ashes will the longer preserve the most just disdain of Arsinda This Letter being indiscreetly given into the hands of the Count at a time when being very ill of his late hurts and a Feaver that attended them but much more languishing under the oppression of his mind it caused such a desperate alteration in him that his attendants thought him to be upon the point of Death He did often aggravate his malady by lamentable exclamations which no man could hear without commiseration Whilst he was strugling with the agonies of death being given over both by Chyrurgions and Physicians the Marquess was enjoying the Visits and Congratulations of his Friends and Acquaintance With these he boasted of his powerful ingenuity in fraudulently and cunningly subduing a Womans heart which commonly he said was termed the very seat of Artifice and Deceit Hereupon he was requested to trace the success of his amours from the beginning To this he most readily assented in saying thus Sirs I do willingly repeat the transactions of my love because the remembrance of them seems sweet unto me I did a good while since set my whole affection upon Arsinda but very unsuccessfully because Women do not so much correspond with their Lovers as with the capricious humor of their own Genius They love not him that deserveth best but him that complieth best with their imperfections so that it is e'en become a Proverbial Saying That the choice of Women ordinarily falls upon the worst In short I was rejected and Rocca Battuta was the man pitcht upon for a Husband with that resentment which may better be imagined than described Seeing the merits of my Birth and Love excluded I had recourse unto Stratagems that are no less necessary in Love than in Arms. Thus I got the Victory for Rocca Battuta being cheated by my counterfeit Letter quitted the Field and left me alone to triumph These words were overheard by a Maiden to whom Arsinda confided all her secrets who by chance came then to the Marquess his house for to complement him from her Mistress The Damsel would not stay to hearken any more knowing very well that Arsinda had condescended to this Marriage more in obedience to the impulses of anger than in compliance to the inclinations of her heart She therefore speedily ran away to Arsinda to whom she imparted what she had heard from the Marquess Odorico's own mouth Here I am at a stand for to express the commotions of Arsinda's mind She grew pale dumb wept and did all things incident to a soul overwhelmed with passion and grief She had condemn'd her self to marry the Marquess only to revenge the injuries of the Count and for fear that what had passed betwixt him and her might hinder her Fortunes for she always had a great aversion to the Marquess for that he was not only ill-favoured but also ill-natur'd And now that she knew him to be treacherous her hatred was grown to that height that she could not endure to hear his Name much less to see him Preferring therefore satisfaction before all other interest she took Pen and Ink and wrote thus Sir To deceive the deceiver is no deceit For this reason I recant all those promises I made to be yours I never thought of being stolen away nor shall your treachery triumph over my simplicity Yet you may believe that my eyes do by showring down tears strive to clear up the cloudiness of my soul which would rather if possible lose its being than ever consent to the tying of a knot that was contrived by fraud and not by love Do not provoke me by any new guiles lest you turn my patience into fury Perhaps you may be caught in your own gins and may feel what effects the most just resentment of a Woman unjustly offended can produce Arsinda Having sent this Letter to the Marquess she began to revolve in her mind the satisfactions due to the Count when one of her Maids presented her a Letter saying that it was brought by a Page to the Count who being upon his departure out of this World could neither make an end of it nor seal it She took it with great eagerness and saw that the Contents were as follow Madam I make use of another hand because my own is not able to govern a Pen. Excuse me Arsinda it proceeding from weakness and not from want of respect in me I dye and dye unhappily in that I am deprived of your gracious favour If my ashes could obtain the least affectionate pity I believe it would convert those horrors that are preached up to be most terrible into happiness Pardon him O fair Lady who can never offend you more and who did offend you more to obey the excess of his love than to bring any prejudice to your honour But my Speech failing me makes me uncapable of pleading any farther in my own defence I dye Arsinda and I dye for you having nothing more to add to these characters but my sighs for to soften the heart of Arsinda Arsinda had scarce run over the Letter but letting it fall from her hands she also not being able to resist the violence of a grief that so sensibly struck to her heart fell into a Swoon Being brought to life again by some remedies that her Maidens applied she thus began to bemoan her self O God! is it possible that I should not sink under the weight of insupportable sorrow How can my soul tormented by such fierce passions do otherwise than abandon me Those torments are but slight that do not kill And yet my grief which is upon the very brink of desperation is not able to take away my life Couldst thou my beloved Daletes poisoned by my unjust disdain dye and cannot I at the doleful news of thy death and the craft of a Traitor leave off to live There is not a more precious thing in the World than a faithful man and I have lost him before I knew him But to what purpose do I aggravate my sorrows by usurping those tears that are most justly due to his Hearse Yes yes I am resolved at least to pay my last office to the greatness of his Merits and my obligations and they that see the dolorous eâ—fects of it shall not condemn me Away with all delay Let 's go to honour him dying whom we despised living Therefore calling for her Coach she went with all the speed imaginable along with him that brought the Letter unto the Inn where the Count was lodged as if she were resolved to join her self to him in the Grave since that Fortune had denied her a more desirable union As soon as she was alighted from her Coach she was presently conducted without asking any question into the Counts Chamber He lay there ready to give up the Ghost deprived of his Senses and raving with his tongue Now he accused Arsinda as unfaithful and ungrateful then he condemned himself asking her pardon as if she had been present
little Girl The God of Love brought it so about that this young couple did sacrifice their whole affections unto the Shrine of his Divinity Giacintha was with Isabella to congratulate the safe return of her Brother who was present at this Complement which made it not difficult for her by glancing words and eyes to declare the passion of her heart In brief there passed not many days but by the mediation of Isabella these two Lovers were contracted with a mutual promise of Matrimony But Fortune for the most part envying the happiness of Lovers order'd the matter so that a Cosen of Don Piedro's called Leonora who was more than hansom and extreamly rich fell grievously in love with him Don Piedro perceived it but his heart being otherwise engaged made as if he saw it not and that with so much caution that Leonora was ready to despair At last seeing her self despised or at leastwise not well accepted of she took to her Bed leaving the Physicians little hopes of her recovery the wounds of her heart proving to be incurable The Mother of Leonora having the experience of many years did easily know that her Daughters sickness proceeded from love She therefore by the help of one of her Maidens penetrating into the certainty and original of it applied her whole endeavours to find out the remedy She sends for Don Piedro and in words bedewed with tears and sighs she offers him her Daughter telling him punctually the occasion of her indisposition She urged her entreaties by letting him know that he could not meet with a more rich or a more honourable Match The Laws of good breeding compelled Don Piedro to make a courteous answer And hoping that the time requisite for treating and getting the consent of her friends might administer some cure to this Malady he remitted the conclusion to the sole will of his Father to whom as his duty was he entirely referred himself After this he went in to see his Cosen which filled her full of hopes that do easily take place in the breasts of young Virgins Leonora in the mean time taking courage from the words tho they were not binding and continued visits from Don Piedro in a very short time recovered her former health Giacintha on the other side wanting many of his Visits did most miserably afflict her self and frequently inculpate the Loyalty of Don Pietro He not being able to endure her resentments thought of weakning her jealousie by discovering the whole truth unto her Hereupon Giacintha being in a great rage with a furious tone said unto him Never speak to me nor presume to see me more if you do not make your Kinswoman know that you are my Spouse and cannot be hers Neither my Heart nor my Honour will suffer any Rival In saying so she made a motion to be gone but was stopt by Don Piedro who with horrible imprecations asserted his own constancy and promised the next day to undeceive his Cosen Giacintha being willing to lay a further obligation upon Don Piedro for the performance of his promises made her self sure to him by an Oath Don Piedro in these delightsome amours having lost all that circumspection that before made him cautious went to see his Cosen who having wholly chased away her disease was only attending the perfect consummation of her recovery He was received in the most affectionate manner that a loving soul could put in practice But the appearing of some trouble in his looks gave occasion to Leonora to ask him the cause of it After a little slight denial Don Piedro said It is not justice Madam that I should betray your good affection and falsify my own promises My behaviour hath hitherto been rather feigned than candid I had a mind to recover you but I cannot satisfie you Bear with my Fortune that hath obliged me to another I have pass'd my word and am contracted to Giacintha nor can I disengage my self without losing my life 'T is enough answered Leonora yet had you better have letten me dye than to revive in me the tyranny of passion Patience the heart that cannot bend may break Having said this she went out of the Chamber and retired into a Closet where she let loose the reins of her anger which thus dictated unto her Sir The injuries that are done to honour do call for revenge even from those that have no interest therein For this reason I counsel you to look well to the guard of your House whose Honour is endangered by Don Pietro de Ponzes If blinded by destiny you should think this to be a Forgery your own eyes when circumspect will give you testimony of the truth hereof She sealed the Letter without subscribing it and sent it by a Footman belonging to the Father of Giacintha This done she returned into her Closet for to write another while Don Pietro being doubtful what resolutions an incensed Woman might take made haste away Afterwards Leonora went out of the Closet to her Mother begging her Blessing for that she was afraid she should never see her more Her Mother chid her saying O Daughter do not use these hateful expressions to me unless you intend to shorten my days Leonora with tears in her eyes left her Mother She had not gone far but sending forth a deep sigh she fell down dead All the House ran to her succour and believing her to be only in a Swoon they applied all things proper to bring her to her self again All their endeavours were in vain and the Doctor being come knew her to be dead indeed In stripping off her Cloths there fell from her Bosom a Letter which being directed to her Mother spake thus Dear Mother I my self have undertaken to chastise the intemperance of my sensual appetite by taking Poison to expel my immoderate affection I thought Death would be more pleasing to me than to see my Cosen in the Arms of another Woman I beseech you pardon the displeasure which this my resolution shall have given you by judging it necessary to terminate the disquiet of my heart Adieu dearest Mother adieu Your unfortunate Leonora This unhappy accident occasioned great disturbance in the minds of her Mother and Kindred and some there were unacquainted with her Love-affair that did so far err in their judgment as to impute this her sudden death unto her great riches Giacintha knowing her self to be unwillingly guilty of this Woman-slaughter had a mind to have some affectionate discourse about it with Don Pietro Whereupon she sends privately to tell him that she desired to see him that very night Don Pietro went accordingly and was as at other times conducted into a low Chamber by a servant who afterwards stood as Sentinel at the Door Giaccintha was scarce come into the room when Don Garzia who by the Letter that did tax his honour was made very vigilant was at the apartment of his Daughter But not finding her there he went on to that of his Son
you better than those of a VVife I know not how to oppose your satisfaction I proffer my self to be the Procuress of your pleasures if you will do me the honour to command me But that in the loss of my honour I should see also the danger of my life I cannot but lament the rigours of my Destiny that hath made me so unhappy Is therefore the impudent dishonesty of a Serving-Maid more powerful with you than the chast delights of a VVife whose desires are wholly subject to your beck O that Cordelius should so much forget himself and that the Heavens should alter their influence for to torment me Here Cordelius interrupted her saying False VVoman thy lies and tears would have persuaded me something if my eyes had not been witnesses of thy dishonesty Prepare thy self to die for it is not reason that she should live who hath murdered my Reputation But first tell me where you hide that Rascal that has had the impudence to violate my Bed Leena not being able to endure these terms which toucht her to the very quick replied For to excuse your amorous thefts by specious pretences you go about to accuse my Chastity This is not consonant to your prudence and my affection I am yours and only yours Malice it self cannot find that I have prejudiced your honour so much as in thought much less in deed I do appeal to your self at such time as the inordinate desire of enjoying a Servant-maid or the displeasure of being intercepted shall not have possessed your soul Cordelius being more highly incensed hereat with great fury ask'd her what servant or what amours she spoke of VVhereto Leena repeating to him all that the Nurse had told her and he also hearing it confirm'd by her own mouth ran presently to the Maids Chamber and there found her lovingly in Bed with Epidorus He was ready to have made him a sacrifice to his fury had not he been diverted by the persuasions of his VVife He was contented at last that Epidorus should Marry Cinicia who came to be a servant more through the injuries of Fortune than by the qualities of her Descent Hereunto Epidorus readily consented without reply the fear of Death making him honest whether he would or no. After this Cordelius embraced Leena and excused what he had done in sense of Honour for that he had heard Epidorus make a Call with a little whistle and then saw him brought into the House Prudent Leena was well satisfied with these justifications rejoycing that she had escaped a danger which was so much the greater in that it was not foreseen and which at one and the same time did threaten both her Life and Reputation This may serve to advertise Husbands not to run headlong into the suspicion of their VVives dishonesty may teach VVives not to give too much liberty to their Maidens and lastly may be an example to all those that go about to debauch the VVives of other Men. The Argument Lovanius coming to a certain House that was accidentally set on fire is inflamed with the love of Deadora who proving not ungrateful corresponds with him and to give her self the better opportunity she wilingly condescends that her Husband while she enjoyeth her lover should embrace Aleria her Chamber-maid she falling in love with Lovanius betrayeth her Mistress who transported by jealous fury openeth the way to her own and others destruction NOVEL III. THere lived as a Student in the famous Academy of Bologna Lovanius Son to the Count of Roccabruna a young Man who by his bodily perfection and affable demeanour did tyrannize over the affections of all those that had the fortune to know him He went one day a walking towards the Walls of the City when he was stopt in the way by some voices who crying out Fire Fire did pitifully call for assistance Among other Women that being desperately affrighted at this accident did exceedingly weep and wail there was a Gentlewoman who though the Roses in her Complexion were turn'd into Lillies yet was there left an appearance of a Garden full of Beauty This Lady nevertheless having a courage greater than the danger was not at all daunted though her being forsaken of all and unable to remedy it her self made her a little fearful Lovanius seeing no body move the Neighbours being fled from their Houses and there being none but a company of poor Women who by their loud shreeking did augment the terror and confusion he resolv'd to go himself with his servants and help to extinguish that fire which having already gotten head began with towring flames to soar aloft Going therefore into the Palace where the fire was very furious after having spoke to Deadora for this was the Mistress of the House her name that she should be of good chear and put away all her fears he went with his servants and some others that came to help to the top of the House There he wrought so much with his hands and commands that the Fire in a little while was lost in a cloud of Smoak He was scarce come down from the Roof of the House when he was met by Gelasius the Husband of that Lady who hearing of the danger came running home Here passed many words between them and all of them very courteous Gelasius was not wanting to offer unto him the Patronage of that house which he had made his own by preserving it from being burnt There came also Deadora to give him thanks in such obliging manner that Lovanius felt those flames kindled in his heart which he had a little before extinguished He had look'd upon her before with sentiments of pity whilst she being oppressed by fear could do nothing but weep and wail the waning colour of her face having not had force enough to set his soul on fire but now that her Courage had restor'd her wonted beauty and that the brightness of her eyes was not clouded with tears his pity was changed into love Thus Lovanius dedicated his affection wholly to this Beauty which Deadora soon perceiv'd and so much the sooner because in his taking leave he inspir'd his very soul into her with a sigh Nevertheless she pretended not to see it either for to give greater credit unto her honesty or for that she would not so soon entrust her self to the fidelity of any man And although Lovanius continually waited on her both to Church and at Balls yet he reap'd no other fruits of his labour than salutes and indifferent looks which might rather be imputed unto common civility than affectionate courtesie The young Gentleman not being able to resist the violent torments of his soul he gave vent to his passion by writing these words Madam The flames that burnt your House were destinated to torment my soul I would have hid them but that fire suppressed doth break forth with greater violence and makes all succours come too late I would have quenched them but that they being supernatural my
I do not envy the happiness of my Mistress in possessing your whole Heart I only bewail the misery of my Fortune which hath put me in a condition to be despised even by those for whom I continually do services Having thus spoken she kissed his Hand which she held pressed between her own with so much passion that Lovanius who at first laughed at her folly being not able to resist any longer let himself be overcome by sensuality so much the rather because the Features of Aleria were so excellent that he rather would have been counted a fool than a constant lover who should have let slip the occasion of enjoying her Lovanius and Aleria were ingulfed in Amorous Pleasures when Deadora thinking long e're she was called and perhaps not being without jealousie since true Lovers pay this interest for their pleasure having seen her Husband in bed she came softly down into the ground Chamber There having found her lover engaged in amorous action being hurried by a precipitous rage without remembring the dangers that were imminent to her Life and Honour she began furiously to lay about her both with her hands and tongue Traitors said she do you thus triumph over my disgrace are these the rewards of my confidence and fidelity I 'll handle you in such manner that by seeing you buried in my destruction I will rejoice that my ruine shall not be infested either by your derision or lasciviousness These words were accompanied with so many blows and bites that fetched bloud in many places about Aleria Lovanius in this interim throwing himself at her feet entreated her with such sweet words as would have softned the hardest stones Sometimes he put her in mind of the danger their lives were in Sometimes he excused his own errour promising amendment And other times he protested that his body had sinned without the consent of his soul Deadora nevertheless being deaf to these supplications and humiliations continued her assaults both in words and deeds when Gelasius with a look full of horrour and fierceness came thither He had waking long attended Aleria's coming whereupon rising for to look after her he came where he heard though not distinctly the complaints of Deadora the crys of Aleria and the prayers of Lovanius Gelasius therefore taking a Poniard in his Hand ran in a rage whither the noise called him He had no sooner seen Lovanius embracing his Wifes knees but he concluded him to be the enemy of her Chastity and the reputation of his House wherefore running furiously on him he wounded him in such manner in the head that not being able to support himself he fell flat upon the ground with the Agony of Death upon him which also appeared more terrible unto him because he saw that his sensualities had prepared a grave not only for himself but also for Deadora Gelasius seeing Lovanius in a condition not to live long much less to make any defence turning about to his Wife with a tone so terrible that would have struck horrour into the stoutest heart he said Woman thy offence is so heinous that to let it go unpunished would be an effect rather of weakness than of compassion Yet the characters of my former affection being still imprinted in my mind I will pardon thee but on this condition that seeing this Adulterer hath gotten thy heart thou wilt by the help of this weapon tear it from his breast Deadora taking the Dagger with an undaunted courage greater than is required in any Woman said unto him Sir the errors of love do deserve some kind of pardon because they proceed rather from Fate than out of choice But I confess my self unworthy of it because I could not regulate my dissoluteness She spoke these words and then making as if she would have run the Dagger into Lovanius's body she stabb'd her Husband to the heart who scarce could say Cursed Woman dost thou thus in one moment rob me of my Honour and my Life but losing his Speech in a number of groans in a manner threatning rather than yielding to death he unhappily departed this life Deadora having performed this much more generous than just enterprize she ran to suck in the last breath of Lovanius who striving against the pangs of Death spoke thus unto her My dear Deadora I now dye contented in that I dye not unrevenged Pardon me I pray you and let the chastisement of an humane errour terminate with him that hath committed it For Gods sake let not your anger disturb my ashes But Oh me this is the last minute of my life Give me O my Dear your last kisses for a consolation at this my departure In ending these words he ended his days Deadora being oppressed with grief stood immoveable as a Statue and after a Deluge of tears she cryed out saying Stay a little O thou Soul of my most dear Lovanius 'T is not just that thou shouldst go alone into the Shades In saying so she gave her self a Stab upon the Heart and thereupon in a moment she pow'red forth her Soul with her Bloud Aleria who in the representation of these Tragedies had suffer'd the torments of a thousand Deaths flying from the sight and interrogation of all those whom the noise had drawn thither in great numbers and hating at once both to see her self and the light retired unto the uppermost part of the House Thereby fitting a Cord and therewith miserably expiring she gave a worthy reward to her own immodesty From hence it may be gathered that the joys of all illegitimate love do terminate in sorrows and that unchast affection can have no other than an unhappy end The Argument The Countess of Castelnovo in a certain great exigency sends for assistance to the Marquess Oliverio He being fervently enamoured of her doth most readily comply with her desires The Countess having her want supplied doth by a neat contrivance carried on by favour of the night both save her own honour and satisfie the discretion of the Marquess NOVELL IV. IN the City of Alexandria situate in the Province of Puglia upon the Confines of Monferrat there was a most Noble Gentlewoman whom I will at present distinguish by no other name than that of the Countess This Lady was graced with such singular perfection of Beauty that she could not be beheld by Men without ardent love nor by Women without great envy The content which Lovers had in looking upon the most admirable features of her Face did extort from them the loss of their liberty In short this glorious Sun did dazle the hearts no less than the eyes of the Spectators He was rather deem'd a fool than wise who could not be subject to such sweet Tyranny and he was almost reputed a Sacrilegious Person who did not offer up his heart in Sacrifice to this idolized Beauty This Treasury of all the riches of Nature was by right of Matrimony in the possession of the Count de Castelnovo a Gentleman endued