your constant minde to retire into 〈◊〉 to commit both your self and all your goods into my hands and kéeping But I well pondering the qualitie of that vertue which moued you thervnto you being of 〈◊〉 and I of Europa you a Numidian borne and I a Latine and Romane of diuers customes language differēt thought that the temperance and abstinence from veneriall pleasures which you haue séene to be in me and experience therof well tried and proued for the which I render vnto the immortal Gods most hūble thanks wold or ought to haue moued you to follow mine example being these vertues which aboue al other I doe most esteme and cherish which vertues should haue allured you being a man of great prowesse and discretion to haue imitated and folowed the same For he that well marketh the rare giftes and excellent benefits wherwith dame nature hath 〈◊〉 you would thinke that there should be no lacke of diligence and trauell to subdue and ouercome the carnall appetites of temporal beautie which had it 〈◊〉 applied to the rare giftes of nature planted in you had made you a personage to the posteritie very famous and renoumed Consider wel my present time of youth full of courage youthly lust which contrary to that naturall race I stay and prohibite No delicate beautie no voluptuous delectation no seminine flatterie can intice the same to the perils and daungers wherevnto that héedelesse age is most prone and subiect by which prohibition of amorous passions temperatly raigned and gouerned the tamer and subduer of those passions closing his breast from lasciuious imaginations and stopping his eares from the Syrenes Marmaides of that sexe and kinde getteth greater glory and fame than that which we haue gotten by our victory had against Syphax Hannibal the greatest ennimie that euer we Romanes felt the stoutest gentleman captain without péere through the delites and imbracements of women effeminated is no more that mālike and notable Emperor which he was wont to be The great exploits enterprises which valiantly you haue done in Numidia when I was farre from you your care redinesse 〈◊〉 your strength and valor your expedition and bolde attepts with all the rest of your noble vertues worthy of immortall praise I might could perticulerly recite but to commend and extol them my heart and minde shal never be satisfied by renouaciō wherof I shuld rather giue occasion of blushing than my selfe could be contented to let them sléepe in silence Syphax as you know is taken prisoner by the valiaunce of our men of warre by reason wherof him self his wife his kingdom his campe lands cities and inhabitants and briefly all that which was king Syphax is the pray and spoile to the Romane people and the king and his wife albeit she was no Citizen of Carthage and hir father although no captaine of our ennimies yet we must send them to Rome there to leaue them at the pleasure and disposition of the Romane 〈◊〉 nate and people Doe you not know that Sophonisba with hir toyes flatteries did alienat and withdraw king Syphax from our amitie and friendship and made him to enter force of armes against vs Be you ignoraunt that she ful of rancor and malice against the Romane people endeuored to set al 〈◊〉 against vs now by hir faire inticements hath gained and wonne you not I say our 〈◊〉 but an ennimie so farre as she can with hir cruell inchauntmēts What damage and hurt haue lighted vpō diuers Monarches and Princes through sugred lips and venemous woords I will not spend time to recite With what prouocations and cōiured charmes she hath already bewitched your good nature I wil not now imagine but referre the same to the déepe consideration of your wisdome Wherefore Massinissa as you haue bene a Conquerer ouer great nations and prouinces be now a conquerer ouer your owne mind and appetites the victorie whereof deserueth greater praise than the conquest of the whole world Take héede I say that you blot not your good qualities and conditions with the spots of dishonor and pusillanimitie 〈◊〉 not that fame which hitherto is 〈◊〉 aboue the Region of the glittering starres Let not this vice of Feminine flatterie spoile the deserts of Noble chiualrie vtterly deface those 〈◊〉 with greater ignominie than the cause of that offence is worthie of dispraise Massinissa hearing these egre sharp rebukes not only blushed for shame but bitterly werping said that his poore prisoner and wife was at the commaundemēt of Scipio Noiwithstanding so instantly as teares woulde suffer him to speake he besought hym that if it were possible he would giue him leaue to obserue his faith foolishly assured bicause he had made an othe to Sophonisba that with life she should not be deliuered to the handes of the Romanes And after other talke betwene them Massinissa departed to his pauilion where alone with manifold sighes with most bitter teares and plaintes vttered with such houlings and outcries as they were heard by those which stode about the same he rested al the day bewailing his present state the most part of the night also he spent with like heauinesse and debating in his minde vpon diuers thoughts and deuises more confused and amased than before he could by no meanes take any rest sometimes he thought to flée and passe the straights commonly called the pillers of Hercules from thence to saile to the Fortunate Islandes with his wife then again he thought with hir to escape to Carthage in ayde of that Citie to serue against the Romans somtimes he purposed by sword poison halter or som such means to end his life and finish his dolorous days many times he was at point by prepared knife sworde to pierce his heart yet stayed the same not for feare of death but for preseruatiō of his fame
was driuen into great admiration and thought it very straunge that a woman which al the days of hir life had liued in greate honour and estimation shold vpon light cause or occasion poison hir self sith it was naturally giuen to eche breathyng wyght to prolong their liuing dayes with the longest thréede that Atropos could draw out of dame Natures webbe Wher vpon he commaunded the sayd matrone to be brought before hym whose death for hir vertue was generally lamented by the whole countrey When the Gentlewomā was before him and had vnderstāding that she was fully resolued and determined to die he began by greate 〈◊〉 to exhort hir that she should not wilfully 〈◊〉 hir selfe away vpon consideration that she was of lusty yeares riche and 〈◊〉 of the whole countrey how greate pitie it were but shée shoulde renue hir minde and giue hir selfe still to liue and remayne til naturall course did ende and finish hir life howbeit his 〈◊〉 and earnest persuasion could not diuert hir from hir intēded purpose But Pompeius 〈◊〉 to haue hir die ceassed not still to 〈◊〉 his former talke with newe reasons and stronger arguments All which she paciently heard with fired 〈◊〉 til at length with clere voice and 〈◊〉 cheare 〈◊〉 answered him in this maner You be greatly deceiued my lord Pompeius if you do beleue that I without very great prouidence and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goe about to end my days for I do know and am 〈◊〉 persuaded that eche creature naturally craueth the prolongation and lengthning of life so much abhorreth to die as the desirous to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the poison whiche I haue prepared for consummation of my life Wher vpon I haue diuers times thought considered and discoursed with my selfe and amongs many considerations 〈◊〉 debated in my minde there came into the same the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 change of Fortune whose whir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neuer 〈◊〉 ne yet remaineth 〈◊〉 It 〈◊〉 dayly séene how she doth exalt and aduance some man from the lowest and bottomlesse pitte euen to the 〈◊〉 of the hygh Heauens endowyng hym wyth so much substaunce as he can desire An other that was moste happie honoured in this worlde lyke a God vnto whom no goodes and welfare were wantyng who myghte well haue bene called in his lyfe a thrée tymes happie and blessed wyght sodaynly from his honoure and 〈◊〉 depriued and made a verie poore man and begger Some man also that is bothe riche and lustie accompanied wyth a faire wife and goodlye children lyuyng in greate myrth and ioylitie this wicked Ladie Fortune the deuourer of all oure contentacions depriueth from the inestimable treasure of health causeth the fayre wife to loue an other better than hir husbande and with 〈◊〉 venomous tooth biteth the children that in shorte space myserable deathe catcheth them all within hys dreadfull clouches whereby hée is defrauded of those chyldren whome after his deathe hée purposed to leaue 〈◊〉 his heires But what meane I to consume tyme and words in declaration of fortunes vnsteady staye which is more clere than the beames of the Sunne of whome dayly a thousande thousande examples bée manifest All histories be full of them The myghtie countrey of Graecia doeth render ample witnesse wherein so many excellent men were bredde and brought vp Who desirous with their fynger to touche the highest heauen were in a moment throwen downe And so many famous Cities whiche gouerned numbers of people nowe at this presente day wée sée to bée thrall and obedient to thy Citie of Rome Of these hurtefull and perillous mutations O noble Pompcius thy Romane Citie may bée a 〈◊〉 cleare glasse and Spectacle and a multitude of thy noble Citizens in tyme paste and present may gyue plentyfull witnesse But to come to the cause of this my death I say that fyndyng my selfe to haue lyued these many yeares by what chaunce I can not tell in verie greate prosperitie in all whiche tyme I neuer dyd suffer any one myssehappe but styll from good to better haue passed my time vntil thys daye Nowe fearyng the frownyng of Lady Fortunes face and that shée will repente hir long continued fauoure I feare I saye leaste the same Fortune shoulde chaunge hir stile and begynne in the middest of my pleasaunt life to sprinckle hir poysoned bitternesse and make mée the 〈◊〉 and Quiuer of hir sharpe and noysome arrowes Wherefore I am nowe determined by good aduyse to ridde my self from the captiuitie of hir force from all hir misfortunes and from the noysom and grieuous infirmities which miserably be incident to vs mortall Creatures And beleue me Pompcius that many in theyr aged dayes haue left their life with litle honour who had they ben gone in their youth had died famous for euer Wherefore my Lorde Pompeius that I may not be tedious vnto thée or hinder thyne affaires by long discourse I beséeche thée to gyue me leaue to follow my deliberate disposition that frankely and fréely I may bée 〈◊〉 of all daunger for the longer the life doth growe to the greater discommodities it is subiect When shée had so sayde to the greate admiration and compassion of all those whiche were present with tremblyng handes and fearefull cheare shée quaffed a greate cuppe of poysoned drynke the whyche shée broughte wyth hir for that purpose and within a while after dyed This was the strange vse and order obserued in 〈◊〉 Whiche good counsell of that dame had the noble and valiaunt captaine followed no doubt he would haue ben contented to haue ben brought to order And then he had not lost that bloudie battell atchieued against him by Iulius Cesar at Pharsalia in Egypt Then he had not sustained so many ouerthrowes as he did then had he not ben forsaken of his trendes and in the ende endured a death so miserable And for somuch as for the most part 〈◊〉 therto we haue intreated of many tragical and bloudie rhaunces respiring nowe from those lette vs a little touche some medicinable remedies for loue some lessons for gouernement and obediēce some treaties of amorous dames and hautie 〈◊〉 of Princes Quéenes and other persons to variate the chaungeable diet wherewith dyuers bée affected rellishyng their Stomackes wyth some more pleasant digestions than they haue tasted Faustina the Empresse ¶ The dishonest Loue of 〈◊〉 AVSTINA the Empresse and vvith vvhat remedie the same loue vvas remoued and taken avvay The tenth Nouell TRue and moste holie is the sentence that the ladie gentlewoman or other wighte of Female kinde of what degrée or condition soeuer she bée be she saire fowle or ylfauoured can not be endewed with a more precious Pearle or Jewell than is the 〈◊〉 pure vertue of honesty which is of such valour that it alone without other vertue is able to render hir that 〈◊〉 in hir attire moste famous and excellent Be she more beautifull than Helena be she mightier than the Amazon better learned than Sappho rycher than Flora more louing than Quéene Dido or more noble than
the beame placed a stoole vnder the same and beganne to tie the halter aboute the beame 〈◊〉 doing wherof she espied the casket and reached the same vnto hir who féelyng it to be heauie and weightie immediatly did open it and found the bil within which Chera had written with hir owne hand agreable to that which she had deliuered to hir daughter wherin were particularly remembred the Jewels and other riches inclosed within the casket And disclosing the bagges wherein the golde and Jewels were bounde vp and seeing the great value of the same wondred therat and ioyfull for that fortune hid the rope which she had prepared for hir death in the place where shée found the casket and with great gladnesse and mirth wēt vnto hir father and shewed him what she had found wherat the father reioyced no lesse than his daughter Elisa did bicause he sawe himselfe thereby to be discharged of his former poore life and like to proue a man of inestimable wealthe and substance and saw like wise that the poore wench his daughter by the addicion of those riches was like to attaine the partie whome she loued When hée had taken forth those bagges and well 〈◊〉 the value to the intent no man might suspect the sodeine mutation of his state toke his daughter with hym and went to Rome where after he had remained certaine monethes he returned to Carthage and began very galantly to apparell himselfe and to kéepe a bountifull and liberall house His table and port was very delicate and sumptuous and his stable stored with many faire horsse in all points shewing him selfe very noble and rich By which sodein chaunge and mutation of state the whole Citie beléened that he had brought those riches from Rome And bicause it is the cōmon opinion of the vulgar people that where there is no riches there is no nobilitie and that they alone make the noble and Gentleman a foolishe opinion in déede proceeding from heades that be rash and light the people séeing such a port and charge kepte by the Souldier conceiued and thought that he was of some noble house And thoroughout the whole Citie greate and solemne honour was done vnto him wherevpon the yong Gentleman with whome Elisa was in loue began to bée ashamed of himselfe that he had disdained such a maiden And then the yong maiden séeing hir fathers house to be in such reputation made sute to hir father that he would procure the Gentleman to be hir husband But hir father willed hir in any wise to 〈◊〉 secrete hir desire and not to seme hir selfe to be in loue and wisely told hir that more méete it was that she shoulde be solicited by hym than she to make sute or request for mariage alleaging that the lesse desirous the Gentleman had bene of hir the more deare and better beloued she was to him And many times whē his daughter was demaunded to wife he made answere that Matrimonie was a state of no little importance as enduring the whole course of life and 〈◊〉 ought wel to be considered and wayed before any 〈◊〉 were made But for all these demaundes and answers and all these stops and stayes the maiden was indowed with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the ende hir louer and she were maried with so great pleasure and satisfaction of them both as they 〈◊〉 them selues happie In the meane time while these things were done at Carthage Philene in Scicilia toke thought how she might recouer hir goodes giuen to hir by hir mother destrous by their meanes also to sorte hir earnest and ardcnt loue to happie successe And debating with hir self as we haue sayd before how she might obteine them bicause the house was in possession of an other thought it to bée against reason and order that although she had lost hir house yet that hir goodes ought to be 〈◊〉 vnto hir whiche were hir onely maintenance and reputation and the fittest instruments that should conduct hir loue to happie ende And hearing tell that the father of Elisa the possessour of hir mothers house liued at Carthage with greate royaltie and 〈◊〉 thought that if by some sleight policie she found not meanes to enter the house without suspicion hir attempt would be in vaine determined therfore to goe to Carthage and to séeke seruice in that house counterfaiting the kinde and habite of a Page For she considered that if she went thither in order and apparell of a maiden she should incurre the perill of hir virginitie and fall into the lapse of diuers other daungers purposed then to goe thither in maner of a page and lackie And when she had in that sort furnished hir self she passed the seas and arriued at Carthage And séeking seruice about the citie at length chaūced to be retained in a house that was next neighbour to the Souldier and bicause this wench was gentle and of good disposition was well beloued of hir maister who being the friend of Elisa hir father many times sent vnto him diuers presēts and gifts by Philene wherevpon shée began to be acquainted familiar with the seruants of the house and by hir oft repaire thither viewed marked euery corner and vpon a time entred the chamber wherin hir mother Chera tolde hir that she had bestowed hir goods and looking vpon the beames espied by certaine signes and tokens one of them to be the same where the casket lay And therwithal well satisfied and contented verily beleued that the casket still remained there and without further businesse for that time expected some other season for recouerie of the same In the ende the good behauiour and diligence of Philene was so liked of Elisa as hir father and she made sute to hir master to giue hir leaue to scrue them who bycause they were his friends preferred Philene vnto them and became the page of that house And one day secretly repairyng into the chamber where she thoughte the treasure lay mounted vpon a stoole and sought the beame for the casket where she founde no casket but in place 〈◊〉 that lay the halter wherwithal Elisa woulde haue strangled hir self And searching all the parts of the chamber and the beames and finding nothing else but the halter she was surprised with such incredible sorrow as she 〈◊〉 like a stocke without spirite voice or life After Wardes being come againe to hir selfs she began pitifully to lament and complaine in this maner Ah wretched Philene vnder what vnluckie signe and planet was thou begotten and borne with what offense were the heauens wroth when they forced thée to pierce thy mothers wōbe Coulde I poore creature when I was framed within the moulde of nature and fed of my mothers substance within hir wombe and afterwards in due time brought forth to light commit such crime as to prouoke the celestiall inpressions to conspire agaynst my Natiuitie to bryng mine increased age into such wretched state and plighte wherein it is nowe wrapped and intangled No
is to be supposed that thou wilt proue good and not euill For the Gods immortall many times do take away their graces from vngratefull men Moreouer most excellent Prince sith you wrote vnto vs the maner and order what we ought to do reason it is that we write to you againe what you ought to foresée And sith you haue told vs and taught vs to obey you mete it is that we may know what your pleasure is to commaunde For that it maye come to passe that as you haue ben brought vp in Spayn and of long time ben absent from Rome through following the warres that not knowing the lawes wherevnto we are sworne and the customes whiche wée haue in Rome Ye commaunde some thing that may redound to our damage and to your dishonor And therefore we accompte it reason that your Maiestie bée aduertised hereof and the same preuented for so much as Princes oftentimes be negligent of many things not for that they will not foresée the same but rather for wāt of one that dare tel them what they ought to doe And therfore wée humbly beséech your most excellent maiestie to extende and shewe forth your wisedome and prudence for that the Romanes heartes ben drawen and made pliant rather by fauourable diligence than by prouoked force Touchyng the vertue Iustice may it please you to remembre the same For your olde vncle Nerua was wont to say that a prince for all his magnanimitie valiance and felicitie if he do not vse and maintaine iustice ought not for any other merite to bée 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Semblably we make our humble petition that those commaundements which you shal send and require to be put in execution bée throughly established and obserued For the goodnesse of the law doth not consist in the ordinance but in the fulfillyng and accomplishement of the same We will not also omitte to say vnto you most famous Prince that you must haue pacience to suffer the importunate to dissemble with the offenders For that it is the déede of a Prince to chastise and punishe the wrongs of the common wealth and 〈◊〉 pardon the disobedience done vnto hym You sende vs word by your letters that you wil not come to Rome vntill you haue finished the Germaine warres Whiche séemeth vnto vs to be the determination of a 〈◊〉 and right noble emperor for so much as good Princes such as you be ought not to desire chose places of delite recreatiō but rather aspire to seke win renome fame You cōmaunde vs also to haue regard to the veueration of the Temples and to the seruice of the Gods Which request is iust but very iust it were and mete that your self shold do the same For our seruice would litle preuaile if you should displease them You will vs also one to loue an other which is the counsel of a holy and peaceable prince but know ye that we shal not be able to do the same if you will not loue and intreate vs all in equall and indifferent sorte For princes cherishyng and louing some aboue the rest do raise slanders and grudges amongs the people You likewise recommend vnto vs the poore and the widowes wherin we thinke that you ought to commaunde the Collecters of your tributes that they do not grieue the same when they gather your rightes 〈◊〉 For greater sinne it is to spoile pill the nedie sort than 〈◊〉 to succour and relieue them Likewise you do persuade vs to be quiet 〈◊〉 in our affaires which is a persuasion 〈◊〉 of a prince not onely that is iust but also of a pitiful father In 〈◊〉 maner you require vs not to be opinionatiue wilfull in the 〈◊〉 ne affectionate to selfwil which shal be done accordingly as you cōmaunde accept it as you say But ther 〈◊〉 you ought to think that in graue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the more depely things 〈◊〉 debated that better they shal be prouided decréed You bid vs also to 〈◊〉 that the Censores be honest of life and rightful in doing iustice To that we aunswere that in the same we will haue good respect but it is expedient that you take héede to them whome you shall name and appoint to those affaires For if you doe choose them such as they ought to be no cause shal rise to reprehende them Item where you say that we ought to take hede that our children committe no offences to the people wherein the aduise of the Senate is that you doe draw them away from vs and call them to the Almayne warres for as you do know right souerain prince that when the publike welth is exempt and voide of enimies then the same wil begin to be replenished with youthful vices Notwithstanding when the warres bée farre off from Rome then the same to them is profitable bicause there is nothing which better 〈◊〉 common wealths from wicked people than warres in countrey straunge Cōcerning other things which you write vnto vs nedefull it is not nowe to recite them but onely to sée them kepte For truely they séeme rather to bée the lawes of God Apollo him selfe than Counsels of a mortall man The Gods preserue your Maiestie and graunt you good successe in those your warres These Letters and Epistles although besides the scope and Nature of a Nouell yet so woorthie to be read and practised as no Hystorie or other Morall Precepte more expressing the great care of a maister towardes his scholar that he should proue no worse being an Emperor than he shewed hym selfe 〈◊〉 when he was a Scholer fearing that if he shoulde gouerne contrary to his expectation or degenerate from the good institution whiche in his yong yeares hée imbraced that the blame and slaunder shoulde rest in 〈◊〉 that was his tutour and bringer vp O carefull Plutarch O most happy maister as well for thine owne industrie as for the good successe of suche a scholer And O most fortunate and vertuous Emperor that could so welbrooke and digest the blissed persuasions of such a master and whose minde with the blast of promotion was not so swolne puffed but that it 〈◊〉 to cal him Father and Maister 〈◊〉 crauing for an instigation of reproofe when he 〈◊〉 or slipped from the pathe of reason and duetie And O happie Counsel Senate that could so wel like and practise the documentes of such an Emperour Of three Amorous Dames ¶ A notable Historie of three Amorous Gentlewomen called LAMIA FLORA and LAIS conteinyng the sutes of noble Princes and other great personages made vnto them with their answeres to diuers demaundes and the maner of their death and funerals The. xiiij Nouel LEauyng nowe our morall discourse of a carefull Maister a prouident Scholer of a vertuous Emperor of a sacred Senate and vniforme magisterie returne wée to the setting forth and description of iij. arrant honest women which for lewdnesse wer famous and for wicked lyse worthie to bée noted with a
black coale or rather their memorie raked vp in the dust and cindres of the corpses vnpure But as all histories be full of lessons of vertue and vice as bokes sacred prophane describe the liues of good and bad for example sake 〈◊〉 yelde meanes to the posteritie to ensue the one 〈◊〉 the other so haue I thought to intermingle amongest these Nouels the seuerall sortes of either that eche sexe and kinde may pike out like the Bée of eche floure honie to store furnishe with delightes their well disposed minde I purpose then to vnlace the dissolute liues of thrée amorouse dames that with their graces 〈◊〉 the greatest princes that euer were enticed the noble men and sometimes procured the wisest and best learned to craue their acquaintance as by the sequele hereof shall well appere These thrée famous women as writers doe witnesse were furnished with many goodly graces and giftes of nature that is to say great beautie offace goodly proporcion of bodie large and high forheads their brestes placed in comly order small wasted fayre hands of passing cunning to play vpon Instruments a heauenlie voice to faine and sing 〈◊〉 their qualities and beautie were more famous than euer any the were borne within the coūtries of Asia and Europa They were neuer beloued of Prince which did forsake them nor yet they made request of any thing which was denied them They neuer mocked or flouted man a thing rare in women of their cōdition ne yet were mocked of any But their speciall propreties were to allure men to loue thē Lamia with hir pleasant looke and eye Flora with hir eloquent tongue and Lais with the grace swetenesse of hir singing voyce A straunge thing that he wich once was 〈◊〉 with the loue of any of those thrée eyther too late or neuer was deliuered of the same They were the richest Courtizans that euer liued in the worlde so long as their life did last after their decease great monumentes were erected for their remembraunce in place where they dyed The most auncient of these thrée amorous dames was Lamia who was in the tyme of king Antigonus that warfared in the seruice of Alexander the great a valiant gentleman although not fauored by Fortune This king Antigonus lefte behinde hym a sonne and heire called Deinetrius who was lesse valiant but more fortunate than his father and had bene a 〈◊〉 of greate estimation if in his youth 〈◊〉 had acquired frendes and kept the same and in his age had not bene giuen to so many vices This king Demetrius was in loue with Lamia and presented hir with riche giftes and rewardes and loued hir to affectionatly and in such sort as in the loue of his Lamia he semed rather a 〈◊〉 than a true louer for forgetting the grauitie and authoritie of his person he did not onelie gyue hir all such things as she demaunded but bysides that he vsed no more the companie of his wife Euxonia On a time king Demetrius asking Lamia what was the thing wherewith a woman was sonest wonne Ther is nothing answered she which sooner ouer commeth a woman than whē she séeth a man to loue hir with all his hart to susteine for hir sake great paines and passions with long continuance and entier affection for to loue men by collusion causeth afterwards that they be mocked againe Demetrius asked hir further tell me Lamia why doe diuerse women rather hate than loue men whervnto shée answered The greatest cause why a woman doth hate a man is when the man dothe vaunte boaste himselfe of that which he doth not and performeth not the thing which he promiseth Demetrius demaunded of hir Tell me Lamia what is the thing wherwith men doe content you best when we see him sayde she to be discrete in wordes secrete in his dedes Demetrius asked hir further Tell me Lamia how chanceth it the men be ill matched bicause answered Lamia It is impossible that they be well maried when the wife is in néede the husband vndiscrete Demetrius asked hir what was the cause that amity betwene two louers was 〈◊〉 Ther is nothing answered she that soner maketh colde the loue betwene two louers than when one of them doth straye in loue and the woman louer to importunate to craue He demaunded further Tell me Lamia what is the thing that most 〈◊〉 the louing man Not to attaine the thing which he desireth answered she and thinketh to lose the thing which he hopeth to enioy Demetrius yet once againe asked hir this question What is that Lamia which most troubleth a womans hart Ther is nothing answered Lamia wherwith a woman is more grieued and maketh hir more sad than to be called yll fauored or that she hath no good grace or to vnderstand that she is dissolute of life This ladie Lamia was of iudgement delicate and subtill although yll ymployed in hir therby made all the world in loue with hir and drew all men to hir through hir faire spéech Now before she lost the heart of king Demetrius she haunted of long time the Uniuersities of Athenes where she gained great store of money and brought to destruction many yong men Plutarch in the life of Demetrius saith that the Athenians hauing presented vnto him 〈◊〉 C. talents of money for a subsidie to pay his men of warre he gaue all that 〈◊〉 to his woman Lamia By meanes wherof the Athenians grudged were offended with the king not for the losse of their gift but for that it was so euill employed When the king Demetrius would assure any thing by oth he swore not by his Gods ne yet by his predecessors but in this sort As I may be still in the grace of my lady Lamia and as hir life mine may ende together so true is this which I say doe in this this sort One yere two monethes before the death of king Demetrius his frend Lamia died who sorowed so much hir death as for the absence death of hir he caused the Philosophers of Athenes to entre disputation Whether the teares and sorow which he shed and and toke were more to be estemed than the riches which he spent in hir obsequies funerall pompes This amorous gentlewoman Lamia was borne in Argos a citie of Peloponnesus by 〈◊〉 nes of base parentage who in hir first yeres haunted the countrie of Asia maior of very wild dissolute life in the end came into Phaenicia And when that king Demetrius had caused hir to be buried before a wyndow ioyning to his house his chiefest frendes asked him wherfore he had entombed hir in that place His answere was this I loued hir so well she likewise me so hartily as I knowe not which way to satisfie that loue which she bare me the duetie I haue to loue hir againe if not to put hir in such place as myne eyes may wepe euery daye mine hart still lament Truely
wente streight to them and very gently 〈◊〉 of dyuerse of the Gentlemen their names and of what partes of Italie they were then she came to the place where they iii. were standing together curteously asked first master Girolamo what his name was of what countrey whether he were a Gentleman To whom reucrentely he sayde that his name was Girolamo Borgo a Gentleman of Verona Master Baldo likewise béeing demaunded the same answered so well as he coulde that he was a Gentleman borne of an auncient house in Milane and that his name was Philippo Baldo When she had receiued their answere with chéerefull and smiling countenance she turned to Master Philippo inquiring of him also his name and countrey and whether he were a Gentleman or not Whom master Philippo after his duetie done reuerently answered Madame my soueraine Ladie and onely maistresse I am a Gentleman and am called by the name of Philippo de i Nicuoli of Cremona The Queene making no further demaundes of any of the other Gentlemen sayd to Master Philippo You say true sir I dare warrant that you be a Gentleman in dede and he that said 〈◊〉 contrary shold declare him selfe to be voide of iudgement what a Gentleman is She sayde no more but from thence with Quéene Mary and the whole traine she went to Church All they that heard the Quéene speake those wordes did wonder and could not 〈◊〉 what shée meant by them notwithstanding 〈◊〉 man thought that the Quéene bare to master Philippo singuler good will and 〈◊〉 He as it was his custome full of diuerse cogitations whose 〈◊〉 was building of great cities went to Church 〈◊〉 him selfe in his 〈◊〉 place tossyng in his minde the Quéenes words spoken vnto him And although he 〈◊〉 not perceiue to what ende that honorable 〈◊〉 had spoken them yet he thought that hir maiestie had done him great honour And verily the humanitie and curtesse of a Lady so excellent and 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 with infinite praise and cōmendation who being of high 〈◊〉 and ligneage and the wyfe of so greate a Prince that procéeded of the 〈◊〉 Imperiall not onely dyd not 〈◊〉 to be beloued of a man of so base degrée and banished from his owne house but also with great care and diligence did deuise and in effecte declare that shée was the same whom the Italian yong Gentleman did loue as partly it was euidently to be perceiued not for other purpose doubtlesse but to do some noble déede couenable for the greatnesse of hir estate incident to the seruent loue of the amorous yong Gentleman which afterwardes in very dede she accomplished But howe many be there in these dayes I doe not speake of Quéenes and Princesses but of 〈◊〉 and priuate Gentlewomen that beyng of meane worship indued with some shew of beautie be without good conditions vertue who séeyng themselues beloued of some Gentlemen not enriched with the goods of Fortune as they be do scorne and mocke them thynking them selues to good to be loked vpon or 〈◊〉 moued of vertuous loue scornfully casting their face at one side as though the suters were vnworthy their cōpanie Now many likewise be possessed and ouerwhelmed with pride by reason nature more propicious vnto them than other be descended of some great parentage that will accompt a great iniurie done vnto them if any other gentlemen beside those that be rich do 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 them Again a great numbre of 〈◊〉 I speake of them whose mindes do not aspire to same or honor so that their delights and brauerie be mainteined be of this trampe that they 〈◊〉 not whether their louers bée 〈◊〉 well condicioned 〈◊〉 and gentle but onely do regarde whether their pursses be full of money or their shapes somewhat shoutefaire not waying the 〈◊〉 and good condicions of the minde with a thousand other qualities that 〈◊〉 to garnishe a Gentleman whereby all Gentlemen 〈◊〉 do growe beautifull and bée enriched wyth greater perfections Some other there be that fire their mindes vpon yong men that bée of goodly persouage although 〈◊〉 of vertue or 〈◊〉 behauiour louyng rather a piece of flesh with two eyes in his head than an honest man well furnyshed wyth vertue Thynke not yet for all thys that herein men ordinarily bée wyser than women althoughe they oughte to bée endued with greater 〈◊〉 than the womankynde but to say the truth they be all spotted with one kinde of pitch that warfare here in the large campe of this present worlde wherof it commeth to passe that we sée little loue to continue long bicause as the beginnyng wanted loue euen so is the ende altogether 〈◊〉 the knowledge whereof consumeth lyke the beautie of the 〈◊〉 And therevpon many times it chaunceth that when loue is not grounded but vpon transitorie beautie which dothe dissolue lyke a windie cloude the little heate 〈◊〉 doth not war more 〈◊〉 but rather congoale to frost and many times 〈◊〉 into hatred and 〈◊〉 A worsse thyng yet than this is in 〈◊〉 practise There be many that wil néedes bée 〈◊〉 and called Gentlemen bycause they come of Auncient and Noble race but growyng vp to 〈◊〉 state they appeare in shapes of men but altogether without vertuo or approued manners vtterly ignorant what the nature of Gentle is and doe accompte them selues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellowes when in companie of other as bigge beasts as them selues they contriue the day in 〈◊〉 and bragges and 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 a woman is at my comniaundement and such a mans wyse I do keepe suche a one is my companyons friende whereby they bryng many women yea and of the moste honest sort into slaunder and 〈◊〉 Diuerse 〈◊〉 also bée suchè fooles and of so simple discretion that although they know clerely perceyue thys to be true yat allured with the persenages and beautie of such 〈◊〉 passe not to gyue the rayne to these vnbrideled 〈◊〉 and doe not foresée lyhe 〈◊〉 Woodcockes that in sewe dayes through their owne 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 common shame of the vulgar people being pointed at in the streates as they 〈◊〉 where one that is wise and discrete daily doth feare the least suspition that utay be conceiued There is no woman that is wise 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she can wil shunne and auoide all occasion wherby 〈◊〉 may arise and will choose 〈◊〉 hir amongs a number such one as 〈◊〉 best please hir fansie and suche 〈◊〉 as for his vertue and honestie she purposeth to match 〈◊〉 self with in mariage which is the end of all honest loue Nowe be it Nature hath not framed euery creature of one mettall ne yet Minerua 〈◊〉 lyke brayne into euery head And truely this our age doeth bréede many 〈◊〉 and worthie women whose condicions be good 〈◊〉 adorned with 〈◊〉 qualities the generositie 〈◊〉 valour of whose myndes 〈◊〉 deferue singular praise and estimation And what is he chauncing vpon a curteous and vertuous woman that will not giue ouer the loue of all
auncient libertie and displeasant to the Senatours and 〈◊〉 to sée them selues depriued of the soueraintie of Iustice and of the authoritie they had to 〈◊〉 all the Citizens yet for al that was he indued with so good qualities and gouerned so well his principalitie as that which at the beginnyng was termed Tyrannie was receiued as iust domination and that whiche was supposed to be abused by force semed to be done as it wer by lawful succession And they counted them selues happy when they saw their luck to be such as their common wealth must néedes obey the aduise and pleasure of one Prince alone to haue a soueraine lorde so wise so vertuous and so ful of curtesie Who albeit in other things he shewed him selfe praise worthie noble and of gentle kynde yet vanquished he him selfe in him selfe and in the rest of his perfection by that indifferent iustice which made him wonderfull by reason hée denied the same to none and in no one iote shewed him selfe parcial to any which thought by him to be supported in their follies And that which was more to be wondred in hym augmented the praise of his integritie in iudgement was that he punished in an other the thyng which by reason he oughte to haue pardoned and remitted he beyng attainted well beatē with that disease But the good Lord applied to reason to time to the grauitie of the fact and qualitie of the offended persones For where the greatnesse of the déede surpasseth all occasion of pardon and mercy the Prince Iudge or Magistrate ought to dispoile and put of his swetest affections to apparel himself with rigor which reacheth the knyfe into the hande of him that ruleth of purpose that so priuate familiaritie do not in the ende raise in the subiects heart a contempt of their superiours and an 〈◊〉 licence lawlesse to liue at their pleasure Now the thing which I meane to tel consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite prudence which seldome or neuer harboureth in yong age the heates wherof can not but with great difficultie féele the coldnesse and correction of reason And likewyse the causes from whence wisdomes force procéedeth doe rest in long experience of things wherby men waxe old in ripenesse of witte and their déedes become worthy of praise Then Duke Alexander ordred so wel his estates and kept such a goodly and plentifull Court as the same gaue place to no Prince of Italic how great or rich so euer it was and that he did aswell for his owne garde honor as to shew the natural stoutnesse of his corage not vsing for all that any insolencie or vnséemely dealing against the haynous and auncient enimies of his house Amongs this goodly troupe of courtiers which ordinarily folowed the Duke there was a Florentine gentleman very néere the Duke and the best beloued of them all This yong Gentleman had a Manor hard by Florence where he was very well stately lodged which caused him many times to forsake the Citie with two of his companions to recreate him self in that pleasant place It chaunced vpon a day he being in his fieldish house bisides the which there was a Mill the master whereof had a passing faire daughter whome the sayd Gentleman did well marke and behold and with hir became straungely in loue in whome also appeared some Noble port that excéeded the bloud and race whereof she came But what The heauens be not so spare distributers of their gifts but sometimes diuide them with the least measure and at other times in equall weight or greatest heape to them that be of basest sort and popular degrée so well as to the greatest men and of most noble race Rome sometimes hath séen a bondman and slaue sometimes a runnagates sonne for his wit and corage to beare the scepter in his hand and to decide the causes of a lofty people who already by reason of his sleights and practises began to aspire the Empire of the whole world And hée that wythin our Fathers remembrance desireth to know what that great Tambarlane of Tartarie was the astonishment and ruine of all the 〈◊〉 partes shall well perceiue that his originall sorted from the vulgar sort from the basest place that was amongs all estates wherby must be confessed that the goodnesse of nature is such and so great that she wil helpe hir nourice children whatsoeuer they be the best she can Not that I meane to inferre hereby but that the bloud of predecessors with the institution of their posterity much augmēteth the force of the sprite and accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto nature hath giuen a beginning Now to come to our purpose this yong Courtier taken and chained in the bandes of loue 〈◊〉 clogged with the beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench 〈◊〉 the meanes how he might inioy the thing after which he hoped To loue hir he demed it vnworthy of his degrée And yet he knew hir to be such by report of many as had a very good wit tongue at wyll and which is more estemed a Paragon and mirror of chast life modesty Which tormented this amorous Mounsier beyōd mesure and yet chaunged not his affection assuring himself that at length he shold attaine the end of his desires and glut his vnsatiable hunger which pressed him frō day to day to gather that soote and sauorous frute which louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of semblable age to this who then was betwene xbj and. xvtj. yeres This louer did to vnderstand to his companions his griefe and 〈◊〉 who sory for the same assayed by all meanes to make him forget it telling him that it was vnséemely for a Gentleman of his accompt to make himself a 〈◊〉 to that people which would come to passe if they knew how vndiscretely he had placed his loue that there wer a number of fair honest gentlewomen to whom conuenably with great contentation he might addresse the same But he which much lesse saw than blind loue him selfe that was his 〈◊〉 he that was more 〈◊〉 of reason aduise than the Poets faine Cupido to be naked of apparel wold not heare the good counsel which his companions gaue him but rather sayd that it was lost time for them to vse suche words for he had rather die and to indure all the mocks scoffs of the world than lose the most delicate pray in his minde that could chaunce into the handes of man adding moreouer that the homelinesse rudenesse of the Countrey had not so much anoyed his new beloued but she deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the greatest Minion and finest attired gentlewoman of the City For this maiden had but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged where other artificially force and by trumperies vsurpe that which the heauens denie them Touching hir vertue let that passe in silence sithēs that she quod hée sighing is too chast
pain and finish thy troublesome trauels Surely I suppose she did so but that shame duety forced hir to vse such wordes to make me thinke that lightly she would not be ouercome by my persuasions And put the case that it were not so who could haue let me to take by force that whervnto willingly she would not accorde But what is she to be reuenged of suche an iniurie She is for conclusion the daughter of a Miller and may make hir vaunte that she hathe mocked a Gentleman who being alone with hir and burning wyth loue durst not staunche hys thirst although full dry so néere the fountaine And by God sayd he rising from a gréene banke néere the fountaines side if I die therfore I wil haue it eyther by loue or force In this wicked and tyrannicall mynde hée retourned to his place where his companyons séeing him so out of quiet sayd vnto him Is this the guise of gentle minde to abase it self to the pursute of so simple a wench Doe not you know the malice of that sexe and the guiles wherewith those Serpents poysen men Care you so little for a woman as she doth for you and then will she imbrace you make much of you hir only study is which I beleue to frame hir selfe against all that for whych humble sute is made But admit that a woman hath some quality to draw men to loue hir honoure and serue hir truely that office and duetifull deuoire ought to be imployed in seruice of them that be honourable in sprite and iudgement of gentle kinde whych no doubte will 〈◊〉 the merite of the suter And certesse I am of opinion that a man may vainely consume a yeare or two in pursuite and seruyce of thys mealy Countrey wenche so well as addresse his loue in the obedience of some faire and honest Gentlewoman which courteously and with some fauoure will recompence the trauailes of hir seruaunt where that rude and sottish gyrle by pryde will vaunt and looke a lofte at the honoure done vnto hir despise them whose worthinesse she knoweth not and whome neither she nor the best of hir lede be worthy to serue in any respect wil you know then what I think best for you to do Mine aduise is then that one of thefe euenings she be trussed vp in a male and brought hither or else in place where you thinke good that you may enioy at pleasure the beautie of hir whome you doe praise and wonder at so much And afterwards let hir dissemble if she lust and make a Jewell of hir chastity and modesty when she hath not to triumph ouer you by bearing away the victory of your pursutes Ah my good friend aunswered the desperate louer how rightly you touche the most daungerous place of all my wound and how soueraine a salue and plaister you apply therunto I had thought truly to intreat you of that whereof euen nowe you haue made the ouerture but fearing to offend you or too much vsurpe vpon your friendship rather had I suffer a death continuall than raise one point of offense or discontentation in them which so frankly haue offred to doe me plesure wherof by Gods assistance I hope to be acquieted with all duety and office of friendship Now 〈◊〉 it to put in proofe the effect of your deuise and that so shortly as I can In like manner you sée that the terme of my héere abode will shortly be expired and if we be once at the Courte impossible it is for me to recouer so good occasion and peraduēture she wil be maried or some other shall cary away the pray after I haue beaten the bushe The plot then of this maidens rape was resolued vpon and the first espied occasion taken But the louer which feared least this heat of his companiōs wold coole sollicited them so muche as the execution was ordayned the folowing night which they did not so muche for the pleasure of their friend to whome in suche aduentures they ought to deny all helpe sith friendeship ought not to passe Sed 〈◊〉 ad ar as as Pericles the Athenian sayd so farre as was sufferable by the lawes of God as for that they wer of nature of the self same tramp which their passionate cōpanion was and would haue made no conscience to enterprise the same for themselues although the other had not tolde them his affections These also be the frutes of vnruled youth wherin only the verdure and gréennesse of the age beareth greatest sway the will whereof reason can not restrayne which easily waltreth and tosseth sooner to the carnall part than to that which tendeth to the pasture and cōtentation of the minde The next night after they 〈◊〉 came accompanied with v. or vj. seruauntes so honest as their maisters in armure weapons well appointed to defend hurt that if any resistance were made they might be able to repell their aduersaries Thus about two of the clocke in the night repaired they to the Mill the heauens hauing throwne their mantell ouer the vaporous earth 〈◊〉 hir face with their vaile obscure dark and yet not such but that the aire was cloudy cléere when no man doubted of so great offēse of such vnhappy rape they brake into the pore millers house betwene whose armes they toke away his daughter déere almost dead for fear piteously begā to cry for help defending hir self so wel as she could from these Theues and Murderers The desolate father raging with no lesse fury than the Hircanian Tigre when hir Faucons be kylled or taken away ran first to one and then to another to let them from carying of hir away for whome they came In the end the amorous rauisher of his daughter sayd vnto him Father Father I aduise thée to get thée hence if thou loue thy life for thy force is too weake to resist so many the least of whome is able to coole this thy foolishe heat and choler for the which I would be sory for the great loue I beare vnto thy daughter who I hope before she depart my company shal haue wherwith to be contēted and thou cause to pacify this immoderate rage which in vain thou yalpest forth against this troupe Ah false knaue and théefe sayd the honest poore man is it thou then which by thine infamous filthinesse insaciable knauerie doest dishonor the commendable fame of my daughter and by like meanes 〈◊〉 the hoped yeres of me hir poore vnhappy father losing through thy wickednesse the staffe and stay of mine olde aged life Thinkest thou Traitor that liuing till this day for all my pouertie in reputation of an honest man in mine old dayes will become an vnshamefast and vile minister and Chapman of my daughters maidenhoode and virginitie No knaue thincke not that I forget the wrong receiued of thée for which by some meanes or other I will purchase iust reuenge either vpon thée or thine The Gentleman caring little or nothing
Who knoweth not that furie of a woman specially of the Noble dame by séeing hir self despised No no she loueth me and I will be hir seruaunt and vse the fortune proffred Shal I be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a Princesse Is it not more honourable for me to settle my minde vpon a place so highe than vpon some simple wenche by whome I shall neither attaine profit or aduauncement Baldouine of Flaunders did not hée a Noble enterprise when he caried away Iudith the daughter of the French King as she was passing vpon that seas into England to be married to the king of that Countrey I am neither Pirat nor aduenturer for that the Ladie loueth me What wrong doe I then to any person by yelding loue againe Is not she at libertie To whome ought she to make accompt of hir dedes doings but to God alone and to hir owne conscience I will loue hir and cary like affection for the loue which I know sée that she beareth vnto me being assured that the same is directed to good end and that a woman so wise as she is will not commit a fault so filthy as to blemish and spot hir honor Thus Bologna framed the plot to intertaine the Duchesse albeit hir loue alredy was fully bēt vpon him and fortified him self against all mishap and perillous chaunce that might 〈◊〉 as ordinarily you sée that louers cōceiue all things for their aduauntage fantasie dreames agreable to that which they most desire resembling the mad and 〈◊〉 persons which haue before their eies the figured fansies which cause the conceit of their furie and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which most troubleth their offēded brain On the other side the Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir louer the wil of whom was hid secrete which more did vexe tormēt hir than that fire of loue that burned hir so feruētly She could not tell what way to hold to do him vnderstand hir heart affection She feared to discouer the same vnto him doubting either of some fond rigorous answer or of reueling of hir mind to him whose presēce pleased hir more than all that men of the world Alas said she am I happed into so strāge misery that with mine own mouth I must make request to him which with al humilitie ought to offer me his seruice Shall a Ladie of such bloud as I am be cōstrained to sue wher all other be required by importunat instāce of their suters Ah loue loue what so euer he was that clothed thée with such puissāce I dare say he was the cruel enimie of mans fredom It is impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen sith that clemencie courteous influence of the same 〈◊〉 mā with better benefits than to suffer hir nourse children to be intreated with such rigor He lieth which sayth that Venus is thy mother for the swéetenesse good grace that resteth in that pitifull Goddesse who taketh no pleasure to sée louers perced with so egre trauails as that which afflicteth my heart It was some fierce cogitatiō of Saturne that brought thée forth sent thée into the world to breake the 〈◊〉 of them which liue at rest without any passion or grief Pardon me Loue if I blaspheme thy maiestie for the stresse and endlesse grief wherein I am plunged maketh me thus to roue at large the doubts which I conceiue do take away the health and soūdnesse of my mind the 〈◊〉 experiēce in thy schole causeth this amaze in me to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the duetie honor and reputation of my state the partie whome I loue is a Gentleman vertuous valiant sage of good grace In this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse for all that inequalitie of our houses apparāt vpon the first sight and shew of the same But frō whence issue the Monarches Princes greater Lords but frō the naturall and common mosse of earth wherof other men doe come what maketh these differēces betwene those that loue eche other if not the sottish opinion which we conceiue of greatnesse and preheminence as though naturall affections be like to that ordained by the fantasie of men in their lawes extreme And what greater right haue 〈◊〉 to ioyn with a simple gentlewoman than the Princesse to mary a Gentleman and such as Anthonio Bologna is in whome heauen nature haue forgotten nothing to make him equall with them which marche amongs the greatest I thinke we be the daily slaues of the fōd and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts which say they haue puissance ouer vs and that straining our will to their tirannie we be still bound to the chaine like the galley slaue No no Bologna shall be my husband for of a friend I purpose to make him my loyall and lawfull husband meaning therby not to offend God men togither pretend to liue without offēse of conscience wherby my soule shall not be hindred for any thing I do by marying him whō I so straūgely loue I am sure not to be deceiued in Loue. He loueth me so much or more as I do him but he dareth not disclose the same fearing to be refused cast off with shame Thus two vnited wils two hearts tied togithers w e equal knot cannot choose but bring forth fruites worthie of such societie Let men say what they list I will do none otherwise than my head and mind haue alredy 〈◊〉 Semblably I néede not make accompt to any 〈◊〉 for my fact my body and reputation being in ful libertie and fréedome The bond of mariage made shall couer the fault which men would déeme leauing mine estate I shall do no wrong but to the greatnesse of my house which maketh me amōgs men right honorable But these honors be nothing worth where the minde is voide of contentation and where the heart prickt forward by desire leaueth the body and mind restlesse without quiet Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterprise determining to mary hir housholde Maister séeking for occasion and time méete for disclosing of the same albeit that a certaine naturall shame 〈◊〉 which of 〈◊〉 accompanieth Ladies did close hir mouth and made hir to deferre for a certaine time the effect of hir resolued minde Yet in the end vanquished with loue and impacience she was forced to breake of silence and to assure hir self in him 〈◊〉 feare cōceiued of shame to make hir waie to pleasure which she lusted more thā mariage the same seruing hir but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir follies shamelesse lusts for which she did the penance that hir follie deserued For no colorable dede or deceitful trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wickednesse She then throughly persuaded in hir intent dreamyng and thinking of nought else but vpon the unbracement of hir Bologna ended and determined hir conceits pretended follies and vpon a time
determination spedily was accomplished one posting towards Rome and the rest galloping to the Countrey and Castels of the Duke These newes reported to the Cardinal his brother it may be considered how grieuously they toke that same for that they were not able to digest thē with 〈◊〉 the yōgest of the brethren yelled forth a thousand cursses despites against the simple sere of womākind Ha said that Prince trāsported with choler driuen in to deadly furie what law is able to punish or restrain the foolish indiscretiō of a womā that yeldeth hir self to hir own desires What shame is able to bridle withdrawe hir from hir minde madnesse Or with what seare is it possible to snaffle thē frō execution of their 〈◊〉 There is no beast be he neuer so wilde but man sometime may tame and bring to his lure and order The force and diligence of man is able to make milde the strong and proud and to ouertake the swiftest beast and foule or otherwise to attaine the highest and déepest thing of the world but this incarnate diuelish beast the woman no force can surmount hir no swiftnesse can approche hir mobilitie no good mind can preuent hir sleights and deceites they séeme to be procreated and borne against all order of nature and to liue without law which gouerneth all other things indued wyth some reason and vnderstanding But what a great abhomination is this that a Gentlewoman of such a house as ours is hath forgotten hir estate and the greatnesse of hir aliance besides the nobilitie of hir deceased husband with the hope of the towarde youth of the Duke hir sonne and our Nephew Ah false and vile bitch I sweare by the almightie God and by his blessed wounds that if I can catch thée and that wicked knaue thy chosen mate I will pipe ye both such a galiarde as ye neuer felt the lyke ioy and mirthe I will make ye daunce such a bloudy bargenet as your whorish heate for euer shall be cooled What abuse haue they committed vnder title of mariage which was so secretely done as their Children do witnesse their filthy embracements but their promise of faith was made in open aire and serueth for a cloke and visarde for their most filthy whoredoine And what if mariage was concluded be we of so little respect as the carion beast would not vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 vs of hir entent Or is Bologna a man worthy to be allied or mingled with the royall bloud of Aragon and Castille No no be hée neuer so good a Gentlemā his race agréeth not with kingly state But I make to God a vewe that neuer will I take one sound and restfull sléepe vntill I haue dispatched that infamous fact from our bloud and that the caitife whoremonger be vsed according to his desert The Cardinall also was on t of quiet grinding his téeth togither chattering forthe Jacke an Apes Pater noster promising no better vsage to their Bologna than his yonger brother did And the better to intrap them both without further sturre for that time they sent to that Lord Gismondo Gonsago the Cardinal of Mantua then Legate for Pope Iulius the second at Ancona at whose hands they enioyed such friendship as Bologna and all his familie were commaūded spedily to auoide the Citie But for al the the Legate was able to do of long time he could not preuaile Bologna had so great intelligēce wtin Ancona Neuerthelesse whiles he differed his departure 〈◊〉 caused the most part of his train his children goods to be conueyed to Siena an auncient Citie of Thoscane which for the state and liberties had long time bene at warres with the Florentines in such wise as the very same day that newes came to Bologna that he shold departe the Citie within xv dayes hée was ready and moūted on horseback to take his flight to Siena which brake for sorrow the hearts of the Aragon brethren séeing that they were deceiued and frustrate of their intent bicause they purposed by the way to apprehend Bologna and to cut him in pieces But what the time of his hard luck was not yet expired and so the marche from Ancona serued not for the Theatre of those two infortunate louers ouerthrow who certain moneths liued in peace in Thoscane The Cardinal night nor day did sléepe and his brother stil did wayt to performe his othe of reuenge And séeing their enimie out of feare they dispatched a post to Alfonso Castruccio the Cardinall of Siena that he might entreat the Lord Borgliese chief of the seignorie there that their sister and Bologna should be banished the Countrey and limits of that Citie which with small sute was brought to passe These two infortunate husbād and wife were chased from al places and so vnlucky as whilom Acasta was or Oedipus after his fathers death and incestuous mariage with his mother vncertain to what Saint to vow themselues and to what place to take their flight In the end they determined to goe to Venice and to take their flight to Ramagua there to imbarke themselues for to retire to the sauegarde of the Citie enuironned with the sea Adriaticum the richest in Europa But the poore soules made their reconing there without their hoste failing half the price of their banket For being vpon the territorie of Forly one of the train a farre off did sée a troupe of horsenien galloping towardes their cōpany which by their countenaunce shewed no signe of peace or amitie at all which made them cōsider that it was some ambush of their enimies The 〈◊〉 Gentleman séeing the onset bending vpon them begā to fear death not for that he cared at all for his mishap and ruine but his heart began to cleaue for heauinesse to sée his wife and litle children ready to be murdered and serue for the passetime of the Aragon brethrens eyes for whose sakes he knew himself already predestinate to die and that for despite of him and to accelerate his death by the ouerthrow of his he was assured that they wold kil his childrē before his face 〈◊〉 But what is there to be done where counsell meanes to escape do faile Ful of teares therfore astonishment fear he expected death so cruel as mā could deuise was alredy determined to suffer the same 〈◊〉 good corage for any thing that the Duchesse could say 〈◊〉 him He might well haue saued himself his eldest sonne by flight being both wel moūted vpon two good Turkey horsses which ran so fast as that quarrel discharged forth of a croshow But he loued too much his wife children and wold kéepe them companie both in life and death In the end the good Ladie sayd vnto him or for all the ioyes pleasures which you can doe me for Gods sake saue your self the little infant next you who can wel indure the galloping of the horse For sure I am that you being out of our cōpanie we shal
not greatly at his ease and quiet who neded no torments to force him confesse the fact for of his owne accorde 〈◊〉 he disclosed the same but he sayde he was prouoked thervnto by the persuasion of Bianca Maria telling the whole discourse as you haue heard before She had already intelligence of this chaunce might 〈◊〉 fled and saued hir selfe before the fact by the confession of Dom Pietro had bene discouered and attended in some secrete place til that stromie time had ben calmed appeased But God which is a rightful iudge would not suffer hir wickednesse extend any further fith she hauing founde out such a nimble wilfull executioner the Coūte of 〈◊〉 could not long haue 〈◊〉 aliue who then in good time and happie houre was absent out of the Citie So soone as Dom 〈◊〉 had accused the Countesse the Lorde of 〈◊〉 sente hir to prison and being examined confessed the whole matter trusting that hir infinite numbre of crownes would haue corrupted the Duke or those that represented his person But hir crownes and hir life passed all one way For the day after hir imprisonment she was condemned to lose hir heade And in the meane time Dom Pictro was saued by the diligence and sute of the captaines was employed in other warres to whome the Duke gaue him for that hée was 〈◊〉 to lose so notable a souldier and the aide of his brother the Counte of Colisano The Coūtesse hauing sentence pronoūced vpon hir but trusting for pardon she wold not prepare hir self to die ne yet by any means craue forgiuenesse of hir faults at the handes of God vntill she was conueyed out of the Castell and ledde to the common place of execution where a scaffold was prepared for hir to play the last acte of hir tragedie Then the miserable Ladie began to know hir self and to cōfesse hir faultes before the people deuoutely praying God not to haue regarde to hir demerites ne yet to determine his wrath against hir or enter with hir in iudgement for so much as if the same were decréed according to hir iniquitie no saluation was to bée looked for She besought the people to praye for hir and the Counte of Gaiazzo that was absent to pardon hir malice and treason which she had deuised against him Thus miserably and repentantly dyed the Countesse which in hir life refused not to imbrace and folow any wickednesse no mischiefe she accompted euill done so the same were imployed for hir pleasure and pastime A goodly example truely for the youth of oure present time sith the most part indifferētly do launch into the gulfe of disordred life suffring them selues to be plunged in the puddles of their owne vain conceipts without consideration of the mischieues that may ensue If the Lord of Cardonne had not ben beloued of his generall into what calamitie had he fallen for yelding him selfe a praie to that bloodie woman who had more regarde to the light and wilfull fansie of hir whome he serued like a slaue than to his duetie and estimation And truely those be voide of their right wittess which thinke them selues beloued of a whoore For their amitie endureth no longer than they sucke from their pursses and bodies any profit or pleasure And bicause almost euery day semblable examples be séene I will leaue of this discourse to take mée to a matter not farre more pleasant than this although founded vpon better grounde and stablished vpon loue the first onset of lawfull mariage the successe wherof chaunced to murderous end and yet the same intended by neyther of the beloued As you shall be iudge by the continuance of reding of the historie ensuing Beare with me good Ladies for of you alone I craue this pardon for introducing the whoorish life of this Countesse and hir bloodie enterprise bicause I know right well that recitall of murders and bloodie facts werieth the mindes of those that loue to liue at rest and wish for faire weather after the troublesome stormes of ragyng seas no lesse than the pilote and wise Mariner hauing long time endured and cut the perillous straicts of the Ocean sea And albeit the corruption of our nature be so great as folies delite vs more than ernest matters full of reason and wisedome yet I thinke not that our mindes be so peruerted and diuided from frouthe but sometimes we care and séeke to speake more grauely than the countrey Hynde or more sobrely than they whose liues do beare the marke of infamie and be to euery wight notorious for the only name of their vocation Suffiseth vs that an historie bée it neuer so full of sporte and pleasure do bring with it instruction of our lyfe and amendement of our maners And wée ought not to be so curious or scrupulous to reiect merrie and pleasaunt deuises that be voide of harmefull talke or without such glée as may hinder the education of youth procliue and redie to choose that is naught and corrupte The very bookes of holy Scriptures do describe vnto vs persons that be vicious so detestable as nothyng more whose factes vnto the symple may séeme vnséemely vpon the leaste recitall of the same And shal we therfore reiect the reading and eschue those holy bookes God forbid but with diligence to beware that we do not resemble those that be remembred there for example for somuch as spéedily after sinne ensueth grieuous and as sodaine punishement For which cause I haue selected these histories of purpose to aduertise youth howe those that folowe the way of damnable iniquitie faile not shortely after their greate offenses and execution of their outragious vices to féele the iuste and mightie hande of God who guerdoneth the good for their good workes and déedes and rewardeth the euill for their wickednesse and mischese Nowe turne we then to the Historie of two the rarest louers that euer were the performaunce and 〈◊〉 whereof had it ben so prosperous as the begynnyng had ioyed 〈◊〉 the fruictes of their intente and two noble houses of one Citie reconciled to perpetuall friendship Rhomeo and Julietta ¶ The goodly Historie of the true and constant Loue betwene RHOMEO and IVLIETTA the one of whom died of poison and the other of sorow and 〈◊〉 wherin be comprised many aduentures of loue and other deuises touching the same The. xxv Nouel I Am sure that they whiche measure the greatenesse of Gods works according to the capacitie of their rude simple vnderstanding wyll not lightly adhibite credite vnto this historie so wel for the va rietie of strange accidēts which be therin described as for that noueltie straungenesse of so rare and perfect amitie But they that haue redde Plinie Valerius Maximus Plutarche and diuers other writers doe finde that in olde tyme a greate numbre of men and women haue died some of excessiue ioye some of ouermuch sorrowe and some of other passions and amongs the same Loue is not the least which when it seaseth vpon
giue To louing man that here on earth doth liue This great good turne which I on hir pretende Of my conceites the full desired ende Proceedes from thee O cruell mystres mine Whose froward heart hath made me to resigne The full effect of all my libertie To please and ease thy fonde fickle fansie My vse of speach in silence to remaine To euery wight a double hellish paine Whose faith hadst thou not wickedly abusde No stresse of paine for thee had bene refusde Who was to thee a trustie seruaunt sure And for thy sake all daungers would endure For which thou hast defaced thy good name And there vnto procurde eternall shame I That roaring tempest huge which thou hast made me felt The raging stormes whereof well nere my heart hath swelt By painefull pangs whose waltering waues by troubled skies And thousand blastes of winde that in those seas do rise Do promise shipwracke sure of that thy sayling Barke When after weather cleare doth rise some tempest darke For eyther I or thou which art of Tygres kinde In that great raging gulfe some daunger sure shalt finde Of that thy nature rude the dest'nies en'mies be And thy great ouerthrow full well they do foresee The heauens vnto my estate no doubt great friendship shoe And do seeke wayes to ende and finish all my woe This penance which I beare by yelding to thy hest Great store of ioyes shall heape and bring my minde to rest And when I am at ease amids my pleasaunt happes Then shall I see thee fall and suarlde in Fortunes trapes Then shall I see thee banne and cursse the wicked time Wherin thou madest me gulpe such draught of poysoned wine By which thy mortall cuppe I am the offred wight A vowed sacrifice to that thy cruell spight Wherefore my hoping heart doth hope to see the daie That thou for silence nowe to me shalt be the praie I O blessed God most iust whose worthy laude and praise With vttered speach in Skies aloft I dare not once to raise And may not wel pronoūce speak what suffrance I sustain Ne yet what death I do indure whiles I in life remaine Take vengeance on that traitresse rude afflict hir corps with woe Thy holy arme redresse hir fault that she no more do soe My reason hath not so farre strayed but I may hope and trust To see hir for hir wickednesse be whipt with plague most iust In the meane while great hauinesse my sense and soule doth bite And shaking feuer vexe my corps for grief of hir despite My mynde now set at libertie from thee O cruell dame Doth giue defiance to thy wrath and to thy cursed name Proclamyng mortall warre on thee vntill my tongue vntide Shall ioy to speake to Zilia fast wepyng by my side The heuēs forbid that causelesse wrōg abrode shold make his vaūt Or that an vndeserued death forget full tombe shoulde haunt But that in written boke and verse their names should euer liue And eke their wicked dedes should die and vertues still reuine So shall the pride and glorie both of hir be punisht right By length of yeares and tract of time And I by vertues might Full recompense therby shall haue and stande still in good fame And she like caitife wretche shall liue to hir long lasting shame Whose fond regarde of beauties grace contemned hath the force Of my true loue full fixt in hir hir heart voide of remorse Esteemed it selfe right foolishely and me abused still Vsurping my good honest faith and credite at hir will Whose loyall faith doth rest in soule and therin still shall bide Vntill in filthie stincking graue the earth my corps shall hide Then shal that soule fraught with that faith to heuēs make his 〈◊〉 And rest amōg the heuenly rout bedeckt with sacred aire paire And thou for thy great crueltie as God aboue doth know With rufull voice shalt weepe and waile for thy great ouerthrow And when thou wouldest fain purge thy self for that thy wretched No kindnesse shal to thee be done extreme shal be thy mede dede And where my tongue doth want his will thy mischief to display My hande and penne supplies the place and shall do so alway For so thou hast constrainde the same by force of thy behest In silence still my tong to kepe t' accomplishe thy request Adieu farewell my tormenter thy friend that is full mute Doth bid thee farewell once againe and so he ends his sute He that liueth only to be reuenged of thy cruelty Philiberto of Virle Zilia like a disdainfull woman made but a iest at the letters and complaints of the infortunat louer saying that she was very well content with his seruice And that when he should performe the time of his probatiou she should sée if he were worthy to be admitted into the felowship of them which had made sufficient proofe of the order and rule of loue In the meane time Philiberto rode by great iourneys as we haue sayd before towards the goodly and pleasant Countrey of Fraunce wherein Charles the seuenth that time did raigne who miraculously but giue the French man leaue to flatter speake vvel of his ovvne Countrey according to the flattering and vaunting nature of that Nation chased the English men out of his lands and auncient Patrimonie in the yeare of our Lord. 1451. This king had his campe then warfaring in Gascoine whose lucke was so fortunate as he expeld his enimies and left no place for thē to fortifie in the sayd Countrey which incouraged the king to folow that good occasion and by prosecuting his victorious fortune to profligat out of Normandie to dispatch himself of that enimy into whose handes and seruitude the Coūtrey of Guiene was rightly deliuered and victoriously wonne and gottē by the Englishmen The king then being in his Campe in Normandie the Piedmont Gentleman the Lord of Virle aforesayd repaired thereunto to serue him in his person where hée was well knowne of some Captaines which had séene him at other times and in place where worthy Gentlemen are wont to frequent and in the Duke of Sauoyes court which the Frenchmen did very much 〈◊〉 bicause the Earle of Piedmont that then was Duke of Sauoy had maried Iolanta the second daughter of Charles the seuenth These Gentlemen of Fraunce were very much sory for the misfortune of the Lord of Virle and knowing him to be one of the brauest and lustiest men of armes that was in his time within the Country of Piedmont presented him before the King commending vnto his grace the vertue gentlenesse and valianee of the man of warre Who after he had done his 〈◊〉 according to his duetie which he knew ful well to doe declared vnto him by signs that he was come for none other intent but in those warres to serue his maiesty whom the king heard and thākfully receiued assuring himself and promising very much of the 〈◊〉 Gitlemā for respect of his personage which was comely
It chaunced in this time that a knight of 〈◊〉 the vassall of King Mathie for that he was likewise king of that countrey borne of a noble house very valiant and well exercised in armes fel in loue with a passing faire Gentlewoman of like nobilitie and reputed to be the 〈◊〉 of all the countrey and had a brother that was but a poore Gentleman not luckie to the goods of fortune This Boemian knight was also not very rich hauing onely a castle with certaine reuenues 〈◊〉 which wer 〈◊〉 able to yeld vnto him any gret maintenance of liuing Fallyng in loue then with this faire Gentlewoman he demaūded hir in mariage of hir brother with hir had but a very litle dowrie And thys knight not wel forseeing his poore estate broughte his wife home to his house there at more leisure cōsidering that same begā to fele his lack penurie how hardly scant his reuenues wer able to maintein his port He was a very honest gentle person one that delited not by any meanes to burden fine his tenants cōtenting himself with the reuenue whiche his auncesters left him the same amounting to no great yerely rent Whē this gentlemā perceiued that he stode in nede of extraordinarie reliefe after many diuers cōsiderations with himself he purposed to folow the court to serue king Mathie his souerain lord master there by his diligence experience to seke meanes for abilitie to sustain his wife him self But so great feruent was that loue that he bare vnto his lady as he thought it impossible for him to liue one houre 〈◊〉 hir yet iudged it not best to haue hir with him to the court for auoiding of further charges 〈◊〉 to courting ladies whose delite 〈◊〉 plesure resteth in the toys tricks of the same that cānot he wel auoided in poore gētlemē without their names in the Mercers or Drapers Iornals a heauy thing for them to consider if for their disport they like to walk that stretes The daily thinking thervpon brought that poore Gentlemā to great sorow heauinesse The lady that was yong wise discrete marking the maner of hir husband feared that he had some 〈◊〉 of hir Wherfore vpon a day she thus said vnto him Dere husband willingly wold I wish desire a good turne at your hand if I wist I should not displease you Demaund what you will said the knight if I can I wil gladly performe it bicause I doe estéeme your satisfaction as I doe mine owne lyfe Then the Ladie very sobrely prayde hym that he wold open vnto hir the cause of that discontenment whiche he shewed outwardly to haue for that hys mynde and behauiour séemed to be contrary to ordinarie custome contriued day and night in fighes auoidyng the companie of them that were wont specially to delight him The Knight hearing his ladies request paused a while and then sayd vnto hir My welbeloued wyfe for so much as you desire to vnderstand my thoughte and mynde and whereof it commeth that I am so sad and pensife I will tell you All the heauynesse wherwith you sée me to be affected dothe tend to this ende Fayne would I deuise that you and I may in honour lyue together according to our calling For in respect of our parentage our liuelode is very poore the occasion whereof were our parentes who morgaged their lands consumed a great part of their goods that our auncesters left them I daily thinkyng herevpon and conceiuing in my head diuers imaginations can deuise no meanes but one that in my 〈◊〉 séemeth best which is that I go to the Court of our souerain lord Mathie who at this present is inferring warrs vpon the Turk at whose hāds I do not mistrust to receiue good 〈◊〉 being a most liberal prince and one that estemeth al such as be valiant and actiue And I for my parte will so gouerne my selfe by Gods grace that by deserte I will procure suche lyuyng and 〈◊〉 as hereafter we may liue in our olde dayes a quiet life to our great stay and comfort For although Fortune hitherto hath not fauored that state of parētage wherof we be I doubt not with noble courage to win that in despite of Fortunes teeth whiche obstinately hytherto shée hath denied And the more assured am I of thys determination bycause at other tymes I haue serued vnder the Lorde Vaiuoda in Transsyluania against the Turk where many times I haue bene required to serue also in the Courte by that honorable Gentleman the Counte of Cilia But when I dyd consider the beloued companie of you dere wife the swéetest companion that euer wyght didde 〈◊〉 I thought it vnpossible for mée to forbeare your presence whych if I should do I were worthy to sustayne that dishonour which a great number of carelesse Gentlemen doe who followyng their priuate gayne and will abandon their yong and faire wyues neglecting the fyre whyche Nature hath instilled to the delicate bodyes of suche tender creatures Fearing therwithall that so soone as I shoulde depart the lustie yong Barons and Gentlemen of the countrey woulde pursue the gayne of that loue the price wherof I doe esteme aboue the crowne of the greatest emperour in all the worlde and woulde not forgoe for all the riches and precious Iewels in the fertile soilt of Arabie who no doubte woulde 〈◊〉 together in greater heapes than euer dydde the wowers of Penelope wythin the famouse graunge of Ithaca the house of wanderynge Vlisses Whyche pursuite yf they dydde attayne I shoulde for euer hereafter bée ashamed to shew my face before those that be of valour and regarde And this is the whole effect of the scruple 〈◊〉 wife that hindreth me to séeke for our better estate and fortune When he had spoken those woords 〈◊〉 held his peace The Gentlewoman which was wise and stout perceiuing the great loue that hir husbande bare hir when he had stayed himselfe from talke with good and mery countenaunce answered hym in thys wise Sir Vlrico which was the name of the Gentleman I in like manner as you haue done haue deuised and thought vpon the Nobilitie and birth of our auncestors from whose state and port and that without our fault and crime we be farre wide and deuided Notwithstanding I determined to set a good face vpon the matter and to make so much of our painted sheath as I could In déede I confesse my self to be a woman and you men do say that womens hearts be faint I féeble but to be plaine with you the contrary is in me my heart is so stoute and ambitious as paraduenture not méete and consonāt to power and abilitie although we women will finde no lacke if our hearts haue pith and strength inough to beare it out And faine wold I support the state wherin my mother maintained me Now be it for mine owne part to God I yeld the thanks I can so moderate and stay
where he had remained for a certaine time and passing before the house of his Ladie according to his custome heard the voice of women maidens which mourned for Montanine therwithal stayd the chiefest cause of his stay was for that he saw go forth out of the palace of his Angelica diuers women making mone lamentation wherfore he demaūded of that neighbors what noise that was whether any in those quarters were dead or no. To whom they declared at length all that which ye haue heard before Salimbene hearing this story went home to his house being secretly entred into his chāber begā to discourse with himself vpon that accident and 〈◊〉 a thousand things in his head in the ende thought that Charles shold not so be cast away wer he iustly or innocently condemned and for the only respect of his sister that she might not be left destitute of all the goodes and inheritance Thus discoursing diuers things at length he sayd I were a very simple person now to rest in dout sith Fortune is more curious of my felicitie than I could wish and séeketh the effecte of my desires when lest of all I thought vpon them For behold Montanine alone is left of al the mortal enimies of our house which to morow openly shall lose his head like a rebell seditious person vpon whose auncesters in him shall I bée reuenged and the quarell betwene our two families shall take ende hauing no more cause to feare renuing of discorde by any that can descend from him And who shall let me then from inioying hir whom I do loue hir 〈◊〉 being dead and his goodes confiscate to the segniorie and she without all maintenance and relief except the aide of hir onely beautie and curtesie What maintenance shall she haue if not by the loue of some honest Gentleman that for his pleasure may support hir and haue pitie vpon the losse of so excellent beautie Ah Salimbene what hast thou sayd Hast thou alreadie forgotten that a Gentleman for that only cause is estemed aboue all other whose glorious factes oughte to shine before the brightnesse of those that force themselues to folow vertue Art not thou a Gentleman borne and bredde in noble house ssued from the loines of gentle and noble parents Is it ignorant vnto thée that it pertaineth vnto a noble and gentle hearte to reuenge receiued iniuries himself without séeking aide of other or else to pardon them by vsing clemencie and princely curtesie burying all desire of vengeaunce vnder the tombe of eternall obliuion And what greater glorie can man acquire than by vanquishing himself and chastising his affections and rage to bynde him whiche neuer thought to receiue pleasure or benefite at his hand It is a thing which excedeth the cōmon order of nature and so it is mete and requisite that the most excellent do make the effects of their excellencie appeare and séeke means for the immortalitie of their remembrāce The great Dictator Caesar was more praised for pardoning his 〈◊〉 and for shewing him selfe curteous and easie to be spoken to than for subduing the braue and valiant Galles and Britons or vanquishing the mightie Pompee Dom Roderico Viuario the Spaniard although he might haue ben reuenged vpon Dom Pietro king of Aragon for his infidelitie bicause he went about to hinder his voyange against the Saracens at Grenado yet wold not punishe or raunsom him but taking him prisoner in the warres suffered him to go without any tribute or any exaction of him and his 〈◊〉 The more I folowe the example of mightie personages in things that be good the more notorious and wonderful shal I make my self in their rare and noble déedes And not willing to forget a wrong done vnto me whereof may I cōplain of Montanine what thing hath hée euer done against me or mine And albeit his predecessors were enimies to our familie they haue therfore borne the penance more hard than the sin deserued And truly I shold be afrayd that God wold suffer me to 〈◊〉 into some mishap if séeing one afflicted I shold reioyse in his affliction take by his decay an argument of ioy plesure No no Salimbene is not of minde that such fond imagination should bereue good will to make himselfe a friend to gaine by liberalitie curtesie hir which for hir only vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being asiured that there is no man except he were 〈◊〉 of al good nature humanitie specially bering the loue to Angelica that I do but he woulde be sory to see hir in such heauinesse and dispaire wold attempt to deliuer hir from such dolorous grief For if I loue hir as I do in dede must not I likewise loue al that which she earnest ly loueth as him that is now in daunger of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens That my heart doe make appere what the loue is which maketh me tributarie and subiect to faire Angelica that eche man may know that furious loue hath vanquisht kings greate monarches it behoueth not me to be abashed if I which am a man subiect tapassiōs so wel as other do submit my self to the seruice of hir who I am assured is so vertuous as euē very necessitie cannot force hir to forget the house wherof she toke hir original Uaunt thy self then 〈◊〉 Angclica to haue forced a heart of it selfe impregnable giuen him a wound which the stoutest lads might sooner haue depriued of life than put him out of the way of his gentle kind And 〈◊〉 Montanine thinke that if thou wilte thy selfe thou wynnest to day so heartie a friende as onely death shall separate the vnion of vs twaine and of all our posteritie It is I nay it is I my selfe that shall excell thée in duetie poynting the way for the wysest to get honor and violently compell the moued myndes of those that be oure aduersaries desiring rather vainly to forgo mine own life than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts whiche be alreadie grifted in my minde After this long discourse séeing that the tyme required diligence he tooke a thousande Ducates and went to the Treasurer of the fines deputed by the state whom he fonnd in his office and said vnto him I haue brought you sir the Thousand Ducates which Charles Montanine is bounde to pay for his deliuerance Tell them and giue hym an acquittance that presently he may come forth The Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest that excéeded the summe of a Thousand Florens but Salimbene refused the same and receiuing a letter for his discharge he sent one of his seruants therwithall to the chiefe Gailer who séeing that the summe of his condemnation was payd immediatly deliuered Montanine out of the prison where he was fast shutte and fettred with great and weighty giues Charles thinkyng that some Frier had ben come to confesse hym and that they had shewed hym 〈◊〉 mercy to do him to
death in prison that abrode in open shame of the world he might not deface the noble house wherof he came was at the first sight astoonned but hauing prepared himself to die praysed God and besought him to vouchsafe not to forget hym in that sorowfull passage wherin the stoutest and coragious many times be faint inconstant He recōmended his soule he prayed forgiuenesse of his sinnes and aboue all he humbly besought the goodnesse of God that it woulde please him to haue pitie vpon his sister and to deliuer hir from all infamie and dishonor When he was caried out of the Gayle and brought before the chiefe Gailer sodainely his giues were discharged from his legs euery of the standers by looked merily vpon hym without speaking any worde that might asfray him That Curtesie 〈◊〉 for made hym attende some better thing and 〈◊〉 him of that which before by any means he durst not thinke And his expectation was not deceiued For the Gailer sayd vnto him Be of good chéere sir for beholde the letters of your discharge wherfore you may go at libertie whether you list In saying so he opened the pri son and licensed Montanine to depart praying him not to take in yl part his intreatie and hard imprisonment for that he durst doe none other the State of the Citie hauing so enioyned him May not eche wight now beholde how that the euents of loue be diuers from other passions of minde How coulde Salimbene haue so charitably deliuered Montanine the hatred beyng so long time rooted betwéene the two houses if some greate occasiō which hath no name in Loue had not altred his nature and extinguished his affection It is meritorious to succour them whome we neuer saw before sith nature moueth vs to doe well to them that be like our selues But faith surmounteth there where the very naturall inclination féeleth it selfe constrained and seeth that to be broken which obstinately was purposed to be kept in minde The graces gentlenesse beautie mild behauior and allurement of Angelica had greater force ouer Salimbene than the humilitie of hir brother although hée had knéeled a hundred times before hym But what heart is so brute but may be made tractable and mylde by the contemplation of a thing so rare as the excellent beautie of that Siena maiden and woulde not humble it selse to acquire the good graces of so perfect a damsel I wil neuer accuse man for being in loue with a faire and vertuous woman nor estéeme hym a slaue which painefully serueth a sobre maiden whose heart is fraught with honest affections and mind with desire tending to good ende Well worthie of blame is he to be demed which is in loue with the outward hew and praiseth the trée onely laden with floures without regard to the fruict which maketh it worthy of cōmenbation The yong maiden muste néedes resemble the floure of the Spring time vntill by hir constancie modestie and chastitie she hath vanquished the concupiscence of the slesh and brought forth the hoped fruite of a vertue and chastitie not common Otherwyse 〈◊〉 shall be like the inrolled souldier whose valiance his only minde doth witnesse the offer which he maketh to him that dothe register his name in that muster bokes But whē the efsect of 〈◊〉 is ioyned with his 〈◊〉 and proofe belieth not his promise then the 〈◊〉 imbraceth him and aduanceth him as a glasse for his affaires frō that time forth The like of dames hauing passed the assaults and resisted the attempts of their assaylants which be honest not by force being not required but inclined by their owne nature and the diligence of their chast and inuincible heart But returne we again vnto our purpose Montanine when he was deliuered forthwith went home to his house to comfort hir whō he was more than sure to be in great distresse and heauinesse for his sake and which had so much néede of cōfort as he had to take his rest He came to that gate of his pallace where béeing knowne that it was Montanine his sister by any meanes coulde not be made to beleue the same so impossible séeme things vnto vs which we most desire They were all in doubte like as we reade that they were when S. Peter escaped Herods prison by the Angels meanes When Angelica was assured that it was hir brother sobbes were layde aside sighes were cast away and heuie wéepings conuerted into teares of ioy she went to imbrace and kisse hir brother praising God for his deliuerance and making accompt that he had ben raised frō death to life considering his stoutnesse of mind rather bent to die than to forgo his lande for so small a price The dames that wer kin vnto him and taried there in companie of the maiden half in dispaire lest by dispaire and furie she might fall into outrage therby to put hir life in peril with al expedition aduertised their husbāds of Montanines libertie not looked for who repaired thither as wel to reioyce with him in his ioy and good fortune as to make their excuse for that they had not trauailed to ryd him from that miserie Charles which cared nothing at all for those mouth blessings dissembled what he thought thanking them neuerthelesse for their visitation and good remēbrance they had of him for visiting cōforting his sister which honor he estemed no lesse than if they had imployed the same vpon his owne person Their friends kinsfolk being departed assured that none of them had payde his ransom he was wonderfully astoonned the greater was his grief for that he coulde not tel what he was which without request had made so gentle a proofe of his liberalitie if he knew nothing farre more ignorant was his sister forsomuch as she did thinke that he had chaunged his minde that the horrour of death had made him sell his countrey inheritance to him which made the first offer to buie the same but either of them deceiued of their thought went to bed Montanine rested not all the night hauing still before his eyes the vnknowne image of him that had deliuered him His bed serued his turne to none other purpose but as a large fielde or some long alley within a woodde for walkes to make discourse of his myndes conceipts sometymes remembring one somtimes another without hitting the blanke and namyng of hym that was his deliuerer vnto whome he confessed him selfe to owe hys seruice and duetie so long as hée lyued And bycause hée saw the day beginne to appeare and that the mornyng the Uauntcurrour of the day summoned Appollo to harnesse hys horsse to begynne his course in our Hemisphere he rose and wente to the Chamberlain or treasurer such as was deputed for receit of the Fines sessed by the State whom he saluted and receiuing lyke salutation he prayed him to shewe him so much pleasure as to tell him the parties name that was so liberall to satisfie his fine due in
shift besturred him in Erra Pater for matching of two contrary elements For colde in Christmasse holy dayes and frost at Twelftide shewed no more force in this poore lerned scholer thā the Suns heat in the Feries of Iuly gnats flies waspes at noone dayes in Sōmer vpon the naked tender corpse of this fair Widow The Scholer stode belowe in a Court benoommed for cold the widowe preached a lofte in the top of a Tower and 〈◊〉 woulde haue had water to coole hir extreme heat The scholler in his shirt bedecked with his demissaries The widow so naked as hir graundmother Eue without vesture to shroud hir The widow by magike Arte what so euer it cost wold faine haue recouered hir lost louer The Scholler well espying his aduaūtage when he was asked councel so incharmed hir with his Sillogismes as he made hir to mount a tower to cursse the time that euer she knew him or hir louer So that widow not well beatē in causes of schole was whipt with the rod wherwith she scourged other Alas good woman had she knowne that olde malice had not bene forgotten she would not haue trusted lesse committed hir self to the circle of his enchauntments If women wist what dealings are with men of great reading they wold amongs one hundred other not deale with one of the meanest of those that be bookish One Girolamo Ruscelli alearned Italian making pretie notes for that better elucidation of the Italian Decamerone of Boccaccio iudgeth Boccaccio himself to be this scholler whom by another name he termeth to be Rinieri But whatsoeuer that Scholler was he was truly too extréeme in reuenge therein could vse no meane For he neuer left the pore féeble soule for all hir curteous woords and gentle supplication vntil the skin of hir flesh was parched with the scalding sunne beames And not contented with that delt his almose also to hir maide by sending hir to help hir mistresse where also she brake hir legge Yet Philenio was more pitifull ouer the thrée Nimphes faire Goddesses of Bologna whose History you may read in the xlix Nouell of my former Tome He fared not so roughly with those as Rinieri did with this that sought but to gain what she had lost Wel how so euer it was and what differencie betwene either of them this Hystorie ensuing more amply shall giue to vnderstand Not long sithens there was in Florence a yong gentlewoman of worshipfull parentage faire and comely of personage of courage stout and abounding in goods of fortune called Helena who being a Widow determined not to mary again bicause she was in loue with a yong man that was not voide of natures goodly gifts whom for hir owne toothe aboue other she had specially chosen In whome setting aside all other care many times by meanes of one of hir maids which she trusted best she had great pleasure and delite It chaūced about the same time that a yong Gentleman of that Citie called Rinieri hauing a great time studied at Paris retourned to Florence not to sell his Science by retaile as many doe but to know the reasons of things and the causes of the same which is a maruellous good exercise for a Gentleman And being there honoured greatly estemed of all men aswell for his curteous behauioure as also for his knowledge he liued like a good Citizen But as it is commonly séene they which haue best vnderstanding and knowledge in things are soonest tangled in Loue euen so it happened to this Rinieri who repairing one day for his passetime to a feast this Madame Helena clothed all in blacke after the manner of widowes was there also and séemed in his eyes so beautiful and wel fauored as any woman that euer he sawe and thought that he might be accompted happy to whome God did she we so much fauoure as to suffer him to be cleped betwene hir armes beholding hir diuers times and knowing that the greatest and dearest things can not be gotten without laboure he determined to vse all his endeuoure and care in pleasing of hir that thereby he might obtaine hir loue and so enioy hir The yong Gentlewoman not very bashfull conceiuing greater opinion of hir selfe than was néedefull not casting hir eyes towards the ground but rolling them artificially on euery side and by and by perceiuing much gazing to be vpon hir espied Rinieri earnestly beholding hir and sayd smiling to hir selfe I thinke that I haue not this day lost my time in comming hither for if I be not deceiued I shall catch a Pigeon by the nose And beginning certaine times stedfastly to loke vpon him she forced hir selfe so much as she could to séeme effectuously to beholde him and on the other parte thinking that the more pleasant and amorous she shewed hir self to be the more hir beautie should be estéemed chiefly of him whome specially she was disposed to loue The wise Scholler giuing ouer his Philosophie bent all his endeuor hereunto thinking to be hir seruaunt learned where she dwelt and began to passe before hir house vnder pretense of some other occasion wherat the Gentlewoman reioysed for the causes beforesaide faining an earnest desire to beholde him Wherfore the Scholler hauing found a certaine meane to be acquainted with hir maide discouered his loue praying hir to deale so with hir mistresse as he might haue hir fauor The maide promised him very willingly and incontinently reported the same to hir mistresse who with the greatest scoffes in the world gaue eare therunto sayd Séest thou not frō whence this goodfellow is come to lose al his knowledge doctrine that he hath brought vs from Paris Now let vs deuise therefore how he may be handled for going about to séeke that which he is not like to obtain Thou shalt say vnto him when he speaketh to thée againe that I loue him better than he loueth me but that it behoueth me to saue mine honoure and to kéepe my good name and estimation amongs other women Which thing if he be so wise as he séemeth he ought to esteme regarde Ah poore Wench she knoweth not well what it is to mingle huswiuery with learning or to intermeddle distaues with bokes Now the maid when she had found the Scholler told him as hir mistresse had commaūded wherof the Scholler was so glad as he with greater endeuor procéeded in his enterprise and began to write letters to the Gentlewoman which were not refused although he could receiue no answeres that pleased him but such as were done opēly And in this sort the Gentle woman long time fed him with delayes In the end she discouered all this newe loue vnto hir friend who was attached with such an aking disease in his head as the same was fraught with the reume of ialosie wherfore she to she we hir selfe to be suspected without cause very careful for the Scholler sēt hir maid to tel him that she had no conuenient time to doe
a Storke in cold nights perceiuing himself to be mocked assayed to open the doore or if he might goe out by some other way and seeing it 〈◊〉 stalking vp and downe like a Lion curssed the nature of the time the wickednesse of the woman the length of the night and the folly and simplicitie of himself and conceiuing great rage and despite against hir turned sodainly the long and feruent loue that he bare hir into despite and cruell hatred deuising many and diuers meanes to be reuenged which he then farre more desired thā he did in that beginning to lye with his Widow After the prolixitie and length of the night day approched and the dawning therof began to appeare wherefore the maide instructed by hir mistresse went downe into that Court and séeming to haue pitie vpon the Scholler sayd vnto him The Diuell take him that euer he came hither this night for he hath bothe let vs of sleepe and hath made you to be frosen for colde but take it paciently for this time some other night must be appointed For I know well that neuer thing could chaunce more displeasantly to my mistresse than this But the Scholler ful of disdaine like a wise man which knewe wel that threats and menacing words were weapons without hands to that threatned retained in his stomake that which intemporate will wold haue broken forth and with so quiet words as he could not shewing himself to be angry sayd In décde I haue suffred that worste night that euer I did but I knowe the same was not through your mistresse fault bicause she hauing pitie vpon me came downe to ercuse hir self and to comfort me and as you say that which cannot be to night may be done another time commend me then vnto hir and fare wel And thus the pore Scholler stiffe for colde so well as he could retourned home to his house where for extreme colde and lacke of 〈◊〉 being almost dead be threw himselfe vpon his bed and when he awaked his armes and legges were benoommed Wherfore he sent for physitions and tolde them of the colde which he had taken who incontinently prouided for his health and yet for al their best and spedie remedies they could scarce recouer his sinewes wherin they did what they could and had it not ben that he was yong the Sommer approching it had ben to much for him to haue endured But after he had recouered health and grewe to be lustie secrete malice still resting in his breast he thought vpon reuenge And it chaunced in a litle time after that Fortune prepared a newe accident to the Scholer to satisfie hys desire bycause the yong man which was beloued of the Gentlewoman not caryng my longer for hir fell in loue with an other and gaue ouer the solace and pleasure he was wont to do to mystresse Helena for which she consumed in wéepings and 〈◊〉 But hir maide hauing pitie vpon hir sorowes knowing no meanes to remoue the melancolie which she conceiued for the losse of hir friend and seing the Scholer dayly passe by acording to his common custome conceiued a foolish beliefe that hir mistresse frēd might be brought to loue hir againe and wholly recouered by some charme or other sleight of Necromancie to be wrought and broughte to passe by the Scholer Which deuise the told vnto hir mistresse and she vndiscretely and without the due consideration that if the Scholer had any knowledge in that science he woulde helpe himselfe gaue credite to the words of hir maide and by and by sayd vnto hir that she was able to bring it to passe if he woulde take it in hande and therwithall promised assuredly that for recompense he shoulde vse hir at his pleasure The maide diligently tolde the Scholer hereof who very ioyfull for those newes sayd vnto him self O God praised be thy name for now the time is come that by thy helpe I shall requite the iniuries done vnto me by this vngracious woman and bée recompensed of the great loue that I bare vnto hir and sayd to the maid Go tel thy mistresse that for this matter she néede to take no care for if hir friende were in India I could presentely force him to come 〈◊〉 and ask hir forgiuenesse of the thing he hath cōmitted against hir will And the maner and way how to vse hir self in this behalfe I will giue hir to vnderstand when it shal please hir to appoint me and faile not to tell hir what I say comforting hir in my behalf The maide caried that answer it was concluded that they should talk more hereof at the church of S. Lucie whither being come resoning together alone not remembring that she had brought the Scholer almost to the point of death she re ueled vnto him all the whole matter the thing which he desired praying him instantly to helpe hir to whom the Scholer sayd True it is Lady that amongs other thyngs whiche I learned at Paris the Arte of 〈◊〉 whereof I haue very great skill is one but bycause it is much displeasant to God I haue made an othe neuer to vse it eyther for my selfe or for any other howebeit the loue which I beare you is of such force as I can not denie you any request yea and if I shoulde be damned amongs all the deuils in hell I am readie to perform your pleasure But I tel you before that it is a harder matter to be doue than peraduēture you beleue and specally when a woman shall prouoke a man to loue and a man the woman bycause it can not be done but by the propre person whome it dothe touche and therefore it is méete what so euer is done in any wyse not to bée afrayde for that the coniuration must bée made in the night and in a solitarie place without companie Which thing I know not how you shall bée disposed to doe To whome the woman more amorous than wise aunswered Loue pricketh mée in such wise as there is nothing but I dare attēpt to haue him againe that causelesse hath forsaken me But if it be your pleasure tel me wherein it behoueth that I bée so bold and hardie The Scholer subtil ynough said I must of necessitie make an image of brasse in the name of him that you desire to haue which being sente vnto you you must when the Moone is at hir full force bath your self alone stark naked in a running riuer at the first hour of sléepe 〈◊〉 times with the same image and afterwards being still naked you must go vp into some trée or house vnhabited and turnyng youre selfe towardes the northside thereof with the image in your hand you shall say 〈◊〉 times certain words that I will giue you in writing which when you haue done two damsells shall come vnto you the fairest that euor you saw and they shall salute you humbly demaunding what youre pleasure is to commaundé them to whome you shall willingly declare in good
grief and sorow and there with those naturall qualities couered also in obscure darknesse that compassed thée rounde about The yl fauored noise and ianglyng of thy chaines the deformitie of thy face forced for lack of light and the stench of the infected prison that prouoked sicknesse and the forsaking of thy friends had quite debased all these perfections wherwith now thou séemest to be so lustie Thou thoughtest me then to be worthie not only of a yong man of a royall blood but of a God if it were possible to haue him so soone as thou contrary to al hope didst once 〈◊〉 thy naturall countrey like a most pestilent person without any difficultie haste chaunged thy minde neuer since thou wast deliuered 〈◊〉 dyd call into thy remembraunce how I was that 〈◊〉 that I was she alone that dyd remembre thée that I was she alone that had compassion on thy missehap and that I was onely shée who for thy health dyd imploye all the goodes she hadde I am I am I say that Camiola who by hir money raunsomed thée out of the handes of the Capitall enimies of thyne auncesters from fetters from prison finally deliuered thée from miserie extreme before thou wer altogether settled in dispaire I reduced thée againe to hope I haue reuoked thée into thy coūtrey I haue brought thée into the royall palace and restored thee into thy former estate and of a prisoner weake and ylfauored haue made thée a yong Prince strong and of fayre aspecte But wherefore haue I remembred these thyngs wherof thou oughtest to be verie mindefull thy selfe and whyche thou art not able to denie Sith that for so great benefites thou hast rendred me such thankes as being my husbande in déede thou haddest the face to denie me mariage alreadie contracted by the deposition of honest witnesses and approued by letters signed with thine owne hande Wherefore diddest thou despise me that hath deliuered thée Yea and if thou couldest haue stained the name of hir with infamie that was thine only refuge and defender yea and wouldest gladly haue giuen cause to the common people to thinke lesse than honestie of hir Art thou ashamed thou man of little iudgement to haue to wyfe a wydow the daughter of a knight 〈◊〉 how far better had it bene for thée to haue ben ashamed to breake thy promised faith to haue despised the holy and dreadfull name of God and to haue declared by thy curssed vnkindnesse howe full fraught thou art with vice I do confesse in dede that I am not of the royall bloode not withstanding from the cradle being trained and brought vp in the companie of kings wiues and daughters no great maruell it is if I haue indued and put on a royall heart and manners that is able to get and purchase royal nobilitie But wherfore do I multiplie so many words No no I wil be very facile and easie in that wherin thou hast ben to me so difficult and harde by resisting the same with all thy power Thou hast refused heretofore to be mine and hauing vanquished thée to be such frankly of mine owne accorde I doe graunt that thou art not Abide on Gods name with thy royall nobilitie neuerthelesse 〈◊〉 with the spot of infidelitie Make much of thy youthly lustinesse of thy transitorie beautie and I shal be cōtented with my widow apparell and shall leaue the riches which god hath giuē me to heires more honest thā those that might haue come of thée Auaunt thou wycked yong man sith thou art cōpted to be vnworthy of me lerne with thine own expence by what subtiltie guiles thou mayest betray other dames suffiseth it for me to be once deceiued And I for my part fully determine neuer to tary lōger with thée but rather chastly to liue without husband which life I deme far more excellent than with thy match cōtinually to be coupled After shée had spoken these wordes shée departed from him and from that time forth it was impossible either by prayers or admonitions to cause hir chaunge hir holie intent But Rolande all confused repenting himself to late of his ingratitude blamed of 〈◊〉 man his eyes fired vpon the grounde 〈◊〉 not onely the presence of his brethren but of all 〈◊〉 of people dayely ledde from that tyme forth a moste miserable life and neuer durst by reason to demaunde hir againe to wife whome he had by disloyaltie refused The king and the other barons maruelling of the noble heart of the Ladie singularly commended hir and exalted hir praises vp into the skies vncertaine neuerthelesse wherin she was most worthie of praise either for that contrarie to the couetous nature of women she had raunsomed a yong man with so great a summe of money or else after she had deliuered him and sentence giuē that he was hir husband she so couragiously refused him as an vnkinde man vnworthie of hir company But leaue we for a time to talke of widowes and let vs sée what the Captaine and Lieutenant of Nocera can alledge vpon the discourse of his cruelties whiche although an ouer cruell historie yet depainteth the successe of those that applie their mindes to the sportes of Loue such Loue I meane as is wantonly placed and directed to no good purpose but for glutting of the bodies delight which bothe corrupteth nature maketh féeble the body lewdely spendeth the time and specially offendeth hym whō maketh proclamation that whooremongers and adulterers shall neuer inherite his kingdom The Lordes of Nocera ¶ Great cruelties chaunced to the Lords of NOCERA for adultry by one of them committed with the Captaines wife of the forte of that Citie with an enterprise moued by the Captaine to the Citizens of the same for rebellion and the good and duetiful answer of them with other pitiful 〈◊〉 rising of that notable and outragious vice of whoredome The. xxxiij Nouel THE furious rage of a husband offēded for the chastitie violated in his wife surpasseth all other ingendreth malice againste the doer whatsoeuer he be For if a Gentleman or one of good nature cannot abyde an other to doe him any kinde of displeasure much lesse to hurt him in his body how is he able to endure to haue his honoure touched specially in that part which is so néere vnto him as his owne soule Man and 〈◊〉 being as it were one body and one will wherein men of good iudgement cannot well like the opinion of those good fellowes which say that the honoure of one that is lusty and coragious dependeth not vpon the fault of a foolishe woman For if that were true which they so lightly vaunt I wold demaunde wherfore they be so animated angry against them which adorne their head with braunched hornes the Ensignes of a Cuckolde And truely nature hath so well prouided in that behalfe as the very sauage beastes doe fight and suffer death for suche honest iealosie Yet will I not praise but rather accuse aboue all faultie men
smoke forced that capten to com forth by like means made him his brother childrē to tread that dāce that his wife before had done Cōrade by by caused those bodies to be thrown forth for fode to the wolues other rauening beasts birds liuing vpon that pray of carriō causing also his brethrē that gētlewomā honorably to be bu ried which gentlewomā had born that penāce worthy for hir fault Such was that end of that most miserable yll gouerned loue that I thinke mā hath euer red in writing which doth clerely witnesse that ther is no plesure so gret but Fortune by changing turning hir whéele maketh a hūdred times more bitter thā desire of such ioy dothe yeld delite And far better it wer besides the offēse done to god neuer to cast eye on womā thā to bord or proue them to raise such sclanders facts which cannot be recoūted but with the horror of the herers nor written but to the great grief of those the muse studie vpō that same not withstāding for instructiō of our life both good bad examples be introduced offred to the view of ech degrée and state To the end that whoordom may be auoided bodily pleasure eschewed as moste mortall and pernicious plagues that doe infect as wel the body and reputation of man as the integritie of the minde Besides that eche man ought to possesse his owne vessel and not to couete that is none of his vnséemely also it is to solicite the neighbors wife to procure therby the disiunction and defaite of the whole bonde of mariage which is a treasure so deare and precious and carieth so great griefe to him that séeth it defaced as our Lorde to declare the grauitie of the fact maketh a comparison of his wrathe against them which runne after straunge Gods and applieth the honour due vnto hym to others that do not deserue the same with the iust disdain and rightfull choler of a iealous husband fraught wyth despite to sée himselfe dispoiled of the seasure and possession onely giuen to him and not subiecte to any other what soeuer he be Lerne here also O ye husbands not to flie with so nimble wing as by your own authoritie to séeke reuenge without fearing the folies sclanders that may insue Your sorow is iust but it behoueth that reason doe guide your fantasies and bridle your ouer sodaine passions to the intent that ye come not after to sing the dolefull song of repentance like vnto this foolish man who hauing done more than he ought and not able to retire without his ouerthrowe threw him self into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition And let vs all fixe fast in memorie that neuer vnruled rage and wilful choler brought other benefite than the ruine of him that suffered him selfe to runne hedlong into the same and who thinketh that all that which is natural in vs is also reasonable as though Nature were so perfect a worke woman as in mans corruption she could make vs Angels or halfe gods Nature folowing the instincte of that which is naturall in vs doth not greatly straye from perfection but that is gyuen to few and those whome God dothe loue and choose And Uertue is so seldome founde as it is almoste impossible to imitate that perfection And briefly to say I wil conclude with the Author of this present Historie Angre is a 〈◊〉 short To him that can the same excell But it is no laughing sport In whome 〈◊〉 senselesse rage doth dwell That pang confoundeth eche mans wittes And shameth him with open shame His honour fades in frantike fittes And blemisheth his good name The King of Marocco ¶ The great Curtesie of the Kyng of MAROCCO a Citie in BARBARIE 〈◊〉 a poore Fisherman one of hys subiects that had lodged the Kyng beyng strayed from his companie in hunting The. xxxiiij Nouel FOr so much as the more than beastly crueltie recounted in the former Historie doth yeld some sowre tast to the minds of those that bée curteous gentle and wel conditioned by nature and as the stomacke of hym that dayly vseth one kinde of meate be it neuer so delicate daintie dothe at length lothe and disdaine the same and vtterly refuseth it I now chaunge the diet leauing for a certain time the murders slaughters despaires and tragicall accidents chaunced either in the loue or in the ielosie of a louer or of a husband turn my stile to a more plesant thing that may so wel serue for instruction of the noble to folowe vertue as that which I haue alreadie written maye rise to their profite warely to take héede they fall not into such deformed and 〈◊〉 faults as the name and praise of mā be defaced and his reputation decayed if then the contraries be knowne by that which is of diuers natures the villanie of great crueltie shall be couuerted into the gentlenesse of great curtesie and rigor shal be condemned when with swetenesse and generositie the noble shall assay to wynne the heart seruice and affected deuotion of the basest sort so the greatnesse and nobilitie of man placed in dignitie and who hath puissance ouer other consisteth not to shew himselfe hard and terrible for that is the maner of tyrants bicause he that is feared is consequently hated euill beloued and in the ende forsaken of the whole world which hath bene the cause that in times past Princes aspiryng to great 〈◊〉 haue made their way more easie by gentlenesse and Curtesie than by furie of armes stablishing the foundations of their dominions more firme durable by those means than they which by rigor and crueltie haue sacked townes ouerthrowne Cities depopulated prouinces and 〈◊〉 landes with the bodies of those whose liues they haue depriued by dent of sword 〈◊〉 the gouernement and authoritie ouer other carieth greater subiection than puissance Wherefore Antigonus one of the successoures of greate Alexander that made all the earth to tremble vpon the recitall of his name seing that his sonne behaued himself to arrogātly and without modestie to one of his subiectes reproued and checked him and amongs many wordes of 〈◊〉 and admonition sayde vnto him Knowest thou not my sonne that the estate of a Kyng is a noble and honorable seruitude Royall words in dede and méete for a Kyng For albeit that eche man dothe him reuerence and that he be honoured and obeyed of all yet is hée for all that the seruaunt and publike minister who ought no lesse to defende hys subiecte than hée that is the subiecte to doe hym honoure and homage And the more the Prince doth humble himself the greater increase hath his glorie and the more wonderful he is to euery wight What aduanced the glory of that Iulius Caesar who firste depressed the Senatorie state of gouernement at Rome Were his victories atchieued ouer the Galles and Britons and afterwardes ouer Rome it selfe when he had vanquished Pompee Al those serued his
tourne but his greatest fame rose of his clemencie and curtesie In such wise as he shewed hym selfe to be gentle and fauourable euen to them whome he knewe not to loue him otherwise than if he had bene their mortal enimie His successors as Augustus Vespasianus Titus Marcus Aurelius Flauius were worthily noted for clemencie Notwithstandyng I sée not one drawe néere to great courage and gentlenesse ioyned with the singular curtesie of Dom Roderigo Viuario the Spaniarde surnamed Cid towarde Kyng Pietro of Aragon that hyndred his expedition againste the Mores at Grenadoe For hauyng vanquished the 〈◊〉 King and taken hym in battell not only remitted the reuenge of his wrong but also suffered hym to goe without raunsome and toke not from him so much as one forte estéeming it to be a better exploite to winne such a king with curtesie than beare the name of cruell in putting hym to death or seazing vpon his lande But bicause acknowledging of the poore and enriching the small is more cōmendable in a Prince than when he sheweth himselfe gentle to his like I haue collected thys discourse and facte of Kyng Mansor of Marocco whose children by subtile and fained religion Cherif succéeded the sonne of whome at this day inioyeth the kingdoms of Su Marocco and the most part of the 〈◊〉 confinyng vpon Aethiopia This historie was told by an Italian called Nicholoso Baciadonne who vpon this accident was in Affrica and in trafike of marchandise in the land of Oran situated vpon the coast of that South seas and where the Geneuois and Spaniards vse great entercourse bicause the countrey is faire wel peopled and where the inhabitaunts although the soile be barbarous lyue indifferent ciuilly vsing greate curtesie to straungers and largely departyng their goodes to the poore towards whome they be so earnestly bente and louing as for their liberalitie and pitifull alinesse they shame vs Christians They mainteyne a greate numbre of Hospitalls to receyue and intertaine the poore and néedie which they doe more charitably than they that be bounde by the lawe of Iesus Christe to vse charitie towardes their brethren wyth that curtesie and humaine myldnesse These Oraniens delight also to recorde in writing the successe of things that chaunce in their tyme and carefully reserue the same in memorie whiche was the cause that hauyng registred in theyr Chronicles which be in the Arabie letters as the moste parte of the Countreys do vse thys present historie they imparted the same to the Geneuois marchauntes of whome the Italian Author confesseth 〈◊〉 haue receyued the Copie The cause why that Geneuois marchaunt was so diligent to make that enquirie was by reason of a citie of that prouince built through the chaunce of this Historie and which was called in theyr tongue Caesar Elcabir so much to say as A great Palace And bycause I am assured that curteous mynds will delight in déedes of curtesie I haue amongs other the Nouells of Bandello chosen by Francois de Belleforest and my selfe discoursed thys albeit the matter be not of great importance and greater thyngs and more notorious curtesies haue bene done by our owne kings and Princes As of Henry the eyght a Prince of notable memorie in his progresse in to the Northe the xxxiij yeare of his raigne when he disdained not a pore Millers house being stragled from his traine busily pursuing the Hart and there vnknown of the Miller was welcomed with homely chere as his mealy house was able for the time to minister and afterwards for acknowledging his willing minde recompenced him with dainties of the Courte and a Princely rewarde Of Edward the thirde whose Royall nature was not displeased pleasauntly to vse a 〈◊〉 Tanner when deuided from his company he mette him by the way not farre from Tomworth in Staffordshire and by cheapening of his welfare stéede for stedinesse sure and able to cary him so farre as the stable dore grewe to a price and for exchaunge the Tanner craued 〈◊〉 shillings to boote betwene the Kings and his And whē the King satisfied with disport desired to shew himself by sounding his warning blast assembled al his train And to the great amaze of the pore Tanner when he was guarded with that 〈◊〉 he well guerdoned his good pastime and familiare dealing with the order of 〈◊〉 and reasonable reuenue for the maintenaunce of the same The like examples our Chronicles memory and report plentifully doe auouche and witnesse But what this History is the more rare and worthy of noting for respect of the people and Countrey where seldome or neuer curtesie haunteth or findeth harboroughe and where Nature doth bring forth greater store of monsters than things worthy of praise This great King Mansor then was not onely the temporall Lord of the Countrey of Oran and Moracco but also as is saide of Prete Iean Bishop of his law and the Mahomet priest as he is at this day that 〈◊〉 in Feze Sus and Marocco Now this Prince aboue all other pleasure 〈◊〉 the game of Hunting And he so muche delighted in that passetime as sometime he would cause his Tentes in the midde of the desertes to be erected to lie there all night to the ende that the next day he might renewe his game and 〈◊〉 his men of idlenesse and the wilde beastes of rest And this manner of life he vsed still after he had done iustice and hearkened the complaintes for which his subiectes came to disclose thereby their griefes Wherin also he toke so great pleasure as some of our Magistrates doe seke their profite whereof they be so squeymishe as they be desirous to satisfie the place whereunto they be called and render all men their right due vnto them For with their bribery and sacred golden hunger Kings and Princes in these dayes be yll serued the people wronged and the wicked out of feare There is none offense almost how villanous so euer it be but is washed in the water of bribery and clensed in the holly drop wherewith the Poetes faine Iupiter to corrupt the daughter of Acrisius faste closed within the brasen Toure And who is able to resist that which hath subdued the highest powers Now returne we from our wanderings This great King Mansor on a day 〈◊〉 his people to hunt in the not marish fenny Countrey which in elder age was farre off from the Citie of Asela which the Portugalles holde at this present to make the way more frée into the Isles of Molncca of the most parte whereof their King is Lord. As he was attentife in folowing a Bear his passe-time at the best the Elementes began to darke and a great tempest rose such as with the storme violent wind scattred the train far of from the King who not knowing what way to take nor into what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 retire to auiode the tempest the greatest the he felt in all his life would wyth a good wyl haue ben accōpanied as the Troiane 〈◊〉 was