shining Sunne And much more bright then all the ages past And she a woman seemes not vnto me But rather a Nymph most faire and debonaire A Nymph said I nay then a Goddesse bright More fresh and louely then the morning Rose And then the Swan more milke-white and more faire A. The fairer a woman is so much the more proud inexplorable hatefull and foolish she is E. Hee that would see what Nature and the Heauens can effect in vs let him behold but her Oh pleasant sight adorned with faire hewe in which part of heauen and what Ideaes mould as an example did Dame Nature frame that pleasing looke wherein shee meant to shew what she could doe both aboue and below A. Loue flattering you with promises he will bring you to the olde dungeon the keyes whereof hee will giue to your enemie And who so doth place his heart in a womans heart he shall at last finde pittie as deafe as an Aspe poore wretch he dyes in that wherein he thought to make himselfe happy and is wearyed with flight and consumed by that which delights Thus most vnhappie he his life doth passe in vaine hopes thinking one day to be happy E. Oh faire eyes oh distilling louely browes her mouth angelicall full and replenished with roses orient pearle and pleasant words her brow golden lockes surmount the brightest Sunne in the height of Summer or at high-noone day Oh fairest hand that teares my hart in sunder a hand wherin Nature and heauen for greater honor hath placed all Art A. Oh cruell hand that giuest the last blow to him to whom it gaue the first and turnes vnto Marble whatsoeuer it be that it toucheth Her eyes they doe flame and eke her lookes like lightning are accursed eyes that yeeld no light to him that them behold but rather are the fountaines of all blindnesse If shee but speake or sigh shee roares and daunts euen like a Lyon all enraged and then shee seemes not heauen but a broad field stirred vp with some tempestuous horride storme when from her flaming eyes lightning shee dartes E. Oh louely face oh pleasant countenance oh gentle spirit that doth so pleasingly reuolue those eyes much clearer then the Sunne Her eyes are not eyes but two twinckling Starres and in her face there doth appeare whatsoeuer in this life Art Nature Wit or heauen can performe A. Now you doe erre when as the ancient way of libertie is cut off and taken away from you then may you follow that which likes the eye but weake is hee and most vnfortunate who with the first assault is vanquished E. Oh creature framed sure in paradise Oh gentle spirit that doth those members rule There is nothing precious if compar'd with thee Thanked be Nature and that happy place Where to the world so faire a soule was borne Oh day so full of wonderment oh day Nothing but loue grace fauour and all ioy Oh courteous heauen Oh earth most fortunate In which so faire a creature to the world Nature did grant A. Your praises doe mount vp too high aloft Her merit doth not soare so much on high A woman or her beautie I le not prize Which comprehends nothing but mortall is E. Ah faire sweete face ah pleasant countenance Ah stately and yet comely carriage Ah speech that euery harsh vnpolisht wit Mak'st humble and each coward valiant Her shadow onely freezeth hard my heart And taints my visage with pale milke-white feare Her eyes haue force marble of me to make A. Vnhappy soule that houre after houre From thought to thought from euill vnto worse Dost goe and yet the part canst not sound out Of her high seate and residence E. I know her by her face and pleasing speech Which often hath my heart reuiu'd and fed And in reviewing her I oftyeeld vp the ghost Being replenisht with high sweete content If Virgil or yet Homer had but seene That Sunne which I behold with these same eyes They all their force and power would haue emploide And mixed stile with stile to blazon her A. Hard hearts with sauage and most cruell wils In forme most humble and Angelicall Of me much honoured spoiles they shall not reape E. Euen as to see God is eternall life Nor more nor lawfull it is to desire So doth my mistresse sight me happy make I pray thee therefore happy soule reuolue Those eyes on me wherewith thou blessest blest For if thou knewest it my hot burning flames Are of thy beautie liuely portratures My wisedome shewes thy forme and wonders great More then the Christall glasse thou lookest in A. Sense wholy rules in thee reason is dead From one desire another riseth oft Thy ship deepe laden with obliuion Goes through the stormy sea in winters night Twixt Silla and Charibdis and at helme Sits the great Lord rather thine enemie Reason and Art lye buried in the waues E. I doe hope and not despaire because I see a sweete light in the moouing of her eyes which shewes the life conducting vnto heauen A. Looke you for life from whence death onely comes E. Will moues me Loue leades and guides me Pleasure drawes me and vse doth me transport reaching her right hand to my wearied heart A. The Lambe eates grasse the Wolfe doth feede on Lambes but women are not satisfied with teares nor yet is Loue euer replenished in feeding louers vvith vaine foolish hopes E. But hee that doth a womans loue contemne I vvill not say he hath the heart of a vvilde beast but he hath euen a breast of iron A. If not to loue be counted crueltie Crueltie is a vertue neyther doe I repent because it possesseth my heart but I esteeme it seeing I therewith haue vanquished proud Loue a worser beast then it vvho vvould rule as Lord ouer euery mortall man E. Hardly can a man eyther arme or hide himselfe from Loue vvhich doth breake things that are hard and bringeth low that which is high for vvhether a man be willing or vnwilling at last each heart must serue imperious Loue for Loue doth once desire to shew what force he hath in our hearts and youth that is enemy to Loue doth but offend Nature and contend with heauen A. Doe you tell dreames or doe I dreaming heare you troubles by Loue are onely purchased Loue is blinde I doe him not beleeue that makes desire as blinde in him that credit giues vvho sees but little will beleeue much lesse and hee doth torture one that doth beleeue E. Loue soweth teares but reapeth ioyes and after infinite and bitter griefes hee at last doth sweeten all affections A. Ah bitter Loue replenished vvith hearts griefe a courteous childe but a froward fierce old man hee knowes it vvell that makes tryall a pleasant sport amidst catching limetvvigges and this the bird can tell that is there-vvith ensnared E. Nature surmounteth euery Lavv of reason vvee in vaine doe shunne the Law of Loue vvhose impression
humbly request euery gentle and prudent Spirit that he will call to minde how euery humane perfection is dasht with many imperfections and all mortall vigilancie and diligence whatsoeuer is ioyned with great carelesnesse and negligence and which is worse there is no remedie for the same and therefore the nature of our present estate and condition being such I must needes entreate you to remaine satisfied with my good intention and to accept of all in the better part especially it being onely my intention to exalt Vertue and to abase Vice as also to loue and respect euery one conformably to his demerit and therefore in the meane while Thou glorious English man that me conducts From stormy rage into an harbour sure Me wandring Traueller amidst the Rockes And surging waues beaten and drownde outright With cheerefull brow these homely lines reuiew The Passenger Of Benuenuto Italian professor of his natiue tongue THE FIRST PART Betweene Mr. Andrea Mr. Pompilio and Mignocco a Seruant DIALOGVE I. In which with diuers sententious and pleasant witty sayings are vsed the phrases to enter into an House to make one ready in the Morning and specially the discourse of Waking Sleeping Dreames Idlenesse Idle and lazie persons and with Petraca they conclude Surfet and Sleepe c. Pompilio HO within M. Who knocks at the doore P. Friends M. Friends walke not in the night P. Thou slouenly lubberd and toyish fellow what idle toyes goest thou fantasticating M. What would you haue so earely P. I would speake with thy Master M. Foure dayes agoe he went into the Country P. I saw him yesternight M. Now I remember mee hee did returne home againe but now hee sleepes P. Let him sleepe like the Silk-worme I must needes speake with him M. Few words suffice the wise you cannot now Sir P. Knowest thou not me what rusticke complements are these M. Are you my Master excuse me Sir now I let you in P. A man must grow Comicall or Satiricall to make thee open the dore M. In truth I did not know you P. These are Aretines excuses How you can season the sowre with the sweet and of vnciuill become ciuill M. We must serue occasion and time P. Thou canst speake so much as thou wilt and I beleeue as much as please mee but the more thou dissemblest the lesse I belieue thee M. I speake from my heart P. I obserue not the winde of the words but the deedes and the words also M. Belieue me Sir I mislooke you and I thought it was night P. Thou makest thy selfe a kin to one whom his Master bidding to see what weather it was hee being as peraduenture thou art asleepe and giddy with wine thinking to put his head out at the window thrust it into a great cubbord and ouerthrew vpon his head a pot of oyle and returning to his Master he sayd to him Sir sleepe quietly the time being fit to take pleasure with your wise darke as the throate of a wolfe and it raines desperately M. O what a foole was hee yet very often the wisest men haue their breeches fall I also did sleepe P. Dâ—ddest thou sleepe when thou tattledst at the dore M. If I were not asleepe yet I was not very well awake P. We must confesse the truth you seruants in excusing your errours are like the foolish Bird caught with the lime or net the which how much more hee beates himselfe so much more is he belim'd and euermore intangled M. What else shall a seruant doe who is not lesse poore in riches then in vertue and wit P. If you know your selfe why deferre you amend your selfe for too late repentance doth deceiue many M. Alas my Master the prouerbe is true That some change their haire rather then their manners and the wolfe changes his hide but not his vice we seruants as we are born so we die P. Go to dost thou remember I would speake with thy master M. Indeed I dare not molest him P. Thou toldst me he was gone into the countrey M. Did you not beleeue me and how many times haue I trusted your seruants that haue vsed the same tricke with me P. I knew not that I was so much thy familiar this is enough M. Excuse me sir who hath committed the greater errour you in not telling me your name or I in not opening to him I neyther saw nor knew P. No more words let vs goe from hence but tell mee is hee alone or coupled M. God forgiue vs he cannot abide a woman should come into his chamber much lesse into his bed P. Oh oh neither will the Ape eate Cherryes nor the Beare hony nor yet Mistresse Pipa permit her wanton louer to lay his hand vpon her Citterne M. Vntill I see other I will not change my conceit P. Goe to dispatch seeing you dare not leaue that care to mee I le waken him well enough O my Sir what so noble a creature as is man created for the vertues sleepe yet A. Who is there who are you P. Who am I rather who are you that turnes the night into day and the day into night A. What voyce is that P. I doubt you be one of the seauen sleepers or of the kinde of the Dormouse or sleepy Badger A. Me thinkes rather that you sleepe since you discerne not by the forme the kinde P. We cannot sleepe and speake Logically at the same time A. Me thinks the daies are very long frequent and come thicke P. We are passengers in this present life we must be waking A. To what purpose serues so much watchfulnesse being full onely of trouble and of all anguish P. O vnhappy he that tels the dayes and thinkes one to be as long as a thousand yeeres and liues in vaine and neuer in his life examines himselfe much more is sleepe if you forget not your selfe A. I finde sleepe to be the better part of life P. Now I well see that you are troubled with a heauy and deadly Lethargie A. O is it you Sir What good time haue you you are welcome sit downe and giue me leaue for a little while to shut one eye P. Like Master like man you are riuall with Endimion M. Rather I will outgoe Epimenides P Take heede you fall not into some infamy A. What note or infamy can hee incurre that offends none P. He offends much more that hurts himselfe then hee that hurts another A. Whatsoeuer it be which hardly at the length can be depainted that after a sea of troubles we inioy in this life it seemes to me to be apparell that defends our flesh from the harme of the elements and feedes our spirit with vaineglory drinke and meat that nourishes our body sleepe which strengthens and restores nature the ioy of the flesh that glads the hart and preserues the species and mony that obtaines and giues vs euery thing P. It is true but I tould you before that we were passengers here incompassed
boyled in wine though they are more behouefull they are very hurtfull for cholericke men and good for them that are old and cold they are also the more healthfull sodden in fat broth A. Will you haue any of this other sallet Sir P. In truth I see in it borage bettonie dragon wort succorie endiue fennell lettice baulme mint dogs caule parsley pimpinell purslaine rosemary rocket sage wild time and spinage A. Why doe you thinke that these are more holsome then others P. O God Sir why doe you not know how Borage is called courage because it hath a certaine proprietie in the passions of the heart which is the fountaine of life whereupon it or the flowers thereof being infused into wine it much reioyceth the minde and comforts the heart remoues melancholy and creates pleasant conceits besides it nourisheth and engenders good humours clarifieth the bloud and the spirits comforteth the bowels molifieth the breast although indeed the flowers doe not so well digest as the leaues which leaues being mingled with beetes or spinage they loose their asperitie A. These capers please my pallate farre better P. If they be preserued in vineger they are not so hot but yet commonly verie healthfull those preserued in pickle doe astringe subtilize cut obsterpe and open they excite appetite open the opilations of the liuer and milt prouoke menstrues and vrine kill the wormes cure the Emrods excite venerie but if they be steept in oyle and vineger they help those that haue the gout the flegmatickes splenetickes and Ieratickes whosoeuer vseth them shall feele no griefe of the mylt nor dissolution of nerues although they are rather medicine then meate A. And what thinke you of Dragonwort P. It is dry cold it procures good appetite encreaseth sperme wonderfully comforts the stomacke and the head and cuts flegme being eaten it preserues from the plague and from all corruption it cures the cold griefes of the teeth gums in washing them with the decoction thereof made of white wine yet so it is true that it heales the Lyuer and purifies the bloud it is alwayes good for old men and hurtfull for the cholericke and sanguine young men A. I thinke Cicorie also is not without his vertue P. It preuailes greatly against the heate and inflamation of the stomacke it opens the opilations of the Lyuer and aboue all other things keepes the Lyuer cleane and the wayes thereof open being also very helpfull to the reynes but so it hurts a weake and cold stomacke and those that are subiect to catarres if we will take it in a sallet it must be mingled with other hot hearbes and those seasoned with good oyle salt and vinegar A. I suppose according to common opinion that Betonie is full of infinite vertues P. Know you not the Prouerbe Thou hast more vertue in thee then Betonie The best growes on the top of pleasant fresh hils and is gathered in Aprill it is incitiue it may be eaten sodden together with the flowers in a good broth or else seething it in wine and then drinking the decoction therof but the vessell must be well stopt wherein it boyles it is good against all inward passion of the body howsoeuer it be taken it is auaileable against poyson it helps the yealow laundesse paraliticke flegmaticke those subiect to the falling sicknesse and Icraticke but so it is but hard of digestion A. In Sommer I many times eate Endiue P. This refresheth the Lyuer and euery enflamed member it quencheth thirst prouokes vrine stirs vp good appetite drieth opilations purgeth the bloud cures the itche slaketh the heate of the stomacke and in Summer being eaten sodden in broth of flesh it comforts all the bowels but hurts a cold stomacke sloweth digestion offendeth those possest with the Palsey or that haue the heart tremblings A. I thinke Lettuce be of another temper P. Endiue is cold and dry and this cold and moist then imagine you of the rest The Lettuce top tender and without milke and being set with a delicate hand exceedes all other hearbs in goodnesse it breedes milke in women quencheth the inflamation of the stomacke extinguisheth thirst prouokes sleepe it staies the running of the reines so it proceed not from the corruption of that solemne disease it bridles the sharpnesse of choler corroborateth the stomacke and disburdeneth it it is opposite to all luxurie obscureth the eye-sight debilitates natural heate corrupteth sperme and makes one beget foolish and blockish children it causeth a man to be sloathfull it is ill for weake stomackes and so consequently for old men A. To tell you the truth you haue kindled such a loue in mee towards it by repeating of these many good properties as beleeue me I le eate but little and vnlesse it be for the aboue named dispositions none at all P. But yet you will taste of this Balme mint which comforteth the heart it remoues the trembling thereof easeth the breast opens the opilations of the braine cures throbbings helpes the biting of venemous beasts and flegmatickes and those troubled with melancholy but by reason of his ventositie it excites venerian appetite A. I thinke mint is better P. It mightily excites appetite prohibites that milke cannot be taken into the stomacke nor into the dugs it kils the wormes being vsed with meates or giuen to little boyes or little girles a dramme of the iuyce thereof with halfe an ounce of the sharpe iuyce of cedar or of the syrrope of the barke of Cedar it remoues also rising in the stomacke and vomite and fortifies the stomacke wherevpon comes the verse Nunquam lenta fuit stomacho succurrere mentha But it inflames the Lyuer and stomacke purifies the bloud and excites Venus And yet it is not good for Souldiers who by the exercise of Venus become leane debile and cowards A. By the Physitians aduise I vse Mercurie what say you to that P. The decoction thereof dissolues choler and all watrish humours but so take heede in any wise you vse it not but onely sometime it weakening the stomacke and bowels A. But from what proceedes it that they vse Parsley and Pympernell so much P. The first boilde or raw prouokes vrine menstrues sweate it mundifies the reynes the lyuer and the matrixe it remoues their opilations and dissolues ventosities the decoction therof helpes coughes and empoysonings it hath the same vertues that Coriander hath it is acceptable to the mouth of the stomacke it dissolues the stones in the reines or bladder it opens opilations helps coughes and the defects of the breast but it is hard to digest obfuscates the sight generates bad humours it hurts the head and so is euill for the falling sicknesse Pympinell is reduced vnder the kindes of Saxafrage for the great vertue it containes to cleanse the reynes and the bladder and to dissolue and expell stones and grauell out of the same parts to prouoke vrine and to open the opilations of the Lyuer moreouer it
one will bite him to the bone and at last oâ—erthrow him cleane C. This is proper to euery one to leaue his owne and neerely to examine another mans defect and this is the proper note and Caracter of hypocrites and idle men who when others obserue them not not to trouble their heads with their owne affaires they giue themselues ouer altogether as a pray to worldly pleasures making it knowne to euery one how their stomackes are full of bad humours and their harts voide of the hope of any heauenly good P. Yea and you with the continuall disturbance of multiplication shew that your heart also is onely chained to humane interests C. Conceiue sir a little money would serue the turne but when we consider that besides our necessarie our superfluous and excessiue occasions must also be furnished as our pomps and vaine toyes it makes vs much more neere in buying and couetous in selling whereupon you depriue vs of a common good and an inward peace P. A little money say you a loftie woman or a proud and vaine man like one that hath the dropsie haue neuer their thirst quenched nor like a Cesterne with many holes can neuer be filled C. Euen as pleasure so commoditie greatnesse and honour come they apparrelled how so euer euery one likes them but finally our traffique redounds to the augmentation of Common-wealths renowne reputation and strength but yet your pleasures dissipate and confound all Moreouer they begin in pleasure and end in discontent the entring into them is with laughter but the comming out of them is sorrowfull with lamentation as it is prefigured in Nabuchadonozers statue with the head of golde and feete of earth your pleasures hauing for the most part a goodly beginning and an honourable head but oftentimes an vnhappy and dishonourable end Beleeue me our Sauiour laments ouer you as sometimes he did ouer Ierusalem which being lulled a sleepe with present delights thought on nothing else nor foresaw not her future ruine so that if any thing can induce a manly heart to lament it is when he sees the blindnesse of a man that neuer meditates but onely faine to meditate on the issue of vaine delights so as they are plunged and ouerwhelmed in them P. It is more then a fruitlesse labour without inward vertue to preach vnto others I know earthly pleasures bring with them a dainty dinner but a bitter supper And they are like those vvhich Leoâ—iâ—aâ— being merrie propounded to his people An hard dinner and a terrible supper In the morning they are fresh but in the euening withered but yet euery one is delighted with them and many times the Citizen hunts as much as any great Lord. C. Euery offence is voluntarie yet doth it not admit excuse and though man couer yet God discouers it P. I cannot defend pleasure it being so short and momentarie a thing euen as also our life is which with a most swift course comes to meete with the sharpe sickle of implacable death for we were borne lamenting wee liue in afflictions and with griefe and teares depart from hence but whither no man knowes much lesse can discerne C. Your pleasures passe and â—ke your pompes Your Signories and Kingdomes passe Time euery mortall thing cuts off More then a day what 's mortall life A little cloud much colde full of annoy Which may well seeme but is not faire in deede yet here lies humane hope here worldly ioyes Here mortall men lift vp their hornes on hie But how long shall he liue when must he die Hee questionlesse that did but duely thinke on this it would serue him for a looking glasse wherein he might discerne humane miseries it would be as a rudder to stirre and conduct him into a secure port and an effectuall flapper to driue away the Flies of all worldly vanities but now I see man reduced to such a luke-warmnesse that he reputes the aboue mentioned things for a meâ—re and vaine dreame or a shadow and pleasure for the true body P. We ride not all by the same poste yet neuertheles we must haue some kinde of refreshment to driue away melancholy C. Me thinkes it was an excellent remedy that Plato set downe who said to Dionisias if thou wilt ouercome sadnesse goe about the graues and thou shalt finde a fit cure for thy passions for so thou shalt discerne mens vnhappinesse for more then dust they possesse nothing but miserie P. But yet sometime wee must needes take a little breath C. Cretese writing to some of his friends said Philosophize alwayes so much as to take breath for that life is farre better which proceedes from Philosophie then that which wee receiue from breathing P. T is true yet a bow continually shot in cannot long last C. It is better to liue a little and well then much and ill and herevpon the same Cretese was wont to say to his familiar friends haue a care of your mindes and for the body onely care for that which is necessary and nothing so much for othings Felicity not consisting so much in the contentment that we take in outward things as in Vertue which without them is of her selfe perfect P. All naturall things please euery one and pleasure being so vpon this it pleaseth euery one C. Surely he stumbles on a great blocke that by the example of a common errour seekes to defend his mortall enemie that is sinne with apparenticall and forced reasons embellishing he deformitie P. Conceiue sir any one that hunts or takes other pleasure hee doth it oftentimes more to please anothers humour then his owne and therefore hee is not altogether vnworthie of excuse C. Vnderstand sir that it is greatest folly when wee may doe otherwise to obserue other mens lenities rather then our owne but for your sonnes sir how doe they follow they the same vertues you doe P. Thankes be to God they are well and be in the Country C. Neither Towne nor Citie haue the priuiledge to make one vertuous or vicious the law affirming and experience prouing Quod conuersatio obligat ad mores for a young man conuersing with vaine fellowes becomes vaine himselfe if with the learned learned with the politicall politick if vvith warriours a good souldier with wise men wise and discreete and if with one vertuous vertuous practise begetting vertue in vs together with example and not by chance as vice doth and hereupon the Poet saith Vertue comes not by chance but is a goodly Art P. It is true but yet he wants no good counsell C. Example and actions giue authoritie to learning and without all comparison stirre vp more then any wise or elegant Instruction whatsoeuer And therefore Christ cursed the figge tree voide of fruit and abounding in leaues and hee himselfe wrought thirty and preached but three yeeres shewing herein that the efficacie of workes and example was greater then that of speach P. And yet speech may preuaile much
desiring that our delight be also our theft our rauishing and not her gift and if the Louer see a Gentlewoman flâ—e let him know that shee flieth not as a Doe but as a Dame to the end shee may at a time more opportune at better ease and in a place more commodious be catched clipped and embraced vvhich femine Art I not yet knowing in first my beginning so vnwarily I did remaine wailed with Loue that with the Poet I might truly say I finde not peace and yet I cannot warre I feare yet hope I burne yet still am Ice I soare towards heauen yet still remaine on earth I nought retaine yet all the world embrace Such one hath me in prison that neither opes nor shuts She neither makes me hers nor yet she lets me goe Loue doth not kill me and yet giues me life It neither will I liue nor yet be gone from hence I see yet want my eyes I haue no tongue and crie And seeke my end and yet I call for ayde I hate my selfe and others I desire I feed with griefe and laugh when I lament Both life and death displease me equally Mistresse in this estate I liued for your sake In which state perseuering for a great vvhile in that affliction whets on the vnderstanding I grew so vvarie in amorous exercises that Philosophizing most amorously within my selfe I miserably began to vaunt vvith the Poet saying thus to my selfe I know how the heart is from it selfe disioyn'd And would conceale all griefe though prickt it be I know the serpent lurketh mongst the grasse Twixt two I wake and sleepe as serpents doe Not languishing yet languish I and die I can a friend choose out and know full well How a Louer is transform'd into his loue Midd'st sighes profound and laughters very short I haue beene forc'd to change my will and hiew And also life my soule from hurt disioyn'd A thousand times a day my selfe I change My fire I follow where so eu'r she flies To burne farre off and freeze full hard neere hand In fine a little sweet with great bitternesse Loue doth repay But at last opening my eyes and discerning though too late all that past my vvhole force being vnited and knit together about my heart and subiugating my sence to my vnderstanding and to right reason euery inward ill gouerned feminine affection as also shaking off from my necke the vnhappie yoake of Loue. I said of a seruant thou art now become free neuer mayest thou hereafter be a vassall to blinde Loue nor a seruant to an instable vvoman and choose rather to dye then to vndergoe seruitude so that I may say Loue came vpon me but conioyned me not to himselfe and herevpon growing old in hatred I could better define it then Loue yet notwithstanding for your satisfaction I wil say thus much that Loue is no other then a passion that gouernes the heart and by that which I haue concluded Loue is all in all though in truth it be nothing because none can be bound except hee will himselfe and therefore the Poet saith Loue reasons bridle no wayes doth respect And he that sees is vanquisht by the will E. But if it be not Loue as you say what then is that which so pricketh humane hearts and so if Loue it be who and what manner of thing is he whether good or bad if good whervpon comes hee to be so cruell and mortall and if bad how comes all his torments to be so sweete and if it be in our power and that we burne but out of our owne wils from whence grow our complaints and lamentations and if a louer complaine whether he will or no to what end are these complaints A. Herevpon you know that Loue is a liuing death and a delightsome voluntary and vnuoluntarie euill for out of the first consent the louer feeding himselfe with vaine hopes and and perseuering in this consent hee suffers voluntarily and so suffering contrary to his expectation he suffers against his owne will and therefore if hee complaine hee complaineth wrongfully yet neuerthelesse not to leaue you altogether doubtfull I will adde thus much That as the kindes of loue are different from their meanes and end so wee may easily iudge which is each one in particular as for diuine Loue and the loue of our neighbour I leaue the definition thereof to Diuines and Cannonists although I can briefely shew you that one is the loue of honour and the other a loue or desire of some good but the loue of louers is a passion that inclines the louer to the person beloued or an inward affection that alwayes produceth diuers effects towards the beloued obiect and therevpon a learned man said Iactor crucior agitor stimulor in amoris rota nullam mentem animi habeo vbisum ibi non sum And another the louer is neuer without the lamentable passions of Loue vaine desires vncertaine hopes foolish cogitations vrgent sorrowes anger disdaine furie teares despights follies wreakes iealousies reuenges with a thousand other vanities and therefore not without some reason was Loue painted in forme of a foolish and vaine boy naked in his simplicitie winged in his flight from all best contentments blind-fold in his reprochfull conuersation and in briefe as a God not that he is such an one indeed there being but one onely God but in that man suffering himselfe wholy to be gouerned by passion he is altogether subiect to the same and obeyes the same as his God who in spight of his teeth gouernes him and rules him at his pleasure And hereupon the Poet in his triumph of Loue faineth such men to be bound and Loue to be their Conductor nay their God and the number of them to be greater that follow sense then of those that follow reason and vnderstanding because Where Loue triumphes true vertue conquereth not Such not being able with their outward force to testifie this flame where inward vertue and wisedome is wanting the Poet addes Gainst whom nor shield nor helmet doth preuaile And afterward to shew their great number Innumerable mortals round about And who these be imitating amorous Ouid Otia si tollas periere Cupidinis artes He thus deciphered him Loue That borne he was of humane idlenesse Nourisht with pleasant and delightfull thoughts The onely Lord of people fond and vaine And Tasso Content thou liuest O Thyrsis more then euer and yet liu'st idlely And loue from idlenesse doth alwayes spring And Caualiere Guirinus O Goddesse and yet Goddesse thou art none Except of people idle blinde and vaine Who with mindes vnpure Religion foolish and prophane Altars and Temples to thee consecrate E. Though all this be most true yet me thinks a man is worthy to be excused for doe but obserue how the sight of that proud woman that comes toward vs doth excite one questionlesse she is very faire nay More faire I thinke her then the
is imprinted in our hearts neyther is it eyther learned or taught but euen in humane hearts without any maister Nature of her selfe doth print it with her owne hand and when shee commandeth heauen must obey much more this lower earth Let vs therefore follow Nature and let vs loue the Sunne goes downe and shines againe so short a light is quickly coucht and hid eternall night hasts on eternall sleepe and man hath no truer ioy then louing A. Let others pursue the delights of Loue if so in Loue a man may finde delight I shall no doubt finde pleasures far more firme E. Oh sir you know not yet what force loues fire hath in an humane breast which is a breast of flesh and not of stone as yours seemes to me to be A. I know too much and therefore iustly say Pittie is but crueltie to one that is more cruell then all others E. A sweete but cruell yoake of seruitude Loue surely is Afflictions past and perils seeme but sweet they sauour all things to the Louers taste A. The Louers state is doubtlesse very hard for let him turne him round about and hee shall heare nothing which doth not both daunt terrifie him and a Louers hope is nothing else but when one euill is past to expect a greater E. Will you liue so sloathfully without content the man that loues onely knowes delight A. One safety Louers haue which is despaire for hopes doe for the most part vndoe them and they liue wretched in misery they haue vaine hopes and yet most certaine griefes with doubtfull performance in their promises neyther doth any man lend his helping hand to the tossed and perplexed minde of a louer E. Loue onely is a most quiet peace without all molestation which Loue can kill and heale Loue with delights doth prick and then annoint a wound of Loue will cure the darts deepe wound A. Death is the onely medicine for the heart and yet that loue is most quicke which from affliction springs neuer let him vaunt that I am one of his nor out his kingdome let him set his foote E. Loue turnes bitter things into sweete and teares to ioy sweete angers and sweete peace as sweete disdaines sweete ill sweete griefe and burden that is most light sweete speech and sweetly heard with outward eare when from her mouth it comes and in her eyes is read A. Each one the paine feeles of his louing well and eyther loue or death his pennance is Loue hath euer beene an enemie vnto man and therefore the Poet saith oh happie man so in my death this plague reach not so farre as to infect darke hell E. Vexe not your selfe the sweete tempers the sower for Loue it selfe doth heale the wound of Loue but more if onely once your selfe might taste the thousand part of all those endlesse ioyes which doth the louing heart beloued againe then grieuing you would sigh and say I doe account all the time to be lost that is not spent in Loue oh yeeres now fled and gone How many widdow-nights how many solitarie dayes haue I spent in vaine that might haue beene employed in this vse which is more sweet the oftner it is replyed A. When riuers shall both sigh and turne vnto their fountaines or Wolues shall flye from Lambes or the gray-hound from the fearefull Hare when Beares shall loue the sea or the Dolphin the Alpes and when from Plants sighes may be heard then to be a Louer I will be content E. Will you be so cruell vnto your selfe as to denie so high contentment vnto your selfe in taking from her the labour of denying it you A. I call her an enemie whom you call a louer and that briefe content a great pennance E. There is in Loues necessitie no Law me let my Mistresse entertaine after short prayers and seruice short or peace or truce restoring both our hearts A. Ah it is a false sweete flitting good The treacherous world can giue vnto a man That doth in it repose his confidence Wherein no peace is nor stabilitie E. T is a prouerbe olde loue him that loues againe A. The youthfull heart enamoured Now smiles then weepes now feares then is secure And when he would not doth repent his fault But farre from loue remou'd from torments all E. I doubt some pleasing enuie doth you tempt A. We cannot thinke this to be enuies case seeing deere is the loue that gets both heart and gold and doe you not remember the saying a Louer mony-lesse no other seemes then like a scholler without bookes a Pilot without skill a Fencer blinde a Warriour without Armes E. That whore may goe to the Hospitall that prostitutes her selfe and will not scrape For little pleasure he suffers great paine that lets his Bagpipe out vpon credite who ere thou wert that first didst learne teach to sel proud loue accursed be thy state thy buried ashes and thy bones so cold and towards them inhumane be all men not saying passing by remaine in peace the raine them wet and let the winde them scatter Heards tread on them with feet vncleane and strangers eke for thou didst first corrupt Loues true Nobilitie thou his sweet delights didst bitter make Loue mercenarie Loue seruant vnto gold a Monster huge most sauage and more terrible then either earth or waues of Sea brings forth why crie I thus in vaine let each one vse those armes by nature graunted vnto him for greater safetie so the Hart may runne the Lyon vse his pawes the foamie Boare his tuskes in women beautie and comelinesse are force and Armes wherewith to ouercome We because we vse not to our good this violence Nature hath made vs apt to offer violence rapines to commit A. Admit that women were an hell a fire a flame most visible to such a perill would you expose your selfe E. What ere she were gentle were she faire more bold I would be goe more readily then the wounded Hart doth to the fountaine cleare I would not feare midst fire flame to goe yea into hell or yet in hell to liue if hell may be where things so faire are seene to taste that which once tasted oft inuites to tast so my liking there for to possesse as it might ready be vnto my will A. Who can finde good except he seeke it out and danger t is that thing for to finde out which may well please yet torments enough containing griefe enough in fading ioyes I know not whether the great bitternesse that a man seruing and louing feeles lamenting dispairing may fully sweetned be by a present ioy but if more deere it is and if good doth after euill sweeter taste of Loue I le neuer require this greater happinesse Let him in this sort others happy make I haue already wept and burnt enough let others haue their share I not desire that which must cost our sinfull soules so deare E. Loue will enforce him that is cold in
will A. He that is farre off cannot enforced be and all wounds neuer so great remotion cures E. Who languisheth in loue A. Who seares or flies away E. What booteth flight from him that winged is A. Growing loue hath but shortwings and scarcely they hold him vp neither displayes he them in flight E. Man sees not when Loue gins to grow and when he sees he 's great and takes his flight A. No if before hee neuer saw him grow Loue finally doth but consume our time or loue our soule doth first consume and waste and thus your euils haue no remedie but after martirdome a cruell death E. Seeing you a courser or swift dogge would be I tell you from my heart I doe protest that when I shall see you to call for helpe I will not moue one step to afford you ayde one finger one word nor one onely eye-brow A. Doe what you please let Loue vse all his Art I sweare hee shall neuer obtaine my heart E. You are more worthy of pittie then of enuie you hold my my counsailes now I see in scorne vse at my reasons iest but time will come when you will repent not to haue followed them for then you vvill auoyde those Christles vvherein now you looke your selfe not so deformed to behold A. Loue shall no more torment me as before I neuer heard nor saw a stranger thing more foolish passion cruell and importunate then that of Loue As frost to plants and scorching heat to flowers haile to the corne and vvormes vnto the seede nets vnto Harts and lyme vnto the birdes so Loue an enemie to man hath alwayes beene And he that called him fire vvell vnderstood his nature vvicked and perfidious for if we looke on fire how faire it seemes if it we touch how cruell the vvorld hath not a more cruell Monster then it it deuoures as a wilde beast and as fire it burnes and vvastes and flieth like the vvinde and vvhere hee sets but his imperious foot all force must yeeld and other power giue place No otherwise Loue if thou it doest behold in two faire eyes or in the tressed lockes oh how it pleaseth seemes and doth allure vvhat ioy it breathes and peace it promiseth but if too neare you draw and tempt it much so as it spread and gather further force no Tyger hath Hircania nor yet Libia a Lyon so cruell or pestiferous Snake that vanquish or yet equall can his crueltie More cruell then hell or yet then death it selfe to pittie enemie of wrath then instrument In fine of Loue Loue quite depriued E. Loue 's like a knife which if you take in that part vvhere for humane vse the hand it holdes the vser it doth good but take it by the edge it oft brings death A. The Bee 's but little yet with his little sting he troublesome and grieuous wounds doth make but what is lesse then little God of Loue In times each moment he creepes in and 's hid in euery little space now vnder the shaddow of the eye-browes then amidst the little Frizels of a faire haire otherwhiles vvithin little dimples that sweet smiles often frame in a faire cheeke And yet so great so mortall and so deepe his vvounds are and eke so remedilesse Alas a Louers bowels nought are else but all wounds and bloudy sight most cruell Loue yea more then cruell and impious E. Alas man doth not oftentimes see all The law most sure vvith which Loue His Empire gouerneth eternally Is not hard nor crooked and his workes Are full of prouidence of misterie WhoÌ„ others wrongfully condemne oh with what Art And by wayes how vnknowne he leades A man to be happy and amid'st ioyes On the top and height of all contentment In Paradise of loue he placeth him When he at bottome thinkes himselfe of ill Wherefore from loue no errour doth proceede A. Oh goodly age of gold not because the riuers ranne with milke and the Woods distilled honey not because the earth yeelded her fruits not being cut vp with the plough and serpents had neither malice nor poyson nor the world did not yet feare poyson nor sword Not because no thicke cloud did then display his vaile but in an eternall spring-time which now doth burne and freese the skie euen smiled in continuall serenitie and light neither did the strange vessell then bring warre or ware to forraine shoares Not in any of these respects but onely because that vaine title without any subiect that Idoll of errour and of deceite that proud and idle sound that vnprofitable subiect of flatteries titles and deceites that which by the vaine vulgar was afterwards called honor Then was he not a Tyrant ouer our mindes but afterwards when he grew to tyrannize ouer our Nature for the vvicked Tyrant of our Nature did not then mingle his sorrowes amongst the sweet contents of the amorous flockes Neither was his hard law yet knowne to those soules inured to liberty But a most happie and golden law engrauen by Nature What liketh is lawfull They held fidelity for a law Then amongst flowers and brookes mixing entertainments with vvhisperings and whisperings vvith kâ—sses clasping close together Louers had then their hearts in their words The naked virgin dâ—scouered her fresh Roses which now keepe hidden vnder a vaile Thou honour first didst couer and stop vp the fountaine of delights denying vvater to amorous thirst Thou taughtest faire eyes first to be retired in themselues and to keepe their beauties secret from others Thou drawest into the net the lockes formerly dispersed in the ayre thou mad'st all sweet and amorous gestures seeme skittish and froward Thou puttest a bridle on vvords and Art on steps now thy false reason vvhich Winters amongst the cloudes of sence hath shut vp heauen from our sight Moreouer thou vvicked Impe didst couer vvith thy filthie delights the soules beautie and didst shew a vvay how to nourish the thirst of desires vvith coy countenances loosing afterwards the raynes to secret impunities and so like an extended net vnder flowers and scattered leaues thou concealest vvanton thoughts vvith holy and demurish gestures thou valewest 〈◊〉 goodnesse by apparance and the life by an artificiall â—orme neither caâ—â—st thou but takest it for honour that Loue be stollen so it may be hidden in secret It is therefore thy vvorke onely O honour that that is now theâ—t vvhich formerly vvas the free gift of Loue. And thy noble and famous deedes are no other but our miseries and laments And to conclude it is most true that honestie briefly is become no other then an Art of seeming honest and honestie is growne an humane subtiltie for there is no such secure theft of Loue of no so closely coucht as that vvhich lies hid vnder the vaile of fained honestie And a vvoman vnaccompanied and slightly guarded is too vveake a defence against youthfull heat E. The vvorthie vvell-borne minde scornes to haue any more trustie guardian ouer her then her owne honour
melancholicke infirmities whereunto if you adde Fennell it quickens the sight but so they engender ventositie and aquosities in the veines opilation in the pores digest slowly heale the reynes and oftentimes make the body to swell to correct their vice in the boyling of them you must twice change their water and then let them boyle in fresh broth with Fennell A. Flesh makes bloud and bloud makes flesh take away those sallets and rootes whether they be sod or fryed and reach vp those dishes of flesh the which in conclusion are they that maintaine our life P. To say the truth flesh nourisheth more then any other meat the which because it is hot and moist is easily transmuted into bloud and bringeth great nourishment but yet notwithstanding in eating of it some rule should be obserued A. But how can we hold Hipocrates or the Physitian on the one hand and the dish on the other P. My meaning is that the flesh wines and corne of high places so the Sunne haue power vpon them are more healthfull then those of pooles marshes and lakes Moreouer the flesh of such beasts as are too young doe abound in too much humiditie but so they are more easie of digestion that againe which is too old is very bad hard and dry of little nourishment and hard of coacoction and the flesh of males because it is more hot and dry is better then that of females being of a contrary nature and yet the last is best for Febricitantes but the shee-Goate is farre more commendable nourishment then any other female A. You haue so confounded my iudgement with your many rules and obseruations as I know not where to begin to eate P. Let vs eate some Lambe which is hot and moist so it be of a yeere old otherwise it hath much viscisitie and humiditie but yet if it generate good nourishment as I said it doth easily digest it is excellent for humour melancholicke as also for the sanguine and those of a cholericke and adust complexion and it is the better if it haue left sucking feeding and growing with odiriferous hearbes for if it be sucking it begets grosse humours hurts old and flegmaticke men procures viscositie in the stomacke through superfluous humiditie and is preiudiciall to the falling euill and other passions of the braine and nerues A. Taste a little of this Goate P. I would to God that I taste not more then I beleeue if it were such flesh it would helpe those that are too fat by reason of the little nourishment it brings but yet it is exceeding euill for the falling sicknesse it engenders much melancholy A. Hold here this is better P. This varietie of meates annoyes me greatly they procuring diuers infirmities especially when they are of a contrary qualitie for so their concoction being hindred they corrupt and putrifie and therefore though it like my palate yet it preiudiceth my health and heare a wise man being demaunded why he would haue no more but one kinde of meate vpon the table he answered because he would not haue too much need of a Physitian the diuersitie of meates then being hurtfull it will be healthfull to vse but one And therefore many yeeres agoe men liued longer because they were more regular and lesse licourish then wee but now idlenesse and gurmondize is risen to such an height that he is counted foolish miserable and abiect that doth not euen drowne himselfe and his whole familie in this vice and the greater foole gull and woodcocke indeed that one is the greater man he is accounted but why should we affect singularitie let vs eate merrily A. But if this please you not see here is Oxe or Cowes flesh I know not whether and here is also shee or rather not to erre hee-calfe indeed P. If it be of a young Oxe fat and accustomed to the plough it is wonderfull good nourishment for labourers it generates great abundance of bloud stayes the collericall fluxe but so it engenders bad nourishment it concocts slowly it breeds wambling and rising of the stomacke and melancholike infirmities it ought to lye in salt one whole day A. But for your Cowes beefe which is very old P. Why it is very bad as all other old flesh is but yet sucking veale breeds excellent blood it easily digesteth and that of the mountaine is better then the other bred in the champions A. But what if it were Buls flesh P. O God that 's worst of all it is an aguie grosse hard stincking and dry flesh of bad nourishment and is neuer well rosted by the fire nor concocted by the stomake and in a word it is worse then Buffles flesh A. Well to auoid all this danger we will eate of this Kid. P. It is of hot temperature euen to the second month of very commendable temper betweene humidity and drynesse the blacke and red is alwaies best and the sucking males of foure or fiue months are most excellent it nourisheth well digests quickly furthers health wonderfully helps the sicke and sound and such as be students and labour but little neuertheles it hurts men decrepit a cold or watry stomacke to those troubled with the collicke with the Epilepticke and those which labour or take bodily paines But if it be well rosted specially the hinder parts which are the more moist and seasoned with Oranges his qualitie is much corrected A. This Goate or Kid or Doe howsoeuer you please to call it pleaseth me very well P. T is hot and dry the young ones which are fat and much vp and downe the fields by meanes whereof they dissolue the bad humours are more easie to digest they engender blood vvith very little superfluitie but yet bending alittle to melancholie as in a manner all wilde beasts doe all which notwithstanding this doth exceede in nourishment it preuailes against the Paralasie and cholicke and extenuates fat men but so it hurts those already extenuated for it brings detriment to the nerues by drying them vp especially if it be old for then it hardly digests and it is best in winter A. Surely by the smell this should be mutton P. It is temperately hot and moist flesh the young ones of a yeere old especially that feed on hils breeds good bloud because it is sweete in taste of good nourishment and digests quickly the broth thereof is excellent against the melancholicke humour being sod it must be eaten with parsley and the hinder parts roasted and let them first be well beaten with a cudgel if it be old for want of stones and through age it hurts in his drynesse and is hard of digestion A. But what if we should tast of Harts flesh See where it is for your vse doubt not it cannot flye away P. Why it is hot and dry if it be sucking or gelt it is good nourishment for by the aboue said meanes he looseth his vitiousnesse an Harts horne being burnt in the fire driues away all venemous beasts the bone of
on horse-backe in Gods name Who beginneth well hath halfe the worke Nor one beginneth not well but from heauen A mortall enterprise cannot haue a fortunate issue If the heauens doth not prosper it B. Doe you please to haue any thing else sir F. No but get you vp likewise marrie first tell me one thing did you aske which way we should goe and turne B. I haue set downe in order the names of the Villages and Townes the miles and distance from one place to another F. See how pleasant it is in this hot season to ride in the coole of the morning B. So me thinkes likewise but God and heauen helpe vs in so many turnings and by-wayes F. I beleeue the heauens can make easie the way B. Here is a crosse from the which commeth so many wayes that now at the last euery one resteth in such manner dazeled that one knoweth not surely which way to goe F. Not the crosse but men with their varying make others to stray but let it be as it will be for by some one we must goe wherefore doe you feare Doest thou not know with how many forces God helpeth me B. But yet by that which in truth seemeth to me most secure large and beaten I see no body goe there truly but onely in appearance F. Be not astonished at it that Direction wanteth not to a Pilgrim that hath a tongue B. But if hee were one of those that in the manner of Merchants did seeke not onely to liue but to inrich himselfe with his merchandise and with his tedious and superfluous discourse perswadeth that such a path is the most secure when he knowes it worse then my selfe and yet playing the Reynald he will himselfe faine to goe by it setting me in the steepe way which cannot be plainely discerned but at certaine times when he with raynes in the necke keepes alwaies the lower I looking about me and perceiuing that in truth he auoides all that which with naked words hee perswaded me vnto and therefore beleeue me I beleeue him not F. And yet sure it is as necessarie there should be one good way for vs if thou wilt not say that alone there is one saluation for the desperate is to dispaire of saluation Are you a Pilot ah looke vp to heauen and be of good cheere away forward follow on without interest or any peruersenesse that which by the true footings seemes to thee to be the truest way B. But my heart throbs least any body should see vs. F. Doubt not For vertue neuer failes a valiant man and He that hath swarued from the right way must thither returne againe Who hath no Plate or else the same hath lost Must quench his thirst out of a drinking glasse B. Why then hereafter I must be more bold F. Yes bolde and yet with circumspection B. But what would you say sir while we stand thus in the Sunne to his owne good hap and our bad fortune some famished Wolfe should come vpon vs. F. We would doe contrarie to the Poets aduise Doe not remaine in any darksome night Vnder the poore skie by light of waterish Moone But we must looke out further for a bad night a worser day succeedes yet be not daunted seeing euery one from his birth-day hath his Fortunes set downe B. So me thinks I haue obserued and yet they said that euery one is the framer of his owne hap F. It often happens that one wise and valiant Is the Author of some happy fortune to himselfe but So haue you not seene that when I will I haue astonishment In my eies and death in my hand besides in truth nothing can terrifie me for I haue often made triall of The diuers assaults and cruell feare of death The great vncertainties of chance and of instable lot and yet if I were to die I would in dying seeme vnvanquished but whereat laugh you doe you thinke it would be a worke rather of furie then of hope B. Let vs confesse the truth we not hauing supped we shall be readie for a dainty supper for him and this I take to be the worldly prouidence so much exalted to beautifie as it were one with the extreame misery of many but to auoide this danger let vs hasten our pace F. Amidst all daunger valour is secure In vertue lyeth all my happinesse Valour from vertue vertue from faith proceedes and therefore you feare because you wauer in faith and that you beginne not where you should and ought And trust not in that Lord who good men helpes And doth preuent your prayers with his grace But why stay you alight for we will ease our beasts while some desperate fellow comes that may shew vs the way whether good or bad B. Oh what faire sightly and pleasant fields are here In beholding their beautie my heart euen growes young againe F. There shines in vs a fauour new deuine Did you euer feele such a sweet aire O goodly countries and delightsome streames O pleasant hils Flowers chearefull happy and sweet springing grasse Most louely and pale violets Vmbragious vines whereon the Sunne doe beate Who vvith his beames you proud and pleasant makes B. Surely if there be any Paradise in the world this is one F. Zipherus returnes and brings with him faire weather With flowers and hearbes his pleasant familie Progne does prattle and Philomell laments It 's now the faire virmilion pleasant spring When meadowes laugh and heauen serenefies Ioue smiles to see his louely daughter faire The aire earth water is with loue possest Tree-barkes grow tender and so each greene plant More ioyfully his verdure reassumes The Doues their kisses doe redouble oft All creatures are by loue now reconcilde Me thinkes the hard Oake and the Laurell chaste With all the leafie ample familie And earth and water doe both forme and breath sweet sighes and sents of an inflamed loue B. Oh what a goodly country what faire grounds are here F. Heere 's pleasant aire faire skie with pleasant Meadowes trees and waters pure and cleare Where midst the myrtles beautifull A fount doth rise a little brooke ore runnes Which raine into her bosome hearbs and still sweet sounds With murmuring noise of leaues that shake and stir The birds do sing the marbles and the gold I doe conceale For Art and workemanship most wonderfull The Elme Trees to whom sometime the Vine doe leane And with his crooked feete climes toward heauen B. The aire odour shaddow and refreshings all to you doe seeme to bend and to incline F. To tell thee my thoughts to an haire my deare Bulugante I ruminate and midst my tossed thoughts I am assailde with pittie of my selfe and In so diuers thoughts I know not which to choose For sad I passe the day and sad and sorrowfull The night while morning peepes againe Neither in
me such vertue doth remaine That readily I can discerne of things B. Courage Master there 's good being euery where F. I know it and good remayning in euery country The valiant man each place his country deemes The reasons as you thinke are not alike And goods once lost are not recouered To him not wholy of sence depriued His country soile is pleasant and most deare For Nature in our humane procreation Towards the country where each one is borne Inserts a secret firme affection Which euer liues and neuer groweth old Euen as the loadstone though both farre and neare The skilfull Pilot carry it round about Both where the Sunne doth rise and goeth downe Yet this the secret vertue neuer looseth With which it still affects the blustring North Euen so he that farre from his country goes Though he enuiron much and oftentimes Resideth in a strange and forraine land Yet doth he alwayes this firme loue retaine Which doth encline him to his natiue soile O vnto me beloued more and deare Then any other land faire Italy Which with my foote I touch and worship in my minde Though to thy borders gentle Mother mine I should with blinded eyes arriue and come Yet could I know thee quickly by and by O're all my veines a priuy humour runnes So full of tender loue of sweet delight That in each veine and part my bloud it felt Thou therefore Bulugante who hast beene my companion both in the way and my other discommodities it is no lesse reason but that thou shouldst haue a part with mee in the ioy of my short delights B. Questionlesse all earthly contentment is but short and yet me thinkes to enioy so happy a Country exceedes all the rest F. Hard heart if now thou doest not teare and rend Euer may'st thou lament if thou canst not waile Oh wicked Fortune alwayes mine enemie Vnto defence I am not now so swift But that more ready thou art to offence And yet if by defence I answere make A fresh thou me assail'st and if I fall Then much more cruelly thou me offend'st Fortune I thee resist and yet some shew Of flight this my resistance makes Vaine Trophee ouer a Towne abandoned Doe what thou canst I nothing feare at all Fraile Fortune plainely thou do'st vnderstand Thou canst not hurt me more then thou hast done B. Sir you must take all in good part and comfort yourselfe in others example F. I take example by other meane estates By others harmes instructing well my selfe Receiuing comfort in mine owne distresse B. Little or great euery one must carrie his owne sacke on his backe F. Seeing my iniurious Fortune Hath so remou'd me from my greatest blisse In teares I alwaies will delighted be And greeue to laugh absinth and poyson be my sustenance My widdow nights and dayes so sorrowfull Night is my griefe and faire day darke to me My bed is the hard field of a bloudy battell And yet at my griefe no man does lament The more I looke for end the further it is off B. Oh sir me thinkes it is the part of a wise man to liue as long as one can and mens manner is rather to call for death formally then with a resolued and firme desire to die F. I know it 's common vse and Art Mongst Louers for to threaten death And yet effects but seldome doe ensue By that I heare you know me not full well The world and men I doe contemne with death B. He that giues ouer all let him not care nor complaine for nothing F. My friend Bulugante it is most true And yet my griefe me thinkes procures my ioy Wherefore I oftentimes doe thus discourse O Lord that in this prison hast me shut O Lord that plainely seest each secret thought of mine Now haue I past halfe of my course The morne a childe the euen I am growne olde I hoard returne from whence I parted faire Spare not O Lord thy fauours towards me Thou seest me Lord not now a mortall man But dead now to delights I liue in dole When my hard starre and fortune ominous Draue me into places so vncouth and strange Cause me not to abuse thy pittie Lord Wearie I am and greeued longer to liue And euery day the path more rough doth seeme Of sailing through these horrid fearefull waues I see the windes my passage doe disturbe In the hauen a storme and wearied out of breath My Pylot broke my Masts and rent my sailes I am like the Pylot that from sea deceites Hath brought his Ship to a desired Port. I must now winde vp my dispearsed sailes And trust no more vnto the cruell Seas B. I but you must obserue Maister how it is a man-like thing to hope and endure F. I know and hope for euil's diminished When hope in me no whit impaired is I hope the falling Sunne will rise againe And the heauen when least it shines Brings backe againe his first serenitie But my friend Bulugante know assuredly I am so weary vnder the burden olde Of my offences and my ill led life That I feare much to faint in the mid way And so to light vpon mine enemie My sinfull burden worthy is of death Victor vanquisht thou canst make me Lord And in the midst of all misfortunes make A greater way then when I ouercame B. Oh God sir euen now you perswaded mee to be all heart from whence then comes all this heart griefe here about they preach that they haue power with their breath and fingers to bow heauen and open hell F. My Falsorino for so I will call you seeing thou followest me Falsorino Religion must not be contaminate I am so with the darknesse of this world And of the flesh so clad and couered That Ganges Nilus or the deepe Ocean Cannot me cleanse and purifie Onely heauens grace that part of me vncleane Can make most pure to heauen therefore I turne And humble pardon craue I doe reueale My secret faults lament and humbly pray B. Sir it were better for vs to goe and make merry for so by changing place we shall change our thoughts F. Superfluous griefe I know vnhealthfull is And yet this humour I cannot refraine My soule what thinkest thou on or yet what doest Thou must not thinke ere to returne againe Nor yet once hope returne not lawfull is And sound aduise it is Quickly to leaue what thou canst not retaine Ah my deare Italie this onely ardent sigh Be in true witnesse of that louing hart Which was excited thus to honour thee Pardon I craue from fount of pietie Oh Lord I also hope that after so many Labours one day thou wilt me full restore And this will surely be a thing diuine When the reward our seruice shall preceed B. Maister in this life
pot F. It were better to deceiue the world though you be but a foole that you had a wiser and better tongue B. Hath not truth gates wide open to come in and goe out when she pleaseth F. Sheake warily or else you shall be seuerely corrected The olde Foxes cruell and seuere Mynistresse Will learne the enterer neuer to come forth B. I neuer had it in my minde although there was great cause to reproue him who with that boasting and false title of most holy Father your sanctity Vicar of Christ successour of Saint Peter miracle of the world Porter both of heauen and hell reuerenced of all fearefull to all Nations celebrated of the Vniuerse amongst the Princes most ancient and most noble amongst the Kings most potent to whom the flower de lis the blacke and the white Eagle humbly encline themselues to whom the crowne of Pologne promptly obeyeth whom all Italy as the Lieutenant of God and an infallible Oracle doe adore and in conclusion the arch great one aboue the greatest of all the great ones in this great world and the earthquaker of this Vniuerse which in his damnation doth not leaue off to brandish against the true flames of indignation F. Alas how displeasing is it to God vnder a couerture of vaine titles and varnish of false names to pollute and infect the Church and with forgeries tyrannise the soules that he hath redeemed Beleeue me pontificall roabes vnworthily he weares Who for the publike good doth not restraine His priuate profit He is no shepheard but a rauening Wolfe who feeding his owne fauorites kinsmen and adherents seeketh to vnhorse Saint George and vncloath others vnder a pretext of cloathing Saint Peter An humaine minde but little penetrates A mortall sight cannot behold the Sunne And how much doth often helpe The bodies blindnesse to intellectuall sight Happy is he that printeth in his heart Celestiall thoughts through a gift diuine B. God can illuminate whosoeuer is in the depth of darknesse F. Oh blindnesse of our humaine mindes In what night so obscure In what thicke mist of errour Are your soules drown'd and plung'd If then O soueraigne Sunne thou lightnest not Why wretched mortall men Grow you so proud of your weake sapience That part of you which vnderstands and sees Is not your vertue but comes downe from heauen He giues and takes the same as he like best B. My tongue itches to be talking F. What concernes you not let it not nearely touch you know time purchaseth all things and againe looseth all things B. This me thinkes is a shadow F. Not a shadow or a picture or a figure but euen the body it selfe appeareth No otherwise may you at this day see certaine poore families which otherwhiles were of the richer sort some others to be raised from low to high estate as also sometimes Dukedomes Empires and Monarchies with worldly reuolution one while to encrease another while altogether to diminish because euery mortall thing is subiect to an end wherevpon Petrarch saith Mongst those magnanimous but few whom good doth please But time at last triumphs ouer the world ouer all titles B. I like well whatsoeuer you haue said because it is true but your Italy policie doth so preuaile that this case seemes almost desperate F. What a foole are you O how differing are those inaccessible wayes by which your graces descend to vs. From those deceitfull and crooked ones By which our thoughts ascend the heauen For if time worke not there can be no perseuerance where neither Iustice nor truth but onely violence ruleth for reason like a launce ouerthrowes all opposition B. This reason satisfies one very much F. Doe not you remember Eglon King of Moab who was iustly slaine by Ehud the Israelite who was therefore called a renowmed sauer of his Country and Philip King of Macedonia was extolled by euery one with infinite praises for taking away Euphrates life one of Platoes schollers who had perswaded his predecessour to Tyrannie B. And that deseruedly out of question considering that wicked counsels are the corruptions and the onely poison to good Princes and so by the leprosie of their auarice and greedinesse they rot the whole flocke and vnder pretext of assisting the head for the better filling of their owne poakes they are neuer satisfied that they may haue the more aboundance to grow fat for hell F. So it is but yet many times lawes being enacted vnder the Princes authoritie and he being the life and soule of them it is he onely that beares away the infamie thereof and herevpon not the Counsellours but Dionisius himselfe was expelled by Dion of Siracusa Astiages was stripped of his Kingdome by his Nephew Cyrus Busiris King of the Aegiptians by Hercules Milo Tyrant of Pisa was throwne headlong into the Sea Alexander Ferreus was slaine by his wife Thebe Nero was induced to kill himselfe being denounced their enemie by the Senate Caius Caligula was slaine in a conspiracie by his owne souldiers Domitianus brother to Tirus was put to death in his owne chamber by his familiar friends Antonius Comodus was strangled Macrinus slaine by Heliogabalus and infinite others loosing their liues in the same vnhappy manner and thinkest thou that liuing wisely doest thou thinke the same hearts hands and other humane meanes are now quite extinguished whereby Tyrannies may be remoued with their Tyrants also Heare our Ariostos The people did and for the most part doe Obey them best their hatred that vndergoe For one of them doth hardly trust another Nor dares himselfe impart vnto his brother He may well bannish one another kill And take their goods and honour at his will But silent hearts send vp their sighes on hie While God and Saints Reuenge doth not denie Which though but slow yet sure it lights at last And payes home thicke for all delay that 's past B. This proceedes from the defect of a dastardly heart which daring to doe nothing the tongue thereupon growes silent F. Certainly you erre the same heart is in our breasts but here is all the matter youth is not brought vp amongst Drums and warlike Trumpets neither accustomed to see or shed bloud except for follies or humor or about words of no moment neither are they inured to carrie away victorie because if you obserue it men are onely pleased and feede themselues with vanities effeminacies and alas that so I should say with leuities but as I said before with Tasso with a pike in hand to suffer the heat of the Summer and to endure the rigour of cold Winter they were accustomed The paper that on their behalfe Doth wantonly now sing Both tender louer and pleasing Nuptials Being made a Trump would Trophies sound armes B. Surely I take almost euery one to be of that quality wherein he is nusled and afterwards taught by anothers example F. Finde me but one in our times so drowned in aggrieuances
but a prepared soule A. I would willingly be of that nation of which the said Petrarch spake There 's borne a people whom death not grieues E. As for my selfe according as I can iudge of my selfe I see that So weake's the thread That holdes my painefull life As without others helpe Before due time his end it doth obtaine Therefore This gift of God I onely doe demand That when out of his sacred will The houre of my death shall draw neere hand He will renowne me with a worthy end A. Soft and faire this wood of the world spoileth it selfe and reuesting it selfe with new leaues all things by little and little change their countenance E. God receiue the dead into his glory and giue true contrition to the liuing and to me a fresh memory of dying A. Seeing all our hope In death we put So that both when and where We meet with it we may be ready found And they which hitherto haue blindly slept Now let them ope their eyes and stand for feare Each day and houre prepared for the same Let none in force trust or in younger yeares Or in high dignities Seeing nothing is more certaine Then our mortall death And yet vncertain nothing more then th' houre therof E. To doe well is the onely meanes to prepare a mans selfe to die well A. O time O turning heauen thou doest in flying Deceiue the blinde and miserable mortall man Oh euery one admires the sodaine night of life Which in the Sunnes-continuall declining The ruine of the world doth manifest to all E. This is the onely ioy of euery faithfull liuing since that Life gaue death to vs and death onely can giue life A. This is not life but a long death But against death no hope saue death But I pray you sir tell mee so it be lawfull to know what make you in these parts E. Why surely I came with all obseruance to visite you not to stirre vp loue but to awake the louer A. Although fire not reuiued will goe out vnder the ashes of a long silence yet so doth not loue in the forge of a louers breast E. By loue we onely vnderstand the language of loue but for you sir who I know loues me better then I deserue you cannot but euery day haue heard with the eares of your thoughts newes of me who with the wings of my minde flie continually vnto you A. The principall vertue of him that answeres is to know the meaning of him that propounds for with the eyes of my vnderstanding I haue alwaies seene you you were euer really in my presence and in my heart I continually einoyed you and knew your desires E. He that should haue forgot you must needes haue forgotten vertue her selfe I was onely absent from you in body but not in minde A. Neither did I euer conferre with mine owne memorie but I discoursed with your selfe as also I neuer conuersed vvith bookes but I entreated of your vertues as also you can procure me no more inestimable ioy then the liuely memoriall you seemed to retaine of me E. Sir your departure which like lightning Prius tenuit quam tonuit and your absence made me offer vnto you that obseruance which so often I performe with my heart but now your presence spurres me forward to as much as my entire affection demands A. As I discerne the integritie of your minde in the sinceritie of your words so haue I proued and found no lesse in your actions E. Sir you left your selfe behinde with so fresh a memoriall of your loue and courtesie as I may confidently affirme that you neuer departed from me or rather that I neuer left you but that together with you I my selfe departed likewise A. When you seperate me from your sweet selfe you leaue me without departure E. When I leaue you sir I know not whether I am possest with a greater griefe for your departure or a greater desire after your returne or if you loose me with your eyes yet loose I not you with my heart A. Many times I haue receiued you with my minde and oftentimes you haue beene resident in the aboade of my hart but now visibly entertaining you I behold honor admire you E. Now I see sir that you are arriued in good health who was inwardly before vnited to my selfe I thanke God with my whole heart and tongue together and am come both to reioyce and thanke you that you haue thus vouchsafed to mitigate the griefe of your absence A. Through my departure there was no absence of ioy nor by my returne they haue no renouation for they neuer yet came nor which is more I looke not for them in this life E. He hath true ioy that possesses vertue which is better knowne by the want then the enioyance thereof A. Friendly visitations afford no small recreation but yours sir serue me for an excellent remedy they prouoking and stirring me vp to vertue E. It is my proper inclination to visite the vertuous as it is your property to deserue it A. Oh good sir this is rather a confounding then honouring of me E. No in troth Sir I thinke it to be the least part of my dutie and your vertue I was absent from you with obligation but am present both with obligation and affection and so together with them both and my presence I come to visit you A. Now I perceiue that my continuall desire was no little hope of obtayning and inioying your presence E. The courtesie of friends and discourtesie of time haue hitherto delayed my comming to visite you A. Your courtesie is an authentike Patent and perpetual Record of the fauour wherein you please to retaine me E. The same carefull desire which liues in me to serue you the same I say will not permit that I should deferre the doing of you all reuerence A. And the liuing without your presence hath beene as vnacceptable to me as now your presence is gratefull E. There can be nothing more deare vnto me then your comming euen as nothing more dâ—spleasing then your departure A. As likewise your viâ—itation is to me which confirmes the ancient worthinesse of your minde and fastneth a knot vpon another E. What is but deferd is not quite laide aside my intent was to come sooner A. And I O bad fortune when you came to salute mee prepared to visite you and therefore Sir you are the more welcome the slacker my visitation fell out E. And yet in common opinion he that failes in diligence failes in loue A. Excuse me sir delay doth not alwayes pretend negligence E. Loue and affection like flame operates without all delay A. I beseech you sir doe me the fauour as in stead of seruice to accept of my intentiue desire to serue you E. Your requesting of my fauour is the doing of me many A. And affection supplies defect for though you preuent mee in courtesie yet can you not doe it in
gratious and ingenious vayle then vnder rhe colours of your visitation proffers ingenuities and courtesies E. I seeke nothing else but to confirme the same by some new signe of the obseruance of my seruice and auncient deuotion A. True friends may well suffer many accidents but not alienate their friendship E. Our amity hath taken such deepe root and strong foundation in my heart as neither distance of place nor length of time can neuer shake it A. I am little able in any thing but onely in loue the which is such that as the soule is immortall so is it immortall as also is the occasion thereof E. And I may well doe as any other man doth change state but not thought vary in Fortune but not in affection change the world but not my soule nor my heart A. Such is mine also E I am so perswaded but you must conceiue that as of nothing nothing comes so whatsoeuer is brought forth cannot be nourished without some meanes and hereupon friendship wauers vnder the burden of a long silence and therefore if it haue taken deepe root it displaces it selfe by diuers meanes that is with visitations letters with salutations and true complements A. But I would rather thinke with benefits E. These remaine not in euery bodies power neither can we alwaies ensnare a mans heart with liberalities but rather with courtesie amourous actions and other such like offices A. True loue acts best and complies least doth much and speakes little E. And how can the operations thereof be acceptable when it operates without the grace of complement A. The operation adornes it selfe and sets forth all E. True loue is neuer reputed by doing much so that with the hands the tongue ioyne and with the tongue the heart A. I yeeld vnto you in all things but in loue but herein I am neuer satisfied E. Loue is like the scab or itch which from him that hath eyes cannot be concealed and therefore it is no meruaile though my affection haue found it in you A. You are full of loue and courtesie E. And you are full of loue and replenish me with all ioy A. Your loue towards me can frame no other words then those which it selfe speakes E. I speake euen from my heart for to speake with Art sweet breuity fained crouchings and perfumed kissing of the hand I bequeath and yeeld them to the louers of the Court to Knights and Romancers with their Ladies and Mistresses A. Although I be not gold of the Refiners yet as you see I am not of any other mettall but whatsoeuer I am I am altogether sincere pure and not the Philosophers stone so much dreamt vpon E. With the delicious bait of loue you euen rauish me beyond my selfe and with the perpetuall loue of being bound vnto you which is the happy extasie desired of you and fortunate bond that makes me happy A. Interest doth not carie mee away sir I giue my selfe to my friends and am not sold with the price of loue with which I contend to buy them with a large and bountifull hand E. That vertue sir which makes you to demerit the selfe same makes you meritorious of loue and of euery ones esteeme A. The like sir doth yours so as you need no meanes to make your selfe beloued or estimable because your selfe sufficeth and is able by this meanes to make amiable and estimable whomsoeuer you loue E. I being like a troubled and blacke spring I finde in my selfe nothing but loue and fidelity the which I wholly impart vnto you A. You talking vnto mee sir with that part wherewith you loue me you cannot but speake louingly E. Your words doe flow from Platoes schoole where loue is the Philosopher and Philosophie the louer A. I pray you suffer me to be a schoâ—ler in such a schoolle of loue euen as in all other disciplines I take you for a Doctor E. I perceiue you will confound me with wit and dexteritie but yet I le confound you with loue A. This is an excellent course of subduing without fight E. In all reason one must speake with a Louers tongue where there is great correspondencie of loue A. I liue wholly yours sir and ouercome he that will I le neuer change my hiew E. Your sweet words doe not onely discouer you for a louer but also to be amiable and nothing but loue A. He whose minde is full of loue can speake no words but such as are able to inamour euery one E. Euen as out of a troubled minde there comes nothing but inke and vncleanenesse which conuerts into the sweat of anguish so a minde full of loue produceth nothing but loue A. Euery effect is like to his cause from liuely fire there can proceede nothing but flame E I loue you certainly and loue you vndoubtedly from my heart A. I will onely say and speake little in respect of my obligation and bond euen mine owne minde is yours and to the end this may appeare vouchsafe to be mine in some part E. To the end that suspition entering fidelity may not be expelled I will say that I being likewise yours one liueth by another and the other by one A. I first loued you because you were vertuous but now I loue you out of a reciprocall mutuall loue E. At first you loued mee without knowledge which was not a loue of grace and fauour but now loue mee for fauour and gratitude thus I loue you but yet much more by reason of your higher demerit A. Your loue howsoeuer I preserue in the store-house of my heart for the nourishment of my soule and I will esteeme it for a great part of mine owne life E. I should acknowledge my selfe but too much bound if this obligation were not a making of mee yours by necessitie whereas I am yours by naturall affection A. My obligation is the greater by how much I am farre off from deseruing the same E. Your words doe euen sparkle from the Anuill of loue I know them by their temper and sound A. Sir vvith your pleasing conceites you still make open and plaine vnto me the way of Loue. E. The wound of Loue breaths forth oftentimes amorous heate but the vvound of the breast breathes forth sweete and amorous affection A. Sir vvith your ingenious accents you doe so beate and reuerberate on my stonie vvit as you send certaine sodaine sparkles of Loue the vvhich the more ardent they are the more they remaine depriued of splendor and brightnesse E. It delights me much that thus one thing after another you recreate me vvith your diuine wit A. To measure another mans demerits out of our owne curtesie and to behold them with the spectacles of affection maketh the most contemptible flyes to appeare Elephants and so on the contrary E. By the light of your vertues I hope I shall not so easily stumble A. I make no doubt but you are proud with your tongue to commend mee as you are ready to
to repose excellent trust in you E. I beseech you very heartily A. And I so farre as I am able doe request you that you will doe the like E. As my affection shall neuer faile no lesse shall my confidence A. The oftner you shall doe it the more acceptable it will be and the greater fauour E. If you doe so I shall repute it for a speciall fauour A. Achilles against Troylus I see my selfe vnable to rebut your eloquence and wit E. Wee must satisfie loue in some sort and by meanes of delight produce some benefit to our mindes A. It is true yet in a long way euery little circuit breedeth wearinesse E. Why should we alwayes speake after the same manner A. God hath not made vs Dogges that wee should alwayes vse one voice nor foules that we should alwaies be cloathed with the selfe same feathers E. You say true and therefore see the Courtier sometimes lay aside his sword and with his plume and perfumed gloues to giue ouer Galateos precepts but replenished with Philosophy to discourse and act like a Philosopher A. Pro virtute impetus post virtutem ruina corporibus animisque vis est parua eadem languescit mora I feared that after you had beene a Courtier you would not likewise haue become a Philosopher E. To tell you the truth seeing at this day how many counterfait ceremonies are vsed I am become one of Platoeâ— schollers in reiecting them and I frame my selfe harsh and rude like another Isope or rather as another Piouan Arlotto in obseruing of them A. What was Plato an enemie to ceremonies E. O God he was so much against them that euen in the vvorship of the Gods and in their seruice he would haue them vtterly abandoned A. Happily he led the way vnto the Puritanes E. That I know not neither doe I affirme but onely that he was of this opinion A. Hermes and Asclepius were of the same humour E. Who vnderstands not honours not slipping at trifles easely becomes contemptuous A. Yet is he surnamed the diuine Plato because hee did more neere then others approach vnto the truth of the first cause E. Notwithstanding vpon this subiect hee vvrote many vanities A. And who liues amongst vs who either in words or deedes and often in their writing doth not somtimes miserably stumble vpon this snare E. Say then that the most learned oftnest erre as we also see in meate that ouer salted tasts the worse A. It is true we must know that he which is not cerimonious is vicious E. I agree in that with you for on the contrary we see that ceremonies doe bring many into acceptance and fauour A. Hereupon Ceretus was not onely praised but howsoeuer he gaue occasion to the Tarquinions to sacke the Capitall was also priuiledged with a hundred yeeres of peace for the ceremonies obserued in it E. But consider that these were holy appertaining to the worship of the Gods and Goddesses of that time A. Were there then many yeeres agoe other Gods then there are now E. Doth so common a thing seeme new vnto you reade the Authors turne ouer the Histories and you shall know that a thousand times in a few ages both men and women doe cancell the ancient and like Painters compose new Gods create a new worship and frame new religions A. It is very strange E. As there is one onely God and one true baptisme so there is one onely religion and whosoeuer inuents any other hee findes a sect and no religion A. Pardon me a Clowne said vnto me that wee doe not know the foundation God is an infinite spirit and that I may so speake not of a great but of an infinite wisedome therefore capable of all things but man being of a small and finite spirit and of a scanted vnderstanding that onely pleases him which is agreeable to his slender capacitie and delights his composition whatsoeuer else he refuses and condemnes E. Be it as you will so many ages so many religions A. If with the time the rites be changed and with the rites the Gods and the heauens what meruaile if man also be changed E. He which from the beginning was and is and shall be euer one true and onely God by reason of the absolute perfection of his nature cannot be said to be subiect to any change A. If hee be as you say vnchangeable in his substance from whence comes it that those Gods are changed as the Moone and with them the manner of their worship is as often varied E. God as I tolde you is not changeable but the imperfection passion and inconstancie which shakes and as a reed bindes man to euery side and chiefly blindes his vnderstanding and his will and so makes him to his perpetuall hurt seeme changeable A. I doubt least by too many digressions we be caried from our intention E. In so doing we shall imitate Seneca who therefore the more full he was of variety the more delightfull he was and much the more acceptable A. But let vs returne to our purpose not onely the foresaid Philosophers did disallow of ceremonies but before deceit did multiply in the world and the said ceremonies did so much encrease there was as it were not any apparance of them E. So I thinke for being yet barbarous and little better then beasts in their speech conuersation and all their actions meere rusticall materiall and more then rude they were not apt nor knew not how to assume good manners and customes A. It may well be but though it were after a rude manner yet they alwayes proceeded with naked and sincere loue E. But I pray you tell mee how could they possibly without some forme of ceremonie demonstrate loue for in my opinion ceremonie being nothing else but a reformation of Barbarisme a precinct of ciuility an humane fashion a courteous manner of proceeding an expresse signe of loue which also in extreames produceth louing actions and we being humane humane effects and consequently outward obseruance in a great part which is also a signe of affection and conformable to our state and condition explanes and manifests the same A. This can no wayes be blamed when they are performed for the reasons aboue mentioned if they be not babarous but are vsed towards superiours in noble conuersations E. Why then what would you set downe in this point A. I speake of such ceremonies as are friuolous altogether void of affection and full of all affectation which smell wholly and in euery part of a counterfait Courtier and as they proceede not from a sincere and well instructed heart so they consist in bare words vttered meerely for forme and learnt by heart like olde wiues tales or tattles and recited in manner of a players part flowing in false proffers which in a verie short time are transmuted into fume they vanish away with the winde and to conclude in a moment are dissolued into nothing I saw you at Luca but will
first better know you at Pisa E. Excuse me good sir for hauing deepe no Scottish braine I doe not well vnderstand you A. My meaning I say is of those that doe not demand from true and liuely loue and yet would faine manifest such a thing by Art but yet with all affected gestures and the more naked and poore they are of ciuill seasoning the fuller are they of tedious and burdensome words that presently breede annoyance and dislike to him that doth but see much more to any that giues eare vnto them E. Now I conceiue you remember how of those budgets of winde who playing the children with their heads with a thousand kissing of their hands and bending of the knees borne many times amongst the sterile Rockes or in the thicke Woods and yet they are no sooner come out of their dung-hill nests but they would sodainly shew themselues to be most ancient well instructed and curiously mannered Courtiers what thinke you of this or what say you to it A. Beleeue me sir they are no other but beautified graues or painted Sepulchres and to speake somewhat significantly externally more superstitious then any Pharisie E. If you did euer see or welâ— obserue them they shew themselues Courtiers in their shewes which are made after a thousand fashions like to Nimphes then in their hands gloues they follow Galateus step by step they measure words with thornes they discourse with spans they speake at the fingers end wheeling their heads round about to obserue whether any marke them as some most rare thing in the world they frame a thousand Castels in the ayre other whiles they daily moue their lips like Apes or olde sheepe chewing the wittie tales of exquisite Boccace Then to imitate foolish Orlando in euery corner they recite the pleasant Stanzaes of the gentle Furioso and they transforme themselues out alas into the cordiall and amorous sighes of the afflicted and dilacerated heart of the enflamed and lamentable louer of the most famous and fortunate Laura A. When to my great annoyance and almost parbreaking I haue seene any of these silly creatures then calling to minde the plaine and sincere manners of the Ancients I cannot but esteeme and commend them E. Sir I likewise taking a great delight for my pleasure to obserue such things whom do you vnderstand by these ancients A. Why the Idumeans who meeting together in signe of loue ciuility and obseruance were wont to say the Lord be with you E. This questionlesse was a very diuine salutation for the Angell vsed it to Gedeon to whom he answered Si Dominus nobiscum quo modo tot mala patimur A. And the true Hebrewes were wont to say God saue or heale you brother E. It was well said God being both the Phisicke and the Phisitian whereupon the Prophet said Sana me â—Domine et sanabor A. And the Thebans were wont to say God be health vnto thee E. There was much Christianitie in this salutation because all our good depends on him A. And the Romanes God grant you health E. But yet me thinkes the Turkish and Greekish salutation pleaseth me better then all the rest for without taking off their Hat Turbant or Cap but laying their right hand on their breasts and somewhat bending their bodies they say Salamaleck and the other answers Malac salam A. All these ceremonies like me well because they haue in them both sincere and religious rite E. It is true and yet besides these formes of salutations they vsed other ceremonies A. Yea but they were not affected the which sort also are vsed in Europe E. True it is as to vncouer the head by putting off the hat or cap to our betters as wee reade in Plutarch that Silla did to Pompei A. They also rose vp at the presence of their betters E. They light from horse backe A. It may further be alledged how they made others to light for their owne greater honour and obseruance Fabius Maximus did who being Consull and meeting with his Father in the Citie sent to tell him that he should light and come and doe him that honour and reuerence which belonged to his degree and place E. It was very well done hee not demanding any reuerence at his fathers hands as he was his sonne but as he was a publike person and a Magistrate A. Moreouer the last was for the betters to rise last from the table as the inferiours rose first E. In visiting one another at home they kisse their kinsfolkes and friends euen as at this day we obserue the like A. I that was in kissing one another but not the women which by euery ones leaue be it spoken comprehends in it more wantonnesse then modestie E. Furthermore in making any supplication they kissed and embraced the feete as the publicke feminine sinner gaue testimonie A. They did not onely embrace the feet but further kissed Emperours hands in token that they did honour their authoritie and power E. Hereupon a certaine Countrey-man saying to Agricola I kisse your great hand the Emperour made answere see my hand is as other mens the witty Rusticke replyed I sir but I vnderstand it of your great and mighty power A. They also bowed themselues downe on their knees as Tigranus did to conquering Pompei E. They gaue hands also one to another in token of fidelitie A. They yeeded the way vnto their superiours E. They tooke their friends by the hand in leading him into the house A. In reuerencing they also bowed their heads E. They did not sit in the presence of their Progenitours A. All these aboue-named ceremonies with an hundred thousand other farre exceede those of our Demi-Gods as if they were discended from heauen to make the vvorld vvonder at them E. But of whom speake you A. Why doe but you imagine of our former mentioned gallants of Europe who as soone as they meete with any one of their friends sodainly with a mouth full of honey they open their boxe of complements E. And what thereupon A. Immediatly with a thousand vnusuall gestures and wreathings of the body as if they were Maisters of Defence they lend him a seruitour your seruant sir my good Patron with an I kisse your hands sir E. Ah ah it is very good but what doth the other stand mute A. Mute sir doe you say if hee chance to be one of his seruants and of the same Alloy sodainly vvith a Trenchant tongue hee replies and I doe the like then hee prosecutes weauing a thousand prittle prattles with as many masked offers that neuer haue an end E. To tell you my conceite in this occasion mee thinkes it fits them vvell for many of them hauing nothing else that is good but to make profession of gentility and courtesie they must also be the like in their talke manners and actions A. It is true if they were true ceremonies but for the most part they haue manna in their mouthes and a rasor vnder their girdles
fowler doth cunningly and liuelily imitate her owne chirping sound Flatterie you loue and yet conceyuing not that when we would bridle the Coursier we clap his backe and claw his necke and brest If we doe eate honey superfluously it grieueth and much offendeth the stomacke sweete wine maketh drunke when that which is sharper will not When the Surgeon smoothes and coyes the Patient then is hee ready to pricke or cut but when he prickes or cuts him then hee cures that is false this the true counsellour lyes doe sauour sweete truth hath a sharper smacke the one is likened to salt the other to honey therefore the ancient Gods in their sacrifices accepted salt but refused honey A. It is long since I learned all this and I know well it is better for one to light among Crowes whose vse is to pecke out the eyes of none but dead men then on profane and fained flatterers who with their lyes doe dazell the eyes of the liuing And surely the flattering tongue doth more hurt then the fierce hand of armed enemies for this man reprehendeth in chastising the other in praysing fetters vs in vice the one we shun the other we beleeue E. These false and flattering Counsellers smoake-sellers whose smooth and sugred tongues are further from their hearts and whose wicked wils are more different from their countenance then are day from night or else the shadow from the Sunne these changing Polipiâ—s that in each moment of time doe change their colour these bad Scorpions who first doe feele and afterwards doe sting with their taile doe command both the eares and hearts of their Lords they dispense with Magistrates and Officers subscribing supplications with their hand and hee that cannot will not or knowes is deemed either proud or enuious or else he liues in contemptible estate A. These false â—ounsellers and these fained spectacles vvhich doe cause their Lord thus to looke and see awry doe plant and put such things into his minde on vvhich it may be he neuer had a thought because it swerued from duetie right and Law and was against equitie making him beleeue that this he should and ought to doe when it is nothing so E. Truth is so banished from courts that he who doth lyingly applaud is by his Lord most chearefully retained and he vnhappily doth tell the truth Gaines but ill lookee and is cast out of doores A. Oh vvondrous case can the world possibly grow worser then wee see it at this day but happen whatsoeuer happen can my tongue shall neuer suffer nor permit Iustice to be wronged but euer shall speake the truth for sure he cannot be counted blamelesse who by his silence backes anothers fault E. Who doth not know that hee doth as much offend as the other who relates so much vntruth for if the one hurt the other doth no good A. But questionlesse vvee may further auerre that seldome at this day neyther demerit vertue nor valour but gold onely gold I say maintaines all so as this may be tearmed the keye that opens and shuts the gate against him that deserues well E. This is no doubt that ancient golden age Where onely gold doth raigne and ouercome A. But behold those Gentlemen which goe yonder E. Obserue I pray you what parentage they are of of what a beautifull stature and bodily constitution how they are apparrelled how comely in their gate and ciuill in their carriage A. So in truth they are but marke I pray you him hee vvith varietie doth euen beautifie nature he contents ones eye so much I meane that Gallant vvho like the Spring time is set forth vvith euery colour that hee may be eyed of euery body and regarded of women who like another God of loue glitters so faire and louely E. You may vvell call him a Gallant because hee is as round plump vaine and light as a Gall. A. I called him a Gallant from Galla vvhich is a Gall but not in that it is a vaine and light thing as peraduenture hee may be but because he is agile and nimble like a Gall which being throwne into the vvater it doth turne and moue according to the vvaues and yet neuer sinkes and so this Gallant carryeth himselfe in such sort as he is alvvayes in the top so as the Latine saying is verified in him Totus teres atque rotundus and in his courses he is like a Die which being cast which way you will it alwaies stands vpon his square E. You compare him very aptly to a die which in the casting of twelue makes sixe of sixe foure and of foure many times two Asses and so this galant many times of much makes a litle to morrow it is lesse afterwards it comes to be nothing at all A. Nay but rather in calling him a gallant I meant that this title was agreeable and befitting for men of euery degree state and condition minding by this name or title of gallant to inferre nothing else but that as discreet and wise he might know according to the time to be wisely silent or by modest discourse to shew himselfe a braue man prudently discoursing and arguing amongst his superiours and equals and courteously and affably vvith men of indifferent sort and his inferiours alwayes making choise rather of a briefe then prolixe vtterance furthermore supposing that hee should shew wit and iudgement in all such actions as depend not wholy of his owne prouidence and sufficiencie but rather on chance and fortune that he appeare to be discreet iudicious prudent in his words and actions resolued and patiently enduring what vnhappily may fall out vnto him not through the least cause or blame in himselfe that he be pittifull towards other mens afflictions wise in auoiding all malignant persecutions valiant in tolleration esteeming it a greater glory to ouercome himselfe then to reuenge an iniurie euer lying on the top like a gall to remaine victor by his owne patience then as a man of perspicuity to beare himselfe in ambiguous and doubtfull things to take a resolute course of being free from all imminent dangers further also my meaning is that hee should be able to discourse of the quality of loue of the discretion of louers and finally that he should be a good enditor of letters displaying his intentions not in fury but with singular caution and because words flie and wrightings remaine I would haue him endite compose with all due circumstance neuer taking pen in hand before all choler be pacified abated and after the Laconian stile correspondent to occasions with a short graue and pleasing method let him succinctly expresse variety of conceits A. I confesse that of your gallants many are such being further endued with a quiet peaceable minde some are resolute warlike others pleasant witty subtill vigilant crafty perspicuous apprehensiue prudent intelligent vertuous and noble but so on the other side you shall finde many of them vaine voluble instable light lunatick
The fame of honestie in mortall bloud is deuine Nobilitie A. We cannot therefore honour iustly blame it being no wayes faultie that the vvorld not louing but in vanitie doth sinne vvomen must blamed be their treacheries are cause of all mens amourous fond flames Oh female perfidie to thee wee may ascribe the cause likewise of louing infamie From thee it onely comes and not from loue whatsoeuer cruell and vvicked is in loue for in himselfe being courteous and affable he looseth all his goodnes presently in thee Thou quickly stoppest vp all the passages vvhereby hee enter would into himselfe and his heart onely thou flatterest outwardly and mak'st his nest and all thy care and pompe and chiefe delight is the formall barke of a painted countenance neither is it thy worke to please with fidelity the fidelity of him that loues thee to contend in armes and in two breasts to restraine one heart and in two willes one soule but to colour with gold an insensible locke and of one part wreath'd in a thousand knots the brow to bower then on the other wouen in nets and twirled in those snares to take the hearts of thousand silly Louers oh what an vnworthie vvhat an odious thing is it to see her sometimes with a pensill the cheekes to paint and other blots to couer of nature and of time and to see how the colour pale shee purple makes to seeme wrinckles makes smooth the blacke makes white and so with defect remoues defects nay rather them encreaseth Oft-times she crosses a fillet and one end thereof shee holdes betwixt her teeth then vvith her left hand the other she holdes and with a running knot with her right hand shee makes a circle opens and restraines it like cutting Cizers and adopts them vpon the vnequall downie forehead from thence she shaues euery crinckle and withall irradicates the ill growing and presumptuous haires vvith such paine as pennance t is to doe it yet this is nothing for vnto these her works her customes manners doe resemble much what is in woman that not fained is if she open her mouth she lies if she sigh her sighes be lying if she moue her eies her lookes dissemble all actions to conclude all semblance that we see in her or cannot see whether she speake or think goe looke lament or smile or sing all is but lies yet this little is to deceiue him most most in her trusts lesse to loue him that most worthy is to hate fidelity more then death these are the Arts that make proud loue so cruell and peruerse then the fault is not of loue but of women or rather of those which beleeues them suffering to be blinded with the false name of dissembling honesty therfore the foolish louer must not make an Idoll of a woman which is worser then the power of hell and being proud she scornes man For so out of worth shee vaunts her selfe to be vvhich out of basenesse thou fainest and settest her forth tell me poore Louer and vnfortunate wherefore such seruice why so often prayers such teares such sighes these armes let women vse or children and let our breasts in louing also manlike and valiant be I also once haue thought that sighing thus weeping and praying in a womans heart some flame of Loue might eftsoones kindled be E. But be it as it will a man ought to loue a woman and so much the more the younger she is and therefore the Poet said Behold she sung the rose to sprout Out of her greene bud modest virgin Which yet halfe open and so one halfe hid The lesse appeares the fairer yet it seemes Then afterwards her naked bosome growne bold She displaies but then it languisheth seemes not the same It seemes not then what was before desirde In a dayes space thus passeth quite away The flower and verdure of a mortall life And though faire Aprill doth returne againe Yet greene it growes not nor doth ere reflowrish Then alwayes gather the sweete morning Rose That quickly looseth the faire of mortall day We must the louing rose then gather and it loue When louing it beloude may be againe A. The Rose deserues to be gathered of euery one but woman 's not a Rose rather a thorne Oh woman deceitfull and without fidelitie in euill too true in good too lying false dead vnto vertue liuing to deceit It is onely feminine glory to be desired beloued and beheld E. It is shame and blame and in a woman scorne to flye the being beheld beloued desired for to this end shee was by Nature framed A. Onely an vngratefull heart is crueltie in an vngratefull woman three and foure times most vngratefull sexe and Nature was onely negligent and an vnskilfull Mistresse For to women in their countenance and outward parts shee onely created that which is gentle courteous and milde but so in other parts her selfe shee altogether forgot To loue a vvoman too much is to be too much hated of her E. But a vvoman with her sweet light and vvith the Angelicall amourous sight of her two visible and faire sonnes doth still and resernifie the stormie and passionate minde of him that beholdes her And motion sound light valour beautie and comelinesse make such a sweet harmonie in her faire visage that euerie one is euen transfixed vvith loue A. Thou vvilt surely purchase thy faire Mistresse loue and if thou beest enflamed vvith an inextinguible fire shut vp all thy affection euen in the center of thy heart and then as time shall permit doe that which Loue and Nature teacheth thee For modestie is onely a vertue in a vvomans countenance and therefore for thee to proceede modestly vvith her is in thy selfe a great defect and though shee vse it oftentimes towards others yet she hates it being vsed towards her selfe and in her she would haue her Louer obserue it but not put it in practise E. But rather mee thinkes shee being a thing deuine that stately creature hath great reason to be so tearmed by man and that euerie mortall thing should bend vnto her If beholding her high originall hee bow and yeeld or if hee triumph and raigne it is not because shee is lesse vvorthie of a Scepter and victorie then hee but onely for the greater feminine glorie For of the higher honour the vanquished is so much the greater honour redounds to the vanquisher And besides He that loues truely is vvorthie to be rebeloued and that vvoman may be said to be a bodie vvithout a soule and a Fountaine vvithout vvater that hath no feeling of Loue. For shee also loues and is enflamed although shee shewes it not to vs nourishing in her bosome a secret fire as also in her desires shee is vveaker then vvee though more subtill and vvise in concealing of them A. Shee loues to be beloued but louers hates first shee flatters and then shee moues in humane hearts such cruell stormes of impetuous and troublesome desires of teares and