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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Palace of Pleasure + Volume 2 + +Author: William Painter + +Editor: Joseph Haslewood + Joseph Jacobs + +Release Date: October 10, 2010 [EBook #34053] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALACE OF PLEASURE *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Meredith Bach, Chris Curnow, Carlo +Traverso and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class = "mynote"> + +<p><a name = "start" id = "start">This text</a> uses UTF-8 (Unicode) +file encoding. If the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph +appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable +fonts. First, make sure that your browser’s “character set” or “file +encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the +default font.</p> + +<p>Typographical errors are shown in the text with <ins class = +"correction" title = "like this">mouse-hover popups</ins>. Details are +given at the end of the file.</p> + +<p>Note that the editions of Painter and Haslewood were published in two +volumes (“Tome I” and “Tome II”), while Jacobs’s edition (the present +text) was published in three volumes.</p> + +<p>Volume I of this work, including the Introduction, is available from +Project Gutenberg as a <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20241">separate +e-text</a>.</p> + +<p class = "center"> +<a href = "#contents">Contents</a> (entire Volume)<br> +<a href = "#tomeI_title">Tome I</a><br> +<a href = "#tomeII_title">Tome II</a><br> +<a href = "#errata">Errors and Inconsistencies</a></p> + +</div> + + +<h1 class = "six">THE</h1> + +<h1 class = "extended">PALACE OF PLEASURE</h1> + +<h2 class = "five">VOL. II.</h2> + +<hr> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<h5><span class = "blackletter">Ballantyne Press</span></h5> +<h6>BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.<br> +EDINBURGH AND LONDON</h6> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<hr> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<a name = "titlepage" id = "titlepage"> </a><br> +<img src = "images/vol2title.jpg" width = "407" height = "578" +alt = "see end of text"></p> + +<p class = "center"> +<span class = "mynote"><a href = "#titletext">Title Page +Text</a></span></p> + + +<p> <br> </p> + +<hr> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page_v" id = "page_v">v</a></span> + +<h2><a name = "contents" id = "contents"> +<span class = "extended">TABLE OF CONTENTS</span>.</a></h2> + +<h4>VOLUME II.</h4> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/decline_toc.png" width = "74" height = "7" +alt = "----"></p> + +<table class = "toc" summary = "table of contents"> +<tr> +<td class = "heading" colspan = "3"> +<a href = "#tomeI_title">TOME I.</a>—<i>Continued.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item smaller">NOVEL</td> +<td></td> +<td class = "right smaller">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_47">XLVII.</a></td> +<td>GALGANO AND MADONNA MINOCCIA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page3">3</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_48">XLVIII.</a></td> +<td>DUKE OF VENICE AND RICCIARDO</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page8">8</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_49">XLIX.</a></td> +<td>FILENIO SISTERNO</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page18">18</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_50">L.</a></td> +<td>MULETEER’S WIFE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page29">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_51">LI.</a></td> +<td>KING OF NAPLES</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page32">32</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_52">LII.</a></td> +<td>PRINCESS OF FLANDERS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_53">LIII.</a></td> +<td>AMADOUR AND FLORINDA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page45">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_54">LIV.</a></td> +<td>DUKE OF FLORENCE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page75">75</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_55">LV.</a></td> +<td>FRANCIS I. AND COUNT GUILLAUME</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page81">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_56">LVI.</a></td> +<td>LADY OF PAMPELUNA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page84">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_57">LVII.</a></td> +<td>STRANGE PUNISHMENT OF ADULTERY</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page97">97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_58">LVIII.</a></td> +<td>PRESIDENT OF GRENOBLE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page101">101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_59">LIX.</a></td> +<td>GENTLEMAN OF PERCHE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page104">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_60">LX.</a></td> +<td>GENTLEMAN THAT DIED OF LOVE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page107">107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_61">LXI.</a></td> +<td>LADY OF THE FRENCH COURT</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page113">113</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_62">LXII.</a></td> +<td>ROLANDINE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page116">116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_63">LXIII.</a></td> +<td>THE PRUDENT LADY</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page135">135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_64">LXIV.</a></td> +<td>LADY OF TOURS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page139">139</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel1_65">LXV.</a></td> +<td>DOCTOR OF LAWS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page142">142</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class = "heading" colspan = "3"> +<a href = "#tomeII_title">TOME II.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan = "2"><a href = "#tomeII_title">TITLE</a></td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page147">147</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan = "2"><a href = "#tomeII_dedic">DEDICATION</a></td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page149">149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan = "2"><a href = "#tomeII_contents">CONTENTS</a></td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page154">154</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan = "2"><a href = "#tomeII_auth">AUTHORITIES</a></td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page158">158</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_1">I.</a></td> +<td>AMAZONS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page159">159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"> +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page_vi" id = "page_vi">vi</a></span> +<a href = "#novel2_2">II.</a></td> +<td>ALEXANDER AND SISIGAMBIS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page166">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_3">III.</a></td> +<td>TIMOCLIA OF THEBES</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page172">172</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_4">IV.</a></td> +<td>ARIOBARZANES</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page176">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_5">V.</a></td> +<td>ARISTOTEMUS THE TYRANT</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page209">209</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_6">VI.</a></td> +<td>TANAQUIL</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page221">221</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_7">VII.</a></td> +<td>SOPHONISBA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page236">236</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_8">VIII.</a></td> +<td>PORIS AND THEOXENA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page252">252</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_9">IX.</a></td> +<td>LADY OF HIDRUSA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page256">256</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_10">X.</a></td> +<td>EMPRESS FAUSTINA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page260">260</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_11">XI.</a></td> +<td>TWO MAIDS OF CARTHAGE</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page264">264</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_12">XII.</a></td> +<td>LETTERS OF TRAJAN</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page279">279</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_13">XIII.</a></td> +<td>LAMIA, FLORA, AND LAIS</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page301">301</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_14">XIV.</a></td> +<td>ZENOBIA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page311">311</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_15">XV.</a></td> +<td>EUPHEMIA AND ACHARISTO</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page320">320</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_16">XVI.</a></td> +<td>MARCHIONESS OF MONFERRATO</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page338">338</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_17">XVII.</a></td> +<td>ANSALDO AND DIANORA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page342">342</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_18">XVIII.</a></td> +<td>MITHRIDANES AND NATHAN</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page348">348</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_19">XIX.</a></td> +<td>KATHARINE OF BOLOGNA</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page355">355</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_20">XX.</a></td> +<td>THORELLO AND SALADIN</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page363">363</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_21">XXI.</a></td> +<td>ANNE OF HUNGARY</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page383">383</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class = "item"><a href = "#novel2_22">XXII.</a></td> +<td>ALEXANDER DE MEDICI</td> +<td class = "number"><a href = "#page406">406</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<a name = "page_vii" id = "page_vii"> </a> + +<a name = "page_viii" id = "page_viii"> </a> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page1" id = "page1">1</a></span> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<a name = "tomeI_title" id = "tomeI_title"> </a><br> +<img src = "images/tome1title.png" width = "339" height = "591" +alt = "see end of text"></p> + +<p class = "center"><span class = "mynote"> +<a href = "#tomeI_text">Tome I: Title Page Text</a></span></p> + +<a name = "page2" id = "page2"> </a> + + +<div class = "maintext"> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page3" id = "page3">3</a></span> + +<h2><span class = "blackletter">The Palace of Pleasure.</span></h2> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/decline0.png" width = "54" height = "7" +alt = "----"></p> + +<h3><a name = "novel1_47" id = "novel1_47"> +THE FORTY-SEUENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A gentleman called Galgano, long time made sute to Madonna Minoccia: her +husband sir Stricca (not knowing the same) diuers times praised and +commended Galgano, by reason whereof, in the absence of her husband, she +sent for him, and yelded herself vnto him, tellinge him what wordes her +husbande had spoken of him, and for recompence he refused to dishonest +her.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstletter">I</span>n the Citie of Siena in Italie +there was a rich yong Gentleman called Galgano, borne of noble birth, +actiue, and wel trained in al kinde of exercise, valiaunt, braue, stoute +and curteous, in the maners and orders of all countries verye skilfull. +This Galgano loued a Gentlewoman of Siena named Madonna Minoccia, the +wyfe of sir Stricca a comely knight, and wore in his apparell the colour +and deuises of his Lady, bearing the same vppon his helmet and armour, +in all Iustes, Tourneyes and triumphes, obseruing noble feastes and +banquettes for her sake. But for all those costly, sumptuous and noble +practises, this Lady Minoccia in no wyse would giue eare vnto his sutes. +Wherfore Galgano at his wittes ende, was voyde of aduise what to do or +saye, seing the great crueltie and rigor raigning in her breste, vnto +whom hee dayle prayed for better successe and fortune than to himselfe. +There was no feast, banquet, triumph, or mariage, but Galgano was there, +to do her humble seruice, and that daye his minde was not pleased and +contented, wherein he had not seene her that had his louing harte in +full possession. Very many times (like a Prince +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page4" id = "page4">4</a></span> +that coueted peace) he sente Ambassadours vnto her, wyth presentes and +messages, but she (a proude and scornefull Princesse) dayned +neither to heare them or receiue them. And in this state stode this +passionate Louer a longe time, tormented with the exceeding hote Loue +and fealtie that he bare her. And many times making his reuerent +complaints to loue, did say: “Ah Loue, my deare and soueraigne Lorde, +how cruell and hard harted art thou, how vnmercifully dealest thou with +me, rather how deaf be thine eares, that canst not recline the same to +my nightly complaintes, and dailye afflictions; How chaunceth it that I +do in this maner consume my ioyfull dayes with pining plaintes? Why +doest thou suffer me to Loue, and not to be beloued?” And thus +oftentimes remembringe the crueltie of loue, and his ladies tyrrany, hee +began to dye in maner like a wight replete with despaire. But in fine, +he determined paciently to abide the good time and pleasure of Loue, +still hoping to finde mercie: and daily gaue himselfe to practise and +frequent those thinges that might be acceptable and pleasant to his +Lady, but shee still persisted inexorable. It chaunced that sir Stricca +and his fayre wyfe, for their solace and recreation, repaired to one of +their houses hard by Siena: and upon a time, Galgano passing by with a +Sparhauke on his fiste, made as though he went on Hauking, but of +purpose onely to see his lady. And as he was going by the house, sir +Stricca espied him, and went forth to meete him, and familiarly taking +him by the hand, prayed him to take parte of his supper with his wyfe +and him: for which curtesie Galgano gaue him thanckes, and said: “Sir, +I do thancke you for your curteous requeste, but for this time I +pray you to hold me excused, because I am going about certaine affayres +very requisite and necessary to be done.” Then sayde sir Stricca: “At +least wise drincke with mee before you depart.” But giuing him thankes +he bad him farewell. Maister Stricca seing that hee could not cause him +to tary, toke his leaue, and retourned into his house. Galgano gone from +maistre Stricca, sayd to himselfe: “Ah, beast that I am, why did I not +accept his offer? Why should shamefastness let me from the sight of her, +whom I loue better than all the world besides.” And as he was thus +pensife in complaintes his spaniells sprong a Partrich, wherat he let +flee his +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page5" id = "page5">5</a></span> +Hauke, and the Partrich flying into sir Stricca his garden, his Hauke +pursued and seassed vppon the same. Maister Stricca and his Ladye +hearinge that pastime, ranne to the garden window, to see the killing of +the Partrich: and beholding the valiante skirmishe betweene the foule +and the hauke, the lady asked whose hauke it was: her husband made +aunswere that he knew well inoughe the owner, by the goodnesse and +hardines of the same. “For the owner of this hauke (quoth hee) is the +trimmest and most valiaunt gentleman in all Siena, and one indued with +beste qualities.” The lady demaunded what he was? “Maister Galgano (said +her husband,) who euen now passed by the gate, and I prayed him very +earnestly to supper, but hee woulde not be intreated. And truly wyfe, he +is the comliest gentleman, and moste vertuous personage, that euer I +knewe in my life.” With those wordes they wente from the windowe to +supper: and Galgano, when he had lured his Hauke, departed awaye. The +Lady marked those words and fixed them in minde. It fortuned within a +while after, that sir Stricca was by the state of Siena sent in +ambassage to Perugia, by reason wherof, his Lady at home alone, so sone +as her husband had taken his iourney, sent her most secrete and trustie +maide, to intreat maister Galgano, to come and speake with her. When the +message was done to Galgano, (if his heart were on a merie pinne, +or whether his spirits dulled with continuall sorrowe were againe +reuiued, they knowe that most haue felte the painefull pangues of Loue, +and they also whose flesh haue beene pearced wyth the amorous arrowes of +the little boy Cupide:) he made aunswere that hee would willingly come, +rendringe thanckes both to the maistresse and maide, the one for her +paine, and the other for her good remembraunce. Galgano vnderstanding +that sir Stricca was gone to Perugia, in the eueninge at conuenient +time, repaired to the house of her whose sight he loued better than his +owne eyes. And being come before his Lady, with great submission and +reuerence hee saluted her, (like those whose hartes do throbe, as +foretellinge the possession of good tournes and benefites, after which +with longe sute and trauaile they haue aspired) wherewith the Lady +delighted, very pleasantly took him by the hande, and imbracing him, +said: “Welcome mine owne sweet Galgano, a hundred times I say +welcome.” +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page6" id = "page6">6</a></span> +And for the time with kisses, makinge truce with their affections, the +lady called for comfictes and wyne. And when they had dronke and +refreshed themselues, the lady toke him by the hande and said: “My +sweete Galgano, night beginneth to passe awaye, and the time of sleepe +is come, therefore let vs yeld our selues to the seruice and +commaundment of our very good Ladye, madame Cytherea, for whose sake I +intreated you to come hither.” Galgano aunswered, that he was very wel +contented. Being within the chamber, after much pleasaunte talke and +louing discourse betweene them, the Lady did put of her clothes, and +went to bed. Galgano being somewhat bashfull, was perceyued of the Lady, +vnto whom she said: “Me thincke, Galgano, that you be fearful and +shamefast. What do you lacke? Do I not please you? Doth not my personage +content you? Haue you not the thing which you desire?” “Yes madame,” +said Galgano: “God himself could not do me a greater pleasure, than to +suffer me to be cleped within your armes.” And reasoning in this sort, +he put of his clothes also, and laide himselfe by her, whom he had +coueted and desired of long time. Being in the bed, he said: “Madame, +I beseech you graunt me one resquest.” “What is that, Galgano?” +(quoth she.) “It is this, madame,” said Galgano: “I do much +maruell, why this night aboue all other, you haue sent for mee: +considering how long I haue bin a suter vnto you, and although I haue +prosecuted my sute, by great expence and trauaile, yet you would never +yelde before now: what hath moued you now thus to do?” The Lady +answered: “I wil tell you sir: true it is, that not many dayes +agoe, passing by this house, with your Hauke on your fiste, my husband +told me that so sone as he sawe you, he wente oute to meete you, of +purpose to intreate you to supper, but you would not tarrie: then your +Hauke pursued a Partrich, euen into my garden, and I seing the Hauke so +egerly seasing vpon the same, demaunded of my husband whose Hauke it +was. He told me that the Hauke did belong to the most excellent yong man +of all Siena: and that he neuer in all his life knewe a gentleman better +accomplished with all vertues and good qualities, and therewithal gaue +vnto you singuler prayse and commendacion. Whereuppon hearing him in +such wise to prayse you, and knowing +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page7" id = "page7">7</a></span> +righte well your affectionate minde and disposition towards mee, my hart +attached with loue, forced me to sende for you that I mighte hereafter +auoyde disdaine and other scornefull demeaner, to impeache or hinder +your loue: and this briefely is the cause.” “Is this true?” said +Galgano. “Most certaine and true,” aunsweared the Lady<ins class = +"correction" title = "superfluous close quote in original">.” </ins>“Was +there no other occasion?” “No, verely:” said the lady. “God defend,” +(quoth Galgano,) “that I should recompence the curtesie and good will of +so noble a gentleman (as your husband is) with reproch and +villany. Is it meete that good turnes should be requited with vnkindnes? +If euer man had cause to defende the honor of his vnknowen frend, cause +haue I right good and apte. For now knowinge such a frende, that would +by vertuous reportes haue aduaunced me to higher matters, than wherof I +am in possession, should I reward with pollucion of his stocke and wife? +No, no, lady! my raginge sute by loue, is by vertue quenched. Vertue +onely hath staunched the flames of vile affections. Seeke another +frende, to glut your lecherous minde. Finde out some other companion, to +coole thy disordinate loue. Shal I be disloyal to him, that hath been +faithfull vnto me? Shall I be traytor to him, that frendly hath +commended me? What can be more required of humane hearte, or more +desired of manlike mind, but wilfull bente, and fixed to do him good, +that neuer erst by iuste desert deserued the same.” With which wordes +sodenly hee lept out of the bed, and when he had furnished himselfe +againe with his apparell, hee also put vppon him vertuous friendship, +and takinge his leaue of the Lady, neuer after that time he gaue himself +to matters of Loue. And maister Stricca he continually obserued both +with singuler loue and dutifull friendship: whereby it is vncertaine +whether was most singuler in him, his continency at the very instante by +refrayning that vehement heate of loue, which so long time with great +trauaile and coste he had pursued, or his regard of frendship to sir +Stricca vppon wordes of commendacion spoken behinde his backe. Both no +doubte be singuler vertues meete for all men to be obserued: but the +subduing of his affections surmounted and passed.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page8" id = "page8">8</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_48" id = "novel1_48"> +THE FORTY-EIGHTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Bindo a notable Architect, and his sonne Ricciardo, with all his +familie, from Florence went to dwell at Venice where being made Citizens +for diuers monuments by them done there, throughe inordinate expences +were forced to robbe the treasure house. Bindo beinge slaine by a +pollicie deuised by the Duke and state, Ricciardo by fine subtelties +deliuereth himselfe from foure daungers. Afterwards the Duke +(by his owne confession) vnderstandinge the sleightes, giueth him +his pardon and his doughter in marriage.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the goodly citie of Venice there +was once a duke, that was a noble gentleman and of greate experience and +wisedome, called Valeriano di messer Vannozzo Accettani. In the chiefest +Churche of which Citie called San Marco, there was a steple, very faire +and sumptuous, and of greatest fame of any thinge at that time that was +in Venice, which steeple was like to fall downe by reason of certaine +faultes and decayes in the foundacion. Wherfore the Duke caused to be +searched thorow out all Italie, some cunning workeman that would take in +hand the reparacion and amendmente of the same: with promise of so much +money as he would demaund for doing thereof. Whereuppon an excellent +Architect of Florence, named Bindo, hearing tel of this offer, +determined to go to Venice for the accomplishmente of that worke, and +for that purpose with his onelye sonne and wyfe, hee departed Florence. +And when he had seene and surueyed the steeple, he went straight to the +Duke, and told him that he was come thither to offer his seruice for +repayringe of the same, whom the Duke curteously intertayned and prayed +him, that he would so sone as he coulde begin that worke. Whereunto +Bindo accorded, and wyth great diligence and small time he finished the +same, in better forme and surety than it was at the first: which greatly +pleased the Duke, and gaue Bindo so much money as he demaunded, making +him besides a Citizen of Venice, for the maintenaunce of whose state, +hee allotted him a sufficient stipend: +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page9" id = "page9">9</a></span> +afterwards the Duke called him vnto him, and declared that he would haue +a Treasure house made, wherein should be disposed and layde vp all the +Treasure and common ornamentes for the furniture of the whole Citie, +which Bindo by and by toke vppon him to do, and made it of such singuler +beautie, as it excelled all the monuments of the Citie, wherein all the +said Treasure was bestowed. In which worke hee had framed a stone by +cunninge, that mighte be remoued at pleasure, and no man perceiue it: +meaning thereby to goe into the Chamber when he liste: whereunto none in +all the world was priuie but himselfe. When this Palace and Treasure +house was done, he caused all the furnitures of Silkes, hanginges, +wrought with Golde, Canapees, clothes of state, riche Chayres, Plate, +and other Ornaments of Golde and Siluer to be caried thither, whiche he +called La Turpea del Doge, and was kept vnder fiue keyes: whereof foure +were deliuered to foure of the chiefe Citizens, deputed to that office, +which were called Chamberlaynes of the Treasure house, and the fift keye +the Duke himselfe did keepe, so that the Chamber coulde not bee opened +excepte they were all fiue presente. Nowe Bindo and his famelie dwelling +at Venice, and beinge a citizen there, beganne to spende liberallye and +to liue a riche and wealthye life, and hys sonne Ricciardo consumed +disordinatelye, whereby in space of time, they wanted Garmentes to +furnishe their bodies, whiche they were not able to maintaine for their +inordinate expences: wherefore the father vpon a night calling his sonne +vnto him, got a ladder, and a certaine yron instrumente made for the +purpose, and taking also with him a litle lime, went to the hole, which +Bindo artificially had made, who taking out the stone, crept in, and +toke out a faire cup of gold, which was in a closet, and afterward he +wente out, cowching the stone againe in due place. And when they were +come home, they brake the cup and caused it to be solde by peece meale, +in certaine Cities of Lombardie. And in this sorte, they maintayned +their disordinate life begonne. It chaunced not long after, that a +Cardinall arriued at Venice, about affayres with the Duke, and the +state, who the more honorablie to receiue him, opened the Treasure house +to take oute certaine furnitures within, as plate, clothes +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page10" id = "page10">10</a></span> +of state, and other thinges. When the dore was opened, and had taken out +the saide necessaries, they founde a cuppe lesse than oughte to be, +wherewith the Chamberlaines contended amonge themselues, and wente to +the Duke, telling him that there wanted a cuppe: whereat the Duke +marueiled, and said that amonges them it must needes be gone. And after +many denialls, and much talke, he willed them to saye nothing, till the +Cardinall was departed. When the Cardinall was come, he was receyued +with honorable interteignemente, and beinge departed, the Duke sente for +the foure Chamberlaines, to consult about the losse of the cup, +commaunding them not to departe the Palace before the same was found, +saying that amongs them it muste needes be stolen. These four persons +being together, and debating how and by what meanes the cup should be +taken away, were at their wittes ende. At length one of them saide: “Let +vs consider whether ther bee anye comminge into the Chamber besides the +doore.” And viewinge it they coulde not perceiue anye entrie at all. And +to proue the same more effectuallye, they strawed the chamber aboute +with fyne fifted chaffe, setting the same on fier, which done, they +shutte fast the windowes and doores, that the smoke and smoulder might +not goe out. The force of which smoke was sutche as it issued through +the hole that Bindo made, whereby they perceiued the way howe the +robbery was committed, and went to the Duke to tell him what they had +done. The duke vnderstanding the fact, wylled them to saye nothing, for +that he woulde deuise a pollicie how to take the theefe: who caused to +be brought into the chamber a caldron of pitche, and placed it directly +vnder the hole, commaunding that a fyre should be kept daye and night +vnder the caldron, that the same might continually boyle. It come to +passe that when the money was spent which the father and sonne had +receiued for the cup, one night they went agayne to the hole, and +remouing the stone, the father went in as he did before, and fell into +the caldron of pitche (which continually was boyling there) vp to the +waste, and not able to liue any longer, he called his sonne vnto him, +and fayde: “Ricciardo myne owne sweete sonne, death hath taken me +prysoner, for halfe my body is dead, and my breath also is +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page11" id = "page11">11</a></span> +ready to departe. Take my head with thee, and burie it in some place +that it be not knowen, which done, commend me to thy mother, whome I +pray thee to cherishe and comforte, and in any wyse take hede that +warely and circumspectlye thou doe departe from hence: and if any man do +aske for me, say that I am gone to Florence about certaine businesse.” +The sonne lamentably began to lament his father’s fortune, saying: “Oh +deare father, what wicked furie hath thus cruelly deuised sodaine +death.” “Content thy selfe, my sonne,” sayd the father, “and be quiet, +better it is that one should dye, than twoo, therefore doe what I haue +tolde thee, and fare well.” The sonne tooke vp his father’s head, and +went his waye, the reste of his bodye remayned in the caldron, like a +block without forme. When Ricciardo was come home, he buried his +father’s head so well as he could, and afterwardes tolde his mother what +was become of his father, who vnderstanding the maner of his death, +began piteously to cry out, to whom her sonne holding up his hands, +sayd: “Good mother holde your peace, and geue ouer your weeping: for our +life is in great perill and daunger, if your outcrie be heard. Therefore +good mother, quiet yourselfe, for better it were for vs to liue in poore +estate, than to die with infamie, to the vtter reproche and shame of all +our familie.” With whiche woordes he appeased her. In the morning the +bodye was founde and caried to the Duke, who maruelled at it, and could +not deuise what he should be, but sayd: “Surely there be two that +committed this robberie, one of them we haue, let vs imagine how we may +take the other.” Then one of the foure Chamberlaines sayd: “I haue +found out a trap to catche the other, if it will please you to heare +mine aduise, which is this: Impossible it is, but this theefe that is +dead, hath either wife, children, or some kinsman in the citie, and +therfore let vs cause the bodie to be drawen throughout the streates, +and geue diligent hede whether anye persone doe complaine or lament his +death: and if any such be found, let him be taken and examined: which is +the next way as I suppose, to finde out his companion.” Which being +concluded, they departed. The body was drawen throughout the citie with +a guard of men attending vpon the same: as the executioners +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page12" id = "page12">12</a></span> +passed by the house of Bindo, whose carcasse laye vppon the hurdle, his +wyfe stode at the wyndowe, and seing the body of her husband so vsed, +made a great outcrie. At whiche noyse the sonne spake to his mother and +sayde: “Alas, mother, what do you?” And beholding his father’s corps +vpon the hurdle, he toke a knife and made a great gashe into his hande, +that the bloud aboundantly issued out. The guarde hearing the noyse that +the woman made, ran into the house, and asked her what she lacked. The +sonne answered: “I was caruing a peece of stone with this knife, +and by chaunce I hurt my hande, which my mother seeyng cryed out, +thynking that I had hurt myselfe more than I haue.” The guarde seeing +his hande all bloudy and cut, did belieue it to be true, and from thence +went round about the liberties of the Citie, finding none that seemed to +lament or bewayle that chaunce. And returning to the Duke, they tolde +him howe all that labour was imployed in vayne, whereupon he appointed +them to hang vp the dead body in the market-place, with secret watche in +like maner, to espie if any person by day or night, would come to +complaine or be sorrowefull for him. Which body was by the feete hanged +vp there, and a continuall watche appointed to kepe the same. The rumor +hereof was bruted throughout the Citie, and euery man resorted thither +to see it. The woman hearing tell that her husbandes carcasse should be +hanged vp in the market-place, saide diuerse times to her sonne, that it +was a very great shame for him to suffer his father’s body in that +shamefull sort to be vsed. To whom her sonne made answere, saying: “Good +mother, for God’s sake be contented, for that whiche they do is for none +other purpose, but to proue me: wherefore be pacient a while, till this +chaunce be past.” The mother not able to abide it any longer, brake out +many times into these words: “If I were a man as I am a woman, it should +not be vndone now: and if thou wilt not aduenture thy selfe, I will +one night giue the attempt.” The yong man seing the froward nature of +his mother, determined to take away the body by this policie. He +borrowed twelve friers frockes or cowles, and in the euening went downe +to the hauen, and hired twelue mariners, and placed them in a backe +house, geuing them so much meate and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page13" id = "page13">13</a></span> +drinke as they woulde eate. And when they had well whitled and tippled +themselues, he put vpon them those friers cowles, with visards vppon +their faces, and gaue euery of them in their hands a burning torch, +making them to seme as though they had ben Diuels of hel: and he himself +rode vpon a horse al couered with blacke, beset rounde about with +monstrous and vglie faces, euerye of them hauinge a burnyng candle in +his mouthe, and riding before with a visarde of horrible shape vpon his +head, sayde vnto them: “Doe as I doe:” and then marched forward to the +market-place. When they came thether they ran vp and downe with roring +voyces crying out like Deuils being then past midnight and very darke. +When the watche sawe that straunge sight they were affrayde, thinking +that they had bene Deuils indeede, and that he on horsebacke in that +forme had ben the great Deuill Lucifer himselfe. And seing him runne +towardes the gibet, the watche toke their legges and ran away. The yong +man in the shape of the great Deuill toke downe the body and layd it +before him on horsebacke, who calling his companie away, roode before in +poste. When they were come home, he gaue them their money, and vncasing +them of their cowles sent them away, and afterwardes buried the body so +secretly as he could. In the morning newes came to the Duke that the +bodye was taken awaye, who sent for the guarde to knowe what was become +thereof. To whome they sayde these wordes: “Pleaseth your grace, about +midnight last past there came into the market-place a companie of +Deuils, among whom we sawe the great deuil Lucifer himselfe, who as wee +suppose did eate vp the bodye, which terrible sight and vision made vs +to take our legges.” The Duke by those wordes perceiued euidently that +the same was but a practise to deceiue them of their purpose, +notwithstanding he determined once again to deuise some meanes in the +ende to knowe the truthe, and decreed a constitucion that for the space +of xx dayes no fresh meate shoulde be solde in Venice: at which decree +all the citie marueiled. Afterwardes he caused a verie faire fatte calfe +to be solde, sessing the price of euery pounde at a fiorino, which +amounteth to a French crowne or thereaboutes, and willed hym that solde +it to note and marke them that bought it: thinking with himselfe, that +he which is a theefe is licorous of mouth delicate +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page14" id = "page14">14</a></span> +in fare and would not stick to geue a good price, although it cost him a +French crown for euery pound: making proclamation, that he which would +buye any fresh meate should resort to the market-place where was to bee +solde. All the Marchaunts and Gentlemen repaired to buye some of the +veale, and vnderstanding that euery pound would not be solde under a +Frenche crowne, they bought none at all. This calfe and the price was +bruted in all places, and came to the knowledge of the mother of this +yong man, who said vnto her sonne: “I haue a minde to eate some of +the veale, now solde in the market.” Ricciardo aunswered. “Mother make +no haste to buye it, first let it be cheapened by other, and at length I +will deuise a meane that you shall have it: for it is not wysedome for +vs to be the firste that shall desire it.” The mother like an ignoraunt +and vnskilfull woman, was importunate to haue it. The sonne fearing that +his mother would sende for some of the veale, by other, caused a Pie to +be made, and prepared a flagon full of wyne, both which were intermixed +with thinges to cause sleepe, and taking bread, the sayd Pie, and the +flagon of wyne, when it was night, putting on a counterfait beard, and +cloke, went to the stall where that veale was to bee solde, which as yet +was whole and vnbought. And when he had knocked at the shop dore, one of +the guard asked who was there. To whom Ricciardo said: “Can you tel me +wher one Ventura doth kepe his shop?” Of whom one of them demaunded what +Ventura? “I know not his surname,” sayde Ricciardo, “that I would +he had bene hanged, when I came first to dwell with him.” “Why who sent +thee?” said one of the guarde. “His wyfe (quod Ricciardo) who bade me +cary him this meate and wyne for his supper: but I pray you (sayde +Ricciardo,) let me leaue the same with you, till I goe home to know +better where he kepeth his stall. And maruell not, my maisters, though I +know not where his shop is, for it is not long sithens I came to dwell +in this Citie.” And so leauing behind him the Pie, and the bread with +the flagon of wyne, he made haste to departe, and tolde them that he +wold come againe by and by. When he was gone, one of them toke the +flagon and drancke, and afterwardes gaue it to his companion, and said: +“Drinke, for thou neuer diddest tast of better wyne in all thy life.” +His companion dranke, and merily communing of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page15" id = "page15">15</a></span> +this matter, they fel a sleepe. Ricciardo loking in at a hole of the +dore, seing them a slepe, went in, and toke the calfe, and caried it +home whole as it was, and saide to his mother: “Hold, mother, there is +your luste, cut it out:” and by and by she cut out a great pece. The +duke so sone as he heard that the calfe was stolen, and the maner howe, +did wonder very muche, purposing yet to knowe what hee was: and caused a +hundred poore people to come before him, whose names being written, he +said vnto them: <ins class = "addition" title = +"open quote missing">“</ins>Get +ye to all the houses in Venice, vnder colour to +begge almes. And marke if you see in any house fleshe dressed, or any +pece in making ready to be eaten at the fier, which if you doe, ye must +be importunate in begging, till they giue you either flesh or broth. And +he among all you that shal bring me the first newes, I wil giue him +xx crownes.” These beggers dispersed themselues into euery corner of the +Citie, crauing their almes, amongs whom one of them asked his almes at +the house of Ricciardo, and approching nere, espied openly fleshe at the +spit, and besought a morsell thereof for God’s sake: to whom the +vndiscrete woman seeing that she had plentye, gaue a litle pece. The +poore man thanked the good wife, and prayed God to saue her life. And as +hee was going down the steps of the dore, Ricciardo met him with the +flesh in his hand. Wherewithal astonned, he willed him to retourne, and +sayde he would giue him more. The begger glad of that, went in againe, +whome Ricciardo caried into his chamber, and when he was within, he +strake suche a full blowe vpon his head with an axe, as he killed hym, +and threwe him into a iakes, shutting the doore after him. In the +euening, these poore men retourned to the duke, according to their +promise, and sayde they coulde finde nothing. The Duke called them by +their names, and compting the number founde one lesse than he had sent, +whereat he maruelled. And after he had well aduised with himselfe, what +should become of him that lacked, he sayde: “Certainely the poore man is +Slayne.” Then causing the councell to be assembled, he declared what he +had done: and yet sayde that it were meete the party were knowen. +Whereunto one of the Senatours sayde: <ins class = "addition" title = +"open quote missing">“</ins>Your grace hath duely made search by the +belly and mouth, to finde out this verlet: I thinke it nowe +necessarie +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page16" id = "page16">16</a></span> +that triall be made by lechery, whiche commonly accompanieth licorous +mouthes.” Then it was concluded that the moste riotous and lecherous +yong men, suche as the Duke had in greatest suspicion, to the number of +<span class = "smallroman">XXV.</span> should be warned to appeare +before him: whiche accordingly was done, amonges whome was this +Ricciardo. These yonge roisters assembled in the palace, euery of them +maruelled wherefore the Duke had caused them to come thether. Afterwarde +the Duke commaunded <span class = "smallroman">XXV.</span> beddes to be +made in one of his great chambers, to lodge euery of the sayd <span +class = "smallroman">XXV.</span> persons by hymself, and in the middes +of the chamber he commaunded a riche bed of estate to be set vp and +furnished, wher was appointed to ly his own daughter, which was an +exceading faire creature. And in the night when these yong men were +layde in their beddes, manye gentlewomen attendant vpon the Lady, came +in to bryng her to her lodging: and her father deliuered to her a sawcer +full of black die, or stayning, and saide vnto her: “If any of these +yong men that doe lie here by thee, doe offer to come to thy bedde, +looke that thou marke him in the face with this staining colour, that he +may be knowen.” At which wordes all the yong men maruelled and therefore +durste not attempt to goe vnto her, but said one to another: “Surely +this commaundement of the Duke hath some secrete misterie in it.” +Notwithstanding Ricciardo determined about midnight to go to her bedde: +and when the candle was out being a wake of purpose, he rose vp and went +to the gentlewoman’s bedde and began to imbrace and kisse her. The +maiden when she felt him, sodainly dipped her finger in the colour and +stained his face, not perceiued of him. When he had accomplished the +thing he came for, hee retourned to his place: and then began to imagin +vpon the Duke’s wordes, and for what policie he spake them. And lying a +litle while still musing vpon the same, he went againe to the +gentlewoman’s bedde, hauing throughly disposed himself to the pleasures +of this paradise lambe: and perceiuing her to dippe her finger in the +sawcer and rubbe his face, Ricciardo toke away the sawcer from the +bedde’s side, and round about bestowed the colour vpon the faces of his +felowes, who were so faste a sleepe that they did not fele him. Some he +marked +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page17" id = "page17">17</a></span> +with two spottes, some with six and some with <span class = +"smallroman">X.</span> himselfe he painted but with foure besides those +wherewith already he was berayed by the gentlewoman: whiche done he set +the saucer agayne by the bedde’s side, and when he had bidden her +farewell, faire and softly he returned againe to his bedde. In the +morning betimes, the damosels of the chamber came in to helpe the ladye +to make her readye, which done they wayted vpon her to the duke, who +asked her how the matter stode. She aunswered well, for she had done his +commaundement: and tolde him howe one came vnto her three times, and +euery time she gaue him a tainte in his face. The duke by and by sent +for them that were of his counsell. To whome he said: “Sirs, I haue +founde out this good fellow, and therfore I haue sent for you, that we +altogether may goe to see him.” They went all into the chamber, and +viewing them round about, they perceiued all their faces coloured, +whereat they fell into a great laughter: then one of them sayde to +another: “Suerly this fellowe hath the subtilest head that euer was +knowen:” and concluded that one of the company had set that colour in +their faces. The yong men beholding one another paynted in that sorte, +brake into great sporte and pastime. Afterwardes the duke examined euery +of them, and seeing that he was not able by any meanes to vnderstande by +whome it was done, he determined to knowe the man before he departed, +and promised to him that should confesse the truthe, to giue his +daughter to him in mariage, and with her a very great dowrie, and a +generall pardon. Wherefore Ricciardo vnderstanding the duke’s minde, +toke him asyde, and tolde hym the whole matter particularly from the +beginning to the ende. The duke imbraced hym, and gaue him his pardon, +and with great ioye and triumphe he solemnized the mariage betwene hym +and his daughter. Wherewithal Ricciardo encouraged, proued a very stoute +and valiaunt man in suche wyse almoste as the affaires of the whole +state passed through his handes. And liued a long time after, with the +loue and good wyll of the whole cominaltie of Venice.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page18" id = "page18">18</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_49" id = "novel1_49"> +THE FORTY-NINTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Philenio Sisterno, a Scholler of Bologna, being mocked of three +faire Gentlewomen, at a banket made of set purpose he was reuenged on +them all.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">At</span> Bologna, whiche is the noblest +citie of Lombardie, the mother of studies, and accomplished with al +things nedefull and requisite for sutch a florishing state, there was a +yong scholler, a Gentleman of the countrie of Crete named Philenio +Sisterno, of very good grace and behauiour. It chanced that in his time, +there was a great feast made in the citie, wherunto were bidden the +fayrest dames, and beste of reputation there: there was likewyse many +Gentlemen and Schollers of Bologna, amonges whom was this Philenio +Sisterno: who followyng the manner of young men, dallying sometime with +one, sometime with another, and perceiuing them for his purpose +determined to daunce with one of them: and comming to one whiche was +called Emerentiana, the wyfe of sir Lamberto Bentiuoglia, hee prayed her +to daunce: who, beyng verie gentle and of no less audacitie than +beautiful, refused not. Then Philenio leading forth the daunce very +softly, sometymes wrynging her by the hand, spake somewhat secretly vnto +her these wordes: “Madame, your beautie is so great, that without doubt +it surmounteth all that ever I sawe, and there is no woman in the world +to whome I beare so great affection, as to your persone, whiche if it +were correspondent to me in Loue, I would thinke myself the beste +contented man in the world, otherwyse I shall in shorte tyme bee +depriued of life, and then you shall be the cause of my death: and +louing you (Madame) as I doe, and as my dutie requireth, you ought to +take me for your seruaunt, vsing me and those litle goodes whiche I haue +as your owne: and I doe assure you, that it is impossible for me to +receiue greater fauour from heauen, then to see myselfe subiecte to +sutch a gentlewoman, as you be, whiche hath taken me in a nette lyke a +byrde.” Nowe Emerentiana, whiche earnestly had marked those sweet and +pleasaunt woordes, like a wyse gentlewoman, semed to geue no eare +thereunto, and made him no aunswere at all. The daunce ended, and +Emerentiana being +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page19" id = "page19">19</a></span> +set down in her place, this young scholler went to take another +gentlewoman by the hand, and began to daunce with her: whiche was not so +sone begonne, but thus he said vnto her: “It nedeth not Madame, that by +woordes I doe expresse the feruant Loue which I beare you, and will so +doe, so long as my poore spirite shall gouerne and rule my members: and +if I could obtaine you for my Maistresse and singuler Ladye, +I would thinke myself the happiest man aliue. Then louing you as I +do, and being wholly yours, as you may easely vnderstand, refuse me not +I besech you for your humble seruaunt, sithe that my life and all that I +haue dependeth vpon you alone.” The yong gentlewoman, whose name was +Panthemia, perceiuing his meaning, did not aunswere him any thing at +that time: but honestly proceded in her daunce: and the daunce ended, +smyling a litle, she sat downe with the other dames. This done, amorous +Philenio rested not vntil he had taken the thirde by the hand, (who was +the gentlest, fairest, and trimmest dame in all Bologna,) and began to +daunce with her, romyng abrode, to shewe his cunning before them that +came to behold him. And before the daunce was finished, he saide thus +vnto her: “Madame, it may so be, as I shall seme vnto you very malapert +to manifest the secret Loue that I haue and doe beare you at this +instant, for which you ought not to blame me but your beautie, which +rendreth you excellent aboue al the rest, and maketh me your slaue and +prysoner. I speake not of your commendable behauiour, of your +excellent and maruellous vertues, which be such and of so great effect, +as they would make the gods descend to contemplate the same. If then +your excellent beautie and shape, so well fauoured by nature, and not by +art, may seeme to content the immortall Gods, you ought not to be +offended, if the same do constraine me to loue you, and to inclose you +in the priuie cabane of my harte: I beseeche you then, gentle +Madame (the onely comfort of my life) to haue pitie vpon him that dieth +a thousand times a daye for you. In so doing, my life shall be prolonged +by you, commending me humbly vnto your good grace.” This faire +gentlewoman called Simphorosia, vnderstanding the sweete and pleasaunt +woordes vttered from the very harte of Philenio, could not dissemble her +sighes, but waying her honor, because she was maried, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page20" id = "page20">20</a></span> +gaue him no answere at all. And the daunce ended, she retourned to her +place. Nowe it chaunced, as these three ladies did sit together iocundly +disposed to debate of sundrie mery talke, behold Emerentiana, the wife +of Seignior Lamberto, not for any euill, but in sporting wise said vnto +her companions: “Gentlewomen, I haue to tell you a pleasaunt matter +which happened to this day.” “What is that?” said her companions. +“I haue gotten this night, (said she) in dauncing, a curteous +louer, a very faire Gentleman, and of so good behauiour as any in +the worlde: who said that he was so inflamed with my beauty that he +tooke no rest day nor night:” and from point to point, rehearsed vnto +them, all that he had said. Which Panthemia and Simphorosia +vnderstanding, answered that the like had chaunced vnto them, and they +departed not from the feaste before eche of theim knewe him that was +their louer: whereby they perceiued that his woordes proceded not of +faithfull Loue, but rather of follie and dissimulation, in suche wise as +they gaue so lyghte credite thereunto, as of custome is geuen to the +woordes of those that bee sicke. And they departed not from thence +vntill all three with one accorde, had conspired euery one to giue him +mocke. Philenio continuing thus in Loue, sometime with one, sometime +with another, and perceiuing that euery of them seemed to Loue him, hee +determined with himselfe, if it were possible to gather of them the last +frute of his Loue. But he was greatly deceyued in his desire, for that +all his enterprise was broken: and that done, Emerentiana whiche could +not any longer dissemble the loue of the foolishe scholer called one of +her maydes, which was of a fayre complexion and a ioly wenche, charging +her that she should deuise meanes to speake with Philenio, to geue him +to vnderstande the loue which her maistresse bare vnto him: and when it +were his pleasure she willingly would one night haue him at home at her +house. Which newes when Philenio heard, he greatly reioyced, and said to +the maid: “Returne to your Maistresse, faire maide, and commend me vnto +her, telling her in my behalf, that I doe praye her to loke for me this +euening, if her husband be not at home.” During which time, Emerentiana +caused a certaine number of fagots of sharpe thornes to be made, and to +be layd vnder her bedde +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page21" id = "page21">21</a></span> +still wayting for her minion. When night was come, Philenio toke his +sworde, and went to the house of his enemy, and calling at the dore with +the watchworde the same incontinently was opened: and after that they +had talked a litle while together, and banketted after the best maner, +they withdrew themselues into the chamber to take their reste. Philenio +had no soner put of his clothes to goe to bedde, but Seignior Lamberto +her husband came home: which the Maistresse of the house perceiuing, +made as though she had bene at her wittes ende, and could not tell +whether to conuey her minion, but prayed him to hide himself vnder the +bedde. Philenio seeing the daunger, wherein both he and the wife were, +not taking with him any other garmentes, but only his shirte, crept +vnder the bed where he was so cruelly prickt and scratched with the +thornes, as there was no parte of his body (from the toppe of his head +to the sole of his foote) free from bloud, and the more he sought to +defende himselfe in that darke place, the more sharpely and piteously he +was tormented, and durst not crie for feare least Seignior Lamberto +would kill him. I will leaue to your consideration in what plight +this poore wretche was in, who by reason of his miserable being, as he +was brechelesse in that terrible purgatorie, even so was he speachlesse +and durst not speake for his life. In the morning when Segnior Lamberto +was gone forth, the poore scholler put on his clothes so well as he +could, and all bloudy as he was, returning to his lodging, was like to +die: but being deligently cured by phisicians, in short time he +recouered his former health. Shortly after, Philenio began to pursue +again his loue towardes the other two, that is to say, Panthemia and +Simphorosia, and found conuenient time one euening to speake to +Panthemia, to whom he rehearsed his griefes and continuall tormentes, +praying her to haue pitie vpon him. The subtile and wise wenche +Panthemia, fayning to haue compassion vppon him, excused her selfe by +lacke of meanes to content his desire, but in thend vanquished with +faire supplications and maruellous sighes, shee made him to come home to +her house, and being vnready, dispoyled of al his apparell to go to bed +with his Lady she required hym to go with her into a litle closet, wher +all her swete smels and perfumes were, to the intent he might be well +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page22" id = "page22">22</a></span> +perfumed before he went to bedde. The yong dolt not doubting the +subtiltie of this wicked woman, entred the closet and setting his foote +vpon a borde <ins class = "correction" title = +"text unchanged">vnnnayled</ins> from the ioyst, fell so depe into a +store house where marchauntes vse to lay there cottons and wolles, as he +thought he had broken his necke and his legges, notwithstanding as +fortune would he had no hurt. This poore scholler being in that darke +place, began to seke for some dore or ladder to go out, and finding +nothing for his purpose he cursed the houre and time that euer he knew +Panthemia. When the dauning of the day began to appeare, the simple sot +discried in one place of the storehouse certain ventes in the wall, +which gaue some light, because they wer old and couered ouer with mosse, +in such wise, as he began with maruelous force, to pluck out the stones +in the moste decaied place of the wall, and made so great a hole, as he +went out. And being in a lane hard by the great streate, barefoote and +bare legged, and in his shirt, he went home to his lodging vnknowen of +any. A litle whyle after Simphorosia vnderstanding of the deceits +whiche the other twoo had done to Philenio, attempted to geue hym the +thirde, whiche was not inferior to the other twayne. And for that +purpose, she began a farre of to caste her amorous lokes vpon him, +letting hym to knowe that shee was in great distresse for his Loue. This +poore soule hauing already forgotten his fortune paste, began to walke +vp and downe before her house, like a man altogether tormented and +pained with Loue. Then Simphorosia, seing him to be farre in loue with +her, sent hym a letter by an old woman, whereby she aduertised hym, that +his beautie and good behauior, so puissantly did gouerne her affections +as she could take no rest night nor day, for the earnest loue that she +bare him: wherefore she praied him if it were his pleasure to come and +speake with her. Philenio receiuing that letter, and perusing the +contentes, not considering the deceite prepared for him, ne yet any +longer remembring the iniuries past, was more ioyfull and glad then euer +he was before: who taking pen and paper, aunswered her againe, that he +for his parte suffered no lesse tormentes for her sake, yea and in +respect of vnfayned Loue, that he loued her farre better than she did +hym, and at al tymes when shee pleased, hee woulde be at her +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page23" id = "page23">23</a></span> +commaundement to doe her seruice: the aunswere read, and oportunitie +found, Simphorosia caused him to come home to her house, and after many +false sighes, she saide vnto him: “My deare frend Philenio, I knowe +none other in all the world, that hath brought me into this state and +plighte wherein presently I am, but you, because your beautie, good +grace and pleasaunt talke, haue so sette my harte on fyre as I feele it +to kindle and burne like drye woode.” Which talke Maister scholler +hearing, thought assuredly that she consumed for loue of him: this poore +Nodgecock, contriuing the time in sweete and pleasaunt woordes, with his +dareling Simphorosia, the time approched that he should go to bed with +his faire lady, who said vnto him: “My swete frend Philenio, abide a +whyle, and let vs make some banket and collation:” who taking him by the +hande, caried him into her closet adioyning, wher was a table ready +furnished with exquisit conficts and wynes of the best. This gentlewoman +had made a composition in the wyne, to cause this yong gallant to sleepe +for a certain time. Philenio thinking no hurte, toke the cup and filled +it with the wyne, and dranke it vp at one draught. His spirits reuiued +with this refreshing, after he had bene very well perfumed and washed in +swete waters, he went to bedde and within a while after this drinke +began to woorke, and hee slepte so soundly, as canon shot, or the +greatest gonnes of the worlde were not able to wake hym: then +Simphorosia perceiuing the drinke beginne to woorke, called one of her +sturdy maides that wel was instructed in the game of this pageant: both +whiche carying this poore sleepy scholler by the feete and armes, and +opening the dore very softlye, they fayre and well bestowed hym in the +middeste of the streete, a good stone’s caste of from the house, +where he lay all the nighte. But when the dawning of the daye dyd +appeare, or an houre before, the drynke lost his vertue, and the poore +soule began to awake, and thinking that he had bene a bedde with the +gentlewoman he perceiued hymself brechelesse and in his shirt more dead +then aliue, through the colde that he had endured, by lying starke naked +vppon the earth. The poore wretche was not able to help himselfe so much +as with his armes and legges, ne yet to stande vppon his feete without +great paine: notwithstanding, through +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page24" id = "page24">24</a></span> +creping and sprawling, hee got home to his house, vnseene of anye, and +prouided so well as hee could for recouery of his health: and had it not +been for his youth, which did helpe him at that instant, his sinewes had +been benommed for euer. In the ende, hauing atteined his former state of +health he still remembred the iniuries past, and without shewing any +signe of anger or displeasure, made as though he loued them all three +better then euer he did before, and sometime seemed to be in loue with +the one, and sometime with an other: they againe for their part nothing +mistrusting the malice of Philenio, set a good face on the matter, +vsinge amorous cheere and countenance towards him, but when his backe +was tourned, with mockes and floutes they toke their pleasure. He +bearing in his brest secrete despite, was still desirous with his hand +to marke them in the face, but like a wise man, waying the natures of +women, he thought it woulde redounde to his greate shame and reproche, +if hee did them any hurt: and therefore restrayning the heate of his +choler vsed pacience. And yet by deuising and practising, how he might +be euen with them and reuenged, hee was in great perplexitie. Very +shortly after it chaunced that the scholler had inuented a meane, easely +to satisfie his desire, and so sone as hee had fully resolued what to +do, fortune therunto was fauorable: who hyred in the citie of Bologna a +very faire house which had a large hall, and comodious chambers: and +purposed to make a greate and sumptuous feast, and to inuite many Ladies +and Gentlewomen to the same: amongs whom these three were the first that +should be bidden: which accordingly was done: and when the feast day was +come the three gentlewomen that were not very wise at that instante, +repaired thither nothing suspecting the scholler’s malice. In the end a +litle to recreate the Gentlewomen and to get them a stomacke, attendinge +for supper time, the Scholler toke these his three louers by the hand, +and led them friendly into a chamber, somewhat to refresh them. When +these three innocent women were come into the Scholler’s Chamber, hee +shut fast the doore, and going towards them, he sayde: “Beholde faire +ladies, now the time is come for me to be reuenged vpon you and to make +you suffer the penaunce of the torment wherwith ye punished me for my +great Loue.” +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page25" id = "page25">25</a></span> +The Gentlewomen hearing those cruell woordes, rather dead then aliue, +began to repent that euer they had offended him, and besides that, they +cursed themselues, for giuinge credit vnto him whom they ought to haue +abhorred. The Scholler with fierce and angry countenaunce commaunded +them vpon paine of their liues to strippe themselues naked: which +sentence when these three goddesses heard, they began to loke one vppon +another, weeping and praying him, that although he woulde not for their +sakes, yet in respect of his owne curtesie and naturrall humanitie, that +hee woulde saue their honor aboue all thinges. This gallant reioysing at +their humble and pitifull requestes was thus curteous vnto them, that he +would not once suffer them to stand with their garmentes on in his +presence: the women casting themselues downe at his feete wept bitterly, +beseeching him that he woulde haue pitie vpon them, and not to be the +occasion of a slaunder so great and infamous. But he whose hart was +hardened as the Diamonde, said vnto them, that this facte was not worthy +of blame but rather of reuenge. The women dispoyled of their apparel +(and standing before him, so free from couering as euer was Eue before +Adam) appeared as beautifull in this their innocent state of nakednes, +as they did in their brauerie: in so much that the yong scholler viewing +from toppe to toe, those fayre and tender creatures, whose whitenesse +surpassed the snow, began to haue pitie vppon them: but calling to his +remembraunce the iniuries past and the daunger of death wherein he was, +he reiected all pitie and continued his harde and obstinate +determination. Then he toke all their apparell, and other furnitures +that they did weare, and bestowed it in a little chamber, and with +threatning words commaunded all three to lie in one bed. The women +altogether astonned, began to say to themselues: “Alas, what fooles be +we? what wil our husbands and our frendes say, when they shal vnderstand +that we be found naked and miserablie slaine in this bed? It had been +better for vs to haue died in our cradels, than apprehended and found +dead in this state and plight.” The Scholler seeing them bestowed one by +another in the bed, like husband and wyfe, couered them with a very +white and large sheete, that no part of their bodies might be seene and +knowen, and shutting the Chamber +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page26" id = "page26">26</a></span> +doore after him Philenio went to seeke their husbands, which were +dauncing in the hall: and the daunce ended, he intreated them to take +the paines to goe with him: who was their guide into the Chamber where +the three Muses lay in their bedde, saying vnto them: “Sirs, I haue +broughte you into this place to shewe you some pastime and to let you +see the fayrest thinges that euer you saw in your liues.<ins class = +"addition" title = "close quote missing">”</ins> Then approching neere +the bed, and holding a torch in his hand, he began fayre and softly to +lift vp the shete at the bed’s feete, discouering these fayre ladies +euen to the knees. Ye should haue seen then, how the hushands did behold +their white legges and their wel proporcioned feete, which don he +disclosed them euen to the stomack, and shewed their legges and thighes +farre whiter than alablaster, which seemed like two pillers of fine +marble, with a rounde body so wel formed as nothing could be better: +consequently he tourned vp the sheete a litle further, and their +stomackes appeared somewhat round and plumme, hauing two rounde breasts +so firme and feate, as they would haue constrayned the great God Iupiter +to imbrace and kisse them. Whereat the husbandes toke so great pleasure +and contentmente, as coulde be deuised: I omitte for you to thincke +in what plighte these poore naked women weare, hearinge theyr husbandes +to mocke them: all this while they laye very quiet, and durst not so +much as to hem or coughe, for feare to be knowen: the husbands were +earnest with the Scholler to discouer their faces, but hee wiser in +other mennes hurtes than in his owne, would by no meanes consent vnto +it. Not contented with this, the yong scholler shewed their apparel to +their husbands, who seing the same were astonned, and in viewing it with +great admiration, they said one to another: “Is not this the gowne that +I once made for my wife? Is not this the coyfe that I bought her? Is not +this the pendant that she weareth about her necke? be not these the +rings that set out and garnisht her fingers?” Being gone out of the +chamber for feare to trouble the feast, he would not suffer them to +depart, but caused them to tarie supper. The Scholler vnderstandinge +that supper was ready, and that the maister of the house had disposed +all thinges in order, he caused the geastes to sit downe. And whiles +they were remouing and placing the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page27" id = "page27">27</a></span> +stooles and chayres, he returned into the chamber, wher the three dames +lay, and vncouering them, he sayd vnto them: “Bongiorno, faire Ladies: +did you heare your hushandes? They be here by, and do earnestly tarie +for you at supper. What do ye meane to do? Vp and rise ye dormouses, +rubbe your eyes and gape no more, dispatche and make you ready, it is +time for you now to repayre into the hall, where the other gentlewomen +do tarie for you.” Behold now how this Scholer was reuenged by +interteigning them after this maner: then the poore desolate women, +fearing least their case would sorte to som pitiful successe, dispayring +of their health, troubled and discomforted, rose vp expecting rather +death than any other thing: and tourning them toward the scholler they +said vnto him: “Maister Philenio, you haue had sufficient reueng vpon +vs: the best for you to do now, is to take your sword, and to bereue us +of oure life, which is more lothsome vnto vs than pleasaunt: and if you +will not do vs that good tourne, suffer vs to go home to our houses +vnknowen, that our honours may be saued.” Then Philenio thinking that he +had at pleasure vsed their persons, deliuered them their apparel, and so +sone as they were ready, he let them out at a litle dore, very secretlye +vnknowen of anye, and so they went home to their houses. So sone as they +had put of their fayre furnitures, they folded them vp, and layd them in +their chestes: which done, they went about their houshold busines, till +their husbands came home, who being retourned they founde their wives +sowing by the fire side in their chambers: and because of their +apparell, their ringes and iewels, which they had seene in the +Scholler’s Chamber, it made them to suspect their wiues, euery of them +demaunding his seuerall wife, where she had bin that nighte, and where +their apparell was. They well assured of themselues, aunswered boldly, +that they were not out of their house all the euening, and taking the +keyes of their cofers shewed them their aparell, their ringes and other +things, which their husbandes had made them. Which when their husbandes +saw, they could not tell what to say, and forthwith reiected all +suspicion, which they had conceiued: telling them from point to point, +what they had seen that night. The women vnderstanding those woordes, +made as though they knew nothing and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page28" id = "page28">28</a></span> +after a little sport and laughter betweene them, they went to bed. Many +times Philenio met his Gentlewomen in the streates and sayde vnto them: +“Which of you was most afraide or worste intreated?” But they holding +downe their heads, passed forth not speaking a word: in this maner the +Scholler was requited so well as he could of the deceites done against +him, by the three Gentlewomen aforesaid.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page29" id = "page29">29</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_50" id = "novel1_50"> +THE FIFTYETH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The piteous and chaste death of one of the muleters wiues of the Queene +of Nauarre.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the citie of Amboise, there was a +muleter that serued the Queene of Nauarre, sister to king Fraunces the +firste of that name, which was broughte a bedde of a sonne at Blois: to +which towne the said muleter was gone to be paide his quarter’s wages: +whose wyfe dwelled at Amboise beyond the bridges. It chaunced that of +long time one of her husband’s seruauntes did so disordinately loue her, +as vppon a certaine day he could not forbeare but he muste vtter the +effect of his loue borne vnto her. Howbeit shee being a right honest +woman, tooke her man’s sute in very ill part, threatning to make her +husband to beat him, and to put him away, and vsed him in suche wyse, +that after that time he durst not speake thereof any more, ne yet to +make signe or semblance: keeping yet that fier couered within his brest, +vntill his Maister was ridden out of the towne, and that his Maistresse +was at euensong at Saint Florentine’s, a Church of the Castle, +farre from her house: who now being alone in the house, began to imagine +how he might attempt that thinge by force, which before by no +supplication or seruice he was able to attaine. For which purpose, hee +brake vp a borde betweene his Maistresse chamber and his: but because +the curteins of his maister and maistresse bed, and of the seruauntes of +the other side couered and hid the walles betweene, it could not be +perceyued, nor yet his malice discried vntill suche time as his +Maistresse was gone to bed, with a litle wenche of <span class = +"smallroman">XII.</span> yeares of age: and so sone as the poore woman +was fallen into her first sleepe, this varlet entred in at a hole which +he had broken, and conueyed himself into her bed in his shirt, with a +naked sworde in his hande: who so sone as she felt him layed downe by +her, lepte out of her bed, perswading him by all possible meanes meete +for an honest woman to do: and he indued with beastly loue, rather +acquainted with the language of his mulets +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page30" id = "page30">30</a></span> +than with her honest reasons, shewed himselfe more beastly then the +beasts with whom he had of long time bin conuersant: for seing her so +oft to runne about the table that he could not catch her, and also that +she was so strong, that twise she ouercame him, in dispaire that he +should neuer enioy her aliue, hee gaue her a great blow with his sword +ouer the raines of the back, thinking that if feare and force could not +make her to yeld, paine and smart should cause her. Howbeit, the +contrarie chaunced: for like as a good man of armes when he seeth his +owne bloud, is more set on fier to be reuenged vpon his enemies to +acquire honor: euen so the chaste hart of this woman, did reenforce and +fortefie her courage in double wise, to auoyde and escape the hands of +this wicked varlet, deuising by all meanes possible by fayre words to +make him acknowledge his fault: but he was so inflamed with furie, there +was no place in him to receiue good counsell. And eftsones with his +sword, he gashed her tender bodye with diuers and sondry strokes, for +the auoydiug wherof, so fast as her legges could beare her, she ran vp +and downe the chamber: and when through want of bloud she perceiued +death approch, lifting vp her eyes vnto heaven, and ioyning her hands +together, gaue thanckes vnto God, whom she termed to be her force, her +vertue, her pacience and chastitie, humblie beseeching him to take in +good part the bloude whiche by his commandemente was sheade in honor of +that precious bloude, which from his owne sonne did issue vppon the +Crosse, whereby shee did beleeue, firmelye and stedfastlye that all her +sinnes were wiped awaye and defaced from the memorye of his wrathe and +anger, and in sayinge: “Lorde receiue my soule which was dearely bought +and redeemed with thy bounty and goodnes:” shee fell downe to the ground +vpon her face where the wycked villaine inflicted her bodye with +manifold wounds: and after she had lost her speache and the force of her +body, thys most wicked and abhominable varlet toke her by force, whiche +had no more strength and power to defende herselfe: and when he had +satisfied his cursed desire, he fled away in such hast, as afterwards +for all the pursute made after him he could not be found. The yong wench +which lay +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page31" id = "page31">31</a></span> +with her, for feare hid herselfe vnder the bed. But when she perceyued +the villaine departed, shee came vnto her Maistresse and finding her +speachlesse and without mouing, she cryed out at the window vnto the +nexte neighbours to come to succour her: and they which loued her and +esteemed her so wel as any woman in the towne, came presently vnto her, +and brought diuers surgeons with them, who findinge vpon her body <span +class = "smallroman">XXV.</span> mortall woundes, they did so much as in +them laye to helpe her: but it was impossible. Howbeit shee laye one +houre without speache, makinge signes with hir eyes and hands, declaring +that she had not lost her vnderstanding: being demaunded by the priest, +of the fayth wherin she died, and of her saluacion, she aunswered by +such euident signes, as her liuely speach and communication coulde not +haue declared it better, howe that her trust and confidence was in the +death of Iesus Christ, whom she hoped to see in the Celestiall citie, +and so with a ioyfull countenaunce, her eyes erected vp to the heauens, +she rendred her chast body to the earth, and her soule to her Creator: +and when shee was shrouded ready to the buriall, as her neighbours were +attending to followe her to the Church, her poore husbande came home, +and the first sight he sawe, was the body of his dead wife before his +doore, wherof before that instant hee had no newes. And when he +vnderstode the order of her death, he then doubled his sorrowe, in such +wyse that he was also like to die. In this sort was this marter of +chastitie buried in the church of S. Florentine, where all the +honest dames and wiues of the citie endeuoured themselues to accompany +her, and to honour her with suche reuerence as they were able to do: +accomptinge themselues most happie to dwell in that towne, where a woman +of such vertuous behauiour did dwell. The foolish and wanton seing the +honour done to that deade bodye, determined from that time forth to +renue their former life, and to chaunge the same into a better.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page32" id = "page32">32</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_51" id = "novel1_51"> +THE FIFTY-FIRST NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A king of Naples, abusing a Gentleman’s wife, in the end did weare the +hornes himselfe.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the citie of Naples when king +Alphonsus raigned, in whose time wantonnesse bare chiefest sway, there +was a Gentleman so honest, beautifull and comely, as for his good +conditions and wel knowen behauiour an old Gentleman gaue to him his +daughter in mariage, which in beautie and good grace was passingly well +beloued and comfortable to her husband. The Loue was great betwene them, +till it chaunced vpon shrouetide that the king went a masking into the +citie, where euery man endeuoured to intertaine him the best he could. +And when he came to this Gentleman’s house, he was best receyued of any +place in all the towne, aswell for banqueting, as for musicall songes, +and the Gentlewoman, the fayrest that the king sawe in all the citie to +his contentacion. And vpon the end of the banket, she sang a song with +her husbande, with a grace so good as it greatly augmented her beautie. +The king seeing so many perfections in one body, conceyued not so great +pleasure in the sweete accords of her husband and her, as he did howe to +deuise to interrupt and breake them: and the difficultie for bringinge +that to passe, was the great amitie that hee sawe betweene them, +wherefore he bare in his hart that passion so couert, as he possibly +could. But partly for his owne solace and comforte, and partly for good +will of all, hee feasted all the Lords and Ladyes of Naples, where the +Gentleman and his wife were not forgotten. And because man willingly +beleeueth that he doth see, he thought that the lokes of that +gentlewoman promised vnto him some grace in time to come, if the +presence of her husband were no let therunto. And to proue whether his +coniecture were true, he sent her husbande in commission to Rome, for +the space of <span class = "smallroman">XV.</span> dayes or <span class += "smallroman">III.</span> wekes. And so sone as he was gone, his wyfe +which hitherto had not felt any long absence from her husband, made +great sorrow +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page33" id = "page33">33</a></span> +for the same, whereof she recomforted by the king, many times by sweete +perswasions and by presents and gifts, in such sort, that she was not +onely comforted, but contented with her husbande’s absence. And before +the three weekes were expired of his returne, she was so amorous of the +king as she was no lesse sorowful of his comming home, then she was +before for his departure. And to the intent the king’s presence might +not be loste, they agreed together, that when her husband was gone to +his possessions in the countrie, she should send word to the king, that +he might haue safe repair vnto her, and so secretly that his honour, +(which he feared more then he did the fact) might not be impaired. Vpon +this hope, this Ladie’s hart was set on a merie pin: and when her +husband was come home, shee welcomed him so wel, that albeit he knewe +how the king made much of her in his absence, yet he would not beleeue +that he so did for any dishonest fact. Howbeit by continuance of time, +this fier that could not be couered, by litle and litle began to kindle, +in such wise as the husband doubted much of the truth, and watched the +matter so neere, as he was almost oute of doubt. But for feare, least +the partie which did the wrong, should do him greater hurt, if he seemed +to know it, he determined to dissemble the matter: for he thought it +better to liue with some griefe, then to hazard his life for a woman +that did not loue him: notwithstanding, for this displeasure, he thought +to be euen with the king if it were possible. And knowinge that many +times despite maketh a woman to do that which Loue cannot bring to +passe, specially those that haue honourable harts and stoute stomacks, +was so bold without blushing, vpon a day in speaking to the Queene, to +say unto her, that he had pitie vpon her, for that shee was no better +beloued of the king her husband. The Queene which heard tell of the loue +betwene the king and his wife: “I cannot (quoth she) both enioy +honour and pleasure together: I knowe well that honor I haue, +whereof one receiueth the pleasure, and as she hath the pleasure, so +hath not she the honor.” He which knewe wel by whom those words were +spoken, said vnto her: “Madame, honor hath waited vpon you euen from +your birth, for you be of so good a house, as to be a queene or +Empresse, you cannot +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page34" id = "page34">34</a></span> +augment your nobilitie, but your beautie, grace, and honestie, hath +deserued so much pleasure, as she that depriueth you of that which is +incident to your degree, doth more wrong to her self then to your +person. For she for a glorie that hath turned her to shame, hath +therewithall lost so much pleasure, as your grace or any Lady in the +realme may haue. And I may saye vnto you (Madame) that if the kinge were +no king as he is, I thincke that he could not excel me in pleasing +of a woman: being sure that to satisfie such a vertuous personage as you +be, he might exchaunge his complexion with mine.” The Queene smiling, +answered him: “Although the king be of more delicate and weaker +complexion than you be, yet the loue that he beareth mee, doth so much +content mee, as I esteeme the same aboue all thinges in the world.” The +gentleman said vnto her: “Madame, if it were so, I woulde take no +pitie vpon you, for I know wel that the honest loue of your hart, would +yeld vnto you great contentment, if the like were to be found in the +king: but God hath foreseene and preuented the same, least enioyinge +your owne desire, you would make him your God vppon earth.” +“I confesse vnto you (saide the Queene) that the Loue I beare him, +is so great, as the like place he could not find in no woman’s hart, as +he doth in mine.” “Pardon me, madame (saide the Gentleman) if I speake +more francklye, your grace hath not sounded the depth of ech man’s +harte. For I dare be bold to say vnto you, that I do know one that doth +loue you, and whose loue is so great, as your loue in respecte of his is +nothing. And for so much as he seeth the kinge’s loue to faile in you +his doth grow and increase, in such sort, that if your loue were +agreable vnto his, you should be recompensed of all your losses.” The +Queene aswel by his words as by his countenaunce, began to perceiue, +that the talke proceded from the bottom of his hart, and called to her +remembraunce that long time he had endeuored to do her service, with +such affection, as for loue he was growen to be melancolike, which she +thought before, to rise through his wiue’s occasion, but now she +assuredly beleued that it was for her sake. And thus the force of Loue, +which is well discryed when it is not fayned, made her sure of that, +which was vnknowen to all the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page35" id = "page35">35</a></span> +world. And beholding the gentleman which was more amiable than her +husband, and seing that he was forsaken of his wife, as she of the king, +pressed with despite and ialousie of her husband, and prouoked with loue +of the gentleman, began to say with finger in eye, and sighing sobbs: +“O my God, must vengeaunce get and win that at my hand, which Loue +cannot doe?” The gentleman well vnderstanding her meaning, aunsweared: +“Madame, vengeance is sweete vnto him which in place of killinge an +ennemye, giueth life to a perfecte freinde. I thincke it time that +trouth doe remoue from you the foolishe loue, that you beare to him +which loueth you not: and that iust and reasonable loue should expell +from you the feare, which out not remaine in a noble and vertuous hart. +But now madame, omittinge to speake of the greatnesse of your estate, +let vs consider that we be both man and woman, the most deceiued of the +world, and betrayed of them which we haue most dearely loued. Let vs now +be reuenged (madame) not onely to render vnto them, what they deserue, +but to satisfie the loue which for my part I can no longer beare, except +I should die. And I thincke, that if your harte be not harder than +flinte, or Diamont, it is impossible but you must perceiue som sparke of +fier, which increaseth more than I am able to dissemble: and if pitie of +me which dieth for your loue, doth not moue you to loue me, at least +wyse let loue of your self constraine you, which (being so perfect a +creature as you be) doth deserue to enioy the hartes of the noblest +and most vertuous of the world. Suffer I say, the contempt and forsaking +of him, [to] moue you, for whom you haue disdayned al other persons.” +The Queene hearing those wordes, was so rauished, as for feare to +declare by her countenaunce the trouble of her spirite, leaning vppon +the Gentleman’s arme, went into a garden hard by her Chamber, where she +walked a long time not able to speake a woord. But the Gentleman seeing +her halfe wonne, when he was at the ende of the Alley where none could +see them, hee certified her by effect, the loue which so long time he +kept secrete from her. And both with one consent reioyced in reuenge, +whereof the passion was importable. And there determined, that so oft as +hee went into the Country, and the king +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page36" id = "page36">36</a></span> +from his Castell into the Citie, he should retourne to the Castel to see +the Quene. Thus deceyuing the deceyuers, all foure were partakers of the +pleasure, which two alone thought to enioy. The accord made, they +departed, the Lady to her Chamber, and the Gentleman to his house, with +such contentacion, as they had quite forgotten al theyr troubles past. +And the feare which either of them had of the assembly of the king and +of the Gentlewoman, was tourned to desire, which made the Gentleman to +go more oft then he was wonte to doe into the countrye, being not past +halfe a mile of. And so sone as the king knew therof, he fayled not to +visite his Lady, and the gentleman the night following went to the +Castle to salute the Queene, to do the office of the kinge’s +Lieutenaunt, so secretly as no man did perceiue it. This voyage endured +long time, but the king because he was a publike person, could not so +well dissemble his Loue, but all the worlde did vnderstand it, and all +men pitied the gentleman’s state. For diuers light persons behinde his +backe would make hornes vnto him, in signe of mockerie, which he right +well perceyued. But this mockerie pleased him so wel, as he esteemed his +hornes better then the king’s Crowne. The king and the Gentleman’s wife +one day, could not refraine (beholding a Stagge’s head set vp in the +Gentleman’s house) from breaking into a laughter before his face, +saying, how that head became the house very well. The gentleman that had +so good a hart as he, wrote ouer that head these words.</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p><i>These hornes I weare and beare for euery man to view,</i></p> +<p><i>But yet I weare them not in token they be trew.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The king retourning againe to the Gentleman’s house, finding this +title newlye written, demaunded of the gentleman the signification of +them.</p> + +<p>Who said vnto him:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p><i>“If princesse secret things, be from the horned hart +concealed,</i></p> +<p><i>Why should like things of horned beastes, to Princes be +revealed.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>But content your selfe: all they that weare hornes be pardoned to +weare their capps vpon their heads: for they be so sweete and pleasaunt, +as they vncappe no man, and they weare them so light, as they thincke +they haue none at all.” The king knew well by +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page37" id = "page37">37</a></span> +his wordes that he smelled something of his doings, but he neuer +suspected the loue betwene the Queene and him. For the Queene was better +contented wyth her husbande’s life, and with greater ease dissembled her +griefe. Wherefore eyther parts lived long time in this loue, till age +had taken order for dissolucion thereof. “Behold Ladyes (quoth +Saffredante) this Historye which for example I have willinglye recited +to thintente that when your husbands do make you hornes as big as a +Goate, you maye render unto him the monstrous heade of a Stagge.” “Peace +(quoth Emarsuite smyling) no more wordes, least you reuiue some sleeping +sweet soule, which without stur would not awake; with any +whispring.”</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page38" id = "page38">38</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_52" id = "novel1_52"> +THE FIFTY-SECOND NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The rashe enterprise of a Gentleman against a Princesse of Flaunders, +and of the shame that he receyued thereof.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">There</span> was in Flaunders a Lady of an +honorable house, which had two husbands, by whom shee had no children +that were then liuinge. Duringe the time of her widowhoode shee dwelte +within one of her brothers, that loued her very well, which was a noble +man, and had maried a king’s doughter. This yong Prince was muche giuen +to pleasure, louinge huntinge, pastime, and the company of fayre Ladyes, +accordingly as youth requireth. He had a wyfe that was curst and +troublesome, whom the delectations of her husband in no wyse did +contente and please: wherefore this noble man caused his sister daily to +keepe company with his wyfe. This Gentlewoman his sister was of +pleasaunt conuersation, and therewithal very honest and wyse. There was +in the house of this noble man, a Gentleman whose worship, beautye +and grace did surpasse all the rest of his companions. This Gentleman +perceyuing the sister of his Lorde and Maister to be pleasaunte and of +ioyfull countenaunce, thoughte to proue if the attempt of an honest +frende would be vouchsaued, but he founde her aunswere to be contrary to +her countenaunce: and albeit that her aunswere was such as was meete for +a Princesse and right honest Gentlewoman, yet because she perceyued him +to be a goodly personage, and curteous, she easily pardoned his bold +attempt, and seemed that she toke it not in ill part when he spake vnto +her. Neuerthelesse shee warned him, after that time, to moue no such +matter, which he promised, because he would not lose his pleasure, and +the honour that hee conceyued to entertaine her. Notwithstanding, by +processe of time his affection increased so much as he forgot the +promise which he had made her, wherefore he thoughte good not to hazarde +his enterprise by wordes, for that hee had to long against his wyll +experimented her wyse and discrete aunsweares: and therewithall he +thought if he could +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page39" id = "page39">39</a></span> +finde her in some conueient place (because she was a yong widow, of +lusty yeares and good complexion) it were possible shee woulde take +pitie vppon him, and of herself. And that he might bring his purpose to +effecte, he said to his Maister that he had besides his owne house very +goodlie game, and that if it pleased him to kill three or foure Stagges +in the moneth of May, he should see very good pastime. The Lord aswell +for the loue hee bare to the Gentleman, as for the pleasure he had in +hunting, graunted his request: and went to his house, which was so faire +and well furnished, as the best Gentleman in all the countrey had no +better. The gentleman lodged his Lord and Lady in one side of the house, +and in the other directly against it her whome he loued better than +himselfe. The Chamber where his maistres laye, was so well hanged with +tapistrie, and so trimely matted, as it was impossible to perceiue a +falling dore, harde by the bed’s side, descending to his mother’s +chamber, which was an old Lady, much troubled with the Catarre and Rume. +And because she had a cough, fearing to disease the Princesse which laye +aboue her, she chaunged her chamber with her sonne. And euery night the +olde Gentlewoman brought comficts to the Lady for her recreation, vpon +whom the Gentleman wayted, who (for that he was well beloued and very +familier with her brother) was not refused to be present at her rising +and going to bedde. Whereby he daily toke occasion to increase his loue +and affection: in suche sorte as one night, after he had caused the +Ladye to sit vp late, (she being surprised with sleepe) he was forced to +depart the chamber, and to repaire to his own. Wher when he had put on +the most brauest perfumed shirt that he had, and his cap for the night +so trimmely dressed, as there wanted nothing, he thought in beholding +himself, that there was no Lady in the world that would refuse his +beautie and comlinesse. Wherefore promising himselfe a happie successe +in his enterprise, hee went to his bed where he purposed not long to +abide, for the desire that he had to enter into another, whiche should +be more honourable and pleasaunt vnto him. And after he had sent his men +away, he rose to shut the dore after them, and hearkened a good while, +whether he could heare any noyse in the Ladie’s chamber aboue. And when +he was +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page40" id = "page40">40</a></span> +sure that euery man was at rest, he began to take his pleasaunt iourney, +and by litle and litle opened the falling dore, whiche was so well +trimmed with cloth, that it made no noyse at all, and went vp to the +Ladie’s bed side, which then was in her first sleepe, and without +respecte of the bonde and promise that he made vnto her, or the +honorable house wherof she came, without leaue or reuerence, he laid +himselfe down besides her, who felt him betwene her armes before she +perceiued his comming. But she which was somewhat strong, vnfolded her +self out of his handes, and in asking him what he was, began to strike, +to bite and scratche, in suche wyse, as he was constrained (for feare +least she should crye out) to stoppe her mouth with the couerlet, which +was impossible for him to do. For when she sawe him to presse with all +his force to despoyle her of her honor, she spared no part of her might +to defende and kepe her selfe, and called (so loude as she could) +her woman of honor, that laye in her chamber, whiche was a very auncient +and sober gentlewoman, who in her smock, ran straight to her maistresse. +And when the Gentleman perceiued that hee was discouered, hee was so +fearfull to be knowen of the Ladye, as sone as he could hee shifted +himself down by his trapdore. And where before he conceiued hope and +assuraunce to be welcome, now he was brought in despaire for retourning +in so vnhappy state. When he was in his chamber, he found his glasse and +candle vpon the table, and beholding his face all bloudy with the +scratchings and bitinges, whiche shee had bestowed vpon him, the bloud +wherof ran down his fayre shyrt, better bloudied then gilted, he began +to make his moone in this wise: “O beautie, thou art nowe payed thy +desert, for vppon thy vayne promise haue I aduentured a thing +impossible. And that which might haue bene the augmenting of my delight +is nowe the redoubling of my sorowe. Being assured that if she knewe +howe contrary to my promise I haue enterprised this foolishe fact, +I should vtterly forgoe the honest and common conuersation whiche I +haue with her aboue al other. That which my estimation, beautie and good +behauiour doe deserue, I ought not to hyde in darkenesse. To gaine +her loue, I ought not to haue assayed her chaste bodye by force, +but rather by seruice and humble pacience, to wayte and attend till +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page41" id = "page41">41</a></span> +loue did vanquishe. For without loue all the vertue and puissance of man +is of no power and force.” Euen thus he passed the night in such teares, +griefes and plaintes, as can not be well reported and vttered. In the +morning, when he beheld his bloudy face all mangled and torne, he fained +to be very sicke, and that he could abide no light, til the company were +gone from his house. The Ladye whiche thus remained victorious, knowing +that there was no man in all her brother’s Court, that durst attempt a +deede so wicked, but her hoste which was so bolde to declare his loue +vnto her, knew well that it was he. And when she and her woman of honour +had searched all the corners of the chamber to knowe what he was, and +could not finde hym, she sayd vnto her woman in great rage: “Assure your +selfe it can be none other, but the Gentleman of the house, whose +villanous order I wyll reueale to my brother in the morning, in such +sorte, as his head shalbe a witnesse and testimony of my chastitie.” Her +woman seing her in that furie, sayd vnto her; “Madame, I am right +glad to see the loue and affection which you beare to your honor, for +the increase wherof you doe not spare the life of one, which hath +aduentured himselfe so muche for the loue that hee beareth vnto you. But +many times such one thinketh by those meanes to increase loue, which +altogether he doth diminishe. Wherefore (Madame) I humbly beseche +you to tell me the truthe of this facte.” And when the Ladie had +recompted the same at lengthe, the woman of honour sayd vnto her: “Your +grace doth say that he got no other thyng of you, but scratches and +blowes with your fistes.” “No, I assure you (quod the Ladie) and I +am certaine if hee gette hym not a good Surgeon, the markes will be +seene to morowe.” “Wel Madame (quod the gentlewoman) sithens it is so, +me thinketh you haue greater occasion to prayse <span class = +"smallcaps">God</span>, then to muse vpon reuenge: For you may beleue, +that sithens he had the courage to enterprise so great an exploit, and +that despite hath failed him of his purpose, you can deuise no greater +death for him to suffer, then the same. If you desire to be reuenged, +let Loue and shame alone bring that to passe, who knowe better which way +to tormente him than your selfe, and with greater honor to your persone. +Take heede Madame from falling into such inconuenience as he is in, for +in +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page42" id = "page42">42</a></span> +place of great pleasure whiche he thought to haue gayned, he hath +receiued the extremest anoyance, that any gentleman can suffer. And you +Madame, by thinking to augment your honor, you may decrease and diminish +the same. And by making complaint, you shal cause that to be knowen, +which no man knoweth. For of his part (you may be assured) there shall +neuer be anything reuealed. And when my Lorde your brother at your +requeste, shall execute the iustice which you desire, and that the poore +Gentleman shal be ready to die, the brute will runne that he hath had +his pleasure vpon you. And the greatest numbre will say, that it is very +difficult for a Gentleman to doe suche an enterprise, except the Lady +minister some great occasion. Your grace is faire and yong, frequenting +your life in pleasant company, there is none in all the Court, but seeth +and marketh the good countenaunce you beare to that Gentleman, whereof +your selfe hath some suspicion: which will make euery man suppose that +if he hath done this enterprise, it was not without some consent from +you. And your honor which hetherto hath borne your port a loft, shall be +disputed vpon in all places where this historie shall be remembred.” The +Princesse well waying the good reasons and aduise of her gentlewoman, +knewe that she spake the truthe: and that by moste iust cause she should +be blamed: considering the familiaritie and good countenaunce which +dayly she bare vnto the Gentleman. Wherefore she inquired of her woman +of honour, what was beste to bee done. Who aunswered her thus. “Madame, +sith it pleaseth you to receiue mine aduise, by waying the affection +whereof it procedeth, me thinke you ought in your hart to reioyce, that +the goodliest, and moste curteous Gentleman that liueth, could neither +by loue, or force, despoile you of your greatest vertue and chastitie. +For which (Madame) you are bounde to humble your selfe before God, +acknowledging that it is not done by your vertue, bicause many women +walking in a more paineful and more vnpleasaunt trade then you do, haue +humiliated and brought low by men farre more vnworthy of loue, then he +which loueth you. And ye ought now to feare more than euer you did, to +vse any semblance and take of amitie, bicause there haue bene many that +haue fallen the second time into daungers and perils, which they haue +auoyded at the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page43" id = "page43">43</a></span> +first. Remember (Madame) that loue is blind, who blaseth mens eyes in +such sort, as where a man thinketh the waye moste sure, ther his most +readie to fal. And I suppose Madame, that you ought not to seme to be +priuie of this chaunce, neither to him, ne yet to any els, and when he +remembreth anye thing to you, doe make as though you did not vnderstande +his meaning, to auoyde twoo daungers. The one of vaine glorie for the +victorie you haue had, the other to take pleasure in remembring things, +that be so pleasaunt to the flesh, which the most chaste haue had much a +do to defend theimselues from feling some sparkes, although they seke +meanes to shunne and auoyde them with all their possible power. +Moreouer, Madame, to thende that he thinke not by suche hazard and +enterprise to haue done a thing agreable to your minde, my counsell is, +that by litle and litle, you doe make your selfe straunge, and vse no +more your wonted grace vnto him, that he may know how much you despise +his folly and consider how great your goodnesse is, by contenting your +self with the victory which God hath geuen you, without seeking any +further vltion or reuengement. And God graunt you grace (Madame) to +continue that honestie which hee hath planted in your hart, and by +acknowledging that all goodnesse procedeth from him, you may loue him +and serue him, better than euer ye did.” The Princesse determined to +credite the counsayle of her gentlewoman, slepte with so great ioye as +the poore gentleman waked with sorrow. On the morrow the noble man ready +to depart, asked for his hoste, vnto whom answere was made that he was +so sicke, as he could not abide the light, or endure to heare one +speake. Wherof the Prince was sore abashed, and would haue visited him, +but that it was told him he was a slepe, and was very loth to wake him. +Wherefore without bidding him farewell, he departed, taking with him his +wife and sister, who hearing the excuse of the Gentleman that would not +see the Prince, nor yet his companie, at their departure, was persuaded +that it was he, that had done her al that torment, and durst not shew +the markes which she had signed in his face. And although his Maister +did sende oftimes for him yet came he not to the Court, vntill he was +healed of his woundes, except that whiche loue and despite had made in +his harte. When he came to the Courte and appeared +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page44" id = "page44">44</a></span> +before his victorious enemie, he blushed for shame of his ouer throwe. +And he which was the stoutest of all the company was so astonned as many +times being in her presence, hee could not tell which way to loke or +tourne his face. Wherfore she was assured that her suspicion was certain +and true, by litle and litle estraunging her self from him, but it was +not done so sleightly or politikely but that he perceiued well enough, +and yet he durst make no semblaunce, for feare of worse aduenture. +Notwithstanding he conserued both loue in his hart, and pacience in his +minde, for the losse of his Ladie’s fauour, which he had right well +deserued.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page45" id = "page45">45</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_53" id = "novel1_53"> +THE FIFTY-THIRD NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The loue of Amadour and Florinda: wherein be conteined mani sleightes +and dissimulations, together with the renowmed chastitie of the said +Florinda.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the Countie of Arande, in Aragon, +a region in Spaine, there was a Ladie whiche in the best time of her +youth, continued the widow of the Earle of Arande, with one sonne, and +one daughter, called Florinda. The sayde Lady brought vp her children in +all vertue and honestie, meete and conuenable for Lordes and Gentlemen, +in such sorte, as her house was renowmed to be one of the most honorable +in all the Region of Spaine. Many times she repaired to Tolledo, where +the kinge of Spaine helde his Court, and when she came to Sarragosa, +which was harde adioyning to the court, she continued long with the +Queene, and in the Courte, where she was had in so good estimation as +any Lady might be. Vpon a time going towardes the king, according to her +custome, which was at Sarragosa, in his castle of Iafferie, this Lady +passed by a village that belonged to the Viceroy of Catalongne, who +still continued vppon the frontiers of Parpignon, for the great warres +that were betwene the Frenche king and him. Howebeit, at that time peace +being concluded, the Viceroy with all his captaines were come to do +reuerence to the king. The Viceroy knowing that the Countesse of Arrande +did passe through his countrie, went to mete her, as well for auncient +amitie, as for the honor he bare vnto her being allied to the kyng. Nowe +this Viceroy had in his companye diuers honest Gentlemen, whiche through +the frequentation and continuance of the long warres, had gotten suche +honour and fame, as euery man that might see them and behold them did +accompt them selues happy. But amonges all other, there was one called +Amadour, who although he was but <span class = +"smallroman">XVIII.</span> or <span class = "smallroman">XIX.</span> +yeares of age, yet he had such an assured grace and witte so excellent, +as he was demed amongs a thousand persones worthy to haue the +gouernement of a common wealth, whiche good witte was coupled with +maruellous naturall beautie, so that there +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page46" id = "page46">46</a></span> +was no eye, but did content it self eftsones to beholde hym. And this +beautie so exquisite, was associated with wonderfull eloquence, as +doubtfull to say, whether merited greatest honor, either his grace and +beautie, or his excellent tongue. But that which brought him into best +reputation, was his great hardinesse, whereof the common reporte and +brute was nothing impeached or staied for all his youth. For in so many +places he shewed his chiualrie, as not only Spain but Fraunce and +Italie, did singularly commend and set forth his vertue: bicause in all +the warres wherin he was present, he neuer spared him self for any +daunger. And when his countrie was in peace and quiet, he sought to +serue in straunge places, being loued and estemed both of his frendes +and enemies. This Gentleman for the loue of his Captaine was come into +that countrey, where was arriued the Countesse of Arande, and in +beholding the beautie and good grace of her daughter, which was not then +past <span class = "smallroman">XII.</span> yeres of age, he thought +that she was the fairest and most vertuous personage that euer he sawe: +and that if he could obtaine her good will, he should be so well +satisfied as if he had gained all the goods and pleasures of the worlde. +And after he had a good whyle viewed her, for all the impossibilitie +that reason could deuise to the contrary, he determined to loue her, +although some occasion of that impossibilitie might ryse through the +greatnesse of the house wherof she came, and for want of age which was +not able as yet to vnderstande the passions of loue. But against the +feare thereof he was armed with good hope, persuading himselfe, that +time and patience would bring happie ende to his trauayle: and from that +time gentle Loue whiche without any other occasion than by his own force +was entred the harte of Amadour, promised him fauour and helpe by all +meanes possible to attaine the same. And to prouide for the greatest +difficultie, which was the farre distance of the countrie wher he dwelt, +and the small occasion that he had thereby any more to see Florinda, he +thought to marry against his determination made with the ladies of +Barselone and Parpignon, amonges whom he was so conuersant by reason of +the warres, as he semed rather to be a Cathelan, than a Castillan, +although he wer borne by Tollede, of a riche and honourable house, yet +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page47" id = "page47">47</a></span> +bicause he was a yonger brother, he inioyed no great patrimonie or +reuenue. Notwithstanding, loue and fortune seing him forsaken of his +parentes, determined to accomplishe some notable exployt in him, and +gaue him (by meanes of his vertue) that which the lawes of his +countrey refused to geue. He had good experience in factes of warre, and +was so well beloued of al Princes and Rulers, as he refused many times +their goodes, being resolued not to care or esteme the benefites of +Fortune. The Countesse of whome I spake, arriued thus at Saragossa, was +very well intertained of the king, and of his whole Court. The Gouernour +of Catalogne, many times came thither to visite her, whom Amadour neuer +failed to accompany, for the onely pleasure he had to talke with +Florinda: and to make himselfe to be knowen in the company, hee went to +Auenturade, whiche was the daughter of an old knight that dwelt hard by +the house, whiche from her youth was brought vp with Florinda, in such +familiar sorte, as she knewe all the secrets of her harte. Amadour, as +well for the honestie that he found in her, as for the liuing of <span +class = "smallroman">III.M.</span> ducates by the yeare which she should +haue with her in mariage, determined to geue her such intertaignement, +as one that was disposed to marry her. Wherunto the gentlewoman did +willingly recline her eare: and bicause he was poore, and the father of +the damosell rich, she thought that her father would neuer accorde to +the mariage, except it were by meanes of the Countesse of Arande. +Wherupon she went to madame Florinda, and saide vnto her: “Madame, you +see this Castillan gentleman, which so oftentimes talketh with me, +I doe beleue that his pretence is to marry me: you do know what a +father I haue, who will neuer geue his consent, if he be not persuaded +therunto by my Lady your mother and you.” Florinda which loued the +damosell as her selfe, assured her that shee would take vpon her to +bring that matter to passe, with so earnest trauaile as if the case were +her own. Then Auenturade brought Amadour before Florinda, who after he +had saluted her, was like to fall in a sowne for ioy, and although he +were compted the moste eloquent persone of Spaine, yet was he now become +mute and dumb before Florinda, wherat she maruelled much: for albeit she +was but <span class = "smallroman">XII.</span> yeares of age, yet she +vnderstode that there was no +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page48" id = "page48">48</a></span> +man in Spaine that had a better tongue, or a more conuenable grace than +he. And seing that he said nothing vnto her, she spake vnto him in this +wise: “The fame which is bruted of you (sir Amadour) throughout the +whole countrie of Spaine, is such as it maketh you knowen and estemed in +this company, and giueth desire and occasion to those that know you, to +imploy themselues to do you pleasure: wherefore if there be any thing +wherin I may gratifie you, vse me I besech you.” Amadour that gased vpon +the beautie of that lady, was rapt and surprised, not well able to +render thankes vnto her. And although Florinda maruelled to see him +without aunswere, yet she imputed it rather to bashfulnesse than to any +force of loue, and departed without further talke. Amadour knowing the +vertue which in so tender yeares began to appeare in Florinda, saide +vnto her whome he purposed to marry: “Doe not maruell, though my speache +do fayle before Madame Florinda, for the vertues and discretion, hidden +in that yonge personage, did so amase mee, as I wiste not what to saye: +but I praye you Auenturade (quod he) who knoweth all her secretes, +to tell me, if it be otherwyse possible, but that she hath the harte of +all the Lordes and Gentlemen of the Court: for they which know her and +doe not loue her, be stones, or beastes.” Auenturade whiche then loued +Amadour more than all the men in the worlde, and would conceale nothing +from him, said vnto him: that Madame Florinda was generally beloued: but +for the custome of the countrie, fewe men did speake unto her. “And +(quod she) as yet I se none that make any semblance of loue vnto her, +but two young Princes of Spaine, which desire to marry her, whereof the +one is the sonne of the Infant Fortune, and the other of the Duke of +Cadouce.” “I praye you then (quod Amadour) to tell me which of them +as you think, doth loue her best.” “She is so wise” said Auenturade, +“that she will confesse or graunt her loue to none, but to such as her +mother pleaseth. But yet so far as we can iudge she fauoureth muche +better the sonne of the Infant Fortune, than the Duke of Cadouce: and +for that I take you to be a man of good iudgment, this day you shall +haue occasion to consider the truth: for the sonne of the Infant Fortune +is brought vp in Court, and is one of the goodliest and perfectest +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page49" id = "page49">49</a></span> +yong Gentlemen in al christendome: and if the mariage do procede, +according to our opinion, which be her women, he shalbe assured to haue +Madame Florinda: and then shalbe ioyned together the goodliest couple in +the world. And you must vnderstand, that although they be both very +yong, she of <span class = "smallroman">XII.</span> yeares of age, and +he of <span class = "smallroman">XV.</span> yet is there three yeares +past since their loue first began: and if you be disposed aboue other to +obtain her fauour, mine aduise is, that ye become friend and seruaunt +vnto him.” Amadour was very ioyfull to heare tell that his Lady loued +some man, trusting that in tyme he should wynne the place, not of +husbande, but of seruaunt: for he feared nothing at all of her vertue, +but a lacke of disposition to loue. And after this communication, +Amadour bent himselfe to haunt the societie of the sonne of the Infant +Fortune, whose good will he sone recouered, for all the pastimes whiche +the yong Prince loued, Amadour could doe right well: and aboue other, he +was very cunning in riding of horsses, and in handling al kindes of +armes and weapons, and in all other pastimes and games meete for a yong +Gentleman. Warres began in Languedoc, and Amadour was forced to retire +with the Gouernour, to his great sorrowe and grief, for he had there no +meane to returne to the place where he might se Florinda. For which +cause he spake to his owne brother, whiche was Steward of the king of +Spaine’s houshold, and declared vnto him what courtesie he had found in +the house of the Countesse of Arande, and of the damosel Auenturade: +praying him that in his absence he would do his indeuour, that the +mariage might proceede, and that he would obtaine for him the credit and +good opinion of the king and Queene, and of al his friendes. The +Gentleman which loued his brother, as well by nature’s instigation, as +for his great vertues, promised him his trauaile and industrie to the +vttermoste. Which he did in such wise as the old man her father, nowe +forgetting other naturall respect, began to marke and beholde the +vertues of Amadour, which the Countesse of Arande, and specially faire +Florinda, painted and set foorth vnto him, and likewyse the Yong earl of +Arande whiche increased in yeares, and therewithall in loue of those +that were vertuous, and geuen to honest exercise. And when the mariage +was agreed +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page50" id = "page50">50</a></span> +betweene the parentes, the said Steward sent for his brother whilest the +truce endured betwene the two kings. About this time, the king of Spain +retired to Madric, to auoyd the euil aire that was in many places, where +by the aduise of diuers of his counsell, and at the request of the +Countesse of Arande, he made a mariage betwene the yong Duchesse the +heire of Medina Celi, and the yong Earle of Arande, as wel for the vnion +of their house, as also for the loue he bare to the said Countesse. And +this mariage was celebrated in the Castell of Madric, whereunto repaired +Amadour, who so well obtained his suite, as he maried her, of whom he +was muche better beloued, than his smal loue toward her deserued, sauing +that it was a couerture and meanes for him to frequent the place where +his minde and delight incessantly remained: after he was maried, he +became well acquainted and familiar in the house of the Countesse, so +that he was so conuersaunt amonges the Ladies, as if he had bene a +woman: and although hee was then but <span class = +"smallroman">XXII.</span> yeares of age, he was so wise and graue, as +the Countesse imparted vnto him all her affaires, commaunding her sonne +and daughter to intertayne him, and to credite all thinges wherein hee +gaue counsell. Hauing wonne this great estimation, he behaued him selfe +so wyse and politike, that euen the partie whiche he loued knewe no +parte of his affection: but by reason of the loue that Florinda bare to +the wife of Amadour, whome shee loued more than any other woman, she was +so familiar with him, as shee dissembled no part of her thought, +declaring vnto him all the loue that she bare the sonne of the Infant +Fortune: and he that desired nothing more than throughly to winne her, +ceassed not from continuance of talke, not caring whereof he spake, so +that he might hold her with long discourse: Amadour had not after his +mariage continued a moneth in that companie, but was constrained to +retire to the warres, where hee continued more than twoo yeares, without +retourne to see his wife, who still abode in the place where she was +brought vp. During the time, Amadour wrote many letters vnto his wife, +but the chiefest substance therof consisted in commendations to +Florinda, who for her part failed not to render like vnto him, many +times writing some pretie worde or posie with her own hand, in the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page51" id = "page51">51</a></span> +letter of Auenturade. Which made her husband Amadour diligent many times +to write again vnto her, but in al this doing Florinda conceiued +nothing, but that he loued her with such like loue as the brother oweth +to the sister. Many times Amadour went and came, but in the space of +fiue yeares he neuer sawe Florinda twoo monethes together: +notwithstanding, Loue in despite of their distaunce and long absence, +ceassed not to increase: and it chaunced that hee made a voyage home to +see his wyfe, and founde the Countesse farre from the court, bicause the +kyng of Spain was done to Vandelousie, and had taken with him the yong +Earle of Arande, whiche then began to bere armes. The Countesse was +retired to a house of pleasure, which shee had vpon the frontiers of +Arragon and Nauarre, and was right ioyfull when shee see Amadour, who +almoste three yeares had bene absent. He was very well recieued of euery +man, and the countesse commaunded that he should be vsed and entreated +as her howne sonne. During the time that he soiourned with her, she +communicated vnto him all the affaires of her house, and committed the +greatest trust thereof to his discretion, who wan such credite in the +house as in all places where he liste, the dores were opened vnto him: +whose wysedome and good behauiour made him to be estemed like a Sainct +or Aungell. Florinda, for the loue and good wyll she bare unto his wyfe +and him, made muche of him in all places where she sawe him: and +therfore tooke no hede vnto his countenaunce, for that her hart as yet +felt no passion, but a certen contentation in her selfe, when she was in +the presence of Amadour, and of any other thing she thought not. Amadour +to auoyde the iudgement of them that haue proued the difference of +Louers countenaunces, was very ware and circumspect: for when Florinda +came to speake vnto hym secretly (like one that thought no hurt) the +fier hydden in his breste, burned so sore, as he could not staye the +blushyng colour of his face, nor the sparkes whiche flewe out of his +eyes: and to the intent, that through long frequentation, none might +espie the same, he intertaigned a very fayre Ladye called Paulina, +a woman in his tyme accompted so fayre, as fewe men whiche behelde +her, coulde escape her bondes<ins class = "correction" title = ", for .">, +</ins>This Ladye Paulina vnderstanding howe Amadour vsed his Loue +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page52" id = "page52">52</a></span> +at Barselone and Parpignon, and how he was beloued of the fayrest Ladies +of the Countrie, and aboue all of the Countesse of Palamons, whiche in +beautie was prysed to be the fayrest in all Spayne, and of many other, +sayde vnto hym: “That shee had great pitie of hym, for that after so +manye good Fortunes, he had maried a wyfe so foule and deformed.” +Amadour vnderstanding well by those woordes, that she had desyre to +remedy her owne necessitie, vsed the best maner he coulde deuise, to the +intent that in makyng her beleue a lye, he should hyde from her the +truthe. But shee subtile and well experimented in Loue, was not contente +with talke, but perceyuing well that his harte was not satisfied with +her Loue, doubted that hee coulde not serue his Lady in secrete wise, +and therefore marked hym so nere, as daylye she had a respecte and +watche vnto hys eyes, whiche hee coulde so well dissemble, as she was +able to iudge nothyng, but by darke suspicion, not without great payne +and difficultie to the Gentleman, to whome Florinda (ignoraunt of all +their malice) dyd resorte many tymes in presence of Paulina, whose +demeaner then was so familiar, as he with maruellous payne refrayned his +lookes against his harte and desire: and to auoyde that no inconuenience +should ensue, one daye speaking to Florinda, as they were both leaning +at a wyndow, sayd these words: “Madame, I beseche you to tell mee +whether it is better to speake or to die.” Whereunto Florinda answered +readily, saying, “I will euer geue councell to my frendes to speake +and not to dye: for there be fewe wordes spoken but that they may be +amended, but the life lost cannot be recouered.” “Promise me then” said +Amadour, “that not onely ye will accept those wordes which I will say, +but also not to be astonned or abashed, till ye haue heard the end of my +tale.” To whom she aunswered: “Say what it please you, for if you do +affray me none other shall assure me.” Then he began to saye vnto her: +“Madame, I haue not yet bene desirous to disclose vnto you the +great affection which I beare you, for twoo causes: the one, bicause I +attend by my long seruice, to shewe you the experience thereof: the +other, for that I doubted you would thinke a great presumption in me +(which am but a poore gentleman) to insinuate my selfe in place whereof +I am not worthy: and although +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page53" id = "page53">53</a></span> +I were a Prince as you be, the loyaltie yet of your harte, will not +permitte any other, but him which hath already taken possession (the +sonne I meane of the Infant Fortune) to vse in talke any matter of loue: +but Madame, like as necessitie in time of great warr constraineth men to +make hauoke of their owne goodes, and to consume the greene corne, that +the enemy take no profit and reliefe thereof, euen so doe I hazard to +aduaunce the frute, which in time I hope to gather, that your enemies +and mine may inioye thereof none aduauntage. Knowe ye Madame, that from +the time of your tender yeares, I haue in such wyse dedicated my +selfe to your seruice as I ceasse not still to aspire the meanes to +achieue your grace and fauour: and for that occasion, I did marry +her whome I thought you did loue best: and knowing the loue you beare to +the sonne of the Infant Fortune, I haue indeuoured to serue him as +you haue sene: and that wherein I thought you dyd delighte, I haue +accomplished to the vttermoste of my power. You doe see that I haue +gotten the good wil of the Countesse your mother, of the Earle your +brother, and of all those that doe beare you good wyll: in sutche sorte +as in this house I am estemed, not like a seruaunt, but as a sonne: and +all the labour whiche I haue sustayned these fiue yeares past, was for +none other cause, but to lyue all the daies of my life with you: and +vnderstand you wel that I am none of those whiche by these meanes doe +pretende to receiue of you anye profite or pleasure, other than that +which is good and vertuous: I do know that I can neuer marrie you, +and if I could I would not for letting the loue that you beare vnto him, +whom I desire to be your husbande, likewise to loue you in vicious +sorte, like them that hope to recompence their seruice with dishonour of +their Ladies, I am so farre of from that affection, as I had rather +be dead than to see you by desert worthy of lesse loue, and that your +vertue shoulde by any meanes be diminished for any pleasure that might +happen vnto mee. I do pretend and craue for the ende and recompence +of my service, but one thing: which is, that you will continue my loyall +and faithfull maistresse, neuer to withdrawe from me your wonted grace +and fauour, and that you will maintaine mee in that estate wherein I am. +Reposinge your trust and fidelitie in me more than in any other, making +your selfe so +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page54" id = "page54">54</a></span> +assured of me, as if for your honor or any cause touching your person, +you stand in neede of the life of a Gentleman, the same shal right +willingly be employed at your commaundement: in like maner all thinges +vertuous and honest which euer I shal attempt I beseech you to thinke to +be done onely for the loue of you: and if I haue done for Ladies of +lesse reputacion than you be, any thing worthy of regard, be assured +that for such a maistresse as you be, my enterprises shal increase in +such sort, as the things which I found difficult and impossible, shall +be easelie for me to accomplishe; but if you do not accept mee to be +wholy yours, I determine to giue ouer armes, and to renounce +valiaunce, because it hath not succoured me in necessitie: wherfore, +Madame, I humblie beseech you that my iust request may not be +refused, sith with your honour and conscience you cannot well denie the +same.” The yong Lady hearing this vnaccustomed sute, began to chaunge +her colour, and to caste downe her eyes like an amased woman, +notwithstandinge, being wyse and discrete she said vnto him: “If +(Amadour) your request vnto me be none other than you pretende, +wherefore have you discoursed this long Oration? I am afraid lest +vnder this honeste pretence there lurketh some hidden malice to deceiue +the ignoraunce of my youth, wherby I am wrapt in great perplexitie how +to make you aunswere: for to refuse the honest amitie which you haue +offered, I shall doe contrary to that I haue done hitherto, for I +haue reposed in you more trust than in any liuing creature: my +conscience or mine honour cannot gainesay your demaunde, nor the loue +that I beare to the sonne of the Infant Fortune, which is grounded vpon +fayth of mariage: where you say that you pretende nothinge but that is +good and vertuous, I cannot tell what thing should let me to make +you aunswere according to your request, but a feare that I conceiue in +hart, founded vpon the small occasion that you haue to vse that speache, +for if you haue alreadye what you demaunde, what doth constraine you to +speake so affectuouslie?” Amadour that was not without an aunsweare, +said vnto her: “Madame, you speake very wisely, and you do me so much +honour, for the confidence and truste which according to your sayinge +you do repose in me, as if I doe not content my selfe with such a +benefite, I were the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page55" id = "page55">55</a></span> +vnworthiest man aliue: but vnderstande Madame, that he which goeth about +to builde a perpetual mansion, ought to haue regard to a sure and firme +foundacion: wherfore I which desire perpetually to remaine your +seruaunte, doe seeke not onely the meanes to kepe my selfe neare about +you, but also to foresee that none doe vnderstand the great affection +that I do beare you: for although my mind be so vertuous and honest, as +the same may disclose it selfe before the whole worlde, yet there bee +some so ignorant and vnskilfull of louers harts, as manye times will +iudge contrary to trouth, wherof proceedeth so ill brute and report, as +if the effectes were wicked: the cause which hath made me so bold to say +and declare vnto you thus much, is the suspicion that Paulina hath +conceyued, for that I cannot loue her: who doth nothing els but marke +and espie my countenaunce in euerye place, and when you vse your +familiar talke with me before her, I am so afraide to shewe any +signe whereby shee maye grounde or verifie her iudgemente, that I fall +into that inconuenience, which I would willingly auoyde: wherefore I +haue thought good to beseech you (before her and those which you do know +to be so malicious) to refraine from talkinge with mee so sodainlye, for +I had rather dye, than anye liuinge creature should haue mistrust +thereof: and were it not for the loue which I beare vnto your honour, +I had not yet declared the same vnto you, for I do hold my selfe +sufficiente happy and content of the onely loue and affiaunce that you +put in me, crauing nought els butt the continuance of the same.” +Florinda wel satisfyed with this aunswere, began to feele in harte a +further thing to growe than euer she did before: and hearing the honest +reasons alleaged by him, said, that her honestie and vertue shoulde make +aunsweare for her, and therewithall assented to his demaunde: whereof +whether Amadour were ioyful, Louers neede not doubt: but Florinda +credited more his counsell, than he would haue had her. For shee being +fearefull and timerous, not onely before Paulina, but in all other +places, vsed farre other countenaunce than she was wont to do: and in +this alienation of her former familiarity, she misliked the conuersation +that Amadour had with Paulina, whose beauty was such, that she could not +otherwise beleeue, but that hee loued her: and Florinda to passe ouer +her +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page56" id = "page56">56</a></span> +heauinesse, daily vsed the company of Auenturade, that began maruelously +to be ialous betweene her husbande and Paulina, whereof shee made +complaint many times to Florinda, who comforted her so well as shee +coulde, like one attached with the same disease: Amadour coniecturinge +by the countenaunce of Florinda, that not onely shee was estraunged from +hym through his former aduertisement, but also that there was some other +displeasure conceyued, comming vpon a time, from euensong out of the +Monasterie, he sayd vnto her: “Madame, what countenaunce do you make +me?” “Such as I thincke doth please you best,” answered Florinda. Then +Amadour suspecting a matter, to know whether it were true, began to +saye: “Madame, I haue so vsed Paulina, as she beginneth to give +ouer her opinion of you.” She answered him: “Ye cannot do a better thing +either for your selfe or for me: for in doing your selfe a pleasure, you +do honour vnto me.” Amadour iudged by these words that she thought he +toke pleasure to talke of Paulina, wherewith he became so desperate, as +hee could not forbeare to say vnto her in anger: “Madame, you begin very +sone to torment your seruante: there was neuer paine more greeuous vnto +mee, than to be forced to speake to her whom I loue not: and sithens al +that which I do for your seruice is taken in ill part, I wil neuer +speake againe vnto her, whatsoeuer happen: and to dissemble mine anger +and contentacion, I wil addresse my selfe to some place hereby, +till your fancie be ouer past: but I hope I shall receiue newes from my +captaine, to retourne to the warres, where I will so longe continue, as +you shall well knowe, that nothing els but you alone doth force me to +tarrie here.” And in saying so, without attending for her aunswere, hee +incontinently departed, and shee remayned so sad and pensive as any +woman coulde be: and loue began to shewe his greate force in such wyse +as shee knowing her wrong incessantly, wrote to Amadour praying him to +retourne home, which he did within a few dayes after that his choler was +past, and to tell you what businesse there was, to interrupte and breake +the ialousie conceiued, it were superfluous: but in the ende, he wanne +the field, so that she promised him, not onely to beleeue that he loued +not Paulina, but also helde her selfe assured that it should be to him a +martirdome intollerable, to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page57" id = "page57">57</a></span> +speake vnto her or any other, except it were to do her seruice: after +that loue had vanquished this presente suspicion, and that the two +louers began to take more pleasure in their mutuall talke than euer they +did before: newes came that the king of Spaine was about to addres his +Armie to Saulse, wherfore he that was wont to be there with the first, +was not like now to fayle to augment his honour: but true it is, that +his griefe was presently more greate, than at other times before, aswell +for losinge the pleasure which he enioyed, as for feare to finde some +mutacion and chaunge at his returne, because he saw Florinda pursued by +great Princes and Lords, and alreadye come to the age of <span class = +"smallroman">XV.</span> yeares, and thought that if she were maried in +his absence, he should neuer haue occasion to see her againe, except the +Countesse of Arande would appointe his wyfe to waite vppon her: for +accomplishment wherof he made such frends, as the Countesse and Florinda +promised him, that into what soeuer place she were maried his wyfe +Auenturade should attende vpon her: and although it was in question that +Florinda should be maried into Portugall, yet determined that his wyfe +should neuer forsake her: and vppon this assuraunce, not without +vnspeakeable sorow, Amadour departed and left his wife with the +Countesse. When Florinda was alone, her seruaunt departed, shee gaue her +selfe to all vertuous life, hopinge thereby to atteine the fame of a +most perfecte Lady, and to be counted worthie the interteignemente of +such a seruaunt. Amadour arriued at Barsalone, was banqueted and +intertayned of the Ladies after the old maner, but they finding him so +altered and chaunged, thought that Mariage could neuer haue had such +power vppon man, as it had ouer him: for he seemed then to disdaine, +what somtime he greatly desired, and specially the Countesse of +Palamons, whom he derely loued, could deuise by no meanes to make him go +alone home to his lodging: Amadour tarried at Barsalone so little while +as hee coulde, because hee might not come late to the place where hee +purposed to winne and atchiue honour: and being arriued at Saulse, great +and cruell warres were comenced betwene the two kinges, which I purpose +not to recite, ne yet the noble enterprises done by Amadour, whose fame +was bruted aboue the rest of his companions. The duke of Nagyers +arriuinge at Parpignon, had +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page58" id = "page58">58</a></span> +charge of two thousand men, and prayed Amadour to be his Lieuetenaunte, +who with that hand serued so well, as no crie was hard in al the +skirmishes, other than of Nagyers. It chaunced that the king of Thunis, +which of long time had warre with the Spaniards, vnderstandinge howe the +kinges of Spaine and Fraunce were together by the eares at Parpignon and +Narbonne, thought that in better time he could not anoye the king of +Spaine: wherefore he sent a great nomber of Foists and other vessels, to +robbe and spoile those frontiers which were ill guarded and kept: they +of Barsalone seing a nomber of Shippes passe before the Towne, +aduertised the king that was at Saulse, who immediatly sent the Duke of +Nagyers to Palamons: and when the shippes discried that the place was +well guarded, they made as though they would passe further: but about +midnight they retourned, and landed so many men, that the Duke of +Nagyers was taken prisoner. Amadour which was very vigilant, hearing +allarme, presently assembled so many men as he could, and defended him +self so wel, as the force of his enemies a long time could not hurt him: +but in thende knowing that the Duke of Nagyers was taken prisoner, and +that the Turks were determined to burn the Citie of Palamons, and then +to fier the house which he strongly had forced againste them, hee +thought it better to render himself, than to be cause of the losse of so +manye good souldiors as were vnder his gouernmente, and also by putting +himselfe to raunsome, he hoped in time to come to see Florinda: then he +submitted himselfe to a Turke called Derlyn, the gouernor of the king of +Thunis, who conueyed him home to his maister, where he was well +entertaigned, and better kept: for they thought that hauing him in their +hands, they had gotten the only Achilles of Spaine. In this sort Amadour +continued almost the space of two yeares, in the seruice of the king of +Thunis: newes came into Spaine of this ouerthrow, wherof the frends of +the Duke of Nagyers, were very sorowfull: but they that loued the honor +of their countrie, thoughte Amadour to bee the greatest losse, the brute +wherof was noysed in the house of the Countesse of Arande, wher at that +time the poore gentlewoman Auenturade lay very sore sicke. The Countesse +suspecting very much the affection that Amadour +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page59" id = "page59">59</a></span> +bare vnto her daughter, which he suffered and dissembled for his +vertue’s sake, called her daughter aside, and told her the pitious +newes. Florinda which could well dissemble said unto her, that it was a +great losse for al their house, but specially she pitied the state of +his poore wife, because at that time she was so sore sicke. But seing +her mother weepe so bitterly, she let fal some teares to keepe her +company, least through to much dissimulacion her loue might be +discouered. After that time, the Countesse spake to her many times, but +she could neuer perceiue by her countenance, any cause of certaine +suspicion. I will leaue to speake of the voyages, the prayers, the +supplications and fastings, which Florinda did ordinarily make for the +safegard and prosperitie of Amadour, who incontinently so sone as he was +ariued at Thunis, sent newes to his frends, and by a sure messenger +aduertized Florinda, that he was in good health and hope to retourne. +Which newes was to the poore Lady, the only meanes to releue and ease +her sorow. And doubt ye not, but the meanes of writing, was vtterly +debarred from Amadour, wherof Florinda acquited herself so diligently, +as by her letters and epistles, he receiued great consolation and +comfort. The Countesse of Arande receiued commaundement from the king to +repaire to Saragosa, where hee that time was arriued. And there she +found the yong Duke of Cardonne making sute to the king and Queene, for +mariage of her daughter. The Countesse vnwilling to disobey the king, +agreed, thinkinge that her daughter being very yonge, had none other +affection, but that which already had taken sure impression. When the +accorde was concluded, shee sayde vnto her daughter, that she had chosen +that matche, as best worthy to ioyne with her person. Her daughter +considering howe in a thing already done it was to late to take +counsell, said vnto her, that God was to be praised in all things. And +seing her mother so far alienated from her intent, she thought it better +to shew her selfe obedient, than to take pitie vpon herselfe. And to +comfort her in that sorowe, she vnderstode that the infant Fortune was +at the point of death. But before her mother or any other person, she +shewed not so much as one signe or token therof, strayning her grief so +much, as +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page60" id = "page60">60</a></span> +the teares by force retiringe to her harte, did cause the bloud to issue +forth at her Nose, in such abundance, as her life was in present +daunger. And to recouer her of that disease, shee was maried vnto him, +for whose sake shee had rather haue chaunged her life for present death. +After the mariage, Florinda went wyth her husbande into the Duchy of +Cardonne, and in her company Auenturade, to whom she secretly made +complaint, as wel of her mother’s rigor, as also of the sorow she +conceyued for the losse of the sonne of the Infant Fortune. But of her +griefe for Amadour, she spake no worde, but by way of comforting her. +This yong lady then determined to haue God and the respect of her +honoure before her eies, and so wel to dissemble her griefes, as none at +any time should perceiue that shee misliked her husband. In this sort +Florinda passed long time, in a life no lesse pleasaunt than death. The +report whereof she sent to her good seruaunt Amadour, who vnderstanding +her great loue, and wel disposed hart, and the loue shee bare to the +Infant Fortune, thought that it was impossible she could liue long, and +lamented her state more than his owne. This griefe augmented his paine +of imprisonmente, wishinge to haue remayned a slaue all the days of his +life, so that Florinda had had a husbande respondent to her desire, +forgettinge his owne griefe by feeling that his frende did suffer. And +because he vnderstode by a secret friend which he had gotten in the +Court of the king of Thunis, that the king was minded to offer him the +gibbet, or els to make him renounce his fayth, for the desire hee had to +retaine him still, and to make him a good Turke, he behaued himself so +well, wyth him that toke him prisoner, that he gaue him leaue to depart +vpon his fayth, taxing him at so greate raunsome, as he thought a man of +so small substance was neuer able to pay. And so without speaking to the +king his maister, hee let him go vpon his fayth. After he had shewed +himselfe at the Court of the king of Spaine, he departed incontinently +to his frends to get his raunsome, and went straight to Barsalone, +whether the yong Duke of Cardonne, his mother, and Florinda, was gone +aboute certaine affaires. Auenturade so sone as she heard tell that her +husband was come, declared the same +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page61" id = "page61">61</a></span> +to Florinda, who seemed for her sake greatly to reioyce therat. But +fearing that the desire she had to see him would make her chaunge +countenaunce, and that they which knew not the cause therof, would +conceiue some ill opinion, she stode still at a window to see him come a +far of: and so sone as she espied him, shee went downe a paire of darke +staires that none mighte perceiue her chaunge of colour. When she had +imbraced Amadour, shee led him into her chamber, and from thence to her +mother in law, which had neuer seene him before. He had not continued +there two dayes, but he was so well beloued, as he was before in the +house of the Countesse of Arande. I will omitte the words and talke +betwene Florinda and Amadour, and the complaintes which he made vnto her +of his ill aduenture, that hee had sustayned in his absence. And after +manye teares vttered by her, for the heauines she had taken, aswel for +the mariage against her wil, as for the losse of him that she loued so +dearely, and for him whom she thoughte neuer to see againe, shee +determined to take her consolation in the loue and fidelitie that she +bare to Amadour, which notwithstanding she durst not open and declare: +but he that much doubted therof, lost no occasion and time to let her +know and vnderstande the great loue he bare her. And euen vppon the +point that she was ready to receiue him, not as a seruaunt, but for her +assured and perfect frend, there chaunced a maruellous fortune: for the +king, for certaine matters of importance, incontinently sent forth +Amadour, wherof his wyfe conceyued such sorrow, as hearing those newes, +she souned and fell from the stayres where she stode, wherewith she +hurte herselfe so sore, as neuer after she reuiued. Florinda (that by +the death of her had lost all comfort) made such sorrow, as one that was +destitute of good frends and kinsfolke, but Amadour toke the same in +worst part: for he had not onely lost one of the most honest women that +euer was, but also the meanes that he should neuer after that time haue +occasion to visit Florinda. For which cause he fell into such sicknes, +as he was like to haue died sodainly. The old Duchesse of Cardonne, +incessantly did visite him, and alledged many philosophical reasons to +make him paciently to receiue death, <ins class = "correction" title = +"‘t’ missing">bu</ins> +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page62" id = "page62">62</a></span> +it auayled nothing: for if death of thone side did torment him, loue on +the other did augment his martirdome. Amadour seing that his wyfe was +buried, and that the king had sent for him, (hauing no occasion of +longer abode there) he entred into such dispaire, as hee seemed to be +oute of his wittes. Florinda which in comforting him was almost +desolate, remayned by him one whole afternone, vsinge very honest and +discrete talke vnto him, thinking thereby to diminishe the greatnesse of +his sorrowe, and assured him that shee would deuise wayes how he might +visite her more oft than he did thinke for. And because he must depart +the next morning, and was so feeble and weake that he could not rise +from his bed, he intreated her to come and se him at night after euery +man was retired to bed: which she promised to doe, not knowing that +loue’s extremety was voyd of reason. And he that saw no hope euer after +that time to see her againe, whom so long time he had serued: and of +whom he had neuer receyued other interteignment than that you haue +heard, was so beaten and ouercom with loue long dissembled, and of the +despaire he conceiued, that (all meanes to vse her company taken away) +he purposed to play double or quit, either to lose her, or to win her +fauour for euer, and to pay himself at one instant the rewarde which he +thought he had right wel deserued. Wherfore he caused the curtaines of +his bed to be drawen, that they which came into the chamber mighte not +see him, complayning of sicknes more than he was wont to do, wherby they +of the house thought he would not haue liued XXIV. houres. After euery +one of the house had visited him at night, Florinda (at the special +request of her husband) came to see him, thinking for his comfort to +vtter vnto him her affection, and how aboue all other she would loue +him, so far as her honor did permit: and sitting downe in a chayre at +the bed’s head, she began to comfort him, and therwithal powred out many +teares. Amadour seing her sorowful and pensife, thought that in her +great torment he might easely attaine the effect of his intent, and +lifted himself vp in his bed, which Florinda perceyuing, she would haue +staied him, because she thought that through weakenes he was not able to +moue: and kneeling vpon his knees, he said vnto her: “Must +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page63" id = "page63">63</a></span> +I for euermore forgo your sight mine owne deare Lady?” And in saying so +he fel downe betwene her armes like one that fainted for lack of +strength. Then poore Florinda imbraced him, and of long time held him +vp, doing all that was possible for his comfort. But the medecine she +gaue him to ease his sorow, did rather increase the same more strong: +for in fayning himself half dead, without speaking any word, he +attempted that which the honor of womanhode doth defend. When Florinda +perceiued his ill intent, she could scarce beleue the same, considering +his honest requests made before time, and therfore asked him what it was +that he desired. But Amadour fearing to heare her aunswere which he knew +well could be none other but chaste and vertuous, without further talke, +pursued his purpose so earnestly as he could, wherwith Florinda beinge +astonned did suspect he had bin out of his wittes rather than beleue +that he wente about her dishonor. Wherefore with loude voice she called +a gentleman that was in the chamber. Which Amadour hearing, vtterly in +dispaire, threw himself so sodenly into his bed, as the gentleman +thought he had beene dead. Florinda rising out of the chaire, said vnto +him: “Goe quickly and fetch some good vineger.” Which the gentleman did. +Then Florinda began to say vnto him: “Amadour, what follie hath +inchaunted your wisedome? And what is that which you would haue done +unto me?” Amadour that through the force of loue had lost al reason, +said vnto her: “Doth my long seruice merite a recompence of such +cruelty?” “And wher is the honesty then,” said Florinda, “which so many +times you haue preached vnto me?” “Ah, madame!” said Amadour: +“I beleue it is impossible your selfe more faithfully to loue your +owne honour than I do. For when you were vnmaried, I could so wel +subdue my harte and affection, as you did neuer vnderstand my will and +desire. And now that you be maried, to the intente your honour may reste +in couerte, what wrong do I to aske that which is mine owne, for by +force of loue I haue won you? He that first enioyed your harte, hath so +ill followed the victorie of your bodye, as hee hath well deserued to +lose altogether. He that possesseth your body, is not worthy to haue +your hart, wherefore your body is none of his, ne yet he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page64" id = "page64">64</a></span> +hath no title in the same. But I Madame, these fiue or sixe yeares haue +susteyned suche paynes and trauaile for your sake, as you are not +ignoraunt but to me appertayneth both your body and harte, for whose +sake I haue vtterlye forgotten mine owne. And if you can finde in your +hart to defende mee from my right, doubt ye not but they which haue +proued the forces of loue, wil lay the blame on you, which hath in this +sort robbed me from my libertie, and with your heauenly graces hath +obscured my sences, that not knowing hereafter what to do, I am +constrayned to go without hope for euer to see you againe. +Notwithstanding warrante your selfe, that in what place so euer I am, +you shall still possesse my harte, which shall continue your’s for euer, +be I vppon the lande or water, or betweene the hands of my moste cruell +enemies. But if I could recouer before my departure, that surety of you +which the greatnesse of my loue deserueth, I shall be strong enough +paciently to beare the griefes of my long absence. And if it please you +not to graunt me this request, you shal shortly heare tell that your +rigor hath rendred vnto me a most vnhappy and cruel death.” Florinda no +lesse astonned than sorie, to heare such words proceede from him, of +whom she neuer had any such suspicion, weepinge saide unto him: “Alas, +Amadour, is this the meaning of those vertuous words which sithens the +beginning of my youth ye haue vttered vnto me? Is this the honor of the +conscience, which you haue many times perswaded me rather to die than +lose the same? Haue you forgotten the good examples recited vnto me of +vertuous dames that haue resisted foolish loue? And is this the maner of +your contempt of Ladies that were foolish and vaine, whose light +behauiour you dissembled so much to abhorre? I cannot beleeue +Amadour that you are driuen into such madnes and furie, as the feare of +GOD, your owne conscience, and the estimacion of mine honor, should be +altogether out of your minde and memorie. But if it so be as you say, +I do praise the goodnes of God, which hath preuented the mishap +that nowe I am fallen into, in shewing me by your words, the hart which +I did not know. For hauing lost the sonne of the Infant Fortune, who not +onely is maried into another place, but also loued another, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page65" id = "page65">65</a></span> +I now maried to him, which I cannot loue, I thought and determined +wholly, with all mine hart and affection to loue you, founding the same +vpon that vertue which I knew to be in you, which loue by your meanes +onelye I haue conceiued, and therfore did more esteeme my honor and +conscience, than the price of mine owne life. Vppon assurance of this +stone of honestie, I am come hither thinking to build a most sure +foundacion. But (Amadour) in one moment thou haste declared, how in +place of a pure foundacion, thy buildinge is reared vpon a light sand, +and vnconstant ground, or els vpon a filthy and foul quamire. And where +I began to erect a good part of the lodgings of this building vpon the +ground of the fidelitie, hoping to dwel there for euer, sodenly thou +hast ouerthrowen the whole plot. Wherfore, you must immediately breake +in sonder the hope and credit that euermore you haue found in me, and +determine that in what place soeuer I be, not to pursue me either by +worde or countenaunce. And do not thinke, that I can or will at anye +time hereafter chaunge this mine opinion, reciting this my last adieu +with great sorrow and griefe. But if I had made an othe of this perfect +amitie and loue, I know mine harte would haue died vpon this +breach, although the astonishment in that I am deceiued, is so great, as +I am wel assured it will make my life either short or sorowfull: and +therefore I bid you farewel and that for euer.” I purpose not to +tel you the sorow which Amadour felt by hearing those words, because it +is impossible not only to write them, but also to thincke them, except +it be of such as haue had experience of the like. And seing that vppon +this cruel conclusion she would haue gone away, he caught her by the +arme, knowing well that if he did not remoue that ill opinion, which by +his owne occasion she had conceyued, hee should lose her for euer. +Wherfore he said vnto her with a very faint chere: “Madame, al the dayes +of my life I haue desired to loue a woman endued with honestie and +vertue: and because I haue found so few, I would fain haue tried +whether your person had bin worthy of estimacion and loue, wherof now I +am wel assured, and humblie do praise God therefore, because mine hart +is addressed to such perfection: beseching you to pardon this fond and +bold +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page66" id = "page66">66</a></span> +attempt, sith you see that the end doth redound to your owne honor and +contentacion.” Florinda, which began to know by him the malice of other +men, like as she was hard to beleue the euill wher it was, euen so she +was more difficile to credite the good where it was not, and said vnto +him: “I pray to God your words be true: yet am I not so ignorant +but that the state of mariage wherein I am, hath made me euidently to +know the strong passion of blind loue which hath forced you vnto this +follie: for if God had losed my hande, I am wel assured you would +not haue plucked back the bridle: they that attempt to seeke after +vertue, do not take the way that you do tread: but this is sufficient if +I haue lightly beleeued any honestie in you, it is time for me now to +know the truth, that I may rid my self from you.” And in saying so, +Florinda went out of the chamber, and all the nighte long, she neuer +left weeping, feeling such great griefe in that alteracion, as her hart +had much to do, to sustaine the assaults of sorrow that loue had made: +for although reason thoughte neuer to loue him againe, yet the hart +which is not subiect to our fancie, would not accord to that crueltie: +for which consideracion, she loued him no lesse than she was wont to do, +and knowing that loue was the cause of that fault, she purposed for +satisfaction of loue, to Loue him with all her hart, and yet for the +obedience and fealtie due to her honor, she thought neuer to make any +semblance. In the morning Amadour departed in this sort, troubled as you +haue hearde, neuerthelesse his couragious heart centred not in dispaire, +but renued a fresh hope once againe to see Florinda, and to win her +fauour: then he toke his iourney towards the Court of Spaine (which was +at Tolledo) taking his way by the Countesse of Arande, wher late in an +euening he arriued, and found the Countesse verye sicke for the absence +of her daughter Florinda: when shee saw Amadour, shee kissed and +imbraced him, as if he had beene her owne child, aswel for the loue she +bare vnto him, as for the like which she doubted that he bare to +Florinda, of whom very earnestly she inquired for newes, who tolde her +the best that he could deuise, but not the whole truth, and confessed +vnto her the loue betweene Florinda and him, (which Florinda had still +conceiled and kept secrete) praying her +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page67" id = "page67">67</a></span> +ayde to bring him againe into her fauour: and so the next morning he +departed. And after he had done his businesse with the Queene, he +repayred to the warres, so sadde and chaunged in all his condicions, as +the Ladies, Captaynes and all they that were wonte to keepe him +companie, did not know him. His apparell was all blacke, mourning for +the death of his wife, wherby he couered the sorrow which was hid in his +hart. In this wyse Amadour passed three or 4 yeres before he returned to +the Court. And the Countesse of Arande which heard tell that Florinda +was so much altered, as it would haue moued any hart to behold her, sent +for her, hoping that she would haue come, but her expectacion was +frustrate, for when Florinda vnderstode that Amadour had told her mother +the good will betweene them, and that her mother being so wise and +vertuous giuing credite to Amadour, did beleue his report, she was in +marueilous perplexitie, because of the one side she saw that her mother +did esteeme him so well, and on the other side if she declared vnto her +the truth, Amadour woulde conceiue displeasure: which thing she had +rather die than to do: wherefore she thought herselfe strong inough to +chastise him of his folly, without helpe of frends. Againe, she +perceyued that by dissembling the euil which she knew by him, she should +be constrained by her mother and her frends, to speake and beare him +good countenaunce, wherby she feared he would be the more encoraged: but +seing that he was far of, she passed the lesse of the matter: and when +the Countesse her mother did commaunde her, she wrote letters vnto him, +but they were such as he might wel gather that they were written rather +vpon obedience, than of good wil, the reading wherof bred sorrow vnto +him in place of that ioye he was wonte to conceiue in her former +wrytings. Within the terme of two or three yeres, after he had done so +many noble enterprises as al the paper of Spaine could not containe +them, he deuised a new inuention, not to wynne and recouer the harte of +Florinda (for he demed the same quite lost) but to haue the victorie +ouer his enemy, sithens she had vsed him in that sorte, and reiecting al +reason and specially feare of death, into the hazarde wherof he hasted +himselfe, he concluded and determined his enterprise in such sorte, as +for his behauiour towardes the Gouernour, hee was +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page68" id = "page68">68</a></span> +deputed and sent by him to treate with the king of certaine exploytes to +be done at Locates, sparing not to impart his message to the Countesse +of Aranda, before he told the same to the king, to vse her good aduise +therein: and so came in poste straight into the Countie of Aranda, where +he had intelligence in what place Florinda remained, and secretly sent +to the Countesse one of his frendes to tell her of his comming, and to +pray her to keepe it close, and that he might speake with her that night +in secrete wise that no man might perceiue: the Countesse very ioyfull +of his comming, tolde it to Florinda, and sent her into her husbande’s +chamber, that she might be ready when she should send for her after eche +man was gone to bed. Florinda whiche was not yet well boldened by reason +of her former feare, making a good face of the matter to her mother, +withdrewe her selfe into an oratorie or chappell, to recommend her selfe +to God, praying him to defend her hart from al wicked affection, and +therwithal considered how often Amadour had praysed her beautie, which +was not impaired or diminished, although she had bene sicke of longe +time before: wherefore thinking it better to doe iniurie to her beautie +by defacing it, than to suffer the harte of so honest a personage by +meanes thereof wickedly to be inflamed, shee tooke vp a stone which was +within the Chappell, and gaue her selfe so great a blowe on the face +that her mouthe, eyes and nose, were altogether deformed: and to +thintent no man might suspect what she had done, when the Countesse sent +for her in going out of the Chappell, she fell downe vppon a great +stone, and therewithall cried out so loude, as the Countesse came in and +founde her in pitious state, who incontinently dressing her face, and +binding it vp with clothes, conueyed her into her chamber, and prayed +her to goe into her closet to entertaigne Amadour, tyll she were weary +of his companie: whiche she did, thinking that there had bene somebody +with hym: but finding him alone, and the doore shut vpon her, Amadour +was not so well pleased as she was discontented: who nowe thoughte +eyther with loue or force to get that, whiche hee had so long tyme +desyred: and after he had spoken a fewe woordes vnto her, and found her +in that mynde hee lefte her, and that to dye for it shee woulde not +chaunge her opinion, desperatly he sayde vnto her: “By God +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page69" id = "page69">69</a></span> +madame, the fruite of my labour shall not be thus taken from me for +scruples and doubtes: and sithe that Loue, pacience, and humble desires, +cannot preuayle, I will not spare by force to get that, which +except I haue it will be the meanes of mine overthrowe.” When Florinda +sawe his face and eyes so altered, and that the fairest die and colour +of the world, was become so red as fier, with his most pleasaunt and +amiable loke transformed into horrible hew and furious, and therewithall +discried the very hote burning fier, to sparkle within his harte and +face: and how in that fury with one of his strong fistes he griped her +delicate and tender hands: and on the other side shee seeing all her +defences to fayle her, and that her feete and handes were caught in +suche captiuitie as she could neither run away nor yet defend her selfe: +knewe none other remedie, but to proue if he had yet remaining in him +any griftes of the former loue, that for the honour therof he might +forget his crueltie. Wherefore she sayd vnto him: “Amadour, if now you +doe accompt me for an enemy, I besech you for the honestie of the +loue which at other times I haue found planted in your harte, to geue me +leaue to speake before you doe torment me.” And when shee saw him +recline his eare, she pursued her talk in this wyse: “Alas, Amadour, +what cause haue you to seke after the thing wherof you shall receiue no +contentation, inflicting vppon me such displeasure as there can be no +greater? you haue many times proued my wil and affection in the time of +my youthfull dayes, and of my beautie farre more excellent than it is +now, at what tyme your passion might better be borne with and excused, +than nowe: in such wyse as I am nowe amased to see that you haue the +harte to torment me at that age and great debilitie wherewith I am +affected: I am assured that you doubt not but that my wyl and mind +is such as it was wont to be: wherefore you can not obtayne your +demaunde but by force: and if you sawe howe my face is arrayed, you +would forget the pleasure whiche once you conceiued in me, and by no +meanes would forcibly approche nere vnto me: and if there be lefte in +you yet any remnantes of loue, it is impossible but that pitie may +vanquishe your furie: and to that pitie and honestie whereof once I had +experience in you, I do make my plaint, and of the same I do +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page70" id = "page70">70</a></span> +demaund grace and pardon, to thintent that according to theffect of your +wonted perswasion and good aduise you may suffer me to liue in that +peace and honestie, which I haue determined and vowed during life: and +if the loue which you haue borne me be conuerted into hatred, and that +more for reuengement than affection, you doe purpose to make me the +moste unhappy of the world, I assure you, you shall not be able to +bryng your intent to passe, besides that you shall constrayne me against +my determination, to vtter and reueale your villany and disordinate +appetite towardes her which did repose in you an incredible affiance: by +discouering whereof, thinke verely that your lyfe cannot continue +without perill.” Amadour breaking her talke sayde vnto her: “If I die +for it, I will presently be acquieted of my torment: but the +deformitie of your face (whiche I thinke was done by you of set purpose) +shall not let me to accomplishe my will: for since I can get nothing of +you but the bones and carcase, I will holde them so fast as I can.” +And when Florinda sawe that prayers, reason, nor teares could not +auayle, but that with crueltie he woulde nedes followe his villanous +desire, which she had hetherto still auoided by force of resistence, she +did helpe her selfe so long, till she feared the losse of her breath, +and with a heauy and piteous voice she called her mother so loud as shee +could crie, who hearing her daughter crie and cal with rufull voyce, +began greatly to feare the thing that was true: wherfore she ran so fast +as she could into the warderobe. Amadour not being so nere death as he +saide he was, left of his holde in suche good time, as the Ladye opening +her closet, founde him at the dore, and Florinda farre enough from him. +The Countesse demaunded of him, saying: “Amadour what is the matter? +tell me the truthe.” Who like one that was neuer vnprouided of excuse, +with his pale face and wanne, and his breath almoste spent, sayde vnto +her: “Alas, madame, in what plight is my lady Florinda? I was neuer +in all my life in that amase wherin I am now: for as I sayd vnto you, +I had thought that I had inioyed part of her good will, but nowe I +know right well that I haue none at all: I thinke madame, that +sithe the time she was brought vp with you, shee was neuer lesse wise +and vertuous than shee is nowe, but farre more daungerous +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page71" id = "page71">71</a></span> +and squeimishe in speaking and talking then behoueth, and euen nowe I +would haue loked vpon her, but she would not suffer me: and when I +viewed her countenaunce, thinking that it had bene some dreame or +vision, I desired to kisse her hande, according to the fashion of +the countrey, which shee vtterly refused. True it is Madame, I haue +offended her, wherof I craue pardon of you, but it chaunced only for +that I toke her by the hand, which I did in a maner by force, and kissed +the same demaunding of her no other pleasure: but she like one +(as I suppose) that hath sworne my death, made an outcry for you +(as you haue hearde) for what cause I know not, except that shee +were afraide I would haue forced some other thing: notwithstanding +Madame, whatsoeuer the matter be, I protest vnto you the wrong is +myne, and albeit that she ought to loue al your honest seruaunts, yet +fortune so willeth as I alone, the moste affectioned of them all, is +clerely exempt out of her fauour: and yet I purpose still to continue +towardes you and her, the same man I came hither, beseching the +continuance of your good grace and fauour, sithens that without desert I +haue loste hers.” The Countesse which partely beleued, and partelye +mistrusted his talke, went vnto her daughter, and demaunded wherfore she +cried out so loud. Florinda answered that she was afrayde: and albeit +the Countesse subtilly asked her of many things, yet Florinda would +neuer make other answere, for that hauing escaped the handes of her +enemy, she thought it punishement enough for him to lose his labour: +after that the Countesse had of long tyme communed with Amadour, she +lefte him yet once againe to enter in talke with Florinda before her, to +see what countenaunce shee would make him. To whom he spake fewe wordes +except they were thankes for that she had not confessed the truthe to +her mother, praying her at least wise that seing he was dispossessed out +of her hart, she would suffer none other to receiue his place: but she +answering his former talke, saide: “If I had had any other meanes to +defend my selfe from you than by crying out, she should neuer haue heard +me, and of me you shall neuer heare worse, except you doe constrayne me +as you haue done, and for louing any other man, you shall not neede to +feare: for sithe I haue not found in your harte (which I estemed the +most +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page72" id = "page72">72</a></span> +vertuous in all the world) the good successe that I desired, I wyll +neuer beleue hereafter that vertue is planted in any man. And this +outrage shall make me free from all passions that Loue can force.” And +in saying so she tooke her leaue. The mother which behelde her +countenaunce, could suspecte nothing, and after that tyme, shee was +persuaded that her daughter bare no more affection to Amadour, and +thought assuredly that she was voyde of reason, because she hated al +those things which she was wont to loue: and from that time forth there +was such warre betwene the mother and the daughter, as the mother for +the space of <span class = "smallroman">VII.</span> yeares would not +speake vnto her, except it were in anger: which she did at the request +of Amadour: during which time, Florinda conuerted the misliking of her +husband, into mere and constant loue, to auoyde the rigour and checkes +of her mother: howbeit, seing that nothing could preuayle, she purposed +to beguile Amadour, and leauing for a day or two her straunge +countenance towards him, she counselled Amadour to loue a woman, whiche +as she sayd, did commonly dispute and talke of their loue. This lady +dwelt with the Queene of Spaine, and was called Lorette, who was very +ioyfull and glad to get such a seruant: and Florinda founde meanes to +cause a brute of this newe loue to be spred in euery place, and +specially the Countesse of Arande (being at the Court) perceiued the +same, who afterwards was not so displeased with Florinda, as she was +wont to be: Florinda vpon a tyme heard tel that a Captain the husband of +Loret, began to be ialous ouer his wife, determining by some meanes or +other, he cared not howe, to kill Amadour. Florinda notwithstanding her +dissembled countenance, could not suffer any hurt to be done to Amadour, +and therefore incontinently gaue him aduertisement thereof: but he +retourning againe to his former follies, answered, that if it would +please her to intertaigne him euery day three houres, he would neuer +speake againe to Lorette, whereunto by no meanes shee would consent. +Then Amadour saide vnto her: “If you will not haue me to liue, wherefore +go ye about to defend me from death? except ye purpose to torment me +aliue with greater extremitie then a thousand deathes can do: but for so +much as death doth flie from me, I will neuer leaue to seeke him +out, by whose +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page73" id = "page73">73</a></span> +approche only I shall haue rest.” Whilest they were in these tearmes, +newes came that the kyng of Granado was about to enter into great warres +against the king of Spain: in suche wyse as the king sent against hym +the Prince his sonne, and with hym the constable of Castile, and the +Duke of Albe, twoo auncient and sage Lordes. The duke of Cardonne and +the counte of Arande not willing to tarie behinde, besought the kyng to +geue eyther of them a charge: whiche hee did according to the dignitie +of their houses, appointing Amadour to be their guide: who during that +warre, did sutche valiaunt factes as they seemed rather to be +desperately than hardily enterprysed: and to come to the effect of this +discourse, his great valiaunce was tryed euen to the death: for the +Moores making a bragge as though they would geue battayle, when they +sawe the army of the Christians, counterfaited a retire, whome the +Spaniardes pursued, but the olde Constable and the duke of Albe doubting +their pollicie, stood still, against the will of the Prince of Spaine, +not suffering him to passe ouer the Ryuer, but the counte of Arande and +the Duke of Cardonne, (although they were countremanded) did followe the +chase, and when the Moores sawe that they were pursued with so small a +number, they returned, and at one recountrie kylled the Duke of +Cardonne, and the Counte of Arande was so sore hurte as hee was lefte +for dead in the place. Amadour arriuing vpon this ouerthrowe, inuaded +the battayle of the Moores with sutche rage and furie, as hee rescued +the twoo bodyes of the Duke and Countie, and caused them to be conueyed +to the Prince’s campe, who so lamented their chaunce, as if they had +bene his owne brethren: but in searching their woundes, the Countie of +Arande was founde to be aliue, and was sent home to his own house in a +horselitter, where of long time he was sicke, and likewise was conueied +to Cardonne the dead bodie of the yong Duke. Amadour in rescuing those +two bodies, tooke so little heede to him selfe, as he was inclosed with +a great number of the Moores, and because he would bee no more taken, as +well to verifie his faith towardes God, as also his vowe made to his +Lady, and also considering that if he were prysoner to the kyng of +Granado, either hee should cruelly be put to death, or els forced to +renounce his faith, he determined not to make his +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page74" id = "page74">74</a></span> +death or taking glorious to his enemies: wherefore kissing the crosse of +his sworde, and rendring his body and soule to the handes of almighty +God, he stabbed him selfe into the body with sutche a blow, as there +neded no second wound to rid him of his life: in this sorte died poore +Amadour, so muche lamented as his vertues did deserue. The newes hereof +was bruted throughout Spaine, and came to Florinda who then was at +Barselone, where her husbande in his life tyme ordeined the place of his +buriall: and after shee had done his honourable obsequies, without +making her own mother, or mother in law priuie, she surrendred her selfe +into the monasterie of Iesus, there to liue a religious life, receiuing +him for her husband and friende, whiche had deliuered her from the +vehement loue of Amadour, and from a displeasaunt life so great and +vnquiet as was the company of her husband. In this wise she conuerted +all her affections, to pietie and the perfit loue of God, who after she +had long time liued a religious life, shee yelded vp her soule in such +ioye as the Bridegrom doth when he goeth to visite his spowes.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page75" id = "page75">75</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_54" id = "novel1_54"> +THE FIFTY-FOURTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The incontinencie of a duke and of his impudencie to attaine his +purpose, with the iust punishement which he receiued for the same.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the Citie of Florence (the +chiefest of all Thuscane) there was a Duke that maried the Lady Margaret +the bastarde daughter of the Emperour Charles the fift. And bicause shee +was very young, it was not lawfull for him to lye with her, but taryng +till she was of riper yeres, he interteigned an vsed her like a noble +gentleman. And who to spare his wife, was amorous of certaine other +Gentlewomen of the citie. Amonges whom he was in loue with a very fayre +and wyse Gentlewoman, that was sister to a Gentleman, a seruaunt of +his, whome the Duke loued so well as himselfe, to whome he gaue so muche +authoritie in his house, as his word was so wel obeied and feared as the +Duke’s him self, and there was no secrete thing in the Duke’s minde, but +he declared the same vnto him, who might ful wel haue bene called a +second himself. The duke seing his sister to be a woman of great +honestie, had no wayes or meanes to vtter vnto her the loue that he bare +her (after he had inuented all occasions possible) at length he came to +this Gentleman which he loued so well, and said vnto him: “My friend, if +there were any thing in all the world, wherein I were able to pleasure +thee, and woulde not doe it at thy request, I should be afraid to +say my fantasie, and much ashamed to craue your help and assistance: but +the loue is such which I bare thee, as if I had a wife, mother, or +daughter, that were able to saue thy life, I would rather imploy +them, than to suffer thee to die in torment: and if thou doe beare vnto +me that affection which am thy maister, thinke verely that I doe beare +vnto thee the like. Wherefore I will disclose vnto thee suche a secrete +and priuie matter, as the silence thereof hath brought me into sutche +plight as thou seest, whereof I doe loke for none amendement but by +death or by the seruice whiche thou maiest doe me, in a certayne matter +which I purpose to tell thee.” The Gentleman hearing the reasons of his +maister, and seing his face not fayned, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page76" id = "page76">76</a></span> +but all besprent with teares, tooke great compassion vpon him and sayd: +“My Lorde, I am your humble seruaunt: all the goodes and worship +that I haue doth come from you. You may saye vnto me as to your moste +approued frende. Assure your self, that all which resteth in my power +and abilitie, is already at your commaundement.” Then the Duke began to +tell him of the loue that hee bare vnto his sister, which was of sutche +force, as if by his meanes he did not enioye her, his life could not +long continue. For he saide, that he knew right well that intreatie and +presentes were with her of no regard. Wherfore he praied him, that if he +loued his life, so well as he did his, to finde meanes for him to +receiue that benefite, which without him he was in despaire neuer to +recouer. The brother which loued his sister and honor of his kindred, +more than the Duke’s pleasure, made a certain reuerence vnto him, humbly +beseeching him to vse his trauaill and pain in all other causes sauing +in that, bicause it was a sute so slaunderous and infamous, as it would +purchase dishonor to his whole familie, adding further, that neither his +hart nor his honor could serue him, to consent to do that seruice. The +Duke inflamed with vnspeakeable furie, put his finger betwene his teeth, +and biting of the nayle, said unto him in great rage: “Well then sithe I +finde in thee no frendship, I know what I haue to doe.” The +Gentleman knowing the crueltie of his Maister, being sore afraide, +replied: “My Lorde, for so much as your desire is vehement and earnest, +I will speake vnto her and brynge you aunswere of her mynde.” And +as he was departing, the Duke sayde vnto him: “See that thou tender my +life as thou wylt that I shall doe thyne.” The Gentleman vnderstanding +well what that woorde did meane, absented him selfe a day or twaine to +aduise what were best to be done. And amonges diuers his cogitations, +there came to his remembraunce the bounden dutie which he dyd owe to his +Maister, and the goodes and honours which he had receyued at his handes, +on the other syde, hee considered the honour of his house, the good life +and chastitie of his syster, who (he knewe well) would neuer +consent to that wickednesse, if by subtiltie shee were not surprised, or +otherwyse forced, and that it were a thing very straunge and rare, that +he should goe about to defame hymselfe and the whole +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page77" id = "page77">77</a></span> +stocke of his progenie. Wherefore hee concluded, that better it were for +hym to die, than to commit a mischief so great vnto his sister, whiche +was one of the honestest women in all Italie. And therewithall +considered how he might deliuer his countrie from sutch a tyrant, which +by force would blemishe and spot the whole race of his auncient stock +and familie. For he knew right wel that except the duke were taken away, +the life of him and his affinitie could not be in securitie and +safegarde: wherfore without motion made to his sister of that matter, he +deuised how to saue his life and the reproche that should follow. Vpon +the second daye he came vnto the duke, and tolde hym in what sorte he +had practised with his sister, and that although the same in the +beginning was harde and difficult, yet in the ende he made her to +consent, vpon condicion that hee would keepe the same so secrete as none +but hymselfe and he myght knowe of it. The duke desirous and glad of +those newes, dyd sone belieue hym, and imbracing the messanger, promised +to geue him whatsoeuer he would demaunde, praying hym with all speede +that hee might inioye his desyred purpose. Whereupon they appointed a +tyme: and to demaunde whether the duke were glad and ioyfull of the +same, it were superfluous. And when the desired night was come, wherin +he hoped to haue the victorie of her whom he thought inuincible, he and +the gentleman alone withdrewe themselues together, not forgetting his +perfumed coif and swete shirte wrought and trimmed after the best maner. +And when eche wight was gone to bed, both they repayred to the appointed +lodging of his Lady, where being arriued they founde a chamber in decent +and comly order. The gentleman taking of the Duke’s night gowne, placed +hym in the bedde, and sayde vnto hym: “My Lorde, I wil nowe goe +seeke her, which can not enter into this chamber without blushing, +howbeit I truste before to morrowe morning she wyll be very glad of +you.” Which done, he left the Duke, and went into his own chamber, where +he founde one of his seruantes alone, to whome he sayde: “Hast thou the +harte to followe me into a place where I shall be reuenged vpon the +greatest enemie that I haue in the worlde?” “Yea sir,” aunswered his +man. Whereupon the Gentleman toke him with him so sodainly, as he had no +leasure to arme him +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page78" id = "page78">78</a></span> +selfe with other weapon but with his onely dagger. And when the Duke +heard him come againe, thinking he had brought her with hym that he +loued so derely, hee drewe the curteine, and opened his eyes to behold +and receiue that ioye which he had so long loked for, but in place of +seeing her which he hoped should be the conseruation of his life, he +sawe the acceleration of his death, which was a naked sworde that the +Gentleman had drawen, who therwithall did strike the Duke, which was in +his shirte voyde of weapon, although well armed with courage, and +sitting vp in his bedde grasped the Gentleman about the body, and sayde: +“Is this thy promise whiche thou hast kept?” And seeing that he had no +other weapon but his teeth and nayles, he bitte the gentleman in the +arme, and by force of his owne strengthe he so defended himselfe, as +they bothe fell downe into the flower. The gentleman fearing the match, +called for hys manne, who finding the Duke and his maister fast +together, that he wyst not whether to take, he drewe them both by the +feete into the middest of the chamber, and with his dagger assayde to +cut the Duke’s throte. The duke who defended himselfe, till suche time +as the losse of his bloud made him so weake and feeble that he was not +able to contende any longer. Then the Gentleman and his man laide him +againe into his bed, where they accomplished the effect of that murther. +Afterwardes drawing the curteine, they departed and locked the dead body +in the chamber. And when he saw that he had gotten the vicctorie of his +enemy, by whose death he thought to set at libertie the common wealth, +he supposed his facte to be vnperfect if he did not the like to fiue or +sixe of them which were nerest to the Duke, and best beloued of him. And +to attaine the perfection of that enterpryse, he bad his man to doe the +like vnto them one after another, that hee had done to the Duke. But the +seruaunt being nothing hardie or coragious, said vnto his maister: “Me +thinke, sir, that for this time ye haue done enough, and that it were +better for you now to deuise waye howe to saue your owne life, than to +seeke meanes to murder any more. For if we do consume so long space of +time to kill euery of them, as we haue done in murdering of the Duke, +the day light will discouer our enterprise before we haue made an ende, +yea although wee finde them naked and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page79" id = "page79">79</a></span> +without defence.” The gentleman whose euill conscience made him +fearfull, did beleue his seruaunt, and taking him alone with him, went +to the bishop that had in charge the gates of the citie, and the vse of +the Postes, to whom he sayd: “This euening (my Lord) newes came +vnto me that mine owne brother lieth at the point of death, and crauing +licence of the Duke to goe se him he hath giuen me leaue. Wherefore I +beseche you commaunde the Postes to deliuer me two good horse, and that +you will sende worde to the porter that the gates may be opened.” The +bishop which estemed no lesse his request than the commaundement of the +Duke his maister, incontinently gaue him a billet, by vertue wherof both +the gates were opened, and the horse made ready according to his +demaunde. And vnder colour and pretence of visiting his brother, he rode +to Venice, where after he had cured himselfe of the duke’s bitinges +fastened in his fleshe, he trauailed into Turkey. In the morning the +duke’s seruauntes seing the time so late before their maister retourned, +suspected that he was gone forth in visiting of some Ladye, but when +they sawe he taried so long, they began to seke for him in euery place. +The poore Duchesse into whose harte the loue of her husbande strongly +did inuade, vnderstanding that he could not be founde, was very pensife +and sorowfull. But when the Gentleman which he so dearely loued, was not +likewyse seene abroade, searche was made in his chamber, where finding +bloud at the chamber dore, they entred in, but no man was there to tell +them any newes, and following the tract of the bloud the poore seruantes +of the Duke went to the chamber dore, where he was, which dore they +found fast locked, who incontinently brake open the same: and seing the +place all bloudy, drew the curteine, and found the wretched carcasse of +the Duke lying in the bedde, sleeping his endlesse sleepe. The sorrow +and lamentation made by the duke’s seruauntes, carying the dead bodye +into his palace, is easie to be coniectured. Wherof when the Bishop was +aduertised, he repaired thether, and tolde how the Gentleman was gone +awaye in the night in great haste, vnder pretence to goe to see his +brother: whereupon it was euidently knowen that it was he that had +committed the murder. And it was proued that his poore sister was neuer +priuie to the facte, who although she was astonned with the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page80" id = "page80">80</a></span> +sodaynes of the deede, yet her loue towardes her brother was farre more +increased, bicause he had deliuered her from a Prince so cruell, the +enemy of her honestie: for doing whereof he did not sticke to hazard his +owne life. Whereupon she perseuered more and more in vertue, and +although she was poore, by reason her house was confiscate, yet both her +sister and shee matched with so honest and riche husbandes as were to be +founde in Italie: and afterwardes they both liued in good and great +reputation.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page81" id = "page81">81</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_55" id = "novel1_55"> +THE FIFTY-FIFTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +One of the Frenche kinge’s called Frauncis the firste of that name, +declared his gentle nature to Counte Guillaume, that would haue killed +him.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> Digeon a town of Burgundie, there +came to the seruice of king Frauncis, (whiche was father to Henry the +second of that name, whiche Henry was kylled by Mounsier Mongomerie, in +a triumphe at the Tilt, and graundfather to Charles the <span class = +"smallroman">IX.</span> that now raigneth in Fraunce) an Earle of +Allemaigne called Guillaume, of the house of Saxon, whereunto the house +of Sauoie is so greatly allied, as in old time they were but one. This +Counte for so much as he was estemed to be so comely and hardy a +Gentleman as any was in Almaigne, was in sutche good fauour with the +king, as he tooke him not onely into seruice, but vsed him so nere his +persone, as he made him of his priuy chamber. Vpon a day the Gouernour +of Burgundie, the Lorde Trimouille (an auncient knight and loyall +seruaunt of the kyng) like one suspicious and fearfull of the euill and +hurte of his Maister, had daylie espies ouer his enemies, vsing his +affaires so wysely, as very fewe thinges were concealed from hym. Among +other aduertisementes, one of his friendes wrote vnto him that the +Counte Guillaume had receiued certain sommes of money, with promise of +more, if by any meanes he could deuise which waye to kill the king. The +Lorde of Trimouile hearing of this, failed not to come to the kyng to +giue him knowledge thereof, and disclosed it lykewyse to Madame Loyse of +Sauoye his mother, who forgetting her amitie and aliaunce with the +Almaigne Earle, besought the king forthwith to put hym awaye. The kyng +prayed his mother to speake no more thereof, and sayde, that it was +impossible that so honest a Gentleman would attempt to doe a deede so +wicked. Within a while after, there came other newes of that matter, +confirming the first: whereof the Gouernour for the intire loue he bare +to his Maister, craued licence either to expel him the countrie, or to +put him in warde. But the king gaue speciall +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page82" id = "page82">82</a></span> +commaundement that he should not make any semblaunce of displeasure, for +that hee purposed by some other meanes to knowe the truthe. Vpon a time +when he went a hunting he girded about him the best sworde that hee had, +to serue for all armes and assayes, and toke with him the Counte +Guillaume, whome he commaunded to wayte vpon him, the firste and +chiefest next his owne persone. And after he had followed the hart a +certayne tyme, the kyng seing that his traynes was farre from hym, and +no man neare him sauing the Counte, tourned hym selfe rounde about, and +when hee sawe that hee was alone, in the mydde of the forest, hee drew +out his sworde, and sayd to the Counte: “How saye you, (sir counte) is +not this a fayre and good swoorde?” The counte feling it at the point, +and well viewyng the same, aunswered that he neuer sawe a better in all +his life. “You haue reason,” sayde the kyng, “and I beleue that if a +Gentleman were determined to kyll mee, and did knowe the force of myne +armes, and the goodnesse of myne harte accompanied with this sword, he +would bee twyse well aduised before hee attempted that enterprise. +Notwithstanding I would accompt him but a cowarde, wee being alone +withoute witnesses, if he did not attempt that, which he were disposed +to do.” The Counte Guillaume with bashfull and astonned countenaunce +aunsweared: “Sir, the wickednesse of the enterprise were very great, but +the folly in the execution were no lesse.” The king with those wordes +fell in a laughter, and put the sword in the skaberd againe: and hearing +that the chase drewe neare him, he made to the same so faste as he +coulde. When he was come thether, he said nothing of that which had +passed betweene theim, and verelye thoughte that the Counte Guillaume +although that he was a stronge and stoute gentleman, yet he was no man +to do so great an enterprise. But the Counte Guillaume, fearing to be +bewrayed or suspected of the fact, next day morning repayred to Robertet +the Secretarie of the kinge’s reuenues, and saide that hee had well +wayed the giftes and annuities which the kinge would giue him to tarrie, +but he perceiued that they were not sufficient to interteigne him for +halfe a yeare, and that if it pleased not the king to double the same, +hee should be forced to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page83" id = "page83">83</a></span> +departe, praying the sayde Robertet to know his grace’s pleasure so sone +as he coulde, who sayd vnto him, that he himselfe could without further +commission disbursse no more vnto him, but gladly without further delay +he would repaire to the king: which he did more willingly, because he +had seene the aduertisements of the Gouernor aforesaid. And so sone as +the kinge was awake, he declared the matter vnto him in the presence of +Monsier Trimouille and Monsier Bouinet, lord admirall, who were vtterly +ignorant of that which the king had done. To whom the kinge said: “Loe, +ye haue bene miscontented for that I would not put away the Counte +Guillaume, but now ye see he putteth away himselfe. Wherefore Robertet +(quoth the king) tell him, that if he be not content with the state +which he receiued at his first entrie into my seruice, whereof many +gentlemen of good houses would thinke themselues happie, it is meete +that he seeke his better fortune, and tell him that I would be lothe to +hinder him, but wilbe very well contented, that he seeke where he may +liue better, accordingly as he deserueth.” Robertet was so diligent to +beare this aunsweare to the Counte, as he was to present his sute to the +kinge. The counte said that with his licence he would gladly go +forthwith: and as one whom feare forced to depart, he was not able to +beare his abode 24 houres. And as the king was sitting downe to dinner, +fayning to be sorye for his departure, but that necessitie compelled him +to lose his presence, hee toke his leaue. He went likewise to take leaue +of the king’s mother, which she gaue him with so great ioy, as she did +receiue him, being her nere kinsman and freind. Then he went into his +countrie: and the king seing his mother and seruantes astonned at his +sodaine departure, declared vnto them the Al Arme, which he had giuen +him, saying, that although he was innocent of the matter suspected, soe +was his feare greate ynoughe, to departe from a maister wyth whose +condicions hitherto he was not acquainted.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page84" id = "page84">84</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_56" id = "novel1_56"> +THE FIFTY-SIXTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A pleasaunt discours of a great Lord to enioy a Gentlewoman of +Pampelunæ.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">There</span> was in the time of king Lewes +the <span class = "smallroman">XII.</span> of that name, a young +Lord, called the lorde of Auannes sonne to the Lorde Alebret, and +brother to king John of Nauarre, with whom the said Lord of Auannes +ordinarely remayned. Now this yong Lorde was of the age of <span class = +"smallroman">XV.</span> yeares, so comely a personage, and full of +curtesie and good behauiour, as he seemed to be created for none other +purpose, but to be beloued and regarded: and so he was in deede of al +those that did wel behold and note his commendable grace and condicion, +but chiefly of a woman, dwelling in the citie of Pampelunæ in Nauarre, +the wife of a rich man, with whom she liued honestly: and although she +was but 23 yeres of age, and her husband very nere fiftie, yet her +behauior was so modest, as she seemed rather a widow than a maried wyfe, +who vsed not to frequent and haunte any mariages, banquets, or common +assemblies without the company of her husbande, the vertue and goodnes +of whom she so greatly esteemed, as she preferred the same before the +beautie of al others. The husband, hauing experience of her wisedome, +put such trust in her, as he committed al thaffaires of his house to her +discretion: vpon a day this rich man with his wife, were inuited to a +mariage of one that was nere kinne vnto him: to which place (for the +greater honor of the mariage) repaired the yong Lord of Auannes, who +naturally was giuen to dauncing, and for his excellencie in dauncing +there was not his like to be found in his time: after dinner when they +prepared to daunce, the Lord of Auannes was intreated thereunto by the +rich man: the said lord asked him with what gentlewoman hee should lead +the daunce. He aunsweared him: “My Lord if there were any one more +beautifull, or more at my commaundement then my wyfe, I would +present her vnto you, beseeching you to do mee so much honour as to take +her by the hande.” Which the yong Lorde did, and by reason of his +youthfull courage he toke more +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page85" id = "page85">85</a></span> +pleasure in vaultinge and dauncinge, then in beholding the beautie of +the Ladies: and she whom he ledde by the hand, contrarywyse regarded +more the grace and beautie of the said yong Lord, then the daunce wherin +she was, albeit for her great wisedome she made therof no semblance at +al. When supper time was come, the Lord of Auannes badde the companie +farewell and went home to the castle: whether the riche man accompanied +him vppon his moile: and riding homewards together, hee saide vnto him: +“My Lord, this day you haue done so great honor vnto my kinsemen and +mee, that it were great ingratitude is I should not offer my selfe with +all the goods I haue to do you seruice: I knowe sir that such +Lordes as you be which haue nere and couetous fathers, many times do +lacke money which we by keeping of smal houshold, and vsing good +husbandrie do heape and gather together. Now thus it is sir, that God +hauing giuen mee a wife accordinge to my desire he would not in this +world altogether indue mee with heauenly pleasures, but hath left me +voyde of one ioy which is the ioye that fathers haue of children. +I know sir that it is not my dutie, and belongeth not to my state +to adopt you for such a one, but if it maye please you to receiue mee +for your seruaunt, and to declare vnto me your small affaires, so farre +as a hundred thousande Crownes shall extende, I will not sticke to +helpe your necessities.” The yong Lorde of Auannes was very ioyfull of +this offer, for he had suche a father as the other had described vnto +him: and after he had giuen him hartie thanckes, he called him his +friendlye father. From that time forth the sayd riche man conceiued such +loue in the yong Lord, as daily he ceased not to inquire of his lacke +and want, and hid not from his wyfe the deuocion which he bare to the +said Lorde of Auannes, for which she rendred vnto him double thanckes. +And after that time the said yong Lord lacked not what he desired, and +many times resorted to that rich man’s to drincke and eate with him, and +finding him not at home, his wyfe rewarded him with his demaunde: whoe +admonished her by wyse and discrete talke to be vertuous, because he +feared and loued her aboue all the women of the worlde. She which had +God and her honor before her eyes, was contente with his sight and +talke, wherin consisted the satisfaction of his honestie and vertuous +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page86" id = "page86">86</a></span> +loue: in such wise as she neuer made any signe or semblaunce, wherby he +might thinke and iudge that shee had anye affection vnto him, but that +which was both brotherlie and christian. During this couerte amitie, the +Lord of Auannes through the foresaid ayde, was very gorgious and trimme, +and approching the age of <span class = "smallroman">XVII.</span> +yeares, began to frequent the company of Gentlewomen more then he was +wont to do: and although he had a more willing desire, to loue that wyse +and discrete dame aboue other, yet the feare which he had to lose her +loue (if shee misliked her sute) made him to hold his peace, and to +seeke els wher: and gaue himself to the loue of a Gentlewoman dwelling +hard by Pampelunæ, which had to husband a yong gentleman, that aboue all +thinges loued and delighted in dogges, horsse, and Hawkes. This noble +Gentleman began (for her sake) to deuise a thousand pastimes, as +Torneyes, running at the Tilt, Mommeries, Maskes, feastes and other +games, at all which this yong dame was present: but because that her +husband was very fantasticall, and saw his wyfe to be faire and wanton, +hee was ialous of her honour, and kepte her in so straite, as the sayde +Lord of Auannes colde get nothing at her hands but words, shortly +spoken, in some daunce, albeit in litle time and lesse speache, the +sayde Lorde perceyued that there wanted nothing for full perfection of +their loue, but time and place: wherfore he came to his new adopted +father the rich man, and said vnto him that he was minded with great +deuocion to visite our Lady of Montferrat, intreating him to suffer his +houshoulde traine to remaine with him, because he was disposed to go +thither alone. Whereunto he willingly agreed: but his wyfe whose hart +the great prophet loue had inspired, incontinently suspected the true +cause of that voyage, and cold not forbeare to saye vnto the Lord of +Auannes these woords: “My Lord, my Lorde, the pilgrimage of the Lady +whom you worshippe, is not farre without the walles of the Citie, +wherefore I beseech you aboue all thinges to haue regarde vnto your +health.” Hee which feared her, and loued her, blushed at her words, and +without talke by his countenaunce he seemde to confesse the trothe: +whereupon he departed, and when he had bought a couple of faire Genets +of Spaine he clothed himself like a horsekeeper and so disguised +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page87" id = "page87">87</a></span> +his face as no man knew him. The Gentleman which had maried that fonde +and wanton gentlewoman, louinge aboue all thinges (as is sayde +before) fayre horses, espyed those two Genets which the lord of Auannes +did lead, and incontinently came to buy them: and after he had bought +them, hee beheld the horse-keeper which rode and handled them passing +well, and asked him if he were willing to serue him: the Lord of Auannes +answeared yea, and added further how he was a poore horse-keeper +vnskilfull of other science but of keepinge of horse, which practize hee +could do so well, as he doubted not but he should content and please +him: the Gentleman very glad thereof, gaue him charge of all his horse, +and called forth his wyfe vnto him, vnto whom he recommended his horse +and horsekeper, and told her that he himself was disposed to go to the +castel: the gentlewoman so well to please her husband as for her owne +delight and pastime, wente to loke vpon her horse and to behold her new +horskeper, who seemed to be a man of good bringing vp, notwithstanding +she knewe him not. He seing that she had no knowledge of him, came to do +reuerence vnto her after the maner of Spaine, and taking her by the hand +kissed the same, and by kissing of her hand, he disclosed himself so +much as she knew him: for in dauncing with her many times he vsed the +like curtesie: and then she ceased not to deuise place wher she might +speake to him a part: which she did the very same euening: for being +bidden to a feast wherunto her husband would faine haue had her to go, +she fayned herselfe to be sicke and not able: and her husband loth to +faile his frends request, said vnto her: “For so much (my good +wyfe) as you be not disposed to go with me, I pray you to haue +regard to my dogges and horse that they may lack nothing.” The +Gentlewoman was very wel contented with that comission: howbeit without +chaung of countenance she made him answere that sith in better things he +would not imploie her, she would not refuse the least, to satisfie his +desire: and her husband was no soner out of the gates, but she went down +into the stable, where she founde faulte wyth diuers things: for +prouision whereof she committed such seueral busines to her men on euery +side, that shee remayned alone with the master horskeper: and for feare +least any should +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page88" id = "page88">88</a></span> +come vpon them vnwares, she said vnto him: “Go into my garden and tarie +my comming in the litle house at the ende of the alley.” Which he did so +diligently as hee had no leasure to thancke her, and after that she had +giuen order to the yeomen of the stable, shee went to see the dogges, +counterfaiting like care and diligence to haue them wel intreated: in +such wise as she seemed rather a mayde of the chamber then a maistresse +of the house: which done shee returned into her chamber, where she made +her self to be so werie, as she went to bed, saying that she was +disposed to sleepe. All her women left her alone except one in whom she +reposed her greatest trust, and vnto whom she said: “Go downe into the +garden, and cause him whom you shall finde at the end of the alley, to +come hither.” The mayde wente downe and founde the Maister horskeeper +there, whom forthwith shee brought vnto her maistresse: and then the +gentlewoman caused her mayd to go forth to watch when her husbande came +home. The lord of Auannes seing that he was alone with his maistres, put +of his horsekeeper’s apparrel, plucked from his face his false nose and +beard, and not as a feareful horsekeeper, but like such a Lord as he +was, without asking leaue of the Gentlewoman, boldly laied him downe +beside her: where hee was of that foolishe woman receiued so ioyfully, +as his estate and goodly personage did require, continuing with her +vntil the retorne of her husband: at whose comming putting vpon him +againe his counterfaite attire, left the pleasure which by policie and +malice he had vsurped. The gentleman when hee was within, hearde tell of +the dilligence which his wife had vsed vppon his commaundemente, and +thanked her very hartelie. “Husband (said the gentlewoman) I do but +my dutie, and do assure you that if there be no ouerseer to checke and +commaunde your negligent seruaunts, you shal haue neyther dogge nor +horse well kept and ordred: forasmuche as I knowe their slouth, and your +good wil, you shalbe better serued then you haue bin heretofore.” The +gentleman who thought that he had gotten the best horsekeeper of the +worlde, asked her how she liked him. “I assure you sir (quoth she) +he doth his busines so well as any seruaunt, howbeit he had neede to be +called vppon, for you know seruaunts in these dayes without an ouerseer, +wilbe be slow and carelesse.” Thus of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page89" id = "page89">89</a></span> +long time continued the husbande and wyfe in greater amitie and loue +then before, and gaue ouer all the suspicion and ialousie which hee had +conceyued, because before time his wyfe louinge feastes, daunces and +companies, was become intentife and diligente about her household: and +perceiued that now many times she was contented in homely garmentes to +go vp and downe the house wher before she was accustomed to be 4 houres +in trimming of herselfe: whereof shee was commended of her husbande, and +of euery man that knew not how the greater deuill had chased awaye the +lesse. Thus liued this yonge dame vnder the hypocrisie and habite of an +honest woman, in suche fleshlye pleasure as reason, conscience, order +and measure, had no longer resting place in her: which insaciat lust the +yong Lord of delicate complexion was no longer able to susteine, but +began to waxe so pale and feeble, as he needed no visarde for +disfiguring of himselfe. Notwithstanding the folish loue which he bare +to that woman so dulled his sence, as he presumed vppon that force which +fayled in the monstruous giant Hercules, whereby in the ende constrayned +with sicknes and councelled by his maistresse, which loued not the sicke +so well as the hole, demaunded leaue of his maister to go home to his +frends: who to his great griefe graunted him the same: and caused him to +make promise that when he was recouered hee should returne againe to his +seruice. Thus went the Lord of Auannes on foote away from his maister, +for he had not paste the lenght of one streate to trauaile. And when he +was come to the rich man’s house his new father, he found none at home +but his wyfe, whose vertuous loue shee bare him was nothing diminished +for al his voyage: but when she saw him so leane and pale, she could not +forbeare to say vnto him: “Sir, I knowe not in what staye your +conscience is, but your body is litle amended by this pilgrimage, and I +am in doubte that the way wherein you traueiled in the night, did wearie +and paine you more, then that vppon the daye: for if you had gone to +Hierusalem on foote, you mighte perhappes haue returned more Sunne +burned, but more leane and weake it had bin impossible. Now make accompt +of your pilgrimage here, and serue no more such Sainctes, for in place +of raysinge the deade from life, they do to death those that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page90" id = "page90">90</a></span> +be on liue: moreouer I shall saye vnto you, that if your bodye were +neuer so sinfull, I see well it hath suffred such penaunce, as I +haue pitie to renewe anye former payne.” When the Lorde of Auannes had +hearde all her talke he was no lesse angrie with himselfe then ashamed, +and saide vnto her: “Madame, I haue sometimes heard tell that +repentaunce insueth sinne, and now I haue proued the same to my cost, +praying you to excuse my youth that could not be corrected but by +experience of that euill, which before it would not beleeue.” The +Gentlewoman chaunging her talke, caused him to lye downe vppon a fayre +bedde, where he lay the space of <span class = "smallroman">XV.</span> +dayes, feedinge onely vppon restoratiues: and the husband and wyfe kept +him so good companye, as one of theim neuer departed from him: and +albeit that he had committed those follies, (suche as you haue heard) +against the minde and aduise of that wyse and discrete dame, yet shee +neuer diminished the vertuous loue which shee bare him, for shee still +hoped that after he had spent his yonger dayes in youthly follies, he +would retire at length when age and experience should force him to vse +honest loue, and by that meanes would be altogether her owne. And during +those fifteene dayes that he was cherished in her house, she vsed vnto +him womanly and commendable talke, onely tending to the loue of vertue, +which caryed such effect as he began to abhorre the follie that he +committed: and beholding the gentlewoman which in beautie passed the +other wanton, with whom he had delt before, he imprinted in minde more +and more the graces and vertues that were in her, and was not able to +keepe in harte the secrete conceipt of the same, but abandoning all +feare, he sayd vnto her: “Madame, I see no better means, to be such +one, and so vertuous as you by wordes desire me for to be, but to settle +my harte, and giue my selfe to be holie in loue with vertue, and the +qualities therunto appertinent. I humblie beseech you therfore +(good madame) to tel me if your selfe wil not vouchsafe to giue me al +your ayde and fauor that you possiblie can, for thobteyning of the +same.” The maistresse very ioyful to heare him vse that language, made +him aunswere: “And I do promise you sir, that if you wilbe in loue with +vertue as it behoueth so noble a state as you be, I wil do you the +seruice that I can to bring you thereunto +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page91" id = "page91">91</a></span> +with such power and abilitie as God hath planted in mee.” “Well madame,” +saide the Lorde of Auannes, “remember then your promise, and vnderstande +that God vnknowen of the Christian but by fayth, hath dayned to take +flesh, like to that our sinful which we beare about vs, to thend that by +drawing our flesh into the loue of his humanity, he may draw also our +minde to the loue of his diuinitie, and requireth to be serued by +thinges visible to make vs loue by fayth that diuinity which is +inuisible: in like maner the vertue which I desire to imbrace all the +dayes of my life, is a thing inuisible and not to be seen but by outward +effects. Wherfore needeful it is, that she now do put vpon her some body +or shape to let herselfe be knowen amonges men: which in deede she hath +don by induing herself with your form and shape, as the most perfect +that she is able to find amonges liuing creatures. Wherfore I do +acknowledge and confesse you to be not onely a vertuous creature, but +euen very vertue it self. And I which see the same to shine vnder the +glimsing vaile of the most perfect that euer was: I will honor and +serue the same during my life, forsaking (for the same) all other vaine +and vicious loue.” The gentlewoman no lesse content then marueling to +here those words dissembled so wel her contented minde as she said vnto +him: “My Lord, I take not vpon me to aunswere your diuinity, but +like her that is more fearefull of euill then beleful of good, do +humblie beseech you to cease to speake to me those words of prayse, that +is not worthy of the least of them. I know right wel that I am a +woman, not onely as another is, but so imperfect, as vertue might do a +better acte to transforme me into her, then she to take my forme, except +it be when she desires to be vnknowen to the world: for vnder such +habite as mine is, vertue cannot be knowen, according to her worthines: +so it is sir, that for mine imperfection, I wil not cease to bere +you such affection, as a woman ought or maye do that feareth God, and +hath respect to her honour: but that affection shal not appere, vntill +your harte be able to receiue the pacience which vertuous loue +commaundeth. And now sir I know what kinde of speach to vse, and thincke +that you do not loue so well, your owne goodes, purse or honour, as I +doe with all my hart tender and imbrace the same.” The +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page92" id = "page92">92</a></span> +lord of Auannes fearefull with teares in eyes, besought her earnestly +that for her woordes assuraunce, shee woulde vouchsafe to kisse him: +which she refused, saying that for him, she would not breake the +countrie’s custome: and vppon this debate the husband came in, to whom +the Lord of Auannes said: “My father, I knowe my selfe so much +bounde to you and to your wife, as I besech you for euer to repute me +for your sonne.” Which the good man willingly did. “And for surety of +that amitie, I pray you,” said Monsier D’Auannes, “that I may kisse +you.” Whiche he did. After he said vnto him: “If it were not for feare +to offend the Law, I would do the like to my mother your wyfe.” The +husbande hearinge him saye so, commaunded his wyfe to kisse him, which +she did although she made it straunge, either for the Lord’s desire or +for husband’s request to do the same: then the fier (which words had +begunne to kindle in the harte of the poore Lorde) beganne to augmente +by that desired kisse, so strongly sued for, and so cruelly refused: +which done the sayde Lord of Auannes repayred to the Castell to the +kinge his brother, where he told many goodly tales of his voyage to +Montferrat, and vnderstode there, that the kinge his brother was +determined to remoue to Olly and Taffares, and thinking that the iorney +woulde be longe, conceiued great heauines, which made him to muse how he +mighte assaye before his departure, whether the wise Gentlewoman bare +him such good will, as shee made him beleeue shee did: and therefore hee +toke a house in the streate where she dwelt, which was old and ill +fauoured and built of Timber: which house about midnight of purpose he +set on fier, wherof the crye was so great throughout the Citie as it was +hard within the rich man’s house. Who demaunding at his window wher the +fier was, vnderstode it to be at the Lord of Auannes, wherunto he +incontinentlye repayred with all the people of his house, and found the +yonge Lord in his shirt in the middest of the streat, whom for pitie he +toke betweene his armes, and couering him with his nighte Gowne, caried +him home to his house with al possible speede, and saide vnto his wife +which was a bed: “Wife, I giue you to kepe this prisoner, vse him +as my selfe.” So sone as he was departed the sayd Lord of Auannes, who +had good wil to be +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page93" id = "page93">93</a></span> +interteigned for her husband, quicklie lept into the bed, hoping that +the occasion and place would make that wise woman to chaunge her minde, +which he founde to be contrary: for so sone as he lept into the bed of +thone side, shee speedelie went out of the other, and putting on her +night Gowne she repaired to the bed’s head, and said vnto him: “How now +sir, do you thincke that occasions can chaunge a chaste harte? beleeue +and thincke that as gold is proued in the Fornace, euen so an vnspotted +hart in the middest of temptacion: wherein many times an honest hart +sheweth it selfe to be more strong and vertuous, then els where, and the +more it is assailed by his contrary, the coulder be the desires of the +same: wherefore be you assured that if I had bin affected with other +minde then that which many times I haue disclosed vnto you, I would +not haue fayled to finde meanes to haue satisfyed the same: praying you +that if you will haue me to continue the affection which I beare you, to +remoue from your minde for euer not onely the will but the thoughte +also, for any thinge you be able to doe to make me other then I am.” As +she was speaking of these words her women came into the chamber, whom +she commaunded to bring in a colacion of all sortes of comficts and +other delicats: but that time hee had no appetite either to eate or +drincke, hee was fallen into suche dispaire for fayling of his +enterprise: fearing that the demonstracion of his desire, would haue +caused her to giue ouer the secrete familiaritie betweene them. The +husbande hauinge ceased the fier, retorned and intreated the Lord of +Auannes that night to lodge in his house, who passed that night in such +nomber of cogitacions as his eyes were more exercised with weeping then +sleeping, and early in the morninge he bad them farewell in their bedde, +where by kissing the Gentlewoman hee well perceiued that she had more +pitie upon his offence, then euill will against his person, which was a +cole to make the fier of loue to kindle more fiercely. After dinner he +rode with the king of Taffares, but before his departure he went to take +his leaue of his newe alied father and of his wyfe: whoe after the furst +commaundement of her husband, made no more difficultie to kisse him then +if he had bin her owne sonne. But be assured the more that vertue stayed +her +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page94" id = "page94">94</a></span> +eye and countenaunce to shew the hidden flame, the more it did augment +and become intollerable, in such wyse as not able to indure the warres +which honour and loue had raysed within her hart, (who notwithstanding +was determined neuer to shewe it, hauing lost the consolacion of her +sight, and forgeuen the talke with him for whom she liued) +a continuall feuer began to take her, caused by a Melancholicke and +couert humor, in such wyse as the extreme partes of her body waxed cold, +and those within burnt incessantly. The Phisitions (in the hands of +whom man’s life doth not depend) began greatly to mistrust health by +reason of a certaine opilacion which made her melancholicke: who +counceiled the husbande to aduertise his wife to consider her +conscience, and that she was in the handes of God (as thoughe they +which be in health were not in his protection): the husbande which +intirely loued his wyfe, was wyth their woordes made so heauye and +pensife, as for his confort he wrote to the Lord of Auannes, beseechinge +him to take the paynes to visite them, hoping that his sight would +greatly ease and relieue the disease of his wife. Which request the Lord +of Auannes immediatly vppon the recepte of those letters slacked not, +but by poste arriued at his father’s house: at the entrye whereof hee +founde the seruauntes and women makinge great sorrowe and lamentacion +accordinglie as the goodnes of their maistresse deserued: wherewith the +sayde Lorde was so astonned as he stoode stil at the doore like one in a +traunce, vntil he sawe his good father: who imbracing him beganne so +bitterlie to weepe, that he was not able to speake a worde. And so +conueied the sayd Lorde of Auannes vp into the Chamber of his poore +sicke wyfe: who casting vp her languishing eyes looked vppon him: and +reaching his hand vnto her, she strayned the same with all her feeble +force, and imbracinge and kissinge the same made a marueylous plainte, +and sayd vnto him<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ,">. </ins>“O +my Lord, the houre is come that all dissimulacion must cease, and needes +I must confesse vnto you the troth, which I to my greate paine haue +concealed from you: which is, that if you haue borne vnto me greate +affection, beleeue that mine rendred vnto you, hath bin no lesse: but my +sorrow hath farre surpassed your griefe, the smarte whereof I do feele +now against myne hart and will: wherefore, my lord, yee shall +vnderstand, that GOD and mine +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page95" id = "page95">95</a></span> +honour would not suffer mee to disclose the same vnto you, fearing to +increase in you that which I desired to be diminished: but knowe yee, my +Lorde, that the woordes which so many tymes you haue vttered vnto mee, +haue bred in me such griefe, as the same be the Instrumentes and +woorkers of my death, wherewyth I am contente sith <span class = +"smallcaps">God</span> did giue mee the grace not to suffer the violence +of my Loue, to blotte the puritye of my conscience and renowne: for +lesse fire then is wythin the kindled harte of mine, hath ruinated and +consumed most famous and stately buildinges. Nowe my hart is well at +ease, sithe before I dye, I haue had power to declare myne +affection, which is equall vnto yours, sauing that the honor of men and +women be not a like: beseechinge you, my Lorde, from henceforth not to +feare to addresse your selfe to the greatest and moste vertuous Ladies +that you can finde: for in such noble hartes do dwell the strongest +passions, and there the same be moste wisely gouerned: and God graunt +that the grace, beautie and honestie, which be in you, do not suffer +your loue to trauell wythout fruite: haue in remembrance good, my Lord, +the stabilitie of my constante minde, and do not attribute that to +crueltie which ought to be imputed to honor, conscience and vertue: +which are thinges a thousande times more acceptable, then the expence +and losse of transitorie life. Nowe, farewell, my Lorde, recommendinge +vnto your honour the state of my husband your good father, to whom I +pray you to reherse the troth of that which you doe know by mee, to the +intent that he may be certefied how dearely I haue loued God and him: +for whose sake I beseech you to absente your selfe out of my sight: for +from henceforth I do meane holye to giue my selfe to the contemplacion +of those promises which God hath louingly decreed, before the +constitucion of the world.” In saying so shee kissed him, and imbraced +him wyth all the force of her feeble armes. The sayde Lorde, whose hart +was dead for compassion, as her’s was in dying through griefe and +sorrow, without power to speake one onely worde, withdrew himselfe out +of her sight and laye downe vpon a bed within an inner chamber: where he +fainted many times. Then the gentlewoman called for her husbande, and +after she had giuen him many goodly lessons, shee recommended him to the +Lord of Auannes, assuringe him that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page96" id = "page96">96</a></span> +nexte to his parson, of all the men in the worlde shee had him in +greateste estimacion: and soe kissinge her husbande shee badde him +farewell. And then was brought vnto her the holye Sacramente, which shee +receyued with such ioye, as one certaine and sure of her Saluacion, and +perceyuinge her sighte begynne to fayle, and her strength diminishe she +pronounced aloude: <i>In manus tuas</i>, &c. At which crie the Lorde +of Auannes rose vp from the bedde, and piteously beholding her, he +viewed her with a swete sighe, to rendre her gloriouse ghost to him +which had redemed it. And when he perceiued that shee was dead, hee ran +to the dead bodie, which liuing he durst not approche for feare, and +imbraced and kissed the same in such wise, as muche a doe there was to +remoue her corps out of his armes: wherof the husband was very much +abashed, for that he neuer thought that he had borne his wife such +affection. And in saying vnto him: “My Lord, you haue done enough:” they +withdrew them selues together. And after long lamentation, the one for +his wife, and the other for his Lady: the Lord of Auannes told him the +whole discourse of his Loue, and howe vntill her death she neuer +graunted him not so muche as one signe or token of loue, but in place +therof a rebellious minde to his importunate sutes: at the rehersall +whereof, the husbande conceiued greater pleasure and contentment than +euer he did before: which augmented or rather doubled his sorrow and +griefe for losse of such a wife. And all his life time after, in al +seruices and duties he obeyed the Lord of Auannes, that then was not +aboue eightene yeres of age, who retourned to the Courte, and continued +there many yeares without will to see or speake to any woman, for the +sorrow which he had taken for his Lady, and more then two yeres he wore +blacke for mourning apparell. Beholde here the difference betweene a +wise and discrete woman, and one that was wanton and foolish, both which +sortes expressed different effectes of loue: whereof the one receiued a +glorious and commendable death, and the other liued to long to her great +shame and infamie. The one by small sute sone won and obteyned, the +other by earnest requestes and great payne pursued and followed. And +till death had taken order, to ridde her from that pursute, she euer +continued constant.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page97" id = "page97">97</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_57" id = "novel1_57"> +THE FIFTY-SEUENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A punishment more rigorous than death, of a husband towarde his wife +that had committed adulterie.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">King</span> Charles of Fraunce, the eight +of that name, sent into Germany a gentleman called Bernage, lorde of +Cyure besides Amboise: who to make speede, spared neither daye nor +nighte for execution of his Prince’s commaundement. In sutch wyse as +very late in an euening he arriued at the Castle of a Gentleman, to +demaunde lodging, which very hardly he obtained. Howbeit, when the +gentleman vnderstode that he was the seruaunt of such a kyng, he prayed +him not to take it in ill parte the rudinesse of his seruantes because +vppon occasion of certain his wiue’s frends which loued him not, he was +forced to kepe his house so straight. Then Bernage tolde him the cause +of his iourney, wherein the Gentleman offered to doe to the king his +maister all seruice possible. Leading him into his house where he was +feasted and lodged very honorably. When supper was ready, the Gentleman +conueyed him into a parler wel hanged with fayre Tapistrie. And the +meate being set vpon the table, and he required to sit down, he +perceiued a woman comming forth behind the hanging, which was so +beautifull as might be seene, sauing that her head was all shauen, and +apparelled in Almaine blacke. After bothe the Gentlemen had washed, +water was brought to the Gentlewoman, who when she had washed she sat +down also, without speaking to any, or any word spoken vnto her againe. +The Lorde Bernage beholding her well, thought her to be one of the +fayrest Ladies that euer he sawe, if her face had not bene so pale and +her countenaunce so sadde. After she had eaten a litle, she called for +drinke, which one of the seruauntes brought vnto her in a straunge cup: +for it was the head of a dead man trimmed with siluer, wherof she +drancke twice or thrice. When she had supped and washed her handes, +making a reuerence to the Lord of the house, shee retourned backe againe +that way shee came, without speaking to any. Bernage was so much amased +at that straunge sighte, as he waxed very heauie and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page98" id = "page98">98</a></span> +sadde. The gentleman who marked hym, sayde vnto hym: “I see well +that you be astonned at that you saw at the table, but seyng your honest +demeanour, I wyll not keepe it secrete from you, because you shal +not note that crueltie to be done without greate occasion. This +gentlewoman whiche you see, is my wyfe, whom I loued better than was +possible for any man to loue his wyfe. In such sorte as to marry her I +forgat all feare of friendes, and brought her hither in despite of her +parentes. She likewyse shewed vnto me suche signes of loue, as I +attempted a thousande wayes to place her here for her ioye and myne, +where wee lyued a long tyme in suche reste and contentation, as I +thought my self the happiest Gentleman in Christendome. But in a iourney +whiche I made, the attempt whereof myne honour forced me, shee forgot +bothe her selfe, her conscience, and the loue whiche shee bare towardes +mee, and fell in loue with a Gentleman that I brought vp in this house, +whiche her loue vpon my retourne I perceiued to be true. Notwithstanding +the loue that I bare her, was so great as I had no mistrust in her, tyll +sutch tyme as experience did open myne eyes, and sawe the thynge that I +feared more than death. For whiche cause my loue was tourned into furie +and dispayre, so greate, as I watched her so nere, that vppon a daye +fayning my selfe to goe abroade, I hydde my selfe in the chamber +where now shee remayneth. Into the whiche sone after my departure shee +repayred, and caused the Gentleman to come thether. Whome I did beholde +to doe that thinge, which was altogether vnmeete for any man to doe to +her, but my selfe. But when I sawe him mounte vppon the bed after her, +I stepped forth and tooke him betwene her armes, and with my dagger +immediatly did kill him. And because the offence of my wife semed so +great as the doing of her to death was not sufficient to punish her, +I deuised a torment which in mine opinion is worse vnto her than +death. For thus I vse her, I doe locke her vp in the chamber +wherein she accustomed to vse her delightes, and in the companie of hym +that she loued farre better than me. In the closet of which chamber I +haue placed the Anatomie of her friend, reseruing the same as a precious +Iewell. And to the ende shee may not forget him at meales, at the table +before my face, she vseth his skulle in +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page99" id = "page99">99</a></span> +steade of a cup to drinke in, to the intent she may behold him (aliue) +in the presence of hym whom through her owne fault she hath made her +mortal enemy, and him dead and slain for her sake, whose loue she +preferred before mine. And so beholdeth those twoo thinges at dinner and +supper which ought to displease her moste, her enemie liuing, and her +friend dead, and al through her own wickednesse, howbeit I doe vse her +no worse than my self, although shee goeth thus shauen: for the ornament +of the heare doth not appertaine to an adultresse, nor the vayle or +other furniture of the head to an unchast woman. Wherefore she goeth so +shauen, in token she hath lost her honestie. If it please you, sir, to +take the payne to see her, I wil bring you to her.” Whereunto +Bernage willingly assented. And descending into her chamber whiche was +very richely furnished, they founde her sitting alone at the fier. And +the Gentleman drawing a Curteine, whiche was before the Closet, he sawe +the Anatomie of the dead man hanging. Bernage had a great desire to +speake vnto the Ladye, but for feare of her husband he durst not. The +Gentleman perceiuin the same, said vnto him: “If it please you to speake +vnto her, you shal vnderstand her order of talke.” Therwithall Bernage +sayde vnto her: “Madame, if your pacience be correspondent to this +torment, I deme you to be the happiest woman of the worlde.” The +lady with teares trickeling down her eyes with a grace so good and +humble as was possible, spake thus vnto him: “Sir, I doe confesse +my fault to be so great, as all the afflictions and torment that the +Lorde of this place (for I am not worthy to call him husbande) can doe +vnto me, be nothing comparable to the sorrowe I haue conceiued of myne +offence.” And in sayinge so, she began pitifully to weepe. Therewithall +the Gentleman toke Bernage by the hande, and led him forth. The next day +morning he departed about the businesse which the king had sent him. +Notwithstanding, in bidding the Gentleman fare well, he sayde vnto hym: +“Sir, the loue whiche I beare vnto you, and the honor and secretes +wherewith you haue made me priuie, doth force me to saye vnto you howe I +doe thinke good (seing the great repentance of the poore Gentlewoman +your wife) that you doe shewe her mercie. And bicause you be yong and +haue no children, it were a verie great losse and detriment +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page100" id = "page100">100</a></span> +to lose such a house and ligneage as yours is. And it may so come to +passe, that your enemies thereby in time to come may be your heires, and +inioye the goodes and patrimonie whiche you doe leaue behinde you.” The +Gentleman which neuer thought to speake vnto his wife, with those wordes +paused a great while, and in thend confessed his saying to be true, +promising him that if she would continue in that humilitie, he would in +time shew pittie vppon her, with whiche promise Bernage departed. And +when he was retourned towardes the king his maister, hee recompted vnto +him the successe of his iourneyes. And amonges other thinges he tolde +him of the beautie of this Ladie, who sent his Painter called Iohn of +Paris, to bring him her counterfaicte: which with the consent of her +husband, he did. Who after that long penaunce, for a desire he had to +haue children, and for the pitie hee bare to his wyfe which with great +humblenesse receiued that affliction, tooke her vnto hym agayne, and +afterwardes begat of her many children.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page101" id = "page101">101</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_58" id = "novel1_58"> +THE FIFTY-EIGHTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A President of Grenoble aduertised of the ill gouernement of his wife, +took such order, that his honestie was not diminished, and yet reuenged +the facte.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> Grenoble (the chiefe citie of a +Countrie in Fraunce called Daulphine, which citie otherwise is named +Gratianapolis) there was a President that had a very fayre wyfe, who +perceiuing her husbande beginne to waxe olde, fell in loue with a yong +man that was her husband’s Clark, a very propre and handsome +felowe. Vpon a time when her husband in a morning was gone to the +Palace, the clarke entred his chamber and tooke his Maister’s place, +whiche thing one of the presidente’s men, that faithfully had serued him +the space of <span class = "smallroman">XXX.</span> yeres like a trustie +seruant perceiuing, could not keepe it secret, but tolde his Maister. +The President whiche was a wise man, would not beleue it vpon his light +report, but sayde that he did it of purpose to set discord betwene him +and his wife, notwithstanding if the thing were true as he had reported, +he might let him see the thing it selfe, whiche if he did not, he had +good cause to thinke that he had deuised a lye to breake and dissolue +the loue betwene them. The seruaunt did assure him that he would cause +him to see the thing wherof he had tolde him. And one morning so sone as +the President was gone to the Court, and the Clarked entred into his +chamber, the seruaunt sent one of his companions to tel his maister that +he might come in good time, to see the thing that he had declared vnto +him, he himself standing stil at the doore to watch that the partie +might not goe out. The President so sone as he sawe the signe that one +of his men made vnto him, fayning that he was not wel at ease, left the +audience, and spedely went home to his house, where he founde his olde +seruaunt watching at the chamber dore, assuring him for truth that the +Clarke was within, and that he should with spede to goe in. The +President sayd to his seruant: “Do not tarrie at the dore, for thou +knowest ther is no other going out or comming in but onely this, except +a litle closet +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page102" id = "page102">102</a></span> +wherof I alone do beare the keye.” The president entred the chamber, and +found his wife and the Clarke a bed together, who in his shirt fell +downe at the president’s feete, crauing pardon, and his wife much afraid +began to weepe. To whome the President sayde: “For so muche as the thing +which thou hast done is such, as thou maist well consider, that I can +not abyde my house (for thee) in this sort to be dishonored, and the +daughters which I haue had by thee to be disauaunced and abased: +therfore leaue of thy weeping, and marke what I shall doe. And thou +Nicolas (for that was his Clarke’s name) hide thy selfe here in my +closet, and in any wise make no noyse.” When he had so done, he opened +the dore and called in his olde seruaunt, and sayde vnto him: “Diddest +not thou warrant and assure me that thou wouldest let me see my Clarke +and wyfe in bedde together? And vppon thy words I am come hether, +thinking to haue killed my wife, and doe finde nothing to be true of +that which thou diddest tell me. For I haue searched the chamber in +euery place as I will shewe thee.” And with that he caused his seruant +to looke vnder the beddes, and in euery corner. And when the seruant +founde him not, throughly astonned, he sayde to his maister: “Sir, +I sawe him goe into the chamber, and out he is not gone at the +dore: and so farre as I can see he is not here: therefore I thinke the +Diuel must nedes carrie him awaye.” Then his maister rebuked him in +these words: “Thou art a villayn, to set such diuision betwene my wife +and me, wherefore I doe discharge thee from my seruice, and for that +which thou hast done me, I will paye the thy dutie, with the +aduauntage: therefore get thee hence, and take hede that thou doest not +tarrie in this town aboue <span class = "smallroman">XXIIII.</span> +houres.” The President for that he knew him to be an honest and +faithfull seruaunt, gaue him five or sixe yeares wages, and purposed +otherwise to preferre him. When the seruaunt (with ill will and weping +teares) was departed, the President caused his Clark to come out of his +Closet: and after he had declared to his wife and him, what hee thought +of their ill behauiour, he forbad them to shewe no likelyhode of any +such matter, and commaunded his wyfe to attire and dresse her selfe in +more gorgeous apparell, than she was wont +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page103" id = "page103">103</a></span> +to weare, and to haunt and resort to company and feastes, willing the +Clarke to make a better countenaunce on the matter then hee did before, +but whensoeuer he rounded him in the eare and bad him depart, he charged +him after that commaundement not to tarry foure houres in the towne. And +when he had thus done, he retourned to the palace Courte, as though +there hadde no sutche thing chaunced. And the space of fiftene dayes +(contrary to his custome) he feasted his frendes and neighbours, and +after euery those bankettes, he caused the minstrels to play, to make +the Gentlewomen daunce. One daye he seing his wife not to daunce, he +commaunded his Clarke to take her by the hande, and to leade her forth +to daunce, who thinking the President had forgotten the trespasse past, +very ioyfully daunced with her. But when the daunce was ended, the +President faining as though he would haue commaunded him to doe some +thing in his house, bad him in his eare to get him away and neuer to +retourne. Now was the Clark very sorowfull to leaue his Ladye, but yet +no lesse ioyfull he was that his life was saued. Afterwardes when the +President had made all his frendes and kinsfolkes, and all the countrey, +beleue what great loue he bare to his wife, vppon a faire day in the +moneth of May, he went to gather a sallade in his garden, the herbes +whereof after she had eaten, she liued not aboue <span class = +"smallroman">XXIIII.</span> houres after, whereof he counterfaited suche +sorrowe, as no man could suspect the occasion of her death. And by that +meanes he was reuenged of his enemy, and saued the honour of his +house.</p> + +<p>“¶ I will not by this Nouell (said Emarsuitte) prayse the conscience +of the President, but herein I haue declared the light behauiour of a +woman, and the great pacience and prudence of a man: Praying you good +Ladies all, not to be offended at the truthe.” “If all women (quo +Parlamente) that loue their Clarkes or seruauntes, were forced to eate +such sallades, I beleue they would not loue their gardens so well +as they doe, but woulde teare and plucke vp all the herbes bothe roote +and rinde, to auoyde those thinges that by death might aduaunce the +honor of their stock and ligneage.” “If sallades be so costly (quod +Hircan) and so daungerous in May, I will prouoke appetite with +other sawces, or els hunger shall be my chiefest.”</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page104" id = "page104">104</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_59" id = "novel1_59"> +THE FIFTY-NINTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A gentleman of Perche suspecting iniurie done vnto him by his friend, +prouoked him to execute and put in proufe the cause of his +suspicion.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Besides</span> the countrie of Perche, +there were two Gentlemen, which from the tyme of theyr youthe lyued in +sutche great and perfect amitie, as there was betwene them but one +harte, one bed, one house, one table, and one purse. Long time continued +this perfect frendship: betwene whom there was but one will and one +woorde, no difference in either of them: in so muche as they not onely +semed to be two brethren, but also they appeared in al semblances to be +but one man. One of them chaunced to mary: notwithstanding they gaue not +ouer their frendship, but perseuered in their vsual amitie as they were +wont to doe: and whan they happened to be strained to straight lodging, +the maried gentleman would not stick to suffer his friend to lie with +him and his wife. But yet you ought for frendship sake to consider that +the maried man lay in the mids. Their goodes were common betwene them, +and the mariage did yelde no cause to hinder their assured amitie. But +in processe of time, the felicitie of this worlde (whiche carieth with +it a certaine mutabitie) could not continue in the house, which was +before right pleasaunt and happy: for the maried man forgetting the +faithfull fidelitie of his friend, without any cause conceiued a greate +suspicion betwene hym and his wyfe, from whom he could not dissemble the +case, but sharpely tolde her his mynde. She therewithall was wonderfully +amazed: howbeit, he commaunded her to doe all thinges (one thing +excepted) and to make so muche of his companion as of himselfe. +Neuerthelesse he forbade her to speake vnto hym except it were in the +presence of many. All which she gaue her husbande’s companion to +vnderstande, who would not beleue her, knowyng that hee had neither by +thought or deede done anye thing whereof his companion had cause to be +offended. And likewise because he used to kepe nothing secrete from hym, +he tolde him what he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page105" id = "page105">105</a></span> +had sayde, praying hym to tell him the truthe of the matter, because he +purposed neither in that, ne yet in any other thing, to geue occasion of +breach of that amitie which of long time they had imbraced. The maried +Gentleman assured him that he neuer thought it, and how they which had +sowen that rumor, had wickedly belied him. Whereunto his companion +replied: “I knowe wel enough that Ielousie is a passion so +intollerable as loue it selfe. And when you shall conceiue that opinion +of Ialousie, yea and it were of my selfe, I should do you no wrong, +for your selfe were not able to kepe it. But of one thing which is in +your power, I haue good matter whereof to complayne, and that is +because you will concele from me your maladie, sith there was no passion +or opinion which you conceiued, that before this time you kept secret +from me. Likewise for my owne parte if I were amorous of your wife, you +ought not to impute it as a fault vnto me, because it is a fier which I +bare not in my handes, to vse at my pleasure. But if I kepe it to my +selfe from you, and indeuour to make youre wife knowe it by +demonstration of my loue, I might then be accompted that +vntrustiest friend that euer liued: and for me I doe assure you that +shee is a right honest and a good woman, and one that my fansie doth +lest fauour (although she were not your wife) of all them that euer I +sawe. But now sithens there is no cause, I do require you that if +you perceiue any suspicion, be it neuer so litle, to tell me of it, +because I would so vse myself, as our frendship which hath indured so +long tyme, might not bee broken for a woman: and if I did loue her aboue +any thing in the worlde, yet surely I would neuer speake worde vnto her, +bicause I doe esteme our frendship better then the greatest treasure.” +His companion swore vnto him very great othes that he neuer thought it, +praying him to vse his house as he had done before. Whereunto he +aunswered: “Sithe you will haue me so to doe, I am content: but I +praye you if hereafter you doe conceiue any sinistre opinion in me, not +to dissemble the same, which if you doe I will neuer continue longer in +your companie.” In processe of time, liuing together according to their +custome, the maried Gentleman entred againe into greater Ielousie than +euer he did, commaunding his wife to beare no more that countenaunce +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page106" id = "page106">106</a></span> +towards him that she was wont to doe. Whiche commaundement she tolde her +husbande’s companion, praying him after that time to forbeare to speake +vnto her, for that she was forbidden to doe the like to him. The +gentleman vnderstanding by wordes and certaine countenaunces, that his +companion had not kept promise, he sayd vnto him in great choler: “To be +Ialous (my companion) is a thing naturall: but bicause thou diddest +sweare vnto me by othes not to dissemble, I can by no meanes +forbeare any longer: for I did euer thinke that betwene thyne harte and +mine, there could be no let and interruption: but to my great griefe and +without anye fault on my part, I doe see the contrarie. For as +muche as thou art not only very Ialous betwene thy wife and mee, but +also thou wouldest dissimulate and couer the same, so that in the ende +thy maladie and disease continuing so long, is altered into mere malice, +and lyke as oure loue hath bene the greateste that hathe bene seene in +oure tyme, euen so our displeasure and hatred is nowe moste mortall. +I haue done so mutche as lyeth in mee, to auoyde this +inconuenience, but sithe thou hast suspected me to be an ill man, and I +haue still shewed my selfe to be the contrary, I doe sweare, and +therwithal assure thee, by my faith, that I am the same thou thinkest me +to be, and therefore from henceforth take hede of me: for since +suspicion hath separated the from my loue and amitie, despite shall +deuide me from thine.” And albeit that his companion would haue made him +beleue the contrarie, and that hee mistrusted hym nothing at all, yet he +withdrewe his part of his moueables and goodes that before were common +betweene them, so that then both their hartes and goodes were so farre +separated as before they were vnited and ioyned together. In such wyse +as the vnmaried Gentleman neuer ceassed till he had made his companion +cockolde, according to his promise.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page107" id = "page107">107</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_60" id = "novel1_60"> +THE SIXTIETH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The piteous death of an Amorouse Gentleman, for the slacke comfort geuen +him to late, by his beloued.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Betwene</span> Daulphine and Prouence, +there was a gentleman, more riche and better furnished with beautie, +vertue, and good condicions, then with the goodes of fortune: who fill +in loue with a gentlewoman that for this time shall want a name, for +respecte of her parentes that are come of honorable houses, and the +Gentleman’s name also shalbe vntolde, for like respecte, although +altogether not so honorably allied, as the Gentlewoman that he loued, +and yet the historie very certen and true. And bicause his degree was +not so high as hers, hee durst not discouer his affection: for the loue +which he bare her, was so good and perfect, as rather would he haue bene +tormented with the panges of death, then couet the least aduauntage that +might redounde to her dishonor. And seing his state to base in respecte +of hers, had no hope to marry her. Wherefore he grounded his loue vpon +none other foundation and intent, but to loue her with all his power so +perfectlye as was possible, which in the ende came vnto her knowledge. +And the Gentlewoman knowing and seing the honest amitie which he bare +her, to be ful of vertue, ioyned with chast and comly talke, felt her +selfe right happie to be beloued and had in prise, of a personage so +well condicioned, practising dayly cherefull countinaunce towardes him +(whiche was the best rewarde he pretended to haue) whereof he conceiued +great ease and contentment. But malice the cancred enemy of all reste +and quiet, could not long abide this honest and happie life. For some +frowning at his good happe, (as malice euer accompanieth a well +disposed mynde) tolde the mother of the mayden, howe they marueiled that +the Gentleman should bee so familiar in her house, inferring +therewithall that the beautie of her daughter was the only cause, with +whom they sawe him many times to vse secrete and priuat speach. The +mother which by no meanes doubted the honestie of the Gentleman, no more +then shee did +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page108" id = "page108">108</a></span> +of her own children, was very sorie to vnderstand that some shold be +offended at that their familiarity. She thought therfore to shunne the +cause of their offence. And at length, (fearing that slaunder might be +raised of malice) she required the Gentleman for a tyme to haunt no more +her house, as he was wont to doe. A thing to him of harde +digestion, knowing his own innocencie, and lesse desert to be estranged +from the house, for respect of the honest talke he vsed to the yonge +gentlewoman. Notwithstanding, to stoppe the rage of malicious tongues, +he withdrew himself, till he thought the brute was ceased, and then +retourned after his wonted maner: whose absence nothing abridged his +auncient good will. And he began no soner to be familiar there again, +but he vnderstode that the mayden should be maried to a Gentleman, that +was not so ritche and noble (as semed to hym) and therfore he +thought he should receiue great wrong, if she were bestowed vpon that +Gentleman, and not on hym, that had bene so long a sutor. And thereupon +conceiued corage to preferre hym selfe in playne tunes, if choyse were +geuen to the maiden. Howebeit, the mother and other of her kynne, +sollicited and chose the other gentleman because (in dede) he was +more welthie. Whereat the poore gentleman fretted with displeasure, +seing that his Ladie should for worldly mucke be defrauded of her +greatest ioye, by little and little without other maladie, began to +languishe, and in litle tyme was so altered, as in his face appeared the +visage of death. Neuerthelesse he could not forbeare the house of his +beloued, but continually from time to time made his repaire thether to +fede himselfe with the baulme of that beautie, which he thought would +prolong his dayes, but it was the onely abridgement. In thend the poyson +he sucked by the viewe of that beautie, consumed his strength, and force +failing him, was constrained to kepe his bedde. Whereof he would not +aduertise her whome he loued, for greuing her, knowing well that she +would bee tormented with the newes. And so suffring him selfe to runne +the race of past recourye, lost also his appetite to eate or drinck, and +therewithall his slepe and rest fayled, in suche plight as within short +space he was consumed in visage and face, as it grewe to be vglie and +cleane out of knowledge. Brought to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page109" id = "page109">109</a></span> +this lowe estate, one of his frends certified the mother of his mistres, +that was a very charitable and kinde Gentlewoman, and loued so well the +man, as if all their parentes and kinne had bene of her’s and the +mayden’s opinion they would haue preferred the honestie of him, before +the great substance of the other. But the frendes of the father’s side +by no meanes would consent vnto it. Yet the good Gentlewoman and her +daughter (for all the other’s frowardnes) vouchsafed to visit the poor +gentleman whom they founde, rather declining towards death, then in hope +of life. And knowing his ende to approche, he was shriuen and receiued +the holy Sacrament, purposing of present passage by panges of death, +neuer to see any of his frendes againe. Being in this case and yet seing +her, whome he counted to be his life and sauftie, felte suche soudden +recouerie, as hee threwe hym selfe alofte his bedde and spake these +wordes vnto her: “What cause hath drieuen you hither (mistres myne) by +takyng paines to visite him, who hath one of his feet alreadie within +the graue, the other stepping after with conuenient speede, for +execution whereof you bee the onely Instrument.” “Howe so, sir?” sayde +the mother. “Is it possible that hee, whom we so derely loue, can +receiue death by our offences? I pray you sir to tell me, what +reason leadeth you to speake these wordes.” “Madame,” sayde he, “so long +as I could, I dissembled the loue that I bare to my deare mistres +your daughter: so it is that my parentes and frendes speaking of a +mariage betwene her and me, haue clattred thereof moe nedeles woordes +then I desired, by waying the mishap that might insue, and nowe doth +happe past all hope not for my particular pleasure, but bicause I knowe +with none other she shalbe so well intreated nor beloued as she should +haue bene with me. The benefit which I see she hath lost, is the most +perfect frende the best affected seruaunt that euer shee had in this +worlde, the losse wherof summoneth death to arrest the carcase, that +should haue bene imployed for her seruice, which intierly was conserued +and should haue bene for her sake: but sithe nowe it can serue her to no +purpose, the simple losse shall redounde to greatest gaine. I meane +my selfe (good Ladies bothe) that lieth bewrapped in death before your +faces, whose withered +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page110" id = "page110">110</a></span> +clammes hath catched the same within her reach, and hath warned the +clocke to tolle the dolefull bell for his poor lovyng ghoste, nowe +stretchynge out for the winding shete to shrowde his maigre corps, all +forworne with the watche and toile, that such poore men (affected with +like care) do feele. It is my selfe, that erst was rouing amid the +troupe of Courtlie knightes decked with comely face, whose hewe dame +Nature stayned with the colours of her golden art. It is I that of late +was loued of that Nymphe, and earthie Goddesse, who with courtinge +countenaunce imbraced the place where I did stande, and kissed the steps +wherein I trode. It is my selfe I saye, that whilom in painefull blisse, +did bath my selfe, and fedde mine eyes with the happie viewe of the +heauenliest creature that euer God did make. And by forgoing of those +ioyes by <ins class = "correction" title = "error for ‘to’">to to</ins> +much mishap, and sacred famine of cursed mucke, I am thus pined as +ye see, and wrapte in hopeles state.” The mother and doughter hearinge +this complainte, did their indeuour to cheere him vp, and the mother +sayde unto him: “Be of good courage sir, and I promise you my fayth, +that if God giue you health, my doughter shal haue none other husband +but you, and behold her here, whom I commaunde to make you present +promise.” The mayden weeping with a virginall shamefastnes, consented to +her mother’s hest. But knowing when he was recouered, that he should not +haue her, and that the mother was so liberal of her fayre words, to +recomfort him and assaye if she might restore him: he said vnto them, +that if those words had bin pronounced three monethes past, he had bin +the lustiest and most happie gentleman of Fraunce: but helpe offred so +late, was past beliefe and hope. But when he saw, that they went about +to force him to beleeue it, he said vnto them: “Now that I see ye go +about to promise the good tourne which can neuer chaunce vnto mee, yea +although consent ioyned with vnfayned promise desires the effect, for +respect of the feeble state wherein I am: yet let me craue one thing at +your hands, farre lesse then that ye offer, which hitherto I neuer durst +be so bolde to aske.” Whereunto they both assented and swore to performe +it, intreating him not to be ashamed to requyre it. “I humbly +beseech ye (quoth hee) to deliuer her into mine armes whom ye haue +promised to be my +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page111" id = "page111">111</a></span> +wife, and commaunde her to imbrace and kisse me.” The mayden not vsed to +such priuie sutes, ne yet acquainted with such secrete facts, made some +difficultie, but her mother gaue her expresse commaundement to doe it, +perceyuing in him no likelihode or force of a man to liue. The maiden +then vpon that commaundement, aduaunced herselfe uppon the bedde of the +poore pacient, saying vnto him: “Sir, I beseech you to be of good +cheere.” The languishing creature, so hard as he could for his extreeme +debilitie, stretched forth his faint consumed armes, and with al the +force of his body imbraced the cause of his death, and kissinge her with +his colde and wanne mouth, held her so long as he could, and then spake +vnto the mayden: “The loue which I haue borne you hath bin so great, and +the good will so honest, as neuer (mariage excepted) I wished anye +other thinge of you, but that which I presentlye haue, throughe the +wante whereof and with the same I will ioyfully render my spirite to +God, who is the parfaicte Loue, and truest Charitie, whoe knoweth the +greatnes of my loue and the honestie of my desire: humblie beseeching +him, (that nowe I hauing my desire betweene mine armes,) to interteigne +my ghost within his blessed bosome.” And in saying so he caught her +againe betweene his armes with such vehemencie, as the feeble hart not +able to abide that assault, was abandoned of all powers and mouinges: +for the instant ioye so dilated and stretched forth the same, as the +siege of the soule gaue ouer, making his repaire and flighte to his +Creator: and because the senceles bodye rested withoute life, it gaue +ouer his holde. Howbeit the loue, which the Damosell had still kept +secrete, at that time shewed it self so strong and mightie, as the +mother and seruauntes of the dead Gentleman had much a do to separate +that vnion, but by force they haled away the liuing, almost deade with +the deade. After the funerall was done with honourable exequies: but the +greatest triumph was spent in teares, weepinges and cryes, specially by +the gentlewoman, which so much more were manifeste after his death, as +before in his life time they were dissembled, bestowinge them as an +expiacion or sacrifice, to satisfie the wrong she had done vnto him. And +afterwards (as I haue heard tell) she was maried to one, for +mitigacion of her sorow, that neuer was partaker +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page112" id = "page112">112</a></span> +of the ioye of her harte. See here good Ladies an Image of perfect loue, +that so muche had seazed vpon thaffections of this amorous Gentleman, as +the pange neuer gaue ouer, till death (the rest of all troubles) had +diuided life from the body. Yet some perchaunce for the desperate part +of this hopeles louer, will terme him to be a fonde louing foole: and +say that it is not meete that they should neglecte theyr liues for +womens sakes, which were not created but for their helpe and comforte. +And that being true as verifyed and auouched by Scriptures, there is no +cause of feare to demaunde that of them, which God hath enioyned them to +giue vs. In deede a sensuall loue, and such as is grounded to satisfye +beastly luste, is a thinge horrible to Nature, and abhominable in the +sight of him that made both those creatures, whom he fraughted with +reason and knowledge for the refusall of those vices, which are onely to +be applied to beastes voyde of reason. But loue founded in the soyle of +Vertue, for auoyding carnall lust exercized in the state of Wedlocke, or +first begonne and practized for that ende, is very ciuil and to be +honoured. And if that loue attaine not equall successe, through parents +default or vnkindnes of frendes or other humane accidents, if that loue +so perce the hart, or otherwyse afflict the pacient with dispaire of +helpe, and so occasioneth death, it is not to be termed follie or +dotage, but to be celebrated with honourable titles. The honest amitie +then of this gentleman, borne long time to this gentlewoman, meriteth +euerlasting praise: for to finde such great chastitie in an amorous +hart, is rather a thing deuine then humaine. A mocion moued aboue +amongs the heauenly route, and not an <ins class = "correction" title = +"‘t’ missing">ac</ins> wrought in the grosenes of man’s infirmitie.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page113" id = "page113">113</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_61" id = "novel1_61"> +THE SIXTY-FIRST NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A Gentlewoman of the Courte, very pleasauntly recompenced the seruice of +a kinde seruaunte of her’s, that pursued her with seruice of loue.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the Courte of king Fraunces, the +first of that name, not longe sithens Frenche king, the graunde father +of Henry the 3 of that name now raigning: there was a Gentlewoman of +good grace and interteignment, wanting not both minde and witte, such as +the like of her sexe, are not to seeke, vnder what climate soeuer they +be borne and bred, whose comly demeaner, curteous behauiour and eloquent +speache, was agreeable to her other qualities of nature’s giftes: +whereby she gayned the hartes and good minds of nombers of seruauntes, +with whom shee was cunning ynough to spend her time, (hauing respect to +the sauftie and saufgard of her honor, which she preferred before all +other solace) by such delectable consumption of time, as they that could +not tell howe els to imploie their leasure, thoughte themselues most +blessed, if they might attaine the delightfull presence of this well +nourtered Dame. For they that made greatest assuraunce of her fidelitie, +were in dispayre, and the most desperat were yet in some hope to winne +her. Howbeit in deceyuing the most nomber, she could not forbeare +intirely to loue one, who for his part was not able to plaie the +counterfait, to colour the substance of his longe pursute: but as +nothing is sure and stable, their loue tourned to displeasure, and by +frequent renewing of what was well knowen the hole Court was not +ignoraunt, what deuocion thone did beare to thother. One day the +Gentlewoman, aswell to let him know that his affection was not bestowed +in vaine, as to make him to feele some smart and paine for his louing +seruice, the more louingly to forde him on, with preety morsells of her +dissembling concept, made show vnto him of greater fauour, then euer she +did before: for which cause he that was faultles either in deedes of +armes, or in prowesse of loue, began liuely and valiantly to folow her, +to whom long before with gentlenes and humilitie he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page114" id = "page114">114</a></span> +had many times bin a suppliante. Who fayning that she was not able any +longer to rest obstinate, made semblance of a womanly pitie and accorded +to his demaund. Telling him that for respect of his tedious trauaile, +she was now disposed to go to her chamber, (which was in a Gallerie of +the Castell where that time the kinge did lie) where shee knew was none +that could hinder what they two intended: willing him not to faile but +so sone he saw her depart the place she was in, to folow after to her +chamber, where he should finde her alone, tarying for him with good +deuocion. The gentleman beleeuinge her appointmente, was readie to leape +out of his skinne for ioye: and therewithall began to dalye and sport +with other Ladies, attending the time of her departure. She wanting not +the practize of any fine sleight or subtile pollicie, most pregnaunte in +birds of her Ayrie, called two of the greatest Ladies to the present +chamber window and said vnto them: “If it may please you good Ladies, +I will discouer vnto you the pretiest pastime of the world.” They +which hard the grief of melancholie, besoughte her to tell what it was. +“Thus it is” (quoth shee) “such a gentleman, whom you know very well, to +be both honest and vertuous, hath longe time (as partlie you haue +by to much experience seene,) gone about diuers wayes to winne that, +which he shall neuer get: for when I began to applie my fancie towards +him, he (vnconstant) ceased not to couet and folow other Ladies with +like pursute hee did me: whereat I conceyued such more then spitefull +hatred, as notwithstanding my outwarde semblaunce, I coueted +reuenge. Nowe therefore maistresse, Occasion hath lente me a porcion of +oportunitie, to be requited of his vaine and fickle sute: which is, that +hauinge appointed him to come to my chamber, whither he meaneth +presently to follow me, it maye please you to giue heedefull eye and +watch: and that when hee hath passed alonge the Galerie, and is gone vp +the stayers, that both of you wil recline your heads out of this window +to helpe me singe the holding of the Caroll, that I meane to chaunte +vnto him. And then shall you see the raging choler of this Gentleman, +that at other times presumed to be a quiet Suter: wherat perhaps through +his malapert boldnes, it cannot dash his blushles face, but yet if he do +not deale vnto me like spiteful reproch in open +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page115" id = "page115">115</a></span> +hearing, I know full well in hart he will wishe me <span class = +"smallroman">X. M.</span> mischifes.” +This conclusion was not spoken without treble laughter: for there was no +gentlemen in all the Courte, that had warred so much with the woman kind +as hee, and yet welbeloued and esteemed of euery one, that listed not to +be intrapped within his daunger. Therfore these Ladies thinking to carie +awaye some part of the glorie, which one alone hoped to atchieue vpon +this gentleman, were contente to assent to the other’s liking. So sone +then as they saw her depart, that purposed this enterprise, they began +to espie the countenaunce of the betrayed partie, who paused not long +before he exchaunged the place: and when he was oute of the chamber, the +Ladies trayned after, to lose no part of the sport, and went the faster +that he might not be out of theyr sight. And he that doubted not the +successe, threwe his cape about his necke to hide his face, and went +downe the staiers out into the Court, and afterwards mounted vp againe: +but perceyuing some approche which he was loth should be a witnes, he +went downe againe, returning another way on the other side. All which +the Ladies sawe, vnknowen to him. But when he came to the stayers where +he beleeued verely, that he might surely enter into his Maistres +chamber, the two Ladies put they heads out of the window, and +incontinently perceyued the gentlewoman alofte, crying out a lowde, +“A theefe, a theefe:” wherunto they two below aunswered with +so vehement voyce, doubling the other’s outcrie, as all the castell +ronge of it. I leaue for you to consider in what despite this +gentleman fled to his lodginge, but not so closely, but that he was +ouertaken by those that knew this misterie: who afterwards oftentimes +reproched this fact vnto him, speciall she that had deuised the reuenge: +but hee had armed himselfe with aunswers and defences so readely, as he +told them that he foreknew their deuise, and mente nothing by his +pilgrimage but to solace his beloued. For of her loue long time before +he was out of all hope, as hauing reasonable proofe by his longe pursute +and seruice. Howbeit the Ladyes would not hold his excuse for a veritie, +which euen to this day hangeth in suspence.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page116" id = "page116">116</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_62" id = "novel1_62"> +THE SIXTY-SECOND NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The honest and maruellous loue of a mayden of noble house, and of a +gentleman that was base borne, and howe a Queene did impeche and let +their mariage, with the wise aunswere of the mayde to the Queene.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">There</span> was in Fraunce a Queene, who +in her company and traine broughte vp many maydens, that were issued of +great and honourable progenie: amonges other that serued this Queene +there was one named Rolandine, which was nere kinne to the Queene. But +she for a certaine displeasure conceyued against her father, bare vnto +the yonge gentlewoman no greate good will. This Maiden, although shee +was none of the fayrest, yet so wyse and vertuous as many great Lords +and personages made sute to her for mariage, to whom she rendred for +earnest sutes, cold aunsweares: because shee knew her father to be more +bent to keeping of money, then to thaduauncement of his children: and +her Maistresse (as is before said) bare vnto her so little fauour +as they which esteemed the Queene’s good grace, woulde neuer make anye +sute vnto her. Thus by father’s negligence and Maistres disdaine, the +poore gentlewoman remayned long time vnmaried. And as shee that forcibly +was payned, not so much for griefe of mariage, as for that shee was not +required or sued vnto, became so werie of worldly life, as deuoutly she +bent herselfe to <span class = "smallcaps">God</span>, and by forsakinge +the toyes and brauerie of the Courte, passed her time in prayer, or els +in other vertuous exercise: and by withdrawing herselfe to this kinde of +life, she spent her youth so soberlie and deuoutly as was possible for a +woman to do. When she approched nere the age of <span class = +"smallroman">XXX.</span> yeares, there was a gentleman a bastarde borne, +of right honorable house, a uery curteous and honest personage, +whose every riches and beautie was such, as no Lady or gentlwoman for +pleasure would haue chosen him to husband. This poore gentleman was +voide of frends for maintenaunce of lyuing, and vnhappie in mariage +sutes, although he pursued many, till at length he borded this poore +Gentlewoman Rolandine: for their Fortunes, complexions +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page117" id = "page117">117</a></span> +and condicions were very like, and by vse of seuerall complaints made +one to another, ech of them fell in ernest loue with the other: and +being both thrall vnto mishap, they sought desired comforte by vertuous +and honest talke: and by that vse and frequentacion greater loue +increased and grew betwene them. Those which had seene the maiden so +straungly retired from wonted demeanor, as she would speake to none, now +marking her continuallie to interteigne the bastard gentleman, +incontinently conceiued ill opinion of her, and told the mother of the +Queene’s maids (called Modesta) that she ought not to suffer such +familiaritie betweene them. Which report Modesta reuealed to Rolandine, +sayinge that diuers persons did speake euill of her, for that she vsed +to talke with the bastard, that neither was of sufficient abilitie for +her to marie, ne yet of beautie worthie to be beloued. Rolandine which +daily was more rebuked for her austeritie of life, then for worldly +toyes, sayd vnto Modesta her gouernesse: “Alas, mother, you see that I +cannot haue a husband according to the worthines of my bloud, and that +dailye I haue auoyded those which be beautifull and yonge: for feare to +incurre the inconuenience wherinto I haue seene other to fall: and now +hauing chosen this wise and vertuous gentleman, who preacheth vnto me +words that be good and godly, what wrong do they to me that make this +report, sith in this honest order I doe receiue consolacion of my +griefes?” The good old Lady who loued the maiden (which she called +maistresse) as herselfe, said vnto her: “I see well, that you are +worse delt withall at your father and maistres handes then you deserue. +Howbeit sith such reporte is made of your honor, you ought to refuse to +speake vnto him, although he were your naturall brother.” Rolandine +weeping saide vnto her: “Mother, for so much as you aduise me therunto, +I will performe your request, although it be very straunge that +without slaunder, a woman can haue no comfort or seeke freedome +without misreport.” The bastard gentleman, as he was before accustomed, +came to visite her, but she tolde him (a farre of) those words +which her gouernesse had said vnto her: and with teares prayed him to +refraine for a time to speake vnto her, vntill the brute and rumor were +somewhat appaised: which thing he did at her request. But +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page118" id = "page118">118</a></span> +during this long time, either of them hauing loste their consolacion, +began to feele such torment within themselues, as shee for her part +neuer felte the like. She ceased not from praying vnto God, from goinge +on pilgrimage, and fasting: for this vnacquainted loue brought her to +such disquiet as she could not rest the space of one houre. Wherewith +the noble bastard was no lesse tormented: but he which had alreadie +minded in hart to loue her and pursue her till mariage, and hauing +respecte (for loue sake) to the honor he should acquire by the same, +thought to finde meanes to declare his minde vnto her, and aboue al +things to get the good wil of her gouernesse: which he did, declaring +vnto her the miserie wherein her poore maistresse remayned, which was +voide of al comfort and other frendship. Then the poore old Lady +Modesta, gaue him thankes for the honest affection that hee bare to her +maistresse: and deuised meanes how the two louers might impart their +minds together. Rolandine fayned herselfe to be sicke of a Mygrim and +paine in her heade, the brute of whose maladie was feared to be greater +then it was, and so concluded betwene them that when her companion were +gone into the chamber, they two should remaine together alone to +satisfie ech other with mutuall talke. The bastard gentleman was very +glad, and ruled himselfe holy by the councell of the Gouernesse, in such +sort as when he liste, he spake vnto his louer and vertuous Lady: but +this contencaion did not indure: for the Queene who loued her but a +little, inquired what Rolandine did so long in her Chamber, and one made +aunswere that it was by reason of her sicknes. Albeit there was another +which knewe to well the cause of her absence, sayde vnto her, that the +ioye which Rolandine had to speake vnto the bastard was able to ease her +Mygrim. The Queene which found out the veniall sinnes of other, by +mortall offences in herselfe, sent for her, and forbad her in any wyse +not to speake vnto the bastard, except it were in the hall or within her +owne Chamber. The Gentlewoman made as though she vnderstode her not, but +mildlie aunswered that, is shee knew any talke betweene them might +offend her maiestie, she would neuer speake vnto him againe. +Notwithstanding she determined to finde out some other secret meanes +that the Queene should not know of their meeting: which +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page119" id = "page119">119</a></span> +was this. The Wednesday, Fridaye, and Saturday, the gentlewoman vsed to +fast, and for that purpose kept her Chamber with her Gouernesse Modesta, +where she had leysure to talke (whilest the reste did suppe) with him +whom she began so earnestlie to loue: and as constrainte of time did +force their talke to be shorte, the greater was their affection in +vtteraunce of the same: because for the doing therof they stole time, as +the theefe doth his desired praye. This order of their contentacion +could not proceede so secretely, but that a certaine varlet a yeoman of +the Chamber, chaunced to see him resort vnto her vpon a fasting day, and +told it in such place wher of some hearer, it was disclosed to the +Queene herself, who was so sore offended as neuer after that time the +poore bastard gentleman durste once attempt to go into the maiden’s +chamber againe. And to thintent that he might not lose the commodity of +talke with her, whom he so derely loued, oftentimes he fayned himselfe +to go on pilgrimage, and in the euening returned to the Church and +chapell of the Castel, in the habite of a frier, or Iacobin (so wel +disguised and altered, as no creature could know him) and thither +repaired the gentlewoman Rolandine, with her Gouernesse to enterteigne +him. He marking the great loue that she bare him, feared not to say vnto +her: “Madame, you see the daunger which I hasard for your seruice, and +the warnings that the Queene hath giuen for our talke. You see on +thother side what a father you haue, who careth not after what sort he +bestow you in mariage: and you hauinge refused so many greate states and +noble men, I know not one, either farre or neare, that is minded to +haue you. I confesse my selfe to be but poore, and that you may +marie diuers gentlemen of greater reputacion and richesse, then I am: +but if loue and good wil were deemed treasure and richesse, then woulde +I presume to be the richest gentleman of the world. God hath indowed you +with great plentie of goodes, and you are yet in choise to haue more: +and if I were so happie as you would vouchsafe to chose me for your +husband, I would accompt my selfe to be vnto you both husband, +frend and seruaunt, all the dayes of my life: and againe, if you should +take one equall to your nobilitie (a thinge very harde to finde) he +would rule and gouerne ouer you, and haue more respecte to your goodes, +then to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page120" id = "page120">120</a></span> +your person, to your beautie then to your vertue: and in triumphinge +with dispence of that you haue, hee maye chaunce to intreate you +otherwise then you deserue. The desire of this contentacion, and the +feare that I haue, least you should graunte it to some other, do force +me to beseech you, that by one only meanes you would make me happie and +your selfe the most contented and best intreated woman that euer was.” +Rolandine giuing eare to that communication which shee herselfe ment to +haue pronounced, aunswered him with stoute courage: “I am very glad +and wel pleased that you haue begunne the sute your self, which I of +long time haue determined to breake vnto you: for which cause these two +yeres past as you know, I haue not ceased to thincke and deuise all +the reasons and arguments for and against you, that I could inuent: but +in thend for so much as I do meane to take vpon me the state of +Matrimonie, it is time that I begin to chose such husbande, with whom I +shall in my conscience like to liue at rest and quiet all the dayes of +my life: and amidde all the troupe of my thoughts in choise, +I cannot finde anye one, were he neuer so faire, riche or noble, +with whom my hart and minde can so well agree and match as with you. +I know that by marying of you I shall not offende God, but rather +do the thinge that hee commaundeth. And touching my Lord my father, he +hath had so litle consideracion of my perferment, and so often refused +it, as the law now will suffice, that I giue my selfe in mariage +withoute his consent, and therefore cannot disenherite me, or worthely +thincke ill of me: and by hauing a husband (a thing appertinent to +women kinde) such as you be, I shall esteeme my selfe the richest +woman of the worlde. As for the Queene my maistresse, I oughte not +to take any care or remorse of conscience by displeasing her, to obey +God: for she hath not ceased to hinder that aduauncement, which in my +youth I mighte haue had, and by paine and diligence towards her did well +deserue: but to thend you may vnderstand, that the loue and good will +which I beare you, is founded vppon vertue and honor, you shall promise +me, that if I doe accorde this mariage, you shall neuer purchase or +require the consummacion thereof, Vntill my father be deade, or els do +finde some meanes to make him consente hereunto.” Which +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page121" id = "page121">121</a></span> +the bastard gentleman willingly did graunt: and vppon these promises and +termes, either of them gaue eche other a ringe in the name of mariage, +and did kisse together in the Church before God, whom they toke to +witnes of their assurance, and neuer after betwene them was any other +priuie fact committed, but only kissing. This litle easement of mind did +greatly satisfie the harts of these two perfect louers: and were a great +while without seing ech other, liuing only by this assurance. There was +no place where honour mighte be gotten, but thereunto the bastarde made +his repaire with so great delight, as he thought he could neuer be poore +for respect of that riche wife which God had prouided for him. Which +wyfe in his absence, did euer continue her absolute amitie towards that +gentleman: and although many made sute yet they receyued none other +aunswere from her but deniall, and for that she had remayned so long +time vnmaried, she was minded neuer to take vppon her that state. This +her aunswere was so generall as the Queene heard of it, and asked her +for what occasion shee was so determined. Rolandine saide vnto her, that +it was to obey her: for that shee knew shee would neuer suffer her to +marie, because in time and place where she might haue bin honorablie +matched to her well liking, she denied the same, and that the vertue of +pacience had taught her to contente herselfe with the state wherein she +was. And still as she was sued for in mariage, she rendred like +aunswere. When the warres were ended, and the bastarde returned to the +Courte, shee neuer spake vnto him in open presence, but wente alwayes +into some Church to interteigne him vnder colour of Confession: for the +Queene had forbidden both him and her, that they should not talke +together, vnlesse it were before companye vpon paine of losse of their +liues. But honest loue, which feareth no defence, was more prest to find +meanes, for their mutuall talke, then their enemies were ready to +separate the same: and vnder the habite or colour of all the religions +they could deuise, they continued that honest amitie, vntil the king +remoued into a house of pleasure, not so nere as the Ladies were able to +go on foote to that Church, as they were to the Church of the Castell, +which was not situate in such conueniente wyse for their purpose, as +they could secretely +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page122" id = "page122">122</a></span> +repaire (vnder colour of confession) to talke together: notwithstanding +if on the one side occasion fayled, loue found out another for their +contentment: for there arriued a Lady to the Court, to whom the bastard +was very nere kin. This Lady with her sonne were lodged in the king’s +house, and the chamber of this yong prince was far beyond the body of +the lodging, where the king himselfe did lie: but so nere vnto +Rolandine’s Chamber as he might both see and speake vnto her, for their +windowes were properlie and directly placed at either corner of the +house: in which chamber (being ouer the hall) were lodged al the Ladies +of honor, the companions of Rolandine. Who beholding many times the yong +king at that window, caused the bastard to be aduertized therof by her +gouernesse: who after he had well beholden the place, made as though he +had great delighte to read vpon a booke of the Knightes of the Round +Table, that lay in the chamber window of the yong king: and when euery +man was gone to dinner, he prayed the yeoman to suffer him to make an +end of the historie, and to shut him within the chamber. The other which +knew him to be the kinsman of his maistres, and an assured man, suffred +him to read so long as he liste. On thother side Rolandine came vnto her +window, who to find occasion to tarrie there the longer, fayned to haue +a paine in her leg, and dined and supped in so good time, as she went no +more to the ordinarie of the Ladies: wher she began to set herselfe a +worke about the making of a bed of Crimson silke, placing her worke vpon +the window, as desirous to be alone. And when she saw no man to be +there, shee interteigned her husband, to whom she might speake in secret +wise, so as none was able to vnderstande them: and when any person came +nere, she coughed and made a signe that the bastard might withdraw +himselfe. They that were appointed to watche them, thought vndoubtedlie +that their loue was past and ended, because she went not out of the +Chamber, wher safely he coulde not see her, for that hee was forbidden +the same. Vppon a day the mother of the yong Prince being in her sonne’s +Chamber, repayred to the windowe where that great booke did lie, and +shee had not staied there long, but one of Rolandine’s fellowes which +was within her Chamber saluted her. The lady asked her how Rolandine +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page123" id = "page123">123</a></span> +did, who sayd that shee might very wel see her, if it were her pleasure: +and caused her to come to the window wyth her night geare vppon her +head. And after they had talked a while of her sicknes they withdrew +themselues. The other ladie espying the great booke of the Round Table, +sayde to her yeoman of the Chamber: “I do marueille much why yong +men do imploie themselues to read such follies.” The yeoman made +aunsweare, that he marueled much more, why men of good yeres, counted +and esteemed wise and discrete, should haue greater delight in reading +of such trifles, then those that were yong. And to iustifie that maruel +hee told her how her cosin the bastard did spend 4 or 5 houres in a day +to read vppon the same. Vpon which words by and by she conceyued the +cause of his deepe studie, and charged him to hide himselfe in some +place to mark what he did. Which commaundement the yeoman performed, and +perceiued that the booke which the bastard read vpon, was the window out +of which Rolandine talked with him: and therewithal called to +remembrance many wordes of the loue which they thought to keepe very +secreete. The next day he rehersed the same vnto his maistresse, who +sent for her cosin the bastard, and after many tales told him, she +forbad him to resort thither any more, and at night she gaue like +warning to Rolandine, threatninge her that if she continued in her fond +and foolish loue, she woulde tell the Queene the whole circumstaunce of +her lighte demeaner. Rolandine (nothing astonied with those woords) did +sweare that sith the time she was forbidden by her maistresse the +queene’s maiesty, she neuer spake vnto him: the troth whereof shee might +learne aswel of the gentlewomen her companions, as of other seruauntes +of the house: and touching the window whereof she spake, she boldly +aduouched that she neuer talked with the Bastard there. Who (poore +gentleman) fearing that his affayres would be reuealed, kept himselfe +farre out from daunger, and longe time after did not retourne to the +Courte. Howbeit, he wrote many times to Rolandine by such secret meanes +as for all the espiall that the Queene had put, there passed no weeke +but twise at least shee hearde newes from him: and when one meanes did +fayle hym, hee deuised another, and many tymes sent a litle Page clothed +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page124" id = "page124">124</a></span> +in colours (so often altered and chaunged as he was sent) who +staying at the gates when the Ladies passed by, delyuered his letters +priuelye in the middest of the prease. Vpon a time as the Queene for her +pleasure walked into the fieldes, one which knew the Page and had charge +to take hede vnto those doings, ranne after him: but the Page which was +a fine boye, doubtinge leaste hee should be searched, conueyed hym selfe +into a poore woman’s house, where spedelie he burnt his letters in the +fier, ouer whiche a potte was boyling with meate for her poore familie. +The gentleman that followed him stripped him naked and searched his +clothes, but when he sawe that he could finde nothing, he let him goe: +and when he was departed, the olde woman asked him wherefore he searched +the boye: who aunswered: “to finde letters which he thought he had about +him.” “Tush,” (quod she) “serch no more, for he hath hidden them very +well.” “I pray thee tell me,” (quod the Gentleman) “In what place:” +hoping to haue recouered the same. But when hee vnderstode that they +were throwen into the fire, he well perceiued that the boye was craftier +then him selfe. All whiche incontinently hee tolde the Queene, +notwithstanding from that time forthe, the bastard vsed no longer the +Page, but sent one other of his olde seruauntes, whom he faithfully +trusted, and he (forgetting feare of death which hee knewe well the +Queene threatned on them that had to doe in those affaires) tooke vpon +him to carie his maister’s letters to Rolandine. And when hee was entred +the Castell, hee wayted at a certen doore placed at the foote of a paire +of staiers, by whiche the ladies passed to and fro: where he had not +taried long, but a yeoman which at other times had sene him, knewe him +and thereof told the maister of the Queene’s house, who soudainly made +searche to apprehende him. The fellowe which was wise and politique, +seing that diuers loked vpon him a farre of, retourned towardes the wall +(as though he would haue made his water) tearing his letters in so +many small peces as he could doe for his life, and threw them behinde an +old gate: who had no soner done the facte, but hee was apprehended and +throughly searched, and when they could finde nothing about him, they +made him <ins class = "correction" title = "‘s’ missing">weare</ins> +whether he had brought any letters or not, vsing him +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page125" id = "page125">125</a></span> +partly by rigor, and somewhat by faire perswasion to make him confesse +the truthe: but neither through promise or threate, they could get any +thing at his handes. Report hereof was brought to the Queene, and one of +the companie gaue aduise that searche should be made behind the gate, +where he was taken: in which place they founde nothing but litle peces +of letters. Then they caused the kinge’s Confessor to be sent for, who +recouering the peces layd them vpon a table, and red the lettre +throughout, where the veritie of the mariage (so much dissembled) +was throughly discifered, for the bastard in those letters called her +nothing els but wife. The Queene not meaning to conceale the fault of +her kinswoman, (which she ought to haue done) fil into a great rage and +storme, commaunding that the poore man by al meanes possible should be +forced to confesse the true tenor of that letter, to thintent that the +same by his affirmacion might not be denied: but doe what they could, +they were not able to make him alter his former tale. They which had +commission to examine him, brought him to the Riuer side and did put him +into a sack, saying that he did lie before God and the Queene, and +against an approued trothe. He that had rather lose his life than accuse +his maister, prayed them to suffer him to haue a ghostly father that +like a Christian he might ende his life, and so entre the ioyes prepared +for all repentant sinners, and after that he had clered his conscience, +he said vnto them: “Maisters, tell my Lorde and maister the Bastarde, +that I recommend vnto him the poore estate of my poore wife and +children, trusting his honour will haue consideration of them for my +sake, for so mutch as with good and loyall harte, I doe imploye my +life for his honor and suretie: and with me doe what you list, for you +get nothing at my handes that shall redounde to his hurt and preiudice.” +Then to put him in greater feare, they bounde him within the sacke and +threwe him into the water, crying unto him, if thou wilt tell the trouth +thou shalt be saued: but they seing that he would make no aunswer drew +him out againe, making reporte to the Queene of his faith and +constancie. Who then sayd, that neither the king nor she were so happy +in seruauntes as the Bastarde was, that had not wherewith to recompence +such fidelitie. The Quene did +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page126" id = "page126">126</a></span> +what she coulde to get him from his seruice, but the poore fellowe would +in no wise forsake his maister. Notwithstanding in thende by his said +maister’s leaue, he was put into the Queene’s seruice, where he liued +many happy dayes. The Queene after she vnderstode by the bastarde’s +letters the trouth of the mariage, sent for Rolandine, and in great +rage, called her caitife and miserable wretche, in stede of cosin, +reciting vnto her the disparagement of her noble house, and the villanie +she had committed against the honorable race whereof she came, and +against the will of her which was her Queene, kinswoman and maistres, by +contracting mariage without the licence of the king and her. Rolandine +whiche of long time knewe the small devocion that her maistres bare vnto +her, vsed her with like affection: and bicause she was werie of the +Quene’s displeasure, thinking that her correction vttered in presence of +many proceded not of loue, but rather to make her ashamed, abandoned +feare, and conceiuing courage, when she sawe the Queene in her chiefest +rage, with gladsome and firme countenaunce answered her in this wise: +“Madame, if you cannot conceiue the malice of your owne harte, +I will set before your eyes the rancour and displeasure of the +same, which malice of long time you haue borne towardes the Lorde my +father and me: whereof madame, I doe fele the smarte, to my great +losse and grief: for if it had pleased you to haue borne vnto me that +good wil which you do to those that are not so nere about you as I am, +I had before this tyme been placed and preferred in mariage as well +to the likyng of your honour as to my greate satisfaction: but you haue +regarded mee as one forgotten, and cleane out of fauour, in such wyse as +all the noblemen, with whome I might haue been matched, haue contempned +me, as well through the negligence of my Lorde my father, as for the +like estimation and accompt that you haue made of me: by meanes whereof +I fell into that dispaire which if my health could haue susteined the +order and state of religion, I would willingly haue taken it vpon +me, to haue seuered my selfe from the continuall hatred and enuy which +your grace ful rigorously hath showen vnto me: and being in this +dispaire, I chaunced to finde out him, that is proceded of so noble +a house as my selfe. If the loue of twoo +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page127" id = "page127">127</a></span> +persones is to be regarded, that meane to accomplishe the holy state of +wedlock: for you knowe that his father in nobilitie farre excelled myne. +He hath of long time loued me, and made great sute vnto me, but you +madame, whiche neuer pardoned me for any small offence, ne yet praysed +anye good acte of myne (although you know by experience that I haue not +vsed to talke of matters of loue or other worldlie affaires, and that I +minded aboue all things to leade a more religious life then any other) +doe make it an hainous matter that I should talke with a Gentleman +(so infortunate as my selfe), by whose loue, I thought or +sought for nothing els but the ease and comfort of my minde. And seing +my selfe voyde and frustrate of mine expectation, I shall imploie +indeuour so well to seeke my rest and quiet, as you haue gone about to +dispoyle me of the same: and then will celebrate the mariage which is +already assured by promises and by a ring. Wherefore, madame, +I thinke that you doe me great wrong by terming me to be a wicked +woman, sithe that in so great and perfect amitie I might haue founde +occasion (if I would) to haue committed euills: but there was neuer +betwene him and me any priuie fact, other then that is honest, hoping +that God wil shewe me such fauour, as before the mariage be consumat, +I shall obtaine the fauour and good will of my Lorde my father: +wherby I do neither offende God, nor my conscience, for I haue taried +till the age of <span class = "smallroman">XXX.</span> yeares, to see +what you and my father would doe for me. I haue kept my selfe so +chast and honest, as no man liuing is able to laye the contrarie to my +charge. And with that reason wherewith God hath indued me, being olde +and voyde of hope, to finde a husbande agreable to my nobilitie, +I am determined to marie sutche a one as I like beste, not for the +pleasure or satisfaction of the eye (for you know he is not faire) nor +for lust of the flesh (for there hath bene no carnall fact committed) ne +yet for pryde and couetousnes (for he is but poore and of litle +estimation) but I haue a sincere respecte and pure regarde to his +vertue, honestie and good grace, for whiche the worlde doth geue him +praise, and the great loue also that he beareth me, maketh me hope to +finde with him great rest and quiet. And after I had deuised and +considered the good and euill that might insue by +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page128" id = "page128">128</a></span> +this my choise, I still persisted in that mind, and haue well wayed +and pondered the same these twoo yeares past, being throughly resolued +to waste and spende the rest of my dayes with him which I meane still +firmely to kepe in despite of all the tormentes and cruelties, that the +greatest enemies I haue, be able to make my poore bodie suffre, no not +death it selfe shall force me to refuse hym. Wherefore Madame, +I beseech you to accept this my reasonable excuse, whereunto your +self is nowe made priuie, and suffer me to liue in that peace, whiche I +hope for euer through him, in these mine elder to finde.” The Queene wel +marking her stout wordes and countenaunce, and knowing the same to be +very true, was not able to aunswere her againe with reason: but +continuing, her rebukes and taunting checkes began to waste, and at +length fell out into this rage: “Ah, presumptuous drabbe, and caitife +wretch, in stede of humbling thy selfe and repenting thine offence, thou +carpest boldly without dropping or sheading any teare, whereby thou +doest manifestly declare that stubbornes and hardnes of thy harte: but +if the king, and thy father, would follow mine aduise, they should put +thee into a place, where force should make thee to vse other language.” +“Madame,” said Rolandine, “because you haue accused me of bolde talke +and presumptous speache, I meane from henceforth to hold my peace, +except you geue me leaue to make mine aunswere.” And when she was +commaunded to tell forth her mynde, she said: “It is not my part, +Madame, boldly or without duetifull reuerence to speake before your +maiestie (whiche is my maistresse, and the greatest Princesse in +Christendome). The wordes which I haue said, be not spoken (Madame) of +presumption, but to declare that I haue none other aduocate to pleade +for me, but the trouth of my cause. And therefore am bolde without +blushing feare to disclose the same, hoping that if your grace did knowe +the secret concept of my poore faithfull harte, you woulde not iudge mee +to be that woman which you terme me to be. I doe not doubt that any +mortall creature vnderstanding my behauiour in those matters wherwith I +am charged, would blame me, for my liberall speache, sithe I am sure +that God and myne honor in no point I haue offended. The cause which +maketh me +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page129" id = "page129">129</a></span> +thus without feare to saye my minde is, because I am assured that he +whiche seeth my harte, is the geuer of my life also, and remaineth with +me. If then such a Iudge and Guide doe order and dispose my life, why +should I be afrayd of them that be subiect vnto his iudgement? And why +then Madame, should I wayle or wepe, sithe mine honor and conscience +without remorse or grudge do wel like of these my doings, which if they +were newly to begin, I would not repente me to doe the same againe. +But it is you (Madame) that hath good cause to wepe, as well for the +great displeasure, euer borne me from my youthfull dayes, as for the +wrong you doe me nowe by reprehending me before the face of all the +worlde for a faulte, whiche ought rather to be imputed vnto you then +vnto me. For if I had offended God, the king, or you, my parentes, or my +conscience, I were well worthy to be counted very obstinate, if +with great repentaunce I did not lament the same, but for a dede that is +right good and vertuous, I ought not to wepe, whereof there was +neuer other rumor spred but verie honorable, except the slaunder which +your selfe hath raised, whereby your desire to increase my shame and +dishonor appeareth to be greater then the respecte you haue to conserue +the nobilitie of your house, or kindred wherof you come. But because it +pleaseth you, Madame, so to vse me, I purpose not to withstand you. +For when you shall ordeine that punishment for me, which you like best, +I shal reioyse no lesse to suffer the same without desert, then you +be willing to bestowe it vpon me without cause. Wherefore Madame, +commaunde my Lorde my father to put me to what tormente you will, for +the execution wherof you shall not finde him vnwilling. And I shall not +be altogether without ioy, to see him prest and redie to obey your +wilfull mynde. But I haue a father in heauen, who (I am sure) will +geue me suche pacience, as I shall be able to abide and indure, what +affliction soeuer you prepare for me, in whom only is al my hope and +trust.” The Queene, so angrie as she could be, commaunded her out of her +sight, and to be shutte into a chamber alone, that none might speake +vnto her. In which imprisonment shee was not depriued from the companie +of her gouernesse, by whose meanes she let the Bastarde vnderstande all +her fortune, and she likewise +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page130" id = "page130">130</a></span> +vnderstode what he thought best for her to doe. Who thinking that the +seruice which he had done to the king, would stand him in some stede, +came vnto the Court with all spede, and founde the king in the fieldes, +to whome hee rehearsed the trouth of the facte, beseching his maiestie +that vnto him (who was a poore gentleman) he would shewe such fauour and +grace as the rigor of the Queene’s maiestie might be appeased, and the +mariage fully consumat and ended. The king made him none other aunswere, +but saide: “Is it true that thou hast maried her?” “Yea sir,” saide the +Bastarde: “by wordes only as yet: but if it please your maiestie, the +same may be throughly made perfit.” The king nodded his hed, and for +that time geuing him none other aunswere, hee retourned straite to the +Castell, and when he was almost there, he called the Captaine of his +Guarde, and commaunded him to apprehend the Bastarde. Notwithstanding +one of his frendes which knewe the kinge’s countenaunce, willed him to +absent himselfe, and to retire to one of his houses, and if the king +made serche after him (as he suspected) he would incontinently +aduertise him therof, that he might auoyde the realme: and when the +king’s displeasure was pacified, he would sende him worde. The Bastarde +beleued him, and vsed such diligence as the Captain of the Guarde could +not finde him. The king and the Queene councelled together what they +might doe with this poore damsell, whiche was their kinswoman, and by +the Queene’s aduise it was concluded, that she should be sent home to +her father, with the true aduertisement of the whole matter. But before +she was sent, diuerse Diuines and learned men of the Clergie, were +demaunded their opinions of the priuat mariage, and the Counsell also +did sit vpon the same, who concluded that for so muche as the mariage +was not celebrated but by wordes, it might easely be vndone, vntill one +of them had acquited the other. Which the king commaunded to be +performed for the honor of the house wherof she came. But she made them +aunswere, that in all thinges she was redie to obey the king, except it +were in matter against her conscience, sayinge, that those whome God had +coupled together by heauenly aduise, could not bee separated by man’s +decree, praying them not to attempt a thing so +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page131" id = "page131">131</a></span> +vnreasonable: for if loue and good will founded vpon the feare of God, +were the true and sure knot of mariage, then she was so wel bounde and +tied, as neither iron, fier, or water coulde breake that band, but death +alone. Wherunto, and to none other constitution, she was determined to +rendre her ring and othe, praying them not to speake, do, or proceede, +to any thing that were contrarie vnto that: wherin she was so stedfastly +resolued, as she had rather die by keping her faith, then liue to denie +the same. The Commissioners retorned to the king and Queene the constant +answere of the Gentlewoman, and when they sawe no remedie could be found +to make her renounce her husband, they conueyed her home to her father, +in such pitifull sorte, as by the way she passed, eche man and woman +lamented her fortune. And albeit shee had offended, yet the punishement +and affliction she suffred was so great and her constancie so firmely +bent, as she made her fault to be estemed a vertue. The father receiuing +those pitifull newes, would not see her, but sent her to his castell +that stoode in a forest, which he had before time builded for an +occasion, worthy to be rehersed hereafter, and there kept her in prison +a long time, sending worde vnto her, that if shee would forsake her +husband, he would take her for his doughter, and set her at libertie. +Who for all that offer was firme and constant, and loued her prison the +better by obseruing the bond of mariage, then al the libertie of the +world, without the hauing of her husband. And it semed by her +countenaunce, that al the paynes she had indured were most pleasaunt +pastimes, for that she suffred the same for his sake, whome she loued +best. What should I speake of men? This Bastarde at length became +vnmindeful of her, and fled into Alemaine, where he had many frendes. +Whose inconstancie afterwardes appeared so manifest, as the vertue of +true and perfit loue outwardly seming to remain in him, was conuerted +into the vice of odible ingratitude, whereby it was euident, that the +causes that made him so hotte a Suter, were the vglie monsters of +Auarice and Ambition, where he fill in loue with an Almaine Ladie, he +forgetting to visite her with letters, that for his sake had susteined +so great and manifold tribulations. For what rigor or affliction soeuer +Fortune offred, coulde neuer before that tyme put +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page132" id = "page132">132</a></span> +awaye the meanes from writing one to an other, but onely the vices +before named, and the foolish and wicked loue wherin he suffred him +selfe to fall. Which sudden and newe loue so perced the hart of +Rolandine, and so fiercely assailed the same, as she could no more +content and rest her self. Afterwards vpon the viewe of his wrytinges +and letters, seing him to be so chaunged and altered from his accustomed +stile, what tormentes then she suffred, they doe knowe that haue felte +and tasted the bitter cup of like passions. And yet her perfecte loue +would not suffer her to fixe certaine iudgement vpon this aduertisement, +and therefore deuised secretly to sende one of her seruaunts whome shee +trusted best, to espie, and priuely make serche whether the same were +true or not. Whiche her seruaunt being retourned, hee truely tolde her, +howe the Bastarde Gentleman was in loue with a Ladie of Almaine, and +howe the brute was that he made great sute vnto her for mariage, because +shee was very ritche. These newes brought sutche extreme sorrowe and +grief to the harte of poore Rolandine, as being not able to abide the +bruntes thereof, she fill very sicke. Those whiche vnderstode the +originall of her disease, sayde vnto her (in the behalfe of her +father) that for so muche as nowe she knewe the great villanie of the +Bastarde, shee might iustly forsake hym: persuading her thereunto with +the greatest reasons they could deuise. But for all those persuasions, +no remedie could be founde to make her chaunge opinion: in whiche her +laste tentacion shee declared the great constancie wherewith she was +affected: for like as loue was decreased in him: so the same augmented +in her, whiche remained and persisted in despite of all the malice of +the worlde. For that loue, whiche fayled, and was fledde from him, +tourned and retired into her. And when she perceiued her selfe alone +fully possessed with that whiche before was deuided betwene them bothe, +shee determined to obserue the same vntill death had made an ende of her +fatall dayes. Wherefore the goodnes of God (which is perfect charitie +and true loue) had pitie vpon her sorrowe, and regarded her pacience in +such wise, as within few daies after the Bastarde died in the pursute of +the other ladie’s Loue. Wherof Rolandine being <ins class = "correction" +title = "error for ‘aduertised’">dauertised</ins> by those which saw him +buried, prayed them to trauell +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page133" id = "page133">133</a></span> +with her father by humble sute, that he would vouchsafe to giue her +leaue to speake vnto him. Who at their request, (although he neuer spake +vnto her before, during the tyme of her imprisonment) incontinently was +pleased so to doe. And after that he had herde the discourse of her +iuste reasons, in place of rebukes, and his promise made to kill her +(which many times he threatened by woordes) he cleped her betweene his +armes, and bitterly weping, sayde vnto her: “Daughter, I wel +perceiue your vertue and constant mynde, which farre surmounteth any +thing that is good in mee, for if there be any faulte or lacke of +consideration of your estate, I am the principal occasion thereof: +but sith the goodnes of God hath thus ordeined it, I wil make +satisfaction for mine offence past.” And afterwardes he sent her home to +his house, where he vsed and interteigned her like his derest and eldest +daughter. In the ende she was demaunded in mariage by a Gentleman of +name and armes, to her estate and bloud not inferior. Who was bothe wise +and vertuous, and so louingly regarded Rolandine (whome he many times +visited) as he attributed vnto her the prise of prayse for that, which +others accompted worthy of rebuke, knowing that her intent of former +loue was grounded vpon the foundation of vertue. The mariage was well +liked of her father, was acceptable to Rolandine, and was forthwith +concluded. True it is that a brother she had, the only inheritour of her +father’s landes, who would not agree that she should receiue her +childe’s porcion, obiecting that she had disobeied her father. And after +the death of the good old man (her father) her brother vsed her very +rigorously and cruelly. For her husbande was but a yonger brother, and +had wherewithal scarce able to liue: for which want, God bountifully +prouided: for the brother whose gredie minde did craue in one daie to be +possessor of al, by sodain death was depriued, as well of his sister’s +porcion as of al the rest. By whose death she remained the whole +inheritor of that honorable house: and afterwardes liued an honorable +and stately life, in great wealth and pleasure, and was welbeloued and +duetifully intreated of her husband. Finally hauing by her husband two +goodly sonnes, she very vertuously brought them vp, and finishing her +aged dayes, she ioyfully rendred her soule vnto him, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page134" id = "page134">134</a></span> +in whom of long time she had reposed her onely trust and confidence. Now +good ladies let them come forth that be the common displaiers of women’s +inconstancie, and let them bring forth in presence, so good and perfect +a husband as this was a good and constant woman, indued with semblable +faith and vertue. I am sure to bring this to passe the matter wilbe +very difficult: and therfore I had rather discharge them of this my +chalenge, then put them to payne to trauell and seeke for such a one. +Whose vertuous loue and godlye continuance of the same, is worthye to +bee sounded by Trompe of fame to the extreame partes of the Earth. And +yet I would aduise yonge Ladies and gentlewomen to beware how they be +inamoured, and pursue the trade of loue, contrarie to the will of +parentes, who ought in time of infancie to be their guide, and also in +riper yeares to procure them mariage according to their worthines: which +they may the better and soner do, is by vertuous education they arme and +instruct their tender and youthly age.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page135" id = "page135">135</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_63" id = "novel1_63"> +THE SIXTY-THIRD NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The Wisedome of a woman to withdrawe the foolishe loue of her husband, +wherwith he was tormented.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Many</span> yeares are not yet expired +sithens there was a Gentlewoman of noble house (whose name I may not +disclose), so wise and vertuous as shee was wel beloued and esteemed of +her neighbours: her husband (not without good cause) trusted her in al +his affaires, which she ordred and gouerned so wisely, as her house by +her meanes grew to be one of the richest and best apparelled, that was +in the countrie wherein she dwelled. Liuing thus a long time with her +husbande, by whom shee had many goodly children, their happie state and +felicitie (after which daily insue their contraries) began to decaie, +because that he, defatigated with to much quiet, abandoned restfull +life, to seeke after troublesom trauell: and had gotten a custome when +his wife was a sleepe to rise from her side, and not to returne vntill +it was very nere morning. The gentlewoman misliking this maner of life, +became very ielous of her husband, and yet made as though she mistrusted +nothing: but that spitefull passion entred her stomacke so farre, as in +thende shee forgot thaffayres of her house, the diligence of her person, +and good gouernment of her familie, like vnto one that verely supposed +that (do what shee could) she had lost the fruite of her paine and +labour, which was the great loue of her husband, for continuance whereof +shee spared no trauaile or toile: but losinge altogether as shee +manifestly perceiued, shee grew to be so carelesse of her housholde +state and houswiferie, as speedelie appeared the fruites of slouth and +negligence: for her husband for his part spent without order, and she +staied her trauell from matters of houshold: in such wise as the same +was growen to so great penurie, as the high and stately woodes were +felled downe to the stubbe, and the goodly maners deliuered into the +handes of sir Mathewe Morgage. One of the gentlewoman’s frendes and +kinsemen which knew her disease, tolde her of her fault, and rebuked her +for that carelesse life: sayinge, that if loue +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page136" id = "page136">136</a></span> +of husband could not make her to haue respecte of housholde profite: +zeale and regarde of poore children’s state ought to moue her thereunto. +This good councell of her frende touched her very nere, and the pitie of +her children at lengthe made her to recouer her spirits, and to assaie +by all meanes possible to wynne againe her husbande’s loue. See here the +nature of honestie, and condicion of well disposed life: this +gentlewoman was infected with the plague of Ielousie (an ordinarie +disease in women,) and not without iust cause: for what Grisilde could +suffre her wedded husband, assembled in bedde, in depthe of slepe, to +rise and runne a straie like a wylde horse, neying after the straied +female kinde of that sorte? This good Gentlewoman, I saye, almoste +besides her wittes for alienation of her deserued loue, now growen +careles of worldly thinges, as you haue heard, is vpon the louing +admonicion of her nerest frend, pricked with naturall regarde of +Infantes: launching forth that festred sore of Ialousie, serched meanes +by policie to wynne that which Ialousie could not get, whiche was her +husbande’s loue, whom with curteouse wiuely shame not before assemblie +of neighbours, or straungers audience, by huy and crye as many doe, but +in domesticall boundes, within the compas of housholde, and within the +circuit of secret chambre, shee made him blushe from former life, and to +deteste all filthie and beastly factes in future time. Suche be the +frutes of a right matrone’s life. Suche be the gaines of the milde and +quiet wife. Such a wife, I say, is the honor of her husband’s name, +the onely vpholder and restoratife of his renowme and fame. But turne we +againe to the experienced wisedome of this Gentlewoman. The next day she +diligently watched by false slepe, the time of his vprising from her: +and when he was gone, shee rose likewyse, putting her night gowne about +her, causing the bedde to bee made, and saying her prayers, she waited +the retourne of her husband, who being retired into his chambre, she +came before him to kisse hym, and brought him a basen with water to +washe his handes: and musing at the vnaccustomed order of his wife, he +tolde her that he was come but from the priuie, and therfore neded not +to washe. Whereunto she answered, that although it were no great matter, +yet cleanly and honest, to washe the handes, being come +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page137" id = "page137">137</a></span> +from an vncleane and stinking place, by which wordes she was desirous to +let him vnderstande his follie thereby to hate his dishonest and filthie +life. But for all that wyse and pretie taunte hee amended nothing at +all: Howbeit she continued that ordre the space of one yere. And when +she sawe, that her diligence could not reforme his vsuall trade of lyfe, +on a tyme wayting for her husband, which taried longer then he was wont +to doe, shee was desirous to seeke hym out, and went from chamber to +chamber, till at lengthe shee founde hym a bedde in a back chambre and a +sleepe with the moste ill fauoured, foule and filthiest Slutte of her +house, such a homely pece and durty beaste, as the lyke was not to be +founde in a countrie. The gentlewoman beholding this manerly sight, +thought to teache him a lesson howe to remembre the difference betwene +the sweete and pleasaunt lodging, with a fayre and duetifull wife, and +the vncleanly couching with a stinking and lothsome Queane. Wherupon she +caused a burden of Strawe and worne rushes to be brought vnto her, +setting the same on fier in the middes of the chamber, but when she sawe +her husband almoste choked with the great smother, she waked hym, and +plucked him out of the bed by the armes, crying: “fier, fier.” If the +husbande were ashamed, and offended with him selfe to be founde in a +bedde with such an vncleanly matche, by his faire and honest wife, +I referre the iudgement to all indifferent men, that be coupled +with like wiues. Then his wyfe said vnto him: “Sir I haue assaied the +space of one whole yeare, to withdrawe you from this vile and wicked +life, by gentlenes and pacience, and shewed example by washing you +without, that you might also clense your selfe within. But when I sawe +myne endeuour could take no place, I attempted to helpe my selfe +with the element that shall ende and consume vs all: assuring you, sir, +that if this doe not amende you, I cannot tell if the seconde time, +I be able likewise to ridde you from the daunger that may happen. +I praye you sir to thinke and consider that there is no greater +dispayre or dispite, then that whiche is conceiued of loue: and had I +not set before mine eyes the feare of God, I could not haue +practised suche pacience, as I haue done.” The husband very glad, that +he had escaped that misfortune, promised her neuer to geue occasion, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page138" id = "page138">138</a></span> +that shee should take like payne to bring him to order. Whiche promise +the Gentlewoman very willingly beleued, and with her husbande’s consent, +she expelled out of her house, that which did displease her moste: and +from that time forth, they louingly liued together, and the former +faultes of this reformed life, was an increase of ioyful and mutuall +delightes. I beseche you Gentlewomen (if there be any in the +place where this nouell is redde) if God doe geue you such husbandes to +beware of dispaire, vntill ye haue assayed all possible meanes to reduce +them to good ordre. For there be in the daye <span class = +"smallroman">XXIIII.</span> houres, in euery of whiche houres a man may +chaunge opinion: and a woman ought to accompt her selfe moste happie, if +by pacience and long suffraunce she wynne her husbande, excepte fortune +and frendes haue procured one that is alreadie perfecte. This example +therefore maye serue al sortes of maried women. Let her take example +that list (quod Dame Partelot) for it is impossible for me to vse suche +long pacience. But let Dame Partelot speake her pleasure, I would +aduise all husbandes to lyue honestly with their honest wiues, and doe +praie to God to plant mo sutch wiues to store the barren worlde that +neuer or seldome bryngeth forth such increase.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page139" id = "page139">139</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_64" id = "novel1_64"> +THE SIXTY-FOURTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The notable charitie of a woman of Tours towards her husbande.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Another</span> hystorie of like example I +thincke meete to bee annexed: which telleth howe in the Cittie of Tours +in Fraunce, there was a fayre and honest wyfe which for her vertues was +not onelye beloued, but also feared and esteemed of her husband. So it +was that he followinge the fragilitie of those men, which be wearie of +delicate fare, fill in loue with a woman of the Countrye that kepte his +house there, and many times departed from Tours to visite his countrie +woman, where he commonlye taried <span class = "smallroman">II.</span> +or <span class = "smallroman">III.</span> dayes before his retorne: and +when he came home againe to Tours, he ordinarely did take cold, whereof +his good wife had much to do to recouer him. And so sone as he was hole, +hee failed not to returne to the place, where pleasure made him forget +all his former griefe and sicknes. His wife which aboue all thinges +loued his life and tendred his health, seinge him commonly broughte into +so poore estate, went into the Countrye, where she founde out the yong +woman that her husband loued. Vnto whom (not in choler but with smilinge +cheere and countenaunce) shee sayd: “How she knew well that oftentimes +her husband repaired thither to visite her, and that she was not well +content that she vsed him no more carefully, for when he came home from +her he toke so great cold as long time after she had much a doe to +recouer him.” The poore woman as wel for the reuerence of the Dame, as +for the trouth of the matter, could not denie the facte, and therefore +fallinge downe vppon her knees, asked her forgiuenes. The maistresse +required to see the bedde and chamber, where her husband laie, which she +perceiued to be so cold, ill fauoured, and out of order, as she pitied +and lamented the case: wherefore incontinently she sent for a good bedde +furnished with sheetes, blanquets and Couerlet, accordingly as she knew +her husband loued, causing the chamber to be repaired, hanged, and +dressed vp, after the best maner: she gaue her also plate and vessell to +serue her husband at meales, together with a punchion of wyne, spice, +and other +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page140" id = "page140">140</a></span> +confections: and then prayed the woman to sende home her husbande, no +more so sicke, but to interteigne and cherishe him after the most +delicate and carefull maner she could. The husband taried not long at +home, but after his olde custome wente againe into the countrie to visit +his woman, and marueiled much to finde her poore lodging so trimlye +garnished, but much more he wondred when calling for drincke he sawe her +to bringe him a siluer potte, asking her where she had gotten all those +goodes. The poore woman sayde vnto him weeping, that it was his wife, +which hauing so great pitie vppon his ill intreatie, had furnished her +house, and had committed vnto her the charge and regard of his health. +Hee seing the greate humilitie and goodnes of his wyfe, and that shee +for the vnkindnes he shewed vnto her, had requited him with that +curtesie and louing kindnes, well pondering and regarding his owne +frailtie, and the honeste demeanor of his wyfe, afterwards rewarded the +poore woman with money, and perswaded her from that time foorth to liue +an honest life. And then returned home to his wyfe, confessing vnto her +the negligence of his dutie, and that excepte she had vsed that kinde of +curtesie and goodnes towards him, it had bin impossible for him to +forsake and giue ouer his vngodlye life: and afterwardes vtterly +abandoning his behauiour past, they liued together in great rest and +quietnes. Belieue me if ye list (to you good wiues I speake) that +there be verye few ill husbands, whom the pacience and loue of the wyfe, +is able at lengthe to winne, or els they be more harde then stones, +which the soft and feble water by continuance of time, is able to weare +and make holow: for when the wiue’s lenitie shall enter his carelesse +stomacke, and her pacient suffraunce renew remembraunce of dutie, then +doth conscience bite, and gnaw the cancred cord that tyeth vp the good +consideracion of his office, and regarde to maried life: then doth age +abhorre the lewdnes of former life, and commeth home to cherish the +holsome Nourice of his pleasant state. Then regardeth he the bande +wherewith matrimonie hath bound him, and both at bedde and borde +obserueth the ful perfections of the same.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page141" id = "page141">141</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_65" id = "novel1_65"> +THE SIXTY-FIFTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The simplicitie of an olde woman, that offered a burning candle to +S. Iohn of Lions.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">In</span> the Church of S. Iohn at Lions, +there was a very darke Chappell, and within the same a Tombe made of +stone, erected for great personages, with pictures liuely wroughte, and +about the same Tombe there doe lie manye worthie knightes of great fame +and valiaunce. Vpon a hote Sommer’s daye, a souldiour walking vp +and downe the Church had great delight to sleape, and beholding that +darcke chappell which was colde and fresh of ayre, thoughte to reste +vpon the Tombe as other did, besides whom he layde him downe to sleepe. +It chaunced that a good old woman very deuoute, came thether when the +souldior was in the depth of his sleepe. And after shee had sayd her +deuocions, wyth a wax candle in her hande, she would haue fastened the +same vpon the Tombe, and repayring nere the place where the souldiour +lay, desirous to sticke it vppon his forehead, thinking it had been the +stone, the waxe would take no hold. The old woman, which thought the +cause that her candle would not cleaue was the coldnesse of the Image, +she warmed the souldior’s forehead with the flame of the candle, to +sticke it faste. But the Image which was not insensible, beganne to cry +oute, whereat the poore woman was so afraide, as like one straught of +her wittes, she brake into exclamacion crying: “A miracle! +A miracle!” They within the Church hearing an outcry of a miracle, +ranne in heapes as though they had been madde, some to ring the belles, +and some to see the miracle: whom the good woman broughte to see the +Image, which then was remoued: whereat many began to laughe. But diuers +priestes not willing so to give ouer so great a Miracle, determined +afterwards to vse that tombe in reuerence, therby to get money.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page142" id = "page142">142</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel1_66" id = "novel1_66"> +THE SIXTY-SIXTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A Doctor of the Lawes boughte a cup, who by the subtiltie of two false +varlets, lost both his money and the cuppe.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">To</span> conclude our nomber of Nouels, I +haue thought good (gentle reader) to bringe in place a Doctour and his +wyfe, to giue thee a merye farewell: because thou haste hitherto so +frendly and pacientlye suffred thy selfe to be stayed in reading of the +reste: wherefore with a pleasaunt Adieu in a short and merie tale, which +discloseth the subtiltie of two false knaues to beguile a poore Doctor +and his wyfe, I meane to end. And therfore do saye, that in the +Citie of Bologna in Italie, there was a worshipful Doctor of the Lawes, +called Maister Florien, which in other thinges sauing his profession was +but a slouen, and of so ill behauiour as none of his facultie the like: +who by sauing of many crustes, had layed vp so good store of Crownes, as +he caused to be made a very great and costly Cup of siluer, for payment +of which Cup he went to the Goldsmithe’s house, and hauinge payed for +the siluer, the guilt, and for the fashion, being without his Clarke to +carie it home, he prayed the Goldsmith to lend him his man. By chaunce +there were newly come to the Citie, two yonge men that were Romaynes, +which ranged vp and downe the streates with eares vpright, to view and +marke euery thinge done in the same, bearing about them counterfait +Iewels and lingots, guilt of S. Martine’s touche, to deceiue him +that would playe the foole to buy them. One of them was called Liello +and the other Dietiquo. These two Marchantes being at good leasure to +wander the streates, beholding the passangers to and fro, by fortune +espied the Goldsmithe’s man, who (to set forth the workemanship and +making of the cup) caried the same open. These gallants bearing a spite +to the cup, more for the siluer than for other malice, purposed to +inuent some sleight to get the Cuppe, and a farre of with slie pase, +followed the Goldsmithe’s man, of whom they craftelie inquired of the +owner of the Cup, and where hee had left maister Florien. When they had +concluded vppon their enterprise, Liello (the finest boye of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page143" id = "page143">143</a></span> +them both) went straight to buy a Lamprey of great price, and hiding the +same vnder his cloake, repayred directly to Maister Doctour’s house, +where finding his wife of semblable wit and behauiour that her husband +was, with vnshamefast face and like grace, said vnto her: “Maistresse, +Maister Florien your husbande hath sent you a fishe, and prayeth you to +dresse it and to make dinner readie, because he bringeth a company of +other Doctoures with him: in the meane time he requireth you, to retorne +vnto him the Cuppe againe, whiche hee sent you this morning by the +Goldsmithe’s man, because he had forgotten to stampe his armes vppon +it.” The woman receyuinge the fishe, franckly deliuered him the Cup, and +went about to prepare dinner. Liello (which hunted after gaine but +better caught his prey) hied him a pace and conueyed himselfe with +speede to the house of one of his Countriemen, and there reioyced with +his companion, attending for the comming of the Royster Dietiquo, who +taried in the Towne, wayting and viewing what pursute was made after his +fellowe. Sone after maister Florien retourned to his house and finding +his dinner more delicate than it was wont to be, marueyled, and asked +his wyfe who was at all that coste. His wyfe very scornefully aunswered: +“Why sir, haue you forgotten that you sente me word this morning that +you woulde bring home with you diuers Gentlemen to dinner?” “What” +(quoth the Doctour) “I thincke you be a foole.” “I am not” +(sayd shee) “and for better witnesse you sent mee this fishe, that I +would you had been better aduised before you had bestowed such coste.” +“I assure thee:” quoth hee, “I sent thee no fishe, but belike +it was some folishe knaue that had forgotten his arrant and mistaken the +house: but howsoeuer it was wyse, we at this time will be content to +fare well, at other mennes charge.” “Why sir (sayd his wyfe) call your +selfe to better remembraunce, for hee that brought the Lampry, came to +me for your Cup, by this token that you would haue your armes engrauen +vppon the same.” At those words the poore Doctour, after he had +discharged three or foure Canons laden with haile shot of scolding words +wente out into the streate, running hither and thither demaunding of al +them he met, if they saw none carrie a Lampry home to his house. And you +would haue said if you +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page144" id = "page144">144</a></span> +had seen the Doctour wyth his hode hanging at one side, that he had been +out of his wittes. Dietiquo stode still in a corner, and beheld the +Doctour’s frantike order, and albeit that he was sure the stealinge of +the Cuppe by Liello his companion was impossible to be knowen, yet being +sorye that the Lampry cost so much, determined also to play his part, +and seinge the doctour stayed from making further complaintes and +pursute, he went home to the Doctour’s house, where smiling with a good +grace and bould countenaunce saide vnto his wyfe: “Maistresse Doctour, +good newes, the Cup is founde, one whom you know caused the same to be +done in sport to bring your husband Maister Florien in a choler, who now +is amonges diuers of his frendes iesting at the pleasuant deceipt, and +hath sent me hither to fetch their dinner, wherein they praye you to +remember the Lamprey, and to come your selfe to take part of the same, +bicause they purpose to be mery.” The woman ioyful of those newes, began +some what to complaine of the griefe which she had taken for losse of +the cup, and deliuered to Dietiquo the rosted Lamprey with the sause, +betwene two platters who incontinently hid the same vnder his cloke, and +wyth so much speede as he could, went to seeke out his companion Lielo, +and their countrimen, which all that while had taried for him: and God +knoweth whether those good fellowes did laugh and mocke the poore +Doctour, and his wife or not, and when she had made herself gay and +trimme to go eate part of the Lamprey, as she was going out she met +Maister Florien lookinge lowringlie vppon the matter, to whom she said +(smiling like a frumenty pot) “How now, sir, come they hither to dinner? +I haue sent you that Lamprey ready dressed.” Then Maister Doctor +after faire talke, beganne to discharge his double Cannons, callinge his +wyfe Whore, bitch, and beaste, and vnderstandinge that he was twice +begiled and could not tell by whom, for spite and despayre he tare of +his beard, and the heare of his head, which bruted and knowen in the +Citie, the Iesters and pleasaunt felowes bent themselues to laugh, and +deuise pastime at the poore begiled Doctour and his wyfe.</p> + + +<h6>FINIS.</h6> + +</div> + +<!-- end div maintext --> + + +<a name = "page145" id = "page145"> </a> + +<a name = "page146" id = "page146"> </a> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page147" id = "page147">147</a></span> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<a name = "tomeII_title" id = "tomeII_title"> </a><br> +<img src = "images/tome2title.png" width = "380" height = "565" +alt = "see end of text"></p> + +<p class = "center"><span class = "mynote"> +<a href = "#tomeII_text">Tome II: Title Page Text</a></span></p> + +<a name = "page148" id = "page148"> </a> + +<div class = "maintext"> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page149" id = "page149">149</a></span> + +<p class = "summary"> +<a name = "tomeII_dedic" id = "tomeII_dedic"> +To the Right Worshipful</a> Sir George Howard Knight, Maister of the +Quene’s Maiestie’s Armarye.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstletter">E</span>very science hauing his peculier +commodity, and conducinge to the trauayler and dilligent searcher, +a due deserued benefyte (besydes the exercise and shunninge the +pestilent monster Idlenes) discloseth the miraculous effect of the +Diuinity, and the excellency of his Creature: who breathing life into +that sencelesse worke, framed within the mould of humayn Conception, +forceth in him by nature and timely institution such capacitye of +Science, as not onelye by that knowledge hee glorifyeth his Creator, but +also besydes himselfe, helpeth and doth good to other. For profe whereof +the Science of that surpassing and delightsome pasture of Theologie, is +profitable to teache, argue, reproue, and instruct, that by pacience and +consolation, we may conceiue hope of Eternitye. The knowledge of +Philosophie cureth the Mynde, auoydeth childish care, expelleth feare, +and shunneth fond desyres. O Philosophye, the guide of life, +(exclameth Tullie) the inquisitor of Vertue and expeller of vice. +Rethorike (affirmeth he) causeth vs to learne that we know not and +that we know to teach to other: by the same we exhort, with that we +perswade, with that we comfort the afflicted, by it we encourage the +astonned, and appease the outragious. Musike, easeth the troubled mynde, +lenifyeth sorrowe, comforteth the heauye harted, and erecteth a +contemplatyon of heauenlye thinges. Astronomye, reuealeth the nature of +the Starres and Planets, presageth dayes and times for the helpe and +maintenaunce of life. Poesie teacheth amendment of manners, directeth +what things be mete for imitation, and with what detriment wantonnes +anoyeth the bodye of man. By meanes of it (Sainct Augustine saith,) he +learned many good lessons +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page150" id = "page150">150</a></span> +to profite himselfe and do good to other. To be short euery science is +so necessary, as the same taken away, reason is depriued and the Life of +Man (of due order and gouernment) defrauded. Thinke (sayth a Greke +Oratour) the knowledge of many thinges to bee more precious and +excellent, then a Chest heaped vp with abundance of money: for the one +quickly fayleth, and the other for euer lasteth. For Scientia (affirmeth +hee) is the onelye immortall storehouse of all possessions. Amonges +which troupe of Sciences, the knowledge and search of Histories +deserueth a place in the chefest rank, and is for example of humaine +affayres, a Christal light to shew the pathes of our Auncestors. +The same displaieth the counsels, aduises, pollicies, actes, successe, +and endes of Kinges, Princes and great men, with the order and +discription of time and place. And like a liuely image representeth +before our eies the beginning, end and circumstaunce of ech attempt. The +same (like a Mistresse of our life) by probable examples stirreth vp our +sluggish mindes, to aspyre the eternal glorie of praise and fame, and +terrifyeth the desperate and aduenturous, from enterprise of things +vnseemely. The same is a passing picture of verity, and an absolute +paterne framinge the matter greatter nor lesse then it is. And because I +am not ignorant what Encomia innumerable Authors in time past, and +wryters of our tyme do attribute vnto that science, and with what titles +the Prince of them all decketh the praise of Historicall knowledge, +I only refer the worthines to the practisers, and the syngularitye +of Histories trauel and delight, to ech willing minde that imploye their +leasure and tyme therin. And I for my parte do confesse (that by reading +of Histories) I fynd the saying which Tullie aduoucheth of Publius +Scipio to bee true: that he was neuer lesse idle, then when he was idle, +and neuer lesse alone, then when he was alone, meaning therby, that when +he was at best leisure, he was neuer idle, nor when he was alone +vnoccupied. For when labor resteth him selfe in me, and leisure +refresheth other affaires nothing delights more that vacant tyme, than +readinge of Histories in such vulgar speache, wherein my small knowledge +taketh repast. And for that my priuat reading might not delyte and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page151" id = "page151">151</a></span> +pleasure me alone, to auoid the nature of that cankred churle and foe of +humain companye, Timon of Athens, that liued but for him selfe, +I haue (after my skill) culled some floures and fruites from that +pleasaunt store of those my readinges to impart for vniversal gayne and +benefite, chosynge rather hereby to followe the liberalitye of Cimon a +gentleman of that Cittye, who knowynge hymselfe to bee borne to profite +other and for the enriching of his <ins class = "correction" title = +"error for ‘Country’">Couutry</ins>, not only atchiued maruailous +matters for furtherance of Comon wealth, but lefte his Gardens and +Orchards open for all men to participate the Fruictes of his pleasure +and trauell. Wherby so wel as I can I follow the tract and practice of +other, by whose meanes, so manifold sciences in our known toung and +translation of Histories be frequent and rife amonge vs. Al which be +done after our commodity, pleasure, solace, preseruation and comfort, +and without the which we cannot long be sustayned in this miserable +lyfe, but shal become not much vnlyke the barbarous, ne discrepant from +the sauage sorte. The inuestigatours and bringers to light, wherof +direct their eyes and meaning to none other end but for the benefyte of +vs and our posteritye, and that our faces be not taynted with the +blushing coloure to se the passing diligence of other Countryes by +curious imbelishinge of their states with the troublous trauaile of +their brayne, and laboursom course of penne. Who altogeather imploi +those paynes, that no Science lurke in Corner, that no Knowledge be shut +vp in cloysters, that no History remaine vnder the maske and vnknowne +attyre of other tongues. Among which crew (I say) I craue an +inferiour place and haue vndertaken the vnfolding of sundry Histories +from the couerture of foren language for none other purpose and intent +but to vniuersal benefyte. Part whereof, two yeares past (almost) were +made commune in a former boke, now succedeth a second, furnished +withlike ornaments that the other was. The first (by duties +chalenge) was addressed to the right honorable the Earle of Warwik, for +respect of his honour, and my calling. This the second by lyke band, +your worship may iustly clayme as a iust tribute now this moneth of +Nouember, payable. Or if your curtesye would not deale so +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page152" id = "page152">152</a></span> +roughly with youre bounden creditoure, yet for duty sake I must acquite +and content that which hath so long ben due. The same I offer now not +with such vsury and gayne as your beneuolence and syngular bounty, by +long forbearing hath deserued, but with such affected will and desyre of +recompence, as any man alyue can owe to so rare a friend. Your worship I +haue chosen for the firste person of this boke, and the protector of the +same (the matter moste specially therin comprised, treating of courtly +fashions and maners, and of the customes of loue’s gallantise, and the +good or yll successe therof,) because you be an auncient Courtier, and +one of the eldest Trayne, and such as hath bene imployed by sundry our +Princes, in their affayres of greatest wayght and importance, and for +that your selfe in your lustiest tyme (euer bred and brought vp in +Court,) haue not ben vnacquainted with those occurrants. If I shoulde +stand particularlye to touch the originall of your noble Auncestry, the +succession of that renowmed line, their fidelity for graue aduise and +counsel, your honowrable education, the mariage of a mighty kyng with +one of your sisters, the valiant exploites of your parents againste the +Frenche and Scottes, the worthye seruice of your selfe in fielde, wherby +you deseruedly wanne the order of Knighthode, the trust which her +maiestie reposeth in you, by disposing vnder your charge the store of +her Armure, and your worthy preferment to be Maister of her Armary +generall. If I should make recitall of your careful industry and painful +trauel sustayned, for aunswearing her Maiestye’s expectation, your noble +cherishing of the skilful in that science, your good aduancemente of the +best to supply the vacant romes, your refusall of the vnworthy: and +finally of your modest and curteous dealings in that office, +I feare lacke of ability (and not of matter) would want grace and +order by further circumstaunce to adde sufficient prayse: yea although +my selfe do say nothinge, (but reserue the same in silence to auoyd +suspecte of adulation) the very armure and their furnitures do speake, +vniuersal testimony doth wonder, and the Readines of the same for tyme +of seruice doth aduouch. Which care of things continually resting in +your breast, hath atchyued such a tymely +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page153" id = "page153">153</a></span> +diligence, and successe, as when her Maiestye’s aduersary shal be readye +to molest, she shal be prest (by God’s assistance) to defend and +march. But not to hold your worship long by length of preamble, or to +discourse what I might further saye, either in fauour of this boke, or +commendation of youre selfe, I meane (for this instant) to leaue +the one to general iudgment, and the other to the particular sentence of +ech of your acquaintance. Humblye making this onlye sute that my good +wil may supplye the imperfection of myne abilitye. And so with my harty +prayer for your preseruation to him that is the auctor of life and +health, I take my leaue.</p> + +<p class = "center"> +From my pore house besides the Tower of London,<br> +the iiij. of Nouember,<br> +1567.</p> + +<p class = "rightside"> +Your most bounden</p> + +<p class = "right"> +<span class = "smallcaps">William Painter.</span>/p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page154" id = "page154">154</a></span> + +<h3><a name = "tomeII_contents" id = "tomeII_contents"> +TO THE READER.</a></h3> + + +<p><span class = "firstletter">A</span>s shewed curtesie deserueth +grateful acquital and frendly fauour forceth mutual merit. So for gentle +acceptation of my other boke, I render to thy delite and profit a +second Tome, for which I craue but like report: albeit, neither worthy +of any: or other then the rude artificer gayneth by tryal of his art. +Who hauing committed to his skil and workmanship, some substance of +gold, or other precious matter, fashioneth the same with such bungled +shape and order, as (besydes disprayse) it carieth the vnablenes of the +workman. Howsoeuer (then) the ablenes or perfection herof vniuersally +shal content or particularly displease: the boke craueth mild +construction, for imploied paines. And yet the same (liking or lothing +the licorous diet, and curious expectation of som) shal beare regarde +with those that more delite in holsom viandes (voyd of variety) than in +the confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farr of. Who no doubt will +supply with fauorable brute, default of ablenes and riper skil in the +Histories of forren spech. Which is the guerdon (besides publike +benefyte) after which I gaze, and the best stipend that ech wel willinge +mind (as I suppose) aspireth for their trauel, and briefly to touch +what comodity thou shalt reape of these succeding Histories, I deme +it not vnapt for thine instruction, to vnfold what pith and substance, +resteth vnder the context of their discourse.</p> + +<p>In the Nouel of the AMAZONES, is displayed a straunge or miraculous +port, (to our present skill) of womens gouernment, what state they +subdued, what increase of Kingdome, what combats and conflictes they +durst attempt contrary to the nature of that sexe.</p> + +<p>In ALEXANDER the greate, what ought to bee the gratitude and curtesye +in a puissant Prince, toward his slaue and captiue, and to what perilous +plunge he slippeth by exchange of vice for vertue.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page155" id = "page155">155</a></span> +<p>In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to auoyde +the beastly lust and raging fury of Tyrantes.</p> + +<p>ARIOBARZANES telleth the duty of a subiect to his Prince: and how he +ought not to contende with his souerayn in matters of curtesy, at length +also the condition of courting flatterers: and the poison of the monster +Enuy.</p> + +<p>ARISTOTIMVS disgarboyleth the intralles of Tiranny, describing the +end whereunto Tirants do attein and how that vice plagueth their +posterity.</p> + +<p>The two Romayne QUEENS do point (as it wer) with their fyngers, the +natures of Ambition and cruelty, and the gredy lust (hidden in that +feeble sexe) of souerainty.</p> + +<p>SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beauty, and what poyson distilleth +from that licourous sappe to inuenim the hartes of valiant gentlemen.</p> + +<p>The gentlewomen of HYDRVSA the ficlenes of Fortune.</p> + +<p>The Empresse FAUSTINA, and the countesse of CELANT, what blossoms +blome of whorish life, and what fruictes therof be culled.</p> + +<p>The letters of the Emperour TRAIANE, do paynt a right shape of +vertue, a good state of gouernment, and the comly form of +obedience.</p> + +<p>Three Amorous Dames reueale the sleights of loue the redines of +Nobles to be baited with the amorous hoke, and what desire such infamous +strumpets haue to be honored.</p> + +<p>Queene ZENOBIA, what the noble Gentlewomen (whom the fates ordayne to +rule) ought to do, how farre their magnanimity ought to stretch, and in +what boundes to conteine their souerainty.</p> + +<p>EVPHIMIA a king’s daughter of Corinth, and the vnfortunate Duchesse +of Malfi, what match of mariage Ladies of renowne, and Dames of +Princelye houses ought to chose.</p> + +<p>Mistresse DIANORA, MITHRIDANES and NATHAN, KATHERINE of Bologna, and +SALADINE, the mutual curtesies of noble and gentle Personages, and for +what respectes.</p> + +<p>Quene ANNE of Hungarie, the good nature and liberalitye of a Quene: +and with what industry Gentlewomen of priuy chamber +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page156" id = "page156">156</a></span> +ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant, and of such as haue wel +serued the common welth.</p> + +<p>ALEXANDRE de Medices, Duke of Florence, the iustice of a Prince, and +gouernour to the wronged party, what vertues ought to shine in +Courtiers, and with what temperance their insolence is to be +repressed.</p> + +<p>IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the harty affections of two incomparable +louers, what secret sleights of loue, what danger either sort incurre +which mary without the aduise of Parentes.</p> + +<p>Two Gentlewomen of VENICE, the wisedom and pollicy of Wiues to +chastice and restrain the follies of husbands, and the stoutnes they +ought to vse in their defense.</p> + +<p>The Lord of VIRLE, and the widow ZILIA, geue lessons to Louers, to +auoyde the immoderate panges of loue, they prognosticate the +indiscretion of promised penance, they warne to beware al vnseemly +hestes, lest the penaltyes of couetise and vayn glory be incurred.</p> + +<p>The Lady of BOEME, schooleth two noble Barons that with great boast +assured themselues to impair her honor.</p> + +<p>DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA, record the cruelty of women bent to hate and +the voluntarye vow performed by a passionate Knight, with the parfect +friendship of a true frend in redresse of a frend’s mishap.</p> + +<p>SALIMBENE and ANGELICA, the kindnes of a gentleman in deliuerie of +his ennemy, and the constant mynd of a chast <ins class = "correction" +title = "printed ‘and / and’ at line break">and and</ins> vertuous +mayden.</p> + +<p>Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom lustes do lurk +vnder the bark of fading beauty, what stench of filthy affection fumeth +from the smoldring gulfe of dishonest Loue what prankes such dames do +play for deceit of other, and shame of themselves.</p> + +<p>CAMIOLA reproueth the mobility of youth such chiefly as for noble +auncestry regarded ritches more than vertue, she lyke a mistresse of +constancye lessoneth her equalles from wauering myndes, and not to +aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts: with those that care not (vnder what +pretence) they com by riches.</p> + +<p>The lords of NOCERA fortel the hazardes of whordom, the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page157" id = "page157">157</a></span> +rage of Ielousy, the difference of duty betwene Prince and subiect, the +fruites of a Rebell, the endes of Traitery and Tiranny, and what +monstruous successe such vices do attain.</p> + +<p>The king of MAROCCO describeth the good nature of the homely and +loial subiect, the maruaylous loue of a true and symple Countryman +towarde his liege and soueraygne Lorde, and the bounty of a curteous +Prince, vpon those that vnder rude attyre, be garnisht with the floures +of vertue.</p> + +<p>To be short, the contentes of these Nouels from degre of highest +Emperour, from state of greattest Quene and Lady, to the homelye Cuntry +peasant and rudest vilage girle, may conduce profite for instruction, +and pleasure for delight. They offer rules for auoiding of vice and +imitation of vertue to al estates. This boke is a very Court and Palace +for al sortes to fixe their eies therein, to vew the deuoyres of the +Noblest, the vertues of the gentlest, and the dutyes of the meanest. Yt +is a stage and Theatre for shew of true Nobilitye, for profe of passing +loialty and for tryal of their contraries. Wherfore as in this I haue +continued what erst I partelye promised in the first so vppon +intelligence of the second signe of thy good wil, a third +(by Gods assistance) shal come forth. Farewell.</p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page158" id = "page158">158</a></span> + +<p class = "summary"> +<a name = "tomeII_auth" id = "tomeII_auth">Authorities from whence</a> +these Nouelles be collected: and in the same auouched.</p> + +<div class = "leftfloat"> +<p>Strabo.</p> + +<p>Plinie.</p> + +<p>Quintus Curtius.</p> + +<p>Plutarche.</p> + +<p>Titus Liuius.</p> + +<p>Dionysius Halicarnassæus.</p> + +<p>Appianus Alexandrinus.</p> + +<p>Ouide.</p> + +<p>Horace.</p> + +<p>Propertius.</p> + +<p>Cicero.</p> + +<p>Valerius Max.</p> +</div> + +<p>Trebelius Pollio.</p> + +<p>Xenophon.</p> + +<p>Homere.</p> + +<p>Virgilius.</p> + +<p>Baptista Campofulgosus.</p> + +<p>Bandello.</p> + +<p>Bocaccio.</p> + +<p>Gyraldi Cynthio.</p> + +<p>Belleforrest.</p> + +<p>Boustuau.</p> + +<p>Petro di Seuiglia.</p> + +<p>Antonio di Gueuarra.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page159" id = "page159">159</a></span> + +<h2><span class = "blackletter">The Palace of Pleasure.</span></h2> + +<p class = "illustration"> +<img src = "images/decline0.png" width = "54" height = "7" +alt = "----"></p> + + +<h3><a name = "novel2_1" id = "novel2_1"> +THE FIRST NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The hardinesse and conquests of diuers stout, and aduenturous women, +called Amazones, the beginninge, and continuance of their Reigne, and of +the great iourney of one of their Queenes called Thalestris to visit +Alexander the great: with the cause of her trauaile.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstletter">W</span>here the firste booke beegan with +a Combate fought, and tried betweene two mighty Citties, for +Principality, and Gouernement, the one hight Rome after called the head +of the World (as some thinke by reason of a man’s head found in the +place where the Capitole did stand) the other Alba. To which Combat sixe +Gentlemen of eyther city were appoyncted, and the victory chaunced to +the Romayne side: In this second parte, in the Forefront, and first +Nouell of the same, is described the beginninge, continuaunce and ende +of a Woman’s Common wealth (an History rare and straunge to the +vnlearned, ignorant of the world’s fickle ruled stay) which contented +with the mighty Princes and puissant Potentates for defence of their +kingdome, no lesse than the Carthaginians and Romaynes did for theirs. +But as it is no wonder to the skilful that a whole Monarche, and +kingdome should be intierly peopled with that Sexe: so to the not well +trained in Histories, this may seeme miraculous. Wherefore not to staye +thee from the discourse of those straunge and Aduenturous women, diuers +be of diuers opinions for the Etimologie of the word: whereof amonges +the Grætians be diuers iudgementes. These Amazones were most excellent +warriers, very valiaunt, and without man’s aduice did conquer mighty +Countreyes, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page160" id = "page160">160</a></span> +famous Cities, and notable Kingdomes, continuinge of longe time in one +Seigniory, and gouernment. These people occupied and enioyed a great +part of Asia. Som writers deuide them into two Prouinces, one in Scythia +in the North part of Asia: other by the hill Imaus, which at this day is +called the Tartarian Scythia, different from that which is in Europa: +the other sort of the Amazones were in Libia a prouince of Africa. But +because the common sort of Authors doe vnderstand the Amazones to be +those of Asia, I meane to leaue of the difference. The Scythians +were a warlike people, and at the beginninge of their kingdome had two +kinges, by whom they were gouerned. Notwithstandinge the nature of +dominion beinge of it selfe ambicious, cannot abide any companion or +equall: which caused these two kinges to be at variaunce, and afterwards +the matter grew to ciuill warres, wherein the one beinge Victor, two of +the principal and chiefe of the contrary faction, called Plinius and +Scolopithos, were banished with a great number of their adherentes, al +which did withdraw themselues to the limits of Cappadocia in the lesser +Asia, and in despite of the Countrey Pesantes, dwelled alonges the riuer +of Thermodon, which entreth into the Sea Euxinum, otherwise called +Pontus. And they beinge made Lordes of the countrey, and of the places +adioyninge, raygned for certayne yeares, vntill the Peasantes and their +confederates made a conspiracy agaynst them: and assemblinge by Pollicy, +ouercame and sleewe theym all. The newes of theyr death knowen to their +Wyues dwellinge in theyr countrey, caused them to conceiue great +heauinesse, and dolor extreme: and although they were women, yet did +they put on manly courage, and determined to reuenge the death of their +husbandes, by puttinge theyr hands to weapons wherewithal they did +exercise themselues very ofte: and that they might all be equall, and +their sorrow common, they murdred certaine of their husbandes which +remayned there, after the other were banished. Afterward beinge +altogether, they made a great army, and forsooke their dwellinge places, +refusinge the mariage of many suters: and arriuinge in the lande of +their enemies (that made small accoumpt thereof, although foretolde of +their approche) they sodaynly came vpon them vnprouided, and put them +all to the sword. This beinge done, the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page161" id = "page161">161</a></span> +women tooke the gouernment of the Countrey, inhabitinge at the +beginninge alonge the Riuer of Thermodon, where their husbandes were +slayne. And although many Authors do differ in the situation of the +place where the Amazones did dwell, yet the truth is, that the beginning +of their kingdome and of their Habitation was vppon that Riuer. But of +their manyfolde conquestes, be engendred diuers opinions declared by +Strabo, and others. They fortified themselues in those places, and wan +other countreys adioyninge, choosinge amonge them two Queenes, the one +named Martesia, and the other Lampedo. These two louingely deuided the +army and men of Warre in two partes, eyther of them defendinge (with +great hardinesse) the Landes which they had conquered: and to make +themselues more dreadfull (sutch was the credite and vanity of men that +time) they fayned to be the daughters of Mars. Afterward these +miraculous women liuing after this maner in peace and iustice, +considered that by succession of time, for want of daughters that might +succeede, warres, and time, would extinguish their race. For thys cause +they treated maryage with their neyghbors named Gargarians +(as Plinie sayeth) with condition, that vpon certayne tymes of the +yeare, their husbandes should assemble together in some appoincted +place, and vse them for certaine dayes vntyll they were with chylde, +whych beinge done and knowen, they should returne home agayne to their +own houses. If they brought forth daughters, they norished and trayned +them vp in armes, and other manlik exercises, and to ride great Horse: +they taught them to run at Base, and to followe 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 +legs in sutch wise as they had no power to beare weapons, and serued for +nothynge else but to spin, twist, and to doe other feminine labour. And +for as mutch as these Amazones defended themselues so valiantly in the +Warres with Bowe, and Arrowes, and perceyued that their breastes did +very much impech the vse of that weapon, and other exercises of armes, +they seared vp the right breasts of their yonge daughters, for which +cause they were named Amazones, which signifieth in the Greeke tongue, +wythout breasts, although some other do geeue vnto that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page162" id = "page162">162</a></span> +name any other meaninge. Afterwards, increasing by course of time in +number and force, they made greate preparation of Weapons and other +Engins for the Warres, and leauing their countrey (which they thought +was very small) in the keepinge of some, whom they specially trusted, +the rest marched abroade, conqueringe and subduinge all those which they +found rebellious. And hauing passed the river of Tanais, they entred +Europa, where they vanquished many countreys, directing their way +towardes Thracia, from whence they returned a while after, with great +spoyle and victory, and comminge agayne into Asia, they brought many +prouinces vnder their subiection, proceedinge euen to Mare Caspium. They +Edified, and peopled an infinite number of good citties, amongs which, +according to the opinion of diuers, was the famous Citty of Ephesus, the +same beeinge the chiefe of al their Empire, and the principal place that +stoode vpon Thermodon. They defended themselues in Warres with certayne +Tergats, made in fashion of a halfe Moone, and entring into battaile +vsed a certaine kinde of Flutes to geue the people corage to fight, as +the Lacedemonians were wont to do. In this wise increased more and more +the fame of those women, and so continued vntill the tyme that Hercules, +Theseus, and many other valiaunt men liued in Græcia. The sayd Hercules, +kinge Euristeus of Athenes commaunded, to proceede with great force of +people against the Amazones, and that hee should bringe vnto him the +armures of the two Queenes, which then were two sisters, that is to say +Antiopa and Oritia. At this commaundement Hercules incoraged with desire +of honor and glory, accompanied with Theseus, and other his frends, +sayled alongst Pontus, and arriued in most conuenient place vpon the +shoare of Thermodon, where he landed in sutch secret manner and with +sutch oportunity of tyme, as Oritia, one of the two Queenes was gone out +of the countrey with the greatest part of her women, to make Warre, and +conquer new Countreyes, in so mutch that he found Antiopa, which doubted +nothinge, ne yet knewe of his comminge. Vppon which occasion, Hercules +and his people surprisinge the Amazones vnwares, and although they +entred into Fielde and did put themselues in defence with sutch +diligence as they could, yet they +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page163" id = "page163">163</a></span> +were ouercome, and put theym to flight, and many of them slayne and the +rest taken: amongst whom were the two sisters of the Queene, the one +named Menalipe whych was Hercules prysoner, and the other Hipolita, the +prysoner of Theseus. Certane Historians do say that they were subdued in +a pitched field, and appoynted battle. And that afterwards the two +sisters were vanquished in singuler Combat. The Queene Antiopa then +seeinge this ouerthrow, and the takinge of her sisters, came to +composition with Hercules, to whom shee gaue her armure to cary to +Euristeus, vpon charge that he shoulde render vnto her, her sister +Menalipe. But Theseus for no offer that she coulde make, woulde deliuer +Hipolita, with whom he was so farre in loue, that he caried her home +with him, and afterward toke her to wyfe, of whom hee had a sonne called +Hipolitus. Hercules satisefied of his purpose, returned very ioyful of +his victory. Oritia certified of these news, beinge then out of her +countrey, conceyued no lesse shame than sorrow, who fearing greater +damage, returned speedily with her women, the greater part whereof +beinge of her opinion, perswaded Antiopa to be reuenged vpon the Grekes. +For which purpose they made great preparation of warre. Afterwards +leuyinge so great a number of the Amazones as they could, they sent to +Sigilus king of Scythia for succour: who sent them his sonne Pisagoras, +with a great number of horsemen, by whose helpe the Amazones passing +into Europa, and Countrey about Athenes, they greatly annoyed their +ennemy: but Pisagoras entred in quarel agaynst the Queene and her women, +by meanes whereof, the Scythians could not fight, but withdrew +themselues aside, whereby the Amazones (not able to support the force of +the Greekes,) were ouercome, and the greatest part of them cut in +peeces. Those which did escape, ran to the Scythians Campe, of whom they +were defended: afterward being returned into their countrey, they liued +in lesse force, and surety than before. In processe of time the Greekes +passed into Asia, and made a famous conquest of the Citty of Troy, when +Penthesilea was Queene of the Amazones, who remembringe the iniuries +receyued by the Greekes, went with a great army to helpe the Troians: +where the Queene did thinges worthy of remembraunce, but the Troianes +vanquished, in many Skirmishes al the Amazones +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page164" id = "page164">164</a></span> +were almost slayne. And Penthesilea amonges other, was killed by the +hand of Achilles. Wherefore those that remained, returned into their +countrey with so litle power (in respect of that they had before) +as with great difficulty they susteyned, and defended their old +possessions, and so continued till the time that Alexander the great +went into Asia, to make warre against the Hircanians. In which time one +of their Queenes named Thalestris accompanied with a great number of the +Amazones, went out of hir countrey with great desire to see and know +Alexander. And approchinge the place where hee was, shee sent her +Ambassadour vnto him to the ende that shee might obtayne safe conduct to +see him, makinge him to vnderstand how mutch the Renoume of his +personage had inflamed hir heart to see him. Whereof Alexander beeinge +tolde, graunted hir hys safe conduct. By meanes whereof, after she had +chosen out some of hir principall women, leauinge the rest in a certayne +place in very good order, she went towardes Alexander, of whom she was +curteously entertayned, and then with very good countenaunce, shee +offered vnto him the effect of al her ability. Who prayed hir to tell +him, if he were able to do her pleasure, and promised that hir request +should be accomplished. She aunswered that hir comminge was not to +demaund either landes or dominions, (whereof she had sufficient) but +rather to knowe and be acquainted with sutch a famous Prince as hee was, +of whom she had heard maruellous and straunge report. But the chiefest +cause of hir comminge was, to pray him of carnal copulation, that she +might be conceiued with childe, and haue an heire begotten of so +excellent a Prince, telling him that she was come of noble kinde, and of +high parentage, and that he ought not to disdaine hir vse. Promisinge +hym that if it pleased the Gods, that she should haue a daughter, she +would nourishe it her selfe, and make it her vniuersall Heire, and if it +were a Sonne, she would send it vnto him. Alexander asked her if shee +woulde go with hym to the warres, which if she would, he promised hir +his company. But she excusinge hir selfe, aunswered that she could not +goe with hym without great shame, besides the hazardinge the losse of +her kingdome. Wherefore she prayed him agayne to satisfie hir request. +Finally she kept company with Alexander by +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page165" id = "page165">165</a></span> +the space of <span class = "smallroman">XIII</span> dayes in publike and +secret sort, which beinge expired, she tooke hir leaue, and returned +home to hir prouince. But as it is the property of tyme to consume all +thinges: euen so the kingdome and power of the Amazones grew to vtter +decay, no one sutch nation at this day to be found. For what monstruous +Sexe was this that durst not onely by many armies encountre with +puissant nations, but also by single Combate, to fight with that +terrible personage Hercules, whose vnspeakable and incredible labours +and victories, are by antiquity reported to be sutch, as none but he, +durst euer aduenture the like. What nation euer comparable to the +Greekes, or the Athenian Citty? and yet these mankinde women for reuenge +shronke not to peerce their Prouince. What like besieged towne as that +of Troy was? and yet Penthesilea one of their Queenes with hir mayny, +indeuoured to rayse the Greekes, that so many yeares had lien before the +same. What Queene (nay what Stalant) durst sue for company of meanest +man? any yet one of these presumed to begge the matche of the mightiest +Monarch that euer ruled the world. The maners and qualities of which +nation, bycause they were Women of no common spirite and boldnesse, bee +thought good in the front of this second Volume to be described: bycause +of dyuers Womens liues plentifull variety is offered in the sequele. And +for that some mention hath bin made of the great Alexander: and in what +wise from vertue hee fell to vice, the seconde Nouell ensuinge shall +geue further aduertisement.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page166" id = "page166">166</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_2" id = "novel2_2"> +THE SECOND NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The great pitie and continencie of Alexander the great and his louinge +entertaynment of Sisigambis the wyfe of the great monarch Darivs after +he was vanquished.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Great</span> Monarches and Princes be the +Gods, and only Rulers vpon Earth, and as they be placed by God’s only +prouydence and disposition, to conquere and rule the same, euen so in +victorious battayles and honorable Exploytes, they ought to rule and +order their conquestes like Gods: that is to saye, to vse moderate +behauiour to their Captiues and slaues, specially to the weaker sort and +feminine kynde, whom like Tyrauntes and barbarous, they ought not to +corrupt and abuse, but like Christians and vertuous victors, to cherish +and preserue their honour. For what can bee safe to a woman (sayde +Lucrece, when she was rauished by the Romayn Tarquine) her chastity +beinge defiled? Or what can be safe to a man, that geueth himselfe to +incontinency? For when he hath despoyled the virgin, robbed the wyfe, or +abused the Wydow of their honor and good name, they protrude themselues +into many Myseries, they bee impudent, Vnshamefaste, Aduenturous, and +Carelesse howe many myschiefes they doe. And when a Prince or Gouerner +doth geue himself to licentious life, what mischieues, what rapes, what +murders doth hee commit? No frende, no Foe, no subiect, no enemy doth he +spare or defende. Contrarywise, the mercifull and continent captayne, by +subduinge hys affections recouereth immortall fame, which this History +of kinge Alexander full well declareth. And because before we spake of +that great conqueror in the Nouell of the Amazones, and of the repayre +of Queene Thalestris for vse of his body, at what tyme (as Curtius +sayth) he fell from vertue to vice: we purpose in thys, to declare the +great contynencie and mercy that hee vsed to Sisigambis, the wife of the +Persian prince Darius, and briefly to touch the time of his abused life, +which in this maner doth begin. Alexander the great hauing vanquished +Darius and his infinite army, and retiringe wyth hys hoast from the +pursute and slaughter of the Persians, entred into +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page167" id = "page167">167</a></span> +their campe to recreate himselfe. And beinge with his familiers in the +mids of his banket, they sodaynly heard a pitifull cry, with straung +howlinge and cryinge out, which did very mutch aston them. The Wyfe and +Mother of Darius, with the other noble women newly taken Prisoners, were +the occasion of that present noyse, by lamentinge of Darius, whom they +beleeued to be slayne, and which opinion they conceyued through one of +the Eunuches, which standinge before Their tent doore, saw a Souldier +beare a peece of Darius Diademe. For which cause Alexander, pityinge +their misery, sent a noble man called Leonatus to signifie vnto them +that they were deceyued, for that Darius was liuing. Repayring towards +the Tent where the women were with certayne armed men, he sent word +before, that he was comminge to them with message from the kinge. But +when sutche as stoode at the tent doore saw armed men, they thought they +had bene sent to murder the Ladies: for which cause they ran in to them, +cryinge that their last houre was come, for the souldiers were at hande +to kille them. When Leonatus was entred the Pauilion, the Mother and +wife of Darius fell downe at hys feete, intreatinge him that before they +were slayne, he would suffer them to bury Darius, accordinge to the +order and maner of his Countrey, after the performance of which +obsequies, they were content (they sayd) willingly to suffer death. +Leonatus assured them, that both Darius was aliue, and that there was no +harme ment towardes them, but should remayne in the same state they were +in before. When Sisigambis heard those wordes, she suffered her selfe to +bee lifted vp from the grounde, and to receyue some comforte. The next +day, Alexander with great diligence buried the bodies of sutch of his +owne men as coulde be founde, and willed the same to be done to the +noble men of the Persians geuinge licence to Darius mother to Bury so +many as she liste, after the custome of her Countrey. She performed the +same to a few that were next of her kin, accordinge to the hability of +their presente fortune, for if shee should haue vsed the Persians Pompe +therein, the Macedonians might haue enuied it, whych beinge victors, +vsed no great curiosity in the matter. When the due was performed to the +dead, Alexander signified to the women prisoners, that hee himselfe +would come to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page168" id = "page168">168</a></span> +visite them, and causinge sutch as came with him to tary without, he +onely with Ephestion entred in amongs them. The same Ephestion of all +men was best beloued of Alexander, brought vp in his company from his +youth, and most priuy with him in all thinges. There was none that had +sutch liberty to speke his mynde playnly to the kinge as hee had, whych +hee vsed after sutch sorte, that he seemed to doe it by no authority, +but by sufferaunce. And as he was of like yeres vnto him, so in shape +and personage he did somwhat excell him. Wherefore the Women thinkinge +Ephestion to be the kinge, did fall down and worship him (as their +Countrey maner was to do to kinges) till sutch time as one of the +Eunuches that was taken prisoner, shewed which of them was Alexander. +Then Sisigambis fell down at his feete, requiringe pardon of her +Ignorance, forsomutch as she did neuer see him before. The kinge tooke +her vp by the hande, and sayd: “Mother you be not deceiued: for this is +Alexander also.” Then he behaued himselfe after sutch a maner, that hee +exceeded in continency and compassion, all the kinges that had bin +before his time. He entertayned the two Queenes with those virgins that +were of excellent beauty, so reuerently, as if they had bin his sisters. +He not onely absteyned from al violation of Darius wyfe, which in beauty +excelled all the women of hir time, but also tooke great care and +diligence, that none other should procure her any dishonour. And to all +the women he commaunded their ornaments, and apparell to be restored: so +that they wanted nothinge of the magnificence of their former estate, +sauinge only the assured trust that creatures want in misery: which +thinges considered by Sisigambis, she said vnto the kinge: “Sir, your +goodnes towards vs, doth deserue that we should make the same prayer for +you, that whilome we did for Darius: and we perceive you worthy to passe +so great a king as he was, in felicity and good fortune, that abound so +in iustice and clemency. It pleaseth you to terme me by the name Mother +and Queene: but I confesse my selfe to bee your handmayde. For both I +conceiue the greatnesse of my state past, and feele that I can bear this +present seruitude. It lieth only in your hands how we shal be delt +withall, and whether you will make vs notable to the worlde through your +clemency or cruelty.” The king comforted them al +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page169" id = "page169">169</a></span> +that he might, and willinge them to be of good cheere tooke Darius sonne +in his armes. Thereat the childe was nothing afraid, hauing neuer seene +him before, but toke and imbraced him about the necke. He was so moued +with the constancy of the childe, as he beheld Ephestion, and sayde, +“Oh, I would that Darius had had some part of this childe’s +gentlenesse.” Which mercy, continency, humility and constancy of minde +in Alexander, if hee had still kept to his latter daies, might haue bin +accoumpted mutch more fortunate than he was, when hauinge subdued all +Asia from Hellespont to the ocean Sea, he did counterfayte the Triumphes +of Bacchus. Or if amonges the residue of his conquests, hee would haue +trauayled to ouercome his pride and wrath, beinge vices inuincible. Or +in his dronkennes abstayned from the slaughter of his Nobility, and not +to haue put to death those excellent men of warre without iudgement, +which helped him to conquer so many Nations: but at this time the +greatnes of his fortune had not yet altered his nature, although +afterwards he could not beare his victories with that Vertue, wherewith +he wan them: for when he gaue himself to feasting and banquettinge, he +vsed the company of Harlots: amonges whom there was one Thais, who vpon +a day in hir dronkennesse, affirmed to Alexander, that he should +wonderfully win the fauour of the Greeks, if hee commaunded the Palace +of Persepolis to be set on fire. The destruction whereof (she sayd) they +greatly desired, for so mutch as the same was the chiefe seat of the +kings of Persia, which in times past had destroyed so many great +Citties. When the dronken harlot had giuen her sentence, there were +other present, who being likewise dronken, confirmed hir wordes. +Alexander then that had in him more inclination of heat than of +pacience, sayd: “Why do we not then recouer the fauour of the Greekes by +settinge this Citty on fier?” They were all chafed with drinkinge, and +rose immediately vpon those words to burne that city in their +dronkennesse, which the men of warre had spared in their fury. The kinge +himselfe first, and after his guestes, his seruauntes and his +Concubines, set fier in the Pallace, which beinge builded for the most +part of Ceder trees, became sodenly in a flame. When the army that was +encamped neere vnto the City, sawe the fire, which they thought had ben +kindled by +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page170" id = "page170">170</a></span> +some casualty, they came runninge to quenche the same againe. But when +they sawe the kynge there presente increasynge the fyre, they poured +downe the water whych they broughte, and helped lykewyse the matter +forwardes. Thus the Pallace that was the heade of the whole Orient, from +whence so many nations before had fetched their lawes to liue vnder, the +Seat of so many kynges, the onely Terror sometime of Greece, the same +that had bin the sender forth of 9000 Ships, and of the armes that +ouerflowed all Europa, that made Brydges ouer the Sea, and vndermined +mountaynes where the Sea hath now his course, was consumed and had his +ende, and neuer rose againe in all the age that did ensue: for the +kynges of Macedon vsed other Citties which be now in the Persians +handes. The destruction of this citty was sutch, that the foundation +thereof at thys day could not be found, but that riuer of Araxes doth +shew where it stoode, which was distant from Persepolis <span class = +"smallroman">XX.</span> furlonges, as the Inhabitants rather doe beleue +than know. The Macedonians were ashamed that so noble a Citty was +destroyed by their kinge in his dronkennes: yet at length it was turned +into an earnest matter, and were content to thincke it expedient that +the Citty should haue ben destroyed after that maner. But it is +certayne, that when Alexander had taken his rest, and was become better +aduised, hee repented him of his doinge: and after he had kept company +with Thalestris aforesayde, which was Queene of the Amazones, hee +tourned his continency and moderation (beinge the most excellent vertues +appearinge in any kind of estate) into pride and voluptuousnes, not +esteeminge his countrey customes, nor the holsome temperance that was in +the vsages, and discipline of kynges of Macedon. For he iudged their +ciuill vsage and maner, to be ouer base for his greatnesse, but did +counterfaite the height and pompe of the kings of Persia, representinge +the greatnesse of the Gods. Hee was content to suffre men there to fall +downe flat vppon the grounde and worship him, and accustomed the victors +of so many nacions, by litle and litle to seruile offices, couetinge to +make them like vnto his Captiues. He ware vpon his head a Diademe of +Purple interpaled with white, like as Darius was accustomed: and +fashioned his aparell after the maner of the Persians, without +scrupulosity of any euil token that is signified, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page171" id = "page171">171</a></span> +for the victorer to change his habite into the fashion of him whom he +had vanquished: and although he vaunted, that he ware the spoyles of his +enemies, yet with those spoiles he put vpon him their euil maners, and +the insolency of the mynde followed the pride of the apparell. Besides +he sealed sutch Letters as he sent into Europa, with his accustomed +seale, but all the Letters he sent abroade into Asia, were sealed with +Darius Ringe. So it appeared that one minde could not beare the +greatnesse that appertayned to two. He apparelled also his frends, his +Captayns, and his horsemen in Persian apparell, whereat though they +grudged in their mindes, yet they durst not refuse it, for feare of his +displeasure. His courte was replenished with Concubins, for he still +mainteined three hundred, and threescore that belonged to Darius, and +amonge them were flocks of Eunuches accustomed to performe the vse of +women. The olde Souldiours of Philip naturally abhorringe sutch thinges, +manyfestly withstoode to be infected with sutch voluptuousnes, and +strange customes: <ins class = "notation" title = +"printed ‘where-/vpon’ at line break">wherevpon</ins> +there rose a general talke and opinion +throughout the campe, that they had lost more by the victory, than they +won by the wars. For when they sawe themselues ouercome in sutch +excesse, and forayne customes so to preuayle, they iudged it a simple +guerdon of their longe beeinge abroade, to returne home in prisoners +maner. They began to be ashamed of their kinge, that was more like to +sutch as were subdued, than to them that were victorious: and that of a +kinge of Macedon, was become a Prince of Persia, and one of Darius +Courtiers. Thus this noble Prince from continency and mercy fell into +all kynde of disorder, the originall whereof, hee tooke by delite in +Women, which beinge vsed in sort lawfull, be great comfortes and +delightes, otherwise, the very springe of all cruelty and mischife.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page172" id = "page172">172</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_3" id = "novel2_3"> +THE THIRD NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Timoclia, a gentlewoman of Thebes, vnderstandinge the couetous +desire of a Thracian knight, that had abused hir, and promised her +mariage, rather for her goods than loue, well acquited hir selfe from +his falshoode.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Qvintus Curtius</span>, that notable +Historiographer, remembringe the stout fact of thys Thebane gentlewoman, +amonges other the Gestes and Facts of Alexander the great, I haue +deemed not altogeather vnfit for this place, to reueale the fine and +notable pollicy deuised by her, to rid hir selfe from a couetous caitife +of the Thracian kinde, who for lucre rather than loue, for gayne than +gratitude, promysed golden Hylles to thys dystressed poore Gentlewoman. +But shee in the ende payinge hym hys well deserued hyre, was liked and +praysed of Alexander for hir aduenturous facte, beinge not one of the +least vertues that shined in him, before hee grewe to excessyue abuse: +but bycause Plutarch in hys Treatyse <i>De claris mulieribus</i>, more +at large recounteth this Hystory, I haue thought good almost +(<i>verbatim</i>) to follow him. Theagenes a Gentleman of Thebes, +ioyninge himselfe wyth Epaminondas, and Pelopidas, and with other noble +men, for preseruation of their countrey of Greece, was slayne in the +chace of his enemyes, as he pursued one of the chyefe of hys +aduersaries, the same cryinge oute vnto him: “Whether doest thou pursue +vs, Theagenes?” “Euen to Macedonia:” aunswered hee. Thys Gentleman thus +slayne had a sister, whose vertue and neerenesse of kin by noble deedes, +she well witnessed, although she was not well able to manifest her +vertue, for the aduersity of the tyme, but by pacient sufferance of the +common calamityes. For after Alexander had won the Citty of Thebes, the +Souldiours greedy of Spoyle runninge vp and downe the Citty, euery of +them chauncinge vppon sutch Booty as Fortune offred them, it hapned that +a Captayne of the Thracian horsmen, a barbarous, and wycked wretch, +came to the house of Timoclia, who somewhat neere the kynge both in +name, and Kyn, in manners, and conditions, was greatly different from +him: hee +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page173" id = "page173">173</a></span> +neyther regardynge the noble house, ne yet the chastity of hir +forepassed life, vpon a tyme after supper, glutted and swilled wyth +abundance of wine, caused Timoclia forcibly to be haled to his dronken +Couch: and not contented with the forced wronge, as they were in talke +together, diligently demaunded of her, if she had in no place hidden any +Golde or Siluer, and partly by threates, and partely by promise to keepe +her as his wyfe, endeuoured to get that he desired: but shee being of +ready wit, takinge that offered occasion of her aduersary: “I would +to God,” (sayd shee) “that it had beene my lucke to haue died before +thys night, rather then to liue: for hitherto haue I kept my body pure +and vntouched from all despite, and villany, vntill vnlucky fate forced +mee to yelde to thy disordinate lust: but sith my hap is sutch, why +should I conceale those thyngs that bee thine owne, thou beinge mine +onely tutor, lord and husband (as thou sayst) when the Gods shal +please to bringe the same to passe: for by thy will and pleasure must I +vnhappy Thebane Wench be ruled and gouerned. Ech vanquished wight must +subdue their wyl and minde to their lord and victor: I beinge thy +slaue and prisoner, must needes by humble meanes yelde vp my selfe to +the vnsaciate hest of thy puissant heart: what shall let me to disclose +the pray that thou desirest, that we both, if thy minde be sutch, may +rather ioye the same, than the soyly filth of stinkinge Earth, should +deuoure sutch spoyle, which for feare, and hope of future fortune, +I buried in the bowels of the same. Then marke my words, beare them +well in mynde, sith lot had wrought me this mishap. I hauinge +plenty of coyned siluer, and of fyned gold no little store besydes sutch +Iewels as belonge to the settinge forth of the grace of woman’s beauty, +of valure and price inestimable: when I saw this Citty brought to sutch +distresse as vnpossible to be saued from takinge, all the same I threw +away, or more truely to say, I whelmed altogether in a drye Ditche +voyde of water, which my fact fewe or none did knowe. The Pit is couered +with a little couer aboue, and thickly round about beset with bushes and +thornes. Those goods will make thee a welthy personage, none in all the +Campe to be compared to thee, the riches and value whereof, wyl witnes +our former fortune, and the state of our gorgeous, and stately house: +all those doe I +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page174" id = "page174">174</a></span> +bequeathe to thee, as on whom I thinke them well bestowed.” This greedy +Lecher, laughinge to him selfe for this sodaine pray, and thinking that +his lady fast holden within his barbarous armes had tolde him truth, +routed in his filthy Couch till the day had discouered the morning +light, then gapinge for his hoped gaine, he rose and prayed her to tell +the place, that he might recouer the same. She then brought him into her +Garden, the doore whereof she commaunded to be shut, that none might +enter. He in his Hose and Doublet, went downe to the bottome of the Pit: +when Timoclia perceiued him down, she beckned for certaine of her maids, +and rolled downe diuers great stones with her own hands, which of +purpose she had caused to be placed there, and commaunded hir maides to +tumble downe the like. By which meanes she killed that lecherous and +couetous vilayne, that rather carked to satisfie his desire, than +coueted to obserue hys promisd faith. Which afterwardes beinge knowen to +the Macedonians, they haled his body out of the Pit: for Alexander had +made proclamation, that none should dare to kill any Thebane, and +therefore apprehendinge Timoclia, they brought her to the kinge, +accusinge her for doinge that murder: who by her countenaunce, and +stature of body, and by her behauiour and grauity of maners, beheld in +her the very image of gentle kinde. And first of al, he asked her what +she was: to whom boldly with constant cheere, she stoutely answered: +“Theagenes was my brother (said she) who beinge a valiaunt Captaine, and +fightinge against you for the common safegard of the Greeks, was slaine +at Chæronea, that we together might not sustaine, and proue the +miseries, wherewith we be now oppressed: but I rather than to suffer +violence vnworthy of our race and stocke, am in your maiestie’s presence +brought ready to refuse no death: for better it were for mee to dye, +than feele sutch another night, except thou commaunde the contrary.” +These wordes were vttered in sutch rufull plight, as the standers by +could not forbeare to weepe. But Alexander sayinge, that hee not onely +pitied the woman endewed with so noble wit, but mutch more wondred at +her vertue and wisedome, commaunded the Princes of his army, to foresee +no wronge or violence to be done to the Gentlewoman. He gaue order also, +that Timoclia and al +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page175" id = "page175">175</a></span> +her kin, should be garded and defended from slaughter or other wronges. +What say yee (good Ladies) to the heart of this gentlewoman that durst +be so bolde to stone this Caytife wretch to death, and for wronge done +to her bodie til that tyme vntouched, to wronge the corps of him that +sauoured of no gentle kinde: who rather for earthly mucke, than for loue +of suche a pleasaunt prisoner, exchaunged Loue for Gold? but note hereby +what force the puritie of mynde vnwilling of beastlye lust doth carye in +it selfe: a simple woman voyde of helpe, not backed with defence of +husbande’s ayde, doth bring a mighty Captayne, a strong and lofty +lubber to enter into a Caue, and when shee saw her best aduauntage, +thacked him with stones, vntil he groaned foorth his grieslye ghost. +Such is the might and prowesse of chastitie: no charge to burdennous or +weightye for suche a vertue, no enterprise too harde for a mynde so pure +and cleane.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page176" id = "page176">176</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_4" id = "novel2_4"> +THE FOURTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Ariobarzanes great steward to Artaxerxes king of Persia, goeth about to +exceede his soueraigne lord and maister in curtesie: where in be +conteyned many notable and pleasaunt chaunces, besides the great +patience and loyaltie naturally planted in the sayd Ariobarzanes.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">A question</span> is mooued manye times +among learned men and Gentlemen addicted to the seruice of the Court, +whether commendable deede, or curteous and gentle fact done by the +Gentleman or Courtier towardes his soueraine Lord, ought to be called +Liberalitie and Curtesie, or rather Band and Dutie. Which question is +not proponed with out greate reason. For so muche as ech man doth know, +that a seruaunt do what he can for his Mayster, or lette him imploy the +vttermost of his endeuour, al the labor and trauayle he bestoweth, all +trouble and daunger which he sustayneth, is to little, yea and the same +his very bounden duty. Haue wee not red of many, and knowne the lyke +that to gratifye their prince and mayster, haue into a thousande +daungers and like number of deaths, aduentured their own propre liues? +Marcus Antonius that notable oratour beying accused of incest, and +broughte to the iudgement seate, his accusers required that his seruante +should be called, for because he bare the candel before his maister, +when hee went to do the deede, who seyng his mayster’s life and death to +depend vpon his euidence, vtterly denied the facte: and notwithstanding +that he was whipped, racked, and suffered other cruel tormentes, would +rather haue loste his lyfe than accuse and betray his mayster. +I could alleage and bring forth in place, the example of Mycithus, +the seruaunt of one Anaxilaus Messenius, the fidelitye of the seruauntes +of Plotinus Plancus, the faythful mayden called Pythias, that waited +vpon Octauia, the chast Empresse and wife of that monster Nero, with +diuers other: but that I thinke they be to the learned wel knowen, and +of the vnlearned the vertue of seruauntes fidelitye is greatly liked and +commended: but if the faythful seruaunt know that his desertes do gayne +the grace and fauoure of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page177" id = "page177">177</a></span> +his mayster, what trauayles, what payns ought he to suffer to mayntayne +his reputation and to encrease the fauour obtayned? for as the common +prouerbe and wise sayinge reporteth, that the vertve is no lesse to +conserue Frendship gotten, than the wisedome was great to get and win +the same. Other there be which do contrarily contend, and with very +stronge argumentes do force to proue that al which the seruant doth +besydes his duetye and beyond the obligation, wherein he is bound to his +mayster, is and ought to be termed, Liberality, which is a matter to +prouoke his patrone and mayster to deuyse new benefytes for his +seruaunte: and that at al tymes when a man doth his duty and seruice +appoynted by his mayster, executing the same with all diligence and +industry requisite therunto, that then he deserueth to be rewarded. +Which is not to be discommended. For no true and honest seruant will +refuse any trauayle for commodity of his mayster, ne yet discrete and +wyse mayster will leaue the same vnrewarded according to that portion of +ability wherewith he is possessed: but leauinge questions and +disputacion aside procede we to that which this Nouel purposeth. +I say then that there was in the kyngdome of Persia, a kyng +called Artaxerxes, a man of most noble mynde, and of great prowesse +in armes. This was he that firste beynge a priuate man of armes, not +hauing as yet obtayned any degree in the fielde, kylled Artabanus the +last kinge of the Arsacides, whose souldiour he was, and recouered the +Persian kingdome, which was then in the Macedonians subiection +(by the death of Darius, which was vanquished by Alexander the +great) the space of 538 yeares. This noble gentleman hauing deliuered +all Persia, and created king, kept a princely court, wherin were many +magnificent factes and vertuous deedes exercised and done, and hee +himselfe moste noble in all affayres, besydes the tytles which hee +worthelye wanne in many bloudy battels, was estemed throughout the east +part of the worlde, to be the most liberal and magnanimous prince that +in any age euer raigned: in feastes and bankets he was an other +Lucullus, royally entertaining strangers that repayred to his court. +This king had a Senescall or steward, named Ariobarzanes, whose office +was, that when the king made any pompous or publike feast, to mount vpon +a whyte Courser with a Mace of gold in +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page178" id = "page178">178</a></span> +his hand, and to ride before the esquiers and Sewers for the king’s own +mouth, and those also that bare the king’s meat in vessel of gold +couered with fine napery, wrought and purled with most beautiful +workemanship of silke and gold. This office of Senescall was highly +estemed and commonly wont to be geuen to one of the chiefest Barons of +the Realm. Wherfore this Ariobarzanes besydes noble Linage and +incomparable ritches was the most curtious and liberal knight that +frequented the court whose immoderate expence was such, as leuing the +mean, wherin al vertu consisteth, by reason of outrage which many times +he vsed he fel into the vice of prodigality, wherby he semed not only in +curtious dedes to compare with the king, but also contended to excel +him. One day the king for his recreation called for the chessebord, +requiring Ariobarzanes to kepe him company, which game in those dais +among the Persians was in greate vse, in such wise as a player at the +Chestes was no les commended then amonge vs in these dais an excelent +Oratour or famous learned man: yea and the verye same game in common vse +in the Court, and noble mens houses of oure time, no doubt very +commendable and meete to be practised by all states and degrees. The +king and Ariobarzanes being sette downe at a table in the greate Hall of +the Pallace, one right against another, accompanied with a great number +of noble personages and Gentlemen lookinge vpon them, and marking their +playe with greate silence, they began to counter one another with the +Chesse-men. Ariobarzanes, whether it was that he played better than the +kinge, or whether the kinge took no heede to his game, or what so euer +the occasion was, hee coursed the king to such a narow straight, as he +could not auoid, but within two or three draughtes, he must be forced to +receiue the Checkemate: which the king perceiuing, and considering the +daunger of the Mate, by and by there grew a greater colour in his face +than was wont to bee, and imagininge how hee mighte auoyde the mate, +besides his blushing he shaked his head, and fetched out diuers sighes, +whereby the standers by that marked the game, perceiued that hee was +dryuen to his shiftes. The Senescall espyinge the kinge’s demeanour, and +seeing the honest shamefastenesse of the king, would not suffer him to +receiue such a foyle, but made a draught by remouing his +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page179" id = "page179">179</a></span> +knighte backe, to open a way for the King to passe, as not onely hee +deliuered him from the daunger of the Mate, but also lost one of his +Rockes for lacke of taking hede: whereupon the game rested equall. The +King (who knew the good nature and noble mynde of his seruaunt, by +experience of the same in other causes) fayning that hee had ouerseene +the takinge of hys rocke, gaue ouer the game, and rysing vp, sayd: “No +more Ariobarzanes, the game is yours, and I confesse my selfe ouercome.” +The king thought that Ariobarzanes did not the same so much for +curtesie, as to bynde his soueraigne lorde and king by benefit to +recompence his subiecte’s like behauiour, which he did not very well +like, and therfore would play no more. Notwithstanding the king neither +by signe or deede, ne yet in talke, shewed any token of displesure for +that curtesie done. How be it, he would that Ariobarzanes in semblable +act, shoulde abstayne to shewe himselfe curteous or liberal, except it +were to his inferiours and equalles, because it is not conuenient for a +seruant to contend with his maister in those qualityes. Not long after +the kinge beyng at Persepolis (the principal citye of Persia,) ordayned +a notable day of hunting of diuers beastes of that countrey breede: and +when all thinges were in a readinesse he with the most part of his Court +repayred to the pastyme. When they were come into the place, the king +commaunded a woodde to be set about with nettes and toiles, and +appointed eche man where he should stand in most conuenient place, and +he himselfe attended with the dogs and hornes to cause the beastes to +issue forth oute of their Caues. And beholde, they raysed a wyld beast, +which with greate swyftnesse leapte ouer the nettes and ranne awaye with +greate spede. The King seyng that strange beast, purposed to pursue him +to death: and makinge a signe to certayne of his noble men which hee +desired to keepe him companye hee gaue the rayne and spurre to his +horse, and followinge the chace Ariobarzanes was one of those noble men +which pursued the game. It chaunced that day the kinge rode vpon a +horse, that was the swiftest runner in his stable, which hee esteemed +better then a thousande other, as wel for his velocity, as for his +readinesse in factes of armes. Thus following with bridle at will, the +flying rather then running beast, they wer deuided far from their +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page180" id = "page180">180</a></span> +company, and by reason of the kinge’s spedines, none was able to followe +him but Ariobarzanes, and behind him one of his seruants vpon a good +horse which alwaies he vsed in hunting matters, which horse was counted +the beste in all the court. And thus following the chace with galloping +spede Ariobarzanes at length espyed the horse of his soueraigne lord had +lost his shooes before, and that the stones had surbated his hoofes, +wherupon the kyng was driven either to geue ouer the chace or else to +marre his horse: and neyther of these two necessities but would haue +greatly displeased the kinge, that perceiued not his horse to be vnshod. +The Senescall did no sooner espye the same but sodainly dismounted from +his owne, caused his man to deliuer vnto him a hammer and nailes (which +for such like chaunces he always caried aboute him) and toke of two +shoes from the horse feete of his good horse, to set vpon the kynge’s +not caring for his own rather then the king should forgoe his pleasure: +wherfore hallowing the kinge which was earnestly bent vppon the chace, +tolde him of the daunger wherein his horse was for lacke of shoes. The +kinge hearinge that lighted from his horse, and seyng two shooes in +Ariobarzanes manne’s hand, thinking that Ariobarzanes had brought them +with him, or that they were the shoes which fell from his owne, taried +stil vntil his horse was shod. But when he saw the notable horse of his +senescall vnshod before, then he thought that to be the curtesie of +Ariobarzanes, and so did let the matter passe, studying by lyke meanes +to requite him with Curtesie, which forced himselfe to surmount in the +same: and when his horse was shod, he gaue the same to Ariobarzanes in +rewarde. And so the king chose rather to lose his pleasure of hunting, +then to suffer himselfe by his man to be excelled in curtesie, wel +noting the stoutnesse of Ariobarzanes mynde which semed to haue a will +to contend with his prince in factes renoumed and liberal. The senescall +thought it not conuenient to refuse the gyft of his liege lord, but +accepted the same with like good will as before he shod his horse, still +expectinge occasion how he might surpas his master in curtesie and so to +bind him to requite the same againe. They had not taried there long, but +many of those that followed did ouertake them. And then the king got vp +vpon a spare horse and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page181" id = "page181">181</a></span> +returned to the city with all his company. Within few daies after the +king by proclamation sommoned a solemne and pompous iust and tryumph at +the tilt, to be done vpon the kalends of May next ensuing. The reward +appointed the victor and best Doer in the same was a couragious and +goodly curser with a brydle and byt of fine gold rychly wrought, +a saddle correspondent of passing great pryce, the furniture and +trappers for the brydle and saddle of like cost and workmanship, the +rayns wer twoo chaynes of golde very artificially made, the barbe and +couerture of the horse of cloth of golde fringed round about with like +gold, ouer which horse was placed a fine sword the hiltes an chape +wherof together with the scabard wer curiously beset with Pearles and +Precious stones of Inestimable value. On the other syde was placed a +very beautiful and stronge Mace, verye cunninglye wrought with damaskin. +The Horse was placed in forme of triumph, and besydes the same all the +Armours and weapons meete for a Combatante Knyghte, riche and fayre +without comparison. The Placart was marueylous and stronge, the Launce +was guilte and bygge, as none greatter in all the troupe of the +chalengers and defendauntes. And all those furnitures were appoynted to +be geuen to him that should do best that day. A greate assemblye of +straungers repayred to that solemne feast, as wel to doe deedes of +Armes, as to looke vpon that pompous tryumph. Of the kynge’s Subiectes +there was neither knyghte nor baron, but in ryche and sumptuous apparell +appeared that day, amonges whom, of chiefest fame the kynge’s eldest +sonne was the fyrst that gaue his name, a Gentlemanne very +valorous, and in deedes of armes of passing valour brought vp from his +very youth, and trayned in the fielde and other warlyke exercises. The +Senescall also caused his name to be inrolled: the like didde other +knyghtes as wel Persians as other straungers: for that the proclamation +was general, with safeconducte for all forrayners, noble men or other +that should make their repayre. The king had elected three auncient +Barons to be Judges and Arbitratours of their deedes, sutch as in their +tyme for their owne personages had bene very valiant, and in many +enterprises well exercised, men of great discretion and iudgement. Their +stage was placed in the middes of the Listes, to viewe and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page182" id = "page182">182</a></span> +marke the Counterbuffes and blowes of the Combatants. We nede not to +remember, ne ought to forget the number of ladies and gentlewomen +assembled out of al partes to behold and view this triumphe, and +peraduenture eche knight that ran that day was not without his amorous +lady to note and behold his actiuity and prowesse, euery of them wearing +his ladie’s sleeue, gloue, or other token, according to the common +custome in such lyke cases. At the day and houre appoynted appeared all +the Combatantes in greate Tryumphe and Pompe, with rych furnitures as +wel vpon them selues as vpon their horse. The triumphe begon and many +Launces broken in good order, on either sides Iudgement was geuen +generally that the Senescall Ariobarzanes had wonne the prise, and next +vnto him the kinge’s sonne did passe them all, for that none of al the +combatantes hadde broken past <span class = "smallroman">V.</span> +staues, and the sayd yong Gentleman had in the face of his aduersary +broken in pieces <span class = "smallroman">IX.</span> at the least. The +Senescall brought for the eleuen launces, which were couragiously and +<ins class = "correction" title = "error for ‘honourably’">houourably</ins> +broken, by breaking of the last staffe +which was the twelfth he was iudged most worthy. The condition wherof +was, that euery combatant should runne twelue courses with twelue +launces, and he whiche should first breake the same should without doubt +or further controuersie obtayne the reward. What pleasure and delight +the king did conceiue to see his sonne behaue him selfe so valiantly +that day, I referre to the iudgement of fathers, that haue children +endued with like actiuity. But yet it greued him that the Senescall had +the greater aduantage, and yet being a matter so wel knowen and +discerned by the Iudges, like a wyse man he discembled his countenaunce. +On the other syde, the yong Gentleman which did combate before his +amorous ladye was very sorrowful for that he was voyde of hope of the +chiefest honour. So that betwene the father and the sonne, was one very +thought and desire: but the vertue and valor of the Senescall did cut of +eythers greefe. Now the tyme was come that the Senescall should runne +with his last staffe mounted vppon the horse which the king gaue him +when he was an huntyng, who knowing wel that the king was very desirous +that his son should excell all men, perceyued likewyse the inflamed mynd +of the yonge gentleman for the presence of his lady to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page183" id = "page183">183</a></span> +aspyre the honour, purposed to geue ouer the honour atchieued by +himselfe, to leaue it to the sonne and heir of his lorde and mayster: +and yet hee knewe ful wel that those his curtesies pleased not the king, +neuerthelesse he was determined to perseuer in his opinion, not to +bereue the king of his glory, but onely to acquire fame and honour for +him selfe. But fully mynded that the honour of the tryumphe should be +geuen to the kynge’s sonne, he welded the staffe within his reste, and +when he was ready to encounter (because it was he that shold come +agaynst him,) he let fal his launce out of his handes, and said: +“Farewel this curtesie of myne, sith it is no better taken.” The kinge’s +sonne gaue a gentle counterbuffe vpon the Placarde of the Senescall, and +brake his staffe in many pieces, which was the <span class = +"smallroman">X.</span> course. Many heard the wordes that the senescall +spake when his staffe fell out of his handes, and the standers by well +perceiued that he was not minded to geue the laste blowe, bicause the +king’s sonne might haue the honor of the triumph, which he desyred so +much. Then Ariobarzanes departed the listes: and the Prince withoute any +great resistance wan the prise and victory. And so with sounde of +diuerse instruments the prise borne before him, he was throughout the +citie honorably conueyed, and among other, the senescall still waited +vpon him with mery countenance, greatly praising and exalting the +valiance of the yong Prince. The king which was a very wise man, and +many times hauing experience of the chiualry of his Senescall at other +Tourneis, Iustes, Barriers, and Battels, and always finding him to be +prudent, politike, and for his person very valiant, knewe to well that +the fall of his launce was not by chaunce but of purpose, continued his +opinion of his Senescall’s liberalitye and courage. And to say the +trouth, such was his exceding curtesie, as fewe may be found to imitate +the same. We daily se that many be liberall of Fortune’s goods +inuestinge some with promotion, some with apparel, Gold and Siluer, +Iewels and other things of great value. We see also noble men, +bountifull to theyr seruaunts, not onely of mouable <ins class = +"correction" title = "error for ‘things’">thiugs</ins>, but also of +Castels, Lands, and Cities: what shal we speake of them, which will not +sticke to sheade their owne bloud, and many tymes to spende theire lyfe +to do their frendes good? Of those and such like examples, all +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page184" id = "page184">184</a></span> +recordes be full: but a man that contemneth fame and glorye or is of his +owne honour liberal, is neuer founde. The victorious Captayne after the +bloudy battayle, giueth the spoyle of his ennemies to his souldiours, +rewardeth them with prisoners, departeth vnto them the whole praye, but +the glory and honor of the battel he reserueth vnto himselfe. And as +diuinely the father of Romaine eloquence doth say, how that philosophers +by recording the glorious gestes and dedes of others, do seke after +glory themselues. The king was displeased with these noble dedes and +curtesie of his Senescall, because he thought it not mete or decente +that a Subiecte and seruant should compare with his lord and mayster: +and therfore did not bare him that louing and chereful countenance which +hee was wont to doe. And in the ende, purposed to let him know, that he +spent his brayns in very great errour, if he thought to force his +mayster to be bound or beneficial vnto him, as herafter you shal +perceiue. There was an auncient and approued custome in Persia, that the +kinges yerely did solemnise an Anniuersarye of theyr Coronation with +great feast and tryumph, vpon which day all the Barons of the kyngdome +were bounde to repayre to the courte where the king by the space of +<span class = "smallroman">VIII.</span> dayes with sumptuous bankets and +other feastes kept open house. Vpon the Anniuersary day of Artaxerxes’ +coronation, when al thinges were disposed in order, the king desirous to +accomplish a certayne conceiued determination commaunded one of his +faythful chamberlaynes spedely to seeke out Ariobarzanes, which he did, +and telling him the kinge’s message, sayde: “My lorde Ariobarzanes, the +king hath willed me to say vnto you, that his pleasure is, that you in +your own person euen forthwith shal cary your white steede and Courser, +the mace of gold, and other ensignes due to the office of Senescal vnto +Darius, your mortal enemy, and in his maiestye’s behalfe to say vnto +him, that the kynge hath geuen him that office, and hath clerely +dispossessed you thereof.” Ariobarzanes hearing those heauy newes, was +like to dye for sorrowe, and the greatter was his grief, because it was +geuen to his greatest enemy. Notwithstanding lyke a gentleman of noble +stomacke, would not in open appearaunce signifie the displeasure which +hee conceiued within, but with mery cheare and louing countenaunce +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page185" id = "page185">185</a></span> +answered the chamberlayne: “Do my right humble commendations vnto the +king’s maiesty, and say vnto him, that like as he is soueraine lord of +all this land, and I his faythful subiecte, euen so mine office, my +lyfe, landes and goods, be at his disposition, and that willinglye I wil +performe his hest.” When he had spoken those woordes hee rendred vp his +office to Darius, who at diner serued in the same. And when the king was +set, Ariobarzanes with comly countenance sate downe among the rest of +the lords, which sodenlye deposition and depriuation, did maruelously +amaze the whole assembly, euery man secretly speking their mind either +in praise or dispraise of the fact. The king all the dinner time, did +marke and note the countenance of Ariobarzanes, which was pleasaunt and +merie as it was wont to be, whereat the kinge did greately maruell: and +to attaine the ende of his purpose, hee 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 syde the king +suborned diuers persons diligently to espy what he saide and did. +Ariobarzanes hearing the king’s 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, that his modest +talke and his long and faithful seruice, which he had done to the king, +his losse and hinderance sustained, the perill of his life, which so +many tymes he had suffred preuayled nothing, at length vanquished with +disdayne he brake the bridle of pacience, and sorted out of the boundes +of his wonted nature, for that in place of honoure he receiued rebuke, +and in stede of reward was depryued of his office, began in a rage to +complayne on the king, terminge him to bee an vnkynd prince, which among +the Persians was estemed a worde of great offence to the maiesty: +wherefore faine he would haue departed the court, and retired home to +his countrey, which he could not doe without speciall licence from the +king, and yet to craue the same at his handes, his heart would not serue +him. Al these murmures and complaintes which he secretly made, were +tolde the king, and therefore the king commaunded him one day, to be +called beefore him, vnto whome he sayd: “Ariobarzanes, youre grudging +complaintes and enuious quarels, whyche you +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page186" id = "page186">186</a></span> +brute behinde my backe throughout my Courte, and your continuall rages +outragiously pronounced, through the very Windowes of my Palace haue +pierced mine eares, whereby I vnderstand that thing which hardly I would +haue beleued: but yet being a Prince aswell inclined to fauoure and +quiet hearinge of all causes, as to credite of light reportes, would +faine know of you the cause of your complaints, and what hath moued you +therevnto: 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 Decrees they be honored +and worshipped as Gods. And among all the penaltyes conteyned in our +lawes, the vyce of Ingratitude is moste bytterlye corrected. But leauing +to speake of the threates and daungers 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 anye man, which if I should +doe (and the Gods forbid the same) I ought rather to be termed a +tyrante than a Kinge.” Ariobarzanes hearing the king speake so +reasonably, was abashed, but yet with stoute countenaunce he feared not +particularly to remember the woordes which he had spoken of the king, +and the cause wherefore he spake them. “Wel (said the king) +I perceiue that you blush not at the words, ne yet feare to reherse +the same vnto my face, wherby I do perceiue and note in you a certayne +kind of stoutenes which naturally procedeth from the greatnes of your +mynd. But yet wisdome would that you should consider the reason and +cause why I haue depryued you from your office. Do you not know that it +appertaineth vnto me in all myne affaires and deedes to be liberal, +curtious, magnificent, and bounteous? Be not those the virtues that make +the fame of a Prince to glister among his subiectes, as the Sunne beames +doe vpon the circuit of the world? Who oughte to rewarde wel doers and +recompence ech wight whiche for any trauell haue al the dayes of their +lyfe, or els in some perticuler seruice vsed their endeuor, or +aduentured the peril of their life, but I alone being your soueraygne +Lord and Prince? To the vertuous and obedient, to the Captayne and the +Souldiour, to the pollityke and to the learned and graue, finally, to +ech wel deseruing wight, I know how to vse the noble princely +vertues of curtesie and liberality. They be the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page187" id = "page187">187</a></span> +comly ensignes of a kynge. They be the onely ornaments of a prince. They +be my perticular vertues. And will you Ariobarzanes, being a valiaunt +Souldioure, a graue counsayler, and a pollityke personage, goe +about to dispossesse me of that which is myne? Wil you whiche are my +seruaunte and Subiecte of whome I make greateste accompt and haue in +dearest estimation, vpon whom I did bestow the greatest dignity within +the compas of my whole Monarchie, grate benefite at my handes, by +abusinge those vertues whiche I aboue other do principally regard? You +do much abuse the credite which I repose in youre greate wisedome. For +hee in whome I thought to fynde most graue aduise, and deemed to bee a +receptacle of al good counsel, doth seeke to take vppon him the +personage of his Prince, and to vsurpe the kinglye qualitie which +belongeth only vnto him. Shal I be tyed by your desertes, or bound by +curteous deedes, or els be forced to rendre recompence? No, no, so long +as this imperiall crowne shal rest on royal head, no subiect by any +curteous deede of his, shal straine vnwilling mynde, which mente it not +before. Tel me I beseech you what reward and gift, what honour and +preferment haue I euer bestowed vpon you, sithens my first arriual to +this victorious raigne, that euer you by due desert did bynde me +thereunto? Which if you did, then liberal I cannot be termed, but a +slauish Prince bound to do the same, by subiects merite. High and +mightie kinges doe rewarde and aduaunce their men, hauing respect that +their gift or benefite shal exceede deserte, otherwise that preferment +cannot bee termed liberal. The great conquerour Alexander Magnus wan a +great and notable Citie for wealth and spoyle. For the principalitie and +gouernment wherof diuers of his noble men made sute, alleaging their +paynful seruice and bloudy woundes about the getting of the same. But +what did that worthy king? was he moued with the bloudshead of his +captaynes? was he styrred with the valiaunce of his men of warre? was he +prouoked with their earnest sutes? No trulye: But calling vnto him a +poore man, whome by chaunce he found there, to him he gaue that riche +and wealthy citie, and the gouernmente thereof, that his magnificence +and his liberalitie to a person so pore and base, might receiue greatter +fame and estimation: and to declare that the conferred benefyte didde +not +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page188" id = "page188">188</a></span> +proceede of deserte or dutie, but of mere liberalitie, very curtesie, +true munificence and noble disposition, deriued from princely heart and +kinglye nature. Howbeit I speake not this that a faythful seruaunt +should be vnrewarded (a thing very requisite) but to inferre and +proue that reward should excell the merite and seruice of the receiuer. +Now then I say, that you going about by large desert and manifold +curtesie to binde mee to recompence the same, you seeke thy next waye to +cut of the meane whereby I should be liberall. Do not you see that +through your vnaduysed curtesie I am preuented, and letted from myne +accustomed liberalitye, wherewith dayly I was wont to reward my kynde, +louing and loyal seruauntes, to whom if they deserued one talent of +golde, my manner was to geue them two or three: if a thousand crownes by +the yeare, to geue them <span class = "smallroman">V</span>. Do you +not know that when they loked for most rewarde or preferment, the soner +did I honour and aduaunce them? Take heede then from henceforth +Ariobarzanes, that you liue with such prouidence and circumspection as +you may bee knowen to be a seruant, and I reputed (as I am) +for your souerayne Lord and mayster. All Princes in myne opinion requyre +two thinges of theire seruantes, that is to say, fidelity and loue, +which being hadd they care for no more. Therefore he that list to +contende with me in curtesie, shal fynde in the ende that I make smale +accompte of him. And he that is my trusty and faithful seruant, +diligente to execute and do my commaundementes, faythful in my secret +affayres, and duetyfull in his vocation, shal truely witte and most +certaynlye feele that I am both curteous and liberall. Which thou thy +selfe shal wel perceiue, and be forced to confesse that I am the same +manne in dede, for curtesie and liberalitye whom thou indeuorest to +surmount.” Then the king held his peace. Ariobarzanes very reuerentlye +made answear in this manner: “Most noble and victorious Prince, wel +vnderstanding the conceiued grief of your inuincible mind pleaseth youre +sacred maiesty to geue mee leaue to answer for my self, not to aggrauate +or heap your wrath and displeasure (which the Gods forbid) but to +disclose my humble excuse before your maiesty that the same poized with +the equall balance of youre rightful mind, my former attempts may nether +seme presumptuous, ne yet my wel meaning +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page189" id = "page189">189</a></span> +mind, well measured with iustice, ouerbold or malapert. Most humbly +then, prostrate vpon my knees I say that I neuer went about, or else did +think in mind to excede or compare with your infinite and +incomprehensible bounty, but indeuored by al possible means to let your +grace perceiue, and the whole world to know that there is nothing in the +world which I regard so much as your good grace and fauour. And mighty +Ioue graunt that I do neuer fal into so great errour to presume for to +contend with the greatnes of your mynde: which fond desire if my beastly +mynd should apprehend, I myghte be lickned to the man that goeth +aboute to berieue and take away the clerenesse of the Sun, or +brightnesse of the splendant stars. But euer I did thinke it to be my +bounden duety not only of those fortunes goods which by your princely +meanes I do inioy to bee a distributer and large giuer, but also bound +for the profite and aduauncement of your regal crowne and dignitye, and +defence of your most noble person, of mine owne life and bloud to be +both liberall and prodigall. And where your maiesty thinketh that I haue +laboured to compare in curtious dede or other liberall behauiour, no +deede that euer I did, or fact was euer enterprised by me for other +respect, but for to get and continue your more ample fauour and daily to +encrease your loue for that it is the seruant’s part with all his force +and might to aspyre the grace and fauoure of his soueraygne lorde. How +beit (most noble prince) before this tyme I did neuer beleue, nor hard +youre grace confesse, that magnanimity, gentlenes and curtesie, were +vertues worthy of blame and correction, as your maiesty hath very +manifestly done me to vnderstande by wordes seuere, and taunting +checkes, vnworthye for practise of such rare and noble vertues. But how +so euer it bee, whether lyfe or death shal depend vpon this prayse +worthy and honourable purpose, I meane hereafter to yeld my dutye +to my souerayne lord, and then it may please him to terme my dedes +courteous or liberal or to thinke on my behauiour, what his owne +princely mynde shal deme and iudge.” The king vpon those wordes rose vp +and sayd: “Ariobarzanes, now it is no tyme to continue in further +disputation of this argument, committing the determination and iudgement +herof, to the graue deliberation of my counsel who at conuenient leasure +aduisedly shal +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page190" id = "page190">190</a></span> +according to the Persian lawes and customes conclud the same. And for +this present time I say vnto thee that I am disposed to accompt the +accusation made agaynste thee to be true, and confessed by thy self. In +the mean tyme thou shalt repayre into the country and come no more to +the court til I commaund thee.” Ariobarzanes receiuinge this answeare of +his souerayne lorde departed, and to his great contentation, went home +into his countreye merye, for that he should be absent out of the daylye +sight of his enemies, yet not wel pleased for that the king had remitted +his cause to his Councell. Neuerthelesse minded to abyde and suffer al +Fortune, he gaue him selfe to the pastime of huntinge of Deere, runninge +of the wylde Bore, and flying of the Hauke. This noble Gentleman had two +onlye daughters of his wife that was deceased, the most beautiful +Gentlewomen of the countrey, the eldest of which two was peerelesse and +without comparison, older than the other by one yeare. The beauty of +those fayre ladies was bruted throughout the whole Region of Persia, to +whome the greatest Lordes and Barons of the countrey were great and +importunate suters. He was not in his countrey resiant the space of +fower monethes, which for salubritie of ayre was most holsome and +pleasaunt, full of lordlike liberties and Gentlemanlike pastimes, aswel +to bee done by the hound as folowed by the spaniell, but one of the +kinge’s Haraulds sente from the Court, appeared before him with message +to this effecte, saying vnto him: “My lord, Ariobarzanes, the kinge my +souerayne Lord hath commaunded you to send with me to the Court the +fayrest of your two daughters, for that the reporte of their famous +beautie hath made him hardlie to beleeue them to be such, as common +bruite would fayne doe him to vnderstand.” Ariobarzanes not well able to +conceiue the meaning of the king’s commaundiment, reuolued in his mynde +diuers thinges touching that demaund, and concludinge vpon one which fel +to his remembrance, determined to send his younger daughter, which +(as we haue sayde before) was not in beautie comparable to her +elder sister, whereupon hee caused the mayden to be sent for, and sayde +vnto her these wordes: “Daughter, the king my maister and thy soueraigne +Lord, hath by his messanger commaunded me to sende vnto him the fayrest +of my daughters, but +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page191" id = "page191">191</a></span> +for a certaine reasonable respect which at thys time I purpose not to +disclose, my mynde is that thou shalt goe, praying thee not to say but +that thou thyselfe art of the twayne the fayrest, the concealinge of +whiche mine aduise wil breede vnto thee (no doubt) thy great +aduauncement, besides the profite and promotion that shal accriue by +that thy silence: and the disclosing of the same may hap to engendre to +thy deere father his euerlasting hindrance, and perchaunce the +depriuation of his lyfe: but if so be the Kinge doe beget the with +childe, in anye wise keepe close the same: and when thou seest thy belly +begin to swell, that no longer it can be closely kept, then in +conuenient time, when thou seest the kinge merily disposed, thou shalt +tell the king that thy syster is far more beautifull than thyselfe, and +that thou art the yonger sister.” The wise maiden well vnderstanding her +father’s minde, and conceiuing the summe of his intent, promised to +performe his charge, and so with the Haraulde and honorable traine, he +caused his daughter to be conueyed to the Court. An easie matter it was +to deceiue the king in the beauty of that maiden: for although the elder +daughter was the fairest, yet this Gentlewoman seemed so peerelesse in +the Courte, that without comparison she was the most beautifull that was +to be found either in Courte or countrey: the behauiour and semblance of +whiche two daughters were so like, that hard it was to iudge whether of +them was the eldest: for their father had so kept them in, that seldome +they were seene within his house, or at no time marked when they walked +abroade. The wife of the king was dead the space of one yeere before, +for which cause he determined to mary the daughter of Ariobarzanes, who +although she was not of the royall bloud, yet of birth she was right +noble. When the kinge sawe this Gentlewoman, he iudged hir to be the +fairest that euer he saw or heard of by report, whom in the presence of +his noblemen he solemnly did marry, and sent vnto her father to appoynct +the Dowry of his married Daughter out of hande, and to returne the same +by that messenger. When Ariobarzanes hearde tell of thys vnhoped +mariage, right ioyfull for that successe, sent vnto his Daughter the +Dowry which he had promised to geue to both his Daughters. Many of the +Court did maruell, that the kynge beinge in aged +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page192" id = "page192">192</a></span> +yeares woulde mary so yongue a mayden, specially the daughter of his +Subiect, whom he had banished from the Courte. Some praysed the kinge’s +Disposition for taking hir whom he fansied: ech man speakynge his +seuerall mynde accordynge to the dyuers customes of men. +Notwythstandinge there were diuers that moued the kinge to that mariage, +thereby to force him to confesse, that by takinge of the goods of +Ariobarzanes, he might be called Courteous and Liberall. The mariage +being solemnized in very sumptuous and princely guise, Ariobarzanes sent +to the kinge the like Dowry which before he had sent him for mariage of +his daughter, with message to this effect: That for so mutch as hee had +Assigned to his Daughters two certayne Dowries to mary them to their +equal feeres, and seeinge that hee which was without exception, was the +husbande of the one, his duety was to bestow vpon his grace a more +greater gift, than to any other which should haue bene his sonne in law: +but the king would not receiue the increase of his dowry, deeming +himselfe wel satisfied with the beauty and good condicions of his new +spouse, whom he entertayned and honored as Queene. In the meane time she +was with childe with a Sonne (as afterwardes in the birth it +appeered) which so wel as she coulde she kept close and secret, but +afterwardes perceiuinge her Belly to wax bigge, the greatnesse whereof +she was not able to hide, beinge vppon a time with the kinge and in +familiar disporte, she like a wise and sobre lady induced matter of +diuers argument, amonges which as occasion serued, she disclosed to the +king, that she was not the fayrest of hir father’s daughters, but hir +elder sister more beautifull than she. The king hearing that, was +greatly offended with Ariobarzanes, for that he had not accomplished his +commaundement: and albeit hee loued well his wife, yet to attaine the +effect of his desire, he called his Haraulde vnto him, whom he had first +sent to make request for his wyfe, and with him returned agayne his new +maried spouse vnto her father, commaunding him to say these wordes: +“That for so mutch as he knew himselfe to be vanquished and ouercome by +the king’s humanity, his grace did maruell, that in place of curtesie, +he would use such contumacy and disobedience, by sending vnto him, not +the fairest of his daughters, which he required, but sutch +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page193" id = "page193">193</a></span> +as he himselfe liked to sende: a matter no doubt worthy to be +sharpely punished and reuenged: for which cause the kinge beinge not a +litle offended, had sent home his daughter agayne, and willed hym to +sende his eldest daughter, and that he had returned the Dowry which he +gaue with his yonger.” Ariobarzanes receyued his daughter and the dowry +with willinge minde, and sayd theese words to the Harauld: “Mine other +daughter which the king my Soueraygne Lord requireth, is not able +presently to go with thee, bycause in hir bed she lieth sicke, as thou +mayst manifestly perceiue if thou come into hir chamber: but say vnto +the king, that vppon my fayth and allegiaunce so soone as she is +recouered, I will sende hir to the court.” The Haraulde seeing the +mayden lye sicke on her bed, weake and Impotent, not able to trauel, +returned to the king, and told him of the sicknesse of the eldest +Daughter of Ariobarzanes, wherewithall beinge satisfied, he attended the +successe of his desired sute: the Gentlewoman no sooner beinge +recouered, but the tyme of the other’s childbirth was come, which +brought forth a goodly Boy: both the Mother safely brought to Bed, and +the childe strong and lusty. Whych greatly contented and pleased +Ariobarzanes, and the greater grew his ioy thereof, for that hee sawe +the Childe to be like vnto the kinge his father: and by that time the +yong Gentlewoman was rysen from her childbed, the sister was perfectly +whole, and had recouered her former hiewe and beauty, both which beinge +richely apparelled, Ariobarzanes with an honourable trayne, sent vnto +the kinge, instructinge them first what they ought to say and do. When +they were arriued at the courte, one of the pryuy chamber aduertised the +king that Ariobarzanes had not onely sent one of his daughters, but both +of them. The kynge hearinge and seeinge the liberalyty of Ariobarzanes, +accepted the same in gracious part, and determined for that curtesie, to +vse him with sutch princely liberality, as he should be forced to +confesse himselfe ouercome. And before the messanger which had brought +the yong gentlewoman did departe, he caused to be called before him his +only sonne called Cyrus, vnto whom he sayd: “Bycause Cyrus the time of +thy yeares bee sutch, as meete they be to match the in Mariage, for hope +I haue to see some Progeny proceede of thee before I die, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page194" id = "page194">194</a></span> +my minde is that thou shalt mary this goodly Gentlewoman here, the +syster of my Wyfe.<ins class = "addition" title = +"close quote missing">”</ins> To which hys father’s hest, the yong gentleman +willingly assented. Then the kyng toke again his owne, and ordayned a +royall feast, for the mariage of his Sonne, which was celebrated and +done with great triumph and solemnity, continuinge the space of 8 dayes. +Ariobarzanes hearinge these good newes, would not yet acknowledge +himselfe to be ouercome, and seeinge that his purpose was nowe brought +to an extremity, determined to send the little childe, a little +before begotten of hys daughter, to the kinge, which so resembled the +kinge’s face and Countenaunce as was possible: and therefore caused a +cradle to bee made of the fairest Iuory that was to be gotten, embossed +and garnished with pure Golde, adorned and set wyth most precious Stones +and Iewels, wherein he caused the childe to be placed, and couered wyth +rich clothes of fynest gold and silke, and together with the Nourice, +accompanied with a pompous trayne of Gentlemen, he sent him to the +kinge, the very time that the solemne mariage should be celebrated: and +the kinge beinge in his great Hall, which was hanged with maruellous +rich and costly Arras, attended vpon with a great numbre of his Barons +and noble men, hee that had the charge of the conduction of the child, +vpon his knees presented the same before him, lyinge in the Cradle. The +king and the Noblemen, meruelling what that did meane expected what the +Messenger would say, who holding the Cradle by one of the Pomels, sayd +these wordes: “Most renoumed and victorious Prince, in the behalfe of +Ariobarzanes, my Lorde and your Subiect, most humbly I present vnto your +maiesty, with al Submission and reuerence, this gift: and my sayd Lord +doth rendre infinite thankes vnto your highnesse, for the great curtesie +it hath pleased you to vse, by vouchsafinge to entertayne him into your +alliaunce: for which not to seeme vnmindfull, this present (and +therewithall he opened the Cradle) by mee hee hath sent vnto your +maiesty.” When the Cradle was discouered, there apeared a goodly yong +Chylde, Smilinge and Laughing vpon his father, the ioyfullest sight that +euer his father sawe, and so like vnto him, as the halfe Moone is lyke +the proportion of the rest. Then euery of the Standers by began to say +his minde touchinge the resemblaunce of the Chylde +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page195" id = "page195">195</a></span> +to hys Father, hardily protesting the same without doubt to be his owne. +The kyng could not be satisfied with the sight of his child, by reason +of the great delight he had to looke vpon him, and of the generall +opinion whych all men auouched touchinge his lykenesse. The Chylde +agayne vpon the common reioyce made vpon hym, but specially of hys +Father, wyth preaty motions and sweete laughinges, representinge two +smilinge pyttes in his ruddy Cheekes, crowed many tymes vpon his father, +toyinge vp and downe hys tender handes: afterwardes the kynge behelde +the workmanship of that sumptuous cradle, and demaunded whereof the +substaunce was. Vnto whom the Messenger discribed the Hystory and whole +content of that incomparable Iewel: who hearinge that discourse, caused +the Queene to be called forth, and by her was further certified of her +father’s noble disposition, wyth exceeding contentation, and wonderfull +reioyce, he receyued the little Chylde, and confessed hym selfe in maner +vanquished: notwythstandinge seeming to be thus surmounted, he thought +if he did not surpasse this curtesy, his noble and princely minde should +be disgraced: wherefore he determined to vse a kind of magnanimity, +thereby eyther to ouercome Ariobarzanes, or else hauinge apparant +occasion altogether to fall out and to conceyue a mortall malice agaynst +hym. The Kynge had a Daughter of the age of 21 yeares, a very fayre +and comely Lady (accordinge as her Royall education and princely +bringinge vp required) whom as yet he had not matched in mariage, +meaninge to bestowe her vppon some kynge or great Monarch with a dowry +of Ten hundred thousand Crownes, besides the pryncely and great costly +Apparell and Iewells whych her owne mother lyinge vppon her death Bed +did bequeathe her. The kynge then purposinge to excell Ariobarzanes, +mynded by couplynge hym wyth hys Daughter, to make hym his sonne in +lawe: whych to a Lady of Royall Linage, appeareth some debacinge of her +noble bloud, to be matched with a man of inferiour byrth: the lyke to a +Man how honourable so euer he be cannot chaunce, if he take a Wyfe of +Degree neuer so Base: for if hee bee borne of Noble and Gentle kynde, +hee doth illustrate and aduaunce the Woman whom he taketh, all be it +shee were of the meanest trampe of the popular sorte, and the Chyldren +whych be borne of them +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page196" id = "page196">196</a></span> +by the Father’s meanes, shalbe Noble and of a gentle kynd: but a woman, +although shee be most Noble, if shee bee married to hir inferiour, and +that hir husbande bee not so Noble, the chyldren that shall be borne of +them shall not receiue the honour of the mother’s stock, but the state +of the father’s lotte, and so shall be vnnoble. Sutch is the Reuerence +and Authoritie of the Sexe of man, wherevpon doeth ryse the comparyson +of the wyfe, which doth resemble the man vnto the Sunne, and the Woman +to the Moone. For wee see that the Moone of hir selfe doth not giue +light, ne yet can yelde any brightnesse to the darknesse of the Night, +if she did not pertake some shining of the Sun, who with his liuely +flames at times and places doth brighten the starres, and maketh the +moone to shine: euen so the woman dependeth of the man, and of hym doth +take hir nobility. The kyng therefore thought the match not meete for +Ariobarzanes to marry his Daughter, and feared he should incurre some +blemish of his house: but for all respect and feare of shame, the +emulation whyche hee had to be victorious of his forced curtesie did +surpasse. Wherefore he sent for Ariobarzanes to come vnto the Court: who +vpon that commaundement came: and so soone as hee was entered the +palace, he repayred to do his reuerence vnto the kinge, of whom he was +welcomed with glad and ioyfull entertaynement: and after they had a +whyle debated of diuers matters, the kyng sayd vnto him: “Ariobarzanes, +for so mutch as thou art without a wyfe, we minde to bestowe vpon thee a +Gentlewoman, which not onely wee well like and loue, but also is sutch a +one, as thou thy selfe shalt be well contented to take.” Ariobarzanes +aunswered: That he was at his commaundement: and that sutch choyse as +pleased his maiesty, should very well content and satisefie him. Then +the kyng caused his daughter, in riche vestures sumptuously attired to +come before him, and there openly in presence of the whole Court +commaunded that Ariobarzanes should marry her: which with seemely +ceremonies being consummate, Ariobarzanes shewed little ioy of the +parentage, and in apparance made as though he cared not for his wyfe. +The Nobles and Gentlemen of the Courte wondred to see the straunge +behauiour of the bridegroome, consideringe the great humanity of their +Prince towardes his Subject, by takinge him for +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page197" id = "page197">197</a></span> +his Father, and Sonne in lawe: and greatly murmured to see the obstinacy +and rudenesse of Ariobarzanes, towards the kynge and the Fayre newe +maried Spouse, mutch blaminge and rebukinge hys vnkinde demeanour. +Ariobarzanes that day fared as though hee were besides himselfe, voyde +of ioy and mirth, where all the rest of the Courte spent the tyme in +sport and Triumph, the Ladies and Noble women together with the kynge +and Queene themselues<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ,">. +</ins>dauncinge and maskinge, vntil the time of night did force ech +Wyghte to Retyre to their Chaumbers. Notwithstandinge the kynge did +marke the Gesture and Countenaunce of Ariobarzanes, and after the Banket +the Kynge in Solempne guise and great Pompe caused hys Daughter to bee +accompanyed wyth a great Trayne to the Lodginge of Ariobarzanes, and to +be caried with hir, hir Pryncely Dowry, where Ariobarzanes very +Honourably receyued hys Wyfe, and at that Instant, in the presence of +all the Noblemen and Barons that wayted vpon the Bride, hee doubled the +Dowry receyued, and the same wyth the Ten hundred thousand Crownes geuen +hym by the kynge, hee sent back agayne. This vnmeasured Liberality +seemed passynge Straunge vnto the kynge, and bredde in him sutch +disdayne, as doubtful he was whether to yelde, or to condemne him to +perpetuall Banishment. The kynge thought that the greatnesse of +Ariobarzanes mynde was Inuincible, and was not able paciently to suffer, +that a subiect in matters of curtesie and liberality, should still +compare wyth his king and maister: herewithal the king conceiuing +malice, could not tell what to say or do. An easy matter it was to +perceiue the rage and furie of the king, who was so sore displeased, as +he bare good looke and countenaunce to no man: and bicause in those +dayes the Persian kings were honored and reuerenced as Gods, there was a +lawe that when the king was driuen into a furie, or had conceiued a iust +displeasure, he shoulde manifest vnto his Counsellers, the cause of his +anger, who afterwardes by mature diligence hauing examined the cause and +finding the kinge to be vniustly displeased should seke meanes of his +appeasing: but if they found his anger and displeasure to be iustly +grounded, the cause of the same, according to the quality of the +offence, little or great, they should punish, eyther by banishment or +capital death: the sentence of whom +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page198" id = "page198">198</a></span> +should passe and be pronounced without appeale. Howbeit Lawfull it was +for the Kynge to mitigate the pronounced sentence, eyther in al, or in +part, and to diminish the payne, or clearely to assoyle the party: +whereby it euidently appeared, that the Counsellers Sentence once +determined, was very iustice, and the kynge’s wyll if he pardoned, was +meere grace and mercy. The kyng was constrayned by the statutes of his +kyngdome to disclose vnto his Counsell the cause of his displeasure, +which particularly he recited: the Counsellers when they heard the +reasons of the kynge, sent for Ariobarzanes, of whom by due examination +they gathered, that in diuers causes he had prouoked the kynge’s +dyspleasure. Afterwards the Lords of the Counsell, vpon the proposed +question began to argue, by inuestigation and search whereof, in the +ende they iudged Ariobarzanes worthy to loose hys head: for that he +would not onely compare, but also go about to ouertoppe him in thinges +vndecent, and to shewe himselfe discontented with the mariage of his +daughter, and vnthankfull of the benefites so curteously bestowed vpon +him. A custome was obserued amonge the Persians, that in euery acte +or enterprise, wherein the seruaunt endeuored to surpasse and vanquish +his lord and maister (albeit the attempt were commendable and +prayseworthy) for respect of want of duety, or contempt to the royall +maiesty, he should lose his best ioynt: and for better confirmation of +their iudgement, the Counsellers alleaged a certayne diffinitiue +sentence, regestred in their Chronicles, whilom done by the kyngs of +Persia. The cause was this: one of the kyngs of that Region disposed to +disporte with certayne of his noble men abrode in the Fields, went a +Hauking, and with a Faucon to fly at diuers game. Within a while they +sprang a Hearon, and the Kynge commaunded that one of the faulcons which +was a notable swift and soaring Hauke, should be cast of to the Hearon: +which done, the hearon began to mount and the faucon speedely pursued, +and as the Hauke after many batings and intercourses, was about to seaze +vpon the hearon, he espied an Egle: the stoute Hauke seeing the Egle, +gaue ouer the fearfull Hearon, and with swift flight flewe towardes the +hardy Egle, and fiercely attempted to seaze vpon her: but the Egle very +stoutly defended her selfe, that the Hauke was +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page199" id = "page199">199</a></span> +forced to let goe hir holde. In the ende the good Hauke, with her sharpe +talendes, agayne seazed vpon the Egle’s neck, and wyth her beake strake +her starke dead, wherewithall she fel downe amid the company that wayted +vpon the king. Al the Barons and Gentlemen highly commended and praysed +the Hauke, affirminge that a better was not in the worlde, attributing +vnto the same sutch prayse, as they thought meete. The king for all the +acclamations and shoutes of the troupe, spake not a worde, but stoode +musing with himselfe, and did neyther prayse nor blame the Hauke. It was +very late in the eueninge, when the Faucon killed the Egle, and +therefore the kinge commaunded ech man to depart to the Citty. The next +day the king caused a Goldsmith to make an exceeding fayre crowne of +golde, apt and meete for the Falcon’s head. Afterwards when he saw time +conuenient, he ordayned that in the market place of the Citty, +a Pearche should be erected, and adorned with Tapestry, Arras, and +other costly furnitures, sutch as Prynces Palaces are bedecked withall. +Thither with sound of Trumpets hee caused the Faucon to be conueyed, +where the kinge commaunded one of his noble men to place the Crowne vpon +his head, for price of the excellent pray atchieued vpon the Egle. Then +he caused the hangman or common executioner of the Citty, to take the +Crowne from the Faucon’s head, and with the trenchant sword to cut it +of. Vppon these contrary effectes the beholders of this sight were +amazed, and began diuersly to talk thereof. The king which at a window +stoode to behold this fact, caused silence to be kept, and so opened his +princely voice, as he was wel heard speaking these words: “There ought +(good people) none of you all to Murmur and grudge at the present fact +executed upon the Faucon, bycause the same is done vppon good reason and +iust cause as by processe of my discourse you shall well perceiue. +I am persuaded that it is the office and duety of euery magnanimous +prince, to know the valor and difference betweene vertue and vice, that +all vertuous actes and worthy attempts may be honoured, and the contrary +chastised and punished, otherwise he is not worthy of the name of a Kyng +and Prynce, but of a cruel and trayterous Tyrant: for as the prince +beareth the title by principality and chiefe, so ought his life chiefly +to excell other, whom he gouerneth and ruleth. The +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page200" id = "page200">200</a></span> +bare title and dignity is not sufficient, if his conditions and +moderation be not to that supreme state equiualent. Full well I knew and +did consider to be in this dead Faucon a certayne generosity and +stoutnesse of minde, ioyned wyth a certayne fierce actiuity and +nimblenesse, for which I Crowned and rewarded hir wyth thys golden +Garland, bycause of the stoute slaughter which she made vpon that myghty +Egle, worthy for that solemne guise. But when I considered how boldly +and rashely she assayled and killed the Egle, which is hir Queene and +Maystresse, I thought it a part of Iustice, that for hir bolde and +vncomely act, she shoulde suffer the payne due to hir deserte: for +vnlawful it is for the seruaunte, and vnduetiful for the subiect, to +imbrue his handes in the bloud of his Soueraygne Lord. The Faulcon then +hauinge slayne hir Queene, and of all other Birdes the Soueraygne, who +can with reason blame me for cuttinge of the Faucon’s head? Doubtlesse +none, that hath respect to the quiet state betweene the Prince and +Subiect.” This example the Iudges alleaged against Ariobarzanes when +they pronounced sentence: and applyinge the same to him, ordeyned that +first Ariobarzanes, for his Magnanimity and liberal curtesie should be +Crowned wyth a Laurell Garland, for the generosity of his minde and +exceedinge curtesie, but for his great emulation, earnest endeuour, and +continuall dyuice to contende wyth hys Prynce, and in Liberality to shew +him selfe superior, bysides the mutteringe speech vttered agaynst hym, +his head ought to be striken of. Ariobarzanes beinge aduertised of thys +seuere condemnation, hee purposed to sustayne the Venemous Darte of +Fortune, as hee had endured other bruntes of that Enuious inconstant +Lady, and in sutch maner behaued and directed his Gestes, and +Countenaunce, as no Sygne of Choler or Dyspayre appeared in him, onely +Pronouncinge thys Sentence with ioyfull Cheare in the presence of many: +“Glad I am that at length there resteth in me so mutch to be liberall, +as I employ my life and bloud, to declare the same to my Soueraygne +Lorde, which right willingly I meane to do, that the World may know, how +I had rather lose my lyfe, than to faynt and geue ouer in mine +accustomed liberality.” Then callinge a Notary vnto him, he made his +Wyll (for so it was lawfull by the Persian lawes) and to his Wyfe, and +Daughters hee +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page201" id = "page201">201</a></span> +increased their Dowries, and to his kinsfolke and freendes he bequeathed +diuers rich and bountifull Legacies. To the kyng he gaue a great number +of most precious Iewels. To Cyrus the king’s sonne, and his by mariage +(besides a great masse of money) he bequeathed all his Armure, and +Weapons, with all his instruments for the warres, and his whole stable +of horsse. Last of all he ordayned, that if (perhaps) his wyfe should be +found with chylde, and brought to Bed of a Sonne hee should be his +vniuersall heyre: but if a Woman chylde, to haue the dowry that his +other daughters had. The rest of his goods and cattel he gaue +indifferently to al <span class = "smallroman">III.</span> equally to be +deuided. He prouided also, that all his seruantes accordinge to their +degree, should be rewarded. The day before he should be put to death +(according to the custome of Persia) his prayses and valiaunt factes, as +wel by Epitaphes fixed vpon poasts, as by proclamation, were generally +sounded throughout the Realme, in such wise as ech wight iudged him to +be the most liberall and noble personage that was in all the Countrey, +and in the borders confininge vpon the same. And if there had not bene +some enuious persons nere the kyng, which studied and practised his +ouerthrow, al other would haue deemed him vnworthy of death. Sutch is +enuy of the maliciously disposed, that rather than they would see their +equals to be in better estimation with the prynce than themselues, study +and deuise all pollicy eyther by flattery or false surmise to bringe +them in discredite, or to practise by false accusation, their vtter +subuersion by Death or Banishement. But whiles Ariobarzanes was +disposinge his thinges in order, his Wyfe and Daughters with his Friends +and Cousins, were affected with great sorrow day and night, complayning +for the heauy state of that noble Gentleman. The eight day being come +(for the lawe allowed that space to the condemned, for disposition of +their thynges) a Skaffolde was made by commaundement of the king, +in the middest of the Market place, al couered with black cloth, and an +other right ouer against the same with Purple and Silk, where the kyng +(if he list) in the mids of the Iudges should sit and the +inditement redde, iudgement (by the kynge’s owne mouth declared) +should be executed, or if it pleased him, discharge and assoyle the +condemned. And the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page202" id = "page202">202</a></span> +kynge vnwillinge to be present, gaue to one of the eldest iudges hys +full power and authority. But yet sorrowful that a Gentleman so noble +and valiaunt, his father and sonne in lawe, should finish his life with +a death so horrible, would needes that morninge be present himselfe at +that execution, as wel to see the continent and stoute ende of +Ariobarzanes, as also to take order for his deliuery. When the time was +come, Ariobarzanes by the Sergeante and Garde was brought vnto the +Skaffolde, and there Aparelled in rich Vestures, the Laurel Crowne was +set on his head, and so continuinge for a certayne space, the garment +and Crowne was taken of agayne together with his other Apparell. The +executioner attendinge for commaundement to do his office, and lifting +vp his sworde to do the fact, the king desired to see the countenaunce +of Ariobarzanes, who neuer chaunged coloure for all that terrour of +death. The king seeing the great constancy and inuincible mind of +Ariobarzanes, spake aloud that all men might heare hym, these wordes: +“Thou knowest Ariobarzanes, that it is not I, which haue wroughte thy +condemnation, ne yet by enuious desyre haue sought thy bloude, to brynge +thee to thys extremity, but it hath bene thy ill disordred life, and the +statutes of this Realme, which haue found thee guilty, and thereupon +sentence and death pronounced, and execution now ready to be done, and +the minister ready to aduaunce his arme, to play the last acte of this +Tragedy: and yet for that our holy lawes doe geue liberty that I may +assoyle and delyuer whom I list, and them restore to their former state, +if nowe thou wilt acknowledge thy selfe vanquished and ouercome, and +accepte thy lyfe in gratefull part, I will pardon thee, and restore +thee to thyne offyces and promotions.” Ariobarzanes, hearying these +wordes, kneeled downe wyth hys heade declyned, and expecting the blow of +the Sworde, lyfted vp himselfe, and turnynge his face to the kinge, +perceyuing his malice not so sore bent against hym as the enuy and +malice of his ennemies desired, he determined to proue and vse the +pitiful liberality and fauour of his Soueraigne Lorde, that his Foes by +his death might not Triumph, ne yet attayne the thinge, for which so +long they aspired. Wherefore in reuerent wyse kneelinge before his +maiesty, with a stout and perfect voyce sayd these words: “Most +vyctorious and mercifull +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page203" id = "page203">203</a></span> +Soueraygne Lord, in equall worship and honour to the immortall Gods, +sith of thy abundant grace and mercy it hath pleased thee to graunt me +lyfe, I do most humbly accept the same, which if I wyst should be +prolonged in thy disgrace and wrath, could not be pleasaunt vnto me, and +therefore do confesse my selfe in curtesie and liberality altogether +surmounted and ouercome. I most humbly then do geue thee thankes +for preseruation of my lyfe, hopinge hereafter to employ the vttermost +of myne endeuour for the benefite and honour of thy Crowne and dignity, +as readyly and without supplication made in my behalfe, thou hast +vouchesafed to restore the same: and sith thy clemency hath reuiued me +thyne humble vassall, I beseech thy maiesty to giue me leaue to say +my minde, trustinge thereby to do thee to vnderstand the effect and +cause of that my former presumption.” The kinge made signes that he +should arise and boldly speake the summe of his desire. When he stoode +up, silence was proclaymed, who then began to speake these wordes: “Two +things there be, (most sacred Prince) which doubtlesse do Resemble the +raging Waues of surginge Seas, and the mutability of vnstable windes, +and yet great is the folly of an infinite numbre, which imploy their +whole care and diligence to the pursute thereof. These two thinges +whereof I speake, and be so deerely beloued of flattering Courtiers, are +the grace and fauour of their soueraygne lord, and the luringe loue of +Amorous Dames: whych two do so often beguyle the courtly gentleman, that +in ende, they engender nought else but repentance: and to begin with the +loue of Ladies, they, as by common experience is proued, most commonly +do recline to their Inferiours. It is dayly seene by to mutch vnhappy +proofe, that a yongue Gentleman by Byrth noble, and otherwyse riche, +vertuous, and indued with many goodly gyfts, shall choose and worship +one for his soueraigne Lady and maistresse, and her shall serue and +honour with no lesse fayth and fidelity then is due to the immortall +Gods, and shal not sticke to employ for her loue and seruice all the +possible power and trauell he is able to do, and yet she in dispite of +all his humble endeuour, shall imbrace an other voide of all vertue, +makynge him possessor of that benefite, after which the other seeketh, +and shee not longe constant in that minde, afterwards wil attend to the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page204" id = "page204">204</a></span> +first Suter, but in sutch mouable and disdaynfull sort, as the wandring +starres (through their natural instability) be moued to and fro, and him +in the ende will suffre to fall headlong into the bottomlesse pit of +dispayre: and to him that asketh hir the reason of this variety, she +maketh none other aunswere but that her pleasure is sutch, and wilfull +will to dally with her sutors: so that seldome times a true and perfit +louer can fasten his foote on certayne holde, but that his life is +tossed vp and downe like the whirling blastes of inconstant windes. The +like succedeth in the Courtes of Kings and Princes, he which is in +fauoure with his soueraigne Lord in al mens eyes, so great and neare, as +it seemeth the Prince is disposed to resolue vpon nothing without his +aduise and counsell, when such fauored person shall employe his whole +care and industrie to maintaine and encrease the commenced grace of his +soueraigne Lord, behold, vpon the sodaine the minde and vaine of his +Lord is changed, and an other without desert, which neuer carked to win +good will, is taken in place, cherished as though hee had serued him an +hundred yeares before: and he that was the first minion of the Courte in +greatest grace and estimation, is in a moment dispysed, and oute of all +regarde: an other within fewe dayes after, shall supplie the place of +the other twaine, verye dyligent and careful to serue a man trained vp +in courtly exercise, whose mindfull mind shall bee so caring ouer his +lord’s affayers, as vpon the safegard and preseruation of his owne life: +but all his labour is employed in vayne: and when the aged dayes of his +expired life approch, for the least displeasure he shalbe thrust out +without reward for former trauel, that right aptly the Common Prouerb +may be applied: the common Courtier’s life is like a golden misery, and +the faithfull seruant an Asse perpetuall. I haue seene my selfe the +right wel learned man to sterue in Court for want of meate, and a +blockish beast voyde of vertue, for lust, and for merite, aduaunced and +made a Gentleman: but this may chaunce bicause hys Lord is not disposed +to vertue, nought esteeminge those that be affected with good sciences, +and that onely for lacke of carefull trayninge vp in youthfull dayes, or +else for that his minde cannot frame with gentle spyrits, the closets of +whose breasts be charged and fraught with infinite loades of learninge, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page205" id = "page205">205</a></span> +and haue not bin noseled in trade of Courtes, ne yet can vse due courtly +speech, or with vnblushinge face can shuffle themselues in presence of +their betters, or commen with Ladies of dame Venus toyes: or race of +birth not mingled with the noble or gentle Sire: for these causes +perhaps that vertuous wighte cannot attain the hap of fortune’s giftes. +Which person thoughe in Court he be not esteemed, yet in schoolehouse of +good arte he is deemed famouse, and for his worthy skill right worthy to +be preferred aboue the heauens. In semblable wise, how oftentimes and +commonly is it seene that the man perchance which neuer thou sawest +before, so sone as he is seene of the, sodaynly he is detested lyke a +plague, and the more earnest he is to do the seruice and pleasure, the +greater is thy wrath bent towards him? Contrarywise, som other vpon the +first view shal so content and please the, as if he require the +bestowing of thy life, thou hast no power to denie him, thou arte in +loue with him, and let him thwart thy mind and wil neuer so much, thou +carest not for it, all is well he doth: but that these varieties do +proceede from some certayn temprement of bloud within the body conformed +and moued by som inward celestial power, who doubteth? And surely the +foundation of these Courtly mutations, is the pricking venomous Goade of +pestiferous Enuye, whych continually holdeth the fauour of Prynces in +ballaunce, and in a moment hoisteth vp him which was below, and poizeth +downe agayne him that was exalted: so that no plague or poison is more +pestiferous in Courts, than the hurtfull disease of Enuy: all other +vices with little paine and lesse labour may easily be cured, and so +pacified as they shall not hurt thee: but rooted Enuy by any meanes is +discharged, with no pollicye is expelled, ne yet by any Drugge or +medicine purged. Veryly wythout great daunger, I know not which way +the poynaunt bittes of Enuy can be auoyded: the proude man in Courte, +the arrogant and ambitious, the lofty minded Foole, more eleuate and +lustie than Pride it selfe, if reverence bee done to him, if he be +honoured, if place be giuen to him, if hee be praysed and glorified +aboue the heauens, if thou humble thy selfe to him, by and by he will +take thee to be his frend, and wyll deeme thee to bee a curteous and +gentle companion. Let the lacyuious and wanton person giuen to the +pleasures and lust +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page206" id = "page206">206</a></span> +of women, fixing his mind on nothing else but vpon fugitiue pleasures, +if his loue bee not impeached, ne yet his wanton toyes reproued, if he +be praysed before his Ladie, he will euer be thy friend: the couetous +and gloutonous carle, if first thou make hym quaffe a Medicine, and +afterwardes byd hym to thy table, the one and other disease is speedily +cured: but for the enuious person, what Phisicke can be sought to purge +his pestiferous humour? which if thou go about to heale and cure, rather +muste thou remedye the same by wasting the life of him that is so +possessed, than find causes of recouerie. And who knoweth not (most +sacred Prince) that in your Courte there be some attached with that +poisoned plague, who seeing me your maiestie’s humble vassall in greater +fauoure with your grace than they, my seruice more acceptable than +theirs, my prowesse and exercise in armes more worthy than theirs, my +diligence more industrious than theirs, my advise and counsell more +auayleable than theirs, all mine other deedes and doings in better +Estimation than theirs: they I say, dallied in the lap of the cancred +witch dame Enuy, by what meanes are they to be recouered? by what meanes +their infection purged? by what meanes their mallice cured? If not to +see me depriued of your grace, expelled from your Court, and cast +headlonge into the gulfe of death extreme? If I should bribe them with +great rewardes, if I should honour them with humble reuerence, if I +should exalt them aboue the Skyes, if I should employ the vttermost of +my power, to do them seruice, all frustrate and cast away: they wil not +cease to bring me into perill, they will not spare to reduce me to +misery, they will not sticke to ymagin all deuyses for myne anoyance, +when they see al other remdyes impotent and vnable: this is the poisoned +plague which enuenometh all Princes courtes: this is the mischiefe which +destroyeth all kyngdomes: this is the monster that deuoureth all +vertuous enterpryses and offendeth eche gentle spirite: this is the dim +vale which so ouershadoweth the clerenes of the eyes as the bright beams +of verity cannot be sene, and so obscureth the equity of iustice, as +right from falshode cannot be discerned: this is the manifest cause that +breadeth a thousand errors in the workes of men: and to draw nere to the +effecte of this my tedious talke, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page207" id = "page207">207</a></span> +briefly, there is no vice in the worlde that more outragiously +corrupteth Princes courtes, that more vnfrendly vntwineth frendship’s +band, that more vnhappely subuerteth noble houses, then the poysone of +Enuy: for he that enclineth his eares to the enuious person, he that +attendeth to his malignant deuises, vnpossible it is for him to do any +dede that is eyther good or vertuous: but to finishe and end for +auoyding of wearines and not to stay your maiesty from your waighty +affayres, I say that the enuyous man reioiceth not so much in his +own good turnes nor gladdeth himself so greatlye with his owne +commodityes, as hee doth insulte, and laugh at the discommodityes and +hinderance of others, at whose profite and gain he soroweth and +lamenteth: and to put out both the eyes of his companion, the enuious +man careth not to plucke out one of his own. These wordes (most +inuincible prince) I purposed to speake in the presence of your +maiesty, before your gard and courtlyke train, and in the vniuersal +hearing of all the people that ech wighte may understand how I not of +your maiestie’s pretended malice, or mine owne committed faulte, but +through the venemous tongues of the enuious fel into the lapse of your +displeasure.” This moste true oration of Ariobarzanes greatly pleased +the noble Prince, and although he felt himself somwhat touched therwith, +and knowing it to bee certayn and true and that in tyme to come the same +mighte profite all sortes of people, hee greatlye praised and exalted +him in the presence of all the assembly. Wherefore Ariobarzanes having +recouered his lyfe confessed himselfe to bee vanquished and ouercome by +the king, who knowing the valoure and fealty of that noble Gentleman, +and louing him with harty affection, caused him to come down from the +mourning Scaffolde, and to assend the place where he was himselfe, whom +he imbraced and kissed, in token that al displeasure was remitted: all +his auncient offices were restored to him agayne: and for his further +aduancement, he gaue him the Cittye of Passagarda where was the olde +monument of kinge Cyrus, and made him lieuetenaunt generall of his +realmes and dominions, commaundinge euery of his subiects to obay him as +himselfe. And so the kyng rested the honourable father in law to +Ariobarzanes, and his louinge sonne by mariage crauing stil in al his +enterpryses, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page208" id = "page208">208</a></span> +his graue aduyse and counsell: and there was neuer thing of any +importance done, but his liking or disliking was firste demaunded: +Ariobarzanes then returned into greater grace and fauour of his +souerayne lord than before, and for his singular vertue hauing disperced +and broken the aimes and malyce of all his enimies, if before he were +curteous and liberal after these so stoute aduentures, he became more +then princely in his dedes, and if sometymes he had done one curteous +act now he doubled the same. But sutch was his Magnanimitye, so noble +were his indeuors, tempred with such measure and equanimity, as the +whole worlde clerely might deserne, that not to contend with his +souerayne lorde but to honour and serue him, therby to expresse the +maiestye of his Prince, he employed his goodes and liuing al which the +kinge and fortune had bountifully bestowed vppon him: who vntil his +dying day famously mayntayned himselfe in the good grace and fauour of +his prince, in such wyse as the kyng more clerely then the shining +Sunnebeames, knew Ariobarzanes to bee framed of nature for a +christalline mirrour of curtesie and liberalitye, and that more easie it +was to bereiue the fyre of heate, and the Sonne of lighte then despoyle +Ariobarzanes of his glorious dedes. Wherfore he ceassed not continually +to honour, exalt and enrych him, that hee might vse the greater +liberality, and to say the treuth, althoughe these two vertues of +curtesie and Liberality be commendable in all persons, without the which +a man truely is not he whereof hee beareth the name yet very fitting and +meete for euerye ryche and welthie subiect, to beware how he doth +compare in those noble vertues with Princes and great men, which beyng +ryght noble and pereles vppon yearth canne abyde no Comparisons.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page209" id = "page209">209</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_5" id = "novel2_5"> +THE FIFTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Lvcivs one of the garde to Aristotimvs the Tyrant of the cittye of Elis, +fell in loue with a fayre mayden called Micca, the daughter of one +Philodemvs, and his cruelty done vpon her. The stoutnesse also of a +noble matron named Megistona in defence of hir husbande and the common +wealth from the tyranny of the said Aristotimvs: and of other actes done +by the subiectes vppon that Tyrant.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">You</span> haue heard, or as it were in a +manner, you haue beeholden the right images and courteous conditions of +two well conditioned persons mutually ech towards other obserued: in the +one a Princely mind towards a Noble Gentleman his subiecte: in the other +a duetieful obedience of a louing vassal to his soueraigne Lord and +Maister: in both of them the true figure of Liberality in liuely orient +colours described. Now a contrary plotte, grounded vpon extreame +tiranny, is offred to the viewe, done by one Aristotimus and his +clawbacks againste his humble subiects of the City of Elis, standyng in +Peloponessus, a country of Achaia (which at this tyme we cal +Morea.) This Aristotimus of nature was fierce and passing cruell, who by +fauour of king Antigonus was made Tyran of that City: and like a Tyran +gouerned his countrye by abuse of his aucthority with newe wronges, and +straunge crueltyes vexing and afflicting the poore Cityzens and all hys +people: which chaunced not so much for that of himself he was cruel and +tyrannous, as for that his counsellours and chiefe aboute him were +barbarous and vicious men, to whom he committed the charge of his +kyngdome and the guarde of his person: but amonges all his mischiefes +wrongfully done by him which were innumerable, one committed agaynst +Philodemus (the same which afterwarde was the cause of the depriuation +of his lyfe and kingdome) is specially remembred. This Philodemus had a +daughter called Micca, that not onely for hir chast qualityes and good +condicions whiche vertuously flourished in hir but for her extreame and +goodly beautye, was in that citty of passing fame and admiration. With +this fayre maiden one of the Tyrant’s guarde called Lucius fel in loue, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page210" id = "page210">210</a></span> +if it deserue to be called loue, and not the rather, as the end ful wel +declared, a most filthy and beastly lust: this Lucius was deerly +beloued of Aristotemus, for the fiendish resemblance and wicked +nerenesse of his vile and abhominable condicions: and therfore feared +and obeied as the Tyrante’s owne person: for which cause this Lucius +sent one of the yeomen of the kinge’s chamber to commaunde Philodemus at +an appoynted hour, al excuses set apart, to bring his daughter vnto him. +The parentes of the mayden hearing this sodayne and fearful mesuage, +constrayned by Tyrante’s forse and fatal necessity, after many tears and +pittious sighes, began to perswade their daughter to be contented to goe +with him, declaringe vnto her the rigour of the magistrate that had +sente for hir the extremety that would be executed, and that ther was no +other remedy but to obay. Alas, how sore agaynst their willes, with what +trembling gesture, with what horror the good parentes of this tender +pusill were affected, to consider the purpose of that dreadefull +message, all dere fathers and naturall mothers can tell. But this gentle +mayden Micca which was of nature stoute, and yet vertuously lessoned +with sundry good and holsome instructions from hir Infante’s Age was +Determined rather to Dye, then to suffer her selfe to be Defloured. This +vertuous Mayden fell downe Prostrate at her Father’s Feet, and clasping +him fast about the Knees, louingly did pray him, and Pitifully besought +him, not to suffer hir to bee haled to so filthy and vile an office, but +rather with the piercing blade of a two edged sword to kill her, that +therby she might be rid from the violation of those fleshly and +libidinous varlets, saying, that if her virginity were taken from hir, +she should liue in eternal reproch and shame. As the father and daughter +were in these termes, Lucius for the long tariance and delaye, dronke +with the Wine of lechery, made impacient and furious, with cursed speede +posted to the house of Philodemus, and finding the maiden prostrate at +her father’s feete weeping, her head in his lappe with taunting voice +and threatning woordes commaunded presently without longer delay she +should ryse and go with him: She refusing his hasty request, and crying +out for Father’s help, who (God wot) durst not resist, stoode still and +would not goe: Lucius seeing hir refusal ful of furie and proude +disdaine, began furiously +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page211" id = "page211">211</a></span> +to hale hir by the garments, vpon whose struggling he tare hir kirtle +and furnitures of hir head and shoulders, that hir alablaster necke and +bosome appeared naked, and without compassion tare and whipte hir flesh +on euery side, as the bloud ranne downe, beating that tendre flesh of +hirs with manifold and greuous blowes. O vile tirant, more wood and +sauage than the desert beast or mountaine Tigre: could cruelty be so +deepely rooted in the hart of man which by nature is affected with +reason’s instinct, as without pity to lay handes, and violently to hurt +the tendre body of a harmlesse Maidee? Can such inhumanity harbor in any +that beareth aboute him the shape of man? But what did this martyred +maiden for all this force? Did she yeld to violence, or rendre hir self +to the disposition of this mercilesse man? No surely. But with so great +stoutnesse of mind, she suffred those impressed wounds, that no one word +sounding of sorrow, or womanly shriech was heard to sound from hir +delicate mouth: howbeit the pore father and miserable mother at that +rueful and lamentable sight, moued with inward grief and natural pity, +cried out aloude. But when they sawe that neyther playnt nor fayre +speech coulde deliuer their Daughter out of the hands of that cruell +monster, they began with open cryes and horrible exclamation to implore +helpe and succour at the handes of the immortall Gods, thinking that +they were vnworthely plaged and tormented. Then the proud and most +barbarous wretch, moued and disquieted by cholers rage and fume of +chafinge Wyne, sodaynly catched the most constant virgin by the hayre of +the head, and in her father’s Lap did cut her white and tender throte. +O detestable fact, right worthy iust reuenge. But what did this +vnfaythfull and cruell Tyrant Aristotimus, when by the blustering bruit +of people’s rage he heard of this vengeable murder, not only he shewed +himselfe contented wyth the fact, but had him in greater regard than +before, and towards them which made complaint hereof, greater cruelty +and mischyefe was done and executed. For in open streat, lyke beastes in +the Shambles, they were cut and hewed in peeces, which seemed to murmur +at thys bloudy and vnlawfull act: the rest were banished and expelled +the cytty. Eight hundred of these exiled persons fled into Etolia +(a prouince adioyninge to Epirus, which now is called +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page212" id = "page212">212</a></span> +Albania.) Those people so banished out of theyr country, made instant +sute to Aristotimus to suffer Wyues and chyldren to repayre to them: but +theyr suite was in vayne, their peticions and supplycations seemed to be +made to the deafe, and dispersed into the wyndes: notwithstandinge, +within few dayes after, he caused by sound of trumpet to be openly +proclaymed, that it should be lawful for the wyues and chyldren of the +banished to passe wyth their baggage and furniture to theyr husbands in +Ætolia. This Proclamation was exceeding ioyfull to al the women whose +husbands were exiled, which at the least by common report were the +numbre of 6 hundreds: and for more credite of that Proclamation, the +wicked Tyrant did ordayne, that al the company should depart vpon a +prefixed day. In the meane time, the ioyful Wyues glad to visit their +poore husbands, prepared horse and wagon, to cary theyr prouisions. The +appoynted day of their departure out of that City being come, all of +them assembled at a certayne gate assygned for their repayre, who that +time together resorted with their little children in their hands bearing +vpon theyr heads theyr garments and furnitures, some on horseback, and +some bestowed in the wagons according as ech of theyr states required: +when al things wer in a readinesse to depart, and the gate of the City +opened, they began to issue forth. They wer no soner gone out of the +City walles, and had left behind them the soile of theyr natiuity, but +the Tyrants guard and Sergeants brake vpon them, and before they were +approched they cried out to stay and go no further vpon pain of theyr +liues. So the pore amazed women, contrarry to the promise of the Tyrant, +wer forced to retire. Which sodain countremaund was sorowful and woful +vnto the afflicted flock: but there was no remedy, for procede they +could not. Then those Termagants and villains caught theyr horse by the +bridles, and droue back again theyr wagons, pricking the pore oxen and +beasts with theyr speares and Iauelins, that horrible it is to report +the tyrany vsed towards man and best, in such wyse as the pore miserable +women (God wot) contrary to their desyres, were forced in dispyte of +theyr teeth to retourn. Som alack fell of theyr horse wyth theyr little +babes in theyr lappes, and were miserably troden vnder the horsefeete, +and ouerrun with the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page213" id = "page213">213</a></span> +wheles of the wagons theyr brains and guts gushing out through the +weight and comberance of the cariage, and (which was most pitiful) one +of them not able to help an other, and much lesse to rescue theyr yong +and tendre sucking babes, the vyle sergeants forcing ech wight with +theyr staues and weapons maugre theyr desirous mindes to reenter the +City. Many died by the constrained meanes out of hand, many were troden +vnder the horsefeete, and many gasping betwene life and death: but the +greatest soart of the litle infants were slaine out of hand, and crusht +in pyeces: those whych remayned alyue, were commytted to Pryson, and the +goods which they caryed wyth them altogyther seased vpon by the tyrant. +Thys wycked and cruell facte was most intollerable and greeuous vnto the +Cytyzens of Elis, wherevppon the holy dames consecrated to the God +Bacchus, adorned and garnyshed wyth theyr pryestly Garments, and bearyng +in theyr Handes the sacred mysteryes of theyr God, as Aristotimus was +passyng through the Streete garded with hys Souldyers and Men of Warre, +wente in processyon to fynde hym oute. The Sergeauntes for the reuerence +of those religious women disclosed, and gaue them place to enter in +before the Tyrant. He seing those Women apparelled in that guise, and +bearing in their hands the sacred Bachanal mysteries, stoode stil, and +with silence heard what they could say: but when he knew the cause of +their approch, and that they wer come to make sute for the poore +imprisoned women, sodainly possessed with a diuelish rage, with horrible +hurly burly, bitterly reprehended his garrison for suffering those women +to come so neare him. Then hee commaunded that they should be expelled +from that place without respect, and condemned euery of them (for their +presuming to intreat for such caitiue prisoners<ins class = "addition" +title = "close parenthesis missing">)</ins> in <span class = +"smallroman">II.</span> Talents a piece. After these mischiefs committed +by the tyrant, Hellanicus one of the pryncipal and best esteemed persons +of the City, although that he was decrepite, and for age very weake and +feeble, cared not yet to aduenture any attempt what soeuer, so it might +extend to the deliuery of his countrey from the vnspeakable tyranny of +most cruel Aristotimus. To this gray haired person, bicause he was of +aged yeares, void of children which were dead, this Tyrant gaue no great +hede ne yet emploied any care, thinking that he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page214" id = "page214">214</a></span> +was not able to raise any mutine or tumult in the City. In the mean +space, the Citizens, which as I haue sayd before, were banished into +Etolia, practysed amongs them selves to proue their Fortune, and to +seeke al meanes for recouery of their countrey, and the death of +Aristotimus: wherfore hauing leuied and assembled certaine bands of +Souldiers, they marched forth from their bannished seat, and neuer +rested till they had gotten a place hard adioyning to their City, where +they might safely lodge, and with great commodity and aduantage besige +the same, and expel the tyrant Aristotimus. As the bannished were +incamped in that place, many citizens of Elis daily fled forth, and +ioyned with them, by reason of which auxiliaries and daily assemblies +they grew to the ful numbre of an army: Aristotimus certified hereof by +his espials was brought into a great chafe and fury, and euen now began +to presage his fall and ruine: but yet meaning to foresee hys best +aduantage, went vnto the pryson where the Wyues of the banished were +fast inclosed, and bicause he was of a troublesome and tyrannical +nature, he concluded with him self rather to vse and intreat those wiues +with feare and threates, than with humanity and fayre wordes: being +entred the pryson, hee sharpely and wyth great fiercenesse commaunded +them to write vnto their husbands that besieged him without, earnestly +to persuade them to giue ouer theyr attempted warres: “Otherwyse +(sayd he) if ye do not follow the effect of my commaundement, in +your own presence I wil first cause cruelly to be slayne al your little +Children, tearyng them by piece meale in pieces, and afterwardes I wyll +cause you to be whipped and scourged, and so to dye a most cruel and +shamefull death.” At which fierce and tyrannycal newes, there was no one +woman amongs them that opened theyr mouthes to answer him: the most +wycked and vile tyrant seing them to be in such silence, charged them +vpon theyr liues to answer what they were disposed to doe: but although +they durst not speake a word, yet with silence one beholding eche other +in the face, fared as though they cared not for hys threats, more ready +rather to dye than to obey his comaundement. Megistona then, which was +the wife of Timolion, a matrone aswell for hir husband’s nobility +as hir owne vertue, in great regard and estimation, and the chief amongs +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page215" id = "page215">215</a></span> +all the Women, who at his comming in would not rise, but kept her place, +nor vouchsafing to doe any reuerence or honor vnto hym, and the like she +bad the rest: in this wyse sitting vpon the ground with vnlosed tongue +and liberty of speach, stoutly she answered the tyrant’s demaund in this +manner: “If there were in thee, Aristotimus, any manly prudence, +wisedome, or good discretion, truly thou wouldest not commaund vs poore +imprisoned women to write vnto our husbands, but rather suffer vs to goe +vnto them, and vse more moderate wordes and myld behauiour, than +wherewith of late thou diddest entertaine vs, by scoffing, mocking, and +cruelly dealyng with vs, and oure pore children: and if now thou being +voyd of all hope, doest seeke to persuade by our meanes likewise to +deceiue our husbands, that be come hither to put theyr Lyues in Peryll +for our deliveraunce, I assure the thou vainly begilest thy selfe, +for wee henceforth do purpose neuer to bee deceyued of the: wee require +thee also to thinke and stedfastly beleeue, that our husbands heades bee +not so mutch bewitched with Folly, as despysing their Wyves and +Chyldren, Neglecting their duetyes towards them, wyll, being in this +forwardnesse, abandon their preseruation and geeve ouer the Liberty of +theyr countrey: think also that they little esteme or wey the regard of +vs, and theyr children, in respect of the great contentation they shal +attaine by vnyoking the liberty of theyr countrey from thy pride and +intollerable bondage, and which is worst of al, from that tyranny which +neuer people felt the like: for if thou were a king as thou art a +tyrant, if thou were a Gentleman borne of noble kind as thou arte a +slaue, proceding from the deuil, thou wouldest neuer execute thy cursed +cruelty against a feble kind, such as women be, and werest thou alone +ioyned in singular combat with my valyant and dere beloued husband, thou +durst not hand to hand to shew thy face: for commonly it is seene, that +the Courtly Ruffyan backed on wyth such mates as he is himself, careth +not what attempt he taketh in hand, and stares with hayre vpright, +loking as though he would kil the deuyll, but when he is preast to +seruyce of the field, and in order to encountre with his Prynce’s foe, +vpon the small sway by shocke or push that chaunceth in the fight, he is +the first that taketh flyght, and laste that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page216" id = "page216">216</a></span> +standeth to the face of hys ennimy. Such kind of man art thou, for so +long as our husbands wer farre of, absent fro theyr Country, not able to +rid vs from thy thral, thou wroughtest thy malyce then against theyr +wyues at home, doyng the greatest cruelty towardes them and theyr +suckyng babes, that euer deuyl could do vpon the damned sort, and now +thou seest them arriued here vnder our country walles, thou flyest and +seekest help at women’s hands, whose power if it serued them according +to their willes, would make thee tast the fruit of thy commytted smart.” +And as she would haue proceded further in hir liberal talk, the Caytife +tyrant not able to abyde any further speach, troubled beyond measure, +presently commaunded the litle child of hir to be brought before him, as +though immediatly he would haue killed him, and as his seruants sought +him out, the mother espied him playing amongs other children, not +knowinge for his small stature and lesse yeres, wher he was becom, and +calling him by his name, said vnto him: “My boy, come hither, that first +of al thou mayst lose thy life, to feele the proufe and haue experience +of the cruel tyranny wherin we be, for more grieuous it is to me to see +the serue against the nobility of thy bloud, than dismembred and torn in +pieces before my face.” As Megistona stoutly and vnfearfully had spoken +those words, the furious and angry tyrant drew forth his glistring blade +out of the sheath, purposing to have slaine the gentlewoman, had not one +Cilon the familiar freend of <ins class = "correction" title = +"error for ‘Aristotimus’">Aristimus</ins> stayd his hand, forbidding him to +commit an act so cruel. This Cilon was a fayned and counterfayt frend of +the tyrant, very conuersant with other his familiar frends, but hated +him with deadly hatred, and was one of them that with Hellanicus had +conspired against the tyrant. This gentleman then seeinge Aristotimus +wyth so great fury to waxe wood agaynst Megistona, imbraced him, and +sayd, that it was not the part of a gentleman proceeding from a Race +righte honourable, by any meanes to imbrue hys Handes in Woman’s bloud, +but rather the signe and token of a cowardly knyght, wherfore he +besought him to stay his hands. Aristotimus persuaded by Cilon, appeased +his rage, and departed from the imprisoned women. Not long after, +a great prodige and wonder appeared in this sort: before supper the +tyrant and his wyfe withdrue +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page217" id = "page217">217</a></span> +themselues into their chamber, and being there, an Egle was seene to +soare ouer the tyrante’s palace, and being aloft, by little and little +to descend, and letting fal from her tallands a huge and great stone +vpon the top of that chamber, with clapping wings and flying noyse +soared vp againe, so far 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 +chaunce, hee sent for his diuine to declare the signification of this +Augurye, which greatly troubled his minde. The Southsayer bad him to be +of good chere, for that it did portend the great fauour and loue which +Iupiter bare vnto him. But the prophet of the City whom the Cytizens had +wel tryed and proued to be faithfull and trusty, manifested vnto them +the great daunger that hong ouer the tyrant’s head, sutch as the lyke +neuer before. The confederats which had conspired wyth Hellanicus, made +great speede to prosecute theyr enterprise, and the next night to kil +the tyrant. The very same night Hellanicus dreamed that he saw his dead +sonne to speak vnto him these woords: “What meane you father this long +tyme to sleepe, I am one of your sonnes whom Aristotimus hath +slayne, know you not that the same day you attempt your enterpryse, you +shalbe captaine and prince of your country?” By this vision Hellanicus +confirmed, he rose bytimes in the morninge, and exhorted the +conspirators that day to execute the benefit of their country. That time +Aristotimus was certified how Craterus the Tyrant of another Citty, with +a great army, was comming to his ayde agaynst the Banished people of +Elis, and that hee was arriued at Olympia, a Citty betweene the +mount Ossa, and the mountayne Olympus. With whych newes Aristotimus +beinge incouraged, thought already that he had put to flight and taken +the banished persons, which made him to aduenture hymselfe abroade +wythout Guard or garrison, accompanied only wyth Cilon and one or two of +his familiar frendes, the very same time that the conspiratours were +assembled to do the facte. Hellanicus seeing the time so conuenient to +deliuer his beloued countrey by the death of the traiterous tirant, not +attending any signe to be geuen to his companions (although the same was +concluded vpon) the lusty old man liftinge +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page218" id = "page218">218</a></span> +vp his handes and eyes vnto the heauens, with cleare and open voyce +cried out to his companions and sayd: “Why stay yee, O my Cityzens +and louinge countrymen, in the face of your Citty to finish this good +and commendable act?” At whych words, Cilon was the first which with his +brandishing blade killed one of those that wayted vpon the Tirant. +Thrasibulus then and Lampidus assayled Aristotimus, vpon whose sodayne +approche, he fled into the Temple of Iupiter, where hee was murdred with +a thousand wounds vpon his body, accordingly as he deserued. He beinge +thus deseruedly slayne, his body was drawen vp and down the streetes, +and proclamation of liberty sounded vnto the people: whereunto ech Wyght +assembled, amonges whom the imprisoned Women also brake forth, and +reioysed with their countrey deliuerers of that egregious enterprise, by +fires and bankets outwardly disclosinge their exceedinge great ioy +wythin, and in mid of their mirth the people in great thronges and +companies ranne to the Tyrant’s Palace, whose Wyfe hearinge the people’s +noyse, and certified of her husband’s death, inclosed her selfe in a +chamber with her two daughters, and knowinge how hatefull she was vnto +the Citizens, with a fastned cord vpon a beame she hong hir selfe. The +chamber dores being broke open, the people viewed the horrible sight of +the strangled Lady, wherewithall not mooued they tooke the two +tremblinge Daughters of the Tyrant, and caryed them away, purposinge to +Rauish and Violate the same, firste to saciate their lust with the +spoyle of theire virginitye, and afterwardes to kyll them (those +gentlewomen were very beautiful and mariageable) and as they were about +to do that shamefull deede, Megistona was told thereof, who accompanied +with other Matrons sharpelye rebuked theire furye sayinge: that vncomely +it were for them which sought to establishe a ciuill state, to do such a +shameles act as tyrant’s rage would scarce permit. Vpon that noble +matron’s auctoritye and interception, they ceassed from their filthy +fact: and then the woman tooke the virgins out of the people’s handes, +and brought them into the chamber where there strangled mother was. And +vnder standing howe it was decreede that none of the tyrante’s bloude +should rest a liue: shee turned her face to the two yonge gentlewomen +and sayde: “The chiefest +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page219" id = "page219">219</a></span> +pleasure which I can do vnto you, resteth in this choyse, that it shall +be lauful for eyther of you to chose what kind of death you list, by +knyfe or halter, if you wil to dispatch your liues from the headles +peoples greatter fury, vppon whose two whyte and tender bodyes if they +do seaze the goddes do knowe and we do feare the cruelty and great abuse +which they do mean to vse, I thinke not for despyte of you, but for +the iust reuenge of your most cruell father’s actes, for the tyrannous +life of whom the goddes do thunder downe the boltes of their +displeasure, afflicting his nearest blood and bestbeloued wyfe and +children, with vengeance poured from heauens.” Vppon the sentence of +this the fatall ende, the elder mayden of the twayne vnlosed a gyrdle +from her middle, and began to tye the same to hang hir selfe, exhorting +her yonger sister to do the lyke: and in any wise to beware by sparing +of her life, to incur the beastly rage of the monstruous people, which +cared not to do ech vile and filthy act, vnworthy theyr estate. The +yonger sister at those wordes, layd handes vpon the fastened corde, and +besought hir right earnestly first of al to suffer hir to die. Wherevnto +the elder aunswered: “So long as it was lawfull for me to liue, and +whiles we led our princely time in our father’s courte, and both were +free from enimie’s danger, all things betwene vs two were common and +indifferent, wherefore the gods forbid (that now the gates of death be +opened for vs to enter, when with the Ghostes of our deere Parentes our +soules amids the infernall fieldes be predestined to raunge and wander) +that I shoulde make denyall of thy request. Therfore goe to good sister +mine, and shrink not when thou seest the vgly face of her, that must +consume vs all: but yet (dere sister) the deadly sight of thee before my +selfe, will breede to me the woe and smart of double death.” When she +had so sayd, she yelded the coller to her sister, and counselled hir to +place the same so neere the necke bone as shee could, that the sooner +the halter’s force might stop her breath. When the vnfearefull yonger +sister was dead, the trembling hands of the dredlesse elder maid vntied +the girdle from her neck, couering in comely wise her senselesse corps. +Then turning hir self to Megistona, she humbly prayd hir not to suffer +their two bodies to be seene naked, but so sone as she could, to bury +them both in one +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page220" id = "page220">220</a></span> +Earthly graue, referring the frutes of their virginity to the mould +wherof they came. When she had spoken these wordes, without any stay or +feare at all, with the selfe same corde she strangled herselfe and so +finished her fatal dayes. The guiltlesse death of which two tender +maydes there was none of the citizens of Elis (as I suppose) so +stonye hearted and voyde of Nature’s force, ne yette so wrothe agaynst +the tyrant father, but did lament, as wel for the constant stoutenes and +manner of their death, as for their maydenlyke behauiour and right +honest petitions made to that noble matrone Megisthona, who afterwardes +caused the other dames to bury those two bodyes in one graue. O how +happy and famous had these two sisters bene, if they had not bene the +daughters of so wicked and cruell a father? But parentes offence or +childrens trespas ought not to deface the vertuous dedes of their +posterity.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page221" id = "page221">221</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_6" id = "novel2_6"> +THE SIXTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The maruaylous courage and ambition of a gentlewoman called Tanaqvil, +the Queene and wife of Tarqvinivs Priscvs the fift Roman king, with his +persuasions and pollicy to hir husbande for his aduauncement to the +kingdom, her lyke encouragement of Servivs Tvllivs, wherein also is +described the ambition of one of the <span class = +"smallroman">II.</span> daughters of Servivs Tvllivs the sixt Roman +king, and her cruelty towards her owne natural father: with other +accidents chaunced in the new erected common welth of Rome, specially of +the last Romane king Tarqvinivs Svperbvs, who with murder atteined the +kingdome, with murder maynteined it, and by the murder and insolent lyfe +of his sonne was with al his progeny banished.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Ancus Marcius</span> beynge the fourthe +king (after Romulus the first builder of that Cittye) there came to +dwell in Rome one Lucumo, a lusty gentleman, ryche and desirous of +honour, who determined to continue his habitation there. The same Lucumo +was the son of one Demaratus, a Corinthian, that for sedition fled +his owne countrye, and dwelt in Hetruria amonge the stocke of the +Tarquines: and after he was maried he begat <span class = +"smallroman">II.</span> sons, one of them was this Lucumo, and the other +was called Aruns. Lucumo was heire to his father, for that Aruns died +before leauing his wife gret with child, the father not knowing that his +daughter in law was with child, gaue nothing in his wil to his nephew: +for which cause the child was called Aruns Egerius <ins class = +"addition" title = "period (full stop) missing">.</ins> Lucumo being the +sole heire of his father, maried a noble woman named Tanaquil, and +bicause the Thuscans could not abide to see a straunger grow to +abundance of welth and authoritie, shee despised hir owne countrey +rather than she would suffer her husband in any wise to be dishonoured. +Wherfore she deuysed to forsake the Tarquinians and to dwel at Rome, +where she thoughte among that honourable sorte and new erected state +that her husband beyng stout and valiant should attayne some place of +resiaunce. For she shall be called to remembrance that Tatius the +Sabine, Numa borne of the stocke of Curetes and Ancus, broughte forthe +by a Sabine woman +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page222" id = "page222">222</a></span> +all straungers, did rayne and became noble and mightye. Thus ambicion +and desire of honoure easily doth perswade any deuyse: wherfore carying +with them all their substance they repaired to Rome. It chaunced when +they came to Ianiculum, as he and his wife were sitting in a Wagon, an +Eagle hooueringe hir wings ouer Lucumo, sodenly toke away his Cappe, +which don she soared ouer the Wagon with great force, then she retourned +againe, as though he had bene commaunded by some Celestyall prouidence, +and aptly placed his cappe againe vpon his head, and then soared away vp +into the element. Tanaquil conceiuing this act to be some Augurie or +Prophecie, being cunning in that knowledg (as commonly all the +people of Hetruria be) imbraced hir husband and willed him to be of +good cheere and to expect great honour. And as they were ymagining and +consulting vpon these euentes, they entred the City, and when they had +gotten a house for him and his family, he was called Tarquinius Priscus. +His riches and great welth made him a noble man amonges the Romanes, and +through his gentle entertainment and curteous behauioure, he wanne the +good willes of many, in so much as his fame and good reporte was bruted +through out the pallace. At length he grew in acquaintance with the king +him selfe, who seeing his liberall demeanor and duetifull seruice, +esteemed him as one of his familiar and nere frends, and both in his +warres and also at home he imparted to him the secrets of his counsell, +and hauing good experience of his wisedom, by his laste will and +testament appointed him to be tutor of his children. Ancus raigned <span +class = "smallroman">XXIIII.</span> yeres, a man in peace and +Warre, in pollicy and valiance with any of his predecessours comparable: +his children were very yong, and for that cause Tarquinius was more +instant to summon a parliament for creation of a kyng. When the day was +come he sente the young children abroade a huntyng, and then ambiciously +presumed to demaunde the kyngdome, beinge the first that euer attempted +the like. For the better conciliation and obteynyng of the peoples good +will, hee vttered his oration: “I do not presume to require a +straunge or newe thynge: that was neuer before put in practyse, nor yet +am the first, but the third stranger and foraine borne that affected and +aspired this gouernment: for which consideration +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page223" id = "page223">223</a></span> +there is no cause why any man ought to muse or maruell more than +behoueth. It is euidently knowen that Tatius, not onely being a stranger +but also an ennemy, was made king. Numa also was made king, being +altogether a Forraine and Stranger borne, not through his owne request, +but rather voluntarily accited and called thereunto by the Romaynes: but +for my parte, after I was able to gouerne my selfe, I repayred to +dwell at Rome with my Wyfe, my Children, and all my substance, where I +haue spent the chiefest portion of my lyfe, specially after it was +mature and able to execute ciuile magistery, which I chose rather to +bestowe at Rome than at home in myne owne country. I haue learned +the Romane rites and lawes, aswell sutch as be meete to serue abroade in +the warres, as also necessary to be practised at hoame, at the handes of +mine olde maister Ancus Martius your late king, a mayster right +worthy and famous in all poynctes to bee followed: I shewed myselfe +an humble and obedient subiect to the kyng and in frendship and +familiarity toward others, I contended with the kyng himselfe.” +When he had spoken those woordes, which in deede were very true, wyth +the whole consent of the people he was saluted kynge: and as all thynges +succeeded his Noble request, euen so after hee was settled in hys +kyngdome, hee gaue himselfe to amplifie the common wealth: he chose an +hundred graue persons, whych he called the Fathers of the lesser +Countryes. He warred first with the Latines, and wan the Citty of +Appiolas, who bryngyng from thence a greater spoyle and booty than was +looked for, ordayned richer and more gorgeous Playes than any of hys +predecessours: hee buylded certayne Galleries and other places of +assembly aboute the Forum, hee walled the City round about wyth Stone: +and as he was doing these things, the Sabines interuented him vpon the +sodayne, in so much as they were passed the Ryuer of Anienes before the +Romane hoste was in a readynesse: whych was an occasion of great feare +and styrre at Rome. In the ende after the battayles were ioyned betweene +them both, a cruell and blouddy slaughter was commytted, the +victorye falling to neyther parte. Then the Romanes sought meanes to +renue theyr force, by addyng to theyr armye a further bande of horsemen. +Wherefore Tarquinius sent to the Rammenses, Titienses, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page224" id = "page224">224</a></span> +Luceres: to the bandes that Romulus had conscribed, hee added other new +troupes of horsemen, purposing that the same should contynue in memorye +of him after hys death: and bicause Romulus dyd the same without aduyse +of the Southsayers, one Accius Nauius, the notablest Prophecier in those +Dayes, wythstode that constitutyon, affyrmyng that it was not lawfull +for him eyther to appoynt a newe order or to alter the olde, except the +byrdes and auguries did assent thereunto: wherewith the kynge was +displeased and deluding that Scyence, said: “Go to M. Southsayer: +tell me now” (quod he) “is it possible to bring that to passe which +I haue now conceiued in my mynd?” “Yea,” quod the Southsayer, “if you +tel me what it is.” “Then” quod Tarquinius, “I haue deuised that +thou shalte pare thine owne skin with a raser: therfore take thys knyfe +and doe as thy byrdes doe portend and signifie.” And as it was reported +he pared his owne Skin in deede: in memory whereof an Image of Accius +was erected, with his Head couered: after that tyme there was nothing +attempted without those auguries. Notwithstandyng, Tarquinius proceeded +in hys constytutyon, and added to the Centurias an other number, for +that 1800 horsemen wer conteyned in the three Centuriæ: the latter +addytion was called also by the same name, whych afterward were doubled +into <span class = "smallroman">VI.</span> Centurias. When hys Numbre +was thus increased, once again he ioyned battell wyth the Sabines, who +by a notable pollicy recouered a great victory: and bicause the Sabines +doubled a fresh onset without any order of battell or good aduysement, +they were ouerthrowen, and then constrained to make petition for peace: +the City of Collatia, and the Country confining vpon the same, was taken +from the Sabines. The Sabine warres beinge in this sorte ended, +Tarquinius in tryumphaunt maner retourned to Rome. At that time a +prodyge and myraculous wonder chaunced to bee seene in the Palace. The +head of a Chyld whose name was Seruius Tullius lying a slepe in the +palace, was seene to burn. The kyng was brought to see that myracle: and +as one of his seruaunts was going to fetch water to quench the fire, he +was stayed by the Queene, who commaunded that the child should not once +be touched vntyll he awaked of hymselfe: and so soone as hee rose +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page225" id = "page225">225</a></span> +from sleepe, the fire vanyshed: then she tooke hir husbande aside, and +sayd: “Doe you see this Chyld whom we haue very basely and negligently +brought vp? I assure you sir (sayd she) he wil be the onely +safeguard and defender of this our doubtfull state, and will be the +preseruer of our household when it is afflycted: wherefore let vs make +much of him, that is lyke to be the ornament and a worthy stay to all +our famyly.” After that they had accompted him amongs the Number of +theyr Chyldren, and traded him vp in those Arts, which excyte all good +dispositions to aspyre vnto <ins class = "correction" title = +"error for ‘honour’">houour</ins>, the pleasure of the Gods appeared in +shorte tyme: for the child grew to a royall behauior, in so much, as among +all the Romane youth there was none more mete to mary the daughter of +Tarquinius. This Seruius Tullius, was the sonne of one Seruius Tullius +that was a Captaine of a towne called Corniculum, at the apprehension +whereof, it chaunced that the sayd Tullius the father was slayne, +leauing his wife great with child: the mother being a captiue and +bondwoman was delyuered of hir Child at Rome, in the house of Priscus +Tarquinius. After Tarquinius had raigned 38 yeres, the yong man began to +grow to great honor and estimation, aswell with the kinge himselfe, as +also with the Fathers. Then the Romanes conceiued a hateful indignation +against the king, for that he being put in trust to be the tutor and +gouernour of Ancus children, displaced them from theyr ryght +inheritance, and specially for that he himself was a stranger, fearyng +also that the kingdome should not return again to the election of +themselues, but degenerat and grow into seruile bondage. They also caled +to remembrance, that the city continued one hundred yeres after the +sublation of Romulus, an intier kingdome within one city, and that it +was a shame for them to suffer a bondeman, borne of seruile kind, to +possesse the same, and would redounde to their perpetuall ignominie, +hauing the progenie of Ancus aliue, to suffer the same to be open to +strangers, and bondmen: wherefore they determined to defend the griefe +of that iniury, and to be reuenged rather vpon Tarquinius, than upon +Seruius. In fine, they committed the execution of that fact to two +shepherds chosen out for that purpose: who deuised this pollicy: before +the entry into the Palace they fell togyther by the eares, vpon whych +fray al the kinge’s +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page226" id = "page226">226</a></span> +officers assembled and repaired thither to know the cause of theyr +falling out, when they were parted, they appealed to the king, with such +exclamation as they were heard to the Palace: beyng called before the +king, both of them fell to brauling, and one of them striued of purpose +to hinder the tale of the other. The king’s sergeant rebuked them, +commaunding them to tel theyr tales in order: when they were a lyttle +quieted, one of them beginneth to discourse the tale. And as the king +was attentife to heare the plaintif, the other tooke vp a hatchet and +threw it at the kyng, and leauing thee weapon stickinge in the wound, +they conueyed theymselues out of the dores. Those that wayted vpon the +kynge, made hast to releeue him, and the Sergeantes followed to +apprehend the malefactors. Wyth that a hurly burly rose amongs the +people, euery man maruellinge what the matter shoulde be. Tanaquil +commaunded the Palace Gates to be shut, and seeketh remedy to cure her +husband, as though some hope fayled of his recouery, she called Seruius +before her (whych maried her daughter) and shewed vnto him her dead +husband, holdinge him fast by the right hande, shee intreated hym that +he would not suffer the death of his father in the law to be vnreuenged, +to the intent he might not be ridiculous to the traytours, saying to him +further these wordes: “If thou bee a man of thy handes (O Seruius) +the kyngdome is thyne and not theirs, which thus cruelly by the handes +of other haue committed thys abhominable fact: wherefore put forth thy +self, and the Gods be thy guide: for they did portend this noble head to +be the gouernour of this city, at such tyme as they circumfused the same +with a fire descending from aboue. Let that heauenly flame excite thy +courage: be throughly awaked: we beyng straungers sometimes haue +raigned. Thinke and consider what thou art, and not from whence thou +camest: if the strangenesse of the case do affray the, my counsel from +time to time shall relieue thee.” The cry and stirre of the people being +vnmesurable, that one could scarse heare an other, Tanaquil opened the +windowes that had their prospect to the new way (for the king dwelt at +the temple of Iupitor Stator) and then spake to them in thys wyse: “Be +of good cheere (good people) the king is but amazed with the sodainesse +of the stroke, the wound is not very deepe, for euen +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page227" id = "page227">227</a></span> +nowe he is come agayne to hym selfe, and the wounde being opened and +dressed there is good hope of life: I trust within these fewe dayes +you shall see hym: in the meane time, I pray you to shewe your +obedyence to Seruius Tullius, who is appointed to execute the lawes, and +to doe all other affayres in the absence of my husbande.” Seruius +occupyinge the state and authoritye of the kyng, executed the lawes in +some cases, and in other some made the people beleue that he would +consult with the king him selfe. The death of the king was concealed and +kept close a certaine space til such tyme as Seruius had gathered his +force about him. After the death of the kynge was disclosed, Seruius +beinge garded with a strong garrison, toke vpon him to be king, not by +the consente of the people, but by the will of the Fathers. The children +of Ancus vnderstanding that the kyng was aliue, and that Seruius power +and force was greate, conveyed themselues in exile to Suessa Pometia: +and leaste the children of Tarquinius should attempte lyke enterpryse +against him, as the children of Ancus did agaynst Tarquinius, hee maryed +<span class = "smallroman">II.</span> of his daughters to Lucius and +Aruns the chyldren of Tarquinius. But yet the deuise of man could not +breake the necessity of fate and constellatyon, for the hatred conceiued +in desire of ambicious gouernment, made all thyngs vnstable and +vnfaythfull amongs domestical frends: but yet to quyet and pacyfye the +present tyme, warre was renued with the Veientes, and other Cytyes of +Hetruria: wherein the Fortune and valiance of Tullius excelled: for when +he had given an ouerthrow to the ennimy, least the people’s and fathers +good wil should be withdrawne, he retourned to Rome: who then attempted +and broughte to passe a notable worke in the common wealth. He +instituted a certaine yerely taxe and reuenew, to satisfie and discharge +all charges susteined in the time of peace and warre, with sundry other +notable lawes and deuises for the defence of the publique state. After +that he had mustered the whole numbre of the Citizens in the field +called Martius, the same amounted to <span class = +"smallroman">LXXX.M.</span> and as Fabius Pictor saith, there were so +many that were able to beare armure. Then the hilles Quirinalis, +Viminalis and Exquiliæ, were added to the Citye. He compassed the town +round about wyth a vamure, enuironyng the same with a double trench. He +deuyded +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page228" id = "page228">228</a></span> +the Romanes into <span class = "smallroman">V.</span> bandes called +Classes, and into Centurias, whych bee bandes of an hundred men. He also +builded a temple to Diana, with the helpe and assistance of the Latine +people. Amongs the Sabines there chaunced an Oxe in the House of an +Husbande Man to bee broughte forth, of an huge bignesse and maruellous +shape (the hornes whereof were placed at the porche of Diana’s temple +for a monument long time after.) The Southsayers prophecie that where +the same Oxe shoulde be first sacrificed to Diana, there the Chyefe +empire and principall gouernement should remaine: which prophecie came +to the knowledge of the Chyefe minister of Diana hir Temple. One of the +Sabin’s expecting for a day mete to be employed in that sacrifice, +brought the sayde Oxe to Rome to the Temple of Diana, placing the same +before the altar. The chiefe Minister calling to remembrance the oracle, +and saw that the greatnesse of that sacrifice should be famous, spake to +the Sabine these wordes: “What dost thou meane (thou impure Straunger) +to prepare sacrifice to Diana, before thou bee purified and clensed in +the lyuelye Riuer of Tiber? Here belowe in this valley the sayde riuer +doth runne: go get the hence and wash the.” The Sabine attached with a +religious feare, goeth downe to the Riuer, and while he is washing +himselfe a Romane doth offer the Sacrifice, which was right acceptable +both to the kyng and his country. The king althoughe that of longe tyme +he had raigned, yet vnderstoode that the elder Tarquinius which was +maried to one of his daughters, did bragg and report eftsones that his +father in law obteined the gouernment and kingdom without the consent of +the people: wherfore the king through his lyberalyty by dyuyding the +conquest atchyeued of the Ennymye amongs the common people, conciliated +theyr fauor and good wils: in so much as he affirmed that he would raign +in despite of them all, and that there was no king at any tyme that +raigned with a more generall consent: all whych did nothing diminish the +hope and desire of Tarquinius. He had a Brother whose name was Aruns, +being of a quiet and gentle disposition. Both they married two of the +king’s daughters, which were of manners and conditions very vnlike. The +yonger daughter being the wife of Aruns, the sharper shrewe, and fiercer +of nature, seeing that hir husbande +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page229" id = "page229">229</a></span> +was nothing giuen or plyant to match with hir vngracious deuice or +ambicious stomack, attempted hir brother, whose condicion was +correspondent to hirs, and sayd vnto him, that he was a Man in deede, +and one worthy to be accompted to be borne and proceede of the bloud +Royall. Then she began to contemne hir sister, for that she hauing such +a man to hir husbande, would suffer him to neglect so meete and iust +occasion for recouery of the kingdom. Their natures being of one +disposition, as commonly one myschyefe procureth an other, al things +began to be disquieted throughe the attempt of that vngracious woman. To +be shorte, they two deuysed meanes, that Aruns hys Brother, and the +Elder Tullia hir sister were slain: which done, they two maried +together. The wicked woman ceased not daylye to animate and prouoke hir +husbande from one parricide to an other. And amongs all hir wicked talke +and cruel instigations, she vsed these words: “If thou be that man vnto +whom I thinke I am maryed, then I wil call the both husband and king: +but if thou bee not hee, then the alteratyon is chaunged to the worse, +and cruelty is matched with cowardise. But why doest thou not put thy +selfe in a readinesse? Why thou commest not nowe from Corinthe, or from +the Hetrurian Tarquines, to atchieue and conquere newe kingdoms as thy +father did<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ?">. </ins>The +familiar Gods and the Gods of thy countrey, the nobility of thy father, +and thy royal bloud, thy stately seate within thine own house, and thy +name Tarquinius, do create and make kyng. But if in al these occasions +thou dost wante stomacke, why dost thou make the whole Citye conceyue a +false opinion of thee? Why dost thou not shewe thyselfe to be the sonne +of a king? Auoide hence I say, and go to the Tarquinians, or to Corinth, +retire again to thy firste lynage: thou dost rather resemble thy +brother’s effeminate hart, than the valiant stomacke of thy father.” +With these wordes and sutch like, she pricked forward hir husbande, and +she hir self could in no wise bee quiet. Then Tarquinius went forth to +the fathers of the lesser countries, and called to theyr remembraunce +the benefites vnto them by hys father extended, desiring the like to bee +shewed and rendered vnto hym, he allured the yonger sort of the City by +giftes and other lyberall rewardes, promising them if he atteined his +purpose, more frankly to recompence +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page230" id = "page230">230</a></span> +them. By this meanes the king became odious and offensiue to the people. +Tarquinius seeing his time, guarded with a bande of Men, entred the +market place, wherewith the common people were greatly abashed, then he +mounted into the palace, and placed himselfe in the royal seate of the +same, causinge the Fathers to be cited before hym by the haraulde, vnto +whom he repeted the petigree of Seruius, and his first entrance into the +kingdom. As he was speaking these wordes, Seruius in great haste +repayred to the Palace, and findyng Tarquinius sitting in his place, +sayd to him these wordes: “Why? what is the matter Tarquinius +(quod he?) Howe darest thou be so bolde so long as I am liuing to +call the Fathers, or yet presume to sit in my seat?” Wherunto Tarquinius +fiercely replyed: “That hee possessed but the roume of his father, which +was more mete for a king’s sonne and heyre, than for suche a bondeman as +hee was, and that hee had long enough abused his lordes and maisters.” +Wherwithal a great hurly burly and tumult began to rise by the fautors +of both parts, so that he was like to attaine the Garland, which best +could daunce for it. Tarquinius forced to giue the laste aduenture, +beynge more lusty and stronger than the other, tooke Seruius by the +myddle, and caryinge hym oute of the Courte, threwe hym downe the +Staires, whyche done, hee caused the Senate to retourne into the Palace. +Then the kynge wyth all hys trayne of Offycers, and other hys seruaunts +ranne away, and as they were flying, hee was slayne by those that +Tarquinius sent after to pursue hym, in the streete called Cyprius. +Tullia vnderstandyng that Seruius hyr father was slayne, she bashed not +in hir Wagon to come into the market place before all the assemblye +there, called hir husband out of the Court, and boldly was the first +that called him king. But being rebuked and commaunded by him to auoid +out of that greate throng of people, she retired home agayn, and when +she was paste the vpper ende of the said strete called Cyprius, the +wagoner dryuing toward the right hand to the Hill called Exquiliæ, hee +stayed the Wagon, and shewed his Ladye the bodye of hyr Father, lyinge +starke dead in the streete. In memory of which shamefull and vnnatural +fact, long tyme after ther contynued a Monument: for the same strete was +called Vicus Sceleratus. Some report that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page231" id = "page231">231</a></span> +she caused the wagon to be dryuen ouer the dead corps of hir father, +wyth the bloud of whom and hir husband, hir wagon being contaminated, +she presented the same to hir Gods: after which abhominable beginnings, +like end ensued. This Seruius Tullius raigned <span class = +"smallroman">XLIIII.</span> yeres. Then Tarquinius began to raigne, vnto +whom Superbus was added for his surname: this wicked sonne in law would +not suffer the dead body of Seruius to be buried. His conscience being +pricked with the abhominable gaine of hys kyngdom, fearying also least +other might conceiue like example, he guarded his person with a band of +armed men, executing all thinges wyth force and tyranny, contrary to the +aduyse and consents of the Senate and people. He caused the fautors and +frendes of Seruius to be put to death, whereby the numbre of the Fathers +was diminished, whose places he suffred none other to supply, of purpose +to bring that honourable order to contempt. He gouerned the common welth +by his own domestical and priuate Counsel: War, peace, truce, society of +the Cyties adioining, he vsed as he list, without any further assent. +The Latines he specially regarded, to the intent that through forreine +aide hee might raign in more surety at home, with the chief of which +country he ioyned affinity. One Octauius Manilius, a Tusculan born, +was the prince and chief ruler of that country, descending from the +stock of Vlisses, and the Goddesse Circes, if the same be true, vnto +whom Tarquinius gaue his daughter in mariage: by reason wherof he +conciliated great alliance and frendes. Tarquinius beinge of great +authority among the Latines, appointed them vppon a day to assemble at a +woode called Ferentina, there to intreat of matters concerninge both the +states. To which place the Latines repaired vpon the breake of the day, +but Tarquinius came not thither till the Sunne was set. During whych +time many things were in talke. There was one amonges them called Turnus +Herdonius, whych in Tarquinius absence had inueyed vehemently agaynst +hym, affirminge that it was no maruell though he was called Superbus by +the Romanes. For what prouder mock could be inforced to the Latines, +than to make them wayt a whole day for his pleasure. “Dyuers Princes and +Noblemen (quod he) that dwel far of, be come according to the +appointment, and he which +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page232" id = "page232">232</a></span> +first allotted the day, is not present. Heereby it most euidently +appeareth in what sort he will vse vs if he myghte once attayne the +soueraynty. And who doubteth in thys so manyfest apparance, but that he +went about to affect the Dominion of the Latines? If the Romanes haue +had iust cause to beleeue him, and if their Kyngdome had ben but gotten +and not violently rapt and stolne by parricide, then the Latines mighte +also beleeue hym, who being but a straunger to them, had no great cause +to beleeue hym. Hys owne subiects do repent the time that euer he bare +rule: For some be slayne and heaped vpon the dead bodies of other, some +be banished, some haue lost their goods: what other frutes than these +maye the Latine people expecte and look for? Therefore if they would be +ruled, he required euery man to returne home to his own house, and geue +no more attendaunce for the day of Counsel, than he doth which first +appoincted the same.” These wordes and sutch like, this sedicious and +desperat man declared: Whose talke Tarquinius interuented, and vpon his +comming euery man conuerted him selfe to salute him. Then Tarquinius +began to excuse his long tariaunce, for that he was appoynted an +arbitrator betwene the father and the sonne, for whose reconciliation he +was forced to stay that longe space, and to spend the time of that day. +Wherefore he appoynted the next day. The conceit of which excuse Turnus +could not kepe secret, but sayd: that a matter betwene the father and +the sonne might be ended in few wordes: for if the childe would not be +obedient to his father, some mischyef must needes lyght vppon him. +Tarquinius vnderstanding these inuections made againste hym by Turnus, +immediatly deuyseth meanes to kil him, to the intent he myght inculcate +like terror to the Latines, that he did to his owne subiects. And +bicause he was not able to sort his purpose to effect by secrete malice, +he attempted to accuse him of Treason, and suborned (by means of +diuers of the Citty of Aricia) his owne man whom with gold he had +corrupted to bring in a forged accusation, whych was that his maister +had prepared in one night a number of men with Munition and weapon to +distroy the Nobility of the Latines, of purpose to recouer the +principalitye of the same. This matter began to be suspicious, by reason +of the Tumult made the day beefore against Tarquinius, and therefore the +people the soner +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page233" id = "page233">233</a></span> +did credit the case. In fine, Turnus was condempned, and therefore a new +kind of death deuised for him. Who being laide vpon a Hurdle his face +vpward, was throwen into the water of Ferrentina. This execution being +done Tarquinius reuoked the Latines to Counsel, wherein he praised them +for their Iustice extended vpon Turnus, and then spake these wordes: +“I may by an old order and constitution iustlye say thus mutch vnto +you. The whole nation of the Latines descending from the City of Alba +are bounde to obserue that truce which the Albanes wyth all their +colonies annexing themselues to the Romane Empyre in the tyme of Tullius +Hostilius, were firmely obliged to accomplishe. The renouation whereof +will nowe conduce more aduauntage and vtylity to them al, than euer it +did beefore. For throughe this Truce the Latines shall possede and +participate parte of the prosperous successe of the Romane people. +Better it were in this sort to ioyne themselues togither, than to see +Destruction of either Cities, Depopulacions and spoiles of their +countries, whych in the time of Ancus (my father then raygnyng) he +suffered. The like also (if you do forsake this offer) ye may styll +expecte and suffer.” The Latines herevnto were soone perswaded, +a Day was appointed when the lustiest sorte of theyr Countrie +should be ready armed at the wood called Ferrentina. Being ioyned in +order of battel, they marched towardes the Volsciens, and wanne the +Citye of Suessa Pometia, the spoile wherof Tarquinius solde for <span +class = "smallroman">XL.</span> Talents, imploying the same vpon the +Temple of Iupiter. Afterwards he assaulted the Gabinians, and when he +saw he coulde not by force obteyne the same, he surmised a pollicy. Who +seeming to bend him self wholy vpon the building of the Capitole and to +set aside the affaires of his warres, deuised with his sonne Sextus, +which was the youngest of the three, that he should runne to the +Gabinians, and complayne of his father’s intollerable crueltye, whych +accordingly he did. Who shewinge hymselfe as a voluntarye exyle, sayd +that hys father had conuerted hys tyrannye from other, and began to +execute the same vpon his owne freendes, and that he was also weary of +the presence of his owne chyldren going about to remoue hys domesticall +conuersants oute of hys house, as he had done the like out of the Court, +to the intent hee would leaue no ofspring or heyre behinde +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page234" id = "page234">234</a></span> +him to possesse his kingdome: adding further, that he was escaped euen +through the midde of his father’s weapons and fury, thincking no place +better for his safegarde and refuge, than to seeke succour amongs his +ennimies. “And bicause (quod he) ye shall not be deceiued, he is +euen now preparing of warres against you, and purposeth vpon the sodaine +to set vpon you. Now if there be no place of abode for me your humble +suppliant amongs you, I must needes wander through Italy, and first +I will attempt the Volscians, afterwardes the Æquians and Hernicians, +tyll sutch tyme as I finde some Nation willing to defend the poore +Chylde from the cruell and wicked furye of the Father: and perchaunce +(quod he) ye shall wynne hym that may bee an Instrument and courage +vnto you all, to represse that proude kyng and cruell Natyon.” The +Gabinians delyberating what was best to be done in this case, the young +man seemed as though he were offended, and would in al hast depart, and +seeke refuge of others, then they curteously interteined him: thys yong +man was had in great estimation amongs them, throughe craftye and vaine +persuasions, makyng them belieue that he would conduct their army euen +vnder the walles of Rome, with sundry other fained instigations to +brynge him self the more in credit. At length he was chosen captain of +theyr warres, and recouered sundry victories for the Gabinians: whereby +the foolishe Nation both of the lower and chiefest sort, beleeued that +their captayne was sent vnto them by the prouidence of the Gods. He +susteined perill and payne in like sort as the common Souldier did, +liberally deuidinge his spoiles and booties amongs them. He was so well +beloued, that hys father Tarquinius at Rome was of no greater authority +than hee was among the Gabinians. When he thought that he had recouered +force enough to answer his father’s expectation, he sent a post to Rome +to know his father’s pleasure, although the gods had giuen him +sufficient authority amongs the Gabinians. And bycause Tarquinius was +doubtful of the trust and fidelity of the messenger, hee would aunswer +nothing by worde of mouth, but carying the messenger into a garden, hard +adioyning his house, with a wand which he caried in his hand, he cut of +the heads of the highest Poppies that grew in the garden, meanyng therby +that he shoulde dispatche the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page235" id = "page235">235</a></span> +heads of the chiefest and principal in the City. Whervpon the messanger +without answere by mouth returned. But by declaryng those signes and +circumstances which his father vsed in the garden Sextus conceiued his +meaning. Then like a naturall sonne, following the steppes of his +father, he cut of the heads of the Gabinian nobility, wherupon som ran +away, vpon whose departure the goods as wel of them as of other that +were put to death were deuided. The state of the Gabinians being in this +doubtful case, void of al counsell and succour, at length was surrendred +to the Romanes. Then Tarquinius concluded peace with the Æquians, and +renued a truce with the Thuscanes and wholly bent him self to the +affayres of the City. This Tarquinius was the father of him that +rauished the noble Lady Lucretia: the lamentable history whereof, is +recited in my former Tome, by the end of which stock, remembred in that +history, and begining of the same described in this Nouell, may be +gathered, what fruyctes Ambytyon and lothsome luste bryng forth. For +Tarquinius Priscus repairing out of Hetruria, to dwell at Rome, by the +ambycyous wyll of hys wyfe aspired and atchyeued the kyngdome, whych was +by the sundry deuyce of Tullia, the daughter of Seruius Tullius +mainteyned, and by the libidinous desire of Sextus Tarquinius, the sonne +of Superbus the 6 Romane kynge ended, and the whole race expelled and +euerlastingly banished out of that Citty. So meete an example for those +that breath, and longe after the Rightes, titles, and Kyngdomes of +other, as may bee read in any Author. For although the Springe appeare +very fresh and lusty, of some degenerate grifft planted vpon some +auncient stock, yet the fruyct most commonly in taste eateth somwhat +sower, and the Rellishe in mouth not altogether so pleasaunt, as that +whych both in soyle and stocke, is duely planted.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page236" id = "page236">236</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_7" id = "novel2_7"> +THE SEUENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The vnhappy end and successe of the loue of King Massinissa, and Queene +Sophonisba his wyfe.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">If</span> men would haue afore +consideration of theyr owne doings, before they do attempt the same, or +els premeditate and study the scope and successe thereof, I do +verely beleeue that a numbre would not cast themselues headlong into so +many gulfs of miseryes and calamityes as they do, specially Noblemen, +and Prynces, who oftentymes doe exceede in temerity and rashnesse, by +lettynge the Raynes of theyr own Lustes, to farre to raunge at large, +wherein they deepely Plunge thymselues to theyr great Preiudice and +Dishonour, as teacheth thys goodly hystorie ensuinge, whych declareth +that there was a Prynce called Massinissa, the Sonne of Gala kynge of +Massæzali, (a people of Numidia): who warfaring with the +Carthaginians in Spaine agaynst the Romaynes, hauinge first fought +honourably agaynst kynge Syphax in Numidia, it chaunced that Gala hys +Father dyed, vppon whose death hys Kyngdome was inuaded and occupied by +other, wherefore sustayninge stoutly the surges of aduersity combatinge +wyth hys Enemyes, sometymes getting part of hys Kyngdome, and sometymes +losinge, and many tymes molestinge both Syphax and the Carthaginians, +was in dyuers Conflicts lyke to be taken or slayne. Wyth these hys +trauels, impacient of no payne and trouble, he became very Famous and +Renoumed, that amonges the people of Affrica, he acquired the name and +title of a valiant and puissant Souldier, and of a pollitique and +prouident Captain: afterwards he was generally welbeloued of the +Souldiers, bicause not like the king’s sonne or a prince, but as a +priuate souldier and companion, his conuersation and vsuall trade of +life was amongs them, calling euery man by his propre name, cherishing +and esteeming them according to their desert, obseruing neuerthelesse a +certaine comelinesse of a Superiour. This Massinissa by meanes of one +Syllanus being in Spayne, priuely entred acquaintance and familiarity +with that Scipio which afterwardes was surnamed Affricanus, and who in +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page237" id = "page237">237</a></span> +those dayes with the authoritie of Proconsul in that prouince, +victoriously subdued the Carthaginians: the same Massinissa entred +league with the Romanes and inuiolably so long as he liued obserued +amity with the Romane people, and lefte the same to his children and +posteritie as an inheritance. When the Romanes began warres in Affrica, +spedily with that power he was able to make, he repaired to his old +friend Scipio: within a whyle after Syphax beyng ouerthrowen in battell +and taken, Massinissa and Lælius were sent to surprise the chief city of +that kingdom, which sometimes were king Syphax owne, called Cirta. In +that city remayned Sophonisba, the wyfe of Syphax and daughter to +Hasdrubal of Giscon, who had alyenated hir husband from the Romanes, +being in league with them, and by hir persuasions went to aide and +defend the Carthaginians. Sophonisba perceiuing that the ennimies were +entred the City of Cirta: and that Massinissa was going towardes the +palace, determined to meete him, to proue his gentlenesse and curtesie, +whereupon in the middes of his Souldiers thronge, whych were already +entred the Palace, she stoutly thrust, and bouldlye looked round aboute, +to proue if she could espye by some signes and tokens the personage of +Massinissa. She amongs that prease perceeiued one for whose apparel, +armure and reuerence don vnto him, semed vnto hir that without doubt the +same was the king: and therefore incontinently kneeled downe before him, +and pitiously began to speake in this manner: “For so mutch +(O puissante prince) as felicity and good fortune, but specially +the fauour of the Gods immortall haue permitted, that thou shouldest +recouer thine auncient kingdome descended vnto the by righte and lawfull +inheritaunce, and therewithall hast taken and vanquished thine ennimy, +and now hast me at thy wyll and pleasure to saue or spyll, I poore +wretched myserable woman brought into bondage from Queenelyke state, +whilom leading a delycate life in Princely Courte, accompanyed with a +royall traine of beautifull dames, and nowe at thy mercifull +disposition, doe humbly appeale to thy mercye and goodnesse, whose +Princely maiesty and comfortable aspect, chereth vp my woefull heart to +loke for grace, and therefore am bold thus to presume with most humble +voice to implore and crie out, beseechyng thee to reach me +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page238" id = "page238">238</a></span> +hither thy victorious handes to kisse and salute.” This Lady was a +passing fayre gentlewoman, of flourishing age and comely behauiour, none +comparable vnto her within the whole region of Affrica: and so much the +more as hyr pleasant grace by amiable gesture of complaint did increase, +so much the heart of Massinissa was delyted, who being lusty and of +youthly age (according to the nature of the Numides,) was easily +intrapped and tangled in the nettes of Loue: whose glutting eyes were +neuer ful, nor fiery hart was satisfied in beholding and wondring at hir +most excellent beauty: not foreseeing therefore, or taking heede of the +daungerous effect of beautie’s snares, his heart being so fiercely +kindled with the swingyng flames of loue, who causing hir to rise, +exorted hir to prosecute hir supplication: then she began to procede as +foloweth: “If it may be lawfull for me thy prysoner and bondwoman +(O my soueraign lord) to make request, I humbly do beseech +thee, by thy royal maiesty, wherein no long time past my husband and I +were magnificently placed in so kynglike guise as thou art now, and by +that Numidicall name, common vnto thee and my husbande Syphax, and by +the sauinge Gods and Patrons of this City, who with better fortune and +more ioyfull successe do receyue thee into the same, that expelled +Syphax out from thence: it may please thy sacred state, to haue pity on +me. I require no hard and difficult thinge at thy handes, vse thine +imperiall gouernement ouer me, sutch as law of armes and reason of Warre +require: cause me if thou wilt, to pyne in cruel pryson, or do me to +sutch death with torments, as thou list to vse, the sharp, fierce and +cruel death that any wight can suffre, or Perillus Bull shall not be +dreadfull vnto me, but more deare and acceptable than wonted life in +pleasures led: for no death shal bee refused of mee, rather than to be +rendred into the proud handes of the most cruell Romanes. Rather had I +tast the trust of a natiue Numidie, borne with me in Affrike soyle, than +the faith of straungers kinde: I know full well that thou dost +knowe what curtesy a Carthaginian and daughter of Hasdrubal, shal surely +looke for at the Romanes hands: whose mind is fearfull of nothing more +than of theyr pride and glory intollerable: if thou (my lord) +haddest sisters of thine own, or daughters of thy royal bloud brought +forth +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page239" id = "page239">239</a></span> +think that they may chaunce (if fortune frown) to slide into the +Pit of aduerse lucke, so well as I am nowe: of that forme Fortune’s +wheele is made, whych we dayly see to be vnstable, turninge and dyuers, +that now peace and now warre it promiseth, now euill it threatneth, now +mirth, now sorrow it bringeth, now aduauncinge aloft, now tumbling downe +the clymbers up. Let Syphax bee cleare and liuely Example to thee, whych +coulde neuer finde any stedfast stay vnder the Moone’s Globe. He was the +mightiest and the richest kinge that raigned in Affrica, and now is the +most miserable and vnlucky wight that liueth on Land. The Gods graunt +that I bee no Prophet or Diuiner of future euill, whose omnipotency I +deuoutly beseech to suffer thee and thy posterity in Numidie land and +most happyly to raygne. Vouchsafe then to deliuer me from the Romanes +thraldome, which if thou bee not able safely to bryng to passe, cause +death (the ease of al woe) to be inflicted vpon me.” In speaking those +words, she tooke the kynge’s right hande and many times sweetly kissed +the same. And then her teares turned to pleasant cheare, in sutch wise +as not onely the mynde of the armed and victorious Prynce was mooued to +mercy, but straungely wrapped in the amorous Nets of the Lady, whereby +the victour was subdued by the vanquyshed, and the Lord surprysed of his +Captiue, whom with tremblinge voyce thus he aunswered: “Make an end, +O Sophonisba, of thy large complaynt, abandon thy conceyued feare, +for I wil not onely ridde the from the Romayne handes, but also take +thee to my lawfull wyfe (if thou therewyth shalt be content) +whereby thou shalte not leade a prisoner’s life, but passe thy youthfull +dayes and hoarye age (if gods doe graunt thy life so long) as Quene +vnto a king, and wife vnto a Romane frend.” When he had sayd so with +weeping teares, he kissed and imbraced hir. She by the countenaunce, +Sygnes, Gestes, and interrupted Woordes, comprehendyng the Minde of the +Numide king to be kindled with feruent loue: the more to inflame the +same beemoned her self with such heauinesse, as the beastly heartes of +the Hircane Tygres would haue bene made gentle and dispoiled of al +fiercenesse, yf they had beheld her: and againe she fel downe at hys +feete, kissinge the armed Sabbatons vppon the same, and bedewinge them +with hir warme teares. After many +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page240" id = "page240">240</a></span> +sobbes and infinite sighes, comforted by him, she sayd: “O <ins +class = "correction" title = "printed ‘the / the’ at line break">the +the</ins> glorie and honor of all the kynges that euer were, bee or +shall bee hereafter: O the safest aide of Carthage mine vnhappy +countrey without desert, and now the present and most terrible +astonishment: if my hard fortune and distresse after so great ruine +might haue bene relieued, what greater fauour, what thing in all my +life, coulde chaunce more fortunate, vnto me, than to bee called wife of +thee? O, I blessed aboue all other women to haue a man so noble and +famous to husband. O mine aduenturous and most happy ruine. +O my moste fortunate misery, that such a glorious and incomparable +mariage was prepared for me: but bicause the Gods be so contrary vnto +me, and the due ende of my life approcheth (my deare soueraygne +lorde) to kindle againe in me, my hope half dead, or rather consumed and +spent, bicause I see myself wrapped in a state, that in vayne against +the pleasures of the Gods, I go about to molest thee: a greate +gift (and to say truthe) a right great good turne, I make +accompte to haue receiued of thee, if mine owne death I should procure +by thee, that dyinge by thy means or with thy handes, (whych were more +acceptable,) I shoulde escape the feare of the Romaynes thral and +subiection, and this soule deliuered of the same, should streight passe +into the Elysian fieldes. The final scope of this my humble plaint, is +to ryd me from the hands of the Romanes, whose thraldom to suffer I had +rather die. The other benefit which thou dost frankly offer to me pore +wretch, I dare not desire, mutch lesse require the same, bicause +the present state of my mishap dareth not presume so high. But for this +thy pity and compassion ioined with louing regard and mind toward me, +mightye loue with al the other Gods reward and blesse thy gotten kingdom +in long raign, enlarging the same with more ample bounds to thine +eternal renoum and praise: and I do not only render humble thanks for +this thy kynd and louing enterteinment, but also yeld my self thine own, +so long as lyfe gouerneth this caitif corps of mine.” These words wer +pronounced with such effect, as Massinissa was not able for pity to hold +his teares, which watred so his comely form, as the dew therof soaked +into his tender heart, and not able a long time to speake, at last thus +hee sayd: “Gyue ouer (O my quene) +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page241" id = "page241">241</a></span> +these cares and thoughts, dry vp thy cries and plaints, make an end of +all these dolorous sutes, and reioyce, that frowarde Fortune hath +changed hir mind: the Gods no doubt with better successe, wil perfourm +the rest of thy liuing dais. Thou shalt henceforth remain my Quene and +wife, for pledg whereof the sacred Godheads I cal to witnesse. But if +perchaunce (which the thundring mighty God aboue forbid) that I shalbe +forced to render thee the Romanes prisoner, be well assured, that on +liue they shall not possesse the.” For credit and accomplishment of this +promisse, and in signe of his assured faith, he reached his right hand +to Sophonisba, and led hir into the inner lodging of the king’s Palace, +wher afterward Massinissa with himself considering how he might perform +hys promised faith, vexed and troubled with a thousand cogitations, +seing in a maner his manifest ouerthrow and ruine at hand, prouoked with +mad and temerarious loue, the very same day in open presence he toke hir +to wife, solemnizing that mariage, which afterwardes bred vnto hym great +vexation and trouble, meanynge by the same to haue dyscharged Sophonisba +from the Romanes rule and order. But when Lælius was come and hearde +tell thereof, hee fretted and chafed, and wyth threatnynge Wordes +commaunded Massinissa to send his new maried wife (as the booty and +pray of the Romanes) together wyth Syphax, to their captaine Scipio. +Notwithstanding, vanquished with the supplications and teares of +Massinissa, referring the matter wholy to the iudgement of Scipio, he +dispatched Syphax with the other prisoners and bootie, to the Romane +campe, and he himself remained with Massinissa for the recouerie of +other places of the kingdome, minding not to returne before the whole +prouince were brought vnder the Romane subiection. In the meane time +Lælius gaue intelligence vnto Scipio, of the successe of Massinissa his +mariage: who knowing the same to be so hastilye celebrated, was +maruellouslye offended and troubled in Minde, mutche maruellynge that +Massinissa woulde make sutch posthast before the comming of Lælius. Yea +and vpon the very first day of his entrie into Cirta, that hee would +consummate that vnaduised wedding: and the greater was Scipio his +displeasure towards Massinissa, for that the loue which he had conceiued +of that woman, was vnsemely and dishonest, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page242" id = "page242">242</a></span> +wondering not a little that he could not find out some Lady within the +region of Spain of semblable beauty and comlinesse, to please and +content his honest and commendable intent: wherfore he iudged Massinissa +his fact to be done out of time, to the preiudice and great decay of his +honor and estimation. Howbeit like a wise and prudent personage he +dissembled his conceiued gryefe, expecting occasion for remedye of the +same. Now the time was come that Lælius and Massinissa were sent for to +the Campe. But to declare the teares and lamentable talke, the great +mone and sighes vttered betwene this new maried couple, time would want, +and tediousnesse would ouercome the Reader. He had scarce lyen with his +beloued two or thre Nyghts, but Lælius (to their great grief and +sorow) claymed hir to bee hys prysoner. Wherfore verye sorowfull and +pensiue hee departed, and retourned to the Campe. Scipio in honourable +wyse accepted him, and openly before his Captaines and men of warre, +gaue thanks to Lælius and him, for theyr prowesse and notable exploites. +Afterwards sending for him vnto his Tent, he said vnto him: “I do +suppose (my dere frend Massinissa) that the vertue and beneuolence +which you saw in me did first of all prouoke you, to transfrete the +straits, to visite me in Spaine, wherein the good will of my valiaunt +frend Syllanus did not a little auaile, to sollicite and procure amity +betwene vs. And the same afterwards inducing your constant minde, to +retire into Affrica, committed both your selfe and all your goods into +my hands and keeping. But I well pondering the quality of that vertue +whych moued you thereunto, you beinge of Affrica, and I of Europa, you a +Numidian borne, and I a Latine and Romane, of diuers customes and +language different, thought that the temperance and abstinence from +venerial pleasures which you haue sene to bee in me, and experience +therof wel tried and proued, (for the which I render vnto the immortal +Gods most humble thankes) would or ought to haue moued you to follow +mine example, being vertues which aboue all other I doe most esteme and +cherish. For he that well marketh the rare giftes and excellent benefits +wherwith dame Nature hath arraied you, would thinke that ther should be +no lacke of diligence and trauell to subdue and ouercome the carnall +appetytes of temporal beauty: +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page243" id = "page243">243</a></span> +which had it bene applied to the rare giftes of nature planted in you, +had made you a personage to the posterity very famous and renoumed. +Consider wel my present time of youth, full of courage and youthly lust, +which contrary to that naturall race I stay and prohibite. No delicate +beauty, no voluptuous delectation, no feminine flattery, can intice my +youth and state to the perils and daungers whereunto that heedelesse 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, and Marmaydes, of that sexe and kinde, +getteth greater glorye and fame, than wee haue gotten by our victory +agaynst Syphax. Hanniball the greatest ennimy that euer we Romanes felt, +the stoutest gentleman and captain without peere, through the delites +and imbracements of women effeminated, is no more the manlike and +notable emperor that hee was wont to be. The great exploits and +enterprises which valyantly you haue done in Numidia, when I was farre +from you, your care, readinesse, animosity, your strength and valor, +your expedition and bold attemptes, with all the reste of your noble +vertues worthy of immortal praise, I might and could perticulerly +recite, but to commend and extol them my heart and minde shall neuer be +satisfied, by renouacion wherof I should rather giue occasion of +blushing, than my selfe could be contented to let them sleepe in +silence. Syphax as you know is taken prisoner by the valyance of our men +of warre, by reason whereof, him selfe, his wife, his kingdome, hys +campe, landes, 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 captayn of our ennimies, yet we muste send them to Rome, +there to leaue them at the pleasure and disposition of the Romane Senate +and people. Doe you not know that Sophonisba with her toyes and +flatteries did alienat and withdraw king Syphax from our amitie and +friendship, and made hym to enter force of armes against vs? Be you +ignoraunt that she, full of rancor and malice aganyst the Romane people, +endeuoured to set al Affrica against vs, and now by her +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page244" id = "page244">244</a></span> +fayre inticementes hath gayned and wonne you, not I say our ennemy, but +an ennymy so farre as shee can, with her cruell Inchauntments? What +Damage and hurt haue lyghted vppon dyuers Monarches and Prynces through +sugred Lippes and Venemous Woordes, I wyll not spend tyme to +recite. With that prouocations and coniured charmes shee hath already +bewitched your good nature, I wyl not now imagine, but referre the +same to the deepe consideration of youre wisdome. Wherefore Massinissa, +as you haue bene a Conquerer ouer great nations and prouinces, be now a +conquerer of your own mind and appetites, the victorie whereof deserueth +greater prayse than the conquest of the whole world. Take heede I say, +that you blot not your good qualities and conditions, with the spots of +dishonor and pusillanimitye. Obscure not that fame which hitherto is +aduaunced aboue the Regyon of the glytterynge Starres. Let not thys vyce +of Femynine Flatterye spoyle the desertes of Noble Chyualrye, and +vtterly deface those merytes with greater ignomynie than the cause of +that offence is worthye of disprayse.” Massinissa hearynge these egree +and sharpe rebukes, not onely blushed for Shame, but bytterly Weepinge, +sayde: that hys poore prisoner and wyfe was at the commaundement of +Scipio. Notwithstanding, so instantly as Teares coulde suffer hym to +speak, he besoughte hym, that if it were possible, hee woulde gyue him +leaue to obserue hys faythe foolishlye assured, bicause hee had made an +othe to Sophonisba that with life shee shoulde not bee delyuered to the +Handes of the Romanes. And after other talke betweene them, Massinissa +retired to hys pauylyon, where alone wyth manifolde sighes, and most +bytter teares and plaintes, vttered wyth sutch houlinges and outcryes, +as they were hearde by those whych stoode neare hande, hee rested al the +daye bewailynge hys presente state: the most part of the nyghte also hee +spent with lyke heauynesse, and debating in hys mind vpon diuers +thoughts and deuises, more confused and amazed than before, hee could by +no meanes take rest: somtimes he thought to flee and passe the straights +commonly called the Pillers of Hercules, from thence to saile to the +Fortunate Islandes with his wife: then agayne hee thoughte with hir to +escape to Carthage, and in ayde of that City to serue agaynst the +Romanes, somtimes hee proposed +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page245" id = "page245">245</a></span> +by sworde, poyson, halter, or som such meanes to end his life and finish +his dolorous days. Many times hee was at pointe by prepared knife and +sworde to pierce his heart, and yet stayed the same, not for feare of +death, but for preseruation of his fame and honor. Thus thys wretched +and miserable louer burned and consumed in loue: tossing and tumbling +him selfe vppon his bedde, not able to find comfort to ease his payne, +thus began to say: “O Sophonisba, my deare beloued wyfe, O the +life and comfort of my life, O the deynty repast of my ioy and +quiet, what shall become of vs? Alas and out alas I crye, that I shall +see no more thine incomparable beauty, thy surpassyng comely face, those +golden lockes, those glistering eyes which a thousand times haue darkned +and obscured the rayes and beames of the Sunne it self: Alas I say, that +I can no longer be suffred to heare the pleasaunt harmonye of thy voice +whose sweetenesse is able to force Iupiter himselfe to mitigate his rage +when with lightning Thunderbolts and stormie claps in his greatest furie +he meaneth to plague the earth. Ah that it is not lawfull any more for +me to throw these vnhappy armes about thy tender neck, whose whitenesse +of face entermingled with semely rudds, excelleth the Morning Roses, +which by sweete nightly dewes doe sproute and budde. The Gods graunt +that I doe not long remaine on liue without thy sweete haunt and +company, which can no longer draw forth this breathing ghoste of myne, +than can a Bodye lyue wythoute like Breathe in it. Graunt (O Myghty +Iupiter) that one graue may close vs twaine to liue among the ghostes +and shadowes that be already past this world for like right louing +fitts, if intent of life be ment to mee without thy fellowship and +delectable presence. And who (O good God) shal be more blisful +amongs the Elysian fields, wandryng amids the spirites and ghostes of +departed soules, than I, if there we two may iette and stalke amonge the +shadowed friths and forests huge, besette with Mirtle trees, odoriferous +and sweete? that there we may at large recount and sing the sweete and +sower pangs of those our passed loues without anye stay or let at all: +that there I say we may remembre things already done, reioycing for +delights and sighing for the paines. There shall no harde hearted Scipio +bee found, there shal no marble minded captain rest, which haue not had +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page246" id = "page246">246</a></span> +regard of Loue’s toyes, ne yet haue pitied bitter payns, by hauing no +experience what is the force of loue. He then with ouer cruell wordes +shall not goe aboute to persuade me to forsake thee, or to deliuer thee +into the Romanes handes, to incurre miserable and most cruell bondage: +he shal there neuer checke me for the feruent loue I beare thee: we shal +there abide without suspition of him or any other: they can not seperate +vs, they be not able to deuide our sweetest companye. I would the +Gods aboue had graunted me the benefite, that hee had neuer arriued into +Affrica, but had still remayned in Sicilia, in Italy or Spayne. But what +stand I vpon these termes, O I fole and beast? what meanes my +drousie head to dreame sutch fansies? if he hadde not passed ouer into +Affrica, and made war against kinge Syphax, how should I haue euer seene +my faire Sophonisba, whose beauty farre surmounteth eche other wight, +whose comelines is withoute peere, whose grace inspeakable, whose maners +rare and incomparable, and whose other qualities generally disparcled +throughoute dame Nature’s mould by speach of man can not bee described? +If Scipio had not transfraited the seas to arriue in Affrike soile, how +should I, (O onely hope and last refuge of my desires) haue knowen +thee, neither should I haue bene thy feere, ne yet my wife thou +shouldest haue ben, but great had ben thy gaine and losse not much, +neuer shouldest thou haue felt the present painfull state, wherein thou +art, thy life (whereof most worthy no doubt thou art) shoulde not haue +lien in ballance poize, or rested in doubtfull plight, which now in +choyse of enimies thrall thou maist prolong, or else in Romanes handes a +praye or spoile by captiue state. But I beseech the gods to preuent the +choyce to be a Romane prysoner. And who can thinke that Scipio euer ment +to graunt me the life of one, and goeth about to spoile me of the same? +Did not he giue me the pardon of one, when he sent me to besiege the +City of Cirta, where I found fayre Sophonisba which is my Life? +A straunge kinde of pardon, by giuing me a pardon to dispossesse me +of the same. Who euer hard tel of such a pardon? So much as if he said +to me, thus: ‘Massinissa, go take the paine to cause the city yeld, and +ransack it by force, and I wil pardon thee thy lyfe. And not wyth the +onely benefit, but with Cræsus goods I wil inrich thee, and make thee +owner of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page247" id = "page247">247</a></span> +the happy soyle of Arrabia, and when I haue so done and rased the walles +by myne indeuor, wherein myne onely lyfe and ioy did rest, at my +retourne for guerdone of that Noble fact, in steede of lyfe hee choppeth +of my head, and for fayre promyse of golden mountes, hee strips me +naked, and makes mee a Romane slaue: accordynge to whych case and state +he deales wyth me. For what auailes my Lyfe, if in gryefe and sorrowes +gulffe I drown the pleasures of the same? Doth not he berieue my life +and bredes my death by diuiding me from my fayre Sophonisba? Ah Caitife +wretch, what lucke haue I, that neither storme nor whirle Wynde could +sende him home to Italian shore, or set him packing to Sicile land? what +ment cruell Scipio, when so sone as Syphax was taken, he did not +streight way dispatch him to Rome, to present the glorious sight of the +Numidian king to the Romane people? If Scipio had not beene here, thou +Sophonisba frankly hadst bene mine: for at Lælias hands I could haue +found some grace: but surely if Scipio did once see Sophonisba, and +reclined his eyes to viewe hir perelesse beauty, I doubt not but he +would be moued to haue compassion vpon hir and me, and would iudge hir +worthy not onelye to be queene of Numidia but of all the prouince +besides. But what, do I make this good accompt? The common prouerbe +sayth, that he which counteth before his hoste, must recken twice: and +so perhaps may be my lot: for what know I if Scipio did wel view hir, +whether himselfe would be inamored of hir or not, and so utterly depriue +me of that Iewel? He is a man no doubt as others be, and it is +impossible me think, but that the hardnesse of his heart must bow to the +view of such a noble beauty. But (beast as I am) what mean these +wordes? what follies doe I vaunt by singing to the deafe, and teachyng +of the blynd? O wretch, wretch, nay more than myserable Wretch. +Marke the words of Scipio, he demaundeth Sophonisba, as a thing +belonging vnto him, for which cause he sayeth that she is the pray and +part of the Romane spoile: but what shall I do? shal I gyue hir vnto +hym? He wyll haue hir, hee constraynes me, he exhortes mee, hee prayes +mee, but I know full well wherevnto those intreaties tend, and vnder the +Grasse what lurking Serpent lieth. Shal I then put into his hands mine +own Sophonisba? But before I so +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page248" id = "page248">248</a></span> +doe, the armipotent God aboue, with his flashing fires and flamming +brands shall thunder me downe into the depthe of Hell. The gapyng ground +receiue my corps, before I yeld to that request, the trampling steedes +of sauage kinde do teare my members in thousand gobbets, the desert +beastes consume my flesh, the rauening gripes and carrain kites pick out +my tongue and eyes, before I glutte his rauenous mind with that demaund +to break the fayth which by holy othe I haue promised to performe. +O curssed caitif, but what shall I doe then? it behoueth to obey, +and in despite of my teeth to do that which the Romane Emperour +commaundeth. Alas, by thinking vpon that straight and needefull lot, +I die a thousand deaths: wherfore of euils to chose the least of +twaine, and to preserve my plighted faith, O swete Sophonisba, thou +must die, and by meanes of thy beloued feere, shalt voyd the yoke of +Romanes thral, for so it pleaseth vnmindeful Ioua to appoynt. The +wretched Heauens by cruel fate haue throwen their lot, that I of mine +owne mischiefe shal be the minister. And so (O life most deere) +I shall performe the effecte to kepe the fayth whych last of all +before thy face I did confirme.” By this speach and maner of talke, the +good Prince bewayled his case, excogitating by what meanes he myght doe +to death the thing which aboue al the world he loued best: at length it +came vnto his minde to sende hir a draught of poysoned drink, which +deuise he had no sooner founde, but he was driuen into a new kinde of +fury, and kindled with disdayne, his braynes were on fire with extreme +madnesse, and as though Sophonisba had bene before him, hee talked and +raued in Bedlemwyfe: somtimes with taunts he checked hir to hir teeth, +sometimes lamented hir vnfortunate state, sometymes with pawes +displayed, he seemed to rampe into hir face, and then agayne into +amorous toies his passions droue him forth. When I doe thinke what kinde +of a man Massinissa was, who in deede was a crowned and most noble king, +and who with sutch prudence gouerned his new conquered and recouered +kingdoms, and so constantly perseuered in amity of the Romane people, +I pray to God to graunt my frendes and myselfe also, not to enter +into so intricat and louesome Labyrinth, wherein this Noble Prince was +tangled, and wyth more temperaunce to gouerne +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page249" id = "page249">249</a></span> +our beloued things. But<ins class = "addition" title = +"printed without space"> </ins>retourning +gayne to this afflicted gentleman +Massinissa. He sent vnto his beloued wyfe and Queene a pot of poyson to +rid hir of hir life: but yet staying his messenger, he cried out these +words: <ins class = "addition" title = "open quote missing">“</ins>God +forbid that I should commit this infamous murder vpon hir whom I most +deerely loue, I would rather conuey hir into the extreme partes of +the vnknowen sandy Coaste of Libia, where the countrey is full of +venomous beasts and crawling poysoned Serpents, in which we shalbe safe +and sure from the danger of cruell and inexorable Scipio, by which +meanes he shall neuer see the rare and diuine beauty, which the serpents +once beholding, will mitigate and asswage their bitter poyson, and for +whose sake they will not annoy ne yet hurt me hir louing husband and +companion: wherefore let vs make hast to flee thither, to auoide the +bondage and death prepared for vs: and if so be we be not able to cary +with vs gold and siluer, yet shal we not want there some reliefe to +maintayn our liues: for better it is to feede on bread and water, then +to liue in perpetual thraldome. And liuing with thee (sweete wyfe) what +pouerty and beggery am not I able to sustayne? The stormes of exile and +penury, I haue already suffred: for beinge driuen out of my +kingdome many times, I haue repayred to obscure dens and caues, +where I haue hidden my selfe, and liued in the Wildernesse among the +sauage Beasts. But what meane I thus to say of my selfe, whom no +misaduenture can affray or myslyke? But thou deare wyfe whych hast ben +trayned vp and nourished amongs the delicacies and bankets of the Court, +accompanied wyth traynes of many fayre and noble ladies, lining lyke a +Queene in al kinde of pleasures and delights: what shall I doe wyth +thee? I know thy heart will not suffer thee to follow me, and yet +if the same would serue thee, from whence shall I procure present +shippinge? Vpon the Sea the Roman fleete beares swinge, vpon the land +Scipio wyth hys Army occupieth euery Coast, and is generall Lord of the +field. What then shall I most miserable and vnfortunate caitife do? for +whilest I am thus makinge my bitter playnts, the night is past away, day +light approcheth, and the bright shining mornyng begynneth to cleare the +earth. And behold yonder commeth the General’s messanger for Sophonisba, +whom I must eyther deliuer into his hands or +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page250" id = "page250">250</a></span> +else commit her to present slaughter, beinge assured that she had rather +make choise to dy, than fall into the Laps of the cruell Romans.” +Whereupon he determined to send hir the poyson, and for very sorrow fell +downe vpon the ground like a man halfe deade. Afterwards being come +agayne to him selfe, he cursed the Earth, the Ayre, the Fyre, Heauen, +Hell, and all the Gods of the same, and exclaming in lamentable wyse he +called vnto him one of his most faithfull seruants, who according to the +custome of those dayes, alwaies kept poyson in store, and sayde vnto +him: “Receyue thys Cuppe of Golde, and deliuer the same with the poyson, +to Queene Sophonisba now abiding within the City of Cirta, and tel hir +that I with greatest good will would fayne haue kept the mariage knot, +and the firste fayth whych I plighted vnto hir, but the Lorde of the +Fielde, in whose power I am, hath vtterly forbidden the same. +I haue assayed all possible meanes to preserue hir my Wyfe and +Queene at liberty, but he which commaundeth me, hath pronounced such +hard and cruell sentence, as I am forced to offend my self, and to be +the minister of mine own mischief. Thys poyson I send hir with so +dolefull Message, as my poore hearte (God knoweth) doth only fele the +smart, being the most sorowfull present that euer was offred to any +fayre Lady. This is the way alone to saue hir from the Romanes handes. +Pray hir to consider the worthines of hir father, the dygnity of hir +countrey, and the royal maiesty of the <span class = +"smallroman">II.</span> kings hir husbands, and to do as hir mynd and +wil shall fansie best. Get the hence with all possible spede, and lose +no tyme to do thys Message: for thou shalt cary the bane and present +death of the fairest Ladye that euer Nature framed wythin hir fayrest +mould.” The seruaunt with this commaundment did departe, and Massinissa +lyke a Chylde beaten with the rodde, wept and cried. The messenger being +come to the Queene, and giuing hir the cup with the poyson, declared his +cruell ambassage. The Queene took the poysoned Cuppe, and sayd vnto the +messenger: “Geeue the king thy mayster myne humble thankes, and say vnto +hym, that I receyue and Drynke thys Poyson wyth a wyll so good, as if +hee had commaunded me to enter in Tryumph wyth Laurel Garlande ouer myne +ennymyes: for a better gifte a husbande can not gyue to wyfe, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page251" id = "page251">251</a></span> +than accomplyshment of assured fayth the funeralles whereof shall bee +done wyth present obsequie.” And sayinge nothynge else vnto the +messenger, shee tooke the Cuppe, and mynglynge well together the poyson +wythin, shee vnfearfully quafft it vp: and when she had dronke it shee +delyuered the messenger hys Cuppe agayne, and layed hir selfe vpon hir +bed, commaunding hir gentlewomen in comely wyse to couer hir wyth +Clothes, and withoute lamentation or Sygne of feminine minde, shee +stoutly waighted for approching death. The Gentlewomen which wayted vpon +hir, bewayled the rufull state of their Maystresse, whose plaints and +scriches were heard throughout the palace, whereof the brute and rumor +was great. But the good Queene vanquished with the strong force of the +poyson, continued not long before she died. The messanger returned these +heauie newes vnto Massinissa, who so sorowfully complained the losse of +his beloued wife, in such wise as many tymes hee was lyke to kyll +hymselfe, that hys Soule might haue accompanied the ghost of hir, whych +was beloued of hym aboue all the dearest things of the Worlde. The +valyant and wyse capitayne Scipio vnderstanding the newes hereof, to the +intente Massinissa shoulde not commit any cruelty agaynst hymselfe, or +perpetrate other vncomely deede, called hym beefore him, and comforted +hym wyth the sweetest wordes he could deuise, and frendly reproued him. +The next day in the presence of al the army hee highly commended him, +and rewarded him wyth the kyngdome of Numidia, geuing hym many rych +Iewels and treasures, and brought hym in great Estimation amonges the +Romaynes: whych the Senate and people of Rome very well approued and +confirmed with most ample Priuileges, attributinge vnto hym the title of +kynge of Numidia, and freende of the Romaynes. Sutch was the ende of the +vnhappy loue of kynge Massinissa, and of the fayre and lucklesse Queene +Sophonisba.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page252" id = "page252">252</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_8" id = "novel2_8"> +THE EIGHTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The cruelty of a Kynge of Macedone who forced a gentlewoman called +Theoxena, to persuade hir children to kill and poison themselves: after +which fact, she and hir husband Poris ended their lyfe by drowninge.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Bvt</span> now we haue beegon to treate of +the stoutnesse of certayne noble Queenes, I wyll not let also to +recite the Hystory of a lyke vnfearfull dame of Thessalian land, called +Theoxena, of right noble Race, the Daughter of Herodicus Prynce of that +Countrey in the tyme that Phillip the Sonne of Demetrius was kynge of +Macedone, tolde also by Titus Liuius, as two of the former be. Thys Lady +Theoxena, first was a notable example of piety and vertue and +afterwardes of rigorous cruelty: for the sayd kyng Philip, hauinge +through his wickednesse first murdred Herodicus, and by succession of +time cruelly done to death also the husbands of Theoxena and of Archo +hir naturall sister, vnto eyther of them being Wydowes remayninge a +Sonne: afterwardes Archo being maryed agayne to one of the principall of +their Countrey named Poris, of him she had many children. But when she +was dead, the sayd Lady Theoxena hir sister, who was of heart more +constant and stout than the other, still refused the second mariage, +although sued vnto by many great Lordes and Princes: at length pityinge +her nephewes state, for fere they should fall into the handes of some +cruell Stepdame, or that theyr father would not bryng them vp with sutch +diligence, as tyll that tyme they were, was contented to bee espoused +agayne to Poris, (no lawe that time knowen to defend the same) to +the intente she might trayne vp hir sister’s children as her owne. That +done she began (as if they were hir owne) to intreate and vse them +louingly, with great care and industrie: wherby it manifestly appeared +that she was not maried againe to Poris for hir owne commodity and +pleasure, but rather for the wealth and gouernement of those hir +sister’s children. Afterwards Philip king of Macedone, an vnquiet +Prince, determininge to make newe warres vpon the Romanes (then +throughout +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page253" id = "page253">253</a></span> +the worlde famous and renouned for theyr good fortune) exiled not onely +the chiefe and noble men, but almost al the auncient inhabitants of the +Cities along the sea coaste of Thessalia, and theyr whole and entier +families into Pæonia afterwards called Emathia, a Countrey farre +distant from the sea, giuing their voided Cities for the Thracians to +inhabite, as most propre and faithful for the Romains warres, which he +intended to make: and hearinge also the cursses and maledictions +pronounced against him by the banished people, and vniuersally by al +other, thought he was in no good surety, if he caused not likewyse all +the sonnes of them, whom a litle before he had slayne, to be put to +Death. Wherefore he commaunded them to be taken and holden vnder good +gard in prison, not to do them al to be slain at once, but at times now +one and then an other, as occasion serued. Theoxena vnderstanding the +edicte of this wicked and cruell king, and wel remembring the death of +hir husband, and of him that was husband to hir sister, knew wel that +hir sonne and nephew incontinently should be demaunded, and greatly +fearinge the king’s wrath, and the rigour of his guard, if once they +fell into theyr hands, to defend them from shame and cruelty, sodainly +applied hir minde vnto a straunge deuice: for shee durst to saye vnto +hir husband their father’s face, that soner she would kil them with hir +owne handes, if otherwise she coulde not warraunt them, then suffer them +to bee at the will and power of kinge Philip. By reason wherof Poris +abhorring so execrable cruelty, to comfort his wife and to saue hys +Chyldren, promysed hyr secretelye to transporte them from thence, and +caryed them himselfe to certayne of hys faythfull Fryendes at Athens, +whych done wythoute longe delaye, hee made as thoughe hee woulde goe +from Thessalonica to Aenias, to bee at the Solemnytye of certayne +Sacrifices, which yearelye at an appoynted tyme was done wyth greate +ceremonies to the honour of Ænêas the founder of that Citty, where +spendinge the time amonges other in solemne bankets, the <ins class = +"correction" title = "error for ‘thirde’">thrirde</ins> watch of the +night when euery man was a sleepe, as though he would haue returned home +to his countrey with his wyfe and children, priuely embarked himselfe +and them, in a ship hired of purpose to passe into Euboea, and not to +retourne to Thessalonica. But his intent was cleane altered and +chaunged, for his ship was no sooner vnder saile, but at that instant a +contrary winde and tempest +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page254" id = "page254">254</a></span> +rose, that brought him back againe, in despite of their labour, and all +the endeuour they were able to doe. And when daye lighte appeared, the +king’s garrison descried that shippe, and manned out a boate, to bring +in the same, which secretly they thoughte was about to escape away, +giuing them straight charge, that by no meanes they should returne +without hir. When the boate drew neare the shippe, Poris bent him self +to encourage the mariners to hoyse vp saile againe, and to make way with +their oares into the Sea, if it were possible, to auoide the imminent +and present daunger, to saue the life of him selfe, his wife and +children: then hee lyfted hys handes vp vnto the heauens to implore the +helpe and succor of the Gods, which the stoute Gentlewoman Theoxena +perceiuing, and manifestly seeing the Daunger wherein they were, +callinge to hir minde hir former determinate vengeance which she ment to +do, and beholding Poris in his prayers, she prosecuted hir intente, +preparing a poysoned drink in a cuppe, and made readye naked swordes: al +which bringing forth before the Childrens face, she spake these words: +“Death alone must bee the reuenge of your siely liues, wherunto there be +two wayes, poison or the sworde. Euery of you choose which ye list to +haue: or of whether of them your heart shall make the frankest choice. +The king’s cruelty and pride you must auoid. Wherfore deare children be +of good chere, raise vp your noble courage: ye the elder aged boyes, +shew now your selues like men, and take the sword into your handes to +pierce your tender hearts: but if the bloudy smart of that most +dreadfull death shal feare and fright your greene and vnripe age, then +take the venomed cup, and gulpe by sundry draghtes this poisoned drinke. +Be franke and lusty in this your destened Death, sith the violence of +Fortune, by Sea, doeth let the lengthning of your life. I craue +this requeste of choyse, and let not the same rebound with fearfull +refuse of thys my craued hest. Your mother afterwardes shal pass that +strayght, whereof she prayeth hir babes to bee the poastes: ye the vaunt +currours, and shee, with your louing sire, shall end and finishe +Philip’s rage bent agaynst vs.” When shee had spoken these woordes and +sawe the enimies at hand, this couragious dame, the deuiser of the +death, egged and prouoked these yong trembling children (not yet wel +resolued what to do) with her encharmed woords in sutch wyse, as in +the ende, some dranke the poyson, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page255" id = "page255">255</a></span> +other strake them selues into the body and by hir commaundement were +throwen ouer boord, not altogether dead, and so she set them at liberty +by death whom tenderly she had brought vp. Then she imbracing hir +husband the companion of hir death, both did voluntarily throw +themselues also into the sea: And when the kinge’s espials were come +aborde the ship, they found the same abandoned of theyr praye. The +cruelty of which fact did so moue the common people to detestatyon and +hatred of the kinge, as a generall cursse was pronounced against him and +his children, which heard of the Gods aboue was afterwardes terribly +reuenged vpon his stocke and posterity. Thys was the end of good Poris +and his stout wyfe Theoxena, who rather then she would fall into the +lapse of the king’s furie, as hir father Herodicus, and hir other +husbande did, chose violently to dye with hir own hands, and to cause +hir husband’s children and hir owne, to berieue them selues of Lyfe, +whych although agaynst the louinge order of naturall course, and +therefore that kinde of violence to bee abhorred, as horrible in it +self, yet a declaration of a stout mind, if otherwise she had ben able +to reuenge the same. And what coward heart is that, that dare not vpon +such extremity, when it seeth the mercilesse ennimy at hand, with +shining blade ready bent, to stryke the blowe, that withoute remedye +must ridde the same of breath, specially when it beholdeth the tremblyng +babe, naturally begotten by hys owne kinde and nature, before the face +imploryng father’s rescue, what dastarde heart dare not to offer +himselfe, by singular fight (thoughe one to twentye) either by desperate +hardinesse to auoyd the same, or other anoyance, aduenture what he can? +which in Christians is admitted as a comely fight, rather than wyth that +Pagane Dame to do the death it selfe. But now returne wee to describe a +fact that passeth al other forced deedes. For Theoxena was compelled in +a maner thus to do of meere constraint to eschue the greater torments of +a tyrant’s rage and thought it better by chosen death to chaunge hir +lyfe, than by violent hands of bloudy Butchers to be haled to the +slaughter. But thys Hidrusian dame was weary of hir owne life, not for +that she feared losse of lyfe, but desperate to think of Fortune’s +fickle staye: whych if fortune’s darlings would regarde in time, they +would foresee theyr slippery holde.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page256" id = "page256">256</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_9" id = "novel2_9"> +THE NYNTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A straunge and maruellous vse, which in old time was obserued in +Hidrvsa, where it was lawfull, with the licence of a magistrate ordayned +for that purpose, for euery man, and woman that list, to kill them +selues.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Bandello</span> amonges the company of hys +Nouels, telleth this history: and in his own person speaketh these +words. If I should begin to tell those things which I saw in the tyme +that I sayled alongs the Leuant seas, very tedious it would be for you +to heare, and I in reporting could not tell which way to ende, bicause I +saw and heard thynges ryght worthy to bee remembred. Notwythstandinge, +for satisfaction of dyuers that be my frendes, I will not sticke to +reherse some of them. But first of all one straunge custome, whych in +the Romayes tyme was vsed in one of the Ilandes of the sea Ægeum, called +Hidrusa, in these dayes by the trauaylers called Cea or Zea, and is one +of the Ilandes named Ciclades, whilome full of Populous and goodly +Cities, as the ruins therof at this day do declare. There was in olde +time in that Iland a yery straunge lawe and ordynaunce, which many +hundred yeares was verye well and perfectly kept and observed. The Law +was, that euery person inhabitant within the sayd Isle, of what sexe and +condition so euer, being throughe age, infirmity, or other accidents, +weary of their lyfe, might choose what kind of death that liked them +best: howbeit it was prouyded that the partye, before the dooing of the +same, should manifest the cause that moued him therevnto, before the +Magistrate elected by the people for that speciall purpose, which they +constituted because they sawe that diuers persons had voluntarily killed +themselues vpon trifling occasions and matters of little importance: +according to whiche lawe very many Men and Women, hardily with so merry +chere went to theyr Death, as if they had gone to some bankette or +mariage. It chaunced that Pompeius Magnus the dreadfull Romane, betwene +whom and Iulius Cæsar were fought the greatest battailes for superiority +that euer were, sailing by the Sea Ægeum, arriued at Hidrusa, and there +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page257" id = "page257">257</a></span> +goynge a land vnderstoode of the inhabitantes the maner of that law and +how the same day a woman of great worship had obteined licence of the +Magistrate to poyson hir selfe. Pompeius hearing tell hereof, was driuen +into great admiration, and thought it very straunge, that a woman which +al the dayes of hir life had liued in great honour and estimation, +shoulde vpon light cause or occasion poyson her selfe sith it was +naturally giuen to ech breathyng wyght to prolong theyr liuing dayes +with the longest threede that Atropos could draw out of dame Nature’s +webbe. Whervpon he commaunded the said matrone to be brought before hym, +whose Death for hir vertue was generallye lamented by the whole +Countrye. When the gentlewoman was before hym, and had vnderstanding +that she was fully resolued and determined to dye, hee began by greate +persuasions to exhort hir, that she should not wilfully cast hir selfe +away, vpon consideration that she was of lusty yeares, riche and +welbeloued of the whole countrey: and how greate pitye it were but shee +shoulde renue hir Mynde and gyue hir selfe still to lyue and remayne, +till Natural course dyd ende and finysh hir life: howbeit his graue and +earnest persuasion could not diuert hir from hir intended purpose. But +Pompeius loth to haue hir dye, ceassed not styll to prosecute hys former +talke with newe reasons and stronger arguments. All which shee paciently +heard with fixed countenaunce, til at lengthe with cleare voyce and +smiling cheere she answered him in this maner: “You be greatly deceyued +(my lord Pompeius) if you do beleeue that I wythout very great +prouidence and mature aduise goe about to ende my dayes: for I do know +and am fully persuaded, that eche creature naturally craueth the +prolongation and lengthninge of lyfe, and so mutch abhoreth to die, as +the desirous to lyue detesteth the poyson whych I haue prepared for +consumation of my lyfe. Whereupon as I haue diuers times thought, +considered and discoursed with my selfe, and amongs many considerations +oftentimes debated in my minde, there came into the same the instability +and fickle change of Fortune, whose whirling wheele neuer ceasseth, ne +yet remayneth stedfast. It is dayly seene how she doth exalte and +aduaunce some man from the lowest and bottomlesse Pit, euen to the top +of high Heauens, endowinge him with so mutch Substaunce as he can +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page258" id = "page258">258</a></span> +desire. An other that was most happy, honoured in this world lyke a God, +vnto whom no goods and welfare were wantinge, who might wel haue bene +called in his lyfe, a three times happy and blessed wyght, sodaynly +from his honour and state depriued and made a very poore man and begger. +Some man also, that is both riche and lusty, accompanied with a fayre +wyfe and goodly Children, lyuinge in great mirth and ioylity, this +wicked Lady Fortune, the deuourer of all our contentations, depriueth +from the inestimable treasure of health, causeth the fayre Wyfe to loue +an other better than hir husbande, and with hir venomous Tooth biteth +the children, that in short space myserable death catcheth them al +within his dreadfull Clouches whereby he is defrauded of those children, +whom after his death he purposed to leaue for hys Heyres. But what meane +I to consume tyme and words in declaration of Fortune’s vnsteady stay, +which is more cleare than the beams of the Sunne, of whom dayly a +Thousande thousande examples be manifest: all histories be full of +theym. The mighty countrey of Græcia doth render ample witnesse wherein +so many excellent men were bred and brought vp: who desirous with their +finger to touch the highest heauen, were in a moment throwen downe: and +so many famous Cities, which gouerned numbers of people, now at this +present day we see to be thrall and obedient to thy City of Rome. Of +these hurtfull and perillous mutations (O noble Pompeius) thy +Romane City may be a most cleare glasse and Spectacle, and a multitude +of thy noble Citizens in tyme past and present, may geeue plentifull +witnesse. But to come to the cause of this my death, I say, that +fyndyng myself to haue liued these many yeares (by what chaunce I +can not tell) in very great prosperity, in al which tyme I neuer did +suffer any one myssehappe, but styll from good to better, haue passed my +time vntil thys daye: nowe fearyng the frownynge of Ladye Fortune’s +face, and that she will repente hir long continued fauour, I feare, +I say, least the same Fortune should chaung hir stile, and begynne +in the middest of my pleasaunt life to sprinckle hir poysoned +bitternesse, and make mee the Receptacle and Quiuer of hir sharpe and +noysome arrowes. Wherefore I am nowe determined by good aduyse, to rid +my selfe from the captivity of hir force, from all hir misfortunes, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page259" id = "page259">259</a></span> +and from the noysom and grieuous infirmities, which miserably be +incident to vs mortall Creatures: and beleeue me (Pompeius) that many in +theyr aged dayes haue left their life with little honour, who had they +bene gone in their youth, had dyed Famous for euer. Wherefore +(my lord Pompeius) that I may not be tedious vnto thee, or hinder +thyne affayres by long discourse, I besech thee to geeue me leaue +to follow my deliberate disposition, that frankely and freely I may be +vnburdened of all daunger: for the longer the life doth grow, to the +greater annoysaunce and daunger it is subiect.” When she had so sayd, to +the great admiration and compassion of all those which were present, +with tremblinge handes and fearefull cheare, she quaffed a great Cup of +poysoned drynke, the which she brought with hir for that purpose, and +within a while after dyed. This was the straunge vse, and order obserued +in Hidrusa. Which good counsel of the Dame had the noble and valiaunt +captayne followed, no doubt he would haue bin contented to haue bin +brought to order: and then he had not lost that bloudy battel atchieued +agaynst hym by Iulius Cæsar at Pharsalia in Ægypt. Then hee had not +sustayned so many ouerthrowes as he did, then had hee not ben forsaken +of his frendes, and in the ende endured a death so miserable. And for so +mutch as for the most part hitherto we haue intreated of many Tragicall +and bloudy chaunces, respyring now from those, let vs a little touch +some medicinable remedies for loue, some lessons for gouernment and +obedience, some treaties of amorous Dames, and hauty Gestes of Prynces, +Queenes and other persons, to variate the chaungeable diet, wherewyth +dyuers bee affected, rellishinge their Stomackes wyth some more +pleasaunt Digestions than they haue tasted.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page260" id = "page260">260</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_10" id = "novel2_10"> +THE TENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The dishonest Loue of Favstina the Empresse, and with what remedy the +same loue was remoued and taken away.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">True</span> and most holy is the sentence, +that the Lady, Gentlewoman, or other wyght of Female kinde, of what +degree or condition soeuer she be, be she fayre, fowle, or ylfauoured, +cannot be endued with a more precious Pearle or Iewell, than is the +neate and pure vertue of honesty: which is of sutch valour, that it +alone without other vertue, is able to render her that glistereth in her +attire, most famous and excellent. Be she more beautiful than Helena, be +she mightier than the Amazon, better learned than Sappho, rycher than +Flora, more louinge than Queene Dido, or more noble than the best +Empresse and Queene of the worlde, or be she full of any other vertue, +if she want the name of chast, shee is not worthy so mutch as to beare +the title of honour, nor to be entertayned in honest company. Yee shall +peruse hereafter an history of a Countesse of Celant, that was a passing +fayre Dame, singularly adorned with Nature’s gifts. She was fayre, +pleasaunt, amiable, comely, and perchaunce not altogether barrayne of +good erudition and learninge: she could play vpon the instruments, sing, +daunce, make and compose witty, and amorous Sonets, and the more her +company was frequented, the more amiable and gracious the same was +esteemed. But bicause she was unshamfast and lesse chaste, she was voyde +of honest regarde. Sutch as bee dishonest, do not onely hurt themselues, +but gieue cause to the common people to mutter and grudge at their +parentes education, at their husbands gouernment and institution of +their Children, causing them most commonly to leade a discontented and +heauy lyfe. Thinke you that Augustus Cæsar (albeit he was a victorious +Emperour, and led a triumphant raygne) liued a contented life when he +saw the two Iuliæ, one of them his daughter, the other his Niece, to vse +them selues like common strumpets, constrained through their shameful +acts to pin, and close vp himselfe, shunning the conuersation of men, +and once in minde to cut his Daughter’s Vaynes +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page261" id = "page261">261</a></span> +to let out hir Lusty bloud? Was not he wont (the teares trickling downe +his Princely Face) to say, that better it was neuer to haue children and +to be deade without them, than to haue a fruteful wife and children so +disordred? He termed his Daughter to be a Carrion lumpe of fleshe, full +of stenche and filthinesse. But if I list to speake of women of this +age, from noble to vnnoble, from an Emperor’s Daughter to a Ploughman’s +modder, whose liues do frame after Iulia hir lore, my pen to the stumpes +would weare, and my hande be wearied with writing. And so likewise it +would of numbres no doubt in these dayes that folow the trace of Lucrece +line, that huswifely and chastly contriue the day and nightes in pure +and Godly exercise. But of the naughty sorte to speake, (leauing to +voyde offence, sutch as do flourish in our time) I will not +conceale the Empresse Messalina, that was Wyfe to the emperour Claudius, +not only vnworthy of Empresse degree, but of the title of Woman: who +being abused by many, at length arriued to sutch abhominable lust, as +not contented with dayly adulterous life, would resort to the common +stewes, where the ruffians and publike harlots haunted, for little hire, +and there for vilest price with eche slaue did humble herselfe: and at +night not satisfied, but weared, returned home to hir Palace, not +ashamed to disclose hir selfe to any that list to looke vpon hir: and +for victory of that beastly game, contended with her lyke. But not to +say so mutch of hir as I finde in Plinie his naturall history, in +Suetonius, and Cornelius Tacitus, I leaue hir to hir selfe, bycause +I haue made promise to remember the dishonest loue for example sake, +which I read of Faustina, whose beauty of al Writers is vouched to be +most excellent, if excellency of good life had thereunto ben coupled. +She was the daughter and wyfe of two holy and vertuous Emperours, the +one called Antonius Pius, the other Marcus Antonius. This +M. Antonius in all vertuous workes was perfect and Godly, and +singulerly loued his wife Faustina, and although she was infamous to the +world, and a Fable to the people, yet he cared not for the same, sutch +was the passing loue hee bare vnto hir. Leaue we to speake of hir +beastly behauiour amongs the noble sort, without regard vnto hir most +noble husbande, and come wee to treate of a certaine sauage kind of lust +she had to one of the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page262" id = "page262">262</a></span> +Gladiatores, whych were a certaine sort of Gamsters in Rome, which we +terme to be Maisters of defence. She was so far in loue with this +Gladiator, as she could not eat, drink, or slepe, ne take any rest. This +Faustina was so vnshamefast, as not regarding hir state, being as I +sayde before the daughter and wife of two most worthy Emperors, +dysdayned not to submitte her Body to the Basenesse of one of the vilest +sort, a Rascal Fencer, and many times would goe to Caieta, +a Citie and hauen of Campania, to ioyne hir selfe with the galye +slaues there. Hir husbande which loued her dearely, comfortying his +feble louing wyfe so well as he coulde, caused the best Physicians he +could finde, to come vnto hir for recouery of hir health. But all the +deuysed physike of the world was not able to cure her, she was so +louesicke. In the end knowing by long experience the fauour and loue hir +husband bare vnto hir, and knowing that nothing could withdraw his +continued minde, she tolde him, that al the torment and payne shee +sustained, was for the loue of a gladiator, towards whom hir loue was so +miserably bent, that except she had his company, death was the next +medicine for hir disease. The good husband whych beyond measure loued +his wife, comforted hir with so louing wordes as he could, and bad hir +to bee of good cheare, promisinge hee would prouide remedy. Afterwards +consulting with a wise man a Chaldee born, opened vnto him the effect of +his wiue’s disease, and how she was louesicke with sutch a person one of +the Gamsters of the City, promising great rewardes if he could by his +secretes serche out redresse to saue hir life. The Chaldee could tel him +none other remedy, but that he must cause the Gladiator to be slaine, +and with the bloud of him to anoint the body of the Empresse, not +telling vnto hir what the ointment was: which don, that he must goe to +naked bed to hir, and do the act of matrimony. Some Historiographers do +write, that the Chaldee gaue him counsell, that Faustina should drinke +the bloud of the Gladiator, but the most part, that hir body was bathed +in the same. But how so euer it was, it would haue cooled the hottest +Gentlewoman’s stomack in the world, to be anoynted with like Salue. To +conclud the Gladiator was slayne and the medicine made and applied to +the Pacient, and the Emperour lay with the Empresse, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page263" id = "page263">263</a></span> +and begat hir with childe. And immediatly she forgot the Gladiator, +neuer after that tyme remembring him. If this medicine were applied to +our carnall louinge dames (which God defend) they would not onely follow +Faustina in forgetfulnes, but also would mislike hir Phisike: and not +greatly regard the counsell of sutch doctours. By meanes of this +medicine and copulation was the Emperour Commodus borne, who rather +resembled the Gladiator than his Father: in whose breast rested a +storehouse of mischyefe and vyce, as Herodian and other Wryters +plentifully do wryte.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page264" id = "page264">264</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_11" id = "novel2_11"> +THE ELEUENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Chera hid a treasure: Elisa going about to hang her selfe, and tying the +halter about a beame found that treasure, and in place thereof left the +halter. Philene the daughter of Chera going for that treasure, and +busily searching for the same, found the halter, wherewithal for +dispayre she would haue hanged hir selfe, but forbidden by Elisa, who by +chaunce espied hir, she was restored to part of hir losse, leading +afterwards a happy and prosperous lyfe.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Fortune</span>, the Lady Regent and +Gouernesse of man’s lyfe, so altreth and chaungeth the state thereof, as +many times we see the noble borne from that great mighty port, wherein +they be, debased so farre, as either infamously their lyfe is spent in +the hungry lap of Dame Penury, or else contriued in the vgly lothsom +house of Wantonnesse, the stepdame of all honesty and vertue. Sometimes +we marke the vnnoble ladde that was nooseled in the homely countrey +caban, or rude ciuile shoppe, attaine to that whych the onely honorable +and gentle do aspire: and he agayne that is ambicious in climbing vp the +turning wheele, throwen down beneth the brink of aduerse luck, whelmed +in the ditch and pit of black despaire. We note also sometimes that the +carelesse wyght of Fortune’s giftes, hath (vnlooked for) his mouth and +throte crammed full of promotion and worlde’s delights. Such is the +maner of hir fickle stay: whereof this History ensuing, gyueth some +intelligence, by remembring the destenied luck of 2 pore sory girles +that were left destitute of desired things, both like to fal into +despaire, and yet both holpen with that they most desired: which in this +sort beginneth. In the time that Scipio Affricanus had besieged the City +of Carthage, Chera that was a widow (dwellinge there) seeinge the +daunger at hand wherein the Citty stoode, and doubtynge the losse and +ouerthrowe of the same, and that the honor of the dames and womankinde, +coulde vneths be safe and harmelesse, determined not to abide the +vttermost: and hauinge a good quantity of Gold and precious stones, she +bestowed the same in a casquet, and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir +house, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page265" id = "page265">265</a></span> +purposinge when the stir and daunger was past, to retourne to hir house +agayne for those hir hidden things. Which done, in the habite of a poore +woman with her onely daughter in hir hand that was about 5 or 6 yeares +of age, she went out of Carthage, and passed ouer the Seas into +Scicilia, where falling sicke, after she had bene there three or foure +yeares, at length died. But before shee departed, shee called her +Daughter before hir, then about Ten yeares olde, and told hir the place +where she had layed hir Casket. And by reason of the victory gotten by +Scipio, the city was maruellously chaunged, and amongs other things, the +house of Chera was giuen to a Romane Souldiour that was so enriched with +Nobilyty of Mynd, as hee was poore of Fortune’s Goods. Whych Chera +vnderstandyng, was sorowfull, and doubted of hir thynges secretlye +bestowed vppon the beame. Wherevpon she sayd vnto hir daughter, that for +so much as their house was in the possession of an other, she ought to +be wise and circumspect in the recouerye of hir hidden goods: and that +hir death was the more greuous vnto hir, because she must leaue hir +(so yong a maiden) vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement. +But yet she incouraged hir againe and sayd: that sith necessity +approched, she must in childyshe age, put on a graue and auncient minde, +and beware howe shee bewrayed that casket to any person, for that of +purpose shee reserued the knowledge thereof, to hir self, that it might +serue for hir preferment, and procure hir a husband worthy of hir selfe. +And the maiden demaundinge the value of the same, shee told hir that it +was worth <span class = "smallroman">CC.</span> Talentes, and gaue hir +in writing the particulars inclosed within the Caskette, and that the +lyke bill shee should find within the same, written wyth hir owne Hande. +And so the good woman within a while after dyed, leauyng behynde hir the +yong mayden hir daughter, that maruellously lamented the death of hir +mother, accordingly as nature taught hir, and ech other reasonable wyght +depriued from their dearest friends. The maiden for hir yeres was very +wise, and would disclose to none what her mother had sayd, keeping the +writing very carefully. Not long after Philene (whych was the maiden’s +name) fell in loue with a Gentleman of Scicilia of greate reputation and +authority, who al bee it he saw hir to be very faire and comely, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page266" id = "page266">266</a></span> +yet cared not for hir loue in respect of Maryage, for that hee knewe hir +to bee poore, and withoute dowrie mete for a Gentleman, iestyng and +mocking to see hir fixe hir minde on him, for desyre to haue him to hir +husbande, that was a personage so noble and rich: which refusall pierced +the hearte of the tender maiden, bicause she saw hir selfe forsaken for +nothynge else, but for want of goods: whych made hir to think and +consider, howe shee myght recouer the riches that hir mother had layed +vp in Carthage. It chaunced as she was in this meditation, the daughter +of him to whome the House of Chera was giuen, called Elisa, was likewise +enamoured of a noble yong gentleman in Carthage, who bicause Elisa was +the daughter of a Souldiour, and not very rich, in like manner laughed +and iested at hir loue, no lesse than the other did at Philene. +Notwithstanding Elisa attempted al meanes possible to induce the yong +man to loue hir, but hir practise and attemptes tended to none effect. +And last of all, desirous to haue a resolute answere, and thereby +vnderstode, that he would rather dye than take hir to Wyfe, she fell +into despayre and curssed fortune, and hir fate, that she was not borne +riche enough to match wyth hir chosen Gentleman, and that she being +poore, must fall in loue wyth sutch a personage: whereupon she miserably +tormented hir selfe, still bewaylinge hir vnhappy lucke, that shee could +not win him to be hir husband, for whych only intent and purpose she +loued him. And this amorous passion incredibly growing in hir, the +rootes whereof be planted in the restlesse humor of melancholy, and +wanting all hope and comforte to stay that Ranke and Rammishe weede, it +so increased in her, as shee franticke in raging loue gaue hir selfe +ouer to the spoyle of herself: and to rid her from the griefe, she +determined to kill hir selfe, imagining whych way she might do the same. +At length she was resolued, with hir father’s sword to peerce hir body: +but hir heart not seruing hir thereunto, deuised by the halter to end +her lyfe, saying thus to herselfe: “Thys death yet shal do me good, that +the cruel man may know that for his sake I haue done this fact: and if +his heart be not made of Iron or steele, he can not chose but sorrowe +and lament, that a poore mayde whych loued him better than hir owne +lyfe, hath made sutch wretched +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page267" id = "page267">267</a></span> +ende onely for his cruelty.” Elisa concludinge vpon this intent, +prepared a Halter: and being alone in her house, in the chamber where +the Casket lay vpon the beame, placed a stoole vnder the same, and began +to tye the halter about the beame: in doinge whereof, she espied the +casket, and reached the same vnto hir, who feeling it to be heauy and +weighty, immediatly did open it, and founde the Byll within, which Chera +had written with hir owne hand, agreable to that which she had deliuered +to hir daughter, wherein were particularly remembred the Iewels and +other riches fast closed within the casket. Who disclosing the bagges +wherein the gold and Iewels were bound vp, and seeing the great value of +the same, wondred thereat, and ioyfull for that fortune, hid the rope +which she had prepared for hir death, in the place where she found the +casket, and with great gladnesse and mirth went vnto hir father, and +shewed him what she had found, whereat the father reioyced no lesse, +then 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 wealth and substance: and saw likewise that the poore wench +his daughter, by the addicion of those riches, was like to attayne the +party whom shee loued. When he had taken forth those bagges and well +surueyed the value, to the intent no man might suspect the sodayne +mutation of his state, tooke his daughter with him, and went to Rome, +where after he had remayned certayne monethes, hee returned to Carthage, +and began very galantly to apparell himselfe, and to keepe a bountifull +and liberall house. His table and port was very delicate and Sumptuous, +and hys Stable stored wyth many fayre Horsse, in all poynctes sheewinge +himselfe very Noble and rich: by which sodayne chaunge of state, the +whole Citty beleeued that he had brought that wealth from Rome. And +bicause it is the common opinion of the vulgar sort, that where there is +no riches, there is no nobility, and that they alone make men noble and +gentle (a foolyshe Opinion in deede proceedinge from heads that be +rash and light) the people markynge that porte and charge kept by the +Souldiour, conceyued that he was of some noble house. And throughout the +whole Citty great and solemne honour was done vnto him: whereupon the +young Gentleman, with whom +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page268" id = "page268">268</a></span> +Elisa was in loue, began to bee ashamed of himselfe, that he had +disdayned the mayden. Whych mayden seeing hir Father’s house to be in +sutch reputation, made sute to her father, that he would procure the +Gentleman to bee hir husband. But hir father wylled hir in any wyse to +keepe secret hir desire, and not to seeme her selfe to bee in loue, and +wysely tolde hir, that more meete it was that she should bee solicited +by him, than shee to make sute or request for mariage: alleaginge that +the lesse desirous the gentleman had bene of hir, the more deare and +better beloued shee shoulde be to hym. And many tymes when hys Daughter +was demaunded to Wyfe, he made aunswere that matrimony was a state of no +litle importance, as enduring the whole course of Lyfe, and therefore +ought well to bee considered and wayed, before any conclusion were made. +But for all these demaundes and aunswers, and all these stops and +stayes, the mayden was indowed with an honest dowry, and in the end her +louer and she were maried, with so great pleasure and satisfaction of +them both, as they deemed themselues happy. In the meane time while +these things were done at Carthage, Philene in Scicilia toke thought how +she might recouer her goods geuen to her by her mother, desirous by +their meanes also to sort hir earnest and ardent loue to happy successe. +And debatinge with her selfe (as we haue sayd before) howe she +might obtayne them, because the house was in possession of an other, +thought it to bee agaynst reason and order, that although she had lost +hir house, yet hir goods ought to be restored vnto hir, which were hir +onely mayntenance and reputation, and the fittest instrument that should +conduct her loue to happy ende. And hearinge tell that the Father of +Elisa the possessor of hir mother’s house liued at Carthage in great +royalty and magnificence, thought that if by some sleight and pollicie +she founde not meanes to enter the house without suspicion, hir attempt +would be in vayne: determined therefore to goe to Carthage, and to seeke +seruice in that house, counterfaytinge the kynde and habite of a Page. +For she considered, that if she went thither in order and apparell of a +mayden, she should incur the perill of her virginity, and fall into the +lapse of diuers other daungers, purposed then to go thyther in maner of +a Page and lacky. And +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page269" id = "page269">269</a></span> +when she had in that sort furnished hirselfe, she passed the Seas, and +arriued at Carthage. And seekinge seruice about the City at length +chaunced to be retayned in a house that was next neyghbour to the +Souldier, and bicause this wench was gentle and of a good disposition, +was wel beloued of her maister, who being the frend of Elisa, hir Father +many times sent vnto him diuers presents and gifts by Philene, +wherevppon she began to be acquainted and familiar with the seruantes of +the house, and by her oft repayre thyther viewed and marked euery +corner, and vpon a time entred the chamber wherein hir Mother Chera <ins +class = "correction" title = "‘t’ missing">olde</ins> hir, that shee had +bestowed hir goods, and lookinge vpont the Beames espied by certayne +Signes and tokens, one of them to be the same where the Casket lay: and +therewithal wel satisfied and contented, verily supposed that the casket +still remayned there, and without further businesse for that time, +expected some other season for recouery 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 maister to giue hir leaue to serue them, +who bycause they were his friends, preferred Philene vnto them, and +became a page of that house. And one day secretly repayrynge into the +chamber, where the treasure lay mounted vppon a stoole, and sought the +beame for the casket: where she found no casket, but in place where 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 sutch incredible +sorrowe, as she seemed like a stock, without spiryte, voice or life. +Afterwardes, being come againe to hir selfe, shee began pitifully to +lament and complayn in this maner: “Ah wretched Philene, vnder what +vnluckie signe and planet was thou begotten and borne? wyth what offence +were the heauens wroth, when they forced thee to pierce thy mother’s +wombe? Could I poore creature when I was framed within the moulde of +nature, and fed of my mother’s substance within hir wombe, and +afterwards in due time brought forth to light, commit such crime, as to +prouoke the celestiall impressions to conspire agaynst my Natiuity, to +brynge mine increased age into such wretched state and plighte wherein +it is now +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page270" id = "page270">270</a></span> +wrapped? No, no, my faulte was nothing, it was parent’s offence, if any +were at all: for many times we see the innocent babe afflicted for the +father’s guilt. The Gods do punish the posterity, for som sacrilege or +notorious crime committed by progenitors: theyr manner is not to suffer +heynous faultes vnreuenged: their iustice cannot abide such mischief +vncorrected for example sake: so fareth it by me. First my father died, +after wardes my Mother a widow was driuen to abandon natiue soyle, and +seeke reliefe in forrain land: and leauing that wherwith we were +possessed in enimies keping, were forced a simple life to leade among +straungers. And my mother, yelding forth hir ghost, made me beleue that +shee had hidden great treasures here: and I vnhappy wench thinking to +obteine the pray, haue wandred in counterfeit kind, and fetcheed many a +bitter sigh, vntil I came into this place: and the thing I hoped for, +which myght haue bene the meanes and ende of all my care, is turned to +nothyng: a casket transformed into a halter: gold and Iewels into a +piece of rope? Is this the mariage dowry (Philene) thou art like to haue +to match with him whom thou so derely louest? Is this the knot that +shall conioyne you both in yoke of man and wife? Ah wretch and miserable +caitife, the goods thy mother layd vp for thee, for maintenance of thy +rest, and safegarde of thine honour, and for the reputation of thy noble +house, wherof thou camst, is now berieued from thee: they that kepe this +stately house, and beare their lofty port amid the best, haue despoiled +thee pore wench of that after which thou didst vainly trauayle. But what +remedye now? sith thy wicked lot doth thus fall out, sith thy cruel fate +is loth thou shouldest atteine the thing on whych thy mind is bente, and +sith thy painfull lyfe can take no ende, make spede to rid thy selfe +from misery by that meanes which he hath prepared for thee that hath +found thy goods: who seeing his good aduenture to be thy bane, his happy +pray to bee thy spoyle, hath left in lieu of treasure, a halter, +that therwith thou mightest dispatch thy selfe from all thy griefes, and +in their vnhappye companye to cease thy life, that the lothsom, +lengthning of the same might not increase thy further plaints, sorowes, +anguish and affliction. And in the place where infortunate Philene toke +hir beginning, ther the Miserable wretche must finishe that, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page271" id = "page271">271</a></span> +which without hir desired gaine no longer can be maynteined. +Peraduenture it may come to passe as when thy soule is losed from this +mortall charge, it shall stalke by hym, by whom it liueth, and by him +also whom she thought to ioy in greatest contentation that euer mortall +woman did.” And thus plaininge and sighing hir il fortune, when she had +ended those words she tyed the halter about the beame, where sometimes +hir Treasure lay, which beyng done shee put the same about hir necke, +sayinge: “O crooked Lady Fortune, that hast thus vnfrendly dealt +with thine humble clyent: Ah dispayre, thou vgly wretch and companion of +the distressed that is vnwillinge to leaue my haunte vntyll thou playe +the Hangman. Ah Dyuell incarnate that goest aboute to hale and plucke +the innocent into thy hellish caue. Out vppon the thou deformed hellish +dogge, that waitest at the fiery gate to lette them in, which faine +would passe an other porte.” And as shee was powrying forth these +spitefull wordes, redy to remove the stoole to fetch hir swynge, the +Gods which would not giue consent, that the innocent wench should enter +that vile and opprobrious death, moued the heart of Elisa, to passe by +the place where she was in workynge on her selfe that desperate end: who +hearing those moneful plaints vttred after such terrible manner, opened +the Chamber doore, and saw that myserable sight: and ignorant of the +occasion, moued with pity, ranne and stayed hir from the fact, saying +thus vnto hir: “Ah Philene,” (whych was the name that she had giuen to +hir selfe) “what folie hath bewitched thy mind? What phrensie hath +incharmed thy braine? What harde aduenture hath moued thee in this +miserable wise, to ende thy life?” “Ah” (sayd Philene) “suffer me Elisa, +to finish my tormentes: giue me liberty to vnburden myselfe from the +bande of cares that do assaile me on euery side: lette these Helhoundes +that stande heare rounde about mee, haue theyr praye for which they +gape. Thou moued by compassion, arte come hither to stay mee from the +Halter: but in doyng so, thou doest mee greater wrong, than doeth +despayre whych eggeth me therunto. Suffer I say, that mine afflictions +may take some end, sith cruel fortune willeth it to be so, or rather +vnhappy fate: for sowre death is sweeter in my conceit, than bitter life +contriued in sharper sauce than gall or wormwood.” +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page272" id = "page272">272</a></span> +Elisa hearing her speake these wordes, sayd: “For so much as thy myshap +is such, as onely death is the nearest remedy to depriue thy payne, what +wicked chaunce hath induced thee, in this house to finish those thy +miseries? What hath prouoked the to sutch augury to this our most happy +and ioyfull family?” “Forced is the partye” (sayd Philene) “so to doe +when destenye hath so appointed.” “What desteny is that?” demaunded +Elisa. “Tell mee I beseech thee, perchaunce thou mayst preuent the same +by other remedy than that whereabout thou goest.” “No,” (answered +Philene) “that is impossible, but to satisfie thy request which so +instantly thou crauest of me, I wil tel thee the summe of al my +miserie.” In saying so the teares gushed forth hir eyes, and hir voice +brake oute into complaints, and thus began to say: “Ah Elisa, why should +I seke to prolong my wretched life in this vale of wretchednesse, +wherein I haue ben so miserably afflicted? my mother pitieng mine estate +and seeynge me voide of frends, and a fatherlesse child vpon hir death +bed, disclosed vnto me a treasure which she had hidden vpon this beam +whervnto this halter (the best remedy of my misery) is tied: and I +making serch for the same, in place of that treasure found this halter, +ordeined as I suppose (by what misfortune I knowe not) for my +death: and where I thought among the happy to be the most happy, +I see my selfe amongs al vnlucky women to be the most vnfortunate.” +Elisa hearing hir say so, greatly maruelled and sayd: “Why then I +perceiue thou art a woman and not a man.” “Yea, truly,” answered the +vnhappy mayden: “A singuler example of extreme misery to all sortes +of women.” “And why so?” demaunded Elisa. “Bicause” (answered Philene) +“that the pestilent planet vnder which I was borne, will haue it to be +so.” And then she told hir al that which had chaunced from the time of +hir mother’s departure out of Carthage, and how she went into Scicilia +and recounted vnto hir the loue that she bare to a Scicilian Gentleman, +and howe that he disdayning hir for hir pouerty, refused to be hir +husband: whervpon to atchieue hir desire as loth to forgoe him, was come +in maner of a page to Carthage, to recouer the riches which hir Mother +had hidden there, to the intente she might obtaine (if not by other +meanes) with som +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page273" id = "page273">273</a></span> +rich dowrie, the yong Gentleman to husband whom she so dearely loued. +And then reenforcing hir complaint, she said: That sith Fortune had +despoiled hir of that which might haue accomplished hir desire, resting +no cause why she should any longer liue, the halter was prepared for hir +to end her daies, and to rid hir life from troubles. And therefore she +praied hir to be contented, that she might make that end which hir +misaduenture and wicked fortune had predestinate. I doubt not but +there be many, which vnderstanding that the treasure did belong to +Philene, if they had found the like as Elisa did, would not onely not +haue forbidden hir the Death, but also by speedy meanes haue hastened +the same, for so mutch as by that occasion the hidden treasure should +haue ben out of strife and contention: so greate is the force of +couetousnesse in the minde of man. But good Elisa knew ful wel the +mutability of Fortune in humaine thinges, for so mutch as she by seeking +death, had fonde the thinge which not onely deliuered hir from the same, +but made hir the best contented woman of the worlde. And Philene +seekinge hir contentation, in place thereof, and by like occasion, found +the thinge that would haue ben the instrument of hir death, and moued +with very great compassion of the mayden, desired to haue better +aduertisement howe that treasure could belong to her. Then Philene +shewing forth hir mother’s writing, which particularly remembred the +parcels within the casket, and Elisa seeinge the same to be agreeable to +the hand wherewith the other was written that was founde in the casket, +was assured that all the gold and Iewels which she had found, did belong +vnto Philene, and sayd vnto hirselfe: “The Gods defend that I should +prepare the halter for the death of this innocent Wench, whose +substaunce hath yelded vnto mee my hart’s desire.” And comforting the +mayden, in the ende she sayd: “Be contented Philene, and giue ouer this +thy desperate determination, for both thy lyfe shalbe prolonged, and thy +discontented minde appeased, hoping thou shalt receyue the comforte thou +desirest.” And with those words she losed the halter from hir neck, and +takinge hir by the hand, brought hir to the place where hir Father and +husband were, and did them to vnderstand the force and terms whereunto +the fier of loue and desperation had brought that amorous mayden: +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page274" id = "page274">274</a></span> +tellinge them that all the treasure and Iewels which she had found +(where she left the halter, and wherewith Philene was minded to hang hir +selfe) did by good right and reason belonge to hir: then she did let +them se the counterpayne of that bill which was in the casket, in all +points agreeable thereunto, declaringe moreouer that verye lyke and +reasonable yt were, like curtesie should bee vsed vnto her, as by whom +they hadde receyued so greate honoure and delyghte. Her husband which +was a Carthagian borne, very churlishe and couetous, albeit by +conferring the writings together, he knewe the matter to be true, and +that Philene ought to be the possessor thereof, yet by no meanes would +agree vnto hys wyue’s request, but fell into a rage, callinge hir Foole +and Ideot, and sayinge that hee had rather that shee had bene a +Thousande tymes hanged, than he would giue hir one peny: and although +she had saued hir life, yet she ought to be banished the Citty, for so +mutch as the same and all the propertie thereof was brought into the +Romane’s handes, and amongs the same hir mother’s house, and al hir +goods in possession of the victors, and euery part, at their disposition +and pleasure. And moreouer, for so mutch as hir mother and shee had +departed Carthage, and would not abide the hazarde and extremity of +their country as other Citizens did, and hauing concealed and hidden +those riches which ought to haue ben brought forth for the common +defence of their countrey, and gone out of the Citty as though she had +ben a poore simple Woman, poorely therefore she ought to lyue in +Scicilia, whyther she was fled. Wherefore he was of opinion, that she in +this maner beinge departed when the Citty had greatest neede of hir +helpe, was disfranchised of all the rightes and customes of the +countrey, and that like as a straunger can recouer nothinge in that +Citty, except he haue the priuiledge and Freedome of the same, euen so +Philene (for the considerations before recited) ought to be compted for +a straunger, and not to participate any thinge within the City, +accordingly as the lawes forbid. When he had so sayd, he was like by +force to expell the sorrowfull mayden out of the house. These wordes +greatly grieued Philene, who doubted least his father in law would haue +ioyned with him, and agree vnto hys alleaged reasons, whych seemed to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page275" id = "page275">275</a></span> +be of great importaunce and effect: and therefore thought newly to +returne to the Halter for remedy of hir griefes; but it otherwise +chaunced, for the Father of Elisa, which was a Romane borne, and +affected with a Romane minde, and therefore of a Gentle and well +disposed nature, knew ful wel, that although the house was giuen vnto +him by the consent of Scipio, and other the Captaynes, yet he knew that +their pleasure was not to bestowe on him the treasure hidden in the +same, and therefore ought to be restored to the true owner, or else +confiscate and properly due to the Romane Eschequer, or common treasure +house of the same: and albeit that it was true that hir Mother went out +of Carthage, in the time of the Siege, and therefore had forfayted the +same, yet he determined to shewe some curtesie vnto the younge mayden, +and to be thankfull to fortune, for the benefite which by hir meanes he +had receyued, thinkinge that she would be displeased with him, if he +with vngratefull minde or dishonourable intent should receyue hir +giftes. For in those dayes the Romans highly reuerenced Lady Fortune, +and in hir honour had Erected Temples, and Dedicated Aultars, and in +prosperous tyme and happy aduentures, they consecrated vowes, and +sacrifices vnto hir, thinkinge (although supersticiously) that like as +from God there proceeded none euil, euen so from him all goodnesse was +deriued: that all felicity and other good happes, whych chaunced vppon +the Romane Common wealth, proceeded from Fortune, as the Fountayne and +most Principall Occasion, and that they which would not confesse hir +force, and be thanckful vnto hir Godheade, incurred in the ende hir +Displeasure and Daungers very great and haynous. This Romane then hauing +this opinion, beinge (as I sayd before) of a gentle Disposition +woulde at one instant both render thankes to Fortune, and vse curtesie +vnto that mayden, by whose riches and goods from lowe degree he was +aduanced to honourable state. Wherefore turning his Face vnto hir, with +louing countenaunce he spake these wordes: “Right gentle damosel, albeit +by the reasons alleged by my sonne in law, none of the treasure hidden +by thy mother, and founde by my Daughter in thys house, of right doth +appertayne to thee, yet I will that thou shalte vnderstande my curtesie, +and that thou see how the Romanes +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page276" id = "page276">276</a></span> +doe more esteeme the nobility of their minde, than all the riches of the +world. Therefore that thou mayst enioy thy loue, I referre vnto +thee and to thy disposition all the goods and Iewels that were in the +Casket, and contayned in thy writinge. Beholde therefore (causing the +casket to be brought vnto him) all the Iewels and other parcels that +were in the same when they were founde, take so mutch thereof as thou +wilt, and if so bee thou desire the whole, willingly I render the same +vnto thee, sithens by means of those riches, and the industry of my +trafique, I haue gayned so mutch, as hauinge gyuen a conuenient +dowry vnto my daughter, I honorably liue without it.” Philene +seeing the curtesie of this valiaunt gentleman, gaue him infinite +thanks, and then sayd vnto him: “Sir, I for my part dare aske +nothinge, well knowinge that if you geue me nothinge, there is no cause +why I shoulde complayne of you, but of my hard and wicked fortune, whych +hath offered and giuen that to you, which ought to haue bin mine. +Wherefore, sith your curtesie is sutch, as you refer the whole to mee, +I purpose to take nothing, but will that the whole shall bee in +your disposition, and giue mee what you list, and that so gieuen of your +liberality, I shal more thankfully receiue, than if debt or duty +did constrayne it: and if it shall please you to giue me nothing, my +heart shal bee so well appeased, for that your curtesie, as rather +woulde I chose to liue in the poore estate wherein I am, than be rych +with your displeasure.” Howbeit, the Romayne intreated Philene to take +thereof what shee thought good: and Philene craued no more than it +pleased hym to gyue. Eyther of them standinge vpon these termes Elisa, +brake the strife, who knowinge the force of loue, and the griefes +incident to his clients, by hir own harmes, moued to haue compassion +vpon the afflicted, turned towardes hir father, and sayd vnto him: +“Right louinge father, the contencion betweene Philene and you, is risen +of a matter which came by me. The treasure for which you striue, and +committed to the will of Philene, was found by me, whereof if it please +you both, I wyll take sutch order, as both you shalbe satisfied.” +“I am contented,” sayd hir father: “And I likewise,” aunswered +Philene. Then sayd Eliza: “You father hitherto haue had but one +Daughter, which +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page277" id = "page277">277</a></span> +am I, vnto whom like a chylde and louinge daughter I haue bene obedient, +and shalbe all the dayes of my lyfe: and I agayne haue receiued from you +sutch fatherly education, as your ability and state required. This +treasure I found and gaue to you for ease and comfort of vs both: to me +it yelded the only delectation of my heart in choyse of husband: to you +honour and estimation within thys Citty. Wherefore, sith the principal +came from me, and the right resteth in this careful maiden, my desire +is, that where before you had but one daughter, you will adopt this +mayden for another, and thinke that you have twaine, and that you will +intreate Philene in like sort as if shee were my sister: and where this +Inheritance and reuenue wherewith now you be possessed, and this casket +also ought to be onely myne after your decease, for that you haue no +sonnes, nor other Issue, my desire is that you geue vnto her the halfe, +and that you accept hir for your daughter, as I doe meane to take hir +for my sister: and accordingely to vse hir duringe lyfe.” With these +wordes Elisa imbraced Philene, and louingly dyd kisse hir, sayinge vnto +hir: “For my sister I entertayn thee Philene.” And then shee tooke hir +by the hand and gaue hir vnto hir father with these wordes: “Beholde +father, your new daughter, whom I beseech you so hartily to loue as you +do Elisa your naturall chylde.” The father praysed the curtesie of +Elisa, and receiued Philene for his daughter and was contented wyth the +Arbitrament of his Daughter. But Elisa perceyuing hir husband to be +somewhat offended therewyth, specially for that the same should be +deuided into two partes, which was like to haue bene hys wholly before, +persuaded hym by gentle meanes to be content wyth that agreement: and +although at the first he could not well brooke the liberality of his +wyfe, yet at length viewinge the good behauiour and gentle disposition +of Philene, and the contented minde of his father in law, together with +the noble nature of his wyfe, and hir wise aduertisement of Fortune’s +fickle assurance, yelded, and acknowledged Philene for hys kinswoman. +And so Philene put in possession of the halfe of those goods, whereof +she was altogether out of hope, was well satisfied, and had the Romane +for hir father, Elisa for hir sister, and hir husband for hir kinsman. +That valyant +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page278" id = "page278">278</a></span> +Roman was so careful ouer Philene, as if she had ben his owne daughter, +and so indeuored, as he brought to passe that she obteined hir beloued +Scicilian to husbande: who also sent for hym to Carthage, where he +continued with his wife in the Romane’s house, and loved them both so +dearely as though he had ben father to the one, and father in lawe to +the other. In this maner these two poore wenches attained their two +husbands, for hauing of whom, theyr onely care was for Ryches, and for +lacke thereof were dryuen to despayre: and in the ende both (though +diuersly, and the one more fortunat than the other) recouered riches, +and with the same theyr husbandes, to their heartes singular ioye and +contentation. Which lucke I wyshe to all other poore Girles (but not +hangyng rype, or louynge in despayre) that bend their mindes on Mariage, +and seeke to people by that estate, their countrey common wealth. But +leauinge for a time these Tragicall Nouels and heauy chaunces, wee +purpose to remember some morall matters right worthy of remembraunce: +Letters they bee from a godly Pagane clerk, the famous Philosopher +Plutarch, Schoolemaister to an Emperour of no lesse vertue, than hys +mayster’s Schoole and mynde was fraught with diuine Precepts. Wherefore +proceede (good Reader) to continue the paynes vpon the readinge of +these, so well as thou hast vouchsafed to employ thy time before. They +shal no lesse delite thee, if vertue brooke thee, they shal no lesse +content thee if duty please thee, than any delightsome thing, whereupon +(at any tyme) thou hast employed thy vacaunte tyme.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page279" id = "page279">279</a></span> + +<h3><a name = "novel2_12" id = "novel2_12"> +THE TWELFTH NOUELLE.</a></h3> + +<h5>LETTERS OF THE EMPEROUR TRAIANE.</h5> + +<p class = "summary"> +Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the noble and vertuous Emperour +Traiane, and from the sayd Emperour to Plutarch: the lyke also from the +sayd Emperour to the Senate of Rome. In all which be conteyned godly +rules for gouernment of Princes, obedience of Subiects, and their duties +to common wealth.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Bicause</span> these Letters ensuinge +(proceeding from the infallible Schoole of Wisedome, and practised by an +apt Scholler of the same, by a noble Emperor that was well trained vp by +a famous Philosopher) in myne opinion deserue a place of Recorde amonge +our Englishe Volumes, and for the wholsome errudition, ought to +Englishmen in english shape to bee described, I haue thought good +in this place to introduce the same. And although to some it shal not +peraduenture seeme fit and conuenient to mingle holy with prophane, +(accordinge to the prouerbe) to intermedle amongs pleasaunt histories, +ernest epistles, amid amorous Nouels, learned Letters, yet not to care +for report or thought of sutch findefaults, I iudge them not +vnseemely, the course of those histories. For amid the diuine works of +Philosophers and Oratours, amongs the pleasaunt paynes of auncient +Poets, and the Nouell writers of our time, merry verses so well as +morall matters be mingled, wanton bankets so wel as wise disputations +celebrated, tauntinge and iocund Orations so well as effectuall +declamations and persuasions pronounced. These letters contayne many +graue and wholesom documents, sundry vertuous and chosen Institutions +for Prynces and Noble men, yea and for sutch as beare offyce and +preferment in commonwealth from highest title to meanest degree. Theese +letters do vouch the reioyce of a Schoolemayster for bringinge vp a +Scholler of capacity and aptnesse, to imbrace and Fix in Memory sutch +lessons as he taught him. These Letters do gratulate and remembre the +ioy of the disciple for hauinge sutch a maister. These letters do +pronounce the minde of a vertuous Prince towardes +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page280" id = "page280">280</a></span> +hys subiects for choyse of him to the empire, and for that they had +respect rather to the vertue and condition, than to the nobility or +other extreme accident. To be short, these letters speake and pronounce +the very humblenesse and fealty that ought to rest in subiectes’ hearts: +with a thousand other excellent sentences of duties. So that if the +Emperour Nerua had bin aliue agayne to peruse these letters and Epistles +of congratulation betweene the Schoolemayster and Scholler, he would no +lesse haue reioysed in Plutarch than king Philip of Macedon did of +Aristotle, when hee affirmed himself to be happy, not so much for +hauinge sutch a sonne as Alexander was, as for that he was borne in +sutch a time, as had brought Aristotle to be his maister. That good +Emperor Nerua, shewed a patern to his successor by his good vertuous +lyfe and godly gouernment, which made a successor and a people of no +lesse consequence than they were trayned, accordingly as Herodian +voucheth, that for the most part the people be wont to imitate the Life +of their Prince and soueraygne Lord. If Philip deemed hymselfe happy and +blessed for hauing sutch a sonne and mayster, then might Nerua terme +himselfe threefolde more happy for sutch a Nephew and sutch a notable +Schoolemayster as Plutarch was, who not only by doctrine but by practise +proued a passing good Scholler. Alexander was a good Scholer and for the +time wel practised his maister’s Lessons, but afterwards as glory and +good hap accompanied his noble disposition, so did he degenerate from +former life, and had quite forgotten what he had learned, as the second +Nouell of this Booke more at large declareth. But Traiane of a toward +Scholler, proued sutch an Emperour and victor ouer himselfe, as +schoolinge and rulinge were in him miraculous, and surmounting Paragon +of piety and vertue: wherefore not to stay thee from the perusinge of +those Letters, the right image of himselfe: thus beginneth Plutarch to +write vnto his famous Scholler Traiane.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page281" id = "page281">281</a></span> +<p class = "summary"> +A Letter of the Philosopher Plutarch to the Emperor Traiane, wherein is +touched how Gouerners of Common wealths ought to be prodigal in deedes +and spare in words.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">My</span> most dread soueraygne Lorde, +albeit of longe tyme I haue known the modesty of your mynde, yet neyther +I nor other liuing man did euer know that you aspired to that, which +many men desire, which is to be Emperour of Rome. That man should +withdrawe himselfe from honour, it were cleane without the boundes of +wysedome: but not to lycence the heart to desire the same, that truely +is a worke diuine, and not proceedinge of humayne nature. For he doeth +indifferently well, that represseth the works which his handes be able +to do, without staying upon his owne desires, and for good consideration +wee may terme thine Empire to be very happy, sith thou hast so nobly +demeaned thy selfe to deserue the same without search and seekinge +industrious pollicy to attayne thereunto. I haue known within the +city of Rome many great personages, which were not so mutch honored for +the offices whych they bare, as they were for the meanes and deuises +whereby they sought to be aduaunced to the same. May it please you to +vnderstand (most excellent Prince) that the honor of a vertuous man doth +not consist in the office, which he presently hath, but rather in the +merites that preferred him thereunto: In such wise, as it is the office +that honoreth the partye, and to the officer there resteth but a painful +charge. By meanes wherof, when I remember that I was your gouerner from +your youth, and instructed your vertuous mind in letters, I can not +chose but very much reioyce, so well for your soueraigne vertue, as for +your maiestie’s good fortune, deming it to be a great happinesse vnto me +that in my time Rome hath inioyed him to be their souraigne lord, whom I +had in tymes past to be my scholler. The principalities of kyngdomes +some winne by force, and maintayne them by armes, which ought not so to +be in you, nor yet conceiue opinion of your selfe, but rather to thinke +that the empire which you gounerne by vniuersall consent, yee ought to +entertayne and rule with general iustice. And therfore if you loue and +reuerence the Gods, if you +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page282" id = "page282">282</a></span> +bee pacient in trauels, warie in daungers, curteous to your people, +gentle to straungers, and not couetous of treasure, nor louer of your +owne desires: you shall make your fame immortall, and gouern the common +wealth in soueraign peace: that you be not a louer of your own desires, +I speake it not withoute cause, for there is no worse gouernement +than that which is ruled by selfe wyll and priuate opinion. For as he +that gouerneth a common wealth ought to lyue in feare of al men, euen so +mutch more in feare of him selfe, in so mutch as he may commit greater +errour by doinge that which his owne luste commaundeth, than if he were +ruled by the counsell of other. Assure you sir, that you can not hurt +your selfe, and mutch lesse preiudice vs your subiects, if you do +correct your selfe before you chastise others, esteemyng that to bee a +ryght good gouernment when you be prodigal in workes, and spare of +speache. Assay then to be such a one now, that you do commaunde, as you +were when you were commaunded. For otherwise it would lyttle auaile to +do things for deseruing of the empyre, if afterwards your dedes be +contrary to former deserts. To com to honour it is a humane worke, but +to conserue honour it is a thing diuine. Take hede then (most excellent +Traiane) that you do remembre and still reuolue in minde, that as you be +a Prince supreme, so to apply your self to be a passing ruler. For there +is no authority amongs men so high, but that the Gods aboue be iudges of +their thoughts, and men beneth beholders of their deedes. Wherfore sith +presentlye you are a mighty Prince, your duety is the greater to be +good, and leisure lesse to be wycked, than when you were a pryuate Man. +For hauing gotten authority to commaund, your lyberty is the lesse to +bee idle: so that if you bee not sutch a one as the common people haue +opinion of you, and such againe as your maister Plutarch desireth, you +shall put your selfe in greate Daunger, and myne Ennymyes wyll seeke +meanes to bee reuenged on mee, knowynge wel that for the Scholler’s +faulte the Mayster Dayly suffreth wronge by slaunderous checke imputed +vnto hym (although withoute cause.) And for so much as I haue ben thy +maister, and thou my scholer, thou must indeuour by well doyng, to +render me some honour. And lykewyse if thou do euyll, great infamy shall +lyght on me, euen as +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page283" id = "page283">283</a></span> +it did to Seneca for Nero his cause, whose cruelties don in Rome were +imputed to his mayster Seneca. The like wronge was done to the +Philosopher Chilo, by beyng burdened with the neglygent nouriture of his +Scholler Leander. They truely were famous personages and greate learned +men, in whom the gouernemente of myghty Princes was reposed: +notwithstandyng, for not correcting them in their youth, nor teachying +them with carefull dylygence, they blotted for euermore theyr renoume, +as the cause of the destruction of many common wealthes. And forsomuch +as my pen spared none in times paste, bee well assured Traiane, that the +same will pardon neither thee or mee in tyme to come: for as wee bee +confederate in the fault, euen so we shal be heires of the pain. Thou +knowest well what lessons I haue taught thee in thy youth, what counsell +I haue gyuen thee, beeying come to the state of man, and what I haue +written to thee, sithens thou hast ben Prince, and thou thy selfe art +recorde of the wordes which I haue spoken to thee in secrete: in all +whych I neuer persuaded thyng but that intended to the seruice of the +gods, profite of the common wealthe and increase of thy renoume: +wherfore, I am right sure, that for anye thing which I haue +written, sayd, or persuaded there is no cause I should feare the +punishment of the gods, and much lesse the reprochful shame of men, +verily beleuing that al which I coulde say in secrete, might without +reproch be openly published in Rome. Nowe before I toke my pen in hand +to write this Letter, I examined my lyfe, to know, if (during the +time that I had charge of thee) I dyd or sayd in thy presence any +thing that might prouoke thee to euill example. And truely (vnmete for +me to say it) vpon that searche of my forepassed life, I neuer +found my selfe guilty of facte vnmeete a Roman Cytyzen, nor euer spoke +woorde vnseemelye for a Phylosoper: by meanes whereof I doe ryght +heartely wyshe, thou wouldest remember the good educatyon and +instructyon whych thou dyddest learne of mee. I speake not thys, +that thou shouldest gratifie me againe with any Benefite, but to the +ende thou myghtest serue thy selfe, esteemynge that no greater pleasure +there is that can redounde to me, than to heare a good report of thee. +Be then well assured that if an Empyre bee bestowed vpon thee, it was +not for that thou wer a Citizen of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page284" id = "page284">284</a></span> +Rome or a couragious person descended of noble house, rich and mighty, +but only bicause vertues did plentifully abounde in thee. +I dedicated vnto thee certaine bookes of old and auncient common +wealth, which if it please thee to vse, and as at other times I haue +sayd vnto thee, thou shalte finde mee to be a proclaimer of thy famous +workes, and a chronicler of all thy noble facts of armes: but if +perchaunce thou follow thine owne aduise, and chaunge thy selfe to bee +other than hitherto thou hast ben, presently I inuocate and cry out vpon +the immortall Gods, and this Letter shall be wytnesse, that if any hurt +do chaunce to thee, or to thine Empire, it is not through the counsell +or meanes of thy maister Plutarch. And so farewell most Noble +Prynce.</p> + +<p class = "summary"> +The aunswere of the Emperour Traiane to hys mayster Plutarch.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Cocceius</span> Traiane Emperour of Rome, +to the Philosopher Plutarch, sometimes my mayster: salutation and +consolation in the Gods of comfort. In Agrippina was deliuered vnto me a +letter from thee, whych so soone as I opened, I knew to be written +wyth thine owne hand, and endited with thy wysedom. So flowing was the +same with goodly woordes and accompanied with graue sentences, an +occasion that made mee reade the same twice or thrice, thinking that I +saw thee write and heard thee speak, and so welcome was the same to me, +as at that very instant I caused it to be red at my table, yea and made +the same to be fixed at my bed’s heade, that thy well meanyng vnto me +might be generally knowen, how mutch I am bound vnto thee. +I esteemed for a good presage the congratulation that the Consul +Rutulus did vnto me from thee, touchinge my commyng to the empire: +I hope through thy merites, that I shall be a good Emperoure. Thou +sayest in thy letter, that thou canste by no meanes beleue that I haue +giuen bribes, and vsed meanes to buye myne Empire, as other haue done. +For aunswere thereunto I say, that as a man I haue desired it, but neuer +by solicitation or other meanes attempted it: for I neuer saw wythin the +City of Rome any man to bribe for honour, but for the same, some notable +infamy chaunced vnto hym, as for +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page285" id = "page285">285</a></span> +example wee may learne of the Good old man Menander, my friende and thy +neyghbour, who to be Consul, procured the same by vnlawful meanes, and +therfore in the end was banished and died desperately. The greate Caius +Cæsar, and Tiberius, Caligula, Cladius, Nero, Galba, Otho Vitelius, and +Domitian, some for usurpyng the Empire, some for tyranny, some for +gettyng it by bribes, and some by other meanes procuryng the same, lost +(by the sufferance of the righteous gods) not onely their honour +and goodes, but also they died miserably. When thou dydst reade in thy +schole, and I that time an hearer of thy doctrine, many times I hearde +thee say, that we ought to trauel to deserue honour, rather than procure +the same, esteemynge it vnlawfull to get honour by meanes vnlawfull. He +that is without credite, ought to assay to procure credite. Hee that is +with out honour, ought to seeke honour. But the vertuous man hathe no +neede of noblenesse, ne hee himselfe, ne yet any other person can +berieue him of due honour. Thou knowest wel Plutarch, that the yere +past, the office of Consul was gyuen to Torquatus, and the Dictatorship +to Fabritius, who were so vertuous and so little ambitious as not +desyrous to receyue such charges, absented themselues, although that in +Rome, they might have ben in great estimation, by reason of those +offices, and yet neuerthelesse without them they bee presently esteemed, +loued and honoured: and therefore I conceiue greater delight in Quintius +Lincinatus, in Scipio Affricanus, and good Marcus Portius, for +contemning of theyr 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 myn vncle Cocceius Nerua was exiled to Capua, he +was more visited, and better serued, than when he was at Rome: whereby +may bee inferred, that a vertuous man may bee exyled or banished, but +honour he shall neuer want. The Emperour Domitian (if you do +remember) at the departure of Nerua, made me many offers, and thee many +fayre promises to entertain thee in his house, and to send mee into +Almayne, which thou couldest not abyde, and much lesse consent, deeming +it to be greater honour with Nerua to be exiled, than of Domitian to be +fauored. I sweare by +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page286" id = "page286">286</a></span> +the Gods immortall, that when the good olde man Nerua sent me the +ensigne of the Empyre, I was vtterly ignorant thereof, and voyd of +hope to atteyne the same: for I was aduertised from the Senate, that +Fuluius sued for it, and that Pamphilius went about to buy it. +I knew also that the Consul Dolobella attempted to enioy it: then +sith the gods did permit, that I should be Emperour, and that myne vncle +Nerua did commaund the same, the Senate approued it, and the common +wealth would haue it to be so: and sith it was the generall consent of +all men, and specially your aduyse, I haue greate hope that the +Gods will be fauorable vnto me, and Fortune no ennimie at all: assuring +you, that like ioy whych you do saye you had by teachyng me, and seing +me now to be Emperour, the lyke I haue to thynke that I was your +Scholler: and sith that you wyll not call mee from henceforth any other +but Soueraygne Lord, I wyll terme you by none other name, than +Louyng father. And albeit that I haue ben visited and counselled by many +men since my commyng to the Empyre, and by thee aboue the rest, whom +before all other I wyll beleue, consideryng that the intent of those +which counsell me, is to draw my mynd to theyrs, your letters purportyng +nothyng else but mine aduauntage. I doe remember amongs other +woordes, which once you spake to Maxentius the Secretary of Domitian, +this saying: that they which doe presume to gyue counsell vnto Prynces, +oughte to bee free from all passions and affections: for in counsell, +where the wyll is moste enclined, the mynde is more prompte and ready: +that a Prince in all thyngs doe his wyll I prayse not: that he take +aduise and counsell of euery man I lesse allowe. That which he ought to +doe (as me thinke) is to doe by counsel, forseeing for al that to +what counsel he applieth his mynd: for counsel ought not to be taken of +hym whom I doe well loue, but of hym of whom I am well beloued. All this +I have wrytten (my mayster Plutarch) to aduertise you that from +henceforthe I desire nothyng else at your handes, but to be holpen wyth +your aduise in myne affayres, and that you tell me of my committed +faults: for if Rome do thinke me to be a defender of their common wealth +I make accompte of you to bee an ouerseer of my life: and therefore if +you thinke that I am not thankfull ynough for the good aduyse, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page287" id = "page287">287</a></span> +holsom warenings that you gyue me: I am to intreate you (myne owne +good mayster) not to take it in ill part, for in such cases, the griefe +that I conceiue, is not for the good lessons you gyue me, but for the +shame that I fayle in followyng them. The bryngyng of me vp in thy +house, the hearyng of thy lectures, the folowyng of thy doctryne, and +liuing vnder thy disciplyne, haue ben truly the pryncipal causes that I +am commen to this Empyre. This mutch I say (mayster) for that it were an +vnnatural parte in thee not to assist me to beare that thing, which thou +haste holpen me to gayne and winne: and although that Vespasian was of +nature a very good man, yet his greatest profite redounded to him by +entertayning of the Philosopher Appolonius. For truelye it is a greater +felicity for a Prince to chaunce vpon a good and faythfull man, to be +neare about him, than to atchieue a large realme and kingdome. Thou +sayest (Plutarch) that thou shalt receiue great contentation, from +henceforth, if I be such a one now as I was before, or at lestwise if I +be no worse. I belieue that which thou doest say, bicause the +Emperour Nero, was the first fiue yeares of hys empyre good, and the +other nine yeares exceedyng euill, in sutch wyse as he grew to be +greater in wickednesse, than in dygnity. Notwithstanding, if thou thinke +that as it chaunced vnto Nero, so may happen vnto Traiane, I besech +the immortall Gods rather to depriue me of life, than to suffer me to +raigne in Rome: for tyrantes bee they, whych procure dygnytyes and +promotyons, to vse them for delighte and filthye luste: and good Rulers +bee they which seeke them for profite of Common wealthe: and therfore to +them whych before they came to those degrees were good, and afterwardes +waxed Wycked, greater pity than enuye ought to be attributed, +consideryng specyally, that Fortune did not aduaunce them to honour, but +to shame and villany: beleue me then (good maister) that sith hitherto I +haue ben reputed vertuous, I wyl assay by God’s assistance to +aspire to be better, rather than to be worsse. And so the Gods preserue +thee.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page288" id = "page288">288</a></span> +<p class = "summary"> +The Letter of the Emperour Traiane to the Senate of Rome, wherein is +conteined, that honour ought rather to be deserued than procured.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Cocceius</span> Traiane Emperour of the +Romanes, euer Augustus, to our sacred Senate health and consolation in +the gods of comfort. We beinge aduertised here at Agrippina of the +Deathe of the Emperour Nerua, your soueraigne Lord and my predecessour, +and knowing it to be true, that you haue wept and bewailed the losse of +a Prince so noble and ryghteous, we likewise haue felt like sorow, for +the death of so notable a father. When children lose a good father, and +subiects a good Prynce, eyther they muste dye wyth them, or else by +teares they must rayse them vp again, for so much as a good Prince in a +common wealth is so rare, as the Phœnix in Arabia. My lord Nerua +broughte me out of Spayne to Rome, nourished me vp in youth, caused mee +to bee trained in letters and adopted me for his sonne in mine olde age: +which graces and benefits truly I can not forget, knowyng that the +ingrate man prouoketh the Gods to anger, and men to hatred. The death of +a vertuous man is to be lamented of all men, but the death of a good +Prince, ought to be extremely mourned: for if a common person die, there +is but one dead, but if a god Prynce die, together with him dieth a +whole Realme. I speake this (O ye Fathers) for the rare +vertues abounding in myne vncle Nerua: for if the gods were disposed to +sell vs the liues of good Prynces already departed, it were but a small +ransome to redeeme them with teares: for what gold or syluer may be +sufficient to buie the lyfe of a vertuous man. Truely there woulde be a +greate masse of money gyuen by the Greekes for Alexander, by the +Lacedemonians for Lycurgus, by the Romanes for Augustus, and by the +Carthaginians for Annibal. But as you knewe the gods hauing made all +thynges mortall, so haue they reserued onely themselues to bee +immortall. How eminent and passing the vertue of the good is, and what +priuiledge the godly haue, it may easily bee knowne: for so mutch, as +honour is carried euen to the very graues of the dead, but so it is not +to the greate Palaces of the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page289" id = "page289">289</a></span> +wycked. The good and vertuous man, without sighte or knowledge we loue, +serue, and aunswer for him: wherein the wycked we cannot beleue what he +sayeth, and lesse accepte in good part the thyng whych he doeth for vs. +Touchynge the electyon of the Empyre, it was done by Nerua, it was +demaunded by the people, approued by you, and accepted by me. Wherefore +I prayt the immortall Goddes that it may bee lyked of theyr godheades: +for to small purpose auayleth the election of Prynces, if the gods doe +not confyrme it: and therefore a man maye knowe hym whych is chosen by +the Gods, from him that is elected by men, for the one shal declyne and +fal, the other shalbe vpholden and preserued: the choyse of man so +vaynely exalted doth bowe and abase, but that which is planted by the +gods, although it bee tossed to and fro wyth seuerall Wynds, and +receiueth greate aduersitye, and boweth a lyttle, yet the same shall +neuer fal. Ye know right wel (most honorable Fathers) that I neuer +demaunded the Empyre of Nerua my Soueraigne Lorde, although he broughte +me vp and was his Nephew, hauing heard and wel remembring of my Mayster +Plutarch, that honour ought rather to bee deserued than procured. +Notwithstanding I wyll not deny but ioyfull I was when my Lord Nerua +sent me the ensigne of that greate and hygh dignity: and yet I wyll +confesse that hauing begon to tast the trauailes and cares which that +imperiall state bringeth, I did repent more then a Thousand times +for taking vppon mee a charge so great: for Empire and gouernement is of +sutch quality that although the honor be mighty, yet the gouernour +sustaineth manifold paines and miserable trauailes. O how greatly +doth he bind himself, which by gouernment bindeth other! for if hee bee +iuste they call hym cruell, if hee bee Pitifull, he is contempned, if +liberall, he is esteemed Prodigall, if he keepe or gather together he is +counted couetous, if hee be peaceable and quiet, they deeme him for a +coward, if he be couragious, he is reputed a quareller, if graue, they +will say he is proude, if he be easie to be spoken to, hee is thought to +be light or simple, if solitary, they will esteeme him to be an +hypocrite, and if he be ioyfull, they will terme hym dissolute: In sutch +wise as they wil be contented, and vse better termes to al others what +so euer, than towardes him, which gouerneth +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page290" id = "page290">290</a></span> +a common wealth: for to sutch a one they recken the morsels which he +eateth, they measure his pases, they note his words, they take heede to +his companies, and iudge of his works (many times wrongfully,) they +examine and murmure of his pastimes, and attempt to Coniecture hys +Thoughtes: consider then the trauayles which bee in gouernement, and the +enuy which many times they beare vnto him that ruleth. We may say, that +there is no state more sure than that which is furthest of from Enuy. +And if a man cannot but wyth great payne gouerne the wyfe which hee hath +chosen, the children which he hath begotten, nor the seruaunt which he +hath brought vp, hauing them altogether in one house: how is it possible +that he can still conserue in peace a whole commonwealth? I praye +you tell mee, in whom shall a poore Prince repose his trust, syth that +many times hee is most slaundered by theym whom he fauoureth best? +Prynces and great Lordes cannot eate without a Garde, cannot sleepe +without a watch, cannot speake without espiall, nor walke without some +saufety, in sutch wise as they being Lords of al, they be as it were, +Prisoners of their owne people. And if we wil beholde somewhat neerely, +and consider the seruitude of Princes, and the liberty of Subiectes, we +shall finde that he which hath most to doe in the Realme, or beareth +greatest swinge, is most subiect to Thraldome. So that if Princes haue +authority to geue liberty, they haue no meanes to be free themselues: +the gods haue created vs so fre, and euery man desireth to haue hys +liberty so mutch at wyll, that a man be he neuer so familiar a freende, +or so neare of kin, we rather haue him to be our subiect, than our Lorde +and mayster: one man alone commandeth all, and yet it seemeth to him but +little: ought we then to marueile, if many be weary to obey one? Wee +loue and esteeme our selues so mutch, as I neuer saw any which of his +owne good wil would be subiect, ne yet agaynst his will was made a Lord, +a Principle by dayly experience proued very true: for the quarrels +and warres that be amongs men, are not so mutch for obedience sake, as +for rule and commaundment. I say moreouer, that in drinking, +eating, clothing, speaking, and louing, al men be of diuers qualities: +but to get lyberty, they be all conformable. I haue spoken thus +mutch (O Fathers conscript) vpon +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page291" id = "page291">291</a></span> +occasion of mine owne Empire, which I haue taken with good will, albeit +afterwards I was sory for the great charge. For the waltering Seas and +troublesome gournement be two things agreeable to beholde, and +daungerous to proue. Notwithstanding sith it hath pleased the Gods that +I should be youre Lord, and you my subiects, I beseech you hartely +to vse your obedience, as to your soueraygne lord, in that which shall +be right and iust, and to aduertise me like a father, in things that +shall seeme vnreasonable. The Consul Rutulus hath sayed mutch vnto mee +in your behalfe, and hath saluted me for the people, hee himselfe shall +bring aunswere and shal salute you al in my name. The Allobrogians and +the inhabitaunts about the riuer Rhene, be at controuersie for the +limittes of their countrey, and haue prayed me to be their Arbitrator, +which will stay me a little there. I require that this letter may +be red within the Senate house, and manifested to the whole people. The +Gods preserue you.</p> + +<p class = "summary"> +An other Letter of the Emperour Traian to the Romayne Senate, contayning +how gouerners of Common wealths ought to bee friendes rather to those +whych vse traficke, than to them that gather and heape together.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">Cocceius Traiane</span> Emperour of the +Romaynes to our holy senate health and consolation in the Gods of +comfort. The affayres be so manyfolde, and businesse so graue and +weighty, which we haue to doe with diuers Countries, that scarce we haue +tyme to eate, and space to take anye rest, the Romane Prynces hauing +still by auncient custome both lacke of tyme, and commonly want of +money. And bicause that they which haue charge of common wealths, to the +vttermost of their power ought to be fryends to traficke of marchandise, +and enimyes of heapynge treasure together, Prynces haue so many people +to please, and so greate numbre of crauers, that if they keepe any thing +for them, the same shall rather seeme a spice of theft than of +prouidence. To take away an other man’s goodes, truly is a wycked part: +but if it bee permitted +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page292" id = "page292">292</a></span> +to take Treasure, better it were to take it out of the Temples, than to +defraude the people: for the one is consecrated to the immortall Gods, +and the other to the pore commons. I speake this (right honorable +fathers) to put you in remembraunce, and also to aduise you, that you +take good heede to the goodes of the common wealth, howe they bee +dyspended, howe gathered together, howe they bee kepte, and howe they be +employed. For ye ought to vnderstand, that the goodes of the Common +wealth be committed to you in trust, not to the ende yee shoulde enioy +them, but rather by good gouernement to vse them. We do heare that the +Walles be ready to fal, the Towers be in decay, and the Temples in great +ruine, wherof we be not a lyttle offended, and you ought also to be +ashamed, for so mutch as the damages and detryments of the Common +wealth, we ought eyther to remedy, or else to lament. Ye haue wrytten +vnto mee to know my pleasure, whether the censors, pretors, and ediles +should be yearely chosen, and not perpetuall, as hitherto they haue +bene: and specyally you say, that the state of the Dictators (which is +the greatest and highest dignity in Rome) is onely but for sixe moneths. +To that I aunswer, that we are wel contented wyth that aduyse: for not +wythout cause and iust reason our predecessours dyd abolyshe the fyrst +kynges of Rome, and ordayned, that the Consuls should yearely be chosen +in the Common wealthe. Whych was done, in consyderation that hee whych +had perpetuall gouernement, many tymes became insolente and proude. And +therefore that the charges and offices of the Senate, should be yearely, +to auoyde danger, which if they should be perpetual there myght ensue +great hurt and damage to the common wealth: for if the Officers beyng +yerely chosen, be good, they may be continued: and if they bee euyll, +they may be chaunged. And truely the officer, whych knoweth that vpon +the end of euery yeare he must be chaunged and examined of his charge, +he wyll take good heede to that whych he speaketh, and first of all wil +consider what he taketh in hand. The good Marcus Portius was the first +that caused the Officers of the Romane Common Wealthe to bee thus +visited and corrected. And bycause that these Almayne Warres doe styll +increase, by reason that kyng Deceball wyll not as yet bee brought to +obedience of the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page293" id = "page293">293</a></span> +Romanes, but rather goeth about to occupy and winne the Kingdomes of +Dacia and Polonia, I shall be forced through the businesse of the +wars, (so long continuing) to deuyse and consult here vppon the +affayres touchyng the gouernement of the common wealth of Rome. For a +lesse euyll it is for a Prynce to be neglygent in matters of Warre, than +in the gouernement of the Common Wealth. A Prynce also ought to +think, that he is chosen, not to make wars, but to gouerne, not to kyll +the Enimies, but to roote out vices, not that he goe in person to inuade +or defend his foes, but that he reside and be in the Common Wealth, and +not to take away other men’s goodes, but to do iustice in euery man, for +so mutch as the Prynce in the warres can fight but for one, and in the +publyke wealth he committeth faults against a numbre. Truly it liketh me +wel, that from the degree of captaines men be aduaunced to bee emperors, +but I think it not good, that emperours do descende to be captains, +considering that, that realm shal neuer be in quyet, where the Prince is +to gret a warrior. This haue I spoken (fathers conscript) to the intent +ye may beleue, that I for my parte if these warres of Almayne were to +begin, I being at Rome, it wer impossible that I should be brought +vnto the same, for that my principal intent, is to be estemed rather a +good gouerner of a common wealth, than a forward captain in the field: +nowe then principally I commend vnto you the veneration of the temples, +and honor of the gods, bicause kings neuer liue in surety, if the gods +be not honored, and the temples serued. The last words which my good +lord Nerua wrot vnto me were these: “Honour the Temples, feare the gods, +maintein Iustice in thy commonwealth and defend the pore: in so doing +thou shalt not be forgotten of thy friend, nor vanquished by thy foe.” +I do greatly recommend vnto you the vertues of amity and +fraternity, for that you know how in great common wealthes, more hurt +and damage do ciuile and neighborly wars bryng vnto the same, than those +attempted by the enimies. If parents against parents, and neighbours +against neighbours had not begon mutuall hatred and contention, neuer +had Demetrius ouerthrowen the Rhodes, neuer had Alexander conquered +Thyr, Marcellus Syracusa, Scipio Numantia. I recommend vnto you +also the poore people, loue the orphanes +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page294" id = "page294">294</a></span> +and fatherlesse children, support and help the widowes, beware of +quarrels and debates amongs you, and the causes of the helplesse se that +ye maintaine and defende: bicause the Gods dyd neuer wreake more cruell +vengeance vpon any, than vpon those which dyd ill intreate and vse the +poore and neady: and many times I haue heard my Lord Nerua say, that the +gods neuer shewed themselues so rygorous, as agaynst a mercilesse and +vnpitifull people. Semblably, we pray you to be modest of woords, +pacient to suffer, and ware in your forme of lyfe. For a great fault it +is, and no lesse shame to a Gouerner, that he prayse the people of his +common wealth, and gyue them occasion to speake euill of him: and +therefore they which haue charge of the common wealth, ought rather to +repose trust in their workes, than in theyr woords, for so mutch as the +Citizens or common people, do rather fixe theyr iudgement vpon that +which they see, than on that which they heare. I would wysh that +(touching the affayres appertinent to the Senate) they might not know in +you any sparke of ambicion, malice, deceipte, or enuy, to the intent +that the iust men might not so mutch complain of the commaunding of the +common wealth, as vpon the entertainment and profite of the same. The +Empire of the Greeks putting theyr felicity in eloquence, and we in well +doing. I speake this (ryght honorable Fathers) to Counsell and +Exhorte ye, that when ye be assembled in Senate, ye do not consume tyme +in dysputing and holding opinions for the verification of any thynge. +For if you will iudge wythout parciality and affection without great +disputation, ye may come to reason. I do remember that being at a +lesson of Appolonius Thianeus, I heard him say that it was not so +expedient that Senators and Emperors should be skilful and wyse, as if +they suffred themselues to bee gouerned by those that were of great +experience and knowledg: and verely he said truth: for by that meanes he +prohibited and forbad them, not to arrest and stand vpon their owne +opinion, whereof they ought to be many times suspicious. Lykewyse we +recommend vnto you the censores, who haue charge of Iudgement, and the +Tribunes, whose office is to attende the affrayes of Common Wealthe, +that they bee wyse and learned in the Lawes, expert in the Customes, +prouident in Iudgementes, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page295" id = "page295">295</a></span> +ware in theyr trade of lyfe: for I say vnto you, that a wyse man is more +availeable in gouernement of a common wealth, than a man of ouermutch +skyll and experyence. The forme then whych ye shal obserue in matters of +Iudgement shall be thus: that in ciuile processe you keepe the law, and +in criminall causes to moderate the same, bicause haynous, cruell, and +rigorous lawes be rather made to amaze and feare, than to be obserued +and kept. When you giue any sentence, ye ought to consider the age of +the offendaunt, when, how, wherefore, with whome, in whose presence, in +what time, and how longe ago, forsomutch as euery of these thyngs may +eyther excuse or condempne: whych you ought to beare and vse towards +them in lyke sort as the gods towards vs, who giue vs better helpe and +succoure and correct vs lesse than we deserue. That consideration the +Iudges ought to haue, bycause the offenders doe rather trespasse the +Gods than men: if then they be forgiuen of the gods for offences whych +they commit, reason it is that we pardon faultes don by those rather +then by our selues. In like maner we commaund you, that if your enimies +do you any anoiance or iniury, not incontinently to take reuenge, but +rather to dissemble the same, bicause many wrongs be don in the world, +which were better to be dissembled than reuenged. Wherin ye shal haue +like regard, touching offices in the Senate and Common Wealth, that they +be not giuen to ambicious or couetous persons: for there is no Beaste in +the World so pestiferous and Venomous, to the Common Wealth, as the +Ambicious in commaunding, and the couetous in gathering togither. Other +things we let passe for this tyme, vntil we haue intelligence howe these +our commaundements be fulfilled. This Letter shal be red in the chyefest +place within the Senate, and afterwards pronounced to the people, that +they may both know what yee commaunde, and see also what ye doe. The +Gods keepe you, whome we pray to preserue our mother the City of Rome, +and to send vs good successe in these our Warres.</p> + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page296" id = "page296">296</a></span> +<p class = "summary"> +A notable Letter sent from the Romane Senate to the Emperour Traiane, +where in is declared how sometimes the region of Spayne did furnish Rome +wyth golde from their Mines, and now do adorne and garnish the same with +Emperours to gouerne their Common wealth.</p> + +<p><span class = "firstword">The</span> sacred Romane Senate, to thee +the great Cocceius Traiane new Emperour Augustus, health in thy gods and +ours, graces euerlastyng wee render to the immortall Gods, for that thou +art in health, which wee desyre and pray may be perpetual. We signified +vnto thy maiesty the death of Nerua Cocceius, our soueraigne Lord, and +thy predecessor, a man of sincere lyfe, a fryend of his Common +Wealth, and a zealous louer of Iustice, wherein also we aduertised, that +like as Rome did weepe for the cruell lyfe of Domitian, so mutch the +more bitterly doth she bewayle the death of thine vncle Nerua, whose +councel (although hee was very olde and diseased) which he gaue vs +lyinge on his Bedde, we loued better, and imbraced with greater +comforte, than all the enterpryses and deedes don by his predecessors, +when they were in health and lusty: and besides the ordinary mourning +vsed to bee done in Rome for Prynces, wee haue caused all recreation and +pastime to cease, so wel in the common wealth as with euery of vs +particularly. We haue shut vp the Temples and made the Senate +vnderstand, how displeasantly we accept the death of good men. The good +old gentleman Nerua dyed in hys house, and was buried in the fielde of +Mars: he died in debte, and we haue payd hys debtes: he dyed callyng +vppon the Gods, and we haue canonized him amongs theyr numbre, and that +which is most to be noted, hee died commending vnto vs the common +wealth, and the Common wealth recommending it self vnto him: and a +little before his latter gaspe, to the principall of the holy Senate, +and many other of the people, standing about his bedside, he sayde: +“O ye fathers, I committe vnto you the common wealth and my +selfe also vnto the Gods: vnto whom I render infinite thankes, bicause +they haue taken from me my children, to bee mine heires and haue lefte +mee Traiane to succede.” You do remembre (most +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page297" id = "page297">297</a></span> +dread soueraign lord) that the good Empereour Nerua had other +successours than your maiesty, of nearer alyance, of greater frendship +more bound by seruice, and of greater proofe in warfare: notwithstandyng +amongs other noble personages, vpon you alone he cast his eyes, +reposinge in you such opinyon and confidence, as to reuiue the prowes +and valyaunt facts of the good Emperor Augustus, he suppressed in +oblivion the insolent facts of Domitian. When Nerua came vnto the +Crowne, he found the treasure pilled, the Senate in dissentyon, the +people in commotion, Iustice not obserued, and the Common wealth +ouerthrowen: which you likewyse presentlye shall finde, although +otherwyse quiet and wholy reformed: wherfore we shalbe right glad, that +you conserue the Common wealth in the state wherin your vncle Nerua left +it, consideryng specially that new Prynces vnder colour to introduce new +customs, do ouerthrow their common Wealths: fourtene Prynces your +predecessours in the Empyre were naturally borne in Rome, and you are +the firste straunger Prynce. Wherefore we pray the immortall Gods, (sith +that the stocke of our auncient Cæsars is dead) to send thee good +Fortune. Out of the countrey of Spaine was wont to come to this our +Romane city great abundance of gold, siluer, steele, leade, and tinne, +from theyr mines: but now in place thereof, she giueth vs Emperours to +gouern our common wealths: sith then that thou commest of so good a +countrey as Spayne is, from so good a Prouince as is Vandolosia, and +from so excellent a citty as Cales is, of so noble and fortunate a +Linage as is Cocceius, and aduaunced to so noble an Empire, it is to be +supposed that thou wilt proue good and not euil: 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 doe: reason it is that we write to you agayne what you ought +to foresee: and sith you haue tolde vs, and taught vs to obey you, meete +it is that we may know what your pleasure is to commaunde: for that +(it may come to passe) that as you haue bene brought vp in Spayne, +and of longe time bene absent from Rome, through followinge the Warres, +that not knowing the lawes whereunto we are sworn, and the customes +which we haue in Rome, yee commaunde some thinge +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page298" id = "page298">298</a></span> +that may redound to our damage, and to your dishonor: and therefore we +accoumpt it reason that your Maiesty bee aduertised hereof, and the same +preuented, for so much as Princes oftentimes be negligent of many +things, not for that they wil not foresee the same, but rather for want +of one that dare tell them what they ought to doe: and therefore we +humbly beseech your most excellent maiesty, to extende and shewe forth +your wisedome and prudence, for that the Romanes hearts bene drawen and +made pliant rather by fauourable diligence, than by prouoked force. +Touchinge 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 +magnanimity, valiaunce, and felicity, if he do not vse and maintayne +Iustice, ought not for any other merite to be praysed and commended. +Semblably we make our humble Petition, that those commaundements which +you shal send and require to be put in execution, be thoroughly +established and obserued: for the goodnesse of the lawe doth not consist +in the ordinaunce, but in the fulfilling and acomplishement of the same: +wee will not also omit to say vnto you (most famous Prince) that you +must haue pacience to suffer the importunate, and to dissemble with the +offenders: for that it is the deede of a Prince to chastise and punishe +the wrongs done in a common wealth, and to pardon the disobedience done +vnto him. You send vs word by your letters that you wil not come to +Rome, vntyll you haue finished the Germaine Warres: whych seemeth vnto +vs to be the determination of a vertuous and right noble Emperour, for +so mutch as good Princes such as you be, oughte not to desire and chose +places of delite and recreation, but rather to seke and win renowne and +fame. You commaunde vs also to haue regarde to the veneration of the +Temples, and to the seruice of the Gods: whych request is iuste, but +very iuste it were and meete that your selfe should doe the same: for +our seruice would little preuaile, if you should displease them. You wil +vs also one to loue an other, whych is the counsel of a holy and +peaceable Prince: but know ye that wee shal not be able to doe the same, +if you wil not loue and intreat vs all in equall and indifferent sorte: +for Prynces chearyshinge and louing some aboue the rest, do raise +slanders +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page299" id = "page299">299</a></span> +and grudges amongs the people: you likewise recommend vnto vs, the poore +and the widowes: wherin we thinke that you ought to commaund the +Collecters of your Tributes, that they do not grieue, when they gather +your ryghtes and customes: for greater sinne it is to spoyle and pill +the needy sort, than meritorious to succour and relieue them. Likewise +you do persuade vs to be quiet and circumspect in our affayres, which is +a persuasion resembling the nature of a worthye Prynce and also of a +pitifull father. In semblable maner you require vs not to be +opinionatiue and wilfull in the Senate, ne affectionate to self wil +whych shal be done accordingly as you commaund, and accept it as you +say: but therwithall you ought to think that in graue and wayghty +matters, the more depely things be debated, the better they shall be +prouided and decreed: you bid vs also to beware, the Censores be honest +of lyfe 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 hede +to them whom you shal name and appoint to those offices: for if you do +chose such as they ought to be, no cause shal rise to reprehend them. +Item wher 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 do draw them awaye from vs, and cal them to the Almayne warres, +for as you do knowe (right souerain prince) that when the publike welth +is exempt, and voyd of enimies, then the same wil begin to bee +replenyshed wyth youthfull vices. Notwithstanding when the warres bee +farre of from Rome, then the same to them is profitable, bicause there +is nothing which better cleanseth common wealths from wicked people, +than warres in straunge Countries. Concernyng other things which you +write vnto vs nedefull it is not now to recite them, but onely to see +them kept: for truely they seeme rather to be the lawes of God Apollo +him selfe, than counsels of a Mortall man. The gods preserue your +Maiesty, and graunt you good successe in those your warres.</p> + +<p>These Letters and Epistles, although besides the Scope and Nature of +a Nouell, yet so worthy to be read and practysed, as no History or other +mortall Precepte more: expressing the great care of a maister +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page300" id = "page300">300</a></span> +towards his scholler, that he should proue no worse being an emperor, +than he shewed hymselfe diligent when he was a Scholer: fearing that if +he should gouerne contrary to his expectation, or degenerate from the +good institution, whych in hys yong yeares hee imbraced, that the blame +and slaunder should rest in hymselfe: that was his tutor and bringer vp. +O careful Plutarch, O most happy maister, as well for thine +owne industry, as for the good successe of such a Scholer: and O most +fortunate and vertuous Emperor, that could so wel brooke and digest the +blissed persuasions of sutch a maister, whose mind wyth the blast of +promotion, was not so swolne and puffed, but that it vouchsafed to cal +him father and maister, stil crauing for in instigation of reproofe, +when he slid or slypped from the path of reason and duety. And happy +Counsel and Senate that could so wel like and practyse the documents of +such an Emperour.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page301" id = "page301">301</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_13" id = "novel2_13"> +THE THIRTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A notable History of three amorous Gentlewomen, called Lamia, Flora, and +Lais: conteyning the sutes of noble Princes and other great Personages +made vnto them, with their answeres to diuers demaundes: and the manner +of their death and funerals.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Leauynge</span> now our morall discourse of +a carefull Mayster, of a prouydent Scholer, of a vertuous Emperoure, of +a sacred Senate, and vniforme magistery, returne we to the setting forth +and description of three arrant honest Women, which for lewdnesse wer +famous, and for wicked Lyfe worthy to be noted with a blacke coale, or +rather their memory raked in the Dust and Cinders of their Corpses +vnpure. But as all histories be ful of lessons of vertue and vice, as +Bookes, sacred and prophane, describe the liues of good and bad for +example sake, to yelde meanes to the posterity, to ensue the one and +eschue the other, so haue I thought to intermingle amongest these Nouels +the seuerall sortes of either, that ech Sexe and Kinde may pike out like +the Bee, of ech Floure, Honny, to store and furnishe with delightes +their well disposed myndes. I purpose, then, to vnlace the +dissolute lyues of three Amorouse Dames, that with their graces allured +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 appeare. These three +famous Women, (as Writers do witnesse) were furnished with many +goodly graces and giftes of nature: that is to say, great beautye of +face, goodly proporcion of body, large and high foreheades, theyr +breastes placed in comely order, smal wasted, fayre handes of passing +cunning to play vpon Instruments, a heauenly voice to fayne and +sing: briefly, their qualities and beauty were more famous than euer any +that were born within the Countries of Asia and Europa. They were neuer +beloued of Prince that did forsake them, nor yet they made request of +any thing which was denied them: they neuer mocked or flowted man +(a thing rare in women of theyr condition) ne yet were mocked of +any: but theyr specyal propreties wer to allure men to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page302" id = "page302">302</a></span> +loue them: Lamia wyth hir pleasaunt loke and eye, Flora with hir +eloquent tongue, and Lais wyth the grace and sweetenesse of hir singing +voyce: a straunge thinge that he which once was surprysed wyth the +loue of any of those three, eyther to late or neuer was delyuered of the +same. They were the richest courtizans that euer lyued in the worlde, so +long as theyr life did last, and after theyr decease, great monumentes +were erected for theyr remembraunce, in place where they died. The most +auncient of these three Amorous dames was Lamia, who was in the tyme of +King Antigonus, that warfared in the seruice of Alexander the Great, +a valyant gentleman, although not fauored by Fortune. Thys kynge +Antigonus left behynde hym a sonne and heyre called Demetrius, who was +lesse valyaunt, but more fortunate than his father, and had bene a +Prynce of greate estimation, if in hys youthe hee had acquyred frendes, +and kept the same, and in hys age had not ben gyuen to so many vices. +Thys King Demetrius was in loue with Lamia, and presented hir wyth rich +giftes and rewardes, and loued hir so affectionately, and in sutch sort, +as in the loue of his Lamia he semed rather a fole than a true louer: +for, forgetting the grauity and authoritye of his person, hee dyd not +onelye gyue hir all such things as she demaunded, but besides that hee +vsed no more the company of his wyfe Euxonia. On a tyme Kyng Demetrius +asking Lamia what was the thing wherewyth a woman was sonest wonne? +“There is nothing,” answered shee, “whych sooner ouercommeth a Woman, +than when she seeth a man to loue hir with al hys hart, and to susteyne +for hir sake greate paynes and passyons wyth long continuance and entier +affection, for to love men by collusion, causeth afterwards that they be +mocked.” Agayn, Demetrius asked hir further: “Tell me, Lamia, why doe +diuerse Women rather hate than loue men?” Whereunto she answered: “The +greatest cause why a Woman doth hate a man, is, when the man doth vaunt +and boast himselfe of that which he doth not, and performeth not the +thing which he promiseth.” Demetrius demaunded of her: “Tell me, Lamia, +what is the thing wherewith men doe content you best?”—“When wee +see him,” sayde she, “to be dyscrete in wordes, and secrete in his +dedes.” Demetrius asked hir further: “Tell me, Lamia, how chaunceth it +that men +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page303" id = "page303">303</a></span> +be ill matched?” “Bycause,” answered Lamia, “it is impossible that they +be well maryed, when the wife is in neede, and the husbande vndiscrete.” +Demetrius asked hir what was the cause that amitye betwene <ins class = +"correction" title = "error for ‘two’">lwo</ins> louers was broken? +“There 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 thinge that moste tormenteth the louing man?” “Not to +attayne the thing which he desireth,” answered she, “and thinketh to +lose the thing whych he hopeth to enioy.” Demetrius yet once agayne +asked hir thys question: “What is that, Lamia, which most troubleth a +Woman’s hart?” “There is nothing,” answered Lamia, “wherwith a woman is +more grieued, and maketh hir more sad, than to be called ill fauored, or +that she hath no good grace, or to vnderstand that she is dissolute of +lyfe.” This lady Lamia was of iudgement delicate and subtyll, although +il imployed in hir, and thereby made al the world in loue with hir, and +drew al men to hir through hir fayre speach. Now, before she lost the +heart of Kyng Demetrius, shee haunted of long time the vniuersities of +Athenes, where she gayned great store of money, and brought to +destructyon many young men. Plutarch, in the lyfe of Demetrius, saith, +That the Atheniens hauing presented vnto him <span class = +"smallroman">XII. C.</span> talents of +money for a subsidie to pay his men of warre, he gaue al that summe to +his woman Lamia: by meanes whereof the Atheniens grudged, and were +offended wyth the kyng, not for the losse of their gift, but for that it +was so euil employed. When the King Demetrius would assure any thynge by +oth, hee swore not by his gods, ne yet by his predecessors, but in this +sort: “As I may be styll in the grace of my lady Lamia, and as hir lyfe +and mine may ende together, so true is this which I say and do, in this +and thys sort.” One yere and two Moneths before the Death of King +Demetrius, his frend Lamia died, who sorowed so mutch hir death, as for +the absence and death of hir, he caused the Phylosophers of Athens to +entre in this Disputation, Whether the teares and sorow whiche he shed +and toke for her sake, were more to be estemed than the riches which he +spent in her obsequies and funerall pompes. This Amorous gentlewoman +Lamia, was borne +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page304" id = "page304">304</a></span> +in Argos, a City of Peloponnesus, besides Athenes, of base +parentage, who in hir first yeares haunted the countrey of Asia Maior, +of very wyld and dissolute lyfe, and in the ende came into Phænicia. And +when the Kyng Demetrius had caused hir to be buried beefore hys +chamber-window, hys chiefest frendes asked him, wherefore hee had +entoomed hir in that place? his aunswere was this: “I loued hir so +wel, and she likewyse me so hartyly, as I know not which way to satisfie +the loue which she bare me, and the duety I haue to loue her agayne, if +not to put hir in such place as myne eyes maye wepe euery day and mine +hart still lament.” Truely this loue was straung, which so mighty a +Monarch as Demetrius was, did beare vnto such a notable curtizan, +a woman vtterly void of grace, barren of good workes, and without +any zeale or spark of vertue, as it should appeare. But sith we read and +know that none are more giuen or bent to vnreasonable loue, than mighty +Princes, what should it bee demed straung and maruellous, if Demetrius +amongs the rest do come in place for the loue of that most famous woman, +if Fame may stretch to eyther sorts, both good and euill? But let vs +come to the second infamous gentlewoman, called Lais. She was of the +isle of Bithritos, which is in the confines of Græcia, and was the +daughter of the great Sacrificer of Apollo his temple at Delphos, +a man greatly experienced in the magike art, wherby he prophecyed +the perdition of his daughter. Now this amorous Lias was in triumph in +the time of the renowmed King Pyrrhus, a Prince very ambitious to +acquire honor, but not very happy to keepe it, who being yonge of +sixteene or seuenteene yeares, came into Italy to make warres against +the Romains: he was the first (as some say) that aranged a camp in +ordre, and made the Phalanx, the mayne square and battell: for before +hys time, when they came to entre battell, they assailed confusedly and +out of array gaue the onset. This amorous Lias continued long time in +the campe of Kynge Pyrrhus, and went wyth hym into Italy, and wyth him +retourned from warre agayne, and yet hir nature was sutch, as shee +woulde neuer bee mainteined wyth one man alone. The same Lias was so +amorous in her conuersatyon, so excellent fayre, and of so comely grace, +that if shee would haue kept hir selfe faythfull to one Lorde or +gentleman, there +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page305" id = "page305">305</a></span> +was no prynce in the world but if he would haue yelded himselfe and all +that he had at hir commaundement. Lias, from hir retourne out of Italy +into Greece, repayred to the citye of Corinth, to make hir abode there, +where she was pursued by many kings, lordes, and prynces. Aulus Gellius +saith (which I haue recited in my former part of the Pallace of +pleasure, the fiftenth Noeuill,) that the good Philosopher, Demosthenes, +went from Athens to Corinth, in disguised apparell, to see Lais, and to +haue hir company, But before the dore was opened, she sent one to +demaunde <span class = "smallroman">.XII.</span> C. Sestercios of +siluer: whereunto Demosthenes +answered: “I buy not repentance so deere.” And I beleue that +Demosthenes spake those wordes by folowyng the sentence of Diogenes, who +sayeth, that euery beast after such acte is heauy and sad. Som wryters +affirme of this Amorous Lais, that thing whych I neuer reade or hearde +of Woman: whych is, that shee neuer shewed signe or token of loue to +that man whych was desyrous to doe her seruice: nor was neuer hated of +man that knew her. Whereby we may comprehend the happe and fortune of +that amorous Woman. Shee neuer shewed semblance of great loue to any +person, and yet shee was beloued of all. If the amorous Lamia had a good +Spirite and mynde, Lais truely had no lesse. For in the art of loue she +exceeded all other women of hir detestable Arte and Scyence, as well in +Knowledge of Loue as to profite in the same. Vppon a Daye a Younge Man +of Corinth demaundying of hir, what hee shoulde say to a Woman whome hee +long tyme had loued, and made so greate sute, that thereby he was like +to fal into dispayre. “Thou shalt say,” (sayd Lais) “vnto hir, that sith +she wyl not graunt thy request, yet at least wyse it myght please hir to +suffer thee to bee hir seruant, and that shee would take in good parte +the Seruice that thou shalt doe vnto hir. Whych requeste if shee doe +graunte, then hope to attayne the ende of thy attempte, bycause wee +Women bee of such nature, as opening our mouthes to gyue some mylde and +pleasant answere to the amorous person, it is to bee thoughte that wee +haue gyuen our heart vnto hym.” An other Daye, in the presence of Lias, +one praysed the Phylosophers of Athens, saying, that they were very +honest personages, and of great learnynge. Whereunto Lais aunswered: +“I can not tell what great knowledg they haue, nor what science +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page306" id = "page306">306</a></span> +they studye, ne yet what bookes youre Philosophers doe reade, but thys I +am sure, that to me beynge a woman and neuer was at Athenes, I see +them repayre, and of Philosophers beecome amorous persons.” +A Theban knighte demaunded of Lais, what he might doe to enioy a +ladye wyth whose loue hee should bee surprised: Shee aunswered thus. +“A man that is desirous of a woman, must folow his sute, serue hir, +and suffer hir and somtymes to seeme as though he had forgotten hir. For +after that a womans heart is moued to loue, she regardeth more the +forgetfulnesse and negligence vsed towards hir, than she doth the +seruice done before.” An other Gentleman of Achaia asked hir what he +shoulde doe to a woman, whom he suspected that she had falsified hir +fayth<ins class = "addition" title = "period (full stop) missing">.</ins> +Lais aunswered, “make hir beleue that thou thinkest she +is very faythful and take from hir the occasions wherby shee hath good +cause to be vnfaythful: For if she do perceiue that thou knowest it, and +dissemblest the matter, she wyll sooner dye than amende.” +A gentleman of Palestine at another time inquired of hir what hee +should doe to a Woman whych he serued, and did not esteeme the seruyce +done vnto hir, ne yet gaue him thankes for the loue which hee bare hir. +Lais sayed vnto him: “If thou be disposed to serue hir no longer, let +hir not perceiue that thou hast gyuen hir ouer. For naturally we women +be tendre in loue, and hard in hatred.” Beyng demaunded by one of hir +Neyghbours what shee shoulde doe to make hir Daughter very wyse. “Shee” +(sayde Lais) “that wyll haue hir Daughter to bee good and honest, must +from her youth learne hir to feare, and in going abrode to haunte litle +company, and that she be shamefast and moderate in hir talke.” An other +of hir neighbors inquyryng of hir what shee myght doe to hir daughter +whych began to haue delyght to rome in the fieldes and wander abroade. +“The remedy” (sayde Lais) “that I finde for your daughter disposed to +that condition, is, not to suffer hir to be ydle, ne yet to be braue and +sumptuous in apparel.” This amorous gentlewoman Lais, dyed in the Citye +of Corinth, of the age of .l<span class = "smallroman">XXII.</span> +Yeares, whose death was of many matrones desired and of a great numbre +of amorous persones lamented. The thyrd amorous gentlewoman was called +Flora, which was not so auncient, ne yet of so greate renoume as Lamia +and Lais +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page307" id = "page307">307</a></span> +were, whose country also was not so famous<ins class = "correction" +title = ", for .">, </ins>For she was of Italy, and the other two of +Grecia, and although that Lamia and Lais exceded Flora in antiquity, yet +Flora surmounted them in lineage and generositie. For Flora was of noble +house, although in life lesse than chast. She was of the country of Nola +in Campania, issued of certayne Romans, Knights very famous in facts of +Armes and of great industrie and gouernement in the common wealth. When +the Father and mother of this Flora deceased, she was of the age of +<span class = "smallroman">XV.</span> yeares, indued with great riches +and singular beauty, and the very orphane of all hir kynne. For shee had +neyther brother lefte wyth whom shee myght soiourne, ne yet vncle to +gyue her good counsell. In such wyse that lyke as this young maistres +Flora had youthe, riches, lyberty and beauty, euen so there wanted +neyther baudes nor Pandores to entyce hir to fal, and allure hir to +folly. Flora seeing hir self beset in this wise, she determined to goe +into the Affrick warres, where she hazarded both in hir person and hir +honor. This dame florished and tryumphed in the tyme of the firste +Punique warres, when the Consul Mamillus was sent to Carthage, who +dispended more Money vpon the loue of Flora, than hee did vpon the chase +and pursute of his enimies. This amorous lady Flora had a writyng and +tytle fixed vpon hir gate, the effect wherof was this: <i>King, Prince, +Dictator, Consul, Censor, high Bishop, and Questor may knocke and come +in.</i> In that writyng Flora named neither emperor nor Cæsar, bycause +those two most Noble names were long tyme after created by the Romanes. +Thys Amorous Flora woulde neuer abandon hir Person, but wyth Gentlemen +of Noble House, or of greate Dygnitye and Ryches. For shee was wonte to +say that a Woman of passinge Beauty shoulde be so mutch esteemed as shee +doth esteeme and sette by hir selfe. Lias and Flora were of contrary +maners and conditions. For Lias would first bee payde, before shee +yelded the vse of hir bodye: but Flora wythout any semblance of desire +eyther of golde or siluer was contented to bee ruled by those with whom +shee committed the facte. Wherof vppon a day being demaunded the +question, she answered: “I gyue my body to prynces and noble +Barons, that they may deale with mee lyke Gentlemen. For I +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page308" id = "page308">308</a></span> +sweare vnto you by the Goddesse Venus, that neuer man gaue me so little, +but that I had more than I looked for, and the double of that which I +could demaund.” This Amorous lady Flora was wont many times to saye, +that a wise woman (or more aptly to terme her a subtyll Wench) +oughte not to demaund reward of her louer for the acceptable pleasure +which she doth hym but rather for the loue whych she beareth him, +bycause that al thinges in the world haue a certayn pryce, except loue, +which cannot bee payde or recompenced but wyth loue. All the Ambassadors +of the worlde, whych had accesse into Italy, made so greate reporte of +the Beauty and Generositie of Flora, as they dyd of the Romane common +wealth, bycause it seemed to bee a Monstrous thynge to see the Ryches of +hir house, hir trayne, hir beauty the princes and great lordes by whom +she was required, and the presents and giftes that were gyuen vnto hir. +This Amorous Flora had a continual regard to the noble house whereof +shee came touchyng the magnyficence and state of her seruyce. For albeit +that she was but a common woman, yet she was serued and honored lyke a +great lady. That day wherein she rode about the city of Rome, she gaue +occasion to be spoken of a whole month after, one inquirynge of an other +what great Romaine lords they were that kepte her company? Whose men +they were that waighted vpon her? And whose liuery they ware. What +Ladies they wer that rode in her trayne. The brauery of hir apparell, +hir great beauty and port, and the wordes spoken by the amorous +gentlemen in that troupe were not vnremembred. When this maistres Flora +waxed old, a yong and beautifull gentleman of Corinth, demaunded +her to wyfe, to whom she answered: “I know well that thou wilt not +marie, the three score yeares whych Flora hath, but rather thou desirest +to haue the twelue hundred thousand Sestercios which she hath in hir +Coffres. Content thy selfe therefore, my frende, and get thee home +agayne to Corinth from whence thou comest. For to sutch as be of myne +age great honor is borne, and reuerence done for the riches and wealth +they haue, rather than for mariage.” There was neuer in the Romane +Empyre, the lyke amorous woman that Flora was, indued wyth so many +graces and Queenelyke +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page309" id = "page309">309</a></span> +qualities, for shee was of noble house, of singuler beauty, of comely +personage, discrete in hir affayres, and besides al other comly +qualyties, very lyberall. This maistres Flora spent the most part of hir +youth in Affrica, Almayne and Gallia Transalpina. And albeit that she +would not suffre anye other but great lords to haue possession of hir +body, yet she applyed hir selfe to the spoile of those that were in +place, and to the praye of those that came from the warres. This amorous +Flora died when she was of the age of <span class = "smallroman">LXXV.</span> +yeares. She left for the principal heire of all hir goods and +Iuells<ins class = "correction" title = ". for ,">. </ins>the Romain +people, which was estemed sufficient and able to +make newe the Walles of Rome, and to raunsome and +redeme the common Wealth of the same. And bycause that shee was a +Romaine, and had made the state therefore hir heyre, the Romaines +builded in hir honor a sumptuous Temple, whych in memorye of <ins class += "correction" title = "error for ‘Flora’">Fora</ins> was called +Florianum: and euery yeare in the memorye of hir, they celebrated hir +feast vppon the day of hir death: Suetonius Tranquillus sayeth, that the +first feaste which the Emperour Galba the second celebrated wyth in +Rome, was the feast of the amorous Flora, vpon whych daye it was lawful +for men and women, to doe what kynd of dishonesty they could deuise. And +she was estemed to be the greater saint which that day shewed her selfe +moste dissolute and wanton. And bicause that the temple Florianum, was +dedycated to amorous Flora, the Romanes had an opinion, that al women +which vpon the same day repayred to the Temple in whorish apparell, +should haue the graces and giftes that Flora had. These were the fond +opinions and maners of the auncient, which after their owne makinge and +deuises framed Gods and Goddesses, and bycause she proued vnshamefast +and rich, a Temple must bee erected, and Sacrifices ordayned for +hir Whorish triumphes. But that noble men and Kings haue bene rapt and +transported with the lurements of sutch notorious strumpets, is and hath +bene common in all ages. And commonly sutch infamous women be indewed +with greatest gifts and graces, the rather to noosell and dandle their +fauorers in the laps of their fadinge pleasures. But euery of them a +most speciall grace, aboue the rest. As of a Kyng not lot long agoe we +reade, that kept +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page310" id = "page310">310</a></span> +three, one the holiest, another the craftiest, and the third the +meriest. Two of which properties meete for honest Women: although the +third so incident to that kinde as heat to a liuinge body. Cease wee +then of this kynde, and let vs step forth to be acquaynted with a lady +and a Queene the Godlyest and stoutest, that is remembred in any +auncient Monument or Hystory.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page311" id = "page311">311</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_14" id = "novel2_14"> +THE FOURTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The lyfe and giftes of the most Famous Queene Zenobia with the letters +of the Emperour Avrelianvs to the sayde Queene, and her stoute aunswere +thereunto.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Zenobia</span> Queene of Palmyres, was a +right famous Gentlewoman, as diuerse Hystoriographers largely do report +and write. Who although shee was no Christian Lady, yet so worthy of +Imitation, as she was for hir vertues and heroycall facts of Immortall +prayse. By hir wysedome and stoutnesse she subdued all the empire of the +Orient, and resisted the inuincible Romans. And for that it is meete and +requisite to alleage and aduouch reasons by weight, and words by +measure, I wil orderly begin to recite the History of that most +famous Queene. Wherefore I say, that about the .284. Olimpiade, no long +tyme after the death of the vnhappy Emperour Decius, Valerian was chosen +Emperour by the Senate, and (as Trebellius Pollio his Hystorian +doth describe) he was a well learned prince, indued with manyfold +vertues, that for his speciall prayse, these wordes be recorded of him. +<i>If all the World had bene assembled to chose a good Prince, they +would not haue chosen any other but good Valerian.</i> It is also +written of hym, that in liberality he was noble, in words true, in talke +wary, in promise constant, to his frends familiar, and to his enemies +seuere, and which is more to be esteemed, he could not forget seruice, +nor yet reuenge wronge. It came to passe that in the <span class = +"smallroman">XIV.</span> yeare of his raygne, there rose sutch cruell +Warres in Asia, that forced he was to go thither in his owne person, to +resist Sapor king of the Persians, a very valyaunt man of Warre and +fortunate in his enterprises, which happinesse of hys not long time +after the arryuall of Valerian into Asia, hee manifested and shewed. For +beeyng betwene them such hot and cruell warres, in a skyrmish, throughe +the greate faulte of the General, (which had the conduct of the armye) +the Emperour Valerian was taken, and brought into the puissance of King +Sapor hys ennimy, whych cursed tyrant so wickedlye vsed that victory, as +hee woulde by no meanes put the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page312" id = "page312">312</a></span> +Emperour to raunsome, towards whom hee vsed such cruelty, that so oft +and so many tymes, as hee was disposed to gette vp on horsebacke hee +vsed the body of olde Valerian to serue hym for aduauntage, setting his +feete vppon the throate of that aged gentleman. In that myserable office +and vnhappy captiuity serued and dyed the good Emperour Valerian, not +wyth oute the greate sorrowe of them that knew him, and the rueful +compassion of those that sawe him, which the Romans considering, and +that neither by offre of gold, or siluer, or other meanes, they were +able to redeeme Valerian, they determined to choose for Emperour his +owne sonne called Galienus: which they did more for respect of the +father, than for any minde or corage they knew to bee in the sonne. Who +afterwardes shewed himselfe to bee farre different from the conditions +of his father Valerian, being in his enterprises a cowarde, in his +promisses a lyer, in correction cruell, towards them that serued him +vnthanckfull, (and which is worse,) hee gaue himselfe to his desires, +and yealded place to sensuality. By meanes wherof, in his tyme the +Romain Empyre more than in any others raygne, lost most prouinces and +receiued greatest shame. In factes of warre he was a cowarde, and in +gouernement of common wealth, a very weake and feeble man. Galienus +not caryng for the state of the Empire, became so myserable as the +Gouernors of the same gaue ouer their obedience, and in the tyme of hys +raygne, there rose vp thyrty tyrants, whych vsurped the same. Whose +names doe followe, Cyriades, Posthumus the yonger, Lollius, Victorinus, +Marius, Ingenuus, Regillianus, Aureolus, Macrianus, Machianus the +younger, Quietus, Odenatus, Herodes, Mœnius Ballista, Valens, Piso +Emilianus, Staturnius, Tetricus, Etricus the younger, Trebelianus, +Heremianus, Timolaus, Celsus, Titus, Censorinus, Claudius, Aurelius, and +Quintillus, of whom <span class = "smallroman">XVIII</span>, were +captaynes and seruiters vnder the good Emperour Valerian. Sutch delight +had the Romanes, in that auncient world, to haue good Captaynes, as were +able to bee preferred to be Emperours. Nowe in that tyme the Romanes had +for their Captayne generall, a knight called Odenatus, the Prynce +of Palmerines, a man truely of great vertue, and of passinge +industry and hardinesse in facts of warre. This Captayne Odenatus maried +a +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page313" id = "page313">313</a></span> +woman that descended of the auncient linage of the Ptolomes, <ins class += "addition" title = "s invisible">t</ins>ometymes Kinges of Ægypt, +named Zenobia, which (if the historians do not deceiue vs) was +one of the most famous Women of the Worlde. Shee had the heart of +Alexander the great, shee possessed the riches of Cræsus, the diligence +of Pyrrhus, the trauel of Haniball, the warie foresighte of Marcellus, +and the Iustice of Traiane. When Zenobia was married to Odenatus, she +had by hir other husband, a sonne called Herodes, and by Odenatus +shee had two other, whereof the one was called Hyeronianus, and the +other Ptolemus. And when the Emperour Valerian was vanquyshed and taken, +Odenatus was not then in the Campe. For as all men thought, if he had +ben there, they had not receyued so greate an ouerthrow. So sone as good +Odenatus was aduertized of the defaict of Valerian, in great haste he +marched to the Roman Campe, that then was in great disorder. Whych with +greate diligence hee reassembled, and reduced the same to order, and +(holpen by good Fortune,) wythin xxx. Dayes after hee recouered all that +whych Valerian had loste, makynge the Persian kyng to flee, by meanes +whereof, and for that Odenatus had taken charge of the army, hee wanne +amonges the Romanes great reputation, and truely not with out cause: For +if in that good time he had not receyued the charge the name and glory +of the Romanes had taken ende in Asia. Duryng all thys tyme Galienus, +lyued in hys delyghtes at Myllan, wythout care or thoughte of the Common +wealth, consumynge in his wylfull vices, the Money that was leuied for +the men of war. Whych was the cause that the gouernours of the +prouinces, and Captens general, seing him to be so vicious and +neglygent, vsurped the prouinces and armies which they had in charge. +Galienus voyde of all obedience sauing of the Italians and Lombards, the +first that rose vp against him were Posthumus in Fraunce, Lollians in +Spayne, Victorinus in Affrica, Marius in Britane, Ingenuus in Germanie, +Regillianus in Denmark, Aureolus in Hungarie, Macrianus in Mesopotamia, +and Odenatus, in Syria. Before Odenatus rose against Valerian, Macrianus +enioied Mesopotamia and the greatest part of Syria, whereof Odenatus +hauing intelligence, he marched with his power agaynst him and killed +him, and discomfited all his army. The death of the Tyran Macrian being +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page314" id = "page314">314</a></span> +knowen, and that Galienus was so vicious, the armies in Asia assembled +and chose Odenatus Emperour: which Election although the Senate +publickly durst not agree vpon, yet secretly they allowed it, bycause +they receyued dayly newes, of the great Exploytes and deedes of armes +done by Odenatus, and saw on the other side the great continued follies +of Galienus. Almost three yeares and a halfe was Odenatus Emperour and +Lord of all the Orient, duringe which time he recouered all the Lands +and Prouinces lost by Galienus, and payde the Romane army all the +arrerages of their wages due vnto them. But Fortune ful of inconstancy, +suffred not this good Prynce very long to raygne. For hauing in hys +house a kinsman of hys, named Meonius, to whom he bare great good will, +for that he sawe him to be a valiant man of warre, although Ignorant of +his Enuy and couetousnesse: it chaunced vpon a day as they two rode on +huntinge, and gallopinge after the pursute of a wylde Bore, with the +very same Bore Speare which Meonius caried to strike the beast, he +killed by treason his good Cousin Odenatus. But that murder was not long +time vnreuenged. For the Borespeare wherewith he had so cruelly killed +the Emperour his Cousin, was incontinently known by the hunters which +folowed Odenatus: whervpon that day the head of Meonius was striken of. +And Galienius vnderstandinge the death of Odenatus, gaue great rewardes +and presents to them that brought him the newes, beinge so ioyfull as +the Romans wer angry to vnderstand those pitiful tydings, bycause +through the good ordre which Odenatus vsed in Asia, they had great +tranquillity and peace throughout Europa. Now after the death of thys +good Emperour Odenatus, the Armies chose one of his two Sonnes to be +Emperour of the Orient: But for that he was younge, they chose Zenobia +to be Protector of hir sonne, and gouerner ouer the sayd Orient Empyre. +Who seeing that vpon the decease of Odenatus certayne of the East +Countries began to reuolt, shee determined to open hir Treasure, +ressemble hir men of Warre, and in hir owne person to march into the +fielde: where she did sutch notable enterprises, as shee appalled hir +enemies, and made the whole world to wonder. About the age of <span +class = "smallroman">.XXXV.</span> yeares Zenobia was widow, beinge the +Tutrix of hir children, Regent of an Empyre, and Captayne +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page315" id = "page315">315</a></span> +generall of the army. In which weighty charge she vsed hir selfe so +wisely and well, as shee acquired no lesse noble name in Asia, than +Queene Semiramis did in India. Zenobia was constant in that whych she +tooke in hand, true in words, liberall, mylde, and seuere where she +ought to be, discrete, graue, and secrete in her enterprises, albeit she +was ambicious. For, not content with hir title of Gouernesse, or Regent, +she wrote and caused her selfe to be called Empresse, she loued not to +ride vpon a Mule, or in a littor, but greatly esteemed to haue great +horse in hir stable and to learne to handle and ryde them. When Zenobia +went forth of hir Tent to see the order and gouernment of hir Campe, she +continually did put on her Armure, and was well guarded with a band of +men, so that of a woman, she cared but onely for the name, and in the +facts of Armes shee craued the title of valiaunt. The Captaynes of hir +Army, neuer gaue battell, or made assault, they neuer skyrmished or did +other enterprise of warre, but she was present in her owne person, and +attempted to shewe hirselfe more hardy than any of all the troupe, +a thinge almost incredible in that weake and feeble kinde. The sayd +noble Queene was of stature, bigge and well proporcioned, her eyes black +and quicke, hir forehead large, hir stomak and Breastes fayre and +vpright, her Face white, and ruddy, a little mouth, hir Teeth so +whyte, as they seemed like a rancke of white pearles, but aboue all +things she was of sutch excellent Spirit and courage, as shee was feared +for hir stoutnesse, and beloued for her beauty. And although Zenobia was +indued with so great beauty, liberality, riches, and puissaunce, yet she +was neuer stayned with the blemish of vnchaste lyfe, or wyth other +vanity: and as hir husband Odenatus was wont to say, that after shee +felt hir selfe wyth chylde, shee neuer suffred hym to come neare her, +(sutch was hir great Chastity) sayinge that Women ought to marry rather +for children than for pleasure. She was also excellently well learned in +the Greke and Latine tongue. Shee did neuer eate but one Meale a Day. +Hir talke was verye lyttle and rare. The Meate which shee vsed for hir +repaste, was either the hanch of a Wylde Bore, or else the syde of a +Deere. Shee could drinke no Wyne, nor abyde the sent thereof. But shee +was so curyous in good and perfect Waters, as shee would gyue so great +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page316" id = "page316">316</a></span> +a Pryce for that, as is ordinaryly gyuen for Wyne bee it neuer so +excellent. So soone as the Kinges of Ægypte of Persia, and the Greekes, +were aduertized of the death of Odenatus, they sent theyr Ambassadours +to Zenobia, aswell to visite and comfort hir, as to bee her confederats +and frendes. So much was she feared and redoubted for her rare vertues. +The affayres of Zenobia beinge in sutch estate in Asia, the Emperor +Galienus died in Lombardie, and the Romanes chose Aurelianus to bee +Emperour, who although he was of a base and obscure lineage, yet hee was +of a great valiance in factes of Armes. When Aurelianus was chosen +Emperour, he made great preparacion into Asia, to inferre warres vpon +Queene Zenobia, and in all hys tyme hee neuer attempted greater +enterprise for the Romanes. When hee was arryued in Asia, the Emperour +proceded agaynst the Queene, and shee as valiantly defended hir selfe, +continually being betwene them great Alarams and skirmishes. But as +Zenobia and hir people were of lesse trauell and of better skyl in +knowledge of the Country, so they did greater harme and more anoiance +vnto theyr Enimy, and thereof receiued lesser damage. The Emperour seing +that hee should haue mutch adoe to vanquishe Zenobia by armes, +determined to ouercome hir by gentle wordes and fayre promisses: for +which cause he wrote vnto hir a letter, the tenor whereof ensueth.</p> + +<p>Aurelianus Emperour of Rome and Lord of al Asia, to the right +honorable Zenobia sendeth greetyng. Although to such rebellyous Women as +thou art, it should seeme vncomely and not decente to make request, yet +if thou wylt seeke ayde of my mercy, and rendre thy selfe vnder myne +obedience, bee assured that I wyll doe thee honour, and geue pardon to +thy people. The Golde, Siluer, and other riches, within thy Pallace I am +content thou shalt enioy, together with the kingdome of Palmyres, which +thou mayest keepe duringe thy life, and leaue after thy death to whom +thou shalt think good, vpon condicion notwithstandinge, that thou +abandone all thine other Realmes and Countryes which thou haste in Asia, +and acknowledge Rome to be thy superior. Of thy vassalls, and subiectes +of Palmyres, we demaund none other obedience, but to be confederates and +frendes, so that thou breake vp thy Campe, wherewyth thou makest warre +in Asia, and disobeyest the city of Rome, wee will +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page317" id = "page317">317</a></span> +suffer thee to haue a certayne number of men of warre, so wel for the +tuicion of thy person, as for the defence of thy kingdome, and thy two +Children which thou haddest by thy husbande Odenatus. And he whom thou +louest best shal remayne with thee in Asia, and the other I will carry +with me to Rome, not as prisoner, but as hostage and pleadge from thee. +The prisoners which thou hast of ours, shalbe rendred in exchange for +those which we haue of thine, without raunsome of eyther parts<ins class += "addition" title = "period (full stop) invisible">.</ins> And by these +meanes thou shalt remayne honored in Asia, and I contented, will +retourne to Rome. The Gods be thy defence, and preserue our mother the +city of Rome from all vnhappy fortune.</p> + +<p>The Queene Zenobia hauinge reade the letter of the Emperour +Aurelianus, without feare of the contents, incontinently made sutch +aunswere as followeth.</p> + +<p>Zenobia Queene of Palmyres, and Lady of all Asia, and the kingdomes +thereof, to thee Aurelianus the Emperour, health, and consolation, +&c. That thou do intitle thy selfe with the Emperour of the Romanes +I doe agree, but to presume to name thy selfe lord of the East +kingdomes, I say therein thou doest offend. For thou knowest wel, +that I alone am Lady Regent of all the Orient, and the only dame and +maystresse of the same. Th’one part whereof descended vnto me by lawful +Inheritaunce from my predecessors, and the other part, I haue won +by my prowesse and deedes of armes. Thou sayest that if I rendre +obedience vnto thee, thou wilt do me great honor: To that I aunswere, +that it were a dishonest part of me, and a deede most vniust, that the +Gods hauing created Zenobia to commaund all Asia, she should now begyn +to bee slaue and thral vnto the city of Rome. Semblably, thou saiest +that thou wylt gyue and leaue me al the golde, siluer, and other ryches +whych I haue: Whereunto I aunswer, that it is a wycked, and fond +request, to dispose the goodes of another as they were thine owne. But +thine eyes shall neuer see it, ne yet thy handes shal touche it, but +rather I hope in the Gods aboue to bestow and crye a larges of that +which thou haste at Rome, before thou finger that whych I haue and +possesse in Asia. Truely Aurelianus, the warres which thou makest +agaynst me, and thy quarell, bee most vniuste beefore the supernall +Gods, and very vnreasonable +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page318" id = "page318">318</a></span> +before men, and I for my part if I haue entred or doe take armes, it is +but to defend my self and myne. Thy comming then into Asia is for none +other purpose, but to spoile and make hauocke of that which an other +hath. And think not that I am greatly afrayde of the name of Romane +Prynce, nor yet the power of thyne huge army. For if it bee in thy +handes to gyue battell, it belongeth onely to the gods to gyue eyther to +thee or me the victory. That I remaine in fielde it is to me greate +fame, but thou to fight with a widdowe, oughtest truelye to bee ashamed. +There be come vnto myne ayde and Campe the Persians, the Medes, the +Agamennonians, the Irenees, and the Syrians, and with them all the Gods +immortall, who be wont to chastice sutch proude princes as thou art, and +to helpe poore Widowes as I am. And if it so come to passe, that the +Gods doe permit and suffre my lucke to be sutch, as thou do bereue me of +lyfe and dispoyle me of goods, yet it will be bruted at Rome, and +published in Asia, that the wofull wight Zenobia, was ouerthrowne and +slayne, in defence of hir Patrimony, and for the conseruation of hir +husbande’s honor. Labor no more then Aurelianus, to flatter and pray me, +nor yet to threaten me: requere me no more to yeelde and become thy +prisoner, nor yet to surrender that which I haue: for by doinge that I +can, I accomplish that I ought. For it will be sayd and noysed +through the world, (may it so come to passe as Fortune do not fauor mee) +that if the Empresse Zenobia be captiue, she was not yet vanquished. Now +touchinge my son which thou demaundest to cary with thee to Rome, truely +that request I cannot abide, and mutch lesse do meane to graunt, knowing +full well that thy house is stored full of manyfolde vices, where myne +is garnished with many notable Philosophers: whereby if I leaue vnto my +Children no great heapes of goods, yet they shalbe wel taught and +instructed: For the one half of the day they spend in Learninge, and the +other halfe in exercise of Armes. For conclusion of thy demaund, and +finall aunswere, thereunto, I pray thee trauayle no more by letters +to write vnto mee, ne yet by ambassage to spende any furder talke, but +attend vntill our controuersie bee decided rather by force of Armes than +by vttered wordes. The Gods preserue thee.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page319" id = "page319">319</a></span> +<p>It is sayd that Aurelianus, receiuing that aunswere did reioyce, but +when he had red it, he was greatly offended, which incontinently hee +made to bee known, by gathering together his Camp, and besieginge the +Citty wherein Zenobia was. And Aurelianus, wroth and outraged with that +aunswere, although his army was weary and halfe in dispayre +(by reason of the longe Warres,) yet he vsed sutch diligence and +expedition in the siege of that place, as the Queene was taken and the +city rased: which done, the Emperour Aurelianus retourned to Rome, +caryinge with him Zenobia, not to doe hir to death, but to tryumph ouer +her. At what tyme to see that Noble Lady goe on foote, and marche before +the tryumphinge Chariot bare footed, charged with the burden of heauy +chaynes, and hir two children by hir side: truly it made the Romane +Matrons to conceyue great pity, being wel knowen to al the Romans, that +neither in valorous deedes, nor yet in vertue or chastity, any man or +woman of hir time did excell hir. The dayes of the triumph being done, +all the noble Ladies of Rome assembled and repayred to Zenobia, and vsed +vnto her great and honorable entertaynement, giuing hir many goodly +presentes and rewards. And Zenobia liued in the company of those noble +Matrons the space of <span class = "smallroman">.X.</span> yeares before +she dyed, in estimation like a Lucrecia, and in honour like a Cornelia. +And if Fortune had acompanied hir personage, so well as vertue and +magnanimity, Rome had felt the egrenesse of hir displeasure, and the +whole world tasted the sweetnesse of hir Regiment. But nowe leaue we of, +any longer to speak of Zenobia, that wee may direct our course to the +hard fate of a King’s daughter, that for loue maried a simple person +bred in hir father’s house, who in base parentage, and churlishe kynde +coulde not be altered: but shewed the fruicts of brutishnesse: tyll Lady +Fortune pityinge the Ladie’s case: prouided for her better dayes, and +chastized her vnkinde companion with deserts condigne for sutch a +matche.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page320" id = "page320">320</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_15" id = "novel2_15"> +THE FIFTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Evphimia the Kyng of Corinth’s daughter fell in love with Acharisto, the +seruaunt of her father, and besides others which required hir in +mariage, she disdayned Philon the King of Peloponesus, that loued hir +very feruently. Acharisto conspiring against the Kyng, was discouered, +tormented, and put in prison, and by meanes of Evphimia deliuered. The +King promised his daughter and kingdome to him that presented the head +of Acharisto, Evphimia so wrought, as hee was presented to the King. The +King gaue him his daughter to wyfe and when he died made him his heyre. +Acharisto began to hate his wyfe, and condemned hir to death as an +adulteresse. Philon deliuered hir: and vpon the sute of hir subiects, +she is contented to mary him, and therby he is made Kynge of +Corinth:</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Constancy</span> in honest loue (being a +perfect vertue, and a precious ornament to the beloued, induinge eyther, +besides ioy and contentacion, with immortall fame and Glory,) hath in it +selfe these onely marks and properties to be knowen by, Chastity, and +toleration of aduersity: For as the mynde is constant in loue, not +variable, or geuen to chaunge, so is the body continent, comely, honest +and pacient of Fortunes plages. A true constant minde is moued with +no sugred persuasions of frendes, is diuerted with no eloquence, +terrified with no threats, is quiet in all motions. The blustering +blasts of parents wrath, cannot remoue the constant mayde from that +which she hath peculiarly chosen to hir selfe. The rigorous rage of +frendes, doth not dismay the louing man from the embracement of hir whom +he hath amongs the rest selecte for his vnchanged feere. A goodly +example of constant and noble loue this history ensuing describeth, +although not like in both, yet in both a semblable constancy. For +Euphimia, a kings daughter, abandoneth the great loue borne vnto +hir by Philon, a yong prince, to loue a servant of hir father’s, +with whom she perseuered in great constancy, for all his false and +ingratefull dealings towards hir. Philon seeing his loue despised neuer +maried vntill he maried hir, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page321" id = "page321">321</a></span> +whom afterwards he deliuered from the false surmised treason of hir +cancred and malicious husband. Euphimia fondly maried agaynst hir +father’s will, and therefore deseruedly afterwards bare the penaunce of +hir fault: and albeit she declared hir selfe to be constant, yet duty to +louinge Father ought to haue withdrawen hir rash and heady loue. What +daungers do ensue sutch like cases, examples be rife, and experience +teacheth. A great dishonour it is for the Lady and Gentlewoman to +disparage hir noble house with mariage of hir inferior: yea and great +griefe to the parents to see their children obstinate and wilfull in +carelesse loue. And albeit the Poet Propertius describeth the vehement +loue of those that be noble, and haue wherewith in loue to be liberall, +in these verses:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p><i>Great is the fayth of Loue,</i></p> +<p class = "indent"><i>the constant mynde doth mutch auayle:</i></p> +<p><i>And hee that is well fraught with wealth,</i></p> +<p class = "indent"><i>in Loue doth mutch preuayle.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>Yet the tender Damosell or louing childe, be they neuer so noble or +rich, ought to attend the father’s tyme and choyse, and naturally +encline to parent’s will and likinge, otherwise great harme and +detriment ensue: for when the Parentes see the disobedience or rather +rebellious mynde of theyr childe, their conceiued sorrow for the same, +so gnaweth the rooted plante of naturall loue, as either it hastneth +their vntimely death, or else ingendreth a heape of melancholie humors: +whych force them to proclaime defiance and bytter cursse against their +propre fruit, vpon whom (if by due regard they had bene ruled) they +would haue pronounced the sweete blessyng that Isaac gaue to Iacob, the +mother’s best beloued Boye: yea and that displeasure may chaunce to +dispossesse them of that, whych should haue bene the onely comfort and +stay of the future age. So that neglygence of parent’s hest, and +carelesse heede of Youthfull head, breedeth double woe, but specially in +the not aduised Chylde: who tumbleth himselfe first into the breach of +diuine lawes, to the cursses of the same, to parent’s wrath, to orphan’s +state, to begger’s lyfe, and into a sea of manifold miseries. In whom +had obedyence ruled, and reason taken place, the hearte myght haue bene +satisfied, the parent wel pleased: the life +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page322" id = "page322">322</a></span> +ioyfully spent, and the posteritie successively tast the fruits that +elders haue prepared. What care and sorrow, nay what extremetie the +foresayde Noble Gentlewoman susteined, for not yelding to hir father’s +minde, the sequele shall at large declare. There was sometimes in +Corinth, a Citty of Grecia, a Kinge, which had a daughter +called Euphimia, very tenderly beloued of hir father, and being arriued +at the age of mariage, many Noble men of Grecia made sute to haue hir to +wife. But amongs al, Philon the young king of Peloponesus, so fiercely +fell in love wyth hir, as he thought he could no longer liue, if he were +maried to anye other: for which cause her father knowing him to be a +King, and of singular beautye, and that he was far in loue wyth his +Daughter, would gladly haue chosen him to be his sonne in lawe, +persuading hir that she should liue with him a lyfe so happy as was +possyble for any noble lady matched wyth a Gentleman, were he neuer so +honorable. But the daughter by no meanes would consent vnto hir father’s +wyll, alleaging vnto him diuers and sundry consideracions wherby hir +nature by no meanes would agree, nor heart consente to ioyne wyth +Philon. The king aboue all worldly thynges loued his fayre daughter: and +albeit hee would fayne haue broughte to passe, that she should haue +taken him to husband, yet he would not vse the father’s authoritie, but +desired that Loue rather than force should mach his daughter, and +therfore for that tyme was contented to agree vnto hir wyll. There was +in the Court a young man borne of hir Father’s bondman, whych hyght +Acharisto, and was manumised by the kinge, who made him one of the +Esquiers for hys body, and vsed his seruyce in sundrye enterpryses of +the warres, and bicause hee was in those affayres very skilfull, of +bolde personage, in conflicts and battayles very hardy, the king did +very much fauor him, aswell for that he had defended him from manifold +daungers, as also bycause he had deliuered him from the treason +pretended against him by the kyng of the Lacedemonians: whose helpe and +valyance, the king vsed for the murder and destruction of the sayde +Lacedemonian king. For whych valiant enterpryse, he bountifully +recompenced him wyth honorable prefermentes and stately reuenues. Vpon +this yong man Euphimia fixed hir amorous eyes, and fell so farre in +loue, as vpon him alone +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page323" id = "page323">323</a></span> +she bent hir thoughtes, and all hir louing cogitations. Whereof +Acharisto being certified, and well espying and marking hir amorous +lookes, nouryshed with lyke flames the fire wherewyth she burned. +Notwythstanding his loue was not so feruently bent vpon hir personage, +as his desire was ambicious for that she shoulde be hir father’s onely +heyre, and therfore thought that he should be a most happy man, aboue al +other of mortall kynde, if he myght possesse that inheritance. The king +perceiuing that loue, told his daughter, that she had placed her minde +in place so straunge, as hee had thought hir wysdome would haue more +warely foreseen, and better wayed hir estate and birth, as com of a +princely race, and would haue demed sutch loue, farre vnworthy hir +degree: requiringe hir wyth fatherly words, to withdraw hir settled +mynde and to ioyne with him in choyse of husbande, for that he had none +other worldly heire but hir, and tolde hir how he ment to bestow hir +vppon sutch a personage, as a most happy life she should leade, so long +as the destenies were disposed to weaue the Webbe of her Predestined +life: and therefore was resolved to Espouse hir vnto that noble +gentleman Philon. Euphimia hearkned to this vnliked tale, and with +vnliked words refused hir fathers hest, protesting vnto him sutch +reasons to like effect as shee did before, therby to draw him from his +conceiued purpose, wherunto the wise king hauing made replye, continuing +his intended mynde, at length in ragyng wordes, and stormed mind, he +sayd vnto Euphimia: “How mutch the sweter is the wyne, the sharper is +the egred sawce thereof. I speake this Parable, for that thou not +knowing or greatlye regarding the gentle disposition of thy father’s +nature, in the ende mayst so abuse the same, as where hitherto he hath +bene curteous and benigne, he may become through thy disordred deedes, +ryghte sowre and sharpe:” and without vtterance of further talke, +departed. Who resting euill content wyth that fonde fyxed Loue, thoughte +that the next way to remedy the same, was to tell Acharisto how +greuously he toke his presumed fault, and in what heinous parte he +conceiued his ingratitude, and how for the benefits which liberally he +had bestowed vpon him, he had broughte and enticed hys daughter to loue +him, that was farre vngreeable her estate. And therfore +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page324" id = "page324">324</a></span> +he called hym before hym, and with reasons firste declared the duetye of +a faythfull seruaunt to his Soueraigne lord, and afterwards hee sayd: +That if the receyued benefits were not able to lette him know what were +conuenient and seemely for hys degree, but would perseuere in that which +he had begon, he would make him feele the iust displeasure of a +displeased Prince, whereby hee shoulde repent the tyme that euer hee was +borne of Woman’s wombe. These woordes of the Kyng seemed greeuous to +Acharisto, and not to moue hym to further anger hee seemed as though +that (being fearfull of the Kyng’s displeasure) he did not loue his +daughter at all, but sayd vnto hym, that he deserued not to bee so +rebuked, for that it lay not in his power to wythstand hir loue, the +same procedyng of hir own good wyll and lyberty: and that hee for his +part neuer requyred loue: if shee did bend hir mynd to loue hym, hee +could not remedye that affection, for that the freewyll of sutch +vnbrydled appetite rested not in hym to reforme. Notwythstandyng, +bycause he vnderstoode hys vnwyllyng mind, he from that tyme forth would +so endeuor hymselfe as he shoulde well perceyue that the vnstayde mynde +of the young gentlewoman Euphimia, was not incensed by hym, but +voluntarily conceyued of hir selfe. “You shall doe well” (sayde the +kyng) “if the effecte procede accordinge to the promise: and the more +acceptable shall the same bee vnto mee, for that I desyre it shoulde so +come to passe.” The king liked wel these words although that Acharisto +had conceiued within the plat of his entended mind, som other treason. +For albeit that he affirmed before the kyng’s owne face, that hee would +not loue his daughter, yet knowing the assured wil of the louyng +gentlewoman, hee practised the mariage, and like an vnkind and wretched +man, deuised conuenient tyme to kil him: and fully bent to execute that +cruel enterpryse, he attempted to corrupt the chiefest men about him, +promising promocions vnto some, to some he assured restitucion of +reuenewes, which by father’s fault they had lost beefore, and to other +golden hilles, so that hee mighte attayne by slaughter of the king, to +wynne a kingly state and kingdome: which the sooner he peruaded himself +to acquire, if in secrete silence, they coulde put vp that which by +generall voice they had agreed. And although +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page325" id = "page325">325</a></span> +they thought themselues in good assurance, that theyr enterpryse could +take no ill successe, by reason of their sounde and good discourse +debated amonges themselues for the accomplishement thereof, yet it +fortuned that one of the conspiracy (as commonlye in sutch lyke +trayterous attemptes it chaunceth) beeynge wyth hys beloued Ladye, and +shee makyng mone that little Commodytye succeeded of hir Loue for hir +Aduauncement, brake out into these wordes: “Hold thy peace” (sayde hee:) +“for the tyme wyll not bee longe before thou shalt bee one of the +chiefest Ladies of this land.” “Howe can that bee?” (sayde hys Woman.) +“No more adoe?” (quod the Gentleman:) “Cease from further questions, and +bee merrye: for wee shall enioye together, a verye Honourable and a +quyete Lyfe.” When hir Louer was departed, the gentlewoman went to an +other of hir gossips very iocunde, and tolde hir what hir Louer had +sayd: and shee then not able to keepe Counsell, wente and tolde an +other: in such wyse as in the ende it came to the eares of the King’s +steward’s wyfe, and she imparted the same vnto hir husband, who marking +those words, like a man of great wisedome and experience, did verily +beleue that the same touched the daunger of the king’s person: and as a +faythfull seruant to his lorde and maister, diligently harkned to the +mutteringe talke murmured in the Court, by him which had tolde the same +to his beloued Lady: and knowinge that it proceeded from Acharisto, +which was an obstinate and sedicious varlet, and that he with three or +four other his familiars, kept secret company in corners, iuged that +which he first coniectured, to be most certayne and true: wherefore +determined to moue the king thereof, and vpon a day finding him alone, +he sayd vnto him, that the fidelity and good will wherewith he serued +him, and the desire which he had to see hym lyue in longe and prosperous +Estate, made hym to attend to the salfegard of hys person, and to +hearken vnto sutch as should attempt to daunger the same: for which +cause, marking and espying the doings of certayne of his chamber (whose +common assemblies and priuy whisperings mislyking) he feared least they +conspiring with Acharisto, shoulde worcke treason, for berieuinge of his +life: and to th’ intent their endeuours might be preuented, and his +safety foreseene, he thought good to reueale the same to +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page326" id = "page326">326</a></span> +hys Maiesty. Then he tolde the King the words that were spoken by the +first Gentlewoman, to one or two of her companions, and disclosed the +presumptions which he had seene and perceyued touchinge the same. Amongs +the ill conditions of men, there is nothinge more common than Poyson, +Conspiracies, and Treason of Prynces and great Lordes: and therefore +euery little suspicion presuming sutch perill, is a great demonstration +of lyke myschiefe: which made the Kyng to geue credit to the Woords of +hys Steward, hauing for hys long experience knowen him to be faythfull, +and trusty. And sodaynly he thought that Acharisto attempted the same, +that after hys death, by mariage of Euphimia, he might be the Inheritour +of hys Kyngdome: the beliefe whereof, and the singular credite which he +reposed in hys Steward, besides other thinges, caused hym to commaund +the captayne of hys Guard to apprehend those 4 of whom hys Steward told +hym, and Acharisto, committinge them to seuerall Prisons. Then he sent +hys Officers to examyne them, and found vpon their confessions, the +accusation of his steward to be true: but Acharisto, although the whole +effecte of the Treason was confessed by those foure conspirators that +were apprehended, and aduouched to his Face, and for all the Tormentes +wherewith he was racked and cruciated, yet still denied, that eyther he +was authour of the enterprise, or partaker of a treason so wicked: then +the king incontinently caused the foure Gentlemen of hys Chamber to be +rewarded accordinge to the worthinesse of their offence, and were put to +death, and Acharisto to be repryued in sharpe and cruell prison, vntill +with torments he should be forced to confesse that which he knew to be +most certayne and true by the euidence of those that were done to death. +Euphimia for the imprisonment of Acharisto, conceiued incredible sorrow, +and vneths could be persuaded, that hee would imagine, mutch lesse +conspyre, that abhominable fact, aswell for the loue which Acharisto +seemed to beare vnto hir, as for the great good wyl wherewith he was +assured that she bare vnto hym, and therefore the death of the kyng to +be no lesse griefe vnto him, than the same woulde be to hir selfe, the +Kyng being hir naturall and louing father: Acharisto thought on the +other side, that if hee might speake with Euphimia, a way would be +founde eyther for hys +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page327" id = "page327">327</a></span> +escape, or else for hys delyuery. Whereupon Acharisto beinge in this +deliberation, found meanes to talke wyth the Iaylor’s wyfe, and +intreated hir to shewe hym so mutch fauour, as to procure Euphimia to +come vnto him: she accordingly brought to passe, that the yong +Gentlewoman in secrete wise came to speake wyth thys trayterous varlet, +who so soone as he sawe hir, shedinge from hys eyes store of teares, +pitifully complayninge, sayd vnto hir: “I know Euphimia, that the +kinge your father doth not inclose me in this cruell prison, ne yet +afflicteth me wyth these miserable torments, for any suspicion he +conceyueth of me for any intended fact, but only for the loue which I +beare you, and for the like, (for whych I render humble thanks) that you +do beare to me: and because that I am wery of this wretched state, and +know that nothing else can rid me from this paynefull Lyfe, but onely +death, I am determined wyth myne owne propre hands to cut the +threed of life wherewith the destinies hitherto haue prolonged the same, +that thys my breathinge Ghoast, which breatheth forth these doleful +playntes, may flee into the Skyes, to rest it selfe amonges the restfull +spirites aboue, or wandre into the pleasaunte hellish fieldes, amongs +the shadows of Creusa, Aeneas wyfe, or else wyth the ghost of +complayning Dido. But ere I did the same, I made myne humble prayer +to the maiesty diuine, that hee would vouchsafe to shew me so much +grace, as before I dye, I myghte fulfil my couetous eyes with sight +of you, whose ymage still appeareth before those greedy Gates, and +fansie representeth vnto my myndfull heart. Which great desired thing, +sith God aboue hath graunted, I yeld him infinit thankes, and sith +my desteny is sutch, that sutch must be the end of loue, I doe +reioyce that I muste dye for your sake, which only is the cause that the +King your father so laboureth for my death: I neede not to molest +you wyth the false euidence giuen against me, by those malicious +villaines, that be already dead, which onely hath thus incensed the +Kinge’s Wrathe and heauy rage agaynst mee: whereof I am so free, as +worthilye they bee executed for the same: for if it were so, then true +it is, (and as lyghtly you myght beleue) that I neuer knew what Loue you +beare mee, and you lykewyse did neuer knowe, the loue I bare to you: and +therefore you may thinke that so impossible is the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page328" id = "page328">328</a></span> +one, as I dyd euer meane, thinke, or ymagine any harme or peryll to your +father’s person. To be short, I humbly do besech you to beleue, +that so faythfully as man is able to loue a woman, so haue I loued you: +and that it may please you to bee so myndfull of me in thys fadyng Lyfe, +as I shal be of you in that life to come.” And in sayinge so, wyth face +all bathed in teares, he clypped hir about the myddle, and fast +imbracing hir said: “Thus takinge my last farewell of you (myne onely +life and ioy) I commende you to the gouernement of the supernall +God, and my selfe to death, to be dysposed as pleaseth him.” Euphimia, +which before was not persuaded that Acharisto was guylty of that deuised +Treason, nowe gaue full belyefe and credite to his wordes, and Weeping +wyth him for company, comforted him so wel as she could, and bidding him +to bee of good chere, she sayde, that she would seeke such meanes as for +hir sake and loue he should not dye: and that before longe time did +passe, shee would help him out of prison. Acharisto, although he vttered +by ruful voice that lamentable talke, for remedye to ridde himselfe from +pryson, yet he did but fayne all that he spake, addyng further: “Alas, +Euphimia, do not incurre your Father’s wrath to please my minde: suffer +me quietly to take that death, which sinister Fortune and cruell fate +hath prouided to abridge my dayes.” Euphimia, vanquished with +inspeakable griefe and burning passion of loue, said: “Ah, Acharisto, +the onely ioy and comfort of my lyfe, do not pierce my heart with such +displeasant wordes: for what should I do in this wretched world, yf you +for my sake should suffre death? Wherfore put away that cruel thought, +and be content to saue your Lyfe, that hereafter in ioye and myrth you +may spend the same: trusting that yf meanes may be founde for your +dispatche from hence, we shal liue the reste of our prolonged Lyfe +together, in sweete and happy dayes: for my Father is not made of stone +flint, nor yet was nourced of Hircan Tigre: he is not so malicious but +that in tyme to come hee may be made to know the true discourse of thine +innocent life, and hope thou shalt atteyne his fauour more than euer +thou didst before, the care whereof onely leaue to me, and take no +thought thy selfe: for I make promise vpon myne assured faith to brynge +the same to passe: wherefore giue ouer thy conceyued +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page329" id = "page329">329</a></span> +gryefe, and bende thy selfe to lyue so merie a life, as euer gentleman +did, trained vp in court as thou hast bene.” “I am content,” said +Acharisto, “thus to doe. The Gods forbid that I should declyne my hearte +and mynde from thy behest, who of thy wonted grace doest seeke +continuance of my Lyfe, but rather, sweete Euphimia, than thou shouldest +suffre any daunger to performe thy promise, I make request (for the +common loue betwene vs both) to leaue me in this present dangerous +state: rather would I lose my lyfe than thou shouldest hazard the least +heare of thy heade for my releefe.” “Wee shall be both salfe ynough, +(aunswered Euphimia) for my deuice proceedinge from a woman’s heade, +hath already drawen the plot of thy deliueraunce.” And with those wordes +they both did end their talke, whose trickling teares did rather finishe +the same, than willing mynds: and eyther of them geeuing a kysse vnto +the Tower Walle, wherein Acharisto was fast shutte, Euphimia departed +turmoyled wyth a Thousande amorous Pryckes, and ceased not but firste of +all to corrupt and winne the Iayler’s Wyfe, whose husband was sent forth +on businesse of the king’s: the conclusion of which practise was, that +when shee caried meate to Acharisto, according to the order appoynted, +she should fayne hirselfe to be violently dispoyled of the Pryson Key by +Acharisto, who taking the same from hir: should shut hir in the Prison +and escape, and when hir husband did returne, shee should make complaynt +of the violence done vnto hir: accordinge to which deuise, the practyse +was accomplished: And when hir husbande returned home, hearing his wyfe +crie out within the Tower, was maruayllously amazed, and vnderstandinge +that Acharisto was fled, (ignoraunt of the pollicy betwene his Wyfe and +Euphemia,) hee fell into great rage, and speedely repayred to the Kynge, +and tolde him what had chaunced. The Kinge thinking that the breach of +Prison was rather through the woman’s simplicity than purposed malice, +did mitigate his displeasure, howbeit forthwith he sent out scouts to +spy, and watch into what place Acharisto was gone, whose secret flight, +made all their trauayle to be in vayne. Then the Kinge when hee saw that +he could not be found, made Proclamation throughout his realme, that who +so would bringe vnto him the head of Acharisto, should haue to Wyfe hys +onely Daughter, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page330" id = "page330">330</a></span> +after hys decease shoulde possesse his Kingdome for Dowry of that +mariage. Many knightes did put themselues in redinesse to atchieue that +enterprise, and aboue al, Philon was the chiefe, not for gredinesse of +the kingdome, but for loue which hee bare vnto the Gentlewoman. Whereof +Acharisto hauinge intelligence, and perceyuinge that in no place of +Europa hee could bee safe and sure from daunger, for the multitude of +them which pursued him vnto death, caused Euphimia to vnderstand the +miserable Estate wherein hee was. Euphimia which bent hir minde, and +employed hir study for his safegarde, imparted hir loue which shee bare +to Acharisto, to an aged Gentlewoman, which was hir nurse and +gouernesse, and besought hir that she would intreat hir sonne called +Sinapus, (one very well beloued of the king) to reach his help vnto hir +desire, that Acharisto might retourne to the court agayn. The Nourse +like a wyse woman lefte no persuasion vnspoken, nor counsell +vnremembred, which she thought was able to dissuade the yong gentlewoman +from hir conceiued loue: but the wound was so deepely made, and hir +hearte so greuously wounded with the three forked arrows of the little +blinde archer Cupide, that despising all the reasons of hir beloued +nurse, shee sayde, how she was firmely bent eyther to runne from hir +father, and to seke out Acharisto, to sustaine wyth him one equall +fortune, or else with hir owne hands to procure death, if some remedy +were not found to recouer the king’s good grace for the returne of +Acharisto. The Nurse vanquished with pity of the yong mayden, fearinge +both the one and the other daunger that myght ensue, sent for Sinapus, +and vppon their talke together, Euphimia and hee concluded, that +Acharisto should bee brought agayne vnto the Courte, and that she hir +selfe should present him to the King: wherein should want no kinde of +diligence vntill the Kyng did entertayne him agayne for his faythfull +seruaunt, as he was wont to do. Vpon which resolution, Acharisto was +sent for, and being come, Sinapus and Euphimia together with the nurse +tolde hym in what sort they three had concluded touchinge his health and +safegarde: which of him being well lyked, did giue them humble thankes: +and then Sinapus went vnto the kyng, and told him, that there was one +newly arriued at Corinth, to make a present vnto his grace of the head +of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page331" id = "page331">331</a></span> +Acharisto. At which newes the kynge shewed hymselfe so ioyfull, as if +hee had gotten an other Kingdome: and beinge placed vnder his cloath of +state, with his Counsell and Princely trayne about hym, tellinge them +the cause of that assembly, commaunded hym that brought those news, to +bring the party forth newely come vnto the City to present the head of +Acharisto before the presence of the King, who no sooner looked vpon +him, but fell into sutch a rage, as the fire seemed to flame out of his +angry eyes, and commaunded him presently to be taken and put to death. +But Acharisto falling downe vpon hys knees, humbly besought his maiesty +to geeue him leaue to speake: but the kinge not suffering him to vtter +one word commaunded hym away. Then the Counsellours and other Lords of +the Court, intreated his grace to heare him: at whose requestes and +supplications he seemed to be content. Then Acharisto began to say: +“Most sacred Prynce, and redoubted souerayne Lord, the cause of this my +presumptuous repaire before your maiesty, is not to shew my selfe guilty +of thy late deuised conspiracy, ne yet to craue pardon for the same, but +to satisfie your Maiesty, wyth that contented desire, whych by +Proclamation ye haue pronounced through your highnesse Realmes and +dominions: which is, to offer this heade for reuenge of the faulte +vniustlye layed vnto my charge by those foure, which worthily haue +tasted the deserued payne of theyr offense. Wherfore I am come hither of +myne owne accord, to shew the loue and greate desyre, whych euer I had +to serue and please your Maiesty: and for that I would not consume my +life in your displeasure, I make offer of the same to your +mercifull wyll and dysposition, chosynge rather to die, and leaue your +maiesty satisfied and contented, than to lyue in happy state, your +princely minde displeased: but desyrous that your maiesty should know +myne innocence, I humblye besech your grace to heare what I can +say, that my fidelity maye bee throughly vnderstanded, and the +wickednesse of the Varlets, mine accusers wel wayed and considered.” +Then he began to rehearse all the things done by hym for the seruyce of +his crowne and maiestye, and finally into what daunger he did put +himself, when he kylled the Lacedemonian king, that went about by +treason to murder him: whych enterpryse might appeare vnto +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page332" id = "page332">332</a></span> +him to bee a sure and euident testimony, that hee ment nothinge hurtfull +or preiudiciall to his highnesse: and that hee esteemed not his life, +when hee aduentured for his seruice and sauegard to employ the same: and +after these alleaged causes, he added briefly, that the loue which his +maiesty knew to be betweene him and Euphimia his Daughter, ought to haue +persuaded him, that he had rather haue suffered death himselfe, than +commit a thing displeasant to Euphimia. And knowing that a more +offensive thynge coulde not chaunce to hir, than the vilent death of her +father, hee myghte well thyncke that hee woulde haue deuysed the death +of a Thousande other, rather than that horible and abhominable deede, +sutch as hys greatest Ennemy woulde neuer haue done, mutch lesse hee +whych was bounde vnto hym by so many Receyued Benefittes, for whose +seruice and preseruacion he had dedicated and vowed hys Lyfe and Soule: +but if so be his maiestie’s rancor and displeasure could not be +mitigated, but by doinge him to death, hee desired that none of his +alleaged reasons should bee accepted, and therefore was there ready to +sacrifice his life at his maiestie’s disposition and pleasure. Acharisto +by nature could tel his tale excedingly well, and the more his tongue +stode him in seruice, the greater appeared his eloquence: whych 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 graunt him pardon, as he was +accompted most worthy of his fauour. Then the kyng, by the aduise of hys +Counsell, was perswaded, that by force of hys proclamation, hys daughter +should be giuen to Acharisto in mariage, and his kingedome for a dowrie, +bicause hee had offered his owne heade, accordyng to the effecte of the +same. So the kinge repentinge himselfe that he had offended Acharisto, +in the end agreed to the aduise of his Counsell, and gaue him his +daughter to wife: whereof Euphimia was so ioyful, as they bee that +atteyne the summe of their heart’s 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 vnkinde man, nay rather brute beaste, had forgotten all +the benefits receyued of his kinde and louing wife: and hauing by hir +onelye +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page333" id = "page333">333</a></span> +meanes got a Kingdome, began to hate hir so straungely, as he could not +abide hir sight, (sutch is the property of cancred obliuion, which after +it crepeth into ambicious heads, neuer hath minde of passed amitie, ne +regardeth former benefite, but like a monster and deadly ennimy to +humaine nature, ouerwhelmeth in his bottomlesse gulfe all pietie and +kindnesse) and determined in the ende for recompence of sutch great good +turnes, to despoyle hir of hir Lyfe. Howe thinke you, fayre Ladies, was +not this a fayre rewarde for the loue, the trauailes and sorrowes +susteined for this ingrate and villanous man, by that royal lady, to +saue his life, and to take him to husband? Here is manifest +(<i>probatum</i>) that in a vile and seruyle minde, no vertue, no duety, +no receiued benefites can be harboured. Here is a lesson for yong +Gentlewomen to beware howe they contemne and despise the graue aduise of +theyr auncient fathers. Here they may see the damage and hurt that +vnaduised youth incurreth, when neglectyng theyr Parents holesome +admonitions, they gyue themselues to the loue of sutch as be vnworthy +theyr estate and callyng. For what should ayle the Gentle pucell borne +of gentle bloud but to match her selfe in like affinity, and not to care +for curryshe kind, or race of churle. Bee there no Gentlemen to be found +of personage and beauty worthy to ioyne in loue wyth them? Bee they so +precious in nature or tender in education as theyr lyke can not be +vouchsafed to couple in mariage yoke? Compare the glysteringe gold to +drossie durte, and sutch is the difference betweene gentle and vngentle. +But perhaps bringyng vp may alter nature, and custome transforme defect +of birth: as Licurgus the lawemaker dyd trye betwene the Currish whelpe +and the Spanyell kinde, both by trayning vp running to their contraries, +the Spanyel not vsed to hunt eigre vpon the potage dishe, the other +nouseled in that pastime pursuing his game. But that Metamorphosis is +seldome seene amongs humane sort, and therfore I aduise the gentle kind, +to matche themselues in equall lotte, and not to trust Sir Custome’s +curtesie in choyse of feere. Returne we then to vnkind Acharisto, who +now in full possession of his desired praie, reuertinge to his puddle of +carlishe will and cancred nature, after many thousand wronges don to his +most noble and gentle Quene, accused hir to be an adulteresse, and as +one indeede, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page334" id = "page334">334</a></span> +(although most innocent) she was condemned to the mercilesse fire. +Philon, Kyng of Peloponesus, which (as we haue sayd before) loued +Euphimia as he did the balles of his owne eyes, vnderstanding the +crueltye that this wicked Man vsed towards hir, to whom both his lyfe +and Kyngdome did belonge, moued wyth nobility of mynd, determined to +declare to Euphimia the inward feruent loue which he bare hir, and to +chastise Acharisto for his ingratitude with due correction. Wherfore +depely debating wyth himselfe of this aduenture, thus he sayde: “Now is +the time Euphimia, that Philon shewe what faythful Loue he hath euer +borne vnto thee, and that he delyuer thee both from the present daunger +wherein thou art, and from the hands of that vnkynde wretche, that is +farre vnworthy of sutch a wife: for if thou haddest agreed to thy +father’s wyll, and yelded to the pursute of him that loued thee beste, +thou haddest no neede of rescue nowe, ne yet bene in perill of the +wastfull flames of fire, which be ready to consume thy flesh and tender +corps, full tenderly sometimes beloued of thy deare father, and of thy +louyng frend Philon.” When he had spoken those wordes, hee earnestly +disposed him self vpon that enterpryse. There was in those daies a +custome in Corinth, that they which were condemned to death, were caried +<span class = "smallroman">III.</span> miles forth of the City, and +there the sentence pronounced against them, were put to execution. +Philon hauyng intelligence hereof, did put in readinesse a good troupe +of horsemen, and being secretly imbarked, arriued at Corinth, and +closely the nyght before Euphimia should be brought to the fire, harde +by the place where the miserable Lady should be burnt, into a woode he +conueyed his People: and so soone as the Sergeants and officers were +approched neere the place wyth the lady, he issued forth, and did set +vpon the throng, not sufferyng one of them to remayne aliue, to carye +newes. When he had delyuered Euphimia from that present daunger of hir +lyfe, and the companye dispercled, he sayd to the Queene: “Nowe thou +mayst see (fayre Queene) the diuersitie, betwene the disloyaltie and +vnkindenesse of Acharisto, and the faith and loue of Philon. But for +that I meane not to leaue hys ingratitude vnrevenged, thou shalt staye +here, vntyll thou heare newes of the due chastisment which I shall gyue +hym.” Those +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page335" id = "page335">335</a></span> +dire and cruell words foretold of hir husband’s death moued hir honest +and Pryncely hearte that by no meanes could bee altered from the gentle +nature, which it first had tasted and receiued: and althoughe shee had +suffred Mortall and Solempne iniury of hir vnkynde husbande for +Manyfolde Benefites, yet (shee good gentlewoman) woulde permyt no duetye +of a trustye and faythfull Wyfe vnperformed. Wherefore shee besoughte +Philon vpon her knees, not to procede to further reuenge of Acharisto, +telling him, that enough it was for hir to haue escaped that present +peryl, from which he like a princely Gentleman had deliuered hir, and +therefore duering hir life was most bounde vnto him. Philon greately +wondred at the goodnesse of this Ladie: howbeit the ingratitude of that +Varlet by no meanes he would suffer to bee vnpunished. And beeing +aduertised that Acharisto remayned in hys Palace without any suspicion +of this aduenture, banded neyther with Guarde or other assurance, +committed Euphimia to safe custodie, and sodainly assailed the Palace of +Acharisto: and finding the Gates open, he entred the city, crying out +vpon the Wickednesse and treason of Acharisto. At which wordes the whole +City began to ryse, to helpe Philon in his enterpryse: for there was no +state or degree, but abhorred the vnkind order of that Varlet, towards +the noble woman their Queene. Philon aided with the people, assaulted +the Palace, and in short space inuaded the same: and the Varlet beeing +apprehended, was put to death. The Corinthians seeing the noble mind of +Philon, and the loue which he bare to Euphimia, and knowing that their +late Kyng was disposed to haue matched her wyth Philon, were very +willing to haue him to be their Kinge, and that Euphimia should be his +wife, supposinge that vnder the gouernement of a Prynce so gentle and +valiant, they might liue very happily and ioyefullye. Execution don vpon +that moste vnkinde varlet, Philon caused the Lady to be conueyed home +into hir royal pallace: and the people with humble submission, began to +persuade hir to marie wyth that younge Prince Philon. But shee which had +lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir mind vpon that caytife, who +vnnaturally had abused hir, would by no meanes consent to take a new +husband, saying, that the seconde mariage was not to bee allowed in any +woman. And albeit that shee +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page336" id = "page336">336</a></span> +knewe howe greately she was bounde to Philon, as duringe life not able +to recompence his louing kindnesse and valyante exployte performed for +hir safegard, yet for al hir vnhappy fortune, shee was minded styll to +remayne a widowe, and well contented that Philon shoulde possesse hir +whole domynion and kingdome, and she pleased to lyue his subiecte: which +state she sayd, did like her best. Philon, that not for desire of the +Kingdome, but for loue of the Lady had attempted that worthy and +honourable enterprise, sayd vnto hir: “Euphimia, it was onely for youre +sake that I aduentured thys daungerous indeuor, to ridde you from the +slander that might haue ensued your innocent death, and out of the cruel +hands of hym, whom vnworthily you did so dearely loue. No desyre of +kyngdome or worldly glorye induced me herevnto: no care that I had to +enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile pricked the courage of my mynd +(that is altogether empty of ambytion) but the Passion of carelesse +Loue, whych thys long tyme I haue borne you in your happy father’s +dayes, to whom I made incessant sute: and to your selfe I was so long a +Suter, vntyll I receyued extreame repulse: for which I vowed a +perpetuall single Lyfe, vntyll thys occasyon was offred: the brute +whereof when I hearde first, so stirred the mynde of your most louyng +knight, that drousie sleepe or greedy hunger, coulde not force this +restlesse body to tarry at home, vntyl I reuenged my selfe vpon that +villaine borne, which went about wyth roasting flames to consume the +innocente flesh of hir whome I loued best. And therfore mustred together +my men of armes and in secret sort imbarked our selues and arryued here: +where wee haue accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you +in quiet raygne, free from peryl of traiterous mindes, crauing for thys +my fact nought else of you but wylling mynd to be my wife: which sith +you do refuse, I passe not for rule of your kyngdom, ne yet for +abode in Corinth, but meane to leaue you to your choyse. For satisfied +am I, that I haue manifested to the world the greatnesse of my loue, +which was so ample as euer king could beare to vertuous Queene: and so +farewell.” At which words he made a signe to his people, that they +shoulde shippe them selues for return to Peloponesus. But the Senatours +and al the people of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page337" id = "page337">337</a></span> +and how greatly their Queene was bound vnto him, fel downe vpon their +knees, and with ioyned hands besought hir to take him to husbande, neuer +ceasing from teares and supplication, vntyl she had consented to their +requeste. Then the mariage was solempnised with great ioy and triumph, +and the whole City after that tyme, lyued in great felicity and quiet, +so long as nature lengthned the dayes of those two Noble Prynces.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page338" id = "page338">338</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_16" id = "novel2_16"> +THE SIXTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The Marchionisse of Monferrato, with a banket of Hennes, and certaine +pleasant wordes, repressed the fond loue of Philip the French Kynge.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Good</span> Euphimia (as you haue harde) +did fondly apply hir loue vpon a seruile man, who though bred vp in +court where trayninge and vse doth alter the rude conditions of sutch as +be intertayned there, yet voyde of all gentlenesse, and frustrate of +Nature’s sweetenesse in that curteous kinde, as not exchaunginge natiue +fiercenesse for noble aduauncement, returned to hys hoggish soyle, and +walowed in the durty filth of Inhumanity, <i>whose nature myght wel with +fork, or staffe be expelled, but home againe it would haue come</i>, as +Horace pleadeth in his Epistles. O noble Gentlewoman, that mildly +suffred the displeasure of the good king hir father, who would fayne +haue dissuaded hir from that vnseemely match, to ioyne with a yong +Prince, a king, a Gentleman of great perfection: and O +pestilent Carle, being beloued of so honourable a pucell, that for +treason discharged thy head from the block, and of a donghill slaue +preferred thee to be a king, wouldest for those deserts in the ende +frame sayned matter to consume hir. With iust hatred then did the Noble +Emperour Claudius Cæsar prosecute those of bond and seruile kinde that +were matched with the free and noble. Right well knew hee that some +taste of egrenesse would rest in sutch sauage fruite, and therefore made +a law, that the issue of them should not haue like liberty and +preheminence, as other had, which agreeably did couple. What harme sutch +mariage hath deferred to diuers states and persons (t’auoide other +examples) the former Nouell teacheth. Wherfore to ende the same, with +bewailing of Euphimia for hir vnluckie lot, begin we now to glad our +selues with the wise and stoute aunswer of a chaste Marquesse, +a Gentlewoman of singular beauty and discretion, made to the fond +demaund of a mighty Monarch, that fondly fell in loue with hir, and made +a reckening of that, which was doubtfull to recouer. This king by Louing +Hir whome he neuer saw, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page339" id = "page339">339</a></span> +fared like the man that in his slepe dreamed that he had in holde the +thynge furthest from him. For the King neuer saw hir, before he heard +hir praised, and when hee hearde hir praised, for purpose to winne her, +he trauailed oute of his way, so sure to enioy hir, as if he had neuer +seene hir. This historie, although briefe, yet sheweth light to noble +dames that be pursued by Prynces, and teacheth them wyth what regarde +they ought to interteine such suters. The Marquesse then of Monferrato, +a citye in Italy, beynge a Gentleman of great prowesse and +valiance, was appointed to transfrete the Seas in a generall passage +made by the Christians, wyth an huge Armie and great furniture. And as +it chaunced, vpon a day greate talke was had in the court of king Philip +surnamed Luscus (bicause he was poreblinde) who likewyse was making +preparation to depart out of Fraunce in the said iorney. Report was made +by a knight which knewe the said Marquize, that in all the world there +was not the like maried couple, as the Marquize and his wyfe were, as +well bicause the Marquize was bruted to be an excellent gentleman, as +also for that his wyfe amonges al the troupe of Ladies, that liued in +the world that time, was the fairest and most vertuous. Which words so +entred the French king’s head, as sodainely (neuer seeing hir in all his +life) he began to loue hir, and for that purpose determined to imbarke +him selfe at Genoua, that by trauailyng that way by lande, he myght haue +good occasion to see the Marchionisse, thinking that her husband being +absent, hee might easily obtein that he desired. And as he had deuised, +he began his enterpryse: who sending al his power before, toke his +iorney wyth a meane trayne of Gentlemen: and beynge within one Daye’s +iourney of the Ladye’s House, hee sent hir worde that the nexte Daye hee +would visite her at Dynner. The sage and discrete lady ioyfully +aunswered the Messanger, that she would accompt his comming for a great +and singuler pleasure, and sayd that hys grace should be most heartily +welcome. Afterwards she maruelled why sutch a king as he was, would in +hir husband’s absence, come to hir house: and in that maruel and +consideration she was no whit deceyued, coniecturinge that the fame of +hir beauty was the cause of hys comminge. Neuerthelesse, like a wise +Lady and honest gentlewoman, she +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page340" id = "page340">340</a></span> +determined to do him honour, and caused the worshipfull of hir country +sutch as remayned behinde, to be assembled, for aduice in all thinges +that were necessary for hys intertaynement. But the feast and variety of +meats that should be serued, she alone tooke vppon hir to dispose and +order: wherefore speedily sendinge about, and makinge prouision for all +the Hennes that might be gotten throughout the countrey, commaunded hir +cookes, of those Hennes without other thing what so euer, to prepare +diuers seruices. The king fayled not the next day to come accordingly as +he had sent word: and was with great honour receyued of the Lady, and in +beholdinge hir, she seemed vnto hym (besides hys imagination +comprehended by the former woordes of the Knyght) to be farre more +faire, honest and vertuous, than hee thought, attributyng vnto hir, +singular prayse and commendation. And so much the more his desire was +kindled, as she passed the estimation bruted of hir. And after that the +King had wythdrawen him selfe into the chamber ordeined and made ready +for him, as appertained to a Prynce so greate, and that dinner time was +come, the King and Madame the Marchionisse sat together at one boorde, +and other accordyng to their degrees were placed at seueral tables. The +King serued with many Dishes and excellent Wynes, beholdinge sometymes +the Lady Marchionesse, conceyued great delight and pleasure. But vewing +the seruice, and meates (although dressed in diuers sortes) to be but +Hennes, he began to wonder, specially knowing the soyle wherein they +were to be so rich and plentifull, as by little trauayle, great +abundance of Foule and Venison might haue bin prouided, and thought that +she had indifferent leysure to Chase and Hunt, after that he had sent +hir woorde of hys comminge. Notwythstandinge he would not take occasion +to enter into talke of those wants of better Cheare (hir Hennes only +excepted) who lookyng vpon hir, with mery Countenaunce hee sayde vnto +hir: “Madame were all these Hennes bred in thys countrey wythout a +Cock?” The Marchionisse which full well vnderstoode the cause of his +demaunde, thinkinge that God had sent hir an apt tyme for aunswere as +she desired, boldly aunswered the Kinge: “No and it please your grace, +but of Women, albeit in honour and apparell there is some difference, +yet they be al made in this Countrey +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page341" id = "page341">341</a></span> +as they be else where.” The kyng hearing hir aunswere, right wel did +know the occasion of the Banket of Hennes, and whereunto hir wordes did +tend: and considred that to bestow any further talke to so wyse a Lady, +it were in vayne, and that force there could take no place. Lyke as +vnaduisedly he fell in loue, so it behoued him of necessity wysely to +staunch the fire for his honour sake, and wythout any more taunting +wordes, fearing hir reuenge, he dined without hope to get other thinge +of hir. And when hee had done, to the intent by hys sodayne departure, +he might couer his dishonest comming, thankinge hir for the honour which +he had receyued, and she recommending him to God, he departed to Genoua. +Here may be proued the great difference betweene Wysedome and Folly, +betweene Vertue and Vice. The King more by Lust, than other desire, by +circumstances endeuoured to sound the deapth of the Ladie’s minde: she +by comely answere, payd hym home for his folly. A liuely +representation of a noble creature, so well bedecked wyth Vertue as wyth +Beauty.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page342" id = "page342">342</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_17" id = "novel2_17"> +THE SEUENTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Mistresse Dianora demaunded of maister Ansaldo a garden so faire in +Ianuary, as in the moneth of May. Mayster Ansaldo (by meanes of an +obligation which he made to a Nicromancer) caused the same to bee done. +The husband agreed with the gentlewoman that she should do the pleasure +which maister Ansaldo required, who hearinge the liberality of the +husband, acquited hir of hir promise, and the Necromancer discharged +maister Ansaldo.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Of</span> all things commonly accompanying +the maner and trade of man’s life, nothing is more circumspectly to be +attended and prouided for, than regard and estimation of honesty: which +attire, as it is most excellent, and comely, so aboue al other vayne +Toyes of outward apparell to bee preferred: and as honesty hath all +other good Conditions included in it selfe, as the same by any meanes +cannot stray out of that tract, troden before by the steppes of that +most excellent vertue: euen so, impossible it is for the party adorned +with the same, to wander one iote from that foretrodden Path: wherefore +let eche wyght that traceth this worldly Lyfe, foresee the due +obseruation of all thinges incident to that which is honest. Nothinge in +thys lyfe (sayth Tully in his oration, for the Poet Archias) is so mutch +to bee regarded. Honesty, for the gettinge whereof all torments of body, +all perills and daungers of death be not to be regarded: honesty then +beinge a Treasure so precious, what care not onely for the atchieuinge +but for the conseruation ought to bee employed? in the practise whereof, +one speciall thinge ought to be attended, which is, how a vow or promise +ought to be made, or how the estimation of honesty ought to be hazarded +for any thinge seeme it neuer so impossible: for what is it that loue +and Money hath not brought to passe? what heard aduentures by Iason? +what sleight by Alexander the Sonne of kynge Pryamus? what monsters +slayne and labours sustayned +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page343" id = "page343">343</a></span> +by Hercules? what daungers and exploits some haue incurred and other +attempted by diuers? to bee short,</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p><i>Nihil est quod non effreno captus amore, ausit.</i></p> +</div> + +<p class = "center">As Ouide the Poet sayth:</p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p><i>Nothinge there is, but that the louing man doth dare,</i></p> +<p><i>Surprised with frantike fit, eche deed he doth not spare.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>Wherfore let euery wight beware how they gage their honesty for any +enterprise (seeme it neuer so impossible). Maistresse Dianora deerely +beloued of a gentleman, and earnestly assayled, in the ende yelded vpon +a condition: which if it could be brought to passe (which she thought +impossible) was content to surrender to his loue: who consulting with a +Magitian, performed hir request: then what folowed, and what counsel hir +husband gaue hir, after she had broken the effect of hir promise to hym, +and what Curtesie was vsed on all sides, the sequele hereof dyscloseth. +The Countrey of Frioli although it be colde, yet is it pleasaunt by +reason of many faire mountaines, riuers, and cleere sprynges that are in +the same: where there is a City called Vdina, and in the same sometime +dwellyng a faire gentlewoman called Mistresse Dianora, the wyfe of +Gilberto, a notable rich man, a very curteous personage, and +of good behauiour. This Lady, for hir graces and vertues, was intierly +beloued of a Gentleman and great Lord, called maister Ansaldo Grandese, +who for his liberalyty and valyance in armes, was famous and well +knowen: and albeit that hee loued hir feruently, seking al meanes +possible to be beloued of hir, soliciting hir many tymes by +Ambassadours, yet his labour was in vayn. And the Lady being offended +for hys dayly sute and trauayle, hee for al hir refusal and disagreement +to his desire, would not abstaine from louing hir, but still mayntayne +his importunate sute: she deuising with her selfe how to rid him away, +made a request vnto him, so straunge and impossible, (in hir +iudgement) as he was not able to bring the same to passe: and vpon a day +she sayd vnto an old woman, (the which cam often tymes to sue vnto hir +in hys behalf) these words: “Good wife, thou hast many times assured me, +that Maister Ansaldo doth loue mee aboue all other, and thou hast +offered vnto me maruellous giftes and presents in hys name: al which I +haue refused, vpon consideration, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page344" id = "page344">344</a></span> +that I mynd not to fauour or loue him for his goods: but if thou canst +iustify by warrantize or other probable argument, that hee loueth me so +mutch as thou sayest, I will condescend without fayle to loue him +againe and to doe the thing that it shal please him to commaund me: +therfore if he wil assure me to do that thing which I shal require hym +to do, tel him that I am at his commaundement.” “What is that madame,” +(said the old woman) “that you desire?” “The thing which I demaund” +(answered the Gentlewoman) “is, that he should cause to be made here +without the Citie, during the moneth of Januarie next commyng, +a garden full of greene herbes, floures and trees, bespred wyth +leaues, euen as it were in the moneth of May: and if so be that he do it +not, then let him neuer send thee or any other vnto me agayn: for if +afterwards he be importunate vpon me, like as I haue hitherto kept it +close from my husbande and parents, euen so complayning vnto them, +I wyll assaye to bee dispatched from hys long and tedious sute.” +When the knight vnderstoode that request, and the offer that hys +Mystresse made him (although it seemed a thinge very difficulte and all +most impossible to bee done) knowinge very well that she did the same +for none other purpose, but onely to put him out of hope that euer hee +should enioy hir, hee determined notwithstandinge, to proue what hee was +able to do. And for that purpose sent to seeke in many places of the +Worlde if there were any man that could assist him and geue him Counsel +therin. In the ende there was one found that offred to doe it +(if he were well waged thereunto) by the art of Necromancie, with +whom maister Ansaldo bargained for a great summe of Money. Then he +expected the moneth of Ianuarie with great deuotion, whych beeing come, +euen when the coldest wether was, and that al places were ful of snow +and yce, this Necromancer vsed his art in sutch sort, as in the night +after the holy dais of Christmasse, in a faire medow adioyning to the +city, ther appered in the morning (as they can testify that saw the +same) one of the fairest gardens that euer any man saw, full of herbes, +trees, and fruites of all sortes: which when maister Ansaldo had seen, +God knoweth if he were glad or not: and incontinently caused to be +gathered the fairest fruites and floures that were there, and secretlye +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page345" id = "page345">345</a></span> +sente the same to his Friende, inuiting hir to come and see the Garden +which she had procured him to make, to the intent thereby she might know +the loue that he bare hir, and to remember the promise which she made +him, and confirmed by othe, that he might from that time forth esteeme +hir a woman so good as hir promise. When the Gentlewoman sawe the +flowers and fruictes and hearing tell by report of the straunge things +that were in that Garden, began to repent hir selfe of the promise which +shee had made: but for all her repentaunce, she like one desirous to se +straung things, wente wyth many other women to see the same: and hauing +praised it, not wythout greate admiration, she returned home, the +angriest woman that euer was, when she had considered in what sort she +had abused hir selfe by meanes of that Garden: and hir rage was so +greate, that she could by no meanes keepe the same so secrete or close, +but that her husband muste perceiue the same, who woulde needes knowe of +hir al the whole matter: the Gentlewoman a long time kepte it secrete: +in the ende she was constrained to declare vnto him the same in order. +Hir husbande hearing what she had promised was sodainly very angry: +afterwardes considering the pure intente of his wife, hee wisely +appeaseed hir, and sayd: “Dianora, it is not the acte of a wyse and +vertuouse wife to encline hir eare to sutch messages as those be, and +lesse honest to make any marte or bargain of hir honesty with any +person, vnder what condicion soeuer it be. Words which the hart +receiueth by the eares, haue greater force than many do esteme, and +there is nothing so difficult, but by the amorous is brought to passe. +First therfore thou hast done euil to giue eare vnto such ambassage, and +afterwards for agreement to the bargaine: for the weight of chastity is +so ponderous, as by no meanes it ought to be laid in balance, eyther by +impossibilities to boast and bragge therof, or else by assurance of +their conceiued thought to bring it into question, leaste in all places +the same may be dysputed vpon, and blemysh with the note of lightnesse, +the person tyll that time vnspotted: but bycause I know the purity of +thy heart, I wyll agree vnto thee for discharge of thy promise, +whych peraduenture, some other would not doe, moued therunto for the +feare I haue of the Necromancer, who if he see Mayster +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page346" id = "page346">346</a></span> +Ansaldo to be offended bicause thou hast deluded hym, may doe vs some +displeasure: wherfore I wyll that thou go to maister Ansaldo, and if +thou canest by any meanes to vse thy selfe (as thyne honour saued) +thou mayst discharge thy promise, I shall commende thy wit: but if +there be no remedye otherwyse, for that onely time then lende forth thy +Body and not thy wyll.” The gentlewoman hearyng hir husband so wisely +speake, could doe nought else but weepe, and sayd, that she would not +agree to his requeste. Notwythstanding, it pleased the husband (for al +the denial whych his wife did make) that it shoulde be so: by meanes +wherof, the next morning vpon the point of day the Gentlewoman in the +homliest attire she had, with two of hir seruantes before, and hir mayde +behinde, wente to the lodging of maister Ansaldo, who when he hearde +tell that hys Louer was come to see hym, maruelled mutch, and rising vp, +called the Necromancer, and sayde vnto him: “My wyll is, that thou see +how mutch thyne arte hath preuailed:” and going vnto hir, without any +disordinate lust, he saluted hir wyth reuerence, and honestly receiued +hir. Then they entred into a faire Chamber, and sittyng downe before a +great fire, he sayde vnto hir these Wordes: “Madame, I humbly +beseeche you, if the loue which I haue borne you of long time, and yet +doe beare, deserue some recompence, that it please you to tell me +vnfainedly the cause which haue made you to come hither thus early, and +with such a company.” The shamefast Gentlewoman, hir eyes ful of teares, +made answere: “Sir, the loue which I beare you, nor any promised faith +haue brought me hither, but rather the only commaundement of my husband, +who hath greater respect to the payne and trauaile of your disordinate +loue, than to his own honour or my reputation, who hath caused me to +come hither, and by hys commaundement am redy for this once to satisfie +your pleasure.” If Mayster Ansaldo were abashed at the begynnyng, be +much more did maruell when he hearde the Gentlewoman thus to speake, and +moued with the liberality of hir husband, he began to chaunge his heate +into compassion, and said: “Mistresse, God defend if it be true that you +do say, that I should soyle the honour of hym, whych hath pity vpon my +loue, and therefore you may tarrie here so long as it shall please you, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page347" id = "page347">347</a></span> +with sutch assurance of your honesty as if you were my naturall sister, +and frankly may depart when you be disposed, vpon sutch condicion, that +you render in my behalf those thanks vnto your husband which you shal +thinke conuenient, for the great liberality whych he hath imployed vpon +me, deeming my selfe henceforth so much bound vnto him, as if I were his +brother or Seruaunt.” The Gentlewoman hearing those wordes, the best +contented that euer was, sayd vnto him: “All the worlde could neuer make +me beleue (your great honesty considered) that other thing could happen +vnto mee by my commyng hyther, than that which presently I see: for +which I recken my selfe perpetually bounde vnto you.” And takynge hir +leaue, honorablye returned in the aforesayde company home to hir +husband, and tolde hym what had chaunced, which engendred perfect loue +and amytye betweene hym and mayster Ansaldo. The Necromancer to whom +maister Ansaldo determined to gyue the price, couenanted betwene them, +seyng the liberality which the husbande had vsed towards mayster +Ansaldo, and the like of mayster Ansaldo towards the Gentlewoman, sayd: +“God defend, that sith I haue seene the husband lyberall of his honour, +and you bountiful of your loue and curtesie, but that I be likewyse +franke in my reward: for knowing that it is well employed of you, +I purpose that you shall keepe it still.” The knyghte was ashamed, +and would haue forced him to take the whole, or part: but in offryng the +same, he lost his laboure: and the Necromancer the third day after, +hauying vndon his Garden, and desirous to departe, tooke his leaue. Thus +Ansaldo extinguishing the dishonest loue kindled in hys hearte, for +inioying of his Lady, vpon consideration of honest charity, and regard +of Curtesie, repressed his wanton minde, and absteyned from that which +God graunte that others by lik Example may refrayne.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page348" id = "page348">348</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_18" id = "novel2_18"> +THE EIGHTEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Mithridanes enuious of the liberality of Nathan, and goinge aboute to +kill hym, spake vnto him vnknowne, & being infourmed by himself by +what meanes he might do the same he found him in a little wood +accordingly as hee had tolde him, who knowinge him, was ashamed, and +became his friende.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Straunge</span> may seeme thys following +Hystory, and rare amonges those, in whom the vertue of liberality neuer +florished: many we reade of, that haue kept Noble and bountifull houses, +entertayninge Guestes, both Forrayne and free borne, plentifully +Feastinge them with variety of cheere, but to entertayne a Guest that +aspyreth the death of his hoast, and to cherishe hym after hee knew of +it, or liberally to offer his life, seldome or neuer we reade, or by +experience knowe: but what moued the conspirator to frowne at the state +and life of Nathan? euen that froward pestilent passion Enuy, the +consumer and deadly monster of all humanity: who imitatinge the like +cost, and port of his deuout hoast Nathan, and seekinge after equall +glory and fame, was through enuie’s force for not attayninge the like, +driuen to imagine how to kill a good and innocent man: for enuy commonly +wayteth vpon the vertuous, euen as the shadow doeth the body. And as the +Cantharides (which similitude Plutarch vseth) delight in ripe and +prosperous wheate, and crawle in spreadinge roses, so enuy chiefly them +which in vertue and richesse do abound: for had not Nathan bene famous +for hys goodnesse, and glorious for liberality, Mithridanes would neuer +haue prosecuted him by enuy, nor gon about to berieue hys lyfe. He that +enuieth the vertuous and industrious person, may bee compared to +Dedalus, whom the Poets fayne to murder Telon hys Apprentice for +deuising of the Potter’s wheele: and Mithridanes disdaynfull of Nathan’s +hospitality, would haue slayne him: but how ashamed Mithridanes was of +his practise, this example at large discourseth. Very true it is +(at least wyse if credite may bee gieuen to the words of certayne +Genoua Merchauntes, and of others whych haue trauayled that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page349" id = "page349">349</a></span> +countrey) how in Cataya, there was sometimes a rich Gentleman without +comparison, named Nathan, who hauing a place or Pallace ioyning vpon the +high way, by which the trauaylers to and from the West, and East, were +constrayned to passe, and hauing a noble and liberal heart, desirous by +experience to haue the same to be knowen, and wyth what nature and +quality it was affected, he assembled dyuers maister Masons and +Carpenters, and in short tyme erected there one of the stateliest +Pallaces for greatnesse and costly furniture that euer was seene in that +countrey, which afterwards he caused to be stored with all things +necessary, honourably to entertayne ech Gentleman that passed that way: +and with a great trayne of seruantes he welcomed and accepted sutch as +iourneyed to and fro. And in this commendable custome he perseuered so +longe as both in the East and West partes, report was bruted of his +renoume and fame: and being come to auncient yeares, not for all that +weary of his liberality, it chaunced that his fame flewe to the eares of +a yong gentleman called Mithridanes, who in a country not farre of from +his, had his abode and resiance. Mithridanes knowing himselfe to be so +rich as Nathan, enuious of his vertue and liberality, purposed by some +meanes or other to defame and obscure his neyghbour’s good reporte: and +hauing builded a Palace like to that which Nathan did possesse, began to +vse curtesies to those which passed to and fro, in outragious and +disordred sort: whereby in little time he purchased great fame. Now it +chaunced vpon a day, as Mithridanes was alone in the court of his +Palace, a poore woman entring in at one of the gates of the same, +craued almes, and had it and so successiuely euen to the twelfth and +thirtenth time, also she retorned agayne, which Mithridanes perceiuing, +said vnto her: “Good wyfe you come hither very often:” and yet he denied +not hir almes. The old woman hearing those words, sayd: “O how +maruellous is the liberality of Nathan, whose palace hath <span class = +"smallroman">XXXII.</span> entries by seuerall gates, so greate as this, +and daily begging almes there, neuer made semblance as though he knew +me, and yet the same was not denied me: and being come hither but <span +class = "smallroman">XIII.</span> times, I haue bene marked and +reproued:” and saying so, she went her way, and neuer after came thither +agayne. Mithridanes hearyng these +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page350" id = "page350">350</a></span> +wordes to proceede from the old woman fell into a great rage, deeming +the fame reported of Nathan to be a diminution of his own, and said: “Ah +wretch, when shal I be able to attayne the liberality of Nathan’s +greatest things? and why then goe I about to excel him, when in litle +matters I am not able to come neare him? verily I labour all in vaine, +if I myselfe do not seeke meanes to rid him of his life, sith croked age +is not disposed to dispatch him, I must therfore doe the same with +myne own hands.<ins class = "addition" title = +"close quote missing">”</ins> +And in that fury makyng no man priuy to his intent, he +rode forth with a smal traine, and in three dayes arriued where Nathan +dwelte, and then commaunded his men in any wise not to be knowen that +they came with him, and likewise that they knewe him not, but to prouide +lodging for themselues, vntyll sutch tyme as they had further newes from +him. Mithridanes then being arriued about evening, al alone, found +Nathan walking vp and downe before his faire Palace, without other +company than himself, who in simple attire and garment went forth to +meete him: of whom Mithridanes, bicause he knew not Nathan, demaunded if +he could tell him where Nathan dwelt. Nathan pleasantly made him answer: +“My sonne, ther is no man in these quarters that can better tel thee +than I, and therfore yf thou please, I wyll bring thee thither.” +Mithridanes said, that he should doe hym a very great pleasure: but he +would not if it were possible bee seene or knowen of Nathan: “And that +can I very wel do,” said Nathan, now that I know your mynd. Being then +lighted of from his horse, he went with Nathan, who by and by +interteined him with diuersity of talk, to his faire Palace: and Nathan +incontinently caused one of his seruaunts to take Mithridanes’ horse, +and said vnto him in hys eare that he should wyth all speede giue order +to his housholde, that none should tel the younge Man that he was +Nathan, which accordingly was done: but after they were in the Palace, +Nathan brought Mithridanes into a very fayre chambre, that none mighte +see him excepte sutch as he had appoynted to serue hym: and causinge +greate honour to bee done vnto him, hee hymselfe kepte him company. As +they two were together, Mithridanes asked him (to whom hee vsed +conuenable reuerence as to his father) what he was? whom Nathan +answered: “I am one of Nathan’s pore seruaunts, that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page351" id = "page351">351</a></span> +from the time of my youth haue bene broughte vp wyth him, and neuer +aduaunced me to any thing but to that which you see: wherefore, although +euery man greatly prayseth him, yet haue I no cause to commend hym.” +These wordes gaue some hope to Mithridanes, by better aduise and surety +to execute his wicked intente: and Nathan asked him very curteously what +he was, and for what businesse he was come thither, offeryng him helpe +and counsel in that he was able to do. Mithridanes then paused a while +before he would make him answere: and in the ende purposyng to put his +trust in him, required with great circumstance of wordes his fayth and +after that his counsell and ayde. Then he wholy discouered what he was, +wherefore he was come, and the cause that moued hym. Nathan hearing +those woordes, and the mischieuous determination of Mithridanes, was +chaunged and troubled in mynde, notwythstandyng wythout making any +semblaunce of displeasure answered him with bolde countenaunce: +“Mithridanes, thy father was a Gentleman, and of stoute stomacke, from +whome so farre as I see, thou wylt not degenerate, by attemptyng so +great an enterpryse as thou hast done. I intende to be lyberall to +ech man and praise greatly the Enuye whych thou bearest to the Vertue of +Nathan, bycause if there were many sutch, the Worlde which is now +myserable, would shortly become prosperous and happye: and doe make thee +promyse, that the intent thou goest about, shall be kepte secrete, +whereunto I can sooner gyue Counsell than any great helpe, and mine +aduyse is this: you may see from the place where we now be a lyttle +Groaue, about a quarter of a Myle hence, whereunto Nathan in a maner +walketh euery mornyng, and tarrieth there a long time: there you may +easily finde him, and do your pleasure: and if you kyll him, you may +goe, (to the intent without daunger you may returne home to your +owne House) not that way you came, but by that you see on the lefte hand +leade out of the wod, whych although it be not so common as the other, +yet is the nearest way and safest for you to passe.” When Mithridanes +was thus informed, and that Nathan departed from him, he caused worde +secretly to be sent to his Men, which likewyse lodged there, in what +place they should waight for him the next day: and when the day was com, +Nathan not altering the counsel he gaue to Mithridanes, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page352" id = "page352">352</a></span> +ne chaunging any part of the same, went all alone into the little +woodde, to receiue his Death. When Mithridanes was vp, and had taken his +bowe and sword, (for he had none other weapons) he mounted vpon his +horse, and rode to the little woodde, where a farre of he espied Nathan, +commyng thitherward all alone, and determining before he would set vppon +him to see him and heare him speake, made toward him, and catchyng him +by the band vpon his head, said vnto him: “Old chorle thou art dead.” +<ins class = "notation" title = "printed ‘Wher-/vnto’ at line break">Whervnto</ins> +Nathan made none other answer, but said, +“I haue deserued it.” When Mithridanes heard his voyce and looked +him in the face, he knew by and by that it was he which had curteously +receiued him, familiarly kept him company, and faithfully had gyuen him +counsel. Wherupon, his fury asswaged, and his anger conuerted to shame: +by meanes whereof, throwing downe his sworde which he had drawn to +strike him, he lighted of from his horse, and did prostrate himselfe at +Nathan his father’s feete, and said vnto him weeping: “I manifestly +perceiue right louing father your great lyberality, and by what pollicy +you be come hyther to render to me your lyfe: whereunto I hauyng no +ryght, declared my selfe desyrous to haue the same: but our Lord God, +more carefull of my deuoir than my self, hath euen at the very point, +when it was moste needefull, opened the eyes of myne vnderstandynge, +which curssed spite and cancred enuy haue closed vp: and therefore, the +more you were ready to gratify my desire, the greater punishment I +knowledge my selfe to deserue for my faulte. Take then of me if it +please you sutch vengance as you thynke meete for myne offence.” Nathan +caused Mithridanes to rise vp, kissinge and imbracinge hym tenderly, and +sayd vnto hym: “My sonne, thou needest not to demaund pardon, for the +enterprise done, good or euill as thou list to name it: for thou diddest +not go about to rid me of my lyfe for any hatred thou diddest bear me, +but only to be accompted the better: be assured then of me, and verily +beleue, that there is no lyuing man, that I loue better than thy self, +considering the greatnesse of thine heart not inclyned to hoorde or +gather togither the drossy muck of Syluer, as the myserable do, but to +spend that which is gathered. Be not ashamed for hauing a will to kill +me, thereby to great +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page353" id = "page353">353</a></span> +renowme: for Emperours and greatest kings, neuer streatched forth their +power, and racked their Realmes, and consequently aspired fam, for other +purpose but to kyl: not by murdering one man as thou didst meane, but of +infinit numbers, besides the burning of Countries, and rasing of Cities: +wherefore if to make thy selfe more famous, thou wouldest have killed me +alone, thyne enterprise was not newly to be wondred at, but a thyng in +dayly practise.” Mithridanes no more excusinge hys wicked intent, but +praysinge the honest excuse, which Nathan had deuised, drew neare vnto +hym to enter into further talke wyth hym, which was, how he greatly +maruelled, that he durst approch the place, with so litle rescue, where +his death was sworne, and what he meant him selfe to tell the way and +meanes: wherein he required him to say his mynde, for disclosinge of the +cause. Whereunto Nathan replied: “Maruell not, Mithridanes, of mine +intent and purpose, for sithens I was at age disposed to myne owne free +will, and determined to do that which thou hast gone about to do, neuer +any came to me, but I haue contented them (so farre as I was hable) +of that they did demaund: thou art come hither with desire to haue my +lyfe, wherefore seeing that thou diddest craue, I forthwith dyd +meane to gieue it, that thou alone mightest not be the man that should +depart from hence without atchieuing thy request: and to bring to passe +that thou myghtest haue the same, I gaue thee the best Counsel I +could, aswel for bereuing of my lyfe, as for enioyinge of thyne owne: +and therefore I say to thee agayne, and pray thee for to take it, +thereby to content thy selfe, if thou haue any pleasure therein: for I +do not know whych way better to imploy it. I haue all ready kept it +foure score yeares, and haue consumed the same in pleasures, and +delights, and do know by course of nature in other men, and generally in +all things, that long it cannot reast in breathing dayes: wherefore I +think good, that better it is to geue, as I haue dayly done, and departe +with my Treasures, than keepe it till nature cary it away in despite of +my Teeth, and maugre that I haue. It is a little gift to giue one +hundred yeares, how mutch lesse is it then to giue sixe or eyght of +those I haue to liue? Take it then if it please thee, I thee +beseech: for neuer yet found I man that did desire the same, ne yet do +know when I +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page354" id = "page354">354</a></span> +shall finde sutch one, if that thy selfe which didst desire it, do not +take it: and if it chaunce that I do finde some one, I know full +well that so mutch the longer as I shall keepe the same the lesse +esteemed it shall be, and therefore before the same be vile and of +little price, take it I beseech thee.” Mithridanes sore ashamed, sayd: +“God forbid, that by separating so deare a thing as is thy life, that I +should take it, or onely desire the same, as I did erst, from which I +would not diminish yeares, but willingly would of myne owne ad thereto +if I could.” Whereunto Nathan by and by replyed: “And if thou couldest, +wouldest thou gieue them? and wouldest thou cause me do to thee that +which I neuer did to any man, that is to say, to take of thy things +which neuer I did of any liuing person?” “Yea verily,” aunswered +Mithridanes. “Then,” sayde Nathan: “thou oughtest there to doe that +which I wyll tel thee: which is to remayne here in my house so younge as +thou art, and beare the name of Nathan, and I would goe to thine, and +bee called Mithridanes.” Then Mithridanes answered: “If I had also so +great experience as thou hast, I woulde not refuse thine offer, but +bicause I am assured, that my deedes woulde diminish the renoume of +Nathan, I wyll not marre that in another, which I cannot redresse +in my selfe: and therefore I wyll not take it.” After thys talke, and a +great deale more betwene them, they repayred to the Palace, vppon the +request of Nathan, where many dayes he did great honour to Mithridanes, +incoraging and counselling him, so wel as he could, dayly to perseuere +in his high and great indeuour. And Mithridanes desirous to returne home +with his company, Nathan (after that he had let him well to know, that +he was not able to surpasse him in liberality) gaue him leaue.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page355" id = "page355">355</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_19" id = "novel2_19"> +THE NINETEENTH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Mayster Gentil of Carisendi being come from Modena, tooke a woman out of +hir graue that was buried for dead, who after she was come agayne, +brought forth a Sonne, which mayster Gentil rendred afterwardes with the +mother to mayster Nicholas Chasennemie her husband.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Reading</span> this History, I consider two +straung and rare chaunces: the one a lyberall and courteous act of an +earnest louer towards his beloued and hir husband, in leauinge hir +vntouched, and not dishonored, although in full puissance to doe his +pleasure: the other a lyke liberall offre by presentinge whom he dearly +loued, and a newe borne Chylde: both supposed to be dead by hir +freendes, and therefore Intoumbed in Graue. Wherewithall is to bee noted +the rare and singuler desire of a gentlewoman, by humble sute for +conseruation of her honour, although longe time pursued by a Gentleman +that reuiued hir almost from death, and thought her vtterly to be void +of life. To praise the one, and to leaue the other not magnified, it +were a part of discurtesy: but to extol both with shoutes, and +acclamations of infinite praise no dout but very commendable. If +comparisons may be made with Prynces of elder yeares, and not to note +those of later, truely Mayster Gentil by that hys fact, seemeth not +mutch inferior to Scipio Africanus for sparing the wyfe of Indibilis, ne +yet to king Cyrus for Panthea the wyfe of Abradatus: although both of +them not in equall state of loue, (as wholly estraunged from that +passion) like to maister Gentil, who in deed for subduing that griefe +and motion, deserueth greater prayse. For sooner is that torment auoyded +at the first assault and pinch, than when it is suffred long to flame +and raigne in that yelding portion of man, the heart, which once fed +with the bayt of loue, is seldome or neuer loosed. To do at large to +vnderstand the proofe of those most vertuous persons, thus beginneth the +history. At Bologna a very notable Citty of Lombardy, there was a Knyght +of very great respect for his vertue, named maister Gentil Carissendi, +who in his youth fell +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page356" id = "page356">356</a></span> +in loue with a Gentlewoman called maistresse Katherine, the wyfe of one +mayster Nicholas Chassennemie. And bicause during that loue he receiued +a very ill counterchange for his affection that he bare vnto hir, he +went away (like one desperate) to be the iudge and potestate of Modena, +whereunto he was called. About the time that hir husband being out of +Bologna, and the gentlewoman at hir Manour in the countrey, not past a +mile and a halfe from the Citty, (whither she went to remayne, bicause +she was with childe) it chaunced that she was sodenly surprised with a +sicknesse, which was of so great force, as there was no token of lyfe in +her, but rather iudged by all Phisitians to be a dead Woman. And because +that hir neerest Kinne reported that they hearde hir saye, that shee +could not bee longe time with Childe, but that the infante must be +perfect in her wombe and ready to be deliuered, and therefore affected +wyth some other disease and griefe that would bring hir to hir ende, as +a Timpany or other swelling, rising of grosse humors, they thought hir a +dead Woman, and past recouery: wherefore vpon a time she falling into a +traunce, was verily supposed to be dead. Who after they had mourned hir +death, and bewayled the sodayn expiration of hir soule, caused hir to be +buried without hope of recouery (euen as she was in that extasie) in a +graue of a church adioyning harde by the house wher she dwelt. Which +thing incontinently was aduertised master Gentil by one of his frends, +who although he was not likely, as he thought, to attayne hir fauor and +in vtter dispayre therof, yet it gryeued him very mutch that no better +heede was taken vnto hir, thynking by diligence and time shee woulde +haue reuyued agayn, sayinge thus in the end vnto him selfe: “How now +madam Katherin, that Death hath wrought his wyll wyth you, and I could +neuer obteyne durynge your life one simple looke from those youre +glistering eies, which lately I beheld to my great ouerthrow and decay, +wherfore now when you cannot defend your self, I may bee bold (you +being dead) to steale from you some desired kisse.” When hee had sayd +so, beyng already Nyght, and hauynge taken order that none should know +of his departure, he gat vpon his Horse, accompanied with one only +seruaunt, and wythout taryinge anye where, arriued at the place where +his Lady was buryed, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page357" id = "page357">357</a></span> +opening the Graue, forthwith he entred in, and laying himself downe +besides hir, he approched neare hir face, and many times kissed hir, +pouryng forthe great abundance of teares. But as we see the appetyte of +Man not to be content excepte it proceede further (specially of sutch as +bee in loue) beyng determined to tarrye no longer there, and to departe, +he sayd: “Ah God, why should I goe no further, why should I not touche +hir, why should I not proue whyther she be alyue or dead?” Vanquished +then wyth that motyon, hee felt hir brests, and holding his hand there +for a certayne tyme, perceyued hir Heart as it were to pant, and thereby +some lyfe remayning in hir: wherefore so softly as he could, wyth the +helpe of his man, he raised hir out of the graue: and settynge hir vppon +his Horse before him, secretly caried hir home to his house at Bologna. +The mother of maister Gentil dwelled there, which was a graue and +vertuous Matrone, who vnderstandyng by her sonne the whole effect of +that chaunce, moued wyth compassion, vnknowne to anye man, placing hir +before a great fire, and comfortyng hir wyth a bathe prepared for the +purpose, she recouered lyfe in the Gentlewoman that was supposed to bee +deade, who so soone as she was com to hir self, threw forth a great sigh +and sayd: “Alas, wher am I now?” To whom the good old woman sayd: “Be of +good cheere swete hart, yee bee in a good place.” The Gentlewoman hauing +wholly recouered hir senses, and looking round about hir, not yet well +knowing where she was, and seing maister Gentill before hir, prayed his +mother to tell hir how she came thither. To whome maister Gentil +declared in order what he had done for hir, and what meanes he vsed to +bryng hir thyther: wherof makyng hir complaynt, and lamentyng the lyttle +regard and neglygence of hir frends, she rendred vnto hym inumerable +thankes. Then she prayed him for the Loue which at other times he bare +hir and for his courtesie, that she might not receyue in hys house any +thing that should be dishonorable to hir person, ne yet to hir husband, +but so soone as it was Daye to suffer hir to goe home to hir owne House: +whereunto maister Gentil answered: “Madam, what soeuer I haue desired in +time past, now am I fully purposed neuer to demaund any thyng specially +in this place or in any other but the safety of your honour, and that I +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page358" id = "page358">358</a></span> +would doe to myne owne sister, sith it hath pleased God to showe me that +pleasure, as by my meanes you are reuiued from death to life, and to +delyuer you to mee in consideration of the loue that I haue born you +heretofore: but this good worke, which this Nyghte I haue done for you, +well deserueth some recompence. Wherefore my desire is, that you deny me +not the pleasure which I shall demaund:” whome the gentlewoman +curteously answered, that shee was very ready, so the same were honest +and in hir power to doe. Then sayd mayster Gentil: “Mystresse, all your +kin and al they of Bologna, doe beleue for a trouth that you bee deade, +wherefore there is none that loketh for your recouery agayne: and the +pleasure then whych I demaund, is that you wyll vouchsafe secretlye to +tarry here wyth my mother, vntill I retourne from Modena, which shal be +with so great expedition as I can: and the cause why I desire the same, +is, for that I intend to make a fayre and acceptable present of you vnto +your husband in the presence of the principal of this City.” The +gentlewoman knowing hir self to be greatly bound to the knight, and that +hys request was honest, was content to doe what hee demaunded. Albeit +shee desired earnestly to reioyce hir frendes for hir recouered life, +and so promised vppon hir faith. And vnnethes had she ended hir talke, +but she felt the pain of chyldbirth: wherfore wyth the ayde of the +mother of maister Gentil, she tarried not long before she was deliuered +of a fayre Sonne, which greatly augmented the ioy of maister Gentil and +hir. Mayster Gentil commaunded that she should haue al thyngs that were +necessary to be ministred vnto hir, and that she should be vsed as his +owne Wyfe. Then he pryuily returned to Modena, where when he had a while +supplied his office, he returned to Bologna, and prepared a great feast +at his house, the same morning that he arriued, for diuers gentlemen of +the city, amongs whom Nicholas Chasennemie was one. When the company of +the bidden guests wer com, (the gentlewoman in so good health and lykyng +as euer she was, and hir Child wel and lusty), he sate down amongs them +doing vnto them incomparable myrth and pastime, and serued them +bountifully wyth dyuers sortes of meates. When dinner was almost done, +hauing before told the Gentlewoman what he ment to doe, and in what +manner +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page359" id = "page359">359</a></span> +she should behaue hir selfe, he began thus to say: “My Maysters, +I do remember that whilom I haue hearde tell that in the Country of +Persia, there was a goodly custom (as me seemeth) that when som one +was disposed to do great honour vnto his friend, he bad hym home to his +house, and there shewed him the thing whych he loued best, were it wyfe, +woman, or daughter, or what so euer it were, affirming that like as he +disdayned not to shew the same, which outwardly he loued best, euen so +he would if it were possible, willingly discouer his owne heart: whych +custome I purpose to obserue in this City. Ye of your curtesie haue +vouchsafed to do me so great honour, as to repayre vnto this my simple +feast, which benefite I wyl recompence after the Persian manner, by +shewing vnto you the thinge which I loue moste deerely aboue any in this +worlde, or hereafter shal be able to loue so long as my life endureth: +but before I doe the same, I pray you to tell mee your opynyon in a +doubte whych I shall propose. There was a certayne person whych in hys +house had a good and Faythfull Seruaunte who became extremely sick: that +Person without attendyng the end of his diseased seruaunt, caused him to +be caried into the midst of the streate wythout any further care for +him. In the meane tyme there came a straunger by, who moued by +compassion of the sicke seruaunt, bare him home to his owne house, where +wyth great care and diligence, sparing no cost or charge, made him to +recouer his former healthe: I would now fayne know of you, whither +for retaining and vsing the seruice of that seruaunt, his first maister +by good right myghte complayne vpon the seconde, if he should demaund +hym agayne, or by demaunding of him agayne, the second not disposed to +restore him, might susteyne any damage.” The gentlemen after many +opinions and arguments debated too and fro amonges them, and at length +all concluding in one mind, gaue charge to Nicholas Chasennemie, +(bicause he was an eloquent talker) to make the answer: who first +praising the Persians custome, said that he was, (with the rest) of this +opinion, that the first maister had no further title in his seruaunt, +hauing in sutch necessity not onely forsaken him, but throwen him into +the streate, and that for the good turnes whych the second maister had +don him, he ought by good right to be hys: wherefore by kepyng +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page360" id = "page360">360</a></span> +him, he did no wrong, force, or iniury to the first. Al the rest at the +Table (which were very discret and honest persons) sayd altogyther that +they were of hys opinion. The knight content with that answer, and +specially bycause Nicholas Chasennemie had pronounced it, affyrmed that +hee was likewyse of that minde, and afterwards he sayd: “Time it is then +that I render vnto you the honor which you haue done me, in manner +accordyngly as I haue promysed.<ins class = "addition" title = +"close quote missing">”</ins> +Then he called vnto him two of hys Seruaunts, and +sent them to the Gentlewoman, whom hee had caused to be apparelled and +decked very gorgeously, praying hir by hir presence to content and +satisfie al the company. And she taking in hir armes hir little faire +sonne, came into the hall, accompanied with the two Seruauntes, and was +placed (as it pleased the kynght) besides a very honest gentleman, +and then he sayde: “Syrs, behold the thing which I loue best, and +purpose to loue aboue all worldly things, and whither I haue occasion so +to doe, your eyes may bee Iudges.” The gentlemen doing their reuerence +unto hir, greatly praised hir, and said to the Knight that ther was good +reason why she oughte to be beloued: Vpon which commendations they began +more attentyuely to behold hir, and many of them would haue sayd and +sworne that it had bin shee in deede if it had not bin thought that she +had bin dead. But Nicholas beheld hir more than the rest, who very +desirous to know what she was, could not forbeare (when he saw that the +Knight was a little departed from the place) to aske hir whyther shee +was of Bologna, or a straunger. When the Gentlewoman saw hir husband to +ask hir that question, she could scarce forbeare from making aunswere, +notwithstanding to atchieue that whych was purposed, she helde hir +peace. Another asked her yf that little Boye was hers: And another if +shee were the Wyfe of mayster Gentil, or any kin vnto hym: vnto whom +shee gaue no answere at all. But when maister Gentil came in, one of the +straungers sayd vnto him: “Syr, thys gentlewoman is a very good +creature, but she seemeth to be dumbe. Is it true or not?” “Syrs,<ins +class = "addition" title = "close quote missing">”</ins> sayde maister +Gentil, “that is but a little argument of hir vertue for this time to +hold hir peace.” “Tell vs then (sayde he) what is she?” “That wil I +do very gladly,” sayd the knight, “vnder condition that none of you +shall remoue out of his place for +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page361" id = "page361">361</a></span> +any thing I speake, vntill I haue ended my tale:” which request being +graunted, and the table taken vp, maister Gentil which was set downe by +the Gentlewoman, sayd: “My maysters, this gentlewoman is the loyall and +faithful seruant, of whom earst I propounded the question, whom I haue +releeued from amids the streate, whither hir kin, little caring for hir, +threw hir as a vile and vnprofitable thing: and haue by my great care +brought to passe, that I haue discharged hir from death, vpon an +affection which God knoweth to be so pure and perfect, as of a lumpe of +dead lothsome flesh hee hath reuiued so fayre and freshe as you see: but +to the intent you may more playnly vnderstand how it is come to passe, +I will open the same in few words.” And beginning at the day when +he fell in loue with hir, he particularly told them, what had chaunced +till that time, to the great maruell and admiration of them that heard +him, and then added these woordes: “By meanes whereof, if your minde be +not chaunged within this litle time, and specially master Nicholas, of +good right she is my wife, and none by iust title can clayme hir.” +Whereunto none at al made answere, looking that he shoulde haue +proceeded further. In the meane while Nicholas and the rest that were +there, fell into earnest weepinge. But maister Gentil, rising from the +borde and taking in his armes the little childe, and the gentlewoman by +the hand, went towardes Nicholas, and sayd vnto him: “Rise vp sir +gossip, I do not restore vnto thee thy Wife, whom thy frends and +householde did cast into the Streat, but I will geue thee this +Gentlewoman my Gossip, with the litle childe, that is, as I am assured +begotten of thee, for whom at the christening I made answere and +promise, and called him Gentil, and do pray thee that she be no lesse +esteemed of thee now (for being in my house almost three moneths) than +she was before. For I swere by the almighty God, who made me in loue +with hir, (peraduenture that my loue might be the cause of hir +preseruation) that she neuer liued more honestly with hir father, +mother, or with thee, than she hath done in company of my mother.” When +he had sayd so, he returned towards the Gentlewoman, and sayd vnto hir: +“Maistresse, from this time forth, I discharge you of the promise +which you haue made me, and leaue you to your husband franke and free.” +And when he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page362" id = "page362">362</a></span> +had bestowed the gentlewoman, and the chylde in the fathers armes, he +returned to his place agayne. Nicholas ioyfully receyued his Wyfe and +childe, for the whych so mutch the more he reioysed, as hee was furthest +of from hope of hir recouery, rendering inumerable thankes to the Knight +and the rest, and moued with compassion hee wept for company, greatly +praysing maister Gentil for that act, who was commended of ech man that +heard the reporte thereof. The Gentlewoman was receiued into hir house +wyth maruellous ioye: And longe tyme after she was gazed vpon by the +Citizens of Bologna, as a thing to their great wonder reuiued agayne. +Afterwards Maister Gentil continued styll a friend vnto Nicholas, and +vnto hys Wyfe and Chyldren.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page363" id = "page363">363</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_20" id = "novel2_20"> +THE TWENTIETH NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +Saladine in the habite of a Marchaunt, was honourably receyued into the +house of mayster Thorello, who went ouer the Sea, in company of the +Christians, and assigned a terme of his wyfe when she should mary +agayne. He was taken, and caried to the Sovldan to be his Faulconer, who +knowing him, and suffering himself to be knowen, did him great honour. +Mayster Thorello fell sicke, and by Magique Art, was caried in a night +to Pavie, where he found his wyfe about to mary agayne, who knowinge +him, returned home with him to his owne house.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Very</span> comely it is (sayeth Cicero in +the second booke of hys Offices,) that Noblemens houses should styll be +open to noble Guestes and Straungers. A saying by the honourable +and other Estates to be fixed in sure remembraunce, and accordingly +practised: For hospitality and houshold intertaynment, heaping vp double +gayne and commodity. The Guest it linketh and knitteth in fast band of +perfect friendship, common familiarity, disporte of mynde and pleasant +recreation, the poore and needy it feedeth, it cherisheth, it prouoketh +in them deuout prayers, godly blessings, and seruice in tyme of neede. +Hospitality is a thing so diuine, as in law of Nature and Chryst, it was +well and brotherly obserued. Lot disdayned not to receyue the Aungels, +which were straungers vnto him, and by reason of hys common vse thereof, +and theyr frendly intertaynment, he and his houshold was delyuered from +the daunger of the City, escaped temporal fire, and obteined heauenly +rewarde. Abraham was a friendly host to straungers, and therefore in his +old dayes, and in the barrein age of his wyfe Sara, he begat Isaac. +Ietro albeit he was an Ethnicke and vnbeleuyng man, yet lyberally +intertained Moyses, and maried him to Sephora, one of his Daughters. The +poore widow of Sarepta interteined Helias, and Symon the Currior +disdayned not Peter, nor Lydia the purple silke woman, Paule and his +fellowes. Forget not Hospitality, (saith the said Apostle Paule,) for +wyth the same diuers haue pleased Aungels by receiuing them into theyr +houses. If Paule +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page364" id = "page364">364</a></span> +the true preacher of eternall Healthe, hath so commended kepyng of good +Houses which by the former terme wee call Hospitality, then it is a +thing to bee vsed amonges those that bee able to mainteine the same: who +ought with liberall hand frankely to reach bread and victuals to their +acquaintance, but specially to straungers, whych wandering in forein +places, be vtterly vnable to helpe themselues, and peraduenture in sutch +neede, as without sutch curtesie, do perishe. For the further +amplification of whych vertue, what shall I neede to remember straunge +and prophane Histories? as of Symon of Athens, who was so famous in the +same, as the tyrant Crytias, when he wished for the ryches of Scopades +and the victories of Agesilaus, forgat not also to craue the liberality +of Cimon. Pacuuius also, the Prynce of Campania, so friendly entertained +Annibal, as when his sonne to do the Romanes a good turne, would haue +killed him as he sat at supper, was staied by his fathers request (whom +he made priuy of his intent before they sate downe.) Pacuuius had he not +more regarded the office of hospitality, than the safety of his +countrey, might ful wel by that murder, haue defended the same from the +destruction whereunto afterwards it fel. Homere reporteth, that Menelaus +fighting a combat with Paris of Troy made inuocation and prayer vnto the +Gods, that he might be reuenged vpon him for the rape of his wife +Helena, to the intent the posterity hearing of his punishmente, mighte +feare to polute friendly housholde interteynment. Wherefore, sith +hospitality hath bene thus put in vse in elder tyme, practysed in all +ages, and the poluters of the same detested and accurssed, and hath +notorious commodities incident vnto it, I deeme it so worthy to be +frequented in noble men and all degrees, as theyr Palaces and great +houses should swarme wyth guests, and their gates lustring with whole +multitudes of the poore to be satisfied with relief. Sutch hath ben the +sacred vse and reuerent care of auncient tyme. Sutch hath bene the +zealous loue of those whose fieldes and barnes, closets, and chestes +haue bene stored and stuffed with worldely wealth, that comparing that +golden age, glistering with piety and vertue, to these our worsse than +copper days, cancred with all corruption, we shal find the match so +like, as darke and light, durt and Aungell golde. Ceasing then of +further discourse hereof, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page365" id = "page365">365</a></span> +this history folowing shall elucidate and displaye the mutuall +beneuolence of two noble personages, the one a mighty Souldan, an enimy +of God, but yet a fryende to those that fauored good entertainment and +housekepyng: the other a Gentleman of Pauie, a rich and liberall +marchaunt, and a friendly welcomer of straungers. The Souldan demaunding +the way to Pauie, somewhat digressing from the same, is not onely +honourably conueyed to Pauie, and feasted there, but also sumptuously +cheryshed, banketted, and rewarded by the sayd Marchant before his +commyng thyther. The marchant man desirous to be one of the holye voyage +intended by christian Princes, passed ouer the seas, who put to his +shifts there throughe the aduerse lucke receyued by the Christians, +became the Souldans Fawconer, and afterwardes knowen vnto him by +certaine markes and signes, is with greater honor intertained of the +Souldan, and more richly guerdoned, sent home agayne by Magike Arte to +anticipate the mariage of his wife, vnto whom he had prefixed a certaine +date and terme to marry againe if before that tyme, he did not returne. +All which Noble entertainment, and the circumstances thereof, in this +manner do begin. In the time of the Emperour Fredericke the firste, the +Chrystians to recouer the Holy Lande, made a generall voyage and passage +ouer the Sea. Saladine a most vertuous Prynce, then Souldan of Babylon, +hauing intelligence thereof, a certayne time before, determined in +his own person to see and espy the preparation which the Christian +Princes made for that passage, the better to prouide for his owne, and +hauing put order for his affayres in Ægypt, making as though he would go +on Pilgrimage, tooke his iourney in the apparel of a Marchant, +accompanied only with two of his chiefest and wisest counsellers, and +three seruaunts. And when he had searched and trauelled many christian +prouinces, and riding through Lumbardy to passe ouer the Mountaynes, it +chaunced that betweene Millan and Pauy, somwhat late he met wyth a +gentleman named mayster Thorello de Istria of Pauy, who with his +houshoulde, his dogges and hawkes, for his pleasure went to soiorne in +one of his Manours, that was delectably placed upon the ryuer of Tesino. +And when maister Thorello sawe them come, thinckinge that they were +certayn Gentlemen straungers, he desired to do them honour. Wherefore +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page366" id = "page366">366</a></span> +Saladine demaunding of one of mayster Thorello his men, how farre it was +from thence to Pauie, and whether they might come thither time inough to +go in, master Thorello would not suffer his man to speake, but he +himself made aunswere, saying: “sirs, yee cannot get into Pauie in time, +for that the Gates will be shut before your comming.” Than sayd +Saladine: “tell us then wee pray you, bicause we be straungers, where +wee may lodge this night.” Maister Thorello sayd: “That will I willingly +do, I was about euen presently to send one of my men that be here, +so far as Pauie, about certayne businesse, him wil I appoint to be your +guide to a place where you shall haue very good lodging,” and callinge +one of his wysest men vnto him, he gaue him charge of that he had to do, +and sent him with them, after whom he followed: where incontynently in +so good order as he could, caused to be made redy a sumptuous supper, +and the tables to be couered in a pleasant garden. Afterwards hee went +himselfe to entertayne them. The seruaunt talking with the Gentlemen of +many thinges, conducted them at leysure somwhat out of the way to +protract the time, to his maysters house: and so soon as maister +Thorello espied them, he with liberall heart and bountifull mynde bad +them welcome. Saladine which was a very wyse man, well perceyued that +the Gentleman doubted that they woulde not haue come vnto hym if he had +inuited them at their first meetinge, and for that cause, to the intent +they should not refuse to lodge at his house, he had pollitiquely caused +them to be conducted thither, and aunsweringe hys greeting, sayd: “Syr, +if a man may quarrell with them that be curteous, wee may complayne of +you, who leauinge a part our way which you haue caused somewhat to be +lengthened, without deseruinge your good will, otherwise than by one +onely salutation, you haue constrayned vs to take and receyue this your +so great curtesie.” The wise and well spoken Knight, sayd: “Syr, thys +curtesie which you receyue of me, in respect of that which belongeth +vnto you, as by your countenaunce I may wel coniecture, is very small, +but truely out of Pauie ye could haue got no lodging that had ben good: +and therefore be not displeased I pray you to be caried out of the way, +to haue a little better intertaynment,” and saying so, his men came +forth to receyue those straungers, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page367" id = "page367">367</a></span> +when they were lighted, their horsses were taken and conueyed into the +stables, and mayster Thorello caryed the three Gentlemen to their +chambers, which he had prepared for them, where their Bootes were pulled +of, and excellent wyne brought forth, somewhat to refresh them before +supper: then he held them with pleasaunt talke vntyll the houre of +supper was com. Saladine and they which were with him, could all speake +Latine, and therefore well vnderstanded, and they lykewise vnderstoode +eche man, by meanes whereof euery of them, thought that the Gentleman +was the most curteous and best conditioned Personage, indued with the +most eloquent talke that euer they sawe. On the other side it seemed to +mayster Thorello, that they were the noblest and Princelik personages, +and far more worthy of estimation then he thought before. Wherefore, he +was very angry wyth himselfe, that he had no greater company and better +intertaynment for them that night, which he purposed to recompence the +next day at dinner. Wherefore hee sent one of hys men to Pauie, being +not farr from thence, to his wife, that was a very wise and noble +gentlewoman, and afterwards he brought them into the garden where he +curteously demaunded what they were. To whom Saladine answered: “we be +marchaunts of Cypres trauailing to Paris, about our businesse.” Then +said maister Thorello: “I would to God that this country brought +forth such gentlemen as the land of Cypres maketh marchants,” and so +passed the time from one talke to another, vntyll supper time came: +Wherefore to honour them the better caused them to sit downe at the +Table, euery of them according to his degree and place: And there they +were exceadingly wel intreated and serued in good order, their supper +being farre more bountifull than they looked for. And they sate not +longe after that the table was taken away, but maister Thorello +supposing them to be weary, caused them to be lodged in gorgeous and +costly beds: and he likewyse within a while after went to bed. The +seruaunt sent to Pauie, did the message to his mistresse, who not like a +woman wyth a womanish heart, but like one of Princely Mind, +incontinently caused many of her husband’s frends and seruaunts to be +sent for. Afterwards she made ready a great feast, and inuited the +noblest and chiefest Citizens of the City: +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page368" id = "page368">368</a></span> +apparelling hir house wyth clothe of gold and silke, tapistrie and other +furnitures, putting in order all that which hir husband had commaunded. +The next day in the morning the Gentleman rose, with whom maister +Thorello mounted on horsebacke, and carying with him his Hawks, he +brought them to the Ryuer, and shewed them diuers flightes. But Saladine +demaunding where the best lodging was in Pauie, maister Thorello sayd: +“I wyll shew you my selfe, for that I haue occasion to go thither.” +They beleeuing him, were contented, and rode on their way, and being +about nine of the clock, arriued at the City, thinking they should haue +ben brought to the best Inne of the towne: but maister Thorello conueyed +them to his owne house, where fiftye of the chiefest Citizens ready to +receiue them sodaynly appeared before them. Which Saladine, and they +that were wyth him perceyuinge, coniectured by and by what that dyd +meane, and sayd: “Maister Thorello, this is not the request whych wee +demaunded, your entertainment yesternight was to sumptuous and more then +we desired, wherefore giue vs leaue we praye you to departe.” Whom +maister Thorello answered: “My maisters, for that which ye receyued +yesternight I wil giue thanks to Fortune, and not to you: for I +ouertaking you by the way, forced you in a maner to make your repayre +vnto my homely house: but for thys morninge voyage, I haue my selfe +prepared, and likewyse the Gentlemen about you, with whom to refuse to +dine, if you thincke it curtesie, doe as yee please.” Saladine and his +companions vanquished wyth sutch persuation, lighted, and being receiued +by the Gentlemen in louing and curteous order, were conueied to their +chambers, which were richly furnished for them, and hauing put of their +riding apparel, and somewhat refreshed themselues, they came into the +Hall, where all things were in redinesse in triumphant sorte. Then Water +was brought them to washe, and they placed at the Table, were serued +wyth many delicate meats in magnificent and royal order, in sutch wise, +as if the Emperour himselfe had bene there coulde not haue bene better +entertayned. And albeit that Saladine and his companions were great +Lordes, and accustomed to see marueylous thynges, yet they wondred very +mutch at thys, considering the degree of the Knight, whom they knewe to +bee but a Citizen +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page369" id = "page369">369</a></span> +and no Prynce or great Lord. When dinner was done, and that they had +talked a little together, the weather waxing very hot, the Gentlemen of +Pauie, (as it pleased mayster Thorello) went to take their rest, +and he remayned wyth his three Guests: with whom he went into a chamber, +where to the intent that nothing which he had and loued might be +vnseene, caused his honest Wyfe to be called forth: who being very +beautiful and wel fauored, clothed in rich and costly array, accompanied +with her two yong sonnes, which were like to Aungels, came before them, +and gratiously saluted them. When they saw her, they rose vp, and +reuerently receiued hir, then they caused hir to sit downe in the mids +of them, sporting and dalying with hir two fayre sonnes. But after she +had pleasantly entred in talk, she asked them of whence they were, and +whither they were going? To whom the Gentlemen made the same aunswere +that they had done before to maister Thorello. Then the Gentlewoman sayd +vnto them with smilinge cheere: “I perceyue then that mine aduice +being a woman, is come well to passe. And therefore I pray you, that of +your special grace you will do me this pleasure, as not to refuse or +disdain the litle present that I shall bring before you, but that you +take it, in consideration that women according to their little ability, +giue little things, and that yee regard more the affection of the person +whych offreth the gist, then the value of the giuen thing.” And causing +to be brought before euery of them two fayre Roabes, the one lined with +silke, and the other with Meneuayr, not in fashion of a Citizen, or of a +Marchant, but Noblemanlike, and <span class = "smallroman">III.</span> +Turkey gownes with sleeues of Taffata, lined with linnen cloth, she +sayde vnto them: “Take I pray you these roabes, with the like whereof +this day I apparelled my husband, and the other things may also serue +your turnes, although they be little worth, considering that yee be +farre from your Wyues, and the greatnesse of your iorney, which you haue +taken, and haue yet to make, and also for that Marchantmen loue to be +neat, and fine in things appertinent to their bodies.” The Gentlemen +mutch maruelled, and playnly knew that Maister Thorello was disposed not +to forget any one part of curtesie towards them, and doubted +(by reason of the beauty and richesse of the roabes not +marchantlike,) that they +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page370" id = "page370">370</a></span> +should not be knowne of mayster Thorello, notwithstandinge one of them +aunswered her: “These be (Gentlewoman) very great gifts, and ought not +lightly to be accepted, if your intreaty did not constraine vs, against +which no denial ought to be made.” That done, when mayster Thorello +returned into the chamber, the Gentlewoman tooke her leaue, and went hir +way: and then shee furnished the seruants with diuers other things +necessary for them, and Mayster Thorello obtayned by earnest request, +that they should tary all that day. Wherefore after they had rested +themselues a while, they did put on their roabes, and walked forth on +horsebacke into the Citty: and when supper tyme was come, they were +bountifully feasted in honorable company: and when bed time approched, +went to rest. And so soone as it was day they rose, and founde in steade +of their weary Hackneyes, three fat and fayre Palfreyes, and also the +like number of fresh and mighty horsses for their seruaunts: Which +Saladine seeing, turned towardes his companions, and sayd vnto them: +“I sweare by God that ther was neuer a more liberall Gentleman, +more courteous or better conditioned than this is. And if Christian +kings for their part be sutch, I meane indued with sutch kingly +qualities as this Gentleman is, the Souldan of Babylon shall haue inough +to do to deale with one, and not to attend for all those which we see to +be in preparation for inuasion of his Country.” But seeing that to +refuse them or render them agayne, serued to no purpose, they thanked +him very humbly, and got vppon their horse. Mayster Thorello wyth many +of his frends, accompanied them out of the Citty a great peece of the +way: And albeit that it mutch greeued Saladine to depart from mayster +Thorello (so farre in he was already in loue with him) yet being +constrayned to forgo his company, hee prayed him to returne, who +although very loth to depart, sayd unto them: “Syrs, I will be +gone, sith it is your pleasure I shall so do, and yet I say vnto you, +that I know not what you be, ne yet demaund to know, but so farre as +pleaseth you. But what soeuer yee be, you shall not make me beleue at +this tyme, that yee be marchauntes, and so I bid you farewell.” Saladine +hauing taken hys leaue of those that accompanied mayster Thorello, +answered him: “Syr, it may come to passe, that we may let you see +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page371" id = "page371">371</a></span> +our marchaundise, the better to confirme your beleefe.” And so departed. +Saladine then hauing thus taken his leaue, assuredly determined if he +liued, and that the Warres he looked for did not let him, to do no lesse +honor to mayster Thorello, then he had done to him, and fell into great +talke with his companions of him, of his Wyfe and of his things, acts +and deedes, greatly praysing all his entertaynment. But after he had +trauayled and vewed al the west parts, imbarkinge himselfe and his +company, he returned to Alexandria, throughly informed of his enemies +indeuors, prepared for his defence. Mayster Thorello returned to Pauie, +and mused a long time what these three might be, but he coulde not so +mutch as gesse, what they were. When the tyme of the appoynted passage +for the Chrystians was come, and that great preparation generally was +made, Mayster Thorello notwithstandinge the teares and prayers of his +Wyfe, was fully bent to go thither, and hauinge set all thinges in order +for that Voyage, and ready to get on horsebacke, he sayd vnto hir whom +he perfectly loued: “Sweete Wyfe, I am goinge as thou seest, this +Iourney, aswell for myne honour sake, as for health of my soule: +I recommende vnto you our goodes and honor: And bycause I am not so +certayne of my retourne, for a thousand accydentes that may chaunce, as +I am sure to goe, I praye thee to doe mee thys pleasure, that what +so euer chaunceth of mee, yf thou haue no certayne newes of my life, +that yet thou tarry one yeare, one Moneth, and one day, the same terme +to begin at the day of my departure.” The Gentlewoman whych bytterly +wept, answered: “I know not dear husband how I shal be able to +beare the sorrowe wherein you leaue mee, if you goe awaye: But yf my +Lyfe bee more stronge and sharpe, than sorrowe it selfe: and whether you +lyue or dye, or what so euer come of you, I wyll lyue and dye the +Wyfe of Mayster Thorello, and the onely spouse of hys remembraunce.” +Whereunto mayster Thorello sayde: “Sweete Wyfe, I am more than +assured that touching your selfe, it wyll proue as you do promise: But +you beyng a younge Woman, fayre, and well allyed, and your Vertue greate +and well knowne throughoute the Countrye, I am sure that many +greate Personages and gentlemen (if any suspytyon bee conceyued of +my Death) wyll make requestes to your brethren and Kindred, from whose +pursute +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page372" id = "page372">372</a></span> +(althoughe you be not disposed,) you can not defende your selfe, and it +behoueth that of force, you please theyr wil, whych is the onely reason +that moueth mee to demaunde that terme, and no longer tyme.” The +Gentlewoman sayd: “I wil doe what I can for fulfilling of my +promyse: And albeit in the ende that I shall bee constrayned to doe +contrary to my lykyng, be assured that I wyll obey the charge whych nowe +you haue gyuen me: And I moste humbly thanke Almyghty God, that hee +neuer brought vs into these termes before this tyme.” Theyr talke ended, +the Gentlewoman weepyng embraced mayster Thorello, and drawyng a Ryng +from hir Fynger, she gaue it hym, sayinge: “If it chaunce that I dye +before I see you, remember me when you shal beholde the same.” He +receiuinge the ring, got vp vppon his horse, and takinge his leaue, went +on hys voyage, and arriued at Genoua shipped himself in a Galley, and +toke his way, whereunto wind and weather so fauored, as wythin fewe +dayes he landed at Acres, and ioyned wyth the army of the Chrystyans: +wherein began a great mortalytye and Plague, duryng which infection +(what so euer was the cause) eyther by the industrie or Fortune of +Saladine the rest of the Christians that escaped were almost taken and +surprised by him, without any fighte or blowe stricken. All which were +imprysoned in many cities, and deuided into diuers places, amongs whych +prysoners maister Thorello was one, who was caryed captyue to +Alexandria, where beyng not knowne, and fearyng to be knowne, forced of +necessitie, gaue him selfe to the keepyng of Hawkes, a qualitie +wherein he had very good skyll, whereby in the ende hee grew to the +acquaintance of the Souldan, who for that occasion (not knowing him that +time) toke hym out of pryson, and retayned him for his Fawconer. Maister +Thorello which was called of the Souldan by none other name than +Chrystian, whome hee neyther knewe, ne yet the Souldan him, had none +other thing in his mynde and remembraunce but Pauia, and manye tymes +assayed to escape and run away: But he neuer came to the poynt: Wherfore +dyuers Ambassadoures from Genoua being come to Saladine, to raunsome +certayne of theyr Prysoners, and being ready to returne, hee thought to +wryte vnto his wyfe, to let hir know that he was aliue, and that hee +would come home so +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page373" id = "page373">373</a></span> +soone as he coulde, praying hir to tarry his retourne: Which was the +effecte of hys Letter: verye earnestly desiring one of the ambassadours +of his acquayntaunce to doe so mutch for hym as safely to delyuer those +Letters to the Handes of the Abbot of <i>S. Pietro in ciel +Doro</i>, whych was hys Vncle. And Mayster Thorello standing vppon these +termes, it chaunced vpon a day as Saladine was talking with him of his +Hawkes, Thorello began to smyle and to make a Iesture wyth hys mouth, +whych Saladine beyng at his house at Pauie did very well note, by which +act Saladine began to remember him, and earnestly to viewe hym, and +thought that it was he in deede. Wherefore leauing his former talke, he +sayd: “Tell me Chrystian of what countrey art thou in the West parts?” +“Sir” sayd Mayster Thorello, “I am a Lombarde, of a City called +Pauie, a poore man and of meane estate.” So soone as Saladine heard +that, as assured wherof he doubted, said to himself: “God hath giuen me +a time to let thys man know how thankfully I accepted his curtesy that +hee vsed towards me,<ins class = "addition" title = "close quote missing">”</ins> +and without any more words, hauing caused all his apparell in a chamber +to be set in order, he broughte him into the same and sayd: “Behold +Christian, if amonges al these roabes, there be any one which thou hast +seene before.<ins class = "addition" title = "close quote missing">”</ins> +Maister Thorello began to looke vpon them, and +saw those which his wyfe had giuen to Saladine: but he could not beleue +that it was possible that they should be the same, notwithstanding hee +answered: “Sir, I knowe them not, albeit my mind giueth me that +these twayne do resemble the roabes which sometimes I ware, and caused +them to be giuen to three marchaunt men that were lodged at my house.” +Then Saladine not able to forbear any longer, tenderly imbraced him, +saying: “You be maister Thorello de Istria, and I am one of the three +Marchaunts to whom your wife gaue those roabes: and now the time is come +to make you certenly beleue what my marchaundise is, as I tolde you when +I departed from you that it myght come to passe.” Maister Thorello +hearyng those wordes, began to be both ioyfull and ashamed, ioyfull for +that he had entertained sutch a guest, and ashamed that his fare and +lodging was so simple. To whom Saladine said: <ins class = "addition" +title = "open quote missing">“</ins>maister Thorello, sith it hath +pleased god to send you hither, thynke from henceforth that you be Lord +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page374" id = "page374">374</a></span> +of this place and not I.” <ins class = "correction" title = +"error for ‘And’">and</ins> making great chere, and reioysing one wyth an other, he +caused him to be cloathed in royall vestures, and brought him into the +presence of al the Noble men of his country: and after he had rehersed +many thinges of his valor and commendation, commaunded him to be +honoured as his owne person, of all those which desired to haue his +fauor: Which thing euery Man dyd from that time forth: but aboue the +rest, the two Lords that were in company with Saladine at his house. The +greatnesse of the sodain glory wherein maister Thorello sawe himselfe, +did remoue oute of his mind, his affayres of Lombardie, and specially, +bicause hee hoped that his letters should trustely be deliuered to the +hands of his vncle. Now there was in the camp of the Christians the daye +wherein they were taken by Saladine, a Gentleman of Prouince, which +dyed and was buryed, called maister Thorello de Dignes, a man of +great estimation: whereby (maister Thorello of Istria known through out +the whole army for his nobility and prowesse) euery man that heard tell +that maister Thorello was dead, beleued that it was mayster Thorello de +Istria, and not he de Dignes, and by reason of his taking, the truth +whether of them was deade, was vnknown: Wherfore many Italians returned +with those newes, amongs whom som wer so presumptuous, as they toke vpon +them to saye and affyrme that they saw him deade, and were at his +burial: Whych knowen to his wyfe and his friends, was an occasion of +very great and inestimable Sorrow, not onely to them: but to all other +that knewe him. Very long it were to tell what great sorrow, heauinesse, +and lamentation his wife did vtter, who certain moneths after shee had +continually so tormented hir selfe, (and when hir grief began to +decrease, being demaunded of many great personages of Lombardie) was +counselled by hir brothers, and other of hir kin, to mary again. Which +thing after she had many times refused, in very great anguish and dolor, +finally being constrained thereunto, she yelded to the minds of hir +parents: But yet vpon condicion, that the nuptials should not be +celebrate vntyll sutch tyme as she had performed hir promise made to +maister Thorello. Whilest the affaires of this Gentlewoman were in those +termes at Pauie, and the time of hir appoyntment within eight dayes +approched, it +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page375" id = "page375">375</a></span> +chaunced that maister Thorello vpon a day espyed a man in Alexandria, +(which hee had seene before in the company of the Ambassadors of +Genoua,) going into the galley that was bound with them to Genoua, +wherfore causing him to be called, he demaunded what voyage they had +made, and asked him when they arriued at Genoua? To whom he sayd: “Sir +the Galley made a very ill voyage as I hard say in Creta, where I +remayned behynd them, for being neare the coast of Sicilia there rose a +maruellous tempest, which droue the galley vpon the shoare of Barbarie, +and not one of them within bord escaped, amongs whom two of my brethren +were likewise drowned.” Mayster Thorello giuing credite to the words of +this fellow, which were very true, and remembring himselfe that the +terme whych he had couenaunted with his Wyfe was almost expired, and +thinkinge that they could hardly come by the knowledge of any newes of +hym or of his state, beleued verily that his Wyfe was maried agayne, for +sorrow whereof he fell into sutch melancholy, as he had no lust to eate +or drinke, and laying him downe vpon his bed, determined to die: whych +so soone as Saladine, (who greatly loued hym) did vnderstand, he came to +visite him, and after that he had (through instant request) knowen the +occasion of his heauinesse and disease, hee blamed him very mutch for +that he did no sooner disclose vnto him his conceipt: And afterwards +prayed him to be of good cheere, assuring him if he would, so to prouide +as he shoulde be at Pauie, iust at the terme which he had assigned to +his Wyfe: and declared vnto him the order how. Mayster Thorello geuinge +credit to the words of Saladine, and hauinge many times hard say, that +it was possible, and that the like had bene many times done, began to +comfort himselfe, and to vse the company of Saladine, who determined +fully vpon his voyage and returne to Pauie. Then Saladine commaunded one +of his Nycramancers, (whose science already he had well experienced) +that hee shoulde deuise the meanes how mayster Thorello might be borne +to Pauie in one night, vpon a bed: Whereunto the Nycromancer aunswered +that it should be done, but that it behoued for the better doing +thereof, that he should be cast into a sleepe: And when Saladine had +geuen order thereunto, he returned to mayster Thorello, and finding him +fully +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page376" id = "page376">376</a></span> +purposed to be at Pauy if it were possible at the terme which he had +assigned, or if not, to die: sayd thus vnto hym: “Mayster Thorello, if +you do heartely loue your Wyfe and doubt least she be maried to an +other, God forbid that I should stay you by any manner of meanes, +bicause of all the Women that euer I saw, she is for maners, comely +behauiour, and decent order of apparell, (not remembring her beauty, +which is but a fading floure) mee thyncke most worthy to bee praysed and +loued. A gladsome thynge it woulde haue beene to mee (sith Fortune +sent you hither) that the tyme which you and I haue to liue in this +worlde, we myght haue spent together, and liued Lordes of the Kingdome +which I possesse, and if God be minded not to do me that grace, at least +wyse sith you be determined either to dye or to returne to Pauie, at the +terme which you haue appointed, my great desire is, that I myght haue +knowen the same in time, to the intente you myghte haue bene conducted +thither wyth sutch honour and trayn as your Vertues do deserue: Which +sith God wyl not that it bee brought to passe, and that you wyll neades +be there presently, I wyll send you as I can in manner before +expressed.” Whereunto maister Thorello said: “Sir, the effect (bisides +your wordes) hath don me suffycient knowledge of your good wyll, which I +neuer deserued, and that whych you told me, I cannot beleeue, so +long as Lyfe is in me, and therefore am most certayne to dye: But sith I +am so determyned, I beseeche you to do that which you haue promised +out of hand, bicause to morrow is the last day of the appoyntment +assigned to my wyfe.” Saladine said, that for a truth the same should be +don: And the next day the Souldan purposing to send hym the nyght +following, he caused to be made ready in a great hall a very fayre and +rych bed, all quilted according to their manner (wyth vyluet and clothe +of gold), and caused to be layed ouer the same, a Couerlet wroughte +ouer with borders of very great pearles, and rich precious stones: which +euer afterwardes was deemed to be an infinite treasure, and two pillowes +sutelike vnto that bed: that don, he commaunded that they should inuest +maister Thorello, (who now was lustie) with a Sarazine roabe, the +richest and fairest thing that euer anye Man saw, and vpon his head one +of his longest bands, wreathen according to theyr +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page377" id = "page377">377</a></span> +manner, and being already late in the Euenyng, hee and diuers of his +Barons went into the Chamber wher Mayster Thorello was, and being set +down besides him, in weeping wise hee began to say: “Maister Thorello, +the time of our separation doth now approche, and bicause that I am not +able to accompany you, ne cause you to be waited vpon, for the qualitie +of the way which you haue to passe, I must take my leaue here in +this chamber, for which purpose I am come hither: Wherefore before I byd +you farewel, I pray you for the loue and friendship that is betwene +vs, that you do remember me if it be possible before our dayes do end, +after you haue giuen order to your affayres in Lombardie, to come agayne +to see me before I dye, to the end that I beyng reioyced with your +second visitation, may be satisfied of the pleasure which I lose this +day for your vntimely hast: and trusting that it shall come to passe, +I pray you let it not be tedious vnto you to visite me wyth your +letters, and to require me in thynges wherein it may lyke you to +commaund, which assuredly I shall accomplish more frankely for you, than +for any other liuing man.” Maister Thorello was not able to retaine +teares: wherefore to staye the same, he answered him in few woordes, +that it was impossible that euer hee shoulde forget his benefites, and +his worthy friendship extended vpon him, and that without default he +would accomplish what he had commaunded, if God did lend him life and +leysure. Then Saladine louingly imbracing and kissing him, pouring forth +many teares, bad him farewell, and so went oute of the chamber: And all +the other Noble men afterwards tooke theyr leaue likewise of him, and +departed with Saladine into the hal wher he had prepared the bed, but +being already late, and the Necromancer attending, and hasting his +dispatch, a Phisitian broughte him a drinke, and made him beleue +that it would fortifie and strengthen him in his iorney, causing him to +drinke the same: which being done within a while after he fell a sleepe, +and so sleeping was borne by the commaundment of Saladine, and layd vpon +the fayre bed, whereupon he placed a rich and goodly crowne of passinge +pryce and valor, vpon the which he had ingrauen so plaine an +inscription, as afterwards it was knowne that the same was sent by +Saladine to the wife of maister Thorello. After that he put a +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page378" id = "page378">378</a></span> +ring vpon his finger whych was beset wyth a Diamonde, so shining, as it +seemed like a flamynge Torche, the Value whereof was hard to bee +esteemed. Then he caused to bee girte aboute hym, a Sworde, the +furniture and garnishing whereof could not easily be valued: and besides +all thys, hee honge vppon hys Necke a Tablet or Brooche so beset wyth +Stones, and Pearles, as the lyke was neuer seene. And afterwards he +placed on either of hys sides, two exceding great Golden basens, full of +double Ducates, and many cordes of Pearles and rings, girdels, and other +things to tedious to reherse, wherewith he bedecked the place about him. +Which done, he kissed him againe, and wylled the Necromancer to make +hast. Wherfore incontinently maister Thorello, and the bed, in the +presence of Saladine was caried out of sight and Saladine taried stil, +deuising and talkyng of hym amongs his Barons. Maister Thorello being +now laid in S. Peter Churche at Pauie, according to his request, +with all his Iewels and habilliments aforesayd about him, and yet fast a +slepe, the Sexten to ring to Mattens, entred the Church with light in +his hand: and chauncing sodenly to espy the rych Bed, dyd not onely +maruel thereat, but also ran away in great feare. And when the Abbot and +the Monkes saw that hee made sutch hast away, they were abashed, and +asked the cause why he ranne so fast? The Sexten tolde them the matter: +“Why how now?” sayde the Abbot, “Thou art not sutch a Babe, ne yet so +newlye come vnto the Church, as thou oughtest so lightly to be afraide. +But let vs goe and see what bug hath so terribly frayed thee.” And then +they lighted many Torches: And when the Abbot and his Monkes were entred +the Church, they saw that wonderfull rich bed, and the Gentleman +sleeping vpon the same. And as they were in this doubte and feere, +beholding the goodly Iewels, and durst not goe neare the bed, it +chaunced that maister Thorello awaked, fetchyng a gret sighe. The Monkes +so soone as they saw that, and the Abbot with them, ran all away crying +out, “God helpe vs, our Lord haue mercy vpon vs.” Maister Thorello +opened his eyes, and playnly knew by loking round about him, that he was +in the place where he demaunded to be of Saladine whereof he was very +glad, and rising vp, and viewing particularily, what he had about him, +albeit he knew before the magnificence of Saladine, now he +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page379" id = "page379">379</a></span> +thoughte it greater, and better vnderstood the same than before. But +seeynge the Monkes run away, and knowyng the cause wherefore, he began +to call the Abbot by hys name, and intreated hym not to bee affrayde: +For he was Mayster Thorello his Nephewe. The Abbot hearyng that was +dryuen into a greater feare, bicause he was accompted to bee dead diuers +moneths before: but afterwards by diuers arguments, assured that hee was +maister Thorello, and so often called by hys name (making a signe of the +Crosse) he went vnto him. To whom maister Thorello sayd: “Whereof be you +a frayd good father? I am aliue I thanke God, and from beyond the +Sea returned hyther.” The Abbot (although he had a great beard, and +apparelled after the guise of Arabie) crossed hymselfe agayne, and was +wel assured that it was he. Then he tooke hym by the hande, and sayde +vnto hym as followeth: “My Sonne thou art welcome home, and maruell not, +that wee were afrayd: For there is none in all thys Citty, but doth +certaynly beleeue that thou art dead. In so mutch as madame Adalietta +thy Wyfe, vanquished with the prayers and threates of hir frinds and +kin, agaynst hir will is betrouthed agayne, and this day the espousals +shall be done. For the mariage, and all the preparation necessary for +the feast, is ready.” Mayster Thorello risinge out of the rich Bed, and +reioysing wyth the Abbot and all his Monks, praied euery of them not to +speake one word of his comminge home, vntill he had done what he was +disposed. Afterwards placing al his rich Iewels in surety and sauegard, +hee discoursed vnto his vncle what had chaunced vnto hym till that time. +The Abbot ioyfull for his fortune, gaue thankes to God. Then mayster +Thorello demaunded of his vncle, what he was that was betrouthed to hys +Wyfe. The Abbot tolde hym: To whom maister Thorello sayd: “Before my +returne be knowen, I am desirous to see what Countenaunce my Wyfe +wyl make at the mariage. And therefore, albeit that the religious doe +not vse to repayre to sutch Feastes, yet I pray you for my sake take +payne to go thither.” The Abbot aunswered that he would willingly doe +so. And so soone as it was Daye, hee sente woorde to the Brydegrome, +that he, and a Frende of hys, woulde bee at the mariage: whereunto the +Gentleman aunswered, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page380" id = "page380">380</a></span> +that he was very glade thereof. When dinner tyme was come, mayster +Thorello in the habite and apparel wherein he was, went with the Lord +Abbot to the weddinge dinner, where euery of them that saw him, did +maruellously beholde hym, but no man knew him, bicause the Abbot +aunswered them that inquired, that he was a Sarazene, sent Ambassador +from the Souldan to the French Kinge. Mayster Thorello was then placed +at a table which was right ouer agaynst his Wyfe, whom he beheld with +great pleasure and delight, and perceyued very wel by hir face that she +was not well content with that mariage. She likewise beheld him +sometimes, not for any knowledge she had of hym, for his great beard and +straunge attire, the firme credite and generall opinion also that hee +was deade, chiefly hindred it. But when mayster Thorello thought tyme to +proue whether she had any remembraunce of him, he secretly conuayed into +hys hande, the ring which she gaue him at hys departure, and called a +little Boy that wayted vpon hir, and sayd vnto him: “Go tell the Bryde +in my behalfe, that the custome of my countrey is, that when any +Straunger (as I am here) is bydden by any new maried woman +(as she is now,) for a token of his welcome, she sendeth vnto him +the cup wherein she drinketh full of Wyne, whereof after the straunger +hath dronke what pleaseth him, he couereth the cup agayne, and sendeth +the same to the Bryde, who drinketh the rest that remayneth.” The Page +did his message vnto the Bryde, who like a wise Gentlewoman wel brought +vp, thinking he had ben some great personage, to declare that he was +welcome, commaunded a great cup all gilt, standing before hir, to be +washed cleane, and to be filled ful of Wyne, and caried to the +Gentleman, which accordingly was don. Mayster Thorello hauing put into +hys mouth the aforesayd ring, secretly let fall the same into the Cup as +he was drinking, not perceyued of any man, to the intent that she +drinking the latter draught, might espy the ringe. When he had dronk, he +returned the cup vnto the Bryde, who thankfully receyued the same. And +for that the manner of his countrey might be accomplished, when the cup +was deliuered vnto hir, she vncouered the same, and pleadging the rest +of the Wyne, beheld the ring, and without speaking any word, wel +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page381" id = "page381">381</a></span> +viewed the same, and knowing that it was the very Ring which she had +geuen to maister Thorello, when he departed, tooke it out. And +stedfastly did marke and looke vpon him, whom she supposed to be a +straunger, and already knowinge him, cryed out as though she had bene +straught of hir wittes, throwing downe the Table before hir: “This is my +Lord and husband, this is of trouth Mayster Thorello.” And runnynge to +the table without respect to hys apparell of Cloth of Gold, or to any +thinge that was vpon the table, pressinge so neere him as she could, +imbraced him very heard, not able to remoue hir handes from about his +Necke for any thing that could bee sayd or done by the company that was +there, vntill mayster Thorello required hir to forbeare for that +present, for so mutch as she shoulde haue leysure inough to vse hir +further imbracements. Then shee left him, and contented hir selfe for +the tyme: but the brydale and mariage was wholly troubled and appalled +for that sodayne chaunce, and the most part of the Guests excedingly +reioyced for the return of that Noble knight. Then the company beinge +intreated to sit and not to remoue, Maister Thorello rehearsed in open +audience what had chaunced vnto him from the day of his departure vntill +that tyme, concludinge with a petition to the Bridegrome, that had newly +espoused his Wyfe, that he woulde not be displeased if he tooke hir +agayne. The new maried Gentleman, albeit it greeued hym very sore, and +thought himselfe to be mocked, aunswered liberally and like a Frende, +that it was in hys power to do wyth hys owne what hee thought best. The +Gentlewoman drawinge of the Rings and Garland which shee had receyued of +hir newe Husbande, did put vppon hir finger the Ring which shee founde +within the Cup, and likewyse the Crowne that was sent vnto hir by +Saladine: And the whole troupe and assembly leauing the house where they +were, went home with mayster Thorello and his wyfe, and there the kin +and frends, and all the Citizens which haunted the same, and regarded it +for a myracle, were with long feastinge and great cheare in great ioy +and triumph. Mayster Thorello departing some of his precious Iewels to +him that had bene at the cost of the marriage, likewise to the Lord +Abbot and diuers others, and hauing done Saladine to vnderstand hys +happy repayre +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page382" id = "page382">382</a></span> +home to his Countrey, recommending himselfe for euer to his +commaundement, liued with his Wyfe afterwards many prosperous yeares, +vsing the vertue of curtesie more than euer hee did before. Sutch was +the ende of the troubles of maister Thorello, and hys wel beloued Wyfe, +and the recompence of their franke and honest curtesies.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page383" id = "page383">383</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_21" id = "novel2_21"> +THE TWENTY-FIRST NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +A Gentleman of meane callinge and reputation, doth fall in loue with +Anne, the Queene of Hungarie, whom shee very royally requited.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">Following</span> the preceding arguments +treated in certayne of the former Nouelles, I wyll now discourse +the princely kindnesse and curtesy done to a poore Gentleman, by a Lady +of later dayes, Anne the Queene of Hungary<ins class = "correction" +title = ". for ,">. </ins>whych Gentleman, though beyonde hys reache to +catch what he aspired, fell in loue with that bountifull and vertuous +Gentlewoman, thinkinge (by like) that she in end woulde haue abased +her Maiesty, to recline to hys vayne and doting trauayle. But she like a +Queene, not despisinge the poore mans loue, vouchsafed by familiar +speech to poure some drops of comfort into his louinge minde, and once +to proue, on whom he fixed his fansie, reached him a Nosegay, and prayed +him to bestowe it vpon whom hee liked best. All which familiar dealings +she vsed, to keepe the poore pacient from despayre, that so highly had +placed hym selfe. But in end perceyuinge his continuaunce, would not +reiect and geue hym ouer, or with Scornes and Flouts contemne the +Amorous Gentleman: and that longe loue myght gayne some deserued +guerdon, she neuer left hym vntyll she had preferred him to a Noble +office in Spayne. The noble disposition of this chast and gentle Queene, +I thought good to adioyn next to that of maister Thorella and +Saladine: who for curtesie and passinge mutuall kindnesse, are worthy of +remembraunce. And for you noble Dames for a Christall to sharpen your +sightes, and viewe the recompence of loue, done by a Queene of passing +beauty, and yet most chast and vertuous, that it might somewhat touch +your squeymish stomackes and haulty hearts, and lenifie that corrosiue +humor, which with frowning face, forceth you to ouerperke your humble +suppliants. A helpinge preseruatiue I hope this Hystory shalbe to +imbolden you, in sutes and petitions to their prince and soueraygne: An +incoragement (I hope) to be mediators for sutch, as by seruice and +warfare haue confirmed their faythfull +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page384" id = "page384">384</a></span> +deuoirs for defence of their Countrey. Remember the care the Romane +matrones had for those that deserued well of their Common wealth: as how +they mourned for Lucius Brutus one whole yeres space, for his good +reuenge ouer the rauishers of Lucrece: and for Martius Coriolanus, for +hys piety and mothers sake, discharging his Countrey from the enemies +siege. Let mistresse Paolina of the priuy Chamber to this Queene Anne, +render example for preferment of sutch as be worthy to be cherished and +esteemed. O how Liberality beseemeth a Queene, no lesse +(as one maketh comparison) than the bright beames of the Sunne, or +the twinkling starres in the Firmament. Oh how diligence in Gentlewomen, +aduaunced to Princes Chambers, no lesse than the greene leaues to +braunched Trees, or dyuers coloured Floures in Nosegayes. So flourishing +be the fruites that bud from liberality, and freshe the benefites that +succeede of the payneful trauayles sustayned in the sutes of seruiceable +Gentlemen. This Philippo whom the Queene preferred, and liberally +rewarded, was a meane Gentleman, but yet learned and well furnished with +commendable qualities. His deserued aduauncement may stirre vp ech +Gentle heart, to merite and serue in Common wealth. His warninge and +other vertues may awake the sluggish Courtier, from loytering on +Carpets, and doinge thinges vnseemely: His diligence also reuiue the +blockish sprites of some that rout their tyme in sluggish sleepe, or +waste the day in harlotrie and other filthy exercise. Whose example yf +they practise, or imitate sutch commendable life as becommeth their +estates, then glory will followe their deedes, as the shadowe doeth the +body. Then welfare and liuelihoode aboundantly shal bee mynistred to +supply want of patrimonie or defect of parents portion. And thus the +Hystory doth begin. Not long sithens Queene Anne, the sister of Lewes, +that was king of Hungarie, and wife to Ferdinando Archeduke of +Austriche, (which at this day is parcel of the kingdome of Hungary and +Boeme,) together with the Lady Mary daughter of Philip kynge of Spayne, +and wife of the sayd Lewes, went to keepe hir abode, and soiorne in +Hispurge, a Countrey among the Dutch very famous, where many tymes +the Court of the Hungarian Prynces longe space remayned. These two Noble +Queenes remained within the Palace of king +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page385" id = "page385">385</a></span> +Maximilian, Emperour at that time elected, which Palace is so neare +adioyning to the Cathedrall Church, as without sight of the people at +their pleasure they mighte by a secrete Gallerie passe to the Church to +heare diuine seruyce accustomably celebrated there. Which vse they dayly +obserued with theyr Ladies and Gentlewomen, and other Lordes and +Gentlemen of the Court. In which church was made and erected a high +place in manner of a Closet gorgeously wrought, and in royall manner +apparelled of sutch amplitude as it was hable to receyue the whole trayn +and company attendant vpon the Persons of the two Quenes. Now it came to +passe that a Gentleman of Cremona in Italy called Philippo di Nicuoli, +whych in those dayes by reason of the recouery of the Duchie of Milane, +by the Frenche, departed Lombardie, and went to Hispurge, and was +Secretarie to Signa Andrea Borgo, bicause he was well learned, and could +wryte very fayre, and therwithall a proper and very haundsome man. This +yong Gentleman very mutch frequenting the Church, and seeing the beauty +of Queene Anne, to excell all the reast of the Ladies, adorned and +garnished with princely behauiour and Queenelyke qualytyes, not +foreseeyng (when hee beheld hir) the nature of loue, whych once being +possessed, neuer leaueth the pacient til it hath infebled his state lyke +the quality of poyson, distillinge through the vaynes, euen to the +heart. Which louing venim this Gentleman did drinke with the lookes of +his eyes, to satisefy and content his desired minde by vewinge and +intentife considering hir wonderful beauty, that rapt beyond measure, he +was myserably intangled wyth the snares of blind and deceiptfull loue, +wherewith he was so cruelly inflamed, as he was lyke to sorte out of the +bounds of reason and Wyt. And the more he did beholde the hyghnesse of +hir Maiesty, and the excellency of so great a Lady, and therewithal did +weigh and consider hys base degree and Lignage, and the poore state +whereunto frowarde fortune that tyme had brought him, the more he +thought hymselfe frustrate and voyde of hope, and the more the perillous +flames of loue did assayle and fire his amorous heart, kindlinge hys +inward partes with loue so deepely ingraffed, as it was impossible to be +rooted out. Mayster Philippo then in this manner (as you haue +heard) knotted and intrapped within the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page386" id = "page386">386</a></span> +fillets and laces of loue, supposing all labour which hee should imploy +to be lost and consumed, throughly bent himselfe with all care and +diligence to atchieue this hygh and honorable enterprise, whatsoeuer +should come of it: whych effectually he pursued. For alwayes when the +Queenes were at church to heare deuine seruice, he fayled not to bee +there. And hauinge done his duetyfull reuerence, whych very comely he +could do, he vsed to bestow himselfe dyrectly ouer agaynst hir: where +delitinge in the beauty of the Queene whych dayly more and more inflamed +his heart, would not depart from thence tyll the Queenes were disposed +to goe. And if perchaunce for some occasion, the Queenes went not to +Church, maister Philippo for all that (were his businesse neuer so great +and needefull) would vouchsafe at least wise to visite the place, where +he was wont to see his Lady. Sutch is the ordinary force of loue that +although liberty of sight and talke be depryued from the pacient, yet it +doeth hym good to treade in the Steps of that Ground where his Mistresse +doth vsually haunt, or to see the place vppon whych she eased hir tender +corps, or leaned hir delicate elbowes. Thys young man bayted, and fed in +amorous Toyes and Deuyses, now armed wyth hope, and by and by disarmed +by despayre, reuolued in hys mynde a thousand thoughts and cogitations. +And although he knew that hys Ladder had not steps inow to clyme so +hygh, yet from his determined purpose hee was not able to remoue: but +rather the more difficult and daungerous hys enterpryse seemed to bee, +the more grew desire to prosecute and obiect hymselfe to all daungers. +If peraduenture the Queenes for their disport and pastime were disposed +to walke into the fieldes or gardens of the Citty of Hispurge, he fayled +not in company of other Courtiers to make one of the troupe, beinge no +houre at rest and quiet if he were not in the sight of Queene Anne, or +neere the place where shee was. At that time there were many Gentlemen +departed from Lumbardy to Hispurge, which for the most part followed the +Lord Francisco Sforza the second, by whom they hoped when the Duchy of +Mylane was recouered, to be restored to their countrey. There was also +Chamberlayne to the sayd Lorde Francesco, one mayster Girolamo Borgo of +Verona betwene whom and mayster Philippo, was very neere freendship and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page387" id = "page387">387</a></span> +familiarity. And bicause it chaunseth very seldome, that feruent loue, +can be kept so secrete and couert, but in some part it will discouer it +selfe, mayster Borgo easily did perceyue the passion wherewith mayster +Philippo was inflamed. And one mayster Philippo Baldo many times being +in the company of mayster Borgo and Philippo, did marke and perceiue his +loue, and yet was ignorant of the truth, or voyde of coniecture with +what Gentlewoman he was inamored. But seeing him contrary to wonted +custome altered, and from vsual mirth transported, fetchinge many sighes +and strayninges from his stomake, and markinge how many times he would +steale from the company he was in, and withdraw himselfe alone, to muse +vppon hys thoughts, brought thereby into a melancholy and meane estate, +hauing lost his sleepe, and stomak of eating meate: iudged that the +amorous Wormes of loue did bitterly gnaw and teare his heart with the +nebs of their forked heades. They three then being vppon a time +together, debatinge of diuers thinges amonges themselues, chaunced to +fall in argument of loue, and maister Baldo, and Borgo, the other +Gentlemen, sayd to mayster Philippo, how they were wel assured that he +was straungly attached with that passion, by marking and considering +that new life, which lately he led contrary to former vse, intreating +him very earnestly, that he would manifest his loue to them, that were +his deere and faythfull frends, tellinge him that as in weighty matters +otherwise he was already sure what they were, euen so in this he might +hardily repose his hope and confidence, promisinge hym all their helpe +and fauour, if therein their indeuour and trauayle might minister ayde +and comfort. Hee then like one raysed from a trance, or lately reuiued +from an extasie, after he had composed his Countenaunce and Gesture, +wyth teares and multitude of sobbes, began to say these woordes: “My +welbeloued freendes, and trusty companions, being right well assured +that yee (whose fidelity I haue already proued, and whose secret mouthes +be recommended amongs the wise and vertuous), will keepe close and +couert the thinge which you shall heare me vtter, as of sutch +importaunce, that if the yong Romane Gentleman Papyrus had been here, +for all his silence of graue matters required by hys Mother, +I woulde vnnethes haue dysclosed the same vnto +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page388" id = "page388">388</a></span> +hym. Indeede I cannot deny, but must needes confesse that I am in loue, +and that very ardently, which I cannot in sutch wyse conceale, but that +the blinde must needes clearely and euidently perceyue. And although my +mouth would fayne keepe close, in what plight my passions do constrayne +my inward affections, yet my face and straung maner of life, which for a +certayne tyme and space I haue led, doe wittnesse, that I am not the man +I was wont to bee. So that if shortly I doe not amend, I trust to +arriue to that ende whereunto euery Creature is borne, and that my +bitter and paynful life shall take ende, if I may call it a lyfe, and +not rather a lyuing death: I was resolued and throughly determined, +neuer to discouer to any man the cause of my cruell torment, being not +able to manifest the same to hir, whom I doe only loue, thinking better +by concealinge it through loue, to make humble sute to Lady Atropos, +that shee woulde cut of the thred of my dolorous lyfe. Neuerthelesse to +you, from whom I ought to keepe nothynge secrete, I wyll +dysgarboyle and vnlace the very Secretes of my Minde, not for that I +hope to finde comfort and reliefe, or that my passions by declaration of +them, will lesson and diminishe, but that yee, knowinge the occasion of +my death, may make report thereof to hir, that is the only mistresse of +my life, that shee vnderstandinge the extreme panges of the truest louer +that euer liued, may mourne and wayle hys losse: which thinge if my +seely Ghost may knowe, no doubt where soeuer it do wander, shall receyue +great ioy and comfort. Be it known vnto you therefore, the first day +that myne Eyes behelde the diuine beauty and incomparable fauor of that +superexcellent Lady Queene Anne of Hungary, and that I (more than +wysedom required) did meditate, and consider the singuler behauiour and +notable curtesie and other innumerable giftes wherewith shee is indued, +the same beyond measure did so inflame my heart, that impossible it was +for me to quench the feruent loue, or extinguish the least parte of my +conceyued torment. I haue done what I can to macerate and mortefie +my vnbridled desire, but all in vayne: My force and puissaunce is weake +to match with so mighty an aduersary. Alas syres, I knowe what yee +will obiect agaynst mee: yee will say that mine ignobility, my byrth and +stocke be no meete +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page389" id = "page389">389</a></span> +matches for sutch a personage, and that my loue is to highly placed, to +sucke reliefe: And the same I do confesse so wel as you. I do +acknowledge my condition and state to base, I confesse that my loue +(nay rather I may terme it folly) doth presume beyond the bounds of +order: For the first tyme that I felt my selfe wrapped in those Snares, +I knewe her to beare the Port amonges the chyefest Queenes, and to +bee the peerelesse Pryncesse of Chrystendome. Agayne, I knew my +selfe the poorest Gentleman of the Worlde, and the most myserable exile: +I thought moreouer it to be very vnseemely for me to direct my +mynde vpon a wight so honorable, and of so great estate: But who can +rayne the Bridle, or prescribe lawes to loue? What is he that in loue +hath free wil and choyse? Truely I beleeue no man, bicause loue the more +it doth seeme to accorde in pleasure and delight, the further from the +mark he shooteth his bolte, hauing no respect to degree or state. Haue +not many excellent and worthy personages, yea Dukes, Emperours and +Kinges, bin inflamed with the loue of Ladies, and Women of base and vile +degree? Haue not most honorable dames, and Women of greatest renoume +despised the honor of theyr states, abandoned the company of theyr +hushands, and neglected the loue of theyr Chyldren, for the ardent loue +that they haue borne to men of inferiour sort? All Historyes be full of +examples of that purpose: The memoryes of our auncestors be yet in fresh +remembraunce, whereof if they were ignorant vnto you that be of great +experience, I could aduouche assured testimony: Yet thus mutch I +say vnto you, that it seeme no newe thing for a man to be ouercome by +his owne affectyon: It is not the Nobility of hir state, or for that +shee is a Queene, it is not the consideration of one parte or other, +that moued me first hereunto: But loue it is, that is of greater force +than we our selues bee of, which many tymes maketh that to seeme +lawfull, which altogether is vnlawful, and by subduing reason maketh the +great potentate lorde tributarie to his wyl and pleasure, whose force is +farre greater then the lawes of Nature. And albeit that I neuer hope to +attayne to prosperous end of this magnifike and stately loue, whych more +and more doth seeme infortunate, yet I can not for my Lyfe else where +apply the same, or alter it to other place: And consumynge still +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page390" id = "page390">390</a></span> +through faithful and feruent loue borne to the Queene, I haue +forced and constrained my self by al possible meanes to gyue ouer that +fond and foolish enterprise, and to place my mynd else where: but mine +endeuour and all my labour and resistance is employed in vayne: Yea and +if it were not for feare of eternall damnation, and the losse of my +poore afflicted soule (which God forbid) myne owne Handes before this +time had ended my desires. I am therefore determined (sith that I +can attaine no successe of Loue, and that God doth suffer me to be +inspyred wyth that most honourable and curteous Lady, beyond all order +and estimation) to content my selfe with the sight of those hir fayre +and glistring eyes, farre excelling the sparcling glimpse of the +Diamonde or Saphire, and to serue, loue and honour hir, so long as life +doth last within this feeble corpes: Vpon whose radiant and excelling +beautie, my hope shall continually feede: and yet I am not so far voyd +of vnderstandinge, but that I do most euidently know none other to be +the guide of thys vnmeasurable loue, but folly most extreme.” Vpon the +end of those words he let fal many teares, and being staied with sobbs +and sighes he was able to speake no more. And in very deede he that had +seene him, would haue thought that his heart had bene tormented with +most bitter and painfull passions. Now they being very attentiue to his +pytifull oration, were attached with incredible sorrow, thinking that +they had ben in a dreame by hearing of this discourse, and stode styll a +while one loking vpon an other, without speaking word: Afterwards +comming to themselues, distraughte almost, for the greate admiration and +wonder to heare him speake those words, mayster Girolamo and Baldo, with +suasible arguments went about to counsell him to withdraw his fonde and +foolysh mind, praying him to place the same elsewhere, shewing him the +impossibility of hys enterpryse, and the great peril that might succeede +thereof. But they spake to a man that seemed to be deaf, who replied, +that hee neither coulde or would giue ouer his loue, that had already +made so depe impression, what so euer came of it: Notwythstandyng they +ceased not still with sharp admonitions to beate into his head, the +fonde begynning of his foolish loue: and not onely at that tyme, but +continually when they were together, they dyd theyr +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page391" id = "page391">391</a></span> +best by oft repetition of his vayne conceipt, to let him vnderstande his +manyfest error: but theyr labour and friendly lessons were to no +purpose: Wherefore mayster Borgo, determined to giue him ouer, and to +attende what would succede therof. Mayster Philippo continuing hys +pursute, neuer faylyng to be at church when he knew the Quenes to be +ther, at length it chanced that they began to espy his loue, for that +both of them did mark his order, gesture and demeanure, and did note his +oft frequentation of the places where they continually haunted and his +manner in placyng himselfe at the church directly ouer agaynst them, and +his common vse in beholding and loking vpon their faces, iudgyng thereby +that without doubt he was in loue with one of them, or at least with +some Gentlewoman of their trayne whereof the two Queenes began to vse +some talk, although not certain vpon whom his loue was bent. +Neuerthelesse they wer desirous to know the troth, and expected +oportunitie somtime to dissolue that doubt. In the meane while maister +Philippo thought by gazing on theyr beauty, to remoue the fire that +miserably did consume the suck and marow of his bones, seking comfort +and relief for his afflicted heart, the more I say he sought for ease, +the greater he felt his payn: And truely all they that feruently do +loue, aspire to that, which otherwise they woulde eschue, by sight of +them whome they do loue, not remembering that the more they doe +contemplate the beloued beauty, the more increaseth desire, and with +desire extreme and bitter smart. Maister Philippo then lost no occasion +or time stil to behold Madame the Queene, were it in the church or +courte, or were she disposed for disport and recreation to walke abrode. +It chaunced now while things wer at this poynt, the ladies very desirous +to know vpon whom maister Philippo did expend his loue, that fortune +opened vnto them a meane to vnderstand the same: It was then about that +time of the yere, wherein al floures and roses were by Titans force +constrained to adorne and decke ech gardens and place of pleasure, and +with their fragrant smells and odors, to sent the same in the moneth of +May: it was when the Twinnes were dysposed to shroud themselues amongs +the hawthorn boughs and honysuckles that yeld to euery wyght greatest +store of delyghts, at what time roses and other floures at +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page392" id = "page392">392</a></span> +theyr first budding be very rare and scant, sauing in Kings Courtes and +prynces Palaces, where sutch rarieties by art and industrie be most +abundant, and all men haue delight to present sutch nouelties to the +pryncipall ladies. Vpon a day Queene Anne had in hir hands certayne +floures in due order couched in a Nosegay, and for hir disport walked vp +and down a very fayre and gorgeous garden, in the company of Queene +Mary, and other Ladies and gentlewomen, about that tyme of the day the +Sun wearie of trauaile, went to hide him self in the back side of the +western mountains, wher amongs other of the Courte was maister Philippo. +Queene Anne when she had espyed him, determined to make proufe with what +Lady amongs them all, mayster Philippo was in loue, and sporting hir +self with softe and prety walkes vp and downe the garden, pleasantly +iesting with diuerse there attendant, (as the maner is of like +Ladies) with trimme and pleasant talk, at length happed vpon maister +Philippo, who although he was in communication with certain Italian +Gentlemen, neuerthelesse his mynde and eyes were fixed vpon the Queene, +that whensoeuer she appeared before him his eyes and face were so +firmelye bent vppon hir, as the beholder might easily perceiue, that the +Vysage of the Quene was the vndoubted harborough of his thought. +Philippo, seeing the Queene come toward him, did honor hir wyth gentle +and dutifull reuerence, in sutch humble wise, as hee seemed at hir hands +pitifully to craue mercy. And truely whosoeuer doth loue with secret and +perfect heart, seemeth to vtter more words to his Lady with his eies, +than he is able to speak wyth his tongue. The Queene being come vnto him +with a grace right graue and demure, sayd vnto him: “You Gentleman of +Lombardie, yf these floures which we haue in our hands were giuen vnto +you liberally to vse at your pleasure, and requyred to make some +curteous present of the same to one of vs the ladies here that liked you +best, tell mee I pray you, to whether of vs would you giue the same, or +what would you do or say? Speake frankely we pray you, and tell youre +mynde wythout respect: for thereby you shall doe to vs very great +pleasure, and we shal know to whether of vs you beare your chiefest +loue. For it is not to be supposed, that you being a young man, can +spende your time without loue, being a naturall quality in euery +creature.” +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page393" id = "page393">393</a></span> +When mayster Philippo felt the swete voyce of the Queene pleasantly to +pierce his eares, and hearde that he was commaunded for the loue of hir +that he loued, not onely to tell whome he loued best and most intierly, +but also hir whom he worshipped and serued in heart, was almost besides +hymselfe, sutch was the ticklyng ioylitie that he felt in hys heart, +whose face was taynted wyth a thousand colors and what for superfluous +loue and ioy, wherof the like he neuer tasted before, fell into an +extasie, not able to render answere. But when he had recouered stomack, +so well as he coulde with soft and trembling voice, he answered the +Queene in this wise: “Sith your maiesty (to whom I yelde myne +humble thanks for that curtesie) hath vouchsafed to commaund me (besides +the infinite pleasure and honour, for which eternally I shal stande +bound to your highnesse) I am ready sincerely and truely to +dysclose my mind, being promised by your maiesty in opening of the same, +to deserue great thanks: Wherfore your pleasure being such I do say +then, with all due reuerence, that not onely here at thys tyme, but at +al times and places wher it shal please god to appoint me, being not +able to bestow them in other sort than they be, but wer they more +precious and fayre, the more ioyfull I should bee of them. These floures +I say shall of me right humbly be presented to your maiesty, not bicause +you be a Queene and of a royal Race (whych notwythstandinge is a great +vertue) but bicause you bee a Phœnix, a rare Lady, and of all the +troupe the fayrest, garnished with infinit gifts, and passinge vertues, +for your merites worthy to be honoured wyth farr more excellent gifts, +than these simple floures be, as she that (aboue all other Ladyes that +liue at this day) is the honour and onely glory of all womanhoode of our +age, as shee that is the Paragon peerelesse of the vniuersal worlde.” +<ins class = "correction" title = "error for ‘When’">when</ins> he had +sayd those words, he held his peace. The Queene with great delight +hearing the ready aunswere of the yong Gentleman, sayd vnto hym: “And we +do giue you thanks for the great honor and commendation done vnto vs.” +When she had sayd so, without further talke, she went forth vsing +pleasant talke and sport with diuers that wayted vpon hir. Queene Anne +now vnderstode, and so likewise Queene Mary, which of them the yong +Lumbard Gentleman did accept for his soueraign +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page394" id = "page394">394</a></span> +Lady, whose loue she disdayned not, but in her mynde rather commended, +esteeming him better than euer she did before: and lyke a discreet and +wyse Lady gaue him infinite prayse. She did not now as other women wont +to do, who when they see themselues of birth more noble, or of degree +more ample than their louers be (whych gift they receyue through the +fauor of the heauens) do not only despise them, but mock them, and their +faythfull seruice, and many tymes with fayned countenance and dissembled +words do extol them and set them vp aloft, and by and by almost with one +breath, exchanging their fayned prayse into rebuke, they thrust them +downe headlong from the tipe of hope and comfort, to the bottomlesse pit +of despayre: and the fuller she is of floutes, the finer Girle esteemed. +But farre better is she to be regarded, that not findinge in hir hart to +loue hir suter, will frankly tell him at the first, that she cannot like +hym, nor fashion hir mynde to loue him, and requiring him not to feede +his minde with vayne hope, or contriue the tyme with words and lookes, +and pray him to seeke some other that can better fansy his person than +she: And although perchance a man do very feruently loue a woman, and +that it wer great sorrow and grief vnto him to bee cast of, and receiue +such refusall, yet in myne opinion it were lesse griefe openly to +receiue that repulse, than to be fawned vppon, and flattered with fained +talke, and for the time choaked with the baite of vaine hope, and +afterwards become ridiculous, and gired by the scorneful. I am +assured, that the woman which giueth hir seruant sutch repulse, shall +bee counted mutch more cruell, than Maistresse Helena was to the +scholler of Paris, after he was returned from the vniuersitie to +Florence, written by Boccaccio in his Decamerone, and hereafter in place +described. But let vs retourne to maister Philippo, who although hee +coulde not imagine ne conceiue the intent, wherfore Queene Anne made +that demaund, yet the same was very deare and acceptable vnto him, vppon +the which he neuer thought, but felt great contentation in his mynd, and +was more iocund and pleasant than he was wont to be before. On the other +side the Queene, which was very discrete and wise, when she saw maister +Philippo at the church or other place to make obeysance vnto hir very +curteously requited the same, bowing hir head to him agayn, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page395" id = "page395">395</a></span> +(which she neuer vsed but to Barons and Knights of great reputation) +declaryng thereby how wel in worth she regarded his reuerence made vnto +hir: Whereat he receiued maruellous pleasure and delight, hoping for +none other recompence at hir handes, than continuance of sutch curtesies +and honourable entertaynment. Amongs certayne Italians that were vppon a +Day assembled in the presence chamber of Queene Anne, waiting there vpon +Madonna Barbara the wyfe of Maister Pietro Martire Stampa, who wyth hir +two daughters were gone to salute the two Queenes that were that time +together: There was also maister Philippo, with whom Borgo and Baldo +reasoned of diuerse matters: And as they wer in talke, both the Queenes +came forth, which was the occasion, that al the lords and Gentlemen +attended, vppon whose approch, ech man rose vp, and bareheaded expected +whither the Queenes would goe. Quene Anne perceyuing a company of +Italians together, left Queene Marie, and went streight to them, and +very gently inquyred of dyuerse of the Gentlemen, their names, and of +what partes of Italy they were, then she came to the place where they +<span class = "smallroman">III.</span> were standing together, and +curteously asked first maister Girolamo, what his name was, of what +countrey, whether he were a Gentleman? To whom reuerently he said: “that +his name was Girolamo Borgo, a Gentleman of Verona.” Mayster Baldo +likewise being 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 theyr answere with +cheereful and smiling countenance she returned to maister Philippo, +inquyryng of him also his name and countrey, and whether he were a +Gentleman or not? Whom maister Philippo after his duety done reuerently +answered: “Madame, my souerain Lady and only mistresse, I am a +Gentleman, and am called by the name of Philippo dei Nicuoli, of +Cremona.” The Queene making no further demaundes of any of the other +Gentlemen, sayd to Mayster Philippo: “You say true sir, I dare +warrant you to be a Gentleman in deede, and hee that sayd the contrary, +should declare himself to be voyd of Iudgement what a Gentleman is.” She +sayde no more, but from thence with Queene Mary and the whole trayne she +went to Church. All they that hard the Queene speake those +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page396" id = "page396">396</a></span> +words, dyd wonder, and could not deuise what shee meant by them, +notwithstanding ech man thought that the Queene bare to maister Philippo +singuler good will and fauour. He (as it was his custome) full of +diuerse cogitations, whose head was building of great cities, went to +church, bestowing himselfe in his wonted place, reuoluing in hys mind +the Queene’s words spoken vnto him. And although he could not perceiue +to what end that honorable lady had spoken them, yet hee thought that +hir maiesty had done him great honour. And verily the humanity and +curtesy of a Lady, so excellent and noble is worthy to be extolled with +infinite prayses, who being of high estate and lineage, and the wife of +a Prince that proceded of the stirpe Imperial, not only did not disdaine +to be beloued of a man of so base degree, and banished from his own +Country, but also with great care and diligence did deuise, and in +effect declare that she was the same whome the Italian yong gentleman +did loue as partly it was euidently to bee perceiued, not for other +purpose doubtlesse, but to do some Noble deede couenable for the +greatnesse of hir estate, and incident to the feruent loue of the +amorous yong Gentleman, which afterwardes in very dede she accomplyshed. +But howe many be there in these dayes, I doe not speake of Queenes +and Pryncesses, but of simple and priuate Gentlewomen, that beyng of +meane worship, indued with some shew of beautie, be without good +conditions and vertue, who seeyng themselues beloued of some Gentlemen, +not so enriched with the goods of Fortune as they be, do scorne and +mocke them, thynking themselues to good to be loked vpon, or to be once +moued of vertuous loue, scornfully casting their face at one side, as +though the suters were vnworthy their company? Howe many likewyse be +possessed and ouerwhelmed with pryde by reason Nature more propicious +vnto them then other, be descended of some great parentage, that will +accompt a great iniurie done vnto them, if any gentleman except he be +rych, do make sute to loue them? Again a great number of women +(I speake of them whose minds do not so mutch aspire to fame or +honour as they seeke their delights and brauerie to be mainteined) bee +of this trampe, that they care not whether theyr louers bee discrete, +well condicioned, vertuous and gentle, so that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page397" id = "page397">397</a></span> +theyr pursses be full of money, or theyr shapes amiable, not waying the +valour and good conditions of the minde, ne yet a thousand other +qualities that ought to garnish a Gentleman, whereby all vertuous +Gentlemen dayly do growe beautiful, and be enriched wyth greater +perfections. Some there be that fixe their minds vpon those, that be of +goodly personage, although void of good behauiour, louing rather a piece +of flesh with two eyes, than an honest man well furnished with vertue. +Thynk not yet for all thys, that herein men ordinarily bee more wyse +than women, althoughe they ought to bee accomplished with greater witte: +but to say the truth, they all be spotted with one kind of pitch, that +warfare here in the large campe of this present worlde: whereof it +commeth to passe, that light loue as we see to beare no good foundation, +and to haue no longe continuance, euen so the end and conclusion to +consume like the beauty of the floure. And therupon many times it +chaunceth, that when loue is not grounded but vpon transitorie beauty, +which doth dissolue like a windy cloude, the little heat thereof doth +not wax more hote, but rather congealeth to frost, and many times +conuerteth into hatred and mischiefe most cruel. A worse thing yet +than this is in common practise: There be many that wyll needes bee +counted and called gentlemen, bycause they come of Auncient and Noble +race, and being growen vp to man’s state, doe appeare in shapes of men, +but are altogether without approued manners, vtterly ignorant what the +nature of Gentle is, accomptyng themselues to be ioly fellowes, when in +company of other as bigge beastes as them selues, they contriue theyr +time and make their bragges, vaunting that Sutch a woman is at my +commaundment, and sutch a man’s wyfe I do keepe, sutch a one is my +companion’s friende: whereby they bryng many women, yea and of the best +sort, into slaunder and infamie. Diuerse Gentlewomen also bee so fond, +and of so simple discretion, that although they know and clearely +perceyue thys to be true, yet allured with the personages and beauty of +sutch Roisters, passe not to giue the rayne to these vnbridled Iades, +not foreseeing (lyke ignorant Woodcockes) that in fewe dayes through +their own temeritie, they incur the common shame of the vulgar people, +being pointed at in the streates as they goe: where sutch as be wyse and +discrete, doe +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page398" id = "page398">398</a></span> +dayly feare the least suspition that may be conceiued. There is no woman +that is wyse, but so neare as she can, wil shunne and auoyde all +occasion whereby slaunder may aryse, and will chose vnto hit amongs a +number, sutch one as can best please hit fansie, and as with whome for +hys vertue and honesty she purposeth to match hir selfe in maryage, +which is the final ende of all honest loue. Howe be it Nature hath not +framed euery creature of one metall, ne yet Minerua infused lyke brayne +into euery head. And truely this our age dothe breede many fayre and +worthie Women, whose condicions bee good and honest, adorned with comely +qualities, the Generositie, stoutnesse and Valoure of whose myndes doe +deserue syngular prayse and estymatyon. And what is hee, chauncynge +vppon a curteous and Vertuous Dame, that wyll not gyue ouer the Loue of +all other, to honour and loue hir for euer? But wee haue digressed too +long from our Hystorye, and therefore, retourning to the same agayne, +I say, that Fortune the guide of maister Philippo, was fully +determined to bestow hir fauor vpon him: For besides that the Queene +dearely estemed his loue, it seemed that all thyngs wer vnyted and +agreed to sort his enterpryse to happy successe. The Queene had to her +Gouernesse Madonna Paola dei Cauali, a Gentlewoman of Verona, very +auncient and graue (aduaunced to the callyng, by Madonna Bianca Maria +Sforza the wyfe of the Emperour Maximilian) whom Queene Anne requyred +dylygently to procure for hir, sutch Rithmes in the Thuscane language +and other Italian workes, as were to be found, bicause hir dysposition +was to be conuersant and familiar in that tongue, and employed great +diligence to learne and exercise the same, wherein shee attained sutch +perfection, as all Italians coulde very well vnderstande her. Now +(as the good lucke of mayster Philippo woulde haue it) he that +day went to the Courte alone, continuallye deuisinge if it were +possible, at al tymes to be in presence of the Quene: Whome so soone as +Madonna Paola espyed, bicause she familiarly knew him went vnto him, and +sayd: “My welbeloued friend maister Philippo, bicause the Queene hath +great delight to learn our tongue, and therein already hath some +towardnesse, as by hir common speakying of the same you may perceyue, +this mornyng at hir vprising shee gaue me a great +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page399" id = "page399">399</a></span> +charge to procure for hir, certayne Italian Rithmes, who besides those +bookes in that tongue already prynted, gladly desireth to see some +trymme deuises of diuerse learned men that make in oure <ins class = +"correction" title = "punctuation and capitalization unchanged">Daies. +specially</ins> hir mind is earnestlye disposed vpon Rithmes cunningly +composed, whereof I thinke you haue some store by reason of your delight +in that exercise: Wherefore I thought good to repayre vnto you, and doe +heartily pray you, to make hir Maiesty pertaker of sutch as you haue, +wherein you shal do hir great and grateful seruice, and I shal remain +continually bound vnto you: besides that I doe purpose when I present +them vnto hir, to make hit priuie that I receyued them at your hands, +which bicause of the loue shee beareth to our Natyon, she wyl fauorably +accept, and the same no doubte when opportunitye serueth, liberally +reward.” Maister Philippo in curteous wise thanked the gentlewoman, and +said, that he was sorry he was not able better to satisefie hir request, +bicause in that countrey he had small store of sutch desired things, +neuerthelesse he would make diligent search, to get so many as were +possible to be found, either amongs the Gentlemen that folowed the +Court, or else where they were to be gotten. In the meane time, he sayd, +that he would deliuer those few hee had, and bring them vnto hir that +night, praying hir to commend hym to the good grace, and fauour of hir +maiesty. And so he tooke hys leaue, and went strayght to hys Lodging, +where diligently he began to search among his writings (the gladdest man +in the Worlde for that occasion offered) and founde amonges the same +diuers rithmes which hee thought vnworthy to passe into the handes of so +great a Lady, sauing the third Rithme or Chapter, as we commonly call +it, made by a notable Doctor of the lawes, and excellent Poet called +M. Niccolo Amanio, of Crema, who no doubt for making of vulgar +rithmes, thereby expressing the amorous affections of Louers, was in our +time without comparison. And bicause the same was so apt for the purpose +of mayster Philippo his loue, as could be desired, he wrote the same +fayre (being in deede a very fayre sheete of Paper,) which soundeth to +this effect.</p> + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page400" id = "page400">400</a></span> + +<p class = "center"> +<i>Quanto piu cresce (Amor) Paspro tormento, &c.</i></p> + +<div class = "verse"> +<p>The more (O Loue) thy bitter pangs augment,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Melting by times my sad accensed spreete,</p> +<p class = "indent2">The more to burne I feele my selfe content:</p> +<p>And though ech day a thousande times I fleete</p> +<p class = "indent2">Twixt hope and dreade, all dolour yet and smart</p> +<p class = "indent2">My glorious proofe of enterprise makes sweete.</p> +<p>The fire so high which kindled hath myne hart,</p> +<p class = "indent2">As by loue’s flames none euer had (I know)</p> +<p class = "indent2">So lofty source of heate in any part,</p> +<p>Sweete then my torments are, sweete is my woe,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Sweete eke of loue the light, sweete the +conceyte</p> +<p class = "indent2">From so high beames, fallen in my breast, groe.</p> +<p>Sutch power of porte, sutch maiesty most gret</p> +<p class = "indent2">I tremble to beholde, and do confesse</p> +<p class = "indent2">My lot to base, so worthy a blisse to get.</p> +<p>But will herein my Reason doth suppresse,</p> +<p class = "indent2">And those fayre eyes, where loue himselfe ny +lies,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Armed with lookes of ioy and gentlenesse,</p> +<p>Lookes that vpliftes my soule aboue the Skies,</p> +<p class = "indent2">And in each coast al cloudes expelling cleane,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Do teach ten thousand pathes to Paradise.</p> +<p>My Goddesse braue, Angelicall Sirene,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Fayrenesse it selfe, Dame Beautie’s sacred +heire:</p> +<p class = "indent2">What mounts of ioy may match my happy paine,</p> +<p>Whose scaling hope how so ensue dispeire,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Leues vaunt of thoughts, which once so highly +flew</p> +<p class = "indent2">As honour, all that earth besides doth beare,</p> +<p class = "indent2">Comparde to this, but baggage were to vew.</p> +</div> + +<p>When Mayster Philippo had written out these verses, immediately he +returned to the court, and caused Madona Paolo, to be called vnto him by +one of the Gromes of the Chamber, to whom he sayd: “Maystresse Paola, +I haue brought you a ditty, that is very trim and prety, which I +pray you deliuer to the Queene, and I will do what I can to get other.” +Maistresse Paola tooke them, and went into the chamber, and findinge the +Queene alone, sayd to hir: “Madame, this morninge yee commaunded me to +get you some +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page401" id = "page401">401</a></span> +Italian Rithmes, and vpon inquirie I haue receyued these few verses of +mayster Philippo, secretary to the Lord Andrea Borgo, who hath promised +to bring me other.” The Queene hearing hir speake those words, smilinge +receiued the Paper, and read the same: the sense whereof she liked very +well, thinking that mayster Philippo had bene the compositor of the +same, and that of purpose he had made them for hir, whereby shee was out +of doubt that it was shee that mayster Philippo so feruently loued, and +the better hir opinion was confirmed, bicause some of the words tended +to the state of hir personage. And considering the valor of hys minde, +she praysed Nature, for that in a man so basely borne shee had sowen the +seeds of a gentlemanlike and noble heart, greatly to hir selfe +commendynge the yong man. Then she conferred the whole matter wyth hir +Coosin Queene Marie: which was a wyse and comely Ladye, and vpon that +loue they vsed many discourses, more and more hauing in regard the +behauiour of that yong Gentleman. Queene Anne determined, when +conueniently shee might, to rendre to mayster Philippo, for his great +loue condigne rewarde: and studying still how to requite his curtesie, +euer when she saw maister Philippo, shee vsed him with her wonted chere +and grateful salutation (which thinge onely euery honest gentleman ought +to expect that is indued wyth reason at the hands of a pryncesse so +noble and worthy, as a reward sufficient, the inequality of the parties +considered.) Whereof mayster Philippo was the best contented man of the +world, and durst not hope for greater guerdon, continuing his wonted +lyfe fed hym self stil with that beloued sight, in sutch wyse as many +Gentlemen enuied the fauor borne vnto him by the Queene, who for none +other cause did vse that curtesy, but for that she saw him to be +Vertuous and well learned: continually esteemyng sutch as wyth learning +or other gyftes of the mynd were indewed: and when occasion chaunced, +shee vouchesafed to bestowe vpon them curteous intertaynment and +lyberall rewardes. It fortuned about that time that the Emperor +Maximilian died, Charles his nephew (which was the Emperor Charles, the +fifth,) then beyng in Spayne, by reason of whose death the Lord Andrea +Borgo, purposed to send one of hys Gentlemen to kyng Charles, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page402" id = "page402">402</a></span> +for the confirmation of that lyuing he enioyed, giuen vnto him for his +long and faythfull seruyce by the said Maximilian. Amongst al he chose +this maister Philippo, for his wisdome and experience in sutch affayres. +Which don, he went to the Queenes, and gaue them to vnderstand that +shortely he would send his Secretarie into Spayne, and told them the +cause, humbly praying them both, that they would write their fauorable +letters in his behalf. The Queenes knowing what payne and trauell hee +had sustayned in the seruice of Maximilian, and what daungers he had +passed, were very willing therunto. Now Queene Anne remembred that she +had conuenient time to recompence maister Philippo for hys long loue +born vnto hir: and bicause she was the most curteous Lady of the world, +and therwithal most bountifull and liberal, and not onely with comely +talke and gesture: but also in effecte willing to do them good, whome +she honoured in minde, concluded what to do, requiring the Lord Andrea +to send his Secretarie vnto hir, when he was ready to depart, for that +besides Letters, she woulde by mouth commit certain businesse for hir to +do in the Courte of Spayne. When the Lord Andrea was gone, Queene Anne +began to deuise with the other Queene what she mighte doe for mayster +Philippo, who prayed Queene Anne, after she had commended him in +letters, to suffer hir to make the ende and conclusion of the same. +Whereupon both the Queenes wrote many letters into Spayne, to king +Charles, and to the Lord Chancellour and other Noble men, whome they +thought to bee apte and mete ministers to bring the effect of their +letters to passe. When the Lord Andrea had put all thinges in order for +that dispatch, he sayd to mayster Philippo, (which was now furnished +with all thyngs necessary and apertinent for that long voyage:) +“Philippo, remembre this day that you goe to Quene Anne, and tell her, +that I require you to come vnto hir, to know if she would commaund you +any seruice to the Catholike Kynge, where you shall humbly offer your +seruice, in what it pleaseth hir to commaunde: you shall also tel hir +what things I haue gyuen vnto you in charge by speciall commission.” +Neuer could more pleasant talke found into the eares of maister +Philippo, than this, who for that he should bothe see and speake vnto +his Lady before his +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page403" id = "page403">403</a></span> +departure, and for that she would commit vnto him the doing of hir +affayres in Spayne, was the gladdest and best contented man of the +world. The houre come when he thought good to repayre to the Queene, he +went vnto hir, and gaue hir to vnderstand by one of the priuy Chamber, +that he was attendant there to know hir pleasure. The Quene certyfied of +his readinesse to depart, by and by toke order that he should come into +hir chambre, who entring the same with trembling heart, and after he had +done hys humble reuerence, with great feare and bashfulnesse, said: +“Pleaseth your Maiesty, that my Lorde Borgo, being about to addresse mee +hys Secretarie into Spayne, to the Catholike King there, hath commaunded +me to wayte vpon your hyghnesse, to knowe your pleasure for certain +affayres to be don for your maiesty: Wherfore may it please the same to +employ mee, your humble seruaunte, I shall thinke my self the +happiest man of the world: A thing so blessed and ioyfull vnto me, +as no benefite or commoditie can render vnto me greater felicitie.” Then +he dysclosed vnto her thee rest of his message, which was committed vnto +hym by his lord and maister. The Queene beholding hym wyth mery +countenaunce gently sayd vnto hym: “And we for the trust we haue in you +to do our message and other affayres in Spayne, haue requyred you to +come hither: And bycause we knowyng you to be a Gentleman, and assured +that you wyll gladly do your endeuour in any thing that may do vs +pleasure, haue chosen you aboue any other. Our wyl and commaundement is, +that fyrst you delyuer these letters, conteining matters of great +importance to the hands of the catholike King, and that you do our +humble commendations to his maiesty. Then al the rest accordingly as +they be directed, which principally aboue other things we pray you to +dispatch vpon your arriuall: And if we bee able to do you any pleasure, +eyther for your preferment, or for other commodity, spare not to write +vnto vs your mynd, and (we doe assure you) the same shalbe +efectually accomplyshed, to the vttermoste of our indeuour, whych we do +of our owne motion frankely offre vnto you, in consideration of the +fidelitie, worthinesse, and honeste behauiour alwayes knowen to be in +you.” Mayster Philippo hearynge these wordes was replenyshed with sutch +ioy, as he thought hymselfe rapt into +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page404" id = "page404">404</a></span> +the heauens, and his heart felt sutch pleasure, as it semed to flote in +some depe sea of delights: and after the best maner he coulde, thanked +hir for hir curtesie: and albeit (he sayd) that hee knew hymself +vnworthy of that fauor, yet he dedicated the same to hir commaundement, +surrendring himselfe as a slaue and faythful seruant to hir maiesty. +Then vppon his knees, to his great contentation he kissed hir hands, +which of hir selfe she offred vnto him, and then reuerently he toke his +leaue. When hee was gone oute of the chamber, he met with the Queene’s +Coferer, that attended for him, who taking him aside, did put into his +hand a purse with 500. crowns, and the maister of the horsse presented +vnto him a very goodly and beautifull horse, wherewith maister Philippo +was so well pleased, as he was like to leape out of his skin for ioy. +Then he toke his iorney and arriued at the Courte in Spayne, where at +oportunity, he deliuered his Letters to King Charles, and accomplished +other busines and message prescribed vnto him by Quene Anne: And when he +had dispatched the Queene’s other letters, he attended the businesse of +his Lord Andrea Borgo. The king perused the Contentes of the letters +sent vnto him by his sister and kynswoman, so did the Lord Chauncellour, +(which at that time was the Lord Mercurino Gattinara,) and other, to +whom the Queenes had written: whereby the king was solicited to stand +good Lord, to the Lorde Andrea Borgo, and likewise exhorted him to be +beneficial to mayster Phylippo, whom for his good condicions and +experience they had sent vnto him in the ambassage. Vpon a day the king +moued by the Lorde Chancellor, caused maister Philippo to come before +him, to whom kneling before his maiesty, the king said these words: “The +testimony and report so honorably made of you by the two Queenes, from +whom you brought vs letters, and the hope which we haue to find you a +faithful and profitable seruant, and to be correspondent in effecte to +the tenor of those letters, moueth vs to accepte you into the numbre of +one of our Secretaries, wherein before our presence you shal sweare vnto +vs to be faithfull and true.” Maister Philippo that expected for no +sutch dignity, maruelled at the Kyng’s wordes, and there by oth +ministred vnto hym by the Lorde Chauncellour was receyued into his +seruice, and exercysed that +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page405" id = "page405">405</a></span> +office, in singular fauor of the King, to the great satysfaction of al +men. And after that King Charles was elected Emperor, knowing the +experience that maister Philippo had in the affaires of Italy, and +specially in Lombardie, he commytted vnto hym all matters touchyng the +state of the region, which so happily came to passe to maister Philippo, +as besides the ornaments of vertue and wisedom, he acquyred greate +riches, and yet he continually serued and worshipped the Queene as his +noble patronesse and worthy mystresse. Tel me now ye faire Ladies and +Gentlewomen! What shall we say of the princely behauiour and noble +disposition of this Queene? Truly in my iudgment, she deserueth that +prayse and commendation that may be attributed to the moste excellente +Ladye of the Worlde, who neuer gaue ouer her faythful seruant tyl she +had bountifully with hir own hands and commendation, rendred vnto hym a +most Pryncely rewarde. And as the funne in beautye and bryghtnesse doeth +surmounte the other furniture of the Skies, euen so Magnyfycence, and +liberality in ech Lady doth excell all other vertues, specially in those +personages, that keepe the state of Princes. But to conclude, mete and +requisite it is, that yee beautify this most curtuous and liberall +Queene wyth due prayses: For surely in my iudgement, if all Women would +confer theyr heades and Wittes together, and deuise Hymnes and Sonnets +of Liberality, they can neuer sufficiently be able to celebrate the +prayse and glory of thys Queene.</p> + + + + +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page406" id = "page406">406</a></span> +<h3><a name = "novel2_22" id = "novel2_22"> +THE TWENTY-SECOND NOUELL.</a></h3> + +<p class = "summary"> +The gentle and iust act of Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence, vpon a +Gentleman whom he fauoured, who hauing rauished the Daughter of a poore +Myller, caused him to mary hir, for the greater honour and celebration +whereof, he appoynted hir a rich and honourable Dowry.</p> + + +<p><span class = "firstword">If</span> the Force of Vertue were apparant +at the sight of eye, it would be deemed to be of lesse value than the +greatnesse thereof deserueth (for sundry causes rising in the mindes of +men) and that by performinge the little which rested for th’entier +perfection of hir whole vnited glory. Now because that hir effects be +diuerse, and that dyuersly they be vsed, the examples also of sutch +diuersity, do variate and make diuerse the affections of men: some to +follow that quality and other that part, proceeding from the whole and +perfect body of vertue, which hath caused some to win the price of +modesty and temperance in their deedes, other full of magnanimity (not +familiar to many) haue resisted the assaults of fortune. Many other haue +embraced that only honor whych is the nourice of ech good act, whereby +they haue either wel ruled the state of free citties, or guided the +armies of mighty Monarchs. And sutch whilom the cities of Rome, Athenes, +Sparta, and the auncient Monarchs of the Medes, Persians, and the +Assyrians did see. I wil omit a good company of the sage and wyse, +which haue appaysed the troubles of Citties, the inquietations of +Palaces, the cries of Iudgement seates, the dissimulation and +deceiptfull flatteries of Courts, the carefull griefs which the +householder by gouernment of his house and family doth sustaine and +feele, of purpose more frankly to retire to the study of sapience, which +alone is able to make a man happy, and worthy to be partaker of the +diuinity. But aboue al, I wil prayse him which not subiect to the +law lyueth neuerthelesse like him that is most thrall thereunto, or +without respect of bloude or frendship shall exercise Iustice vpon his +dearest and best beloued: as in olde time Manlius and Torquatus at Rome, +the people of Athenes towards +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page407" id = "page407">407</a></span> +one Timagoras, who beyond the duty of the Ambassador of a frank citty, +fel down on his knees and worshipped the Persian king. And in our time +the Marquize of Ferrara, by doing to death his own son for adultry +committed wyth his mother in Law. And yet Iustice may fauour of some +cruelty, which rather turneth to shame than praise: as Ihon Maria +Visconte Duke of Milan, when he caused a couetous priest to be buried +quick with the corps of him whom he had refused to bury without money, +the history wherof is hereafter remembred. So as mediocrity of +punishment ought to be yoked with the rigor of law, for the mitigation +thereof. And beholde, wherefore the great Dictator Iulius Cæsar loued +better to gayn the heart of his enemies with mercy, than vanquish and +bring them to obedience with massy manacles and giues of Iron. Moreouer +in our age Alphonsus of Aragon (the true Sampler of a iust and Righteous +Prynce) dyd not hee esteeme (when hee strayghtly besieged Gaiette) the +Vyctory to be more Gloryous and better gotten, which is done by +composition and gentlenesse, than the bloudy conquest, colored wyth +teares and bloud of a poore simple people? And truly princes, and great +lordes, specially they which newly (without succession receyued from +their ancestors) arriue to the gouernment of some commonwealth, ought +continually to haue before their eies, an honest seuerity for the +holines of the law, and a graue mildnesse, to moderat the rigour of +their duety: For by that meanes right is mainteined, the heart of man is +won, so wel as by violence: and the state of gouernment taketh so good +footing, as the winde of no sedition afterwards can remoue the same, +beinge founded vpon a sure stone, and framed vpon a rock durable for a +long tyme. Whereof wee haue an example of fresh memory of a kinde act, +full both of wysedome and of gentle seuerity, in a prynce of our time, +who wythout effusion of bloud punished with rigor enough, +a trespasse committed, and sweetely remitted the payne vpon him, +which merited grieuous, nay mortall punishment, as at large you shall +see by the discourse that followeth. Alexander de Medices, fauoured by +the Church of Rome, (and armed with the Papall standard) was hee that +first with great actiuity and Wisedome inueyed the Seniory of Florence, +immediatly vsurping the name, title, and prerogatiue of Duke. The same +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page408" id = "page408">408</a></span> +albeit vpon the prime face he was odious to the people of Florence, +wroth for losing of their ancient liberty, and displeasant to the +Senatours and potentates, to see them selues depriued of the soueraignty +of Iustice, and of the authority they had to commaund ouer all the +Citizens, yet for all that was he indued wyth so good qualities, and +gouerned so wel his principality, as that which at the beginning was +termed Tyranny, was receyued as iust domination, and that which was +supposed to be abused by force, seemed to be done as it were by lawfull +succession. And they counted themselues happy (when they saw their lucke +to bee sutch as their common wealth must needs obey the aduice and +pleasure of one Prince alone) to haue a soueraygn lord, so wise, so +vertuous and so ful of curtesie: and albeit in all other things he +shewed himselfe prayse worthy, noble, and of gentle kinde, yet in this +he vanquished himselfe in himselfe, by that indifferent iustice, which +made him wonderful, denying the same to none, and in no one iote shewed +himselfe parcial to any, which thought by hym to bee supported in their +follies: And that which is more to bee wondred in him, and doth augment +the prayse of his integrity in iudgement, was, that he punished in +another the thynge, which hee ought to haue pardoned and remitted, hee +hymselfe beinge attaynted wyth that dysease. But thys good Duke applyed +to Reason, to tyme, and to the Grauity of the fact and quality of the +offended persones: For where the greatnesse of a deede surpasseth all +occasion of pardon and mercye, there the Prynce, Iudge, or Magistrate +ought to dispoyle and put of his sweetest affections, to apparell +himselfe with rigor, whych reacheth the knyfe into the hand of the +Ruler, of purpose that pryuate familiaritie, do not in ende rayse in the +subiect’s hearte a contempte of superiours, and unbrydled licence, +lawlesse to liue at their pleasure. Now the thing which I meane to tell, +consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite Prynce, which seldome +or neuer harboureth in yong age, the heates whereof can not but with +greate difficultie, feele the coldnesse and correction of reason: And +likewise the causes from whence wisdome’s force proceede, do rest in +longe experience of things, whereby men waxe olde in ripenesse of witte, +and theyr deedes become worthy of prayse. This Duke Alexander ordred so +wel his estates, and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page409" id = "page409">409</a></span> +kepte sutch a goodly and plentifull Court, as the same gaue place to no +Prynce of Italy, how great or rich so euer it was, which noble court he +kept aswell for his owne garde and honor as to shew the naturall +stoutnesse of his corage, not vsing for all that any insolencie or +vnseemely dealing agaynste the haynous and auncient enemies of his +familie. Amongs his gallant troupe of Courtiers, which ordinarily +attended, there was a Florentine gentleman, very neare the Duke, and the +beste beeloued of them all. This yong Gentleman had a Manor hard by +Florence, where he was very well and stately lodged, which caused him +many times to forsake the City, wyth two of his companions, to recreate +himself in that pleasant place. It chaunced vpon a time, he being in his +fieldish house, besides the which there was a Myll, the maister of the +sayd Myll had a passing fayre daughter, whom thys Gentleman did well +marke and beholde, and with hir beauty beecame straungely in loue, in +whom also appeared some Noble port, that exceded the bloud and race +whereof she came. But what? The heauens be not to spare distributers of +theyr gifts, but sometimes they diuide them with the least measure, and +at some other times in equall weight or greatest heape, to them that be +of the basest sorte and popular degree, so wel, as to the greatest and +of most noble race. Rome somtimes hath seen a bondman and slaue, +somtimes a Runnegate’s sonne, for his wit and Courage to beare the +Scepter in his hand, and to decide the causes of that lofty people, who +by sleyghts and practises aspired the Empyre of the whole worlde. And he +that within our Fathers remembrance desireth to knowe what great +Tamberlane of Tartarie was, the astonishment and ruine of al the East +partes, shall well perceyue that his originall sorted from the vulgar +sorte, and from the lowest degree that was amongs all estates: whereby +must be confessed, that the goodnesse of nature is sutch and so great, +as she will helpe hir nourice children (whatsoeuer they be,) the +best she can: Not that I meane to infer hereby, but that the bloud of +Predecessors, with the institution of their Posterity, mutch augmenteth +the force of the spirit, and accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto +nature hath giuen a beginninge. Now to com to our purpose, this yong +Courtier, taken and chayned in the bands of loue, settred and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page410" id = "page410">410</a></span> +clogged wyth the Beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench, +forethought the meanes how he myght inioy the thynge after which hee +hoped. To loue hir he deemed it vnworthy of his degre: And yet he knew +hir to be sutch (by report of many) as had a very good Wit, tongue +at wyll, and which is more esteemed, a Paragon and mirror of chaste +life and modesty. Which tormented this amorous Mounsier beyond measure, +and yet chaunged not his affection, assuring himselfe that at length he +should attayne th’ end of his desires, and glut that his vnsatiable +hunger, which pressed him from day to day to gather the soote and +sauorous frute which Louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of +semblable age, who then was betweene <span class = +"smallroman">XVI.</span> and <span class = "smallroman">XVII.</span> +yeares. This Louer dyd to vnderstand to hys companions his griefe and +frensie, who sory for the same, assayed by all meanes, to make him +forget it, telling hym that it was unseemely for a Gentleman of his +accompt, to make himselfe a fable to the people, which woulde come to +passe if they knew how vndiscretely hee had placed hys loue: and that +there were a number of fayre and honest gentlewomen more to whom besides +conuenably and with greater contentation he might addresse the same. But +he which mutch lesse saw, than blind loue himselfe that was his guid, +and he that was more bare of reason and aduice than the Poets fayne +Cupido to be naked of apparell, would not harken to the good counsel, +which his companions gaue him, but rather sayd that it was lost time for +them to vse sutch spech, for he had rather dy, and indure all the mocks +and scoffs of the world, than lose the most delicate pray (in his +mynde,) that could chaunce into the hands of man, adding moreouer, that +the homelynesse and rudenes of the country, had not so mutch anoyed his +new beloued, but she deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the +greatest Minion and finest attyred gentlewoman of the Citty: For this +mayden had but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged, +where other artificially force by trumperies, to vsurpe that which the +heauens deny them. “Touching her vertue let that passe in silence, +sithens that she” (quod he sighinge) “is to chast and vertuous for one +whom I would choose to daly withal: My desire is not to make hir a +Lucrece, or some of those auncient Matrones, which in elder yeres +builded +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page411" id = "page411">411</a></span> +the temple of woman’s Fortune at Rome.” The companions of this louer +seeing how he was bent, promised him what they were able to doe, for +accomplishment of his will, for the which he thanked them very heartely, +offring like duty, where fortune should prepare the proofe of their +affection and neede of his amorous seruice: In the mean time, conceiuing +in his minde some new deuice, which so soone as he had found out was not +able to be brought to passe, and knowing that the duke seldome would +haue him out of his sight, began to inuent lyes, doing hym to vnderstand +that he had necessary occasion, for a certain time, to remain and be at +his country house. The duke which loued him, and who thought that either +he had som secret sicknes, or els som wench which he was loth to +discouer before his companions, gaue him leaue for a month, which so +pleased this amorous Gentleman, as he lept for ioye, and was not able to +rest one hour before he had found out his frends and companions, to +mount on horsback to visit hir that had vnder hir power and obeisance +the best portion of him, which was his hart and his most secret thought. +When he was come to his Countrey house, hee began to stalke abrode, and +daunce a round about the Mill, where his beloued did dwel, who was not +so foolish, but by and by suspected whereunto those goings and commings +of the Pilgrim tended, and for what pray he led his Dogs in lease, and +caused so many Nets and Cords to be displayed by hunters of euery age +and sexe, who to discouer the Countrey, assayde by beating the Bushes, +to take the Beaste at forme: For which cause she also for hir part, +began to fly the snares of those Byrders, and the raunging of the Dogs +that vented after hir, strayinge not from the house of the good man hir +Father: whereof this poore louer conceyued great dispayre, not knowinge +by what meanes he might rouse the Game after which he hunted, ne finde +the meanes to do hir vnderstand his playnts and vnmeasured griefe of +heart, the firme loue, and sinceere mynde wherewyth he was so earnestly +bent, both to obay and loue hir aboue all other: And that which most of +all increased his payne, was that of so great a troupe of messages whych +he had sent, with giftes and promisses the better to atchieue his +purpose, no one was able to take place or force (neuer so little) the +chastity of that sober and modest mayde. It +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page412" id = "page412">412</a></span> +chaunced one day as this Gentleman was walking a long a wode side newly +felled, hard adioyning to his house, by whych there was a cleare and +goodly fountayne shadowed betweene two thick and lofty Maple trees, the +Myller’s Daughter went thither for water, and as she had set downe hir +payles vpon the fountaine brink, hir Louer came vnto hir, litle thinking +of sutch a ioyful meeting, which he wel declared by these words: +“Praysed be God, that when I hoped least of this good hap, he hath sent +me hither, to see the onely substaunce of my ioy.” Then turninge his +face towards the mayden, sayd vnto her: “Is it true that thou art heere +(or do I dreame) and so neare to him that most desireth to gratyfie +thee in any thynge wherewyth it may please thee to commaunde him? Wilt +thou not haue pity vpon the paynes and griefs which continually I indure +for the extreme loue I beare thee?” And saying so, he would haue +imbraced hir. But the mayde, which cared no more for his flatteries, +than before she did for his presents and messages seeing the same to +tend to nothing else but to hir ruine and great dishonor, wyth stout +countenaunce, and by hir liuely colour declaring the chast and vertuous +motion of her bloud, sayd to this valiant Gentleman: “How now, syr, do +you thinke that the vilenesse of myne apparell, holdeth lesse vertue, +than is vnder the rich and sumptuous Ornaments of greatest Ladyes? Do +you suppose that my bringing vp hath bred in me sutch grose bloud, as +for your only pleasure, I shoulde corrupt the perfection of my +minde, and blot the honour which hitherto so carefully I haue kept and +religiously preserued? Be sure that sooner death shall separate the +soule from my body, than willingly I would suffer the ouerthrow and +violation of my virginity. It is not the part of sutch a Gentleman as +you be, thus to espy and subtlely pursue vs poore Countrey maydens to +charme vs with your sleights and guilfull talke: It is not the duety of +a Gentleman to subborne sutch vaunte currors to discouer and put in +perill, the honour of chaste maydens and honest Wyues, as heretofore you +haue done to me. It ought to suffice, that you haue receyued shame by +repulse of your messengers, and not to come your selfe to bee partaker +of their Confusion.” “And that is it, that ought to moue you sweete +heart” (aunswered he) “to take pitty vpon my griefe, so playnly +seeing that vnfaynedly I doe +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page413" id = "page413">413</a></span> +loue you, and that my loue is so well planted, as rather had I suffer +death, than occasion the least offence that may displease you: Only I +beseech you, not to shew your selfe so cruel vnto him, who disdayning +all other, hath made you so frank an offer both of himselfe and of al +that he hath to commaund.” The maide not greatly trusting his words, +feared that he prolonged time to make hir stay till hys seruants came to +steale hir away: And therefore without further aunswere, she taking vp +hir payles, and half running till she came neere the Myll, escaped his +hands, telling hir father no part of that talk betwene them: who began +already to doubt the treason, deuised by the Gentleman, agaynst the +pudicity of his daughter, vnto whom he neuer disclosed his suspition, +were it that he knew hir to be vertuous inough, and constant to resist +the luring assaults of loue, or considred the imbecillity of our flesh, +and the malice of the same, which dayly aspireth things thereunto +defended, and by lawes limitted and prescribed, which lawes it ought not +to excede, and yet therof it wisheth the abolishment. The Gentleman +seeinge that the mayden had forsaken hym, and little esteemed hys +amorous onset, outraged for loue, and chased wyth choler, spake these +wordes to hymselfe: “Ah foolish and dastard louer, what didst thou meane +when thou hadst hir so neere thee, in place so commodious, where shee +durst not gaynesay thee that thou didst no better pursue hir? And what +knowest thou if shee came of purpose to ease thy payne and to finish thy +troublesome trauels? Surely I suppose she did so, but that shame and +duety forced hir to vse those wordes, to make mee thinke, that lyghtly +she would not bee ouercome by persuasions: And put the case that it were +not so, who coulde haue let mee to take by force that, whereunto +willingly she would not accorde: But what is she to be reuenged of sutch +an iniury? She is for conclusion the daughter of a Miller, and may make +hir vaunte, that she hath mocked a Gentleman, who beinge alone wyth hir, +and burninge wyth loue, durst not staunch hys thirst (although full dry) +so neere the fountayne: And by God (sayd he rising from a greene banke +neere the fountayne’s side) if I dy therefore, I wyll haue it +eyther by loue or force.” In this wicked and tyrannicall mynde, hee +returned to hys place, where his companions +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page414" id = "page414">414</a></span> +seeing him so out of quiet, sayd vnto him: “Is thys the guise of a +gentle minde, to abase it selfe to the pursute of so simple a Wench? Doe +not you know the malice of that sexe, and the guiles wherewith those +Serpents poyson men? Care you so little for a woman as she doth for you, +and then wyll she imbrace you and make mutch of you, whose only study is +(which I beleeue) to frame hirselfe agaynst all that, for which humble +sute is made: But admit, that women hath some qualities to draw men to +loue them, to honour and serue them, which if it so be truely that +office and dutifull deuoyre ought to be imployed in seruice of them, +that be honourable and in spirite and iudgement of gentle kinde, which +no doubt wil counteruayle the merite of sutch a suter: And certesse I am +of opinion that a man may vaynely consume a yere or two in pursute and +seruice of this mealy Countrey wench, so well as addresse his loue in +the obedience of some fayre and honest Gentlewoman: which courteously +and with some fauour wyll recompence, the trauayles of hir seruaunt, +where that rude and sottish gyrle, by pryde will vaunt and looke a loft, +at the honor done vnto hir, despise theym whose worthynesse she knoweth +not, and whom neyther she nor the best of her seede, be worthy to serue +in any respect: will you know then what I thinke best for you to do? +myne aduice is then, that one of these euenings, she be trussed vp in a +Maile and brought hither, or in some place els where you thinke good, +that you may enioy at pleasure the beauty of hir whom you do praise and +wonder at so mutch: And afterwards let hir dissemble it she lust, and +make a Iewel of hir chastity 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 touch the most +daungerous place of al my wound, and how soueraygne a salue and plaister +you apply therevnto: I had thought truly to intreate you of that, +whereof euen now you haue made the ouerture, but fearing to offend you, +or to mutch vsurpe vpon your friendship, rather had I suffer a death +continuall, than rayse one point of offence, or discontentation in them, +which so frankly haue offred to doe me pleasure, whereof (by God’s +assistaunce) I hope to be acquited with all duety and office of +frendship. Now resteth it, to put in +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page415" id = "page415">415</a></span> +proofe, the effect of your deuise, and that so shortly as I can: In like +manner you see that the terme of my heere abode, will shortly expire, +and if wee be once at the Courte, impossible it is for me to recouer so +good occasion, and peraduenture she wil be maried, or some other shal +cary away the pray after which I haue beaten the Bush.” The plot then of +this mayden’s rape, was resolued vpon, and the first espied occasion +taken: But the louer which feared least this heat of his companions +would coole, sollicited them so mutch, as the execution was ordayned the +following night: which they did, not so mutch for the pleasure of their +frend, to whom in sutch aduentures they ought to deny all helpe, +(sith frendship ought not to passe, <i>Sed <ins class = "notation" +title = "abbreviation for ‘usque’">vsq;</ins> ad aras</i>, as Pericles the +Athenian sayd, so far as was sufferable by the lawes of God) as for that +they wer of nature of the self same tramp, which their passionate +companion was, and would haue made no conscience to enterpryse the same +for themselues, although the other had not tolde them hys affections: +These bee the Fruictes of vnruled Youth, wherein onely the Verdure and +greennesse of the Age beareth greatest sway, the wyll whereof reason can +not restrayne, which sooner reclineth to the carnall part, than to that +which tendeth to the honest repast and contentment of the mynd. The next +night, they three accompanied with <span class = "smallroman">V.</span> +or <span class = "smallroman">VI.</span> seruauntes (so honest as +theyr maisters) gaue the onset in armure and weapons well appointed to +defende and hurt, if any resistance were made, they myght be able to +repell theyr aduersaries. Thus about two of the clocke in the night they +came to the Mil, the Heauens hauyng throwne theyr mantell ouer the +vaporous earthe, and dymmed hir Face with theyr vayle obscure and darke, +and yet not sutch, but that the ayre was cloudye cleere: and when no man +doubted of so great offence, and of sutch vnhappy rape, they brake into +the poore Miller’s House, beetwene whose armes they toke away his +daughter deare, and almost dead for feare, piteously began to cry for +help, defending herself so well as she could from those Theeues and +Murderers. The desolate father raging with no lesse fury then the +Hircanian Tigre, when hir Faucons be kylled or taken away, ran first to +one, and then to another, to stay them from carying of hir away, for +whom they came. In the end the amorous rauisher of +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page416" id = "page416">416</a></span> +his daughter sayd vnto hym: “Father, Father, I aduyse thee to get +thee hence if thou loue thy lyfe, for thy force is too weake to resist +so many, the least of whome is able to coole this thy foolish heart and +choler, for the whych I would be sory, for the great Loue I beare vnto +thy daughter, who (I hope) before she depart my company, shal haue +wherewith to be contented: and thou cause to pacifye this thine +immoderate rage, which in vayne thou yalpest forth agaynst this troupe.” +“Ah false Knaue and theefe,” (sayd the honest pore man) “it is thou +then, which by thine infamous filthinesse and insaciable knauery, doest +dishonor the commendable fame of my daughter, and by like meanes +shortnest the hoped yeres of me hir poore vnhappy father, loosinge +through thy wickednesse, the staffe and stay of myne olde aged life? +Thynkest thou Traytor, that liuing till this day (for all my pouertye) +in reputation of an honest Man, in myne olde Dayes will become an +vnshamefast and vyle Minister and Chapman of my daughter’s maidenhoode +and virginity? No knaue thinke not that I forget the wrong receiued of +thee, for which by some meanes or other, I wyll purchase iust +reuenge vpon thee or thyne?” The Gentleman caryng little or nothyng for +the old man’s wordes, hauyng in hys hand his desired spoyle, commanded +his Men to marche before with the Mayden, leauing behind the poore olde +Man which thundred against them a thousand bitter cursses, threatning +and reuyling them, by all the termes he could deuise, desirous +(as I think) to haue them turne backe to kyll him. But thereunto +they gaue so little heede, as when he wylled them to leaue his daughter +behynde them: to whome the amorous courtier addressing himselfe, began +to kysse hir, and assayed by all meanes with pleasaunt Woordes and many +sweete promisses to comfort hir: but the poore Wenche knowyng full well, +that they wente about to play the Butchers wyth her Chastitye, and to +commyt Murder wyth the floure of hir Virginity, began to cry so +piteously with dolorous voice, as she would haue moued to compassion the +hardest Hartes that euer were, excepte the Hearte of hym which craued +nothyng more than the spoyle of that his sweetest Enimy. When the poore +Wenche saw hir Vertue ready to be spoyled by one, who (not in Maryage +ioyned) wente aboute to vyolate and possesse the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page417" id = "page417">417</a></span> +same, and knewe that afterwardes hee woulde vaunte hymselfe for the +Victorye of sutch a precious pryce: “Alas (quod she) is it possyble that +the Souerayne Iustyce of God can abyde a Myschiefe so greate and +curssed, and that the Voyce of a poore Wretched afflicted Mayde cannot +be heard in the presence of the Myghty Lord aboue? Why may not I nowe +rather suffer Deathe, than the Infamy whych I see to wander before myne +Eyes? O the good olde Man my deare and louing Father, how farre +better had it bene for thee to haue slayne mee wyth thy Dagger, betwene +the Handes of these moste wycked Theeues, than to let mee goe to bee the +praye of those my Foes that seeke the spoyle of Vertue, and the blotte +of thy reputation. O happy a hundred hundred tymes bee yee, whych +haue already passed the ineuitable tract of Death when ye were in +cradle, and I poore vnhappy Wench no lesse blessed had I bene if +pertaker of your Ioy, where now I rest alyue to feele the smarte and +Anguish of that Death more egre to support, than that whych deuydeth the +body and soule.” The Gentleman offended with those complaynts, beganne +to threaten, that hee woulde make hir forget hir disordered behauiour, +sayinge that shee must change an other tune, and that hir plaints were +to no purpose amongs them which cared not, nor yet were bent to stay +vppon hir Womanishe teares, Lamentations and cries. The poore Mayden +hearinge there resolution, and seeing that shee vaynely dysparckled hir +Voyce into the Ayre, began to holde hir peace, whych caused the Louer to +speake vnto hir these wordes: “And what my Wench? Dost thou thinke it +straunge, that for the heate of loue I beare to thee that I should force +sutch violence? Alas it is not malyce nor euill wyll that causeth me to +doe the same, it is loue whych cannot bee inclosed, but must needes +breake forth to manyfest his force. Ah that thou hadest felt, what I doe +suffer and indure for loue of thee. I beleeue then thou wouldest +not bee so hard hearted, but haue pitty vppon the griefe whereof thou +shouldest haue proued the vehemence.” Whereunto the mayde aunswered +nothinge but Teares and Syghes, wringing hir Armes and Handes, and +sometymes makinge Warre vppon hir fayre Hayre. But all these Feminine +Waylinges nothinge mooued thys Gallant, and lesse Remooued hys former +desire to haue +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page418" id = "page418">418</a></span> +hir, which hee atchieued in dispite of hir Teeth, so soone as hee +arryued at his owne House. The remnaunt of the Night they lay together, +where hee vsed hir wyth all sutch kynde of flatteringe and louinge +Speech, as a Louer (of longe tyme) a Suter could deuise to do +to hir, whom at length he dyd Possesse. Now all these flatteringe +Follies tended onely to make hir his owne, to keepe hir in hys Countrey +House for hys Pleasure. Shee that for hir Age (as before is sayd) +was of condition Sage, and of gentle mynde, began subtilely to dissemble +and fayne to take Pleasure in that which was to hir more bitter than any +Aloes or Woode of Myrrha, and more agaynst hir heart than remembraunce +of Death, whych styll shee wyshed for remedy of hir gryefe, and +Voluntaryly woulde haue killed her selfe lyke a Lucrece, if the feare of +God, and dreadfull losse of Body and Soule, had not turned hir mynde, +and also hoped in God that the Rauysher should repayre the fault whych +he committed, and beare the penaunce for his temerity, whereof she was +no whit deceyued, as yee shall perceyue, by that which presently doth +follow. Now whilest the Rauisher tooke his pleasure wyth his Rape, the +miserable father made the Ayre to sound with his complaints, accusinge +fortune for letting the Whorish varlet so to passe, wythout doing him to +feele the lustinesse of hys age, and the force that yet reasted in his +furrowed face, and corpse withered with length of yeares. In the end +knowing that his playnts, curses, and desire were throwne forth in +vayne, perceiuing also his force vnequal to deale with sutch an Ennimy, +and to get agayne by violence hys stolne Daughter, or to recouer hir by +that meanes whereby she was taken away, he determined the next day to go +and complaine to the Duke: and vpon that determination he layd him downe +to sleepe vnder the trees, which ioyned to the fountayne, where +sometimes the Courtier had communed with his daughter. And seeing that +the Element began <ins class = "correction" title = "error for ‘to’">to +to</ins> shewe some splendent hue Interpaled with coulours of White, +Yealow, and Red, Signes preceedinge the risinge of fresh Aurora, started +from his sleepe and tooke hys way to Florence, whither he came, vpon the +openinge of the Citty Gates. Then going to the Pallace of the Duke, he +tarried vntill he saw the Prynce goe forth to seruice. The good man +seeing him of whom he attended to receyue succour, fauour, and iustice, +began to freat, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page419" id = "page419">419</a></span> +and rage for remembraunce of his receyued wronge, and was ashamed to see +himself in place not accustomed: and although it grieued his heart wyth +hardy speach to presume in presence of so many, yet the iust anger and +desire of vengeance emboldned hym so mutch, as kneelinge vpon his knees +before the Maiesty of the Duke, aloud he spake these woordes: “Alas +(my Soueraygne Lord) if euer your grace had pity vpon a desolate +man, full of dispayre, I humbly beseech the same that now you do +regard the misery which on euery side assayleth me. Haue pity vpon the +pouerty of that vnfortunate olde man agaynst whom one hath done sutch +wrong, as I hope by force of your vertue and accustomed iustice, you wil +not leaue a sin so detestable without deserued punishment, for respect +of mischiefes that may insue where sutch wickednesse shalbe dissembled +without due correction.” Sayinge so, the great teares ran downe his hory +Bearde, and by reason of his interrupted sighes and continual sobbes, +the panting of his stomack might easily haue bene perceiued all riueld +for age, and Sunneburned with heate and continuall Countrey trauaile: +and that which moued most the standers by, was the ruefull loke of the +good old man, who casting his lookes heare and there, beheld eche one +with hys holowe and dolorous Eyes, in sutch wise as if he had not spoken +any word, hys countenance would haue moued the Lords to haue compassion +vpon his misery, and his teares were of sutch force, as the Duke which +was a wyse man, and who measured thinges by reason’s guide, prouided +with wisedome, and foreseeinge not without timely iudgement, would know +the cause whych made that man so to make his plaint, and notwithstanding +assailed (with what suspition I know not) would not haue him openly to +tel hys tale, but leading him aside, he sayd vnto him: “My frend, albeit +that greeuous faultes of great importance, ought grieuously and openly +to be corrected, yet it chaunceth oftentimes, that he which in a heate +and choler doth execution for the guylt (although that iustly after hee +hath disgested his rage, at leasure hee repenteth his rigor and ouer +sodaine seueritie,) offence being naturall in man, may sometyme (where +slaunder is not euident) by mild and mercyfull meanes forget the same +without infringing or violating the holy and ciuil constitutions of +Lawmakers. I speake thus mutch bicause +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page420" id = "page420">420</a></span> +my heart doeth throbbe that some of my house haue don some filthy faulte +against thee or some of thine. Now I would not that they openlye should +be slaundered, and yet lesse pretend I to leaue theyr faultes +vnpunished, specially sutch as by whose offensiue cryme the common peace +is molested, wherein I desyre, that my People shoulde lyue. For which +purpose God hath constituted Prynces and Potestates as shepheardes and +guides of hys flocke, to the ende that the Tyrannicall fury of the +vitious, mighte not destroy, deuoure and scatter the impotente flock, of +no valoure if it be forsaken and lefte forlorne by the mighty Armes of +Pryncipalities and Monarchyes.<ins class = "addition" title = +"close quote missing">”</ins> +A singuler modesty doubtlesse, and an incredyble +example of Clemencye in hym, whome hys Cytyzens thoughte to be a Tyrant +and vniust vsurper of a free Segnyorye, who so priuily and with sutch +familiarity, as the Friend could wish of his companion, hearkened to the +cause of the poore Countrey man, and moreouer hys modesty so great, as +hee would it not to bee knowen what fault it was, or else that the +offenders shoulde publikely bee accused, offering for all that to be the +reuenger of the wronge done vnto the poore, and the punisher of the +iniury exercised agaynste the desolate, a worke certainly worthy of +a true Chrystian Prince, and which establisheth kingdomes decayed, +conserueth those that be, rendring the Prynce to be beloued of God, and +feared of his Subiects. The pore olde man seeing the Duke in so good +mynde, and that accordingly hee demaunded to know the wrong don vnto +him, the Name of the factor, and that also he had promised him his help +and ryghtfull correctyon due vnto the deserued fault, the good olde man +I say conceiuing courage, recited from poynt to poynte the whole +discourse of the rape, and the violence done, vppon hys poore vertuous +Daughter, declaring besides the name and surname of those which +accompanied the Gentleman, the author of that conspiracy, who +(as we haue already sayd) was one that was in greatest fauor with +the Duke: who notwithstanding the Loue that he bare to the accused, +hearing the vnworthinesse of a deede so execrable, said: “As God liueth +this is a detestable facte, and well deserueth a sharpe and cruell +punyshment: Notwithstanding freend, take good heede that thou doeste not +mistake the same, by accusing one for an other, for the Gentleman whome +thou haste named +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page421" id = "page421">421</a></span> +to be the rauisher of thy daughter, is of all men deemed to bee very +honest, and doe well assure thee that if I finde thee a lyer, thy heade +shall answere for example to eche false accuser and slaunderer in time +to come. But if the matter be so true as thou hast sayde, I promise +thee by the faith I beare to God, so wel to redresse thy wrong, as thou +shalt haue cause to be thoroughly satisfied with my iustice.” To whome +the good olde man thus answered: “My Lord the matter is so true, as at +this day hee keepeth my Daughter (like a common strumpet) in his house. +And if it please your highnesse to send thither, you shall know that I +do not falsely accuse or vtter lying woordes before you, my Lord and +Prynce, in presence of whom as before the mynister and Lyeuetenaunte of +God, Man oughte not to speake but truely and religeously.” “Sith it is +so,” sayd the Duke, “get thee home to thy house, where God willing, +I will be this day at dinner, but take hede vpon thy life, thou say +nothing to any man what so euer he be: for the rest let me alone, +I will prouide according to reason.” The good man almost so glad +for his good exploit, as the day before he was sorowful for his losse, +ioyfully went home to his homely house and Countrey Cabane, whych he +caused to be made ready so wel as hee could, attending the comming of +his deliuerer, succor, support, and iudge, who when he had heard +seruice, commanded his Horse to be made ready: “For (sayd he) +I heare say there is a wylde Boare haunting hereby, so well lodged +as is possible to see: wee wyll goe thyther to wake hym from his sleepe +and ease, and vse that pastime til our dinner be ready.” So departing +from Florence, he rode straight vnto the Mil wher his dinner was +prepared by hys Seruauntes. There he dined very soberly, and vsing fewe +words vnto his company, sate stil al pensiue, musing vpon that he had to +doe: For on the one side the grauitie of the facte moued him rigorously +to chastise him which had committed the same. On the other side the loue +which he bare him (mollifing his heart) made him change his minde, and +to moderate his sentence. The Prynce’s minde, thus wandering beetwene +loue and rigor, one brought him worde that the Dogs had rousde the +greatest Hart that euer he sawe: which newes pleased him very mutch, for +by that meanes he sent away the multitude of his Gentlemen to follow +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page422" id = "page422">422</a></span> +the chase, retaining with him his moste familiar friends, and those that +were of his priuy and secrete councel, whom he would to be witnesses of +that which he intended to doe, and causing his hoast to come before him, +he sayd: “My friend, thou muste brynge vs to the place whereof thys +Mornynge thou toldest me, that I may discharge my promyse.” The +Courtyers wondred at those Woordes<ins class = "correction" title = +". for ,">. </ins>ignoraunte +whereunto the same were spoken: but the good +Man whose Hearte leapte for ioy, as already feelynge some greate +Benefyte at Hand, and Honoure prepared for the beautyfyinge of hys +House, seeynge the Duke on Horsebacke, ran besydes hym in steade of hys +Lackey, wyth whome the Prynce held mutch pleasaunt talke all along the +way as they wente togyther, but they had not gone farre, but the +Gentleman the Rauysher, wyth his Companyons, vnderstandyng that the Duke +hunted there aboutes, came to doe hym reuerence: and his Fortune was +sutch, as hee nor any of his frends perceiued the olde man, by meanes +whereof they nothing suspected what did insue. For that cause the said +Rauisher said to his prince: “My Lord, if fortune had so mutch fauored +me, as I mighte haue knowen of your commyng into these quarters, +I would haue don my duetie to entertaine you, not as appertayneth +to the greatnesse of your excellency, but according to the ability of +the least, and yet the most obedient of your seruaunts.” To whom the +Duke dissembling his anger sayd: “Sir, I dined heere hard by within +my tents, not knowing that your house was so neare vs: but sith that I +haue met you vpon your own Marches and Confines, I wyll not goe +hence before I see your lodging: for so farre as I can iudge by the +outwarde parte of this goodly building, me thinkes the workman hath not +forgotten any thing that should serue for the setting forth and ornament +of this parte of the house, which for the quantity is one of the fairest +plottes that I haue seene.” So approching the Castell the Duke lyghted +to view the commodities of the place, and specially the image, for whych +alone hee was departed from his City, whereof the Mayster of the House +(dronke with the sodaine pleasure to see the Duke there) thought +nothyng. So descending into the base Court, they saw a Marble fountaine +that discharged the water in foure greate gutters, receiued by foure +naked Nimphes, and by them poured into Vessells, +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page423" id = "page423">423</a></span> +richely wrought with Damaskyne, where was an armed Knyght, lying vnder +an hyghe and broade tree, that ouershadowed the Fountaine: And hard by, +they espied a lyttle doore whych shewed the way into so singulare and +well planted a Garden, as euer the delycious and pleasant Gardens were +of Alcinoe: For in the same (bysides the Artyfyciall Workemanshyppe, and +ordinarye Trauell of the Gardener) Nature produced foure Fountaynes in +the foure Corners, makynge the Place and plaine of Garden equally parted +in fouresquare forme. Now these fountaynes watered all the fayre knots +of the same, wythout any payne to the Gardener, except to open certayne +little Conduicts, whereby the water sprange and ran to what part he +thought it needfull. I will heere leaue to speake of the Trees and +fruictes deuided in fiue forme order, the Laberynthes subtilely and +finely wrought, the sweete Herbers yelding sutch contentation to the +eye, as if the Duke had not respected the wrong done to the Miller’s +daughter, the gentlenesse of the mayster of the house, and the +singularity of the place, perchaunce might haue made him forget himselfe +within that little earthly Paradise. And to performe the excellency of +that Garden, the workinge hand and industry of man, holpen by the +benefite of Nature, had formed within the Ground wherein were bestowed a +number of Antiquities, and wherein the immortal voice of an Eccho +answered their talke with a triple sounde in that profound and earthly +place: which moued the Duke to call the Gentleman vnto him, vnto whom he +sayd: “If it bee so, that the rest of the house doe match wyth that +whych I haue already seene, I am out of doubt it is one of the +fayrest and most delectable houses at thys day wythin the compasse of +all Italy. Wherefore my Frende, I pray thee that wee may see the +whole, both for the contentation of our Mindes, and also that I may make +some vaunt that I haue seene the rarest and best furnished little House +that is within the iurisdiction of Florence.” The Gentleman bathed in +ease and full of pleasure, seeynge that the Duke lyked so well his +House, brought hym from chamber to chamber, which was enryched eyther +with stately tapissarie of Turkey making, or with riche Tables diuinely +wrought, vtensils so neate and fit, as the Duke could cast his eye vpon +none of them, but he was driuen into +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page424" id = "page424">424</a></span> +an admiration and Wonder. And the further he went, the greater hee sawe +the increase, and almost a Regeneration, or as I may say, a newe +Byrth of rare thinges, which made the littlenesse of the Place more +Stately and wonderfull: Wherefore hee greatly esteemed hym in hys Mynde +whych had deuysed the Magnificence of sutch a Furnyture. After then that +hee had visited the Portals, Galleries, Parlers, Chambers, Garrets, +Wardrobes, Closets, and chiefest Romes of that house, they came into a +Gallerie, which had a direct prospect vpon the Garden, at the end wherof +there was a chamber shut, ouer which sutch Antike and Imbossed worke, as +it was maruell to behold, and vpon the garden side in like workemanship, +yee mighte haue viewed a troupe of Nymphes (a long the side of a +woode adioyning vpon a great Riuer) flying from an hierd of Satires, +that made as though they would haue ouerrunne them: a pleasure it +was to see their gaping mouthes, theyr eyes fixed vpon the place where +theyr clouen-footed pursuters were, and the countenance of them, which +so well expressed theyr feare, as there wanted nothing but speache. +Moreouer a better sight it was to beholde the Satire Bucks, with +dysplayed throte, and theyr fyngers poynting at the hast of those pore +fearfull runawayes, as though they mocked theyr sodaine flyghte. Within +a while after ye might haue seene Hercules lyinge a Bed with his wife, +towards whom a Faunus came thinking to enjoy the beauty and embracements +of the sleping dame: But fayrer it was to see how that strong +Amphitrionian gaue him the mocke, and strained him so hard, as he +thought his belly would burste. The Duke beholding as he thought, the +fayrest Chamber of the house so shut, by and by suspected the truth of +the cause: For the Gentleman knowing the comming of the Duke, had +withdrawen his woman into the same for that it was the most secrete of +his house, and the furdest from all ordinary seruice. Vpon surmise the +Duke demaunded wherefore that Chamber was not opened so wel as the rest: +“I suppose the same to be your treasure house?” (quod hee) “and the +storehouse of your most delicate things: Wee pray you let vs looke into +it.” “My Lord” (sayd the Gentleman) “the place is to farre out of order, +at this time to shew your grace: Moreouer I knowe not where the Keyes +be, for thys +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page425" id = "page425">425</a></span> +morning the keeper of my house is gone into the city, and I can not tell +to whom hee hath delyuered them.” The Duke which heard the end of his +excuse, not accepting the same for the pryce which the Courtier woulde +and thoughte to haue solde it, was sure then of that which before he did +suspect. Wherfore with furious countenaunce he sayd vnto him: “Goe too, +goe too, either with the key, or without the Key, let this door be +opened, that I may see all thy secretes within.” The rauisher seeing the +Duke to be earnest, could not tell at the first Face, of what Woode to +make his arrowes, stode stil astonned, and was surprysed wyth a newe +feare. In the end notwythstandyng, playinge the good fellowe, hee went +vnto the Duke, in whose eare smilinge hee whispered (bicause he knew +right well that the Duke was an indifferent good companion, and loued so +well his neighbor’s Wyfe, as his owne:) and sayd: “My Lord there is a +prety wench within, whome I do kepe, and would not shewe hir to any +lyuing man but to you.” “That is the cause I aske” (sayd the duke) “let +vs see hir that I may geue iudgement of hir beauty, and tell you whither +shee bee worth the keeping or not.” The mayster of the house opened the +chamber dore, thinking to haue gained mutch, and supposed to insinuate +himselfe the better into the fauor of the Duke, but immediatlye hee saw +himselfe farre deceiued of his accompt. For the rauished and shamefast +maiden comming forth of the Chamber with hir hayre about hir eyes, and +hir garments berent and torne, hir stomake and breast all naked and +discouered, hir Face and Eyes all blubbered wyth Teares, lyke a +desperate woman threw hir selfe at the Prince’s feete, crying out: “Ah +(my lord) beholde heere and haue pity vpon the most vnfortunate +Wenche of all most wretched caytyfe Women, who shamefully and +Trayterously hath bene abused and defloured by him, whych impudently +dareth to bryng you into the place the wytnesse of hys abhominable and +wycked Lyfe.” The Duke seeing this sight, and hauing compassion vpon the +Maiden, turned his face towardes the Gentleman and hys Companyons (which +by chance wer come thither, as the Duke was entred into the Gallerie) +not with milde and pleasant countenance as hee shewed from the +beginning, but with a looke so graue and seuere, as the hardiest of the +company could not tell what to do, or what +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page426" id = "page426">426</a></span> +answere to make hym. Vpon them than began the ryghteous Prynce to vomit +his dyspleasure, sayinge: “Is this the innobling of the Bloud whereof +thou art descended, to rauyshe thy Neyghbors and my subiectes Daughters, +that duetyfully lyue vnder myne obeysance and protection? Doest thou +thus abuse the familiaritie whych hytherto I haue shewed vnto thee? +Thinkest thou that the Lawes be peruerted together with the chaunge of +the common Wealth of Florence? No, I assure thee, for so long as +the Soule shal abyde within my body, I will be he that shal pursue +the wycked wyth all extremitie, and shall not indure the oppressyon of +the pore, enough afflicted with their own proper misery. O God +could I haue thought that a Gentleman of my House, woulde haue bene so +prodigall of his honour, as to soyle hys Hands so filthily by rauishing +of them which ought to be required, and to dishonour them in place where +their Vertue ought to shine for generall example? I cannot tell +what stayeth me from cutting those curssed Heades of yours from of your +shoulders like arrant Traytors and Theues as you be. Get ye hence, ye +infamous villaynes and beastly Ruffians, the troubles of your Neyghbors +rest, and the spoylers of the fame of hir, that is more worth than all +ye together.” Then speaking to the Mayde hee sayd: “Rise vp my wench, +and on me repose thy comfort, for I promise the by the faith of a +Gentleman, that I will do thee sutch reason, and vse thee so vpryghtlye +as bothe my Conscience shal be quieted, thou contented, and thine honour +restored for the wrong and iniury whych it hath receiued of these +Gallantes.” And by and by he commaunded the Miller to come before him, +and all those whom he had brought wyth hym to assist his doings, before +whom he caused to be brought both the rauished maiden, and the +condempned of the rape: vnto whom he said: “This is the pray my friends +that I sought after, which I haue taken without toyles, nets, or +chaunting of the Dogs. Beholde, I pray you the Honoure whych my +Householde Seruauntes doe vnto my House, who ouerrunne the Symple +Countrey People, and rauyshe theyr Daughters betweene the Armes of theyr +propre parentes, who breake, beate downe, and ouerthrowe the Doores of +theyr Houses, that under the Lawes of our City and ought to enioy lyke +Pryuiledge of Lybertye and +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page427" id = "page427">427</a></span> +Franchyze. If one respecte (whych I wyll not dysclose) dyd not impeache +and stay mee, I would doe sutch cruell iustice vppon the offenders +as the posterity should make report thereof. Notwithstanding it shal +suffise that they receiue this shame before you all, by seeing +themselues vanquished of a crime, which for expiation and reuenge, +deserueth most shamefull death, and to receyue of mee for proofe of +mercy, an vndeserued pardon of their fault: with condition neuerthelesse +that thou (speaking to the Gentleman Rauisher) shalt take this mayden to +Wyfe, for otherwyse thou art not able to repayre the honour thou hast +taken from hir<ins class = "correction" title = +"superfluous parenthesis in original">)</ins> and shalt loue hir +so dearely, as fondly heeretofore she +was beloued of thee, to esteeme and loue hir so mutch, as if she were +the very sister of me the Duke of Florence, who commaundeth thee for the +raunsome and redemption of thy head, presently to mary hir. I will +moreouer, and ordayne by reason of hir father’s pouerty, that for the +wrong which he hath receyued of you three, that his daughter shall bee +indowed wyth two thousand Crownes by him that marrieth hir, and with a +thousand of eyther of the two other, to th’ entent that if hir husband +dy (wythout heire,) shee haue wherewith honestly to mayntayne hir +degree, and the honest port of hir house. And hereof I will that without +delay a contract be made, and a publike instrument of good record +inrolled, swearing once agayne before thee, that if I vnderstand, thou +vse her otherwise, than a Wyfe ought to bee of hir husband, I will +deale sutch punishment and correction ouer thee, as all men in time to +come shal take example.” The Gentleman which expected no better meede +than death, ioyfull of that sentence, fell downe prostrate before the +Duke in signe of consente, and the lyke did his Companions. But the ioy +of the Miller and his daughter cannot be expressed, who extolled the +vertue and iustice of the Prynce vp into the heauens: to whom with sutch +humility they rendred theyr humble thanks, as he would doe that saw +himselfe in so great calamity, and brought to sutch dishonour as earst +they were seene to be, by meanes of him that acknowledged one of them +for his sonne, and the other for hir lawfull Spouse. Thus was the +mariage consummat in presence of the Duke, with so great ioye, and +content of all partes, as there was rage and trouble for the Rape of the +<span class = "pagenum"> +<a name = "page428" id = "page428">428</a></span> +Bryde. The Duke beinge retourned to Florence, the Brute of this act +incontinently was disparkled almost throughout the Region of Italy, and +this iudgement no lesse praysed, than the sentence which Kynge Solomon +gaue vppon the Controuersie of the two Harlots for the liuing childe, +which eyther of them claimed for hir owne. And for this cause was hee +extolled aboue any other Prynce or Lorde that in tymes passed did +commaund or rule the Common wealth wythin the Countrey of Thuscan. In +thys wyse that modesty made him worthy of the Principality, which almost +against all ryght he had vsurped, and of a prayse whych shall no lesse +continue, than the Memory of man is able to extende the same from one +generation to an other, and which those that be Couetous of the prayse +of a Prince so vertuous, iust and modest, shal not cease to illustrate +and gloriously aduaunce him in open euydence, to the ende that hys like +may exercise like things, or of greater consequence, by not sufferinge +venemous and vnprofitable hearbs to grow within the Garden of their +Common wealth. Wythin the which, a little mildew or vntimely rayne, +is able to marre and corrupt all the good Seedes and Plantes sowen, and +grifted there before: For commonly wicked Weedes and Bastard Impes take +deeper roote than those that beare a good and fauorous fruict, for +conseruation whereof, the diligent husbandman imployeth his labour +throughout all the Seasons of the yeare.</p> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<h6>END OF VOL. II.</h6> + +<p> <br> </p> + +<hr> + +<h6 class = "smaller"> +BALLANTYNE PRESS: EDINBURGH AND LONDON.</h6> + +</div> + +<!-- end div maintext --> + +<div class = "endnote"> + +<h4>Title Pages</h4> + +<h5><a name = "titletext" id = "titletext" href = "#titlepage"> +Volume II Title Page</a></h5> + +<p class = "center">THE<br> + <br> +<span class = "largest"><b>Palace of Pleasure</b></span><br> + <br> +<i>ELIZABETHAN VERSIONS OF ITALIAN AND FRENCH NOVELS<br> +FROM BOCCACCIO, BANDELLO, CINTHIO, STRAPAROLA,<br> +QUEEN MARGARET OF NAVARRE,<br> +AND OTHERS</i><br> + <br> +DONE INTO ENGLISH<br> +<span class = "smallcaps">by WILLIAM PAINTER</span><br> + <br> +<i>NOW AGAIN EDITED FOR THE FOURTH TIME</i><br> +<span class = "smallcaps">by JOSEPH JACOBS</span><br> + <br> +VOL. II.<br> + <br> +[Publisher’s Mark: IN NUCE LIBELLUS]<br> + <br> +<i>LONDON: PUBLISHED BY DAVID NUTT IN THE STRAND</i><br> +MDCCCXC</p> + + +<h5><a name = "tomeI_text" id = "tomeI_text" href = "#tomeI_title"> +Tome I Title Page</a></h5> + +<p class = "center"> +THE PALACE OF<br> +<span class = "largest"><i>Pleasure Beautified</i><br></span> +<span class = "blackletter">adorned and well furnished</span><br> +vvith pleasaunt Histories and<br> +<span class = "blackletter">excellent Nouels, selected out<br> +of diuers good and commendable Authours</span><br> + <br> +<span class = "blackletter">By William Painter, Clarke</span><br> +of the Ordinaunce and Armorie<br> + <br> +¶ Eftsones perused corrected<br> +and augmented<br> + <br> +1575<br> +IMPRINTED AT LONDON<br> +<i>by Thomas Marshe.</i></p> + + +<h5><a name = "tomeII_text" id = "tomeII_text" href = "#tomeII_title"> +Tome II Title Page</a></h5> + +<p class = "center"> +<span class = "largest">The second Tome</span><br> +<span class = "larger">of the Palace of Pleasure,</span><br> +<span class = "blackletter">conteyning store of goodly +Histories,</span><br> +Tragicall matters, and other Mo-<br> +<span class = "blackletter">rall argument, very re-</span><br> +<i>quisitefor delighte</i><br> +<span class = "blackletter">and profit.</span><br> + <br> +<span class = "larger"><i>Chosen and selected out of</i></span><br> +<i>diuers good and commen-<br> +dable Authors:</i><br> + <br> +By William Painter, Clerke of the<br> +Ordinance and Armarie.<br> +ANNO.1567.<br> + <br> +<span class = "largest">Imprinted at London, in</span><br> +Pater Noster Rowe, by Henry<br> +Bynneman, for Nicholas<br> +England.<br> +</p> + +<hr class = "mid"> + +<h4><a name = "errata" id = "errata"> +Errors and Inconsistencies</a></h4> + +<h5>Spelling in the Novels</h5> + +<p>Fused forms such as “thende” occur side by side with “the ende”. +Word-initial “u” and non-initial “v” are in the original.</p> + +<p>Specific words:</p> + +<p class = "inset"> +“renowme” is far more frequent than “renowne”<br> +“alablaster” is standard for the period<br> +“Cræsus” is used consistently</p> + +<h5>Errors</h5> + +<p>The printed book did not include an Errata list. It is therefore +impossible to tell whether irregularities of spelling, punctuation and +typography in the primary text are unique to the Jacobs edition (1890), +or whether they were deliberately carried over from Haslewood (1813) +and/or Painter (1566 and later).</p> + +<p>Errors and anomalies are handled in one of three ways, all using +mouse-hover popups:</p> + +<div class = "hanging"> +<p>Clear errors in the text are marked but not changed: <ins class = +"correction" title = "error for ‘giue’">guie</ins>.</p> + +<p>Missing punctuation—generally closing quotation marks—is +added in grey with a note: <ins class = "addition" +title = "close quote missing">”</ins></p> + +<p>A few unexpected forms were simply noted: <ins class = "notation" +title = "abbreviation for ‘usque’">usq;</ins>.</p> +</div> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Palace of Pleasure, by William Painter + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALACE OF PLEASURE *** + +***** This file should be named 34053-h.htm or 34053-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/0/5/34053/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Meredith Bach, Chris Curnow, Carlo +Traverso and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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