shall be my care that she who gave it shall cure thy wound be comforted therefore my friend restoring thee to thy self keep us with you for your usual comfort the soul of Gernando being vanish'd at his words was in great danger to be drown'd in love which rose up from the bottom of his heart swelling and changing the languishing mans countenance He blushes grows pale trembles freezeth but at last having recover'd his spirits he with a trembling voice answers Out of respect that I would not violate not even in my thoughts the Religious bonds of our friendship I have thus silenc'd my self even to death Why alas were you so scrupulous replyed Anselmo Resalba is a servant not a wife and do you beleeve that I should take to heart a vain opinion of her honor more then you who are a part of my self who perhaps with an imaginary fancy inwardly laughs at it At a call Resalba comes in again with the Ladies when he goes out purposely to bind the practice of his undertakings with Dorilla the stronger and descending in short to desire of her a proportionable help to the needs of Gernando he had Dorilla's answer that if another should languish for him whether by anothers perswasion would you your self gratifie her well then replies he I now understand thee Dorilla find my self so oblig'd by the dear pawn of thy love to love thee that I wish thy desire so as Rosalba by thy means may but relieve Gernando Thee Dorilla resplendantly for the reward of her suffer'd love every moment seem'd to her an age to ciment the undertaking to gain Rasalba's consent that rock wherein she knew she should finde the living life of her heart So that having taking the first opportunity she afar off of her self begins to detest the miserable condition of their servitude which destinated them to deny their own for to follow the will of others which not onely the indiscreet commands of their Mistrisses witnessed to them but of others also who would have precedence over them and indeed ought rather to be their companions then servants whereupon with disdain she said Anselmo Anselmo thy Master O Rosalba rebelling yesterday against the obligations of due modesty grew to that boldness as to desire me And what weighs as much with me he hath prest me to pass civility with thee forasmuch as forgetting thy honor that thou thy self should give thy self to Gernando who truly dies languishing for thee God forbid that I should ever do it I would rather for ever part from this house Thou growest angry Dorilla replyes Rosalba and art not aware that our Masters do it to try our constancies they do it to make sport with us and thus they treacherously pitch their nets to catch the foolishest when they brag they suffer most and die for love when they intend to tyrannize it over another they point the line another way they countersigne with Characters of gold the first expression of their loves with griefs O Dorilla not with words they give us an assured testimony of the gift which they say they have made of their hearts trust me sister who gives not presents certainly he loves not Upon this scandal Dorilla seem'd for the time satisfied as having steer'd to that port where was the principal traffick of her hopes And suddenly with Anselmo who was at the catch not far off glowing with desire she communicates the avaritious sense of Rosalba with solid pretences that she would be gotten with three hundred peeces of gold for the first pawn of Gernando's amorous affection and the sooner to gain her by example she tels her from the beginning the carriage of her loves with Anselmo Rosalba seeing that she had already sold that at a great rate which in her heart she very willingly would have given begins by degrees to decline from her faigned rigor and more freely to contract with Dorilla the business of her love proposition and covering with a cloke of charity the impurity of her affections she protested she would come as a victim to the Altar to expiate the crime and implore his favour whom she had so much offended for his loving of her And having expresly made the agreement there was no more to do By this promis'd comfort Gernando being recover'd they were so to order the business that their amorous theft might be hid Neither could Anselmo any waies fail to afford Dorilla her promised reward that he might not lose his own satisfaction who even also long'd to be in the lists of his hoped for delights He at once was a lover and a procurer So that if by his means Gernando enjoy'd the love of Rosalba his Gentlewoman he by way of exchange was to enjoy Dorilla Gentlewoman to Gernando whereupon with their beloved taking advice they consulted on the best meanes what way they might the most secretly injoy one another several councels interven'd but amongst others it was beleeved to be the best that Anselmo and Gernando faigning business or sport should go out of Town and at night secretly return and changing the keys of their garden doors should thereby get access into one the others house going up the back stairs to their loves they every one might hapily enjoy till morning the fruits of their amorous conspiracy At this only remedy O the great miracle of love Gernando grew quickly well and went about this practice with so much wariness that neither Leonora nor Celinda although at the return of the day they stole and took turns yet they were not at all awares At last their husbands new delights encreas'd in prejudice of their abandon'd wives and whether it be a defect of our humanity that it prizeth not long what it possesseth in abundance or whether it be the vice of sense which findes a greater pleasure where love hath more of the impudent Their wives at last grew so disgustful to them that when out of cunning they visited their marriage beds yet they brought with them such a coldness and inofficious conversation which forc'd them to reflect on their great losses they could not but at least be induc'd to beleeve that som impudent wenches fascinating their husbands had with their impure lasciviousness turn'd their hearts in their brests so much were they chang'd from their first loves whereupon Leonora who was of a more resenting and wary genius then Celinda looking on it with a neerer application first in all Gernando's actions it seem'd as if a certain treating or cypher a kinde of speaking by signs which he daily held under cover of a youthful familiarity with Dorilla might if it were well understood take away the Curtain from the Tragedy of all her contentment whence one day observing tha according to his wonted presence he was with Anselmo to go out of Town Gernando practis'd more then usually with Dorilla their misterious language whence presently entring into a high suspition she therupon resolves to watch her all that night
Cannot exaggerate the quality of my ardors which are even exstinguish'd by the ink discredited by the Hiperboles which a pen can afford Prohibit but these and I am denied to express the truth of my affections yet nevertheless if the reflection of your countenance will illuminate the obscurity of these Characters you will know what the fire is which is enlightned by the rayes of so much beauty Admit me but to your presence the tongues of my flames shall speak in my eyes to witness that my heart is a living furnace my blood shall assure you that the wound of my affections is made by your looks so that as its usual in presence of my Murtheress my face will shew you a blushing mantle to testifie it worthy of a kiss Besides I shall shew my heart not onely wounded but torn whereby you cannot but be oblig'd out of pitty to the duty of a civil correspondence Your Servant and Lover IRLANDO To testify his amorous thoughts he recommends this Letter having sealed it up to a faithful servant of his commanding him to conceal especially from his friend this love negotiation affirming that secrecy was the chiefest part of his hopes Who in the same manner and with the same orders had received a Letter from Armando for so was the other Cavalier call'd In which this was written Fairest Lady AFfection hath no bridle to restrain it within those limits which bound the knowledg of my smal merit unruly in Love's carriere from that point where it received the impulse of its violence which being frō your beauty it s now at last reduc'd to this resolution considering that all wills guided by reason are oblig'd to love what 's fair whereupon I ought not to fear the discovery of the excessive love of this heart which were guilty if it should not love you If it act then conformable to its duty it deserves no punishmen forbid your cruelty therefore to punish me with rigour since I love you and rather let it acquit me the reward of an amorous correspondence obliging me to serve your merit with the weight of those sufferings which love begets which you your self knowing may assure your self that my affections lye not but you ought also to consider it injust to suffer for me the fallacy of my hopes It s sufficient I say I love you for your knowing what your beauty deserves will also know what your affection owes to Your Servant in Love ARMANDO Both these Letters come to Rosalia's hands almost at the same time when those of their Messengers were delivered Irlando from the two Ladies The soul of this Cavalier ran with its most vital spirits to honor with gratitude that of his beloved In the tenderness of his highest Jubily the affections extended themselves that they might the more actively rise to the Sphere of so much contentment and to shun the necessity of being carried away by the violence of so great a joy Finding himself gratified with a correspondence which he desir'd he thought he might presage that his love would most happily succeed when graces ran before the very flight of his desires 'T was fit for him to moderate the effects of so much sweetness in reading Emilia's Letter whose civility rather invited then enticed that heart which rejoyc'd onely in its effects for the beauty of the other Armando comes in when his eyes and his minde were attentively examining those Characters to whom smiling he shews the Letter discovering those heedless loves but hides Rosalia's esteeming that confidence without judgment might ruin the interest of his felicity When Love will be alone all his lawes are contrary to those precepts which conversation or friendship hath established The remembrance of Love raiseth suspitions original even in him from his own knowledge they having unanimously ador'd that Lady But although they had had no occasion to doubt rivality yet he might fear least he might fail of such a beauty who was so apt to afford favours and love So that in discoursing of Emilia he shew'd himself even in his memory far from thinking on the other naming her onely when it was necessary to circumscribe this comparison of hers The Gentleman who thought this occasion fit to felicitate his thoughts us'd all the efficacy possible to perswade his his friend not to refuse the favors of so loving a Lady which if he could have oblig'd him to he pretended that it would be free for him to seek Rosalia's love Extending his discourse in her praise celebrating her singular merit to shew him how unjust the refusal of his affection would be He tells him that the fairer a woman is she is so much the prouder and less tractable then another who being inferiour in beauty would be wanting as much of pride which usually checks the delights of love In a fair woman quarrels and contests were ordinary forasmuch as knowing the power her looks have over hearts she alwaies pretends such an Empire over her Lovers that it often deserves the title of Tiranny He added that it was the common course of Nature that where beauty was wanting she supplied it with abundance of graces which give the best relishes to amorous delights At last he concluded That when we aspire to the highest pitch of prosperity in love a man never ought to make choice of a Lady of excessive beauty It being sufficient so she be not deform'd to that heart which seeks true and continued enjoyments In obliging them by the interest of higher contents a man might perhaps presume to make the observance of that duty inevitable whereby he was bound not to refuse the invitation of so much civility And in fine That his perswasions were not ill grounded That as Emilia's beauty was not in excess yet was it not far short Yet all this could not pervert Irlando's thoughts who treacherously glorious applauded in himself how he was lifted up by his towring hopes to a heaven far more sublime He could not have prejudic'd his fortune by changing his propos'd election for all the treasures of the world yet on the other side he fancies thinking he might gain a greater liberty in his love with Rosalia could his dissimulations but be credited as made to Emilia The other remains so fully deceiv'd in beleeving these appearances whence concluding that he could not offend their friendship he designs to follow the waies of love with that Lady who wholly possest his minde Nevertheless Irlando advanceth to enjoyment before the other procures himself to be loved He writes back to both the Ladies with a diverse sense according to the pleasure of his affections or according to the little correspondence of his minde Those he sent to Rosalia were thus express'd Fairest Lady THE showers of your civilities which dissolves in deluges of grace might justly threaten tempests of disdain should I not come to enjoy the presence of that sun from which there distils a dew of delights To night I shall come to sacrifice
Marquess Arderico was perswaded onely to love him by her husbands commendations The Marquess on the other side as he was going to reap the fruit of his Love being assured thereof by her leaves off his design IN the noble City of Vicenza amongst other Ladies which ravish'd the Eyes and Hearts of all Men the beauty of Aleria descended from the Counts of Malo was singular amongst the rest so that shee gave way neither to flattery nor Envy The fairest Faire yeelded to the Charms of that Face which would have been beleev'd Divine and adored with continued devotions had it not glorified her Humanity So that being pretended to by those who despair'd of gaining her she obeying onely those affections which yeeld onely to desert marries with the Count of Sancta Croce who both by birth and Vertue was chief amongst the greatest He had no Conditions but those which were desirable neither had He any thing in him which did not beget admiration The Wedding was celebrated with as much solemnity as was requisite for their Nobility and Wealth Those who in the common Joy lamented the Funerals of their own Hopes did not forbear to come to the Wedding They in the Joyes of another saw their own Sorrows Musick and Dancing which have the power to ravish Hearts even out of the hands of Melancholy it self could not sweeten the Grief of those Mindes which even lost the hopes of Life with the beauty of Aleria Many submitting to the Laws of Necessity according to the variety of their genius when they could not resist their own affection they dedicated it to other objects Others knowing that their eyes were the instruments of their pleasure would also oblige them to be the Messengers of the longing desires of their hearts Some flew from that heaven where the Sun shone but in favours of others Others observing the precepts which the art of Loves remedy prescribes they observ'd a heaven of beautie in her looks which could not be without shaddows Arderico onely the Marquess of Castel-Novo in the impossibility of the undertaking enlivening the more his hopes found in that daies solemnity his flames encreased where others had found the remedy of their passion He did I beleeve stupified with grief assist at all the ceremonies imitating the Fly who to injoy the light careth not to lose its own life He suffers this torment with so much impatience that his least dotings were to forget himself The feast ended he found his fire more enflam'd absence from the beloved object exstinguisheth not love but foments it This Arderico prov'd his ardor being so much the more violent when he could not recreate himself with the fight of his Aleria She on the other side so Idoliz'd her husbands countenance with such continued demonstrations that any hope would have despair'd but that of Arderico which was vowed to obstinacy The more he was despis'd the more he lov'd He let slip no occasion to discover his wound He being continually in her sight assaulted her with sighs and begged pitty from her with his looks In fine following her every where and waiting diligently upon her at the ball no accident happened which he did not signalize with some shew of respect and testimony of love Aleria not beleeving or not caring to be lov'd never regarded him but with indifferent looks And although the obligations of civility forc'd her to return him the favour of the ball and to correspond by way of salutes yet did she never priviledg his affection with the least token of acceptance Arderico have ing no other means to insinuate his love into Aleria's minde had recourse to the benefit of his pen with much trouble he dictates this Letter his tears even washing away his ink Fairest I Should feare to deserve the rigours of your disdaine by discovering my flames did I not know that all hearts are obliged to the love of divine things The raies of your beauty have introduc'd such a fire in my brest that I should rather think it an effect of stupidity then of vertue Aleria I love you and if the laws of love were as powerful as those of Religion I would say I adore you But what the pen silenceth the heart licenceth so as you will not disdain the obsequiousnesse of Your most humble servant ARDERICO The letter being sealed he sighs for the means how it might be securely conveyed to Aleria's hands The servants although they were all gain'd by the excess of his liberalty durst not assault their Ladies affections so much the chaster for as yet she gave no leave to be tempted To use other persons might prove both scandalous and dangerous so that he resolves to be himself the bearer Having fitted a day when she was at Church perhaps more pray'd to then praying getting neer her cheating the suspition and observation of many he puts his note in Aleria's Offices when she casually had laid them behind her to intend her mental private prayers No body was ware of it Aleria her self although she took up her Offices did not presently perceive it Scarce did she finde it but she was presently overtaken with blushing more disdain'd against her self that she had given the boldness to any man to tempt her then that she was displeased at the temptation The prudence of this Lady knew well that she did not deserve the name of chast who did not resist the flatteries of Lovers whoever is chast out of necessity is unworthy the title Aleria having quieted her mind from the first confusions which had stoln the blood from her heart and had left the Characters on her face when she thought it fit overcoming her curiosity which is natural to women she tears the letter in a thousand pieces as if that had been guilty of the fault which his audacity deserv'd who had given it her Ar. derico felt his own heart torn in pieces with the tearing of the letter despairing ever after of any invention whereby he might make known his affection He was lost in a confusion at her behaviour who being ador'd not onely took it ungratefully but seem'd as if she would not know her adorer yet the miserable man continues his servitude so much the more unhappy as his hopes were far from their reward It so happen'd that Aleria accompanied with her husband retires to a Villa to enjoy that season which bearing more fruit then the rest flatters with the more pleasure the gust of men Arderico who was this Suns Heliotrope follows her not without hope that the pleasures of the Villa might bring him to what he was debarr'd off by the divertisement of the Town he thought more easily to corrupt the people of the Villa the minds of men being the more vile the more they are interested He was seen to come thither but he begins to go the round about Aleria's house faigning to plant nets to catch birds and to hunt wild beasts Whilst his heart was in the nets of love and
their lives were in sometimes excusing his own error promising repentance sometimes protesting his body had sinned without the consent of his heart Deadora being deaf to his entreaties and humiliation continued to injure them both in word and deed When with a face which carried horror and terror in his eyes Gelasio appeared who without sleeping had long heard Aleria and rising to seek her he comes to a place where he hears although indistinctly Deadora's rage Aleria's tears and Lovanio's requests Gelasio having taken a Dagger furiously runs to the noise Scarce sees he Lovanio embracing his wives knees but he knew him guilty of having ravish'd the honesty and reputation of his house whereupon he runs to him and strikes him such a blow on the head that he being disabled to sustain himself falls to the ground with the pangs of death which were more terrible then ordinary seeing that his sensuality had prepar'd a sepulcher as well for Deadora as for himself Gelasio observing Lovanio in a dying condition unable to defend himself turning to his wife with a tone of voice which would have begot horror in a breast of Marble tells her Woman thy crime is so great that to pass by it without punishment would rather be an effect of weakness then of mercy yet since I preserve in my minde the characters of my first affection I shall pardon thee but on this condition that this Adulterer having thy heart thou shalt herewith stab him in the breast Deadora having taken the Dagger with a greater undauntedness then is to be found in a feminine heart says Sir The sins of love deserve some pardon because they oftner come from destiny then from eslection Yet I confess my self unworthy of it for that I could not regulate my dissoluteness Saying these words and faigning to strike Lovanio she sheathes the Dagger in her husbands bosom who scarce could say Cursed woman thus at once to rob me of my life and honor but he lost his speech with a many lowings as if he would rather threaten death then dye so he unhappily ended his daies Deadora having executed that endeavour with but too much courage and but too little justice runs to fetch the last breath from the soul of Lovanio who having violenc'd himself said My dear Deadora I dye content since I dye not unreveng'd Pardon me and suffer that the chastisment of a humane error may terminate with him who committed it I beg of you that with your disdain you make not my ashes unhappy But alas this is the last period of my life Consolate O my dear the miseries of its passage with the last of thy kisses At the end of these words he ceased to live Deadora stupified with grief was rendred immoveable like a Statue after she had said crying out with a deluge of tears Stay O the Soul of my Dearest beloved Lovanio It s not fit that thou shouldst go to the Shades alone Which having said she strikes the Dagger through her own Heart whence her Soul soon issues with her blood Aleria who in the representation of this Tragedy had suffered the torments of a thousand deaths flying from the sight and enquiry of those who in great numbers came to the noise hating at the same time the light and her self retired into the uppermost parts of the House and there having fastened a Halter she miserably throwes away her life giving a just reward to her own dishonesty Hence may be comprehended That all the Pleasures of unlawfull Loves finally terminate Tragedies and that impudent Affections can have no other but an unhappy end EMILIO NOVEL IX The ARGUMENT Emilio a Genuoess retires to Lucca where using to hunt together he contracts a friendship with Hippolito and afterwards with his wife Hippolito grows jealous and becomes his enemy but being assured that Emilio declared himself servant to Silvia and repenting himself of his jealousie he causeth his wife to lead him into a Chamber to reconcile them His wife obeys and enjoys Emilio Hippolito knows it and being discovered and threatned is pacified GENUOA was the place where Emilio was born whose unprosperous successes confirm the opinion That a mans natural Climat is commonly most unhappy He observ'd how the treacheries of hidden enemies plotted his death in conformity with his malignant destiny whereupon he retires to Lucca where his passions had no other release from his estrangment from that heaven where that star shone which was the very Sun of his felicity but the pleasure of hunting spending the greatest part of his time amongst those Hills which surrounded the City he rendred himself as formidable to the wild beasts as he was pleasing and grateful to the Ladies and Cavaliers who in those Villa's enjoy the delights of the Autumn According to the custom of Hunters he often frequented a Coppice which extended it self over a little Hill which the thicker it was appear'd the more delightful He never entred it without bringing away store of game In those parts there was one who being invited by the delights of the scituation and civility of the Inhabitants whose name was Hippolito being a lover of the sport profest a singular friendship to Emilio So that Cleria Hippolito's wife contracted also so great a familiarity with him that upon all occasions of invitation he discoursed and past the time with her with such sports as the diversity of the season and place afforded so that Cleria and Emilio were the promoters of all pastimes The modesty and civility of Emilio although a stranger made way for him to any kinde of familiar conversation He so serv'd the Ladies that there appeared no partiality in him more towards the one then the other Cleria above all was endued by Nature with all those good Graces which are desirable in a Lady besides she was singularly courted by Emilio and differently from the rest acknowledg'd with a particular affections not onely for her qualities but also for the obligations he profest in consequence of the favours he had receiv'd and for the strict friendship he had with her husband Emilio amongst these delights enjoy'd a calm life which was afterwards troubled by Love the occasion of all ill which was rais'd in Cleria towards him Emilio being given to hunting and other honest sports thought those demonstrations which upon many occasions Cleria us'd in her discourse which her flames sent forth sprightly jests from the familiarity of their conversation Now it happened that a day being appointed when the Cavaliers and Ladies were to meet at a Feast in a place somewhat distant whereby the Lovers had leave modestly to make the resentments of their mindes appear On that day's morning the youth appeared in extravagant habits and various desires to witness by those colours the secrets of their hearts Emilio on the other side dispoyld himself of all which might seem to shew any partiality in his thoughts The Company having met at Hippolito's house Cleria being full of caresses began to
admiration since all the visible species which that face represented were as many Characters which circumscrib'd the necessity of astonishment It was needless also for them to communicate alternatively the kindled flames of their inward affections since either of them had in him a living fire wherein the most vital spirits of the minde were cousumed But perhaps those looks were with more truth to be call'd effects of the already conceiv'd jealousie of their hearts for those beloved beauties so that they would spy one the others countersigns paralel with their own whereby they might conjecture the others love The winde of a concordant sigh at last blowes away the ashes which hid the fire of love whereupon not to belye the truth they both confest themselves to be Lovers A remedy for ills which might have been bred with the discontent of their wills in consideration of their ancient friendship which ought not to suffer prejudice by this improvident fury rather then affection both of them did glory to yeild this object to the other which the more estimable it shew'd it self it so much the more authenticated the excess of their faith whereby they corresponded with a voluntary privation to felicitate his friend with the possession with the touches of a gentle affection they mutually consecrated to eithers contentment the enjoyment of that beauty which although it was the life of their hearts was willingly renounc'd by them whose mindes were the will and pleasure of his friends this strife lasted long till by an absolute protestation they both denyed themselves to be Lovers The like contest at the same time hapned with the beloved Lady a neighbour and friend of hers who by accident was there at the same time when the two Cavaliers were looking on them The beauties of her face were not despicable but worthy of a publick esteem had they not been prejudic'd by the vicinity of those which exceeded in beauty even the ordinary power of Nature They both observed the Cavaliers looks wherein they saw the sparks of Loves fire which cannot be hid when they transmit flames from the heart to the eies They were both also onely pleas'd with Irlando who was inferiour in age though superiour in that desert which by youth and beauty prevailes with Ladies In the course of their praises they discover'd either of them unawares their inward affections the more freely having as yet not known the knot of their rivalship but they were no sooner advis'd of the consent of their thoughts which harmoniously agreed to the love of the only beauty but they oblig'd themselves to repentance least they should go too far in their discourse Emilia most of all fearing a treacherous prejudice to her practises being inferiour to the other in beauty thought to dissemble the inclination of her minde absolutely denying to love Irlando to retreeve the error she had before committed by the liberty of her discourse yet within her self she resolves to outgo her with excess of favours forerun the others endeavours who presum'd the victory from the excess of her beauty After some discourses she taking leave seeks to confound the remembrance of Love yet with a sollicitous dilligence by countersigns she sends to enquire that Cavalier's lodging and writes him a letter to this purpose SIR I Cannot withhold my self from acquainting you that I am your Lover 't were to offend the singular merit of your condition to think it hard for you to beleeve your self adoreable even from one who hath learnt it but by the knowledge of a look only I invite you to enjoy me not to return me your love for I dare not pretend such a reward being oblig'd to sacrifice my self since my affections have already destin'd me your victim Besides that I know no qualities in me worthy of you I hope only that I may acquire with a flood of delights the fertility of your love I shall this night expect you preparing a Room for you in my besom where you shall receive the Caresses of that heart which to please you would exviscerate your EMILIA With these invitations she thought to catch the young man who commonly loves but to enjoy Sense predominating causeth that violence with is attributed to affection The end of his amorous thoughts are a bed although he fancy a Celestial beauty for the Sphere The offer of enjoyment was the fittest bait to make a prey of his heart which sooner might be caught by the hook of once delights then colour'd appearances Emilia being thus perswaded resolves to be thus prodigal to triumph over the other whom she supposed to preserve the pride of her beauty in its hight would be more moderate of her favours yet it even subdues the pride of that love which suppresseth Majesty as contrary to its laws She acknowledgeth the necessity of submitting to that power which bragging of his triumphs over the Gods themselves it might more reasonably carry away trophies from her although she had a part of Divinity in her looks Having long strugled with her thoughts she at last yields giving way to a wounded quill to distil floods of ink with the like sentiment of her heart SIR THAT heart which perswades me that it was no temerity to love you hath embolden'd me to discover my self your Lover I shall not multiply attestations to make you beleeve the truth of my Affection My sudden resolution is a sufficient testimony with your singular desert Your being a man and in the quality of a Cavalier prescribes you the duty tomake you know this love I shall expect effects rather then promises Resolve to answer me with your sight consent but to wil what ought secretly to be approv'd by the desires of your ROSALIA This Letter Rosalia writes for so was her name she using Emilia's Mesenger who was also to deliver the other wherewith she was already trusted Their express charge to bury in silence these loves weav'd the net the business chiefly consisting on the mutual secrecy of these Lovers They were Rivals without discordity concurring even to prevail by the same means which they had one way commenc'd and on the other estrang'd themselves from the pretended end The like in the mean time happen'd to the two before-nam'd Cavaliers The revolution of thoughts dissolv'd the promises they had made to love the Lady no more least their concurrance might break the union of their amity either of them being assaulted with an army of passions which warr'd under the same Ensign of that admired Beauty was forc'd to hazard their friendship that they might not vilifie their love Their inseparable conservation gave them no other means but that of letters to instance their affections to their beloved which requir'd for their servitude the reward only of their Mistrisses graces So that unanimously although disjunctively they resolve to put their hopes in by-waies that the tract of their Characters might secure the following steps of their hopes Irlando writes thus Fairest Lady I
with her who flattring him with the others refufal which had necessitated her to apply her affections in such a change to so worthy a Cavalier Taking leave he returns home commencing to prove those impatient longings which oblig'd him to expect the evening of the following day when he was to continue his amorous conversation He runs quickly to his friend to whom he imparts the excess of his joy relating the fortunate success of his loves He a great while holds him doubtful jeastingly relating him how kinde and curteous the Lady was till at last he discovers her to be Rosalia courted and admir'd mutually by them but a few dayes before He shews the Letter wherein he receiv'd the invitation conformable to which he swore the effects of her civility were It s easier to fancy then to describe what conceits this relation produc'd in Irlando's minde It s to be beleev'd that the grief of his heart corroded his bowels aswel as it desperately tore his heart in peeces Knowing that the occasion of all this was onely the miscarriage of the Letter cursing him that had been the cause of his torment The certainty which on the otherside his beloved enjoy'd was not an ordinary vexation for one who excessively lov'd He protested he was troubled with an inward grief of heart that he might take himself off from the necessity of an affectionate congratulation for the contentment of so good a friend No less could faigning form effects of joy where the heart was over whelm'd with the abundance of intollerable grief His bed was all that night a hell his soul being distracted in the confusion of his turbulent thoughts shipwrack'd his quiet even in the depths of dispair The next day he resolves to send a Letter the contents whereof were to signifie the injustice of those chastisements which the cruelty of his beloved inflicted when he had never the least way undeserv'd her good graces He was glad to make the sincerity of his soul appear in hope that upon the knowledge of the truth her affections would change So it hapned because that by the mistaken countersignes Rosalia was assured that there was no fault in Irlando deserving her disdain she soon changeth her hatred into love priding of it to have reacquir'd that happiness which she thought she had lost by his discurteous rigour This change was nothing difficult besides being necessitated by the proper volubility of her sex she took occasion not to be buryed but onely asleep towards him in affection To have lov'd Armando as they say for a divertisement which yet hindred not the inclination of her heart to him who first was possest of the Center Whereupon she thus writes YOV and I being equally deceived we can convert our reproofs and complaints against none but Fortune I perceiving my self scorn'd was oblig'd to vindicate my self with rigour Now being undeceiv'd I restore you to the place even to the throne of my affections where your desert rules and comands I shall be so much the more affectionate in rewarding your faith as I was rigid in cashiering you out of my brest Come therefore this night to my house to reap the fruits of your sufferings and of my repentance to your ROSALIA He who carried this Letter had withal order to give into Armando's hands a note in which the same Lady had thus written FOR what hapned happily for you yesterday you are oblig'd to Fortune and not to love Now being to obey him I am oblig'd to please others I forbid you therefore to pretend to me any more retracting all promises whereon you might build your hopes Remember no more what 's past and think no more of me for the future I am no more yours 'T is sufficient to let you understand that you may live content with what Fortune hath already given you without seeking any longer what you cannot obtain ROSALIA These Characters chang'd the Scene both in the minde and countenance of the two Gentlemen Armando who gloried to have surmounted such a felicity seeing himself at once cast down from that hight whence he thought he could not have been remov'd never thrown down chang'd his mirth into an equal grief of heart and vexation Irlando on the other side who being afflicted tormented himself for having been too severely us'd from her who had authority to condemn his heart by a mortal sentence seeing himself invited to enjoyments clears up with the splendor of so much contentment the heaven of his offuscated minde from the clouds of his grievous torments A man might read in both their faces this change unexpectedly cast about not known by what accident Armando could not conceal his complaints which proceeded from a minde full of grief there came to light from his tongue which feeding with a friendly confidence with a long discourse in dispraise of the inconstancy of women he begins to publish the arms which had wounded him till at last he discovers the wound which was the original of his grief He shews those Charracters the unhappy messengers of his infelicity and the foundation of his grief He vehemently exaggerates against the treacheries of women who faigning high excesses of love at last discovered frauds and snares Being at last carried away with the current of a grievous heart breaking he flew into words which came from the predominancy of his passion till at last he concluded that he would go to her house and reprove her for her treacheries if by the justice of his complaints he could not obtain the turn of her affection These last words the fortunate Gentleman particularly observ'd whereupon that he might have no disturbance in his enjoyment he advised his beloved of his rivals intention ordring her to expect his coming in Emilia's house Rosalia at last relates to that friend of hers the entertainment she had the night before with Armando adding singular encomiums of his grateful behaviour which invited even hearts of stone to love him Emilia whose memory represented to her the proofs of a rigorous severity in Irlando was quickly taken with such like informations Her desires approv'd those effects to felicitate themselves with a most civil correspondence which supposing out of her former experience of the other would surely be in Armando The buds of such a desire could not but disclose themselves in her words whereupon Rosalia making use of the occasion yeilded him for her satisfaction for that night The terms of ceremony wherewith she refus'd that too curteous offer could not stop the way of executing the others thoughts who faigning to satisfie her gust serv'd also her own interest She brought her to the change again of houses as where she might enjoy him who was by her commands oblig'd to com thither about two of the clock at night She finally fits every thing in hope to make way to the despight of Irlando by the favour of the other Gentleman from whose civility she pretended her heart-burning love would be asswaged With
adores you as a Divinity I wish that with last nights garments you may have depos'd some of your coyness which rendred you so adverse to my love Know besides that cruelty is an improper attribute to the Divinity of your beauty and beauty which is not communicable to all opposeth it self directly to the will of Heaven Should Heaven replies the Masker command me to love you perhaps the laws of honesty the danger of my life and the inconstancy of men would not be bridle sufficient to the debility of my affections The beauty of your looks answers Epidoro is a record of Heaven which admonisheth you not to be avaritious of its favours when enriching you with beauty it hath impoverish'd of praise the Fairest conceptions Le ts forbear hiperbolies replys the Masker I as I know I am not fair so I could wish my self so that I might be the more grateful to those that love me but your craft and my simplicity have made me deposite my secrets in the heart of a person who laughing at my folly perhaps meditates how to deceive the felicity of my thoughts I ought not to hazard my reputation to so evident a danger I have spoken too much were my face discover'd my blood should bear witness by my grief and repentance the blushing my heart hath sent thether are the reproofs of my soul which threaten the seerity of those chastisements the thought alone of which terrifies me Saying so she retires amongst the Maskers leaving Epidoro in the hight of his thoughts where a long while he would not have been removed if Love who commonly is not wanting to the necessities of Lovers had not relieved him so that having again taken the Masker by the hand he so much entreated her so much promis'd that at last he gets leave to speak with her the following night which was the beginning of Lent at a little window which lookt on an unfrequented street With this hope he pleasantly passeth the rest of the night expecting the other with a thousand imprecations against the stars for staying so long from celebrating the obsequies of the day Scarce had the light given place to the dark but he comes to the appointed window although he thought he had anticipated the hour he findes himself prevented his beloved expecting him accusing him in her self for want of love that he had not prevented her The complements which past amongst them were many and the amorous conceits numberless They discours'd of constancy fidelity and severity with so great an insatiety that the darkness seem'd weary to hear them which even for the cause invited the light The day comming they part with promise to meet every time when Epidoro should see a cloth hang at the grate which succeeded twice or thrice a week with so great a contentment to Epidoro that in respect of that all other entertainment seem'd but his anoyance and then thinking that felicity full without participating the rest he grew to that impudency to trust the mouth of many with the secret of his loves he bragg'd that he possest Leena's heart who had made the patience and love of a thousand Lovers despair He vaunted himself a possessor of that fair one who had oblig'd to adoration even those minds which were incapable of love unless it were that of themselves This rumor past from the ears of one who fill'd with incredulity and envy would spy Epidoro He hearkens to him one night when he had appointed to get the possession of the fruits of love Having no patience to suffer the felicities of one who was no waies his superiour by the favour of Fortune carried by envy which conspires alwaies against the satisfaction of men he vomits forth in a paper the effects of his madness conveying it afterwards to Leena's husbands hands Opening the Note he saw this written CORDELIO NOT to discover to you treachery is to be a complice in the guilt I who by the excess of your favours and by the obligations of my heart am call'd to the protection of your honour cannot filence it in the hands of dishonesty The night when the infamy of your reputation is to be practised hath not darkness to hide your shame My zeal implores the testimony of your eyes which confess Leena unchast and my self a loyal friend I remit to you the discovery of the truth It troubles me to disquiet the repose of your minde with so unthought of an advise But he deserves praise onely who discovering it leaves you the means to think on the remedy Your faithful Friend This rais'd an infinite many thoughts in the minde of Cordelio and all cruel nothing was in his heart but blood slaughters and murthers yet being perswaded by the love he bore Leena and like a wise man knowing the fruits of malice he condemn'd all other testimony but that of his own eyes He faigns that he was hastily call'd away by his business into the Country and parts not without Leena's tears who regreeted for every moment of his absence Cordelio lay hid all the remainder of the day and at night he goes to observe who it was that betray'd his honour Leena in the mean time had given her self in prey to a most sweet sleep not without being disturb'd by her Nurses voice who told her that Cordelio was to return in a short time to the embraces of Cinissa her Chamber-maid and that she her self had told her so that she would not be her hinderance Leena's minde soon gave credit thereto knowing her husbands genius and her servants little honesty and the sooner having been before jealous not without some affliction She quickly clothes her self and would not be followed by the Nurse that with the more liberty she might blame Cordelio's inconstancy She goes neer her servants Chamber and there she meets her husband who with naked sword in hand came against her to kill her He did it not either that she might first see her Lovers death or the pitty of Heaven permitted not that her innocency although suspected guilty should suffer Leena though full of disdain yet thought intreaties fitter then reproofs for her own safety Casting her self at his feet mixing her words with her tears she thus bespake him Sir If the dishonest embraces of a servant please you more then those of your wife I oppose not my self against your pleasure I would offer my self to procure your pleasures would you but do me the honour but to command it me but when with the loss of my own due I see my self in danger of my life I cannot but complain at the rigour of my destiny which hath caused me to be born unhappy The unbeseeming dishonesty of a wench can then do more then the chast delights of a wife who hath no other desires but those which are subject to your beck Alas how hath Cordelio forgot himfelf Alas how hath Heaven to torment me chang'd the temper of the man Cordelio interrupting her telling her The falseness of thy lips and tears O thou impudent woman would have introduc'd some perswasion in my heart had not these eyes been witnesses of thy dishonesty Prepare therfore to dy for 't is unreasonable that she should live who hath prepared the funerals of my reputation But first of all tell me Where hast thou hid that wicked wretch who had the boldness to defile my bed Leena being unable to suffer such words as those which wounded the most sensible part of her soul Sir To excuse your amorous thefts make not my honesty guilty with faign'd pretences 't is unbecoming your prudence and my love I am yours and I am chast Malignity and Envy can finde no colour to criminate my thoughts so far are my actions from wronging your honour I appeal to your self whether the treacherous desire of enjoying a servant or the displeasure of having been interrupted have not now the possession of your minde Cordelio grew the more disturb'd and with violence askes her of what maid or of what love she talk'd Whereto Leena answer'd all what her Nurse had told her and having understood as much from her mouth also he runs without delay to seek the Chamber-maid and findes her in the wrastlings of love fast clasp'd with Epidoro He was going to sacrifice them to his fury but his wives perswasions diverted him So that at last he was content that Epidoro should marry Cinissa who was a servant rather by the injury of Fortune then by the condition of her birth Whereto Epidoro without more to do consents the fear of death making him yield to any agreement Cordelio then embraces Leena excusing himself of what he had done out of zeal to his own honor having heard Epidoro call'd with a whistle from the grate and seeing him afterwards introduc'd his hous Leena's discretion was satisfied with these justifications glad to have escaped the danger which was the greater being hid which at the same time threatned both her life and reputation This may serve to warn husbands not to run precipitously to suspect their wives of unchastity And to teach wives not to allow a treacherous liberty to their maids And finally its an example to all those who voluntarily seek to betray the honesty of other mens wives FINIS
even his Fathers Genius finds a thousand excuses to delay his journey but they nothing prevailed since our Lover must obey Florida remain'd astonished at the newes of this sad separation and then burst forth into so high a resentment of griefe which the tendernesse of a Woman and the folly of a lover could possibly suggest She with a good will would have followed him had she not fear'd to have ruin'd him by the ruines of her selfe in repute and honour Yet she remain'd like the Heliotrope altogether mortified when the Evening divorceth it from the Rayes of the Sunne Octavio being gone who went away immerc'd with griefe bathing with his tears the earth he stampt on with his feet Being arrived at Bologna in the pleasing quiet of Letters he finds the warre of his affections still the more cruell whence he concludes it false That absence cures the infirmity of love His own thoughts became his executioners alwayes martyrizing him with the memory of his so much regretted felicity then which nothing was more dear The Lectures and Scholastick Conferences so gratefull to the vertuous to him who was opprest with griefe and whose soul was in an agony seemed like Funerall Songs and study appear'd truly the sepulture of the living He tasted not the Nectar of Wisdome since spirits weakned by dissolutenesse usually suffer the disrelish of all good things He then remained in Bologna and though in appearance he frequented the Schooles yet in effect he heard the Masters as an Asp and profited like a stock He liv'd a Scholar in name onely amongst students without study idle at their exercises and so desperate that he even lost his life in that place where others render it immortall with the glory of Learning Octavio was at last in the midst of so many afflictions consolated by Fortune who by the hands of certain Merchants caused his Fathers liberality to fall into his hands converted into showers of gold So that being richly provided with money he ravisheth himselfe to Parthenope to visit his Florida the sweet cause of his cruell torments Being arrived unknown without going to his Father he so orders the businesse that she hath notice of his arrivall so that through the favourable darknesse of the night he came to adore her at a little window of her house It 's superfluous to relate the Complements which past or how many tears were shed out of tenderness since any man knows what affections an unthought-of accident will raise in two hearts tenderly loving one the other and so long tormented with such longing desires to review one another But these pleasures lasted but a few nights for that Octavio refus'd treacherously to tempt his Fortune having already experimented that with velocity she turns her wheele in felicity but slowly in time of misery He therefore parts burthening himselfe by this his new departure with new griefs and being scarce come to Bologna and having hardly furnished himselfe with necessaries that the businesse might not be discovered he retakes his journey back again to Parthenope So that for the space of a whole year he alternatively travelling and resting liv'd betwixt torments and contentments The yeare being almost at an end Octavio being at Bologna falls fick of a Feaver which though it was without danger yet was long and many great perplexities of mind befell him because it diverted him from his journey In the mean time Horatio for so was Florida's father call'd concludes her marriage with Don Fernando Marquiss of Tuedos she having been from her infancy design'd for him He was of Arragon descended from Dukes a Cavalier of a small Fortune of great parentage and for pretences at all He presumed that he had a greater wealth then truly he possest that he was more valiant then indeed he was and yet more Gentile then he seem'd of a short stature of a proud port of a brown complexion and lame so that to give the faire Florida to Fernando was the same thing as afresh to grant a Venus to a Vulcan This was the Bridegroom which Horatio had prepar'd not to accommodate his daughter but to advantage himselfe in the Court of Castile Cursed interest cruel and perverse Numens which necessitates men to sacrifice even their own children unto you Florida having heard the conclusion of the marriage became sad yet seem'd pleas'd to her Father and dispenc'd tears which seem'd of joy but were of grief After a day she feigns herself ill and begs that all publick or privat solemnity might be suspended till her recovery In the mean time she dispatcheth a Letter to Octavio which included this following sense My Lord MY Fathers authority forceth me to break my faith with you to violate my genius and to be no more yours He hath promised me to the Marquess Don Fernando a Cavalier whom I wish a Monarch that I might shew my self the more constant to you by despising a Regal match for your sake I fear my fathers Anger will become murtherous when I shall have discovered him our loves Therefore come my Octavio but come quickly to see your Florida who is inmoveably disposed either to live with you or dye for you Come and hear my mournful Nenias insteed of Epithalamiums And to see how contentedly I shall go to my grave if Fate consents not to joyn me to your bed Remember your self then my Lord if I shall see you no more of your oaths and of our mutual affections and live happy since what ever happens I shall be sure to die Your most faithful FLORIDA THis Letter was an enchantment which would have ravished Octavio out of Hell aswel as from his bed He who already was better'd in his health rose assoon as he had read it and no sooner got to horse but away for Parthenope guided by fury and accompanied with dispair Somtimes with a raging heart he wish'd himself alive only to be reveng'd of his Rival and somtimes with a desperate voice he begg'd Heaven to thunder-strike him that he might not see Florida either subject to death or Fernando's Spouse But Fortune which equally preserves both fools and desperate persons happily brings this unhappy man to Parthenope being arrived at his Father Odoardo's house and before he lighted from his horse having seen the fair Florida appear at the Balcony he salutes her with a joy mixt with grief of heart as ignorant whether he honoured her as his own or as the spouse of another man Fortune would have it so he findes his Father's house without his Father who was newly parted for some Domestick occasion whereby he had the opportunity to speak from his wonted apartment to his dearest who thereby testified inexplicable signes of contentment The first complement past she confirms him the great danger of her life how far greater her faith was and that towards him her affection was supreme She also added my Octavio did you know with how much satisfaction for your sake I shall encounter death perhaps without
continually disturbed with the sense of his own passions One day being carryed either by chance or choice he enters her Palace pretending the recovery of a Hawke which he had lately set off his fist The Count of Sancta Crâ—ce Aleria's husband receives him with all kinde of civility usual amongst Cavaliers after having commanded his servants to look after the flight of the Hawke he leads Arderico to his wife I can say nothing of this incounter but I remit it to your imagination its sufficient that Arderico blusht grew pale again sweat and freez'd at the same time He with a curteous violence was constrain'd to eat some fruit but whilst his eyes fed on those beloved beauties all other food was noisom At last having recover'd his Hawke after some Complements he parts with a greater passion then he brought He never saw Aleria's looks so favourable neither had he so experienc'd her so officious as then Aleria being pleas'd with the fashion of Arderico demands of her husband the Cavalier's name who had deserv'd from him such a friendly treat The Count smil'd at the proposition and says What do you not know Arderico the Marquess of Castel-Novo Is it possible you should be so blinde to the splendors of the Sun Pardon me if you trouble me not passing by a subject so worthy to be known one must necessarily judge that your heart is hard or your minde deviated since you want eies to know the deserts of such a Cavalier Perfection which in all other things regrets its wants in this Lord all wishes are at full Who with an unerring prudence causeth those to love who even should hate him with a disinterested strength never arms himself but in favour of what is just with a moderation of practise he hath overcome envy In fine he hath no equal in armes no superior in letters and in Nobility is without a fellow he enjoyes all priviledges of the Mind and of Fortune there is no Lady in Vicenza who would not beleeve her beauty fortunate were she honor'd but with a look from that noble Cavalier do not shew your self so careless in knowing the prerogatives of others if you will have me have worthy thoughts of you Aleria coldly excuseth her self repenting in her own heart that she had so long past by the service of a man who for his singular conditions deserv'd the affections of all Being thus fill'd with his praise she grows so fervently in love with Arderico that she quite rebels against the laws of honesty That honesty which could not be overcome by a continued obsequiousness which aw'd the perswasions of her servants and repugn'd the treacheries of her lover the combats of sense and the power of love now postitutes it self to ordinary words betray'd by his tongue who should have guarded it That heart which could not be fully vanquish'd by the eyes findes it self betray'd by the ears Carried thus away with the furies which agitate the minde of one in love The Count being call'd to Vicenza by the necessity of some affairs she signes a paper with these Characters Marquess ARDERICO IF the demonstrations of your affection do not deceive the boldness of my desires I resolve to hazard my self that I may serve you I must condemn so precipitate a resolution but I desire reality since my crime makes me yours I would say more but Love being a child cannot speak At three this night I shall expect you in my Chamber neer the Garden Gate which you shall finde open consolate therefore with your presence Your most devouted servant ALERIA She sends the letter by a girle whom she had exceedingly oblig'd so that she no waies misdoubted her fidelity She brings it to Arderice who beleeving it the deceit of a dream knew not what to answer But at last he takes his pen and writes these words Beloved ALERIA I Should thank that benignity which hath enrich'd the poverty of my hopes if divine favours did not rather oblige silence then the return of thanks I shall according to your appointment at three this night sacrifice my heart to you I am glad 't is at night the night magnifying all things will perhaps greaten the smalness of my being besides that in the dark the nakedness of my merit will pass undiscern'd Yet you may please to esteem me what I am Your most devouted and unboivel'd Servant ARDERICO Having dispatched the letter he begins to long for the night with those amorous desires which usually tyrannize lovers He suffers not the appointed hour to pass one minute but he moves presently to Aleria's house Carresses and Complements are remitted to the consideration of those who have been subject to the like accidents Aleria was already got to bed expecting the amorous wrastler to quench those desires which torment the mindes of Lovers Arderico asham'd to see her prevent him begins quickly to unclothe himself Whilst with an amorous impatience he pulls off his clothes he demandes the reason of Aleria why after so many disdaines against the proofs of his affection she so unexpectedly condescended to his desires at that very time when he had resign'd all his pretences to dispair My life answered Aleria the praises of your merit so lively exprest by the tongue of my husband did in such a manner wound my soul that without having been yours I beleeve I could not have lived And thereupon relates all what her husband had spoken of him Then replies Arderico neither my affection nor my service had the power to violence your heart had not the Count your husband's voice by the sound of my praises inchanted your minde 'T is very true replies Aleria God forbid then says Arderico re-aparelling himself God forbid that I should do an injury to him who favour'd me with such worthy Characters that I should violence the chastity of one most truly noble Aleria pardon me I cannot prejudice his honor who by his praises encreaseth the merit of my condition Having said so he readily goes out of the Chamber teaching worthy men by this action the bounds of true gentility To husbands that they ought not to fill their wives eares with the commendation of other men and instructing women especially the married not to trust the affections of man who by the least occasion may be in a moment changed AMASIA NOVEL III. The ARGUMENT The Countess of Castel Novo upon an urgent occasion of hers hath recourse to the Marquess Oliverio who was desperately in love with her for her supply which having obtain'd with a handsome cheat in the darkness of the night she saves her own honor and satisfies the indiscretion of the Marquess IN a City of Alexandria della Paglia situate on the confines of Montferrat was a generous Lady whom I shall title Countess who was so singular for beauty that she caused love in all the men and envy in all the women that beheld her The contentment Lovers received to see those admirable graces in her countenance
presently goes for Millan arriving just at the Emperatrix's coming she made so pompous a shew of her own beauty that the Emperatrice thought her much self honor'd by those people who had sent a Sun to meet her The envy of the Ladies was chang'd into admiration and it seem'd as if Nature had robb'd beauty from all other persons prodigally to bestow it onely on her The Emperatrice parts from Millan having presented her with a very fair Neck-lace and she presently returns into Alexandria where Oliverio expected her with those impatiences which are furies which continually agitate the Minde of Lovers The Marquess would not appear in Millan at this occasion that he might cause no suspition to the observation of so many eyes or to shun the obligation of serving the Emperatrice He no sooner knew of her return but he sent to congratulate her arrival and to beg her favour She gave him to understand that that very evening after midnight she would be at a grate which look'd on a little unfrequented street Oliverio obeys and at the hour appointed hears himself call'd by the Countess At this first meeting I cannot express the passions of Oliverio he sweat and freez'd in an instant he in a manner confounded praises with thanksgivings with so much change that he was hardly to be understood The Countess corresponded to all with such affectionate and discreet language that at the same time she no less witnessed her discretion then her affection All their thanks terminated in this Conclusion that the next night he should enter by the Garden Gate with an express condition that he should be brought in without light whereto the Marquess prettily return'd that there needed no light where his Sun did shine Being gone he spent the rest of the night with a thousand amorous passions he no sooner sees the springing of the day but he desires the night he a thousand times accuseth the Sun of slowness for that it accelerated not its course according to his wishes He even blam'd the shaddows disputing command that they were so long before they occupy'd the dominion of the Air. At last the long sigh'd for hour came when he softly comes to the Garden finding the door open he goes directly to the Countesses lodgings She who expected him taking him by the hand tells him Friend if you love my reputation and my life it will become you to sacrifice this night to silence My women are so neer my Chamber that the least word would cause a high suspition neither is my love so unworthy that I dare trust it to a servile maid and the rather because the greater enjoyments admit of no words she permitted him no answer but led him into a Chamber and then having told him he might pull off his clothes and go to bed whilst she would see whether her women slept He was no sooner dispoyl'd of his clothes but he findes himself in the armes of a beauty so much the more singular as she was the less subject to the censure of the eyes My pen dares not describe what they did least it should profane the secrets of the night It s sufficient to say that he being ravish'd with the sweetness of those embraces blest all the labours all the sights and all the torments which he had till then suffer'd since his past pains serv'd for no other use but to highten his present contentment Fearful least the light should discover their amorous theft Oliverio departs before the comming of Aurora and being forbid to use words he takes his leave with a multitude of kisses Being retired to his own habitation with rest and sleep he procures the release of his past labours which yet had succeeded so sweetly that he thought onely how he might repeat them Being risen about dinner time one of his servants brings him a thousand Pistols with a letter which having open'd with a strange trouble he sees these words Marquess OLIVERIO I Send back the mony which out of your great civility you were pleas'd to lend me having made use of it so long as I had need I do not this to disoblige my self from your affection but that I may not be wanting to my self assure your self therefore that the obligation shall never terminate but with my heart till the end of the last period of my life it s for your glory that you have introduc'd subjection into that spirit which never before knew any be pleased therefore with Your most affectionate and most oblig'd Servant AMASIA This letter did so distract the Marquess his Minde that beleeving it a deception of his sight he would often read it he knew not what to think forasmuch as the vivacity of kisses and the embraces of the precedent night ought not to beget such universal conceptions nor such cold words After a Chaos of agitations and thoughts he writes this Letter Fair IT is with reason said that money takes a way our rest Your Pistols having reduc'd me to a mortal disquiet you should not Madam have sent me what was yours under pretence that it had been mine and if either my demerit or the slenderness of my Fortune requir'd it why do you not likewise send me back my heart which I have sacrificed to your beauty It a cruel liberality to send Gold a vile excrement of the Earth and retain the Soul which is the first Essence of Man That I may lighten my grief be pleas'd to take the pains that I may finde you at the grate at the same hour as formerly To conclude forget not Your most humble and most oblig'd Servant OLIVERIO Having sent the letter and with a thousand imprecations having expected the night he comes to the appointed place where having found the Countess after salutations past the Marquess hegins to reprove her for sending the money which he did with such a lively sense that tears interrupted him which permitted him not to evaporate his grief by his mouth eyes The Countess answers with a sweet smile And why would you not hav me restore what was yours Because saies Oliverio after I had received the honor of your good graces I have nothing which is not absolutely yours Pray therefore bitter not our past sweets And pray what sweets were those replies the Countess Is it possible says Oliverio that the interposition of a day onely should have so eclips'd your memory that you have forgotten those delights which were both given and receiv'd Is it possible that those kisses which were altogether animated carrying continually love on the lips should instil the water of Lethe in your heart I should sooner lose the remembrance of my self then the delight I have from the memory of such sweets as those The Countess interrupted him telling him My Lord I shall undeceive you it being unreasonable that your opinion should stain my honesty which is hitherto no otherwaies guilty but by what it may receive from your desires or belief I thought to please you
were like to succeed Yet he again tempts by other letters to make his reasons appear which by several deceits he gets delivered into the hands of Euridea But she being deluded by appearances judg'd him the more inexcusable and the treachery the more true refusing for ever to admit of any excuse of his in his behalf on such terms that she refus'd all letters whatsoever or receives them with great wariness least they should come from him that she might not be troubled with his noysom importunities she even hated his name with the sinister thought of a Traitor and her soul being free by the frauds of deceit she forbore not to love him abhorring those violences which oblig'd her to disdain Whence her minde was plagued leaving no remembrance which subjected her not to double torments the one of the remembrance of his perfidiousness the other of her impossibility of hating him who still appear'd lovely The afflicted Lover got persons of her familiar acquaintance which undertook to undeceive her To them he so exprest his grief that he even violenc'd them to compassionate him and urg'd his entreaties with so much efficacy that he oblig'd them to grant his requests The restraint of his prayers was the compendium of his desires to clear his innocency the witness was sufficient shewing himself still so passionate a Lover that they could not imagine him a Villanous Homicide They all promised to move for him to insinuate in their discourses intercessions in his favour which might prove grateful yet were the issues of his hopes vain the Lady remaining pertinacious in her rage who at the least word at a suspition onely which her imagnation suggested in favor of Niarpe denied to hearken to it and flew away that she might not hear it so that she oblig'd them all to silence so that in conclusion she would admit of none to come in her presence whose first protestations were not absolute promises never to speak of him crying out of him always with the title of ungrateful with attributes of treachery You may imagine to what a condition of sufferings the miserable man was reduc'd meeting so obstinate a fierceness The state of the damn'd as inferiour judgeth the right of this describing the tortures of that scorn'd soul by such an accident which pricking him to the life made the most spiritual part of his heart resent it In this desperate condition he would a thousand times have dyed had not even death appeared horrible not as to other miserable persons desireable since it must have been accompanied with the unabolish'd thought of his infidelity He forc'd himself to live because he hoped to see Fortune once glutted with her pastimes when that tempestuous sea would become calm wherein there now appeared nothing but rocks and wracks Two moneths were past the greatest part whereof was spent in fruitless endeavours which open'd the gate to a total despair Heaven at last commiserated the extremity of his torments subministring an occasion and a way to discover the unchangeable purity of his affections as far from treachery as they were truly neer the extremity of love There din'd with Euridea a Lady a familiar friend of hers with the height of all the delights which usually second conversation especially at meals The table was not costly yet full serv'd with all sorts of meat exceeding the terms of ordinary moderation although they out went them not in ceremony The courses of fish and flesh were double in respect that its the custome of some who observe such a day with a particular devotion to abstain from all but lent meats Euridea was so accustomed and therefore did not accompany her friend in tasting of every dish who indifferently fed on all but most of all fed upon a dish of Mushroms which that very noon were as he who brought them said sent by some Nunns In that Country they dress them several wayes as if a great quantity priviledged with a singular goodness were not sufficient unless the diversity of sauces did not change their formes and render them grateful to the pallat These were drest with eggs and cheese and such like things which caus'd Euridea to forbear them the chance was that they had an inward malign quality which produc'd strange effects in this Ladies stomack A while after dinner being come home she was assaulted with mortal pains griping of the guts oppression of the heart which sent forth over her body a cold sweat which usually denotes the last endeavours wherewith Nature resists the violences of death the tumultuous humors of her stomack swell'd up her belly caus'd her eyes to stare made her lips pale and her mouth foam all usual effects of venemous food she being unable to speak could not express the truth nor the suspition of her unexpected sickness The women about her giving her remedies as against poysons forc'd down her throat Treackle dissolved in Wine The remedy operated according to its proper vertue expelling the matter which burthens the complexion by drawing it to the last center of its corruption The women cry out the louder that their Mistris was poyson'd inculcating the same opinion in her who approved it as true Being stupified with faintings occasioned by the excess of her disease she till then was exempt from thought the minde easily admits of false suspitions upon such an occasion So that condemning Euridea as she who would have poyson'd her not distinctly remembring what the meat was she onely sensibly found her self offended remembring also that she had not accompanied her in the eating of that dish although she had fed on many others although it were under pretence of a fast Her minde did not forbear to suggest some woman quarrels which happen'd betwixt them although of slight concernment yet of much force in her thoughts which resolv'd her to vengeance to enforce her suspitions her observation concurr'd in marking divers gestures and some words she then remembred as discoveries of a hidden dissimulation and testimonies of an ill affected minde Being at last forcibly enough confirm'd by the assurance of the women about her of all the effects of most powerful poyson and finding her agony continue it rendred her belief unchangeable Being herewith enrag'd she breaks forth into exaggerations fit to thunder out her disdain against a Traitress who under colour of disguis'd friendship had made her prove such grievous torments That she might not aggravate her grief the agitation of the humors being not yet settled she was desir'd not to disturb her self more but quiet her offended heart by making a victim of her treacherous enemy to her revenge In conformity to the advice they accuse her of the crime to the Justice informing him of the fact and solliciting her deserv'd punishment The cause being heard by the Magistrate Euridea was by his order imprisoned in a dark Dungeon that there she might be proceeded against and receive the sentence which the Judges should decree against her she in vain
her assured revenge Amongst the encounters and affectionate congratulations of her servants she was advised by their discourses with Niarpe of the information he had taken and the reason of her imprisonment but above all of his anguish and how grievously he took her danger The Lady having heard though unwillingly these expressions contrary to her will which was intoxicated with finister thoughts yet she began to reflect on her thoughts how he by his own election had exchang'd himself to suffer her danger which did no ways confirm a perverse intention but a constant affection She observ'd what was said being oblig'd to beleeve him guiltless of any crime in this accident which before he had had no notice of she could not judge her self desirous of his death who had discovered himself by what was told her in danger for her deliverance Nevertheless this was not sufficient to remove from her minde the remembrance which the first impression made which was rendred indelible if her eyes did not lye which had seen him with his unsheth'd steel arm'd against her brest The words of a Lady with whom she had many contests cooperated to introduce a contrary belief Niarpe's resentment being by Euridea's fury hightned who refus'd to hear his excuses being at that time to give her a visit from her astonishment bred from the confusion of her thoughts she took occasion to insinuate in her discours Niarpe's constancy fomented onely by an indiscreet rigour witnessing she had seen him despair at her feet for the loss of her good graces and a supplicant with prayers to regain them she forms a distinct Narration of all his words his sighs and his desires to undeceive the fraud of a simple dream with the continued attestations of an exviscerated passion making the truth appear by reason of the accident which that night happen'd unhappy to their loves which still had been hid under the obscurity of a mistake she remembers the precedent proofs of his singular faith with the following testimonies following it with an extreme grief of heart as with an uninterrupted care to pacifie her anger and then this last action confirm'd the immutability of his extraordinary affection since he hazarded his own innocency and his life to deliver her from an imaginary danger Say no more say no more said Euridea whose heart was already awakn'd with the knowledge which arose from these discourses that she had unjustly ill used her lover yet she persever'd in her contest the obstinacy of her old belief till at last she was cast down by the testimony which Niarpe witnessed even to the hazard of his life by a voluntary accusation made by himself to afford her the means to get out of the labyrinth of her prison the center whereof perhaps was death He said he had sent the poyson with the meat which arriv'd at dinner time Now whether whilst she was pondering in her minde either of the felicities or the despair of her Lover he coms who had brought her that meat to fetch back the dish from this distinct information she got full notice of the fact knowing that the present came from the civility of certain Nuns as he related it and not corrupted by the fidelity of the messenger who carried it The ground of the design fail'd whereupon Niarpe had made himself guilty The building fell which his sinister Fortune had built under the credit of treachery Amongst a thousand troubles his Lady bitterly repented hereof for having unreasonably punish'd him with so much fierceness Doubting to be the cause of his death she saw the despair enterchang'd whereto the necessity of her indiscreet rigours had often reduc'd him but being blinded by the fury of the deceit not discerning his faith so blinde did love make her that she was heedless of her own sufferings She returns to the Tribunal and as carried away with doating she demands the restoration of her Lover that Niarpe should be set at liberty if justice required a victim she alone was fit for the Executioner's hands since she had been sacrilegious having violenc'd the temple of Faith and Love Those who not long before had heard her enrag'd against the same person begging cruelty for his punishments were astonished to see such a change she who had accused him of double treacheries now with so much vehemency endeavoured to cry him up as innocent The Judge had a competent satisfaction for his curiosity in the relation made of the success which might discipher the enigma's of so unlook'd for a change They who admired Euridea related the whole business who from her stupidity being reconcentrated in her self discovered no less her own confusion in her very accent yet from time to time she replicated her instance for the recovery of her Lover They witnessed the countersigns given of the unvariable affection of the one and of the innocency of the others deceiv'd belief so that the cause was suspended with the deliverance of either till the Judge had more apparent motives to satisfie the demands of the Accuser who complain'd as having been poyson'd She was yet kept in her bed by reason of her weakness which followed the violence of the accident more then the necessity of any ill Skilful Physitians were sent who by a diligent disquisition of all what she had eat that day and weighing the effects flowing from thence which she call'd poyson they made a punctual scrutiny in search of the truth and from one head to another they concluded the original of this agitation which they did beleeve came from nothing but the malign quality of the Mushroms which being not wel purged had the force not onely to weaken but even to have kill'd her A particular reflection having denied the first impulses of grief or disdain which inforc'd them to hear that al of the family had cryed out that she had been poyson'd now made the sick Lady of their opinion she perceived that all her suspitions were groundless since neither in Euridea who was accus'd nor in Niarpe who had made himself guilty she could finde any occasion for such a treachery So that from the satisfaction of the one and the sworn testimony of the Physitians a Decree of liberty was granted to our lovers This revolution of Fortune was unexpected by the young man who betwixt the thoughts of death could not promise himself the enjoyment of so much felicity unless by being so neer death he might promise himself a future beatitude He saw himself in his beloved's arms when he thought to go to his execution and receive amorous kisses from her lips when he thought to hear the rigorous sentence of his death He knew not who to thank for such a happiness unless that very hour which had occasion'd all his torments His heart being restor'd into its former sweet ardors softly melts it self away to make an inextinguishable lamp for the light of his joyes The Scaene being thus chang'd in his belov'd there onely appear'd
that no body observ'd it Deadora taking it unawares and perceiving that to make shew of it were but to publish her own shame having dextrously hidden the letter goes home agitated with a thousand thoughts She was no sooner alone but her curiosity or perhaps even her affection sent her looks to the reading of the note before she had made an end of it she gave her self for lost those characters were too powerful against the weakness of a womans heart which is soft to all expressions Being tyranniz'd by amorous affections she found no rest but in her disquiets She brought all her affections to confult in her minde which at last gave sentence in favour of Lovanio Whereupon being forc'd by the power which knows not reason and operates with the greater impetuosity the greater refistance it sindes she commits her thoughts to the paper which contain'd these conceits LOVANIO DID I not beleeve I should move your despight by declaring my self so easily overcome by your entreaties I would freely tell you I love you and that I am yours but because I know the inconstancy of humane mindes which nothing esteems what is gotten with ease and possess'd without paines I resolve to entreat you to forbear your undertaking which can never succeed without the hazard of life and reputation I have a soul so full of gratitude that I could not but venture my self for the satisfaction of one who with so much civility was not wanting to help me in my need I therfore assure my self that so worthy a Cavalier who hath merited all the favours of Nature and Fortune would not disquiet the repose of my heart nor torment the affection of a woman who in despight of her self must yet confess her self to be yours You are with so much tenderness interessed to quench fire which excerciseth its fury on senseless things That you ought not now to nourish it in my mind least it consume my life and reputation could I have shaken off this so grievous a yoak which proceeds rather from my destiny them my will your letters should not have prevented mine Pardon me if I unhandsomely trample on the honesty I owe my sex and the lawes of marriage since the first thing which Love cancels is reason But I have discovered my self too much to one who perhaps laughs at my infirmity This letter being secretly conveyed into Lovanio's hands fills him with so much joy that he could scarce contain himself knowing that Deadera would not belye these characters these repulses being invitations and these doubts assurances of love Whence argumenting that the Ladies affection was greater then he ever hop'd he so operates that without communicating his affections to paper he gets the oportunity to speak to her at a little grate and there to concert the accomplishment of their amorous pretensions Gelasio Deadora's husband was so given to all kinde of love that with the Camelion who assumes all the colours which comes neer it he at ever object chang'd his love and affection To satisfie the vanity of his lust he made no distinction of nobility or beauty He confess'd himself as well enchain'd with silver hairs as with golden looks and was equally tyranniz'd over by a Lady of honor and a common Courtesan His affection triumphs as much over that fair one who was without blemish even from the observation of envy as over that beauty which was offended with a thousand and metamorphosed by an infinity of imperfections Deadora who knew her husbands genius thinks on a means to enjoy her Lover she knew that her Chamber maid Aleria was sollicited by him with promises gifts and often with threats to satisfy his lustful desires whereto occurr'd that Aleria was naturally tormented with all kinde of dishonest desires so that nothing bridled her but the fear of her mistris who with Argus eyes watch'd Gelasio's immoderate affections Deadora therefore that she might accommodate her self with her Lover was content that Aleria in the mean time should entertain her husband which very often happily succeeded the warm season of the year concurring in favour of their loves Gelasio and Deadora slept in two several Chambers so that Lovanio being let into a ground Chamber whilst Gelasio enjoyed Aleria who at the same time garded her mistris satisfied her master and recreated her self But because the felicities of love are but as flyes which live and die in a day Fortune with the same facility would precipitate those she had lifted up Lovanio was one evening let in by Aleria somewhat sooner then was usual She after having received him with a thousand caresses expresses of love which her breast nourish'd tells him that Deadora would be a while busie having not yet ended her supper and that in the mean time she had commission to entertain him Lovanio kindely thanks her saying That it was not the first of his obligations to her Aleria suffered him not to proceed but taking him by the hand she says Signor Lovanio There can be no greater infelicity then to see others reap the fruits of ones pains I have suffered so much that at last I might get your love and I have gained nothing but dangers and fears Is it possible that least out of gratitude if not out of love I may deserve the favour of your good Graces Truly I do not so much envy my mistris in possessing your whole heart I onely lament the miseries of my fortune which hath plac'd me in a condition to be despised even by those whom I continually pleasure which having said she begins to kiss his hand which she held fast in her own with so many tears that Lovanio who at first laught at her folly being unable to resist gave himself over to sense The more readily because the beauties of Aleria were so singular that he would rather have deserv'd the title of stupid had he not taken the occasion of enjoying her Lovanio and Aleria were ingulf'd in the sweets of Love when Deadora grew impatient that she was not call'd and perhaps not without jealousie since t is the usury of the pleasure of those that love having seen her husband in bed she silently comes down into the ground chamber and there having found her Lover in the amorous lists carried away with an unspeakable impetuosity without considering the danger of her life and honour she at once furiously begins to move both her hands and her tongue saying Traytor do you thus triumph over my shame Is this the reward of my confidence and of my faith I will so treat you that I shall rejoyce to see you buried in my precipice that my ruin may not be the more funeral by your laughter or lasciviousness She accompanies these words with so many blowes and bitings that Aleria bled in several places Lovanio in the mean time casting himself at her feet begged of her with the sweetest words which would have introduc'd pitty even into insensible sensible stones Sometimes remembring her of the danger
as a Buck from a Hound speaking ill of him and covertly threatning revenge Emilio slighting his disdain began to think since he was free from the laws of friendship how he might pursue his loves with Cleria being continually sensible of the flames her beauty had caused which oblig'd all his thoughts Hippolito on the other side repenting his past suspitions every hour condemning his folly for having yeelded to so salfe a belief he resolves to bring his wife to Town again who had notice of all what had past in Lucca whereupon she conceiv'd so great a hatred against Emilio that her desires machinated nothing but his ruin as absolutely beleeving Emilio enamor'd of Silvia Hippolito endeavours to reconcile their former friendship refus'd by the other who now aspir'd to be of his kindred Emilio continued to pass before Cleria's house faigning alwaies to court Silvia who giving credit to the appearances with an amorous corespondence favour'd the demonstrations of his affection as far as the termes and limits of civility permitted her Hippolito at last thought on all those means which might be fit to procure Emilio to be again friendly with him and to that end commands his wife to do the best offices she could possibly in his favour towards Silvia It being Carnevale time he appoints a ball to be danc'd in his own house whereto he also invites Silvia hoping that the love of her would likewise bring thither Emilio So it was taking the opportunity of disguising himself in a masking habit he embraceth the party and comes He was known by Hippolito who orders Cleria who was mask'd to speak to him of Silvia offering her assistance kindly forcing him to enter into a certain chamber to drink imposing on her besides that she would not suffer him to depart before she had pacified him and reconcil'd them as they were before familiar friends Cleria quickly executes her husbands commands and going out of the Feastival Room invites Emilio to dance and danceth with him after the custom of Lucca She begins to discourse with him and asks him of his Mistris Emilio foons discovers her and with a languishing sigh answered her That from her alone he could hear the most desirable news They both prest on the others hands speaking rather with their sighs then with their words The Ball being ended Cleria goes out having Emilio by the hand and brings him into a Chamber joyning to the Hall under pretence that who she had with her would unmasked themselves to drink but would not be known and therefore sends away the servant who kept it The door being shut and she alone with Emilio presently takes off the vizard from both their faces Then she draws out a Dagger and tels him To vindicate the injuries of thy perfidiousness Traytor I should sheath this in thy heart but that I know one death is not sufficient to revenge the outrages thou hast done me At these words Emilio kneeling down opens his naked brest saying Satisfie then O my dearest thy desires although I have erred in nothing but in loving thee too much Thou lyest says she Thou hast to my shame and despight lov'd Silvia Kill me then replies Emilio that in those characters engraven in my heart you may have a sufficient testimony that I alwaies adored none but you Would you have me then kill you replies Cleria so I resolve arise and come with me for even now I will deliciate my self in thy death which having said she opens the door of another little Chamber wherein there was a bed and there knitting her armes about his neck she unloosed them not till she breath'd her soul into him Hippolito expecting to know to what end his wife had brought her undertakings thought well of her stay and with this hope he went merrily and boldly about beleeving that his desires would be felicitated by his reconciliation with Emilio The good man knew not that his Ascendant was then entring into Cupricorn by means of Gemini Cleria and Emilio at last retir'd to the dancing Room diverting the toylsom pastimes of the others in comparison of the private dance they had had He dancing with Silvia whilst retiring aside she sets her self down None observ'd Emilio's return but Hippolito who being curious to know what had been done quickly accosts his wife enquiring of the success She remits the relation to a fitter time tells him onely That if another night she might repeat the endeavours she had made on Emilio's stubbornness she was confident she should gain him He was pleas'd at the motion of another feast for the following night the better to effect the business which was advanc'd being already disposed Hippolito gladly appoints it and thereupon they renew the invitation All succeeding according to what had been ordered the precedent night Cleria invites Emilio into the Chamber which was the Theater of their delights But before them Hippolito to secure himself how his wife managed the business retir'd secretly into the little Chamber hiding himself under the bed Without any suspition the Lovers shut the door and on the Down they solace themselves with the sweetest expressions of their loves Hippolito being astonish'd at so unexpected a success durst even scarce breath He was disarm'd and on the otherside saw Emilio well provided with Pistols so that he thought if he should discover himself he should certainly expose himself to death What his sense was in so rude a necessity to be a witness of the sports and pleasures of the Lovers let him imagine who can beleeve that he was not confounded with various passions At last the amorous wrastlers being weary aband on'd the Field and going out of the Room they heard I know not what russling under the bed Cleria being curious to know what it was findes that it was her husband who was there then she cries out Alas O Emilio we are lost The Lover mov'd at these words and animated at the accident grew bold and with his Pistol in his hand he commands Hippolito to come forth who being afraid would not raise his knees from the ground before he was secur'd they would not take away his life which he submissively begg'd from Emilio He freely offered both to him and to his wife pardon for the injuries they had done his reputation Cleria observing her husbands cowardliness took heart and interposeth her intercessions to divert the other who alwaies shewed himself unresolv'd in the thought of killing him he faigns to yeeld to her prayers and deposing his disdain he accepts the oblation of Cleria's pardon praising Hippolito's prudence for that resolution shewing that such like errors are the more compatible forasmuch as there are commonly but few women who inviolably observe the faith they ow their husbands He said that silence and carelesness were forms fit in such matters that a man need not be oblig'd to live continually disquieted with his arms in his hand that in this present exigent all should sleep in perpetual
these imaginary comforts she solac'd her grief whilst with the assurance of real contentment the other confirm'd her minde with her desir'd consolations Irlando at last goes to her enjoyment Armando at least as he thought to contention Both were civilly admitted not without the astonishment of the one who thought his admittance prohibited by disdain seeing his way made plain by love His heart leapt at this incredible novelty which before was sunk with dispair Fancying a happy omen to himself he thought to resolve those words in thanksgivings which like clouds thickned with fury threatned to fulminate reproofs The reception of Emilia forewarning him of a cheat renued the tumult of his thoughts which afterwards conspired to torment him when having enquir'd after Rosalia she answer'd him That she was there in her steed she her self having made the change Hence she went to speak of love promising to act that person in all degrees of complacency which might satisfie a Lover And thereupon with carresses and other love tricks she began to weave those delights which alone captivate the sense Yet did his affection spume away even those powerful motives of sense obstinately obliging him to continue his vassaladge to the others beauty who although she was ungrateful yet she did not forbear to be adoreable nevertheless the bridle of consideration impos'd rules to this disorder suggesting as unreasonable to despise the favours of so kinde a Lady in hope to aspire to the others favours who even loath'd him So that with his genius and with his consent he inclin'd to that part which with reason predominated even to enjoyment He was not inferiour to his friend in running through the lists of delight whose bounds and carriere were her fair brests These two fortunate couple of Lovers will have no cause to envy one the other both being equally in the road of contentemnt if not of old of newer loves and far more vehement affections Thus Emilia and Armando revolv'd the sailes of their thoughts fitted to the wind their hopes being already undeceiv'd to finde harbor whereto their desires had at first steer'd The dispute of Rivalship being thus taken away the practise of these Lover was free between whom mutually there was a strait knot of friendship Yet the flight of this liberty a fresh transports the affections to the shunn'd post of their election Irlando loves Emilia and Rosalia Armando The cause of this change was either the usual property to finde that loathsome which we have long enjoy'd or the ordinary condition of our desires which alwaies more ardently aspires to the possession of that which we may acquire by depriving our selves of the other Others things seem alwaies better to us then our own forasmuch as being oblig'd by our being to be alwaies content its necessary that not vallewing what we enjoy we desire what we see another possess principally in love which the likeness of fire shews whose common condition is to aspire to new objects This element the greater nourishment it receives as it were to glut the pride of its ardors raising its flames so much the higher seems to demonstrate the voracity of its appetite greedy of making new prey As novelties most delight so the thoughts began to suggest hopes of more grateful felicities in these new Lovers Irlando to whom these desires shut the fight to the beauties of Rosalia considered in the other the excess of such a good grace that it engrav'd in his heart the adorable idol of his affections The Lady also who saw that Emilia was had in greater esteem of Armando whom she thought far inferior to her in desert resolv'd presently subjection of love to him who could acknowledge it with the greater tribute of reverence This change of their own wills was conceited with looks carresses and jests which being the effect of a friendly union degenerate into affectionate accents Emilia was satisfied with the behaviour of her Lover and gave way to no thoughts which bore not the marks of her being consecrated to him Even Armando also remembring the great kindeness with which his Lady at first confirm'd the excess of love before she reveal'd it had oblig'd his heart to preserve his affections that he could not mix them with those which carried any other image but that of Emilia So that those two lost the field being excluded from any correspondency who first of all entred loves Capital in triumph To continue it amongst themselves it seem'd impossible for their luke-warmness was soon converted into coldness and that into ice so that at last disdain and loathings sprung from corrupt dispositions each of them thinking themselves oblig'd to revenge the others infidelity or at least inconstancy which begot an exceeding hatred to paralel the punishment with the crime The assaults were revolv'd against the true Lovers who in opposition to their discord rendred the indissolveable union of their affections the more strongly fortified mutually confessing their genius transported out of the center of themselves and lockt up within the circumference of their amorous wills agreeing to cast off the love of their two friends although to their disgust With faign'd fictions they perswaded the more highly to fix these roots in their hearts which us'd to breed affectionate correspondence that jealousie might not move the others to suspend or prohibit them this commerce wherein these rivals equally found acquest of enjoyments Familiarity sometimes permitted a kiss to be snatcht whereof these Lovers took an usurious interest considering the penury of other pleasures The occasion of a jest oblig'd a carress and those endearments without offending those mindes with suspitions who thinking even that the others hearts were interchangeably knit they doubted not that aspiring to any other object they would by their rivalship disturb their contentment Rosalia at last being importun'd by accidity with the more pleasure to terminate these deceits renders her friend jealous with a faign'd jealousie of her own She seems to doubt that the Lovers being tir'd with their long possession were equally traytors of their oblig'd faith She said that she knew very well that Armando's minde was inclin'd towards her as one the other side she perceiv'd her Lovers heart aspire towards her Being thus perswaded to discover the proof of this truth they should one evening fraudulently exchange the Gentlemen and by this occasion the liberty of amorous demonstrations would discover to whom their affections most enclin'd They promis'd one the other to revenge the the others offended faith with rigorous reproofs when the vayl of dissimulation was taken off and the stains of treachery appear'd The other being after this manner imbued with suspitions consents to the experiment to assure her self of this relation of her pretended faithful friend Thus Rosalia with Armando and Irlando with Emilia were in posture to compleat the web of their own contentments brought about by this cheat The two Ladies one evening invited their two Lovers to a private treat every one
at her own house And afterwards by the ordinary change they betray'd the effects of their promise whereupon the success answer'd the design The true Lovers being disturb'd at the change Emilia and Armando with signs but little grateful soon stifled the others hopes And made it appear that the contentment of the minde was not pleas'd to change its sphere that it might not vary the motion of affections At last with all the art they could use they could never stir that constancy which being rendred invariable knew no accident whereby it might overturn or overthrow it self So that least these temptations might be converted into fury against her or of disdain against themselves they protested it was onely a mistrust of faith expos'd to the ciment for that they doubted they wanted the triumphs of perseverance The beauties of Rosalia blusht finding that being prostrate they could not obtain love Besides these blushes were acknowledg'd for signs that her minde was wounded with remorse for a punishment of her being so changable when another by the force of her beauty and violenc of her carresses could not be perswaded to be inconstant Warnd of her error she recollects her thoughts and refixeth them on Irlando to preserve the quiet of her minde by the immutability of her will She considered that the election made at another time on the valew of his grateful qualities confirmed by his not loving her that she was rather insatiable then voluble Having at last fixt her resolution she resolves never to be mov'd by the impulse of unbridled desires Irlando being assured of these thoughts resolves to keep her as the onely miror of his felicities from whose looks alone he drew the image of his contentment He could not but glory in the possession of so fair a Lady the life of whose glory drew breath from the air of the sighs of those who desir'd her correcting the error of his corrupted gust for having not esteem'd what others Idoliz'd he afresh obligeth himself to her in an amorous conjunction with oathes to maintain the knot undissolveable Thus both these two couple of Friends and Lovers happily hung the vows of their own affections in the Temple of Faith and erected an Altar to Love on the Pillar of Constancy EPIDORO NOVEL XII The ARGUMENT Epidoro a young Florentine being deceived by a Masker whom he beleeved to be Leena a Lady of honour is found in the embraces of her Chamber-maid and for his own safety is forc'd to marry her TO enjoy the delights of the Carneval there resided in Venice Epidoro a young Florentine of a very mean birth but his fathers avarice had gain'd him a kinde of reputation He by the death of his progenitors was gotten into an estate which did not onely enlighten the obscurity of his birth but mov'd his desires to the prosecution of those pleasures which are often long'd for by great ones So that in Venice there was no publick feast game or recreation whereto he did not come One evening his heart was ravisht by an imaginary the dress and behaviour of a Masker represented such fancies to his imagination that he confest himself the lover of a face before he had seen it and the follies of his minde ended not there so that having warily followed her as she parted from the ball he saw her go into the house of one of the prime Gentlemen of the City to whom amongst other things which concurr'd to make him humanely happy his wives beauty not a little contributed It fell out in his thoughs that the Masker must be Leena forso the Lady was call'd which the more enflam'd him and which the more invigorated his new desires he the next day knew Leena with some of the same garments wherewith he had seen the Masker adorn'd The difficulty of the enterprize hightned his spirits which encouraged him to tempt all means neither was Fortune wanting in shewing her to him when the same evening the Masker came to the Ball he having been very officious seeing no small correspondence in her looks the concourse of the people not giving way to observation tells her Madam Did not my tongue fear the crime of temerity I durst dicover the fire which is nourish'd in my bosome and should offer you the use of that love which is the greater the more hid it is Did you know answered the Masker who was hid under this habit your heart would repent what your tongue foments My heart Madam replies Epidoro bears no desires but from the knowledge of the desert which your singular beauty hath begot To gain the name of lover then says the Masker you care not to have the repute of a Glasier Tell me How can you form a judgement on the beauties of that face which you never saw but hid under a vizard A man may replies afresh Epidoro make a judgment of the Suns splendor although it be covered with a cloud But my eyes too much force myheart to sacriledge by introducing therein the image of your beauty Madam Leena is it possible to hide the affection of a Lover who hath Arus his eyes To say I adore you is the greatest testimony that a mouth can utter but the least resentmenta heart can express It s you may felicitate me great undertakings are not without great difficulties Love who can snatch the thunder even from the hands of Jupiter himself can make plain the very mountains of impossibility He would have said more had not the Masker with some trouble cut off his discourse by telling him When you spake to me without knowing me I bore with your ignorance now knowing me with the greater presumption of your boldness to tempt me I cannot but blame your insolence Did I not fear to prejudice mine own honor by having been a subject to subminister such thoughts so inferiour to my condition I would cause your pennance to be the least ill you should suffer for you temerity But whilst she uttred these words her hand and her eyes betray'd her tongue and assured Epidoro by all possible favours that those resentments were endeavours of civility and not effects of disdain Thus the Feastival ended so that Epidoro was forc'd to retire with all the disturbance which assault the youth and indiscretion of a Lover Having expected the following night which was the last of the Carneval with all those vowes which use to accompany the impatience of an amorous heart Scarce did the stars begin to glory of the light which they borrowed from the Sun but he came to the accustomed Ball Not far from thence he meets the well known Masker although with all art she had thought to hide her self from the curiosity of Epidoro He taking her by the hand endeavours by these words to make her beleeve his affection Fair Leena you may by your change of habit deceive the eyes of other men but never my heart which by united means and diffus'd heat to all my parts acknowledgeth and