all five fell upon him Which Bertaldo perceiving takes part with his Antagonist by whose assistance Cosdruball held long play with all the five and two of them were dismounted and sore wounded in the face and between the joynts of their armour and both of them by the brave Bertaldo whose sword at the last breaking he took one of their horses by one of the cheeks of the bit whose horse being tender mouth'd rear'd so up an end that it gave occasion for a lesser strength then what Bertaldo had to throw horse and man backward over and over Whereupon the Prince threw down his Warder commanding his Guard to part them which was done accordingly But Cosdruball by this time having turned his Envie against Bertaldo into Admiration and his Choller into Complement thus spake unto him SIR You have expressed a great deale of Gallantry both against me and on my behalfe Let me be so happy as to know your name lest you make me beleeve some Deity hath fought this day in Armour Bertaldo about to reply using the same reverence which Honoria had observ'd him for to shew on Horseback unto the Romane Emperour whilst he thankt him upon his returne from some good service cryed out It is my Brother my deare Brother deare Bertaldo I know it is he Whereat the Prince astonished sends for them all to come before him who having uncased were presented to the Royall Paire as the true instruments of valour But no Musique affected the Royall Princesse eare so much as when she heard her Brother speak whom she presented to the Prince her Husband who acknowledged himselfe much honoured with his relation to a man of so great Gallantry offering him to be no lesse then what he would be that lay within the power of his Dominions to make him so wherefore he bad him freely to speak his minde or to take some further time for his demands Bertaldo soone reply'd Great Prince there needs no long time to be given me to request that at your hands which of all other things I most desire Speak it then said Lorenzo and upon the word of a Prince it shall be granted presently Then Sir said Bertaldo I desire nothing more then that you would love my Sister At which words the Prince rushes into his armes and embracing him told him That he had requested nothing for greater love then that he bare already towards his Sister he could not shew But this he had gained by so great an expression of his love to her that he could love him no lesse with all his soule then her with all his heart And seeing his modestie would not make knowne unto him any farther desires he was contented for his merits sake to be the hardest Student untill he had found out wayes to make him happy With such love-expressions between these two Worthies as also betweene Bertaldo and Cosdruball the Prince and Princesse Honoria and her brother with variety of delights and pastimes Musick and Dancings the rest of the Day and the borrowed part of the Night that the maine happinesse could afford to lend their expectations seemed too small a contribution to satisfie the desires of those who now began to wax sad with thinking how their happinesse must end with a beginning of that felicity whereof they were no sharers but so far forth as they could make it theirs by fancy The time being come that the Queen of Beauty must be taken by the Ministers to the throne of Love out of the hand of her beloved where she might be placed by his side she taking her leave with a reverend yet Prinely behaviour and went before that she might be come to rather then come at man where she was no sooner laid in her bed but all the Honourable women fell in love with her except Amarissa a faire Lady whose quality we shall defer to mention till the last It shall suffice for the present that she was one who formerly conceived hopes of having some assurance of the Prince's love who sate at the beds feet behind the Curtaine with her face from the bed weeping and with no lesser sensibilities of delight then as if their owne imaginations had metamorphosed them all to men standing on both sides the bed holding Tapers in their hands and gazing upon that lovely object whose so many faces cast one so out of countenance that she made signes with her hand that they should be gone and then recollecting her selfe as fearing that they might judge the dismission a making haste for her Husbands approach her blushes forc'd a passage so powerfully into her countenance that she was faine to attempt a suppression with both her hands And lest any of the red should slip an apparance through her white fingers she throwes the sheet over her head so that their eyes forsooke their object as objects vanish from the eye-sight when the light is gone Word being brought that the Prince thought their Ceremonies too tedious they sighed forth their extasies with such a strong gale of wind whose breath swell'd each contrary Curtaine as if by those full sailes they had been transported to themselves againe and so left her Onely Amarissa stay'd behind unmissed and unregarded until such time that the Prince with all his Nobles entred the Chamber who entertained him with this sad Prologue to the Play SIR Had you no other way to step into your Nuptiall bed but by treading upon a heart that so much lov'd and honour'd you to abuse a beliefe that once thought you could not erre What delight is this you take to raise with one hand and destroy with t'other to fill one creature so full of joy with an unexpected fruition and strangle another in the-midst of all her hopes Sir you did not well There is that within you and there be those without you that will not stick to tell you so and with that she flung out of the Chamber in the greatest disdaine both to her Soveraigne and her bad fortune that could be imagined Bertaldo who loved a spirit howsoever qualified was mightily taken with her whose comportment it seemes well suted with his humour wherefore he thus spake unto the Prince SIR You were once pleased to bid me aske and have now I onely aske that I may have this Lady or at least your approbation and assistance To whom the Prince returned this quick Reply My deare Bertaldo I will not onely grant thee this but assure thee were I a woman my selfe thou shouldst have me Whereat the Princely Bride raising her selfe up a little in her bed said My Lord I pray tell me truly have you promis'd the Lady marriage that seem'd to be so much perplext through some unconstancie on your behalfe To whom the Prince made answer Upon my word I never promis'd her any such thing and I know she 's more noble then to say I did Oh Sir said the Princesse I beg that I might heare her but acknowledge what you say before you
Bertaldo to acquaint her that Bertaldo was there how they miss'd Berontus who was design'd for the place where he now was acquainting her with the happy newes of all the late Occurrences Berontus and Amarissa being both more at hearts-ease then when they met first Amarissa who delighted in nothing more then in hearing relations of deeds of Chivalry and lov'd men for nothing more then their Prowesse and no Gallantry like that which was shewed against her deadly Enemy Maximanus And perceiving how sparingly Berontus had touch'd upon that string and how his modesty had more commended himselfe then delighted her She desires him to tell her the manner how the place where the time when with all other particulars concerning the killing of that Wild-Boar wherein she professeth she could never be sufficiently satisfied Whereupon Berontus related unto her the whole substance of the Story with all the circumstances belonging thereunto in such orderly manner and observance to her commands that all the Predicaments in Logick were but servants to his Method and subjects to her Reason She was so much taken with his Gallantry giving him many thankes for his Relation but withall told him That she was most of all beholding to her self For the best part of his description had been left out if she had not wrested it frō him by degrees through his modesty that was so wary in letting any thing slip from him to his own advantage that concern'd himself Then she fell to the businesse in Mauritania and when Berontus had but touch'd upon that particular of preserving Lorenzo by his most happy conduct she did so conjure him not to mince the matter but to tell her punctually how it was supposing himself a third person upon whose entreaty he declared more at large But when he came to speak of that particular service at the Bridge and how fortunate a man had been to the whole Army and asking him who it was and could have no other answer from him but blushes and trancisions into other matters Oh how Amarissa was taken with him she could have leapt into his mouth and shot the Gulph to come at that faire Harbour where there rid so brave a Man of War But then she recalls her selfe and faces about to the remembrance of the brave Bertaldo and checks her forward passion for loving a man so much so soon whilst all the Berontus'es in Affrica could not exceed Bertaldo for what she had both heard and seen But falling into discourse concerning his partaking with Bertaldo in the differences which were between him and the Prince she falls to loving him againe and hearing Berontus relate how stoutly Bertaldo behaved himselfe in Honoria's and her behalfe her love runs back againe and catches at Bertaldo nor is she wavering all this while but constant to the true cause of love worth and true Nobility she is not so much in love with either of their Persons as both their valours Berontus had slaine the Gyant preserv'd Lorenzo and Bertaldo both Bertaldo had done as brave things as these had possession of her heart before at last she distinguishes betwixt loving her house and riding on the top of it she resolves to love him as a wel-deserving Friend but Bertaldo as a deare Husband yet notwithstanding her carriage was so full of freedome and respect that Berontus conceived that in his mind that his honour would not nourish so they parted for that night The next day the wind serv'd faire for Majorca and they were resolv'd to neglect no opportunity to be together where they might re-imbark themselves for Carthage and with a faire wind they joyfully landed and were as Sumptuously entertained by Thoron and Armena as they were gladly received by Bertaldo Honoria unexpressible was the joy that was between Honoria and Amarissa the love that was between Amarissa and Bertaldo Bertaldo and Honoria both joyne hands in setting forth the praises and high Gallantry of Berontus Berontus joynes issue with Bertaldo and Honoria in giving the due Encomiums that were belonging to Philoret who presently becomes Amarissa's chief Favourite as the Preserver of her life the life of her beloved the Honour of Lorenzo the Glory of the Carthaginians Amarissa would have been in love with Philoret but what love invited faith forbade Berontus would have been in love with Amarissa but that honour stood between Honoria would have been in love with Lorenzo but knew not how to come at him Bertaldo had been in love with Philoret had he knowne but what he had beene and Philoret might have been beloved by Bertaldo had he but had the confidence if ever there was love in a maze here it danc'd the round you might heare of a True-lovers-knot but never knew of such a knot as here was of True Lovers In this loving humour they all tooke shipping and were undersaile for Carthage CHAP. XVI Lorenzo found the Letter by Pippea 's means He heares of their Arrivall goes to meet them The Marriage between Bertaldo and Amarissa is urg'd amaine Philoret falls into a Trance upon it Berontus is love-sick with Amarissa Amarissa and Bertaldo are found to be Brother and Sister Philoret is found to be the Duke of Medina-Coeli his Daughter Bertaldo and Berontus are sent into Spaine and Italy to finde out the truth thereof as the price of both their Loves PIppea by this time is become a pretty Maide having the confidence to speake unto the Prince she tells his Highnesse what she did and that Honoria writ a Letter and how she conveig'd it and where she layd it Lorenzo presently goes and searches the Cabinet finds it there and reading it fell into a trembling with thinking what a wound it would have been unto his injur'd soule if Honoria had miscarried and afterwards he had sound that Letter all this Pippea did by the perswasion of Hortensius The Prince marvelously commended Pippea for her piety to Honoria promising her the chief place of Honour about her The newes was brought to Court of the landing of Honoria and the rest The Prince was ashamed to looke his owne happinesse in the face and to see that which he most desired yet he trusted to two friends to beare him out Honoria's goodnesse and his owne acknowledgment he goes out to meet her and finds her in a most conventent place for gratulation where descending his Charriot as she hers he sayes thus unto her Honoria if I should question thy pardon I should tax thy goodnesse Mercy is Lady and Empresse of all the best of Attributes I have a great deale to say more to confesse most of all to acknowledge if thou wilt give me time I will take no lesse then all my life to bestow in repentance and satisfaction And as he was speaking further she cuts him off with this prevention My Lord I pray say no more he 's dead that was the cause of this and in his grave let the memoriall of all these things be buried I am
Honoria and Amarissa acquaint Lorenzo with it who perswades them to incourage the two Lovers in their affections PIppea being so highly preferr'd as to be Honoria her Chiefest Maide of Honour and Hortensius likewise a Man in no small request with Prince Lorenzo Pippea being first in Honour Hortensius durst not break his mind unto her before such time as he lighted upon this encouragement Lorenzo to gratifie Hortensius his merits and sufferings which acts of contrition and signes of repentance he dayly exercis'd in expiation of his crime and complacence with his Honoria caused his Statua to be set over the Garden-dore with this inscription underneath in Capitall Golden Letters viz THIS IS THE PORTRAICTURE OF HORTENSJUS THE PRINCES GARDENER A FAITHFUL SERVANT AND CONSTANT SVFFERER IN HONORJA AND AMARJSSA'S CAVSE VVHOM NO TORMENTS COVLD FORCE TO BE OTHER VVISE NO THREATS COVLD PREVAILE VPON AND NO ENTICEMENTS COVLD SHAKE HIS RESOLVTION It hapned at sundry times when Honoria and Amarissa went to recreate themselves in the Garden with their usuall Attendants that they evermore observ'd Pippea to stay behind at the door gazing upon Hortensius his Picture which Amarissa one time amongst the rest taking speciall notice of she thus spake unto Honoria Madam Upon my life your Maid Pippea is in Love with Hortensius for I have observ'd her alwayes when she comes by that Picture she cannot enter the Garden without a great deal of contemplation upon it Honoria loving her the better for being so much an admirer of her Martyr reply'd I pray le ts goe and observe her a little All agreed and found out a most convenient place for observation where they saw Pippea laying her hand upon her Heart and at last wiping her Eyes and having cleared that skie from those bottl'd clouds she look'd so wishly upon that Type untill the thing typified came behind her catcht her in his Armes and ask'd her what she was looking upon Pippea finding her self surpris'd was ashamed to look him in the Face who would have been much more out of Countenance had she but known who were Spectatours of those amorous passions of hers upon a similitude This was not all the Sport that the Ladyes had for they might hear Hortensius asking her the question why she look'd so much upon the Figure and so little upon the Substance And Pippea answering him I must goe to my Mistresse Hortensius praying her not to be so hard hearted as altogether to turne her face to a Stone and not at all to rejoyce the Man it represented with one copy of her Countenance And she answering him againe I must be gone the Princesse will wonder what is become of me pray let me goe Hortensius saying I will not let you goe before I have a Kisse of you Pippea answering I pray don't you stay me Hortensius urging don't you stay your selfe lest you should be miss'd Pippea replying why doe not you let me goe then Hortensius telling her because you will not give me my due Your due said Pippea what 's that A kisse said Hortensius How comes that to be your due said Pippea Kisses are Loves tribute said Hortensius and if you can find in your heart to say you doe not love me I will have none Why said Pippea doe Maides use to Kisse or to be Kiss'd Hortensius rectified his errour with kissing her over and over againe and so let her goe When she was got out of his reach she turn'd about againe and told him That if it had not beene for the hastes sake she made to come to her Mistresse he should not have had it and with that runs into the Garden Hortensius stayed behind lest their familiarity should be taken notice of whilst the eyes that applauded his affection were in love with his Policy and resolv'd to advance his humility a degree higher Pippea made such haste for fear of offending that they were all very well pleased that she had not discovered them to be such Eaves-Droppers as they had made themselves Pippea running towards the upper end of the Garden they advance from their Station Pippea not finding them in any of the upper ends of the Garden upon her return at the first was glad to see them between her and the door as banishing that fear which she had conceived of her loytering behind but when she perceived them all to fall a Laughing which could not be interdicted though the Princesse had given speciall Command that not any should take the least notice of what they had seene she was amaz'd and her Blushes came so thick into her Face that the Bloud began to grow dark in her Cheeks which Honoria perceiving and willing to deliver her from that fear told her Pippea we laugh to see that thou couldst not finde us but indeed we play'd the wags with thee and hid our selves from place to place Pippea glad it was no otherwise dismiss'd the Bloudy ensignes out of so fair a Field and rufled up the Colours in her Cheeks so there was no more of that for that time But it hapned not long after Honoria and Amarissa to have some private discourse both perceiving Hortensius and Pippea to be deeply in love with one another themselves being sensible of the smart of Love and that neither of them durst shew or effect the thing they most desired These two mercifull Ladyes were resolv'd to be charitable and went and made the Prince acquainted therewith who was not onely glad of opportunities whereby he might gratifie his Honoria but was exceedingly glad to act any thing that might be pleasing to so great instruments of such universall happinesse Presently bids them forward what they had taken such notice of to be begun and encourage the parties to proceed in their Commencement to give their hopes some aire and to help their love to wings and that they should be both Honourably provided for Honoria having received these instructions sends for Pippea and questions her in private concerning the Love that was between her and Hortensius but perceiving her Maid begin to Blush she anticipates her Crime by her preventing Grace and Favours towards her with telling her how she knew it and what she had observ'd with her owne Eyes besides what she heard This saved her from the sinne of telling an untruth which was upon the termes of breaking its prison and gave her leave to turne a flat deniall into a laudable excuse saying Truly Madam I confesse I love him so must all that love you amongst whom I have a little more reason then the rest because we were fellow-Agents in the work of your Deliverance Truly Madam I could not chuse but behold his Picture and when I look upon it I can but envy his happinesse Why didst thou smite thy breast and weep when thou look'st upon it said Honoria Madam I wept said Pippea to think upon the misery you were in and I struck my breast for sorrow that I was not abler to have done
Hinderson and the quoted place of my Pamphlet and how is that viz In His Majesties Paper against Hinderson the late King pleads the Church to be the Judge of the Scriptures and there I bring the King holding the Scriptures to be their own Interpreters But was there ever such a Sir Jarvis Simple knowne as this Fellow makes himself Either he never Read the Controversie and so takes it up upon trust or else he remembers or knows not what he reads for otherwise he might have taken notice that I own'd that Paper which he makes to Contradict the King 's to Hinderson as my owne and not the King 's otherwise then as He approved of what I writ for he might have remembred that I writ how that the King commanded Me to view the Marquesse's Paper before I brought it to Him and to give Him my Opinion of it which I did in writing which Paper His Majesty approved of as a sufficient Answer and so sent it to the Marquesse and that I said in my Epistle to the Reader That I writ onely what the KING spake and that I Transcribed or Published none of His Writings And if I had asserted that Paper to have been an Emanation from His Pen it had not been a Contradiction to what He wrote to Hinderson For Hinderson urging upon His Majesty the Private Interpretation as the Proper Judge of the Scriptures His Majesty might very well hold out unto him the Authority and Exposition of the Church as a more Competent Judge then that which the Scripture it selfe speaks against Which was an Argument good enough against him And when the Marquesse pressed His Majesty with the Churches being Judge of Scripture His Majesty might have recourse unto the Scripture and yet there might be no Contradiction at all But as a Fellow in a Fooles Goat may have the Priviledge to stand in the King's presence amongst Wise and worthy Men so this Advertisment may not be amisse before the King's Workes If this be the Reward of Loyalty like a Blind-Beare to be whipt on both sides and lash'd by every hand Or like a Mastiffe to be ridde by such a Jack an Ape and boxt on both Eares I will have nothing to doe henceforward with State-Affaires LOVE shall be my Theame which is the Spirit of God and Soule of the World which like Archimedes his Needle drawes all things to it selfe Love-Passions are the Hinges whereon depend the Two Leafes of that one Doore of Entrance into Eternall Life the Law and the Prophets the Two Heavenly Poles of the Doctrine of Salvation are the Love of God and that of our Neighbour Love is that wherewith the Sonne of God being lifted up upon the Crosse promised that He would draw all Men unto Him All other Graces put together doe but scant the Cup but Love is the fulfilling of the Law It is the Tree whose Fruit is never withered or blasted And the Root from whence the Flowers of all good Workes and good Desires doe spring Love composes Bookes of Holy-Scripture and drawes Lineaments of Beauty over the severall Pages Now come forth thou black and sullen Spirit that carpest at my Writings and see of what Fraternity thou art of whilst thou commest so neer that onely Property of the Devill and Damned Spirits Not to Love ' I but Momus will aske me What kind of Love is this of which you treat I answer him That there is but one Love in the world but there are Diversities of Objects the Love of God the Love of Women the Love of Money The Love of any thing is but one and the same thing though it be different in the Subject whereon it workes Amor Dilectio Charitas Zelus are but so many Branches of that Immaculate Tree of Life guarded by Angels and a Sword whose Temper was of Holy flames of Preservation whilst the Tree of Knowledge parted with her Fruit to sinfull hands and whose Armes received the Embracements and entertained the Windings and turnings of the subtile Beast whose Branches as it bare Knowledge of Good and Evill so an Excressency contrary to its owne Nature grew out of its owne Body which was Death Doe we not see God and his Creatures oftentimes Corrivalls for the same young Mans Heart We see Heaven and Earth Competitors for the same Roome and Lodging in the heart of Man and the Holy Ghost advising Man how he may gaine Possession of the heavenly Mansion by laying up Treasure there that there may his Heart be also What should I say more The World the Flesh and the Devill are but so many Defendents to the joint Plaintiffs of the Blessed Trinity both contending to whom the Heart of Man shall properly belong and when the Scales are even Love is the weight of the Hearts Ballance causing it to Propend that way wheresoever it lyes The Compasse hath many Points whereto its Needle may becken and make its offer but there is but one that is Elegible whereby it may find rest and leave its Trepidation and that 's the North So there are many Circumferences whereby the Affections of Mens hearts are carried further off from one another by how much the more they forsake their Fountaine-head yet there is but one Center the place of rest and unity where all these may fully meet and that is God which God is Love and Love thus rightly plac'd is the main prop and principall Stay and Support of Christian Religion and Center of Perfection Wherefore my Friendly Reader be not froward nor so ill Composed in your Gravity as to condemne the Innocence of my Narrations as Culpable of your imaginary Crimes The Canticles must not be blotted out of the Scriptures to please every Peevish and Crosse-grain'd Disposition Will you refuse all that Divinity of Our Saviour which he folded up in Parables Will you despise the Heavenly Manna because it was gathered into Aegyptian Basquets Think not this a Vain Story because my Flower lookes upon you with an Amorous Complexion for those Illicite Passions which agilate the Minds of Infamous Lovers my History cries downe It is that vertuous and honest Love which like so many Sparkes of the Divine have fram'd themselves into a fiery Charriot able to extoll an Elias up to Heaven The Holy Writ compares God the Father to a Husbandman His Sonne Christ Jesus to the Heire of his Farme the Holy Ghost to a Sower of good Seed The Word of God to the Seed it self Corne The Church to a Field The Devils to Crowes Hard-Hearts to Stony-Ground Nay Christ compares himself to a Thiefe in the Night What if I should compare the Almighty to Medina Coeli The Second Person of the Deity to Periissa Bertaldo To his Humanity Aminda To the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity Holy Ghost Comforter or Angel-Guardian Maximanus To the Devil Lorenzo and Amarissa To Soul Body Berontus Amarissa To a Convictor between preferment humility Hortensius Pippea to patterns of
come betweene these sheets or else I shall never enjoy you nor my selfe For I protest before all that 's good that I had rather embrace a heartlesse then a faithlesse man And as soone shall Steele strike fire without a Flint as either of us can enjoy Felicity where both have not kept touch with mutuall Loyaltie The Prince protested againe by Heaven he never did promise that he would marry her Then said the Princesse Did not you tell her that you loved her tell me truly and so made her beleeve too much Did you never give her any Rings or Favours The Prince confessed that he had done all that Whereat the Princesse as over-sensible of the sad condition that the poore Lady was in gently wiping the teares that were even ready to overflow their bankes told him that he had done too much to doe no more and that she feared that was not all Whereat the Prince deeply wounded with her sorrow told the Princesse that he would have her sent for and would engage her honour in testification of that truth which he had said and for the wrong which she conceived that he had done the Lady in telling her in a generall way he loved her or in bestowing some particular favours upon her he would make her this amends Here is Bertaldo said the Prince as much in love with her as ever she was with me a man every way deserving her affection with stronger pleas of merit then I my selfe can boast of onely he 's not a Prince And rather then thou shouldst build a discontent on such foundations he shall be Prince of Carthage and I will be Bertaldo And said the Princesse I will be Amarissa and she shall be Honoria Let her be sent for Whereupon the Prince commanded two of his Noblemen to go and tell Amarissa that her company was much desired who all this while had hid her selfe in a place where she both saw and heard all that had been said or done And being overcome with the Princesse goodnesse thinking her selfe by this time sufficiently revenged in finding Honoria already a partaker with her in her affliction and so sensible of her owne and hers she answered that sensibility with a deepe sense of both their willingnesse to give her so full a satisfaction for so small a fault as was neither a reall wrong nor a compleat injury but especially by reason of those sparkles of fire which Bertaldo's words had kindled in her breast which began already to smother under that vast load of fuell which former love had prepared for so high an inflamation In she comes of herself before she was either lookt for by them or found by their Ambassadours upon whose approach the Prince thus spake unto her Madam As you have relation unto Honour be a friend to Justice and let no passion prejudice the truth that onely must confesse I often said I lov'd you and that I gave you pledges of my love I have acknowledged it but that those pledges might not have been given as well unto a thing call'd Man as unto you as Woman seeing I never promised you Marriage or gave them you in any such consideration I see no reason To which Amarissa thus reply'd SIR It seemes I did not understand your dialect nor the language of your gifts I must confesse I thought that being a woman professing love to such a one and I never questioned any other but what was honourable had no other signification but what it seemes you never meant and your gifts no otherwise then so many pledges of that love But I am contented to be mistaken my griefs are now epitomiz'd to this small Volume I am sorry I am not a Man as you took me to be for then would I love Honoria better then your selfe and so be even with you Wherefore be ever happy Honoria in his love and if my contentment may contribute any thing to that accomplishment you have it freely Imbrace him as the Ivie doth the tree murmur together like two Turtle-doves and kisse as close as Cockles meet I envie not your happinesse Bertaldo fir'd with this brave carriage tells Amarissa that she is the greatest Conquerour in the world thus to rout her passions and overcome her selfe not knowing the meanes whereby she got the victory and that if she could love a man under the degree of a Prince she might find happinesse to crowne her desires besides that which Princes weare upon their heads Amarissa made quick reply saying A Woman was not taken out of the scull of Man whereby she should so much affect that ornament but out of his side that she might sit neare his heart Where if she were once duly seated she ought to think her selfe sufficiently crown'd with hearts content Come Amarissa said the Prince behold the Prince of Chivalrie and the sonne of Mars sole Executor to all the goods in the Temple of honour and of vertue heire to Fortune and one to whom Fame hath assign'd over her right a man to whom the world owes more then it 's able to pay Love him and be as happy as thou wilt Which words the Princesse seconded with these Love him and you shall not lose your first love For Lorenzo being my selfe and I yours Bertaldo and Amarissa shall so agree in a third person that foure shall be happy all at once Love me said Bertaldo and I will teach Love it selfe new delights that it never dreamt of and make it ashamed of its old wayes as if they were out of fashion As to you Sir said Amarissa applying her selfe to the Prince you have described a gallant man And I shall no otherwise answer your Encomium of him then with Beliefe And your words to the Princesse with no lesse respect then in laying them to a heart that truly honours you And in requitall of your good opinions of me I will answer the respect with an act of the greatest contentment to you both that either of you can imagine in taking my leave of you and keeping you no longer out of Paradise And as to you Bertaldo I shall commit you to the greatest happinesse when I leave you to your selfe And so Good night and Happinesse to you all Bertaldo as if his soule were making an escape hastened after her with so much respect to her as shewed but little to the Prince and Princesse who notwithstanding were best pleased with the manner of his departure and overtakes her before she had got halfe way to her Chamber and waiting upon her to the doore he kiss'd her hand calling it his Altar her selfe his Shrine the place his Chappell and making a low obeisance that his Adoration she dismiss'd him onely with this assurance of her favour towards him that in her owne nature she was enclin'd to mercy and hoped she should not put him to too many prayers And so they parted CHAP. II. The disturbance that the Prince and Princesse had in their rest the first night
did him no hurt for the good-sake which he had done and no great good for the evilsake which he intended Castriot presently writ to Thoron his great acquaintance and speciall friend what Civilities he should use to a Person of so great quality as was Honoria who had not as yet discovered her Condition unto Thoron being craftily told by Navigius that if she did reveale her self she should certainly be betray'd into Maximanus his Custody by Thoron who two were all one and yet preserv'd her self from his contagion by this stratagem She pretends her self to be a Maid and begs hard that his pleasure might be suspended but for three dayes the third day being come she entreats for modesty sake that he would meet her in the darke he grants her request and all to obtaine her good will as well as her selfe he appointed her the place where she should goe which was to a spacious Roome where was no light at all he followes her who had slipt off her shooes against his comming who entring the Roome ask'd her where she was she answered here my Lord he advancing towards the voice she traverses her ground and was not to be found he ask'd her againe where art thou she steps aside againe and said I am here why don't you come why where said Thoron Here I tell you said Honoria still waving his approach till she had kept him in that posture two long houres till at last he was glad that he had found the dore and shutting her in he fetches a candle which he brings with him in his hand and enters the Roome the second time asking her why she us'd him in that manner To let you see reply'd Honoria what a vanity it is that you hunt after Beauty is but skin deep and that skin you could not tell how to touch without being beholding to so poore an accessary as the light of a Candle Cotton and Tallow are fine ingredients to be of the Essence of your amorous Passion for you see without them you were as farre from laying hands as eyes upon the object of your delight which is not so much reall as it is imaginary nor is it so much as valuable by imagination neither but by accident like glasse or ice that have no lustre in themselves but by reflection of a second cause Alas this thing which you call Beauty wherewith you men are so transported is but differenc'd from Deformity like the glistring rayes of Steele and Iron that 's still the same in substance worth and quality with that which is but rusty Alas what is this inconsiderate thing called Beauty a thing not qualified with so much virtue as are severall stones salt-water or rotten wood Nay the beautifullest outside of Woman-kind has not those priviledges that nature hath bestowed upon the scales of fishes or the eyes of catts all these have their excellencies visibility in the darke but you could neither see nor finde nor touch nor take your pleasure but by some other meanes which was neither in your selfe nor me wherefore if you will be rightly in love be not in love with Accidents but with that substance to which light it selfe is but a shadow The soule that forsakes the Divine love and gives it to the Creature is like the silly Chicken who having lost his parent followes after the next creature that it meets withall your love is but misplac'd Oh! how admirably would you love the Gods how well bestow'd were that affection yet I wil not deny but that there is a lawfull and true love proper between Man and Woman but withall there is an idoneity in placing that affection it must not be fixt upon an illicit object such a one as I am to all mankinde that are affected with the awefulnesse of a deity having vow'd my selfe a Vestall Virgin Wherefore make your retreat as honorable as you can and let your behaviour be such to your poore Servant as becomming the honour of your Ancestory and a patterne of true piety and virtue Thoron fell from being in love with her person to be much affected with the rare perfection of her minde And as well becomming the imitation of a true Convertite he gives himselfe to resignation in those things which her divine Reasons had fore-dictated unto him bidding her henceforward to feare no worse events but what her owne Commands should lay upon him and the rest that then were under his Authoritie But there happened a very merry passage occasioned by Thoron's familiarity and so much courting of Honoria between the said Thoron and his Wife Armena who being a Woman of a high Spirit and one that had formerly got the mastery of two Husbands and had oftentimes bid faire for this but found that the god Mercury was not to be made of every piece of wood and that this was of too cross-grain'd a disposition for all her art and tooles to engraven a similitude of any of the former out of either of the originalls for this was a notable man at curbing a woman howsoever the often attemptings hereof had been the occasion not onely of much difference but oftentimes of some hard usage towards Armena which at this time by reason of Thoron's dayly addresses and supposed intimacy with Honoria together with her disdaine and jealousie thereupon was much aggravated for she drew upon her self heapt measures of his rage and fury for he was no lesse liberall with his tongue in his unseemly language against her but his hands were also somewhat heavy upon her which he had no sooner perform'd but she vow'd she would be reveng'd calling him Coward and base Fellow to strike a Woman telling him that it is pitty but that there should be a Law to make it death to any one that should strike a Woman that had never struck a Man which words sunk the deeper into his cogitation being so well fastned to the weight of his owne guiltinesse bidding him looke to it telling him that if she could not get Men and Women enough to take her part she would set Dogs upon him but she would be reveng'd and never would put up so foule and unmanlike an affront upon a Woman of her quality and forthwith flung out of the roome Thoron knowing her high spirit great friends and remembring how most commonly she us'd to be as good as her word believ'd no lesse but fear'd as much he could wish it undone but could not tell how to help it would fain have been friends with her but knew not how she cast about in what manner she might load her vengeance on his back yet not breake it ' cause some trembling in his joynts but breake no bones her fury rather inventing some witty stratagem of revenge than consulting with any malice that was implacable she diving into her Husbands disposition and finding it but of somwhat an inferiour alay in point of magnanimity resolves upon an adventure no lesse answerable to the fulnesse of her
feet but durst not make any other use of them than standing upon them so unfortunate had his motion been unto him of late that still he ran into further mischief till at last the Beares unrulinesse made him venture farther off the danger so that he got close to the manger then he knew where he was up he gets into it and for his greater security sake climbs up into the rack The Bearward hearing a second alarum riseth out of his bed and came to see what was the matter where he soone espied one of his Beares missing and the wall broke downe where she had got out presently he raises the house saying He was undone one of his Beares was broken loose and was got away Up they all rise unchaine the Doggs search for the Beare enter the Stable see where the Beare broke out which whilst they were viewing they could heare a voice from the rack-side saying Doe you heare doe you heare I know where your Beare is with a pox to you They look'd up and spied Prickette amongst the rack staves They askt him Where where I pray now Where saies Prickette I know where well enough but looke that your Beares be safe and I 'le come downe and shew you They securing him from all danger he descends from his pallisadoes and directs them up into his Mistresse's Chamber giving the Bearward and the Dogs leave to goe before him who find the Beare fast asleep in Prickette his place so that with much convenience they got the string into the ring and pull'd the Beare from off the Bed Prickette turning down the bed to see what was become of his Sweet-heart there ascended such a wreake of bak'd and boyl'd and stew'd and roast-meat that his stomach was quite turn'd so that he had no appetite to his former dainties She cryes out to him Prickette begone get thee hence thou comest not neer me I will have nothing to doe with thee e'ne stay the time So they both concluded to wait the leisure when unlawfulnesse should be lesse attended with so heavy judgments and Prickette departed with the Beare Dogs and Bearward out of the roome to seeke another lodging CHAP. XV. Lorenzo his sad condition at Court Berontus meets with Navigius by whom he informes himselfe of all the businesse concerning Honoria He carryes the glad tidings to Lorenzo Bertaldo and Berontus sent to the Ladyes A Storme at Sea NOw we must returne to Lorenzo who all this while remain'd you will say in a very sad condition when a Prince in his owne Court shall hunt for favourable looks from his owne Subjects and finde ne'r a one for all the Courtiers beheld him with such sullen aspects as if Saturne at that time had animated the Court with one surly Genius so great power had the force of justice over the instruments of iniquity whom we must also leave as soone as we have lookt upon in his melancholly dumps to bring back the fortunate Berontus in his happy adventures for he had scarce reacht within three leagues of the Sea-shore but he met with Navigius the Sea-man who had been the Preserver of both the Ladyes who having not wit enough to believe that the surplusage of his merit exceeded the offensivenesse of his default upon the approach of so Courtly Gallants hearing the Rumours that had spread about the Countrey concerning Lorenzo's Conquest and Maximanus's Death was afraid of every Butterflies being a Courtier making inquisition for Honoria and Amarissa or after any one that had but a hand in that Delinquency for which reasons he thought himselfe no small Foole and that he thought he knew not how to answer the sale of such Commodities so that he lookt so gastly shooke so fearfully and stood so amaz'd in every respect that Berontus could not but take speciall notice of him Wherefore he askt him What ayl'st thou Fellow and finding him speechlesse he thought some extraordinary matter to be the occasion of that extasie and considering the businesse he went about he thought it worthy of his farther inquiry wherefore he caused one of his Attendants to take him up behind him and bring him along with him to the next resting place The Fellow thinking that he had been carried all this while to hanging still measuring the ' depth of their science by the guilt of his owne conscience as soone as ever he was brought to Examination he cry'd out Oh Master save but my life and I will tell you all Berontus reply'd answer me but to one Question and thou shalt not die Is Honoria living or canst thou tell what is become of her Navigius answered she is alive and well And Amarissa too reply'd Berontus She 's well and lusty said Navigius What is become of them said Berontus Navigius told him all the Passages of the whole story as was before related Whereat Berontus was so overjoy'd that he hugg'd him in his armes bidding him not to be afraid of any thing since they were living telling him that his merit in their preservation was so great that small faults would not be lookt upon Both overjoy'd made haste to Carthage where the night before these glad tidings were brought to Court Lorenzo not thinking himselfe worthy of the Attendance that pull'd off his Shooes as he went to bed was no sooner in bed but he was saluted with Amynda's Genius with these glad tidings Now thou 'st suffer'd for thy folly Cease further to be Melancholly Thy repentance is accepted And thy pray'rs no more rejected Honoria she is safe and sound Better so than under ground Amarissa ' as well as she Ev'n as well as well may be To morrow when you find it thus Forget Amynda hey for us But if you doe then find you shall A worser evill will befall Lorenzo starts upright in his bed and cryes out Oh Amynda stay awhile stay I pray thee good Amynda be not inexorable what wouldst thou have me to speake and I vow Obedience to thy Commands I will not swerve a tittle from thy precepts give me Honoria and command my life Amynda being overcome with his remorse and full intentions of amendment answers his desires Then all that I would have you doe Love Honoria and be true And Amarissa for her sake Love you 'd better give then take Now lye downe and ben't perplext Observe what I shall tell you next Lorenzo falls into a sweet sleep untill the morning-watch awak'd him with their answerings to Berontus his importunities of opening the Gates who was so transported with his fraught that he thought it much that wood and iron should make his lading dance attendance Lorenzo thus awakt and remembring the good tidings overnight he thought they were so good that he began to be afraid they were too good to be true Thus the Devill after we have overcome all his temptations throwes his last Dart and seekes to poyson us with infidelity like the Ship that hath escaped so great Enemies and so many Shipwracks at
afraid you have been too severe a Punisher of your self already I am glad I was preserv'd for no other cause And as Honoria was going on in her discourse Bertaldo stops the current of her speech till the streame swell'd so high that her heart floated in compassion of Lorenzo's sorrow for her sufferings saying You two shall take another time and place when you are by your selves then and there you can best charme one another into beliefs which none can question whilst you are one anothers Judges and by none attonements sooner wrought then when you are each others Advocates Lorenzo be but you her Votary and I 'le undertake she shall be your Confessour small pittance shall serve for absolution As Honoria would not heare Lorenzo nor Bertaldo Honoria so all the Company cry'd downe Bertaldo perceiving that no better accommodation might be made then what should proceed from the goodnesse of their owne dispositions when tongues should be as farre from interposing as eares from giving audience all was hush'd Lorenzo takes Honoria into his Charriot Bertaldo Amarissa into his both Berontus all three the generally so much beloved Philoret Lorenzo Honoria had little discourse much handing more kisses many sighes Bertaldo and Amarissa Berontus and Philoret were all Chatt thus they made the way short to Carthage where the People fill'd the Streets with Voices and the Ayre with Acclamations of Joy and Gladnesse for that happy meeting in a word the whole businesse was so sweetly compos'd between Lorenzo and Honoria as if his heart had been a Jubile and hers a plenary indulgence Thus stated as at first they began to entertaine thoughts how they might drive a trade of happinesse between Bertaldo and Amarissa whilst Berontus was love-sick for Amarissa and Philoret deadly in love with Bertaldo yet neither of them durst expresse the causes of their discontents the one through a supposed unworthinesse in himself the other lest he should shew any defect in worth towards so brave a friend Bertaldo and Amarissa both hearken to the musick that Lorenzo and Honoria caus'd for to sound in both their eares at which Berontus made as soure a face as Philoret lent them a deafe eare at last Philoret singling out his Master spake unto him in this manner Sir You know with what a passionate affection I ever lov'd you you know what preferments I ever waved to enjoy this relation I perceive there is an overture of Marriage between you and Amarissa you have oftentimes bid me aske what I would I never askt you any thing but now I shall My deare heart said Bertaldo aske what thou wilt and I will grant it thee Then said Philoret I onely aske that you would not Marry I doe not aske you would not Marry her for of all Women living she 's worthiest to be had Thy reason good Philoret reply'd Bertaldo Because I love you said Philoret Why should thy love said Bertaldo prompt thee to such a prohibition Because said Philoret it is not good to part with that deare priviledge of being wholly a mans selfe to be the halfe of another besides all the pleasure I have in this world is in your love all my ambition is to deserve it and all my study is how I may improve that happinesse Now when you have a Wife your love will be set on her and I shall but gleane in the same field where I formerly reapt a full Crop of Blisse and therewith fell into a most sudden passion and extreame weeping Whereat Bertaldo taking him in his armes intended him this satisfaction My deare Philoret I will Marry her but on this condition that she shall double not mitigate the love I beare to thee Sweet Boy had I as many Wives as Carthage Women they all should not be able to eclipse the least sparke of the true affection which I beare to thee and to thy merit Just as he had spoken that word there came a Servant from the Prince desiring his company he clapping Philoret on both his cheeks with both his hands bid him be confident that all the Wives in the world should not draw away his affection from him and so left him weeping In which posture Berontus found him and enquiring into the cause and by Philoret's answer finding it to be grounded upon his dislike of the Marriage he imbraces both him and his discontent fostering it up to a full growth as agreeable to his humour but all in vaine for the Match was made the Parties agreed the Time set onely Bertaldo told his Mistresse with what reluctancy Philoret resented it and upon what grounds desiring her to use her utmost indeavour to dispossesse him of that conceit Amarissa undertakes it and sends for Philoret who being come Amarissa takes him aside and thus intreats him Sweet-heart I understand thy love to be such to thy Master that thou think'st it will be lesse when he has me I have sent for thee to assure thee that it will be double when we two are one you must distinguish between love and love it is one thing to love a Wife and another thing to love a Friend or Favourite the love of the one no way lessens the obligations and ties of friendships that are between the other but rather incloses them in bounds and fences whereby they are not violable Truely Philoret I know thy love to be such to thy Master and thy merits to be so great in every eye that were I not engag'd unto Bertaldo by promise and oblig'd by honour of all the Men that carry heads upon their shoulders I should love Philoret and therefore never feare that his love should be lesse to thee Amarissa perceiving Philoret his colour to be quite gone and a Civill warre begun already upon his cheekes between the white Rose and the Red leaves off speaking as men leave wounding when they think the party almost dead when poor Philoret had fallen to ground had not Amarissa catcht him falling who like some young Physitian seeing his Potion begin to work by contraries feares he had mistaken the right Glasse and prescrib'd his Patient Poysons instead of Cordialls so affrighted was Amarissa in applying remedies where she was so ignorant of the disease Philoret comes to himself whom Amarissa leaves as Doctors doe their Patients when they begin to be dangerous carrying that sad newes of irrecovery to Bertaldo who flies to his beloved Page catching him up in his Armes asking him what he ayl'd And what he would have Bidding him declare his mind fully what he would before he Marryed or whether Honour Preferment Land Riches Money most affected him it should be granted and if he doubted his Marriage would be an Obstacle to any of these he would never Marry untill he had satisfied him in any of the particulars Philoret answered him I ask nothing but that you would not Marry all these things I have forsaken already for your sake and if you Marry I must forsake you and die