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
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
discourse now with one and then with another turning to Emilio she favours him with a smile and says It displeaseth me to see that your Lady suffers you to appear so poor in favours Emilio answer'd That he wanted one but the following day he hop'd to make prize of one and shewing the manner how he intended to pursue his design he shews her the gun he had one his shoulder Then says Cleria you would have a dead Lady To whom Emilio replies That he followed his deer but to cast her down Cleria adds That since he had such thoughts there was no Lady but would be proud of his service I know very well replies Emilio That a Lady hath no greater pleasure then to fall before those who desire her and though she flees she desires to be taken and overcome I says Cleria but by other means For me replies Emilio at this time I know no other more proportionable means then this for to compass my ends At this answer Hippolito jestingly says Signor Emili I shall resign you my wife for your Lady assuring me that you will willingly quit me of the trouble Cleria turning to her husband with a disdainful smile says I thank you with so good a heart that perhaps you may repent it They fell upon other discourse till they all took their way towards the appointed place Emilio walk'd along with Cleria and led her by the hand introducing by this oportunity several discourses whereto Cleria alwayes concluded That she indeed was his Mistris Hippolito hath given me to you now it belongs to you to cast me down but beleeve me I will not dye alone and at last she said she resolv'd to live hereafter but only in and for him These discourses assur'd Emilio of Cleria's heart to his great displeasure forasmuch as her husbands friendship permitted him not so maliciously to offend him in his reputation He answered her with ceremony seeming not to understand the end she aim'd at The day past with infinite solace Emilio was onely troubled that he could not correspond with the Love of Cleria whose beauty forc'd all hearts to adore her After a few daies winter drawing neer Hippolito retreats to the Town to the great grief of Cleria who thereby was deprived of the opportunity so frequently and familiarly to commerce with her Dear Before her departure she importunately exacted from him promises with oathes whereby she oblig'd him every day to let her see him in that street where she liv'd that at least she might be consolated with the sight of him Emilio inviolably observes his promise and thence forward about the shutting up of the evening his ordinary walk was by Cleria's window who constantly expected him giving him multiplied signs of Love which being observ'd by many neither can it happen otherwise in what publick place soever rais'd the general opinion That although very secretly yet Emilio and Cleria were contented Lovers There liv'd in Lucca banish'd from his Country Millan one call'd Diego a Gentleman of Spanish blood who having observ'd the mutual looks which past betwixt Cleria and Emilio and concluding that they secretly enjoy'd the fruits of Love he resolv'd to tempt his fortune with the Lady And giving way to such thoughts flyes out in words saying that he even also would enjoy her since she felicitated Emilio with an amorous correspondence A Cavalier hears these words and answers him You have a very base esteem of Emilio I know that he is not of such a humor that he will either suffer a rival in love or abandon the Lady If he forsakes not his beloved answers Diego he must abandon his life This his arrogancy displeas'd the Gentleman so that he could not at least but discover it to his friend who burning with disdain was resolv'd to make tryal of his pride He prays his friend that he might do it alone and presently going towards Cleria's street He went not far but Diego comes thither Emilio orders it so that he meets him under the window where Cleria was and with a loud voice says Signor Diego this is the place where one of us must leave his life or his Lady and his hand accompanying his tongue he at the same time draws his sword Diego does the like who although he behaved himself gallantly yet he remains mortally wounded and his death had suddenly followed had not Cleria with her crying out oblig'd Emilio to retire Diego was carried home and knowing that himself had been the cause of his mischance was easily reconciled so that their peace was soon made The success was divulâ—'d in Lucca The love of Cleria was found guilty who by her husband who threatned to kill her was sent away to his Country house This opinion was noised about the Town struck Emilio to the heart since it covered her with shame who was the soul of his soul and that himself was accused as having broken his faith with his friend Hippolito He was afflicted so that he gave all up to dispair and thought on nothing but to finde out a way to undeceive the people and recover the Lady her honor and restore his own reputation Being thus agitated in a Sea of trouble he continued his accustomed walk through Cleria's street to shew that he had not yeilded to Diego Fortune had oblig'd Leonello a Neapolitan Gentleman to love Silvia by way of marriage who liv'd just over against Cleria's house He began to frequent that street which suggested to Emilio's minde that he might take this occasion to abolish the suspition of those who perswaded themselves that he for love of Cleria had fought with Diego He hereupon resolves to quarrel with Leonello and brings his intention to pass at such a time when Hippolito was looking out of the Window and stopping him there Emilio says to the other with a lofty voice That if he valued his own life he should voluntarily banish himseelf from that street nor any longer pretend to Silvia Leonello although a youth encouraged by the presence of his Lady who then lookt on him made ready to answer him with his sword and boldly defends himself against Emilio Yet he remains wounded the other being a perfect good sword man and at that time seconded with his own natural fury reduc'd Leonello to beg his life of him who as he was retiring wraps himself in his own cloak and falls Emilio gets him up and leads him to his house where by the intercession of friends they were soon pacified Hippolito who had seen all was confus'd and divulging the sequel about the City firmly concluding that both disputes had been for the love of Silvia neither was there any who now doubted otherwise forasmuch as in both the written agreements which were already published in Lucca Emilio had alwaies declared how he drew his sword out of his jealousie for Silvia Hippolito had no sooner thought himself an Acteon but he had shun'd the company of the Hunter and fled from Emilio
oblivion that even himself as he had judg'd this occasion as a dream so he should put it out of his remembrance He promised that he would never commit the like with his wife which she for her part also authenticates assuring him that she intended ever hereafter to live according to the laws of honor Afterwards he protests with threats that if for this occasion he should ever disgust Cleria with the least sign of remembring this escape he would reserve to himself a notable revenge The other promiseth what was requir'd of him with the greatest Oathes and Assurances that his Minde could think Obliging himself never more to trouble his thoughts with the remembrance thereof With the truest Acts of a sincere affection this Agreement was made of a peaceable Union Neither was the peace ever broken neither did they fail in their promises Hippolito was oblig'd by the natural baseness of his minde and the fear he conceiv'd from the Lovers threatnings Cleria being warned by this danger was perswaded to keep her replicated faith knowing that it is alwaies dangerous to violate it And Emilio returning to his own Country oppos'd absence to Love whose Laws otherwise perhaps would have forced him to despise all other obligations LIMISINDA NOVEL X. The ARGUMENT Gelindo to gain the love of Limifinda secretly kills her husband she suspecting it and desirous to revenge it invites Gelindo to lye with her and insteed of enjoyment sacrificeth him to her disdain WOMEN have not alwaies as som would perswade bin unfaithfull to their Husbands many examples are read of their imprudence and very many may be related which serve for Rules of Chastity one among others which comes in my minde to discourse certainly may be numbred amongst the most laudible worthy to be recommended to Posterity In that City which after the destruction of Troy was built by Antenore on the most famous River of Brent after that Limisinda and Eusebio had lov'd with a singular correspondence of affection They attain'd from the curteous favour of the Stars and from the concordant will of their parents the desired end of their Loves Being both bound together in the bonds of Matrimony their affectionate union was not diminish'd but so powerfully day by day increased that they were singularly admired by all good husbands and by all kinde wives but paralell'd by none although many at that time by their example oblig'd themselves to illustrate their marriage with an access of affection But Heaven is not alwaies Serene neither do Rivers alwaies run with pure water The beauty of Limisinda was of such a temper that it made even such as Senocrates know themselves to be men although without ornaments borrowed from Art although seldom seen although look'd upon with curiosity by those eyes which beheld them and desired by all hearts innocently murtherous they bound to themselves amongst others the good will of Gelindo a youth to be respected amongst the first of his Country both for the Nobility of his Blood and for the Gentility of his Manners He so fiercely lov'd the Lady that he gave himself over to pursue her with all manner of serviceable diligence After a long succession of time Limisinda was at last aware of the importunate sollicitation wherewith her new Lover pursued her nevertheless either she would not see or car'd not for him but so despis'd him that the miserable man by reason of her honest behaviour was often falling through despair into an excess of phrensy he tempts by the force of prayers and presents to possess himself of her servants that at least he might procure them to present her with his service or his letters but none of them knowing the Ladies disposition durst take the boldness to offer it being confident to incur onely shame and perhaps danger The poor young Gentleman knew not what to do he did his best to free himself from those chaines but all his endeavours were vain Many many months were past yet in vain he could not dispence with his love having not as yet receiv'd the least sign upon which he might ground the least hope at any time of being lov'd again Being agitated with all and the greatest furies which can overwhelm the minde of a desperate Lover The miserable man often thought even to bereave himself of his own life that withal he might free himself from his torments In these perturbations of minde he grew so weak that every man thought he was even at deaths door and that with his loves he would cease to live He had not although he had a long time been a lover of Limisinda discover'd to any the secret of his heart but seeing himself reduc'd to such a condition that he had no more hope of safety he resolv'd to desposit it in the bosom of a friend of his whom before others from his childhood he had singularly preferr'd To him he discover'd what had been so long time hid in his brest and in his words fell even to these expressions that his ill was derived from no other cause but from his love and that he could attribute his death to nothing but the cruelty of Limisinda thus being blinded with passion did he wrongfully cal the Ladies chastity cruelty not knowing that a man cannot dye unless at the fatality of the determin'd time he should beleeve that his death was caus'd by the beauty of a womans face His friend who cordially lov'd him and who would not have spared his own life to preserve Gelindo's having reproved him that he had not before discover'd this secret to him comforts him perswading him to expect the health of his body if he did but intend his cure and so finde a certain remedy for the sickness of his minde Our Lover having receiv'd some ease from his friends words and hoping that some time or other he would tell him some easie and secure way to gain the end of his desires he with patience receiv'd the application of remedies for his disease and after a few daies although his infirmity past slowly yet he found himself freed of his indisposition and scarce had he recover'd but a part of his strength when he had recourse to his friend that the hopes which from him he had conceived in his minde might not be defrauded desiring him to teach him the easiest way he could devise whereby he might enjoy his Limisinda His friend who knew the Ladies vertue to be such that it admitted of no paralel and discovering in Gelindo an excess which might rather be call'd a foolish fury than an amorous affection with a free discourse seeks to reclaim him shewing him that in following the vanity of his Cappricio's or rather in persecuting the praise worthy constancy of Limisinda he behaved himself like a mad man who would plough the Sea and catch the Winde in a Net and finally after a long discourse concludes That if he would not retire from his undertaking some ill accident would certainly befal him That
the Lady would either resolve to put him from his importunity either accusing of him to her husband or making it known to her kindred who assuredly would not let pass unpunish'd so foolish a temerity which endeavoured to stain with notes of infamy the honest reputation of another mans Family Love admits of no advise he acknowledgeth the truth of reason in his friends words but it being not possest by him the words were but cast into the air with this answer onely leaves he him You shall soon see saith he whether I or who else it is that shall be lost His friend was astonished and afflicted that he could nothing move him from avoiding those dangers which threatned him if he should obstinately pursue his intentions Many daies were not past when Eusebio going to a Villa of his was shot in the flank with a brace of bullets he knew not from whence and having enmity with no man he could not imagine from whom it should come This hurt made him fall to the ground from his horse so that he could not help himself til some Country men passing by who knew him put him on their Cart which was loaded with Corn going for the City and brought him home to his wife who for the disaster which had befaln him was unmeasurably afflicted The Physitians and Chirurgians were sent for who knowing the wound to be mortal gave him over yet they did not forbear to apply the best remedies they knew which were but all in vain the miserable man at the end of the seventh day was forc'd to leave his life and his wife I should say his wife first since by him she was preferr'd before it What sighs and complaints she made how she toar with her white hands her golden locks and beat her candent brest cannot be exprest the excess of them was so great that men would hardly find faith to beleeve the truth of them The last day of the month was scarce at an end the fair having perform'd the obsequies of her deceased Husband when Gelindo was observ'd more then he was wont frequently to go about the Ladies house and with words and gestures to discover himself more enflam'd then ever with her unparalell'd beauty He often tempts by means of a neighbour of hers that she might procure her for him to wife causing her in his name to make as generous offers as could be made from a heart which loves immoderately But all vainly succeeds for she was resolv'd never to consent to any the rather for that although she was not assured yet she very much doubted that her husbands death had been effected by none but by Gelindo so that she did not onely deny to exchange love but she return'd him one of the fiercest hatreds that ever woman bore a man Women as well in hatred as in love have no bridle but have both in excess The most beautiful Widow nourishing the fire of this disdain within her heart against Gelindo who ador'd her often meditates to revenge her wrong'd and murther'd husband and because she could finde out no way more secure then one which was to execute it with her own hands she deliberates with her self to dispatch it after this manner It was about the end of the year of her mourning widowhood when on a day she cals one of the most faithful amongst her maids and having shut themselves up together in a secret Chamber she speaks to her after this manner Fosca for so was her name My long experience of thy fidelity towards my person assures me that I may confide in thee even one of the highest resolutions which I ever made in the whole course of my life but before I discover it think well upon it whether you can be sure to keep it secret for if you finde that you have not resolution enough to silence it tell me that I may not speak it and I shall take another expedient for to accomplish my thought It s needless to relate what Fosca answer'd it s enough that her words were such that Limisinda pursued her already began discourse I have alwaies heard say that its impossible for a young woman that 's handsom and that hath tasted the delights of her husbands embraces to live long after his death without the company of a man I have prov'd the truth thereof from the affections of my minde I have endeavoured a long time since the death of my dear Eusebio who is now amongst the Stars to violence my self and to repress the heat of youth which a fresh fomented my desires of those amorous pleasures but because I perceive it impossible any longer to overcome the force thereof I have taken a resolution that I will not live altogether the rest of my life unaccompanied of a man It s true I would not subject my self to that Noose which is not to be unloosed betwixt man and woman unless by the death of the one or other of them Other thoughts other desires possess my mind The Maid remain'd a while suspended at these words of her Mistris who observing it continued Wonder not my Fosca at what I am to tell thee and if you see me chang'd in my opinion which in the esteem of all was of an unparalell'd honesty I must hereafter live otherwise Resolve therefore on what I shall impose upon thee for I am confident you will one day praise me when you shall entirely know the end of these thoughts which revolve in my minde Servitude fidelity and the importunity of a Lover with the time overcomes the most obstinate rigour of a womans brest I am not the first who have been subdued If thou hadst ever found thy self in the like case thou wouldst compassionate help me so that what thou art to execute may be effected with all possible secrecy that it at no time may be known by any but by us two and Gelindo whom at the shutting in of the Evening thou art to expect at a window of the lower room and when he according to his custome passeth by cast him out this paper wrapt up in this sarsenet and then presently retire thy self that he reading it may think upon what he is to do The wench takes the letter from her Mistris and full of astonishment by reason of the novelty of the accident wonders at so unexpected a resolution Yet she promiseth diligently to perform what was commanded her and so departs to go about her other house affairs till the hour come wherein she was to execute it The Evening being come Gelindo passeth the street and whilst he cast his eyes towards the uppermost windows of Limisinda's house where sometimes he had had the fortune to see her there comes to him thrown by the Maid who stood hid behinde the glass of a Balcony in the lowermost part of the house this letter involv'd and having observ'd him to take it she presently returns to her Mistris to acquaint her with the success
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
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
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
they paid withusury by the loss of their liberty In fine this Sun blinded hearts no less then eyes and he was rather esteem'd stupid then prudent who could escape so sweet a Tyranny and he was call'd sacrilegious who sacrificed not his heart to the Idol of her Beauty This treasury of Natures richness was possest by way of matrimony by the Count of Castel-Novo a Cavalier indued with all the favours which Fortune could dispence or Vertue merit But he was thought not much belov'd by the Countess because he commonly was abroad in Princes Courts or in the wars excercising himself in arms more then in love Which was easily beleev'd by the desires of many who thought to subdue that Fort which was onely guarded with beauty which was easily to be corrupted with presents or overcome by the violence of services and entreaties but they soon found themselves deceiv'd finding such opposition from the vertue and shamefac'dness of the Lady that some were forc'd quite to abandon the undertaking others to raise the siege and others to expect occasion which is the daughter of time onely the Marquess Oliverio the first amongst the proudest both for Wealth and Nobility abated nothing of his resolutions But followed the assault with so much the greater ardor by how much the more desperate he thought the Victory He had overcome denials repulses and disdains which insteed to exstinguish made the fire of his heart still the greater And although he hop'd for no further advance in conquering the pudicity of that Lady yet did he omit no means possible which might make him deserve the title of a true Lover since he could not prevail to be lov'd again and so much the more for that with gifts he had possest himself of the good will of all those who serv'd her so that the poor Ladies ears were continually befieg'd with this Cavaliers praises the whole Family being never weary of celebrating his valor sometimes his birth his bounty his wealth his person and his magnaminity And although these commendations being often repeated mov'd her to admire such rare qualities yet this oblig'd her to no other love but that which vertue begets in a noble breast But what Oliverio could not achieve with all his love treacheries he still did beleeve that in process of time a moment of Fortune would gain The Countess had a young brother and rich which is sufficient to speak him insolent There was no scandalous business in the City wherein he shar'd not or was not principal night which brings rest and quiet even to the insatiable fury of wild beasts disquieted him then he usually went about the City offending equally all he met but ill actions brings at last to a just punishment when one night he would by force have enter'd the house of a Lady of honor and already began to use violence on the doors and windows whereupon being taken prisoner by four Companions he had neither time nor boldness enough to resist the threats wherewith he had also injur'd the Lady having also rais'd the neighbourhood against him His imprisonment was no sooner known but bills were so multiplied against him that his life was even call'd in question The Countess who lov'd him as being her brother and could not endure to see him suffer a publick punishment having no mony in a readiness quickly procured from certain Merchants 1000. pistols giving them the best part of her jewels in pawn with this money she so deals with the Lord Governor whose eyes being blinded with the splendor of the Gold look'd justice like The young man with his Companions escapes by the conivence of the Commander who fearing least his avarice should be discover'd would have the guilty fly far away to estrange those testimonies which might convince the Judge of guilt The Countess enjoy'd not much by her brothers deliverance having receiv'd a letter from her husband which reduc'd her to dispair the Count commanding her that without delay she should with all her costliest apparel come to Millan to wait on the Imperatrix who was hourly expected to pass there The poor Lady being agitated with many thoughts knew not what resolution to take which might neither be dishonourable nor dangerous To go to Millan without her Jewels which are so requisite in such occasions it would very much have prejudic'd the reputation of her greatness To discover the freeing of her brother she could not without incurring her husbands anger there being betwixt them particular digusts After many things which floated about in her minde she forceth her heart to the law of necessity and taking her pen she writes these Carracters Marquess OLIVERIO SHould I say I did not love you truly I should lye since the confidence I have in you acknowledgeth it self the ligitimate daughter of Love I love you Marquess Oliverio and so that with the blushes of my reputation I have recourse to your favour I want a thousand Pistols to release my Jewels being oblig'd to go for Millan to wait on the Emperatrice if you can furnish me till my return my heart shall oblige it self to you by a perpetual correspondence But Cavaliers like you move but with gentlenesse and then what can be promised from that heart which till now was aw'd with the opinion of the World and a Nuptial Faith Besides I assure my self that the greatnesse of you spirit will not disdain to give me leave to be Your most devouted servant AMASIA The letter being seal'd she caus'd a Staffeer to carry it to the Marquess faigning as if it had been sent from her Husband unwilling by obliging any to silence to venture her self on the fidelity of her servants Oliverio had scarce look'd over the paper but he thought himself deluded by a dream He could scarce beleeve himself so much the greater a felicity as it was less hop'd for His consolation was so great that confining with grief it fetch'd tears from his eyes His first disturbance being past in which a Man within himself is out of himself he answers after this manner Madam I Would have the possession of a thousand souls aswel as I have of a thousand peeces that I might satisfie them all to pleasure you I ought truly to thank you for the honour you do me desiring with so much sweetness what is yours but the confusion of my heart is so great that I cannot express its joy nor its obligations but by silence Yet I rejoyce with my self that you are pleas'd to ciment my faith with gold and so much the more for that desiring the riches of the Earth I hope the treasures of the Minde will be doubly grateful I would that you should argument from these double Pistols that my love is not double and my onely glory is to be acknowledged Your most humble and more oblig'd Servant OLIVERIO Without delay he caused the Letter with the Mony to be delivered into the hands of the Countess who having recovered her Jewels
with a deceit in some manner to correspond with my obligations and your love The love practises of the other night were with my Chamber-maid Aleria I being forbid both by the advantage of my birth and my husbands honor She is here present to give testimony of this truth Oliverio expected not that she should proceed in her discourse but full of malice returned home machinating in his minde a thousand precipices against the reputation and life of the Countess At last reason having gain'd the field admiring the prudence of the Lady who without prejudice of her own honor had so prettily deceiv'd her lover he chang'd his sensuality into friendship and respect Hence may Ladies of honor learn to shield themselves from the dangers of necessity without hazarding their reputations And Cavaliers may learn not to tempt the chastity of a prudent Lady since they may gain onely cheats or reproches It being not blamable sometimes to use deceit to shun the Tyranny of necessity LEONORA NOVEL IV. The ARGUMENT Gernando and Anselmo love two Gentlewomen whom after several accidents they enjoy which their wives having discover'd occasion by their jealousie an unhapy Tragedy NAPLES is a City delightful in all seasons the flattring accents of the inhabiting Sirens turns with the reeling lubricity of Fortune if the truth prevail their mindes are to be preferr'd to all others like those of Paradice Many years since in that place as in a Theater amongst others the chance of two most noble Cavaliers was presented who qualified with that air fruitful in titles were call'd most excellent Princes The one Gernando the other Anselmo the vicinity of their Palaces the likeness of their years the sympathy of their mindes had in a manner so united their wills that having inseparably ingrafted their hearts they possest nothing amongst them imcommunicable but their wives Gernando was married with the Princess Leonora who mixing in her most beautiful countenance sweetness withseverity majesty represented only a lively transmutation taken from the most exquisit excellencies of Venus Bellona Anselmo was wedded to Celinda a Lady who with her sweet behaviour and with her winning fashion was thought worthy to be preferr'd to the Graces to suckle and nourish most tender loves Both the one and the other liv'd a whole age deliciating themselves with the legitimate sweets of exquisit pleasures their world would have been beleev'd a Heaven had their happiness but constantly wheel'd about they often left the City to disport themselves amongst the delightful Groves of their pleasant Villa's where fully enjoying the prerogatives of a Golden age each did enjoy in their own amorous possessions the redoubled contentment of the others legitimate enjoyments jealousie did not sowre their sweet the least cloud of grief did not disturb the tranquillity of their contentment They usually went out to enjoy the fresh air of the cleer morning and what beyond measure was Leonora's sport which had a bizar capricio to shoot birds incredibly bragging at every shot she made of her prey whilst Celinda intended more tender pastimes gathering the Flowers of the field she weav'd Garlands to crown the triumphs of her conquering companion neither did they with less pleasure pass the remainder of the day for Rosalba Celinda's Gentlewoman did harmoniously sing whilst Doâ—illa Leonora's sweetly plaid on her Lute with their singing and playing making so ravishing a melody that from the loving brest of their hearers by the treachery of pleasure their souls had fled away could they but one moment have been releas'd from their adored beauties Amongst the rest one day Rosalba having let loose her voice to the singing of a wanton song she lighted on such affectionate notes upon the lasciviousness of some amorous accident that she awaken'd the soul of Gernando to admire her good grace and facility he began like those who dote accusing himself of sacriledge for that till then he had not contemplated in that most beautiful singer the excellency of the noblest Seraphin in Heaven whereupon his heart being incourag'd by the reverberation of murthering accents he the more lively imprinted that likeness which condemned him to the sufferance of such a grievous martyrdom where the wretch at once being bloodless and liveless his motion and speech being taken away he lifts up a languishing look with a dying sigh you would swear that he retain'd not the least spirit of life the Lass observ'd it and joggs Dorilla perceiving that her finging had wounded his minde and colouring her cheeks with rosy blushes with which she had bereft the miserable dying man of accusing the murtherous wound yet she thereby forbore not the more spitefully to pursue it so that with the tone of her voice lifting up the lamp of a smile she lightned so sweet a look that fascinating him with a wonderful Magick she took him quite away from living any longer to Leonora and brought him to live a fresh but a painful life in her own bosom from that time the unhapy man felt so unmesurable a fire to run about his heart which inwardly burning him sends up the ashes into his face to accuse the burning as inextinguishable Thus did this miserable man burn and silence it three whole moneths Being brought to Town he was visited by the Phisitians and afterwards forsaken whose opinion was that he was opprest with an unknown disease and that his ill was incurable Leonora aflicted her self at the sickness of her beloved consort and no less amongst themselves suffering the like did Anselmo and Celinda lament so that daily frequenting visits and Anselme with much familiarity did somtimes stay by the by to jest with Dorlla with cunning slights who being taken I know not how with him suffer'd not one to pass without giving him an answer yet she one day resented a peece of pungent treachery when Anselmo told her I perceive very well now Dorilla why you are so coy towards me why do you not love me why do I not love you said she for my part I could wish to see you languishing as Gernando is whereupon with a wink her cheeks blushing she added then should you not finde me so cruel as Rosalba is these last words seem'd to Anselmo as the words of an Oracle revealing the secret of Gernando's hidden infirmity whereupon without any more to do running quickly to his bed he findes him ravished in Rosalba's eyes who stood by Leonora and Celinda who were to no purpose on either side of him comforting him to take away that strange melancholy from his heart which for his unknown passion occasioned in them so manifest a grief and attentively observing him he clearly verified Dorilla's enigma whereupon having made the motion that all should go out of the Chamber he begins Is the love then of Anselmo so little known to thee that out of idle respects thou doubtest to discover it to me at last I have found it out thy heart is wounded the shaft comes from Resalba and it
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
by the birth of a girle who yet in her very swath-bands forc'd all who beheld her to a hight and singular opinion of a threatning beauty Aurelia would not so much as give ear to any so far was her heart from beleeving but that all those who could ever felicitate her were dead with her Edoardo She voluntarily buried her self in her house intending nothing but the instruction of her daughter but with so strict a discipline that she was already advanced to the thirteenth of her age and could not yet brag to have seen or to have been seen by any other men but those who were of the Family She never went abroad but twice or thrice in a year and then so covered and watch'd with such a care least even the air onely might ravish her Her chamber scarce gave admittance to the Sun so far was it from the eyes of mortal men And then the continual company of her mother permitted no other divertisement but som sometimes childish pastimes Fortune the ordinary helper of Lovers operated so that Aurelia and Ermelina for so was the daughter call'd were violently carried to the window by a great noise which by how much the more violent it was by so much it rendred them the more curious They saw the life of Alexio their neighbour assascinated by the swords of many whilst he defended himself with a courage far beyond his age The youth and beauty of Alexio mov'd a fudden pitty in the brest of Aurelia so that commanding her servants to let him in they free'd him from the hands of the others who having wounded him in one hand and grievously in the flank were even ready to murther him Alexio after some short complements was easily invited to rest himself in bed Hether was his mother brought to attend his recovery the Physitians denying him to stir from that house least motion and air might the more exasperate his wounds Ermelina altogether ignorant of love whose name was even unknown to her lost her self at the first sight of Alexio being altogether ignorant of love she fals in love neither could she contend against the first struglings of love so that now with a curious ear she attends the discourse of the Physitian and now she enquires of the servants and sometimes though very often reprov'd by her Mother she slips into the Chamber masking under pretty pretences the desire she had to see him The nights increas'd her disquiets sleep wanting strength to still her agitations that at last her minde is tiranniz'd by a confusion of thoughts and if at any time her eyes overcom with watching not with sleep yeelded they presently open'd to them other fantasms which tormented her even more slumbring then waking Ermelina entertains her self for some daies in this amorous phrensie till Alexio upon his recovery recovers his own house He had often observ'd in the Girles eyes some pretty testimony rather of love then of Pitty But being little practis'd he condemn'd all those thoughts as suspected which perswaded him he was belov'd But fed with the incitements of that beauty which would render all undertakings excusable and keeping house the better to confirm his recovery he continually recreated himself at a Window which answer'd Ermelina's Chamber There she readily discover'd how he mov'd by a thousand impatiences made no other vowes but to see her Finding a way to open a window opposite to her lovers which had been advisedly shut up by her Mothers jealousie she took occasion to see him at her pleasure but was forbid to speak with him either by her own modesty or the fear of her Mother He also by his treacherous love being rendred mute gave his eyes theliberty of all the functions of his tongue At last overcoming himself he in Paper exhales his Passions Thus expressing himself Lady LOVE who violently tyes my tongue with the same tyranny moves my hand and forceth me by these Characters to acknowledge the vassalage of my heart already contracted and sworn by my eyes These violences were very necessary to oblige me to this testimony which in respect to your singular merit cannot be but temerous Beauty which is the splendor of Divine light disdains to be ador'd and worship'd with ordinary terms of humanity I know it well yet can I practise no other way Let these expressions fairest Fair be grateful to you which issues from a soul which gloryes more in being subject to you then in its own being Refresh these hopes with your Answer which is onely able to save the life of Your most devoted and most oblig'd ALEXIO This letter was convoyed to Ermelina without difficulty for having expected the occasion as she was looking out of the Window he darted it gently to her brest The Girl no less curious then amorous took liberty and strait her eyes ran to the reading of it whilst her soul was ravish'd with these Characters she minds not her Mothers observing her who every moment examin'd and censur'd the actions and passages of her daughter The first effect of Aurelia's despight was to snatch the letter out of her hand adding so many injuries and threatnings that tears and sighs were the least witnesses of Ermelina's sufferings The loss of her Letter prognosticating the shipwrack of her love and hopes the greatest of her passion Aurelia leaving her in a deluge of tears withdraws her self into another Chamber to read the Letter and to discover how it had been conveyed Scarce did she know it to be Alexio's but her minde was agitated with a thousand thoughts Youth and Beauty made way for desire to gain possession Repentance assaulted her to have so many years neglected her life from the enjoyment thereof all other pleasures were too apparent besides those which a conjugal love produceth On the other side she misdoubted the free censure of the world in taking such a resolution after thirteen years stay She fear'd her daughters temerity and the tender youth of Alexio and consider'd that a second Marriage after having so long regretted the first was but to incur the bold censure of fame and a voluntary loosing of her liberty That part prevails in our affection over which sense is most predominant she resolves to lose all rather then the love of Alexio Taking her Pen in her daughters name she thus invites him ALEXIO WHo yeeld at the first encounter discovers the more weakness and cannot shun the censure of base and rather deserve hate then love But for all this who loves ought not at all to disemble Love is a fire the more it is supprest opperates with the greater force These therefore come to assure you that I heartily love you and had I not been moved by the doubt that I should have incurr'd your disdain your letter should not have prevented mine Now if you have a thought to legitimate our love by matrimony I shall this night expect you at our garden gate which you shall finde open Otherwise condemn your affection as
temerous and put far from you the hopes ever to possess ERMELINA This letter having been subtilly conveyed to the hands of Alexio insteed to rejoyce him rais'd a confusion of thoughts in his minde and bereft him of his rest were it either out of his little practise in love matters or that he saw the possession of the fair so easily granted him which he valued by so much the more as he supposed the access difficult he confessed himself penitent to have advanced so far Whilst without resolution he was thus solicited with a thousand doubts the Count of Bellombra came to visit and entertain himself with him a youth of a great birth but of a mean fortune at first encounter having discovered Alexio agitated with some passion he with some resentment and extraordinary commotion enquires the cause Alexio with a like facility both in being disturb'd and in discovering of it communicates all the motives to the Count which engaged him in those troubles of his minde desiring him as a friend by his advise to reduce him to the best resolution The Count perswading himself that it was a good occasion to better his own condition and coveting that for himself which was offered to another admonisheth Alexio not to venture on the invitation of a child rather deserving disdain then love since with so much facility she prostituted her self to the will of a lover that to introduce one at night whom she intends for a husband gave an evident sign that she had admitted others Besides he being not assured of the il which might happen he run the hazard to lose himself if following the lusts of his sense he should accept of the offer he added thereunto so many considerations which meeting with Alexio's little courage easily perswaded him to resolve absolutely to abandon the enterprise and so much the more for that with so much difficulty and displeasure her mother had denyed him leave to go from thence The Count a while after taking leave pretending some imployment and the night being come he goes to Aurelia's Garden door who received him with open arms beleeving it to be Alexio he being no less deceived supposing her to be Ermelina after some short complements with a low voice both fearing to be discover'd without light they retired themselves to a ground Chamber where on a narrow pillow they gave their senses liberty to enjoy the fruits of love At last Ermelina beleeving her mother drown'd not in pleasures but in sleep gets out of her loathed bed by reason of her struglings for sleep and goes to the window at the very same time when Alexio was come thither disturb'd with no less agitations Ermelina sometimes sigh'd both for the injuries she had receiv'd from her mother and for that she despair'd the end of her loves since they had had so unfortunate a beginning Alexio perswaded himself that these sighs proceeded cause he had not answered her defires not without violence to himself told her Madam I know not whether I should complain of Fortune or of my little merit which renders me unworthy to receive the favours of love Ermelina thinking he reprov'd her for not having sent him an answer replies Love is the greatest of all things and since for my satisfaction he is unlike himself I know not what to criminate but destiny which will that I should love without hopes He answers there is no love without hopes since from them alone he acknowledgeth the true substance of his being And what would you says she have me hope since all accidents conspire my mischief to render me desperat He replies to be fully answeredin love is it not then enough to quit you here in a full calm But who assures methat says she the promises of Lovers are the frisks of the wind I replies Alexio who dedicate my self unto you These said Ermelina are words which lose themselves in the air where they are fomr'd You shall see the effect says he did I not fear to be too temerous And what would you do said she I would get into your Chamber and there conclude our loves and save my heart from the shipwrack of hopes and fears Hereat Ermelina paused a while doubtful whether she should refuse or receive this offer and then she tells him to so great a proposition I have not courage enough at this time to answer He who by the vertue of love had cast off all fear and cloathing himself with boldness which was the more hightned perceiving himself passionately lov'd Answers her Who will be wary loves not love admits of no consults and in love matters all that is deferred is lost there was no way left either she must grant his demand or confess she lov'd him not Ermelina answered although my desire to be yours is far beyond my expression I can never consent that you should resolv to enter this casement to bring equally your reputation and my life in danger Alexio considering these words were rather injurious although they seem'd denials by the help of a stool climb'd to Ermelina's window and so enters the Chamber there after some faign'd disdains and repulses which the more incited him Ermelina was content he should reap those fruits which Lovers most defire In the mean time Aurelia had partly satisfied those itchings which proceed from no other reason but that of fense when fearing least her action might be discover'd leaving the Count to his rest she softly visits the house at last she arrived at the furthest parts which was her daughters Chamber at that time when with a struggling murmur of kisses the Lovers were preparing themselves to new amorous assaults It seem'd strange to her that her daughter being in so tender an age durst be so bold as to give her self up to the embraces of a lover But considering that errors of love deserv'd all indulgence and also knowing her self guilty of the same escapes she resolv'd in her self to dissemble the faults of others that she might not discover her own Yet for all this she would needs know who was her daughters choice whether with a fit election she in some sort civiliz'd her bold resolution Scarce did she perceive him to be Alexio when being deceiv'd beleeving him her Lover she sacrificed her self to fury rendring her self like those who are tormented with a legion of Spirits she tears her hair beats her self strikes her brest neglects no demonstration to discover her disdain and express her grief and at last with injuries and reproofs she thus declares her passion Perfidious man After having enjoy'd the mother must thou contaminate also the daughters innocency Why did Nature or Fortune render this wicked deceiver so lovely Are these the promises of the love you made me but now are these treacheries the testimonies of thy Faith O Heavens I shall beleeve your motions insensible and your influences hid if you do not thunderstrike this wicked sacrilegious fellow Ermelina at the hearing of her mothers
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
The discreet widow shew'd some tokens of joy in her countenance women can faign at pleasure and a fresh commands Fosca that she should go into one of the lower Rooms and prepare a convenient bed for that she was confident her Lover would that very night come to finde her alone and there she intended their amorous enjoyments All was executed Gelindo having open'd the letter reads it and findes these words GELINDO BECAVSE it often happens that those women who easily give themselves in prey to young Lovers finde themselves quickly deceiv'd and penitent I that I might not fall into the like error would from length of time have experience of your faith and affection whereof being assur'd I cannot deny you the reward ef the excesse of the love which I know you bear me If it please you therefore about midnight to come to my house where my Maid shall expect you to let you in to the place where you may be happy we will either contract marriage or otherwise as you shall think fit Since I desire nothing more then to be for ever Your Servant LIMISINDA He was astonish'd at the reading of this Letter and gave Love and Fortune thanks that they had shew'd themselvs so favourable towards him Retiring himself full of thoughts to the others dwelling expecting with impatience grievously sighing after that midnight which was to be the last of his life The hour came and he departs and alone goes to Limisinda's house behinde the door which was half open he findes Fosca who with a small light in a little Lantern stood there expecting him He enters and is presently led into the Chamber which he fancied should be the Theater of his Pleasures but prov'd afterwards that of his Tragedy O how ill doth a man oppose himself to what must happen Alas with what blinde steps Love guides us to precipices The Maid leaves him in the Chamber with some Candles lighted and goes up Stairs to give notice to her Mistris She having taken some Comfits and some costly Wines though sleepy sends back the Maid telling her Bid Gelindo from me refresh himself with these Junkets the better to prepare himself for those delights and then come back and I will presently come to him Fosca goes and returns The lovesick Gelindo forc'd himself although against his will to tast a part of them and having taken a cup of Wine he sends it down his brest sending to his heart the advertisement of his own death He had scarce drunk but he findes his eyes out of measure possest with a heavy sleep He sits himself down on a Chair and scarce was setled but he falls profoundly asleep When Limisinda imagin'd that the Poyson began to work she comes down Stairs and enters the Room where Gelindo was asleep The young Lady was in a confusion and almost repented that she had before taken such a resolution Nevertheless taking up her Heart with a Courage and although she had hid a Dagger in a Corner of the Chamber yet would she not take it but takes from the young man that which he wore by his side and striking it often through his throat he not stirring at all otherwise then streching out his last with his Legs and his Arms. Thus dyed this unhappy man and thus she sacrificed his Soul to the Soul of her dead Husband Having executed this she goes up and brings Fosca with her to terrifie her with the horror of this miserable Spectacle The Maid sayes twice or thrice with a loud voice and with actions as of a desperate person Alas O God! Alas And had follwed it with other words had not Limisinda cryed out and threatned to call out for the Neighbourhood reversing all the crime on her Poor Fosca was thus forc'd to be quiet to fly her own shame and the danger of punishment which the Justice might have inflicted And being help'd by her Mistris they silently carried the body to a place where they buried it that none ever knew any thing of the Fact till many years after it was known from Limisinda her self a while before the hour of her death Let the unwary Youth learn by this History to Regulate his Immoderate Affections Nor so much trust Women as to beleeve they may not at last be deceived IRLANDO and ARMANDO NOVEL XI The ARGUMENT Irlando and Armando love Rosalia and Rosalia and Emilia love Irlando and after many various deceits and turns of Fortune finding fidelity in their Lovers the Ladies fix a constant and sincere affection IN Padua a City the more noble by how much the more ancient the compendium of beauty was to be seen in the likeness of a most graceful Lady who might have boasted to have debauched the graces from Venus to get a glorious train for her self Whensoever she made shew of her self to the eies of others 't was necessary to beleeve that heaven keeping open Court did abundantly disperse its splendors Who with a chance look could steal away pledges of Love she had a perpetual light in her minde which rallied up in the thoughts of all the hight of the greatest beauties which possibly could be admired in a created object Glances need not be repeated in that face which lightning with Majesty oblig'd the errors of a timerous boldness to correct themselves with modesty Sitting sometimes at a window she sent abroad Love her son to hunt after hearts born from her eyes and bred in the cradle of her lips and raigning in the throne of her countenance There were bound with the chains of her looks the souls of a thousand Lovers With an extraordinary violence being so neer the sun every one was constrained either to have the tenderness of his heart melted or burnt with the bait of affections In fine the rayes of Divinity could finde no fitter sphere then that most beautiful face when it would make it self visible to mortal eyes It was once gaz'd on by two Cavaliers born in France but following their studies inhabitants of that City The conjunction of their minds had unanimously led them out of their Native Kingdom and indissolvably link'd them together with the tye of a singular friendship inviolably observing the laws thereof they never suffered their alwaies regulated affections to disturb their mutual contentment They were unanimous in their apparel and diet inseperable in conversation and indivisable in love so that they it seem'd agreeâ— together to lose their liberties the soul willingly following the looks fled away to imprison it self if we may call Heaven a prison in the bosom of so eminent a beauty They unanimously Courted the Idol who on the Altar of her Window receiv'd the victims of their hearts they sometimes fix'd their eyes on one another I know not whether to move a mutual pitty towards eithers ardors and to testifie the excess of that beauty which silencing the tongue rendred the eyes talkative yet was it superfluous for the eyes to speake the language of
my life with a sweet death on the Altar of your brest I beseech you to appoint the shelter of my felicity in your friends and neighbours house retiring your self thither for this night I have already understood by your Messenger that there is a door which affords the commanding of a mutual passage whereby it will without difficulty succeed You shall from me understand the reasons hereof Expect till I authenticate with more devout obsequiousness the excess of my affection and obligations who now onely reverently incline to that heaven which so prodigiously hath dispenc'd the influence of so many favours He gave another form to the Letter directed to Emilia wherein he thus writ A Treacherous liberty makes a man sometimes beleeve himself abus'd even when he is favour'd so that the excess of your civility in loving me being superiour to any desert of mine is esteem'd by me as the pleasant sportings of your affection and for such I receive them so that I esteem my self disoblig'd to a true correspondence in Love besides that I am altogether incapable of such a Ladies favour which being so ill plac'd would on the one side be too much slighted or being on the other side too heavy would oppress me Besides I refuse not your favours to withdraw my self from the burthen of your obligations but that I may not appear a Monster by the union of so much grace with so little merit Reserve those Treasures to honor more worthy Subjects since from the obligation onely I am already gain'd to your service I shall indelibly preserve my part of such a debt to repay it by serving if not by loving you These Letters being seal'd he distinguished them onely with a mark of which he gave the bearer notice which he was to give Rosalia and which to Emilia The chance was that the servant either forgetting the marks or mistaken in the knowledge in the delivery betrayes his Masters will yet not Fortune Emilia looking on the letters which were written to Rosalia presenting the readiness of an affectionate correspondence was possest with the extremities of an unspeakable joy the satisfaction of her desires was the hight of her greatest contentments which she presumed she could tast at the table of earthly delights with a perfect complacency thinking she had gotten her own will she rejoyc'd in her self in the sublimity of those conceits which might cause her to see her self no less fortunate then she was reverenc'd Rosalia's thoughts were otherwise divided disdaining those refusals which she thought impossible for any who had eyes to see her beauty Her fury machinated a rigorous revenge but her pride commanded her to vindicate her self by disdain onely That beauty which presum'd it self envied by heaven provok'd her to treachery seeing it self slighted by a man yet could she not contain her self from witnessing the sense of her mind which committing to paper in these words she presents to the knowledge of Irlando HE knows not how to adjust himself to receive favours who knows not how to deserve them He who will not receive from heaven the fecondity of Rain let him expect the cruelty of Thunder I condemn you to a perpetual exile from my presence from the place where I dwel you shall know me for an Enemy since you would not enjoy me as a Lover Thus I intend not to punish you but to correct my own error which was committed in loving you by ROSAlIA These Characters had been much more grateful to the Gentleman if as they were a bar to the felicity of his contentment they had brought with them the end of his life grief wrought not his death it went farther it stupified him He esteem'd this torment a punishment for having treacherously been lifted up with boldness on the foundations of her civility knowing no other crime in him but his speed to run to the offer'd bait He judg'd that this sudden rigour was a pennance for having been contrary to the condition of her sex too liberal of her favours He confiders that the efficacy of humility the force of prayers and of conspiracies might remove the sinister influence of this his Star Whereupon he resolves either with art or with the importunity of prayers to gain admittance into her presence and then his tongue being animated with accents from the interest of his heart would move the instances of an affectionate pitty That very night he resolves to have recourse to the Tribunal of Love where the justice of Reason would not be excluded if they were not exalted Emilia in the mean time by the stealth of chance enjoy'd that prosperity which was the others due In conformity to the order receiv'd in her Lovers Letter she entreates Rosalia for that night to change houses with her and civilizeth the demand with the excuse of an abusive deceit happen'd to a Maid of hers She obtains her desire without opposition which their friendship prohibited and the opportunity of gratifying requir'd In these walls she fancies that hight of enjoyment which her thoughts expected from the embraces of a young Lover All her Affections were vows directed to the Temple of Love in gratitude for that prosperity which so singularly favour'd her Had time mov'd according to her importunity hours would have fled like minutes rendred swift by the wings of her desire Irlando also with the air of his sighs sollicited the Sun to take his lodging in the Sea so that the succeeding obscurity of the night might favourably bring him to Rosalia to quench her disdain He had a thousand Chimera's of punishments fancy'd new forms of humiliations extraordinary sings of pennance that he might last of all conceive the request of her lost favour He pants to get to that gate on the threshold whereof he resolv'd to terminate the course of his life could he not finde means for his hop'd for pardon He goes to the very house of Rosalia thinking that her disdain would not have suffered her to second his demands by the change he had intimated in his Letter He was little less then stupified when in appearance he seem'd deluded from the like fear seeing himself curteously introduc'd by the servants who as it seem'd had stay'd long waiting for him and hearing his name they presently freely admitted him which was by Emilia's order who impatient of delay had sent them to meet and receive him He could not beleeve that such like honors proceeded by their error of not knowing him It being so that the more they confirmed themselves in knowing him to be Irlando with so much the more curteous obsequiousness was he respected At the enquiries he made of the Lady under the name of their Mistris he was answered that she expected him with troubles for his stay had been intollerable had he prolong'd the enjoyment of his presence He was astonished within himself unable to conceive affections of wonder equal to that accident hearing attestations of love when to himself he had only received
Characters of assurances of hatred He then would by several replies be certified whether that were Rosalia's house he could not but beleeve himself deceiv'd thinking it impossible that he should be come thither to receive favours when he purposely came to beg pardon When at last he was undeceived of all error either from himself or the servants he begins to doubt least those incitements of security were not directed onely to betray him He suspects least snares to revenge herself were hidden under that faign'd appearance of love and that heaven appear'd serene the more grievously to punish him with the thunder of her disdain Having pull'd up his courage he went up the stairs considering that he ought not to abhor to fall a victim immerc'd in his own blood in her house whom he had ador'd Being come to the top he meets Emilia who taking him fast by the right hand without saying any thing to him leads him alone with her into a Chamber At this action the Gentleman had a greater occasion to ground his suspitions He with reason doubted that she being offended by his refusals and thereupon out of disdain had with the other conspir'd his ruin He condemns the fallacy of such thoughts when the door being shut Emilia begins with sweet kisses and affectionate embraces to express the tenderness of her exviscerated passion His civility was confounded with these replicated encomiums professing to gratifie his favours so much the more did these move Irlando to astonishment not knowing what obligation of gratitude she could have unless she was of his race who esteem'd offences and slights favours The Lady seeing this sullen starchness in her Lover and appropriating the cause to a coldness of Nature even to a chilness she thought to warm him with using the more carresses and courtships the exhalations of an amorous fire Yet he stifning himself the more at this heat insteed to liquifie a sweet tenderness of heart she toucheth him with the iron of reproof to try of what stuff he was made since he obstinately resisted the flames which every way issued to fire him since he neither restrained the knot of her embraces nor returned the strokes of her kisses nor counterchang'd the words of her carresses Perhaps says she I am a Medusa since with the shield of my looks I change them who look upon me into stones What novelty renders you insensible What change renders you immoveable to my amorous effects Did you then so curteously consent to my invitation and do you now despise the guift Did you admit into the brest of your civility my offers and now do you refuse the favours Let it not invigorate your passion answer'd Irlando that you see your self deprived of your preceded contents since your hopes are unjustly clothed with the spoiles of my affection I am astonish'd that the denials I sent you in my Letters advised you not what a correspondence you might expect in the most evident expressions of love What denials says she with the signes of astonishment do you speak of what Letters Rather because I credited yours now I may say scorns which before I thought the acts of a Gentleman whom I have but too much favour'd In saying so she shews him the Letter which discovers the deceit to his understanding In looking over those lines which were paths of love made for his heart to make way to Rosalia Do you call these said the Lady denials Are these demonstrations of love importunate and unfit Alas either the remembrance betrays the intention to have scorn'd me or the pen in writing betrays the heart which refuseth me Afflict not your self Madam says Irlando as despis'd by me who may rather complain as having been abus'd by Fortune There is no crime in this that your hopes should rise where the accomplishment cannot succeed Mine was to give flight to these amorous Characters that they might nest my affections in Rosalia bosom Chance brought them to yours which was his mistake to whom I trusted my Letters for their safe delivery You are not therefore to think your self offended since he doth not despise the desert of a Lady whom he cannot love chiefly because his affections are oblig'd to another This passion naturally knowing no curb or rule thinks it its property to run whether its genius or sense inclines it I am forc'd by your civility and love to be oblig'd to you though I cannot be a Lover Love as an act of free will knows no other laws but election If this gratifie not your desires condemn Destiny or Cupid and not me who respect and admire in you your admirable qualities Emilia's thoughts being undeceived she oblig'd them to aspire to another sphere for that there they could not fix the Center of their felicities She lets him go faigning a disdain with all possible appearance that she might not be seen in a necessity to beg a mans love The Gentleman goes out of the house thinking he went out of hell where his stay every moment had increas'd new griefs The cause being already understood of the revolution of Rosalia's affections had fixt in his thoughts the recovering of the loss of her love by assuring her that not his own despight but the abuse of Fortune had provok'd his disdain He assured himself of regaining her favour when from the quality of the accident she should acknowledge the bonds of his sincerity Her fury not suffering her to attend to words he determines to discriminate himself in a Letter wherein he describ'd what hapned by anothers and not by his fault Yet they came not in a prosperous time according to his desires Rosalia being sollicited by these recriminations to her beleev'd disdain at the coming of Armando's Letter she was perswaded to give her self with her affections to him since by his refusal Irlando had already rendred himself undeserving To oblige these she consider'd that there resplended more in him the conditions of a compleat Cavalier and consequently that he more deserv'd to be lov'd Resolving at last to employ her thoughts which being kept idle might perhaps reconcentrate again in Irlando she wrot for an answer to his as followeth SIR BEing honor'd by your favours I ought to be grateful by my correspondence Should I refuse to be lov'd by you I should prejudice my self by depriving my self of a greater glory then I can pretend to deserve If even it were grateful to me to be beleved without returning you love it would be unjustly to enjoy those graces without exchange of obligation Be therefore assured of my affection for a pledge of which I to night invite you to the Chamber of Emilia my Neighbour where the comfort of your presence shall be expected by ROSALIA The news of so much felicity came late to Armando yet he speedily transports himself to take possession Whereupon at the same time wherein Irlando contested with Emilia he enjoy'd his practice with Rosulia Being pleas'd with her fashions he long entertains himself