be thoughte that Geniuera enioyed litle quiet and lesse contentemente in this meane while solicited I can not tell by what desyer to defye whollye the remembrance of Diego wherein she was the rather forthered by an information that he bare still the tarssell of hys fyste whyche she iudged to be done onely in despite of her So when her woman offred to presente thimbassage of the knighte she fell into suche tearmes of frenzie that the simple brute or name of Dom Diego sturred vp such hainous alterations within her that to her former wroth was added a present wodnes in such sorte that she seamed for the tyme to labor indifferently betwene thextreme panges of death and vse of longer lif albeit restored at laste by the greate diligence of her woman she coulde not so wholly dismisse her furie but she imparted the passion of her anger to her eyes who after they had some what eased her inwarde greef by a nomber of dollorous teares put her eâ—tesones in the possession of her former speache whiche she witnessed in theis exclamations Ah traitor and disloyall knighte vnworthie euery waye to participat with the breathe of the common ayre and no lesse meritorious of the honor or bare title of knighthodde hath the coÌ„stant honest loue I haue borne the deserued this vnhoneste recompense is it a vertue to pretende loyaltye vnder a masqued vyserne of detestable deceite if theis be the frutes of thy fayth purifyed thorowe so many othes what exspectatioÌ„ of assurance is there in the promisse of any man Is it I that must fele the stynge of thy infectioÌ„ What cause haue I giuen the to imagin the spoile of mine honor and imparte the praye to an other vnworthie euery waye of iust comparison to me Yf not in louynge the more then was conuenient to thy inconstante and dissemblinge disposition I haue embased mine honor to aduaunce thy renowme howe couldest thou without blushing attempte the offer of my good will hauing thy conscience poysened wyth so many spotes of abhominable traison howe dareste thow presente me the baise les â—ains by the mouth of a messenger seinge thy whole bodye is alredie vowed to the seruice of an other no no seinge God hath reueiled the vnto me afore thy villanye put effecte to the ruine of mine honor I doubte not only to defende me hereafter from the force of thy deceitfull charmes but also sweare vnto the by the eternall maiestie of the higheste that albeit force makes me the treasores of thye wickednes yet assure thy selfe from hensfurth at my handes of such fauor as thou maist exspect of the most mortall enemy thou hast in the world wherwith to giue the last farewel to the pore Diego she writ ymediatly certeine lynes and deliuered theym sealed to her page with commissyon that the nexte daye hee shoulde méete the knyghte on the waye commynge thether and delyuer the letter wyth Instruction besydes that affore hee came to the house hee shoulde reade the contentes and performe the effecte whereof the page beinge made to the string fayled not of any point for the next day hée met Dom Diego a quarter of a league frome the house presentynge hym the letter wyth hys commission by mouth who kissinge the paper of his mistres in honor of her that sent it opened the packet and founde that whych foloweth Albeit the coutynuall complaynt of my gréeffe ymportes no dispence of my dollor yet in exclayming against the wroÌ„g thou haste don me I shal so desypher thy villanye that the whole world shall fynde cause not onely to proclayme open shame vpon the but also by my misfortune beware of thin fections of thy detestable traison whereunto if I haue added more credit then ther was cause on thy side the remeÌ„braÌ„ce of that whyche is past preferring a contynuall view of thy periured trothe is to defende mée hereafter from the offer of semblable perill neyther wyll I liue hensfurthe in feare of future euyl or stand in awe eftsones to be infected by the for that I haue not onely banished the remembraunce of Diego oute of euery corner of my mynde but also am of intente to performe such vengance and punishmente of my selfe that if I fele any vaine member or other parte in me bente neuer so little to fauor the or sewe for grace on thy be halfe to vse no lesse crueltie in tearinge the same from the reste then thy disloyaltie hath sturred vp suche iuste cause of vnsemely tyranny in me And for thy parte O periured knight sith it is thy only trade to beate euery bushe where thou thinkeste to bée eyther birde or neste goo pitche thy nettes where thou art sewer of praye and baite thy hookes with tearmes of deceite to entrapp her whose late presente is of more force wyth the then the honeste and chaste loue which vertue began in vs both for seing abirde hath made y t more lighte then the winde that supportes her in the ayre God forbid that Geniuera eyther admit thy excuses or allowe thy iustifycacion and muche lesse wishe the other good then to sée the torne in peces wyth the moste extreme tormentes that euer martired any traitor whych is the laste fauor thou hast to hope for of me who lyueth not but to worke the spite aboue any enemye thou hast in the world Geniuera la blonde He had no soner redd these sorowfull newes but liftynge hys eyes to heauen he called God to witnes of hys innocencye who onely beyng priuye to thynteggretie of hys mind colde also iustefye hys loyall meanynge towardes her who vniustly abused the sincere vertue of hys vnmouable affection and as he ment ther to prefer some discourseâ—n hys purgacion the page who was not so amplie instructed of hys mistres as mortall enemye to Dom Diego staide thintente of hys meaninge by the reaporte of that whyche he hadde in charge by mouth saying that he colde do no greater pleasure to Geniuera then to shon all places of her repaire seing saith he that as the frendshipp you haue vowed to the doughter of the Lord Sero hath discouered your vntroth towardes her So she hath geuen iudgement agaynst youre vertue for fedyng two simple gentlewomen indifferently with the foode of one vncerteine hope wherewith he departed leauinge the knight in lesse care thenne affore for that conferringe her grudge with the cause he thought the small occasion founded also vpon an vntrothe wold in shorte tyme take awaye the force of her collor albeit hee colde not so whollie dismisse the remembrance of her displeasure nor gouerne his owne passion but retorning to his castell aboue an ordynary pase went to hys chamber wher pulling the poore hawke from the pearche committed her presentlye to a thousande morsels and cursing her that sent her wyth his owne follie in receiuing so vile a thinge enchaunted as he thought by some furye or magicall charme determyned ymediatlye to presente hys mistres with the sacrafize of
be taken awaye from the dolourous regarde of suche wretched desolation to th ende that I alon mighte not liue as the od relike or vttermost reste of our subuerted house And albeit we may chalēge the first place in the beadrol of vnhappy wretches seinge our fortune hath exchaunged oure auncient felicitie for a present lyfe of extreme miserye yet yf there be anye cause of consolation in aduersitie we haue raison to ioye in the condicion of our state chefly for that we are not iustely to be charged with imputacion of euil or dishonest trade any waie and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of pouertie pinchynge extremely the discourse of our lyues hath so confirmed the generositie of our auncestors that we kepe the consent of al voices to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any respect of vertue or showe of true nobilitie For I haue alwaie indeuored to obserue this one rule discipline of the re nowmed Emperour captaine MARCVS ANTHONIVS who persuadeth that as the heyght of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature So the frowarde disposition of fortune oughte not to take awaye or diminishe the constancie of the mynde with this addicion that he beareth her malice best that hydes his myserye moste Besides thusmuche dare I aduouche of my selfe that as I was neuer presented with the offer of any good tourne whiche I haue not thankefullie requited to thuttermoste So I haue not bene a nigarde of anye thinge I haue on the nedefull behalfe of my frende or other companion detestynge alwayes that anye iote of ingratitude shold staine the reputatiō wherin I haue lyued hytherunto For as amongest a nomber of vices in men nowe a dayes the note of vnthanfulnes is no lesse detestable then anye of the reste So for my parte I wishe the rigour of THATHENYANS lawe vpon hym who seames eyther forgetfull of the benefyt passed or vnthankefull to the frendship of hym that brought succours to his necessitie when he dispaired of relief wherin my deare sister albeit you maye happelye imagine the cause of this longe circunstaunce yet can you giue no certeine iudgement of the ende or conclusion nor diuine ryghtely the meanynge of the misterye whiche I purpose to reueale vnto you The threatnynge perill whiche earste houered to cut in sonder the fyllet of my lyfe is of so late a tyme that I am sewer youre minde hath not yet dismissed the remembraunce of so fearefull a tragedye neyther haue you forgotten I knowe howe as it were by speciall miracle I was boughte out of the handes of the executioner of iustice and redemed from the rigorus sentence of the partiall senatt without thassistance of any my parentes or alyes by eyther simple offer of worde or effect wherin as I am warned by this experience not onlye to putt small confidence in anye of my kynsmen hereafter but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flatteringe show of fained face so I haue tasted of so great a pleasure at the handes of hym who neuer deserued well of mee nor I cause to ymagyne any one droppe of humanitye in hym on my behalfe that yf I do ryght to his vertue I haue reason to admitt hym not onlye amonge the felowshippe but also the firste and chiefe of my deare frendes for beinge pressed so muche wyth the iniquitte of the tyme wyth freshe assaltes of newe afflictions and forsaken with all of my nearest frendes I had reason to ymagyne and cause to feare that thonly malice of oure mortall enemyes for the extirpation of the whole stocke and roote of oure race had bene the workers of my laste trouble and daunger of deathe But good syster in this distruste I haue abused the vertue of our late aduersary deseruynge to indure pennance for entringe into conceites of conspiracye agaynste hym whose late benefyte excedinge the ymaginacion of all men hath made me bounde to honor the remembrance of his name with a debte of dutie so longe as nature shall phan in mee the breathe of lyfe for in place where I feared most daunger I founde moste sauetie and where I exspected least sewertye I encowntred moste assurance And that hande whiche I attended only to giue the fatal blowe of my destruction hath not only remoued all occasions or offers of present perill but become the chiefest pillor and proppe of mine honour and lyfe hereafter wherin because you shal be partaker of the playnnesse of my tale aswell as you haue vsed patience in the hearinge of the circumstance yt is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our aunciente persecutours who hath made so manyfeste a declaration of his affected zeale towardes our howse that in taking your brother owte of the handes of thunrighteous senate present daunger of perentorye destruction he hath seamed so lauishe of his liberal mynde that in place of vii C florentes he hath paide a thousande Duckattes for the ransom of hym who iudged hym the moste crewell enemye of the worlde what argumente of noble harte is this or howe seldom dothe a man encounter suche rare frutes of vertue frendes knitt together by a speciall league of amytie or mutuall vowe of frendeshippe do oftentymes make the worlde wonder of the sondry frutes and effectes of constancie which appeareth betwene theime but where the mortall enemie beinge neyther reconciled nor required nor demaundinge any assuraunce for the pleasure he dothe paieth not only the debte of his aduersarye but restoreth his state when hee is at pointe to performe the last of his fatal somaunce I thinke it excedes all the consideration of suche as vse to discourse vppon the doinges of menne I knowe not what title to geue to the acte of SALYMBYNO nor howe to tearme this his curtesye yf not that his doinges deserue a better meede thenne the renowne of DAYMON and PITHIAS or other moste loyall frendes whome the writters doo fauor wyth suche surnames of glorye but as I am a chiefe witnes of hys vertue so the example of hys presente honestie hathe sturred vppe suche an affected humor wythin me that eyther I wyll dye in thindeuor or els I wylbe equall yf not hable to excede hym in the retourne of hys liberalitie wherein beinge iustelye bownde to engage the beste parte in me for the recompense of that good torne whiche gaue increase to my lyfe I am to craue a special assistance of you Syster for the complotte of the deuise whyche I haue alreadye ymagyned and fullye resolued to performe to th end I maye bee onelye bownde to you for thacquitaunce of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO by whose helxe you that earste Lamented the losse of libertye and lyfe of youre brother maye nowe congratulate hys healthe and happye delyuerye where wyth the faire ANGELIQVA fully resolued by this laste report of her brother that it was SALEMBINO whyche hadde surmounted all her parentes and frendes in the delyuerye of her onelye confort
reformacion in them who are borne to beare the yoke of awe and commandement of their husbandes retournynge therewyth to the sequeile of SALYMBYNO who workynge the laste effect and consommation of his curtesye gaue the one halfe of his goodes of all sortes in fauour of the mariage adopting at thinstant the MONTANYN as his brother in lawe and assured frende with generall substitution to all his goodes if he chaunced to dye without heire of his bodye and hauyng children he conueighed vnto hym by suche assuraunce in reuercion as the lawe coulde deuise that moytie whiche he gaue in dowerye to his faire ANGELIQVA whome the Sonday folowynge he maried with pompe due to both their estates to the vniuersall contentement of his frendes and speciall quiet of the Citye who had endured longe affliction by the mortalitie and ciuill warre of theis ij houses Suche be the varieties happenyng in the successe of our wordly affaires wherein who wil denye but that aduersitie somtime is necessarie for men seinge she doth not only force a wonderfull remorce and reformacion of lyfe but also workes often tymes an effect of that wherin appeared an absolute impossibilitie of conquest by any other meane And truly the vertue of this example discredites vtterly the commendacion of the auncient ROMAINES amongeste whome as there chaunced diuerse tymes greate enimyties and grudge of mynde so there folowed a spedie reconcilement albeit not by suche meanes as this franke attonement betwene the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS but some were reclaymed by the offer of promocion some solicited by the voice of the whole common welth and confirmed by the present gyfte of some notable office and other with a regard to peculyar proffit not one of them all approchynge neare the magnanimitie in the worste of these three whereof the one sommoned by a passion of loue scamed to excede nature in perfourmynge an exploit not hable anye waye els to be wrought to effect And yet there be that cryenge out againste loue paintes hym in cullors of rage follye and frenzye but suche are rather abused wyth theyr owne conceites then hable to consider ryghtelye the vertue of that impression for loue in the noble harte is no other thing then the true subiecte of curtesye the fountaine from whence distilleth the originall of all cyuill and good order the onelye meane that moues vs to moderacion when we are inclined to crueltie or reuenge and the chiefest norsse and preseruer of peace amongest men wherein yf some vile disposition happen to violat or peruert the lawes of so necessarie and auncient institution of nature the vertue and subiect it selfe yet oughte not bee touched wyth the cause of suche faulte nor deserue to be noted of any corruption seinge suche derogation procedes by the abuse of hym that knoweth not the perfection of the thynge which falles out also in experience in diuerse other accidentes who beinge vertues of them selues do loase theyr credit by the malice of suche as abuse them vyllanouslye whervpon the good thynge is often condemned by the folly of suche as are ignoraunt in the perfection of the same in the other appeares a rare disposition of a bountifull mind so farre from the abhominable spot of ingratitude that his lyfe was ready to bee offred for the satisfaction and discharge of the curtesie if the other had required it wherein as you maye see greate effectes of true magnanymitye and wherein a noble mynde oughte not to bee ouercome with the vertue of honeste curtesye so touchynge the price of the victorye I meane whiche of the three is moste meritorious of commendacion and deserueth to weare the garland I referre the iudgement to thindifferencie of suche as wythout passion or parcialitye doe vse to note the chaunces happenynge to men you see a mortall enemye sorowed for the miserie of his aduersarie but solycited thereunto you will saye by the ineuitable force of loue whiche also wroughte his delyuerye the other marched wyth the glorye of a present so rare that the greatest Monarcke of the worlde maye be astonyed with the remembraunce of his prodigall bountie The wonderfull zeale and affection of the syster towardes her brother chalengeth no lesse praise then the reste who albeyt she had séene a proof of the curtesye of her enemye yet had she no assurance of his modestie notwythstandynge to discharge euerye waye her dutye towardes her brother she layde her virginitye vppon the blocke of vyolacion the fyrste claymeth to bee victor because his laste vertue in the mariage excedes his former curtesie but he hath ouerthrowen his enemie and not won the feelde so that he is not to enioye the prayse or price of the victorye The absolute resolution of the younge Ladye to kyll herselfe if she were forced to dishonnour againste her wyll takes awaye all glorie and commendacion from her yf the care to kepe honour and virginitye dyd not preuaile aboue the preseruation of lyfe the brother and thirde of this Crew albeyt this prodigal offer proceded by compulcion of the former bountye of hys frende yet the noblenes of hys mynde was equall to the reste and hys vertue nothynge inferiour to eyther of the other twoo And yet yf it were not the singuler respecte he had to retourne hys benefytt wyth double interest wyth care to bee more then sufficientlye thankefull to his patrone I coulde dyminishe hys glorye wherein because the lamentable tragedye of twoo poore louers sōmones me to discouer theyr misaduenture wyth no lesse reason to furnishe the stage with a declaracion of theyr loyaltye then your Ladyship hath alredye harde the whole discourse of the rare vertues in SYENNA I leaue suche Gentlemen and skilful Dames who take paine to skan this historye to argue the cause at large and resolue iudgement at leasure not doubtynge of your integritye in yeldynge the true tytle of tryumphe and glorie to some one of the three whome you accompte moste worthie to bee crowned with the Lawrel of victorye FINIS The argument THere is nothinge how good and profytable so euer it appeare whereon attendethe not a discommodytie to hym that deales in it wythout discrecion together with a perentorye displeasure in receiuing it contrarye to the consent of good gouernemēt wherin I may be assisted with sufficient confirmation in a daylye experience of the ordynarye meates brothes and other confeccions tollerated by phizicke for the sustentacion of man whiche albeit bee good of theim selues yet being swallowed in glottonous sort they do not only procure a surfeyt with vnsauery indisgestion but also conuerting our aunciente healthe and force of nature into humors of debylytie destillinge thorowe all the partes of the bodye do corrupte the blodde which of it selfe afore was pure and without infection Euen suche is the disposition of loue whose effectes directed by reason whiche oughte to guide euerie accion and doing of man be not suche enemies in deede to the quiet of our lyfe as necessary meanes to reforme the rudenes of our
helpe in mortall distresse it is tyme nowe good madam to conuerte your Auncient crueltie into an humour of compassion both to defende your self from thymputacion of a tyrant and my lyfe from a wretched ende of miserable dispair ceasse hensfurthe to dissymule thuttermost of your rigour or drop of present grace seinge that both the one and the other hath indiffrent power to releue my distresse eyther by death in denieng me your fauour or contynuance of longer lyfe by impartyng your specialle grace come cruell misters and see thy vnfortunate LIVIO without hart hope or argument of longer breathe yf by a promisse of thy good will thou breathe not an ayre of freshe consolacion and by the sommaunce of thy worde reuoke my dyeng mynde from thys tombe of myserable dispaire where in I feele my self so tormented with thofficers of deathe that nature ceassyng to supplie my weary partes with force I fynd an impossibilitie in my tonge to obey any longer the desyers of my hart wherewith his breath began to drawe short staying the course of further speche yf not that in entryng into hys fatall traunce he exposed certeine dolefull groanes whyche caused bothe the younge Ladies to Ronne in haste to the succour of the patient whome they founde stryuinge with thextremetie of hys laste pange albeit not without some litle perye of breathe whyche he seamed to reserue wyth greate difficultie whereuppon CAMYLLA seynge a prouffe of his constancie euen to the laste moment and hauynge but one meane to releue hys traunce made no conscience to lett fall her rosye and courrall lyppes vppon the mortifyed mouthe of her diynge LIVIO who receyued suche present consolaciō by thys offer of fauour vnloked for that y e force of nature and vitall strengthe ready to depart out of euery vayne of hys bodye retired to theyr auncient places wherewith he vsynge the benefytt of his fortune forgatt not to embrase his Ladye with an infinite of kysses whereof shee restored hym a double interest albeit because he shoulde make no greate proffytt of thys soddayne courtesye and to preuent with all a suspicion of lyghte behauiour in her self she vsed her accustumed wysdome entering into familiar conference in thys sort I hope SEIGNEVR LIVIO you will not conuert thys compassion whych I haue vsed in the rappeale of your mortall farewell into any synister opinion of the diminucion of thintegretie of CAMILLA who as longe as she lyueth will so stande vppon the garde of her honour and honest renowme that no degree shall haue iuste cause to reprehende the leaste fauor shee extendes to any man in whyche conceyte I am also content to impart a credyt to your loyaltie perswadynge the same to bee without fiction whereof I am no lesse glade then I hope the loue whyche youe beare me is chaste and of honest intent respectynge an ende of sinceritie for yf I sawe any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat wyll did guide your desyer and were the cause of your passion assure your selfe I woulde make lesse conscience to committe me to the mercye of the moste horrible tourmentes in the worlde eye and perill of present deathe then to lease anye parte of that whyche makes me marche without blushynge amongest the beaste of oure contrey in whyche respect wyth full perswacion of a sincere simplicitie in your loue I can not but retourne you a semblable fauour with absolute assuraunce from thys instaunte of such firme affection and zeale as any ladye oughte to impart to hym who seekes her frendshyppe in sorte of honeste and lawfull mariage neyther shall yt dekaye after theffect of desyer be parformed nor dymynishe by any synister accident vntill the fatall sequestracion of our sowle and bodye whereof lette vs vse wisdome in the conueyghe of suche affaires as maye bee taken bothe in good and euyll parte to th ende that the maiestye of the hyghest beyng not offended our honour fall not into the slaunder of the worlde wherein for a first charge to bee comitted to your diligence and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemencie of your affection towardes me dispose your self to demaunde me of my Father whose consent you shall fynde me to confirme in such sorte as your selfe shal deuise Arme your selfe then with compfort and retire to healthe at the request of her who takynge no pleasure in solitarie regardes wisheth you to reserue this precious flower of your youth for other exercises then to wast with passions of desperacion no lesse enemies to the strenghte of the bodye then hurtefull to the healthe of the sowle and seynge besides that in the recouery of you consistes the healthe of your syster suspende no longer the consolacion of her and contentement of your selfe and me who in attendynge your expedicion to procure the goodwill of my father will dispose my selfe in the meane while to bee thankefull vnto you any waye wherein myne honour and honestye will iustifie my doynge whiche laste wordes seamed of suche operation in the traunsed mynde of LIVIO that discharged as it were of a perillous vision in a dreame lyfted vp hys eyes and handes towardes heauen yeldyng honour to the goddes for hys happye encounter and kyssynge the white and delycate hande of hys newe mystresse he forgatt not to gyue her suche humble thankes as the greatenes of hys felicitie required whych seamyng to hym to excede the compasse and power of fortune iudged it rather the vertue of a dyuyne miracle then an effect mortall for that in so soddayne amoment he was acquited of so perentory a daunger assuring her that assone as health and strengthe of body woulde assyste the desyer of his mynde he would performe her comaundement in demaundynge her fathers consent wherein he hoped to delay no long time for that he felte a wonderful approche of health by the viewe of her presence in his late last storme of afflictiō I wold do no lesse saith she then yelde you soccours in so great an extremitie both to delyuer my selfe out of payne in seinge you passioned and also to qualifye the greffe of my deare companion your syster to whom you are also bounde in some sorte to be thankeful for my commynge hether For albeit my conscience sommoned me to a compassion of your torment with desier to yelde you the due hyer and consideraciō of the honest loue you beare me yet y e regarde of mine honour deniynge me to visite you seamed an impediment to theffect of that wherunto I was bounde by so many duetifull merites prayinge you for ende to excuse that whiche is past and pardon me for the present in that I can not assiste you with longer companye persuadyng thy selfe my deare LYVIO that althoughe my bodye muste supplye an other place to coullour the trafficque of our loue and preuent suspicion yet thou hasts made suche a stealth of my hart that the same will not fayle to kepe the companye in my absence wherewith takynge her leaue
can afore the sequestration of the earthelye substance from the part of diuinitie whyche wee partycipat with God and what contentement or glorye so euer they reappose in thys monstrous abrydgement of nature reprehendynge theym of destoyaltie whyche do the contrarye yet their acte merites none other name then the title of brutalitie neyther can I thynke but their opynion is guided by some sprite or humor of frantyke follye lyke as yt is not the part of a Christiā as the Appostle affirmeth to prefer the fyckle pleasures of the flesh whych are of shorter moment then the thoughtes of a man afore the feare of God recke of our life and care to present our sowles with out spot afore the troane of mercie in the daye of generall accompte when all thoughtes shal bee deciphered and no falte vnpunyshed the poore girle of the chamber to the dead CAMILLA seynge thys fatall misterye wyth the distresse she was in for that she was a companion of the conspiracye thinkynge to giue ende and playe the laste acte of the tragedy serched about the chāber for some glaue or sword or other thinge apte to make the minister of her blody intent being deceaued that way she had no other meane to playe doble or quit but with impetuosity of dollor wherein she raged with such doleful skryches that the brute of her cōplaint awaked the whole house whereof the first that entred the chamber of funeralles was the tyraunt CLAVDIO whoa albeyt was thenly cause of this dolorous massacre yet in place of confessyng his falte or yelding sorow to the losse of such ij loiall louers he grewe in more rage by the viewe of the dead body of LIVIO wherof as he would willingly haue cōmitted a new morder sauing that he sawe him without respiration or argumēt of lyfe so his anger being torned into wodnes rage into furye he wreaked his collor vpon the poore girle to whome he gaue iij. or iiij estockados with hys dagger thorowe the bodye and slonge ymediatlye oute of the chamber to the greate amaze and terrour of hys vnfortunat father who seynge hys house full of morders and hys sonne committed oppen slaughter in the person of the innocent gyrle coulde not so gouerne his passion of dolour but he seamed more ready to passe that waye then desyrous to enioy longer life albeit beyng kepte from doynge force agaynst himselfe by certaine hys seruauntes that were there he vttered sompart of hys inwaerde gref by open exclamation agaynste hys owne misfortune inveighynge chyeflye agaynste the inordin at will of hys daughter with aduise to all fathers to kepe a steddye eye vppon their slypprye y outhe wherein he comended vnto theym the example of hys owne follye in fauoryng so much the fonde appetit of hys daughter that he gaue leaue to her Libertye to excede the viewe or pursewte of his eye accusynge chieflie the impedyment he gaue to the mariage seynge that in the same appeared the perentory ruine of hys house continuall desolation to hys old yeres and in the ende to leaue hys goodes and lyuynge to straungers for want of an heire of his bodye for that hauynge but ij children the one was already dead and the other no lesse worthe by y e mortal violence he had vsed vpon the innocencie of the mayd who after y e surgeants had somwhat stayed y e bledyng of her woundes confessed the contract and circūstance of the loue whereof you haue harde a particular declaracion whiche rather encreased the dule of tholde man then gaue moderation to his sorowe whyche notwithstandynge by the perswacions of hys neighbours and constraint of necessity whych as a vertue giueth pacience perforce to all extremeties he dysmissed in outeward showe and disposed hymself to the funerall obsequies in as solēne manner as he cold erectynge a tombe of marble in Sainct francys churche wherin were shryned the bodies of the ij louers as dead at one time and by one occasion to the great regreat of the whole towne wherein euerye one was so indifferentlye passioned wyth sorowe that a man should hardly haue hard any other tunes then publike exclamacion against the cruelty of CLAVDIO by whyche generall complaint together with the depositiōs of the mayde who dyed within three dayes after her hurtes DOM RAMYRO CATALANO gouernor of CESENNA vnder CESAR BORGIA began to enter into tearmes of compassion on the behalfe of the ij dead louers and mortall anger against CLAVDIO for that his cruelty only was the cause of the death of the ij only flowers peragōs in Italy wherin he purseued so vehemently y e rigour of his office equity of iustice y t CLAVDYO lost his head secretly within the castel for feare of mutine or tumulte of his frendes This was y e miserable end of y e loue lif of y e ij SISENNOIS wose death and discorse of amarous traffique for y t it doth not exced the remēbrāce of our time I haue preseted as a familiar exāple affore y e eyes of our youth to th end y t euery one respecting y e duty of his own indeuor may vse y e misery of this precedēt as a paterne to preuēt y e like myschief in thē selues wherin also as we may note that loue is but a rage or humor of frātike follye deriued of our selues conuerted to our owne harme by thindiscrecion that is in vs so y e next remedy to withstand that furye is to encounter him vnder thenseigne of raison slee the occasions whyche weaken the mynde wythout trauell and bringe the bodye in the ende to the theatrye of execution wee are also warned here to temper the delites wee possesse with suche measure that forgettynge the blyndenes of LIVIO we maye eschewe the horrour of hys acte with detestation of the folys he vsed in the glott of his vnlawfull pleasure FINIS The argument ACcording to thoppinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one vertue that hath made more famous the fathers of formèr time thenne the gyft of cyuill curtesy neyther is nature more glorifyed in the ympes of her creation then in that we dispose our selues doings according to the dispocition of the clymat whiche shee hath appointed to gouerne our accions and thoughtes respecting chiefly to refraine from violacion of innocent blodde which in al ages hath restored a name of great clemencie to diuerse Albeit touching other effectes they were ambycius tyrantes and cruell enemyes to their owne common wealthe whiche vnnatural crueltie also as it hath bene is of such detestacion amongest y e rudest companions of the world that the verye barbarians haue alwaies had in horrour the wickednes of suche as pursewed the queste of guiltles blodde and toke awaye the life of him that had not committed offence So they haue alwaies had in honour the vertue of suche as soughte to extirppe the roote of tyranical furies borne for the ruine and destruction of man like as among the romaine emprours
sentence of my death saith he and suffer your crueltie to cōmit me to the handes of fatall execucion the worlde wil note you a monster and enemy to nature and God sewer wil cal for a reackonning of so foule and cruel an acte the malice of the worlde saith she is not so greate nor parciall in this respecte as to yelde me infamy in defendynge mine honour nature is abused when we lose so precious a gyfte and touchinge any accompte to make afore God I thincke my soule shall stande in more daunger in condescendyng to your request then yf you wylfullye dye by your owne follye wherefore I aduise you for ende to gyue ouer the pursute of so vaine au enterprise and séeke to bestowe your trauail wher ther is hope of better successe and amongest suche as makyng a cōmon marchandise of their honour will not stick to set it of sale to suche as bid most for it for my part I am no lesse Ielouse of myne honesty then carefull to kepe in entyer the name of my poore parentes neyther shall mine honour be sould for other valewe then the price of my lyfe whiche laste wordes albeit argued to the gentleman a great vnlikelihood to come to the effecte of his desire wyth no less impossibilitie to shake the fortresse of her chastetye or make a breache into a castell of so valyaunt defence yet woulde not he for all that geue place to dispare but retiryng to thassistance of a newe deuise he learned the common haunte of his mystris goinge and comming from the feelde as occasion of her busines did cal her wher he metīg her more oftē thē he was welcome forgott not eftesones to commend vnto her the remēbrance of his cause with a redresse of his grefe hoping with the helpe of his importunitie and assistaunce of tyme to remoue y t stone frō her stomake procure a pleasāt thawe to the frozen harte of this pore cotier wherin he gayned no lesse then if he had spent so much time in nombring the smal sands that couers the deserts of Arabia in so much that she willed him nowe for all to rest cōtēted with that he had don and presse her no further for saith she so longe as my soule and body shal kepe house together I will make such a Iewel of myne honour that there shal neuer friuolous louer haue interest or authoritie to dispose of it neither wil I geue so large a skoape or libertie to my vnruly affections as the pre cious flower of my chastetye shal be a praye or at the disposition of any but such as it shall please thalmightie to ioyne with me in mariage wherfore go open the packe of your tromperie in a market cōuenient for your purpose consider your callynge wyth the profession of your maister who ought to traine you in such sorte as you may rather appeare true patterns and ymages of vertue then ministers of knauery sekyng to seduce poore maides of the contrey who lyuynge in the feare of God with no lesse care of their honest name ought not to listen to the lure of loue or kepe vayne chat with companions lyke to your selfe but folowyng the discipline of vertue to susteine oure honest pouertye wyth the trauaile of oure handes whiche is the porcion appointed to vs by him whome I beseche so mortifie this rage of your follye that hereafter I may lyue in peace and se you restored to the vse of your former sences but he being none other then the slaue of follye disposed whollye to féede vpon the humour of his affections had no other thought then to deuise howe to enioye the firste frutes and pleasant iewiste of the virginity of chaste Iulya who the lesse accōpte she seamed to make of his gréef the greater grewe his desir to pursue her whiche he failed not still to performe with more vehemencie then afore publishyng his affection by the sounde of a nomber of doleful sighes accompanied wyth teares of suche pitiful regarde that they seamed sufficient to pearce a hart wroughte on the forge of flinte or stéele But who is hable to corrupt the chastetie ofher that hath her harte armed with assurance in vertue or what is he that eyther with the smoth stile of his pleasant tounge or suttletye in sleintes and fine deuises or other legerdemeins of folly can make so strong a charme to enchaunt the constancye of a womā resolued in the feare of god w t desire to were a crown of ymortalitie by the renowme of her honest lyfe but it is to be resisted by a speciall confidence in god and assurance in her vertu the pure and holly virgins in time past whose names be registred in the booke of fame haue not they byn strongly assailed wyth semblable assaltes and yet wythout shott or shed of blodde they haue preuailed aboue the malice of theym y t vndertoke to rob them of y e euerlasting glory of their virginitie suerly there is no malyce of mā so great nor deuise so detestable that stands not in awe and stowpes in the presence of true vertu neyther can it pearce and much lesse pos sesse any hart but that which he fyndes vnarmed of a faithe fere in god who wil neyther suffer his seruant to be tempted aboue his power nor see him oppressed long with the malice of y e wicked Here may the slaunderer haue wherwith to stop his mouth and be brought to beleue by famyliar proofe that vertuouse women haue better meanes to resist the veine importunities of loue thē the wicked and euil disposed haue reason to seke to seduce the honor of their chastitie and if by des tenye or ill fortune it happen that some one forget her selfs so far that she falls vnhappely into the daunger of the temptor let her falte and shame be peculiar to herselfe and not staine the rest wyth the reproche of her follye for it is no rea son that when any thinge chaunceth amys all menne become giltie of the falte no more then when one man among a nomber incident to the like desaster becoms a thefe or the worker of some other haynous offence ought to infect other with thinfamy due to him selfe or ympart the penance of the fact amōgest other that himself only deserueth for nature makynge vs all of one mettell hathe geuen vs indifferentlye a semblable perfection wyth speciall decree that euery man shoulde be noted and iudged as he is wyllynge wythall that if anye of her creatures do vnhappely declyne that he alone bere the reproche of his owne facte and not to admitt it for a consequent that the whole nomber sholde be spotted with thimperfection of one besides in the beginning when syn seased first vppon man albeit it is to be supposed that it toke like possession of the woman being made his companion associated vnto him by the will of God yet haue we no reason or meane to persuade that they are eyther inferior