grewe But he at length most likelie to subdue VVhen Sarizens saw the force of blooddie foe And that they must surrender vp the dame Maugre their might needs their charge forgo VVhat for despite and vvhat for verie shame Aud partly to discharge themselues of blame They kild the Queene Gerbino looking on And threvve her out for fish to feed vpon To venge vvhich deede and cursed cruell acte He slue them all not leauing one aliue VVith fire and svvord the Sarizens he sackt For that they durst so stouthe vvith him striue And did his loue of life and light depriue Yet backe againe to Cicill I le retyrde Missing the marke vvhich he had long desyrde VVheÌ„ nevves vvas brought vnto the aged king The Grandsire hovv his nephevv vvilfullie Had broke the league and done a heinous thing Committing spoile and shamefull Piracie Although he loude Gerbino tenderlie Yet did adiudge him to the death because He did prefer his lust before the lavves King William by report of such As dwelt within his lande VVho second Prince of Cecil held The Scepter in his hand Two babes hâ—got vpon his Quéene A male that Ruggier hight And eke a daughter Custance cald A Dame of beautie bright This Ruggier whilst his father liude By fortune had a Sonne Gerbino namde of whom this tale Especially doth runne VVho by his Grandsyre nonrisht vp And nurtred from a boye At length became a proper man And was the Princes ioye His courteous nature wonne renowne His valiant courage knowne Not only in Cicilia was But brute abroad had blowne The fame thereof to foraine realmes His praise doth passe the boundes Of all the I le where he was bred And in Barbaria soundes VVho to the Ring of Cycill payde Their tribute money then VVhich great renowne of Gerbins name Vnto the eares of men Was brought that euery one extolde His vertues to the skye Who but Gerbinâ— all abrode Whose fame like his did flie Among the rest that heard reporte Of Gerbin was a dame The daughter of the king of Tunise I wotte not well her name But as the men that sawe her vaunte Shée was the fairest hewde And trimmest shapte that euer kinde Had cast or creature vewde Whose body-was no brauer deckte With louely limmes without ThaÌ„ was her mynd with maners fraught And vertues round about This Lady hearing noble men Oft reasoning of renowne That Gerbin wanne by worthy déedes And how his fame did drowne That chiualry of all the rest And that his courage was So great as he inmanly feates All other knightes did passe Delighted very much therein Shee likte the talke so well And stood so long deuising of Hâ—â— prowesse that shée fell To like Gerbino though vnséene Shée felt her brest to frie With fancies flame and was of him Enamord by and by So that it did her good at harte To heare of Gerbines fame And tke her selfe among the rest To publish out the same As willing as shée was before To beare of others talke So glad this Lady woxe at last To haue her toung to walke The playnest proofe of great good will That lurking lyes in brest For when the minde doth like the mouth Can neuer be at rest And on the other side as fast This peerlesse Princesse fame Was noysde abroad and so in fine To Cicill I le it came There was hir beautie bruted much As other where beside So long till Gerbin through reporte Of his fayre Lady fride And felt himselfe enlaste in loue And tangled in the net That willie Câ—pid earst to take His louing Lady see This heate did â—aily grâ—â—â— to morâ— Within the gallantes brest And did torment him so within That he to purchase rest Deuisde an honest lawfull skuse To parte from Cicill I le And gat him leaue to trauâ—â—le vnâ—â— Tunise for a while Vpon desire to seâ— the dame Whose fansie bound him thrall And gaue in charge vnto his fyende And folkes he went withall As much as euer lay in them To further his intent As euery one should thinke it best And tell her what was ment Of Gerbines parte and how he loude Enduring bitter payne For her and from the noble Quéene To bring him newes againe Of whom those men that had the wit To handle matters well Went Merchant like vnto the court Fine iewels there to sell Which they of purpose brought from hon And Ladies vse to bye As rings and stones and carkenettes To make them please the eye And by this practise in they gotte Within the Pallace gate And made their shew and marchaÌ„tlike In euery pointe they sate To spye a time to moue their sute Vnto the noble Dame Who in a whyle that they had bene In place by fortune came And twharted where Cicylians sate Vpon desire to sée Such iewels as might like her best Now here began the glée For one that had a fyled tong And durst his tale to tell And looke a Ladie in the face Vnto his purpose fell And after reuerence done began To say in sobre sorte That Gerbin willd him to repaire Vnto her fathers courte To sée and to salute her grace Whom he did tender more Than all the Ladies on the earth That he had séene before Her loue had pierst his noble brest And cleft his manly harte And he was well contented with The stroke of Cupides darte Both he and all the wealth he had Was hers to vse at will Requesting her to take in worth Gerbinos great good will I can not pen the tale he tolde So well in euery place As he perhaps pronounst it then The gesture giues the grace But this you may assure your selfe He dealte so orderly As néeded for the Princesse did Receiue him thankfully And did accept his message well With answere to the same That as Gerbino burnt in loue So shee did frâ—e in flame And felte as hot a coole as hée Within her tender brest If inward loue by secretache And griping might be gest And to thend het former talke Vnfayned might appeare Shée sent Gerbino such a ring As shée did holde most deare A iewell of no slender prieè The value did excell This message being vorne him backe Did like the Louer well The token highly was estéemd No richesse mought haue pleasde His fansie halfe so well as that For why his smarte was easde And after that he sundrie tymes Sent freindly lynes of loue And tokens to the Princesse by The man that first did moue The sute and brake the matter vp Deuising how he might And ment him selfe to talke with her If fortune fell aright But matters being at this hande And luckely begonne Deferring off from day to daye The thing that should bene done Whilst Gerbin melted with desire His Lady to imbrace And she againe did long asmuch To sée her louers face It so befell the king of Tunise His daughter spowsed had Vnto the Prince of Granate which Did make the Lady sad She woxe the wofulst dame
As banisht men to rome Eight hundreth at the least into Aeolia fled from home For succours sake to saue their liues And scape his hatefull hande Who only sought the spoyle of such As dwelt within his lande Where hauing certain months remaind These exile wightes did wryte In humble wise by lowly sute That they such fauour might Obtaine from Aristotimus As to enioy their wiues And silly babes the only staffe And stay of all their lyues But nought their letters moght auaile He would not condiscend In any case the Matrones to The banisht men to send In hope by that to force them home And so to wreake his spite Vpon those wise forecasting wightes That saude themselues by flight But yet he causde a trumpe in fine To sound in market place To shew that he was well content And that it pleasde his grace That wiues should seeke their husbands out And gaue them leaue beside With bagge and baggage babes and all Without restrainte to ride Hée licenst them to iourney thence And parte the citie quight Which tidings made the Matrons glad The newes did bréed delight The packts fardles then were made The wagons were puruayde Both carte and horses readie were And women well apayde That to their husbāds they should passe When poynted day drewe on The stréets were stuft with cariage wiues Were readie to be gone Their little babes and all were there The porter only was The cause of stay without whose leaue There might no carriage passe Whilst they at gate thus wayting were A farre they might espye A trowpe of sweating Souldiers runne That made a cruell crye And willd the women there to stoppe And thence agayne to goe Into the citie whence they came The Princes will was so Those hewsters draue the horses back The stréetes were somewhat straight Which made the prease excéeding great The iades were fully fraight With heauie burdens on their backes Which so anoyde the way As women might not well retyre Nor there in safetie staye But by the meane of horse and men Such hurlie burlie grewe That there the iades from off their backs The little infants threwe The wofull sight that euer man Of honest harte might sée Such silly soules in such a throng Of cartes and coltes to bée Who could not helpe them selues awhit Nor haue the mothers ayde For they good matrons by this chaunce Were verie much dismayd For as their glée was great before And ioyfull eke the newes To parte the towne so this arest Did make them greatly muse Ther might you sée some babes braines About the chanell lie Some broken legs some broosed armes And some with feare did crie Were few but felt some part of paines In such a retchles throng And shée that scaped best away Was crusht and curstlie wrong When the Souldiers reckned had And taken full accompte Or wyues and babes knew the summe Whereto the whole did mounte Vnto the Pallace ward they draue Then like a flocke of shéepe Which hired shepherdes on the hills For meate and wagies keepe And beate the sillie soules a good That seemd to slacke the way Who what for feare and faintnesse would Bene very glad to stay When to the tyrants court they came The monster by and by Bereft the matrons all their robes Both wyues and babes to lye In pryson eke be gaue the charge Thus were they foule beguild Who thought good dames to séeke their men From Countrie bounds exilde Here will I leaue with heauy hartes The wyues their woes to waile Who hoping to depart the towne Were closely kept in goyle And to the townes men will returne Who when they sawe the rage Their Prince was in and wist not how His rancour to asswage Amongst themselues deuisde at last One practise to approue Whereby perhas they might haue hap The tyrants hart to moue They had within the citie walles A sorte of sacred dames Whom sinne they thought it to abuse I wote not well their names Of Denys order all they were Sixtene or there aboute The Citizens did déeme it good The Nunnes to furnish out With robes and reliques of the church Tnd in their hands to beare Their painted Gods procession wise T s was the custome there Well hoping by this subtill slight To moue the Prince his harte VVho though did murther men they hopt Yet had not layde aparte All feare and dread of sacred saintes As it fell out in déed For when that euery virgin had Put on her holy weed Alongst the towne they gan to goe In very graue aray VVith humble sute to stirre the Prince To pitie those that lay In prison mothers with their bakes Which was a wofull case As then by chaunce the Tyrant was Amid the market place The Souldiers séeing dames deuoute So deckt with temple stuffe For reuerence of their order did Begin to stand aloofe And gaue them leaue to prease vnto The Tyrant where he was Who hauing licence through the midst Of all the gard did passe And being somewhat néere the prince The king began to stay To know both whe the women came And what they had to say They told their tale movde the sute And opened their intent Which when the Tyrant vnderstood Perceiuing what they ment Vnto his traine he made a turne With grim and gastly cheere Controuling them that did permit The Nunnes to come so néere I lay the Tyrants taunts aside I purpose not to put His kingly chafe within my verse But Souldiers combes were cut With that the gard began to grudge And for the checke they had With Holbards which they held in hand They laid about like mad And bitterly did beate the dames With many a clubbish blowe Respect of reliques laid aside The Souldiers raged so Thus did they vse the sacred Nymphes That were to Denyse vowde And to encrease their griefes the more Ech virgin eke allowde Two talents for a recompence Besides their hurts receivde Thus of their purpose both the dames And Citie was deceyvde At selfe same time there liuing was A man of great renowme When this outrage was put in vre And dwelt within the towne Ellanycus this noble hight Then stricken well in age Whose sonnes though Aristotimus Had murthred in his rage Yet did mistrust him nought at all Because he was so olde Was thought vnable ought to doe Which made the tyrant bolde This aged father waying well His sonnes and countries spoile Determinde with himselfe to put The tyrant to the foyle And take reuenge of blood by blood Of death by murther done Loe here I leaue the Prince a while His headlong race to runne I must againe conuert my tale Vnto those banisht wights Whom sore it yrkt so long to lack Their wiues and swéet delights For countrie loue by kinde doth worke In euery honest brest And till we make returne againe We neuer liue at rest It was not long I say ere they That to Aolia were By Aristotimus exilde And forst to tary there
slewe with-sword full many a â—reekish knight For al the warrâ—s yet loude â—ndronâ—ene With her he â—eâ—t in her he tooke delight His manly bâ—est that force of foe withstoode Was razde by loue his Curage did no good Vlisses â—â—ie for all his wilie wit Was lodgde in loue by Cyices sugred cuppe â—lato deuine whose stue the Starres dyd hit With learnedlips of Venus sauce did suppe His graue precepts stoode him in slender sted Whome lawe of kinde in lincke of fancie led Fell Dâ—onyse with Alexander great Duke Iason â—ariâ— â—irâ—hus Pompey take And he whome Dydo did so well entreate That to the curreous Queene his vowe did breake Yea soue him selfe Apollo Marâ— and all To Venus bowde each one was Cupids thrall The noblest Nimphes that euer were aliue The queyntest queenes the force of fancie felt The dayntiest dames durst not with loue to striue The haughtiest harts had Cupid made to mete Medea Phillis Helen Phedra flerce Crcuâ—a Oeuon Lucrece loue did pierce Laodamie Hermyon Hypsiphill Curst Cliremnestra Brisies Deyanire Semyramis and Progne prone to kill With Mirthâ— Biblis lust to loue did stirrée And thousands moe of whome the Poetes tell Prouokt by loue to flaming fancy fell Which sith is so I may with better face A pardon craue of you that Ladies be For dringing here a homely wenth in place And ranking her with danies of gallant glee Who sith did rage in fancie as the rest Why should she not be plast among the best Put case her byrth was base her linage lowe Herparynts poore her liuelod bare and shin Sith Cupid did his golden shaft bestowe Vpon her brest when liking entred in Let her receiue the guerdon that is dewe To faithfull loue and march with Cupids crewe Where leaue is lowed for each one to contend Where markes are made the cunningst hand to trie Without reproofe each one his bowe doth bend And arrowes there without contrâ—lement she Likewise sith loue at rendon roues his dartes We ought not scorne the meanest louing hartes When Cresus brings his gorgeous giftes in hand And slay an oxe to offer to the goddes A groome with gote by him may baldly stand In holy Church they little count of odd es Eâ—e minde is all that makes or marres the thing A Carter loues as whotly as a King The Argument to the tenth Historie AMerchants sonne that Girolanus hight Of tender age in great good liking fell VVith one Saluestra a damsell faire and bright A taylers daughter who there by did dwell The aged father did and left the boy Abounding welth his heyre and only ioy The carefull mother doubting least her sonne VVold make his choice marie with this maide Dispatcht him thence to Paris there to wonne Vntill his heate and humor were delaide To please his friends away this yonker rode And there a space vnwilling made abode Retires in fiue to Florence backe againe VVhen mothers feare doubts were layde aside His auncient loue aye sticking in his brayne But ere he came the wench was woxe a bryde VVhich greude him sore he wist not how to deale At last deuisde into her house to steale VVhere being plast vnwist of any wight He stayde his time till husband fel on sleepe Then out he gate defenst with darke of night And softly to Saluestras bed did creepe He sighde he sued he pleaded there for life In hope to had his pleasure of the wife But al for nought his winde did shake no come The womans will was bent another way VVhich when he found as one that was forlorne He wist not how to do nor what to say His griefe was such as by Saluestras side He laide him downe and there for sorow dyde The husbaÌ„d wakes the wife bewrayes the case The corse was streight conueyde away by night When morow came the beare was brought in place The graue was cast the body lay in sight The mother mournd and many matrons moe Bewayl the chaunce of him that died so Among the rest that present were to viewe This heauie hap Saluestra stoode as than She sawe her friend whom she vnkindly slewe And therewithall to rewe his death began So deepely sanke remorse into this dame As downe she fell and dyde vpon the same AS auncient men report there dwelt A Merchant man of yore In Plorence who by traficke had Increast his stocke to more Than any of his race had done A very wealthy wight Who on his wife begate a sonne That Girolamus hight And after time the babe was borne The father chaunst to die But as it bape be made his will Before and orderly Disposde his goods as men are wont The carefull mother then A widow left with good a duise And apde of loarned men The tutors of this merchants sonne Both vsde the infant well And gaue such eye vnto his stocke As nought to damage fell This childe as common order is Did vse to sport and play Among the other neighbors babes To driue the time away And as the childrens custome is Some one among the rest To fancy most euen so this boy Did like a mayden best A Taylers daughter dwelling by They daily vsde to méete With sundrie other babées moe Amid the open shreete This liking in their tender yéeres Shot vp and grew to more Euen as their liâ—â—s encreast by age The sparke which loue before Had kindled in his wanton brest Did growe to greater fire And Girolamus in his heart The mayden did desire Their daily custome came to kinde And looke what day that he Had past without the sight of her He thought it lost to be And that which set the flaxe on fire And bred the hoter flame Was that the boy did well perceiue The mayden ment the same And likte aswell of him againe The mother when she sawe This matter worke began to checke And kéepe the wagge in awe And whipt him now and then among But when she did perceiue The stubborne stripling set her light And that he would not leaue Those wanton trickes vnfit for youth She wexe a wofull daâ—e And to the tutors of her sonne This pensiue widowe came As one that of that reabtres thorne An Orenge trée would fayne Haue made because his stocke was great But all her toyle was vame And to the sages thus she said Vngracious graffe my sonne Scarce fourtéene yéeres of age as yet Already hath begonne And entred in the suare of loue The wagge begins to frie With one Saluestras liking lust A taylours daughter by So that vnlesse we wise by deale And warely seeme to watch At length perhaps this foolish else Will with the mayden match And make a rash contract with her Which if should happen so From that time foorth I should not liue A merrie day I knowe Or if he should consume and wast With thought or pine away To sée her matcht some other where Then woe were me I say Wherefore to voyde this present ill I thinke it best quoth
mishappes to flie I yéelde my brayne too barraint farre my verses all too vyle My pen too playne with metre méte to furnith Lucans style Whose déepe deuise whose filed phrase and Poets péerelesse pen Would cloye the cunningst head in court and tyre the Iustiest men But yet sith none of greater skill and ryper witte would write Of Caesar and Pompeius warres a woorke of rare delight I thought it good as well to passe the idle time away As to the worlde to set to vewe howe discorde bréedes decay To turne this princely Poets verse that simple men might sée Of Ciuill broyles and breach at home how great the mischeiues bée But sith it standes not with your wills who lady Muses are That one so dull as I should deale in case concerning warre I am content to plie vnto your pleasures out of hande It bootes me not against the will of heauenly states to stande Yet being that my present plight is stufte with all anoye And late mishaps haue me bereft my rimes of roisting ioye Syth churlish fortune clouded hath my glée with mantell blacke Of foule mischaunce wherby my barke was like to bide the wracke Good ladie giue me leaue to write some heauy sounding verse That by the vewe thereof my harmes the readers heart may perse With that the Goddesse gaue a becke and yeelded my request And vanisht streight without offence and licenste me to reste Then I to reading Boccas fell and sundrie other moe Italian Authours where I found great stoare of states in woe And sundrie sortes of wretched wights some slayne by cruell foes And other some that through desire and Loue their lyues did lose Some Tyrant thirsting after bloud themselues were fowly slayne And some did sterue in endlesse woes and pynde with bitter payne Which gaue me matter fitte to write and herevpon it grewe That I this Tragicall deuise haue sette to open viewe Accept my paynes allow me thankes if I deserue the same If not yet lette not meaning well be payde with checke and blame For I am he that buylde the bowre I hewe the hardened stone And thou art owner of the house the paine is mine alone I burne the bée I holde the hyue the Sommer toyle is myue And all bicause when winter commes the honie may be thine I frame the foyle I grane the golde I fashion vp the ring And thou the iewell shalt enioye which I to shape doe bring Adieu good Reader gaze thy fill if aught thine eyes delight For thee I tooke the woorke in hande this booke is thine of right The argument to the first Historie THrough wilful loue and liking ouermuch Nastagios state did melt and without returne Of like good will Euphymiuâ— minâ—e was â—uel She felt no flame when he gâ—od man did buâ—â—â— But made hiâ— griefe her glâ—◠〈◊〉 bitter â—marre Might nothing rize or pierce her marble harte By friendes aduise at last he parted thence Though greatly greeâ—â—ed remouing racke him sore To quit the cause of al his fond expence And purchase case which he had lost before A death no doubâ— it was to put away And yet no life with her in place to stay Beholde the happ as he ful pensiue stoode Amyd a groue adioyning to his tent Recounting former toyes athwart the wood With cruell curres an armed knight there went That had in chace a frotion fresh of hewe Whom he by force of sword and mastiues â—lewe And after death this lady liude againe Vp start away she ran before the Knight For thus the Goddes alotted had her paine Bycause she slewe by scorne that â—â—uing wight In death he was her plague whâ— me â—â—e in life Enforst to slay himselfe with mutthering knife Nastagio pondering in his restlesse thought As wel the requely as the cause of all Seing that skorne the ladies penance wrought For dealing earst so hardely with hir thrall Bethought him howe to make a my â—rour right Both of the mayde and eke the cursed knight His plat was thus he byd in friendly sort Vnto his tente to feast and banket there His auncient loue that made his payne hir sporte Whose mother came and diuers friendes I feare Amyds the feast the knight pursude the mayde And slevve hiâ— there as I before haue sayde Which sight amazde the route but most of all That virgin coye so carelesse of the man Be gonne to quake it toucht her to the gall And therevpon hir liking first began For after that she woxe hâ—s wife at last Dreading the gods reuenge for rigour past IN Italie there is a Citie hight Rauenna by report as braue a place As may be found both fresh fair to sight Wherein of yore there was a noble race Of gallant wights great choise of men of fame But one in chief Nastagio by name The father of this forward ympe did dye Forespent with yéeres and load with siluer locks VVhose laud and fee descended orderly Vnto the Sonne with store of other stocks Few fathers of this aged mans degrée In so good case did leaue their sonnes as hée This might suffice to make Nastagio rich But where wealth is there lightlie followes more For hée an vncle had who gaue as mych At time of death as father left before The wealth of thefe two rych renowmed wights Iu little space vpon Nastagio lights Not one in all Rauenna might compare With him for wealth or matcht him for his muck He liude at full not tasting any care But tooke his time and vsde his golden luck Not wanting ought that fitted for his state By meane of flowing wealth full warme he sate This youth his wanton prime without a wife Retchlesse consumde and liude in single sort Estéeming that to be the blessed life Because he found it stuft with glée and sporte As yonkers that at randon vse to range Refuse to wed because they loue to change Vntill at length his roauing eies hée kest Vpon a wench and tooke so perfect view Of Graces that did harbour in her brest As streight to liking of this maid he greâ—â— His fansie fed vpon hir featurde lookes In sort as none saue her this gallant brâ—kes Who doublesse was a neate and noble Dame Trauersar cleaped was her worthir Sire And she herselfe Euphymia cald by name As fresh of hewe as men might well desire With her I say Nastagio fell in loue Whose setled choyse no reason might remoue Her christall eyes had lurcht his yéelding heart And razde his bending hreast by often glaunce Her glittering locks so queyntly coucht by art Had brought this youth to such a louing traunce As all his care was how to compasse grace From her whom he so derely did imbrace Then as it is the trade of Cupids â—â—nghts He fell to feast where lackt no daintie fare To come be forraine cates that breede delights For no expence this courtly wight would spare Hée vsde the tilt on Ienate trapt with gold To please his Donnas eyes with courage bold For if
beare the Of Lombards chunst to light In Italy and there Two hundred yéeres and somewhat more The only rule did beare Throughout that realme which we Now Lombardie do call Vntill such time as Charles the Great Had dispossest them all And draue them theuce by force And meane of knightly might What time I say it was their lot In Italy to light One Alboine was their chiefe A man of monstrous wit And valiant in the feate of armes For martiall practise sit This Alboin ere his came To Italy had slain Ring Cunimundus and bereft Hina of his princely raigne And not content with death Nor hauing helly full Of noble blood cut off his bead And of the clouen skull Did make a quaffing cup Wherein he tooke delight To bouse at boorde in token of His pompe and former fight This Cunimundus had A daughter passing faire Rosmunda hight that was his ioy And should haue bene his heire If he had kept his crowne And not bene conquered so But being slayne his daughter was A captiue to his foe This Captaine kept her thrall And ment it all her life Till loue at last this Lumbard forst To take her to his wife When marriage day was past And he to battell fell And conquering of Italie He loude his wife so well As she might neuer parte But like a warlike dame She euer logde in open campe Where so her husband came Who sundrie cities tooke And conquerde many a towne By force of sworde and Lyonlike Went ramping vp and downe Vntill at length he came To Pauoy where of olde As in the chiefest place of all The kings their courte did holde When full thrée yéeres and more This Lumbarde there had layne Vnto Verona he remoude With all his princely trayne And presently preparde A solemne banket there To seast his frendes and others that Of his retinue were Amids which princely cheere And royall feast the king Did will the wayter on his cup That he to boorde should bring The mazare that was made Of Cunimundus head And hauing it in presence there Where he with wyne were sped Or else by malice moude I wote neare what to thinke But hauing it in place he gaue His Quéene the cuppe to drinke The cuppe her fathers skull O wilfull witlesse acte Which no man well aduisde would do But one that were distracte The Quéene perceiuing this In mockage to be ment Of Alboyne as it was in déede And sawe his lewde entent And how he skofte the king Her father in the same Was stuft with raging rancour streight And blusht for verie shame In sorte that all hir loue Which she had borne before Vnto her husbande grewe to hate She loathde him tenne times more Than euer she had loude Or fansted any wight And thereupon resolude to doe A mischiefe if she might And to reuenge by death Of Alboyne monstrous man Her father Cunimundus bloud Loe here the broyle began For Rosmonde all in rage Consulted with a péere Ermigio calde a courtly wighte This noble man to stéere To murther of the Prince I leaue her wordes vnpende This noble hearing whereunto Her long discourse did tende Declarde the Quéene his mynde And vttred his conceite And said Parradio was the man That must dispatche the feate Without whose helpe quoth he I wote neare what to say I thinke him such a one as dares Such ventrous parts to play Your grace were best to proue If he consent you shall Not fayle of me but stande assurde To haue me at a call Forthwith the Quéene did cause Parradio to appeare Who after sundrie offers made And wordes of courtly cheare To moue him to the spoyle Of Alboyn thus replyde In vayne your grace doth goe aboute To haue the king destroyde By these my giltlesse handes That day shall neuer be I truste the world shall neuer proue So foule a fact by me As to procure the death And murther of the king Of treason vile to haue a thought To practise such a thing Leaue off your lewde entente Or séeke some other wight To worke your feate I neuer yet In slaughter tooke delight The Ladie hearing this Hnd hauing earnest zeale To worke her will reiecting shame Bethought her howe to deale There did at selfe same time Vpon the Quéene awayte A proper wenche of comely grace Full fitte to make a bayte To take such louing woormes And hang them on the hooke Whose greatest pleasure is vpon A courtly dame to looke This gallant likte her glee Her gesture and her face And by deuice did bape at last To purchace priuie grace Meane whyle the subtile Quéene That found this louers haunt And knew he daily plyde her mayde Thereby to make her graunte And yelde him his desire Thus thought it best to worke In selfe same place where they did méete In secrete sorte to lurke As though it were the wenche With whome he would debate And so perhaps she might both checke And giue the foole a mate Which hapned so in déede For on a certaine day The Quéene to compasse this her crafte Put on her maydes aray And in the wonted place Where they did vse to talke Bestowde her self When night was come Forth gan this gallant walke And to the standing came Where lay this lodged doe Whome he had thought to be the mayde But it was nothing so Streight he in wonted wyse As custome was of yore Pronounste his painted termes of loue And flattred moâ—â— and more Bewraying all his thoughtes And ripping vp his harte Vnto the wenche for so he deemde And playde the Louers parte Ten thousande wordes he spake And tending all to loue Whome after all his long discourse The Quéene did thus reproue Parradio doest thou knowe With whome thou standest here Who thus replyde in louing wyse Yea that I doe my deare And namde the selfe same mayde Who was his friende in déede With whom he had conferrde of loue In great good hope to spéede What sir you are beguilde I am not she you wéene No seruing mayde assure thy selfe I am quoth she a Quéene And Rosmond is my name Nowe doe I knowe thy minde And priuie am to all thy guyle Thou shalt be sure to fynde Of me a mortall foe Nowe make thy choyce of twayne Where thou wilt spoyle the king my spouse Or thou thy selfe be slayne For this outrage of thine Which thou hast done to me Leaue off delayes dispatche with spéede It may nane other be Parradio hearing this And pondring in his thought To howe extreme a poynt by wyle Of Rosmond he was brought Resolude to slay the Prince And ridde him of his lyfe And for the better working of His feate did vse the wyfe The diuelish Queenes deuise And Don Armigios ayde And in this sorte these wicked folkes The cruel pageant playde The king as custome was Because the day was hotte To take a nappe at after noone Into his chamber gotte Where being softely layde The place was voyded strayte And eurte groome
had leaue to parte That vsually did wayte To yelde the king his ease Thus dealte the suttle dame And to be sure to haue her will She shifted thence with shame Her sleepie husbandes sworde VVho then in slumber lay For that he should by no deuise Haue powre to scape away This done the cruel wightes Of whome I spake before VVith bloudie mindes and armed hands Approched to the doore And vp they thrust the same And softly entred in And stole vpon the heauie prince That slumbring long had byn Yet wrought it not so well For all their théeuish pace But that king perceiude them when They came vnto the place Who mazed in his midde And chargde with sodaine feare To see these two suspected wights To prease in presence there Gate him vp with Lions rage From Cabbin where he slept And to his sworde for safegarde of His life and honour leapt But out alas the Quéene Had reft the weapon thence Which earst the Prince was wont to vse And weare for his defence The Ruffians that in rage For blood and mischiefe sought Bestowde their blowes vpon the kyng That no such practise thought And so bestirde themselues His weapons being bad As in a while they slue him there And so their purpose had Vnwist of any wight The murther was vnseene And knowne of none but of the two And of the cursed Queene When this deuise was wrought Ermigio out of hande Did seyze vpon the Pallace with Intent to rule the land And thought to wed the Quéene And so he did indeede Whereto the Quéene and all the rest That fauourde her agréede Imagine of their ioyes Whom filthie sinne did linke What pleasure they in kingdome tooke I leaue for you to thinke But sure in my conceite Where murther brings the wife There wealth is woe lust turnes to loath And liking growes to strife But turne I to my tale That plainly may appeare What hap befell and whether they Did buie their marriage deare The Lumbards paiute that Their king was fouly slaine And that by meane thereof they might Their purpose not aitaine But should bée forst to flee Or worser hap to haue By longer stay their chiefest goods And iewels for to saue Trusst vp in fardell wise And so conueide by stealth The Ladie Aluisenda thence And eke good store of wealth Who daughter to the king But lately murthred was Not by this wife but by the first Away the Lumbards passe Vnto Rauenna where As God and fortune woulde Longinus tho Licuetenant to Tyberius courte did holde Great Constantine his sonne Whose Empire stretched wide And vnder whom Longinus had In trust those Realines to guide This Captaine entertainde Them in good louing wise And did the greatest friendship vse That he mought well deuise It fortunde so at last The cause I wote not well Longinus to good liking of The Ladie Rosmonde fell Whose fausie grew so great Vnto the featurde wight As marrie out of hand he would To further his delight To bring this match about He practisde with the dame And gaue aduise that she shoulde take In hand a déede of shame The murther of the man That vsde her as his wife There was no choyce but shée must reaue Ermigio of his life The Quéene that cleane had cast The feare of God away And awe of men not weying what The world of her might say And thirsting for estate Whereto she hoapte to clime Preparde a poysoned drinke for him Against his bathing time And made in wise she gaue A holesome Gossups cup. Which he should finde excéeding good If he would drinke it vp Who hauing no distrust Of wife or diuelish drift With willing hands vnto his mouth The poysoned pot did lift And drank a gréedie draught His former heat to quell It was not long before the drinke Vnto his working fell VVhich when he felt to rage And boyle within his breast And knew himselfe vnto the death VVith venim vile possest He drew his desperate sworde In choler and despite And draue the Quéene to quaffe the rest And empt the vessell quite VVhich done at one selfe time Both he and eke his Quéene Did end their liues that hastners of King Albyons bane had béene Oue poysoned syrrupe slue This cursed couple tho VVhose beastly liues deserude so vile A death for lyuing so VVhich when Longinus heard And how that matters went The Ladie Aluisinda streight Vnto Tyberius sent And all her treasure eke That earst her fathers was VVithall Parradio who did ayde To bring these feates to passe Who heing there in place In eruell sort was slaine And ere he dyde was reft his eyes To put him more to paine Nullum peccatum impunitum Ogni peccato a morte a'l fin Ihuom meua The Lenuoy LO heere the fatall end of murther done Such blooddie factes deserue no better hyte 〈◊〉 the threede that of such wooll is spon Marke well their lot that mischtese doe conspire It lighthe doth vpon their heads retire And thâ—ie that are the workers of the deed Though long forborne at last no better speed See to reuenge when Rosmond once began Incenst there to vy wrath and deepe disdaine She could not stint by murther of a man Nor leaue although she saw her husoande slaine But thought she woulde attempt the like againe Her vise conceite was blinded all with blood She could not turne about to see the good Soldst once in sinne and washt in waues of ill She â—amsht ruth and pitie flong aside Yelding hey selâ—e to spoyle the flaughter still Whom she misukte should streight haue furehe dide 〈…〉 flames of wreake withyn her bowels fride 〈◊〉 being caid to hie and princelie state In foule attempts she could not want a mate Worth whyle to note how such as beare the sway And sit in seat of royall dignitie The righteous Gods without respect doe pay And plague them for their hellish crueltic With losse of honour liues and iolitie And such as are their ministers in ill Either gallowes eates or fatall sworde doth kill Crude'ltasta spesso in donna bella The Argument to the sixt Historie THE king of Thunise had a daughter faire Whose beauties brute through many countries ran This Lady was her fathers only heire Which made her loude and likt of eury man But most of all the king of Granate than Began to loue who for he was a king By little sute this match to cloth did bring The promise past betweene these noble states The rested nought but onlie her conuey In safetie home for feare of rouing mates Who would perhaps assault them by the way Wherefore the king Cicils pledge they pray Who gaue his word and Gantlet from his hand Not to be vext by any of his land Away they went the ships forsooke the shore And helde their couse to Granate warde amaine When sodeinly Gerbino who before Had lovde the Queen did his match 〈◊〉 VVith Galies came this royall prize to gaine The fight was fierce a cruell battaile
aliue For being matched so It did not only grieue her that Shée was compeld to go So farre away from Gorbin but The thing that nipte her nere Was that she feard she neuer should Haue séene her louer deare Once being pâ—ried from the place In all her life againe And hereupon she willing was And would bene very fayne To scape the King her fathers handes And liude with Gerbin aye She beate her braynes deuising meanes By stealth to runne away Likewise the knight was cloyd with care And liude a wofull man Her mariage knowen his valiant brest To throbbe and ake began Was neuer wight in greater woe Nor angry moode than he At length when care was somewhat past He thought his helpe to be And only ayde to rest in force Wherefore he did entend By strength of hand to win his lone When so the king should send Her home vnto her husbandes reahne Loue had possest him so As he the Princesse to enioye Through fire and floudes would goe The king of Tunise hauing heard Some inckling of good will That was betwixt the knight and her And doubting of some ill That Gerbin would pretend befides Well knowing that he was A valiant wight and one that did Full manly prowesse passe When time was come to send the quéene Vnto her husbands land By letters which he sent hée let King William vnderstand His meaning and his full inteent And did request beside To haue assurance at his hands That he would so prouide That not a man within his Realme Should hinder his pretence Nor Gerbin make resistance when He sent his Ladie thence The hoarie graue Cicilian king That loden was with age And wist not of his daughters idue Nor yet Gerbinos rage Nor déeming that the kings demaunde Did tend to such effect Did frankly yeld his sute as one That did no ill suspect And for assuâ—ance of the fame To rid the prince of feare He sent his Gentlet for a pledge That things confirmed were Who hauing such assurance made Let builde a mightie barks In Carthage Haueâ— and did riâ— The same with earnst carke And finely finisht vp the ship In minde without delay Vnto Granata by the Seas To send the Quéene away He wanted nothing saue the time To complish his intent Meane while the wantâ—n Princes that Knew her father ment And smelling out his purpose causde Her man in poast to goe Vnto Palermo couertly To let Gerbino knowe Both of the Ladieâ— late contract And that by ship shée must Within a while to Granat got To serue her husbands lusâ— Wherefore tell Gorbine if he hée The man in deed quoth shée And such a valiant Knight at armes As he hath bragd to mée And often boasted of himselfe Or beare me halfe the loue He made in wise he knowes my minde I shall his courage proue The messenger that had the charge Did as the Quéene had wild And made returne to Tunise when He had her hest fulfild When Gerbin had receiude the newes Both of her going thence And also that his Granstre gaue His gloue for their defence That should coâ—â—ey the Princesse home Vnto her husbands land He doubtfull woxe and wist not what Was best to take in hand But waying well the Ladies wordes Whom he did most imbrace To make a proofe of faithfull loue In such a doubtfull case Vnto Messina streight he went And there two Gallies made And armde them well with valiant men And skilde in Rouers trade And to Sardinia did conuey Him selfe and all his route Entending there to make his stay And linger thereabout Till time the Quéen by shipping came Which was within a space For why Gerbino had not long Continude in the place But that he might perceiue aloofe One vnder saile that came And had but slender gale he knew It streight to be the same Wherin the Quéene his mistresse went The Gods would haue it so For at that instant slender was The winde that there did blow Then quoth Gerbino to his mates If you be valiant men As I haue thought you all to bee And doe account you then There is not one among you all I dare auowe but earst Hath béen in loue or presently With Cupids shaft is pierst And certainely withouten loue Within the breast of man No goodnesse growes as I doe déeme Nor any vertue can And if you loue or euer did Then lightly may you gesse The great desire and burning loue That doth my heart oppresse I doe confesse I am in loue And Cupid causer was That I procurde you hither now To bring my will to passe And vndertake this present toyle The yonder ship you see And in the ship doth rest a dame The only ioy of mée And eke besides my Ladie deare Whom I would haue so faine Great wealth there is to quit your toiles An easie thing to gaine Small fight no doubt will serue the turne If you will play the men Which bootie if wée may atchieue My mates assure you then I only will the Ladie gaine That is my only care As for the goods I am content Among your selues to share Wherefore my friends attempt the fight Let courage neuer faile The Gods you sée are willing that We should the ship assaile You see she hath no gale to goe She can not passe away Fight fréely all the spoyle is yours You shall be made to day There néeded not so many wordes Their willing hearts to win For why encountring ratâ—er than Their liues they would haâ—â— bin The bootie bred the great desire They thought his tale too long The gréedie lust of pray did pricke Those lustie Lads along Wherefore as soone as he had told His tale the trumpets blewe And euery man his weapon caught And to the oares they flewe And to the shipwarde on they weat With all the speede they might The men aboord that see them come Preparde them selues to fight For why they could not scape away The Gallies were so neare And eke the winde so slender was To cause the ship to steare When Gerbin did approch the barke He wild the chiefest men That were the guides and rulde the ship To come aboord him then Vnlesse they ment to fight it out The Sarizens that saw Both who they were what they would Said that they brake the law Which earst the Prince of Cicill made Vnto their Soueraigne and To make the mattir plaine they shewde The Gantlet of his hand Loe here King Williams Glone quoth they Behold it here in sight This is your Pasport nought yée get Vnlesse it be by sight Gerbino hauing earst descride The beautie of the dame Aloft the Poope began to frie And melt with greater flame Than euer he had done before For then her feature séemde Farre fresher than in all his life The lustie louer déemde And there upon inraged thus By beautie of the Quéene He gaue his froffing answere when He had the Gantlet séene Good faith quoth hée I neede no gloue My
Faulcon is away I haue no vse to put it to But if without delay You doe not yéeld the Ladie vp Prep are your selues to sword For sure vnlesse I haue my will You shall hée layde aboord And presentâ—â— vpon the 〈◊〉 Without a farther talke The arrowes flewâ— from 〈…〉 The bullot stones did walkâ—â— A cruell fight 〈…〉 On eyther part a space But when Gerbâ—â—◠〈◊〉 at longth His force could take no place Helades a Lyter all 〈◊〉 And with his gallies went Full closely to the mighâ—ie ship They seeyng his intent And knowing this of verie force That they must yéeld or dieâ— Did make no more 〈◊〉 but causde The Princes by and by That vnder harthâ—â— sâ—bbing sate Gerbinos only lone To leaue her teares 〈…〉 her selfe Vpon the decke aboue Who as vpon the foreship stoâ—de In presence of them all The hellish houndes the Sarizens Vnto the Knight did call And ful before his face they sâ—uâ— With many a blooddie blow The Ludie crying out for grace And hauing done did throw Her carued carkasse from the ship Into the brackishe flood And to Gerbino therewithall Exclaymde and cryed a good Loe take sir Knight we yéeld her vp Vnto thy crauing handes In sort as lyes in vs to doe And as the broken bandes Which thou hast wretchlesse man despisde Deserue now doe thy best Gerbino hauing viewde the déed And wayed within his breast The tygres harts and bloudy mindes Of those that slue the dame Did make no more adoe but close With dreadlesse courage came A boord the ship and there begon Without respect of grace Full Lion like that lackes his pray When bullockes are in place To doe those wicked slaues to death He did not fauour one Some reâ—t he with his eger téeth He set his nayles vpon Some other breaking all their bones To glut his hungry hart That longd for vengeance of the fact Then gan he play his part With sharpe and cruell sword in hand As one without â—emorse He seard me one and scotcht an other And mangled euery corse Meanwhile the flame began to grow And kindle all about The bloudy barke and bodies slayne The sparkes began to spout The knight to saue the taken spoyle Did cause his water men To beare away such bootie as Serue their purpose then Which done he left the burning ship And to his gallies goes With wofull conquest of the Mores That were his mortall foes Then willd he all the Ladies limmes That in the water were To be vptaken péece by péece Not one to tarry there Which bones he long bewept with teares That in abundant wise For very griefe distilled were By lymbeckes of his eyes And after many dolefull plaintes And profes of louers paine Returning home vnto the Isle Of Cicille againe He causde her body to be tumbd In Vstica an yle Full sore against Traponus soyle And then within a whyle He hyed him to his natiue home A man of heauie hart Meanewhile the king of Tunise that Had tiding of the part That late was playde attyred all In blacke his legates sent To Cicill to the king to shew His grace how matters went And all the order of the fact And let him vnderstand How that his nephew broken had By rash attempt the band Whereof king William wrothfull wor And séeing that he must Of force or shew himselfe a Prince Or not be counted iust He made Gerbino to be tant And kept in yron gyues His nobles could not change his minde And purpose for their liues He iudged his nephew to the death And loosing of his lyfe There past not many dayes but that Gerbino felt the knife And did eudure his grandsires wrath Who rather wisht to sée His nephew murthred than him selfe A faithlesse King to be And thus these two vnhappy wights Without the fruites of loue Had shamefull deathes as you haue heard By this discourse aboue Lenuoy VVHo works against his soueraigne Priuces word And standes not of the penaltie in awe Well worthy is to feele the wrathfull sword And dye the death appointed hy the law No fauour is to such offendours due That eare they did amisse the mischiefe knew For Princes willes are euer to be wayde The statutes are the strength and stay of all When lawes are made they ought to be obayde What royall Peeres by pledge or promise shall At any time confirme to friend or foe Must stable stand the law of armes is so For they are second Gods in earth belowe Assignde to rule and strike the onely stroke Their crownes and scepâ—ers be of perfect shew That all estates are vnderneath the yoke What they shall say or doe in any case By dutie ought to take effect and place Wherefore who dares aduenture vp so hie And proudly presse to alter kings decres Not fearing what may light on them thereby Nor forcing what they shall by folly leese Of law deserue the hardest point to byde For scorning those whom God appoyntes to gyde When royal Rome dyd flourish in estate In auncient age the Senate bearing sway The lawes were so seuere as who forgate To liue vpright and doe as they did say Was presently committed to the blocke Without respect to blood or noble stocke Some in exile were sent to foreine landes Leauing their wyues and little babes behinde Some sonnes were slayne euen by the fathers handes Who fauouring right forgot the sawe of kinde Iustice in Rome bore then so great a sway As no man durst good orders disobay We reade of one a ruler graue and wyse Who made a law and that to this effect That he should be berest of both his eyes Whom any of adultery might detect And bring good profe that it was so in deede Vpon which acte the sages all agreed It so befell his sonne against the law Did first offend that first deuisde the same Which fortune when the wofull father sawe And that his sonne could not auoyde the blame For iustice sake did thus deuise to deale To giue example in the common weale Where as the law expressely willde that he Who did offend should be bereft his sight The father with his sonne did so agree As each did loose an eye the fauite to quite Wherein the father shewde himselfe seuere And yet as ruthfull as the law could beare O worthy wight O ruler fit to raigne That rather chose his chude to punish so And eake himselfe to byde some part of payne Than parciaily to let offences goe A double tumbe was due vnto his bones For being iust and ruthfull both at once King Romulus who let the citie builde And fonnder was of all that royall race That none should ouerleape his rampire wild Which Remus did the fortresse to disgrace Which when his brother saw in mockage ment With wrathfull sworde be fiue him ere he went So here this aged Prmes of Cicilie When he had plegd and pawnd his honor downe Though lesse offence to slay by crueltie His nephew than to stane his
kingly crowne For iustiâ—e is the chiefe and only thing That is requirde and lookte for in a king Wherefore what Peeres and Princes once haue wild No subiecs should endeuour to vndoe For kings will looke to haue their bestes fulfild And reason good that it should aye be so As beastes obey the leftie Lyons looke So meane estates must puysant Princes brooke Ill fares the barke amid the broyling seas Where euery swayne controlles the maisters skill And each one stires at heline him selfe to please And folowes not the cunning Pylots will So realmes are rulde but badly where the base â—ill checke the chiefe that sit in highest place The Argument to the seuenth Hystorie AMerchaÌ„ts daughter loude her brothers boy That kept the shop of linage basely borne Which grome became the damsels only ioy Whereat the brothers tooke no little scorne That he who was a youth of no account Presumde vnto their sifters bed to mount So deepely sanke disdaine within their brest As nought saue death their malice might assuage Those stately merchants mought not be at rest Till time they had dispatcht the sillie page Wherefore they all with one consent agreed To murther him so they did in deede Whose absence long did grieue the teÌ„der maide That wept the dayes spent the night in teares Not knowing where he was nor why he stayde It so fell out in fine the ghost appeares Amyd her dreame of him that so was slaine And bid her stint her teares that were in vaine He wried his wounds he shewde the shameful He told the traytors treason the traine That wroght his bane wheÌ„ce their malice rose blows And where his mangled carkasse they had laines Which proces tolde he vanisht out of sight The wench awoke a heauie wofull wight To trie the truth of what her vision spake She got a mate of trust and on she hide Vnto the place a perfect view to take VVhere after search the body she espide The body of her friend so lately dead VVhose hmmes she buried bearing thence the head VVhich head she plasht within a Basell pot VVell couered all with harden soyle aloft Her daily vse was to lament his lot That so was slayne she wept and sorrowed oft So long vntill her brothers stole away The Basell pot wherein her louer lay This second griefe compared to the furst That she poore wench had suffred for hir friend Increast her cares and made her hart to burst VVhose life did whole vpon the pot depend The merchants when they sawe their sister ded For feare of lawe in poste their countrey fled OF yore within Messyna dwelt Thrée brothers marchant men Left wealthie by their fathers death Who died by fortune then This marchant had beside his sonnes A daughter very young Elizabeth by name in whom With beautie nurture sprong Which nymph as nature furnisht had With séemely shape to view So in her tender breast a troupe Of honest maners grew Which gifts of course are wont to cause Good liking and good will But yet for all these vertues rare This virgins lucke was ill Or els her brothers cruell were For she was ripe to wed And yet without a married mate Her lustie prime shée led It fortunde so at selfe same time This damsels brother had A yonker that did keepe the shop A very handsome lad Lorenzo was the prentise name To whom they gaue the charge Of shop and warchouse all was his To buie and sell at large This ympe being verie neate and frim Of person and of wit And passing pleasure in deuise A man for follie fit By gesture and demeanure set This damsels heart on fire Who but Lorenzo with the wenchâ— He was her chiefe desire When thus the virgin livde in loue This prentise did perceiue By noting her from day to day He then began to leaue His forraine haunt at game abroade And only bent his breast To loue of her of whom he saw Himselfe so sure possest Thus lyking grew from lesse to more The faggot equall was That burnt within these loners breasts And brought the match to passe For why there were not many dayes Before the wench and he Gaue full assurance of good will It might none other be Ech felt the fruite of former gripes Ech louer found such swéete In Venus ioyes as sundrie times At pointed place they méete And sport as the maner is Of wanton Cupids crue That more respect the present toyes Than troubles that ensue And thus in play they spent the time But loue giues such a flame As few or none haue reason howe To quench or hide the same For why the light bewraies it selfe Vnto the lookers flight So farde it by these louers two For on a certaine night As shée good wench was hasting to Lorenzo where he lay Her eldest brother chaunst to sée And tract her on the way And knew for certaine that she went Vnto the prentise bed But like a wittie man he held His peace and nothing sed Although it was a death to him So foule a fact to knowe Yet reason and good nature did Perswade this marchant so As after sundrie doubtfull thoughts That wandred in his hed He was content to hold his tong And so he went to bed I leaue to descant of his dreames But sure I scarce beléeue He slept at case who sawe a sight That so his heart did greeue When morning came stars did start The man that saw the déed The night before rose vp and gate Him to the rest wich spéede And tolde his brothers what had hapt And after long deuise And counsell had vpon the case Because their sisters vice Should purchase them no open shame Nor yet their linage blot They purposde so to deale in things As though they wist it not Vntill such time as fortune serude Without mistrust or blame To rid away the partie that Had doone them all the shame Meane while they bore a merie face And shew of friendly heart To outward sight vnto the man That plaide so vile a part The better to reueuge the wrong For that an open foe Is easie to be voyded when His lookes his rancour shew Which made them laugh in wonted wne With him that had defilde Their sifter till such time as they The leacher had begilde Which hapned in a little space For being in this glée The brothers did deuise to take Their horse and ride to sée The countrie for a day or twaine And as the Prouerbe goes The moe the mertier is the feast And thereupon it rose They prayed Lorenzos companie For sport and solace sake Who though would gladlie stay at home His wonted myrth to make With her that was his only ioy Yet graunted his consent To goe abroade suspecting no Such mischiefe as they meant These merchants and the prentise thus Their prauncing Ienates tooke And brauely out of towne they rode In all the hast to looke A place wherein to doe the déede I meane Lorenzos
themselues in string VVHat time the proude and puisant Prince Antigonus in hande The Macedonian Scepter held And gouernd all the land There livde one Aristotimus A beast of blooddie kinde That all to monstrous murther did Imploy his Tigres minde Who when by fauour and by force Of Antigon the King The state of Elyesus to His yoke and becke did bring Full tyrantlike he strake the stroke And hauing got the crowne Gaue vp himselfe to loathsome lust And brought the subiects downe That earst in fréedome long had livde So mightie was his raigne As to resist his cruell parts Men thought it all in vaine What foul abuse was then vnwrought What rigor left vntride What wicked prancks pageants plaide whilst he the realme did gide His cankred nature all inclinde To slaughter and to blood To kill the poore and giltlesse soules It did this monster good And to this murthring minde of his He ioynde the vile aduise Of barbarous people that to blood This tyrant did entise The beastliest men that liuing were Alone he did not place In office to controle the rest Which was a cursed case That such vnciuill brutish beasts Should rule a Princes land But choze them for his persons garde To haue them neare at hand Of all the vile vnkindlie partes That he aliue did play I note but one aboue the rest Wherein I minde to stay To set this viper out to viewâ— That all the world may see What plagues in store for cruell Kings By Gods reserued be Who though to drinke in golden cup And feast with daintie fare And for a time abound in blisse Yet end their liues in care And steed of former sugred sops They swallow bitter gall And from the top of kingly throne Abide the shamefull fall There dwelt within this tyrants realm A Citizen of fame A man of wealth and great estate Phylodimus by name Who father was vnto a wench For feature that did passe An A perse among the rest And nurtred well she was Faire Micca was this maidens name Whose beautie did excell This Tyrant had a Souldier who Did like the virgin well One Luzio a roysting Roague In fauour with the king That to the end he might the maid Vnto his bias bring A messenger dispatcht vnto The father straight to will Him yéeld his daughter to his hands His pleasure to fulfill He let him vnderstand his lust The father séeing such A foule demaund and shamefull sute Was vexed very much And gripte with anguish of the minde But hauing wayde the case And knowing that this ruffian stoode So in the princes grace And highly was estéemde of him Be gonne to be afraide And thereupon his wife and he Thought good to send the maide Whom they perswaded as they might For safetie of her life To yéelde the Souldier vp the fort Withouten farther strife But shée good heart that lesse esteemde Her life than spotlesse name Well nurtred vp from tender youth And aye in feare of shame Fell prostrate at her fathers foote Vpon her fainting knées Imbracing him with bitter teares The sutes she made were these That he would neuer see her spoilde Of such a varlet vile Nor let a cutthrote souldier so His daughter to defile But rather let her die the death With fathers willing knife Than yéeld her vp to Luzios lust To leade a strumpets life She was content with any lot So she might scape his hands Whilst hearing thus his daughters plaints The wofull father standes And with the mother wayles the hap And pities of the maide Not knowing what to doe therein The Leacher that had staide And lookt for Miccas comming long Impacient of his flame And beastly heat to fet the wench Himselfe in person came Puft vp with déepe distaine and wrath And fiild with enuious yre That she did linger there so long VVhom he did so desire VVho béeing come vnto the house VVhere did this damsell dwell And seeing her at fathers foote For rage began to swell And much misliking her delay VVith fierce and frowning face Controlde the wench and bid her rise And follow him a pace And must I Damsell come quoth hée Mought message not suffice Doe way delayes leaue of those teares And wype your wantons eyes Dipatch and come along with me Doe linger on no more VVhereat the wench renude her plaints As she had done before And made no hast at all to ryse But sate vpon her knées Which Luzio séeing all in rage Vnto the mayden flées And strips her naked as his nayle And beate her round about A thousand stripes he gaue the girle That had not on a cloute To saue the burthen of a blowe From off her tender corse But shâ—ée continde on her minde For all the villaynes force Not weying all his blowes a beane A mayde of manly harte For though the beast had beate her sore Shée made no shewe of smarte Nor yelded any sighing sobbes In proofe of inward payne But valiantly abid the scurge And ready was againe To doe the like more rather than To yelde to such a slaue Or make him owner of the holde Which he did long to haue The wofull parentes vie wing this With griefe and dewed eyes Were greatly tho to pitie moude And out they made their cryes With sute of Luzio there to leaue And beate the mayde no more But when they sawe they nought preuaild Their aged lockes they core And out on God and man they call Their daughter voyde of blame To succour being sore distrest Euen then at point of shame Which sute and yelling crye of theirs Did make the monster mad And set him farther in a rage That earst so plagued had The mayden Micca voyd of gilt With that he drawes his knife And in the aged fathers sight Bereaues the wench of life Out gusht apace the purple blood From Miccas tender limmes In such abundance as about The place the mayden swimmes A perfit proofe that all the zeale Which Luzio bore the wench Did only growe of Leachers lust Whom wrath so soone could quench For had he grounded lust on loue Or fanside Micca well He would not so haue slaine a mayd Whose bewtie did excell Farewell to thée Dianas Nimphe Thy vertue was so great As well thou didst among the gods Deserue to haue a seate For Lucrece could haue done no more Than yeld her selfe to dye And in defence of spotlesse fame A tyrants hand to trye What kingly hart what princely brest Nay more what manly mynde Could sée or suffer such a facte Against the lawes of kynde Would any man of womans milke Endure so foule a déede Not yelding him that playd the parte A gibbot for his méed And yet this butchers bloody rage This tyrant could not moue To hate him ought the more but eke The good that did reproue The filthy villayne for his vice The Prince did make away For some of them with cruell sworde He out of hand did slaye And other some he forste abrode
cruell crye Whereat the seruants meruelld much And made so great a dyn As therewithall the king awoke That had in slumber byn His seruants tolde him what they saw And how the rase did stande He all in poast vpon reporte Sent horsemen out of hand For one that was a déepe deuine In whom he did affye To shewe the case to heare his minde And what was ment thereby The Prophet made him answere thus O puisant Prince quoth be Disgorge thy care abandon feare Let nothing trouble thée Pluck vp thy manly harte for Ioue Doth tender thine estate And makes a speciaâ—â—re of thée The Egle that of late Thy seruants sawe his herald is Whom he in message sent To shew thée that the mightie God Is very greatly bent To ayde thy force against thy foes Who long with murthring knife To spoyle theyr countrie of their king And reaue the Princes life But boldly this presume that God Himselfe will stand with thée Gainst such as séeke thy death and who Thy mortall enemies bée The tale this cunning Calcar tolde Did ease the tyrants brest Of diuers doubtes wherewith he was By Egles meane opprest Hée soundly slepte not doubting death Nor fearing ciuill sworde But marke the end and what it was To trust a Prophets worde For hereupon the men that ment The murther of the king Ellanicus and all his mates Thought good to doe the thing Which they pretended out of hande Not making longer stay And so among themselues eft soone Concluded on the day That followed next to worke the feate And bring their drifte to passe And that selfe night Ellanicus As he in slumber was Dreamte that the elder of his sonnes Whom earst the tyrant flewe Presented him before his face With wordes that here ensue Why sléepe slugge you father deare VVhy doe you linger so That you to morowe shall subdue Doe you as yet not know And reaue this citie from the king VVho now enioyes the same Departe your pillow father mine And balke your bed for shame Wherewith Ellanycus reliude And hoping then in déede Of happie lucke in breake of day Sought out his crewe with spéede That were confedered in the facte Perswading them to caste All dread aparte and slat to fall Vnto their feate at laste And at the selfe same time the king As hapte a vision had That fed him with assured hope And made him passing glad This dreame presented to his thought That with a mightie trayne Craterus came to take his parte Resistance was in vayne There was no cause why he should care But be of courage stoute For that Craterus had beset Olympia rounde about This vision vayne of good successe Did so assure the king As in the dawning timely hée Not dreading any thing Departes the Pallace voyde of awe With whom there only went That Câ—lo which was one of those That all this mischief ment By one and one his other men Did followe somewhat slacke Which when Ellanycus perceiude How hée his trayne did lacke The time it fitted finely then The season séemed good Vnto this auncient foe of his To let this tyrant blood Without the giuing any signe For so deuisde he had VVith such as were his fellow friendes But being very glad Vp lifteth he his aged armes Vnto the azurde skies And with the lowdest voyce he could Vnto his mates he cryes VVhy doe you loyter valiant laddes And men of great renowne To doe so worthy déede as this Amid your noble towne VVhich worde us soner spoken was But Cylo first of all Set hand to sword and drewe it out And slewe me therewithall First one of those that issued with The tyrant him to garde VVho so should take a tyrants parte Deserues the like rewarde Then after that when Cylo thus The matter had begunne Lampydio and Trasybule VVith all their force did runne Vpon the monster fully bent Him out of hand to slay VVho then began to trust his legges For why he ran his way To scape the danger of his death And to the temple fled Of Iupiter the mightie God In hope to saue his hed But heathen gods mought nothing help His enemies were so hote As him amid the sacred Church With shining swordes they smote And there bereft him of his life That well deserude to dye And after dragde him blooddy thence In open stréete to lye There lay his loathsome tarkasse slaine For euery man to vewe The people did reioyce at harte For fréedome gotte anewe So glad were neuer hungrie houndes Pursuing of the hare To fasten on the fearefull beast Each dogge to haue his share As were the subiects eger then The tyrant to pursue With hatefull blood of such a beast Their wepons to imbrew Whilst thus the folkes debating stood Of matter hapt so late Ech wife began to gaze about And prie to finde her mate For now the banisht men were come Vnto the towne againe To tell the mirth at méeting the I thinke it were in vaine For as their care was common earst Whilst he the realme did gide So semblant was their ioy no doubt When such a monster dyde This done the people gan to preace Vnto their Pallaceward But ere they came how matters went The quaking Quéene had hard And of the flaughter of her King Full beauie newes God wot Wherefore mistrusting what would hap Eftsoone her selfe she got Into a priuie counting house Where to escape their force About a beame shée hting a shéete And strangled so her corse A dolefull case that any dame That was a Princes wife Should for her husbands sake be forst To rid herselfe of life But yet of both more happy she Than was her husband slaine For ventrously shée put her selfe To death not dreading paine But he the captiue cowardlike To Ioue for succour ran And tooke the temple like a wretch And dide not like a man But turne we to our tale againe The tyrant by this Quéene Two daughters had the fairest wights That lightly mought be séene And ripe in yéeres to match with men Who hauing heard report How that their father murthred was In such a cruell sort In minde to void the furious foes As virgins full of feare Conuaide themselues into a vawte To stay in safetie there But they that sought so many were And pryed so well about As in the seller where they lay They found the maidens out Whom thence without delay they drew And whet their eger knyues As fully bent 〈◊〉 men mought be To reaue the Ladies liues But there by hap Megesten was Of whom we spake before At whose entreatie and the sute Of other matrones more Those noble Nymphs wer tho forborn For thus Megesten said To such as sought to doe the déede In slaying of a maid You do the thing that Butchers hearts Would neuer vndertake Good faith it were a shamefull fact So vile a spoile to make As file your sisters with virgins blood Against your manly kinde Let gréedie lust to be
auengde Not make your eyes so blinde But rather if so be there is No nay but they must die Giue leaue at my request that they Their proper strength may trie Let them make choice vpon their death And scape your handie force Whereto they all agréed in one But no man tooke remoise It irckt them that the tyrants blood Shouldst rest so long vnshed There were appointed for the noueâ— That both the Ladies led Into an tuner lodging where When they arriued were The eldest sister like a Dame Vndaunted voyde of feare From off her waste did loose the scarâ—e That girt her loynes about And bid her yonger sister doe The like with courage stout Then to a rester of the house Their girdles both were tide The knots and all were fitly made To cause the silke to slide Who so had viewde those virgins then He would haue thought that they had not intended by and by Such break neck game to play Their faces were so fresh to fight Their eyes did neuer stare Their tungs pronounst their tales as though Their hartes had felt no care Their outward gesture shewde a ioy More rather than distresse When thus I say the knots were knit To do the feate the lesse Of both the Ladies tooke the elder Sister by the hand Requesting her that shée as then So much her friend would stand As first to let her die the death And play her part before To whom the elder answered thus As neuer heretofore I haue denyde thée Sister aughte In all my life So now Euen at my death I am content Vnto thy will to bow Thou shalt haue leaue to let me liue Till thou be dead and gone But that which gréeues me most of all And giues me cause of mone Is that I liue to see thy death before my losse of life The yonger Ladie thereupon Without a farther strife Conuaid her head into the scarfe The other standing there Gaue counsell so to place the knot Just vnderneath the eare As lightly she might loose her breath And rid her selfe of paine The yonger followed her aduise An easie death to gaine A wofull thing for me to write And loathsome eke to you Deare Ladies who to passe their time Shall hap my book to view To thinke that two such virgins borne And bred in Princely blisse Should be inforst in fine to make So hard a choyce as this But as the auncient Prouerbe goes Perforce obaies no law The crabbed carters whip will cause A stately steed to drawe The yonger sister thus hereft Of life the elder came And cut the girdle of the beame To hide her sisters shame As well as shée good Ladie might Then was her part to play Who putting on that other scarfe About her necke gan say Vnto Megesten noble Dame When thou shalt see me ded For honours sake vnto thy kinde Sée thou my carkasse led In place that is for maidens méete Let not my body lie Despoyld of robes to naked shew And view of euerie eye And with her saying downe shée slipte And by her bodies pease Though light it were did stop her pipes And so shée dyde with case The Lenuoy THose realmes right happy are where princes rainge That measure out by vertue all their deedes Abhorring with their vassals blood to staine Their sacred hands and gore their kingly weedes The subiects there with willing harts obay And Peeres be safe from fall and foule decay But out alas where awfull Tyrants hold In haughtie crucil hands the royall powre And mischiefe runnes by office vncontrolde There aye the great the lesser sort deuoure By daylie proote ech one may daily see That such as rulers are such subiects be Vnlesse the law forbid the lewde to sinne Vnlesse the Prince by rigor vices quell Disorders will by sufferance soone rush in Who striues not then in mischiefe to excell By nature man vnto the worst is bent If holesome statutes stay not his entent A hangrie wight is hardly harde from food The kindled straw is seldome when put out A Cyrant that hath tasted once of blood With much adoe forbeares the fillie rout So sweete is sinne as once from vertue fall And thou art lightly lost for good and all No looking backe no bending foote about No feare of fall for mauy a mischiefes past No ill reuockt no dreed of any doubt Till God by heapes powre downe his plagues at last As by this verse is planily set to view No matter tainde but auncient storie true Who would by might haue maintained Iuzios lust That â—ewe the childe before the fathers face Whaâ— King would wincke at matter so vniust Or fauour muffian in so foule a case The fact was vile and dreadfull vengeance dewe Vnto a Prince that such disorder knewe To bolster vice in others is a blame For such as may by power suppresse the deed But crowned kings incurre the greatest shame When they themselues on Subiects flesh do feede For Lions take no pleasure in the blood Of any beast vnlesse they bee withstood And when such states so fouly doe offend Not they alone doe bide the bitter scurge But subiects are for rulers vices shend Is when the Sea doth yeeld to great a surge The lesser brookes doe swell aboue their boundes And ouerflow like floods the lower grounds Lyacon lewde that fed on strangers blood Although himselfe were he that God forgate Yet causer was that loue with sodaine blood Drownde all the world saue 〈◊〉 and her mate Thus one ill yeere may worke ten thousands woe God hates yll kings and doth detest them so As heere we see this vgly Tyrants wife And giltlesse broode that neuer did offend Raunsomde the fathers faultes by losse of life And he him selfe was brought to wretched end Wherefore let Peeres and states vprightly stand Least they and theirs be toucht by Gods owne hande For he that guydes the golden globe aloft Bekoldes from hie and markes the deedes of man And hath reuenge for euery wicked thought Though he forbeare through mercy now and than He suffereth long but sharpely payes at last If we correct not our misdoings past He spares no more the Monarke than the Page No more the Reysars than the countrie Clownes He fauours not the auncieut for their age He cuts off Kings for all their costly Crownes No royall roabes no scepter no deuice Can raunsome those that fauour fylthy vice The Argument to the ninth Hystâ—rie SYâ—â—ona lilet of Pasquine passing well And he did frie as fast with egal slame In sorte as on a time these louers fell To make a match of purpose for the same With one coâ—â—ent where time and place was set This louing couple in a garden met There 〈◊〉 to other vttered their deuise To salue the fores that fancy fixt in brest They kist they â—olâ—d thus neither part was nice To take the time of both vvas compted best Amid their glee vvas Pasquines hap to spie A bed of sage that there vvas grovving by