noble Lord Zelauto taketh shypping into Persia. Astraepho séemeth to tell Zelauto of his bolde hâ—â—arding himselfe in such order Zelauto excuseth his boldnesse as well as he can They goe to supper Astraepho in the morning beginneth to talk with Zelauto desiring him to accept in good part his homely entertainment He showeth how he néedeth not to accept of coyne for because he hath Nobody to baâ—ter withal Money in Citieâ— causeth much mischéefe discencion among the commons discorde among fréendes such lyke iniuries Zelauto yéeldeth innumerable thanks for the great courtesies that he hath found béeing but in déede a straunger Astraepho desirous to heare the rest of his trauayles remeÌ„breth him of his former promise Zelauto his coÌ„ming to Zebaia in Persia to the house of one MaÌ„niko Rigustello who lodged ChristiaÌ„s The hostes of the house a Christian a Florentin The hostes and Zelauto conferreth together about his comming to that place and informeth him of the lawes orders of that City The hostes proffereth herself to be his fréend Zelauto giueth her great thankes for her courtesie She demandeth of what countrey he is wherfore his coÌ„ming is and whether hée minded to make his iourney Zelauto reposing a good beleéfe in his hostesse because shée was a christian openeth to her of whence he was how he had traueyled other countreyes and howe hée meant to traueile tyl his tyme were expyred She aunswereth him verie honestly ciuilly so it drewe at length to supper time The Hoste béeing at supper with Zelau knowing he was a Christian and had a good minde to the same him selfe entreth into talke with him The creation of maÌ„ Gene. 1. Manâ— made a gouernor The beastes to labour for him and to be his foode lykewise Man what a losse hee had MaÌ„ cast out of Paradise God yet would not leaue vs succorlesse but sent his Prophetes to preache to vs then his Christ to pay the rauÌ„some of our sinnes what greeuous tormeÌ„teâ— he did abyde for vs yet we do not seeke to amende our naughtie lyuing but dayly sinne more and more Zelauto telleth him what cruelty they vse to a poore meÌ„ber of Christes body when they take him Through waÌ„t of knowledge of God coÌ„meth this great tiraÌ„ny To knowe God is to do as we would be done vnto To knowe God to worship him only To know God to beleeue in his Christe To knowe God bringeth lyfe euerlasting The Hoste mooued in minde at the talke of Zelauto entreth into farder communicatioÌ„ with him The Hoste desireth to know how he might lykewise become a Christian. Zelauto glad to heare the Hosts good zeale yet desireth him to cease of that talke tyll some 〈◊〉 ther more conuenieÌ„nt tyme. The Hoste is wel conteÌ„ted with the reply of Zelauto falleth with him into other talke Zelauto telleth to the Hoste the cause why hée went thus in trauaile Mica Sheffola the Nephew of the Soldane came in â—erie sad and heauy The Hostes of the house taketh the Gentleman about the necke to comfort him Zelauto séeing the great sadnesse of the GentlemaÌ„ speaketh vnto him Zelauto séeketh by many and sundrie-examples to cause the GeÌ„tleman to leaue his great and sodayn sadnesse He applyeth his former allegatioÌ„s to the GeÌ„tleman He sheweth him howe his great lamenting dooth but bring all his sences out of quiet He courteouslie offreth him self to pleasure him by any means that lyeth in him to doo The GeÌ„tlemaÌ„ kisseth Zelautoes handâ— and then beginneth fréendly to talke with him The GeÌ„tleman openeth the cause of his sadnesse to Zelauto His syster for her christian beléefe appointed to death More of her fréends but for feare of suspition dare veÌ„ture to stand in her quarel Zelauto deuiseth what were best to be done in this doubtfull case Zelauto thinketh it a great shame for â—uer vnto him if he should not apply his paynes to set the Lady frée Summa virtutis Potestas est Mors non est foâ—midanda Zelauto replyeth to the demauÌ„d of the Gnetle man He giueth to Zelauto his hand to be a Christian and with him to taste of any troubles Zelauto desireth him in the morning to bring his armor and he wyll discharge his promise The Hoste rendreth thankes to Zelauto The Hoste speaketh to Mica Sheffola The Hostesse speaketh to Zelauto to Mica Sheffola The Hostesse her great good wyll to Zelauto Zelauto thanketh his Hoste and Hostes for theyr good opinion Mica Sheffola depâ—â—teth from Zelauto and goeth to the prisoÌ„ to his syster Zelauto coÌ„firmeth the Hoste in the Christian fayth Mica Sheffola returneth in the morning with the Armour for Zelauto He sheweth the great courage of his Syster to the death Mica Sheffola hearing the ioyful wordes of his Syster reioyced The words he spake to his Sister Zelauto after Mica Sheffola had ended his discourse sayth vnto him Zelauto so armed with so good a courage that hée doubteth not but to spéede well Terolfo the Soldanes son is he that must fyght against Zelauto Zelauto demaundeth at what tyme the Lady must suffer death The Hoste his wife coÌ„meth vp to Zelauto The order howe the Lady was lead vnto her death The departure of Mica Sheffola The comming of Zelauto to the place to fight for the Lady The woordes of Zelauto to the Soldane The Soldane aunswereth Zelauto Zelauto nowe setteth a good face on the matter not fearing the Soldane Zelauto his Oration Codrus yéelded him selfe to dye for the sauegard of his people Aglaurus by throwing himself from the walles of Athens redéemed his Countrey Iphigenia yéelded her selfe to be sacrificed The Soldane stroken into a great quan â—arie The Soldane replieth to Zelauto Zelauto talketh to the Lady bound to the stake The Lady replyeth to Zelauto Zelauto speaketh againe to the Lady Terolfo the Soldanes sonne speaketh to Zelauto Zelauto his replye Terolfo his reply Zelauto forgiueth Terolfo Terolfo forgiueth Zelauto Zelauto killeth Terolfo in fight The Ladyes and common people reioyce at the victorie of Zelauto The woordes of the Soldane to Zelauto Zelauto giueth his fare well to all the Ladyes and Gentlewomen Zelauto his Hoste were lead to prison Mica Sheffola awayted for Zelauto at the prison The Hoste apprehended must dye The Hostesse commeth to the prison to Zelauto Mica Sheffola returneth in the morning An notable deuise to helpe Zelauto out of prison The Hoste brought foâ—rth to death Oriana the Mistresse of the prisoÌ„ came vp to Zelauto Oriana telleth Zelauto how at night shée wyll coÌ„uey him ouer the garden wall Shée sheweth him the Monumentes of Brisaro de Saroto Shée commeth vp bydding him to prepare him selfe Zelauto goeth with Mica Sheffola away Zelauto departeth froÌ„ Mica Sheffola Astraepho giueth his censure on this passed tale and goeth to prouide dinner
but had lyued there a sauage lyfe forgetting all poyntes of humanitie sayd VVhat varlet art thou come to seeke my death thou art welcome and therewith all strooke at Zelauto who alas through tediousnesse of trauell and long beeyng without any sustenaunce was constrayned to yeeld and falling on his knees submitted himselfe to his mercye which Astraepho seeing sayd as hereafter followeth The Fountayne of Fame distylling his dainty drops in an Orchard of Amarous Aduentures Astraepho hauing conquered Zelauto sayth WHat so sodayne and straunge Metamorphesis is this Art thou a Knight that professest thy selfe a Souldier vnder God Mars his Ensigne and so soone conquered What doost thou think that this thy submission shall hinder me of my preteÌ„ded purpose Thy death it is I seeke and more honour shall I obtaine by the slaughter of such a wretche then to let thee lyue any longer time Zelauto Most woorthy syr if euer any iot of clemency consysted in your valiant brest then respect I craue the distressed case of your poore vassaill And meruayll not though in force I am not able to resist against you for that the great miseries which I haue susteyned in these my tedious trauayles hath quite bereued me of my manly might Astraepho A bad excuse say they is better then none at all you pleade nowe simplicitie through the defect of your valiancie and by such sophisticall Sillogismes to beguile me craftilie no no poore wretch harde was thy hap to light in his handes who séeketh the subuertion of thy state and to cause thée yéeldâ— thy neck to the rigor of his manly might Long delayes néede not differ not with dalliance for I am bent to thy vtter ruin Zelauto Small hope hath the siely Lambe in the rauening lawes of the greedy Woolfe to escape with life lyttle comfort hath the pensiue prisoner at the poynt of death to shun so harde a lot So I poore soule in the handes of a Tirant who more regardeth blood then bountie more respecteth death then delyuerie and more vaunteth of villainy then any valiancie what succour can I haue in this my sorrowe what hope in this my so harde hap to craue life it auayleth not to desire a respit it booteth not and to striue against the streame were but a presuming boldnes if I wish for death I gayne it if I wish for life I lose it What shall betide thee poore distressed Zelauto hap weale or woe hap life or death hap blisse or bale I will aduenture by fayre woords to intreate him so it may happen to stay his rigor Good syr if euer humanitie harbored in that noble brest or if euer pittie pronounced her puissaunce on your princely person then respect I pray the disstressed case of your conquered captiue Small honour shall you haue by my death no Fame to vaunt on a naked man My life can lyttle pleasure you and my death lesse therefore séeke not to shed his blood who at your will pleasure voweth bothe heart and hand at your courteous commaundement Astraepho In déed I confesse that small honor is his due that vaunts on so prostrate a pray therefore somewhat hath thy woords satisfied my former desire for in deed a straunge and wonderfull sight it is to me to see a man that haue seene none these ten yeeres passed therefore pardon what is spoken there resteth the greater amendes to be made Zelauto Syr more bound vnto you in duty then euer I am able to performe I yeeld you all thankes possible that resteth in so poore a person I doubt not but that God hath appoynted all at the best for these fiue yéeres more haue I visited straunge couÌ„treyes and neuer yet did I happen on any such aduenture Astraepho And haue you ben a Traueiler syr then vnfolde I pray you what hath bene the mishaps that the frowning Fates vnto you hath alotted and first tell I pray you of what soyle what Parentage and kindred you are of and what is your name Zelauto Syr as necessitie hath no lawe so neede at this present vrgeth me to speake In this your Caue I am sure you are not destitute of victualls the which I want wherfore if it shall please you to refresh his hunger who is ready to faynt I will discourse vnto you afterward my whole aduentures at large Astraepho Alas syr if such simple fare as I haue may seeme to suffise your hunger come neere and we will goe to dinner and afterward will we discourse of such matters as perchaunce may be profitable to bothe Zelauto With right good will syr a thousand thanks for your courtesie extended vnto me in this my vnlooked for mishap And it may so fortune that after our conference had together we may with our pleasaunt talke well content eche other Astraepho Well syr approche this my homely Mansion and I desire you to accept the goodwill of your poore hoste Astraepho and Zelauto goeth to dinner and their talke after they had vvell refreshed themselues Astraepho NOw Syr how lyke you of your homely entertaynment where no better is bad may suâ—fise and to a contented minde nothing is preiudiciall You sée howe poore folkes are content with pottage Ritch men may goe to dynner when they wyll and poore men when they may Zelauto Syr he that wyll looke a giuen Horse in the mouth is vnwoorthy of the gyft your fare hath suffised me and you haue vanquisht him who would haue murdred mée What dayntie delycates is to be looked for in desert places it suffiseth the Courts of Princes to haue their delycate fare and to poore Trauellers the homeliest dyshe is welcome they looke for no after seruice in stéede of sauce they vse their hungrie appetite we syt not to haue our Table taken vp we chop at noone and chew it soone They in their superfluitie we in our want They in their prodigalitie we spare for an after extremitie Who more couetous then they that haue all at their pleasure and who more fréendly then they that haue a lyttle and impart thereof to their fréendes They spend we spare they vse excesse and we hardnesse And therefore sayth Tullie We ought to haue great respect least that the hydden vice That dooth vppon the vertues tende dooth slylie vs intyce The elder Cato also vppon this sayth By two thinges I encrease my wealth by tylling of my ground The other by good husbandrie that I therein haue found For why the one aboundaunce bringes as much as heart can chuse The other dooth me wisely teach howe I the same should vse Thus syr may you sée howe sparing is coÌ„mended and now somwhat wyll I speake as concerning inordinate spending and laciuious excesse which hath the personnes that vsed it greatly abused Lucullus for his sumptuous buyldings and his inordinate expences thought among the Romaines to be magnified for that he thought to excell all his predecessors But
shall and wyll be all contented to serue at your pleasure The Lady seeing the dutifull showe of submission in the Knight commeth to him saying WEll syr Knight in hope that your after seruice shall prooue so permanent as héere you haue auouched and that you euer hereafter in this péerelesse Princes cause wyll bothe lyue and dye I dare pronounce that you are pardoned and that your offence shall be no more remembred Caesar got him such a noble name through his great compassion and that made Cicero so much to commend him Licurgus when he had his eye put out by the neglygence of Alcander commaunded that his first offence should be forgiuen he would be more héedefull in the next Eusebius wounded to the death with a stone throwen from the hand of a Woman on his death bed forced his fréendes to sweare that they would not harme her for it I may lykewise alleage the woordes of Virgill to thée Forsan et hoc olim meminisse iuuabit and that the sentence of Euripides wyll byd thée beware Dulâ—e est meminisse malorum Nowe is thy first fault forgiuen in hope of amendment so that rather prayse shall be purchased by pardoning thine offence then that rigour should rule to exact on so penitent an offender Therefore behold when Iustice sayth strike Mercie by mildnesse dooth stay the swoord when a crime is coÌ„mited deseruing death Pitty dooth woork on the offenders behalfe Therefore whyle thou lyuest homage her whose mercifull minde wyll not reuenge with rygor for that Uertue hath caused her to pittie thine estate and thou and all that are her dutifull Subiectes say God saue our most vvoorthy Queene Therefore goe your way and fetche the rest of your trayne and so wyll I bring with me all my noble Ladyes and then will we goe together to procure some farther pastime After they had bothe brought theyr traynes they fell to a freshe Tournament and so ended this Deuise Zelauto Now syr haue I not wearied you with this long tedious discourse Tell me I pray you how lyke you of it Is it not woorthy to be caryed in remembraunce because it is such an excellent deuise Astraepho Credit me syr it is the proprest deuise that euer I heard of and if it shall please you to bestowe the same on me I wyll giue you as gallant a discourse to cary with you Zelauto Syr any thing I haue is at your commaundement and I would it were so déere a gyft as I could finde in heart to bestowe on you Astraepho I thanke you for your good wyll hartily But doo her noble Péeres and Lords that are about her often vse to recreate her person with such braue and straunge deuises Zelauto Syr those gallant youthes doo and haue bestowed aboundaunce in the pleasing of her Maiestie and are so well contented therwithall that surely it surpasseth any mans wit to giue them prayse according to theyr desert Astraepho But dyd you euer come in acquaintaunce with any of those noble Gentlemen Zelauto Yea Syr and am much bound to one of them in especiall who sure in magnanimitie of minde and valure of courage representeth in that famous Land a second Caesar to the view of all that know him And a lyttle before I departed out of that woorthy Countrey I wrote a few verses in the commendation of that vertuous Mayden Quéene and also I wrote a few other in prayse of that noble Lord to whome I am bound for his singuler bounty Astraepho I pray you Syr if those verses be not out of your remembraunce let me heare some part of them Zelauto That you shall wherfore marke what I wryt in the prayse of the English Quéene Zelauto heere telleth to Astraepho the verses that he wrote in the commendation of the Englishe Queene QVEL CHE MI. MOLESTAVA ACCENDO ET ARDO IF eyes may iudge and minde may full suppose the Vertues rare that I of late haue seene Then pen at large may perfectly disclose the seemely honour of a Virgin Queene VVhose perfect prayse deserues to be vnfolde And blasde abroade in trumpe of beaten Golde The Graces three attendant stand at beck Diana dooth her royall raygne support Vertue dooth stand all vice to countercheck and Modestie beares sway in all her Court Trueth rules aloft repelling darke debate Iustice dooth sway the swoord of her estate Prudence dooth stand on right side of this Queene and Temperaunce a Garland holdes before Then Fortitude standes ioyntly them betweene and Tryall he dooth garde her euermore Peace on the left syde Plentie on the other Thus seemely they adorne the Queene their mother Sobrietie dooth beare the flagge on hye Virginitie standes clothde in Vestall white Her trayne behinde borne by Humilitie Pittie lykewise waytes on this woorthy wight Thus euerie thing standes in so good a frame That farre and neere dooth spreade her golden Fame FINIS Astraepho Zelauto beléeue me I neuer heard in all my lyfe so many Uertues resident in a mortall creature But certaynly as I know your iudgement is excellent in such matters so I confesse agayne that had I not heard it of you I would not haue beléeued it But now Syr I pray you let me heare the verses which you wrote in commendation of that noble Gentleman whome you praysed so much lykewise Zelauto That you shall and I would I were able by pen to prayse or by paynes to requite his singuler great curtesie Heere Zelauto rehearseth the verses that he wrote in the prayse of a certayne Noble Lorde in the English Court. IF euer Caesar had such gallant Fame or Hanniball whose martiall lyfe we read Then in your Honour I esteeme the same as perfect proofe in vertue and in deede My pen vnable is your prayse to paynt VVith Vertues rare that dooth your minde acquaynt VVhat I haue found I neede not to expresse what you haue done I farre vnwoorthy was But Nature yet dooth cause me thinke no lesse but that with looue you dyd respect my case And such great looue dyd in your heart abound That straunge it is the freendship I haue found VVherfore for aye I Honour your estate and wishe to you to lyue Argantus lyfe And all your deedes may prooue so fortunate that neuer you doo taste one iot of stryfe But so to lyue as one free from annoy In health and wealth vnto your lasting ioy FINIS Astraepho Surely belyke Zelauto you haue found great fréendshippe at that noble Gentlemans handes But referring all other matters aside tell me what became of your CompanioÌ„ that went with you into England Zelauto Truly he was so farre in loue with the Countrey that I could not get him from thence when I departed And in déede so would I lykewise haue stayde if my Fathers commaundement had not bene such which caused me to hasten away because I would sée other Countryes Astraepho Then you dyd depart shortly after and left your Companion there Zelauto
speaketh alway without a fault and he is verie vpright that neuer committeth crime I must confesse my tongue ran before my wyt and my mouth vttered that which my heart neuer thought But the best is my boasting brauerie can blemishe none of your bountie nor my franticke foolishnesse impayre any of your vertuous credite But all is well that is well taken little sayde is soone amended and so I pray you pardon your penitent and sorrowfull offender Syr Strabino quoth she for this fault you haue already obtayned pardon it was not so gréeuously taken as you thought for nor it was not so fault woorthy as nowe you graunt it I am not to exact the vttermost of any man nor I am not to conceyue an anger before iust cause be offred for you know that what talke so euer we vse that dooth not stretch beyond the boundes of honest and allowable reason by promise is to be estéemed of no effect therfore I discharge that Obligation of his full strength and vertue and sticke to the promise passed Mary yet am I on the other side to thinke well of you that stoode in such awe of displeasing her who was far more afrayd of incurring your anger Wée women are not to be too captious nor to quarrellous neither to hasty nor to slowe for it were no poynt of ciuillitie to handle our freendes churlishly and it were méere folly to quip them vpon no greater occasion Fyrst we are to vnderstand the efficient cause that vrgeth them to speake to way it thorowly in the wayghts of modestie and so to giue aunswere that we be neyther found to scripilous in the one nor to coy in the other I knowe you are my fréend and so I estéeme you and as my fréend I make accoumpt of you then neuer thinke that I your fréend will séeme to conster your meaning at the wurst nor yet to condempne you vpon no greater occasion I can not deny but that some are verie apt to anger to receyue a matter yll be it neuer so well spoken that dooth demōstrate a great error in her that vseth it whatsoeuer and condempneth her of impudencie for her so light beléefe Soft fyre they say maketh swéete mault a wyse Woman will way all with discretion but a foole will be hasty and to troublesome to deale with all Wise Cato sayth Bridle thine anger with modestie and iudge not of a matter too rashly for as there is great commendation in the one so is there great shame followeth the other It is a séemely thing for euerie one to vse theyr anger with discretion because perchaunce it may redound to theyr discredite Thus Strabino suffice your selfe that the coales of my anger were soone kindled and soone quenched For if I should be angrie with you you might accoumpt it but the rashnesse of a Woman and her want of foresight and so I pray you take it Strabino perceyuing the courteous excuse of Cornelia and that his passed talke was taken in such gentle grée thought it now good time to preferre his sute and so desiring her patience procéeded as followeth Strabino now offereh his looue and seruice to his Lady requiring the courteous acception thereof Cap. 3. THen déere Lady since neyther my rude behauiour hath offended you nor my passed presūption purchased any yll will I hope I may vnder authoritie of your lycence procéede to the verie ground and effect of all which I haue to vnfolde For since your wisdome hath weyghed eche cause so discréetly and construed the meaning thereof with such good demeanour I will make you partner of my passed perylles and of the distresse that may ensue alwayes prouided that you accept and conceyue no wurse then I thinke it Since it hath béene my hap déere Lady héere in Verona to passe my time in studious exercise according to the long desired wishe of my Parentes I haue one way profited and an other way procured my peryll for casting mine eyes among the renowned troupe of gallant Dames as héere are many the bountifull beautie of one among all the rest hath so searched the secretes of my hydden heart bewitched my wittes in such woonderfull wise that neyther medicines may serue to mittigate hearbes or any Phisicall potion adiunate to amendment but only that soueraigne salue which most dooth delight me her little finger would lyft me to life a woord of her mouth would cease all my sorrowes and one question absolued would make me a sufficiēt Scholler I presume in place where I behold this seemely shée and the more I come in her company the greater increaseth my care the more I looke the more I lyke but lyking brings such restlesse woe that were it not I had a soule to saue and that I stand in awe of the anger of God I should finish this Tragedie with such a mercilesse massacring of my poore selfe that neyther should she vaunt of the losse of my life nor I be thought to demerit so dyrefull a death But what néedeth all these woords to what ende doo I make this tedious protestatiō my helpe is neuer the more furdred but by talking of her I am the more endamaged Ah Sir quoth Cornelia is the winde in the doore now are you Sea sick so soone not halfe a myle ouer well well this litle sparke will flame to so fierce a fire that perhaps all the wit you haue is not able to quench it Why Lady quoth he I am not so farre ouer shooes but I may returne yet drie nor I am not so far in but I may easily escape out there is more wayes to the wood then one and passages wherin are no peryll I shall vse my selfe in extremity as I sée occasion and doubt you not my wyt shall stand for a warrant Syr quoth she the crafty Foxe would eate no grapes no though they fel in his mouth the Catte will eate no swéete milke for feare of marring her téeth so you would not be in looue no though you might and when you are in you will looue as your lyst O Syr soft fyre makes swéete Mault it is yll to halt before a Criple and it were shame to belye the Diuell Your owne woordes dooth condempne you in that you haue spoken or else you are very impudent that you speake you know not what Medicines you say can make no amendment the force of Phisicke to helpe you dooth fayle and yet you say there is one soueraigne salue can minister a remedie O crafty head your téethe will not let your tongue lye in faith it is almost tyme to byd you good night Yet to sée how you will maintayne your matter with wresting of woordes you would make me beléeue the Moone is made of gréene chéese In faith Syr no you must rise somewhat more early if you goe beyond me and you must deale more subtilly if you séeke to deceyue me But truly if you were as mighty a man of your déede as you are of your
woorde Verona would be little enough to holde you and neuer a Woman of them all durst abyde your stearne countenaunce You doo well you will holde with the Hare and run with the Hound and you would play Ambodexter if you could tell how but in fayth Syr I haue you at my fingers ende euen as perfect without booke as you are within Strabino with this passed tale was so nipt in the head that he had scant any thing to say when he saw she was so craftie that his subtill Sophistry did deceyue him he would with all his heart haue béene farre enough from her presence or that his talke were to begin againe For albeit he was a man stoute of his person yet they that had séene him now would haue thought he had neither life nor soule left in him Which when Cornelia beheld how sadly he sate and would speake neuer a woord how his couller went and came as though he had lyne a dying thought it no courtesie to let him languishe so but to giue him a fresh encouragement to reuiue vp his spyrites Why Syr Strabino quoth she is your heart in you hose Is your corragious countenaunce so soone chaunged to pale and wanny chéekes Your face makes apparaunce of your gréeuous disease and your lookes bewray you that you are in looue But what of that neuer dismay your selfe with any doubting dread nor let not my talke so séeme to to trouble you if I haue made a faulte I aske you forgiuenesse and if I haue displeased you I will doo so no more You know promise was made that all should be well accepted that pertayned to no harme and that which should passe betwéene vs should not be offensiue to eyther I for my part am not offended with any thing spoken and if you are truly you be to blame I will leaue your company if you be not more merie and will forsake héereafter any more to frequent it Shake handes and be fréendes againe and tell me who she is that you so faithfully looue I will stand your fréende perhappes in the matter and if of my selfe I am not able to doo it I will informe those of it who doubt you not shall bring it to effect With that Strabino reuiued him selfe out of his browne study and began smugly to holde vp the head right wylling he left his so sodayne quandarie and began to looke vp with a sensorical countenance His heart that before lay in a hole was now ready for ioy to leap out at his mouth his minde that earst was pinched with passions was now so iocond that it daunced with ioy and his couller that before was as pale as ashes began now as fresh as the redolent Rose euerie member which before séemed maimed he could now stretch out to the ninth degrée And if his present seruice might haue wonne him a Wife he was able to discharge it that to the vttermost besides his conceytes began to come so nimbly together that he now rolled in his Rhethoricke lyke a Flea in a blanquet Ah courteous Cornelia quoth Strabino how much am I bound in dutie to your séemly self How much am I indebted to your prudent personage that with such swéete perswasions such maydenly and modest motions such heroycall and singuler actions hath losed to lybertie a discouraged prisoner and hath reuiued him to lyfe who was almost past all hope of recouerie Excellent was the opinion of Valerius Maximus who coÌ„mended the fréendly déedes doone in aduersitie as for prosperitie will succour it selfe My selfe may be witnesse in aduauncing your fréendlines whose aduersity was vncurable had I not obtained councell of so prudent a Phisition I thaÌ„k you for your fréendly offer wishing I were able to counteruayle it as I would and that my might were correspondent to my well meaning intent then should you sée the depth of my desyre and haue occasion to thinke you should not passe vnrewarded The Lady whome I looue will be won to your will the Saint whome I serue will fulfill your request and the least woord of your mouth will binde vp the bargaine So that doo you but speake I speede doo you say yea and I shall haue no nay so much dare I crake of her credite and boast of her bountie that you can not so soone say the woord but she will wyllingly doo the déede Cornelia smiling at this gallant glose and hauing half a coniecture at what marke he aymed to shoote at framed such an aunswere as she thought best her selfe and to make Strabinos sute neuer the néere The foolish Flye quoth she so long iesteth with the Candle that at last she sindgeth her selfe the silly Mouse wandreth oft so farre abroade that she is taken tardy before she come home and the Nightinggale singeth so swéetly tyll she fall in a sléepe and so oftentymes is caught at vnawares Lykewise I haue helde you héere so long with a pleasaunt tale that you make me halfe mistrust my selfe If your Lady be so wilfull to be wonne to my will and so courteous that she will come at my call yea if I say the woord you aske no better bargaine either I must coniecture that her affection is greater to me then to you or that shée would clayme assurance of me for your good behauiour Now credite me Strabino you are wylie in your woordes yet not so craftie but I conceyue your meaning Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus Amicus â—u quoque fac simile sic Ars delùditur arte But yet Strabino let these matters passe and to come to the poynt whervpon we haue stoode so long name me your Lady what she is and where she dwelleth then shall you heare farder what I will doo for you If so be quoth Strabino you will promise me no good will shall want on your part to the fulfylling my request and that you will not hinder the matter I haue in hand I will shew you the swéete she whose captiue I am and to whose looue I am thus intierly intangled Syr quoth she Qui ante non cauit post dolebit A man may looue his house well though he ride not on the roofe and a man may make a good Mart yet be no great gayner There goeth more woordes to a bargayne then one and other prayers to be vsed beside the Pater noster when you haue tolde me your tale you shall sée what I will say and though I make you no promise doubt not but I will please you Then tooke Strabino vp her glasse that hung at her Gyrdle and therein he framed many an Amorous countenaunce At last quoth Cornelia what fancies finde you there that makes you so pleasaunt or haue you a delyght in beholding your owne face Nay quoth he not for the fancie I finde in mine owne face but for the comely countenaunce that consisteth in my Lady and Mistresse And haue you found her face there quoth she I pray you let me sée her to