lodging who at a windowe noting his solemne kind of walking and the fruit that he gathered after his comming vp called him into her chamber But first let me tell you a little of the pages spéech that he had to himselfe in the garden per he went vp Oh poore Merilla what a misery art thou falne into left thy countrie thy father thy friendes and all thy home fortune to followe a stranger who hath betraied thy affection and abused thy fauour women are said to haue their willes wauer as the wind but oh false Rantifo no sooner come to the Sea but thy loue is gone into an other worlde Rantifo no thou art Fantiro the Dukes sonne whatsoeuer be shy conceit to conceale it from thy father and Bilanta is thy sister howsoeuer thou hast made her thy mistris But alas what will become of thée when thy mistris shall know thée to be thy selfe how will shee vse thée if I reueale what I am can she other then disdaine thâ—…e our parents being scarce friends if thou reuealest the cause of thy comming will shée not laugh at thy foslie make it knowne to the worlde if she do not it is more of the heauens blessing then thy merite and of her good nature then thy wit Saie that now shee doth somewhat like of thee shee maie bee then out of loue with thee and yet it maie be that for her loue to her brother she maie be kind to me and at my humble entreatie conceale my follie from the worlde well I will hope the best till I sée the worst And so determining to make her selfe knowne to her mistris she went vp into her lodging where being come to the princesse she fell againe to her musike wherein she did so please the Princesse that she thought euerie houre a yéere till she had some priuate conferance with him for which she stated not long foâ—… after that she had commanded all her attendants out of the chamber but the page willing him to laie downe his lute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboore with him in this maner My prettie wag if thy 〈◊〉 should haue occasion to employ thee in a secret paece of seruice wouldest thou so late it vp in thy bosome that no man shoulde perceiue it Madame quoth the page for my secreâ—…e I holde it not the least part of mine honesty and therefore make you no doubt of it but if my sufficiencie answeare not your expectâ—…on I beseech you let mee entreate your pardon assuring your honour that I shall hate my selfe in slacking my dutie in your seruice but good Madame be not angrie if my good will bee not fortunate for my heart I protest you haue bound it to you in the faith of much affection The Ladie not a little pleased with this spéech gaue him this hind answeare Thy affection is the best part of the seruice that I will desire at thy handes for to tell â—…hee trueth I neuer same the face but one that I liked so well or could thinke to loue but thine and for him hee was a noble personage son and heire to the Duke Feronte of the Ilandes of Balino who is latelie gone home and I feare will neuer come againe such heartburning is growne betwixt our parentes vppon the paiment of a little monte vngodlie kind of drosse the cause of much mischiefe in the world therefore I must haue patience with my passion for euer hoping of comfort at his hands but for his sake whose feature me thinkes I beholde in thy face I did first affect thee and do nowe for his and thine owne sake I must confesse entirelie loue thée be wise therefore I charge thée for in reuealing my loue it maie endanger thy life in concealing thy comfort thou shalt finde the honour of thy fortune The Page with a great sigh at his brothers absence but more agrieued at the discord of the two Dukes with her eies readie to shedde teares made her this humble answere Good Madam shall I humblie begge this fauour at your hands that you will vouchsafe to keepe secret what I will commit vnto the onelie care of your honourable kindnes wherein you maie either saue my life or procure my death Sweete boie quoth the Princesse let me not liue but I will doe more for thy loue then I will speake of and for my secresie suspect nothing that maie hurt thee and speake freelie wherin I maie do thee good thinke I cannot vse thee vnkindlie Then good Madam answered the Princesse I will tell you a strange yet true tale The embassadour that seemeth to bee your louer is your brother sonne to the Duke your father his name is Fantiro sought to be slaine by a murtherer hired there to by your vncle lately dead but to saue his life sought by the malice of your vngodly vncle was deliuered vnto the decated Merchant Mario who brought him as a Page to our Court I meane the Court of Feronte the Duke of Balino my father whose daughter I am brought ouer in this habit that you sée onlie to come to the sight of your brother my onlie beloued Lord on this earth Your brother for my loue was by a wretch in our Court wrought hither to this embassage but such was his cariage in our Court as from his first setling foote into fauour he dailie encreased it by his much well deseruing so that there was no man of good spirit but loued him and were sorrie to part with him and for my affection to him let my trauaile witnesse my truth Nowe for the loue that in nature you beare your brother for the kindnes that you maie finde requited in my brother for the honor that you beare vnto loue and for the loue that you beare vnto honour let me humblie beseech you to conceale my follie and in what you may to be a friend to my affection The Princesse with a modest blush smiling at her discourse made her this kinde and gratious answere Sister for so will I loue thee and estéeme thee as I cannot be happy in any thing vnder heauen but in thy brothers loue which I holde as déere as my life so if my brother doe not in all honourable seruice either requite or deserue this thy kindnesse I protest to renounce him for my brother and detest him as mine enemie be therefore of good chéere anâ—… feare no euill thy fortune shall be mine my bedde my table my purse yea and my heart shall be all at thy disposing to doe thee good And thus will I leaue them togither in their kinde talke and I will tell you a little of the Duke Feronte and his sonne The Duke Feronte in no little rage to thinke of the losse of his daughter notwithstanding that he had heard his sonnes report of his Roiall entertainment followed on his determination for his intended warre against the Duke Ordillo where his embassadour was too well to returne and his faire daughter was taken loues prisoner and therefore calling his
worthie of his gouernment This Duke had to wife a gratious Ladie whose goodnes was such in the worlde as made her soone fit for the heauens for such was her delight in diuine contemplations and so little her foie in anie earthlie substance that languishing in the worlde with longing after heauen shee liued not manie yeares with her louing Lord on the earth but the Lorde of all loue tooke her vp into the heauens yet before her departure from this life she had by her Lorde the Duke two blessed children a sonne and a daughter her sonne named Fantiro and her daughter Sinilia The young Lord a man of excellent partes both for bodie and mind whose particular perfections would requre a volume to describe in their true kindes but for that by a little light maiâ—… the whole daie be considered let thus much suffice that both for valour and vertue he might well be called the Souldiers Dictionarie 〈◊〉 the Courtieâ—…s Looking glasse And for his sister if I coulde as briefelie set downe her excellencie I would not thinke it the least point of eloquence but for all those rare perfections that maie dignifie the name of an earthlie creature I maie saie shee was in the honour of reason the wonder of nature But least in my introduction into my historie I 〈◊〉 more tedious then pleasing I will leaue this Duke Ordillo with his blessed children for a while and I will returne to the Duke Firento of the Ilands of Balino and his sonne Penillo one of the most gallant gentlemen in the world This Duke Firento finding his sonne of so noble a spirite aâ—… could not containe his content within the confiâ—…es of his fathers countrey but that as well by his delight in the reading of histories his forwardnesse to the warres his conuersaâ—…on among strangers and especiallie such as professed armes noting I say his disposition 〈◊〉 to the trauailing life that he feared he should not long keepe him at home vpon good â—…ration how best to aduise him either for his staie or trauaile to his liking finding him one daie by chance all alone walking in â—… close arbour in his garden commanding apart all his attendantes tooke occasion in great kindnesse thus to deale with him Penillo what fondnesse it were in mee to flaster thee with thy much worthinesse of my loue I had rather thou shouldest conceiue then I explaine although I reâ—…oice therein more of my knowledge then I would haue thee prowd of my content but my déere sonne let me tell thee that as I thinke my selfe not a little happie in my hope of thy good as well for my priuat comfort as the profit of my whole countrey so if by the indiscretion of thy disposition or by the crueltie of fortune crossing alwaies the course of vertue thou shouldest not onely deceiue my hope but destroie my happines to the sorrow of mine age and cutting off my daies thinke with thy selfe my deare sonne if it may lie in thy power to preuent the worst and performe the best shouldst not thou find thine owne vnkindnes in proouing so vnnaturall as to grieue the soule of him that deerely loueth thee and to be an occasion of his death who vnder heauen was the originall of thy life Be not appauled my son speake freely I giue thee leaue if thou canst imagine the cause of my speech and as thou best likest without the least doubt of my displeasure I praie thee giue me thy answere The young Lorde little expecting this kind of gréeting with his good father and neuer vnprouided to answere the darkest demand that might be made him especiallie from his father in whom he could not haue anie thought of the least dislike of him with a staied humble countenance began thus to frame his replie My gratious Lord as I reioice not a â—…title in the greatnes of your more naturall then deserued loue which looking onelie into your owne goodnesse haue builded your hope of my happines so if I could finde in my selfe the least thought of vnthankfolnesse whereby I might iustly purchase your harde opinion surely I should thinke my selfe worthy of death that shoulde liue to giue offence vnto the fairest comfort of my life But as my conscience doth assure me of no such criminall conceit so do I protest that I doe not a little marueile what should leade you into this manner of question for as I cannot bee vnnaturall so will I not feare you to be vnkinde but humbly beseech you for the better accomplishing of your content in some plainer method to acquaint me with your good meaning The olde man loath to mooue griefe in his sonne whose deserued loue he was fullie assured of and yet willing to be satisfied of his true resolution touching his humour of trauaile with much adoe brake into this spéech with him Penillo I haue of late noted in thee as well by thy studie in the languages as by thy conuersation among strangers and thy loue to souldiers that the aduenture of thy fortune abroad will be more pleasing to thee then thy best contentment at home but if I might by the aduise of my experience perswade thée to the care of my knowledge I should easily make thée finde the sweete of the old prouerbe that home is home be it neuer so homely The rowling stone gatheresh no mosse that prospereth in one ground maie perish in another Aduentures are dangerous the seas boistrous and the warres perilous and great is the difference betweene strange companions and home friendes what canst thou sée abroad that is not here The same earth and little different in nature either for heat or cold the same sunne shining there that shineth here men and women in the same shape that thou séest here in their vniuersities the same kinde of schâ—…lers in their cities marchantes and men of trade and traffique as we haue in ours in their villages such farmers and labourers in their tribunall seates such iudges in their warres such men of armes in their court such Lords and Ladies and in all places such kinde of people as in some places of our dominion thou maiest take notice of if thou be circumspect what shall I saie to perswade thée rather to staie at home then stray abroad Thou hast a father that loues thee more déerely then any friend can doe a sister whose vertue with her beautie deserueth an honorable fortune and which I thinke not thy least charge in conscience to haue a care in as much as maie lie in thee to accomplish thy mother holdes thee so deere as her life thy friends make a iewell of thy kindnesse thy followers in thine honour settle the hope of their fortune and my subiectes in thy wisdome repose the happinesse of their whole state All this and manie more particular causes of content thou hast here at home likelie euery daie to encrease where abroade how bitter wil be thy change I feare to thinke should sorrowe to heare and shall
Turke and am I now afraide of a little Christian Is this the fruit of a storme at Sea to come into this kind of calme at lande Well what shoulde I talke to the trees that heare mee not or to the birdes that vnderstande me 〈◊〉 or to the aire that helpes mee not Oh Bilanta blessed werte thou borne if thy beautie haue beene the beginning of my happines and happie if thy vertue ioine issue with my affection for though our parentes be at iarre we maie be at one and what anger in them cannot yéeld vnto loue maie effect in vs an ende of heartburning in our patentes and a beginning of quiet in our countries But howe shall I hope of thy loue my fathers displeasure maie brééde a doubt of my loue besides she maie be affected otherwise then I know where at the young Princesse in her close walk replied no. What quothe the young Prince is there here such an eccho The Ladie againe replied oh The young Prince amazed at this eccho went on with this speech Oh that I knew Bilanta indeede would regard my loue she answeared loue Loue quoth the Prince but whome doeth she meane I would I knewe his name she answeared name name quoth the Prince but who maie it be If it be one onelie shee answeared onelie Onelie quoshe hee onelie happie in déede would so were Pinello she made answere Pinello With that the Prince putting the wordes of the eccho together made vp this speech Oh loue name onelie Pinello And musing a little vpon his conceit of this sound looking aside espied the young princesse with her attendant walking out of the Arbour into the Garden whome meeting with at the ende of a crosse alley he saluted with this gréeting Sweete Princesse when there bee two Suns shining at one instant it cannot be but faire weather one in the skie and an other on the earth both which meete so sweetelie in this blessed péece of ground that let him die in his bed that will not walke in such a morning The Lady not fully perswaded of his affectioÌ„ for al his playing with ecche and yet hoping wel of his words till his deedes fell out otherwise with a modest smile made him this answeare My Lord if your spéeches were not so high in the cloudes that poore soules on the earth know not how to gesse of your meaning I shoulde bee the better able to frame an answeare to your salutation but howsoeuer the sun shine in the heauens the shadow of your imagination if it were a substance of that worth that might answeare a far lesse figure then your fauour would be loath that anie fowle weather shoulde hinder the happines of your faire walke but I perceiue such morning Astronomers can plaie prettilie with their owne humors Prettie Lady quoth the prince the best plaie that I know is at be you pleasde where hee that lightes vppon a good carde were vnwise if he woulde change the princesse rouing vnhappilie at his conceit replied againe and yet my Lord to be afraid of good fortune is sometime cause of much losse yea Madame answered the Prince but fortune is so fantasticall that there is no trust to be had in her and therfore I hold my opinion rather to kéepe a good choise then to aduenture a bad change I am no gamster answered the Princesse and therfore can speake but idlte of the sport but they that are pleasde are happie and they will not hold themselues so are vnwise The Prince playing vpon this word pleasde went forwarde with this speech Good Madam mate it then please you to be pleasde with the seruice of my affection which no further then desart will seeke the houour of your fauour The Ladie with a modest smile somewhat concealing her content 〈◊〉 him this answere My good Lord I am glad it pleaseth your greatnesse to be so merry with your poore friends but such seruice as your fauour must be graced with greater honour then my vnworthinesse can accomplish The Prince not a little contented with her spéech replied againe in these words Madam to make a long haruest about a little corne were but a weake piece of husbandrie and therfore not to hold you with a tedious discourse in plaine tearmes you are the card that I meane my plaie is no iest your loue is the stake that I would be glad if I could to win you are the choise that I haue made and that I would bee loath to change and therfore if a souldiers eloquence maie haue fauour in your audience let my heart and hand in your honour speake for my desart in your affection The Ladie not able to couer the fire that was now past kindling brake sodainlie into this answere My Lorde to reape the corne ere it be ripe maie prooue more haste then good spéede and yet to let it grow till it shedde were great losse to the farmer and therfore the taking of time is profitable to the prouident I will not teach your honour what to doe but if my loue be the prize of your pleasure you cannot loose the hope of your patience assuring my selfe that the reach of your conceit excéedeth not the roialtie of your spirit which in the regard of vertue deserueth nothing but honour and for that the heart of a souldier is frée from the tongue of a dissembler I will rather beleeue the truth of valour then giue eare to the falshood of a weaker spirit But for that manie crosse fortunes maie hinder the happinesse of the most honorable resolutions let me intreat your patience to make triall of 〈◊〉 constanciâ—… ere you make my vnworthinesse mistresse of my contentment The Prince nothing disliking this good motion in her good minde kissing her hande made this kinde conclusion Faire Princesse the discretion of your good motion I exceedingly like of for your credit to my truth I cannot but thanke you for the honour wherewith you entitle me I returne it fully vpon you for the nature of my loue let your vertue discerne it and for the faith of my affection I vow you shall command it but as you know I haue resolutely intended to attende the Emperour in his warres against the Turke where if I gaine honor the garlandd shall bee graced in your wearing if I die let it suffice thy selfe to knowe the honour of my loue with whome howsoeuer be my fortune I vow to leaue the faith of my affection and so thinking to procéede in their further conference spying certaine Ladies and Gentlewomen with their friends and attendants comming into the garden they singled themselues one from another hee retiring himselfe to his lodging and she to her close arbour where I leaue them for a while to meditate vpon their muses and I will returne vnto 〈◊〉 late Page vnto the Duke Feronte Fantiro sonne to the Duke Ordillo preferred by the Merchant before spoken of vnto one of the Duke Ferontes Court and after by his Lord and master vnto the
Duke himselfe hauing so well caried himselfe in his seruice that he was not onlie beloued of the Duke his now Lorde and master but of all his whole Court and especiallie of Senilla the onelie daughter of the Prince of whom he had often receiued such secret tokens of honorable fausurs as except he would hide both his eies he must néedes perceiue some part of her affection But among al this was not the least that one daie among other in the afternoone the Duke being disposed to haue some 〈◊〉 and dancing in the presence falling out in a daunce that euery knight was to take his Ladie and euerie Ladie her seruant on whom she would bestowe her fauour in the presence of her father the Duke she tooke Fantiro by the hand and accompanied him in the measure till the dauncing was wholie ended Which was noted of manie especially of one who hauing more wealth then honour thought to buy loue with drosse which ilfauoured dogge vnworthâ—…e to bee called a man yet attended with farre better then himselfe séeking in what hee might to disgrace this vnknowne Prince came one daie by chance into a galleris néere adioining to the presence where he found the yong Princesse walking all alone and vpon the sodaine standing as it were in a muse looking vpon a picture of an Ape playing with an Owle where smiling to her selfe which was the best shaped creature shee sawe comming towardes her the onelie hobby horse of a man that euer disgraced a coate of veluet whome rather for the fauour that he helde with her father then for anie affection that the had reason to carrie him she for ill fashions sake thus saluted Signor Sperto for so was hee called whether christened or no I know not God giue you good morrow The flouch of a slouen with a slauering smile vpon a slubbered conceit after manie good 〈◊〉 began to trouble her with this tattle Truely 〈◊〉 I am glad it was my good happe to méere so conuenient 〈◊〉 lie with your 〈◊〉 as well for the honour that I wish you aâ—… for the seruice I would be glad to doe you for though a Quince bee a tree of no straightnesse yet it beareth a faire 〈◊〉 wholesome fruit the fallow 〈◊〉 is rough yet it beareth the best 〈◊〉 and the Ore hath but an ill hue yet is there pure golde to be had in it so maie it bee that in me you maie uÌ„nde some cause of discontentment 〈◊〉 you haue made triall of more then I will protest but emploie me in your seruice consider of my desart and doe me iustice in your fauour Let your fathers loue be an ingression into my Grace and the endeuour of my dutie the encrease of my good for tune The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is commended for shining as well vpon the valleies as the mountaines the sea is beloued as well for a Pinnis as a proud ship and is not the pearle in a shell more worth then the oyle of a Whale then thinke it not vnpossible to find that spirit in me that you maie perhaps finde in a fairer faced ereature a Diamonde is the brighter for his foile a faire horse is the more beautifull by the deformitie of a fowle iade and how can you bee better graced then in fauouring the disgratious for my loue I will compare it with anie liuing and for my seruice I would it could expresse my louing Good Madam pardon my boldnesse in acquainting you with my suit which hath no life but in the onely fruit of your good fauour The Ladie so little liking the outward dogge that shee had no patience to thinke of the inward Deuill little studying for an answere brake of a sodaine into this spéech Sir for your kindenesse I thanke you but for your paines I would be loath to trouble you for though your eloquence be great yet all is but a sound and when the stringes are once slipt the lute is but a piece of wood the Diamond is to be loued for his fire not his fotle a comelie horse with a iade will make an â—…lfauoured coniunction 〈◊〉 to grace the vngratious is against the haire of a good wit My fathers loue and my liking maie differ vpon causes and your seruice and my command not méete in anie occasion of emploiment for the sunne shining on the valleies it is a blessing of the heauens and for the Pinnis sayling thorough the seas it is by the bearing nature of the water but for the pearle in the shell indéede I must confesse it is farre better out of it then in it and to conclude for the inwarde sharpenesse of your witte if it were not in so grosse a person I could perhaps take patience with my fauour to make some emploiment of your seruice but for that I would not féede you with vaine hopes to hang vpon the skirtes of my faire spéeches let 〈◊〉 suffice you not to abuse you that I could bee content of ten to heare you but neuer to see you Whereat the wicked wretch like a galde horse kicking at the noise of a currie-combe fretâ—…ing at his owne deformitie where a squinte eie a halfe nose and a wrie mouth had no grace in a great rage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his cold entertainment went awaie with these wordes Well if you like not that you see you maie pull out your eies and softlie muttering to himselfe I will méete with you ere you be aware and crosse you in your most comfort meaning with Fantiro her loue now in that Court called Rantifo But I will leaue the wretch to his wicked inuentions going from the Ladie to the Duke her father and I will tell you a fewe wordes of the Lady and her louer whose good hap it was presentlie after the departure of this sweete Gentleman to come into the gallerie where his Ladie and mistris was verie solemnlie walking but fearing that he had offended her fauour with pressing into her presence begaÌ„ to retire himselfe towards the doore as not willing further to moâ—…ue her patience which the Ladie espying and willing a little to embolden his dutie in her fauour called him vnto her with these wordes My good seruant what meanes this too much good manner or shall I call it strangenesse or found you them not here that you looked for or are you displeased with them that you see Truely I wil not hurt you and to put you in further comfort if you haue any suit to my father or affection to any friend of mine assure your selfe I will not hinder you though how much I will further you I will not tell you The young Gentleman in this Court vnknowne what hee was and therefore carrying no greater title not a little glad of this kinde gréeting made her this humble answere My gratious Ladie and mistris I feared nothing but your displeasure nor ioie in anie thing vnder the heauens but your fauour my suit to your father is but his imploiment of my seruice and for my affection to your
sonne before him vsed these wordes vnto him Penillo I haue made thee acquainted with my resolution for my reuenge of yâ— wrong that I haue receiued of Ordillo out of whose countrey I will fetch my fond daughter thy vnhappie sister either dead or aliue and therefore prepare thy selfe to put off all conceit of his kindnes and gaine the encrease of my loue by the honour that thou shalt get vpon mine enemie The young Prince sorie to haue such cause to carrie armes against the father of his faire mistris and yet vnwilling to be disobedient to his father though it were the aduenture of his death did humblie frame him this answere My Gratious father I would be loath to disswade you from your setled resolution but yet let me tell you that although loue hath in my sister wrought a follie shall the malice of a wicked spirit so poison your eare that such a furie possesse your heart that no sparke of patience can haue place in your conceit It will bee thought to the greatest part of your Court yea and almost to your whole countrey that Signor Sperto hath béene the kindler of all this fire and the bréeder of all these warres I wonder not a little that your Grace coulde endure to heare of his presumption in making loue to my sister who I thinke bee rather runne into another countrey to trie the fortune of her affection then to liue at home to abide the vnfitting suite of so ilfauoured a creature whom but that he hath the name of a man if I did not the better know him I should surelie take for a monster But if I maie begge so much fauour of your Grace as to grant me my humble suite I beséech you beginne iustice at home and I hope we shall prosper the better abroad Let Sperto in regard of his malicious practise against a stranger and presumption in troubling the patience of your daughter be openlie called before you reprehended for his follie and banished your Court for his offence and I doubt not but your maiestie shall sée the venome of his vile nature droppe out in his right kinde my sister honorablie returned to your good fauour and your warres turne to such a peace as all that loue you shall be glad of I speake not this like the Prince of Pigmeies that should be affraid of Cranes but that I will attend you in your warres where I hope an honourable triumph will be better then a bloudie conquest but fall what will I will not liue but to bee obedient to your loue and therefore will be readie when it shall please you to attende you The Duke not a little noting the good counsaile of his discréet sonne willing his son to be in readines against a daie shortlie after appointed him caused Sig. Sperto forthwith to be brought before him to whome with a sterne countenance he vsed this spéech Sperto I haue long giuen eare to thine vnsuspected subtiltie but of late hauing sounded the reach of thy conceit I will laie open thy cunning in the time of Rantifoes being in our Courte thou couldest neuer cease to ring in mine eares some couse of dislike in him which I tooke well at thy handes in regarde of thy imagined care of my good but nowe I finde the ground of thy vngratious working grewe from the malicious feare in thee of his fauour from my faire daughter whom thy vnworthie selfe wouldst haue bewitched with wicked eloquence let me tell thée for that I haue in some occasions of importaÌ„ce made good vse of thy seruice thou shall not be vnregarded for I will make thee receiuer of my customes but for thy saucines with my swéete daughter driuen out of our countrey by thy dogged meanes I will out of hande haue thee made an â—…unuch and so commanding one of his Surgeons to take him to his charge to dismember him of his implements fell in hande presentlie with his Counsaile to go forwardes with his resolution for his warres while Sperto with the conceit of his miserie crauing leaue of the Surgeon to spare him till the next morning when his griefe being put a little ouer he should with the more strength endure his torment rather desirous to go to hell quicklie then to hope for heauen with repentance with a paire of his owne garters hangde himselfe in his owne chamber But leauing thus the wicked wretch to his wofull end and the furious Duke in his inerorable anger procéeding onwards with his warres I will tell you a fewe wordes of the two Ladies Merilla and Bilanta the imagined page that I left togâ—…ther in their chamber within a Castle of the Duke Ordillo The Ladie Bilanta after she had secretlie conferred with the Ladie Merilla touching both their loues minding to make her selfe merrie with a prettie conceit after that they had past a night or two in priuat talke togither how to bring all matters about to their best contentment sent for the embassadour her brother in all kindnesse spéedelie to come to her who no sooner receiued the message but laying all businesse apart came to his sister whom he then called mistris little thinking indeed to haue found his true beloued and louing mistris so neere But being come into her lodging and well entred into her chamber commanding apart all her attendantes shee thus fell into talke with him Seruant though perhaps it maie séeme immodestie in a Uirgin of my sort to giue such entertainment to a stranger of what sort soeuer he maie be as I am perswaded your honourable kindnesse will deserue yet let me entreat you one fauour to tell me without dissembling if I am the first obiect of your déerest affection or whether you neuer haue had anie mistris that you haue helde anie especiall account of and hath worthilie had the promise of your loue Truely Madame answered her brother as hee thought vnknowne to her I must confesse I had a mistris whom I so deerely loued and so duelie serued that had I anie possible hope to enioie the fruit of her fauour I shoulde hate my selfe in the loue of anie other but shee being so farre from the comfort of all such conceit I thinke it no dishonour to my loue to doe seruice to the vertue that I finde in you for if I coulde be so vile as to thinke you a base thought death bee the rewarde of my desire and to presume further in the best nature of honour then maie stande with your good fauour might condemne mee of follie and perhaps ouerthrowe my fortune but in such good termes to doe you seruice as maie please you to accept I thinke it a duetie in Chiualrie but for my mistris I protest had you euer seene and knowne her you would haue thought as much good of her as I do and wish her as much happinesse as I want The Ladie smiling at this answere would néedes know her name and whence she was who tolde her that she was the onlie daughter
of his master the Duke Feronte her name was Merilla and she was the likest vnto the Page that she lately had from the Merchant that euer she sawe Well quoth the Lady no longer my Lord embassadour but déere brother I am glad to sée thee heere for thou art my brother and that shall my father knowe ere long thy mistris is more worthie of honour then our whole countrey and thy life can giue her and with that worde Page quoth she to the Ladie Merilla I praie thée take thy lute and play and sing thy wish which she being in the chamber vnséene by meanes of a curtein of Crimsin damaske drawn betwixt them tooke her lute and plaied a note to a dittie which she sung as followeth The song I Would thou wert not faire or I were wise I would thou hadst no face or I no eies I would thou wert not wise or I not fond Or thou not free or I not so in bond But thou art faire and I cannot be wise Thy sunlike face hath blinded both mine eies Thou canst not be but wise nor I but fond Nor thou but free nor I but still in bond Yet am I wise to thinke that thou art faire Mine eies their purenesse in thy face repaire Nor am I fond that doe thy wisedome see Nor yet in bond because that thou art free Then in thy beautie onely make me wise And in thy face the Graces guide mine eies And in thy wisedome onely see me fond And in thy freedome keepe me still in bond So shalt thou still be faire and I be wise Thy face shine still vpon my cleered eies Thy wisedome onely see how I am fond Thy freedome onely keepe me still in bond So would I thou wert faire and I were wise So would thou hadst thy face and I mine eies So would I thou wert wise and I were fond And thou wert free and I were still in bond The song was no sooner ended but Fantiro for so wil I henceforth giue him his right name oftentimes changing coloure as one in many passions at the hearing both of her voice which was so like his mistris the Ladie Princesse Merilla as might be and remembring the dittie to be of his owne compiling and that in secret he had giuen it vnto her when hee first perceiued her fauour alter he had commended her voice as he was about to speake somewhat of his passion his sister vppon the sodeine caused the curtein to bee drawne when hee might see in a riche suite of her apparrell the imagined page but in deede his mistris standing by a windowe with her face towards him when his sister seeing him stande as one amazed vsed this spéech vnto him Why how now brother doth thy heart faile thee how dost thou like this sight thou hast I knowe often heard that a girle will turne to a man and is it then vnpossible that a boie maie as well turne to a woman What ailest thou dost thou feare thou seest a shadowe and not the true body of thy mistris or hast thou beene false vnto her in thy faith and therefore art feareful of the heauens displeasure to plague thee with some worse spirit then thine own for shame go to her bid her welcome it is thy mistris I do not dissemble be thankfull for her kindnesse and deserue her loue The young Prince ashamed anie longer to stande in his maze séeing his mistris in little better tune to behold her seruant â—… assured louer so strange vnto her as if he either had not or would not haue known her went vnto her with these words Madame thinke it not strange to see me in this perpleritie of minde that I am in so much is my vnworthines of this and manie your honourable fauoures but especiallie this triall of your affection hath so bounde mee to your seruice as if the aduenture of my life maie make proofe of my loue let me die like a villaine if I do not honour your vertue The sweet Lady with modest kindnes as much as she could concealing the greatnes of her ioâ—…e as well in beholding her loue as hearing his vndoubted true protestations made him this sweete replie My deare loue for so dare I heere tearme you when I had no knowledge of that title of honour that now I heare and am glad to vnderstand dulie belongeth to you my loue was in the same nature that now it is your vertue wonne my affection and your kindnesse continued my content your noble cariage assured me of your constancie al togither haue brought mee hither to receiue my comforte not caring to loose the loue of father brother friend honour wealth ease all other worldes happines that Balino could haue procured me to aduenture the Seaes in the poore habite of a Prentise in the seruice of a poore decayed Merchant to come into a strange countrie to abide what fortune soeuer might befall me onelie to acquaint your kindnes with my loue Nowe if your greatnesse haue not altered your goodnesse nor my immodesty haue withdrawne your affection thanke your honourable sister for her kindenes towardes mee and bee your selfe your selfe vnto me The young Prince with as much adoo as could be to abstaine from teares of kindnes to thinke of this seldome seene faythfull affection in so faire a creature made her this comfortable replie Sweet Princesse in whome nature vnder the heauens hath shewed the pride of her perfections how shoulde I liue to counteruaile the least part of this your exceeding honorable fâ—…uour Had I ten such Dukedomes I would lay them al at â—…our feete and were I the greatest Prince on the earth I would 〈◊〉 gladde to bee your seruant but as in regarde of your first affection I am bounde to honour you with my seruice so for 〈◊〉 your last honour my loue I vow shall euer serue you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laie by all thought of strangers this land is youres my father I know will reioyce in you my selfe vnder heauen will haue no â—…oie but you for I protest without dissembling my 〈◊〉 ioie is wholie in you And thus will I leaue these louers with the other Ladie in this their secret hinde conference 〈◊〉 I will tell you what followed of Mario the decayed Merchant This Mario the Merchant hearing newes in the Citty that the Duke Feronte was comming from Balino with a great Armie against the Duke Ordillo and his country thought good no longer to conceale the Embassadoure his sonne from him and therefore comming to the Court and hauing obtained meanes to haue some priuate conference with the Duke in fewe wordes deliuered the discourse of all that I before haue recited both of his escape from the intended murther of his malicious Uncle of his carrying him ouer of his preferment in Court by him and of the cause of his comming thither in Ambassage all which recounted truly as it was with the comming ouer of the Ladie Merilla in the attire of a Prentise
for the loue of his son Fantiro so pleased the Duke that he not onelie kindly gaue him thankes but richly rewarded him for his good newes and rosaltie considered all his honest and kinde dealing and presentlie caused his sonne the Ambassadour to be sent for whom he welcomed with such a soie as such a father might such a son Who hauing recounted all his fortune his father the Duke caused his sister the young Princesse to be sent for to whom he not onlie gaue thankes for her carefull and kinde vsage of the young Princesse Merilla but charged her vpon his blessing to continue all kindnesse that might giue her knowledge of the â—…oifull loue that shee should finde both in himselfe his Court and his whole countrey and that for a fewe daies shee should seeme to conceale it from her that he knewe of her being in his Court till he had made preparation euerie waie fit for the entertainment of her presence And thus will I leaue the Ladies passing their time together in priuate conference of their thiefest comfortes and I will returne to the Duke Feronte nowe hauing gotten his forces togither marching with his whole Armie towardes the sea minding to make for Cotasi where nothing should content him but a conquest The Duke resolued vpon his determination either to leaue his bloud or take his reuenge dispatching awaie a post with letters to his embassadour for the defiance of his termed enemie the Duke and proclamation of warre with him and his whole countrey calling his sonne vnto him vpon a rocke on the sea side in the middest of his Armie made this speech vnto his people The long iniurie that I haue borne at the handes of my vnfriendlie neighbour Ordillo besides the debt that hee oweth me and neuer intendeth to paie me togither with my extreme griefe for the losse of my onely daughter that onelie through a fonde affection carried I know not how to a stranger I know not whom coâ—…ueied away by a banbrout or decaied merchant if I maie better terme him into that vngratious piece of ground where Ordillo hath his gouernment these I safe with manie other iust causes of discontentment conceiued against yâ— proude Prince and his stubborne people haue caused me to put on the resolution either of death or reuenge which shall no waie ende but in conquest or submission as manie therefore as either regarde our loue or haue anie hope of our fauour let them with willing heartes followe the honour of my resolution protesting that whatsoeuer he bee that shall in the least shewe of feare turne his backe vnto the enemie if hee were as déere to me as mine owne sonne he shall die in the place where I finde him but hee that shall with the fortune of his forwardnesse bring me the Duke or his soune either dead or aliue I will so regard and reward him that he shall leaue honour to his posteritie the winde serueth well for our passage and we shall finde them perhaps vnprouided for our comming so the easier will be our victorie and the shorter our warres if not the sharper our fight the greater will be our honor and since feare is the badge of villanie let vs auoide the shame of such condition and as manie as loue either our crowne or countrey holde vp their handes with me who then in the whole campe that had a hand but he would holde it vp Well to grow towardes an ende as the Prince said so said the people the Duke set foote aboord and all the Armie followed him the winde serued the saâ—…les were hoised and the anchors weied and awaie they went where I will leaue them for a while and returne againe to Ordillo the Duke of Cotasi and his sonne Feronte his embassadour The post hauing béen with the embassadour as he thought but now rather an enemie then a friend if this quarrell should go forwarde perceiuing the intent of the Duke his late master rather chusing to be an vnkinde seruant then an vnnaturall sonne wrote vnto him that the case was altered hee had nowe chosen an other master whose loue hee knewe was such vnto him that seruing him faithfullie woulde not vse him vnkindlie his embassage was deliuered and nowe this must bee his answere as in kindnesse hee might command much so by the contrarie as little his comming was more expected then feared and his welcome should be as he deserued and for himselfe if his fortune were to his hope he should find a kinder seruant then he had done a master with these and such like conclusions dispatched awaie The young Prince presentlie went to his father the Duke Ordillo with whom and his Counsaile conferring vpon the seruice speedelie to bee had care of taking order by vertue of his Commission to leuie a great Armie as well to encounter the enemie as in diuerse places of strength to stand for defence if anie occasion should be offered being secure for anie feare or doubt to be ouertaken hearing by a Pinnis that being at sea deseried the fléete so farre as by meanes of crosse windes and ill weather they could not in fiue daies come néere the shore of their countrey after he had a little reposed himselfe after his trauaile considering the great discomfort that his mistris the young Princesse might take vpon the rumour of these warres making all the meanes hee could to haue it kept from her hearing tooke a conuenient time to go to his sister with whome his mistris as yet remained But as such kinde of persons most inquisitiue of newes are not without their intelligencers so fell it out that the post was scarce at the Court but his message was knowne to the young Ladies â—…hose priuate conference vpon the same before Fantiroes comming to them was as followeth Merilla considering the manie sorrowes that were now like to fall vpon her the assurance of her fathers displeasure the doubt of her brothers loue and the feare of the young Prince her seruantes death in the seruice was euen so appauled that following the humours of women first to sigh for a little griefe of disobedience in nature then enfolding her armes as lamenting the doubted losse of her brothers loue and last of all wéeping with feare to loose the comfort of all her worldes hope in her déere beloued and kinde louing Lorde in the misfortune of the warres was by the young Princesse her seruants sister comforted with these wordes Sister so will I nowe terme thee for so doe I holde thee and so doe I hope to haue thee and so will I euer loue shee take not too much griefe at anything that either feare or doubt may put into thy head let this comfort thee that thou art not alone in thy miserie if thou hast left a father thou hast found a friend and if thou hast lost a brother thou hast found a sister choler and melancholie gouernes the spirits of the aged but kindnesse and mirth should be the humours of our