wyth immortall same fame glorie hath in it self these only marks and propertyes to bée knowne by Chastitie toleration of aduersitie For as the mynd is constant in loue not variable or giuen to chaunge so is the bodie continent comely honest and 〈◊〉 of Fortunes plagues A true cōstant mynd is moued with no sugred persuasions of friendes is diuerted with no eloquence terrified with no threates is quiet in all motions The blustering blastes of parents wrath can not remoue the constant mayde from that which she hath peculiarly chosen to hir selfe The rigorous rage of friendes doth not dismay the louing man from the embracement of hir whom he hath amongs the rest selected for his vnchanged féere A goodly exāple of constant noble loue this history ensuing describeth although not like in both yet in both a semblable cōstancie For Euphimia a Kings daughter abandoneth the great loue borne vnto hir by Philon a yong Prince to loue a seruant of hir fathers with whome she perseuered in greate constancie for all his 〈◊〉 and ingrateful dealings towards hir Philon séeyng his loue despised neuer maried vntill hée maried hir whome afterwardes hée deliuered from the false surmised treason of hir cancred and malicious husbande Euphimia fondly maried against hir fathers wil and there fore deseruedly after wards bare the penaunce of hir fault And albeit she declared hir selfe to bée constant yet dutie to louing father ought to haue withdrawen hir rashe and headie loue What daungers doe ensue such like cases examples be 〈◊〉 and experience teacheth A great dishonour it is for the 〈◊〉 and Gentlewomā to disparage hir no 〈◊〉 house with mariage of hir inferior Yea and great grief to the parents to sée their children obstinate wilfull in carelesse loue And albeit the 〈◊〉 Propertius describeth the vehemente loue of those that be noble and haue wherwith in loue to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in these verses Great is the 〈◊〉 of Loue the constant mynde doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And he that is well fraught with wealth in Loue doth much preuaile Yet the tender damosell or louing childe be they neuer so noble or riche ought to attende the fathers time and choise and naturally encline to their 〈◊〉 liking otherwise great harme and detriment ensue For when the parents sée that disobediēce or rather rebellious minde of their childe their conceiued sorowe for the same so gnaweth the rooted plante of naturall loue as either it hastneth their vntimely death or else ingēdreth a heape of melancholie humors which force them to proclaime 〈◊〉 and bitter cursse against their 〈◊〉 fruite vpon whome if by due regarde they had 〈◊〉 ruled they woulde haue pronounced the swéete blessyng that Isaac gaue to Iacob the mothers best beloued boye yea and that displeasure may chaunce to dispossesse them of that which should haue bene the only comfort and stay of the future age So that negligence of parents 〈◊〉 and carelesse héede of youthful head bréedeth double woe but specially in the not aduised childe who tumbleth him selfe first into the breach of diuine lawes to the cursses of the same to parents wrath to orphans state to beggers life and into a sea of manifold miseries In whome had obedience ruled and reason taken place the hearte mighte haue bene 〈◊〉 the parent well pleased the life ioyfully spent and the posteritie successiuely tast the fruits that elders haue prepared What care and sorrow 〈◊〉 what extremitis the foresayde noble Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 for not yelding to hir fathers minde the sequele shal at large declare There was sometimes in Corinth a Citie of 〈◊〉 a King which had a daughter called Euphimia very tenderly beloued of hir father and being arriued to the age of mariage many noble men of Grecia made sute to haue hir to wife But amongs all Philon the yong king of Peloponessus so fiercely fell in loue wyth hir as hée thought he coulde no longer liue if hée were maried to any other For which cause hir father knowing him to be a King and of singular beautie and that he was far in loue with his daughter woulde gladly haue chosen him to be his sonne in law persuading hir that she shold liue with him a life so happie as was possible for any noble lady matched with Gentleman were he neuer so honorable But the daughter by no meanes woulde consent vnto hir fathers will alleaging vnto him diuers sundry considerations wherby hir nature by no means woulde agrée nor heart consent to ioyne with Philon. The king aboue al worldly things loued his fair daughter and albeit he woulde faine haue broughte to passe that she should haue taken him to husband yet he wold not vse the fathers authoritie but desired that Loue rather than force should match his daughter and therfore for that tyme was contented to agrée vnto hir will There was in the Court a yong mā borne of hir fathers bondman which hight Acharisto and was manumised by the King who made him one of the Esquiers for his bodie and vsed his seruice in sundry enterprises of the warres and bicause he was in those affaires very skilfull of bolde personage in conflictes and 〈◊〉 verie hardie the King did very much fauor him aswell for that hée had defended him from manifold daungers as also bycause he had deliuered hym from the 〈◊〉 pretended against him by the king of the Lacedemonians Whose helpe and valiance the king vsed for the murder and destruction of the sayde Lacedemonian King For which valiant enterprise hée bountifully recompenced him with honorable prefermentes and stately reuenues Upon this yong man Euphimia fired hir amorous eyes and fell so farre in loue as vpon him alone she bent hir thoughtes and all hir louing cogitations Wherof Acharisto béeing certified and well espying and marking hir amorous lookes nourished with like flames the fire wherewith she burned Notwithstandyng his loue was not so 〈◊〉 bent vpon hir personage as his desire was ambicious for that she shoulde be hir fathers onely heire and therfore thought that he shold be a most happie man aboue all other of mortall kynde if hée might possesse that inheritance The king perceuing that loue told his daughter that she had placed hir mynde in place so straunge as hée had thought hir wisdome wold haue more warely forséen and better wayed hir estate birth as come of a princely race and would haue demed such loue farre vnworthie hir degrée requiring hir with fatherly words to withdraw hir settled mynde to ioyne with him in choise of husbande for that he had none other worldly heire but hir and tolde hir howe he meant highly to bestowe hir vpon such a personage as a moste happie life she should leade so long as the destenies were disposed to weaue the webbe of hir predestined life And therefore was resolued to espouse hir vnto that noble Gentleman Philon. Euphimia hearkned to this vnliked tale with vnliked words refused hir fathers hest protesting vnto him such reasons
purpose he was not able to remoue but rather the more difficult and daungerous his enterprise séemed to be the more grew desire to prosecute and obiect him selfe to all dangers If peraduenture the Quéenes for their disport and pastime were disposed to walke into the fieldes or gardens of the Citie of Hispurge he failed not in company of other Courtiers to make one of the troupe being no houre at rest and 〈◊〉 if he were not in the sight of Quéene Anne or néere that place where she was At that time there were many Gentlemen departed from Lombardie to Hispurge which for the most parte followed the Lord Francesco Sforza the second by whom they hoped when the Duchie of Milane was recouered to be restored to their Countrey There was also Chamberlain to the said Lord Francesco one master Girolamo Borgo of Verona betwene whome and master Philippo was very néere friendship familiaritie And bicause it chauncethvery seldome that seruent loue can be kept so secrete and couert but in some part it will discouer it selfe master Borgo easily did perceiue the passion wherwith master Philippo was inflamed And one master Philippo Baldo many times being in the company of master Borgo and Philippo did marke and perceiue his loue yet was ignorant of the truthe or voide of coniecture with what Gentlewoman he was inamored But séeing him contrary to wonted custome altered from vsual mirth transported fetching many sighes strainings from his stomake and marking how many times he wold steale from the cōpany he was in withdraw him self alone to muse vpon hys thoughts brought thereby into a melancholy and meane estate hauing lost his sléepe and 〈◊〉 of eating meat iudged that the amorous wormes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bitterly gnawe and teare his heart wyth the nebs of their forked heads They three then being vpon a time togither debating of diuers things amōgs them selues chaunced to fall in argument of loue and 〈◊〉 Baldo Borgo the other gentlemen said to master Philippo how they were well assured that he was straūgely attached with that passion by marking and considering the new life which lately he led contrary to former vse intreating him very earnestly that he would manifest his loue to them that were his déere and faithful frends telling him that as in weightie matters otherwise hée was alredy sure what they were euē so in this he might hardily repose his hope and confidence promising him all their helpe and fauoure if therein their indeuor and trauaile might minister ayde and comfort He then like one raised from a traunce or lately reuiued from an 〈◊〉 after he hadde composed his countenaunce and gesture with teares and multitude of sobbes began to say these woordes My welbeloued friendes and trusty companiens being right well assured that ye whose sidelitie I haue already proued whose secrete mouthes be recómmended amongs the wise and vertuous will kéepe close and couert the thing which you shall heare me vtter as of such importaunce that if the yong 〈◊〉 Gentleman Papyrius had bene héere for all hys silence of graue matters required by hys mother I would vnnethes haue disclosed the same vnto hym In déede I cannot deny but must néedes consesse that I am in loue and that very ardently which I cannot in suche wise conceale but that the blinde must néedes clearely and euidently perceiue And although my mouth would 〈◊〉 kéepe close in what plight my passions doe constraine my inwarde affections yet my face and straunge manner of life which for a certayne time and space I haue led doe witnesse that I am not the man I was 〈◊〉 to be So that if shortly I doe not amend I trust to arriue to that ende whereunto euery Creature is borne and that my bitter and paynefull life shall take ende if I may call it a life and not rather a liuyng death I was resolued and throughly determined neuer to discouer to any man the cause of my cruell torment being not able to manifest the same to hir whome I doe only loue thinking better by conceling it through loue to make humble sute to Lady Atropos that shée would cutte of the thréede of my dolorous lyfe Neuerthelesse to you from whome I ought to kéepe nothyng secrete I will disgarboile and 〈◊〉 the very secretes of my minde not for that I hope to finde comfort and reliefe or that my passions by declaration of them wil lessen and diminishe but that ye knowing the occasion of my death may make reporte thereof to hir that is the only mistresse of my life that she vnderstanding the extréeme panges of the truest louer that euer liued may mourne and waile his losse which thing if my séely ghost may know no doubt where so euer it doe wander shall receiue great ioy and comforte Be it knowne vnto you therefore the first daye that mine eyes beheld the diuine beautie and incomparable sauer of that superexcellent Lady Quéene Anne of Hungarie that I more than wisdom required did meditate and consider the singular behauior and notable 〈◊〉 and other innumerable gifts wherwith she is indued the same beyònde measure did so inflame my heart that impossible it was for me to quenche the feruent loue or extinguish the least parte of my conceiued torment I haue done what I can to macerate and mortifie my vnbridled desire but all in vayne My force and puissaunce is to weake to matche wyth so mightye an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I knowe what ye wyll obiecte against me ye will say that mine ignobilitie my birth and stocke be no méete matches for such a personage and that my loue is to highly placed to sucke relief And the same I do 〈◊〉 so well as you I doe acknowledge my condition state too base I confesse that my loue nay rather I may terme it folly doth presume beyond the bounds of order For the first time that I felt my selfe wrapped in those snares I knew hir to beare the port amōgs the chiefest Quéenes to be the 〈◊〉 princesse of Christendom Againe I knew my selfe the poorest Gentleman of the world and the most miserable exile I thought moreouer it to be very vnséemely for me to direct my minde vpon a wight so honorable and of so great estate But who can raine the bridle or prescribe lawes to loue What is he that in loue hath frée will and choyse Truely I beleue no man bicause loue the more it doth séeme to accord in pleasure and delight the further from the marke he shooteth his bolte hauing no respect to degrée or state Haue not many excellent and worthy personages yea Dukes Emperours and Kings bene inflamed wyth the loue of Ladies and women of base and vile degrée Haue not most honorable dames and women of greatest renoume despised the honor of their states abandoned the companie of their husbāds and neglected the loue of their children for the ardent loue that they haue borne to men of inferiour sort All Histories
auncient libertie and displeasant to the Senatours and 〈◊〉 to sée them selues depriued of the soueraintie of Iustice and of the authoritie they had to 〈◊〉 all the Citizens yet for al that was he indued with so good qualities and gouerned so well his principalitie as that which at the beginnyng was termed Tyrannie was receiued as iust domination and that whiche was supposed to be abused by force semed to be done as it wer by lawful succession And they counted them selues happy when they saw their luck to be such as their common wealth must néedes obey the aduise and pleasure of one Prince alone to haue a soueraine lorde so wise so vertuous and so ful of curtesie Who albeit in other things he shewed him selfe praise worthie noble and of gentle kynde yet vanquished he him selfe in him selfe and in the rest of his perfection by that indifferent iustice which made him wonderfull by reason hée denied the same to none and in no one iote shewed him selfe parcial to any which thought by him to be supported in their follies And that which was more to be wondred in hym augmented the praise of his integritie in iudgement was that he punished in an other the thyng which by reason he oughte to haue pardoned and remitted he beyng attainted well beatē with that disease But the good Lord applied to reason to time to the grauitie of the fact and qualitie of the offended persones For where the greatnesse of the déede surpasseth all occasion of pardon and mercy the Prince Iudge or Magistrate ought to dispoile and put of his swetest affections to apparel himself with rigor which reacheth the knyfe into the hande of him that ruleth of purpose that so priuate familiaritie do not in the ende raise in the subiects heart a contempt of their superiours and an 〈◊〉 licence lawlesse to liue at their pleasure Now the thing which I meane to tel consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite prudence which seldome or neuer harboureth in yong age the heates wherof can not but with great difficultie féele the coldnesse and correction of reason And likewyse the causes from whence wisdomes force procéedeth doe rest in long experience of things wherby men waxe old in ripenesse of witte and their déedes become worthy of praise Then Duke Alexander ordred so wel his estates and kept such a goodly and plentifull Court as the same gaue place to no Prince of Italic how great or rich so euer it was and that he did aswell for his owne garde honor as to shew the natural stoutnesse of his corage not vsing for all that any insolencie or vnséemely dealing against the haynous and auncient enimies of his house Amongs this goodly troupe of courtiers which ordinarily folowed the Duke there was a Florentine gentleman very néere the Duke and the best beloued of them all This yong Gentleman had a Manor hard by Florence where he was very well stately lodged which caused him many times to forsake the Citie with two of his companions to recreate him self in that pleasant place It chaunced vpon a day he being in his fieldish house bisides the which there was a Mill the master whereof had a passing faire daughter whome the sayd Gentleman did well marke and behold and with hir became straungely in loue in whome also appeared some Noble port that excéeded the bloud and race whereof she came But what The heauens be not so spare distributers of their gifts but sometimes diuide them with the least measure and at other times in equall weight or greatest heape to them that be of basest sort and popular degrée so well as to the greatest men and of most noble race Rome sometimes hath séen a bondman and slaue sometimes a runnagates sonne for his wit and corage to beare the scepter in his hand and to decide the causes of a lofty people who already by reason of his sleights and practises began to aspire the Empire of the whole world And hée that wythin our Fathers remembrance desireth to know what that great Tambarlane of Tartarie was the astonishment and ruine of all the 〈◊〉 partes shall well perceiue that his originall sorted from the vulgar sort from the basest place that was amongs all estates wherby must be confessed that the goodnesse of nature is such and so great that she wil helpe hir nourice children whatsoeuer they be the best she can Not that I meane to inferre hereby but that the bloud of predecessors with the institution of their posterity much augmēteth the force of the sprite and accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto nature hath giuen a beginning Now to come to our purpose this yong Courtier taken and chained in the bandes of loue 〈◊〉 clogged with the beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench 〈◊〉 the meanes how he might inioy the thing after which he hoped To loue hir he demed it vnworthy of his degrée And yet he knew hir to be such by report of many as had a very good wit tongue at wyll and which is more estemed a Paragon and mirror of chast life modesty Which tormented this amorous Mounsier beyōd mesure and yet chaunged not his affection assuring himself that at length he shold attaine the end of his desires and glut his vnsatiable hunger which pressed him frō day to day to gather that soote and sauorous frute which louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of semblable age to this who then was betwene xbj and. xvtj. yeres This louer did to vnderstand to his companions his griefe and 〈◊〉 who sory for the same assayed by all meanes to make him forget it telling him that it was vnséemely for a Gentleman of his accompt to make himself a 〈◊〉 to that people which would come to passe if they knew how vndiscretely he had placed his loue that there wer a number of fair honest gentlewomen to whom conuenably with great contentation he might addresse the same But he which much lesse saw than blind loue him selfe that was his 〈◊〉 he that was more 〈◊〉 of reason aduise than the Poets faine Cupido to be naked of apparel wold not heare the good counsel which his companions gaue him but rather sayd that it was lost time for them to vse suche words for he had rather die and to indure all the mocks scoffs of the world than lose the most delicate pray in his minde that could chaunce into the handes of man adding moreouer that the homelinesse rudenesse of the Countrey had not so much anoyed his new beloued but she deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the greatest Minion and finest attired gentlewoman of the City For this maiden had but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged where other artificially force and by trumperies vsurpe that which the heauens denie them Touching hir vertue let that passe in silence sithēs that she quod hée sighing is too chast
this loue was straunge which so mightie a Monarch as Demetrius was did beare vnto such a notable Curtizan a woman vtterly voyde of grace barren of good workes without any zeale or sparke of vertue as it should appere But sith we reade know that none are more giuen or bent to vnreasonable loue than mightie princes what shuld it be demed straunge and maruellous if Demetrius amongs the 〈◊〉 doe come in place for the loue of that most famous woman yf fame may stretch to eyther sorts both good and euill But let vs come to that second sort of this infamous gentle woman called Lais. She was of the Isle of Bithritos which is in the confines of Graecia was the 〈◊〉 of the great Sacrificer of Appollo his tēple at Delphos a man greatly experienced in the magike art wherby he prophecied the perdition of his daughter Now this 〈◊〉 Lais was in triumph in the time of the renowmed king Pirrhus a prince very ambicious to acquire honor but not very happie to kepe the same who being yong of sixtene or 〈◊〉 yeres came into Italie to make warres against the Romains He was the first as some say that aranged a campe in ordre and made the Phalanx the maine square and battell For before hys time when they came to entre battell they assailed confusedly and out of array gaue the onset This amorous Lais continued long time in the campe of King Pyrrhus and went wyth hym into Italie and wyth hym retorned from warre againe Notwythstanding hir nature was such as she would neuer bée mainteined with one man alone The same Lais was so amorous in hir conuersation so excellent faire and of so comely grace that if she would haue kept hir selfe to one and bene 〈◊〉 to one lord or gentleman 〈◊〉 was no prince in the world but would haue yelded himselfe and all that he had at hir commaundement Lais from hir retourne out of Italia into Grece repaired to the citie of Corinth to make hir abode there where she was pursued by many kings lordes and princes Aulus Gellius saith which I haue recited in my former part of the Palace of pleasure the fiftenth Nouell that the good Philosopher Demosthenes went from Athenes to Corinth in disguised apparell to sée Lais and to haue hir company But before the dore was opened she sent one to demaunde 〈◊〉 C. Sestercos of siluer 〈◊〉 Demosthenes answered I bye not repentance so dere And I beleue that Demosthenes spake those wordes by folowing the sentence of Diogenes who sayth that euerie beast after such acte is heauie and sad Some writers affirme of this amorous Lais that thing which I neuer reade or heard of woman which is that she neuer shewed signe or token of loue to that man which was desirous to doe hir seruice nor was neuer hated of man that knew hir Wherby we may comprehend the happe and fortune of that amorous woman She neuer shewed semblance of great loue to any person and yet she was beloued of all If the amorous Lamia had a good spirite and mynde Lais truely had no lesse For in the art of loue she excéeded all other women of hir 〈◊〉 art and science as well in knowledge of loue as to profite in the same Upon a day a yong man of Corinth demaunding of hir what hée should say to a woman whome hée long tyme had loued and made so great sute that therby he was like to fall into dispaire Thou shalt say sayd Lais vnto hir that sith she will not graunt thy request yet at least wise it might please hir to suffer thée to bée hir seruant and that she would take in good parte the seruice that thou shalt doe vnto hir Which request if she doe graunt then hope to atteine the ende of thy attempt bycause that we women bée of such nature as opening the mouth to gyue some myld and pleasant answere to the amorous person it is to bée thought that we haue gyuen our heart vnto the firste suter An other daye in the presence of Lais one praised the Philosophers of Athenes saying that they were very honest personages and of greate skyll and knowledge Whereunto Lais aunswered I cannot tell what greate knowledge they haue nor what science they studie ne yet what bookes your Philosophers doe reade bycause that I being a woman and neuer was at Athenes I sée them repaire hither and of Philosophers béecome amorous persons A Theban knight demaunded of Lais what he might doe to enioy a ladie wyth whose loue hée should bée surprised She aunswered thus A man that is desirous of a woman muste followe hys sute serue hir and suffer hir and sometimes to séeme as though hée had forgotten hir For after that a womans heart is moued to loue she regardeth more the forgetfulnesse and negligence vsed towardes hir than she doth the seruice béefore time 〈◊〉 vnto hir An other Gentleman of Achaia asked hir what hée shoulde doe to a woman whome hée suspected that she hadde 〈◊〉 hir fayth Lais aunswered make hir beleue that thou thinkest she is very faythfull and take from hir the occasions wherby she hath good cause to doe the same For if she doe perceiue that thou knowest it and dissemblest the matter she will soner dye than amēd A gētleman of Palestine at another time inquired of hir what he should doe to a woman which he serued and did not esteme the seruice done vnto hir ne yet gaue him thankes for the loue which he bare hir Lais sayed vnto him If thou be disposed to serue hir no longer let hir not perceiue that thou hast gyuen hir ouer For naturallie we women be tendre to loue and hard to hate Being demaunded by one of hir neighbours what she should doe to make hir daughter very wyse She saide Lais that will haue hir daughter to be good and honest she must from hir youth lerne hir to feare and in going abrode to haunte litle companie and that she be shamefast and moderate in hir talke An other of hir neighbors inquiring of hir what she might doe to hir daughter which began to haue delight to rome in the fielde wander abrode The remedy saide Lais that I finde for your daughter disposed to that condition is not to suffer hir to be ydle ne yet to be braue and sumptnous in apparell This amorous gentlewoman Lais dyed in the citie of Corinth of the age of lxxij yeares whose death was of many Matrones desired and of a great numbre of amorous persons lamented The third amorous gentlewoman was 〈◊〉 Flora which was not so aucient ne yet of so great renoume as Lamia Lais wer whose coūtrie also was not so famous For she was of Italie and the other two of Grecia and although that Lamia Lais exceded Flora in antiquitie 〈◊〉 Flora surmounted them in lineage generositie For Flora was of noble house although in life lesse than chast She was of the countrie of Nola in
Campania issued of certein Romans knights very famous in facts of armes and of great industrie and gouernement in the common wealth When the father and mother of this Flora deceased she was of the age of xb. yeares indued with great riches and singular beautie and the very orphane of all hir kynne For she had neyther brother left with whom she might soiourne ne yet vncle to gyue hir good councell In such wise that like as this yong maistres Flora had youth riches liberty and beautie euen so ther wanted neither bauds nor Pandores to 〈◊〉 hir to fal and allure hir to follie Flora seing hir selfe beset in this wise she determined to goe into the Affrick warres where she hazarded both hir person and hir honor This dame florished and tryumphed in the tyme of the first Punique warres when the Consul Mamillus was sent to Carthage who dispended more money vpon the loue of Flora than hée did vpon the chase and pursute of his 〈◊〉 This amorous ladie Flora had a writing and tytle fixed vpon hir gate the effect wher of was thys King Prince Dictator Consul Censor high Bishop and Questor may knocke and come in In that writing Flora named neither Emperor nor Caesar bycause those two most noble names were long tyme after created by the Romanes This amorous Flora wold neuer abandon hir person but wyth gentlemen of great house or of great dignitie and riches For she was wont to say that a woman of passing beauty should bée so much estemed as she doth esteme and sette by hir selfe Lais and Flora were of contrary maners conditions For Lais would first bée paide before she yelded the vse of hir bodie but Flora without any semblance of desire eyther of golde or siluer was contented to bée ruled by those with whom she committed the facte Wherof vpon a day being demaunded the question she answered I gyue my body to Princes and noble Barons that they may deale with me like gentlemen For I sweare vnto you by the Goddesse Venus that neuer man gaue me so little but that I had more than I loked for and the double of that which I could demaund This amorous lady Flora was wont many tymes to saye that a wise woman or more aptlie to terme hir a subtill wench ought not to demaund reward of hir louer for the acceptable pleasure which she doth hym but rather for the loue which she beareth him bicause that all things in the world haue a certain price except loue which cannot bée paide or recompenced but with loue All the Ambassadors of the worlde which had accesse into Italie made so great report of the beauty and generositie of Flora as they dyd of the Romane common wealth bycause it semed to bée a monstrous thinge to sée the riches of hir house hir trayue hir beautie the princes great lordes by whom she was required and the presents and giftes that were gyuen vnto hir This amorous Flora had a continuall regard to the noble house wherof she came touching the magnificence and state of hir seruice For albeit that she was but a common woman yet she was serued honored like a great ladie That day wherin she rode about the citie of Rome she gaue occasion to bée spoken of a whole month after one inquiring of an other what gret Roman lords they were that kept hir company Whose men they were that waighted vpon hir And whose liuery they ware What ladies they were that rode in hir traine the brauery of hir apparell hir great beautie port and the wordes spoken by the amorous gentlemen in that troupe were not vnremembred When this maistres Flora wared olde a yong and beautifull gentleman of Corinth demaunded hir to 〈◊〉 to whome she aunswered I know well that thou wilt not marie the thrée score yeares which Flora hath but rather thou 〈◊〉 to haue the twelue hundred thousand Sestercias which she hath in hir house Content thy selfe therfore my frende and get thée home againe to Corinth from whence thou 〈◊〉 For to such as bée of myne age great honor is borne reuerence done for the riches and wealth they haue rather than for mariage There was neuer in the Romane Empire the like amorous woman that Flora was indued with so many graces and quéenelike qualities for she was of noble house of singuler beautie of comly personage discrete in hir affaires and besides all other comly qualities very liberall This maistres Flora spent the most part of hir youth in Africa Almaine and Gallia 〈◊〉 And albeit that she would not suffre any other but great lords to haue possession of hir body yet she applied hir selfe to the spoile of those that were in place and to the praie of those that came from the warrs This amorous Flora died when she was of the age of 〈◊〉 yeares She left for the principall heire of all hir goods and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 people which was estemed sufficiēt able to make newe the walles of Rome and to 〈◊〉 and redeme the common welth of the same And bicause that she was a Romaine had made the state thereof hir heire the Romanes buylded in hir honor a sumptuous Temple which in memorie of Flora was called 〈◊〉 and euery yeare in the memorie of hir they celebrated hir feast vpon the daye of hir death Suctonuis Tranquillus saieth that the first feaste which the Emperour Galba the second celebrated within Rome was the feast of the amorous Flora vpon which day it was lawfull for men women to doe what kinde of dishonestie they could deuise And she was estemed to be the greater saint which that day shewed hir selfe most dissolute and wanton And bicause that the temple Florianum was dedicated to amorous Flora the Romās had an opinion that all women which vpon the same day repaired to the Temple in whorish apparell should haue the graces and gifts that Flora had These were the sond opinions and maners of the auncient which after their owne making deuises framed Gods and Goddesses and bycause the proued vnshamefast and rich a Temple must bée erected and Sacrifices ordeined for hir whorish triumphes But that noble men and Kings haue bene rapt and transported with the lurements of such notorious strumpets is and hath bene common in all ages And commonly such infamous women bée indewed with greatest giftes and graces the rather to noosell dandle their fauorers in the lappes of their fading pleasures But euery of them a most speciall grace aboue the rest As of a king not long agoe we reade that kept thrée one the holiest another the crastiest the third the 〈◊〉 Two of which properties méete for honest women although the third so incident to that kinde as heat to a liuing bodie Cease we then of this kinde and let vs steppe forth to be acquainted with a ladie a Quéene the Godliest stoutest that is remembred in any aun cient monument or historie Zenobia Queene of Palmyres
Who knoweth not that furie of a woman specially of the Noble dame by séeing hir self despised No no she loueth me and I will be hir seruaunt and vse the fortune proffred Shal I be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a Princesse Is it not more honourable for me to settle my minde vpon a place so highe than vpon some simple wenche by whome I shall neither attaine profit or aduauncement Baldouine of Flaunders did not hée a Noble enterprise when he caried away Iudith the daughter of the French King as she was passing vpon that seas into England to be married to the king of that Countrey I am neither Pirat nor aduenturer for that the Ladie loueth me What wrong doe I then to any person by yelding loue againe Is not she at libertie To whome ought she to make accompt of hir dedes doings but to God alone and to hir owne conscience I will loue hir and cary like affection for the loue which I know sée that she beareth vnto me being assured that the same is directed to good end and that a woman so wise as she is will not commit a fault so filthy as to blemish and spot hir honor Thus Bologna framed the plot to intertaine the Duchesse albeit hir loue alredy was fully bēt vpon him and fortified him self against all mishap and perillous chaunce that might 〈◊〉 as ordinarily you sée that louers cōceiue all things for their aduauntage fantasie dreames agreable to that which they most desire resembling the mad and 〈◊〉 persons which haue before their eies the figured fansies which cause the conceit of their furie and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which most troubleth their offēded brain On the other side the Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir louer the wil of whom was hid secrete which more did vexe tormēt hir than that fire of loue that burned hir so feruētly She could not tell what way to hold to do him vnderstand hir heart affection She feared to discouer the same vnto him doubting either of some fond rigorous answer or of reueling of hir mind to him whose presēce pleased hir more than all that men of the world Alas said she am I happed into so strāge misery that with mine own mouth I must make request to him which with al humilitie ought to offer me his seruice Shall a Ladie of such bloud as I am be cōstrained to sue wher all other be required by importunat instāce of their suters Ah loue loue what so euer he was that clothed thée with such puissāce I dare say he was the cruel enimie of mans fredom It is impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen sith that clemencie courteous influence of the same 〈◊〉 mā with better benefits than to suffer hir nourse children to be intreated with such rigor He lieth which sayth that Venus is thy mother for the swéetenesse good grace that resteth in that pitifull Goddesse who taketh no pleasure to sée louers perced with so egre trauails as that which afflicteth my heart It was some fierce cogitatiō of Saturne that brought thée forth sent thée into the world to breake the 〈◊〉 of them which liue at rest without any passion or grief Pardon me Loue if I blaspheme thy maiestie for the stresse and endlesse grief wherein I am plunged maketh me thus to roue at large the doubts which I conceiue do take away the health and soūdnesse of my mind the 〈◊〉 experiēce in thy schole causeth this amaze in me to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the duetie honor and reputation of my state the partie whome I loue is a Gentleman vertuous valiant sage of good grace In this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse for all that inequalitie of our houses apparāt vpon the first sight and shew of the same But frō whence issue the Monarches Princes greater Lords but frō the naturall and common mosse of earth wherof other men doe come what maketh these differēces betwene those that loue eche other if not the sottish opinion which we conceiue of greatnesse and preheminence as though naturall affections be like to that ordained by the fantasie of men in their lawes extreme And what greater right haue 〈◊〉 to ioyn with a simple gentlewoman than the Princesse to mary a Gentleman and such as Anthonio Bologna is in whome heauen nature haue forgotten nothing to make him equall with them which marche amongs the greatest I thinke we be the daily slaues of the fōd and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts which say they haue puissance ouer vs and that straining our will to their tirannie we be still bound to the chaine like the galley slaue No no Bologna shall be my husband for of a friend I purpose to make him my loyall and lawfull husband meaning therby not to offend God men togither pretend to liue without offēse of conscience wherby my soule shall not be hindred for any thing I do by marying him whō I so straūgely loue I am sure not to be deceiued in Loue. He loueth me so much or more as I do him but he dareth not disclose the same fearing to be refused cast off with shame Thus two vnited wils two hearts tied togithers w e equal knot cannot choose but bring forth fruites worthie of such societie Let men say what they list I will do none otherwise than my head and mind haue alredy 〈◊〉 Semblably I néede not make accompt to any 〈◊〉 for my fact my body and reputation being in ful libertie and fréedome The bond of mariage made shall couer the fault which men would déeme leauing mine estate I shall do no wrong but to the greatnesse of my house which maketh me amōgs men right honorable But these honors be nothing worth where the minde is voide of contentation and where the heart prickt forward by desire leaueth the body and mind restlesse without quiet Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterprise determining to mary hir housholde Maister séeking for occasion and time méete for disclosing of the same albeit that a certaine naturall shame 〈◊〉 which of 〈◊〉 accompanieth Ladies did close hir mouth and made hir to deferre for a certaine time the effect of hir resolued minde Yet in the end vanquished with loue and impacience she was forced to breake of silence and to assure hir self in him 〈◊〉 feare cōceiued of shame to make hir waie to pleasure which she lusted more thā mariage the same seruing hir but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir follies shamelesse lusts for which she did the penance that hir follie deserued For no colorable dede or deceitful trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wickednesse She then throughly persuaded in hir intent dreamyng and thinking of nought else but vpon the unbracement of hir Bologna ended and determined hir conceits pretended follies and vpon a time
be constrained And not to stay in framing of orations or stand vpon discourse of words I 〈◊〉 beseche you to behold the cs̄tāt loue I beare you being a gentlemā so wealthy as I am none other cause induceth me to make this sute but your good grace and bringing vp which force me to loue you aboue any other Gētlewoman that liueth And although I might alleage other reasons to proue my saying yet refer I my self to the experience boūty of your mind to the equitic of your iudgement If my passion wer not vehemēt my tormēt without cōparison I wold wish my fained griefs to be laughed to scorne my vissibled paine rewarded 〈◊〉 flouts But my loue being sincere pure my trauail cōtuiuall my griefs endlesse for pitie sake I beseche you madame to cōsider my faithfull deserts with your duetiful curtesie then shal you sée how much I ought to be preferred before them which vnder the shadow of an other mans puissance doe seke to purchase power to cōmaund you wher I do faithfully binde tie my word déede cōtinually to loue serue you with promise al the daies of my life to accōplish your cōmaundement Behold if it please you what I am with what affectiō I make mine hūble plaint regard the messanger loue it is himself the holdeth me within your snares maketh me captiue to your beauty diuine graces which haue no piere But if you refuse my sute cause me breath my words into the aire you shal be accused of cruelty ye shal sée the entier defaict of a gentlemā which loueth you better thā loue himself is able to yeld flame and fire to force any wight to loue mortal creature But I think the heauens haue departed in me such aboundāce to the 〈◊〉 in louing you with 〈◊〉 so great you might also think the it is I which ought to be the frend spouse of that gentle courteous Lady Bianca Maria which alone may cal hir self the mistresse of my hart The Lady which before was mocked 〈◊〉 with the Counte his demaunds hearing that laste discourse remembring hir first mariage the naturall iealosie of 〈◊〉 half wonne without making other coūtenance answered the Counte in this maner Syr Counte albeit that I am obedient to the wil and commaundement of Madame the Marchionesse am loth to displease hir yet I will not so farre gage my libertie but still doe reserue one poynt to say what reasteth in my thought And what shold let me to choose such one to whome I shal be both his life death And of whom being once possessed it is impossible to be rid acquited I assure you if I feared not the speche suspition of malicious minds and the venime of slaunderous tongues neuer husbande shold bring me more to bondage And if I thought that he whom I pretend to choose would be so cruel to me as others whome I know I would presently refuse mariage for euer I thanke you neuerthelesse both of your aduertisements giuen me of the honor you doe me you desiring to accomplish that honor by mariage to be celebrated betwéene vs. For the 〈◊〉 of which your talke the little dissimulatiō I see to be in you I promise you that there is no Gentleman in this countrey to whome I giue more puissance ouer me than to you if I chaunce to mary and therof make you so good assurance as if it were already done The Counte séeing so good an entry wold not suffer the time so to 〈◊〉 but beating the bushes vntill the praie was ready to spring sayd vnto hir And sith you know what thing is profitable and what is hurtfull and that the benefite of libertie is so much recommended why doe you not performe that which may redound to your honor Assure me of your word and promise me the Faith loyaltie of mariage then let me alone to deale with the rest for I hope to attain the effect without offense and displeasure of any And séeing hir to remaine in a muse without speaking word he toke hir by the hand kissing the same a million of times added these words How now Madame be you appalled for so pleasant an assault wherin your aduersarie confesseth himself to be vanquished Courage madame I say corage beholde him héere which humbly prayeth you to receiue him for your lawfull husband and who sweareth vnto you all such amitie and reuerence that husbande oweth to his loyall spouse Ah syr Counte said she and what wil the Marquize say vnto whom I haue wholly referred my self for mariage Shall not she haue iust occasion to frowne vpon me and frowardly to vse me for the litle respect I beare vnto hir God be my witnesse if I would not that Gonzaga had neuer come into this coūtrey for although I loued him not yet I haue almost made him a promise which I can not kéepe And sith there is nothing done sayd the Sauoy Lord what nede you to torment your self Wil the Marquesse wreke hir tyrannie ouer the will of hir subiects and force ladies of hir lande to marrie against their lust I thinke that so wise a princesse so well nurtured will not so farre forget hir self as to straine that which God hath left at libertie to euery wight Promise me onely mariage and leaue me to dcale with the rest other thinges shall be well prouided for Bianca Maria vanquished with that importunitie and fearyng againe to fal into seruitude hoping that the Counte woulde mainteine such libertie as he had 〈◊〉 agréed vnto hym and plighted vnto him hir faith and for the time vsed mutuall promises by wordes respectiuely one to another And the better to confirme the fact and to let the knotte from breking they bedded themselues togethers The Counte very ioyfull for that encountre yelded such good beginning by his countenance and by familiar and continuall haunte with Bianca Maria as shortly after the matter was known and came to the Marquesse cares that the daughter of Scappardone had maried the Counte of Celant The good lady albeit that she was wroth beyonde mesure and willingly would haue bene reuenged vpon the bride yet hauing respect to the Counte which was a noble man of great authoritie swallowed downe that pille without chewing and prayed the Lord Gonzaga not to be offended who 〈◊〉 the light behauiour of the Ladie laughed at the matter and praised God for that the thing was so wel broken off for he did for sée almost already what 〈◊〉 that Comedie wold haue being very familiar for certen days in the house of Biāca Maria. This mariage then was published the solemnitie of the nuptials done very princely according to the nobilitie of him which had maried hir but the augurie presage was heauy the melancolike face of the season which was 〈◊〉 darkned about the time they shold go to church declared that the mirth and
vnited together in band of amitie amaze the world by that effects not vulgar in things whiche they do one for an other But this surmounteth all a mortall enimy not reconciled or required without demaūd of assurāce for that plesure which he doth payeth the debts of his aduersarie which facte excedeth al consideration to them that discouer the factes of men I can not tell what name to attribute to the déede of Salimbene and what I ought to call that his curtesie but this must I néedes protest that the example of his honestie and gentlenesse is of suche force and so much hath vanquished me as whether I shal die in paine or liue at case neuer am I able to exceede his liberalitie Now my life beyng ingaged for that which he hath done to me and hée hauyng deliuered the same from infamous death it is in your handes deare sister to do the deuise imagined in my minde to the intente that I may be onely bounde to you for satisfiyng the liberalitie of Salimbene by meanes whereof you whiche wept the death and wailed the lost libertie of your brother doe sée me frée and in safetie hauyng none other care but to be acquited of hym to whom both you and I be derely bound Angelica hearing hir brother speake those words and knowing that Salimbene was he that had surpassed all their kinne in amitie and comforte of their familie answered hir brother saying I wold neuer haue thought good brother that your deliuerannce had come to passe by hym whose name euen nowe you folde and that our enimies breaking all remembrance of auncient quarels had care of the health and conseruation of the Montanines Wherefore if it were in my power I would satisfie the curtesie and gentlenesse of Ansehno but I know not whiche way to begin the same I being a mayde that knoweth not how to recompense a good turne but by acknowledging the same in heart and to go to render thanks it is neither lawful or comly for me and much lesse to offer him any thing for the little accesse I haue to his house and the small familiaritie I haue with the Gentlewomen of his kinne Notwithstanding brother consider you wherin my power resteth to aide and help you and be assured mine honor saued I will spare nothing for your contentation Sister sayd Montanine I haue of long time debated with my self what is to be 〈◊〉 and deuised what might be the occasion that moued this yong Gentleman to vse so great kindnesse towarde me and hauing diligently pondred and wayed what I haue seene and knowne at length I found that it was the onely force of loue which constrained his affection and altered the auncient hatred that he bare vs into new loue that by no meanes can be quenched It is the couert fier which loue hath kindled in his intrailes it is loue which hath raised the true effects of gentlenesse and hath consumed the conceites of displeased minde O the great force of that amorous alteration which vpon the sodaine exchaunge séemeth impossible to receiue any more chaūge or mutacion The onely beautie and good grace of you sister hath induced our gracious enimy the seruaunt of your perfections to deliuer the pore Gentleman forlorne of all good fortune It is the honest life and commendable behauioure of Angelica Montanine which haue incited Anselmo to doe an acte so praise worthy and a déede so kinde to procure the deliueraunce of one which loked not for a chaunce of so great consequence Ah Gentle yong Gentleman Ah Princely minde and heart noble and magnanunous Alas how shall it be possible that euer I can approche the honest liberalitie wherewith thou haste bound me for euer My life is thine mine honoure dependeth of thée my goodes be tied to thée What resteth then if not that you sister voide of crueltie do vse no vnkindnesse to him that loueth you and who for loue of you hath prodigally offred his owne goods to rid me from pain and dishonor If so be my life and 〈◊〉 haue bene acceptable vnto thee and the sight of me discharged from prisō was ioyful vnto thée if thou gauest thy willing consent that I should sel my 〈◊〉 graunt presently that I may with a great rare precious present requite the goodnesse pleasure curtesie that Salimbene hath done for your sake And sith I am not able with goodes of fortune to satisfie his bountie it is your person which may supply that default to the intent that you and I may be quitted of the 〈◊〉 wherin we stand boūd vnto him It behoueth that for the offer and rewarde of money which he hath imployed we make present of your beauty not selling the price of your chastitie but deliuering the same in exchaunge of curtesie being assured for his gentlenesse good nouriture sake he will vse you none otherwise or vsurpe any greater authoritie ouer you than vertus permitteth in eche gētle and noble heart I haue none other meane of fatisfaction ne larger raunsom to render frée my head frō the tribute which Salimbene hath giuen for my life and libertie Thinke deare sister what determinate answer you wil make me and consider if my request be méete to be denyed It is in your choise and pleasure to deny or consent to my demaund If so be that I be refused and lose the meanes by your refuse to be acquited of my defender I had rather forsake my Citie and Countrey than to liue héere with the name of ingratitude for not acknowledging so great a pleasure But alas with what eye shall I dare behold the Nobilitie of Siena if by great vnkindenesse I passe vnder silence the rarest friendship that euer was deuised What heartes sorow shall I conceiue to be pointed at with the finger like one that hath forgotten in acknowledging by effecte the receiued pleasure of my deliueraunce No sister either you must be the quiet of my minde and the acquittaunce of vs 〈◊〉 or else must I die or wander like a vagabonde into straunge Countreys and neuer put foote againe into Italy At those woords Angelica stoode so astonned and confused and so besides hir selfe like as we sée one distraught of sense that féeleth himself attached with some amaze of the Palsey In the end recouering hir sprites and beblubbered all with teares hir stomake panting like the Bellowes of a forge she answeared hir brother in this manner I know not louing brother by reason of my troubled minde howe to answere your demaunde which séemeth to be both right and wrong right 〈◊〉 respect of the 〈◊〉 not so in consideration of the request But how I proue the same and what reason I can alleage and discouer for that proofe hearken me so paciently as I haue reason to complaine and dispute vpon this chaunce more hard and difficult to auoide than by replie able to be defended sith that life and the hazarding thereof is nothing in regarde of that which you will
the same the matter most specially therin comprised treting of courtly fashions and maners and of the customes of loues galantise and the good or yll successe thereof bicause you be an auncient Courtier and one of the eldest Traine and suche as hath ben imployed by sundrie our Princes in their affaires of greatest weight and importance and for that your self in your lustiest time euer bred and brought vp in Court haue not bene vnacquainted with those occurrents If I should stande particularly to touch the originall of your noble Ancestrie the succession of that renoumed line their fidelitie for graue aduise and counsell your honourable education the mariage of a mighty King with one of your sisters the valiant exploites of your parentes against the French and Scots the worthie seruice of your self in field whereby you deseruedly wanne the order of Knighthode the trust which hir Maiestie reposeth in you by disposing vnder your charge the Store of hir Armure and your worthie preferment to be Maister of hir Armarie generall If I shoulde make recitall of your carefull industrie and painfull trauell sustained for answering hir Maiesties expectation your noble cherishing of the skilfull in that Science your good aduauncement of the best to supplie the vacant romes your refusall of the vnworthie and finally of your modest and curteous dealings in that office I feare lacke of abilitie and not of matter would want grace and order by further circumstaunce to adde sufficient praise Yea although my self do say nothing but reserue the same in silence to auoide suspect of adulation the very Armure and their furnitures do speake vniuersall testimonie doth wonder and the Readinesse of the same for tyme of seruice doth aduouche Which care of things continually resting in your breast hath atchieued suche a timely diligence and successe as when hir Maiesties aduersarie shall be ready to molest she shal be prest by Gods assistance to defend and marche But not to hold your worship long by length of preamble or to discourse what I might further say eyther in fauour of this Boke or commendation of your selfe I meane for this instant to leaue the one to general iudgement and the other to the particular sentence of eche of your acquaintaunce Humbly making this only sute that my good will may supplie the imperfection of mine abilitie And so with my heartie prayer for your preseruation to him that is the Author of life and health I take my leaue From my poore house besides the Toure of London the fourthe of Nouember 1567. Your moste bounden William Painter ¶ A Summarie of the Nouels ensuing ¶ The Hardinesse and conquestes of diuers stoute and aduenturous Women called Amazones the beginning continuance and end of their raigne and of the great iourney of one of their Quéenes called Thalestris to visit Alexander the great and the cause of hir trauaile Nouel j. Fol. 1. ¶ The great pietie and continencie of Alexander the great and his louing interteinement of Sisigambis the Wife of the great Monarch Darius after he was vanquished Nouel ij Fol. 5. ¶ Thimoclia a Gentlewoman of Thebes vnderstanding the couefous desire of a Thracian Knight that had abused hir and promysed hir mariage rather for hir goodes than Loue well acquited hirselfe from his falsehode Nouel iij. Fol. 9. ¶ Ariobarzanes great Stewarde to Artaxerxes King of Persia goeth about to excéede his soueraigne Lord maister in Curtesie wherein are conteyned many notable and pleasant chaunces besides the great pacience and loyaltie naturally planted in the sayd Ariobarzanes Nouel iiij Fol. 11. ¶ Lucius one of the Garde to Aristotimus the Tyranne of the Citie of Elis fell in loue with a faire Maiden called Micca the daughter of one Philodemus and his crueltie done vpon hir The stoutenesse also of a noble Matrone named Megistona in defense of hir husband and the Common wealth from the tyrannie of the sayd Aristotimus and of other acts done by the subiects vpon that tyrant Nouel v. Fol. 32. ¶ The maruelous courage ambition of a gentlewoman called Tanaquil that Quéene wife of Tarquinus Priscus the fift Romane King with hir persuasions and pollicie to hir husband for his aduauncement to the kingdome hir like encouragement of Seruius Tullius wherin also is described the ambitiō of one of the two daughters of Seruius Tullius the sixt Romane King and hir crueltie towardes hir owne naturall father with other accidents chaunced in the new erected Common wealth of Rome specially of the laste Romane King Tarquinus Superbus who with murder attained the kingdome with murder mainteined it and by the murder and insolent life of his sonne was with all his progenie banished Nouel vj. Fol. 40. ¶ The vnhappy ende and successe of the loue of King Massinissa and of Queene Sophonis ba his Wife Nouel vij Fol. 49. ¶ The crueltie of a King of Macedon who forced a Gentlewomā called Theoxena to persuade hir children to kil poison themselues after which fact she and hir husband Poris ended their life by drowning Nouel viij Fol. 59. ¶ A strange maruellous vse which in olde time was obserued in Hidrusa where it was lawfull with the licence of a Magistrate ordeyned for that purpose for euery man and woman that lyst to kyll them selues Nouel ix Fol. 62. ¶ The dishonest loue of Faustina the Empresse and with what remedie the same was remoued and taken away Nouel x. Fol. 65. ¶ Chera hidde a treasure Elisa going about to hang hir selfe and sying the halter about a 〈◊〉 found that treasure and in place therof lefte the halter Philene the daughter of Chera going for that treasure and busily searching for the same sounde the halter where with all for dispaire shae woulde haue hanged hir selfe but forbidden by Elisa who by chaunce espied hir she was restored to part of hir losse leading afterwards a happie and prosperous life Nouel xj Fol. 67. ¶ Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the noble and 〈◊〉 Emperour Traiane and from the sayde Emperour so Plutarch the like also from the sayde Emperour to the Senate of Rome In all whiche bée conteyned Godly rules for gouernement of Princes obedience of Subiects and their dueties to Cōmon wealth Nouel xij Fol. 76. ¶ A notable historie of thrée amorous Gentlewomen called Lamia Flora Lais cōteining the sutes of noble Princes and other greate personages made vnto them with their answeres to diuers demaunds and the maner of their death and funeralls Nouel xiij Fol. 123. ¶ The life and gestes of the most famous Quéene Zenobia with the Letters of the Emperoure Aurchanus to the sayde Quéene and hir stoute aunswere therevnto Nouel xiiij Fol. 89. ¶ Euphimia the King of Corinths daughter fell in loue with Acharisto the seruaunt of hir father and besides others which required hir to mariage she 〈◊〉 Philon the King of Pelponesus that loued hir very feruently Acharisto conspiring against the King was discouered tormented and put in prison and by meanes of
garmente and Crowne was taken off from his head together with his other apparel The Executioner 〈◊〉 for commaundement to doe his office and lifting vp his sworde to do the facte 〈◊〉 King desired to sée the countenaunce of Ariobarzanes who neuer chaunged colour for all that terrour of death The King séeing the great constancie and inuincible minde of Ariobarzanes spake 〈◊〉 that all men might heare hym these wordes Thou knowest Ariobarzanes that it is not I whych haue wroughte thy condemnation ne yet by 〈◊〉 desyre haue soughte thy bloude to bryng thée to this extremitie but it hath bene thy yll disordred life and the statutes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which haue found thée guiltie and therevpon sentence and death pronounced and execution now redie to be done and the minister redie to aduaunce his arme to play the last acte of this tragedie And yet for that our holy lawes doe giue libertie that I may assoile and deliuer whome I list and them restore to their former state if nowe thou wilt acknowledge thy selfe vanquished and ouer come and accept thy life in gratefull part I will pardon thée and restore thée to thine offices and promotions Ariobarzanes hearing these wordes knéeled downe with his head declined and expecting the blow of the sworde lifted by himselfe and turning his face to the King perceiuing his malice not so sore bente against him as the enuie and malice of his ennimies desired he determined to proue and vse the pitifull liberalitie and fauor of his soueraigne Lorde that his foes by his death might not triumph ne yet attaine the thing for which so long they aspired Wherefore in reuerent wise 〈◊〉 before his maiestie with a 〈◊〉 perfect voice sayd these words Most victorious merciful soueraine Lord in equal worship and honour to the immortall Gods sith of thy abundant grace and mercie it hath pleased thée to graunt me life I do most humbly accept the same which if I wist should be prolonged in thy disgrace and wrath coulde not be pleasaunt vnto me and therfore do 〈◊〉 my self altogether 〈◊〉 ouercome I most humbly then do giue thée 〈◊〉 for preseruation of the same hoping hereafter to employ the vttermost of mine endeuoure for the benefite and honour of thy Crowne and dignitie as readily and without supplication made in my behalfe thou hast 〈◊〉 to restore the same And sith thy 〈◊〉 hath reuiued me thine humble 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 thy maiestie to giue me leaue to say my minde trusting thereby to doe thée to vnderstande the effecte and cause of that my former presumption The King made signes that he should rise and boldly speake the summe of his desire When he was vpon his féete silence was proclaimed who then began to speake these wordes Two things there bée most sacred Prince which doubtlesse doe resemble the raging waues of surging seas and the mutabilitie of vnstable windes and yet greate is the follie of an infinite numbre which imploy their whole care and diligence to séeke the same These two things wherof I speake and be so derely beloued of flattering courtiers are the grace and fauour of their soueraine Lord and the luring loue of Amorous dames which two things doe so often beguile the Courtly Gentleman that in the ende they engendre nought else but repentance And to begin with the loue of Ladies they as by common experiēce is proued most commonly do recline to their inferiours It is dayly sene by too much vnhappie proofe that a yong Gentlemā by birth comely and noble otherwise riche vertuous and indued with many goodly gifts shall choose and worship one for his soueraigne Ladie and maistresse and hir shall serue and honour with the same faith and fidelitie due to the immortall Gods and shal not sticke to employ for hir loue and seruice all the possible power and trauell be is able to doe and yet shée in despite of all his humble endeuour shal loue an other voide of all vertue making him possessour of that benefite after which the other séeketh and she not long cōstant in that minde afterwadrs will attend vnto the first suter but in such mouable and 〈◊〉 sort as the wandring starres through their naturall instabilitie be moued to and fro and him in the ende will suffre to fall headlong into the bottomlesse pit of dispaire and he that asketh hir the reason of this varietie she maketh none other answere but that hir pleasure is such and wilful will to dallie with hir suters that seldome times a true and perfit louer can fasten his foote on certaine holde but that his life is tossed vp and downe like the whirling blastes of the inconstant windes In like maner in the Courts of Kings and Princes he which is in fauour with his soueraigne Lord in al mens eyes so great and neare as it séemeth the Prince is disposed to resolue vpon nothing without his aduise coūsell when such fauoured person shall employ his whole care and industrie to maintaine and increase the cōmenced grace of his soueraigne Lorde beholde vpon the sodaine his mind and vaine is changed and an other without desert which neuer carked or laboured to win good will is taken in place cherished as though he had serued him an hundred yeares before and he that was the first minion of the Court in greatest grace and estimation is in a moment despised and out of all regarde An other within fewe days after shall be brought in place of the other twaine very diligent and carefull to serue trained vp in Courtly exercise whose mindefull minde shall bée so caring ouer his lordes affaires as vpon the safegarde and preseruation of his owne propre life But all his labour is employed in vaine and when the aged dayes of his expired life approch for the least displeasure he shall be thrust out without rewarde for former trauell that right aptly the Common Prouerb may be applied The common Courtiers life is like a golden miserie and the faithfull seruant an Asse perpetuall I haue séene my self the right wel learned man to 〈◊〉 in Court for want of meate and a blockish beast voide of vertue for lust and not for merite aduaunced and made a Gentleman But this may chaunce bicause his lorde is not disposed to lerning and vertue little estéeming those that be affected with good sciences for lacke of carefull trayning vp in youthfull days or else for that their mind can not frame with the gentle spirites of them the closets of whose brests be charged and fraught with infinite loades of lerning and haue not ben noscled in trade of Courtes ne yet can vse due courtly spéeche or with vnblushing face can shuffle them selues in presence of their betters or commen with Ladies of dame 〈◊〉 toyes or race of birth not mingled with the noble or gentle Sire For these causes perhaps that vertuous wight can not attain the happe of Fortunes giftes Which person though in Court he be not estéemed in
the best Empresse and Quéene of the worlde or be she full of any other vertue if the want the name of chast she is not worthie so much as to beare the title of honour nor to be entertained in honest company Ye shall peruse hereafter an historie of a Countesse of Celant that was a passyng faire dame singularly adorned with Natures gifts She was faire pleasant 〈◊〉 comely and 〈◊〉 not altogether barraine of good erudition and learning shée could play vpon the instruments 〈◊〉 daunce make and compose wittie and amorous Sonets and the more hir companie was frequented the more amiable and gracious the same was 〈◊〉 But bicause she was 〈◊〉 fast and lesse 〈◊〉 she was of no regard and estimation Such as be dishonest do not onely hurt them selues but gyue cause to the 〈◊〉 people to mutter and grudge at their parentes education at their husbandes gouernement and institution of their children causing them most cōmonly to leade a 〈◊〉 and heauy life Think you that Augustus Caefar albeit he was a victorious Emperour and led a triumphant raigne liued a contented life when he saw the two Iuliae one of them his daughter the other his Niece to vse them selues like cōmon 〈◊〉 constrained through their shameful 〈◊〉 to pin and close vp himselfe and to shunne the conuersation of men and once in minde to cut his daughters vaynes to let cut hir lustie bloud Was not he wōt the teeres trickling down his Princely face to say that better it was neuer to haue children to be dead without them than to haue a fruteful wife children so disordred He 〈◊〉 his daughter to be a carrion lumpe of fleshe full of 〈◊〉 filthinesse But if I list to speake of woms̄ of this age from noble to vnnoble from an Emperors daughter to a plough mans modder whose liues do frame after Iulia 〈◊〉 lore my pen to the stumpes would weare and my hande bée wearied with writing And so likewise it would of numbres now no doubt that folowe the trace of Lucrece 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 and chastly contriue the day and nightes in pure and godly exercise But of the naughtie sorte to speake leauing to voide offence such as do flourish in our time I wil not concele the Empresse Messalina that was wife to the Emperour Claudius not onely vnworthie of Empresse degrée but of the title of woman who being abused by many at length arriued to suche abhominable lust that not contented with daily adulterous life wold resort to the cōmon stewes where the ruffians and publike harlots haunted for litle hire and there for vilest price with eche slaue would humble hir selfe and at night not satisfied but wearied would returne home to hir Palace not ashamed to disclose hir selfe to any that list to looke vpon hir And for victorie of that beastly game cōtended with hir like But not to say so much of hir as I finde in 〈◊〉 his naturall historie in Suetonius and Cornelius Tacitus I leaue hir to hir selfe bycause I haue made promise to remember the dishonest loue for example sake which I reade of Faustina whose beautie of all Writers is 〈◊〉 to bée moste excellent if excellencie of good life had thervnto bene coupled She was the daughter and wyfe of two holie and vertuous Emperours the one called Antonius Pius the other Marcus Antonius This M. Antonius in all vertuous workes was perfecte and godly and singulerly loued his wife 〈◊〉 and although she was 〈◊〉 to the worlde and a 〈◊〉 to the people yet cared not for the same suche was the passyng loue hée bare vnto hir Leaue we to speake of hir beastly behauiour with the noble sort without regard vnto hir most noble husbande and come wée to treate of a certain sauage kind of lust she had 〈◊〉 one of the Gladratores which were a certain sort of Gamsters in Rome which we terme to be masters of Defense She was so far in 〈◊〉 with this Gladiator that she could not eat drink or slepe ne take any kind of rest And albeit Faustina was thus vnshamfast she thought that the 〈◊〉 disordinate loue deserued 〈◊〉 and ingendred shame vnto the noble house wherof she came that she 〈◊〉 the daughter and wife of two famous Emperours woulde subdue hir state to a man so base and many times woulde goe to Caieta a Citie and hauen of Campania to ioyne hir selfe with the Galie slaues there Hir husbande which loued hir dearely comforting his wife so well as he coulde caused the best Physicians he could finde to repaire vnto hir for recouerie of hir health But all the deuised Physike of the world was not able to cure hir she was so louesick In the end knowing by long experience the fauour and loue hir husbande bare vnto hir and knowing that nothyng coulde withdraw his continued minde she tolde him that al the torment and paine 〈◊〉 sustained was for the loue of a Gladiator towards whom hir loue was so miserable that except she had his company death was she next 〈◊〉 for hir disease The good husband which beyond measure loued his wife comforted hir with so louing words as he coulde deuise and bad hir to be of good cheare promising he would prouide remedie Afterwards consulting with a wise mā a Chaldee born opened vnto him the effect of his wiues disease how she was louesick with such a person one of 〈◊〉 Gamsters of the Citie promising great rewards if he coulde by his secretes serche out redresse to saue hir life The Chaldee could tell him none other remedie but that he must cause the Gladiator to be slaine and with the bloud of him to anoint the body of the Empresse not beknowing vnto hir what it was which done that he must goe to naked bed to hir and doe the acte of matrimonie Some Historiographers do write that the Chaldee gaue him counsel that Faustina should drinke the bloud of the Gladiator but the most part that hir body was bathed in the same But how so euer it was it wold haue cooled the hottest 〈◊〉 stomack in the world to be anointed with like 〈◊〉 To conclude the Gladiator was 〈◊〉 and the medicine made and applied to the pacient and the Emperour lay with the Empresse and begatte hir with childe And immediatly she forgot the Gladiator and neuer after that tune remēbred him If this medicine 〈◊〉 applied to our carnall louing dames which God defend they would not onely folowe Faustine in forgetfulnesse but also would mislike such Physike and not greatly regarde the counsell of such 〈◊〉 By meanes of this medicine and copulation was the emperour Commodus borne who rather resembled the Gladiator than his father In whose breast rested a storehouse of mischief and 〈◊〉 as Herodian and other writers plentifully do write Two Maydens of Carthage ¶ CHERA hid a tresure ELISA going about to hang hir selfe and tyeng the halter about a beame founde that treasure and in place thereof left the halter PHILENE the
daughter of CHERA goyng for that treasure and busily serching for the same found the halter wherwithal for despaire she woulde haue hanged hir selfe but forbidden by ELISA who by 〈◊〉 espied hir she was restored to parte of hir losse leading afterwards a happie and prosperous life The. xj Nouell FOrtune the ladie Regent gouernesse of mās life so altreth and chaungeth the state thereof as many times we se the noble born from that great mightie port wherin they be debased so farre as either infamously their life is spent in the hungrie lappe of dame penurie or else contriued in the vgly lothsom house of Wantonnesse the stepdame of all honestie and vertue Sometimes we make the vnnoble ladde that was nooseled in the homely countrey 〈◊〉 or rude ciuile shoppe attaine to that whiche the onely honorable and gentle do aspire and he againe that is ambicious in climbing vp the turning whéele throwen downe beneth the brinke of 〈◊〉 lucke whelmed in the ditche pit of blacke despaire We note also somtimes that the carelesse wyght of Fortunes giftes hath vnlooked for his mouthe and throte crammed full of promotion and worldes delights Such is the maner of hir fickle stay When of this Historie ensuing giueth some intelligence by remembring the destenied lucks of thou poore sorie girles that were left destitute of desired things both like to fall into despaire and yet both holyen with that thei most desired which in this sort beginneth In the time that Scipio Affricanus had besleged the Citie of Carthage Chera that was a widow dwelling there seing the daunger at hand wherin the Citie stode and doubtyng the losse and ouerthrowe of the same and that the honor of the dames and womankinde coulde vneths be safe and harmelesse determined not to abide the vttermoste and hauing a good quantitie of golde and precious stones she bestowed the same in a casquet and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir house purposing when the stirre and daunger was past to retourne to hir house againe for those hir hidden things Which done in the habite of a poore womā with hir onely daughter in hir hand that was aboute b. or bf yeares of age she went out of Caithage and passed ouer the seas into Scicilia where falling sick after she had ben there thre or foure yeares at length died But before she departed she called hir daughter before hir then about x. yeares of age and tolde hir the place where she had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 casket And by reason of the 〈◊〉 gotten by Scipio the citie was maruellously chaunged and amongs other things the house of Chera was giuen to a Roman 〈◊〉 that was so enriched with nobilitie of mynde as he was poore of Fortunes goods Which Chera vnderstanding was sorowfull and doubted of hir things secretly bestowed vpon the beame Whervpon she sayd vnto hir daughter that for so much as their house was in the posfession of an other she ought to be wise and circumspect in the recouerie of hir hidden goods and that hir death was the more sorowfull vnto hir bicause she must leaue hir so yong a maiden vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement But yet she incouraged hir and sayd that sith necessitie approched she must in childishe age put on a graue and auncient mind and beware how she bewrayed that casket to any person for that of purpose she reserued the knowledge thereof to hir self that it might serue for hir preferment and procure hir a husbande worthie of hir selfe And the maiden demaunding the value of the same she told hir that it was worth CC. 〈◊〉 and gaue hir in writyng the particulers inclosed within the Caskette and sayde that the lyke bill shée shoulde finde within the same written with hir owne hande And so the good woman wythin a while after dyed leauing behynde hir the yong mayden hir Daughter that maruellously lantented the death of hir mother accordingly as Nature taught hir and eche other reasonable wyght depriued from their dearest friends The maiden for hir yeres was very wise and would disclose to none what hir mother had sayd kéeping the writing very carefully and 〈◊〉 Not long after Philene which was the maidens name fell in loue with a Gentleman of Scicilia of greate reputation and authoritie who all bée it he sawe hir to be very faire and comely yet cared not for hir loue in respecte of mariage for that he knewe hir to be poore and without dowrie mete for a Gentleman iesting and mocking to sée hir fire hir mind on him for desire to haue him to hir husbande that was a personage so noble and rich which refusall pierced the heart of that tender maiden bicause she saw hir self forsaken for nothing else but for want of goods which made hir to think and consider howe shée myght recouer the riches that hir mother had layed vp in Carthage It chaunced as shée was in this thought that the daughter of him to whome the house of Chera was giuen called Elisa was likewise enamoured of a noble yong gentleman in Carthage who bicause Elisa was the daughter of a souldiour and not very rich in like manner laughed iested at hir loue no lesse than the other did at Philene Notwithstanding Elisa attempted all meanes possible to induce the yong man to loue hir but hir practise and attemptes tended to none effect And last of all desirous to haue a resolute answere and thereby vnderstode that he woulde rather die than take hir to wife she fell into despaire and curssed fortune and hir fate that she was not borne riche enough to match with hir chosen Gentleman and that she being poore must fal in loue with such a personage whervpon she miserably formented hir selfe styll bewayling hir vnhappie lucke that she could not win him to be hir husbande for which only intent and purpose she loued him And this amorous passion incredibly growing in hir the rootes whereof bée planted in the restlesse humor of melancholie and wanting all hope and comforte to stay that ranke and rāmishe wéede it so increased in hir as shée franticke in raging loue gaue hir self ouer to the spoile of hirself And to rid hir from that griefe she determined to kill hir selfe imagining which waye she might doe the same At length she was resolueb with hir fathers sword to pierce hir body But hir heart not seruing hir therevnto deuised by the halter to ende hir life saying thus to hir self that at lest wise my death shall doe me good bicause that cruel man shall know that for his sake I haue done this facte and shall performe my funerals with some teares or sighes And if his heart be not of yron or stéele he can not chose but sorowe and lament that one which loued him better than hir owne life hath made such wretched ende onely for his crueltie Elisa concluding vpon this intent prepared a halter And being alone in hir house in the chamber where the Casket lay vpon
daughter in this house of right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to thée yet I will that thou shalte vnderstande my curtesie and that thou sée howe the Romanes doe more esteme the nobilitie of their minde than all the riches of the worlde Therfore that thou mayst enjoy thy loue I referre vnto thée and to thy disposition all the goodes and Iewels that were in the Caskette and conteyned in thy writyng Beholde therefore causing the Casket to 〈◊〉 brought vnto him all the Iewels and other parcels that were in the same when they were founde take so muche therof as thou wilte and if so bée thou desire the whole willingly I render the same vnto thée 〈◊〉 by meanes of those riches and the industrie of my trafique I haue gained so muche as hauyng gyuen a conuenient dowrie vnto my daughter I can honorably line without it Philene séeing the 〈◊〉 of this valiant Gentleman 〈◊〉 him insinite thanks and then sayd vnto him Sir I for my part dare aske nothing wel knowing that if you giue me nothing there is no cause why I should complaine of you but of my hard and wicked fortune which hath offered and giuē that to you which ought to haue ben mine Wherefore fith your curtesie is such as you referre the whole to me I purpose to take nothing but wil that the whole shal be in your disposition and giue me what you list that so giuen of your liberalitie I shal more thankfully receiue than if dette or dutie did constraine it And if it shall please you to giue me nothing my heart shal be 〈◊〉 well appeased for that your curtesse as rather woulde I choose to liue in the poore estate wherein I am than be rich with your displesure Howbeit the Roman intreated Philene to take therof what she thought good And Philene craued no more than it pleased 〈◊〉 to gyue Cyther of them standyng vpon these termes Elisa brake the strife who knowing the force of loue and the griefs incident to his cliēts of hir own harmes moued to haue compassion vpon the afflicted turned towardes hir father and 〈◊〉 vnto him Right louing father the contencion betwéene Philene and you is risen of a matter which came by me The treasure for which you striue and cōmit to the will of Philene was found by me wherof if it please you both I will take such order as both you shall be satisfied I am contented sayd hir father and I likewise answered Philene Then sayd Elisa You father hitherto haue had but one daughter which am I vnto whom like a childe and louing daughter I haue bene obedient and shal be all the dayes of my life And I againe haue receiued from you such fatherly education as your abilitie and state required This treasure I sound and gaue to you for case and comfort of vs both To me it yelded the only delectation of my heart in choise of husband to you honour and 〈◊〉 within this citie Wherefore sith the principall came from me and the right resteth in this carefull maiden my desire is this that where before you had but one daughter you will adopte this maiden for an other and think that you haue twaine and that you will intreate Philene in like sort as if she were my 〈◊〉 And where this inheritance and renenue wherwith now you be possessed and this casket also ought to be onely mine aster your decease for that you haue no sonnes nor other issue my desire is that you giue vnto hir the halfe and that you accept hir for your daughter as I doe meane to take hir for my sister and accordingly to vse hir during 〈◊〉 With these wordes Elisa imbraced Philene and louingly dyd kisse hir saying vnto hir For my sister I entertain thée Philene and then she toke hir by the hand and 〈◊〉 hir vnto hir father with these wordes Beholde father your new daughter whome I beséech you so heartily to loue as you doe Elisa youre naturall chylde The father praised the curtesie of Elisa and receiued Philene for his daughter And was contented with the arbitrement of his daughter But Elisa perceyuing hir husbande to bée somewhat offended therewith specially for that the same shoulde bée 〈◊〉 into two partes whiche was like to haue bene his wholly béefore persuaded hym by gentle meanes to be content with that agrement and although at the first he coulde not well brooke the liberalitie of his wife yet at length viewing the good behauiour and gentle disposition of Philene and the contented minde of his father in lawe together wyth the noble nature of hys wife and hir wise aduertisement of Fortunes fickle assurance yelded and acknowledged Philene for his 〈◊〉 And so Philene put in possession of the halfe of those goodes wherof she was altogether out of hope was well satisfied and had the Romane for hir 〈◊〉 Elisa for hir sister and hir husband for hir kinsman That 〈◊〉 Roman was so careful ouer Philene as if she had ben his owne daughter and so indeuored as he brought to passe that she obteined hir beloued Scicilian to husbande who also 〈◊〉 for him to Carthage where he continued with his wife in the Romans house and loued them both so dearely as though he had ben father to the one and father in lawe to the other In this maner these two poore wenches attained their two husbands for hauing of whome their only care was for Riches and for lacke therof were dryuen to despaire And in the ende both though 〈◊〉 and the one more fortunate than the other recouered riches and with the same their husbandes to their heartes singular ioye and contentation Whiche lucke I 〈◊〉 to all other poore Girles but not hanging ripe or louing in despaire that bende their myndes on Mariage and séeke to people by that estate their countrey common wealth But leauyng for a tyme these Tragicall Nouels and heauie chaunces wée purpose to remember some morall matters right worthie of remembrance Letters they bée from a godly Pagane clerk the famous philosopher Plutarch Schoolemaister to an Emperour of no lesse vertue than his maisters schoole and minde was 〈◊〉 with diuine precepts Wherfore procéede good reader to continue thy paines vpon the reading of these so well as thou hast 〈◊〉 to employ thy time before They shal no lesse delite thée if vertue brooke thée they shall no lesse content thée if duetie please thée than any delighte some thing wherevpon at any time thou hast employed thy vacant time Letters of the Emperour Traiane ¶ Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the noble and vertuous Emperour Traiane and from the sayd Emperour to Plutarch the like also from the said Emperour to the Senate of Rome In all which be conteined godly rules for gouernement of Princes obedience of Subiectes and their dueties to Common wealth The. xiij Nouell BIcause these Letters ensuing proceding from that infallible schoole of wisedome and practised by an apt Scholer of the same by a noble Emperor
black coale or rather their memorie raked vp in the dust and cindres of the corpses vnpure But as all histories be full of lessons of vertue and vice as bokes sacred prophane describe the liues of good and bad for example sake 〈◊〉 yelde meanes to the posteritie to ensue the one 〈◊〉 the other so haue I thought to intermingle amongest these Nouels the seuerall sortes of either that eche sexe and kinde may pike out like the Bée of eche floure honie to store furnishe with delightes their well disposed minde I purpose then to vnlace the dissolute liues of thrée amorouse dames that with their graces 〈◊〉 the greatest princes that euer were enticed the noble men and sometimes procured the wisest and best learned to craue their acquaintance as by the sequele hereof shall well appere These thrée famous women as writers doe witnesse were furnished with many goodly graces and giftes of nature that is to say great beautie offace goodly proporcion of bodie large and high forheads their brestes placed in comly order small wasted fayre hands of passing cunning to play vpon Instruments a heauenlie voice to faine and sing 〈◊〉 their qualities and beautie were more famous than euer any the were borne within the coūtries of Asia and Europa They were neuer beloued of Prince which did forsake them nor yet they made request of any thing which was denied them They neuer mocked or flouted man a thing rare in women of their cōdition ne yet were mocked of any But their speciall propreties were to allure men to loue thē Lamia with hir pleasant looke and eye Flora with hir eloquent tongue and Lais with the grace swetenesse of hir singing voyce A straunge thing that he wich once was 〈◊〉 with the loue of any of those thrée eyther too late or neuer was deliuered of the same They were the richest Courtizans that euer liued in the worlde so long as their life did last after their decease great monumentes were erected for their remembraunce in place where they dyed The most auncient of these thrée amorous dames was Lamia who was in the tyme of king Antigonus that warfared in the seruice of Alexander the great a valiant gentleman although not fauored by Fortune This king Antigonus lefte behinde hym a sonne and heire called Deinetrius who was lesse valiant but more fortunate than his father and had bene a 〈◊〉 of greate estimation if in his youth 〈◊〉 had acquired frendes and kept the same and in his age had not bene giuen to so many vices This king Demetrius was in loue with Lamia and presented hir with riche giftes and rewardes and loued hir to affectionatly and in such sort as in the loue of his Lamia he semed rather a 〈◊〉 than a true louer for forgetting the grauitie and authoritie of his person he did not onelie gyue hir all such things as she demaunded but bysides that he vsed no more the companie of his wife Euxonia On a time king Demetrius asking Lamia what was the thing wherewith a woman was sonest wonne Ther is nothing answered she which sooner ouer commeth a woman than whē she séeth a man to loue hir with all his hart to susteine for hir sake great paines and passions with long continuance and entier affection for to loue men by collusion causeth afterwards that they be mocked againe Demetrius asked hir further tell me Lamia why doe diuerse women rather hate than loue men whervnto shée answered The greatest cause why a woman doth hate a man is when the man dothe vaunte boaste himselfe of that which he doth not and performeth not the thing which he promiseth Demetrius demaunded of hir Tell me Lamia what is the thing wherwith men doe content you best when we see him sayde she to be discrete in wordes secrete in his dedes Demetrius asked hir further Tell me Lamia how chanceth it the men be ill matched bicause answered Lamia It is impossible that they be well maried when the wife is in néede the husband vndiscrete Demetrius asked hir what was the cause that amity betwene two louers was 〈◊〉 Ther is nothing answered she that soner maketh colde the loue betwene two louers than when one of them doth straye in loue and the woman louer to importunate to craue He demaunded further Tell me Lamia what is the thing that most 〈◊〉 the louing man Not to attaine the thing which he desireth answered she and thinketh to lose the thing which he hopeth to enioy Demetrius yet once againe asked hir this question What is that Lamia which most troubleth a womans hart Ther is nothing answered Lamia wherwith a woman is more grieued and maketh hir more sad than to be called yll fauored or that she hath no good grace or to vnderstand that she is dissolute of life This ladie Lamia was of iudgement delicate and subtill although yll ymployed in hir therby made all the world in loue with hir and drew all men to hir through hir faire spéech Now before she lost the heart of king Demetrius she haunted of long time the Uniuersities of Athenes where she gained great store of money and brought to destruction many yong men Plutarch in the life of Demetrius saith that the Athenians hauing presented vnto him 〈◊〉 C. talents of money for a subsidie to pay his men of warre he gaue all that 〈◊〉 to his woman Lamia By meanes wherof the Athenians grudged were offended with the king not for the losse of their gift but for that it was so euill employed When the king Demetrius would assure any thing by oth he swore not by his Gods ne yet by his predecessors but in this sort As I may be still in the grace of my lady Lamia and as hir life mine may ende together so true is this which I say doe in this this sort One yere two monethes before the death of king Demetrius his frend Lamia died who sorowed so much hir death as for the absence death of hir he caused the Philosophers of Athenes to entre disputation Whether the teares and sorow which he shed and and toke were more to be estemed than the riches which he spent in hir obsequies funerall pompes This amorous gentlewoman Lamia was borne in Argos a citie of Peloponnesus by 〈◊〉 nes of base parentage who in hir first yeres haunted the countrie of Asia maior of very wild dissolute life in the end came into Phaenicia And when that king Demetrius had caused hir to be buried before a wyndow ioyning to his house his chiefest frendes asked him wherfore he had entombed hir in that place His answere was this I loued hir so well she likewise me so hartily as I knowe not which way to satisfie that loue which she bare me the duetie I haue to loue hir againe if not to put hir in such place as myne eyes may wepe euery daye mine hart still lament Truely
other I will carrie with me to Rome not as prisoner but as hostage pledge from thée The prisoners which thou haste of ours shal bée rendred in exchange for those which we haue of thyne without ransome of eyther parts And by théese meanes thou shalt remaine honored in Asia and I contented will retorne to Rome The Gods bée thy defense preserue our mother the citie of Rome from all vnhappie fortune The Quéene Zenobia hauing reade the letter of the Emperour Aurelianus without feare of the contentes incontinently made such answere as followeth Zenobia Quéene of Palmyres and Ladie of all Asia and the kingdomes thereof to thée Aurelianus the Emperour helth and consolation c. That thou doe intitle thy selfe with the Emperour of the Romanes I do agrée but to presume to name thy selfe lorde of the East kingdomes I saye therein thou doest offende For thou knowest well that I alone am Lady Regent of all the Orient the onely dame maistres of the same The one part wherof descended vnto me by lawfull inheritaunce from my predecessors and the other part I haue wonne by my prowesse and dedes of armes Thou sayest that if I rendre obedience vnto thée thou wilt doe me greate honor To that I answere that it were a dishonest part of me and a déede moste vniust that the Gods hauing created Zenobia to comaunde all Asia she should nowe begyn to be slaue thrall vnto the citie of Rome Semblablie thou sayest that thou wilt gyue and leaue me all the golde siluer and other riches which I haue Whervnto I answer that it is a wicked and fonde request to dispose the goodes of another as they were thine owne But thine eyes shall neuer sée it ne yet thy handes shal touch it but rather I hope in the Gods aboue to bestow and crye a larges of that which thou haste at Rome before thou finger that which I haue possesse in Asia Truely Aurelianus the warres which thou makest against me and thy quarell bée most vniust before the supernall Gods and verie vnreasonable before men and I for my part if I haue entred or doe take armes it is but to defend my selfe and myne Thy comming then into Asia is for none other purpose but to spoyle make hauocke of that which an other hath And thinke not that I am greatly afrayde of that name of Roman Prince nor yet of the power of thyne huge armie For if it bée in thy handes to gyue battell it belongeth onely to the gods to giue eyther to thée or me the victory That I remaine in field it is to me greate fame but thou to fight with a widdowe oughtest truely to bée ashamed Ther be come vnto myne ayde and Campe the Persians the Medes the Agamēnonians the Irenees the Syrians and with them all the Gods immortall who bée woont to chastice such proude princes as thou arte and to helpe poore widows as I am And if it so come to passe that the Gods doe permit suffre my lucke to bée such as thou doe bereue me of life and dispoile me of goods yet it wil be bruted at Rome and published in Asia that the wofull wight Zenobia was ouerthrowne and slaine in defense of hir patrimonie and for the conseruation of hir husbandes honor Labor no more then Aurelianus to flatter and pray me nor yet to threaten me require me no more to yelde and become thy prisoner nor yet to surrender that which I haue for by doing that I can I accomplish that I ought For it will be saide and noysed through the world may it so come to passe as Fortune doe not fauor me that if the Empresse Zenobia bée captiue she was not yet vanquished The sonne which thou 〈◊〉 to carie with thée to Rome truely that request I cannot abide and much lesse doe meane to 〈◊〉 the same knowing full well that thy house is stored full of manyfolde vices where myne is garnished with many notable Philosophers Wherby if I leaue vnto my children no great heapes of goodes yet they shal be well taught and instructed For the one halfe of the day they spende in Learnyng and the other halfe in exercise of Armes For conclusion of thy demaunde and finall answer thervnto I pray thée trauell no more by letters to write vnto me ne yet by ambassage to spende any 〈◊〉 talke but attend vntill our controuersie bée decided rather by force of armes than by vttered wordes The Gods preserue thée It is said that Aurelianus receiuing that answere did reioyce but when he had redde it hée was greatly offended which incontinently hée made to bée knowne by gathering together his Campe and besieging the Citie wherin Zenobia was And Aurelianus wroth and outraged with that answere although his armie was werie and halfe in dispaire by reason of the long warres yet hée vsed suche diligence and expedition in the siege of that place as the 〈◊〉 was taken and the citie rased which done the Emperour Aurelianus retourned to Rome carying wyth hym Zenobia not to doe hir to death but to tryumphe ouer hir At what tyme to sée that noble Ladie goe on foote and marche before the triumphing Chariot bare 〈◊〉 charged wyth that burden of heauie chaūce and hir two children by hir side truly it made the Roman Matrons to conceiue great pitie being well knowen to all the Romanes that neither in valo rous dedes nor yet in vertue or chastitie any mā or woman of hir time did 〈◊〉 hir The dayes of the triumph being done al the noble Ladies of Rome assembled and repaired to Zenobia and vsed vnto hir greate and honorable enterteinement giuing hir many goodly presents and rewardes And Zenobia liued in the companie of those noble matrones the space of x. yeares béefore she dyed in estimation like a Lucrecia and in honor lyke a Cornelia And if Fortune had accompanied hir personage so well as vertue and magnanimitie Rome had felt the egrenesse of hir displeasure and the whole world tasted the swetenesse of hir regiment Euphimia of Corinth ¶ EVPHIMIA the King of 〈◊〉 daughter fell in loue with ACHARISTO the seruant of hir father and besides others which required hir to mariage she disdained PHILON the king of PELOPONESVS that loued hir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ACHARISTO conspiring against the king was discouered tormented and put in prison by meanes of 〈◊〉 deliuered The king promised his daughter and kingdome to him that presented the heade of ACHARISTO EVPHIMIA so wrought as he was presented to the King The King gaue him his daughter to wyfe and when he dyed made him his heyre ACHARISTO began to hate his wyfe and condemned hir to death as an adulteresse PHILON deliuered hir vpon the sute of hir subiects she is cōtented to marie him therby he is made king of Corinth The. xv Nouel COnstancie in Honeste loue beyng a perfect vertue and a precious ornament to the beloued indewing 〈◊〉 besides ioy and contentacion
to like effect as she did before therby to draw him frō his cōceiued purpose whervnto the wise King hauing made replie continuing his intended mynde at length in ragyng wordes and stormed mind he sayd vnto Euphimia How much the swéeter is the wine the sharper is the egred sawe thereof I speake this Parable for that thou not knowyng or greatly regarding the gentle disposition of thy fathers nature in the ende mayst so abuse the same as where hitherto he hath bene curteous and benigne he may become through thy disordered déedes ryghte sowre and sharpe and without vtterance of further talke departed Who resting euil content with that fond fixed loue thought that the next way to remedie the same was to tel Acharisto how 〈◊〉 he toke his presumed fault and in what heinous part he conceiued his ingratitude and how for the benefites which liberally hée had bestowed vpon him he had brought and enticed his daughter to loue him that was farre vnagreable hir estate And therfore he called hym before him and with reasons first declared the duetie of a faithfull seruant to his souerain Lord and afterwards he sayd That if the receyued benefits were not able to lette him know what were conuenient and séemely for his degrée but would perseuere in that which he had begonne he would make him féele the iust displeasure of a displeased Prince whereby hée shoulde repent the tyme that euer hée was borne of womans wombe These wordes of the King semed grieuous to Acharisto not to moue him to further anger hée séemed as though that being fearfull of the kinges displeasure hée did not loue his daughter at all but sayd vnto hym that hée deserued not to bée so rebuked for that it lay not in his power to withstande hir loue the same proceding of hir owne good will and libertie And that hée for his part neuer required loue if she did bend hir mynde to loue him 〈◊〉 could not remedie that affection for that the fréewill of such vnbridled appetite rested not in him to reforme Notwithstāding bycause hée vnderstoode his vnwilling mynd 〈◊〉 from that time forth would so indeuor himselfe as hée shoulde well 〈◊〉 that the vnstayde mynde of the yong gentlewoman Euphimia was not incensed by him but voluntarily conceyued of hir selfe You shall doe well sayde the King if the effect procede according to the promise And the more acceptable shall the same bée vnto me for that I desire it shold so come to passe The king liked wel these words although that Acharisto had conceiued within 〈◊〉 plat of his intended minde some other treason For albeit that hée affirmed before the kings owne face that hée would not loue his daughter yet knowing the assured will of the louing gentlewoman hée practised the mariage and like an vnkind wretched man deuised cōuenient tyme to kill him And fully bent to execute that cruell enterprise hée attempted to corrupt the chiefest men about him promising promocions vnto some to some hée assured restitucion of reuenewe which by fathers fault they had lost béefore and to other golden hilles so that hée might attaine by slaughter of the King to 〈◊〉 a kingly state and kingdome Which the sooner he persuaded himselfe to acquire if in secrete silence they coulde put vp that which by generall voice they hadde agréed And although they thought themselues in good assurāce that their enterprise coulde take no yll successe by reason of their sounde and good discourse debated amonges them selues for the accomplishement thereof yet it fortuned that one of the conspiracie as commonly in suche lyke traiterous attemptes it chaunceth béeyng with his beloued ladie and she making mone that little commoditie succéeded of hir loue for hir aduauncement brake out into these woordes Holde thy peace sayde hée for the time will not bée long before thou shalt bée one of the chiefest Ladies of this lande Howe can that be sayde his woman No more adoe quod the Gentleman Cease from further questions and bée merrie for wée shall enioye together a verie honourable and a quiete lyfe When hir Louer was departed the gentlewoman went to an other of hir gossips very iocunde and tolde hir what hir louer had sayd and she then not able to kepe counsell went and told an other In such wise as in the ende it came to the cares of the Kings stewards wife and she imparted the same vnto hir husband who marking those words like a mā of great wisedome experience did verily beléeue that the same touched the daunger of the Kings person And as a faithfull seruant to his lorde and maister diligently harkned to the muttering talke murmured in the court by him which had tolde the same to his beloued ladie knowing that it proceded from Acharisto which was an 〈◊〉 and sedicious varlet and that he with thrée or foure other his familiars kept secrete companie in corners iudged that which he first coniectured to be most certaine and true Wherefore determined to moue the King therof and vpon a day finding him alone he sayde vnto him that the fidelittie and good will wherwith hée serued him and the desire which he had to sée him liue in long and prosperous estate made him to attende to the safegarde of his person to hearken vnto such as shold attempt to daūger the same For which cause marking and espying the doings of certain of his chamber whose common assemblies and priuie whisperings mislyking he feared least they conspiring with Acharisto shoulde worke treason for berieuyng of his life and to the intent their endeuors might be preuented and his safetie foreséene he thought good to reueale the same to his maiestie Then he tolde the King the words that were spoken by the first Gentlewomā to one or two of hir companions and disclosed the presumptions which hée 〈◊〉 séene and perceyued touching the same Amongs the yll conditions of men there is nothing more common than poyson conspiracies and treason of Princes and great lordes and therefore euery little suspicion presumyng such 〈◊〉 is a great demonstration of like mischiefe Which made the Kyng to giue credite to the wordes of his Steward hauing for his long experience knowen him to be faithfull and trustie And sodainly he thought that Acharisto attempted the same that after his death by mariage of Euphimia he might be the inheritour of his kingdome The beliefe wherof and the singular credite which he reposed in his Steward besides other thinges caused him to cōmaunde the captaine of his Guard to apprehend those iiii of whom his Steward told him and Acharisto cōmitting them to seuerall prisons Then be sent his officers to examine them and founde vpon their confessions the accusation of his Stewarde to be true But Acharisto although the whole 〈◊〉 of the treason was confessed by those foure conspirators that were apprehēded and aduouched to his face and for all the tormentes wherewith he was racked and cruciated yet still denied that either he
was authour of the enterprise or partaker of a treason so wicked Then the king incontinently caused the foure Gentlemen of his chamber 〈◊〉 be rewarded according to the worthinesse of their offense and wer put to death and Acharisto to be repriued in sharpe and cruell prison vntill with tormentes he should be forced to confesse that which he knew to be most certain and true by the euidēce of those that were done to death Euphimia for the imprisonment of Acharisto conceiued incredible sorrow and vneths coulde bée persuaded that he woulde imagine much lesse conspire that 〈◊〉 fact as well for the loue which Acharisto séemed to beare vnto hir as for the greate good will wherewith he was assured that shée bare vnto him and therfore the death of the 〈◊〉 to be no lesse griefe vnto him than the same would be to 〈◊〉 self the king being hir naturall and louyng father Acharisto thoughte on the other side that if he might speake with Euphimia a way woulde be founde eyther for his escape or else for his deliuerie Wherupon Acharisto being in this deliberation founde meanes to talke with the Iailors wife intreated hir to shewe him so much fauor as to procure Euphimia to come vnto him She accordingly broughte to passe that the yong gentlewoman in secret wise came to speake with this traiterous varlet who so sone as he sawe hir sheding from his eyes store of teares pitifully complaining sayde vnto hir I knowe Euphimia that the King your father doth not inclose me in this cruell prisō ne yet afflicteth me with these miserable tormēts for any suspicion hée conceiueth of me for any intended facte but onely for the loue which I beare you and for the like for which I rendre humble thankes that you do beare to me bicause that I am werie of this wretched state knowe that nothing else can 〈◊〉 me from this painful life but onely death I am determined wyth mine owne propre hands to cut the thréede of lyfe wherwith the destinies hitherto haue prolonged the same that this my brething ghost which breatheth forth 〈◊〉 dolefull plaintes maie flée into the Skies to rest it selfe amonges the restfull spirites aboue or wandre into 〈◊〉 pleasant hellish fieldes amongs the shadowes of Creusa Aeneas wife or else with the ghost of complaining Dido But ere I did the same I made myne humble prayer to the maiestie diuine that hée would vouchsafe to shewe me somuch grace as before I dye I might fulfyl my 〈◊〉 eyes with sight of you whose ymage still appereth before those gréedie Gates and 〈◊〉 representeth vnto my myndefull heart Which great desired thing sith God aboue hath graūted I yelde him infinit 〈◊〉 and sith my desteny is such that such must bée the end of loue I doe reioyce that I must dye for your sake which only is the cause that the King your father so laboureth for my death I néede not to molest you with the false euidence giuen against me vp those malicious vilaines that bée alreadie dead which onely hath thus incensed the Kyngs wrath and heauie rage against me whereof I am so frée as woorthily they bée executed for thesame For if it were so then true it is and as lightly you might beleue the I neuer knewe the loue you beare me and you likewise did neuer know what loue I bare to you and therfore you maye thinke that so impossible is the one as I did euer meane thinke or ymagine any harme or perill to your fathers person To bée short I humbly doe besech you to beleue that so faithfully as man is able to loue a womā so haue I loued you that it may please you to bée so myndfull of me in this fading life as I shal be of you in that life to com And in saying so with face all bathed in teares he clyped hir about the myddle and fast imbracing hir said Thus taking my last farewell of you myne onely life and ioye I commende you to the gouernment of the supernall God my selfe to death to be disposed as pleaseth him Euphimia which before was not persuaded the Acharisto was guiltie of that deuised treason now gaue ful beliefe and credite to his wordes and weping with him for company comforted him so wel as she coulde and bidding him to bée of good chere she sayde that she would seke such meanes as for hir sake and loue he should not dye And that before long time did passe she would help him out of prison Acharisto although hée vttered by ruful voice that 〈◊〉 talke for remedie to ridde him selfe from prison yet he didde but 〈◊〉 all that he spake addyng further Alas Euphimia doe not incurre your fathers wrath to please my minde suffer me quietly to take that death which sinister Fortune and cruell fate hath prouided to abridge my daies Euphimia vanquished with inspeakable griefe and burning passion of loue saide Ah Acharisto the onely ioye and comfort of my lyfe doe not perce my heart with such displeasant wordes For what should I doe in this wretched worlde yf you for my sake shold suffre death wherfore put awaie the cruel thought and be content to saue your life that hereafter in ioye myrth you may spend that same Trusting that yf meanes maye be founde for your dispatche from hence we shall liue the rest of our prolonged life together in swete and happie daies For my father is not made of stone of flint nor yet was nourced of Hircan Tigre he is not so malicious but that in tyme to come hée may 〈◊〉 made to know the true discourse of thyne innocent life and hope thou shalt atteyne his fauour more than euer thou 〈◊〉 before the care wherof onely leaue to me and take no thought thy self for I make promise vpon mine assured faith to bring the same to passe Wherefore giue ouer thy conceiued griefe and bende thy selfe to liue so merie a life as euer gentleman did trained vp in court as thou hast bene I am content sayd Acharisto thus to doe the Gods forbid that I should declyne my heart and mynde from thy behest who of thy wonted grace dost seke continuance of my life but rather swete Euphimia than thou shouldest suffre any daunger to performe thy promise I make request for the common loue betwene vs both to leaue me in this present dangerous state Rather wold I lose my life than 〈◊〉 shouldest hazard the least heare of thy heade for my reliefe We shal be both safe ynough answered Euphimia for my deuise proceding from a womans heade hath alreadie drawen the plotte of thy deliuerance and wyth those wordes they both did ende their talke whose trickling teares did rather finishe the same than willing myndes and eyther of them gyuing a kysse vnto the Tower walle wherein Acharisto was faste shutte Euphimia departed turmoiled with a thousand amorous prickes and ceased not but first of all to corrupte and wynne the Iaylers wife whose husband
custodie and sodainly assailed the Palace of Acharisto And finding the Gates open he entred the citie crying out vpon the wickednesse and treason of Acharisto At which words the whole Citie began to rise to helpe Philon in his enterprise For there was no state or degrée but abhorred the vnkind order of that variet towards the noble woman their Quéene Philon aided with the people assaulted the Palace and in short space inuaded the same and the Uarlet béeing apprehended was put to death The Corinthians séeing the noble minde of Philon and the loue which he bare to Euphimia and knowing that their late Kyng was disposed to haue matched hir with Philon were very willing to haue him to be their king and that Euphimia shold be his wife supposing that vnder the gouernement of a Prince so gentle and valiant they might liue very happily and ioyefully Execution done vpon that moste 〈◊〉 varlet Philon caused the Ladie to be conueyed home into hir royall Pallace And the people with humble submission began to persuade hir to marie with that yong Prince Philon. But shée which had lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir minde vpon that caytife who vnnaturally had abused hir would by no meanes consent to take a new husband saying that the seconde mariage was not to bée allowed in any woman And albeit that she knew howe greately she was bounde to Philon as during life not able to recompence his louing kindnesse and baliant exployte performed for hir safegarde yet for all hir vnhappie fortune shée was minded still to remayne a widowe and well contented that Philon shoulde possesse hir whole domynion and kingdome and she pleased to liue his subiecte Whiche state she sayd did like hir best Philon that not for desire of the Kingdome but for loue of the ladie had attempted that worthie and honourable enterprise sayd vnto hir Euphimia it was onely for youre sake that I aduentured this dangerous indeuor to ridde you from the slander that might haue ensued youre innocent death and out of the cruell hands of him whome unworthily you did so dearely loue No desire of kingdome or worldely glorie induced me herevnto No care that I had to enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile pricked the courage of my minde that is altogether emptie of ambition but the passion of carelesse loue whiche this long time I haue borne you in your happie fathers dayes to whome I made incessant sute and to your selfe I was so long a suter vntil I receiued extreme repulse For which I vowed a perpetuall single life vntill this occasion was offred the brute wherof when I heard first so stirred the minde of your most louing knight that drousie sléepe or gréedie hunger could not force this restlesse bodie to tarrie at home vntill I reuenged my self vpon that vilaine borne which went about with roasting flames to consume the innocent flesh of hir whom I loued best And therfore mustred together my men of armes and in secret sort imbarked our selues and arriued here Where wée haue accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you in quiet raigne frée from perill of traiterous mindes crauing for this my fact nought else of you but willing minde to be my wife which 〈◊〉 you do refuse I passe not for rule of your kyngdome ne yet for abode in Corinth but meane to leaue you to youre choise For satisfied am I that I haue manifested to the world the greatnesse of my loue which was so ample as euer King could beare to vertuous Quéene And so fare well At which wordes he made a signe to his people that they should shippe them selues for returne to Poloponessus But the Senatours and al the people of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon how greatly their Quéene was bound vnto him fel downe vpon their knées and with ioyned hands befought hir to take him to husband neuer ceasing from teares and supplication vntill shée had consented to their request Then the mariage was solemnised with great ioy and triumphe and the whole Citie after that time lyued in great felicitie quiet so long as nature lengthened the dayes of those two noble Princes The Marchionisse of Monferrato ¶ The Marchionisse of MONFERRATO with a banket of hennes and certaine pleasant wordes repressed the fonde loue of PHILIP the French King The. xvj Nouel GOod Euphimia as you haue heard did fondly applie hir loue vpon a seruile mā who though bred vp in Court wher trayuyng and vse doth cōmonly alter the rude condicions of suche as bée interteyned there yet voyde of all gentlenesse and frustrate of natures swéetenesse in that curteous kinde as not exchaungyng natiue 〈◊〉 for noble aduauncement returned to his hoggish soile and walowed in the durtie filthe of Inhumanitie whose nature myght well with Forke or Staffe bee expelled but home againe it would haue come as Horace pleadeth in his Epistles O noble Gentlewoman that mildly suffred the displeasure of the good King hir father who woulde faine haue dissuaded hir from that vnséemely matche to ioyne with a yong Prince a King a Gentleman of great perfection And O pestilent Carle being beloued of so honourable a pucell that for treason discharged thy head frō the block of a donghill slaue preferred thée to be a King wouldest for those deserts in the ende frame 〈◊〉 matter to consume hir With iust hatred then did the noble Emperor Claudius Caesar prosecute those of bonde seruile kinde that were matched with the frée and noble Right well knew he that some tast of egrenesse wold rest in such sauage frute therfore made a law that the issue of them shold not haue like libertie and preheminence as other had which agréeably did couple What harme such mariage hath inferred to dyuers states and persons to auoide other exāples the former Nouel teacheth Wherfore to ende the same with bewailing of Euphimia for hir vnluckie lot begin we now to glad our selues with the wise and stoute aunswere of a chaste Marquesse a Gentlewoman of singular beautie and discretion made to the fond demaunde of a mightie Monarch that fondly fell in loue with hir and made a reckenyng of that which was doubtfull to recouer This King by louing hir whome he neuer saw fared like the man that in his sléepe dreamed that hée had in holde the thing furthest from him For the King neuer saw hir before he heard hir praised and when he hearde hir praised for purpose to winne hir he trauailed out of his way so sure to enioy hir as if he had neuer séene hir This historie although briefe yet sheweth light to noble dames that be pursued by Princes teacheth them with what regard they ought to interteine such suters The Marquesse then of Monferrato a citie in Italie beyng a Gentlemā of great prowesse and valiance was appointed to transfrete the Seas in a generall passage made by the christians with an huge Armie and great furniture And as it chaunced vpon
long loue might gaine some deserued guerdon she neuer left him vntill she had preferred him to a Noble office in Spayne The noble disposition of this chast and gentle Quéene I thought good to adioyne next to that of master Thorello and Saladine who for curtesie and passing mutual kindnesse are worthy of remembrance And for you noble Dames for a Christall to sharpen your sights and viewe the recompence of loue done by a Quéene of passing beautie and yet most chast vertuous that it might somewhat touch your squeymish stomakes and haultie hearts lenifie that corrosiue humor which with frowning face forceth you to ouerperke your humble suppliants A helping preseruatiue I hope this Historie shal be to imbolden you to yeld your noble endeuors to Gentlemen that loue you in sutes and petitions to their prince and soueraigne An incoragement I hope to be mediators for such as by seruice and warfare haue confirmed their faithfull deuoirs for defense of their Countrey Remember the care the Romane matrones had for those that deserued well of their Common wealth as howe they mourned for Lucius Brutus one whole yeres space for his good reuenge ouer the rauishers of Lucrece for Martius Coriolanus for his pietie and mothers sake discharging his Countrey from the enimies siege Let mistresse Paolina of the priuie chābre to this Quene Anne render example for prefermēt of such as be worthy to be cherished and estéemed O how Liberalitie be séemeth a Quéene no lesse as one maketh comparison than the bright beames the Sunne or the twinkling starres in the firmament Oh how diligence in Gentlewomen aduaunced to Princes chambres no lesse than the gréene leaues to braunched trées or diuers coloured floures in Nosegayes So flourishing be the fruites that bud from liberalitie and freshe the benifites that 〈◊〉 of the painfull trauailes sustained in the suites of seruiceable Gentlemen This Philippo whome the Quéene preferred and liberally rewarded was a meane Gentleman but yet learned well furnished with commendable qualities His deserued aduaūcement may stirre vp eche Gitle heart to merite and serue in Common wealth His learning other vertues may awake the sluggish courtier from loytering on Carpets and doing things vnséemely His diligence also reuiue the blockish sprites of some that route their time in sluggish sléepe or wash the day in hariotrie and other 〈◊〉 exercise Whose exam ple if they practise or imitate such commentable life as becommeth their estates then glory will followe their déedes as the shadow doeth the body Then welfare and liuelihoode aboundantly shal be ministred to supply want of patrimonie or defect of parents portion And thus the Historie doth begin Not long sithens Quéene Anne the sister of Levves that was king of Hungarie wife to Ferdinando Archeduke of Austriche which at this day is parcell of the kingdome of Hungarie and Boeme togither wyth the Lady Mary daughter of Philip king of Spaine and wife of the sayd Levves went to kéepe hir abode and so orne in Hispurge a Countrey among the Dutche very famous where many times the Court of the Hungarian Princes long space remayned These two Noble Quéenes remained wythin the Palace of king Maximilian Emperoure at that time elected which Palace is so néere adioyning to the Cathedrall Church as without sight of the people at their pleasure they might by a secrete Gallerie passe to the Church to heare diuine seruice accustomably celebrated there Which vse they daily obserued with their Ladies and Gentlewomen and other Lordes and Gentlemen of the Court. In which Church was made and erected a high place in manner of a Closet gorgeously wrought and in royall manner apparelled of such amplitude as it was hable to receyue the whole traine and companie attendant vpon the Persons of the two Quéenes Nowe it came to passe that a Gentleman of Cromona in Italie called Philippo di Nicuoli which in those dayes by reason of the recouerie of the Duchie of Milane by the Frenche departed Lombardie and went to Hispurge and was Secretarie to Signor Andrea Borgo bicause hée was well learned and coulde wryte very faire and therewithall a proper and very handsome man This yong Gentleman very much frequenting the Church and séeing the beautie of Quéene Anne to excell all the reast of the Ladies adorned and garnished with Princely behauioure and Quéene like qualities not foreséeing when he beheld hir the nature of loue which once being possessed neuer leaueth the pacient till it hath infebled his state like the qualitie of poyson distilling through the vaines euen to the heart Which louing venim this Gentleman did drinke with the lookes of his eyes to satisfy and content his desired minde by viewing and intentife considering hir wonderfull beautie that rapt beyonde measure he was miserably intangled wyth the snares of blinde and deceitfull loue wherewith he was so cruelly inflamed that hée was like to sorte out of the boundes of reason and wytte And the more hée did beholde the highnesse of hir Maiestie and the excellency of so great a Lady and ther withal did weigh and cōsider his base degrée and lignage and the poore state whereunto srowarde 〈◊〉 that time had brought him that more he thought him selfe 〈◊〉 and voide of hope and the more the yerillous flames of loue did assaile fire his amorous heart kindling his inward partes with loue so déepely ingraffed as it was impossible to be rooted out Master Philippo then in this maner as you haue heard knotted and intrapped within the fillets and laces of loue supposing all labour which he should imploy to be lost consumed throughly bent him selfe with all care and diligence to atchieue this high honorable enterprise what so euer should come of it which effectually he pursued For alwayes when that 〈◊〉 were at church to heare diuine seruice he failed not to be there And hauing done his 〈◊〉 reuerence which very comely he could doe he 〈◊〉 to bestow him selfe 〈◊〉 ouer against hir where deliting in the beautie of the Quéene which daily more more inflamed his heart 〈◊〉 not depart from thence till the Quéenes were disposed to goe And if perchaunce for some occasion the Quéenes went not to Church master Philippo for all that were his businesse neuer so great and néedeful would vouchsafe at least wise to visit the place where he was wont to sée his Ladie Suche is the ordinarie force of loue that although libertie of sight and talke be depriued from the pacient yet it doeth him good to treade in the steps of that ground where his mistresse doth vsually haunt or to sée the place vpon which she eased hir tender corps or leaned hir delicate elbowes This yong man baited and fed in amorous toyes deuises now armed with hope and by and by disarmed by despair reuoluèd in his minde a thousand thoughts and cogitations And although he knew that his ladder had not steps 〈◊〉 to clime so high yèt from his determined
be full of examples of that purpose The memories of our auncestors be yet in fresh remembraunce whereof if they were ignorant vnto you that be of great experience I could adnouche assured testimony Yet thus much I say vnto you that it séeme no new thing for a man to be ouercome by his owne affection It is not the Nobilitie of hir state or for that she is a Quéene it is not the consideration of one parte or other that moued me first hereunto But loue it is that is of greater force than we our selues be of which many tymes maketh that to séeme lawfull which altogether is tymes and by subduing reason maketh the great potentate and lorde tributarie to his wil pleasure whose force is farre greater than the lawes of Nature And albeit that I neuer hope to attayne to prosperous ende of this 〈◊〉 and stately loue which more more doth seme infortunate yet I can not for my life else where applie that same or alter it to other place And consuming still through faithfull feruent loue borne to the Quéene I haue forced cōstrained my self by al possible meanes to gyue ouer that fond foolish enterprise and to place my minde else where but mine endeuour and all my labour and resistance is employed in vaine Yea and if it were not for feare of eternall damnation and the losse of my poore afflicted soule which God forbid mine owne handes before this time had ended my desires I am therfore determined sith that I can attaine to no successe of loue and that god doth suffer me to be inspired with that most honourable and curteous Ladie beyond al order and estimation to content my selfe with the sight of those hir faire glistring eyes farre excelling that sparcling glimpse of the Diamonde or Saphire and to serue loue and honour hir so long as life doth last within this féeble corps Upon whose radiant and excelling beautie my hope shal continually féede and yet I am not so farre voyde of vnderstanding but that I do most euidently know none other to be the guide of this vnmeasurable loue but follie most extreme Upon the ende of those wordes he let fall many teares and stayed with sobbes and sighes was able to speake no more And in very déede he that had séene him wold haue thought that his heart had bene tormented with most bitter and painefull passions Nowe they being very attentiue to his pitiful oration were attached with incredible sorow thinking thei had ben in a 〈◊〉 by hering of this discourse stode stil a while one loking vpon an other without speaking word Afterwards comming to themselues distraught almost for the greatadmiration and wonder to heare him speake those words master Girolamo and Baldo with suasible arguments went about to persuade him to withdraw his 〈◊〉 and foolishe mind praying him to place the same elsewhere shewing him the impossibilitie of his enterprise the great perill that might succéede therof But they spake to a man that séemed to be deafe who replied that he neither coulde or would giue ouer his loue that had alreadie made too depe impression what so euer came of it Notwithstandyng they ceased not stil with sharp 〈◊〉 to beate into his head the fond beginning of his foolish loue not only at that time but continually when they were together they did their best by oft repetition of his vaine conceipt to let him vnderstand his manifest error but their labor and friendly lessons were to no purpose Wherfore master Borgo master Baldo determined to giue him ouer and to attende what wold succede therof Master Philippo continuing his pursute neuer failing to be at church when he knew the Quéenes to be there at length it chanced that they begā to espie his loue for that both of them did mark his order gesture and demeanure and did note his oft frequētation of the places where they continually haunted and his maner in placing himselfe at the church directly ouer against them and his common vse in beholding and loking vpon their faces iudgyng thereby that without doubte he was in loue with one of them or at least with some Gentlewoman in their companie wherof the two Quéenes began to vse some talk although not certaine vpon whome his loue was 〈◊〉 Neuer thelesse they were desirous to know the truth expected 〈◊〉 somtime to dissolue that doubt In the meane while master Philippo thought by gazing on their beauty to remoue the fire that miserably did consume the sucke marow of his bones séeking comfort and reliefe for his afflicted heart the more I say he sought for ease the greater he felt his pain And truly al they that feruently do loue aspire to that which otherwise they wold eschue by sight of them whom they do loue not remembring that the more they doe contemplate the beloued beautie the more increaseth desire and with desire 〈◊〉 and bitter smart Master Philippo then lost no occasiō or time stil to behold Madame the Quéene were it in the church or court or wer she disposed for disport recreation to walke abrode It chaūced now while things wer at this point the ladies very desirous to know vpon whō master Philippo did expēd his loue the fortune opened vnto thē a meane to vnderstād the same It was then about that time of the yere wherin all floures roses were by Titans force constrained to 〈◊〉 deck eche gardens place of pleasure with their fragrant smells odors to scent the same In the moneth of May it was when the Twinnes were disposed to shroud themselues amōgs the hawthorn boughes honysuckles that yeld to euery wight gretest store of delights at what time roses other floures at their first budding be verie rare and scant sauing in Kings Courts and princes palaces where such rarieties by art and industrie be most abundant and all men haue delight to present such nouelties to the best and principall ladies Upon a day Quéene Anne had in hir hands certaine floures in due order couched in a Nosegay and for hir disport walked vp down a very faire gorgeous garden in the company of quene Mary other Ladies gentlewomen about that time of the day that the Sun werie of trauaile went to hide him self in the back side of the western moūtains where amōgs other of the Court was maister Philippo Quéene Anne when she had espied hym determined to make proufe with what ladie amongs them all maister Philippo was in loue and sporting hir selfe with softe walkes vp and downe the garden pleasantly iesting with diuerse there attendante as the maner is of like ladies with trimme and pleasant talke at length happed vpon master Philippo who although he was in cōmunication with certain Italian Gentlemen neuerthelesse his mynde and eyes were fired vpon the Quéene that when 〈◊〉 she appered before him his eyes and sace were so firmely bent vpon hir as
the beholder might easily perceiue that the visage of the Quéene was the vndoubted harborough of his thought Philippo séeing the Quéene come toward him did honor hir with gentle and dutiful reuerence in such humble wise as he séemed at hir hands pitifully to craue mercie And truely who soeuer doth loue with secret and perfect heart séemeth to vtter more wordes to his Lady with his eyes than he is able to speake with tong The Quéene beyng come vnto him with a grace right graue and demure sayd vnto him You Gentleman of Lombardie if these floures which we haue in our hands were giuen vnto you liberally to vse at your pleasure and required to make some curteous present of the same to one of vs the ladies here that liked you best tell mée I pray you to whether of vs would ye gyue the same or what wold you do or say Speake frankely we beséeche you tell your minde without respect for thereby you shall doe to vs very great pleasure and we shall know to whether of vs you beare your chiefest loue For it is not to be supposed that you being a yong man can spende your time without loue being a natural qualitie in euery creature Whē master Philippo felt the swete voice of the Quéene pleasantly to pierce his eares and hearde that he was cōmaunded for the loue of hir that he loued not only to tell whome he loued best and most entierly but also hir whō he worshipped and serued in heart was almoste bysides himselfe such was the ioylitie and pleasure that he felt in his heart whose face was tainted with a thousand colors and what for superfluous loue ioy whereof the like he neuer tasted before fell into an extasie not able to render answere But when he had recouered stomack so wel as he could with soft and trembling voice he answered the Quéene in this wise Sith youre maiestie to whome I I yeld mine humble thanks for that curtesie hath vouchsafed to commaunde me besides the infinite pleasure and honour for which eternally I shal stande bound to your highnesse I am readie sincerely and truely to disclose my minde being promised by your maiestie in opening of the same to deserue great thankes Wherfore your pleasure beyng such I do say then with al due reuerence that not onely here at this time but at all times and places where it shall please God to appoint mée beyng not able to bestow them in other sort than they be but were they more precious and faire the more ioyfull I shoulde be of them These floures I say shall of me right humbly bée presented to your maiestie not bicanse you be a Quéene and of a royall race which notwithstandyng is a great vertue but bicause you be a Phoenix a rare Ladie and of all the troupe the fairest garnished with infinite gifts and passing vertues for your merites worthie to bée honoured with farre more excellent gifts than these simple floures be as she that aboue al other ladies that liue at this day is the honour and onely glorie of all womanhoode of our age as she that is the Paragon péerelesse of the vniuersall worlde when he had sayd those wordes he helde his peace The Quéene with great delight hearing the redy answere of the yong Gentleman sayd vnto him And we do giue you thanks for the great honor and commendation done vnto vs. When she had said so without further talke she went forth vsing pleasant talke and sport with diuerse that waited vpon hir Quéene Anne now vnderstode and so likewise did Quéene 〈◊〉 which of them the yong Lombard 〈◊〉 did accept for his souerain Ladie whose loue she disdained not but in 〈◊〉 minde rather cōmended esteming him better than euer she did before and like a discrete and wise Lady gaue him infinite praise She did not nowe as other women woonte to do who when they sée them selues of birth more noble or of degrée more ample than their louers be which gift they receiue through the fauor of the heauēs do not onely despise thē but mock them their faithful seruice many times with fained countenance dissembled words do extoll them set them vp aloft by and by almost with one breath exchanging their fained praise into rebuke they thrust them downe headlong from the tipe of hope comfort to the bottomlesse pit of despaire and the fuller she is of floutes the finer girle estemed But farre better is she to be regarded that not findyng in hir heart to loue hir suter will frankely tell him at the first that she can not like him fashion hir minde to loue him requiring him not to féede his minde with vaine hope or 〈◊〉 the time with wordes and lokes and pray him to séeke some other that can better fansie his person than she And although perchance a man do very feruently loue a womā and that it were greate sorrow and griefe vnto him to be cast of and receiue suche refusall yet in mine opinion it were lesse grief openly to receiue that repulse than to be 〈◊〉 vpon and flattered with fained talke and for the time choaked with the baite of vaine hope afterwards become ridiculous and gired by the scornefull I am assured that the woman which giueth hir seruant such repulse shall bée counted muche more cruell than Maistresse Helena was to the scholer of Paris after he was returned from the vniuersitie to Florence written by Boccaccio in his Decamerone and hereafter in place described But lette vs retourne to master Philippo who although hée coulde not imagine ne conceiue the intent wherefore Quéene Anne made that demaunde yet the same was very dere and acceptable vnto him vpon which he neuer thought but felt great cōtentation in his mind and was more iocunde and pleasant than hée was wonte to bée On the other side the Quéene which was verie discrete and wyse when she sawe Master Philippo at the Church or other place to make obeysaunce vnto hir verie courteously requited the same bowyng hir head to hym agayne which she neuer vsed but to Barons and Knightes of great reputation declaryng thereby howe well in worth she regarded his reuerence made vnto hir Whereat he receyued maruellous pleasure and delight 〈◊〉 for none other recompence at hir handes than continuance of such curtesies and honourable 〈◊〉 Amongs certaine Italians that were vpon a daye assembled in the presence chaumber of Quéene Anne waiting there vpon Madonna Barbara the wyse of master Pietro Martire Stampa who with hir two daughters were gone to salute the two Quéenes that wer that time together There was also maister Philippo with whom Borgo and Baldo reasoned of diuerse matters And as they were in talke bothe the Quéenes came forth which was the occasion that all the Lordes and Gentlemen attended vpon whose approche eche man rose vp 〈◊〉 expected whyther the Quéenes woulde goe Quéene Anne 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 of Italians together 〈◊〉 Quéene 〈◊〉 and
wente streight to them and very gently 〈◊〉 of dyuerse of the Gentlemen their names and of what partes of Italie they were then she came to the place where they iii. were standing together curteously asked first master Girolamo what his name was of what countrey whether he were a Gentleman To whom reucrentely he sayde that his name was Girolamo Borgo a Gentleman of Verona Master Baldo likewise béeing demaunded the same answered so well as he coulde that he was a Gentleman borne of an auncient house in Milane and that his name was Philippo Baldo When she had receiued their answere with chéerefull and smiling countenance she turned to Master Philippo inquiring of him also his name and countrey and whether he were a Gentleman or not Whom master Philippo after his duetie done reuerently answered Madame my soueraine Ladie and onely maistresse I am a Gentleman and am called by the name of Philippo de i Nicuoli of Cremona The Queene making no further demaundes of any of the other Gentlemen sayd to Master Philippo You say true sir I dare warrant that you be a Gentleman in dede and he that said 〈◊〉 contrary shold declare him selfe to be voide of iudgement what a Gentleman is She sayde no more but from thence with Quéene Mary and the whole traine she went to Church All they that heard the Quéene speake those wordes did wonder and could not 〈◊〉 what shée meant by them notwithstanding 〈◊〉 man thought that the Quéene bare to master Philippo singuler good will and 〈◊〉 He as it was his custome full of diuerse cogitations whose 〈◊〉 was building of great cities went to Church 〈◊〉 him selfe in his 〈◊〉 place tossyng in his minde the Quéenes words spoken vnto him And although he 〈◊〉 not perceiue to what ende that honorable 〈◊〉 had spoken them yet he thought that hir maiestie had done him great honour And verily the humanitie and curtesse of a Lady so excellent and 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 with infinite praise and cōmendation who being of high 〈◊〉 and ligneage and the wyfe of so greate a Prince that procéeded of the 〈◊〉 Imperiall not onely dyd not 〈◊〉 to be beloued of a man of so base degrée and banished from his owne house but also with great care and diligence did deuise and in effecte declare that shée was the same whom the Italian yong Gentleman did loue as partly it was euidently to be perceiued not for other purpose doubtlesse but to do some noble déede couenable for the greatnesse of hir estate incident to the seruent loue of the amorous yong Gentleman which afterwardes in very dede she accomplished But howe many be there in these dayes I doe not speake of Quéenes and Princesses but of 〈◊〉 and priuate Gentlewomen that beyng of meane worship indued with some shew of beautie be without good conditions vertue who séeyng themselues beloued of some Gentlemen not enriched with the goods of Fortune as they be do scorne and mocke them thynking them selues to good to be loked vpon or 〈◊〉 moued of vertuous loue scornfully casting their face at one side as though the suters were vnworthy their cōpanie Now many likewise be possessed and ouerwhelmed with pride by reason nature more propicious vnto them than other be descended of some great parentage that will accompt a great iniurie done vnto them if any other gentlemen beside those that be rich do 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 them Again a great numbre of 〈◊〉 I speake of them whose mindes do not aspire to same or honor so that their delights and brauerie be mainteined be of this trampe that they 〈◊〉 not whether their louers bée 〈◊〉 well condicioned 〈◊〉 and gentle but onely do regarde whether their pursses be full of money or their shapes somewhat shoutefaire not waying the 〈◊〉 and good condicions of the minde with a thousand other qualities that 〈◊〉 to garnishe a Gentleman whereby all Gentlemen 〈◊〉 do growe beautifull and bée enriched wyth greater perfections Some other there be that fire their mindes vpon yong men that bée of goodly persouage although 〈◊〉 of vertue or 〈◊〉 behauiour louyng rather a piece of flesh with two eyes in his head than an honest man well furnyshed wyth vertue Thynke not yet for all thys that herein men ordinarily bée wyser than women althoughe they oughte to bée endued with greater 〈◊〉 than the womankynde but to say the truth they be all spotted with one kinde of pitch that warfare here in the large campe of this present worlde wherof it commeth to passe that we sée little loue to continue long bicause as the beginnyng wanted loue euen so is the ende altogether 〈◊〉 the knowledge whereof consumeth lyke the beautie of the 〈◊〉 And therevpon many times it chaunceth that when loue is not grounded but vpon transitorie beautie which dothe dissolue lyke a windie cloude the little heate 〈◊〉 doth not war more 〈◊〉 but rather congoale to frost and many times 〈◊〉 into hatred and 〈◊〉 A worsse thyng yet than this is in 〈◊〉 practise There be many that wil néedes bée 〈◊〉 and called Gentlemen bycause they come of Auncient and Noble race but growyng vp to 〈◊〉 state they appeare in shapes of men but altogether without vertuo or approued manners vtterly ignorant what the nature of Gentle is and doe accompte them selues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fellowes when in companie of other as bigge beasts as them selues they contriue the day in 〈◊〉 and bragges and 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 a woman is at my comniaundement and such a mans wyse I do keepe suche a one is my companyons friende whereby they bryng many women yea and of the moste honest sort into slaunder and 〈◊〉 Diuerse 〈◊〉 also bée suchè fooles and of so simple discretion that although they know clerely perceyue thys to be true yat allured with the persenages and beautie of such 〈◊〉 passe not to gyue the rayne to these vnbrideled 〈◊〉 and doe not foresée lyhe 〈◊〉 Woodcockes that in sewe dayes through their owne 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 common shame of the vulgar people being pointed at in the streates as they 〈◊〉 where one that is wise and discrete daily doth feare the least suspition that utay be conceiued There is no woman that is wise 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she can wil shunne and auoide all occasion wherby 〈◊〉 may arise and will choose 〈◊〉 hir amongs a number such one as 〈◊〉 best please hir fansie and suche 〈◊〉 as for his vertue and honestie she purposeth to match 〈◊〉 self with in mariage which is the end of all honest loue Nowe be it Nature hath not framed euery creature of one mettall ne yet Minerua 〈◊〉 lyke brayne into euery head And truely this our age doeth bréede many 〈◊〉 and worthie women whose condicions be good 〈◊〉 adorned with 〈◊〉 qualities the generositie 〈◊〉 valour of whose myndes 〈◊〉 deferue singular praise and estimation And what is he chauncing vpon a curteous and vertuous woman that will not giue ouer the loue of all
for the olde mannes woords hauing in hand his desired spoile cōmaunded his men to marche before with the maiden leauing behinde the pore olde man which thundred against them a thousand 〈◊〉 and cursses threatning and reuiling them by all the termes he could deuise desirous as I thinke to haue them turne backe to kill him But therunto they gaue so little héede as when hée demaunded to leaue his daughter behinde them to whom the amorouse courtier addressing himself began to make much of hir and kisse hir assayed by all meanes with pleasant words and many swéete promisses to comfort hir but that pore wench knowing ful wel that they went about to play the butchers with hir chastity and shamefastnesse and to commit murder with the floure of hir virginity 〈◊〉 to cry so piteously with dolorous voice as she wold haue moued to compassion the hardest harts that euer were except the same which craued nothing more thā the spoile of that his swetest enimy who hir self detected blasphemed hir vnhappy fate and constellation When she saw hir vertue ready to be spoiled by one who not in mariage ioyned went about to violat and possesse the same knew that afterwards he wold vaunt himselfe for the victory of such a precious price Alas sayde she is it possible that the soueraigne iustice of God can abide a mischief so great and curssed and that the voice of a pore wretched 〈◊〉 maide cannot be heard in the presence of the mighty Lord aboue Why may not I now rather suffer deathe than the infamie which I sée to wander before mine eyes O that good old man my déere and louing father how farre better had it bene for thée to haue slaine me wyth thy dagger betwene the hāds of these most wicked théeues than to let me goe to be the enimies pray of my vertue thy reputation O happy a hundred hundred times be ye which haue already passed the ineuitable tract of death when ye were in cradle and I pore vnhappy wēch no lesse blessed had I bene if partaker of your ioy where now I rest aliue to féele the smart and anguish of that death more egre to support than that which deuideth the body soule The Gentleman offended with those complaints began to threaten that hée wold make hir forget that hir disordered behauioure saying that she must change an other tune and that hir plaints were to no purpose amongs them which cared not or yet were bent to stay vpon those hir womanishe teares lamentations and cries The poore Mayden hearing that and séeing that she dysparckled hir voyce into the aire in vaine began to holde hir peace whych caused the Louer to speake vnto hir these woordes And what my wench do you thynke it now so 〈◊〉 or straunge if the heate of loue that I beare to you forceth me to vse such violence Alas it is not malice or euill will that causeth me to doe the same it is loue which cā not be inclosed but must néedes manifest his force Ah that you had felt what I do suffer and indure for loue of you I beleue then you wold not be so hard hearted but haue pitie vpon the griefe whereof you should haue proued the vehemencie Whereunto the maide answered nothing but teares and sighes wringing hir armes and hands somtimes making warrevpon hir fair hair But all these feminine fashions nothing moued this gallāt and lesse remoued his former desire to haue hir which he atchieued in dispite of hir téeth so soone as he arriued at his owne house The rēnant of the night they lay together where he vsed hir with all such kinde of flattering and louing spéeche as a louer of long time a suter could deuise to doe to hir whome at length he did possesse Now all these flattering follies tended only to make hir his owne to kepe hir in his Countrey house for his pleasure She that for hir age as before is sayd was of condition sage and of gentle minde began subtilely to dissemble and faine to take pleasure in that which was to hir more bitter than any Aloes or woode of Myrrha and more against hir heart than remembraunce of death which still she wished for remedy of hir griefe and voluntarily wold haue killed hir self like a Lucrece if the feare of God and dreadfull losse of body soule had not turned hir minde and also hoped in God that the rauisher should repaire the fault which hée had committed and beare the penaunce for his temeritie wherof she was no whit deceiued as well ye shall perceiue by that which immediatly doeth follow Nowe whilest the rauisher 〈◊〉 his pleasure with his rape the miserable father made the aire to sounde with his complaints accusing fortune for letting the whorish varlet so to passe wythout doing him to féele the lustinesse of his age and the force that yet reasted in his furrowed face and corpse withered with length of yeares In the end knowing that his plaintes curses and desire were throwne forthe in vaine perceiuing also his force vnequall to deale with such an enimy and to get againe by violence his stolne daughter or to recouer hir by that meanes wherby she was taken away hée determined the next day to go and complaine to the Duke and vpon that determination hée layd him downe to sléepe vnder the trées which ioyned to the fountaine where sometimes the Courtier had talked with his daughter And séeing that the element began to shew some bryghtnesse interpaled with coulours of White Yealow and Red signes preceding the rising of fresh Aurora started from his slepe toke his way to Florence whither he came vpō the opening of the City gates Then going to the Pallace of the Duke he taried vntil he saw the Prince goe forthe to seruice The good man seing him of whom he attended to receiue succoure fauour and iustice began to freat and rage for remembrance of his receiued wrong and was ashamed to sée himself in place not accustomed albeit it grieued his heart wyth hardy speache to presume in presence of so many yet the iust anger desire of vengeance emboldned him so much as kneling vpon his knées before the Maiestie of the Duke aloud he spake these woords Alas my soueraigne Lord if euer your grace had pitie vpon a desolate man and ful of dispaire I humbly beséeche the same that nowe you do regard the misory which on euery side assaileth me Haue pity vpon the pouerty of that vnfortunate olde man against whome one hath done such wrong as I hope by force of your vertue and accustomed iustice you wil not leaue a sinne so detestable without deserued punishment for respect of mischiefs that may insue where such wickednesse shal be dissembled and suffred without due correction Saying so the greate teares ran downe his grislye beard and by reason of his interrupted sighes and continuall sobbes the panting of his stomake might easily haue bene perceyued all
sent for him vp into hir chamber as commonly she did for the affaires and matters of hir house and taking him a side vnto a 〈◊〉 hauing prospect into a garden she knew not how to begin hir talk for the heart being seased the minde troubled and the wittes out of course the tongue failed to doe his office in such wise as of long time she was vnable to 〈◊〉 one onely woord Hée surprised with like affection was more astōned by séeing the alteration of his Ladie So the two Louers stoode still like Images beholding one another without any meuing at all vntil the Ladie the hardiest of them bothe as féeling the most vehement and greatest grief tooke Bologna by the hād and dissembling what she thought vsed this or such like language If any other bisides your self Gentleman should vnderstand the secretes which now I purpose to disclose I doubt what spéeche were necessary to colour my woords But being assured of your discretion and wisdom and with what perfection nature hath indued you and Arte hauing accōplished that in you which nature did begin to work as one bred and brought vp in the royall Court of the second Alphonse of Ferdinando and Federick of Aragon my cousins I wil make no doubt at all to manifest to you the hidden secretes of my heart being well persuaded that when you shall both heare and 〈◊〉 my reasons and tast that light which I bring for the for me easily you may 〈◊〉 that mine 〈◊〉 cannot be other than iust and reasonable But if your conceits shall straye from that which I shal speak déeme not good of that which I determine I shall be forced to thinke say that they which estéeme you wise sage and to be a man of good and ready 〈◊〉 be maruelously deceiued Notwithstāding my heart foretelleth that it is impossible for maister Bologna to wandre so farre from equitie but that by and by he wil enter the lystes discerne the white from black and the wrong from that which is iust and right For so much as hitherto I neuer saw thing done by you which preposterated or peruerted the good iudgement that all the world estéemeth to shine in you the same well manifested declared by your tongue the right iudge of the mind you know and sée how I am a widow through the death of that noble Gentleman of good remembrance the Duke my Lord husband you be not ignoraunt also that I haue liued and gouerned my self in such wise in my widow state as there is no man so hard and seuere of iudgement that can blason reproche of me in that which appertaineth to the honesty reputation of such a Ladie as I am bearing my port so right as my conscience yeldeth no remorse supposing that no man hath where with to bite accuse me Louching the order of the goods of the Duke my sōne I haue vsed them with such diligence and discretion as bisides the dettes which I haue discharged sithens the death of my Lord I haue purchased a goodly Manor in Calabria and haue annexed the same to the Dukedom of his heire and at this day doe not owe one pennie to any creditor that lent mony to the Duke which he toke vp to furnish the charges in the warres which he sustained in the seruice of the Kings our soueraine Lords in the late warres for the kingdome of Naples I haue as I suppose by this meanes stopped the slaunderous mouth and giuen cause vnto my sonne during his life to accōpt himself bound vnto his mother Now hauing till this time liued for other and made my self subiect more than Nature could beare I am entended to chaunge both my life and condition I haue till thys time run trauailed remoued to the Castels Lordships of the Dukedome to Naples and other places being in mind to tary as I am a widow But what new affaires and new councel hath possest my mind I haue trauailed and pained my self inough I haue too long abidden a widowes life I am determined therefore to prouide a husband who by louing me shal honor cherish me according to the loue which I shal bear to him my desert For to loue a man without mariage God defend my heart should euer think shall rather die a hundred thousand deathes thā a desire so wicked shald soile my conscience knowing well that a woman which setteth hir honor to sale is lesse than nothing deserueth not that the cōmon aire shold breathe vpō hir for all the reuerence that men do beare or make them I accuse no person albeit that many noble women haue their forheds marked with the blame of dishonest life being honored of some be neuerthelesse the cōmon fable of the people To the intent then that such mishap happē not to me perceiuing my self vnable stil thus to liue being yong as I am God be thāked neither deformed nor yet painted I had rather be the louing wife of a simple féere than that Concubine of a king or great Prince And what is the mightie Monarche able to wash away the fault of his wife which hath abādoned him cōtrary to that duty honest which the vndefiled bed requireth no les thē Princesses that whilom trespassed with those which wer of baser stuffe than thēselues Messalina w e hir imperial robe could not so wel couer hir faults but that the Historiās do defame hir with that name title of a cōmon woman Faustina the wife of that sage Monarch Marcus Aurelius gained lyke report by rendring hir self to others pleasure bisides hir lawful spouse To mary my self to one that is mine equall it is impossible for so much as there is no Lord in all this Countrey méete for my degrée but is to olde of age that rest being dead in these later warres To mary a husband that yet is but a child is follie extréeme for the inconueniences which daily chaūce therby the euil intreatie that Ladies do receiue whē they come to age their nature waxe cold by reson wherof imbracements be not so fauorable their husbāds glutted with ordinary meat vse to rū in exchāge Wherefore I am resolued without respite or delay to choose some wel qualitied and renoumed Gentleman that hath more vertue than richesse of good Fame and brute to the intēt I may make him my Lord espouse and husband For I cannot imploy my loue vpon treasure which may be taken away where richesse of the minde do faile and shall be better content to sée an honest Gentleman with little reuenue to be praised and cōmended of euery man for his good déedes than a rich carle curssed and detested of all the world Thus much I say and it is the summe of all my secretes wherin I pray your Councell and aduise I know that some wil be offended wyth my choise the Lords my brothers specially the Cardinall will think it straunge and receiue
the same with ill digesture that muche a do shall I haue to be agréed with them and to remoue the grief which they shall conceiue against me for this mine enterprise wherefore I would the same should secretely be kept vntil without perill and daunger either of my self or of him whome I pretende to mary I may publish and manifest not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall soon be consummate and accomplished with one whome I doe loue better than my self and who as I full well do know doeth loue me better than his owne proper life Maister Bologna which till then harkned to the Dration of the Duchesse without mouing féeling himself touched so néere and hearing that his Ladie had made hir approche for mariage stode stil astonned his tongue not able to frame one word only fantasied a thousand 〈◊〉 in the aire and formed like numbre of imaginations in his minde not able to coniecture what hée was to whome the Duchesse had vowed hir loue the possession of hir beauty He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for himself for that his Ladie spake no woord of him and he lesse durst opē his mouth and yet was wel assured that she loued him beyōd measure Not withstāding knowing the ficklenesse and vnstable heart of women he sayd vnto himself that she would chaunge hir minde for seing him to be so great a Cowarde as not to offer hys seruice to a Ladie by whome he saw himself so manie times bothe want only looked vpon intertained with some secresie more thā familiar The Duchesse which was a fine and subtile dame séeing hir friend rapt with the passion and standing stil vnmoueable through feare pale amazed as if hée had bene accused and condempned to die knew by that countenaunce astonishment of Bologna that she was perfectly beloued of him and so meaning not to suffer hym any longer to continue in that amaze ne yet to further fear him wyth hir dissembled and fained mariage of any other but with him she toke him by the hand and beholding him with a wāton and luring eye in such sort as the curious Philosophers themselues would awake if such a Lāpe and torch did shine within their studies she sayde thus vnto hym Seignor Anthonio I pray you be of good chéere torment not your self for any thing that I haue said I know well and of long time haue perceyued what good and faithfull loue you beare me with what affection you haue serued me sithens first you vsed my companie Thinke me not to be so ignorant but that I know ful wel by outward signes what secretes be hid in the inner heart and that coniectures many times doe giue me true and certaine knowledge of concealed things And am not so foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue marked my countenaunce maner and therby haue knowen that I haue bene more affectioned to you than to any other For that cause sayd she straining him by the hād very louingly with cherefull coloure in hir face I sweare vnto you doe promise that if you so thinke méete it shall be none other but your self whom I wil haue desire to take to husband and lawfull spouse assuring my self so much of you as the loue which so long time hath ben hidden couered in our hearts shal appeare by so euident proofe as only death shal end vndoe the same The gentleman hearing such sodain talk the assurāce of that which he most wished for albeit he saw that daunger extréeme wherunto he laūched himself by espousing this great Ladie the enimies he shold get by entring such aliance notwithstanding building vpon vaine hope and thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would passe away if they vnderstoode that mariage determined to pursue that purpose not to refuse that great preferment being so prodigally offred for which cause he answered his Lady in this maner If it were in my power madame to bring to passe that which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging of the benefits fauors which you depart vnto me as my mind presenteth thāks for the same I wold think my self the happiest Gentlemā that lyueth you the best serued Princesse of the world For one better beloued I dare presume to say and so long as I liue wil affirm is not to be found If til this time I delayed to opē that which now I discouer vnto you I beséeche you Madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate and to the duetie of my calling office in your house being not séemely for a seruant to talk of such secretes with his Ladie and mistresse And truely that pain which I haue indured to holde my peace and to hide my griefe hath bene more noysome to me than one hundred thousand like sorowes together although it had ben lawfull to haue reuealed thē to some trusty friend I do not deny madame but of long time you did perceiue my follie and presumption by addressing my minde so high as to the Aragon bloud and to such a Princesse as you be And who cā beguile the eye of a Louer specially of hir whose Paragon for good minde wisedom gentlenesse is not And I cōfesse to you bisides that I haue most euidently perceiued how certain loue hath lodged in your gracious heart wherwith you bare me greater affection thā you did to any other within the compasse of your familie But what Great Ladies hearts be fraught with secretes conceits of other effects than the minds of simple womē which caused me to hope for none other guerdon of my loyal faithfull affection than death the same very short Sith that litle hope accompanied with great nay rather extreme passion is not able to giue sufficiēt force both to suffer to stablish my heart with constancie Now for so much as of your motion grace curtesie liberalitie the same is offred that it pleaseth you to accept me for yours I hūbly beseche you to dispose of me not as husband but of one which is shal be your seruaunt for euer such as is more ready to obey thā you to cōmaund It resteth now Madame to consider how in what wise our affairs are to be directed that things being in assurāce you may so liue without peril and brute of slaunderous tongues as your good fame honest port may continue without spot or blemish Beholde the first Acte of the Tragedie and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent them bothe to their graue who immediately gaue their mutuall faith and the houre was assigned the next day that the fair Princesse shold be in hir chamber alone attended vpon with one only Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with the Duchesse frō hir cradle was made priuie to the heauy mariage of those two louers which was consummate in hir presence And
not néede to fear any hurt But if you do tary you wil be the cause of the ruine and ouerthrow of vs all receiue therby no profit or aduaūtage take this purse therfore saue your self attending better Fortune in time to come The poore gentleman Bologna knowing that his wife had pronounced reason perceiuing that it was impossible from that time forth that she or hir traine could escape their hāds taking leaue of hir kissing his childrē not forgetting the money which she offred vnto him willed his seruants to saue thēselues by such meanes as they thought best So giuing spurrs vnto his horse he began to flée amaine and his eldest sonne séeing his father gone began to followe in like sorte And so for that time they two were saued by breaking of the intended yll luck like to light vpon them And in a place to rescue himself at Venice hée turned another way in great iourneys arriued at Millan In the meane time the horsemē were approched 〈◊〉 the Duchesse who séeing that Bologna had saued himself very courteously began to speake vnto the Ladie were it that the Aragou brethren had giuen them that charge or feared that the Ladie wold trouble them with hir importunate cries lamentatiōs One therfore amongs them sayd vnto hir Madame we be commaunded by the Lordes your brethren to conducte you home vnto your house that you may receiue again the 〈◊〉 of the Duchie and the order of the Duke your sonne doe maruell very much at your folly for giuing your self thus to wander the Countrey after a man of so small reputation as Bologna is who whē he hath glutted his lusting lecherous mind with the comelinesse of your Noble personage wil despoil you of your goods honor and then take his legs into some strange countrey The simple Ladie albeit grieuous it was vnto hir to heare such spéech of hir husbād yet held hir peace and dissembled what she thought glad and well contēted with the curtesy done vnto hir fearing before that they came to kill hir and thought hir self already discharged hoping vpon their courteous dealings that she and hir Children from that time forth should liue in good assuraunce But she was greatly deceyued and knew within shorte space after the good will hir brethren bare vnto hir For so soone as these gallants had conducted hir into the kingdome of Naples to one of the Castels of hir sonne she was committed to prison with hir children and she also that was the secretarie of hir infortunate mariage Till this time Fortune was contented to procéede with indifferent quiet 〈◊〉 those Louers but benceforth ye shall heare the issue of their little prosperous loue and how pleasure hauing blinded them neuer forsoke them vntill it 〈◊〉 giuen them the 〈◊〉 It booteth not héere to recite fables or histories contiting my self that ladies do read without too many weping teares the pitiful end of that miserable princesse who séeing hir self a prisoner in the companie of hir litle children and welbeloued Maiden paciently liued in hope to see hir brethren appaised comforting hir self for the escape of hir husband out of that hands of his mortal foes But hir assurance was changed into an horrible feare hir hope to no expectation of suretie when certain dayes after hir 〈◊〉 hir Gaoler came in and sayd vnto hir Madame I do aduise you henceforth to consider vpon your conscience for so much as I suppose that euen this very day your life shall be taken from you I leaue for you to thinke what horrour and traunce assailed the feeble heart of this pore Lady and with what eares she receiued those cruell newes but hir cries and mones together with hir sighes and lamentations declared with what chéere she receiued that aduertisement Alas sayd she is it possible that my brethren should so farre forget themselues as for a fact nothing preiudiciall vnto them cruelly to put to death their innocent sister and to imbrue the memory of their fact in the bloud of one which neuer did offend them Must I against all right and equitie be put to death before the Judge or Magistrate haue made trial of my life known the vnright eousnesse of my cause Ah God most righteous and bountiful father beholde the malice of my brethren and the tyrannous crucltie of those which wrongfully doe séeke my bloud Is it a sinne to mary Is it a fault to flie and auoide the sinne of whoredome What lawes be these where mariage bed and ioyned matrimony is pursued with like seueritie as murder theft and aduoutrie And what Christianitie in a Cardinall to shed that bloud which he ought to 〈◊〉 What profession is this to assaile the innocent by the hie way side in place to punish théeues and murderers O Lord God thou art iust dost al things right cously I sée well that I haue trespassed against thy Maiestie in some other notorious crime than by mariage I most humbly therfore beséeche thée to haue compassion vpon me and to pardon mine 〈◊〉 accepting the confession and repentance of me thine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for satisfaction of my sinnes which it pleased thée to wash away in the precious bloud of thy sōne our Sauior that being so purified I might appere at the holy banket in thy glorious kingdome When she had thus 〈◊〉 hir prayer two or thrée of the ministers which had taken hir 〈◊〉 Forly came in and sayd vnto hir Now Madame make ready your self to goe to God for beholde your houre is come Praised be that God sayd she for the wealth and woe which it pleaseth him to send vs. But I beséeche you my friendes to haue pitie vpon these lyttle children and innocēt creatures Let thē not feele the smarte which I am assured my brethrē beare against their poore vnhappie father Well well Madame sayd they we will conuey them to such a place as they shal not want I also recōmend vnto you quod she this poore maiden and entreat hir wel in consideration of hir good seruice done to the infortunate Duchesse of 〈◊〉 As she had ended those woords that two Ruffians did 〈◊〉 a corde about hir neck and strangled hir The mayden 〈◊〉 the piteous tragedie commensed vpon hir 〈◊〉 cried out a main and cursed the cruell malice of those tormenters and besought God to be witnesse of that 〈◊〉 and crying 〈◊〉 vpon his diuine Maiestie she besought him to 〈◊〉 his iudgement against them which causelesse being no 〈◊〉 hadde killed such innocent creatures Reason it is said one of the tyrants that thou be partaker of the ioy of thy mistresse innocencie sith 〈◊〉 hast bene so faithfull a minister and messanger of hir follies And sodainly caught hir by the hair of the head in stead of a carcanet placed a roape about hir necke How now quod she is this the promised faith which you made vnto my Ladie But those woords flew into the air with hir soule in companie of the
miserable Duchesse But hearken now the most sorowfull scene of all that tragedie The litle children which had séene all the furious game done vpon their mother and hir maide as nature prouoked thē or as some presage of their mishap led them therunto kneled vpon their knées before those tyrants and embracing their legs wailed in such wise as I think that any other except a pitilesse heart spoiled of all humanitie wold haue had cōpassion And impossible it was for them to vnfold the embracemēts of those innocent creatures which séemed to forethink their death by the wilde lokes and countenāce of those roisters Wherby I think that néedes it must be cōfessed that nature hath in hir self and vpon vs imprinted some signe of diuination and specially at the hour and time of death in such wise as that very beasts féele some cōceits although they sée neither sword nor staffe and indeuor to auoyde the cruell passage of a thing so fearful as the separation of two things so néerely vnited euen the body and soule which for the motion that chaūceth at the very instant she weth how nature is constrained in that monstruous separation more than horrible ouerthrow But who can appease a heart determined to do euil hath sworn the death of another forced the runto by some special cōmaundement The Aragon brethrē ment hereby nothing else but to roote out that whole name race of Bologna And therfore the two ministers of iniquitie did like murder slaughter vpon those two tender babes as they committed vpon their mother not without some motion of horror for doing of an act so detestable Behold here how far the crueltie of man extēdeth whē it coueteth nothing else but vengeance and marke what excessiue choler the minde of thē produceth which suffer themselues to be forced ouerwhelmed with furie Leaue we apart the crueltie of Euchrates the sonne of the king of Bactria of Phraates the sōne of the Persian Prince of Timon of Athens of an infinite nūbre of those which were rulers and gouerners of the Empire of Rome and let vs match with these Aragon brethrē one Vitoldus Duke of Litudnia the crueltie of whom constrained his own subiects to hang thēselues for fear least they shold fall into his furious bloudy hands We may confesse also these brutal brethrē to be more butcherly thā euer Otho erle of Monferrato prince of Vrbin was who caused a yeoman of his chamber to be wrapped in a shéete poudred with sulpher brimstō afterwards kindled with a candle was scalded cōsumed to death bicause only he waked not at an hour by him apointed Let vs not excuse them also frō some affinity with Maufredus the sonne of Henry that second Emperor who smoldered his own father being an old mā betwene y. couerleds These former furies might haue some excuse to couer their crueltie but these had no other cause but a certain beastly madnesse which moued thē to kil those litle childrē their neuews who by no meanes could preiudice or anoy the duke of Malfi or his title in the successiō of his Duchie the mother hauing wtdrawn hir goods was assigned hir dowry but a wicked hart must néedes bring forth semblable works according to his malice In the time of these murders the infortunate 〈◊〉 kept himself at Millan wyth his sonne Federick and vowed himself to that Lord Siluio Sauello who that time belieged the Castell of Millan in the behalf of Maximilian Sforcia which in the end he conquered and recouered by composition with the French within But that charge being archieued the generall Sauello marched from thence to Cremona with his campe whither Bologna durst not folow but repaired to the Marquize of Bitonte in which time that Aragon brethren so wrought as his goods were confiscate at Naples and he driuē to his shifts to vse the golden Duckates which the Duchesse gaue him to relieue him self at Millan whose Death althoughe it was aduertised by many yet hée coulde not be persuaded to beleue the same for that diuers which went about to betray him and feared he should flie from Millan kept his beake in the water as the Prouerbe is and assured him both of the life welfare of his spouse and that shortly his brethren in law wold be reconciled bicause that many Noble mē fauored him well and desired his returne home to his Countrey Fed and filled with that vaine hope he remained more than a yeare at Millan frequenting the companie and well entertained of the richest Marchants and Gentlemen of the Citie and aboue all other he had familiar accesse to the house of the Ladie Hippolita Bentiuoglia where vpon a day after dinner taking his Lute in hand wheron he could exceedingly wel play he began to sing a certain Sonnet which he had composed vpon the discourse of his misfortune the tenor whereof is this The song of Antonio Bologna the husband of the Duchesse of Malfi If loue the death or tract of time haue measured my distresse Or if my beating sorrowes may my languor well expresse Then loue come sone to visit me which most my heart desires And so my dolor findes some ease through flames of fansies fires The time runnes out his rolling course for to prolong mine ease To th end I shall enioy my loue and heart himself appease A cruell Darte brings happy death my soule then rest shall finde And sleping body vnder tombe shall dreame time out of minde And yet the Loue the time nor Death lokes not how I decrease Nor giueth eare to any thing of this my wofull peace Full farre I am from my good happe or halfe the ioy I craue wherby I 〈◊〉 my state with teares draw full nere my graue The courteous Gods that giues me life nowe moues the Planets all For to arrest my groning ghost and hence my sprite to call Yet from them still I am separd by things vnequall here Not mēt the Gods may be vniust that bredes my chāging chere For they prouide by their foresight that none shall doe me harme But she whose blasing beuty bright hath brought me in a charm My mistresse hath the powre alone to rid me from this woe whose thrall I am for whome I die to whome my sprite shall goe Away my soule go from the griefs that thee oppresseth still And let thy dolor witnesse beare how much I want my will For since that loue and death himself delights in guiltlesse bloud Let time trāsport my troubled sprite where destny semeth good His song ended the poore Gentleman could not forbeare frō pouring forth his luke warme teares which aboundantly ran downe his heauie face and his panting sighes truely discouered that alteration of his mind which moued eche wight of that assembly to pitie his mournefull state and one specially of small acquaintaunce and yet knew the deuises which the Aragon brethren had trained and conspired against him that vnacquainted Gentleman
his name was Delio one very well learned and of 〈◊〉 inuention and very excellently hath endited in the Iralion vulgar tongue Who knowing the Gentleman to be husbande to the deceased Duchesse of 〈◊〉 came vnto him taking him aside sayd Sir albeit I haue no great acquaintance with you this being the first time that euer I saw you to my remembrance so it is that vertue hath such force and maketh gentle mindes so amorous of their like as when they doe beholde 〈◊〉 other they féele thēselues coupled as it were in a bande of minds that impossible it is to diuide the same Now knowing what you be and the good and commendable qualities in you I compte it my duetie to reueale that which may chaunce to bréede you damage Know you then that I of late was in companie with a Noble man of Naples which is in this Citie banded with a certaine companie of horsemen who tolde me that hee had a speciall charge to kill you and therfore prayed me as he séemed to require you not to come in his sight to the intent hée might not be constrained to doe that which should offende his Conscience and grieue the same all the dayes of his life Moreouer I haue worse tidings to tell you which are that the Duchesse your wife is deade by violent hand in prison and the moste parte of them that were in hir companie Besides this assure your self that if you doe not take héede to that which this Neapolitane captaine hathe differred other will doe and execute the same This much I haue thought good to tell you bicause it woulde verie much grieue me that a Gentleman so excellent as you be should be murdered in that miserable wife and would déeme my selfe vnworthy of life if knowing these practises I should dissemble the same Wherunto Bologna answered Syr Delio I am greatly bounde vnto you and giue you heartie thankes for the good will you beare me But of the conspiracie of the brethren of Aragon and the death of my Ladie you be deceyued and some haue giuen you wrong intelligence For within these two dayes I receiued letters from Naples wherein I am aduertised that the right honorable and 〈◊〉 Cardinall and his brother be almost appeased and that my goodes shall be rendred againe and my deare wife restored Ah syr sayd Delio how you be beguiled and fedde with follies and nourished with sleights of Courte Assure your self that they which wryte these tristes make such shamefull sale of you as the Butcher doeth of his flesh in the shambles and so wickedly betray you as impossible it is to inuent a Treason more detestable but be thinke you well thereof When he had sayde so hée tooke his leaue and ioyned himself in companie of fiue and pregnant wittes there assembled togither In the meane tyme the cruell spryte of the Aragon brethren were not yet appeased with the former murders but néedes must finish the last acte of Bologna his Tragedie by losse of his life to kéepe his wife and Children companie so well in an other worlde as hée was vnited with them in Loue in this fraile and transitorie passage The Neapolitan gentleman before spoken of by Delio which had taken an enterprise to satisfie the barbarous Cardinal to bericue his Countreyman of life hauing changes his minde and differring from day to day to sorte the same to effect which hée had taken in hande it chaunced that a Lombarde of larger conscience than the other inuegled with Couetousnesse and hired for readie money practised the death of the Duchesse pore husband This bloudy beast was called Daniel de Bozola that had charge of a certaine bande of footemen in Millan This newe Iudas and assured manqueller within certaine dayes after knowing that Bologna oftentimes repaired to heare seruice at the Church and couent of S. Fraunces secretly conueyed himself in ambush hard bisides the church of S. Iames whether he came being accompanied with a certaine troupe of souldioures to assaile the infortunate Bologna who was sooner slaine than hée was able to thinke vpon defense whose mishap was such that he which killed him had good leisure to saue himself by reason of the little pursuite made after him Beholde héere the Noble facte of a Cardinall and what sauer it hath of Christian puritie to commit a slaughter for a facte done many yeares past vpon a poore Gentleman which neuer thought him hurte Is this the swéete obseruation of the Apostles of whom they vaunt themselues to be the successors and folowers And yet we cannot finde nor reade that the Apostles or those that slept in their trace hired Kuffians and Murderers to cut the throtes of them which did thē hurt But what It was in the time of Iulius the second who was more marshall than christian and loued better to shed bloud than giue blessing to the people Such ende had the infortunate mariage of him which ought to haue contēted himself with that degrée and honor that hée had acquired by his déedes and glory of his vertues so much by eche wight recōmended We ought neuer to clime higher than our force permitteth ne yet surmount the bounds of duety and lesse suffer our selues to be haled 〈◊〉 forth with desire of brutal sensualitie The sinne being of such nature that hée neuer giueth ouer that partie whome he mastereth vntil he hath brought him to the 〈◊〉 of some Notable follie You sée the miserable discourse of a Princesse loue that was not very wise and of a gentleman that had forgottē his estate which ought to serue for a loking glasse to them which be ouer hardie in making of enterprises and doe not measure their abilitie with the greatnesse of their attemptes where they ought to maintaine themselues in reputation and beare the title of wel aduised foreséeing their ruine to be example to all posteritie as may be séene by the death of Bologna and of all them which sprang of him and of his infortunate spouse his Ladie and mistresse But we haue discoursed inoughe hereof sith diuersitie of other Histories doe call vs to bring the same in place which were not much more happie than those whose Historie ye haue already tasted The Countesse of Celant ¶ The disordered life of the Countesse of CELANT and how she causing the Countie of MASINO to be murdered was beheaded at MILLAN The. xxiiij Nouel NOt withoute cause of long time haue wise discrete men prudently gouerned and giuen great héede ouer their Daughters and those whome they haue chosen to be their wiues not in vsing them like bōdwemen and slaues bereuing them of all libertie but rather to auoide the murmur and secrete slaunderous speache of the common people and occasiōs offred for infection and marring of youth specially circumspect of the assaults bent against maidens being yet in the first flames of fire kindled by nature in the hearts 〈◊〉 of those that be the wisest Some persones 〈◊〉 it to
cal hir home againe I were a very foole sayd he to kepe in my house so pernicious and fearefull an enimie as that arrant whoore is who one day before I be ware wil cause some of hir russians to cut my throte besides the violation of hir holy mariage bed God defend that such a strumpet by hir presence should any longer profane the house of the lord of Celant who is wel rewarded and punished for the excessiue loue which he bare hir Let hir goe whether she list and lyue a gods name at hir ease I do content my self in knowing what women be able to do without further attempt of fortune other proofe of hir wicked life He added further that the honor of so noble a personage as he was depended not vpon a womans mischief and assure your selfe the whole race of womākind was not spared by the Coūte against whom he then inueyed more through rage 〈◊〉 any reason that time in him he considered not the good and honest sorte of women which deface the villanie of those that giue them selues ouer to their own lusts without regarde of modestie and shame which ought to be familiar as it wer by a certaine natural inclination in all women and maidens But come we again to Bianca Maria holding hir Courte and open house at 〈◊〉 wher she got so holy a 〈◊〉 as mistresse Lais of Corinth somtimes was neuer more comon in Asia than this faire dame almost in euery corner of In 〈◊〉 whose conuersation was such as hir frank libertie familiar demeanor to ech wight wel witnessed 〈◊〉 abhominable life True it was that hir reputation there was very smal and the hired not hir selfe ne yet toke 〈◊〉 by setting hir body to sale but for some resonable gain earnest pain Howbeit she of whom somtimes the famous Greke orator wold not bie repētance for so 〈◊〉 a price was more excessiue in sale of hir marchādise but not more wanton For 〈◊〉 no sooner espied a beautiful gentleman that was youthly wel made but wold presently shew him so good countenance as he had ben a very foole which knewe not after what prouender this Colt did neigh whose shamelesse gesture Messalina the Romane princesse did neuer surmoūt except it were in that she visited haūted cōmon houses this dame vsed hir disports within hir owne house the other also receiued 〈◊〉 Carters Galey slaues porters and this half Greke did hir pastime with 〈◊〉 mē that were braue and lusty But in one thing she well resembled hir which was that 〈◊〉 was sooner werie with trauaile than she satisfied with plesure the 〈◊〉 vse of hir body like vnto a sink that receiueth al 〈◊〉 without disgorgyng any throwne into the same This was the chast life which that good lady led after she had taken flight from hir husband Marke whether the Milanois that was hir first husbande were a grosse headed person or a foole whether he wer not lerned skilful in the science of 〈◊〉 time for him to make redy the rods to make hir know hir duetie therw t to correct hir wāton youth to cut of the lusty twigs proud sciēces that soked that moisture hart of that stock brā ches It chanced whiles she liued at Pauie in this good honorable port the Coūte of 〈◊〉 called Ardizzino Valperga came to the emperors seruice therby made his abode at Pauie with one of his brothers the Coūte being a goodly gentlemā yong trim in apparel giuen to many good qualities had but one onely fault which was that he was lame in one of his legs by reson of a certain aduēture blow receiued in the warres although that same toke away no part of his beauty fine behauior The Coūte I say remaining certain days at Pauie beheld that beauty grace comlinesse of the Coūtesse of 〈◊〉 stayed with such deuotion to viewe gaze vpon hir as many 〈◊〉 he romed vp down the strete wherin she dwelt to find means to speake vnto hir His first talk was but a Boniour and simple salutation such as Gentlemen commōnly vse in company of Ladies and at that first brunte Valperga coulde settle none other iudgemēt vpon that Goddesse but that she was a wise and honest dame and such a one not with standyng as there neded not the Emperors camp to force the place which as he thought was not so well flanked rampired but that a good man of armes might easily winne and the breache so liuely and sautable as any souldier might passe the same He became so familiar with the Lady and talked with hir so secretly as vpon a daye beyng with hir alone hée vsed this kynde of speache Were not I of all men moste blame worthie and of greatest follie to be reproued so long time to be acquainted with a Lady so faire and curteous as you be and not to offre my seruice life and goodes to be disposed as shall like you best I speake not this Madame for any euil and sinister iudgement that I 〈◊〉 of you for that I praise and estéeme you aboue any Gentlewomā that euer I knew til this day but rather for that I am so wonderfully attached with your loue as wrong I shold do vnto your honestie and my loyal seruice towards you if I continued 〈◊〉 and did conceyle that which incessantly would consume my heart with infinite numbre of ardent desires and wast mine intrailes for the extreme 〈◊〉 burning loue I beare you I do require you to put no credite in me if I doe not all that which it shal please you to commaund me Wherfore Madame I humbly beséeche you to accepte me for your owne and to fauor me as such one which with all fidelitie hopeth to passe his time in your companie The Countesse although she knew well inough that the fire was not so liuely kindeled in the stomacke of the Coūte as he went about to make hir beleue and that his wordes were too eloquent and countenance too ioyfull for so earnest a louer as hée séemed to be yet for that he was a valiant Gentleman yong lusty and strongly made minded to retaine him and for a time to stay hir stomake by appeasing hir gluttonous appetite in matters of loue with a morsell so dainty as was this mynion and lusty yong Lord and whē the corage of him began to coole another should enter the listes And therfore she sayd vnto him Although I knowing the vse and maners of men and with what baits they hooke for Ladies if they take not héede hauing proued their malice and little loue determined neuer to loue other thā mine affection ne yet to fauor man except it be by shewing some familiar maner to heare their talk and for pastime to hearken the braue requests of those which say they burne for loue in the mids of some brooke of delites And albeit I think you no better thā other
any kynde gentle subiect findeth no resistance to serue for a rāpart to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his course by litle litle vndermineth melteth 〈◊〉 that vertues of natural powers in such wise as the sprite yelding to the burden abandoneth that place of life which is verified by the pitifull and infortunate death of two louers that surrendred their last breath in one 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 a Citie of Italy wherin repose yet to this day with great maruel the bones and remnantes of their late louing bodies An history no lesse 〈◊〉 than true If then perticular affection which of good right euery man ought to beare to the place where he was borne doe not deceiue those that trauaile I thinke they will confesse with me that few Cities in Italie can surpasse the said Citie of Verona aswell for the Nauigable riuer called 〈◊〉 which passeth almost through the midst of the same and therby a great trafique into Almaine as also for the prospect towards the fertile Mountains and plesant valeis which do enuiron that same with a great numbre of very clere and liuely fountains that serue for the ease and commodity of the place Omitting bisides many other singularities foure bridges and an infinite numbre of other honorable antiquities daily apparant vnto those that be to curious to view loke vpon them Which places I haue somewhat touched bicause this most true Historie which I purpose hereafter to recite depēdeth therupon the memory wherof to this day is so well knowne at Verona as vnneths their blubbred eyes be yet dry that sawe and behelde that lamentable sight When the Senior Escala was Lord of Verona there were two families in the Citie of farre greater fame than the rest aswell for riches as 〈◊〉 the one called the Montesches and the other the Capellets but like as most commonly there is discord amongs them which be of semblable degrée in honor euen so 〈◊〉 hapned a certaine 〈◊〉 betwene them and for so much as the beginning therof was vnlawful and of 〈◊〉 foundation so likewise in processe of time it kindled to such flame as by diuers and sundry deuises practised on both sides many lost their liues The Lord Bartholomeu of Escala of whome we haue already spoken being Lord of Verona and seing such disorder in his cōmon weale assayed diuers and sundry wayes to recōcile those two houses but all in vaine for their hatred had taken such roote as that same could not be 〈◊〉 by any wise councell or good aduise betwene whome no other thing could be accorded but giuing ouer 〈◊〉 and weapon for the time attending some other season more cōuenient and with better leisure to appease the rest In the time that these things wer adoing one of the familie of Montesches called Rhōmeo of the age of xx or xxi yeres the fairest and best conditioned Gentleman that was amongs the Veronian youth 〈◊〉 in loue with a yong Gentlewoman of Verona in few dayes was so attached with hir comely good behauiour as he abandoned all other affaires and businesse 〈◊〉 serue honor hir And after many letters 〈◊〉 and presents he determined in the end to speake vnto hir to disclose his passions which he did without any other practise But she which was vertuously brought vp knew how to make him so good answer to cutte of his 〈◊〉 affectiōs as he had no lust after that time to return any more and shewed hir self so austere 〈◊〉 sharpe of speach as she vouchsafed not with one loke to beholde him But the more that yong Gentleman 〈◊〉 hir whist and silent the more he was inflamed and 〈◊〉 hée had 〈◊〉 certaine months in that seruice without remedy of his griefe he determined in the end to depart Verona for proofe if by change of that place he might alter his affection and sayd to himself What doe I meane to loue one that is so vnkinde and thus doeth disdaine me I am all hir owne and yet she flieth from me I can no longer liue except hir presence I doe enioy And she hath no contented minde but when she is furthest from me I wil then from henceforth 〈◊〉 my selfe from hir for it may so come to passe by not beholding hir that thys fire in me which taketh increase and nourishment by hir faire eyes by little and little may die and quench But minding to put in proofe what hée thought at one instant hée was reduced to the contrarie who not knowing whereuppon to resolue passed dayes and nights in maruellous plaintes and Lamentacions For Loue 〈◊〉 him so neare and had so well fixed the Gentlewomans beautie within the Bowels of his heart and minde as not able to resist he fainted with 〈◊〉 charge and consumed by little and little as the Snow against the Sunne Whereof his parents and kinred did maruell greatly bewayling his misfortune but aboue all other one of his companions of riper age and counsell than he began sharply to rebuke him For the loue that he bare him was so great as hée felt his Martirdome and was partaker of his passion which caused him by ofte viewing hys friends disquietnesse in amorous pangs to say thus vnto him Rhomeo I maruel much that thou spendest the best time of thine age in 〈◊〉 of a thing from which thou 〈◊〉 thy self despised and 〈◊〉 without respect either to thy prodigall dispense to thine honor to thy teares or to thy miserable life which be able to moue the most constant to pitie Wherefore I pray thée for the Loue of our ancient amitie and for thine health sake that thou wilt learn to be thine owne 〈◊〉 and not to 〈◊〉 thy liberty to any so ingrate as she is for so farre as I can coniecture by things that are passed betwene you either she is in loue with some other or else determined neuer to loue any Thou arte yong rich in goods and fortune and more excellent in beautie than any Gentleman in this Citie thou art well learned and the only sonne of the house 〈◊〉 thou cōmest What grief wold it 〈◊〉 to thy pore old father other thy parents to sée thée so drowned in this dongeon of vice specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather to put them in some hope of thy vertue Begin then frō henceforth to acknowledge thine error wherein thou hast hitherto liued doe away that amorous vaile or couerture which blindeth thine eyes and letteth thée to folow the right path wherein thine ancestors haue walked or else if thou do 〈◊〉 thy 〈◊〉 so subiect to thine owne will yelde thy heart to 〈◊〉 other place and choose 〈◊〉 Mistresse according to thy worthinesse and henceforth doe not sow thy paines in a soile so 〈◊〉 whereof thou receiuest no frute the time approcheth when all the dames of the Citie shall assemble where thou maist beholde such one as shall make thée 〈◊〉 thy former griefs This yong Gentleman attentiuely hearing all the persuading 〈◊〉 of his frend
the rare excellencies wherewith the Citie is furnished there is none more famous than the monument of Rhomeo Iulietta Two Gentlewomen of Venice ¶ Two Gentlemen of VENICE were honourably deceiued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete cōference for archieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidentes and ingendred double benefite wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same The. xxvj Nouel HEre haue I thoughte good to summon y. gentlewomen of Venice to apeare in place and to mount on stage amonges other Italian dames to shewe cause of their bold incountrie against the follie of their two husbandes that vncharitably against order of neighbourhode wente about to assayle the honestie of eythers wife and wéening they had enioyed others felicitie by the womens prudence foresyghte and ware gouernement were bothe deceiued and yet attayned the chiefest benefite that mariage state doth looke for so that yf searche bée made amonges antiquities it is to be doubted whether greater chastitie and better policie coulde bée founde for 〈◊〉 of an intended purpose Many dedes haue bene done by women for sauegarde of their husbands liues as that of Minyae a sorte of women whose husbands wer imprisoned at Lacedaemon for treason cōdemned who to saue their husbāds entred into prison the night before they shold die by exchange of apparell deliuered them and remained there to suffre for them Hipsicratea also the Quene wife of 〈◊〉 king of Pontus spared not hir noble beautie and golden lockes to manure hir self in the vse of armes to kéepe hir husbād company in perils and daungers and being ouercome by Pompeius and flying away neuer left him vnaccōpanied ne forsoke such trauel as he him self sustained The like also of Aemilia Turia 〈◊〉 Portia other Romane dames But that such haue preuēted their husbands follie seldome we reade sauing of Quéene Marie the wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon who marking the folie of hir husband and sorie for his disordred life honest iealousie opening hir cōtinēt eyes forced hir to seke meanes to remoue his wanton acts or at lestwise by policie wise foresight to make him husband culture his own soile that for want of seasonable tillage was barren voide of fruite Wherefore consulting with the lorde Chamberlain who of custome brought whom the King liked best was in place of his woman bestowed in his bed and of hir that night begate the yong Prince Giacomo that afterwardes proued a valiaunt and wise King These passyng good policies of women many times abolish the frantik lecherous fits of husbands giuen to superfluous lustes when first by their chast behauior womāly pacience they 〈◊〉 that whiche they bée lothe to sée or heare of and then demaunding counsell of sobrietie and wisedome excogitate sleightes to shunne follie and expell discurtesie by husbandes carelesse vse Suche practyses and deuises these two Gentlewomen whome I now bring forth disclose in this discourse ensuing In the Citie of Venice whiche for riches and faire women excelleth al other within the region of Italie in the time that Francesco Foscari a very wise Prince did gouerne the state there were two yong gentlemē the one called Girolamo Bembo and the other Anselmo Barbadico betwene whome as many times chaunceth amongs other grew such great hatred and cruel hostilitie as eche of them by secrete and al possible means deuised to do other shame and displeasure which kindled to such out rage as it was thought impossible to be pacified It chaunced that at one time both of them did marie two noble yong Gentlewomen excellēt faire both brought vp vnder one nurse and loued eche other like two sisters and as though they had ben both born of one bodie The wyse of Anselmo called Isotta was the daughter of Messer 〈◊〉 Gradenigo a mā of great estimation in that citie one of the procuratours of San Marco whereof there were not so greate numbre in those dayes as there be now bicause the wisest men best approued of life were chosen to that great and noble dignitie none allotted therevnto by bribe or ambition The wife of Girolamo Bembo was called Lucia that daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio Caualiere a Gentleman very well learned and many times sent by the State ambassador into diuers countreyes and after he had bene Drator with the Pope for his wisedome in the execution of the same was in great estima tion with the whole citie The two Gentlewomen after they were maried heard of the hatred betwene their husbandes were very sorowfull and pensiue bicause they thought the friendshyppe and loue betwene them twaine continued from their tender yeres could not be but with great difficulty kept or else altogither dissolued broken Not withstāding being discrete and wise for auoiding occasion of their husbands offēce determined to cease their accustomed conuersation louing familiaritie not to frequent eche others cōpany but at places times conuenient To whome Fortune was so fauorable as not only their houses were néere together but also ioyning in the backsides wherof their gardens also cōfined seperated only with a litle hedge that euery day they might sée one another many times talke togither Moreouer the seruāts people of either houses were friendly familiar which did greatly cōtent the two louing Gētlewomen bicause they also in the absence of their husbāds might at pleasure in their gardens disport thēselues And continuing this order that space of iij. yeres neither of thē both were with childe In which space Anselmo many times vicwing and casting his eyes vpō Madonna Lucia fel earnestly in loue with hir was not that day wel at ease wherin he had not beholden hir excellēt beautie 〈◊〉 that was of sprite and wit subtil marked the lokes maner of Anselmo who neither for 〈◊〉 ne other cause did render like lokes on him but to sée to what end his louing chéere countenāce wold 〈◊〉 Not 〈◊〉 she séemed rather 〈◊〉 to behold him thā elswher to imploy hir lokes On the other side the good 〈◊〉 the wise order and pleasant beautie of Madonna Isotta was so excellent plausible in the sight of master Girolamo as no louer in the world was better pleased with his Ladie than 〈◊〉 with hir who not able to liue without the swete sight of Isotta that was a crafty wily wēch was 〈◊〉 hir quickly perceiued She being right honest wise and louing hir husband very dearly did beare that 〈◊〉 to Girolamo that she generally did to any of the 〈◊〉 or to other stranger that she neuer saw before But hir 〈◊〉 more more inflamed hauing lost that liberty of him self wounded pierced with the amorous arowes of Loue could not conuert his minde to any other 〈◊〉 to mistresse Lucia These two womē wonted to heare seruice euery day ordinarily at the church
than they themselues did of their life by committing the same to the hands of a woman so cruell This Gentleman being come home to his lodging enquired what faire widow that was of what calling and of what behauior but he heard tell of more truely than he would of good will haue knowne or desired to haue ben in hir whom he did presently choose to be the onely mistresse of his moste secrete thoughts Now vnderstanding wel the stubburne nature and vnciuile maner of that widow hée coulde not tell what parte to take nor to what Sainct to vow his deuotion to make sute vnto hir he thought it time lost to be hir seruant it was not in his power hauing already inguaged his libertie into the handes of hir which once holdyng captiue the hearts of men will not infraunchise them so soone as thoughte and will desire Wherefore bayting hymselfe wyth hope and tickled with loue hée determined what soeuer chaūced to loue hir and to assay if by long seruice he coulde lenifie that harde hearte and make tender that unpliant will to haue pitie vpon the paine which she saw him to endure to recompense his laborsome trauels which he thought were vertuously imployed for gayning of hir good grace And vpon this settled deliberation he retired againe to Virle so was his house named where disposing his things in order he retorned again to Montcall to make his long resiance there to put in readinesse his furniture and to welde his artillerie with suche industrie as in the ende he mighte make a reasonable breach to force and take the place For surprisyng whereof he hazarded great dangers the rather that he hym selfe might first be taken And where hys assaultes and pollicies could not preuaile he mynded to content him selfe with the pleasure and passetyme that hée myght receiue in the contemplation of a thyng so fayre and the ordinarie sight of an image so excellent The memorie of whome rather increased hys paine than yelded comfort dyd rather minister corrosiue poyson than gyue remedie of ease a cause more of cruel and sodaine death than of prolonged life Philiberto then being become a citizen of Mōtcall vsed to frequent the Churche more than hée was wont to doe or his deuotion serued hym and that bycause he was not able elsewhere to enioy the presence of his Sainct but in places and temples of deuotion whiche no doubt was a very holie and woorthie disposition but yet not méete or requisite to obserue suche holy places for those intentes whiche oughte not to be prophaned in thyngs so fonde and foolishe and actes so contrary to the institution and mynde of those which in tymes paste were the fyrst founders and erectours of temples Signior Philiberto then moued with that religious superstition made no conscience at all to speake vnto hir within the Churche And true it is when she wente out of the same he moued with a certaine familiar curtesie naturall to eche Gentleman of good bryngyng vp many tymes conducted hir home to hir owne house not able for all that what so 〈◊〉 he sayd to winne the thing that was able to ingender any litle contentation which grieued him very much For the cruell woman fained as though 〈◊〉 vnderstode nothing of that he sayde and turnyng the wayne against the oxen by contrary talke she began to tell him a tale of a tubbe of matters of hir householde whervnto he gaue so good héede as she did to the hearing of hys complaintes Thus these two of dyuers affections and moued with contrary thoughtes spake 〈◊〉 to an other without apt answere to eithers talk Wherby the Gentleman cōceiued an assured argument of his ruine which voide of al hope meanes he sawe to be ineuitable and therfore practised with 〈◊〉 dames of the Citie that had familiar resort vnto hir house and vsed frequent conuersation with 〈◊〉 rebellious lady Zilia To one of them then he determined to communicate his secrets and to do hir to vnderstande in dede the only cause that made him to 〈◊〉 at Montcall and the griefe which he sustained for that he was not able to discouer his torment to hir that had giuen him the wounde This Gentleman therfore repaired to one of his neighbors a woman of good corage which at other 〈◊〉 had experimented what meates they fede on which 〈◊〉 at Venus table and what bitternesse is intermingled amid those drinkes that Cupido quaffeth vnto his guestes 〈◊〉 whom hauing before coniured hir to kepe secret that which he wold declare he disclosed the secrets of his minde expressing his loue without naming of his lady before he herd the answer of his neighbor who vnderstanding almoste to what purpose the affections of the pacient were directed said vnto him Sir nedefull it is not to vse long orations the loue that I bear you for the honest qualities which hitherto I haue knowne to be in you shall make me to kéepe silent that wherof as yet I do not knowe the matter and the assurance you haue not to be abused by me constraineth me to warrant you that I will not spare to do you all the pleasure honest seruice I can Ah mistresse answered sir Philiberto so lōg as I lyue I will not faile to acknowledge the liberalitie of your 〈◊〉 by offering your selfe pacientely to heare and secretely to kepe the wordes I speake accorduigly as they deserue and that which is more than I require you doe assure me that I shall finde suche one of you as will not spare to giue your ayde Alas I resemble the good and wyse Captaine who to take a 〈◊〉 doth not onely ayde himselfe with the forwardenesse and valiance of his souldiers but to spare them and to auoyde slaughter for makyng of way planteth his cannon and battereth the wall of the fort whiche he woulde assayle to the intent that both the souldier and the ordinaunce maye perfourme and suffise the perfection of the platte whyche hée hath framed and deuised within his politike heade I haue already encouraged my souldiers and haue lost the better part truly in the skirmish which hath deliuered vnto me my swéete cruell enimie Now I am driuen to make redy the fire which resteth in the kindled match of your cōceipts to batter that fort hitherto 〈◊〉 for any assault which I can make I vnderstand not sayde she smiling these Labyrinthes of your complaints except you speake more plain I neuer haunted the warres 〈◊〉 knewe 〈◊〉 thing it is to handle weapons improper and not séemely for myne estate and kynde The warre quod he whereof I speake is so naturall and common as I doubt not but you haue somtymes 〈◊〉 with what 〈◊〉 and camisados men vse to take their enimies how they plant their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what meanes bothe the assaylant and 〈◊〉 ought to vse So far as I sée sayd she there 〈◊〉 nothing for vs but the assurance of the fielde sith we be ready to enter in combat and do thinke
most and offreth greatest reward Such do not deserue to be placed in ranke of chast Gentlewomen of whom they haue no smack at all but amongs the throng of strumpets kynde that haue some sparke and outward shew of loue for she which loueth money 〈◊〉 hunteth after gaine will make no bones by treasons trap to betray that vnhappie man which shall yelde himselfe to hir hir loue tending to vnsensible things and such in dede as make the wysest sorte to falsifie their faithe and sell the righte and equitie of their Judgemente The Lorde of Virle séeing Zilia then in his companie and almost at his commaundement fayned as though hée knew hir not by reason of his small regarde and lesse intertainment shewed vnto hir at hir first comming Which gretly made the poore Gentlewoman to muse Neuerthelesse she making a vertue of necessitie and séeing hir selfe to bée in that place from whence 〈◊〉 coulde not departe without the losse of hir honor and lyfe purposed to proue Fortune and to committe hir selfe vnto his mercie for all the mobiltie whiche the auncient attribute vnto Fortune Wherfore shutting fast the doore shée went vnto the Knight to whom she spake these words And what is the matter sir knight that now you make so litle accompte of your owne Zilia who in tymes past you sayde had greater power and authoritie ouer you What is the cause that moueth you herevnto Haue you so soone forgotten hir Behold me better and you shal sée hir before you that is able to acquite you of youre promise and therefore prayeth you to pardon hir committed faultes done in tymes past by abusing so cruelly the honest and 〈◊〉 loue which you bare hir I am she which through follie and temeritie did stoppe your mouth and tied vp your tong Gyue me leaue I beséeche you to open the same agayne and to breake the lyne which letteth the libertie of your speache She séeyng that the dumbe Gentleman woulde make no aunswere at all but Mumme and shewed by signes that hée was not able to vndoe his tong wéepyng began to kysse hym imbrace hym make much of him in such wyse as he whiche once studied to make eloquent orations before his Ladie to induce hir to pitie forgat then those ceremonies and spared his talke to shewe hymselfe to bée suche one as shée had made at hir commaundement mused and deuysed altogether vpon the execution of that whiche sometyme hée hadde so paynefully pursued both by words and continuall seruice and coulde profite nothyng Thus waked agayne by hir whiche once had mortified hys mynde assayed to renue in hir that whyche long tyme before séemed to bée a sléepe She more for feare of losse of lyfe or the price of the rewarde than for any true or earnest loue suffered hym to receyue that of hir which the long suter desireth to obtaine of his mistresse They lyued in this ioy and pleasure the space of xv dayes ordayned for the assigned terme of hir cure wherein the poore Gentlewoman was not able to conuert hir offended frend to speake although she humbly prayed hym to shewe so muche fauour as at least she might go frée from eyther losse tellyng hym howe litle regarde shée hadde to hir honour to come so farre to doe hym pleasure and to discharge hym of his promise Muche other gay and lowlye talke shée hadde to moue the Knyghte to take no regarde of that she sayde for he determined to bryng hir in suche feare as he had bene heaped full of heauinesse whiche came to passe at the expired time For the cōmissaries seing that their pacient spake not at all summoned the gentlewomā to pay the penaltie pronounced in the edict or else to lose hir lyfe Alas howe bytter séemed this drinke to thys poore Gentlewoman who not able to dissemble the grief that prest hir on euery side beganne to say Ah I wretched and Caitife woman by thinkyng to deceiue an other haue sharpened the sworde to finishe mine owne life 〈◊〉 it not enough for me to vse such crueltie towardes this myne enimie which moste cruelly in double wise taketh reuenge but must I come to be thus tangled in his snares and in the hands of him who inioying the spoiles of mine honour will with my life depriue me of my fame by making me a common fable to all posteritie in time to come O what hap had I that I was not rather deuoured by some furious and cruell beast when I passed the mountains or else that I brake not my neck down some stéepe headlong hil of those high and hideous mountaines rather than to be set here in stage a pageant to the whole citie to gaze vpon for enterprising a thing so fondely done of purpose by hym whome I haue offended Ah Signior Philiberto what 〈◊〉 rewardest thou for pleasures receiued and fauors felt in hir whom thou didst loue somuch as to make hir die such shamefull and dreadfull death But O God I know that it is for worthie guerdon of my foolishe and wicked life Ah disloyaltie and fickle trust is it possible that thou be harbored in the hearte of hym whiche hadde the brute to bée the moste loyall and curteous Gentleman of his countrey Alas I sée well nowe that I must die through mine only simplicitie and that I muste sacrifice myne honoure to the rigour of hym which with two aduantages taketh ouer cruel reuēge of the litle wrong wherwith my chastitie touched him before As she thus had finished hir complaint one came for hir to cary hir to prison whether willingly she wēt for that she was already resolued in desire to liue no longer in that miserie The gentlemā contented with that payne and not able for to dissemble the griefe whyche hée conceyued for the passion which he sawe his welbeloued to endure the enioying of whome renued the heate of the flames forepast repaired to the kyng vnto whom to the great plesure of the standers by and exceding reioyse of his maiestie to heare him speake he tolde the whole historie of the loue betwene him and cruell Zilia the cause of the losse of his spech and the summe of his reuenge By the faith of a Gentleman sayd the King but here is so straunge an historie as euer I heard and verily your faith and loyaltie is no lesse to be praised and cōmended than the crueltic and couetousnesse of the woman woorthye of reproch and blame which truly deserueth some greuous and notable iustice if so be she were not able to render some apparant cause for the couerture and hidyng of hir follie Alas sir sayde the Gentleman pleaseth your maiestie to deliuer hir although she be worthy of punishment and discharge the reste that be in prison for not recouerie of my speache sith my onely helpe did rest either at hir comandement which had bounde me to that wrong or else in the expired time for which I had pledged my faith To whiche request the Kyng very
I haue receiued so great and ample benefits and the warfare which I vse in his graces seruice in the frontiers of his Realme against the enimies of Christ whereunto I beare more good wil than I doe to wedlocke loue preferring duety to Prince before mariage albeit my wiues faythe and constācy is such as fréely I may spend my life without care of hir deuoir being assured that besides hir beauty she is wise vertuous and honest and loueth me aboue all worldly things tendring me so dearely as she doth the balles of hir owne eyes You haue stoutly sayd answered the Barone in defense of your wiues chastity whereof she can make vnto hir self no greate warrantise bicause a woman sometimes will be in minde not to be moued at the requests and gifts offred by the greatest Prince of the world who afterwards within a day vpon the only sight and view of some lusty yong man at one simple word vttered with a few tears and shorter sute yeldeth to his request And what is she then that can conceiue such assurance in hir self What is he that knoweth the secretes of hearts which be impenetrable Surely none as I suppose except God him selfe A woman of hir owne nature is moueable and plyant is the most ambitious creature of the world And by God no woman do I know but that she lusteth and desireth to be beloued required sued vn̄to honored cherished And oftentimes it commeth to passe that the most crafty dames which thinke with fained lookes to féede their diuers louers be the first that thrust their heades into the amorous nets and like little birdes in harde 〈◊〉 of weather be caught in louers 〈◊〉 wigges Wherby sir Vlrico I doe not sée that your wife aboue all other women compacte of flesh and bone hath such priuilege from God but that she may be soone entised and corrupted Well sir sayd the 〈◊〉 Knight I am persuaded of that which I haue spoken and verely doe beleue the effect of my beliefe moste true Euery man knoweth his owne affaires the foole knoweth better what he hath than his neighbors doe be they neuer so wise Beleue you what you think good for I meane not to digresse frō that which I conceiue And suffer me I pray you to beleue what I list sith belief cannot hurt me nor yet your discredite can hinder my belief being frée for eche man in semblable chaunces to think belieue what his minde lusteth and liketh There were many other Lords and Gentlemen of the court 〈◊〉 at that talke and as we commonly sée at such like metings 〈◊〉 man vttereth his minde wherupon many and sundry opinions were produced touching that question And bicause diuers mē be of diuers natures and many presume vpon the pregnancie of their wise heads there rose some stur about that talk eche mā obstinate in his alleaged reason more froward 〈◊〉 than reason did require the cōmunication grew so hot and talk brake forth so loud as the same was reported to the 〈◊〉 The good Lady sory to heare tel of such strife within hir Court abhorring naturally all cōtrouersie and contention sent for the parties required them from point to point to make recital of the beginning and circumstāce of their reasons and arguments And when she vnderstode the effect of al their talke she sayd that euery man at his owne pleasure might beleue what he list affirming it to be presumptuous and extreme follie to iudge all women to be of one disposition in like sort as it were a great error to say that al men be of one qualitie and condition the contrarie by daily experience manifestly appearing For both in mé and women there is so great difference and variety of natures as there be heads and wits And how it is cōmonly séene that two brothers and sisters born at one birth be yet of contrary natures and 〈◊〉 of manners and conditions so diuers as the thing which shall please the one is altogether displesant to the other Wherupon the 〈◊〉 concluded that the 〈◊〉 Knight had good reason to continue that good honest credit of his wife as hauing proued hir fidelitie of long time wherein she shewed hir self to be very wise discrete Now bicause as many times we sée the natures and appetites of diuers men to be insaciable and one man to be sometimes more foolish hardy than another euen so to say the 〈◊〉 were those two Hungarian Barons who seeming wise in their owne conceits one of them sayd to the 〈◊〉 in this maner Madame your grace doth wel maintaine the sere of womankinde bicause you be a woman For by nature it is giuē to that kinde stoutly to stand in 〈◊〉 of themselues bicause their imbecillitie and weakenesse otherwise would bewray them and although good reasons might be alleaged to open the causes of their 〈◊〉 and why they be not able to attaine the hault excellencie of man yet for this time I doe not meane to be tedious vnto your grace least the little heart of woman would rise and display that conceit which is wrapt within that little molde But to retourne to this chaste Lady throughe whome our talke began if we might craue licence of your maiesty and safe 〈◊〉 of this Gentleman to know hir dwelling place and haue 〈◊〉 to speake to hir we doubt not but to breake with our battering talke the Adamant walles of hir 〈◊〉 that is so famous and cary away that spoile which 〈◊〉 we shal 〈◊〉 I know not answered the 〈◊〉 Knight what ye can or will 〈◊〉 but sure I am that hitherto I am not 〈◊〉 Many things were spoken there and sundry opinions of 〈◊〉 partes alleaged In end the two Hungarian 〈◊〉 persuaded them selues and made their vaunts that they wer able to clime the skies and both wold attempt and also bring to passeny enterprise were it neuer so great affirming their former offer by oth and would gage all the landes and goods they had that within the space of v. months they would either of them obtaine the Gentlewomans good will to do what they list so that the Knight were 〈◊〉 neither to returne home ne yet to aduertise hir of that their determination The Quéene and all the standers by laughed heartily at this their offer mocking and iesting at their foolish and youthly conceites Which the Barons perceiuing sayd You thinke Madame that we speake triflingly and be not able to accomplish this our proposed enterprise but Madame may it please you to giue vs leaue we meane by earnest attempt to giue proofe therof And as they were thus in reasoning and debating the matter the king hearing tell of this large offer made by the Barons came into the place where the Quéene was at such time as she was about to dissuade them from their frātike deuise Before whō he being entred the chamber the two Barōs fel downe vpon their knées and humbly besought his grace that the compacte made
sight the Ladie brought the seruauntes of these Noble men willing them to marke and beholde the diligence of their maisters and to imitate the industry of their goodly exercise who neuer attained meat before by laboure they had gained the same Which done she made thē take their horse furnitures of their Lords and to depart otherwise if by violence they resisted she wold cause their choler to be calmed with such like seruice as they sawe done before their eyes The seruaunts séeing no remedy but must néedes depart toke their leaue Afterwards she sent one of hir seruauntes in poste to the Court to aduertise hir husbād of all that which chaunced The Boeme Knight receiuing this good newes declared the same vnto the King and Quéene and recited the whole story of the two Hungarian Barons accordingly as the tenor of his wiues letters did purporte The Princes stoode stil in great admiration and highly commended the wisdome of the Lady 〈◊〉 hir for a very sage and politike woman Afterwardes the Knight Vlrico humbly besought the King for execution of his decrée and performance of the bargaine Wherupon the King assembled his counsell and required euery of them to say their mind Upon the deliberation whereof the Lord Chauncelor of the kingdome with two Counsellers were sent to the Castle of the Boeme Knight to enquire and learne the processe and doings of the two Lords who diligently accomplished the Kings commaundemēt And hauing examined the Lady and hir maiden with other of the house the Barons also whome a little before the arriual of these Cōmissioners the Lady had caused to be put together that by spinning réeling they might cōfort one an other Whē the Lord Chaūcelor had framed digested in order the whole discours of this history retourned to the court where the King Quene with the Pieres Noble men of his kingdom caused the actes of the same to be diuulged bruted abrode and after much talke and discourse of the performance of this cōpact pro cōtra the Quéene taking the Ladies parte and fauoring the Knight the King gaue sentēce that sir Vlrico shold wholy possesse the lands and goods of the two Barons to him and to his heirs for euer and that the Barons shold be banished out of the kingdoms of Hungarie Boeme neuer to returne vpon paine of death This sentēce was put in execution the vnfortunat Barōs exiled which specially to those that wer of their consanguinitie and bloud séemed too seuere rigorous Neuerthelesse the couenaunt being most plaine euident to most men the same séemed to be pronounced with great Iustice and equitie for example in time to come to lessō rash wits how they iudge déeme so indifferētly of womēs behauiors amōgs whom no doubt ther be both good bad as there be of men Afterwardes the. y. Princes sent for the Lady to that Court who there was courteously intertained for this hir wise politike fact had in great admiration The Quéene then appointed hir to be one of hir womē of honor estemed hir very déerely The knight also daily grew to great promotion well beloued and fauored of the King who with his Lady lōg time liued in great ioy felicitie not forgetting the cunning mā Pollacco that made him the image and likenesse of his wife whose frendship and labor he rewarded with money and other benefites very liberally Dom Diego and Gineura ¶ DOM DIEGO a Gentleman of Spaine 〈◊〉 in loue with faire GINEVRA and she with him their loue by meanes of one that enuied DOM DIEGO his happie choise was by default of light credite on hir part interrupted He constant of minde fell into despair and abandoning all his 〈◊〉 and liuing repaired to the Pyrene Mountains where he led a sauage life for certain mōths and afterwardes knowne by one of his friendes was by maruellous circumstaunce reconciled to hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and maried The. xxix Nouel MEnnes mischaunces occurring on the bruntes of diuers Tragicall fortunes albeit vpon their first taste of bitternesse they sauor of a certaine kinde of lothsome relish yet vnder the Kinde of that vnsauerouse sappe doeth lurke a swéeter honie than swéetenesse it selfe for the fruite that the posterity may gather and learne by others hurtes howe they may 〈◊〉 and shunne the like But bicause all things haue their seasons and euery thing is not conuenient for all times and places I purpose now to shewe a Notable example of a vaine and superstitious Louer that abandoned his liuing and friendes to become a Sauage desert man Which Historie resembleth in a manner a Tragical comedie comprehending the very same mater and argument wherewith the greatest part of the 〈◊〉 sortearme them selues to couer and defende their follies It is red and séene too often by common custome and therfore 〈◊〉 héere to display what rage doeth gouerne and headlong hale fonde and licentious youthe conducted by the pangue of loue if the same be not moderated by reason and cooled with sacred lessons euen from the Cradle to more mature and riper age For the Tiranny of loue amongs all the deadly foes that 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 our mindes glorieth of his force vaunting himselfe able to chaunge the proper nature of things be they neuer so sounde and perfect who to make them like his lustes 〈◊〉 himself into a substance qualified diuersly the better to intrap such as be giuen to his vanities But hauing auouched so many examples before I am content for this present to tel the discourse of two persons chaunced not long sithens in Catheloigne Of a Gentleman that for his constancy declared two extremities in him selfe of loue and follie And of a Gentlewoman so fickle and inconstant as loue and they which waited on him be disordered for the trustlesse ground wherupon such foundation of seruice is layed which ye shall easely conceiue by well viewing the difference of these twaine 〈◊〉 I meane to 〈◊〉 to the listes by the blast of this 〈◊〉 trumpe And thus the same beginneth Not long after that the victorious Noble prince yong 〈◊〉 the sonne of Alphonsus King of Aragon was dead Levves the twelfth that time being Frenche King vpon the Marches of Catheloigne betwene Barcelona and the Mountaines there was a good Lady then a widow which had bene the wife of an excellent and Noble knight of the Countrey by whome she had left one only daughter which was so carefully brought 〈◊〉 by the mother as nothing was to deare or heard to be brought to passe for hir desire thinking that a creature so Noble and perfecte could not be trained vp too delicately Now bisides hir incōparable furniture of beautie this yong Gentlewoman was adorned with haire so faire curle and yealow as the new fined gold was not matchable to the shining lockes of this tender infant who therefore commonly was called Gineura la Blonde Halfe a dayes iorney from the house of this widow lay the lands of
handes and for acknowledgyng the fauour that presently I doe receiue whereby I maye make my vaunt to 〈◊〉 the seruaunte of hir that is the fairest moste curteous and honest Gentlewoman on thys syde the Mountaynes As hée hadde ended those woordes they came to couer for supper where they were serued so honourably as if they hadde bene in the Court of the Monarch of Spayne After supper they wente to walke abroade alongs the 〈◊〉 syde besette with wyllowe trées where bothe the beautie of the tyme the runnyng 〈◊〉 the charme of the naturall musicke of byrdes and the pleasaunt murmure of the tremblyng leaues at the whistelyng of the swéete Westerne wynde moued them agayne to renew theyr passetyme after dynner For some dydde gyue them selues to talke and to deuise of 〈◊〉 matter some framed nosegayes garlandes and other pretie poesyes for theyr friendes Other some dyd leape runne and throwe the barre In the end a great lord neighbor to Dom Diego whose name was Dom Roderico knowing by his frends coūtenance to what saint he was vowed perceiuing for whose loue 〈◊〉 feast was celebrate toke by 〈◊〉 hand a gentlewoman that sate nexte to faire Gineura and 〈◊〉 hir to daunce after a song whervnto she béeing pleasaunt and wyse made no great refusall Dom Diego failed not to ioyne with hys mystresse after whom folowed the reste of that noble traine euery of them as they thought best Now the Gentlewoman that beganne to daunce song thys song so apte for the purpose as if shée hadde entred the hearte of the enimie and mystresse of Dom Diego or of purpose hadde made the same in the name of hir whome the matter touched aboue the rest Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall The yong and tender feblenesse Of mine vnskilfull age Wherof also the tendernesse Doth feeble heart assuage Whome beauties force hath made to frame Vnto a louers hest So soone as first the kindled flame Of louing toyes increst Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall I haue assayed out to put The fier thus begoonne And haue attempted of to cut The threede which loue hath spoonne And new alliance faine would flee Of him whome I loue best But that the Gods haue willed mee To yelde to his request Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage 〈◊〉 So amiable is his grace Not like among vs all So passing faire is his face Whose hue doth staine vs all And as the shining sunny day Doth eu'ry man delight So he alone doth beare the sway Amongs eche louing wight Who may 〈◊〉 sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall Why should not then the fairest dame Apply hir gentle minde And honor giue vnto his name With humble heart and kinde Sith he is full of curtesie Indewd with noble grace And brest replete with honestie Well knowne in eu'ry place Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall If I should loue and serue him than May it be counted vice If I retaine that worthy man Shall I be demde vnwise I will be gentle to him sure And render him mine aide And loue that wight with heart full pure That neuer loue assaide Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall Thus the most sacred vnitie That doth our hearts combine Is voide of wicked flattery The same for to 〈◊〉 No hardned rigor is our guide Nor follie doth vs leade No Fortune can vs twaine deuide Vntill we both be deade Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage 〈◊〉 And thus assured certainly That this our loue shall dure And with good lucke hope verely The same to put in vre The sowen sedes of amitie Begon betwixt vs twaine Shall in most perfite vnitie For euermore remaine Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall This song delited the minds of many in that company and principally Dom Diego Gineura who felt themselues tickled without laughing notwithstanding the maiden reioysed to hear hir self so greatly praised in so noble a company specially in that presence of hir friend who had no lesse pleasure by hearing the praises of his beloued than if he had bene made Lord of all Aragon She for all hir dissembled countenaunce vsed openly could not hide the alteration of hir minde without sending forth a sodain chaunge of colour that increased that fair goodly taint of hir face Dom Diego seing that mutation was so ioyful as was possible for thereby he knew and iudged himself assured of the good grace of his mistresse therfore wringing hir finely by the hands sayd vnto hir very soberly 〈◊〉 What greater pleasure my louing wench can there happen vnto your seruaunt than to sée the accomplishmēt of this Prophetical 〈◊〉 I assure you that in al my life I neuer heard musike that delited me so much as this therby do vnderstand that good wil of the Gentlewoman which so curteously hath discouered yours towards me the faithful seruice wher of you shall sée me from hence forth so liberall as neither goods nor life shal be spared for your sake Gineūra who loued him with al hir heart thanked him very hūbly and prayed him to beleue that the song was not vn truly soong and that without any fail she had therby manifested al the secrets of hir minde The daunce ended they sate them downe round about a cleare fountaine which by silent discourse issued from an high and moisty rock enuirōned with an infinite numbre of Mapletrées Poplers Ashes To which place a page brought a lute to Dom Diego wherupō he could play very wel made it more pleasātly to sound for that he accorded his fayning voice to the instrument singing this song that foloweth That I should loue and serue also good reason doth require What though I suffre lothsome grief my life in woe to wrappe The same be thonely instruments of my good lucke and happe The foode and pray for hungry corps of rest th' assured hire By thought wherof O heauy man gush forth of teares great store And by by reioyst againe my driery teares do cease Which guerdon shal mine honor sure in that triumphāt peace The summe whereof I offer now were it of price much more Which I doe make withall my heart vnto that blessed wight My proper Goddesse here on earth and only mistresse dere My goods and life my brething gost within this carcase here I vow vnto that maiestie that heauenly
starre most bright Now sith my willing vow is made I humbly pray hir grace To end th'accord betwene vs pight no longer time to tracte Which if it be by sured band so haply brought to passe I must my self thrice happy coūt for that most heauenly fact This song made the company to muse who commided the trim inuention of the Knight and aboue al Gineura praised him more than before could not so well refraine hir lokes from him he with countre change rendring like againe but that the two widowes their mothers conceiued great héede therof reioysing greatly to sée the same desirous in time to couple them together For at that present they deferred the same in cōsideration they were both very yong Notwithstāding it had bene better that the same coniunction had bene made before fortune had turned the whéele of hir vnstablenesse And truely delay and prolongation of time sometimes bringeth such and so great missehaps that one hundred times men cursse their fortune and little aduise in foresight of their infortunate chaunces that commonly do come to passe As it chaūced to these widowes one of them thinking to loose hir sonne by the vaine behauior of the others daughter who without that helpe of God or care vnto his will disparaged hir honor and prepared a poyson so daungerous for hir mothers age that the foode therof prepared the way to the good Ladies graue Nowe whiles this loue in this maner increased and that desire of these two Louers flamed forth ordinarily in fire and flames more violent Dom Diego all chaunged and transformed into a newe man receiued no delite but in the sight of his Gineura And she thought that there could be no greater felicitie or more to be wished for than to haue a friend so perfect and so wel accomplished with all things requisite for the ornament and full furniture of a Gentleman This was the occasion that the yong Knight let no wéeke to passe without visiting his mistresse twice or thrice at the least and she did vnto him the greatest curtesie and best entertainment that vertue could suffer a maiden to doe who is the diligent treasurer and carefull tutor of hir honor And this she did by consēt of hir mother In like manne rhonestie doth not permit that chaste maidens should vse long talke or immoderate spéeche with the first that be suters vnto them much lesse séemely it is for them to be ouer squeimishe nice with that man which séeketh by way of marriage to winne power and title of the body which in very dede is or ought to be the moitie of their soule Such was that desires of these two Louers which notwithstanding was impéeched by meanes as hereafter you shal heare For during the rebounding ioy of these faire couple of loyall louers it chaunced that the daughter of a noble man of the Countrey named Ferrando de la Serre which was faire comely wise and of very good behauior by kéeping daily company with Gineura fel extréemely in loue with Dom Diego and assayed by all meanes to do him to vnderstand what the puissance was of hir loue which willingly she meant to bestowe vpon him if it wold please him to honor hir so much as to loue hir with like 〈◊〉 But the Knight which was no more his own man 〈◊〉 rather possessed of another had lost with his libertie his wits and minde to marke the affection of this Gentlewoman of whome he made no accompt The Maiden neuerthelesse ceased not to loue him and to 〈◊〉 al possible wayes to make him hir owne And knowing how much Dom Diego loued Hawking she bought a 〈◊〉 the best in all the Countrey and sent the same to Dom Diego who with all his heart receiued the same and effectuously gaue hir thanks for that desired gift praying the messanger to recommend him to the good grace of his Mistresse and to assure hir selfe of his faithfull seruice and that for hir sake he would kepe the hauk so tenderly as the balles of his eyes This Hauk was the cause of the ill fortune that afterwards chaunced to this pore louer For going many times to sée Gineura with the Hauke on his fist bearing with him the tokens of the goodnesse of his Hauke it escaped his mouthe to say that the same was one of the things that in all the world he loued best Truely this worde was taken at the first bound contrary to his meaning wherwith the matter so fell out as afterwards by despaire he was like to lose his life Certaine dayes after as in the absence of the Knight talke rose of his vertue and honest conditions one prainsing his prowesse valiaunce another his great beautie and curtesy another passing further extolling the sincere 〈◊〉 and constācy which appeared in him touching matters of loue one enuious person named Gracian spake his minde thē in this wise I wil not deny but that Dom Diego is one of the most excellent honest and brauest Knightes of Catheloigne but in matters of Loue he séemeth to me so waltering and inconstant as in euery place where he commeth by and by he falleth in loue and maketh as though he were sick and wold die for the same Gineura maruelliing at those woords sayd vnto him I pray you my friende to vse better talke of the Lorde Dom Diego For I do thinke the loue which the Knight doth beare to a Gentlewoman of this Countrey is so firme and assured that none other can remoue the same out of the siege of his minde Lo how you be deceiued gentlewoman quod Gracian for vnder coloure of 〈◊〉 seruice he and such as he is doe abuse the simplicitie of yong Gentlewomen And to proue my saying true I am assured that he is extremely enamored with the daughter of Dom Ferrando de la Serre of whome he receiued an Hauke that he loueth aboue all other things Gineura remembring the words which certaine dayes before Dom Diego spake touching his Hauke began to suspect and beleue that which master Gracian alleaged and not able to support the choler which colde iealosie bred in hir stomake went into hir Chamber full of so great grief and heauinesse as she was many times like to kill hir self In the end hoping to be reuenged of the wrong which she beleued to receiue of Dom Diego determined to endure hir fortune paciently In the meane time she conceiued in hir minde a despite and hatred so great and extreame against the pore Gentleman that thought little héereof as the former loue was nothing in respect of the reuenge by death which she then desired vpon him Who the next day after his wonted maner came to sée hir hauing to his great damage the Hauke on his fiste which was the cause of all that iealosse Nowe as the Knight was in talke with the mother séeing that his beloued came not at all according to hir custome to salute him and bid him welcome inquired how she
where he had remained for a certaine time and passing before the house of his Ladie according to his custome heard the voice of women maidens which mourned for Montanine therwithal stayd the chiefest cause of his stay was for that he saw go forth out of the palace of his Angelica diuers women making mone lamentation wherfore he demaūded of that neighbors what noise that was whether any in those quarters were dead or no. To whom they declared at length all that which ye haue heard before Salimbene hearing this story went home to his house being secretly entred into his chāber begā to discourse with himself vpon that accident and 〈◊〉 a thousand things in his head in the ende thought that Charles shold not so be cast away wer he iustly or innocently condemned and for the only respect of his sister that she might not be left destitute of all the goodes and inheritance Thus discoursing diuers things at length he sayd I were a very simple person now to rest in dout sith Fortune is more curious of my felicitie than I could wish and séeketh the effecte of my desires when lest of all I thought vpon them For behold Montanine alone is left of al the mortal enimies of our house which to morow openly shall lose his head like a rebell seditious person vpon whose auncesters in him shall I bée reuenged and the quarell betwene our two families shall take ende hauing no more cause to feare renuing of discorde by any that can descend from him And who shall let me then from inioying hir whom I do loue hir 〈◊〉 being dead and his goodes confiscate to the segniorie and she without all maintenance and relief except the aide of hir onely beautie and curtesie What maintenance shall she haue if not by the loue of some honest Gentleman that for his pleasure may support hir and haue pitie vpon the losse of so excellent beautie Ah Salimbene what hast thou sayd Hast thou alreadie forgotten that a Gentleman for that only cause is estemed aboue all other whose glorious factes oughte to shine before the brightnesse of those that force themselues to folow vertue Art not thou a Gentleman borne and bredde in noble house ssued from the loines of gentle and noble parents Is it ignorant vnto thée that it pertaineth vnto a noble and gentle hearte to reuenge receiued iniuries himself without séeking aide of other or else to pardon them by vsing clemencie and princely curtesie burying all desire of vengeaunce vnder the tombe of eternall obliuion And what greater glorie can man acquire than by vanquishing himself and chastising his affections and rage to bynde him whiche neuer thought to receiue pleasure or benefite at his hand It is a thing which excedeth the cōmon order of nature and so it is mete and requisite that the most excellent do make the effects of their excellencie appeare and séeke means for the immortalitie of their remembrāce The great Dictator Caesar was more praised for pardoning his 〈◊〉 and for shewing him selfe curteous and easie to be spoken to than for subduing the braue and valiant Galles and Britons or vanquishing the mightie Pompee Dom Roderico Viuario the Spaniard although he might haue ben reuenged vpon Dom Pietro king of Aragon for his infidelitie bicause he went about to hinder his voyange against the Saracens at Grenado yet wold not punishe or raunsom him but taking him prisoner in the warres suffered him to go without any tribute or any exaction of him and his 〈◊〉 The more I folowe the example of mightie personages in things that be good the more notorious and wonderful shal I make my self in their rare and noble déedes And not willing to forget a wrong done vnto me whereof may I cōplain of Montanine what thing hath hée euer done against me or mine And albeit his predecessors were enimies to our familie they haue therfore borne the penance more hard than the sin deserued And truly I shold be afrayd that God wold suffer me to 〈◊〉 into some mishap if séeing one afflicted I shold reioyse in his affliction take by his decay an argument of ioy plesure No no Salimbene is not of minde that such fond imagination should bereue good will to make himselfe a friend to gaine by liberalitie curtesie hir which for hir only vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being asiured that there is no man except he were 〈◊〉 of al good nature humanitie specially bering the loue to Angelica that I do but he woulde be sory to see hir in such heauinesse and dispaire wold attempt to deliuer hir from such dolorous grief For if I loue hir as I do in dede must not I likewise loue al that which she earnest ly loueth as him that is now in daunger of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens That my heart doe make appere what the loue is which maketh me tributarie and subiect to faire Angelica that eche man may know that furious loue hath vanquisht kings greate monarches it behoueth not me to be abashed if I which am a man subiect tapassiōs so wel as other do submit my self to the seruice of hir who I am assured is so vertuous as euē very necessitie cannot force hir to forget the house wherof she toke hir original Uaunt thy self then 〈◊〉 Angclica to haue forced a heart of it selfe impregnable giuen him a wound which the stoutest lads might sooner haue depriued of life than put him out of the way of his gentle kind And 〈◊〉 Montanine thinke that if thou wilte thy selfe thou wynnest to day so heartie a friende as onely death shall separate the vnion of vs twaine and of all our posteritie It is I nay it is I my selfe that shall excell thée in duetie poynting the way for the wysest to get honor and violently compell the moued myndes of those that be oure aduersaries desiring rather vainly to forgo mine own life than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts whiche be alreadie grifted in my minde After this long discourse séeing that the tyme required diligence he tooke a thousande Ducates and went to the Treasurer of the fines deputed by the state whom he fonnd in his office and said vnto him I haue brought you sir the Thousand Ducates which Charles Montanine is bounde to pay for his deliuerance Tell them and giue hym an acquittance that presently he may come forth The Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest that excéeded the summe of a Thousand Florens but Salimbene refused the same and receiuing a letter for his discharge he sent one of his seruants therwithall to the chiefe Gailer who séeing that the summe of his condemnation was payd immediatly deliuered Montanine out of the prison where he was fast shutte and fettred with great and weighty giues Charles thinkyng that some Frier had ben come to confesse hym and that they had shewed hym 〈◊〉 mercy to do him to
haue 〈◊〉 to present with too excéeding prodigall liberalitie and I would to God that life might satisfie the same then be sure it should so soone be imployed as the promise made thereof Alas good God I thought that when I 〈◊〉 my brother out of prison the neare distresse of death wherunto vniustly he was throwne I thought I say and firmely did beleue that fortune the enimy of our ioy had vomited al hir poison and being despoiled of hir fury and crabbed nature had brokē the bloudy and venemous arowes wherewith so long time she hath plaged our family and that by resting of hir self she had giuen some rest to the Montanine house of al their troubles misaduētures But I O miserable wight do see féele how far I am deuided from my hope and deceiued of mine opinion sith that furious stepdame appereth before me with a face more fierce thretning then euer she did sharpening hir selfe against my youth in other sorte than euer against any of our race If euer she persecuted our auncesters if she brought them to ruine and decay she now doth purpose wholly to subuert the same and throw vs headlong into that bottomlesse pit of all miserie exterminating for all togither the remnaunt of our consumed house Be it either by losse of thée good brother or the violent death of me which cannot hazard my chastitie for the price of mine vnhappie life Ah good God into what anguishe is my minde exponed how doe I féele the force and violence of frowarde fortune But what speake I of fortune How doth hard lucke insue that is predestinated by the heauens vpon our race Must I at so tender yeres and of so féeble kinde make choise of a thing which woulde put the wisest vpon earth vnto their shifts My heart doth faile me reason wanteth and iudgement hangeth in ballaunce by continuall agitations to sée how I am driuen to the extremitie of two daungerous straits enuironned with fearefull ieoperdies forcibly compelled either to be deuided and separated frō thee my brother whome I loue aboue mine owne life in whom next after God I haue sixed and put my hope and trust hauing none other solace comfort and helpe but thée or else by keping thée am forced to giue vnto another know not howe that precious treasure which being once lost cānot be recouered by any meanes for the garde and conseruation wherof euery woman of good iudgement that loueth vertue ought a thousand times to offer hir self to death if so many wayes she could rather than to blot or soile that inestimable iewell of chastitie wherewith our life is a true life contrariwise she which fondly suffreth hir self to be disseazed and spoiled of the same looseth it without honest title albeit she be a liue yet is she buried in the most obscure caue of death hauing lost the honoure which maketh Maidens marche with head vpright But what goodnesse hath a Ladie gentlewoman maiden or wife wherein she can glory hir honor being in doubt and reputation darkened with infamie Wherto serued the imperiall house of Augustus in those Ladies that were intituled with the Emperours daughters when for their vilany their were vnworthy of the title of chaste and vertuous What profited Faustina the Emperiall crowne vpon hir head hir chastitie through hir abhominable life being rapt and despoiled What wrong hath bene done to many simple women for being buried in the tombe of darke obliuion which for their vertue and pudique life merited eternall praise Ah Charles my brother deare where hast thou bestowed the eye of thy fore séeing minde that without foresight and care of the fame due to the honest dames and chast damosels of our family hauing lost the goods fathers inheritaunce wilt haue me in like sort sorgoe my chastitie which hitherto I haue kept with héedeful diligence Wilt thou dear brother by the price of my virginity that Anselmo shal haue greater victorie ouer vs than he hathe gotten by fight of sword vpon the allied remnaunt of our house Art thou ignorant that the wounds and diseases of the minde be more vehement than those which afflicte the body Ah I vnhappy maiden and what yll lucke is reserued for me what destiny hath kept me till this day to be presented for Venus Sacrifice to satissie a yong mannes lust which coueteth peraduenture but the spoile of my virginitie O happy the Romane maid slain by the proper hands of hir wofull father Virginius that she might not be soiled with infamie by the lecherous embracements of rauenous Appius which desired hir acquaintaunce Alas that my brother doe not so rather I would to God of his owne accord he be the 〈◊〉 minister of my life ready to be violated if God by 〈◊〉 grace take not my cause in hand Alas death why 〈◊〉 thou not throwe against my heart thy most pearcing darte that I may goe waite vpon the shadowes of my thrice happy parents who knowing this my grief wil not be void of passion to help me waile my woful state O God why was not I choaked and strangled so sone as I was taken forth the secrete imbracements of my mothers wombe rather thā to arriue into this mishap that either must I lose the thing I déeme most deare or die with the violence of my proper hands Come death come and cut the vnhappy thréede of my wofull life stoppe the pace of teares with thy trenchant darte that streame outragiously downe my face and close the brething wind of sighs which hinder thée from doing thine office vpon my heart by suffocation of my life and it When she had ended those words hir spéeche did faile and waxing pale and faint sitting vpon bi r stoole she fared as though that very death had sitten in hir place Charles thinking that his sister had bene deade 〈◊〉 with sorow and desirous to liue no longer after hir seing he was the cause of that sowning fell downe dead vpon the ground mouing neither hand nor foote as though the soule had bene departed from the bodie At the noise which Montanine made by reason of his fall Angelica reuiued out of hir sown and seing hir brother in so pitifull plight and supposing he had bene dead for care of his request for being berieued of hir brother was so moued as a little thing wold haue made hir do as 〈◊〉 did when she viewed Pyramus to be slaine But conceiuing hope she threw hir selfe vpon hir brother cursing hir fortune banning the starres of cruelty and hir lauash spéeche and hir self for hir litle loue to hir brother who made no refusal to die to saue his land for relief of hir wher she denyed to yeld hir self to him that loued hir with so goodaffection In the end she applied so many remedies vnto hir brother sometimes casting cold water vpon his face sometimes pinching and rubbing the temples and pulses of his armes his mouth with vineger that she made him to
while vnder a bush awaked one espied the other to whom the Scoler sayd Good morow Lady be the damsels yet come The woman séeing and hearing him begā again bitterly to wéepe and prayed him to come vp to the Toure that she might speake with hym The Scholer was therunto very agreable and she lying on hir belly vpō the terrasse of the Toure discouering nothing but hir head ouer that side of the same said vnto him wéeping Rinieri truly if euer I caused thée to endure an il night thou art now well reuenged on me for although it be the moneth of 〈◊〉 I thought because I was naked that I shold haue frosen to death this night for cold besides my great and continual teares for the offense which I haue done thée and of my folly for beleuing thée that maruel it is mine eyes do remaine 〈◊〉 my head therfore I pray thee not for the loue of me whom thou oughtest not to loue but for thine own 〈◊〉 which art a gentleman that the shame paine which I haue sustained may satisfy the offense wrong I haue cōmitted against 〈◊〉 cause mine aparel to 〈◊〉 brought vnto me that I may go towne frō hēce take not that frō me which 〈◊〉 thou art not able to restore which is mine honor for if I haue depriued thée of being with me that night I cā at all times when it shall please thée render many for that 〈◊〉 Let 〈◊〉 suffise thée then with this and like an honest mā content thy self by being a little reuēged on me in making me to know what it is to hurt another Do not I pray thée practise thy power against a woman for the Egle hath no fame for conquering of the Doue Then for the loue of God and for thine honor sake haue pitie and remorse vpon me The Scholer with a cruel heart remembring the iniury that he had receiued and seing hir so to weepe and pray conceiued at one instant both pleasure griefe in his minde pleasure of the reuenge which he aboue all things desired and grief moued his manhode to haue compassion vpon the miserable woman Notwithstanding pitie not able to ouercome the fury of his desire he answered Mistresse Helena if my prayers which in 〈◊〉 I could not moisten 〈◊〉 teares ne yet swéeten them with sugred woordes as you doe yours now might haue obtained that night wherein I thought I should haue died for colde in the Court ful of snowe to haue bene conueyed by you into some couert place an easie matter it had bene for me at this instant to heare your sute But if now more than in times past your honor doe ware warme and be so greuous for you to stande starke naked make your prayers to him betwene whose armes it grieued you not at all to be naked that night wherein you heard me trot vp downe the court my téeth chattering for colde and marching vpon the snow and at his hands séeke reliefe and pray him to bring your clothes and fetche a ladder that you may come downe force your self to set your honoures care on him for whome bothe then and nowe besides many other times you haue not feared to put the same in perill why doe you not cal for him to come and help you and to whome doth your helpe better appertaine than vnto him You are his owne what things will he not prouide in this distresse of yours or else what person will hée séeke to succour if not to helpe and succour you Cal him foolish woman and proue if the loue which thou 〈◊〉 him and thy wit together with his be able to deliuer thée from my folie wherat whē both you were togethers you toke your pleasure And now thou hast experiēce whether my folly or the loue which thou diddest beare vnto him is the greatest And be not now so liberall and curteous of that which I go not about to séeke 〈◊〉 thy good nightes to thy 〈◊〉 friend if thou chaunce to escape from hence aliue for from my selfe I cléerely discharge you both And truely I haue had to much of one and sufficient it is for me to be mocked once Moreouer by thy craftie talke vttered by subtill speache and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praise thou thinkest to force the getting of my good will and thou callest me Gentleman valiant man thinking thereby to withdrawe my valiant minde from punishing of thy wretched body but thy flateries shal not yet blear mine vnderstanding eyes as once with thy vnfaithfull promises thou diddest beguile my ouerwening wit I now too well do know and thereof 〈◊〉 thée well assure that all the time I was a scholer in Paris I neuer learned so much as thou in one night diddest me to vnderstande But put the case that I wer a valiāt man yet thou art none of them vpon whom valiance ought to shewe his effectes for the ende of repentance in such cruel beasts as thou art and the like reuenge oughte to be death alone where amongs men thy pitifull plaintes whiche so lamētably thou speakest ought to suffise But yet as I am no Eagle 〈◊〉 no Doue but a most venomous serpent I intende so well as I am able so persecute thée mine auncient enimie with the greatest malice I can deuise which I can not so proprely call reuenge as I may terme it correction for that the reuēge of a matter ought to surmount the offense yet I wil bestow no reuenge on thée for if I wer disposed to applie my mynde thervnto for respect of thy displeasure done to me thy life shoulde not suffise nor one hundred more like vnto thine which if I tooke away I shold but rid a vile mischeuous wicked woman out of the world And to say the 〈◊〉 what other deuill art thou to 〈◊〉 passe a litle beautie 〈◊〉 thy face which within few yeares will be so riueled as the oldest cribbe of the world but the most vnhappie and wicked woman the dame of the diuell himselfe for thou tookest no care to kill and destroy an honest man as thou euen now diddst terme me whose life may in time to come bée more profitable to the worlde than an hundred thousande suche as thyne so long as the worlde indureth I wil teach thée then by the pain thou suffrest what it is to mock such men as be of skil and what maner of thyng it is to delude and scorne poore Scholers giuyng thée warning hereby that thou neuer fall into such like follie if thou escapest thys But if thou haue so great a wil to come downe as thou sayest thou haste why doest thou not leape and throwe downe thy selfe that by breaking of thy necke if it so please God at one instant thou ridde thy selfe of the payne wherin thou sayest thou art and make me the beste contented man of the worlde For this time I will saye no more to thée but that I haue done inough for thée by making thée
to mount so high Lerne then now so wel how thou mayst get downe as thou didst know how to mock deceiue me While the Scholer had preached vnto hir these words that wretched womā wept continually the time stil did passe away the sunne rising more and more but when she perceyued that he held his peace she answered O cruel man if the 〈◊〉 night was grieuous vnto thée my fault appeared great can not my youth and beautie my teares and humble prayers be able to mitigate thy wrath and to moue thée to pitie do at least that thou 〈◊〉 be moued thy cruel minde appeased for that only act let me once again be trusted of thée and sith I haue manifested al my desire pardon me for this time thou haste sufficiently made me féele the penāce of my sinue For if I had not reposed my trust in thée thou hadst not now reuenged thy self on me which with ardent desire thou 〈◊〉 ful wel declare Giue ouer then thine anger pardon me hēceforth for I am determinod if thou wilt forgiue me cause me to come downe out of this place to forsake for euer that vnfaithful louer to receiue thée for my only friend lord Moreouer wher thou gretly blamest my beautie esteming it to be short of small accompt such as it is the like of other women I know not to be regarded for other cause but for pastime plesure of youthly mē therfore not to be contēned thou thy self truly art not very old albeit that cruelly I am intreated of thée yet therfore I cānot beleue that thou woldest haue me so miserably to die as to cast my selfe down hedlong like one desperate before thy eies whō except thou wer a lier as thou art now becom in time past I did wel please like Haue pitie then vpon me for Gods sake for that Sun begins to grow exceding hot as the extreme bitter cold did hurt me the last night euen so that heat beginneth to molest me Whervnto the Scholer which kept hir there for the nonce and for his plesure answered Mistresse you did not now cōmit your faith to me for loue you bare me but to haue that againe which you had lost wherfore that deserueth no good turne but greter pain And fondly thou thinkest this to be the only means wherby I am able to take desired reuenge For I haue a thousand other wayes and a thousand trapps haue I layde to tangle thy féete in making thée beléeue that I dyd loue thée in such wise as thou shoulde 〈◊〉 haue gone no where at any time if this had not chaunced but thou sholdest haue fallen into one of them surely thou couldest haue chaunced into neither of them but would haue bred thée more annoyaunce and shame than this which I chose not for thine ease but for my greater pleasure And wher all these meanes had fayled me the penne should not wherwith I would haue displayed thée in such colours as when it had come to thy knowledge thou wouldest haue desired a thousand times a day that thou hadst neuer ben borne For the forces of the pen be farre more vehement than they can estéeme that haue not proued them by experience I sweare vnto thée by God that I do reioise and so wil to the end for this reuenge I take of thée and so haue I done from the beginning but if I had with pen painted thy maners to the worlde thou shouldest not haue bene so much ashamed of other as of thy selfe that rather than thou wouldest haue looked mée in the face againe thou wouldest haue plucked thyne eyes oute of thy head and therfore reproue no more the sea for being incresed with a litle brooke For thy loue or that thou be mine own I care not as I haue already tolde thée loue him againe if thou canst so much as thou wilte to whome for the hatred that I haue borne him I presently doe beare so much good will againe and for the benefite which he hath done thée now You bée inamored and desire the loue of yong mē bicause you sée their 〈◊〉 somewhat freshe their beard more blacke their bodies well shaped to daunce and runne at tilt ryng but all these qualities haue they had that be growne to elder yeares and they by good experience knowe what other are yet to learne Moreouer you déeme them the better horssmen bicause they can iorney more miles a day than those that be of farther yeares Truly I confesse that with great force they please suche 〈◊〉 Gentlewomen as you be who do not perceiue like sauage beastes what heapes of euill do lurke vnder the forme of faire apparance Yong men be not contente with one louer but so many as they beholde they doe desire and of so many they thinke themselues worthy wherfore their loue can not be stable And that this is true thou mayst now beare true witnesse thy self And they thinkyng them selues worthie to be honoured and cherished of their paramors haue none other glory but to vaunt of those whom they haue enioyed which fault maketh many to yelde themselues to those that be discrete and wise and to suche as be no blabbes or Tel-tales And where thou sayest that thy loue is knowne to none but to thy mayde and me thou art deceyued and worsse beleuest if thou beleue the same for al the inhabitants of the stréete wherin thy louer dwelleth the stréete also wherin thy house doth stand talk of nothing more than of your loue But many times in such cases the partie whom such brute doth touch is the last that knoweth the same Moreouer yong men do robbe thée where they of elder yeres do gyue thée Thou then which hast made such choise remaine to him whome thou hast chosen me whom thou sloutest giue leaue to applie to an other for I haue founde a woman to be my friende whiche is of an other discretion than thou art and knoweth me better than thou dost And 〈◊〉 thou mayst in an other world be more certain of mine eyes desire than thou hitherto art Throwe thy selfe downe so soone as thou canst that thy soule alreadie as I suppose receiued betwene the armes of the diuel him self may se if mine eies be troubled or not to view thée breake thy neck But bicause I think thou wilt not do me that good turne I say if that Sun begin to warm thée remember the cold which thou madest me suffer which if thou cāst mingle with that heat no doubt thou shalt féele the same more temperate The comfortlesse woman séeing that the Scholers words tended but to cruell end began to wéepe said Now then sith nothing can moue thée to take pitie for my sake at lest wise for the loue of hir whom thou sayest to be of better discretion than I take some compassion For hir sake I say whom thou callest thy frend pardon me
wife oweth vnto hir husband that I should desire to suffer the heat which burneth altereth the martired minds of those that subdue them selues 〈◊〉 loue Can such attempt pierce the heart of me to become amorous by forgetting straying from the limittes of honest life But what desire is this I haue a certaine vnacquainted lust yet very well know not what it is that moueth me and to whome I shall vow the spoile thereof I am truely more fonde and foolish than euer Narcislus was for there is neither shadow nor 〈◊〉 vpō which I can well stay my sight nor yet simple Imagination of any worldly man whereupon I can arrest the conceipt of my vnstayed heart and the desires which prouoke my mind Pygmalion loued once a Marble piller and I haue but one desire the coloure wherof is more pale than death There is nothyng which can giue the same so much as one spot of vermilion rud If I do discouer these appetites to any wight perhaps they will mock me for my labor and for all the beautie Noble birth that is in me they wil make no conscience to déeme me for their iesting stock to solace themselues with rehersall of my fond conceits But sith there is no enimie in the field that but simple suspition doth assaile vs we must breake of the same and deface the entier remembrance of the lightnesse of my braine It appertaineth vnto me to shew my self as issued forth of the Noble house of Aragon To me it doeth belong to take héede how I erre or degenerate from the royall bloud wherof I came In this sort that fair widow and yong Princesse fantasied in the nyght vpon the discourse of hir appetites But when the day was come séeing the great multitude of the Neapolitan Lords gentlemen which marched vp downe the Citie eying and beholding their best beloued or vsing talk of mirth with thē whose seruaunts they were al that which she thought vpō in the night vanished so sone as that flame of burned straw or the pouder of the Canon shot purposed for any respect to liue no lōger in that sort but promised the conquest of some friend that was lustie and discréete But the difficultie rested in that she knew not vpon whom to fixe hir loue fearing to be slaundered and also that the light disposition and maner of most part of youth wer to be suspected in such wise as giuing ouer all them whych vauted vpon their Gennets Turkey Palfreis other Coursers along the Citie of Naples she purposed to take repast of other Uenison than of that fond wanton troupe So hir mishap began already to spin the thréede which choked the aire and breath of hir 〈◊〉 life Ye haue heard before that M. Bologna was one of the wisest most perfect gentlemen that the land of Naples that tyme brought forth for his beautie proportion galantnesse valiance good grace without cōparison His fauor was so swéete and pleasant as they which kept him cōpanie had somwhat to do to abstain their affection Who then could blame this faire Princesse if pressed with desire of matche to 〈◊〉 the ticklish instigations of hir wāton flesh and hauing in hir presence a mā so wise she did set hir minde on him or fantasie to mary him wold not that partie for calming of his thirst hunger being set at the table before sundry sorts of delicate viands ease his hunger Me think the person doth greatly forget himself which hauing hādfast vpō occasion suffreth the same to vanish flie away sith it is wel knowne the she being bald behinde hath no place to sease vpon when desire moueth vs to lay hold vpon hir Which was the cause that the Duchesse becam extremely in loue with the master of hir house In such wise as before al men she spared not to praise the great perfectiōs wherwith he was enriched whō she desired to be altogether hirs And so she was 〈◊〉 that it was as possible to sée that night to be void of darknesse as that Duchesse without the presence of hir Bologna or else by talk of words to set forth his praise the continual remēbrance of whome for that she loued him as hir self was hir only minds repast The gentleman that was ful wise had at other times felt the great force of the passion which procedeth frō extreme loue immediatly did mark that coūtenāce of the Duchesse perceiued the same so nere as vnfainedly he knew that very ardētly that Ladie was in loue w e him albeit he saw the inequality differēce betwene thē both she being sorted out of the royal bloud yet knowing loue to haue no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 state or dignity determined to folow his fortune 〈◊〉 serue 〈◊〉 which so louingly shewed hir self to him Then sodainly reprouing his fonde conceit hée sayd vnto himself What follie is that I enterprise to that great preiudice and perill of mine honor and life Dught the wisdom of a Gentleman to straie and wandre through the assaults of an appetite rising of sensuality and that reason giue place to that which doeth participate with brute beastes depriued of all reason by subduing the mynde to the affections of the body No no a vertuous man ought to let shine in him self the force of the generositie of his mynde This is not to liue according to the spirite when pleasure shall make vs forget our duetie and sauegard of our Conscience The reputation of a wise Gentleman resteth not onely to be valiant and skilfull in feates of armes or in seruice of the Noble But nedefull it is for him by discretion to make himselfe prayse worthy and by vanquishing of him self to open the gate to fame whereby he may euerlastingly make himselfe glorious to all posteritie Loue pricketh and prouoketh the spirit to do wel I do confesse but that affection ought to be addressed to some vertuous end tending to mariage for otherwise that vertuous image shall be soyled with the villanie of beastly pleasure Alas said he how easie it is to dispute whē the thing is absent which can bothe force and violently assaile the bulwarks of most constant hearts I full well doe sée the trothe and doe féele the thing that is good and know what behoueth me to follow but when I view that diuine beautie of my Ladie hir graces wisdome behauior and curtesie when I sée hir to cast so louing an eie vpon me that she vseth so great familiaritie that she forgetteth the greatnesse of hir house to abase hir self for my respect how is it possible that I should be so foolish to dispise a duetie so rare and precious and to set light by that which the Noblest would pursue with all reuerence and indeuor Shall I be so much voide of wisedome to suffer the yong Princesse to sée hir self contempned of me to conuert hir loue to teares by setting hir mynde vpon an other to séeke mine ouerthrow