oblivion that even himself as he had judg'd this occasion as a dream so he should put it out of his remembrance He promised that he would never commit the like with his wife which she for her part also authenticates assuring him that she intended ever hereafter to live according to the laws of honor Afterwards he protests with threats that if for this occasion he should ever disgust Cleria with the least sign of remembring this escape he would reserve to himself a notable revenge The other promiseth what was requir'd of him with the greatest Oathes and Assurances that his Minde could think Obliging himself never more to trouble his thoughts with the remembrance thereof With the truest Acts of a sincere affection this Agreement was made of a peaceable Union Neither was the peace ever broken neither did they fail in their promises Hippolito was oblig'd by the natural baseness of his minde and the fear he conceiv'd from the Lovers threatnings Cleria being warned by this danger was perswaded to keep her replicated faith knowing that it is alwaies dangerous to violate it And Emilio returning to his own Country oppos'd absence to Love whose Laws otherwise perhaps would have forced him to despise all other obligations LIMISINDA NOVEL X. The ARGUMENT Gelindo to gain the love of Limifinda secretly kills her husband she suspecting it and desirous to revenge it invites Gelindo to lye with her and insteed of enjoyment sacrificeth him to her disdain WOMEN have not alwaies as som would perswade bin unfaithfull to their Husbands many examples are read of their imprudence and very many may be related which serve for Rules of Chastity one among others which comes in my minde to discourse certainly may be numbred amongst the most laudible worthy to be recommended to Posterity In that City which after the destruction of Troy was built by Antenore on the most famous River of Brent after that Limisinda and Eusebio had lov'd with a singular correspondence of affection They attain'd from the curteous favour of the Stars and from the concordant will of their parents the desired end of their Loves Being both bound together in the bonds of Matrimony their affectionate union was not diminish'd but so powerfully day by day increased that they were singularly admired by all good husbands and by all kinde wives but paralell'd by none although many at that time by their example oblig'd themselves to illustrate their marriage with an access of affection But Heaven is not alwaies Serene neither do Rivers alwaies run with pure water The beauty of Limisinda was of such a temper that it made even such as Senocrates know themselves to be men although without ornaments borrowed from Art although seldom seen although look'd upon with curiosity by those eyes which beheld them and desired by all hearts innocently murtherous they bound to themselves amongst others the good will of Gelindo a youth to be respected amongst the first of his Country both for the Nobility of his Blood and for the Gentility of his Manners He so fiercely lov'd the Lady that he gave himself over to pursue her with all manner of serviceable diligence After a long succession of time Limisinda was at last aware of the importunate sollicitation wherewith her new Lover pursued her nevertheless either she would not see or car'd not for him but so despis'd him that the miserable man by reason of her honest behaviour was often falling through despair into an excess of phrensy he tempts by the force of prayers and presents to possess himself of her servants that at least he might procure them to present her with his service or his letters but none of them knowing the Ladies disposition durst take the boldness to offer it being confident to incur onely shame and perhaps danger The poor young Gentleman knew not what to do he did his best to free himself from those chaines but all his endeavours were vain Many many months were past yet in vain he could not dispence with his love having not as yet receiv'd the least sign upon which he might ground the least hope at any time of being lov'd again Being agitated with all and the greatest furies which can overwhelm the minde of a desperate Lover The miserable man often thought even to bereave himself of his own life that withal he might free himself from his torments In these perturbations of minde he grew so weak that every man thought he was even at deaths door and that with his loves he would cease to live He had not although he had a long time been a lover of Limisinda discover'd to any the secret of his heart but seeing himself reduc'd to such a condition that he had no more hope of safety he resolv'd to desposit it in the bosom of a friend of his whom before others from his childhood he had singularly preferr'd To him he discover'd what had been so long time hid in his brest and in his words fell even to these expressions that his ill was derived from no other cause but from his love and that he could attribute his death to nothing but the cruelty of Limisinda thus being blinded with passion did he wrongfully cal the Ladies chastity cruelty not knowing that a man cannot dye unless at the fatality of the determin'd time he should beleeve that his death was caus'd by the beauty of a womans face His friend who cordially lov'd him and who would not have spared his own life to preserve Gelindo's having reproved him that he had not before discover'd this secret to him comforts him perswading him to expect the health of his body if he did but intend his cure and so finde a certain remedy for the sickness of his minde Our Lover having receiv'd some ease from his friends words and hoping that some time or other he would tell him some easie and secure way to gain the end of his desires he with patience receiv'd the application of remedies for his disease and after a few daies although his infirmity past slowly yet he found himself freed of his indisposition and scarce had he recover'd but a part of his strength when he had recourse to his friend that the hopes which from him he had conceived in his minde might not be defrauded desiring him to teach him the easiest way he could devise whereby he might enjoy his Limisinda His friend who knew the Ladies vertue to be such that it admitted of no paralel and discovering in Gelindo an excess which might rather be call'd a foolish fury than an amorous affection with a free discourse seeks to reclaim him shewing him that in following the vanity of his Cappricio's or rather in persecuting the praise worthy constancy of Limisinda he behaved himself like a mad man who would plough the Sea and catch the Winde in a Net and finally after a long discourse concludes That if he would not retire from his undertaking some ill accident would certainly befal him That
Marquess Arderico was perswaded onely to love him by her husbands commendations The Marquess on the other side as he was going to reap the fruit of his Love being assured thereof by her leaves off his design IN the noble City of Vicenza amongst other Ladies which ravish'd the Eyes and Hearts of all Men the beauty of Aleria descended from the Counts of Malo was singular amongst the rest so that shee gave way neither to flattery nor Envy The fairest Faire yeelded to the Charms of that Face which would have been beleev'd Divine and adored with continued devotions had it not glorified her Humanity So that being pretended to by those who despair'd of gaining her she obeying onely those affections which yeeld onely to desert marries with the Count of Sancta Croce who both by birth and Vertue was chief amongst the greatest He had no Conditions but those which were desirable neither had He any thing in him which did not beget admiration The Wedding was celebrated with as much solemnity as was requisite for their Nobility and Wealth Those who in the common Joy lamented the Funerals of their own Hopes did not forbear to come to the Wedding They in the Joyes of another saw their own Sorrows Musick and Dancing which have the power to ravish Hearts even out of the hands of Melancholy it self could not sweeten the Grief of those Mindes which even lost the hopes of Life with the beauty of Aleria Many submitting to the Laws of Necessity according to the variety of their genius when they could not resist their own affection they dedicated it to other objects Others knowing that their eyes were the instruments of their pleasure would also oblige them to be the Messengers of the longing desires of their hearts Some flew from that heaven where the Sun shone but in favours of others Others observing the precepts which the art of Loves remedy prescribes they observ'd a heaven of beautie in her looks which could not be without shaddows Arderico onely the Marquess of Castel-Novo in the impossibility of the undertaking enlivening the more his hopes found in that daies solemnity his flames encreased where others had found the remedy of their passion He did I beleeve stupified with grief assist at all the ceremonies imitating the Fly who to injoy the light careth not to lose its own life He suffers this torment with so much impatience that his least dotings were to forget himself The feast ended he found his fire more enflam'd absence from the beloved object exstinguisheth not love but foments it This Arderico prov'd his ardor being so much the more violent when he could not recreate himself with the fight of his Aleria She on the other side so Idoliz'd her husbands countenance with such continued demonstrations that any hope would have despair'd but that of Arderico which was vowed to obstinacy The more he was despis'd the more he lov'd He let slip no occasion to discover his wound He being continually in her sight assaulted her with sighs and begged pitty from her with his looks In fine following her every where and waiting diligently upon her at the ball no accident happened which he did not signalize with some shew of respect and testimony of love Aleria not beleeving or not caring to be lov'd never regarded him but with indifferent looks And although the obligations of civility forc'd her to return him the favour of the ball and to correspond by way of salutes yet did she never priviledg his affection with the least token of acceptance Arderico have ing no other means to insinuate his love into Aleria's minde had recourse to the benefit of his pen with much trouble he dictates this Letter his tears even washing away his ink Fairest I Should feare to deserve the rigours of your disdaine by discovering my flames did I not know that all hearts are obliged to the love of divine things The raies of your beauty have introduc'd such a fire in my brest that I should rather think it an effect of stupidity then of vertue Aleria I love you and if the laws of love were as powerful as those of Religion I would say I adore you But what the pen silenceth the heart licenceth so as you will not disdain the obsequiousnesse of Your most humble servant ARDERICO The letter being sealed he sighs for the means how it might be securely conveyed to Aleria's hands The servants although they were all gain'd by the excess of his liberalty durst not assault their Ladies affections so much the chaster for as yet she gave no leave to be tempted To use other persons might prove both scandalous and dangerous so that he resolves to be himself the bearer Having fitted a day when she was at Church perhaps more pray'd to then praying getting neer her cheating the suspition and observation of many he puts his note in Aleria's Offices when she casually had laid them behind her to intend her mental private prayers No body was ware of it Aleria her self although she took up her Offices did not presently perceive it Scarce did she finde it but she was presently overtaken with blushing more disdain'd against her self that she had given the boldness to any man to tempt her then that she was displeased at the temptation The prudence of this Lady knew well that she did not deserve the name of chast who did not resist the flatteries of Lovers whoever is chast out of necessity is unworthy the title Aleria having quieted her mind from the first confusions which had stoln the blood from her heart and had left the Characters on her face when she thought it fit overcoming her curiosity which is natural to women she tears the letter in a thousand pieces as if that had been guilty of the fault which his audacity deserv'd who had given it her Ar. derico felt his own heart torn in pieces with the tearing of the letter despairing ever after of any invention whereby he might make known his affection He was lost in a confusion at her behaviour who being ador'd not onely took it ungratefully but seem'd as if she would not know her adorer yet the miserable man continues his servitude so much the more unhappy as his hopes were far from their reward It so happen'd that Aleria accompanied with her husband retires to a Villa to enjoy that season which bearing more fruit then the rest flatters with the more pleasure the gust of men Arderico who was this Suns Heliotrope follows her not without hope that the pleasures of the Villa might bring him to what he was debarr'd off by the divertisement of the Town he thought more easily to corrupt the people of the Villa the minds of men being the more vile the more they are interested He was seen to come thither but he begins to go the round about Aleria's house faigning to plant nets to catch birds and to hunt wild beasts Whilst his heart was in the nets of love and
presently goes for Millan arriving just at the Emperatrix's coming she made so pompous a shew of her own beauty that the Emperatrice thought her much self honor'd by those people who had sent a Sun to meet her The envy of the Ladies was chang'd into admiration and it seem'd as if Nature had robb'd beauty from all other persons prodigally to bestow it onely on her The Emperatrice parts from Millan having presented her with a very fair Neck-lace and she presently returns into Alexandria where Oliverio expected her with those impatiences which are furies which continually agitate the Minde of Lovers The Marquess would not appear in Millan at this occasion that he might cause no suspition to the observation of so many eyes or to shun the obligation of serving the Emperatrice He no sooner knew of her return but he sent to congratulate her arrival and to beg her favour She gave him to understand that that very evening after midnight she would be at a grate which look'd on a little unfrequented street Oliverio obeys and at the hour appointed hears himself call'd by the Countess At this first meeting I cannot express the passions of Oliverio he sweat and freez'd in an instant he in a manner confounded praises with thanksgivings with so much change that he was hardly to be understood The Countess corresponded to all with such affectionate and discreet language that at the same time she no less witnessed her discretion then her affection All their thanks terminated in this Conclusion that the next night he should enter by the Garden Gate with an express condition that he should be brought in without light whereto the Marquess prettily return'd that there needed no light where his Sun did shine Being gone he spent the rest of the night with a thousand amorous passions he no sooner sees the springing of the day but he desires the night he a thousand times accuseth the Sun of slowness for that it accelerated not its course according to his wishes He even blam'd the shaddows disputing command that they were so long before they occupy'd the dominion of the Air. At last the long sigh'd for hour came when he softly comes to the Garden finding the door open he goes directly to the Countesses lodgings She who expected him taking him by the hand tells him Friend if you love my reputation and my life it will become you to sacrifice this night to silence My women are so neer my Chamber that the least word would cause a high suspition neither is my love so unworthy that I dare trust it to a servile maid and the rather because the greater enjoyments admit of no words she permitted him no answer but led him into a Chamber and then having told him he might pull off his clothes and go to bed whilst she would see whether her women slept He was no sooner dispoyl'd of his clothes but he findes himself in the armes of a beauty so much the more singular as she was the less subject to the censure of the eyes My pen dares not describe what they did least it should profane the secrets of the night It s sufficient to say that he being ravish'd with the sweetness of those embraces blest all the labours all the sights and all the torments which he had till then suffer'd since his past pains serv'd for no other use but to highten his present contentment Fearful least the light should discover their amorous theft Oliverio departs before the comming of Aurora and being forbid to use words he takes his leave with a multitude of kisses Being retired to his own habitation with rest and sleep he procures the release of his past labours which yet had succeeded so sweetly that he thought onely how he might repeat them Being risen about dinner time one of his servants brings him a thousand Pistols with a letter which having open'd with a strange trouble he sees these words Marquess OLIVERIO I Send back the mony which out of your great civility you were pleas'd to lend me having made use of it so long as I had need I do not this to disoblige my self from your affection but that I may not be wanting to my self assure your self therefore that the obligation shall never terminate but with my heart till the end of the last period of my life it s for your glory that you have introduc'd subjection into that spirit which never before knew any be pleased therefore with Your most affectionate and most oblig'd Servant AMASIA This letter did so distract the Marquess his Minde that beleeving it a deception of his sight he would often read it he knew not what to think forasmuch as the vivacity of kisses and the embraces of the precedent night ought not to beget such universal conceptions nor such cold words After a Chaos of agitations and thoughts he writes this Letter Fair IT is with reason said that money takes a way our rest Your Pistols having reduc'd me to a mortal disquiet you should not Madam have sent me what was yours under pretence that it had been mine and if either my demerit or the slenderness of my Fortune requir'd it why do you not likewise send me back my heart which I have sacrificed to your beauty It a cruel liberality to send Gold a vile excrement of the Earth and retain the Soul which is the first Essence of Man That I may lighten my grief be pleas'd to take the pains that I may finde you at the grate at the same hour as formerly To conclude forget not Your most humble and most oblig'd Servant OLIVERIO Having sent the letter and with a thousand imprecations having expected the night he comes to the appointed place where having found the Countess after salutations past the Marquess hegins to reprove her for sending the money which he did with such a lively sense that tears interrupted him which permitted him not to evaporate his grief by his mouth eyes The Countess answers with a sweet smile And why would you not hav me restore what was yours Because saies Oliverio after I had received the honor of your good graces I have nothing which is not absolutely yours Pray therefore bitter not our past sweets And pray what sweets were those replies the Countess Is it possible says Oliverio that the interposition of a day onely should have so eclips'd your memory that you have forgotten those delights which were both given and receiv'd Is it possible that those kisses which were altogether animated carrying continually love on the lips should instil the water of Lethe in your heart I should sooner lose the remembrance of my self then the delight I have from the memory of such sweets as those The Countess interrupted him telling him My Lord I shall undeceive you it being unreasonable that your opinion should stain my honesty which is hitherto no otherwaies guilty but by what it may receive from your desires or belief I thought to please you
temerous and put far from you the hopes ever to possess ERMELINA This letter having been subtilly conveyed to the hands of Alexio insteed to rejoyce him rais'd a confusion of thoughts in his minde and bereft him of his rest were it either out of his little practise in love matters or that he saw the possession of the fair so easily granted him which he valued by so much the more as he supposed the access difficult he confessed himself penitent to have advanced so far Whilst without resolution he was thus solicited with a thousand doubts the Count of Bellombra came to visit and entertain himself with him a youth of a great birth but of a mean fortune at first encounter having discovered Alexio agitated with some passion he with some resentment and extraordinary commotion enquires the cause Alexio with a like facility both in being disturb'd and in discovering of it communicates all the motives to the Count which engaged him in those troubles of his minde desiring him as a friend by his advise to reduce him to the best resolution The Count perswading himself that it was a good occasion to better his own condition and coveting that for himself which was offered to another admonisheth Alexio not to venture on the invitation of a child rather deserving disdain then love since with so much facility she prostituted her self to the will of a lover that to introduce one at night whom she intends for a husband gave an evident sign that she had admitted others Besides he being not assured of the il which might happen he run the hazard to lose himself if following the lusts of his sense he should accept of the offer he added thereunto so many considerations which meeting with Alexio's little courage easily perswaded him to resolve absolutely to abandon the enterprise and so much the more for that with so much difficulty and displeasure her mother had denyed him leave to go from thence The Count a while after taking leave pretending some imployment and the night being come he goes to Aurelia's Garden door who received him with open arms beleeving it to be Alexio he being no less deceived supposing her to be Ermelina after some short complements with a low voice both fearing to be discover'd without light they retired themselves to a ground Chamber where on a narrow pillow they gave their senses liberty to enjoy the fruits of love At last Ermelina beleeving her mother drown'd not in pleasures but in sleep gets out of her loathed bed by reason of her struglings for sleep and goes to the window at the very same time when Alexio was come thither disturb'd with no less agitations Ermelina sometimes sigh'd both for the injuries she had receiv'd from her mother and for that she despair'd the end of her loves since they had had so unfortunate a beginning Alexio perswaded himself that these sighs proceeded cause he had not answered her defires not without violence to himself told her Madam I know not whether I should complain of Fortune or of my little merit which renders me unworthy to receive the favours of love Ermelina thinking he reprov'd her for not having sent him an answer replies Love is the greatest of all things and since for my satisfaction he is unlike himself I know not what to criminate but destiny which will that I should love without hopes He answers there is no love without hopes since from them alone he acknowledgeth the true substance of his being And what would you says she have me hope since all accidents conspire my mischief to render me desperat He replies to be fully answeredin love is it not then enough to quit you here in a full calm But who assures methat says she the promises of Lovers are the frisks of the wind I replies Alexio who dedicate my self unto you These said Ermelina are words which lose themselves in the air where they are fomr'd You shall see the effect says he did I not fear to be too temerous And what would you do said she I would get into your Chamber and there conclude our loves and save my heart from the shipwrack of hopes and fears Hereat Ermelina paused a while doubtful whether she should refuse or receive this offer and then she tells him to so great a proposition I have not courage enough at this time to answer He who by the vertue of love had cast off all fear and cloathing himself with boldness which was the more hightned perceiving himself passionately lov'd Answers her Who will be wary loves not love admits of no consults and in love matters all that is deferred is lost there was no way left either she must grant his demand or confess she lov'd him not Ermelina answered although my desire to be yours is far beyond my expression I can never consent that you should resolv to enter this casement to bring equally your reputation and my life in danger Alexio considering these words were rather injurious although they seem'd denials by the help of a stool climb'd to Ermelina's window and so enters the Chamber there after some faign'd disdains and repulses which the more incited him Ermelina was content he should reap those fruits which Lovers most defire In the mean time Aurelia had partly satisfied those itchings which proceed from no other reason but that of fense when fearing least her action might be discover'd leaving the Count to his rest she softly visits the house at last she arrived at the furthest parts which was her daughters Chamber at that time when with a struggling murmur of kisses the Lovers were preparing themselves to new amorous assaults It seem'd strange to her that her daughter being in so tender an age durst be so bold as to give her self up to the embraces of a lover But considering that errors of love deserv'd all indulgence and also knowing her self guilty of the same escapes she resolv'd in her self to dissemble the faults of others that she might not discover her own Yet for all this she would needs know who was her daughters choice whether with a fit election she in some sort civiliz'd her bold resolution Scarce did she perceive him to be Alexio when being deceiv'd beleeving him her Lover she sacrificed her self to fury rendring her self like those who are tormented with a legion of Spirits she tears her hair beats her self strikes her brest neglects no demonstration to discover her disdain and express her grief and at last with injuries and reproofs she thus declares her passion Perfidious man After having enjoy'd the mother must thou contaminate also the daughters innocency Why did Nature or Fortune render this wicked deceiver so lovely Are these the promises of the love you made me but now are these treacheries the testimonies of thy Faith O Heavens I shall beleeve your motions insensible and your influences hid if you do not thunderstrike this wicked sacrilegious fellow Ermelina at the hearing of her mothers
their lives were in sometimes excusing his own error promising repentance sometimes protesting his body had sinned without the consent of his heart Deadora being deaf to his entreaties and humiliation continued to injure them both in word and deed When with a face which carried horror and terror in his eyes Gelasio appeared who without sleeping had long heard Aleria and rising to seek her he comes to a place where he hears although indistinctly Deadora's rage Aleria's tears and Lovanio's requests Gelasio having taken a Dagger furiously runs to the noise Scarce sees he Lovanio embracing his wives knees but he knew him guilty of having ravish'd the honesty and reputation of his house whereupon he runs to him and strikes him such a blow on the head that he being disabled to sustain himself falls to the ground with the pangs of death which were more terrible then ordinary seeing that his sensuality had prepar'd a sepulcher as well for Deadora as for himself Gelasio observing Lovanio in a dying condition unable to defend himself turning to his wife with a tone of voice which would have begot horror in a breast of Marble tells her Woman thy crime is so great that to pass by it without punishment would rather be an effect of weakness then of mercy yet since I preserve in my minde the characters of my first affection I shall pardon thee but on this condition that this Adulterer having thy heart thou shalt herewith stab him in the breast Deadora having taken the Dagger with a greater undauntedness then is to be found in a feminine heart says Sir The sins of love deserve some pardon because they oftner come from destiny then from eslection Yet I confess my self unworthy of it for that I could not regulate my dissoluteness Saying these words and faigning to strike Lovanio she sheathes the Dagger in her husbands bosom who scarce could say Cursed woman thus at once to rob me of my life and honor but he lost his speech with a many lowings as if he would rather threaten death then dye so he unhappily ended his daies Deadora having executed that endeavour with but too much courage and but too little justice runs to fetch the last breath from the soul of Lovanio who having violenc'd himself said My dear Deadora I dye content since I dye not unreveng'd Pardon me and suffer that the chastisment of a humane error may terminate with him who committed it I beg of you that with your disdain you make not my ashes unhappy But alas this is the last period of my life Consolate O my dear the miseries of its passage with the last of thy kisses At the end of these words he ceased to live Deadora stupified with grief was rendred immoveable like a Statue after she had said crying out with a deluge of tears Stay O the Soul of my Dearest beloved Lovanio It s not fit that thou shouldst go to the Shades alone Which having said she strikes the Dagger through her own Heart whence her Soul soon issues with her blood Aleria who in the representation of this Tragedy had suffered the torments of a thousand deaths flying from the sight and enquiry of those who in great numbers came to the noise hating at the same time the light and her self retired into the uppermost parts of the House and there having fastened a Halter she miserably throwes away her life giving a just reward to her own dishonesty Hence may be comprehended That all the Pleasures of unlawfull Loves finally terminate Tragedies and that impudent Affections can have no other but an unhappy end EMILIO NOVEL IX The ARGUMENT Emilio a Genuoess retires to Lucca where using to hunt together he contracts a friendship with Hippolito and afterwards with his wife Hippolito grows jealous and becomes his enemy but being assured that Emilio declared himself servant to Silvia and repenting himself of his jealousie he causeth his wife to lead him into a Chamber to reconcile them His wife obeys and enjoys Emilio Hippolito knows it and being discovered and threatned is pacified GENUOA was the place where Emilio was born whose unprosperous successes confirm the opinion That a mans natural Climat is commonly most unhappy He observ'd how the treacheries of hidden enemies plotted his death in conformity with his malignant destiny whereupon he retires to Lucca where his passions had no other release from his estrangment from that heaven where that star shone which was the very Sun of his felicity but the pleasure of hunting spending the greatest part of his time amongst those Hills which surrounded the City he rendred himself as formidable to the wild beasts as he was pleasing and grateful to the Ladies and Cavaliers who in those Villa's enjoy the delights of the Autumn According to the custom of Hunters he often frequented a Coppice which extended it self over a little Hill which the thicker it was appear'd the more delightful He never entred it without bringing away store of game In those parts there was one who being invited by the delights of the scituation and civility of the Inhabitants whose name was Hippolito being a lover of the sport profest a singular friendship to Emilio So that Cleria Hippolito's wife contracted also so great a familiarity with him that upon all occasions of invitation he discoursed and past the time with her with such sports as the diversity of the season and place afforded so that Cleria and Emilio were the promoters of all pastimes The modesty and civility of Emilio although a stranger made way for him to any kinde of familiar conversation He so serv'd the Ladies that there appeared no partiality in him more towards the one then the other Cleria above all was endued by Nature with all those good Graces which are desirable in a Lady besides she was singularly courted by Emilio and differently from the rest acknowledg'd with a particular affections not onely for her qualities but also for the obligations he profest in consequence of the favours he had receiv'd and for the strict friendship he had with her husband Emilio amongst these delights enjoy'd a calm life which was afterwards troubled by Love the occasion of all ill which was rais'd in Cleria towards him Emilio being given to hunting and other honest sports thought those demonstrations which upon many occasions Cleria us'd in her discourse which her flames sent forth sprightly jests from the familiarity of their conversation Now it happened that a day being appointed when the Cavaliers and Ladies were to meet at a Feast in a place somewhat distant whereby the Lovers had leave modestly to make the resentments of their mindes appear On that day's morning the youth appeared in extravagant habits and various desires to witness by those colours the secrets of their hearts Emilio on the other side dispoyld himself of all which might seem to shew any partiality in his thoughts The Company having met at Hippolito's house Cleria being full of caresses began to