they ought vnto the intercessors and his merites if they had not found that Florinda had lost when they gaue knowledge of the husband which they propounded vnto her They loued her tenderly and would not constraine her with rigor but treating freely with Filander they tolde him that shee would not agree vnto it although they had perswaded her as masters and commaunded as Parents Filander augmenting his loue by the disdaine informed himselfe of the cause and found that the loue which Florinda bare vnto Dorricles was cause of the disdaine which she bare to him presently did accuse in his imagination reuenge and a resolution to remoue out of the world the obstacle of his designe no whit respecting the scandals and the euill successe which so hardy an enterprise might bring hee armed himselfe with such company as hee thought good as he who was not vnprouided of friends nor wanted seruants at such times as he thought hee should finde Dorricles at his Mistresses doore or in the streete by her house who doubting of his riual◠designe alwayes went well accompanied and better armed as hee who did not thinke that hee could haue a better friend then his Sword And hauing caused a Ladder to bee brought vpon the eue of a Feast vnto her Garden wall by that meanes to speake with her it hapned that Filander comming into that street and doing his accustomable Office of a spy heard that Florinda spake vnto Dorricles and gaue him a Nosegay of Ieasuine which shee had in her hand with imbracings more insupportable to him then fauourable vnto Dorricles Hee charged those which kept the gate began with them a cruell combate Dorricles comes downe and searching Filander in the middest of his enemies woundeth him and puts him to flight for a Louer fauoured is as a gamster who wins who in all hazards is alwayes master ouer the Fortune of his aduersary Dorricles goeth away victorious out of the street Filanders Loue which he turned into disdaine became by this incounter a mortall hatred Then of either side they increased their bands the fire of their anger kindled all their Parents and although they euery day spake together as if they had no quarrell they failed not to sight euery night when they met In this scandall Dorricles lost the enioying of his Mistres Filander her fauour she her renowne and their Parents their honour time increased the Loue of the one and the others hatred increased his desire of reuenge and of the small pleasure which the two Louers had Filander had lest vnto whom it seemed better in this busines to relye vpon his industry for the effecting whereof his force would be wanting Hauing then learned that Florinda was to take her pleasure at Sea in a Barke hee hid two or three dayes before a Brigantine in a creeke not farre from the shore in which he apparelled himselfe like a Turke with some other of his friends for complices in amorous enterprises are seldome wanting and with necessary Rowers attendeth his Mistres the Meuxin which is the Tower where the watch of Barcelon is kept hauing discouered no enemies sayle in all the Sea In the meane time the contented Florinda with her companions was not gone from the shore a League when as the counterfeit Frigot hoysing sayles and beating the water with her owers inuesteth her Barke the Marriners whereof looking for nothing lesse then such a surprise could not resolue either to flye or to defend themselues But contrariwise as the fearefull bird seeing the proude Merlin come fiercely stooping vpon her is accustomed to attend her with couched wings acknowledging by the Turky sayles the power of their enemies which were vpon them quitted their owers and feare which with a colde shiuering ranne through all their veynes gaue them no time to discerne their subtilty finally they boorded them and two or three of the disguised Turks leaping into the Barke rauished away the new Hellen who carryed into the Brigantine sawe herselfe in the armes of Filander The counterfeit wordes of these Pirats who called him Amurat Raix made those who remained free in the Barke belieue that he was the author of this robbery And seeing that they tooke nothing but Florinda they returned againe to Barcelon recounting the disgrace in euery street and place where they came with more cryes and teares then wordes which cōming to the eares of her Parents caused more griefe in them then can be tolde principally in the sorrowfull Mother who bewayled her losse with a passion more befitting her sexe then a generous courage The Gennets in vaine spurred vp and downe vpon the Coast But Filander who had brought Florinda into a priuate Garden house hauing taken away his Turban and his Turkish disguise declared vnto her that the incomparable force of his loue had constrained him to haue recourse vnto this subtilty did enioy her beauty with assurance although shee tooke Heauen the Trees and the Fountaines to witnes the violence which was vsed to her Of no lesse consideration was Dorricles his paine who full of mortall sorrow was a thousand times vpon the Sea side ready to imitate the dispaire of those Nimphes which sawe Europa rauished neuertheles as well to obliege vnto him his Mistresses parents as to satisfie himselfe hee bought a Ship of an Arrogonis which had brought in Wheate and lading it with Silkes Veluets and other Marchandize gaue his sayles vnto the winde turning his prowe toward Argiere Sali Morat Fuchel Mami Xafer and other Pirats had at the same time arriued at Thunnis Bisert and Tripoly and seperated their Gallies into the neighbour Ports Doricles enquireth amongst them of his Mistres and of as many others as hee knew did rob vpon the Coast of Spaine But when he met with none who could tell him newes of her whom his riuall inioyed with such pleasure hee went to Constantinople and from thence vnto Cayre and hauing runne along the Coast of the Kingdomes of Fez Morocco Tarndan and Tafilet dispairing of euer finding her whom hee had so long time and so vainely sought changed his Marchandize into Christian Slaues and returning into Spaine disimbarked at Ceute while the deceiued Doricles did thus run along the Coast of Africke a seruant of Filanders were it either out of some displeasure which hee had taken or out of enuy vnto his happines discouered all the proceeding vnto the Iustice of Barcelon who in a night following inuironeth the garden house with maine force and taketh Filander then when hee least looked for it The newes and admiration which his subtilty and surprise caused in the Citty moued the Cittizens confusedly to see him passe through the streets through the middest of whom hee was had to Prison and the sorrowfull Mayd already made a woman against her will was rendered vnto her Parents the sentence was mortall the opinion common the approbation generall and the processe short The scaffold was ready Filander disposeth himselfe to dye and made it appeare
great discourse of his Fortune or to say truer of his folly which could not haue bin hurtfull vnto him if hee had followed my aduise aswell as he asked it But it is ordinary especially with those who are in Loue to aske counsell then when as for nothing in the world they would forbeare to doe that which they haue in their minde I left no History either diuine or humane which was within my knowledge and to purpose that I did not lay before him exagerating the euils which did proceede from like enterprises But Mireno who had already firmely determined to follow his purpose and thinking that I was not apt for his designe by litle litle forbare to visit me Quickly did he forbeare to accompany me in walking wee went no more by day to publicke conuersations nor by night to priuate A notable error in the condition of men whose loues and friendships are kept by flattery and lost by truth I did beare Mireno's absence with great impatience and hee had no feeling of his liuing without me because Lucrece being now his whole soule could not suffer that hee should haue another Mireno hauing thus shaken me off communicateth his busines with a third who was so common a friend vnto vs both that when I wanted Mireno or Mireno wanted me we did seeke one the other at his house This man was not so considerate as I was contrariwise there was no kinde of danger into which he would not precipitate himselfe to pleasure his friend such friends are like powder in Festiuall dayes which to reioyce others spendeth it selfe This made me disguise my selfe to follow them in the night and one time aboue the rest when I had more patience and they lesse consideration then ordinary I sawe how they set a Ladder to a window of a Tower which discouered a spacious prospect into the Sea ouer a Garden of Telemaquus I stayed the end not to be answered what they did but to see if I could serue in any stead in the importance of this danger and my heart did not deceiue me although Mireno who was within it did deceiue me For after the first sleepe then when as with lesse force hee vanquisheth the cares of a master of a family I heard a noyse and presently I sawe Mireno comming downe a Ladder and Aurelio for so was he called with whome he was accompanied receiuing him in his armes perswaded him to flye hardly were they out of the street when as a seruant loosing the Ladder let it fall I runne to the fall thereof and aswell as I could gathering it vp stepped behind a corner from whence I espied Telemaquus in his shirt hauing his Sword naked in one hand and a Candle in the other and looking out at the windowe of the Tower if he could discerne any thing vpon the ground of that which he had heard I crept softly to the gate and harkening what was said in this family where there was this alaram I vnderstood that the disgrace of our two Louers was taken to bee the industry of Robbers In this they were not deceiued for those are no smal theeues who steale good name rob away honour I returned much contented to my house and slept but euill in this care The morning being come I sent for Mireno with whom hauing discoursed of diuers matters I asked what newes of Lucrece hee tolde me he did not speake with her For all wicked secrets doe for the most part conceale themselues from true friends I said then vnto him that I wondred he would dissemble a thing so knowne Telemaquus her Husband being come vnto my house to tell me that he had heard him within his that looking out of a windowe of a Tower he had seene him goe downe by a Ladder Mireno astonished and wondring at my relation confessed vnto me what had passed and how Lucrece hauing yeelded vnto his Letters messages and seruices had made him master of her liberty yeelding vnto him the treasure which was so euill kept by Telemaquus his hundred eyes Which was the cause why I placed this Hiroglifique of Argus and Mercury with this saying of Strossa Subtle loue deceiueth Iealousie Hee proceeded to tell me that when Telemaquus was asleepe they talked together in a Garden into which hee entred by a Ladder made of cordes which Aurelio kept vnto whome onely hee had imparted this secret hauing found me so auerse from succouring him I asked what hee had done with the ladder hee tolde me that from the leauing of that proceeded Telemaquusses aduertisement The letting him see it I tolde him that Telemaquus knew nothing neither had the Ladder serued as an occasion to discouer any thing vnto him And letting him see the seruice which I had done him I did begin to coniure him that hee would in these terms leaue the perilous successe which hee ought to expect from the pursute of this designe seeing that Telemaquus at the least had notice that his Wife was not by his side when there was noyse in the Lodging So that hee promised me he would not goe any more thether and the more to diuert him from going thether hee resolued to absent himselfe from Barcelon I confirmed him in this resolution because that truely there is nothing which so much ecclipseth the desire of Louers as an interposed distance of place betweene them yet it was not needfull because by that time Mireno disposed himselfe to depart Telemaquus already changed his dwelling from this Citty vnto the little place where he was marryed And this was a memorable obseruation Mireno loosing the ordinary view of his Lucrece lost her also out of his thought and confirmed his Loue better then euer to Erisila shee was that other Lady whom I in the beginning of my discourse I said hee had loued who againe loued him better and with more pleasure then before because that Loue which succeedeth after iealousie is more violent besides the amiable parts which were in Mireno who was of a goodly stature of great spirit and an illustrious blood of a free condition amiable both a horsbacke and a foot and renowned beyond all of his age for all Military exercise As for his face behold this Picture wherein I assure you the Painter was no flatterer I keepe it heere for my comfort although it bee alwayes present in my soule as you may iudge by these wordes following Before his Eyes in a Dreame sad Hector did appeare Because that truely his image did neuer abandon my sight but either sleeping or waking he was represented to my eyes In effect we fell into our olde imwardnes but in the midst of this peace the loue of Telemaquus had so much power ouer him that vanquished with his wiues Prayers he brought her againe to Barcelon where she was no sooner seene by Mireno but the ancient flames of his loue blowing away the ashes into the winde discouered themselues more liuely And I fearing what might happen by this
and Destinies Which was that making his Mother beleeue that hee would goe into Flaunders and iourneying some dayes in the habite and equipage of a man at Armes and after sent his seruants to Alcala of Henares and there disguising himselfe in other clothes he went to Toledo where not being knowne to any person he found meanes to be entertained as a seruant in my fathers house which was no hard matter to doe because that his excellent feature and countenance accompanied with his vnderstanding were pledges sufficient of his fidelity gaue my Father not onely a desire to bee serued by him but also to respect him My father receiued him ignorant of his quality and of his intent a strange imagination of a man beeing a Knight and so well knowne almost of all in the Countrey wherein he was borne that he could so hide himselfe at the Doore as it were of his owne house that no body could know either where hee was or what hee did yet so it was that his humility his diligent seruice and other commendable partes which hee had gained such credit with my Parents that I doe beleeue he might as easily haue compassed his designes with his fayned pouerty as with his true riches The chiefest thing whereunto he applyed himselfe as his whole study was to appeare agreable to Nisa which was easie to be done for who can guard himselfe from a domesticke enemy The simplicity wherewith this Knight did begin his treason and the good wordes which he vsed gained him entrance into those places whereinto hardly and with great difficulty could the ancient seruants come Behold with how little care a noble Gentleman kept in his house another Greeke horse like vnto miserable Troy For such of necessity must this young mans heart needs bee full of thoughts and armed with malice which the houre of execution approaching brake forth into such flames as haue fired our renowne When Pamphilus thought that Nisa was disposed to hearken to his intention were it that his sicknes were true or fained as most likely it was he made himselfe sicke My parents who accounted of this seruant as of their gouernour and loued him equal with their dearest Children there being no key about the house no accompt in all their expence nor any secret in their affaires wherein hee was not trusted caused him to bee tended with all the care which was possible for loue and respect to bring The Physitians said that this infirmity proceded from a deepe melancholy and the best remedy that was to be giuen was to reioyce him and principally by Musicke In which they were not deceiued for if Loue doe participate of the euill spirit and that Dauid draue away the euill spirit from Saul by the sweetnes of his Harpe by the same meanes Loue might be driuen away Thou sayest true said Pamphilus who gaue great attention vnto the relation of his own story to see to what end the discourse of this youngman would come who was his Mistresses Brother for without doubt it holdeth many conditions of the euill spirit and leauing a part the principall which is to torment with fire behold the simpathy which they haue one with the other The Deuils doe delight themselues in thinges which are naturally melancholy inhabiting in horrible places obscure and solitary as louing darkenes and sadnes All which qualities are common with them which Loue and cannot attaine to that which they pretend they desire solitary places and the dens of Deserts there to entertaine in silence their sad thoughts without any thing to trouble them no not the light of heauen But let me intreat thee to proceed in thy story of this Knight for I desire with passion to know the end My Sister Nisa said Celio then for so was the young man called could play admirable well of the Lute and sung so sweetly that in the like danger the Dolphin wold willinglier haue brought her to the shore then hee did Arion sometimes to Corinth Wherfore by the consent of my Parents and not against her will shee went into Pamphilus his little Chamber Consider with thy selfe the happy glory of a man in his case and sung a Poeme which he himselfe had composed for hee had that way a dexterious facility and very naturall neither did it want the excellency of Art But whilest Nisa sung Pamphilus wept and neuer turned his eyes from of hers So that one resembled the Crocadile and the other Sirene vnles that one sung to giue him health and the other wept to deceiue her of her honour Nisa seing this his extremity of sadnes said vnto him that her intent was not that her musicke should haue the same effect in him as it had in others which is to make them more sad which are any way heauy but contrarily her desire was to reioyce him There is answered he no other voyce nor other harmony vnlesse it may bee the harmony of Heauen can reioyce me but yours Neuerthelesse my euill being past hope of cure bindeth me to bewaile my selfe and not to thinke vpon any thing but vpon the beauty which causeth it What euill is that said Nisa past cure which proceedeth from a cause commended by thee It is an euill answered Pamphilus whereof I doe hinder the cure and whereof the onely comfort is to know that I suffer it for the fairest creature in the world The liberty wherein wee liue said Nisa doth giue me leaue Pamphilus to speake vnto thee heere of a suspitious matter by the tokens which thou hast deliuered vnto me of thy euill thou hast giuen me knowledge of the occasion that makes thee sicke although I am ignorant of the cause who makes thee sicke Thou louest without doubt and I take it in good part that thou wouldst confesse vnto me that which thou wouldest not speake vnto the Physitians assuring thee that thou mayst better trust my Loue then their Art But I coniure thee by that goodwill which thou knowest I haue born thee euer since thou hast serued my Parents that thou wilt tell me whether I know her whome thou louest and whether I can bee helpfull vnto thee in thy curing for thy teares doe make me pitty thee You may well serue to helpe me pittifull Nisa said then the cunning Louer who might well haue instructed Ouid seeing I doe not hope for it from any other hands then yours and that you know the cause of my paine aswell as you knowe your selfe Heere Pamphilus demaunded of Celio wondring that bee should tell so perticularly that which passed so secretly betweene him and Nisa how hee knew the same wordes which they had spoken hee being at that time a farre off following his study in Salamanqua To which Celio answered that the same Pamphilus had left the story in writing with a friend of his from whome hauing had the meanes since that time to get it hee learned all vnto the least particuler and then proceeding on his discourse he began in
Mireno and searching him with mine eyes all about the roome I sawe him lying Dead thou mayst see in the teares which now flowe from my eyes what was then my griefe I doe not know what I did yet seeking for Telemaquus I did excuse him for the care of defending himselfe and from iustifying so bloody an execution For hauing met face to face I thrust at him with which thrust he accompanied their two liues which he had extinguished By this time the house was beset by those whome the Iustice had raised who apprehended as many as they found and me especially for hauing killed Telemaquus without cause although according to the Lawes of the world there was but too much cause and heere they put me where thou now seest me where I haue liued this fiue yeares desiring Death as thou mayst see by this winged Heart of mine flying after this Image of dead Mireno with this word out of Virgill My Palas dead I bide aliue by force My trauels are figured in those of Siciphus and Titius and represented by these wordes out of Ouid O wretched state constrain'd to liue In plaints eternally When Death which onely helpe can giue Affords no power to dye The sorrowe which this great Citty felt by the losse of Mireno is expressed in this figure of the Head and heart of Orpheus with this word There wept the Woods the Beasts and Snakes For I doe not thinke that there was either tree or stone which were not mooued with this so pitifull an accident And here will I end his Story with these teares which I will offer incessantly to his memory and these wordes which I haue made for Lucrece her Tombe Here lyeth Lucrece lesse chaste then the Roman but more faire Tarquin did not force her but loue and although she dyed for her infidelitie Loue who was the cause is of power to excuse her So the faire Lucrece remayned in mortall rest her name in my imagination not worthy of blame for hauing bene ouercome by the excellent parts of her Louer and by that vnchangeable force which Loue euer vseth against great and free courages The Pilgrims imprisonment had not passed at so easie a rate of his pacience had not Euerard so was the Knight called that made this Discourse fauoured his affaires for his innocencie could not gaine him his libertiye nor good opinion which he did deserue so powerfull was his onely habit to worke in the Iudges an euill conceit of his person Yet Doricles Captaine of those Robbers being pardoned and receiued again into the Cities fauour the Pilgrim was also absolued as his Confederates His curiositie to heare the Fisher-mans singing hauing brought him to receiue a hurt in his Arme with a Piece into an extreme danger of hanging vnto the 3. monthes imprisonment which without the help of Euerard had bene insupportable They take their leaues one of an other with a thousand louing imbracings and Euerard hauing further obliged him with some money hee resolued to goe to Mountserrat and I to finish this First Booke The end of the First Booke The Second Booke BY a straight way between thicke Trees and shady did the Pilgrim goe towards Mountserrat who turning his head at a noyse which hee heard behinde at his backe hee sawe two young-men with Palmers staues whose faire faces and white hayre made them shew to bee either Germans or Flemmings He saluted them and ioyfull of so good company he imposed silence vnto a thousand sad thoughts which solitarines had brought into his memory And trauelling together they began to discourse of diuers matters with which they easily and with pleasure passed away the craggy and vneuen way of the mountaine vntill they came vnto a Fountaine which bubling into a valley made a gentle harmony So that as it were inuited by the sweet noyse and the fresh shade they sate downe vpon the rushes which grew by the Brooke side and admiring the sweet complaints of the Nightingale one of the Almans which shewed a good nature imbellished with Learning began to discourse of Filomelas loue saying that now she wold recompence with her infinit notes all the time that she had bin dumbe after Terreus had cut out her tongue The Spaniard replyed that Martiall had vttered the same conceit the Alman reioycing to finde in him more capacity then in common persons for it is an insupportable labour to trauell with an ignorant man rise from the place where he sate and imbracing him with a great deale of contentment after many other discourses Let vs goe said hee adore the blessed Virgin In this Image so much renowned through all the world wee cannot make a more holy voyage nor I in better company then thine let vs goe said the Spaniard by this pathe which seemeth to me to bee much the shorter although a little steeper for the most part of the way This being said they tooke their way towards the Temple which they discouered shortly after built vpon the side of a sharpe Mountaine and vnder a great Rocke which did seeme to threaten it with ruyne When they were entred with deuotion humility casting their eyes into this Tapestry of France Almane and almost all the world they were astonished to see the walls decked with so many excellent Paintings Histories accompanied with a thousand seuerall kinds of offerings which with an admirable correspondency did stirre vp and astonish the sences altogether There did they power forth their prayers and their teares and after they had seene and beene informed of all that was considerable in this Monastery the day hauing lost her beauty by the Sunnes absence they retired altogether vntill the morning shining through the Easterne gates gaue them knowledge of the new dayes approch Then they resolued to visit the diuers habitations of the Hermits which liued in these Mountaines being come vnto the seuenth Hermitage they found a young man of an agreable countenance and a goodly presence whose long and well combed hayre gaue a reuerent maiesty vnto his aspect This man stayed them dinner and after their repast being intreated by the Pilgrims to tell them what deuotion had confined him into these solitary mountaines hee related the history of his life in this manner The History of Aurelia AMongst all the thinges which in the course of my life I haue seene and marked I might peraduenture tell you some one which might better content you But thinking that one cannot better perswade then by the example of himselfe I will therefore tell you a story which is drawen from my youth and from the Twentith yeare of my age written by my misfortune and imprinted in my memory seeing that the renuing can doe me no damage and may bring you profit This short tyrannie the bayte of youth the illusion of the sight the prison of the soule and the darkner of the sence which is called Beauty and which heauen seemeth to giue Women for our mischiefe blinded
so my eyes at the first knowledge which they had in the world that my spirit did not liue so much in my selfe as in her whom I loued nor found more rest out of her sight then thinges doe out of their centure because that as the fire alwayes sendeth the flames thereof to its proper sphaere so my heart adressed his desires to her beauty Now as this Loue was not Platoniqe I will not dispute whether it were honest profitable or delightfull Let it satisfie that it which is the cause of so much euil seemed vnto me the greatest and soueraignest good in the world This subiect of my misfortunes was called Aurelia free in her customes of that kinde of life which Plautus Terence describe in their Fables and of whom Auulus saith excellently well That a Curtezan is a vessell full of holes which can containe nothing She was faire in all perfection of a quicke and hardy spirit and of a reasonable good nature a woman to be short vnto whom experience in the worlde had brought a great deale of knowledge It cost me little to possesse her because that these kinde of women cleane contrary vnto other women who forced by the Loue of a man doe honestly yeild vnto his merits trusting to their charms and vnto the gentlenes of vsage passionate men more when they are inioyed then when they are pretended I was not vexed at the first with the conuersation of young men who at any hower how extraordinary soeuer were neuer wanting in her house because the fauours which she did me and the little which they cost me made me liue much contented especially seeing my selfe preferred before others of better meanes and merits then my selfe when I went to see her they gaue me place and departed curteously leauing me alone with her These my visitations were not agreable vnto her seruants because they thought that thereby this rable of youth was scattered which brought them profit And that if Aurelia should fall in Loue with me my quality being not capable to sustaine her expence shee must spend out of her owne meanes from whence would vneuitably follow a necessity of liuing more regularly which they would by no meanes heare of And of this were they not much deceiued for in a small time Aurelia who had rauished so many others was taken her selfe in my loue and made captiue to my will which made true one part of this feare and shortned the reuenues of her house to lengthen the reynes of her pleasure Not that all the charge of the house fell vpon her for I miserable man tormenting my Parents and importuning my friends did runne to the preseruation of this loue which almost alwayes depended of mony The life which wee led wee louing one another tenderly and hauing in our power the liberty of inioying may easily bee iudged by my youth and by Aurelia s who was then about 20. yeares olde The house seemed too straight for our Loue and searching solitary fields we made the sight of open heauen witnes of our folies our life was a blind imitatiō of the nature of Beasts we communicated our secrets to Trees which did not see as if the leaues had not beene so many cleare eyes and a thousand amorous delights to the dumbe Fountaines which might well haue troubled the purity of their waters I cannot thinke how in so little a way as there was between my house hers I remained 5 yeres space before I knew that I was arriued there being certaine that in 3. yeares space of that time the famous English Drake passed the straight of Magellan compassed the world about If in all this time the loyalty which shee swore vnto me were broken or no I am not able to say nor yet forbeare to beleeue because it seemes almost a thing vnpossible for such women from their custome to keepe themselues to an orderly life At the end of these fiue yeares I saw my selfe at the end of my meanes and although I was more amorous then in the beginning yet Aurelia did suffer herselfe to be vanquished by the obligations of another who had more power then my seruices I say obligations because I cannot beleeue that onely Loue can binde one vnto so strange a change One night Aurelia hauing seene me retire my selfe vnto my bed shee had receiued Feliciano into hers so was the Knight called I stirred with a profound Iealousie rise vp out of my bed and went to her house where the doore was shut against me and the seruants answered mee from aboue out at an high windowe feyning that they were gone to bed to make me rather to retire vnto my owne house But my extreame loue which would not at that time haue relyed vpon my eyes and feared to be betrayed by my thoughts made me cry aloude that some body should open the doore so that my voyce came vnto Aurelia's eares And Feliciano making shew of a valiant-Louer began to cloth himself promising to chastice my boldnes with his Sword and by his onely presence to cure my folly But the cunning Circe who knew well what good or bad successe soeuer came vnto mee it would redound vnto her shame hindred him with her armes and diuerted him with her teares although there was no great neede For the brauest doe vnwillingly arme themselues when they are once naked and to come out of a house into the street had beene a manifest and mad rashnes Aurelia so preuailing in that manner wherein others of her kinde are wont to preuaile and making Feliciano beleeue that I should be her husband and that if I did perceiue him shee should loose me perswaded him halfe vnclothed and in the midst of Ianuary that hee would goe into the highest roofe of the house Into which he being gone I was let into the house where I found Aurelia in bed making so many complaints of my liberty and of the scandall which I gaue the neighbors that in stead of being angry it behoued me to appease her where after some time spent she in complaining of me and I in asking pardon for my iealousie and for the desire which I had to surprise her in that infidelity which I did distrust I possest the absent mans place which was still warme seruing for a proofe of my ignorance and blockishnes Morning brought againe the Sunne and the Sun the Day yet neither of them was sufficient to make me see my folly so euill doth a Louer discerne of his owne acts I rise contented and although I entred last yet I went sooner away then Feliciano In the meane time Menander who had for the space of some yeares been Feliciano's Mistris grew extreamly iealous and hearing of this trick which Aurelia had put vpon him could not forbeare speaking of it mocking him with the colde night which he had indured that hee had suffered me who neuer had any intent to marry her to possesse that place by her side which he had lost
the Rowers abay The Captaine was astonished the Pilot pale some cryed others silent and without stirring remained as men in a Trance with feare And in this confusion which continued sixe houres the miserable Galley split against the Rockes Emilio who now no more remembred his Loue and who knew not that the vnfortunatenes of Nisa brought forth this effect cleane contrary vnto Caesars Fortune which appeased stormes indeauoured to saue his life with much trauaile And the Heauen reseruing Nisa's life to runne greater fortunes cast her as formerly shee had beene vpon the shore of Barcelon Those which remained aliue were cast away in the same place Nisa hauing stayed some time to recouer herselfe after this fortune went in Pilgrimage to Marselles where one day visiting the famous Temple of the Penitent whome the Angels buryed in the Mountaine where God gaue his Lawes to Moses she sawe a woman a Pilgrim as herselfe though in other habite who with great Deuotion was vpon her knees at the stayres of the great Altar Shee appeared vnto Nisa to bee a Spaniard wherefore desiring better to informe herselfe obliged thereunto by her loue vnto the Countrey shee stayed at the Gate whereat when hauing done her deuotions she came forth and Nisa saluting her they both knewe that they were Castelians their ioy was so great that it had beene confirmed by imbracings if the mans apparell which Nisa wore had not hindred it by little and little they went apart that they might speake more freely and with lesse feare of the French who already began to behold their beauties and being placed vnder a Rocke which was adioyning vnto the Sea Nisa said thus vnto her of what Prouince are you faire Spaniard of the Kingdome of Toledo answered the Pilgrim and of the greatest Citty hauing merited to lodge the Kings for many yeares you are then of Madreele replyed Nisa and so wee are heere met by chance two Pilgrims of one Countrey for I am also of Toledo Then said the Pilgrim fetching a great sigh There was borne the cause of my peregrination and of my misfortune It is easie to bee seene in thy youth and in thy beauty that Loue hath brought you into these partes and if it bee of a Gentleman of whome thou dost complaine I beleeue I know him It may be so said the Pilgrim of Madreele and beleeue me so soone as I saw you I was abashed because you haue the very countenance of my enemy you wish mee euill by all circumstance then said Nisa rather all good replyed the Pilgrim for all that resembleth his body is agreable vnto me onely I complaine of the cruelty of his minde will you not tell me his name or his Parents said Nisa I hazard a small matter in telling thee that answered shee For contrariwise I gaine thus much that it seemeth vnto me I am quiet and at peace hauing seene thee which since I lost him neuer came vnto me before now His name is Celio and the name of a Sister which he hath is Nisa which are the best tokens I can giue thee to make him known vnto thee because besides that shee is famous for her beauty shee is also more famous for her disgrace Nisa remained astonished to heare her owne name her brother Celios for this Pilgrim was Finia Pamphilus his Sister who had bin left in France as you haue already heard wherefore she desired earnestly to know the particuler of this story which Finia related in the same māner as Celio had done vnto Pamphilus In the City of Valence accusing his iealousie which had made him cruelly kill a French Gentleman from whose death ensued his absence and all the miseries trauels which shee had since endured Nisa dissembling that part which shee had in the story blamed the cruelty of her brother Celio and with the contentment which she receiued in seeing Pamphilus his Portraiture in Finia her beauty she tempered her griefe for his absence and her sorrow which she had that both their Parents should loosetheir Children for one cause then did shee tell her that she knew Pamphilus and that it was not long since she saw him assuring her as one verily beleeuing that hee was in Spaine Finia demaunded of Nisa how she knew him and where it was that she had seene him And Nisa because she would not discouer herselfe told her that she had knowne him at Constantinople where they had been both Slaues together Finia bursting into teares imbraced Nisa and coniured her to tell her name and the story of her Brother if shee knew it Nisa answered that Pamphilus himselfe had heretofore in his captiuity tolde it vnto her and that she would willingly recount it vnto her but first shee deceiued Finia in telling her that her name was Felix and that going from Toledo with a Captaine who imbarked in Carthagena they had beene made Captiues in passing to Oran and afterwards had to Argier where a Turke of Constantinople had bought her And so following the story of Pamphilus which was also hers from the beginning as you haue heard related by Celio vntill their departure from Toledo she began to say as followeth Heere followeth the Story of Pamphilus and Nisa AFter that Pamphilus went away from Toledo with Nisa thinking that her Father would marry her with another and being iealous of himselfe hee tolde me that suffering some of those discommodities which doe offer themselues vnto such men as trauaile without their lawfull Wiues they came vnto Ciuill a beautifull Citty if the Sunne doe shine vpon any for riches greatnes magnificence pollicy hauen and staple of the Indyes where it may be said that twice euery yeare there entreth the substance of all Spaine There would Pamphilus inioy the beautyes of Nisa but shee disconted that hee lost the respect which he was accustomed to beare to her Chastity against the Oath which hee had solemnly sworne hid himselfe for some dayes out of his sight during which time hee ready to growe mad yet finding her againe and crauing pardon with new Oathes to keepe the first inuiolably they were friends againe But Pamphilus being one day at the Market place he was knowne by a Marchant of Toledo a great friend vnto Nisa her Father who going about to lay hands on him and apprehend him Pamphilus was inforced to lay hand vpon his Sword to defend himselfe from the Iustice It happened well for Pamphilus whose courage and addresse in Armes is incredible and accompanied with an admirable force He was neuertelesse constrained to depart speedily from Ciuill And hee thinking it discommodious for him to lead Nisa with him in her womans Apparell he cloathed her in a sute of his and cutting off her hayre of which hee after made great reliques he girt a sword to her side and so they went to Lisbone together but they were hardly accommodated in their Lodging when as a Captain and a great friend vnto Lisard Nisa her elder Brother who is now
night had hardly all hid her blacke head crowned both with sleepe and feare when the deceiued Thesander waked out of the most sorrowfull Dreame that could possesse his fantasie representing to his imagination the absence of fugitiue Nisa together with her deceitfull wordes her sweet disdaines and her faire â—ace a thing which sometime hapneth principally vnto him which loueth or feareth In asmuch as those thinges which threaten vs doe represent vnto vs in sleeping the same cares which wee haue in the day awake Thesander rising in this imagination began to search Nisa guided by the light of his soule and not finding her it little wanted that hee did not dye with griefe for her departure neither his Father nor the rest of his Parents had power enough to keepe him from ruÌ„ning after And so he came to Toledo long time before Nisa For a Louer whofoloweth that which he loueth doth go faster then he who flyeth froÌ„ that which he doth not loue because hee which doth not loue groweth sorrowfull in going and hee which loueth by going puts off his griefe In the meane time Lisard much pleased with Pamphilus his vnderstanding and person had taken him to wayte in his Chamber not suffering him to liue in the basenes of his first office which he had giuen him and in this quality hee liued at Toledo with his Master alwayes taking great care that his masters Parents might not see him because that if they had viewed him with any consideration they must needs haue knowne him But Lisard who with frequent conuersation with Finia whome his Parents did vse as louingly as they could haue done Nisa was fallen in Loue with her discouered one time vnto Pamphilus and making him the minister of his passion gaue him charge to speake vnto her and to dispose her with all his power to be fauourable vnto his desires Pamphilus obeying his Master and taking occasion one Festiuall day when euery body was abroad hee went to finde Finia from Lisard But when in comming vnto her hee knewe her to bee his Sister and shee knewe him to be her Brother they both remayned astonished dumbe and as immouable as stones But shortly after this first confusion Pamphilus began to speake in this manner Sister tell me by what meanes thou camest hither since Celio abandoning thee left thee in Barcelon for I knowe already the whole progresse of thy misfortune as conformable vnto mine as wee are equall in Birth By his meanes whome the Destinies pleased vnto whose disposing my will cannot resist Lisard brother of my Husband Celio hauing found mee vpon the way from Saragossa brought me hither where I thinke I may abide his returne with more honour The same man said Pamphilus sendeth me vnto thee to speake vnto thee about his Loue and hee hauing found me in a Grange which he hath in the Mountaines of Toledo where I had sheltered my selfe from the stroakes of Fortune vnder the basest condition of the world hath brought me now into this place where thou now seest me in the quality of a Groome and because that heretofore in the beginning of my Fortunes I haue beene in this house I kept my selfe from being seene vntill this time as thou mayest well know hauing not beene seene vntill this day by thee Suffer and abide the end of thy Fortune as I haue done and doe not say thou knowest me for I will entertaine Lisard with some Lye from thee vntill such time that wee may see whereunto the reuolution of this coniunction of our misfortunes will tend and when will end the effects of this our honours ecclipse Thus did Pamphilus and Finia meete and in stead of reprehending one the other they remayned there both good friends for it is ordinary with those who are culpable to dissemble the faults of others least they be reprehended for their own In this meane time Thesander went from place to place in Toledo inquiring for Nisa and when these newes came vnto Lisards eares that there was a young man which enquired for his Sister Hee verily thought that it was Pamphilus who by some sinister accident hauing lost her was come thither to finde her And telling vnto Pamphilus the story of Nisa's rauishing which hee knewe much better told him that hee was now in Toledo in her quest and that hauing no man in whose hands hee could better commit the satisfaction of his reuenge then his nor of whose courage and fidelity hee could be better assured of he intreats him and coniures him to kill him A notable winding in a successe so strange and so imbroiled which is so much the more admirable vnto me who knowe it better then they who reads it how true it is Pamphilus astonished to see that hee was ingaged to kill Pamphilus at the least a man who either in searching for Nisa or else one who for the onely disaster of his name deserued to dye endeauoreth to finde him rather to know what he would with Nisa then with any mind to execute Lisards intent vpon the others innocency His master did not accompany him in this action for as Tacitus saith of Nero although hee commaunded Murthers yet he alwayes turned his sight away from them Pamphilus hauing found Thesander priuately would informe himselfe of the cause why he inquired for Nisa Thesander recounted the story from Nisa's being wounded by Celio and healed by his Father shee had left them one night without bidding them adue paying with ingratitude all the good offices which were done her in that house Neither did he forget to relate how shee for the dressing of her wound being constrained to open her brests shee was discouered to bee a Woman from whence proceeded his desire and the cause why hee sought her in this place which shee said was the place of her Birth Ioyfull was Pamphilus to heare of the healing of Nisa's wounds and in stead of killing Thesander hee led him into his Chamber where hauing vsed him with all the curtesie that was possible he tolde him that in this house where hee remayned were Nisa's Parents and Brother Lisard hauing a great opinion of Pamphilus his courage whome he called Maurice did verily beleeue that hee would infallibly kill Nisa's rauisher which hee beleeued to bee Thesander wherefore he demaunded leaue of his Father to goe fearing that if Maurice should happely bee taken Prisoner he might confesse the author of Pamphilus his death The Father afflicted at his departure fearing that in this his age Death might take him in the absence of all his Children would know the cause of his Iourney And Lisard telling him that hee had sent to kill him who had run away with his Sister who was come vnto Toledo and that hee did beleeue that his seruant vnto whome he had giuen this commission had already executed it put the olde man into a greater care then hee was in before much fearing the Damage which might come from so violent a reuenge Pamphilus had perswaded