diff options
Diffstat (limited to '34053.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 34053.txt | 16152 |
1 files changed, 16152 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/34053.txt b/34053.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad7d5e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/34053.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16152 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Palace of Pleasure, by William Painter + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: ASCII + +*** 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) + + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: + +This text comes in three versions: Unicode (UTF-8), Latin-1 and ASCII. +Use the one that works best with your text reader. + + --In the UTF-8 version, quotation marks and apostrophes are "curly". + Long s (see below) is shown as printed, and the "oe" ligature is + a single character. + --In the Latin-1 version, quotation marks and apostrophes have the + straight or "typewriter" form. Long s is shown in brackets as [s], + and "oe" is two characters. The "ae" ligature is a single letter, + and the paragraph mark Par. is shown as printed. + --In the ASCII or rock-bottom version, "ae" is two letters, and the + paragraph mark is shown as the word "Par." + +Text originally printed in blackletter ("Gothic") type is shown between +*asterisks*. The original book (printed in 1890) used long "s" [s] +throughout. This has been retained only for title pages and similar +decorative text. + +Missing spaces, punctuation--chiefly quotation marks--and single letters +are shown in {braces}. Other typographic errors are listed at the end of +the e-text, but are unchanged in the body text. Word-initial "u" and +medial "v" are in the original. + +Volume I of this work, including the Introduction, is available from +Project Gutenberg as e-text 20241.] + + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + + + THE + + PALACE OF PLEASURE + + VOL. II. + + + * * * * * + + *Ballantyne Press* + Ballantyne, Hanson and Co. + Edinburgh and London + + * * * * * + + + The + + *PALACE OF PLEASURE* + +_Elizabethan Versions of Italian and French Novels_ + _from Boccaccio, Bandello, Cinthio, Straparola,_ + _Queen Margaret of Navarre,_ + _and Others_ + + + Done Into English + + By WILLIAM PAINTER + + + _Now Again Edited For The Fourth Time_ + + By JOSEPH JACOBS + + + VOL. II. + + [Illustration (Publisher's Device): + IN NUCE LIBELLUS] + + _London: Published by David Nutt in the Strand_ + + MDCCCXC + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +VOLUME II. + + TOME I.--_Continued._ + + Novel Page + + XLVII. Galgano and Madonna Minoccia 3 + XLVIII. Duke of Venice and Ricciardo 8 + XLIX. Filenio Sisterno 18 + L. Muleteer's Wife 29 + LI. King of Naples 32 + LII. Princess of Flanders 38 + LIII. Amadour and Florinda 45 + LIV. Duke of Florence 75 + LV. Francis I. and Count Guillaume 81 + LVI. Lady of Pampeluna 84 + LVII. Strange Punishment of Adultery 97 + LVIII. President of Grenoble 101 + LIX. Gentleman of Perche 104 + LX. Gentleman That Died of Love 107 + LXI. Lady of the French Court 113 + LXII. Rolandine 116 + LXIII. The Prudent Lady 135 + LXIV. Lady of Tours 139 + LXV. Doctor of Laws 142 + + TOME II. + + Title 147 + Dedication 149 + Contents 154 + Authorities 158 + I. Amazons 159 + II. Alexander and Sisigambis 166 + III. Timoclia of Thebes 172 + IV. Ariobarzanes 176 + V. Aristotemus the Tyrant 209 + VI. Tanaquil 221 + VII. Sophonisba 236 + VIII. Poris and Theoxena 252 + IX. Lady of Hidrusa 256 + X. Empress Faustina 260 + XI. Two Maids of Carthage 264 + XII. Letters of Trajan 279 + XIII. Lamia, Flora, and Lais 301 + XIV. Zenobia 311 + XV. Euphemia and Acharisto 320 + XVI. Marchioness of Monferrato 338 + XVII. Ansaldo and Dianora 342 + XVIII. Mithridanes and Nathan 348 + XIX. Katharine of Bologna 355 + XX. Thorello and Saladin 363 + XXI. Anne of Hungary 383 + XXII. Alexander De Medici 406 + + + + + THE PALACE OF + + _Pleasure Beautified_ + + *adorned and well furnished* + + vvith plea[s]aunt Hi[s]tories and + + *excellent Nouels, [s]elected out + + of diuers good and commendable Authours* + + + *By William Painter, Clarke* + of the Ordinaunce and Armorie + + + Par. Eft[s]ones peru[s]ed corrected + and augmented + + + 1575 + IMPRINTED AT LONDON + _by Thomas Mar[s]he._ + + + + +*The Palace of Pleasure.* + +THE FORTY-SEUENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +In 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 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 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." 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 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." "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. + + + + +THE FORTY-EIGHTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +In 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 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: {"}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: {"}Your grace +hath duely made search by the belly and mouth, to finde out this +verlet: I thinke it nowe necessarie 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 +XXV. 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 XXV. beddes to be made in one of his great chambers, +to lodge euery of the sayd XXV. 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 with two spottes, some with six and some with X. +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. + + + + +THE FORTY-NINTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +At 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 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, 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 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 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 vnnnayled +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 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 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." 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 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.{"} 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 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 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. + + + + +THE FIFTYETH NOUELL. + + _The piteous and chaste death of one of the muleters wiues of the + Queene of Nauarre._ + + +In 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 XII. 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 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 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 XXV. +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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-FIRST NOUELL. + + _A king of Naples, abusing a Gentleman's wife, in the end did weare + the hornes himselfe._ + + +In 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 XV. +dayes or III. wekes. And so sone as he was gone, his wyfe which +hitherto had not felt any long absence from her husband, made +great sorrow 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 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 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 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. + + _These hornes I weare and beare for euery man to view,_ + _But yet I weare them not in token they be trew._ + +The king retourning againe to the Gentleman's house, finding +this title newlye written, demaunded of the gentleman the +signification of them. + +Who said vnto him: + + _"If princesse secret things, be from the horned hart concealed,_ + _Why should like things of horned beastes, to Princes be revealed._ + +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 +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." + + + + +THE FIFTY-SECOND NOUELL. + + _The rashe enterprise of a Gentleman against a Princesse of + Flaunders, and of the shame that he receyued thereof._ + + +There 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 +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 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 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 GOD, 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 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 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 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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-THIRD NOUELL. + + _The loue of Amadour and Florinda: wherein be conteined mani + sleightes and dissimulations, together with the renowmed chastitie + of the said Florinda._ + + +In 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 +XVIII. or XIX. 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 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 XII. +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 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 III.M. 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 XII. yeares of age, yet she vnderstode +that there was no 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 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 XII. +yeares of age, and he of XV. 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 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 XXII. 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 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, This Ladye Paulina vnderstanding howe +Amadour vsed his Loue 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 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 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 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 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 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 XV. +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 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 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 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 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, bu{t} 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 +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 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 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 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 VII. 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 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 +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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-FOURTH NOUELL. + + _The incontinencie of a duke and of his impudencie to attaine his + purpose, with the iust punishement which he receiued for the same._ + + +In 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, 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 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 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 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 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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-FIFTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +In 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 IX. 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 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 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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-SIXTH NOUELL. + + _A pleasaunt discours of a great Lord to enioy a Gentlewoman of + Pampelunae._ + + +There was in the time of king Lewes the XII. 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 XV. 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 Pampelunae 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 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 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 XVII. 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 Pampelunae, 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 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 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 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 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 XV. 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 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 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 +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 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. "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 +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 GOD 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 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: _In +manus tuas_, &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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-SEUENTH NOUELL. + + _A punishment more rigorous than death, of a husband towarde his + wife that had committed adulterie._ + + +King 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 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 +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 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. + + + + +THE FIFTY-EIGHTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +In 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 XXX. 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 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 XXIIII. 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 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 XXIIII. 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. + +"Par. 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." + + + + +THE FIFTY-NINTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Besides 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 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 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. + + + + +THE SIXTIETH NOUELL. + + _The piteous death of an Amorouse Gentleman, for the slacke comfort + geuen him to late, by his beloued._ + + +Betwene 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 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 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 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 to to 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 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 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 ac{t} wrought in the grosenes of +man's infirmitie. + + + + +THE SIXTY-FIRST NOUELL. + + _A Gentlewoman of the Courte, very pleasauntly recompenced the + seruice of a kinde seruaunte of her's, that pursued her with seruice + of loue._ + + +In 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 +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 +hearing, I know full well in hart he will wishe me X. M. +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. + + + + +THE SIXTY-SECOND NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +There 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 GOD, +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 XXX. 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 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 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 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 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 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 +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 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 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 {s}weare whether he had +brought any letters or not, vsing him 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 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 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 XXX. 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 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 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 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 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 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 dauertised by those which saw him +buried, prayed them to trauell 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, 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. + + + + +THE SIXTY-THIRD NOUELL. + + _The Wisedome of a woman to withdrawe the foolishe loue of her + husband, wherwith he was tormented._ + + +Many 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 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 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, 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 XXIIII. 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. + + + + +THE SIXTY-FOURTH NOUELL. + + _The notable charitie of a woman of Tours towards her husbande._ + + +Another 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 II. or III. +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 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. + + + + +THE SIXTY-FIFTH NOUELL. + + _The simplicitie of an olde woman, that offered a burning candle to + S. Iohn of Lions._ + + +In 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. + + + + +THE SIXTY-SIXTH NOUELL. + + _A Doctor of the Lawes boughte a cup, who by the subtiltie of two + false varlets, lost both his money and the cuppe._ + + +To 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 +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 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. + + +FINIS. + + + + + The [s]econd Tome + of the Palace of Plea[s]ure, + *conteyning store of goodly Hi[s]tories,* + Tragicall matters, and other Mo- + *rall argument, very re-* + _qui[s]ite for delighte_ + *and profit.* + + _Cho[s]en and selected out of_ + _diuers good and commen- + dable Authors:_ + + By William Painter, Clerke of the + Ordinance and Armarie. + ANNO.1567. + + Imprinted at London, in + Pater Noster Rowe, by Henry + Bynneman, for Nicholas + England. + + + + + _To the Right Worshipful Sir George Howard Knight, Maister of the + Quene's Maiestie's Armarye._ + + +Every 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 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 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 Couutry, 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 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 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. + + From my pore house besides the Tower of London, + the iiij. of Nouember, + 1567. + Your most bounden + WILLIAM PAINTER. + + + + +TO THE READER. + + +As 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. + +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. + +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. + +In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to +auoyde the beastly lust and raging fury of Tyrantes. + +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. + +ARISTOTIMVS disgarboyleth the intralles of Tiranny, describing +the end whereunto Tirants do attein and how that vice plagueth +their posterity. + +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. + +SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beauty, and what poyson +distilleth from that licourous sappe to inuenim the hartes of +valiant gentlemen. + +The gentlewomen of HYDRVSA the ficlenes of Fortune. + +The Empresse FAUSTINA, and the countesse of CELANT, what +blossoms blome of whorish life, and what fruictes therof be +culled. + +The letters of the Emperour TRAIANE, do paynt a right shape of +vertue, a good state of gouernment, and the comly form of +obedience. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Mistresse DIANORA, MITHRIDANES and NATHAN, KATHERINE of Bologna, +and SALADINE, the mutual curtesies of noble and gentle +Personages, and for what respectes. + +Quene ANNE of Hungarie, the good nature and liberalitye of a +Quene: and with what industry Gentlewomen of priuy chamber ought +to preferre the sutes of the valiant, and of such as haue wel +serued the common welth. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The Lady of BOEME, schooleth two noble Barons that with great +boast assured themselues to impair her honor. + +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. + +SALIMBENE and ANGELICA, the kindnes of a gentleman in deliuerie +of his ennemy, and the constant mynd of a chast and and vertuous +mayden. + +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. + +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. + +The lords of NOCERA fortel the hazardes of whordom, the 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. + +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. + +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. + + _Authorities from whence these Nouelles be collected: and in the + same auouched._ + + Strabo. + Plinie. + Quintus Curtius. + Plutarche. + Titus Liuius. + Dionysius Halicarnassaeus. + Appianus Alexandrinus. + Ouide. + Horace. + Propertius. + Cicero. + Valerius Max. + Trebelius Pollio. + Xenophon. + Homere. + Virgilius. + Baptista Campofulgosus. + Bandello. + Bocaccio. + Gyraldi Cynthio. + Belleforrest. + Boustuau. + Petro di Seuiglia. + Antonio di Gueuarra. + + + + +*The Palace of Pleasure.* + + + + +THE FIRST NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Where 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 Graetians be diuers +iudgementes. These Amazones were most excellent warriers, very +valiaunt, and without man's aduice did conquer mighty +Countreyes, 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 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 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 Graecia. 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 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 +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 the space of +XIII 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. + + + + +THE SECOND NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Great 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 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 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 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 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 XX. 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, 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: +wherevpon 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. + + + + +THE THIRD NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Qvintus Curtius, 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 _De claris mulieribus_, more at large recounteth this +Hystory, I haue thought good almost (_verbatim_) 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 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 +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 +Chaeronea, 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 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. + + + + +THE FOURTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +A question 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 V. staues, and the sayd yong Gentleman had in +the face of his aduersary broken in pieces IX. at the least. The +Senescall brought for the eleuen launces, which were +couragiously and houourably 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 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 X. 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 +thiugs, 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 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 VIII. 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 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 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 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 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 V. 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 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 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 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 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 +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, my minde +is that thou shalt mary this goodly Gentlewoman here, the syster +of my Wyfe.{"} 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 III. 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 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 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 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, 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 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, 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, 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. + + + + +THE FIFTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + +You 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, 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 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 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 +Aetolia. 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 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{)} in II. +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 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 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 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 Aristimus 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 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 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 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 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. + + + + +THE SIXTH NOUELL. + + _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 + II. 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._ + + +Ancus Marcius 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 II. 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{.} 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 +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 XXIIII. +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 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, 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 Centuriae: the +latter addytion was called also by the same name, whych +afterward were doubled into VI. 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 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 +houour, 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 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 +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 II. 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 LXXX.M. and as +Fabius Pictor saith, there were so many that were able to beare +armure. Then the hilles Quirinalis, Viminalis and Exquiliae, were +added to the Citye. He compassed the town round about wyth a +vamure, enuironyng the same with a double trench. He deuyded the +Romanes into V. 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 +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. 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 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 +Exquiliae, 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 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 XLIIII. 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 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 +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 XL. 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 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 Aequians +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 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 Aequians, 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. + + + + +THE SEUENTH NOUELL. + + _The vnhappy end and successe of the loue of King Massinissa, and + Queene Sophonisba his wyfe._ + + +If 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 Massaezali, (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 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 Laelius 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 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 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 sobbes and +infinite sighes, comforted by him, she sayd: "O the the 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) 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 Laelius 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 +Laelius 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 Laelius. 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, 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 Laelius 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 Laelius (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 Laelius 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: +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 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 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 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 Craesus goods I wil +inrich thee, and make thee owner of 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 +Laelias 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 +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 our beloued +things. But{ }retourning agayne 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: {"}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 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 II. 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, +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. + + + + +THE EIGHTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Bvt 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 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 Paeonia 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 Aeneas the founder of that Citty, where spendinge the +time amonges other in solemne bankets, the thrirde 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 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 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. + + + + +THE NYNTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Bandello 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 Aegeum, 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 Caesar were fought the greatest battailes for superiority +that euer were, sailing by the Sea Aegeum, arriued at Hidrusa, +and there 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 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 Graecia 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, 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 Caesar at +Pharsalia in Aegypt. 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. + + + + +THE TENTH NOUELL. + + _The dishonest Loue of Favstina the Empresse, and with what remedy + the same loue was remoued and taken away._ + + +True 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 +Caesar (albeit he was a victorious Emperour, and led a triumphant +raygne) liued a contented life when he saw the two Iuliae, 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 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 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, 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. + + + + +THE ELEUENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Fortune, 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, +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 CC. +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, 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 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 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 +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 {t}olde 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 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, 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." 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 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: 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 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 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 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 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. + + + + +THE TWELFTH NOUELLE. + +LETTERS OF THE EMPEROUR TRAIANE. + + _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._ + + +Bicause 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 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. + + + _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._ + +My 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 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 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 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. + + _The aunswere of the Emperour Traiane to hys mayster Plutarch._ + +Cocceius 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 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 Caesar, 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 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 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. + + _The Letter of the Emperour Traiane to the Senate of Rome, wherein + is conteined, that honour ought rather to be deserued than + procured._ + +Cocceius 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 +Phoenix 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 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 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 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. + + _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._ + +Cocceius Traiane 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 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 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 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 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. + + + _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._ + +The 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 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 Caesars 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 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 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. + +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 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. + + + + +THE THIRTEENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Leauynge 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 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 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 lwo 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 XII. C. 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 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 Phaenicia. 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 Graecia, 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 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 .XII. 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 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{.} 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 .lXXII. 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 were, whose country also was not so +famous, 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 XV. 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: _King, Prince, Dictator, Consul, Censor, +high Bishop, and Questor may knocke and come in._ In that +writyng Flora named neither emperor nor Caesar, 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 +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 +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 LXXV. yeares. She left for the +principal heire of all hir goods and Iuells. 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 Fora 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 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. + + + + +THE FOURTEENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Zenobia 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. _If +all the World had bene assembled to chose a good Prince, they +would not haue chosen any other but good Valerian._ 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 XIV. 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 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, +Moenius Ballista, Valens, Piso Emilianus, Staturnius, Tetricus, +Etricus the younger, Trebelianus, Heremianus, Timolaus, Celsus, +Titus, Censorinus, Claudius, Aurelius, and Quintillus, of whom +XVIII, 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 +woman that descended of the auncient linage of the Ptolomes, +{s}ometymes Kinges of Aegypt, 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 Craesus, 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 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 .XXXV. yeares Zenobia was widow, beinge the Tutrix of +hir children, Regent of an Empyre, and Captayne 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 a Pryce for +that, as is ordinaryly gyuen for Wyne bee it neuer so excellent. +So soone as the Kinges of Aegypte 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. + +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 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{.} 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. + +The Queene Zenobia hauinge reade the letter of the Emperour +Aurelianus, without feare of the contents, incontinently made +sutch aunswere as followeth. + +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 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. + +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 .X. 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. + + + + +THE FIFTEENTH NOUELL. + + _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:_ + + +Constancy 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, 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: + + _Great is the fayth of Loue,_ + _the constant mynde doth mutch auayle:_ + _And hee that is well fraught with wealth,_ + _in Loue doth mutch preuayle._ + +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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 +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 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 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 +(_probatum_) 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, (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 III. 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 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 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, 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. + + + + +THE SIXTEENTH NOUELL. + + _The Marchionisse of Monferrato, with a banket of Hennes, and + certaine pleasant wordes, repressed the fond loue of Philip the + French Kynge._ + + +Good 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, _whose +nature myght wel with fork, or staffe be expelled, but home +againe it would haue come_, 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 Caesar 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, 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 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 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. + + + + +THE SEUENTEENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Of 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 by Hercules? what +daungers and exploits some haue incurred and other attempted by +diuers? to bee short, + + _Nihil est quod non effreno captus amore, ausit._ + +As Ouide the Poet sayth: + + _Nothinge there is, but that the louing man doth dare,_ + _Surprised with frantike fit, eche deed he doth not spare._ + +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, 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 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 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, 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. + + + + +THE EIGHTEENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Straunge 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 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 XXXII. 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 XIII. times, +I haue bene marked and reproued:" and saying so, she went her +way, and neuer after came thither agayne. Mithridanes hearyng +these 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.{"} 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 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, 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." Whervnto 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 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 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. + + + + +THE NINETEENTH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Reading 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 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 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 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 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 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.{"} 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,{"} 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 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 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. + + + + +THE TWENTIETH NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +Very 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 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, 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 Aegypt, 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 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 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: 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 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 III. 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 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 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 (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 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 _S. Pietro in ciel Doro_, +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,{"} 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.{"} 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: {"}maister Thorello, sith it hath pleased god to +send you hither, thynke from henceforth that you be Lord of this +place and not I." and 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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. + + + + +THE TWENTY-FIRST NOUELL. + + _A Gentleman of meane callinge and reputation, doth fall in loue + with Anne, the Queene of Hungarie, whom shee very royally requited._ + + +Following 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. 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 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 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 +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 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 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 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 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 +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 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." 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 Phoenix, 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." when 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 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, (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 III. 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 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 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 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 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 Daies. +specially 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. + + _Quanto piu cresce (Amor) Paspro tormento, &c._ + + The more (O Loue) thy bitter pangs augment, + Melting by times my sad accensed spreete, + The more to burne I feele my selfe content: + And though ech day a thousande times I fleete + Twixt hope and dreade, all dolour yet and smart + My glorious proofe of enterprise makes sweete. + The fire so high which kindled hath myne hart, + As by loue's flames none euer had (I know) + So lofty source of heate in any part, + Sweete then my torments are, sweete is my woe, + Sweete eke of loue the light, sweete the conceyte + From so high beames, fallen in my breast, groe. + Sutch power of porte, sutch maiesty most gret + I tremble to beholde, and do confesse + My lot to base, so worthy a blisse to get. + But will herein my Reason doth suppresse, + And those fayre eyes, where loue himselfe ny lies, + Armed with lookes of ioy and gentlenesse, + Lookes that vpliftes my soule aboue the Skies, + And in each coast al cloudes expelling cleane, + Do teach ten thousand pathes to Paradise. + My Goddesse braue, Angelicall Sirene, + Fayrenesse it selfe, Dame Beautie's sacred heire: + What mounts of ioy may match my happy paine, + Whose scaling hope how so ensue dispeire, + Leues vaunt of thoughts, which once so highly flew + As honour, all that earth besides doth beare, + Comparde to this, but baggage were to vew. + +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 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, 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 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 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 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. + + + + +THE TWENTY-SECOND NOUELL. + + _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._ + + +If 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 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 Caesar +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 +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 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 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 XVI. and XVII. 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 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 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 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 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 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, _Sed vsq; ad aras_, 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 V. or VI. 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 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 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 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 to to 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, 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 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.{"} 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 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 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. 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, 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 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 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 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 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) 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 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. + + + + +END OF VOL. II. + +BALLANTYNE PRESS: EDINBURGH AND LONDON. + + + * * * * * + * * * * + +Errors and Inconsistencies: + +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). + +As noted above, missing spaces, punctuation--chiefly quotation +marks--and single letters are shown in {braces} without further +annotation. + +Other possible errors, including superfluous punctuation, are listed +here. + + "Most certaine and true," aunsweared the Lady." + [superfluous close quote] + setting his foote vpon a borde vnnnayled from the ioyst + ["nnn" in original] + forsaking of him, [to] moue you [brackets in original] + fewe men whiche behelde her, coulde escape her bondes, + [final comma for period] + and sayd vnto him. "O my Lord [period for comma] + And by forgoing of those ioyes by to to much mishap + ["to to" in original] + Wherof Rolandine being dauertised [error for aduertised] + and for the enriching of his Couutry [error for Country] + the constant mynd of a chast and and vertuous mayden + [and/ and at line break] + wherevpon there rose a general talke [where-/vpon at line break] + which were couragiously and houourably broken [error for honourably] + not onely of mouable thiugs, but also of Castels [error for things] + together with the kynge and Queene themselues. [period for comma] + Cilon the familiar freend of Aristimus [error for Aristotimus] + which excyte all good dispositions to aspyre vnto houour + [error for honour] + to atchieue and conquere newe kingdoms as thy father did. + [period for question mark] + she sayd: "O the the glorie and honor + [the/ the at line break] + the thrirde watch of the night [error for thirde] + what was the cause that amitye betwene lwo louers was broken? + [error for two] + whose country also was not so famous, [comma for period] + the principal heire of all hir goods and Iuells. the Romain people + [period for comma] + whych in memorye of Fora was called Florianum [error for Flora] + the auncient linage of the Ptolomes, sometymes Kinges of Aegypt + [s in "sometymes" invisible] + Whervnto Nathan made none other answer [Wher-/vnto at line break] + and not I." and making great chere + [punctuation and capitalization unchanged] + a Lady of later dayes, Anne the Queene of Hungary. [period for comma] + of the vniuersal worlde." when he had sayd + [punctuation and capitalization unchanged] + that make in oure Daies. specially hir mind + [punctuation and capitalization unchanged] + _Sed vsq; ad aras_ [abbreviation for "usque"] + the Element began to to shewe some splendent hue + ["to to" in original] + The Courtyers wondred at those Woordes. ignoraunte whereunto + [period for comma] + repayre the honour thou hast taken from hir) + [superfluous parenthesis in original] + + + + + +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.txt or 34053.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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |