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diff --git a/34840-8.txt b/34840-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..216e0cb --- /dev/null +++ b/34840-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16773 @@ +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 3 + +Author: William Painter + +Editor: Joseph Haslewood + Joseph Jacobs + +Release Date: January 3, 2011 [EBook #34840] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALACE OF PLEASURE *** + + + + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Louise Hope, 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 "æ" ligature is a single letter, + and the paragraph mark ¶ is shown as printed. + --In the ASCII or rock-bottom version, "æ" 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. Square brackets [] in the body text +are in the original. + +Volumes I and II of this work are available from Project Gutenberg as +e-texts 20241 and 34053.] + + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + + + THE + + PALACE OF PLEASURE + + VOL. III. + + + * * * * * + + *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. III. + + [Illustration (Publisher's Device): + IN NUCE LIBELLUS] + + _London: Published by David Nutt in the Strand_ + + MDCCCXC + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +VOLUME III. + +TOME II.--_Continued._ + + Page + + Title Page (Edition 1580) 1 + Novel + XXIII. Duchess of Malfy 3 + XXIV. Countess of Celant 44 + XXV. Romeo and Juliet 80 + XXVI. Ladies of Venice 125 + XXVII. Lord of Virle 157 + XXVIII. Lady of Bohemia 195 + XXIX. Diego and Ginevra 222 + XXX. Salimbene and Angelica 288 + XXXI. Helena of Florence 329 + XXXII. Camiola and Roland 354 + XXXIII. Lords of Nocera 363 + XXXIV. Sultan Solyman 395 + XXXV. King of Morocco 416 + Conclusion 431 + + + + + 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:_ + + and now once agayn corrected and + encrea[s]ed + + By William Painter, Clerke of the + Ordinance and Armarie. + + Imprinted at London, in + Fleat [S]trete, by Thomas + Mar[s]he. + + + + +*The Palace of Pleasure.* + + + + +THE TWENTY-THIRD NOUELL. + + _The infortunate mariage of a Gentleman, called Antonio + Bologna, wyth the Duchesse of Malfi, and the pitifull death + of them both._ + + +The great Honor and authority men haue in thys World, and the +greater their estimation is, the more sensible and notorious are +the faultes by theim committed, and the greater is their +slaunder. In lyke manner more difficult it is for that man to +tolerate and sustayne Fortune, which al the dayes of his life +hath lyued at his ease, if by chaunce he fall into any great +necessity than for hym whych neuer felt but woe, mishap, and +aduersity. Dyonisius the Tyraunt of Scicilia, felt greater payne +when hee was expelled his Kyngdome, than Milo did, beinge +banished from Rome: for so mutch as the one was a Soueraygne +Lorde, the sonne of a Kynge, a Iusticiary on Earth, and the +other but a simple Citizen of a Citty, wherein the People had +Lawes, and the Lawes of Magistrates were had in reuerence. +So lykewyse the fall of a high and lofty Tree, maketh greater +noyse, than that whych is low and little. Hygh Towers, and +stately Palaces of Prynces bee seene further of, than the poore +Cabans, and homely Sheepeheardes Sheepecotes: the Walles of +lofty Cittyes more a loofe doe Salute the Viewers of the same, +than the simple Caues, which the Poore doe digge belowe the +Mountayne Rockes. Wherefore it behooueth the Noble, and sutch as +haue charge of Common wealth, to lyue an honest Lyfe, and beare +their port vpright, that none haue cause to discourse vppon +their wicked deedes and naughty life. And aboue all modesty +ought to be kept by Women, whom as their race, Noble birth, +aucthority and name, maketh them more famous, euen so their +vertue, honesty, chastity, and continencie more prayse worthy. +And behoueful it is, that like as they wishe to be honoured +aboue all other, so their life do make them worthy of that +honour, without disgracing their name by deed or worde, or +blemishing that brightnesse which may commend the same. +I greatly feare that all the Princely factes, the exploytes and +conquests done by the Babylonian Queene Semyramis, neuer was +recommended wyth sutch prayse, as hir vice had shame in records +by those which left remembrance of auncient acts. Thus I say, +because a woman being as it were the Image of sweetnesse, +curtesie and shamefastnesse, so soone as she steppeth out of the +right tract, and abandoneth the sweete smel of hir duety and +modesty, besides the denigration of hir honour, thrusteth her +selfe into infinite Troubles, causeth ruine os sutch whych +should bee honoured and praysed, if Womens Allurementes +solicited theym not to Folly. I wyll not heere Indeuour my selfe +to seeke for examples of Samson, Salomon or other, which suffred +themselues fondly to be abused by Women: and who by meane of +them be tumbled into great faults, and haue incurred greater +perils: contentinge my selfe to recyte a ryght pitifull History +done almost in our tyme, when the French vnder leadinge of that +notable Capitayne Gaston de Foix, vanquished the force of Spayne +and Naples at the Iourney of Rauenna in the time of the French +Kynge called Lewes the twelfth, who married the Lady Mary, +Daughter to Kynge Henry the seuenth, and Sister to the +Victorious Prynce of worthy memory kynge Henry the eyght, Wyfe +(after the death of the sayd Lewes) to the puissaunt Gentleman +Charles, late Duke of Suffolke. In the very tyme then lyued a +Gentleman of Naples called Antonio Bologna, who hauing bin +master of Household to Fredericke of Aragon, somtime king of +Naples, after the French had expelled those of Aragon out of +that Citty, the sayde Bologna retyred into Fraunce, and thereby +recouered the goods, which hee possessed in his countrey. The +Gentleman besides that he was valiant of his persone, a good man +of Warre, and wel esteemed amongs the best, had a passing numbre +of good graces, which made him to be loued and cherished of +euery wight: and for riding and managing of greate horse, he had +not his fellow in Italy: he could also play exceedynge well and +trim vpon the Lute, whose fayning voyce so wel agreed therevnto, +that the moste melancholike persons would forget their +heauinesse, vpon hearing of his heauenly noyse: and besides +these qualyties, he was of personage comely, and of good +proportion. To be short: nature hauing trauayled and dispoyled +hir Treasure House for inriching of him, he had by Arte gotten +that, which made him most happy and worthy of prayse, which was, +the knowledge of good letters, wherein he was so well trayned, +as by talke and dispute thereof, he made those to blush that +were of that state and profession. Antonio Bologna hauing left +Fredericke of Aragon in Fraunce, who expulsed out of Naples was +retired to king Lewes, went home to his house to lyue at rest +and to auoyd trouble, forgetting the delicates of Courtes and +houses of great men, to bee the only husband of his owne +reueneue. But what? it is impossible to eschue that which the +heauens haue determined vpon vs: or to shunne the vnhappe which +seemeth to follow vs, as it were naturally proceeding from our +mother's Wombe: in sutch wyse as many times, he which seemeth +the wisest man, guided by misfortune, hasteth himself with +stouping head to fall headlonge into hys death and ruine. Euen +so it chaunced to this Neapolitane Gentleman: for in the very +same place where he attained his aduauncement, he receiued also +his diminution and decay, and by that house which preferred hym +to what he had, he was depryued, both of his estate and life: +the discourse whereof you shall vnderstande. I haue tolde you +already, that this Gentleman was Mayster of the kinge of Naples +household, and beyng a gentle person, a good Courtier, wel +trained vp, and wyse for gouernment of himself in the Courte and +in the seruice of Princes, the Duchesse of Malfi thought to +intreate him that he would serue hir, in that office which he +serued the King. This Duchesse was of the house of Aragon, and +sister to the Cardinall of Aragon, which then was a rych and +puissant personage. Being resolued, and persuaded, that Bologna +was deuoutly affected to the house of Aragon, as one brought vp +there from a Chylde: shee sent for him home to his House, and +vpon hys repaire vsed vnto him these, or like Woordes: "Mayster +Bologna, sith your ill fortune, nay rather the vnhap of our +whole House is sutch, as your good Lord and Mayster hath forgon +his state and dignity, and that you therwithall haue lost a good +Maister, without other recompence but the prayse which euery man +giueth you for your good seruice, I haue thought good to intreat +you to doe me the honor, as to take charge of the gouernment of +my House, and to vse the same, as you did that of the King your +maister. I know well that the office is to vnworthy for your +calling; notwithstanding you be not ignorant what I am, and how +neare to him in bloud, to whom you haue bene a Seruaunte so +faythfull and Louing; and albeit that I am no Queene, endued +with greatest reuenue, yet with that little portyon I haue, +I beare a Pryncely heart: and sutch as you by experience do +knowe what I haue done, and dayly do to those which depart my +seruice, recompensing them according to theyr paine and +trauaile: magnificence is obserued as well in the Courts of +poore Princes, as in the stately Palaces of great Kings and +monarches. I do remembre that I haue read of a certain noble +gentleman, a Persian borne, called Ariobarzanes, who vsed great +examples of curtesie and stoutnesse towards King Artaxerxes, +wherewith the king wondred at his magnificence, and confessed +himself to be vanquished: you shal take aduise of this request, +and in the meane time do think you will not refuse the same, +aswell for that my demaund is iust, as also being assured, that +our House and race is so well imprinted in your heart, as it is +impossible that the memory thereof can be defaced." The +gentleman hearynge that curteous demaund of the Duchesse, +knowing himselfe how deepely bound he was to the name of Aragon, +and led by some vnknowen prouocation to his great il luck, +answered hir in this wise: "I would to God, Madame, that with so +good reason and equity I were able to make denyall of your +commaundment, as iustly you maye require the same: wherfore for +the bounden duety which I owe to the name and memorie of the +house of Aragon, I make promise that I shall not only sustaine +the trauell, but also the daunger of my Lyfe, dayly to be offred +for your seruice: but I feele in mynde I know not what, which +commaundeth me to withdraw my selfe to lyue alone at home within +my lyttle house, and to be content with that I haue, forgoing +the sumptuous charge of Prynces houses, which Lyfe would be wel +liked of my self, were it not for the feare that you Madame +should be discontented with my refusall, and that you should +conceiue, that I disdained your offred charge, or contempne your +Court for respect of the great Office I bare in the Courte of +the Kyng, my Lord and Mayster: for I cannot receiue more honour, +than to serue hir, which is the paragon of that stock and royal +race. Therfore at all aduentures I am resolued to obey your +will, and humbly to satisfy the duety of the charge wherein it +pleaseth you to imploy me, more to pleasure you for auoiding of +displeasure, then for desire I haue to lyue an honorable lyfe in +the greatest Princes house of the world, sith I am discharged +from him in whose name resteth my comfort and only stay, +thinking to haue liued a solitarye life, and to passe my yeres +in rest, except it were in the pore abilitye of my seruice to +that house, wherunto I am bound continually to be a faithfull +seruaunt. Thus Madame, you see me to be the readiest man of the +world, to fulfil the request, and accomplishe sutch other +seruice wherein it shall please you to imploy me." The Duchesse +thanked him very heartily, and gaue him charge of all hir +housholde traine, commaunding ech person to do him sutch +reuerence as to hir self, and to obey him as the chief of al hir +family. This Lady was a widow, but a passing faire Gentlewoman, +fine and very yong, hauing a yong sonne vnder hir guard and +keping, left by the deceased Duke hir husband, togither with the +Duchy, the inheritaunce of hir child. Now consider hir personage +being sutch, her easy life and delycate bringing vp, and hir +daily view of the youthly trade and manner of Courtiers lyfe, +whether she felt hir self pryckt wyth any desire, which burned +hir heart the more incessantly, as the flames were hidden and +couert: from the outward shew whereof shee stayed hir self so +well as shee coulde. But shee followinge beste aduice, rather +esteemed the proofe of Maryage, than to burne wyth so lyttle +fire, or to incurre the exchange of louers, as many vnshamefaste +strumpets do, which be rather giuen ouer, than satisfied with +pleasure of loue. And to say the truthe, they be not guided by +wisedom's lore, which suffer a maiden ripe for mariage to be +long vnwedded, or yong wife long to liue in widowe's state, what +assurance so euer they make of their chaste and stayed lyfe. For +bookes be to full of sutch enterpryses, and houses stored with +examples of sutch stolne and secrete practises, as there neede +no further proofe for assurance of our cause, the daily +experience maketh plaine and manifest. And a great folly it is +to build the fantasies of chastitye amid the follies of worldly +pleasures. I will not goe about to make those matters +impossible, ne yet will iudge at large, but that there be som +maydens and Wyues, which wiselye can conteine themselues amongs +the troupe of amorous suters. But what? the experience is very +hard, and the proofe no lesse daungerous, and perchaunce in a +moment the mind of some peruerted, which all their lyuyinge +dayes haue closed theyr Eares from the Sute of those that haue +made offer of louyng seruice. And hereof we neede not run to +forrayne Hystories, ne yet to seeke records that be auncient, +sith wee may see the daily effects of the lyke, practised in +Noble houses, and Courtes of Kyngs and Prynces. That this is +true, example of this fayre Duchesse, who was moued wyth that +desyre which pricketh others that be of Flesh and Bone. Thys +Lady waxed very weary of lying alone, and gryeued hir Hearte to +be wythoute a match, specially in the Nyght, when the secrete +silence and darkenesse of the same presented beefore the eyes of +hir mind, the Image of the pleasure which she felt in the lyfe +tyme of hir deceased Lord and Husband, whereof now feelyng hir +selfe despoyled, she felt a contynuall Combat, and durst not +attempte that which she desyred most, but eschued the thyng +wherof hir Mind lyked best. "Alas (sayd shee) is it possyble +after the taste of the Value of honest obedyence whych the Wyfe +oweth vnto hir Husband, that I should desyre to suffer the Heat +whych burneth and altereth the martyred mynds of those that +subdue themselues to loue? Can sutch attempt pierce the heart of +me to become amorous by forgetting and straying from the +limmetts of honest life? But what desire is this? I haue a +certayne vnacquaynted lust, and yet very well know not what it +is that moueth me, and to whom I shall vow the spoyle thereof. +I am truely more fond and foolyshe than euer Narcissus was, for +there is neyther shadow nor voyce, vpon which I can well stay my +sight, nor yet simple Imagination of any worldly man, whereuppon +I can arrest the conceypt of my vnstayed heart, and the desires +which prouoke my mynde. Pygmalion loued once a Marble Piller, +and I haue but one desire, the colour whereof is more pale than +death. There is nothyng which can geue the same so mutch as one +spot of vermilion rud. If I doe discouer these appetites to any +wight, perhaps they will mock me for my labor, and for all the +beauty and Noble byrth that is in me, they will make no +conscience to deeme me for their iesting stock, and to solace +themselues with rehersall of my fond conceits. But sith there is +no enemy in the field, and that but simple suspicion doth +assayle me, why breake I not the same, and deface the entier +remembraunce of the lightnesse of my brayne? It appertayneth +vnto mee to shewe my selfe, as issued from the Noble house of +Aragon: to me it doeth belonge to take heede how I erre or +degenerate from the royall bloud whereof I came." In this sort +that fayre Wydow and young Princesse fantasied in the night +vppon the discourse of hir appetites. But when the day was come, +seeing the great multitude of the Neapolitan Lords and Gentlemen +that marched vp and downe the Citty, eyinge and beholdinge their +best beloued, or vsing talke of loue with them whose seruaunts +they were, all that which she thought vpon in the night, +vanished so sone as the flame of burned Straw, or the Pouder of +Cannon shot, and purposed for any respect to liue no longer in +that sort, but promised the conquest of some frend that was +lusty and discreete. But the difficulty rested in that she knew +not vpon whom to fixe hir loue, fearing to bee slaundered, and +also that the light disposition and maner of most part of youth +were to be suspected, in sutch wise as giuing ouer al them which +vauted vpon their Gennets, Turkey Palfreis, and other Coursers +alonge the Citty of Naples, shee purposed to take repast of +other Venison, than of that fond and wanton troupe. So hir +mishap began already to spin the threede which choked the Ayre +and Breath of hir vnhappy life. Yee haue heard before that +Mayster Bologna was one of the wisest and most perfect Gentlemen +that the land of Naples that tyme brought forth, and for his +Beauty, Proportion, Galantnesse, Valiaunce, and good grace, +without comparison. His fauour was so sweete and pleasant, as +they which kept him company, had somwhat to do to abstayne their +affection. Who then could blame thys fayre Princesse, if +(pressed wyth desire of match, to remoue the ticklish +instigations of her wanton flesh, and hauing in hir presence a +man so wise) shee did set hir minde on hym, or fantasy to mary +him? Would not that party for calming of his thirst and hunger, +being set at a table before sundry sorts of delicate viands, +ease his hunger? Me thinke the person doth greatly forget +himselfe, which hauing handfast vpon occasion, suffreth the same +to vanish and fly away, sith it is wel known that she being bald +behinde, hath no place to sease vpon when desire moueth vs to +lay hold vpon hir. Which was the cause that the Duchesse became +extremely in loue with the mayster of hir house. In sutch wyse +as before al men, she spared not to prayse the great perfections +of him whom she desired to be altogether hirs. And so she was +inamored, that it was as possible to see the night to be voide +of darknesse, as the Duchesse without the presence of hir +Bologna, or els by talke of words to set forth his prayse, +the continuall remembrance of who (for that shee loued him as +hirselfe) was hir onely minde's repast. The Gentleman that was +full wyse, and had at other times felt the great force of the +passion which proceedeth from extreeme loue, immediatly did mark +the countenaunce of the Duchesse, and perceyued the same so +neere, as vnfaynedly hee knew that very ardently the Lady was in +loue with him: and albeit he sawe the inequality and difference +betweene them both, she being sorted out of the royall bloud, +and himself of meaner calling, yet knowing loue to haue no +respect to state or dignity, determined to folow his fortune, +and to serue hir which so louingly shewed hir selfe to him. Then +sodaynely reprouing his fonde conceit, he sayd vnto himself: +"What folly is that I enterprise, to the preiudice and peril of +mine honor and life? Ought the wisedome of a Gentleman to stray +and wandre through the assaults of an appetite rising of +sensuality, and that reason gieue place to that which doeth +participate with brute beasts depriued of all reason by +subduinge the minde to the affections of the body? No, no, +a vertuous man ought to let shine in him selfe the force of the +generosity of his minde. This is not to liue according to the +spirite, when pleasure shall make vs forget our duty and +sauegard of our Conscience. The reputation of a wise Gentleman +resteth not only to be valiant, and skilfull in feates of armes, +or in seruice of the Noble: but needefull it is for him by +discreation to make himselfe prayse worthy, and by vanquishinge +of himselfe to open the gate to fame, whereby he may +euerlastingly make himselfe glorious to all posterity. Loue +pricketh and prouoketh the spirite to do well, I do confesse, +but that affection ought to be addressed to some vertuous end, +tending to mariage, for otherwise that vnspotted Image shall be +soyled wyth the villany of Beastly pleasure. Alas," sayd he, +"how easie it is to dispute, when the thyng is absent, which can +both force and violently assayle the Bulwarks of most constant +hearts. I full well doe see the troth, and doe feele the thing +that is good, and knowe what behoueth mee to follow: but when I +view the pereles beauty of my Lady, hir graces, wisedome, +behauiour and curtesie, when I see hir to cast so louinge an eye +vpon me, that she vseth so great familiarity, that she +forgetteth the greatnesse of hir house to abase hirselfe for my +respect: how is it possible that I should be so foolish to +dispise a duety so rare and precious, and to set light by that +which the Noblest would pursue wyth all reuerence and deuoyre? +Shall I be so voyde of wisdome to suffer the yonge Princesse to +see hirselfe contempned of mee, thereby to conuert hir loue to +teares, by setting hir mynde upon an other, that shall seek mine +ouerthrow? Who knoweth not the fury of a woman: specially the +Noble dame, by seeing hirselfe despised? No, no, she loueth me, +and I will be hir seruaunt, and vse the fortune proffred. Shal I +be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a +Princesse? Is it not more honourable for mee to settle my mind +vpon a place so high, than vppon some simple wench by whom I +shall neyther attayne profit, or aduancement? Baldouine of +Flaunders, did not he a Noble enterprise when he carried away +Iudith the daughter of the French kynge, as she was passing vpon +the Seas into England, to be married to the kynge of that +Countrey? I am neither Pirat nor Aduenturer, for the Lady loueth +me. What wrong doe I then to any person by rendringe loue +agayne? Is not she at liberty? To whom ought shee to make +accoumpt of hir deedes and doinges, but to God alone and to hir +owne Conscience? I wyll loue hir, and cary lyke affection for +the loue which I know and see that she beareth vnto me, beinge +assured that the same is directed to good ende, and that a Woman +so wyse as she is, will not hazard the bleamish of hir honor." +Thus Bologna framed the plot for intertaynment of the Duchesse +(albeit hir loue already was fully bent vpon him) and fortified +hym selfe agaynst all perillous myshap and chaunce that might +succeede, as ordinarily you see that Louers conceyue all things +for their aduauntage, and fantasie dreames agreeable to their +most desire, resemblinge the Mad and Bedlem persons which haue +before their eyes, the figured Fansies whych cause the conceipt +of their fury, and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which +most troubleth their offended Brayne. On the other side, the +Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir Louer, the will of whom was +hid and secret, whych more did vexe and torment hir, than the +fire of loue that burned hir feruently. She could not tell what +way to hold, to do him vnderstand hir heart and affection. She +feared to discouer the same vnto hym, doubtinge eyther that some +fond and rigorous aunswere, or the reueylinge of hir mynde to +hym, whose presence pleased hir more than all of the men of the +World. "Alas," sayd shee, "am I happed into so straunge misery, +that with mine owne mouth I must make request to him, which with +all humility ought to offer mee hys service? Shall a Lady of +sutch bloud as I am, be constrayned to sue, where all other be +required by importunate instance of their Suters? Ah loue, loue, +what so euer he was that clothed thee wyth sutch puissaunce, +I dare say he was the cruell ennimy of man's freedom. It is +impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen, sith the +clemency and curteous influence of the same, inuesteth man with +better benefits, than to suffer hir nourse children to be +intreated with sutch rigor. He lieth which sayth that Venus is +thy mother, for the swetenes and good grace that resteth in that +pitifull Goddesse, who taketh no pleasure to see louers perced +with so egre trauayles as that which afflicteth my heart. It was +some fierce cogitation of Saturne, that brought thee forth, and +sent thee into the worlde to breake the ease of them which liue +at rest without any passion or griefe. Pardon me Loue, if I +blaspheme thy maiesty, for the stresse and endlesse grief +wherein I am plunged, maketh me thus to roue at large, and the +doubts, which I conceyue, do take away the health and soundnesse +of my mynde, the little experience in thy schole causeth this +amaze in me, to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the +duty, honor, and reputation of my state: the party whom I loue, +is a Gentleman, vertuous, valiant, sage, and of good grace. In +this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse, for all the +inequality of our houses, apparant vpon the first sight and shew +of the same. But from whence Issue Monarchs, Prynces and great +Lords, but from the naturall and common Masse of Earth, whereof +other men do come? what maketh these differences betwene those +that loue ech other, if not the sottish opinion which we +conceiue of greatnesse, and preheminence: as though naturall +affections bee like to that ordayned by the fantasie of men in +their lawes extreme. And what greater right haue Princes to +ioyne wyth a simple Gentlewoman, than the Princesse to mary a +Gentleman, and sutch as Anthonio Bologna is, in whom Heauen and +Nature haue forgotten nothinge to make him equall with them +which march amongs the greatest. I thinke we be the dayly slaues +of the fond and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts, which say +they haue puissance ouer vs: and that straininge our will to +their tiranny, we be still bound to the chaine like the Galley +slaue. No, no, Bologna shall be my Husband, for of a freend I +purpose to make my loyall and lawful Husband, meaning therby not +to offend God and men together, and pretend to liue without +offence of conscience, wherby my soule shal not be hindred for +any thyng I do, by marying him whom I so straungely loue. I am +sure not to be deceyued in loue. He loueth me so mutch or more +as I do him, but he dareth not disclose the same, fearing to be +refused and cast of with shame. Thus 2 vnited wils, and 2 hearts +tied togethers with equal knot cannot chose but bryng forth +fruites worthy of sutch society. Let men say what they list, +I will doe none otherwyse than my heade and mynd haue already +framed. Semblably I neede not make accompt to any persone for my +fact, my body, and reputation beynge in full liberty and +freedome. The bond of mariage made, shall couer the faulte whych +men woulde fynde, and leauyng myne estate, I shall do no wrong +but to the greatnesse of my house, which maketh me amongs men +right honorable. But these honors be nothyng worth, where the +Mynd is voyd of contentation, and wher the hearte pryckte +forwarde by desire leaueth the Bodye and Mynde restlesse wythout +quiet." Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterpryse, determining to +mary hir houshold Mayster, seeking for occasion and time, meete +for disclosing of the same, and albeit that a certaine naturall +shamefastnesse, which of custome accompanieth Ladies, did close +hir mouth, and made hir to deferre (for a certain time) the +effect of hir resolued minde: yet in the ende vanquished with +loue and impacience, she was forced to breake of silence, and to +assure hir self in him, reiecting feare conceiued of shame, to +make hir waye to pleasure, which she lusted more than mariage, +the same seruyng hir, but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir +follies and shamelesse lusts, for which she did the penaunce +that hir folly deserued. For no colorable dede or deceytful +trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wyckednesse. She +then throughly persuaded in her intent, dreamyng and thinking of +nought else, but vpon the imbracement of hir Bologna, ended and +determined hir conceits and pretended follies: and vpon a time +sent for him vp into hir chamber, as commonly she did for the +affaires and matters of hir house, and taking him a side vnto a +window, hauing prospect into a garden, she knew not how to begin +hir talk: (for the heart being seased, the mind troubled, and +the witts out of course, the tongue fayled to do his office,) in +sutch wise, as of long time she was vnable to speake one onely +woord. He surprised with like affection, was more astonied by +seeing the alteration of his Ladie. So the two Louers stoode +still like Images beholding one another, without any mouing at +all, vntill the Lady the hardiest of them bothe, as feelinge the +most vehement and greatest gryef, tooke Bologna by the hand, and +dissembling what she thought, vsed this or sutch language: "If +any other besides your selfe (Gentleman) should vnderstand the +secret which now I purpose to dysclose, I doubt what speeach +were necessary to colour, what I shall speake: but being assured +of your discretion and wisdom, and with what perfection nature +hath indued you, and Arte, hauing accomplished that in you, +which nature did begin to worke, as one bred and brought vp in +the royal court of the seconde Alphonse, of Ferdinando, and +Frederick of Aragon my cousins, I wil make no doubt at all to +manifest to you the hidden secretes of my heart, being well +persuaded that when you shall both heare and sauor my reasons, +and tast the light which I bring forth for me, easily you may +iudge that mine aduice cannot be other than iust and reasonable. +But if your conceits shall straye from that whych I determine, +I shal he forced to thinke and saye that they which esteeme you +wise and sage, and to be a man of good and ready wytte, be +maruelously deceiued. Notwithstanding my heart foretelleth that +it is impossible for mayster Bologna, to wandre so farre from +equitie, but that by and by he wil enter the lystes and dyscerne +the White from Blacke, and the Wronge fro that whych is Iust and +Ryghte: for so mutch as hitherto I neuer saw thinge done by you, +which Preposterated or peruerted the good iudgement that all the +world esteemeth to shine in you, the same well manifested and +declared by your tongue, the right iudge of the Mynde, you knowe +and see how I am a Wydow through the Death of that Noble +Gentleman of good remembrance, the Duke my Lord and husbande: +you be not ignoraunt also, that I haue lyued and gouerned my +self in sutch wise in my Widow state, as there is no man so hard +and seuere of iudgement, that can blason reproch of mee in that +whych appertayneth to the honestye and reputation of sutch a +Lady as I am, bearyng my port so righte, as my conscience +yeldeth no remorse, supposinge that no Man hathe wherewith to +byte and accuse me. Touchyng the order of the goods of the Duke +my Sonne, I have vsed them with diligence and discretion, as +besides the Dettes, whych I haue dyscharged sithens the death of +my Lord: I haue purchased a goodly Manor in Calabria, and haue +annexed the same to the Dukedome of his heire: and at this day +doe not owe one peny to any creditor that lent money to the +Duke, which he toke vp to furnish the charges in the warres, +which he sustayned in the seruice of the Kinges our soueraine +Lords in the late warres for the Kyngdome of Naples. I haue as I +suppose by this meanes stopped the slaunderous mouth and giuen +cause vnto my sonne, during his life to accompt himself bound +vnto his mother: now hauing till thys time liued for other, +and made my selfe subiect more than nature could beare, I am +entended to chaunge both my lyfe and condition. I haue tyll thys +time run, trauayled, and remoued to the Castels and Lordeships +of the Dukedome, to Naples and other places, being in mind to +tary as I am a widow. But what new affayres and new councel hath +possest my mynd? I haue trauayled and payned my self inoughe: +I haue to long abidden a widowe's lyfe: I am determined +therefore to prouyde a Husbande, who by louing me, shall honor +and cherysh me according to the loue which I shall beare hym, +and my desert. For to loue a man without mariage, God defend my +hearte should euer think, and shal rather dye a hundred thousand +deathes, than a desire so wicked should soyle my conscience, +knowyng well that a woman which setteth hir honor to sale, is +lesse than nothing, and deserueth not the common ayre should +breathe vpon hir, for all the reuerence that men do beare vnto +them. I accuse no person, albeit that many noble women haue +their forheds marked, with the blame of dishonest lyfe, and +being honored of some, bee neuerthelesse the common Fable of the +Worlde. To the intente then that sutch myshappe happen not to +me, and perceyuyng my selfe vnable styll thus to lyue, beyng +younge as I am, and (God bee thanked) neyther deformed nor yet +paynted, I had rather bee the louyng Wyfe of a symple feere, +than the Concubyne of a kynge or greate Prynce. And what? is the +myghty Monarche able to washe away the faulte of hys Wyfe whych +hath abandoned him contrary to the duety and honesty whych the +vndefyled bed requyreth? no lesse then Pryncesses that whilom +trespassed with those whych were of baser stuffe than +themselues. Messalina with hir imperiall robe could not so wel +couer hir faults, but that the Historians, do defame hir with +the name and title of a common woman. Faustina the Wyfe of the +sage Monarch Marcus Aurelius, gayned lyke reporte by rendringe +hir selfe to others pleasure, bysides hir lawfull Spouse. To +mary my selfe to one that is myne equall, it is impossible, for +so mutch as there is no Lorde in all this Countrey meete for my +degree, but is to olde of age, the rest being dead in these +later Warres. To mary a husband that yet is but a childe, is +folly extreeme, for the inconueniences which daily chaunce +thereby, and the euil intreaty that Ladies do receyue when they +come to age, when their nature waxeth cold, by reason whereof, +imbracements be not so fauourable, and their husbandes glutted +with ordinary meate, vse to run in exchange: wherefore I am +resolued without respite or delay, to choose some well qualified +and renoumed Gentleman, that hath more vertue than richesse, +that is of better Fame and brute, then of wealth and reuenue, to +the entent I may make him my Lord, Espouse, and Husbande. For I +cannot imploy my loue vpon treasure, which may bee taken away +from him, in whom richesse of the minde doth fayle, and shall +bee better content to see an honest Gentleman with little +liuing, to be praysed and commended of ech Degree for his good +Deedes, than a rich Carle curssed and detested of all the World. +Thus mutch I say, and it is the summe of all my secretes, +wherein I pray your councel and aduice. I know that some wil be +offended with my choise, and the Lords my Brothers, specially +the Cardinall will thincke it straunge, and receyue the same +with ill Digesture, that mutch a do shall I haue to bee agreed +with them and to remoue the griefe they shall conceyue against +mee for this myne attempt: wherefore I would the same should +secretly be kept, until without peril and daunger eyther of my +self or him, whome I pretende to marry, I may publish and +manyfest, not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall +soone bee consummate and accomplished wyth one, whome I doe loue +better than my self, and who as I ful well do know, doeth loue +me better than his owne propre lyfe." Mayster Bologna, which +tyll then hearkned to the oration of the Duchesse without +mouing, feeling himselfe touched so neare, and hearinge that his +Lady had made hir approche for mariage, stode still astonnied, +hys tongue not able to frame one word, onely fantasied a +thousand chimeraes in the Ayre, and formed like number of +imaginations in his minde, not able to coniecture what hee was, +to whom the duchesse had vowed hir loue, and the possession of +hir beauty. He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for +hymselfe, for that his Lady spake no word of him, and he lesse +durst open his mouth, and yet was wel assured that she loued him +beyond measure. Notwithstanding knowing the ficklenesse and +vnstable heart of women, he sayd vnto himselfe that she would +change hir mynde, for seeing him to be so great a Coward, as not +to offer his seruice to a Lady by whom hee saw himselfe so many +times both wantonly looked vppon, and intertayned wyth some +secresie more than familiar. The Duchesse which was a fine and +subtile dame, seeinge hir friend rapt with the passion, and +standing still vnmooueable through feare, pale and amazed, as if +hee had bene accused and condempned to dy, knew by that +Countenaunce and astonishment of Bologna, that she was perfectly +beloued of him: and so meaning not to suffer him any longer to +contynue in that amaze, ne yet to further feare hym, wyth +dissembled and fayned mariage of any other but wyth hym, she +tooke hym by the hand, and beholdinge him with a wanton and +luring eye, (in sutch sort as the curious Philosophers +themselues would awake, if sutch a Lampe and Torche did burne +wythin theyr studies,) she sayde thus vnto hym: "Seignor +Anthonio, I pray you be of good cheere, and torment not your +selfe for any thing that I haue sayd: I know well, and of long +time haue perceyued what good and faythful lone you beare mee, +and with what affection you haue serued me, sithens you first +came into my company. Thinke me not to bee so ignorant, but that +I know ful wel by outward signes, what secret thoughts be hid in +the inner heart: and that coniectures many times do geue me true +and certayne knowledge of concealed things: and am not so +foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue +marked my Countenaunce and maner, and thereby haue knowen that I +haue bene more affectioned to you, than to any other: for that +cause (sayde shee, strayninge hym by the hand very louingly, and +wyth cheerefull colour in hir face) I sware vnto you, and doe +promise that if you thinke meete, it shalbe none other but your +self whom I wil haue, and desire to take to husband and lawful +spouse, beynge assured so much of you, as the loue which so +longe time hath ben hidden and couered in our hartes, shall +appeare by so euident proofe, as onely death shal end and vndo +the same." The Gentleman hearing sutch sodain talke, and the +assurance of that which he most wished for, albeit he saw the +daunger extreme wherunto he launched himself by espousing this +great Ladie, and the ennimies he should get by entring sutch +aliaunce: notwythstandynge building vpon vaine hope, and +thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would +passe away if they vnderstoode the maryage, determined to pursue +the purpose, and not to refuse that greate preferment, being so +prodigally offred: for which cause hee answered his Lady in this +manner: "If it were in my power madame, to bryng to passe that, +which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging the benefits +and fauors which you depart vnto me, as my mind presenteth +thanks for the same, I would think my self the happyest +Gentleman that lyueth, and you the beste serued Pryncesse of the +world. For one beter beloued (I dare presume to say, and so long +as I liue wil affirme) is not to be found. If tyll thys time I +delayed to open that which now I discouer vnto you, I beseeche +you madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate, and to +the duty of my calling and office in your house, being not +seemelye for a seruaunte to talk of sutch secrets with his Lady +and Mistresse. And truely the payne which I haue indured to hold +my peace, and to hyde my grief, hath ben more noysom to me than +one hundred thousand like sorrowes together, although it had +bene lawfull to haue reuealed them to some trusty friend: I doe +not denye madame, but of long time you did perceiue my follie +and presumption, by addressing my minde so high, as to the +Aragon bloud, and to sutch a princesse as you be. And who can +beguile the Eye of a louer, specially of hir, whose Paragon for +good minde, wisedome and gentlenesse is not? And I confesse to +you besides, that I haue most euidentlye perceiued how a certain +loue hath lodged in your gracious hearte, wherwith you bare me +greater affection, than you dyd to anye other within the +compasse of your family. But what? great Ladyes heartes be +fraught with secretes and conceites of other effects than the +Minds of Symple Women, which caused me to hope for none other +guerdon of my loyal and faithful affection, than Deathe, and the +same very short, and sith that little hope accompanyed wyth +great, nay, rather extreme passion, is not able to giue +sufficient force, both to suffer and to stablish my heart with +constancye. Nowe for so mutch as of your motion, grace, curtesie +and liberality the same is offred, and that it pleaseth you to +accept me for yours, I humblye beseche you to dispose of me not +as husband, but of one whych is, and shalbe your Seruaunt for +euer, and sutch as is more ready to obey, than you to commaund. +It resteth now Madame, to consyder how, and in what wise our +affayres are to be directed, that thynges being in assurance, +you may so liue without perill and bruite of slaunderous +tongues, as your good fame and honest report may continue +without spot or blemish." Beholde the first Acte of this +Tragedy, and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent +them bothe to their graue, who immediatly gaue their mutual +faith: and the houre was assigned the next day, that the faire +Princesse should be in hir chamber alone, attended vpon with one +onely Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with her from the +cradle, and was made priuy to the heauy mariage of those two +louers which was consummate in hir presence. And for the present +time they passed the same in words: for ratification whereof +they went to bed togither: but the pain in the end was greater +than the pleasure, and had ben better for them bothe, yea and +also for the third, that they had shewed themselues so wyse in +the deede, as discrete in keeping silence of that which was don: +for albeit theyr mariage was secrete, and therby politikely +gouerned themselues in their stelthes and robberyes of Loue, and +that Bologna more ofte helde the state of the Stewarde of the +House by Daye, than of Lorde of the same, and by Nyghte supplyed +that Place, yet in the ende, the thynge was perceyued whych they +desyred to bee closely kepte. And as it is impossyble to tyll +and culture a fertyle Grounde, but that the same muste yelde +some Fruycte, euen so the Duchesse after many pleasures (being +ripe and plentiful) became with childe, which at the firste +astonned the maried couple: neuerthelesse the same so well was +prouided for, as the first Childbed was kept secret, and none +did know thereof: the Childe was nourced in the Towne, and the +father desired to haue him named Frederick, for remembraunce of +the parents of hys Wyfe. Nowe fortune whych lieth in dayly wayte +and ambushment, and lyketh not that men should longe Loyter in +Pleasure, and Passetime, being enuious of sutch prosperity, +cramped so the Legges of our two Louers, as they must needes +chaunge their Game, and learne some other practise: for so mutch +as the Duchesse beinge great with Childe agayne, and deliuered +of a Girle, the businesse of the same was not so secretly done, +but that it was discouered. And it sufficed not that the brute +was noysed through Naples, but that the sound flew further of: +As eche man doth know that Rumor hath many mouthes, who wyth the +multitude of hys Tongues, and Trumps, Proclaymeth in diuers and +sundry places, the things which chaunce in al the Regions of the +Earth: euen so that bablinge foole, caried the newes of that +second Childbed to the eares of the Cardinall of Aragon the +Duchesse brother, being then at Rome. Think what Ioy, and +Pleasure the Aragon brothers had, by hearinge the report of +their Sister's fact: I dare presume to say, that albeit they +were extremely wroth wyth this happened Slaunder, and wyth that +dishonest fame which the Duchesse had gotten throughout Italy, +yet farre greater was their sorrow and griefe for that they did +not know what hee was, that so curteously was allied to their +house, and in their loue had increased their Ligneage: and +therefore swelling wyth despite, and rapt with fury to see +themselues so defamed by one of their Bloude, they purposed by +all meanes whatsoeuer it cost them, to know the lucky Louer that +had so wel tilled the Duchesse their Sister's field. Thus +desirous to remoue that shame from before their eyes, and to bee +reuenged of a wrong so notable, they sent Espials round about, +and scouts to Naples, to view and spy the behauiour and talke of +the Duchesse, to settle some certayne Iudgement of him, which +stealingly was become their Brother in lawe. The Duchesse Courte +beinge in thys trouble, she dyd contynually perceiue in hir +house, hir brothers men to marke hir countenance, and to note +those that came thither to visite hir, and to whom she vsed +greatest familiaritie, bicause it is impossible but that the +fire, although it be raked vnder the ashes, must giue some heat: +and albeit the two Louers vsed eche others company, without +shewing any Sygne of their affection, yet they purposed to +chaung theyr estate for a tyme, by yelding truce to their +pleasures: yea, and although Bologna was a wise and prouident +personage, fearing to be surprised vpon the facte, or that the +Gentlewoman of the chamber corrupted with money, or forced by +feare, should pronounce any matter to his hinderance or +disaduantage, determined to absent himself from Naples, yet not +so sodainly but that he made the Duchesse his faithfull Lady and +companion priuy of his intent: and as they were secretly in +their chamber together, he vsed these or sutch like words: +"Madame, albeit the right good intent and vnstained conscience, +is free from faulte, yet the iudgement of men hath further +relation to the exterior apparance, than to vertue's force and +innocence it self, as ignoraunt of the secrets of the thought: +and so in things that be well done, wee must of necessity fall +into the sentence of those, whom beastly affection rauisheth +more, than ruled reason. You see the solempne watch and guarde +whych the Seruaunts of the Lordes your Brothers do within your +house, and the suspition which they haue conceiued by reason of +your second Childbed, and by what meanes they labor truely to +know how your affayres procede, and things do passe. I feare not +death where your seruice may be aduaunced, but ys herein the +Maiden of your Cbamber be not secrete, if she bee corrupted, and +if she keepe not close that which shee ought to doe, it is not +ignoraunt to you that it is the losse of my lyfe, and shall dye +suspected to bee a Whoremonger and varlot, euen I, (I say) shal +incurre that Peryll, whych am your true and Lawfull Husband. +Thys separation chaunceth not by iustyce or desert, sith the +cause is to ryghteous for vs: but rather your brethren will +procure my death, when I shall thinke the same in greatest +assurance. If I had to do but wyth one or two, I would not +chaunge the place, ne march one step from Naples, but be +assured, that a great band, and the same well armed will set +vppon me: I pray you, madame, suffer me to retire for a time, +for I am assured that when I am absent, they will neuer soile +their hands or imbrue their sweardes in your Bloud. If I doubted +any thing at all of Peryll touchyng your owne person, I had +rather a hundred hundred tymes die in your Company, than lyue to +see you no more: but out of doubt I am, that if our affaires +were discouered, and they knew you to be begotten with Chyld by +me, your safety would be prouided for wher I should sustain the +penaunce of the fact, committed without fault or sinne: and +therfore I am determined to goe from Naples, to order mine +affaires, and to cause my Reuenue to be brought to the place of +mine abode, and from thence to Ancona, vntyl it pleaseth God to +mitigate the rage of your brethren, and recouer their good wills +for consent to our mariage. But I meane not to do or conclude +any thing without your aduise, and if thys intente doe not like +you, gyue me Councell Madame, what I were beste to doe, that +both in Lyfe and Death you may knowe your faythfull seruaunt and +louing Husband is ready to obey and please you." This good Lady +hearing hir husband's discourse, vncertayne what to do, wept +bitterly, as well for grief to lose his presence, as for that +she felt her self with child the third time: the sighes and +teares, the sobbes and heauy lookes, which she threwe forth +vppon hir sorrowful husband, gaue sufficient witnesse of hir +payne and Gryef: and if none had hard hir, I thynke her playntes +would haue well expressed hir inwarde smarte of mynde. But like +a wise Ladye seing the alleaged reasons of hir husbande, +licensed him although agaynste hir minde, not wythout vtterance +of these fewe Words, before hee went out of hir Chamber: "Deare +husbande, if I were so well assured of the affectyon of my +Brethren, as I am of my mayde's fidelity, I would entreat you +not to leaue me alone: specially in the case I am, beynge wyth +Chylde: but knowyng that to be iust and true whych you haue +sayde, I am content to force my wyll for a certayne tyme, that +hereafter we may lyue at rest together, ioyning our selues in +the companye of our Chyldren and Famylye, voyde of those +troubles, whych greate Courts ordinarily beare within the +compasse of their Palaces. Of one thing I must intreat you, that +so often as you can by trusty messenger, you send me word and +intelligence of your health and state, bicause the same shall +bring vnto me greater pleasure and contentation, than the +welfare of mine owne: and bicause also, vpon sutch occurrentes +as shall chaunce, I may prouyde for myne owne affaires, the +surety of my self, and of our Children." In saying so, she +embraced him very amorously, and he kissed hir with so greate +sorrow and grief of heart, as the soule was ready out of his +Body to take hir flight, sorowful beyond measure so to leaue hir +whome he loued, for the great curtesies and honor which hee had +receiued at hir hands. In the end, fearing that the Aragon +espials woulde come and discrie them in those priuities, Bologna +tooke his leaue, and bad his Lady and spouse Farewell. And this +was the second Acte of this Tragicall Historie, to see a +fugitife husband, secretly to mary, especially hir, vpon whome +hee ought not so mutch as to loke but with feare and reuerence. +Behold here (O ye folish louers) a Glasse of your lightnesse, +and yee Women, the course of your fond behauyor. It behoueth not +the wise sodainly to execute their first motions and desyres of +their heart for so mutch as they may be assured that pleasure is +pursued so neare with a repentaunce so sharp to be suffred, +and hard to be digested, as their voluptuousnesse shall vtterly +discontent them. True it is, that mariages be don in heauen and +performed in earth, but that saying may not be applied to +fooles, which gouerne them selues by carnall desires, whose +scope is but pleasure, and the reward many times equall to their +follie. Shall I be of opinion that a houshold seruaunt oughte to +sollicite, nay rather suborne the Daughter of his Lorde without +punyshment, or that a vyle and abiect person dare to mount vpon +a Prynces Bed? No, no, pollicye requyreth order in all, and eche +wight ought to bee matched according to theyr qualytye, wythout +makynge a Pastyme of it to couer theyr Follyes, and knowe not of +what Force Loue and Desteny be, except the same be resysted. +A goodly thinge it is to Loue, but where reason looseth Place, +Loue is wythoute his effecte, and the sequele rage and Madnesse: +leaue we to discourse of those which beleue that they be +constrayned to folowe the Force of theyr Mynde, and may easilye +subdue themselues to the Lawes of Vertue and Honesty, lyke one +that thrusteth hys Heade into a Sack, and thynkes he can not get +out: sutch people do please themselues in theyr losse, and +thinke all well that is noysome to their Health, daily folowyng +theyr owne delyghtes. Come wee againe then to sir Bologna, who +after he had left hys Wyfe in hir Castell, went to Naples, and +hauing sessed a rent vpon hir lands, and leuyed a good summe of +Money, he repayred to Ancona a city of the patrimonye of the +Romane church, whither hee caryed the two Chyldren, which he +had of the Duchesse, causyng them to be brought vp with suche +Dyligence and care, as it is to be thought a Father well +affectyoned to hys Wyfe would doe, and who delyghted to see a +Braunch of the Tree, that to hym was the best beloued Fruyct of +the World. There he hyred a house for hys trayne, and for those +that wayted vppon hys Wyfe, who in the meane tyme was in great +care, and could not tell of what Woode to make hir arrowes, +perceyuing that hir Belly began to swell, and grow to the tyme +of hir deliuery, seeing that from Day to Day, hir Brothers +seruaunts were at hir back, voide of Counsel and aduise, if one +euenyng she had not spoken to the Gentlewoman of her chamber, +touchyng the doubts and peryl wherein she was, not knowing how +she might be deliuered from the same. That maiden was gentle and +of a good mind and stomake, and loued hir mistresse very derely, +and seeing hir so amazed and tormenting hir self to death, +mindyng to fray hir no further, ne to reproue hir of hir fault +which could not be amended, but rather to prouyde for the +daunger wherunto she had hedlong cast hir selfe, gaue hir this +aduyse: "How now, Madame" (sayd shee,) "is that wysdom whych +from your Chyldhode hath ben so famyliar in you, dislodged from +your brest in time when it ought chiefly to rest for incountryng +of those mishaps that are comming vpon vs? think you to auoid +the dangers, by thus tormentyng your self, except you set your +hands to the work therby to gyue the repulse to aduerse fortune? +I haue heard you many tymes speake of the Constancye and Force +of Mynde, whych ought to shine in the deedes of Princesses, more +clerely than amongs those dames of baser house, and whych ought +to make them appeare like the sunne and the little starres: and +yet I see you nowe astonned, as though you had neuer forseene, +that aduersity chaunceth so wel to catch the great within his +clouches, as the base and simple sort. It is but now that you +haue called to remembraunce that which might insue your mariage +with sir Bologna? Did hys onely presence assure you against the +waits of fortune, and was it the thought of paines, feares and +frights, which now turmoileth your dolorous mind? Ought you thus +to vexe your selfe, when nede it is to thinke how to saue both +your honor, and the fruicte wythin your intrailes? If your +sorrow be so great ouer sir Bologna, and if you feare your +childbed wil be descried, why seeke you not meanes to attempt +some voyage, for couering of the fact, to beguile the eyes of +them whych so diligently do watch you? Doth your hearte faile +you in that matter? whereof do you dreame? why sweat and freat +you before you make me answer?" "Ah sweete hearte," (answered +the Duchesse,) "if thou feltest the payne which I do suffer, thy +tongue would not be so mutch at wyll, as thou shewest it now to +bee for reproofe of my small Constancie. I do sorrow specially +for the causes which thou alleagest, and aboue all, for that I +know well, that if my Brethren had neuer so litle intelligence +of my beynge with Chyld, I were vndone and my Lyfe at an end, +and peraduenture poore Wench, thou shouldest beare the penaunce +for my sinne. But what way can I take, that stil these Candels +may not giue light, and I voided of the Trayne whych ought to +wayghte vpon my Brethren? I thinke if I should descend into +Hell, they would know, whither any shadowe there were in loue +with me. Now gesse if I should trauayle the Realme, or retire to +any other place, whither they would let me liue in peace? +Nothing lesse, for suspect they would, that the cause of my +departure proceeded of desyre to liue at liberty, to dallye wyth +hym, whom they Iudge to be other than my lawfull husbande: and +it may so be, that as they bee Wicked and suspicious, so will +they doubte of my beynge wyth Chylde and thereby shall I bee +farre more infortunate by trauaylyng, than here in miserie +amidde myne anguishe: and you the reste that be keepers of my +Councell, fall into greater Daunger, vppon whome no doubte they +will bee reuenged: and fleshe themselues for your vnhappy +waiting and attendance vpon vs." "Madame," sayd the bolde +Maiden, "be not afraide, and followe mine aduise, for I hope +that it shall be the meanes both to see your spouse, and to rid +those troublesome verlets out of your house, and in like maner +safely to deliuer you into good assuraunce." "Say your mind," +quod the Ladye, "for it may bee, that I wyll gouerne my self +according to the same." "Mine aduise is then," sayd the +Gentlewoman, "to let your houshold vnderstand, that you made a +Vowe to visite the Holy Temple of our Lady of Loretto, (a Famous +Pilgrimage in Italy) and that you commaund your Trayn to make +themselues ready to wayt vpon you for accomplyshment of your +deuotion, and from thence you shall take your Iourney to +soiourne at Ancona, whither before you goe hence, you shall send +your Moueables and Plate, wyth sutch Moneye as you thynke +necessarye for furnyshing of your Charges: and afterwards God +will performe the rest, and through his holy mercy will guyde +and direct al your affaires." The Duchesse hearing the mayden +speake her good aduise and amazed of her sodayne inuention, +could not forbear to imbrace and kysse hir, blessing the houre +wherein she was borne, and that euer she chaunced into hir +Companye, to whome afterwards shee sayd: "My Wenche, I had well +determined to gyue ouer myne estate and Noble porte, ioyfully to +lyue a simple Gentlewoman with my deare and welbeloued Husband, +but I could not deuyse how I should conuenyently departe thys +countrey without suspition of some folly: and sith that thou +hast so well instructed mee for brynging that same to passe, +I promyse thee that so diligentlye thy counsel shal be +performed, as I see the same to be right good and necessary: +for rather had I see my husband, beynge alone without title of +Duchesse or great Lady, than to liue without him beautified with +the graces and Names of Honor and preheminence." This deuised +plot was no soner grounded, but she gaue order for execution of +the same, and brought it to passe with sutch dexterity as the +Ladye in lesse than VIII. Dayes had conueyed and sente +the most part of hir Moueables, and specially the chyefest and +beste to Ancona, taking in the meane time hir way towards +Loretto after she had bruted hir solempne vow made for that +Pilgrimage. It was not sufficient for this folysh Woman to take +a Husband more to glut hir libidinous appetite, than for other +occasion, except shee added to hir sinne another excreable +impietie, making holy places and dueties of deuotion, to be as +it were the shadowes of hir folly. But let vs consider the force +of Louers rage, which so soone as it hath seased vpon the minds +of men, we see how maruellous be the effects thereof, and with +what straint and puissaunce that madnesse subdueth the wise and +strongest worldlings: who woulde thinke that a great Lady +besides the abandoning hir estate, hir goodes and Chyld, would +haue misprysed hir honor and reputation, to follow like a +vagabond, a pore and simple Gentleman, and him besides that was +the household seruaunt of hir Courte? and yet you see this great +and mighty Duchesse trot and run after the Male, like a female +Wolfe or Lionesse (when they goe to sault,) and forget the Noble +bloud of Aragon whereof she was descended, to couple hir self +almost with the simplest person of all the trimmest Gentlemen of +Naples. But turne we not the example of follies to be a matter +of consequence: for if one or two become bankrupt of theyr +honor, it followeth not, good Ladyes, that theyr fact should +serue for a matche to your deserts, and mutch lesse a patron for +you to folow. These Hystories be not wryten to trayne and trap +you to pursue the thousand thousand slippery sleightes of Loue's +gallantise, but rather carefully to warne you to behold the +semblable faultes, and to serue for a drugge to dyscharge the +Poyson which gnaweth and fretteth the integrytie and soundnesse +of the soule. The wyse and skilfull Apothecary or compositor of +drugges, dresseth Vipers flesh to purge the patyent from hote +corrupted bloud which conceyueth and engendreth Leprosie within +hys Body. In lyke manner, the fonde loue and wycked rybauldry of +Semiramis, Pasiphae, Messalina, Faustina, and Romilda is shewed +in wryt, that euery of you maye feare to be numbred and recorded +amongs sutch common and dishonourable women. You Princes and +great Lords read the follies of Paris, the adulteries of +Hercules, the dainty and effeminate life of Sardanapalus, the +tiranny of Phalaris, Busiris, or Dyonisius of Sicile, and see +the history of Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, Domitian, and +Heliogabalus, and spare not to recompte them amongs our wanton +youthes which soile themselues villaines more filthily than the +swine do in the durt: al this intendeth it an instruction for +your youth to follow the infection and whoredome of those +Monsters? Better it were all those bokes were drenched in +bottomlesse depth of seas, than Christian life by their meanes +should be corrupted: but the example of the wicked is induced +for to eschue and auoid them, as the life of the good and honest +is remembred to frame and addresse our behauior in this world to +be praise worthy and commended: otherwyse the holinesse of +sacred writ should serue for an argument to the vnthrifty and +luxurious to confirm and approue their beastly and licencious +wickednesse. Come we againe then to our purpose: the good +Pilgrime of Loretto went forth hir voyage to atchieue hir +deuotions, by visiting the Saint for whose Reliques she was +departed the country of the Duke hir Sonne: when she had done +hir suffrages at Loretto, hir people thought hir voiage to be at +an end, and that she would haue returned again into hir +Countrey: but she said vnto them, that forsomutch as she was so +neare Ancona, being but XV. myles of, she would not +retyre but she had seen that auncient and goodlye city, which +diuers Hystories do greatly recommend, as wel for the +antiquitie, as for the pleasant seat therof. Al were of hir +aduise, and went forward to see the antiquities of Ancona, and +she to renue the pleasures whych she had before begon with hir +Bologna, who was aduertised of all hir determination, restyng +now like a God, possessed with the Iewels and rychesse of the +Duchesse, and had taken a fayre palace in the great Streat of +the City, by the gate wherof the traine of hys Lady must passe. +The Harbinger of the Duchesse posted before to take vp lodging +for the train, but Bologna offred vnto hym hys Palace for the +Ladye. So Bologna whych was already welbeloued in Ancona, and +newely entred Amytye and greate Aquayntaunce wyth the Gentlemen +of the Cytye, wyth a goodlye troupe of them, wente forthe to +meete hys Wyfe, to whom he presented his house, and besought hir +that shee and hir trayne would vouchsafe to lodge there. She +receiued the same very thankfully, and withdrew hir selfe vnto +his house, who conducted hir thither, not as a husband, but like +him that was hir humble and affectionate seruaunte. But what +needeth greate dyscourse of Woordes? The duchesse knowing that +it was impossible but eche man must be priuy to hir facte, and +know what secretes hath passed betweene hir and hir Husband, +to the ende that no other opynyon of hir Childebed should be +conceyued, but that whych was good and Honest, and done synce +the accomplyshment of the Maryage, the morrow after hir arryuall +to Ancona, assembled all her Trayne in the Hall, of purpose no +longer to keepe cloase that sir Bologna was hir Husbande, and +that alreadye shee had had two Chyldren by him, and agayne was +great with childe, with a third. And when they were come +togither after dynner, in that presence of hir husbande, shee +vsed vnto them these woordes: "Gentlemen, and al ye my trusty +and louyng seruaunts, hyghe tyme it is to manyfest to euery of +you, the thing which hath ben done before the Face, and in the +presence of hym who knoweth the most obscure and hydden secrets +of our thoughts. And needefull it is not to keepe silente that +which is neyther euyll done ne hurtfull to any person: If things +myght be kept secrete and styl remaine vnknowen, except they +were declared by the doers of them, yet would not I commit the +wrong in concealyng that, which to dyscouer vnto you doth +greatly delite me, and deliuereth my mind from exceeding grief, +in sutch wise as if the flames of my desire could break out with +sutch violence, as the fire hath taken heate within my mind, ye +should see the smoke mount vp with greater smoulder than that +which the mount Gibel doeth vomit forth at certayne seasons of +the yeare. And to the intent I may not keepe you long in this +suspect, this secret fire wythin my Heart, and that which I shal +cause to flame in open ayre, is a certain opinion which I +conceiue for a mariage by me made certain yeares past, at what +time I chose and wedded a husband to my fantasie and liking, +desirous no longer to liue in Widow state, being vnwilling to do +the thing that should preiudice and hurt my conscience. The same +is done, and yet in one thing I haue offended, which is by long +keepyng secrete the performed mariage: for the wycked brute +dispearsed through the realme by reason of my childbed, one +yeare paste, hath displeased some: howbeit my conscience +receiueth comforte, for that the same is free from fault or +blot. Now shall ye know therefore what he is, whom I acknowledg +for my Lord and spouse, and who it is that lawfully hath me +espoused in the presence of this Gentlewoman here present, which +is the witnesse of our Nuptials and accorde of mariage. This +gentleman also Antonio Bologna, is he to whom I haue sworn and +giuen my faith, and hee againe to mee hath ingaged his. He it is +whom I accompt for my spouse and husband, (and with whome +henceforth) I meane to rest and contynue. In consideration +whereof, if there be any heere amongs you all, that shal mislike +of my choyse, and is willing to wayt vppon my sonne the Duke, +I meane not to let them of their intent, prayinge them +faithfully to serue him, and to be careful of his person, and to +be vnto him so honest and loyall, as they haue bene to me so +longe as I was their mistresse. But if any of you desire stil to +make your abode wyth me, to be partakers of my Wealth and woe, +I will so entertayne them as they shall haue good cause to be +contented, if not let them departe hence to Malfi, and the +steward shal prouide for them according to their degre: for +touching my self I do mind no more to be termed an infamous +Duchesse: rather would I be honored wyth the Tytle of a symple +Gentlewoman, or wyth that estate whych shee can haue that hath +an honest husband, and wyth whom she holdeth faithfull and +loyall company, than reuerenced with the glory of a Pryncesse, +subiect to the despite of slaunderous tongues. Ye know" (said +she to Bologna) "what hath passed betwene vs, and God is the +witnesse of the integrity of my Conscyence, wherfore I pray you +bryng forth our Chyldren, that eche Man may beholde the Fruyctes +raysed of our allyance." Hauynge spoken those Woordes, and the +Chyldren broughte forthe into the Hall, all the companye stoode +styll so astonned wyth that newe successe and tale, as though +hornes sodainly had started forth their heads, and rested +vnmoueable and amazed, like the great marble piller of Rome +called Pasquile, for so mutch as they neuer thought, ne +coniectured that Bologna was the successor of the duke of Malfi +in his mariage bed. This was the preparatiue of the catastrophe +and bloudy end of this tragedie. For of all the Duchesse +seruaunts, there was not one that was willing to continue wyth +theyr auncient mistresse, who with the faithfull maiden of hir +chamber remained at Ancona, enioying the ioyful embracements of +hir Husbande, in all sutch Pleasure and Delyghts as they doe, +whych hauyng lyued in fear, be set at liberty, and out of al +suspition, plunged in a sea of ioy, and fleting in the quiet +calme of al passetime, where Bologna had none other care, but +how to please his best beloued, and she studied nothing else but +how to loue and obey him, as the wyfe ought to doe hir husband. +But thys fayre Weather lasted not long, for as the ioyes of men +do not long endure but wast in lyttle time, so bee the delights +of louers lesse firme and stedefast and passe away almost in one +moment of an houre. Now the seruaunts of the Duchesse which wer +retired, and durst tary no longer with hir, fearing the fury of +the cardinal of Aragon brother to the Lady, the verye Day they +departed from Ancona, deuised amongs themselues that one of them +should ride in post to Rome, to aduertise the cardinal of the +ladye's maryage, to the intente that the Aragon brethren myght +conceiue no cause to seke reuenge of theyr disloyalty. That +determination spedily was accomplished, one posting towardes +Rome, and the rest galloping to the countrey Castles of the +duke. These newes reported to the Cardinal and his brother, it +may be coniectured how gryeuously they toke the same, and that +they were not able to digest them wyth modestye, the yongest of +the brethren, yalped forth a Thousand Cursses and despytes, +agaynste the symple sexe of womankind. "Ha," said the Prince +(transported with choler, and driuen into deadly furie) "what +law is able to punish or restrayne the folysh indiscretion of a +Woman, that yeldeth hir self to hir own desires? What shame is +able to brydle and withdrawe a Woman from hir mind and madnesse? +Or with what fear is it possible to snaffle them from execution +of theyr filthinesse? Ther is no beast be he neuer so wilde, +but man sometime may tame, and bring to his lure and order. The +force and diligence of Man is able to Make mylde the stronge and +Proude, and to ouertake the swyftest Beaste and Foule, or +otherwyse to attayne the hyghest and deepest things of the +world: but this incarnate diuelish beaste the Woman, no force +can subdue hir, no swiftnesse can approch hir mobylity, no good +mind is able to preuent hir sleightes and deceites, they seem to +be procreated and borne againste all order of Nature, and to +liue withoute Lawe, whych gouerneth al other things indued with +some reason and vnderstanding. But howe great abhomination is +this, that a Gentlewoman of sutch a house as ours is, hath +forgotten hir estate, and the greatnesse of hir deceased +husband, with the hope of the toward youthe of the Duke hir +sonne and our Nephew. Ah, false and vile bytch, I sweare by the +Almighty God and by his blessed wounds, that if I can catch +thee, and that wicked knaue thy chosen mate, I wil pype ye both +sutch a wofull galiard, as in your imbracements ye neuer felt +like ioy and mirthe. I wil make ye daunce sutch a bloudy +bargenet, as your whorish heate for euer shall be cooled. What +abuse haue they committed vnder title of mariage, whych was so +secretly don, as their children do witnesse their lecherous +loue, but theyr promise of faith was made in open aire, and +serueth for a cloke and visarde of their moste filthy whoredom. +And what if mariage was concluded, be we of so little respect, +as the carion beast could not vouchsafe to aduertise vs of hir +entent? Or is Bologna a man worthy to be allied or mingled with +the roial bloud of Aragon and Castille? No, no, be he neuer so +good a gentleman, his race agreeth not with kingly state. But I +make to God a vow, that neuer wyll I take one sound and restful +slepe, vntill I haue dispatched that infamous fact from our +bloud, and that the caitif whoremonger be vsed according to his +desert." The cardinal also was out of quiet, grinding his teeth +togither, chattering forth of his Spanish mosel Jack an Apes +Pater-noster, promising no better vsage to their Bologna than +hys yonger brother did. And the better to intrap them both +(without further sturre for that time) they sent to the Lord +Gismondo Gonsago the Cardinal of Mantua, than Legate for pope +Iulius the second at Ancona, at whose hands they enioyed sutch +friendship, as Bologna and all his family were commaunded +spedily to auoid the city. But for al that the Legat was able to +do, of long time he could not preuail, Bologna had so greate +intelligence wythin Ancona. Neuerthelesse whiles hee differred +his departure, he caused the most part of his trayne, his +Children and goods to be conueyed to Siena, an auncient Citty of +Thoscane, which for the state and liberties, had long time bin +at warres with the Florentines, in sutch wyse as the very same +day that newes came to Bologna that hee should depart the Citty +within XV. daies, hee was ready, and mounted on horseback to +take hys flight to Siena, whych brake for sorrow the hearts of +the Aragon brethren, seeinge that they were deceiued, and +frustrate of their intent, bicause they purposed by the way to +apprehend Bologna, and to cut him in peeces. But what? The tyme +of his hard lucke was not yet expired, and so the marche from +Ancona, serued not for the Theatre of those two infortunate +louers ouerthrow, who certaine moneths liued in peace in +Thoscane. The Cardinall night nor day did sleepe, and his +brother still did wayt to performe hys othe of reuenge. And +seeinge their ennimy out of feare, they dispatched a post to +Alfonso Castruccio, the cardinall of Siena, to entreat the lord +Borgliese, cheyfe of the Seigniory there, that their Syster, and +Bologna should be banished the Countrey, and limits of that +Citty, which wyth small suite was brought to passe. These two +infortunate, Husband and Wyfe, were chasid from all places, and +so vnlucky as whilom Achastus was when he was accursed, or +Oedipus, after his father's death, and incestious mariage wyth +his mother, vncertayne to what Sainct to vow themselues, and to +what place to take their flight. In the ende they determined to +goe to Venice, but first to Ramagna, there to imbarke themselues +for to retyre in saulfty to the citty enuironned wyth the Sea +Adriaticum, the richest in Europa. But the poore soules made +their reconinge there wythout their hoaste, faylinge halfe the +price of their banket. For being vppon the territory of Forly, +one of the trayne a farre of, did see a troupe of horsemen +galloping towardes their company, which by their countenaunce +shewed no signe of peace or amity at all, which made them +consider that it was some ambush of theyr Enimyes. The +Neapolitan gentleman seeing the onset bendinge vppon them, began +to feare death, not for that hee cared at al for his mishap, and +ruine, but his heart began to cleaue for heauinesse to see his +Wyfe and little Children ready to be murdered, and serue for the +passetime of the Aragon Brethren's eyes, for whose sakes he knew +himselfe already predestinate to dy, and that for despite of +him, and to accelerate his death by the ouerthrow of hys Wyfe +and Children, he was assured that they would dispatch them all +before his face and presence. But what is there to be done, +where counsell and meanes to escape do fayle? Full of teares +therefore, astonishment and feare, he expected death so cruell +as man could deuise, and was already determined to suffer the +same with good courage, for any thing that the Duchesse could +say vnto him. He might well haue saued himself and his eldest +sonne by flight, being both wel mounted vpon two good Turkey +horsses, whiche ran so fast, as the quarrel out of a Crosbow. +But he loued to mutch his wife and children, and woulde kepe +them company both in lyfe and death. In th'ende the good Lady +sayd vnto him: "Sir, for all the ioyes and pleasures which you +can do me, for God's sake saue your selfe and the litle infant +next you, who can well indure the galloping of the horse. For +sure I am, that you being out of our company, we shall not neede +to feare any hurt: but if you do tary, you wil be the cause of +the ruine and ouerthrow of vs all, and we shal receiue thereby +no profit or aduauntage: take this purse therefore, and saue +yourself, attending better fortune in time to come." The poore +Gentleman Bologna knowing that his wife had pronounced reason, +and fearing that it was impossible from that time forth that she +or hir Traine could escape their hands, taking leaue of hir, and +kissing his chyldren not forgetting the money which she offred +vnto him, willed his seruants to saue themselues by sutch meanes +as they thought best. So gieuing spurs vnto his horse, he began +to fly amayne, and his eldest sonne seeing his father gone, +began to followe in like sorte: and so for that time they two +were saued by breaking of the intended ill luck lyke to light +vpon them. And where he thought to rescue himselfe at Venice, he +turned another way, and by great Iourneys arriued at Millan. In +the meane time the horsemen were approched neere the Duchesse, +who seeing that Bologna had saued himselfe, very courteously +began to speake vnto the lady, were it that the Aragon brethren +had geuen theym that charge, or feared that the Lady would +trouble them with hir importunate Cries, and Lamentations. One +therefore amongs the Troupe sayde thus vnto hir: "Madam, we be +commaunded by the Lordes your brethren, to conduct you home vnto +your house, that you may receiue agayne the Gouernment of the +Duchy, and the order of the Duke your sonne, and do maruell very +mutch at your folly, for giuing your selfe thus to wander the +Countrey after a man of so smal reputation as Bologna is, who +when he had glutted his lusting lecherrous minde with the +comelines of your noble Personage, wil despoyle you of your +goods and honour, and then take his Legs into som straung +countrey." The simple Lady, albeit greeuous it was vnto hir to +heare sutch speech of hir husband, yet helde hir peace and +dissembled what she thought, glad and wel contented with the +curtesy done vnto hir, fearinge before that they came to kyll +hir and thought hirselfe already discharged, hopinge vppon their +courteous Dealinges, that shee, and hir Chyldren from that tyme +forth should lyue in good assuraunce. But she was greatly +deceyued, and knew within shorte space after, the good will that +hir Brethren bare hir: for so soone as these Gallants had +conducted hir into the kyngdome of Naples, to one of the Castels +of hir sonne, she was committed to pryson wyth hir chyldren, and +she also that was the secretary of hir infortunate mariage. Til +this time Fortune was contented to proceede with indifferent +quiet against those Louers, but henceforth yee shall heare the +Issue of theyr little prosperous loue, and how pleasure hauing +blinded them, neuer forsooke them vntil it had giuen them the +ouerthrow. It booteth not heere to recite any Fables or +Hystories, contenting my self that Ladies do reade wythout to +many weping teares, the pitifull end of that myserable +princesse, who seeing hir selfe a Prisoner in the company of hir +litle chyldren and welbeloued Mayden, paciently liued in hope to +see hir Brethren appaysed, comforting hir selfe for the escape +of hir husband out of the hands of his mortal foes. But hir +assurance was changed into an horrible feare and hir hope to no +expectation of surety, when certayne dayes after hir +imprisonment, hir gaoler came in, and sayde vnto hir: "Madame, +I do aduise you henceforth to consider and examine your +Conscience, for so mutch as I suppose that euen thys very day +your Lyfe shall be taken from you." I leaue for you to thinke +what horrour, and traunce assayled the feeble heart of this +poore Lady, and wyth what eares she receyued that cruell +message, but hir cryes, and moanes together with hir sighes and +lamentations declared with what chere she receyued the +aduertisement. "Alas" (sayd she) "is it possible that my +brethren should so far forget themselues, as for a fact nothing +preiudicial vnto them, cruelly to put to death their innocent +Sister, and to imbrue the memory of their fact, in the bloud of +one which neuer did offend them? Must I against al right and +equity be put to death before the Iudge or Maiestrate haue made +triall of my lyfe, and knowne the righteousnesse of my cause? Ah +God, most rightfull and bountifull father, beholde the mallice +of my Brethren, and the Tyrannous cruelty of those which +wrongfully doe seeke my bloud. Is it a sinne to marry? Is it a +fault to fly, and auoide the sinne of Whoredome? What Lawes be +these, where marriage bed, and ioyned matrimony is pursued wyth +lyke seuerity, that Murder, Theft, and Aduoutry are? And what +Christianity in a Cardinall, to shed the bloud which hee ought +to defend? What profession is thys, to assayle the innocent by +the hygh way side, and to reue them of lyfe in place to punish +Theeues and Murderers? O Lord God thou art iust, and dost al +things in equity, I see wel that I haue trespassed against thy +maiesty in some more notoryous crime than in marriage: I most +humbly therefore beseech thee to haue compassion on mee, and to +pardon myne offences, accepting the confession, and repentaunce +of mee thine humble seruaunt for satisfaction of my sinnes, +which it pleased thee to washe away in the precious bloud of thy +sonne our Sauiour, that being so purified, I may appeare at the +holy banket in thy glorious kingdome." When shee had thus +finished hir prayer, two or three of the ministers which had +taken hir besides Forly, came in, and said vnto hir: "Now Madame +make ready your selfe to goe to God, for beholde your houre is +come." "Praysed be that God" (sayd she) "for the wealth and woe +that it pleaseth hym to send vs. But I beseech you my friendes +to haue pitty vppon these lyttle Babes and innocent creatures: +let them not feele the smarte whych I am assured my Brethren +beare agaynste their Poore vnhappy Father." "Well well, madame," +sayd they, "we wil conuey them to sutch place as they shal not +want." "I also recommend vnto you" (quod she) "this pore +imprisoned mayden, and entreate hir well, in consideration of +hir good service done to the infortunate Duchesse of Malfi." As +she had ended those words, the two Ruffians did put a coarde +about her neck, and strangled hir. The mayden seeing the pitious +Tragedy commensed vpon hir maystresse, cried out a maine, +cursing the cruell malice of those tormenters, and besought God +to be witnesse of the same, and crying out vpon his diuine +Maiesty, she humbly praied unto him to bend hys iudgement +agaynst them which causelesse (being no Magistrates,) had killed +so innocent creatures. "Reason it is" (sayd one of the Tyrants) +"that thou be partaker of thy maystresse innocency, sith thou +hast bene so faythfull a Minister, and messenger of hir fleshly +follies." And sodaynly caught hir by the hayre of the head, and +in steade of a Carcanet placed a roape about her necke. "How +nowe" (quoth shee,) "is this the promised fayth you made vnto my +lady?" But those words flew into the Ayre wyth hir Soule, in +company of the myserable Duchesse. And now hearken the most +sorowfull scene of all the Tragedy. The little Chyldren which +had seene all this furious game executed vpon their mother and +hir mayde, as nature prouoked them, or as some presage of their +myshap might leade them thereunto, kneeled vpon their knees +before those Tyrants, and embracinge their Legges, wayled in +sutch wyse, as I thinke that any other, except a pitilesse heart +spoyled of all humanity, would haue had compassion. And +impossible it was for them, to vnfolde the embracementes of +those innocent creatures, whych seemed to foreiudge their death +by Sauage lookes and Countenaunce of those Roysters: whereby I +think that needes it must be confessed, that nature hath in hir +selfe, and in vs imprinted some signe of diuination, and +specially at the Houre and tyme of death, so as the very beastes +doe feele some forewarninges, although they see neyther Sworde, +nor Staffe, and indeuoure to auoyde the cruell Passage of a +thynge so Fearefull, as the separation of two thynges so neerely +vnyted, euen the Body, and Soule, which for the motion that +chaunceth at the very instant, sheweth how narure is constrained +in that monstrous diuision, and more than horrible ouerthrow. +But who can appease a heart determined to worke mischief, and +hath sworne the death of another forced thereunto by some +special commaundment? The Aragon brethren ment hereby nothing +else, but to roote out the whole name and race of Bologna. And +therfore the two ministers of iniquity did like murder and +slaughter vpon those two tender babes, as they had done before +vpon their mother not without some motion of horror, for an act +so detestable. Behold here how far the cruelty of man extendeth, +when it coueteth nothing else but vengeance, and marke what +excessyue choler the mind of them produceth, whych suffer +themselues to be forced and ouerwhelmed with fury. Leaue we +apart the cruelty of Euchrates, the Sonne of the kinge of +Bactria, and of Phraates the Sonne of the Persian Prynce, of +Timon of Athenes, and of an infinit number of those which were +rulers and gouernors of the Empyre of Rome: and let vs match +with these Aragon brethren, one Vitoldus Duke of Lituania, the +cruelty of whom, constrained his own subiects to hang themselues +for feare leaste they should fall into his furious and bloudy +hands. We may confesse also these brutall brethren to be more +butcherly than euer Otho Erle of Monferrato, and prince of Vrbin +was, who caused a yeoman of his chamber to be wrapped in a +sheete poudred with sulpher and brimstone, and afterwards +kindled with a Candle, was scalded and consumed to death, +bicause he waked not at an hour by him appointed: let vs not +excuse them also from some affinity with Manfredus the sonne of +Henry the second emperor, who smoldered hys own father, being an +old man, between two Couerlets. These former furies might haue +some excuse to couer their cruelty, but these had no other color +but a certain beastly madnesse which moued them to kil those +litle Children their nephews, who by no means could preiudice or +anoy the Duke of Malfi or his title, in the succession of his +Duchie, the mother hauing withdrawen hir goods, and had her +dowrie assigned hir: but a wicked hart wrapt in malice must +nedes bring forth semblable workes. In the time of these murders +the infortunate Louer kept himself at Millan with his sonne +Frederick, and vowed himself to the Lord Siluio Sauello, who +that tyme besieged the Castell of Millan, in the behalf of +Maximilian Sforcia, which in the end he conquered and recouered +by composition wyth the French within. But that charge being +atchieued, the general Sauello marched from thence to Cremona +with hys Campe, whyther Bologna durst not folow, but repayred to +the Marquize of Britone, in whych tyme the Aragon brethren so +wroughte as hys goods were confiscate at Naples, and he dryuen +to hys shiftes to vse the Golden Duckates which the Duchesse +gaue him to relieue himselfe at Millan, whose Death althoughe it +were aduertised by many, yet hee could not be persuaded to +beleue the same, for that diuers which went about to betray him, +and feared he shoulde flie from Millan, kept his beake vnder the +water, (as the Prouerb is,) and assured him both of the Lyfe and +welfare of his Spouse, and that shortly his Brethren in law +would be reconciled because many Noble men fauored hym well, and +desired his returne home to hys countrey. Fed and filled with +that vaine hope, he remayned more than a yeare at Millan, +frequentyng good company, who was well entertayned of the +rychest marchaunts and best Gentlemen of the Cytye: and aboue +all other, he had famyliar accesse to the house of the Ladye +Hippolita Bentiuoglia, where vppon a Daye after Dynner, takyng +hys lute in hand, whereon he could exceedyngly well play, he +began to sing a sonnet, whych he had composed vppon the +discourse of hys mysfortune, the tenor whereof insueth. + + +_The Song of Antonio Bologna, the husband of the Duchesse of +Malfi._ + + If loue, the death, or tract of tyme, haue measured my distresse, + Or if my beatinge sorrowes may my languor well expresse: + Then loue come soone to visit me, which most my heart desires, + And so my dolor findes some ease, through flames of fansies fires. + The time runnes out his rollinge course, for to prolong myne ease, + To th' end I shall enioy my loue, and heart himselfe appease, + A cruell darte brings happy death, my soule then rest shall find: + And sleepinge body vnder Toumbe, shall dreame time out of mynde, + And yet the Loue, the Time, nor Death, lookes not how I decreace: + Nor geueth eare to any thinge, of this my wofull peace. + Full farre I am from my good hap, or halfe the ioye I craue, + Whereby I chaung my state wyth teares, and draw full neere my graue. + The courteous Gods that giues me lyfe, now mooues the Planets all: + For to arrest my groning ghost, and hence my sprite to call. + Yet from them still I am separd, by thinges vnequall heere, + Not ment the Gods may be vniust, that breedes my chaunging cheere. + For they prouide by their foresight, that none shall doe me harme: + But she whose blasing beauty bright, hath brought me in a charme. + My mistresse hath the powre alone, to rid me from this woe: + Whose thrall I am, for whom I die, to whom my sprite shall goe. + Away my soule, goe from the griefs, that thee oppresseth still, + And let thy dolor witnesse beare, how mutch I want my will. + For since that loue and death himselfe, delights in guiltlesse bloud, + Let time transport my troubled sprite, where destny seemeth good. + +This song ended, the poor Gentleman could not forbeare from +pouring forth his luke warme Tears, which abundantly ran downe +his heauy Face, and his pantinge Sighes truly discouered the +alteration of his mynde, whych mooued ech wight of that assembly +to pitty his mournful State: and one specially of no +acquaintance, and yet knew the deuises that the Aragon Brethren +had trayned and contriued against hym: that vnacquaynted +gentleman his name was Delio, one very well learned, and of trim +inuention, who very excellently hath endited in the Italian +vulgar tongue. This Delio knowing the Gentleman to be husband to +the deceased Duchesse of Malfi, came vnto him, and taking him +aside, said: "Sir, albeit I haue no great acquaintance with you, +this being the first time that euer I saw you, to my +remembrance, so it is, that vertue hath sutch force, and maketh +gentle myndes so amorous of their like, as when they doe beholde +ech other, they feele themselues coupled as it were in a bande +of mindes, that impossible it is to diuide the same: now +knowinge what you be, and the good and commendable qualities in +you, I coumpt it my duty to reueale that which may chaunce to +breede you damage. Know you then, that I of late was in company +with a Noble man of Naples, whych is in this Citty, banded with +a certaine company of horsemen, who tolde mee that he had a +speciall charge to kill you, and therefore prayed me (as it +seemed) to require you not to come in his sight, to the intent +he might not be constrayned to doe that which should offend his +Conscience, and grieue the same all the dayes of his life: +moreouer I haue worse Tidinges to tell you: the Duchesse your +Wyfe deade by violent hand in prison, and the most part of them +that were in hir company: besides this assure your selfe, that +if you doe not take heede to that which this Neapolitane +Capitnyne hath differred, other wyll doe and execute the same. +This mutch I haue thought good to tell you, bicause it would +very mutch grieue me, that a Gentleman so excellent as you be, +should be murdered in that myserable wyse, and I should deeme my +selfe vnworthy of lyfe, if knowing these practises I should +dissemble the same." Whereunto Bologna aunswered: "Syr Delio, +I am greatly bound vnto you, and geue you hearty thankes for the +good will you beare me. But in the conspiracy of the brethren of +Aragon, and of the death of my lady, you be deceyued, and some +haue giuen you wrong intelligence: for within these two dayes I +receyued letters from Naples, wherein I am aduertised, that the +right honorable and reuerend Cardinal and his Brother be almost +appeased, and that my goods shall bee rendred agayne, and my +dear Wyfe restored." "Ah syr," sayde Delio, "how you be beguiled +and Fedde wyth Follyes, and nourished with sleights of Court: +assure your selfe that they which write these trifles, make +sutch shamefull sale of your lyfe, as the Butcher doth of his +flesh in the Shambles, and so wickedly betray you, as impossible +it is to inuent a treason more detestable: but bethinke you well +thereof." When he had sayd so, he tooke hys leaue, and ioyned +hymselfe in company of fine and pregnaunt Wyttes, there +assembled together. In the meane tyme, the cruell Spirite of the +Aragon Brethren were not yet appeased with the former murders, +but needes must finish the last act of Bologna hys Tragedy by +losse of hys Lyfe, to keepe hys Wyfe and Chyldren company, so +well in an other Worlde as he was vnited with them in Loue in +this frayle and transitory passage. The Neapolitan gentleman +before spoken of by Delio, whych had taken this enterprise to +satissie the barbarous Cardinall to berieue his Countreyman of +lyfe, hauinge chaunged his mynde, and differring from day to day +to sorte the same to effect, it chaunced that a Lombarde of +larger Conscience than the other, inueigled with Couetousnesse, +and hired for ready Money, practised the death of the Duchesse +poore husband: this bloudy beaste was called Daniel de Bozola +that had charge of a certayne bande of footemen in Millan. Thys +newe Iudas and pestilent manqueller, who wythin certayne dayes +after knowinge that Bologna oftentymes Repayred to heare Seruice +at the Church and conuent of S. Fraunces, secretly conueyed +himself in ambush, hard besides the church of S. Iames, (being +accompanied wyth a certayne troupe of Souldiers) to assayle +infortunate Bologna, who was sooner slayne than hee was able to +thinke vpon defence, and whose mishap was sutch, as hee whych +kylled hym had good leysure to saue himselfe by reason of the +little pursuite made after hym. Beholde heere the Noble fact of +a Cardinall, and what sauer it hath of Christian purity, to +commit a slaughter for a fact done many yeares past vpon a poore +Gentleman which neuer thought him hurt. Is thys the sweete +obseruation of the Apostles, of whom they vaunt themselues to be +the Successours and followers? And yet we cannot finde nor +reade, that the Apostles, or those that stept in their trade of +lyfe, hyred Ruffians, and Murderers to cut the Throates of them +which did them hurt. But what? it was in the tyme of Iulius the +second, who was more martiall than Christian, and loued better +to shed bloud than giue blessing to the people. Sutch ende had +the infortunate mariage of him, whych ought to haue contented +himselfe wyth that degree and honor that he had acquired by the +deedes and glory of his vertues, so mutch by ech wight +recommended: we ought neuer to climb higher than our force +permitteth, ne yet surmount the bounds of duty, and lesse suffer +our selues to be haled fondly forth with desire of brutal +sensuality. Which sinne is of sutch nature, that he neuer giueth +ouer the party whom he maystereth, vntil he hath brought him to +the shame of some Notable Folly. You see the miserable discourse +of a Princesse loue, that was not very wyse, and of a Gentleman +that had forgotten his estate, which ought to serue for a +lookinge Glasse to them which bee ouer hardy in makinge +Enterprises, and doe not measure their Ability wyth the +greatnesse of their Attemptes: where they ought to mayntayne +themselues in reputation, and beare the title of well aduised: +foreseeing their ruine to be example for all posterity, as may +bee seene by the death of Bologna, and by all them which sprang +of him, and of his infortunate Spouse his Lady and Maistresse. +But we haue discoursed inough hereof, sith diuersity of other +hystories do call vs to bring the same in place, which were not +mutch more happy than the bloudy end of those, whose Hystory ye +haue already heard. + + + + +THE TWENTY-FOURTH NOUELL. + + _The disordered Lyfe of the Countesse of Celant, and how shee + (causinge the County of Masino to be murdered,) was beheaded + at Millan._ + + +Not wythout good cause of long tyme haue the wyse, and discrete, +Prudently gouerned their Children, and taken great heede ouer +their Daughters, and those also whom they haue chosen to bee +their Wyues, not in vsing them lyke Bondwomen, and Slaues, to +beereiue them of all Liberty, but rather to auoyde the murmur, +and secrete slaunderous Speach of the common people, and +occasions offred for infection, and marrying of Youth, specially +circumspect of the assaultes bent agaynst Maydens, being yet in +the firste flames of fire, kindled by nature in the hearts, yea +of those that be the wysest, and best brought vp. Some doe deeme +it very straunge, that solempne Guard bee obserued ouer those +which ought to lyue at lyberty, and doe consider how lyberty and +the bridle of Lycence let slip vnto Youth, they breede vnto the +same most strong and tedious Bondage, that better it had bene +for youth to haue beene chayned, and closed in obscure Pryson, +than marked wyth those blottes of infamy, which Sutch Lycence +and Lyberty doe conduce. If England doe not by experience see +Maydens of Noble Houses Infamed through to mutch vnbrideled, +and frank maner of Lyfe, and their Parents desolate for sutch +villanyes, and the name of their houses become Fabulous and +Ridiculous to the people: surely that manner of Espiall and +watch ouer Children, may be noted in Nations not very farre +conuening from vs, where men be Ielous of the very Fantasie of +them, whom they think to be indued with great vertues, and of +those that dare with their very Lookes geue attaynt, to behold +their Daughters: but where examples be euident, where all the +World is assured of that which they see by daily experience, +that the fruicts of the disordered, breake out into light, +it behooueth no more to attend the daungerous customes of +Countreyes, to condescend to the sottish Opinions of those, +whych say that youth to narrowly looked vnto, is trayned vp in +sutch grosenesse, and blockishnesse of spyrite, as impossible it +is afterwardes the same shoulde do any thinge prayse worthy. +The Romayne maydens whilom were Cloystered within their Fathers +Pallaces, still at their Mothers Elbowes, and notwithstanding +were so wel brought vp, that those of best ciuility and finest +trained vp in our age, shall not be the seconde to one of the +least perfect in the Citty. But who can learne ciuility and +vertue in these our dayes? our Daughters nousled in companies, +whose mouthes run ouer with Whorish and filthy talke, wyth +behauiour full of Ribauldry, and many fraughted wyth facts lesse +honest than Speach is able to expresse. I doe not pretend +heereby to depriue that sexe of honest and seemely talke, and +company, and leste of exercise amonges the Noble Gentlemen of +our Englyshe Soyle, ne yet of the Liberty receyued from our +Auncestours, only (me thyncke) that requisite it were to +contemplate the manners and inclination of wils, and refrayne +those that be prone to wantonnesse, and by lyke meanes to +reioyce the mindes of them that be bent to heauinesse, deuided +from curtefie and Ciuility, by attendinge of whych choyse, and +considering of that difference, impossible it is but vertue must +shyne more bright in Noble houses than homelynesse in Cabanes of +Pesauntes, and Countrey Carles: who oftentymes better obserue +the Discipline of our Predecessours in education of their +Chyldren, than they which presume to prayse themselues for good +skil in vse and gouernment of that age, more troublesome and +payneful to rule, than any other wythin the compasse of man's +lyfe. Therefore the good and wise Emperour Marcus Aurelius would +not haue his Daughters to be trayned vp in Courts. "For +(quod he) what profit shall the Nurse receyue by learning hir +mayden honesty and vertue, when our workes intice them to +daliaunce and vice, apprehending the folly of those that bee +amorous?" I make this discourse, not that I am so rigorous a +Iudge for our maydens of England, but that I wish them so +reformed, as to see and be seene should be forbidden, as assured +that vertue in what place so euer she be, cannot but open things +that shall fauor of hir excellency. And now to talke of an +Italian Dame, who so long as hir first husband (knowing hir +inclination) kept hir subiect, liued in reputation of a modest +and sober wyfe. Nothing was seene in hir that could defame hir +renoume. But so soone as the shadow of that free captiuity was +made free by the death of hir husband, God knoweth what pageant +she played, and how shee soyled both hir owne reputation, and +the honour of hir second Mate, as yee shall vnderstande if with +pacience yee vouchsafe to reade the discourse of thys present +Hystory. Casal, (as it is not vnknowen) is a Citty of Piedmont, +and subiect to the Marquize of Montferrato, where dwelled one +that was very rich, although of base birth, named Giachomo +Scappardone, who being growne wealthy, more by wicked art, and +vsury, to mutch manifest, than by his owne diligence, toke to +Wife a yong Greeke mayden, which the Marchiones of Montferrato +mother of Marquize Guglielmo, had brought home wyth hir from the +voyage that shee made into Grætia wyth hir husbande, when the +Turkes ouerran the countrey of Macedonia, and seased vpon the +Citty of Modena which is in Morea. Of that mayden Scapperdone +had a Daughter indifferent fayre, and of behauiour liuely and +pleasaunt, called Bianca Maria. The Father dyed wythin a while +after hir birth, as one that was of good yeares, and had bin +greatly turmoyled in getting of riches, whose value amounted +about one Hundred Thousand Crownes. Bianca Maria arriued to the +age of sixteene, or seuenteene yeares, was required of many, +aswell for hir Beauty, Gentlenes, and good grace, as for her +goods, and riches. In the ende she was maried to the Vicecount +Hermes, the Sonne of one of the chiefest Houses in Millan, who +incontinently after the mariage, conueyed hir home to hys house, +leauing his Greeke mother to gouerne the vsuries gotten by hir +dead husband. The Gentleman which amongs two greene, knew one +that was ripe, hauing for a certayne tyme well knowen, and +learned the maners of hys Wyfe, saw that it behooued hym rather +to deale wyth the Bit and brydle than the spur, for that she was +wanton, full of desire, and coueted nothing so mutch as fond and +disordered liberty, and therefore without cruell dealing, +disquiet, or trouble, hee vsed by little and little to keepe hir +in, and cherished hir more than his nature willingly would +suffer, of purpose to holde hir wythin the boundes of duty. And +although the Millan Dames haue almost like lyberties that ours +haue, yet the Lord Hermes kept hir wythin Dores, and suffred hir +to frequent none other house and company, but the Lady Hippolita +Sforcia, who vppon a day demaunded of him wherefore hee kept in +his wyfe so short, and persuaded hym to geue her somewhat more +the Brydle, bicause diuers already murmured of this order, as to +strayte and Frowarde, esteeming hym eyther to be to mutch fond +ouer hir, or else to Jealous. "Madame," sayde the Millanoise, +"they whych at pleasure so speake of me, know not yet the nature +of my Wyfe, who I had rather should be somewhat restrayned, than +run at Rouers to hir dishonour, and my shame. I remember wel +madame the proper saying of Paulus Emilius that notable Romane: +who being demauned wherefore he had put away his Wyfe being a +Gentlewoman so fayre and beautifull. 'O,' quod he and lifted vp +his leg {(}whereupon was a new payre of Buskins) 'yee see this +fayre Buskin, meete and seemely for this Leg to outward +apparance not greeuous or noysome, but in what place it hurteth +me, or where it wringeth yee doe neyther see nor yet feele.{'} +So I, madame, do feele in what place my Hoase doeth hurt and +wring my Legge. I know madame what it is to graunt to so wanton +a dame as my Wyfe is, hir will, and how farre I ought to slip +the rayne: iealous I am not vpon the fayth I beare vnto God, +but I feare what may chaunce vnto me. And by my trouth, madame, +I geeue her Lycence to repayre to you both Day and Nyght, +at whatsoeuer hour you please, being assured of the vertuous +company that haunteth your house: otherwyse my Pallace shall +suffyce hir pleasure for the common ioy of vs both, and +therefore I wish no more talk hereof, least too importunate +suites do offend my nature, and make me thinke that to be true +whych of good will I am loth to suspect, contenting my selfe +with hir Chastity, for feare least to mutch liberty do corrupt +hir." These words were not spoken wythout cause, for the wyse +husband saw wel that sutch beasts, albeit rudely they ought not +to be vsed, yet stifly to be holden short, and not suffred too +mutch to wander at will. And verily his prophecy was to true for +respect of that which followed: who had not bene maried full +VI. yeares, but the Vicecount Hermes departed thys +World, whereof she was very sory bycause she loued him derely, +hauing as yet not tasted the licorous baites of sutch liberty, +as afterwards she drank in gluttonous draughts, when after hir +husband's obsequies, she retired to Montferrato, and then to +Casal to hir Father's house, hir mother being also dead, and she +a lone woman to ioy at pleasure the fruict of hir desires, +bendinge hir only study to gay and trimme Apparell, and imployed +the mornings with the vermilion rud to colour hir cheekes by +greater curiosity than the most shamelesse Curtisan of Rome, +fixing hir eyes vppon ech man, gyring, and laughing with open +mouth, and pleasantly disposed to talk and reason with euery +Gentleman that passed by the streate. This was the way to +attayne the glorious feast of hir triumphant filthines, who wan +the prise aboue the most famous women whych in hir tyme made +profession of those armes, wherewith Venus once dispoyled Mars, +and toke from him the strongest and best steeled armure of all +his furniture. Thinck not fayre maydes, that talk and clattering +with youth is of small regarde. For a Citty is halfe won when +they within demaunde for parle, as loth to indure the Canon +shot. So when the eare of yong Wyfe or mayde is pliant to +lasciuious talk, and deliteth in wanton words, albeit hir +chastity receyue no damage, yet occasion of speach is ministred +to the people, and perchaunce wyth sutch disaduantage, as neuer +after hir good name is recouered. Wherefore needefull it is, +not only to auoyde the effect of euill, but also the least +suspition: for good fame is requisite for the Woman, as honest +lyfe. The great Captain Iulius Cæsar, (which first of al reduced +the common wealth of Rome in fourme of monarchie) beinge once +demaunded wherefore hee hadde refused hys Wyfe before it was +proued that she had offended with Clodius, the night of the +sacrifices done to the Goddesse Bona, answered so wysely as +truely, that the house of Cæsar ought not onely to be voyde of +whordome but of suspition therof. Behold therfore what I haue +sayd, and yet doe say againe, that ye oughte to take greate +heede to youre selues, and to laugh in tyme, not reclinyng your +eares to vncomely talke, but rather to follow the nature of the +Serpent, that stoppeth his eare with his tayle, to auoide the +charms and sorceries of the Enchaunter. Now this Bianca Maria +was sued vnto, and pursued of many at Casall that desired hir to +Wyfe, and amonges the rest two did profer themselues, which were +the Lord Gismondo Gonzaga, the neere kinsman of the Duke of +Mantua, and the Counte of Celant, a great Baron of Sauoy, whose +landes lie in the vale of Agosta. A great pastyme it was to thys +fyne Gentlewoman to feede hir self wyth the Orations of those +two Lordes and a ioye it was to hir, to vse her owne discourse +and aunswers expressinge with right good grace sundry amorous +countenances, intermingling therwithall sighes, sobbes, and +alteration of cheere, that full well it might haue bene sayde, +of loue trickes that shee was the only dame and mistresse. The +Marchyonesse of Montferrato desirous to gratify the Lord of +Mantua his sonne in law, endeuored to induce this wanton Lady to +take for spouse Gismondo Gonzaga, and the sute so well +proceeded, as almost the mariage had bene concluded if the Sauoy +Earle had not come betwixte, and shewed forth his Noblenesse of +minde, when he vnderstode how things did passe, and that another +was ready to beare away the pryse, and recouer his mistresse. +For that cause he came to visit the Lady, who intertayned him +wel, as of custom she did al other. And for that he would not +employe hys tyme in vayne, when he founde hir alone and at +conuenyent leysure, began to preache vnto hir in thys wyse with +sutch countenaunce, as she perceyued the Counte to be far in +loue with hir. + + +_The Oration of the Counte of Celant to his Ladye._ + +"I am in doubt Madame, of whome chiefly I ought to make +complaynt, whether of you, or of my selfe, or rather of fortune +which guideth and bryngeth us together. I see wel that you +receiue some wrong, and that my cause is not very iust, you +taking no regarde vnto my passion which is outragious, and lesse +hearkeninge vnto my request that so many times I haue giuen you +to vnderstand onely grounded vpon the Honest loue I beare you. +But I am besides this more to be accused for suffering an other +to marche so far over my game and soyle, as I haue almost lost +the tracte of the pray after which I most desire, and specially +doe condemne my Fortune, for that I am in daunger to lose the +thyng which I deserue, and you in peryll to passe into that +place where your captiuity shalbe worse than the slaues by the +Portugales condemned to the mines of India. Doeth it not suffise +you that the Lord Hermes closed you vp the space of V. +or VI. yeares in his Chamber, but wil you nedes attempt +the rest of your youthly daies amid the Mantuanes, whose +suspicious heads are ful of hammers working in the same? Better +it were madame, that we approchynge neerer the gallante guise of +Fraunce, should live after the lyberty of that Countrey, than +bee captiue to an Italian house, whych wyll restrain you with +like bondage, as at other tymes you have felt the experience. +Moreover ye see what opinion is like to be conceiued of you, +when it shalbe bruted that for the Marquize feare, you haue +maried the Mantuan Lord. And I know well that you like not to be +esteemed as a pupil, your nature cannot abyde compulsion, you be +free from hir authority, it were no reason you should be +constrained. And not to stay in framing of orations, or stand +vpon discourse of Words, I humbly beseche you to behold the +constant loue I beare you, and being a Gentleman so Wealthy as I +am, none other cause induceth me to make this sute, but your +good grace and bryngynge vp, whych force me to loue you aboue +any other Gentlewoman that liueth. And althoughe I myghte +alleage other reasons to proue my saying, yet referre I my self +to the experience and bounty of youre mynd, and to the equity of +your Iudgement. If my passion were not vehement, and my torment +without comparison, I would wish my fained griefs to be laughed +to scorne, and my dissembled payne rewarded with flouts. But my +loue being sincere and pure, my trauail continuall, and my +griefs endlesse, for pity sake I beseche you madame to consider +my faithfull deserts with your duetiful curtesie, and then shall +you see how mutch I ought to be preferred before them, which +vnder the shadow of other mens puissance, do seke to purchase +power to commaund you: where I do faithfully bynd and tye my +word and deede continually to loue and serue you, wyth promyse +al the dayes of my Lyfe to accomplish your commaundements. +Beholde if it please you what I am, and with what affection I +make mine humble playnt, regard the Messanger, loue it is +himself that holdeth me within your snares, and maketh mee +captyue to your beauty and gallant graces, which haue no piere. +But if you refuse my sute, and cause me breath my words into the +aire, you shalbe accused of cruelty, ye shall see the entier +defaict of a gentleman which loueth you better than loue +himselfe is able to yelde flame and fire to force any wight to +loue mortal creature. But, verily, I beleue the heauens haue +departed in me sutch aboundance, to the intent in louyng you +with vehemence so greate, you may also thinke that it is I which +ought to be the Friend and spouse of that gentle and curteous +Lady Bianca Maria, which alone may cal her self the mistresse of +my Heart." The Ladye whych before was mocked and flouted wyth +the Counte his demaunds, hearing thys laste discourse, and +remembring his first mariage, and the natural iealosie of +Italyans, half wonne, without making other countenance, answered +the Counte in thys manner: "Syr counte, albeyt that I am +obedyente to the wyll and commaundemente of madame the +Marchyonesse, and am loth to dysplease hir, yet wil I not so +farre gage my lybertye, but still reserue one poynt to saye what +reasteth in my thoughte. And what shoulde lette me to chose +sutch one, to whome I shalbe both his life and death? And +whereof beinge once possed, it is impossyble to be rid and +acquited? I assure you, if I feared not the speach and suspition +of malycious mindes, and the venime of slaunderous Tongues, +neuer husband should bryng me more to bondage. And if I thought +that he whom I pretend to chose, would be so cruel to me, as +others whom I know, I would presently refuse mariage for euer. +I thanke you neuerthelesse, both of your aduertisements giuen +me, and of the honor you doe me, your self desiryng to +accomplish that honor by maryage to be celebrated betweene vs. +For the fidelity of which your talke, and the little +dissimulation I see to be in you, I promise you that there is no +gentleman in this countrey to whom I giue more puissance ouer +me, than to you, if I chaunce to mary, and thereof make you so +good assurance, as if it were already done." The Counte seeing +so good an entry would not suffer the tyme to slip, but beating +the Bushes vntill the praye was ready to spryng, replyed: "And +sith you know (madame) what thing is profitable, and what is +hurtfull, and that the benefite of lyberty is so mutch +recommended, why doe you not performe the thinge that may +redounde to your honor? Assure mee then of your word, and +promise me the faith and loyaltie of maryage, then let me alone +to deale wyth the rest, for I hope to attayn the effect without +offense and displeasure of any." And seeing hir to remaine in a +muse without speaking word, he toke hir by the hand and kissing +the same a million of tymes, added these Words: "How now, +madame, be you appalled for so pleasaunt an assault, wherin your +aduersary confesseth himselfe to be vanquished? Courage, madame, +I say courage, and beholde him heere which humbly praieth you to +receiue him for your lawfull husband, and who sweareth vnto you +all sutch amitye and reuerence that husband oweth to hys loyall +spouse." "Ah, syr Counte," sayd she, "and what wyll the Marquize +say, vnto whom I haue wholly referred my self for mariage? shal +not she haue iust occasion to frowne vppon mee, and frowardly to +vse me for little respect I beare vnto hir? God be my witnesse +if I would not that Gonzaga had neuer come into this countrey: +for although I loue him not, yet I haue almost made him a +promyse, which I can not kepe." "And sith there is nothing don," +(said the Sauoy Lord) "what nede you to torment your selfe? wyl +the Marquize wrecke hir tyrannie ouer the will of hir subiectes, +and force Ladyes of hir Lande to marie againste their luste? +I thinke that so wyse a princesse, and so well nurtured, will +not so far forget hir self, as to straine that which God hath +left at lyberty to euerye wight: promise me onely maryage and +leaue me to deale wyth the rest: other thynges shalbe wel +prouided for." Bianca Maria vanquished with that importunity, +and fearing againe to fal into seruytude, hoping that the Counte +would mainteine sutch liberty as he had assured, agreed vnto hym +and plyghted vnto him her faithe, and for the tyme vsed mutuall +promises by wordes respectiuely one to another: and the better +to confirme the fact, and to let the knotte from breakyng, they +bedded themselues togethers. The Counte very ioyfull for that +encountre, yelded sutch good beginning by his countenance, and +by Famyliar and continuall haunte with Bianca Maria, as shortly +after the matter was knowen and came to the Marquesse eares, +that the Daughter of Scappardone had maryed the Counte of +Celant. The good lady albeit that shee was wroth beyond measure, +and willingly would haue ben reuenged vpon the bride, yet hauing +respect to the Counte, which was a noble man of great authority, +swallowed down that pille wythout chewing, and prayed the Lord +Gonzaga not to be offended, who seing the light behauiour of the +Ladie, laughed at the matter, and praysed God for that the thing +was so wel broken off: and he did foresee already what issue +that Comedye would haue, beynge very famylyar for certayne Dayes +in the House of Bianca Maria. Thys maryage then was publyshed, +and the solempnity of the Nuptyals were done very pryncely, +accordyng to the Nobylity of hym whych had maryed hir: but the +augurie and presage was heauy, and the melancholike face of the +season (which was obscured and darkened about the time they +should go to church) declared that the mirth and ioy should not +long continue in the house of the counte, according to the +common saying: _He that loketh not before he leapeth, may +chaunce to stumble before he sleepeth_. For the lord of Celant +being retird home to his valeys of the Sauoy mountains, began to +loke about his businesse, and perceiued that his wife surpassed +al others in light behauiour and vnbrideled desires, whereuppon +hee resolued to take order and stop hir passage before she had +won the field, and that frankly she should goe seke hir ventures +where shee list, if she would not be ruled by his aduise. The +foolish Countesse seeing that hir husband well espied hir fond +and foolysh behauior, and that wisely he went about to remedy +the same, was no whit astonied, or regarded his aduise, but +rather by forging complaints did cast him in the teeth sometymes +with hir riches that she brought him, sometime with those whom +she had refused for his sake, and with whom farre of she liued +lyke a sauage creature amid the mountaine deserts and baren +dales of Sauoy, and tolde him that by no meanes she minded to be +closed and shut vp like a tamelesse beast. The Counte which was +wyse, and would not breake the Ele vppon his knee, prouidently +admonished hir in what wise a Ladye ought to esteeme hir honor, +and how the lightest faults of Noble sorts appeare mortal sinnes +before the world: and that it was not sufficient for a +Gentlewoman to haue hir body chast, if hir speach were not +according, and the minde correspondent to that outward +semblance, and the conseruation agreable to the secret +conceiptes of Mynd: "And I shall be ful sory swete Wife" (sayd +the Counte) "to giue you cause of discontent: for wher you +shalbe vexed and molested, I shall receiue no ioy or pleasure, +you being [such one as ought to be the second my self, +determining] by God's grace to keepe my promise, and vse you +like a wyfe, if so be you regard me with duety semblable: for +reason will not that the head obey the members, if they shew not +themselues to be sutch as depend vpon the health and life of it. +The husband being the Wyue's chiefe, ought to be obeyd in that +which reason forbiddeth: and shee referring hir selfe to the +pleasure of hir head, forceth him to whom she is adioyned, to do +and assay all trauayle and payne for hir sake. Of one thinge I +must needes accuse you, which is, that for trifles you frame +complaynt: for the mynde occupied in folly, lusteth for nothinge +more than vayne things, and those that be of little profite, +specially where the pleasure of the Bodye is onely considered: +where if it follow reason, it dissembleth his griefes with +wordes of wysedome, and in knowing mutch, fayneth +notwithstanding a subtile and honest ignoraunce: but I may bee +mutch deceyued herein, by thinking that a Woman fraught with +fickle Opinions may recline her eares to what so euer thing, +except to that whych deliteth hir mynde, and pleaseth the +desires framed wyth in hir foolyshe fantasie. Let not thys +speach be straunge vnto you, for your woordes vttered without +discretion, make me vse thys language: finally (good madame) you +shall shew your selfe a Wyse and louing wyfe, if by takinge +heede to my requests, you faythfully follow the advise thereof." +The Countesse whych was so fine and malicious as the Earle was +good and wyse, dissembling her griefe, and coueringe the venome +hidden in hir mynde, began so well to play the hypocrite before +hir husbande, and to counterfayte the simple Dame, as albeit he +was right politike, yet he was within hir Snare intrapt, who +flattered him wyth so fayre Wordes, as she won him to goe to +Casal, to visite the lands of hir Inheritaunce. We see whereunto +the intent of this false Woman tended, and what checkmate she +ment to geue both to hir husband, and hir honour: whereby we +know that when a woman is disposed to giue hir selfe to +wickednesse, hir mynde is voyd of no malyce or inuention to sort +to ende any daunger or perill offered vnto hir. The factes of +one Medea (if credite may be gieuen to Poets) and of Phædra, the +Woman of Theseus, wel declare with what beastly zeale they began +and finished their attempts: the eagles flight is not so high, +as the Foolyshe desires, and Conceiptes of a Woman that trusteth +in hir owne opinion, and treadeth out of the tract of duety, and +way of Wysedome. Pardon me, good Ladies, if I speake so largely, +and yet think not that I mean to display any other but sutch, as +forget the degree wherin their Auncestours haue placed them, +and whych digresse from the true path of those that haue +immortalized the memory of themselues, of their husbands, and of +the houses also whereof they came. I am very lothe to take vppon +mee the office of a slaunderer, and no lesse do mean to flatter +those, whom I see to their great shame, offende openly in the +sight of the worlde: but why should I dyssemble that which I +know your selues would not conceyle, yf in conscyence yee were +requyred? It were extreame follye to decke and clothe vice wyth +the holy garment of Vertue, and to call that Curtesie and +Ciuylity, whych is manyfest whoredom and Trechery: let vs terme +ech thyng by his due Name, and not deface that whych of it selfe +is faire and pure: let vs not also staine the renoume of those, +whom their own Vertue do recommende. This gentle Countesse +beeing at Casal, making mutch of hir husbande, and kissing him +with the kisse of treason, and of him being vnfainedly beloued +and cherished, not able to forget his sermons, and mutch lesse +hir own filthy lyfe, seeyng that with hir Counte it was +impossyble for hir to liue and glut her lecherous lust, +determined to runne away and seeke hir aduenture: for the +brynging to passe wherof she had already taken order for money, +the interest wherof growing to hir daily profite at Millan: +and hauynge leuied a good summe of Ducates in hande, vntyll hir +other rents were ready, she fled away in the night in companye +of certayne of hir men which were priuie to her doeings. Hir +retire was to Pauie, a City subiecte to the state and Duchy of +Millan, where she hired a pryncely pallace, and apparelled the +same according to hir estate and Trayne of hir husband, and as +her owne reuenue was able to beare. I leaue for you to thinke +what buzzings entred the Counte's head, by the sodayne flight of +his wife, who would haue sent and gone him selfe after to seke +hir out, and bryng hir home againe, had he not well considered +and wayed his owne profite and aduantage, who knowing that hir +absence would rid out of his head a fardell of suspitions which +he before conceiued, was in the ende resolued to lette hir +alone, and suffer hir remaine in what place so euer she was +retired, and whence hee neuer minded to cal hir home agayne. +"I were a very foole," (said he) "to keepe in my House so +pernicious and fearfull an enimy, as that arrant whore is, who +one day before I beware will cause some of hir ruffians to cut +my throte, besides the Vyolatyon of hir holye Maryage Bed: God +defende that sutch a Strumpet by hir presence should any longer +profane the house of the Lord of Celant, who is well rewarded +and punished for the exessiue loue whych he bare hir: let hir +goe whether shee list, and lyue a God's name at hir ease, I do +content my self in knowing what Women be able to do, wythout +further attempt of fortune or other proofe of hir wycked Lyfe." +He added further, that the honor of so Noble a personage as he +was, depended not upon a woman's mischief: and assure your selfe +the whole race of woman kind was not spared by the Counte, +against whom he then inueyed more through rage than reason, +he considered not the honest sort of women, which deface the +vyllany of those that giue themselues ouer to theyr own lusts, +wythout regarde of modesty and shame, which oughte to be +Famylyar, as it were by a certain Naturall inclynatyon in all +degrees of Women and Maydens. But come we again to Bianca Maria, +holding now hir Courte and open house at Pauie, wher she got so +holy a fame, as mistresse Lais of Corinth did, whose trumprie +was neuer more common in Asia than that of this fayre dame, +almost in euery corner of Italy, and whose conuersation was +sutch as hir frank liberty and famyliar demeanor to ech wyghte, +well witnessed hir horryble Lyfe. True it was that her +reputatyon ther was very smal, and she hired not hir selfe, +ne yet toke pains by setting hir body to sale, but for some +resonable gayne and earnest pain: howbeit she (of whom somtimes +the famous Greke orator would not buy repentaunce for so high a +pryce) was more excessiue in Sale of hir Merchaundyse, but not +more wanton: for she no sooner espyed a comely Gentleman that +was youthly, and well made, but would presently shew him so good +countenance, as he had ben a very foole, that knewe not what +prouender this Colt did neigh: whose shamelesse Gesture +Massalina the Romane princesse dyd neuer surmount, except it +were in that shee visited and haunted common houses: and this +dame vsed hir disports wythin hir owne, the other also receiued +indyfferently Carters, Galleye slaues, and Porters: and thys +halfe Greeke did hir pastyme wyth Noble Men that were braue and +lustye: but in one thing shee well resembled hir, whych was, +that Messalina was soner wearye with trauayle, than she +satisfied with pleasure and the filthy vse of hir body, like +vnto a sink that receyueth al filth, wythout disgorgyng any +throwne into the same: this was the chaste lyfe which that good +Lady led, after she had taken flight from hir husband. Marke now +whether the Milanois that was hir first husbande, were a grosse +headed person or a foole, and whither hee were not learned and +skilful in the science of Phisiognomy, and time for him to make +ready the rods to make hir know hir duety, therwith to correct +hir wanton youth, and to cut of the lusty twigs and proud +sciences that soked the moisture and hart of the stock and +braunches. It chaunced whiles she liued at Pauie, in this good +and honorable port, the Counte of Massino called Ardizzino +Valperga came to the Emperour's service, and therby made hys +abode at Pauie with one of his brothers: the Counte being a +goodly Gentleman young and gallant in apparel, giuen to many +good quallities had but one onely fault, which was a mayme in +one of his legges, by reason of a certain aduenture and blow +receiued in the warres, although the same toke away no part of +his comelinesse and fyne behauyor. The Counte I say, remaining +certayne days at Pauie beheld the beauty and singularity of the +Countesse of Celant, and stayed with sutch deuotion to view and +gaze vpon hir, as manye times he romed vp and down the streate +wherein she dwelt to find meanes to speak vnto hir. His first +talke was but a _Bon iour_: and simple salutation, sutch as +gentlemen commonly vse in company of Ladies, and at the firste +brunte Valperga coulde settle none other iudgement vpon that +Goddesse, but that she was a wise and honest dame, and yet sutch +one as needed not the Emperor's camp to force the place, which +as he thought was not so well flanked and rampired but that a +good man of Armes myght easily winne, and the breache so liuely +and sautable, as any souldier might passe the same: he became so +famyliar with the Lady, and talked with hir so secretly, as vpon +a day being with hir alone, hee courted in this wise: "Were not +I of all men moste blame worthy, and of greatest folly to be +reproued, so long time to be acquainted with a Lady so faire and +curteous as you be, and not to offre my seruice life and goodes +to be disposed where you pleased? I speake not thys, Madame, for +any euil and sinister iudgement that I conceyue of you, for that +I prayse and esteeme you aboue any Gentlewoman that euer I knew +til this day, but rather for that I am so wonderfully attached +with your good graces, as wrong I should doe vnto your honor and +my loyal seruice towards you, if I continued dumbe, and did +conceyle that whych incessantly would consume my heart with +infynyte numbre of ardent desyres, and wast myne intrailes for +the extreame and burning loue I beare you. I do require you to +put no credite in me, if I refuse what it shall please you to +commaund me: wherfore Madame, I humbly besech you to accepte me +for your owne, and to fauor me as sutch one, whych with all +fidelity hopeth to passe hys time in your company." The +Countesse although she knew ful wel that the fire was not so +liuely kindled in the stomacke of the Counte as hee wente aboute +to make hir beleue, and that his wordes were to eloquent, and +countenance to ioyfull for so earnest a louer as hee semed to +be, at thys first incountry: yet for that he was a valiant +Gentleman, yong, lusty, and strongly made, minded to retaine +him, and for a tyme to staye hir stomacke by appeasying hir +gluttonous appetite in matters of loue, with a morsell so +dainty, as was thys Mynion and lustye young Lorde: and when the +Courage of hym began to coole, another shoulde enter the listes. +And therefore she aunswered hym in thys wise: "Although I +(knowying the vse and manners of men, and with what Baits they +Hoke for Ladies, if they take not heede, hauing proued their +malice and little loue,) determined neuer to loue other than +mine affection, ne yet to fauoure Man excepte it bee by shewyng +some Familiar manner to heare theyr talke, and for pastime to +hearken the braue requests of those which say they burne for +loue, in the mids of some delyghtsome brooke. And albeit I think +you no better than other bee, ne more fayhfully, more +affectyonate, or otherwyse moued than the rest, yet I am +contente for respecte of youre honoure, somewhat to beeleue you +and to accepte you for myne owne, sith your dyscretyon is sutch +(I truste) as so Noble a Gentleman as you bee, wyll hym selfe +declare in those Affayres, and when I see the effecte of my hope +succeede, I cannot be so vnkynde, but wyth all honesty shall +assaye to satisfy that your loue." The Countee seeing hir alone, +and receyuing the Ladie's language for his aduantage, and that +hir countenance by alteration of hir minde did ad a certayne +beauty to hir face, and perceyuing a desire in hir that he +should not vse delay, or be to squeimish, she demaunding naught +else but execucion, tooke the present offred time, forgetting +all ceremonies, and reuerence, he embraced hir and kissed hir a +Hundred Thousande tymes. And albeit shee made a certayne simple +and prouoking resistance, yet the louer notinge them to be but +preparatiues for the sport of loue, he strayed from the bounds +of honesty, and threw her vppon a fielde Bed wythin the Chambre, +where hee solaced hymselfe wyth hys long desired suite. And +finding hir worthy to be beloued, and she him a curteous +gentleman, consulted together for continuaunce of their amity, +in sutch wise as the Lorde Ardizzino spake no more but by the +mouth of Bianca Maria, and dyd nothynge but what she commaunded, +being so bewrapped wyth the heauy Mantell of hir Beastly Loue, +as hee still abode nyght and day in the house of his beloued: +whereby the brute was noysed throughout the Citty, and the +songes of their Loue more common in ech Citizen's mouth, than +Stanze or Sonnettes of Petrarch, Played and Fayned vpon the +Gittrone, Lute, or Lyra, more fine and witty than those vnsauery +Ballets that be tuned and chaunted in the mouthes of the common +sort. Beholde an Earle well serued, and dressed by enioying so +false a Woman, which had already falsified the fayth betrouthed +to hir husband, who was more honest, milde, and vertuous than +she deserued. Beholde also, yee Noble Gentlemen, the simplicity +of this good Earle, how it was deceyued by a false and filthy +strumpet, whose stincking lyfe and common vse of body woulde +haue withdrawen ech simple creature from mixture of their owne +wyth sutch a Carrion. A lesson to learne al youth to refrayne +the Whoorishe lookes of lighte conditioned Dames, a number (the +more to be pittied) shewinge foorth themselues to the Portsale +of euery Cheapener, that list demaunde the pryce, the grozenes +whereof before considered, were worthy to be defied and loathed. +This Ladye seeinge her Louer nousled in hir lust, dandled him +with a thousand trumperyes, and made hym holde the Mule, while +other enioyed the secrete sporte which earst hee vsed hymself. +This acquayntance was so dangerous to the Counte, as she hir +selfe was shamelesse to the Counte of Celant: for the one bare +the armes of Cornwall, and became a seconde Acteon, and the +other wickedly led his lyfe, and lost the chiefest of that hee +loked for by the seruice of great Princes, throughe the treason +of an arrante common queane. Whiles this Loue contynued in al +Pleasure and lyke contentation of either parts: fortune that was +ready to mounte the stage, and shew in sight that her mobylytye +was no more stable than a woman's wyll: for vnder sutch habite +and sexe Painters and Poets describe hir) made Ardizzino +suspecte what desire she had of chaunge: and within a while +after, sawe himselfe so farre misliked of his Lady, as though he +had neuer bene acquainted. The cause of which recoile was, for +that the Countesse was not contented with one kind of fare, +whose Eyes were more greedy than hir stomake able to digest, and +aboue al desired chaunge, not seking meanes to finde him that +was worthy to be beloued and intertayned of so great a Lady, as +she esteemed hir selfe to be, and as sutch of their owne opinion +thinke themselues, who counterfaicte more grauitie and +reputation than they doe, whome Nature and vertue for theyr +maiesty and holynes of lyfe make Noble and praise worthy. That +desire deceiued hir nothing at all, for a certaine time after +that Ardizzino possessed the forte of this fayre Countesse, +there came to Pauia, one Roberto Sanseuerino earle of Gaiazzo, +a yong and valiaunte gentleman, whose Countreye lyeth on this +side the Mountaines, and was verye famylyar with the Earle of +Massino. This vnfaythful Alcina and cruel Medea had no soner +cast hir Eye vppon Signor di Gaiazzo, but was pierced with loue +in sutch wise, as if forthwith shee had not attayned hir +desyres, she would haue run mad, bycause that Gentleman bare a +certayne statelye representatyon in hys Face, and promysed sutch +dexteritie in hys deedes, as sodaynly she thought him to be the +man that was able to staunch hir filthy thurst. And therfore so +gently as she could, gave ouer hir Ardizzino, with whom she +vtterly refused to speake, and shunned hys company when she saw +him, and by shutting the gates agaynst him: the Noble man was +notable to forbeare from throwing forth some words of choler, +wherby she tooke occasion both to expell him, and also to beare +hym sutch displeasure, as then she conspired his death, as +afterwards you shall perceyue. This greate hatred was the cause +that she fell in loue as you haue harde wyth the Counte of +Gaiazzo, who shewed vnto him all signe of Amitye, and seeing +that hee made no greate sute vnto hir, she wrote vnto him in +this manner. + + + _The Letter of Bianca Marie, to the Counte of Gaiazzo._ + +Sir, I doubt not by knowing the state of my degree, but that ye +blush to see the violence of my mynd, which passing the limites +of modesty, that ought to guard sutch a Lady as I am, forceth me +(vncertayn of the cause) to doe you vnderstand the gryef that +doeth torment me, which is of sutch constraynt, as if of +curtesie ye do not vouchsafe to come vnto me, you shall commyt +two faults, the one leauing the thing worthy for you to loue and +regard, and which deserueth not to be cast of, the other in +causing the Death of hir, that for Loue of you, is bereft of +rest: wherby loue hath uery little in me to sease vpon, either +of heart or liberty. The ease of which gryef proceedeth from +your only grace, which is able to vanquyshe hir, whose +victorious hap hath conquered all other, and who attending your +resolut aunswer, shal rest vnder the mercifull refuge of hope, +whych deceiuing hir, shal se by that very meanes the wretched +end of hir that is al your owne. + + Bianca Maria Countesse of Celant. + +The yong Lorde mutch maruelled at this message, were it for that +already hee was in loue with hir, and that for loue of his +friend Ardizzino, durst not be known therof, or for that he +feared she wold be straught of wits, if she were despised, he +determined to goe vnto hir, and yet stayed thinking it not to be +the part of a faythfull companyon to deceiue his Friend: but in +the end pleasure surmounting reason, and the beauty ioyned wyth +the good grace of the Lady hauing blinded him, and bewitched his +wits so wel as Ardizzino, he toke his way towards hir house, +who waited for him wyth good deuotion, whither being arriued, he +failed not to vse like spech that Valperga did, either of them +(after certain reuerences and other fewe words) minding and +desyringe one kinde of intertaynement. This practize dured +certayn months, and the Countesse was so farre rapt with her new +louer, as she only employed hir self to please him, and he +shewed himself so affected as therby she thought to rule and +gouerne him in all things: wherof she was afterwards deceiued as +you shall vnderstand the maner. Ardizzino seing himself wholly +abandoned the presence and loue of his Lady, knowing that she +railed vpon him in al places where she came, departed Pauia +halfe out of his wittes for Anger, and so strayed from comely +ordyr by reason of his rage, as hee displayed the Countesse thre +times more liuely in hir colours, than she could be paynted, +and reproued hir wyth the termes of the vilest and moste common +strumpet that euer ran at rouers, or shot at random. Bianca +Maria vnderstode hereof, and was aduertised of the vile report +that Ardizzino spread of hir, throughout Lombardie, which +chaffed hir in sutch wyse as she fared like the Bedlem fury, +ceasing night nor day to playne the vnkindnes and folly of hir +reiected louer: somtimes saying, that she had iust cause so to +do, then flattering hir selfe, alledged, that men were made of +purpose to suffer sutch follyes as were wroughte by hir, and +where they termed themselues to bee Women's Seruauntes, they +ought at theyr Mystresse Handes to endure what pleased them. +In the end, not able any longer to restrayne hir choler, ne +vanquish the appetite of reuenge, purposed at all aduenture to +prouide for the death of her auncient Enimy, and that by meanes +of him whom she had now tangled in her Nettes. See the +vnshamefastnesse of this mastife bitche, and the rage of that +Female Tiger, howe shee goeth about to arme one friend against +an other, and was not content onely to abuse the Counte Gaiazzo, +but deuised how to make him the manqueller. And as one night +they were in the middest of their embracements, she began +pitifully to weepe and sigh, in sutch wise as a man would haue +thought (by the vexation of hir hearte) that the soule and body +would haue parted. The younge Lorde louingly enquired the cause +of hir heauinesse: and sayd vnto hir, that if any had done hir +displeasure, hee would reuenge hir cause to hir contentment. +She hearing him say so, (then in studie vpon the deuice of hir +Enimie's death) spake to the Counte in this manner: "You know +sir, that the thing whych moste tormenteth the Gentle heart and +minde that can abide no wronge, is defamation of honoure and +infamous reporte. Thus mutch I say for that the Lord of Massino, +(who to say the trouth, was fauoured of me in like sorte as you +be now) hath not been ashamed to publishe open slaunders agaynst +me, as thoughe I were the arrantest Whore that euer had giuen +her self ouer to the Galley slaues alongs the shore of Scicile. +If he had vaunted the fauour which I haue done him but to +certayne of his privat Friendes, I had incurred no slaunder at +all, mutch lesse any lyttle suspition, but hearyng the common +reportes, the wrongfull Woordes and wycked brutes that he hath +raysed on me: I beseech you syr, to do me reason that he may +feele his offence and the smart for his committed fault against +hir that is al yours." The Lord Sanseuerino hearyng this +discourse, promised hir to do hys best, and to teache Valperga +to talke more soberly of hir, whom he was not worthy for to +serue, but in thought. Notwithstandyng, he sayde more than he +ment to do, for he knew Ardizzino to be so honest, sage and +curteous a personage, as hee would neyther doe nor say any thing +without good cause, and that Ardizzino had iuster quarell +agaynst him, by takyng that from hym whych hee loued (althoughe +it was after his discontinuance from that place, and vpon the +onely request of hir.) Thus he concluded in mind styl to remayne +the fryend of Ardizzino, and yet to spend his time with the +Countesse, which he did the space of certayn months without +quarelling with Valperga, that was retired to Pauie, with whom +he was conuersant, and liued familiarly, and most commonly vsed +one table and bed togither. Bianca Maria seeing that the Lord of +Gaiazzo cared not mutch for hir, but onely for his pleasure, +determined to vse like practise against him, as she did to hir +former louer, and to banish him from hir House. So that when he +came to see hir, either she was sicke, or hir affaires were +sutch, as she could not kepe hym company: or else hir gate was +shut vpon him. In the end (playing double or quit) she prayed +the sayd Lord to shewe hir sutch pleasure and friendship, as to +come no more vnto hir, bicause she was in termes to goe home to +hir husband the Counte of Celant, who had sent for hir, and +feared least his seruaunts shoulde finde her house ful of +suters, alleaging that she had liued long inoughe in that most +sinful life, the lighest faultes whereof were to heynous for +dames of hir port and calling, concluding that so long as she +lyued she would beare him good affection for the Honest Company +and conuersation had betwene them, and for hys curtesie towards +hir. The yong Earle, were it that he gaue creadit vnto hir tale +or not, made as though he did beleue the same, and without +longer dyscourse, forbare approche vnto hir house, and droue out +of his heade al the Amorous affection which he caried to the +Piedmont Circes. And to the ende he might haue no cause to +thinke vpon hir, or that his presence should make hym slaue +againe to hir that first pursued him, he retired in good time to +Millan: by which retire hee avoided that mishap, wherwith at +length this Pestilent women would haue cut him ouer the shinnes, +euen when his mind was least theron. Such was the malice and +mischief of hir heart, who ceasing to play the whore, applied +hir whole pastime to murder. Gaiazzo being departed from Pauie, +thys Venus once agayne assayed the embracements of hir +Ardizzino, and knew not wel how to recouer hym agayne, bycause +she feared that the other had discouered the Enterpryse of his +Murder. But what dare not shee attempte whose mynde is slaue to +sinne? The first assayes be harde, and the minde doubtfull, and +conscience gnaweth vpon the worme of repentaunce, but the same +once nousled in vice, and rooted in the heart, it is more +pleasaunte, and gladsome for the wicked to execute, than vertue +is familiar to those that follow hir: So that shame separate +from before the eyes of youth, riper age noursed in impudency, +their sight is so daseled, as they can see nothing that eyther +shame or feare can make them blush, which was the cause that +this Lady, continuinge still in hir mischiefe, so mutch +practised the freendes of hym whom she desired to kill, and made +sutch fit excuse by hir Ambassades, as hee was content to speake +to hir, and to here hir Iustifications, whych were easy inough +to doe, the Iudge being not very guilty. Shee promised and swore +that if the fault were proued not to be in him, neuer man should +see Bianca Maria, (so long as she lyued) to be other than a +friend and slaue to the Lord Ardizzino, wholly submitting +hirselfe vnto his will and pleasure. See how peace was +capitulated betweene the two reconciled Louers, and what were +the articles of the same, the Lorde of Massino entringe +Possession agayne of the fort that was reuolted, and was long +tyme in the power of another. But when he was seazed agayne, the +Lady saw full wel, that hir recouered friend was not so hard to +please, as the other was, and that wyth him she liued at greater +liberty. Continuing then their amorous Daunce, and Ardizzino +hauing no more care but to reioyce himselfe, nor hys Lady, but +to cherishe and make mutch of hir friend, beholde eftsoones the +desire of Bloud and wyll of murder, newly reuiued in that new +Megera, who incited (I knowe not with what rage,) fansied to +haue him slayne, whych refused to kill hym, whom at this present +shee loued as hirselfe. And he that had inquired the cause +thereof, I thyncke none other reason coulde he rendred, but that +a braynelesse heade and reasonlesse minde, doe thincke most +notable murders, and myschiefe be easie to be brought to passe, +who so strangely proceeded in disordred Lustes, which in fine +caused their myserable shame, and ruine, wyth the death of +hirselfe and hym, whom she had stirred to the fact, boldeninge +him by persuasion, to make him beleue Vyce to bee Vertue, and +Gloriously commended hym in hys follies, whych you shall heare +by readinge at lengthe the discourse of thys Hystory. Bianca +Maria, seeing hirselfe in full possession of hir Ardizzino, +purposed to make hym chiefe executioner of the murder, by hir +intended, vpon Gaiazzo, for the doing whereof one night holdinge +hym betwene hir armes, after shee had long time dalyed with hym, +like a cunninge Maistresse of hir Art, in the ende weauinge and +trayning hir treason at large, she sayd thus vnto him: "Syr, of +long time I haue bene desirous to require a good turne at your +hands, but fearing to trouble you, and thereupon to be denied, +I thought not to be importunate: and albeit the matter toucheth +you, yet did I rather holde my peace then to here refusall of a +thinge, which your selfe ought to profer, the same concerning +you." "Madame," sayd hir Louer, "you know the matter neede to be +haynous and of great importaunce, that I should deny you, +specially if it concerne the bleamish of your honor. But you say +the same doth touch mee somewhat neerely, and therefore if +ability be in me, spare not to vtter it, and I wyll assay your +satisfaction to the vttermost of my power." "Syr," sayd she, +"is the Counte of Gaiazzo one of your very frends?" "I thinke" +(aunswered Valperga) "that he is one of the surest freends I +haue, and in respect of whose frendship, I will hazarde my selfe +for him no lesse than for my Brother, being certaine that if I +have neede of him, he will not fayle to do the like for me. But +wherefore doe you aske me that question?" "I will then tel you," +sayd the Traytresse (kissing him so sweetely as euer he felt the +like of any Woman,) "for somutch as you be so deceyued of your +opinion in him who is wicked in dissembling of that, which +maliciously lieth hidden in hys heart. And briefly to say the +effect: assure your selfe hee is the greatest and most mortall +Ennimy that you haue in the Worlde. And to the intent that you +do not think this to be some forged Tale, of light inuention, or +that I heard the report of some not worthy of credit, I will say +nothinge but that whych hymselfe did tell me, when in your +absence he vsed my company. He sware vnto me, without +declaration of the cause, that hee coulde neuer bee mery, nor +hys mynde in rest, before hee saw you cut in pieces, and shortly +woulde giue you sutch assaulte, as al the dayes of our lyfe, +you shoulde neuer haue lust or mynde on Ladies loue. And albeit +then, I was in choler agaynst you, and that you had ministred +some cause, and reason of hatred, yet our first loue had taken +sutch force in my hart, and I besought him not to do that +enterprise so long as I was in place where you did remayne, +because I cannot abide (wythout present death) to see your +finger ake, mutch lesse your lyfe berieued from you. Vnto which +my sute his Eare was deafe, swearing still and protesting that +either he would be slayne himselfe, or else dispatch the Countee +Ardizzino. I durst not" (quod she) "ne wel could as then +aduertise you thereof, for the smal accesse that my seruants had +vnto your lodging, but now I pray you to take good heede by +preuenting his diuelishe purpose: For better it were for you to +take his lyfe, than he to kill and murder you, or otherwyse work +you mischiefe, and you shal be esteemed the wiser man, and he +pronounced a traytor to seeke the death of him, that bare him +sutch good will. Doe then accordinge to myne aduice, and before +he begin, doe you kill hym, by the which you shall saue your +selfe, and doe the part of a valyaunt knight, bisides, the +satisfying of the mynde of hir that aboue al pleasures of the +World doth chiefly desire the same. Experience now will let me +proue whether you loue me or not, and what you will do for hir +that loueth you so dearly, who openeth this conspired murder, +aswell for your safety, as for lengthening of the lyfe of hir, +which wythout yours cannot endure: graunt this my sute (O friend +most deare) and suffer me not in sorrowfull plight to be +despoyled of thy presence: and wilt thou suffer that I shoulde +dy, and that yonder Proude, Trayterous, and vnfaythfull varlet +should liue to laugh mee to scorne?" If the Lady had not added +those last words to hir foolish sermon, perchaunce she might +haue prouoked Ardizzino to folow hir Counsell: but seeing hir so +obstinately continue hir request, and to prosecute the same with +sutch violence, concluding vpon hir owne quarrel, his conscience +throbbed, and his minde measured the malice of that Woman, with +the honesty of him, against whom that tale was told, who knew +his frend to be so sound and trusty, as willingly he would not +do the thinge that should offend him, and therefore would geue +no credit to false report without good, and apparant proofe: +for which cause hee was persuaded that it was a malicious tale +deuised by some that went about to sowe debate betweene those +two friendly earles. Notwithstanding, vpon further pause, and +not to make hir chafe, or force hir into rage, he promised the +execution of hir cursed wil, thanking hir for hir aduertisement, +and that he would prouide for hys defence and surety: and to the +intent that shee might thyncke he went about to performe his +promise, he tooke his leaue of hir to goe to Millan, which hee +did, not to follow the abhominable will of that rauenous +Mastife, but to reueale the matter to his companion, and direct +the same as it deserued. Being arriued at Millan, the chiefe +Citty of Lombardy, he imparted to Gaiazzo from poynct to poynct +the discourse of the Countesse, and the peticion shee made vnto +hym, vppon the conclusion of hir Tale: "O God" (sayd the lord +Sanseuerino,) "who can beware the traps of Whoores, if by thy +grace our hands be not forbidden, and our hearts and thoughts +guided by thy goodnes? Is it possible that the Earth can breede +a Monster more pernicious than this most Pestilent Beast? Thys +is truely the grift of hir Father's vsury, and the stench of all +hir Predecessours villanyes: it is impossible of a Kyte or +Cormerant to make a good Sparhauk, or Tercle gentle. This carion +no doubt is the Daughter of a Vilayne, sprong of the basest race +amongs the common people, whose mother was more fine than +chaste, more subtile than sober: this minion hath forsaken hir +husband, to erect bloudy Skaffoldes of murder amid the Nobles of +Italy: and were it not for the dishonour which I should get to +soyle my hands in the bloude of a Beast so corrupt, I woulde +teare hir with my Teeth in a hundreth Thousand peeces: how many +times hath she entreated mee before: in how many sundry sortes +with ioyned handes hath she besought mee to kill the Lorde +Ardizzino? Ah, my Companion, and right well beloued Freende, can +you thincke mee to bee so Trayterous, and Cowarde a Knaue, as +that I dare not tell to them to whome I beare displeasure what +mallice lurketh in my heart?" "By the fayth of a Gentleman," +(sayd Ardizzino,) "I would be sory my mynd should seaze on sutch +Folly, but I am come to reueale thys vnto you, that the Song +might sound no more wythin myne eares. It behoueth vs then, sith +God hath kept vs hytherto, to avoyde the ayre of that infection, +that our braynes be not putrified, and from henceforth to fly +those Bloudsuckers, the Schollers of Venus: and truely great +dishonour would redound to vs, to kill one an other for the +onely pastime and sottish fansie of that mynion: I haue repented +me an hundred times when she first mooued mee of the deuice to +kill you, that I did not geeue a hundred Poignaladoes wyth my +Dagger, to stop the way by that example for all other to attempt +sutch Butcheries: for I am well assured that the mallyce whych +shee beareth you, proceedeth but of the delay you made for +satisfaction of hir murderous desire, whereof I thancke you, and +yelde my selfe in all causes to imploy my lyfe, and that I haue, +to do you seruice." "Leaue we of that talk" (sayd Gaiazzo) "for +I haue done but my duety, and that which ech Noble heart ought +to euery wight, doing wrong to none, but prone to help, and doe +good to all: whych is the true marke and Badge of Nobility. +Touching that malignant Strumpet, hir owne lyfe shall reuenge +the wrongs which she hath gone about to venge on vs. In meane +while let vs reioyce, and thincke the goods, and richesse shee +hath gotten of vs, wil not cause hir Bagges mutch to Strout and +Swel. To be short, she hath nothing whereby she may greatly +laugh vs to scorne, except our good entertainment of hir night +and day do prouoke hir: let other coyne the pence henceforth to +fill her Coafers, for of vs (so farre as I see) she is +deceyued." Thus the two Lordes passed forth their tyme, and in +all Companies where they came, they spent their Talke, and +Communication of the disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant. +The whole Citty also rang of the sleights and meanes she vsed to +trappe the Noblemen, and of her pollicies to be rid of them when +her thirst was stanched, or diet grew lothesome for want of +chaunge. And that whych greued hir most, an Italyan Epigram +blased forth hir prowes to hir great dishonour, whereof the Copy +I cannot get, and some say that Ardizzino was the author: for it +was composed, when he was dispossessed of pacience: and if shee +coulde haue wreked hir will on the knights, I beleeue in hir +rage she would haue made an Anathomy of their Bones. Of whych +hir two enimies, Ardizzino was the greatest, agaynst whom hir +displeasure was the more, for that he was the first with whom +she entred skirmish. Nothing was more frequent in Pauy, than +villanous Iests, and Playes vppon the filthy Behauiour of the +Countesse, which made hir ashamed to goe out of hir Gates. In +the ende shee purposed to chaunge the Ayre and place, hoping by +that alteration to stay the Infamous Brute, and Slaunder: so she +came to Millan, where first she was inuested wyth state of +honour, in honest Fame of Chaste lyfe so longe as Vicount Hermes +liued, and then was not pursued to staunch the thirst of those +that did ordinarily draw at hir Fountayne. About the tyme that +she departed from Pauy, Dom Pietro de Cardone a Scicilian, the +Bastard Brother of the Counte of Colisano, whose Lieuetenaunt he +was, and their father slayn at the Battayle of Bicocca wyth a +band of horsemen arriued at Milan. This Scicilian was about the +age of one or two and twenty yeres, somwhat black of face, +but well made and sterne of countenance: whiles the Countesse +soiorned at Milan, this gentleman fell in loue with hir, and +searched all meanes he coulde to make hir hys friende, and to +enioy hir: who perceyuing him to be young, and a Nouice in +Skirmishes of Loue, lyke a Pigeon of the first coate, determined +to lure him, and to serue hir turne in that which shee purposed +to doe on those agaynst whom shee was outragiously offended. Now +the better to entice thys younge Lorde vnto her Fantasye, and to +catch hym wyth hir bayte, when hee passed through the Streate, +and saluted hir, and when he Syghed after the manner of the +Spaniard, rominge before hys Lady, shee shewed him an +indifferent mery Countenaunce, and sodaynely restrayned that +Cheere, to make hym taste the pleasure mingled with the soure of +one desire, which he could not tel how to accomplish: and the +more faynt was his hardines for that he was neuer practised in +the daliance and seruice of Lady of noble house or calling, +who thincking that the Gentlewoman was one of the Principall of +Millan, he was straungely vexed, and tormented for hir loue, in +sutch wyse as in the night he could not rest for fantasing, and +thynking vpon hir, and in the Day passed up and downe before the +Doore of her lodging. One eueninge for his disport hee went +forth to walke in company of another Gentleman, which well could +play vppon the Lute, and desired him to gieue awake vnto hys +Lady, that then for iealousie was harkeninge at hir window, both +of the sounde of the Instrument, and the Ditty of hir amorous +Knight, where the Gentleman song thys Sonet. + + The death with trenchant dart, doth brede in brest sutch il, + As I cannot forget the smart, that thereby riseth stil. + Yet neerthelesse I am, the ill it selfe in deede, + That death with daily dolours deepe, within my breast doth breede. + + I am my Mistresse thrall, and yet I doe not kno, + If she beare me good will at all, or if she loue or no. + My wound is made so large, with bitter wo in brest, + That still my heart prepares a place to lodge a carefull guest. + + O dame that hath my lyfe and death at thy desire. + Come ease my mind, wher fancies flames doth burne like Ethna fire, + For wanting thee my life is death and doleful cheere, + And finding fauor in thy sight, my dayes are happy heere. + +Then he began to sigh so terribly, as if already she had geuen +sentence, and difinitiue Iudgement of his farewell, and disputed +with his fellow in sutch sort, and wyth Opinion so assured of +hys contempt, as if he had bene in loue with some one of the +Infants of Spayne: for which cause he began very pitifully to +sing these verses. + + That God that made my soule, and knows what I haue felt, + Who causeth sighes and sorows oft, the sely soule to swelt, + Doth see my torments now, and what I suffer still, + And vnderstands I tast mo griefs, than I can shew by skill. + + Hee doth consent I wot, to my ill hap and woe, + And hath accorded with the dame that is my pleasaunt foe, + To make my boyling brest abound in bitter blisse, + And so bereue me of my rest, when heart his hope shall misse. + + O what are not the songs, and sighs that louers haue, + When night and day with sweete desires, they draw vnto their graue, + Their grief by frendship growes, where ruth nor pity raynes, + And so like snow against the Sun, they melt away with pains. + + My dayes must finish so, my destny hath it set, + And as the candle out I goe, before hir grace I get. + Before my sute be heard, my seruice throughly knowne, + I shalbe layd in Toumbe ful low, so colde as Marble stone. + + To thee fayre Dame I cry, that makes my senses arre, + And plantest peace within my brest and then makes sodain war: + Yet at thy pleasure still, thou must my sowre make sweete, + In graunting me the fauour due, for faythfull Louers meete. + + Which fauor geue me now, and to thy Noble mynde, + I doe remayne a Galley slaue, as thou by proofe shall finde. + And so thou shalt release my heart from cruell bandes, + And haue his fredome at thy wil that yelds into thy handes. + + So rendring all to thee, the gods may ioyne vs both + Within one lawe and league of loue, through force of constant troth. + Then shalt thou mistresse be, of lyfe, of Limme and all, + My goods, my golde, and honour, loe! shall so be at thy call. + +Thys gentle order of loue greatly pleased the Lady, and +therefore opened hir gate to let the Scicilian lorde, who seeing +hymselfe fauoured (beyond all hope) of his Lady, and cheerefully +intertayned, and welcommed with great curtesie stoode so still +astonnied, as if hee had beene fallen from the Cloudes: but she +which coulde teache hym good manner, to make hym the minister of +hir myschiefe, takynge hym by the hande, made hym sit downe vpon +a greene Bed besydes hir, and seeing that he was not yet +imboldened, for all hee was a Souldiour, shee shewed hir selfe +more hardy than hee, and firste assayled hym wyth talke, +sayinge: "Syr, I praye you thinke it not straunge, if at thys +houre of the nyght, I am bolde to cause you enter my house, +beinge of no great acquayntaunce wyth you, but by hearinge your +curteous salutations: and wee of thys Countrey bee somewhat more +at liberty than they in those partes from whence you come: +besides it lyketh mee well (as I am able) to honour straunge +gentlemen, and to retayne theym with right good willinge heart, +sith it pleaseth theym to honour mee wyth repayre vnto my house: +so shall you be welcome styll when you please to knocke at my +Gate, whych at all tymes I wyll to be opened for you, wyth no +lesse good wyll than if yee were my naturall Brother, the same +wyth all the thinges therein, it may please you to dispose as if +they were your own." Dom Pietro of Cardonne well satisfied, and +contented wyth thys vnlooked for kyndnesse, thanked her very +Curteously, humbly praying hir besides to dayne it in good +parte, if he were so bolde to make requeste of loue, and that it +was the onelye thynge which hee aboue all other desyred moste, +so that if shee would receiue him for hir friende and Seruaunt, +shee shoulde vnderstande him to be a Gentleman, which lightly +woulde promise nothing excepte the accomplishment did followe: +she that sawe a greater onset than she loked for, answered hym +smilyng with a very good grace: "Sir, I haue knowne very many +that haue vouched slipperie promyses, and proffered lordly +seruices vnto Ladies, the effect wherof if I myght once see, +I would not thinke that they coulde vanishe so soone, and +consume like smoake." "Madame" (sayde the Scicilian) "yf I fayle +in any thing which you commaunde mee, I praye to God neuer to +receiue any fauor or grace of those Curtesies whych I craue." +"If then" (quod shee) "you wyl promise to employ your selfe +aboute a businesse that I haue to do when I make request, I wyll +also to accept you for a friende, and graunt sutch secrecie as a +faithful louer can desyre of his Lady." Dom Pietro which would +have offred hym selfe in Sacrifice for hir, not knowyng hir +demaunde, tooke an othe, and promysed hir so lyghtly as madly +afterwardes he did put the same in proofe. Beholde the +preparatiues of the obsequies of their first loue, and the +guages of a bloudie Bed: the one was prodigall of hir honoure, +the other the tormente of his reputation, and neglected the +duety and honor of his state, which the house wherof he came, +commaunded hym to kepe. Thus all the nyght he remained with +Bianca Maria, who made him so wel to like hir good entertaynment +and imbracementes, as he neuer was out of her Company. And the +warie Circes fayned her self so fare in loue wyth hym, and vsed +so many toyes and gametricks of her filthy science, as he not +onelye esteemed hym selfe the happiest Gentleman of Scicilia, +but the most fortunate wight of all the Worlde, and by bibbing +of hir Wyne was so straungely charmed with the Pleasures of his +fayre Mystresse, as for hir sake he would haue taken vpon him +the whole ouerthrowe of Milan, so well as Blose of Cumes to +sette the Cittye of Rome on fire, if Tyberius Gracchus the +sedicious, woulde haue giuen it him in charge. Sutch is the +manner of wilde and foolish youth, whych suffreth it selfe to be +caried beyonde the boundes of reason. The same in time past did +ouerthrow many Realmes, and caused the chaunge of diuers +Monarchies: and truely vnseemely it is for a man to be subdued +to the will of a common strumpet. And as it is vncomly to submit +him selfe to sutch one, so not requisite to an honest and +vertuous Dame, his maried Wyfe. Which vnmanly deedes, be +occasions that diuers Foolishe Women commit sutch filthy factes, +with their inspekable trumperies begiling the simple man, and +perchance through to mutch losing the Bridle raynes to the +lawfull Wyfe, the poore man is strangely deceyued by some +adulterous varlet, whych at the Wyue's commaundment, when she +seeth oportunity, wil not shrinke to hazarde the honour of them +both, in sutch wise as they serue for an example vppon a common +Scaffold to a whole generation and Posterity. I wyll not seeke +farre of for examples, being satisfied with the folly of the +Bastard Cardonne, to please the cruelty and malice of that +infernall fury the Countesse, who hauinge lulled, flattered, +and bewitched with hir louetricks (and peraduenture with some +charmed drinke) her new Pigeon, seeinge it time to solicite his +promise, to be reuenged of those, whych thought no more of hir +conspiracies and trayterous deuises, and also when the time was +come for punishinge of hir whoredome, and chastising of the +breach of fayth made to hir husbande, and of hir intended +murders, and some of them put in execution, she I say, desirous +to see the ende of that, which in thought she had contryued, +vppon a day tooke Dom Pietro aside, and secretly began this +Oration: "I take God to witnes (sir) that the request which I +pretend presently to make, proceedeth of desire rather that the +Worlde may know how iustly I seeke meanes to mayntayne myne +honour, than for desire of reuenge, knowinge very well, that +there is nothing so precious, and deere vnto a woman, as the +preseruation of that inestimable Iewell, specially in a Lady of +that honourable degre whych I mayntayne amonge the best. And to +the intent I seeme not tedious with prolixity of words, or vse +other than direct circumstances before him that hath offred iust +reuenge for the wrongs I haue receyued: knowe you sir, that for +a certain tyme I continued at Pauie, kepynge a house and Trayne +so honest, as the best Lords were contented wyth myne ordinarye. +It chaunced that two honest Gentlemen of Noble House haunted my +Palace in lyke sort, and with the same intertainment whych as +you see, I doe receiue ech Gentleman, who beyng well intreated +and honoured of me, in the ende forgat themselues so farre, as +without respect of my state and callinge, wythout regard of the +race and family wherof they come, haue attempted the slaunder of +my good name, and vtter subuersion of my renoume: and sufficient +it was not for them thus to deale with mee poore Gentlewoman, +without desert (excepte it were for admyttyng them to haue +accesse vnto my house) but also to continue their Blasphemies, +to myne extreame reproach and shame: and howe true the same is, +they that know me can well declare, by reason whereof, the +vulgar people prone and ready to wycked reportes, haue conceiued +sutch opynion of me, as for that they see me braue and fine in +Apparell, and specyally throughe the slaunderous speache of +those gallantes, do deeme and repute me for a common Whoore, +wherof I craue none other wytnesse than your selfe and my +conscience. And I sweare vnto you, that sith I came to Milan, it +is you alone that hath vanquished, and made the Triumphe of my +Chastytye: and yf you were absent from this Citye, I assure you +on my fayth that I would not tarry heere XXIIII. houres. These +infamous ruffians I say, these persecuters and termagantes of my +good name, haue chased mee out of all good Cityes, and made me +to be abhorred of ech honest company, that weary I am of my +lyfe, and lothe to lyue any longer except spedye redresse bee +had for reuengement of thys wronge: wherefore except I finde +some Noble Champion and Valyaunte Personage to requyte these +Vyllains for their spitefull Speach blased on me in euerye +Corner of Towne and Countreye, and to paye them theyr rewarde +and hire that I may lyue at Lybertye and quyet, Sorrowe wyll +eyther consume mee or myne owne handes shall hasten spedye +Death." And in speakyng those Woordes, shee beganne to weepe +with sutch abundance of teares streaming downe hir Cheekes and +Necke of Alabaster hewe, as the Scicilian whych almost had none +other God but the Countesse, sayd vnto hir: "And what is he, +that dare molest and slaunder hir that hath in hir puissaunce so +many Souldiers and men of Warre? I make a vow to God, that if I +know the names of those two arrant villaynes, the which haue so +defamed my Mystresse name, the whole worlde shall not saue their +liues, whose carrion Bodies I will hew into so many gobbets, as +they haue members vpon the same: wherefore Madame" (sayd he, +imbracing her) "I pray you to grieue your selfe no more, commit +your wronges to me, only tell me the names of those Gallaunts, +and afterwards you shall vnderstande what difference I make of +woorde and deede, and if I doe not trimme and dresse theym so +finely, as hereafter they shall haue no neede of Barber, neuer +trust me any more." Shee, as reuiued from death to lyfe, kyssed +and embraced him a thousand tymes, thankinge hym for his good +will, and offering him all that she had. In the ende she tolde +him that hir enimies were the counties of Massino and Gaiazzo, +which but by theyr deaths alone were not able to amend and +repayre hir honour. "Care not you" (sayde hee) "for before that +the Sunne shall spreade his Beames twice 24 houres vpon the +earth, you shall heare newes, and know what I am able to do for +the chastisement of those deuils." As he promised, hee fayled +not to do: for wythin a whyle after as Ardizzino was goinge to +supper into the Citty, he was espyed by hym, that had in company +attendaunt vppon hym fyue and twenty men of Armes, which waited +for Ardizzino, in a Lane on the left hand of the Streate called +Merauegli, leading towards the church of Sainct Iames, through +which the Countee must needes passe. Who as he was going very +pleasantly disposed with his brother, and 5 or 6 of his men, was +immediately assayled on euery side, and not knowinge what it +ment, would haue fled, but the Wayes, and Passages were stopped +rounde aboute: to defende himselfe it auayled not hauing but +their single Swords, and amid the troupe of sutch a bande that +were throughly armed, which in a moment had murdred, and cut in +peeces all that company. And although it was late, yet the +Countie Ardizzino many times named Dom Pietro, which caused hym +to be taken, and imprisoned by the Duke of Bourbon, that was +fled out of Fraunce, and then was Lieutenaunt for the Emperour +Charles the fifth in Milan. Whosoeuer was astonned and amazed +with that Imprisonment, it is to bee thoughte that the Scicilan +was not greatly at his ease and quiet, who needed no torments to +force him confesse the fact, for of his owne accorde voluntarily +he dysclosed the same, but he sayde he was prouoked thervnto by +the persuasion of Bianca Maria telling the whole discourse as +you haue heard before. She had already intelligence of this +chaunce, and might haue fled and saued hir selfe before the fact +(by the confession of Dom Pietro) had ben discouered, and +attended in some secrete place till that stormie time had bene +calmed and appeased. But God which is a rightfull iudge woulde +not suffer hir wickednesse stretch any further, sith she hauing +found out sutch a nimble and wilful executioner, the Countee of +Gaiazzo could not long haue remained aliue, who then in good +time and happy houre was absent out of the City. So soone as Dom +Pietro had accused the Countesse, the Lord of Bourbon sente her +to pryson, and being examined, confessed the whole matter, +trustinge that hir infinite numbre of Crownes woulde haue +corrupted the Duke, or those that represented his person. But +hir Crownes and Lyfe passed all one way. For the day after hir +imprisonment shee was condempned to lose hir heade: and in the +meane time Dom Pietro was saued, by the diligence and suite of +the Captaynes, and was employed in other Warres, to whom the +Duke gaue him, for that he was lothe to lose so notable a +Souldiour, the very right hand of his Brother the Countee of +Colisano. The Countesse hauing sentence pronounced vppon hir, +but trusting for pardon, would not prepare hir selfe to dy, ne +yet by any meanes craue forgiuenes of hir faults at the hands of +God, vntil she was conueyed out of the Castell, and ledde to the +common place of execution, where a Scaffolde was prepared for +hir to play the last Acte of thys Tragedy. Then the miserable +Lady began to know hirselfe, and to confesse hir faults before +the people, deuoutly praying God, not to haue regard to hir +demerites, ne yet to determine his wrath agaynst hir, or enter +with hir in iudgement, for so mutch as if the same were decreed +accordinge to hir iniquity, no saluation was to be looked for. +She besought the people to pray for hir, and the countee of +Gaiazzo that was absent, to pardon hir malice, and treason which +she had deuised agaynst him. Thus miserably and repentantly dyed +the Countesse, which in hir lyfe refused not to imbrace and +follow any wickednes, no mischiefe shee accompted euill done, so +the same were imployed for hir pleasure and pastime. A goodly +example truely for the youth of our present time, sith the most +part indifferently do launch into the gulfe of disordred lyfe, +suffring themselues to bee plunged in the puddles of their owne +vayne conceiptes, without consideration of the mischieues that +may ensue. If the Lord of Cardonne had not bene beloued of his +generall, into what calamity had he fallen for yeldinge himselfe +a pray to that bloudy Woman who had more regarde to the light, +and wilfull fansie of hir, whom he serued like a slaue, than to +his duety and estimation? And truely all sutch be voyde of their +right wits, which thincke themselues beloued of a Whoore. For +their amity endureth no longer than they sucke from their +pursses and bodies any profit or pleasure. And because almost +euery day semblable examples be seene, I will leaue of this +discourse, to take me to a matter, not farre more pleasaunt than +this, although founded vpon better grounde, and stablished upon +loue, the first onset of lawfull mariage, the successe whereof +chaunced to murderous ende, and yet the same intended by neyther +of the beloued: as you shall be iudge by the continuance of +reading of the history ensuing. Beare with me good Ladyes (for +of you alone I craue this pardon) for introducing the Whoorish +lyfe of the Countesse, and hir bloudy enterprise: bicause I know +right wel, that recitall of murders, and bloudy facts wearieth +the mindes of those that loue to lyue at rest, and wish for +fayre weather after the troublesome stormes of raging Seas, no +lesse than the Pilote and wise Mariner, hauing long time endured +and cut the perillous straicts of the Ocean Sea. And albeit the +corruption of our nature be so great, as follies delighte vs +more than ernest matters fraught wyth reason and wisedome, yet I +thinke not that our mindes be so peruerted and diuided from +trouth, but sometimes wee care and seeke to speake more grauely +than the countrey Hynde, or more soberly than they, whose lyues +do beare the marke of infamy, and be to euery wight notorious +for the onely name of their vocation. Suffiseth vs that an +Hystory, be it neuer so full of sporte and pleasure, do bring +with it instruction of our lyfe, and amendement of our maners. +And wee ought not to be so curious or scrupulous, to reiect +merry and pleasant deuises that be voide of harmeful talke, or +wythout sutch glee as may hynder the education of Youth +procliue, and ready to choose that is corrupt, and naught. The +very bookes of holy scriptures doe describe vnto vs persons that +bee vicious, and so detestable as nothing more, whose factes +vnto the simple may seeme vnseemely, vpon the least recitall of +the same. And shall wee therefore reiect the readinge, and +eschue those holy bookes? God forbid, but with diligence to +beware, that we do not resemble those that be remembred there +for example, forsomutch as speedely after sinne, ensueth +grieuous, and as sodayne punishment. For which cause I haue +selected these Historyes, of purpose to aduertise Youth, how +they that follow the way of damnable iniquity, fayle not shortly +after their great offences, and execution of their outragious +vices, to feele the iust and mighty hand of God, who guerdoneth +the good for their good works and deedes, and rewardeth the euil +for their wickednes and mischiefe. Now turne we then to the +Hystory of two, the rarest Louers that euer were, the +performaunce, and finishinge whereof, had it bene so prosperous +as the beginning, they had ioyed ioyfully the Fruicts of their +intent, and two noble houses of one City reconciled to +perpetuall frendship. + + + + +THE TWENTY-FIFTH NOUELL. + + _The goodly Hystory of the true, and constant Loue between + Rhomeo and Ivlietta, the one of whom died of Poyson, and the + other of sorrow, and heuinesse: wherein be comprysed many + aduentures of Loue, and other deuises touchinge the same._ + + +I am sure that they which measure the Greatnesse of Goddes +worked accordinge to the capacity of their Rude, and simple +vnderstandinge, wyll not lightly adhibite credite vnto thys +History, so wel for the variety of straunge Accidents which be +therein described, as for the nouelty of so rare, and perfect +amity. But they that haue read Plinie, Valerius Maximus, +Plutarche, and diuers other Writers, do finde, that in olde time +a great number of Men and Women haue died, some of excessiue +ioy, some of ouermutch sorrow, and some of other passions: and +amongs the same, Loue is not the least, whych when it seazeth +vppon any kynde and gentle subiect, and findeth no resistaunce +to serue for a rampart to stay the violence of his course, by +little and little vndermineth, melteth and consumeth the vertues +of naturall powers in sutch wyse as the spyrite yealdinge to the +burden, abandoneth the place of lyfe: which is verified by the +pitifull, and infortunate death of two Louers that surrendered +their last Breath in one Toumbe at Verona a Citty of Italy, +wherein repose yet to thys day (with great maruell) the Bones, +and remnauntes of their late louing bodies: an hystory no lesse +wonderfull than true. If then perticular affection which of good +right euery man ought to beare to the place where he was borne, +doe not deceyue those that trauayle, I thincke they will +confesse wyth me, that few Citties in Italy, can surpasse the +sayd Citty of Verona, aswell for the Nauigable riuer called +Adissa, which passeth almost through the midst of the same, and +thereby a great trafique into Almayne, as also for the prospect +towards the Fertile Mountaynes, and pleasant valeys whych do +enuiron the same, with a great number of very clere and lyuely +fountaynes, that serue for the ease and commodity of the place. +Omittinge (bisides many other singularities) foure Bridges, +and an infinite number of other honourable Antiquities dayly +apparaunt vnto those, that be to curious to viewe and looke vpon +them. Which places I haue somewhat touched, bicause thys most +true History which I purpose hereafter to recite, dependeth +thereupon, the memory whereof to thys day is so wel known at +Verona, as vnneths their blubbred Eyes be yet dry, that saw and +beheld that lamentable sight. When the Senior Escala was Lord of +Verona, there were two families in the Citty, of farre greater +fame than the rest, aswell for riches as Nobility: the one +called the Montesches, and the other the Capellets: but lyke as +most commonly there is discorde amongs theym which be of +semblable degree in honour, euen so there hapned a certayne +enmity betweene them: and for so mutch as the beginning thereof +was vnlawfull, and of ill foundation, so lykewyse in processe of +time it kindled to sutch flame, as by diuers and sundry deuyses +practised on both sides, many lost their lyues. The Lord +Bartholmew of Escala, (of whom we haue already spoken) being +Lord of Verona, and seeing sutch disorder in his common weale, +assayed diuers and sundry waies to reconcile those two houses, +but all in vayne: for their hatred had taken sutch roote, as the +same could not be moderated by any wyse counsell or good aduice: +betweene whom no other thing could be accorded, but geuing ouer +Armour, and Weapon for the time, attending some other season +more conuenient, and wyth better leysure to appease the rest. +In the time that these thinges were adoing, one of the family of +Montesches called Rhomeo, of the age of 20 or 21. yeares, the +comliest and best conditioned Gentleman that was amonges the +Veronian youth, fell in loue with a yong Gentlewoman of Verona, +and in few dayes was attached with hir Beauty, and good +behauiour, as he abandoned all other affaires and busines, to +serue and honour hir: and after many Letters, Ambassades, and +presents, he determined in the ende to speake vnto hir, and to +disclose hys passions, which he did without any other practise. +But she which was vertuously brought vp, knew how to make him so +good answer to cut of his amorous affections, as he had no lust +after that time to returne any more, and shewed hir self so +austere, and sharpe of Speach, as she vouchsafed not with one +looke to behold him. But how mutch the young Gentleman saw hir +whist, and silent, the more he was inflamed: and after he had +continued certayne months in that seruice wythout remedy of his +griefe, he determined in the ende to depart Verona, for proofe +if by chaunge of the place he might alter his affection, saying +to himselfe: "What do I meane to loue one that is so vnkinde, +and thus doth disdayn me: I am all hir owne, and yet she flieth +from me. I can no longer liue, except hir presence I doe enioy: +and she hath no contented mynde, but when she is furthest from +me: I will then from henceforth Estraunge my selfe from hir, for +it may so come to passe by not beholding hir, that thys fire in +me which taketh increase and nourishment by hir fayre Eyes, +by little and little may dy and quench." But minding to put in +proose what he thought, at one instant hee was reduced to the +contrary, who not knowing whereupon to resolue, passed dayes and +nights in marueilous Playnts, and Lamentations: for Loue vexed +him so neare, and had so well fixed the Gentlewoman's Beauty +within the Bowels of his heart, and mynde, as not able to +resist, hee faynted with the charge, and consumed by little and +little as the Snow agaynst the Sunne: whereof hys parenttes, +and kinred did maruayle greatly, bewaylinge hys misfortune, but +aboue all other one of hys Companyons of riper Age, and Counsell +than hee, began sharpely to rebuke him: for the loue that he +bare him was so great as hee felt hys Martirdome, and was +pertaker of hys passion: which caused him by ofte viewyng his +friend's disquietnesse in amorous panges, to say thus vnto him: +"Rhomeo, I maruell mutch that thou spendest the best time of +thine age, in pursute of a thing, from which thou seest thy self +despised and banished, wythout respecte either to thy prodigall +dispense, to thine honor, to thy teares, or to thy myserable +lyfe, which be able to moue the most constant to pity: wherefore +I pray thee for the Loue of our auncient amity, and for thyne +health sake, that thou wilt learn to be thine owne man, and not +to alyenat thy lyberty to any so ingrate as she is: for so farre +as I coniecture by things that are passed betwene you, either +she is in loue wyth some other, or else determineth neuer to +loue any. Thou arte yong, rich in goods and fortune, and more +excellent in beauty than any Gentleman in thys Cyty: thou art +well learned, and the onely sonne of the house wherof thou +commest: what gryef would it bee to thy poore olde Father and +other thy parentes, to see the so drowned in this dongeon of +Vyce, specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather to put +them in some Hope of thy Vertue? begyn then from henceforth to +acknowledge thyne error, wherein thou hast hitherto lyued, doe +away that amorous vaile or couerture whych blyndeth thyne Eyes +and letteth thee to folow the ryghte path, wherein thine +auncestors haue walked: or else if thou do feele thy self so +subiect to thyne owne wyll, yelde thy hearte to some other +place, and chose some Mistresse accordyng to thy worthynesse, +and henceforth doe not sow thy Paynes in a Soyle so barrayne +whereof thou reapest no Fruycte: the tyme approcheth when al the +Dames of the Cyty shal assemble, where thou mayst behold sutch +one as shall make thee forget thy former gryefs." Thys younge +Gentleman attentyuely hearyng all the persuadyng reasons of hys +fryend, began somewhat to moderate that heate and to acknowledge +all the exhortatyons which hee had made to be directed to good +purpose: and then determined to put them in proofe, and to be +present indifferently at al the feasts and assemblies of the +City, without bearing affection more to one Woman than to an +other: and continued in thys manner of Lyfe, II. or III. +monthes, thinking by that meanes to quench the sparks of +auncient flames. It chaunced then within few dayes after, about +the feast of Chrystmasse, when feasts and bankets most commonly +be vsed, and maskes accordinge to the custome frequented, that +Anthonie Capellet being the Chief of that Familye, and one of +the principall Lords of the City too, made a banket, and for the +better Solempnization thereof, inuited all the Noble men and +dames, to which Feast resorted the most part of the youth of +Verona. The family of the Capellets (as we haue declared in the +beginninge of thys Hystory) was at variance with the Montesches, +which was the cause that none of that family repaired to that +Banket, but onelye the yong Gentleman Rhomeo, who came in a +maske after supper with certaine other yong Gentlemen: and after +they had remained a certayne space with their visards on, at +length they did put of the same, and Rhomeo very shamefast, +withdrew himself into a Corner of the Hall: but by reason of the +light of the Torches which burned very bright, he was by and by +knowen and loked vpon of the whole Company, but specially of the +Ladies, for besides his Natiue Beauty wherewyth Nature had +adorned him, they maruelled at his audacity how hee durst +presume to enter so secretly into the House of that Famyllye +which had litle cause to do him any good. Notwithstanding, the +Capellets dissembling their mallice, either for the honor of the +company, or else for respect of his Age, did not misuse him +eyther in Worde or Deede: by meanes whereof wyth free liberty he +behelde and viewed the Ladies at hys Pleasure, which hee dyd so +well, and wyth grace so good, as there was none but did very +well lyke the presence of his person: and after he had +particularly giuen Iudgement vppon the excellency of each one, +according to his affection, hee sawe one Gentlewoman amonges the +reste of surpassinge Beautye who (althoughe hee had neuer seene +hir tofore) pleased him aboue the rest, and attributed vnto hir +in heart the Chyefest place for all perfection in Beautye: and +feastyng hir incessantlye with piteous lookes, the Loue whych +hee bare to his first Gentlewoman, was ouercomen with this newe +fire, that toke sutch norishment and vigor in his hart, as he +was not able neuer to quench the same but by Death onely: as you +may vnderstande by one of the strangest discourses, that euer +any mortal man deuised. The yong Rhomeo then felying himselfe +thus tossed wyth thys newe Tempest, could not tell what +countenaunce to vse, but was so surprised and chaunged with +these last flames, as he had almost forgotten himselfe, in sutch +wise as he had not audacity to enquyre what she was, and wholly +bente himself to feede hys Eyes with hir sighte, wherewyth he +moystened the sweete amorous venome, which dyd so empoyson him, +as hee ended hys Dayes with a kinde of most cruell death. The +Gentlewoman that dydde put Rhomeo to sutch payne was called +Iulietta, and was the Daughter of Capellet, the mayster of the +house wher that assembly was, who as hir Eyes did rolle and +wander too and fro, by chaunce espied Rhomeo, which vnto hir +seemed to be the goodliest personage that euer shee sawe: and +Loue (which lay in wayte neuer vntill that time,) assayling the +tender heart of that yong Gentlewoman, touched hir so at the +quicke, as for any resistance she coulde make, was not able to +defende his forces, and then began to set at naught the +royalties of the feast, and felt no pleasure in hir heart, but +when she had a glimpse by throwing or receiuing some sight or +looke of Rhomeo. And after they had contented eche others +troubled heart with millions of amorous lookes which oftentimes +interchangeably encountred and met together, the burning Beames +gaue sufficient testimony of loue's priuy onsettes. Loue hauing +made the heartes breache of those two louers, as they two sought +meanes to speake together, Fortune offered them a very meete and +apt occasion. A certayne Lord of that troupe and companye tooke +Iulietta by the Hande to Daunce, wherein shee behaued hir selfe +so well, and wyth so excellent grace, as shee wanne that Daye +the prise of Honour from all the Damosels of Verona. Rhomeo +hauynge foreseene the place wherevnto shee mynded to retire, +approched the same, and so dyscretelye vsed the matter, as hee +founde the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir: Iulietta +when the daunce was finished, returned to the very place where +she was set before, and was placed betwene Rhomeo and an other +gentleman called Mercutio, which was a courtlyke Gentleman, very +well be loued of all men, and by reason of his pleasaunt and +curteous behauior was in euery company wel intertayned. Mercutio +that was of audacity among Maydens, as a Lyon is among Lambes, +seazed incontynently vpon the hande of Iulietta, whose hands +wontedly were so cold both in Wynter and Sommer as the Mountayne +yce, although the fire's heat did warm the same. Rhomeo whych +sat vppon the left side of Iulietta, seynge that Mercutio held +hir by the right hand, toke hir by the other that he myght not +be deceiued of his purpose, and strayning the same a little, he +felt himself so prest wyth that newe fauor, as he remayned mute, +not able to aunswer: but she perceyuyng by his chaunge of color, +that the fault proceded of the vehemence of loue, desyryng to +speake vnto hym, turned hir selfe towards hym, and wyth +tremblyng voyce ioyned with virginal shamefastnesse, intermedled +with a certayn bashfulnesse, sayd to hym: "Blessed be the houre +of your neare approche:" but mynding to procede in further +talke, loue had so closed vp hir mouth, as she was not able to +end hir Tale. Wherunto the yong Gentleman all rauished with ioy +and contentation, sighing, asked hir what was the cause of that +ryght fortunate blessing: Iulietta, somwhat more emboldened with +pytyful loke and smyling countenance, said vnto him: "Syr, do +not maruell yf I do blesse your comminge hither, bicause sir +Mercutio a good tyme wyth frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine, +and you of your curtesy haue warmed the same agayne." Wherunto +immediatly Rhomeo replyed: "Madame, if the heauens haue ben so +fauorable to employe me to do you some agreeable seruice, being +repaired hither by chance amongs other Gentlemen, I esteeme the +same well bestowed, crauying no greater benefite for +satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this World, +than to serue obey and honor you so long as my lyfe doth last, +as experience shall yeld more ample proofe when it shall please +you to geue further assaye: moreouer, if you haue receiued any +Heat by touche of my Hand, you may be well assured that those +flames be dead in respect of the lyuely Sparkes and violent fire +which sorteth from you fayre Eyes, which fire hath so fiercely +inflamed all the most sensible parts of my body, as if I be not +succored by the fauoure of your good graces, I do attend the +time to be consumed to dust." Scarse had he made an ende of +those last words but the daunce of the Torche was at an end: +whereby Iulietta, which wholly burnt in loue, straightly +claspyng her Hand with hys, had no leysure to make other +aunswer, but softly thus to say: "My deare frend, I know not +what other assured wytnesse you desire of loue, but that I let +you vnderstand that you be no more your own, than I am yours, +beying ready and dysposed to obey you so farre as honour shal +permyt, beseechying you for the present tyme to content your +selfe wyth thys aunswere, vntyll some other season meeter to +Commvnicate more secretly of our affaires." Rhomeo seeing +himselfe pressed to part of the Company, and for that hee knew +not by what meanes he myght see hir agayne that was hys Life and +Death, demaunded of one of his friends what shee was, who made +aunswer that she was the Daughter of Capellet, the Lord of the +house, and Mayster of that daye's feast (who wroth beyonde +measure that Fortune had sent him to so daungerous a place, +thought it impossible to bring to end his enterprise begon.) +Iulietta couetous on the other side, to know what yong Gentleman +he was which had so curteously intertayned hir that Nyght, and +of whome shee felt the new wound in hir heart, called an olde +Gentlewoman of honor which had nursed hir and brought her vp, +vnto whom she sayd leaning vpon hir shoulder: "Mother, what two +young Gentlemen be they which first goe forth with the two +Torches before them." Vnto whome the old Gentlewoman told the +name of the houses wherof they came. Then she asked hir againe, +what young gentleman that was which holdeth the visarde in his +hand, wyth the damaske cloke about him. "It is" (quod she) +"Romeo Montesche, the sonne of youre Father's capytall Enimye +and deadly foe to all your kinne." But the Mayden at the onely +Name of Montesche was altogyther amazed, despayrynge for euer to +attayne to husband hir great affectyoned fryend Rhomeo, for the +auncyent hatreds betweene those two Families. Neuerthelesse she +knewe so well how to dissemble hir grief and discontented Minde, +as the olde Gentlewoman perceiued nothing, who then began to +persuade hir to retire into hir Chamber: whom she obeyed, and +being in bed, thinking to take hir wonted rest, a great tempest +of diuers thoughtes began to enuiron and trouble hir Mynde, in +sutch wyse as shee was not able to close hir Eyes, but turninge +heere and there, fantasied diuers things in hir thought, +sometimes purposed to cut of the whole attempte of that amorous +practise, sometimes to continue the same. Thus was the poor +pucell vexed with two contraries, the one comforted hir to +pursue hir intent, the other proposed the immynente Perill +wherevnto vndyscretly she headlong threwe hir self: and after +she had wandred of long time in this amorous Laberinth, she knew +not whereuppon to resolue, but wept incessantly, and accused hir +selfe, saying: "Ah, Caitife and myserable Creature, from whence +do rise these vnaccustomed Trauayles which I feele in Mynde, +prouokynge mee to loose my reste: but infortunate wretch, what +doe I know if that yong Gentleman doe loue mee as hee sayeth. +It may be vnder the vaile of sugred woordes he goeth about to +steale away mine honore, to be reuenged of my Parentes whych +haue offended his, and by that meanes to my euerlastinge +reproche to make me the fable of the Verona people." Afterwardes +sodainly as she condempned that which she suspected in the +beginning, sayd: "Is it possible that vnder sutch beautye and +rare comelynesse, dysloyaltye and treason may haue theyr Syedge +and Lodgynge? If it bee true that the Face is the faythfull +Messanger of the Mynde's Conceypte, I may bee assured that hee +doeth loue mee: for I marked so many chaunged Colours in his +Face in time of his talke with me, and sawe him so transported +and besides himselfe, as I cannot wyshe any other more certayne +lucke of Loue, wherein I wyll persyst immutable to the laste +gaspe of Lyfe, to the intente I may haue hym to bee my husband: +for it maye so come to passe, as this newe aliaunce shall +engender a perpetuall peace and Amity betweene hys House and +mine." Arrestinge then vppon this determynation styll, as she +saw Rhomeo passinge before hir Father's Gate, she shewed hir +selfe with merry countenance, and followed him so with loke of +Eye, vntill she had lost his sight. And continuing this manner +of Lyfe for certaine Dayes, Rhomeo not able to content himself +with lookes, daily did behold and marke the situation of the +house, and one day amongs others hee espied Iulietta at hir +Chamber Window, bounding vpon a narrow Lane, ryght ouer against +which Chamber he had a Gardein which was the cause that Rhomeo +fearing discouery of their loue, began the day time to passe no +more before the Gate, but so soone as the Night with his browne +Mantell had couered the Earth, hee walked alone vp and downe +that little streat: and after he had bene there many times, +missing the chiefest cause of his comming, Iulietta impacient of +hir euill, one night repaired to hir window, and perceiued +throughe the bryghtnesse of the Moone hir friend Rhomeo vnder +hir window, no lesse attended for, than hee hymselfe was +waighting. Then she secretly with Teares in hir Eyes, and wyth +voyce interrupted by sighes, sayd: "Signior Rhomeo, me thinke +that you hazarde your person to mutch, and commyt the same into +great Daunger at thys time of the Nyght, to protrude your self +to the Mercy of them which meane you little good. Who yf they +had taken would haue cut you in pieces, and mine honor (which I +esteme dearer than my lyfe,) hindred and suspected for euer" +"Madame" aunswered Rhomeo, "my Lyfe is in the Hand of God, who +only can dispose the same: howbeyt yf any Man had soughte menes +to beryeue mee of my Lyfe, I should (in the presence of you) +haue made him knowen what mine ability had ben to defend the +same. Notwythstandyng Lyfe is not so deare, and of sutch +estimation wyth me, but that I coulde vouchsafe to sacryfice the +same for your sake: and althoughe my myshappe had bene so +greate, as to bee dyspatched in that Place, yet had I no cause +to be sorrye therefore, excepte it had bene by losynge the +meanes, and way how to make you vnderstande the good wyll and +duety which I beare you, desyrynge not to conserue the same for +anye commodytye that I hope to haue thereby, nor for anye other +respecte, but onelye to Loue, Serue, and Honor you, so long as +breath shal remaine in me." So soone as he had made an end of +his talke, loue and pity began to seaze vpon the heart of +Iulietta, and leaning hir head vpon hir hand, hauing hir face +all besprent wyth teares, she said vnto Rhomeo: "Syr Rhomeo, +I pray you not to renue that grief agayne: for the onely Memory +of sutch inconuenyence, maketh me to counterpoyse betwene death +and Lyfe, my heart being so vnited with yours, as you cannot +receyue the least Iniury in this world, wherein I shall not be +so great a Partaker as your self: beseechyng you for conclusion, +that if you desire your owne health and mine, to declare vnto me +in fewe Wordes what youre determynation is to attaine: for if +you couetany other secrete thing at my Handes, more than myne +Honoure can well allowe, you are maruelously deceiued: but if +your desire be godly, and that the frendship which you protest +to beare mee, be founded vppon Vertue, and to bee concluded by +Maryage, receiuing me for your wyfe and lawfull Spouse, you +shall haue sutch part in me, as whereof without any regard to +the obedience and reuerence that I owe to my Parentes, or to the +auncient Enimity of oure Famylyes, I wyll make you the onely +Lord and Mayster [ouer me], and of all the thyngys that I +possesse, being prest and ready in all poyntes to folow your +commaundement: but if your intent be otherwyse, and thinke to +reape the Fruycte of my Virginity, vnder pretense of wanton +Amity, you be greatly deceiued, and doe pray you to auoide and +suffer me from henceforth to lyue and rest amongs myne equals." +Rhomeo whych looked for none other thyng, holding vp his Handes +to the Heauens, wyth incredible ioy and contentation, aunswered: +"Madame, for so mutch as it hath pleased you to doe me that +honour to accepte me for sutch a one, I accorde and consent to +your request, and doe offer vnto you the best part of my heart, +which shall remayn with you for guage and sure testimony of my +saying, vntill sutch tyme as God shall giue me leaue to make you +the entier owner and possessor of the same. And to the intent I +may begyn myn enterpryse, to morrow I will to the Frier Laurence +for counsell in the same, who besides that he is my ghostly +father is accustomed to giue me instruction in al my other +secret affaires, and fayle not (if you please) to meete me +agayne in this place at this very hour, to the intent I may giue +you to vnderstand the deuice betwene him and me." Which she +lyked very well, and ended their talke for that time. Rhomeo +receyuing none other fauour at hir hands for that night, but +only Wordes. Thys Fryer Laurence, of whom hereafter wee shall +make more ample mention, was an auncient Doctor of Diuinity, of +the order of the Fryers Minors, who besides the happy profession +which he had made in study of holy writ, was very skilful in +Philosophy, and a great searcher of nature's Secrets, and +exceeding famous in Magike knowledge, and other hidden and +secret sciences, which nothing diminished his reputation, +bicause hee did not abuse the same. And this Frier through his +vertue and piety, had so well won the citizens hearts of Verona, +as he was almost the Confessor to them all, and of all men +generally reuerenced and beloued: and many tymes for his great +prudence was called by the lords of the Citty, to the hearing of +their weighty causes. And amonges other he was greatly fauored +by the Lorde of Escale, that tyme the principall gouernor of +Verona, and of all the Family of Montesches, and of the +Capellets, and of many other. The young Rhomeo (as we haue +already declared) from his tender age, bare a certayne +particuler amity to Frier Laurence, and departed to him his +secrets, by meanes whereof so soone as he was gone from +Iulietta, went strayght to the Fryers Franciscians, where from +poinct to poinct he discoursed the successe of his loue to that +good father, and the conclusion of mariage betwene him and +Iulietta, adding vpon the ende of talke, that hee woulde rather +choose shamefull death, than to fayle hir of his promise. To +whom the good Frier after he had debated diuers matters, and +proposed al the inconueniences of that secret mariage, exhorted +hym to more mature deliberation of the same: notwithstandinge, +all the alleged persuasions were not able to reuoke his promyse. +Wherefore the Frier vanquished with his stubbornesse, and also +forecasting in his mynde that the mariage might be some meanes +of reconciliation of those two houses, in th'end agreed to his +request, intreating him, that he myght haue one dayes respit for +leysure to excogitate what was best to be done. But if Rhomeo +for his part was carefull to prouide for his affayres, Iulietta +lykewise did her indeuour. For seeing that shee had none about +her to whom she might discouer her passions, shee deuised to +impart the whole to hir Nurse which lay in her Chamber, +appoyncted to wayte vppon hir, to whom she committed the intier +secrets of the loue between Rhomeo and hir. And although the +olde Woman in the beginninge resisted Iulietta hir intent, yet +in the ende she knew so wel how to persuade and win hir, that +she promised in all that she was able to do, to be at hir +commaundement. And then she sent hir with all diligence to +speake to Rhomeo, and to know of him by what meanes they might +be maried, and that he would do hir to vnderstand the +determination betwene Fryer Laurence and him. Whom Rhomeo +aunswered, how the first day wherein he had informed Fryer +Laurence of the matter, the sayde Fryer deferred aunswere vntil +the next, which was the very same, and that it was not past one +houre sithens he returned with finall resolution, and that Frier +Laurence and he had deuised, that she the Saterday following, +should craue leaue of hir mother to go to confession, and to +repayre to the Church of Saynct Francis, where in a certayne +Chappell secretly they should be maried, praying hir in any wyse +not to fayle to be there. Which thinge she brought to passe with +sutch discretion, as hir mother agreed to hir request: and +accompanied onely wyth hir gouernesse, and a young mayden, she +repayred thither at the determined day and tyme. And so soone as +she was entred the Church, she called for the good Doctor Fryer +Laurence, vnto whom answere was made that he was in the shriuing +Chappell, and forthwith aduertisement was gieuen him of hir +comming. So soone as Fryer Laurence was certified of Iulietta, +hee went into the body of the Church, and willed the olde Woman +and yong mayden to go heare seruice, and that when hee had heard +the confession of Iulietta, he would send for them agayn. +Iulietta beinge entred a little Cell wyth Frier Laurence, he +shut fast the dore as he was wont to do, where Rhomeo and he had +bin together shut fast in, the space of one whole hour before. +Then Frier Laurence after that he had shriued them, sayd to +Iulietta: "Daughter, as Rhomeo here present hath certified me, +you be agreed, and contented to take him to husband, and he +likewise you for his Espouse and Wyfe. Do you now still persist +and continue in that mynde?" The Louers aunswered that they +desired none other thing. The Fryer seeing theyr conformed and +agreeable willes, after he had discoursed somewhat vppon the +commendation of mariage dignity, pronounced the vsuall woordes +of the Church, and she hauing receyued the Ring from Rhomeo, +they rose vp before the Fryer, who sayd vnto them: "If you haue +any other thing to conferre together, do the same wyth speede: +for I purpose that Rhomeo shall goe from hence so secretly as he +can." Rhomeo sory to goe from Iulietta sayde secretly vnto hir, +that shee should send vnto hym after diner the old Woman, and +that he would cause to be made a corded Ladder the same euening, +thereby to climbe vp to her Chamber window, where at more +leisure they would deuise of their affaires. Things determined +betwene them, either of them retyred to their house with +incredible contentation, attendinge the happy houre for +consummation of their mariage. When Rhomeo was come home to his +house, he declared wholly what had passed betwen him and +Iulietta, vnto a Seruaunt of his called Pietro, whose fidelity +he had so greatly tryed, as he durst haue trusted him with hys +life, and commaunded hym wyth expedition to prouide a Ladder of +Cordes wyth 2 strong Hookes of Iron fastned to both endes, which +he easily did, because they were mutch vsed in Italy. Iulietta +did not forget in the Euening about fiue of the Clocke, to send +the olde Woman to Rhomeo, who hauing prepared all things +necessary, caused the Ladder to be deliuered vnto her, and +prayed hir to require Iulietta the same euening not to fayle to +bee at the accustomed place. But if this Iorney seemed long to +these two passioned Louers, let other Iudge, that haue at other +tymes assayed the lyke: for euery minute of an houre seemed to +them a Thousande yeares, so that if they had power to commaund +the Heauens (as Iosua did the Sunne) the Earth had incontinently +bene shadowed wyth darkest Cloudes. The apoyncted houre come, +Rhomeo put on the most sumptuous apparell hee had, and conducted +by good fortune neere to the place where his heart tooke lyfe, +was so fully determined of hys purpose, as easily hee clymed vp +the Garden wall. Beinge arriued hard to the wyndow, he perceyued +Iulietta, who had already so well fastned the Ladder to draw him +vp, as without any daunger at all, he entred hir chambre, which +was so clere as the day, by reason of the Tapers of virgin Wax, +which Iulietta had caused to be lighted, that she might the +better beholde hir Rhomeo. Iulietta for hir part, was but in hir +night kerchief: who so soon as she perceyued him colled him +about the Neck, and after shee had kissed and rekissed hym a +million of times, began to imbrace hym betwene hir armes, hauing +no power to speake vnto him, but by Sighes onely, holding hir +mouth close against his, and being in this traunce beheld him +with pitifull eye, which made him to liue and die together. +And afterwards somewhat come to hir selfe, she sayd with sighes +deepely fetched from the bottom of hir heart. "Ah Rhomeo, the +exampler of al vertue and gentlenes, most hartely welcome to +this place, wherein for your lacke, and absence, and for feare +of your person, I haue gushed forth so many Teares as the spring +is almost dry: but now that I hold you betwen my armes, let +death and fortune doe what they list. For I count my selfe more +than satisfied of all my sorrowes past, by the fauour alone of +your presence." Whom Rhomeo with weeping eye, giuing ouer +silence aunswered: "Madame, for somutch as I neuer receyued so +mutch of fortune's grace, as to make you feele by liuely +experience what power you had ouer me, and the torment euery +minute of the day sustained for your occasion, I do assure you +the least grief that vexeth me for your absence, is a thousand +times more paynefull than death, which long time or this had cut +of the threede of my lyfe, if the hope of this happy Iourney had +not bene, which paying mee now the iust Tribute of my weepings +past, maketh me better content, and more glad, than if the whole +Worlde were at my commaundement, beseeching you (without further +memory of auncient griefe) to take aduice in tyme to come how we +may content our passionate hearts, and to sort our affayres with +sutch Wysedome and discretion, as our enimies without aduantage +may let vs continue the remnant of our dayes in rest and quiet." +And as Iulietta was about to make answere, the Olde woman came +in the meane time, and sayd vnto them: "He that wasteth time in +talke, recouereth the same to late. But for so mutch as eyther +of you hath endured sutch mutuall paynes, behold (quoth shee) +a campe which I haue made ready:" (shewing them the Fielde bed +which shee had prepared and furnished,) whereunto they easily +agreed, and being then betwene the Sheets in priuy bed, after +they had gladded and cherished themselues with al kinde of +delicate embracements which loue was able to deuise, Rhomeo +vnloosing the holy lines of virginity, tooke possession of the +place, which was not yet besieged with sutch ioy and +contentation as they can iudge which haue assayed like delites. +Their marriage thus consummate, Rhomeo perceyuing the morning +make to hasty approch, tooke his leaue, making promise that he +would not fayle wythin a day or two to resort agayne to the +place by lyke meanes, and semblable time, vntil Fortune had +prouided sure occasion vnfearfully to manyfest their marriage to +the whole Worlde. And thus a month or twayne, they continued +their ioyful mindes to their incredible satisfaction, vntil lady +Fortune enuious of their prosperity, turned hir Wheele to tumble +them into such a bottomlesse pit, as they payed hir vsury for +their pleasures past, by a certaine most cruell and pitifull +death, as you shal vnderstand hereafter by the discourse that +followeth. Now as we haue before declared, the Capellets and the +Montesches were not so well reconciled by the Lord of Verona, +but that there rested in them sutch sparks of auncient +displeasures, as either partes waited but for some light +occasion to draw togethers, which they did in the Easter holy +dayes, (as bloudy men commonly be most willingly disposed after +a good time to commit some nefarious deede) besides the Gate of +Boursarie leading to the olde castel of Verona, a troupe of +Capellets rencountred with certayne of the Montesches, and +without other woordes began to set vpon them. And the Capellets +had for Chiefe of their glorious enterprise one called Thibault, +cosin Germayne to Iulietta, a yong man strongly made, and of +good experience of armes, who exhorted his Companions with stout +Stomakes to represse the boldnes of the Montesches, that ther +might from that time forth no memory of them be left at all. The +rumoure of this fray was disperssed throughout al the corners of +Verona, that succour might come from all partes of the Citty to +depart the same. Whereof Rhomeo aduertized, who walked alonges +the Citty with certayne of his Companions, hasted him speadily +to the place where the slaughter of his Parents and alies were +committed: and after he had well aduised and beholden many +wounded and hurt on both sides, he sayd to hys Companions: +"My frends let vs part them, for they be so flesht one vpon an +other, as will all be hewed to pieces before the game be done." +And saying so, he thrust himselfe amids the troupe, and did no +more but part the blowes on eyther side, crying vpon them aloud: +"My freends, no more, it is time henceforth that our quarel +cease. For besides the prouocation of God's iust wrath, our two +families be slaunderous to the whole World, and are the cause +that this common wealth doth grow vnto disorder." But they were +so egre and furious one agaynst the other, as they gaue no +audience to Rhomeo his councel, and bent theymselues too kyll, +dysmember and teare eche other in pieces. And the fyght was so +cruell and outragious betweene them as they which looked on, +were amased to see theym endure those blowes, for the grounde +was all couered with armes, legges, thighes, and bloude, wherein +no signe of cowardnes appeared, and mayntayned their feyghte so +longe, that none was able to iudge who hadde the better, vntill +that Thibault Cousin to Iulietta inflamed with ire and rage, +turned towardes Rhomeo thinkinge with a pricke to runne him +through. But he was so wel armed and defended with a priuye coat +whiche he wore ordinarily for the doubt he had of the Capellets, +as the pricke rebounded: vnto whom Rhomeo made answeare: +"Thibault thou maiest know by the pacience which I haue had +vntill this present tyme, that I came not hether to fyght with +thee or thyne, but to seeke peace and attonemente betweene vs, +and if thou thinkest that for defaulte of courage I haue fayled +myne endeuor, thou doest greate wronge to my reputacion. And +impute thys my suffrance to some other perticular respecte, +rather than to wante of stomacke. Wherfore abuse mee not but be +content with this greate effusion of Bloude and murders already +committed. And prouoke mee not I beseeche thee to passe the +boundes of my good will and mynde." "Ah Traitor," sayd +Thibaulte, "thou thinkeste to saue thy selfe by the plotte of +thy pleasaunt tounge, but see that thou defende thy selfe, els +presently I will make thee feele that thy tounge shal not gard +thy corps, nor yet be the Buckler to defende the same from +present death." And saying so, he gaue him a blow with such +furye, as hadde not other warded the same hee had cutte of his +heade from his shoulders, and the one was no readyer to lende, +but the other incontinentlye was able to paye agayne, for hee +being not onelye wroth with the blowe that hee had receiued, +but offended with the iniury which the other had don, began to +pursue his ennemy with suche courage and viuacity, as at the +third blowe with his swerd hee caused him to fall backewarde +starke deade vppon the grounde with a pricke vehementlye thruste +into his throte, whiche hee followed till hys Sworde appeared +throughe the hynder parte of the same, by reason wherof the +conflicte ceassed. For besides that Thibault was the chiefe of +his companye he was also borne of one of the Noblest houses +within the Cittye, which caused the Potestate to assemble his +Souldiers with diligence for the apprehension and imprisonment +of Rhomeo, who seyeng yl fortune at hande, in secrete wise +conuayed him selfe to Fryer Laurence at the Friers Franciscanes. +And the Fryer vnderstandinge of his facte, kepte him in a +certayne secrete place of his couente vntil fortune did +otherwyse prouyde for his safe goinge abroade. The bruite spred +throughout the citty, of this chaunce don vpon the Lorde +Thibault, the Capellets in mourning weedes caused the deade +bodye to be caryed before the sygnory of Verona, so well to moue +them to pytty, as to demaunde iustice for the murder: before +whom came also the Montesches, declaryng the innocencye of +Rhomeo, and the wilfull assault of the other. The councell +assembled and witnesses heard on both partes a straight +commaundemente was geuen by the Lorde of the Cittye to geeue +ouer theire weapons, and touchinge the offence of Rhomeo, +because he hadde killed the other in his owne defence, he was +banished Verona for euer. This common misfortune published +throughout the Citty, was generally sorowed and lamented. Som +complayneth the death of the Lorde Thibault, so well for his +dexteritye in armes as for the hope of his great good seruice in +time to come, if hee hadde not bene preuented by sutch cruell +Death. Other bewailed (specially the Ladies and Gentlewomen) the +ouerthrow of yong Rhomeo, who besides his beauty and good grace +wherwith he was enriched, had a certayne naturall allurement, by +vertue whereof he drew vnto him the hearts of eche man, like as +the stony Adamante doth the cancred iron, in sutch wise as the +whole nation and people of Verona lamented his mischaunce: but +aboue all infortunate Iulietta, who aduertised both of the death +of hir cosin Thibault, and of the banishment of hir husband, +made the Ayre sound with infinite number of mornefull playnts +and miserable lamentations. Then feeling hirselfe to mutch +outraged with extreeme passion, she went into hir chamber, and +ouercome with sorrowe threwe hir selfe vpon hir bed, where she +began to reinforce hir dolor after so straunge fashion, as the +most constant would haue bene moued to pitty. Then like one out +of hir wits, she gazed heere and there, and by fortune beholding +the Window whereat Rhomeo was wont to enter into hir chamber, +cried out: "Oh vnhappy Windowe, oh entry most vnlucky, wherein +were wouen the bitter toyle of my former mishaps, if by thy +meanes I haue receyued at other tymes some light pleasure or +transitory contentation, thou now makest me pay a tribute so +rigorous and paynefull, as my tender body not able any longer to +support the same, shall henceforth open the Gate to that lyfe +where the ghost discharged from this mortal burden, shal seeke +in some place els more assured rest. Ah Rhomeo, Rhomeo, when +acquayntaunce first began betweene vs, and reclined myne eares +vnto thy suborned promisses, confirmed with so many othes, +I would neuer haue beleeued that in place of our continued +amyty, and in appeasing of the hatred of our houses, thou +wouldest haue sought occasion to breake the same by an acte so +shamefull, whereby thy fame shall be spotted for euer, and I +miserable wretch desolate of Spouse and Companion. But if thou +haddest beene so gready after the Cappelletts bloud, wherefore +didst thou spare the deare bloud of mine owne heart when so many +tymes, and in sutch secret place the same was at the mercy of +thy cruell handes? The victory which thou shouldest haue gotten +ouer me, had it not bene glorious inough for thine ambitious +minde, but for more triumphant solempnity to bee crowned wyth +the bloude of my dearest kinsman? Now get thee hence therefore +into some other place to deceiue some other, so vnhappy as my +selfe. Neuer come agayne in place where I am, for no excuse +shall heereafter take holde to asswage mine offended minde: in +the meane tyme I shall lament the rest of my heauy lyfe, with +sutch store of teares, as my body dried vp from all humidity, +shall shortly search reliefe in Earth." And hauing made an ende +of those hir wordes, hir heart was so grieuously strayned, as +shee coulde neyther weepe nor speake, and stoode so immoueable, +as if she had bene in a traunce. Then being somewhat come agayne +vnto hirselfe, with feeble voyce shee sayd: "Ah, murderous +tongue of other men's honor, how darest thou so infamously to +speake of him whom his very enimies doe commend and prayse? +How presumest thou to impute the blame vpon Rhomeo, whose +vnguiltines and innocent deede euery man alloweth? Where from +henceforth shall be hys refuge, sith she which ought to bee the +onely Bulwarke, and assured rampire of his distresse, doth +pursue and defame him? Receyue, receyue then Rhomeo the +satisfaction of mine ingratitude by the sacrifice which I shal +make of my proper lyfe, and so the faulte which I haue committed +agaynste thy loyaltye, shall bee made open to the Worlde, thou +being reuenged and my selfe punished." And thinking to vse some +further talke, all the powers of hir body fayled hir wyth signes +of present death. But the good olde Woman whych could not +imagine the cause of Iulietta hir longe absence, doubted very +mutch that she suffred some passion, and sought hir vp and downe +in euery place wythin hir Father's Pallace, vntill at length +shee founde hir lyinge a long vpon hir Bed, all the outwarde +parts of hir body so colde as Marble. But the goode Old woman +which thought hir to bee deade, began to cry like one out of hir +Wittes, saying: "Ah deare Daughter, and Noursechylde, howe mutch +doeth thy death now grieue mee at the very heart?" And as she +was feeling all the partes of hir body, shee perceyued some +sparke of Lyfe to bee yet within the same, whych caused hir to +call hir many tymes by her name, til at length she brought her +oute of her sounde, then sayde vnto her: "Why Iulietta, myne +owne deare darelyng, what meane you by this tormoylinge of your +selfe? I cannot tel from whence this youre behauiour and that +immoderate heauines doe proceede, but wel I wot that within this +houre I thought to haue accompanied you to the graue." "Alas +good mother" (aunswered woful Iulietta) "do you not most +euidently perceiue and see what iust cause I haue too sorrow and +complayne, loosyng at one instante two persons of the world +which wer vnto mee most deare?" "Methinke," aunsweared the good +woman, "that it is not seemely for a gentlewoman of your degree +to fall into such extremetye: for in tyme of tribulation +wysedome should most preuaile. And if the lord Thibault be deade +do you thinke to get him agayn by teares? What is he that doth +not accuse his ouermutch presumption: woulde you that Rhomeo +hadd done that wronge to him, and hys house, to suffer himselfe +outraged and assayled by one to whom in manhoode and prowesse he +is not inferioure? Sufficeth you that Rhomeo is alyue, and his +affayres in sutche estate whoe in tyme may be called home agayne +from banishmente, for he is a greate lorde, and as you know well +allied and fauored of all men, wherefore arme your selfe from +henceforth with pacyence: for albeit that Fortune doth estraunge +him from you for a tyme, yet sure I am, that hereafter shee will +restore him vnto you agayne wyth greater ioye and Contentatyon +than before. And to the Ende that wee bee better assured in +what state he is, yf you wyll promyse me to gyue ouer your +heauynesse, I wyll to Daye knowe of Fryer Laurence whether he is +gone." To which request Iulietta agreed, and then the good woman +repayred to S. Frauncis, wher shee founde Fryer Laurence who +tolde her that the same nyghte Rhomeo would not fayle at hys +accustomed houre to visite Iulietta, and there to do hir to +vnderstande what he purposed to doe in tyme to come. This iorney +then fared like the voiages of mariners, who after they haue ben +tost by greate and troublous tempest seeyng some Sunne beame +pearce the heauens to lyghten the lande, assure themselues +agayne, and thinkinge to haue auoyded shipwracke, and sodaynlye +the seas begynne to swell, the waues do roare with sutch +vehemence and noyse, as if they were fallen agayne into greater +danger than before. The assigned hour come, Rhomeo fayled not +accordinge to hys promise to bee in his Garden, where he founde +his furniture prest to mount the Chamber of Iulietta, who with +displayed armes, began so strayghtly to imbrace hym, as it +seemed that the soule would haue abandoned hir body. And they +two more than a large quarter of an hour were in sutch agony, as +they were not able to pronounce one word, and wetting ech others +Face fast closed together, the teares trickeled downe in sutch +abundance as they seemed to be throughly bathed therein, which +Rhomeo perceyuing, thinking to stay those immoderate teares, +sayd vnto hir: "Myne owne dearest freend Iulietta, I am not now +determined to recite the particulars of the straung happes of +frayle and inconstaunte Fortune, who in a moment hoisteth a man +vp to the hyghest degree of hir wheele, and by and by, in lesse +space than in the twynckeling of an eye, she throweth hym downe +agayne so lowe, as more misery is prepared for him in one day, +than fauour in one hundred yeares: whych I now proue, and haue +experience in my selfe, which haue bene nourished delicately +amonges my frends, and maynteyned in sutch prosperous state, +as you doe little know, (hoping for the full perfection of my +felicity) by meanes of our mariage to haue reconciled our +Parents, and frends, and to conduct the residue of my lyfe, +according to the scope and lot determined by Almighty God: and +neuerthelesse all myne enterprises be put backe, and my purposes +tourned cleane contrary, in sutch wise as from henceforth I must +wander lyke a vagabonde through diuers Prouinces, and +sequestrate my selfe from my Frends, wythout assured place of +myne abode, whych I desire to let you weete, to the intent you +may be exhorted in tyme to come, paciently to beare so well myne +absence, as that whych it shal please God to appoint." But +Iulietta, al affrighted wyth teares and mortal agonies, would +not suffer hym to passe any further, but interruptinge his +purpose, sayd vnto hym: "Rhomeo, how canst thou be so harde +hearted and voyde of all pity, to leaue mee heere lone, besieged +with so manye deadlye myseries? There is neyther houre nor +Minute, wherein death doth not appeare a thousand tymes before +mee, and yet my missehappe is sutch, as I can not dye, and +therefore doe manyfestlye perceyue, that the same death +preserueth my lyfe, of purpose to delight in my gryefes, and +tryumphe ouer my euyls. And thou lyke the mynister and tyrante +of hir cruelty, doest make no conscience (for ought that I can +see) hauing atchieued the Summe of thy desyres and pleasures on +me, to abandon and forsake me: whereby I well perceyue, that all +the lawes of Amity are deade and vtterly extinguyshed, +forsomutch as he in whom I had greatest hope and confidence, and +for whose sake I am become an enimy to my self, doth disdayne +and contemne me. No, no Rhomeo, thou must fully resolue thy +selfe vppon one of these II. points, either to see me +incontinently throwen down headlong from this high Window after +thee: or else to suffer me to accompany thee into that Countrey +or Place whither Fortune shall guide thee: for my heart is so +mutch transformed into thine, that so soone as I shall +vnderstande of thy departure, presently my lyfe will depart this +wofull body: the continuance whereof I doe not desire for any +other purpose, but only to delight my selfe in thy presence, +to bee pertaker of thy misfortunes: and therefore if euer there +lodged any pity in the heart of gentleman, I beseeche the Rhomeo +with al humility, that it may now finde place in thee, and that +thou wilt vouchsafe to receyue me for thy seruaunt, and the +faithful companion of thy mishaps: and if thou thinke that thou +canst not conueniently receyue me in the estate and habite of a +Wyfe, who shall let me to chaunge myne apparell? Shall I be the +first that haue vsed like shiftes to escape the tyranny of +parentes? Doste thou doubt that my seruice will not bee so good +vnto thee as that of Petre thy seruaunte? Wyll my loyaltye and +fidelity be lesse than his? My beauty which at other tymes thou +hast so greatly commended, it is not esteemed of thee? my +teares, my loue, and the aunciente pleasures and delights that +you haue taken in mee shal they be in obliuyon?" Rhomeo seing +hir in these alterations, fearing that worsse inconuenience +would chaunce, tooke hir agayne betweene hys armes, and kissing +her amorously, sayd: {"}Iulietta, the onely mistresse of my +heart, I pray thee in the Name of God, and for the feruent Loue +whych thou bearest vnto me, to doe away those vayne cogitations, +excepte thou meane to seeke and hazard the destruction of vs +both: for if thou perseuer in this purpose, there is no remedye +but wee muste both perish: for so soone as thyne absence shalbe +knowen, thy Father will make sutch earnest pursute after vs, +that we cannot choose but be discried and taken, and in the ende +cruelly punished, I as a theefe and stealer of thee, and thou as +a dysobedyent Daughter to thy Father: and so in stead of +pleasaunt and quiet Lyfe, our Dayes shalbe abridged by most +shamefull Death. But if thou wylt recline thy self to reason, +(the ryght rule of humane Lyfe,) and for the tyme abandon our +mutuall delyghts, I will take sutch order in the time of my +banishment, as within three or foure Months wythoute any delay, +I shalbe reuoked home agayne: but if it fall out otherwyse (as I +trust not,) howsoeuer it happen, I wyll come agayne vnto thee, +and with the helpe of my Fryendes wyll fetch the from Verona by +strong Hand, not in Counterfeit Apparell as a straunger, but +lyke my spouse and perpetuall companion: in the meane tyme quyet +your selfe, and be sure that nothing else but death shall deuide +and put vs a sunder." The reasons of Rhomeo so mutch preuailed +with Iulietta, as shee made hym thys aunswere: "My deare fryend, +I wyll doe nothing contrary to your wyll and pleasure: and to +what place so euer you repayre, my hearte shall bee your owne, +in like sorte as you haue giuen yours to be mine: in the meane +while I pray you not to faile oftentimes to aduertise me by +Frier Laurence, in what state your affaires be, and specially of +the place of your abode." Thus these two pore louers passed the +Night togither, vntil the day began to appeare which did dyuyde +them, to their extreame sorrow and gryef. Rhomeo hauiuge taken +leaue of Iulietta, went to S. Fraunces, and after he hadde +aduertysed Frier Laurence of his affaires, departed from Verona +in the habit of a Marchaunt straunger, and vsed sutch +expedytyon, as without hurt he arriued at Mantuona, (accompanied +onely wyth Petre his Seruaunt, whome hee hastily sente backe +agayne to Verona, to serue his Father) where he tooke a house: +and lyuying in honorable companye, assayed certayne Monthes to +put away the gryefe whych so tormented him. But duryng the tyme +of his absence, miserable Iulietta could not so cloke hir +sorrow, but that through the euyll colour of hir face, hir +inwarde passion was discryed: by reason whereof hir Mother, +who heard hir oftentimes sighing, and incessantly complayning, +coulde not forbeare to say vnto hir: "Daughter, if you continue +long after thys sort, you wyll hasten the Death of your good +Father and me, who loue you so dearely as our owne lyues: +wherefore henceforth moderate your heauinesse, and endeuor your +self to be mery: think no more vpon the Death of your cosin +Thibault, whome (sith it pleased God to cal away) do you thinke +to reuoke wyth Teares, and so withstande his Almightye will?" +But the pore Gentlewoman not able to dyssemble hir griefe, sayd +vnto hir: "Madame, long time it is sithens the last Teares for +Thibault were poured forth, and I beleue that the fountayne is +so well soked and dried vp, as no more will spryng in that +place." The mother which could not tell to what effect those +Woords were spoken held hir peace, for feare she should trouble +hir Daughter: and certayne Dayes after seeing hir to continue in +heauinesse and continuall griefs, assaied by al meanes possible +to know, aswell of hir, as of other the housholde Seruauntes, +the occasion of their sorrow, but al in vayne: wherwith the pore +mother vexed beyonde measure, purposed to let the Lord Antonio +hir Husband to vnderstand the case of hir Daughter: and vppon a +day seeing him at conuenient leisure, she sayd vnto him: "My +Lord, if you haue marked the countenaunce of our daughter, and +hir kinde of behauior sithens the Death of the Lord Thibault hir +Cosyn, you shall perceiue so straunge mutation in hir, as it +will make you to maruell, for she is not onely contented to +forgoe meate, drinke and slepe, but she spendeth hir tyme in +nothinge else then in Weeping and Lamentatyon, delighting to +kepe hir self solytarye wythin hir Chamber, where she tormenteth +hir self so outragiously as yf wee take not heede, hir Lyfe is +to be doubted, and not able to knowe the Oryginall of hir Payne, +the more difficulte shall be the remedye: for albeit that I haue +sought meanes by all extremity, yet cannot I learne the cause of +hir sicknesse: and where I thought in the beginning, that it +proceded vpon the Death of hir Cosin, now I doe manifestly +perceiue the contrary, specially when she hir self did assure me +that she had already wept and shed the last teares for him that +she was mynded to doe: and vncertayne whereuppon to resolue, +I do thinke verily that she mourneth for some despite, to see +the most part of theyr companions maried, and she yet +vnprouyded, persuading with hir selfe (it may be) that wee hir +Parents do not care for hir: wherefore deare Husband, I heartely +beseech you for our rest and hir quiet, that hereafter ye be +carefull to prouyde for hir some maryage worthy of our state." +Whereunto the Lord Antonio, willingly agreed, saying vnto hir: +"Wyfe, I haue many times thought vppon that whereof you speake, +notwythstandyng sith as yet shee is not attayned to the age of +XVIII. yeares, I thought to prouide a husband at leysure: +neuerthelesse things beinge come to these Termes, and knowing +the Virgins chastity is a dangerous Treasure, I wyll be mindfull +of the same to your contentation, and she matched in sutch wyse, +as she shall thynke the tyme hitherto well delayed. In the meane +while marke dylygently whyther she bee in loue wyth any, to the +end that we haue not so greate regarde to goodes, or the +Nobylity of the house wherein we meane to bestow hir, as to the +Lyfe and Health of our Daughter who is to me so deare as I had +rather die a Begger without Landes or goods, than to bestow hir +vpon one which shall vse and intreat hir il." Certayne dayes +after that the Lorde Antonio had bruted the maryage of his +daughter, many Gentlemen were suters, so wel for the excellency +of hir Beauty, as for hir great Rychesse and reuenue. But aboue +all others the alyaunce of a young Earle named Paris, the Counte +of Lodronne, lyked the Lord Antonio: vnto whom lyberally he gaue +his consent, and told his Wyfe the party vppon whom he dyd mean +to bestow his Daughter. The mother very ioyful that they had +found so honest a Gentleman for theyr Daughter, caused hir +secretly to be called before hir, doyng hir to vnderstande what +things had passed betwen hir father and the Counte Paris, +discoursing vnto hir the beauty and good grace of the yong +Counte, the vertues for which he was commended of al men, +ioyning therevnto for conclusion the great richesse and fauor +which he had in the goods of fortune, by means whereof she and +hir Fryends should liue in eternal honor: but Iulietta which had +rather to haue ben torne in pieces than to agree to that +maryage, answered hir mother with a more than accustomed +stoutnesse: "Madame, I mutch maruel, and therewithal am astonned +that you being a Ladye discrete and honorable, wil be so liberal +ouer your Daughter as to commit hir to the pleasure and wil of +an other, before you do know how hir mind is bent: you may do as +it pleaseth you, but of one thing I do wel assure you, that if +you bring it to passe, it shal be against my wil: and touching +the regard and estimation of Counte Paris, I shal first lose my +Lyfe before he shal haue power to touch any part of my body: +which being done, it is you that shal be counted the murderer, +by deliueryng me into the handes of him, whome I neyther can, +wil, or know whiche way to loue: wherefore I praye you to suffer +me henceforth thus to lyue, wythout taking any further care of +me, for so mutche as my cruell fortune hath otherwyse disposed +of me." The dolorous Mother which knewe not what Iudgement to +fixe vpon hir daughter's aunswere, lyke a woman confused and +besides hir selfe went to seeke the Lord Antonio, vnto whom +without conceyling any part of hir Daughter's aunswer, she dyd +him vnderstand the whole. The good olde man offended beyond +measure, commaunded her incontinently by Force to be brought +before him, if of hir own good will she would not come: so soone +as she came before hir Father, hir eyes full of teares, fel down +at his fete, which she bathed with the luke warme drops that +distilled from hir Eyes in great abundance, and thynkyng to open +hir mouth to crye him mercy, the sobbes and sighes many tymes +stopt hir speach, that shee remained dumbe not able to frame a +Woorde. But the olde man nothing moued with his Daughter's +Teares, sayd vnto hir in great rage: "Come hither thou vnkynd +and dysobedient Daughter, hast thou forgotten how many tymes +thou hast hearde spoken at the Table, of the puissance and +authoryty our auncyente Romane Fathers had ouer their chyldren? +vnto whom it was not onelye lawfull to sell, guage, and +otherwyse dispose them (in theyr necessity) at their pleasure, +but also which is more, they had absolute power ouer their Death +and Lyfe? With what yrons, with what torments, with what racks +would those good Fathers chasten and correct thee if they were a +liue againe, to see that ingratitude, misbehauior and +disobedience which thou vsest towards thy Father, who with many +prayers and requestes hath prouided one of the greatest Lords of +this prouince to be thy husband, a Gentleman of best renoume, +and indued wyth all kynde of Vertues, of whom thou and I be +vnworthy, both for the notable masse of goods and substance +wherewith he is enriched, as also for the Honoure and +generositie of the house whereof hee is discended, and yet thou +playest the parte of an obstinate and rebellyous Chyld agaynst +thy Father's will. I take the omnipotency of that Almightye God +to witnesse, which hath vouchsafed to bryng the forth into this +world, that if vpon Tuesday nexte thou failest to prepare thy +selfe to be at my Castell of Villafranco, where the Counte Paris +purposeth to meete vs, and there giue thy consent to that whych +thy Mother and I haue agreed vppon, I will not onely depriue +thee of my worldly goodes, but also will make the espouse and +marie a pryson so straight and sharpe, as a thousande times thou +shalt curse the Day and tyme wherein thou wast borne: wherfore +from henceforth take aduisement what thou doest, for excepte the +promise be kept which I haue made to the counte Paris, I will +make the feele how greate the iust choler of an offended Father +is against a Chylde vnkynde." And without staying for other +answer of his Daughter, the olde man departed the Chamber, and +lefte hir vppon hir knees. Iulietta knowing the fury of hir +Father, fearing to incurre his indignation, or to prouoke his +further wrath, retired for the day into hir Chamber, and +contriued that whole Nyght more in weeping then slepyng. And the +next Morning fayning to goe heare seruice, she went forth with +the woman of hir Chamber to the Fryers, where she caused father +Laurence to be called vnto hir, and prayed him to heare hir +confession: and when she was vpon hir knees before hym, shee +began hir Confession wyth Teares, tellinge him the greate +mischyefe that was prepared for hir, by the maryage accorded +betweene hir Father and the Counte Paris: and for conclusion +sayd vnto him: "Sir, for so mutch as you know that I cannot by +God's law bee maried twice, and that I haue but one God, one +husband and one faith, I am determined when I am from hence, +with these two hands which you see ioyned before you, this Day +to ende my sorowful lyfe, that my soule may beare wytnesse in +the Heauens, and my bloude vppon the Earth of my faith and +loyalty preserued." Then hauyng ended hir talke, shee looked +about hir, and seemed by hir wylde countenaunce, as though she +had deuised some sinister purpose: wherefore Frier Laurence, +astonned beyonde measure, fearyng least she would haue executed +that which she was determyned, sayd vnto hir: "Mistresse +Iulietta, I pray you in the name of God by little and little to +moderate youre conceiued griefe, and to content your self whilst +you bee heere, vntill I haue prouided what is best for you to +doe, for before you part from hence, I will giue you sutch +consolation and remedy for your afflictions, as you shall +remaine satysfied and contented." And resolued vppon thys good +minde, he speedily wente out of the Churche vnto his chamber, +where he began to consider of many things, his conscience beyng +moued to hinder the marriage betwene the Counte Paris and hir, +knowing by his meanes she had espoused an other, and callynge to +remembraunce what a daungerous enterprise he had begonne by +committyng hymself to the mercy of a symple damosell, and that +if shee fayled to bee wyse and secrete, all theyr doyngs should +be discried, he defamed, and Rhomeo hir spouse punished. Hee +then after he had well debated vpon infinite numbre of deuises, +was in the end ouercome with pity, and determined rather to +hazarde his honour, than to suffer the Adultery of the Counte +Paris with Iulietta: and being determined herevpon, opened his +closet, and takynge a vyall in his Hande, retourned agayne to +Iulietta, whom he found lyke one that was in a Traunce, +wayghtinge for newes, eyther of Lyfe or Death: of whome the good +olde Father demaunded vpon what Day hir maryage was appoynted. +"The firste daye of that appoyntment (quod shee) is vppon +Wednesdaye, whych is the Daye ordeyned for my Consente of +Maryage accorded betweene my father and Counte Paris, but the +Nuptiall solemnitye is not before the X. day of September." "Wel +then" (quod the religious father) "be of good cheere daughter, +for our Lord God hathe opened a way vnto me both to deliuer you +and Rhomeo from the prepared thraldom. I haue knowne your +husband from his cradle, and hee hath daily committed vnto me +the greatest secretes of hys Conscience, and I haue so dearely +loued him agayne, as if hee had ben mine owne sonne: wherefore +my heart can not abide that anye man should do him wrong in that +specially wherein my Counsell may stande him in stede. And +forsomutch as you are his wyfe, I ought lykewyse to loue you, +and seke meanes to delyuer you from the martyrdome and Anguish +wherewyth I see your heart besieged: vnderstande then (good +Daughter) of a secrete which I purpose to manifest vnto you, and +take heede aboue all thinges that you declare it to no liuing +creature, for therein consisteth your life and Death. Ye be not +ignorant by the common report of the Cityzens of this City, and +by the same published of me, that I haue trauailed throughe all +the Prouinces of the habytable Earthe, wherby duryng the +continuall tyme of XX. yeres, I haue soughte no rest for my +wearied body, but rather haue many times protruded the same to +the mercy of brute beasts in the Wyldernesse, and many times +also to the mercilesse Waues of the Seas, and to the pity of +common Pirates together with a thousand other Daungers and +shipwracks vppon Sea and Land. So it is good Daughter that all +my wandring Voyages haue not bene altogethers vnprofitable. For +besides the incredible contentation receiued ordinarily in mind, +I haue gathered some particular fruyct, whereof by the grace of +God you shall shortly feele some experience. I haue proued the +secrete properties of Stones, of Plants, Metals, and other +thinges hydden within the Bowels of the Earth, wherewith I am +able to helpe my selfe againste the common Lawe of Men, when +necessity doth serue: specyally in thynges wherein I know mine +eternal God to be least offended. For as thou knowest I beynge +approched as it were, euen to the Brymme of my Graue, and that +the Tyme draweth neare for yeldynge of myne Accompte before the +Audytor of all Audytors, I oughte therefore to haue some deepe +knowledge and apprehension of God's iudgement more than I had +when the heat of inconsidered youth did boyle within my lusty +body. Know you therefore good daughter, that with those graces, +and fauours which the heauens prodigally haue bestowed vpon me, +I haue learned and proued of long time the composition of a +certayne Paaste, which I make of diuers soporiferous simples, +which beaten afterwards to Pouder, and dronke wyth a quantyty of +Water, within a quarter of an houre after, bringeth the receiuer +into sutch a sleepe, and burieth so deepely the senses and other +sprites of life, that the cunningest Phisitian will iudge the +party dead: and besides that it hath a more marueillous effect, +for the person which vseth the same feeleth no kinde of griefe, +and according to the quantity of the dough, the pacient +remayneth in a sweete sleepe, but when the operation is wrought +and done, hee returneth into his first estate. Now then Iulietta +receiue myne instruction, put of all Feminine affection by +taking vppon you a manly stomacke for by the only courage of +your minde consisteth the hap or mishap of your affayres. +Beholde here I geue you a Vyale which you shall keepe as your +owne propre heart, and the night before your mariage, or in the +morninge before day, you shall fil the same vp with water, and +drink so mutch as is contayned therein. And then you shall feele +a certayne kynde of pleasaunt sleepe, which incrochinge by litle +and litle all the partes of your body, wil constrayne them in +sutch wyse, as vnmoueable they shal remayne: and by not doing +their accustomed dueties, shall loose their naturall feelinges, +and you abide in sutch extasie the space of 40 houres at the +least, without any beating of poulse or other perceptible +motion, which shall so astonne them that come to see you, as +they will iudge you to be deade, and according to the custome of +our Citty, you shal be caried to the Churchyarde hard by our +Church, where you shall be intoumbed in the common monument of +the Capellets your auncestors, and in the meane tyme we will +send word to lord Rhomeo by a speciall messanger of the effect +of our deuice, who now abideth at Mantua. And the night +following I am sure he will not fayle to be heere, then he and I +together will open the graue, and lift vp your body, and after +the operation of the Pouder is past, hee shall conuey you +secretly to Mantua, vnknowen to all your Parents and frends. +Afterwards (it may be) Tyme, the mother of Truth, shall cause +concord betwene the offended City of Verona, and Rhomeo. At +which time your common cause may be made open to the general +contentacion of all your frends." The words of the good father +ended, new ioy surprised the heart of Iulietta, who was so +attentiue to his talke as she forgat no one poynct of hir +lesson. Then she sayd vnto him: "Father, doubt not at all that +my heart shall fayle in performaunce of your commaundement: for +were it the strongest Poyson, or most pestiferous Venome, rather +would I thrust it into my body, than to consent to fall in the +hands of him, whom I vtterly mislike: with a right strong reason +then may I fortifie my selfe, and offer my body to any kinde of +mortall daunger to approch and draw neare to him, vpon whom +wholly dependeth my Life and all the solace I haue in this +World." "Go your wayes then my daughter" (quod the Frier) "the +mighty hand of God keepe you, and hys surpassing power defende +you, and confirme that will and good mynde of yours, for the +accomplishment of this worke." Iulietta departed from frier +Laurence, and returned home to hir father's Pallace about II. of +the clock, where she found hir mother at the Gate attending for +hir: And in good deuotion demaunded if shee continued still in +hir former follies? But Iulietta with more gladsome cheere than +she was wont to vse, not suffering hir mother to aske agayne, +sayd vnto hir: "Madame I come from S. Frauncis Church, where I +haue taried longer peraduenture than my duety requireth: how be +it not without fruict and great rest to my afflicted conscience, +by reason of the godly persuasions of our ghostly Father Frier +Laurence, vnto whom I haue made a large declaration of my life. +And chiefly haue communicated vnto him in confession, that which +hath past betwene my Lord my father and you, vpon the mariage of +Countee Paris and me. But the good man hath reconciled me by his +holy words, and commendable exhortations, that where I had minde +neuer to mary, now I am well disposed to obey your pleasure and +commaundement. Wherfore, madame, I beseech you to recouer the +fauor and good wyl of my father, aske pardon in my behalfe, and +say vnto him (if it please you) that by obeying his Fatherly +request, I am ready to meete the Countee Paris at Villafranco, +and there in your presence to accept him for my Lorde and +husband: In assuraunce whereof, by your pacience, I meane to +repayre into my Closet, to make choise of my most pretious +Iewels, that I being richly adorned, and decked, may appeare +before him more agreeable to his mynde, and pleasure.{"} The +good mother rapt with exceeding great ioy, was not able to +aunswere a word, but rather made speede to seeke out hir husband +the Lord Antonio, vnto whom she reported the good will of hir +daughter, and how by meanes of Frier Laurence hir minde was +chaunged. Whereof the good olde man maruellous ioyfull, praysed +God in heart, saying: "Wife this is not the firste good turne +which we haue receiued of that holy man, vnto whom euery +Cittizen of this Common wealth is dearely bounde. I would to God +that I had redeemed 20 of his yeares with the third parte of my +goods, so grieuous is to me his extreme old age.' The selfe same +houre the Lord Antonio went to seeke the Countee Paris, whom hee +thought to perswade to goe to Villafranco. But the countee told +him agayne, that the charge would be to great, and that better +it were to reserue that cost to the mariage day, for the better +celebration of the same. Notwithstanding if it were his +pleasure, he would himselfe goe visite Iulietta: and so they +went together. The Mother aduertised of his comming, caused hir +daughter to make hir selfe ready, and to spare no costly Iewels +for adorning of hir beauty agaynst the Countee's comming, which +she bestowed so well for garnishing of hir Personage, that +before the Countee parted from the house, shee had so stolne +away his heart, as he liued not from that time forth, but vpon +meditation of hir beauty, and slacked no time for acceleration +of the mariage day, ceasing not to be importunate vpon father +and mother for th'ende and consummation thereof. And thus with +ioy inough passed forth this day and many others vntil the day +before the mariage, against which time the mother of Iulietta +did so well prouide, that there wanted nothing to set forth the +magnificence and nobility of their house. Villafranco whereof we +haue made mention, was a place of pleasure, where the Lord +Antonio was wont many tymes to recreate himselfe a mile or two +from Verona, there the dynner was prepared, for so mutch as the +ordinary solemnity of necessity muste be done at Verona. +Iulietta perceyuing hir time to approache dyssembled the matter +so well as shee coulde: and when tyme forced hir to retire to +hir Chamber, hir Woman would have waited vppon hir, and haue +lyen in hir Chambre, as hir custome was: but Iulietta sayd vnto +hir: "Good and faithfull mother, you know that to morrow is my +maryage Day, and for that I would spend the most parte of the +Nyght in prayer, I pray you for this time to let me alone, and +to morrow in the Mornyng about VI. of the clocke come to me +agayne to helpe make mee readie." The good olde woman willing to +follow hir minde, suffred hir alone, and doubted nothyng of that +which she did meane to do. Iulietta beinge within hir Chambre +hauing an eawer ful of Water standing vppon the Table filled the +viole which the Frier gaue her: and after she had made the +mixture, she set it by hir bed side, and went to Bed. And being +layde, new thoughtes began to assaile hir, with a conceipt of +grieuous Death, which brought hir into sutch case as she could +not tell what to doe, but playning incessantly sayd: "Am not I +the most vnhappy and desperat creature, that euer was borne of +Woman? For mee there is nothyng left in this wretched worlde but +mishap, misery, and mortall woe, my distresse hath brought me to +sutch extremity, as to saue mine honor and conscience, I am +forced to deuoure the drynke whereof I know not the vertue: but +what know I (sayd she) whether the Operatyon of thys Pouder will +be to soone or to late, or not correspondent to the due tyme, +and that my fault being discouered, I shall remayne a Fable to +the People? What know I moreouer, if the Serpents and other +venomous and crauling Wormes, whych commonly frequent the Graues +and pittes of the Earth wyll hurt me, thynkyng that I am deade. +But howe shall I indure the stynche of so many carions and Bones +of myne auncestors whych rest in the Graue, yf by fortune I do +awake before Rhomeo and Fryer Laurence doe come to help mee?" +And as shee was thus plunged in the deepe contemplatyon of +thynges, she thought that she saw a certayn vision or fansie of +hir Cousin Thibault, in the very same sort as shee sawe him +wounded and imbrued wyth Bloud, and musing how that she must be +buried quick amongs so many dead Carcases and deadly naked +bones, hir tender and delycate body began to shake and tremble, +and hir yelowe lockes to stare for feare, in sutch wyse as +fryghtned with terroure, a cold sweate beganne to pierce hir +heart and bedewe the reste of al hir membres, in sutch wise as +she thought that an hundred thousand Deathes did stande about +hir, haling hir on euery side, and plucking hir in pieces, and +feelyng that hir forces diminyshed by lyttle and lyttle, fearing +that through to great debilyty she was not able to do hir +enterpryse, like a furious and insensate Woman, with out further +care, gulped vp the Water wythin the Voyal, then crossing hir +armes vpon hir stomacke, she lost at that instante all the +powers of hir Body, restyng in a Traunce. And when the morning +lyght began to thrust his head out of his Oryent, hir Chaumber +Woman which had lockte hir in with the Key, did open the doore, +and thynkyng to awake hir, called hir many tymes, and sayd vnto +hir: "Mistresse, you sleepe to long, the Counte Paris will come +to raise you." The poore olde Woman spake vnto the wall, and +sange a song vnto the deafe. For if all the horrible and +tempestuous soundes of the world had bene cannoned forth out of +the greatest bombardes and sounded through hir delycate Eares, +hir spyrites of Lyfe were so fast bounde and stopt, as she by no +meanes coulde awake, wherewith the pore olde Woman amazed, began +to shake hir by the armes and Handes, whych she found so colde +as marble stone. Then puttyng Hande vnto hir Mouthe, sodainely +perceyued that she was dead, for shee perceyued no breath in +hir. Wherefore lyke a Woman out of hir Wyttes, shee ranne to +tell hir mother, who so madde as a Tigre, berefte of hir Faunes +hied hir selfe into hir Daughter's Chaumber, and in that pitiful +state beholdynge hir Daughter, thinkyng hir to be deade, cried +out: "Ah cruell Death, which hast ended all my ioye and Blysse, +vse the last scourge of thy wrathfull ire agaynst me, least by +sufferyng mee to liue the rest of my woefull Dayes, my Torment +doe increase." Then she began to fetch sutch strayning sighes, +as hir heart did seeme to cleaue in pieces. And as hir cries +began to encrease, behold the Father, the County Paris, and a +great troupe of Gentlemen and Ladies, which were come to honour +the feaste, hearing no sooner tell of that which chaunced, were +stroke into sutch sorrowfull dumpes as he which had beheld their +Faces would easily haue iudged that the same had ben a day of +ire and pity, specially the Lord Antonio, whose heart was +frapped with sutch surpassing woe, as neither teare nor word +could issue forth, and knowing not what to doe, straight way +sent to seeke the most expert Phisitians of the towne, who after +they had inquired of the life past of Iulietta, deemed by common +reporte, that melancoly was the cause of that sodayne death, and +then their sorows began to renue a fresh. And if euer day was +Lamentable, Piteous, Vnhappy, and Fatall, truly it was that +wherein Iulietta hir death was published in Verona: for shee was +so bewayled of great and small, that by the common playnts, the +Common wealth seemed to be in daunger, and not without cause: +for besides hir naturall beauty (accompanied with many vertues +wherewith nature had enriched hir) she was else so humble, wise, +and debonaire, as for that humility and curtesie she had stollen +away the hearts of euery wight, and there was none but did +lament hir Misfortune. And whilest these thinges were in this +lamented state, Frier Laurence with diligence dispatched a Frier +of his Couent, named Frier Anselme, whom he trusted as himselfe, +and deliuered him a Letter written with hys owne hande, +commaunding him expressely not to giue the same to any other but +to Rhomeo, wherein was conteyned the chaunce which had passed +betwene him and Iulietta, specially the vertue of the Pouder, +and commaunded him the nexte ensuinge Nighte to speede himselfe +to Verona, for that the operation of the Pouder that time would +take ende, and that he should cary wyth him back agayne to +Mantua his beloued Iulietta, in dissembled apparell, vntill +Fortune had otherwise prouided for them. The frier made sutch +hast as (too late) hee arriued at Mantua, within a while after. +And bicause the maner of Italy is, that the Frier trauayling +abroade ought to take a companion of his couent to doe his +affaires wythin the City, the Fryer went into his couent, and +for that he was within, it was not lawfull for him to come oute +againe that Day, bicause that certain dayes before, one +relygious of that couent as it was sayd, dyd dye of the plague: +wherefore the Magistrates appoynted for the health and +visitation of the sick, commaunded the Warden of the House that +no Friers should wander abrode the city, or talke with any +Citizen, vntil they were licensed by the officers in that +behalfe appoynted, which was the cause of the great mishap which +you shal heare hereafter. The Friar being in this perplexitye, +not able to goe forth, and not knowyng what was contayned in the +Letter, deferred hys Jorney for that Day. Whilst things were in +thys plyght, preparation was made at Verona, to doe the +obsequies of Iulietta. There is a custome also (which is common +in Italy,) to laye all the best of one lignage and Familye in +one Tombe, wherevppon Iulietta was intoumbed, in the ordinary +Graue of the Capellettes, in a Churcheyarde, hard by the Churche +of the Fryers, where also the Lord Thibault was interred, whose +Obsequies honorably done, euery man returned: whereunto Pietro, +the seruaunt of Rhomeo, gaue hys assystance: for as we haue +before declared, hys mayster sente hym backe agayne from Mantua +to Verona, to do his father seruice, and to aduertise him of +that which should chaunce in his absence there: who seeyng the +Body of Iulietta, inclosed in Toumbe, thinkyng with the reste +that shee had bene dead in deede, incontinently tooke poste +horse, and with dylygence rode to Mantua, where he founde his +Mayster in his wonted house, to whom he sayde, wyth hys Eyes +full of Teares: "Syr, there is chaunced vnto you so straunge a +matter as if so be you do not arme your selfe with Constancye, +I am afrayed that I shall be the cruell minyster of your Death: +be it known vnto you sir, that yesterday morning my mistresse +Iulietta left hir Lyfe in thys Worlde to seeke rest in an other: +and wyth these Eyes I saw her buryed in the Churchyarde of S. +Frauncis." At the sounde of whych heauye message, Rhomeo begann +woefullye to Lamente, as though hys spyrites gryeued wyth the +Tormente of his Passion at that instant would haue abandoned his +Bodye. But stronge Loue which woulde not permytte him to faynt +vntyl the extremity, framed a thoughte in hys fantesie, that if +it were possyble for him to dye besides hir his Death should be +more gloryous, and shee (as he thought) better contented: by +reason whereof, after he had washed his face for feare to +discouer his sorrowe, hee wente out of his Chamber, and +commaunded hys man to tarry behynd him, that he myght walke +through out all the Corners of the Citye, to finde propre +remedye (if it were possyble) for hys gryefe. And amonges +others, beholdynge an Apoticarye's shop of lyttle furnyture and +lesse store of Boxes and other thinges requisite for that +scyence, thought that the verye pouerty of the mayster +Apothecarye would make hym wyllingle yeld to that which he +pretended to demaunde: and after he had taken hym aside, +secretly sayde vnto him: "Syr, if you be the Mayster of the +House, as I thynk you be, beholde here Fifty Ducates, whych I +gyue you to the intent you delyuer me some strong and vyolente +Poyson that within a quarter of an houre is able to procure +Death vnto hym that shall vse it." The couetous Apothecarye +entysed by gayne, agreed to his request, and faynying to gyue +hym some other medycine before the People's Face, he speedily +made ready a strong and cruell Poyson, afterwardes he sayd unto +him softly: "Syr, I guye you more than is needefull, for the one +halfe is able to destroy the strongest manne of the world:" who +after he hadde receyued the poyfon, retourned home, where he +commaunded his man to departe with diligence to Verona, and that +he should make prouision of candels, a tynder Boxe, and other +Instrumentes meete for the opening of the graue of Iulietta, and +that aboue all things hee shoulde not fayle to attende his +commynge besides the Churchyarde of S. Frauncis, and vppon Payne +of Life to keepe hys intente in silence. Which Pietro obeied in +order as hys maister had requyred, and made therin sutch +expedityon, as he arriued in good time to Verona, taking order +for al things that wer commaunded him. Rhomeo in the meane while +being solycyted wyth mortall thoughtes caused incke and paper to +be broughte vnto hym, and in few words put in wryting all the +discourse of his loue, the mariage of him and Iulietta, the +meane obserued for consummation of the same, the helpe that he +had of Frier Laurence, the buying of his Poyson, and last of all +his death. Afterwardes hauing finished his heauy tragedy, hee +closed the letters, and sealed the same with his seale, and +directed the Superscription thereof to hys Father: and puttyng +the letters into his pursse, he mounted on horsebacke, and vsed +sutch dylygence, as he arriued vppon darke Nyght at the Citye of +Verona, before the gates were shut, where he founde his +seruaunte tarying for him with a Lanterne and instrumentes as is +before sayd, meete for the opening of the graue, vnto whome hee +said: "Pietro, helpe mee to open this Tombe, and so soone as it +is open I commaunde thee vppon payne of thy life, not to come +neere mee, nor to stay me from the thing I purpose to doe. +Beholde, there is a letter which thou shalt present to morrow in +the mornyng to my Father at his vprysing, which peraduenture +shall please him better than thou thinkest." Pietro, not able to +imagine what was his maister's intent, stode somewhat aloofe to +beholde his maister's gestes and Countenance. And when they had +opened the Vaulte, Rhomeo descended downe two steppes, holdyng +the candel in his hand and began to behold wyth pityfull Eye, +the body of hir, which was the organ of his Eyes, and kyst it +tenderly, holdyng it harde betwen his armes, and not able to +satisfie him selfe with hir sight, put hys fearefull handes +vppon the colde stomacke of Iulietta. And after he had touched +hir in many places, and not able to feele anye certayne +Iudgemente of Lyfe, he drewe the Poyson out of hys boxe, and +swallowyng downe a great quantytye of the same, cryed out: "O +Iulietta, of whome the Worlde was vnworthye, what Death is it +possyble my Hearte coulde choose oute more agreeable than that +whych yt suffereth harde by thee? what Graue more Gloryous, than +to bee buried in thy Toumbe? what more woorthy or excellent +Epytaphe can bee vowed for Memorye, than the mutuall and +pytyfull Sacryfice of our lyues?" And thinkinge to renue his +sorrowe, his hearte began to frette through the vyolence of the +Poyson, whiche by lyttle and lyttle assailed the same, and +lookyng about hym, espied the Bodye of the Lorde Thibault, lying +nexte vnto Iulietta, whych as yet was not al together putrified, +and speakyng to the bodye as though it hadde bene alyue, sayde: +"In what place so euer thou arte (O Cousyn Thibault) I most +heartely do crye the mercye for the offence whych I haue done by +depryuing of thy Lyfe: and yf thy Ghost doe wyshe and crye out +for Vengeaunce vppon mee, what greater or more cruell +satysfaction canste thou desyre to haue, or henceforth hope for, +than to see him whych murdered thee, to bee empoysoned with his +owne handes, and buryed by thy side?" Then endynge hys talke, +felyng by lyttle and lyttle that his lyfe began to fayle, +falling prostrate vppon his knees, wyth feeble voyce hee softely +sayd: "O my Lord God, which to redeeme me didest discend from +the bosom of thy Father, and tookest humane fleshe in the Wombe +of the Vyrgine, I acknowledge and confesse, that this body of +myne is nothing else but Earth and Dust." Then seazed vppon wyth +desperate sorrow, he fell downe vppon the Body of Iulietta with +sutch vehemence, as the heart faint and attenuated with too +great torments, not able to beare so hard a vyolence, was +abandoned of all his sense and Naturall powers, in sutch sorte +as the siege of hys soule fayled him at that instant, and his +members stretched forthe, remayned stiffe and colde. Fryer +Laurence whych knew the certayne tyme of the pouder's operation, +maruelled that he had no answere of the Letter which he sent to +Rhomeo by his fellowe Fryer Anselme, departed from S. Frauncis +and with Instruments for the purpose, determined to open the +Graue to let in aire to Iulietta, whych was ready to wake: and +approchyng the place, hee espied a lyght within, which made him +afraide vntyll that Pietro whych was hard by, had certyfied hym +that Rhomeo was with in, and had not ceased there to Lamente and +Complayne the space of halfe an Houre: and when they two were +entred the Graue and finding Rhomeo without Lyfe, made sutch +sorrowe as they can well coneyue whych Loue their deare Fryende +wyth lyke perfection. And as they were making theyr complaints, +Iulietta rising out of hir traunce, and beholding light within +the Toumbe, vncertayne wheather it were a dreame or fantasie +that appeared before his eyes, comming agayne to hir selfe, knew +Frier Laurence, vnto whom she said: "Father, I pray thee in the +name of God to perfourme thy promise, for I am almost deade." +And then frier Laurence concealing nothing from hir, (bycause he +feared to be taken through his too long abode in that place) +faithfully rehearsed vnto hir, how he had sent frier Anselme to +Rhomeo at Mantua, from whom as yet hee had receiued no aunswere. +Notwithstanding he found Rhomeo dead in the graue, whose body he +poyncted vnto, lyinge hard by hir, praying hir sith it was so, +paciently to beare that sodayne misfortune, and that if it +pleased hir, he would conuey hir into some monastery of women +where she might in time moderate hir sorrow, and giue rest vnto +hir minde. Iulietta had no sooner cast eye vppon the deade corps +of Rhomeo, but began to breake the fountayne pipes of gushing +teares, which ran forth in sutch aboundance, as not able to +support the furor of hir griefe, she breathed without ceasing +vpon his mouth, and then throwen hir selfe vppon his body, and +embracing it very hard, seemed that by force of sighes and sobs, +she would haue reuiued, and brought him againe to life, and +after she had kissed and rekissed hym a million of times, she +cried out: "Ah the sweete reste of my cares, and the onely port +of all my pleasures and pastimes, hadst thou so sure a hearte to +choose thy Churchyarde in this place betwene the armes of thy +perfect Louer, and to ende the course of thy life for my sake in +the floure of thy Youth when lyfe to thee should have bene most +deare and delectable? how had this tender body power to resist +the furious Coumbat of death, very death it selfe here present? +how coulde thy tender and delicate youth willingly permit that +thou shouldest approch into this filthy and infected place, +where from henceforth thou shalt be the pasture of Worms +vnworthy of thee? Alas, alas, by what meanes shall I now renue +my playnts, which time and long pacience ought to haue buried +and clearely quenched? Ah I, miserable and Caitife wretch, +thinking to finde remedy for my griefs, haue sharpned the Knife +that hath gieuen me this cruell blow, whereof I receiue the +cause of mortall wound. Ah, happy and fortunate graue which +shalt serue in world to come for witnesse of the most perfect +aliaunce that euer was betwene two most infortunate louers, +receyue now the last sobbing sighes, and intertayment of the +most cruell of all the cruell subiects of ire and death." And as +she thought to continue hir complaynts, Pietro aduertised Frier +Laurence that he heard a noyse besides the citadell, wherewyth +being afrayd, they speadily departed, fearing to be taken: and +then Iulietta seeing hir selfe alone, and in full Liberty, tooke +agayne Rhomeo betweene hir armes, kissing him with sutch +affection, as she seemed to be more attaynted with loue than +death, and drawing out the Dagger which Rhomeo ware by his side, +she pricked hir selfe with many blowes against the heart, +sayinge with feeble and pitiful voice: "Ah death the end of +sorrow, and beginning of felicity, thou art most hartely +welcome: feare not at this time to sharpen thy dart: giue no +longer delay of life, for feare that my sprite trauayle not to +finde Rhomeo's ghost amongs sutch number of carion corpses: and +thou my deare Lord and loyall husband Rhomeo, if there rest in +thee any knowledge, receyue hir whom thou hast so faythfully +loued, the onely cause of thy violent death, which frankely +offreth vp hir soule that none but thou shalt ioy the loue +whereof thou hast made so lawfull conquest, and that our soules +passing from this light, may eternally liue together in the +place of euerlasting ioy." And when she had ended those wordes +shee yelded vp hir ghost. While these thinges thus were done, +the garde and watch of the Citty by chaunce passed by, and +seeing light within the graue, suspected straight that there +were some Necromancers which had opened the Toumbe to abuse the +deade bodies for ayde of their arte: and desirous to knowe what +it ment, went downe into the vaut, where they found Rhomeo and +Iulietta, with their armes imbracing ech other's neck, as though +there had bene some token of lyfe. And after they had well +viewed them at leysure, they perceyued in what case they were: +and then all amazed they sought for the theeues which (as they +thought) had done the murther, and in the ende founde the good +father Fryer Laurence, and Pietro the seruaunte of deade Rhomeo +(whych had hid themselues under a stall) whom they caryed to +Pryson, and aduertysed the Lord of Escala, and the magistrates +of Verona of that horrible murder, which by and by was published +throughoute the City. Then flocked together al the Citizens, +women and children leauyng their houses, to loke vppon that +pityful sighte, and to the Ende that in presence of the whole +Cytie, the murder should be knowne, the Magistrates ordayned +that the two deade Bodies should he erected vppon a stage to the +view and sight of the whole World, in sutch sorte and manner as +they were found withyn the Graue, and that Pietro and frier +Laurence should publikely bee examyned, that afterwardes there +myght be no murmure or other pretended cause of ignoraunce. And +thys good olde Frier beyinge vppon the Scaffold, hauinge a whyte +Bearde all wet and bathed with Teares, the Iudges commaunded him +to declare vnto them who were the Authors of that Murder, sith +at vntimely houre hee was apprehended with certayne Irons +besides the Graue. Fryer Laurence, a rounde and franke Man of +talke, nothyng moued with that accusation, answered them with +stoute and bolde voyce: "My maisters, there is none of you all +(if you haue respect vnto my forepassed Life, and to my aged +Yeres, and therewithall haue consideration of this heauy +spectacle, whereunto vnhappy fortune hathe presently brought me) +but doeth greatly maruell of so sodaine mutation and change +vnlooked for so mutch as these three score and Ten or twelue +Yeares sithens I came into this Worlde, and began to proue the +vanities thereof, I was neuer suspected, touched, or found +guilty of any crime which was able to make me blushe, or hide my +face, although (before God) I doe confesse my self to be the +greatest and most abhominable sinner of al the redeemed flocke +of Christ. So it is notwythstanding, that sith I am prest and +ready to render mine accompte, and that Death, the Graue and +wormes do dailye summon this wretched corps of myne to appeare +before the Iustyce seate of God, still wayghtyng and attending +to be carried to my hoped graue, this is the houre I say, as you +likewise may thinke wherein I am fallen to the greatest damage +and preiudice of my Lyfe and honest porte, and that which hath +ingendred thys synyster opynyon of mee, may peraduenture bee +these greate Teares which in abundaunce tryckle downe my Face as +though the holy scriptures do not witnesse, that Jesus Christ +moued with humayne pitty, and compassion, did weepe, and poure +forth teares, and that many times teares be the faythfull +messengers of a man's innocency. Or else the most likely +euidence, and presumption, is the suspected hour, which (as the +magistrate doth say) doth make mee culpable of the murder, as +though all houres were not indifferently made equall by God +their Creator, who in his owne person declareth vnto vs that +there be twelue houres in the Day, shewing thereby that there is +no exception of houres nor of minutes, but that one may doe +eyther good or ill at all times indifferently, as the party is +guided or forsaken by the sprite of God: touching the Irons +which were founde about me, needefull it is not now to let you +vnderstand for what vse Iron was first made, and that of it +selfe it is not able to increase in man eyther good or euill, if +not by the mischieuous minde of hym which doth abuse it. Thus +mutch I haue thought good to tell you, to the intent that +neyther teares nor Iron, ne yet suspected houre, are able to +make me guilty of the murder, or make me otherwyse than I am, +but only the witnesse of mine owne conscience, which alone if I +were guilty should be the accuser, the witnesse, and the +hangman, whych, by reason of mine age and the reputation I haue +had amonges you, and the little time that I haue to liue in this +World shoulde more torment me within, than all the mortall +paynes that could be deuised: but (thankes be to myne eternall +God) I feele no worme that gnaweth, nor any remorse that +pricketh me touching that fact, for which I see you all troubled +and amazed: and to set your harts at rest, and to remoue the +doubts which hereafter may torment your consciences, I sweare +vnto you by all the heauenly parts wherein I hope to be, that +forthwith I will disclose from first to last the entire +discourse of this pitifull tragedy, whych peraduenture shall +driue you into no lesse wondre and amaze, than those two poore +passionate Louers were strong and pacient, to expone themselues +to the mercy of death, for the feruent and indissoluble loue +betwene then." Then the Fatherly Frier began to repeate the +beginning of the loue betwene Iulietta, and Rhomeo, which by +certayne space of time confirmed, was prosecuted by wordes at +the first, then by mutual promise of mariage, vnknown to the +world. And as within few dayes after, the two Louers feelinge +themselues sharpned and incited with stronger onset, repaired +vnto him vnder colour of confession, protesting by othe that +they were both maried, and that if he woulde not solempnize that +mariage in the face of the Church, they should be constrayned to +offend God to liue in disordred lust: in consideration whereof, +and specially seeing their alliaunce to be good, and comfortable +in dignity, richesse and Nobility on both sides, hoping by that +meanes perchaunce to reconcile the Montesches, and Capellets, +and that by doing sutch an acceptable worke to God, he gaue them +the Churches blessingin a certayne Chappel of the friers church +whereof the night following they did consummate the mariage +fruicts in the Pallace of the Capellets. For testimony of which +copulation, the woman of Iuliettae's Chamber was able to depose: +Adding moreouer, the murder of Thibault, which was Cousin to +Iulietta: by reason whereof the banishment of Rhomeo did +followe, and howe in the absence of the sayd Rhomeo, the mariage +being kept secret betwene them, a new Matrimony was intreated +wyth the Countee Paris, which misliked by Iulietta, she fell +prostrate at his feete in a Chappell of S. Frauncis church, with +full determination to haue killed hirself with hir owne hands, +if he gaue hir not councell how she should auoyde the mariage +agreed betwene hir father and the Countee Paris. For conclusion, +he sayd, that although he was resolued by reason of his age, and +nearenesse of death to abhorre all secrete Sciences, wherein in +his younger yeares he had delight, notwithstanding, pressed with +importunity, and moued with pitty, fearing least Iulietta should +do some cruelty agaynst hirselfe, he strayned his conscience, +and chose rather with some little fault to grieue his minde, +than to suffer the young gentlewoman to destroy hir body, and +hazarde the daunger of hir soule: and therefore he opened some +part of his auncient cunning, and gaue her a certayne Pouder to +make hir sleepe, by meanes whereof she was thought to be deade. +Then he tolde them how he had sent Frier Anselme to cary letters +to Rhomeo of their enterprise, whereof hitherto he had no +aunswere. Then briefly he concluded how he found Rhomeo dead +within the graue, who as it is most likely did impoyson +himselfe, or was otherwise smothered or suffocated with sorow by +findinge Iulietta in that state, thinking shee had bene dead. +Then he tolde them how Iulietta did kill hirselfe with the +Dagger of Rhomeo to beare him company after his death, and how +it was impossible for them to saue hir for the noyse of the +watch which forced theym to flee from thence. And for more ample +approbation of his saying, he humbly besought the Lord of Verona +and the Magistrats to send to Mantua for Frier Anselme to know +the cause of his slack returne, that the content of the letter +sent to Rhomeo might be seene: to examine the Woman of the +Chamber of Iulietta, and Pietro the seruaunt of Rhomeo, who not +attending for further request, sayd vnto them: "My Lordes, when +Rhomeo entred the graue, he gaue me this Pacquet, written as I +suppose with his owne hand, who gaue me expresse commaundement +to deliuer it to his father." The pacquet opened, they found the +whole effect of this story, specially the Apothecarie's name, +which sold him the Poyson, the price, and the cause wherefore he +vsed it, and all appeared to be so cleare and euident, as there +rested nothing for further verification of the same, but their +presence at the doing of the particulers thereof, for the whole +was so well declared in order, as they were out of doubt that +the same was true: and then the Lord Bartholomew of Escala, +after he had debated with the Magistrates of these euents, +decreed that the Woman of Iulietta hir chamber should bee +banished, because shee did conceale that priuy mariage from the +Father of Rhomeo, which if it had beene knowne in tyme, had bred +to the whole Citty an vniuersall benefit. Pietro because he +obeyed hys mayster's commaundement, and kept close hys lawfull +secrets, according to the well conditioned nature of a trusty +seruaunt, was set at liberty. The Poticary taken, rackt, and +founde guilty, was hanged. The good olde man Frier Laurence, as +well for respect of his auncient seruice which he had done to +the common wealth of Verona, as also for his vertuous life (for +the which hee was specially recommended) was let goe in peace, +without any note of Infamy. Notwithstanding by reason of his +age, he voluntarily gaue ouer the World, and closed himselfe in +an Hermitage, two miles from Verona, where he liued 5 or 6 +yeares, and spent hys tyme in continuall prayer, vntil he was +called out of this transitory worlde, into the blisful state of +euerlasting ioy. And for the compassion of so straunge an +infortune, the Montesches, and Capellets poured forth sutch +abundaunce of teares, as with the same they did euacuate their +auncient grudge and choler, whereby they were then reconciled: +and they which coulde not bee brought to attonement by any +wisedome or humayne councell, were in the ende vanquished and +made frends by pity: and to immortalizate the memory of so +intier and perfect amity, the Lord of Verona ordayned, that the +two bodies of those miraculous Louers should be fast intoumbed +in the graue where they ended their lyues, in which place was +erected a high marble Piller, honoured with an infinite number +of excellent Epytaphes, which to this day be apparaunt, with +sutch noble memory, as amongs all the rare excellencies, +wherewith that City is furnished, there is none more Famous than +the Monument of Rhomeo and Iulietta. + + + + +THE TWENTY-SIXTH NOUELL. + + _Two gentlemen of Venice were honourably deceiued of their + Wyues, whose notable practises, and secret conference for + atchieuinge their desire, occasioned diuers accidentes, and + ingendred double benefit: wherein also is recited an eloquent + oration, made by one of them, pronounced before the Duke + and state of that Cittye: with other chaunces and actes + concerninge the same._ + + +Heere haue I thought good to summon 2 Gentlewomen of Venice to +appeare in Place, and to mount on Stage amongs other Italian +Dames to shew cause of their bolde incountrey agaynst the Folly +of their two Husbands, that vncharitably without respect of +neyghbourhoode, went about to assayle the honesty of eyther's +wyfe, and weening they had enioyed others felicity, by the +womens prudence, foresight and ware gouernment, were both +deceiued, and yet attayned the chiefest benefit that mariage +state doth looke for: so that if search bee made amonges +antiquities, it is to be doubted wheather greater chastity, and +better pollicy could be founde for accomplishment of an intended +purpose. Many deedes haue ben done by women for sauegard of +their Husbandes lyues, as that of the Minyæ, a sort of Women +whose husbandes were imprisoned at Lacedæmon, and for treason +condemned, who to saue their liues, entred into prison the night +before they should dy, and by exchange of apparell, deliuered +them, and remayned there to suffer for them. Of Hipsicratea also +the Queene and Wyfe of Mithridates king of Pontus, who spared +not hir Noble beauty and golden lockes to manure hir selfe in +the vse of armes, to keepe hir husband company in perils and +daungers: and being ouercome by Pompeius, and flying away, neuer +left him vnaccompanied, ne forsooke sutch trauayle as he +himselfe sustayned. The like also of Æmilia, Turia, Sulpitia, +Portia, and other Romane Dames. But that sutch haue preuented +their husband's folly, seldome we reade, sauing of Queene Marie, +the Wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon, who marking the +insolency of hir husband, and sory for his disordred life, +honest iealousie opening hir continent eyes, forced hir to seeke +meanes to remoue his wanton acts, or at leastwise by pollicy and +wise foresight to make him husbande and culture his own soyle, +that for want of seasonable tillage was barren and voyde of +fruicte. Wherefore consulting with the Lord chamberlayne, who of +custome brought whom the king liked best, was in place of his +woman bestowed in his Bed, and of her that night begat the yong +Prynce Giacomo, that afterwardes proued a valiaunte, and wise +king. These passing good pollicies of women many times abolish +the frantik lecherous fits of husbands gieuen to superfluous +lusts, when first by their chast behauiour and womanly patience +they contayne that which they be loth to see or heare of, and +then demaunding counsell of sobriety and wisedome, excogitate +sleights to shun folly, and expell discurtesie, by husbande's +carelesse vse. Sutch practises, and deuises, these two +Gentlewomen whom I now bringe forth, disclose in this discourse +ensuing. In the Citty of Venice, (which for riches and fayre +Women excelleth all other within the region of Italy) in the +time that Francesco Foscari, a very wyse Prynce, did gouerne the +state, there were two young Gentlemen, the one called Girolamo +Bembo, and the other Anselmo Barbadico, betwene whom as many +times chaunceth amongs other, grew sutch great hatred and cruel +hostility, as ech of them by secret and all possible meanes +deuised to doe other shame and displeasure, which kindled to +sutch outrage, as it was thought impossible to be pacified. It +chaunced that at one tyme both of them did mary two noble young +Gentlewomen, excellent and fayre, both brought vp vnder one +Nurse, and loued ech other lyke two Sisters, and as though they +had been both borne of one body. The Wyfe of Anselmo, called +Isotta, was the Daughter of Messer Marco Gradenigo, a man of +great estimation in that Citty, one of the procuratours of San +Marco, whereof there were not so great number in those dayes as +there bee now, because the Wysest men, and best Approued of Lyfe +were chosen to that great and Noble dignity, none allotted +thereunto by Bribes or Ambition. The Wyfe of Girolamo Bembo was +called Lucia, the Daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio +Caualiere, a Gentleman very well learned, and many times sent by +the State, Ambassador into diuers Countreys, and after he had +bene Orator wyth the Pope, for his wisedome in the execution of +the same was in great estimation wyth the whole Citty. The two +Gentlewomen after they were maried, and heard of the hatred +betwene their Husbandes, were very sorrowfull and pensiue, +because they thought the Freendshyp and Loue betwene them +twayne, continued from their tender yeares, could not bee, but +with greate difficulty kept, or else altogither dissolued and +broken. Notwithstanding beyng discrete and wyse, for auoyding +occasion of eche Husbande's offence, determined to cease their +accustomed conuersation and louinge Familiarity, and not to +frequent others company, but at Places and Tymes conuenient. To +whom Fortune was so fauourable, as not onely theyr Houses were +neere together but also adioyninge, in the Backsides whereof +theyr Gardeyns also Confined, seperated onely wyth a lyttle +Hedge, that euery day they myght see one another, and many tymes +talke together: moreouer the Seruauntes, and People of eyther +houses were freendly, and familiar, whych didde greately content +the two Louynge Gentlewomen, bicause they also in the absence of +theyr Husbandes, myghte at pleasure in their Gardens disport +themselues. And continuing this order the space of three yeares +neyther of them within that terme were with chylde. In which +space Anselmo many times viewing and casting his eyes vpon +Madonna Lucia, fell earnestly in loue with hir, and was not that +day well at ease, wherein he had not beholden hir excellent +beauty. She that was of Spirite, and Wit subtle, marked the +lookes and maner of Anselmo, who neyther for loue, ne other +cause did render like lookes on him, but to see to what ende his +louing cheere and Countenaunce would tend. Notwithstanding she +seemed rather desirous to behold him, than elswhere to imploye +hir lookes. On the other side the good behauiour, the wise order +and pleasaunt beauty of Madonna Isotta was so excellent and +plausible in the sight of mayster Girolamo, as no Louer in the +World was better pleased with his beloued than he with hir: who +not able to liue wythout the sweete sight of Isotta (that was a +crafty and wily Wench) was by hir quickly perceiued. She being +right honest and wise, and louing hir husband very dearely, did +beare that countenaunce to Girolamo, that she generally did to +any of the Citty, or to other straunger that she neuer saw +before. But hir husband more and more inflamed, hauing lost the +liberty of himselfe, wounded and pierced with the amorous arowes +of Loue, coulde not conuert his minde to any other but to +mistresse Lucia. These two women wonted to heare seruice euery +day ordinarily at the church of Sanfantino, bicause they lay +long a bed in the mornings, and commonly seruice in that church +was sayd somewhat late: their pewes also somwhat distant one +from an other. Whether their 2 amorous husbands continually vsed +to follow them a loofe of, and to place themselues where eyther +of them might best view his beloued: by which custome they +seemed to the common people to be iealous ouer their Wyues. +But they prosecuted the matter in sutch wyse, as eyther of them +without shipping, sought to send other into Cornouale. It came +to passe then, that these 2 beloued gentlewomen one knowing +nothing of another's intent, determined to consider better of +this loue, because the great good will long time borne, should +not be interrupted. Vppon a certayne day when their husbands +were abrode, resorting together to talk at their Garden hedge +according to theyr wonted manner, they began to be pleasaunte +and merry: and after louynge salutations, Mistresse Lucia spake +these Woordes vnto hir Companyon: "Isotta my deare beloued +sister, I haue a tale to tell you of your husband, that +perchaunce will seeme straunger than anye newes that euer you +heard." "And I" (answered mistresse Isotta) "I have a story to +tel you that wil make you no lesse to wonder than I at that +which you haue to say, and it may be will put you into some +choler and chafe." "What is that?" quod the one and other. +In the ende eyther of them told what practizes and loue their +husbands went about. Whereat although they were in great rage +for theyr husbandes follye, yet for the time they laughed out +the matter, and thought that they were sufficient (as in very +deede they were, a thing not to be doubted) and able to satisfie +their husbands hunger and therewithall began to blame them and +to say that they deserued to learn to play of the Cornets, if +they had no greater feare of God, and care of honesty than their +husbands had. Then after mutch talke of this matter, concluded +that they should do wel to expect what their husbands would +demaund. Hauing taken order as they thought meete, they agreed +dailye to espye what shoulde chaunce, and purposed first with +sweete and pleasaunte lookes to bayte and lure eche other feere, +to put them in hope therby that they should satisfie their +desires, which done for that tyme they departed. And when at the +Church at Sanfantino or other place in Venice, they chanced to +meete their louers, they shewed vnto them cheareful and mery +Countenaunce: whych the Louers well notyng, were the gladdest +Men of the Worlde: and seeing that it was impossible in Speache +to vtter their Myndes, they purposed by Letters to signify the +same. And hauing found Purciuants to goe betwene parties +(whereof this City was wont to be ful) either of them wrote an +Amorous Letter, to his beloued, the content whereof was, that +they were verye desyrous secretly to talke with them, thereby to +expresse the burnynge affectyons that inwardly they bare them, +whych without declaration and vtterance by Mouthe in theyr owne +presence, woulde breede them Torments more bytter than Deathe. +And wythin fewe Dayes after (no greate difference of Tyme +betweene,) they wrote their Letters. But Girolamo Bembo hauing a +pregnant Wit, who coulde well Endite both in prose, and Rime, +wrote an excellent sonnet in the prayse of his Darling in +Italian Meeter, and wyth hys Letter sent the same vnto hir, +the effect whereof doth follow. + + A liuely face and pearcing beauty bright + Hath linkt in loue my sely sences all: + A comely porte, a goodly shaped wight + Hath made me slide that neuer thought to fall: + Hir eyes, hir grace, hir deedes and maners milde, + So straines my heart that loue hath Wit begilde. + + But not one dart of Cupide did me wounde, + A hundred shaftes lights all on me at ones: + As though dame kind some new deuise had founde, + To teare my flesh, and crash a two my bones: + And yet I feele sutch ioy in these my woes + That as I die my sprite to pleasure goes. + + These new found fits sutch change in me doe breede, + I hate the day and draw to darknesse, lo! + Yet by the Lampe of beauty doe I feede + In dimmest dayes and darkest nights also, + Thus altring State and changing Diet still, + I feele and know the force of Venus will. + + The best I finde, is that I doe confesse, + I loue you Dame whose beauty doth excell: + But yet a toy doth breede me some distresse, + For that I dread you will not loue me well, + Than loue yee wot shall rest in me alone: + And fleshly brest, shall beare a heart of stone. + + O goddesse mine, yet heare my voyce of ruthe, + And pitie him that heart presents to thee: + And if thou want a witnesse for my truth + Let sighes and teares my iudge and record be, + Vnto the ende a day may come in hast, + To make me thinke I spend no time in waste. + + For nought preuayles in loue to serue and sue + If full effect ioyne not with words at neede, + What is desire or any fansies newe + More than the winde? that spreades abroade in deede, + My words and works, shall both in one agree, + To pleasure hir, whose Seruaunt would I bee. + +The subtill Dames receiuing those amorous letters and song, +disdanfully at the first seemed to take them at the bringers +hands, as they had determined, yet afterwardes they shewed +better countenaunce. These letters were tossed from one to an +other, whereat they made great pastime, and thought that the +same would come to very good successe, eyther of theym keepinge +styll their Husbande's Letter, and agreed without iniury done +one to an other trimly to deceyue their husbands. The maner how +you shall perceyue anone. They deuised to send word to their +Louers, that they were ready at al times to satisfie their +sutes, if the same might be secretly done, and safely might make +repayre vnto their houses, when their Husbands were absent, +which in any wise they sayde, must be done in the night, for +feare least in the day tyme they were discried. Agayne these +prouident and subtill Women had taken order wyth their Maydes, +whom they made priuy to their practyse that through their +Gardens they should enter into other's house, and bee shut in +their Chambers without Lyght, there to tary for their Husbands, +and by any meanes not to bee seene or knowne. This order +prescribed and giuen, Mistresse Lucia first did hir louer to +vnderstand, that the night insuing at foure of the Clock at the +Posterne dore, which should be left open, he should come into +hir house, where hir mayde should be ready to bring him vp to +hir Chaumbre, because hir husband Maister Girolamo woulde that +Night imbarke himselfe to goe to Padua. The like Mistresse +Isotta did to Maister Girolamo, appointing him at fiue of the +clock, whych she sayd was a very conuenient time, bicause +mayster Anselmo that night would sup and lye with certayne of +his Fryends at Murano, a place besides Venice. Vpon these newes, +the 2 Louers thought them selues the most valiaunt and fortunate +of the World, no Enterprise now there was but seemed easie for +them to bring to passe, yea if it were to expell the Saracens +out of Hierusalem, or to depriue the great Turke of his Kingdome +of Constantinople. Their ioy was sutch, as they coulde not tell +where they were, thinking euery houre a whole day till night. +At length the tyme was come so long desired, and the Husbandes +accordingly gaue diligent attendaunce, and let their Wyues to +vnderstande, (or at least wyse beleeued they had) that they +could not come home that night for matters of great importaunce. +The Women that were very wise, seeing their ship sayle wyth so +prosperous wynde, fayned themselues to credite all that they +offered. These young men tooke eyther of them his Gondola (or as +we tearm it theyr Barge) to disport themselues, and hauing +supped abroade, rowed in the Canali, which is the Water that +passeth through diuers Streates of the Citty, expecting their +appoyncted houre. The Women ready at three of the Clocke, +repayred into their Gardens, and after they had Talked, and +Laughed together a prety whyle, went one into an other's house, +and were by the maydes brought vp to the Chaumbers. There eyther +of them the Candle being light, began diligently to view the +order and situation of the Place, and by little and little +marked the chiefest things they looked for, committing the same +to memory. Afterwards they put out the Candle, and both in +trembling maner expected the comming of their Husbandes. And +iust at four of the Clocke the Mayden of Madonna Lucia stoode at +the dore to wayte for the comminge of Maister Anselmo, who +within a while after came, and gladly was let in by the mayde, +and by hir conducted vp to hir Bed side. The place there, was so +dark as Hel, and impossible for him to know his Wyfe. The two +Wyues were so like of bignesse and Speach as by darke wythout +great difficulty they could be known: when Anselmo had put of +his clothes, he was of his Wyfe amorously intertayned, thinking +the Wyfe of Girolamo had receyued him betwene hir armes, who +aboue a Thousande times kissed hir very sweetely, and she for +hir parte sweetely rendred agayne to hym so many: what followed +it were Folly to describe. Girolamo lykewise at 5 of the clocke +appeared, and was by the mayde conueied vp to the Chamber, where +he lay with his own Wife, to their great contentations. Now +these 2 husbands thinking they had ben imbraced by their beloued +Ladies, to seeme braue, and valiaunt men of Warre, made greater +proofe of their Manhoode, than they were wont to do. At what +time their Wyues (as it pleased God to manifest by their +deliuery) were begotten with child of 2 fayre Sons, and they the +best contented Women of the World. This practise continued +betwene them many times, fewe weekes passing but in this sort +they lay together. Neither of them for all this perceiued +themselues to be deluded, or conceyued any suspition of +collusion for that the chamber was still without light, and in +the day the Women commonly fayled not to be together. The time +was not longe but their Bellies began to swell, whereat their +Husbandes were exceeding ioyfull, beleeuing verily that eyther +of them had fixed Hornes vpon the other's head. Howbeit the +poore men for all their false Beliefe had bestowed theyr Laboure +vppon their owne Soyle, watred onely with the course of their +proper Fountayne. These two Iolly Wenches seeyng themselues by +thys amorous practize to be with Childe, beganne to deuise howe +they might break of the same, douting least some slaunder and +ill talke should rise: and thereby the hatred and malice betwene +theyr husbandes increase to greater fury. And as they were +aboute thys deuise, an occasion chaunced vtterly to dissolue +theyr accustomed meetynges, but not in that sorte as they woulde +haue had it. For the Women determined as merily they had begon +so iocundlye to ende: but Fortune the guide of Humane Lyfe, +disposeth all enterpryses after hir owne pleasure, who lyke a +puissant Lady caryeth with hir the successe of eche attempte. +The beginning she offereth freely to him that list, the Ende she +calleth for, as a ransome or trybute payable vnto hir. In the +same streate, or as they call it Rio, and Canale, not farre from +theyr Houses, there dwelled a young Woman very fayre and comely, +not fully twenty yeares of age, which then was a Widow, and a +lyttle before the wife of M. Niccolo Delphino, and the Daughter +of M. Giuoanni Moro, called Gismonda: she besides hir Father's +Dowrye (which was more than a Thousand Pound) had left hir by +hir Husband, a great Porcyon of Money, Iewels, Plate, and +houshold Furnitures. Wyth hir fell in Loue Aloisio Foscari, the +Nephewe of the Duke, who making greate sute to haue hir to Wyfe, +consumed the time in beholding his Ladye, and at length had +brought the matter to so good passe, as one Nighte she was +contented, at one of the Wyndowes of hir House directly ouer +agaynste a little lane, to heare him speake. Aloisio maruellous +glad of those desired Newes, at the appoynted Nyght, about fyue +or sixe of the Clocke, with a Ladder made of Roapes (bicause the +Window was very high) went thyther alone. Beyng at the place and +making a signe concluded vppon betweene them, attended when the +gentlewoman should throw down hir cord to draw vp the Ladder +accordingly as was appointed, which not longe after was done. +Gismonda when shee had receiued the ende of the Ladder, tied it +fast to the iawme of the wyndow, and gaue a token to hir Louer +to mount. He by force of loue being very venturous, liuely and +lustely scaled the Wyndow: and when he was vppon the Top of the +same, desirous to caste himselfe in, to embrace his Lady, and +shee not readye to receiue him, or else vppon other occasion, he +fel downe backewarde, thinking as he fell to haue saued himselfe +twice or thryce by catchyng holde vppon the Ladder, but it would +not be. Notwithstanding, as God would haue it, the poise of his +Body fell not vppon the pauement of the streate fully, but was +stayed by some lets in the fall, whych had it not bene so, no +doubt he had bene slayne out of hande, but yet his bones were +sore brused and his heade deepely wounded. The infortunate Louer +seeing himselfe sore hurt wyth that pityfull fall, albeyt hee +thought that hee had receiued his Death's Wounde, and impossyble +to liue any longer, yet the loue that he bare to the Widow, +did so far surmount hys payne and the gryefe of hys Body sore +crushed and broken, that so well as he could, hee rose vp, and +with his hands stayed the Bloud that ranne from hys Heade, to +the intente yt myghte not rayse some slaunder vppon the Widow +whom hee loued so wel: and went alonges the streate towarde the +houses of Girolamo and Anselmo aforesaid. Being come thither +wyth greate difficulty not able to goe anye further for verye +payne and gryefe, hee faynted and fell downe as deade, where the +Bloude issued in sutch aboundaunce, as the Grounde therewyth was +greatly imbrued, and euery one that saw him thought him to be +voide of Lyfe. Mistresse Gismonda exceeding sorrowful for this +mischaunce, doubted that he had broken his Necke, but when she +saw hym depart, she comforted him so well as she could, and +drewe vp the Ladder into hir Chamber. Sutch Chaunces happen to +earnest Louers, who when they think they haue scaled the top of +theyr Felicity, sodaynly tomble downe into the Pit of extreme +despayre, that better it had ben for them leysurely to expect +the grace of their Ladyes at conuenient place and houre, than +hardily without prouidence to aduenture lyke desperat souldiers +to clym the top of the vamure, without measurying the height of +the Wals, or viewynge the substaunce of theyr Ladders, do +receyue in the ende cruell repulse, and fal down headlonge +either by present Death or mortall Wounde, to receyue +euerlastyng reproche and shame. But turne we agayne now to this +disgraced Louer, who lay gasping betwene Lyfe and Death. And as +he was in this sorrowful state, one of the Captaynes, a Noble +man appointed to see orders obserued in the Nighte, wyth hys +bande (which they call Zaffi) came thither: and finding hym +lying vpon the ground, knew that it was Aloisio Foscari, and +causing him to be taken vp from the place wher he lay, (thinking +he had ben dead) commanded that he should be conueyed into the +Church adioyning whych immediately was done. And when he had wel +considered the place where hee was founde, hee doubted that +eyther Girolamo Bembo or Anselmo Barbadico, before whose Dores +hee thought the murder committed, had kylled him, which +afterwards he beleued to be true, bycause he heard a certayne +noyse of mennes Feete at one of their Doores: wherefore he +deuided his company, placyng some on the one side of their +houses, and some on the other, besieging the same so well as he +coulde. And as Fortune woulde he founde by Neglygence of the +mayds, the dores of the II. houses open. It chaunced +also that Nyght that the two Louers one in other's House were +gone to lye with their Ladyes, who hearynge the hurly burly, and +sturre made in the house by the Sergeants, sodaynely the Women +lept out of their Beds, and bearyng their apparell vppon theyr +shoulders, went home to their houses throughe their Gardeins +vnseene of any, and in fearefull wyse did attende what should be +the End of the same. Girolamo, and Anselmo not knowing what +rumor and noise that was, although they made hast in the Darke +to cloth themselues, were by the Offycers without any field +fought, apprehended in ech other's Chamber, and remained +Prysoners at theyr mercy: whereat the Captayne and hys Band did +greatly maruell, knowyng the Hatred betweene them. But when +Torches and Lyghts were brought, and the two Gentlemen caried +out of Doores, the wonder was the greater for that they +perceyued them almoste Naked, and prysoners taken in eche +other's House. And besydes thys admiratyon, sutch murmur and +slaunder was bruted, as the quality of euerye Vulgar Heade +coulde secretlye deuyse or Imagyne, but specyally of the +innocente Women, who howe faultlesse they were, euery Man by +what is sayde before maye conceyue, and yet the cancred +Stomackes of that Troupe bare sutch Malyce agaynste them, as +they iarred and brawled agaynst them lyke curryshe Curres at +straunge Dogges whom they neuer sawe before. The Gentlemen +immediately were caried to pryson, ignorant vppon what occasion: +afterwards vnderstandinge that they were committed for the +murder of Aloisio Foscari, and imprysoned like theeues, albeit +they knew themselues guiltlesse of murder or Theft, yet their +gryef and sorrowe was very greate, beynge certayne that all +Venice should vnderstande howe they betweene whome had ben +mortall hatred, were nowe become copartners of that whych none +but the true possessours ought to enioy: and althoughe they +coulde not abyde to speake together, lyke those that deadely dyd +hate one another, yet both theyr myndes were fyxed vppon one +thought. In the ende, conceyuing Fury and despite agaynste theyr +Wyues, the place being so darke that no Lyght or Sunne coulde +pierce into the same, whereby wythout shame or disdayne one of +them began to speake to another, and with terrible Othes they +gaue theyr fayth to disclose the troth in what sort eyther of +them was taken in other's Chamber, and frankely told the way and +meane howe eche of them enioyed hys Pleasure of other's Wyfe: +whereupon the whole matter (according to their knowledge) was +altogether by little and little manifest and knowne. Then they +accompted theyr Wiues to be the most arrant strumpets within the +whole City, by dispraysing of whom theyr olde rancor was +forgotten, and they agreed together like two Fryends, who +thought that for shame they should neuer be able to looke Men in +the face, ne yet to shew themselues openlye within the Citye, +for sorrow whereof they deemed Death the greatest good turne and +best Benefit that could chance vnto them. To be short, seeing no +meanes or occasion to comfort and relieue theyr pensyue and +heauy states, they fell into extreeme despayre, who ashamed to +lyue any longer, deuised way to rid them selues of Lyfe, +concludyng to make themselues guilty of the murder of Aloiso +Foscari: and after mutch talke betweene them of that cruell +determination, styll approuing the same to be theyr best refuge, +they expected nothyng else, but when they should be examined +before the Magistrates. Foscari as is before declared was +carryed into the Churche for Deade, and the Pryest straightly +charged wyth the keepynge of hym, who caused hym to be conueyed +into the myddes of the Church, setting II. Torches a +Light, the one at his heade, and the other at his feete, and +when the Company was gone, he determined to goe to bed the +remnant of the Nyght to take his rest: but before he went, +seeing the Torches were but short, and could not last paste two +or three houres, he lighted two other, and set them in the +others place, for that it should seeme to his frends, if any +chaunced to come what care and worship he bestowed vpon him. +The Priest ready to depart, perceiued the Body somewhat to moue, +with that looking vppon his Face, espyed his eyes a little to +begin to open. Wherewithall somewhat afraide, he crying out, ran +awaye: notwithstanding his Courage began to come to him again, +and laying his hand vpon his breast, perceiued his heart to +beate, and then twas out of doubt that he was not dead, although +by reason of losse of his bloud he thought little life to +remaine in him: wherefore he with one of his fellow priests +which was a bed, and the Clerck of the Parish, caried maister +Foscari so tenderly as they could into the Priests Chamber, +which adioined next the Church. Then he sente for a surgeon that +dwelt hard by, and required him diligently to search the Wounde, +who so well as he could purged the same from the corrupt Bloud, +and perceiuyng it not to be mortall, so dressed it wyth Oyles +and other precious ointments, as Aloisio came agayn to hymselfe: +and when he had anoynted that recouered body wyth certayne +Precious and comfortable Oyles, he suffred him to take his rest: +the Priest also went to bed and slepte till it was Daye, who so +soone as he was vp, went to seeke the Captayne to tel him that +Maister Aloisio was recouered. The Captaine at that tyme was +gone to the pallace at San. Marco, to giue the Duke +aduertisement of thys Chaunce, after whom the Priest went and +was let in to the Duke's Chamber: to whom he declared what he +had done to Aloisio. The Duke very glad to heare tell of his +Nephewe's lyfe, although then very pensiue for the newes +broughte vnto him by the Captayne, intreated one of the Signor +de notte, to take with him two of the best surgions, and to call +him that had already dressed his Nephew, to goe to visite the +wounded Gentleman, that hee might be certified of the truth of +that Chaunce. All which together repaired to the Pryeste's +Chaumber, where fyndinge hym not a sleepe, and the Wounde fayre +inoughe to heale, dyd therevnto what their cunning thoughte +meete: and then they began to inquire of hym, that was not yet +full recouered to perfecte speache, howe that chaunce happened, +telling hym that he might frankelye confesse vnto them the +trouthe. The more dilygent they were in this demaunde, bicause +the Surgeon that dressed him fyrst, alleaged, that the Wounde +was not made with Sworde, but receiued by some greate fall or +blowe with Mace or Clubbe, or rather seemed to come of some high +fall from a Wyndowe, by reason his Head was so gryevously +brused. Aloisio hearynge the Surgeons sodayne demaunde, +presentlye aunswered, that he fell downe from a Wyndowe, and +named also the House. And he had no sooner spoken those Woordes, +but he was very angry wyth him selfe and sorrye: and +wherewithall his dismayde Spyrites began to reuyue in sutch +wyse, as sodainlye he choyse rather to dye than to speake any +thynge to the dyshonoure of mystresse Gismonda. Then the Signior +di notte, asked hym what he dyd there aboute that Tyme of the +Nyght, and wherfore hee dyd clymb vp to the Wyndowe, beynge so +hyghe: whych hee coulde not keepe secrete, consyderyng the +Authorytye of the Magystrate that demaunded the questyon, albeyt +hee thoughte that yf his Tongue hadde runne at large, and +commytted a Faulte by rashe speakynge, hys Bodye should +therefore suffer the smart: wherefore before hee woulde in any +wyse gyue occasion to slaunder hir, whome hee loued better than +hys owne Lyfe, determined to hazarde hys Lyfe and Honoure, to +the mercye of Iustice, and sayde: "I declared euen nowe, whych I +cannot denye, that I fell downe from the wyndowe of Mystresse +Gismonda Mora. The cause thereof (beeynge now at state, wherein +I knowe not whether I shall Lyue or Dye) I will truelye +dysclose: Mystresse Gismonda beynge a Wydowe and a younge Woman, +wythoute anye Man in hir House, bycause by reporte shee is very +rych of Iewels and Money, I purposed to robbe and dyspoyle: +wherefore I deuysed a ladder to clymbe vp to hir Wyndowe, with +Mynde full bent to kill all those that should resiste me: but my +mishappe was sutch as the Ladder being not well fastened fell +downe, and I my selfe therwithall, and thinking to recouer home +to my lodging with my corded Ladder, my Spirites beganne to +fayle, and tombled downe I wotte not where." The Signor de +notte, whose name was Domenico Mariperto hearing him say so, +maruelled greatly, and was very sorie, that all they in the +Chamber, which were a great number, (as at sutch chaunces +commonly be) dyd heare those Woordes: and bicause they were +spoken so openly, he was forced to saye vnto hym: "Aloisio, +it doth not a little grieue me that thou hast committed sutch +follye, but for so mutch as sorrowe now will not serue to +remedye the Trespasse, I muste needes shew my selfe both +faithfull to my countrey, and also carefull of mine honor, +withoute respect of persons: wherefore thou shalte remaine here +in sutch safe custody as I shal appoint, and when thou art +better amended, thou must according to desert be referred to the +Gaole." Leauing him there vnder sure keeping, he went to the +counsell of the Dieci, (which magistrates in that City be of +greatest authority) and finding the Lords in Counsell, he opened +the whole matter vnto them: the presidentes of the Counsell +which had hearde a great numbre of complaynts of many Theftes +don in the Nyght wythin the Citye, tooke order that one of the +Captaynes that were appoynted to the dilygente Watche and +keepyng of Aloisio, remayning in the Pryeste's House, should +cause him to be examined, and with tormentes forced to tell the +truth, for that they did verely beleeue that hee had committed +many Robberies besides, or at the least was priuy and accessarie +to the same, and knew where the Theues were become. Afterwardes +the sayd Counsell did sitte vppon the matter of Girolamo Bembo +and Anselmo Barbadico, found at myde Night naked in eche other's +Chambre, and commytted to Pryson as is before remembred: and +bicause they had many matters besides of greater importaunce, to +consult vppon, amongs which the warres betwene them and Philippo +Maria Visconte, Duke of Milane, the aforesayde causes were +deferred tyll an other tyme, notwythstandyng in the meane while +they were examyned. The Duke himselfe that tyme being in +Counsell, spake most seuerely against his Nephew: neuerthelesse +he did hardly beleeue that his Nephew being very rich, and +indued with great honesty, would abase himselfe to a vice so +vile and abhominable as theft is, wherevppon he began to +consider of many thinges, and in the ende talked with hys Nephew +secretly alone, and by that meanes learned the trouth of the +whole matter. In like maner Anselmo and Girolamo were Examined +by Commissioners appoyncted by the state, what one of them did +in an other's chamber, at that houre of the night, who confessed +that many tymes they had seene Aloisio Foscari, to passe vp and +down before their houses at times inconuenient, and that night +by chaunce one of them not knowing of another, espied Aloisio, +thinking that he lingered about their houses to abuse one of +their Wyues, for which cause they went out, and with their +Weapons sodenly killed him: which confession they openly +declared accordingly, as whereupon before they were agreed. +Afterwardes with further circumstaunce being examined vpon the +Article of being one in another's Chaumber, it appeared that +their first tale was vtterly vntrue: of all which contradictions +the Duke was aduertised, and was driuen into extreeme +admiration, for that the truth of those disorders coulde not be +to the full vnderstanded and knowne. Whereuppon the Dieci, and +the assistauntes were agayne assembled in councell accordinge to +the maner, at what time after all things throughly were debated +and ended, the Duke being a very graue man, of excellent Witte, +aduaunced to the Dukedome by the consent of the whole State, as +euery of theym were about to rise vp, hee sayde vnto them: +"My Lordes, there resteth one thinge yet to be moued, which +peraduenture hitherto hath not bene thought vpon: there are +before vs two complaynts, the effect whereof in my iudgement is +not throughly conceyed in the Opinions of diuers. Anselmo +Barbadico, and Girolamo Bembo, betwene whom there hath bene euer +continuall hatred, left vnto them as a man may say euen by +Fathers Inheritance both of them in eyther of their Chaumbers, +were apprehended in a manner naked by our Sergeaunts, and +without Torments, or for feare to bee racked vpon the onely +interrogatories of oure ministers, they haue voluntarily +confessed that before their houses they killed Aloisio our +Nephew: and albeit that our sayde Nephew yet liueth, and was not +striken by them or any other as should appeare, yet they +confesse themselues guilty of murder. What shall be sayd then to +the matter, doth it not seeme doubtfull? Our Nephew again hath +declared, that in going about to rob the house of Mistresse +Gismonda Mora, whom he ment to haue slayne, he fel downe to the +Ground from the top of a window, wherefore by reason so many +robberies haue bene discouered within the Citty, it may be +presumed that hee was the theefe and malefactor, who ought to be +put to the torments, that the truth may be knowne, and being +found guilty, to feele the seuere punishment that he hath +deserued. Moreouer when he was found lying vpon the ground, he +had neither Ladder nor Weapon, whereupon may bee thought that +the fact was otherwise done, than hitherto is confessed. And +because amongs morall vertues, temperance is the chiefest and +worthy of greatest commendation, and that iustice not +righteously executed, is iniustice and wronge, it is meete and +conuenient for vs in these straunge accidents, rather to vse +temperaunce than the rigor of iustice: and that it may appeare +that I do not speake these words without good grounde, marke +what I shall saye vnto you. These two most mortall enimies doe +confesse that which is impossible to be true, for that our +Nephew (as is before declared) is a liue, and his wounde was not +made by Sworde, as hee himselfe hath confessed. Now who can tell +or say the contrary, but that shame for being taken in their +seuerall Chambers, and the dishonesty of both their Wyues, hath +caused them to despise life, and to desire death? we shall finde +if the matter be diligently inquired and searched, that it will +fall out otherwise than is already supposed by common opinion. +For the contrariety of examinations, vnlikelihoode of +circumstances, and the impossibility of the cause, rendreth the +matter doubtfull: wherefore it is very needeful diligently to +examine these attempts, and thereof to vse more aduised +consideration. On the other side, our Nephew accuseth himselfe +to be a theefe and which is more, that hee ment to kill +Mistresse Mora when hee brake into hir house. Vnder this Grasse, +my Lords, as I suppose, some other Serpent lieth hiden, that is +not yet thought of. The Gentleman yee know before this time was +neuer defamed of sutch outrage, ne suspected of the least +offence that may be obiected: besides that, all yee doe know, +(thanks therefore be geuen to almighty God) that he is a man of +great richesse, and possessions, and hath no neede to rob: for +what necessity should driue him to rob a widowe, that hath of +his owne liberally to bestow vpon the succour of Widowes? Were +there none els of substance in the Citty for him to geue attempt +but to a Wyddowe, a comfortlesse creature, contented with quiet +lyfe to lyue amonges hir family within the boundes of hir owne +house? What if hir richesse, Iewels and plate be great, hath not +Aloisio of his owne to redouble the same? but truly this Robbery +was done after some other manner than hee hath confessed: to vs +then my Lords it appertayneth, if it so stande with your +pleasures, to make further inquiry of the same, promisinge vnto +you vppon our Fayth, that wee shall imploy our whole diligence +in the true examination of thys matter, and hope to bring the +same to sutch good ende, as none shall haue cause to blame vs, +the finall sentence whereof shall bee reserued to youre +iudgement." Thys graue request and wise talke of the Duke +pleased greatly the Lordes of the Counsayle, who referred not +onely the examination, but also the finall sentence vnto hym. +Whereuppon the wyse Prynce beinge fully enformed of the chaunce +happened to his Nephewe, attended onely to make search, if he +could vnderstand the occasion why Bembo and Barbadico so +foolishly had accused themselues of that which they neuer did. +And so after mutch counsayle, and great tyme contriued in their +seueral examinations, his Nephew then was well recouered, and +able to goe abroade, being set at liberty. The Duke then hauinge +bestowed hys trauayle with the other two prisoners, communicated +to the Lords of the aforesayd councel called Dieci the whole +trouth of the matter. Then he caused with great discretion, +proclamation to be made throughout Venice, that Anselmo and +Girolamo shold be beheded betwene the two Pyllers, and Aloisio +hanged, whereby he thought to know what sute the women would +make, eyther with or against their Husbandes, and what euidence +mistresse Gismonda woulde geue against Aloisio. The brute hereof +dispersed, diuers talke thereuppon was raysed, and no +communication of any thing els in open streats, and priuate +houses, but of the putting to death of those men. And bicause +all three were of honorable houses, their kinsmen, and Friendes +made sute by all possible meanes for theyr pardon. But their +Confessions published, the rumor was made worse, (as it dayly +chaunceth in like cases) than the matter was in deede, and the +same was noysed how Foscari had confessed so many theftes done +by him at diuers tymes, as none of his freends or Kin durst +speake for him. Mistresse Gismonda which bitterly lamented the +mischaunce of hir Louer, after she vnderstoode the confession +hee had made, and euidently knew that because hee woulde not +bleamish hir honour, he had rather willingly forgo his owne, and +therewithall his lyfe, felt hir selfe so oppressed with feruent +loue, as shee was ready presently to surrender hir ghost. +Wherefore shee sent him woorde that he should comfort himselfe, +because shee was determined to manifest the very trouth of the +matter, and hoped vppon hir declaration of true euidence, +sentence shoulde bee reuoked, for testimony whereof, shee had +his louinge letters yet to shewe, written to hir with his owne +handes, and would bring forth in the iudgement place, the corded +ladder, which she had kept stil in her chamber. Aloisio hearinge +these louing newes, and of the euidence which his Lady woulde +giue for his defence, was the gladdest man of the worlde, and +caused infinite thankes to be rendred vnto hir, wyth promise +that if hee might bee rid and discharged out of prison, he +woulde take hir for his louing spouse and wyfe. Whereof the +gentlewoman conceyued singuler solace, louing hir deere freende +with more entier affection than hir owne soule. Mistresse Lucia, +and mistresse Isotta, hearing the dispercled voyce of the death +of their husbands, and vnderstanding the case of mistresse +Gismonda by an other woman, layd their heads together likwise to +deuise meanes for sauing their husbandes liues: and entring into +their Barge, or Gondola, wente to seeke mistresse Gismonda and +when they had debated vppon the trouthe of these euents, +concluded with one assent to prouide for the safegarde and +deliuerye of theyr husbandes, wherein they shewed themselues +both wise and honest. For what state is more honorable and of +greater Comforte than the marryed Lyfe, if in deede they that +haue yoaked themselues therein be conformable to those +Delightes, and contentation which the same conduceth? Wealth and +Riches maketh the true vnyted couple to reioyce in the Benefits +of Fortune, graunted by the sender of the same, either of them +prouiding for disposing thereof, against the decripite time of +olde age, and for the bestowing of the same vppon the Fruicte +accrued of theyr Bodies. Pouerty in any wise dothe not offend +them, both of them glad to laboure and trauaile like one Body, +to sustaine theyr poore and neady Lyfe, eyther of them +Comfortably doth Minyster comforte in the cruell tyme of +Aduersity, rendring humble thankes to God for hys sharp Rodde +and Punyshment enflicted vppon them for their manyfolde sinnes +commytted againste hys maiestye, trauailinge by night and Daye +by sweatinge Browes to get browne Breade, and drynke ful thin to +cease the Cryes and pytifull crauinges of their tender Babes, +wrapt in Cradle and instant on their mother to fill their hungry +mouthes. Aduerse fortune maketh not one to forsake the other. +The louing Wyfe ceaseth not by paynfull sute to trot and go by +Night and day in heate and colde to relieue the miserye of hir +husband. He likewise spareth not his payne to get and gayne the +liuyng of them both. He abrode and at home according to his +called state, she at home to saue the Lucre of that Labor, and +to doe sutch necessary trauayle incident to the married kinde. +He carefull for to get, she heedeful for to saue, he by trafique +and Arte, shee by diligence and housholde toile. O the happy +state of married folke: O surpassing delights of mariage +bed: which maketh these II. poore Gentlewomen, that by +honorable pollicy saued the honor of themselues and honesty of +theyr husbandes, to make humble sute for their preseruation, who +were like to be berieued of their greatest comforts. But come we +again to declare the last act of this Comical discourse. These +maried Women, after this chaunce befell, vpon their husbandes +imprysonment, began to be abhorred of their Friendes and +Parentes, for that they were suspected to be dishoneste, by +reason whereof dolefully lamenting their Misfortune, +notwithstandynge their owne conscience voyde of faulte, dyd byd +them to be of good cheere and comfort. And when the daye of +execution came, they dyd theyr Friends and Parents to vnderstand +that their conceiued opinyon was vntrue, and prayed them to +forbeare their disdain and malice, till the truth should be +throughly manifested, assuring them that in the End their owne +innocencie and the guiltlesse cryme of their Husbands should +openly be reuealed to the Worlde. In the meane time they made +request vnto their Friendes, that one of the Lordes called +Auogadori might be admitted to vnderstande their case, the rest +to be referred to themselues, wherein they had no neede either +of Proctor or Aduocate. This request seemed verye straunge to +their friends, deeming their case to be shameful and +abhominable: neuertheles diligently they accomplyshed their +request and vnderstandyng that the Counsell of the Dieci had +commytted the matter wholy to the Duke, they made a supplicatyon +vnto hym in the name of the three Gentlewomen, wherein they +craued nothing else but theyr matter might be hearde. The Duke +perceiuying hys aduise like to take effect, assigned them a Day, +commaundinge them at that tyme before hym and the Lords of the +Councell and all the College of the estate to appeare. The Day +being come, all the Lordes assembled, desirous to see to what +issue this matter would grow. On the morning the three +Gentlewomen honestly accompanied with other Dames, went to the +Palace, and goynge along the streate of San Marco the people +began to vtter many raylyng words against them: some cried out +(as we see by vnstable order the vulgare people in like cases +vse to do) and doinge a certain curtisy by way of disdain and +mockery: "Behold the honest women, that without sending their +husbands out of Venice, haue placed them in the Castell of +Cornetto, and yet the arrante Whoores bee not ashamed to shewe +them selues abrode, as thoughe they hadde done a thynge that +were Honeste and prayse worthye." Other shot forth theyr Boltes, +and wyth theyr Prouerbes proceedyng from their malicious Mouthes +thwited the pore Women at their pleasure. Other also seeyng +Mystresse Gismonda in their Company, thought that she went to +declame against maister Aloisio Foscari, and none of them all +hapned on the trouth. Arryued at the pallace, ascending the +marble staires or steps of the same, they were brought into the +great hal, wher the Duke appointed the matter to be heard. +Thither repaired the friends and those of nearest kin to the +three Gentlewomen, and before the matter did begin, the Duke +caused also the thre prisoners to be brought thither. Thither +also came many other Gentlemen, with great desire to see the end +of those euents. Silence being made the Duke turning his face to +the women, sayd vnto them: "Ye Gentlewomen haue made requeste by +supplycatyon to graunt you publike audyence accordyng to +Iustice, for that you do alleage that Law and order doth so +require, and that euery wel ordred common wealth condemneth no +subiecte withoute due answere by order of lawe. Beholde +therefore, that we desirous to do Iustice, bee ready in Place to +heare what ye can say." The two husbands were very angrie and +wrathfull against their wiues, and the more their stomackes did +fret with choler and disdayne, by how mutch they saw their +impudente and shamelesse wiues wyth sutch audacity to appeare +before the maiesty of a counsel so honourable and dreadfull, +as though they had ben the most honeste and chast Women of the +World. The two honeste wiues perceyued the anger and displeasure +of their husbands, and for all that were not afrayde ne yet +dismayde, but smyling to themselues and somewhat mouing their +heads in decente wyse seemed vnto them as though they had mocked +them. Anselmo more angry and impacient then Girolamo, brake out +into sutch furie, as had it not ben for the maiesty of the +place, and the Companye of People to haue stayed him, woulde +haue kylled them: and seyng he was not able to hurt them, he +began to vtter the vylest Woords, that he possibly could deuise +agaynst them. Mistresse Isotta hearing hir husband so spytefully +to spit forth his poyson in the presence of that honourable +assemblye, conceiued courage, and crauinge licence of the Duke +to speake, with merrye countenance and good vttrance began thus +to say her mind: "Most excellent Prince, and yee right +honourable Lordes, I doe perceyue how my deare husbande vncomely +and very dishonestly doth vse himselfe agaynst me in this noble +company, thincking also that mayster Girolamo Bembo is affected +with like rage and minde agaynst this Gentlewoman mystresse +Lucia hys wyfe, although more temperate in words, he do not +expresse the same. Agaynst whom if no reply be made, it may +seeme that he doth well and hath spoken a truth, and that we by +silence do condemne our selues to be those most wicked women +whom hee alleageth vs to be. Wherefore by your gratious pardon +and licence (most honourable) in the behalfe of mistresse Lucia +and my selfe, for our defence I purpose to declare the effect of +my mynde, although my purpose be cleane altered from that I had +thought to say, being now iustly prouoked by the vnkinde +behauiour of him whom I loue better than my selfe, and whose +disloyalty, had hee beene silent and not so rashly runne to the +ouerthrow of me and my good name, coulde I haue concealed, +and onely touched that which had concerned the Purgation and +sauegard of them both, which was the onely intent and meaning of +vs, by making our humble supplication to your Maiesties. +Neuerthelesse, so farre as my feeble force shall stretch, I will +assay to do both the one and the other, although it be not +appropriate to our kinde in publike place to declayme, nor yet +to open sutch bold attempts, but that necessity of matter and +oportunity of time, and place dothe bolden vs to enter into +these termes, whereof we craue a thousand pardons for our +vnkindely dealings, and render double thanks to your honours, +for admitting vs to speake. Be it knowne therefore vnto you, +that our husbands agaynst duety of loue, lawes of mariage, and +against all reason, do make their heauy complaynts, which by and +by I will make playne and euident. I am right well assured, that +their extreme rage and bitter hearts sorrow do proceede of 2 +occasions: The one, of the murder whereof they haue falsely +accused theymselues: the other of iealousie, which grieuously +doth gnawe their hearts, thinking vs to be vile, and abhominable +Women, because they were surprised in ech other's Chaumber. +Concerning the murder, if they haue soyled their handes therein, +it appertayneth vnto you my Lords to render their desert. But +how can the same be layd to our charge, for somutch as they +(if it were done by them) committed the same without our +knowledge, our help and counsel? And truly I see no cause why +any of vs ought to be burdened with the outrage, and mutch lesse +cause haue they to laye the same to our charge: for meete it is +that he that doth any vnlawful act, or is accessary to the same, +should suffer the due penalty and seuere chastisement +accordingly as the sacred lawes do prescribe, to be an example +for other to abstayne from wicked facts. But hereof what neede I +to dispute, wherein the blind may see to bee none offence, +because (thankes bee to GOD) Mayster Aloisio liueth, which +declareth the fonde Confession of our vngentil husbandes to bee +contrary to trouth? And if so be our husbands in deede had done +sutch an abhominable enterprise, reason and duety had moued vs +to sorrowe and lament them, because they be borne of noble +bloud, and be gentlemen of this noble Citty, which like a pure +virgin inuiolably doth conserue hir lawes and customes. Great +cause I say, had we to lament them, if lyke homicides, and +murderers they had spotted their bloud with sutch fowle bleamish +thereby deseruing death, to leaue vs yong Women Widowes in +wofull plight. Nowe it behoueth me to speake of the Iealousie +they haue conceyued of vs, for that they were in ech other's +Chamber, which truly is the doubtfull knot and scruple that +forceth all their disdaine and griefe. This I knowe well is the +Nayle that pierceth their heart: other cause of offence they +haue not: who like men not well aduised, without examination of +vs and our demeanour, bee fallen into despayre, and like men +desperate, haue wrongfully accused themselues: but because I may +not consume words in vayne, to stay you by my long discourse +from matters of greater importaunce, I humbly beseech you (right +excellent prince) to commaunde them to tell what thing it is, +which so bitterly doth torment them." Then the Duke caused one +of the noble men assistaunt there, to demaund of them the +question: Who aunswered that the chiefest occasion was, bicause +they knew their Wyues to be Harlots, whom they supposed to be +very honest: and forsomutch as they knew them to be sutch, they +conceyued sorrow and griefe, which with sutch extremity did +gripe them at the heart, as not able to sustayne that great +Infamy, ashamed to be sene of men, were induced through desire +of death to confesse that they neuer did. Mistresse Isotta +hearing them say so, began to speak agayne, turning hir selfe +vnto them: "Were you offended then at a thynge which yee thought +inconuenient and not meete to be done? Wee then haue greatest +cause to complayne. Why then sweete Husband went you to the +Chaumber of mistresse Lucia at that time of the night? What had +you to do there? What thing thought you to finde there more than +was in your own house? And you Mayster Girolamo, what +constrayned you to forsake your Wyue's Bed to come to my +Husband's, where no man euer had, or at this present hath to do +but himselfe? Were not the Sheetes of the one so white, so fine, +neate, and sweete as the other? I am (most noble Prince) sory to +declare my Husbande's folly, and ashamed that hee should forsake +my Bed to go to an other, that did accompt myselfe so well +worthy to entertayne hym in myne owne, as the best Wyfe in +Venice, and now through his abuse, I abstayne to shewe my selse +amonges the Beautifull, and noble Dames of this Citty. The lyke +misliking of hirselfe is in mistresse Lucia, who (as you see) +may be numbred amongs the fayrest. Eyther of you ought to haue +bene contented with your Wyues, and not (as wickedly you haue +done) to forsake them, to seeke for better breade than is made +of Wheate, or for purer Golde than whereof the Angell is made: +O worthy deede of yours, that haue the Face to leaue your owne +Wyues, that be comely, fayre, and honest, to seeke after +straunge Carrion. O beastly order of Men that cannot conteyne +their lust within the boundes of their owne House, but must goe +hunt after other Women as Beastes do after the nexte of their +kinde that they chaunce vppon. What vile affection possessed +your hearts to lust after others Wyfe? You make complaynte of +vs, but wee with you haue right good cause to be offended, +you ought to bee grieued with your owne disorder, and not with +others offence, and thys your affliction patiently to beare, +bycause you went about to beguile one an other's Loue, lyke them +that be weary, and Glutted with their owne fare, seekinge after +other daynties more delicate if they were to be founde. But +praysed be GOD and our prouident discretion, if any hurt or +shame hath chaunced, the same doth light on you. Moreouer I know +no cause why men should haue more liberty to doe euill than we +Women haue: albeit through the weaknes and cowardise of our +Sexe, yee men will doe what ye list. But ye be now no Lords, +nor we Seruaunts, and husbands we do you call, bicause the holy +Lawes of Matrimony (which was the first Sacrament giuen by GOD +to Men after the creation of the Worlde) doe require equall +fayth, and so well is the husband bound to the Wyfe as she vnto +him. Go to then and make your complaynt: the next Asse or Beast +ye meete take hir to be your Wyfe. Why do yee not know that the +balance of iustice is equall, and wayeth downe no more of one +side than of other? But let vs nowe leaue of to reason of this +matter, and come to that for which we be come hither. Two things +(most ryghteous Prynce) haue moued vs to come before your +maiesty, and all this honourable assembly, which had they not +bene, we would haue bene ashamed to shewe our Faces, and lesse +presumed to speake or once to open our Lippes in this Noble +audience, which is a place only meete for them that be most +Expert, and eloquent Orators, and not for vs, to whom the +Needle, and Distaffe be more requisite. The first cause that +forced vs to come forth of our owne house, was to let you +understand that our Husbands be no murderers, as is supposed, +neyther of this Gentleman present maister Aloisio, ne yet of any +man els: and thereof we haue sufficient and worthy testimony. +But herein we neede not to trauaile mutch, or to vse many +wordes: for neyther maister Alosio is slayne, ne any other +murdred that is known or manifest hitherto. One thyng resteth, +which is that Madonna Lucia and I do humbly beseech youre +excellente Maiestye, that youre grace and the authoritye of the +right honourable Lords here present, will vouchsafe to reconcile +vs to our husbands, that we may obtayne pardon and fauor at +their handes, bicause we haue so manifestly made their acts to +appeare, and for that we be the offence, and they the +Offendours, and yet by their owne occasions, we haue committed +the Error (if it may be so termed.) And now to come to the +conclusion, I doe remember, sithens I was a Chylde, that I haue +heard the Gentlewoman my mother saye (whose soule God pardon) +many times vnto me, and other my sisters, and to mistresse +Lucia, that was brought vp with vs, being by hir instructed in +diuers good and vertuous Lessons, that all the honor a woman can +doe vnto hir husband, whereby she beautifieth him and his whole +race and family, consisteth in hir honest, chast, and vertuous +lyfe, without which, she oughte rather to die than liue. And +that a Gentleman's Wyfe when she hath giuen hir body to the vse +of an other man, is the common marke for euery man to point at +in the streate where she goeth, hir husband therby incurring +reproche and shame, whych no doubt is the greatest iniury and +scorne that an honest Gentleman can receiue, and the moste +shamefull reproche that can deface his house. Which Lesson we so +well remembryng, desirous not to suffer the carelesse and +vnbrideled appetites of our husbandes to be vnrained, and runne +at large to some dishonest Ende, by a faithfull and commendable +pollicy, did prouide for the mischyefe that myghte ensue. +I neede not heere rehearse the enimytye and debate that manye +yeares did raigne betweene our husbandes Fathers, bicause it is +knowne to the whole City. Wee too therefore here presente, the +Wiues of those noble Gentlemen, brought vp together from oure +Cradle, perceiuing the malyce betwene our husbandes, made a +vertue of Necessity, deemynge it better for vs to lose our +sweete and auncient conuersation, than to mynister cause of +disquietnesse. But the nearenesse of our houses would not that +naturall hatred shoulde defraude and take away olde ingrafted +amity. Wherefore many times when our Husbands were gone forth, +we met together, and talked in our Gardens, betwene whych there +is but a slender hedge beset with Primme and Roses, which +commoditye in their absence we did discretly vse. And as +sometimes for pleasure we walked with oure husbandes there, ye +(shee turninge vnto them) did cast your eyes vpon ech other's +wyfe, and were strayghte way in loue, or else perchance you +fained your selues to bee, whych espied by vs, many times +betwene our selues did deuise vppon the same, and red your +amorous letters, and sonnet sent vnto vs. For which disloyalty +and treason toward vs your Wyues, we sought no dishonour to +youre persons, wee were content to suffer you to bee abused with +your fond loue, we blabbed it not abroade to our Gossips, as +many leude and fantasticall women bee wont to doe, thereby to +rayse slaunder to our husbands, and to sturre vp ill reporte +vpon them, whose infirmities it becommeth vs to conceale and +hide. We deuised meanes by some other way to let you understand +your fault, and did cast vpon you many times right louinge +lookes. Which although it were agaynste our owne desire, yet the +cause, and full conclusion of the same, was to practise, if it +were possible, to make you frendes: But consideringe that this +loue, and allurementes of eyther parts, could not tend to other +end, as wee coniectured, but to increase displeasure, and to put +the swords into your handes, we therefore consulted, and +vniformely in one minde agreed for the appeasinge, and +satisfaction of all partes, at sutch nightes as ye fayned to go +into diuers places about earnest affayres as yee alleaged, +Mistresse Lucia with the help of Cassandra my mayde, through the +Gardeine came into my chamber, and I by meanes of Iane hir maide +by like way repayred vnto hirs. And yee poore men guided by our +maydes were brought vnto your chambers where ye lay with your +owne Wyues, and so by tilth of others land in straunge soyle +(as yee beleeued) yee lost no labour. And bicause your +embracements then, were like to those atchieued by amorous +Gentlemen, vsinge vs with more earnest desire than you were wont +to do, both wee were begotten with childe: which ought to be +very gladsome, and gratefull vnto you, if yee were so fayne to +haue children as yee shewed your selues to bee. If then none +other offence doth grieue you, if remorse of Conscience for +other cause doeth not offend you, if none other sorrowe doeth +displease you: gieue ouer your griefe. Remit your displeasure. +Be glad, and ioyfull. Thanke vs for our pollicy and pleasaunt +disport that wee made you. If hitherto yee haue ben enimies, +henceforth be frends, put of that auncient mallice so long +continued, mitigate your hatefull moode, and liue yee from +henceforth like friendly Gentlemen, yelde vp your rancor into +the lap of your Countrey, that shee may put him in exile for +euer, who like a pitifull, and louing mother woulde gladly see +all hir children of one accorde and minde. Which if yee doe, +(ye shall do singulare pleasure to your friendes), ye shall doe +great discomfort to your foes, yee shall do singular good to the +commonwealth, yee shall doe greatest benefit to your selues, ye +shall make vs humble Wyues, yee shall encrease your posterity, +yee shall be praysed of all men, and finally shall depart the +best contented that euer the World brought forth. And now +because yee shall not thinke that wee haue picked out thys Tale +at our fingers ends, thereby to seeke your sauegard and our owne +Fame, and prayse, beholde the letters which you sent vs, beholde +you owne handes subscribed to the same, beholde your seales +assigned thereunto, which shall render true testimony of that +which vnfaynedly we haue affirmed." Then both deliuered their +letters, which viewed and seene, were well knowne to be their +owne husbandes handes, and the same so well approued hir tale, +as their husbands were the gladdest men of the world and the +Duke and Seignory maruaylously satisfied and contented. In so +mutch as the whole assembly with one voyce, cried out for their +husbands deliueraunce. And so with the consent of the Duke and +the whole seignory they were clearely discharged. The Parents, +Cosins, and Friends of the husbands and wyues were wonderfully +amazed to heere this long hystory, and greatly praysed the maner +of their deliuery, accoumpting the women to be very wise, and +mistresse Isotta to be an eloquent gentlewoman, for that shee +had so well defended the cause of their husbands and of +themselues. Anselmo and Girolamo openly in the presence of all +the people embraced, and kissed their Wyues with great +reioysing. And then the husbands shaked one an other by the +hands, betwene whom began a Brotherly accorde, and from that +time forth liued in perfect amity, and Friendship, exchaunging +the wanton loue that eyther of them bare to other's wyfe into +Brotherly Friendship, to the great delight of the whole Citty. +When the multitude assembled, to heare this matter throughly was +satisfied, the Duke with cheerefull Countenaunce lookinge toward +Gismonda, sayde thus vnto hir: "And you fayre Gentlewoman, what +haue you to say: Bee bolde to vtter your minde, and wee wil +gladly heare you." Mistresse Gismonda bashfull to speake, began +wonderfully to blush, into whose cheekes entred an orient rud, +intermixed with an alabaster white, which made her countenaunce +more amiable than it was wont to be. After she had stode still a +while with hir eyes declined towards the ground, in comly wise +lifting them vp againe with shamefast audacity she began thus to +speake: "If I most Noble Prince, in open audience should attempt +to discourse of Loue, whereof I neuer had experience, or knew +what thing it was, I should be doubtfull what to say thereof, +and peraduenture durst not open my mouth at al. But hearing my +father (of worthy memory) many times to tel that your maiesty in +the time of your youth disdained not to open your heart to +receiue the amorous flames of loue, and being assured that there +is none but that doth loue little or mutch, I do not doubt but +for the words which I shal speake, to obtaine both pity and +pardon. To come then to the matter: God I thanke him of his +goodnesse, hath not permitted me to bee one of those women, that +like hipocrites do mumble their Paternoster to saincts: +appearing outwardly to be devout and holy and in Fruict doe +bring forth Deuils, and al kinds of vices, specially +ingratitude, which is a vice that doth suck and dry vp the +fountain of godly Piety. Life is deare to mee (as naturally it +is to all) next which I esteeme myne honor, which is to be +preferred before life, bicause without honor life is of no +regard. And where man and woman do liue in shame notorious to +the world, the same may be termed a liuing death rather than a +life. But the loue that I beare to mine onely beloued Aloisio +here present, I do esteeme aboue al the Iewels and treasures of +the world, whose personage I do regard more than mine owne Lyfe. +The reason that moueth me thereto is very great, for before that +I loued him or euer ment to fixe my mind that way, he dearely +regarded me, continually deuising which way he might win and +obtain my loue, sparing no trauel by Night and Day to seeke the +same. For which tender affection should I shew myself vnkind and +froward? God forbid. And to be playn with your honors, he is +more deare and acceptable vnto me, than the balles of mine own +eyes, being the chiefest things that appertain to the furniture +of the body of man, without which no earthly thing can be +gladsome and ioyful to the sense, and feelinge. Last of all his +amorous, and affectionate demonstration of his loue towards me, +by declaringe himselfe to be carefull of mine honor, rather more +willinge to bestow his owne, than to suffer the same to be +touched with the least suspicion of dishonesty, I can not +choose, but so faythfully imbrace, as I am ready to guage my +life for his sake, rather than his finger shoulde ake for +offence. And where hath there bene euer found sutch liberality +in any louer? What is he that hath bene euer so prodigall, +to employ his life (the most speciall pledge in this worlde,) +rather than hee would suffer his beloued to incurre dishonoure? +Many hystoryes haue I red, and Chronicles of our time, and yet I +haue found few or none comparable vnto thys Gentleman, the like +of whom be so rare and seldome as white Crowes, or Swannes of +colour blacke. O singuler liberality, never hearde of before. +O fact that can neuer be sufficiently praysed. O true loue most +vnfayned. Maister Aloisio rather than he would haue my fame any +one iote to be impayred, or to suffer any shadow of suspition to +bleamish the same, frankly hath confessed himselfe to be a +theefe, and murdrer, regardinge mee and mine honor more than +himselfe, and life. And albeit that he might a thousand wayes +haue saued himselfe without the imprisonment and aduersity which +he hath sustained: neuerthelesse after he had sayd, beinge then +past remembrance through the fall, that he fell downe from my +window, and perceyued how mutch that confession would preiudice +and hurt my good name, and hurt the known honesty of the same, +of his good wyll did chose to dye rather than to speake any +words that might breede yll opinion of mee, or the least thinge +of the worlde that might ingender infamy and slaunder. And +therefore not able to revoke the words hee had spoken of the +fall, nor by any meanes coulde coloure the same, hee thought to +saue the good name of another by his owne hurt. If he then thus +redily and liberally hath protruded his life into manifest +daunger for my benefit and saueguard, preferring mine honour +aboue the care of himselfe, shall not I abandon all that I haue, +yea and therewithall hazard mine honor for his saluation? But +what? Shall I disdayne bountifully to imploy my selfe and all +the endeuor of my Frendes for his deliuery? No, no (my Lords) if +I had a thousand liues, and so many honors at my commaundement, +I woulde giue them al for his releyse and comfort, yea if it +were possible for me to recouer a fresh X.C.M. lyues, +I woulde so frankly bestow them all, as euer I desired to liue, +that I might enioy mine owne Aloisio. But I am sorry, and euer +shal be sorry, for that it is not lawful for me to do more for +him, than that which my power and possibility is able. For if he +should die, truely my life could not endure: if he were depriued +of life, what pleasure should I haue to liue in this world after +him: whereby (moste honorable and righteous iudge,) I beleeue +before the honest, not to loose any one iote of myne honor, +bicause I being (as you may see) a younge Woman and a Widow +desirous to marry againe, it is lawful for me to loue and to bee +beloued, for none other intent (whereof God is the onely iudge) +but to attaine a husbande according to my degre. But if I should +lose my reputation and honor, why should not I aduenture the +same for hym, that hath not spared hys own for me? Now to come +to the effect of the matter, I do say wyth al dutifull +reuerence, that it is an accusation altogither false and vntrue, +that euer mayster Alolsio came to my house as a Theefe against +my wil. For what neede he to be a thefe, or what nede had he of +my goodes, that is a Lorde and owner of twenty times so mutch as +I haue? Alas good Gentleman, I dare depose and guage my lyfe, +that he neuer thoughte mutch lesse dyd any robbery or thing +vnlawful, wherewith iustly he may be charged, but he repayred to +my house with my consent, as a louing and affectionate Louer, +the circumstance whereof, if it be duly marked, must aduouch the +same to be of trouth infallible. For if I had not giuen him +licence to come, how was it possible for him to conuey his +ladder so high, that was made but of Ropes, and to fasten the +same to the iaume of the window, if none within did helpe hym? +Againe, howe could the Window of the Chaumber be open at that +time of the night, which is still kept shut, if it had not bene +by my consent? But I with the helpe of my mayde threwe downe to +him a little Rope, whereunto he tyed his Ladder and drewe the +same vp, and making it so fast, as it could not vndo, gaue a +signe for him to Mounte. But as both our ill Fortune would haue +it, before I could catch any hold of him, to mine inestimable +griefe and hart's sorrow he fell downe to the ground. Wherefore +(my Lords) I beseech your honours to reuoke the confession +wherein he hath made hymselfe to be a theefe. And you maister +Aloisio declare the trouth as it was, sith I am not ashamed in +this honourable assemble to tel the same. Beholde the letters +(my Lordes) which so many tymes he wrote vnto me, wherein hee +made suite to come to my speache, and continually in the same +doth call me Wyfe. Beholde the Ladder, which till nowe, did +still remayne in my chaumber. Beholde my maide, whych in all +mine affayres, is as it were myne owne hande and helper." +Aloisio being hereupon demaunded by the Lordes of the articles, +which she in hir tale had recited, confessed them al to be true: +who also at the same instant was discharged. The Duke greatly +commended them both, hir for hir stoute audacity, in defence of +an innocent Gentleman, and him for his honour, and modesty, by +seeking to preserue the Fame and good reporte of a vertuouse +Gentlewoman. Whych done, the Counsell disassembled and brake up. +And the friendes of both the parties accompanied them home to +the house of mistresse Gismonda, where to the great reioyce, and +pleasure of all men, they were solemnely maried in sumptuous and +honourable wise, and Aloisio with hys Wyfe lyued in great +prosperity long time after. Mistresse Lucia, and mistresse +Isotta, at the expyred tyme were deliuered of two goodly sonnes, +in whom the Fathers tooke great Ioy, and delight. Who wyth their +Wyues after that tyme liued very quietly, and well, one louing +an other like naturall Brethren, many times sporting among +themselues discretely at the deceipts of their Wyues. The +wisedome of the Duke also was wonderfully extolled and commended +of all men, the fame whereof was increased and bruted throughout +the Region of Italy. And not without cause. For by hys prudence +and aduise, the Dominion of the State, and Common wealth was +amplified and dilated. And yet in th'ende being old and +impotent, they vnkindly deposed him from his Dukedom. + + + + +THE TWENTY-SEVENTH NOUELL. + + _The Lorde of Virle, by the commaundement of a fayre younge + Wydow called Zilia, for hys promise made, the better to + attaine hir loue, was contented to remayne dumbe the space of + three yeares, and by what meanes he was reuenged, and obtayned + hys suite._ + + +They that haue spent their youth in humayne follies, and haue +followed the Vanities of loue, not addicted to the contemplation +of high secrets, nor haue made entry here on Earth, to inlarge +and amplyfy the boundes of their honor and Estimation. Those +Worldlings (I say) and embracers of transitory pleasures, shall +witnesse with me, and confirme, this olde and auncient Theme and +proposition to be true which is: that the Beauty, and comely +grace of a Woman, is the very true and naturall adamant (for the +attractiue power, and agreeable quality there inclosed,) to draw +vnto it the hearts, and affections of men: which hath made man +beleue, that the same onely essence, was sent downe from aboue +to serue both for ioy and torment together. For the amplyfyinge +of which proposition, I will not bring forth, the immoderate +loue of Paris by forsaking his owne Natiue country of Troy, to +visite fayre Helena in Greece, nor yet tell how Hercules gaue +ouer his mace to handle the Distaffe, vpon the commaundement of +Omphale, nor yet how Sampson and Salomon were sotted in the +slaueries of Dalida and other concubines. But my discourse here +folowing shall ring out a loud Peale, of a meane Gentlewoman, +of Piedmount, that shewed no fauor or Curtesy at all to her +suppliant, a Gentleman not inferior to Paris for his actiuity +and prowesse: which for her seruice and atchyeues of her loue, +refused not to bee dombe the space of many yeares, and to giue +ouer the best porcion of his sences wherewith the Almighty, made +Man differente from brute and sauage Beastes. If this thing +declare not sufficiently the force and power of that attractiue +and drawing power in woman, no other example is worthy to be +preferred. Those aforesayd and many other haue voluntarily +yoaked themselues in the chains of loue's obedience, rendreth +the masse of their mirye corps to the slauery thereof, but that +any haue franckely tyed vp their Tongue, the chiefest Instrument +of the bodies furniture: in honorable assembly or where +dexterity of seruice shoulde make him glorious, the like of that +subiection was neuer seene or founde. And yet our fathers dayes +did see this miracle wrought by a Woman, vpon a Gentleman very +wise, and well trained vp in all good exercyse. This example, +and what this Malapert Dame did gaine, by the penance of this +louing knight, shal in this discourse be manifestly pronounced. +The City of Thurin (as is well knowne to them that haue +trauelled Piedmont) is the ornament and bulwark of al the +Countrey, so well for the natural site of the place, as for the +artificial and industrious worke of man's hande, which hath +instaured and furnished with great magnificence, that which +nature had indifferently enryched, for the rudenesse and litle +knowledg of the time past. Now besides this stately and strong +city, there standeth a litle towne named Montcall, a place no +lesse strong, and of good defence, than wel planted in a faire +and rich soyle. In this Towne there dwelt a Gentlewoman a widow +called Zilia, beautiful amongs the most excellent fayre +Gentlewomen of the countrey, which country (besides other happy +and heauenly influences) seemeth to be specially fauored, for +hauing the most fairest and curteous Gentlewomen, aboue any +other within the compasse of Europa. Notwithstanding this faire +Silia, degenerating from the nature of hir climate was so +haggard and cruel, as it might haue ben thought, she had ben +rather nourished and brought vp amid the most desert mountaines +of Sauoy, than in the pleasant and rich Champian Countreye, +watred and moystened with Eridanus, the father of Riuers, at +this Day called the Pau, the largenesse whereof doth make men to +maruel, and the fertility allureth ech man to be desirous to +inhabit vpon the same. This fayre rebellious Widow, albeit, +that she was not aboue XXIV. or XXV. yeres of age, yet +protested neuer more to be subiect to man, by mariage, or +otherwise, thinking her selfe wel able to liue in single life: +a Minde truly very holy and commendable, if the pricks of the +flesh do obey the first motions and adhortations of the spirit, +but where youth, pleasure, and multitude of suters do addresse +their endeuour against that chastity (which is lightly +enterprysed) the Apostels counsel oughte to be followed, who +willeth yong widows to marry in Christ, to auoid the temptations +of the flesh, and to flye offensiue slaunder and dishonour +before men. This mistresse Zilia (hir husband being dead) only +bent hir selfe to enrich hir house, and to amplify the +possession of a little infant which she had by hir late departed +Husband. After whose death she became so couetous, as hauing +remoued, and almost cut of quite the wonted port she vsed in hir +husband's dayes, imployed hir maids in houshold affaires, +thinking nothing to be wel don that passed not through hir owne +Handes. A thinge truely more prayse worthy, than to see a sorte +of effeminate, fine and daynty fyngred Dames, that thinke their +honor diminished yf they holde but their Nose ouer theyr +Housholde Matters, where theyr Hande and Dylygence were more +requisite, for so mutch as the mystresse of a House is not +placed the Cheyfe to heare onely the reasons of them that Labor, +but thereunto to put hir hands, for hir presente eye seemeth to +giue a certyn perfection to the worke that the Seruauntes doe by +hir commaundement. Which caused the Hystoryans in tymes past, to +describe vnto the Posterity a Gentlewoman called Lucretia, +not babbling amongs young girles, or running to feastes and +Maigames, or Masking in the night, withoute any regard of the +honor and dygnitye of hir race and house, but in hir Chaumber +Sowing, Spinning and Carding, amids the Troup of hir Mayden +Seruaunts: wherein our mistresse Zilia passed the moste part of +hir time, spending no minute of the day, without some honest +exercise, for that she the rather did for that she liked not to +be seene at Feasts, or Bankets, or to be gadding vp and downe +the streetes, wandring to Gardeyns or places of pleasure, +although to sutch places youth sometimes may haue their honest +repayre to refresh their wearied bodies with vertuous +recreation, and thereby reioyce the heauinesse of their mynde. +But this Gentlewoman was so seuere in following the rigorous, +and constrayned maners of our auncients, as impossible it was, +to see hir abroade: except it were when she went to the Church +to heare deuine seruice. This Gentlewoman seemed to haue studied +the diuinity of the Ægyptians which paynt Venus holding a key +before hir mouth, and setting hir Fote vpon a Tortus, signifying +vnto us thereby the duety of a chaste Woman, whose tongue ought +to bee locked, that shee speak not but in tyme and place, and +her feete not straying or wandering, but to keepe hir selfe +within the limits of hir owne house, except it be to serue God, +and sometimes to render bounden duety to them which brought them +into light. Moreouer Zilia was so religious (I will not say +superstitious) and rigorous to obserue customes, as she made it +very squeimish and straung to kisse a Gentleman that met hir, +a ciuility which of long time hath bene obserued, and yet +remayneth in the greatest parte of the Worlde, that Gentlewomen +do welcome straungers and Guests into their houses with an +honest and chaste kisse. Notwithstandinge the institution and +profession of this Wyddow had wiped away this poyncte of hir +youth: whether it were for that she esteemed hirselfe so fayre +as all men were vnworthy to touch the vtter partes of so rare +and pretious a vessell, or that hir great, and inimitable +chastity made hir so straunge, to refuse that which hir duety +and honour woulde haue permitted hir to graunt. There chaunced +about this time that a Gentleman of the Countrey, called Sir +Philiberto of Virle, esteemed to be one of the most valiaunt +gentlemen in those parts, repayred vpon an holy day to Montcall, +(whose house was not very farre of the Towne) and being at +diuine seruice, in place of occupying his Sence and Mynde in +heauenly things, and attending the holy words of a Preacher, +which that day declared the worde of God vnto the people, hee +gaue himselfe to contemplate the excellent beauty of Zilia, who +had put of for a while hir mourninge vayle, that she might the +better beholde the good father that preached, and receyue a +little ayre, because the day was extreme hot. The Gentleman at +the first blushe, when hee sawe that sweete temptation before +his eyes, thought himselfe rapt aboue the thirde heauen, and not +able to withdraw his looke, he fed himselfe with the Venome +which by little, and little, so seased vpon the soundest parts +of hys mynde, as afterwards being rooted in heart, he was in +daunger still to remayne there for a Guage, wythout any hope of +ease or comforte, as more amply this followinge discourse, shall +giue you to vnderstande. Thus all the morning hee behelde the +Gentlewoman, who made no more accoumpt of theym, that wyth great +admiration did behold hir, than they themselues did of their +life, by committing the same to the handes of a Woman so cruell. +This Gentleman being come home to his lodging enquired what +fayre Wyddow that was, of what calling, and behauiour, but hee +heard tell of more truely than he would of good will haue known +or desired to haue ben in hir, whom he did presently chose to be +the only mistresse of his most secret thoughts. Now +vnderstandynge well the stubburne Nature, and vnciuile Manner of +that Wyddowe, hee coulde not tell what parte to take, nor to +what Sainct to vow his Deuotion, to make suite vnto hir hee +thought it tyme lost, to bee hir Seruaunt, it was not in his +power, hauing already inguaged his Lyberty into the handes of +that beauty, whych once holding captiue the hearte of men, will +not infraunchise them so soone as Thought and Wyll desire. +Wherefore baytinge hymself with hope, and tickled wyth loue, he +determined whatsoeuer chaunced, to loue hir, and to assay if by +long seruice he could lenifie that harde hearte, and make tender +that vnpliaunt wyll, to haue pitty vppon the payne which shee +saw him to endure, and to recompence hys laboursome Trauayles, +which hee thought were vertuously imployed for gayning of hir +good grace. And vpon this settled deliberation, he retired +agayne to Virle (so was his house named) where disposinge hys +thinges in order, he retorned agayne to Montcall to make his +long resiaunce there, to put in readines his furniture, and to +welde his artillary with sutch industry, as in the ende he might +make a reasonable breach to force and take the place: for +surprising whereof, hee hazarded great daungers, the rather that +himselfe might first be taken. And where his assaults and +pollicies could not preuayle, hee minded to content his Fancy +wyth the pleasure and pastyme that hee was to receyue in the +contemplation of a thing so fayre, and of an image so excellent. +The memory of whom rather increased his paine than yelded +comfort, did rather minister corrosiue poyson, than giue remedy +of ease, a cause of more cruell and sodayne death, than of +prolonged lyfe. Philiberto then being become a citizen of +Montcal, vsed to frequent the Church more than hee was wont to +doe, or his deuotion serued hym, and that bycause he was not +able elsewhere to enioy the presence of hys Saynct, but in +places and Temples of Deuotion: which no doubt was a very holy +and worthy Disposition, but yet not meete or requisite to +obserue sutch holy places for those intentes, which ought not to +bee prophaned in things so fonde and foolishe, and Actes so +contrary to the Institution, and mynde of those, whych in tymes +past were the firste Founders and Erectoures of Temples. +Seignior Philiberto then mooued wyth that Religious +Superstition, made no Conscience at al to speake vnto hir wythin +the Church. And true it is, when she went out of the same, he +(mooued wyth a certayne familiar curtesie, naturall to eche +Gentleman of good bringing vp) many tymes conducted hir home to +hir house, not able for all that (what so euer hee sayd) to win +the thing that was able to ingender any little solace, which +greeued him very much: for the cruell woman fained as though she +vnderstoode nothing of that he sayde, and turnyng the Wayne +agaynst the Oxen, by contrary talke shee began to tell hym a +tale of a Tubbe, of matters of hir Householde, whereunto hee +gaue so good heede, as shee did to the hearing of his +complaynts. Thus these two, of diuers Affections, and mooued +wyth contrary thoughtes, spake one to another, without apt +aunswere to eyther's talke. Whereby the Gentleman conceyued an +assured argument of hys Ruine, who voyde of all hope, and +meanes, practised with certayne Dames of the Citty, that had +familiar accesse vnto hyr house, and vsed frequent conuersation +wyth hys rebellious Lady Zilia. To one of them, then hee +determined to communicate hys secrets, and to doe hir to +vnderstand in deede the only cause that made him to soiorne at +Montcall, and the griefe which he suffered, for that he was not +able to discouer his torment vnto hir, that had giuen him the +wounde. Thys Gentleman therefore, repayred to one of his +neyghbours, a Woman of good corage, which at other tymes had +experimented what meates they feede on that sit at Venus Table, +and what bitternesse is intermingled amid those drinckes that +Cupido quaffeth vnto hys Guestes. Vnto whom (hauing before +coniured hir to keepe close that whych hee woulde declare) he +discouered the secrets of hys mynde, expressinge hys loue +wythout naming hys Lady before he heard the aunswere of hys +Neyghbour, who vnderstanding almost to what purpose the +affections of the Pacient were directed, sayd vnto hym: "Sir, +needful it is not to vse longe orations, the loue that I beare +you for the honest qualities whych hytherto I haue knowne to be +in you, shall make me to keepe silent, that whereof as yet I do +not know the matter, and the assuraunce you haue, not to bee +abused by mee, constrayneth me to warrant you, that I wyll not +spare to do you all the pleasure and honest seruice I can." +"Ah mistresse," (aunswered sir Philiberto) "so long as I lyue, +I will not fayle to acknowledge the Liberality of your endeuour +by offeringe your selfe paciently to heare, and secretly, to +keepe the Words I speake accordingly as they deserue: and that +(whych is more than I require) you doe assure me that I shall +finde sutch one of you as wil not spare to gieue your ayde. +Alas, I resemble the good and wyse Captayne, who to take a forte +doeth not only ayde himselfe with the forwardnesse, and +valiaunce of his Souldiers, but to spare them, and to auoyde +slaughter for makinge of way, planteth his cannon, and battereth +the Walle of the fort, which hee would assaile, to the intent +that both the Souldier, and the ordinaunce may perfourme and +suffise the perfection of the plat, which hee hath framed and +deuised within his pollitike heade. I haue already encouraged my +souldiers, and haue lost the better part truely in the skirmish +which hath deliuered vnto mee my sweete cruell Ennimy. Now I am +driuen to make ready the fire, which resteth in the kindled +match of your conceiptes, to batter the fort hitherto +inexpugnable, for any assault that I can make." "I vnderstand +not" (sayd she smilyng) "these labyrynths of your complaynts, +except you speake more playn. I neuer haunted the Warres, ne +knewe what thynge it is to handle weapons, improper and not +seemely for myne estate and kynde." "The Warre" (quod he) +{"}whereof I speake, is so naturall and common, as I doubt not, +but you haue sometymes assayed, with what sleightes and +camisados men vse to surpryse their enimies, howe they plant +their ambushes, and what meanes both the assaylant and defendant +ought to vse." "So far as I see" (sayd shee) "there resteth +nothing for vs, but the assurance of the field, sith wee bee +ready to enter in combat: and doe thinke that the fort shall not +bee harde to winne, by reason of the Walles, dikes, rampers, +bulwarks, platformes, counterforts, curtines, vamewres and +engins which you haue prepared, besides a numbre of false brayes +and flanks, placed in good order, and the whole defended from +the thundringe Cannons and Bombardes, which do amaze the +wandring enemy in the field. But I pray you leauing these +warlike Tumults, to speak more boldly without these +extrauagantes and digressions, for I take pitye to see you thus +troubled: ready to exceede the boundes of your modesty and +wonted wysedome." "Do not maruell at all mistresse" (quod he) +"sith accordynge to new occurrentes and alterations, the +purpose, talke, and counsel ordinarily do change I am become the +seruaunt of one which maketh me altogither lyke vnto those that +bee madde, and bound in Chaines, not able to speake or say any +thing, but what the spyrites that be in them, do force them to +vtter. For neither will I thynke, or speake any thing, but that +which the Enchaunter Loue doth commaunde and suffer to expresse, +who so rygorously doth vexe my hearte, as in place wher +bouldenesse is most requysite, hee depriueth me of force, and +leaueth mee without any Countenance. And being alone, God +knoweth how frankly I doe wander in the place, where myne enemy +may commaunde, and with what hardinesse I do inuade hir +prouince. Alas, is it not pity then to see these diuersities in +one selfe matter, and vpon one very thing? Truely I would endure +wyllingly all these trauailes, if I wyst in the end, my seruice +woulde be accepted, and hoped that my Martirdome shoulde fynde +releefe: but liuing in this vncertainty, I must needes norysh +the hunger and solace of the vnhappy, which are wishes and vaine +hopes, trusting that some God wyll gayne me a faythful friend +that will assaye to rid me from the hell, into the which I am +throwne, or else to shorten thys Miserable lyfe, whych is a +hundred tymes more paynfull than Death." In sayinge so, he began +to sighe so straungely as a man would haue thought that two +Smithes sledges working at the forge, had gyuen two blowes at +his stomake, so vehement was the inclosed winde within his +heart, that made him to fetche forth those terrible sighes, +the Eyes not forgetting to yeld forth a Riuer of Teares, which +gushynge forthe at the centre of hys Hearte, mounted into his +Braynes, at lengthe to make issue through the Spoute, proper to +the Chanell of sutch a Fountayne. Which the Gentlewoman seyng, +moued with compassion, coulde not contain also from Weepyng, +and therewythall sayde vnto him: "Although mine estate and +reputation, which to this day I have kept vnspotted, defend the +vse of my good wyl in al things that may defame mine honor, yet +sir, seing the extremity which you suffer to be vnfained, I wil +somwhat stretch my conscience, and assay to succor you with so +good heart, as frankely you trust me with the secrets of your +thought. It resteth then now for me to know what she is, to +whome your deuocions be inclined whose heart and mind I wil so +relief with the taste of your good wil, as I dare giue warrant, +her appetit shal accept your profred seruice, and truly that +woman may count her self happy that shal intertain the offer of +a gentleman that is so honest and curteous, who meaneth with al +fidelity to aduance and honor, not onely the superficial +ornament of hir beauty, but the inward vertues of hir constant +mind. And truly the earth seldom yeldeth those frutes in the +harts of men in these our barren days, they being ouer growen +with the shrubbes of disloialty the same choke vp the plantes of +true Fidelity, the sedes whereof are sowen and replanted in the +soyle of womens hartes, who not able to depart and vse the force +and effects thereof will put vpon them conditions that bee +cruell, to punish the Foolysh indiscreation of tryfling Louers, +who disguised with the vizard of fained friendship, and paynted +with coloured Amity, languishing in sighes and sorrowes, goe +aboute to assay to deceiue the flexible Nature of them that +prodigally employ theyr honor into the hands of sutch cruel, +inconstante and foolysh suters." "Ah Mistresse" answered the +Gentleman: "howe may I bee able to recompence that onely +benefite which you promyse me now? But be sure that you see +heere a Souldier and Gentleman presente which shall no lesse bee +prodigall of hys Lyfe to doe you seruyce, than you bee lyberall +of your reputation, to ease his Paines. Now sith it pleaseth you +to shew sutch fauour to offer me your helpe and support in that +which payneth me, I require no more at your hands, but to beare +a letter which I shall wryte to mystresse Zilia, with whome I am +so farre in loue, as if I do receiue no solace of my griefe, +I know not howe I shall auoyde the cuttyng of the Threede, whych +the spynning systers haue twisted to prolonge my lyfe, that +henceforth can receiue no succor if by your meanes I do not +atchieue the thing that holdeth me in bondage." The Gentlewoman +was very sorrowful, when she vnderstoode that Seignior +Philiberto had bent his Loue vpon sutch one, as would not +consente to that requeste, and mutch lesse would render rest +vnto hys myseryes, and therefore enforced hir selfe to moue that +Foolyshe Fantasye out of his head. But he beyng already resolued +in thys myshappe, and the same perceyued by her in the ende she +sayde: "To the intente sir that you may not thynke that I doe +meane to excuse the Satysfactyon of my promyse, make youre +Letters, and of my Fayth I wil delyuer them. And albeyt I knowe +verye well what bee the Honoures and Glorye of that Pylgryme, +yet I wyll render to you agayne the true aunswere of hir speache +whereby you maye consider the gayne you are lyke to make, by +pursuing a Woman (although faire) of so small desert." The +Gentleman fayled not to gyue her heartye Thankes, prayinge hir +to tarry vntyll hee had written his letters: whereunto she most +willingly obeyed. He then in his chaumber, began to fantasie a +hundred hundred matters to write vnto his Mistresse, and after +he had fixed theym in minde tooke Incke and Paper writing as +followeth. + + _The Letters of Seignior Philiberto of Virle, to Mistresse + Zelia of Montcall._ + +"The passion extreeme which I endure, (Madame) through the +feruent loue I beare you, is sutch, as besides that I am assured +of the little affection that resteth in you towards me agayne, +in respect of that incredible seruitude which my desire is ready +to employ, I haue no power to commaunde my force, ne yet to rid +my selfe from my vowed deuotion and will to your incomparable +beauty, although euen from the beginning I felt the pricks of +the mortall shot which now torments my mynde. Alas, I do not +know vnder what influence I am borne, nor what Fate doth guide +my yeares, sith I doe perceyue that heauen, and loue, and hir +whom alone I honor, doe confirme themselues with one assent to +seeke myne ouerthrow. Alas, I thinke that all the powers aboue +conspired together, to make me be the faythfull man, and +perpetuall seruaunt of you my mistresse deare, to whom alone, +I yelde my heart afflicted as it is, and the ioy of hidden +thoughts noursed in my minde, by the contemplation and +remembraunce of your excellent and perfect graces, whereof, if I +be not fauored, I waight for death, from whych euen now I fly: +not for feare of that whych she can doe, or of the vgly shape +which I conceyue to be in hir, but rather to confirme my life, +this Body for instrument to exercise the myndes conceypts for +doinge your Commaundements, which Body I greatly feare shall +proue the vnworthy cruelty, both of your gentle nouriture, and +of those graces which Dame Nature most aboundantly hath powred +in you. Be sure Madame that you shall shortlye see the Ende of +him, which attendeth yet to beare so mutch as in him doeth lye, +the vehement loue into an other world, which maketh me to pray +you to haue pity on him, who (attending the rest and final +sentence of his Death or Lyfe) doth humbly kisse your white and +delicate handes, beseeching God to giue to you like ioy as his +is, who desireth to be, + + Wholy yours or not to be at all + Philiberto of Virle.{"} + +The Letter written, closed and sealed, he deliuered to his +neighbour, who promysed hym agayne to bryng him answere at +Night. Thus this Messenger went hir way, leauing this pore +languishyng Gentlemen hoping against hope, and fayning by and by +some ioy and pleasure, wherein he bained himself with great +contented minde. Then sodaynly he called againe vnto +remembraunce, the cruelty and inciuility of Zilia, which shewed +before his eyes so many kindes of Death, as tymes he thought +vpon the same, thinking that he saw the choler wherewith his +little curteous mistresse furiously did intertaine the +messenger, who findinge Zilia comming forth of a garden +adioining to her house, and hauing saluted her, and receiued +like curteous salutation would haue framed hir talke, by honest +excuse in the vnsemely charge and message: to hir vnto whom she +was sent, and for some ease to the pore gentleman which +approched nearer death than life. But Zilia break of hir talke +saying: "I maruell mutch Gentle neighbor to see you heere at +this time of the day, knowing your honest custome is to let +passe no minute of the tyme, except it be emploied in some +vertuous exercise." "Mistresse" answered the messanger, "I thank +you for the good opinion you haue of me, and doe pray you to +continue the same. For I do assure you that nothinge vayne or of +lyttle effect hath made me slacke my businesse at this time, +which me think I do not forslow, when I inforce my selfe to take +pitye and mercy vpon the afflicted and the substaunce thereof I +woulde disclose, if I feared not to offend you, and break the +loue which of long tyme betweene vs two hath ben frequented." +"I know not" (said Zilia) "whereunto your words do tend, +althoughe my Hearte doth throbbe, and minde doth moue to make +mee thinke your purposed talke to bee of none other effecte, +than to say a thing which may redound to the preiudice of myne +honour. Wherefore I pray you do not disclose what shall be +contrary, (be it neuer so little) to the duety of Dames of our +Degree." "Mystresse" sayd the Neighboure, "I suppose that the +lyttle Lykelihoode touchyng in you the thinge for the helpe +whereof I come, hath made you feele some passion, contrary to +the greefe of him that indures so mutch for your sake. Vnto +whome without feare of your dyspleasure, I gaue my Faithe in +Pledge to beare this Letter." In saying so, she drewe the same +out of hir Bosome, and presentyng it to cruell Silia, shee +sayde: "I beseeche you to thynke that I am not ignoraunt of the +evyll wherewyth the Lorde of Virle is affected, who wrote these +letters. I promysed him the duety of a Messanger towards you: +and so constrayned by promyse I could doe no lesse, than to +delyuer you that which hee doeth sende, with Seruyce sutch as +shall endure for euer, or yf it shall please you to accept him +for sutch a one as hee desireth to be. For my parte I onelye +praye you to reade the Contentes, and accordynglye to gyue mee +Aunswere: for my Fayth is no further bounde, but trustelye to +report to hym the thinge whereuppon you shall bee resolued." +Zilia which was not wonte to receyue very ofte sutch Ambassades, +at the firste was in mind to breake the Letters, and to retourne +the Messanger wythout aunswere to hir shame. But in the Ende +takyng Heart, and chaunging hir affectyon, she red the Letters +not without shewing some very great alteration outwardely, which +declared the meanynge of hir thought that diuersly did stryue +wythin hir mynde: for sodaynly shee chaunged her Coloure twyce +or thryce, nowe waxing pale lyke the increasynge Moone Eclypsed +by the Sunne, when shee feeleth a certayne darkenynge of hir +borowed Lyghte, then the Vermylyon and coloured Taynte came into +hir Face agayne, wyth no lesse hewe than the blomed Rose newelye +budded forthe, whych Encreased halfe so mutch agayne, the +excellencye of that wherewyth Nature had indued hir. And then +she paused a whyle. Notwythstandynge, after that shee had red, +and red agayne hir Louer's letter, not able to dissemble hir +foolishe anger which vexed hir heart, shee sayde vnto the +mistresse messanger: "I would not haue thought that you, being a +woman of good fame would (by abusinge your duety,) haue bene the +ambassador of a thing so vncomely for your Estate, and the house +where of you come, and towards me which neuer was sutch one +(ne yet pretend to be.) And trust me it is the loue I beare you, +which shall for this tyme make me dissemble what I thincke, +reseruinge in silence, that whych (had it come from an other) +I would haue published to the great dishonour of hir that maketh +so little accoumpt of my chastity. Let it suffice therefore in +tyme to come for you to thinke and beleue, that I am chaste and +honest: and to aduertise the Lord of Virle to proceede no +further in his sute: for rather will I dy, than agree to the +least poynct of that which hee desires of mee. And that he may +knowe the same, be well assured that hee shall take his leaue of +that priuate talke which sometimes I vsed with him to my great +dishonor, as far as I can see. Get you home therefore, and if +you loue your credit so mutch, as you see me curious of my +chastity, I beseech you vse no further talke of hym, whom I hate +so mutch, as his folly is excessiue, for I do little esteeme the +amorous Toyes and fayned passions, whereunto sutch louinge +fooles doe suffer themselues to be caried headlong." The +messenger ashamed to heare hir selfe thus pinched to the quicke, +aunswered hir very quietly without mouing of hir pacience: +"I pray to God (mistresse) that he may recouer the different +disease al most incurable in eyther of you twayne, the same +being so vehement, as altered into a phrenesie, maketh you in +this wyse, incapable of reason." Finishing these wordes she +tooke hir leaue of Zilia, and arriued to the Louer's house, +she founde him lying vpon his bed, rather dead than a liue: who +seeing his neyghbor returned backe agayne, with Face so sadde, +not tarying for the aunswere which she was about to make, he +began to say: "Ah infortunate Gentleman, thou payest wel the +vsury of thy pleasures past when thou diddest lyue at lyberty, +free from those trauayles which now do put thee to death, +without suffering thee to dy. Oh happy, and more than happy had +I ben, if inconstant Fortune had not deuised this treason, +wherein I am surprised and caught, and yet no raunsome can +redeeme from prison, but the most miserable death that euer +poore louer suffred. Ah Mistresse, I knowe well that Zilia +esteemeth not my Letters, ne yet regardeth my loue, I confesse +that I haue done you wrong by thus abusing your honest amity, +for the solace of my payne. Ah fickle loue, what foole is hee +which doth commit hymselfe to the rage and fury of the Waues of +thy foming and tempestuous Seas? Alas I am entred in, with +great, and gladsome cheere, through the glistering shew before +myne eyes of the faynt shining Sunne beames, whereunto as soone +as I made sayle, the same denied me light of purpose to thrust +me forth into a thousand winds, tempests, and raging stormes of +Rayne. By meanes whereof I see no meane at all to hope for end +of my mishaps: and mutche lesse the shipwracke that sodainely +may rid me from this daunger more intollerable, than if I were +ouerwhelmed wythin the bottomlesse depth of the mayne Ocean. Ah +deceyuer and wily Souldiour, why hast thou made me enterprise +the voyage farre of from thy solitudes and Wildernesse, to geue +me ouer in the middest of my necessity? Is this thy maner +towards them which franckly followe thy tract, and pleasauntly +subdue themselues to thy trayterous follies? At least wyse if I +sawe some hope of health would indure without complaynt thereof: +yea, and it were a more daungerous tempest. But O good God, what +is he of whom I speake? Of whom do I attend for solace and +releefe? Of him truely which is borne for the ouerthrow of men. +Of whom hope I for health? Of the most noysom poyson that euer +was mingled with the subtilest druggs that euer were. Whom shall +I take to be my Patron? He which is in ambush traiterously to +catch me, that he may martir me worsse than he hath done before. +Ah cruell Dame, that measurest so euill, the good will of him +that neuer purposed to trespasse the least of thy +commaundements. Ah, that thy beauty should finde a Subiect so +stubborne in thee, to torment them that loue and honor thee. +O maigre and vnkinde recompence, to expell good seruaunts that +be affectionate to a seruice so iust and honest. Ah Basiliske, +coloured ouer with pleasure and swetnesse, how hath thy sight +dispersed his poyson throughout mine heart? At least wise if I +had some drugge to repell thy force, I should liue at ease, and +that without this sute and trouble. But I feele and proue that +this sentence is more than true: + + No physicke hearbes the griefe of loue can cure, + Ne yet no drugge that payne can well assure. + +Alas, the seare cloath will not serue, to tent the wound the +time shall be but lost, to launch the sore, and to salue the +same it breeds myne ouerthrow. To be short, any dressing can not +auayle, except the hand of hir alone which gaue the wounde. +I woulde to God shee sawe the bottome of my heart, and viewed +the Closet of my mynde, that shee might iudge of my firme fayth +and know the wrong she doth me by hir rigor and froward will. +But O vnhappy man, I feele that she is so resolued in obstinate +mynde, as hir rest seemeth only to depend vpon my payne, hir +ease vpon my griefe, and hir ioy vpon my sadnesse." And saying +so, began straungly to weepe, and sighing betwene, lamented, +in so mutch as, the mistresse messaunger not able to abide the +griefe and paynefull trauayle wherein shee saw the poore +gentleman wrapped, went home to hir house: notwithstanding she +told afterward the whole successe of his loue to a Gentleman, +the friend of Philiberto. Now this Gentleman was a companion in +armes to the Lorde of Virle, and a very familyar Freend of his, +that went about by all meanes to put away those foolishe, and +Franticke conceypts out of his fansie, but hee profited as mutch +by his endeuour, as the passionate gayned by his heauines: who +determining to dye, yelded so mutch to care and grief, as he +fell into a greeuous sicknes, which both hindred him from +sleepe, and also his Appetite to eate and drinke, geuing +himselfe to muse vppon his follies, and fansied dreames, without +hearing or admitting any man to speake vnto hym. And if +perchaunce hee hearkened to the persuasions of his frends, he +ceassed not his complaynt, bewayling the cruelty of one, whom he +named not. The Phisitians round about were sought for, and they +coulde geue no iudgement of his malady (neyther for all the +Signes they saw, or any inspection of his Vrine, or touching of +his pulse) but sayd that it was melancholie humor distilling +from the Brayne, that caused the alteration of his sense: +howbeit their Arte and knowledge were void of skil to evacuate +the grosse Bloud that was congeled of his disease. And therefore +dispayryng of his health, with hands full of Money, they gaue +him ouer. Which his friend and Companion perceiuing, maruellous +sorry for his affliction he ceased not to practise all that he +could by Letters, gifts, promises and complaynts to procure +Zilia to visite her pacient. For hee was assured that her onely +presence was able to recouer him. But the cruell woman excused +hir self that she was a Widow and that it shoulde bee vnseemely +for one of hir degree (of intente) to visite a Gentleman, whose +Parentage and Alliance she knew not. The soliciter of the Lord +of Virle his health, seeing how lyttle hys prayers auailed to +his implacable gryefe could not tell to what Sainct he might vow +himself for Counsell, in the ende resolued to sollicite hir +again that hadde done the first Message, that she myght eftsons +deuise some meanes to bryng them to speake togither. And fynding +hir for hys purpose, thus he sayed vnto hir: "Mystresse I +maruell mutch that you make so little accompt of the pore lorde +of Virle who lyeth in his Bedde attending for Death. Alas, if +euer pitty had place in Woman's heart, I beseech you to gyue +your ayde to help him, the meane of whose recouery, is not +ignoraunt vnto you." "God is my witnesse" (quod she) "what +trauaile my heart is willing to vndertake to helpe that +Gentleman, but in things impossible, it is not in man to +determine, or rest assured iudgement. I wil go vnto him and +comfort hym so well as I can, that peraduenture my Promyses may +ease some part of his payne: and afterward we wil at leysure +better consider, what is best for vs to do." Herevppon they +wente together to see the Pacient, that beganne to looke more +chearefull than he dyd before: who seeing the Gentlewoman, said +vnto hir: "Ah mistres, I would to God I had neuer proued your +fidelity, then had I not felt the passing cruell Heart of hir, +that esteemeth more hir honour to practise rigour and tyranny +than with gentlenesse to maintaine the Lyfe of a pore feeble +knight." "Sir," (said she,) "be of good cheare, doe not thus +torment your selfe: for I trust to gyue you remedy betwene thys +and to morrowe, and wyll doe myne endeuor to cause you to speake +with hir, vppon whome wrongfully perchaunce you doe complayne, +and who dare not come vnto you, least ill speakers conceiue +occasion of suspicion, who wil make the report more slaunderous, +then remedie for the cause of your disease." "Ah" (sayd the +pacient) "howe ioyefull and pleasaunt is your talke? I see wel +that you desire my health, and for that purpose would haue me +drinke those liquors, which superficiallay appeare to bee +sweete, which afterwardes may make my lyfe a hundred tymes more +faint and feeble than now it is." "Be you there," sayed she? +"And I sweare vnto you by my faith not to faile to keepe my +promyse, to cause you speake alone with mistresse Zilia." "Alas, +mistresse" sayd the louer, "I aske no more at your haudes, that +I may heare with myne own eares the last sentence of hope or +defiance." "Well put your trust in me," sayd she, "and take no +thought but for your health. For I am assured ere it be longe, +to cause hir to come vnto you, and then you shall see whether, +my diligence shall aunswere the effect of myne attempt." "Me +thinke already" (quod he) "that sicknesse is not able to stay me +from going to hir that is the cause, sith her onely remembraunce +hath no lesse force in mee, than the clearnesse of the Sun +beames to euaporate the thicknesse of the morning mistes." With +that the Gentlewoman tooke her leaue of hym, and went home +attendynge oportunity to speake to Zilia, whome two or three +Dayes after she mette at Church, and they two beyng alone +togither in a Chapell, she sayd vnto hir with fayned Teares, +forced from her Eyes, and sending forth a Cloude of sighes, +these woordes: "Madame, I nothing doubt at al, but the last +Letters which I brought you, made you conceiue some il opinion +of me, which I do guesse by the frownyng countenance that euer +sithens you haue borne me. But when you shall knowe the hurte +which it hath done, I thinke you wyll not be so harde, and voyde +of pitye, but with pacyence hearken that whych I shall saye, and +therewythall bee moued to pitye the state of a pore Gentleman, +who by your meanes is in the pangs of death." Zilia, which til +then neuer regarded the payne and sicknesse of the pacient, +began to sorrow, with sutch passion, as not to graunt him +further fauor than he had already receiued, but to finde some +means to ease him of hys gryefe, and then to gyue hym ouer for +euer. And therefore she sayd vnto hir neyghbor: "My good frend, +I thought that all these sutes had beene forgotten, vntill the +other day a certen Gentleman praied me to go see the Lord of +Virle, who told me as you do now, that he was in great daunger. +And now vnderstanding by you that he waxeth worsse, and worsse, +I will be ruled, being well assured of your honesty and vertue, +and that you will not aduise me to any thing that shall be +hurtfull to myne honour. And when you haue done what you can, +you shal winne of me so mutch as nothinge, and geeue no ease to +him at all that wrongfully playneth of my cruelty. For I purpose +not to do any priuate fact with him, but that which shall be +meete for an honest Gentlewoman, and sutch as a faythfull tutor +of hir chastity, may graunt to an honest and vertuous +Gentleman." "His desire is none other" (sayd the gentlewoman) +"for he craueth but your presence, to let you wit by word, that +he is ready to do the thing you shall commaund him." "Alas" +sayde Zilia, "it is impossible for me to go to hym without +suspition, which the common people will lightly conceiue of +sutch light and familiar Behauiour. And rather would I dy than +aduenture mine honor hitherto conserued wyth great seuerity and +diligence. And yet sith you say, that he is in extremes of +death, for your sake, I wil not stick to heare him speake." +"I thanke you" (sayd the Messanger) "for the good wil you beare +me and for the help you promise vnto the poore passionate +Gentleman, whom these newes wil bring on foote againe, and who +al the dayes of his life wil do you honor for that good turne." +"Sith it is so (sayd Zilia) to morrow at noone let him come vnto +my house, wherein a low chamber, he shall haue leysure to say to +mee his mind. But I purpose by God's help, to suffer him no +further than that which I haue already graunted." "As it shall +please you" (sayd hir neighbour) "for I craue no more of you but +that only fauour, which as a Messanger of good Newes, I go to +shew hym, recommending my selfe in the meane tyme to your +commaunde." And then she went vnto the pacient, whom she found +walkinge vp and downe the Chaumber, indifferent lusty of his +person, and of colour meetely freshe for the tyme hee left his +Bed." Now when sir Philiberto saw the Messanger, hee sayde vnto +hir: "And how now mystresse, what Newes? Is Zilia so stubborne +as shee was wont to be?" "You may see hir" (sayd she) "if to +morrowe at Noone you haue the heart to aduenture to goe vnto hir +house." "Is it possible" (sayd hee embracing hir) "that you haue +procured my delyueraunce from the misery, wherewith I haue so +long tyme beene affected? Ah trusty and assured frende, all the +dayes of my lyfe I wil remember that pleasure, and benefite, +and by acknowledging of the same, shall be ready to render like, +when you please to commaunde, or els let me be counted the most +vncurteous Gentleman that euer made profession of loue: I will +go by God's help to see mistresse Zilia, with intent to endure +all vexation, wherewith Dame Fortune shall afflict me, +protesting to vex my selfe no more, although I see my wished hap +otherwise to ende than my desert requireth. But yet agaynst +Fortune to contend, is to warre agaynst my selfe, whereof the +Victory can be but daungerous." Thus he passed all the day, +which seemed to last a thousand years to hym, that thought to +receyue some good intertaynment of hys Lady, in whose Bonds hee +was catched before he thought that Woman's malice could so farre +exceede, or display hir venomous Sting. And truly that man is +voyde of Sense, whych suffreth hym selfe so fondly to bee +charmed, sith the pearill of others before time abused, ought to +serue hym for exaumple. Women be vnto mankinde a greate +confusion, and vnwares for want of hys due foresight, it doth +suffer it selfe to bee bounde and taken captiue by the very +thing which hath no being to worke effect, but by free will. +Which Inchauntment of woman's beauty, being to men a pleasaunt +displeasure, I thinke to bee decked with that drawinge vertue, +and allurement, for chastising of their sinnes who once fed and +bayted with their fading fauour and poysoned sweetnesse, forget +their owne perfection, and nousled in their foolishe Fansies, +they seeke Felicity, and soueraygne delight, in the matter +wherein doth lie the summe of their vnhaps. Semblaly the +vertuous and shamefaste dames, haue not the eyes of their minde +so blindfolde, but that they see whereunto those francke +seruices, those disloyal Faythes and Vyces coloured and stuffed +with exterior vertue, doe tende: Who doubt not also but sutch +louers do imitate the Scorpion, whose Venome lieth in his Tayle, +the ende of which is loue beinge the ruine of good Renoume, and +the Decay of former vertues. For which cause the heauens, the +Frende of their sexe, haue giuen them a prouidence, which those +Gentle, vnfauoured louers terme to be rigor, thereby to proue +the deserts of Suters, aswell for their great contentation and +prayse, as for the rest of them that do them seruice. Howbeit +this iust and modest prouidence, that cruel Gentlewoman +practised not in hir louer, the Lord of Virle, who was so humble +a seruaunt of his vnkinde mistresse, as his obedience redounded +to his great mishap, and folly, as manifestly may appeare by +that whych followeth. Sir Philiberto then thinking to haue +gayned mutch by hauing made promise, liberally to speake to his +Lady, went vnto hir at the appoyncted hour, so well contented +truely of that grace, as all the vnkindnesse past was quite +forgot. Now being come to the Lodging of Mistresse Zilia, he +found hir in the deuised place with one of hir maydes attending +vpon hir. When she saw him, after a little cold entertaynment, +she began to say vnto him with fayned ioy, that neuer mooued hir +heart, these woordes: "Now sir, I see that your late sicknesse +was not so straunge as I was geeuen to vnderstand, for the good +state wherein I see you presently to be, which from henceforth +shall make mee beleue, that the passions of Men endure so long +as the cause of their affections continue within their fansies, +mutch like vnto looking Glasses, which albeit they make the +equality or excesse of things represented to appeare, yet when +the thing seene doth passe, and vanishe away, the formes also do +voyde out of remembraunce, resembling the wynde that lightly +whorleth to and fro through the plane of some deepe valley." +"Ah madame" aunswered he, "how easie a matter it is for the +griefelesse person to counterfayt both ioy and dissimulation in +one very thing, which not onely may forget the conceipt that +mooueth his affections, but the obiect must continually remayne +in him, as paynted, and grauen in his minde. Which truely as you +say is a looking Glasse, not sutch one for all that, as the +counterfayted apparaunce of represented formes hath like vigor +in it, that the first and true idees and shapes can so soone +vanish without leauiug most perfect impression of sutch formes +within the minde of him, that liueth vpon their onely +remembraunce. In this mirror then (which by reason of the hidden +force I may well say to bee ardent and burning) haue I looked so +well as I can, thereby to form the sustentation of my good hap. +But the imagined Shape not able to support sutch perfection, +hath made the rest of the body to fayle (weakned through the +mindes passions) in sutch wise as if the hope to recouer this +better parte halfe lost, had not cured both, the whole decay of +the one had followed, by thinking to giue some accomplishment in +the other. And if you see me Madame, attayne to some good state, +impute the same I beseech you, to the good will and fauor which +I receiue by seeing you in a priuate place, wherein I conceyue +greater ioy than euer I did, to say vnto you the thing which you +would not beleeue, by woords at other times proceeding from my +mouth, ne yet by aduertisement signified in my written letters. +Notwithstanding I think that my Martirdome is known to bee sutch +as euery man may perceyue that the Summe of my desire is onely +to serue and obey you, for so mutch as I can receyue no greater +comforte, than to be commaunded to make repayre to you, to let +you know that I am whole (although giuen ouer by Phisitians) +when you vouchsafe to employ me in your seruice, and thinke my +selfe raysed vp agayne from one hundred thousand deathes at +once, when it shall please you to haue pitty vpon the griefe and +passion, that I endure. Alas, what causeth my mishap, that the +heauenly beauty of yours should make proofe of a cruelty so +great? Haue you decreed Madame thus to torment mee poore +Gentleman that am ready to sacrifice myselfe in your seruice, +when you shall impart some fauour of your good grace? Do you +thinke that my passions be dissembled? Alacke, alacke, the +teares which I haue shed, the losse of lust to eate and drinke, +the weary passed nights, the longe contriued sleepelesse tyme +the restlesse turmoyle of my consumed corps may wel assure that +my loyall heart is of better merite than you esteeme." Then +seeing hir to fixe hir eyes vpon the ground, and thinkinge that +hee had already wonne hir, he reinforced his humble Speache, and +Sighing at fits betwene, not sparinge the Teares, whych trickled +downe alongs hys Face, he prosecuted his Tale as followeth: "Ah +fayre amongs the fayrest, woulde you blot that surpassing Beauty +with a cruelty so furious, as to cause the death of him which +loueth you better than himselfe? Ah my withered eyes, which +hitherto haue bene serued with two liuely springs to expresse +the hidden griefs within the heart, if your vnhap be sutch that +the only Mistresse of your contemplations, and cause of your +driery teares, doe force the Humor to encrease, which hitherto +in sutch wise hath emptied my Brayne, as there is no more in mee +to moisten your drouth, I am content to endure al extremity, +vntil my heart shal feele the last Pangue, that depriueth yee of +nourishment, and me of mine affected Ioy." The Gentlewoman, +whether shee was weary of that Oration, or rather doubted that +in the end hir chastity would receue some assault through the +dismeasured passion which she saw to continue in him, answered +with rigorous words: "You haue talked, and written inough, +you haue indifferently well solicited hir, whych is throughly +resolued in former minde, to keepe hir honor in that worthy +reputation of degree, wherein she maynetayneth the same amongs +the best. I haue hitherto suffered you to abuse my patience, +and haue shewed that familiarity which they deserue not that go +about leudly to assayle the chastity of those Women that +patiently gieue them eare, for the opinion they haue conceiued +of the shadowing vertues of like foolishe Suters. I now doe see +that all your woordes doe tend to beguile mee, and to depriue +mee of that you cannot giue mee: Which shall bee a warning for +me henceforth, more wisely to looke about my businesse, and more +warely to shunne the Charmes of sutch as you bee, to the ende +that I by bending mine open eares, be not surprised, and +ouercome wyth your enchaunted Speaches. I pray you then for +conclusion, that I heare no more hereof, neyther from you, nor +yet from the Ambassadour that commeth from you. For I neyther +will, ne yet pretend to depart to you any other fauour than that +which I haue enlarged for your comfort: but rather doe protest, +that so longe as you abide in this Countrey, I will neyther goe +forth in streate, nor suffer any Gentleman to haue accesse into +this place except he be my neare Kinsman. Thus for your +importunat sute, I will chastise my light consent, for +harkeninge vnto you in those requests, which duty and Womanhoode +ought not to suffre. And if you do proceede in these your +follies, I will seeke redresse according to your desert, which +till now I haue deferred, thinking that time would haue put out +the ardent heate of your rash, and wanton youth." The +infortunate Lord of Virle, hearing this sharpe sentence, +remayned long time without speach, so astonned as if he had bene +falne from the Clouds. In the ende for al his despayre he +replyed to Zilia with Countenaunce indifferent merry: "Sith it +is so madame, that you take from mee all hope to be your +perpetuall Seruaunt, and that without other comfort or +contentation I must nedes depart your presence, neuer +(perchaunce) hereafter to speake vnto you againe, be not yet so +squeimish of your beauty, and so cruell towards your languishing +louer, as to deny him a kisse for pledge of his last farewell. +I demaund nothing here in secret, but that honestly you may +openly performe. It is al that I doe craue at your handes in +recompence of the trauayles, paynes, and afflictions suffred for +your sake." The malitious dame full of rancor, and spitefull +rage sayd vnto him: "I shall see by and by sir, if the loue +which you vaunt to beare mee, be so vehement as you seeme to +make it." "Ah Madame" (sayd the vnaduised Louer) "commaunde +only, and you shal see with what deuotion I will performe your +will, were it that it should cost me the price of my proper +life." "You shall haue" (quod she) "the kisse which you require +of me if you will make promise, and sweare by the fayth of a +Gentleman, to do the thinge that I shall commaund, without +fraude, couin or other delay." "Madame" (sayd the ouer wilful +louer) "I take God to witnesse that of the thing which you shall +commaunde I will not leaue one iote vndone, but it shall bee +executed to the vttermost of your request and will." She hearing +him sweare with so good affection, sayd vnto him smiling: "Now +then vpon your oth which I beleue, and being assured of your +Vertue and Noble nature, I will also performe and keepe my +promise." And saying so, shee Embraced and kissed him very +louingly. The poore Gentleman not knowing how dearely hee had +bought that disfauorable curtesie, and bitter sweetenesse, helde +hir a while betwene his armes, doubling kisse vppon kisse, with +sutch Pleasure, as his soule thought to fly vp to the heauens +being inspired with that impoysoned Baulme which hee sucked in +the sweete and sugred breath of his cruel mistresse: who vndoing +hir selfe out of his armes, sayde vnto him: "Sith that I haue +made the first disclosure both of the promise and of the effect, +it behooueth that you performe the rest, for the full +accomplyshment of the same." "Come on hardily" (sayeth hee) "and +God knoweth how spedily you shal be obeyed." "I wil then" (quod +shee) "and commaund you vpon your promysed faith that from this +present time, vntyl the space of three yeres be expyred, you +speake to no lyuing person for any thing that shall happen vnto +you, nor yet expresse by tonge, by sound of word or speache what +thing you wante or els desyre, whych requeste if you do breake, +I will neuer truste liuing man for youre sake, but wil publyshe +your fame to bee villanous, and your person periured, and a +promyse breaker." I leaue for you to think whether this vnhappy +louer were amazed or not, to heare a Commaundment so vniust, and +therewithall the difficulty for the performance. Notwithstanding +he was so stoute of hearte, and so religious an obseruer of his +Othe as euen at that very instant he began to do the part which +she had commaunded, playing at Mumchaunce, and vsing other +signes, for doing of his duetye, accordynge to hir demaund. Thus +after his ryghte humble reuerence made vnto hir, he went home, +where faining that hee had lost his speach by meanes of a +Catarre or reume which distilled from his brayne, he determined +to forsake his Countrey vntill his tyme of penance was rune out. +Wherfore setting staye in hys affayres, and prouydyng for his +trayne, he made him ready to depart. Notwithstanding, he wrot a +Letter vnto Zilia, before he toke hys iovrney into Fraunce, that +in olde tyme hadde ben the Solace and refuge of the miserable, +as wel for the pleasantnes and temperature of the ayre, the +great wealth and the aboundance of al thynges, as for the +curtesye, gentlenes and familyarity of the people: wherein that +region may compare with any other nation vpon the earth. Now the +Letter of Philiberto, fell into the hands of lady Zilia, by +meanes of hys Page instructed for that purpose: who aduertised +hir of the departure of his mayster, and of the despaire wherein +hee was. Whereof shee was somewhat sory, and offended: But yet +puttinge on hir Aunciente seuerytye, tooke the Letters, and +breakinge the Seale, found that which followeth. + + The very euill that causeth mine anoy + The matter is that breedes to me my ioy, + Which doth my wofull heart full sore displease, + And yet my hap and hard yll lucke doth ease. + I hope one day when I am franke and free, + To make thee do the thing that pleaseth mee, + Whereby gayne I shall, some pleasaunt gladnesse, + To supply mine vndeserued sadnesse, + The like whereof no mortall Dame can giue + To louing man that heere on earth doth lyue. + This great good turne which I on thee pretende, + Of my Conceites the full desired ende, + Proceedes from thee (O cruell mystresse myne) + Whose froward heart hath made mee to resigne + The full effect of all my liberty, + (To please and ease thy fonde fickle fansy) + My vse of speache in silence to remayne: + To euery wight a double hellishe payne. + Whose fayth hadst thou not wickedly abusde + No stresse of payne for thee had bene refusde, + Who was to thee a trusty seruaunt sure, + And for thy sake all daungers would endure. + For which thou hast defaced thy good name, + And thereunto procurde eternall shame. + ¶ That roaring tempest huge which thou hast made me felt, + The raging stormes whereof, well neere my heart hath swelt + By paineful pangs: whose waltering waues by troubled Skies, + And thousand blasts of winde that in those Seas do ryse + Do promise shipwracke sure of that thy sayling Barke, + When after weather cleare doth rise some Tempest darke. + For eyther I or thou which art of Tyger's kinde, + In that great raging gulfe some daunger sure shalt finde, + Of that thy nature rude the dest'nies en'mies bee, + And thy great ouerthrow full well they do foresee. + The heauens vnto my estate no doubt great friendship shoe, + And do seeke wayes to ende, and finish all my woe. + This penaunce which I beare by yelding to thy hest + Great store of ioyes shall heape, and bring my mynde to rest. + And when I am at ease amids my pleasaunt happes, + Then shall I see thee fall, and snarld in Fortune's trappes. + Then shall I see thee ban and cursse the wicked time, + Wherin thou madest me gulp such draught of poysoned wine. + Of which thy mortall cup, I am the offerd wight, + A vowed sacrifice to that thy cruell spight. + Wherefore my hoping heart doth hope to see the day, + That thou for silence now to me shalt be the pray. + ¶ O Blessed God most iust, whose worthy laude and prayse + With vttered speach in Skies a loft I dare not once to rayse, + And may not well pronounce and speak what suffrance I sustain, + Ne yet what death I do indure, whiles I in lyfe remayne, + Take vengeance on that traytresse rude, afflict hir corps with woe + Thy holy arme redresse hir fault, that she no more do soe: + My reason hath not so farre strayed but I may hope and trust + To see hir for hir wickednes, be whipt with plague most iust. + In the meane while great heauines my sence and soule doth bite, + And shaking feuer vex my corps for griefe of hir despite. + My mynde now set at liberty from thee (O cruell Dame) + Doth giue defiaunce to thy wrath, and to thy cursed name, + Proclayming mortal warre on thee vntill my tongue vntide, + Shall ioy to speak to Zilia fast weping by my side. + The heauens forbid that causlesse wrong abroad shold make his vaunt, + Or that an vndeserued death forgetfull tombe should haunt: + But that in written booke and verse their names shold euer liue + And eke their wicked deedes shold dy, and vertues stil reuiue. + So shall the pride and glory both, of hir be punisht right, + By length of yeares, and tract of time. And I by vertues might, + Full recompence thereby shal haue and stand still in good Fame, + And she like caitif wretch shall liue, to hir long lasting shame. + Whose fond regard of beautie's grace, contemned hath the force + Of my true loue full fixt in hir: hir heart voide of remorse, + Esteemed it selfe right foolishly and me abused still, + Vsurping my good honest fayth and credite at hir will. + Whose loyall faith doth rest in soule, and therein stil shal bide, + Vntill in filthy stincking graue the earth my corps shall hide. + Then shal that soule fraught with that faith, to heuens make + his repaire + And rest among the heuenly rout, bedect with sacred aire. + And thou for thy great cruelty, as God aboue doth know, + With ruful voice shalt wepe and wayle for thy gret ouerthrow, + And when thou woldst fayn purge thy self for that thy wretched dede + No kindnes shal to the be done, extreme shal be thy mede: + And where my tongue doth want his wil, thy mischiefe to display, + My hand and penne supplies the place, and shall do so alway. + For so thou hast constraynd the same by force of thy behest: + In silence still my tongue to keepe, t'accomplishe thy request. + Adieu, farewell my tormenter, thy frend that is full mute, + Doth bid thee farewell once agayne, and so hee ends his sute. + + He that liueth only to be reuenged of thy cruelty, + + PHILIBERTO OF VIRLE. + +Zilia lyke a disdaynefull Dame, made but a Iest at theese +Letters and Complayntes of the infortunate Louer, saying that +she was very well content with his Seruice: and that when he +should perfourme the tyme of his probation, shee shoulde see if +he were worthy to bee admitted into the Felowship of theym which +had made sufficient proofe of the Order, and Rule of Loue. In +the meane tyme Philiberto rode by great Iourneys (as we haue +sayde before) towardes the goodly, and pleasaunte countrey of +Fraunce, wherein Charles the Seuenth that tyme did raygne, who +miraculously (But gieue the Frencheman leaue to flatter, and +speake well of hys owne Countrey, accordinge to the flatteringe, +and vauntinge Nature of that Nation) chased the Englishemen out +of hys Landes, and Auncient Patrimony in the yeare of our Lord +1451. This Kynge had hys Campe then Warrefaringe in Gascoine, +whose Lucke was so Fortunate as hee expelled hys Ennymies, and +left no Place for theym to Fortyfy there, whych Incouraged the +Kynge to followe that good Occasion, and by Prosecutinge hys +Victoryous Fortune, to Profligate out of Normandie, and to +dispatch himselfe of that Ennemy, into whose Handes, and +seruitude the Countrey of Guyene was ryghtly delyuered, and +Victoryously wonne, and gotten by the Englishmen. The kynge then +beeinge in hys Campe in Normandie, the Piedmount Gentleman the +Lorde of Virle aforesayde, Repayred thereunto to Serue hym in +hys Person, where hee was well knowne of some Captaynes whych +had seene hym at other tymes, and in place where worthy +Gentlemen are wonte to Frequente, and in the Duke of Sauoyes +Courte, whych the Frenchemen dyd very mutch Haunte, because the +Earle of Piedmont that then was Duke of Sauoy had Marryed +Iolanta, the seconde daughter of Charles the Seuenth. Theese +Gentlemen of Fraunce were very mutch sory for the Mysfortune of +the Lord of Virle, and knowinge hym to be one of the Brauest, +and Lustyest Men of Armes that was in his tyme within the +Country of Piedmont, presented him before the King, commending +vnto hys grace the vertue, gentlenesse, and valiaunce of the man +of Warre: who after hee had done his reuerence accordinge to hys +duety, whych hee knew ful wel to doe, declared vnto him by +signes that he was come for none other intent, but in those +Warres to serue hys Maiestye: whom the King heard and +thankefully receyued assuryng himself and promising very mutch +of the dumbe Gentleman for respect of his personage which was +comely and wel proportioned, and therefore represented some +Force and greate Dexterity: and that whych made the king the +better to fantasie the Gentleman, was the reporte of so many +worthy men which extolled euen to the heauens the prowesse of +the Piedmont knight. Whereof he gaue assured testimony in the +assault which the king made to deliuer Roane, the Chyefe Citye +and defence of all Normandie, in the year of our Lord 1451. +where Philiberto behaued himself so valiantly as he was the +first that mounted upon the Wals, and by his Dexterity and +inuincyble force, made way to the souldiers in the breche, +whereby a little while after they entred and sacked the Enemies, +dryuing them out of the Citye, and wherein not long before, that +is to say 1430. the duke of Somerset caused Ioane the Pucelle to +be burnt. The king aduertised of the Seruice of the Dumbe +Gentleman, to recompence him according to his desert, and +bycause hee knewe hym to bee of a good house, he made him a +Gentleman of his Chambre, and gaue him a good pension, promysing +him moreouer to continue hys liberality, when he should see him +prosecute in time to come, the towardnesse of seruice which he +had so haply begon. The dumbe Gentleman thanking the King very +humbly, both for the present pryncely reward, and for promise in +time to come, lifted vp his hand to heauen as taking God to +witnesse of the faith, which inuiolable he promysed to keepe +vnto his Prynce: which he did so earnestly, as hardely he had +promysed, as well appeared in a Skirmishe betweene the Frrench, +and their auncient Enimies the Englysh-Men, on whose side was +the valiaunt and hardy Captayne the Lord Talbot, who hath +eternized his memory in the victories obtained vpon that People, +which sometimes made Europa and Asia to tremble, and appalled +the monstruous and Warlike Countrey of Affrica. In this +conflycte the Piedmont Knighte combated with the Lorde Talbot, +agaynste whome he had so happy successe, as vpon the shock and +incountre he ouerthrewe both man and Horse, which caused the +discomfiture of the Englishe Men: who after they had horsed +agayne their Captain fled amaine, leauing the field bespred with +dead Bodyes and bludshed of their Companions. This victory +recouered sutch corage and boldnes to the French, as from that +tyme forth the Englishmen began with their places and forts to +lose also theyr hartes to defend themselues. The king excedingly +wel contented wyth the prowesse and valiance of the dumbe +Gentleman, gaue him for seruice past the Charge of V.C. +men of armes, and indued him with some possessions, attending +better fortune to make him vnderstand howe mutch the vertue of +valiance ought to be rewarded and cheryshed by Prynces that be +aided in their Necessity with the Dylygence of sutch a vertuous +and noble Gentleman. In lyke manner when a Prynce hath something +good in himself, he can do no lesse but loue and fauor that +which resembleth himself by Pryncely Conditions, sith the Vertue +in what soeuer place it taketh roote, can not chose but produce +good fruicte, the vse whereof far surmounts them all which +approche the place, where these first seedes of Nobility were +throwen. Certaine dayes after the kinge desirous to reioyce his +Knights and Captaines that were in his trayne, and desirous to +extinguish quite the woefull time which so long space held +Fraunce in fearefull silence, caused a triumph of Turney to bee +proclaimed within the City of Roane, wherein the Lord of Virle +was deemed and esteemed one of the best, whych further did +increase in him the good wyl of the kyng, in sutch wyse as he +determined to procure his health, and to make him haue his +speache againe. For he was verye sorry that a Gentleman so +valiant was not able to expresse his minde, which if it might be +had in counsel it would serve the state of a commonwealth, so +wel as the force and valor of his body had til then serued for +defence and recovery of his country. And for that purpose he +made Proclamation by sound of Trumpet throughout the prouinces +as wel within his own kingdome, as the regions adioyning vpon +the same, that who so euer could heale that dumb Gentleman, +shoulde haue ten thousand Frankes for recompence. A Man myght +then haue seene thousands of Physitians assemble in fielde, not +to skirmish with the Englysh men, but to combat for reward in +recouery of the pacient's speache, who begon to make sutch Warre +against those ten thousand Frankes, as the kyng was afrayde that +the cure of that disease could take no effect: and for that +cause ordained furthermore, that whosoeuer would take in hand to +heale the dumbe, and did not keepe promyse within a certaine +prefixed time, should pay the sayd summe, or for default thereof +should pledge his head in gage. A Man myght then haue seene +those Phisicke Maysters, aswell beyonde the Mountaynes, as in +Fraunce it selfe, retire home againe, bleeding at the Nose, +cursing with great impiety their Patrones, Galen, Hypocrates, +and Auicen, and blamed with more than reprochful Woordes, the +Arte wherewith they fished for honor and richesse. This brute +was spred so far, and babblyng Fame had already by mouth of her +Trump publyshed the same throughout the most part of the +Prouinces, Townes, and Cities neare and farre off to Fraunce, in +sutch wyse as a Man woulde haue thought that the two young men +(which once in the tyme of the Macedonian Warres brought Tydings +to Varinius that the king of Macedon was taken by the Consul +Paulus Emilius) had ben vagarant and wandering abrode to carry +Newes of the king's edicte for the healing of the Lord of Virle. +Which caused that not only the brute of the Proclamation, but +also the Credyte and reputatyon wherein the sayd Lord was with +the French king arriued euen at Montcal and passed from mouth to +mouth, til at length Zilia the principal cause thereof +vnderstode the newes, which reioyced hir very mutch, seing the +firme Amitie of the dumbe Lord, and the syncere faith of hym in +a promise vnworthy to be kept, for so mutch as where Fraude and +feare doe rule in Heartes of Men, relygyon of promise, specially +the Place of the gyuen Fayth, surrendreth hys force and +reuolteth, and is no more bound but to that which by good wyll +he woulde obserue. Nowe thoughte shee, thoughte? nay rather shee +assured hir selfe, that the Gentleman for all hys wrytten Letter +was stil so surprysed wyth hir Loue, and kindled wyth her fire +in so ample wyse, as when hee was at Montcall: and therefore +determyned to goe to Paris, not for desire shee had to see hir +pacient and penetenciarie, but rather for couetise of the ten +thousand Francks, wherof already shee thought hir self assured, +making good accompt that the dumbe Gentleman when hee should see +himself discharged of his promise, for gratifying of hir, would +make no stay to speak to the intent she myght beare away both +the prayse and Money, whereof all others had failed tyll that +tyme. Thus you see that she, whome honest Amitye and long +service could lytle induce to compassion and desire to giue some +ease vnto hir moste earnest louer, yelded hir selfe to couetous +gaine and greadinesse for to encrease hir Rychesse. O cursed +hunger of Money, how long wilt thou thus blinde the reason and +Sprytes of men? Ah perillous gulfe, how many hast thou +ouerwhelmed within thy bottomlesse Throte, whose glory, had it +not bene for thee, had surpassed the Clouds, and bene equall +with the bryghtnesse of the Sunne, where now they bee obscured +wyth the thicknesse of thy fogges and Palpable darknesse. Alas, +the fruicts whych thou bryngest forth for all thine outewarde +apparance, conduce no felycity to them that bee thy possessors, +for the dropsey that is hydden in their Mynde, whych maketh them +so mutch the more drye, as they drynke ofte in that thirsty +Fountaine, is cause of their alteration: and moste miserable is +that insaciable desire the Couetous haue to glut their appetite, +whych can receiue no contentment. Thys onely Couetousnesse +sometimes procured the Death of the great and rych Romane +Crassus who through GOD's punyshment fell into the Handes of the +Persians, for violating and sacking the Temple of God that was +in Ierusalem. Sextimuleus burnyng with Avarice and greedynesse +of money, dyd once cut of the head of hys Patron and defender +Caius Gracchus the Tribune of the People, incyted by the Tirant, +which tormenteth the hearts of the couetous. I wil not speake of +a good number of other Examples of people of all kyndes, and +divers nations, to come again to Zilia. Who forgetting hir +virtue, the first ornament and shining quality of hir honest +behauiour, feared not the wearines and trauaile of way, to +commit her selfe to that danger of losse of honor, and to yeld +to the mercy of one, vnto whom she had don so great iniury, as +hir conscyence (if shee hadde not lost hir ryghte sence) oughte +to haue made hir thinke that hee was not without desire to +reuenge the wrong vniustly don vnto him, and specially being in +place where she was not known, and he greatly honoured and +esteemed, for whose loue that Proclamation and search of +Physicke was made and ordained. Zilia then hauing put in order +hir affaires at home departed from Montcall, and passing the +Mounts, arrived at Paris, in that time when greatest despayre +was of the dumbe Knight's recouery. Beynge arryued, wythin fewe +Dayes after she inquyred for them that had the charge to +entertayne sutch as came, for the cure of the pacient. "For +(sayd she) if ther be any in the world, by whom the knigt may +recouer his health, I hope in God that I am she that shal haue +the prayse." Heereof the Commissaries deputed hereunto, were +aduertysed, who caused the fayre Physitian to come before them, +and asked her if it were she, that would take vppon hir to cure +this dumbe Gentleman. To whom shee aunsweared. "My maysters it +hath pleased God to reueale vnto me a certayne secrete very +proper and meete for the healyng of hys Malady, wherewithal if +the pacyent wyll, I hope to make hym speake so well, as he dyd +these two yeares past and more." "I suppose, sayd one of the +Commissaries, that you be not ignoraunte of the Circumstances of +the Kynges Proclamation." "I knowe ful wel" (quod she) "the +Effecte therefore, and therefore doe say vnto you, that I wyll +loose my life yf I doe not accomplysh that which I doe promyse +so that I may haue Lycence, to tarry wyth hym alone, bycause it +is of no lesse importaunce than hys Health." "It is no maruell," +sayde the Commissary, "consideryng your Beauty, which is +sufficient to frame a Newe Tongue in the moste dumbe Person that +is vnder the Heauens. And therefore doe your Endeuor, assuring +you that you shall doe a great pleasure vnto the King, and +besides the prayse you shall gette the good wyll of the dumbe +Gentleman, which is the most excellent man of the World and +therefore so well recompensed as you shall haue good cause to be +contented wyth the kynges Lyberalitye. But (to the intente you +be not deceyued) the meanynge of the Edicte is, that within +fiftene dayes after you begin the cure, you muste make hym +whole, or else to satisfie the Paynes ordayned in the same." +Whereunto she submitted hir selfe, blinded by Auarice and +presumption, thinking that she had like power nowe ouer the Lord +of Virle, as when she gaue him that sharpe and cruel penance. +These Conditions promysed, the Commissaries went to aduertise +the Knight, how a gentlewoman of Piedmont was of purpose come +into Fraunce to helpe him: whereof he was maruelously astonned. +Now he would neuer haue thoughte that Zilia had borne hym so +great good wil, as by abasing the pryde of hir Corage, would +haue come so farre to ease the griefe of him, whome by sutch +greate torments she had so wonderfully persecuted. He thought +againe that it was the Gentlewoman his Neighboure, whych +sometymes had done hir endeuor to helpe him, and that nowe she +had prouoked Zilia to absolue him of his faith, and requite him +of hys promise. Musing vpon the diuersitie of these things, +and not knowing wherevpon to settle hys iudgment, the deputies +commaunded that the Woman Physitian should be admitted to speake +with the patient. Which was done and brought in place, the +Commissaries presently withdrew themselues. The Lord of Virle +seeinge hys Ennemye come before him, whom sometimes hee loued +very dearely, iudged by and by the cause wherefore she came, +that onely Auaryce and greedy desire of gaine had rather +procured hir to passe the mountayns trauaile, than due and +honest Amitye, wherewith she was double bound through his +perseuerance and humble seruice, with whose sight hee was so +appalled, as he fared like a shadowe and Image of a deade man. +Wherefore callyng to mynd the rigour of his lady, hir inciuility +and fonde Commaundement, so longe time to forbidde hys Speach, +the Loue which once hee bare hir, with vehement desire to obey +hir, sodainly was so cooled and qualyfyed, that loue was turned +into hatred, and will to serue hir, into an appetite of reuenge: +whereupon he determined to vse that presente Fortune, and to +playe his parte wyth hir, vpon whom hee had so foolyshly doted, +and to pay hir with that Money wherewyth she made him feele the +Fruicts of vnspeakable crueltye, to giue example to fonde and +presumptuous dames, how they abuse Gentlemen of sutch Degree +whereof the Knyghte was, and that by hauing regarde to the +merite of sutch personages, they be not so prodigall of +themselues, as to set their honour in sale for vyle reward and +filthy mucke: whych was so constantly conserued and defended by +this Gentlewoman, agaynst the assaultes of the good grace, +beauty, valour, and gentlenesse, of that vertuous and honest +suter. And notwithstanding, in these dayes wee see some to +resiste the amity of those that loue, for an opynyon of a +certayne vertue, which they thinke to be hydden within the corps +of excellent beauty, who afterwards do set themselues to sale to +hym that giueth most, and offreth greatest reward. Sutch do not +deserue to be placed in rank of chast Gentlewomen, of whome they +haue no smacke at al, but amongs the throng of strumpets kynde, +that haue some sparke and outward shew of loue: for she which +loueth money and hunteth after gayne, wyl make no bones, by +treason's trap to betray that vnhappy man, which shall yelde +himselfe to hir: hir loue tending to vnsensible things, and +sutch in dede, as make the wisest sorte to falsifie their fayth, +and sel the ryghte and Equity of their Iudgment. The Lorde of +Virle, seeing Zilia then in his company, and almost at his +commaundement, fayned as though hee knew hir not, by reason of +his small regard and lesse intertaynment shewed vnto hir at hir +first comming. Which greatly made the poore Gentlewoman to muse. +Neuerthelesse she making a vertue of necessity, and seeing hir +selfe to bee in that place, from whence shee could not depart, +without the losse of hir honor and Lyfe, purposed to proue +Fortune, and to committe hir selfe vnto his mercy, for all the +mobilytie whych the auncients attribute vnto Fortune. Wherefore +shutting fast the doore, shee went vnto the Knight, to whom she +spake these words: "And what is the matter (sir knight) that now +you make so little accompte of your owne Zilia, who in times +past you sayd, had great power and Authorytye ouer you? what is +the cause that moueth you hereunto? haue you so soone forgotten +hir? Beholde me better, and you shal see hir before you that is +able to acquyte you of youre promyse, and therefore prayeth you +to pardon hir committed faultes done in tymes past by abusing so +cruelly the honest and firme loue which you bare hir. I am she, +which through follye and temeritie did stoppe your mouth, and +tyed vp your Tongue. Giue me leaue, I beseeche you, to open the +same agayne, and to breake the Lyne, whych letteth the liberty +of your Speache." She seeying that the dumbe Gentleman would +make no aunswere at all, but mumme, and shewed by signes, that +he was not able to vndoe his Tongue, weepyng began to kysse hym, +imbrace hym and make mutch of hym, in sutch wyse, as he whych +once studyed to make Eloquent Orations before hys Ladye, to +induce hir to pity, forgat then those Ceremonyes, and spared his +talke, to shewe hymselfe to be sutch one as shee had made at hir +Commaundement, mused and deuysed altogether vpon the executyon +of that, which sometyme hee hadde so paynefully pursued, both by +Woords and contynuall Seruyce, and coulde profite nothing. Thus +waked agayne by hir, whych once had Mortyfyed hys Mynde, assayed +to renue in hir that, whych long tyme before seemed to be a +sleepe. She more for feare of losse of Lyfe, and the pryce of +the rewarde, than for any true or earnest loue suffred hym to +receyue that of hir, whych the long Suter desireth to obtaine of +his mistresse. They liued in this ioy and Pleasure the space of +fiftene Dayes ordained for the assigned Terme of his Cure, +wherein the poore Gentlewoman was not able to conuert hir +offended Fryende to speake, although she humbly prayed him to +shewe so mutch favour as at least she might goe free, from +either losse: telling hym howe lyttle regard shee hadde to hir +honour, to come so farre to doe him pleasure, and to discharge +him of his promise. Mutch other gay and lowlye talke shee hadde. +But the knyghte nothing moued with what she sayde determined to +brynge hir in sutch feare, as he had bene vexed with heauinesse, +which came to passe at the expyred tyme. For the Commissaries +seeing that their pacyent spake not at all, summoned the +Gentlewoman to pay the Penaltye pronounced in the Edict, or else +to loose hyr lyfe. Alas, howe bytter seemed thys drynke to thys +poore gentlewoman who not able to dissemble the gryef that prest +on euery syde, beganne to saye: "Ah, I Wretched and Caytyfe +Woman, by thinking to deceiue an other, haue sharpened the +Sworde to finish myne owne lyfe. Was it not enough for me to vse +sutch crueltye towardes this myne Enemye, which most cruelly in +double wyse taketh Reuenge, but I must come to bee thus tangled +in his Snares, and in the Handes of him, who inioying the +Spoyles of myne Honour, will with my Lyfe, depryue me of my +Fame, by making mee a Common Fable, to all Posterity in tyme to +come? O what hap had I, that I was not rather deuoured by some +Furious and cruell beast, when I passed the mountaines, or else +that I brake not my Necke, downe some steepe and headlong hil, +of those high and hideous mountains, rather than to bee set +heare in stage, a Pageant to the whole Citye to gaze vppon, for +enterprysing a thing so vayne, done of purpose by him, whome I +haue offended. Ah, Signior Philiberto, what Euill rewardest thou +for pleasures receiued, and fauors felt in hir whom thou didst +loue so much, as to make hir dye sutch shameful, and dreadfull +death. But O GOD, I know that it is for worthy guerdon of my +folysh and wycked Lyfe. Ah disloyaltye and fickle trust, is it +possible that thou be harbored in the hearte of hym which hadde +the Brute to bee the most Loyall and Curteous Gentleman of hys +Countrey? Alas, I see well nowe that I must die through myne +onelye simplicity, and that I muste sacrifice mine Honoure to +the rygour of hym, which with two aduauntages, taketh ouer +cruell reuenge of the lyttle wrong, wherewith my chastity +touched him before." As she thus had finished hir complainte, +one came in to carrye hir to Pryson, whether willinglye shee +wente for that she was already resolued in desire, to lyue no +longer in that miserie. The Gentleman contented wyth that payne, +and not able for to dissemble the gryefe, which hee conceyued +for the passion whych hee sawe hys Welbeloued to endure, the +enioyinge of whome renued the heate of the flames forepast, +repayred to the Kyng, vnto whome to the great pleasure of the +Standers by, and exceding reioyce of hys Maiestye (to heare hym +speake) he told the whole discourse of the Loue betweene hym and +cruell Zilia, the cause of the losse of his speach, and the +somme of hys reuenge." By the fayth of a Gentleman (sayed the +king) but here is so straunge an hystorye as euer I heard: and +verely your fayth and loyaltye is no lesse to be praised and +commended than the cruelty and couetousnes of the Woman worthy +of reproch and blame, which truly deserueth some greeuous and +notable iustice, if so be she were not able to render some +apparant cause for the couerture and hiding of hir folly." "Alas +sir," (sayd the Gentleman) "pleaseth your maiesty to deliuer hir +(although she be worthy of punishment) and discharge the rest +that be in prison for not recouery of my speach, sith my onely +help did rest, eyther at hir Commaundemente whych had bounde me +to that wrong, or else in the expired time, for whych I had +pleadged my fayth." To which request, the Kinge very willingly +agreed, greatly praysing the Wisedome, Curtesie, and aboue all +the fidelity of the Lord of Virle, who causing his penitenciary +to be set at liberty, kept hir company certayne dayes, as well +to Feaste, and banket hir, in those Landes and Possessions which +the kinges maiesty had liberally bestowed vpon him, as to +saciate his Appetite with some fruictes whereof he had sauoured +his taste when he was voluntaryly Dumbe. Zilia founde that +fauour so pleasaunt, as in maner shee counted hir imprisonment +happy, and hir trauell rest, by reason that distresse made hir +then feele more liuely the force and pleasure of Liberty, which +shee had not founde to bee so delicate, had she not receyued the +experience and payne thereof. Marke heere how Fortune dealeth +with them which trustinge in their force, despise (in respect of +that which they doe themselues) the little portion that they +iudge to bee in others. If the Vayneglory, and arrogante +Presumption of a Chastity Impregnable had not deceiued this +Gentlewoman, if the sacred hunger of gold had not blinded hir, +it could not haue bene knowne, wherein hir incontinency +consisted, not in the Mynion delights, and alluring Toyes of a +passionate Louer, but in the couetous desire of filling hir +Purse, and Hypocriticall glory of praise among men. And +notwithstanding yee see hir gaine to serue hir turne nothing at +all but to the perpetuall reproch of hir name, and the slaunder +sutch as ill speakers and enimies of womankinde, do burden the +Sexe withall. But the fault of one Woman, which by hir owne +presumption deceyued hir selfe, ought not to obscure the glory +of so many vertuous, Fayre, and Honest dames, who by their +Chastity, Liberality, and Curtesy, be able to deface the blot of +Folly, Couetousnes and cruelty of this Gentlewoman heere, and of +all other that do resemble hir. Who taking leaue of hir Louer, +went home agayne to Piedmount, not without an ordinary griefe of +heart, which serued hir for a spur to hir Conscience, and +continually forced hir to thinke, that the force of man is lesse +than nothing, where God worketh not by his grace, which fayling +in vs, oure worckes can fauor but of the stench and corruption +of our nature, wherein it tumbleth and tosseth lyke the Sow that +walloweth in the puddle of filth and dirt. And because yee shall +not thincke in generall termes of Woman's chastity, and +discretion, that I am not able to vouche some particular example +of later years, I meane to tell you of one, that is not onely to +bee praysed for hir Chastity in the absence of hir husband, +but also of hir Courage and Pollicy in chastisinge the vaunting +natures of two Hungarian Lords that made their braggs they would +win hir to their Willes, and not only hir, but all other, +whatsoeuer they were of Womankynde. + + + + +THE TWENTY-EIGHTH NOUELL. + + _Two Barons of Hvngarie assuring themselues to obtayne their + sute to a fayre Lady of Boeme, receyued of hir a straung and + maruelous repulse, to their great shame and Infamy, cursinge + the tyme that euer they aduentured an Enterprise so foolish._ + + +Penelope, the woful Wife of absent Vlisses, in hir tedious +longing for the home retourne of that hir aduenturous knight, +assayled wyth Carefull heart amid the troupe of amorous Suters, +and within the Bowels of hir royall Pallace, deserued no greater +fame for hir valiaunt encountries and stoute defence of the +inuincible, and Adamant fort of hir chastity than this Boeme +Lady doth by resisting two mighty Barrons, that canoned the +Walles, and well mured rampart of hir pudicity. For being +threatned in his Princes Court, whether al the well trayned crew +of eche science and profession, dyd make repayre, beyng menaced +by Venus' band, which not onely summoned hir fort and gaue hir a +camisado by thick _Al' Armes_, but also forced the place by +fierce assault, she lyke a couragious and politike captayne, +gaue those braue and lusty Souldiers, a fowle repulse, and in +end taking them captiues, vrged them for their victuals to fall +to woman's toyle, more shamefull than shamelesse Sardanapalus +amid hys amorous troupe. I neede not amplifie by length of +preamble, the fame of this Boeme Lady, nor yet briefly recompt +the Triumph of hir Victory: vayne it were also by glorious +hymnes to chaunte the wisedome of hir beleuing maake, who not +carelesse of hir Lyfe, employed hys care to serue hys Prynce, +and by seruice atchieued the cause that draue him to a +souldier's state. But yet for trustlesse faith in the pryme +conference of his future porte, hee consulted wyth a Pollaco, +for a compounded drugge, to ease his suspect mind, whych +medicine so eased his maladie, as it not onely preserued hym +from the infected humour, but also made hir happy for euer. +Sutch fall the euents of valiaunt mindes, though many tymes +mother iealosie that cancred Wytch steppeth in hir foote to anoy +the well disposed heart. For had he ioyned to his valyaunce +credite of his louynge wife, without the blynde aduyse of sutch +as professe that blacke and lying scyence, double glorye hee had +gayned: once for endeuoryng by seruice to seeke honour: the +seconde, for absolute truste in hir, that neuer ment to beguyle +him, as by hir firste aunswere to his first motion appeareth. +But what is to be obiected against the Barons? Let them answere +for their fault, in this discourse ensuing: whych so lessoneth +all Noble Myndes, as warely they ought to beware how they +aduenture upon the honour of Ladies, who bee not altogither of +one selfe and yelding trampe, but wel forged and steeled in the +shamefast shoppe of Loyaltie, which armure defendeth them +against the fond skirmishes and vnconsidred conflicts of Venus' +wanton band. The maiesties also of the king and Queene, are to +be aduaunced aboue the starres for their wise dissuasion of +those Noblemen from their hot and hedlesse enterpryse, and then +their Iustice for due execution of their forfait, the +particularity of whych discourse in this wyse doth begynne. +Mathie Coruine, sometime king of Hungarie, aboute the yeare of +oure Lorde 1458, was a valiaunt man of Warre, and of goodly +personage. Hee was the first that was Famous, or feared of the +Turks, of any Prynce that gouerned that kingdome. And amongs +other his vertues, so well in Armes and Letters, as in +Lyberallyty and Curtesie he excelled al the Prynces that raygned +in his time. He had to Wyfe Queene Beatrice of Arragon, the +Daughter of olde Ferdinando kyng of Naples, and sister to the +mother of Alphonsus, Duke of Ferrara, who in learnyng, good +conditions, and all other vertues generally dispersed in hir, +was a surpassing princesse, and shewed hirself not onely a +curteous and Liberall Gentlewoman to king Mathie hir husband, +but to all other, that for vertue seemed worthy of honour and +reward: in sutch wise as to the Court of these two noble +Princes, repayred the most notable Men of al Nations that were +giuen to any kind of good exercise, and euery of them according +to theyr desert and degree welcomed and entertained. It chaunced +in this time, that a knight of Boeme the vasall of Kinge Mathie, +for that he was likewyse kyng of that countrey, born of a noble +house, very valiant and wel exercised in armes, fell in loue +with a passing faire Gentlewoman of like nobility, and reputed +to be the fairest of al the country, and had a brother that was +but a pore Gentleman, not lucky to the goods of fortune. This +Boemian knight was also not very rich, hauing onely a Castle, +wyth certain reuenues thervnto, which was scarce able to yeld +vnto him any great maintenance of liuing. Fallyng in loue then +with this faire Gentlewoman, he demaunded hir in mariage of hir +brother, and with hir had but a very little dowrie. And this +knight not wel forseeing his poore estate, brought his wyfe home +to his house, and there, at more leisure considering the same, +began to fele his lacke and penury, and how hardly and scant his +reuenues were able to maintein his port. He was a very honest +and gentle person, and one that delighted not by any meanes to +burden and fine his tenants, contenting himself with that +reuenue which his ancesters left him, the same amounting to no +great yerely rent. When this gentleman perceiued that he stode +in neede of extraordinary relyefe, after many and diuers +consyderations with himself, he purposed to folow the Court, and +to serue king Mathie his souerain lord and master, there by his +diligence and experience, to seke meanes for ability to sustaine +his wife and himself. But so great and feruent was the loue that +he bare vnto his Lady, as he thought it impossible for him to +liue one houre without hir, and yet iudged it not best to haue +hir with him to the court, for auoidinge of further Charges +incydente to Courtyng Ladyes, whose Delight and Pleasure resteth +in the toyes and trycks of the same, that cannot be wel auoyded +in poore Gentlemen, without theyr Names in the Mercer's or +Draper's Iornals, a heauy thyng for them to consyder if for +their disport they lyke to walke the stretes. The daily thynkyng +thereupon, brought the poore Gentleman to great sorrow and +heauinesse. The Lady that was young, wise and discrete, marking +the maner of hir husband, feared that he had some misliking of +hir. Wherefore vpon a day she thus sayd vnto hym: "Dere husband, +willingly would I desire a good turne at your hand, if I wist I +should not displease you." "Demaund what you will," (said the +knighte) "if I can, I shall gladly performe it, bicause I do +esteeme your satisfaction, as I do mine owne lyfe." Then the +Lady very sobrely praied him, that he would open vnto hir the +cause of that discontentment, which hee shewed outwardly to +haue, for that his mynd and behauiour seemed to bee contrary to +ordinary Custome, and contriued Daye and Nyghte in sighes, +auoydinge the Company of them that were wont specially to +delyght him. The Knight hearing his Ladyes request, paused a +whyle, and then sayd vnto hir: "My wel beloued Wyfe, for so +mutch as you desyre to vnderstand my thoughte and mynde, and +whereof it commeth that I am sad and pensife, I wyll tell you: +all the Heauinesse wherewith you see me to be affected, doth +tend to this end. Fayne would I deuyse that you and I may in +honour lyue together, accordyng to our calling. For in respect +of our Parentage, our Liuelode is very slender, the occasion +whereof were our Parents, who morgaged their Lands, and consumed +a great part of their goods that our Auncestors lefte them. +I dayly thynking hereupon, and conceiuyng in my head dyuers +Imaginations, can deuise no meanes but one, that in my fansie +seemeth best, which is, that I go to the Court of our soueraine +lord Mathie who at this present is inferring Warres vpon the +Turk, at whose hands I do not mistrust to receyue good +intertainment, beynge a most Lyberal Prynce, and one that +esteemeth al sutch as be valiant and actiue. And I for my parte +wyll so gouerne my selfe (by God's grace) that by deserte I wyll +procure sutch lyuing and fauour as hereafter we may lyue in oure +Olde Dayes a quyet Lyfe to oure great stay and comforte: For +althoughe Fortune hitherto hath not fauored that state of +Parentage, whereof we be, I doubt not wyth Noble Courage to win +that in despyte of Fortune's Teeth, which obstinately hitherto +she hath denyed. And the more assured am I of thys +determination, bycause at other tymes, I haue serued vnder the +Vaiuoda in Transiluania, agaynst the Turke, where many tymes I +haue bene requyred to serue also in the Courte, by that +honourable Gentleman, the Counte of Cilia. But when I dyd +consider the beloued Company of you (deare Wyfe) the swetest +Companyon that euer Wyght possessed, I thought it vnpossible for +me to forbeare your presence, whych yf I should doe, I were +worthy to sustayne that dishonour, which a great number of +carelesse Gentlemen doe, who following their pryuate gayne and +Wyll, abandon theyr young and fayre Wyues, neglectinge the fyre +which Nature hath instilled to the delycate bodies of sutch +tender Creatures. Fearing therewythall, that so soone as I +shoulde depart the lusty yong Barons and Gentlemen of the +Countrey would pursue the gaine of that loue, the pryce whereof +I do esteeme aboue the crowne of the greatest Emperour in all +the World, and woulde not forgoe for all the Riches and Precious +Iewels in the fertyle Soyle of Arabie, who no doubte would +swarme togyther in greater heapes then euer dyd the wowers of +Penelope, within the famous graunge of Ithaca, the house of +Wandering Vlisses. Whych pursute if they dyd attayne, I shoulde +for euer hereafter be ashamed to shewe my face before those that +be of valour and regard. And this is the whole effect of the +scruple (sweete wyfe) that hyndreth me, to seeke for our better +estate and fortune." When he had spoken these words, he held his +peace. The Gentlewoman which was wyse and stout, perceyuing the +great loue that her husband bare hir, when hee had stayed +himselfe from talke, with good and merry Countenance answered +hym in thys wyse: "Sir Vlrico," (which was the name of the +Gentleman) "I in lyke manner as you haue done, haue deuysed and +thoughte vpon the Nobilitye and Byrth of our Auncestors, from +whose state and port (and that wythout oure fault and cryme) we +be far wyde and deuyded. Notwythstanding I determined to set a +good face vpon the matter, and to make so mutch of our paynted +sheath as I could. In deede I confesse my selfe to be a Woman, +and you Men doe say that Womens heartes be faynt and feeble: but +to bee playne wyth you, the contrary is in me, my hearte is so +stoute and ambitious as peraduenture not meete and consonant to +power and ability, although we Women will finde no lacke if our +Hartes haue pith and strength inough to beare it out. And faine +woulde I support the state wherein my mother maintayned me. Howe +be it for mine owne part (to God I yeld the thanks) I can so +moderate and stay my little great heart, that contented and +satisfied I can be, with that which your abilitye can beare, and +pleasure commaund. But to come to the point, I say that debating +with my selfe of our state as you full wisely do, I do verily +think that you being a yong Gentleman, lusty and valiaunt, no +better remedy or deuyse can be found than for you to aspyre and +seeke the Kyng's fauor and seruice. And it must needes ryse and +redounde to your gaine and preferment, for that I heare you say +the King's Maiestye doth already knowe you. Wherefore I do +suppose that hys grace (a skilfull Gentleman to way and esteeme +the vertue and valor of ech man) cannot chose but reward and +recompence the well doer to his singular contentation and +comfort. Of this myne Opinion I durst not before thys time vtter +Word or signe for feare of your displeasure. But nowe sith your +selfe hath opened the way and meanes, I haue presumed to +discouer the same, do what shal seeme best vnto your good +pleasure. And I for my parte, although that I am a woman +(accordingly as I saied euen now) that by Nature am desirous of +honor, and to shew my selfe abrode more rich and sumptuous than +other, yet in respect of our fortune, I shal be contented so +long as I lyue to continue with you in this our Castell, where +by the grace of God I will not fayle to serue, loue and obey +you, and to keepe your House in that moderate sorte, as the +reuenues shall be able to maintayne the same. And no doubt but +that poore liuing we haue orderly vsed, shal be sufficient to +finde vs two, and fiue or sixe seruaunts with a couple of +horsse, and so to lyue a quyet and merry Lyfe. If God doe send +vs any Children, tyl they come to lawfull age, we will with our +poore liuing bryng them vp so well as wee can and then to prefer +them to some Noble mens seruices, with whome by God's grace they +may acquire honoure and lyuing, to keepe them in their aged +dayes. And I doe trust that wee two shall vse sutch mutuall loue +and reioyce, that so long as our Lyfe doth last in wealth and +woe, our contented mindes shall rest satisfied. But I waying the +stoutnesse of your minde, doe know that you esteeme more an +Ounce of honor, than all the Golde that is in the world. For as +your birth is Noble, so is your heart and stomacke. And +therefore many tymes seeing your great heauinesse, and manyfolde +muses and studies, I haue wondred with my selfe whereof they +should proceede, and amongs other my conceipts, I thought that +either my behauior and order of dealyng, or my personage did not +lyke you: or else that your wonted gentle minde and disposition +had ben altered and transformed into some other Nature: many +times also I was contente to thynke that the cause of your +disquiet mynde, dyd ryse vppon the disuse of Armes, wherein you +were wonte dailye to accustome youre selfe amonges the Troupes +of the honourable, a company in dede most worthy of your +presence. Reuoluing many times these and sutch lyke cogitations, +I haue sought meanes by sutch alurementes as I could deuyse, to +ease and mitigate your troubled minde, and to wythdraw the great +vnquiet and care wherewith I sawe you to be affected. Bycause I +do esteeme you aboue all the Worlde deemyng your onely gryefe to +be my double Payne, your aking Fynger, a feruent Feuer fit, and +the least Woe you can sustayne moste bytter Death to me, that +loueth you more dearelye than my selfe. And for that I doe +perceyue you are determyned to serue our Noble King, the sorrowe +which without doubte wyll assayle mee by reason of your absence, +I wyll sweeten and lenifie wyth Contentatyon, to see your +Commendable desyre appeased and quiet. And the pleasaunt Memory +of your valyaunt facts beguyle my pensife thoughts, hopyng our +nexte meetyng shall bee more ioyfull than thys our dysiunctyon +and departure heauy. And where you doubt of the Confluence and +repayre of the dyshoneste whych shall attempt the wynnyng and +subduing of myne heart and vnspotted bodye, hytherto inuyolably +kepte from the touch of any person, cast from you that feare, +expel from your minde that fonde conceipt: for death shall +sooner close these mortall Eyes, than my Chastitye shall bee +defyled. For pledge whereof I haue none other thyng to gyue but +my true and symple fayth, whych if you dare trust it shal +hereafter appeare so firme and inuiolable as no sparke of +suspition shal enter your careful minde, which I may wel terme +to be carefull, bicause some care before hand doth rise of my +behauior in your absence. The tryall wherefore shall yelde sure +euidence and testimony, by passing my careful life which I may +with better cause so terme in your absence, that God knoweth wil +be right pensife and carefull vnto mee, who ioyeth in nothinge +else but in your welfare. Neuerthelesse all meanes and wayes +shall bee agreeable vnto my minde for your assurance, and shall +breede in me a wonderful contentation, which lusteth after +nothing but your satisfaction. And if you list to close me vp in +one of the Castell towers til your return, right glad I am there +to continue an Ankresse life: so that the same may ease your +desired mind." The knight with great delyght gaue ear to the +aunswere of his Wife, and when she had ended hir talke, he began +to reply vnto hir: "My welbeloued, I doe lyke wel and greatly +commended the stoutnesse of your heart, it pleaseth me greatly +to see the same agreeable vnto mine. You haue lightned the same +from inestimable woe by vnderstanding your conceiued purpose and +determination to gard and preserue your honor, praying you +therein to perseuere, still remembring that when a Woman hath +lost hir honor, shee hath forgone the chiefest Iewel she hath in +this Life, and deserueth no longer to be called woman. And +touching my talke proposed vnto you although it be of great +importaunce, yet I meane not to depart so soone. But if it do +come to effect I assure thee Wife, I will leaue thee Lady and +mistresse of all that I haue. In the meane time I will consider +better of my businesse, and consult with my fryendes and +kinsmen, and then determine what is best to be done. Til when +let vs lyue and spend our tyme so merely as we can." To bee +shorte there was nothing that so mutch molested the knight, as +the doubt he had of his wife, for that she was a very fine and +faire yong Gentlewoman: And therefore he stil deuised and +imagined what assurance he myght finde of hir behauior in his +absence. And resting in this imagination, not long after it cam +to passe that the knight being in company of diuers Gentleman, +and talking of sundry matters, a tale was tolde what chaunced to +a gentleman of the Countrey whych had obtained the fauoure and +good wyll of a Woman, by meanes of an olde man called Pollacco, +which had the name to be a famous enchaunter and Physitian, +dwelling at Cutiano a Citie of Boeme, where plenty of siluer +mines and other metals is. The knight whose Castle was not far +from Cutiano, had occasion to repaire vnto that Citye, and +according to his desire found out this Pollacco, which was a +very old man, and talking with him of diuers things, perceiued +him to be of great skil. In end he entreated him, that for so +mutch as he had don pleasure to many for apprehension of their +loue, he wold also instruct him, how he might be assured that +hys wife did keepe hir self honest all the time of his absence, +and that by certaine signes hee might have sure knowledge +whether she brake hir faith, by sending his honesty into +Cornwall. Sutch vaine trust this knight reposed in the lying +Science of Sorcery, whych although to many other is found +deceitful, yet to him serued for sure euidence of his wiue's +fidelity. This Pollacco which was a very cunning enchaunter as +you haue heard sayd vnto him: "Sir you demaund a very straunge +matter, sutch as wherwyth neuer hitherto I haue bene acquainted, +ne yet searched the depthe of those hydden secrets, a thyng not +commonly sued for, ne yet practized by me. For who is able to +make assurance of a woman's chastity, or tel by signes except he +were at the deede doing, that she had don amisse? Or who can +gaine by proctors wryt, to summon or sue at spiritual Courte, +peremptorily to affirme by neuer so good euydence or testimony, +that a woman hath hazarded hir honesty, except he sweare Rem to +be in Re, which the greatest Ciuilian that ever Padua bred neuer +sawe by processe duely tried? Shall I then warrante you the +honesty of such slippery Catell, prone and ready to lust, easy +to be vanquished by the suites of earnest pursuers? But +blameworthy surely I am, thus generally to speake: for some I +know, although not many, for whose poore honesties I dare +aduenture mine owne. And yet that number how small so euer it +be, is worthy all due Reuerence and Honoure. Notwythstandyng +(bycause you seeme to bee an Honeste Gentleman) of that +Knowledge which I haue, I will not bee greatelye squeimyshe, +a certayne secrete experiment in deede I haue, wherewith +perchaunce I may satisfy your demaund. And this is it: I can by +mine Arte in smal time, by certaine compositions, frame a +Woman's Image, which you continually in a lyttle Boxe may carry +about you, and so ofte as you list behold the same. If the wife +doe not breake hir maryage faith, you shall still see the same +so fayre and wel coloured as it was at the first making, and +seeme as though it newly came from the painter's shop, but if +perchaunce she meane to abuse hir honesty the same wil waxe +pale, and in deede committing that filthy Fact, sodainly the +colour will bee blacke, as arayed with Cole or other filth, and +the smel thereof wyl not be very pleasaunt, but at al times when +she is attempted or pursued, the colour will be so yealow as +Gold." This maruellous secrete deuyse greatly pleased the Knyght +verely beleuing the same to be true, specially mutch moued and +assured by the same bruted abrode of his science, whereof the +Cytyzens of Cutiano, tolde very straunge and incredyble things. +When the pryce was paied for this precious Iewel, hee receiued +the Image, and ioyfully returned home to his Castell, where +tarryinge certain dayes, he determined to repayre to the Court +of the glorious king Mathie, making his wife priuy of hys +intent. Afterwards when he had disposed his household matters in +order, he committed the gouernment therof to his Wife, and +hauinge prepared all Necessaries for his voyage, to the great +sorrow and grief of his beloued, he departed and arryued at Alba +Regale, where that time the king lay with Beattrix his Wife, of +whom hee was ioyfully receiued and entertayned. He had not long +continued in the Court, but he had obtained and won the fauor +and good wyll of all men. The king which knew him full well very +honorably placed him in his Courte, and by him accomplished +diuers and many waighty affairs, which very wisely and trustely +he brought to passe according to the king's mind and pleasure. +Afterwards he was made Colonell of a certain number of footmen +sent by the king against the Turks to defende a holde which the +enimies of God began to assaile vnder the conduct of Mustapha +Basca, which conduct he so wel directed and therin stoutly +behaued himself, as he chased al the infidels oute of those +coasts, winning therby the name of a most valiaunt soldier and +prudent Captaine, whereby he merueylously gayned the fauor and +grace of the king, who (ouer and besides his dayly +intertaynment) gaue vnto him a Castle, and the Reuenue in fee +farme for euer. Sutch rewards deserue all valiaunt men, which +for the honour of theyr Prince and countrey do willingly imploy +their seruice, worthy no doubt of great regard and chearishinge, +vpon their home returne, because they hate idlenes to win Glory, +deuisinge rather to spende whole dayes in fielde, than houres in +Courte, which this worthy knight deserued, who not able to +sustayne his poore Estate, by politick wisdome and prowesse of +armes endeuored to serue his Lord and countrey, wherein surely +hee made a very good choyse{.} Then he deuoutly praysed God, for +that he put into his minde sutch a noble enterprise, trusting +dayly to atchieue greater Fame and Glory: but the greater was +his ioy and contentation, bicause the Image of hys Wyfe inclosed +wythin a Boxe, whych still hee caried about him in hys pursse, +continued freshe of coloure without alteration. It was noysed in +the Court how thys valiaunt Knight Vlrico, had in Boeme the +fayrest and goodliest Lady to his Wife that liued eyther in +Boeme, or Hungary. It chaunced as a certaine company of young +Gentlemen in the Courte were together (amongs whom was this +Knight) that a Hungarian Baron sayd vnto him: "How is it +possible, syr Vlrico, being a yeare and a halfe since you +departed out of Boeme, that you haue no minde to returne to see +your Wife, who, as the common fame reporteth, is one of the +goodliest Women of all the Countrey: truely it seemeth to me, +that you care not for hir, which were great pitty if hir beauty +be correspondent to hir Fame." "Syr," (quod Vlrico) "what hir +beauty is I referre vnto the World, but how so euer you esteeme +me to care of hir, you shall vnderstand that I doe loue hir, and +wil do so duringe my lyfe. And the cause why I haue not visited +hir of long time, is no little proofe of the great assurance I +haue of her vertue and honest lyfe. The argument of hir vertue I +proue, for that she is contented that I should serue my Lord and +king, and sufficient it is for me to giue hir intelligence of my +state and welfare, whych many tymes by Letters at opportunity I +fayle not to do: The proofe of my Fayth is euydent by reason of +my bounden duety to our Soueraigne Lord of whom I haue receyued +so great, and ample Benefites, and the Warrefare which I vse in +his grace's seruice vpon the Frontiers of his Realme agaynst the +enimies of Christe, whereunto I bear more good will than I doe +to Wedlocke Loue, preferring duety to Prince before mariage: +albeit my Wiue's fayth, and constancy is sutch, as freely I may +spend my lyfe without care of hir deuoyr, being assured that +besides hir Beauty shee is wise, vertuous and honest, and loueth +me aboue al worldly things, tendring me so dearely as she doth +the Balles of hir owne eyes." "You haue stoutly sayd," (answered +the Baron) "in defence of your Wiue's chastity, whereof she can +make vnto hir selfe no great warrantice, because a woman some +tymes will bee in minde not to be mooued at the requests, and +gifts offred by the greatest Prince of the World who afterwards +within a day vpon the onely sight, and view of some lusty youth, +at one simple worde vttered with a few Teares, and shorter +suite, yeldeth to his request. And what is she then that can +conceyue sutch assuraunce in hir selfe? What is hee that knoweth +the secretes of heartes which be impenetrable? Surely none as I +suppose, except God him selfe. A Woman of hir owne nature is +mooueable and plyant, and is the moste ambitious creature of the +Worlde. And (by God) no Woman doe I know but that she lusteth +and desireth to be beloued, required, sued vnto, honored and +cherished? And oftentimes it commeth to passe that the most +crafty Dames which thincke with fayned Lookes to feede their +diuers Louers, be the first that thrust their heads into the +amorous Nets, and lyke little Birdes in hard distresse of +weather be caught in Louer's Limetwigges. Whereby, sir Vlrico, +I do not see that your Wyfe (aboue all other Women compact of +flesh and bone) hath sutch priuiledge from God, but that she may +be soone entised and corrupted." "Well sir," (sayd the Boeme +Knight) "I am persuaded of that which I haue spoken, and verely +doe beleue the effect of my beliefe most true. Euery man knoweth +his owne affayres, and the Foole knoweth better what hee hath, +than hys neighbors, do, be they neuer so wise. Beleue you what +you thincke for good. I meane not to disgresse from that which I +conceyue. And suffer me (I pray you) to beleue what I list, sith +beliefe cannot hurt me, nor yet your discredite can hinder my +beliefe, being free for ech man in semblable chaunces to thinke, +and belieue what his mynde lusteth and liketh." There were many +other Lordes and Gentlemen of the court present at there talke, +and as we commonly see (at sutch like meetinges) euery man +vttereth his minde: whereupon sundry opinions were produced +touching that question. And because diuers men be of diuers +natures, and many presuminge vpon the pregnancy of their wise +heads there rose some stur about that talke, each man obstinate +in hys alledged reason, more froward peraduenture than reason, +more rightly required: the communication grew so hot and talke +brake forth so loude, as the same was reported to the Queene. +The good Lady sory to heare tell of sutch strife within hir +Court, abhorring naturally all controuersie and contention, sent +for the parties, and required theym from poynct to poynct to +make recitall of the beginning, and circumstaunce of their +reasons, and arguments. And when she vnderstoode the effect of +al their talke, she sayd, that euery man at his owne pleasure +might beleeue what he list, affirming it to be presumptuous and +extreme folly, to iudge all women to be of one disposition, in +like sort as it were a great errour to say that all men bee of +one quality and condicion: the contrary by dayly experience +manifestly appearing. For both in men and women, there is so +great difference and variety of natures, as there bee heades, +and wits. And how it is commonly seene that two Brothers, and +Sisters, borne at one Byrth, bee yet of contrary Natures and +Complexions, of Manners, and Conditions so diuers, as the thinge +which shall please the one, is altogeather displeasaunt to the +other. Wherevppon the Queene concluded, that the Boeme knight +had good reason to continue that good and honest credit of his +Wyfe, as hauing proued hir fidelity of long time, wherein she +shewed hirself to be very wise and discret. Now because (as many +times we see) the natures and appetites of diuers men be +insaciable, and one man sometimes more foolish hardy than +another, euen so (to say the troth) were those two Hungarian +Barons, who seeming wise in their owne conceiptes, one of them +sayd to the Queene in this manner: "Madame, your grace doth wel +maintaine the sexe of womankinde, because you be a Woman. For by +nature it is gieuen to that kinde, stoutly to stand in defence +of themselues, because their imbecillity, and weakenes otherwise +would bewray them: and although good reasons might be alledged +to open the causes of their debility, and why they be not able +to attayne the hault excellency of man, yet for this tyme I doe +not meane to be tedious vnto your grace, least the little heart +of Woman should ryse and display that conceit which is wrapt +within that little Moulde. But to retourne to this chaste Lady, +through whom our talke began, is we might craue licence of your +Maiesty, and saulfe Conduct of thys Gentleman to knowe hir +dwelling place, and haue leaue to speake to hir, we doubt not +but to breake with our batteringe talke the Adamant Walles of +hir Chastity that is so famous, and cary away that Spoile which +victoriously we shall atchieue." "I know not," aunswered the +Boeme Knight, "what yee can, or will doe, but sure I am, that +hitherto I am not deceyued." Many things were spoken there, +and sundry opinions of eyther partes alledged, in ende the two +Hungarian Barons persuaded them selues, and made their vaunts +that they were able to climbe the Skyes, and both would attempt +and also bring to passe any enterprise were it neuer so great, +affirming their former offer by othe, and offering to Guage all +the Landes, and goods they had, that within the space of 5 +moneths they woulde eyther of them obtayne the Gentlewoman's +good will to do what they list, so that the knight were bound, +neyther to returne home, ne yet to aduertise hir of their +determination. The Queene, and all the standers by, laughed +heartely at this their offer, mocking and iesting at their +foolish, and youthly conceites. Whych the Barons perceiuiug, +sayde: "You thinke Madame that we speake triflingly, and be not +able to accomplish this our proposed enterprise, but Madame, may +it please you to gieue vs leaue, wee meane by earnest attempt to +gieue proofe thereof." And as they were thus in reasoninge and +debating the matter, the kinge (hearinge tell of this large +offer made by the Barons) came into the place where the queene +was, at such time as she was about to dissuade them from the +frantik deuise. Before whom he being entred the chamber, the two +Barons fell downe vpon their Knees, and humbly besought his +Grace, that the compact made betwene sir Vlrico and them might +proceede, disclosing vnto him in few wordes the effect of all +their talke, which franckly was graunted by the king. But the +Barons added a Prouisio, that when they had won their Wager, the +Knight by no meanes shoulde hurt his Wyfe, and from that tyme +forth should gieue ouer hys false Opinion, that women were not +naturally gieuen to the sutes and requests of amorous persons. +The Boeme Knight, who was assured of hys Wyue's great Honesty, +and Loyall fayth, beleeued so true as the Gospell, the +proportion and quality of the Image, who in all the tyme that +hee was farre of, neuer perceyued the same to bee eyther Pale or +Black, but at that tyme lookinge vpon the Image, hee perceiued a +certayne Yealow colour to rise, as hee thought his Wyfe was by +some loue pursued, but yet sodeynly it returned agayne to his +naturall hewe, which boldned him to say these words to the +Hungarian Barons: "Yee be a couple of pleasaunt, and vnbeleeuing +Gentlemen, and haue conceyued so fantasticall opinion, as euer +men of your calling did: but sith you proceede in your obstinate +folly, and wil needes guage all the Lands, and goods you haue, +that you bee able to vanquishe my Wyue's Honest, and Chaste +heart, I am contented, for the singuler credite which I repose +in hir, to ioyne with you, and will pledge the poore lyuinge I +haue for proofe of mine Opinion, and shall accomplishe al other +your requestes made here, before the maiesties of the Kinge and +Queene. And therefore may it please your highnesse, sith this +fond deuice can not be beaten out of their heads, to gieue +Licence vnto those Noblemen, the Lords Vladislao and Alberto, +(so were they called) to put in proofe the mery conceipt of +their disposed mindes (whereof they do so greatly bragge) and I +by your good grace and fauoure, am content to agree to their +demaundes: and wee, answered the Hungarians, do once agayne +affirme the same which wee haue spoken." The king willing to +haue them gyue ouer that strife, was intreated to the contrary +by the Barons: whereupon the kinge perceyuinge their Follies, +caused a decree of the bargayne to be put in writing, eyther +Parties interchaungeably subscribiug the same. Which done, they +tooke their leaues. Afterwards, the two Hungarians began to put +their enterprise in order and agreed betweene themselues, +Alberto to bee the firste that should aduenture vppon the Lady. +And that within sixe Weekes after vpon his returne, the lord +Vladislao should proceede. These things concluded, and all +Furnitures for their seuerall Iorneys disposed, the lord Alberto +departed in good order, with two seruaunts directly trauayling +to the castle of the Boeme Knight, where being arriued, hee +lighted at an Inne of the towne adioyning to the Castle, and +demaunding of the hoste, the Conditions of the lady, hee +vnderstoode that shee was a very fayre Woman, and that hir +honesty, and loue towards hir husbande farre excelled hir +beauty. Which wordes nothing dismayede the Amorous Baron, but +when hee had pulled of his Bootes, and richely arayed hymselfe, +he repayred to the Castle, and knockinge at the Gates, gaue the +Lady to vnderstand that he was come to see hir. She which was a +curteous Gentlewoman, caused him to be brought in, and gently +gaue him honourable intertaynment. The Baron greatly mused vppon +the beauty, and goodlinesse of the Lady, singularly commending +hir honest order and Behauiour. And beinge set down, the young +Gentleman sayd vnto hir: "Madame, mooued with the fame of your +surpassing Beauty, which now I see to bee more excellent than +Fame with hir swiftest Wyngs is able to cary: I am come from the +Court to view and see if that were true, or whether lyinge +Brutes had scattered their Vulgar talke in vayne: but finding +the same farre more fine and pure than erst I did expect, +I craue Lycence of your Ladyship, to conceyue none offence of +this my boulde, and rude attempt." And herewithall hee began to +ioyne many trifling and vayne words, whych dalyinge Suters by +heate of Lusty bloude bee wont to shoote forth, to declare theym +selues not to be Speachlesse, or Tongue tied. Which the Lady +well espying speedily imagined into what Porte hys rotten Barke +would arriue: wherefore in the ende when shee sawe his Shippe at +Roade, began to enter in prety louinge talke, by little, and +little to incourage his fond attempt. The Baron thinkinge hee +had caught the Ele by the Tayle, not well practised in Cicero +his schoole, ceased not fondly to contriue the time, by making +hir beleeue, that he was farre in loue. The Lady weary (God +wote) of his fonde behauiour, and amorous reasons, and yet not +to seeme scornfull, made him good countenaunce, in sutch wyse as +the Hungarian two or three dayes did nothing else but proceede +in vayne Pursute, Shee perceyuing him to bee but a Hauke of the +first Coate, deuysed to recompence hys Follies with sutch +entertaynement, as during his life, he shoulde keepe the same in +good remembraunce. Wherefore not long after, fayning as though +his great wisedome, vttered by eloquent Talke, had subdued hir, +shee sayd thus vnto him: "My Lord, the reasons you produce, and +your pleasaunt gesture in my house, haue so inchaunted mee, that +impossible it is, but I must needes agree vnto your wyll: for +where I neuer thought during lyfe, to stayne the purity of +mariage Bed, and determined continually to preserue my selfe +inuiolably for my Husbande: your noble grace, and curteous +behauiour, haue (I say) so bewitched mee, that ready I am to bee +at your commaundement, humbly beseeching your honour to beware, +that knowledge hereof may not come vnto myne Husband's eares, +who is so fierce and cruell, and loueth me so dearely, as no +doubt he will without further triall eyther him selfe kill me, +or otherwise procure my death: and to the intent none of my +house may suspect our doings, I shall desire you to morrow in +the morninge about nyne of the Clock, which is the accustomed +time of your repayre hither, to come vnto my Castle, wherein +when you be entred, speedily to mount vp to the Chaumber of the +highest Tower, ouer the doore whereof, yee shall finde the armes +of my Husband, entayled in Marble: and when you be entred in, +to shut the Doore fast after you, and in the meane time I will +wayte and prouyde, that none shall molest and trouble vs, and +then we shall bestowe our selues for accomplishement of that +which your loue desireth." Nowe in very deede this Chaumber was +a very strong Pryson ordayned in auncient time by the +Progenitours of that Territory, to Impryson, and punishe the +Vassals, and Tenants of the same, for offences, and Crimes +committed. The Baron hearynge this Lyberall offer of the Ladye, +thinking that he had obteined the summe of al his ioy, so glad +as if he had conquered a whole kingdome, the best contented man +aliue, thanking the Lady for hir curteous answere, departed and +retourned to his Inne. God knoweth vppon howe merry a Pinne the +hearte of this young Baron was sette, and after he had liberally +banketted his hoste and hostesse, pleasantly disposing himselfe +to myrth and recreation, he wente to bed, where ioy so lightned +his merry head, as no slepe at all could close his eyes, sutch +be the sauage pangs of those that aspyre to like delyghts as the +best reclaimer of the wildest hauk could neuer take more payne +or deuise mo shiftes to Man the same for the better atchieuing +of hir pray than dyd this braue Baron for brynging hys +Enterprise to effect. The nexte day early in the morning hee +rose, dressing himselfe with the sweete Perfumes, and puttinge +on hys finest suite of Apparell, at the appoincted houre hee +went to the Castell, and so secretly as he could, accordinge to +the Ladies instruction, hee conueyed himselfe vp into the +Chaumber which hee founde open, and when he was entred, hee shut +the same, the maner of the Doore was sutch, as none within +coulde open it without a Key, and besides the strong Locke, it +hadde both barre and Bolt on the outside, wyth sutch fasteninge +as the Deuill himselfe being locked within, could not breake +forth. The Lady whych wayted hard by for his comming, so soone +as she perceyued that the Doore was shut, stept vnto the same, +and both double Locked the Doore, and also without she barred, +and fast Bolted the same, caryng the Key away with hir. This +Chamber was in the hyghest Tower of the House (as is before +sayd) wherein was placed a Bedde wyth good Furniture, the Wyndow +whereof was so high, that none coulde looke out wythout a +Ladder. The other partes thereof were in good, and conuenient +order, apt and meete for an honest Pryson. When the Lorde +Alberto was within, hee sat downe, wayting (as the Iewes do for +Messias) when the Lady according to hir appoynctment shoulde +come. And as he was in this expectation building castles in the +Ayre, and deuising a thousand Chimeras in his braine, behold he +heard one to open a little wicket that was in the doore of that +Chamber, which was as straight, as scarcely able to receiue a +loafe of bread, or cruse of Wyne, vsed to be sent to the +prysoners. He thinking that it had ben the Lady, rose vp, and +hearde the noyse of a lyttle girle, who looking in at the hole, +thus sayd vnto him: "My Lord Alberto, the Lady Barbara my +mistresse (for that was hir name) hath sent me thus to say vnto +you: 'That for as much as you be come into this place, by +countenaunce of Loue, to dispoyle hir of hir honour, shee hath +imprysoned you like a theefe, accordinge to your deserte, and +purposeth to make you suffer penance, equall to the measure of +your offence. Wherefore so long as you shal remain in thys +place, she mindeth to force you to gaine your bread and drinke +with the arte of spinning, as poore Women doe for gayne of theyr +lyuinge, meanynge thereby to coole the heate of your lusty +youth, and to make you tast the sorrow of sauce meete for them +to assay, that go about to robbe Ladyes of theyr honour: she bad +me lykewise to tell you, that the more yarne you spin, the +greater shall be the abundance and delycacie of your fare, the +greater payne you take to earne your foode, the more lyberall +she will be in dystrybutyng of the same, otherwise (she sayeth) +that you shall faste wyth Breade and Water.' Which determinate +sentence she hath decreed not to be infringed and broken for any +kinde of sute or intreaty that you be able to make." When the +maiden had spoken these Wordes, she shut the lyttle dore, and +returned to hir Ladye, the Baron which thought that he had ben +commen to a mariage, did eate nothing al the mornyng before, +bycause he thought to be enterteyned with better and daintier +store of viandes, who nowe at those newes fared like one out of +his wittes and stoode still so amazed, as though his leggs would +haue fayled him, and in one moment his Spyrites began to vanysh +and hys force and breath forsoke hym, and fel downe vpon the +Chamber flore, in sutch wise as hee that had beheld hym would +haue thought him rather dead than liuyng. In this state he was a +great tyme, and afterwardes somewhat commynge to himselfe, he +could not tel whether hee dreamed, or else that the Words were +true, which the maiden had sayde vnto hym: In the end seeing, +and beynge verely assured, that he was in a Pryson so sure as +Bird in Cage, through disdayne and rage was like to dye or else +to lose his wits, faring with himselfe of long time lyke a madde +Man, and not knowing what to do, passed the rest of the Day in +walking vppe and downe the Chaumber, rauing, stamping, staring, +Cursynge and vsing Words of greatest Villanie, lamenting and +bewailinge the time and day, that so like a beast and Brutysh +man, he gave the attempt to dispoyle the honesty of an other +man's Wyfe. Then came to his mind the losse of all his Lands and +Goods, which by the king's authority were put in comprimise, +then the shame, the scorne, and rebuke whych hee should receiue +at other mens handes, beyonde measure vexed him: and reporte +bruted in the Courte (for that it was impossible but the whole +Worlde should knowe it) so gryeued hym, as his heart seemed to +be strained with two sharp and bityng Nailes: the Paynes +whereof, forced hym to loose hys wyttes and vnderstandynge. In +the myddes of whych Pangs furiously vauntyng vp and downe the +Chaumber, hee espied by chaunce in a Corner, a Dystaffe +furnyshed with good store of flaxe, and a spyndle hangyng +thereuppon: and ouercome wyth Choler and rage, hee was aboute to +spoyle and break the same in pieces: but remembryng what a harde +Weapon Necessitye is, hee stayed his wysedome, and albeyt he +hadde rather to haue contryued hys leysure in Noble and +Gentlemanlyke pastyme, yet rather than he would be idle he +thought to reserue that Instrument to auoyde the tedious lacke +of honest and Familiar Company. When supper time was come, the +mayden retourned agayne, who opening the Portall dore, saluted +the Baron, and sayde: "My Lord, my mistresse hath sent mee to +vysite your good Lordshyp, and to receiue at youre good Handes +the effecte of your laboure, who hopeth that you haue sponne +some substanciall store of threede for earning of your Supper, +whych beynge done, shall be readily brought vnto you." The Baron +full of Rage, Furie, and felonious moode, if before he were +fallen into choler, now by protestation of these words, seemed +to transgresse the bounds of reason, and began to raile at the +poore wench, scolding and chiding hir like a strumpet of the +stews, faring as though he would haue beaten hir, or don hir +some other mischiefe: but his moode was stayed from doyng any +hurt. The poore Wench lessoned by her mistresse, in laughing +wise sayd vnto him: "Why (my Lord) do you chase and rage +againste mee? Me thinks, you do me wrong to vse sutch reprochful +words, which am but a seruaunt, and bounde to the commaundement +of my mistresse: Why sir, do you not know that a pursiuaunt or +messanger suffreth no paine or blame? The greatest Kyng or +Emperour of the Worlde, receiuing defiaunce from a meaner +Prynce, neuer vseth his ambassador with scolding Wordes, ne yet +by villany or rebuke abuseth his person. Is it wisdome then for +you, being a present prysoner, at the mercy of your kepers, in +thys dishonorable sorte to reuile me with disordred talke? But +sir, leaue of your rages, and quiet your selfe for this present +tyme, for my mistresse maruelleth much why you durst come (for +al your Noble state) to giue attemptes to violate hir good name, +which message shee requyred me to tell you, ouer and besides a +desire shee hath to know whether by the Scyence of Spynning, you +haue gained your meat for you seeme to kicke against the wynd, +and beat Water in a morter, if you think from hence to goe +before you haue earned a recompense for the meat which shal be +giuen you. Wherefore it is your lot paciently to suffer the +penance of your fond attempt, which I pray you gently to +sustaine, and think no scorn thereof hardely, for desperate men +and hard aduentures must needes suffer the daungers thereunto +belonging. This is the determinate sentence of my mistresse +mynd, who fourdeth you no better fare than Bread and Water, if +you can not shewe some prety Spyndle full of yarne for signe of +your good wyll at this present pynch of your distresse." The +Mayden seeying that hee was not dysposed to shewe some part of +wylling mind to gaine his lyuing by that prefixed scyence shut +the portall Doore, and went her way. The unhappy Baron (arryued +thether in very yll tyme) that Nyght had Neyther Breade nor +Broth, and therefore he fared accordynge to the Prouerbe: He +that goeth to bed supperlesse, lyeth in his Bed restlesse, for +during the whole night, no sleepe could fasten hys Eyes. Now as +this Baron was closed in pryson faste, so the Ladye tooke order, +that secretly wyth great cheare hys Seruauntes should be +interteyned, and his Horsse wyth sweete haye and good prouender +well mainteined, all his furnitures, sumpture horse and caryages +conueyed within the Castle, where wanted nothyng for the state +of sutch a personage but onely Lyberty, makyng the host of the +Inne beleue (wher the Lord harbored before) that he was returned +into Hungarie. But now turne we to the Boeme knight, who +knowynge that one of the two Hungarian Competitors, were +departed the Court and ridden into Boeme, dyd still behold the +quality of the inchaunted Image, wherein by the space of thre or +foure Dayes, in whych time, the Baron made his greatest sute to +his Ladie: he marked a certaine alteration of Coloure in the +same, but afterwards returned to his Natiue forme: and seeing no +greater transformation, he was wel assured, that the Hungarian +Baron was repulsed, and imployed his Labor in vaine. Whereof the +Boeme knight was excedingly pleased and contented, bycause he +was well assured, that his Wyfe had kept hir selfe ryghte pure +and honest. Notwithstandyng hys Mynde was not wel settled, ne +yet hys heart at rest, doubting that the lord Vladislao, which +as yet was not departed the courte, would obtayne the thing, +and acquite the faulte, which his Companion had committed. The +imprysoned Baron which all this tyme had neither eaten nor +dronken, nor in the night could sleepe, in the mornyng, after he +had considred his misaduenture, and well perceyued no remedy for +him to goe forth, except hee obeyed the Ladie's hest, made of +Necessity a Vertue, and applyed himselfe to learne to Spynne by +force, which freedome and honour could neuer haue made him to +do. Whereuppon he toke the distaffe and beganne to Spynne. +And albeyt that hee neuer Sponne in al hys Lyfe before, yet +instructed by Necessity, so well as he could, he drewe out his +Threede, now small and then greate, and manye times of the +meanest sort, but verye often broade, yl fauored, yll closed, +and worse twisted, all oute of fourme and fashyon, that sundry +tymes very heartely he laughed to himselfe, to see his cunning, +but would haue made a cunning Woman spinner burst into Ten +Thousand laughters, if she had ben there. Thus all the morning +he spent in spynning, and when dynner came, his accustomed +messenger, the mayden, repayred vnto him againe, and opening the +wyndow demaunded of the Baron how his worke went foreward, and +whether he were disposed to manifest the cause of hys comming +into Boeme? Hee well beaten in the schoole of shame, vttered +vnto the Maide the whole compact and bargayne made betweene him +and his Companion, and the Boeme knyghte hir mayster, and +afterwards shewed vnto hir his Spyndle ful of threde. The young +Wenche smylyng at hys Woorke, sayd: "By Sainct Marie this is +well done, you are worthy of victual for your hire: for now I +well perceiue that Hunger forceth the Woulf oute of hir Denne. +I conne you thanck, that like a Lord you can so puissantly gayne +your lyuing. Wherefore proceeding in that which you haue +begonne, I doubt not but shortely you will proue sutche a +workeman, as my mistresse shall not neede to put oute hir flax +to spinne (to hir great charge and coste) for making of hir +smockes, but that the same may wel be don within hir own house, +yea althoughe the same doe serue but for Kitchen Cloathes, for +dresser bordes, or cleanynge of hir Vessell before they bee +serued forth. And as your good deserts doe merite thankes for +this your arte, now well begonne, euen so your new told tale of +comming hyther, requyreth no lesse, for that you haue dysclosed +the trouth." When she had spoken these Woords, she reached hym +some store of meates for hys dynner, and bade hym fare well. +When shee was returned vnto hir Lady, shee shewed vnto hir the +Spyndle full of threde, and told hir therewythall the whole +story of the compact betwene the knight Vlrico, and the two +Hungarian barons. Whereof the Lady sore astonned, for the snares +layd to entrappe hir, was notwithstanding wel contented, for +that shee had so well forseene the same: but most of all +reioysed, that hir husband had so good opinion of hir honest +lyfe. And before she would aduertise hym of those euents, she +purposed to attend the commyng of the lord Vladislao to whome +she ment to do like penance for his carelesse bargayne and +dishonest opinion, accordyngly as he deserued, maruelling very +mutch that both the Barons, were so rash and presumptuous, +daungerously (not knowing what kind of Woman she was) to put +their Landes and goodes in hazard. But considering the Nature of +diuers brainsick men, which passe not how carelesly they +aduenture their gained goods, and inherited Lands, so they may +atchieue the pray, after which they vainely hunt, for the +preiudice and hurt of other, she made no accompt of these +attemptes, sith honest Matrones force not vppon the sutes, or +vayne consumed time of lyght brained Cockscombs, that care not +what fond cost or ill imployed houres they waste to anoy the +good renoume and honest brutes of Women. But not to discourse +from point to point the particulers of this intended iorney, +this poore deceiued Baron in short time proued a very good +Spinner, by exercise whereof, he felt sutch solace, as not onely +the same was a comfortable sporte for his captiue time, but also +for want of better recreation, it seemed so ioyfull, as if he +had bene pluming and feding his Hawke, or doing other sports +belongyng to the honourable state of a Lord. Which his wel +attriued labour, the Maiden recompensed with abundance of good +and delycate meates. And although the Lady was many times +requyred to visite the Baron, yet she would neuer to that +request consent. In whych tyme the knyght Vlrico ceased not +continually to viewe and reuewe the state of his Image, which +appeared styll to bee of one well coloured sorte, and although +thys vse of hys was diuers times marked and seene of many, yet +being earnestly demaunded the cause thereof hee would neuer +disclose the same. Many coniectures thereof were made, but none +could attayne the trouthe. And who would haue thought that a +knight so wyse and prudente had worne within his pursse any +inchaunted thyng? And albeyt the Kyng and Queene had +intelligence of thys frequent practyse of the knight, yet they +thought not mete for the priuate and secrete Mystery, to demaund +the cause. One moneth and a halfe was passed now that the Lorde +Alberto was departed the Court, and become a Castle knyghte and +cunning Spynster: which made the Lord Vladislao to muse, for +that the promise made betweene them was broken, and hearde +neyther by Letter or messenger what successe he had receiued. +After diuers thoughts imagyned in his mynde, he conceyued that +his companion had happily enioyed the ende of his desired ioy, +and had gathered the wyshed fruicts of the Lady, and drowned in +the mayne Sea of his owne pleasures, was ouerwhelmed in the +bottome of Obliuion: wherefore he determined to set forward on +his iourney to giue onset of his desired fortune: who without +long delay for execution of his purpose, prepared all +necessaries for that voyage, and mounted on horsebacke with two +of his men, he iourneyed towards Boeme, and within a few daies +after arryued at the Castle of the fayre and most honest Lady. +And when hee was entred the Inne where the Lord Alberto was +first lodged, he dilygently enquyred of him, and heard tell that +he was returned into Hungarie many dayes before, whereof mutch +maruelling, could not tel what to say or think. In the end +purposing to put in prose the cause wherefore he was departed +out of Hungarie, after dilygent searche of the maners of the +Lady, he vnderstoode by general voyce, that she was without +comparison the honestest, wisest, gentlest, and comelyest Lady +within the whole Countrey of Boeme. Incontinently the Lady was +aduertised of the arriual of this Baron, and knowing his +message, she determyned to paye him also wyth that Money whych +she had already coyned for the other. The next Day the Baron +went vnto the Castle, and knocking at the Gate, sent in woord +how that he was come from the Court of king Mathie, to visite +and salute the Lady of that Castle: and as she did entertayne +the first Baron in curteous guise, and with louing Countenaunce, +euen so she dyd the second, who thought thereby that he had +attayned by that pleasaunt entertaynment, the game which he +hunted. And discoursing vppon dyuers matters, the lady shewed +hir selfe a pleasaunt and Familyar Gentlewoman, whych made the +Baron to thynk that in short tyme he should wyn the pryce for +which he came. Notwithstanding, at the fyrste brunt he would not +by any meanes descend to any particularity of his purpose, but +hys Words ran general, which were, that hearynge tell of the +fame of hir Beauty, good grace and comelinesse, by hauing +occasion to repayre into Boeme to doe certayne his affaires, he +thought it labor wel spent to ride some portion of his iourney, +though it were besides the way, to dygresse to do reuerence vnto +hir, whom fame aduaunced aboue the Skyes: and thus passing his +first visitation he returned againe to his lodging. The lady +when the Baron was gone from hir Castle, was rapt into a rage, +greatlye offended that those two Hungarian Lordes so +presumptuously had bended themselues lyke common Theeues to +wander and roue the Countreys, not onely to robbe and spoyle hir +of hir honour, but also to bryng hir in displeasure of hir +husband, and thereby into the Daunger and Peryll of Death. By +reason of which rage (not without cause conceived) she caused an +other Chamber to be made ready, next Wall to the other Baron +that was become sutch a notable Spynster, and vpon the nexte +returne of the Lord Vladislao, she receiued him with no lesse +good entertainement than before, and when Nyght came, caused him +to be lodged in hir owne house in the Chamber prepared as +before, where he slept not very soundly all that Night, through +the continuall remembraunce of hys Ladies beauty. Next morning +he perceiued himself to be locked fast in a Pryson. And when he +had made him readye, thinking to descend to bid the Lady good +Morrow, seeking meanes to vnlock the Doore, and perceiuing that +he could not, he stoode styll in a dumpe. And as hee was thus +standyng, maruelling the cause of his shuttyng in so fast, the +maiden repaired to the hole of the dore, giuing his honor an +vnaccustomed salutation, which was that hir mistresse commaunded +hir to giue him to vnderstand, that if hee had any lust or +appetyte to his breakfast, or if he minded from thenceforth to +ease his hunger or conteine Lyfe, that he should giue him selfe +to learne to reele yarne. And for that purpose she willed him to +looke in sutch a corner of the Chamber, and he should find +certaine spindles of thred, and an instrument to winde his yarn +vpon. "Wherefore" (quod she) "apply your self thereunto, and +loose no time." He that had that tyme beholden the Baron in the +Face, would haue thought that hee had seene rather a Marble +stone, than the figure of a man. But conuerting his could +conceyued moode, into mad anger, he fell into ten times more +displeasure with himselfe, than is before described by the other +Baron. But seeinge that his mad behauiour, and beastly vsage was +bestowed in vayne, the next day he began to Reele. The Lady +afterwardes when shee had intelligence of the good, and +gaynefull Spinning of the Lord Alberto, and the wel disposed, +and towardly Reeling of the Lord Vladislao, greatly reioyced for +makinge of sutch two Notable Workemen, whose workemanship +exceeded the labours of them that had been Apprentyzes to the +Occupation seuen Yeares togeather. Sutch bee the apt and ready +Wyts of the Souldiers of Loue: wherein I would wishe all Cupides +Dearlings to be nousled and applied in their youthly time: then +no doubt their passions woulde appease, and rages assuage, and +would giue ouer bolde attempts, for which they haue no thancke +of the chaste and honest. And to thys goodly sight the Lady +brought the Seruaunts of these noblemen, willing them to marke +and beholde the diligence of their Maysters, and to imitate the +industry of their gallant exercise, who neuer attayned meate +before by labour they had gayned the same. Which done, shee made +them take their Horse, and Furnitures of their Lords, and to +depart: otherwise if by violence they resisted, she would cause +their choller to be caulmed with sutch like seruice as they saw +their Lordes doe before their Eyes. The Seruaunts seeing no +remedy, but must needes depart, tooke their leaue. Afterwards +she sent one of hir Seruaunts in poast to the Courte, to +aduertise hir husband of all that which chaunced. The Boeme +knight receyuing these good newes, declared the same vnto the +King and Queene, and recited the whole story of the two +Hungarian Barons, accordingly as the tenor of his Wyues letters +did purport. The Princes stoode still in great admiration, and +highly commended the wisedome of the Lady, esteeming hir for a +very sage and polliticke woman. Afterwards the knight Vlrico +humbly besought the king for execution of his decree and +performaunce of the Bargayne. Whereupon the king assembled his +counsell, and required euery of them to saye their minde. Vpon +the deliberation whereof, the Lord Chauncellor of the Kingdome, +with two Counsellers, were sent to the Castle of the Boeme +knight, to enquire, and learne the processe and doinges of the +two Lordes, who diligently accomplished the kinge's +commaundement. And hauinge examined the Lady and hir mayden with +other of the house, and the barons also, whom a little before +the arriuall of these Commissioners, the Lady had caused to be +put together, that by Spinning and Reeling they might comfort +one another. When the Lord Chauncellor had framed and digested +in order the whole discourse of this history, returned to the +Court where the king and Queene, with the Pieres and Noblemen of +his kingdome, caused the acts of the same to be diuulged and +bruted abroade, and after mutch talk, and discourse of the +performaunce of this compact, pro, and contra, the Queene taking +the Ladie's part, and fauoring the knight, the kinge gaue +sentence that sir Vlrico should wholly possesse the landes and +goods of the two Barons to him, and to his Heyres for euer, and +that the Barons should be banished the kingdomes of Hungary and +Boeme, neuer to returne vpon payne of death. This sentence was +put in execution, and the vnfortunat Barons exiled, which +specially to those that were of their consanguinity and bloud, +seemed to seuere, and rigorous. Neuerthelesse the couenaunt +being most playne and euident to most men, the same seemed to +bee pronounced with greate Iustice and equity, for example in +time to come, to lesson rash wits how they iudge and deeme so +indifferently of Womens behaviours, amongs whom no doubt there +bee both good and bad as there bee of men. Afterwards the 2 +princes sent for the Lady to the Court, who there was +courteously intertayned, and for this hir wise and polliticke +fact had in great admiration. The Queene then appoynted hir to +be one of hir women of honor, and esteemed hir very deerely. +The knight also daily grew to great promotion well beloued and +fauored of the king, who with his lady long time liued in greate +ioy and felicity, not forgetting the cunning Pollacco, that made +him the image and likenes of his wife: whose frendship and labor +he rewarded with money, and other Benefits very liberally. + + + + +THE TWENTY-NINTH NOUELL. + + _Dom Diego a Gentleman of Spayne fell in loue with fayre + Gineura, and she with him: their loue by meanes of one that + enuied Dom Diego his happy choyse, was by default of light + credit on hir part interrupted. He constant of mynde, fell + into despayre, and abandoninge all his frends and liuing, + repayred to the Pyrene Mountaynes, where he led a sauage lyfe + for certayne moneths, and afterwardes knowne by one of hys + freendes, was (by marueylous Circumstaunce) reconciled to hys + froward mistresse, and maryed._ + + +Mens mischaunces occurring on the brunts of dyuers Tragicall +fortunes, albeit vpon their first taste of bitternesse, they +sauor of a certayne kinde of lothsome relish, yet vnder the +Rynde of that vnsauerouse Sap, doth lurke a sweeter honnye, than +sweetenesse it selfe, for the fruit that the Posterity may +gather, and learne by others hurts, how they may loathe, and +shun the like. But bicause all thinges haue their seasons, +and euery thynge is not conuenient for all Times, and Places, +I purpose now to shew a notable example of a vayne and +superstitious Louer, that abandoned his liuing and friendes, to +become a Sauage Desert man. Which History resembleth in a maner +a Tragical Comedy, comprehending the very same matter and +Argument, wherewyth the greatest part of the sottishe sorte Arme +themselues to couer and defend their Follies. It is red and +seene to often by common custome, and therefore needelesse heere +to display what rage doth gouerne, and headlong hale fonde and +licentious youth (conducted by the pangue of loue, if the same +be not moderated by reason, and cooled with sacred Lessons) euen +from the cradle to more murture and riper age. For the Tiranny +of Loue amonges all the deadly Foes that vexe and afflict our +mindes, glorieth of his force, vaunting hymselfe able to chaunge +the proper nature of things, be they neuer so sounde and +perfect: who to make them like his lustes, transformeth himselfe +into a substaunce qualified diuersly, the better to intrap sutch +as be giuen to his vanities. But hauing auouched so many +examples before, I am content for this present to tell the +discourse of two persons, chaunced not long sithens in +Catheloigne. Of a Gentleman that for his constancy declared two +extremities in himselfe of loue and folly. And of a Gentlewoman +so fickle and inconstant, as loue and they which wayted on him, +be disordered, for the trustlesse grounde whereupon sutch +foundation of seruice is layed, which yee shall easely conceiue +by well viewing the difference of these twayne: whom I meane to +summon to the lists, by the blast of this sounding trump. And +thus the same beginneth. Not long after that the victorious and +Noble Prynce, younge Ferdinandus, the Sonne of Alphonsus Kynge +of Aragon was deade, Lewes the Twelfth, that tyme being Frenche +king, vpon, the Marches of Catheloigne, betwene Barcelona, and +the Mountaynes, there was a good Lady then a Wyddow, which had +bene the Wyfe of an excellant and Noble knight of the Countrey, +by whom she hadde left one only Daughter, which was so carefully +brought vp by the mother as nothinge was to deare or hard to bee +brought to passe for hir desire, thinking that a creature so +Noble and perfect, could not be trayned vp to delicately. Now +besides hir incomparable furniture of beauty, this Gentlewoman +was adorned with Hayre so fayre, curle, and Yealow, as the new +fined golde was not matchable to the shining locks of this +tender Infant, who therefore was commonly called Gineura la +Blonde. Halfe adaye's iorney from the house of this Wyddow, lay +the lands of another Lady a Wydow also, that was very rich, and +so wel allied as any in all the Land. This Lady had a Sonne, +whom she caused to be trayned vp so well in Armes and good +letters, as in other honest Exercises proper and mete for a +Gentleman and great Lorde, for which respect shee had sent him +to Barcelona the chyefe Citty of all the Countrey of +Catheloigne. Senior Dom Diego, (for so was the Sonne of that +Wydow called) profited so well in all thynges, that when hee was +18 yeares of age, there was no Gentleman of his degree, that did +excell him, ne yet was able to approche vnto his Perfections and +commendable Behauiour. A thing that did so well content the good +Lady his mother as she could not tell what countenaunce to keepe +to couer hir ioy. A vice very common to fond and foolish +mothers, who flatter themselues with a shadowed hope of the +future goodnesse of their children, which many times doth more +hurt to that wanton and wilfull age, than profit or +aduauncement. The persuasion also of sutch towardnesse, full oft +doth blinde the Spirites of Youth, as the Faults which follow +the same bee farre more vile than before they were: whereby the +first Table (made in his first coloures) of that imagined +vertue, can take no force or perfection, and so by incurring +sundry mishaps the Parent and Chylde commonly escape not without +equall blame. To come agayne therefore to our discourse: It +chaunced in that tyme that (the Catholike Kyng deceased) +Phillippe of Austrich which Succeeded him as Heyre, passing +through Fraunce came into Spayne to bee Inuested, and take +Possession of all hys Seigniories, and Kyngdomes: which knowen +to the Cittyzens of Barcelona, they determined to receiue hym +with sutch Pompe, Magnificence, and Honor, as duely appertaineth +to the greatnes and maiesty of so great a Prince, as is the +sonne of the Romane Emperour. And amonges other thinges they +prepared a Triumphe at the Tilt, where none was suffred to enter +the lists, but yong Gentlemen, sutch as neuer yet had followed +armes. Amongs whom Don Diego as the Noblest person was chosen +chiefe of one part. The Archduke then come to Barcelona after +the receyued honors and Ceremonies, accustomed for sutch +entertaynment, to gratifie his Subiects, and to see the brauery +of the yong Spanish Nobility in armes, would place himselfe vpon +the scaffolde to iudge the courses and valiaunce of the runners. +In that magnifique and Princely conflict, all mens eyes were +bent vpon Dom Diego, who course by course made hys aduersaries +to feele the force of his armes, his manhoode, and dexterity, on +horsebacke, and caused them to muse vpon his toward valiance in +time to come, whose noble Ghests then acquired the victory of +the Campe on his side. Which mooued King Phillip to say, that in +all his life he neuer saw triumph better handled, and that the +same seemed rather a battell of strong and hardy men, than an +exercise of yong Gentlemen neuer wonted to support the deedes of +armes, and trauayle of warfare. For which cause calling Dom +Diego before him he sayd: "God graunt (yong Gentleman) that your +ende agree with your good beginnings and hardy shock of proofe +done this day. In memory whereof I will this night that ye do +your watch, for I meane to morrow (by God's assistance) to dub +you Knight." The yong Gentleman blushing for shame, vpon his +knees kissed the Prince's hands, thanking him most humbly of the +honor and fauor which it pleased his maiesty to do to him, +vowing and promising to do so wel in time to come, as no man +should be deceyued of their conceyued opinion, nor the king +frustrate of his seruice, which was one of his most obedient +Vassals and subiects. So the next day he was made knight, and +receyued the coller of the order at the hands of king Phillip, +who after the departure of his prince which tooke his iorney +into Castille, retired to his owne landes and house more to see +his mother, whom long time before he had not seene, than for +desire of pleasure that be in fieldes, which notwithstanding he +exercised so wel as in end he perceyued refiaunce in townes and +Citties, to be an imprisonment in respect of that he felt in +Countrey. As the Poets whilome fayned Loue to shoote his Arrowes +amid the Woods, Forrests, fertile Fields, Sea coasts, Shores of +great Ryuers, and Fountayne brinkes, and also vppon the tops of +Huge, and hygh Mountaynes at the pursute of the sundry sorted +Nymphes, and fieldish Dimigods, deeming the same to bee a meane +of liberty to follow Loue's tract without suspition, voyde of +company and lothsome cries of Citties, where Iealousie, Enuy, +false report, and ill Opinion of all things, haue pitched their +Camp, and raysed their Tents. And contrariwise franckly and +wythout dissimulation in the fieldes, the Freende discouering +his passion to his Mistresse, they enioy the pleasure of +hunting, the naturall musicke of Byrds and sometimes in +pleasaunt Herbers compassed with the murmur of some running +Brookes, they communicate their Thoughts, beautifie the accorde +and vnity of Louers, and make the place famous for the first +witnesse of their amorous acquaintaunce. In like manner thrice, +and foure times blest be they there, who leeuing the vnquiet +toyle that ordinarily doth chaunce to them that abyde in +Citties, doe render duety of their studies to the Muses +wherevnto they be most Addicted. Now Dom Diego at his owne house +loued and cherished of his mother, reuerenced and obeyed of hys +Subiects after he had imployed some time at his study, had none +other ordinary pleasure but in rousing the Deere, hunting the +wylde Bore, run the Hare, sometimes to fly at the Hearon, or +fearful Partrich alongs the fields, Forests, Ponds, and steepe +Mountaynes. It came to passe one day, as he Hunted the wylde +Mountayne Goate, which he had dislodged vpon the Hill top, he +espied an olde Hart that his Dogges had found, who so ioyfull as +was possible of that good lucke, followed the course of that +swift, and fearefull beast. But (sutch was his Fortune) the +Dogges lost the foote of that pray, and he his men: for being +horssed of purpose, vpon a fayre Iennet, could not be followed, +and in ende loosinge the sight of the Deere, was so farre +seuered from company, as he was vtterly ignoraunt which way to +take. And that which grieued him moste was his Horse out of +Breath scarce able to goe a false Gallop. For which cause he put +his horne to his mouth, and blew so loude as he could: but his +men were so farre of, as they could not here him. The young +Gentleman being in this distresse, could not tell what to doe, +but to returne backe, wherein he was more deceyued than before, +for thinkinge to take the way home to hys Castle, wandred still +further of from the same. And trotting thus a long tyme, he +spied a Castle Situated vppon a little Hill, whereby he knew +himselfe far from his owne house. Neuerthelesse hearing a +certayne noyse of Hunters, thinking they had bene his People, +resorted to the same, who in deede were the Seruaunts of the +Mother of Gineura with the golden Locks, which in company of +their Mistresse had hunted the Hare. Dom Diego, when he drue +neere to the cry of the Hounds, saw right well that hee was +deceyued. At what tyme Night approched, and the Shadowes +darkening the Earth, by reason of the Sunnes departure, began to +Cloth the Heauens with a Browne and misty Mantell. When the +Mother of Gineura saw the knight which Rode a soft pace, for +that his Horsse was tired, and could trauayle no longer, and +knowing by his outward apperance that he was some great Lord, +and ridden out of his way, sent one of hir men to knowe what he +was, who returned agayne with sutch aunswere as shee desired. +The Lady ioyfull to entertayne a Gentleman so excellent and +famous, one of hir next neighbors, went forwarde to bid hym +welcome, which she did with so great curtesy as the Knight sayd +vnto hir: "Madame, I thinke that fortune hath done me this +fauour, by setting me out of the way, to proue your curtesie and +gentle entertaynment, and to receyue this ioy by visiting your +house, whereof I trust in time to come to be so perfect a frend, +as my predecessors heretofore haue hene." "Sir," sayd the Lady, +"if happinesse may be attributed to them, that most doe gayne, +I thincke my selfe better fauored than you, for that it is my +chaunce to lodge and entertayne him, that is the worthiest +person and best beloued in all Catheloigne." The Gentleman +blushing at that prayse, sayd nothing els, but that affection +forced men so to speake of his vertues, notwithstandinge sutch +as hee was, he vowed from thenceforth his seruice to hir and all +hir Houshold. Gineura desirous not to bee slacke in curtesie, +sayd that he should not so do, except she were partaker of some +part of that, which the knight so liberally had offered to the +whole Family of hir Mother. The Gentleman which till that time +tooke no heede to the deuine Beauty of the Gentlewoman, +beholding hir at his pleasure, was so astoonned, as hee could +not tell what to aunswere, his eyes were so fixed vpon hir, +spendinge his lookes in contemplation of that freshe hew, +stayned with a red Vermilion, vppon the Alabaster and fayre +colour of hir cleare and beautifull face. And for the +imbelishing of that naturall perfection, the attire vppon hir +head was so couenable and proper, as it seemed the same day shee +had Looked for the comming of him, that afterwardes indured so +mutch for hir sake. For hir head was Adorned with a Garlande of +Floures, interlaced wyth hir Golden, and Enamiled hayre, which +gorgeously couered some part of hir Shoulders, disparcled, +and hanging down some tyme ouer hir passing fayre Foreheade, +somewhyles vpon hir ruddy Cheekes, as the Sweete, and Pleasaunt +windy Breath dyd mooue them to, and fro: Yee should haue seene +hir wauering and crisped tresses disposed with so good grace, +and comelynesse, as a man would haue thought that Loue and the +three Graces coulde not tell els where to harbor themselues, but +in that riche and delectable place of pleasure, in gorgeous wise +laced and imbraudred. Vpon hir Eares did hang two Sumptuous and +Riche orientall Pearles, which to the artificiall order of hir +hayre added a certen splendent brightnes. And he that had +beholden the shining and large Forehead of that Nimph which +Gallantly was beset with a Diamonde of inestimable price and +value, chased with a tresse of Golde made in form of little +Starres, would haue thought that he had seene a Rancke of the +twinckeling Planettes, fixed in the Firmament in the hottest +time of Sommer, when that fayre season discouereth the order of +his glittering Cloudes. In lyke maner the sparkeling eyes of the +fayre Gentlewoman, adorned with a stately vaulte with two +Archers, equally by euen spaces distinct, and deuided, stayned +with the Ebene Indian tree, did so well set forth their +Brightnesse, as the eyes of them that stayed their lookes at +Noone daye's directly vpon the Sunne, could no more be dazeled +and offended, than those were that did contemplate those two +flaminge Starres, which were in force able throughly to pierce +euen the Bottome of the inward partes. The Nose well fourmed, +iustly placed in the Amiable valley of the Vysage, by equall +conformity Distinguished the two Cheekes, stayned wyth a pure +Carnation, resemblinge two lyttle Apples that were arryued to +the due time of their maturity and ripenesse. And then hir +Coralline mouth, through which breathing, issued out a breath +more soote and sauorous than Ambre, Muske, or other Aromaticall +Parfume, that euer the sweete Soyle of Arabie brought forth. She +sometime vnclosing the doore of hir Lips, discouered two rancke +of Pearles, so finely blanched, as the purest Orient would +blushe, if it were compared with the Beauty of thys incomparable +whitenesse. But hee that will take vppon hym to speake of all +hir inspeakable Beauty, may make his vaunte that he hath seene +all the greatest perfections that euer dame Nature wrought. Now +to come a little lower, on this freshe Diana appeared a Neck, +that surmounted the Blaunch colour of Mylke, were it neuer so +excellent white, and hir Stomacke somewhat mounting by the two +Pomels, and firme Teates of hir Breasts separated in equal +distaunce, was couered wyth a vayle, so lose, and fine, as those +two little prety Mountaynes might easily be Discried, to moue, +and remooue, according to the affection that rose in the centre +of that modest, and sober Pucelle's mynde: who ouer, and besides +all thys, had sutch a pleasaunt Countenaunce, and ioyefull +cheere, as hir Beauty more than wonderfull, rendred hir not so +woorthy to be serued, and loued, as hir natural goodnesse, +and disposed curtesie appearing in hir Face, and hir excellent +entertaynement and comely Grace to all indifferently. This was +not to imitate the maner of the most parte of our fayre Ladies, +and Gentlewomen, who (mooued wyth what Opinion I know not) be so +disdaynefull, as almost theyr name causeth discontentment, and +breedeth in them great imperfection. And who by thinking to +appeare more braue, and fine, by to mutch squeymishe dealing, +doe offuscate and darken with folly their exterior Beauty, +blotting, and defacing that which beauty maketh amiable, and +worthy of honor. I leaue you now to consider wheather Dom Deigo +had occasion to Forgo his Speach, and to bee bereft of Sense, +being liuely assayled with one so well armed as Gineura was with +hir Graces and Honesty: who no lesse abashed with the Port, +Countenaunce, sweete talk, and stately Behauiour of the knight, +which she vewed to be in him by stealing lookes, felt a motion +(not wonted or accustomed) in hir tender heart, that made hir to +chaunge color, and by like occasion speachlesse: an ordinary +custome in them that be surprised with the malady of loue to +lose the vse of speach where the same is most needefull to gieue +the intier charge in the heart, which not able to support and +beare the burden of so many passions, departeth some portion to +the eyes, as to the faythful messengers of the mynde's secret +conceipts, which tormented beyond measure, and burninge with +affection, causeth sometimes the Humor to gushe out in that +parte that discouered the first assault, and bred the cause of +that Feuer, which frighted the hearts of those two yong persons, +not knowing well what the same might be. When they were come to +the Castle, and dismounted from their Horsses, many Welcomes and +Gratulations were made to the knight, which yelded more wood to +the fire, and liuely touched the yong Gentleman, who was so +outraged with loue, as almost he had no minde of himselfe, and +rapt by litle, and little, was so intoxicated with an Amorous +passion, as all other thoughtes were lothsome, and Ioye +displeasaunt in respect of the fauourable Martirdome which hee +suffered by thinking of his fayre and gentle Gineura. Thus the +knight which in the morning disposed him selfe to pursue the +Hart, was in heart so attached, as at euening he was become a +Seruaunt, yea and sutch a Slaue, as that voluntary seruitude +wholly dispossessed him from his former Freedome. These be the +fruictes also of Folly, inuegling the lookes of men, that launch +themselues with eyes shut into the Gulfe of despayre which in +ende doth cause the ruin and ouerthrow of him, that yeldeth +thereunto. Loue proceedeth neuer but of opinion: so likewise the +ill order of those that bee afflicted with that Passion, ryseth +not elswhere, but by the fond persuasion which they conceiyue, +to bee Blamed, Despised, and deceyued of the thing beloued: +where if they measured that passion according to his valor, they +would make no more accoumpt of that which doth torment them, +than they do of their health, honor, and life, which loue for +their great seruice and labor deludeth them, and recompenseth +another with that for which the foolish Louer imployeth thys +trauel, which at length doth haste despaire, and ende more than +desperate, when an other enioy that, for which hee hath so longe +time beate the Bushes. During the time that supper was +preparyng, the Lady sente hir men to seeke the huntesmen of Dom +Diego, to gyue them knowledge where he was become, and thereof +to certify his mother, who when she heard tell that her sonne +was lodged there, was very glad beyng a ryght good fryend and +very familiar Neighbor with the Lady, the hostesse of Dom Diego. +The Gentleman at supper after he had tasted the feruent heate +that broyled in his Minde, coulde eate little meate, beinge +satisfied with the feeding diete of his Amorous eyes, which +without any maner of Iealousie, distributed their nourishment to +the heart, who sat very soberly, priuily throwing his secretly +Prickes, with louely, and wanton lookes, vppon the heart of the +fayre Lady, which for hir part spared not to render vsury of +rolling regardes, whereof he was so sparing, as almost he durst +not lift vp his eyes for dazeling of them. After Supper, the +knight bidding the mother and Daughter good night, went to Bed, +where in steede of sleepe, he fell to sighinge and imageninge a +thousande diuers deuises, fantasiyng like number of follies, +sutch as they doe whose Braynes be fraught loue. "Alas," (sayde +hee) "what meaneth it, that alwayes I haue lyued in so great +liberty, and nowe doe feele my self attached with sutch bondage +as I cannot expresse whose effects neuerthelesse be fastned in +me? Haue I hunted to be taken? Came I from my house in liberty, +to be shut vp in Pryson, and do not know wheather I shall be +receyued, or being receyued haue intertaynment, according to +desert? Ah Gineura, I would to God, that thy Beauty did pricke +mee no worsse, than the tree whereof thou takest thy name, is +sharp in touching, and bitter to them that taste it. Truely I +esteeme my comming hither happy (for all the Passion that I +indure) sith the purchase of a griefe so lucky doth qualify the +ioy, that made me to wander thus ouer frankly. Ah Fayre amonges +the Fayrest, truely the fearefull Beast which with the bloudy +Hare Houndes was torne in pieces, is not more Martired, than my +heart deuided in Opinions vppon thyne Affection. And what doe I +know if thou louest an other more worthy to bee Fauoured of thee +than thy poore Dom Diego. But it is impossible that any can +approche the sincerity that I feele in my heart, determining +rather to indure death, than to serue other but fayre and golden +Gineura: therefore my loyalty receyuing no comparison, cannot +bee matched in man sufficient (for respect of the same) to be +called seruaunt of thine excellency. Now come what shal, by +meanes of this, I am assured that so long as Dom Diego liueth, +his heart shal receyue none other impression or desire, but that +which inciteth him to loue, serue, and honor the fairest +creature at thys day within the compasse of Spayne." Resolued +hereupon, sweating, laboring, and trauelling upon the framing of +his loue, he founde nothing more expedient than to tel hir his +passion, and let hir vnderstand the good wil that he had to do +hir seruice, and to pray hir to accept hym for sutch, as from +that time forth would execute nothing but under the title of hir +good name. On th'otherside Gineura could not close hir eyes, +and knew not the cause almost that so impeched hir of sleepe, +wherefore now tossing on th'one side, and then turning to the +other, in hir rich and goodly Bed, fantasied no fewer deuises +than passionated Dom Diego did. In th'end she concluded, that if +the knight shewed hir any euident signe, or opened by word of +mouth any Speach of loue and seruice, she would not refuse to do +the like to him. Thus passed the night in thoughts, sighes, and +wishes betwene these 2 apprentises of the thing, whereof they +that be learners, shal soone attayne the experience, and they +that follow the occupation throughly, in short time be their +crafts maisters. The next day the knight would depart so soone +as he was vp: but the good widow, imbracing the personage and +good order of the knight in hir heart, more than any other that +she had seene of long time, intreated him so earnestly to tarry +as he which loued better to obey hir request then to depart, +although fayned the contrary, in the end appeared to be +vanquished vpon the great importunity of the Lady. Al that +morning the Mother and the Daughter passed the time with Dom +Deigo in great talke of common matters. But he was then more +astonned and inamored than the night before, in sutch wise as +many times he aunswered so vnaptly to their demaunds, as it was +easily perceiued that his minde was mutch disquieted with some +thing, that only did possesse the force and vehemence of the +same: notwithstanding the Lady imputed that to the +shamefastnesse of the Gentleman, and to his simplicity, which +had not greatly frequented the company of Ladies. When dinner +time was come, they were serued with sutch great fare and sundry +delicates accordingly as with hir hart she wyshed to intertain +the young Lord, to the intent from that time forth, he might +more willinglye make repaire to hir house. After dinner he +rendred thanks to his hostesse for his good cheare and +intertainment that he had receiued, assuring hir, that all the +dayes of his Life he would imploy himselfe to recompence hir +curtesy, and with all duety and indeuor to acknowledge that +fauor. And hauing taken his leaue of the mother, he went to the +Damosell, to hir I say, that had so sore wounded his hearte who +already was so deeply grauen in his mind, as the marke remained +there for euer, taking leaue of hir, kissed hir handes, and +thinking verily to expresse that whereuppon hee imagined all the +Nyghte, his Tongue and Wits were so tyed and rapt, as the +Gentlewoman perfectly perceiued this alteration, whereat she was +no whit discontented and therefore all blushyng, sayde vnto him: +"I pray to God sir, to ease and comfort your gryefe, as you +leaue vs desirous and glad, long to enioy your company." "Truely +Gentlewoman," (aunswered the Knyght) "I think my selfe more than +happy, to heare that wysh proceede from sutch a one as you be, +and specially for the desire whych you say you haue of my +presence, whych shall be euer readye to doe that whych it shall +please you to commaunde." The Gentlewoman bashfull for that +offer, thanked hym verye heartilye praying him wyth sweete and +smilinge Countenance, not to forget the waye to come to visite +them, beyng wel assured, that hir mother would be very glad +thereof. "And for mine owne part," (quod she) "I shall thinke my +self happy to be partaker of the pleasure and great amity that +is betwene our two houses." After great reuerence and leaue +taken between them, Dom Diego returned home, where he tolde his +mother of the good interteynment made him, and of the great +honesty of the Lady hys hostesse: "Wherfore madam," (quod he to +hys Mother) "I am desyrous (if it be your pleasure) to let them +know how much their bountifull hospitality hath tied me to them, +and what desire I haue to recompence the same. I am therefore +wyllyng to bydde them hyther, and to make them so good cheare, +as wyth all theyr Hearte they made me when I was wyth them." +The Lady whych was the assured fryende of the Mother of Gineura, +lyked well the aduyse of hir sonne, and tolde him that they +should bee welcome, for the aunciente amity of long time betwene +them, who was wont many times to visit one an other. Dom Diego +vpon his mother's words, sent to intreat the Lady and fayr +Gineura, that it woulde please them to do him the honour to come +into his house: to which request she so willingly yelded, as he +was desirous to bid them. At the appointed day Dom Diego sought +al meanes possible honourably to receyue them: In meates whereof +there was no want, in Instruments of all sortes, Mummeries, +Morescoes, and a thousand other pastymes, whereby he declared +his good bringing vp, the gentlenesse of his Spyryte, and the +desire that he had to appeare sutch one as he was, before hir, +which had already the full possession of his liberty. And +bicause he would not faile to accomplyshe the perfection of his +intent, hee inuyted all the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen that were +his neighbours. I will not here describe the moste part of the +prouision for that feast, nor the diuersity of Meates, or the +delycate kyndes of Wines. It shall suffise mee to tell that +after dynner they daunced, where the knight tooke his mistresse +by the hand who was so glad to see hir selfe so aduanced, as he +was content to be so neare hir, that was the sweete torment and +vnspeakable passion of his mynd, whych hee began to discouer +vnto hir in this wyse: "Mistresse Gineura I have ben alwayes of +this Minde, that Musike hath a certeine secrete hydden vertue +(which wel can not be expressed) to reuiue the thoughts and +cogitations of man, be he neuer so mornfull and pensiue, forcing +him to vtter some outward reioyse: I speake it by my self, for +that I liue in extreme anguish and payne, that al the ioy of the +World seemeth vnto mee displeasaunt, care, and disquyetnesse: +and neuerthelesse my passion, agreeing with the plaintife voice +of the Instrument, doth reioyce and conceiue comforte, as well +to heare insensible thinges conformable to my desires as also to +see my self so neere vnto hir, that hath the salue to ease my +payne, to discharge my disease, and to depryue my Mynd from all +gryefs. In like maner reason it is, that she hir selfe do remedy +my disease, of whom I receiued the prycke, and which is the +first foundation of all mine euil." "I can not tell" (sayd the +Gentlewoman) {"}what disease it is you speak of, for I shoulde +bee very vnkinde to gieue him occasion of griefe, that doth make +vs this great cheere." "Ah Lady myne," (sayd the knight, +fetching a sigh from the bottome of his heart,) "the +intertaynement that I receyue by the continuall contemplation of +your diuine Beauties, and the vnspeakeable brightnesse of those +two Beames, which twinkle in your Face, bee they that happily +doe vex me, and make me drink this Cup of bitternesse, wherein +notwithstanding I finde sutch sweetenesse as al the Heauenly +Drincke called Ambrosia, fayned by the Poets, is but Gall in +respect of that which I taste in mynde, feeling my deuotion so +bent to do you seruice, as onely Death shall vnty the knot +wherewith voluntarily I Knyt my selfe to be your Seruaunt for +euer, and if it so please vou, your Faythfull, and Loyall +Freende, and Husbande." The yonge Damosell not wonted for to +heare sutch Songs, did chaunge hir coloure at least three or +foure times, and neuerthelesse fayned a little angre of that +which did content hir most: and yet not so sharpe, but that the +Gentleman perceyued well enough, that shee was touched at the +quicke, and also that he was accepted into hir good Grace and +Fauoure. And therefore hee continued styll hys talke, all that +time after dinner, vntill the Mayden made hym thys aunswere: +"Sir, I will nowe confesse that griefe may couer alteration of +affections proceeding of Loue. For although I had determined to +dissemble that which I thinke, yet there is a thinge in my Mynde +(which I can not name) that gouerneth mee so farre from my +proper Deuises, and Conceyptes, as I am constrayned to doe that +which this second Inspiration leadeth mee vnto, and forceth my +Mynde to receyue an Impression: but what will be the ende +thereof, as yet I knowe not. Notwythstandinge, reposinge mee in +youre Vertue, and Honesty, and acknowledgynge youre merite, +I thincke my selfe happy to haue sutch one for my Freende, that +is so Fayre and comely a knight, and for sutch I doe accept you +vntill you haue obtayned of the Lady, my Mother, the second +poynct, which may accomplish that which is moste desyred of +them, that for vertue's sake do loue. And but for that you shall +bee none otherwyse fauoured of me, than hytherto you haue ben." +"Tyll now haue I attended for thys ryght happye day of Ioy and +Blysse (sayd the Knyght) in token whereof, I doe kysse your +whyte and delycate Hands, and for acknowledging the fauour that +presently I do receiue, I make my vaunt to be the seruaunt of +hir that is the fayrest, and most curteous Gentlewoman, on thys +side the Mountaynes." As hee had fynished those words they came +to couer for Supper, where they were serued so honourably, as yf +they had ben in the Court of the Monarch of Spayne. After Supper +they went to walke abroade alongs the Riuer side, besette wyth +Wyllow Trees, where both the Beauty of the time, the runnyng +Ryuer, the Charme of the Natural musicke of birds, and the +pleasaunt Murmure of the tremblyng Leaues, at the whistelyng of +the swete Westerne Wynd, moued them agayne to renew theyr +Pastyme after Dynner. For some dyd gyue themselues to talke, +and to deuyse of delectable matter: some framed Nosegayes, +Garlandes, and other prety posyes for theyr Fryendes; other some +did leape, runne, and throwe the Barre. In the end a great Lord, +neighbor to Dom Diego, whose name was Dom Roderico, knowyng by +his Fryend's Countenaunce to what saynt hee was vowed, and +perceyuing for whose loue the feaste was celebrate, tooke by the +hand a Gentlewoman that sate nexte to fayre Gineura, and prayed +hir to daunce after a Song, whereunto shee beeynge pleasaunt and +wyse, made no great refusall. Dom Diego fayled not to ioyne wyth +hys mystresse, after whome folowed the rest of that noble +trayne, euery of them as they thought best. Now the Gentlewoman, +that was ledde into daunce, song thys song so apt for the +purpose, as if shee had entred the heart of the Ennimy and +Mystresse of Dom Diego, or of purpose had made the same in the +Name of hir, whom the matter touched aboue the rest. + + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + The yong and tender feeblenesse + Of myne vnskilfull age, + Whereof also the tendernesse + Doth feeble heart assuage: + Whom Beautye's force hath made to frame + Vnto a Louer's hest, + So soone as first the kindled flame + Of louinge Toyes increst. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + I haue assayed out to put + The fier thus begoone, + And haue attempted of to cut, + The threede which loue hath spoone: + And new alliance fayne would flee + Of him whom I loue best, + But that the Gods haue willed me + To yeld to his request. + Who may better sing and daunce among vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + So amiable is his grace, + Not like among vs all: + So passing fayre is his Face, + Whose hue doth stayne us all: + And as the shining sunny day + Doth eu'ry man delight, + So he alone doth beare the sway, + Amongs eche louing wight. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + Why should not then, the fayrest dame, + Apply her gentle minde, + And honor giue vnto his name, + Wyth humble heart and kinde? + Sith he is full of curtesie, + Indewd with noble grace, + And brest replete with honesty, + Well knowne in euery place. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + If I should loue, and serue him than, + May it be counted vice? + If I retayne that worthy man, + Shall I be deemde vnwise? + I will be gentle to him sure, + And render him myne ayde: + And loue that wight with heart full pure, + That neuer loue assayde. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + Thus the most sacred vnity, + That doth our hearts combine: + Is voyde of wicked flattery, + The same for to vntwine. + No hardned rigor is our guide, + Nor folly doth vs lead: + No Fortune can vs twayne deuide, + Vntill we both be deade. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + And thus assured certaynely, + That this our loue shall dure, + And with good lucke hope verely, + The same to put in vre + The sowen seedes of amity, + Begon betwixt vs twayne, + Shall in most perfect vnity, + For euermore remayne. + Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all, + Than she that doth hir louer's heart possesse in bondage thrall? + +Thys Song delighted the Myndes of many in that company, and +principally Dom Deigo, and Gineura, who felt themselues tickled +without laughing: And the mayden reioysed to heare hir selfe so +greatly praysed in so noble a company, and specially in the +presence of hir friende who had no lesse pleasure by hearing the +praises of his beloued, than if he had bin made Lord of all +Aragon. She for all hir dissembled Countenaunce could not hide +the alteration of hir Mynde, without sending forth a sodayne +chaunge of colour, that forced a fayre and goodly taynt in hir +Face. Dom Diego seeing that mutation, was so ioyful as was +possible, for thereby he knew and Iudged himselfe assured of the +good grace of hys Mistresse, and therefore wringing hir finely +by the hands, sayd vnto her very soberly Smiling: "What greater +pleasure my louinge Wench can there happen vnto your Seruaunt, +than to see the accomplishment of this Propheticall Song? +I assure you that in all my life I neuer heard musicke, that +delighted me so mutch as this, and thereby doe vnderstand the +good will of the Gentlewoman, which so curteously hath +discouered yours towards me, and the faythfull seruice whereof +you shall see me from henceforth so liberall, as neyther goods +nor life shalbe spared for your sake." Ginuera who loued him +with all hir heart, thanked him very humbly, and prayed him to +beleeue that the Song was truely soonge, and that without any +fayle, she that soonge, had thereby manyfested all the secrets +of hir mynde. The daunce ended, they sat theym downe rounde +about a cleare Fountayne, which by silent discourse, issued from +an high and moysty rock, enuironned with an infinite number of +Maple trees, Poplars, and Ashes. To which place a Page brought a +Lute to Dom Diego, whereupon hee could play very well, and made +it more pleasauntly to sound for that hee accorded hys Fayninge +Voyce to the Instrument, Singing this song that followeth. + + That I should loue and serue also, good reason doth require, + What though I suffre loathsome grief, my life in woe to wrap? + The same be th'only instruments of my good lucke and hap, + The foode and pray for hungry corps, of rest th'assured hire. + + By thought wherof (O heauy man) gush forth of teares great store + And by and by reioyst agayne, my driery teares do cease: + Which guerdon shall mine honor sure in that triumphant peace, + The summe wherof I offer now, were it of price mutch more. + + Which I do make withall my heart, vnto that blessed wight, + My proper Goddesse here on earth, and only mistresse deere: + My goods and life, my brething ghost within this carcase here, + I vow vnto that maiesty, that heauenly starre most bright. + + Now sith my willing vow is made, I humbly pray hir grace, + To end th'accord betwene vs pight, no longer time to tracte: + Whych if it be by sured band, so haply brought to passe, + I must my self thrice happy count, for that most heauenly fact. + +Thys Song made the company to muse, who commended the trim +inuention of the Knight, and aboue all Gineura praysed him more +than before, and could not so well refrayne hir lookes from him, +and he with counterchaunge rendring alike agayne, but that the +two wydowes their Mothers tooke great heede thereof, reioysing +greatly to see the same, desirous in time to couple them +togeather. For at that present they deferred the same, in +consideration they were both very young. Notwithstanding it had +bene better that the same Coniunction had ben made, before +Fortune had turned the Wheele of hir vnstablenes. And truely +delay and prolongation of time sometimes bryngeth sutch and so +great missehappe that one hundred times men cursse their +fortune, and little aduyse in foresight of their infortunate +chaunces that commonly do come to passe. As it chaunced to those +Wydowes, one of them thinking to loose hir son by the vaine +behauior of the other's daughter, who wythout the help of GOD, +or care vnto his wil, disparaged hir honor, and prepared a +poyson so daungerous for his Mother's age, as the foode thereof +hastened the way to the good Ladye's Graue. Now whiles this loue +in thys manner increased and that the desire of these two +Louers, flamed forth ordinarily in fire and flames more violent, +Dom Diego all chaunged and transformed into a new man, receiued +no delyght, but in the sight of his Gineura. And she thought +that there could be no greater Felicity or more to be wyshed +for, than to haue a Fryend so perfect, and so well accomplyshed +wyth all thyngs requisite for the ornament and full furniture of +a Gentleman. This was the occasion that the young Knyght let no +Weeke to passe without visiting his mystresse twice or thryce at +the least, and she did vnto hym the greatest curtesy and best +Entertaynment, that vertue could suffer a Mayden to doe, whych +was the diligent Treasurer and careful tutor of hir honor. And +this she dyd by consent of hir Mother. In lyk maner, honestie +doth not permyt chaste Maydens to vse long talk or immoderate +speach, with the fyrst that be suters vnto them, and mutch lesse +seemely it is for them to be ouer squeimysh Nice, wyth that man +whych seeketh (by way of marryage) to wynne power and tytle of +the Body, beyng in very deede, or ought to be the moiety of +theyr soule. Sutch was the desyres of these two Louers, which +notwithstanding was impeeched by meanes, as hereafter you shal +heare. For duryng the rebounding ioy of those faire couple of +Loyall Louers, it chaunced that the Daughter of a Nobleman of +the Countrey, named Ferrando de la Serre, whych was fayre, very +Comely, Wise, and of good behauiour, by keepynge daily Company +with Gineura, fell extreamely in loue with Dom Diego, and +assayed by all meanes to do him to vnderstand what the puissance +was of hir Loue which willingly shee meant to bestowe vpon him, +if it woold please hym to honor hir so mutch, as to loue hir +with like sincerity. But the knight which was no more his own +Man, beyng possessed of another, had with hys Lybertye lost his +Wyts and Mynd to marke the affectyon of this Gentlewoman, of +whom he made no accompt. The Maiden neuerthelesse ceased not to +loue him, and to proue all possible wayes to make him hir owne. +And knowing how mutch Dom Diego loued Hawking, she bought a +hauke the best in all the countrey, and sent the same to Dom +Diego, who wyth all his heart receiued the same, and +affectuously gaue hir thanks for that desired gyft, praying the +messanger to recommend him to the good grace of his mistresse, +and to assure hir self of his faythfull seruice, and that for +hir sake he would kepe the Hauke so tenderly as the Balles of +his eyes. Thys Hauke was the cause of the ill fortune that +afterwards chaunced to this poore Louer. For going many times to +see Gienura with the hauke on his fist and bearing with him the +tokens of the goodnesse of his Hauke, it escaped his mouth to +say, that the same was one of the things that in all the World +he loued best. Truely this Word was taken at the first bound +contrary to his meaning, wherewith the matter so fell out, as +afterwards by despayre he was like to lose his Lyfe. Certaine +dayes after, as in the absence of the knight, talk rose of his +vertue and honest conditions, one praysing his prowesse and +valyance, another his great Beauty and Curtesy, another passing +further, extolling the sincere affectyon and constancy which +appeared in him touching matters of Loue, one enuious person +named Gracian spake his mind of hym in this wyse: "I will not +deny but that Dom Diego is one of the most excellent most honest +and brauest knyghtes of Catheloigne, but in matters of Loue he +seemeth to me so walteryng and inconstant, as in euery place +where he commeth, by and by he falleth in loue, and maketh as +though he were sicke and would dy for the same." Gineura +maruelling at those words said vnto him: "I pray you my frend to +vse better talk of the Lord Dom Diego. For I do thynk the Loue +whych the Knight doth beare to a Gentlewoman of thys countrey, +is so firme and assured, as none other can remoue the same out +of the siege of hys mind?" "Lo howe you be deceiued Gentlewoman" +(quod Gracian) "for vnder coloure of dissymulate seruice, he and +sutch as he is doe abuse the simplicity of young Gentlewomen. +And to proue my sayinge true, I am assured that he is extremely +enamored wyth the Daughter of Dom Ferrando de la Serre, of whom +he receyued an Hauke, that he loueth aboue all other things." +Gineura remembrying the words which certayn dayes before Dom +Diego spake touching his hauke, began to suspect and beleue that +which Gracian alleaged, and not able to support the choler, +whych cold Iealosy bred in hir stomack, went into hir Chaumber +full of so greate gryefe and heauynesse as she was many tymes +lyke to kyll hir selfe. In the end, hopyng to be reuenged of the +wrong whych shee beleued to receyue of Dom Diego, determyned to +endure hir fortune paciently. In the meane tyme she conceyued in +hir Mynd a despyte and hatred so great and extreame agaynst the +poore Gentleman that thought lyttle hereof, as the former loue +was nothing in respecte of the reuenge by death which she then +desired vpon hym. Who the next day after his wonted maner came +to see hir, hauing (to hys great damage) the hauke on his fiste, +which was the onely cause of all her Iealosie. Nowe as the +knyght was in talke with the Mother, seeynge that his beloued +came not at al (accordyng to hir custome) to salute him and bid +him welcome, inquired how she dyd. One that loued hym more than +the rest, sayd vnto him: "Syr, so soone as she knewe of your +comming, immedyately she wythdrew hir self into hir Chaumber." +He that was wyse and well trayned vp dissembled what he thought, +imagining that it was for some lyttle fantasie, whereunto Women +wyllingly be subiecte. And therfore when he thought time to +depart he toke leaue of the wydow, and as he was goyng down the +staires of the great Chamber, he met one of the maides of +Gineura, whom he prayed to commend him to hir mistresse. Gineura +duryng al this time tooke no reste, deuising howe shee myghte +cutte of cleane hir loue entertained in Dom Diego, after she +knewe that hee carryed the hawke on his fyst: beyng the onely +instrument of her frensie. And therefore thynkyng hir selfe both +despysed and mocked of hir Knyght, and that he had done it in +despyte of hir, she entred into so great rage and Choler as she +was like to fall mad. She being then in this trouble of Mynde, +behold hir Gentlewoman came vnto hir, and dyd the knyght's +message. Who hearing but the symple name of hir supposed Ennimy, +began to sighe so straungely, as a Man would haue thought hir +soule presently would haue departed hir Body. Afterwards when +she had vanquished hir raging fit whych stayed hir speach, she +gan very tenderly to weepe, saying: "Ah traytor and vnfaithful +Louer, is thys the recompence of the honest, and firme Amity +whych I haue borne thee, so wyckedly to deceiue me vnder the +colour of so faint and detestable a Fryendship? Ah rashe and +arrant Theefe, is it I vppon whom thou oughtest to bend thy +wycked Trumperies? Doste thou thinke that I am no better worth +but that thou prodigally shouldest waste myne honor to bear the +spoyles thereof to hir, that is in nothing comparable vnto me? +Wherein haue I deserued thys discurtesy, if not by louyng thee +more than thy beauty and fained loue deserue? Diddest thou dare +to aduenture vppon me, hauyng thy conscyence wounded wyth sutch +an abhominable and deadly Treason? Durste thou to offer thy +Mouth to kysse my Hand, by the mouth of another, to whome thou +haddest before dedicated thy lying Lyppes in thine owne person? +I most humbly thancke Almighty God that it pleased him to let me +see the Poison by thee prepared for the ruine of my lyfe and +honor. Ha foole, hope not to take me in thy Trap, nor yet to +deceyue me through thy sugred and deceitfull Words. For I sweare +by the Almyghty God, that so long as I shall liue, I will +accompte thee none other, but the most cruell and mortall Ennimy +that I haue in this world." Then to accomplish the rest of hir +carefull Minde she wrote a Letter to giue hir farewell to hir +olde Friend Dom Diego. And for that purpose instructed hir Page +with this Lesson, that when the knyght should come, he should be +ready before hir lodging and say vnto him in the behalfe of hir, +that before he passed any further, hee shoulde reade the Letter, +and not to fayle to doe the Contents: the Page which was +malicious, and il affectioned to Dom Diego, knowyng the +appointed day of hys comming, wayted for hym a quarter of a mile +from the Castle, where he had not long taryed, but the innocent +louer came, agaynst whome the page went, bearyng about him more +hurtfull and noysome weapons than al the Theeues and robbers had +in all the Countrey of Catheloigne. In this manner presenting +his mystresse letters, he said vnto him: "My Lord, madame +Gineura my mistresse hath sent me vnto you: and bicause she +knoweth how feareful you be to dysplease hir, prayeth you not to +fayle to reade this Letter before you passe anye further, and +there wyth al to accomplysh the effecte thereof." The knyght +abashed wyth that sodayne message, aunswered the Page: "God +forbid my fryend," (quod he) "that I should disobey hir by anye +meanes, vnto whom I haue gyuen a full authority and puissaunce +over myne affectyons." So receyuing the letters, he kissed them +thre or four times, and openyng them, found that he loked not +for, and red that whych he thought not off. The contents were +these. + + +_The letters of faire Ginuera, to the Knight Dom Diego._ + +There shall passe no day of my Lyfe, from makyng complaynts of +the disloyall and periured Louer, who being more esteemed and +better beloued than thou dydst deserue, hast made so small +accompte of mee, whereof I wyll be reuenged vpon my selfe, +for that I so lyghtly beleued thy wordes so full of crafte and +guyle. I am in mynd that thou henceforth shalt flye to buzze and +beat the Bushes, where thou suspectest to catch the pray: for +heere thou art lyke to be deceiued. Goe varlet, (goe I say,) to +deceyue hir whych holdeth thee in hir nets and snares, and whose +Presentes (althoughe of small Value) moued thee more than the +Honeste, Vertuous and Chaste Loue, that Vertue hir selfe began +to knytte betweene vs. And sith a Carrion Kyte hath made the fly +further off, than the Wynde of the Ayre was able to bear thee, +God desende that Gineura should goe aboute to hynder thy +follyes, and mutch lesse to suffer hir selfe to bee beguyled +throughe thine Excuses. Nay rather God defend (except thou +desirest to se me dy) that thou shouldest euer bee in place +where I am, assuryng thee of thys my mynde, neuer to be chaunged +so long as my soule shall rest wythin my body: which giuing +breath vnto my panting breast, shal neuer be other, but a +mortall enimy to Dom Diego: and sutch one as euen to the Death +wyl not fayle to prosecute the default of the most traiterous +and vnfaythfull Knyght that euer was gyrte in girdle, or armed +with Sword. And behold the last fauour that thou canst, or +oughtest to hope of me, who lyueth not but onelye to martir and +crucify thee, and neuer shal be{ }other but + + The greatest Enimy, that euer thou haddest, or + shalt haue, Gineura the fayre. + +The myserable louer had no sooner red the Letter, but lifting vp +his eyes to the heauens, he sayd: "Alas, my God thou knowest +well if euer I haue offended, that I ought to be banyshed from +the place, where my contentation is chyefly fixed, and from +whence my heart{ }shall neuer departe, chaunce what myssehappe +and Fortune so euer shall." Then tournyng himself towards the +Page, hee sayd: "Sir Page my fryend, say vnto my Ladye, most +humblye commending me vnto hir, that for this present time I +wyll not see hir, but hereafter she shall heare some newes from +me." The page well lessoned for the purpose, made hym aunswere, +saying: "Sir, she hath wylled me to say thus mutch by mouth, +that ye cannot do hir greater pleasure, than neuer to come in +place where shee is: for so mutch as the Daughter of Dom +Ferrando de la Serre hath so catched you in hir nettes, that +loth she is your faithfull heart shoulde hange in ballance, and +expect the vncertaine Loue of two Ladyes at once." Dom Diego +hearing the truth of hys missehap, and the occasion of the same, +made Lyghte of the matter for that tyme, till at length the +Choler of his Mistresse were abated, that thereby shee might +know vpon how bryttle Ground she hadde planted a suspition of +hir most faythfull and louing Seruaunt, and so retiring to his +House, altogither vexed and yll contented, he wente into hys +Chaumber where with his Dagger he paunched the gorge of the +poore birde, the cause of hys Ladies Anger, saying: "Ha vyle +carraine kite, I sweare by the bloud of him, that thou shalt +neuer be the cause agayne, to make hir fret for sutch a triflyng +thing as thou art: I beleue that what so euer fury is hidden +within the Body of this curssed Kite, to engender a Plague, +the same now is seased on me, but I hope to doe my Mystresse +vnderstande what Sacrifice I haue made of the thyng that was +sent me, ready to do the lyke vppon mine owne flesh, where it +shall please her to commaund." So taking Inke and Paper, he made +aunswere to Gineura as foloweth. + + +_The Letters of Dom Diego, to Gineura the faire._ + +But who would euer thynck (my Lady deare) that a Lyght Opinion +could so soone haue deuided your good iudgement, to condempn +your Knight before you had heard what he was able to say, for +himself? truely I thought no more to offend you, than the man +which you neuer knew, although you haue bene deceiued by colored +words, vttered by those that be enuious of my happe, and Enimies +of your ioy, who haue filled your minde full of false report. +I swere vnto you (by God, my good Lady) that neuer thinge entred +into my fantasie more, than a desire to serue you alone and to +auoide the acquaintance of all other, to preserue for you a pure +and entire heart. Whereof longe agone I made you an offer. In +wytnesse whereof I humbly beseech you to beleue, that so soone +as you see this Birde (the cause of your anger and occasion of +my mishap) torne and pluckte in pieces, that my heart feeleth no +lesse alteration or torment: for so long as I shall vnderstand +your displeasure to endure against mee, assure your selfe my +Life shall abide in no lesse paine than my ioye was great when I +franckly possessed your presence. Be it sufficient (Madame) for +you to know, that I neuer thought to offend you. Be contented I +beseech you, with this sacrifice which I send you, if not that I +doe the like vpon myne owne body, which without your good will +and grace can no longer liue. For my lyfe depending vppon that +only benefit, you ought not to be astonned if the same fayling +his nourishment doth pearish, as frustrate of that foode, +propre, and apt for his Appetite: and by like meanes my sayd +life shall reuiue, if it may please you to spread your beames +ouer mine obscure and base personage, and to receiue thys +satisfaction for a fault not committed. And so wayting a gentle +aunswere from your great curtesie, I humbly kisse your white and +delicate handes, with all humility, praying God sweete Lady, +to let you see how mutch I suffer without desert, and what +puissaunce you haue ouer him that is all your + + Faythfull and euer servaunt + most obedient, Dom Diego. + +The letter closed, and sealed, he deliuered to one of his +faythfull and secret Seruaunts, to beare (with the deade Hauke) +vnto Gineura, charging him diligently to take heede to hir +countenaunce, and aboue all, that faithfully he should beare +away what she dyd say vnto him for aunswere. His man fayled not +to speede himselfe with diligence: and being come before +Gineura, he presented that which his maister had sent hir. She +full of wrath and indignation, would not once vouchsafe to reade +the letter, and mutch lesse to accept the present which was a +witnesse of the contrary of that shee did beleue, and turninge +vnto the messenger, she sayde: "My Frende, thou mayest goe get +thee backe agayne, wyth the selfe same charge which thou hast +brought, and say vnto thy mayster, that I haue nothing to doe +with his Letters, his Excuses, or any other thing that commeth +from his handes, as one hauing good experience of his sleyghts +and deceipts. Tell him also, that I prayse God, in good time I +haue taken heede to the little fayth and trust that is in him +for a countergarde, lightly neuer hereafter to bee deceiued." +The seruyng man would fayne haue framed an Oration to purge his +maister, but the fierce Gentlewoman brake of his talke, saying +vnto hym, that she was wel resolued vpon hir intent, whych was +that Dom Diego should neuer recouer place in hir minde: and that +shee hated hym as mutch at that time as euer shee loued him +before. Vppon whych aunswere the Messanger returned, so +sorrowfull for the Misfortune of his Mayster (knowing hym to bee +very innocent) as he knew full well into what despayre his +Mayster would fall, when he vnderstode those pitifull and heavy +newes: notwithstanding needes he must knowe them, and therefore +when he was come before Dom Diego, he recyted vnto hym from +poynt to poynt his ambassage, and deliuered hym agayne his +Letters. Whereof the infortunate Gentleman was so sore astonned, +as he was like to haue fallen downe dead at that instant. +"Alas," (sayd he) "what yll lucke is this, that when I thought +to enioye the benefite of my attempte, Fortune hath reuolted to +bryng me to the extremity of the moste desparate man that ever +lyued? Is it possible that my good seruice should bee the cause +of my approached ouerthrow? Alas, what may true and faithfull +louers henceforth hope for, if not the losse of theyr tyme, when +after long deuoire and duetye, an Enuious fool shall come to +depryue them of theyr ioy and gladnesse, and they feelyng the +bytternesse of theyr abandoned farewell, one that loueth lesse +shall beare away the sweete fruicte of sutch hope, and shall +possesse withoute deserte the glory due to a good and faythfull +suter. Ah fayre Gineura, that thou seest not the griefe whych I +do feele, and the affection wherewith I serue thee, and how +mutch I would suffer to gayne and recouer thy good grace and +fauor. Ha vayne hope, which vntill now hast fylled me, with +mirth and gladnesse, altogether spent and ouerwhelmed in the +gaulle of thy bytter sauour, and in the tast of thy corrupted +lycour: better it had ben for me at the begining to haue refused +thee, than afterwards receiued, cherished, and sincerely +beloued, to be banished for so light occasion, as I am ful sore +ashamed to conceyue the same within remembrance: but fortune +shal not haue hir wil ouer me: for so long as I shall liue I +wyll contynue the seruaunt of Gineura, and my lyfe I wyll +preserue, to lette her vnderstand the force of Loue: by +continuaunce whereof, I wyll not sticke to sette my selfe on +fyre with the liuely flames of my passions, and then withdrawe +the fyrebrandes of my ioy, by the rigour and frowardnesse that +shall proceede from hir." When he had fynished his talke, he +began to sigh and lament so strangely, as his man was about to +go cal the lady his mother. In whom dyd appeare sutch signes, as +if death had ben at hand, or els that he had ben attached wyth +the Spirite of phrensie. But when hee sawe hym aboute to come +agayne to himselfe, he sayed thus vnto him: "How now, syr, wyl +you cast your selfe away for the foolyshe toy of an vndiscrete +girle, yll mannered and taught, and who perchaunce doth al this +to proue how constant you would be? No, no sir, you must turne +ouer an other Leafe, and sith you bee determyned to loue hir, +you must perseuere in your pursute. For at length it is +impossible, but that this Diamont hardnesse, must needes bee +mollified, if she be not a Diuell incarnate, more furious than +the wildest beasts, whych haunt the deserts of Lybia." Dom Diego +was comforted with that admonition, and purposed to persist in +hys affection, and therefore sent many messages, giftes, +letters, and excuses to hys angry mistresse Gineura. But she +made yet lesse accompt of them than of the first, charging the +messangers not to trouble themselues about those trifles, for +shee had rather dye than see hym, or to receyue any thyng from +him, whom she deadly hated. When newes hereof came to the +knyght, he was altogether impacient, and seeing the small +profite which he did gaine by pursuing his folysh opinion, and +not able to bestow his loue elsewhere, he determined to die: +and yet vnwilling to imbrue his hands with his owne bloud, he +purposed to wander as a vacabond into some deserte, to perfourme +the course of his vnhappye and sorrowfull dayes, hoping by that +meanes to quench the heat of that amorous rage, either by length +of tyme, or by death, the last refuge of the myserable. For +which purpose then, he caused to be made two pylgrims wedes, +the one for himselfe, and the other for his man, and prepared al +their necessaries for his voiage. Then writing a Letter to his +Gineura, he called one of his men, to whom he said: "I am going +about certayne of myne affayres, whereof I will haue no man to +knowe, and therefore when I am gone, thou shalt tell my Lady +Mother what I say to thee, and that within twenty dayes (God +willing) I meane to retourne: moreouer I require thee, that +foure dayes after my departure, and not before, thou beare +theese letters to mistresse Gineura, and if so be she refuse to +receyue them, fayle not to deliuer them vnto hir mother. Take +heede therefore if thou loue me, to do all that which I haue +geuen thee in charge." Afterwards he called his seruaunt vnto +hym, which had done the first message vnto Gineura, which was a +wise, and gentle fellow, in whom the knight reposed great +affiaunce, to him he declared all his enterprise, and th'ende +whereunto his fierce determination did extend. The good Seruaunt +whych loued his mayster, hearing his intent so vnreasonable, +sayde vnto him: "Is it not enough for you sir, to yelde your +selfe a pray to the most fierce, and cruell woman that lyueth, +but thus to augment hir glory, by seeing hir selfe so victorious +over you? Are you ignoraunt what the mallice of Women is, and +how mutch they triumph in tormenting the poore blynded soules +that become their Seruaunts, and what prayse they attribute vnto +themselues, if by some misfortune they driue them to dispaire? +Was it without cause that the Sage in times past did so greatly +hate that Sexe, and Kinde, as the common Ruine, and ouerthrow of +men? What mooued the Greeke Poet to sing theese verses against +all sorts of Women? + + A common woe though silly woman be to man, + Yet double ioy againe she doth vnto him bring: + The wedding night is one, as wedded folk tell can, + The other when the knill for hir poore soule doth ring. + +If not for that he knew the happinesse of man consisted more in +auoyding the acquaintaunce of that fury, than by imbracinge, and +chearishing of the same, sith hir nature is altogether like vnto +Æsop's Serpent, which being deliuered from pearill and daunger +of death by the shepeheard, for recompence thereof, infected his +whole house with his venomous hissing, and rammish Breath. +O howe happy is hee that can mayster his owne affections, and +like a free man from that passion, can reioyce in liberty, +fleeing the sweete euill which (as I well perceyue) is the cause +of your despayre. But sir, your wisedome ought to vanquish those +light conceipts, by setting so light of that your rebellious +Gentlewoman, as shee is vnworthy to be fauoured by so great a +Lord as you be, who deserueth a better personage than hir's is, +and a frendlier entertainment than a farewell so fondly giuen." +Dom Diego, although that he tooke pleasure to heare those +discourses of his faythfull seruaunt, yet he shewed so sower a +Countenaunce vnto him, as the other with theese fewe wordes +helde his peace: "Sith then it is so syr, that you be resolued +in your mishap, it may please you to accept mee to wayte vpon +you, whither you are determined to goe: for I meane not to liue +at mine ease, and suffer my mayster, in payne, and griefe. +I will be partaker of that which Fortune shall prepare, vntill +the heauens doe mitigate their rage vpon you, and your +predestinate mishap." Dom Diego, who desired no better company, +imbraced him very louingly, thankinge him for the good will that +hee bare him, and sayd: "This present Night about midnight, we +wil take our Iourney, euen that way wheather our Lot and also +Fortune shall Guide vs, attendinge eyther the ende of my +Passion, or the whole ouerthrow of my selfe." Their intent they +did put in proofe: for at Midnight the Moone being cleere when +all thinges were at rest, and the Crickets chirpinge through the +Creauises of the Earth, they tooke their way vnseene of any. And +so soone as Aurora began to garnish hir Mantle with colors of +red and white, and the morning Starre of the Goddesse of +stealing loue, appeared, Dom Diego began to sigh, saying: "Ah +yee freshe and dewy Morninges, that my hap is farre from the +quiet of others, who after they haue rested vpon the Cogitation +of their Ease, and ioye, doe awake by the pleasaunte Tunes of +the Byrdes, to perfourme by effect that which the Shadowe and +Fantasie of their Minde, did present by dreaming in the Night, +where I am constrayned to separate by great distaunce exceeding +vehement continuation of my Torments, to followe wilde Beasts, +wandring from thence where the greatest number of men doe +quietly sleepe and take their rest. Ah Venus, whose Starre now +conducteth me, and whose beames long agoe did glow and kindle my +louing heart, how chaunceth it that I am not intreated according +to the desert of my constant minde and meaning most sincere? +Alas, I looke not to expect any thyng certayne from thee, sith +thou hast thy course amongs the wandring starres. Must the +Influence of one Starre that ruleth ouer mee, deface that which +the Heauens would to bee accomplished, and that my cruel +mistresse, deluding my languors and griefs, triumpheth ouer mine +infirmity, and ouerwhelmeth me with care and sorow, that I liue +pyning away, amongs the sauage beasts in the Wildernesse? For +somutch as without the grace of my Lady, all company shalbe so +tedious and lothsom vnto me, that the only thought of a true +reconciliation with hir, that hath my heart, shal serue for the +comfort and true remedy of all my troubles." Whiles he had with +these pangs forgotten himselfe, hee sawe that the day began to +waxe cleere, the Sun already spreading his golden beames vpon +the earth and therefore hastely he set himself forthwards, vsing +Bywayes, and far from common vsed trades, so neere as he could, +that hee might not by any meanes be knowne. Thus they rode forth +till Noone: but seeing their horsse to be weary and faynt, they +lighted at a village, farre from the high way: where they +refreshed themselues, and bayted their horsse vntill it was +late. In this sort by the space of three daies they trauersed +the Countrey vntill they arriued to the foote of a mountayne, +not frequented almost but by Wilde and sauage Beasts. The +countrey round about was very fayre, pleasaunt, and fit for the +solitarines of the Knight: for if shadow pleased him, hee might +be delighted with the couert of an infinite number of fruictfull +trees, wherewith only nature had furnished those hideous and +Sauage Desertes. Next to the high and wel timbred Forrests, +there were groues and bushes for exercise of hunting. A man +could desire no kinde of Veneson, but it was to be had in that +Wildernesse: there might be seene also a certain sharpe and rude +situation of craggy, and vnfruictful rocks, which +notwithstanding yelded some pleasure to the Eyes, to see theym +tapissed with a pale moasie greene, which disposed into a +frizeled guise, made the place pleasaunt and the rock soft, +according to the fashion of a couerture. There was also a very +fayre and wide Caue, which liked him well compassed round about +with Firre trees, Pine apples, Cipres, and Trees distilling a +certayne Rosen or Gumme, towards the bottom whereof, in the way +downe to the valley, a man might haue viewed a passing company +of Ewe trees, Poplers of all sortes, and Maple trees, the Leaues +whereof fell into a Lake or Pond, which came by certayne smal +gutters into a fresh and very cleare fountayne right agaynst +that Caue. The knight viewing the auncienty and excellency of +the place, deliberated by and by to plant there the siege of his +abode, for performing of his penaunce and life. And therefore +sayd unto his seruaunt: "My friend, I am aduised that this place +shall be the Monastery, for the voluntary profession of our +religion, and where we will accomplish the Voyage of our +Deuotion. Thou seest both the beauty and solitarinesse, which do +rather commaund vs here to rest, than any other place nere at +hand." The Seruaunt yelded to the pleasure of his mayster, and +so lightinge from their horsse, they disfurnished them of their +Saddles, and Bridles, gieuing to them the liberty of the fields, +of whom afterwards they neuer heard more newes. The saddles they +placed within the Caue and leauing their ordinary apparell, +clothed themselues in Pilgrimes weedes, fortifying the mouth of +the caue, that wilde beasts should not hurt them when they were +a sleepe. There the seruaunt began to play the Vpholster, and to +make 2 little beds of mosse, whose spindle and wheele were of +wood, so well pollished and trimmed, as if he had bin a +carpenter wel expert in that Science. They liued of nothing els, +but of the fruicts of those wilde trees, sometimes of herbs, +vntill they had deuised to make a crosbow of wood, wherewith +they killed now and then a Hare, a Cony, a Kid, and many times +some stronger beast remayned with them for gage: whose bloude +they pressed out betwene two pieces of wood and rosted them +against the Sunne, seruing the same in, as if it had bene a +right good Dishe for their first course of their sober and +vndelicate Table, whereat the pure water of the fountayne, next +vnto their hollow and deepe house, serued in steade of the good +Wynes, and delicious Drinks that abounded in the house of Dom +Diego. Who liuing in this poore state, ceased night nor day to +complayne of his hard fortune and curssed plight, going many +times through the Desertes all alone, the better to muse and +study thereupon, or (peraduenture) desirous that some hungry +Beare should descend from the mountayne, to finishe his life and +paynefull griefes. But the good Seruaunt knowing his Mayster's +sorow and mishap, would neuer go out of his sight but rather +exhorted him to retourne home againe to his goods and +possessions, and to forget that order of lyfe, vnworthy for +sutch a personage as he was, and vncomely for him that ought to +be indued with reason and iudgement. But the desperate Gentleman +wilfull in his former deliberation, would not heare him speake +of sutch retrayt. So that if it escaped the seruaunt to be +earnest and sharpe agaynst the rudenesse and sottish cruelty of +Gineura, it was a pastime to see Dom Diego mount in choller +against him, saying: "Art thou so hardy to speak il of the +gentlewoman, which is the most vertuous personage vnder the +coape of heauen? Thou maist thancke the loue I beare thee, +otherwise I would make thee feele how mutch the slaunder of hir +toucheth mee at the heart, which hath right to punishe me thus +for mine indiscretion, and that it is I that commit the wronge +in complayning of hir seuerity." "Now sir," sayd the seruaunt, +"I do indeede perceyue what maner of thing the contagion of loue +is. For they which once doe feele the corruption of that Ayre, +think nothing good or sauory, but the filthy smel of that +pestiferous meat. Wherefore I humbly beseech you a little to set +apart, and remoue from minde, that feare and presumptuous dame +Gineura, and by forgetting hir beauty, to measure hir Desert and +your griefe, you shall know then (being guided by reason's lore) +that you are the simplest and weakest man in the worlde, to +torment your selfe in this wise, and that shee is the fondest +Girle, wholly straught of wits, so to abuse a Noble man that +meriteth the good grace and sweete embracement of one more +fayre, wise and modest, than she sheweth hirselfe to be." The +knight hearing these words thought to abandon pacience, but yet +replied vnto him: "I sweare vnto thee by God, that if euer thou +haue any sutch talke agayne, eyther I will dye, or thou shalt +depart out of my company, for I cannot abide by any meanes to +suffer one to despise hir whom I do loue and honor, and shal so +do during life." The seruaunt loth to offend his mayster held +his peace, heauy for all that in heart, to remember how the +poore gentleman was resolued to finish there, (in a desert +unknowen to his Freendes) all the remnaunt of his life. And who +aswell for the euill order, and not accustome nourture, as for +assiduall playnts and weepings, was become so pale and leane, +as he better resembled a dry Chip, than a man, hauing feeling or +lyfe. His eyes were sonke into his Head, his Beard vnkempt, his +hayre staring, his skin ful of filth, altogether more like a +wilde and Sauage creature (sutch one as is depainted in brutal +forme) than faire Dom Diego, so mutch commended, and esteemed +throughout the kingdome of Spayne. Now leaue we this Amorous +Hermit to passionate and playne his misfortune, to see to what +ende the Letters came that he wrote to his cruel Mistresse. The +day prefixed for deliuery of his Letters, his seruaunt did his +charge, and being come to the house of Gineura, founde hir in +the hall with hir mother, where kissing his Mayster's Letters, +hee presented them with very great reuerence to the Gentlewoman. +Who so soone as shee knew that they came from Dom Diego, all +chaunged into raging colour, and foolishe choller, threwe theym +incontinently vppon the grounde, sayinge: "Sufficeth it not thy +Mayster, that already twice I haue done him to vnderstand, that +I haue nothing to doe with his Letters nor Ambassades, and yet +goeth he about by sutch assaultes to encrease my displeasure and +agony, by the only remembraunce of his folly?" The Mother seeing +that vnciuile order, although shee vnderstoode the cause, and +knowinge that there was some discorde betweene the two Louers, +yet thought it to bee but light, sithe the Comike Poet sayeth: + + The Louers often falling out, + And prety warling rage: + Of pleasaunt loue it is no doubt, + The sure renewing gage. + +She went vnto hir Daughter, and sayd vnto hir: "What great rage +is this: let me see that Letter that I may reade it: for I haue +no feare that Dom Diego can deceyue me with the sweetenes of his +honny words. And truly Daughter you neede not fear to touch +theym, for if there were any Poyson in theym, it proceeded from +your beauty that hath bitten and stong the knight, whereof if he +assay to make you a partaker, I see no cause why he ought to be +thus rigorously reiected, deseruing by his honesty a better +entertaynement at your hands." In the meane time one of the +seruing men toke vp the Letters, and gaue them to the Lady, +who reading them, found written as followeth. + + + _The letters of Dom Diego, to mistresse Gineura._ + +My dearest and most wel beloued Lady, sith that mine innocency +can finde no resting place within your tender Corpse, what +honest excuse or true reason so euer I do alledge, and sith your +heart declareth itself to be Implacable, and not pleased with +hym that neuer offended you, except it were for ouermutch loue, +which for guerdon of the rare and incomparable amity, I perceyue +my selfe to be hated deadly of you and in sutch wise contemned, +as the only record of my name causeth in you an insupportable +griefe and displeasure vnspeakeable. To auoide I say your +indignation, and by my mishap to render vnto you some ease and +contentment, I haue meant to dislodge my self so far from this +Countrey, as neyther you nor any other, shal euer heare by fame +or true report, the place of my abode, nor the graue wherein my +bones shall rest. And although it be an inexplicable heart's +sorrow and torment, which by way of pen can not be declared, to +be thus misprised of you, whom alone I do loue and shal, so long +as mine afflicted soule shall hang vpon the feeble and brittle +threede of life: yet for all that, this griefe falling vpon me, +is not irkesome, as the punishment is grieuous, by imagining the +passion of your minde when it is disquieted with disdayne and +wrath agaynst me, who liueth not, but to wander vpon the +thoughts of your perfections. And forsomutch as I doe feele for +the debility that is in me, that I am not able any longer to +beare the sowre shockes of my bitter torments and martyrdome +that I presently doe suffer, yet before my life doe fayle, and +death doe sease vpon my senses, I haue written vnto you this +present letter for a testimoniall of your rigour, which is the +marke that iustifieth my vnguiltynesse. And although I doe +complayne of mine vnhappy fortune, yet I meane not to accuse +you, onely contented that eche man doe know, that firme +affection and eternall thraldome do deserue other recompence +than a farewell so cruell. And I am wel assured, that when I am +deade, you will pitty my torment, knowing then, although to +late, that my loyalty was so sincere, as the report of those was +false, that made you beleeue, that I was very far in loue with +the Daughter of Dom Ferrande de la Serre. Alas, shall a Noble +gentleman that hath bene well trayned vp, be forbidden to +receiue the gifts that come from a vertuous Gentlewoman? Ought +you to be so incapable and voyde of humanity, that the sacrifice +which I haue made of the poore Birde, the cause of your +disdayne, my repentaunce, my lawfull excuses, are not able to +let you see the contrary of your persuasion? Ah, ah, I see that +the dark and obscure vayle of uniust disdayne and immoderate +anger, hath so blindfold your eyes, and inuegled your mynde, as +you can not iudge the truth of my cause and the vnrightousnes of +your quarell. I will render vnto you none other certificate of +myne innocency, but my languishinge heart, which you clepe +betweene your hands, feling sutch rude intertaynment there, of +whom he loaked for reioyse of his trauayles. But forsomutch then +as you do hate me, what resteth for me to do, but to procure +destruction to my self? And sith your pleasure consisteth in +mine ouerthrow, reason willeth that I obey you, and by deth to +sacrifice my life in like maner as by life you were the only +mistresse of my heart. One only thing cheereth vp my heart +agayne, and maketh my death more myserable, which is, that in +dying so innocent as I am, you shall remayne guilty, and the +onely cause of my ruine. My Lyfe will depart like a Puffe, and +Soule shall vanish like a sweete Sommer's blast: whereby you +shall be euer deemed for a cruell Woman and bloudy Murderer of +your deuout and faythfull Seruaunt. I pray to God mine owne +sweete Lady, to giue you sutch Contentation, Ioye, Pleasure, and +Gladnesse, as you do cause through your Rigor, Discontentment, +Griefe, and Displeasure to the poore languishing Creature, and +who for euermore shall bee + + Your most obedient and affected + seruaunt Dom Diego. + +The good Lady hauing red the Letter, was so astonned, as hir +words for a long space staied within hir mouth; hir heart +panted, and spirite was full of confusion, hir minde was filled +with sorrow to consider the anguishes of the poore vagabound, +and foster Hermit. In the ende before the houshold dissembling +hir passion which mooued hir sense, she tooke her Daughter a +side, whom very sharply she rebuked, for that she was the cause +of the losse of so notable and perfect a Knight as Dom Diego +was. Then she red the Letter vnto hir, and as all hir eloquence +was not able to moue that cruel damsell, more venemous than a +Serpent agaynst the knight, who (as she thought) had not indured +the one halfe of that which his inconstancy and lightnesse had +wel deserued, whose obstinate minde the mother perceyuinge, +sayde vnto hir: "I pray to God (deare daughter) that for your +frowardnesse, you bee not blinded in your beauty, and for +refusall of so great a benefit as is the alliaunce of Dom Diego, +you be not abused with sutch a one as shall dimme the light of +your renoume and glory, which hitherto you haue gayned amongs +the sobrest and modest maydens." Hauing sayd so, the wyse and +sage widow, went to the seruaunt of Dom Diego, of whom she +demaunded what day his mayster departed, which she knowing, +and not ignoraunt of the occasion, was more wroth than before: +notwithstanding she dissembled what she thought, and sending +backe his seruant, she required him to do hir hearty +commendations to the Lady his mistresse, which he did. The good +Lady was ioyfull of them not knowing the contents of her sonne's +letters, but looked rather that he had sent word vnto his lady +of the iust hour of his returne. Howbeit when she saw that in +the space of 20 dayes, nor yet within a moneth he came not, shee +could not tell what to thinke, so dolorous was she for the +absence of hir sonne. The time passinge without hearing any +newes from him she began to torment hirselfe, and be so pensiue, +as if she had heard certayne newes of his death. "Alas," (quod +she) "and wherefore haue the heauens giuen me the possession of +sutch an exquisite fruict, to depriue mee thereof before I do +partake the goodnesse, and swetenes therof, and before I do +enioy the grifts proceding from so goodly a stock. Ah God, +I fear that my immoderate loue is the occasion of the losse of +my sonne, and the whole ruine of the mother, with the demolition +and wast of al our goods. And I would that it had pleased God +(my Son) the hunter's game had neuer bene so deere, for thinking +to catch that pray thou thy selfe wast taken and thou wandring +for thy better disport, missing the right way, so strangely +didst straggle, that hard it is to reduce thee into the right +track agayne. At least wise if I knew the place, whereunto thou +arte repaired to finde againe thy losse, I would trauell thither +to beare the company, rather than to lyue heere voyde of a +Husbande, betrayed by them whom I best trusted and bereft from +the presence of the my Sonne, the Staffe and onely comfort of +myne olde age, and the certayne hope of all our House and +Family." Now if the Mother vexed hir selfe, the Sonne was eased +with no great reioyce, being now a free cittizen with the +Beasts, and Foules of the Forrests, Dennes, and Caues, leauing +not the Profundity of the Woods, the Craggednes of the Rocks, or +beauty of the Valley, without some signe or token of his griefe. +Sometime with a Puncheon wel sharpned, seruing him in steede of +a Penknife, he graued the successe of his loue vpon an hard +stone. Other times the softe Bark of some tender and new growen +spray serued him in steede of Paper, or Parchment. For there he +carued in Cyphres properly combined with a Knot (not easily to +be knowne) the name of his Lady, interlaced so properly with his +owne, that the finest heads might bee deceyued, to Disciphre the +righte interpretation. Vpon a day then, as he passed his time +(accordinge to his custome) to muse vpon Myssehaps, and to frame +his successe of loue in the Ayre, hee Ingraued these Verses vpon +a Stone by a Fountayne side, adioyning to his rude and Sauage +house. + + If any Forrest Pan, doth haunt here in this place, + Or wandring Nymphe, hath hard my wofull playnt: + The one may well beholde, and view what drop of grace, + I haue deseru'de, and eke what griefes my heart do taynt, + The other lend to me some broke, or showre of rayne + To moyst myne heart and eyes, the gutters of my brayne. + +Somewhat further of many times at the rising of the Sunne, +he mounted the Top of an high and greene Mountayne to solace +himselfe vpon the freshe and greene grasse, where four Pillers +were erected, (eyther naturally done by dame Nature, or wrought +by the industry of man,) which bore a stone in forme four +square, well hewed, made and trimmed in maner of an Aulter, vpon +which Aulter he dedicated these verses to the Posterity. + + Vpon this holy squared stone, which Aulter men doe call, + To some one of the Gods aboue that consecrated is, + This dolefull verse I do ingraue, in token of my thrall, + And deadly griefes that do my silly heart oppresse, + And vex with endelesse paynes, which neuer quiet is, + This wofull verse (I say) as surest gage of my distresse, + I fixe on Aulter stone for euer to remayne, + To shew the heart of truest wight, that euer liued in payne. + +And vpon the brims of that Table, he carued these Wordes: + + This Mason worke erected here, shall not so long abide, + As shall the common name of two, that now vncoupled bee, + Who after froward fortune past, knit eche in one degree, + Shall render for right earnest loue, reward on either side. + +And before his Lodging in that wilde and stony Forrest vpon the +Barke of a lofty Beeche Tree, feeling in himselfe an +unaccustomed lustinesse, thus he wrote: + + Th'encreasing beauty of thy shape, extending far thy name, + By like increase I hope to see, so stretched forth my fame. + +His man seeing him to begin to be merily disposed, one day said +vnto him: "And wherefore sir serueth the Lute, which I brought +amongs our Males, if you do not assay thereby to recreate youre +selfe, and sing thereupon the prayses of hir whom you loue so +wel: yea and if I may so say, by worshipping hir, you do commit +idolatry in your minde. Is it not your pleasure that I fetche +the same vnto you, that by immitation of Orpheus, you may mooue +the Trees, Rocks, and wylde Beastes to bewayle your misfortune, +and witnesse the penaunce that you doe for hir sake, without +cause of so haynous punishment:" "I see well," (quod the knight) +"that thou wouldest I should be mery, but mirth is so far from +me, as I am estraunged from hir that holdeth me in this misery. +Notwithstanding I will performe thy request, and will awake that +instrument in this desert place, wherewith sometime I witnessed +the greatest part of my passions." Then the knight receyuing the +Lute sounded thereupon this song ensuing. + + The waues and troubled scum, that mooues the Seas alofte, + Which runs and roares against the rocks, and threatneth daungers oft + Resembleth lo the fits of loue, + That dayly do my fansie moue. + + My heart it is the ship, that driues on salt Sea fome, + And reason sayles with senselesse wit, and neuer loketh home, + For loue is guide, and leades the daunce, + That brings good hap, or breedes mischaunce. + + The furious flames of loue, that neuer ceaseth sure, + Are loe the busie sailes and oares, that would my rest procure, + And as in Skies, great windes do blo, + My swift desires runnes, fleeting so. + + As sweete Zephyrus breath, in spring time feedes the floures, + My mistresse voice would ioye my wits, by hir most heauenly powers, + And would exchaunge my state I say, + As Sommer chaungeth Winter's day. + + She is the Artique starre, the gratious Goddesse to, + She hath the might to make and marre, to helpe or els vndo, + Both death and life she hath at call, + My warre, my peace, my ruine and all. + + She makes me liue in woe, and guides my sighs and lookes, + She holds my fredome by a lace, as fish is held with hookes, + Thus by despayre in this conceite, + I swallow vp both hooke and baite. + + And in the deserts loe I liue, among the sauage kinde, + And spend my time in wofull sighs, rays'd vp by care of minde, + All hopelesse to in paynes I pyne, + And ioyes for euer doe resigne. + + I dread but Charon's boat if she no mercy giue, + In darknesse then my soule shall dwell, in Pluto's raygne to liue, + But I beleue she hath no care, + On him that caught is in hir snare. + + If she release my woe, a thousand thankes therefore, + I shall hir giue, and make the world to honor hir the more, + The Gods in Skies will prayse the same, + And recorde beare of hir good name. + + O happy is that life, that after torment straunge, + And earthly sorows on this mould, for better life shal chaunge + And liue amongs the Gods on high, + Where loue and Louers neuer die. + + O lyfe that here I leade, I freely giue thee now, + Vnto the fayre where ere she rests, and loke thou shew hir how + I linger forth my yeares and dayes, + To win of hir a crowne of prayse. + + And thou my pleasaunt Lute, cease not my songs to sound, + And shew the torments of my minde, that I through loue haue found, + And alwayes tell my Mistresse still, + Hir worthy vertues rules my will. + + The Foster Louer. + +The Foster louer singing this song, sighing sundry tymes +betwene, the tricling teares ranne downe his Face: which thereby +was so disfigured, as scarse could any man haue knowne him, that +al the dayes of their lyfe had frequented his company. Sutch was +the state of this myserable yong gentleman, who dronke with hys +owne Wyne, balanced himselfe downe to despayre rather than to +the hope of that which he durst not looke for. Howbeit like as +the mischiefs of men be not alwayes durable, and that all +thinges haue their proper season, euen so Fortune repentinge hir +euill intreaty which wrongfully shee had caused this poore +penetenciary of Gineura to endure, prepared a meanes to +readuaunce him aloft vppon hir Wheele, euen when he thought +least of it. And certes, herein appeared the mercy of God, who +causeth things difficult and almost impossible, to be so easy, +as those that ordinarily be brought to passe. How may this +example show how they which be plunged in the bottome of +defiaunce, deeming their life vtterly forlorne, be soone exalted +euen to the top of all glory, and felicity? Hath not our age +seene a man whych was by aucthority of his Enimy iudged to dye, +ready to bee caried forth to the Scaffolde miraculously +deliuered from that daunger, and (wherein the works of God are +to be marueyled) the same man to be called to the dignity of a +Prynce, and preferred aboue all the rest of the people? Now Dom +Diego attending his fieldish Philosophy in the solitary valeys +of the riche Mountayne Pyrene, was rescowed with an helpe +vnlooked for as you shall heare. You haue hard how hee had a +Neyghbour and singuler Frend a Noble Gentleman named Dom +Roderico. Thys Gentleman amongs all his faithfull Companions did +most lament the harde fortune of Dom Diego. It came to passe +that 22 moneths after that the poore Wilde penitent person was +gonne on Pilgrimage, Dom Roderico tooke his Iourney into +Gascoyne for diuers his vrgent Affayres, which after hee had +dispatched, were it that hee was gon out of his way, or that GOD +(as it is most likely) did driue him thither, he approched +towarde that Coaste of the Pyrene Mountaynes, where that tyme +his good Frende Dom Diego did Inhabite, who dayly grew so Weake +and Feeble, as if God had not sent him sodayne succour hee had +gotten that hee most desired, which was death that should haue +bene the ende of his trauayles and Afflictions. The trayne of +Dom Roderico being then a bowe shot of from the sauage Caben of +Dom Diego, espyed the tractes of mens Feete newly troden, and +beganne to maruayle what hee should bee that dwelled there, +considering the Solitude, and Infertility of the Place, and also +that the same was farre of from Towne or House. And as they +deuised hereupon, they saw a man going into a Caue, which was +Dom Diego, comming from making his complayntes vppon the Rock +spoken of before. From which hauinge turned his face toward that +parte of the worlde where he thought the lodging was of that +Saynct, whereunto he addressed his deuotions, Dom Diego hearinge +the Noyse of the horsse, was retired because hee woulde not bee +seene. The knight which rode that way, seeing that, and knowing +how far he was oute of the way, commaunded one of his men to +Gallop towardes the Rocke, to learne what people they were that +dwelled within, and to demaund how they might coaste to the high +way that led to Barcelona. The Seruaunt approching neare the +Caue, perceiued the same so well Empaled and Fortified with +Beasts skins before, fearing also that they were Theeues and +Robbers that dwelled there, durst not approche, and lesse +enquire the way, and therefore returned towards his mayster, +to whom hee tolde what hee saw. The knight of another maner of +Metall and hardinesse than that Rascall and coward seruaunt, +like a stout, Couragious, and valiaunt Man, poasted to the Caue, +and demaundinge who was within, he saw a man come forth so +disfigured, horrible to looke vppon, pale with staring hayre +vpright, as pitifull it was to behold him, which was the seruant +of the foster Hermit. Of him Roderico demaunded what he was, and +which was the way to Barcelone. "Syr," aunswered that disguised +person: "I know not how to aunswere your demaund, and mutch +lesse I know the country where we now presently be. But sir, +(sayde he sighing) true it is that we be two poore companions +whom Fortune hath sent hither, by what il aduenture I know not, +to do penaunce for our Trespasses, and Offences." Roderico +hearing him say so, began to call to his remembraunce his +Freende Dom Diego, although he neuer before that tyme suspected +the place of his abode. He lighted then from his horsse, +desirous to see the singularities of the Rocke, and the +magnificence of the Cauish lodging, where hee entred and sawe +him whom he sought for, and yet for all that did not know him: +He commoned with him a long tyme of the pleasure of the solitary +life in respect of theym that liued intangled with the +combersome Follies of this World. "For somutch" (quod he) as the +spirite distracted and withdrawen from Worldly troubles is +eleuate to the contemplation of heauenly thinges, and sooner +attendeth to the knowledge and reuerence of his God, than those +that bee conuersaunt amongs men, and to conclude, the +complaynts, the delights, ambitions, couetousnesse, vanities, +and superfluities that abounde in the confused Maze of Worldely +troupe, doe cause a misknowledge of our selues, a forgetfulnesse +of our Creator, and many times a negligence of piety and +purenesse of Religion. Whiles the vnknowne Hermit, and the +knight Roderico talked of these thinges, the Seruauntes of +Roderico visiting all the Corners of the deepe, and Stony Cell +of those Penitents, by Fortune espied two Saddles, one of theym +rychely wroughte and Armed wyth Plates of Steele, that had bene +made for some goodly Ienet. And vppon the Plate well Wroughte, +Grauen and Enameled, the Golde for all the Rust cankering the +Plate, did yet appear. For whych Purpose one of theym sayde to +the seruaunt of Dom Diego: "Good Father hitherto I see neyther +Mule, nor Horsse, for whom these Saddles can serue, I pray thee +to sell them vnto vs, for they will doe vs more pleasure, than +presently they do you." "Maisters (quod the Hermit,) if they +like you, they be at your commaundement." In the meane time +Roderico hauing ended his talke with the other Hermit, without +knowing of any thinge that he desired, sayd vnto his men: "Now +sirs to horse, and leaue wee theese poore people to rest in +peace, and let vs goe seeke for the right way which we so well +as they haue lost." "Syr," (quod one of his men,) "there be two +Saddles, and one of them is so exceeding fayre, so well +garnished and wrought as euer you saw." The knight feeling in +himselfe an vnaccustomed motion, caused them to be brought +before him, and as he viewed and marked the riche Harnesse, +and Trappings of the same, he stayeth to looke vppon the Hinder +parte minionly wrought, and in the middest of the engrauing he +red this deuise in the Spanish Tongue. + + _Que brantare la fe, es causa muy fea._ + + That is, + To violate or breake fayth, is a thing detestable. + +That only inscription made him to pause a while. For it was the +Poesie that Dom Diego bore ordinarily in his armes, which moued +him to think that without doubt one of those Pilgrimes was the +very same man to whom that Saddle did appertayne. And therefore +he bent himselfe very attentiuely afterwardes to behold first +the one, and then the other of those desert Citizens. But they +were so altered, as hee was not able to know them agayne. Dom +Diego seeing his Freende so neare him, and the desire that he +had to knowe hym, chafed very mutch in hys mynde, and the more +his Rage began to waxe, when hee saw Roderico approch neare vnto +hym more aduisedly to looke vpon hym, for hee had not his own +Affections so mutch at commaundement, but hys Bloude mooued hys +Entrailes, and mounting into the most knowen place, caused +outwardly the alteration which hee endured, to appeare. Roderico +seeing hym to chaunge colour, was assured of that which before +hee durst not suspect: and that which made him the sooner +beleeue that he was not deceived, was a lyttle tuft of haire, so +yelow as Gold, which Dom Diego had vpon his Necke, whereof Dom +Roderico takyng heede, gaue ouer all suspition, and was well +assured of that he doubted. And therefore displaying himselfe +with hys armes opened vpon the necke of his friend, and +imbracing him very louingly, his face bedewed with tears, sayd +vnto him: "Alas, my Lord Dom Diego, what euill lucke from Heauen +hath departed you from the good company of them which dye for +sorrow, to see themselues berieued of the Beauty, lyght and +ornament of their felowship? What are they that haue giuen you +occasion thus to Eclipse the bryghtnesse of your name, when it +oughte most clearely to shyne, both for theyr present pleasure, +and for the honour of your age? Is it from me sir, that you +oughte thus to hide yourselfe? Do you think me so to be blynd, +that I know not ryght well, that you are Dom Diego, that is so +renoumed for vertue and prowesse? I would not haue tarried here +so longe, but to carry away a power to reioyce two persons, you +being the one, by withdrawing your selfe from this heauy and +vnseemely Wyldernesse, and my selfe the other, to enioy your +Company, and by bearyng newes to your fryends, who sith your +departure, do bewaile and lament the same." Dom Diego seeing +that he was not able to conceyle the truth of that which was +euidently seene, and the louing imbracements of his best +Friende, began to feele a certayne tendernesse of heart lyke +vnto that whych the Mother conceyueth, when she recouereth hir +Sonne that is long absent, or the chaste wyfe, the presence of +hir deare Husband, when she clepeth him betwene hir armes, and +frankely culleth and cherisheth hym at hir pleasure. For whych +cause not able to refrain any longer for ioy and sorrow +together, weping and sighing began to imbrace him wyth so good +and hearty affection, as with good wyl the other had sought and +longed to knowe where he was. And being come againe to himself, +he sayd to his faithfull and most louinge friend: "Oh God, how +vneasy and difficult be thy iudgments to comprehend? I had +thought to liue here miserably, vnknowen to al the world, and +behold, I am here discouered, when I thought least of it. I am +indeede" (quod he to Roderico) "that wretched and vnfortunate +Dom Diego, euen that thy very great and louing fryend, who weary +of his lyfe, afflycted wyth his vnhap, and tormented by fortune, +is retyred into these desertes to accomplysh the ouerplus of the +rest of his il luck. Now sith that I haue satisfied you herein, +I beseech you that being content wyth my sighte, yee wyll get +you hence and leaue me heere to performe that lyttle remnant +whych I haue to lyue, without telling to any person that I am +aliue, or yet to manifeste the place of my abode." "What is that +you say sir," (sayd Roderico) "are you so farre straught from +your ryght wits, to haue a minde to continue this brutal Lyfe, +to depryue al your friends from the ioy whych they receiue by +inioying your company? Think I pray you that God hath caused vs +to be born noble men, and hauing power and authority not to lyue +in Corners, or be buryed amid the slauery of the popular sort, +or remain idle within great palaces or secrete Corners, but +rather to illustrat and giue lyght with the example of our +vertue to those that shal apply themselues to our dexterity of +good behauior, and do lyue as depending vpon our edicts and +commaundments: I appeale to your faith, what good shall succede +to your subiects, who haue both heard and also knowne the +benefit bestowed vppon them by God, for that hee gaue them a +Lord so modest and vertuous, and before they haue experimented +the effect of his goodnesse and Vertue, depriued of him, that is +adorned and garnished with sutch perfections? What comfort, +contentation and ioy shall the Lady your mother receiue, by +feelyng your losse to be so sodaine, after your good and +delycate bryngyng up, instructed with sutch great diligence and +vtterly berieued of the fruict of that education? It is you sir, +that may commaund obedience to Parents, succor to the afflicted, +and do iustice to them that craue it: Alas, they be your poore +subiectes that make complaints, euen of you, for denying them +your due presence. It is you of whom my good madame doth +complayne, as of him that hath broken and violated his faith, +for not comming home at the promised day." Now as he was about +to continue his oration, Dom Diego vnwilling to heare him, brake +of his talk saying: "Ah sir, and my great Friend: It is an easy +matter for you to iudge of mine affayres, and to blame myne +absence, not knowing peraduenture the cause thereof. But I +esteeme you a man of so good iudgement, and so great a fryend of +thinges that be honeste, and a Gentleman of great fidelity, as +by vnderstanding my hard luck, when you be aduertised of the +cause of my withdrawing into this solitarie place, you wyll +rightly confesse, and playnely see that the wisest and most +constant haue committed more vaine follies than those don by +mee, forced with like spirite that now moueth and tormenteth +me." Hauing sayd, he tooke aside Roderico, where he dyd tell +vnto hym the whole discourse both of his Loue, and also of the +rigor of hys Lady, not without weepyng, in sutch abundaunce and +with sutch frequent sighes and sobs interruptyng so hys speach, +as Roderico was constrained to keepe him company, by remembryng +the obstinacie of hir that was the Mistresse of his heart, and +thinkynge that already he had seene the effect of lyke missehap +to fal vpon his owne head, or neare vnto the lyke, or greater +distresse than that which he sawe his deare and perfect Fryend +to endure. Notwythstanding he assayed to remoue him from that +desperate minde and opinion of continuance in the desert. But +the froward penitente swore vnto him, that so long as he liued +(without place recouered in the good graces of his Gineura,) he +would not returne home to his house, but rather change his +being, to seke more sauage abode, and lesse frequented than that +was. "For" (quod hee) "to what purpose shall my retourne serue +where continuinge mine affection, I shall fele lyke cruelty that +I dyd in time past, which wil bee more painful and heauy for me +to beare than voluntary exile and banyshment, or bring me to +that end wherein presently I am." "Contente your self I beseech +you, and suffer me to be but once vnhappy, and do not perswade +mee to proue a second affliction, worsse than the first." +Roderico hearing his reasons so liuely and wel applied would not +reply, onely content that he would make him promyse to tarry +there two monthes, and in that time attempt to reioyse himselfe +so wel as he could. And for hys owne part, he swore vnto him, +that he would bee a meanes to reconcile Gineura, and brynge them +to talke together. Moreouer, he gaue him assurance by othe, that +hee shoulde not bee discouered by hym, nor by any in his +Company. Wherewith the knyght somewhat recomforted, thanked him +very affectuously. And so leauyng wyth him a fielde bed, two +seruaunts, and Money for his Necessities, Roderico tooke hys +leaue, tellyng hym that shortely he would visite him againe, to +his great contentation, as euer he was left and forsaken with +gryefe and sorrow, himselfe makyng great mone for the vnseemely +state and myserable plyght of Dom Diego. And God knoweth whether +by the way, he detested the cruelty of pitilesse Gineura, +blasphemyng a million of times the whole sexe of Womankynd, +peraduenture not without iust cause. For there lieth hydden +(I know not what) in the brests of Women, which at times like +the Wane and increase of the Moone, doth chaunge and alter, +whereof a man can not tell on what foote to stand to conceiue +the reasons of the same: whych fickle fragility of theirs +(I dare not say mobility) is sutch, as the subtillest wench of +them al best skilled in Turner's Art, can not (I say deface) or +so mutch as hide or colour that naturall imperfection. Roderico +arriued at his house, frequented many times the lodging of +Gineura, to espy hir fashions, and to see if any other had +conquered that place, that was so well assayled and besieged by +Dom Diego. And this wyse and sage knyght vsed the matter so +well, that he fell in acquaintance wyth one of the Gentlewoman's +Pages, in whom she had so great trust, as she conceyled from him +very few of hir greatest secretes, not well obseruing the +preceipte of the wyse man, who councelleth vs not to tell the +secretes of the mynde to those, whose iudgement is but weake, +and tongue very lauish and frank of speach. The Knyght then +familiar with this Page, dandled him so with faire words, as by +lyttle and lytle he wrong the Wormes out of his Nose, and +vnderstode that when Gineura began once to take Pepper in snuffe +against Dom Diego, she fell in loue wyth a Gentleman of Biskaye, +very poore, but Beautyfull, young and lustye, whych was the +Stewarde of the house: and the Page added further that hee was +not then there, but woulde returne wythin three Dayes, as he had +sent Woorde to hys mystresse, and that two other Gentlemen +woulde accompany him to cary away Gineura into Biskaye, for that +was their last conclusion: "And I hope" (quod he) "that she will +take me with hir, bicause I am made priuy to their whole +intent." Roderico hearing the treason of this flight and +departure of the vnfaithful daughter, was at the first brunt +astonned, but desirous that the Page should not marke his +altered Countenaunce, said vnto him: "In very deede meete it is, +that the Gentlewoman should make hir owne choice of husband, +sith hir mother so little careth to prouide for hir. And albeit +that the Gentleman be not so riche and Noble as hir estate +deserueth, hir affection in that behalfe ought to suffise and +the honesty of his person: for the rest Gineura hath (thanks be +to God) wherewith to intertaine the state of them both." These +wordes he spake, farre from the thought of his hearte. For being +alone by himself, thus he said: "O blessed God, how blinde is +that loue, which is vnruled, and out of order: and what dispayre +to recline to them, which (voide of reason) doe feede so +foolishly of vayne thoughts and fond desires, in sutch wise as +two commodities, presented vnto them, by what ill lucke I know +not, they forsake the beste, and make choise of the worst. Ah +Gineura, the fairest Lady in all this Countrey, and the moste +vnfaithfull Woman of oure time, where be thine eyes and +iudgement? Whither is thy mynde straied and wandred, to acquite +thyselfe from a great Lord, faire, rich, noble, and vertuous, +to be giuen to one that is poore, whose parents be vnknowne, his +prowesse obscure, and birth of no aparant reputation. Behold, +what maketh me beleue, that loue (so wel as Fortune) is not +onely blynd, but also dazeleth the sight of them that hee +imbraceth and captiuateth vnder his power and bondage. But I +make a vowe (false woman) that it shal neuer come to passe and +that this Biskaye gentleman shall neuer enioy the spoyles whych +iustely bee due vnto the Trauaile and faithfull seruice of the +valyaunt and vertuous knyght Dom Diego. It shal be hee, or else +I wil dye for it, whych shall haue the recompense of his +troubles, and shall feele the caulme of that tempest, whych +presently holdeth hym at Anker, amyd the most daungerous rockes +that euer were." By this meanes Roderico knew the way how to +keepe promise wyth his friende, which liued in expectation of +the same. The two dayes past, whereof the Page had spoken, the +beloued of Gineura, fayled not to come, and with him two +Gallants of Biskaye, valiaunt Gentlemen, and well exercysed in +Armes. That Nighte Roderico wente to see the olde Wydowe Lady, +the Mother of the Mayden, and fyndyng oportunity to speak to the +Page, hee said vnto hym: "I see my Friend, accordingly as thou +diddest tell mee, that ye are vppon departing, the steward of +the house beeing now retourned. I pray the tel mee, if thou haue +neade of mee, or of any thyng that I am able doe for thee, +assuring thee that thou shalt obtaine and haue what so euer thou +requirest. And therewithall I haue thought good to tel thee, and +giue the warning (for thine owne sake specially) that thou keepe +all thynges close and secrete, that no slaunder or dishonour do +followe, to blot and deface the Same and prayse of thy +Mistresse. And for my selfe I had rather dye, than once to open +my mouth, to discouer the least intent of this enterpryse. But +tell mee, I praye thee, when do ye depart?" "Sir" (quod the +Page) "as my Mistresse saieth, to morow about ten or eleuen of +the Clocke in the Euening, when the Lady hir Mother shall bee in +the sound of hir first sleepe." The knight hearyng that, and +desirous of no better time, tooke hys leaue of the Page, and +went home, where he caused to bee sente for tenne or twelue +Gentlemen, his Neighbours and Tenaunts, whom he made priuy of +his secretes, and partakers of that he went about, to deliuer +out of Captiuity and miserie the chiefest of all his Friends. +The Nighte of those two Louers departure being come, Dom +Roderico, which knewe the way where they should passe, bestowed +him selfe and his Company in Ambush, in a little Groue, almost +three Miles of the Lodging of this fugitiue Gentlewoman: where +they hadde not long tarried but they hearde the tramplinge of +Horsse, and a certaine whispring noise of People riding before +them. Nowe the Nighte was somwhat cleare, which was the cause, +that the Knighte amonges the thronge, knew the Gentlewoman, +besides whome rode the Miserable Wretche that hadde stolne hir +awaye. Whome so soone as Roderico perceyued full of despyte, +moued wyth extreme passion, welding his launce into his rest, +brake in the nearest way vpon the infortunate louer, with sutch +vehemency, as neither coate of Maile or Placard was able to saue +his lyfe, or warraunt him to keepe company wyth that troupe +which banded vnder loue's Enseigne, was miserably slayne, by the +guide of a blynd, naked, and thieuish litle boy. And when he saw +he had done that he came for, he sayd to the rest of the +Company: "My Friends, thys man was carelesse to make inuasion +vpon other mens ground." These poore Biskayes surprysed vpon the +sodayne, and seeyng the ambushment to multiply, put spurres to +theyr horsse to the best aduantage they could for expedition, +leauing their Conduct or guid gaping for breath and geuing a +signe that he was dead. Whiles the other were making themselues +ready to runne away, two of Roderico his men, couered with +Skarfes, armed, and vnknowne, came to sease vppon sorrowfull +Gineura, who beholdyng her fryende deade, began to weepe and +crye so straungely, as it was maruell that hir breath fayled +not. "Ah trayterous Theeues," (said she) "and bloudy Murderers, +why do ye not addresse your selues to execute cruelty vppon the +rest, sith you haue done to death hym, that is of greater value +than you all? Ah my deare Fryend, what crooked and grieuous +Fortune haue I, to see thee grouelyng dead on ground and I +abyding in life, to be the pray of murderous Theeues and thou so +cowardly beryued of lyfe." Roderico wyth his face couered, drew +neare vnto her, and sayde: "I beseech you Gentlewoman, to forget +these straunge fashions of complaynt, sith by them ye bee not +able to reuiue the dead, ne yet make your ende of gryefes." The +maiden knowing the voyce of hym, that had slayne hir fryende, +began to cry out more fiercely than before. For whych cause one +of the gentlemen in company with Roderico, hauing a blacke +counterfait beard with two lunets, in manner of spectacles, very +large and great, that couered the moste part of his Face, +approched neare the bashful maiden, and with bigge voice and +terrible talk, holding his dagger vpon hir white and delicate +breast, said vnto hir: "I sweare by the Almighty God, if I heare +thee speake one word more, I wil sacrifice thee vnto the ghost +of that varlet, for whome thou makest thy mone, who deserued to +end his daies vpon a gallow tree rather than by the hands of a +gentleman. Holde thy peace therefore thou foolysh girle, for +greater honour and more ample Benefite is meant to thee, than +thou hast deserued. Ingratitude onely hath so ouerwhelmed thy +good Nature, as thou art not able to iudge who be thy friends." +The gentlewoman fearing death, whych as she thought was present, +held hir peace, downe alonges whose Eyes a ryuer of Teares dyd +run, and the passion of whose heart appeared by assiduall +sighes, and neuer ceassing sobbes, whych in end so quallifyed +hir cheare, that the exteriour sadnesse was wholy inclosed +wythin the mynd and thought of the afflicted Gentlewoman. Then +Roderico caused the body of the dead to be buryed in a lyttle +Countrey Chappell, not farre out of theyr way. Thus they +trauayled two dayes before Gineura knew any of them, that had +taken hir away from hir louer: who permytted none to speake vnto +hir nor she to any of hir company, beyng but a waiting maid, and +the page that hadde dyscouered al the secretes to Dom Roderico. +A notable example surely for stolne and secrete mariages, +whereby the honour of the contracted partes, is most commonly +blemyshed, and the Commaundement of GOD violated, whose word +enioyneth obedience to Parents in all ryghtfull causes, who if +for any lyght offence, they haue power to take from vs the +inheritance whych otherwyse naturall law would giue vs, what +ought they of duety to doe, where rebellyous Chyldren abusing +theyr goodnesse, do consume without feare of Liberty, the thynge +that is in theyr free wyll and gouernement. In like maner diuers +vndiscrete and folysh mothers are to be accused, which suffer +their daughters of tender and chyldysh age to be enamored of +theyr seruants, not remembryng how weake the flesh is, how prone +and ready men be to do euyl, and how the seducyng spirite +wayting stil vpon us, is procliue and prone to surpryse and +catch vs wythin his Snares, to the intent he may reioyce in the +ruine of soules washed and redeemed wyth the bloud of the Son of +God. This troupe drawing neare to the caue of Dom Diego, +Roderico sent one of his men to aduertise him of their comming, +who in the absence of his fryende, fylled and susteined with +hope, shortely to see the onely Lady of hys hearte, accompanyed +wyth a merry and ioyfull Trayne, so soone as hee had somewhat +chaunged his wilde maner of Lyfe, he also by lyttle and lyttle +gayned a good part of hys lusty and fresh coloure, and almost +had recouered that beauty, which he had when he firste became a +Citizen of those desertes. Now hauiug vnderstanded the message +sent vnto him by Roderico, God knoweth if with that pleasaunt +tydings he felt a motion of Bloud, sutch as made all his members +to leape and daunce, whych rendred hys Mynde astonned, for the +onely memorye of the thynge that poysed hys mynd vp and downe, +not able to be wayed in equall Balaunce whereof rather he ought +to haue made reioyse than complayne, being assured to see hir, +of whome he demaunded onely grace and pardon, but for recouery +of hir, he durst not repose any certayne Iudgement. In the Ende +hoystyng vp hys head lyke one rysen from a long and sound +sleepe, hee sayd: "Praise be to God, who yet before I dye, hath +done me great pleasure, to suffer me to haue a syght of hir, +that by causing my Matirdome, continueth hir stubburne manner of +Lyfe, whych shall procure in like sort myne vtter ruine and +decay. Vpon the approch of whom I shall goe more ioyfull, +charged with incomparable loue, to vysit the ghosts beneath, in +the presence of that cruel swete, that now tormenteth me with +the ticklysh tentation, and who sometimes hath made me tast a +kind of Hony sugred with bytter Gal, more daungerous than the +suck of Poyson and vnder the vermyllion rudde of a new sprouted +Rose diuiuely blowen forth, hath hydden secrete Thornes the +pryckes whereof hath me so lyuely touched, as my Wound cannot +well bee cured, by any Baulme that may be thereunto applyed, +without enioying of that myne owne missehappe, moste happy or +wythout that remedy, whych almost I feele restyng in death, that +so long and oftentymes I haue desired as the true remedy of all +my paynes and gryefe." In the meane whyle Dom Roderico, whych +tyll that tyme was not knowen vnto Gineura, drew neare vnto hir +by the way as he rode, and talked wyth hir in this sorte: +"I doubt not (Gentlewoman) but that you think your self not wel +contented to se me in this place, in sutch company and for +occasion so vnseemely for my degre, and state, and moreouer +knowying what iniury I seeme to do vnto you, that euer was, and +am so affectionate and friendly to the whole stocke of your race +and Lynage, and am not ignoraunte that vppon the firste brunte +you may iudge my cause vniust to carry you away from the handes +of your fryend, to bring you into these desertes, wylde, and +solitary places. But if ye considred the force of that true +amity, which by vertue sheweth the common Bondes of hearts and +myndes of Men, and shall measure to what end this acte is done, +without to mutch staying vpon the lyght apprehension of Choler, +for a beginnynge somewhat troublesom, I am assured then (that if +you be not wholly depryued of reason) you shall perceiue that I +am not altogether worthy blame nor your selfe vtterly voyde of +fault. And bycause we draw neare vnto the place, whether (by the +help of God) I meane to conduct you, I beseech you to consider, +that the true Seruaunt whych by all seruice and duety studieth +to execute the commaundementes of him that hath puissance ouer +him, doth not deserue to bee beaten or driuen away from the +house of his maister, but to be fauored and cherished, and ought +to receyue equal recompense for his seruice. I speake not this +for my selfe, my deuotion beinge vowed elsewhere, but for that +honest affection which I beare to all vertuous and chaste +persons. The effect whereof I will not deny to tell you in tyme +and place, where I shall use sutch modesty towards you, as is +meete for a maiden of your age and state. For the greatnesse of +Noble Men and puisant, doth most appeare and shew forth it self, +when they vse Mildenesse and Gentlenesse vnto those, to whom by +reason of their Authority they mighte execute cruelty and +malice. Now to the end that I do not make you doubtfull long, al +that which I haue done and yet meane to doe, is for none other +purpose but to ease the grieuous paines of that moste faithful +louer that loueth at thys Daye vnder the Circle of the Moone. It +is for the good Knighte Dom Diego, that loueth you so dearely +and still worshippeth your Noble fame, who bicause he wil not +shew himself disobedient, liueth miserably amonge bruite beasts, +amid the craggy rocks and mountaines, and in the deepe solitudes +of comfortlesse dales and valleis. It is to him I say that I do +bryng you, protesting vnto you by othe (Gentlewoman) that the +misery wherein I saw him, little more than VI. Wekes +past, toucheth me so neare the heart, as if the Sacrifice of my +lyfe sufficed alone, (and without letting you to feele this +painfull voyage) for the solace of his martirdome I would spare +it no more, than I do mine owne endeuor and honor, besides the +hazarding of the losse of your good grace and fauour. And albeit +I wel perceiue, that I do grieue you, by causing you to enter +this painfull iourney, yet I besech you that the whole +displeasure of this fact may bee imputed vnto my charge, and +that it would please you louingly to deale with him, who for +your sake vseth so great violence against himself." Gineura as a +woman half in despayre for the death of hir friend, behaued hir +selfe like a mad woman void of wit and sense, and the simple +remembraunce of Dom Diego his name so astonned her, (which name +she hated far more than the pangs of death) that she staied a +long time, hir mouth not able to shape one word to speake. In +the ende vanquished with impacience, burning with choler, and +trembling for sorrow, loked vpon Dom Roderico with an Eye no +lesse furious, than a Tigresse caught within the Net, and seeth +before hir face hir young Fawnes murdered, wringing hir hands +and beating hir delicate brest, she vsed these or sutch like +woordes: "Ah bloudy traitor and no more Knight, is it of thee +that I oughte to looke for so detestable a villany and treason? +How darest thou be so hardy to entreat me for an other, that +hast in myne owne presence killed him, whose death I will pursue +vpon thee, so longe as I haue life within this body? Is it to +thee false theefe and murderer, that I ought to render accompte +of that which I meant to doe? Who hath appointed thee to be +arbitrator, or who gaue thee commission to capitulate the +Articles of my mariage? Is it by force then, that thou wouldest +I should loue that vnfaithfull Knighte, for whom thou hast +committed and done this acte, that so longe as thou liuest shal +blot and blemish thy renoume, and shal be so wel fixed in my +mind, and the wounds shal cleaue so neare my heart, vntill at my +pleasure I be reuenged of this wrong? No, no, I assure thee no +force done vnto mee, shall neuer make mee otherwyse dysposed, +than a mortall Enimy both to thee which art a Theefe and +rauisher of an other man's wife, and also to thy desperate frend +Dom Diego, which is the cause of this my losse: and now not +satisfied with the former wrong done vnto me, thou goest about +to deceiue me vnder the Colour of good and pure Friendship. But +sith wicked Fortune hath made me thy Prysoner, doe with me what +thou wylt, and yet before I suffer and endure that that Traytor +Dom Diego doe enioy my Virginity, I will offer vp my lyfe to the +shadowes and Ghostes of my faythful fryend and husband, whome +thou hast so trayterously murdred. And therefore (if honestlye I +may or ought entreate mine Enimy) I pray thee that by doynge thy +duety, thou suffer vs in peace, and gyue lycence to mee, thys +Page, and my two pore Maydens to depart whether we lyst." +"God forbid" (quod Roderico) "that I should doe a Trespasse so +shamefull, as to depryue my dearest fryend of his ioy and +contentation, and by falsifiing my faith be an occasion of hys +death, and of your losse, by leauing you without company, +wandring amids this wildernesse." And thus he continued his +former discourse and talk, to reclaime thys cruell Damosell to +haue pity vpon hir poore penytent, but he gained as mutch +thereby, as if he had gone aboute to number the Sands alongs the +Sea Coastes of the maine Ocean. Thus deuising from one talke to +an other, they arryued neare the Caue, which was the stately +house of Dom Diego: where Gineura lyghted, and saw the pore +amorous Knight, humbly falling downe at hir feete, all forworne, +pale, and disfigured, who weeping with warme teares, said vnto +hir: "Alas, my deare Lady, the alone and onely mistresse of my +heart, do you not thinke that my penaunce is long inoughe for +the sinne which ignorauntly I haue committed, if euer I haue don +any fault at al? Behold [I beseech you (good ladie deare) what +ioy] I haue conceiued in your absence, what pleasures haue +nursed mine hope, and what consolation hath entertained my life: +which truely had it not bene for the continual remembraunce of +your diuine Beauty, I had of long time abreuiated the pains +which do renew in me so many times the pangs of death: as +oftentimes I think vpon the vnkindnes shewed vnto me by making +so litle accompt of my fidelity: whych can nor shal receiue the +same in good part, wer it so perfect as any assuraunce were able +to make it." Gineura swelling with sorrow and full of feminine +rage, blushing with fury, hir eyes sparcklinge forth hir +chollerick conceypts, vouchsafed not so mutch as to giue him one +word for aunswere, and bicause she would not looke vppon him, +she turned hir face on the other side. The poore and afflicted +Louer, seeing the great cruelty of his felonous Mystresse, still +kneeling vpon his knees, redoubling his armes, fetching Sighes +with a voyce that seemed to bee drawne by force from the bottome +of his heart, proceeded in these wordes: "Syth the sincerity of +my fayth, and my long seruice madame Gineura, cannot persuade +you that I haue beene most Obedient, Faythfull, and very Loyall +seruaunt towards you, as euer any that hath serued Lady or +Gentlewoman, and that without your fauour and grace it is +vnpossible for mee any longer to liue, yet I doe very humbly +beseech you, for that all other comfort is denied me, if there +bee any gentlenesse and curtesie in you, that I may receyue this +onely grace at your hands for the last that euer I hope to +craue: which is, that you being thus greeuously offended with +me, would do iustice vpon that vnfortunate man, that vpon his +Knees doth instantly craue the same. Graunt (cruell mistresse) +this my request, doe vengeaunce at your pleasure vpon him, which +willingly yeldeth himselfe to death with the effusion of his +poore innocent bloud to satisfy you, and verily farre more +expedient it is for him thus to die, by appeasing your wrath, +than to rest or liue to your discontentment or anoiaunce. Alas, +shal I be so vnfortunate, that both life and death should bee +denied me by one person of the world, whom I hoped to content +and please by any sort or meanes what so euer restinge in mine +humble obedience? Alas gentlewoman rid mee from this Torment, +and dispatch your selfe from the griefe you haue to see this +vnhappy Knight, who would say and esteeme himselfe most happy +(his life being lothsome vnto you) if he may content you, by +death done by your owne handes, sith other fauour he cannot +expect or hope for." The Mayden hardned in hir Opinion, stoode +still immoueable mutch like vnto a Rocke in the midst of the +Sea, disquieted with a tempest of billowes, and fomy Waues in +sutch wise as one word could not be procured from hir mouth. +Which vnlucky Dom Diego perceyuing, attached with the feare of +present death, and faylinge his Naturall force fell downe to the +Grounde, and faintyng saied: "Ah, what a recompence doe I +receiue for this so faythfull Loue?" Roderico bebolding that +rufull sight, whilest the others went about to relieue Dom +Diego, repaired to Gineura, and full of heauinesse mingled with +fury, said vnto hir: "By God (false fiendish woman) if so be +that I doe chaunge my mind, I will make thee feele the smarte, +no lesse than thou shewest thy selfe dishonourable to them that +doe thee honour: Art thou so carelesse of so greate a Lord as +this is, that humbleth himselfe so lowe to sutch a strumpet as +thou art: who without regarde either to hys renoume, or the +honour of his House, is content to bee abandoned from his noble +state, to become a fugitiue and straunger? What cruelty is this +for thee to mispryse the greatest humility that man can Imagin? +What greater amends canst thou wysh to haue, yea though the +offence which thou presupposest had ben true? Now (if thou be +wyse) chaunge thy Opinion, except thou wouldest haue mee doe +into so many pieces, thy cruel corpse and vnfaithful heart, as +once this poore Knight did in parts the vnhappy hauke, which +through thy folly did breede vnto him this distresse, and to thy +self the name of the most cruell and disloyall Woman that euer +lyued. But what greater benefite can happen vnto thee, than to +see thys Gentleman vtterly to forget the fault, to conceiue no +sinister suspition of thy running away, crauing pardon at thy +Hands, and is contented to sacrifice him self vnto thine Anger, +to appease and mytigate thy rage? Now to speake no more hereof, +but to proceede in that which I began to say, I offer vnto thee +then both death and Loue, choose whether thou lyst. For I sweare +againe by hym that seeth and heareth all thinges, that if thou +play the foole, that thou shalt feele and proue me to be the +cruellest Ennimy that euer thou hadst: and sutch a one as shall +not feare to imbrue his hands wyth the bloud of hir that is the +death of the greatest friend I haue, and truest knight that euer +bare armes." Gineura hearing that resolute aunswere, shewed hir +selfe to be nothing afrayde nor declared any token of feare, but +rather seemed to haue encouraged Roderico, in braue and mannish +sort, farre diuers from the simplicity of a young and tender +Mayden, as a Man would say, sutch a one as had neuer felt the +assaultes and troubles of adverse fortune. Wherefore frouncyng +her Browes, and grating hir Teeth wyth closed fists, and +Countenaunce very bold, she made him answere: "Ah thou Knight, +whych once gauest assault to commit a villany and Treason +thinkest thou now without remorse of conscyence to continue thy +mischyefe: I speak it to thee Villayne, whych hauing shed the +Bloud of an honester Man than thou art, fearest not now to make +me a Companion of hys Death. Which thyng spare not hardily to +accomplysh, to the intent that I liuinge, may not be sutch a one +as thou falsly iudgest me to be: for neuer Man hitherto vaunted, +and never shall, that hath had the spoyle of my dearest Iewell: +from the Fruict whereof, like an arrant Thiefe, thou hast +depryued my loyall Spouse. Now doe what you lyste: for I am +farre better content to suffer death, be it as cruel as thou art +mischieuous, and borne for the disquieting and vexation of +honest Maidens then yelde vnto thy furies: notwithstanding I +humbly beseech Almyghty God, to gyue thee so mutch pleasure, +contentation and ioy in thy loue, as thou hast done to me, by +hastening the death of my deare Husband. O GOD, if thou be a +iust GOD, sutch a one, as from whom we thy poore Creatures do +beleue al iustice to proceede, thou I say which art the Rampire +and refuge of al iustice, poure downe thy vengeance and plague +vpon these pestiferous Thieues and murderers, which prepared a +worldely plague vpon me thine innocent damsel. Ah wycked +Roderico, think not that death can be so fearful vnto me, but +that with good heart, I am able to accept the same, trusting +verily that one day it shal be the cause of thy ruine, and the +ouerthrowe of him for whom thou takest al these paines." Dom +Roderico maruelously rapte in sense imagined the Woman to be +fully bente against hym, who then had puissance (as he thought,) +ouer hir own heart: and thinking, that he sawe hir moued with +like rage against him, as she was against Dom Diego, stode stil +so perplexed and voyde of ryghte minde, as he was constrained to +sitte downe, so feeble he felt him self for the onely +remembraunce of hir euyll demeanor. And whilest this Pageant was +a doing, the handmayd of Gineura, and hir page, inforced to +persuade their mystresse to haue compassion vpon the Knight that +had suffred so mutch for hir sake, and that she would consent to +the honest requests and good counsell of Roderico. But she which +was stubbornely bent in hir fonde persuasions, made them +aunsere: "What fooles? are you so mutch bewitched, eyther with +the fayned teares of this disloyall Knight, whych colorably thus +doth torment himselfe, or els are yee inchaunted with the +venomous honny and tirannicall brauery of the Theefe which +murdered my husbande, and your mayster? Ah vnhappy caytife +mayden, is it my chaunce to endure the assault of sutch Fortune, +when I thought to liue at my best ease, and thus cruelly to +tomble into the handes of him, whom I hate so mutch as he +fayneth loue vnto me? And moreouer my vnlucky fate is not +herewith content, but redoubleth my sorrowe, euen by those that +be of my trayne, who ought rather to incourage mee to dy, than +consent to so vnreasonable requests. Ah loue, loue, how euill be +they recompenced which faythfully doe Homage vnto thee? And why +should not I forget all Affection, neuer hereafter to haue mynde +on man to proue beginning of a pleasure, which tasted and felt +bringeth more displeasure than euer ioy engendreth delight. +Alas, I neuer knewe what was the fruicte of that which so +straungely did attach me, and thou O trayterous and theeuishe +Loue, haste ordayned a banket serued with sutch bitter dishes, +as forced I am perforce to taste of their egre sweetes: Auaunt +sweete folly, auaunt, I doe henceforth for euer let thee slip, +to imbrace the death, wherein I hope to find my greatest rest, +for in thee I finde noughte else but heapes of strayninge +Passions. Auoyde from me all mishap, flee from me ye furious +ghostes and Fayries most vnkinde, whose gaudes and toyes dame +loue hath wrought to keepe occupied my louing minde, and suffer +me to take ende in thee, that I may liue in an other life +without thee, being now charged with cup of griefe, which I +shall quaffe in venomous drincke soaked in the Sops of +bitternesse. Sharpen thou thy selfe, (O death vnkinde) prepare +thy Darte, to strike the Corpse of hir, that she may voyde the +Quarelles shotte agaynst hir by hir Aduersary. Ah poore hearte, +strip thy selfe from hope, and qualifie thy desires. Cease +henceforth to wishe thy Lyfe, seeing, and feelinge the +appoyncted sight of loue and Life, combattyng within my minde, +els where to seeke my peace in an other world, with him to ioy, +whych for my sake was sacrificed to the treason of varlets +handes, who for the perfite hoorde of his desires, noughte else +dyd seeke but to soile his bloudy fists with the purest bloude +of my loyall friend. And I this floud of Teares do shead to +saciate his felonous moode that is the iust shortening of my +dolefull Dayes." When she had thus complayned, she began +horribly to torment hir selfe that the cruellest of the company +were moued with compassion, to see hir thus strangely straught +of hir wits: neuertheles they did not discontinue by duety to +solicite hir to haue regard to that which poore fayntyng Dom +Diego dyd endure: who so soone as wyth freshe Fountayn water hee +was reuiued, seeing still the heauinesse of his Lady, and hir +increased disdaine and choler againste hym vanished in diuers +soundings: which moued Roderico from studye deepe, wherein he +was, to ryse, whereunto the rage of Gineura had cast him downe, +bicause forgetting all imaginarie affection of his Lady, and +proposing his duety before his eyes, whych ech Gentleman oweth +to Gentle Damsels [and womenkind], styll beholding with +honorable aspect the gryefe of the martyred wyldernesse Knyght, +sighing yet in former gryefes, he sayd vnto Gineura, "Alas, +is it possyble, that in the heart of so young and delicate a +maiden, there may bee harboured so straunge fury and +vnreasonable rage? O God, the effect of the cruelty resting in +this Woman, painting it selfe in the imaginatiue force of my +mind, hath made me feare the like myssehappe to come to the +cruell state of this disaduenturous gentleman? Notwithstanding +(O thou cruell beast) thinke not that thys thy fury shall stay +me from doing thee to death, to rid thee from follye and +disdayne, and this vnfortunate louer from despayre and trouble, +verily beleuing, that in tyme it shalbe knowne what profit the +World shall gayne by purgyng the same of sutch an infected +plague as is an vnkynd and arrogante hearte: and it shall feele +what vtility ryseth by thyne ouerthrowe. And I doe hope besydes +in tyme to come, that Men shall prayse this deede of myne, who +for preseruynge the Honoure of one House, hath chosen rather to +doe to death two offenders, than to leaue one of them aliue, to +obscure the glory and brightnesse of the other. And therefore" +(sayd he, tourning his face to those of his traine,) "cut the +throte of this stubborne and froward beast, and doe the like to +them that be come with hir, shewe no more fauor vnto them all, +than that curssed strumpet doth mercy to the life of that +miserable Gentleman, who lieth a dying there for loue of hir." +The Mayden hearing the cruel sentence of hir death, cryed out so +loud as she coulde, thinking reskue woulde haue come, but the +poore Wench was deceiued: for the desert knew none other, but +those that were abiding in that troupe. The Page and the woman +seruaunt exclamed vpon Roderico for mercy, but he made as though +he heard them not, and rather made signe to his men to do what +he commaunded. When Gineura sawe that their deathe was purposed +in deede, confirmed in opinion rather to dy, than to obey, she +said vnto the executioners: "My friends, I beseech you let not +these innocentes abide the penaunce of that which they neuer +committed. And you, Dom Roderico, be reuenged on me, by whome +the fault, (if a woman's faith to hir husband may be termed a +faulte) is don. And let these infortunate depart, that bee God +knoweth guiltles of any cryme. And thou my friend, which liuest +amonges the shadowes of faythfull louers, if thou haue any +feelinge, as in deede thou prouest being in another world, +behold the purenesse of mine heart and fidelity of my loue: who +to keep the same inuiolable, do offer my self voluntarily to the +death, which this cruell tyrant prepareth for me. And thou +hangman the executioner of my ioyes, and murderer of the +immortall pleasures of my loue (sayd she to Roderico) glut thy +vnsaciable desire of bloud, make dronke thy mind with murder, +and boast of thy litle triumph, which for all thy threates or +persuasible words, thou canst not get from the heart of a simple +maiden, ne cary away the victory for all the battred breach made +into the rampare of hir honour." When she had so said, a Man +would haue thought that the memory of death had cooled hir +heate, but the same serued hir as an assured solace of hir +paynes. Dom Diego being come to himself and seing the discourse +of that tragedy, being now addressed to the last act and end of +that life and stage of faire and golden locked Gineura, making a +vertue of necessity, recouered a lyttle corage to saue, (if it +were possible) the life of hir, that had put hys owne in hazard +miserably to end. Hauing stayed them that held the maiden, he +repayred to Dom Roderico, to whom he spake in this wise: "I see +wel my good Lord and great Friende, that the good will you beare +me, causeth you to vse this honest order for my behalf, whereof +I doubt if I should lyue a whole hundred yeares, I shall not be +able to satisfy the least of the bondes wherein I am bound, the +same surpassing all mine ability and power. Yet for al that +(deare friend) sith you see the fault of this missehap to arise +of my predestinate ill lucke, and that man cannot auoyde things +once ordained, I beseech you do me yet this good pleasure (for +all the benefits that euer I haue receiued) to send back again +this gentlewoman with hir trayne, to the place from whence you +toke hir, wyth like assurance and conduct, as if shee were your +sister. For I am pleased with your endeuor, and contented with +my misfortune, assuring you sir besides, that the trouble which +she endureth, doth far more gryeue my heart than al the paine +which for hir sake I suffer. That hir sorrow then may decrease +and mine may renue againe, that she may lyue in peace, and I in +Warre for hir cruel beauty sake, I wyll wayt vppon Clotho, the +Spynner of the threden life of man vntil she breake the twysted +lace that holdeth the fatall course of my dolefull yeares. And +you Gentlewoman lyue in rest, as your poore suppliant, wretched +Dom Diego, shalbe citizen of wyld places, and vaunt you hardely +that yee were the best beloued maiden that euer liued." +Maruellous truly be the forces of loue, when they discouer their +perfection, for by their meanes thinges otherwise impossible be +reduced to sutch facility, as a man would iudge that they had +neuer bene so hard to obtaine, and so painefull to pursue: As +appeared by this damsel, in whome the wrath of fortune, the +pynche of iealosie, the intollerable rage of hir fryendes losse, +had ingendred a contempte of Dom Diego, an extreame desire to be +reuenged on Dom Roderico, and a tediousnesse of longer Lyfe. +And now putting of the vaile of blynde appetite, for the +esclarishing of hir vnderstandyng Eyes, and breakyng the Adamant +Rocke planted in the middes of hir breast, she beheld in open +sight the stedfastnesse, pacience and perseueration of hir great +fryend. For that supplycation of the Knight had greater force in +Gineura, than all hys former seruyces. And full wel she shewed +the same, when throwyng hir selfe vppon the Necke of the +desperate Gentleman, and imbracyng hym very louyngly she sayd +vnto him: "Ah sir, that your felicity is the begynnyng of my +great ioy of Mynd, whych sauoreth now of sweetnes in the very +same, in whom I imagyned to be the welsprynge of bytternesse. +The diminutyon of one gryefe is, and shall bee the increase of a +bonde, sutch as for euer I wyll call my selfe the moste humble +slaue of your honor, lowly beseechyng you neuerthelesse to +pardon my follyes, wherewyth full fondely I haue abused youre +pacience. Consider a whyle sir, I beseech you, the Nature and +secrecye of loue. For those that be blinded in that passion, +thynke them selues to be perfecte Seers, and yet be the first +that commit most filthy faultes. I doe not denie any committed +wrong and trespasse, and doe not refuse therefore the honest and +gentle Correction that you shall appointe mee, for expiation of +myne offence." "Ah my Noble Lady," (aunswered the knight, all +rapt wyth pleasure, and halfeway out of his wyts for ioy) +"I humbly beseech you inflyct vppon my poore wretched body no +further panges of Death, by remembryng the glory of my thought, +sith the recitall bryngeth with it a tast of the trauailes which +you haue suffred for my ioy and contentation." "It is +therefore," (quod she) "that I think my self happy: for by that +meanes I haue knowne the perfect qualyties that be in you, and +haue proued two extremities of vertue. One consisting in your +constancy and loyalty wherby you may vaunt yourself aboue hym +that sacrificed his Lyfe vpon the bloudy body of his Ladye who +for dying so, finished his Trauailes. Where you haue chosen a +life worse than death, no lesse paynefull a hundred times a Day, +than very death it self. The other in the clemency wherwyth you +calme and appease the rage of your greatest aduersaries. As my +self which before hated you to death, vanquished by your +courtesie do confesse that I am double bound vnto you, both for +my lyfe and honor: and hearty thankes do I render to the Lord +Roderico for the violence he dyd vnto me, by which meanes I was +induced to acknowledge my wrong, and the right whych you had to +complayne of my beastly resistance." "Al is wel," sayd Roderico, +"sith without peril of honor we may returne home to our houses: +I intend therefore (sayd he) to send word before to the Ladies +your mothers of your returne, for I know how so wel to couer and +excuse this our enterpryse and secrete iorneis, as by God's +assistance no blame or displeasure shall ensue thereof. And like +as (said he smiling) I haue builded the fortresse whych shot +into your campe, and made you flie, euen so I hope (Gentlewoman) +that I shalbe the occasion of your victorye, when you combat in +close campe, with your sweete cruel Ennimy." Thus they passed +the iorney in pleasaunt talk, recompensing the 2 Louers with al +honest and vertuous intertainment for their griefs and troubles +past. In the meane while they sent one of their Seruaunts to the +two widow Ladies, which were in greate care for their Children, +to aduertise them that Gineura was gone to visit Dom Diego, then +being in one of the castles of Roderico, where they were +determined if it were their good pleasure, to consumate their +mariage, hauing giuen faith and affiance one to the other. The +mother of Gineura could not heare tel of more pleasant newes: +for she had vnderstanded of the foolysh flyght and escape of hir +daughter, with the steward of hir house, wherof she was very +sorrowful, and for grief was like to die, but assured and +recomforted with those newes she failed not to mete the mother +of Dom Diego, at the appointed place whether the 2 louers were +arriued two daies before. Ther the mariage of that fair couple +(so long desired) was solempnised with sutch magnificence as was +requisite for the state of those two noble houses. Thus the +torment indured, made the ioye to sauour of some other taste +than they do feele, which without paine in the exercise of +loue's pursute, attaine the top of theyr desires: and truly +their pleasure was altogether like to him that nourished in +superfluous delicacy of meates cannot aptly so wel iudge of +pleasure as he which sometimes lacketh the abundance. And verily +loue wythout bitternesse, is almost a cause without effects, for +he that shall take away gryefs and troubled fansies from Louers, +depryueth them of the prayse of their stedfastnesse, and maketh +vayne the glory of their perseuerence: For{ }hee is vnworthy to +beare away the price and Garland of triumph in the Conflict, +that behaueth himselfe like a coward, and doth not obserue the +lawes of armes and manlike dueties incident to a combat. This +History then is a Mirrour for Loyall Louers and Chaste Suters, +and maketh them detest the vnshamefastnesse of those, which vpon +the first view do followe with might and mayne, the Gentlewoman +or Lady that gieueth them good Face, or Countenaunce whereof any +gentle heart, or mynde, noursed in the Schoolehouse of vertuous +education, will not bee squeymishe to those that shall by chaste +salutation or other incountry, doe their curteous reuerence. +This History also yeldeth contempt of them, which in their +affection forget themselues abasing the Generosity of their +Courages to be reputed of fooles the true champions of loue, +whose like are they that desire such regarde. For the perfection +of a true Louer consisteth in passions, in sorrows, griefes, +martirdomes, or cares, and mutch lesse arriueth he to his +desire, by sighes, exclamations, Weapings, and childishe +playnts: For so mutch as vertue ought to be the bande of that +indissoluble amity, which maketh the vnion of the two seuered +bodies of that Woman man, which Plato describeth, and causeth +man to trauell for hys whole accomplishment in the true pursute +of chaste loue. In which labour truly, fondly walked Dom Diego, +thinking to finde the same by his dispayre amiddest the sharpe +solitary Deserts of those Pyrene Mountaynes. And truely the +duety of his perfect friende, did more liuely disclose the same +(what fault so euer he did) than all his Countenaunces, eloquent +letters or amorous Messages. In like manner a man doth not know +what a treasure a true Friende is, vntill hee hath proued his +excellency, specially where necessity maketh him to taste the +swetenes of sutch delicate meate. For a frend being a seconde +himselfe, agreeth by a certayne naturall Sympathie and +attonement to th'affections of him whom he loueth both to +particpate his ioyes and pleasures, and to sorrowe his +aduersity, where Fortune shall vse by some misaduentures, +to shewe hir accustomed mobility. + + + + +THE THIRTIETH NOUELL. + + _A Gentleman of Siena, called Anselmo Salimbene, curteously + and gently deliuereth his enemy from death. The condemned + party seeing the kinde parte of Salimbene, rendreth into his + hands his sister Angelica, with whom he was in loue, which + gratitude and curtesie, Salimbene well markinge, moued in + Conscience, woulde not abuse hir, but for recompence tooke hir + to his wyfe._ + + +Wee do not meane here to discouer the Sumptuosity and +Magnificence of Palaces, stately, and wonderfully to the view of +men, ne yet to reduce to memory the maruellous effectes of man's +Industry to builde and lay Foundations in the deepest Chanel of +the mayne sea, ne to describe their ingenious Industry, in +breaking the Craggy Mountaynes, and hardest Rocks, to ease the +crooked Passages of weary waies, for Armies to marche through in +accessible places. Onely now do we pretend to shewe the effects +of loue, which surmount all Opinion of common thinges, and +appeare so miraculous as the founding, and erecting of the +Collissæi, Collossæi, Theatres, Amphitheatres, Pyramides, and +other workes wonderfull to the world, for that the hard indured +path of hatred and displeasure long time begoon, and obstinately +pursued wyth straunge cruelty, was conuerted into loue, by +th'effect of concord, sutch as I know none, but is so mutch +astonned, as hee maye haue good cause to wonder, consyderyng the +stately foundations vppon which Kinges and greate Monarches haue +employed the chyefest reuenues of their prouinces. Now lyke as +ingratitude is a vice of greatest blame and discommendation +amongs men, euen so Gentlenesse and Kindnesse ought to beare the +title of a most commendable vertue. And as the Thebans were +accused of that crime, for their great Captaynes Epaminondas and +Pelopidas. So the Plateens (contrarywise) are praised for their +solempne obseruation of the Grekes benefits, which deliuered +them oute of the Persians bondage. And the Sicyonians beare away +the pryse of eternall prayse, for acknowledgyng the good turnes +receiued of Aratus, that delyuered them from the cruelty of the +tyrants. And if Philippo Maria, duke of Milan, deserued eternal +reproch for his ingratitude to his wife Beatrix, for the secrete +killing of hir, he being enryched with hir goodes and treasures: +a barbarous Turke borne in Arabia, shal carry the praise, who +being vanquished in Arabia, by Baldouine, kyng of Hierusalem, +and he and his Wife taken prysoners, and his treasures fallen +into the hands of that good king, issued of the Loraine bloud, +who neuerthelesse seeing that the Chrystian had deliuered him, +and restored againe his wife would not be vanquished in +magnificence and liberalitye, and mutch lesse beare the name of +an vnkind prince, but rather when Baldouine was ouercome of the +infidels, and being retyred within a certaine city, the Admiral +of Arabie, came to him in the night, and tellyng him the deuice +of his companions, conueyed hym out of the City, and was hys +guide vntill he sawe hym free from peril. I haue alleaged the +premysses, bycause the History whych I purpose to recyte, +aduoucheth two examples not Vulgare or Common, the one of very +great Loue, and the other of sutch acceptation and knowledgyng +thereof, as I thought it pity the same should lurk from the +Acquayntaunce of vs Englysh Men. And that they alone should haue +the Benefite thereof whych vnderstand the Italian tongue, +supposing that it shall bryng some fruyct and commodity to this +our Englishe Soyle, that ech Wyghte may frame their lyfe on +those whych in straung Countries far from vs, haue lyued +vertuously wythout reproch that might soyle or spotte theyr +name. In Siena then (an auncient, and very noble Citty of +Toscane, which no longe time past was gouerned by hir +Magistrates, and liued in hir own lawes and liberties, as the +Lucquois, Pisans, and Florentines do) were two families very +rich, noble, and the chiefe of the Citty called the Salimbenes, +and Montanines, of the Race and Stock whereof, excellent men in +their Common wealth haue descended, very good and expert +Souldiers for conducte of Armies. Those two houses in the +beginning were so great freendes, and frequented sutch loue and +familiarity, as it seemed they had bene but one house and +bloude, dayly vsinge eche others company, and banketting one +another. But Italy in all times being as it were a Store house +of troubles, and a very marte of sedition, bandes, and +parcialities, specially of ciuill warres in euery Citty, it +coulde not be that Siena shoulde alone enioy hir liberty in +peace, and accorde of Cittizens, and vaunt hir selfe to bee free +from knowledge of particular debate. For of warres shee had good +experience against the Florentines, who by long remembraunce +haue don what they coulde to make hir subiect vnto them. Nowe +the cause of that discorde rose euen by them which kept the +Cittizens in vnity and concord, and was occasioned by those 2 +houses the noblest, and most puissant of their common wealth. +It is not vnknowne to any man, that antiquity ordayned it to be +peculiar for nobility, to trayne vp there children in huntinge, +aswell to bolden and Nosell theym in daungers, as to make them +stronge, and accustomed in trauayle, and to force them shun the +delicate lyfe and great Idlenes which accompany honorable +houses, and those of gentle bloud, forsomutch as by the pursuite +of Beastes, sleyghts of warre bee obserued: the Hounds be the +square battell, the Greyhoundes be the flanquarts and Wynges to +follow the enimy, the horseman serueth to gieue the Chace, when +the Game speedeth to couert, the Hornes be the Trumpets to +sounde the Chase and Retire, and for incouragement of the Dogges +to run. To be short, it seemeth a very Campe in battayle, +ordayned for the pleasure and passetyme of noble youth. +Neuerthelesse, by hunting diuers missefortunes doe arise, and +sundry daungers haue happened by the same. Meleager lost his +Lyfe for the victory of the wyld Bore of Callydonia, Cephalus +was slaine for kylling his deare beloued Pocris, and Acastus was +accursed for murdering the King's sonne of whome he was the +Tutour. William Rufus, one of our Englysh Kings, the son of the +Conquerour, was killed with an Arrow in the New Forrest by a +French Gentleman called Walter Tyrel, as he was pursuing the +Harte. Other histories reporte dyuers peryls chaunced in +hunting, but yet the same worthy to be cheryshed, frequented and +vsed by good aduise and moderate pastyme. So the huntinge of the +wylde Bore defyled the City of Siena, with the bloud of hir owne +Citizens, when the Salimbenes and Montanines vppon a daye in an +assembled company, incountring vpon a greate and fierce Bore, +toke hym by force of men and Beastes. When they had don, as they +were banketting and communing of the nimblenesse of their dogs, +ech man praising his owne, as hauing done beste, there rose +greate debate amongs them [vpon that matter], and proceeded so +farre, as fondly they began to reuile one another with words, +and from taunting termes to earnest blowes, wherewith diuers in +that skirmish were hurt on both sides: In the end the Salimbenes +had the worsse, and one of the principall slayne in the place, +which appalled the rest, not that they were discoraged, but +attending time and season of reuenge. This hatred so strangely +kindled betwene both partes, that by lyttle and lyttle, after +many combats and ouerthrowes of eyther side, the losse lyghted +vpon the Montanines, who with their wealth and rychesse were +almost brought to nothing, and thereby the rygour and Choler of +the Salimbenes appeased, none being able to resist them, and in +space of time forgot all iniuries. The Montanines also that +remayned at Siena, liued in quyet, wythoute chalenge or quarell +of their aduersaries, howbeit mutuall talke and haunt of others +company vtterly surceased. And to say the truth, there were +almost none to quarell wythall, for the whole Bloude and Name of +the Montanines rested in one alone, called Charles the Sonne of +Thomas Montanine, a young man so honest and well brought vp as +any then in Siena, who had a syster, that for beauty, grace, +curtesy and honesty, was comparable with the best in all +Thoscane. This poore young Gentleman had no great reuenue, for +that the patrimonie of his predecessors was wasted in charges +for entertainement of Souldiers in the time of the hurly burly +and debates aforesaid. A good parte also was confiscate to the +Chamber of Siena for trespasses and forfaitures committed: with +the remayne he sustained his family, and indifferently +maintained hys porte soberly within his owne house, keping his +sister in decent and moderate order. The Maiden was called +Angelica, a Name of trouth, without offence to other, due to +hir. For in very deede in hir were harbored the vertue of +Curtesy and Gentlenesse, and was so wel instructed and nobly +brought vp, as they which loued not the Name or race of hir, +could not forbeare to commend hir, and wyshe theyr owne +daughters to be hir lyke. In sutch wise as one of hir chiefest +foes was so sharpely beset with hir vertue and beauty, as he +lost his quiet sleepe, and lust to eate and drinke. His name was +Anselmo Salimbene, who woulde wyllinglye haue made sute to marry +hir, but the discord past, quite mortified his desire, so soone +as he had deuised the plot wythin his brayne and fansie. +Notwithstanding it was impossible that the louer so lyuely +grauen and roted in his mind, could easily be defaced. For if +once in a day he had not seene hir, his heart did fele the +torments of tosting flames, and wished that the hunting of the +Bore, had neuer decaied a family so excellent, to the intent he +myght haue matched himself with hir, whome none other could +displace out of his remembraunce, that was one of the rychest +Gentlemen and of greatest power in Siena. Now for that he durst +not discouer his amorous griefe to any person, was the chiefest +cause that martired most his hearte, and for the auncient +festred malice of those two families, he despayred for euer, to +gather either floure or fruict of that affection, presupposing +that Angelica would neuer fixe hir Loue on him, for that his +Parents were the cause of the defaite and ouerthrow of the +Montanine house. But what? There is nothing durable vnder the +heauens. Both good and euyll haue theyr reuolution in the +gouernment of humane affayres. The amityes and hatredes of +Kynges and Prynces, be they so hardened, as commonly in a Moment +hee is not seene to be a hearty Friende, that lately was a +cruell Foe, and spyred naught else but the ruine of his +Aduersary? Wee see the variety of Humayne chaunces, and then doe +iudge at eye what great simplicity it is to stay and settle +certayne, and infallible iudgement vppon man's vnstayed doings. +He that erst gouerned a king, and made all things to tremble at +his word, is sodaynely throwne downe, and dyeth a shamefull +death. In like sorte, another whych looketh for his owne +vndoinge, seeth himselfe aduaunced to hys estate agayne, by +reuenge ouer his Enimies. Calir Bassa gouerned whilom the great +Mahomet, that wan the Empire of Constantinople, who attempted +nothing without the aduice of that Bassa. But vpon the sodayne +he saw him selfe reiected, and the next day strangled by +commaundement of him, which so greatly honoured him, and without +iust cause did him to a death so cruell. Contrarywise Aragon the +Tartarian entring Armes against his Vncle Tangodor Caui, when +hee was vpon the Poynct to lose his Lyfe for his rebellion, and +was conueyed into Armenia to be executed there, was rescued by +certayne Tartarians the houshold seruaunts of his dead vncle, +and afterwards Proclaymed King of Tartary about the year 1285. +The example of the Empresse Adaleda is of no lesse credit than +the former, who being fallen into the hands of Beranger the +Vsurper of the Empyre escaped his fury and cruelty by flight, +and in the ende maried to Otho the firste, sawe hir wrong +reuenged vpon Beranger and all his Race by hir Sonne Otho the +second. I aduouch these Hystories to proue the mobility of +fortune, and the chaunge of worldly chaunces, to th'ende you may +see that the very same misery which followed Charles Montanine +hoysted him aloft agayne, and when he looked for least succour, +he saw deliueraunce at hand. Now to prosecute our Hystory: know +yee that while Salimbene by little and little pined for loue of +Angelica, whereof shee was ignoraunt and carelesse, and albeit +shee curteously rendred health to him, when sometimes in his +amorous fit he beheld hir at a Window, yet for al that shee +neuer so mutch as guessed the thoughts of hir louing enimy. +During these haps it chaunced that a rich Cittizen of Siena, +hauing a ferme adioyning to the Lands of Montanine, desirous to +encrease his Patrimony, and annexe the same vnto his owne, and +knowing that the yong Gentleman wanted many thinges, moued him +to sel his inheritaunce, offring hym for it in ready money, +a M. Ducates, Charles which of al the wealth and substaunce left +him by his auncester, had no more remaynyng but that countrey +Ferme, and a Palace in the City (so the rich Italians of ech +City, terme their houses,) and with that lytle lyued honestly, +and maintained his sister so wel as he could, refused flatly to +dispossesse himselfe of the portion, that renewed vnto him the +happy memory of those that had ben the chiefe of all the Common +Wealth. The couetous wretch seeing himselfe frustrate of his +pray, conceiued sutch rancor against Montanine, as he purposed +by right or wrong to make him not only to forfait the same, but +also to lose his lyfe, following the wicked desire of tirannous +Iesabell, that made Naboth to be stonned to death to extort and +wrongfully get his vineyard. About that time for the quarels and +common dyscordes raigning throughout Italy, the Nobility were +not assured of safety in their Countreis, but rather the common +sort and rascall number, were the chief rulers and gouerners of +the common wealth, whereby the greatest part of the Nobility or +those of beste authority being banished, the villanous band, and +grosest kind of common people made a law (like to the Athenians +in the time of Solon) that all persons of what degree and +condition so euer they were, which practized by himselfe or +other meanes the restablyshing or reuocation of sutch as were +banished out of their Citye, should lose and forfaite the +summe of M. Florens, and hauing not wherewith to pay the +condempnation, their head should remaine for gage. A law no +doubt very iust and righteous, scenting rather of the barbarous +cruelty of the Gothes and Vandales, than of true christians, +stopping the retire of innocents exiled for particular quarels +of Citizens incited one against another, and rigorously +rewarding mercy and curtesy, with execution of cruelty +incomparable. This Citizen then purposed to accuse Montanine +for offending against the law, bicause otherwise he could not +purchase his entent, and the same was easy inough for him to +compasse, by reason of his authority and estimation in the +Citye: for the Endytemente and plea was no sooner red and giuen, +but a number of post knightes appeared to depose against the +poore Gentleman, to beare witnesse that he had trespassed the +Lawes of the Countrey, and had sought meanes to introduce the +banished, with intent to kyll the gouerners, and to place in +state those factious, that were the cause of the Italian +troubles. The myserable Gentleman knewe not what to do, ne how +to defend himself. There were against him the Moone and the VII. +starres, the state of the City, the Proctor and Iudge of the +Courte, the wytnesses that gaue euidence, and the law whych +condempned him. He was sent to Pryson, sentence was pronounced +against him with sutch expedition, as he had no leysure to +consider his affayres. There was no man, for feare to incurre +the displeasures of the Magistrates, that durst open hys mouth +to speake or make sute for hys delyueraunce. Like as the most +part of fryendes in these dayes resembling the crow, that flyeth +not but after carrian to gorge his rauenous Crop, and sutch +friends doe visite the house of the fryend but for profit, +reuerencyng him so long as he is in prosperitye, accordyng to +the Poet's complaynt. + + Like as the purest gold in fieri flames is tried, + Euen so is fayth of fryends in hard estate descried. + If hard missehap doth thee affray, + Ech of thy friends do flie away, + And he which erst full friendly semde to thee, + A friend no more to thy poor state is hee. + +And simple Wyghtes ought not to bee afrayde, and thynke amyss if +Fryendes doe flee away, sith Prynces and great Lords incurre +sutch hap and Fortune. The great leader of the Romayne Armies, +Pompeius, the honor of the people and Senate of Rome, what +companion had he to flee with hym? Whych of his auncient friends +toke paine to rescue and delyuer him from his Enimyes hands +which did pursue him? A king of Ægipt which had known and found +this good Romane Prynce a kind and gentle fryend, was he that +killed him, and sent his head to his Victor and unsatible greedy +gutte Iulius Cæsar, falsifying his promised fayth, and +forgetting his receiued pleasures. Amongs all the comforts which +this pore Siena Gentleman found, although but a curssed Traitor, +was thys vnfaithfull and pestiferous Camæleon, who came and +offred him al the pleasure and kindnesse he was able to do. +But the varlet attended conuenient tyme to make him taste his +poyson, and to let him see by effect, how dangerous a thing it +is to be il neighbored, hoping after the condempnation of +Montanine he should at pleasure purchase the Lordshippe, after +whych with so open mouth he gaped. Ouer whom he had hys wyll: +for two or three dayes after the recitall of the endytement +and giuing of the euydence, Charles was condempned, and his +fine sessed at M. Florins to be payed within XV. dayes, +vntyl whych time to remaine in Pryson. And for default of +sutch payment to loose his heade, bicause he had infringed the +Lawes, and broken the Statutes of the Senate. This sentence was +very difficult for poor Montanine to digest, who saw all his +goodes like to be dispoyled and confiscate, complayning +specially the fortune of fayre Angelica his sister, whych all +the tyme of the imprysonment of hir deare brother, neuer went +out of the house, ne ceased to weepe and lamente the hard +fortune whereinto their family was lyke to fall by that new +mischaunce: "Alas," said the fayre curteous damsel, "will the +heauens never be appeased but continually extend their wrathe +vpon our deplored family, and shal our missehaps neuer cease? +Had it not bene more tollerable for our consumed bloude, that +the dissentions past, had been tried by dent of sword, than to +see the present innocency of the young Gentleman my brother in +daunger to be innocently accused and put to death, through the +vniustice of those, which beare mortal malice to noble bloud, +and glory in depryuation of the whole remembrance of the same? +O dampnable state that muste hale the guiltlesse to the gibet +and irreuocable sentence of those iudges remaining in a city, +which men cal free, albeit a confused multitude hath the vpper +hande, and may so bee, that Nature hath produced them to treade +vnder foote noble Wightes for their Offences. Ah dear Brother, +I see well what is the cause. If thou hadst not that lytle +lordshyp in the Countrey, and Pryncely House in the City, no man +would haue enuied thine estate, or could haue charged thee with +any Crime, which I would to God, thou hadst not onely +enterprysed, but also broughte to passe, to the intent thou +mightest haue ben reuenged of the wrong which these cankred +Carles ordinarily do vnto my Noble bloud. But what reason is it +that marchants and artificers, or the sonnes of villaines should +rule a common Wealth? O happy Countreis where kings giue Lawes, +and Princes see by proued sight, those persons which resemble +them, and in their places beare the sway. And O unhappy wee, +that be the slaues of a waiwarde state, peruerted by corruption. +Why dyd our predecessors minde to stablysh any lyberty at al, to +thrust the same into the confused gouernment of the commons of +our Countrey? We haue stil the Frenchman at our tayle, or the +people of our highest Bishop, or else those crafty Florentines, +we be the common pray of al those that list to follow the haunt, +and that which is our extreamest misery, we make oure selues the +very slaues of them that of right ought to be reputed the vilest +amongs us al. Ah deare Brother, that thy wretched tyme is come, +the onely hope of our decayed family. Thou hadest neuer bene +committed to Warde, had not thy false assured foes bene assure +of witnesse to condempne thee. Ah that my life mighte raunsome +thine, and redeme agayn thyne estate and succor, thou shouldest +be sure that forthwith Angelica would prepare hirself to bee the +pray of those hungry rauenyng Wolues, which bleat and bellow +after thy Lands and Lyfe." Whyle this fayre Damsell of Siena in +this sort dyd torment hir self, poore Montanine, seeinge that he +was brought to the last extremity of his desired hope, as eche +man naturally doth seke meanes to prolong his lyfe, knowing that +all other help fayled for hys delyueraunce except he sold his +land, aswel to satisfy the fine, as to preuayle in the rest of +his Affaires, sent one of the gailers to that worshipfull usurer +the cause of hys Calamity, to offer him his Land for the pryce +and sum of a M. Ducates. The pernicious and trayterous +villain, seeing that Montanine was at his mercy, and stode in +the water up to the very throte, and knew no more what to do, +as if already he had tryumphed of hys life and Land so greatly +coueted, answered him in this manner: "My friend thou shalt say +to Charles Montanine, that not long ago I would willingly haue +giuen him a good Summe of Money for his Ferme, but sithens that +tyme I haue imployed my Money to some better profit: and albeit +I was in minde to buy it, I would be loth to give aboue 7. C. +Florins, being assured that it cannot be so commodious, as my +Money is able to bring yearely Gayne into my Purse." See how +Auarice is the Pickpurse of secret and hidden gayne, and the +very Whirlepoole of Honesty, and Conscience, couetinge nought +els but by vnrighteous Pray of other mens goods, to accumulate +and heape together. The aboundance whereof bringeth no greater +good hap vnto the gluttonous Owner, but rather the minde of +sutch is more miserable, and carryeth therewithall more decrease +of quiet, than increase of filthy muck. The couetous man beareth +no loue but to his Treasure, nor exerciseth charity but vpon his +Coafers, who, than he would be dispossessed thereof, had rather +sell the life of his naturall Father. This detestable Villayne +hauing sometimes offered M. Ducates to Charles for his +Enherytaunce, will now doe so no more, aspiring the totall Ruine +of the Montanine Family. Charles aduertised of his minde, and +amazed for the Counsels decree, well saw that all thinges +contraried hys hope and expectation, and that he must needes dye +to satisfie the excessiue and couetous Lust of the Cormerant, +whose malice hee knew to bee so vehement, as none durst offer +him Money, by reason of the vnhappy desire of this neuer +contented Varlet: For which consideration throughly resolved to +dye, rather than to leaue hys poore Sister helplesse, and +without reliefe, and rather than he would agree to the bargayne +tending to his so great losse and disadvauntage, and to the +Tirannous dealing of the wicked Tormentor of hys Lyfe, seeing +also that all meanes to purge and auerre his innocency, was +taken from him, the finall decree of the Iudges being already +passed, he began to dispose himselfe to repentaunce and +saluation of his Soule, making complaynte of his Mishaps in thys +manner. + + To what hath not the heauens hatefull bin, + Since for the ease of man they weaue sutch woe? + By diuers toyles they lap our crosses in + With cares and griefes, whereon our mischiefes groe: + The bloudy hands and Sword of mortall foe, + Doe search mine euill, and would destroy me quite, + Through heynous hate and hatefull heaped spite. + + Wherefore come not the fatall sisters three, + That draw the line of life and death by right? + Com furies all, and make an ende of mee, + For from the world, my sprite would take his flight. + Why comes not nowe fowle Gorgon full in sight, + And Typhon's head, that deepe in hell remaynes, + For to torment the silly soules in paynes? + + It better were for mee to feele your force, + Than this missehap of murdring enuy'es rage, + By curssed meanes and fall vpon my corse, + And worke my ruine amid my flouring age: + For if I were dispatch'de in this desire, + The feare were gone, of blacke infernall fire. + + O Gods of Seas, and cause of blustring winde, + Thou Æolus and Neptune to I say, + Why did you let my Barke sutch fortune finde, + That safe to shore I came by any way? + Why brake yee not, agaynst some Rocke or Bay, + The keele, the sterne, or els blew downe the Mast, + By whose large sayles through surging seas I past? + + Had these things hapt, I had not seene this houre, + The house of dole where wofull sprites complayne, + Nor vserers on me had vsde sutch power, + Nor I had seene depaynted in disdayne, + The God of care, with whom dead Ghosts remayne. + Who howles and Skrekes in hollow trees and holes, + Where Charon raygnes among condemned soules. + + Ah, ah, since hap will worke my wretched end, + And that my ruine by iudgement is decreed: + Why doth not happe sutch happy fortune send, + That I may lead with me the man in deede, + That staynd his fayth, and faylde me at my neede, + For gayne of golde, as vsurers do God knowes, + Who cannot spare the dropping of their nose? + + I should haue slayne the slaue that seru'd me so, + O God forbid my hands were brued in blood, + Should I desire the harme of friend or foe? + Nay better were to wishe mine en'my good: + For if my death I throughly vnderstood, + I should make short the course I haue to run, + Since rest is got when worldly toyle is done. + + Alas, alas, my chiefest way is this, + A guiltlesse death to suffer as I can, + So shall my soule be sure of heauen's blisse, + And good renoume shall rest behinde me than, + And body shall take end where it began, + And fame shall fly before me, ere I flit + Vnto the Gods, where Ioue in throne doth sit. + + O God conuert, from vyce to vertue now, + The heart of him that falseth fayth wyth me, + And chaunge his minde and mend his maners throw, + That he his fault and fowle offence may see, + For death shall make my fame immortall bee: + And whiles the Sunne which in the heauens doth shine, + The shame is his, and honor shall be mine. + + Alas, I mourne not for my selfe alone, + Nor for the fame of my Forefathers olde, + 'Tys Angelike, that causeth me to mone, + 'Tys she that filles my brest with fansies colde, + 'Tys shee more worth, than was the fliece of golde, + That mooues my minde and breedes sutch passions straunge, + As in my selfe I feele a wonderous chaunge. + + Haue pitty Lord of hir and mee this day, + Since destny thus hath sundred vs in spite, + O suffer not hir vertues to decay, + But let hir take in friendship sutch delite, + That from hir brest all vice be banisht quite: + And let hir like as did hir noble race, + When I poore man am deade, and out of place. + + Alas my hand would write these wofull lines, + That feeble sprite denyes for want of might, + Wherefore my heart in brest consumes and pines, + With deepe desires, that far is from man's sight, + But God he sees myne innocencie and right, + And knowes the cause of myne Accuser still, + Who seekes my bloud to haue on mee his will. + +When Charles thus complayned himself, and throughly was +determined to dy, great pitty it was to see how fayre Angelica +did rent hir Face, and teare hir golden Locks, when she saw how +impossible it was to saue hir obstinate brother from the cruel +sentence pronounced vpon him, for whom she had imployed all hir +wits and fayre speach, to perswade the neerest of hir Kin to +make sute. Thus rested she alone ful of sutch heauinesse and +vexation as they can think which see themselues depriued of +things that they esteeme most dere. But of one thing I can wel +assure you, that if ill fortune had permitted that Charles +should haue bin put to death, the gentle damsel also had +breathed forth the final gasp of hir sorowful life, yeldinge +therewithall the last end of the Montanine race and family. What +booteth it to hold processe of long discourse? Beholde the last +day is come deferred by the Iudges, whereupon he must eyther +satisfie the fine, or dye the next day after like a rebel and +Traytor against the state, without any of his kin making sute or +meane for his deliueraunce: albeit they visited the fayre +mayden, and comforted hir in that hir wretched state, +instructing hir how shee should gouerne hir selfe patiently to +suffer things remedilesse. Angelica accompanied with hir kin, +and the maidens dwelling by, that were hir companions, made the +ayre to sound with outcries and waymentings, and she hir selfe +exclaymed like a woman destraught of Wits, whose plaints the +multitude assisted with like eiulations and outcries, wayling +the fortune of the yong gentleman, and sorowfull to see the +mayden in daunger to fal into some mishap. As these things were +thus bewayled, it chaunced about nine of the clocke at night, +that Anselmo Salimbene, he whom we haue sayd to be surprised +with the loue of Angelica, returning out of the Countrey, where +he had remayned for a certayne time, and passing before the +house of his Lady, according to his custome, heard the voyce of +women and maydens which mourned for Montanine, and therewithall +stayd: the chiefest cause of his stay was, for that he saw go +forth out of the Pallace of hys Angelica, diuers Women making +Moane, and Lamentation: wherefore he demaunded of the neyghbors +what noyse that was, and whether any in those Quarters were dead +or no. To whom they declared at length, al that which yee haue +heard before. Salimbene hearing this story, went home to his +house, and being secretly entred into his chamber, began +discourse with himselfe vpon that accident, and fantasying a +thousand things in his heade, in the ende thought that Charles +should not so be cast away, were he iustly or innocently +condempned, and for the only respect of his sister, that she +might not bee left destitute of the Goods, and Inheritaunce. +Thus discoursing diuers things, at length he sayd: "I were a +very simple person nowe to rest in doubt, sith Fortune is more +curious of my felicity than I could wishe, and seeketh the +effect of my desires, when least of all I though vpon them. For +behold, Montanine alone is left of all the mortall enimies of +our house, whych to morrow openly shall lose his head like a +rebell and seditious person, vpon whose Auncesters, in him shall +I be reuenged, and the quarell betweene our two Families, shall +take ende, hauinge no more cause to feare renuing of discorde, +by any that can descend from him. And who shall let mee then +from inioying hir, whom I doe loue, hir brother being dead, +and his goods confiscate to the Seigniory, and she without all +Maynetenaunce, and Reliefe, except the ayde of hir onely beauty +and curtesie? What maynetenaunce shall she haue, if not by the +loue of some honest Gentleman, that for hys pleasure may support +hir, and haue pitty vppon the losse of so excellent beauty? Ah +Salimbene, what hast thou sayd? Hast thou already forgotten that +a Gentleman for that only cause is esteemed aboue al other, +whose glorious facts ought to shine before the brightnesse of +those that force theymselues to followe vertue? Art not thou a +Gentleman borne, and Bred in noble house, Issued from the Loyns +of gentle and noble Parentes? Is it ignoraunt vnto thee, that it +pertayneth vnto a noble and gentle heart, to reuenge receyued +Iniuries himselfe, without seeking ayde of other or else to +pardon them by vsing clemency and princely curtesie, burying all +desire of vengeaunce vnder the Toumbe of eternall obliuion? +And what greater glory can man acquire, than by vanquishing +himselfe, and chastising his affections and rage, to bynde him +which neuer thought to receyue pleasure or benefit at his hand? +It is a thing which exceedeth the common order of nature, and so +is it meete and requisite, that the most excellent doe make the +effects of their excellency appeare, and seeke meanes for the +immortality of their remembraunce. The great Dictator Cæsar was +more praysed for pardoning hys enimies, and for shewing himselfe +curteous and easie to be spoken to, than for subduinge the braue +and valiaunt Galles and Britons, or vanquishing the mighty +Pompee. Dom Roderico Viuario, the Spaniard, although he might +haue bene reuenged vpon Dom Pietro, king of Aragon, for his +infidelity, bicause he went about to hinder his voyage agaynst +the Saracens at Grenado, yet woulde not Punishe or Raunsome him, +but taking him Prysoner in the Warres, suffred him to goe +without any Tribute, or any exaction of him and his Realme. The +more I followe the example of mighty Personages in thinges that +be good, the more notorious and wonderful shall I make my selfe +in their rare and noble deedes. And not willing to forget a +wrong done vnto me, whereof may I complayne of Montanine? What +thinge hath hee euer done agaynst me or mine? And albeit his +Predecessors were enimies to our Family, they haue therefore +borne the penaunce, more harde than the sinne deserued. And +truly I should be afrayde, that God would suffer me to tumble +into some mishap, if seeing one afflicted, I should reioyce in +his affliction, and take by his decay an argument of ioy and +pleasure. No, no, Salimbene is not of minde that sutch fond +Imagination should Bereue good will to make hymselfe a Freende, +and to gayne by liberality and curtesie hir, which for hir only +vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being assured, that +there is no man (except he were dispoyled of all good nature and +humanity) specially bearing the loue to Angelica, that I do, but +he would be sory to see hir in sutch heauinesse and despayre, +and would attempt to deliuer hir from sutch dolorous griefe. +For if I loue hir as I do in deede, must not I likewise loue all +that which she earnestly loueth, as him that is nowe in daunger +of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens? That my heart +doe make appeere what the loue is, which maketh me Tributary and +Subiect to fayre Angelica, and that eche man may knowe, that +furious loue hath vanquisht kings and great monarches, it +behoueth not me to be abashed, if I which am a man and subiect +to passions, so well as other, doe submit my selfe to the +seruice of hir, who I am assured is so vertuous as euen very +necessity cannot force hir to forget the house, whereof she +tooke hir originall. Vaunt thy selfe then O Angelica, to haue +forced a heart of it selfe impregnable, and giuen him a wound +which the stoutest Lads might sooner haue depriued of lyfe, than +put him out of the way of his gentle kinde: and thou, Montanine, +thinke, that if thou wilt thy selfe, thou winnest to day so +hearty a frende, as only death shall separate the vnion of vs +twayne, and of all our posterity. It is I, nay it is I my selfe, +that shall excell thee in duety, poynting the way for the +wisest, to get honor, and violently compel the mooued myndes of +those that be our aduersaries, desiring rather vainely to forgo +myne own life, than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts, which +be already grifted in my minde." After this long discourse +seeing the tyme required dilligence, hee tooke a thousand +Ducats, and went to the Treasurer of the fines, deputed by the +state, whom he founde in his office, and sayde vnto him: "I haue +brought you sir, the Thousande Ducates, which Charles Montanine +is bounde to pay for his deliueraunce. Tell them, and gieue him +an acquittaunce, that presently hee may come forth." The +Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest, that exceeded the +Summe of a Thousand Florens: but Salimbene refused the same, +and receyuing a letter for his discharge, he sent one of his +Seruaunts therewithal to the chiefe Gayler, who seeing that the +Summe of his condemnation was payd, immediately deliuered +Montanine out of the Prison where he was fast shut, and fettered +with great, and weyghty Giues. Charles thinckinge that some +Frier had bin come to confesse him, and that they had shewed him +some mercy to doe hym to death in Prison, that abroade in open +shame of the world he might not deface the Noble house whereof +he came, was at the first sight astonned, but hauing prepared +himselfe to die, praysed God, and besought him to vouchsafe not +to forget him in the sorrowful passage, wherein the stoutest and +coragious many times be faynt and inconstaunt. He recommended +his Soule, he prayed forgieuenesse of his sinnes: and aboue all, +he humbly besought the goodnesse of God, that it would please +him to haue pitty vpon his Sister, and to deliuer hir from all +Infamy and dishonor. When he was caried out of Pryson, and +brought before the Chiefe Gayler, sodaynely his Giues were +discharged from his Legges, and euery of the standers by looked +merily vppon hym, without speakinge any Woorde that might affray +hym. That Curtesie vnlooked for, made hym attende some better +thynge, and assured hym of that whych before by any meanes hee +durste not thyncke. And hys expectation was not deceiued. For +the Gayler sayde vnto hym: "Bee of good Cheare Sir, for beholde +the letters of your discharge, wherefore you may goe at liberty +whether you list." In saying so, he opened the Pryson, and +licenced Montanine to departe, praying him not to take in ill +part his intreaty and hard imprysonment, for that hee durst doe +none other, the State of the City hauing so enioyned hym. May +not ech Wyght now behold how that the euents of loue be diuers +from other passions of the mind? How could Salimbene haue so +charitably deliuered Montanine, the hatred beyng so long tyme +rooted between the two houses, if some greate occasion whych +hath no name in Loue, had not altred his Nature, and +extinguished hys affection? It is meritoryous to succour them +whome we neuer saw before, sith nature moueth vs to doe well to +them that be lyke our selues. But faith surmounteth there, where +the very naturall inclynation feeleth it self constrayned and +seeth that to be broken, whych obstynately was purposed to be +kept in mynde. The graces, gentlenesse, Beauty, mild behauior +and allurement of Angelica, had greater force ouer Salimbene, +than the humility of hir Brother, although he had kneeled a +hundred tymes before him. But what heart is so brute, but may be +made tractable and Mylde, by the Contemplation of a thyng so +rare, as the excellent Beauty of that Siena Mayden, and woulde +not humble it selfe to acquyre the good graces of so perfect a +Damsel? I wyll neuer accuse man for beyng in Loue wyth a fayre +and vertuous Woman, nor esteeme hym a slaue, whych painefully +serueth a sobre Mayden, whose heart is fraught wyth honeste +affections, and Mynd wyth desyre tending to good ende. Well +worthy of blame is he to be deemed whych is in loue wyth the +outeward hew, and prayseth the Tree onely layden with floures, +without regard to the fruict, whych maketh it worthye of +commendation. The young maiden must needes resemble the floure +of the Spryng time, vntill by hir constancy, modesty, and +chastity she hath vanquished the concupiscence of the flesh, +and brought forth the hoped fruicte of a Vertue and Chastity not +Common. Otherwyse, shee shall bee lyke the inrolled Souldyer, +whose valyance hys only mind doth wytnes, and the offer whych he +maketh to hym that doth register his name in the muster bookes. +But when the effect of seruyce is ioyned wyth his attempt, and +proofe belyeth not hys promyse, then the Captain imbraceth him, +and aduaunceth him, as a glasse for his affaires from that time +forth. The lyke of Dames hauing passed the assaults and resisted +the attempts of theyr assaylants which be honest, not by force +being not requyred, but inclyned by ther owne nature, and the +dyligence of theyr chast and inuincyble heart. But turne we +againe vnto our purpose, Montanine, when he was delyuered, +forthwyth wente home to hys house, to comfort hir, whom he was +more than sure to be in great distresse and heauinesse for his +sake, and whych had so mutch neede of comfort as he had, to take +his rest. He came to the gate of his Pallace (where beyng knowne +that it was Montanine) his sister by any meanes coulde not bee +made to beleue the same: so impossible seeme thynges vnto vs, +which we most desyre. They were all in doubte, lyke as wee reade +that they were when S. Peter escaped Herod's Pryson by the +Angel's meanes. When Angelica was assured that it was hir +Brother, sobbes wer layde aside, sighes were cast away, and +heauy weepings conuerted into teares of ioy, she went to imbrace +and kisse hir Brother, praising GOD for hys delyuerance, and +making accompt that he had ben raised from death to lyfe, +considering his stoutnes of minde rather bent to dye than to +forgo his Land, for so smal a pryce. The Dames that wer kin vnto +hym, and tarried there in Company of the maiden half in +dispayre, least by dispayre and fury shee might fall into +outrage therby to put hir lyfe in peril, with all expedition +aduertised their husbands of Montanine's Lyberty, not looked +for, who repayred thither, as wel to reioyce with him in his ioy +and good fortune, as to make their excuse, for that they had not +trauayled to ryd him from that misery. Charles whych cared +nothing at al for those mouth blessings, dissembled what he +thought, thanking them neuerthelesse for their visitation and +good remembrance they had of hym, for visiting and comforting +his sister which honor, he estemed no lesse than if they had +imployed the same vpon his owne person. Their friends and +kinsfolk being departed, and assured that none of them had payde +his ransome, hee was wonderfully astonned and the greater was +his gryef for that he could not tell what hee was, whych +withoute requeste, had made so gentle a proofe of his +lyberality: if he knew nothing, farre more ignoraunte was his +sister, forsomutch as she dyd thinke, that he had changed his +mind, and that the horrour of death had made him sel his +countrey inheritance, to hym whych made the first offer to buy +the same: but either of them deceyued of their thought went to +bed. Montanine rested not all the Nyght, hauyng still before his +eyes, the vnknowne image of hym that had delyuered him. His bed +serued his turne to none other purpose, but as a large field or +some long alley within a Wood, for walkes to make discourse of +hys mynde's conceipts, sometimes remembryng one, sometimes +another, without hitting the blanke and namyng of him that was +his deliuerer, vnto whome he confessed him selfe to owe hys +seruice and duety so long as hee lyued. And when hee saw the day +begyn to appeare and that the Mornyng, the Vauntcurrour of the +day, summoned Apollo to harnesse hys Horsse to begynne his +course in our Hemisphere, he rose and went to the Chamberlaine +or Treasurer, sutch as was deputed for receypt of the Fines, +sessed by the State, whom he saluted, and receyuing lyke +salutation, he prayed hym to shewe hym so mutch pleasure as to +tell hym the parties name, that was so Lyberall to satysfie his +fine due in the Eschequer of the State. To whome the other +aunswered: "None other hath caused thy delyueraunce +(O Montanine) but a certain person of the World, whose Name thou +mayst easily gesse, to whome I gaue an acquittance of thyne +imprysonmente, but not of the iuste summe, bycause hee gaue me a +Thousand Ducates for a Thousand Florens, and woulde not receyue +the ouerplus of the debte, whych I am readye to delyuer thee +wyth thyne acquyttaunce." "I haue not to doe wyth the Money" +(sayd Charles) "onely I pray you to tell me the name of him that +hath don me thys great curtesy, that hereafter I may acknowledge +him to be my Friend." "It is" (sayd the Chamberlayne) "Anselmo +Salimbene, who is to bee commended and praysed aboue all thy +parents and kinne, and came hither very late to bryng the Money, +the surplusage whereof, beholde here it is." "God forbid" (sayd +Montaine) "that I should take awaye that, whych so happily was +brought hither to rid me out of payne." And so went away wyth +his acquittance, his mind charged with a numbre of fansies for +the fact don by Salimbene. Being at home at his house, he was +long time stayed in a deepe consideration, desirous to know the +cause of that gentle parte, proceeding from him whose Parents +and Auncesters were the capitall Enimies of his race. In the end +lyke one risyng from a sound sleepe, he called to mynd, that +very many times he had seene Anselmo with attentiue eye and +fixed looke to behold Angelica, and in eying hir uery louyngly, +he passed euery day (before theyr gate) not shewing other +countenaunce, but of good wyll, and wyth fryendly gesture, +rather than any Ennimies Face, saluting Angelica at all tymes +when he met hir. Wherefore Montanine was assured, that the onely +loue of Salimbene towards his sister caused that delyueraunce, +concluding that when the passion doth proceede of good loue, +seazed in gentle heart and of noble enterpryse, it is impossible +but it muste bryng forth the maruellous effects of vertue's +gallantize, of honesty and curtesy, and that the spyrite wel +borne, can not so mutch hide hys gentle nourtoure, but the fyre +must flame abroade, and that whych seemeth dyfficult to bee +brought to passe, is facilitye, and made possible by the +conceiptes and indeuors so wel imployed: wherefore in the Ende +not to bee surmounted in Honesty, ne yet to beare the marke of +one, that vnthankefully accepteth good turnes, he determyned to +vse a great prodigality vppon him, that vnder the name of foe, +had shewed himselfe a more faythful friend, then those that bare +good face, and at neede wer furthest off from afflicted +Montanine, who not knowing what present to make to Salimbene, +but of himselfe and hys syster, purposed to impart his minde to +Angelica, and then vpon knowledge of hir wil to performe his +intent. For which cause vnderstanding that his gracious enimy +was gone into the Countrey, he thoughte well to consyder of his +determynatyon, and to breake wyth hir in hys absence, the better +to Execute the same, vppon his nexte retourne to the Citye. He +called Angelica asyde, and beynge bothe alone together, hee vsed +these or sutch lyke Woordes: "You knowe, deare Sister, that the +higher the fall is, the more daungerous and greater gryefe he +feeleth that doth fall from highe than hee that tumbleth downe +from place more low and of lesser steepenes. I speak this, +bicause I cal to mind the condition, nobility, and excellency of +our ancesters, the glorie of our race, and riches of all our +house, which constraineth me many tymes to sigh, and sheade a +streame of teares, when I see the sumptuous palaces that were +the homes and resting places of our Fathers, and grand fathers, +when I see on al parts of this City, the Armes, and Scutcheons +painted and imbossed, bearyng the mark of the Antiquity of our +house, and when I beholde the stately marble tombes and brasen +Monuments, in dyuers our Temples erected for perpetuall Memorye +of many knyghtes and generalles of warres, that sorted forth of +the Montanine race: and chyefly I neuer enter thys great Palace, +the remnant of our inheritaunce and patrimony, but the +remembraunce of our auncesters, so glaunceth ouer mine Hearte, +as an hundred hundred tymes, I wysh for death, to thynke that I +am the Post alone of the mysery and decay fallen vppon the name +and famous familye of the Montanines, whych maketh me thinke our +life to be vnhappy, being downe fallen from sutch felicity, +to feele a mysery most extreame. But one thing alone ought to +content vs, that amid so great pouerty, yl luck, ruine and +abasement, none is able to lay vnto our charge any thing +vnworthy of the nobility and the house, whereof we be descended, +our lyfe being conformable to the generositie of our +predecessors: whereby it chanceth, that although our poore +estate be generally knowne, yet none can affirme, that we haue +forligned the vertue of them, which vertuously haue lyued before +vs. If so bee wee haue receiued pleasure or benefit of any man, +neuer disdained I with al duety to acknowledge a good turne, +stil shunning the vyce of ingratytude, to soyle the reputation +wherein hitherto I haue passed my lyfe. Is there anye blot which +more spotteth the renoume of man, than not confessing receiued +benefites and pleasures perfourmed in our necessity? You know in +what peril of death I was, these few daies past, through their +false surmise which neuer loued me, and how almost miraculously +I was redemed out of the hangman's hands, and the cruel sentence +of the vnryghteous Magistrate, not one of our kin offrynge +themselues in deede or word for my defense, which forceth mee to +say, that I haue felt of my Kin, which I neuer thought, and haue +tasted sutch commodity at his hands, of whome I neuer durst +expect or hope for pleasure, relief, aide or any comfort. +I attended my delyueraunce by sute of those whome I counted for +Kin and fryends, but the same so soon vanished, as the Necessity +and peryll were present. So pressed with woe, and forsaken of +fryends, I was affrayde that our aduersaries (to remoue all +feare and suspition in tyme to come) would haue purchased my +totall ruine, and procured the ouerthrowe of the Montanines +name, by my Death, and approched end. But good God, from the +place whereof I feared the danger, the calme arose, which hath +brought my Barke to the hauen of health, and at his hands where +I attended ruine, I haue tasted affiance and sustentation of +myne honor and lyfe. And playnely to procede, it is Anselmo +Salimbene, the son of our auncient and capital enimies, that +hath shewed himself the very loyall and faithful fryend of our +family, and hath deliuered your brother by payment to the State, +the summe of a Thousand Ducats to raunsome the life of him, who +thought him to be his moste cruel aduersary. O Gentleman's heart +in dede and gentle mind, whose rare vertues do surpasse all +humaine vnderstanding. Friends vnited together in band of +Amitye, amaze the World by the effects not vulgar in things +whych they do one for an other. But thys surmounteth all, +a mortall Ennimy, not reconcyled or requyred, without demaund of +assuraunce for the pleasure which he doth, payeth the debts of +his aduersarie: which facte exceedeth all consideration in them, +that discouer the factes of men. I can not tel what name to +attribute to the deede of Salimbene, and what I ought to call +that his curtesy, but this must I needes protest, that the +example of his honestie and gentlenes is of sutch force, and so +mutch hath vanquished me, as whether I shal dye in payne or lyue +at ease, neuer am I able to exceede his lyberality. Now my life +being ingaged for that which he hath don to mee, and hee hauynge +delyuered the same from infamous Death, it is in your handes +(deare sister) to practize the deuyse imagined in my mind, to +the intente that I may be onely bound to you for satisfying the +liberalitye of Salimbene, by meanes whereof, you which wepte the +death and wayled the lost liberty of your Brother, doe see me +free and in safety hauyng none other care but to be acquited of +hym, to whome both you and I be dearely bound." Angelica hearyng +hir brother speak those words, and knowing that Salimbene was +he, that had surpassed all their kinne in amity and comforte of +theyr familye, answered her brother, sayinge: "I woulde neuer +haue thought (good Brother) that your deliuerance had come to +passe by him whose name euen now you tolde, and that our +Ennimyes breaking al remembraunce of auncient quarels, had care +of the health and conseruation of the Montanines. Wherefore if +it were in my power I would satisfy the curtesy and gentlenesse +of Anselmo, but I know not which way to begin the same. I being +a maid that knoweth not how to recompense a good turne, but by +acknowledging the same in heart: and to go to render thanks, it +is neither lawfull or comely for me, and mutch lesse to offer +him any thynge for the lyttle accesse I haue to his house, and +the small familiarity I haue with the Gentlewomen of his kinne. +Notwythstanding, Brother, consider you wherein my power resteth +to ayde and helpe you, and be assured (myne honor saued) I wyll +spare nothynge for your contentment." "Sister" (sayd Montanine) +"I haue of long time debated with my self what is to be done, +and deuised what myghte be the occasion that moued this young +Gentleman to vse so greate kindnesse toward mee, and hauing +diligently pondred and waied what I haue seene and knowne, +at length I founde that it was the onely force of Loue, which +constrained his affection, and altered the auncient hatred that +he bare vs, into new loue, that by no meanes can be quenched. +It is the couert fire which Loue hathe kindled in his intrailes, +it is loue whych hath raysed the true effects of gentlenesse, +and hath consumed the conceipts of displeased mind. O the great +force of that amorous alteration, which vppon the sodain +exchaung, seemeth impossible to receiue any more chaung or +mutation. The onely Beauty and good grace of you Syster, hath +induced our gracious Enimy, the seruaunt of your perfections, to +delyuer the poore Gentleman forlorn of all good fortune. It is +the honest lyfe and commendable behauiour of Angelica Montanine, +that hath incyted Anselmo to doe an acte so praise worthy, and a +deede so kinde, to procure the deliuerance of one, which looked +not for a chaunce of so great consequence. Ah gentle younge +gentleman: Ah pryncely minde, and heart noble and magnanimous. +Alas how shall it be possyble that euer I can approche the +honest liberalitye wherwyth thou hast bound me for euer? My lyfe +is thine, myne honour dependeth of thee, my goodes be tyed to +thee. What resteth then, if not that you (sister) voyde of +cruelty do vse no vnkyndnesse to hym that loueth you, and who +for love of you hathe prodygally offred hys owne goodes to ryd +me from payne and dyshonor? If so be, my lyfe and sauegarde haue +ben acceptable vnto thee, and the sight of me dyscharged from +Pryson was ioyful unto thee, if thou gauest thy willing consent +that I should sel my patrimony, graunt presently that I may wyth +a great, rare, and precious present, requyte the Goodnesse, +Pleasure and curtesye that Salimbene hath done for your sake: +And syth I am not able with goodes of Fortune to satisfie his +bountye, it is your person which may supply that default, to the +intent that you and I may be quytted of the oblygation, wherein +we stand bound vnto him. It behoueth that for the offer and +reward of Money whych he hath imployed, we make present of your +Beautye, not selling the pryce of your chastity, but delyueryng +the same in exchaunge of curtesye, beyng assured for hys +gentlenesse and good Nourtoure sake, hee wyll vse you none +otherwyse, or vsurpe any greater authority ouer you, than Vertue +permitteth in ech gentle and Noble hearte. I haue none other +means of satisfaction, ne larger raumsome to render free my head +from the Tribute whych Salimbene hathe gyuen for my Lyfe and +Liberty. Thynke (deare Sister) what determinate aunswere you +wyll make me, and consider if my request be meete to be denyed. +It is in your choise and pleasure to deny or consent to my +demaund. If so be that I be denyed and loose the meanes by your +refuse to be acquitted of my defender, I had rather forsake my +Citye and Countrey, than to lyue heere wyth the title of +ingratitude, for not acknowledging so greate a pleasure. But +alas, with what Eye, shall I dare behold the Nobility of Siena, +if by greate vnkyndnesse I passe vnder silence the rarest +friendship that euer was deuised? What heartes sorrow shall I +conceyue to bee pointed at wyth the finger, like one that hath +forgotten in acknowledging by effecte, the receiued pleasure of +my delyueraunce? No (sister) eyther you must bee the quyet of my +Minde, and the acquittance of vs bothe, or else must I dye, or +wander lyke a vagabond into straunge Countries, and neuer put +foote agayne into Italy." At those words Angelica stode so +astonned and confused, and so besides hir selfe, like as wee see +one distraught of sense that feeleth himself attached with some +amaze of the Palsey. In the end recouering hir sprytes, and bee +blubbered al with teares, hir stomacke panting like the Bellowes +of a forge, she answeared hir brother in thys manner: "I knowe +not louyng Brother by reason of my troubled minde howe to +aunswere your demaund, which seemeth to be both ryght, and +wronge, right for respect of the bond, not so, in consideration +of the request. But how I proue the same, and what reason I can +alleadge and discouer for that proofe, hearken me so paciently, +as I haue reason to complayne and dispute vpon this chaunce more +hard and difficulte to auoyde, than by reply able to be +defended, sith that Lyfe and the hazarding thereof is nothing, +in regarde of that which you wyll haue me to present with too +exceeding prodigall Liberality, and I would to God that Life +mighte satisfie the same, than be sure it should so soone be +imployed, as the promise made thereof. Alas, good God, I thought +that when I sawe my brother out of Pryson, the neare distresse +of death, whereunto vniustly he was thrown, I thought (I say) +and firmely did beleue, that fortune the Enimy of our ioy, had +vomitted al hir poison, and being despoyled of hir fury and +crabbed Nature had broken the bloudy and Venemous Arrowes, +wherewyth so longe tyme she hath plagued our family, and that by +resting of hir selfe, shee had gyuen some rest to the Montanine +house of al theyr troubles and misaduentures. But I (O miserable +wight) do see and feele how far I am deuided from my hope, and +deceiued of mine opinion, sith the furious stepdame, appeareth +before me with a face more fierce and threatning, then euer she +did, sharpening hir selfe against my youth in other sort, then +euer against any of our race. If euer she persecuted our +auncesters, if she brought them to ruine and decay, she now doth +purpose wholly to subuerte the same, and throw vs headelong into +the bottomlesse pit of all misery, exterminating for all +tegether, the remnaunte of our consumed house. Be it either by +losse of thee (good brother) or the vyolent death of me which +cannot hazarde my Chastity for the pryce of myne vnhappy life: +Ah, good God, into what anguish is my mynde exponed, and how doe +I feele the force and Vyolence of froward Fortune? But what +speak I of fortune? How doth hard lucke insue, that is +predestinated by the heauens vppon our familly? Must I at so +tender yeares, and of so feeble kinde make choyse of a thing, +which would put the wysest vpon Earth into their shifts? My +heart doth fayle me, reason wanteth and Iudgement hangeth in +ballaunce by continuall agitations, to see how I am dryuen to +the extremity of two daungerous straits, and enuironned with +fearefull ieoperdies, forcibly compelled either to bee deuided +and separated from thee (my Brother,) whome I loue aboue mine +owne life, and in whome next after God I haue fyxed and put my +hope and trust, hauing none other solace, Comfort and helpe, but +thee, or else by keping thee, am forced to giue vnto an other, +and know not how, the precious treasure which beyng once lost, +cannot be recouered by any meanes, and for the gard and +conseruation whereof, euery woman of good iudgement that loueth +vertue, ought a thousand times to offer hir selfe to death +(if so many wayes she could) rather than to blot or soyle that +inestimable Iewell of chastity, wherewith our lyfe is a true +lyfe: contrarywyse shee which fondly suffreth hir self to be +disseazed and spoyled of the same, and looseth it without honest +title, albeit she be a lyue, yet is she buryed in the most +obscure caue of death, hauing lost the honour which maketh +Maydens march with head vpryght. But what goodnesse hath a +Ladye, Gentlewoman, Maiden, or Wyfe, wherein she can glory, hir +honour being in doubt, and reputatyon darkened with infamie? +Whereto serued the imperyall house of Augustus, in those Ladyes +that were intituled the Emperour's Daughters, when for their +villany, theyr were vnworthy of the title of chaste and +vertuous? What profited Faustina the Emperiall Crowne vpon hir +head, hir chastity through hir abhominable Life, being rapt and +despoyled? What wronge hath bene done to many symple Women, for +being buryed in the Tombe of dark obliuion, which for their +vertue and pudique Lyfe, meryted Eternall prayse? Ah Charles, +my Brother deare, where hast thou bestowrd the Eye of thy +foreseeing mynde, that without prouidence and care of the fame +due to honest Dames, and chast Damosels of our Family, hauyng +lost the goodes and Fathers inheritance, wilt haue me in like +sort forgoe my Chastity, whych hytherto I haue kept with +heedeful dilygence. Wilte thou deare Brother, by the pryce of my +virginity, that Anselmo shall haue greater victorye ouer vs, +than he hath gotten by fight of Sword vpon the allied remnaunt +of our house? Art thou ignorant that the woundes and diseases of +the Mynd, be more vehement than those which afflict the Body? Ah +I vnhappy mayden, and what ill lucke is reserued for me, what +destiny hath kept me till this day to be presented for Venus' +Sacrifice, to satisfy a young manne's lust, which coueteth +(peraduenture) but the spoile of mine honor? O happy the Romain +maide, slayne by the proper hands of hir woeful Father +Virginius, that she myght not{ }be soyled with infamy, by the +Lecherous embracements of rauenous Appius, which desired hir +acquaintaunce. Alas, that my brother doe not so, rather I woulde +to God of his owne accord he be the infamous minister of my life +ready to be violated, if God by his grace take not my cause in +hand? Alas death, why dost thou not throwe against my hearte thy +most pearcing dart, that I may goe waite vpon the shadowes of my +thryce happy Parents, who knowing this my gryefe, wyll not be +voide of passion to helpe me wayle my woefull state. O God, why +was not I choaked and strangled, so soone as I was taken forth +the secret imbracements of my mother's Wombe, rather than to +arriue into this mishap, that either must I lose the thing I +deeme moste deare, or die with the violence of my proper hands? +Come death, come and cut the vnhappy threede of my woefull Lyfe: +stope the pace of teares with thy trenchant Darte that streame +outragiously downe my face, and close the breathing wind of +sighes, which hynder thee from doing thine office vpon my heart, +by suffocation of my lyfe and it." When she had ended those +Words, hir speache dyd faile, and waxing pale and faint, +(sitting vppon hir stoole) she fared as though that very death +had sitten in hir place. Charles thynking that his sister had +bene deade, mated with sorrowe, and desirous to lyue no longer +after hir, seeing he was the cause of that sownyng, fell downe +dead vpon the Ground, mouing neither hand nor foote, as though +the soule had ben departed from the bodye. At the noyse which +Montanine made by reason of hys fall, Angelica reuiued out of +hir sowne, and seeinge hir Brother in so pytifull plyght, and +supposing he had bene dead for care of hys request, for beyng +berieued of hir Brother, was so moued, as a lyttle thynge would +haue made hir do, as Thisbe dyd, when she viewed Pyramus to be +slayne. But conceyuing hope, she threw hir selfe vppon hir +Brother, cursing hir Fortune, bannyng the Starres of cruelty, +and hir lauish speach, and hir self for hir little loue to hir +brother, who made no refusall to dye to saue his Lande for +reliefe of hir: wher she denyed to yeld hir selfe to him that +loued hir with so good affection. In the end she applied so many +remedies vnto hir brother, sometimes casting cold water vpon his +face, sometimes pinching and rubbing the temples and pulses of +his armes and his mouth with vineger, that she made hym to come +agayne: and seeing that his eyes were open, beholding hir +intentiuely with the countenance of a man half in despayre, she +saied vnto him: "For so mutch brother as I see fortune to be so +froward, that by no meanes thou canst auoide the cruel lot, +which launceth me into the bottome of mortall misery, and that I +must aduenture to folowe the indeuors of thy minde, and obey thy +will, which is more gentle and Noble, than fraught with reason, +I am content to satisfy the same and the loue which hitherto +thou hast born me. Be of good cheere, and doe wyth mee and my +body what thou list, giue and presente the same to whom thou +pleasest. Wel be thou sure, that so sone as I shal bee out of +thy hands and power, I wyl be called or esteemed thine no more, +and thou shalt haue lesse authority to stay me from doing the +deuises of my fantasie, swearing and protesting by the Almighty +God, that neuer man shall touch Angelica, except it be in +mariage, and that if he assay to passe any further, I haue a +heart that shall incourage my hands to sacrifice my Life to the +Chastitye of Noble Dames whych had rather dye than liue in +slaunder of dyshonesty. I wyll die a body without defame, and +the Mynde voyde of consent, shall receiue no shame or filth that +can soyle or spot the same." In saying so, she began againe to +weepe in sutch aboundance, as the humour of hir brayne ranne +downe by the issue of bothe hir Eyes. Montanine albeit sorrowful +beyond measure to see his gentle and chast sister in sutch +vexation and heauinesse, reioysed yet in his mind, that she had +agreed to his request, which presaged the good lucke that +afterwardes chaunced vnto him, for hys Lyberal offer. +"Wherefore" (said he to Angelica,) "I was neuer in my Lyfe so +desirous to liue, but that I rather choose to dye, than procure +a thinge that should turne thee to displeasure and griefe, or to +hazarde thine honor and reputation in daunger or peryll of +damage, which thou hast euer knowne, and shouldest haue still +perceyued by effect, or more properly to speak, touched with thy +finger if that incomparable and rare curtesy and Lyberality of +Salimbene had not prouoked me to requyre that, which honestly +thou canst not gyue, nor I demaunde without wronge to thee, and +preiudice to mine owne estimation and honoure. But what? the +feare I haue to be deemed ingrate, hath made me forget thee, and +the great honesty of Anselmo maketh me hope, yea and stedfastly +beleue, that thou shalt receiue none other displeasure, but to +be presented vnto him whome at other times we haue thought to be +our mortal enimy. And I thinke it impossible that he wil vse any +villany to hir whome he so feruently loueth, for whose sake he +feareth not the hatred of his friends, and disdained not to save +him whome he hated, and on whome he myght haue bene reuenged. +And forsomutch sister, as the face commonly sheweth the signe +and token of the hearte's affection, I pray thee by any meanes +declare no sad countenaunce in the presence of Salimbene, but +rather cheere vp thy face, dry vp the aboundance of thy teares, +that he by seeing thee Ioyfull and mery, may be moued to +continue his curtesy and use thee honestly, being satisfied with +thy liberality, and the offer that I shall make of our seruice." +Here may be seene the extremitie of two dyuers thinges, duety +combatting with shame, reason being in contention with himself. +Angelica knew and confessed that hir brother did but his duetye, +and that she was bound by the same very bond. On the other side, +hir estate and virginall chastity, brake the endeuours of hir +duety, and denyed to doe that which she esteemed ryght. +Neuerthelesse shee prepared hir self to follow both the one and +the other: and by acquitting the duety to hir brother, she +ordayned the meane, to discharge him of that which he was bound +to his benefactor, determinynge neuerthelesse rather to dye, +than shamefully to suffer hir selfe to be abused, or to make hir +lose the floure, which made hir glyster amongs the maidens of +the city, and to deface hir good fame by an acte so vyllanous. +But that speciall rare vertue was more singular in hir, than was +that continency of Cyrus the Persian King, who fearing to be +forced by the allurements of the excellent beauty of chast +Panthea, would not suffer hir to be brought into his presence, +for feare that hee being surmounted with folysh lustes, should +force hir, that by other meanes could not be persuaded to breake +the holy lawes of Mariage, and promised faith to hir husband. +For Salimbene hauing in his presence, and at his commaundement +hir whome aboue al thyngs he loued would by no meanes abuse his +power, but declared his gentle nature to bee of other force and +effect, than that of the aforesaid king as by reading the +successe of this historie you shal perceiue. After that +Montanine and his sister had vttered many other words vpon their +determination, and that the fayre maiden was appeased of hir +sorrow, attending the issue of that which they went about to +begin: Anselmo was come home out of the Countrey, whereof +Charles hauing intelligence, about the second houre of the +night, he caused his sister to make hir ready, and in company of +one of their seruants that caried light before them, they came +to the lodginge of Salimbene, whose seruaunt seeing Montanine so +accompanied to knocke at the Gate, if hee did maruel I leaue for +you to think, by reason of the displeasure and hatred which he +knew to bee betweene the two families, not knowing that which +had already passed for the heginning of a final peace of so many +controuersies: for which cause so astonned as he was, he went to +tel his maister that Montanine was at the gate, desirous +secretly to talk vnto him. Salimbene knowing what company +Charles had with him, was not vnwilling to goe downe, and +causing two Torches to be lighted, came to his gate to +entertaine them, and to welcome the brother and the sister, wyth +so great curtesie and friendship as he was surprysed with loue, +seeing before his eyes the sight of hir that burned hys heart +incessantly, not discoueryng as yet the secrets of his thought +by making hir to vnderstand the good wyl he bare hir, and how +mutch he was hir seruant. He could not tel wel whether he was +incharmed or his eyes daselled, or not wel wakened from sleepe +when he saw Angelica, so amazed was he with the straungenesse of +the fact, and arriuall of the maiden to his house. Charles +seeing hym so confused, and knowing that the great affection he +bare vnto his sister, made him so perplexed and besides himself, +said vnto him: "Sir, we would gladly speake with you in one of +your Chambers, that there myght be none other witnesse of our +dyscourse, but we three together." Salimbene which was wrapt +wyth ioy, was able to make none other aunsweare, but: "Goe we +whether you please." So taking his Angelica by the hand, they +went into the Hall, and from thence into his chamber, whych was +furnyshed accordinge to the state and riches of a Lord, he being +one of the welthiest and chiefe of the City of Siena. When they +were set downe, and al the seruants gone forth, Charles began to +say to Salimbene, these words: "You may not thinke it straunge +(sir Salimbene) if against the Lawes and customes of our Common +Wealthe, I at thys tyme of the Nyght doe call you vp, for +knowyng the Bande wherewyth I am bound vnto you, I must for euer +confesse and count my selfe to be your slaue and bondman, you +hauing don a thing in my behalf that deserueth the name of Lord +and maister. But what vngrateful man is he that wil forget so +greate a benefit, as that which I haue receyued of you, holding +of you, life, goods, honor, and this mine own sister that +enioyeth by your meanes the presence of hir brother and hir rest +of mind, not losing our noble reputation by the losse prepared +for me through vnrighteous iudgement, you hauing staied the +ruine both of hir and me, and the rest of our house and kin. +I am ryghte glad sir, that this my duety and seruice is bounden +to so vertuous a Gentleman as you be, but exceeding sorry, that +fortune is so froward and contrary vnto me, that I am not able +to accomplishe my good will, and if ingratitude may lodge in +mind of a neady Gentleman, who hath no helpe but of himselfe, +and in the wyll of hys chast sister, and minde vnited in two +persons onely saued by you, duety doeth requyre to present the +rest, and to submit al that is left to be disposed at your good +pleasure. And bicause that I am well assured, that it is +Angelica alone which hath kindled the flame of desire, and hath +caused you to loue that which your predecessours haue deadly +hated, that same sparke of knowledge, whych our misery could not +quench with all his force, hath made the way and shewed the path +whereby we shall auoide the name of ingrate and forgetfull +persons, and that same which hath made you lyberall towards me, +shalbe bountifully bestowed vpon you. It is Angelica sir, which +you see present heere, who to discharge my band, hath willingly +rendred to be your owne, submittinge hir selfe to your good +wyll, for euer to be youres. And I which am hir brother, and +haue receiued that great good wyll of hir, as in my power to +haue hir wyl, do present the same, and leaue hir in your hands, +to vse as you would your owne, praying you to accept the same, +and to consider whose is the gift, and from whence it commeth, +and how it ought to be regarded." When he had sayd so, Montanine +rose vp, and without further talke, went home vnto his house. If +Anselmo were abashed at the Montanines arriuall, and astonned at +the Oration of Charles, his sodain departure was more to be +maruelled at, and therwithal to see the effect of a thing which +he neuer hoped, nor thought vpon. He was exceding glad and +ioyfull to see himself in the company of hir, whome he desired +aboue al things of the world, but sory to see hir heauy and +sorrowful for sutch chaunce. He supposed hir being ther, to +procede rather of the yong man's good and gentle Nature, than of +the Maiden's will and lykynge. For whych cause taking hir by the +hand, and holding hir betwene hys armes, he vsed these or sutch +lyke words: "Gentlewoman, if euer I had felt and knowne with +what Wing the variety and lyghtnesse of worldly thynges do flye, +and the gaynes of inconstant fortune, at this present I haue +seen one of the most manifest profes which seemeth to me so +straunge, as almost I dare not beeleue that I see before myne +Eyes. I know well that it is for you, and for the seruice that I +beare you, that I haue broken the effect of that hatred, whych +by inheritaunce I haue receiued against your House, and for that +deuotion haue deliuered your Brother. But I see that Fortune +wyll not let mee to haue the vpper hand, to bee the Conquerer of +hir sodaine pangs. But you your self shall see, and euery man +shall know that my heart is none other than noble, and my +deuises tend, but to the exploit of all vertue and Gentlenesse: +wherefore I pray you (sayd he, kissing hir louingly) be not sad, +and doubt not that your seruaunt is any other now, hauing you in +his power, than he was when he durst not dyscouer the ardent +Loue that vexed him, and held him in feeble state, ful of desire +and thought: you also may bee sure, that he hath not had the +better hande ouer me, ne yet for his curtesy hath obteined +victory, nor you for obeying him. For sith that you be myne, and +for sutch yelded and giuen to me, I wyl keepe you, as hir whome +I loue and esteme aboue al things of the World, makyng you my +Companion and the onely mistresse of my goodes heart, and wyll. +Thinke not that I am the Fryend of Fortune, and practise +pleasure alone without vertue. It is modesty which commaundeth +me, and honesty is the guide of my conceipts. Assure you then, +and repose your comfort on mee: for none other than Angelica +Montanine shall be the wyfe of Anselmo Salimbene: and during my +life, I wyll bee the Fryend, the defender and supporter of your +house." At these good Newes, the drousie and wandryng Spirite of +the fayre Siena mayd awaked, who endyng hir teares and appeasing +hir sorrow, rose vp, and made a very lowe reuerence vnto hir +curteous fryend, thanking hym for hys greate and incomparable +liberalitye, promising all seruice, duetie, and Amitye, that a +Gentlewoman ought to beare vnto him, whom God hath reserued for +hir Spouse and husband. After an infinite number of honest +imbracements and pleasaunte kisses giuen and receiued on both +partes, Anselmo called vnto him one of his Auntes that dwelled +within him, to whome he deliuered his new Conquest to keepe, +and spedily without delay he sent for the next of his Kinne and +dearest friends: and being come, he intreated them to kepe him +company, in a very vrgent and weighty businesse he had to do, +wherein if they shewed themselues dilygent in his request, +doubtful it is not, but he addressed speede for accomplishment +of his Enterpryse. Then causyng hys Aunte and welbeloued +Angelica to come forth, he carryed them (not without their great +admiration) to the pallace of Montanine, whither being arryued: +he and hys Companie were well intertayned of the sayd Montanine, +the Brother of fayre Angelica. When they were in the Hall, +Salimbene sayd to hys Brother in law that should be: "Senio +Montanine, it is not long sithens, that you in company of my +faire Gentlewoman heere, came home to speake wyth mee, desirous +to haue no man priuy to the effect of your conference. But I am +come to you with this troupe to disclose my minde before you al, +and to manifeste what I purpose to doe, to the intente the whole +World may know your good and honest Nature, and vnderstand how I +can be requited on them, which indeuor to gratifie me in any +thing." Hauing said so, and euery man being set down he turned +his talk to the rest of the company in thys wise: "I doubt not +my friends and Noble Dames, but that ye mutch muse and maruell +to see me in this house so late, and in your company, and am +sure, that a great desire moueth your minds to know for what +purpose, the cause, and why I haue gathered this assemblie in a +time vnlooked for, and in place where none of our race and kinne +of long time did enter, and lesse did meane to make hither their +repaire. But when you doe consider what vertue and goodnesse +resteth in the heartes of those men, that shunne and auoide the +brutyshnesse of Minde, to followe the reasonable part, and which +proprely is called Spirituall, you shall thereby perceiue, that +when Gentle kynde and Noble Heart, by the great mistresse dame +Nature be gryfted in the myndes of Men, they cease not to make +appeare the effect of their doings, sometyme producing one +vertue, sometimes another, which cease not to cause the fruicte +of sutch industry both to blome and beare: In sutch wyse, as the +more those vertuous actes and commendable workes, do appeare +abroade, the greater dyligence is imployed to searche the matter +wherein she can cause to appeare the force of vertue and +excellency, conceiuing singular delyghte in that hir good and +holy delyuery, which bryngeth forth a fruict worthy of sutch a +stocke. And that force of mind and Generosity of Noble Heart is +so firme and sure in operation, as although humane thinges be +vnstable and subiect to chaung, yet they cannot be seuered or +disparcled. And although it be the Butte and white, whereat +fortune dischargeth al hir dartes and shaftes, threatning +shooting and assayling the same round, yet it continueth stable +and firme like a Rocke and Clyffe beaten wyth the vyolent fury +of waues rising by wind or tempest. Whereby it chaunceth, that +riches and dignity can no more aduaunce the heart of a slaue and +villaine, than pouerty make vile and abase the greatnesse of +courage in them that be procreated of other stuffe than of +common sorte, whych daily keepe the maiesty of their oryginall, +and lyve after the instincte of good and Noble Bloude, wherewith +their auncesters were made Noble, and sucked the same vertue +oute of the Teates of Noursses Breasses, who in the myddes of +troublesome trauayles of Fortune that doe assayle them, and +depresse theyr modesty, their face and Countenaunce, and theyr +factes full well declare theyr condition, and to doe to +vnderstande, that vnder sutch a Misery, a Mynde is hydde which +deserueth greater Guerdon than the eigre taste of Calamitye. In +that dyd glowe and shyne the Youthe of the Persian and Median +Monarch, beynge nourssed amonges the stalles and Stables of hys +Grandfather, and the gentle kind of the founder of stately Rome +sockeled in the Shepecoates of Prynces sheepehierds. Thus mutch +haue I sayd, my good lords and dames, in consideration of the +noble corage and gentle minde of Charles Montanine, and of his +sister, who without preiudice to any other I dare to say, is the +paragon and mirrour of all chast and curteous maidens, well +trayned vp, amonges the whole Troupe of those that lyue thys day +in Siena, who beeyng brought to the ende and last poynt of their +ruine, as euery of you doth knowe, and theyr race so sore +decayed as there remayneth but the onely Name of Montanine: +notwythstanding they neuer lost the heart, desire, ne yet the +effect of the curtesy, and naturall bounty, whych euer doth +accompany the mynd of those that be Noble in deede. Whych is the +cause that I am constrayned to accuse our Auncesters, of to +mutch cruelty, and of the lyttle respecte whych for a +controuersye occured by chaunce, haue pursued them with sutch +mortall reuenge, as without ceasing, with all their force, they +haue assayed to ruinate, abolyshe, and for euer adnichilate that +a ryghte Noble and illustre race of the Montanines, amongs whome +if neuer any goodnesse appeared to the Worlde, but the Honesty, +Gentlenesse, Curtesy and vertuous maners of these twayne here +presente, the Brother and sister, yet they ought to be accompted +amonges the ranke of the Noblest and chiefest of our City, to +the intent in time to come it may not be reported, that wee haue +esteemed and chearyshed Riches and drossie mucke, more than +vertue and modesty. But imitating those excellent gouerners of +Italy, whych held the Romane Empire, let vs rather reuerence the +Vertuous Poore, than prayse or pryse the Rich, gyuen to vice and +wickednesse. And for so mutch as I do see you all to be desirous +to knowe the cause and argument, whych maketh me to vse this +talke, and forceth mee to prayse the curtesy and goodnesse of +the Montanines, pleaseth you to stay a lyttle with pacience, +and not think the tyme tedyous, I meane to declare the same. +Playnely to confesse vnto you (for that it is no cryme of Death, +or heinous offence) the gyfts of nature, the Beauty and +comelynesse of fayre Angelica heere present, haue so captiuate +my Mind, and depriued my heart of Lyberty, as Night and Day +trauailing how I might discouer vnto hir my martirdom, I did +consume in sutch wyse, as losing lust of slepe and meate, +I feared ere long to be either dead of sorrow or estranged of my +right wits, seing no meanes how I might auoide the same, bicause +our two houses and Families were at contynuall debate: and +albeit conflicts were ceased, and quarelles forgotten, yet there +rested (as I thought) a certaine desire both in the one and the +other of offence, when time and occasion did serue. And yet mine +affection for all that was not decreased, but rather more +tormented, and my gryefe increased, hopelesse of help, which now +is chaunced to me as you shall heare. You do know, and so do all +men, howe wythin these fewe dayes past, the Lord Montanine here +present, was accused before the Seniorie, for trespasses against +the statutes and Edicts of the same, and being Prysoner, hauing +not wherewith to satisfie the condempnation, the Law affirmed +that his life should recompence and supply default of Money. +I not able to suffer the want of hym, which is the brother of +the dearest thing I esteeme in the Worlde, and hauing not hir in +possession, nor lyke without him to attayne hir, payed that +Summe, and delyuered hym. He, by what meanes I know not, or how +he coniectured the beneuolence of my deede, thynking that it +proceeded of the honest Loue and affection which I bare to +gracious and amiable Angelica, wel consideryng of my curtesy, +hath ouercome me in prodigalitye, he this Nyght came vnto mee, +with his sister my mistresse, yelding hir my slaue and +Bondwoman, leauyng hir with me, to doe with hir as I would with +any thing I had. Behold my good Lordes, and yee Noble Ladies and +cosins, and consider how I may recompence this Benefit, and be +able to satisfie a present so precious, and of sutch Value and +regard as both of them be, sutch as a right puissant prince and +Lord may be contented wyth, a duety so Liberall and Iewell +inestymable of two offered thynges." The assistants that were +there, could not tell what to say, the discourse had so mutch +drawne their myndes into dyuers fantasies and contrary opinions, +seing that the same requyred by deliberation to be considered, +before lightly they vttred their mindes. But they knew not the +intent of him, which had called them thither, more to testify +his fact, than to iudge of the thing he went about, or able to +hinder and let the same. True it is, that the ladies viewing and +marking the amiable countenance of the Montanine Damsell, woulde +haue iudged for hir, if they feared not to bee refused of hym, +whome the thing did touche most neere. Who without longer staye, +opened to them al, what he was purposed to do, saying: "Sith ye +do spende time so long vpon a matter already meant and +determyned, I wyll ye to knowe, that hauing regard of mine +honour, and desirous to satisfie the honesty of the Brother and +sister, I mynde to take Angelica to my wyfe and lawfull spouse, +vniting that whych so long tyme hath bene deuyded, and making +into two bodyes, whilom not well accorded and agreed, one like +and vniforme wyll, praying you ech one, ioyfully to ioy with me, +and your selues to reioyse in that alliaunce, whych seemeth +rather a worke from Heauen, than a deede concluded by the +Counsell and industrie of Men. So lykewyse all wedded feeres in +holy Wedlocke (by reason of the effect and the Author of the +same, euen God himselfe, whych dyd ordayne it firste) bee +wrytten in the infallible booke of hys owne prescience, to the +intent that nothing may decay, whych is sustayned wyth the +mighty hand of that Almyghty God, the God of wonders, which +verily hee hath displayed ouer thee (deare Brother) by makynge +thee to fall into distresse and daunger of death, that myne +Angelica, beeing the meane of thy delyueraunce, myght also bee +cause of the attonement which I doe hope henceforth shall bee, +betwene so Noble houses as ours be." Thys finall decree reueled +in open audience, as it was, against their expectation, and the +ende that the kindred of Anselmo looked for, so was the same no +lesse straunge and bashfull, as ioyful and pleasaunt, feeling a +sodain ioy, not accustomed in theyr mynde, for that vnion and +allyaunce. And albeit that their ryches was vnequall, and the +dowry of Angelica nothyng neare the great wealth of Salimbene, +yet all Men dyd deeme him happy, that hee had chaunced vpon so +vertuous a maiden, the onely Modestie and Integritie of whome, +deserued to bee coupled wyth the most honourable. For when a man +hath respecte onely to the beauty or Riches of hir, whome he +meaneth to take to Wyfe, hee moste commonly doth incurre the +Mischiefe, that the Spyrite of dyssention intermeddleth amyd +theyr household, whereby Pleasuere vanishing wyth Age, maketh +the riueled Face (beset wyth a Thousand wrynkeled furrowes) to +growe pale and drye. The Wyfe lykewyse when she seeth her goodes +to surmount the substance of hir wedded Husband, she aduaunceth +hir hearte, she swelleth wyth pryde, indeuoryng the vpper hand +and souerainty in all thyngs, whereupon it riseth, that of two +frayle and transitorie things, the building which hath so fyckle +foundation, can not indure, man being borne to commaund, and can +not abyde a mayster ouer hym, beyng the chyefe and Lord of hys +Wyfe. Now Salimbene, to perfourme the effect of hys curtesie, +gaue his fayre Wife the moytie of his Lands and goods, in +fauoure of the Mariage, adopting by that meanes, Montanine to +bee his Brother, appointing hym to be heyre of all hys goodes in +case he deceased wythout heyres of his Body. And if GOD did send +hym Children, he instituted him to bee the heyre of the other +halfe, which rested by hys donation to Angelica his new espouse: +Whom he maried solempnely the Sunday folowing, to the great +contentation and maruell of the whole City, which long time was +afflicted by the ciuile dissentions of those two houses. But +what? Sutch be the varieties of worldly successe, and sutch is +the mischiefe amongs men, that the same which honesty hath no +power to winne, is surmounted by the disgrace and misfortune of +wretched time. I neede not to alleage here those amongs the +Romanes, which from great hatred and malice were reconciled with +the indissoluble knot of Amity; forsomutch as the dignyties and +Honoures of theyr Citty prouoked one to flatter and fawne vpon +an other for particular profit, and not one of them attained to +sutch excellencie and renoume, as the foresayd did, one of whome +was vanquyshed with the fire of an amorous passion, whych +forcyng nature hir selfe, brought that to passe, which could +neuer haue bene thoughte or imagyned. And yet Men wyll accuse +loue, and painte hir in the Colours of foolysh Furye and raging +Madnesse. No, no, Loue in a gentle heart is the true subiect and +substance of Vertue, Curtesy, and Modest Manners, expellynge all +Cruelty and Vengeance, and nourishyng peace amongs men. But if +any do violate and prophane the holy Lawes of Loue, and peruert +that which is Vertuous, the faulte is not in that holye Saincte +but in hym whych foloweth it wythout skyll, and knoweth not the +perfection. As hapneth in euery operation, that of it selfe is +honest, although defamed by those, who thinking to vse it, doe +filthily abuse the same, and cause the grosse and ignoraunte to +condempne that is good, for the folye of sutch inconstant +fooles: In the other is painted a heart so voyde of the blody +and abhominable sinne of Ingratitude, as if death had ben the +true remedy and meane to satisfie his band and duety, he would +haue made no conscience to offer himselfe frankly and freely to +the dreadful passage of the same. You see what is the force of a +gentle heart wel trained vp, that would not be vanquished in +curtesye and Lyberality. I make you to be iudges, (I meane you) +that be conuersant in loue's causes, and that with a Iudgement +passionlesse, voide of parciality doe dyscourse vppon the factes +and occurrentes that chaunce to men. I make you (I saye) iudges +to gyue sentence, whether of three caried away the pryse, and +most bound his companion by lyberall acte, and curtesie not +forced. You see a mortall enimy sorrow for the misery of his +aduersary, but solycited therunto by the ineuitable force of +Loue. The other marcheth with the glory of a present so rare and +exquisite, as a great Monarch would haue accompted it for +singuler fauor and prodigality. The maiden steppeth forth to +make the third in ranke, wyth a loue so stayed and charity +wonderfull towards hir brother, as being nothynge assured +whether he to whome she offered hir selfe were so Moderate, as +Curteous, she yeldeth hir selfe to the losse of hir chastity. +The first assayeth to make himselfe a conquerour by mariage, but +she diminishyng no iote of hir Noble mind, he must seeke else +where hys pryse of victory. To hir a desyre to kyll hir selfe +(if thinges succeeded contrary to hir minde) myght haue stopped +the way to hir great glory, had she not regarded hir virginity, +more than hir own Lyfe. The second seemeth to go half +constrained, and by maner of acquitall, and had hys affectyon +bene to render hymselfe Slaue to hys Foe, hys Patron and +preseruer, it would haue diminished his prayse. But sithens +inough wee haue hereof dyscoursed, and bene large in treatie of +Tragicomicall matters, intermyxed and suaged (in some parte) +wyth the Enteruiewes of dolor, modesty, and indifferente good +hap, and in some wholly imparted the dreadfull endes like to +terrible beginnings, I meane for a reliefe, and after sutch +sowre sweete bankets, to interlarde a licorous refection for +sweeting the mouthes of the delicate: And do purpose in this +Nouell insuing, to manifest a pleasaunt disport betweene a Wydow +and a Scholler, a passing Practise of a crafty Dame, not well +schooled in the discipline of Academicall rules, a surmountinge +science to trade the nouices of that forme, by ware foresight, +to incountre those that by laborsome trauayle and nightly watch, +haue studied the rare knowledge of Mathematicalles, and other +hidden and secrete Artes. Wishing them so well to beware, as I +am desirous to let them know by this rudiment, the successe of +sutch attemptes. + + + + +THE THIRTY-FIRST NOUELL. + + _A Wydow called Mistresse Helena, wyth whom a Scholler was in + loue, (shee louing an other) made the same Scholler to stande + a whole Wynter's night in the Snow to wayte for hir, who + afterwardes by a sleyght and pollicie, caused hir in Iuly, to + stand vppon a Tower starke naked amongs Flies and Gnats, and + in the Sunne._ + + +Diuert we now a little from these sundry haps, to solace our +selues wyth a merry deuice, and pleasaunt circumstaunce of a +Scholler's loue, and of the wily guily Subtilties of an amorous +Wydow of Florence. A Scholler returned from Paris to practise +hys knowledge at home in his owne Countrey, learneth a more +cunning Lecture of Mistresse Helena, than he did of the +subtillest Sorbone Doctor, or other Mathematicall from whence he +came. The Scholler as playnely hee had applied his booke, and +earnestly harkned his readings, so he simply meant to be a +faythfull Louer and deuout requirant to this Iolly dame, that +had vowed his Deuotion and promised Pilgrimage to an other +Saynct. The Scholler vpon the first view of the Wydowe's +wandring Lookes, forgetting Ouide's Lessons of Loue's guiles, +pursued his conceipt to the vttermost. The Scholler neuer +remembred how many valiaunt, wise and learned men, wanton Women +had seduced and deceyued. Hee had forgot how Catullus was +beguiled by Lesbia, Tibullus by Delia, Propertius by Cynthia, +Naso by Corinna, Demetrius by Lamia, Timotheus by Phryne, Philip +by a Greeke mayden, Alexander by Thays, Hanniball by Campania, +Cæsar by Cleopatra, Pompeius by Flora, Pericles by Aspaga, +Psammiticus the king of Ægypt by Rhodope, and diuers other very +famous by Women of that stampe. Hee had not ben wel trayned in +holy writ, or heard of Samson's Dalida, or of Salomon's +Concubins, but like a playne dealinge man, beleued what she +promised, followed what she bad him, waited whiles she mocked +him, attended till shee laughed him to scorne. And yet for all +these Iolly pastimes inuented by this Widdow, to deceyue the +poore Scholler, she scaped not free from his Logike rules, +not saife from his Philosophy. He was forced to turne ouer +Aristotle, to reuolue his Porphyrie, and to gather his Wits +about hym to requite this louing Peate, that had so charitably +delt with him. He willingly serched ouer Ptolome, perused +Albumazar, made haste to Haly, yea and for a shift besturred him +in Erra Pater, for matching two contrary Elements. For colde in +Christmasse holy dayes, and Frost at Twelftide, shewed no more +force on this poore learned Scholler, than the Sunne's heate in +the Feries of Iuly, Gnats, Flyes, and Waspes, at Noone dayes in +Sommer vpon the naked tender Corpse of this fayre Wyddow. The +Scholler stoode belowe in a Court, benoommed for colde, the +Wyddowe preached a lofte in the top of a Tower, and fayne would +haue had water to coole hir extreme heate. The Scholler in his +Shyrt bedecked wyth his demissaries. The Wyddow so Naked as hir +Graundmother Eue, wythout vesture to shroud hir. The Wyddow by +magike arte what so euer it cost, would fayne haue recouered hir +lost Louer. The Scholler well espying his aduantage when hee was +asked councell, so Incharmed hir with his Sillogismes, as he +made hir to mount a Tower, to cursse the time that euer she knew +him or hir Louer. So the Wydow not well beaten in causes of +Schoole, was whipt with the Rod, wherewith shee scourged other. +Alas good Woman, had she known that olde malice had not bene +forgotten, she woulde not haue trusted, and lesse committed hir +selfe to the Circle of his Enchauntments. If women wist what +dealings are wyth men of great reading, they would amongs one +hundred other, not deale wyth one of thee meanest of those that +be Bookish. One Girolamo Ruscelli, a learned Italyan making +prety notes for the better elucidation of the Italyan Decamerone +of Boccaccio, iudgeth Boccaccio himselfe to be this scholler, +whom by an other name he termeth to be Rinieri. But whatsoeuer +that Scholler was, he was truely to extreme in reueng, and +therein could vse no meane. For hee neuer left the poore feeble +soule, for all hir curteous Words and gentle Supplication, +vntill the Skin of hir flesh was Parched with the scalding Sunne +beames. And not contented with that, delt his Almose also to hir +Mayde, by sending hir to help hir Mistresse, where also she +brake hir Legge. Yet Phileno was more pityfull ouer the 3 +nymphes and fayre Goddesses of Bologna, whose Hystory you may +reade in the 49 Nouell of my former Tome. He fared not so +roughly with those, as Rinieri did with thys, that sought but to +gayne what she had lost. Well, how so euer it was, and what +differency betweene eyther of theym, this Hystory ensuinge, more +aptly shall gieue to vnderstande. Not long sithens, there was in +Florence, a young Gentlewoman of worshipfull parentage, fayre +and comely of personage, of courage stout, and abounding in +goods of Fortune (called Helena,) who being a widow, determined +not to mary agayne, bicause she was in loue with a yong man that +was not voyde of Nature's good gifts, whom for hir owne Tooth, +aboue other shee had specially chosen. In whom (setting aside +all other care) many tymes (by meanes of one of hir maydes which +she trusted best) she had great pleasure and delight. It +chaunced about the same time that a yong Gentleman of that Citty +called Rinieri, hauinge a great time studied at Paris, returned +to Florence, not to sell his Science by retayle, as many doe, +but to knowe the reasons of things, and the causes thereof, +which is a speciall good exercise for a Gentleman. And being +there honoured and greatly esteemed of all men, aswell for his +curteous behauiour, as also for his knowledge, he liued like a +good Cittizen. But it is commonly seene, they which haue best +vnderstandinge and knowledge, are soonest tangled in Loue: euen +so it hapned with this Rinieri, who repayringe one day for his +passetime to a Feaste, this Madame Helena clothed al in blacke, +(after the manner of Widowes) was there also, and seemed in his +eyes so beautifull and well fauored, as any woman euer he saw, +and thought that hee might bee accoumpted happy, to whom God did +shewe so mutch fauoure, as to suffer him to be cleped betweene +hir Armes: and beholdinge her diuers tymes and knowing that the +greatest and dearest things cannot be gotten with out labour, he +determined to use all his endeuour and care in pleasing of hir, +that thereby he might obtayne hir loue, and so enioy hir. The +yong Gentlewoman not very bashfull, conceyuing greater opinion +of hir selfe, than was needefull, not castinge hir Eyes towards +the Ground, but rolling them artificially on euery side, and by +and by perceyuing mutch gazing to be vpon hir, espied Rinieri +earnestly beholding hir, and sayd, smiling to hir selfe: +"I thinke that I haue not this day lost my time in comming +hither, for if I bee not deceyued, I shall catch a Pigeon by the +Nose." And beginning certayne times stedfastly to looke vpon +him, she forced hir selfe so mutch as she could, to seeme very +ernestly to beholde him. And on the other part thinking, that +the more pleasaunt and amorous she shewed hirselfe to be, +the more hir beauty should be esteemed, chiefly of him whom +specially shee was disposed to loue. The wise Scholler giuing +ouer his Philosophy, bent all his endeuour here vnto, and +thinking to be hir seruaunt, learned where she dwelt, and began +to passe before hir house under pretence of some other occasion: +whereat the Gentlewoman reioysed for the causes beforesayde, +fayning an earnest desire to looke vpon him. Wherefore the +Scholler hauing found a certayne meane to be acquaynted wyth hir +Mayde discouered his loue: Praying her to deale so with hir +mistresse, as he might haue hir fauor. The maide promised him +very louingly incontinently reporting the same to hir mistresse, +who with the greatest Scoffes in the Worlde, gaue ear thereunto +and sayd: "Seest thou not from whence this Goodfellowe is come +to lose al his knowledge and doctrine that he hath brought vs +from Paris. Now let vs deuise therefore how he may bee handled +for going about to seeke that, which he is not like to obtaine. +Thou shalt say vnto him, when he speaketh to thee agayne, that I +loue him better than he loueth me, but it behooueth me to saue +mine honoure, and to keepe my good name and estimation amongs +other Women." Whych thinge, if he be so wise (as hee seemeth) +hee ought to Esteeme and Regarde. "Ah, poore Wench, she knoweth +not wel, what it is to mingle Huswiuery with learning, or to +intermeddle distaues with bookes.{"} Now the mayde when she had +founde the Scholler, tolde him as hir mistresse had commaunded: +whereof the Scholler was so glad, as he with greater endeuor +proceded in his enterprise, and began to write Letters to the +Gentlewoman, which were not refused, although he could receyue +no aunsweres that pleased him, but sutch as were done openly. +And in this sorte the Gentlewoman long time fed him with +delayes. In the ende she discouered all this new loue vnto hir +frend, who was attached with sutch an Aking Disease in his +heade, as the same was Fraught with the Reume of Iealousie: +wherefore she to shewe hir selfe to be suspected without cause +(very carefull for the Scholler) sent hir mayde to tell him, +that she had no conuenient time to doe the thinge that should +please him, sithens he was first assured of hir loue, but hoped +the next Christmasse holly dayes to be at his commaundement: +wherefore if he would vouchsafe to come the night following the +first holly day, into the Court of hir house, she would wayte +there for his comminge. The Scholler the best contented man in +the Worlde fayled not at the time appoyncted, to go to the +Gentlewoman's house: where being placed by the Mayde in a base +Court, and shut fast within the same, he attended for hir, who +Suppinge with hir friende that night, very pleasauntly recited +vnto him all that she had determined then to doe, saying: "Thou +mayst see now what loue I do beare vnto him, of whom thou hast +foolishly conceyued thys Iealousie. To which woordes hir Freende +gaue eare with great delectation, desiringe to see the effect of +that, whereof she gaue him to vnderstand by wordes." Now as it +chaunced the day before the Snowe fell downe so thicke from +aboue, as it couered the Earth, by which meanes the Scholler +within a very little space after his arriuall, began to be very +colde: howbeit hopinge to receyue recompence, he suffred it +paciently. The Gentlewoman a little whyle after, sayd vnto hir +Freende: "I pray thee let vs goe into my chuamber, where at a +little Window we may looke out, and see what he doth that maketh +thee so Iealous, and herken what aunswere he will make to my +Mayde, whom of purpose I wyll send forth to speake vnto him." +When she had so sayde, they went to the Window, where they +seeing the Scholler (they not seene of hym,) heard the Mayde +speake these wordes: "Rinieri, my Mystresse is the angriest +Woman in the World, for that as yet she cannot come vnto thee. +But the cause is, that one of hir Brethren is come to visite hir +this Euening, and hath made a long discourse of talke vnto hir, +and afterwardes bad himselfe to Supper, and as yet is not +departed, but I thinke hee will not tary longe, and then +immediately she will come. In the meane tyme she prayeth thee to +take a little payne." The Scholler beleeuing this to be true, +sayde vnto hir: "Require your Mistresse to take no care for mee +till hir leasure may serue: But yet entreat hir to make so mutch +hast as she can." The Mayde returned and went to Bed, and the +Dame of the house sayd then vnto hir frend: "Now sir, what say +you to this? Doe you thincke that if I loued him, as you +mystrust, that I would suffer him to tarry beneath in this +greate colde to coole himselfe?" And hauing sayd so, she went to +Bed with hir frende, who then was partly satisfied, and all the +night they continued in greate pleasure and solace, laughing, +and mocking the miserable Scholler that walked vp and downe the +Court to chafe himselfe, not knowing where to sit, or which way +to auoyde the colde, and curssed the long taryinge, of his +mistresse Brother, hoping at euery noyse he heard, that she had +come to open the dore to let him in, but his hope was in vayne. +Now she hauinge sported hir selfe almost till midnight, sayd +vnto hir frend: "How think you (sir) by our Scholler, whether +iudge you is greater, his Wysedome, or the loue that I beare +vnto him? The colde that I make him to suffer, will extinguish +the heate of suspition whych yee conceyued of my wordes the +other day." "Yee say true," (sayd hir frend,) "and I do assure +you, that like as you are my delight, my rest, my comfort, and +all my hope, euen so I am yours, and shalbe during life." For +the confirmation of which renewed amity, they spared no delights +which the louing Goddesse doeth vse to serue and imploy vpon her +seruaunts and suters. And after they had talked a certayne time, +she sayd vnto him: "For God's sake (sir) let vs rise a little, +to see if the glowing fire which this my new louer hath dayly +written vnto me, to burn in him, bee quenched or not." And +rysing out of their Beds, they went to a little Window and +looking downe into the Courte, they saw the Scholler dauncing +vpon the Snow, whereunto his shiuering teeth were so good +Instruments, as he seemed the trimmest Dauncer that euer trode a +Cinquepace after sutch Musicke, being forced thereunto through +the great colde which he suffered. And then she sayde vnto him: +"What say you to this my frende, do you not see how cunninge I +am to make men daunce without Taber, or Pipe?" "Yes in deede," +(sayd hir Louer) "yee be an excellent Musitian." "Then" (quod +shee) "let vs go downe to the dore, and I will speake vnto him, +but in any Wise say you nothing, and we shal heare what reasons +and arguments he will frame to mooue me to compassion, and +perchaunce shall haue no little pastime to behold him." +Whereupon they went downe softly to the dore, and there without +opening the same, shee with a softe voyce out at a little whole, +called the Scholler vnto hir. Which hee hearinge, began to +prayse God and thancke hym a thousande times, beleeuing veryly +that he should then be let in, and approching the dore, said: +"I am heere mine (owne sweete heart) open the dore for God's +sake, for I am like to die for Cold." Whom in mocking wise she +answered: "Can you make me beleue (M. Scholler) that you are so +tender, or that the colde is so great as you affirme, for a +little Snow newly falne downe? There be at Paris farre greater +Snowes than these be, but to tell you the troth, you cannot come +in yet, for my Brother (the deuell take him) came yesternight to +supper, and is not yet departed, but by and by hee wyll be gon, +and then you shall obtayne the effect of your desire, assuring +you, that with mutch a doe I haue stolne away from hym, to come +hither for your comfort, praying you not to thincke it longe." +"Madame" sayd the Scholler, "I beseech you for God's sake to +open the dore, that I may stand in couert from the Snow, which +within this houre hath fallen in great aboundaunce, and doth yet +continue: and there I will attend your pleasure." "Alas sweet +Friend" (sayd she) "the dore maketh sutch a noyse when it is +opened, that it will easily be heard of my brother, but I will +pray him to depart, that I may quickely returne agayne to open +the same." "Goe your way then" (sayd the Scholler) "and I pray +you cause a great fire to be made, that I may warme mee when I +come in, for I can scarce feele my selfe for colde." "Why, it is +not possible" (quod the Woman) "if it be true that you wholly +burne in loue for me, as by your sundry Letters written, it +appeareth, but now I perceyue that you mocke me, and therefore +tary there still on God's name." Hir frende which heard all +this, and tooke pleasure in those wordes, went agayne to Bed +with hir, into whose eyes no slepe that night coulde enter for +the pleasure and sport they had with the poore Scholler. The +vnhappy wretched Scholler whose teeth chattered for colde, +faring like a Storke in colde nights, perceyuing himselfe to be +mocked, assayed to open the dore, or if he might goe out by some +other way: and seeing it impossible, stalking vp and downe like +a Lyon, curssed the nature of the time, the wickednesse of the +woman, the length of the Night, and the Folly and simplicity of +himselfe: and conceyuing great rage, and despight agaynst hir, +turned sodaynely the long and feruent loue that he bare hir, +into despight and cruell hatred, deuising many and diuers meanes +to bee reuenged, whych he then farre more desired, than hee did +in the beginninge to lye with his Widow. After that longe and +tedious night, day approched, and the dawning thereof began to +appeare: wherefore the mayde instructed by hir mistresse, went +downe into the court, and seemyng to haue pity uppon the +Scholler, sayd vnto hym: "The Diuell take hym that euer he came +hyther this nyghte, for hee hath bothe let vs of sleepe, and +hath made you to be frozen for colde, but take it paciently for +this tyme, some other Nyght must be appointed. For I know well +that neuer thyng coulde chaunce more displeasantly to my +Mistresse than this." But the Scholler full of dysdayne, lyke a +wyse man which knew well that threats and menacyng words, were +weapons without hands to the threatned, retayned in hys Stomacke +that whych intemporate wyll would haue broken forth, and wyth so +quiet Woordes as hee coulde, not shewynge hymselfe to bee angry, +sayd: "In deede I haue suffred the worste Nyghte that euer I +dyd, but I knowe the same was not throughe your mistresse fault, +bicause shee hauing pitye vppon me, and as you say, that which +cannot be to Night, may be done another time, commend me then +vnto hir, and farewell." And thus the poore Scholler stiffe for +colde, so well as hee coulde, retourned home to his house, where +for the extremitye of the tyme and lacke of sleepe beyng almost +deade, he threwe hymselfe vppon his bed, and when he awaked, +his Armes and Legges had no feeling. Wherefore he sent for +Physitions and tolde them of the colde he had taken, who +incontinently prouided for his health: and yet for al their best +and spedy remedies, they could scarce recouer his Iointes and +Sinewes, wherein they did what they could: and had it not bene +that he was yong, and the Sommer approching, it had ben to mutch +for him to haue endured. But after he was come to Healthe, and +grewe to be lusty, secrete Malyce still resting in his breaste, +hee thought vpon reuenge. And it chaunced in a lytle tyme after, +that Fortune prepared a new accident to the scholer to satisfy +his desire, bycause the young man which was beloued of the +Gentlewoman, not caring any longer for hir, fel in loue with an +other, and gaue ouer the solace and pleasure he was wont to doe +to mistresse Helena, for which despite she consumed herself in +wepings and lamentations. But hir maid hauing pity vpon hir +mistresse sorrowes, knowing no meanes to remoue the melancoly +which she conceiued for the losse of hir friend, and seing the +scholler daily passe by accordinge to his common Custome, +conceiued a foolishe beliefe that hir mistresse friend might be +brought to loue hir agayne, and wholly recouered, by some charme +or other sleight of Necromancy, to bee wrought and brought to +passe by the Scholler. Which deuise she tolde vnto hir +mistresse, and she vndiscretely (and without due consideration +that if the scholler had any knowledge in that science, he would +helpe himselfe) gaue credite to the words of hir mayde, and by +and by sayd vnto hir, that shee was able to bring it to passe, +if he would take it in hande, and therewithall promised +assuredly, that for recompense he should vse hir at his +pleasure. The mayde diligently tolde the Scholler hereof, +who very ioyfull for those newes, sayd vnto himselfe: "O God, +praysed be thy name, for now the time is come, that by thy helpe +I shall requite the iniuries done vnto me by this wicked Woman, +and be recompensed of the great loue that I bare vnto hir:" And +aunswered the mayd: "Go tell thy mistresse that for this matter +she neede to take no care, for if hir frend were in India, I can +presently force him to come hither, and aske hir forgiuenesse of +the fault he hath committed agaynst hir. And the maner, and way +how to vse hir selfe in this behalfe, I will gieue hir to +vnderstand when it shal please hir to appoinct me: and fayle not +to tell hir what I say, comforting hir in my behalfe." The mayde +caried the aunswere, and it was concluded, that they should +talke more hereof at the Church of S. Lucie, whither being come, +and reasoning together alone, not remembring that she had +brought the Scholler almost to the poynct of death, she reueyled +vnto him all the whole matter, and the thing which he desired, +praying him instantly to helpe hir, to whome the scholler sayd: +"True it is lady, that amongs other things which I learned at +Paris, the arte of Necromancie, (whereof I haue very great +skill,) is one: But bycause it is mutch displeasaunt to God, +I haue made an othe neuer to vse it, eyther for my selfe, or for +any other: howbeit the loue which I beare you, is of sutch +force, as I cannot deny you any request, yea and if I should be +damned amongs all the deuils in hell, I am ready to performe +your pleasure. But I tell you before, that it is a harder matter +to be done, than paraduenture you belieue, and specially where a +Woman shall prouoke a Man to loue, or a Man the Woman, bycause +it can not be done by the propre Person, whome it doth touche, +and therefore it is meete, whatsoeuer is done, in any wyse not +to be affrayde, for that the coniuration must bee made in the +Nyght, and in a solytarie place wythout Companye: which thing I +know not how you shal bee disposed to doe." To whom the Woman +more amorous than wise, aunswered: "Loue prycketh mee in sutch +wise, as there is nothyng but I dare attempt, to haue him +againe, that causelesse hath forsaken me. But tel me I beseech +you wherein it behoueth that I be so bold and hardy." The +Scholer (subtil inough) said: "I muste of necessity make an +image of brasse, in the name of him that you desire to haue, +which being sent vnto you you must, when the Mone is at hir ful, +bath your self stark naked in a running riuer at the first houre +of sleepe VII. times with the same image: and afterwards beyng +stil naked, you must go vp into some tree or house vnhabited, +and turning your selfe towardes the North side thereof wyth the +image in your hand you shal say VII. times certain words, that I +wil giue you in writing, which when you haue done, two damsels +shal come vnto you, the fairest that euer you saw, and they +shall salute you, humbly demaundyng what your pleasure is to +commaund them: to whome you shal willingly declare in good order +what you desire: and take hede aboue al things, that you name +not one for an other: and when they begonne, you may descend +downe to the place where you left your Apparel, and array your +selfe agayne, and afterwardes retourne home vnto your house, and +assure your self, that before the mid of the nexte Nyghte +folowing, your Fryend shall come vnto you weepyng, and crying +Mercye and forgyuenesse at youre Handes. And know yee, that from +that tyme forth, he wil neuer forsake you for any other." The +gentlewoman hearing those words, gaue great credyte thervnto: +and thought that already she helde hir fryend betweene hir +Armes, and very ioyfull sayd: "Doubt not sir, but I wyll +accomplysh al that you haue inioyned me: and I haue the meetest +place in the World to doe it: for vppon the valley of Arno, very +neare the Ryuer syde I haue a Manor house, secretly to woorke +any attempt that I list: and now it is the moneth of Iuly, in +which tyme bathing is most pleasaunt. And also I remembre that +not far from the Ryuer, there is a lyttle Toure vnhabited, into +which one can scarce get vp, but by a certain Ladder made of +chesnut tree, which is already there, whereuppon the shephierds +do sometime ascende to the turrasse of the same Toure, to looke +for their cattell when they be gone astray: and the place is +very solitarie out of the way. Into that Toure wyll I goe vp, +and trust to execute what you haue requyred me." The Scholler +which knew very well both the village whereof she spake, and +also the Toure, right glad for that he was assured of his +purpose, sayde: "Madame, I was neuer there, ne yet do knowe the +village, nor the Toure, but if it bee as you saye, it is not +possible to finde anye better place in the Worlde: wherefore +when the tyme is come, I wyll send you the Image, and the +prayer. But I heartily beseech you, when you haue obtained your +desire, and do perceyue that I haue well serued your turne, to +haue me in remembraunce, and to keepe your promyse." Which the +Gentlewoman assured hym to doe withoute fayle, and taking hir +leaue of him, she retired home to hir house. The Scholer ioyfull +for that his deuise should in deede come to passe, caused an +image to be made with certaine Characters, and wrote a tale of a +Tubbe in stede of the prayer. And when hee sawe tyme he sent +them to the Gentlewoman, aduertising hir that the Nyght +folowyng, she must doe the thing he had appoynted hir. Then to +procede in his enterprise, he and his man went secretly to one +of his fryends houses that dwelte harde by the towne. The Woman +on the other side, and hir Mayde repaired to hir place: where +when it was nyght, makyng as though she would go slepe, she sent +hir Mayde to Bed: afterwards about ten of the Clocke she +conueyed hirself very softly out of hir lodgyng, and repayred +neare to the Towne vpon the riuer of Arno, and lookyng aboute +hir, not seeing or perceiuing any man, she vnclothed hir selfe, +and hidde hir apparell vnder a bush of Thornes, and then bathed +hir selfe VII. tymes with the Image, and afterwardes starke +naked, holding the same in her hand, she went towardes the +Toure. The Scholler at the beginning of the Nyghte beying hydden +wyth hys seruaunt amongs the willowes and other trees neere the +Toure, saw all the aforesayde thinges, and hir also passing +naked by him, (the whitenesse of whose body surpassed as he +thought, the darknesse of the night, so farre as blacke +exceedeth white) who afterwardes behelde hir Stomack, and the +other partes of hir body, which seemed unto him to be very +delectable. And remembringe what would shortly come to passe, he +had some pitty vppon hir, on the other side, the temptation of +the Flesh sodaynely assayled hym, prouoking him to issue forth +of the secret corner, to Surprise hir, and to take his pleasure +vpon hir. But calling to hys rememberaunce what shee was, and +what great wrong hee had sustayned, his mallice began to kindle +agayne, and did remoue his pitty, and lust, continuing still +stedfast in his determination, suffring her to passe hir Iorney. +The Wydow being vppon the Toure, and turning hir face towards +the North, began to say the wordes which the Scholler had giuen +hir. Within a while after the Scholler entred in very softly, +and tooke away the ladder whereupon she got vp, and stoode still +to heare what she did say and doe. Who hauing VII. times recited +hir prayer, attended the comming of the two damsels: for whom +she wayted so long in vayne, and therewithall began to be +extreemely colde, and perceyued the dawning of the day appeare. +Wherefore taking great displeasure that it came not to passe as +the Scholler had tolde hir, she spake theese wordes to hir +selfe: "I doubt mutch least this Scholler will rewarde mee with +sutch another night, as wherein once I made him to wayte: but if +he haue done it for that respect, he is not well reuenged, for +the nights now want the third part of the length of those, then, +besides the colde that he indured, which was of greater +extremity." And that the day might not discouer hir, she woulde +haue gone downe from the Toure, but she found the Ladder to be +taken away. Then as thou the Worlde had molten vnder hir Feete, +hir heart began to fayle, and Fayntinge, fell downe vppon the +tarrasse of the toure, and when hir force reuiued agayne, she +began pitifully to weepe and complayne. And knowing well that +the Scholler had done that deede for reuenge, she grew to be +angry wyth hir selfe, for that shee hadde Offended another, and +to mutch trusted hym whom she ought (by good reason) to haue +accoumpted hir enimy. And after she had remayned a great while +in this plight, then looking if there were any way for hir to +goe downe, and perceyuinge none, she renued hir weeping, whose +minde great care and sorrow did pierce saying thus to hir selfe: +"O vnhappy wretch, what will thy brethren say, thy Parents, thy +Neyghbors, and generally all they of Florence, when they shall +vnderstande that thou hast bene found heere naked? Thy honesty +which hitherto hath bene neuer stayned, shall now bee blotted +with the stayne of shame, yea, and if thou were able to finde +(for reamedy hereof) any matter of excuse (sutch as might be +founde) the wicked Scholler (who knoweth all thy doings) will +not suffer thee to ly: ah miserable wretch, that in one houre's +space, thou hast lost both thy freende and thyne honour. What +shall become of thee? Who is able to couer thy shame?" When she +had thus complayned hirselfe, hir sorrowe was not so great as +shee was like to cast hirselfe headlong downe from the Toure: +but the Sunne being already risen, she approched neare one of +the corners of the Walle, espying if she coulde see any Boy +keeping of cattell, that she might send him for hir Mayde. And +it chaunced that the Scholler which lay and slept in couert, +awaked, one espying the other, the Scholler saluted hir thus: +"Good morow, Lady, be the Damsels yet come?" The Woman seeing, +and hearing him, began agayne bitterly to weepe, and prayed him +to come vp to the Toure, that she might speake with him. The +Scholler was thereunto very agreable, and she lying on hir belly +vpon the terrasse of the Touer, discouering nothing but hir head +ouer the side of the same, sayd vnto him weeping: "Rinieri, +truly, if euer I caused thee to endure an ill Night, thou art +now well reuenged on me; for although it be the moneth of Iuly, +I thought (because I was naked) that I should haue frosen to +death this night for cold, besides my great, and continuall +Teares for the offence which I haue done thee, and of my Folly +for beleeuing thee, that maruell it is mine eyes do remayne +within my head: And therefore I pray thee, not for the loue of +me, whom thou oughtest not to loue, but for thine owne sake +which art a gentleman, that the shame and payne which I haue +sustayned, may satisfy the offence and wrong I haue committed +agaynst thee: and cause mine apparell I beseech thee to be +brought vnto me, that I may goe downe from hence, and doe not +robbe mee of that, which afterwardes thou art not able to +restore, which is, myne honor: for if I haue deceyued thee of +one night, I can at all times when it shall please thee, render +vnto thee for that one, many. Let it suffice thee then with +this, and like an honest man content thy selfe by being a little +reuenged on me, by making me to know now what it is to hurt +another. Do not, I pray thee, practise thy power against a +woman: for the Egle hath no fame for conquering of the Doue. +Then for the loue of God, and for thine honor sake, haue pitty +and remorse vpon me." The Scholler with a cruel heart remembring +the iniury that he hath receyued, and seeing hir so to weepe and +pray, conceyued at one instant both pleasure and griefe in his +minde: pleasure of the reuenge which he aboue all things +desired, and griefe mooued his manhoode to haue compassion vpon +the myserable woman. Notwithstanding, pitty not able to ouercome +the fury of his reuenge, he aunswered: "Mistresse Helena, if my +praiers (which in dede I could not moysten with teares, ne yet +sweeten them with sugred woordes, as you doe yours nowe) might +haue obtained that night wherein I thought I should haue died +for colde in the Court full of snowe, to haue bene conueyed by +you into some couert place, an easie matter it had beene for mee +at this instant to heare your suite. But if now more than in +times past your honor do waxe warme, and that it greeueth you to +stand starke naked, make your prayers to him, betweene whose +Armes you ware not offended to be naked that night, wherein you +hearde me trot vp and downe your Courte, my Teeth chattering for +cold and marching vpon the Snow: And at his handes seeke +releefe, and pray him to bring your Clothes, and fetch a Ladder +that you may come downe: Force your selfe to set your honor's +care on him for whom both then, and now besides many other +times, you haue not feared to put the same in perill, Why doe +you not cal for him to come and help you? And to whom doth your +help better appertayne than vnto him? You are his owne, and what +things will he not prouyde in this distresse of yours? Or else +what person will hee seeke to succour, if not to helpe and +succour you? Call him (O foolish woman) and proue if the loue +which thou bearest him, and thy wit together with his, be able +to deliuer thee from my Folly, where (when both you were +togethers) you tooke your Pleasure. And now thou haste +Experience wheather my Folly or the Loue which thou diddest +beare vnto him, is greatest. And be not now so Lyberall, and +Curteous of that which I go not about to seeke: reserue thy good +Nights to thy beloued freende, if thou chaunce to escape from +hence aliue: for from my selfe I cleerely discharge you both. +And truly I haue had to mutch of one: and sufficient it is for +mee to bee mocked once. Moreouer by thy crafty talke vttered by +subtill speache, and by thyne vntimely prayse, thou thinkest to +force the getting of my good will, and thou callest me +Gentleman, valiaunt man, thinkinge thereby to withdrawe my +valyaunte minde from punishing of thy wretched body: but thy +flatteries shall not yet bleare mine vnderstanding eyes, as once +wyth thy vnfathyfull promises thou diddest beguile my +ouerweeninge wit. I now to well do know, and thereof thee well +assure, that all the time I was a Scholler in Paris, I neuer +learned so mutch as thou in one night diddest teach mee. But put +the Case that I were a valiaunt man, yet thou art none of them +vpon whom valiaunce ought to shewe his effects: and for the end +of sutch tormenting and passing cruell beasts, as thou art, only +death is fittest rewarde: for if a Woman made but halfe these +playnts, there is no man, but woulde asswage his reuenge. But +yet as I am no Eagle, and thou no Doue, but a most venomous +Serpent, I intend so well as I can to persecute thee mine +auncient enimy, wyth the greatest mallice I can deuise, which I +cannot so properly cal reuenge, as I may terme it Correction: +for that the reuenge of a matter ought to surmount the Offence, +and I will bestow no reuenge on thee: for if I were disposed to +apply my mynde therevnto, for respect of thy displeasure done to +me, thy Lyfe should not suffise, nor one hundred more like vnto +thine: which if I tooke away, I should but rid the Worlde of a +most vile, and wicked woman. And to say the truth, what other +art thou then a Deuill accept a little beauty in thy Face, which +within few yeares will vanishe and consume: for thou tookest no +care to kill, and destroy an honest man (as thou euen now +diddest terme me) whose Life, may in tyme to come bee more +profitable to the Worlde, than an hundred thousand sutch as +thyne, so long as the World indureth. I wil teach thee then by +the paine thou suffrest, what is it to mock sutch Men as bee of +skyll, and what maner of thyng it is to delude and Scorne poore +schollers, gyuing thee warning hereby, that thou never fall into +sutch folly, if thou escapest this. But if thou haue so great a +will to come downe as thou sayest thou hast, why doest thou not +throwe downe thy selfe headlonge, that by breaking of thy Necke +(if it please God) at one instante thou rid thy selfe of the +payne, wherein thou sayest thou art, and make mee the best +contented man of the Worlde. For this tyme I will say no more to +thee, but that I haue done inough to make thee clime so high. +Learne then now so wel how thou maist get down, as thou didst +know how to mock and deceyue me." While the Scholler had +preached vnto hir these words, the wretched woman wepte +continually, and the time stil did passe away, the Sunne +increasing more and more: but when the Scholler held his peace, +she replyed: "O cruell man, if that curssed nyght was grieuous +vnto thee, and my fault appeared great, cannot my youth and +Beauty, my Teares and humble Prayers bee able to mitigate thy +wrath and to moue thee to pitty: do at least that thou mayst be +moued and thy cruell minde appeased for that onely act, let me +once again be trusted of thee, and sith I haue manifested al my +desire, pardon me for this tyme, sith thou hast sufficiently +made me feele the penance of my sinne. For, if I had not reposed +my trust in thee, thou hadst not now reuenged thy self on me, +which with desire most spytefull thou doest full well declare. +Gyue ouer then thine anger, and pardon me henceforth: for I am +determined if thou wilt forgeue mee, and cause me to come downe +out of this place, to forsake for ever that vnfaithfull Louer, +and to receive thee for my only friend and Lord. Moreouer where +thou greatly blamest my beauty, esteeming it to be short, and of +smal accompt, sutch as it is, and the like of other women I +know, not be regarded for other cause but for pastime and +plesure of youthly Men, and therefore not to be contemned: and +thou thy self truly art not very old; and albeit that cruelly I +am intreated of thee, yet can I not beleue that thou wouldest +haue me so miserably to die, as to cast my selfe down headlong, +like one desperate, before thine eyes, whome (except thou were a +lier as thou seemest to be now) in time past I did wel please +and like. Haue pitye then upon me, for God's sake, for the Sunne +begins to grow exceding hot, and as the extreame and bitter cold +did hurt me the last Night euen so the heat beginneth to molest +me." Whereunto the Scholler which kept hir there for the nonce, +and for his pleasure, answered: "Mistresse you did not now +commit your faith to me for any loue you bare, but to get that +again which you had lost, wherfore that deserueth no good turne, +but greater pain: and fondlye thou thinkest this to be the onely +meanes, whereby I am able to take desired reuenge. For I haue a +thousand other wayes and a thousand Trappes haue I layed to +tangle thy feete, in makynge thee beleue that I dyd loue thee: +in sutch wyse as thou shouldest haue gone no where at any tyme, +is thys had not chanced but thou shouldest haue fallen into one +of them: and surely thou couldest haue falne into none of them, +but would haue bred thee more anoyaunce and shame than this +(which I chose not for thyne ease, but for my greater pleasure.) +And besides if all these meanes had fayled me, the pen should +not, wherewyth I would haue displayed thee in sutch Colours, as +when the simple brute thereof hadde come to thyne eares, thou +wouldest haue desired a thousand times a Day, that thou hadst +neuer bene born. For the forces of the pen be farre more +vehement, than they can esteeme that haue not proued them by +experience. I swear vnto thee by God, that I doe reioyse, and so +wil to the ende, for this reuenge I take of thee, and so haue I +done from the beginning: but if I had with pen painted thy +maners to the Worlde, thou shouldest not haue ben so mutch +ashamed of other, as of thy selfe, that rather than thou +wouldest haue loked mee in the Face agayne, thou wouldest haue +plucked thyne Eyes oute of thy head: and therefore reproue no +more the Sea, for beeing increased wyth a lyttle Brooke. For thy +loue, or for that thou wilt be mine own, I care not, as I haue +already told thee, and loue him again if thou canst, so mutch as +thou wilt, to whome for the hatred that I haue borne, +I presently bear so mutch good wyll agayne, and for the pleasure +that he hath don thee now. You be amorous and couet the loue of +young men, bicause you see theyr Colour somewhat fresh, their +beard more black, their bodies well shaped to daunce and runne +at Tylt and Ryng, but al these qualities haue they had, that be +growne to elder yeares, and they by good experience know what +other are yet to learn. Moreouer you deeme them the better +horssemen, bicause they can iourney more myles a day than those +that be of farther yeares. Truely I confesse, that with great +paynes they please sutch Venerial Gentlewomen as you be, who doe +not perceyue (like sauage Beastes) what heapes of euill doe +lurke vnder the forme of fayre apparance. Younge men be not +content with one Louer, but so many as they behold, they do +desire, and of so many they think themselues worthy: wherefore +their loue cannot be stable. And that this is true, thou mayest +now be thine owne wytnesse. And yong men thynkyng themselues +worthy to be honoured and cherished of theyr Ladies, haue none +other glory but to vaunt themselues of those whome they have +enioyed: whych fault maketh many to yeld themselues to those +that be discrete and wise, and to sutch as be no blabbes or +Teltales. And where thou sayest that thy loue is knowne to none, +but to thy mayde and me, thou art deceiued, if thou beleue the +same, for al the inhabitants of the streete wherein thy Louer +dwelleth, and the streete also wherein thy house doth stand, +talke of nothynge more than of your Loue. But many times in +sutch cases, the party whome sutch Brute doth touch, is the last +that knoweth it. Moreouer, young men do robbe thee, where they +of elder yeares do gyue thee. Thou then (which hast made sutch +choyse), remayne to him whome thou hast chosen, and me (whom +thou floutest) gyue leaue to apply to an other: for I haue found +a Woman to bee my fryend, which is of an other discretion than +thou art, and knoweth me better than thou dost. And that thou +mayst in an other world be more certaine of myne Eyes desire, +than thou hitherto art, throwe thy selfe downe so soone as thou +canst, that thy soule already (as I suppose) receiued betwene +the armes of the diuel hym selfe may se if mine eyes be troubled +or not, to view thee breake thy Necke. But bicause I think thou +wilt not do me that good turne, I say if the Sunne begin to +warme thee, remember the cold thou madest me suffer, which if +thou canst mingle with that heat, no doubt thou shalt feele the +same more temperate." The comfortlesse Woman seeing that the +Scholler's words tended but to cruell end, began to weepe and +said: "Now then sith nothing can moue thee to take pity for my +sake, at lest wise for the loue of hir, whom thou saiest to be +of better discretion than I, take some compassion: for hir sake +(I say) whom thou callest thy friend, pardon mee and bryng +hither my clothes that I may put them on, and cause me if it +please thee to come down from hence." Then the Scholler began to +laugh, and seing that it was a good while past III. of the +clocke, he answered: "Well go to, for that woman's sake I cannot +wel say nay, or refuse thy request, tel me where thy garments +be, and I wyll go seke them, and cause thee to come downe." She +beleuing hym, was some what comforted, and told hym the place +where she had bestowed them. And the Scholler going out of the +Toure, commaunded his seruaunt to tarry there, and to take heede +that none went in vntil he came againe. Then he departed to one +of hys friends houses, where he wel refreshed himselfe, and +afterwards when he thought time, he layd him downe to slepe. Al +that space mistresse Helena whych was styll vpon the Toure, and +recomforted with a lyttle foolish hope, sorrowful beyonde +measure, began to sit downe, seeking some shadowed place to +bestow hir selfe, and with bitter thoughts and heauy cheare in +good deuotion, wayted for his comming, now musing, now wepyng, +then hopyng, and sodaynely dispayring the Scholler's retourne +wyth hir Clothes: and chaunging from one thought to another, +like one that was weary of trauel, and had taken no rest al the +Nyght, she fel into a litle slumbre. But the Sun whych was +passing hote, being aboute noone, glaunced his burning beames +vpon hir tender body and bare head, with sutch force, as not +only it singed the flesh in sight, but also did chip and parch +the same with sutch rosting heat, as she which soundly slepte, +was constrayned to wake: and feling that raging warmth, desirous +somewhat to remoue hir self, she thought in turning that all hir +tosted flesh had opened and broken, like vnto a skyn of +parchement holden against the fire: besides with payne extreame, +hir head began to ake, with sutch vehemence, as it seemed to be +knocked in pieces: and no maruel, for the pament of the Toure +was so passing hotte, as neither vpon hir feete, or by other +remedy, shee could find place of rest. Wherefore without power +to abide in one place, she stil remoued to and fro wepying +bitterly. And moreouer, for that no Wynd did blow, the Toure was +haunted wyth sutch a swarme of Flies, and Gnats, as they +lighting vppon hir parched flesh, did so cruelly byte and stinge +hir, that euery of them seemed worsse than the prycke of a +Nedle, which made hir to bestirre hir hands, incessantly to +beate them off cursing still hir selfe, hir Lyfe, hir friend and +Scholler. And being thus and with sutch pain bitten and +afflicted with the vehement heat of the Sun, with the Flies and +gnats, hungry, and mutch more thyrsty, assailed with a thousand +grieuous thoughts, she arose vp, and began to loke about hir if +she could heare or see any person, purposing whatsoeuer came of +it to call for helpe. But hir ill fortune had taken way al this +hoped meanes of hir reliefe: for the Husbandmen and other +Laborers were al gone out of the fields to shrowd themselues +from the heate of the day, sparing their trauail abrode, to +thresh their corn and doe other things at home, by reason +whereof she neither saw nor hearde any thing, except +Butterflies, humble bees, crickets, and the riuer of Arno, which +making hir lust to drink of the water quenched hir thirst +nothing at al, but rather did augment the same. She sawe besides +in many places, woodes, shadows and houses, which lykewyse did +breede hir double grief, for desire she had vnto the same. But +what shal we speak any more of this vnhappy woman? The Sunne +aboue, and the hot Toure paiment below, wyth the bitings of the +flies and gnats, had on euery part so dressed hir tender corps, +that where before the whitenesse of hir body did passe the +darkenesse of the Night, the same was become red, al arayed and +spotted wyth gore bloud, that to the beholder and viewer of hir +state, she seemed the most yll sauored thyng of the Worlde: and +remayning in thys plyght without hope or councel, she loked +rather for death than other comfort. The Scholler after the +Clocke had rounded three in the afternoon, awaked, and +remembring his lady, went to the Toure to see what was become of +hir, and sent his man to dinner, that had eaten nothing all that +day. The Gentlewoman hearing the Scholler, repayred so feeble +and tormented as shee was, vnto the trap doore, and sitting +vppon the same, pityfully weeping began to say: "Rinieri, thou +art beyonde measure reuenged on me, for if I made thee freese +all night in mine open Court, thou haste tosted me to day vppon +this Toure, nay rather burnt with heate, consumed me: and +besides that, to dye and sterue for hunger, and thirst. +Wherefore I pray thee for God's sake to come vp, and sith my +heart is faynt to kill my selfe, I pray thee heartely speedily +to do it. For aboue all things I desire to dy, so great and +bitter is the torment which I endure. And if thou wilt not shewe +me that fauor, yet cause a glasse of Water to be brought vnto +me, that I may moysten my mouth, sith my teares bee not able to +coole the same, so great is the drouth and heate I haue within." +Wel knew the Scholler by hir voyce, hir weake estate, and sawe +besides the most part of hir body all tosted with the Sunne: by +the viewe whereof, and humble sute of hir, he conceiued a little +pitty. Notwythstanding he aunsweared hir in this wise: "Wicked +woman thou shalt not dye with my hands, but of thine owne, if +thou desire the same, and so mutch water shalt thou haue of me +for coolinge of thine heate, as dampned Diues had in hell at +Lazarus handes, when he lifted up his cry to Abraham, holdinge +that saued wighte within his blessed bosome, or as I had fire of +thee for easing of my colde. The greater is my griefe that the +vehemence of my colde must be cured with the heate of sutch a +stincking carion beast, and thy heate healed with the coldnesse +of most Soote and sauerous Water distilled from the orient Rose. +And where I was in daunger to loose my Limmes, and life, thou +wilt renew thy Beauty like the Serpent that casteth his Skin +once a yeare." "Oh myserable wretch" (sayd the woman) "God gieue +him sutch Beauty gotten in this sorte, that wisheth me sutch +euill. But (thou more cruell than any other beast) what heart +haste thou, thus like a Tyraunte to deale with me? What more +grieuous payne coulde I endure of thee, or of any other, than I +do, if I had killed, and done to death thy parents or whole race +of thy stocke and kin with most cruel torments? Truely I know +not what greater tyranny coulde be vsed agaynst a Trayter that +had sacced or put a whole Citty to the sword, than that thou +haste done to me, to make my flesh to bee the foode and rost +meate of the Sunne, and the baite for licorous flies, not +vouchsafing to reach hither a simple glasse of Water whych would +haue bene graunted to the condempned Theefe, and Manqueller, +when they be haled forth to hanging, yea wine most commonly, if +they aske the same. Now for that I see thee still remayne in +obstinate mind, and that my passion can nothinge mooue thee, +I wyll prepare paciently to receiue my death, that GOD may haue +mercy on my soule, whom I humbly beseech with his righteous eyes +to beholde that cruell act of thyne." And with those woords, she +approched with payne to the middle of the terrasse, despayring +to escape that burning heate, and not onely once, but a +thousande times, (besides hir other sorowes) she thought to +sowne for thirst, and bitterly wept without ceasing, complayning +hir mishap. But being almost night, the Scholler thought hee had +done inough, wherefore he tooke hir clothes, and wrapping the +same within his seruaunt's cloke, he went home to the +Gentlewoman's house where he founde before the gate, hir mayde +sitting al sad and heauy, of whom he asked where hir mistresse +was. "Syr," (sayd she) "I cannot tell, I thought this morning to +finde hir a Bed, where I left hir yester night, but I cannot +finde hir there, nor in any other place, ne yet can tell +wheather to goe seeke hir, which maketh my hearte to throb some +misfortune chaunced vnto hir. But (sir quod she) cannot you tell +where she is?" The Scholler aunswered: "I would thou haddest +bene with hir in the place where I left hir, that I might haue +bene reuenged on thee so well, as I am of hir. But beleue +assuredly, that thou shalt not escape my handes vntill I pay +thee thy desert, to the intent hereafter in mocking other, thou +mayst haue cause to remember me." When hee had sayde so, hee +willed his man to gieue the mayde hir Mistresse Clothes, and +then did bidde hir seeke hir out if shee would. The Seruaunte +did his Mayster's commaundment, and the Mayde hauinge receyued +them, knewe them by and by, and markinge well the scholler's +wordes, she doubted least hee had slayne hir Mistresse, and +mutch adoe she had to refrayne from crying out. And the Scholler +being gone, she tooke hir Mistresse Garments, and ran vnto the +Toure. That day by hap, one of the Gentlewoman's labouring Men +had two of his hogges runne a stray, and as he went to seeke +them (a little while after the Scholler's departure) he +approched neare the Toure looking round about if he might see +them. In the busie searche of whom hee heard the miserable +playnt that the vnhappy Woman made, wherefore so loude as he +coulde, be cried out: "Who weepeth there aboue?" The Woman knew +the voice of hir man, and calling him by his name, shee sayde +vnto him: "Goe home I pray thee to call my mayde and cause her +to come vp hither vnto me." The fellow knowing his mistresse +voice sayd vnto hir: "What Dame, who hath borne you vp so hygh? +Your mayde hath sought you al this day, and who would haue +thought to finde you there?" He then taking the staues of the +Ladder, did set it vp against the Toure as it ought to be, and +bounde the steppes that were wanting, with fastenings of Wyllowe +twigges, and sutch like pliant stuffe as he could finde. And at +that instant the mayde came thither, who so soone as she was +entred the Toure, not able to forbeare hir voyce, beating hir +hands, shee began to crye: "Alas sweete Mistresse where be you?" +She hearing the voyce of hir Mayde aunswered so well as shee +could: "Ah (sweete Wench) I am heere aboue, cry no more, but +bring me hither my clothes." When the mayde heard hir speake, by +and by for ioy, in haste she mounted vp the Ladder, which the +Labourer had made ready, and with his helpe gat vp to the +Terrasse of the Toure, and seeing hir Mystresse resembling not a +humayne body but rather a wodden Faggot halfe consumed with +fire, all weary and whithered, lying a long starke naked vppon +the Grounde, she began with hir Nayles to wreke the griefe vpon +hir Face, and wept ouer hir with sutch vehemency as if she had +beene deade. But hir Dame prayed hir for God's sake to holde hir +peace, and to help hir to make hir ready: and vnderstanding by +hir, that no man knewe where she was become, except they which +caried home hir clothes, and the Labourer that was present +there, shee was somewhat recomforted, and prayed them for God's +sake to say nothing of that chaunce to any person. The Laborer +after mutch talke, and request to his Mistresse, to be of good +cheere, when shee was rysen vp, caried hir downe vpon his Necke, +for that she was not able to goe so farre, as out of the Toure. +The poore Mayde which came behinde, in goinge downe the Ladder +without takinge heede, hir foote fayled, and fallinge downe to +the Grounde, shee brake hir Thigh, for griefe whereof she +roared, and cryed out lyke a Lyon. Wherefore the Labourer hauing +placed his Dame vpon a greene banke, went to see what hurt the +Mayde had taken, and perceyued that she had broken hir Thigh, he +caried hir likewise vnto that banke, and placed hir besides hir +mistresse, who seeing one mischiefe vppon another to chaunce, +and that she of whom she hoped for greater help, than of any +other, had broken hir Thigh, sorrowfull beyonde measure, renewed +hir cry so miserably, as not onely the Labourer was not able to +comforte hir, but he himself began to weepe for company. The +Sunne hauinge trauayled into hys Westerne course, and taking his +farewell by settling himselfe to rest, was at the poynct of +goinge downe. And the poore desolate woman vnwilling to be +benighted, went home to the Labourer's house, where taking two +of his Brothers, and his Wyfe, returned to fetch the Mayde, and +caried hir home in a Chayre. Then cheering vp hys Dame with a +little fresh water, and many fayre Wordes, he caried hir vpon +his Necke into a Chaumber, afterwardes his Wyfe made hir warm +Drinks and Meates, and putting of hir clothes, layd hir in hir +Bed, and tooke order that the mistresse and maide that night +were caried to Florence, where the Mistresse ful of lies, +deuised a Tale all out of order of that which chaunced to hir, +and hir Mayde, making hir Brethren, hir Sisters, and other hir +neighbours beleeue, that by flush of lightning, and euill +Sprites, hir face and body were Blistered, and the Mayde stroken +vnder the Arse bone with a Thunderbolt. Then Physitians were +sent for, who not without greate griefe, and payne to the Woman +(which many tymes left hir Skin sticking to the Sheets) cured +hir cruell Feuer, and other hir diseases, and lykewise the mayde +of hir Thigh: which caused the Gentlewoman to forget hir Louer, +and from that time forth wisely did beware and take heede whom +she did mocke, and where she did bestow hir loue. And the +Scholler knowing that the Mayde had broken hir Thigh, thought +himselfe sufficiently reuenged, ioyfully passing by them both +many times in silence. Beholde the reward of a foolish wanton +widow for hir Mockes and Flouts, thinking that no greate care or +more prouident heede ought to be taken in iesting with a +Scholler, than with any other common person, nor well remembring +how they doe know (not all, I say, but the greatest parte) where +the Diuell holdeth his Tayle: and therefore take heede good +Wyues, and Wydowes, how you giue your selues to mockes and +daliaunce, specially of Schollers. But nowe turne we to another +Wyddow that was no amorous Dame but a sober Matrone, a motherly +Gentlewoman, that by pitty, and Money Redeemed, and Raunsomed a +King's Sonne out of myserable Captiuity, that was vtterly +abandoned of all his Friendes. The manner and meanes how the +Nouell ensuing shall shewe. + + + + +THE THIRTY-SECOND NOUELL. + + _A Gentlewoman and Wydow called Camiola of hir owne minde + Raunsomed Roland the Kyng's Sonne of Sicilia, of purpose to + haue him to hir Husband, who when he was redeemed unkindly + denied hir, agaynst whom very Eloquently she Inueyed, and + although the Law proued him to be hir Husband, yet for his + vnkindnes, shee vtterly refused him._ + + +Bvsa a Gentlewoman of Apulia, maynetayned ten Thousande Romayne +souldiers within the walles of Cannas, that were the remnaunte +of the army after the ouerthrow there: and yet hir State of +Rychesse was saulfe and nothynge dimynished, and left therby a +worthy Testimony of Lyberality as Valerius Maximus affirmeth. If +this worthy woman Busa for Liberality is commended by auncient +Authors: if she deserue a Monument amongs famous Wryters for +that splendent vertue which so brightly blasoneth the Heroicall +natures of Noble dames, then may I bee so bolde amonges these +Nouels to bring in (as it were by the hand) a Wyddow of Messina, +that was a Gentlewoman borne, adorned with passing beauty and +vertues. Amongs the rancke of which hir comely Qualities, the +vertue of Liberality glistered lyke the morninge Starre after +the Night hath cast of his darke and Cloudy Mantell. This +Gentlewoman remayning in Wyddowes state, and hearing tell that +one of the Sonnes of Federicke, and Brother to Peter that was +then King of the sayd Ilande called Rolande, was caried Prysoner +to Naples, and there kept in miserable Captiuity, and not like +to bee redeemed by his Brother for a displeasure conceyued, nor +by any other, pittying the state of the young Gentleman, and +mooued by hir gentle, and couragious disposition, and specially +with the vertue of liberality, raunsomed the sayd Rolande, and +craued no other interest or vsury for the same, but him to +husband, that ought upon his knees to haue made sute to be hir +slaue and seruaunte for respect of his miserable state of +Imprisonment. An affiaunce betweene them was concluded, and he +redeemed, and when hee was returned, hee falsed his former +fayth, and cared not for hir: for which vnkinde part, she before +his Frends inueyeth agaynst that ingratitude, and vtterly +forsaketh him, when (sore ashamed) he would very fayne haue +recouered hir good wil. But she like a wise gentlewoman well +waying his inconstant mynde before mariage, lusted not to taste +or put in proofe the fruicts and successe thereof. The intire +Discourse of whom you shall briefly and presently vnderstand. +Camiola a widow of the City of Siena, the Daughter of a gentle +Knight called Signor Lorenzo Toringo, was a Woman of great +renoume and fame for hir beauty liberality and shamefastnesse, +and led a life in Massina, (an auncient Citty of Sicile) no +lesse commendable than famous, in the company of hir parentes, +contenting hirself wyth one only Husbande, while she liued, +which was in the tyme when Federick the thirde was Kyng of that +Isle: And after their death she was an heyre of very great +wealth and ritchesse, which were alwayes by hir conserued and +kept in maruellous honest sort. Nowe it chaunced that after the +death of Federick, Peter succeedinge by his Commaundement, +a great Army by Sea was equipped from Messina, vnder the conduct +of Iohn Countee of Chiaramonte, (the most Renoumed in those +dayes in Feats of Warre,) for to ayde the people of Lippary, +which were so strongly and earnestly besieged, as they were +almost all dead and consumed for hunger. In this Army, ouer and +besides those that were in pay, many Barons and Gentlemen +willingly went vpon their own proper costes, and charges, as +well by Sea as Lande, onely for fame, and to be renoumed in +armes. This Castell of Lippari was assaulted by Godefrey of +Squilatio a valiaunt Man, and at that time Admiral to Robert +Kyng of Ierusalem and Sicile: Which Godefrey by long siege and +assault, had so famished the people within, as dayly he hoped +they would surrender. But hauing aduertisement (by certayne +Brigandens which he had sent abroade to scour the Seas) that the +Enimies Army (which was farre greater than his) was at hand, +after that he had assembled all his Nauy togeather in one sure +place, he expected the euent of Fortune. The Enimies so soone as +they were seased and possessed of the place, without any +resistaunce of the places abandoned by Godefrey, caried into the +Citty at their pleasure all their victualles. which they brought +wyth them, for which good happe and chaunce the sayde Countee +Iohn being very mutch encouraged and puffed vp wyth pryde, +offred Battell to Godefrey. Wherefore he not refusing the same, +being a man of great corage, in the Night time fortified his +Army with Boordes, Timber, and other Rampiers, and hauing put +his Nauy in good order, he encouraged his Men to fight, and to +doe valiauntly the next day, which done, hee caused the Ankers +to bee wayed, and gieuing the signe, tourned the prowees of hys +Shyppes agaynst the Sicilians Army, but Countee Iohn who thought +that Godefrey would not fight, and durst not once looke vpon the +great army of the Sicilians, did not put his Fleete in order to +fight, but rather in readinesse to pursue the enimies. But +seeing the Courage, and the approch of theym that came agaynste +him, began to feare, his heart almost fayling him, and repented +him that he had required his Enimy to that which he thought +neuer to haue obtayned. In sutch wise as mistrusting the +Battayle with troubled minde, changing the order giuen, and +notwithstanding not to seeme altogither fearefull, incontinently +caused his Ships to be put into order after the best maner he +could for so little tyme, himselfe gieuing the signe of battell. +In the meane while their enimies being approched neere vnto +them, and making a very great noyse with Cryes and Shoutes, +furiously entred the Sicilians, which came slowly forth, and +hauing first throwne their Hookes and Grapples to stay them, +they began the fight with Dartes, Crosse-bowes, and other Shot, +in sutch sort as the Sicilians being amazed for the sodayne +mutation of Councell, and all enuironned with feare, and the +Souldiers of Godefrey perceyuing the same, entred their enimies +Ships, and comming to blowes, even in a moment all was filled +with bloud, by reason whereof the Sicilians, then despayring of +themselues, and they that feared turning the prowes fled away: +But neuerthelesse the Victorye reclininge towardes Godefrey, +many of their Ships were drowned, many taken, and diuers +Pinnasses by force of their Oares escaped. In that fight died +fewe people, but many were hurt, and Ihon the Captayne Generall +taken Prysoner, and with him almost all the Barons, which of +their own accordes repayred to those Warres, and besides a great +number of Souldiers, many Ensignes as well of the field, as of +the Galleyes, and specially the mayne Standerd was taken. And in +the ende, the Castell being rendred after long Voyages, and +great Fortunes by Sea, they were al chayned, caried to Naples +and there imprisoned. Amongs those Prisoners, there was a +certayne Gentleman named Rowlande, the Naturall Sonne of King +Federick deceased, a yong prince very comely and valyaunt. Who +not being redeemed, taried alone in prison very sorrowfull to +see all others discharged after they had payd their Raunsome and +himselfe not to have wherewith to furnish the same. For king +Pietro (to whom the care of him appertayned by reason he was his +Brother), for that his warres had no better successe, and done +contrary to his commaundement, conceyued displeasure so wel +agaynst him, as all others which were at that battell. Nowe hee +then being prisoner without hope of any liberty, by meanes of +the dampishe prison, and his feete clogged with yrons, grewe to +bee sicke and feeble. It chaunced by fortune, that Camiola +remembred him, and seeing him forsaken of his brethren, had +compassyon vppon his missehappe in sutch wise, as she purposed +(if honestly she might doe the same) to set hym at liberty. For +the accomplishment whereof without preiudice of hir honour, she +sawe none other wayes but take him to husband. Wherefore shee +sent diuers vnto him secretely, to conferre if he would come +forth vpon that condition, whereunto he wilingly agreed. And +performing ech due ceremonie, vnder promised faith, vpon the +gift of a ring willingly by a deputy espoused Camiola, who with +so mutch diligence as she could, payed two thousand Crownes for +his ransome, and by that meanes he was deliuerd. When he was +retourned to Messina, he repayred not to his Wyfe, but fared as +though there had neuer bene any sutch talke beetwene theym: +whereof at the begynninge Camiola very mutch maruelled, and +afterwardes knowinge his vnkindenesse was greatly offended in +hir heart against him. Notwithstanding to the intent she might +not seeme to be grieued without reason, before she proceded any +further, caused him louingly to be talked withal, and to be +exhorted by folowing his promyse to consummate the mariage: and +seeing that he denied euer any sutch Contract to be made, she +caused him to be summoned before the Ecclesiastical Iudge, by +whome sentence was giuen that hee was hir husband euidence of +his owne letters, and by witnesse of certayne other personages +of good reputation, which afterwards he himself confessed, +his face blushyng for shame, for that he had forgotten sutch a +manifest benefit and good turne. When the kynde part of Camiola +done vnto him was throughly known, he was by hys Brethren +reproued and checked for hys villany, whereupon by their +instigation, and the persuasion of his frends, he was contented +by humble request to desire Camiola to perform the Nuptials. But +that gentlewoman which was of great corage in the presence of +diuers that were wyth him, when he required hir thereunto, +answered him in this maner: "Rowland I haue great cause to +render thankes to almyghty God, for that it pleased him to +declare vnto me the proofe of thine vnfaythfulnesse, before thou +didst by any meanes contaminate (vnder colour of mariage) the +purity of my body, and that through his fauour, by whose most +holy name thou wentest about to abuse me by false and periured +Oth, I haue foreseene thy Trumpery and deceypt, wherein I +beleeue that I have gayned more than I shoulde haue done by thee +in mariage. I suppose that when thou were in pryson, thou didst +meane no lesse, than now, by effect thou shewest, and diddest +thinke that I, forgetting of what house I was, presumptuously +desired a Husband of the Royal bloud, and therefore wholly +inflamed with thy love, did purpose to beguile mee by denying +the Trouth, when thou haddest recouered lyberty thorough my +Money, and thereby to reserue thy selfe for some other of more +famous Aliaunce, being restored to thy former degree. And +thereby thou hast gieuen proofe of thy will, and what minde thou +haddest so to do if thyne ability had bene correspondent. But +God, who from the lofty Skyes doth beholde the humble and low, +and who forsaketh none that hopeth in him, knowing the sincerity +of my Conscience, hath gieuen mee the grace by little trauayle, +to breake the bands of thy deceipts, to discouer thine +ingratitude, and make manifest thine infidelity, which I haue +not done only to display the wrong towardes me, but that thy +Brethren and other thy friends might from henceforth know what +thou art, what affiaunce they ought to repose in thy fayth, +and thereby what thy frends ought to looke for, and what thine +enimies ought to feare. I have lost my Money, thou thy good +name: I haue lost the hope which I had of thee, thou the fauour +of the Kinge, and of thy brethren: I the expectation of my +mariage, thou a true and constant Wife: I the fruits of charity, +thou the gayne of amity: I an vnfaythful husband, thou a most +pure and loyall Wyfe. Now the Gentlewomen of Sicilia doe +maruayle at my Magnificence, and Beauty, and by prayses aduaunce +the same vp into the heauens: and contrarywise euery of theym +doe mock thee, and deeme thee to be Infamous. The Renoumed +Wryters of ech Countrey will place me amongs the ranke of the +noblest Dames, where thou shalt be depressed, and throwne downe +amonges the Heapes of moste vnkynde. True it is, that I am +somewhat deceyued by deliuering out of Pryson, a yong man of +Royal, and noble race, in steede of whom I have redeemed a +Rascall, a Lier, a Falsifier of his faith, and a cruell Beast: +and take heede hardily how thou do greatly esteme thyselfe, and +I wish thee not to think that I was moued to draw thee out of +Pryson, and take thee to Husbande for the good qualities that +were in thee, but for the memory of auncient benefits which my +father receyued of thine (if Federick, a king of most sacred +remembraunce were thy father, for I can scarsly beleeue, that a +sonne so dishonest should proceede from so noble a Gentleman as +was that famous Prince.) I know well thou thinkest that it was +an vnworthy thing, that a Widow not being of the Royal bloud +should have to husband, the sonne of a Kinge, so strong and of +so goodly personage, which I willingly confesse: but I would +haue thee a little to make me aunswere (at the least wise if +thou canst by reason) when I payd so great a sum of money to +deliuer thee from bondage and captiuity, where was then the +nobility of thy Royall race? Where was thy force of Youth? And +where thy Beauty? If not that they were closed up in a terrible +Pryson, where thou wast detayned in bitter griefe, and sorrowe, +and there with those naturall qualities, couered also in obscure +darknesse, that compassed thee round about. The ill fauoured +noyse and iangling of thy chaines, the deformity of thy Face +forced for lack of light, and the stench of the infected Prison +that prouoked sicknesse, and the forsaking of thy Frends, had +quite debased al these perfections wherewith now thou seemest to +be so lusty. Thou thoughtest me then to be worthy, not onely of +a yong man of a royall bloud, but of a God, if it were possible +to haue him, and so soon as thou (contrary to all hope) didst +once visite thy natural Countrey, like a most pestilent person +without any difficulty, haste chaunged thy mynde, and neuer +since thou wast deliuered, once did call into thy remembraunce +how I was that Camiola, that I was shee (alone) that did +remembre thee: that I was shee (alone) that had compassion on +thy mishap, and that I was onely shee, who for thy health did +imploy all the goods I had. I am, I am (I say) that Camiola, +who by hir Money raunsomed thee out of the hands of the Capitall +enimies of thine Auncesters, from Fetters, from Pryson: and +finally deliuered thee from Misery extreme, before thou were +altogether settled in dispayre. I reduced thee agayne to hope, +I haue reuoked thee into thy Countrey, I haue brought thee into +the Royal Pallace, and restored thee into thy former Estate, and +of a Prisoner weake, and ill fauoured, haue made the a younge +Prynce, strong, and of fayre aspect. But wherefore haue I +remembred these things, whereof thou oughtest to bee very +mindefull thy selfe, and which thou art not able to deny? Sith +that for so great benefits thou hast rendred me sutch thanks, +as being my husband in deede, thou haddest the Face to deny me +mariage, already contracted by the deposition of honest +Witnesses, and approued by Lettres, Signed with thine owne hand. +Wherefore diddest thou despise me that hath delyuered thee? Yea +and if thou couldest haue stayned the Name of hir with Infamy, +that was thine onely Refuge, and Defender, thou wouldest gladly +haue giuen cause to the common people, to thinke lesse than +Honesty of hir. Art thou ashamed (thou Man of little Iudgement) +to haue to Wyfe a Wyddowe, the Daughter of a Knight? O how farre +better had it ben for thee to haue bene ashamed to breake thy +promised fayth, to haue dispised the holy and dreadfull name of +God, and to haue declared by thy curssed vnkindnes, how full +fraught thou art with Vice. I doe confesse in deede that I am +not of the Royall bloud: notwithstanding from the Cradle, being +Trayned, and brought vp in the Company of kinges Wyues, and +Daughters, no great maruayle it is, if I haue indued and put on +a Royall heart and manners, that is able to get, and purchase +royall Nobility: but wherefore doe I multiply so many wordes? +No, no, I will be very facile, and easie in that wherein thou +haste ben to me so difficult and hard by resisting the same with +all thy power. Thou haste refused heretofore to be mine, and +hauing vanquished thee, to be sutch, franckly of myne owne +accorde, I doe graunt that thou art not. Abide (on God's name) +with thy royall Nobility, neuerthelesse defiled with the spot of +Infidelity. Make mutch of thy youthly lustinesse, and of thy +transitory beauty, and I shal be contented with my Wyddow +apparell, and shall leaue the riches which God hath geuen me to +Heyres more honest than those that might haue come of thee. +Auaunt thou wycked yong man, and sith thou art coumpted to be +vnworthy of me, learne with thine own experience, by what +subtilty and guiles thou maiest betray other dames, suffiseth it +for me to be once deceyued. And I for my parte fully determine +neuer to tary longer with thee, but rather chastly to lyue +without husband, which lyfe I deeme farre more excellent than +with thy match continually to be coupled." After shee had spoken +these words, shee departed from him, and from that time forth, +it was impossible eyther by prayers, or Admonitions to cause hir +chaunge hir holy intent. But Rowland al confused, repenting +himself to late of hys Ingratitude, blamed of ech man, his eyes +fixed vpon the grounde, auoyding not onely the presence of his +brethren, but of all sorts of people, dayly led from that time +forth, a most miserable life, and neuer durst by reason to +demaunde hir againe to Wife, whom he had by disloyalty refused. +The King and the other Barons, marueyling of the noble heart of +the Lady, singularly commended hir, and exalted hir prayses vp +into the Skyes, vncertayne neuerthelesse wherein shee was most +worthy of prayse, eyther for that (contrary to the couetous +nature of Women) she had raunsomed a yong man with so great a +Summe of Money, or else after she had deliuered him, and +sentence gieuen that he was hir Husbande, she so couragiously +refused him, as an vnkinde man, vnworthy of hir company. But +leaue we for a tyme, to talke of Wydowes, and let vs see what +the Captayne, and Lieutenaunt of Nocera can alledge vpon the +discourse of his cruelties, which although an ouer cruell +Hystory, yet depaynteth the successe of those that apply their +myndes to the Sportes of Loue, sutch Loue I meane, as is +wantonly placed, and directed to no good purpose, but for +glutting of the Bodye's delight, which both corrupteth nature, +maketh feeble the body, lewdly spendeth the time, and specially +offendeth him who maketh proclamation, that Whooremongers and +adultrers shal neuer Inherite his Kyngdome. + + + + +THE THIRTY-THIRD NOUELL. + + _Great cruelties chaunced to the Lords of Nocera, for adultry + by one of them committed with the Captayne's wyfe of the forte + of that Citty, with an enterprise moued by the Captaine to the + Cittyzens of the same for Rebellion, and the good and dutyfull + aunswere of them: with other pityfull euents rysing of that + notable and outragious vyce of whoredom._ + + +The furious rage of a Husband offended for the chastity violated +in his Wyfe, surpasseth all other, and ingendreth mallice +agaynst the doer whatsoeuer he be. For if a Gentleman, or one of +good nature, cannot abyde an other to doe him any kinde of +displeasure, and mutch lesse to hurt him in hys Body, how is he +able to endure to haue his honour touched, specially in that +part which is so neere vnto him as his owne Soule? Man, and Wyfe +being as it were one body and one will, wherein Men of good +Judgement cannot well like the Opinion of those which say that +the honour of a lusty and couragious person dependeth not vpon +the fault of a foolish woman: for if that wer true which they so +lightly vaunt, I would demaund why they be so animated and angry +against them which adorne their head with braunched Hornes, the +Ensignes of a Cuckolde: and truely nature hath so well prouided +in that behalfe, as the very sauage Beastes doe fight, and +suffer death for sutch honest Jealousie. Yet will I not prayse, +but rather accuse aboue al faulty men, those that be so fondly +Jealous, as eche thinge troubling their mindes, be afrayde of +the Flyes very shadowe that buzze about their Faces. For by +payning and molestinge theymselues with a thinge that so little +doth please and content them, vntill manifest, and euident +proofe appeare, they display the folly of their minde's +imperfection, and the weakenesse of their Fantasy. But where the +fault is knowne, and the Vyce discouered, where the husbande +seeth himselfe to receyue Damage in the soundest part of his +moueable goods, reason it is that he therein be aduised by +timely deliberation and sage foresight, rather than with +headlong fury, and raging rashnesse to hazard the losse of his +honour, and the ruine of his life and goods. And lyke as the +fayth and fidelity of the vndefiled Bed hath in all times +worthely ben commended and rewarded: euen so he that polluteth +it by Infamy, beareth the penaunce of the same. Portia the +Daughter of Cato, and wife of Brutus shall be praysed for euer, +for the honest and inuiolable loue which she bare vnto hir +beloued husband, almost like to lose hir life when she heard +tell of his certayne death. The pudicity of Paulina the wife of +Seneca appeared also, when she assayed to dy by the same kinde +of death wherewith hir Husband violently was tormented by the +vniust commaundement of the most cruel and horrible Emperoure +Nero. But Whores and Harlottes, having honest Husbands, and well +allied in Kin, and Ligneage by abandoning their bodyes, doe +prodigally consume their good Renoume: yea but if they escape +the Magistrates, or auoyde the wrath of offended husbandes for +the wrong done vnto them, yet they leaue an immortall slaunder +of their wicked life, and youth thereby may take example aswell +to shun sutch shamelesse Women, as to followe those Dames that +be Chaste, and Vertuous. Now of this contempt whych the Wyfe +beareth to hir Husband, do rise very many times notorious +slaunders, and sutch as are accompanied with passinge cruelties: +wherein the Husbande ought to moderate his heate, and calme his +choler, and soberly to chastise the fault, for so mutch as +excessiue wrath, and anger, doe Eclipse in man the light of +reason, and sutch rages doe make them to be semblable vnto +Brute, and reasonlesse Beastes: meete it is to be angry for +thinges done contrary to Right, and Equity, but Temperaunce, +and Modesty is necessary in al occurrentes, bee they wyth vs, or +against vs. But if to resist anger in those matters, it be hard +and difficulte, yet the greater impossibility there is in the +operation, and effect of any good thinge, the greater is the +glory that vanquisheth the affection and mastereth the first +motion of the minde which is not so impossible to gouerne, and +subdue to reason, as many do esteeme. A wise man then cannot so +farre forget his duety, as to exceede the Boundes, and Limits of +reason, and to suffer his mynde to wander from the siege of +Temperaunce, which if he doe after hee hath well mingled Water +in his Wyne, hee may chaunce to finde cause of Repentaunce, and +by desire to repayre his Offense augment his fault, sinne being +so prompt and ready in man, as the crime which might bee couered +with certayne Iustice, and coloured by some lawe or righteous +cause, maketh him many tymes to fall into detestable Vice and +Synne, so contrary to mildnesse and modesty, as the very +Tyraunts themselues woulde abhorre sutch wickednesse. And to the +ende that I do not trouble you with Allegation of infinite +numbres of examples, seruing to this purpose, ne render occasion +of tediousnes for you to reuolue so many bookes, I am contented +for this present, to bring in place an Hystory so ouer cruell, +as the cause was not mutch vnreasonable, if duty in the one had +bene considered, and rage in the other bridled and foreseene, +who madly murthered and offended those that were nothing guilty +of the Facte, that touched him so neare. And although that these +be matters of loue, yet the Reader ought not to bee grieued nor +take in evill parte, that we bee still in that Argument. For we +doe not hereby goe about to erect a Schoolehouse of Loue, or to +teache Youth the wanton Toyes of the same. But rather bryng +forth these Examples to withdraw the plyant, and tender Age of +this our time, from the pursuite of like Follies, which may +(were they not in this sort warned) ingender lyke effects that +these our Hystoryes do recoumpt, and whereof you shall bee +Partakers by reading the discourse that followeth. Yee must than +vnderstand, that in the time that Braccio Montone, and Sforza +Attendulo florished in Italy, and were the chiefest of the +Italian men of warre, there were three Lords and brethren which +held vnder their authority and Puissaunce Foligno, Nocera, and +Treuio, parcell of the Dukedome of Spoleto, who gouerned so +louingly their Landes together, as without diuision, they +maynetayned themselues in great Estate, and lyued in Brotherly +concorde. The name of the Eldest of these three Lordes was +Nicholas, the second Cæsar, the yongest Conrade, gentle +Personages, wise and wel beloued so well of the Noble men their +Neyghbours, as also of the Cittyzens that were vnder their +Obeysaunce, who in the ende, shewed greater loyalty towards +them, than those that had sworne their fayth, and had giuen +Pleadges for confirmation, as yee shal perceyue by reading what +insueth. It chaunced that the eldest oftentimes repayring from +Foligno to Nocera, and lodging still in the Castell, behelde +with a little to mutch wanton Eye, the Wyfe of his Lieutenaunt +whych was placed there with a good number of dead payes, to +Guard the Fort, and keepe vnder the Cittizens, if by chaunce +(as it happeneth vpon the new erection of Estates) they attemped +some new enterprise agaynst their Soueraygne Lordes. Nowe this +Gentlewoman was very fayre, singularly delighting to be looked +vpon: which occasioned the Lord Nicholas, by perceyuing the +wantonesse and good wyll of the Mystresse of the Castell, not to +refuse so good occasion, determining to prosecute the inioying +of hir, that was the Bird after which he hunted, whose Beauty +and good grace had deepely wounded his Mind, wherin if he forgot +his duety, I leaue for al men of good iudgement to consider. For +me thinke that this young Lorde ought rather singularly to loue +and cherysh his liuetenaunt that faithfullye and trustily had +kept his Castell and Forte, than to prepare agaynst him so +Trayterous an Attempt, and Ambushe. And if so bee hys sayd +Lieutenaunt had bene accused of felony, misprison, or Treason +(yet to speake the trouth) hee might haue deliuered the charge +of his Castell vnto an other, rather then to suborne his Wyfe to +folly. And ought likewise to haue considered that the +Lieuetenaunt by puttinge his trust in him, had iust cause to +complayne for Rauishing hys Honoure from hym in the Person of +hys Wyfe, whom hee ought to haue loued wythout any affection to +Infrindge the Holy Lawe of Amitye, the breakinge whereof +dissolueth the duety of ech Seruaunt towardes his Soueraygne +Lord and mayster. To be short, this blinded Louer yelding no +resistaunce to loue, and the foolish conceipt which altereth the +iudgements of the wisest, suffred his fansie to roue so farre +vnto hys Appetites, as on a daye when the Lieuetenaunte was +walked abroade into the Castel to view the Souldiours and deade +payes (to pleasure him that sought the meanes of his +displeasure) hee spake to the Gentlewoman his Wyfe in this +manner: "Gentlewoman, you being wise and curteous as ech man +knoweth, needefull it is not to vse long or Rethoricall +Orations, for so mutch as you without further supply of talk do +clearely perceyue by my Looks, Sighes, and earnest Viewes, +the loue that I beare you, which without comparison nippeth my +Hearte so neare as none can feele the parching paynes, that the +same poore portion of me doth suffer. Wherefore hauing no great +leysure to let you further vnderstand my mynde, it may please +you to shewe me so mutch Fauour as I may be receyued for him, +who hauing the better right of your good grace, may therewithall +enioy that secret Acquayntance, which sutch a one as I am +deserueth: of whom yee shall haue better experience if you +please to accept him for your owne." This mistresse Lieutenaunt +which compted hir selfe happy to be beloued of hir Lorde, and +who tooke great pleasure in that aduenture, albeit that shee +desyred to lette hym knowe the good will that she bare vnto him, +yet dissembled the matter a little, by aunswering him in this +wise: "Your disease Sir is sodayne, if in so little time you +haue felt sutch excesse of malady: but perchance it is your +heart that being ouer tender, hath lightly receyued the pricke, +which no doubt will so soone vanish, as it hath made so ready +entry. I am very glade (Sir) that your heart is so merily +disposed to daliaunce, and can finde some matter to contriue the +superfluitie of tyme, the same altering the diuersity of man's +complexion, accordingly as the condition of the hourely Planet +guideth the nature of euery wight." "It is altogither otherwise +(aunswered hee) for being come hither as a master and Lord, I am +become a seruaunt and slaue: and briefly to speake my minde, if +you haue not pitty vpon me, the disease which you call sodayne, +not only will take increase, but procure the death and finall +ruine of my heart." "Ah sir," (sayd the Gentlewoman) "your +griefe is not so deepely rooted, and death so present to +succeede as you affirme, ne yet so ready to gieue ouer the +place, as you protest, but I see what is the matter, you desire +to laugh mee to scorne, and your heart craueth something to +solace it selfe which cannot be idle, but must imploy the vacant +tyme vpon some pleasaunt Toyes." "You haue touched the pricke +(aunswered the Louer) for it is you in deede wherevpon my hearte +doth ioy, and you are the cause of my Laughter and passetime, +for otherwise all my delights were displeasures, and you also by +denying me to be your seruaunt, shall abbreuiate, and shorten my +liuing dayes, who only reioyseth for choyse of sutch a +mystresse." "And how (replied she) can I be assured of that you +say? The disloyalty, and infidelity of man being in these dayes +so faste vnited, so hastely following one another, as the Shadow +doth the Body, wheresoeuer it goeth." "Onely experience" +(sayed he) "shall make you know what I am, and shall teach you +wheather my heart is any thing different from my wordes, and I +dare bee bolde to say, that if you vouchsafe to do mee the +pleasure to receyue mee for your owne, you may make your vaunt +to haue a Gentleman so faythfull for your frend, as I esteeme +you to be discrete, and as I desire to let you taste the effect +of mine affection, by sutch some honest order as may be +deuised." "Sir" (sayd she) "it is well and aduisedly spoken of +you, but yet I thincke it straunge for sutch a Gentleman as you +be, to debase your honor to so poore a Gentlewoman, and to goe +about both to dishonor me, and to put my life in pearill." "God +forbid" (aunswered the Lord Nicholas) "that I be cause of any +slaunder, and rather had I dye my selfe than minister one simple +occasion whereby your fame should be brought in question. Only I +doe pray you to have pitty vpon me, and by vsing your curtesie, +to satisfie that which my seruice and faythfull friendship doth +constrayne, and binde you for the comfort of him that loueth you +better than himselfe." "We will talke more thereof hereafter" +(aunswered the lieuetenaunt's Wyfe) "and than will I tell you +mine aduise, and what resolution shall follow the summe of your +demaunde." "How now Gentlewoman" (sayd he) "haue you the heart +to leaue me voyde of hope, to make me languish for the +prorogation of a thing so doubtful as the delayes bee which loue +deferreth? I humbly pray you to tell me whereunto I shall trust: +to the intent that by punishing my heart for proofe of this +enterprise, I may chastise all mine Eyes by reuing from them the +meanes for euer more to see that which contenteth me best, and +wherein resteth my solace, leauing my minde full of desires, and +my heart without final stay, vppon the greatest Pleasure that +euer man coulde choose." The Gentlewoman would not loose a Noble +man so good and perfect: whose presence already pleased hir +aboue all other thinges, and, who voluntarily had agreed to hys +request, by the onely signe of hir Gests, and Lookes, sayde vnto +him smilinge with a very good grace: "Doe not accuse my heart of +lightnesse, nor my minde of infidelity and treason, if to please +and obey you, I forget my duty, and abuse the promise made unto +my Husband, for I sweare vnto you (sir) by God, that I haue more +forced my thought, and of long time haue constrayned mine +appetites in dissembling the loue that I beare you, than I haue +receiued pleasure, by knowing my selfe to be beloued by one +agreeable to mine affection. For which cause you shall finde me +(being but a poore Gentlewoman) more ready to do your pleasure, +and to be at your commaundement, than any other that liueth be +shee of greater Port, and regarde than I am. And who to satisfie +your request, shal one day sacrifice that fidelity to the +iealous fury of hir husband." "God defend" (sayd the young Lord) +"for we shal be so discrete in our doings, and so seldome +communicate, and talke togeather, as impossible for any man to +discry the same. But if mishap will haue it so, and that some +ill lucke doe discouer our dealinges, I haue shift of wayes to +coloure it, and power to stop the mouthes of them that dare +presume to clatter and haue to do with our priuate conference." +"All that I know wel inough sir" (sayd she) "but it is great +simplicity in sutch thinges for a man to trust to his authority, +the forced inhibition whereof shall prouoke more babble, than +rumor is able to spreade for all his tattling talk of our secret +follies. Moreouer I would be very glad to do what pleaseth you, +so the same may be without slaunder. For I had rather dy, than +any should take vs in our priuities and familier pastimes: let +vs be contented with the pleasure that the ease of our ioy may +graunt, and not with sutch contentation as shal offend vs, by +blotting the clerenesse of our good name." Concluding then the +time of their new acquayntaunce, which was the next day at +noone, when the Lieutenaunt did walke into the Citty, they +ceased their talke for feare of his enteruiew. Who (upon his +retourne) doing reuerence vnto his Lord, tolde him that hee +knewe where a wilde Boare did haunte, if it pleased him to see +the pastime. Whereunto the Lord Nicholas fayned louingly to +gieue eare (although agaynst his will) for so mutch as hee +thought the same Huntinge should be a delay for certayne dayes +to the enioying, (pretended and assured) of his beloued. But she +that was so mutch or more esprysed with the raging and +intollerable fire of loue, speedily found meanes to satisfie hir +louer's sute, but not in sutch manner as was desired of eyther +partes, wherefore they were constrayned to defer the rest vntill +an other time. This pleasaunt beginning so allured the Lord of +Nocera, as vnder the pretence of huntinge, there was no weeke +that passed, but hee came to visite the Warrener of hys +Lieutenaunt. And this order continuing without any one little +suspition of their loue, they gouerned theymselues wisely in +pursute thereof. And the Lord Nicholas vsed the game and sporte +of Hunting, and an infinite number of other exercises, as the +running of the Ring, and Tennis, not so mutch thereby to finde +meanes to enioy his Lady, as to auoyde occasion of Iealosie in +hir Husband, being a very familiar vice in all Italians, the +Cloake whereof is very heauy to beare, and the disease +troublesome to sustayne. But what? Like as it is hard to beguile +an Vsurer in the accoumpt of his money, for his continuall watch +ouer the same, and slumbring sleepes vpon the Bookes of his +recknings and accoumpts, so difficult it is to deceyue the heart +of a iealous man, and specially when he is assured of the griefe +which his head conceyueth. Argus was neuer so cleere eyed for +all his hundred Eyes ouer Iupiter's Lemman, as those Louers be, +whose opinions be ill affected ouer the chastity of their Wyues. +Moreouer what Foole, or Asse is hee, who seeing sutch vndiscrete +familiarity of two Louers, the priuy gestures and demeanors +without witnesse, theyr stolne walkes at vntymely houres, and +sometimes theyr embracements to, strayght and common before +seruants, that would not doubt of that whych most secretly did +passe? True it is that in England (where liberty is so honestly +obserued as being alone or secrete conuersation gyueth no cause +of suspition) the same mighte haue bene borne withall. But in +Italy, where the Parents themselues be for the most part +suspected, (if there had bene no facte in deede committed) that +familiarity of the Lord Nicholas, with hys Lieutenaunte's Wyfe +was not suffrable, but exceded the Bounds of reason, for so +mutch as the Commoditie which they had chosen for possessing of +theyr loue, (albeit the same not suspitions) animated them +afterwards to frequent their familiarity and dysporte to +frankly, and wythout discretion: which was the cause that +fortune (who neuer leaueth the ioyes of men wythout giuing +thereunto some great alarme,) being enuious of the mutuall +delightes of those two louers, made the husband to doubt of that +which hee would haue dissembled, if honor could so easily be +loste wythoute reproch, as bloud is shed without peryll of Lyfe, +but the matter being so cleare, as the fault was euident, +specyally in the party which touched him so neare as hymselfe, +the Lieuetenaunt before he would enterpryse any thing, and +declare what he thought desired throughly to bee resolued of +that whych hee sawe as it were but in a Cloude, and by reason of +hys conceyued Opynion hee dealt so warely and wisely in those +affaires, and was so subtil an espiall, as one day when the +louers were at theyr game, and in their most straite and secrete +embracements, he viewed them coupled with other leash, than he +would haue wished, and colled with straighter bands then reason +or honesty did permit. He saw with out beeing seene, wherein he +felt a certaine ease and contentment, for being assured of that +he doubted, and purposed to ordeyne a sowre refection after +their delightsome banket, the simple louers ignoraunt by signe +or coniecture, that their enterpryses were dyscouered. And +truely it had ben more tollerable and lesse hurteful for the +Lieuetenaunte, if euen then hee had perpetrated his vengeaunce, +and punyshed them for theyr wyckednesse, than to vse the Cruelty +wherewith afterwardes he blotted his renoume, and soyled his +hands by Bedlem rage in the innocent bloud of those that were +not priuye to the folly, and lesse guilty of the wronge don vnto +him. Now the Captain of the Castel for al his dissimulation in +couering of his griefe, and his fellony and Treason intended +against his soueraigne Lord, which he desired not yet manifestly +to appeare, was not able any more from that time forth to speake +so louingly vnto him, nor with sutch respect and reuerence as he +did before, which caused his Wife thus to say vnto hir Louer: +"My Lord I doubt very mutch least my husband doth perceiue these +our common practizes, and secrete familiar dealings, and that he +hath some Hammer working in his heade, by reason of the +Countenaunce,{ }and vncheareful entertaynement which he sheweth +to your Lordship, wherefore myne aduyse is, that you retire for +a certaine tyme to Foligno. In the meane space I wil marke and +espye if that his alteration be conceiued for any matter against +vs, and wherefore his wonted lookes haue put on this new +alteration and chaunge. All which when I haue (by my espial and +secret practize sounded) I will spedily aduertise you, to the +end that you may provide for the sauegard of your faithfull and +louing seruaunt." The young Lord, who loued the Gentlewoman wyth +al his heart, was attached with so great gryefe, and dryuen into +sutch rage by hearyng those wycked Newes, as euen presently he +woulde haue knowne of hys Lieuetenaunt, the cause of his +dyswonted cheare. But weighing the good aduyse whych his woman +had giuen him, paused vppon the same, and promysed hir to doe +what she thought best. By reason whereof, gyuynge warnyng to his +Seruantes for hys departure, he caused the Lyeuetenaunte to be +called before him, vnto whome hee sayd: "Captayne, I had +thoughte for certayne Dayes to sporte and passe my tyme, but +hearing tell that the Duke of Camarino commeth to Foligno, to +debate with vs of matters of importaunce, I am constrained to +departe, and do pray you in the meane time to haue good regard +vnto our affaires, and if any newes doe chaunce to aduertise the +same wyth all Expedytion." "Sir" (sayd the Captayne) "I am +sorrye that now when our passetime of hunting myght yelde some +good recreation vnto your honour, that you doe thus forsake vs, +notwithstanding sith it is your good pleasure, we will cease the +chase of the wylde Bore till your retourne. In the meane time, +I will make ready the Coardes and Tramelles, that vppon your +comming, nothing want for the Furniture of our sport." The Lord +Nicholas, seeing his Lieuetenaunt so pleasauntly disposed, and +so litle bent to Choller, or iealous fantasie, was persuaded, +that some other toy had rather occupyed his Minde, than any +suspition betweene his Wife and hym. But the subtyll Husband +searched other meanes to be reuenged, than by kylling him alone, +of whom he receyued that dishonour, and was more craftie to +enterpryse, and more hardie to execute, than the Louers were +wyse or well aduised to preuent and wythstande his sleightes and +pollicies. And albeit that the Wyfe (after the departure of hir +Fryend) assayed to drawe from him the cause of his altered +cheare yet coulde shee neuer learne, that hir husband had any +ill opinion of theyr Loue. For so many tymes as talke was moued +of the Lord Nicholas, hee exalted his prayse vp into the +Heauens, and commended hym aboue all his Brethren. All whych hee +dyd to beguyle the pollycies of hir, whome he saw to blush, and +many times chaunge Colour, when she heard him spoken of, to whom +she bare better affection than to hir Husband, vnto whom +(in very dede) she did owe the faith and integritie of hir body. +This was the very toile which he had laid to intrap those +amorous persons and purposed to rid the world of them by that +meanes, to remoue from before his eyes, the shame of a +Cuckolde's title, and to reuenge the iniurie don to his +reputation. The mistresse of the Castel seeynge that hir husband +(as shee thought) by no meanes did vnderstande hir follies, +desired to continue the pleasure, which either of them desired, +and which made the third to die of phrenesie, wrote to the Lord +Nicholas, the letter that followeth. + +"My Lord, the feare I had, that my husband should perceyue our +loue, caused me to intreat you certaine dayes past, to +discontinue for a time, the frequentation of your owne house, +whereby I am not little agrieued, that contrary to my wil, I am +defrauded of your presence, which is far more pleasaunt vnto me, +than my husband's flatteries, who ceaseth not contynually to +talke of the honest behauiour, and commendable qualyties that be +in you, and is sorry for your departure, bicause he feareth that +you mislyke youre entertainement, whych should be (sayth he) so +gryeuous and noysome vnto him, as death it selfe. Wherefore, +I pray you sir, if it be possible, and that your affayres doe +suffer you, to come hither to the ende I may enioy your amayable +presence, and vse the Liberty that our good hap hath prepared, +through the litle iealousie of my husband your Lieuetenaunt: +who I suppose before it be long wil intreat you, so great is his +desire to make you passetime of hunting within your owne Land +and territory. Fayle not then to come I beseech you, and we wyll +so well consider the gouernment of our affaires, as the best +sighted shall not once discry the least suspicion thereof, +recommending my selfe most humbly (after the best maner I can) +to your good Lordship." + +This Letter was deliuered to a Lackey to beare to the Lord +Nicholas, and not so priuily done, but the Lieutenaunt +immediately espied the deceipt which the sooner was disciphred, +for so mutch as he dayely lay in wayte to find the meanes to +reuenge the wrong done vnto him, of purpose to beate the iron so +long as it was hotte, and to execute hys purpose before his Wife +tooke heede, and felte the endeuor of his Enterpryse. And +bicause that shee had assayed by diuers wayes to sound his +heart, and fele whether he had conceiued displeasure against the +Lord hir louer, the Day after wherein she had written to hir +friend, hee sent one of his Men in poste to the three Lordes, +to requyre them to come the nexte Day to see the pastime of the +fayrest and greatest wild Bore, that long tyme was bred in the +Forrests adioyning vnto Nocera, Albeit that the Countrey was +fayre for coursinge, and that dyuers tymes many fayre Bores haue +ben encountred there. But it was not for this, that he had +framed his errand, but to trap in one toyle and snare the thre +brethren, whom he determined to sacrifice to the aulter of his +vengeance, for the expiation of theyr elder brother's trespasse, +and for soyling the Nuptial bed of his seruaunt. He was the +wylde Bore whome he meant to strike, hee was the pray of his +vnsaciable and cruell Appetite. If the fault had ben generall of +all three togethers, he had had some reason to make them passe +the bracke of one equall fortune, and to tangle them within one +net, both to preuent thereby (as he thought) his further hurt, +and to chastise their leude behauiour. For many tymes +(as lamentable experience teacheth) Noble men for the onely +respecte of their Nobility, make no Conscience to doe wrong to +the honor of them, whose reputation and honesty, they ought so +wel to regard as their owne. Herein offended the good Prynce of +the Iewes Dauid, when to vse his Bersabe without suspition, he +caused innocent Vrias to bee slayne, in lieu of recompence for +his good seruice, and diligent execution of his behests. The +children of the proud Romane king Tarquinius, did herein greatly +abuse them selues, when they violated that noble Gentlewoman +Lucrece, whom al histories do so mutch remembre, and whose +chastity, al famous writers do commend. Vppon sutch as they be, +vengeance ought to be don, and not to defile the hands in the +bloud of innocents, as the Parents and Kinsemen of deade Lucrece +did at Rome, and this Lieutenaunt at Nocera, vppon the brethren +of him that had sent him into Cornwal, without passing ouer the +Seas. But what? Anger proceding of sutch wronge, surmounteth al +phrenesie, and exceedeth al the bounds of reason, and man is so +deuoyd of Wyts, by seeing the blot of defamation, to lyght vpon +him, as he seeketh al meanes to hurt and displease him that +polluteth his renoume. Al the race of the Tarquines for like +fact were banyshed Rome, for the onely brute whereof, the +husband of the faire rauished wife, was constrayned to auoid the +Place of his natiuity. Paris alone violated the body of +Menelaus, the Lacedemonian kyng, but for reuenge of the rauyshed +Greeke, not onely the glory and Rychesse of stately Troy, but +also the most parte of Asia and Europa, was ouertourned and +defaced, if credyte may be gyuen to the recordes of the +Auncyent. So in this fact of the Lieutenaunt, the Lord Nicholas +alone, had polluted his bed, but the reuenge of the cruel man +extended further, and his fury raged so farre, as the guiltlesse +were in greate Daunger to beare the penaunce, which shall be +well perceiued by the discourse that foloweth. The Captaine then +hauing sent his message, and beyng sure of his intent (no lesse +than is he already had the brethren within his hold, vpon the +point to couple them together with his wife, to send them all in +pilgrimage to visite the faithfull forte, that blason their +loues in an other worlde, with Dydo, Phyllis, and sutch like, +that more for dispayre than loue, bee passed the straictes of +death) caused to be called before him in a secrete place, al the +souldiers of the Fort, and sutch as with whome he was sure to +preuayle, to whom not without sheading forth some teares, in +heauie Countenaunce, he spake in this maner: "My Companions and +Fryends, I doubt not but yee bee abashed to see me wrapt in so +heauy plyght, and appeare in this forme before you (that is to +say) bewept, heauy, panting with sighes, and all contrary to my +custome, in other state and maner, than my courage and degree +requyre. But when ye shall vnderstand the cause I am assured +that the case whych seemeth straunge to you, shall be thought +just and ryght and so will perfourme the thing wherein I shall +employe you. Ye knowe that the first point that a Gentleman +ought to regarde, consisteth not onely in repelling the iniury +done vnto the body, but rather it behoueth that the fight begin +for the defense of his honor, which is a thinge that proceedeth +from the Minde, and resorteth to the Body, as the Instrument to +worke that which the spyryte appointeth. Now it is honour, for +conseruation whereof, an honest man and one of good Courage +feareth not to put hymselfe in all perill and daunger of death +and losse of goodes, referring himselfe also to the guarde of +that whych toucheth as it were oure owne reputation. In sutch +wyse as if a good Captaine do suffer hys souldier to be a wycked +man, a Robber, a Murderer, and an exacter, he beareth the note +of dyshonor albeit in all his doings he gouerneth his estate +after the rule of honesty, and doth nothing that is vnworthy his +vocation. But what? he being a head vnited to sutch members, if +the partes of that vnited thing be corrupt and naught, the head +must needes bear the blot of the fault before referred to the +whole Body. Alas (sayd he sighing) what parte is more neare, and +dearer to Man, than that which is giuen vnto him for a Pledge +and Comfort duryng his Life, and which is conioyned to be bone +of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, to breath forth one Mynde, +and to think with one heart and equall wil. It is of the Wyfe +that I speake, who being the moytie of hir husband, ye ought not +to muse if I say, that the honoure of the one is the rest of the +other, and the one infamous and wycked, the other feeleth the +troubles of sutch mischiefe, and the Wife being carelesse of hir +honour, the husband's reputation is defiled, and is not worthy +of prayse, if he suffer sutch shame vnreuenged: I must +(Companions and good friends) here dyscouer that whych my heart +would faine kepe secrete, if it were possible, and must rehearse +a thing vnto you, which so sone as my Mouth would faine kepe +close, the Minde assayeth to force the ouerture. And loth I am +to do it, were it not that I make so good accompt of you, as ye +being tied to me with an vnseparable Amity, will yeld me your +comfort and Ayde against him that hath done mee this Villany, +sutch as if I be not reuenged vpon, needes must I be the +Executioner of that vengeance vppon my selfe, that I am loth to +lyue in this dishonor, whych all the dayes of my life (without +due vltion) like a Worme wyll torment and gnaw my conscyence. +Wherefore before I goe any further, I woulde knowe whether I +myght so well trust your aide and succour in this my businesse, +as in all others I am assured you would not leaue mee so long as +any breath of life remained in you. For without sutch assurance, +I do not purpose to let you know the pricking naile that +pierceth my heart, nor the gryefe that grieueth me so neare, +as by vttering it without hope of help I shall open the Gate to +death, and dye without reliefe of my desire, by punishing him, +of whome I haue receyued an iniury more bloudy than any man can +doe." The Souldiers whych loued the Captaine as theyr owne Lyfe, +were sorry to see him in sutch estate, and greater was theyr +dolour to heare wordes that tended to nothing else but to fury, +vengeaunce, and murder of hymselfe. Wherefore all wyth one +accorde promysed theyr helpe and mayne force towardes and +against all men for the bryngyng to passe of that whych hee dyd +meane to requyre. The Lieutenaunt assured of his Men conceyued +heart and Courage, and continuing his Oration and purpose, +determyned the slaughter and ouerthrowe of thre Trinicien +Brethren, (for that was the surname of the Lordes of Foligno,) +who pursued his Oration in this maner: "Know ye then +(my Companions and good Friends) that it is my Wife, by whome I +haue indured the hurt and losse of myne honour, and she is the +party touched, and I am he that am most offended. And to the +ende that I do not hold you longer in suspence, and the party be +concealed from you, whych hath don me thys Outrage: ye shall +vnderstand that Nicholas Trinicio, the elder of the three Lordes +of Folingno and Nocera, is he, that against all ryght and equity +hath suborned the Wife of his Lieuetenaunt, and soyled the Bed +of him, whereof he ought to haue ben the defender and the very +bulwarke of his reputation. It is of hym my good Fryends, and of +his that I meane to take sutch Vengeaunce, as eternall memory +shall display the same to all posterity: and neuer Lord shal +dare to doe a like wrong to mine, without remembraunce what his +duety is, which shall teach hym how to abuse the honest seruice +of a Gentleman that is one of his owne trayne. It resteth in you +both to holde vp your hand, and keepe your promise, to the end +that the Lord Nicholas, deceiuyng and mocking me, may not trust +and put affiance in your force, vnto whych I heartily do +recommend my selfe." The Souldiers moued and incited with the +wickednesse of theyr Lord and with the wrong done to him, of +whom they receyued wages, swore agayne to serue his turne in any +exploit he went about, and requyred him to be assured, that the, +Trinicien Brethren should be ouerthrowne, and suffer deserued +penaunce, if they might lay hands vpon them, and therefore +willed him to seke meanes to allure them thither, that they +might be dispatched. The Lieuetenaunt at these words renuing a +chearefull Countenaunce, and shewing himself very ioyfull for +sutch successe after he had thanked his Souldyers, and very +louingly imbraced the chiefest of them, reuealed hys deuised +pollicy, and hoped shortly to haue them at his commaundement +within the Fort, alleaging that he had dispatched two Messengers +vnto them, and that his wife also priuily had sent hir page: +vnto whome he purposed to gyue so good a recompense, as neuer +more she should plant his hornes so hygh, vnder a colour of +gentle entertaynement of hir ribauld and Friend. They were +scarce resolued vpon this intent, but newes were brought him, +that the next day morning, the three lords accompanied with +other nobility would come to Nocera, to hunt that huge wylde +Bore, whereof the Lieutenaunt had made so greate auant. These +newes did not greatly please the Captaine, for so mutch as he +feared, that his purpose could not (conueniently) be brought to +passe, if the company were so great. But when he considered that +the Lords alone, should lodge within the Fort, he was of good +cheare again, and staied vpon his first intent. The Triniciens +the next day after came very late, bicause the Lord Berardo of +Verano duke of Camerino, desired to be one, and also the two +brethren taried for Conrade, who was at a mariage, and could not +assist the Tragedie that was played at Nocera, to his great hap +and profit. So this troupe came to Nocera late, and hauing +supped in the City, the Lord Nicholas, and the Duke of Camerino +went to Bed in the Fort, Cæsar the brother of Trinicio tarying +behind with the Trayne, to lodge in the city. Stay here a while +(ye Gentlemen) ye I say, that pursue the secrete stelths of +loue, neuer put any great trust in fortune, which seldome kepeth +hir promise with you. Ye had neede therfore to take goode heede, +least ye be surprysed in the place, wher priuily you giue the +assault, and in the acte wherein ye desire the assistance of +none. See the barbarous cruelty of a Lieutenant, which loued +rather to kill his corriual in his cold bloud, than otherwise to +be reuenged, when he saw him a bed with his Wife, purposely that +the example of his fury myght be the better knowne, and the +secret sclander more euident, from the roote whereof did spryng +an infinite number of Murders and mischiefs. About midnight +then, when all thinges were at rest vnder the darke silence of +the nyght, the Lieutenant came to the Chamber of the Lord +Nicholas, accompanied with the most part of the Watch, and +hauyng stopt vp the yeoman of hys Chaumber, hee so dressed the +Companion of hys Bedde, as for the first proofe of his +courtesie, he caused hys Membres and priuy partes to be cut of, +saying vnto him with cruell disdayne: "Thou shalt not henceforth +(wycked wretch) weld this launce into the rest, thereby to +batter the honour of an honester man than thy self." Then +lanching his stomacke with a piercing blade, he tare the heart +out of his belly, saying: "Is this the trayterous Heart that +hath framed the plot and deuysed the enterprise of my shame, +to make this infamous villaine without Life, and his renoume +without prayse?" And not content with this Cruelty, he wreakt +the like vpon the remnaunt of his body, that sometimes the +runnagate Medea did vpon hir innocent brother, to saue the Lyfe +of hir selfe, and of hir friend Iason. For she cut him into an +hundred thousand pieces, gyuing to euery Membre of the poore +murdred soule hir word of mockery and contempt. Was it not +sufficient for a tirannous husband to be reuenged of hys shame, +and to kill the party which had defamed him, without vsing so +furious Anotamie vpon a dead body, and wherein there was no +longer feeling? But what? Ire beyng wythout measure, and anger +wythout Brydle or reason, it is not to be wondred, if in al his +actes the Captayne ouerpassed the iust measure of vengeance. +Many would thinke the committed murder vppon Nicholas, to be +good and iust: but the Iustice of an offense, ought not so longe +time to be conceyled, but rather to make him feele the smart at +the very tyme the deed is done, to the ende that the nypping +gryefe of pestilent treason wrought against the betrayed party, +be not obscured and hydden by sodayne rage and lacke of reason +rising in the mindes first motions, and thereby also the faulte +of the guilty, by hys indiscretion couered: otherwyse there is +nothyng that can colour sutch vice. For the law indifferently +doth punish euery man, that without the Magistrates order taketh +authority to venge his own wrong. But come we againe vnto our +purpose. The Captayne all imbrued in bloude, entred the Chaumber +of the Duke of Camerino, whom with al the rest of the strangers +that were wythin the Castle, hee lodged (without speakynge any +worde) in a deepe and obscure pryson. Beholde, what reste they +tooke that nyghte, whych were come to hunt the Wylde Boare. For +wythout trauaylyng farre, they were intrapped in the subtill +engines and Nettes of the furious Lieuetenaunte, who when the +morning bedecked with hir vermilion cleare began to shewe hir +selfe, when all the Hunters dyd put them selues in readynesse, +and coupled vp theyr Dogges to marche into the Fielde, beholde, +one of the Captayne's cruell Ministers wente into the City, +to cause the Lord Cæsar to come and speake with hys brother +Nicholas, and intreated him not to tarry, for that he and the +Duke were dysposed to shewe hym some disport. Cæsar whych neuer +suspected the least of these chaunced murders, desired not to be +prayed agayne, but made haste to the Butcherie like a lamb, and +in the company of the Wolues themselues that were in readynesse +to kyll hym. He was no sooner in the Court of the Castle, but +seuen or eyght Varlets apprehended hym and hys Men, and carryed +hym into the Chaumber (bound lyke a thefe) wherin the Membres of +hys Myserable Brother were cut of and dispersed, whose corpse +was pitifully gored and arrayed in Bloud. If Cæsar were abashed +to see himselfe bound and taken prysoner he was more astonned +when he perceyued a body so dysmembred, and which as yet he +knewe not. "Alas," (sayd he) "what sighte is this? Is thys the +bore whych thou hast caused vs to come hyther to hunt within our +very Fort?" The Captayne rising vp, al imbrued wyth bloud, whose +face and voyce promised nothing but Murder to the miserable +young Gentleman sayd: "See Cæsar, the Body of thine adulterous +brother Nicholas, that infamous whoremonger, and marke if this +be not his head: I woulde to God that Conrade were here also +that ye might all three be placed at this sumptuous Banket, +which I haue prepared for you. I sweare vnto thee then, that +this should be the last day of all the Trinicien race, and the +end of your Tirannies and wicked Life. But sith I cannot get the +effect of that whych my heart desireth, my minde shal take +repast in the triumph which Fortune hath ordeined. Curssed be +the mariage and Wedding at Trevio, that hath hyndred me of an +occasion so apte, and of the meanes to dispatch a matter of +sutch importance as is the ouerthrow of so many tirants." Cæsar +at this sentence stode so stil, as whilom dyd the wyfe of Loth, +by seing the City on fire, and consume into ashes: by the sight +whereof she was conuerted into a stone of Salt. For when he sawe +that bloudy Pageant, and knew that it was his brother Nicholas, +pity and feare so stopt the pipes of his speach, as without +complayning himself or framing one word, he suffred his throte +to be cut by the barbarous captaine, who threw him halfe dead +vpon the corps of his brother, that the bloud of either of them +might cry vp to the heauens for so loud vengeance as that of +Abel dyd, being slain by the treason of his nearest brother. +Beholde the dreadful begynnings of a heart rapt in fury, and of +the mind of him that not resisting his fond affections, executed +the terrible practizes of his owne braine, and preferring his +fantasie aboue reason, deuised sutch ruine and decay, as by +these Examples the Posteritye shall haue good cause to wonder. +The lyke Cruelty vsed Tiphon towards his brother Osyris by +chopping his body in xxvi. gobbets, whereby ensued the decay of +him and his, by Orus whome some doe surname Appollo. And troweth +the Captayne to loke for lesse mercy of the Brother of the other +twayne that were murdered and of the Dukes kindred whome he kept +Prysoner? But he was so blynded with Fury, and it may be, led by +ambition and desyre to be made Lord of Nocera, that he was not +contented to venge his shame on hym whych had offended, but +assayed to murder and extinguysh all the Trinicien bloud: the +enheritaunce only remaining in them. And to come to the end of +his Enterprise, this Italyan Nero, not content wyth these so +many slaughters, but thereunto adioyned a new Treason assaying +to win the Citizens of Nocera to moue rebellion agaynst their +Lord, causing them to assemble before the Forte, vnto whome +vppon the Walles, he vsed this or like Oration: "I haue hitherto +(my Maisters) dissembled the lyttle pleasure that my heart hath +felt to see so many true and faithful Citizens, subiecte vnder +the wyll and unbrydeled lustes of two or three Tyraunts: who +hauing gotten Power and authority ouer vs, more through our owne +folly and cowardyse, than by valiance, vertue and iustice, +either in them or those which haue dispoyled this countrey of +their auncient liberty. I will not deny but pryncipalities of +longe entraunce and Foundation deryued by succession of +inherytaunce, haue had some spyce and kynde of Equity, and that +Lordes of good lyfe and conuersation ought to be obeyed, +defended and honored. But where inuasion and seasure is against +ryght, where the people is spoyled and Lawes violated, it is no +conscience to disobey and abolish sutch monsters of nature. The +Romanes in the prime age of their Common Wealth ful wel declared +the same, when they banished out of their City that proud race +of the Tirant Tarquine, and when they went about to exterminate +al the rootes of cruelty and tyrannical power. Our Neighbors the +Sicillians once dyd the like vnder the conduct of Dion, against +the disruled fury and wilful cruelty of Denis the tyrant of +Syracusa, and the Atheniens against the Chyldren of Pisistratus. +And ye that be sorted from the stocke of those Samnites, which +in times past so long heald vp their Heades against the Romane +force, will ye be so very cowardes and weake hearted for respect +of the title of your seigniorie as ye dare not with me to +attempt a valiant enterprise for reducing your selues into +libertye, and to expell that vermyne broode of Tyraunts which +swarme through out the whole regyon of Italy. Wyll yee bee so +mated and dumped, as the shadow alone of a fond and inconstant +young man, shall holde your Nose to the Grindstone, and drawe +you at his lust lyke an Oxe into the stall? I feare that if ye +saw your Wiues and Daughters haled to the passetyme and pleasure +of these Tirauntes, to glutte the whoredome of those styncking +Goate Bucks, more Lecherous and filthy than the senseles +sparrowes: I feare (I say) that ye durst not make one Sygne for +demonstratyon of your Wrath and dyspleasure. No, no (my maysters +of Nocera,) it is hyghe tyme to cutte of the Hydra hys heads, +and to strangle hym wythin hys Caue. The tyme is come (I say) +wherein it behoueth you to shewe your selues lyke Men, and no +longer to dissemble the case that toucheth you so neare. +Consyder whether it bee good to follow myne aduyse, to repossede +agayne the thyng whych is your owne, (that is) the Freedome +wherein your Auncesters gloryfied so mutch, and for which they +feared not to hazarde theyr Goodes and Lyues. It wyll come good +cheape, if you be ruled by me, it wyll redound to your treble +Fame, if lyke Men ye follow my aduyse, whych I hope to let you +shortely see wythout any great peryll or losse of your Citizens +Bloud. I haue felt the effect of the Trinicien Tirannye, and the +rigor of their vnrighteous gouernment, which hauing begonne in +me, they will not faile, if they be not chastised in time, to +extend on you also, whome they deeme to be their slaues. In lyke +manner I haue first begon to represse their boldnesse, and to +wythstande their leud behauior: yea and if you Mynde to +vnderstande ryght from wrong, an easy matter it will be to +perfourme the rest, the time beinge so commodious, and the +discouery of the thinge whereof I haue made you so priuy, so +conuenient. And know ye, that for the exploit of mine intent, +and to bryng you agayne altogether in Liberty, I haue taken the +two Lords Nicholas and Cæsar prysonners, attending till fortune +do bryng to me the third, to pay him with like money and equals +guerdon, that not onely you may bee free and setled in your +auncient priuiledge, but my heart also satisfied of the wrong +which I haue receiued by their iniustice. Beleue (Maisters) that +the thing whych I haue done: was not wythoute open iniury +receiued, as by keepyng it close I burst, and by telling the +same I am ashamed. I wil kepe it secrete, notwithstanding, and +shal pray you to take heede vnto your selues, that by vniuersal +consent, the mischiefe may be preuented. Deuise what answer you +wyll make me, to the intent that I by following your aduise, may +also be resolued vpon that I haue to do, without Preiudice but +to them to whome the case doth chyefly appertayne." Duryng al +this discourse, the wycked Captayne kept close the Murder which +hee had committed, to drawe the Worme out of the Nocerines Nose, +and to see of what Mynde they were, that vppon the intellygence +thereof, he myght woorke and follow the tyme accordyngly. Hee +that had seene the Cytizens of Nocera after that sedytious +Oration, would haue thought that he had heard a murmure of Bees, +when issuing forth their Hyues, they light amidst a pleasaunt +Herber, adorned and beautyfied with diuers coloured floures. For +the people flocked and assembled togythers, and began to grudge +at the imprysonment of ther Lord, and the treason committed by +the Lieuetenaunte, thynking it very straunge that he which was a +houshold seruaunt durst be so bold to sease on those to whome he +dyd owe all honour and Reuerence. And do assure you that if he +had ben below, as he was vpon the rampire of the Walles, they +had torne him into so many pieces, as he had made Gobbets of the +Lord Nicholas body. But seing that they could not take him, they +went about to seeke the deliueraunce of them, whome they thought +to be yet aliue: and one of the chyef of the City in the Name of +them all shortly and bryefly, aunswered him thus: "If malice did +not well discouer it selfe in the sugred and Traiterous +composition of thy woordes (O Captayne) it were easy inough for +an inconstant People (bent to chaunge, and desirous of +innouations,) to heare and do that, which sutch a traitor and +flatterer as thou art dost propose: but we hauing til now +indured nothing of the Triniciens that sauoreth of Tiranny, +cruelty, or excesse, we were no lesse to be accused of felony, +than thou art guilty of Rebels cryme, by seasyng vpon the +Persons of thy Lords, if we shoulde yelde credyt to thy Serpents +hissing, or lend aide to thy traiterous practise, thou goest +about against them who innoblyng thee are trayterously berieued +of that which concerned their reputation and greatnesse. We be +an honest People and faithfull Subiects. We wyll not be both +Wicked and vnhappy at once, and without cause expell our heads +out of our common Wealth. No though they should perpetrate the +mischiefes whych thou hast alleadged. Vppon sutch Nouelties and +straunge facts we shall take newe aduise and Councell. To be +short, thou shalt pleasure vs to set our Lordes at Lyberty, and +thou like a wyse man shalt doe thy duety, and satisfy a People +which easily can not endure that a subiecte do wrong to those to +whome he oweth obedience. And feare not to receiue anye euill of +them, nor yet to feele anoyaunce, for wee wyll take vppon vs by +honest meanes to craue pardon for thy fault how haynous so euer +it be. But if thou continue thine offence, be sure that the Lord +Conrade shall be aduertised, and with all our power we shall +succour him by force, to let thee feele the Nature of Treason, +and what reward is incydent to the practizers of the same." The +Captaine albeit he was abashed with that aunswere, and saw that +it would not be wel wyth him if he did not prouid spedy remedy +and order for his affayres, aswell for the comming of the Lord +Conrade, as of the brother of the Duke Camerino, told the +Citizens that within three or foure dayes he would giue them a +resolute aunswer, and so it might be, yelde vnto theyr wylles, +and delyuer them whom he had in holde. Thys gentle aunswere dyd +nothyng stay the Citizens for the accomplyshment of that which +they thought best to do, knowing also that the gallant had not +commenced that Tragedy, but for other toyes whych his vngracious +head had framed for a further intended Myschiefe, for which +cause they assembled their Councell, and concluded that one +should ryde in poste to the Lord Conrade, (the third and +remnaunt of the Brethren,) that hee myghte come to take order +for the delyueraunce of Nicholas and Cæsar whome they thought he +had reserued still alyue in Captiuity. The Nocerines shewed this +curtesie (not but that they woulde gladly haue bene at lyberty, +if the way had bene better troden,) aswell for the lyttle trust +they reposed in the Captayne, who they thoughte would be no more +gentle and faithfull, than he shewed himselfe to be loyall to +his Maisters, and for that Conrade was well beloued of the +Lordes his Neighbors, and specially of the imprysoned Duke and +his Brother Braccio Montone, who had the Italian men of Warre at +his pleasure, and that the Noble men woulde assiste him wyth all +their power. Wherefore they considered that theyr fairest and +best way, for auoiding of factions, was to kepe themselues +trusty and true, and by not hearkening to a Traitor, to bynd +their soueraigne Lord with sutch duety and obedience, as the +vnkindest man of the world would confesse and acknowledg for the +consequence of a matter of sutch importance. The seditious +captaine on the other side, void of hope, and in greater rage +than hee was before, persisted in hys folly, not without +foreseeyng howe hee myghte saue himselfe, which hee had +pollitikely brought to passe, if God had not shortened his waye, +by payment of Vsury for hys Wyckednesse, and by very dilygence +of them in whome hee reposed his truste, the manner and howe, +immedyately doeth follow. So soone as he had gyuen ouer the +Councell of the Citizens and a lyttle bethought him what he had +to do, he called before him two yong Men, whom aboue al others +he trusted best. To these yong men he deliuered all his Gold, +Syluer and Iewels, that they mighte conuey the same out of the +iurisdiction of his Lords, to the intente that when he saw +hymself in daunger, he myght retire to the place where those +gallants had before carryed his furniture, and mountinge them +vpon two good steedes, he let them forth at the Posterne gate, +praying them so soone as they could to retourne aduertysement of +their abode, and that spedily he would send after them hys +Chyldren and the rest of his moueables, tellyng them that he +specially committed his Lyfe and goodes into their hands, and +that in time and place he would acknowledg the Benefite don vnto +him in that distresse. The two that were thus put in trust for +sauegard of hys thyngs, promised vnto him Golden Hilles and +Miracles: but so soone as they had lost the sight of theyr +maister, they deuised another complotte and determined to breake +faith to him, which was forsworne, and who made no conscience +not onely to reuolt, but also cruelly to kill his soueraigne +Lordes. They thought it better to ryde to Treuio, to tell the +Lord Conrade the pitifull end of his brethren, and the +imprysonment of the Duke of Camerino, than to seeke rest for +him, whome God permitted not to be saued, for his heinous sinne +already committed, and for that which he mente to do vppon hys +Wyfe. For all the dyligence that the Nocerines had made, yet +were the Lieuetenaunte's Men at Treuio before them, and hauyng +filled the Eares of Conrade with those heauy Newes, and hys Eyes +with Teares, his Mynde with sorrow, and Spyrite with desyre to +be reuenged, and as Conrade was about to mount on horse backe +wyth the Trayne hee had, the Citizens were arryued to disclose +the Imprysonment of his brethren. To whome Conrade made +aunswere: "I would to GOD (my friends) that the tirant had ben +contented with the litle cruelty wherof you speake, for then I +would find the meanes to agree the parties vpon the knowledge of +their variance. But (alas) his malice hath passed further, and +hath beastly slain my brethren: but I swear by the almighty God, +that if he giue me life, I wil take sutch, and so cruell +vengeaunce on him, as he shall be a Glasse to all his lyke, for +punishment of a fault so horrible. Depart my frends, depart and +get you home, dispose your watch and gard about the Castell, +that the traiter do not escape: and assure your selues that this +your loue shall neuer be forgotten, and you shall haue of me not +a Tirant as he maliciously hath protested, but rather sutch a +Lord, and better also, than hytherto ye haue me proued." If +Conrade had not ben pressed with heauinesse, he had chaunted +goodly Songes against the Treason of the Lieuetenaunt, and would +haue accused his Brother of indiscretion, for trusting him, +whose wyfe hee had abused, and wel did know that he espyed the +same. But what? The businesse requyred other things than Words: +and extreame folly it is to nippe the Dead with taunts, or with +vayne words to abuse the absent, speciall where vltion and +reuenge is easy, and the meanes manifest to chastise the +temerity of sutch, and to be acquited of the wrong done vnto him +that cannot do it hymselfe. Conrade then toke his way to +Tuderto, where then remained the Lord Braccio, and thereof was +Lord and Gouernour, and had also vnder his gouernement Perugia, +and many other Cityes of the Romane Church, and who wyth the +dignity of the great Constable of Naples, was also Prynce of +Capua, to him the Trinicien Brother, all be sprent wyth Teares +and transported wyth choller and griefe, came to demaunde succor +for reuenge of the Lieuetenaunt's trespasse, saying: "For what +assurance (my Lord) can Prynces and great Lordes hope +henceforth, when their very seruaunts shall ryse, and by +constraining their Maisters, make assay to vsurp their +seigniories wherein they haue no title or interest? Is this a +reuenge of wrong, in steede of one to kill twaine, and yet to +wishe for the third to dispatch the World of our race? Is this +to pursue his ennimy, to seeke to catch hym in trappe, whych +knoweth nothing of the quarell, and to make hym to suffer the +payne? My two Brethren be dead, our Cosin Germaine the Duke is +in pryson, I am heere comfortlesse, all sad and pensife before +you, whome lykewyse this matter toucheth, although not so near +as it doeth me, but yet with lyke dishonor. Let vs go (my Lorde) +let vs goe I beseech you to visite our good hoste that so rudely +intreateth his Ghests which come to visite him, and let vs beare +him a reward, that he may taste of our comming, let vs goe +before hee saue himselfe, that with little trauayle and lesse +harme to an other the ribauld may be punished, who by his +example if he longer liue, may increase courage both in +Seruaunts to disobey, and in Subiects to rebell, without +conscience, agaynst their heads, and gouerners? It is a case of +very great importaunce, and which ought to be followed with all +rigor and cruelty. And he ought neuer to bee supported, +comforted or fauored, which shall by any meanes attempt to +reuolt or arme himselfe agaynst his Prince, or shall constrayne +him or hir that is his Soueraygne Lord, or Mistresse. Is not a +Prynce constituted of GOD to be obeyed, loued, and cherished of +his Subiects? Is it not in him to make and ordaine lawes, sutch +as shalbe thought needefull and necessary for Common wealth? +Ought not he then to be obeyed of his subiectes and vassals? +Ought they then to teach the head, and commaund the chiefest +Member of their body? I do remember a tale (my Lord) recited by +Menenius Agrippa that wyse, and Notable Romayne, who going about +to reconcile the commons with the Senate, alleaged a fit and +conuenable example. In time past (quod he) when the partes of +Mankinde were at variaunce, and euery member would be a Lord +generally conspiring, grudging and alleaging how by their great +trauayle, paynes, and carefull ministery, they prouided all +furniture, and mayntenaunce for the belly, and that he like a +sluggish Beast stoode still, and enioyed sutch pleasures as were +geuen him, in this murmure and mutine, al they agreed that the +hands should not minister, the Mouth should not feede, the Teeth +should not make it seruiceable, the Feete should not trauayle, +nor Heade deuise to get the same: and whylest euery of them did +forsake their seruice and obedience, the belly grew so thin, and +the Members so weake and feeble, as the whole body was brought +to extreme decay, and ruine, whereby (sayd Agrippa) it appeareth +that the seruice due vnto the Belly (as the chiefe portion of +man) by the other Members is most necessary, the obeying and +nurssing of whom doth instil force and vigor into the other +parts through which we doe liue, and bee refreshed, and the same +disgested and dispearsed into the vaynes, and vitall powers +ingendreth mature and fine bloud, and mayntaineth the whole +state of the body, in comely forme and order. By which trim +comparison, applyed to ciuile warre was deflected and mollified +the stout corage and attempts of the multitude. Euen so agreing +with Agrippa, if the Members grudge, and disobey against their +chiefe, the state must grow to ruine. To be short, in certaine +haps a Trayter may be chearished, and that hath falsified his +first fayth: but treason and periury euermore be detested as +vices execrable. In this deede neyther the thing, nor yet the +doer hath any colour of excuse, the trespasse and cause for +which it is don being considered. Suffiseth it Sir, for so mutch +as there is neyther time nor cause of further discourse, what +neede we to decide the matter, whych of it selfe is euident? +Beholde mee heere a poore Trinician Brother without brethren, +ioylesse without a Fort at Nocera. On the other part confider +the Duke of Camerino in great distresse and daunger, to passe +that strait of death my Brethren did. Let vs goe (I pray you) to +deliuer the Captiue, and by reuenging these offenses and +murders, to settle my Citty in former State, and freedome, which +the villayne goeth about to take from me, by encouraginge my +Subiects to reuolt and enter armes, thereby to expel our house +from the Title of the same." As Conrade spake these woords, and +wyth great grauity, and constancy pronouncing sundry tokens of +sorrow, the Conestable of Naples, wroth beyond measure for these +vnpleasant newes, and full of griefe and choller against the +trayterous Lieutenaunt, swore in the hearing of them all, that +he would neuer rest one good sleepe vntill that quarell were +auenged, and had quited the outrage done to the Lord Conrade, +and the wrong which he felt in him for the imprisonment of the +Duke of Camerino. So he concluded, and the Souldiours were +assembled thorough out all the parts of the Conestable's Lands, +vpon the ende of the weeke to march against the Fort of Nocera, +the Cittizens whereof had layd diligent Scout, and watch for the +escape of the Captayne, who without bashfulnesse determined with +his men to defend the same and to proue fortune, making himselfe +beleeue that his quarell was good, and cause iust to withstand +them that shoulde haue the heart to come to assayle him. The +Constable in the mean time sent a Trumpet to Nocera to summon +the Captaine to surrender, and to tell the cause of his reuolt, +and at whose prouocation hee had committed so detestable a +Treason. The Captaine well assured and boldned in his +Wyckednesse, aunswered that he was not so well fortified to make +a surrender so good cheape, and for so small a pryce to forgo +his honor and reputation: and furthermore, that his wit was not +so slender, but hee durst deuise and attempt sutch a matter +without the councel of any other, and that all the deedes and +deuises passed till that time, were of his owne inuention. And +to be enen with the wrong done to his honor by the Lord Nicholas +Trinicio, for the violation of his Wiue's Chastity, he had +committed the Murders (tolde to Braccio) beyng angry, that all +the Tirannous race was not in his hand to spyll, to the end he +mighte deliuer his Countrey, and put the Citizens in Liberty, +albeit that fondly they bad refused the same as vnworthy of +sutch a Benefite, and well deserued that the Tyrants should taxe +them at theyr pleasure, and make them also theyr common slaues +and Drudges. The Trumpet warned hym also to render to hym the +Duke, bicause he was guiltlesse of the facte, whych the Captayne +regarded so little as he did the first demaundes, whych was the +cause (the Company being arriued at Nocera, and the Constable +vnderstandyng the litle accompte the Castell Gentleman made of +his summons) that the battry the very day of theyr arriuall was +laid and shotte against the place with sutch thunder and +dreadfull thumpes of Canon shot, as the hardiest of the +Mortpayes within, began to faint. But the corage and litle feare +of theyr chyefe, retired theyr hearts into theyr bellyes. The +breach being made againe, the Constable who feared to lose the +Duke in the Captaine's Fury, caused the Trumpet to summon them +wythin to fall to Composition, that Bloudshed might not stirre +theyr Souldioures to further cruelty. But so mutch gayned this +second warnyng as the first, for which cause the nexte day after +the assault was gyuen, where if the assaulte was valiant, the +resistaunce was no lesse than bolde and venturous. But what can +Thirtie or Fortie Men doe agaynste the Force of a whole +Countrey, and where the Generall was one of the most valiaunte, +and wisest Captaynes of hys tyme and who was accompanied with +the floure of the Neapolitane Fotemen. The assault continued +four or fiue Houres, but in the end the Dead payes not able to +sustayne the force of the assaylants, forsooke the Breache, and +assaying to saue themselues, the Lieuetenaunt retired to the +Kipe of the Fort, where his Wife continued prisoner, from the +time that the two brethren were slaine. Whiles they without, +ruffled in together in heapes amonges the defendauntes, the Duke +of Camerino, with his Men, found meanes to escape out of Pryson, +and therewithal began furiously to chastise the ministers of the +disloyal Captaine, which in little tyme were cut al to pieces. +Conrade being within found the Captayn's Father, vppon whom he +was reuenged, and killed him with his owne hands. And not +content with that, caried into further rage, and fury, he +slashed him into gobbets, and threwe them to the dogs. Truly a +straunge maner of reuenge, if the Captain's cruelty had not +attempted like inhumanity. To bee shorte, horrible it is to +repeate the murders done in that sturre, and hurly burly. For +they that were of the Captayne's part, and taken, receyued all +the straungest and cruellest punishment that man could deuise. +And were it not that I haue a desire in nothing to beely the +Author, and lesse will to leaue that which he had wrytten vpon +the miserable end of those that were the ministers and seruaunts +to the barbarous tirrany of the Captayne, I would passe no +further, but conceale that which doth not deserue remembraunce, +except to auoide the example, which is not straunge, the Cruelty +of reuenging heart in the nature of Man, in al times growinge to +sutch audacity, as the torments which seeme incredyble, be +lyable to credite as wel for those we reade in auncient +Historyes, as those we heare tell of by heare say, and chauncyng +in our tyme. Hee that had the vpper hand of his Enimy, not +content to kyll, but to eate with his rauenous teeth the heart +disentraylde from his aduersary, was hee lesse furious than +Conrade, by makinge Anatomy of the Captayn's Father? And he that +thrust Galleazze Fogase in to the mouth of a Canon, tying his +Head vnto his Knees and causing him to be caried by the violent +force of Gunpouder into the City from whence he came, to bribe +and corrupt certayne of hys enemies army, did he shew himselfe +to be more curteous than one of these? Leaue we a part those +that be past, to touch the miserable ende wherewith Conrade +caused the last tribute of the Captain's souldyers to bee payd. +Now amongs these some were tied to the Tayles of wilde Horses, +and trayned ouer Hedges, and Bushes, and downe the stiepnes of +high Rocks, some were haled in pieces, and afterwards burnt with +great Martyrdome, some were deuyded and parted aliue in four +quarters, other sowed naked wythin an Oxe Hyde, and so buried in +Earth, vp to the Chin, by whych torments they finished their +Liues with fearful gronings. Will ye say that the Bull of +Perillus, or Diomedes Horsses, were afflictions more cruell than +these? I know not what ye cal cruelty, if these acts may beare +the title of modesty. But all thys, proceeded of wrath and +disdayne of eyther partes. The one dysdayned that the seruaunt +should be his head, and the other was offended, that his +soueraygne Lord should assay to take that from him, which his +duty commaunded him to keepe. Conrade toke in ill part the +treason of the Captayn, who beyond measure was angry, that the +Lord Nicholas had made him a brother of Vulcan's order, and +regestred him in the booke of husbands, which know that they +dare not speake. In summe, the one had right, and the other was +not without some reason, and notwithstanding both surmounted the +boundes of man's milde nature. The one ought to content hymselfe +(as I haue sayd) for being reuenged on him that had offended +him, and the other of the murder done, duringe the assault +without shewing so bloudy tokens of cruelty and so apparent +euidence of tiranny, vpon the ministers of the brutall and +bloudy Captayne, who seeing his father put to death with sutch +Martirdome, and his men so straungely tormented, was vanquished +with choller, dispayre and impacyence. And albeit the Captayne +had no greate desire to hurt his Wyfe, yet was he surmounted +with sutch rage, as apprehending hir, and binding hir hands and +feete, she styl crying him mercy, and crauing pardon for hir +faultes at the hands of God and him, he threw hir downe from the +highest Toure of the Kipe vpon the pauement of the Castle +courte, not without teares and abashment of al, which saw that +monstrous and dreadful sight, which the Souldiers viewing, they +fired the Toure, and with fire and smoke forced the Captaine to +come forth, and by lyke meanes made him, his Brother and +Chyldren to tread the daunce that his Wyfe before had don. +Conrade by and by caused those bodies to be throwne forth for +Foode to the Wolues, and other raueninge Beasts, and Byrdes +liuing vpon the pray of Carrion, causing also his Brethren +honourably to bee buryed, and the Gentlewoman that had home the +penaunce worthy for hir fault. Sutch was the end of the most +myserable, and worst gouerned loue, that I thinke man hath euer +red in wryting, and which doth clearely witnesse, that there is +no pleasure so great but Fortune by chaunging and turning hir +Wheele maketh a hundred times more bitter than desire of sutch +ioy doth yelde delyght. And farre better it were (besides the +offence done to God) neuer to cast Eye on Woman, than to bord or +proue them, to rayse sutch Sclaunders and Facts which cannot be +recounted but with the horrour of the Hearers, nor wrytten but +to the great griefe of those that muse and study vpon the same: +Notwithstanding for instruction of our life, both good and bad +Examples bee introduced and offred to the view of ech degree, +and state. To the end that Whoredome may bee auoyded, and bodily +Pleasure eschued, as most Mortal and pernicious Plagues that doe +infect as well the Body and Reputation of man, as the integrity +of the Minde. Besides that ech man ought to possesse his own +Vessel, and not to couet that is none of hys, vnseemely also it +is to solicite the Neyghbor's Wyfe, to procure thereby the +disiunction and defaite of the whole bond of mariage, which is a +Treasure so deare and precious, and carieth so greate griefe to +him that seeth it defaced, as our Lord (to declare the grauity +of the Fact) maketh a comparison of his Wrath agaynste them +which run after straunge GODS, and applyeth the honour due vnto +him to others that doe not deserue the same, with the iust +disdayne, and ryghtfull Choller of a Iealous Husbande, Fraught +wyth despyght to see himselfe dispoyled of the Seasure, and +Possession onely giuen to him, and not subiect to any other, +whatsoeuer he be. Learne here also (O yee husbands) not to fly +with so nimble Wing, as by your owne authority yee seeke reueng +without fearing the follies and sclaunders that may insue. Your +sorrow is iust, but it behoueth that reason doe guide your +fantasies, and bridle your ouer sodayne passions, to the intent +that yee come not after to sing the doleful Song of repentaunce, +like vnto this foolish man, who hauing done more than he ought, +and not able to retire without his ouerthrow, threw himselfe +into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition. And let vs all fixe +fast in memory, that neuer vnruled rage, and wilful choller +bringeth other benefit than the ruine of him that suffereth +himselfe to runne headlonge into the same, and who thinketh that +all that is naturall in vs, is also reasonable, as though Nature +were so perfect a worckwoman, as in man's corruption she could +make vs Aungels, or halfe Gods. Nature following the instinct of +that which is naturall in vs, doth not greatly stray from +perfection, but that is giuen to few, and those whom God doth +loue and choose. And Vertue is so seldome founde, as it is +almost impossible to imitate that perfection. And briefly to +say, I will conclude with the Author of this present Hystory. + + Angre is a fury short, + To him that can the same excell: + But it is no laughing sport + In whom that senselesse rage doth dwell. + That pang confoundeth ech man's wits + And shameth him with open shame, + His honour fades in frantike fits, + And blemisheth his good name. + + + + +THE THIRTY-FOURTH NOUELL. + + _The horrible and cruell murder of Soltan Solyman, late the + Emperor of the Turkes and father of Selym that now raigneth, + done vpon his eldest Sonne Mvstapha, by the procurement, + and meanes of Rosa his mother in lawe, and by the speciall + instigation of one of his noble men called Rvstanvs: where + also is remembred the wilful death of one of his Sons named + Giangir, for the griefe he conceiued to see Mvstapha so + miserably strangled._ + + +Twenty two yeares past or thereabouts I translated this present +Hystory out of the Latine tongue. And for the rarenes of the +Fact, and the disnaturall part of that late Furiose Enemy of +God, and his Sonne Christ: I dedicated the same to the right +honorable, my speciall good Lord, with al vertues, and nobility, +fully accomplyshed, the Lord Cobbam Lorde Warden of the cinque +Portes, by the name of Sir VVilliam Cobham Knyght. And bycause I +would haue it continue in man's remembraunce thereby to renue +the auncient detestation, which we haue, and our Progenitors had +against that horrible Termagant, and Persecutor of Christyans, +I haue insinuated the same amongs the rest of these Nouels. For +of one thing I dare make warrantise, that auncient Writers haue +not remembred, nor old Poets reported a more notorious or +horyble Tragedy or fact executed against nature, then that +vnnaturall murder done by the sayd enemy of Christianity, +the late Soltan Solyman, otherwyse called the great Turke. +I remember the description of Nero's Parricide vppon his louynge +Mother, of purpose to behold the place of his byrth. I call to +memory also the wycked Murther of Orestes, on hys Mother +Clytemnestra. I also consider the vnfatherly part of Tantalus, +who wyth the flesh of his owne sonne Pelops, feasted the Gods. +All which are not farre dyfferent from this pestiferous Fury, +and may wyth the same, and the lyke bee comparable by any Man +heeretofore committed. This Hellysh Champyon hys owne Sonne, of +hys owne Seede, Naturally conceaued wythin hys mother's Wombe, +vnnaturally in his owne presence moste Myserably did kill. +O pityfull case, But alas, voyde of pitty to a pyttylesse man. +O cruell fact, but not ouer cruell to him that liued a cruell +Man. What Beast be he neuer so woode, or Sauage, can suffer his +Yonglings to take harme, mutch lesse to doe them hurte himselfe? +What fierce Lyonesse can infeste hir owne Whelpe, which with +Naturall paines brought it into light? But what doe I stand vpon +Lamentation of the case and leaue the brutenesse of this Madman +far bruter then Lyons vnconsidered? The brutenesse of this fury +so farre ecceedeth Beasts, as Reasonable passeth Vnreasonable. +The fury of the Deuill, whom he serueth, so raged in his +tirannous life, as loe, he slue his owne Sonne. The care of God, +and Christe was so farre out of his Sighte as hee subuerted +Nature. The libidonous lustes os this Lecherous Infidell, so +surmounted the bounds of reason, as the fire thereof consumed +his owne flesh. This Enemy of Christe was so bewytched as the +dotage of his infidelity consented to murder. And as tiranny +like a Lord possessed his Brayne in huntinge after the bloud of +Christians, so Tiranny like an Enchaunter with the Sorcery of +Feminine adulation shed the bloud of his owne begotten. Thus as +tiranny was the Regent of his life most wicked, so Tiranny was +the Plague of his owne generation. For as the Wryter of this +Hystory reporteth, it was thoughte that the same was done by +Diuyne Prouydence. And lyke as this vnhappy Father was a deadly +Enemy vnto Chryst and hys Church, so this yonge Whelpe was no +lesse a sheder of Christian Bloud. No doubt a very froward Impe, +and a towarde Champion for the diuel's Theatre: and as it is +sayd hereafter, so goodly a yong man in Stature and other +externe qualities of the body, as Nature could not frame a +better. So excellent, and couragious in Feates of armes as +Bellona hirselfe could not procreate a lustier. This History in +the Latin tongue is written by Nicholas Moffan a Burgonian +borne, a man so well in the warfare of good learning (as it +appeareth) as in the seruice of the warres well expert. Who +being a Souldiour in Hercules warres (the old Champyon of +Christendome, and Pagan Enimy, Charles the fifte) was sore +wounded and taken Prysoner in Bulgaria, in the yeare of our Lord +1552, and continued Captiue till September, 1555, almost three +yeares. Whose Misery, Trouble, Famine, Colde, and other Torments +by him sustayned, during the sayd time if it should bee +declared, perhaps woulde seeme incredible. But when the Turke +had kept him in miserable bandes two yeares, and saw he could +not obtayne the Raunsome, whych he immesurably requyred, at +length sent him to the Castell of Strigon, where for a certayne +time he remayned hampered with double chaynes vpon his Necke, +Handes, and Feete. And within sometime after hys comming thither +he was made to toile in the day, like a common slaue, to hew and +carry Woode, keepe Horse, sweepe Houses, and sutch other +busines. Which Drudgery, he was glad to doe aswell for exercyse +of his Members, which with colde yrons were benommed, as also to +get Breade to relieue his hunger. For when hee had done his +stinte, his Maister gaue him Bread, Onions, Garlicke, Cheese, +and sutch other fare: and at Night he was sent agayne to Pryson, +where he was matched with a Mate, that for Debte was condempned +to perpetual Pryson, of whom he learned many things, aswel of +their Lawes, Religion, warlike Affayres, and other maners of the +Turkes, as also of the order of this horrible Fact don by +Solyman. And by the report of his sayd Companion in pryson, he +digested the same into the forme of this history. And after this +man had payed hys Raunsome, and was set at lyberty, he arriued +into the partes of Chrystedome. The Verity of whych is sutch, as +it is not onely credyble bycause thys Man dyd wryte it, who was +three Yeares there resiaunt, and in manner aforesaid, heard the +truth thereof, but also is warranted, by sundry Marchant Men, +Trauellers into farre Countreyes, faythfully verifiing the same +to bee true. And before I drawe to the dyscourse of the Story, +I will set downe some of the manners of Solyman's greatest +states and fauorites, and the pryncipal offices and honors of +that hellish Monarchy. As Mustapha, Machomet, Baiasith, Selim, +Gianger, Chrustam, and Hibrahim. This Hibrahim was so dearely +beloued with the Emperour Solyman as he exercysed the Office of +Vesiri, whych is nexte to the Emperour, the chyefest in degree +of honor. Who by increase of that Office, became more wealthy in +Treasure then Solyman himselfe, whych when he perceyued, without +any respect of the honorable office, or the honor of the party, +neglecting in respect of richesse (according to the natural +desire of Auarice, wherewith the greedy Appetites of the stocke +are endued) all religion, honour, Parents, countrey, friends or +amity, he caused in his own presence, his head to be striken of, +adding the treasures of the said Hibrahim to his owne Coafers, +and placed one Rustanus to succeede in his office. Besides which +honorable places ther be diuers degrees of honor, as Mutchty, +which is of that honor with them as the chief bishop or Pope in +other Countreies, and of sutch authority with the Emperour, that +aswel in time of Peace, as also in Warres, he determineth vppon +nothing without the counsel of Muchti. Bascha (which we commonly +call VVascha) is the Lieuetenaunt of a Prouince. But forsomutch +as all other offices and dignities, depend only vpon the +Emperor, and are bestowed as he listeth, none of them hauing any +thing proper that he may call his owne: the sayd Baschas in all +Prouinces, euery three yeare are chaunged after the disposition +of the Emperour, and continue no longer Gouernors, than the sayd +terme, without his special decree, and commaundement. And this +chaunge and seueral mutation, is done for two causes. First that +notwithstanding the sayd Offices are bestowed by turnes, yet +they which are most excellente in prowes of Armes, and +Valiaunce, are best in fauour, and are placed in the most +fertile Countreyes. But the maner in the disposition of the same +Office is now degenerated, for where in tyme paste the same were +bestowed vppon the best Captaynes and Souldyers, in these Days, +are through Fauoure and Money, throughly corrupted. So that now +amonges them all thynges for Money are venalia, ready to be +solde, and yet the same vnknowen to the Emperour him selfe. The +other cause, of the alteration and chaunge of the sayd Baschæ, +and the Chyefest cause, as I haue learned is, least through +theyr longe abode in the sayd Prouinces so to them assigned, by +some incydent occasion they myght entre familiarilie wyth the +Christians, and in successe of tyme be conuerted. The Turkes +haue also amonges them certayne Noble Men which in theyr +Language they call Spahy, and it is the first degree of honour, +but it hath no discent or succession to the Posterity, and they +only deserue the tytle thereof, whych in Warrelyke Affayres +behaue them selues moste Manfully, and who at length are +preferred to another degree of honour, and are called Subasche, +which worde so farre as I can vnderstande, may be referred to +the Title of Baron. Next to the same Subaschæ here is another +called Begg. But here is meete to be knowne howe that woorde is +taken amonges them two wayes, for generally all they which +excell other in any promotion are called Beggi. That is to say +Lordes or Maysters: but if it be meant singularly or properly, +then it signifieth not simply a Captaine (for they call a +Captaine Aga) but also an Earle. And if the sayd Begg chaunce to +be endued by the Emperour with the order of Knyghthoode, then +hee is called Sanggakbegg. And they likewise are accustomed to +bee transposed from County to county, as the Baschæ are, and the +same do not descend to the heires, but when the Earle is deade. +And then both the promotion and county, are by the Emperour +giuen to another. And hereby it appeareth that no man hath any +thynge proper or his own, and therfore they cal themselues, +Padiscahumcullari. That is to say, the Emperour's bondmen. Here +also I ought to entreat of the manners of the Turkes in theyr +Warres, and the sundry offices therein. In what sorte they leuy, +and muster their Souldiers, the order of their marching, the +order in putting the same in array, and by what diligence they +vse their Skouts, and Wardes, all which had bene necessary to +haue bene spoken of, but that I might not be tedious. And yet of +one thing for a conclusion I entend to speake of, which is of +the Ianischari. The sayd Ianischari are the whole strength of +the Turkes battell, who neuer obtayne victory, but the same is +astributed to their valiaunce. They bee very expert, and +skilfull in the vse of small shot, and great Ordinaunce, and in +that kinde of defence and munition, they chiefly excell. And as +I haue red, the Turke hath continually in wages thirty +M. of the sayd Ianischari. They haue aboue other many +singuler Pryuiledges, in so mutch as the name of a Ianischarus +is in sutch reuerence amongs them, that notwithstanding any +offence, or crime, done by them worthy capitall death, they in +no wise shalbe punished, except before the committing of the +offence, they be depriued of their estate by their Captaynes. +Thys Priuiledge also they haue aboue others, that vnlesse they +lye in Campe, they bee neuer compelled to watch nor warde, +without great necessity do force them. And for this they be +hatefull and odious to other Souldiours. It is sayd, that all +they be Christian men's children. And in those countreyes which +he vanquisheth, he chooseth out the Boyes of the same, sutch as +he thinketh meete, and carrieth them away, and bringeth them vp +in his owne trade, and lawes, with exercise of feates in armes, +and being growen to ripe yeares, and man's state, they be +alloted amongs the number of Ianischari. And thus mutch touching +the maners, dignities, and offices of that Turkish broode: Now +to the Hystory. Bee it knowne therefore, that Solyman had of a +certayne bonde Woman this Mustapha, to whom from his Youth hee +gaue in charge the Countrey of Amasia. Who with his Mother +continually resiaunt in the sayd countrey, became so forwards in +Feates of armes, as it was supposed of all men, that hee was +gieuen vnto their countrey by some heauenly prouidence. This +Mustapha, with his Mother being placed in the said Countrey, +it chaunced that the Kynge his Father was beyonde measure wrapt +with the beauty of another of his Concubins called Rosa, of whom +hee begat foure sonnes, and one daughter. The eldest of the +Sonnes was called Machomet, to whom the Prouince of Caramania +was assigned. The second, Baiasith, who enioyed the countrey of +Magnesia. The third called Selymus, to whom after the death of +Machomet the eldest, the sayd Countrey of Caramania was +appoincted. The fourth Iangir, whose surname, by reason hee was +croke backed, notwithstanding his pregnant wit, was Gibbus. And +the daughter he bestowed in mariage vppon Rustanus Bascha, who +when Hibrahim was put to death, exercised the office of Vesiri +as is aforesayd (which office we vse to call the President of +the Counsayle) and according to his natural disposition to +couetousnesse, abusing the sayd office, altered and chaunged all +maner of thinges belonging to the same. He diminished the +Souldiours wages, being by them called Ianischari. He abated the +stipends of the Captayns, whom they nominate Saniachi. Hee also +seassed vpon the Prouinces yearely Taxes and Tributs. And +herewith being not satisfied, he ordayned a stint vpon the +charges of the kings houshold, wherby he sought, but to +accumulate vnto himselfe, infinite treasures, gotten by +deceiptfull extortion, through occasion whereof, he was supposed +to be faythfull, and diligent Seruaunte, and thereby greatly +insinuated himselfe into the king's fauour, little regardinge +the hatred and displeasure of others. In the meane time, this +Rosa of whom mencion is made before, perceyuing hir selfe before +others to be beloued of the Kinge, vnder the Cloake of devotion +declared vnto Muchty (which is the chiefe Bishop of Machomet's +religion) that she was affected with a Godly zeale to builde a +Temple, and Hospitall for straungers, to the chiefe God, and +honor of Machomet: but she was not minded to attempt the same +without his aduice. And therefore shee asked whether the same +would bee acceptable to God, and profitable for the health of +her soule. Whereunto Muchty aunswered: that the worke to God was +acceptable, although to hir soule it was nothing auaileable. +Adding further, that not onely all hir Substance was at the +Kinge's disposition, but hir Life also, being a Bondwoman. And +therefore that worke woulde be more profitable to the Kinge. +With which aunswere the woman in hir mind dayly being troubled, +became very pensiffe, like one that was voyde of all comfort. +The King being aduertised of hir sorrow very gently began to +comfort hir, affirming that shortely he would finde sutch +meanes, as she should enioy the effect of hir desire. And +forthwith manumised hir and made hir free, a writing and +instrument made in that behalfe, according to their custome, +to the intent she might not be at commaundement any more to be +yoked in bondage. Hauinge in this sorte obtayned this fauoure, +the sayd Rosa, with a great Masse of Money determined to +proceede in hir entended purpose. In the meane season, the Kyng +wythout measure being incensed with the desire of the sayd Rosa, +as is aforesayd, sent for hir by a messenger, willing hir to +repayre to the Court. But the crafty Woman, vnskilful of no +pollicy, returned the Messenger with subtile aunswere, which +was, that he should admonish the King hir Lord and Soueraygne, +to call to his remembraunce aswell the lawe of honesty, as also +the precepts of his owne lawes, and to remembre she was no more +a Bondwoman and yet she could not deny but hir life remained at +the disposition of his maiesty, but touching Carnall copulation +to be had agayne with his person, that could in no wise be done, +without committing of sinne most heynous. And to the intent he +should not thinke the same to be fayned or deuised of hir selfe, +she referred it to the iudgement of Muchty. Which aunswere of +repulse, so excited the inflamed affections of the Kyng, as +setting all other businesse a part, he caused the Muchty to be +sent for. And giuing him liberty to aunswere, he demaunded +whether his Bondwomen being once manumised, could not be knowen +carnally without violation of the lawes? Whereunto Muchty +aunswered: that in no wise it was lawfull, vnlesse before he +should with hir contract matrimony. The difficulty of which Lawe +in sutch sorte augmented the Kyng's desires, as being beyond +measure blinded with Concupiscence, at length agreed to the +marriage of the sayd manumysed woman, and after the Nuptial +writinges according to the custome were ratified, and that he +had giuen vnto hir for a Dowry 5000 Soltan Ducats, the marriage +was concluded, not without great admiration of all men, +especially for that it was done contrary to the vse of the +Ottomane Ligneage. For to eschew Society in gouernment, they +marry no free or lawfull Wyues, but in their steades to satisfy +theyr owne pleasures, and libidinous Appetites (wherein most +vily, and filthely aboue any other Nation they chiefly excell) +they chose out of diuers Regions of the World the most +Beautifull, and fayrest Wenches, whom after a Kyngly sorte very +honourably they bring vp in a place of their Courte, which they +call Sarai: and instruct them in honest, and ciuile maners, with +whom also they vse to accompany by turnes, as theyr pleasure +most lyketh. But if any of them do conceyue, and bring forth +childe, then she aboue all other is honoured, and had in +reuerence, and is called the Soltanes most worthy. And sutch +after they haue brought forth childe, are bestowed in marriage +vppon the Pieres and Nobility, called Baschæ, and Sangacæ. +But now to returne to our purpose. This manumised Woman being +aduaunced through Fortune's benefit, was esteemed for the chiefe +Lady of Asia, not without great happinesse succeeding in al hir +affayres. And for the satisfiyng of hir ambicious entents, there +wanted but only a meane and occasion, that after the death of +Solyman, one of hir own children might obtayne the Empire. Where +vnto the generosity and good behauiour of Mustapha was a great +hinderaunce, who in deede was a yong man of great magnanimity, +and of Wit most excellent, whose Stomach was no lesse +couragious, than he was manly in person, and force. For which +qualities he was meruaylously beloued of the Souldiours and Men +of warre, and for his wisedome and iustice very acceptable to +the people. All which things this subtile woman considering, +she priuely vsed the counsayle of Rustanus for the better +accomplishing of hir purpose, knowing that he would rather seeke +th'aduauncement of his kinsman and the brother of his owne Wyfe +as reason was, then the preferment of Mustapha, with whom she +certaynely knew that Rustanus was in displeasure. For in the +beginning, as he sought meanes to extenuate the liuings of all +other (as is aforesayd) so also he went about (but in vayne) to +plucke somewhat from Mustapha. Whereby he thought that if he +should once obtayne the gouernment, he would skarce forget sutch +an iniury, and thereby not only in hazarde of his Office, and +dignity, but also in daunger of losse of his heade. All which +thinges, this wicked woman pondering in hir vngratious Stomacke +went about to insert into the King's mynde, no small suspitions +of Mustapha, saying that he was ambitiouse and bolde vpon the +Fauour and good wil of all men (wherewith in deede he was +greatly endued) and reioysing in his force, let no other thing +to be expected, then oportunity of time to aspire to the +Kingdome, and to attempt the slaughter of his Father. And for +the better cloaking of the matter, she caused Rustanus at +conuenient tyme, more at large to amplifie and set forwards hir +mallice, who alwayes had in charge all principall and weyghty +affayres. In whom also was no lacke of matter to accelerate the +accusation and death of the yong man. Moreouer to sutch as were +appoyncted to the administration of the countrey of Syria, he +priuely declared, that Mustapha was greatly suspected of his +Father, commaunding euery of them dilligently to take heede to +his estate, and of all sutch things as they eyther saw or +perceyued in him, with all expedition to send aduertisement, +affirming that the more spightfully they wrote of him, the more +acceptable it should be to the Kinge. Wherefore diuers time +Rustanus being certified of the kingly Estimation, Magnanimity, +Wysedome, and Fortitude of Mustapha, and of his beneuolence and +liberality towards all men, wherewith he greatly conciled their +fauour, and how the ardent desires of the People, were inclined +to hys election: he therefore durst not take vppon him to be the +first that should sow the seede of that wicked conspiracy, but +deliuering his Letters to the vngratious Woman, left the rest to +the deuise of his vnhappy brayne: But Rosa espying oportunity of +time to succeede hir vnhappy desyre, ceased not to corrupt the +Kyng's mynde, sometimes with promise of the vse of other Women, +and sometimes with sundry other adulations. So that if mention +was made of Mustapha at any time, she woulde take sutch occasion +to open the Letters, as might serue most apt for hir purpose. +And she was not deceyued of hir expectation. For taking a +conuenient time not without teares (which Women neuer want in +cloaked matter) she admonished the Kinge of the pearill wherein +he stoode, remembring amongs other thinges, how his Father +Selymus, by sutch meanes depryued his owne Father both from his +kingdome, and Life, instantly requiringe him by that example to +beware. But these Arguments of suspition, at the first brunt +seemed not probable to the Kyng, and therefore by this meanes +the deuilishe Woman could little preuayle, which when hir +enuious Stomacke perceyued, she began to direct hir mischieuous +mynde to other deuises, seeking meanes with poyson to destroy +the yonge man. And there wanted not also, gracelesse persons, +prompt and ready to accomplish that mischieuous fact, had not +diuine prouidence resisted the same. For Rosa sent vnto Mustapha +a sute of Apparell in the name of his Father, which by +marueylous craft was enuenimed with Poyson. But Mustapha in no +wyse would weare the sayd apparell before one of his slaues had +assayed the same, whereby he preuented the Mischiefe of his +vngratious Stepmother, opening to all men the deceipt of the +poyson. And yet this pestilent Woman ceased not to attempt other +Enterprises. She went about to purchase vnto hir the good will +and familiarity of the Kyng in sutch sort as the like neuer +obtayned in the Courte of Ottoman, (for she vsed certayne +Sorceries through the helpe of a Woman a Jewe borne, which was a +famous Enchauntresse, to wyn the loue of the Kyng, and thereby +perswaded hir selfe to procure greater things at his hands) in +so mutch as she obtayned that hir Children by course should be +resiant in their Father's Courte, that by theyr continuall +presence and assiduall flattering, they might get the loue of +their Father. So that if Mustapha did at any time come to the +Court, by that meane she might haue a better meanes to rid him +of his life, if not, to tary a time, wherein he should be +dispatched by the help of others. But Mustapha not repayring to +the Courte (for the Kyng's chyldren do not vse to go out of +their Countreys assigned vnto them, without their Father's +knowledge, nor to repayre to Constantinople with any number of +men of Warre, to receyue their Inheritance till their Father be +deade) she deuised another mischiefe. For enioying hir former +request, she recouered another, also hauing brought to passe +that not onely in the Citty, but also in the countrey, hir +children should attend vppon theyr Father. Yea, and Giangir the +crokebacked should alwayes attend on his father in his Warres. +But the Stepmother's deuise for certayne yeares hanging as it +were in ballance, at length Fortune throughly fauoured hir +wicked endeuours. For the Bascha which had the protection of +Mustapha, and the gouernment of the Prouince of Amasia, (For +euery one of the Kyng's chyldren haue one Bascha, that is to say +a Liutenaunt, which doe aunswere the people according to the +lawes and gieue orders for the administration of the Warres, and +also euery one of them haue a learned Man to Instruct them in +good dyscipline, and Pryncely qualities) the sayd Bascha I say +deuised Letters wherein was contayned a certayne treatise of +Marriage, betwene Mustapha and the Kyng's Daughter of Persia, +and how he had referred the matter to the Ministers of the +Temple, to the intent that if it had not good successe, he +should be free from all suspition, and sent the same Letters to +Rustanus who greatly reioysed for that he hoped to bring his +desyred purpose to good effect. And fearing the matter no +longer, incontinently he vttered the same to Rosa, who both +togethers, forthwith went into the Pallace, and discouered the +whole matter to the King. And to the intent they might throughly +incense the Kyng's mynde with suspicions, that before was +doubtefull, and deliberatiue in the matter, to put him out of +all doubt, they affyrmed that Mustapha like an ambitiouse man, +sought meanes to conspyre his death being incensed like a Madman +to the gouernment of his large Empyre, contrary to nature, and +Law diuine. And to the intent better creadit might be gieuen to +their subtile Suggestions, they alleaged the Treaty of Marriage +betwene Mustapha and the Kyng of Persia, the deadly and auncient +enimy of the Ottoman Ligneage. For respect whereof, he ought +diligently to take heede least by conioyning the power of the +Persians with the Sangachi, and Ianischari, which are the +Captayns, and Souldiours, whose good willes he had with his +lyberality already tyed to his fauour, in short time, would go +about to depriue him of his Kyngdome and Lyfe. With these +accusations and sutch lyke they had so farre sturred the king, +as he himselfe sought the Death of his owne Sonne, in manner as +foloweth. Therefore in the yere of our Lord 1552, he caused to +be published with al expedition throughout his prouinces, that +the Persians had made their vauntes how they woulde inuade the +Countrey of Syria, win the Cityes there, and carry away the +Captiues, and also would destroy euery place with fier and +Sword, in sutch sort as no man should withstand them. Wherefore +to prouide against the sayd proude and haultie Bragges, hee was +forced to send Rustanus thyther with an Armie. The Souldiours +being leuied, hee pryvily commaunded Rustanus in as secret +manner as hee could and without any Tumulte to lay handes vpon +Mustapha, and to bryng hym bound to Canstantinople. But if he +could not conueniently bryng that to passe, then to dispatch hym +of hys Lyfe by sutch meanes as he could. Rustanus receyuyng thys +wycked and cruell Commaundement, marched towardes Syria wyth a +power. Wher when he arryued Mustapha, hauing knowledge thereof +setting all other businesse a parte, beying accompanyed with the +Lustyest and best appoynted Men of Warre in al Turkey to the +Numbre of seuen Thousande, hee directed his Iorney also towardes +Syria. Whereof when Rustanus had vnderstandynge, and perceyued +hee could not well accomplysh the wycked desire of the Kyng, +immedyately retourned backe agayne to Constantinople in sutch +haste that hee durste not abyde the sight of the Duste rered +into the Ayre by Mustaphae's Horse Men, and mutch lesse hys +commyng. When the Souldyers were retired Rustanus declared to +all Men that the Countrey was in good quyet, and pryuely +repayred to the Kynge, and vttered to hym the cause of hys +retourne, addynge further, that as farre as hee could see by +manyfeste Sygnes, and Coniectures, the good Wylles of all the +Armye were inclyned to Mustapha, and for that cause in so +daungerous an Enterpryse, hee durste not aduenture with open +Warres, but lefte all to the consideration of hys Maiesty. This +reporte bred to the cruell Father (who nothynge degenerated from +the Naturall Tirannye of hys Auncestors) greater Suspicions: for +reuengement whereof he most wickedly toke further aduise. The +yeare folowyng he commaunded an huge Army to be leuied once +againe makyng Proclamation that the Persians with a greater +Power would inuade Syria, and therefore thought it mete that he +himself for the Common sauegarde of them all, ought personally +to repayre thyther with a power to withstande the indeuors of +his Ennimies. The Army being assembled, and al furnitures +prouyded in that behalfe, they marched forwardes, and within +fewe dayes after the cruell Father folowed. Who beynge come into +Syria, addressed a messenger to Mustapha, to commaund him +forthwith to repayre vnto him, then being encamped at Alepes. +And yet Solymane could not keepe secret the mortall hatred he +bare to hys Sonne from others, although he imployed dilygent +care for that purpose, but that the knowledge thereof came to +the Eares of one of the Baschæ, and others of Honour. Emonges +whome Achmet Bascha pryuily sent Woorde to Mustapha, to the +intent he myght take the better heede to hymself. And it seemed +not without Wonder to Mustapha, that his Father, wythout +necessary cause, shoulde arryue in those partes wyth so great a +Number. Who notwithstanding, knowing hymselfe innocente, +althoughe in extreame sorrow and pensifenes of mynd determyned +to obey hys Father's Commaundement although he shoulde stand in +Daunger of hys Lyfe. For hee esteemed it a more honest and +laudable part to incurre the Peryll of death in Obedience to hys +Father, than to lyue in contumelye by disobedyence. Therefore in +that great anxietye and care of Mynde, debatyng many thinges +wyth hymselfe: At length he demaunded of a learned Man whych +contynually was conuersaunt wyth hym in his House (as is +aforesayde,) whether the Empyre of the whole World or a vertuous +Lyfe ought rather to be wyshed for. To whom this Learned Man +most Godly aunswered. That hee which dilygently weyed the +Gouernement of this Worlde, shall perceiue no other Felycitye +therein then a vayne and foolysh apparence of goodnesse. "For +there is nothyng" (quod he) "more frayle or vnsure then the +Worlde's prosperity. And it bryngeth none other Fruicts but +Feare, sorrow, troubles, suspicions, murders, Wickednesse, +vnrighteousnes, spoyle, Pouerty, Captiuity, and sutch lyke whych +to a man that affecteth a blessed Lyfe, are in no wyse to be +wyshed for. For whose sake who so list to enioy them, leaseth +the happines of that Lyfe. But to whome it is gyuen from aboue +to way and consider the frayltye and shortnes of thys state +(which the Common People deemeth to be a Lyfe) and to resist the +vanityes of the World, at length to embrace vertue, to them +truely in heauen there is a Place assigned and prepared of the +highest GOD, where hee shall inherite perpetuall Ioyes, and +Felicity of the Lyfe to come." Wyth whych aunswer Mustapha beyng +somwhat prycked in conscience wonderfully was satisfied, as +being tolde of him which seemed by a certaine Prophecy to +pronosticate his end. And tarrying vppon no longer disputation, +immedyately dyrected his Iourney towards his cruell Father. And +vsing that expedition he could, arriued at the place where his +Father encamped, and not farre from the same he pitched his +pauilion. But this expedite arriuall of Mustapha did inculcat a +greater suspicion in the wycked Father. And Rustanus was not +behynde wyth lyes, and other subtill informacions to set +forwardes the same. And after he had called together the common +Souldiours and the chiefe men of Warre in the Army, hee sente +them to meete wyth Mustapha, who without any tarrying most +readily obeyed his commaundement, to put themselues in readines. +In the mean time this crafty Verlet, shewing by outward +countenance the hid enuy that lay secrete in his heart, +forthwith repaired into the Kynge's Pauilion, and without shame +or honesty told the King, howe almost euery one of the +principall Souldiours of their owne accorde went to meete +Mustapha. Then the King being troubled in mind, went forth of +his tent, and persuaded with himself that Rustanus Wordes were +true. Now Mustapha lacked not sondry tokens of his vnhappy fate: +For not thre daies before he should take his iorney about the +breake of day in the morning being in slepe, he dreamed that he +saw Machomet clad in gorgious apparel, to take him by the hand, +and lead him into a most pleasant place beutified with sundry +turrets and sumptuous buildinge hauing in it a most delectable +gardein, who shewing him al those things with his finger, spake +these wordes: "Here" (quod he) "doe they rest for euer, which in +the World haue lyued a Godly and iust Life, and haue bene +Aduauncers of Law and Iustice, and contempners of vice." And +turning his face to the other syde, he saw two swifte and broad +Riuers, the one of them boiled more blacke then Pitch. And in +the sayd Riuers many were drowned, whereof some appeared aboue +Water crying with horrible voices, Mercy, Mercy. "And there" +(quod he) "are tormented all sutch, which in the World most +wyckedly haue committed Mischiefe." And the chiefe of them he +sayed were Prynces, Kinges, Emperours, and other great Men. With +that Mustapha awaked and callyng the saied learned Man vnto him, +vttered his dreame. And pausyng a lyttle whyle (for the +supersticious Machometistes attribute mutch Credite to dotage of +dreames) being ful of sorrow and pensifnesse, at length answered +That the vision was very dreadful, for that it pronosticated +extreame peril of his life. Therefore he required him to haue +diligent respect thereunto. But Mustapha beynge of great +valiaunce and fortitude, hauing no regard to the aunswer +aforesaid, couragiously replied with these wordes: "Shall I +suffer my self to be vanquished with vaine and childish feare? +Nay I wil rather take a good heart, and make hast to my Father. +For I am assured that alwayes from time to time I haue honored +his maiesty accordyng to my duety, in so mutch as neyther Fote +trauelled, nor Eye looked, mutch lesse heart thought agaynst his +will to desyre or couet to raigne, except it had pleased the +highe GOD to haue called hys Maiesty from thys Lyfe to a better. +And besydes that my Mynde was neuer bente after hys Death to +beare rule, excepte Generall Electyon of all the Army, to the +intent I myghte entre the Imperiall Seate wythout slaughter, +Bloudshed, or any other cruell fact, and thereby preserue the +friendship of my Brethren inuiolat, and free from any spot of +hatred. For I alwayes determyned, and chose rather (since my +Father's pleasure is so) to end my Life like an obedyent Child, +than continually to raigne, and be counted of al men, obstinate +and disobedient, especially of mine enimies." When he had spoken +those wordes, he made hast to his father. And at his arriual to +the Campe, so sone as he had pitched his Tent he apparelled +himself al in white, and putting certain letters into his +bosome, which the Turkes vse to do, when they go to any place +(for in supersticions they vse maruailous dotage) he proceded +towards his father, entending wyth reuerence (as the manner is) +to kisse his hand. But when hee was come to the entry of the +tent, he rememberd himself of his Dagger which he wore about +him, and therefore vngirding himself he put it of for auoiding +of al suspicion. Which don, when he was entred the Tent, he was +very curteously (with sutch reuerence as behoued) welcomed of +his father's Eunuches. And when he saw no man else, but the seat +royal, where his father was wont to sitte readye furnished, with +a sorrowful heart stode stil, and at length demaunded where his +Father was. Who answered that forthwith hee would come in +presence. In the meane season he saw seuen dombe men (which the +Turke vseth as Instruments to kepe his secrets, and priuily to +do sutch murthers as he commaundeth) and therewith immediately +was wonderfully mased saying: "Beholde my present Death." And +therewith stepped aside to auoide them, but it was in vaine, For +being apprehended of the Eunuches and garde, was by force drawen +to the place appointed for him to loose hys Lyfe, and sodainly +the domb Men fastened a Bowstryng about his Necke. But Mustapha, +some what striuing, requyred to speak but two Wordes with his +Father. Which when the wicked parricide his Father hearde, +beholding the Cruell Spectacle on the other side of the Tente, +rebuked the dombe Men, saying: "Wil you neuer execute my +Commaundement, and doe as I bid you? Wyll you not kyll the +Traitor, which these ten years space would not suffer me to +slepe one quyet Night?" Who when they harde him speake those +cruell Woordes, the Eunuches and dombe Men threw him prostrate +vpon the ground, and cording the string with a double knot most +pitifully strangled him. Which wycked and cruell facte being +done, the Bascha that was Lieuetenaunt of Amasia was also +apprehended by the Kynge's Commaundement, and likewyse beheaded +in hys owne Presence. This Facte also commytted, he caused to be +called before hym Gianger the Crokebacke, who was Ignoraunte of +that was done, and Iestynge wyth hym as though hee had done a +thynge worthie commendation, bad him to go and meete his Brother +Mustapha: who with a ioyful cheere made hast to meete him. But +when he came to the place and saw his infortunate Brother ly +strangled and dead vpon the earth, it is impossible to tell with +what sorrow he was affected. And he was scasce come to the +place, but his wicked Father sent Messengers after him, to tell +him that the Kyng had giuen him all Mustapha, his Treasures, +Horsemen, Bondmen, Pauilions, Apparell: Yea, and moreouer the +Prouince of Amasia. But Giangir conceyuing extreme sorrow for +the cruell murder of his deere brother, with lamentable teares +spake these words. "Oh cruell and wicked Dogge: yea, and if I +may so call my father, Oh Traytor most pestilent, do thou enioy +Mustapha, his Treasures, his Horses, Furnitures, and the sayd +Countrey to. Is thy heart so vnnaturall, cruell, and wicked, +to kill a yongue man so notable as Mustapha was, so good a +Warriour, and so worthy a Gentleman as the Ottoman house neuer +had or shall haue the like, without any respect of Humanity or +Zeale naturall? By Saynct Mary I neede to take heede least +hereafter in like maner thou as impudently do triumph of my +death, being but a crokebacke and deformed man." When hee had +spoken theese wordes, plucking out his Dagger, he slew himselfe. +Whereof when the Emperor had aduertisement, he conceyued +inspeakable sorrow. But for al that, his sorrowfull heart +vanquished not his couetouse minde. For he commaunded all +Mustaphe's Treasure, and other Furnitures to bee brought into +his Tent. And the Souldiours thincking the same should be gieuen +amongs them made as mutch haste to dispatche his commaundement. +In the meane tyme Mustaphe's Souldiours (not knowing what was +become of their Mayster) seeing sutch a number runne in heapes +without order came forth of their Camp to withstande their +foolishe tumult, who very manfully, not without mutch slaughter +withstoode the same. And when the Fame of that Tragicall tumult +was bruted amongs the King's souldiers, (who perceyuing the same +more and more to waxe hot,) they went forth to succour their +fellowes, but the Onset being gieuen on all sides, the fight on +both parts was so fierce, as in short space there were slayne +very neere the number of two thousande men besides the hurt and +wounded, whereof the number was greater. Howbeit this Broyle had +not bene thus ended, had not Achmat Bascha, a graue and wise +man, and for his experimentes in the Warres of great aucthority +amongs the souldiers driuen them back, and repressed their fury. +Who turning himself towards Mustaphe's souldiers with smiling +countenaunce and milde words appeasing their furious stomacks +spake these wordes: "Why my deere brethren and freends wil yee +now degenerate from your olde accustomed wisedome, sufficiently +tried in you these many yeares past, and will now resist the +commaundment of the great Soltan the lord and soueraigne of vs +all? I cannot chuse (as God shal help me) but meruayle what +should mooue you whom hitherto I haue proued to be so notable +and valiant men, and in this ciuile conflict, you should bende +your force vpon your own frends, and raise vp sutch a spectacle +to the Ottoman enemy, against whom heretofore you haue very +prosperously and manfully fought, and therewith by mutuall +slaughter to make them reioyse whom heretofore with the like, +you haue made heauy and pensive. Therefore my fellowes as you +tender your own valiaunce and Magnanimity, take heede, that by +your own folly you do not lese the estimation of your wonted +fortitude and wisedome, wherein hitherto you haue excelled all +men. And reserue your force, which you now more than inough haue +vsed amongs your owne Fellowes till you come against your +Enemies, where you shall haue a more laudable, and better +occasion to vse it." With these woordes and the like spoken by +Achamat Basca, the Souldiours were somewhat appeased, and all +thinges were franckely suffered to bee carried out of Mustapha +hys Pavylion to the Kynge's. But when the death of Mustapha came +to the knowledge of the Ianischari, and the rest of the Army, +forthwith began another sedition. And after the Trumpets had +blowen the onset, there was sutch a Tumult and styrre amongs the +Souldiours, mixte wyth sundry Lamentations, and Teares, that +like Madmen with great violence, they ran into the Courte, with +theyr Swords naked in theyr hands ready bent to strike. And this +renued and sudden styrre so terrified the Kyng, that hee wiste +not what to do who for all the dampes would needes haue fled. +But being persuaded of his Counselloures to tarry, hauing +throughe Necessity, gotten occasion to attempt that whych in the +tyme of hys most security he durst scarce haue enterprysed, went +forth, and with sterne Countenaunce, spake to hys Souldyers in +this manner. "What rumors, what tumultes, and what mad partes +are these, wherewith so proudely in this sort ye disquiet me? +What meane these enflamed countenances? What signify these +haulty gestures, these proude and angry lokes? Doe you not +remembre that I am your King that hath Power and Authority to +gouerne and rule you? Are you determyned in this sort to spot +your Auncyent and inuincible valiaunce, and the notable +Warrefare of your predecessours, with the bloud of your +Emperour?" And while the King was speaking these Words, the +souldiers boldly answered, how they confessed him to be the +same, whome many yeares ago they chose to be their Kinge, and +for that hee alleaged how they had with their good seruice in +the Warres acquired vnto him many great conquests and had +diligently kepte the same: all that they did of purpose that he +should vse towards them againe a godly Authority and iust +Gouernment, and not vnaduisedly should lay his bloudy handes +vppon euery iuste Man, and so to staine and defile himselfe with +the Bloud of Innocents. And againe, where he laide to their +charge, that they were issued from their Cabanes armed with +Weapon, they affirmed the same to be done in a iust quarell, +euen to reuenge the slaughter of innocent Mustapha, and for that +they ought not to haue sutch a Kynge as should worke his anger +vppon them that had not deserued it. Further they required that +they might cleare themselues openly of the offence of Treason, +whereof falsly they were accused by Mustapha, his Enimies, and +to haue their accuser to be brought forth in open presence. And +sayde more that before he personally did appeare before the +Indgement Seat Face to Face to giue euidence, _sub talionis +poena_, accordinge to the Law, they would not vnarme nor yet +disasemble themselues. [And whiles these things were debated +betwene the emperor and the souldiers, the cruelty of the fact, +so moued] all men to teares, that the Kyng him selfe seemed to +take great repentaunce for his horrible deede, and promysed the +Souldiours that they should haue their requests, and went about +with fayre perswasions to mittigate (as mutch as lay in him) +their furious stomakes. Howbeit the Souldiours gaue diligent +heede to their watch and warde euery man in his place appoynted, +that the king might not secretly conuey himselfe away, and so +deceyue theym of his promisses, and the expectation of their +requests. In the meane time the Kyng depriued Rustanus of all +his offices, and promotions, and tooke away from him the priuy +Signet whereof he had the keeping, and deliuered it to Achmat +Bascha. Rustanus amased with the terror and feare of the +Souldiours, thinking himselfe scarce in good security amongs his +owne men, secretly conueyed himselfe to Achmat Bascha his +Pauilyon, and asked counsell of him what was best to be done in +so doubtfull, and daungerous a case. Who aduised him therein to +haue the kyng's aduice, and as he commaunded him so in any wyse +to doe. Which counsayle marueylously satisfied the mynde of +Rustanus. And without any longer delay by certaine Messengers +which were his faythfull, and familier Freends required the +King's aduise. Whereunto the King aunswered that forthwith +without longer tariaunce he should auoyde his syght, and absent +himselfe from his Campe. Who replied that without Money and +other furnitures, he could not conueniently execute hys +commaundement. But the King had hym to do what hee list, for he +woulde in no wise gieue hym leaue to haue any longer time or +space to deliberate the matter. At length Rustanus without +further stay, as guilty of his cursed deuises, accompanied with +eyght of his trustiest Frends directed his Iorney to +Constantinople, and vsing mutch expedition (as feare in +fearefull matters putteth spurres to the horse) came to +Constantinople: and there with Rosa and other the Conspiratours +expected the euents of Fortune not without daunger of their +liues. Moreouer it was sayd that Solyman, whose Conscience +bewrayed the beastlynes of his abhominable facte, being pricked +with a supersticious repentance, determined to trauel on +pilgrimage to Mecha, and proceding in his voiage, he was driuen +by meanes of the Persians force to go to Hierusalem there to +offer sacrifice for the death of his Sonne, which they call +Corba. But now to conclude, and somewhat to speake of Mustapha +or rather by way of admonition this one thing to say of him, +that the sayde Mustapha was so acceptable and well beloued of +all men for his warlike experience, and for his redinesse to +sheade Christian bloud, that they supposed the like would neuer +be in the Ottoman house more towards to enlarge, and amplyfie +their Empyre, or promysed greatter thinges for the perfourmance +thereof. In so mutch as then they dispayred so of their +Enterprises, as this Prouerbe rose vp amongs them, Gietti Soltan +Mustapha, which signifieth an vtter dispayre in thinges which +they thought before to goe about. Therefore we haue good cause +to reioyce for the death of thys cruell enimy that should haue +raygned, and to thinck the slaughter of him not to be done +without God's speciall prouidence, who in this sorte hath +prouided for vs. And at length to be wise, and abstayne from +ciuile Warre and dissencions. And with common Force to set vppon +this wicked Tarmegant, considering that he is not only a +generall Ennimy to our Countrey and Lyfe, but also to our +Soules. Which thing if we do, it will not be so hard a matter to +withstand the force of this enemy of Christendome, as if we doe +not, it wyll be daungerous through our continuall discorde to +gieue him occasion to inuade the rest of Europe, and so with his +tiranny bring the same to vtter destruction, which God that is +omnipotent forbid, who bring vs to vnity through his Sonne Iesus +Christe, Amen. + + + + +THE THIRTY-FIFTH NOUELL. + + _The great curtesie of the Kyng of Marocco, (a Citty in + Barbarie) toward a poore Fisherman, one of his subiects, that + had lodged the Kyng, being strayed from his Company in + hunting._ + + +For somutch as the more than beastly cruelty recounted in the +former Hystory, doth yelde some sowre taste to the minds of +those that be curteous, gentle and well conditioned by nature, +and as the Stomacke of him that dayly vseth one kinde of meate, +be it neuer so delycate and daynty, doth at length lothe, and +disdayne the same, and vtterly refuseth it: I now chaunge the +Diet, leauing murders, slaughters, despayres, and tragicall +accidents, and turne my stile to a more pleasaunt thing, that +may so well serue for instruction of the noble to follow vertue, +as that which I haue already written, may rise to their profit, +warely to take heede they fal not into sutch deformed and filthy +faults, as the name and prayse of man be defaced, and his +reputation decayed: if then the contraries be knowne by that +which is of diuers natures, the villany of great cruelty shalbe +conuerted into the gentlenesse of milde curtesie, and rigor +shalbe condempned, when with sweetenesse and generosity, the +noble shall assaye to wyn the heart, seruice, and affected +deuotion of the basest sorte: So the greatnesse and nobility of +man placed in dignity, and who hath puissaunce ouer other, +consisteth not to shew himselfe hard, and terrible, for that is +the manner of Tyraunts, bicause he that is feared, is +consequently hated, euyll beloued, and in the ende forsaken, of +the whole World, which hath bene the cause that in times past +Prynces aspiring to great Conquests, haue made their way more +easie by gentlenesse and Curtesie, than by fury of armes, +stablishing the foundations of their dominions more firme and +durable by those meanes, than they which by rigor and cruelty +haue sacked townes, ouerthrowne Cities, depopulated Prouinces, +and fatted Landes with the bodies of those, whose liues they +haue depriued by dent of sword, sith the gouernement and +authority ouer other, caryeth greater subiection, than +puissance. Wherefore Antigonus, one of the successors of great +Alexander (that made all the Earth to tremble vppon the recitall +of hys name) seeing that hys Sonne behaued himselfe arrogantly, +and wythout modesty to one of hys Subiects, reproued and checked +hym, and amongs many wordes of chastisement and admonition, sayd +vnto him: "Knowest thou not my Sonne, that the estate of a Kyng +is a noble and honourable seruitude?" Royall wordes (in deede) +and meete for Kyng: For albeit that eche man doth reuerence to a +Kyng, and that he be honoured, and obeyed of all, yet is hee for +all that, the Seruaunt, and publike Mynister, who ought no lesse +to defend hys Subiect, than the Subiect to do him honour and +Homage. And the more the Prynce doth humble himselfe, the +greater increase hath his glory, and the more wonderfull he is +to euery Wyght. What aduaunced the Glory of Iulius Cæsar, who +first depressed the Senatorie State of gouernment at Rome? Where +his Victoryes atchieued ouer the Galles and Britons, and +afterwardes ouer Rome it selfe, when he had vanquished Pompee? +All those serued his tourne, but his greatest fame rose of his +Clemency and Curtesie: By the whych Vertues hee shewed himselfe +to be gentle, and fauorable euen to those, whom hee knewe not to +loue him, otherwise than if hee had beene their mortall Enimy. +His Successors as Augustus, Vespasianus, Titus, Marcus Aurelius, +and Flauius were worthily noted for clemency: Notwithstanding I +see not one drawe neere to the great Courage, and Gentlenesse, +ioyned wyth the singuler Curtesie of Dom Roderigo Viuario the +Spanyarde Surnamed Cid, towarde Kyng Pietro of Aragon that +hindred his expedityon agaynst the Mores at Grenadoe. For hauing +vanquyshed the sayde King, and taken hym in Battell, not onely +remitted the reuenge of his wrong, but also suffered hym to go +wythout raunsome, and tooke not from him so mutch as one Forte, +esteemyng it to bee a better exploite to winne sutch a King with +curtesie, than beare the name of cruell in putting him to Death, +or seasing vpon his land. But bicause acknowledging of the +poore, and enriching the smal, is commendable in a Prynce, than +when he sheweth himselfe gentle to his lyke, I haue collected +this discourse and facte of Kynge Mansor of Marocco, whose +Chyldren (by subtile and fained religion) Cherif succeded, the +Sonne of whom at this day inioyeth the kingdomes of Su, Marocco, +and the most part of the isles confinynge vpon Æthiopia. This +history was told by an Italian called Nicholoso Baciadonne, +who vppon this accydent was in Affrica, and in trafike of +Marchandyse in the Land of Oran, situated vppon the coast of the +South seas, and where the Geneuois and Spanyards vse great +entercourse, bicause the countrey is faire, wel peopled, and +wher the inhabitants (although the soyle be barbarous) lyue +indifferent ciuilly, vsing great curtesie to Straungers, and +largely departing their goodes to the poore, towards whom they +be so earnestly bente, and louing, as for theyr Lyberality and +pytiful almesse, they shame vs Christians. They meinteine a +grest numbre of Hospitalles, to receiue and intertaine the poore +and neady, wherein they shew themselues more deuout than they +that be bounde by the law of Iesus Christe, to vse Charity +towardes theyr brethren, with more curtesie and greater +myldnesse. These Oraniens delight also to record in wryting the +successe of thinges that chaunce in their time and carefully +reserue the same in Memorie, whych was the cause that hauyng +registred in theyr Chronicles, (wrytten in Arabie letters, as +the most part of those Countreyes do vse) this present history, +they imparted the same to the Geneuois marchants of whom the +Italian author confesseth to haue receyued the copie. The cause +why the Geneuois marchant was so diligent to make the enquirie, +was by reason of a City of that prouince, builte through the +chaunce of thys Historye, and which was called in theyr Tongue, +Cæsar Elcabir, so mutch to say as, A great Pallace. And bycause +I am assured, that curteous Myndes will delyght in deedes of +Curtesie, I haue amonges other the Nouelles of Bandello, chosen +by Francois de Belleforest and my self, discoursed thys, albeit +the matter be not of great importance. For greater thynges and +more notorious curtesies haue bene done by our own Kinges and +Prynces. As that of Henry the eight a Prynce of notable memorye +in hys Progresse into the North the XXXIII. yeare of +his raigne, when he dysdayned not a pore Miller's house being +stragled from his trayne, busily pursuing the Hart, and ther +vnknowne of the Miller, was welcomed with homely cheare, as hys +mealy house was able for the time to minister, and afterwardes +for acknowledging his willing Mynde, recompenced him wyth +daynties of the Courte, and a Pryncely rewarde. Of Edwarde the +thyrde, whose royall Nature was not displeased pleasauntly to +vse a Waifaring Tanner, when deuyded from his Company, he mette +hym by the way not far from Tomworth in Staffordshire, and by +cheapening of his welfare steede (for stedinesse sure and able +to carry him so farre as the stable dore) grewe to a price, and +for exchaunge the Tanner craued fiue shillings to boote betwene +the Kings and his. And when the King satisfied with disport, +desired to shew himself by sounding his warning blaste, +assembled all hys Traine, and to the great amaze of the poore +Tanner, (when he was guarded with that Troupe) he well guerdoned +his good Pastime and familiar dealing, with the order of +Knighthoode and reasonable reuenue for the maintenaunce of the +same. The lyke Examples our Chronicles, memory, and reporte +plentifully doe auouche and witnesse. But what? this Hystory is +the more rare and worthy of notyng, for respect of the People +and Countrey, where seldome or neuer Curtesie haunteth or +findeth harborough, and where Nature doth bryng forth greater +store of monsters, than thinges worthy of praise. This great +King Mansor then was not onely the Temporall Lord of the +Countrey of Oran and Marocco, but also (as is saide of Prete +Iean,) Byshop of his Law and the Mahomet Priest, as he is at +thys Day that raighneth in Feze, Sus, and Marocco. Now thys +Prynce aboue all other pleasure, loued the game of Hunting. And +he so mutch delighted in that passetime, as sometime he would +cause his Tentes in the myd of the desertes to be erected, to +lye there all Nyght, to the end, that the next day he might +renew his game, and defraud his men of idlenesse, and the Wild +beasts of rest. And this manner of Life he vsed still, after he +had done Iustice and hearkened the complaintes for which his +Subiectes came to disclose thereby theyr griefes. Wherein also +he toke so great pleasure, as some of our magistrates do seeke +their profite, whereof they be so squeymishe, as they be +desirous to satisfy the place whereunto they be called, and +render all men their righte due vnto them. For wyth theyr +Bribery and Sacred Golden Hunger, Kings and Prynces in these +dayes be ill serued, the people wronged, and the wycked out of +feare. There is none offence almost how villanous so euer it be, +but is washed in the Water of Bribery, and clensed in the holly +drop, wherewith the Poets faine Iupiter to corrupt the daughter +of Acrifius fast closed within the brasen Toure. And who is able +to resist that, which hath subdued the highest powers? Now +returne we from our wanderings: This greate Kynge Mansor on a +day assembled his People to hunt in the marish and fenny +Countrey, that in elder age was not farre of from the City of +Alela, which the Portugalles holde at this present, to make the +way more free into the Isles of Molucca, of the most part wherof +their King is Lord. As he was attentife in folowing a Beare, and +his pastime at the best, the Elements began to darke and a great +tempest rose, such as with the storme and violent Winde, +scattered the trayne far of from the King, who not knowing what +way to take, nor into what place he might retire, to auoid the +tempest, the greatest that he felt in al his life, would with a +good wil haue ben accompanied as the Troiane Æneas was, when +being in like pastime and fear he was constrayned to enter into +a Caue wyth his Queene Dido, where he perfourmed the Ioyes of +hys vnhappy Maryage. But Mansor beeynge without Companye, and +wythout any Caue at Hande, wandered alonges the Champayne so +carefull of hys Lyfe for feare of Wylde Beastes, whych flocke +together in those desertes as the Courtiers were pensiue, for +that they knew not whether theyr Prynce was gone. And that which +chiefly grieued Mansor was hys being alone without guide: And +for all he was well mounted, he durst passe no further for fear +of drownyng, and to be destroyed amiddes those Marshes, whereof +all the Countrey was very ful. On the one side he was fryghted +with Thunderclaps, which rumbled in the ayre very thicke and +terryble: On the other side the lightning continually flashed on +his face, the roring of the Beastes apalled him, the ignoraunce +of the way so astonned him, as he was affraide to fall into the +running Brokes, which the outragious raignes had caused to swell +and ryse. It is not to be doubted, that orisons and prayers vnto +hys greate prophet Mahomet were forgotten, and doubtfull it is +whether he were more deuout when he went on Pilgrimage to the +Idolatrous Temple of Mosqua. Hee complayned of ill lucke, +accusing Fortune, but chiefly hys owne folly, for giuing +himselfe so mutch to hunting, for the desire whereof, hee was +thus straggled into vnknowen Countreyes. Sometimes he raued and +vomytted his Gall agaynst his Gentlemen and houshold seruaunts, +and threatned death vnto his guarde. But afterwards, when reason +ouershadowed his sense, he saw that the tyme, and not their +neglygence or little care caused that disgrace. He thoughte that +his Prophet had poured downe that tempest for some Notable +sinne, and had brought him into such and so dangerous extremity +for his faults. For which cause he lifted vp his Eyes, and made +a thousand Mahomet mowes, and Apish mocks (according to theyr +manner.) And as he fixed his eyes aloft vp to the heauens, +a flash of lightning glaunced on his Face so violently, as it +made him to holde downe his head, lyke a lyttle Chyld reproued +of his maister. But he was further daunted and amazed, when he +saw the night approche, which with the darkenes of his cloudy +Mantell, stayed hys pace from going any further, and brought him +into such perplexitye, as willingly he would haue forsaken both +his hunting and company of his Seruants to be quit of that +Daunger. But God carefull of good Myndes (with what law so euer +they be trayned vp,) and who maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the +iust and and vniuste, prepared a meanes for his sauegarde, as +you shal heare. The Affricane King beyng in his traunce, and +naked of all hope, necessity (which is the clearest loking +glasse that may be found,) made him diligently to loke about, +whether he could see any persone by whome he might attayne some +securitie. And as he thus bent himselfe to discry all the partes +of the Countrey, he saw not far of from him, the glimpse of a +light which glimmered out at a little Window, whereunto he +addressed himselfe, and perceiued that it was a simple Cabane +situate in the middest of the Fennes, to which he approached for +his succor and defense in the time of that tempest. He reioysed +as you may think, and whither his heart lept for ioy, I leaue +for them to iudge which haue assayed like daungers, how be it I +dare beleue, that the saylers on the seas feele no greater ioy +when they arriue to harborough, than the king of Marocco dyd: +or when after a Tempest, or other peril, they discrye vppon the +prowe of their shyppe, the bryghtnesse of some clyffe, or other +land. And thys king hauing felt the tempest of Wind, raine, +haile, lyghtenyng, and Thunder claps, compassed round aboute +with Marshes and violent streames of little Riuers that ran +along his way, thought he had found Paradise by chauncing vpon +that rusticall lodge. Now that Cotage was the refuge place of a +pore Fisher man, who lived and susteined his Wife and children +with Eeles which he toke alongs the ditches of those deepe and +huge Marshes. Mansor when he was arrived at the dore of that +great pallace couered and thacked with Reede, called to them +wythin, who at the first would make no answer to the Prynce that +taried there comming at the Gate. Then he knocked againe, and +with louder voyce than before, which caused this fisher man, +thinkynge that he had bene some rippier (to whom he was wont to +sell hys ware, or else some straunger strayed out of his way,) +spedily went out, and seeinge the Kinge well mounted and richlye +clothed, and albeit he tooke him not to be his soueraigne LORD, +yet he thought he was some one of his Courtly Gentlemen. +Wherefore hee sayde: "What Fortune hath dryuen you (sir) into +these so deserte and solytarye Places, and sutch as I maruell +that you were not drowned a hundred tymes, in these streames, +and bogges whereof this Marrish and fenny Countrey are full?" +"It is the great God" (aunswered Mansor) "which hath had some +care of me, and will not suffer me to perysh without doynge +greater good turnes and better deedes than hitherto I haue don." +The King's comming thither, seemed to Prognosticate that whych +after chaunced, and that God poured downe the Tempest for the +Wealth of the Fisher man, and commodity of the Country. And the +straying of the Kyng was a thyng appoynted to make voyde those +Marshes, and to purge and clense the Countrey: Semblable +chaunces haue happened to other Prynces, as to Constantine the +great, besides his City called New Rome, when he caused certayne +Marshes and Ditches to be filled vp and dryed, to build a fayre +and sumptuous Temple, in the Honor and Memory of the blessed +Virgin that brought forth the Sauior of the World. "But tel me +good man" (replyed Mansor) {"}canst thou not shew me the way to +the Court, and whether the King is gone, for gladly (if it were +possible) would I ride thither." "Verily" (sayd the Fisher Man) +"it will be almost day before ye can come there, the same beinge +ten leagues from hence.{"} "Forsomutch as thou knowest the way" +(aunswered Mansor) "doe me so great pleasure to brynge me +thither, and be assured that besides the good turne, for which I +shall be bound vnto thee, I will curteously content thee for thy +paynes." "Sir" (sayd the poore man) "you seeme to be an honest +Gentleman, wherfore I pray you to lyght, and to tarry heere this +Night, for that it is so late, and the way to the City very +euyll and combersome for you to passe." "No, no," (sayd the +King) "if it be possible, I must repayre to the place whither +the King is gone, wherefore doe so mutch for me as to bee my +guide, and thou shalt see whether I be vnthankfull to them that +imploy their paynes for mee." "If Kyng Mansor" (sayd the Fisher +man) "were heere hymselfe in Person and made the lyke request, +I would not be so very a foole, nor so presumptuous, (at this +time of the Nyght) to take vppon me without Daunger to bryng hym +to his Palace." "Wherefore?" (sayed the Kyng) "Wherefore? (quod +you), bicause the Marshes bee so daungerous, as in the Day tyme, +if one know not wel the way, the Horse, (be hee neuer so stronge +and Lusty,) may chaunce to sticke fast, and tarry behynd for +gage. And I would be sorry if the King were heere, that he +should fall into Peryl, or suffer any anoyance and therewythall +would deeme my selfe vnhappy if I did let hym to incur sutch +euyll or incombrance." Mansor that delighted in the +communication of this good man, and desirous to know the cause +that moued him to speak with sutch affection, said vnto him: +"And why carest thou for the Life, health, or preseruation of +the Kynge? What hast thou to doe wyth him that wouldest be so +sorry for hys state, and carefull of his safety." "Ho, ho," said +the good man, "doe you say that I am carefull for my Prince? +Verily I loue him a hundred tymes better than I do my selfe, my +Wife or children whych God hath sent me: and what sir, do not +you loue our Prince?" "Yes that I doe" (replyed the Kyng,) "for +I haue better cause than thou, for that I am many times in his +company, and liue vpon his charge and am entertayned with his +wages. But what nedest thou to care for hym? Thou knowest him +not, hee neuer did thee anye good turne or pleasure: nor yet +thou nedest not hope henceforth to haue any pleasure at his +hands." "What?" (said the Fisher man) "must a Prince be loued +for gaine and good turnes, rather than for hys Iustice and +curtesie? I see wel that amongs you maister Courtiers, the +benefits of kings be more regarded, and their gifts better liked +than their vertue and nobility, which maketh them wonderful vnto +vs: and ye do more esteme the gold, honor and estates that they +bestow vpon you, than their health and sauegard, which are the +more to be considered, for that the King is our head, and GOD +hath made him sutch one to kepe vs in Peace, and to be carefull +of our states. Pardon me if I speake so boldly in your +presence." The kyng (which toke singular delight in this +Countrey Philosopher,) answered him: "I am not offended bicause +thy words approche so neare the troth: but tel me what benefit +hast thou receiued of that King Mansor, of whome thou makest +sutch accompt and louest so wel? For I cannot thinke that euer +he dyd thee good, or shewed thee pleasure, by reason of thy +pouerty, and the little Furnyture within thy house in respect of +that which they possesse whome hee loueth and fauoreth, and vnto +whome he sheweth so great familyaritye and Benefite." "Doe tell +me sir" (replyed the good man) "for so mutch as you so greatly +regard the fauoures which Subiects receiue at theyr Prynces +handes, as in deede they ought to doe, What greater goodnesse, +richesse, or Benefite ought I to hope for, or can receyue of my +King (being sutch one as I am,) but the profite and vtility that +all we whych be his vassalles do apprehend from day to day in +the Iustyce that he rendereth to euery Wyghte, by not suffering +the puissant and Rich to suppresse and ouertread the feeble and +weake, and him that is deuoid of Fortune's goods, that +indifferency be maintayned by the Officers, to whom he +committeth the gouernement of his Prouinces, and the care which +he hath that his people be not deuoured by exactions, and +intolerable tributes. I do esteeme more his goodnesse, clemency +and Loue, that he beareth to his subiects, than I doe all your +delycates and ease in following the Court. I most humbly honor +and reuerence my king in that he being farre from vs, doeth +neuerthelesse so vse his gouernment as we feele his presence +like the Image of God, for the peace and vnion wherein we +through him do lyue and enioy, without disturbaunce, that lytle +whych GOD and Fortune haue gyuen vs. Who (if not the king) is he +that doeth preserue vs, and defend vs from the incursions and +pillages of those Theues and Pirates of Arabie, which inuade and +make warre with their neighbours? and there is no friend they +haue but they would displease if the King wysely did not forbyd +and preuent their villanies. That great Lord which kepeth his +Court at Constantinople and maketh himself to be adored of his +people like a God, brideleth not so mutch the Arabians, as our +king doth, vnder the Protection and sauegard of whome, I that am +a poore Fisher man, do ioy my pouerty in peace, and without fear +of theeues do norish my litle family, applying my selfe to the +fishing of Eeles that be in these ditches and fenny places, +which I carry to the market townes, and sell for the sustenance +and feeding of my wife and children, and esteeme my self right +happy, that returning to my cabane, and homely lodge at my +pleasure, in whatsoeuer place I do abide, bicause (albeit far of +from Neighboures,) by the benefite and dilygence of my Prince, +none staye my iourney, or offendeth me by any meanes, whych is +the cause (sayd he lifting vp his hands and eyes aloft,) that I +pray vnto God and his great Prophet Mahomet, that it may please +them to preserue our King in health, and to gyue him so great +happe and contentation, as he is vertuous and debonaire, and +that ouer hys Ennimies (flying before him,) he may euermore be +victorious, for noryshing his people in peace, and his children +in ioy and Nobility." The King seeing that deuout affectyon of +the paisaunte, and knowyng it to be without guile or Hypocrisie, +would gladly haue discouered himself, but yet willyng to reserue +the same for better opportunity, he sayd vnto him: "Forsomutch +as thou louest the king so well, it is not impossible but those +of his house be welcome vnto thee, and that for thy Mansor's +sake, thou wilt helpe and do seruice to his Gentlemen." "Let it +suffise you" (replyed he) "that my heart is more inclined to the +King, than to the willes of those that serue him for hope of +preferment. Now being so affectionate to the king as I am, +thynke whyther hys householde Seruauntes haue power to commaund +me, and whither my willing mynde be prest to doe them good or +not. But mee thynke ye neede not to stay heere at the gate in +talke, being so wet as you be: Wherefore vouchsafe to come into +my house, which is youre owne, to take sutch simple lodging as I +haue, where I wyl entreat you, (not according to your merite) +but with the little that God and his Prophet haue departed to my +pouerty: And to morrow morning I will conduct you to the City, +euen to the royall Palace of my Prynce." "Truly" (answered the +King) "albeit necessity did not prouoke me, yet thine honesty +deserueth well other reputation than a simple Countrey man, and +I do thinke that I haue profited more in hearing thee speake +than by hearkenyng to the flattering and babbling tales of +Courting triflers, which dayly employ themselues to corrupte the +eares of Prynces." "What sir?" (sayd the Paysant) "thynke you +that thys poore Coate and simple lodging be not able to +apprehend the Preceptes of Vertue? I haue sometimes heard tell, +that the wise auoyding Cityes and Troupes of Men, haue +wythdrawne themselues into the desertes, for leysure to +contemplate heauenly thynges." "Your skyll is greate," replyed +Mansor: "Goe we then, sith you please to doe me that Curtesie as +this night to be myne hoste." So the king went into the Rustical +Lodge, where insteede of Tapistery and Turkey hangings, he sawe +the house stately hanged with fisher Nets and Cordes, and in +place of rich seeling of Noble mens houses, he beheld Canes and +Reedes whych serued both for the seeling and couering. The +Fisher man's Wife continued in the kitchen, whilest Mansor +hymself both walked and dressed his owne horse, to which horse +the Fisher man durste not once come neare for his Corage and +stately trappour, wyth one thing he was abundantly refreshed, +and that the moste needefull thing which was fire, whereof there +was no spare, no more then there was of Fishe. But the king +which had been dayntely fed, and did not well taste and lyke +that kynde of meat, demaunded if hys hunger could not be +supplyed with a lytle Flesh, for that his stomacke was anoyed +with the onely sauoure of the Eeles. The poore man, (as ye haue +somewhat perceiued by the former discourse) was a pleasaunt +fellow, and delighted rather to prouoke laughter than to prepare +more dainty meat, said vnto the king: "It is no maruell, though +our kinges do furnishe themselues with Countrey men, to serue +them in their Warres, for the delicate bringing vp and litle +force in fine Courtiers. Wee, albeit the Raine doth fal vppon +our heads, and the Winde assaile euery part of our bodies all +durtie and Wet, doe not care either for fire or Bed, wee feede +vpon any kinde of meate that is set before vs, withoute seeking +Sauce for increasing of our appetite: and we (beholde) are +nimble, healthy, lusty, and neuer sicke, nor our mouth out of +tast, where ye do feele sutch distemperaunce of stomacke, as +pity it is to see, and more ado there is to bring the same into +his right order and taste, than to ordeine and dresse a supper +for a whole armie." The king who laughed (with displayed +throte,) hearing his hoste so merily disposed, could haue been +contented to haue heard him still had not his appetite prouoked +him, and the time of the Night very late. Wherefore he said vnto +him: "I do agree to what you alleage, but performe I pray thee +my request, and then wee will satisfie ourselues with further +talke." "Well sir" (replied the king's Hoste,) "I see well that +a hungry Belly hath no luste to heare a merry song, whereof were +you not so egre and sharpe set, I could sing a hundred. But I +haue a lytle Kidde which as yet is not weaned, the same wil I +cause to bee made ready, for I think it cannot be better +bestowed." The supper by reason of the hoste's curtesie, was +passed forth in a thousand pleasant passetimes, whych the +Fisherman of purpose vttered to recreate hys Guest, bicause he +sawe hym to delight in those deuyses. And vppon the end of +Supper, he sayd vnto the King: "Now sir, how like you this +banket? It is not so sumptuous as those that be ordinarily made +at our Prynce's Court, yet I thynke that you shal slepe wyth no +lesse appetyte than you haue eaten with a god stomack, as +appeareth by the few Woords you have vttered in the tyme of your +repast. But whereunto booteh it to employ tyme, ordeyned for +eating, in expense of talke, whych serueth not but to passe the +tyme, and to shorten, the day? And meats ought rather to be +taken for sustentation of Nature then for prouocation or motion +of thys feeble and Transitorye Fleshe?" "Verily" (sayd the King) +"your reason is good, and I doe meane to ryse from the Table, to +passe the remnant of the Nyght in rest, therewyth to satisfie my +selfe so well as I haue wyth eatyng, and do thanke you heartily +for your good aduertysement." So the King went to Bed, and it +was not long ere hee fell a sleepe, and contynued tyll the +Mornynge. And when the Sunne dyd ryse, the Fisherman came to +wake hym, tellyng hym that it was tyme to rise, and that hee was +ready to bryng him to the Court. All this whyle the Gentlemen of +the kinge's Traine were searching round aboute the Countrey to +fynde his Maiesty, makyng Cryes and Hues, that he myghte heare +them. The kyng knowyng their voices, and the noyes they made, +went forth to meete them, and if his People were gladde when +they founde him, the Fisherman was no lesse amazed to see the +honor the Courtyers did vnto his Guest. Which the curteous king +perceiuing, sayd vnto him: "My Friend, thou seest here, that +Mansor, of whome yesternight thou madest so great accompt, and +whome thou saidst, that thou didst loue so well. Bee assured, +that for the Curtisie thou hast done him, before it bee longe, +the same shall be so well acquyted, as for euer thou shalte haue +good cause to remembre it." The good man was already vpon his +marybones beseeching the King that it would please him pardon +hys rude entertainement and his ouermutch familiarity whych hee +had vsed vnto him. But Mansor causing him to rise vp, willed hym +to depart, and sayed that within few dayes after he shoulde +heare further Newes. Now in these Fennish and marrysh groundes, +the Kyng had already builded diuers Castles and lodges for the +pleasure and solace of hunting. Wherefore he purposed there to +erect a goodly City, causing the waters to be voyded with greate +expedition, whych City he builded immediately, and compassyng +the circuite of the appoynted place, with strong Walles and depe +Ditches, he gaue many immunities and Pryuiledges to those, that +would repayre to people the same, by meanes whereof, in litle +tyme, was reduced to the state of a beautifull and wealthy City, +whych is the very same that before we sayd to be Cæsar Elcabir, +as mutch to say: "The great Palace." This goodly worke beinge +thus performed Mansor sent for his host, to whome hee sayde: "To +the end from henceforth thou mayest more honourably entertaine +Kyngs into thy House, and mayest intreate them wyth greater +sumptuositie, for the better solacyng of them wyth thy curtesy +and pleasaunt talke, beholde the City that I haue buylded, which +I doe gyue vnto thee and thyne for euer, reseruing nothyng but +an acknowledgement of good wil, to the end thou mayst know that +a Gentleman's mind nousled in villany, is discouered, when +forgetting a good turne, he incurreth the vice of Ingratitude." +The good man seeing so liberall an offer and present worthy of +sutch a king fell downe vppon his knees, and kyssing his foote +with al humility, sayd vnto him: "Sir if your Liberality did not +supply the imperfection of my Meryte, and perfourmed not what +wanted in me, to attayne so great estate, I would excuse my +selfe of the charge whych it pleaseth you to gyue mee, and +whereunto for lacke of trayning vp, and vse of sutch a Dignity, +I am altogether vnfit. But sith that the graces of GOD, and the +gyftes of Kynges ought neuer to bee reiected, by acceptynge thys +Benefite wyth humble thankes for the clemencye of your royall +Maiestye, I rest the Seruaunt and slaue of you and yours." The +king hearing hym speake so wisely, took hym vp, and imbraced +him, saying: "Would to God and his great Prophete, that all they +which rule Cityes, and gouerne Prouinces, had so good a Nature +as thine then I durst be bolde to say, that the People shoulde +lyue better at theyr ease, and Monarches without charge of +conscience, for the ill behauyors of theyr Officers. Lyue good +man, lyue at thine ease, maynteine thy people, obserue our +lawes, and increase the Beauty of the City, whereof from this +time forth wee doe make the possesser.{"} And truly the present +was not to bee contempned, for that the same at this day is one +of the fairest that is in Affrica, and is the Land of the blacke +People, sutch as the Spaniards call Negroes. It is very full of +Gardeins, furnished with aboundance of Spyces brought from the +Moluccas, bicause of the martes and faires ordeined there. To be +short, Mansor shewed by this gift what is the force of a gentle +heart, which can not abyde to bee vanquished in curtesie, and +lesse suffer that vnder forgetfulnesse the memorye of a receyued +good turne be lost. King Darius whilome, for a little garment, +receiued in gift by Silofon the Samien, recompenced him wyth the +gaine and royall dignity of that City, and made him soueraine +Lord thereof, and of the Isle of Samos. And what greater vertue +can illustrate the name of a noble man, than to acknowledge and +preferre them, which for Natural shame and bashfulnesse, dare +not beholde the Maiesty of their greatnesse? God sometymes with +a more curteous Eye doth loke vpon the presents of a poore man, +than the fat and rych offerings of him that is great and +wealthy? Euen so a benefite, from what hand soeuer it procedeth, +cannot chose but bryng forth the fruicts of his Liberality that +giueth the same, who by vsing largesse, feleth also the like in +him to whom it is employed. That magnificence no long time past +vsed the Seigniorie of Venice, to Francesco Dandulo, who after +he had dured the great displeasures of the Pope, in the name of +the whole City, vpon his returne to Venice, for acknowledgment +of his pacyence, and for abolishmente of that Shame, was wyth +happye and vniforme Acclamatyon of the whole state elected, and +made Prince, and Duke of that Common wealth. Worthy of prayse +truly is he, that by some pleasure bindeth another to his +curtesie: but when a Noble man acknowledgeth for a benefit, that +which a Subiect is bounde to gieue him by duty and seruice, +there the proofe of prayse carryeth no Fame at all. For which +cause I determined to display the Hystory of the barbarous King +Mansor, to the intent that our Gentlemen, noryshed and trained +vp in great ciuilytie, may assay by their mildenesse and good +education, to surmount the curtesie of that Prynce, of whom for +this time wee purpose to take our Farewell. + + + + + The + + CONCLUSION, + + with + + AN ADUERTISEMENT TO THE READER. + + +What thou hast gained for thy better instruction, or what +conceiued for recreation by reading these thirty fiue Nouells, +I am no Iudge, although (by deeming) in reading and perusing, +thou mayst (at thy pleasure) gather both. But howsoeuer profite, +or delight, can satisfy mine apoyntment, wherefore they were +preferred into thy hands, contented am I that thou doe vouchsafe +them Good lessons how to shun the Darts, and Prickes of +insolency thou findest in the same. The vertuous noble may sauor +the fruits and taste the licour that stilleth from the gums or +buds of Vertue. The contrary may see the blossoms fall, that +blome from the shrubs of disloialty and degenerat kinde. Yong +Gentlemen, and Ladies do view a plot founded on sured grounde, +and what the foundation is, planted in shattring Soyle, with a +fashion of attire to garnish their inward parts, so well as +(sparelesse) they imploy vpon the vanishing pompe. Euery sort +and sexe that warfare in the fielde of humayne life, may set +here the sauourous fruict (to outwarde lyking) that fansied the +sensuall taste of Adam's Wyfe. They see also what griefts sutch +fading fruicts produce vnto posterity: what likewise the lusty +growth and spring of vertue's plant, and what delicates it +brauncheth to those that carefully keepe the slips thereof, +within the Orchard of their mindes. Diuers Tragical shewes by +the pennes description haue bene disclosed in greatest number of +these Hystories, the same also I haue mollified and sweetened +with the course of pleasaunt matters, of purpose not to dampe +the deynty mindes of those that shrinke and feare at such +rehearsall. And bicause sodaynly (contrary to expectation) this +Volume is risen to greater heape of leaues, I doe omit for this +present time sundry Nouels of mery deuise, reseruing the same to +be ioyned with the rest of an other part, wherein shall succeede +the remnaunt of Bandello, specially sutch (suffrable) as the +learned French man François de Belleforrest hath selected, and +the choysest done in the Italian. Some also out of Erizzo, Ser +Giouani Florentino, Parabosco, Cynthio, Straparole, Sansouino, +and the best liked out of the Queene of Nauarre, and other +Authors. Take these in so good part with those that haue and +shall come forth, as I do offre them with good will curteously +correcting sutch Faults, and Errors, as shall present +themselues, eyther burying them in the Bosome of Fauor, or +pretermitting them with the beck of Curtesie. + + + + +FINIS. + +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. + + +Novel 23 + + causeth ruine os sutch whych should bee honoured and praysed + [_error for "ruine of"_] + sheweth how narure is constrained in that monstrous diuision + [_error for "nature"_] + whych had taken this enterprise to satissie the barbarous Cardinall + [_error for "satisfie"_] + +Novel 24 + + deuided from curtefie and Ciuility [_error for "curtesie"_] + no more stable than a woman's wyll: for vnder sutch habite + and sexe Painters and Poets describe hir) + [_mismatched punctuation unchanged_] + +Novel 25 + + But minding to put in proose what he thought [_error for "proofe"_] + which hath vouchsafed to bryng the forth into this world + [_spelling "the" for "thee" occurs frequently_] + so grieuous is to me his extreme old age.' + [_text at page-end has single quote for expected double_] + a dreame or fantasie that appeared before his eyes + [_error for "hir eyes"_] + the two deade Bodies should he erected vppon a stage + [_error for "should be"_] + +Novel 26 + + I abstayne to shewe my selse amonges the Beautifull + [_error for "my selfe"_] + for neyther maister Alosio is slayne [_error for "Aloisio"_] + beholde you owne handes subscribed to the same + [_error for "your owne"_] + +Novel 27 + + "I aske no more at your haudes [_error for "handes"_] + and of colour meetely freshe for the tyme hee left his Bed." + [_superfluous close quote_] + tooke the Letters, and breakinge the Seale + [_error for "Letter" (singular)_] + and the somme of hys reuenge." + [_misplaced close quote for open quote_] + +Novel 28 + + "Why (my Lord) do you chase and rage againste mee? + [_error for "chafe"_] + +Novel 29 + _The name "Diego" occurs often enough to establish consistency. + In three places it is printed "Deigo"._ + + For going many times to see Gienura with the hauke on his fist + [_error for "Gineura"_] + God desende that Gineura should goe aboute to hynder thy follyes + [_error for "defende"_] + and which was the way to Barcelone. [_error for "Barcelona"_] + "For somutch" (quod he) [_no space_] + a new sprouted Rose diuiuely blowen forth [_error for "diuinely"_] + +Novel 30 + + his Victor and unsatible greedy gutte Iulius Cæsar + [_spelling "unsatible" unchanged_] + "God forbid" (sayd Montaine) [_error for "Montanine"_] + theyr were vnworthy of the title of chaste and vertuous + [_error for "they"_] + where hast thou bestowrd the Eye of thy foreseeing mynde + [_error for "bestowed"_] + +Novel 32 + + The intire Discourse of whom you shall briefly and presently + vnderstand. Camiola a widow of the City of Siena + [_handwritten ¶ sign at sentence break_] + caried into the Citty at their pleasure all their victualles. + which they brought wyth them [_. for ,_] + and Ihon the Captayne Generall taken Prysoner + [_spelling "Ihon" may be an error, but occurs in other texts of + similar age_] + +Novel 33 + + to loue and cherysh his liuetenaunt that faithfullye and trustily + had kept his Castell and Forte + [_spelling "liuetenaunt" occurs twice, "lieuetenaunt" once_] + The lyke Cruelty vsed Tiphon towards his brother Osyris by chopping + his body in xxvi. gobbets + [_anomalous lower-case numeral unchanged_] + +Novel 34 + + And he was scasce come to the place [_error for "scarce"_] + +Novel 35 + + seeing that hys Sonne behaued himselfe arrogantly + [_i in "seeing" invisible_] + to shine vpon the iust and and vniuste + [_word repetition at mid-line 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 34840-8.txt or 34840-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/4/34840/ + +Produced by Meredith Bach, Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, Carlo +Traverso and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian +Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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