shall you rest with me where your cates shall not be dainty homelic cleanly and welcome your principal dish Thankes good my Lord quoth Elanicus but thinke you that I may obtaine that fauour at your commaund which intreating for the same so lately was so hardly expersed Susania intercepting Andrugio his wordes answered sir blame not a fearfull maiden to doubt the worst hauing too great a cause of late to bee warned and to excuse my boldnesse let my submission in the humblest wise make satisfaction for my fault and vouchsafe to accompanie your noble countriman vnto whom both the Gods and Fortune in my opinion haue done great wrong and my selfe a rude maiden with my aged parentes haue highly offended in not giuing him the dutie to his estate belonging But I trust he will pardon the fault committed sith he himselfe is the principall cause thereof which would not make himselfe knowen but onely in this tytle a Gentleman of Saxonie yet to such prouision as wee coulde make in this wildernes he was welcome so is your selfe if you accept it A million of thankes curteous maiden I render thee for thy kindnes to this noble man which he hath found vnknowen what he was and therefore the more to be considered VVhat cause he hath to honour so good an attendant as you haue showed to be for auoyding of flattery I omit Thus passing the night in ioy recountring their olde friendship the next morning early as Andrugio gaue directions Elanicus leauing behinde him horse and money he hasteneth with al speed to signifie vnto the Duke what had happened Andrugio feeling now the extremities of his woundes to be passed imagining the duke would not suffer him farther to aduenture himselfe when tidings should be brought him of his perils escaped and plight he remained in not forgetting his affection towards Susania whose desires the more he sought to suppresse y e more his hart was inflamed in loue towards her wherefore hee resolutely determining what to do he waiteth opportunitie to disclose his loue vnto her which luckily was presently offered For loâ— Susania in the midst of these determinations according to her ancient custome came to see her patient wherefore setting al dreaâ— apart taking his fit time knowing wel that secret forrowes doo confound the sences and that lingring in perill is the cause of many insiting miseries thus boldlie he began to batter the bulwarke Blush not Susania that for thy graces I tell thee I loue For Susania Loue is in men and therefore in me Since therefore to stop the streame dooth make the flood more fierce and to suppresse the flame dooth make the fire encrease Cammomill the more it is â—rodden the more it springeth Wherefore Susania fearing the flame of my affection shall corosiue my heart know this thy manifold vertues haue made such an impression in my heart and the sweetnesse of thy feature so wounded me that the blaze of the one and the bountie of the other hath broken the bulwarke of my heart where Loue aduanceth her Ensigne as conqueroâ— and keepeth my hart prisoner neither will she deliuer but onely with this ransome Susania her loue Looke therefore my drare Susania vpon thy captiue and as thou hast cured the outward woundes of my bodie minister that sweet portion to my hurt which my heart desireth that being healed by the phisicke of thy affections I may ioy in thee Lookes men say are the messengers of loue and outward motions the be â—raâ—ers of inward malladies then cast thine eies vpon the countenance which doth manifest my care and let thy thoughtes penetrate the heart that doth endure calamitie Deeme sweet Susania of my loue as of the Salamandar stone which being once set on fire will neuer be quenched or the Emerald which graceth all other stones but neuer looseth his collour so likewise neuer determinable shall be the loue of Andrugio to his beloued Susania Then Susania in right consider of my cause according to my care nothing besides thy bountie can procure my blisse thy only perfection hath increased my pame then let thy pitie set free my person from pâ—rill The Porcupike that hurteth with his quilles makes a salue with his blood and Aclytes speare trieth an earnest effect of both natures so likewise it lieth in thee to apply the plaister that inferreth my paine to minister such phisick as may cure my malladie Sith then my life dependeth on thy loue and my danger attendeth your speedie redresse let your courtesie finish my care and repay my loue with his like Susania poore soule neuer vsed to those louing speeches and sweet wordes vttered by Andrugio was mute to heare so suddaine a motion yet the thought of which ticklâ—d a sweete conceit in her as a portion shee coulde well brooke yet determining to shewe in full the nature of the female sexe began to spurne at that with her fooâ—e which willingly she could haue imbraced in her heart resembling the byrde Orpyes that hatcheth the Nightingale yet will feed on her egges so dooth her heart secretlye reioise to thinke her selfe beloued of Andrugio yet meaning to giue him a bitter pill she ministreth to him this portion My good Lord Andrugio I humblie beseech you of pardon for my harsh behauiour toward your Lordship passed but gratious Lord wherein hath Susania shewed her selfe at any time light of behauiour that thus you goe about to intrap me to the lure of your will if my dutie to my vtmost shewed in your weaknesse breed lust in your recouering health I will prouide a new nurse for you and arme my selfe against the subtill piping of so cunning a Fouler Yf your friendship be with your faining glozes to that end to bewich such ignorant creatures as my self I must needs get the hearbe Glozia a preseruatiue against that malady and intreat your Lordship to bee content with an other attendant for wisedome it is to beware in time and warned prouide to escape dangers Yf your Lordship had bene before put in mind of the murderers waiting to kill you I doubt whether you would haue aduentured the place wher they awaited you therefore blame mee not to bee hereafter aduised how I come too neere you and so farewell Thus as it were in a litle chafe she would haue departed but Andrugio staieng her replied thus Sweete Susania and louing if thou tender his life whome with paine thou hast nourished so long doo pitie me which vnfainedly craâ—e it at thy bandes Though Fowlers meane falshood Andrugio is faithfull what if many men haue pleaded for obtainig of lust the affections of Loue yet blame not Andrugio till triall if I bee false then let the Gods poure vengeance vpon me or when ANDRVGIO shall seeme to chaunge his amorous thoughtes of sweete Susania the obiect of any life let fire consume me from the heauen Enough of this my Lord quoth Susania except it were to better purpose for your talke is to no end but to bring a foole
to your becke or at least to see whether my lightnesse were such as you suppose it Credite me Susania answered this louing Lord let my trueth make triall of my faith vnto thee it is not lust but the pure single meanings of loue imprinted in my true heart Therefore sweete comfort of my life respect thy seruant which humbly seeketh thy grace stand not on tearmes with me if thou tender my life my progenie which I haue concealed is now by fortune reuealed whereby thou maist be assured it is no disparagement to thee to yeeld me loue of my affection towardes thee but graunting it shalt thereby increase the reputation of all thy ancestrie whom for thy sake I will inuest with titles of calling for the more honour to thee I stand Susania vppon thornes vntill I come to Siena where my desire hath led me for feare of being preuented by my father in calling me home againe therefore resolue thee and let me not languishe for thy sake whome thou mayest easily remedie Ah my Lord quoth Susania it is a principle amongest Lappidarines that the smooth stones be soonest broken amongst faylers where the water is most smoothest there likest danger the greenest grasse hideth the moste venomous serpent the stone Granio looseth his vertue if it be not continually rubbed with golde powder is no sooner kindled but it quencheth mens affection may be compared to the Fawcon that commeth to euery full fist or to the spaniell that will fawne vppon euerie one that holdeth bread in their hand The stone Quacius freeseth within when it fryeth without and sighes may be fetched aswel from the loongs as from the heart teares bee wrong out of the fingers when men be disposed to fame knowe you not that the new wrought dough wil receaue any impression Is it possible to take those birdes that hath espied the twigges no no the hawke will neuer be called to that lure wherein the pennes of a Camelion are pricked for well I knowe that the Theopâ—rate looking at the woolfe iâ— taken at a pray and the Porcupike staring on the starres is ouertaken by the dogges too late comes had I wist when follie bytes vpon repentance Better it is to skip with the lambe in the sweete field in freedome then to be companion to the greatest monarche in thraldom which considered I neither can as being not gouernour of my selfe nor will yeeld my selfe to that yoke which I cannot shake off Stay there Susania and giue me leaue to liue a while that am sure to die when you pronounce denial let not particular examples proue a full conclusion though some haue bene false all are not faultie stones I yeeld are to be valued by the vertue not by the outward viewe But Susania thinke that stones may be better polished then vnperfected and the defectes of nature corrected by nature An Emralde hath many pernicious properties but set in gold is corrected by the vertue thereof Thou Susania câ—st aptlie the comparisons then assure your selfe that the Granicke whiche is blacke yeeldeth a white iuice and the Ieate burneth best in water Then Susania commend the perfectnesse of the sunne although thou gaze at inferiour planets Andrugio hauing thus clearkly discoursed for himselfe with a deepe sigh sealed his faithfull sayinges in such sort that the teares trickled downe her cheekes for sorrowe to heare him Which perceaued by Andrugio with many imbracinges and louing kisses enterchangeablie giuen betwixt them to both their comfortes desiring pardon of her Lord whome she was loth to offend shee leaueth him with this hope his courtesie should be remembred so bidding him adâ—ew betaketh her selfe vnto her lodging where being solitarie the forces of Cupids affection began now to flame in this virgine that forced with the extremitie of contrarie motions subdued her heart with such repugnant passions that she sodainly fell into this processe Ah haplesse Susania what motions are these whither art thou rouing with a self conceipt captiuated by the lawes of affection proceeding from that blinded God Cupid and fast 〈◊〉 in his laborinth O impatient disease of loue 〈…〉 of loue thrise vnpitifull what strange malladie breedeth so great a martyrdom what intollerable griefe doth glut my desires nay what desperate desire doth breed such intollerable disease Ah Andrugio sweete Lord Andrugio yet vlab not Susania let thy loue hang at thy heartes bottome not at thy lippes brimme thinges vntold are vndone golde boyleth best where it bubleth least Yea but the flame pressed down it inforceth smoke Loue that is secretly kept consumes in sorrow and the fire of fancie raked vp in silence will both fire the sences and shrinke the sinewes Ah but Susania the Griphen neuer spreadeth his winges in the sunne hauing anie sicke fethers and a mayden snarde in loue doth shame to bewray the same what then shall Susania liue and lose her beloued to whome she is so deare as his faithfull wordes with piteous sighes bewrayeth yea but the Crockidell singeth moste sweetest when he meaneth most subtiltie the Scorpyon biteth moste venomous when he is least suspected and may not Andrugio thinke I put a dissembling visard vppon his fayre face But suspitious girle what cause hast thou to imagine anie such thought of him whose othes made in the sight of heauen and the Gods confirme his trueth Blush therefore Susania at thy folly and take heede in time suppresse that fancie that maintaines this affection for litle sparkes may proue great flames and small twigges growe to tall Cedars Loue is a Lord who like an ambitious Caesar that is graunted a part resteth not till hee dangereth the whol possessioÌ„ Knowest thou not y t to loue is to liue in losse Remember Susania men be subtill and full of deceipt Theseus was false and Demophon faultie else had Ariadne bene fortunate in her loue and Phillis happie but what then because some were faultie is none firme pause there Susania though snowe melt flint is another substance gall is bitter yet honie pleasant therefore measure the condition of al men as they be and conceiue of Andrugio as of a noble Lord whose wordes shewes 〈…〉 whose faith is firme yea but wretched Susania 〈…〉 noble thou farre inferiour to him whose parentâ—s knowing the match will disdaine him for my sake Looke not therfore so hie least some danger befall thee none gazeth in the sunne but the Eagle Iccarus presumed to mount into the ayre but his climing cost his life Andrugio is no fondling though thou wouldest wherefore content thee fondling and rather die then indanger either thy friend that loues thee or thy owne credite which will be crased if it be but knowne the least sparke of thy loue to Andrugio peoples toonges being so sharpened with standered arrowes Thus heauily without comforte bewayling her hard fortune that God had not made her a matche sufficient to linke with Andrugio we leaue her to her sorrowes Eugenia whiche hath rested little since his departure from the duke of
Lord and maister and kind to Andrugio when as he perceiued how hee was beâ—t and that it was as easie for him with the Osterich to swallowe yron or w t his nailes to crash hard flint as with his wordes to win him to his desire and cause him to returne with a heart as heauie as Hero for losse of her Leander after hee had vttered in milde tearmes his faithfull minde taking leaue of Andrugio returneth to the court of Saxony leauing him to his owne will for a time Who in the vniuersitie hath planted himselfe to studie and was in short time growen into great familiaritie with diuers yoong gentlemen amongst others with whom hee vsed daylie to frequent Galastina sonne vnto the Duke of Millaine and be became most conuersant from whose companie so mutuall was their loue and their liking so great one to the other that they might neuer bee simdred night nor day No neuer was the loue of Damon to his Pithia nor Pylidies to his Orestes more firme then Andrugio to his Galastina for one heart vnited them and one purse they vsed betweene them But yet absence which is the greatest enemie to his former desires being so far sundred from his Susania hath not power to put her out of minde but euer in the midst of his mirth would he call to mind his deare loue and often with a sigh rehearse her name saying Susania sweete and constant Susania So often he vsed this so that in the end Galestina desirous to knowe what dame shee was of whom by day he talked so much and in the night dreamed of was so unportunate on him as hee might not hide the flame no longer of which so greate smoake was seene and therefore Galastina brake with him on this maner and fashion Andrugio now my second selfe whose welfare I esteeme as mine owne and according to the dutie of a friend regard thy friendship as my life I haue noted euer since thy comming to Siena amongst all thy myrth how suddainly it hath bene ouershadowâ—d with sighes and fantasticall speeches tending to loue as thy passion describeth If it be so my Andrugio thou art entered into the most intricate labormth that can be and such as exceede the capacitie of men to conceiue such a worme is it as I greatly feare thy health yea and without content shortly thy life For doubtlesse to loue is not tollerable especially where the loue is absent Besides it hath manye defectes as if thy loue be sctled on a Dame full of disdaine who regardeth thee not Yf shee be poorer then thy degree doth require then is she loth some to thy kindred how pleasing soeuer she be to thee Loue they say is a commander and of the common people tearmed a God honored with glorious tytles yea some are so besotted in planting their loue that they reape for their best fruit endlesse misery or preuent it by vntimely death from which the Gods preserue thee my Andrugio But sweet friend if thou wilt be aduised by him who is as deere in respect as mine owne heart listen as litle to Venus allurements as I doo to Cupids flateries so shalt thou haue no cause to say the Gods be vniust nor women cruell for I thinke of Loue as Gnato the Greeke did who was woont to say that of all plagues wherewith mortall men are affâ—iced loue was the greatest for that they earnestlye desired that for their comfort which they founde their mortall death Andrugio hauing listened to Galastina his oratioÌ„ could not well tell how to digest his speech yet after a small pause taken answered Why Galastina doost thau count it madnesse to loue or him besotted that yeeldeth vnto affection Knowest thou not or art thou so fond as not to know that Loue is deuine and can command by his power Who subdued the heartes of inuincible warriours whome Fort could witholde no Force withstand and who subdued the whole worlde but loue Alexander Hercules Scypioâ— and manye others haue subiected them to loue Therefore thinke not as the Greeke did that loue is a plague least thou die an hereâ—ike beleeue hee is fauoured of the Gods that is an happie Louer In faith no quoth Galastina for I count him most vnhappie which is in loue most happie Why then Galastina thou thinkest him vnhappie that loueth Orels quoth he I should thinke amisse Should I thinke him happie which for one penny of coyne ceceyued at his neede shall lie shut vp in prison all dayes of his life Or for one dramme of prosperitie reapeth a whole pounde of miserie Shall I esteeme him happie in loue whose golden gaine prooues leaden griefe No that is neither pleasure which is interlaced with paine nor that happines which turnes to losse Why then Galastina quoth Andrugio doost thou thus blaspheme against Cupid and his sweete mother and esteemest thou so lightlie of loue which is so great a commander Because quoth hee it is Loue and is such a poyson which infecting the mindes of men entreth as pleasant as Nectar the drinke of the Gods but prooueth more vytter than the ioyce of wormewood for as the Mermayde bewitcheth hearers with her sweete musike vntill they be iulled asleepe therewith and so they fall into some danger so amorous louers haue their sences besotted with the franticke passions of this Idoll Loue that they account not themselues happie but in their most vnhappines being at most ease in their disquiet at greatest rest when they are most troubled seeking their pleasure in care hunting continually after that that bringeth endles harme and destruction vnto them as I haue many examples Dauid and Sampson in holy writ Hercules and Leander in prophane histories and many more which I omit wishing thee my good Andrugio if thou desire the fauour of so poore a friend as my selfe and thine owne quiet to persist from loue otherwise it will breede thy confusion This is your harsh sensure Galestina but die not herein neither stand long vpon those tearmes for if you doe Venus is angry at your blasphemie will endite you as an hereticke both to nature and her selfe and so plant you one day for you-disdaine in loue as you shall haue cause to lament whilest you leaue your hard fortune but for this time I am content to giue ouer this argument least that my follies in praysing loue as thou sayest should make the more earnest in enuying against that sweete goddesse so cause thy punishmentes to fall the sooner For Ladies by kinde the more they are grieued the sooner they seeke reuenge of their enemie of which number Venus accompteth the one to her Godhead My speeches Andrugio is no more then my heart thinketh as should be apparant if that foule goddesse as thou tearmost her were present for I doubt least her foreces in loue to inflict me with hauing alwaies reason which shalbe of force sufficient to expell from my heart that franticke humour loue in despight of the goddesse and her blind
promise the performance of anie thing I may But my good Lord touching your demand I beseeche you thinke thus that if there were any thing which disturbed my quiet of heart I should aboue all for many considerations acquaint your Lordship with the same but loue as your Lordship censured it is not but as I can best conceaue of mine owne griefe a melancholicke passion naturally proceeding of desire to see my natiue countrie my prince and friends to whome it is altogether vnknown what is become of me whether I liue or rest with death Besides my good Lord I liue heere a meere stranger in high fauour reaping the benefite of your honourable countenance more then any man whiche as I am stranger may make me dread the spight of some one or other enuying your Lordships will when noting my vnworthinesse for so great benefites may seeke my confusion Thus my good Lord haue I in the humblest maner I may made knowne vnto your Lordship the greatest and of what I say for that it is spoken in trueth Andrugio answered his Lord I take thy wordeas a warrant for what thou sayest assure thee on my honour that as thou art a stranger thy welcome is the greater I neither yet haue deserued at thy handes suche loue as thou professest me but assure thee hee shall not liue in bondes of my royaltie that shall enuie Andrugio or seeke to doe him the least wrong which may be offered a man Therefore surcease thy heauinesse and set feare apart for of a Lord I wil become a father vnto thee and a friend vnto thy friends and louers Time calleth vs nowe homeward wherefore I will detayne thee no longer Andrugio glad at the heart his counterfait answere was taken for currant thought himselfe the happiest of manie this communication was ended and with a better will followed his Lord home then we can imagine as glad he had escaped the suspition of his maister as the scholler that feareth beating for his lesson but nowe to returne to madam Melissina This Ladie whose heart Cupid hath made a prisoner vnto his dutie sought manie times opportunitie to ease her griefe by all the occasions she could imagine but none that she durst attempt for feare diuers times she determineth one meane and fully resolueth to followe it then the doubt of some contrary accident driueth her into dispayre combating thus in the extremities of her heart deuising what was best to bring her desires to effect Venus seeing her so firme and constant a souldier lending a little ayd to comfort her prouideth this shift There was attending on a Lady a neighbour of the Lord Ieronimie a Gentlewoman in Saxonie borne with whome for countries sake Andrugio grewe something familiarly acquainted with this gentlewoman did Ladie Melissina seeke also to haue familiaritie and on the sodaine began to accompanie her Ladie so often that with her repayre she grewe into great friendship with her waiting Gentlewowan so much thâ—t there might no day stape her without visiting her nâ—we acquainted friend VVhen Melissina had with great fauours and bountie wonne this Gentlewoman to bee her friende walking in a garden neere adioyning to her brothers house the brake with her in this sorâ—e Elenora for so was she named I haue seene thy honest kind demeanor as well to straungers as to thy Lady and friendes that prooue thy loue and of all of what estate or calling foeuer of our owne countrie I haue for thy good behauiour made choise of thee as of one to whom my hart hath linked her â—elfe in bond of true friendship aboue all other Yf thou canst therefore my sweete Elenora thinke but the like of me I protest vnto thee from this time to the end of my life I wil be a second Elenora honor thee as my self vsing thee as if thou wert Melissina speak therfore my friendly companion if my offer be acceptable resolue me for I long to heare thy answere Elenora which had receiued great friendshippe at the handes of this Lady knowing shee was of honour and of great reputation thought her selfe happie to liue in the sociâ—tie of so noble a Lady Yet notwithstanding the fauour offered with humble and â—utifull reuerence as one knowing full well how to behaue her selfe returned this answer My honorable Lady how acceptable your gracious ofter is vnto your seruant I hope your wisedome will conceiue far vnwoorthy I am to participate with so honorable a Lady in such familiarity as it hath pleased you to make offer But seeing it standeth with your fauour to make choise of one so simple as I am a Gentlewoman of meane parentage and a straunger borne with all dutie I commit my selfe vnto your Ladiships disposition protesting that for euer Elenora is and shall be the dutifull attendant of Madame melissina truely and faithfully to serue you in all reuerence as becommeth so noble a lady to the which by the Gods that framed me I sweare Ynough my Elenora quoth Maddam Melissyna geue me thy hand to performe thy saying and hereafter leaue to vse these tearmes of reuerence to thy Melyssina who hath in friendship vnited her selfe vnto thee supposing the shape of Elenora to be transformed to Melyssina and Melissina to Elenora And now Elenora to make proofe of that which I hope to finde in thee I must impart vnto thee according to my trust reposed in thy secrâ—cie a matter of no small waight with which Elenora I commit my honor life and reputation which if I loued thee not I â—ould for euer conceale as I haue long done from discloasing thereof to any friend whatsoeuer yet dooth it concerne me neere To make many words my Elenora is but to fill the aire with winde and spend time which we may hardly doo for feare thou bee of thy Lady missed and therefore briefy sweete Elenora I loue yea loue I doo with the most entire affection and desire of my heart one with whome I knowe thy selfe to bee familiar with whom my selfe cannot be acquainted yet I haue offered many courtesies and offers of friendshyp which hee regardeth not This is the somme I haue to say onely I omit his name vntill I heare thy answere Elenora seeing by her countenance that she meant what she said striken in a dumpe began to studie an answere for for feare her rash proffer might breede cause of repentance that shee had a louer of her own whome shee was loth to spare to Madam Melissina although she loued her well yet after a pause taken hazarding her word she vowed deuoutly to conceale whatsoeuer should be vttered and with her best counsell and greatest paines labour to bring her desire to effect Melissina hauing made sure worke with Elenora was halfe comforted and without any more protestations told her that Andrugio a seruant to the Lord Ieronymie her countriman was the man whom she fancied aboue all the creatures that euer her eies behâ—ld But such is his strange condition that
gained so the loue of all the people that none of the retinue of his Lord was helde in such account of all estates as well of Nobles and Gentlemen of the countrie as the inferiour sort It fortuned this Lord Ieronymie hauing one onely sister wise beautifull and well gouerned hearing such generall commendation of Andrugio and amongst the rest her brother so highly to commend him in all places and at all times so that his common talke was euer to the credite of Andrugio which noted in the yoong ladie Messeliua for so was she called her affection began to encrease towards him in such wise that from a small sparke the fire of fancie began to grow to a great flame and her chiefe and onely delight was in beholding of her best beloued Andrugio yea her thoughtes were so setled vpon him that in the night she dreamed of him and in the day he was neuer out of her remembrance in so much that this passion increasing she began to growe into great extremities euermore deuising what meanes she might best worke to make her loue knowne vnto him now casting this doubt then another so that in no sort shee might settle her thoughtes how to bring her desires to effect in such maner as she might be void of suspition to the world and acquaint Andrugio with her secrete loues towardes him hauing not any friend of familiaritie to bee aduised by but her wayting woman of whose trust and fidelitie in such a waightie cause shee was not assured of Yet notwithstanding arming her selfe with hope the only comfort of the distressed she resolueth with her selfe a litle while longer to beare it out hoping that time and her courtesie vsed towards him might cause him to craue that which she could willingly and with all her heart offer him Andrugio on the top of his pleasure leading a life free from all incumbrances of body yet could not forget the loue he bare his Susania which howe often he called to minde the more began his sorrow yea such desire he had to see his best beloued that his whole studie and continuall care was how to accomplish the same in doubt of euerie occasion that might hinder his determination Thus betweene doubtfulnesse and dispaire liued this yoong prince discontented that he tooke no pleasure in keeping anie kinde of companie at all Such was his honourable minde with duetifull allegiance tied by the lincke of faith vnto his Lord who had freed him that he durst not for feare of deniall make any request for his fauour therein and to goe of his free-will he thought it villanie to requite with such ingratitude so honourable a man that loued him as his owne Well so long continued those passions abiding such grieuous tormentes of minde that his liuely collour began to waxe pale and wanne yea his bloud which was fresh and well beseeming dried and his bodie growne with continuall griefe into a faine sicknesse insomuch that his alteration was noted of all lamented of many that did know him but especiallie of the noble Lord Ieronimie and his sister Messalina who continually noted euerie sight and woulde oftentimes demand the cause of his sorrowe whiche by no meanes they could vse he would discouer But Lord Ieronimie as one carefull of his well doing woulde neuer be satisfied with such answeres as Andrugio would giue nor allow his excuses for trueth wherefore taking him one day into the fields of purpose to solace they spent their time in walking pleasantly discoursing vntill the Lord Ieronimie comming to a pleasant medowe bedecked with natures ornamentes as much as they had seene which viewing they both censured of the bewtie of the field one commending the delightful smell of floures the other the situation of the place which was most excellent neere vnto the edge of one side running a most pleasant christall streame which bubling ouer the round Poples gaue a sweete noyse to the hearers vpon the side whereof was growing a rowe of moste exceeding fine poplar trees which ouershadowed the place as it was most pleasant This place aboue the rest that they had chanced on Lord Ieronimie those to solace himself in as also fit for his purpose wherefore commanding Andrugio to sit down by him like a louing kind Lord hee began to participate with Andrugio in this wise Andrugio mine owne Andrugio I haue long sought fit opportunitie to haue secret conference with thee and hauing found place and time for the same be not moued that I growe into those speaches which I haue to vse considering that they bespoken of loue and not maliciously First my Andrugio whiche I haue to say vnto thee is this I haue since our comming from the mariage of my liege the Emperours daughter noted many a sad and heauie countenance in thee which I knowe argueth a discontented mind proceeding as my coÌ„iecture assureth me of loue now Andrugio as I freed thee from the bondage of y e turks vnknowne if there be anie such cause feare not to make it known vnto me I haue vowed to pleasure thee al y t I may stand not therfore on nise tearms but let me know y e dame whom thou hast made choyse of to gouerne thy affections and if I seeke not all possible meanes for thy heartes content accuse me euer of dishonour and holde me the moste wretched vile creature on the earth Andrugio hearing this discourse of his Lordes which he least looked for could not well on the sodaine tell how to answere for that he was not assured whether he spake vpon surmise or that he had some secret knowledge of his loue to Susania yet thinking to hasard his credite with Lord Ieronimie he answereth My gracious Lord what humble thanks my heart rendereth for so great fauours my toonge cannot declare But gracious Lord where fortune hath placed an extraordinarie want their wil shal supplie the defects of wealth loyaltie performe that whiche my meane abilitie can neuer put in practise The tree that bringeth foorth no fruite is good for fuell and stones are not to be valued by an outward view but an inward vertue Prometheus did consture wel of the workes of Lycias and I hope my gratious Lord will not misconsture the will of Andrugio but rather to cast an eye to my secret willingnesse then to looke for merites which I cannot manifest what I finde noble Lord by experience the time and place forbids me to participate least I be accused of flatterie yet what I conceiue I leaue to your honourable coniecture which I cannot any way discipâ—er onely this alwaies accompt Andrugio is your duetifull and loyall seruaunt vntill death which hee hath vowed by the true band of friendship neuer to violate Thus finding in my selfe a will that shall neuer wauer a faith vnfained and a life vowed to perpetuall loyaltie Hoping that as Protagenes was excused for his vnperfect pictures by doing what he could so also shall I finde your Lordshippes fauour since I
and sollome prayses with reioysing fires throughout the Citie in signe of ioy Andrugio expecting long the returne of Lorenzo looking earnestly for him on the sodaine heard all the belles to ring which made him admire woonderfully in the end hee might beholde the shoare filled with multitudes of people and the numbers to increase by which he imagined there was some thing in hand Thus standing in dumpes there came from the shore all the Nobles of his countrie to giue him welcome and to bring him to land wher with great ioy of his subiects he was intertained in such sort as might haue caused the mightiest Emperour to haue thought well of his people and to giue them thankes In great pompe rides Andrugio to his pallace with ioifull hearts receiued of his subiectes who to shew their loues with triumphes masking and other pastimes during one whole weâ—k spent their times The solemne welcome was not finished when the lords and states of the countrie that had the gouernment in open assembly deliuered their authoritie in most reuerent and dutiful maner acknowledging him to be the right and lawful heir of their deceised duke desiring him y t guideth the harts of all princes to make him as fortunate in his actions as his father Andrugio setled thus in his Dukedome gouerned with great wisedom vsing iustice to all with his nobles familiar and to his commons curteous wronging no man but releeuing all that were comfortles to the prisoners and men in bondage he had a speciall regard measuring their miseries by his owne calamities hauing ben as they are To recount all his honors would fil large volumes and grow tedious to the hearer onlie let this suffice he liued the tearmes of two yeares and more vnmaried beloued of all within his dukedome so generally that they delighted in nothing so much as in lauding extolling his honorable actions in such wise that other countries gaue him the like honor as his owne people passing the flouring prime of his youth the Nobles of his country hauing care of the state offered many greate mariages but al to no purpose with thankes he returned all their friendship accepting none The old sinders of affections which lay raked vp in his heart began now againe to burne so that day nor night was spent without great care taking how he might accomplish his desire inioy Susania to his wife yet for that she was so base and fearing his nâ—bles would be offended to know her calling refusing their offers was in great perplexitie not dating to disclose it to his dearest friend and most familiar But Cupid geuing spur to his desires could not let him rest vntill hee sought some meane for his quiet Casting many waies in his perplexed mind how to giue his heart ease and his desire end determineth to prooue the faithfulnesse of Lorenzo whom he had aduanced to honor for this fauour showed wherfore finding opportunitie he brake with him after this manner Lorenzo how much I doo reckon my selfe beholding vnto thee I will not say by whose means and good fortune in meeting thee I am the sooner setled in my Dukedome a friendship which shall neuer be forgotten so long as Andrugio liueth But Lorenzo as thy faith hath bene firme vnto me and thy readinesse as great to doo me this good so am I the bolder to make choise of thee aboue al I know to impart a matter of more waight and toucheth me nerer then the losse of my Dukedom in which if I find thy readinesse and secrecie according to my wish thou bindest Andrugio by an euerlasting band of inuiolable friendship to rest thine Speake therefore Lorenzo if I shall repose this trust and confidence in thee according as I doo desire then solemnely sweare the concealing of the same and thy speedy furtherance Lorenzo as one desiring nothing more then the princes fauour and to augment his good opinion of him rather theÌ„ to decrase it any way protested vnto hun by the faith of a loyall subiect that rather would he iudure all the torments that might be deuised then disclose any thing he was charged to conceale to any one but such as he was commaunded Andrugio seeing by his earnest lookes that he meante faith interrupted his speech saying enough Lorenzo I accept thy word therefore hearken to what I haue to say vnto thee Thou hast heard me already recount the hard beginning of my vnfortunate iourny to Siena with losse of my frieÌ„dly companions what time my selfe hardly escaped with life wounded thus I was cured by the handes of a simple countrie woman who entartained me well of whom I wanted nothing necessarie for my releefe During this my time of sicknes I was attended on by my friendly Osâ—es daughter a maiden with all perfections of a woman so indowed that it is hard to finde her equall This maiden for her womanish behauiour her wisdome and good conditions besides her beautie which exceeded so pleased my minde that she wonne my affections to be hers yea so did I in hearte craue her for my wife before all that euer I sawe that I took no pleasure but in her companie to parlie with her and to heare the sweete soule recount such olde tales as shee had learned of her ancient father and mother To this mayden Lorenzo I plighted my faith to liue with her as my wife and she the like to me as to her husband the which vow I neither can nor may forget Wherefore Lorenzo being now opprest with the remembrance of the same I cannot be quiet day nor night vntil I enioy her presence and be linked in mariage to her whom I esteeme deerer then my life Now Lorenzo my wil is that in the secretest maner thou maist thou prouide thy selfe with such sommes of money necessarie for this iourney and accompanied with thy trustiest seruants speede thee vnto my beloued and in my name greete her from me and deliuer this peece of ring for a token which she gaue me at our departure by vertue of which commaund her to come to me with all speede A signe to giue true testimonie from whome thou comest and intreat her Lorenzo as the wife of thy Lord. See thou apparell her as beseemeth my wife before she approch the confines of our Dukedome This businesse committed vnto thee perfourme as faithfully as my hope is in thee and bind Andrugio for euer to be Lorenzos Thou knowest my mind my Treasurer shall furnish thy iourney with treasure to whom thou shalt haue my warrant make speed therefore as thou tenderest his life that holdeth thee deere Lorenzo hauing heard his long discourse humbly thanked his Grace for the good opinion he had conceiued of him protesting that his loyaltie and dutie should in such sort bee employed as he might iustly say at his returne Lorenzo is faithfull honest and firm whereof my gratious Lord quoth he haue no farther care but according to your trust all shall be perfourmed as your heart
all kinde of sinne which maketh vs inheritours of hys curse both of sinne and death yet so dull is our vnderstanding that dayly we fal into this crime of ingratitude which we ought to hate in great measure and to flie from it more then death it selfe by reason of the euils whiche it hath brought vppon vs but yet alas wee see amongest vs too many vngrateful persons who betraye them soonest by whome they receaue all their liuing and aduancement And if vnthankfulnesse be familiar with the meaner sorte let vs not thinke it farther off from those of higher calling for vppon euerie light occasion especially if a man frame not himselfe to that vice which they haue in greatest commendation they easily forget all the seruice that hath bene done vnto them by reason of some new come guest who will shâ—we himself a seruiceable minister of their pleasures this hapneth sonest wheÌ„ men grow in greatnes because coÌ„monly as their calling increase not being instructed in vertue they wax worse and worse in behauiour but let them take this for an infallible rule that an vnthankfull person cannot long retaine in his seruice an honest faithfull good seruant The ancient said not without good cause that impudencie was the companion of ingratitude for if no beast as they say is so shamelesse as an impudent who is he that may be said to haue lesse shame theÌ„ an vnthankful body for this cause of ingratitude Among the sawes of Draco established among the Athenians there was this that if any man had receiued a benefit of his neighbor it were prooued against him that he had not bene thankful for it it was death to the offendor Alexander the greatest for bountie and Caesar for pardoning iniuries renowmed in all the histories of them both it is saide that when Alexander had knowledge of an vnthankfull person he neuer gaue him any thing nor Caesar neuer forgaue such So grieuously haue vertuous men hated ingratitude Yt is reported of the Storke that she neuer bringeth foorth yoong ones but shee casteth one out of the nest for the hier of the house where she lodgeth But barbarous is that ingratitude in him that hath bene borne bred fostered and serued and all with the sweate of another mans browes in the end to seke the spoile of al that is therin euen the honor and oftimes the life of the Host Wonderfull are the mischiefes that happen to the vnthankfull many be the examples of the sorrowes and punishents that haue followed ingratitude Now if we desire to shunne this vile sinne and to imitate the vertues of the noble minded to our vtmost power this is our help if we alwaies esteeme the benefit which we receiue of another greater then it is repute that we giue for lesse then the worth neither let vs as proud and vaine glorious men doo who vaunt that they stand in need of none disdayn to receiue a pleasure of our friends although they be of lesse calling then we when they desire our friendship for if it be an honest thing to doo good to all that cannot be dishonest at all for in requitall of friendship a receiuer is as requisite as a giuer Furthermore this one other poynt to banish this vilde sinne from amongst men if we requite double the good turne wee receiue one of another Lastlie let vs recompence double and reward without reckoning those good turnes which we receiue of others rather fearing least we should be ouercome in Benificence then in worldly reputation and glory But wretched Andrugio the more thou enterest into those grieuous calamities of the world the more thou callest to mind thy hard hap and more greeuest to thinke of thy sweete Susania and her tender babes then of thine own penurie But God which is iust will with vengeance reward those traiterous reprobates which haue depriued their lawfull prince from his seat of iustice and maiestie compelling him to seeke curtesie wher he may best get it but worse shall befal them then that traiterous prince Iustinian who selling for lucar of the kingdom the famous city of constantinople was crowned there and after three daies had his head cut off pasanias a Captaine of Lacedemon hauing receiued fiue hundred duckets to betray the citie of Sparta was by his father pursued to a church whether he fled for sanctuarie who commanded the walles to be closed and so famished him and afterwards his mother cast his body to the dogs Brutus cassius that would haue betraied Rome was in the same maner serued Darius king of Persia caused his sonne AariabarzaÌ„ his head to be cut off because he sought to betray his army to Alexander Brutus did the like to his châ—ldreÌ„ who had conspired against their countrie that king Tarquinius might reenter If those noble Princes rewarded treason by the deaths of their children and most fauoured then thinke not but your liues will be shortened for your conspiracie against me yea assure you that the righteous iudge of men wil punish it in you as he hath done in many others The remeÌ„brance of your crimes with the thoughtes of iust iudgment to bee inflicted vpon you driueth my oppessed heart into a world of griefe but if I had searched so narrowly into the thoughts of you accursed Traitors I had bene happy in this my vnhappines but wise men haue taught mee that miserie is necessarie That man saith the wise man Bias is able to beare miserie which hath bene trained in the same from his youth And Dyonisius the elder said that man that hath learned from his youth to be vnhappie shal bear his yoke the better which hath ben subiect to it in times past Demetrius said that he iudged none more vnhappy theÌ„ he which neuer tasted of aduersitie And Cicero iudgeth him most happy that thinketh no miserie how grieuous soeuer it be or intollerable or dooth any way discourage him Nothing saith plutarch is euill that is necessarie by which word necessary Cicero vnderstandeth whatsoeuer hapneth a man by destinie is necessarie and we ought to beare it with patience as that can not bee auoided Socrates speaking with a deuine spirit said y t when we shal be deliuered from this body wherein the soule is as an oyster in y t shel we may then be happy but not sooner and that felicitie can not be obtained in this life but that we must hope to enioy it perfectly in an other life Yf death be the happines of men how happie had I bene if in my cradle I had paide the due I owe vnto death the ioies which follow death if our fraile nature could conceiue and allow were such comfort to al as wel to the happy as the miserable that none would desire life for my owne part hauing tried the happines of worldly men riches of couetousnesse so called and consider the frailtie of it and the abuse of men I chose in these deserts to abandon me from al humaine fellowship costly