my constancie and vertue both which I finde conquered in me to my eternall confusion and shame But my best hope is that I shal shortly be requited as I haue in iustice deserued namely with death which will be a thousand times more welcome to me then a loathed life with remembrance of my base deiection in courage which because I can no longer conceale from thee not without blushing shame I am well contented for to let thee know it Then began hee to recount the whole occasion of this straunge conflict in him what a maine battaile hee had with his priuate thoughts confessing that they got the victory causing him to die hourely for the loue of Sophronia and affirming withall that in due acknowledgement how greatly hee had transgressed against the lawes of friendship he thought no other penance sufficient for him but onely death which he willingly expected euery houre and with all his heart would gladly bid welcome Gisippus hearing this discourse and seeing how Titus bitterly wept in agonies of most mouing afflictions sat an indifferent while sad and pensiue as being wounded with affection to Sophronia but yet in a well-gouerned and temperate manner So without any long delaying hee concluded with himselfe that the life of his friend ought to be accounted much more deare then any loue hee could beare vnto Sophronia And in this resolution the teares of Titus forcing his eyes to flow forth like two Fountaines thus he replyed Titus if thou hadst not neede of comfort as plainly I see thou hast I would iustly complaine of thee to my selfe as of the man who hath violated our friendship in keeping thine extreamitie so long time concealed from mee which hath beene ouer-tedious for thee to endure And although it might seeme to thee a dishonest case and therefore kept from the knowledge of thy friend yet I plainly tell thee that dishonest courses in the league of amitie deserue no more concealment then those of the honestest nature But leauing these impertinent wandrings let vs come to them of much greater necessitie If thou doest earnestly loue faire Sophronia who is betroathed and affianced to me it is no matter for me to maruaile at but I should rather be much abashed if thou couldst not intyrely affect her knowing how beautifull she is and the nobility of her minde being as able to sustaine passion as the thing pleasing is fullest of excellence And looke how reasonably thou fanciest Sophronia as vniustly thou complainest of thy fortune in ordaining her to be my wife although thou doest not speake it expresly as being of opinion that thou mightst with more honesty loue her if she were any others then mine But if thou art so wise as I haue alwayes held thee to be tell me truely vpon thy faith to whom could Fortune better guide her and for which thou oughtest to be more thankfull then in bestowing her on me Any other that had enioyed her although thy loue were neuer so honest yet he would better affect her himselfe then for thee which thou canst not in like manner looke for from me if thou doest account me for thy friend and as constant now as euer Reason is my warrant in this case because I cannot remember since first our entrance into friendship that euer I enioyed any thing but it was as much thine as mine And if our affaires had such an equall course before as otherwise they could not subsist must they not now be kept in the same manner Can any thing more perticularly appertaine to me but thy right therein is as absolute as mine I know not how thou maist esteeme of my friendship if in any thing concerning my selfe I can plead my priuiledge to be aboue thine True it is that Sophronia is affianced to me and I loue her dearely daily expecting when our nuptials shall be celebrated But seeing thou doest more feruently affect her as being better able to iudge of the perfections remaining in so excellent a creature as she is then I doe assure thy selfe and beleeue it constantly that she shall come to my bed not as my wife but onely thine And therefore leaue these despairing thoughts shake off this cloudy disposition reassume thy former Iouiall spirit with comfort and what else can content thee in expectation of the happy houre and the iust requitall of thy long louing and worthy friendship which I haue alwayes valued equall with mine owne life Titus hearing this answer of Gisippus looke how much the sweet hope of that which he desired gaue him pleasure as much both duty and reason affronted him with shame setting before his eyes this du consideration that the greater the liberality of Gisippus was farre greater and vnreasonable it appeared to him in disgrace if hee should vnmannerly accept it Wherefore being vnable to refrain from teares and with such strength as his weaknesse would giue leaue thus he replyed Gisippus thy bounty and firme friendship suffereth me to see apparantly what on my part is no more then ought to be done All the Gods forbid that I should receiue as mine her whom they haue adiudged to be thine by true respect of birth and desert For if they had thought her a wife fit for me doe not thou or any else imagine that euer she should haue beene granted to thee Vse freely therefore thine owne election and the gracious fauour wherewith they haue blessed thee leaue me to consume away in teares a mourning garment by them appointed for me as being a man vnworthy of such happinesse for either I shall conquer this disaster and that wil be my crowne or else will vanquish me and free me from all paine whereto Gisippus presently thus answered Worthy Titus if our amity would giue me so much licence as but to contend with my selfe in pleasing thee with such a thing as I desire and could also induce thee therein to be directed it is the onely end whereat I aime and am resolued to pursue it In which regard let my perswasions preuaile with thee and thereto I coniure thee by the faith of a friend suffer me to vse mine authority when it extendeth both to mine owne honour and thy good for I will haue Sophronia to bee onely thine I know sufficiently how farre the forces of loue doe extend in power and am not ignorant also how not once or twice but very many times they haue brought louers to vnfortunate ends as now I see thee very neere it and so farre gone as thou art not able to turne backe againe nor yet to conquer thine owne teares but proceeding on further in this extremity thou wilt be left vanquished sinking vnder the burthen of loues tyrannicall oppression and then my turne is next to follow thee And therefore had I no other reason to loue thee yet because thy life is deare to me in regard of mine owne depending thereon I stand the neerer thereto obliged For this cause Sophronia must and shal be thine for thou canst
there to death with colde The Chamber-maide being much moued to compassion returned to her Lady and tolde her all she likewise pittying his distresse and remembring shee had the key of that doore whereby the Marquesse both entred and returned when he intended not to be seene of any said to her Maide Goe and open the doore softly for him we haue a good supper and none to helpe to eate it and if he be a man likely we can allow him one nights lodging too The Chamber-maide commending her Lady for this charitable kindnesse opened the doore and seeing hee appeared as halfe frozen shee said vnto him Make hast good man get thee into this Bath which yet is good and warme for my Lady her selfe came but newly out of it Whereto very gladly he condiscended as not tarrying to be bidden twise finding himselfe so singularly comforted with the heare thereof euen as if hee had beene restored from death to life Then the Lady sent him garments which lately were her deceased husbands and fitted him so aptly in all respects as if purposely they had beene made for him Attending in further expectation to know what else the Lady would commaund him hee began to remember God and Saint Iulian hartily thanking her for deliuering him from so bad a night as was threatned towards him and bringing him to so good entertainement After all this the Lady causing a faire fire to be made in the neerest Chamber beneath went and sate by it her selfe demaunding how the honest man fared Madame answered the Chamber-maide now that he is in your deceased Lords garments he appeareth to be a very goodly Gentleman and questionlesse is of respectiue birth and breeding well deseruing this gracious fauour which you haue afforded him Goe then quoth the Lady and conduct him hither to sit by this fire and sup here with mee for I feare he hath had but a sorrie supper When Rinaldo was entred into the Chamber and beheld her to be such a beautifull Lady accounting his fortune to exceede all comparison hee did her most humble reuerence expressing so much thankefulnesse as possibly hee could for this her extraordinary grace and fauour The Lady fixing a stedfast eye vpon him well liking his gentle language and behauiour perceiuing also how fitly her deceased husbands apparell was formed to his person and resembling him in all familiar respects he appeared in her iudgement farre beyond the Chambermaides commendations of him so praying him to sit downe by her before the fire shee questioned with him concerning this vnhappy nights accident befalne him wherein he fully resolued her and shee was the more perswaded by reason of his seruants comming into the Towne before night assuring him that he should be found for him early in the morning Supper being serued in to the Table and hee seated according as the Lady commanded shee began to obserue him very considerately for he was a goodly man compleate in all perfections of person a delicate pleasing countenance a quicke alluring eye fixed and constant not wantonly gadding in the iouiall youthfulnesse of his time and truest temper for amorous apprehension all these were as battering ensignes against a Bulwarke of no strong resistance and wrought strangely vpon her flexible affections And though hee fed heartily as occasion constrained yet her thoughts had entertained a new kinde of diet digested onely by the eye yet so cunningly concealed that no motiue to immodesty could be discerned Her mercy thus extended to him in misery drew on by Table discourse his birth education parents friends and alies his wealthy possessions by Merchandize aud a sound stability in his estate but aboue all and best of all the single and sole condition of a batchâ—ler an apt and easie steele to strike fire especially vpon such quicke taking tinder and in a time fauoured by Fortune No imbarment remained but remembrance of the Marquesse and that being summond to her more aduised consideration her youth and beauty stood vp as conscious accusers for blemishing her honour and faire repute with lewd and luxurious life farre vnfit for a Lady of her degree and well worthy of generall condemnation What should I further say vpon a short conference with her Chambermaide repentance for sinne past and solemne promise of a constant conuersion thus shee deliuered her minde to Rinaldo Sir as you haue related your fortunes to me by this your casuall happening hither if you can like the motion so well as shee that makes it my deceased Lord and husband liuing so perfectly in your person this house and all mine is yours and of a widow I will become your wife except vnmanly you denie me Rinaldo hearing these words and proceeding from a Lady of such absolute perfections presuming vpon so proud an offer and condemning himselfe of folly if he should refuse it thus replied Madam considering that I stand bound for euer hereafter to confesse that you are the gracious preseruer of my life and I no way able to returne requitall if you please so to shadow mine insufficiency and to accept me and my fairest fortunes to doe you seruice let me die before a thought of deniall or any way to yeeld you the least discontentment Here wanted but a Priest to ioyne their hands as mutuall affection already had done their hearts which being sealed with infinite kisses the Chamber-maide called vp Friar Roger her Confessor and wedding and bedding were both effected before the bright morning In briefe the Marquesse hauing heard of the marriage did not mislike it but confirmed it by great and honourable gifts and hauing sent for his dishonest seruant he dispatched him after sound reprehension to Ferrara with Letters to Rinaldoes Father and friends of all the accidents that had befalne him Moreouer the very same morning the three theeues that had robbed and so ill entreated Rinaldo for another facte by them the same night committed were taken and brought to the Towne of Chasteau Guillaume where they were hanged for their offences and Rinaldo with his wife rode to Ferrara Three young Gentlemen being brethren and hauing spent all their Lands and possessions vainely became poore A Nephew of theirs falling almost into as desperate a condition became acquainted with an Abbot whom he afterward found to be the King of Englands Daughter and made him her Husband in marriage recompencing all his Vncles losses and seating them againe in good estate The third Nouell Wherein is declared the dangers of Prodigalitie and the manifold mutabilities of Fortune THe fortunes of Rinaldo de Este being heard by the Ladies and Gentlemen they admired his happinesse and commended his deuotion to Saint Iâ—lian who in such extreame necessity sent him so good succour Nor was the Lady to be blamed for leauing base liberty and conuerting to the chaste embraces of the marriage bed the dignity of womens honour and eternall disgrace liuing otherwise While thus they descanted on the happy night betweene her and Rinaldo Madam Pampinea
obtaine this my very last request to wit that seeing I might not priuately enioy the benefit of Guiscardoes loue and while he liued let yet in death one publike graue containe both our bodies that death may affoord vs what you so cruelly in life denied vs. Extremity of griefe and sorrow with-held his tongue from returning any answer and shee perceiuing her end approaching held the heart still closed to her owne bare brest saying Here Fortune receiue two true hearts latest oblation for in this manner are we comming to thee So closing her eyes all sense forsooke her life leauing her body breathlesse Thus ended the haplesse loue of Guiscardo and Ghismonda for whose sad disaster when the King had mourned sufficiently and repented fruitlesly he caused both their bodies to be honourably embalmed and buried in a most royall Monument not without generall sorrow of the subiects of Salerne Fryar Albert made a young Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in the disguise of the same God Afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends he cast himselfe out of her Chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans House on the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of Saint Marke and being there publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to Prison The second Nouell Reprehending the lewd liues of dissembling hypocrites and checking the arrogant pride of vaine-headed women THE Nouell recounted by Madam Fiammetta caused teares many times in the eyes of all the company but it being finished the King shewing a stearne countenance saide I should much haue commended the kindnesse of fortune if in the whole course of my life I had tasted the least moity of that delight which Guiscardo receiued by conuersing with faire Ghismonda Nor neede any of you to wonder thereat or how it can be otherwise because hourely I feele a thousand dying torments without enioying any hope of ease or pleasure but referring my fortunes to their owne poore condition it is my will that Madam Pampinea proceed next in the argument of successelesse loue according as Madam Fiammetta hath already begun to let fall more dew-drops on the fire of mine afflictions Madam Pampinea perceiuing what a taske was imposed on her knew well by her owne disposition the inclination of the company whereof shee was more respectiue then of the Kings command wherefore chusing rather to recreate their spirits then to satisfie the Kings melancholy humour shee determined to relate a Tale of mirthfull matter and yet to keepe within compasse of the purposed Argument It hath been continually vsed as a common Prouerbe that a bad man taken and reputed to be honest and good may commit many euils yet neither credited or suspected which prouerbe giueth mee very ample matter to speake of and yet not varying from our intention concerning the hypocrisie of some religious persons who hauing their garments long and large their faces made artificially pale their language meeke and humble to get mens goods from them yet fower harsh and stearne enough in checking and controuling other mens errours as also in vrging others to giue and themselues to take without any other hope or meanes of saluation Nor doe they endeauour like other men to worke out their soules health with feare and trembling but euen as if they were sole owners Lords and possessors of Paradice will appoint to euery dying person places there of greater or lesser excellency according as they thinke good or as the legacies left by them are in quantity whereby they not onely deceiue themselues but all such as giue credit to their subtile perswasions And were it lawfull for me to make knowne no more then is meerely necessary I could quickly disclose to simple credulous people what craft lieth concealed vnder their holy habites and I would wish that their lies and deluding should speed with them as they did with a Franciscane Friar none of the younger Nouices but one of them of greatest reputation and belonging to one of the best Monasteries in Venice Which I am the rather desirous to report to recreate your spirits after your teares for the death of faire Ghismonda Sometime Honourable Ladies there liued in the City of Imola a man of most lewd and wicked life named Bertho de la massa whose shamelesse deedes were so well knowne to all the Citizens and won such respect among them as all his lies could not compasse any beleefe no not when he deliuered a matter of sound truth Wherefore perceiuing that his lewdnesse allowed him no longer dwelling there like a desperate aduenturer he transported himselfe thence to Venice the receptacle of all foule sinne and abhomination intending there to exercise his wonted bad behauiour and liue as wickedly as euer he had done before It came to passe that some remorse of conscience tooke hold of him for the former passages of his dissolute life and he pretended to be surprized with very great deuotion becomming much more Catholike then any other man taking on him the profession of a Franciscane Cordelier and calling himselfe Fryar Albert of Imola In this habite and outward appearance hee seemed to leade an austere and sanctimonious life highly commending penance abstinence neuer eating flesh or drinking wine but when hee was prouided of both in a close corner And before any person could take notice thereof hee became of a theefe Ruffian forswearer and murtherer as formerly he had beene a great Preacher yet not abandoning the forenamed vices when secretly he could put any of them in execution Moreouer being made Priest when he was celebrating Masse at the Altar if he saw himselfe to be obserued by any he would most mournefully reade the passion of our Sauiour as one whose teares cost him little whensoeuer hee pleased to vse them so that in a short while by his preaching and teares he fed the humours of the Venetians so pleasingly that they made him executour well neere of all their Testaments yea many chose him as depositary or Guardion of their monies because he was both Confessour and Councellor almost to all the men and women By this well seeming out-side of sanctity the Wolfe became a Shepheard and his renown for holinesse was so famous in those parts as Saint Frances himselfe had hardly any more It fortuned that a young Gentlewoman being somewhat foolish wanton and proud minded named Madam Lisetta de Caquirino wife to a wealthy Merchant who went with certaine Gallies into Flanders and there lay as Lieger long time in company of other Gentlewomen went to be confessed by this ghostly Father kneeling at his feete although her heart was high enough like a proud minded woman for Venetians are presumptuous vaine-glorious and witted much like to their skittish Gondoloes she made a very short rehearsall of her sinnes At length Fryar Albert demanded of her whether
the chearful blood mounted vp into hir cheekes and thus she replyed Neuer make you any doubt Sir but that I can sufficiently performe whatsoeuer you haue said and am prouided of the onely place in the world where such a weighty businesse is to be effected For I haue a Farme or dairy house neere adioyning to the vale of Arno closely bordering vpon the same Riuer It beeing now the moneth of Iuly the most conuenientest time of all the yeare to bathe in I can bee the easier induced thereunto Moreouer there is hard by the Riuers side a smal Tower or Turret vninhabited whereinto few people do sildome enter but onely Heardsmen or Flocke-keepers who ascend vppe by the helpe of a wodden Ladder to a Tarrasse on the top of the saide Tower to looke all about for their beasts when they are wandred astray it standing in a solitary place and out of the common way or resort There dare I boldly aduenture to mount vp and with the inuincible courage of a wronged Lady not fearing to looke death himself in the face do al that you haue prescribed yea and much more to recouer my deare lost Louer againe whom I value equal with my owne Life Reniero who perfectly knew both the Dairy Farme and the old smal Turret not a little ioyful to heare how forward shee vvas to shame her selfe answered in this manner Madame I was neuer in those parts of the Country albeit they are so neere to our City therfore I must needs be ignorant not onely of your Farme but the Turret also But if they stand in such conuenient manner as you haue described all the vvorld could not yeelde the like elsewhere so apt and sutable to your purpose wherefore vvith such expedition as possibly I can vse I will make the Image and send it you as also the charme verie fairely written But let me entreate you that vvhen you haue obtayned your hearts desire and are able to iudge truely of my loue and seruice not to be vnmindfull of me but at your best leysure to performe what you haue with such protestations promised which shee gaue him her haâ—d and faith to do without any impeach or hinderance and so parting she returned home to her house Our ouer-ioyed Scholler applauding his happy Starres for furthering him with so faire a way to his reuenge immagining that it was already halfe executed made the Image in due forme wrote an old Fable insted of a Charme both which he sent to the Lady so soone as he thought the time to be fitting and this admonition withall that the Moone being entering into the full without any longer delay she might venter on the businesse the next night following and remaine assured to repossesse her friend Afterward for the better pleasing of himselfe he went secretly attended onely by his seruant to the house of a trusty frend of his who dwelt somwhat neere to the Turret there to expect the issue of this Lady-like enterprize And Madam Helena accompanied with none but Ancilla walked on to her dairy Farme where the night ensuing pretending to take her rest sooner then formerly she vsed to doe she commanded Ancilla to go to bed referring her selfe to her best liking After she had slept her first sleepe according to the Schollers direction departing softly out of her chamber she went on towards the ancient Tower standing hard by the riuer of Arno looking euery way heedfully about hir least she should be spied by any person But perceiuing hir selfe to be so secure as she could desire putting off all her garments she hid them in a small brake of bushes afterward holding the Image in hir hand seuen times she bathd hir body in the riuer and then returned back with it to the Tower The Scholler who at the nights closing vp of day had hid himselfe among the willowes other trees which grew very thick about the Tower saw both hir going and returning from the Riuer and as she passed thus naked by him he plainly perceyued that the nights obscurity could not cloud the delicate whitenes of hir body but made the Starres themselues to gaze amorously on her euen as if they were proud to behold her bathing and like so many twinkling Tapers shewed hir in emulation of another Diana Now what conflicts this sight caused in the mind of our Scholler one while quenching his hatefull spleen towards hir al coueting to imbrace a piece of such perfection another while thinking it a purchase fit for one of Cupids soldiers to seize and surprize hir vppon so faire an aduantage none being neere to yeild her rescue in the fiery triall of such temptations I am not able to iudge or to say what resistance flesh and blood could make being opposed with such a sweet enemy But he well considering what she was the greatnes of his iniury as also how and for whom he forgot all wanton allurements of Loue scorning to entertaine a thought of compassion continuing constant in his resolution to let her suffer as he himselfe had done So Helena being mounted vp on the Turret and turning her face towards the North she repeated those idle friuolous words composed in the nature of a charme which shee had receiued from the Scholler Afterward by soft and stealing steps hee went into the old Tower and tooke away the Ladder whereby she ascended to the Tarras staying and listening how shee proceeded in her amorous exorcisme Seuen times she rehearsed the charme to the Image looking still when the two Ladies would appeare in their likenesse and so long she held on her imprecations feeling greater cold then willinglie she would haue done that breake of day began to shew it selfe and halfe despairing of the Ladies comming according as the Scholler had promised she said to her selfe I much misdoubt that Reniero hath quitted me with such another peece of night-seruice as it vvas my lucke to bestow on him but if he haue done it in that respect hee was but ill aduised in his reuenge because the night wants now three parts of the length as then it had and the cold which he suffered was far superior in quality to mine albeit it is more sharp now in the morning then all the time of night it hath bin And because day-light should not discouer her on the Tarrasse she went to make her descent downe againe but finding the Ladder to be taken away thinking how her publike shame was now ineuitable her heart dismayed and shee fell downe in a swoune on the Tarras yet recouering her senses afterward her greefe and sorow exceeded all capacity of vtterance For now she became fully perswaded that this proceeded from the Schollers malice repenting for her vnkinde vsage towards him but much more condemning her selfe for reposing any trust in him who stood bound by good reason to be her enemy Continuing long in this extreame affliction and surueighing all likely meanes about her whereby she might descend from
both returned to great estate and credite 7. Nouell THe Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeares happened into the custodie of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father she went to the said king of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first she was intended to be his Wife 8. Nouell COunt D'Angiers being falsely accused was banished out of France and left his two children in England in diuers places Returning afterward vnknowne thorough Scotland hee found them aduanced vnto great dignity Then repairing in the habit of a Seruitor into the King of Fraunce his army and his innocency made publikely knowen he was reseated in his former honorable degree 9. Nouell BErnardo a Merchant of Geneway being deceiued by another Merchant named Ambrosio lost a great part of his goods and commanding his innocent wife to be murthered she escaped and in the habit of a man became seruant to the Soldan The deceiuer being found at last she coÌ„passed such means that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria and there after due punishment inflicted on the false deceiuer she resumed the garments againe of a woman and returned home with her Husband to Geneway 10. Nouell PAgamino da Monaco a rouing Pyrate on the feas caried away the faire Wife of Signieur Ricciardo di Chiâ—zica who vnderstanding where shee was went thâ—ther and falling into friendship with Pagamino demanded his wife of him wherto be yeelded prouided that she would willingly go away with him shee denied to part thence with her husband and 〈◊〉 Ricciardo dying shee became the wife of Pagamino The third day gouerned by Madame Neiphila 1. Nouell MAssetto di Lamporechio by counterfetting himselfe dumbe became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nuns where he had familiar conuersation with them all 2. Nouell A Querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo K of the Lombards found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bedde without any knowledge or consent in her This beeing secretly discouered by the King and the party knowne hee gaue him a marke by shearing the haire of his head Whereuppon hee that was so shorne sheared likewise the heads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escaped the punishment intended towards him 3. Nouell VNder colour of confession and of a most pure coÌ„science a faire yong Gentlewoman being amorously affected to an honest man induced a deuout and solemne religious Friar to aduise her in the meanes without his suspition or perceiuing how to enioy the benefit of her friend and bring her desires to their full effect 4. Nouell A Yong scholler named Felice enstructed Puccio di Rinieri how to become rich in a very short time While Puccio made experience of the instructions taught him Felice obtained the fauour of his daughter 5. Nouell RIcciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a horse to signior Francesco Vergillisi vpon condition that by his leaue and license he might speak to his wife in his presence which he did and she not returning him any answer made answer to himself on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed 6. Nouell RIcciardo Minutolo fel in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to bee very iealous of her husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamored of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuatly in a bathing house on the next day following where shee hoping to take him tardy with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo 7. Nouelâ— THebaldo Elisei hauing receiued an vnkinde repulse by his beloued departed from Florence returning thither againe a long while after in the habit of a pilgrime hee spake with her and made his wrongs knowne vnto her Hee deliuered her husband from the danger of death because it was proued that he had slaine Thebaldo he made peace with his brethren and in the end wisely enioyed his hearts desire 8. Nouell FErando by drinking a certaine kind of pouder was buried for dead by the Abbot who was enamored of his wife was taken out of his graue and put into a darke prison where they made him beleeue that he was in purgatory afterward wheÌ„ time came that he should be raised to life againe he was made to keepe a childe which the Abbot had got by his wife 9. Nouell IVliet of Narbona cured the King of France of a dangerous Fistula in recompence wherof she requested to enioy as her husband in mariage Bertrand the Count of Roussilion He hauing maried her against his wil as vtterly despising her went to Florence where he made loue to a yong Gentlewoman Iuliet by a queint and cunning policy compassed the meanes insted of his chosen friend to lye with her owne husband by whom shee had two sonnes which being afterward made knowne vnto the Count hee accepted her into his fauor againe and loued her as his loyall and honourable wife 10. Nouell THe wonderfull and chaste resolued continencie of faire Serictha daughter to Siwalde King of Denmarke who beeing sought and sued vnto by many worthy persons that did affect her dearely would not looke any man in the face vntill such time as she was maried The Fourth Day gouerned by Philostratus 1. Nouell TAncrede Prince of Salern caused the amorous friend of his daughter to be slaine and sent her his heart in a cup of Golde which afterward she steeped in an impoysoned water then drinking it so dyed 2. Nouell FRiar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in disguise of the same God afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends hee cast himselfe out of her chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans house On the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of S. Mark being ther publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to prison 3. Nouell THree yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fled with them into Canâ—â—e The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of 〈◊〉 request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne friend killeth her thence flyeth away with the elder sister The third couple both man and woman are charged with her death and being committed to prison they coÌ„fesse the fact and fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their â—eepers escaping froÌ„ thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty 4. Nouell GErbino contrarie to the former plighted faith of his Grandfather King Gulielmo foughte with a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away hi daughter who was then in the same ship She being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew
and wollen torne from a wretched body dead of that disease and hurled in the open streete two Swine going by and according to their naturall inclination seeking for foode on euery dung-hill tossed and tumbled the cloathes with their snouts rubbing their heads likewise vppon them and immediately each turning twice or thrice about they both fell downe dead on the saide cloathes as being fully infected with the contagion of them which accident and other the like if not far greater begat diuers feares and imaginations in them that beheld them all tending to a most inhumane and vncharitable end namely to flie thence from the sicke and touching any thing of theirs by which meanes they thought their health should be safely warranted Some there were who considered with themselues that liuing soberly with abstinence from all superfluity it would be a sufficient resistance against all hurtfull accidents So combining themselues in a sociable manner they liued as separatists from all other company being shut vp in such houses where no sicke body should be neere them And there for their more security they vsed delicate viands and excellent wines auoiding luxurie and refusing speech to one another not looking forth at the windowes to heare no cries of dying people or see any coarses carried to buriall but hauing musicall instruments liued there in all possible pleasure Others were of a contrary opinion who auouched that there was no other physicke more certaine for a disease so desperate then to drinke hard be merry among themselues singing continually walking euery where and satisfying their appetites with whatsoeuer they desired laughing and mocking at euery mournefull accident and so they vowed to spend day and night for now they would goe to one Tauerne then to another liuing without any rule or measure which they might very easilie doe because euery one of them as if he were to liue no longer in this World had euen forsaken all things that he had By meanes whereof the most part of the houses were become common and all strangers might doe the like if they pleased to aduenture it euen as boldly as the Lord or owner without any let or contradiction Yet in all this their beastly behauiour they were wise enough to shun so much as they might the weake and sickly In which misery and affliction of our City the venerable authority of the Lawes as well diuine as humane was euen destroyed as it were through want of the awefull Ministers of them For they being all dead or lying sicke with the rest or else liued so solitary in such great necessity of seruants and attendants as they could not execute any office whereby it was lawfull for euery one to doe as he listed Betweene these two rehearsed extremities of life there were other of a more moderate temper not being so daintily dieted as the first nor drinking so dissolutely as the second but vsed all things sufficient for their appetites and without shutting vp themselues walked abroade some carrying sweete nose-gayes of flowers in their hands others odoriferous herbes and others diuers kinds of spiceries holding them to their noses and thinking them most comfortable for the braine because the ayre seemed to be much infected by the noysome smell of dead carkases and other hurtfull sauours Some other there were also of more inhumane minde howbeit peraduenture it might be the surest saying that there was no better physicke against the pestilence nor yet so good as to flie away from it which argument mainely mouing them and caring for no body but themselues very many both men and women forsooke the City their owne houses their Parents kindred friends and goods flying to other mens dwellings else-where As if the wrath of God in punishing the sinnes of men with this plague would fall heauily vpon none but such as were enclosed within the City wals or else perswading themselues that not any one should there be left aliue but that the finall ending of all things was come Now albeit these persons in their diuersity of opinions died not all so vndoubtedly they did not all escape but many among them becomming sicke and making a generall example of their flight and folly among them that could not stirre out of their beds they languished more perplexedly then the other did Let vs omit that one Citizen fled after another and one neighbour had not any care of another Parents nor kinred neuer visiting them but vtterly they were forsaken on all sides this tribulation pierced into the hearts of men and with such a dreadfull terrour that one Brother forsooke another the Vnkle the Nephew the Sister the Brother and the Wife her Husband nay a matter much greater and almost incredible Fathers and Mothers fled away from their owne Children euen as if they had no way appertained to them In regard whereof it could be no otherwise but that a countlesse multitude of men and women fell sicke finding no charity among their friends except a very few and subiected to the auarice of seruants who attended them constrainedly for great and vnreasonable wages yet few of those attendants to be found any where too And they were men or women but of base condition as also of groser vnderstanding who neuer before had serued in any such necessities nor indeed were any way else to be imployed but to giue the sicke person such things as he called for or to awaite the houre of his death in the performance of which seruices oftentimes for gaine they lost their owne liues In this extreame calamity the sicke being thus forsaken of neighbors kinred and friends standing also in such need of seruants a custome came vp among them neuer heard of before that there was not any woman how noble young or faire soeuer shee was but falling sicke shee must of necessity haue a man to attend her were he young or otherwise respect of shame or modesty no way preuailing but all parts of her body must be discouered to him which in the like vrgency was not to be seene by any but women whereon ensued afterward that vpon the parties healing and recouery it was the occasion of further dishonesty which many being more modestly curious of refused such disgracefull attending chusing rather to die then by such helpe to be healed In regard whereof as well through the want of conuenient remedies which the sicke by no meanes could attain vnto as also the violence of the contagion the multitude of them that died night and day was so great that it was a dreadfull sight to behold and as much to heare spoken of So that meere necessity among them that remained liuing begat new behauiours quite contrary to all which had beene in former times and frequently vsed among the City Inhabitants The custome of precedent dayes as now againe it is was that women kinred neighbours and friends would meete together at the deceased parties house and there with them that were of neerest alliance expresse their hearts
often times hast thou beene angry Oh Sir said Maister Chappelet therein I assure yee I haue often transgressed And what man is able to forbeare it beholding the dayly actions of men to be so dishonest No care of keeping Gods commaundements nor any feare of his dreadfull iudgements Many times in a day I haue rather wished my selfe dead then liuing beholding youth pursuing idle vanities to sweare and forsweare themselues tipling in Tauernes and neuer haunting Churches but rather affecting the worlds follies then any such duties as they owe to God Alas Sonne quoth the Friar this is a good and holy anger and I can impose no penance on thee for it But tell me hath not rage or furie at any time so ouer-ruled thee as to commit murther or manslaughter or to speake euill of any man or to doe any other such kinde of iniurie Oh Father answered Maister Chappelet you that seeme to be a man of God how dare you vse any such vile words If I had had the very least thought to doe any such act as you speake doe you thinke that God would haue suffered me to liue These are deedes of darknesse fit for villaines and wicked liuers of which hellish crue when at any time I haue happened to meete with some one of them I haue said Goe God conuert thee Worthy and charitable words replied the Friar but tell me Sonne Didst thou euer beare false witnesse against any man or hast spoken falsly or taken ought from any one contrary to the will of the owner Yes indeede Father said Maister Chappelet I haue spoken ill of another because I haue sometime seene one of my neighbours who with no meane shame of the world would doe nothing else but beate his wife and of him once I complained to the poore mans parents saying that he neuer did it but when he was ouercome with drinke Those were no ill words quoth the Friar but I remember you said that you were a Merchant Did you euer deceiue any as some Merchants vse to doe Truly Father answered Maister Chappelet I thinke not any except one man who one day brought me money which he owed me for a certaine piece of cloath I solde him and I put it into a purse without accounting it about a moneth afterward I found that there were foure small pence more then was due to me And neuer happening to meete with the man againe after I had kept them the space of a whole yeare I then gaue them away to foure poore people for Gods sake A small matter said the Friar truly payed back again to the owner in bestowing them vpon the poore Many other questions hee demaunded of him whereto still he answered in the same manner but before he proceeded to absolution Maister Chappelet spake thus I haue yet one sinne more which I haue not reuealed to you when being vrged by the Friar to confesse it he said I remember that I should afford one day in the weeke to cleanse the house of my soule for better entertainement to my Lord and Sauiour and yet I haue done no such reuerence to the Sunday or Sabaoth as I ought to haue done A small fault Sonne replied the Friar O no quoth Maister Chappelet doe not terme it a small fault because Sunday being a holy day is highly to be reuerenced for as on that day our blessed Lord arose from death to life But quoth the Confessour hast thou done nothing else on that day Yes said he being forgetfull of my selfe once I did spet in Gods Church The Friar smiling said Alas Sonne that is a matter of no moment for wee that are Religious persons doe vse to spet there euery day The more is your shame answered Maister Chappelet for no place ought to be kept more pure and cleane then the sacred Temple wherein our dayly sacrifices are offered vp to God In this manner he held on an houre and more vttering the like transgressions as these and at last began to sigh very passionately and to shed a few teares as one that was skilfull enough in such dissembling prankes whereat the Confessour being much mooued said Alas Sonne what aylest thou Oh Father quoth Chappelet there remaineth yet one sinne more vpon my conscience whereof I neuer at any time made confession so shamefull it appeareth to me to disclose it and I am partly perswaded that God will neuer pardon me for that sinne How now Sonne said the Friar neuer say so for if all the sinnes that euer were committed by men or shall be committed so long as the World endureth were onely in one man and he repenting them and being so contrite for them as I see thou art the grace and mercy of God is so great that vpon penitent confession he will freely pardon him and therefore spare not to speak it boldly Alas Father said Chappelet still in pretended weeping this sinne of mine is so great that I can hardly beleeue if your earnest prayers doe not assist me that euer I shall obtaine remission for it Speake it Sonne said the Friar and feare not I promise that I will pray to God for thee Master Chappelet still wept and sighed and continued silent notwithstanding all the Confessors comfortable perswasions but after hee had helde him a long while in suspence breathing forth a sighe euen as if his very heart would haue broken he saide Holy Father seeing you promise to pray to God for me I will reueale it to you Know then that when I was a little boy I did once curse my Mother which he had no sooner spoken but he wrung his hands and greeued extraordinarily Oh good Son saide the Friar doth that seeme so great a sinne to thee Why men doe daily blaspheme our Lord God and yet neuerthelesse vpon their hearty repentance he is alwayes ready to forgiue them and wilt not thou beleeue to obtaine remission for a sinne so ignorantly committed Weepe no more deare Sonne but comfort thy selfe and rest resolued that if thou wert one of them who nayled our blessed Sauiour to his Crosse yet being so truly repentant as I see thou art he would freely forgiue thee Say you so Father quoth Chappelet What mine owne deare Mother that bare me in her wombe nine moneths day and night and afterwards fed me with her breasts a thousand times can I be pardoned for cursing her Oh no it is too haynous a sinne and except you pray to God very instantly for me he will not forgiue me When the religious man perceiued that nothing more was to be confessed by Master Chappelet he gaue him absolution and his owne benediction beside reputing him to be a most holy man as verily beleeuing all that he had said And who would not haue done the like hearing a man to speake in that manner and being vpon the very point of death Afterward he saide vnto him Master Chappelet by Gods grace you may be soone restored to health but if it so come to passe
how triumphantly shee had finished her discourse without attending any thing else spake thus Gracious Ladies wee shall neuer behold in mine opinion a great act of Fortune then to see a man so suddainly exalted euen from the lowest death of pouerty to a Royall estate of dignity as the discourse of Madame Pampinea hath made good by the happy aduancement of Alessandro And because it appeareth necessary that whosoeuer discourseth on the subiect proposed should no way varie from the very same termes I shall not shame to tell a tale which though it containe farre greater mishaps then the former may sort to as happy an issue albeit not so noble and magnificent In which respect it may perhaps merit the lesse attention but howsoeuer that fault shall be found in you I meane to discharge mine owne duty Opinion hath made it famous for long time that the Sea-coast of Rhegium to Gaieta is the onely delectable part of all Italy wherein somewhat neere to Salerno is a shore looking vpon the Sea which the inhabitants there dwelling doe call the coast of Malfy full of small Townes Gardens Springs and wealthy men trading in as many kindes of Merchandizes as any other people that I know Among which Townes there is one named Rauello wherein as yet to this day there are rich people there was not long since a very wealthy man named Landolpho Ruffolo who being not contented with his riches but coueting to multiply them double and trebble fell in danger to loose both himselfe and wealth together This man as other Merchants are wont to doe after hee had considered on his affaires bought him a very goodly Ship â—ading it with diuers sorts of Merchandizes all belonging to himselfe onely and making his voyage to the Isle of Cyprus Where he found ouer and beside the Merchandizes he had brought thither many Ships more there arriued and all laden with the selfe same commodities in regard whereof it was needefull for him not onely to make a good Mart of his goods but also was further constrained if hee meant to vent his commodities to sell them away almost for nothing endangering his vtter destruction and ouerthrow Whereupon grieuing exceedingly at so great a losse not knowing what to doe and seeing that from very abundant wealth hee was likely to fall into as low pouerty hee resolued to dye or to recompence his losses vpon others because he would not returne home poore hauing departed thence so rich Meeting with a Merchant that bought his great Ship of him with the money made thereof and also of his other Merchandizes hee purchased another being a lighter vessell apt and proper for the vse of a Pirate arming and furnishing it in ample manner for rouing and robbing vpon the Seas Thus hee began to make other mens goods his owne especially from the Turkes he tooke much wealth Fortune being alwayes therein so fauourable to him that hee could neuer compasse the like by trading So that within the space of one yeare hee had robd and taken so many Gallies from the Turke that he found himselfe well recouered not onely of all his losses by Merchandize but likewise his wealth was wholly redoubled Finding his losses to be very liberally required and hauing now sufficient it were folly to hazard a second fall wherefore conferring with his owne thoughts and finding that he had enough and needed not to couer after more he fully concluded now to returne home to his owne house againe and liue vpon his goods thus gotten Continuing still in feare of the losses he had sustained by traffique minding neuer more to imploy his mony that way but to keep this light vessel which had holpen him to all his wealth he commanded his men to put forth their Oares and shape their course for his owne dwelling Being aloft in the higher Seas darke night ouer-taking them and a mighty winde suddainly comming vpon them it not onely was contrary to their course but held on with such impetuous violence that the small vessell being vnable to endure it made to land-ward speedily and in expectation of a more friendly wind entred a litle port of the Sea directing vp into a small Island and there safely sheltred it selfe Into the same port which Landolpho had thus taken for his refuge entred soone after two great Carrackes of Genewayes lately come from Constantinople When the men in them had espied the small Barke and lockt vppe her passage from getting foorth vnderstanding the Owners name and that report had famed him to be very rich they determined as men euermore addicted naturally to couet after money and spoile to make it their owne as a prize at Sea Landing some store of their men well armed with Crosse-bowes and other weapons they tooke possession of such a place where none durst issue forth of the small Barke but endangered his life with their Darts Arrowes Entering aboord the Barke and making it their owne by full possession all the men they threw ouer-boord without sparing any but Landolpho himselfe whom they mounted into one of the Carrackes leauing him nothing but a poore shirt of Maile on his backe and hauing rifled the Barke of all her riches sunke it into the bottome of the sea The day following the rough windes being calmed the Carrackes set saile agame hauing a prosperous passage all the day long but vppon the entrance of darke night the windes blew more tempestuously then before and sweld the Sea in such rude stormes that the two Carracks were sundered each from other and by violence of the tempest it came to passe that the Carracke wherein lay poore miserable Landolpho beneath the Isle of Cephalonia ran against a rocke and euen as a glasse against a wall so split the Carracke in peeces the goods and merchandizes floating on the Sea Chests Coffers Beds and such like other things as often hapneth in such lamentable accidents Now notwithstanding the nights obscurity and impetuous violence of the billowes such as could swimme made shift to saue their liues by swimming Others caught hold on such things as by Fortunes fauour floated neerest to them among whom distressed Landolpho desirous to saue his life if possibly it might be espied a Chest or Coffer before him ordained no doubt to be the meanes of his safety from drowning Now although the day before he had wished for death infinite times rather then to returne home in such wretched pouerty yet seeing how other men stroue for safety of their liues by any helpe were it neuer so little he tooke aduantage of this fauor offred him and the rather in a necessitie so vrgent Keeping fast vpon the Coffer so well as he could and being driuen by the winds waues one while this way and anon quite contrarie he made shift for himselfe till day appeared when looking euery way about him seeing nothing but clouds the seas and the Coffer which one while shrunke from vnder him and another while supported him according
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
beauty and bodily strength not foreseeing with any iudgement that these wishes were not without perill when being endued with them they either haue beene the occasion of their death or such a lingering lamentable estate of life as death were a thousand times more welcome to them But because I would not speake particularly of all our fraile and humane affections I dare assure ye that there is not any one of these desires to be elected among vs mortals with entire foresight or prouidence warrantable against their ominous issue Wherefore if we would walke directly wee should dispose our willes and affections to be ordered and guided onely by him who best knoweth what is needfull for vs and will bestow them at his good pleasure Nor let me lay this blamefull imputation vpon men onely for offending in many things through ouer lauish desires because you your selues gracious Ladies sinne highly in one as namely in coueting to be beautifull So that it is not sufficient for you to enioy those beauties bestowne on you by Nature but you practise to encrease them by the rarities of Art Wherefore let it not offend you that I tell you the hard fortune of a faire Sarrazines to whom it happened by strange aduentures within the compasse of foure yeares nine seuerall times to be maried and onely for her beauty It is now a long time since that there liued a Soldane in Babylon named Beminidab to whom while he liued many things happened answerable to his owne desires Among diuers other children both male and female he had a daughter called Alathiella and shee according to the common voyce of euery one that saw her was the fayrest Lady then liuing in all the world And because the King of Cholcos had wonderfully assisted him in a valiant foughten battaile against a mighty Armie of Arabes who on a suddaine had assailed him hee demaunded his faire daughter in marriage which likewise was badly granted to him A goodly and well armed Ship was prepared for her with full furnishment of all necessary prouision and accompanied with an honourable traine both Lords and Ladies as also most costly and sumptuous accoustrements commending her to the mercy of heauen in this manner was shee sent away The time being propitious for their parting thence the Mariners hoised their sayles leauing the part of Alexandria and sayling prosperously many dayes together When they had past the Country of Sardignia and as they imagined were well neere to their iourneyes end suddainly arose boisterous and contrary windes which were so impetuous beyond all measure and so tormented the Ship wherein the Lady was that the Mariners seeing no signe of comfort gaue ouer all hope of escaping with life Neuerthelesse as men most expert in implacable dangers they laboured to their vttermost power and contended with infinite blustring tempests for the space of two dayes and nights together hoping the third day would proue more fauourable But therein they saw themselues deceiued for the violence continued still encreasing in the night time more and more being no way able to comprehend either where they were or what course they tooke neither by mariuall iudgement or any apprehension else whatsoeuer the heauens were so clouded and the nights darknesse so extâ—eame Being vnknowne to them neere the Isle of Maiorica they felt the Ship to split in the bottome by meanes whereof perceiuing now no hope of escaping euery one caring for himselfe and not any other they threw forth a Squiffe on the troubled waues reposing more confidence of safety that way then abiding any longer in the broken Ship Howbeit such as were first descended downe made stout resistance against all other followers with their drawne weapons but safety of life so farre preuailed that what with the tempests violence and ouer-lading of the Squiffe it sunke to the bottome and all perished that were therein The The Ship being thus split and more then halfe full of water tossed and tormented by the blustring windes first one way and then another was at last driuen into a strand of the Isle Maiorica no other persons remaining therein but onely the Lady and her women all of them through the rude tempest and their owne conceiued feare lying still as if they were more then halfe dead And there within a stones cast of the neighbouring shore the Ship by the rough surging billowes was fixed fast in the sands and so continued all the rest of the night without any further molestation of the windes When day appeared and the violent stormes were more mildly appeased the Lady who seemed well neere dead lifted vp her head and began weake as she was to call first one and then another but she called in vaine for such as she named were farre enough from her Wherefore hearing no answere nor seeing any one she wondered greatly her feares encreasing then more and more Raysing her selfe so well as shee could she beheld the Ladies that were of her company and some other of her women lying still without any stirring whereupon first iogging one and then another and calling them seuerally by their names shee found them bereft of vnderstanding and euen as if they were dead their hearts were so quailed and their feare so ouer-ruling which was no meane dismay to the poore Lady her selfe Neuerthelesse necessity now being her best counsailour seeing her selfe thus all alone and not knowing in what place she was she vsed such meanes to them that were liuing that at the last they came better to knowledge of themselues And being vnable to guesse what was become of the men and Mariners seeing the Ship also driuen on the sands and filled with water she began with them to lament most grieuously and now it was about the houre of mid-day before they could descry any person on the shore or any else to pitty them in so vrgent a necessity At length noone being past a Gentlewoman named Baiazeth attended by diuers of his followers on horseback and returning from a Country house belonging to him chanced to ride by on the sands Vpon sight of the Ship lying in that case he imagined truely what had happened and commanded one of his men to enter aboord it which with some difficulty hee did to resolue his Lord what remayned therein There hee found the faire young Lady with such small store of company as was left her fearefully hidden vnder the prow of the Ship So soone as they saw him they held vp their hands wofully desiring mercy of him but he perceiuing their lamentable condition and that hee vnderstoode not what they said to them their affliction grew the greater labouring by signes and gestures to giue them knowledge of their misfortune The seruaut gathering what he could by their outward behauiour declared to his Lord what hee had seene in the Ship who caused the women to be brought on shore and all the precious things remaining with them conducting them with him to a place not farre off where with
Laiazzo Being thus come to Laiazzo Osbech who was a braue and gallant young man vpon a reuiew of the pillage found the faire Lady whom hee knew to be the beloued of Constantine because shee was found lying on his bed Without any further delay he made choyse of her to be his Wife causing his nuptials to be honourably sollemnized and many moneths hee liued there in great ioy with her But before occasions grew to this effect the Emperour made a confederacy with Bassano King of Cappadocia that hee should descend with his forces one way vpon Osbech and hee would assault him with his power on the other But he could not so conueniently bring this to passe because the Emperour would not yeeld to Bassano in any vnreasonable matter he demanded Neuerthelesse when he vnderstood what had happened to his Son for whom his griefe was beyond all measure he granted the King of Cappadociaes request solliciting him withall instancy to be the more speedy in assailing Osbech It was not long before hee heard of this coniuration made against him and therefore speedily mustered vp all his forces ere he would be encompassed by two such potent Kings and marched on to meete the King of Cappadocia leauing his Lady and Wife for her safety at Laiazzo in the custodie of a true and loyall seruant of his Within a short while after he drew neere the Campe belonging to the King of Cappadocia where boldly he gaue him battell chancing therein to be slaine his Army broken and discomfited by meanes whereof the King of Cappadocia remaining Conquerour marched on towards Laiazzo euery one yeelding him obeysance all the way as he went In the meane space the seruant to Osbech who was named Antiochus and with whom the faire Lady was left in guard although hee was aged yet seeing shee was so extraordinarily beautifull he fell in loue with her forgetting the sollemne vowes he had made to his Master One happinesse hee had in this case to helpe him namely that he vnderstood and could speake her language a matter of no meane comfort to her who constrainedly had liued diuers yeeres together in the state of a deafe or dumbe woman because euery where else they vnderstood her not nor shee them but by shewes and signes This benefit of familiar conference beganne to embolden his hopes eleuate his courage and make him seeme more youthfull in his owne opinion then any ability of body could speake vnto him or promise him in the possession of her who was so farre beyond him and so vnequall to be enioyed by him yet to aduance his hopes a great deale higher newes came that Osbech was vanquished and slaine and that Bassano made euerie where hauocke of all whereon they concluded together not to tarrie there any longer but storing themselues with the goods of Osbech secretly they departed thence to Rhodes Being seated there in some indifferent abiding it came to passe that Antiochus fell into a deadly sicknesse to whom came a Cyprian Merchant one much esteemed by him as being an intimate friend and kinde acquaintance and in whom hee reposed no small confidence Feeling his sicknesse to encrease more and more vpon him dayly hee determined not onely to leaue such wealth as hee had to this Merchant but the faire Lady likewise and calling them both to his beds side he brake his minde vnto them in this manner Deare Loue and my most worthily respected friend I perceiue plainly and infallibly that I am drawing neere vnto my end which much discontenteth me because my hope was to haue liued longer in this world for the enioying of your kinde and most esteemed company Yet one thing maketh my death very pleasing and welcome to me namely that lying thus in my bed of latest comfort in this life I shall expire and finish my course in the armes of those two persons whom I most affected in all this world as you my euer dearest friend and you faire Lady whom since the very first sight of you I loued and honoured in my soule Irksome and very grieuous it is to me that if I dye I shall leaue you here a stranger without the counsaile and helpe of any body and yet much more offensiue would it become if I had not such a friend as you here present who I am faithfully perswaded will haue the like care and respect of her euen for my sake as of my selfe if time had allotted my longer tarying here And therefore worthy friend most earnestly I desire you that if I dye all mine affaires and she may remaine to your trusty care as being by my selfe absolutely commended to your prouidence and so to dispose both of the one and other as may best agree with the comfort of my soule As for you choise beauty I humbly entreate that after my death you would not forget mee to the end I may make my vaunt in another world that I was affected here by the onely fairest Lady that euer Nature framed If of these two things you will giue me assurance I shall depart from you with no meane comfort The friendly Merchant and likewise the Lady hearing these words wept both bitterly and after hee had giuen ouer speaking kindly they comforted him with promise and solemne vowes that if hee dyed all should be performed which he had requested Within a short while after he departed out of this life and they gaue him very honourable buriall according to that Country custome Which being done the Merchant dispatching all his affaires at Rhodes was desirous to returne home to Cyprus in a Carrack of the Catelans then there being mouing the Lady in the matter to vnderstand how shee stood enclined because vrgent occasions called him thence to Cyprus The Lady made answere that she was willing to passe thither with him hoping for the loue hee bare to deceased Antiochus that he would respect her as his Sister The Merchant was willing to giue her any contentment but yet resolued her that vnder the title of being his Sister it would be no warrant of security to them both wherefore hee rather aduised her to stile him as her husband and hee would terme her his wife and so hee should be sure to defend her from all iniuries whatsoeuer Being abord the Carrack they had a Cabine and small bed conueniently allowed them where they slept together that they might the better be reputed as man and wife for to passe otherwise would haue beene very dangerous to them both And questionlesse their faithfull promise made at Rhodes to Antiochus sicknesse on the Sea and mutuall respect they had of each others credit was a constant restraint to all wanton desires and a motiue rather to incite chastity then otherwise and so I hope you are perswaded of them But howsoeuer the windes blewe merily the Carrack sayled lustily and by this time they are arriued at Baffa where the Cyprian Merchant dwelt and where shee continued a long while with him no one
instructions which Antigonus had giuen her answered her father in this manner Sir about the twentith day after my departure from you a verie terrible and dreadfull tempest ouer-tooke vs so that in dead time of the night our ship being split in sunder vpon the sands neere to a place called Varna what became of all the men that were aboord I neither know or euer heard of Onely I remember then when death appeared and I being recouered from death to life certaine pezants of the countrey comming to get what they could finde in the ship so wrackt I was first with two of my women brought and set safely on the shore No sooner were we there but certaine rude shagge-haird villaines set vpon vs carrying away from me both my women then haling me along by the haire of my head neither teares or intercessions could draw any pitty from them As thus they dragd me into a spacious Woodd foure horsemen on a sodaine came riding by who seeing how dishonourably the villaines vsed me rescued me from them and forced them to flight But the foure horsemen seeming in my iudgement to bee persons of power and authority letting them go came to mee vrging sundry questions to me which neither I vnderstood or they mine answers After many deliberations held among themselues setting me vpon one of their horses they brought me to a Monastery of religious women according to the custome of their law and there whatsoeuer they did or sayde I know not but I was most benignely welcommed thither and honoured of them extraordinarily where with them in deuotion I dedicated my selfe to the Goddesse of chastity who is highly reuerenced and regarded among the women of that Countrey and to her religious seruice they are wholly addicted After I had continued some time among them and learned a little of their language they asked me of whence and what I was Reason gaue me so much vnderstanding to be fearfull of telling them the trueth for feare of expulsion from among them as an enemy to their Law and Religion wherefore I answered according as necessity vrged that I was daughter to a Gentleman of Cyprus who sent me to bee married in Candie but our fortunes meaning such as had the charge of mee fell out quite contrary to our expectation by losses Shipwracke and other mischances adding many matters more beside onely in regard of feare yeelding obediently to obserue their customes At length she that was in cheefest preheminence among these Women whom they termed by the name of their Lady Abbesse demaunded of me whither I was willing to abide in that condition of life or to returne home againe into Cyprus I answerd that I desired nothing more But she being very carefull of mine honour would neuer repose confidence in any that came for Cyprus till two honest Gentlemen of France who hapned thither about two moneths since accompanied with their wiues one of them being a neere kinswoman to the Lady Abbesse And she well knowing that they trauelled in pilgrimage to Ierusalem to visit the holy Sepulcher where as they beleeue that he whom they held for their God was buried after the Iewes had put him to death recommended me to their louing trust with especial charge for deliuering me to my Father in Cyprus What honourable loue and respect I found in the company of those Gentlemen and their wiues during our voyage backe to Cyprus the history would be ouer-tedious in reporting neither is it much materiall to our purpose because your demand is to another end Sayling on prosperously in our Ship it was not long before wee arriued at Baffa where being landed and not knowing any person neither what I should say to the Gentlemen who onely were carefull for deliuering me to my Father according as they were charged by the reuerend Abbesse it was the will of heauen doubtlesse in pitty and compassion of my passed disasters that I was no sooner come on shore at Baffa but I should there haply meete with Antigonus whome I called vnto in our countrey Language because I would not be vnderstood by the Gentlemen nor their wiues requesting him to acknowledge me as his Daughter Quickly he apprehended mine intention accomplishing what I requested and according to his poore power most bounteously feasted the Gentlemen and their wiues conducting me to the K. of Cyprus who receiued me royally and sent me home to you with so much honour as I am no way able to relate What else remaineth to be said Antigonus who hath oft heard the whole story of my fortunes at better leisure wil report Antigonus then turning to the Soldan said My Lord as shee hath often told me and by relation both of the Gentlemen and their wiues she hath deliuered nothing but trueth Onely shee hath forgotten somewhat worth the speaking as thinking it not fit for her to vtter because indeede it is not so conuenient for her Namely how much the Gentlemen and their wiues with whom she came commended the rare honesty and integrity of life as also the vnspotted vertue wherein she liued among those chaste Religious women as they constantly both with teares and solemne protestations auouched to me when kindly they resigned their charge to mee Of all which matters and many more beside if I should make discourse to your Excellencie this whole day the night ensuing and the next dayes full extendure are not sufficient to acquaint you withall Let it suffice then that I haue said so much as both by the reports and mine owne vnderstanding may giue you faithfull assurance to make your Royall vaunt of hauing the fayrest most vertuous and honest Lady to your Daughter of any King or Prince whatsoeuer The Soldane was ioyfull beyond all measure welcomming both him and the rest in most stately manner oftentimes entreating the Gods very heartily that he might liue to requite them with equall recompence who had so graciously honoured his daughter but aboue all the rest the King of Cyprus who sent her home so maiestically And hauing bestowne great gifts on Antigonus within a few dayes after hee gaue him leaue to returne to Cyprus with thankfull fauours to the King as well by Letters as also by Ambassadours expresly sent both from himselfe and his daughter When as this businesse was fully finished the Soldane desiring to accomplish what formerly was intended and begun namely that shee might be wife to the King of Cholcos he gaue him intelligence of all that had happened writing moreouer to him that if he were so pleased hee would yet send her in Royall manner to him The King of Cholcos was exceeding ioyfull of these glad tydings and dispatching a worthy trayne to fetch her she was conuayed thither very pompously and she who had beene embraced by so many was receiued by him as an honest virgine liuing long time after with him in much ioy and felicity And therefore it hath beene said as a common Prouerbe The mouth well kist comes
haue found no mean inducement to loue in regard of my husbands far distance from me medling in the rude vnciuill actions of warre when he should rather be at home in more sweet imployment You see Sir that these Orators aduance themselues here in your presence to acquaint you with the extremity of my ouer-commanding agony and if the same power hath dominion in you which your discretion questionlesse cannot be voide of then let me entreate such aduise from you as may rather helpe then hinder my hopes Beleeue it then for trueth Sir that the long absence of my husband from me the solitary condition wherein I am left ill agreeing with the hot blood running in my veines the temper of my earnest desires haue so preuailed against my strongest resistances that not onely so weake a woman as I am but any man of much more potent might liuing in ease and idlenesse as I doe cannot withstand such continuall assaults hauing no other helpe then flesh and blood Nor am I so ignorant but publique knowledge of such an error in me would be reputed a shrewd taxation of honesty whereas on the other side secret carriage and heedfull managing such amorous affaires may passe for currant without any reproach And let me tell you Noble Counte that I repute Loue highly fauourable to mee by guiding my iudgement with such moderation to make election of a wise worthy and honourable friend fit to enioy the grace of a farre greater Lady then I am and the first letter of his name is the Count D'Angiers For if error haue not misled mine eye as in Loue no Lady can be easily deceiued for person perfections and all parts most to be commended in a man the whole Realme of France containeth not your equall Obserue beside how forward Fortune sheweth her selfe to vs both in this case you to be destitute of a wife as I am of an husband for I count him as dead to me when he denies me the duties belonging to a wife Wherefore in regard of the vnfaigned affection I beare you and compassion which you ought to haue of Royall Princesse euen almost sicke to death for your sake I earnestly entreate you not to denie me your louing society but pittying my youth and fiery afflictions neuer to be quenched but by your kindnesse I may enioy my hearts desire As shee vttered these words the teares streamed aboundantly downe her faire cheekes preuenting her of any further speech so that deiecting her head into her bosome ouercome with the predominance of her passions shee fell vpon the Countes knee whereas else shee had falne vpon the ground When hee like a loyall and most honourable man sharply reprehended her fonde and idle loue and when shee would haue embraced him about the necke hee repulsed her roughly from him protesting vpon his honourable reputation that rather then hee would so wrong his Lord and Maister he would endure a thousand deathes The Lady seeing her desire disappointed and her fond expectation vtterly frustrated grewe instantly forgetfull of her intemperate loue and falling into extremity of rage conuerted her former gentle speeches into this harsh and ruder language Villaine quoth shee shall the longing comforts of my life be abridged by thy base and scornefull deniall Shall my destruction bee wrought by thy currish vnkindnesse and all my hoped ioyes be defeated in a moment Know slaue that I did not so earnestly desire thy sweet embracements before but now as deadly I hate and despise them which either thy death or banishment shall dearely pay for No sooner had shee thus spoken but tearing her haire and renting her garments in pieces shee ranne about like a distracted woman crying out aloude Helpe helpe the Count D'Angiers will forcibly dishonour mee the lustfull Count will violence mine honour D'Angiers seeing this and fearing more the malice of the ouer-credulous Court then either his owne conscience or any dishonourable act by him committed beleeuing likewise that her slanderous accusation would bee credited aboue his true and spotlesse innocency closely he conueyed himselfe out of the Court making what hast hee could home to his owne house which being too weake for warranting his safety vpon such pursuite as would be vsed against him without any further aduice or counsell he seated his two children on horsebacke himselfe also being but meanly mounted thus away thence hee went to Calice Vpon the clamour and noise of the Lady the Courtiers quickly flocked thither and as lies soone winne beleefe in hasty opinions vpon any silly or shallow surmise so did her accusation passe for currant and the Counts aduancement being enuied by many made his honest carriage in this case the more suspected In hast and madding fury they ran to the Counts houses to arrest his person and carry him to prison but when they could not finde him they raced his goodly buildings downe to the ground and vsed all shamefull violence to them Now as il newes sildome wants a speedy Messenger so in lesse space then you will imagine the King and Dolphin heard thereof in the Camp and were therewith so highly offended that the Count had a sodaine and seuere condemnation all his progeny being sentenced with perpetuall exile and promises of great and bountifull rewards to such as could bring his body aliue or dead Thus the innocent Count by his ouer-hasty and sodaine flight made himselfe guilty of this foule imputation and arriuing at Callice with his children their poore and homely habites hid them from being knowne and thence they crossed ouer into England staying no where vntill hee came to London Before he would enter into the City he gaue diuers good aduertisements to his children but especially two precepts aboue all the rest First with patient soules to support the poore condition whereto Fortune without any offence in him or them had thus deiected them Next that they should haue most heedfull care at no time to disclose from whence they came or whose children they were because it extended to the perill of their liues His Sonne being named Lewes and now about nine yeares old his daughter called Violenta and aged seauen yeares did both obserue their fathers direction as afterward it did sufficiently appeare And because they might liue in the safer securitie hee thought it for the best to change their names calling his sonne Perotto and his daughter Gianetta for thus they might best escape vnknowne Being entred into the Citty and in the poore estate of beggers they craued euery bodies mercy and almes It came to passe that standing one morning at the Cathedral Church-doore a great Lady of England being then wife to the Lord high Marshall cōming forth of the Church espied the Count and his children there begging Of him she demanded what Countrey-man he was and whether those children were his owne or no The Count replyed that he was borne in Picardy and for an vnhappy fact committed by his eldest sonne a stripling of more
I will not endanger any of their liues because their parents and friends being sensible of such losses may seeke reuenge perhaps to their owne ruine and some following scourge to my indiscretion For I consider daughter that I haue neighbours who scarsely loue me and of whom in time I may right my selfe hauing receiued by their meanes great wrongs iniuries Also I make no doubt but to manage your loue-sute with discretion and set such a pleasing proceednig betweene them as neyther shall beget any hatred in them towards me nor yet offend them in their affections pursuite till fortune may smile so fauourably vpon some one man to reach the height of both your wished desires Siwalde was thus determinately resolued to let his daughter liue at her owne discretion without any alteration of her continued seueritie perceiuing day by day that many came still to request her in mariage he could not giue her to them all nor make his choise of any one least all the rest should become his enemies and fall in quarrell one with another Onely this therefore was his ordination that among such a number of amorous suters he onely should weare the Lawrell wreath of victory who could obtaine such fauour of Serictha as but to looke him in the face This condition seemed to bee of no meane difficulty yea and so impossible that many gaue ouer their amorous enterprize whereof Serictha was wondrouslie ioyfull seeing her selfe eased of such tedious importunitie dulling her eares with their proffered seruices and foppish allegations of fantasticke seruitude such as ydle-headed Louers do vse to protest before their Mistresses wherein they may beleeue them if they list Among all them that were thus forward in their heate of affection there was a young Danish Lord named Ocharus the sonne of a Pirate called Hebonius the same man who hauing stolne the Sister vnto King Hunguinus and Sister to Siwalde affiancing himselfe to her was slaine by King Haldune and by thus killing him enioyed both the Lady and the kingdome of the Gothes also as her inheritance This Ocharus relying much on his comelinesse of person wealth power and valour but aboue all the rest on his excellent and eloquent speaking bestowed his best endeauour to obtaine Serictha notwithstanding the contemptible carriage of the rest towards him whereupon preuailing for his accesse to the Princesse and admitted to speake as all the other did he reasoned with her in this manner Whence may it proceede Madam that you being the fairest and wisest Princesse liuing at this day in all the Northerne parts should make so smal account of your selfe as to denie that which with honour you mâ—y yeeld to them as seeke to doe you most humble seruice and forgetting the rank you hold doe refuse to deigne them recompence in any manner whatsoeuer seeking onely to enioy you in honourable marriage Perhaps you are of opinion that the gods should become slaues to youâ— beauty in which respect men are vtterly vnworthy to craue any such acquaintance of you If it be so I confesse my selfe conquered But if the gods seeke no such association with women and since they forsooke the World they left this legacy to vs men I thinke you couet after none but such as are extracted of their blood or may make vaunt of their neere kindred and alliance to them I know that many haue wished and doe desire you I know also that as many haue requested you of the King your Father but the choyce remaineth in your power and you being ordained the Iudge to distinguish the merit of all your Sutors me thinkes you doe wrong to the office of a Iudge in not regarding the parties which are in suite to sentence the deseâ—t of the best and brauest and so to delay them with no more lingering I cannot thinke Madam that you are so farre out of your selfe and so chill cold in your affection but desire of occasions equall to your vertue and singular beauty doe sometime touch you feelingly and make you to wish for such a man answerable to the greatnesse of your excellency And if it should be otherwise as I imagine it to be impossible yet you ought to breake such an obstinate designe onely to satisfie the King your Father who can desire nothing more then to haue a Sonne in Law to reuenge him on the Tyrant of Swetia who as you well know was sometime the murtherer of your Grand-father Hunguinus and also of his Father If you please to vouchsafe me so much grace and fauour as to make me the man whom your heart hath chosen to be your Husband I sweare vnto you by the honour of a Souldier that I will vndergoe such seruice as the King shall be reuenged you royally satisfied and my selfe aduanced to no meane happinesse by being the onely fortunate man of the World Gentle Princesse the most beautifull daughter to a King open that indurate heart and so soften it that the sweete impressions of loue may be engrauen therein see there the loyall pursuite of your Ocharus who to saue his life cannot so much as winne one looke from his diuine Mistresse This nicenesse is almost meerely barbarous that I wishing to aduenture my life prodigally in your seruice you are so cruell as not to deigne recompence to this duty of mine with the least signe of kindnesse that can be imagined Faire Serictha if you desire the death of your friendly seruant Ocharus there are many other meanes whereby to performe it without consuming him in so small a fire and suffering him there to languish without any answere If you will not looke vpon me if my face be so vnworthy that one beame of your bright Sunnes may not shine vpon it If a word of your mouth be too precious for me make a signe with your hand either of my happinesse or disaster If your hand be enuious of mine ease let one of your women be shee to pronounce the sentence of life oâ— death because if my life be hatefull to you this hand of mine may satisfie your will and sacrifice it to the rigour of your disdaine But if as I am rather perswaded the ruine of your seruants be against your more mercifull wishes deale so that I may perceiue it and expresse what compassion you haue of your Ocharus who coueteth nothing more then your daily hearts ease and contentment with a priuiledge of honour aboue other Ladies All this discourse was heard by Serictha but so little was shee moued therewith as shee was farre enough off from returning him any answer neither did any of the Gentlewomen attending on her euer heare her vse the very least word to any of her amorous sollicitors nor did shee know any one of them but by speech onely which droue them all into an vtter despaire perceiuing no possible meanes whereby to conquer her The Histories of the Northeâ—ne 〈…〉 deâ—â—are that in those times the rapes of women were not much 〈…〉 and such
from the company which he most esteemed he determined also to separate himselfe from the world addicting al his endeuours to the seruice of God and applying his yong sonne likewise to the same holy exercises Hauing giuen away all his goods for Gods sake he departed to the Mountaine Asinaio where he made him a small Cell and liued there with his little sonne onely vpon charitable almes in abstinence and prayer forbearing to speak of any worldly occasions or letting the Lad see any vaine sight but conferred with him continually on the glories of eternall life of God and his Saints and teaching him nothing else but deuout prayers leading this kinde of life for many yeares together not permitting him euer to goe forth of the Cell or shewing him any other but himselfe The good old man vsed diuers times to go to Florence where hauing receiued according to his opportunities the almes of diuers well disposed people he returned backe againe to his hermitage It fortuned that the boy being now about eighteene yeeres olde and his Father growne very aged he demanded of him one day whether hee went Wherein the old man truly resolued him whereuppon the youth thus spake vnto him Father you are now growne very aged and hardly can endure such painfull trauell why do you not let me go to Florence that by making me knowne to your well disposed friends such as are deuoutly addicted both to God and you I who am young and better able to endure trauaile then you are may go thither to supply our necessities and you take your ease in the mean while The aged man perceiuing the great growth of his Sonne and thinking him to be so well instructed in Gods seruice as no wordly vanities could easily allure him from it did not dislike the Lads honest motion but when he went next to Florence tooke him thither along with him When he was there and had seene the goodly Palaces Houses and Churches with all other sights to be seene in so populous a Cittie hee began greatly to wonder at them as one that had neuer seene them before at least within the compasse of his remembrance demanding many things of his Father both what they were and how they were named wherein the old man still resolued him The answers seemed to content him highly and caused him to proceede on in further questionings according still as they found fresh occasions till at the last they met with a troope of very beautifull women going on in seemely manner together as returning backe from a Wedding No sooner did the youth behold them but he demanded of his Father what things they were wherto the olde man replyed thus Sonne cast downe thy lookes vnto the ground and do not seeme to see them at all because they are bad things to behold Bad things Father answered the Lad How do you call them The good olde man not to quicken any concupiscible appetite in the young boy or any inclinable desire to ought but goodnesse would not terme them by their proper name of Women but tolde him that they were called young Gozlings Heere grew a matter of no meane meruaile that hee who had neuer seene any women before now appeared not to respect the faire Churches Palaces goodly horses Golde Siluer or any thing else which he had seene but as fixing his affection onely vpon this sight sodainly said to the old man Good Father do so much for me as to let me haue one of these Gozlings Alas Sonne replyed the Father holde thy peace I pray thee and do not desire any such naughty thing Then by way of demand he thus proceeded saying Father are these naughty things made of themselues Yes Sonne answered the old man I know not Father quoth the Lad what you meane by naughtinesse nor why these goodly things should be so badly termed but in my iudgement I haue not seene any thing so faire and pleasing in mine eye as these are who excell those painted Angels which heere in the Churches you haue shewn me And therefore Father if either you loue me or haue any care of me let mee haue one of thse Gozlings home to our Cell where we can make means sufficient for her feeding I will not said the Father be so much thine enemy because neither thou or I can rightly skill of their feeding Perceiuing presently that Nature had farre greater power then his Sonnes capacity and vnderstanding which made him repent for fondly bringing his sonne to Florence Hauing gone so farre in this fragment of a Tale I am content to pause heere and will returne againe to them of whom I spake before I meane my enuious deprauers such as haue saide faire Ladies that I am double blame-worthy in seeking to please you and that you are also ouer-pleasing to me which freely I confesse before all the world that you are singularly pleasing to me and I haue strouen how to please you effectually I would demand of them if they seeme so much amazed heereat considering I neuer knew what belonged to true-loue kisses amorous embraces and their delectable fruition so often receiued from your graces but onely that I haue seene and do yet daily behold your commendable conditions admired beauties noble adornments by nature and aboue all the rest your womenly and honest conuersation If hee that was nourished bred and educated on a sauage solitary Mountain within the confines of a poore small Cell hauing no other company then his Father If such a one I say vppon the very first sight of your sexe could so constantly confesse that women were onely worthy of affection and the obiect which aboue all things else he most desired why should these contumelious spirits so murmure against me teare my credite with their teeth and wound my reputation to the death because your vertues are pleasing to mee and I endeauour likewise to please you with my vtmost paines Neuer had the auspitious heauens allowed me life but onely to loue you and from my very infancie mine intentions haue alwaies bene that way bent feeling what vertue flowed from your faire eies vnderstanding the mellifluous accents of your speech whereto the enkindled flames of your sighes gaue no meane grace But remembring especially that nothing could so please an Hermite as your diuine perfections an vnnurtured Lad without vnderstanding and little differing from a meere brutish beast vndoubtedly whosoeuer loueth not women and desireth to be affected of them againe may well be ranked among these women-haters speaking out of cankred spleene and vtterly ignorant of the sacred power as also the vertue of naturall affection whereof they seeming so carelesse the like am I of their deprauing Concerning them that touch me with mine age Do not they know that although Leeks haue white heads yet the blades of them are alwaies greene But referring them to their flouts and taunts I answer that I shal neuer hold it any disparagement to mee so long as my life endureth to delight
a man in the skin of a Beare or in the shape of a sauage man or any other forme of better deuice Which being so done he is brought vpon S. Marks market place where being hunted a while with dogs vpon the huntings conclusion the Feast is ended and then each man leades his monster whether him pleaseth If you can accept any of these shapes before you bee seene heere in my poore abiding then can I safely afterward bring you where you would bee Otherwise I see no possible meanes how you may escape hence vnknown for it is without all question to the contrary that the Gentlewomans brethren knowing your concealment in some one place or other wil set such spies and watches for you throughout the City as you must needs be taken by them Now although it seemed a most seuere imposition for Albert to passe in any of these disguises yet his exceeding feare of Lisettaes brethren and friends made him gladly yeelde and to vndergo what shape the poore man pleased which thus he ordered Annointing his naked body with Hony he then couered it ouer with downy small Feathers and fastning a chaine about his necke and a strange vgly vizard on his face hee gaue him a great staffe in the one hand and two huge Mastiue dogs chained together in the other which he had borrowed in the Butchery Afterward he sent a man to the Rialto who there proclaimed by the sound of Trumpet That all such as desired to see God Cupid which the last night had descended downe from the skies and fell by ill hap into the Venetian gulfe let them repaire to the publike Market place of S. Marke and there he would appeare in his owne likenesse This being done soone after he left his house and leading him thus disguised along by his chaine hee was followed by great crowds of people euery one questioning of whence and what he was In which manner he brought him to the Market place where an infinite number of people were gathered together as well of the followers as of them that before heard the proclamation There he made choise of a pillar which stood in a place somewhat highly exalted wherto he chained his sauage man making shew as if he meant to awaite there till the hunting shold begin in which time the Flies Waspes and Hornets did so terribly sting his naked body being annointed with Hony that he endured therby vnspeakable anguish When the poore man saw that there needed no more concourse of people pretending as if he purposed to let loose his Saluage man he tooke the maske or vizard from Alberts face and then he spake aloud in this manner Gentlemen and others seeing the wilde Boare commeth not to our hunting because I imagine that he cannot easily be found I meane to the end you may not lose your labour in comming hither to shew you the great God of Loue called Cupid whom Poets feigned long since to be a little boy but now growne to manly stature You see in what maner he hath left his high dwelling onely for the comfort of our Venetian beauties but belike the night-fogs ouer-flagging his wings he fell into our gulfe and comes ow to present his seruice to you No sooner had he taken off his vizard but euery one knew him to be Friar Albert and sodainly arose such shoutes and out-cries with most bitter words breathed forth against him hurling also stones durt and filth in his face that his best acquaintance then could take no knowledge of him and not any one pittying his abusing So long continued the offended people in their fury that newes therof was carried to the Conuent and six of his Religious brethren came who casting an habite about him and releasing him from his chain they led him to the Monastery not without much mollestation and trouble of the people where imprisoning him in their house seueritie of some inflicted punishment or rather conceite for his open shame shortned his dayes and so he dyed Thus you see faire Ladies when licentious life must be clouded with a cloake of sanctity and euill actions dayly committed yet escaping vncredited there will come a time at length for iust discouering of all that the good may shine in their true luster of glory and the bad sinke in their owne deserued shame Three yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fledde with them into Candie The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of Candies request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne Friend killeth her and thence flyeth away with the elder Sister The third couple both man woman are charged with her death and being committed prisoners they confesse the facte And fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their keepers escaping from thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty The third Nouell Heerein is declared how dangerous the occasion is ensuing by anger and despight in such as entirely loue especially being iniuried and offended by them that they loue WHen the King perceiued that Madame Pampinea had ended her discourse he sat sadly a prety while without vttering one word but afterward spake thus Little goodnesse appeared in the beginning of this Nouell because it ministred occasion of mirth yet the ending proued better and I could wish that worse inflictions had falne on the venerious Friar Then turning towards Madam Lauretta he said Lady do you tell vs a better tale if possible it may be She smiling thus answered the King Sir you are ouer-cruelly bent against poore Louers in desisiring that their amourous processions should haue harsh and sinister concludings Neuerthelesse in obedience to your seuere command among three persons amourously perplexed I will relate an vnhappy ending whereas all may be saide to speede as vnfortunately being equally alike in enioying the issue of their desires and thus I purpose for to proceede Euery vice choise Ladies as very well you know redoundeth to the great disgrace and preiudice of him or her by whom it is practised and oftentimes to others Now among those common hurtfull enemies the sinne or vice which most carrieth vs with full carrere and draweth vs into vnauoidable perils and dangers in mine opinion seemeth to be that of choller or anger which is nothing else but a sudden and inconsiderate mouing prouoked by some receiued iniury which hauing excluded all respect of reason and dimde with darke vapours the bright discerning sight of the vnderstanding enflameth the minde with most violent furie And albeit this inconuenience happeneth most to men and more to some few then others yet notwithstanding it hath been noted that women haue felt the selfe same infirmity and in more extreme manner because it much sooner is kindled in them and burneth with the brighter flame in regard they haue the lesser consideration and therefore not to be wondred at For if we will aduisedly obserue we shall plainely perceiue that
not any part or parcell but onely a Ladie for whose sake I haue vndertaken these Armes and freely giue you all the rest contained in the shippe Let vs set on them Gentlemen and my dearest friends couragiously let vs assaile the ship you see how the wind fauors vs and questionlesse in so good an action Fortune will not faile vs. Gerbino needed not to haue spoken so much in perswading them to seize so rich a booty because the men of Messina were naturally addicted to spoile and rapine and before the Prince began his Oration they had concluded to make the ship their purchase Wherefore giuing a lowde shout according to their Countrey manner and commaunding their Trumpets to sound chearefully they rowed on amain with their Oares and in meere despight set vpon the ship But before the Gallies could come neere her they that had the charge and managing of her perceyuing with what speede they made towards them and no likely meanes of escaping from them resoluedly they stood vppon their best defence for now it was no time to be slothfull The Prince being come neere to the Ship commanded that the Patrones should come to him except they would aduenture the fight When the Sarazines were thereof aduertised and vnderstood also what he demanded they returned answer That their motion and proceeding in this manner was both against Law and plighted faith which was promised by the King of Sicily for their safe passage thorow his Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed In testimony whereof they shewed his Gloue auouching moreouer that neyther by force or otherwise they would yeelde or deliuer him any thing which they had aboorde their Ship Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke and she appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of her being much more enflamed now then formerly he had bin replyed thus when they shewed the Gloue Wee haue quoth he no Faulcon heere now to be humbled at the sight of your Gloue and therefore if you wil not deliuer the Lady prepare your selues for fight for we must haue her whether you will or no. Hereupon they began to let flie on both sides their Darts and arrowes with stones sent in violent sort from their slings thus continuing the fight a long while to very great harme on either side At the length Gerbino perceyuing that small benefite would redound to him if he did not vndertake some other kinde of course he tooke a smal Pinnace which purposely he brought with him from Sardignia and setting it on a flaming fire conueyd it by the Gallies help close to the ship The Sarazines much amazed thereat and euidently perceiuing that eyther they must yeeld or dy brought their Kings daughter vpon the prow of the ship most greeuously weeping and wringing her hands Then calling Gerbino to let him behold their resolution there they slew hir before his face and afterward throwing her body into the Sea said Take her there we giue her to thee according to our bounden duty and as thy periury hath iustly deserued This sight was not a little greeuous to the Prince Gerbino who madded now with this their monstrous cruelty and not caring what became of his owne life hauing lost her for whom hee onely desired to liue not dreading their Darts Arrowes slinged stones or what violence els they could vse against him he leapt aboord their ship in despight of all that durst resist him behauing himself there like a hunger-starued Lyon when he enters among a heard of beastes tearing their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes Such was the extreme fury of the poor Prince not sparing the like of any one that durst appeare in his presence so that what with the bloody slaughter and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could saue and suffering the Sea to swallow the rest Gerbino returned vnto his Gallies againe nothing proud of this so ill-gotten victory Afterward hauing recouered the Princesses dead body out of the Sea and enbalmed it with sighes and teares hee returned backe into Sicilie where he caused it to be most honourably buried in a little Island named Vstica face to face confronting Trapanum The King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes sent his Ambassadors habited in sad mourning to the aged King of Sicily complaining of his faith broken with him and how the accident had falne out Age being sodainly incited to anger and the King extreamly offended at this iniury seeing no way whereby to deny him iustice it being vrged so instantly by the Ambassadours caused Gerbino to be apprehended and hee himselfe in regard that none of his Lords and Barons would therein assist him but laboured to diuert them by their earnest importunity pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince and commanded to haue him beheaded in his presence affecting rather to dye without an heire then to be thought a King void of iustice So these two vnfortunate Louers neuer enioying the very least benefite of their long wished desires ended both their liues in violent manner The three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent manner brought away his head and putting it into a pot of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet hearbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares Whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she dyed with meere conceite of sorrow The fift Nouell Wherein is plainly proued that Loue cannot be rooted vppe by any humane power or prouidence especially in such a soule where it hath bene really apprehended THE Nouell of Madame Eliza being finished and some-what commended by the King in regard of the Tragicall conclusion Philomena was enioyned to proceede next with her discourse She beeing ouercome with much compassion for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino and his beautifull Princesse after an extreme and vehement sighe thus she spake My tale worthy Ladies extendeth not to persons of so high birth or quality as they were of whom Madame Eliza gaue you relation yet peraduenture it may prooue to be no lesse pittifull And now I remember my selfe Messina so lately spoken of is the place where this accident also happened In Messina there dwelt three yong men Brethren and Merchants by their common profession who becoming very rich by the death of theyr Father liued in very good fame and repute Their Father was of San Gemignano and they had a Sister named Isabella young beautifull and well conditioued who vpon some occasion as yet remained vnmaried A proper youth being a Gentleman borne in Pisa and named Lorenzo as a trusty factor or seruant had the managing of the Brethrens businesse and affaires This Lorenzo being of comely personage affable and excellent in his behauiour grew so gracious in the
of his comming thither or any other blame that could concerne her Which hee both instantly knowing and beleeuing made no more ceremonie but putting on his Garments tooke the dead bodie vpon his shoulders and carried it to the Mothers doore where he left it and afterward returned to his owne house againe When day light was come and the dead body found lying in the Porch it moued very much greefe and amazement considering he had bin seene the day before in perfect health to outward appearance Nor neede we to vrge any question of his Mothers sorrow vpon this straunge accident who causing his body to bee carefully searched without any blow bruise wound or hurt vppon it the Physitians could not giue any other opinion but that some inward conceyte of greefe had caused his death as it did indeed and no way otherwise To the cheefe Church was the dead body carried to be generally seene of all the people his mother and friends weeping heauily by it as many more did the like beside because he was beloued of euery one In which time of vniuersall mourning the honest man in whose house he dyed spake thus to his wife disguise thy selfe in some decent manner and go to the Church where as I heare they haue laide the body of Ieronimo Crowde in amongest the Women as I will doe the like amongst the men to heare what opinion passeth of his death and whether wee shall bee scandalized thereby or no. Siluestra who was now become full of pitty too late quickely condiscended as desiring to see him dead whom sometime she dearly affected in life And being come to the Church it is a matter to bee admired if aduisedly we consider on the powerfull working of loue for the heart of this woman which the prosperous fortune of Ieronimo could not pierce now in his wofull death did split in sunder and the ancient sparks of loue so long concealed in the embers brake foorth into a furious flame and being violently surprized with extraordinary compassion no sooner did she come neere to the dead body where many stoode weeping round about it but strangely shrieking out aloud she fell downe vpon it euen as extremity of greefe finished his life so did it hers in the same manner For she moued neither hand nor foot because her vitall powers had quite forsaken her The women labouring to comfort her by al the best means they could deuise did not take any knowledge of her by reason of her disguised garments but finding her dead indeede and knowing her also to be Siluestra being ouercome with vnspeakable compassion danted with no meane admiration they stood strangely gazing each vpon other Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church and this accident being now noysed among the men at length it came to her Husbands vnderstanding whose greefe was so great as it exceeded all capacitie of expression Afterward he declared what had hapned in his house the precedent night according as his wife had truly related to him with all the speeches which past between Siluestra and Ieronimo by which discourse they generally conceiued the certaine occasion of both their sodaine deaths which moued them to great compassion Then taking the yong womans body and ordering it as a coarse ought to bee they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous fortune they gaue them honourable buriall both in one graue So this poore couple whome loue in life could not ioyne together death did vnite in an inseparable coniunction Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom hee imagined to loue his wife gaue her his heart to eate Which she knowing afterward threw her selfe out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend The ninth Nouell Whereby appeareth what ill successe attendeth on them that loue contrarie to reason in offering iniurie both to friendship and marriage together WHen the Nouell of Madam Neiphila was ended which occasioned much compassion in the whole assembly the King who wold not infringe the priuiledge graunted to Dioneus no more remaining to speake but they two began thus I call to minde gentle Ladies a Nouell which seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of successelesse loue will vrge you vnto as much commisseration as that so lately reported to you And so much the rather because the persons of whom we are to speake were of respectiue quality which approueth the accident to bee more cruell then those whereof wee haue formerly discoursed According as the people of Prouence do report there dwelt sometime in that iurisdiction two noble Knights each well possessed of Castles followers the one beeing named Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione and the other Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno Now in regard that they wer both valiant Gentlemen and singularly expert in actions of Armes they loued together the more mutually and held it as a kinde of custom to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments or any other exercises of Armes going commonly alike in their wearing garments And although their Castles stood about fiue miles distant each from other yet were they dayly conuersant together as very louing and intimate friends The one of them I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione had to wife a very gallant beautifull Lady of whom Messer Guardastagno forgetting the lawes of respect and loyall friendshippe became ouer-fondly enamoured expressing the same by such outward meanes that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof and not with any dislike as it seemed but rather louingly entertained yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation as the other did of faith to his friend With such indiscretion was this idle loue carried that whether it sorted to effect or no I know not but the husband receiued some such maner of behauiour as hee could not easily digest nor thought it fitting to endure Whereuppon the league of friendly amity so long continued began to faile in very strange fashion and became conuerted into deadly hatred which yet hee very cunningly concealed bearing an outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still but in his heart hee had vowed the death of Guardastagno Nothing wanted but by what meanes it might best be effected which fell out to bee in this manner A publicke lust or Tourney was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all France wherewith immediately Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno entreating him that they might further conferre theron together and for that purpose to come and visit him if he intended to haue any hand in the businesse Guardastagno being exceeding gladde of this accident which gaue him liberty to see his Mistresse sent answer backe by the messenger that on the morrow at night he would come and sup with Rossiglione who vpon this reply proiected to himselfe in what maner to kill him On the morrow after dinner arming himselfe and
was much commended and wrought such a miracle on penitent Ruggiero that after his marriage which was graced with great and honourable pompe he regained the intimate loue of all his kindred and liued in most Noble condition euen as if he had neuer beene the disordered man If the former Nouels had made all the Ladies sad and sighe this last of Dioneus as much delighted them as restoring them to their former iocond humor and banishing Tragicall discourse for euer The King perceyuing that the Sun was neere setting and his gouernment as neere ending with many kinde and courteous speeches excused himselfe to the Ladies for being the motiue of such an argument as expressed the infelicity of poore Louers And hauing finished his excuse vp he arose taking the Crowne of Lawrell from off his owne head the Ladies awaiting on whose head he pleased next to set it which proued to be the gracious Lady Fiammetta and thus hee spake Heere I place this Crowne on her head that knoweth better then any other how to comfort this fayre assembly to morrow for the sorow which they haue this day endured Madame Fiammetta whose lockes of haire were curled long and like golden wiers hanging somwhat downe ouer her white delicate shoulders her visage round wherein the Damaske Rose and Lilly contendeâ— for priority the eyes in her head resembling those of the Faulcon me senger and a dainty mouth her lippes looking like two little Rubyes with a commendable smile thus she replyed Philostratus gladly I do accept your gift and to the end that ye may the better remember your selfe concerning what you haue done hitherto I will and commaund that generall preparation bee made against to morrow for faire and happy fortunes hapning to Louers after former cruell and vnkinde accidents Which proposition was very pleasing to them all Then calling for the Master of the Housholde and taking order with him what was most needfull to be done shee gaue leaue vnto the whole company who were all risen to go recreate themselues vntil supper time Some of them walked about the Garden the beauty whereof banished the least thought of wearinesse Others walked by the Riuer to the Mill which was not farre off and the rest fel to exercises fitting their own fancies vntill they heard the summons for Supper Hard by the goodly Fountaine according to their wonted manner they supped altogether and were serued to their no mean contentment but being risen from the Table they fell to their delight of singing and dancing While Philomena led the dance the Queene spake in this manner Philostratus I intend not to varie from those courses heeretofore obserued by my predecessors but euen as they haue already done so it is my authority to command a Song And because I am well assured that you are not vnfurnished of Songs answerable to the quality of the passed Nouels my desire is in regard we would not be troubled heereafter with any more discourses of vnfortunate Loue that you shall sing a Song agreeing with your owne disposition Philostratus made answer that he was readie to accomplish her command and without all further ceremony thus he began The Song Chorus My teares do plainly proue How iustly that poore heart hath cause to greeue Which vnder trust findes Treason in his Loue. WHen first I saw her that now makes me sigh Distrust did neuer enter in my thoughts So many vertues clearly shin'd in her That I esteem'd all martyrdome was light Which Loue could lay on me Nor did I greeue Although I found my liberty was lost But now mine error I do plainly see Not without sorrow thus betray'd to bee My teares do c. For being left by basest treachery Of her in whom I most reposed trust I then could see apparant flatterie In all the fairest shewes that she did make But when I stroue to get forth of the snare I found my selfe the further plunged in For I beheld another in my place And I cast off with manifest disgrace My teares do c. Then felt my heart such hels of heauy woes Not vtterable I curst the day and houre When first I saw her louely countenance Enricht with beautie farre beyond all other Which set my soule on fire enflamde each part Making a martyrdome of my poore hart My faith and hope being basely thus betrayde I durst not mooue to speake I was affrayde My teares do c. Thou canst thou powerfull God of Loue perceiue My ceasselesse sorow voide of any comfort I make my moane to thee and do not fable Desiring that to end my misery Death may come speedily and with his Dart With one fierce stroke quite passing through my hart To cut off future fell contending strife An happy end be made of Loue and Life My teares do c. No other meanes of comfort doth remaine To ease me of such sharpe afflictions But only death Grant then that I may die To finish greefe and life in one blest houre For being bereft of any future ioyes Come take me quickly from so false a friend Yet in my death let thy great power approue That I died true and constant in my Loue. My teares c. Happy shall I account this sighing Song If some beside my selfe doe learne to sing it And so consider of my miseries As may incite them to lament my wrongs And to be warned by my wretched fate Least like my selfe themselues do sigh too late Learne Louers learne what t is to be vniust And be betrayed where you repose best trust The words contained in this Song did manifestly declare what torturing afflictions poore Philostratus felt and more perhaps had beene perceiued by the lookes of the Lady whom he spake of being then present in the dance if the sodaine ensuing darknesse had not hid the crimson blush which mounted vp into her face But the Song being ended diuers other beside lasting till the houre of rest drew on by command of the Queene they all repaired to their Chambers The End of the Fourth Day THE FIFT DAY Whereon all the Discourses do passe vnder the Gouernement of the most Noble Lady Fiammetta Concerning such persons as haue bene successefull in their Loue after many hard and perillous misfortunes The Induction NOW began the Sunne to dart foorth his golden beames when Madam Fiammetta incited by the sweete singing Birdes which since the breake of day sat merrily chanting on the trees arose from her bed as all the other Ladies likewise did and the three young Gentlemen descending downe into the fields where they walked in a gentle pace on the greene grasse vntill the Sunne were risen a little higher On many pleasant matters they conferred together as they walked in seuerall companies til at the length the Queene finding the heate to enlarge it selfe strongly returned backe to the Castle where when they were all arriued shee commanded that after this mornings walking their stomackes should bee refreshed with wholsome Wines as
most mooued me is a matter highly importing to me and very easie for you to graunt and so enioy your present peace I desire to haue faire Iphigenia from you whom I loue aboue all other Ladies liuing because I could not obtain herof her Father to make her my lawfull wife in marriage Loue is the ground of my instant Conquest and I must vse you as my mortall enemies if you stand vppon any further tearmes with me and do not deliuer her as mine owne for your Pasimondo must not enioy what is my right first by vertue of my loue now by conquest Deliuer her therefore and depart hence at your pleasure The men of Rhodes being rather constrained thereto then of any free disposition in themselues with teares in their eyes deliuered Iphigenia to Chynon wo beholding her in like manner to weepe thus spake vnto her Noble Lady do not any way discomfort your selfe for I am your Chynon who haue more right and true title to you and much better doe deserue to enioy you by my long continued affection to you then Pasimondo can any way pleade because you belong to him but only by promise So bringing her aboord his owne ship where the Gentlemen his companions gaue her kinde welcome without touching any thing else belonging to the Rhodians he gaue them free liberty to depart Chynon being more ioyfull by the obtaining of his hearts desire then any other conquest else in the world could make him after hee had spent some time in comforting Iphigenia who as yet sate sadly sighing he consulted with his companions who ioyned with him in opinion that their safest course was by no meanes to returne to Cyprus and therefore all with one consent resolued to set saile for Candye where euery one made account but especially Chynon in regard of ancient and newe combined Kindred as also very intimate friends to finde very worthy entertainement and so to continue there safely with Iphigenia But Fortune who was so fauourable to Chynon in granting him so pleasing a Conquest to shew her inconstancy as sodainly changed the inestimable ioy of our iocond Louer into as heauy sorow and disaster For foure houres were not fully compleated since his departure from the Rhodians but darke night came vpon them and he sitting conuersing with his fayre Mistris in the sweetest solace of his soule the winds began to blow roughly the Seas swelled angerly a tempest arose impetuously that no man could see what his duty was to do in such a great vnexpected distresse nor how to warrant themselues from perishing If this accident were displeasing to poore Chynon I thinke the question were in vaine demanded for now it seemed to him that the Godds had granted his cheefe desire to the end hee should dye with the greater anguish in losing both his loue and life together His friends likewise felte the selfe same affliction but especially Iphigenia who wept and greeued beyond all measure to see the ship beaten with such stormy billowes as threatned her sinking euery minute Impatiently she cursed the loue of Chynon greatly blaming his desperate boldnesse and maintaining that so violent a tempest could neuer happen but onely by the Gods displeasure who would not permit him to haue a wife against their will and therfore thus punished his proud presumption not only in his vnauoidable death but also that her life must perish for company She continuing in these wofull lamentations and the Mariners labouring all in vaine because the violence of the tempest encreased more and more so that euery moment they expected wracking they were carried contrary to their owne knowledge very neere vnto the Isle of Rhodes which they being no way able to auoid and vtterly ignorant of the coast for safety of their liues they labored to land there if possibly they might Wherein Fortune was somewhat furtherous to them driuing them into a small gulfe of the Sea whereinto but a little while before the Rhodians from whom Chynon had taken Iphigenia were newly entred with their ship Nor had they any knowledge each of other till the breake of day which made the heauens to looke more clearly gaue them discouerie of being within a flight shoote together Chynon looking forth and espying the same ship which he had left the day before hee grew exceeding sorowfull as fearing that which after followed and therefore hee willed the Mariners to get away from her by all their best endeauour let fortune afterward dispose of them as she pleased for into a worse place they could not come noâ— fall into the like danger The Mariners employed their very vtmost paines and all prooued but losse of time for the winde was so stern and the waues so turbulent that still they droue them the contrary way so that striuing to get foorth of the gulfe whether they would or no they were driuen on land and instantly knowne to the Rhodians whereof they were not a little ioyful The men of Rhodes being landed ran presently to a neere neighbouring Village where dwelt diuers worthy Gentlemen to whom they reported the arriuall of Chynon what fortune befell them at Sea and that Iphigenia might now be recouered againe with chastisement to Chynon for his bold insolence They being very ioyfull of these good newes tooke so many men as they could of the same Village and ran immediately to the Sea side where Chynon being newly Landed and his people intending flight into a neere adioyning Forrest for defence of himselfe and Iphigenia they were all taken led thence to the Village and afterwards to the chiefe City of Rhodes No sooner were they arriued but Pasimondo the intended Husband for Iphigenia who had already heard the tydings went and complayned to the Senate who appointed a Gentleman of Rhodes named Lysimachus and being that yeare soueraigne Magistrate ouer the Rhodians to go well prouided for the apprehension of Chynon and all his company committing them to prison which accordingly was done In this manner the poore vnfortunate louer Chynon lost his faire Iphigenia hauing won her in so short a while before and scarsely requited with so much as a kisse But as for Iphigenia she was royally welcommed by many Lords and Ladies of Rhodes who so kindely comforted her that she soone forgotte all her greefe and trouble on the Sea remaining in company of those Ladies and Gentlewomen vntill the day determined for her mariage At the earnest entreary of diuers Rhodian Gentlemen who were in the Ship with Iphigenia and had their liues courteously saued by Chynon both he and his friends had their liues likewise spared although Pasimondo laboured importunately to haue them all put to death onely they were condemned to perpetuall imprisonment which you must thinke was most greeuous to them as being now hopelesse of any deliuerance But in the meane time while Pasimondo was ordering his nuptiall preparation Fortune seeming to repent the wrongs shee had done to Chynon prepared a new accident whereby
one who not by any accident hapning lifted vp her head to look about her neither intended euer to doe Now it came to passe that as the boate was driuen to the shore a poore woman stood at the Sea side washing certaine Fishermens Nets and seeing the boate comming towards her vnder saile without any person appearing in it she wondred thereat not a little It being close at the shore and she thinking the Fishermen to be asleepe therein stept boldly and looked into the boate where she saw not any body but onely the poore distressed Damosell whose sorowes hauing broght her now into a sound sleepe the woman gaue many cals before she could awake her which at the length she did and looked very strangely about her The poore woman perceyuing by her habite that she was a Christian demanded of her in speaking Latine how it was possible for her beeing all alone in the boate to arriue there in this manner When Constance heard her speake the Latine tongue she began to doubt least some contrary wiâ—de had turned her backe to Liparis againe and starting vp sodainly to looke with better aduice about her shee saw her selfe at Land and not knowing the Countrey demanded of the poore woman where she was Daughter quoth she you are heere hard by Susa in Barbarie Which Constance hearing and plainly perceyuing that death had denied to end her miseries fearing least she should receiue some dishonour in such a barbarous vnkinde Country and not knowing what shold now become of her she sate downe by the boates side wringing her hands weeping bitterly The good Woman did greatly compassionate her case and preuailed so well by gentle speeches that shee conducted her into her owne poore habitation where at length she vnderstoode by what meanes shee hapned thither so strangely And perceyuing her to be fasting shee set such homely bread as she had before her a few small Fishes and a Crewse of Water praying her for to accept of that poore entertainement which meere necessity compelled her to do and shewed her selfe very thankefull for it Constance hearing that she spake the Latine language so well desired to know what she was Whereto the olde woman thus answered Gentlewoman quoth she I am of Trapanum named Carapresa and am a seruant in this Countrey to certaine Christian Fishermen The yong Maiden albeit she was very full of sorow hearing her name to be Carapresa conceiued it as a good augury to her selfe that she had heard the name before although shee knew not what occasion should moue her thus to do Now began her hopes to quicken againe and yet shee could not tell vpon what ground nor was she so desirous of death as before but made more precious estimation of her life and without any further declaration of her selfe or countrey she entreated the good woman euen for charities sake to take pitty on her youth and help her with such good aduice to preuent all iniuries which might happen to her in such a solitary wofull condition Carapresa hauing heard her request like a good woman as shee was left Constance in her poore Cottage and went hastily to leaue her nets in safety which being done she returned backe againe and couering Constance with her Mantle led her on to Susa with her where being arriued the good woman began in this manner Constance I will bring thee to the house of a very worthy Sarazin Lady to whome I haue done manie honest seruices according as she pleased to command me She is an ancient woman full of charity and to her I will commend thee as best I may for I am well assured that shee will gladly entertaine thee and vse thee as if thou wert her owne daughter Now let it be thy part during thy time of remaining with her to employ thy vtmost diligence in pleasing her by deseruing and gaining her grace till heauen shall blesse thee with better fortune And as she promised so she performed The Sarazine Lady being well stept into yeares vpon the commendable speeches deliuered by Carapresa did the more seriously fasten her eye on Constance and compassion prouoking her to teares she tooke her by the hand and in louing manner kissed her fore-head So she led her further into her house where dwelt diuers other women but not one man all exercising themselues in seuerall labours as working in all sorts of silke with Imbroideries of Gold and Siluer and sundry other excellent Arts beside which in short time were verie familiar to Constance and so pleasing grew her behauiour to the old Lady and all the rest beside that they loued and delighted in her wonderfully and by little and little she attained to the speaking of their language although it were verie harsh and difficult Constance continuing thus in the old Ladies seruice at Susa thought to be dead or lost in her owne Fathers house it fortuned that one reigning then as King of Thunis who named himselfe Mariabdela there was a young Lord of great birth and very powerfull who liued as then in Granada and pleaded that the Kingdome of Thunis belonged to him In which respect he mustred together a mighty Army and came to assault the King as hoping to expell him These newes comming to the eare of Martuccio Gomito who spake the Barbarian Language perfectly and hearing it reported that the King of Thunis made no meane preparation for his owne defence he conferred with one of his keepers who had the custody of him and the rest taken with him saying If quoth hee I could haue meanes to speake with the King and he were pleased to allow of my counsell I can enstruct him in such a course as shall assure him to win the honor of the field The Guard reported these speeches to his master who presently acquainted the King therewith and Martuccio being sent for he was commanded to speake his minde Whereupon he began in this manner My gracious Lord during the time that I haue frequented your countrey I haue heedfully obserued that the Militarie Discipline vsed in your fights and battailes dependeth more vpon your Archers then any other men imployed in your warre And therefore if it could bee so ordered that this kinde of Artillery might fayle in your enemies Campe yours be sufficiently furnished therewith you neede make no doubt of winning the battaile whereto the King thus replyed Doubtlesse if such an acte were possible to be done it would giue great hope of successefull preuailing Sir said Martuccio if you please it may bee done and I can quickly resolue you how Let the strings of your Archers Bowes bee made more soft and gentle then those which heretofore they haue formerly vsed and next let the nockes of the Arrowes be so prouided as not to receiue any other then those pliant gentle strings But this must be done so secretly that your enemies may haue no knowledge therof least they should prouide themselues in the â—ame manner Now the reason
they be abused The harsh and vnciuill vsage in her grew very distastefull to Anastasio and so vnsufferable that after a long time of fruitlesse seruice requited still with nothing but coy disdain desperate resolutions entred into his brain and often he was minded to kill himselfe But better thoughts supplanting those furious passions he abstained from any such violent act gouerned by more manly consideration determined that as she hated him he would require her with the like if he could wherein he became altogether deceiued because as his hopes grew to a dayly decaying yet his loue enlarged it selfe more and more Thus Anastasio perseuering still in his bootelesse affection and his expences not limited within any compasse it appeared in the iudgement of his Kindred and Friends that he was falne into a mighty consumption both of his body and meanes In which respect many times they aduised him to leaue the City of Rauenna and liue in some other place for such a while as might set a more moderate stint vpon his spendings and bridle the indiscreete course of his loue the onely fuell which fed this furious fire Anastasio held out thus a long time without lending an eare to such friendly counsell but in the end he was so neerely followed by them as being no longer able to deny them he promised to accomplish their request Whereupon making such extraordinary preparation as if he wer to set thence for France or Spaine or else into some further distant countrey he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with some few of his familiar friends departed from Rauenna and rode to a country dwelling house of his owne about three or foure miles distant from the Cittie which was called Chiasso and there vpon a very goodly greene erecting diuers Tents and Pauillions such as great persons make vse of in the time of a Progresse he said to his friends which came with him thither that there hee determined to make his abiding they all returning backe vnto Rauenna and might come to visite him againe so often as they pleased Now it came to passe that about the beginning of May it being then a very milde and serrene season and he leading there a much more magnificent life then euer he had done before inuiting diuers to dine with him this day and as many to morrow and not to leaue him till after supper vpon the sodaine falling into remembrance of his cruell Mistris hee commanded all his seruants to forbeare his company and suffer him to walke alone by himselfe awhile because he had occasion of priuate meditations wherein he would not by any meanes be troubled It was then about the ninth houre of the day and he walking on solitary all alone hauing gone some halfe miles distance from his Tents entred into a Groue of Pine-trees neuer minding dinner time or any thing else but only the vnkind requitall of his loue Sodainly he heard the voice of a woman seeming to make most mournfull complaints which breaking of his silent considerations made him to lift vp his head to know the reason of this noise When he saw himselfe so farre entred into the Groue before he could imagine where he was hee looked amazedly round about him and out of a little thicket of bushes briars round engirt with spreading trees hee espyed a young Damosell come running towards him naked from the middle vpward her haire disheuelled on her shoulders and her faire skinne rent and torne with the briars and brambles so that the blood ran trickling downe mainly shee weeping wringing her hands and crying out for mercy so lowde as shee could Two fierce Blood-hounds also followed swiftly after and where their teeth tooke hold did most cruelly bite her Last of all mounted on a lusty blacke Courser came gallopping a Knight with a very sterne and angry countenance holding a drawne short Sword in his hand giuing her very vile and dreadfull speeches and threatning euerie minute to kill her This strange and vncouth sight bred in him no meane admiration as also kinde compassion to the vnfortunate woman out of which compassion sprung an earnest desire to deliuer her if he could from a death so full of anguish and horror but seeing himselfe to be without Armes hee ran and pluckt vp the plant of a Tree which handling as if it had beene a staffe he opposed himselfe against the Dogges and the Knight who seeing him comming cryed out in this manner to him Anastasio put not thy selfe in any opposition but referre to my Hounds and me to punish this wicked woman as she hath iustly deserued And in speaking these words the Hounds tooke fast hold on her body so staying her vntill the Knight was come neerer to her and alighted from his horse when Anastasio after some other angry speeches spake thus vnto him I cannot tell what or who thou art albeit thou takest such knowledge of me yet I must say that it is meere cowardize in a Knight being armed as thou art to offer to kill a naked woman and make thy dogges thus to seize on her as if she were a sauage beast therefore beleeue me I will defend her so farre as I am able Anastasio answered the Knight I am of the same City as thou art and do well remember that thou wast a little Ladde when I who was then named Guido Anastasio and thine Vnckle became as intirely in loue with this woman as now thou art of Paulo Trauersarioes daughter But through her coy disdaine and cruelty such was my heauy fate that desperately I slew my selfe with this short sword which thou beholdest in mine hand for which rash sinfull deede I was and am condemned to eternall punishment This wicked woman reioycing immeasurably in mine vnhappie death remained no long time aliue after me and for her mercilesse sinne of cruelty and taking pleasure in my oppressing torments dying vnrepentant and in pride of her scorne she had the like sentence of condemnation pronounced on her and sent to the same place where I was tormented There the three impartiall Iudges imposed this further infliction on vs both namely that shee should flye in this manner before mee and I who loued her so deerely while I liued must pursue her as my deadly enemy not like a woman that had any taste of loue in her And so often as I can ouertake her I am to kill her with this sword the same Weapon wherewith I slew my selfe Then am I enioyned therewith to open her accursed body and teare out her hard and frozen heart with her other inwards as now thou seest me doe which I giue vnto my hounds to feede on Afterward such is the appointment of the supreame powers that she re-assumeth life againe euen as if she had not bene dead at all and falling to the same kinde of flight I with my houndes am still to follow her without any respite or intermission Euery Friday and iust at this houre our course is this way
do offend any other For iealous husbands are meere insidiators of their Wiues liues and most diligent pursuers of their deaths being lockt vp in their houses all the Weeke long imployed in nothing but domesticke drudging affayres which makes them desirous of high Festiuall dayes to receiue some litle comfort abroad by an honest recreation or pastime as Husbandmen in the fields Artizans in our Citie or Gouernours in our iudiciall Courtes yea or as our Lord himselfe who rested the seauenth day from all his trauailes In like manner it is so willed and ordained by the Lawes as well diuine as humane which haue regard to the glory of God and for the common good of euery one making distinction betweene those dayes appointed for labour and the other determined for rest Whereto iealous persons in no case will giue consent but all those dayes which for other women are pleasing and delightfull vnto such ouer whom they command are most irksome sadde and sorrowful because then they are lockt vp and very strictly restrained And if question wer vrged how many good women do liue and consume away in this torturing hel of affliction I can make no other answere but such as feele it are best able to discouer it Wherefore to conclude the proheme to my present purpose let none be ouer rash in condemning women for what they do to their husbands being iealous without occasion but rather commend their wit and prouidence Somtime faire Ladies there liued in Arimino a Merchant very rich in wealth and worldly possessions who hauing a beautifull Gentlewoman to his wife he became extreamly ielous of her And he had no other reason for this foolish conceit but like as he loued hir dearly and found her to be very absolutely faire euen so he imagined that althogh she deuised by her best meanes to giue him content yet others would grow enamored of her because she appeared so amiable to al. In which respect time might tutor her to affect some other beside himselfe the onely common argument of euery bad minded man being weake and shallow in his owne vnderstanding This ielous humor increasing in him more and more he kept her in such narrow restraint that many persons condemned to death haue enioyed larger libertie in their imprisonment For she might not bee present at Feasts Weddings nor goe to Church or so much as to be seen at her doore Nay she durst not stand in her Window nor looke out of her house for any occasion whatsoeuer By means whereof life seemed most tedious and offensiue to her and she supported it the more impatiently because shee knew her selfe not any way faulty Seeing her husband still persist in this shamefull course towards her she studied how she might best comfort her selfe in this desolate case by deuising some one meane or other if any at all were to bee founde wherby he might be requited in his kind and wear that badge of shame whereof he was now but onely affraid And because she could not gain so small a permission as to be seene at any window where happily she might haue obserued some one passing by in the street discerning a litle parcell of her loue she remembred at length that in the next house to her Husbands they both ioyning close together there dwelt a comely yong proper Gentleman whose perfections carried correspondencie with her desires She also considered with her selfe that if there were any partition wall such a chinke or cranny might easily be made therein by which at one time or other she should gaine a sight of the young Gentleman and finde an houre so fitting as to conferre with him and bestow her louely fauour on him if he pleased to accept it If successe in this case proued answerable to her hope then thus she resolued to out-run the rest of her wearisome dayes except the frensie of iealousie did finish her husbands loathed life before Walking from one roome to another thorough euery part of the house and no wall escaping without diligent surueying on a day when her Husband was absent from home she espyed in a corner very secret an indifferent cleft in the Wall which though it yeelded no full view on the other side yet she plainly perceiued it to be an handsome Chamber and grew more then halfe perswaded that either it might be the Chamber of Philippo for so was the neighbouring yong Gentleman named or else a passage guiding thereto A Chambermaid of hers who compassioned her case very much made such obseruance by her Mistresses direction that she found it to be Philippoes bed Chamber and where alwayes he vsed to lodge alone By often visiting this rift or chinke in the Wall especially when the Gentleman was there and by throwing in little stones flowers and such like things which fell still in his way as he walked so farre she preuailed that he stepping to the chinke to know from whence they came shee called softly to him who knowing her voyce there they had such priuate conference together as was not any way displeasing to either So that the chinke being made a little larger yet so as it could not be easily discerned their mouthes might meete with kisses together and their hands folded each in other but nothing else to be performed for continuall feare of her ielous husband Now the Feast of Christmasse drawing neere the Gentlewoman said to her Husband that if it stood with his liking she would do such duty as fitted with so solemne a time by going earely in a morning vnto Church there to be confessed and receiue her Sauiour as other Christians did How now replied the iealous Asse what sinnes haue you committed that should neede confession How Husband quoth she what do you thinke me to be a Saint Who knoweth not I pray you that I am as subiect to sinne as any other Woman liuing in the world But my sins are not to be reuealed to you because you are no Priest These words enflamed his iealousie more violently then before and needes must he know what sinnes she had committed hauing resolued what to do in this case made her answer That hee was contented with her motion alwaies prouided that she went to no other Church then vnto their owne Chappel betimes in a morning and their own Chaplaine to confesse her or some other Priest by him appointed but not any other and then she to returne home presently againe She being a woman of acute apprehension presently collected his whole intention but seeming to take no knowledge thereof replyed that she would not swerue from his direction When the appointed day was come she arose very earely and being prepared answerable to her owne liking to the Chappell shee went as her Husband had appointed where her iealous Husband being much earlier risen then she attended for her comming hauing so ordred the matter with his Chaplaine that he was cloathed in his Cowle with a large Hood hanging ouer his eyes that she
Serpent I purpose with my vtmost hatred and as an ancient enemy to all such as thou art to make my reuenge famous on thee I am not ignorant that whatsoeuer I haue already done vnto thee cannot properly be termed reuenge but rather chastisement because reuenge ought alwayes to exceede the offence which as yet I am farre enough from For if I did intend to reuenge my wrongs and remembred thy monstrous cruelty to me thy life if I tooke it from thee and an hundred more such as thy selfe were farre insufficient because in killing thee I should kill but a vile inhumane beast yea one that deserued not the name of a Woman And to speake truely Art thou any more or better setting aside thy borrowed haire and painted beauty which in few yeares will leaue thee wrinkled and deformed then the basest beggarly Chamber-stuffe that can bee Yet thou soughtest the death of a Gentleman and Scholler as in scorne not long since thou didst terme me whose life may hereafter be more beneficiall vnto the world then millions of such as thou art to liue in the like multiplicity of ages Therefore if this anguish be sensible to thee learne what it is to mocke men of apprehension and amongst them especially such as are Schollers to preuent thy falling hereafter into the like extremity if it be thy good lucke to escape out of this It appeareth to me that thou art verie desirous to come downe hither on the ground the best counsell that I can giue thee is to leape downe headlong that by breaking thy necke if thy fortune be so faire thy life and lothsome qualities ending together I may sit and smile at thy deserued destruction I haue no other comfort to giue thee but only to boast my happinesse in teaching thee the way to ascend that Tower and in thy descending downe euen by what means thy wit can best deuise make a mockery of me and say thou hast learned more then all my Schollership could instruct thee All the while as Reniero vttered these speeches the miserable Lady sighed and wept very grieuously the time running on and the Sunne ascending higher and higher but when she heard him silent thus she answered Vnkinde and cruell man if that wretched night was so greeuous to thee and mine offence appeared so great as neither my youth beautie teares and humble intercessious are able to deriue any mercy from thee yet let the last consideration mooue thee to some remorse namely that I reposed new confidence in thee whē I had little or no reason at all to trust thee and discouered the integritie of my soule vnto thee whereby thou didst compasse the meanes to punish me thus deseruedly for my sinne For if I had not reposed confidence in thee thou couldst not in this maner haue wrought reuenge on me which although thou didst earnestly couet yet my rash credulitie was thy onely helpe Asswage then thine anger and graciously pardon me wherein if thou wilt be so mercifull to me and free me from this fatall Tower I do heere faithfully promise thee to forsake my most false and disloyall friend electing thee as my Lord and constant Loue for euer Moreouer although thou condemnest my beauty greatly esteeming it as a trifle momentary and of slender continuance yet such as it is being comparable with any other womans whatsoeuer I am not so ignorant that were there no other reason to induce liking thereof yet men in the vigour of their youth as I am sure you think your selfe not aged do hold it for an especiall delight ordained by nature for them to admire and honour And notwistanding all thy cruelty extended to mee yet I cannot be perswaded that thou art so flinty or Iron-hearted as to desire my miserable death by casting my selfe headlong downe like a desperate madde woman before thy face so to destroy that beuty which if thy Letters lyed not was once so highly pleasing in thine eyes Take pitty then on mee for charities sake because the Sunne beginneth to heate extreamely and as ouer-much colde that vnhappy night was mine offence so let not ouer-violent warmth be now my vtter ruine and death The Scholler who onely to delight himselfe maintained this long discoursing with her returned her this answere Madame you did not repose such confidence in me for any good will or affection in you towards me but in hope of recouering him whom you had lost wherein you merit not a iot of fauour but rather the more sharpe and seuere infliction And whereas you inferre that your ouer-rash credulity gaue the onely meanes to my reuenge Alas therein you deceiue your selfe for I haue a thousand crochets working continually in my brain wherby to entrap a wiser creature then a woman yet veiled all vnder the cunning cloake of loue but sauced with the bitter Wormewood of hate So that had not this hapned as now it doth of necessity you must haue falne into another but as it hath pleased my happy stars to fauour mee therein none could prooue more to your eternall scandall and disgrace then this of your owne deuising which I made choise of not in regard of any ease to you but onely to content my selfe But if all other deuises els had failed my pen was and is my preuayling Champion where with I would haue written such and so many strange matters concerning you in your very dearest reputation that you should haue curst the houre of your conception wisht your birth had bin abortiue The powers of the pen are too many mighty wherof such weake wits as haue made no experience are the lesse able to vse any relation I sweare to you Lady by my best hopes that this reuenge which perhappes you esteeme great and dishonourable is no vvay compareable to the vvounding Lines of a Penne which can carracter downe so infinite infamies yet none but guilty and true taxations as will make your owne hands immediate instruments to teare the eyes from forth your head and so bequeath your after dayes vnto perpetuall darkenesse Now concerning your lost louer for whose sake you suffer this vnexpected pennance although your choise hath proued but bad yet still continue your affection to him in regard that I haue another Ladie and Mistresse of higher and greater desert then you and to whome I will continue for euer constant And whereas you thinke the warme beames of the Sunne will be too hot and scorching for your nice bodie to endure remember the extreame cold which you caused mee to feele and if you can intermixe some part of that cold with the present heat I dare assure you the Sun in his highest heate will be far more temperate for your feeling The disconsolate Lady perceiuing that the Schollers wordes sauoured of no mercy but rather as couering her desperate ending with the teares streaming downe her cheekes thus she replied Wel Sir seeing there is no matter of worth in me whereby to deriue any compassion from
and honoured and yet by thee is vtterly despised More cruell art thou then any sauage Beast thus to vexe and torment mee in such mercilesse manner What greater extreamity couldst thou inflict on me if I had bin the destruction of all thy Kindred and lefte no one man liuing of thy race I am verily perâ—waded that more cruelty cannot be vsed against a Traitor who was thâ— subuersion of an whole Cittie then this tyranny of thine roasting me thus in the beames of the Sun and suffering my body to be deuoured with Elies without so small a mercie as to giue mee a little coole water which murtherers are permitted to haue being condemned by Iustice and led to execution yea Wine also if they request it But seeing thou art so constant in thy pernitious resolue as neither thine owne good Nature nor this lamentable sufferance in me are able to alter thee I will prepare my self for death patiently to the end that Heauen may be mercifull to my soul and reward thee iustly according to thy cruelty Which words being ended she withdrew her selfe towards the middest of the Tarras despairing of escaping vvith life from the heates violence and not once onely but infinite times beside among her other grieuous extreamities she was ready to dye with drought bemoaning incessantly her dolorous condition By this time the day was well neere spent and night beganne to hasten on apace when the Scholler immagining that he afflicted her sufficiently tooke her Garments and wrapping them vp in his mans Cloake went thence to the Ladies house where he found Ancilla the Waiting-woman sitting at the doore sad and disconsolate for her Ladies long absence to whom thus he spake How now Ancilla Where is thy Lady and Mistris Alas Sir quoth she I know not I thought this morning to haue found her in her bed as vsually I was wont to do and where I left her yesternight at our parting but there she was not nor in any place else of my knowledge neyther can I imagine what is become of her which is to me no meane discomfort But can you Sir say any thing of her Ancilla said he I would thou hadst bin in her company and at the same place where now she is that some punishment for thy fault might haue falne vppon thee as already it hath done on her But beleeue it assuredly that thou shalt not freely escape from my fingers till I haue iustly paide thee for thy paines to teach thee to abuse any Gentleman as thou didst me Hauing thus spoken hee called to his seruant saying Giue her the Garments and bid her go looke her Lady if she will The Seruingman fulfilled his Masters command and Ancilla hauing receyued her Ladies cloaths knowing them perfectly and remembring withall what had bin said she waxed very doubtfull least they had slaine her hardly refraining from exclaiming on them but that greete and heauie weeping ouercame her so that vppon the Schollers departing she ranne in all hast with the garments towardes the Tower Vpon this fatall and vnfortunate day to Madame Helena it chanced that a Clowne or Countrey Peazant belonging to her Farme or Dairy house hauing two of his young Heyfers wandred astray and he labouring in diligent search to finde them within a while after the Schollers departure came to seeke them in Woods about the Tower and notwithstanding all his crying and calling for his beasts yet he heard the Ladies greeuous moanes and lamentations Wherefore he cryed out so lowd as he could saying Who is it that mourneth so aloft on the Tower Full well she knew the voyce of her peazant and therefore called vnto him and sayd in this maner Go quoth she I pray thee for my Waiting-woman Ancilla and bid her make some meanes to come vp hither to me The Clowne knowing his Lady sayde How now Madame Who hath carried you vp there so high Your Woman Ancilla hath sought for you all this day yet no one could euer haue immagined you to bee there So looking about him he espyed the two sides of the Ladder which the Scholler had pulled in sunder as also the steppes which he had scattered thereabout placing them in due order againe as they should bee and binding them fast with Withies and Willowes By this time Ancilla was come thither who so soone as shee was entred into the Tower could not refrain from teares complaints beating her hands each against other and crying out Madam Madam my deare Lady and Mistresse Alas Where are you So soone as she heard the tongue of Ancilla she replyed so well as she could saying Ah my sweet Woman I am heere aloft vppon the Tarras weepe not neyther make any noyse but quickely bring me some of my Garments When shee heard her answer in such comfortable maner she mounted vp the Ladder which the peazant had made very firme and strong holding it fast for her safer ascending by which meanes she went vp on the Tarras Beholding her Ladie in so strange a condition resembling no humane body but rather the trunke of a Tree halfe burned lying flat on her face naked scorched and strangely deformed shee beganne to teare the lockes of her owne hayre rauing and raging in as pittifull manner as if her Ladie had beene quite dead Which storming tempest Madame Helena soone pacified entreating her to vse silence and helpe to put on her garments Hauing vnderstood by her that no one knew of her being there but such as brought her cloathes and the poore peazant attending there still to do her any seruice shee became the better comforted entreating them by all meanes that it might bee concealed from any further discouery which was on eyther side most faithfullie protested The poore Clowne holpe to beare downe his Lady vppon his backe because the Ladder stood not conueniently enough for her descending neither were her limbes plyable for her owne vse by reason of their rifts and smarting Ancilla following after and being more respectiue of her Lady then her owne security in descending missing the step in the midst of the Ladder fell downe to the ground and quite brake her legge in the fall the paine whereof was so greeuous to her that she cried and roared extraordinarily euen like a Lyon in the desert When the Clowne had set his Lady safe on a faire green banke he returned to see what the waiting woman ayled and finding her leg to be quite broken he caried her also to the same banke there seated her by her Lady who perceiuing what a mischance had hapned and she from whom she expected her onely best helpe to bee now in far greater necessity her selfe shee lamented exceedingly complaining on Fortunes cruel malice toward her in thus heaping one misery vpon another and neuer ceasing to torment her especially now in the conclusion of all and when shee thought all future perils to be past Now was the Sun vpon his setting when the poore honest country-man because darke night
At least if it may passe for currant that men may giue away their treasures forgiue mighty iniuries and lay downe life it selfe honour and renowne which is farre greater to infinite dangers only to attaine any thing esteemed and affected Vnderstand then Gracious hearers that in Bologna a very famous City of Lombardie there liued sometime a Knight most highly respected for his vertues named Signior Gentile de Carisendi who in his yonger dayes was enamoured of a Gentlewoman called Madam Catharina the Wife of Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico And because during the time of his amourous pursuite he found but a sorry enterchange of affection from the Lady hee went as hopelesse of any successe to be Potestate of Modena whereto he was called by place and order At the sametime Signior Nicoluccio being absent from Bologna and his Lady at a Farme-house of his in the Countrey about three miles distant from the City because she was great with child and somewhat neere the time of her teeming it came to passe that some dangerous accident befell her which was so powerfull in operation as no signe of life appeared remained in her but she was reputed euen in the iudgement of the best Phisitians whereof she wanted no attendance to be verily dead And because in the opinion of her parents and neerest kinred the time for her deliuerance was yet so farre off as the Infant within her wanted much of a perfect creature they made the lesse mourning but in the next Church as also the vault belonging to her Ancestors they gaue her buriall very speedily Which tydings comming to the hearing of Signior Gentile by one that was his endeared friend Although while she liued he could neuer be gracious in her fauour yet her so sudden death did greatly grieue him whereupon he discoursed in this sort with himselfe Deare Madame Catharina I am not a little sorry for thy death although during thy life-time I was scarcely worthy of one kind looke Yet now being dead thou canst not prohibite me but I may robbe thee of a kisse No sooner had hee spoke the words but it beeing then night and taking such order as none might know of his departure hee mounted on horse-backe accompanied onely with one seruant and stayed no where till hee came to the vault where the Lady was buried Which when he had opened with instruments conuenient for the purpose he descended downe into the vault and kneeled downe by the Beere whereon she lay and in her wearing garments according to the vsuall manner with teares trickling mainly downe his cheekes he bestowed infinite sweet kisses on her But as we commonly see that mens desires are neuer contented but still will presume on further aduantages especially such as loue entirely so fared it with Gentile who being once minded to get him gone as satisfied with the oblation of his kisses would needs yet step backe againe saying Why should I not touch her yuory breast the Adamant that drew all desires to adore her Ah let me touch it now for neuer hereafter can I bee halfe so happy Ouercome with this alluring appetite gently he laid his hand vpon her breast with the like awefull respect as if she were liuing and holding it so an indifferent while either he felt or his imagination so perswaded him the heart of the Lady to beate and pant Casting off all fond feare and the warmth of his increasing the motion his inward soule assured him that she was not dead vtterly but had some small sense of life remaining in her whereof he would needs be further informed So gently as possible he could and with the helpe of his man he tooke her forth of the monument laying her softly on his horse before him conueighed her closely to his house in Bologna Signior Gentile had a worthy Lady to his Mother a woman of great wisdome and vertue who vnderstanding by her Sonne how matters had happened moued with compassion and suffering no one in the house to know what was done made a good fire and very excellent Bathe which recalled back againe wrong-wandering life Then fetching a vehement sigh opening her eyes looking very strangly about her she said Alas where am I now whereto the good old Lady kindly replyed saying Comfort your selfe Madame for you are in a good place Her spirits being in better manner met together and she still gazing euery way about her not knowing well where she was and seeing Signior Gentile standing before her he entreated his mother to tell her by what meanes she came thither which the good old Lady did Gentile himselfe helping to relate the whole history A while she grieued and lamented but afterward gaue them most hearty thankes humbly requesting that in regard of the loue he had formerly borne her in his house she might finde no other vsage varying from the honour of her selfe and her Husband and when day was come to be conueighed home to her owne house Madame answered Signior Gentile whatsoeuer I sought to gaine from you in former dayes I neuer meane either here or any where else to motion any more But seeing it hath been my happy fortune to proue the blessed means of reducing you from death to life you shal find no other entertainment here then as if you were mine owne Sister And yet the good deed which I haue this night done for you doth well deserue some courteous requitall in which respect I would haue you not to deny me one fauour which I will presume to craue of you Whereto the Lady louingly replyed that she was willing to grant it prouided it were honest and in her power whereto Signior Gentile thus answered Madame your parents kindred and friends and generally all throughout Bologna doe verily thinke you to be dead wherefore there is not any one that will make any inquisition after you in which regard the fauour I desire from you is no more but to abide here secretly with my Mother vntill such time as I returne from Modena which shall be very speedily The occasion why I moue this motion aymeth at this end that in presence of the chiefest persons of our City I may make a gladsome present of you to your Husband The Lady knowing her selfe highly beholding to the Knight and the request he made to be very honest disposed her selfe to doe as he desired although she earnestly longed to glad her parents and kindred with seeing her aliue and made her promise him on her faith to effect it in such manner as he pleased to appoint and giue her direction Scarcely were these words concluded but she felt the custome of women to come vpon her with the paines and throwes incident to childing wherefore with helpe of the aged Lady Mother to Signior Gentile it was not long before her deliuerance of a goodly Sonne which greatly augmented the ioy of her and Gentile who tooke order that all things belonging to a woman in such a case were not wanting
they scorne them for full well they know They were not bred to prey so base and low Aloft they look to make their flight more faire And yet his sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments c. If sight shall be denyed then tell them plaine His high triumphall day procurd my death The Launce that won him Honour hath me slaine For instantly it did bereaue my breath That speake I could not nor durst be so bold To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe Alas I lookt so high and doing so Iustly deserue by death to be controld Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while Grant it great loue mine anguish to beguile Goe loue and tell the torments I endure Say to my Soueraigne Lord that I must die Except he come some comfort to procure For tell I may not what I feele and why The lines contained in this Ditty Manutio fitted with noates so moouing and singularly musicall that euery word had the sensible motion of life in it where the King being as yet not risen from the Table he commanded him to vse both his Lute and voyce This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio to sing the dittie so purposely done and deuised which hee deliuered in such excellent manner the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing that all the persons then in the Presence seemed rather Statues then liuing men so strangely they were wrapt with admiration and the King himselfe farre beyond all the rest transported with a rare kinde of alteration When Manutio had ended the Song the King demanded of him whence this Song came because he had neuer heard it before My gracious Lord answered Manutio it must needes seeme straunge to your Maiesty because it is not fully three dayes since it was inuented made and set to the note Then the King asked whom it concerned Sir quoth Manutio I dare not disclose that to any but onely your selfe Which answer made the King much more desirous and being risen from the Table he tooke him into his Bed-chamber where Manutio related all at large to him according to the trust reposed in him Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased greatly commending the courage of the Maide and said that a Virgin of such a valiant spirit did well deserue to haue her case commiserated and commanded him also to goe as sent from him and comfort her with promise that the very same day in the euening he would not faile to come and see her Manutio more then contented to carry such glad tydings to Lisana without staying in any place and taking his Lute also with him went to the Apothecaries house where speaking alone with the Maide he told her what he had done and afterward sung the song to her in as excellent manner as he had done before wherein Lisana conceiued such ioy and contentment as euen in the very same moment it was obserued by apparant signes that the violence of her fits forsooke her and health began to get the vpper hand of them So without suffering any one in the house to know it or by the least meanes to suspect it she comforted her selfe till the euening in expectation of her Soueraignes arriuall Piero being a Prince of most liberall and benigne nature hauing afterward diuers times considered on the matters which Manutio had reuealed to him knowing also the yong Maiden to bee both beautifull and vertuous was so much moued with pitty of her extremitie as mounting on horse backe in the euening and seeming as if he rode abroad for his priuate recreation he went directly to the Apothecaries house where desiring to see a goodly garden appertaining then to the Apothecarie he dismounted from his horse Walking into the garden he began to question with Bernardo demaunding him for his Daughter and whether he had as yet marryed her or no My Gracious Lord answered Bernardo as yet shee is not marryed neither likely to bee in regard shee hath had a long and tedious sickenesse but since Dinner time she is indifferently eased of her former violent paine which we could not discerne the like alteration in her a long while before The King vnderstood immediately the reason of this so sudden alteration and said In good faith Bernardo the world would sustaine a great maine imperfection by the losse of thy faire daughter wherefore we will goe our selfe in person to visite her So with two of his Lords onely and the Father he ascended to the Maides Chamber being entred he went to the Beds side where she sate somewhat raised in expectation of his comming and taking her by the hand he said Faire Lisana how commeth this to passe You being so faire a Virgin yong and in the delicacy of your daies which should be the chiefest comfort to you will you suffer your selfe to be ouer-awed with sickenesse Let vs intreat you that for our sake you will be of good comfort and thereby recouer your health the sooner especially when it is requested by a King who is sorry to see so bright a beauty sicke and would helpe it if it consisted in his power Lisana feeling the touch of his hand whom she loued aboue all things else in the world although a bashfull blush mounted vp into her cheekes yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise and so well as she could thus she replyed Great King by opposing my feeble strength against a burden of ouer-ponderous weight it became the occasion of this grieuous sickenesse but I hope that the violence thereof is almost already kild onely by this soueraigne mercy in you and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliuerance The King did best vnderstand this so well palliated answere of Lisana which as he did much commend in regard of her high aduenturing so he did againe as greatly condemne Fortune for not making her more happy in her birth So after he had stayed there a good while and giuen her many comfortable speeches he returned backe to the Court This humanity in the King was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and his daughter who in her owne mind receiued as much ioy and contentment thereby as euer any wife could haue of her owne Husband And being assisted by better hopes within a short while after she became recouered and farre more beautifull in common iudgment then euer she was before Lisana being now in perfect health the King consulted with his Queene what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall for louing and affecting him in such feruent manner Vpon a day determined the King mounting on horsebacke accompanied with many of his cheefest Lords and Barons he rode to the Apothecaries house where walking in his beautifull Garden hee called for Bernardo and his daughter Lisana In the meane space the Queene also came thither Royally attended on by her Ladies and Lisana
kinsman and being absent remaine your friend assuring you that whether what is done shall please or displease you if you purpose to proceed any otherwise I will take Gisippus along with mee and when I come to Rome take such sure order to fetch her hence who in Iustice is mine euen in meere despight of you all and then you shall feele by sound experience how powerfull is the iust indignation of the wronged Romanes WHen Titus had thus concluded his Oration he arose with a sterne and discontented countenance and tooke Gisippus by the hand plainly declaring that he made small account of all the rest that were in the Temple and shaking his head at them rather menaced then any other wise seemed to care for them They which tarried when they were gone considering partly on the reasons alleadged by Titus and partly terrified by his latest speeches became induced to like well of his alliance and amitie as with common consent they concluded that it was much better to accept Titus as their kinsman seeing Gisippus had made manifest refusall thereof than to lose the kinred of the one and procure the hatred of the other Wherefore they went to seeke Titus and said vnto him they were very well contented that Sophronia should bee his Wife hee their deare and louing kinsman and Gisippus to remaine their much respected friend And embracing one another making a solemne feast such as in the like cases is necessarilie required they departed from him presently sending Sophronia to him who making a vertue of necessity conuerted her loue in short time after to Titus in as effectuall manner as formerly shee had done to Gisippus and so was sent away with him to Rome where she was receiued and welcommed with very great honour Gisippus remaining still at Athens in small regard of eyther theirs or his owne friends not long after by meanes of sundry troublesome Citizens and partialities happening among the common people was banished from Athens and hee as also all his familie condemned to perpetuall exile during which tempestuous time Gisippus was become not onely wretchedly poore but wandred abroad as a common begger in which miserable condition he trauelled to Rome to try if Titus would take any acknowledgement of him Vnderstanding that he was liuing and one most respected among the Romanes as being a great Commander and a Senator he enquired for the place where hee dwelt and going to be neere about his house stayed there so long till Titus came home yet not daring to manifest himselfe or speake a word to him in regard of his poore and miserable estate but stroue to haue him see him to the end that hee might acknowledge and call him by his name notwithstanding Titus passed by him without either speech or looking on him Which when Gisippus perceiued and making full account that at the least he would remember him in regard of former courtesies done to him confounded with griefe and desperate thoughts hee departed thence neuer meaning to see him any more Now in regard it was night he hauing eaten nothing all that day nor prouided of one penny to buy him any food wandred he knew not whether desiring rather to die than liue hee came at last to an old ruinous part of the City ouer-spred with briers and bushes and seldome resorted vnto by any where finding a hollow Caue or vault he entred into it meaning there to weare away the comfortlesse night and laying himselfe downe on the hard ground almost starke naked and without any warme garments ouer-wearied with weeping at last he fell into a sleepe It fortuned that two men who had beene abroad the same night committing thefts and robberies together somwhat very earlie in the morning came to the same Caue intending there to share and diuide their booties and difference happening betweene them about it hee that was the stronger person slew there the other and then went away with the whole purchase Gisippus hauing heard and seene the manner of this accident was not a little ioyfull because he had now found a way to death without laying any violent hand on himselfe for life being very loathsome to him it was his only desire to die Wherfore he would not budge from the place but taried there so long till the Sergeants and Officers of Iustice by information of him that did the deede came thither well attended and furiously ledde Gisippus thence to prison Being examined concerning this bloudy fact he plainly confessed that hee himselfe had committed the murder and afterward would not depart from the Caue but purposely stayed for apprehension as being truely toucht with compunction for so foule an offence vpon which peremptorie confession Marcus Varro being then Praetor gaue sentence that he should be crucified on a Crosse as it was the vsuall manner of death in those dayes Titus chancing to come at the same time into Praetorium aduisedly beholding the face of the condemned man as hee sate vpon the bench knew him to bee Gysippus not a little wondring at this strange accident the pouertie of his estate and what occasion should bring him thither especially in the questioning for his life and before the Tribunall of Iustice His soule earnestly thirsting by all possible meanes to helpe and defend him and no other course could now be taken for safetie of his life but by accusing himselfe to excuse and cleare the other of the crime hee stept from off the iudgement bench and crouding through the throng to the Barre called out to the Praetor in this manner Marcus Varro recall thy sentence giuen on the condemned man sent away because hee is truely guiltlesse and innocent With one bloudie blow haue I offended the Gods by killing that wretched man whom the Serieants found this morning slaine wherefore Noble Praetor let no innocent mans bloud be shed for it but onely mine that haue offended Marcus Varro stood like a man confounded with admiration being very sorrie for that which the whole assistants had both seene and heard yet hee could not with honour desist from what must needs be done but would performe the Lawes seuere iniunction And sending for condemned â—isippus backe againe in the presence of Titus thus he spake to him How becamest thou so madly incensed as without any torment inflicted on thee to confesse an offence by thee neuer committed Art thou wearie of thy life Thou chargest thy selfe falsly to be the person who this last night murdered the man in the Caue and there is another that voluntarily also doth confesse his guiltinesse Gisippus lifting vp his eyes and perceiuing it was Titus conceiued immediately that he had done this onely for his deliuerance as one that remembred him sufficiently and would not be vngratefull for former kindnesses receiued Wherefore the teares flowing abundantly down his cheekes he said to the Iudge Varro it was none but I that murdered the man wherefore I commiserate the case of this Noble Gentleman Titus who speakes now too