war whose very frownes are honor and whose fauors immortall glories Blush at thy thoughts that are so base wéepe with Caesar that thou hast not done wonders with Alexander Thou art elected by the Consuls as a choise man of Rome as high prised for thy valour as thy parentage and yet thy mother was of the great Aemilij thou art sent against the Parthians a Nation warrelicke and resolute either to challenge thy graue with thy sword or carue out their tombes with thy Courtelax Darest thou then Lentulus amidst those glorious thoughts of a souldier admit the least passion of a louer shall thy pollicies too little for the Parthians be imployed in purchasing Terentia No Lentulus draw thy Fauchion brandish it against Rome and if Loue looke but ouer the walls menace hir with thy Martiall weapons and yet Lentulus be not so stoicall as to reiect such a mightie Deitie Haue not the Romaines erected a Temple néere vnto Campus Martius Are not Knights dubbed to defeÌ„d Ladies Make they not their Helmes proude with their Mistresse fauours Mars hath his amours as he hath his armours Alexander gloried in his loues as he triumpht in his victories Great Pompey hath his Iulia Caesar his Paramour Souldiers haue loued and so will I. Hauing thus discoursed with himselfe the hope of his loues draue such an inuincible courage into his minde that he past not many daies without giuing battaile to the Parthians in which getting a glorious victorie he sent great treasure and many Captiues home to Rome with great intercession to the Senate that he might not winter from his owne Countrie The Consuls gald to fauour him with any reasonable graunt sent Lepidus to take his place and recalled Lentulus home to the Citie The fame of whose high intended thoughts his conquest inlarged with infinite treasures rich Captiues made Rome to ring with ecchoes of his matchlesse excellency Insomuch that passing through the stréets to the Capitol there to be inuested with the honors due to his victories multitudes of Romanes were placed on Scaffoldes to take view of so braue and hardie a Captaine and the gorgeous windowes of the Citie were stuffed with troupes of beautiful Ladies tickled with an earnest desire to satisfie their sightes with his Personage Passing thus in pompe Iulius Caesar then being Dictator after the solemne rites magnificent triumphs were ended bad him home to dinner where hee feasted him with such royaltie as might beséeme the greatnes of the day and the highnes of his owne thoughts Thus flewe the fame of Lentulus through Rome as the wonder of this time but all those triumphant dignities coulde not extirpate the melancholy of this Romans thoughts inserted into his minde by the fond inchantments of loue but as the wounded Deare wringeth forth teares and the Mirtle pierced yeeldeth Gumme so Lentulus after this déepe impression of loue coulde afforde nought but sighes and sorrowes The Iemme of Terentias excellencie reflected in his minde like an obiect in a Christall myrrour that amiddest his most serious affaires hée founde the passions of loue to be intermedled Fortune that had tied hir fauours in the toppe of his Crest halfe perswaded to become constant to this warlicke Champion séeing Cupid wrongâ— him without cause thought with a souereign Antidote to preueÌ„t y â— further ensuing preiudices of fancy forcing therfore oportunitie to dance attendance vpoÌ„ this hir darling it fell out y â— Flaminius the father of Terentia séeing howe Lentulus was generally feasted of al y â— senators in Rome thought amongst y e rest to welcome home y â— warrior with a baÌ„ket therfore méeting him at one Titus Annius Milos house he solemnely inuited him home to dinner Lentulus as ful of curtesie as courage after great thanks promised to be his guest whereupon Flaminius passing home made prouisioÌ„ Lentulus stealing to his lodging being solitary conceiued such inward ioy at this swéete oportunitie that leaning vpon his left hand smiling to himself he breathed out these words viz. Such I sée well as Mars honours with fauours Venus will not crosse with frownes those that conquer in warres shall not perish in loues Cupid fauours his fathers followers such as Fortune smiles on in baâ—tail shée laughs on in fancies I coueted to beare charge against the Parthians and the Senate elected me Lord of their Legions Desire wisht me to haue a sight of Terentia and hir father interteines me for a guest I made conquest of mine enemies with the sword and why may I not win my loue with my loyaltie Feare not Lentulus these concluded comparisons are prodigious bee Augur then to thy selfe and calculate thy good fortunes by thy thoughts Loues and warres craues courage Feare not man for thy intreaties are as mightie as hir denials can be contrarie As thus he was debating with himselfe the Clocke tolde him it was time to goe visite his Host so that he made himselfe as sumptuous as might be and at the parting from his Chamber-dore hée saide thus If Venus quoth hee thou fauour mee in my loues I will become thy vowed seruant in my life I will strewe thy Altars with Roses and set thée vp shrines at Paphos I wil binde vp my temples with myrtle bowes and for the Martiall garland weare a wreath of flowers I wil haue Doues nests in my Pallaces and what belongs to thée shall be some of my delight onely grace me with the fauour of Terentia Ending this his vowe hee pased forward with his traine towards the house of Flaminius where beeing ariued the graue Senator intertained him with such magnificence as Lentulus perceiued his welcome by his honours The board couered and the company readie to sit Lentulus was placed chiefe at the table who all this while hauing no sight of Terentia sat as a man nipped on the heade although there were at the table to grace the feast manie braue beautifull Damosels Sitting thus in a dumpe he was cheared vp by all the companie but at last to set him in his iolitie Terentia was commanded by hir father to bring him in a cuppe of Gréekish wine Shée that little cared to be séene in open bankets as holding it contrarie to the rites of Vesta durst not yet but with all diligence signifie hir obedience Therfore attyred in a rich roabe of white spotted with starres of gold tempering the porphury of hir face with a vermilion blush looking like Diana when shée basht at Acteons presence shée came into the hall where humbly saluting all the companie shée deliuered the wine to hir father Lentulus séeing Fame had but blemisht hir fauours in being to partiall of hir praises sate so amased at the beauteous excellencie of Terentia as did the Centaure enamoured of Iuno His eie made suruey of hir beauties who posting them ouer to the contemplation of his thoughts so set on fire his heart with hir perfections as his stomacke shut vp hir Orifice to giue his eies leaue to
or inward vertues helde the supremacie In so much that as men flocke to Delphos to heare the Oracles of Apollo so diuers resort to Rome to take veiw of the excellencie of Terentia who once delighted with the sight of hir graces set downe this as an Axiome that Pallas the Patronesse of Troy for wisedome or Venus the wonder of Heauen for beautie might not disgrace the dignities of this gorgious Damosell Rome swelling with the pride of this matchlesse Uirgin whose thoughts were more humble then hir face beautifull and yet the Painters of that time feared to attempt hir portraiture as finding the perfection of nature to excéede the proportion of Art made hir the Mistresse of their vestals as one that counted fancie as vnâ—it for a maide as Alexauder cowardize for a souldier Cupid sitting on his mothers knée by the fount of Alcydalion séeing howe Terentia enemie to his amarous Philosophie set loue at so light estéeme and for a charme against his magicall inchauntments carried the euerburning fire of Vesta in hir breast clasping his mother wantonly about y â— necke he began thus to prattle Séeing mother we haue left the places of our accustomed resideÌ„ce to auoid y â— troups of such sutors as onely end their loues with their liues haue stâ—ln to this secret fouÌ„t here a while to be solitarie to weare away the time with some conceited chat I pray you tell me whereof are womens hearts made I aske the question mother for that I finde the distinction of their faâ—cies like the difference of their faces which as they be distinguisht in proportion so they be altogether vnlike in properties Venus hearing hir son make such a waggish demaunde beganne thus to reply Some say my boy of the liuer of a Camelion whose nature is to bee changeable in hues and women as variable in their thoughts Others of a Pyrit stone which handled softly is as colde as ice but pressed betwéene the fingers burneth like fire they which inser this comparison say that women brooke not fauourable perswasions nor may be woone by intreaties but the readie way to kindle them to Desire is to crosse them with Disdaine Some say their hearts are of Marble which being hard yet drops tears against euery storme Some of waxe that is soft admiting euery impression those women haue their loues in their lookes which taken in with a gase is thrust out with a winke Some of Adamant they be hard hearted and yet men say the Lapidaries haue tooles to pierce them Others of golde and they be like Danae that will admit no louer but such as Iupiter To be briefe my boy so many fancies so many fictions euery one censuring of womens hearts as his owne experience hath found hir froward or fauorable Cupid hearing his mother discourse thus cunningly demanded amongest all these whereof was Terentias heart of Rome formed At this Venus fetching a déepe sigh prosecuted hir former premisses thus Well wag for all you play the wanton hast thou insight so far into thine enemies thoughts that thou hast coted in thy tables the resolution of Terentia whom men count more beautifull then my selfe and more chast then Diana Hir heart my boy is framed of the purest Diamond which as it is hard to enterteine loue so it is cleane fit for the receit of vertue I tell thée Cupid Terentia makes Desire hir drudge and Disdaine hir Champion Shée honors all the Gods but thée and admits all recreations but loue Shée armeth hir youth with Contempt of passions that shée may finish hir age with Content of patience The prime of hir yeares are graue that the fruits of hir time may be gracious and shée striues to be as full of honor in hir life as full of fauours in hir lookes To conclude my boy shée is Terentia who séekes with labors to auoid loues indeuours to be called as vertuous as other Ladies amarous Thus Venus ended with a frowne and Cupid began with a smyle she scorning at hir honors he studying on reuenge after a little pause y â— choloricke boy burst foorth into these tearmes And shall Terentia offer perfumes to Vesta and Hemblocke to Venus shall shee mother strawe Dianaes Lawnes with Roses and your Pallaces with Nettles shall shee set Desire in ragges and Disdaine in silkes No Cupid hath his boults fethered with the winges of swallowes that flie swift and his arrowes headed with strong tempered stéele that pierce déepe like to Achilles launce that did wound heale my shaftes mother are of sundrie mettels the strongest of them all wil I aime at Terentia and if my fortune fayle me not I will change hir songes to sighes and hir chast prayers to amorous passions And with that leaping from his mothers lappe hee bent his bowe shott an arrowe and hit Terentia on the heart but it was of such proofe as the boult rebounded and brake into a thousand shiuers At this Cupid scorned séeing his deâ—tie counterchect with such constant chastitie Venus smyled séeing hir sonne in such a rage which so increased his chollor that he discharged all his arrowes at randon carelesse of his aime so he might any wayes reuenge Amongst the rest yong Lentulus a Romaine Caualier vnder whose conduct the consull sent manie legions to make warre against the Parthians was one of those infortunate men that Cupid had brused with his arrowes For hauing 〈◊〉 a set battell and bought the victorie with great lâ—sse fresh supplies were sent him from Rome Lentulus â—â—lcoming his newe come souldiers demaunded what 〈◊〉 afâ—er they had made report of the state of the comâ—â—â— wealth they then as a thing miraculous and supernaâ—urallâ—â—isâ—oursed to him the excellencie of Terentia setting out hir glories with such Emphaticall discriptions tâ—â—t Lentulus leaning his head on his hand became a williâ—â— auditâ—r to such pleasaâ—â—t philosophie Smiling thus in the ouersweete potions that Loue had tempered like Circes to bewitch the warie and warrelike Vlysses hee caused his Souldiers with often repetitions of 〈◊〉 beauâ—ie to grafte in the syenus of hys newe 〈◊〉 sanciâ—s In the day his heade was troubled with thoughts of Terentia in the night conceit presented the visioÌ„s of Terentia Where before he laid plots how to circumuent the Parthians now he deuised how to compasse his passions Loue wisht him to make light estéem of war but growing to be carelesse he gaue his enemies occasion of incouragemeÌ„t Being thus perplexed with vnacquainted fits he began thus souldier like to debate with himself Haue not the auncient Romaines whose statues and trophées hath filled the world with wonder of their Chiualry made the ende of their honours to consist in armes haue they not fetcht Fame from the heaueÌ„s with their swords and bounde hir to their fortunes with circumscriptions of bloud haue not their launces pierst obliuion to the heart and their martiall déeds registred their names in the Cronicles of memorie and yet Lentulus dost thou make light estéeme of
wonder at the serious conceit of natures cunning his lookes beganne to sparkle loue as did those of Adon when he pried vpon the face of his Paramour the change of his colour bewraied his newe entertained passions which noted by Terentia half angry at loues folly she discouered hir collor with such ablush as Lentulus letting fall his knyfe on his trencher saide aloude Non fortuna non Bellum meaning that neither the highest state of fortune nor the fatall intent of warre could conquere that hart y â— her beautie hath made subiect Terentia at this vnexpected exclamation abashed and the rest of the companie maruelled but Flaminius willing to moue some table talke demaunded of Lentulus what hee ment by this soudaine embleme Lentulus willing to make flight at the foule and yet not to haue a bel at his héele answered thus Whilst I lay in legar intrenching the Parthians more hardly with legions of men then with déepe raised contermures my souldiers discouered a castle which once woone displaced the strength of the countrie séeing the Romanes had made mee Uicegerente of their forces although the place séemed impregnable béeing as well defended by nature situate vpon a mount as by prowesse stored with men and munitioÌ„ yet prising honor more déere then bloud and countries profite beyonde the content of life I bent certaine legions against the castle and following the opinion of Quintus Fabius Maximus sought by delay to driue them to composition For it was said of him Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem Ergo postque magisque viri nunc gloria claret Séeking so to get conquest by famine which would haue béen preiudiciall with the sword at last séeing their forces greatly weakened I gaue assault and entred putting the souldiers to the sword yet willing to saue the Lorde of the castle for that his valour discouered his thoughtes searching him out I found him in his bed chamber his wife slaine and the blade yet varnished with bloud grasped in his fist staring me in the face with a gastly looke that stood amazed at the stratageme he spake thus Romain report in the Senate house that where you excell vs in pollicie we excéede you in resolution this Ladie which thou séest here weltring in hir goore is my wife and for she brokes not seconde fancies shee craued to ende hir loue with hir life I maried hir a virgine and honourable shee dies a wife and honest as famous in Parthia for hir vertues as your Romayne Dames for their braueâ—ies Wee liued without iarres for y â— the desire of the one was the content of the other constancie banished ielousie and true loue helde supition at the launces poynt Our fortunes Romayne thou hast pulde downe with thy prowesse warre hath made wracke of our safeties but for our loues this sword shall linke them together by death so that Non fortuna non bellum And with y â— the resolute souldier stabbed himselfe Astonied at this peremptorie massacre although all stained with the bloud of the Parthians yet I could not but grieue at the passion of the man and enter into consideration what that Loue should be that wrought in mens mindes such resolued effects So well liking of his determined death y â— I vowed in my thoughts if euer I obteined the fauour of some gracious Damosell to write in bloude with the Parthian Non fortuna non bellum The remembrance honorable Senatours of this tragedie made me to shew my selfe so passionate Lentulus hauing ended his discourse the Senatours generally praised the resolution of the Parthian and the Ladies the constancie of his wife all concluding that no impression could be so déepely inserted into the heart loue Terentia spying the flame by the smoake smyled to sée howe couertly Lentulus had cloaked his thoughts and how in vowing to be constant he discouered his conceit so that turning hir backe shée went into hir Closet and there blamed Venus that had wrapt so brâ—ue a Champion in hir subtleties not féeling either the personage or perfections of Lentulus to stirre the staied continencie of hir minde Well the Senators not willing to let this fall to the grounde talked still of the Parthian and amongst the rest of those honourable guests that were there feasted Archias the Poet a man of a pleasant disposition tooke the tale by the ende and beganne to prosecute it thus Graue Senatours I remember I haue heard Hortensus the great Orator say that in times past the Consuls for recreatioÌ„ would vse light honest pastimes especially myrth at meat as y e fittest minister for digestioÌ„ alleaging Scipio Gracchus who coueted to be as iocund at their banquets as they were serious in matters of estate Séeing then reuerend fathers Lentulus hath entred into the discourse of loue producing the Parthian who amongst his other singularities boasted that his fancie had neuer béene stained with Iealousie a plague that is greatly now a daies predominant in Rome might it please you to fauour vs with your gracious consent we woulde intreate Lentulus to discourse to vs his opinion of iealousie The Senatours graunted and Terentia being come to giue attendance on hir father smyled Lentulus casting his eie vpon his loue séeing a dimple in hir chéeke which was to him Cos amoris made Archias this present answere Had the Thebans appointed Zetus to haue discoursed of Musicke or they of Thessaly Menalcas to haue described the Court The principles of the one had béene as voide of art as the precepts of the other farre from honour The one being an enemie to Musicke the other a swaine and a shepheard So reuerend Senatours and honourable Ladies of Rome Archias how skilfull so euer in Poetrie yet hath faild in his pollicie to request him to discourse of iealousie that neuer as yet offred incence at the Altars of Loue. If it had béene to make description of a battaile to haue discoursed the order of the Phalaux or any point of Martiall discipline then could I as a souldier haue dilated such principles as warrelike Captaines register in the field with their sword But of loue whose amarous Deitie gréeth not with Drumme and Trumpet or of iealousie as the shadowe of fancie it fitteth me as little to discourse as the shoomaker of Apelles portrature But if euer Venus shall vouch me that fauour to grace me with a speciall looke from my Mistresse excellencie and that mine eie be allowed as Paris was to iudge of beauties Archias shal commande me as a friend in the meane time for Poets and Painters ought to haue their conceites fethered with Mercuries plumes I will desire Archias to supply my ignorance and to describe the effects of iealousie The Senators and the rest of the company hearing how cunningly Lentulus retorted the argument vppon Archias with a resolute consent they inioyned Archias to play the Orator who being pleasantly disposed began thus The wolues in Syria that
barke against the Moone suffer small rest and great hunger Arrowes shot against the starres pierce downeward and the Syrens that â—ought to intrappe Vlisses perisht themselues So gentlemen I sought to make experience of Lentulus eloquence and fortune hath allotted me to discouer mine owne ignorance but least I might be counted either too stoicall or to too full of selâ—e conceit for iealousie thus Archias discourse of Iealousie SUch as haue searched into the déepest Aphorismes of Anacreon or pried into the principles that Ouid sette downe in his volumes find Loue to be such a pure passion of the mind as like y â— Christal it admitteth no bruse without a cracke It groweth from the vnion of two minds coÌ„ceiued by y â— special liking of some excellent good consisting in exteriour beauty or interiour vertues or the combining of them both in one sole and singular perfection This choice of excellencie confirmed by election once imprinted in the hart is so pretious as the pearls of Cleopatra The fléece of Colchos the sands of Tagus are trash if brought into compare with this diuine and metaphysicall passion man hauing swilled in this nectar of loue is so chary that he not onely brooketh no corriual of his thoughtes but admitteth no partaker of his fauours and from this feare procéedeth that furie which men call ielousie béeing a secrete suspition that others shoulde enioy that excellencie that he hath chosen sole and singular to him self This noble Romaines is that fâ—end that Pluto sent to checke Cupid in his deitie this springing from hell bringeth worse torments to the minde then the stone of Sysiphus vulture of Titius or wheele of Ixion This is the cankar that fretteth the quiet of the thoughtes the moath that secretlie consumeth the life of man and the poyson specially opposed against the perfection of loue after the heart be once infected with ielousie the slepes are broken the dreames disquiet slumbers the thoughts cares sorrowes the life woe miserie that lyuing he dies dying prolonges out his life in passions worse then death None looketh on his loue but suspition sayes this is he that couetes to be corriuall of my fauours None â—nâ—ckes at his doore but starting vp he thinkes them messengers of fancie none talkes but they whisper of affection if shée frowne shée hates him and loues others if she smile it is because shée hath had successe in hir loues looke she frowardly on any man she dissembles if shee fauour him with a gratious eye then as a man straught with frensie hee eryeth out that neither fire in the strawe nor loue in the womens lookes can be concealed thus doth he liue restles and maketh loue that of it selfe is swéete to be in taste as bitter as gall This discouereth reuerent Senators that loue being of it selfe a most excellent passion is onely blemisht by this soule and disgraced staine of ielousie as hateful and hurtfull to the mind as the Cockatrice to the eye or hemlocke to the taste The purest Chrisolite hath his strakes the flowers in Sydon as they are pretious in the sight so they are pestilent in fauour Loue as it is diuine with loialtie so it is hellish with ielousie wherfore by an auncient Poet were written these verses When Gods had framd the sweete of womens face and lockt mens lookes within their golden haire That Phoebus blusht to see their matchles grace and heauenly gods on earth did make repaire To quippe faire Venus ouerweening pride Loues happie thoughtes to ielousie were tied Then grewe a wrinckle on faire Venus browe The amber sweete of loue was turnd to gall Gloomie was heauen bright Phoebus did auowe He could be coy and would not loue at all Swering no greater mischiefe could be wrought Then loue vnited to a ielous thought Had not Iuno béen ielous ouer Iupiter Io had not béene turned into a Heifer if suspition had not prickt Menelaus Helena had not stolne away with Paris Procris had beene aliue had shée not suspected Cephalus Then worthie Romaines we sée what a preiudiciall monster groweth from the fearefull excesse of loue that not onely shortneth the life disquieteth the minde but oft is the cause of most strange and vnnatural massacres If fortune frowne in loue we flie to patience If their happen iarres why louers brawâ—es are introductions to delight If pouertie why they hope vpon time thinking that there is vicissitudo omnium rerum The lowest ebbe may haue his flow and the deadest néepe his full tyde if gréefes sorrowes repulseâ— vnkindenes these bee but Amantium irae And tâ—ereâ—ore Amoris redintegratio but as the pumice stone 〈◊〉 the paper from spots and the fire consumeth flaâ—e so â—â—is inâ—ernall plague of iealousiâ— rooteth raceth all true loue 〈◊〉 the heart that yéelding my censure I conclude with this Poeme Vita quae tandem magis est iucunda Vel viris doctis magis expetenda Mente quam pura sociam iugalem Semper amare Vita quae tandem magis est dolenda Vel magis cunctis fugienda quam quae Falso suspecta probitate amicae Tollit amorem Nulla eam tollit medicina pestem Murmur emplastrum vel imago sagae Astra nec curant magicae nec artes Zelotipiam Archias hauing thus ended his discourse the Senators greatly praised his description of iealousie and from that fell to other pleasant talke as occasion offred Till dinner being ended they arose and after many thankes and curtesies according to the custome of the Romanes Flaminius to honour Lentulus the more taking him by the hand carried him into a garden where Terentia sate accompanied with other Uirgins of Roome namely Flauia Cornelia and Iulia all of such exquisite features as they séemed to be the choyce Paragons of that time Lentulus amazed at this gorgious sight wondred not onely at their beauties but maruailed why Flaminius brought him so friendly into their presence At last the old man burst forth into these words Lord Lentulus I measure the thoughts of young gentlemen by the prime of my forepassed youth not being so cinicall as with Chremes in Terence to proportion young affections by the cynders of olde age but to thinke with Menedemus that the spring hath flowers and blossomes where as winter hath dried braunches and tawnie leaues We olde men ouer whom Saturnus is predominant hauing infused melancholy in our mindes couet either to sit solitarie or that our talke be serious you that are young whose thoughts aime at delight séeke to passe the time in pleasant discourses Least therefore the time might be tedious I haue brought you amongst these faire Ladies y â— you may make experience of loues as you haue done of warres Mars no sooner puts off his helmet but he salutes Venus and you come from conquest of the Parthians see how you can enter combate with passions and so Lord Lentulus I leaue you Lentulus seeing himself thus enuironed with these miracles of beautie casting his eye vpon the Goddesse
Lentulus will count hir disdaine but chastitie yet Flauia pray then she may liue in this mislike then hast thou yet some cause to hope otherwise wéepe thy fill dispaire and then die for swéeter is death then to liue and sée Lentulus enioy the loue of Terentia Hauing at this period breathed awhile readie to goe forwarde in passions one of hir waiting women came in who breaking of hir complaintes past away the rest of the day in prattle Leauing hir therfore and hir maide at chat again to Lentulus who tooke such inwarde griefe at this newe conceited loue that his colour began to waxe pale and to discouer passions his sighes many and often to bewray his sorrows his sodayne startes in his sléepes and his musinges surcharged with melancholie These noted by Tullie his priuate friende made him coniecture that somewhat was amisse with Lentulus Hauing therefore fit opportunitie he began to sift him in this manner The auncient Gréetians swéete Lentulus y â— set downe principles of friendship account the secrete conuersiâ—g of friendes and their mutuall participating eyther of priuate sorrows or concealed pleasures the principall end of such professed amitie Therefore did Theseus choose Pirithous Orestes Pylades to that end or else you wronge me serues Tullie to his Lentulus If then it be requisite in friendshippe to abandon suspitious secrecie I cannot but take it vnkindly that Tullie is not made partaker of Lentulus passions For as the Carbuncle is not hid in the darke nor the fire shut vp in strawe so sorrowes cannot so couertly be concealed but the countenance will purtray out the cause by the effectes Thinke me not then so blind but I can Iudge of coullors nor so simple but I can deeme of affections what meane these farre fetcht sighes broken slumbers this newe delight to be solitarie but that Lentulus féeling a passion that pierceth to the quick yet séekes to kéepe it secrete from his friend Tullie Knowe this my good Lentulus that smoake depressed stiffleth more deadly That the Ouen the closer it is damd vp the greater is the heate and passions the more priuate the more preiudiciall Stop not then the streame least it ouerflow Conceale not sorrowes least they ouercharge and prooue like woundes that kepte long from the Chirurgian growe to be incurable vlcers If it be a Fathers frowne an enemies wrong a friendes mishap reueale it and séeke remedie If Lentulus gréeues hath left his honours in Parthia feare not Rome will haue more warres and Lentulus new dignities If the Senatoures haue delt ingratefully Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris The most famous Romaines haue forerunne thée in such hard fortunes Scipio subdued Affrica what his rewarde was let our annualles report If Lentulus misliks ought in Rome let him abandon Rome and Tullio will banishe himselfe from his countrie too with his friend Lentulus If since thy comming into this storehouse of natures prodigalitie thiue eye hath made suruaie of anie gorgious Damsell and so my Lentulus be in loue although wisedome wills to hide amors euen from amitie and to tie fancie in the lowest cell of his heart yet reueale it to thy friende Tullie and if any way hee may ease his Lentulus passions hee vowes to salue thy sore though with the hazarde of his owne safetie Lentulus hearing his friende leuell so néere the marke gaue a great grone at the name of loue and fetching a déepe sighe saide Actna grauius Amor. And with that starting from the place where hee sat taking Tullie by the hande he began thus Were it my Tullie that my passions had any hope of remedie or that my wounde were such as might bee cured by counsell long ere this had Lentulus powred his plaintes into the bosome of his friende Cicero but my sorrows as they are piercing so I haue kept them priuate as hoping for no ease and yet delighting in my martiredome The birde flieth the snare of the fouler No sooner doth the woodman bend his bowe but the Déere trippes through the lawnes euerie creature is taught by nature to feare his fall and yet wretched Lentulus hunteth after his owne mishappe So haue I described the furie of my passions as I can not but say it is loue that is thus impatient Loue my Tullie that is such a lord as insâ—nuating his power with fauour he kéeps possession by force Wars haue their endes either honors or death and in battaile prowesse oft makes constraint of fortune but in loue delay is the vnhappie deathsman that holding thée vp neither saues nor killes Since my comming to Rome my Tullie coueting to conuerse with beautifull Ladies as before I had done with martiall souldiers amongst manie curious Pearles I founde one Orient Margarite richer then those which Caesar brought from the western shores of Europe so long I gased at the beautie of this pretious Iem that I founde my selfe gald with such affection as well repeat I might but recall I coulde not and for thou shalt say she is loue worthie heare how in discribing hir excellencie I haue plaide the Poet. Lentulus description of Terentia in Latin Qualis in aurora splende scit lumine Titan Talis in eximio corpore forma fuit Lumina seu spectes radiantia siue capillos Lux Ariadne tua lux tua Phoebe iacet Venustata fuit verbis spirabat odorem Musica vox nardus spiritus almus erat Rubea labra genae rubrae faciesque decora In qua concertant lilius atque rosa. Luxuriant geminae formoso in pectore mammae Circundant niueae candida colla comae Denique talis erat diuina Terentia quales Quondam certantes Iuno Minerua Venus Thus in English BRightsume Apollo in his richest pompe was not like to the tramels of hir haire Hir eyes like Ariadnes sparkling starres shone from the Ebon Arches of hir browes Hir face was like the blushing of the east when Titan chardge the mornings Sun to rise Hir cheekes rich strewd with roses and with whyte did stayne the glorie of Anchises loue Hir siluer teates did ebbe and flowe delight Hir necke colummes of polisht Iuorie Hir breath was perfumes made of violets And all this heauen was but Terentia NO sooner had Lentulus ended his well written Poem and concluded his cunning with the name of his mistresse but Tullie hearing Terentia was the saint at whose shrine Lentulus offred vp his deuotion entring his exordium with a smyle he began to be thus pleasaut And is there no fruit will serue your taste but such as growe in the Gardens Hesperides nor no colour content your eye but such as is stayned by the fish Murex Must your senses be fed with nothing but that is excellent nor your loue haue no meane but to aime at the fairest What Terentia the beautie of Rome the pride of nature the wealth of all the fauouring graces whose excellencies are spreade throught the triple deuision of the worlde I see my Lentulus souldiers haue eyes as they haue hands
and thoughtes as they haue weapons and that howe bluntlie so euer brought vp in the warres yet they are curious in the choises of their loues Well be it Lentulus loues Terentia an honour to set his fancie on hir but hee kept his loue secret froÌ„ Tullie a fault to be suspicious of his friend But why gréeues Lentulus Is not his parentage greater then the house of Flaminius Is not his honours sufficient to counteruaile hir beauties Why then is he so impatient in so agreable a passion Lentulus vpon this discoursed vnto Tullie from point to point the successe of his loues how he gaue his charge ouer to Lepidus onely that he might haue a sight of Terentia and then recounting what prattle had past betwixt him and hir after dinner Hir coy answeres and firmed resolution to remaine chast crauing counsell howe he might ease the disquiete of his thonghts Tullie pittying the extreeme passion of his friende deuised sundrie meanes howe to make him lorde of his desires But after the discourse of sundry plottes it was decreed that Lentulus shoulde write vnto Teren-Terentia Lentulus dispairing of his owne stile and methode required Tully to write him a letter passionate and full of familiar eloquence which at his request Cicero contriued after this manner where by the way gentlemen I am to craue you to thinke that Terentia kept the copy secrete so that neither it can bee founde amongst Lentulus loose papers nor in the familiar epistles of Cicero If the phrase differ from his other excellent forme of writing imagine he sought to couer his style and in his pen rather to play the blunt souldier then the curious Orator neither vsing those verborum fulmina that Papyrius obiects nor that swéete and musicall cadence of words which he vseth to Atticus but howsoeuer or whatsoeuer thus it was Lentulus Terentiae salutem QVod natura in venustatis formae tuae Idaea formauit suauissima Terentia nullo modo silentio praeterire possum Ne cum nimis cautus amoris ignem celare conarer incautus tanquam Aetna meipsum consumens in cineres redigar Cum inter Parthos versarer nihil nisi bellum arma cogitans a Roma vsque formae tuae pulchritudo morumque integritas à multis saepe nuntiata est Cuius rei faema ca iucunditate aures meas permulsit vt syrenum quasi cantu delectatus arma abijcere amorem cogitare coeperim meque totum in Terentiae potestatem tradere non erubescerem Diuinae autem excellentiae tuae cogitatio eos mihi pro tempore in bellicis negotijs addidit animos vt breui deuictis profligatis Parthis totam hanc Prouinciam Lepido commiserim quem vnum tum honoris tum fortunae meae participem feci Parthisque relictis Romam me contuli vt iucundissimo fructu tum aspectus tum consuetudinis tuae frui liceat Formae vero pulchritudinis tuae dignitas tanta tamque excellens fuit vt non modo famam sed expectationem meam longe superarit Vnde exquisitam tuam perfectionem oculis contemplans singulares animi dotes auribus accipiens excellentiae tuae Idaeam in imo pectore collocaui meque totum amori quasi constring endum tradidi Cum igitur tua vnius causa suauissima Terentia famam fortunasque arma proiecerim verum amantis officium fac praestes me non meritis sed amore fac metiare vt in amore tu mihi respondens ego in omni officio tibi satisfaciam Taceo genus parentes quos tamen bonos ciues senatores fuisse constat taceo triumphos qui quales fuerint Capitolium populusque Romanus locupletissimi sunt testes de diuitijs non glorior quas tâ—men mediocres esse constat sed virtutis vim amoris constantiaÌ„ tibi propono quae nec parui facienda nec ingratitudine compensanda sunt Me igitur fac redames mea Terentia pulchritudini comitatem coniungens parentibus honorem aâ—icis fidem Lentulo amorem tribuas vt parentibus gaudio amicis vtilitati Lentulo voluptati esse possis Non disertè vt Orator sed peramanter vt imperator tibi scribo quod si amorinostro consentire digneris de patris voluntate nihil est quod dubites sed si alieno amore non nostro delecteris dâ—lores meos augebo celabo quamcunque in partem te flexeris tibi tum vitam tranquillam tum mortem gloriosam vt fideliss amator exoptabo Vale plus oculis mihi dilecta Terentia me tui desiderio iam pene languentem aut ames cito aut oderis semper vale rescribe Lentulus to Terentia health I cannot swéete soueraigne of my thoughts and chiefe myrrour of our Romaine excellencie smother that with silence which nature hath figured in the portraiture of my lookes vnlesse kéeping the flame too secrete I shoulde like Aâ—tna consume to cinders When seated amongst the Parthians hauing nothing in my thoughtes but warres and stratagemes thy beauty was repeated as speciall newes from Roome amongst the Legions The melodie séemed so pleasing to mine eares as if the musicke of the Syrens had inchaunted my senses I ceased from warres to think of loue and from loue to doate on the conceit of Terentia The thoughtes of thy excellencie doubled such courage in my attempts that I conquered the Parthians yéelded vp my charge to Lepidus made him partaker of my honors and fortunes and came to Roome onely to sée Terentia whose sight was so beauteous and so farre beyond the report of fame that mine eies surueying exquisitely thy perfections and mine eares censuring of thy wit and vertues both in league conspired to present the Idea of thy selfe to the contemplation of my heart which gréedily intertaining such rare beauties hath euer since remained a poore distressed captiue Sith then Terentia thy Lentulus hath left his fortunes to followe fancy and hath forsaken the warres to winne thy loues holding thée more deare then country or honoâ—r shewe thy selfe a Romaine Lady that striuing in minde to be matchlesse thou mayest bee more prodigall in fauours then I worthy in deserts and yéelde mée such méede for my loue as Lentulus for his loyaltie doth merite I â—oast not of my parents they are Citizens of the Senate w t thy father I speak not of mine honors the Capitol can witnes what showtes past from the Romaines as victors what tears from the Parthians as vanquished both these passions growing from the fortunes of Lentulus My reuenewes are such as satisfie my desires But all these are externall fauours which though I rehearse yet I bragge not off But the constancy of my loue the loyalty of my thoughts These Terentia are gifts of the mind deseruing no light estéem much lesse to be requited with ingratitude Consider then swéete goddesse the sincerity of mine affections weigh howe Lentulus loues and so vse him in loue measure his fortunes by his fancies As thou art
that the report of his sickenes came to the eares of the thrée Ladies Terentia made light account as hauing hir heart hardned with the loue of Cicero but Flauia grewe passing passionate as being toucht at the quicke with the weake disposition of Lentulus wishing he might haue cure for his malady so it were not by the meanes of Terentia shée frequented the temples offred orizons made vowes and burnt incense to the gods that they would be fauourable to hir louer Lentulus coueting if possible it might be with the preiudice of hir selfe to haue profited him but in vaine Terentia was resolute and he was resolued as shée was dainty so to die in dispâ—ire Flauia if hir modesty might haue permitted would haue accompanied with other Ladies gone to his lodging but the rights of Vesta forbidding such familiar conuersing shée rather was restrained by force then withhelde by reason But seeing shée coulde by no meanes come to his sight yet to manifest the sincerity of hir loue shée sent him a letter to this effect Flauia to Lentulus health IF I could Lord Lentulus pourtray with outward actions the secrecy of my passions or force as many teares from mine â—ies as there flie sighes from my heart The anatomy of my thoughts would discouer a disquiet minde and the source of mine eies a fountaine of bitter laments But séeing that barrels the fuller they be the lesse sounde they yéeld And where the current is déepest there the water is most still and the minde surchargd with extreames hath least vtterance of grief I leaue you to suppose of my sorrowes which I cannot manifest But know Lord Lentulus that when the report of your sickenes came to the eares of your new intertained friends Terentia sighed as pitying with a common passion the ill of hir countryman but as one that might not relieue being intercepted with other loues Cornelia chid as holding your selfe in highest estéeme alleaging reasons to hir that admitted no reasons but hir owne loue which is without reason My selfe sorrowed as wishing desert shoulde haue his due where the honour of the man merites no lesse we perswaded in vaine and in séeking to bring Terentia to the bay we indeuoured to quench fire with swords Seeing then your thoughts leuell at a wrong marke and that no sutes can diuert hir from hir froward conceit in careles extreames vse patience wrestle with loue beeing wrongd by loue yéelde not to the arrest of Cupids mace but as he is young so holde him a boy Consider as Terentia is faire so shée is cruel and as shée is full of fauour so shée is too too vnkinde Fly not with Apollo after Daphnis Dyana hath more nymphes as chast and yet not so coy vse loue my Lentulus as children doe puppies which while they are pliant and gentle they cherish vp with crummes but when they waxe churlish they beate away with stroakes Thinke Roome is the mistresse of the worlde and hath many faire dames if not of such excellencie as Terentia yet are they more curteous and no lesse vertuous The curious Herbalists measure not the plants by their colours but by their properties the Lapidaries make estimate of their stones not by their outward hue but by the secrete vertues Use then the auncient custome of Esculapius let lillies wither on the stalke and weare violets in thy hand the one faire and vnsauorie the other blacke but of swéete verdure Let these counsailes Lentulus confute thée apply them not as outward plastures but as inward potions which if they profit none shall be more glad then Flauia who wisheth if shée might in this hard extreame to discouer the honour of hir thoughts and the resolution of a friende if ought rests in me that may pleasure Lentulus commaunde it of Flauia as one knowing Lentulus desires are wholy honorable Thus praying thou maiest haue ease in thy passions through end of thy loues I will offer sacrifice for thy health as shée that feares hir owne preiudice without thy recouery Thine Flauia of Roome No sooner had Flauia ended hir letter but shée sealed it and sent it away and with as much spéede as might be it was conueyed to Lentulus who reading the superscription and perceiuing it came from a woman supposing it was sent from Terentia started vp in his bed and rent open the sâ—ales when he had read the contents and saw it came from Flauia noting the extremity of hir loue by the plaine discouery of hir passions he said to himselfe Uniust loue that settles thy delight in crossing with contraries Some thou piercest with desire other with disdaine infusing sundry effectes in diuers affects I couet Terentia and shée is cruell Flauia fauours thée and thou art tyed to other loues What restes in these extreames but to curse fancy that maketh such a confused chaos of hir follyes Oppose then reason against affection and admitte not of loues conclusions vnlesse they be approoued principles Thy thoughts are deuoted to Terentia and shée onely vouchsafes thée the verdict of hir eares Thou art more honourable then shée of richer reuenewes then hir dowry can satisfie hauing as many desertes as shée hath beauties and yet coy dame as shée is shée twits thée with Vesta when God wotte Venus is the goddesse that heareth hir orisons If thou hast this insight into hir thoughts why wrongs thou thy selfe with such carelesse passions If shée be so â—amage let hir flâ—e and séeke for a 〈◊〉 that may prooue more gentle Let hir glory like Narcissus in hir beauties Loue can chastise if it be but with selfe loue Use no phisicke Lentulus but the consideration of hir frowardnesse Let the drugs of Apollo serue for others not for thée Thrust out fancy by force and setting Terentia at light esteeme make choice of Flauia Though 〈◊〉 be not so beautifull yet shée is second to hir in graces and farre beyoâ—d hir in curtesies Tie not thy selfe Lentulus so strickâ—ly to a woâ—ans face beauty is but times flower that as it is delicate so it sâ—â—e withereth Like the colours that Phidias drew in his pictures which shewing most glorious to the eye was yet blemisht with euery breath Venus was faire and wanton Helen the myracle of Greece but aske Troy of hir qualities Ah but Terentia is as chast as shée is bautifull So is Flauia to and farre more louing Hir byrth is of higher discent hir wealth more hir virtues no lesse but hir loue such as may challenge thy affection for debt Ah but Lentulus yet Terentia hir excellency is more then can be shaken off with so slight reasons and with that he shrunke downe into his bedde falling to his olde complaints yet did this letter of Flauia somewhat comfort him that he found it his best physicke But leauing him in his bed againe to Terentia who felt the disquiet of hir minde as restlesse For the Senatours daily repairing to hir fathers house had no other table talke but of the eloquence of Tully some
commending his witte other his study some his vertues but all his special gifts of nature that they put oyle into the flame and with these prayses so sette on fire Terentias fancy as nothing tumbled in hir thoughtes but the excellency of Cicero being so impatient as shée sought by all meanes possible to come to his sight and to féede hir eye with that wherwith shée had inchanted hir eares finding no ready way to attaine the ende of hir desires vntill loue that like Mercury is full of shifts and subtlety deuised this plot Tully being borne in a little village adioyning vnto Roome called Arpinatum vsed often to make his intercourse betwéene the towne and the citie for his pleasure Which Terentia hauing learned out thought this the fittest meanes to haue a sight of hir Cicero So that one day to take the aire accompanied with hir two friends Flauia and Cornelia hauing but a page to attend vpon them shée walked abroad into the fields Passing thus in merry chatte towards Arpinatum hauing some glances at the sicknes of Lentulus they had not walked aboue a mile before Flauia spied Tullie comming from Arpinatum to Roome Assoone as shée had discried him and for certainety knew that it was he yonder quoth shée comes that odde man of Roome that excellent Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero so highly renowmed through all our prouinces for his eloquence now shal we heare from Lentulus for they are the most familiar friends and priuate companions in Roome Terentia at 〈◊〉 as one wakened out of a dreame gaue a start and casting vp hir eye espied the Paramour of hir thoughtes which driue hir into such an extasie that surcharged with ouer much ioy shee felt an vnacquainted trembling in hir 〈◊〉 Being thus perplexed Tully drawing nye and séeing Terentia accompanied with his fâ—iende Flauia gaue 〈◊〉 to oportunity that shee had so highly fauoured his 〈◊〉 Lentulus as that he might now plead for his safety Tully thus incountring those three Romaine damosels aâ—ter a curteous Salue which made Terentia blush he began thus to board them The place swéete Romaines so aptly agréeing to the person this valley resembling Idas and Rome Troy I cannot but bash with Paris at the sight of thrée such godâ—â—â—ses whose deitie surpassed those which iudicially y â— shepharde suruaied with his eye Humbly therefore saluting you as Dianas darlings and beauties woonder séeing so small a trayne for such excellent personages although my affaires be serious and of importaunce yet please it you to vouche of my seruice I will attende on your walkes and conduct you safe to Rome Terentia féeding hir eyes on the swéete of Tullies face and swilling downe the nectar of his diuine eloquence stayning hir chéekes with such a die as did the fayre quéene of Cartharge courted by Aeneas she made him this aunswere Howe you make compare Cicero of this valley with the plaines of Troy as little skilled in Geographie or red in Homers Iliads I leaue without replie For y â— goddesseâ— that Paris incountred we are equall with them in nuÌ„â—er though far inferiour to them in beautie For your seruice we accept it and for your wages you shall haue gracions lookes and hartie thankes Séeing therefore wee are merilie minded supposing your selfe to be the shéepeharde which of vs shall be your Venus Not you madam quoth Tullie aboue all the rest And why so quoth Terentia because quoth Tullie the least â—lie hath his spleane the smallest ant her gall no haire so little but he hath his shadowe and no man so meane but he hath his enuie Why then quoth Terentia I will discarde you from the office of Paris as a man partiall But I pray thée Cicero wherein shoulde I offende thée hauing neuer séene thée before In this quoth hée that Lentulus hath séene you with that she blusht and Flauia and Cornelia fell into a great laughter that Tullie had so roughly crost hir ouer the thumbs Tullie prosecuting his purpose went forwarde thus For knowe madam that Lentulus the richest Trophee that fortune settes vp in the Theator of honour made shipwracke of his libertie for the report of your beautie leauing the wars and the great hope of his fortunes to haue a sight of Terentia who vnkinde not like Venus in curtesie though in fauours haue counterpoysde his fancie with misâ—ike and for the honie of his amorous thoughts haue powred him downe heapes of bitter and displeasing gall The crueltie of Cresida neuer amated so the hardy Troilus as the frowne of Terentia hath pierst Lentulus making so déepe a wound as no phisicke can cure onely your swéete selfe whose resolutions are so farre from the properties of your face as it séemes the gods wrongd nature in placing an adamant heart within a christall couerture The Ladies hearing Tully so sharpe bitte the lip and Terentia grieued angry shée coulde not be as one that was ouer the shooes in affection but thus shee cutte him off I cannot iudge Cicero by your sharpe and peremptory inuectiues vpon so small acquaintance but you professe your selfe a Cinicke If your philosophy be such I will brâ—â—k the blowes as wel as Alexander think nothing ill that is spoken from Diogenes Howsoeuer or whatsoeuer Cynicke or stoicke I argue thus against Lentulus that vowes made to Vesta are to be holden inuiolated and resolutions to liue a virgine are not to be broken with marriage Cornelia and Flauia hearing them thus farre in by the eares walked a little aside and left Tully to schoole Terentia who maintained hir arguments thus Suppose Tully it were not chast thoughts but newe loues that forced me to this refusal haue not trées their strings womeÌ„ their fancies and affections If his autum showers comming too late cause not his crops to proue what is that to me Loue consisteth in vnity the heart hath but one string the heauen one sunne and the Iris one property and women but one loue and that I tell thée Tully is placed on one that is as famous for his vertues as Lentulus for his wealth and dignities And what then can I giue or he rightly challenge Tully although hee conceiued in his thoughtes that Terentia yéelded great reason yet hée would not giue ouer the chase so but made this reply Ah but madame haue an insight into the depth of his affections howe he aimes not at your treasures hoping to be inriched by your great dowry For Lentulus is of the welthiest family in Roome but leuels at your vertues the syrens against whom he could not vse Vlisses pollicy If affections be but a little past if loue hath but drawne one line in your thoughts with his pensell wrastle with fansie blot out loues shadowes and helpe Lentulus who if you remaine so cruell shall be no more Lentulus If he dye for loue how shall the stréetes swarme with statues of his constancy If you be knowen the chiefe actor of the tragedy how will the people murmure of your cruelty Weigh
euery way by fortune had he not beene thwarted by one gréeuous dolefull misfortune For this Vatinius amongst manie children had his eldest sonne as first in byrth so brauest in proportion of such exquisite lyneaments touching the outwarde shape as nature séemed to haue béene curious in hir workmanshippe but otherwise hee was so foolish and of clownish capacitie that there was no hope of his future conceipt his name was after his father Vatinius But for because neither by the diligence of anie maister nor the flattery of his friendes correction or anie other industrie he coulde bee made capable of learning or ciuilitie vsing fashions and woordes from a harshe and grosse voyce reresembling rather a bruite beast then a reasonable creature he was in derision called of euery man Fabius the Foole. Vatinius gréeuing that the gods had offered him this wronge for that the presence of Fabius was the continuall source of his sorrowes hée commanded that hee shoulde goe to his Farme and there liue amongst his shepheards This was no little content to Fabius as one that delighted more in the nature of Clownes and bondslaues then in the courtly behauior of libertines gentlemen Fabius thus being in the countrie applying himselfe to all principles of husbandrie one day amongst the rest walked foorth with a great batte on his necke to ouer-sée his fathers pastures at last for y â— the Sunne was hie and shone hote he went into the groue then all ouerclad with leaues for it was far spring and féeling a place wherein at pleasure to rest himselfe hee stumbled by fortune on the fount where Terentia lay a sléepe who when Fabius espied being clad in a robe of Bisse so thinne as the whitenes of hir skinne did appeare hauing hir two companions by hir side he began as one amazed to beholde Leaning therefore on his great batte without vttring one worde he stood in great admiration what she should be as though he had neuer séene so braue a creature before Nowe entring into his rusticall and blunt vnderstanding where neuer before could be ingrauen any impression of honest ciuilitie a thought of fancie which made him confesse in his grosse and materiall spirits that this mayde was the â—airest thing y â— euer could be censured by sight In this humour he began to descant of hir seuerall beauties praysing hir hayre to be of gold hir forehead of Iuorie hir lips â—oral aboue all hir two breasts which then began to appeare like pretie tender buddes in such simple sort so distinguishing of hir fauours that from a grosse clowne hee became to be a Iudge of Beautie especially coueting to sée hir eyes which heauie sléepe had shut vp determining often to haue waked hir to haue contented himselfe with their sight But séeing hir more faire then any creature that before he had séene he thought hir to bee some Goddesse Hauing thus farre knowledge that things deuine should be reuerenced more then humaine and therefore durst not attempe to wake hir but although shée had a sounde and long sléepe tooke such pleasure in contemplating hir perfections that he would by no delay depart At last after a longe space Terentia awaked before any of the rest lifting vp hir drowsie eyes shee sawe before hir Fabius leaning vpon his staffe whereof béeing halfe amazed shée asked of him Fabius what séekest thou here in this groue Fabius who as well by his countenance as clemencie and for the nobilitie of his house as the riches of his father was generally knowne of all the Romains made no answere to Terentia but séeng hir eyes open he began to looke stedfastly vpon them féeling a pleasing content to issuâ— from those Lampes which sparkle as the verie flames of loue insomuch that Terentia séeing him gase so earnestly fearing the sturdie clowne might offer hir some violence wakened hir companions and starting vp said Fabius farwell To whome Fabius made aunswere I will goe with you And although Terentia refused as being surprised with great fear of his rustical disposition yet he would not forsake hir till he had brought hir to hir Fathers house where bluntly leauing the Ladie he went home to his Fathers saying hee woulde not returne aniâ— more into the countrie Although it gréeued his Father to haue his sorrowe coÌ„tinually before his eies yet wondring what y e occasioÌ„ of this strange motioÌ„ should mean he was content to let him remaine at home in the Citie Loues arrowes thus piercing into the heart of Fabius whereinto neuer before any ciuill thought could enter made such a Metamorphosis of his minde that not onely his Fathâ—r friends but all Roome began to woonder at his sodaine alteration for he required to be apparelled as the sonne of a Senator which his father with all diligence performed then frequenting the most courteous and honest young Gentlemen of the Citie especially such as were amorous he to the great astonishig of all not onely learned his letters but became verie studious grew to haue déepe insight into philosophie to be skilfull in musicke to ride a horse and to be expert in all gentle and manlike actiuitie to conclude in short space he was one of the brauest young men of Rome Here by the way courteous Ladies and braue gentlemen what shal I say of the transformatioÌ„ of Fabius onely in my opinioÌ„ this That y â— high vertues of the heauens infused into his noble brest were imprisoned by y â— enuious wrath of Fortune within some narrowe corner of his heart whose bandes went a sunder by loue as a Lord to mightie for fortune Cupid the raiser vp of sléepy thoughts dispersed those vertues into euery part of his mind obscured before with the eclipse of base thoughts Let vs then think of loue as of the most purest passion that is inserted into the heart of man Well leauing Fabius studious how to excell in all laudable vertues againe to Tullie who arriued in post haste to the lodging of Lentulus and founde him passing sicke yet somewhat comforted at the sight of Cicero as of him y â— he held most déere in the world Tullie séeing him so ill full of passioÌ„s durst not tel him y â— he had seene Terentia least hir froward answere should augment his miserie concealing therfore his chat y â— he had with y â— Ladies at last Lentulus shewed him the letter of Flauia whereupon they fell to discourse of hir beauties and vertues howe she was not much inferiour to Terentia in fauour but farre beyond hir in honours discoursing so long from point to point that after a vole of broken sighes tempered with some teares hée fell a sléepe Tullie glade that he tooke a nappe stole softly out of the Chamber and being by himselfe calling to minde the words of Terentia began to enter into this combate with himselfe So pliant are the aspectes of the foreappointing stars in some mens natiuitie as they force fortune mauger hir owne variable nature to
bee constant Amongst all that haue béene borne in the poore village of Arpinatum thou maist Tullie say that thy planets haue béene pleasing and thy desires fauorable who the son of a poore Fermour art in hope to make thy house equal with the most in Roome Measure but thy honour and Iudge of thy fortunes thy family base yet art thou companion with Senators and men of grauest account in the Citie Honour treades on thy héele and dignitie daunceth attendance at thy lookes but loue Cicero that deitie that diuine essence that sealeth vp content in al estates he stoopeth at thy frown presentes thée wreaths of myrtle that thou maist enter into Paphos without checke Terentia the wonder of Rome Natures Paragon the refined beautie of the heauens she that seemeth to glaunce on the Pretextati she that makes no account of the miracle of our time Lord Lentulus shée Cicero commaunded by loue yéelds hir selfe captiue to the sonne of a poore country villager in Arpinatum Then Tullie strew Venus temple with roses say there is no fount but Alcydalion no hill but Erecinus no bird but the doue no god but Cupid Loose not oportunity take hir by the foreheade let not slip occasion for shée glydes away like a shadow nor loue for she hangs at the héeles at time Nowe Terentia hath put the iron in the fire strike then while it is hot pay hir downe poundes of loue for drams of fancy for in matching w t the daughter of a senator think it presageth thou shalt be a Senator so shalt thou gaine at one time honour dignity wealth and beauty but with that loose thy faith Tully thy faith thou hast vowed to Lentulus who shuts vp his secretes in thy heart and resteth his thoughts on thy bosome Wilt thou preferre honour before thy friend or wealth before conscience Ah Tully if thou be the man y â— Roome woondreth at for thy eloquence be also the man that they shall canonize for thy vertues Beauty is but a bauins blaze wealth is but a fickle fauour of fortune dignity is haunted by enuy but friendship that is the pretious treasure that neither time nor fortune can violate Why but Terentia will neuer loue Lentulus then Tully hate thou euer Terentia I am a man and subiect vnto loue as well as Lentulus So art thou a man and being false to thy friend art vnworthy all loue Abandon Tully these vaine imaginations â—ount Terentia foule deformed vitious and what not as long as one sparke of loue lieth rakt vp in the cynders of thy thoughts and as long as Lentulus loues hir hate hir for thy self and â—oue hir for Lentulus Setting downe his rest at this period he went into the chamber to sée if Lentulus were awake but finding him still fast a sléepe he went towards the Capitoll where he met with Flaminius the father of Terentia who demaunded very heartily how Lentulus did Cicero with a déepe sigh said passing sick Wherof quoth Flaminius grows the disease I heard that Asclapo iudgeth his sickenes to be mortall Tully thinking to set all on the dice not respecting his owne loue but his faith to his friend began thus Graue Senator I néede not rehearse Lentulus byrth as beeing a citizen nor his reuenewes his possessions long knowne to euery man nor his honours ended in victories for the Parthians are sufficient euidence of his well discharged dignities and valour Lentulus graced in the prime of his youth with these fauours hearing of the beauty of a Romaine Lady left the warres and came to Roome where courting his mistresse not with wanton poemes but with tearmes of marriage hee fâ—und hir froward and his loue dasht in the prime The impression of hir beauty grauen with too déepe a caracter was too fast rooted in his heart to be thrust out with deniall yet Lentulus to content hir plaies like the phenix burnes in his owne parfumes rather wishing to die then to contrary hir resolution This is the cause that first brought Lentulus to his bedde and this ere long will bring him to his graue And who may it be quoth Flaminius of what family of what beauty of what degrée that can or dare deny Lorde Lentulus Is he not mighty and may commaund by force what he cannot obtaine by intreaty will not the souldiers at his becke rise in armes Feare not the Consuls themselues to wrong Lentulus Doth not all Roome hang their thoughts at his lookes Ah miserable father that harbours such a daughter and stubborne huswife that denies so braue a Romaine In friendship Tully tell me who it is Cicero willing to put a spurre to a frée horse and to loose his owne content to winne his friendes quiet told him flatly it was his daughter Terentia and for proofe he shewed him the letters that past betwixt Lentulus and hir Assoone as hir father had read the contents as a man half mad he fel into furious and frantick tearmes exclaiming against the headstrong humour of foolish Terentia After he had breathd out the heat of his choller he fell to be somewhat appeased and bad Tully home to supper promising all shoulde sort according vnto Lentulus minde With that departing from the Capitoll Tully and he went home to his house where the Cooke being somewhat slacke Flaminius hearing his daughter was all alone in the garden he wished Tully to try hir once againe and to perswade hir by all possible means to graunt to the request of Lentulus Upon this Tully went into the garden where finding Terentia sitting solitary in an arbour vp to the hard eares in a dumpe he wakened hir out of hir muse thus Vestas chiefe paragon and Venus newe interteined darling you madam Terentia I meane that sit in a muse are you offring orisons to Diana for your chastity or thanks to Cupid for your loues or what are you thinking on when you thinke on nothing Terentia turning hir head and séeing Tully all alone blusht more then Cynthia did when shée wantond it with hir faire faced shepheard yet welcomming hir loue with a smile shée tooke him by the hand and made him this answere Your subtile salutation concluding Vesta and Venus in one Dilemma commands me answere that I was dooing my deuotion to both offring prayers for my olde thoughts thanks for my newe loues scarce had I saide gramercy to the goddesse but you must come Cicero to make my thanks prodigious for my thinking when I thought of nothing it was of mens loues which are lighter then the flame and sooner faded then a flash of lightning But I pray you say what winde hath driuen you into this coast Marry madame the very sighes that fly from Lentulus breast grewe to so great a storme that I was blowne hither to séeke shelter for the tempest You haue nothing quoth Terentia but Lentulus in your mouth I pray you say how fares the gentleman Ill madame quoth Tully euery way for his dyet is badde in that his stomacke
from inioying the swéete content of honour and then make thée outcast of all the Romaine virgines More are my reasons to alleage then thy reasons able to contrary but omitting all and saying he is onely Lentulus Daughter what answere Terentia séeing hir father in such a choller and that hée was induced vnto it by Ciceros perswasioÌ„s in a furie began thus frantike I not denie but Fathers challenge loue by nature and obedience by duetie and both those sir I hope I haue euer performed if not I rest sorrowfull hartily craue pardon but in loue parentes haue no priuiledge For the liking of the Father is no contract of the daughter Venus conclusions growe not of parentes prâ—mises nor can affection bee like the fire stroken foorth a flint for loue is chosen by the eye and confirmed by the heart womens thoughtes are not the spoyles of Mars nor is the battell of fancie fought with the sworde but with the Senses loues arrowes are pointed by fate and fortune Weigh then Terentia who hath not hir loues in hir hande but in hir heart and thereinto none can make breach but such a one as the pleasing constellation of the stars haue appointed I not denie the excellencie of Lentulus as well in exterior shewe of honours wealth dignities and proportion as in interior vertues perfections of the minde and that he merittes a Ladie of farre more estéeme then Terentia but I knowe not what contrarie aspect either of the planets in our natiuities or of loues in our thoughtes or of fortune in our resolution â—o like hath crossed his desire and my fancie but of all the Romayne Gentlemen I cannot my Lorde fancie Lentulus Cressida confest Troylus was the better knight yet the Gréeke helde hir louely in his tent Sith then affection growes from desire and desire is tyed to destinie séeke not sir to wring water out of the pumex to couple the Mouse and the Elephant at one stall to vnite those loues that Venus in hir Sinod house hath expreslie countercheckt For to aunswere your obiection Terentia cannot force hir self to loue Lentulus Shée thus concluding with a few teares hir father departing from hir with a frown tolde Tullie that not reason was sufficient to induce his daughter to be affectionate and therefore that hee wished Lentulus to appease his passions and to salue such impossibilities with patience wherupon they after interchange of salutations and coÌ„mon courtesies parted with a friendlie farewell Tullie at his home comming reuealed vnto Lentulus the whole discourse howe Flaminius had searcht into the depth of Terentias thoughtes both with plawsible perswasions and inforced reasons and coulde finde no other conclusion but that shée could not loue Lentulus Although this newes pierced the verie center of his heart as mortallie as if hee had béene wounded with the sting of Aspis yet chéering himselfe a little he sat vp and in his owne minde hauing aboute or two with fancie he gaue hir so deepe a reuie that hee held affection at the swordes point But Tullie who betwéene friendship and loue felt a furious combate allured with the beauteous perfection of Terentia and forbidden that fauour by the entyre amitie hee had vowed vnto Lentulus entred into so déepe a melancholie that not able to master his passions he fell sicke and kept his bed Lentulus séeing hys Tullie thus distrest gréeued at his friends misfortune and chéered vp himselfe that hee might somewhat comfort his Cicero that newlie was crossed with a distempered sickenesse He sought by physicke to search out the nature of the disease but Asclapo could not déeme the cause by the effectes he sought by intreaties to wrest out the occasion of so sodayne a sorrow but in vayne Tullie was too secrete and silent to make anie shewe of his loues though he bought such secresie with death This gréeued Lentulus who féeling himselfe euery day to amend perceiued that Cicero daylie waxed worse and worse Lingring thus in inward passions Terentia that tooke it discourteously at Tullies hande that hee should force hir Father to inforce hir to loue Lentulus séeing shée had onely deuoted hirselfe as his howsoeuer fortune shoulde oppose hir selfe to ease hir mind of some choller that boiled in hir secret thoughts shée tooke penne and inke and wrote him a letter to this effect Terentia to Marcus Tullius Cicero health AS my thoughtes are secrete and my loues extréeme so is vnkindenesse bitter and the more vneasie borne Thou playest Tullie with me as doe the Leopards with there kéeper that euer wrong them most that giue them greatest store of fodder Are these Venus lawes to pay hunnie with Gall to make rods of nettles for Garlands of Roses to hate them most that loue most The ingratitude of Tullie hath drawen Terentia into this choller and if I write sharpely blame me not that am vsed so shrowdlie Before I euer sawe thy face I allowed thy fauour onelie hearing of thy vertues with myne eare I registred them vp déepely in my hearte Terentia hath béene courted of manie yet neuer made account of any sundry haue sought my loues but they haue returned with losse Lentulus the terrour of the Parthians the honour of the Romaines and thy friend hath long woode but what hath hee won onelie Tullie hath obtayned that which so many haue mist and yet he deales with Terentia as crabbedlie as shee vsed him courteously doe louers for fishes proffer scorpions or doe they like the serpent sting him which cheerisheth him vp in his bosome I séeke to fauour Tullie and hee importunate sues for fauour for Lentulus Art thou so déepe a philosopher as to déeme friendship aboue marriage or faith aboue fancie or thy Terentia lesse then thy Lentulus If it be so take héede that Terentia too much wronged scornes not both thée and Lentulus Womens thoughtes consistes oft in extréemes and they that loue most if abused hate most deadlie fear this and beware of my frowne as yet there is but one wrinckle in my brow but if it once proue full of angrie sorrowes it will bee too late to take holde of occasion behind Thou art forewarnd be forearmd and so farewell Thy Terentia if thou wrong not Terentia AFter shée had written this Letter shée causde it to bee conueied by Eutrapelus to Tullie who reading the contentes found not a salue to cure his maladie but that Terentia rubbed the scare a fresh by shaking him vp so sharpely yet coueting rather to die with an honourable minde to Lentulus then with a discredite to enioy beautifull Terentia he laide his heade on his pillowe and with manie sighes bewraide the depth of his sorrows Hauing laide his letter at his beds heade ouercharged with many cares poore Tullie fell a sléepe and so sodenlie that Lentulus by the helpe of Eutrapelus got to haue a sight of his letter Assoone as the Gentleman saw how déepely Terentia was affected to his friende and perceyued by the circumstances that he chose rather
hir fauors Well hast thou not then Terentia a noble gentleman of Rome Lord Lentulus to bee thy husbande a man whose youth is filled with honours and whose spring time â—â—orisheth dignities hath he not triumpht ouer the Parthians in conquest bouÌ„d fortune to his temples with wreathes of victorie Is not his parentage one of the greatest families in Rome Is he not for beautie like the fayre Gréekes Paramour For wisedome like wise Vlisses that Cyrces could not inchant For courage Hector Aud of such reuenewes as may maintaine thee with the most gorgeous dames of Italie But the chiefe of his graces is he not enamored of Terentia and sues for hir fauour This I confesse Sed deteriora sequor Loue ah that foolish passion which we tearme loue allowes nothing excellent but what it likes It shadowed begarie in Crates For Hipsycratea thought him rich in that he was vertuous deformitie in Vulcan for Venus would not beléeue hee had a poult foote Loue hath no lacke and lesse reason yet must I loue and whome ah Tullie swéete Tullie from whose mouth flows melodie more inchaunting then the Syrens on whose lips the muses make a newe Parnassus in whose thoughts rest Platos diuine spirites and in whose heade is contayned the subtilâ— witte of Aristotle Is not hee as glorious in Rome for his eloquence as thou for thy beauties Doth not the Senators wounder at his learning as at thy perfection Why should not then both our singularities be lincked in the vnion of Loue why shoulde not Terentia liue to Tullie and Tullie to Terentia Ah but he is base the first of his kyn that tasted of honour I but he is vertuous and famous for his eloquence graces that counteruaile the meanesse of his parentes I sée loue hath reasons béeing out of reason still to argue against reason therfore without further pro contra in mine owne passions I wil loue Tullie therfore thus to Lentulus With that taking vp hir penne she wrote him this aunswere Terentia to Lentulus health WHen I red Lorde Lentulus thy letters and spied thy loues I blusht at mine owne thoughtes and sorrowed at thy fortunes I serch not the cause of thy loue for it sufficeth to me thou doest loue if it lay in me either to graunt thy desire or satisfie thy passions Thy reasons are sufficient to moue were it not my vowe and my destines direct my minde to contrary thy affections Thy honours Lentulus knockes at the closet of my heart thy victories sue for their lordes libertie thy loyaltie enters pele mele with my thoughtes and giueth a sore assault to my setled resolutioÌ„ all these put in their pleas to purchase fauour for young Lentulus But Vesta hard harted Vesta that makes hir virgings pliant to hir owue properties commaunds that I shut mine ears against such alluring Syrens I count my selfe greatly honoured with the loue of so worthie a Romayne and euer will Terentia coâ—et to prooue as thankfull as he affectionate onely in loue pardon me for that either I neuer meane to loue or if I doe loue my thoughtes were fixed before Lentulus came from Parthia Wade not there where the ford hath no footing barke not with the Wolues of Syria against the Moone looke not to climâ— Olimpus way not at impossibilities but pacifie that with patience which thou canst not obtaine with beeing passionate If thou suest to my Father and he graunt to conclude a mariage yet shalt thou want a bride for I will first die before I violate my resolution Séeke not then by my preiudice to aime at thy owne content which be it euery way yet it shall neuer be in my loue not that I hate Lentulus but that my fortunes forbides me to loue Lentulus If thou thinkst these denials be but words of course and perswadest thy selfe that women will bee first coy and then courteous as the marble that drops of raine do pierce Thou shalt déepely deceiue thy selfe and highlie wrong me but I challenge thy promise that howsoeuer I frâ—strate thy expectation thou wilt burie thy conceipte in silence In which hope gréeuing that thy showers came in Autumne I wish quiet to thy thoughts and an ende to thy loues Thine euer but in loue Terentia TErentia hauing thus ended hir letter and newe begun hir loues the one directed to Lentulus the other deuoted to Tullie she went straight to hir two friends Cornelia and Flauia shewing them the contentes of the letter Cornelia saide she was too seuere and stoicall in sending such a peremptorie aunswere to so braue a gentleman Flauia ouercharged with ioy praysed the resolution of Terentia wishing that all maides were of hir minde misâ—iking that which shée most loued thinking by retreating Terentia from the chace to be mistresse of the game hir selfe Well this letter at last was sealed and deliuered to Eutrapelus who hying him fast to Tullies lodging founde Lentulus and him in secrete and serious discourse and all god wot was about Terentia Lentulus hauing receiued the letter entring with Tullie into his study read the contents No sooner had he viewed reuiewed ouer hir cruell determination but in a great extasâ—e of minde he cried out Dulcior est mors quam Amor. And with that flinging out of his study he fell into bitter and extreame sorrows Tully grieuing at his friendes harde fortune sought with plausible perswasions to appease his furious melancholy wishing him whatsoeuer Terentia wrote stil to thinke hir a woman that would one while thrust out fancy with a finger and straight interteine loue as a friend that either time or his constancy woulde make hir stoope to the lure of his desires Thus sought Tully to wrest him from his passions but in vaine for hir resolution confirmde with such effectuall and perswasiue determinations so quatted the conceit of his former hope that going passing melancholy to his bed he fell into an extreame feuer which aggrauated with the inward anguish of his minde grewe to be so dangerous that Asclapo the physitâ—on excellent at that time for his facultie iudged the disease â—o be mortall The Senatours hearing of Lentulus sickenesse sorrowed as fearing Roome by death shoulde bee depriued of such high ensuing hope his friends fâ—ocked to his lodging to visite him who noting the heate of the ague and the passions of his minde his sodaine starts his gash lookes and his abrupt answeres iudged the extremity of his sickenes had halfe brought him to a lunacy all séeking by counsaile to cure that which neither counsail nor medicine could mitigate Frustrate of their expectatioÌ„ they wished his weal and returned with grief Only Tully whose setled friendship no misfortune could remooue still day and night as a second Esculapius wayted vpon this perplexed patient But as the depth of his passion pierced into the center of his heart so the feuer increased that generally Roome began to sorrow so braue a warriour shoulde bee cut off in the very prime of his fortunes insomuch