these imaginary comforts she solac'd her grief whilst with the assurance of real contentment the other confirm'd her minde with her desir'd consolations Irlando at last goes to her enjoyment Armando at least as he thought to contention Both were civilly admitted not without the astonishment of the one who thought his admittance prohibited by disdain seeing his way made plain by love His heart leapt at this incredible novelty which before was sunk with dispair Fancying a happy omen to himself he thought to resolve those words in thanksgivings which like clouds thickned with fury threatned to fulminate reproofs The reception of Emilia forewarning him of a cheat renued the tumult of his thoughts which afterwards conspired to torment him when having enquir'd after Rosalia she answer'd him That she was there in her steed she her self having made the change Hence she went to speak of love promising to act that person in all degrees of complacency which might satisfie a Lover And thereupon with carresses and other love tricks she began to weave those delights which alone captivate the sense Yet did his affection spume away even those powerful motives of sense obstinately obliging him to continue his vassaladge to the others beauty who although she was ungrateful yet she did not forbear to be adoreable nevertheless the bridle of consideration impos'd rules to this disorder suggesting as unreasonable to despise the favours of so kinde a Lady in hope to aspire to the others favours who even loath'd him So that with his genius and with his consent he inclin'd to that part which with reason predominated even to enjoyment He was not inferiour to his friend in running through the lists of delight whose bounds and carriere were her fair brests These two fortunate couple of Lovers will have no cause to envy one the other both being equally in the road of contentemnt if not of old of newer loves and far more vehement affections Thus Emilia and Armando revolv'd the sailes of their thoughts fitted to the wind their hopes being already undeceiv'd to finde harbor whereto their desires had at first steer'd The dispute of Rivalship being thus taken away the practise of these Lover was free between whom mutually there was a strait knot of friendship Yet the flight of this liberty a fresh transports the affections to the shunn'd post of their election Irlando loves Emilia and Rosalia Armando The cause of this change was either the usual property to finde that loathsome which we have long enjoy'd or the ordinary condition of our desires which alwaies more ardently aspires to the possession of that which we may acquire by depriving our selves of the other Others things seem alwaies better to us then our own forasmuch as being oblig'd by our being to be alwaies content its necessary that not vallewing what we enjoy we desire what we see another possess principally in love which the likeness of fire shews whose common condition is to aspire to new objects This element the greater nourishment it receives as it were to glut the pride of its ardors raising its flames so much the higher seems to demonstrate the voracity of its appetite greedy of making new prey As novelties most delight so the thoughts began to suggest hopes of more grateful felicities in these new Lovers Irlando to whom these desires shut the fight to the beauties of Rosalia considered in the other the excess of such a good grace that it engrav'd in his heart the adorable idol of his affections The Lady also who saw that Emilia was had in greater esteem of Armando whom she thought far inferior to her in desert resolv'd presently subjection of love to him who could acknowledge it with the greater tribute of reverence This change of their own wills was conceited with looks carresses and jests which being the effect of a friendly union degenerate into affectionate accents Emilia was satisfied with the behaviour of her Lover and gave way to no thoughts which bore not the marks of her being consecrated to him Even Armando also remembring the great kindeness with which his Lady at first confirm'd the excess of love before she reveal'd it had oblig'd his heart to preserve his affections that he could not mix them with those which carried any other image but that of Emilia So that those two lost the field being excluded from any correspondency who first of all entred loves Capital in triumph To continue it amongst themselves it seem'd impossible for their luke-warmness was soon converted into coldness and that into ice so that at last disdain and loathings sprung from corrupt dispositions each of them thinking themselves oblig'd to revenge the others infidelity or at least inconstancy which begot an exceeding hatred to paralel the punishment with the crime The assaults were revolv'd against the true Lovers who in opposition to their discord rendred the indissolveable union of their affections the more strongly fortified mutually confessing their genius transported out of the center of themselves and lockt up within the circumference of their amorous wills agreeing to cast off the love of their two friends although to their disgust With faign'd fictions they perswaded the more highly to fix these roots in their hearts which us'd to breed affectionate correspondence that jealousie might not move the others to suspend or prohibit them this commerce wherein these rivals equally found acquest of enjoyments Familiarity sometimes permitted a kiss to be snatcht whereof these Lovers took an usurious interest considering the penury of other pleasures The occasion of a jest oblig'd a carress and those endearments without offending those mindes with suspitions who thinking even that the others hearts were interchangeably knit they doubted not that aspiring to any other object they would by their rivalship disturb their contentment Rosalia at last being importun'd by accidity with the more pleasure to terminate these deceits renders her friend jealous with a faign'd jealousie of her own She seems to doubt that the Lovers being tir'd with their long possession were equally traytors of their oblig'd faith She said that she knew very well that Armando's minde was inclin'd towards her as one the other side she perceiv'd her Lovers heart aspire towards her Being thus perswaded to discover the proof of this truth they should one evening fraudulently exchange the Gentlemen and by this occasion the liberty of amorous demonstrations would discover to whom their affections most enclin'd They promis'd one the other to revenge the the others offended faith with rigorous reproofs when the vayl of dissimulation was taken off and the stains of treachery appear'd The other being after this manner imbued with suspitions consents to the experiment to assure her self of this relation of her pretended faithful friend Thus Rosalia with Armando and Irlando with Emilia were in posture to compleat the web of their own contentments brought about by this cheat The two Ladies one evening invited their two Lovers to a private treat every one
they paid withusury by the loss of their liberty In fine this Sun blinded hearts no less then eyes and he was rather esteem'd stupid then prudent who could escape so sweet a Tyranny and he was call'd sacrilegious who sacrificed not his heart to the Idol of her Beauty This treasury of Natures richness was possest by way of matrimony by the Count of Castel-Novo a Cavalier indued with all the favours which Fortune could dispence or Vertue merit But he was thought not much belov'd by the Countess because he commonly was abroad in Princes Courts or in the wars excercising himself in arms more then in love Which was easily beleev'd by the desires of many who thought to subdue that Fort which was onely guarded with beauty which was easily to be corrupted with presents or overcome by the violence of services and entreaties but they soon found themselves deceiv'd finding such opposition from the vertue and shamefac'dness of the Lady that some were forc'd quite to abandon the undertaking others to raise the siege and others to expect occasion which is the daughter of time onely the Marquess Oliverio the first amongst the proudest both for Wealth and Nobility abated nothing of his resolutions But followed the assault with so much the greater ardor by how much the more desperate he thought the Victory He had overcome denials repulses and disdains which insteed to exstinguish made the fire of his heart still the greater And although he hop'd for no further advance in conquering the pudicity of that Lady yet did he omit no means possible which might make him deserve the title of a true Lover since he could not prevail to be lov'd again and so much the more for that with gifts he had possest himself of the good will of all those who serv'd her so that the poor Ladies ears were continually befieg'd with this Cavaliers praises the whole Family being never weary of celebrating his valor sometimes his birth his bounty his wealth his person and his magnaminity And although these commendations being often repeated mov'd her to admire such rare qualities yet this oblig'd her to no other love but that which vertue begets in a noble breast But what Oliverio could not achieve with all his love treacheries he still did beleeve that in process of time a moment of Fortune would gain The Countess had a young brother and rich which is sufficient to speak him insolent There was no scandalous business in the City wherein he shar'd not or was not principal night which brings rest and quiet even to the insatiable fury of wild beasts disquieted him then he usually went about the City offending equally all he met but ill actions brings at last to a just punishment when one night he would by force have enter'd the house of a Lady of honor and already began to use violence on the doors and windows whereupon being taken prisoner by four Companions he had neither time nor boldness enough to resist the threats wherewith he had also injur'd the Lady having also rais'd the neighbourhood against him His imprisonment was no sooner known but bills were so multiplied against him that his life was even call'd in question The Countess who lov'd him as being her brother and could not endure to see him suffer a publick punishment having no mony in a readiness quickly procured from certain Merchants 1000. pistols giving them the best part of her jewels in pawn with this money she so deals with the Lord Governor whose eyes being blinded with the splendor of the Gold look'd justice like The young man with his Companions escapes by the conivence of the Commander who fearing least his avarice should be discover'd would have the guilty fly far away to estrange those testimonies which might convince the Judge of guilt The Countess enjoy'd not much by her brothers deliverance having receiv'd a letter from her husband which reduc'd her to dispair the Count commanding her that without delay she should with all her costliest apparel come to Millan to wait on the Imperatrix who was hourly expected to pass there The poor Lady being agitated with many thoughts knew not what resolution to take which might neither be dishonourable nor dangerous To go to Millan without her Jewels which are so requisite in such occasions it would very much have prejudic'd the reputation of her greatness To discover the freeing of her brother she could not without incurring her husbands anger there being betwixt them particular digusts After many things which floated about in her minde she forceth her heart to the law of necessity and taking her pen she writes these Carracters Marquess OLIVERIO SHould I say I did not love you truly I should lye since the confidence I have in you acknowledgeth it self the ligitimate daughter of Love I love you Marquess Oliverio and so that with the blushes of my reputation I have recourse to your favour I want a thousand Pistols to release my Jewels being oblig'd to go for Millan to wait on the Emperatrice if you can furnish me till my return my heart shall oblige it self to you by a perpetual correspondence But Cavaliers like you move but with gentlenesse and then what can be promised from that heart which till now was aw'd with the opinion of the World and a Nuptial Faith Besides I assure my self that the greatnesse of you spirit will not disdain to give me leave to be Your most devouted servant AMASIA The letter being seal'd she caus'd a Staffeer to carry it to the Marquess faigning as if it had been sent from her Husband unwilling by obliging any to silence to venture her self on the fidelity of her servants Oliverio had scarce look'd over the paper but he thought himself deluded by a dream He could scarce beleeve himself so much the greater a felicity as it was less hop'd for His consolation was so great that confining with grief it fetch'd tears from his eyes His first disturbance being past in which a Man within himself is out of himself he answers after this manner Madam I Would have the possession of a thousand souls aswel as I have of a thousand peeces that I might satisfie them all to pleasure you I ought truly to thank you for the honour you do me desiring with so much sweetness what is yours but the confusion of my heart is so great that I cannot express its joy nor its obligations but by silence Yet I rejoyce with my self that you are pleas'd to ciment my faith with gold and so much the more for that desiring the riches of the Earth I hope the treasures of the Minde will be doubly grateful I would that you should argument from these double Pistols that my love is not double and my onely glory is to be acknowledged Your most humble and more oblig'd Servant OLIVERIO Without delay he caused the Letter with the Mony to be delivered into the hands of the Countess who having recovered her Jewels
shall be my care that she who gave it shall cure thy wound be comforted therefore my friend restoring thee to thy self keep us with you for your usual comfort the soul of Gernando being vanish'd at his words was in great danger to be drown'd in love which rose up from the bottom of his heart swelling and changing the languishing mans countenance He blushes grows pale trembles freezeth but at last having recover'd his spirits he with a trembling voice answers Out of respect that I would not violate not even in my thoughts the Religious bonds of our friendship I have thus silenc'd my self even to death Why alas were you so scrupulous replyed Anselmo Resalba is a servant not a wife and do you beleeve that I should take to heart a vain opinion of her honor more then you who are a part of my self who perhaps with an imaginary fancy inwardly laughs at it At a call Resalba comes in again with the Ladies when he goes out purposely to bind the practice of his undertakings with Dorilla the stronger and descending in short to desire of her a proportionable help to the needs of Gernando he had Dorilla's answer that if another should languish for him whether by anothers perswasion would you your self gratifie her well then replies he I now understand thee Dorilla find my self so oblig'd by the dear pawn of thy love to love thee that I wish thy desire so as Rosalba by thy means may but relieve Gernando Thee Dorilla resplendantly for the reward of her suffer'd love every moment seem'd to her an age to ciment the undertaking to gain Rasalba's consent that rock wherein she knew she should finde the living life of her heart So that having taking the first opportunity she afar off of her self begins to detest the miserable condition of their servitude which destinated them to deny their own for to follow the will of others which not onely the indiscreet commands of their Mistrisses witnessed to them but of others also who would have precedence over them and indeed ought rather to be their companions then servants whereupon with disdain she said Anselmo Anselmo thy Master O Rosalba rebelling yesterday against the obligations of due modesty grew to that boldness as to desire me And what weighs as much with me he hath prest me to pass civility with thee forasmuch as forgetting thy honor that thou thy self should give thy self to Gernando who truly dies languishing for thee God forbid that I should ever do it I would rather for ever part from this house Thou growest angry Dorilla replyes Rosalba and art not aware that our Masters do it to try our constancies they do it to make sport with us and thus they treacherously pitch their nets to catch the foolishest when they brag they suffer most and die for love when they intend to tyrannize it over another they point the line another way they countersigne with Characters of gold the first expression of their loves with griefs O Dorilla not with words they give us an assured testimony of the gift which they say they have made of their hearts trust me sister who gives not presents certainly he loves not Upon this scandal Dorilla seem'd for the time satisfied as having steer'd to that port where was the principal traffick of her hopes And suddenly with Anselmo who was at the catch not far off glowing with desire she communicates the avaritious sense of Rosalba with solid pretences that she would be gotten with three hundred peeces of gold for the first pawn of Gernando's amorous affection and the sooner to gain her by example she tels her from the beginning the carriage of her loves with Anselmo Rosalba seeing that she had already sold that at a great rate which in her heart she very willingly would have given begins by degrees to decline from her faigned rigor and more freely to contract with Dorilla the business of her love proposition and covering with a cloke of charity the impurity of her affections she protested she would come as a victim to the Altar to expiate the crime and implore his favour whom she had so much offended for his loving of her And having expresly made the agreement there was no more to do By this promis'd comfort Gernando being recover'd they were so to order the business that their amorous theft might be hid Neither could Anselmo any waies fail to afford Dorilla her promised reward that he might not lose his own satisfaction who even also long'd to be in the lists of his hoped for delights He at once was a lover and a procurer So that if by his means Gernando enjoy'd the love of Rosalba his Gentlewoman he by way of exchange was to enjoy Dorilla Gentlewoman to Gernando whereupon with their beloved taking advice they consulted on the best meanes what way they might the most secretly injoy one another several councels interven'd but amongst others it was beleeved to be the best that Anselmo and Gernando faigning business or sport should go out of Town and at night secretly return and changing the keys of their garden doors should thereby get access into one the others house going up the back stairs to their loves they every one might hapily enjoy till morning the fruits of their amorous conspiracy At this only remedy O the great miracle of love Gernando grew quickly well and went about this practice with so much wariness that neither Leonora nor Celinda although at the return of the day they stole and took turns yet they were not at all awares At last their husbands new delights encreas'd in prejudice of their abandon'd wives and whether it be a defect of our humanity that it prizeth not long what it possesseth in abundance or whether it be the vice of sense which findes a greater pleasure where love hath more of the impudent Their wives at last grew so disgustful to them that when out of cunning they visited their marriage beds yet they brought with them such a coldness and inofficious conversation which forc'd them to reflect on their great losses they could not but at least be induc'd to beleeve that som impudent wenches fascinating their husbands had with their impure lasciviousness turn'd their hearts in their brests so much were they chang'd from their first loves whereupon Leonora who was of a more resenting and wary genius then Celinda looking on it with a neerer application first in all Gernando's actions it seem'd as if a certain treating or cypher a kinde of speaking by signs which he daily held under cover of a youthful familiarity with Dorilla might if it were well understood take away the Curtain from the Tragedy of all her contentment whence one day observing tha according to his wonted presence he was with Anselmo to go out of Town Gernando practis'd more then usually with Dorilla their misterious language whence presently entring into a high suspition she therupon resolves to watch her all that night
admiration since all the visible species which that face represented were as many Characters which circumscrib'd the necessity of astonishment It was needless also for them to communicate alternatively the kindled flames of their inward affections since either of them had in him a living fire wherein the most vital spirits of the minde were cousumed But perhaps those looks were with more truth to be call'd effects of the already conceiv'd jealousie of their hearts for those beloved beauties so that they would spy one the others countersigns paralel with their own whereby they might conjecture the others love The winde of a concordant sigh at last blowes away the ashes which hid the fire of love whereupon not to belye the truth they both confest themselves to be Lovers A remedy for ills which might have been bred with the discontent of their wills in consideration of their ancient friendship which ought not to suffer prejudice by this improvident fury rather then affection both of them did glory to yeild this object to the other which the more estimable it shew'd it self it so much the more authenticated the excess of their faith whereby they corresponded with a voluntary privation to felicitate his friend with the possession with the touches of a gentle affection they mutually consecrated to eithers contentment the enjoyment of that beauty which although it was the life of their hearts was willingly renounc'd by them whose mindes were the will and pleasure of his friends this strife lasted long till by an absolute protestation they both denyed themselves to be Lovers The like contest at the same time hapned with the beloved Lady a neighbour and friend of hers who by accident was there at the same time when the two Cavaliers were looking on them The beauties of her face were not despicable but worthy of a publick esteem had they not been prejudic'd by the vicinity of those which exceeded in beauty even the ordinary power of Nature They both observed the Cavaliers looks wherein they saw the sparks of Loves fire which cannot be hid when they transmit flames from the heart to the eies They were both also onely pleas'd with Irlando who was inferiour in age though superiour in that desert which by youth and beauty prevailes with Ladies In the course of their praises they discover'd either of them unawares their inward affections the more freely having as yet not known the knot of their rivalship but they were no sooner advis'd of the consent of their thoughts which harmoniously agreed to the love of the only beauty but they oblig'd themselves to repentance least they should go too far in their discourse Emilia most of all fearing a treacherous prejudice to her practises being inferiour to the other in beauty thought to dissemble the inclination of her minde absolutely denying to love Irlando to retreeve the error she had before committed by the liberty of her discourse yet within her self she resolves to outgo her with excess of favours forerun the others endeavours who presum'd the victory from the excess of her beauty After some discourses she taking leave seeks to confound the remembrance of Love yet with a sollicitous dilligence by countersigns she sends to enquire that Cavalier's lodging and writes him a letter to this purpose SIR I Cannot withhold my self from acquainting you that I am your Lover 't were to offend the singular merit of your condition to think it hard for you to beleeve your self adoreable even from one who hath learnt it but by the knowledge of a look only I invite you to enjoy me not to return me your love for I dare not pretend such a reward being oblig'd to sacrifice my self since my affections have already destin'd me your victim Besides that I know no qualities in me worthy of you I hope only that I may acquire with a flood of delights the fertility of your love I shall this night expect you preparing a Room for you in my besom where you shall receive the Caresses of that heart which to please you would exviscerate your EMILIA With these invitations she thought to catch the young man who commonly loves but to enjoy Sense predominating causeth that violence with is attributed to affection The end of his amorous thoughts are a bed although he fancy a Celestial beauty for the Sphere The offer of enjoyment was the fittest bait to make a prey of his heart which sooner might be caught by the hook of once delights then colour'd appearances Emilia being thus perswaded resolves to be thus prodigal to triumph over the other whom she supposed to preserve the pride of her beauty in its hight would be more moderate of her favours yet it even subdues the pride of that love which suppresseth Majesty as contrary to its laws She acknowledgeth the necessity of submitting to that power which bragging of his triumphs over the Gods themselves it might more reasonably carry away trophies from her although she had a part of Divinity in her looks Having long strugled with her thoughts she at last yields giving way to a wounded quill to distil floods of ink with the like sentiment of her heart SIR THAT heart which perswades me that it was no temerity to love you hath embolden'd me to discover my self your Lover I shall not multiply attestations to make you beleeve the truth of my Affection My sudden resolution is a sufficient testimony with your singular desert Your being a man and in the quality of a Cavalier prescribes you the duty tomake you know this love I shall expect effects rather then promises Resolve to answer me with your sight consent but to wil what ought secretly to be approv'd by the desires of your ROSALIA This Letter Rosalia writes for so was her name she using Emilia's Mesenger who was also to deliver the other wherewith she was already trusted Their express charge to bury in silence these loves weav'd the net the business chiefly consisting on the mutual secrecy of these Lovers They were Rivals without discordity concurring even to prevail by the same means which they had one way commenc'd and on the other estrang'd themselves from the pretended end The like in the mean time happen'd to the two before-nam'd Cavaliers The revolution of thoughts dissolv'd the promises they had made to love the Lady no more least their concurrance might break the union of their amity either of them being assaulted with an army of passions which warr'd under the same Ensign of that admired Beauty was forc'd to hazard their friendship that they might not vilifie their love Their inseparable conservation gave them no other means but that of letters to instance their affections to their beloved which requir'd for their servitude the reward only of their Mistrisses graces So that unanimously although disjunctively they resolve to put their hopes in by-waies that the tract of their Characters might secure the following steps of their hopes Irlando writes thus Fairest Lady I
Cannot exaggerate the quality of my ardors which are even exstinguish'd by the ink discredited by the Hiperboles which a pen can afford Prohibit but these and I am denied to express the truth of my affections yet nevertheless if the reflection of your countenance will illuminate the obscurity of these Characters you will know what the fire is which is enlightned by the rayes of so much beauty Admit me but to your presence the tongues of my flames shall speak in my eyes to witness that my heart is a living furnace my blood shall assure you that the wound of my affections is made by your looks so that as its usual in presence of my Murtheress my face will shew you a blushing mantle to testifie it worthy of a kiss Besides I shall shew my heart not onely wounded but torn whereby you cannot but be oblig'd out of pitty to the duty of a civil correspondence Your Servant and Lover IRLANDO To testify his amorous thoughts he recommends this Letter having sealed it up to a faithful servant of his commanding him to conceal especially from his friend this love negotiation affirming that secrecy was the chiefest part of his hopes Who in the same manner and with the same orders had received a Letter from Armando for so was the other Cavalier call'd In which this was written Fairest Lady AFfection hath no bridle to restrain it within those limits which bound the knowledg of my smal merit unruly in Love's carriere from that point where it received the impulse of its violence which being frō your beauty it s now at last reduc'd to this resolution considering that all wills guided by reason are oblig'd to love what 's fair whereupon I ought not to fear the discovery of the excessive love of this heart which were guilty if it should not love you If it act then conformable to its duty it deserves no punishmen forbid your cruelty therefore to punish me with rigour since I love you and rather let it acquit me the reward of an amorous correspondence obliging me to serve your merit with the weight of those sufferings which love begets which you your self knowing may assure your self that my affections lye not but you ought also to consider it injust to suffer for me the fallacy of my hopes It s sufficient I say I love you for your knowing what your beauty deserves will also know what your affection owes to Your Servant in Love ARMANDO Both these Letters come to Rosalia's hands almost at the same time when those of their Messengers were delivered Irlando from the two Ladies The soul of this Cavalier ran with its most vital spirits to honor with gratitude that of his beloved In the tenderness of his highest Jubily the affections extended themselves that they might the more actively rise to the Sphere of so much contentment and to shun the necessity of being carried away by the violence of so great a joy Finding himself gratified with a correspondence which he desir'd he thought he might presage that his love would most happily succeed when graces ran before the very flight of his desires 'T was fit for him to moderate the effects of so much sweetness in reading Emilia's Letter whose civility rather invited then enticed that heart which rejoyc'd onely in its effects for the beauty of the other Armando comes in when his eyes and his minde were attentively examining those Characters to whom smiling he shews the Letter discovering those heedless loves but hides Rosalia's esteeming that confidence without judgment might ruin the interest of his felicity When Love will be alone all his lawes are contrary to those precepts which conversation or friendship hath established The remembrance of Love raiseth suspitions original even in him from his own knowledge they having unanimously ador'd that Lady But although they had had no occasion to doubt rivality yet he might fear least he might fail of such a beauty who was so apt to afford favours and love So that in discoursing of Emilia he shew'd himself even in his memory far from thinking on the other naming her onely when it was necessary to circumscribe this comparison of hers The Gentleman who thought this occasion fit to felicitate his thoughts us'd all the efficacy possible to perswade his his friend not to refuse the favors of so loving a Lady which if he could have oblig'd him to he pretended that it would be free for him to seek Rosalia's love Extending his discourse in her praise celebrating her singular merit to shew him how unjust the refusal of his affection would be He tells him that the fairer a woman is she is so much the prouder and less tractable then another who being inferiour in beauty would be wanting as much of pride which usually checks the delights of love In a fair woman quarrels and contests were ordinary forasmuch as knowing the power her looks have over hearts she alwaies pretends such an Empire over her Lovers that it often deserves the title of Tiranny He added that it was the common course of Nature that where beauty was wanting she supplied it with abundance of graces which give the best relishes to amorous delights At last he concluded That when we aspire to the highest pitch of prosperity in love a man never ought to make choice of a Lady of excessive beauty It being sufficient so she be not deform'd to that heart which seeks true and continued enjoyments In obliging them by the interest of higher contents a man might perhaps presume to make the observance of that duty inevitable whereby he was bound not to refuse the invitation of so much civility And in fine That his perswasions were not ill grounded That as Emilia's beauty was not in excess yet was it not far short Yet all this could not pervert Irlando's thoughts who treacherously glorious applauded in himself how he was lifted up by his towring hopes to a heaven far more sublime He could not have prejudic'd his fortune by changing his propos'd election for all the treasures of the world yet on the other side he fancies thinking he might gain a greater liberty in his love with Rosalia could his dissimulations but be credited as made to Emilia The other remains so fully deceiv'd in beleeving these appearances whence concluding that he could not offend their friendship he designs to follow the waies of love with that Lady who wholly possest his minde Nevertheless Irlando advanceth to enjoyment before the other procures himself to be loved He writes back to both the Ladies with a diverse sense according to the pleasure of his affections or according to the little correspondence of his minde Those he sent to Rosalia were thus express'd Fairest Lady THE showers of your civilities which dissolves in deluges of grace might justly threaten tempests of disdain should I not come to enjoy the presence of that sun from which there distils a dew of delights To night I shall come to sacrifice
CHOICE NOVELS AND Amorous Tales WRITTEN By the most Refined Wits OF ITALY Newly translated into English London Printed by T.N. for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard 1652. To the READER THE Academici Incogniti are known to be of the best wits of Italy who having publish'd a Collection of their Novelle Amarose easily perswaded a Gentleman for his and thy divertisements to Translate some of the choisest who is so far from being asham'd to be of the unknown that 't is his ambition since the Illustrious Author whose name thou shalt not be ignorant of glory 's in the same Title as Loredano Pallavicino c. Boccace and others though they have written the same way before them and have been universally received may now give place and acknowledge themselves outgone For the Subject its Love and so cannot but be grateful Be but favourable and enjoy in the reading but as much pleasure as I am confident the Contrivers of them did in compiling them And so farewel A Table of the Novels with the Names of the AUTHORS OCtavio the first Novel written by Signior Giovanni Croce Bianca Aleria the second Novel by Signior Giovanni Francesco Loredano Amasia the third Novel by the same Author Leonora the fourth Novel written by Signior Pietro Pomo Armidoro the fifth Novel written by Signior Girolamo Brusoni Aurelia the fixth Novel written by Signior Giovanni Francesco Loredano Niarpe the seaventh Novel by Signior Ferrante Pallavicino Deadora the eighth Novel written by Signior Giovanni Francesco Loredano Emilio the ninth Novel written by Signior Gio. Battista Fusconi Limisinda the tenth Novel by Signior Gio. Battista Settimo Irlando and Armando the eleventh Novel by Signior Ferrante Pallacino Epidoro the twelfth Novel by Signior Gio. Francesco Loredano OCTAVIO NOVEL I. The ARGUMENT Octavio findes an amorous correspondence in Florida which his Father Odoardo perceiving sends him to the University at Bologna Horatio Florida's Father in the mean time promiseth her in marriage to Don Fernando The Lover being advertised returns to Parthenope They both confess their resolutions to their Fathers whereupon Florida is imprisoned in a Monastery where her sister Bellaria was who deceiving Octavio insteed of Florid was ravisht by Fernando whose wife she became as also Florida did Octavo ' s. PARTHENOPE being one of the principal Cities of Italy enjoys a Heaven which is alwaies so clement that its neither vext with the excesses of the Frosts in Winter nor of the heats of the Summer She kindly affords the Tyrene Sea her breasts who being not ingrate makes profitable returns and enricheth her with pleasures Plenty feasts at all times in the fields of its territory and delight triumphs in such a manner that Heaven the Sea and the Earth seem rivals in rendring this City beyond others incomparably wonderful It s inhabited by very tractable people yet cunning and of a quick wit for invention It breeds a many Cavaliers amongst whom one of the first was called Octavio Franci a noble man conspicuous for wealth and illustrious for his valor and person He as the onely One was brought up with carresses which usually disposeth mindes to the love of luxury whence he hardly had compleated his third luster but he submits himself to the Tyrany of Love Florida Albinelli dwelt neer his house a Lady of a great birth but of a slender fortune her father loving appearance more then reality having vainly consum'd those riches which maintain titles and dignities Florida was as liberally priviledged by nature as she was hardly persecuted by Fortune She had such beauties that the attributes of celestial and divine seem'd rather proper then Hyperboly With these prerogatives she daily acquir'd such a number of Sutors as Penelope never had so many wooers Neither could any other Egyptian Lady boast of more lovers but amongst the crowd of her servants none was more passionate and more hearty then our Octavio He a long while courted her as a neighbour then beholds her as the Paradice of his eyes but at last she proves a hell to his minde observing himself to be equally happy in beholding her and tormented by desiring her They legitimate their loves amongst themselves with promises of marriage so that sense being incapable of a bridle to restrain it rais'd them in a short time to a very high passion Octavio frequented more then usually a Chamber which over-look'd Florida's Chamber where he often waited as full of thoughts as he was often full of grief yet he never mist an occasion seeing her appear on the Balcony silently to signifie his affection to her neither did she forbear watchfully to receive it with pleasure but her discretion fain'd it unawares for that civility did not oblige her to shew her self perverse a thousand times was he about to speak to her but never durst possest with a youthful bashfulness at last after a great contest with himself he let fly a letter the blackness of the ink hiding the blushes of his modesty The letter succeeded well since Florida gladly received it graciously read it and answered it appearing at the window with a kinde smile 't was a lamp which like St. Hermo's fire cheer'd Octavio's heart which beat on the Sea of his affection whence taking a good omen he began easily to hope for the calm of his contentment being fully pleased with a devout acknowledgement he thanks his goddess who so kindly consolated him the neerness of the dwelling so fully favouring him to make himself readily understood She already caught with the good qualities of Octavis perceiv'd her self to be a lover before she knew she was so cordially lov'd neither did she want the will to make it appear so that from their mutual correspondence both their affections encreased unmeasurably The Lady gave way to the words of Octavio she having put by all other respects received them the more gratefully the more endearing they were They vow'd matrimony together with a mutuall consent Octavio thereby getting a glorious Alliance and to Florida accrewed the hopes of a great fortune Besides they both begg'd Heaven for a happy conclusion of their Nuptials When Odoardo for so was Octavio's father call'd observ'd his sonnes flames which as it's ordinary for young men were hotter then they were wary He greatly disdain'd it not that she displeas'd him for his daughter in law but that he was afraid of her parents who from her Cradle had design'd her for another Yet without seeming to take notice of any of his sonnes practices that he might not oblige himselfe to resent it unto him hee commands him to make ready to transfer himselfe to terminate his commenc't studies at Bollogna The Father hoping that Pallas being industrious would there unloose that knot which had by Venus been knit in Parthenope This paternall decree was a fatall blow to Octavio who already conceived his departure as the passage from life to death He afflicts himselfe sighs laments curseth his Fortune his studies
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
by the birth of a girle who yet in her very swath-bands forc'd all who beheld her to a hight and singular opinion of a threatning beauty Aurelia would not so much as give ear to any so far was her heart from beleeving but that all those who could ever felicitate her were dead with her Edoardo She voluntarily buried her self in her house intending nothing but the instruction of her daughter but with so strict a discipline that she was already advanced to the thirteenth of her age and could not yet brag to have seen or to have been seen by any other men but those who were of the Family She never went abroad but twice or thrice in a year and then so covered and watch'd with such a care least even the air onely might ravish her Her chamber scarce gave admittance to the Sun so far was it from the eyes of mortal men And then the continual company of her mother permitted no other divertisement but som sometimes childish pastimes Fortune the ordinary helper of Lovers operated so that Aurelia and Ermelina for so was the daughter call'd were violently carried to the window by a great noise which by how much the more violent it was by so much it rendred them the more curious They saw the life of Alexio their neighbour assascinated by the swords of many whilst he defended himself with a courage far beyond his age The youth and beauty of Alexio mov'd a fudden pitty in the brest of Aurelia so that commanding her servants to let him in they free'd him from the hands of the others who having wounded him in one hand and grievously in the flank were even ready to murther him Alexio after some short complements was easily invited to rest himself in bed Hether was his mother brought to attend his recovery the Physitians denying him to stir from that house least motion and air might the more exasperate his wounds Ermelina altogether ignorant of love whose name was even unknown to her lost her self at the first sight of Alexio being altogether ignorant of love she fals in love neither could she contend against the first struglings of love so that now with a curious ear she attends the discourse of the Physitian and now she enquires of the servants and sometimes though very often reprov'd by her Mother she slips into the Chamber masking under pretty pretences the desire she had to see him The nights increas'd her disquiets sleep wanting strength to still her agitations that at last her minde is tiranniz'd by a confusion of thoughts and if at any time her eyes overcom with watching not with sleep yeelded they presently open'd to them other fantasms which tormented her even more slumbring then waking Ermelina entertains her self for some daies in this amorous phrensie till Alexio upon his recovery recovers his own house He had often observ'd in the Girles eyes some pretty testimony rather of love then of Pitty But being little practis'd he condemn'd all those thoughts as suspected which perswaded him he was belov'd But fed with the incitements of that beauty which would render all undertakings excusable and keeping house the better to confirm his recovery he continually recreated himself at a Window which answer'd Ermelina's Chamber There she readily discover'd how he mov'd by a thousand impatiences made no other vowes but to see her Finding a way to open a window opposite to her lovers which had been advisedly shut up by her Mothers jealousie she took occasion to see him at her pleasure but was forbid to speak with him either by her own modesty or the fear of her Mother He also by his treacherous love being rendred mute gave his eyes theliberty of all the functions of his tongue At last overcoming himself he in Paper exhales his Passions Thus expressing himself Lady LOVE who violently tyes my tongue with the same tyranny moves my hand and forceth me by these Characters to acknowledge the vassalage of my heart already contracted and sworn by my eyes These violences were very necessary to oblige me to this testimony which in respect to your singular merit cannot be but temerous Beauty which is the splendor of Divine light disdains to be ador'd and worship'd with ordinary terms of humanity I know it well yet can I practise no other way Let these expressions fairest Fair be grateful to you which issues from a soul which gloryes more in being subject to you then in its own being Refresh these hopes with your Answer which is onely able to save the life of Your most devoted and most oblig'd ALEXIO This letter was convoyed to Ermelina without difficulty for having expected the occasion as she was looking out of the Window he darted it gently to her brest The Girl no less curious then amorous took liberty and strait her eyes ran to the reading of it whilst her soul was ravish'd with these Characters she minds not her Mothers observing her who every moment examin'd and censur'd the actions and passages of her daughter The first effect of Aurelia's despight was to snatch the letter out of her hand adding so many injuries and threatnings that tears and sighs were the least witnesses of Ermelina's sufferings The loss of her Letter prognosticating the shipwrack of her love and hopes the greatest of her passion Aurelia leaving her in a deluge of tears withdraws her self into another Chamber to read the Letter and to discover how it had been conveyed Scarce did she know it to be Alexio's but her minde was agitated with a thousand thoughts Youth and Beauty made way for desire to gain possession Repentance assaulted her to have so many years neglected her life from the enjoyment thereof all other pleasures were too apparent besides those which a conjugal love produceth On the other side she misdoubted the free censure of the world in taking such a resolution after thirteen years stay She fear'd her daughters temerity and the tender youth of Alexio and consider'd that a second Marriage after having so long regretted the first was but to incur the bold censure of fame and a voluntary loosing of her liberty That part prevails in our affection over which sense is most predominant she resolves to lose all rather then the love of Alexio Taking her Pen in her daughters name she thus invites him ALEXIO WHo yeeld at the first encounter discovers the more weakness and cannot shun the censure of base and rather deserve hate then love But for all this who loves ought not at all to disemble Love is a fire the more it is supprest opperates with the greater force These therefore come to assure you that I heartily love you and had I not been moved by the doubt that I should have incurr'd your disdain your letter should not have prevented mine Now if you have a thought to legitimate our love by matrimony I shall this night expect you at our garden gate which you shall finde open Otherwise condemn your affection as
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
blow towards her it being suggested her by the deceit of the dream she beleeves it a vision rather then the fright of an immaginary appearance His words which might have discovered the fraud saying What troubles thee O my dear were not heard by her or if heard not observ'd or beleev'd effects of his dissimulation wherewith he thought to hide the discover'd perfidiousness of his treachery At last with a sudden fury intoxicated with prejudic'd thoughts which perswaded her that her Love had an intention to murther her She raging throws her self out of her bed and with a cruel disdain seems greedy to tear him in peeces with the same hands wherewith formerly she thought she could never be satisfied to embrace him and then with her tongue she sends forth her shreeks exagerating her exclamations against Niarpe Perfideous perverse and horrid mutherer couldst thou finde no better way to despise the faith of a Lady besotted with thy fictions hadst thou no other means to bring thy treacheries to pass but in the current of my blood with thy Dagger didst thou intend to imprint the Charracters of the disdain wherewith thou loathest me perhaps for being too faithful and therein unlike unto thee wouldst thou thus felicitate our love and remunerate my fidelity ungrateful Traytor fiercer then furies inhumanity in human likeness What! Assault a woman with such Arms a woman sleeping thinking she might securely rest in her Lovers arms a woman who lov'd and serv'd thee thinking to discover the valew or at least to deserve a reward for so much love Whence where hast thou learnt examples of such cruelty Who hath prescribed rules of so much ingratitude Tell me cruel Infidel infamous that thou art when did I ever offend but in loving thee too much whereby have I acquired the proofs of so great a treachery unless for being too kind to thee I thank the Gods that by an oportune advise they have delivered me from thy wounds if on the other side I should not wish to have lost my life that I might not outlive so high an impiety The young man was confus'd astonish'd nay confounded at this accident and both in his colour and immobility seem'd of Marble but that someimes he would open his mouth to make his excuses and with truth undeceive those false conceptions But the unbridled rage of Euridea tenacious of the conceived belief forbad it him ever when he endeavoured to licence his accents out of the prison of his lips Peace she crys out thou base man dare no more to profanate me with thy lying words in vain thou seekest a cloak for thy fraud thy treachery can no longer be hid Those of the house were already come at her out-cry to them she relates the occasion of her complaints He hath attempted quoth she to kill me whilst I slept the hand of heaven hath onely delivered and defended me from death At last cries out upon Niarpe get thee thou wretch out of these gates contaminated with excecrable mischief out of this house and never even with thy imagination perswade thy self thou shalt be suffer'd to reentre be perpetually banish'd my presence and may thy exile be punishment enough for thy perfidiousness And redoubling these orders commands him away while he either heard not being stupified or dislik'd as contrary to his hopes The Assistants observ'd how Euridea grew more furious in her rage her fires encreasing which enflam'd her as the others ashes reduced him pale so that to shun worse encounters they led her to the remotest rooms of the house that she might neither hear nor see the object of her fury which formerly had been the subject of her love delights Thus the poor Lover remain'd I know not with what a sentiment if the effect of so strange a success rendred him not insensible it must be thought impossible in a heart which was not petrified In an act of ready defence thinking to deserve well he saw the Catastrophe of his fortune to the ruine of his felicity even where otherwise he thought to secure himself He could not hate the Lady since she was guiltless onely in being tenacious to such false suspitions a want to be ascrib'd to the imperfection of her sex so that he durst not vindicate himself against that disdain which though unjust did in appearance partly justifie her After many thoughts at last that he might not raise higher outcries to rais the neighbourhood he resolves to obey Euridea's fury He departs hoping that the knowledge of the truth would quickly reconcile him with his beloved In this condion he expected two daies banish'd by this unlucky accident confus'd and stupified with this addition that he despair'd to receive any relief At last the thoughts of belief being risen up the fervor of anger being abated he tempts her by means of a message with a letter which bore this sence Dearest MADAM GIVE me leave to beleeve that your minde being clear'd I shall be free from fearing the thunder which your rigour threatens me withall I desire to be absolv'd from the duty of obeying your commands which you prescribe me to absent my self from your sight that is to say from my Paradice from Justice if not from Pitty I pretend leave to present my self to you to witness the reasons I have why I may still pretend to enjoy your favors I expect an opportunity to abolish the conceits of sacriledge which thought as if I had intended to offend that Diety which I always ador'd give me leave onely to speak with you that I may but discover unto you in what manner Fortune was pleased to deceive you and betray me Then I assure my self that my incorrupted faith will regain your lost affection which is most ardently regreted by Your most Faithful Lover NIARPF At the onely sight of the subscription Euridea renews in her looks the pomps of disdain and her heats makes proof thereof Faithful and Lover she exclaims What Faith what Love dares this impious fellow yet boast of Whereupon quickly tearing the paper wherewith her madness was not content but with despight she must even tread it under her feet an ill presage for the young man who could not hope that his desires should be granted that paper being kick'd away wherein all his hopes were included as under a torch he receives the characters of a new impression wherin he reads the sentence of an unretractable refusal Running afterwards over a flood of reproofs against the woman who carried the leter he begins to believ that he was only to condemn that fate which had imbarrass'd him in such an undertaking After repeated injuries which he loaded the poor woman withal she returns to tempt if at least she might procure some ease to the fury of his distracted passions relating the passages she tells him of the immutable state of her cruelty despairing of any more procuring any means able to relieve his desires and succour him in his urgency whence consequences of death
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
the Lady would either resolve to put him from his importunity either accusing of him to her husband or making it known to her kindred who assuredly would not let pass unpunish'd so foolish a temerity which endeavoured to stain with notes of infamy the honest reputation of another mans Family Love admits of no advise he acknowledgeth the truth of reason in his friends words but it being not possest by him the words were but cast into the air with this answer onely leaves he him You shall soon see saith he whether I or who else it is that shall be lost His friend was astonished and afflicted that he could nothing move him from avoiding those dangers which threatned him if he should obstinately pursue his intentions Many daies were not past when Eusebio going to a Villa of his was shot in the flank with a brace of bullets he knew not from whence and having enmity with no man he could not imagine from whom it should come This hurt made him fall to the ground from his horse so that he could not help himself til some Country men passing by who knew him put him on their Cart which was loaded with Corn going for the City and brought him home to his wife who for the disaster which had befaln him was unmeasurably afflicted The Physitians and Chirurgians were sent for who knowing the wound to be mortal gave him over yet they did not forbear to apply the best remedies they knew which were but all in vain the miserable man at the end of the seventh day was forc'd to leave his life and his wife I should say his wife first since by him she was preferr'd before it What sighs and complaints she made how she toar with her white hands her golden locks and beat her candent brest cannot be exprest the excess of them was so great that men would hardly find faith to beleeve the truth of them The last day of the month was scarce at an end the fair having perform'd the obsequies of her deceased Husband when Gelindo was observ'd more then he was wont frequently to go about the Ladies house and with words and gestures to discover himself more enflam'd then ever with her unparalell'd beauty He often tempts by means of a neighbour of hers that she might procure her for him to wife causing her in his name to make as generous offers as could be made from a heart which loves immoderately But all vainly succeeds for she was resolv'd never to consent to any the rather for that although she was not assured yet she very much doubted that her husbands death had been effected by none but by Gelindo so that she did not onely deny to exchange love but she return'd him one of the fiercest hatreds that ever woman bore a man Women as well in hatred as in love have no bridle but have both in excess The most beautiful Widow nourishing the fire of this disdain within her heart against Gelindo who ador'd her often meditates to revenge her wrong'd and murther'd husband and because she could finde out no way more secure then one which was to execute it with her own hands she deliberates with her self to dispatch it after this manner It was about the end of the year of her mourning widowhood when on a day she cals one of the most faithful amongst her maids and having shut themselves up together in a secret Chamber she speaks to her after this manner Fosca for so was her name My long experience of thy fidelity towards my person assures me that I may confide in thee even one of the highest resolutions which I ever made in the whole course of my life but before I discover it think well upon it whether you can be sure to keep it secret for if you finde that you have not resolution enough to silence it tell me that I may not speak it and I shall take another expedient for to accomplish my thought It s needless to relate what Fosca answer'd it s enough that her words were such that Limisinda pursued her already began discourse I have alwaies heard say that its impossible for a young woman that 's handsom and that hath tasted the delights of her husbands embraces to live long after his death without the company of a man I have prov'd the truth thereof from the affections of my minde I have endeavoured a long time since the death of my dear Eusebio who is now amongst the Stars to violence my self and to repress the heat of youth which a fresh fomented my desires of those amorous pleasures but because I perceive it impossible any longer to overcome the force thereof I have taken a resolution that I will not live altogether the rest of my life unaccompanied of a man It s true I would not subject my self to that Noose which is not to be unloosed betwixt man and woman unless by the death of the one or other of them Other thoughts other desires possess my mind The Maid remain'd a while suspended at these words of her Mistris who observing it continued Wonder not my Fosca at what I am to tell thee and if you see me chang'd in my opinion which in the esteem of all was of an unparalell'd honesty I must hereafter live otherwise Resolve therefore on what I shall impose upon thee for I am confident you will one day praise me when you shall entirely know the end of these thoughts which revolve in my minde Servitude fidelity and the importunity of a Lover with the time overcomes the most obstinate rigour of a womans brest I am not the first who have been subdued If thou hadst ever found thy self in the like case thou wouldst compassionate help me so that what thou art to execute may be effected with all possible secrecy that it at no time may be known by any but by us two and Gelindo whom at the shutting in of the Evening thou art to expect at a window of the lower room and when he according to his custome passeth by cast him out this paper wrapt up in this sarsenet and then presently retire thy self that he reading it may think upon what he is to do The wench takes the letter from her Mistris and full of astonishment by reason of the novelty of the accident wonders at so unexpected a resolution Yet she promiseth diligently to perform what was commanded her and so departs to go about her other house affairs till the hour come wherein she was to execute it The Evening being come Gelindo passeth the street and whilst he cast his eyes towards the uppermost windows of Limisinda's house where sometimes he had had the fortune to see her there comes to him thrown by the Maid who stood hid behinde the glass of a Balcony in the lowermost part of the house this letter involv'd and having observ'd him to take it she presently returns to her Mistris to acquaint her with the success
with her who flattring him with the others refufal which had necessitated her to apply her affections in such a change to so worthy a Cavalier Taking leave he returns home commencing to prove those impatient longings which oblig'd him to expect the evening of the following day when he was to continue his amorous conversation He runs quickly to his friend to whom he imparts the excess of his joy relating the fortunate success of his loves He a great while holds him doubtful jeastingly relating him how kinde and curteous the Lady was till at last he discovers her to be Rosalia courted and admir'd mutually by them but a few dayes before He shews the Letter wherein he receiv'd the invitation conformable to which he swore the effects of her civility were It s easier to fancy then to describe what conceits this relation produc'd in Irlando's minde It s to be beleev'd that the grief of his heart corroded his bowels aswel as it desperately tore his heart in peeces Knowing that the occasion of all this was onely the miscarriage of the Letter cursing him that had been the cause of his torment The certainty which on the otherside his beloved enjoy'd was not an ordinary vexation for one who excessively lov'd He protested he was troubled with an inward grief of heart that he might take himself off from the necessity of an affectionate congratulation for the contentment of so good a friend No less could faigning form effects of joy where the heart was over whelm'd with the abundance of intollerable grief His bed was all that night a hell his soul being distracted in the confusion of his turbulent thoughts shipwrack'd his quiet even in the depths of dispair The next day he resolves to send a Letter the contents whereof were to signifie the injustice of those chastisements which the cruelty of his beloved inflicted when he had never the least way undeserv'd her good graces He was glad to make the sincerity of his soul appear in hope that upon the knowledge of the truth her affections would change So it hapned because that by the mistaken countersignes Rosalia was assured that there was no fault in Irlando deserving her disdain she soon changeth her hatred into love priding of it to have reacquir'd that happiness which she thought she had lost by his discurteous rigour This change was nothing difficult besides being necessitated by the proper volubility of her sex she took occasion not to be buryed but onely asleep towards him in affection To have lov'd Armando as they say for a divertisement which yet hindred not the inclination of her heart to him who first was possest of the Center Whereupon she thus writes YOV and I being equally deceived we can convert our reproofs and complaints against none but Fortune I perceiving my self scorn'd was oblig'd to vindicate my self with rigour Now being undeceiv'd I restore you to the place even to the throne of my affections where your desert rules and comands I shall be so much the more affectionate in rewarding your faith as I was rigid in cashiering you out of my brest Come therefore this night to my house to reap the fruits of your sufferings and of my repentance to your ROSALIA He who carried this Letter had withal order to give into Armando's hands a note in which the same Lady had thus written FOR what hapned happily for you yesterday you are oblig'd to Fortune and not to love Now being to obey him I am oblig'd to please others I forbid you therefore to pretend to me any more retracting all promises whereon you might build your hopes Remember no more what 's past and think no more of me for the future I am no more yours 'T is sufficient to let you understand that you may live content with what Fortune hath already given you without seeking any longer what you cannot obtain ROSALIA These Characters chang'd the Scene both in the minde and countenance of the two Gentlemen Armando who gloried to have surmounted such a felicity seeing himself at once cast down from that hight whence he thought he could not have been remov'd never thrown down chang'd his mirth into an equal grief of heart and vexation Irlando on the other side who being afflicted tormented himself for having been too severely us'd from her who had authority to condemn his heart by a mortal sentence seeing himself invited to enjoyments clears up with the splendor of so much contentment the heaven of his offuscated minde from the clouds of his grievous torments A man might read in both their faces this change unexpectedly cast about not known by what accident Armando could not conceal his complaints which proceeded from a minde full of grief there came to light from his tongue which feeding with a friendly confidence with a long discourse in dispraise of the inconstancy of women he begins to publish the arms which had wounded him till at last he discovers the wound which was the original of his grief He shews those Charracters the unhappy messengers of his infelicity and the foundation of his grief He vehemently exaggerates against the treacheries of women who faigning high excesses of love at last discovered frauds and snares Being at last carried away with the current of a grievous heart breaking he flew into words which came from the predominancy of his passion till at last he concluded that he would go to her house and reprove her for her treacheries if by the justice of his complaints he could not obtain the turn of her affection These last words the fortunate Gentleman particularly observ'd whereupon that he might have no disturbance in his enjoyment he advised his beloved of his rivals intention ordring her to expect his coming in Emilia's house Rosalia at last relates to that friend of hers the entertainment she had the night before with Armando adding singular encomiums of his grateful behaviour which invited even hearts of stone to love him Emilia whose memory represented to her the proofs of a rigorous severity in Irlando was quickly taken with such like informations Her desires approv'd those effects to felicitate themselves with a most civil correspondence which supposing out of her former experience of the other would surely be in Armando The buds of such a desire could not but disclose themselves in her words whereupon Rosalia making use of the occasion yeilded him for her satisfaction for that night The terms of ceremony wherewith she refus'd that too curteous offer could not stop the way of executing the others thoughts who faigning to satisfie her gust serv'd also her own interest She brought her to the change again of houses as where she might enjoy him who was by her commands oblig'd to com thither about two of the clock at night She finally fits every thing in hope to make way to the despight of Irlando by the favour of the other Gentleman from whose civility she pretended her heart-burning love would be asswaged With
adores you as a Divinity I wish that with last nights garments you may have depos'd some of your coyness which rendred you so adverse to my love Know besides that cruelty is an improper attribute to the Divinity of your beauty and beauty which is not communicable to all opposeth it self directly to the will of Heaven Should Heaven replies the Masker command me to love you perhaps the laws of honesty the danger of my life and the inconstancy of men would not be bridle sufficient to the debility of my affections The beauty of your looks answers Epidoro is a record of Heaven which admonisheth you not to be avaritious of its favours when enriching you with beauty it hath impoverish'd of praise the Fairest conceptions Le ts forbear hiperbolies replys the Masker I as I know I am not fair so I could wish my self so that I might be the more grateful to those that love me but your craft and my simplicity have made me deposite my secrets in the heart of a person who laughing at my folly perhaps meditates how to deceive the felicity of my thoughts I ought not to hazard my reputation to so evident a danger I have spoken too much were my face discover'd my blood should bear witness by my grief and repentance the blushing my heart hath sent thether are the reproofs of my soul which threaten the seerity of those chastisements the thought alone of which terrifies me Saying so she retires amongst the Maskers leaving Epidoro in the hight of his thoughts where a long while he would not have been removed if Love who commonly is not wanting to the necessities of Lovers had not relieved him so that having again taken the Masker by the hand he so much entreated her so much promis'd that at last he gets leave to speak with her the following night which was the beginning of Lent at a little window which lookt on an unfrequented street With this hope he pleasantly passeth the rest of the night expecting the other with a thousand imprecations against the stars for staying so long from celebrating the obsequies of the day Scarce had the light given place to the dark but he comes to the appointed window although he thought he had anticipated the hour he findes himself prevented his beloved expecting him accusing him in her self for want of love that he had not prevented her The complements which past amongst them were many and the amorous conceits numberless They discours'd of constancy fidelity and severity with so great an insatiety that the darkness seem'd weary to hear them which even for the cause invited the light The day comming they part with promise to meet every time when Epidoro should see a cloth hang at the grate which succeeded twice or thrice a week with so great a contentment to Epidoro that in respect of that all other entertainment seem'd but his anoyance and then thinking that felicity full without participating the rest he grew to that impudency to trust the mouth of many with the secret of his loves he bragg'd that he possest Leena's heart who had made the patience and love of a thousand Lovers despair He vaunted himself a possessor of that fair one who had oblig'd to adoration even those minds which were incapable of love unless it were that of themselves This rumor past from the ears of one who fill'd with incredulity and envy would spy Epidoro He hearkens to him one night when he had appointed to get the possession of the fruits of love Having no patience to suffer the felicities of one who was no waies his superiour by the favour of Fortune carried by envy which conspires alwaies against the satisfaction of men he vomits forth in a paper the effects of his madness conveying it afterwards to Leena's husbands hands Opening the Note he saw this written CORDELIO NOT to discover to you treachery is to be a complice in the guilt I who by the excess of your favours and by the obligations of my heart am call'd to the protection of your honour cannot filence it in the hands of dishonesty The night when the infamy of your reputation is to be practised hath not darkness to hide your shame My zeal implores the testimony of your eyes which confess Leena unchast and my self a loyal friend I remit to you the discovery of the truth It troubles me to disquiet the repose of your minde with so unthought of an advise But he deserves praise onely who discovering it leaves you the means to think on the remedy Your faithful Friend This rais'd an infinite many thoughts in the minde of Cordelio and all cruel nothing was in his heart but blood slaughters and murthers yet being perswaded by the love he bore Leena and like a wise man knowing the fruits of malice he condemn'd all other testimony but that of his own eyes He faigns that he was hastily call'd away by his business into the Country and parts not without Leena's tears who regreeted for every moment of his absence Cordelio lay hid all the remainder of the day and at night he goes to observe who it was that betray'd his honour Leena in the mean time had given her self in prey to a most sweet sleep not without being disturb'd by her Nurses voice who told her that Cordelio was to return in a short time to the embraces of Cinissa her Chamber-maid and that she her self had told her so that she would not be her hinderance Leena's minde soon gave credit thereto knowing her husbands genius and her servants little honesty and the sooner having been before jealous not without some affliction She quickly clothes her self and would not be followed by the Nurse that with the more liberty she might blame Cordelio's inconstancy She goes neer her servants Chamber and there she meets her husband who with naked sword in hand came against her to kill her He did it not either that she might first see her Lovers death or the pitty of Heaven permitted not that her innocency although suspected guilty should suffer Leena though full of disdain yet thought intreaties fitter then reproofs for her own safety Casting her self at his feet mixing her words with her tears she thus bespake him Sir If the dishonest embraces of a servant please you more then those of your wife I oppose not my self against your pleasure I would offer my self to procure your pleasures would you but do me the honour but to command it me but when with the loss of my own due I see my self in danger of my life I cannot but complain at the rigour of my destiny which hath caused me to be born unhappy The unbeseeming dishonesty of a wench can then do more then the chast delights of a wife who hath no other desires but those which are subject to your beck Alas how hath Cordelio forgot himfelf Alas how hath Heaven to torment me chang'd the temper of the man Cordelio interrupting her telling her The falseness of thy lips and tears O thou impudent woman would have introduc'd some perswasion in my heart had not these eyes been witnesses of thy dishonesty Prepare therfore to dy for 't is unreasonable that she should live who hath prepared the funerals of my reputation But first of all tell me Where hast thou hid that wicked wretch who had the boldness to defile my bed Leena being unable to suffer such words as those which wounded the most sensible part of her soul Sir To excuse your amorous thefts make not my honesty guilty with faign'd pretences 't is unbecoming your prudence and my love I am yours and I am chast Malignity and Envy can finde no colour to criminate my thoughts so far are my actions from wronging your honour I appeal to your self whether the treacherous desire of enjoying a servant or the displeasure of having been interrupted have not now the possession of your minde Cordelio grew the more disturb'd and with violence askes her of what maid or of what love she talk'd Whereto Leena answer'd all what her Nurse had told her and having understood as much from her mouth also he runs without delay to seek the Chamber-maid and findes her in the wrastlings of love fast clasp'd with Epidoro He was going to sacrifice them to his fury but his wives perswasions diverted him So that at last he was content that Epidoro should marry Cinissa who was a servant rather by the injury of Fortune then by the condition of her birth Whereto Epidoro without more to do consents the fear of death making him yield to any agreement Cordelio then embraces Leena excusing himself of what he had done out of zeal to his own honor having heard Epidoro call'd with a whistle from the grate and seeing him afterwards introduc'd his hous Leena's discretion was satisfied with these justifications glad to have escaped the danger which was the greater being hid which at the same time threatned both her life and reputation This may serve to warn husbands not to run precipitously to suspect their wives of unchastity And to teach wives not to allow a treacherous liberty to their maids And finally its an example to all those who voluntarily seek to betray the honesty of other mens wives FINIS