AVRELIA The Paragon of pleasure and Princely delights Contayning The seuen dayes Solace in Christmas Holy-dayes of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas Pastimes sundry other well-courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen in a noble Gentlemans Pallace A worke most sweetely intercoursed in ciuill and friendly disputations with many amorous and pleasant Discourses to delight the Reader and plentifully garnished with Morall Notes to make it profitable to the Regarder By G. W. Gent. R I HEB DDIM HEB DDIEV At London printed by Richard Iohnes 1593. To the friendly Readers both Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Wealth and Welfare GEntlemen Gentlewomē I present you here as I think a profitable vnpolished labor For he that is the Trouchman of a strangers toung may wel declare his meaning but yet shall marre the grace of his Tale And therefore Themistocles the noble Captayne and Philosopher of Athens compareth such forced speeches to Tapistrie Hangings rowled vp which being open appeare beatifull and foulded reserue their Vertue but lose their shew But I expect somwhat a better euent then may an Interpreter that is bound to a present Reporte for my Respit hath been sufficient to consider of Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable companies vertues and least by rash acquital of their fauours I should doe iniurie to their reputation I haue with well aduised Iudgement bethought me of such memorable Questions and deuices as I heard and saw presented in this most noble Italian Gentlemans Pallace the Christmas past and answerable to my weake capacitie haue exposed the same in such sorte as if you be not too curious may delight and content you and if not too carelesse may direct and benefite you And to satisfie you herein I giue you friendly knowlehge that Segnior Philoxenus reuerent regarde of the Queenes Maiesties high vertues is a president for you with a dutiful and vnfayned heart to loue feare and obey her Highnesse from whom next vnder God you receiue such blessings as throgh the whole world her excellencie is renowmed and your prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill entertainement of straungers you may perceiue with what Garland Courtesie is principall crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bargetto and other Gentlemen herein named you haue a President of gouernment which will commend you and by well regarding their speeches you shal finde a discreet methode of talke meete for you Gentlemen The like benefite shall Gentlewomen receiue in imitating of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas pleasures Maria Beloch◠Lucia Bella Franceschina Sancta and the rest of the well qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Moral documents needful reprehensions and wittie sayings to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewoman Courteous Gentlemen and Gentlewomen you haue here the honorable institution of Mariage so perfectly Anatomed as a very weake iudgement may see the causes which make housholde quarrels to resemble Hell Agayne the man which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will change his priuate house into a Paradise on earth If ciuil Moral pleasures with al these benefites may make you entertayne this booke and report wel of the Author I assure you you shal be pleased and I satisfied But if you make your tongue enemie to your owne reputation you may detract but not reproch the work Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Calumniators to scorne when either are ready to doe the discreete Reader seruice Some wil perchance more of enuy to heare a stranger commended then of pitie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good entertainmēt of Segnior Philoxenus But to giue such suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankfulnesse I here protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgiue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amends in a little pitie But for that they and all such as view my reporte may learne of me to be gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen that this trauel is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debtor and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Vertues and my paynes to profite and commend themselues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherefore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen I end as I hope to finde you friendly Your assured friend G. W. T.W. Esquier in the commendation of the Author and his needfull Booke EVen as the fruitefull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Sweete Honie drayne and layes it vp to make the profite ours This Morall Author so to vs he doth imparte A Worke of worth culd from the wise with iudgement wit Arte. No Stage toy he sets foorth or thundering of an Host But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burning fire and frost Such vertues as beseeme the worthy Gentles brest In proper colours he doth blaze by following of the best The Vertue is but rare and Vice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th' abuse Such matter in good words these fewe leaues doo reueale Vnforst or strainde as that it seemes a kindely common weale Of forced Mariage he dooth shew the fowle euent When Parents ioyne the childrens hands before their hearts consent And how these fortunes eke in wedlock seldome prooue Vnequall choyce in birth in yeares and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned proofes this sacred state dooth rayse As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest prayse More euery Page here doth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as helpe the weake and doe confirme the wise Which needlesse were to blaze in prayses to allrue The holy Bush may well be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to Ismarito in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth dayes exercise placed in this Forefrunt for the excellencie of Pandora THe mighty Ioue beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angrie moode sent Iris downe to moue Throughout the world the exercise offoes With vengeance armde who powred downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fire Whole Countries burnde did dimme the Sunne with smoake The Canon noyse the ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the heauens shoke The Temples spoylde the Townes to ruine went Vnwilling yet to worke the Worldes decay Ioue Cyllen sent in part his wrath to stay Who hastes his charge with Wings as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the ground He could no way for clowdy darkenes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie Apharos
of brauerie whom the whole troupe reuerently saluted and honorably accompanyed vnto the Chappell After Seruice Dinner and all were solemnly ended Quéene Aurelia with a chosen company Musick refresheth the wit retyred her self into a pleasant drawing Chamber to execute the reported ordenaunce But to quicken the Spirites of the company before they entred into discourse she commaunded a faire Eunuche Boy to sing some one song as he thought good who obaying her commaundement with a heauenly note vnto the Lute sung this louing lay NO ioy comes neere the heauenly ioy of loue When we imbrace the wish of our desire All pleasures els that kinde or Art may moue To loue are like the heate of painted fire Loue is the roote whereon sweet thoughts do growe Loue is the sowrce from whence content doth flow When I beholde my Misterisse in the face Loue from her eyes a thousand Graces throwes But when in armes I doe her selfe imbrace One smiling looke exileth all my woes Then straight our lips prepare themselues to fight And on ech kisse loue sets a new delight What would you more I wish me in my graue Were but my soule with halfe these pleasures crownde And heare on earth to be my Misterisse slaue I holde me free and others to be bound Wherefore I sing which I in solace proue There is no heauen to life bestowed in loue The swéet deliuery of this sonet so inchanted the harts of the hearers as for a space their sences gaue place to the contemplation of their soules In the end Madona Isabella by this motion made the whole company a passage for spéech If Loue be so swéet a passion quoth she I muse from what cause procéedeth the complaints of Louers who with showring teares bedewe the earth with misty sights dimme the aire and with shrill outcries pearse the heauens The cause quoth Soranso procéedes of our fleshly imperfectiōs which corrupts the nature of good things and not of any defect in loue Loue simply is good for loue is a simple deuine vertue and hath his being in the soule whose motions are heauenly I haue read quoth Isabella that there be sundry kindes of loue The vse of loue are diuers quoth Soranso as in zeale towards God The distinctions of loue in duety towards our Country in obedience towards our parents and in affection towards our fréends All which motions procéede foorth of one loue although some are more vehement then the other euen as many Riuers doo run out of one Spring whereof some haue a more swift course then the other But of that passion which we ordinarily call loue the wish either tends to Mariage or wantonnes There is matter of disputation in Mariage quoth Franceschina Knowne euik are not to be defended because the estate is honorable and yet subiect to crosse fortunes But touching your conclusion of wantonnes deserues to dye in silence for known euils are to be chastened without allowing their defences Madame quoth Faliero vnlesse you reuoke this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes Canons Priests may not marry and they haue a custome among themselues not to liue chaste Well quoth Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne me as an heretick good men will cannonise me for a vertuous Virgin These digressions quoth Quéen Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories A necessary note then to conclude any beneficiall matter for our instruction And therefore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one argument thē sieightly to ouerrun many causes where the doubts we leaue vnresolued wil be more dangerous vnto the hearer then the counsels we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame A contention whether Mariage or the single life is the worthier quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obey your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single life is the greatest testimony of Chastity A ciuill Contention to proue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens wits encountring in doubtfull questions openeth a passage for imprisoned Truth Quéene Aurelia Argument decideth doubts and the rest of the company liked very well of the Subiect and studying who were the fittest to deale in this controuersie Aurelia with a glauncing eye behelde that her seruant Ismarito witsafed no greater token Wise silence worketh more regarde then foolish talke that he tooke delight in these actions then sometime the secret bestowing of a modest smile whereupon she forethought that as Floods when they are most highest make least noise euen so perchaunce his still tongue was gouerned by a flowing wit and desirous to sound his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which will serue in this question I feare me you commaund Loue so much A fault in many trauellers as you contemne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Trauailer the nature of which sort of people is to swell with a monsterous disdaine of Mariage The reason is say they their affections are paysoned with the knowledge of womens so hamous euils as they dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they haue learned so many subtilties to deceiue a shiftles woman as dandled with the imbracements of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wife And if you be infected with the humour of these sorte of Trauailers you may well vndertake this charge All vnmarried passe vnder the name of chast for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I commaund you to vse all your possible proofs in the Defence of a Single life and for your assistance I do appoint you Lucia Bella whom this charge cannot mislike because as I vnderstand she means to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therefore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so deepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue your suggestions not answeared and my owne innocency vnexcused and only attend the incounter of him that wil maintain Mariage to be more worthy then a Single life which vocation of Mariage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Sir Defences of Mariage quoth Soranso though white be a faire colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though
but a Goddesse here on earth and Iuno is Quéene of Heauen Dianaes force is in her Bow and Arrowes Iuno bestoweth Thunderbolts vpon her enemies Diana is attired with gréene leaues and Iuno with glorious Starres Diana féedeth on rawe fruites and drinketh colde water Iunoes Feastes are of Manna and her bowles are fild with Nectar Dianaes musick is no better then the voyces of a few Nimphes Iuno is recreated with the harmony of Angels Dianaes pastime is a foote to chace the fearefull Roe where Iuno in Phaetons winged Chariot pursueth a thousand seuerall pleasures then by how much the pomp of Iuno excéedeth the naked Triumphs of Diana by so much Mariage must néedes be more worthy then the Single life Lucia Bella that should haue answered Aluisa Vechio not vnlike the Marigolde that closeth her Beauty when Phoebus is attired with his brightest rayes so admired the glory of Iuno Vaine glorious shewes bewitcheth women that as an inchaunted creature her tongue forgot her naturall office the reason was her hart was sodenly surprised with an ambitious desire of honor Which change Ismarito perceiued with the first and least her silence should conclude a yéelding All is not golde quoth he that glistereth Contentment neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest nor euery thing counterfet that is not curiously garnished a smiling countenance is no ful testimony of a merry hart nor costly Garments of a rich Purse And perchaunce the griefe of Iunoes secret discontentments is greater then the delight of her glorious pomp where Diana who as a Diamond in the darke shineth of her selfe néedeth not the Ornaments of Iuno And as she is simply of a pure substance so her thoughts must néedes be swéet and quiet Sir quoth Maria Belochy our soundest iudgements are of those things that we our selues sée therefore if the apparance of Mariage be worthier thâ—n the apparance of the single life if sentence be truly pronounced it must be in the behalfe of Iuno Quéene Aurelia pâ—rceiuing the increase of Ismaritos aduersaries for who can stop a streame measure the sire weigh the winde or hinder Fancies passages and with all considering how that the controuersie was sufficiently debated commanded the contenders to kéepe silence and referred the question to be iudged by Fabritio and Isabella Who hauing aduisedly considered the reasons on both sides agréed that a single chast life pleased God because Chastity is pure and also delighteth man because shee quieteth the minde but a chast maried life both pleaseth and honoreth God because Mariage hourely presenteth the worlde with the Image of himselfe pleaseth and profiteth man because she giueth him a companion by affection changed into his owne disposition of whom he hath children who in despight of death preserueth him aliue And therefore the sentence of them both was pronounced by Fabritio Sentence giuen in the behalfe of mariage in the behalfe of Mariage who withall enlarged her prayses with the report of many swéete Blessings which she liberally bestoweth vpon her Subiects But lest the company should haue béen fired with too hasty a desire of Mariage hee cooled their affections with such caueats as they that had their voyces ready tuned to sing the prayses of God Hymen were of the sodayne as mute as a fish by reason whereof Fabritio had frée passage for his counselling reporte who after many wordes to either purpose deliuered concluded with the opinion of Plato That Mariage was a paradise on earth Platoes opinion of Mariage if her Lawes be obserued and a Hell in the House where her Statutes are broken The Gentlewomen wist not what to say to Fabritios bitter-swéete commendation of Mariage vntill Bargetto quickned their tongues by this pleasant suggestion Pleasant talk is good phisâ—â—k for sorrowe If quoth he Platoes opinion be law by the same reason women are either Angels or Diuels And why not men as well as women quoth Isabella whose dispositioÌ„ beareth the greatest sway in this vocation I will shew you a reason quoth Doctor Mossenigo men with a meane can temper their passions The extreame passions of a woman when a woman hath no measure in her loue nor mercy in her hate no rule in her pittie nor piety other reuenge no iudgement to speak nor patience to diffemble and therefore she is likened vnto the Sea A Gundelo is a little Boate like a wherry which one while is so milde as a smal Gundelo indureth her might and anon with outrage she ouer whelmeth the tallest ship Ah master Doctor quoth Katharina 〈◊〉 I feare me you are so learned Hien sometimes a man and somtimes a woman as like the Hyen you change your selfe sometimes into the shape of a womaÌ„ but yet of this malitious purpose to learne their dispositions only to reproch their kind but had any of vs the cunning to become a man but a while I imagin we should euer after loue that better to be a woman You haue rather cause quoth Dondolo to let master Doctor kisse your hand for commending your kinde then to blame him by a surmise of iniurie offered vnto women for if there be a few good they couer the faults of a number that are euill as a little golde guildeth a great quantity of iron and for any thing he sayd you haue as generall an interest in vertue as in vice Yea but quoth Quéene Aurelia he is to be blamed for his intent The intent of euill is to be punished which was euil and deserueth not to bee praysed for the good which came of it which was our merite Madame quoth the Doctor so much greater is the good you receiue by my Trespasse as thereby you are honoured with the vertue to forgiue Yea Pardon is to be vsed in ignorant and not in wilful faults but quoth she remission is to bee vsed in ignorant offences and not in wilfull My habite quoth he is a testimonie that I spake not of malice So much quoth she the greater is your fault in that it procéeded vpon pleasure The punishment of great offenders doth most good in examples and where you think to priuiledge your selfe by your habite for example sake you shall at open Supper bath renounce your heresie and make satisfaction or abide the Iudgement of these Gentlewomen If there be no remedie quoth he I must obey The Doctor thus taken tardie gaue occasion of laughter vnto the whole company Which blowne ouer quoth Soran so we haue trauayled this day to an vnfortunate end for that now towards night we are entered into an open Champion where we find many broad wayes to Hell and but one crosse path to heauen Well quoth Quéene Aurelia we will take other times to beate out the true passage And least wee be lated wée will no further to day Whereupon after a courtly reuerence done Quéene Aurelia with her Attendantes shewed her selfe in the great Chamber where she might repose her mind with the choice of
offend through ignorance which is excused without a pardon for ignorance is without intent of euil therefore to be suffered though not to be cherished a man may offend through necessitie which commendeth Iustice with the vertue to forgiue for necessitie is bound vnto no law and therefore deserueth not to be punished with the rigour of law To the third a man may offend through rashnes and make amends with repeutance which Iustice may pardon without preiudice to equity and herein faire Mistres I haue showen my trespas and the reparation of my trespasse To your third thrée questions Three iniuries may pas vnteuenged a man may hurt his friend against his will which is an iniurie yet ought not to be reuenged for reneng can but afflict the trespasser and the misfortune grieueth him before the husband a man may kisse the wife by mistaking which is an iniury not to be reuenged for the wife may wipe away the wrong with her hand and the husband by reuenge may make worke for the Chirurgion and to the last a man must be content to take good words of a beggerly debtor which is an iniury not to be reuenged for a man can haue of a Cat but her skin and of a begger but his scrip vnles he will sell the Apothecary the greace of the one and the dice maker the bones of the other The whole company gaue a verdict that Bergetto had expounded his Mistres doubts without blemish to Iustice and therefore were ernest suters for his remission Whome shée pardoned with this prouiso that hée should behaue himselfe honourably towards women hereafter For his libertie Bargetto reuerently kissed his Mistresses hand and thus all vnkindnesse pacified Quéene Aurelia mouing a little raisde the company from the Table who a pretty time after dinner had respyt to prepare their wits for the accustomed exercise The Clocke had no sooner sounded the disputation houre but Quéene Aurelia and her Ladies were ready in the drawing Chamber and vpon warning the chosen Gentlemen gaue their attendance who hauing taken their places the Eunuck knowing his charge vnto the Lute sung this Sonet TO thee I send thou fairest of the fayre The vowes and rites of an vnfained heart Who with my plaints doe pearce the subtill Ayre That Beautie thou maist heare and see my smart Who sues but that thy deputie on earth May take in gree my off'rings of good will And in account returne my Loue in worth With charge thy priests my bones to ashes burne And with the same thy aulters all to meale That I may make to serue eache louers turne The peace off'ring with Sacrifice of zeale This Sonet in Beauties behalfe put the whole companie in remembrance of Doctor Mossenigoes last nights lauish spéech of Beautie and the scandalous comparing of her to poyson or which is worse a more subtill infection and therefore to bée resolued of his wrong or her gyltines Quéene Aurelia appointed Monsier Bargétto to bée her Champion and to assist him for it was agréed that frée choice of Mariage should this day be disputed whose affection for the most procéedeth from the vertue of Beautie she lycensed euery one that fauoured her cause which done she willed the Doctor and his fauorers to spit their venym Maddame quoth the Doctor Olde men are bound by their grauitie to say no more then they will stand to it neither beséemeth the stayednes of my yeares nor agréeth with the grauitie of my profession in such an assembly to speake the thing I dare not auouch therefore since it cōmeth to this issue that I must hazard vpon a charge or shrinke away with shame though my enemies be many my cause is iust vpon which warrant I am feareles of my foes and resolute in mine opinion Bargetto likewise glad of this fauour protested before Quéene Aurelia and the whole company that in the faithfull execution of his charge the prodigall spoyle of his life should giue contempt to death The Doctor The dash of a Pen is more grieuous then the counterbuse of a lance that had giuen as many déepe wounds with his Pen as euer he had done with his lance shronke no more at these threats then an Oke at the Helue of an Axe but coldely willed him to vse his pleasure hée was ready to defend or to die in his opinion Whereupon Bargetto to strengthen himselfe the better made this remembrance of the yester dayes report It is quoth he already approoued Free choise in mariage defended if the married in forced mariages could as well finish with the Church as they can account with their consciences their ioy to be Maried was not so colde as their destre to bée deuorsed would bée whot therfore by this awke ward successe in forcement a frée choise in Mariage cannot choose but continue as I think as much loue betwéene the Maried as the other sowed debate Rashnes and constraint quoth the Doctor are both violents Reproofe c. Defence c. and euery violent is a vice then how can a vicious attempt haue a vertuous successe men doo euill quoth Bargetto that good may come of it and it is allowed And men doo good quoth the Doctor that euill may come of it and it is forbidden Reproofe c. for it is the intent both in good and euill that commendeth or condemneth and what good intent hath the foolish young man that by his rashnes in mariage robbeth his parents of their comfort and himselfe of his credit He satisfieth his fancy quoth Bargetto a special regarde in Mariage where there is a swéete accord betwéene the Maried the parents cannot but reioyce and the neighbours are bound to speake well and beautie in his wiues face wil féed his heart with a thousand delights so that he shall sustaine want with little griefe labour to get wealth with a great desire for where vnitie is small things growe to great Such may be the vnitie quoth the Doctor as smal griefes may growe to great sorrowes Reproofe c. when the winde is in the neck of a stooping Trée it falleth downe right and when the vnthriftines of the Husband agréeth with the euill huswiferie of the Wife Sorrow striueth to be in the maried mans bosome before the maried be in his wiues bead and what other expectation may there be either of the one or the other when he satisfieth his fancie before he considereth of the duties of Mariage and she in taking an husband that is ignorant in the affaires of husbandrie and in offices of Mariage It is the office of the maried to be aduised ere he loue Duties before Mariage and louing to be reposed in his choise It is the office of the maried to be prouide for an household before he take possessiō of his hearts delight and it is the office of the maried to examine the conditions of his mistresse before he enter into any couenant of mariage And how
vnpleasant Her anger kéepeth seruants in awe and her quicknesse ouerséeth their negligence if her tung runne at riot where she hunts there is store of abuse which must be chased either with blowes or words if y◠fury of her spéech offend her Husband it is like that her outrage groweth from his fault and where an iniury is offered it is sufferable if the wrong be blamed but which maketh a ful amends for her furious mood as the clowdy and rainy day lightly cléereth towards night euen so though she bitterly scowld at boord she wil be sure to kisse swéetly a bed The auncient Gentlemen commending the quick wit of this yong Gentleman In blaming mildens is to be vsed vsed this circumstance before he refelled his error Ah quoth he if wit were as aduised in Iudgement as he is ready in conceite his imaginations would turne to wonderfull effects but as fairest colours soonest staine as swéetest flowers are blasted with a breath as beautifull creatures are blemished with a little care as the brightest Sun threatneth suddaine raine yea as euery mortall thing hath his imperfection euen so wit being mortall Wit simply in imperfect and assigned by Nature to make man glorious aboue other creatures by rashnes corrupts the ripenes of his conceites and to good purpose his pride is thus abated for other wise man which inioyeth wit to worship his Creator and to liue content with the liberties of the sea and to kéepe him within the limits of the earth would search the secrets of heauen and I think dispossesse Pluto of hell Yong Gentleman quoth he I vse not this ceremony to represse your liberty of spéech for the errour of your rashnes I will refell with reason and experience but least héeraftèr you should be as arrogant in opinion as you are ripe in conceite I haue thought good fréendly and bréefely to signifie your imperfection and now to answere your late suggestion I affirme that Nature hath created nothing to a néedlesse purpose but not withstanding our abuse or mischance changeth hurtfull things into occasions of our help surfite and sicknes only commendeth Medicine and as you affirme the bloud of a Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper But take away the cause which procéedeth from our gréefe and you shall finde medicine an enemy to health and the stinge of a Scorpion no better then death and trust me he is to be reckoned a foole and his misfortune to passe vnreléeued that wilfully indammageth his health in hope of remedy In like sort let him liue vnpittied to ouersée the slacknesse of his seruants who will marry a wife whose tung shall ouer-rule himselfe But more particularly to describe the properties of an vnquiet wife and more largely to discourse the displeasures of her vnfortunate husband I will approoue her lowrings as vnprofitable as his life is vnpleasant you say her quicknesse ouerséeth the negligence of sernants but I affirme that her curstnesse maketh them as swift to runne away Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruant as they were slowe to serue her and common vse auowes that often shift is neither beneficiall for Maister nor seruant for proofe as the rowling Stone gathereth no Mosse and want of vse canckereth Iron in likewise thrift flyeth the fléeting Seruant and idlenes consumeth his ability of seruice Now touching the euill reckoning of those which are serued their wandering seruants not onely charge their common accounts with double wages but with secret pilfering they set their maisters in more déepe arrerages The Grecians that in times past neither vsed medicine for sicknesse Gienta a venemous herb one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke nor patience in aduersitie but vpon euery great veration poisoned themselues with venemous Cienta In their Histories remember more that haue voluntarily died through the violence their Wiues tunges then of any other calamity Diogenes being demaunded the diuersity of an euill betwéene ascold a harlot answered They differ as the Viper doth from that crockadill for the scolde saith he with outrage destroyeth her Husband A needfull regarde for yong Gentlemen and the other with dissembling loue consumeth him to death And so concluded thē both enemies to life and quiet liuing of man Phrisio being both modestly warned and throughly answered with a blushful grace replyed the the grauity of his person and the sound reason in his wordes had taken from him al occasion of further Question vnles that women were his Iudges An ill cause asketh a partiall iudge This wittie shift moued such as were within the hearing to smile for where the cause is ill it is necessary to séeke a Iudge that is partiall and which commended Phrisios gouernment vpon a small check he left to contend with this ancient Gentleman for yong men although their wittes be good are not priuiledged to dispute with the grauer sort without licence intreatie or great renerence By this time the Mountibanke with describing the qualities of his vermin and the Zanni in shewing the knauish conditions of his Maister had wasted a good part of the night and wearied the most part of the company so that desire of repose summoned them vnto their lodgings MADONA AVRELIA Her fourth daies pleasures Containing varietie of necessary discourse and yet withall the greater part appertaining to the generall argument of Mariage SO déepe are the impressions of sorrow The great impression as the faining of Poets may be helde for Morall truthes where as they affirme that the bitter mone of Orpheus tung together with the passionate sound of his Instrument moued such ruth in infernall creatures as while he was a suter to Pluto for the restitution of his wife Euridice his plaints so charmed the torments of Hell as for the time the Gripe forbare to teare vpon Titius growing hart Tantalus indeuoured not to drinke Danais daughters leste filling of their brincklesse Tub toyling Sisiphus sate and eased himselfe vpon his rowling Stone yea and Pluto ouercharged with pitie made restitution of Euridice This sorrow to heare that Quéene Aurelia by some distemperature was sick and kept her Chamber wrought such gréefes in the hartes of the whole company that they hung their heads in disgrace like Garden Flowers which séeming as teares are cloyed with the dewe of a foule mistie day True sorrow is knowne rather by sighes then words Among the rest Ismarito although he vsed not so many words of lamēt as some other did yet with the teares of his hart he solemnifed the true rites of a Mourner and to say truth where the tung hath frée passage to talke the hart is occupied with no great gréefe Segnior Phyloxenus séeing Ismarito in this passion and that occasion entertained him with no other busines while the rest of the company were hearing of a little superstitious seruice The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a most rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie lead him into a very faire
essentiall substance without the other But to dispute of this secret in nature at large were vnpleasing to their chast eares and bréefey too mistical for their vnderstandings But who so is so curious in search let him read that Philosophers probleames with an vnpartiall iudgement and he shal finde thē in substance euery way as perfect as meu and in that opinion of the eye The quality and not the quantity commends of al that sences who is the most perfect iudge they far excel man in purenes of complection where exception is taken to the few in number of fingulerly wel qualified women I affirme that it is not the quātity but the quality that commends a little salt relisheth more then a great deale of sugar Iudith with her owne hands atchiued a more honorable conquest then all the Cilisions besides Alexandra the wife of Alexander king of the Iewes whē the vnciuill multitude were ready for his tiranny to make the intrails of dogs a sepulture for his dead body yea to be further auēged to murther his two Sonnes by her swéet behauiour so mollified their cruell harts as loosing their resolutions they gaue her husband an honorable burial prostrated thēselues at her childrens féete which pacification the strength nor wisdom of her counsel could not obtain Eua. By what instrumēt did God first show the vigor of his vēgance by a woman And by what instrumēt did he show the vertue of his mercy Our Lady by a woman Soueraigne vertue is Femenine and I blush to tel it Yrkesome Vice is Masculine The Ladies laughed outright to heare Ismaritos difference But Soranso halfe angry answered that if Ismaritos countrymen were of his minde they might be ashamed that they were so effeminate Pardon me Where an iniury in words may be reuenged in words a Gentleman is not bound to his swoord quoth Ismarito it is their commendation to yéelde vnto women and to conquer men Tush tush quoth Bargetto to nip himselfe by the nose Ismarito is to be pardoned for his Captaine S. George is shackled in a womans garter It is true quoth Ismarito but thus fettered he hath many times chased S. Michael to his Mount Fabritio fearing that these crosses would turne to the Deuils blessing Discreete standers by pacifieth contentions studied how to accorde this contention and with that intent quoth he Ismarito you haue well deserued to kisse these Ladies hands for your honourable commendation of their sexe Vertue and vice both Feminine and Mesculine But where you say Vertue is the Feminine and vice the Masculine both men and women are vnderstoode in either The olde Diuines tooke Vertue to be God and Vice the Diuell and either to be both Feminine and Masculine Orpheus saide that Iupiter and Pluto were both Male and Female It is also read in Scripture That God fashioned both man and woman to his owne likenes Moreouer this word Homo signifieth both kindes so that since Man and Woman are not simply of themselues but compounded one of an other I blame this vnnaturall contention for excellencie for neither can obtaine Soueraigne victorie without dooing iniury to themselues The head among some is taken for the Man Note and the hart for the woman for both are of an indifferent gender and al the other members indifferently at their commandement Quéene Aurelia with a smiling countenance answered that she was content that a Man should gouerne as the head and women direct as the hart and because we will not doo iniury vnto our naturall vertue of Modesty we will giue place to you Modesty an naturall vertue in a woman in contention for Soueraignties and binde you to serue vs for our vertues and therewithall in rising she broke of this controuersie After Supper there was a little time bestowed in hearing of swéete musicke but for that Quéene Aureliaes late distemperature grew of ouer watching the company this night went vnto their lodging in a good houre MADONA AVRELIA Her fift daies pleasures Contayning a briefe discourse touching the excellencie of Man and a large discouery of the inconueniences of ouer loftie and too base Loue with other morall notes needfull to be regarded THe last nights good houre of repose was the cause of the companies this dayes early rising who by nine of the clock entered the great Chamber armed for any lawdable exercise And after an accustomed dutie of salutation discharged euery man bethought himselfe of some pleasing matter to entertayne the present time Soranso Ismarito were seuered from the rest of the cōpany vpon priuate discourse which being ended Soranso casting his eye aside beheld in the hangings the picture of Ixion herdled to his tormenting whéele Sée yonder The Fable of Ixion quoth he the worthy scourge of Ambition and withall reported the Fable of his presumptuous making of loue to Iuno Nay quoth Ismarito Ixion is rather the example of Vayne-glorie punished To be proud in vertues is commendable for Iupiter so well allowed of Ixions hie minde in that he represented his Image as hée raysed him from Earth to Heauen and because he should not perish in his affection he satisfied his desire with the embracement of a counterfeit Iuno The scourge of vainglory and so sent him backe vnto the Earth where vaine glorious Ixion Proclaymed that he was the Minion of Iuno and had Acteoned Iupiter for which arrogancie Iupiter threw him to hell with this pictured vengeance Questionlesse quoth Soranso this imagination of the Heathen Poet could not but be the trauell of a diuine spirit it exposeth such néedfull matter for Christians to contemplate of You néede not doubt of your opinion The soule trauaileth to bring forth diuine monuments in the heathen quoth Ismarito for after God had created Adam after his owne Image he scattered the séede of Adam vpon the face of the whole world and wheresoeuer the essentiall forme of Adam was there was also the Image of God which in the most barbarous Heathen creature laboureth to bring out hie and excellent things I beséech you quoth Soranso to enlarge this discourse I am not so simple to beléeue that we are like the Image of God in our outward shape yet my knowledge is not perfect in what vertues we resemble the Image of God Referring you A discreete exordium for young men that argue for your better knowledge to grauer iudgements quoth Ismarito I will only to satisfie your request say what I haue read and what in my opinion standeth with reason In our exterior body to say we resemble God were a grose ignorance The excellency of man throgh the vertue of the soule but in that our soule is closed within our body and giueth life and mouing to the whole body it is no absurdity to conclude the lesse within the greater to shewe how the soule resembleth God who consisteth in a Trinitie Notwithstanding she is but one yet
she comprehendeth in her thrée dignities to wit Intendment Wit and Memorie And as the sonne is ingenered of the Father Three dignities of the soule and the holy Ghost procéedeth from both euen so Will is ingendered of Intendment and Memorie procéedeth from both and as the thrée persons of the Trinitie are but one GOD so the thrée powers of the soule are but one soule and in that man is created in this sort Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and contemplate on great matters according to the Image of God because he should resemble his creator in excellencie hee is formed straight and not curbed to behold the earth not thereby to shew a difference betwéene him and other brute Beastes but only because he should rayse his spirite and heaue his eyes to heauen his originall to contemplate of diuine and durable thinges and not of earthly and such as perishe And sure the Monuments that to this day renowme heathē Alexander Iulius Caesar Scipio Haniball and many other stout warriours Plato Pythagoras Socrates Solon and many thousand graue Philosophers were the exercises of the soule who in her function is alwayes occupied to make men shine like Angels And doubtlesse the exploits of man would be wonderfull and glorious Three euils or defects of the body were not the passages of the thrée powers of the soule Intendment Will and Memorie stopped with these thrée euils or defects of the body Ignorance of that which is good Couetousnes of that which is euil and the Infirmitie and languor of the body These be the euils that eclipse the excellencie of many who other wise would appeare more glorious then the Sunne Moone Starres and Christall Firmament into whose motions reuolutions and influences his knowledge foreséeth or the earth with all her fayre furniture which he gouerneth and therefore he is called Microcosmos for that in excellencie he egalleth the beauty of the whole worlde Sir quoth Soranso you haue enchaunted my eares with such a pleasing regarde as if you were as tedious in discourse as I would be attentiue in hearing we should both lose our dinners without any great repining but in adnantage I beséech you what may bee the remedie of these thrée euils which thus obscure the excellencie of man Thrée soueraigne remedies quoth Ismarito to witte Three remedies against the 3. euils of the body Wisedome Vertue and Necessitie which to chase the other thrée euils are thus ordered Wisdome against Ignorance Vertue against Vice and Necessitie agaynst Infirmitie Wisdome is to be vnderstoode according to the condition of the things wherein we be ignorant Vertue is an habite of the soule which without great difficultie cannot be shaken out of his place and subiect By Necessitie The original of al Artes and Sciences absolutely is intended a supplie against those wants with which Infirmity hath charged vs as if we be lame to haue horse to ride if we be sicke to haue medicine if our bodies be weake to haue nourishing meates c. And by these thrée remedies all Artes and Disciplines haue béene inuented to acquire Wisdome Theorique which is contemplatiue Theorique and consists in these thrée partes Practise Theologie Phisicke and Mathematique was found for Vertue Practise which is actiue and deuided Mechanichall craftes into Solitarie Priuate and Publike was put in vse And for Necessitie all Mecanicall craftes were inuented These thrée vertues if we imbrace them will chase the other thrée both out of our body soule and remembrance You haue giuen me a short swéete reason quoth Soranso And a long remēbrance of my weak vnderstanding quoth Ismarito but for that I haue made this Sermon vpon your importunitie your courtesie I hope will pardon me as well as your wisedome will correct my errours I had thought Ceremonies had béen in disgrace Curtesie is commēdable but superfluous sauours of flatterie among you Englishmen quoth Soranso but I finde you superstitious in courtesie and therefore will take no example by you but let it suffice I am your friend and will deserue this fauour in any resonable seruice By this time Dinner was ready to bée set vpon the Boorde and Quéene Aurelia came agayne vnto the open view whose presence was as welcome vnto the generall company as the cleare Sunne after rough stormes to the wether-wearied Saylour After she had acquited the courteous salutations of the whole troup she first took her place then the rest as they pleased or were accustomed At this Dinner there passed much pleasant Table talke impertinent for this reporte which being done at the accustomed houre Quéene Aurelia sent for the chosen cōpany who placed in the drawing chamber the Eunuch knowing his charge tuned his Lute and sung this following Sonet WHo prickles feares to pluck the louely Rose By my consent shall to a Nettle smell Or through faint heart who dooth a Lady lose A droyle I wish or to leade Apes in Hell On Thornes no Grapes but sowre Slowes do growe So from base loue a base delight doth flowe Then minde crowne thou my thoughts aboue the skie For easie gaynde the Conquest is not sweete My sancy swift with Icarus wings doth flie Yet fastned so as fire and frost may meete For pleas'd am I if hope returne but this Grace is obtaynde thy Mistresse hand to kisse A Grace indeede far passing all the ioy Of egall loue that offereth wish in will For though her scorne and light regard annoy Despaire of grace my fancie cannot kill For why this ioy all passions sets in rest I dayly see my mistresse in my brest Whoso inuented this Sonet quoth Quéene Aurelia deserueth to be well fauoured of his Mistresse in that hee kept her so carefully in his bosome Nay quoth Dondolo if his eyes were so subtil as absent he could sée her behauiour his affection were more dangerous then his seruice necessary We giue you to know quoth Isabella that we wey not though our Husbands a hundred miles off know our behauiours at home I thinke so quoth the playne Doctor for so farre off they may sigh at their owne mischance but not chasten your amisse Perchance they should not be charged with such iniurie as this company should be quoth Maria Belochi if we would offer to answere your enuious suggestions Ladies I speak not with intent quoth Soranso to make a question of your behauiours but admit you of al creatures the most perfect yet for that you haue motions as wel bad as good you may many times make shew of euill and yet not doe amisse which if your husbands be so quick sighted as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your heartes and so from shadowes may growe euill effects If their sight bée so quicke quoth Francheschina Sancta then though by anegligent trespas their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsages they will giue them dayly occasion of