relie upon his Oratory able enough in his owne conceit to entangle no small flies within the fine spun cobweb of his fucetious Language Him the Prince sends for with much greedinesse of desire to see as also with a longing expectation to heare what he would say of his Honoria in he comes Lorenzo receives him with much respect Bertaldo with grinding teeth he Bertaldo with great humanity the Prince ask'd him How he had left his affaires in Carthage and what winde had blowne him thither what was become of his Honoria commanding an accompt of that particular in the first place Maximanus with much reverence and more confidence speaks as followeth Sir if you will have me speake in a word on my soule she 's innocent and I can no more imagine her to be otherwise than I can suppose the Sun's clarity to be guilty of the same blemishes wherewith the unconstant Moone seems spotted The good opinion I had of her virtue to me was such that I refus'd intelligence from mine owne eyes and eares Why said Bertaldo what did you see or heare speake out your full meaning Worthy Bertaldo reply'd Maximanus let not a truth offend you that proceeds from the mouth of him who is as great an Admirer of her worth and rare perfection as if he were her Brother but yet there were strange reports stranger evidence and demonstration it selfe was strangest of all What demonstration said Bertaldo what reports and what evidence why dost thou not tell us what they were Good Bertaldo said the Prince forbeare let him speake his minde Worthy Bertaldo said Maximanus give me leave to touch this sore as gently as I may I doe not tell you that I believe any thing of all that I have heard or what was witnessed against her nor what I saw but I believe that envy and malice have joyn'd issue in the same Conspiracy I believe the Witnesses were false and that there was more than honest craft us'd to bring these things about and that delusion had cast some false medium before our optick nerves when we beheld the supposed vile Hortensius in the same Bed between Honoria and Amarissa of which there are divers Witnesses answering the former Reports Whereupon Bertaldo with much vehemence cryes out Thou Liest and I 'le justifie it to be a Lie wert thou a hundred Maximanus ' s. To whom Maximanus gently reply'd Worthy Bertaldo you need not for Maximanus hath in this businesse given himself the Lie oftner by many times and is ready to write her Accusation false with no other point but what this sword shall willingly enable me a Subscriber to her innocence with the blood of her Accusers but how to reconcile the beliefe within me to my outward senses I cannot tell if you 'le have me sweare she 's honest virtuous loyall chaste I le doe it presently or if beyond beliefe you 'le have me say I know it to be so I le say and sweare that too yet I have eyes and eares that gave me this intelligence and yet I could never give them the least credit Sir if she be not true to you I le lose my life and if I have not seen all this with these same eyes I am not Maximanus This speech mingled in the same headpiece with so many truths and falshoods mysterious expressions and downright language Riddles and Positives so stupified those two of so neare relation as Husband and Brother that they stood like so many senslesse Statuaes as if both their soules had suffered one ecclipse Lorenzo first recovering as first outed of himselfe ask'd Maximanus If there were not some Witchcraft in 't or if some delusion had not beguil'd their senses Maximanus as if he had been overjoy'd that the Prince had found it out return'd this Answer that he rejoyced exceedingly to see how the Prince had hit the same nayle on the head that he had been hammering at all this while and if there were not Witchcraft in 't he durst endure all the torments that the shades of endlesse rest with all their Hags and Furies thereunto belonging could inflict upon those Mortals who wilfully doe fight against the Gods Bertaldo began to be wonderfully pleas'd with this discourse Lorenzo not to be fully satisfied with his relation and if Similitude may obtaine Pardon for the Homelinesse of the Comparison I may tell you that these two Princes retir'd themselves for Solitude into severall Corners like those inferiour creatures who having got between their teeth some huge and mighty bone though there be never so little meat upon 't yet run away with it into some corner or other there privately to gnaw upon that which shame would not permit them to manage so in Publique and at last are faine to leave it finding their hunger more exasperated with toyle and labour than their bellies satisfied with sustenance so fruitlesse was their fumbling at this Gordian Knot whilst Maximanus laughes in his sleeve to thinke into what Dumps his omnipotent braine had cast these Sonnes of the Almighty At last watching his opportunity he findes Lorenzo all alone and much perplex'd whose troubled mind he appeases with a remedy worse then the disease Sir said he what need you vex your soul with these anxieties Know you not that there is a Man whom all Affrica admires for his rare Art and Skill in representing to the inquisitive view of any man that hath a desire to know what things have past between mortall creatures relating to any concernment Hath not your Victories spread your Glory over the place of his Nativity And will you make so little use of your Conquest as not to lay such Commands upon him as will quickly solve all doubts and set us all to rights who are thus bewildred in the maze and labyrinth of these turnings and windings of our restlesse thoughts Honoria deserves that you should use the meanes to quit your selfe of these vaine Jealousies and feares For on my soule shee is as Chast as ever the shee-turtle dove can be unto her mate Though I could not stop my Eares nor shut mine Eyes against those things which I both saw and heard I should be as glad to be satisfied my selfe as you aliis rebus pietatem colas we must set sorcery and witchcraft together by the eares if the servants play the jack we must complaine unto the Master Devill I had rather be brought into Paradise againe by his meanes then to carry such a Hell within my bosome for want of a little shaking hands with the Devill Pardon me Sir if I venture too boldly in my advice seeing my love cannot endure to see you in such a storme as is ready to make Shipwrack of all your happinesse and to overwhelme all your glory in the depression of the greatest of your contentments Whereupon Lorenzo stops his further speaking with Embracements crying over and over againe Honest Maximanus how much am I beholding unto thee Who would have done this
heart said Corderius in the two folios of my unfeigned lips which assures you that I love you and have loved you long have travailed a great many Miles and I have been a suiter to you many Yeares and though it seems never so strange to you yet let my words finde credit for truths sake and be the happiest Woman in the world These words spoken with such a grace attended with so much gravity and proceeding from such a presence fraught Fortunata not only with wonder but Confidence not so much out of the manner as matter of his discourse that there was something in it extraordinary that promised a reality and good meaning in the man wherefore she desired to know his name Corderius told her that she that must be his Wife must never know that untill she be so Fortunata desired to know what Countryman he was Corderius told her that that was another secret which must not be knowne and to cut you off from all those ordinary demands of Women in your Condition said Corderius Lady you must know that that Woman which carryes my Wives eye in her head must looke no further then my self for if I should tell you my name what Countryman I am who sent me hither what meanes I have to Maintaine you c. It may be you would or would not have me for this or that respect wherefore Madam I shall never aske you but these two questions First Can you Love Secondly Can that Love have any Influence upon my person I neither thinke my selfe so amiable or my Condition so inviting as to deserve the complement of an intire affection but if you can finde in your heart to Marry me I aske no more I 'le finde cause enough for ever to banish all repentance from your heart so that reason shall finde no fault in your election Weigh my words as seriously as you can I have no ends upon you but what are Honourable and Just Portion I aske none Proportion and Comelinesse I see your Parentage and Piety I hear of And of this you may assure your selfe had you a Fortune of your owne able but to have bought the Cloathes upon your Back you could not be my Wife And one thing more I must tell you I must have your speedy Answer Fortunata thought it not convenient that her consent should be obtained upon the first blush yet her Colour as if it went on Errants to her intellectualls to know the meaning of so strange yet effectuall manner of Wooing and returning againe into her Cheekes with so fresh a dye as if it had made hast in it's returne gave him some private intelligence that her faint heart was ready to yeeld up her Mayden garrison upon the first summons but that her modesty mutinyed against its higher officer and would not suffer so regular fortifications to be so soon sleighted by such a loving Enemy wherefore she desired longer time to consider of what he had said and she would returne him an answer worthy of his respect Corderius told her bluntly it must not be and that he would neither be beholding for a Wife to time persons or second thoughts and that she was at her owne disposall to chuse a Husband whose condition was but servitude And that the ignorance of all worldly respects that must give him a Wife in Marriage needed not consideration and the Poverty that should bring him a Bed-fellow did not deserve the advice of Friends This was his humour and that if she would take him upon those termes Happinesse should be her joynture Contentment the life she should lead and Sufficiency her constant maintenance More then that she that is to be his Wife should never know before she were his and if she were ordain'd his Spouse she would be satisfied with that assurance Fortunata took occasion by the Fore-top fearing it would be bald behind and thought it better wisedome to lay hold of an opportunity that might advance her though to an unknown Estate then to be constantly wedded to even reckonings at the years end Wherefore she thus resolv'd upon the question Sir whose Name I know not whose Country I must not know whose Estate is I know not what who means to carry me I know not where I am yours I know not how And with that word Corderius opening his Armes to receive her into his Bosome Fortunata falls upon his Breast and weeping clings so close unto him as if a bleeding Vine had been tackt unto some stately Frontispice whose teares Corderius soone wip'd off drying her Bedewed cheeks with this breath of comfort Lady if you knew your owne happinesse you should finde you have no cause for what you doe except you wept for joy Fortunata having fully consented that Corderius should break a Bridall Cake over her head hastens to her Lady-Aunt and Mistresse and with a clear'd up countenance tels her That she is come to take her leave of her Why whither art thou going said her Mistresse I am going to me be Married said Fortunata To be Married said her Aunt I prethee to whom Truly Madam I cannot tell you said her Neice What is his name said the Lady I doe not know said Fortunata How comes that about said the Mistresse He would not tell me said the Maid Whither doth he mean to carry thee said Besanca He will not tell me said Fortunata Art thou in earnest said the Lady Yes forsooth said the Waiting Gentle-woman Art thou not out of thy wits Girl said Besanca Madam I hope not said Fortunata I 'le have him and if it please the fates if there were no more men in the world The Girle is bewitcht upon my life said Besanca what hath he done to her where is this fellow let me speak with him Away she flies upon Corderius and in furious manner begins to expostulate the case with him whose pretty kind of answers no lesse satisfied the Lady then with much probability that her Neece was likely to clime up to some preferment through some fantasticall Stair-case Wherefore after many doubts resolved she gives consent with this proviso that Favorinus her own Brother should go along with her together with a servant of the Ladies call'd Prickette who should see them marryed for he was resolv'd to carry her away with him presently she as resolute to be gon up he takes her behind him on Horse-back without any more circumstance He is a Prince and his Humour must be obey'd Farewell Aunt God b'y Cosen Look to your Sister said Besanca I warrant you said Corderius all shall be well enough take you no care They shake hands at one another and cry Da Da and this was all the solemnity of their departure They had not advanced seven miles onward in their journey but they lost their way and the night overtaking them they were bewildred in a Forrest at last they met with a Forresteer who brought them to a poore Inne where they were glad
his Wife Armena together with some other circumstances collected a great many particulars conducing to a perfect knowledge of the meanes whereby Armena had obtain'd that Soveraignty over her Husband which as good as known she as good as acknowledged which was the occasion of some discourse betweene them two concerning atchievements of that nature For Armena was of opinion That there was never a Woman in the world but might have her will of her Husband and doe what she would with him except she were a fool let him be of what disposition he could be of How is that said Fanor That were a Doctrine that would finde many Disciples if you could teach it them Truly said Armena I can teach it you With all my heart said Fanor I would willingly learn it that I might teach it to my Mistrisse whereby she might become an excellent Wife O said Armena she will never learn it of you it must be taught her by one of her own sex that she may learn it from her How is it I beseech you Madam A wise Wife said Armena must prie into the inclination and disposition of her Husband observe his humours informe her selfe of what temper he is made otherwise she gives battaile before she knowes how the enemy lyes many a foolish Woman hath lost the day for want of this forecast if she perceives him to be of a Noble constitution of mind and magnanimous spirit then whatsoever hers is let her submit to him and then as a flint is sooner malleable that receives its stroakes upon the yeilding cushion than upon resisting iron so the stoutest heart mollifies and relents upon the softnesse of a disposition that hardens where it meets with opposition Or like a fiddle-stick Madame said Fanor which though you sit upon it with all your weight upon a hard bench yet it will not break but if you lay it on a feather-bed and so repose your weight upon it it will break immediately Come come you are a wagge said Armena I speak nothing but reason Mars his Men have minds like Mars his Livery and are of the same nature of the Buffe they weare through which a Straw may insinuate it selfe when the sharpest edge or point can neither cut nor enter through which the mildnesse of a breath can puffe the fierce flame of an incensed Taper out which full-chopt Boreas with his keenest breath can never pierce A noble mind will foster up those pleasing submissions of a Wife with such condescentions as shall be incouragements to a good subject whereas contention between such high Spirits is like Brimstone mingled with Coal and Peter whereof such a composure is soone made as with the additament of the least heat the whole frames piles and building which have been erected upon no lesse firme foundation then sacred vows and conjugall affections have been oftentimes blown up and have return'd no greater benefit to their Parents then Noise and Terrour But if she finds her Husband to be a poor spirited man then let her put hard a Gods Name for no small share in the Government Then let her make her self if she can a Free state her husband but her Duke of Venice She doth but like those Indian Women who carry their Heads in their Bosoms such a Man wil be glad to do any thing for quietnes sake like dying man whose spirits being spent and weak sayes I to every thing to avoid troublesomnesse whereas the want of these inspections and prosecutions is the occasion of all the combustions that are twixt Man and Wife There is no way to make an abject minde become a monster but by humouring of it and if you sacrifice complacencies to such a poverty you make him a Tyrant Madame said Fanor your Ladyship speaks in extreames but what would you doe if you had an indifferent Man to your Husband Truely Fanor said Armena I have often pray'd against such a one and have often requested of the God of Marriage that he would give me either a wise Man or a Foole to my Husband for I ever thought that if I had a wise Husband he knew how to govern me or if a Foole I knew how to order him but I speake not Fanor of greater or lesser capacities of wit and understanding which allow a meane but of high or vulgar spirits which admit no medium for the enquiries I meane which we make into the disposition of a Man is to know of what mettle he is made whether of base or noble not of what ingenuity he is of or how many degrees he hath taken in that excellence for Noblenesse is either higher or lower according to the severall occasions it hath to worke upon but still wee are not to consider them as distinct Species by their severall occurrences but as one and the same kinde and altogether one noble nature and the latter being a contrary quality and base temper of the blood we never examine of how inferiour an allay it is which also seems to us more or lesse according to the severall accidents it meets withall yet still we must totall the particulars under the notion of Ignoblenesse so that in this consideration there is no place left for Indifference to act her part and these two leafes of the same dore have never a wicket to let a sneaking disposition creep between them either he must be a brave Gallant Man or else some faint-hearted cowardly Companion and if he be but either of these I can play my game to my owne advantage But all this while Madame said Fanor you suppose the wisdome altogether in the Wife what if the Husband were a wise Man may not he tame rule or have his Wife at his beck of whatsoever spirit she were of I have granted you that already said Armena my Argument holds good from the lesser to the greater but Mans wisdome must not be there exercis'd in the observation of humours or discerning of spirits but in the well management of the power of his dominion for both Civill and Divine Lawes have given such a soveraignty to men over their Wifes that they oftentimes lose their Prerogatives by seeking to gaine that by Reason which is theirs by Authority He that gives a Woman leave to argue the case with him doth but like a foolish Gamester that lends a needy fellow mony to play against himselfe For though the matter be never so just on her side concerning which they may contest yet the cause cannot be but unjust on her part in regard it is Contestation which ought not to be I would have a wise man to admit his wife his Councellour but not his Opponent to help him to finde out the truth of things but not to strive for victory in the Argument or carry more saile then ballast in her words That man who seeks to over top his wifes high Spirit with a higher is but like a King who condescends to receive satisfaction from a Subject by fighting
awhile at last he makes a stand and with his Cane in his hand makes a Circle upon the ground inclosing himselfe as a tittle in that round ☉ where he thus speaks unto his Widow Madame thus it is in short now I am to be had but if ever I step one step out of this Circle if there were no more Men in the world no Woman alive should have me And as he was going to step out of the round she bids him Hold asking him Sir shall I not speake in vaine will you not refuse your selfe my Husband if I should now say I am your Wife Favorinus engages his Honour that she should not if without any delayes she gave her full consent and tooke him whilst he was in the humour Then said Bisalta Sir I am yours and all my Fortunes as much at your disposall as my selfe Agreed said Favorinus And pull'd her within the line of Communication where they plighted their Troths to one another calling their Servants to stand by as Witnesses and the Gods to sit in presence where we must leave them for a while to trace the Successes of Bertaldo and Berontus in their Adventures CHAP. XIX Bertaldo arrives at Spaine He is entertained by the Duke of Medina Caeli His Valarous behaviour in the Battell against the Moores the Duke acknowledges Periissa to be his Daughter and bestowes her upon Bertaldo He heads the Alpian Bandits and helps Berontus to overthrow the remainder of the Goths Amarissa found to be the Sister of Bertaldo AS to the first Bertaldo had no sooner arrived at Porto Sancta Maria and acquir'd convenience for his comportment to Cogolludo the Duke of Medina Coeli his Mansion house in the Kingdome of Toledo but he could hear how that all Spaine was up in Armes and then upon the generall designe of Expulsing the Moores It rejoyced Bertaldo exceedingly that occasion was given him of meriting the acquaintance of that truth the invention whereof was his sole imployment Wherefore without any other expostulations with him for the present he tells him who he was and that he came to offer his Service in this Expedition and withall let him not be ignorant how it had been his Trade And as modestly as he could told him with what Successes his good Fortune had beene Crown'd in former Victories against that Nation Coeli makes it known unto him how much he acknowledged himselfe Honour'd with that tendure and although the Ancient Family of the Cerda's acknowledg'd him to be the Chief and his Bloud no lesse Royall than the Potent Kings of Castile have acknowledg'd his descent yet he must submit to him that writ himself Newphew to the Emperour of the World and that he should not onely Command him but bespeak his own Commands I here intend no description of Battailes or to speak COMME UN CLERC DES ARMES it shall suffice that Bertaldo had such a Command as deserv'd his Conduct and fitted his mind wherewith he behav'd himselfe so Gallantly in that Bloudy and last day of Battaile that ever was fought betweene the daring Spaniards and the most Barbarous and Bloudy Moores that he not onely got immortall Honour especially in that dayes Service to the amazement of those Gallant soules I mean the Spaniards who are never sparing in giving Worth the just reward of prayses in what Countryman soever the desert is found and as wary in putting Palmes into their owne natives Hands where they are claimed but with the least doubt of merit having once rescued their King from eminent danger twice thrust his Launce through the maine body of the Tawny Monster and at last when Coeli's Son had lost his life in the Cause and by his death had gained his Friends the Victory Bertaldo would not suffer the sacrifice to be of none effect but gave the Moores quickly to understand that his Bloud was Poyson to their hopes Gaul and Vineger to their Thirst and every drop Periods to their Successes Thus Spaine formerly lost by Lust and entred by these Moores in at the sides of a lascivious ravisher was Re-instated by means of a Chast Virgin Bertaldo having acted his part so well Coeli was not backward to Honour him with the highest respects that could be imagined among the rest he express'd upon occasion a great deal of willingnesse to serve his merits Bertaldo reply'd That it lay in his power to doe him that Curtesie that would be the most acceptable favour of any thing that lay in his power to grant or his to ask Coeli asked him what it was and told him it should be granted I ask you nothing said Bertaldo but that you would give me truth Coeli bid him onely aske and have find and take Then I ask you upon your Honour Had you not a Daughter who was called Periissa mark't with the Sun and Moon upon her Arme Have you not put this Daughter from you was she not carried into a strange Country and will you not re-call her back againe or how long doe you intend she shall be forsaken Coeli admires the perspicuity of that Mystery and tells him That for truth sake he would not dececeive him and for his promise sake he would not utterly relinquish her telling him moreover he did it but to humble the Mother that bare her and to lead his Child through adversity that she might attaine to that perfection of humility of which he hop'd by this time she was mistresse of assuring him that though she seem'd to be out of his sight and he might seeme to hide his face from her yet his providence was never wanting in the supply of such necessaries as were expedient for her though she knew not whence they came and that now the time was come for her recallment her only Brother being dead and she all the Children he had living But Bertaldo said the Duke how came you to understand all this Onely by hearing seeing and believing said Bertaldo by hearkning to Adminda's voice by seeing the Signes and Wonders upon her Armes and by believing both Coeli ask'd him Have you not brought a Petition with you as well as a Narration Bertaldo said I have and it is soone said I desire your Daughter Coeli reply'd and it is as soone granted She is yours and all that Coeli has to give but you must have her upon this one condition I will performe it what ever it be if it be possible said Bertaldo To which Coeli made no other reply but this Thus possible it is you must lose no time in the accomplishment of your owne desires That I may not said Bertaldo I take my leave to be obedient to your Commands so departed and finding that Prince of the Ayre to blow contrary winds in the full face of his designe he feared it would be construed negligence to attend that favour wherefore he cross'd the Perenean and Alpian Mountaines to overcome a difficulty and the better to crosse that Mediterranean that deny'd him