her bead in a litle cabynett ioyninge to the lodginge of LIVIO who by the thinnes of the wall which only deuided their chambers was pertaker of the leaste worde that was spoken in the lodgynge of hys sister whose greuous groanes forced by the violence of a burnynge feuer gaue such increase to the daunger of LIVIO that he was at point to yelde to the laste alaram of life if the sicknes of his sister had not broughte the spedye remedye of hys dysease for CAMILLA astonied without measure that she neyther mette CORNELIA at the churche sawe her at the gate nor wyndowe nor any assemblye what soeuer learned so much by inquisicion that she was aduertised of the mortall daunger of LIVIO together wyth thertremitye of hys syster who yf they were not reskewed by greate merueyle were at poynte to be shrined together at one instante in theyr fatall tombe Here CAMYLLA began to recante her auncient creweltye for in ceassynge any longer to dissimule her secrett affection to her LIVIO and the sorowe shee suffered for thafâ—â—iction of hys syster she seamed to purifie the wronge shee hadde donne to theym bothe thorowe a ryuer of affected teares distillynge by suche aboundance from her watery eyes that she seamed at the poynte to visitt the purgatorye of thother woorlde to doo penaunce for the twoe euilles whereof she confessed her selfe to bee thonlye occasion wherein after she hadde spente certainne howers in publicke complainte whose dollour seamed of force to moue the heauens to teares and staye the course of the sonne fealynge still an increase of passion by the vehemencye of loue shee was constrayned to abandon the place and performe the reste of her exclamacion agaynste her crueltie all alone in her chamber with thys tearmes What furye or force infernall is thys whyche shakyng the fortresse and most constante parte in me hathe made me in one moment yelde to that wherin I haue bene hitherto inuincible is it possible alas that that whyche I iudged a dissembled passion in thys infortunat Gentleman shoulde torne to a true effecte of vndowted faith confirmed by the power of that whiche we call loue in the hartes of men why haue not I considered that the horse whyche is of noble corage will be gouerned by the shadowe of a Rodde where the dull beaste is skarcely sturred with the princkyng of the spurres the fearefull dogge doth also barke more then bite and depest riuers do ronne with leaste noyse so nature hathe imparted a peculiar instinct to the noble minde not only to be more delicate in diet and ardante in affection but also to embrase the obiecte of their fancie with a more vehemencie of desite and passion then the rest of the rude and grosse sorte who are not worthy to be partakers of the misteries in true loue Ah LIVIO LIVIO howe doo I feele a mocion of that whych I can not tearme other wayes then a free force without constrainte and a dollour without cause of complainte for I am possest with an euill wherein I take pleasure and feeles an experience of a paine without the which I thinke the lyfe of man can hardely be sustained and yet my mynde wauereth in suche dredefull conceites that I feare to make declaracion of that which bothe law of loue and dutie of my conscience bindes me to expose for the solace and relyefe of thy presente affliction but alas the renoume of myne honeste name is so deare vnto me that I wyshe rather to embrase the extreme panges of death then giue one symple occasion of discredit to mine auncient vertue for that as mans wisdome is hable to supplie y e losses of all other thinges so it is not only vnfurnished of meanes to restore the forfait of our honestye but also voyde of arte to couer the falte of so greate an offence but is it a iuste imputation or worthye falte when in our busynes wee respecte vertue and concludes the ende of our enterpryse wyth an honeste meanynge ys it not a deede of compassion to gyue soccours to hym that standes in watter vpp to the throte and at the pointe to peryshe for want of help what can we do lesses then be careful to recouer hym who offereth hys lyfe in the sacrefise of affection for our sakes who can iustly tearme our doynges by the title of offence when we yelde a mutual amitye to hym that pursueth our goodwill wyth a respecte and intente of lawfull mariage no no CORNELIA thowe shalte not lose thy brother nor I the companie of so deare a frende for lacke to aunswere in reciprocal wil to him who with the peril of his life coÌ„ceiles the argument of hys sorow Ah most constant loyall LYVIO seyng the reputacion of myne honour denieth me accesses and coÌ„ference with the and y e shame doth close my mouthe from discouerynge the secret of my good meaning towardes y e take courage discharg thou thoffice of a bolde soliciter to her that is no lesse readye to graunte then thou meritorious to haue and dispoiled alreadye of all hagarde crueltie is not onely prest to reknowledge the honour whyche thou offreste me but also whollye framed to the POSTEY and appetit of thy will and nowe do I fele that againste the force and power of loue the strongest resistaunce is to weake neyther is the whole worlde of sufficient strength to put to vtteraunce the soldiours whome he preferreth in the feylde whereof who is a more late experience then my selfe who earste defyinge hys malice am nowe to attende vpon the chariott of hys triumphe and yeld me prisonner to hym who beyng hither unto my bondman hathe nowe made me the slaue of his importunat requestes And seynge the sentence is alredye paste and confirmed by the voice of my destymes why do I conceile my passion in the myddest of a thousande flames whiche tormentes me within or why do I dissemble that I desire moste or retire myne eyes from the view wherein they chieflye delite why do my feete staye to transporte thys body to the place where the harte hath already taken possession wherwith she determyned the spedye consolation of LYVIO wyth no other drogue or confection then a free consente of her loue yf the same were eftesoones demaunded and there vppon collored her goynge to hys logynge to see CORNELIA whome as shee founde in her bedde wythe more argumentes of deathe then apparance of lyfe by reason of a generalle weakenes whyche hadde mortyfyed the whole strengthe of her body so she hadde not spent in any wordes in the consolation of her companion but LIVIO smellynge as it were the presence of hys ladye asked hys syster who was wyth her who aunswered that onely CAMYLLA kepte her companye wherewith forcing a supplie of courage in his fainte harte with intente to knowe the fynall areste of his lyfe or death began to plede wyth hys absent mistres in this sorte Yf there be any hope in extremetye or expectacion of
parswacions he cold ymagyn with thanks to the yong man equal to the greatnes of the honor whtche he offred in seking to be his son in law Theis newes were no soner ymparted to our ii louers but it is to be thoughte they escaped not without sondrye alarams of mortall grefe whiche had dismissed their passions with the ende of their lynes if it had not bene for the offer of a simple hope wherupon they grounded a new consolaciō for y t they exspected at length a remorce in tholde man by reason of his promisse to iustefye the contract alreadie passed betwene theim two wherof CAMILLA as pinched wyth a grudge of more wronge then thother for that she sawe the vniuste malice of her brother was thonly staie of theffecte of her determynacion entred into a passion of suche frettinge conceites tempered wyth a mortall hate to CLAVDIO an indissoluble zeale to her seruante and a iuste dispite agaynst the debylitie of her father that she was at the point to vse force agaynst her selfe and aduance theffect yf their malice by her vntymely death wherein because she woulde not discouer openly that which was not yet douted of any shee retired to a moderation in her greefe till the firste parte of the eueninge beyng spent the desier of sleepe somoned euery man to wythdraw hymselfe to his lodginge when she in her chamber wyth thonly company of her womā began to burst out into newe termes of complainte cursing the hower of her birthe accusinge the weaknes and wante of corage in her father but chiefely enueihed againste thunhappie arryuall of her brother in thys sorte What iniustice or crueltie is this of the heauens to giue vs a harte to chuse and libertie to loue one of equall desyer and semblable will and then to bar vs the priuiledge of that fredom in not makinge a perfection of that whych nature hath sett abroche in vs by the communyon and coniunction of our thoughtes is it reason the bodye be more respected then the mynde in that the harte and inwarde partes making a choice of affection sholde not haue authorytie to sommon the bodye as their subiecte to obey thinstinctes and suggestions of the spirite nature sewer doth abuse her reputacion in this case to coyfe her creatures with thattyre of loue makynge a mutuall consente in both parties and then to denie the consommacion of the thinge her selfe did fyrst begyn in vs from whence comes thiniquitie of that lawe which alloweth a father for his pleasure only and with out iustice to force an inclynacion of his children to that which is neither necessarye nor conueniente for theim is it not sufficient alas that we yelde theym honoure with the tribute of our dutie and seruice that wee giue soccour to their olde yeres and attempte nothing without their consent but that wee muste be subiect to a further tyrannye in performinge the sentence of their thraldom althoughe it dyffer whallye from our will and choice And if mariage be a free coniunction dependinge vppon an vnytie or conformetie of both partes how can I refuce that wherof is passed alredye a confirmacion or admit other husband thē hee to whom I ham bounde by vowe of consente A H this is one of the frutes of tyrannouse loue to worke the effecte of a consente betwene vs withoute leauinge vs a meane to brynge the same to perfection or suffer vs to consider whether the parties knitt together by vnytie of affection in spirite might also be assisted with a coniunction of the bodies without offence to god or the worlde but what why do I enter into tearmes of iustice wyth hym who is no way partaker of reason and who is so soddaine and vncerteine in his enterprises that he neyther takes aduise afore he strike nor vseth leasure to delyberat or foresee the successe of any thing he beginneth for as he is naked and without eyes so is hee boyde of iudgement and vnconstante in all his doings assailinge commonly the hartes of suche as hee fyndes ydle and leaste occupyed with vertue Ah spiteful disdayne of kynred and vnnaturall malice of a brother in what sorte haue I deserued this harde pennance at thy hande to depryue me of the thinge wherin I tooke moste pleasure wherein hath the curteyse LIVIO offended the if not that his honestie excedes thy rude disposition and vertue giueth cause of shame to thy wicked will or paraduenture thou disdainest his iust merit for that he is better fauored in al companies then thy selfe And is it reason that thy consente confirme my affection why sholde my aduancement depende vppon thy good wyll or the choice of my husbande aske councell of thy consente shall I be subiecte to hym who hathe no authoritye ouer me but by an encrochement of yeres for that he is the eldest son of my father hath he any pryuiledge that waye to gouerne my will or geue lawes to my fancie nothinge lesse for my father hath alreadie paste thaccorde betwene LIVIO and me but you wyll saye paraduenture vnder a condicion a simple article I confesse whiche also is of no force if the partie bee voide of pretence of preiudice And wherin shall it be eyther preiudiciall or proffitable to him if LIVIO be my husbande seinge it belongeth to my father to depart with my dowery and porcion of mariage and my husbande to dispose it without interuption so longe as hee is a member of lyfe what weakenes is this in a father to be gouerned whollye by the breath of his son whose vniuste malice rather then argumēt of reason makes him renownce the worde of his honour in a case touchinge the quiett and consolation of her who ought to be no lesse deare vnto him then her tyrannouse brother who when he hath exposed the vttermoste effecte of his spite that I am to be bestowed in an other place by his appointment it shall appeare whether his commaundemente be as currante ouer mée then as his malice rageth without measure or reason at this present protestinge by the height of the heauens that none other then hee to whom I haue pawned my faieth shall enioye the chaste acquaintance of thinfortunat CAMILLA no LIVIO is myne what wrong soeuer they do to our vertuese loue whiche so longe as I liue shal be in dyssoluble in me beinge readye withall to refuce no thinge that may aduance the consommacion of the mariage betwene me and him without whom I fele an ympossibilytie to liue wherwith her passion grewe to suche a vehemencie that her laste wordes ended with the course of longer breathe in such sorte that shee slyded soddainly from the seat wher she sate and fell grouelinge vppon the grounde resigning with a dollorous skryke the vse of vitall ayre albeit the expedition of diligence in her womā procured with much ado a retorne of life and with such consolacion and offer of hope as shee colde preferre shee won her to go to bedde where albeit the
that we seale tharticles of the contract wyth a ful consommation of the secret ceremonies in mariage bothe to take awaye all occasion of offence and also to mortifye the malice of my brother maugre his hart wherin sayth she beinge fully persuaded of youre consente to my proposition and for that in cases of loue delayes and longe consultation bée hurtefull and stâ—rre vp causes of displeasure to the hartes of suche as be striken with the same disease wherof the contrarye the reste of oure humaine affaires require a maturitie of councel to th ende the successe may aunswere therspectation of the parties so I wishe you to attende the benefyt of time this euenynge I meane at the hower of supper when men are gyuen least to suspicion you faile not to come in as secret maner as you can to the gardeine gate wher my woman shal be readye to conueigâ—e you into my chamber to th ende we maye there take aduise of that which we haue to do wherunto LIVIO was not curious in consent and lesse vnmindeful to yelde her the choice of a thousande thankes for offringe the priuiledge which he doubted to demaunde giuyng her assuraunce to vse suche exact wisdome in the conueyghe of so secret a misterie that ARGVS himselfe if he were vpoÌ„ earth shold not descrye his coÌ„ming much lesse any be pryuye to the daunce but such as performed the rounde wherin he was not deceaued for as he was the firste so shee failed hym not at the cloase and bothe theyr miseries of equall qualitie in the ende like as it happenethe often times that those amarous bargaines redoundes to the harmes of suche as bee the parties who albeit do alledge a certaine respect of honestie in theyr doinges by pretence of mariage yet God being the iudge of their offence will not suffer the wronge to the obedience of their parentes in concludyng priuye contractes vnpunished and that wyth suche a penaunce as the remembrance is notorious in all ages But now to our LIVIO who neyther vnmindeful of the hower and lesse forgetfull to kepe appointement attyreth himselfe for the purpose in a nighte gowne girt to hym with a paire of shoes of felte leaste the noyse of his féete shoulde discouer his goinge and for a more honor of his mistres he forgat not his perfumed shyrte spidered with curious braunches accordinge the fansie of his Ladye with his wrought coyffe poudred with diuerse drogues of delicat smell wherewith he stealeth in as secret maner as hée can to the gate of appointement where he founde the guide of his loue whome hee embrased aswell for the seruice he founde in her as also in that she resembled the beautye of his mistres CAMYLLA who after she had taken her nightes leaue of her father and brother with search that euery man was in his place of reste retireth to her chamber with such deuocioÌ„ as commonly they y t fynde themselues in semblable iorneye to worke theffect of such like desir where encountering her infortunat seruant it was concluded to imploye no time in vayne reuerence or idle ceremonies but in a moment they entred their fatal bed together where after certaine amarous threates and other folyes in loue seruyng as a preamble to the part they ment to playe LIVIO entred into the vnhappye pageant of his fatal last pleasure wherin he chaffed hymselfe so in his harnesse and was so gréedie to cooll the firste flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA that whether the passion of ioye preuailynge aboue y e force of the hart and thinner partes smothered with heate coulde not assiste thenterprise accordynge to their office or that he exceded nature in surfettinge vpon his pleasant banquet he founde hymselfe so sharplye assayled wyth shortnes of breath that his vitall forces began to faile him in the middest of the combat like as not longe since it happened to ATTAL VS the cruell king of the HVNES who in y e first nighte of his infortunat mariage in HVNGARYE enforced hymself to so greate a corage in the pleasaunt encounter wyth hys newe wyfe that hys dead bodye founde in her armes the nexte mornynge witnessed his excesse and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of loue whyche also myghte bee the bane of thys LIVIO who respectynge no measure in drinkynge of the delicat wyne no more then yf it had bene but one banquet dressed for hym in the whole course of his lyfe was so ouer charged with desyre in that pleasaunt skirmishe that the conduites of lyfe stoppynge vppon a soddaine barred to adde fourther strengthe to hys gredye appetyt wherevppon he became without m ocion or féelinge in the armes of CAMYLLA who féelynge hym without sence and that he seamed more heauy and rude vppon her then affore dowted a trothe wherin also she was fully satisfyed by the lyght of y e candle which she caused her chamberiere to bringe to the bedde syde where vewinge the dead bodye of him whom she loued no lesse then her self and iudgyng the cause as yt was in deede entred ymedyatly into suche a mortall passion of dollour that albeyt she woulde haue exposed some woordes of compassion on the behalfe of the pytefull accident yet féelyng a generall dymynucion of force thorowe all her partes by thynnundacion or waues of soddaine sorowe she founde her tonge not hable to supplye the desyer of her hart whych wyth the consent of the reste loathynge the vse of longer lyf resigned her borowed tearme to the fates fallynge at thynstant without sence or féelynge vppon the dead body of hym whom shee accompted a dutye to accompanie in the other worlde aswell as she delyted in hys presence durynge their mutuall aboade in thys miserable valey A happye kynde of deathe yf wee had not to consyder the perill whyche attendes suche wretches as hauing no meane to performe theffect of their pleasure but by vnlafull stealthe are so franke for the shortnes of their tyme that in satisfynge the glot of their gredye appetit they make no conscience to sacrifise ther owne lyfe but yf wee passe furthe in the viewe of these offences we shall fynde a derogacion of the honour and integretye of the mynde with a manifest preiudice and hazarde to the healthe of the sowle whyche makes me of opinion that yt is the most miserable ende that maye happen to manne the rather for that the chyefest thynge whyche is regarded in the putsuet of that entreprise is to obeye the sommance of a bestely and vnbridled luste of the fleshe wherein I wyshe oure frantike louers whoe makynge contemplacion vppon causes of loue accomptes yt a vertue to ende their lyues in thys LASCIVIVS bonde of pryuye contract to refrayne that whyche is so indifferent hurtefull bothe to the sowle and body seynge theire death is not onelye without argument of desperation but also their sowles moste sewer to receiue the guerdon of cyuil morder whyche we oughte to feare and eschewe as neare as wee
endowed me with the gyfte of thanckfull contentacion that my estate with contynuall vse of honest trauaile ys no lesse plesannt to me theÌ„ y e dilicate order ful of superfluite of vaine pompe vsed by great Ladyes now a dayes wantonlye norished in pallays and places of princes beynge more redy to roÌ„ne vnder the danger of a thowsand torments yeldyng death hys tribute with the sacrifyce of my bodye then to laye my chastitie in pawne as you perswade me for thinlarging y e hard condicion of my selfe or state of my poore parents neither haue I hetherto felt any mocioÌ„ of that follie which you call loue and muche lessemene I to make anye experience of his flatteryng offers howe great so euer they appere wherfor let yt suffice you to haue broached the vessel of your villanie afore her that in respecte of your yeres is coÌ„tented to comytt your filthye message to scilence wyshyng you hensfurth to broake in matters of more honestie or at y e least to seke to solicit such as are as careles of theyr honour as you redy to seduce it for my part I haue weighed min honour and lyfe in indifferent ballaunce with intent to exchange both the on and the other at equall price and as for the galland y t sent you he makes true declaration of the loue he bears me in semyng more desyerous to enioye the pleasure of my bodye then carefull to preserue myne honour or preueÌ„t the dauÌ„ger of my soule you as y e vnnatural bourreaâ— suborned to subuert the chefest ornameÌ„t of my life are coÌ„tent to become his messenger and minister and vnder the coollor of deuacion to communicate matters of bawdry so for his part let him kepe that he hath won and pay hym selfe with y e tribut of his own folly for I am not only resolued heÌ„sfurth once to speke to hym but also to shonne the place wher he is as a venemous serpent and rauenous wolfe rather desyerous to make marchaÌ„dise of my body then careful any waye of my reputacioÌ„ wishyng you also for end to depart y e place least your long taryeng yelde you the due reward of your trauaile whiche sharpe repuâ—se and last threates so amased the bawde nipped her in y e head y t although she wer more excelleÌ„t in y e gyfts of an oratour then beloÌ„ged to one of her trade yet durste she neyther truste the smoth and sugred stile of her tounge in excusinge the cause of her comming nor seme eftesones to credite the fynes of her wytt in deuisyng newe charmes to enchaunt the pudicitie of the mayde but as one no lesse ashamed of that she had don then fearynge to be discouered and committed to shame retyred with lesse noyse theÌ„ ioye of her message leuynge Iulya reioysyng the goodnes of her Fortune that had delyuered her so saffelye from the perils of so greate a mischiefe persuadynge her selfe hensfurth to vse the pollycye of the serpent in stoppynge her eares leaste with the assistaunce of time and libertie to here her speke she might unhappely fal into the daunger of her charme wherin she semed to obserue y e rule of wisdoÌ„ which bidd all women of honest parte the cacquett or companye of theÌ„ that go about to corrupte their chastetie seinge that she y t willingly admittes listeneth to the infectious that of such deuouring cater pillers semes in y e iudgemeÌ„t of y e world to be of disposition redy to obey their loare and what greate battery nede we to beate that fortresse whose captaine demaunds a parley and seweth for composition but what was the passion all this while of the poore Ferrarois of not such as commonly is incident to them that languishe of the lyke desease for waftinge indifferently betwene hope and dispaier he semed more redye to incurr the daunger of the on then hable to conuert the benefyte of the other into a helpe for himself wherin he was the rather furthered by the reporte of his bawde who denied to perform any ê‘te of her promise and lesse hable to answere his exspectation retorned as it wer w t a flea in her eare being no less ashamed of y t she had don theÌ„ doubtful to procede any further semed w t y e report of her colde successe to pronounce the extreme sentence finall arrest of his life but loue who first stirred vp the humor of his folly vndertaking to be his guide during y e conueigh of this buysines wolde not leue him alone in the middeste of his pagaunte without sufficiente matter to treate vppon neither thought he it time to present the catastrophe or dismiss him froÌ„ the stage till he had plaied the vttermost acte of his folly wherfore fedyng the fondling with vaine suggestioÌ„ dandlynge him stilw t dyuerse arguments and likelyhodes of good successe offred therwith the assistaunce of a new deuise which was that seing praiers could not preuaile nor importunityes take place y e fraÌ„ke offer of his coÌ„tinual seruice not only refused but resolued her so depely in the disdaine hate of his remeÌ„brance that she abhorred his coÌ„pany no lesse then the preseÌ„ce of the Cockatrice or baselyke serpeÌ„t he shold retire to thatteÌ„pte of money as a sure helpe to supplie y t weakenes of his former deuises whose force albeit is so great y t of it selfe it is hable to pearce the strongest tower of a kyngdom being the chefest engin as the poets faine that opened Iupiter the doare of the brasen tower wherin the faier doughter of Achrises was curiously kept yet hath it no power to approche the pallais of vertue and lesse hable to inuade or make any breache into the hart confirmed in pure chastitie wherof our poore Iulya hath left an vndowted example to all degrées of future succession for she resolued wholy in y e true ymitacioÌ„ of vertu reiected al offers of filthy gaine accoÌ„pting the contentment of the mynde to excede al the riches of the world neyther thought shée her worthy of due veneracion nor méete to be admitted in the feloshypp of the tryed sorte that with aconstaÌ„t profe of their faith do not make their chastitie of as greate admiration as the frugilitie of man semes great in doating vpon a beautie that fadeth as a shadow and of lesse continuance then a flower but nowe to your Vallett of chamber who somwhat reuyued with a new hope of goodlucke in the sequele of this second deuise preferred yt ymedyatly to execucion and encoraging the bawde with the offer of his hope instructed her eftesones with new termes more vehement to perswade then likely to spede and so dismissing this seconde embassage commites her to the goodnes of fortune here mother bée loden with money Iewels retires again to her former trade of shame wher marching with no lesse corage then hope of good spede thought her selfe armed w t sufficieÌ„t wepons to enter the fortresse and to put the prisoner into the
one of his frendes by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of his cruel mistrys Histo 13. Fol. 265. The ende of the Table A vvitnes or cronicler of tymes a caÌ„dle to the trothe the life of the memorie the maister of a mans life and the reaporter of all antiquityes Iucundi acti labores Nescire quid antequam natus sis acciderit est semper esse puerum Lyuye Histories a librarie or store house of knovvledg Executed for religion in Fraunce by the Emperor Seuerus in the yere 178. Hannyball forced a passage for his armi through the Alpes Ingratitude the chiefeste ennemy to the honor of nobilitye Children do commonly rather excede their fathers in vice then resemble them in ver 〈◊〉 â–ª Ytaly a store house for mutinies Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable The proffit in huntinge The daunger of a prince in Iermanye in hunting A courte of peynall forfeitures or coÌ„demnatioÌ„ for money The frutes which true vertue exposeth All things are subiect to chaunge Deathe the due hyer of vnnaturall conspiracye A kinde of curtesye or amarus gretiÌ„g in Italye Hope is a chiefe comforte in affliction An vngodlie Lavve The taste of life pleasante to all men The couetous minde is neuer in quiet according to the vvordes of thappostle God the highe iudge Salymbyno debateth vvith himself touching the deliuerye of his ennemie Yt is more easye to conquer by clemencie then by crueltie Parentâ—s The noble harte soonest enclined to loue Montanyno seketh to re quit the good torne of his enemye Fortune not to be holden against her vvil and god is bound to no time Height of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature The Athenians punished vnthaÌ„kfulnes by death The ansvver of Augelyqua to her brother Loue hathe povver to vvorke a facilitie in that vvhiche all men thinke ympossible Venus Angeliqua falleth into a sound Angeliqua consenteth to her brothers requeste Montanyn to Seigneur Salymbyno Fortune accordinge to the poetes is the change and alteration of the vvorld ly affayres Salymbyn to his frendes so the mariage of Angeliqua Vertue firme and not subiect to chaÌ„ge The noble mynde inuincible agaynst fortune King Cyrunorished and brought vp in the contreye Romulus brought vp amonge shepherdes Of vnlavvfull vvinning of the father coÌ„mes iust losse to the sonne The romains respected more the vertuous pouertie then allovved the rich man conuerted into vice Loue make vs more apte to desier then hable to attaine Mariage the first thing vvherin christ glorified himself by miracle In the choice of our vvife vvee ought to respect the vertue and gyftes of the mind and not the riches or exterior beautye Aduersitie is necessary for that it makes vs parfect The vertues in loue in a noble minde Sondry vertues in loue Loâ—e is an humor of infecâ—â—on deriued of the corrupte partes in our selues Loue. VVords haue force to further the effecte of anye thinge Desert soyles be harbors mete for solitary persons The coÌ„plaint of Lyuyo The Cameleon is norished by the breath of the ayre Cicero Cornelya to her brother The ansvver of Cornelyo to his sister Ho bearethe his misery beste that hideth it most It is necessary to knowe the impersectious of the worlde 〈◊〉 the true messengers of the dollor of the harte The disease of Loue contrary to the disposition of other griues The coÌ„plaint of Camylla Liuio at the poiÌ„t of death speaketh to his misters Quintus Scipio The complainte of Camilla Loue is naked and vvith out eyes Brutus vvarned of his ouerthrovve in his sleepe Lyuyo vvriteth to Câ—mil lâ— The propertie of the svvan beinge neare her deathe Delaies be hurtefull in cases of loue The kinge of the hunes died in the excesse of pleasure vvith his vvife the first night of their mariage Livyo died of the like in the armes of his Camilla Badde argumeÌ„t in a yong vvoman Her parentes Money is hable to batter the strongest fortresse vnder heauen The order of a fearefull louer in disclosing his affection Slaunder Her bevvtie Parthonope vvritteth to Pandora Of true loue Pandora allovveth the requeste of her louer Companion of bed or lieu tenaunt VVhoremonger Marcyano disvvadeth his frende from Pandora Callinge Pandora vvriteth to partho nope Pandora exclaimeth Herselfe and the child vvith in her Nedea and Circe 2 great enchannteresses PaÌ„dora seÌ„des her mayd to practise vvith the vvitches of the vale Net her certaintie nor assuraÌ„ce in the art of enchaÌ„tyng God suffred the magicions of Egypte to vvorke vvonders in the sight of Pharao The studye of scripture ought to bee thexercise of the religions Abbaies the chiefest pillors that men teine superstion and ydolatrye Abbayes and Nonries tenementes of Babylon Freares bee couetous Suggestion of the fleshe makes vs sonest forget God A deuelish of deuise of Pandora The euill is but light vvhere councell takes place Paris Whoremaâ— â–ª mâ—â—ster Ielosye excedes al the tormentes in the vvorlde Hunger and colde 2. coÌ„moÌ„ enemies attendinge the campe of miserie In euery mischiefe fortune beareth the greatest svvaighe No maÌ„ vvith in the daunger of fortune but suche as lake assurance in vertue Vertue yeldes good frutes to such as embrace her vnfaynedly The chiefest vertue in a vvise is to be obedient to her husband Fortune is alvvayes Ialouse of the ease of man The malice of the vvorld rageth moste vpoÌ„ vvidovvs and fatherles children The vse of the nedle a conuenient exercise for any degree of vvomen The Captain to his frend Thoffice of true frendship vvhere in it consistes Touchinge dyuynacion of the mynd The propertie of a she ape in embrasing her younge on s Fiue vertue vvill alvvayes yeldes frutes according to the goodnes of the thing 〈◊〉 the coÌ„mon catyer of tales Albeit death is most certeine yet the hovver and time of his coÌ„ming is not knovven The Ladye comfortes her husbande Death the messenger minister of God The graue is the house of reste A ceremonie amongest the barbarians to sacrifise theÌ„selues vppon the tombes of their deade frâ—ndes The captaine riseth to fetche his dagger to kyll his vvyfe Here he killeth his vvyf A comparisoÌ„ deriued of the pollicie vvhiche the vvise mariner or shipmaister doth vse Giftes vvhich ought to appeare in an honest vvoman Deathe hath no povver but ouer our bodye Loue Procedes of the corrupcion of our ovvne nature Secret solicitors of the invvard affection of the harte Cornelio vvriteth to plaudyna The eyes be the secret signes and mesengers of loue Plaudyna aunsvvereth the letter of her seruant Portune a blind goddes The 〈◊〉 her bodye Plaudina menteth the absence of her freÌ„d vvith complaint 〈◊〉 gainste her ovvne misfortune Loue estemeth no dauÌ„ger The desyerous harte is seldom at rest and doubtefull mindes dreede alvvayes deceite The complaint of Cornelyo beinge in exile His mistres The order of a desolate louer The desier of a desperat louer The firste metinge of the baude vvith Cornelio Men more constant then vvomen Cornelyo aunsvverethe the
reformacion in them who are borne to beare the yoke of awe and commandement of their husbandes retournynge therewyth to the sequeile of SALYMBYNO who workynge the laste effect and consommation of his curtesye gaue the one halfe of his goodes of all sortes in fauour of the mariage adopting at thinstant the MONTANYN as his brother in lawe and assured frende with generall substitution to all his goodes if he chaunced to dye without heire of his bodye and hauyng children he conueighed vnto hym by suche assuraunce in reuercion as the lawe coulde deuise that moytie whiche he gaue in dowerye to his faire ANGELIQVA whome the Sonday folowynge he maried with pompe due to both their estates to the vniuersall contentement of his frendes and speciall quiet of the Citye who had endured longe affliction by the mortalitie and ciuill warre of theis ij houses Suche be the varieties happenyng in the successe of our wordly affaires wherein who wil denye but that aduersitie somtime is necessarie for men seinge she doth not only force a wonderfull remorce and reformacion of lyfe but also workes often tymes an effect of that wherin appeared an absolute impossibilitie of conquest by any other meane And truly the vertue of this example discredites vtterly the commendacion of the auncient ROMAINES amongeste whome as there chaunced diuerse tymes greate enimyties and grudge of mynde so there folowed a spedie reconcilement albeit not by suche meanes as this franke attonement betwene the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS but some were reclaymed by the offer of promocion some solicited by the voice of the whole common welth and confirmed by the present gyfte of some notable office and other with a regard to peculyar proffit not one of them all approchynge neare the magnanimitie in the worste of these three whereof the one sommoned by a passion of loue scamed to excede nature in perfourmynge an exploit not hable anye waye els to be wrought to effect And yet there be that cryenge out againste loue paintes hym in cullors of rage follye and frenzye but suche are rather abused wyth theyr owne conceites then hable to consider ryghtelye the vertue of that impression for loue in the noble harte is no other thing then the true subiecte of curtesye the fountaine from whence distilleth the originall of all cyuill and good order the onelye meane that moues vs to moderacion when we are inclined to crueltie or reuenge and the chiefest norsse and preseruer of peace amongest men wherein yf some vile disposition happen to violat or peruert the lawes of so necessarie and auncient institution of nature the vertue and subiect it selfe yet oughte not bee touched wyth the cause of suche faulte nor deserue to be noted of any corruption seinge suche derogation procedes by the abuse of hym that knoweth not the perfection of the thynge which falles out also in experience in diuerse other accidentes who beinge vertues of them selues do loase theyr credit by the malice of suche as abuse them vyllanouslye whervpon the good thynge is often condemned by the folly of suche as are ignoraunt in the perfection of the same in the other appeares a rare disposition of a bountifull mind so farre from the abhominable spot of ingratitude that his lyfe was ready to bee offred for the satisfaction and discharge of the curtesie if the other had required it wherein as you maye see greate effectes of true magnanymitye and wherein a noble mynde oughte not to bee ouercome with the vertue of honeste curtesye so touchynge the price of the victorye I meane whiche of the three is moste meritorious of commendacion and deserueth to weare the garland I referre the iudgement to thindifferencie of suche as wythout passion or parcialitye doe vse to note the chaunces happenynge to men you see a mortall enemye sorowed for the miserie of his aduersarie but solycited thereunto you will saye by the ineuitable force of loue whiche also wroughte his delyuerye the other marched wyth the glorye of a present so rare that the greatest Monarcke of the worlde maye be astonyed with the remembraunce of his prodigall bountie The wonderfull zeale and affection of the syster towardes her brother chalengeth no lesse praise then the reste who albeyt she had séene a proof of the curtesye of her enemye yet had she no assurance of his modestie notwythstandynge to discharge euerye waye her dutye towardes her brother she layde her virginitye vppon the blocke of vyolacion the fyrste claymeth to bee victor because his laste vertue in the mariage excedes his former curtesie but he hath ouerthrowen his enemie and not won the feelde so that he is not to enioye the prayse or price of the victorye The absolute resolution of the younge Ladye to kyll herselfe if she were forced to dishonnour againste her wyll takes awaye all glorie and commendacion from her yf the care to kepe honour and virginitye dyd not preuaile aboue the preseruation of lyfe the brother and thirde of this Crew albeyt this prodigal offer proceded by compulcion of the former bountye of hys frende yet the noblenes of hys mynde was equall to the reste and hys vertue nothynge inferiour to eyther of the other twoo And yet yf it were not the singuler respecte he had to retourne hys benefytt wyth double interest wyth care to bee more then sufficientlye thankefull to his patrone I coulde dyminishe hys glorye wherein because the lamentable tragedye of twoo poore louers sōmones me to discouer theyr misaduenture wyth no lesse reason to furnishe the stage with a declaracion of theyr loyaltye then your Ladyship hath alredye harde the whole discourse of the rare vertues in SYENNA I leaue suche Gentlemen and skilful Dames who take paine to skan this historye to argue the cause at large and resolue iudgement at leasure not doubtynge of your integritye in yeldynge the true tytle of tryumphe and glorie to some one of the three whome you accompte moste worthie to bee crowned with the Lawrel of victorye FINIS The argument THere is nothinge how good and profytable so euer it appeare whereon attendethe not a discommodytie to hym that deales in it wythout discrecion together with a perentorye displeasure in receiuing it contrarye to the consent of good gouernemēt wherin I may be assisted with sufficient confirmation in a daylye experience of the ordynarye meates brothes and other confeccions tollerated by phizicke for the sustentacion of man whiche albeit bee good of theim selues yet being swallowed in glottonous sort they do not only procure a surfeyt with vnsauery indisgestion but also conuerting our aunciente healthe and force of nature into humors of debylytie destillinge thorowe all the partes of the bodye do corrupte the blodde which of it selfe afore was pure and without infection Euen suche is the disposition of loue whose effectes directed by reason whiche oughte to guide euerie accion and doing of man be not suche enemies in deede to the quiet of our lyfe as necessary meanes to reforme the rudenes of our
helpe in mortall distresse it is tyme nowe good madam to conuerte your Auncient crueltie into an humour of compassion both to defende your self from thymputacion of a tyrant and my lyfe from a wretched ende of miserable dispair ceasse hensfurthe to dissymule thuttermost of your rigour or drop of present grace seinge that both the one and the other hath indiffrent power to releue my distresse eyther by death in denieng me your fauour or contynuance of longer lyfe by impartyng your specialle grace come cruell misters and see thy vnfortunate LIVIO without hart hope or argument of longer breathe yf by a promisse of thy good will thou breathe not an ayre of freshe consolacion and by the sommaunce of thy worde reuoke my dyeng mynde from thys tombe of myserable dispaire where in I feele my self so tormented with thofficers of deathe that nature ceassyng to supplie my weary partes with force I fynd an impossibilitie in my tonge to obey any longer the desyers of my hart wherewith his breath began to drawe short staying the course of further speche yf not that in entryng into hys fatall traunce he exposed certeine dolefull groanes whyche caused bothe the younge Ladies to Ronne in haste to the succour of the patient whome they founde stryuinge with thextremetie of hys laste pange albeit not without some litle perye of breathe whyche he seamed to reserue wyth greate difficultie whereuppon CAMYLLA seynge a prouffe of his constancie euen to the laste moment and hauynge but one meane to releue hys traunce made no conscience to lett fall her rosye and courrall lyppes vppon the mortifyed mouthe of her diynge LIVIO who receyued suche present consolaciō by thys offer of fauour vnloked for that y e force of nature and vitall strengthe ready to depart out of euery vayne of hys bodye retired to theyr auncient places wherewith he vsynge the benefytt of his fortune forgatt not to embrase his Ladye with an infinite of kysses whereof shee restored hym a double interest albeit because he shoulde make no greate proffytt of thys soddayne courtesye and to preuent with all a suspicion of lyghte behauiour in her self she vsed her accustumed wysdome entering into familiar conference in thys sort I hope SEIGNEVR LIVIO you will not conuert thys compassion whych I haue vsed in the rappeale of your mortall farewell into any synister opinion of the diminucion of thintegretie of CAMILLA who as longe as she lyueth will so stande vppon the garde of her honour and honest renowme that no degree shall haue iuste cause to reprehende the leaste fauor shee extendes to any man in whyche conceyte I am also content to impart a credyt to your loyaltie perswadynge the same to bee without fiction whereof I am no lesse glade then I hope the loue whyche youe beare me is chaste and of honest intent respectynge an ende of sinceritie for yf I sawe any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat wyll did guide your desyer and were the cause of your passion assure your selfe I woulde make lesse conscience to committe me to the mercye of the moste horrible tourmentes in the worlde eye and perill of present deathe then to lease anye parte of that whyche makes me marche without blushynge amongest the beaste of oure contrey in whyche respect wyth full perswacion of a sincere simplicitie in your loue I can not but retourne you a semblable fauour with absolute assuraunce from thys instaunte of such firme affection and zeale as any ladye oughte to impart to hym who seekes her frendshyppe in sorte of honeste and lawfull mariage neyther shall yt dekaye after theffect of desyer be parformed nor dymynishe by any synister accident vntill the fatall sequestracion of our sowle and bodye whereof lette vs vse wisdome in the conueyghe of suche affaires as maye bee taken bothe in good and euyll parte to th ende that the maiestye of the hyghest beyng not offended our honour fall not into the slaunder of the worlde wherein for a first charge to bee comitted to your diligence and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemencie of your affection towardes me dispose your self to demaunde me of my Father whose consent you shall fynde me to confirme in such sorte as your selfe shal deuise Arme your selfe then with compfort and retire to healthe at the request of her who takynge no pleasure in solitarie regardes wisheth you to reserue this precious flower of your youth for other exercises then to wast with passions of desperacion no lesse enemies to the strenghte of the bodye then hurtefull to the healthe of the sowle and seynge besides that in the recouery of you consistes the healthe of your syster suspende no longer the consolacion of her and contentement of your selfe and me who in attendynge your expedicion to procure the goodwill of my father will dispose my selfe in the meane while to bee thankefull vnto you any waye wherein myne honour and honestye will iustifie my doynge whiche laste wordes seamed of suche operation in the traunsed mynde of LIVIO that discharged as it were of a perillous vision in a dreame lyfted vp hys eyes and handes towardes heauen yeldyng honour to the goddes for hys happye encounter and kyssynge the white and delycate hande of hys newe mystresse he forgatt not to gyue her suche humble thankes as the greatenes of hys felicitie required whych seamyng to hym to excede the compasse and power of fortune iudged it rather the vertue of a dyuyne miracle then an effect mortall for that in so soddayne amoment he was acquited of so perentory a daunger assuring her that assone as health and strengthe of body woulde assyste the desyer of his mynde he would performe her comaundement in demaundynge her fathers consent wherein he hoped to delay no long time for that he felte a wonderful approche of health by the viewe of her presence in his late last storme of afflictiō I wold do no lesse saith she then yelde you soccours in so great an extremitie both to delyuer my selfe out of payne in seinge you passioned and also to qualifye the greffe of my deare companion your syster to whom you are also bounde in some sorte to be thankeful for my commynge hether For albeit my conscience sommoned me to a compassion of your torment with desier to yelde you the due hyer and consideraciō of the honest loue you beare me yet y e regarde of mine honour deniynge me to visite you seamed an impediment to theffect of that wherunto I was bounde by so many duetifull merites prayinge you for ende to excuse that whiche is past and pardon me for the present in that I can not assiste you with longer companye persuadyng thy selfe my deare LYVIO that althoughe my bodye muste supplye an other place to coullour the trafficque of our loue and preuent suspicion yet thou hasts made suche a stealth of my hart that the same will not fayle to kepe the companye in my absence wherewith takynge her leaue
a faire féeld bed redye dressed for the purpose where PARTHONOPE encounterynge his pleasante enemye wyth no lesse force and corage of his part then she had grounded experience to wythstande his malice in suche exploits entred the breach whych so many had made assaltable to his hande and beinge in possession of the commen place of PANDORA she founde hym so valyaunt in thaffaires of her desyer that in respect of the loftye corage of this newe champyon she accompted al the rest but children that earst had traded wyth her in the lyke traffique wherfore from thinstaunt she gaue him such assured place in her frendship that hangynge wholy vpon the shoulders of Parthenope she had no quiet in her mind but whē her eyes weare occupied in beholdyng his presence neither was he for his part voyd of lyke affection for beinge enchaunted with the charmes of this venemous Basile he Imployed his time to court her continually with his cōpany defying al felicities in the world but that which he semed to receiue by the felowship of PANDORA to whom alon he yelded all deuocion with great humilitye But this pleasure being of slipper continuance stale awaye with the shortnes of time their great amitie conuerted into indignacion and spitfull reuenge yea their mutuall societic sealed with all assuraunce of affection in their harts was by by so separated vtterlye dissolued that it was neuer hable to returne to his former vnitye for sone after the league of this new frendship behold the Page sumwhat refreshed by the absence of two or thrée monethes from his mistres repaires to his old exercise wherein he found no worse intertainemēt at the bonntiful hand of PANDORA then when he fyrst tylled the soyle of so fertil an I le neyther would she for all this lose the company of her new champyon Parthonope but vsing the order of leuel coyle she feasted them both indiferentlye of the dishes of one kynd of banquet and reserued to her selfe a chaunge of dyet at her pleasure But the Myllannoys notyng her disloyaltie entered into diuers disposition of collor somtime determined for the reuenge of the wrong which he seamed to receiue to kyl his Corriuall manifest by open publication thinordinate lubricitie of his Ladye whiche he had performed accordingly if natural curtesye with the regard of the honor which he held had not preuayled aboue his iust cause of indignatiō in that behalfe wherin albeit he dismissed the reuenge yet could he not escape thextreme passion of Ielosie whych so prickt him at the quicke takyng away his desier of reste in place of thappetit of slepe filled his head ful of hollowe dreames and vayne visiōs being in short time so transformed with fantasie that there rose question of his sodayne alteration amongest diuers his familyar frendes wherof one called EVCYO MARCIANO no lesse deare vnto him by aproued frendshippe then by the lawe of faythfull alyaunce and awncyente dissente who not ignoraunte in the maladye of his kynsman disposed him selfe to cure the disease and mortefye the cause with one medicyne and beinge whollye priuye to the practise of thinsacyable PALLIARD PANDORA by the reporte of oure late Romaine IOCVNDE costed this kynght one daye as he walked all alone in a gallarye of his lodginge reprehendinge his rashnes in this sorte Yf I had as manye meanes to cure your disease good cosin as I am thorowlye perswaded of the cause of your sicknes I woulde conuert the grefe I fele in your behalfe into spedye endeuor to releue your distresse Ah las what vnhappye trade of late haue you entred into that so remoues your senses out of their sege of reasó transforming the lyuelye colloure of youre face into a complexion of palenes youre minde continuallye occupied in solitarye thoughtes and wholye chaunged into a disposition contrarye to your aunciente order Do you thinke that I am eyther ignorante of your passion or of the league of loue concluded of late betwene thunchaste PANDORA and you Ah good cosin I lamente not so muche your presente desaster as I feare the fal of future Inconueniences like to thunder vppon you if god preuente not the ylls whiche threaten you by takinge you out of the handes of that tyranous shee wolfe whose poyson is of more perylous infection thenne that which dystilled from the breath of the fyrste PANDORA whom the two greke poets do affirme to brewe the first vessel of VENEMOVS lycor that euer came into y e world Ah las if reason would suffer you aswel to deserne the doinges and detestable life of this open hypocryt euen from the yeares of her infansye as your follye is content to leade you to lysten to her cursed lore you would not onlye seme satisfyed with the pleasure whiche hetherunto you haue receiued but also abhore the gredy apetyte of hers so geuen to hunte after contynuall chaunge neyther dismaye you at all if the pleasure whiche you count peculiar to your selfe bee imparted to an other far vnmete to mache with you in that or anye other condicyon for he whom you suspect to supplye the place of your absence was the fyrst that tilled the craggye grounde of your Insacyable mystres gathering the first frutes of her virginytye which notwithstanding might be dispersed with al by reasonable tolleracion if the nomber of them besides weare not infynet that haue alreadie battered the fort wher of you thinke your selfe lyuetenant and only possessor rehersinge here in order the bedroll of those that she had admitted for her vnlawful bedfelowes wherof PARTHONOPE bowwing a willing eare to the tale of his kynsman was dryuen into no small merueile at the pretye discours of the noble actes of this valiant souldyer of VENVS But MARTIANO although he sawe argumentes of remors in the hart of his Cosin yet he thought his disease was not vtterly cured vnlesse the cause were also taken awaye wherfore pursuing his intent w t vehement perswasions he requested him at last to leaue those traffyques of loue and speciallye in cases of adultery for saieth he they do not only dimynyshe the honour age renome and welthe of him that foloweth them but also they are hurtefull to the health of the soule forbydden speciallye by the mouthe of god and for your parte me thinke it were better to marye sum honest gentylwomanne of your own calabre susteyninge the honor of your house with passing the rest of your yeres in mutual socyetye with your law ful wife then in consuming the best time of your age to depend wholy vpon the pleasure of a shamelesse cōmen doxcye who when she hath sucked out the grene Iewse of your youth will not stycke I warrant you to procure the ende of your dayes with some miserable and vntimly death you are not ignorante besides I am sure of the authoryties of diuers histories noting the great nomber of strang incōueniences but specially perpetual Infamy which followeth as a dwe reward to their
inconstancie neyther can a bodye of so rare perfection harbor suche dyssemblynge disposicion But as the desyerous harte is seldome at rest so the doubtefull mynde is dreadefull of deceite and quareliynge continuallye with his good hap or synister fortune is alwayes in ymaginacion what iudgement to resolue vppon the condition of his owne estate so my case is of no lesse perpleritie for wafting indifferētly betwene happie chaunce euil successe I fele my selfe double passioned somtime moued to reioice my good hap in beīg loued of so honest curteouse noble a gentlemā as Cornelio and by by driuen to inueighe againste my euill fortune that hath put suche distance and seperacion of oure bodies when we weare at point to performe the consommacion of our acquaintaunce And albeit the common chaunces of this worlde resemble a confection made of hony and gall and that the banquettes of loue beinge garnished with dishes of both sortes will vs to make choice wyth deliberacion alledgynge that the pleasure is not so great as the repentaunce penaunce of harde disgestion yet I thinke the vertue to performe the vowe of the hart takes awaye the greatnes and haynous disposicion of the faulte wherefore seing my hart hath made his choice and the reste of my partes resolued to performe the quest I wyll not onelye dismisse all doubtes of the assurance of his good wyll but studye to excede hym in affection deuisinge the meanes from hensfurth to make hym féele the force of my goodwill with the desyer I haue to knitt an indissoluble vnitye of the ij mindes whose bodies are forced to lyue in seperacion by the malice of the worlde and angrie dome of our fortune Here yf PLAVDINA inueighed onely vpon ij pointes of her desaster the one for the soddaine departure of her frende and the other for the doubte she seamed to put in the assuraunce of his loue it is to bée thoughte that CORNELIO had cause of treble complaint bothe to be driuen to saue his lyfe by cowardlye flighte to steale awaye in suche secret scilent maner as only his guide was pryuie to his goinge also to bée distressed with such shortnes of time that he was barred to seame thankeful to his Ladye with a simple farewel whiche was sufficient to sturre vp her Ielous humour againste hym but that whiche exceded the rest in greatnes of gréef was that he had no man of trust to carye her newes of his being and muche lesse durste he communicat his buysynes wyth any straunger neyther had he hope to be aduertised of the accurrantes of MYLLAN nor meane to make reaport of his owne estate at MANTVA for that he durst not discouer the place of his present abode there wherefore cryeng out of the constellation and clymat of his destynies he complained his vnhappie case in this sorte If my offence were as greate as my punyshmente is greuous I wolde thinke no submission worthie of place nor my falte meete to be dispensed withall or if I had as iustlye deserued this wronge as I am sewer to suffer the smarte I had no reason to commence cause of complaint agaynste the malice of y e world much lesse accuse the iniquitye of present tyme nor yet crye out of y e synister disposition of fortune to whom as the poetes seame to attribute some power ouer our worldly affaires bestowinge their indeuor therin I thinke rather to féede the time and ymagynacions of the people with a shape or figure of an vnconstante creature then wyth intente to perswade a credit in so senceles an ymage so I am also perswaded by the present experience of her inconstancie that she is not so liberall to geue as readye to take awaye a lesse hable to contynue the felicitie wherwyth she seames to flatter y e conceite of y e simple for whō she hath brought to beleue in her she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then hable to receiue it wherin who maye more iustely exclaime agaynst her mobylitie thē y e vnhappie CORNELIO whō being fauored w t y e offer of a reciprocal affection and at the pointe to be put in the possession of his desyer shee hath not only taken the praie out of my mouthe but comitted me wyth cruelty into the vale of extreme desolacion of what moment are y e greatnes of princes or to what end serues honor or highe callinge seinge bothe the one and the other are subiect to confucion and readye to yelde at the leaste poffe of winde that bloweth from a contrary shoare Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner callinge thennemie wolde neyther watche my doings wyth so manye eyes nor pursewe my deathe by publike or pryuate inuacion and I suffered to liue as free from the troubles and tumultes of the worlde as farr from any care or accompte of the doings of great men where nowe alas thonly heighte of my estate tipped wyth the tytle of honor depryueth me of thuse of my contrey societie of my frendes and contemplacion of the thinge I holde no lesse deare thenne the healthe of my soule But if any thinge colde stoppe the couetous humor of man and euerye one contente wyth the lot of his porcion would cease to inuade the dominion of an other kinges shoulde sytt sewer in their troanes and the pallais of princes voide of suspicious feare and care and then myne owne PLAVDINA shoulde not I liue wythout the companie of the nor thou haue cause to doubt the firme constancie of thy seruant whose reputacion of honor and faythe towardes his prince denieth hym for the presente to honor the wyth the duetye whych thy vertues deserue and albeit it is no lesse follye then tyme loste to trauell in dispite of loue and fortune whyche bothe haue conspired my distruction and ioyned in confente to kepe mee frome enioyenge the fauor of her who merites the seruice of one more noble and worthie euery way then I and because no distāce shal dissolue my affection nor dymynishe the leaste braunche of good will nor yet time her selfe haue power to ouertreade the vertue of my faythe I will so dispose of the reste of my life as the same shall make absolute declaracion of the vnfained constancie of my mynd wyth the sincere vowe of loyaltie whiche I haue sworne and dedicated to the seruice of her deuyne bewtie euen vntill the laste and extreme seperacion of my soule and bodie wherin because aduersatie is rather subiect to many miseries then apte to admit any consolation and that the goodwill of fortune comes rather at vnwares then won by speciall sute I wyl perforce contente my selfe wyth the gyfte of presente time and vsinge the remembrance of my mistres as a speciall moderation of the hardnes of my exile so honor thymage and picture of her bewtie painted alreadie in thintralls of my harte that thonly remembrance and inward view of my deare PLAVDINA shall norishe the remeindor or my
doares of his lodgynge tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte sommonynge all sortes of people to reste seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to perperforme so that arming himself only with sleues of male and a naked rapiour vnder his mantell he marched towards the pallais of PLAVDINA wyth more haste then good spéede and lesse assuraunce of sauetye then likelihod of good lucke for as he accompted hymselfe no lesse frée from all daungers then farre from any occasion or offer of perill so fortune displayinge the flagge of her malice encountred hym soddainely with a desaster excedynge his exspectation whereby she warned hym as it were of the ambushe of future euils whiche were readye to discouer themselues And albeit this first accident was nothinge in respect of the other straung mischiefes which she ceassed not to thonder vppon hym one in the necke of an other afore the ende of his enterprise yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduenture seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the attempt nor honestie in the victorye But who doubteth that the luste of the bodye is not the chiefest thinge that infecteth the minde wyth all syn and that the beautye of a woman dothe not onelye drawe and subdue the outwarde partes but also leuyeth suche sharpp assaultes to the in warde forces of the mynde not sewerly rampierd in vertue that they are not onely denyed to eschewe suche thinges as bée vndoubtedly hurtefull both to the bodye and soule but also drawen to desyer that which they ought not to ymagine and muche more abhorre to do as a thynge of greate detestation besides loue is of so venterous a disposicion sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he possesseth that he makes theim not onely vnmindefull of all daungers but also to seame hable to passe the lymittes of the Son wyth power to excede the bondes of Hercules and Bacchus neyther makes he any thynge vnlawfull whiche he thinketh reasonable nor gyueth glorie to that enterprise whiche is not accompanied with infynitie of perills But as the wyse man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the deuise bée put in execution yeldyng no difference of rewarde with a successe of semblable and equall effecte to hym that rashely crediteth thaduise of hymselfe and suche as committ theyr bodies and doinges to one stroake of fortune So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same principle to examyne the circumstaunce of our enterprises and caste the good and euil that maye happen wyth so sewer and steddye a iudgement that there can no daunger so soone appeare but we maye bee assisted wyth the choice of ij or iij. remedies to represse hym wherein if CORNELIO had bene as throwly instructed as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of follye he neded not haue fallen into suche daunger as he doubted least nor dispaire of that whiche he seamed to desyer moste and muche lesse assailed euen in the begynnynge and brunt of hys buysynes wyth that soddaine feare whiche earste he was not hable to ymagine and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to shâ—n for as he attended the comming of Ianiqueta to open the doare beholde there ronge in his eares a greate brute or noyse of the clatteringe of naked weapons and men in harneys seaminge as it was in déede a set fraye betwene ij enemies in the ende or corner of the same stréete which was so hoatlye pursued that one of the skirmishers beinge hurte to the death brake out of the presse and fleinge towardes the place where CORNELIO stoode fainted and fell downe dead at his féete euen as the maide opened the wicket to take hym in whiche was not so secretlye don but the eyes of certeine neighbours beholdynge the fraye oute of their windowes discouered the goinge in of CORNELIO with a nacked sworde in his hande wherevpon followed the alarame to the innocent louer as you shall heare herafter but beinge within the courte and the gates shotte againe he was léed by the litle Darioletta of their loue into a garderobe or inner gallery till the seruantes were retired to reste who for the most parte laye out of the house that night beinge busye in visiting the banquettes abroade accordynge to the Epicure order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shrâ—â—tide when diuerse glottons delite in nothing but to do sacrifyce to their belly And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or feare eyther preuented or prouided for as they thought PLAVDINA sent for her seruant into her chamber thin king to worke theffect of both their desyers and plante the maried mans badge in the browes of her husband being absent But here they made their reckoning without their ost and were forced to rise from the banquet rather with increase of appetyt then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon for as they had newly begon the preamble to the part they ment to plaie and entred into thamarous exercise of kissinge and embrasinge eche other whereof neyther the one nor thother hadde earste made assaie together beinge at the pointe to laye their hands to the last indeuor and effect of loue which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy they hard a greate noyse and horleyborley in the stréete of the garde and chiefe officers of y e watche who fyndynge the deade bodye at the doare of PLAVDINA began to make such inquisition of y e murthur wyth threatenyng charge to vnderstande the manner and cause of his deathe that amongest the neyghbours whyche behelde the fraie there was one affyrmed that at the same instant that the broyle was moste hoat hée sawe a tall yonge gentleman let in at the gates of PLAVDINA with a sworde in his hande armed on the armes wyth sleues of male whervpon the capteine of the watche beganne to bounce at the doare as thoughe his force hadde bene hable to beate downe the walls wyth suche a rowte and companye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor that bothe the one and the other of oure louers seamed indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre â—proare of the frenchmen to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him then an Inquirendum for the murdor wherof he was no less ignorant then innocent the other dispairing no lesse of the delyuery of her frende yf he fell once vnhappelye into the handes of thennemye then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne dishonestie beynge knowen to conceile a stranger in the secret corners of her house wherein hauyng albeit but bad choice of meanes to auoyde suche ij threatenynge euills and lesse tyme to take councell of their present perill yet beyng of opynion that in the sauetie of the one consisted the sewertye of theym bothe shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse maryner or shypmaister
or out of the window or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe by the pitiful regards of his countenance wanton torninge of the eye and other messengers of his passion arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions whither also hée directed his pilgrymage and dissymulinge with GOD hée plaide thypocrite in conuertinge his regardes from thalter or place of leuacion to beholde the bewtie of the goldsmithes daughter the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor making of the house of prayer y e shop or forge to frame iniquitie exceding in this respect the barbarouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells who geue more reuerence to their Mosques wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord to performe the ministracion of the sacraments with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray for the subuercion of babilon and restauracion of the true Church dispersed into diuers corners of the world by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples wherof this Abbot being not the least in authoritie was nothing inferiour to the most abhominable in al vices wherof he gaue sufficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion the one in seking to deflowre a mayde contrarye to the othe of hys religion the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise beinge more deuowte in courtinge the Ladies of NAPLES thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous desyer ymagined by and by wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large and to beat the hammer more depe into his head would requite his amarous glaunce wyth a semblable glée and sodaynly retire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of presence no lesse then thincounter of any venemus beaste fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer or who thinkes it no offence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde whom wée may compare to the red rose desiered of enery one so longe as the morning dewe mainteineth hym in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew and conuerted hys naturall freshnes into a withered leafe the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Iewell but also in common contempte wyth all men what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmindfull who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chastetie affore all the respecttes of the worlde seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest preuented hys expedicion by making her a straunger to his presence shonnynge all places of hys repaire and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer shée forbare to visit the churches onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie and yet wyth suche regarde that shée made as it were a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to inuade her vppon a soddaine and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes shee crossed saite on the other side and closed her eyes as agaynst some hurtfull encownter yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie that dispaire beganne to appeare wyth thapproche of sondrye perentorie diseases chiefly for y t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye and disdainefull repulses occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe or vpon what wood to make his arrowes seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors and to write to her appeared a great difficultie for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres was no lesse carefull of her honestie then be longed to so precious a Iewell yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to rewarde hym in the ende with the praye of his purseute he determined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente and therefore put his requeste vpon tearmes in a letter of this effecte Yf my destenies had don execution vppon my bodie when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie torment for if death by nature had preuented the begynnynge of my loue I had ben frée from the force of passion discharged of all mortall greefe and you dispensed with al from the imputation cause of a double ill the one to abuse the vertue of your selfe do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue to driue me to desperacion and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe Howe often alas haue I made you priuye to thinwarde affection of my mynde by the outwarde regardes glaunces of my exterior partes Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée and immediatly denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion eyther disdayning vtterly
theyr honor wythout respect to honest shame whiche as a companion moste familiar ought to gouerne and direct the doinges of all women But now let vs resorte to Pauia and visit the doinges of Blanche Maria whose renowne in short time became of no lesse brute in all the corners and costes of Ytalye then the Corynthyan lays thorow all partes of Asya being withal so prodigall of her libertie wyth open and vnseamelye meanes to make her selfe knowen to the worlde that in the veray viewe and first begynnynge of her trade appeared infallible arguments of future euils with a disordered sequeile of lyfe Albeit she seamed to reserue a certeyne maiestie and semblance of respect to her estate for that she woulde not marche but vnder enseignes of nobilitie refusing eyther to bée séene or spoken to of persones of meaner condicion which delicate and coye order she seamed to preferr rather to set a greater price of her marchandise accordyng to the Grecian curtisan whom the orator refused for that he wolde not buy his repentaunce at so highe a rate then to argue any diminution of her lascinius desyer for her eye had no sooner encountred any younge and lustie Gentleman that seamed sufficiently set furthe wyth furniture of nature and hable euerye waye to performe the exspectation of her appetitte but her countenaunce and other outwarde behauiour were readye to make declaracion of her inwarde desyer roauyng vpon hym wythout respect wyth suche glée and liberall regardes that he nede no interpretor to decipher her meaninge nor phisicion to disclose the misterie of her disease neyther was she anye thynge inferior to Madona Mussalina the Romaine Princesse sauyng that she haunted the banke and common places and this performed her exploites in her owne house the Romaine put no difference betwene Carters and men of greater callynge and this Demygreque prayed onely vppon nobilitye and ympes of tender yeres wherin albeit she seamed more delicate of taste then the other yet she exceded all the Bancrowtes of honor that euer were in this one point that she was alwayes rather wearie of trauell then at any time satisfyed with pleasure resemblynge a bottomles goolphe receyuinge all that is putt into it without castynge anye thinge vpp againe this was the chaste lyfe whiche this good Ladie ledd after she had got the bit betwene her téeth and the raine of libertie within her owne hande whereby you maye iudge whether the Myllanoyse or first husbande had raison to refraine her forwarde inclinacion in the firste flame of her youth seinge that as the gréene ozier or sallow of ij or iij. yeres groth is alwayes more plyable then the greate oke seasoned either by pollecie or confirmed in hardnes by the continuance of many yeres so it is necessarie we kepe an awful hande vppon suche youngelynges as appeare sooner ripe in appetit then in gouernement or discrecion to the ende that in plyeng the wax whilest the water is warme we maye alwayes frame them to the posteye of our mindes hauynge theim to supplie the necessitye of our affaires And as the connynge grafter forseing the destruction of his stocke by the tomuche forwardnes of the twigges and certeine lytle hraunches sukyng vp the moysture and sapp whiche should féede the reste of the trée doth cut theim awaye to th ende the principall bowes maye florishe and receiue their naturall norriture so it is not sufficient to minister correction to youth in their tender yeres yf we reserue not a continuation of awe to accompanie their encrease ripenes of their age to preuent the harmes wée sée ordinarilye happen by maturitye and to muche forwardnes in desyer to bee frée from controlment As she was in theis exercises at Pauya continuynge a traine of seruauntes accordynge to her trade and studie it chaunced that therle of Massyne called Ardizyno Valpergo came to the seruice of themprour by whyche occasion hée retired to PAVIA and lodged in the pallais of hys brother there he was younge lustie and geuen to all exercises of actiuitie of semelie stature wyth proporcion of lymmes accordinglie sauinge that he halted somewhat of one legg by reason of a hurte he receuied in a skirmishe of warr dymynishinge not wythstandinge no parte of hys perfection or shapp of bodye who vsinge one speciall recreacion in passinge vp and downe the streetes behelde diuerse tymes the bewtie of the countesse syttynge nowe and then in a windowe geuinge onlye a showe of her face and sometime woulde walke vp and downe in a gallarie or lowe hall presentyng the whole viewe of her bodie and to drawe the straunger to a more desyer to beholde her shee woulde sometime appeare in braue attire at the porche or gate of her pallais speciallye at suche tyme as the earle made hys walke that waye who being alreadie gaulled wyth the arrowes of loue on her behalfe pursewed his queste wyth such deuocion and diligence that he conquered at last a convenient tyme and meane to speake to her wherin albeit he preferred but a simple proffer of hys seruice w t other slight discourses wherwyth the courtyar or other gentleman of behauyor doth cōmonly fede the tyme whilist he is in the companye of ladyes and that the greate maiestie whych shee vsed woulde not suffer hym at the fyrste to geue righte iudgement of this masqued goddes yet he saw wel enough y t he neded not y e whole strēgth of themprours camp to force the place the which he iudged neither to be so strongly flanqued nor sewerly rampierd but the valiant souldiour being furnished to geue y e charge w t the speare in the rest might make an entrey w tout greate peril chieflie for that y e trenches throwē down and breach alreadie made y t place was sufficientlie assaltable for any meane soldiour al which he forgat not to cōuert to y e cōmoditie aduātage of his desier together w t y e consent of couentēt time and fortune who placed theim one daye all alone wythout any accesse of companie in her chamber where he forgat not to preferr his request wyth tearmes of humilitie according to the vaine order of suche ydle personnes as abuse the gift of time in pleading for grace in cases of loue with a franke offer of his bodie and lyuinge wyth commission to dispose of theim all as she thought good wherin good madame sayth he it is not the sommonce of any synister conceite or euill opynion whiche hath moued me to boarde you so farr but rather the vehement instigacion of loue forcing me to sch an affectioned zeale on your behalfe that I shoulde do indiffrent wronge to the stimacion of your honor and iniurye to the vowe of my loyall seruice sworne vnto you longe since if I feame yet to prolonge a conceylement of that whyche the present viewe of your bewtie hath set a broach and committed to open flame wherefore if my presente offer wyth respect of former merit lack force to
wrest a simple grant of fauor at your hand yet ymagyn good lady that in forfeting the pawne whiche I haue preferred for the performance of my promisse I hazarde also the vyolacion of the faithe and lyfe of a gentleman wherof I yelde you eftesones a seconde confirmacion by the height and authoritie of the skyes to be more carefull to obeye you and lyue in the contynuall awe of your commaundement then curious of myne own health and safetie wyth this addicion not to spare at any time to ymploie my carkasse wyth all that I haue in the defense of your causes what condicion or qualitie soeuer they ymport The subtill countesse albeit she knew wel enough that the fyer was not so kindled in the stomake of therle as it pleased hym to set a face and fayned show of his passion and that the large skoape of libertie in his tongue wyth assurance constancie in his countenance argued rather a dissembled zeale then a true transport of affection in his harte yet seing hym younge Iustie and sufficient euery waye to aunswers and discharge the combat of her gredie desyer determyned not to lette slippe the offer of so fytt a praye whyche shee thoughte woulde suffyce to occupye the place till she hadde fonnde an other to enter the lystes and supplie his lacke wherwyth she passed a plaine graunte of her fauor vnder these couerte tearmes like as Signeur Valpergo I am not ignorant in thordinarie deceites of men declared speciallie on the behalfe of such as reapposinge to muche credit in their honestie do geue slender garde of theimselues so I canne I thanke god contente my selfe to smile at their follies and take pleasante recreacion to heare the brauerie of their requests seaming to burn in the desires of loue when in déede they are not only farr from such passion but frée from intent to performe any effect of true loyaltie seaminge also to enterlarde their ymportunities wyth a doble vehemencye when they go most busilye abowte to make a praie of our bewtie and fragilitie whereof albeit I accompt you not onlye one of the nomber but also no lesse desloyall then any of the rest yet respectinge the reputacion of your race I am content to geue credit to your wordes and accept your offer in such sort as you haue promised reapposing so muche for my selfe in youre discrecion that there shall appere in you no want of any thing that belongeth to the gouernmēt wise conueigh of such secret affaires wherin if I fid an effect of my exspectaciō your self shal iudge of my liberalitie in retorning the merite of your honest frendshipp wherwyth thalteracion and breache of countenance in her face argued a present troble and contrarietie of mynde with in her whiche therle construinge to procede of a desyer she had to moue hym to dismisse all further delaies and dispose hymselfe to th execution of the thinge so indiffrentlie desyered of theym bothe put diligence to the thankefull offer of tyme and fortune in such sorte as embrasinge her wyth a thowsande sortes of kysses hee forgatt all ceremonies and circumstaunces and gaue her checkmatt wythoute any oddes vppon a lowe bedde or pallet couered cloase with a vaile or canapie of crymosyne veluet frindged wyth syluer thrombe where was such indiffrente likinge on bothe partes that they resolued at thinstaute of other times and howers to méete at the shocke in so pleasant a skirmishe wherin as she iudged hym hable enough to passe y e moosters for suche respectes determyninge to make stoare of hym till fortune furnished her of a freshe supplie so for his part he founde her so delicate on his behalfe that he resigned than thoritie whiche earste gouerned hym and his doinges to the order and derection of her in suche sort as he spake nothing but by the mouthe of Blanche Marya nor did any thing wherin her councell and commaundement bare not the greatest swaighe being so drowned in the desyer of his beastelie trol and blinded wyth the vaile of filthie loue that both day and night were indiffrent for thexercise of his pleasure making her bedd his pryuate lodginge and delicate armes his place of pleasante excercise and tryall of actiuitie wyth contynual aboade there and that wyth suche publike signes and declaracion of his diseordered lyuinge that to the comfirmacion of the common brute whyche passed of their follies there lacked but some PLAVTVS or TERENCE to prefer it in publike stage in the hearing of all the worlde But what is it like that shee that had falsed her fayth to a husbande more honest and vertuous then shée deserued wold content herself wyth the companie of this younge erle or who doubtes but suche indiffrent women as haue committed their bodies to the generall seruice of the worlde are no lesse inconstante in their loue then voyde of shame in deuestinge theim of honest vertue to vndertake so badd a kinde of lyfe neyther do they like so well of any thinge as often change of diot to satisfye their insatiable and beastelie luste seaminge as it were a champion or challenger readie to aunswere all commers for a familiar proofe wherof I commit you to thexperience of this rauenouse shee wolfe BLANCHE MARIA who seynge her newe mynyon so sewerlie lymed wyth the blushe of her bewtie that only a simple becke was sufficient to commaunde hym taught hym a newe croscaprey wyth a thousand trickes and sleightes in vawtynge wherewyth also addinge a further experience to his blinde simplicitie she brought hym now and then to the honor of holdinge the moyle at the doare whilest an other man ridd her errande in the chamber whyche trafficke was not wythout greate perill on his parte for that as the countey CELAND was borne to beare the badge of cornewal in the forme of a second Acteon so this younge prince was ordeined by destynie to loase hys lyfe with exspectation of al that he attended by the seruice of kinges or forreine princes by the wicked treason of a pernicious and common whoare for in this entercourse of her loue wyth SIGNEVR VALPERGO and verye heat of thamarous glées betwene theim fortune watchinge to enter the stage and make sene that her mobylytie diffreth litle or nothinge from the disposition and incerteintie of a woman according to y e meaning of the poetes whiche haue set her furth in shape attire and coollours like to one of that sect gaue hym an ynklinge of thinconstancie of his mistrys wherupon followed a litle dymynucion and restrainte of his company from her who being whollie transformed into the forme of an vnreasonable creature delyting in nothing but to roune ryot and hunt for chaunge of pasture had her eyes and mynde more geuen to glottonie then her stomake hable to brooke the sondry choice and sortes of dyot ymploying her selfe whollie to gather newe soldiours to supplie the lacke of tholde garryson and wearie capteine wherein she was assisted wyth more then a necessarie
man that receiueth the wrong is rather iested at and pointed to with forqued fingers accordiÌ„g to y e Italyan bragge then he persecuted in any sorte that procureth the euill which partialitye or rather vnlawfull fauor of the Lawe and deputies of iustice serueth as a sufficiente encouragement both to the one and other whoremonger wherupon followeth so many morders of husbandes by meane handes of their wiues to th ende they maye passe their amarous practyse with more pleasure and lesse feare the poyseninge and drowninge of so many lawfull children for aduauncement of those whose bastarde race is bew tified with a masqued title of true procreacion whose end is sesewerly matched with destruction to themselues and euer lasting dis honour to their parentes and posteritie wherof behold here you Ladyes a familiar proffe in the blacke picture or portraytur of this bloddie gentlewoman who forgetting the vertue of her youth worthelie renowmed of all men colde not be satisfyed wyth thabuse of her age and hoarie heares touchinge thincestious prostitucion of her body without the nomber of vnnaturall morders wherwyth you maye see her tyrannous handes dyed and thinnocent soules of her husband and ii sonnes kneling afore the troane of iustice for vengance of her wickednes THE YMPVDENT LOVE of the Lady of Chabrye wyth her procurer Tolonio together wyth the detestable morders committed betvvene theim YF wee maye Creditt the reapportes of Fraunce and Italye we nede not doubt of the singularyties of Prouyncia which y e chronicles of both contries do aduowche to owe nothing to any one corner in Christendome eyther for the glorious sâ—yte and scituacion of the place fertilletie and plentye of euery thinge whiche pleasure or necessetie can wish riche statelie Cities builded with a forme of maiestie more then the common sorte of townes and peopled besides wyth euerye sorte of cyuilitie and curteyse inhabytantes in the middest whereof is a litle village called Lagrassa planted as it seames in a pleasaÌ„t vale yelding a chiefest bewtie and furniture of glory to the whole platt or circuite of Prouyncia for it is assisted on euerie parte with the champaine furnished wyth all sortes of delite both by wod and water wyth a glistering glee of the grene meadowes who yelde suche a contynual fertilytie that if it wer not y e deuowring Iawes of their gréedie cattal a man wold thinke they were specially fauored with a spring time at al seasons in the yere in diuerse partes of this herbage florishing with blossoms of euery entising flower shal you see as it were certeine cloase arbours and open alleyes beutified w t y e smal spraies of lymmoÌ„ trees oringes Granades offring to be thankful w t their seueral frutes to straÌ„gers passing y e way with euery other graft of pleasaÌ„t view or tast dispersed w t such order both in round quadraÌ„t tryangle forme that only nature her selfe is to bée thoughte the chiefe woorkemoman in that misticall conueighe whyche resembleth rather a seconde groue or gardyne of Thessalya so muche comended by Herodotus Plyny Strabo besides other of the poeticall crewe then a place of general haunte assailed comonlye with passyngers of all sortes and continuallie spoiled by thinhabytantes who make oppen war both with the boodds and braunches frute and trees of this vale intrenched as yt were on euery side with greate hilles whose heighte and hugenes defendes the violence of hurtefull wyndes assistes the naturall goodnes of the soile with the moysture of diuerse streames droppinge oute of the bellies of diuerse rockes norrished in thintralles of the saied mountes in this prouinciall paradise then and not far from the saied towne is a caftell whereof was Lorde and owner a noble gentleman of the countrey who in the entrey of hys storyshynge time maried a youÌ„g gentlewomaÌ„ of equall honor heighte of estate to himselfe who for her part had a grace to gouerne y e hoatt time of her youthe with such modestie that her honeste conueyghe and integretie of lyfe seamed to deserue no lesse then the vertue of Lucresia according to thistorians or chaste abstinence of Penelope by the fictions of the Poetes But whether the secrett hypocrasie of her infected mynde colde no longer conceile or refrayne to euent the frutes of suche villanie or whether age had abated the former force of her husbande drayning his synews and vaines of their auncient moysture with conuersion of his sapp of strenghte into withered humors of debilitie or participating paradueÌ„ture withe the desyer and dispocicion of suche as delite in the taste of inordynat pleasure with often chaunge of dyot hauinge alredie passed the vttermoste of fyftie yeares of a chaste and vertuouse younge ladie became an old strompet without honestie or shame and whose delicate youthe gaue more argumentes and effect of stayed lyfe then her olde age hable to mortefye or kéepe vnder the prouacions propre onlye to the follye of vnbridled youth to whom alone is due the title of founde affection with actes of smal discrecioÌ„ And as the frenche adage aduowcheth that of a young saint procéedes an old SATHAN and a timely hermitt makes a tyraÌ„nous deuil so this diabolical Lady supplienge y e yeres of her youth with loyaltie towardes her husband necessarie praier and inuocacion to God with due respect to the order guide of her house was séene to make a coÌ„uersion of thys vertues into a desyer and effect of no lesse detestacion then the offeÌ„ce of CAYN or other morderer for that without respect to the nomber of her children or viewe of hoarie haires with other argumentes of age she began to practise pollecies in loue wishinge in her husbande a continuance of that whiche nature can not giue twyse to any man and that whereof shée seamed not halfe so desyerus in the veraie heate of the flame whiche kindleth the sensuall appetitt makyng vs sometime excede the order of reason in performinge the sommonce of sensualitie wherein féeling a wante in her husbande to satisfye her filthie thurste and wearie alredie with his colde compfort in bedd entred into deuise to furnishe her lacke that waye whereby as yt chaunced she wroughte the webb of destruction to her selfe with continuall infamie to her house for euer whyche bée the ordinarie frutes of this beastelie pleasure bréeding the tempest vnder a masque or counterfaite vaile of calme seas and then to drenche the passingers when they are moste perswaded of assurance and who wil not confesse by this authorytie bothe familiar and true but loue is an vndowted rage and furie seynge he forceth and giueth fyer to that whyche oughte to quenche and conquerr the flame kindled firste by his suggestion This gentleman of the castell of CHABRYE hadd for one of his next neyghbours a doctor of the lawe called MESSIEVR Tolonyo whome for the creditt of hys learnyng he vsed as a chiefe companion by whyche meanes also he hadde the fauour of familiar conference with his wyfe without
suspicion not refusynge diuerse tymes in the absence of the knighte to enter the bedd chamber and consulte wyth her vppon her pillowe wherein he exacted vppon the honest libertie giuen hym by the goodman for that one daye during hys absence the aduocatt vnder cooler to councell the Lady in certaine affaires touchynge the commoditie of her husbande came to her beddsyde where he behelde her in other sorte then he is wonte to vysytt the cases of lawe for her husbande neyther hadd age so altered her complexion but there appered follie in all partes of her face with other intisinge glées shrowded vnder the lyddes of her allurynge eyes whyche with his libertie of frée accesse and her contentement to admitt hys compaine forced the rather an affection in the proccurer in whome also as shée noted certaine dextereties no lesse hable to performe the buysynes of the bedd then to followe the processe of lawe so shée dyd not only allowe his amarus glauÌ„ces with interest of equal glée on her part but also as one whollie deuested of thattyre of shame made no conscience to discouer that part of the bodie whyche nature hathe forbidden to bée séene of anye and all women of honest parte oughte to kepe from the sighte and knowleadge of man whych shée accompained also with such lasciuius regardes of wanton countenance that the dymmest eyes that bée in loue myghte easelie discerne the pathe of her entent and iudge with what fethers her arrowes wolde slye wherein also TOLONYO no lesse experienced then the best forgat not to féede the humor of her meaning wyth speciall tearmes of reproche against the weakenes of tholde man condemnynge hym as moste vnworthie to enioye the benefytt of her beautie and muche lesse to taste in any sorte of the pleasure or delicatt proporcion of thys Alcyne who to further the forwardnes of her doctour added thiâ—s tearmes of complaint to the wordes of hys former reproche howe ryghtelye maye shée tryumphe with treble felicitie in this worlde who delytinge to embrace her husbande participateth indiffrentlie with the solace of outward ioye and pleasure of secrett contentement the remembraunce of whose happie state alas yeldes me double cause of exclamacion agaynste the debilitie of my aged knyghte bothe for that hys weaknes denyeth force to furnyshe the sportes of the bed and I in the heate of desyer to wyshe and not fynde the chiefeste pillor of my consolacion yf I hadd not earste Sipped of the cupp of sugred delite the desyer had dekaied because I hadd no taste of the pleasure where the viewe of former solace increaseth my present thurste and can not bée satysfyed or yf nature colde broache an other vessell of strengthe in my wythered husbande or restore a freshe heate to hys dekaied partes my loathesome life wold resume eftensones cause of perfect contentement I in the meane wile shold do wronge to accuse his present weaknes what is my passion thinke you Seigneur Tolonio prouyng perforce the wante of courage in my husbande with the extreme desyer in my selfe he hathe no other care then too momble hys mornyng prayers and Pater noster in the night whilest I poore sowle halfe starued attend a seconde froste or colde compfort in hym whyche rather mortefyeth my desyer then satisfyeth in any sorte the vehemencye of myne appetytt and yf sometime I séeke to force a mocion in hym with indeuour to gyue lyfe to his dead sprites I am aunswered with hollow groanes and excuses of age that alas my thurste is rather increased then desyer satisfyed I forced to féede of suche drye banquettes with no lesse grudge and gréeff of mynde then I shoulde take singler pleasure in the companye of one worthie of me and hable to furnyshe at full thappointement due in mariage all whyche the doctour was no lesse gladd to heare then desyerus to knowe the intent of the discourse whyche he pursewed in iestinge sorte saying I am content madame you make A tryal in this sort of my loyalty towards you your house albeit I am so persuaded of the corage of your husbande y t notw tstanding any impedimeÌ„t by age he is sufficieÌ„tly hable to dispatch y e affaires of the most likelye and lustie gentlewoman in your traine suche saith she as knowe nothing but by oponion imagination do commonly iudge at pleasure vpon matters of importance where they that haue felte the effectes and made an experience of euerye point maye resolue accordynge to a troth wherin your ignorance acquites you for this tyme of imputacioÌ„ touching the loftines of my husbande whoÌ„ as you at vnwares accoÌ„pte a chaÌ„pyon of suche courage y t there is no harnesse whiche he is not hable to pearce so the longe prooff I haue had of his worthines may warraunte you the contrarye of such conceites commendynge vnto you withall the compassion of my distresse with desyer to procure some spedie meane of delyuerye or release from this loathsome torment wherewith maister aduocat began to excuse hym of any entent to increase her griefe what construction so euer she made of his former wordes protestyng wythal that the offer of death should bée more acceptable vnto hym then the simple remeÌ„brance to do her the leaste euill in the worlde if she sorowed in the prooffe of a badd husband his gréefe was no lesse in the veraye viewe of her languishynge state that I wishe madame saith he that my indeuor might discharge you of paine or the spoile of my lyfe and all that I haue of the worlde confirme your quiet accordyng to the consent of your owne minde then should you sée whether your Tolonyo woulde put any difference betwene pleasant promises whiche euery man can make and assured effect whiche few men performe with this further experience yf it please you to employe me to excede euery one of your domesticall traine in yeldyng to the sommonce of your commaundement albeit it importe the sacrifice of my lyfe or dissolutioÌ„ of honor both which I accoÌ„pte happely preferred yf they end in the pursewte of your seruice wherewith he seased vpon one of her delicate handes whiche he forgat not to honor with the often printe of his mouth in sondry sortes of kysses whiche as they argued thuttermost of his further entent so she furthered an expedicion of thindifferent desyers of theim both in grasping his hand with no lesse affection theÌ„ he did amarus homage to al her tender parts with this shorte question in smylynge order yf the goodnes of your fortune Seigneur Tolonio the synister guide of my destines accompanied with the mocion of loue wold giue you as muche power ouer me as you seame desierous to enioye my fauor howe would you accompte of suche preferment or what iudgement woulde you set of her liberall offer who neyther respectyng life nor regard to honor is here to leaue you her harte in gage and her bodye to the vse of your pleasure Ah madame saith this amarous Cyuilyan howe
the crosse to giue lyfe to theim that were deade in synne and blood sealed the articles of reconcilement and forgiuenes of synners amongest whom as I confesse mine owne abhominacion to excéede the moste haynous offences that euer weare so I humblye craue to bee absolued by the benefit of thy mercie and that thowe forbeare to enter into iudgemēt against my soule respect not oh lord the nōber of my falts for that they excede cōputacion nor deale not with me according to the greatnes of the leaste of theime for that without thassistance of thy speciall goodnes hell is the rewarde and merite of my wycked lyfe whyche I wyshe maye worke a warnynge to all degrées of equall disposition to my selfe that althoughe they féede for a time of a flatterynge pleasure or fauor of this worlde yet seing theyr iniquityes in th ende are discouered by them selues whereby they are sewer to receiue with me the hyer of their euill by an infamous death I wishe them stande in awe of thinfallible iudgement and praye wyth the prophet to participat in the general satisfaction whiche the death of his sonne hath made for all fleshe fallen for want of grace in the fyrst mā whose faultes haue bene alredie purified by the blodd of that most innocent lambe into whose handes I commende my penitent spritt in th ende of whiche prayer he was drawen out of the prison and ledd to the theatrie of publike execution where he receiued the reward of hys badd lyf by a worthie death to the speciall contentement of his father in law and generall ioye of all the Ladyes and gentlewomen of the countrey excepte the miserable wydowe of Chabrie who beinge adiorned and not appearyng accordyngly was condemned and executed by figure accordynge to the custome in Fraunce in that behalfe whereof she was made to vnderstande by som secret spye who also warned her of the diligent inquisicion and meanes that were made to fynde her to th ende iustice mighte pass vppon her wherevppon doubtyng eyther assurance or sauetye at Pogetto went to Ieyues with one man only called Iacques Pallyero who some what Ielouse of the cōming awaye of his mystres or rather fearinge in the ende to be partaker of the punishment of her wicked lyfe made no conscience one daye as she was in her deuocions in the churche to robb her of euery part and parcel of her money and Iewels with other necessaryes sauing suche as she ware about her which was such a corsaye of secret and frettynge grief for the time that she was at point to admitt thoffer of dispaire albeit beinge alredie entred into repentance and iudginge that misfortune of litle or no value in respect of thinfinit abuses of her former time gaue God thankes for his visitation and entring into deuise for meanes to support the residue of her yeares addressed her to an auncient wydowe to whom as she accomptes her present necessitye proceding of the villanie of her man without any mencion I am sewer of her detestable trade passed or cause of her present beinge there so she founde suche fauor in this matrone that in respect of her showe of honest behauiour and grauitye arguinge her discent from nobilitee she committed vnto her the gouernement bringynge vp of her doughters in whiche trade she ended veraye porelye albeit with more honor then she deserued her vnhappye dayes Here you sée the miserie of this wretch who earst hath commaunded ouer a howshould of seruantes gentlewomen at her becke is nowe brought to lyue vnder the awe of one inferiour to her house and calling and who passing her youth with all pompp and delicat norriture nowe drawinge to th ende of her yeres is forced to an experience of continual exile subiect to the wil and pleasure of an other prest as she did indéede to dye out of her countrey without the companye or compfort of any her frendes to cloase her eyes or couche her boanes in other shryne or sepulchre then by thappointment of straungers wherein certeinelye appeareth rightlye the infallible iudgemēt of God who forsaken of suche as yelde honor to their proper desyers suffreth theime also to fall in suche sorte that in the ende they are constrained to confess their faultes with detestatiō of their synne when they féele his iuste vengeance powred vpon theim like as it happened to those miserable or rather morderyng louers whose ende notwithstandyng I accompte veray happie seing they were not voyede of repentance in the last hower and moment of lyfe and trulye he is sufficientlye blyssed the eyes of whose minde in the laste and fatall hower bée not dymmed wyth the darknes of infidelitie and obstinate desperacion seing it is vpon the bodye soules of suche that God thondereth fyer of his anger and flame of immortall furye Beholde heare the ende of thimpudent loue of these adulterers the frutes of so detestable a trée the fortune of suche falsours of their promise and othes made in the face of the church and heare you may sée the commoditie that commonly attendes the villanie of suche as vniustlye spill the blood of their neighbour seinge that God hath willed by his diuine prouidence that tooth for toothe and eye for eye be taken from hym who wythout the consent of the lawe offendeth his brother in whom appeareth the liuelye ymage of oure sauiour who hath also forbidden by speciall inhibicion the violacion of blood by morder euery thoughte and effect of adulterie and whordome but chieflye the vnhonest embracinge of the wyfe of our neygbour who once vnited with the bodie of her husbande whereby of ij moyties are made one whole and entyer hart dothe abuse and dishonnor the bonde of their sacred league yf she but wishe and muche more enioye the companye of any other in vnlawfull sorte FINIS The argument AMongest all the passions which nature sturreth vp to disquiet the mind of man there is none of such tyrany or kepes vs more in awe then the detestable humor of couetousnes and raging appetyt of whoredome wherof as both the one and the other engender frutes of semblable furie and expose effectes of equal euill So he is of treble commendacion that being possessed of the firste dothe rather abandon his goodes then in pursewinge the suggestion of his insatiable desier semes to procure willingly his owne torment in this world with assured daunger to his soule in the day of general accompt and vanquishing the second which earst had thon y awe and dominion of him he leaues a glorious remembrance of ymortalitie to his name and dischargeth his conscience of a heauie and yrkesome burden But if the desier to wynn great treasures makes the noble mynd forgetful of the regarde of his honor with constraint to do things not worthie any way of the title of vertue or if according to virgil in his second Eneydos this gredy thirst after golde is of force to corrupt the hartes of mortall men and fill
pitie to your poore Ianiquette who if euer she offended you is here come to yelde her to your mercie and takynge suche vegance as you thynke good to ymploye her further in the seruice that beste maye lyke you onely I commende vnto your goodnes the wretched state of my children whose miseries accompained with a contynuall crye for releeffe hath here presented me prostrat at your féete kissing y e same with no lesse humylitie then signe of submission wythe request eftsones to accept the offer of youre hande mayde in recompence of the wronge I haue heretofore don you but chiefly alas to redeme my children from the rage and vyolence of hounger and prolonge their lyues that oughte not yet to take ende by the Lawe and course of nature Here loue and pitie seamed to quarrell wythin the harte of Luchyn the one puttinge the praye into his handes prouoked hym to croppe the frutes of his longe desier the other defendinge the cause of the wretched captiue preferred perswacions to the contrarye puttinge hym in remembrance y t the glory can not bée greate where the victorye is won by vnlawfull meanes neyther colde hée tryumphe in a better conqueste then in ouercommynge hym selfe to dismisse her wythout vyolacion wherfore comparing her former constancie with the extreme causes that procured her presente offer respectinge also the duetie of hys owne conscience did not only determyne to assiste her pouertie wyth succor of sustentacion but also to absteine hys handes from deflowringe so rare aparagon wherewyth hée tooke her from the grounde kissing her watery chieke sayde vnto her do awaye these teares of dule and conuert the remembrance of auncient sorowe into an vnfayned hope of present consolecion reapose your selfe vpon the vertue of your inuincible chastetie and ymagyne you haue receiued the due meritte of the same for for my parte god forbidd that the malice of your presente necessitie yeldynge you into my handes shoulde make me gréedie to get that whyche loue colde not conquere nor spoâ—le you of the thinge whych I oughte and will holde in chiefe veneracion wherin being thus by your vertue made maister of my self I fele also mortefied in me the wanton suggestions which earst moued me to loue only the bewtie and body of Ianiqueta and now that reason is be come my guide and distresse rather then loue hathe made you thus prodigal of your honor for the sustentacion of your children yt shal suffice me to haue you at my coÌ„mandemeÌ„t withoute anye affore of wronge to your estimacion or honestie And as your chastetie doth challenge her rewarde so because it is you that is to glory in the gifte of so greate a vertue and I to yelde tribute for that treason I haue wroughte you I assure you here in the mouthe of a gentleman not onely to furnish you of all thinges necessarie with honor and estymacion equall to myne owne sister but also to be as carefull of your reputacion as heretofore I haue sought to seduce and spot it with lasciuious infamy Ianiquetta was restored here to doble contentment bothe to haue her pudicitie respected and vndowted assurance of the liberal promisse of the curteous Luchyn whych she would eftsones haue acknowledged with an humble prostitucion and kissinge of his féete but that he not liking such supersticious reuerence preuented her intente and presented her by the hande vnto his wife wyth these wordes Because the conceite of the Ieleus mynde is seldome satisfyed til the cause of the suspicion be cleane taken away and that the grudge is neuer appeased till thoffendor be punished I haue here broughte you the cause of your greatest doubt with the vision that so many nightes hathe appered in your dreame and broken the swéete course of your naturall sléepe enioyninge you full authoritie to commit her to what penance you will giuinge the stroke of vengance at your own discrection to whom she aunswered that if she had no more cause to be doubtfull of his doinges then raison to bée Ielous of the honestie of the poore woman she had béene as frée from suspicion as far froÌ„ cause of disquiet neyther had her eyes anye cause to complaine of thimpediment of sléepe nor her braine so often assailed wyth the Alaram of hollowe dreames for thexperience and proofe of her vertue sayth shée dyd alwayes assure mee of her honestye whyche yett wyll not stowpe to the malice of thée tyme nor loase the glorye of her renowmée althoughe fortune haue layde her heauye hande vppon her in takynge a waye her husbande whiche temperat modestie in hys wyfe doubled his affection with confyrmation of a sincere good wyll towardes her for euer And in recitinge the laste chaunce and discourse passed betwene hym Ianiquette he saide that if she knewe in what sorte he had kepte his fayth towarde her she woulde not doubte to put hym on the phile of moste true and loyal husbandes willynge her to take her furnishe her with all prouision and other thinges necessarie with no lesse care and liberall allowance then if it were for his deare sister whereunto she put no lesse expedicion then her selfe had cause to reioyce in the honeste continencye of her husbande all whiche beinge made immediatly a common brute thorowe the citye became also of greate wonder amongest the people aswell for that thinstigation of harde necessitie had made Ianiquette ployable to that which she hath longe refuced with great detestation as also for the heroicall vertue of the gentleman who abhorring the wicked offer of fortune and time conuerted his lasciuious desier norished in his intralles by so longe contynuaunce into a disposicion of vertue contrarie to the exspectation of all men An example suer worthie of greate veneracion and wherin the sensuall appetites are so restrayned and gouerned by the rule of raison that I doubte whether the Romaines haue noted more continencye in their Fabia Emilya or Scipyo or the Grecians in theyr olde Xenocrates who is not so meritorious of coÌ„mendation for that being charged with yeres he made a proffe of his chastetie as this Luchin who in y e glorie of his age and full of the hoatt humours of youth made a conqueste of his affections wyth a wonderfull showe of vertue and vndoubted signe and assurance of the perfection of his fayth for whych cause I haue noted vnto you his hystorye which also I wyshe myghte serue to sturre vpp the fraile youthe of our dayes to the ymitacion of the lyke vertue remembryug by the viewe of this discourse that the sensuall appetites and prouocation of the fleshe are not of suche force but they are subiecte to correction neyther is loue so inuincible but the wise and vertuous man maye kepe hym alwayes in awe so that he giue hym not to muche libertye at the first nor creaditt to muche the instigation and humour of his owne fancie FINIS The argument WHose youth and yeres of folly haue made an
hymself suche newe affections quarellynge wyth hys former quiet and all his bodie possessed of so vnruly a gueste that beinge at the ende of his wittes to ymagyn the cause was no lesse hable to withstaÌ„d the ill then moderate the furie of his new feuer but miserablye had lefte his life in gage if fortune her selfe had not become y e phizicion to his disease whereof you shal haue large relacion in the due place of this historie But duringe the time of the sermon and all the matutinall prayer our vnhappie Phillyberto waâ—ered in contrarietye of thoughtes reseruynge notwythstandyng his eyes assuredly and firmly fixed vpon her who makes no more accompte of theim that regarde her wyth suche greate admiration then they theim selues of their liues and libertye committynge rashelye twoo suche precious Iewels betwene the merciles handes of so cruell a woman of whose estate condicion trade and order of lyuynge this newe enamored Virley beinge comme from the churche to his lodging forgatt not to make diligent inquisition which as oyle to light his matche retourned vnto him a generall reaporte of her honestie wherein beinge confirmed by the mouth of euery man he made no conscience immediatlye to proclayme her the soueraine Ladye of his lyfe and thonly disposer of his secret thoughtes And yet amongste the sondrie commendacions gyuen to her vertues he was made tunderstande by secret information of some his deare familyar frendes of thinciuilitie wyth certeine vnsemelye pointes of vnnaturall discourtesie raignyng in her whiche albeit suspended his resolution for a tyme occupying his doubtfull mynde with varietye of cogitacions yet seinge his destynie had alredye enioyned him to be a thrall to her beautye for the whiche he had alredye put his lybertye as a pawne betwene the handes of hym who hauynge once gotten the hartes of men within the iurisdiction of his durance will not release their imprisonment nor restore their libertye so sone nor when they wishe it he determined to pursewe th ende of his enterprise committyng hym selfe to be guyded by the fauor of fortune and the successe of his indeuor to y e good wil of loue who leadyng hym thorowe the blynde vale of vaine hope and ticklynge hym by certeine argumentes or likelihodes of good spede to make hym mery for the tyme wyth the conceite of his owne phantasie willed hym to put hys intente vppon tearmes whereby and wyth the continuance of his long seruice he semed to assure him at last to wreste the good wil of the wydow to thappetite exspectation of his desyer wherein for his firste entrye into his laborinth of miserable toyle he committed thorder of his owne house at Virley and affaires of importance to the direction of others and determined his abode at Montcall to th ende that if in plaÌ„tyng his batterye nor with thassistance of thuttermost of his force he coulde make no reasonable breache into the forte whiche he ment to assaile in the wynnyng wherof him selfe was most in daunger to be first taken yet at the least he might recreat and solace hym selfe with the contemplacion of an ymage of so rare and excellente beautye the remembrance whereof seamyng rather to double his gréefe then giue moderacioÌ„ to his passion serued more to stirre vp the malice of that poisoned humour of loue then to repulse the furie of his newe feuer And lastely preferring absolute argumeÌ„ts of his perentorye destructioÌ„ offred diuers likelihodes of future disquiet for the latter remeinder residue of his yeres yet to coÌ„me And being now becoÌ„me a Citizen of Montcal he begaÌ„ to hauÌ„te the church aboue his ordinarie not so much peradueÌ„ture for any ferueÌ„t zeale he had to prayer or inuocation to god as for the amarus deuocioÌ„ he oughte to his newe saint whose presence albeit he could not enioye but in the body of y e church that in times of preaching publique seruice of the Lorde yet did he refraine to make the house of God a place to communicat his practis of loue persuading him self th offence to be to heynous to defile the sacred temples holly places dedicated to the highest with any spot of villanie and specially with attemptes of such folly being chieflye forbidden by the mouth of our sauiour Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur my house shal be called the house of praier not a den for adulterers or theues nor place to practise any iniquitie or synne wherein albeit the zeale of Religion forbadd hym to vse conference wyth her in the churche yet the pearcing stinge of affection openyng hym an other meane putt hym in remembrance to attende duelye her commynge out where with greate humilitye he offred his seruice often tyme in beynge her guyde to her lodgyng whiche as he forgat not to performe with al the curtesie and semly behauior he colde ymagyn so notwithstandinge al the vehement perswacions he colde inferre for thaccoÌ„mplishment of his desier yet reaped he thereby no more contentemente nor meanes to qualefie his greeffe then she tooke pleasure in hearinge the discourse and loyall offer of his vnfayned good will for she as a cruell enemye to curtesie faynyng not to vnderstande what he sayde replied to all his allegacions of loue wyth some conference of housewiuerye or housekepyng wherewith tornyng the carte against the horse he became no lesse amased at her ouerthwart reasons then she seamed to take pleasure in the teares of his complayntes whyche argewed not only colde compforte in the sute of the wooer but also ymynent occasion of hys owne destruction yf by thassistance of some other meane he auoyded not with expedicion the sondrie illes that threatned to thunder vpon him wherefore deuising certeinne banquettes and gossep metynges at hys lodging of diuers of the burgess wyues of that towne he entred thereby into the good opynion of certeine dames that were no lesse familiar with the rigerous ZILYA amongest whom he chused out one whose bossome he thoughte to make the regester of his secret with entente to impart with her both the cause of his dollor the meane to mitigate the same in bewrayinge hys gréeffe to her that was the fountaine and occasion of his presente passion to her then beyng his nexte neyghbor no lesse subtill of her owne inclynacion then well experienced in suche affaires neyther ignorante what dishe they féede vppon that sitt at the table of loue nor what bitter taste those brathes comonly haue which cupide brueth for his guests he addresseth him selfe coniunynge her in the firste place of his preamble too make councel of the cause of hys coÌ„plainte wherw t entring into the discourse of his loue conceiles nowithstandyng the name of his ladie vntill he hard the annswere of his neighbour who perceiuynge alredie the marke whyche he shott at offred him frankelie her helpe to thuttermoste of her power whereof she gaue hym assurance by promisses of large skope that inconsideracion of the honestie whiche she had noted in hym
her bewtie into a mortal hate wyth desyer of vengance equall to her offence thinkinge it no grudge in conscience in accepting the offer of his fortune to yelde detestable homage in déede to the saint that earst accompted al his seruice but effectes of ydolatry and to retorne her frendship with a trybute of the same money wyth the whiche she made hym tast the frutes of an inordinate crueltie aswell for hys owne contentmente in acquitinge so good atorne with semblable payment as also to leaue example to all coye and disdaynefull dames to shonne the like abuse towardes any honest gentleman and that hauinge regarde to the merite of the personnes and specially to the reputacioÌ„ of themselues they become not so prodigal as to make a vent at a vile price of their honor whych they ought to defende and kepe without spott agaynst the assaltes of the moste honest and vertuous louer that euer offred to serue vnder the flagge of any bewtie how cleare so euer it shoane and yet howe manye of those do wee sée now a dayes who wyll not sticke to denye the seruice of suche as proffer theim loue aswell for the respecte of vertue as desyer to embrase a fadinge glée of flickeringe bewtie and after commit theimselues to open sale to who will bidd most for theim whyche kinde of Venitian Madonas as I wishe to be barred the societie of chaste ladyes and not suffred to sytt amongest the most errande coortisans y t euer were hauing any sparke of zeale or frendship in their harte so they had but iustice in myne opynion if the benefyt or libertie of euerye common wealth were taken frome theime to th ende they might wander as a kinde of marked people of all the worlde for she that loueth for money and makes a gaine or certeine reuenue of thuse of her bodie wil seldome make conscience to betraye hym to whom she giues contenance of frendship seinge her loue typped with a disyer of gaine tendes altogether to endes of euill and actes of tyrannoyse effect wherein as the honest sorte of women are alwayes defended by thintegretye of their conuersacion and life so I craue a patience in the rest touchinge the punishment I wishe vpon theim and spedie amendment of lif to th ende their vertue may make theym as meritorious of reputacion in déede as some of theime are vndowtedlye vnworthye of the vse of lyfe or benefytte of common ayre Seigneur Virley then hauinge Zylya in his presence and almost at commaundement fayned not to knowe her refraininge from all offers of humanitye eyther by salutinge her comminge by signes of thankefull countenance or other wayes whych at the first moued no small astonishmente in our wydow who notwithstanding seing she was entred in to an enterprise theffect wherof she sawe cold not bée performed without the losse of honor or life made of necessetie a vertue wyth resolucion to commtt her to the mercie of her fortune and make a laste prooffe of her goodnes what inconstauncye soo euer is gyuen vnto her of all men wherewyth desyeringe the reste to retire shee shoot the doare and toke the knighte by the hande whome shee behelde in the face and with a smylinge regarde asked hym if he had so sone forgotten hys deare ZYLYA or if he had the hart to make so smal accoÌ„pte of her in that place yeldinge her not long since such authoritye ouer hym and al that was his at Montcall dissemble no more sayth she to knowe her who hath stayed for no paines to comme hether to acquite you of your promiss with requeste to pardon the faulte I haue made in abusynge the vertue of thoneste loue you bare me it is I who lamentyng my former crueltye am here to do pennaunce for the wronge I haue don you in restraining the libertie of your tonge and takynge reuenge of my former rigour am to yelde tribut to your rare loyaltye with more redines to dismisse the charme that so longe hath kepte your tonge enchanted then euer I had reason to add so cruell a recompence to your honeste deserte All whiche seamed to moue as manye wordes in the dome knighte as there is lyfe or féeling in the senceles rocke standing in the middest of the sea and seinge him make signes that it was not in his power to speake nor to remoue thenchauntement of his tounge she was forced to recharge him with all sortes of kisses embracing collyng euery part of his face and necke not without great store of teares wherwith she bedewed eche parte of his bossom and outwarde garmentes vsing thassistance of euerye meane wherein she iudged vertue to make hym tractable to her request whych notwithstaÌ„dyng he retourned wyth a solemne scilence and forgettyng his auncient ceremonies and amarous oracioÌ„s whiche he was wonte to vse as perswacions of pitye to his Ladye he alledged nowe a dispense from speakynge by her commandement only practising altogether by signes the vse and execution of that which earste he had so hoatly pursewed both by sute and longe seruice wherin as he seamed somwhat awaked by her that long had kepte his mynde in a sâ—omber and drayned his bodye both of desyer and corage so he soughte in like sorte to sett abroache in her an appetitt of that wherein she hath bene earste no lesse curious then straung wherin she for her part more to preuent the peril of lyfe losse of the peinall condicion then for any respecte of frendshipp to the knightes made hym the maister of his requeste with consent to vse her at his pleasure franke possession of that which he all louers accompte the chiefest felicitie in loue wherin they liued with equal contentement vntil the ende of xv dayes the tearme appointed to cure the knighte without that the pore wydowe coulde make conuersion of her dome patient into a man vsing the libertie of his speche albeit she layed afore him in how many sortes she greued with her owne follie in binding him to so straÌ„ge inconuenience the pennance she had don losing her honor to satisfie his pleasure absolue him of his vowe all which seamed as Hebrue songes to Seigneur Virley who determinynge to playe double or quitt with her thoughte it necessarie to add a further feare to her former losse to th ende she mighte féele her parte of daunger aswell as her crueltye had made hym pyne awaye in secret sorowe the better parte of two yeres which he performed accordingly for y e tearme expired and the knighte nothing altered from his auncient order of scilent disposicion the coÌ„missioners sommoned the Lady wydowe to performe the pointes of thedict importing ij choises of perentorie extremitie either to paye ten thousand frankes whiche she had not nor was hable to gett or make good her promisse with the losse of her lyfe which she was sewer to performe without a speciall grace of the king and that by thintercession of her enemye What was now the refuge of
other valyante gentlemen to assiste his enterprise and that the nexte nighte vppon the first hower after midnighte when the olde Ladye and all her seruantes ouerwhelmed wyth the charme or mantel of dead slepe were least apte to suspect conspiracies they determyned to depart the castell with his mistres who for her parte had furnished her wantes of all necessaryes touchinge the voyage This hastie resolucion required a spedie diligence in the knight who for hys parte also vsed no lesse expedicion then was conuenient for beynge come to hys house he caused to arme ten or xy gentlemen of hys neyghbours and vassalls to whom he communicated the some of hys intente and the same night some two or thrée howers affore the departure of the Biskayne and hys companye marched in secret maner directly in the waye where they sholde passe til they came to a groue or coppyes of younge woode regardinge the highe way on the one side and a mayne common or plaine on thother syde where bestowinge himselfe and his company in am bushe he harde yinediatly the noyse of horsses and men approching with an vnfortunate diligence the lighte of the moone discouered the gentlewoman whose bewtie seamed to contende with the brightnes of the same nexte vnto whoÌ„ ridd her miserable louer whome assone as Roderico parceiued within the daunger of his carear he felt a conuersion of his aunciente anger into a compassion of presente furye whose force sommonynge hym to an effect of morder caused hym to cowche his speare in his reaste directinge his angrie course so rightly towardes the poore byskayne that in one momente he pearsed hym thorowe the body sendinge hym wythout other pasporte to the miserable crewe of those wret ches who seruinge vnder thensigne of folishe loue do perish vnhappely vnder the conduction of a blinde and naked boye aduising the rest of the biskaines to eschew the like reward oneless they attended a semblable hier to hym that had wroÌ„g fully encroched vpon the grounde of another they seamed more willinge to accepte his offer then readie to reuenge the death of their captaine Whome seinge the discouerie oâ— the whole ambushe they lefte on the grounde takinge hys leaue of his mistres with the laste breath of his life and reaposed their chiefeste confidence in the swiftnes of their horses without regarde who pursewed their hastie flight ymediatlye two of the company of Dom Roderico disguised in vnknowen armour seased vpon the sorowfull Geniuera who cold not vse such patience in the death of her biskaine louer but her open cries complayninge of the villenye of the morder witnessed her inwarde sorowe of mynde wherin according to the shortnes of her breath laboring then in passion of extreme dollor she exclaymed without respecte agaynste theym crying to performe an execution of their crueltie vpon her aswel as they had discharged the office of vniuste tormentors of one who was of more price then they all and so torninge her to the dead bodie of her late frende washed a waye the blod of his woundes with the teares of her eyes not without great exclamacion agaynst the malice of her destenies in abridginge her exspectacion of longe ioye wyth so short and tragicall an ende forcing her to resigne the socitie of hym whom she loued no lesse then her selfe to commit the honor of her virginitie to a praye to theâ—es and villeynes wherwith Roderico without disclosinge his face or other parte of knowledge tooke her by the hande with perswacion to dismisse these dollors seinge that her complaintes had no vertue to restore life to hym that was deade and muche lesse to take vengance of the fact But she renewinge the remembrance of hym that laye dead of the ground by certeine streames of his blodd whyche she espied vpon the gawntlet of Roderico began to loase more pacience then affore in such sorte that the rudest of the companye hauing for an increase of his terrible regarde a visarne or false beard of blacke heare curled like the Mauretyne with a paire of counterfaite eyes of glasse approched by appointment the trembing Geniuera to whose feare hee added an increase of terror in offringe the point of hys naked dagger to her white and delicate necke threatninge that if she contynued in these tearmes hys handes shold performe the sacrafize of her life to the shadowe of the villayne whom she lamented so much and who saith he deserued rather to be broken in peces of the whele by the execucioners of tormentes then ende hys lyfe by the handes of a valyant knight which mortall threates as she thought forcing her to an vnwilling scilence left her only thassistaÌ„ce of her eyes to yelde compassion to her greffe who set a broch so larglye the conduites of their watery humors that the passion of her harte appeared in thabundance of her teares and brokeÌ„ sighes whose force preuailed so much ouer her tender resistance that in th ende her outwarde dule seamed inclosed and couched by force in the ynner corners of her heauy harte in the meane while the reste of the companye had caryed the bodie of the deade biskayne to a felden chapel builded vpon the high way side where he sleapes in hisfatal bed couered with a testor of greene soddes A notable example sewer prouing the ordynarie successe of secret contractes and mariages made by stelth where bothe the honor of the contractors loseth his vertue and the commaundemente of God broken enioyninge vs by speciall words to a dutiful humylitie sincere obedience to our pareÌ„ tes to whom the Law giueth authoritye to punishe vs by de priuation and losse of th inheritance whyche natural rights woulde giue vs if we dyd not rebell and abuse the lybertie which we enioy by their goodnes wherin thidiscret mothexs now a daies deserue most ymputacion of blame who in giuing place to the wilful inclynacioÌ„ of their fond youth do accompt it no offence to suffer their doughters to comunicate matters of loue w t their howshode seruaÌ„tes not remeÌ„bringe thinfirmitie of such teÌ„der vessels how proaâ—e meÌ„ are by na-nature to do euil lastly how ready y e euil spirite is to enter fynding vs vnprouided to thend y e falling into his daÌ„ger hée may triumph in y e ruyne of our soules purified thorowe the blod of our sauior which as I nede not go 〈◊〉 to proue w t new authorities coÌ„sidring I haue noted sufficieÌ„t touchinge both respects in diuers places of this traÌ„slacioÌ„ so wishiÌ„g wel to al childreÌ„ ameÌ„dmeÌ„t to such fond mothers as seame more careful to flatter y e vaine appetit of their fraile ymps theÌ„ curius to giue theim y e rod of correctioÌ„ which kepes theym alwaies w tin y e view of vertue it is tyme to resort to Dom Roderico his trayne who trauelling iij. or foure dayes w t hys captiue Geniuera not knowing any of the company arriued at last wythin half a dayes iorney of the hermitage of Diego
truellie cōsistes not in passion or pyning cares much lesse cometh he to the ful of his desier by sighes dollorus regardes or lamentable exclamaciōs accordīge to the Spanyard nor so lemne vowes to visitt far places for her sake or childishe feares as the amarus Italyan to whom also we may ad this barceloniā Diego who thought thorow his desperat penānce in the desertes of Pireneus to reclayme the goodwill of his mystres seing that as in al our affayres we ought not excede the institucion of vertue so she chiefly is to beare a swaighe in y e knot of this indissoluble amytie besids we se heare that the diligence of a perfect frende is of more force in those cases then all the passions panges letters of pithie perswacion orother ymportunyties whatsoeuer tollerated in matters of loue neither can a man iudge what a treasor it is to haue an assured frende tyll eyther the want of suche a Iewell or experience of his frendshipp make hym tast the benefit of so great and rare a gift seyng that a true frende beinge the second part or one moyetie of our selues is alwayes so guided by a natural Sympathya of affection towardes hym whō he loueth that he reioyseth in the pleasure and commodytie of hys frende and is readye to participat with hys aduersaty when fortune is disposed to plaie any part of her accustomed mobilitie whereof albeit we fynde not at thys daye so many thorowly perfect in that vertue as the whole worlde on all partes swarmes withe infynitye of the contrarye faction whych the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos That is a demye or halfe frende accordynge to thinglishe phrase Yet am I moued by diuerse occasions to passe ouer suche discourse contentinge my selfe that the diuersatye of my histories gyue recreaciō to the reader wythout stayinge to infer authorities whych may touche or sift the conscience of any And obseruing chiefly as nere as I colde an order of truth my seconde respecte was to prefer suche examples as myghte best serue to instruct our youthe who as they maye sée heare the faltes of fragilitie punished with shame losse of honor cruell deathe and perpetual infamie to their posteritie So haue they also of the contrarye speciall patternes of vertue alluringe theym to ymytacion of semblable honestye wyth diuersitie of authorities prouinge the reward of vertue and vertuouse lyuinge whereof lett all degrées make their proffit as they thinke good accordinge to the flée in the milke fedinge of the good and vertuous frute and leaue the reste as poison and bitter dregges to such as are wholly drowned in the desiers of the fleshe and buryed in a pitt of worldly filthe and as I haue seamed in some places to enterlarde this profane traslation with certeyne testimonies oute of sacred recordes So I hope the same will the rather defende th'integritie of myne intente againste all obiections consideringe that the most parte of the simple and ignoraunte sorte are rather moued with suche examples then reduced with the seuere sentences of somme great philosopher or reformed theologyan Besydes in theis discourses of loue th' adulteror is putt in remembrance of his faulte the morderer séeth the rewarde of his iniquitie he that yeldes to the sommonce of fowle cōcupiscence is sewer to be touched with the marke of infamie and suche as passioneth him selfe vpon creadit maye beholde heare the méede of his follye wherein for my parte as I greue that the worlde at this presente swarmeth with so greate a nomber of insensed men readye to dye for a pleasure of so small momente as the contentemente of the bodie So I wishe that as in writynge thies tragicall affaires I haue founde the falte of mine owne life that also the reste of the younglinges of our countrey in reding my indeuor maye breake the slepe of their longe follye and retire at laste to amendement of lyfe leaste in remeyninge still in the laborinth of sensuallitie they serue not hereafter as a fable and stage playe to the posteritye of a multitude for ende I exspecte no other hier of my traueile then that my diligence maye seame thankefull to her to whose honor and goodnesse I owe no lesse then all that I haue FINIS The Table A Wounderful vertue in a Gentleman of SIENNA on the behalfe of his enemie whome he deliuered from death and the other to retorne his courtesye with equall frendshipp presented hym wyth his syster whome he knewe he loued entierelie Histo 1. Fol. 4. The longe and loyal loue betwene LYVIO and Camylla together wyth theyr lamentable death the one dyenge of a passion of ioye the firste nighte he embraced his mistrys in bedd the other passed also the same waye as ouercome with present sorowe for the death of him whome she loued no lesse then her selfe Histo 2. fol. 39. A younge Ladye in Myllan after she had longe abused the vertue of her youth and honor of mariage with an vnlawfull haunte of diuerse yonge Gentlemen becomes an vnnaturall morderor of the frute of her wombe for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with childe Histo 3. Fol. 62. An Albanoise Captayne beynge at the point to dye killed his wyf because no man sholde enioye her beautie after his death Histo 4. Fol. 80. Sondrye perills happenyng to a younge Gentleman of Myllan in the pursute of his Ladie Histo 5. Fol. 95. The villanie of an Abbot in séeking to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defending her honor against him and his companions of trayson Histo 6. fol. 124. The disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant who lyuynge long in adulterie and after she had procured diuerse morders receyued the hyer of her wickednes by shamefull death Histo 7. Fol. 136. IVLYA drowneth her selfe for that her bodye was abused by force Histo 8. Fol. 170. The impudent loue of the Ladye of Chabrie with her procurer Tolonyo together with the detestable morders committed betwene theim Histo 9. Fol. 188. LVCHIN is longe in loue wyth a simple maide whom he woeth and can not wyn by anye passion he endureth at laste necessitie yeldeth her into his handes when he dothe not onelye refuce to abuse her bodie but also takes order to susteine her and supplie her wantes no lesse amplie then yf she had bene his syster Histo 10. Fol. 208. The crueltye of a wydowe in enioynynge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his spéeche the folishe loyaltye in hym in performynge her commaundement and the meane whereby he was reuenged of her rigour Histo 11. Fol. 226. PERYLLO suffreth muche for the loue of Carmosyna marying her in the ende were both two stricken to death with a thonderbolte the first nighte of theyr infortunat mariage Histo 12. Fol. 252. A wonderful constancie in Dom Diego who for the respect of Geniuera la Blunde vndertooke a harde pennaunce vpon the mountes Pyreney where he led the lyfe of an Hermitt til he was founde out by chaunce by