Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	affection_n	husband_n	wife_n	2,730	5	6.6528	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78453	The triumphant lady: or, The crowned innocence· A choice and authentick piece of the famous, De Ceriziers, almoner to the King. / Translated into English, out of the original French, by Sir William Lower Knight.; Histoire d'Hirlande, ou l'Innocence couronnée. English	Cerisiers, René de, 1609-1662.; Lower, William, Sir, 1600?-1662.; Gaywood, Richard, fl. 1650-1680, engraver.; Barlow, Francis, 1626?-1702, artist.	1656 (1656)	Wing C1682; Thomason E1617_2; ESTC R209636	67,915	166

the second King of England Though he had never seen Matilda her portrait gave him love so must he confess that the pencil never did better in the expression of all the parts which make up a perfect visage But what if the copy of an excellent beauty could kindle so many innocent fires is there not cause to fear that its Original made fatal combustions Love is a flame of another nature then that of the lightning which fixeth but on the oaks and firre she spareth not the meanest fortunes because very often their ambition as wel as their design is to burn contrary to those humble plants that hide themselves in the fire of heaven for fear to be perceived of it Behold the misfortune that happened as the History relates it to a Gentleman of the Emperours house This rash person having beheld his Mistress with too much curiousity had so little discretion as to speak of Love to a Queen who pessessed as much vertue as she had beauty The refusal which he received gave him with the shame of his demand a lively apprehension of the punishment which his presumption merited To divert the storm thereof he judged that he must gain the spirit of Henry and prevent his judgment upon the complaint which he believed Matilda would make unto him of his impudence In this design he spake to the Emperour and told him with much candour that his wife ceased not to solicite him to a disloyalty the sole thought whereof he supposed would be culpable In a word that the Princess would have him for her friend Wee have s●en but very few Soveraigns that take pleasure to divide their Crown but we see yet fewer husbands that suffer the participation of their bed The woman is a Kingdom of the man as St. Chrysostome assures it if this Monarchy degenerates into a Republick the Monarch falls into fury perhaps Henry would have dissembled if any one of his Provinces had given it self to a tyrant but his indignation witnessed well that be could not suffer that his wife should offer her self to one of his servants The suspition that he received of her upon the report of a slanderer caused that he cast Matilda into prison swearing by his Scepter and his Life that the blood of that unfortunate Princess should wash off that spot if no body presented himself for the proof of her innocence Behold then that poor Queen in a strait prison where the horror of death could not make her to pronounce one word of despair or of murmur she adored the Providence that permitted her oppression but if she spake or deplored it was but to witness the joy of her sufferance That shee might not betray her vertue she was contented to protest once of her innocence and to say that never cither her body or her heart were divided They say that jealoufie is an excess of love and that a husband would never fear to lose the affection of his wife if he esteem'd her not much and judged her not worthy to be sought Let every one believe hereof what be will for my part I maintain that this distrustful passion takes more from hatred then from love since it looks but upon the ruine of its object in stead of procuring the advantages of it Never will any one think that Henry loved Matilda with excess if he considers that he persecuted her without pity all things were disposed for the punishment of this deplorable Princess and they began already to dress her a wood pile according to the custom then which was that an adulterous woman should expire in the flames the lamentable spectacle of this sad preparation could not change the countenance of the Princess to see her constancy one would judg that it was a Comedy in which every one acted well his part except she who was the subject thereof As they expected the day which was to shut the lifts to the Champions of the Empress there arrived a Hermit at the Court who was permitted entrance into the prison from whence Matilda beheld death to come This Religious man after he had heard the general confession of the poor Queen and known her perfect innocence departed out of the prison to appear the next day in the lists with resolution to defend a vertue which he saw unjustly oppressed I will not extend the ceremonies of this combat it is sufficient to say that heaven ayded for this bout the good intention of a simple in behalf of an innocent The Calumniator was constrained to confess the vertue of Matilda and afterward to die upon an infamous Gibbet I know that this History hath nothing good but its end and that there is nothing but the cleerness of the former ages that can justifie it That Cavalier which presented himself for Champion to the Princess was quite otherwise then he seem'd to be the habit of a Religious man under which he appeared served as a vail to his design and not as vestment to his profession and not to disguise a disguisement it was a French Prince who touch'd with the misery of Matilda had quitted his Court to come to defend Innocence after he had known by the artifice which he used the truth or falshood of her accusation As he had finished an enterprise which would be glorious in all its circumstances if it had not imployed that unlawful means he retired himself remaining unknown as before If the History assured us not that it was the last of the Berangers Count of Barcelona and Provence whom it names different from the others Remond Teste d'estoupe we should not know yet his name and quality Those who have thought that the merit of that protection acquired him Provence have not well read the Records which import expresly that this Soveraignty came unto him by his marriage with Douce the one of its heir esse All this supposed as the History represents it I leave now to judg if Matilda meriteth not more praises for having suffered without murmur then Remond for having vanquished with good fortune It is a spectacle which hath the eyes of men for witnesses and admirers to see a Prince in hazard of his life without other interest then of justice but an Empress in infamy and without impatience it is in my judgment a miracle which may arrest both the Angels and God himself The arms of Remond have asplendor that shal never perish and the tears of Matilda a sweetnesse which triumphs eternally I admire the courage of the Cavalier but I am ravished with the patience of that happy unfortunate The Triumphant Lady OR The Crowned Innocence TEares have I know not sweetnesse which makes us to love them and though them may be the marks of grief in those that shed them they are motives of joy to those that consider them The sole sight of one in misery gives the experience of this truth But if any one remain insensible by an afflicted person we ought to believe either that

But though so favourable a Sanctuary should be grievous unto me and that I should promise me more love and fidedelity amongst my own what is there in that sweet life that is constant and must not end Believe me my Cavaliere that fair vanity of the Court lasts not alwayes we must soon or late break those fetters of Gold which makes so many voluntary slaves Should you have so little goodness for me to perswade me to put my self again to a chain from whence so amiable is Providence hath delivered me When I remember the little leisure that we have to think of God and the necessity which enforceth almost the best courages to abandon themselves to the world I have no lesse repugnance to think of my former life then obligation to amend the faults thereof My Noble Sir leave me here where I have no Jealousie to content no Traytor to flye nor any troublesom persons to defend my self from But if I remain in a condition wherein I cannot acknowledg the affection which you witnesse to have for Hirlanda believe that you oblige an unable and not an ungrateful person I dare likewise to assure you that God taking care to recompence you at my request you shal have more cause to blesse my little power then reason to desire to change my fortune The Knight de l'Olive was much troubled to bring the resolution of the Princess to the change which he proposed to her Notwithstanding after he had excused the Duke of his credulity upon this that it is hard for a Husband to love with passion and to love without jealousie he presented unto her that the fault which he had done and whereof he had a hundred times repented would hold him henceforward in distrust of all reports that might be made him Besides that being himself witnesse of a vertue which was disguised unto him it would be as easie for him to reject the calumny if it had impudence as it would be hard for him to take the pretences After all Madam added he it is not so much your interest to passe again into Bretany as that of all your subjects I omit notwithstanding that their happinesse depends of your conduct and that never any one of your Domesticks shall come forth of his misery but by your meanes Consider only what you owe to your Husband and what you owe to your self I believe that you are not ignorant that his safety depends partly on you and that having charmes enough to hinder his debauches you should be guilty of them if you remove a remedy which can cure him of it My zeal should excuse the liberty which I take to represent unto you your duty For that which concernes you I think that no body can contradict me if I assure that you cannot suffer longer the oppression of your Innocence and that you will begin to be criminal when you shall begin to oppose your self to your justification I should not care to perswade you to your return if I foresaw it not glorious and knew not that it is necessary for us As our Cavalier had ended that last word the good Princess drawing a deep sigh from her heart said unto him Well since you judg it so I consent to be yet miserable Go and prosper I see well that my God will have me to suffer endeavour to place again the poor Hirlanda where every day she shall be constrained to see and shew good countenance to the Murtherer of her child I speak not of the honour which they endeavoured there to ravish from me Innocent Victime thy sole misfortune toucheth me because thou livest no more A few dayes after the Gentleman departed to observe the time and meanes to accomplish his designe He was not long with Artus but he took occasion to make him the Overture thereof One day the Duke being at the Chase as the Knight de l' Olive entertained him very much with the happinesse of his condition and perceived that Artus was not of his opinion and likewise that the Prince confessed to him that many things were wanting to his contentment I think added the Cavalier that your Excellence could henceforth desire nothing which you enjoy not but if any thing be wanting to your felicity I suppose that it is a chaste Hirlanda At this word as if one had pierced the heart of Artus he sent forth a sigh thence which declared plainly enough that he had touched his inclination My Cavalier said he unto him would to God that it was as easie for me to possess her as to desire her I should then believe my happinesse accomplished and you should have cause to tell me that I ought to be content But if I cannot be perfectly happy but in the fruition of a good so perfect I am sure never to live without displeasure since I have no assurance ever to see Hirlanda again Alas how that cruel night which ravished her from me hath given me disquiet ones She is dead my dear friend and with her all my joyes are vanished And though she lived who knowes the place of her retrait And if any one knew it who could perswade her to come from thence She should have goodnesse enough to forget that I am culpable of all the evils which she endureth and that my credulity hath made her fidelity to be doubted Sir replyed de l'Olive it is rather your evil fortune then your evil will which gives cause to these displeasures Though it touch a woman to see her selfe suspected there is left her alwayes so much reason to penetrate that the umbrage of a husband proceeds from the excesse and not from the defect of his love and that if he were but a little jealous he would not be very ardent I know well that the thought which clasheth the fidelity of a wife suspects her Vertue but also it witnesseth the esteem of her good qualities so that Jealousie offends not so much the Vertue of a woman as it forbids the Surprises of an envious person I am assured that your Hirlanda is still yours and that if she hath quitted your house it is to conserve you the most precious of your goods against the malice of those who have endeavoured to destroy her 〈◊〉 Doubt as little of her life as of her affection But if your Excellence please to command me to find her I assure my self that you shall see within a few dayes both her love and her face Whilst the Cavalier held this Discourse he kindled an ardent desire in the soul of Artus My Cavalier replyed lie I think it is to no purpose to dream of Hirlanda but I can well protest that if she lives no body could render me a more acceptable service then to perswade her to returne The Gentleman stayed no longer to open himself to the Duke in all the particulars that hapned to him he related unto him how he had found his dear Spouse in a disguised habit with one of his Aunts where

more griefe to his Parents then it promised them solid joyes She was not five Months gone but her Husband was constrained to quit her to the end to follow the King in a War unto which Honour as well as his Duty called him There are none but those who are yet in the first tendernesses of a chaste and innocent marriage that can comprehend the rigors of a separation that comes to trouble them When the hearts are married as well as the bodies there is no death whose convulsions would be more unpitiful then those of a grievous departure Death in taking from us life and sight takes from us the sentiment of all that which we love but a departure or absence leaves us eyes only to represent unto us the things which can displease us Artus so will I name an unknown since that name is ordinary in the house of Bretany being upon the point to depart employed all the reasons which could consolate his Spouse Madam said he unto her I am not ignorant that you know me too well to believe that any thing of the world separates me from you but the sole necessity to obey my Soveraign Since the time that heaven conjoyned us it hath made me to discover so many vertues in your soul that I observe no more perfections in your body and really I may say unto you that both the one and the other tye me so strongly unto you that if disobedience could be honourable your consideration would perswade me that it should be just That which aids me to overcome my repugnance is that I know you would esteem me unworthy of you if I should loose an occasion wherein I may acquire glory in witnessing my fidelity by the contempt which I make of dangers you will comprehend the account which you ought to make of my Love since I protest unto you that I forget the care to conserve my life but will never lose the remembrance of my dear Hirlanda Though the Prince was generous enough his tears and silence witnessed a little weaknesse when he perceived that his wife began to grow tender and that continuing to speak unto her he continued to afflict her It is better to break off briskly then to unwind ones self leisureably in the occasions wherein we fear to shew forth lesse courage then affection Artus made use of this counsel for feigning that his Journey was not pressing he went away the next morning at the break of day leaving a Gentleman to bring him the plaints and regrets of the Dutchesse But surely it was impossible for him to be faithful in his report because to expresse her tears well he ought to have her love One of the principal recommendations which the Prince left with his wives Domesticks was to have a great care of the Burthen she went with and speedily to advertise him of the successe of her Child-bed in case that he should be absent at that time Whilst the Duke advanced towards Paris and the Princesse continued her regrets I think it is not amisse to withdraw us both from the one and the other so should we not contribute any thing to the Voyage of Artus nor to the consolation of Hirlanda To conceive the strange accident which was to arrive in Bretany it is fit to passe into England It is in that sland which anciently bare the name of Albion and changed it as often as the War made her to change Masters that the tempest is formed which I fear The Duke had a brother at London who was bred up at the King of Englands Court Were it that his inclination had made him a stranger or that interest had suggested unto him to seek support against his blood Whatsoever it was Gerard was absent that was his name when the Prince was constrained to enterprize a long voyage Behold the subject which made him to visit his Country again I know not how it happeneth that the most puissant Monarchs of the world cannot defend themselves from the common weaknesses of nature their Scarlet exempts them not from the Purples nor their Guards assure them against the other maladies But if we see with admiration that they are smitten with a disease which for having the boldnesse to attach Kings takes insolently the name of Royal there is no cause to wonder when the infirmities of the basest popularity persecutes them It is a spectacle worthy of pity to see a Prince gnawn with vermine and to understand from History that he who spake like a God was eaten up of Lice as the most miserable of his slaves Henod is not the only example which we have of these disasters even those who have merited favours from heaven have not been dispensed from these miseries of the earth Constantine for whom the eternal Providence prepared so many Miracles and Victories was he not seen halfe corrupted with the Leprosie All those that studied his health could not cure him nor preserve him from that filthy and shameful infection There was no remedy which was not used but there was not any which was not unprofitable He that healed Naaman in Jordan reserved unto himself that Cure Learne ye Powers of the earth learne that God can humble Princes and that if you have the temerity to displease him he hath the power to destroy you There needeth but the least of his winds as said the holiest of our Monarchs to sink the King of France at a lesse rate then that he can bring you to reason one spark of his fire can burne you and one drop of his waters drowne you if he will the Feaver dryes you up if he will the Dropsie splits you and yet though your life be subject to these feeble accidents that proud Pomp which disguiseth but the outside makes you to presume much of your Greatnesse You insolently think that you are not beneath your Creatour because you are a little above the other Creatures the hurt that you may do unto them perswades you that you ought not to fear any thing from his arme and that yours hath nothing which can stop it as if there were a great glory to be able to do unto others what they may suffer from them Know then once again that you have a Master who brings down the proudest heads by the sole will of destroying them nothing being able to restrain his hand nor to change his counsel At the same time that the brother of Artus was in England he who was the Soveraign of that Land was touched with so obstinate a Leprosie that the disease seemed to derive succour and force from the remedies which were imployed to vanquish it That poor Prince seeing that all the industry of his Physicians advanced as little his Cure as his Hopes he caused a Jew to be called whose knowledg was very much in reputation in all his Kingdom As he exposed unto him his Disease and implored his aid this Miscreant who would not employ malice if it had not all the