and consolacion of their whole howse made a frank promyse of her ayde in this sort like as saith she I was neuer hable to ymagyne y t your delyuery was wrought by so Rare a meane nor y t our enemyes dissoluinge the remembraunce of aunciente quarrell wolde retire to a care and conseruacion of the healthe and lyfe of the MONTANYNS euen so I thinke youre debt is the greater by the awthoritie of him that hathe done the benefyte and more worthye of am ple consideracion thenne if the good torne hadde bene don by any of your parentes and allies for thymitacion of a vertue oughte to excede the example of the awthor chieflye wher thoccasion is deryued of suche an vnlikelihod that the compasse of brayne seames insufficiente to ymagine so verteous an acte wherin for my parte if I were as hable as I am willinge his curtesye shoulde bée retorned at soo large an intreste that hymselfe shoulde thinke his benefyt nothinge in respecte of the recompence and the worlde to witnes the generositie of the MONTANYNS but hauynge no waye thassistaunce of fortune to presente him with any thinge that may ballance with the merite of hys curtesye and beinge besides a maide withoute accesse to his house by reason of the smal hawnte I vse with the ladyes his kinswomenne I can do no more but yelde honoure to hys vertue wythe secrete thankes in my harte wythe acknowledginge the debte vntill wee bee hable to discharge it wyth equall recompense albeit brother if you haue deuised the meane wherin you accompte mee necessarye to be ymploied doubte not of mee in anye respecte soo that myne honoure onely bee not distressed Amongeste ann infinitte discourses appearynge seuerallye in my vnquiette mynde saythe hee I canne not reste vppon anye likelye cause or meane to worke theffecte of soo Rare a curtesye in thys gentlemanne on my behalfe nor to procure hym in soo soddayne a momente to breake the bonde of annciente grudge and to conuerte his naturall hate into a frendeshippe withoute a seconde or comparison if it be not the fyer of a couert loue kindled of longe time within the tender parts of his intrails and suppressed with a wonderfull greife to himself til now that encountringe so conueniente an occasion to sette abroache the vessell of his burninge desier withe meane to euente the flame that wyll no longer smother but bulke out into open show he makes open declaracion of that whiche he can no longer conceile ah wonder full force and vertue in loue who hath power to conuerte the minde oppressed w t passion of collor into a disposition tractable beyo nd all exspectacion and in one momente to chaunge that wherein all meÌ„ iudged an ympossibylitie of conuercion it is only thy bewtie ANGELYQYA with respect of other thy perfections whiche haue transformed our late enemye into the parson of a perfecte frende it is the generall â—ame of thy honest and verteous life y t hath sommoned SALYMBYNO to deliuer thy miserable brother abandoned of all his frendes and in dispaire of any good fortune Oh noble gentleman and harte of a kinge lackinge no kinde of magnanymitie what meanes alas haue 3 to approche that honest liberalitie wherunto thou haste bownde me by so sewer obligacion I lyue to serue the and am ready to dye to do the pleasure mine honor is reserued to be ymploied by the and my goodes and lyuinge attende thy sommonce to dispose of them at thy pleasure thow haste also made suche a stealthe of my harte that onely death is hable to redeme it what is there thenne remaininge but that y u ANGELIQVA remoue incontynent the vaile of al supersticion and vnseamely crueltie in disposinge thy selfe to be thankefull to hym who hath won thy goodwill by the wager and warranty of verteous loue and who as a fyrste earneste penny of his seruice and dutye towardes the dyd presente a thousande ducekettes for the raunsome of myne honour and lyfe whyche if they remeyne of equall care vnto the nowe as thabundance of thy late teares with dollorus regardes did earste argue to all the worlde whereof also thou gaueste a chiefe declaration in thy free consente to seâ— mine inheritance for the redemption of my thraldom Sticke not to dispose thy selfe now so frankely on my behalfe that I maye reuenge the fauor whiche SALYMBYNO hath don me for the respect of thy loue with a present no lesse precious and rare then his acte is iustly meritorious of perpetuall fame in all ages And as hee refuced not turne vp the bottom of his coffers to raunsome my libertie So lackinge the consente of equal fortune to retorne his curtesye with semblable payment lett vs make a present of your bewtie whiche I am sewer he wil not abuse any waye consydering that he wantes no furniture of vertue whiche is necessarie for the adorninge of a noble harte which as it is al the meane I haue to make a counterchange of his benefytt and bringe me out of debt with him whose money lyethe in pawne for the libertie of my life So I beseche you good sister consider the iustice of my requeste and prono wnce a resolucion in suche sorte as requitinge that whiche is due to him I maye yelde you alone al homage and holde my life only of you but if your aunswere putt me eyther in doubte or dispaire of this meane to make euen with so true a creditor assure your selfe I wil rather abandon both citye and countrey and disclaime the company of al my frends then liue amongest you with the name of an vnthankeful parson or be pointed at of the worlde not to requite so great a good torne as the deliuerie and sauinge of my life wherefore seinge that in you alone consistes the whole reappose of your desolate brother determine eyther his abode and companye with you for euer or els his departure within these thre daies to wast the remeinder of his wretched life in continual wander in forreine soiles with absolute intente neuer to sett foote within any parte of ITALY hereafter Wherwith the pore ANGELIQVA became no lesse astonied and voyede of sence then if she had bene of a soddayn assailed w t an APOPLEXIE al be it the passion of her mynde quarrellinge so longe with in that her stomake seamed to pant as it were the breathe of it litle bellowes vpon a fordge brake oute at laste by a watery vent at her eyes distillinge whole riuers of teares and restored her to the vse of her speche which she vttered to her brother in this sorte I haue often rede saithe shee that it is easye for an innocente to fynde wordes to speake and verye harde for a man in myserie to kepe a temperaunce in his tale but I doubte I shall finde by a present experience of my selfe that the defence of a prisoner is not only superfluous but also hatefull seaminge rather to reproue then enforme the iudge wherein I am the
their peculyar thankes the one for that in preseruing his champions from the malice of daunger and marke of open shame seamed to restore the felde and assist theim with soccour whenne they dispaired most of consolacion the other for that contrary to her nature and cus tume she had torned theirmanifold afflictions into a pleasure more precious acceptable thē al y e desasters of y e whole worlde seamed greuous or hurtfull in which passion of ioye shée mounted into the chamber of Iacke of the clockhouse who resembling a red heyring dryed in the smoake agaynst the beginning of the next lent attended her comming wyth no lesse deuocion then the Iews exspect their MESSIAS and albeit the approch of present ioye forcinge some teares in remembrance of the feare passed seamed for the time to take away y e vse and libertie of her tongue yet she cut of y e traunce of that pleasant sorowe without thassistance of any special counter-charme other then that whych proceded of a vehement desyer to behold and speake wyth her frend in the chymney wherfore after shée had dryed and drained the wet humor of her waterie eyes and dismissed all argumentes of former dule she retired to her auncient complexion of ioy and calling with a smyling voire to him in the topp of the rooffe willed him to discend hardly from his darke troane and theatrie of hell wher sayth she if god had not deuised the meane of your delyuerie and seamed willing that you shold receiue the due guerdon of your loyaltie in consenting to commit my husband to pryson you had stil remeined there norished with the vapour of y e moone longer then eyther I wold haue wished or had bene necessarie for your health Here albeit CORNELIO was sufficiently perswaded of the voice of his Ladie and that he knew all the house to be voyed of suspicion or cause of further daunger yet the remembrance of his perill passed presented such a feare to fall eftsones into the like perplection that hée neyther beleued that which hée hard nor durst forsake his habytacion on highe til he was sommoned the second tyme by his PLAVDINA who by the help of her woman reared a lather to the top of the loft where the grymy roode stode who being discended and in the presence of his Ladye seamed no lesse amased then those desolate or rather dronken creatures who wandring the night by vnknowen waies do thinke theimselues guided by the vision of some ill spirit And the wantō ladie on thother syde seing the ghastlie astonishement of her frend not much vnlike in cōplexion to the chymney swepers cōminge out of the yle of BERGAMASQVA cold not so moderat her present gladnes but burstinge into a soddaine laughter shée seamed to crucifye the remembrance of the tragedie passed wyth the singler contentment shée toke in beholdinge her CORNELIO dyed as it were in the smotheringe tanfat of hyddeous collours And albeit you louers who for a simple glée and respect of fauor of your Ladies haue earste bene sprinkled with the water of semblable affliction and after getting thupper hand of your fortune possesse the presence of your dames in such oglye and deformed attire canne best iudge of the present case of CORNELIO I meane whether hée hadde more cause of shame then astonishmente iuste anger against hys fortune or reason to exclaime his mishappe chieflie for that he fonnd himself so braue a companion in the lothsom badge or lyuerye of the chymneye and whether he had so greate courage to cōmunicate wyth his PLAVDYNA resembling the blacke knight or feryman of ZENOLOZ as he showed hymselfe valyant in thattempte of an enterpryse of so great aduenture yet thauthorytie of my historye aduoucheth thus farr of his doinges at that tyme that notwithstandinge the malice and diuersitie of all his mishapps with the perfumed figure and gréeselie show of himselfe he neyther loste corage to demaunde the due méede and hyer of his daungerous traueile nor forgat to do sacrafise to his fortune for the retorn of her frendshippe affirminge there that they dyd her wronge that christenned her by the name of cruell and suche no lesse abused her that tearmed her by the title of an vnrightuous or rigorous iudge consideringe she doth but iustice sometime to checke or chasten our offences and we no reason to pleade for our selues but by appellacion to the pryuiledge of her fauor neyther is she cruell for euer nor so maliciouslye bente in the begynning but shée is hable and will vse moderacion in her angrie moode and restore vs in the end to treble contentacion And like wise sayth hée as the poore trauellour in a strange contrey hauynge once passed diuerse light peperills and daungers of no great ymportaunce is not only made strōger to encounter greater inconueniences but also restored to a meruelous contentment quiet of minde whē w tout daunger hée may enioye his rest and record his perills paste Euen so fortune this night hathe geuen vs an experience of diuerse desasters bothe to vse her aduertisemente as a speciall armour to resyste thassaltes of semblable accidents hereafter and also to confirme our affections with a stronger bonde or vndoubted vnytie makinge the pleasures of our loue of greater price and moment after so sharp stormes of raging tempestes And what is hée that is worthie to taste of the delites and pleasures of the worlde that is not hable to disgeste one simple pill of bitter confection neyther dothe hope dekaie but with the ende of life and the vertue of a most true and inuincible loyaltie is neuer frustrate nor voyed of his rewarde and tochinge the stormes paste my deare PLAV DINA saith he like as it is a chiefe consolacion to a man in calamytie to knowe his mishapp so there is also a speciall compfort that followeth the remembrance of the euills whiche wée haue alredie suffred and a treble contentmente beinge permitted to recorde theim wythout daunger and hée that is desierous to bée crowned with the garland and glorie of victorie must not feare the malice of perill nor hazarde of lyfe for who contemneth death escapeth his malice but such as feare and flée from hym do often fal into his daunger neither is there lesse fame in the valyant aduenture then in the fortunat victorie And for my parte if my lyfe had ended in thassalte of any of these distresses the same had not exceded a simple oblation of my dutie towardes you whiche also had followed wyth no lesse expedicion then I had great desyer to geue you so vnfayned a shewe of my seruice if in the verye act had not appeared a manifest derogacion and cause of infamie to your honor wherwith meaninge yet to prolonge his discourse hée was interupted with the replie of PLAVDINA who more desyerous to taste of the pleasures to come then willinge eftsones to prefer a second view of y e mischienes passed wished hym to dismisse the remembraunce of their former
or out of the window or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe by the pitiful regards of his countenance wanton torninge of the eye and other messengers of his passion arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions whither also hée directed his pilgrymage and dissymulinge with GOD hée plaide thypocrite in conuertinge his regardes from thalter or place of leuacion to beholde the bewtie of the goldsmithes daughter the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor making of the house of prayer y e shop or forge to frame iniquitie exceding in this respect the barbarouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells who geue more reuerence to their Mosques wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord to performe the ministracion of the sacraments with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray for the subuercion of babilon and restauracion of the true Church dispersed into diuers corners of the world by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples wherof this Abbot being not the least in authoritie was nothing inferiour to the most abhominable in al vices wherof he gaue sufficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion the one in seking to deflowre a mayde contrarye to the othe of hys religion the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise beinge more deuowte in courtinge the Ladies of NAPLES thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous desyer ymagined by and by wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large and to beat the hammer more depe into his head would requite his amarous glaunce wyth a semblable glée and sodaynly retire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of presence no lesse then thincounter of any venemus beaste fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer or who thinkes it no offence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde whom wée may compare to the red rose desiered of enery one so longe as the morning dewe mainteineth hym in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew and conuerted hys naturall freshnes into a withered leafe the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Iewell but also in common contempte wyth all men what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmindfull who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chastetie affore all the respecttes of the worlde seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest preuented hys expedicion by making her a straunger to his presence shonnynge all places of hys repaire and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer shée forbare to visit the churches onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie and yet wyth suche regarde that shée made as it were a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to inuade her vppon a soddaine and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes shee crossed saite on the other side and closed her eyes as agaynst some hurtfull encownter yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie that dispaire beganne to appeare wyth thapproche of sondrye perentorie diseases chiefly for y t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye and disdainefull repulses occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe or vpon what wood to make his arrowes seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors and to write to her appeared a great difficultie for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres was no lesse carefull of her honestie then be longed to so precious a Iewell yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to rewarde hym in the ende with the praye of his purseute he determined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente and therefore put his requeste vpon tearmes in a letter of this effecte Yf my destenies had don execution vppon my bodie when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie torment for if death by nature had preuented the begynnynge of my loue I had ben frée from the force of passion discharged of all mortall greefe and you dispensed with al from the imputation cause of a double ill the one to abuse the vertue of your selfe do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue to driue me to desperacion and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe Howe often alas haue I made you priuye to thinwarde affection of my mynde by the outwarde regardes glaunces of my exterior partes Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée and immediatly denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion eyther disdayning vtterly
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
one of his frendes by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of his cruel mistrys Histo 13. Fol. 265. The ende of the Table A vvitnes or cronicler of tymes a caÌ„dle to the trothe the life of the memorie the maister of a mans life and the reaporter of all antiquityes Iucundi acti labores Nescire quid antequam natus sis acciderit est semper esse puerum Lyuye Histories a librarie or store house of knovvledg Executed for religion in Fraunce by the Emperor Seuerus in the yere 178. Hannyball forced a passage for his armi through the Alpes Ingratitude the chiefeste ennemy to the honor of nobilitye Children do commonly rather excede their fathers in vice then resemble them in ver 〈◊〉 â–ª Ytaly a store house for mutinies Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable The proffit in huntinge The daunger of a prince in Iermanye in hunting A courte of peynall forfeitures or coÌ„demnatioÌ„ for money The frutes which true vertue exposeth All things are subiect to chaunge Deathe the due hyer of vnnaturall conspiracye A kinde of curtesye or amarus gretiÌ„g in Italye Hope is a chiefe comforte in affliction An vngodlie Lavve The taste of life pleasante to all men The couetous minde is neuer in quiet according to the vvordes of thappostle God the highe iudge Salymbyno debateth vvith himself touching the deliuerye of his ennemie Yt is more easye to conquer by clemencie then by crueltie Parentâ—s The noble harte soonest enclined to loue Montanyno seketh to re quit the good torne of his enemye Fortune not to be holden against her vvil and god is bound to no time Height of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature The Athenians punished vnthaÌ„kfulnes by death The ansvver of Augelyqua to her brother Loue hathe povver to vvorke a facilitie in that vvhiche all men thinke ympossible Venus Angeliqua falleth into a sound Angeliqua consenteth to her brothers requeste Montanyn to Seigneur Salymbyno Fortune accordinge to the poetes is the change and alteration of the vvorld ly affayres Salymbyn to his frendes so the mariage of Angeliqua Vertue firme and not subiect to chaÌ„ge The noble mynde inuincible agaynst fortune King Cyrunorished and brought vp in the contreye Romulus brought vp amonge shepherdes Of vnlavvfull vvinning of the father coÌ„mes iust losse to the sonne The romains respected more the vertuous pouertie then allovved the rich man conuerted into vice Loue make vs more apte to desier then hable to attaine Mariage the first thing vvherin christ glorified himself by miracle In the choice of our vvife vvee ought to respect the vertue and gyftes of the mind and not the riches or exterior beautye Aduersitie is necessary for that it makes vs parfect The vertues in loue in a noble minde Sondry vertues in loue Loâ—e is an humor of infecâ—â—on deriued of the corrupte partes in our selues Loue. VVords haue force to further the effecte of anye thinge Desert soyles be harbors mete for solitary persons The coÌ„plaint of Lyuyo The Cameleon is norished by the breath of the ayre Cicero Cornelya to her brother The ansvver of Cornelyo to his sister Ho bearethe his misery beste that hideth it most It is necessary to knowe the impersectious of the worlde 〈◊〉 the true messengers of the dollor of the harte The disease of Loue contrary to the disposition of other griues The coÌ„plaint of Camylla Liuio at the poiÌ„t of death speaketh to his misters Quintus Scipio The complainte of Camilla Loue is naked and vvith out eyes Brutus vvarned of his ouerthrovve in his sleepe Lyuyo vvriteth to Câ—mil lâ— The propertie of the svvan beinge neare her deathe Delaies be hurtefull in cases of loue The kinge of the hunes died in the excesse of pleasure vvith his vvife the first night of their mariage Livyo died of the like in the armes of his Camilla Badde argumeÌ„t in a yong vvoman Her parentes Money is hable to batter the strongest fortresse vnder heauen The order of a fearefull louer in disclosing his affection Slaunder Her bevvtie Parthonope vvritteth to Pandora Of true loue Pandora allovveth the requeste of her louer Companion of bed or lieu tenaunt VVhoremonger Marcyano disvvadeth his frende from Pandora Callinge Pandora vvriteth to partho nope Pandora exclaimeth Herselfe and the child vvith in her Nedea and Circe 2 great enchannteresses PaÌ„dora seÌ„des her mayd to practise vvith the vvitches of the vale Net her certaintie nor assuraÌ„ce in the art of enchaÌ„tyng God suffred the magicions of Egypte to vvorke vvonders in the sight of Pharao The studye of scripture ought to bee thexercise of the religions Abbaies the chiefest pillors that men teine superstion and ydolatrye Abbayes and Nonries tenementes of Babylon Freares bee couetous Suggestion of the fleshe makes vs sonest forget God A deuelish of deuise of Pandora The euill is but light vvhere councell takes place Paris Whoremaâ— â–ª mâ—â—ster Ielosye excedes al the tormentes in the vvorlde Hunger and colde 2. coÌ„moÌ„ enemies attendinge the campe of miserie In euery mischiefe fortune beareth the greatest svvaighe No maÌ„ vvith in the daunger of fortune but suche as lake assurance in vertue Vertue yeldes good frutes to such as embrace her vnfaynedly The chiefest vertue in a vvise is to be obedient to her husband Fortune is alvvayes Ialouse of the ease of man The malice of the vvorld rageth moste vpoÌ„ vvidovvs and fatherles children The vse of the nedle a conuenient exercise for any degree of vvomen The Captain to his frend Thoffice of true frendship vvhere in it consistes Touchinge dyuynacion of the mynd The propertie of a she ape in embrasing her younge on s Fiue vertue vvill alvvayes yeldes frutes according to the goodnes of the thing 〈◊〉 the coÌ„mon catyer of tales Albeit death is most certeine yet the hovver and time of his coÌ„ming is not knovven The Ladye comfortes her husbande Death the messenger minister of God The graue is the house of reste A ceremonie amongest the barbarians to sacrifise theÌ„selues vppon the tombes of their deade frâ—ndes The captaine riseth to fetche his dagger to kyll his vvyfe Here he killeth his vvyf A comparisoÌ„ deriued of the pollicie vvhiche the vvise mariner or shipmaister doth vse Giftes vvhich ought to appeare in an honest vvoman Deathe hath no povver but ouer our bodye Loue Procedes of the corrupcion of our ovvne nature Secret solicitors of the invvard affection of the harte Cornelio vvriteth to plaudyna The eyes be the secret signes and mesengers of loue Plaudyna aunsvvereth the letter of her seruant Portune a blind goddes The 〈◊〉 her bodye Plaudina menteth the absence of her freÌ„d vvith complaint 〈◊〉 gainste her ovvne misfortune Loue estemeth no dauÌ„ger The desyerous harte is seldom at rest and doubtefull mindes dreede alvvayes deceite The complaint of Cornelyo beinge in exile His mistres The order of a desolate louer The desier of a desperat louer The firste metinge of the baude vvith Cornelio Men more constant then vvomen Cornelyo aunsvverethe the
dyed she had not lyued to haue reuenged his wronge nor lamented her owne desolacion for the same affection whyche moued her to suche care of his life woulde also haue procured her to haue bene his companion to the graue whereby one tombe at one instaunt shold haue serued to shroode the ij bodies last remaynder of the whole race house of the MONTANYNS And that which scamed to restore her dollorous passion with a freshe supply and increase of newe sorowe was the heauie newes of diuerse of her neare kynsmen touching the spedy approch of the extreme date delay of the sentēce diffinitiue which as they had not onli indeuored to differ yet som lōger time but also to purchase a moderation of the rigour so beyng no lesse frustrate in the one then voyed of assuraunce or hope of the other they sayed there rested nothing on their powers to performe or discharge the office of true frends on her behalf sauing to perswade her to consolacion and to vse patience in cases of aduersitie chiefly wher there appeares absolute dispaire of all remedie and the sinister suggestion of malicious fortune hath suppressed a hope and expectation of deliuery wherin as an vnfained witnes of their presente dollour they let fall certaine teares to accompanie the pitifull dule of her who vpon the reaport of theis last accurrauntes forgat not to fyll the aire ful of hollowe sighes with open exclamacion against the lawe of nature that seamed so careles of her creatures as not only to leaue them without armour or sufficent resistance against the ordinary assaultes of the world but also to make thē subiect by speciall destenie to the sentence dome of a most vnrighteous and hard fortune but albeit aduersity besides that she is subiect to sondry sortes of calamitie is also so quarellous of her one disposition that for the respect of one simple or peculiar wronge she makes vs to exclaime generally against all liberties and lawes of God and man yet ought we so to checke that same humour of inordinat rage that mortifieth within vs all regarde of dutie and reason that we dispaire not in the goodnes of him who beyng the giuer of all comfort and GOD of consolation is more ready to dispose it on our behalfe then we hable to deserue the gift of so greate a benefit and who in the middes of the teares of this desolate Ladye beyng with the reste of her frendes wholly resolued to endure the rigorous sentence of their fate presented the CATASTROPHE of y e tragedy with such an offer or meane of spedye deliuery of the prisoner that it did not only excede thexpectation of all men but seamed also the worke of suche a wonderfull misterie that no man was hable to imagin the deuise afore their eyes gaue iudgement of theffect ▪ for the same day aboute the nynth or tenth hower of the euenyng ANSEAMNO SALYMBYNO whome heretofore you haue harde to bee sore passioned with the loue of ANGELYQVA hauing spente certaine dayes of recreacion in the contrey is now returned to SYENNA where passyng by the gate of his ladye he chaunced to heare a lamentable noyse of women bewailyng the misery of the montanynes wherwith pursewyng the brute with a more diligente eare spyed at last commyng out of the pallayes of ANGELYQVA certain olde dames his nexte neighboures all to bee sprent and died with the dew of sorowfull teares as though they hadd then cōme from the funeral of some of their frendes of whom he enquired the cause of suche vnacustumable Dule and whether what new misfortune wer happened of late to y e house of y e Montauyns and being at larg resolued of that which you haue hard by speciall reporte went imediatlye to his chamber where he began to discourse diuersely of this soddaine chaunce sometyme determining the deliuerie of CHARLES for the only respect of his syster whose good wil he thought he cold not purchase any waye so well as by the benefyt and pryce of so greate a frendshyppe by and by hee accompted the death of her brother a moste necessarye meane to make him the maister of his desire ouer his sister wherin after he had spente somtyme in secrete cogitacion without any certeyne resolution notwithstandyng what to do he seamed to aske open councel of himselfe in this sorte What cause haue I hereafter to dowte of the thing I chiefly desyer seyng fortune seames to take more care of my contentement then I am hable to wishe or imagyn vndertaking as it seames to presente me wyth theffecte of my busynes whenne I leaste thoughte of any hope or likelihod of good successe for by the death of the MONTANYN who is to be executed to morowe in publike as a rebell or heynous offendor of the state I shal not only see the laste reuenge of the most mortall enemyes of our house but also liue without feare hereafter to be molested by any that shal discend of hym and on the other syde his death takes away al impedimētes offering either to stay or hinder me from enioying of her whom I loue so dearely for her brother being deade and his goodes and liuinge confiscat to the state what stay or support hath she if not in her beauty and loue of some honest gentleman who takyng cōpasion of the losse of so Rare an ornament and worke of nature may entertaine her for his pleasure vntill the glasse of so brikle a gyfte dekay with his delyte in her companye and then for the respect of pytye to bestow her in mariage with some compotent porcion But what SALYMBYNO shal the offer of any vnseamely reueng preuaile aboue that respect and duty thou art borne to beare and owe vnto true vertue or wilt thou so much abuse y e former glory of thy auncestors and present renowne of thy selfe with an acte no lesse detestable afore GOD then hatefull to the cares of all degrees of honestye and wilte thou thus deceaue thexlpectation of thy frends and leaue them in continual reproche to the posteritye of all ages with a note of suche infamye that tyme her selfe can skarce race out of the remembrance of man if all thies lacke authority to diswade the let only the respect and awe of vertue with remorce of conscience kepe the frome comitting so hainousanoffence for to wh at other end haue the auncients put a diffrence betwene the gētlemen creatures of baser condition but that in exposyng fruites of cyuill courtesye wée should also stryue to make our selues noble and excede theim in thimitacion of true vertue and as it is far frō the office of a noble hart to thunder Reueng vpon such as are not hable to resyst thy power so there can be no greater argument or proffe of true magnanimytie then in buryenge the desyer of vengeaunce in a tombe of eternall obliuion to expose moste fruites of compassion where there appeares greate cause to extende the vttermost of rigour and where
on thaduerse partie is leaste exspecte or hope of succoure for how canne a man lay a more sewer soundation of perpetuall glorye then in correctinge the humoure of hys fowle appetite and conquerynge the vn bridled affections of the wilful mind to make them bound vnto the by thy benefyts who wer in dispaire to receiue any pleasure at thy hands y t whiche declaration of true vertue lyke as it happeneth so seldom amongest men now a dayes that we may ve raye well terme it a thinge excedinge the common course and order of nature So he that wyll chalenge the title of true nobilitie seame to excel the rest in thappeale of perfect honor muste prefer in publike suche absolute effects of hys worthynes and vertue as the same may iustlye appeare meritorious of an immortal memory in the successe of al future ages The chiefest pointes of so large cōmendacion which so many recordes of antiquitye do attribute vnto the greate Dictatoure CESAR consiste more in the clemencye hée vsed to his ennemies being vanquished and vnder the awe of hys mercye then in the mortall and manye battailes he fought agaynst the valiaunte GALLES and britons or subduing the renowned POMPEY the grrat ALEXANDER deserued no lesse honor for the pytie and curtesie hee vsed towardes SYSIGAMBIS the mother of DARIVS with other desolate Ladyes whyche hée tooke prysoners in the battaile foughte at Arobella thenne fame in the conqueste of the kynge and contreye of PERCIA and MEDIA and at the death of the wyfe of DARIVS in hys camppe hee let fal no lesse effucion of teares then if hée had bene presente at the buriall of OLYMPIAS his naturall mother neyt her coulde hee haue made so greate a conqueste of the whole easte worlde wyth hys small crewe and companye of MACEDONIANS if he had not subdued more contreys by clemencye thenne force of armes besydes who is ignorante of the late curtesye of DON RODERICO VIVANO of Spayne who all bée it myghte haue reuenged thinfydelytye of DON PIETRO thenne kyng of Aragon for that hée wente a bowte to ympeshe his expedicion agaynst the sarazins being then at Granado did not only for beare to punish hym or put hym to ransom but also beinge his prisoner by order and lawe of armes dismissed hym into his countreye with no lesse honour then belonged to his estate withoute any exaction of his person or realme wherin for my parte the more I reaue in the rariety of their noble vertues so muche the more oughte I to increase my indeuor in thymitacion of the like examples and of the crontrary what great cause haue I to preferre a continuation of the grudge ended alredye by warre or why shoulde I sturre vp eftefones a freshe Remembrance of the faulte alredye forgeuen what iniury haue they don to me ormine which was not retorned vnto them without intrest of double reuenge admit their predecessours haue bene ennemies to my house haue they not borne a more harde penance then the greatnes of their offence deserued What cause haue I then to renew the alaram of their miserie or why stay I to succour their desolate state in some satisfaction of the iniuries they haue receiued by me and mine besides the wrathe of God accordyng to the wordes of the Apostle is alwaies hanginge ouer the heades of suche as seame to take pleasure in the affliction of their neighbour reioyce in the misfortune or misery of an other if all thies lacke sufficient force to mortifie the remembrāce of auncient malice within me and in exposing contrarie to the exspectatiō and opinion of the world a wonderful example of vertue to moue me to releue his distresse that dispaireth of all succour and reclaim by liberalitie the frendeshipe of him who if he euer offended is alredye pardoned like as also if his innocency haue bene abused by me and mine my cōscience calleth me to a remorce in rendring satisfaction in so nedeful a time yet am I drawen by a band of further dutye and incensed by a somaunce or special instigacion of the honour and seruice which my harte hath alredye vowed on the behalfe of her whose beauty vertue deserues a greater méede then the vttermost that I can do eyther for the cōtentement of her or consolation of her brother for like as ther is no man onlesse he bee vtterlye deuested from the gyfte of humanitye beinge passioned with equall affection and sosomoned by semblable desire to doo some notable seruice to my deare ANGELIQVA as I am that woulde not racke hys power to the highest pyn to take awaye the chiefe causes of her dolefull teares and restore her to a spedie contentment conuenient for her merite So in louinge her I muste also imbrace suche as shee accomptes and by good righte are moste deare vnto her And if I will make a declaration of the true zeale I beare her why do I staie to expose it in so nedefull a time and on the behalfe of him whome shee loueth no lesse then her selfe attending euen now the fatall stroake of the morderinge sworde for a tryfflinge due of a thousande florentes and why shoulde I doubte to make it knowen in publike that only the force of loue hathe made me trybutary to the faire ANGELIQVA for seinge that kinges and the greateste monarkes of the Worlde do drawe vnder the yoke of his awe it is not for me to eschewe that by speciall pryuiledge whiche is incidente to all men by nature neyther ought I herein to refuce the offer of my destenie nor straun gers to enter into muche maruaile if I beinge of the mettall of other men and subiect to no lesse impression and passions of mynde then the reste do make presente dedication of my harte and seruice to her whose vertue I am sewer is so in vincible agaynst all aduersitie that neyther necessitie nor the moste extreame message that fortune can send her is hable to make her forfeyte the leaste pointe of her honestie or forgette the renowme of the genelogie wherof she is discended wherin as honest loue hath sturred vp this mocion in me with composicion to expose imediatlye the frutes and effecte of semblable vertue So the spedye delyuerye of thy brother Oh ANGELYQVA shal argue sufficientlye to all men that it is only the regarde of thy beawtie that hath paied the price of his raunsom and remoued frome his tender legges the heauye yrons whiche the penaunce of harde imprisonemente had vniustlye enioyned vnto him tryumphinge also with this increase of further glorye that onlye the regardes and glauncis of thy glisteringe eyes haue made a breach into the hart whiche earste hathe defyed the malice and vttermoste of all force and made hym bowe of his owne kinde that neuer colde bee broughte to bende or stowpe to any of what degree or condition so euer they were And thou SEIGNEVR CHARLES for thy parte hast this daye gained so assured and perfecte a frende that if thou wilt confirme the
reformacion in them who are borne to beare the yoke of awe and commandement of their husbandes retournynge therewyth to the sequeile of SALYMBYNO who workynge the laste effect and consommation of his curtesye gaue the one halfe of his goodes of all sortes in fauour of the mariage adopting at thinstant the MONTANYN as his brother in lawe and assured frende with generall substitution to all his goodes if he chaunced to dye without heire of his bodye and hauyng children he conueighed vnto hym by suche assuraunce in reuercion as the lawe coulde deuise that moytie whiche he gaue in dowerye to his faire ANGELIQVA whome the Sonday folowynge he maried with pompe due to both their estates to the vniuersall contentement of his frendes and speciall quiet of the Citye who had endured longe affliction by the mortalitie and ciuill warre of theis ij houses Suche be the varieties happenyng in the successe of our wordly affaires wherein who wil denye but that aduersitie somtime is necessarie for men seinge she doth not only force a wonderfull remorce and reformacion of lyfe but also workes often tymes an effect of that wherin appeared an absolute impossibilitie of conquest by any other meane And truly the vertue of this example discredites vtterly the commendacion of the auncient ROMAINES amongeste whome as there chaunced diuerse tymes greate enimyties and grudge of mynde so there folowed a spedie reconcilement albeit not by suche meanes as this franke attonement betwene the SALYMBYNS and MONTANYNS but some were reclaymed by the offer of promocion some solicited by the voice of the whole common welth and confirmed by the present gyfte of some notable office and other with a regard to peculyar proffit not one of them all approchynge neare the magnanimitie in the worste of these three whereof the one sommoned by a passion of loue scamed to excede nature in perfourmynge an exploit not hable anye waye els to be wrought to effect And yet there be that cryenge out againste loue paintes hym in cullors of rage follye and frenzye but suche are rather abused wyth theyr owne conceites then hable to consider ryghtelye the vertue of that impression for loue in the noble harte is no other thing then the true subiecte of curtesye the fountaine from whence distilleth the originall of all cyuill and good order the onelye meane that moues vs to moderacion when we are inclined to crueltie or reuenge and the chiefest norsse and preseruer of peace amongest men wherein yf some vile disposition happen to violat or peruert the lawes of so necessarie and auncient institution of nature the vertue and subiect it selfe yet oughte not bee touched wyth the cause of suche faulte nor deserue to be noted of any corruption seinge suche derogation procedes by the abuse of hym that knoweth not the perfection of the thynge which falles out also in experience in diuerse other accidentes who beinge vertues of them selues do loase theyr credit by the malice of suche as abuse them vyllanouslye whervpon the good thynge is often condemned by the folly of suche as are ignoraunt in the perfection of the same in the other appeares a rare disposition of a bountifull mind so farre from the abhominable spot of ingratitude that his lyfe was ready to bee offred for the satisfaction and discharge of the curtesie if the other had required it wherein as you maye see greate effectes of true magnanymitye and wherein a noble mynde oughte not to bee ouercome with the vertue of honeste curtesye so touchynge the price of the victorye I meane whiche of the three is moste meritorious of commendacion and deserueth to weare the garland I referre the iudgement to thindifferencie of suche as wythout passion or parcialitye doe vse to note the chaunces happenynge to men you see a mortall enemye sorowed for the miserie of his aduersarie but solycited thereunto you will saye by the ineuitable force of loue whiche also wroughte his delyuerye the other marched wyth the glorye of a present so rare that the greatest Monarcke of the worlde maye be astonyed with the remembraunce of his prodigall bountie The wonderfull zeale and affection of the syster towardes her brother chalengeth no lesse praise then the reste who albeyt she had séene a proof of the curtesye of her enemye yet had she no assurance of his modestie notwythstandynge to discharge euerye waye her dutye towardes her brother she layde her virginitye vppon the blocke of vyolacion the fyrste claymeth to bee victor because his laste vertue in the mariage excedes his former curtesie but he hath ouerthrowen his enemie and not won the feelde so that he is not to enioye the prayse or price of the victorye The absolute resolution of the younge Ladye to kyll herselfe if she were forced to dishonnour againste her wyll takes awaye all glorie and commendacion from her yf the care to kepe honour and virginitye dyd not preuaile aboue the preseruation of lyfe the brother and thirde of this Crew albeyt this prodigal offer proceded by compulcion of the former bountye of hys frende yet the noblenes of hys mynde was equall to the reste and hys vertue nothynge inferiour to eyther of the other twoo And yet yf it were not the singuler respecte he had to retourne hys benefytt wyth double interest wyth care to bee more then sufficientlye thankefull to his patrone I coulde dyminishe hys glorye wherein because the lamentable tragedye of twoo poore louers sōmones me to discouer theyr misaduenture wyth no lesse reason to furnishe the stage with a declaracion of theyr loyaltye then your Ladyship hath alredye harde the whole discourse of the rare vertues in SYENNA I leaue suche Gentlemen and skilful Dames who take paine to skan this historye to argue the cause at large and resolue iudgement at leasure not doubtynge of your integritye in yeldynge the true tytle of tryumphe and glorie to some one of the three whome you accompte moste worthie to bee crowned with the Lawrel of victorye FINIS The argument THere is nothinge how good and profytable so euer it appeare whereon attendethe not a discommodytie to hym that deales in it wythout discrecion together with a perentorye displeasure in receiuing it contrarye to the consent of good gouernemēt wherin I may be assisted with sufficient confirmation in a daylye experience of the ordynarye meates brothes and other confeccions tollerated by phizicke for the sustentacion of man whiche albeit bee good of theim selues yet being swallowed in glottonous sort they do not only procure a surfeyt with vnsauery indisgestion but also conuerting our aunciente healthe and force of nature into humors of debylytie destillinge thorowe all the partes of the bodye do corrupte the blodde which of it selfe afore was pure and without infection Euen suche is the disposition of loue whose effectes directed by reason whiche oughte to guide euerie accion and doing of man be not suche enemies in deede to the quiet of our lyfe as necessary meanes to reforme the rudenes of our
thoratour the faire and good are so conioyned together that the one glorifyenge in the other are confirmed both with equal estimation why shoulde I not pursue the loue of my deare CAMILLA whose exterior regardes argew a greater vertue then to refuse the offer of my simple and honest seruice supported with an intente of vnfayned loyaltie so longe as nature shall assiste me with one moment of tyme in this worlde But alas what reason hath she to graunte to that whiche I dare not demaunde or howe shoulde she satisfye my requeste beinge altogether ignoraunte of my meanynge and seynge by conceylinge my desyer my greefe is growen to an agrauacion of torment why staye I to disclose the cause to the ende I maye eyther receyue the soueraine CATAPLAME for my sore or els the laste and fatall syroppe whiche maye sende me to complaine mine euill in the other worlde wherin as he made here his plat to communicate his loue with his mistres so the veray presence of CAMILLA feare to offende her toke awaye theffect of that resolucion conuerlinge his complot into a misterie of some dreame or vision inuisible whereby what with the increase of his passion and feare to bewraye thoccasion his greefe grewe to a disease presentyng argumentes of debilitye and diminutioÌ„ of strength w t lose of auncieÌ„t colour in his face so far furth y t he seamed not the same LYVIO which earst was so welcome into all companies no lesse for hys grace and perfection of nature then his guifte of pleasante discourse seinge that nowe in so shorte a tyme he is so transposed into the habite and disposition of a malencolike and solitarie harmit that there appeared no lesse impossibilitie to haue hym assiste any assemblye accordynge to the commendable custome of nobilitie or youth of gentle discente throwe all the franchises in ITALY then to mortifye in one instante the furye of his solitary passion in suche sort that the young Ladyes and gentlewomen companyons to his syster began to deskande of his coye and religious trade of lyfe some of theim accusinge hym of folishe disdaine noted a sorte of sauage and hagarde disposition and some seinge as fare into his disease as the phizicion into his water referred the cause of this soddaine chaunge to the mortall and ineuitable woundes of the cruell son of the faire CYPRIS wherwith CORNELIA troubled withoute measure that the alteracion of her brother was the onely wonder of the multitude greuyng no lesse for her parte then the reste seamed amazed accoasted hym one mournyng in a close arbore or alleye of his gardin where he was recording his amarous coÌ„ceits and disposed her selfe tunderstande the cause vnder these termes I hope sayeth she my present coÌ„myng excedyng my ordinary custome will not moue you to conceytes of presumption against me chiefly for that I desier to coÌ„municate with you in that which your self ought to disclose to such as are deare vnto you to th ende that if the meane to restore you consiste in straungers the remedie may folow with expedicion but if a sleighte slaue may cure a slender sore that your gréefe is of no other coÌ„sequence then a passion of ymaginations why do you not take vp the vaine that fedes the humour of such fonde conceites of your selfe dismisse the darke cloudes of youre troubled fansie For I assure you the shame whiche I haue on the behalfe of your doing is nothyng inferiour to the panges you féele chiefly for that your solenme trade of life ringing in mine cares by a general reaporte of all men makes me not only refuse diuerse asseÌ„blies whiche I ought to visite but also loath the companie of my deare coÌ„panions who forget not to reproche me with imputacion of our change protesting vnto you that if you coÌ„firme it with any loÌ„ger time I wyl also assiste your solitarie trade and kepe my self so recluse that in forbearing to visite my frends abroade I wil also forbid thaccesss of any at home for what delit do I fynde in any coÌ„panye when al degrees salute me with your desolate order of liuyng and iudge you what pleasure I take that earst did glory w t the best in y e behauior of my brother most welcome aboue all men to euery estate now to heare you loaden with titles surnames of proude disdainful ful of faâ—â—ies with a thousand other imposicions of like reproch Wherfore for end if ther remaine in you any care of your owne estimation or respect to coÌ„tent me I besech you eftesones sticke not with me in so small a sute as y e discouerie of the cause and circumstaunce of your annoye assuring you for my part by the vertue of our parents decessed that my life shal refuse no peril to remoue your distres that with no lesse good will then I desier with my harte a spedie coÌ„uersion of your malencolike countenance into regardes of auncient ioye imparting by that meanes an vniuersal gladnes to al your freÌ„ds who are driuen to participat with you in sorow til they sée a restauracion of your former quiet wherwith LYVIO takyng thaduauntage of thaffected zeale of his syster who gaue him assuraunce of her promisse in that whiche he durste not demaunde knewe not at the firste what replye to preferre but that it was not against nature for a man to flitt from happye lyfe to heauye state neyther oughte it sayth he to seame a wonder to the people when we expose alteracion of complexion for suche are equall to angels or semblable to the brutall sorte with out sence that are priuiledged from passion or can kepe so temperate a meane in receyuyng and disgestyng thaccidents of this worlde which accordynge thoccurrance and euenem entes of tymes do expose argumentes of mirthe or sorow in the faces of them whome they possesse and albeit I confesse vnto you that as he beares his miserie beste that hides it moste so suche are worthye to haue the name of perfecte men who enconteringe their disaster with a constante magnanimitye of minde do dissimule their greefe afore the worlde to th ende they only may giue remedye to that which is common to none but theym selues wherin for my parte I coulde neuer enioye a participation of suche perfection neyther is thoccasion of my extremitie so easely couered but the drouping regardes in my face are readie to make declaration of my torment besides I haue no greate cause of shame of mine euill consideringe the same importes an enterprise of noble consequence albeit I make some conscience to discouer the principall cause But considering the roundnes of your offer and howe boldly one of vs maye participat wyth an other I am contente to imparte with you the circumstance of my passion wherin as you haue charged me with chaunge and alteracion of countenance debilitie and diminucion of the strongest partes in me with a sauage and hagarde order of lyuynge as you haue tearmed it
her bead in a litle cabynett ioyninge to the lodginge of LIVIO who by the thinnes of the wall which only deuided their chambers was pertaker of the leaste worde that was spoken in the lodgynge of hys sister whose greuous groanes forced by the violence of a burnynge feuer gaue such increase to the daunger of LIVIO that he was at point to yelde to the laste alaram of life if the sicknes of his sister had not broughte the spedye remedye of hys dysease for CAMILLA astonied without measure that she neyther mette CORNELIA at the churche sawe her at the gate nor wyndowe nor any assemblye what soeuer learned so much by inquisicion that she was aduertised of the mortall daunger of LIVIO together wyth thertremitye of hys syster who yf they were not reskewed by greate merueyle were at poynte to be shrined together at one instante in theyr fatall tombe Here CAMYLLA began to recante her auncient creweltye for in ceassynge any longer to dissimule her secrett affection to her LIVIO and the sorowe shee suffered for thafâ—â—iction of hys syster she seamed to purifie the wronge shee hadde donne to theym bothe thorowe a ryuer of affected teares distillynge by suche aboundance from her watery eyes that she seamed at the poynte to visitt the purgatorye of thother woorlde to doo penaunce for the twoe euilles whereof she confessed her selfe to bee thonlye occasion wherein after she hadde spente certainne howers in publicke complainte whose dollour seamed of force to moue the heauens to teares and staye the course of the sonne fealynge still an increase of passion by the vehemencye of loue shee was constrayned to abandon the place and performe the reste of her exclamacion agaynste her crueltie all alone in her chamber with thys tearmes What furye or force infernall is thys whyche shakyng the fortresse and most constante parte in me hathe made me in one moment yelde to that wherin I haue bene hitherto inuincible is it possible alas that that whyche I iudged a dissembled passion in thys infortunat Gentleman shoulde torne to a true effecte of vndowted faith confirmed by the power of that whiche we call loue in the hartes of men why haue not I considered that the horse whyche is of noble corage will be gouerned by the shadowe of a Rodde where the dull beaste is skarcely sturred with the princkyng of the spurres the fearefull dogge doth also barke more then bite and depest riuers do ronne with leaste noyse so nature hathe imparted a peculiar instinct to the noble minde not only to be more delicate in diet and ardante in affection but also to embrase the obiecte of their fancie with a more vehemencie of desite and passion then the rest of the rude and grosse sorte who are not worthy to be partakers of the misteries in true loue Ah LIVIO LIVIO howe doo I feele a mocion of that whych I can not tearme other wayes then a free force without constrainte and a dollour without cause of complainte for I am possest with an euill wherein I take pleasure and feeles an experience of a paine without the which I thinke the lyfe of man can hardely be sustained and yet my mynde wauereth in suche dredefull conceites that I feare to make declaracion of that which bothe law of loue and dutie of my conscience bindes me to expose for the solace and relyefe of thy presente affliction but alas the renoume of myne honeste name is so deare vnto me that I wyshe rather to embrase the extreme panges of death then giue one symple occasion of discredit to mine auncient vertue for that as mans wisdome is hable to supplie y e losses of all other thinges so it is not only vnfurnished of meanes to restore the forfait of our honestye but also voyde of arte to couer the falte of so greate an offence but is it a iuste imputation or worthye falte when in our busynes wee respecte vertue and concludes the ende of our enterpryse wyth an honeste meanynge ys it not a deede of compassion to gyue soccours to hym that standes in watter vpp to the throte and at the pointe to peryshe for want of help what can we do lesses then be careful to recouer hym who offereth hys lyfe in the sacrefise of affection for our sakes who can iustly tearme our doynges by the title of offence when we yelde a mutual amitye to hym that pursueth our goodwill wyth a respecte and intente of lawfull mariage no no CORNELIA thowe shalte not lose thy brother nor I the companie of so deare a frende for lacke to aunswere in reciprocal wil to him who with the peril of his life coÌ„ceiles the argument of hys sorow Ah most constant loyall LYVIO seyng the reputacion of myne honour denieth me accesses and coÌ„ference with the and y e shame doth close my mouthe from discouerynge the secret of my good meaning towardes y e take courage discharg thou thoffice of a bolde soliciter to her that is no lesse readye to graunte then thou meritorious to haue and dispoiled alreadye of all hagarde crueltie is not onely prest to reknowledge the honour whyche thou offreste me but also whollye framed to the POSTEY and appetit of thy will and nowe do I fele that againste the force and power of loue the strongest resistaunce is to weake neyther is the whole worlde of sufficient strength to put to vtteraunce the soldiours whome he preferreth in the feylde whereof who is a more late experience then my selfe who earste defyinge hys malice am nowe to attende vpon the chariott of hys triumphe and yeld me prisonner to hym who beyng hither unto my bondman hathe nowe made me the slaue of his importunat requestes And seynge the sentence is alredye paste and confirmed by the voice of my destymes why do I conceile my passion in the myddest of a thousande flames whiche tormentes me within or why do I dissemble that I desire moste or retire myne eyes from the view wherein they chieflye delite why do my feete staye to transporte thys body to the place where the harte hath already taken possession wherwith she determyned the spedye consolation of LYVIO wyth no other drogue or confection then a free consente of her loue yf the same were eftesoones demaunded and there vppon collored her goynge to hys logynge to see CORNELIA whome as shee founde in her bedde wythe more argumentes of deathe then apparance of lyfe by reason of a generalle weakenes whyche hadde mortyfyed the whole strengthe of her body so she hadde not spent in any wordes in the consolation of her companion but LIVIO smellynge as it were the presence of hys ladye asked hys syster who was wyth her who aunswered that onely CAMYLLA kepte her companye wherewith forcing a supplie of courage in his fainte harte with intente to knowe the fynall areste of his lyfe or death began to plede wyth hys absent mistres in this sorte Yf there be any hope in extremetye or expectacion of
helpe in mortall distresse it is tyme nowe good madam to conuerte your Auncient crueltie into an humour of compassion both to defende your self from thymputacion of a tyrant and my lyfe from a wretched ende of miserable dispair ceasse hensfurthe to dissymule thuttermost of your rigour or drop of present grace seinge that both the one and the other hath indiffrent power to releue my distresse eyther by death in denieng me your fauour or contynuance of longer lyfe by impartyng your specialle grace come cruell misters and see thy vnfortunate LIVIO without hart hope or argument of longer breathe yf by a promisse of thy good will thou breathe not an ayre of freshe consolacion and by the sommaunce of thy worde reuoke my dyeng mynde from thys tombe of myserable dispaire where in I feele my self so tormented with thofficers of deathe that nature ceassyng to supplie my weary partes with force I fynd an impossibilitie in my tonge to obey any longer the desyers of my hart wherewith his breath began to drawe short staying the course of further speche yf not that in entryng into hys fatall traunce he exposed certeine dolefull groanes whyche caused bothe the younge Ladies to Ronne in haste to the succour of the patient whome they founde stryuinge with thextremetie of hys laste pange albeit not without some litle perye of breathe whyche he seamed to reserue wyth greate difficultie whereuppon CAMYLLA seynge a prouffe of his constancie euen to the laste moment and hauynge but one meane to releue hys traunce made no conscience to lett fall her rosye and courrall lyppes vppon the mortifyed mouthe of her diynge LIVIO who receyued suche present consolaciō by thys offer of fauour vnloked for that y e force of nature and vitall strengthe ready to depart out of euery vayne of hys bodye retired to theyr auncient places wherewith he vsynge the benefytt of his fortune forgatt not to embrase his Ladye with an infinite of kysses whereof shee restored hym a double interest albeit because he shoulde make no greate proffytt of thys soddayne courtesye and to preuent with all a suspicion of lyghte behauiour in her self she vsed her accustumed wysdome entering into familiar conference in thys sort I hope SEIGNEVR LIVIO you will not conuert thys compassion whych I haue vsed in the rappeale of your mortall farewell into any synister opinion of the diminucion of thintegretie of CAMILLA who as longe as she lyueth will so stande vppon the garde of her honour and honest renowme that no degree shall haue iuste cause to reprehende the leaste fauor shee extendes to any man in whyche conceyte I am also content to impart a credyt to your loyaltie perswadynge the same to bee without fiction whereof I am no lesse glade then I hope the loue whyche youe beare me is chaste and of honest intent respectynge an ende of sinceritie for yf I sawe any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat wyll did guide your desyer and were the cause of your passion assure your selfe I woulde make lesse conscience to committe me to the mercye of the moste horrible tourmentes in the worlde eye and perill of present deathe then to lease anye parte of that whyche makes me marche without blushynge amongest the beaste of oure contrey in whyche respect wyth full perswacion of a sincere simplicitie in your loue I can not but retourne you a semblable fauour with absolute assuraunce from thys instaunte of such firme affection and zeale as any ladye oughte to impart to hym who seekes her frendshyppe in sorte of honeste and lawfull mariage neyther shall yt dekaye after theffect of desyer be parformed nor dymynishe by any synister accident vntill the fatall sequestracion of our sowle and bodye whereof lette vs vse wisdome in the conueyghe of suche affaires as maye bee taken bothe in good and euyll parte to th ende that the maiestye of the hyghest beyng not offended our honour fall not into the slaunder of the worlde wherein for a first charge to bee comitted to your diligence and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemencie of your affection towardes me dispose your self to demaunde me of my Father whose consent you shall fynde me to confirme in such sorte as your selfe shal deuise Arme your selfe then with compfort and retire to healthe at the request of her who takynge no pleasure in solitarie regardes wisheth you to reserue this precious flower of your youth for other exercises then to wast with passions of desperacion no lesse enemies to the strenghte of the bodye then hurtefull to the healthe of the sowle and seynge besides that in the recouery of you consistes the healthe of your syster suspende no longer the consolacion of her and contentement of your selfe and me who in attendynge your expedicion to procure the goodwill of my father will dispose my selfe in the meane while to bee thankefull vnto you any waye wherein myne honour and honestye will iustifie my doynge whiche laste wordes seamed of suche operation in the traunsed mynde of LIVIO that discharged as it were of a perillous vision in a dreame lyfted vp hys eyes and handes towardes heauen yeldyng honour to the goddes for hys happye encounter and kyssynge the white and delycate hande of hys newe mystresse he forgatt not to gyue her suche humble thankes as the greatenes of hys felicitie required whych seamyng to hym to excede the compasse and power of fortune iudged it rather the vertue of a dyuyne miracle then an effect mortall for that in so soddayne amoment he was acquited of so perentory a daunger assuring her that assone as health and strengthe of body woulde assyste the desyer of his mynde he would performe her comaundement in demaundynge her fathers consent wherein he hoped to delay no long time for that he felte a wonderful approche of health by the viewe of her presence in his late last storme of afflictiō I wold do no lesse saith she then yelde you soccours in so great an extremitie both to delyuer my selfe out of payne in seinge you passioned and also to qualifye the greffe of my deare companion your syster to whom you are also bounde in some sorte to be thankeful for my commynge hether For albeit my conscience sommoned me to a compassion of your torment with desier to yelde you the due hyer and consideraciō of the honest loue you beare me yet y e regarde of mine honour deniynge me to visite you seamed an impediment to theffect of that wherunto I was bounde by so many duetifull merites prayinge you for ende to excuse that whiche is past and pardon me for the present in that I can not assiste you with longer companye persuadyng thy selfe my deare LYVIO that althoughe my bodye muste supplye an other place to coullour the trafficque of our loue and preuent suspicion yet thou hasts made suche a stealth of my hart that the same will not fayle to kepe the companye in my absence wherewith takynge her leaue
made her body and other members the mynisters of her wil which God doth oftentymes suffer as wel for the due correction of heynous faults as also for an example and terror to all offenders in the like affayres I am lothe good Ladyes to passe any further in the pursute of this dolorous tragedye because your eyes alredy wearyed with wepinge methinke I see also your eares offer to close themselues against y e report of this PANDORA whose only offence had bene enough to staine your whole secte with per petual iâ—amie if y e pure chastitie of so many of you offred not to confute the slaunder by your vertue only neither caÌ„ y e impudente and wicked liffe of suche double curtalls as shee was impayre thestimacion of them that wyth thintente of pure integritie do rather giue suck to their honor w t y e milke of simplicytie then being Italyonated with all subteltyes trustinge onlye in the humor of their owne braine do fall at laste into the common slaunder of all the worlde for a famylyar profe wherof I leaue you to skanne the order and doinges of this PANDORA who waringe nowe somewhat colde in her former passions of frensye and rage began to be pinched with the panges Incydente comenlye to all women in the paynfull trauell of childe bearinge wherfor goinge to bed she caused certeyn baynes to be prouided wherin washinge her selfe the next daye beinge hallowed and a feaste of great solempnytye she was caryed in a rych coche to vysitt the companie of other Ladyes amongeste whome she was not worthye to kepe place being the shamefull bother of her own blood and wicked ennemy to the life of maÌ„ Herein is to be noted the destructiun of a woman banished the pallays of reason together with the due mede of their merytt who for the respect of a lyttell pleasure of no more contynuance then a moment do put their honour vpon tearmes of Infamye and there soules in hazard of euerlastinge tormente here the adulterers maye see howe iustelye God ponysheth their infydelytie breach of othes towardes their husbands let also the yong ladyes and lyttel girls learne to direct the cours of their youth by y e contrary of this example and beinge once registred in the boke of maryage let theim staÌ„d vpoÌ„ their guard for falling into y e like folies for ther is nothiÌ„g coÌ„mitted in secret but in y e end it bursts out to a coÌ„moÌ„ brute which our sauior Christ affyrmeth by the mouthe of y e prophet sainge y t what so euer is done in the darkest corner of the house shal be published in y e end in open audience And he who sekes most to conceile his faulte is not onlye by the permission of God the first opner of the same but also beares the badge of shame afore the face of y e world and standes in daunger of grace in the presence of him from whom no secret canne bee hydde FINIS The argument IT may seame to some that delighte in the reporte of other mens faltes with respectt rather to take occasion of synister exclamacioÌ„ then be warned by their euils to eschewe the like harmes in theÌ„ selues that I haue bene to prodigall in notinge the doinges and liues of diuerle ladies and gentlewomen declininge by misfortune from the path of vertue and honour only to sturre vp cause of reproche and leaue argument to confirme their fonde opinion Albeit as their errour appereth sufficiently in the integretye of my meaninge so I hope thindifferent sort will geue an other iudgement of my entente the rather for that I haue preferred these discourses both for the proffit of the present glorye of them that bee paste and instruction of suche as bee to come seing w c al they discouer more cause of rebuke and vices more heynous in men then any we finde committed by women and albeit the historye last recyted hath set fourthe in lyuely collours the furye and madd dispocition of a woman forced by disloyaltie yet if a man maye any waie excuse synne it maye in some sorte be dispensed with all or at leaste with more reason then the tyranous execution followinge committed by a man without occacion where a certaine Ielousye sprong of an vniuste myslyke as she thought is readie to couer the falte of Pandora for what is he so ignorante in the passions of loue that will not confesse that Ielosye is an euill excedinge all the tormentes of the worlde supplantinge oftentymes bothe wytt and reason in the moste wise that be specially when appeareth the lyke treason that Pandora perswaded her selfe to receiuely him that forsoke her but for thother how eaÌ„ he be acquited froÌ„ an humor of a frantike maÌ„ who without any cause of effence in the world committes cruel excution vpon his innocente wife no lesse fayre and fournished in al perfections then chast and verteous with oute comparison neyther is Ioylowsye the cause of morder considringe that the opynion is no sooner conceyued then there followeth as it were a distrust of the partye that thinkes to receiue the wronge with an indifferent desyer to theim both to stande vpon their gard in sort lyke ii enemyes workinge the mutuall destruction the one of the other wherof leauing the iudgement to theim that be of good stomake to disgest all kindes of meates or can carye a braine to â—â—kle with the fumes of euerye brothe that is offred theim I haue here to expose vnto you a myserable accident happening in our tyme whiche shall serue as a bloddye skaffolde or theaterye wherin are presented such as play no partes but in mortal and furious tragideies ⧠AN ALBANOYSE Capteine beinge at the poynte to dye kylled his wyfe because no man should enioye her beavvtie after his deathe ⧠˙ Ë™ DUringe the sege and miserable sacke of MODONA a Cytye of the mores confyning vpoÌ„ y e sea PELOPONESE not farr froÌ„ y e straite of YSTHMYON by y e whiche the venetians conueighe theire great traffique and trade of marchandise Baiazeth themperour of the turkes and great grandfather to SVLTAN SOLYMAN who this daye gouerneth the state of thoriente vsed so many sortes of inordinat cruelties in the persecution of those wretches whom fate with extreme forme of his warr had not onlye habandoned from the soyle of their ancient and naturall bode but also as people ful of desolation and voide of succour euery waye forced them to craue harbor of the lymytrophall townes adioyning their countrey to shroude ther weary bodyes bledinge still with the woundes of their late warre and ouercome besides wyth the violence of hungar and cold ii common enemies that neuer faile to followe the campe of miserie And as in a generall calamitie euerie man hath his fortune So amongest the vnhappie crewe of these fugitiues creatures full of care there was one gentleman no les noble by discente then worthelye reuowmed by the glorye of his own actes who accompting it a
bodye being the house or harborer of the mynd framed of the substance of claye or a thing of more corruption doth so preuayle and ouercome the qualytyes and gyftes of the mynde in casting a myste of darkenes afore our vnderstandinge that the soule is not only barred to expose the frutes of reuelacion but also it is not beleued when she prognosticates a trothe neyther is it in the power of man to shone or shrinke frome that whiche the foreknowledge of the highest hath already determined vpoÌ„ vs much lesse to preuent or withstaÌ„d the sentence of hym whose dome is as certeine as himselfe is truthe wherein because I am sufficiently sustefyed by thauthorities of dyuerse histories aswell sacred as prophane I will not stande here to enlarge the proofe with copy of examples but referr you to the readinge of the sequeile of this woful ladye who although her fate was reueyled vnto her afore yet was she denied to shone the destenye and sharppe iudgement whiche the heauens were resolued to thunder vppon her But nowe to our pourpose thagrement thus made betwene the fayre greke Ladye and don SPADO the valiant Capteine ther lacked nothing for consemacion of the mariage but thassistance of the rites and auncient ceremonies appoynted by order of holly churche whiche the capteine forgat not to procure with all expedicion of tyme and for the more honour and decoracion of the feast he had ther the presence of the marques of MANTVA beinge there not so much for the honour of the brydegrome as to testefye to the open face of the world thearnest affection he bare to her fyrst husbande RARZO whom he accompted no lesse deare vnto hym for credytt and truste then the nearest frende of his blod But now this albanoys enioy eng thus the frutes of his desier colde not so wel brydel his present pleasure nor conceile the singuler contentment he conceiued by the encounter of his new mystres but in publike show began to prate of his present felicitye arguinge the same to be of greater moment then if he had ben frankly restored to the tytle and dygnitie of a kingdome geuing fortune also her peculiar thanks that had kept this good torne in store for him saying y t she cold not haue honored him with a greater preferment then to put him into the possessioÌ„ of her who was without a second in al Europe But as in euery thing excesse is hurtful bringinge with it a doble discomoditie I meane both a sourfet to y e stomake by the pleasure we del ite in a Ielouse loathing of y e thing we chiefly loue and hold most dere so the extreme and superfluitye of hoate loue of this fonde husband towards his wife began w tin the very month of the mariage to conuert it selfe into a coÌ„trary disposition not much vnlike the louing rage of the she ape to wards her yongeones who as y e poetes do affirme doth vse to chuse amoÌ„g her whelpes one whoÌ„ she loues best kepiÌ„g it alwaies in her armes doth cherish loll it in such rude sorte that or she is ware she breketh the boanes and smothereth it to death killing by this meanes with ouermuch loue y e thing which yet wold liue if it were not for thexcesse of her affectioÌ„ in like sort this ALBANOYSE doating without discracion vppon the desyer of his newe lady rather drowned beastely in the superfluitie of her loue theÌ„ waighing rightly the meryte vertue of true affectioÌ„ entred into such tearmes of feruent Ielowsie y t euery fle that wasteth afore her made hym sweate at the browes with the suspicion he had of her bewty wherin he suffereth him selfe to be so much subiect ouercome with y e rage of this follie that according to the Ielowse humor of thytalyan he thoughte euery man that loked in her face wente aboute to grafte hornes in his forehed Oh smal discrecioÌ„ and lesse wisedome in one that ought with y e shappe and forme to merite the name vertue of a maÌ„ what sodaine chaung alteracioÌ„ of fortune seames nowe tassayle this valiaÌ„t captein who earst loued loyallie w tin the compas of raisoÌ„ now doating without discrecion thinketh him selfe one of the forâ—ued ministeres of cornwaile albeit I must coÌ„fesse vnto you y t y e more rare precious a thiÌ„g is of it selfe y t more diligeÌ„ce regarde ought we to vse to preserue kepe it in good estate yet a wise and chast womaÌ„ being one of y e rarest things of the world special gift of god ought not to be kept in y e mew nor garded w t curious continual wach much lesse atended vpoÌ„ w c y e ielouse eyes of Argus for like as shee y t waigheth her honor life in indiffereÌ„t ballance not meaning to exchange the one but w t the losse of the other is not easely corrupted by any sugred traine of flattering loue so y e restraint of y e lyberty of womenne to gether with a distruste procedinge of none occasion is the chiefeste meane to seduce her that ells hath vowed an honeste and integrety of lyfe euen vntill the ende of her naturall dayes And in vaine goeth hee aboute to make his wife honest that eyther lockes her in his camber or fylles his house full of spyes to note her doinges consideringe the iust cause he gyues her hereby to be reuenged of the distruste he hath of her with out occasion seinge with al the nature of some women is to enlarge their libertie that is abridged theim in doinge the thinge they are forbidden more in disspyte of the distruste of their folyshe husbandes then for any appetyt or expectacion of other contentment to themselues neyther hath this folyshe humor of Ielowzy so much power to enter into the hart of the vertuous and wise man who neyther wyll giue his wife suche cause to abuse her selfe towardes hym nor suspect her wythout great occasyon nor yet gyue iudgement of any euill in her withoute a sewer grounde and manifest proofe and yet is he of suche gouernemente for the correction of such a falte that he had rather cloke and disgest it with wisedome then make publication with open ponishement in the eye of the slaunderous worlde by whiche rare patience and secret dissimulation he dothe not onely choke the mouth of the slaunderor buryinge the falte with the forgetfulnes of the facte but also reclaymes her to an assured honestie and fayth hereafter that earst had abused him by negligence and yl fortune but he which pennes his wife in y e higest vaulteof his house or tieth a bell at her sleue because he may heare whether she goeth or when he takes a long iorney paintes a lambe of her bellie to know if she plaie false in his absence these sleightes I saye do not only deceiue him that deuiseth theym but also giues him for his trauell the true title of coockeholde in like sort what
howe fyne so euer they were aswell to preferr her dutie to thuttermoste as also to auoyde imputacion or cause of suspicion on her parte wherwith entring into termes of persuacion she added also this kynde of consolacion folowinge More do I greue syr sayth she wyth the small care you seame to take of your selfe then the tearmes of your disease do trouble me consideringe the same procedes of so slender occasioÌ„ that the veray remeÌ„brance of so great an ouersight ought to remoue the force and cause of your accident admit your griefe were greate indéede and your disease of no lesse importance yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desyere to dye that in eschewing to preuent the wyl and set hower of the Lorde you séeke not to further youre fatall ende by vsynge vnnaturall force against your selfe making your beastly will the blodye sacrifize of your bodie whereby you shal be sewer to leaue to the remeinder of youre house a crowne of infamie in the iudgement of the worlde to come and put your soule in hazarde of grace afore the troane of iustice aboue you knowe syr I am sewer that in this transitorye and paineful pilgrimage there is nothing more certeine then death whom albeit wee are forbiddeÌ„ to feare yet oughte wee to make a certeine accompt of his coÌ„ming neyther is it any other thinge according to the scripture then the minister and messenger of God executynge his infallible wil vpon vs wretches sparinge neyther age condicion nor state It is he that geues ende to oure miserie heare and saffe conduyte to passe into the other worlde and assoâ—e as we haue taken possession of the house of reste he shooteth the gates of all annoye againste vs fedinge vs as it were with a swete slomber or pleasant sléepe vntil the last soÌ„moÌ„ce of generall resurrection So that syr methinkes they are of the happie sorte whome the great God vouchesafeth to call to his kyngdome exchangynge the toiles manifolde cares incident to the creatures of this worlde with the pleasures of his paradise place of reapose that neuer hath ende And touchinge your deuocion to him that was dead with vaine desyer to visit his ghoste in the other worlde persuadynge the same to procede of a debte and dutifull desyer you haue to make yet a further declaracioÌ„ of your vnfained minde towardes him I assure you syr â–ª I am more sorye to see you subiect to so great a follie then I feare or exspect the effect of your dreame for as it seames but a ridle procedinge of the vehemencie of your sicknes So I hope you will directe the sequeile by sage aduise conuertinge the circumstance into ayre without further remeÌ„braÌ„ce of so foolish a matter wherin also I hope you wyll suffer the wordes of the scripture to direct you who allowinge smal ceremonies to the dead forbides vs to yelde any debte or dutie at all to suche as be alredie passed out of the worlde and muche lesse to sacrifyze oure selues for their sakes vpon their tombes accordynge to the supersticious order of y e barbarians in olde time remeinyng at this daye in no lesse vse amonge the people of the weste worlde but rather to haue their vertues in due veneracion and treadynge in the steppes of their examples to imytate theyr order with like integretye of lyfe And for my parte saith she dyenge her garmentes with the droppes of her waterye eyes prouynge to late what it is to loase a husbande and to forget hym whome bothe the lawe of God and nature hathe gyuen me as a seconde parte of my selfe to lyue wyth mutuall contentement vntyll the dissolucion of oure sacred bonde by the heauye hande of God am thus farre resolued in my selfe protestynge to performe no lesse by hym that lyueth that yf the furie of your passion prevaile aboue your resistaunce or your disease growe to suche extreame tearmes that death wyll not be otherwayes aunswered but that you muste yelde to hys sommance and dye I wyl not lyue to lament the losse of my second husbande nor vse other dule in the funerall of youre corps then to accompanye it to the graue in a shéete or shroode of lyke attire for youre eyes shall no sooner cloase their liddes or loase the lyght of this worlde then theis haÌ„ds shal be readye to performe the effecte of my promisse and the bell that gyueth warnyng of your last hower shall not ceasse his doleful knil til he haue published with like sound y e semblable ende of your deare and louynge wyfe whose simple and franke offer here openynge a most conuenient occasion for her wylfull husbande to disclose the true cause of hys disease preuailed so muche ouer his doubtefull and waueringe mynde that dismissing euen then his former dissimulacion he embraced her not without suche abundance of teares and vnruly sighes that for the tyme they tooke awaie the vse of his tounge Albeit beinge deliuered of his trauÌ„ce and restored to the benefit of his speche he disclosed vnto her the true cause and circumstaunce of his gréefe in this forte Albeit since the time of my sicknes saith he you haue séene what distresse and desolation haue passed me wyth fyttes of straunge and diuerse disposition marueilynge no lesse I am sewer from what fountaine haue flowed the Symptomes of so race a passion wherein also your continuall presence and â—iewe of my weake state is sufficientlye hable to recorde the whole discourse of my disease yet are you neyther partaker of my payne nor priuye to the principall causes of so straunge an euill neyther haue I bene so hardie to discouer theim vnto you because I haue ben hetherto doubtful of that whereof your laste wordes haue fullye absolued me And nowe being weakened with the wearines of tyme sicknes in suche sort as nature hath ridd her handes of me and gyuen me ouer to the order of death who is to spare me no loÌ„ger but to vtter these laste wordes vnto you I accompte it a special felicitie in my harde fortune that in thoppenyng of the true causes of my greâ—e I may cloase and seale vp the laste and extreame tearme of my lyfe And because I wil cleare in few wordes the misterie which seames to amaze you You shall note that there be iij. onely ministers and occasyons of my disease whereof the firste and of leaste importance is for the death of my late Lorde and maister Don Ihon tryuoulso whereof you are not ignorant the second excedinge the firste in greatnes of grefe and force againste me is to thinke that the rigour of my destinies and violence of sicknes yeldynge me into the handes of death will dissolue and breake by that meanes the league of longe and loyall loue whiche from the beginnynge my harte hath vowed vnto you but the thirde and laste of a more strange qualitie then eyther of the reste is to thinke that when I am dead and by time worne
as a blinde guide doth leade them into infynit miseries laborinth of endles annoye where there is no dispense of their follie but losse of libertie perpetual infamie and sometime punishemente by vntimely deathe whyche as they bée worthie rewardes for suche as doat so much in their owne wisedome that they accompte the same hable of it selfe to comprehend the whole globe or compasse the worlde So the wise man affore he entreth into any enterprise of waight beinge carefull for the conueighe of the same dothe not onlye compare the ende wyth the beginning and cast the sequiel and circumstance euerye waye but also entringe as it were into hymselfe he makes a view of that which is in hym and for his better assistance he will not refuce the aduise of his frends by whiche meanes he is sewer to reape the rewarde of his trauell with treble contentmente and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance Herewith also thexample of the wise maryner doth in like sorte aduise vs who comming by fortune or violence of wether vpon an vnknowen coaste doth straight way sounde and trye the depth of the riuer by his plommet and lyne neyther will he let fall his Anker onlesse he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the grounde whiche if it do faile him yet is hee to wythstande the malice of daunger by kepinge the chanell whiche yeldes hym water enoughe So if this wretched ALBANOYS hadde made a view of himselfe his forces afore he became subiect to y e humor of Ialouse suspicion or if he had giuen correction to his falte in tyme and suffred reason to suppresse the rage of his follie afore he was growen to tearmes of madnes he had enioyed his Ladie at pleasure lyued yet in quiet and preuented the fowle note of infamie wherewith the gates and posternes of his house wil be painted till thextreme date of the world and eschewed the peril of dampnable dispair inkilling himselfe with like violacion and bloddie slaughter of his in noceÌ„t lady whose death with y e strauÌ„genes in executioÌ„ being once knoweÌ„ to the multitude it is to be woÌ„dered what generall dule and desolation were in all partes of the citie how al estates and degres of people spared no sortes of teares nor other dollerous tunes bewailinge her misfortune with seueral grudges at the malice of her destinies that in such cruel maner toke froÌ„ amoÌ„gest them y t persoÌ„ of her whose vertues other ornamentes of God nature serued as a special mirror or loking glasse to al ages wherin certeinlie they had great reason for a lady or gentle womaÌ„ equal with her in coÌ„uersacion euexye way I meane chast without argument of dishonestie deuowt and yet hatinge supersticion bowntiful without wasteful prodigalitie wise without vaine vaunting so obediente towardes her husbande as was necessarie and lastlie lackinge the furniture of no good vertue can not be to much honored in her life nor worthely renoumed after her death aswel for y e such rare gifts are no lesse meritorious for the vertues that be in theim then that they serue as special allurementes to prouoke younge ladies and gentlewomen desyrous of like glorye to ymytat thexample and vertues of them whose due fame is hable to excede the length of time and lyue after deathe who hathe no power but ouer our corrupte Soma or masse of fleshe beinge barred to medle wyth the felicitie of the mynde to whome only the title of perpetuity is due wythout exception And as her life and deathe ymporte seuerall vertues and deserue semblable commendation the one for that shee neuer made showe of mislike what wronge soeuer hee wroughte her the other in that shee failed not to honor him til the laste hower of his life So may you also descerne therein .ii. seuerall exaumples the one to warne the lighte and harebrained husbandes not easelie or for smal occasions to enter into suspicion with their wyues whom they ought to loue and honoure no lesse thenne theimselues the other to presente vnto the ladyes of oure tyme the due rewarde of wysedome obedience and chastetie which be the thinges that make this greeke lyue after her deathe beinge worthelye inuested wythe the wreathes of honoure amonge all the ladies of that contreye FINIS The argument BEcause I haue already in diuerse places sufficientlye deciphered the forces of loue and what effectes he exposeth hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetyt whereoÌ„ whosoeuer Syppeth swaloweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of generalitie that that infection procedes rather of the corrupcion of our owne nature then of the perfection of the same Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to aduowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man wherein I see neyther authoritie to allowe their saing nor reason to confirme their opinion onles they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion for a familiar testymonie wherof I haue preferred this historie folowing not only affirminge my former protestacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference betwene the deuise of loue and raginge fyttes of frenezy or one posseste with a wicked spirite for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan to enioye a presence and pleasure of his Laâ—â—â— refuseth not to coÌ„mit himselfe to manifold daungers with diuerse perillous encounters wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder albeit his felicitie defended him from harme and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge SONDRYE PERILLS happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Ladye NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of euill fortune wante of good gouernmente in himselfe hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS whoÌ„ the power and pollecie of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their naturall soyle and place of a bode dryuinge theym from the possession of their worldlye porcions but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope they reaposed in thassistance of themprour MAXIMILIAN who more willing then hable to restore their desolation pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN where he receyued suche hoat repulses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon
mockerye in the ende that they sticke not to discribe their vaine and fonde humor vppon publike stage in the hearinge of all the worlde yet am I of opynion that as the garmente that is fyt for euery man is well framed for no man so the harte that is as apte to declyne as the appetit is readie to sommon is neyther meritorious of fauor in any sort nor meete to kepe place in the rancke of the vertues chieflye where hee refuseth thobiecte of his owne choice neyther is it possible that two sonnes geue lighte to y e world at one instante nor once conueniente for the mynde of one man to embrace thymage or figure of more then one saint wherein thexample of CORNELIO callinge vs to thymytacion of the like vertue serues also to confute thopposicions of certeine couetous Ladies now a daies who rather gredie of glorie thenne hable to deserue it do not sticke to whet their wittes and inueighe synisterly against thinconstancie of men transporting the whole title and honor of true loyaltie to themselues as though there remained no sparke nor showe of that vertue in the hartes of men who as they were the firste partakers of that gifte so the constante order of their doinges and lyues beinge founde for the moste parte the longeste in breath do argue them no lesse worthy of that perfection then hable to excede that flatteringe crew of flickeringe creatures who in robbinge vs of that which we deserue by iuste title doo seame to bewtifye theimselues wyth the merite of other mens vertues But because the eares of al women can not brooke the hearinge of a troth and that the pursewte of this quarrell arguinge a more daunger in thaduenture then gaine in the victorye mighte set abroache the faltes of some of our contreywomen I am contente to geue theim that they will haue by force and retiringe to the place of my historie declare vnto you the aunswer of CORNELIO to the messenger I am sorye saieth he the large honor and liberall offer whyche you seame to presente vnto me on the behalfe of your Lady and mystrys is of a more highe momente thenne eyther I am worthys to possesse or hable to requite wyth equall merite wherein because the harde condition of my presente state seames my chiefeste enemye to soo greate a prefermente I doubte howe to seame thankefull to her and satisfye the tyme both together albeit as thinges ympossible are not to bee pursewed and offences forced of necessitie are moste meritorious of pardon so beynge not hable to aunswere her exspectacion in counterchaunge of affection I am onlye to racke the litle tallent that is lefte me to so highe a pyn that onlye shee shall dispose of my honor and lyfe wyth all that I haue in the worlde at her pleasure whyche it maye like her to vse as a supplie of y e presēt dutie and seruice she demaundes at my hand onelye being at this presente not the maister of my selfe nor the vse of my harte in mine owne possession my sute is that shee rather blame the wronge whiche time offreth to vs bothe then note me of any disdayne in refusing the frendshippe of her who merites more then I am hable to performe for if my harte were as frée from forreine and former bondes as shée deserueth to be serued and that my affections did not excede thordenary ympressions whiche assaile the mynde of man assure youre selfe shee shoulde not lyue longe vnsatysfyed to her contentmente and muche lesse haue cause to enter into suspection of Ieleous disdaine in me for retorning the offer of that which maye serue for a present to the greatest prince in ITALY neyther will I so much abuse the proffer of her acquaintance or cause of your cōming as eyther her liberal offer or vehemēcie of your importunities on her behalf shal moue me to resolue a worseopynion or more slēder credyt on y e honor or honestie of her y t sente you desyeringe you for end to preferr my excuse accordinge to thintegretie of the same with this further addicion and humble requeste that she bee as bolde to employe me in any other respecte no lesse amplye and so far furthe as my honor and lyfe will extende more honestlie saithe the messenger colde you not refuce the offer of that whyche earste was neuer presented to any and muche lesse so neare the poynte to make a price of so precious amarchandise neyther do I thinke you worthie of the title of that courtesye whereof you are commended nor yet am I of mynde that youre harte is capable of the noble vertue of loue seynge y e renowne honor of her whose bewty only hath the greatest princes of Italye in awe canne make no breache nor enter And who woulde seame of so slender iudgemente onlesse hee hadde quite disclaimed the order of reason that beinge proffered frelie that whiche princes can not get by any sute and not onely desired but pursewed wyth greate instance wolde let slippe the gyft of so good a fortune and make chippes of the frendshippe of so faire and curteons a Ladye wyth what face dare you visyt hereafter th assemblies of greate dames hauynge committed so greate a falte on the behalfe of her whose goodwill you do not deserue if her curtesye did not call you to that prefermēt are you of opynion that the merite of your bewtie and other proporcion excedes the honore and heighte of her that woeth you ymagyn the same to bee of suche force that it is hable to drawe Ladyes to doate of you euen vnto deathe woulde you become so harde harted as to encrease your glorye wyth thexployt of so great a crueltie If you bee subiecte to soo fonde an humor you muste nedes bee incydente to the iuste reuenge which the god of loue is readie to thonder vpon such as seame to hold his loare in skornful contempte whereof as I haue harde mo examples then my skill is hable to reueile in good order being neuer trained in the torning ouer of volumes histories So I wishe chieflie the plage of NARCISSVS maye put you in remembrance of your present ouersighte leaste in disdaininge the frendshippe of such as excell your selfe euery way you doate vppon thymage of your owne shadowe and by that meanes yelde treble vsurye to the wronge you offer her whose loyall affection deserueth a better rewarde then the retorne of a repulse of so small ymportance wherwith CORNELIO cuttinge of the reste of her waspishe discourse desyered her to presse him wyth no greater ymputacion then his offence deserued for saieth he in tearminge me vnworthie of the title of curtesye and that my hart is to harde to admit the impression of loue you rather slaunder me by ignorance then accuse me by iustice seinge the onlye force of loue hath forced alreadie a vowe of my affection and harte to a Ladie of MILLAN whose presence albeit thiniquitie of fate hath taken from me for a
loyall seruant and frend that euer bare name to do honor or seruice to any of that noble sect Your desperat resolucion saith DELYO excedinge all thexperience I haue harde or redd of any that haue bene possessed with the like infection argueth the vnbridled humor of loue to be a kynde of rage a thousand times more straunge and lesse reasonable then eyther the burning feuer or frantike maladie of suche as are infected with the fury of frenzye for what greater follye or rather desperacion can be noted in the madman then to Ronne headlong in to the middest of the fyer or coÌ„mit himselfe vnarmed to the mercie of the glaues and sharp swords of his enemie How may a maÌ„ tearme this same amarous rage and effect of smal reason and lesse discrecion which accompanie suche as make themselues a praie to their proper sensualitie if not some spirite or lymme of Sathan sent to torment vs in making vs thabhomynable workemen of such miracles of mischiefe and he that sayth that loue procedeth other wayes then of our selues seameth rather to mocke the truth then hable to iustefy his argument by approued authorities seing the mischief is deriued of our selues and norished of the corruption of our nature whose wicked force preuaileth so much ouer the gifte of our vnderstanding and darkeneth the vertue of the spirit that wée are denied to se and muche lesse to treade the pathe of our dutie honestie or conscience But thamarous Crew of fâ—yuolus louers now a dayes eyther to support their dampnable enterprises with a boulster or showe of a newfounde vertue or to set a more brauerie of their doinges then eyther reason or conscience will allow or rather to make their secte fauored with a fame or name of perpetuitie haue deuised to christen their follie by the name of sincere and true loyaltie whiche they also forget not to confirme by the title of constancie as thoughe without the hazarde of the soule and absolute destruction of the bodie suche execrable villenies and abuses of men colde beare the name or be registred in y e boke of vertue wherin albeit I cold bée assisted with infynities of examples both familiar and aunciente yet because such discourse wold rather seame tedious theÌ„ thankful to the guiltie mynds of a nomber of our contreymen I am content to dismisse al antiquities and pursewe my allegacion with thauthorytie of this CORNELIO who rather enchaunted then rauished with the remembrance of his Ladye and suggestion of his own follie tolde DELIO for ende that if all the waies betwen MANTVA and MYLLAN were strewed or pitched with rasors and euerye gate and windowe decked with the doble cannon readie charged to salute hym at his cominge yet making litle or none accompte of these mortal perils in respect of the dutie he seamed to owe to his deare PLAVDINA he failed not to begyn to perform y e soÌ„monce of her letter the next morning when with ij seruants no lesse strange to him then vnknowen to al men and himself attyred in the wede of a marchaÌ„t trauellor he departed Mantua at the opening of the gates marching no lesse spedelie then by secrete vnknoweÌ„ pathes he measured his time according to thim portaÌ„ce daÌ„ger of his enterprise in such sort as he gat w tin y e walls of Myllan at the verie last glymmer and cloasing of the euening wher refusing y e house of his mother because y e prospect opening vpon the pallais of hys chiefeste enemye seamed more apt to discouer then hable to hyde hys being ther he addressed hym to a deare frende of his called Mesâ—ieur Ambrosio where beyng let in in the darkest of the euenyng he was lodged in a lowe chamber ioyned as a pendle to thuttermost corner of the house moste conuenient to worke his secret misterye His first indeuor after his saffe arryual at MILLAN was to send for an appoticarye whose fidelitie he had earst proued in the enterchaunge and conueighe of diuerse letters betwene his Ladie and hym who not so much amazed to see hym there whom he loked not for as glad of his comminge for the contentement of Plaudina assured hym of the departure of her husbande his second diligence appeared in therpedicion he vsed to aduertise his mistrys of his commynge whom he requested by a letter vnder the conduit of this colcarior to appoint a conuenieÌ„t leasure that he might speake to her in secret for saith he the conference I haue to impart with you is of other importance then to be debated in the hearyng of witnesses and much lesse recorded by anye then the only presence of our selues The Lady althoughe she desired nothyng so muche as the presence of her seruant whose only comyng seamed almoste to make her excede the bondes of reason for ioye yet was she semblablie traunced in a passion of dreedefull conceites and doutefull feare the one for that she feared tho malice of the frenchemen the rather because they extended weekely a priuye searche vppon all the houses and places whyche they iudged frendes to CORNELIO the other chief cause of her dollor was for that by the wronge datyng of her letter she failed of the daye of the departure of her husbande whereby she had not only procured to hym a more daunger theÌ„ neded but also abused his aduenture in beyng not hable to giue so longe a time to their pleasures as he iustelye deserued and they bothe desired notwithstandyng she retorned the messenger with a gentle aunswereâ— wherein aboue all other thinges she gaue singler comendacion to his firme loyaltie andno lesse falte toher owne follie and rashenes whyche because she woulde not onelye excuse but also counteruaile or rather excede wyth a recompence to his contentation she willed hym by y e messenger to passe by the gate in the attire of a masquer where the woulde attende his commynge about x. or xj of the clocke the same euenynge resoluynge vppon a certeine watche worde or other secret instructions whereby she might discerne hym from the reste of his felowshipp Yt is to bée thoughte CORNELIO did neyther mislike the message and muche lesse forgett the hower of appointmente nor yet seame a cowarde in this chiefeste exployte of his aduenture I am rather of opinion that his foolishe rashenes dyd so much excede the vertue of the minde that yf the whole garrison of the frenchemen had bene encamped in the stréete and redie to receyue hym vppon the pointe of their pickes he woulde rather haue accepted the offer of present death then lost so good an occasion to encounter a simple glaunce or glée of his greate frende who no lesse mindefull of her promisse then readie to performe it wyth a double diligence in hope to enioye an interest of suche pleasure as loue yeldes to suche as fortune makes happie and hable to receiue attended hys commynge at the place and hower of accorde And as she was one of the best Courtiars passinge the rest of the traine
and troupe of Ladies in beautie behauiour and other gyftes of flatterynge showe so was she more courted wyth the continnall haunts and companie of the Gentlemen and Princes of ITALY then any other of what degre so euer she were in suche sort as at the instant and present approche of her seruant she was deuisinge familiarlye with diuerse Gentlemen of the Citie who seing this masque noblie mounted after the spanishe order make their staye afore Plaudina she for her part accepting their curtesye with a countenaunce more thankeful then of ordinarie iudged his embassage to the Ladye to néede neyther secret witnes nor publike audience wherfore not ignorant in thoffice of humanitie and because their presence shold seame no impediment to the proffit or pleasure of an other they toke leaue of PLAVDINA resigning the caÌ„pp and capteine to the marchant straunger whom yf they had knowen they would suerlie haue rated the penny worthes of that praye at to deare a price for him to haue caried away without a gage or pawne no lesse pretious then his lyfe Here althoughe y e fortune of CORNELIO had hlessed him with doble felicitie at one instant bothe in auoydynge the place of companie and yelding hym large viewe of the presence of his mistreys without interupcion yet loue seamed to sturr vp suche alteracions and diuersaty of amaze within him that the vse of his tonge was not only taken away and the rest of his partes retired to a quyueryng feare but also his eyes were so resolued in the gredy gaze of her bowtie that in place to do her honor with any deuise or show of hys dutie by wordes he broughte her in terror with the viewe of his dombe behauior resembling rather the ghastly figure of ZELIO POLINO whom the poetes fayning to be enchauÌ„ted by his wyfe do affirme that for the pennance of his offence and abuse towardes her he is bounde vpright agaynst a wall with a gag in his mouthe without licence or libertie to speake til she pul the pegge from betwene his Iawes so CORNELIO albeit he was an orator sufficient enoughe and specially in disputation of loue yet founde he here hys tongue so punished with the pennance of POLINO that he colde neither pleade for hymself at lardge nor yet playe the parte of a stotting solicitor till the longe viewe of her proporcion of maiestie vnseelyng hes eyes lent hym also a couÌ„tercharme to take away the misterie of his hiddeus traunce with comission to make a breache of his scilence and restore hym to thuse and libertie of his tonge whyche he exposed as a tryall of his newe benefit in this sort yf all the giftes and good tornes whiche fortune euer bestowed vppon suche as receiued frendship or fauor at her hande were here presented vnto me with licence and libertie to chuse whych I wold haue I doute whether I colde pike oute one of suche a nomber that were hable to counteruaile the greatnes of my present encounter or if they al had power to yelde me such contentement as I fynde in the contemplacion regard of your deuine bewtye and for your parte good madaÌ„ what greater proff can you haue of the honor and seruice with vnfayned loyaltie I haue longe vowed vnto you then for the only respect of y e dutie I owe you to see me comitt that which is and oughte to bee most deare to al men to the hazarde of a thousande perilles wherein notwithstandynge yf the god of my destynies hath aggreed to toche me with the malice of hys dome and publishe my sentence of death in this place I excuse hym of present rigour for that he hath deferred me hetherunto and accomptes great iustice in this fatal execucioÌ„ seyng youre self shal bee iudge with what integretie I haue serued you since the first vowe and mocion of my affection whervnto PLAVDINA REPLIED yf you thinke you so depelie in the debte of fortune for the simple offer of so small a frendshypp I accompte my self no lesse bounde to yelde her doble sacrafyze of semblable thaÌ„kes gyuyng not for that she hath added so greate a daunger to the declaracion of your goodwill whereof I neuer dowted but because in grauntynge vs a mutuall accesse and presence together I maye thoughe not so amplye as I wolde and as you haue deserued yet in some parte yelde you the meede of so greate a merit yf you accompte the pleasure in deathe happenynge in the pursute of this aduenture peculiar to youre selfe you doo wronge to the sincere loue and loyall affection of your deare PLAVDINA who resolued to passe vnder the same sentence will neyther excede you in lengthe of lyf nor gyue you anye place in firme constancie of mynde neyther doo I greatlye feare the threates of present daunger considerynge your auncient felicitie whyche hathe alwayes delyuered you in anye your attemptes what dyfficultie so euer appered in theim onelye I quarrell with myne owne follye in mystakynge the daye of the departure of mye husbande and greue no lesse wyth thyniquitye of presente tyme who enuyeng as yt seames our amarus enterpryse is readie to abridge the course of our desyered pleasure wyth a soddaine retourne of hym whom I wishe without eyes in thuttermost ende of thorient notwithstandynge as the faultes proceding of rashe ouersight or ignorance are rather excusable then meritorious of frée pardon so althoughe I haue offended greuously yet do I not dispaire of mercie consideryng that besides the confession of the faulte I yelde me to suche pennance as shall please you to enioyne me whiche also you shall fynde me readie to performe if at the firste hower after this midnight you comme hether in as secret maner as you can and strikinge but once vppon the clapper of the wicket oure Ianiquetta whome you know hath bene heretofore a messenger of our loue shall open the gate and conueighe you into a place of pleasant torments where yf you fynde your selfe greued with anye wronge I haue don you you may paye the reuenge with such interest as you thinke good Wherewith albeit CORNELIO grudged at the spedie retourne of y e goodman yet conuertyng the passion of those heauy newes into a conceit of present gladnes for the franke and liberall consent of his Ladye he contented hymselfe wyth the offer of hys tyme and fortune and yeldynge a lowe reuerence to hys loftye PLAVDINA retired in haste to his lodgynge where attendynge the approche of his hower of appointement wyth no lesse deuocion then the Papistes in Fraunce performe their ydolatrous pilgrimage to theyr ydoll Sainct Tronyon vppon the mont Auyon besides Roan or our supersticious catholikes of England of late dayes to the holye â—oode of Chester or ymage of our Ladie at walsingham he seamed to attire himselfe for the bed as though he woulde not sturre out of his chamber that nyghte by whiche semblance or dissimuled showe he dismissed the companye that was with hym shuttynge the windowes and
of that captiuitie for a more straite and extreme abridgement of libertie you committ the remeindor of your florishyng youth to the mercy of the Mantuans whose heades are the cōmon fordge whereupon the humour of frettynge Ielousye doth alwaies beate weare it not better good madame that we who approache neare the brauerie of Fraunce enioying a natural participacion of the ayre and libertie of that contreye shold lyue and be resident together then in refusinge thoffer of so greate a commoditye to make a seconde proffe of the curtesie of an Ytalian who is not so suspicious as cruell apte to synister conceites without iuste cause and who can not breake thinstinct whiche nature hath giuen hym not only to doubte of the honestie of his wife be she neuer so vertuouse but also to kepe her so shorte with strait imprisonment that she shall neyther be suffred to visit her frendes abroade nor admitt any accesse at hoame besides what will be the common brute of the world if not that thonly awe and feare of the Ladye Marquesse hath forced you to mary her son in lawe neyther wil they haue other opinion of your doinges but as a pupill or one standynge in awe of her tutour wherein you abuse the libertie whiche the lawe hath giuen you in suffringe your selfe not only to bée gouerned but also forced by suche as haue no reason to rule you nor authoritie to commaunde you whiche title with his sequeile of a thousand incōueniences and annoyes as I wishe you to eschewe chiefly for the respect of your owne contentemit quiett of lyf so in preuenting so present and yminent a perill dispose your self good lady to embrace the gifte of a better time and ymagyn that fortune hath here sente her messenger not only to present you with an offer of preset pleasure but also an assured warrante and confirmacion of continuall contentement euen vntill thextreme daye and date of your lyfe wherin for my part beyng voyde of solicitors I am come as you see in person to pleade for grace on mine owne behalf preferrynge vnto you a consideracion of the longe and honeste loue I haue borne you sommoning your conscience also by iustice not to be vnthankeful in the guerdon of so due a meritt You knowe my estate is voyde of necessetie or lacke of any welthe neyther are you ignorant I am sewer of my large power possession in Scauoye both whyche as I hope will defende me from charge or note of couetuse desyer in sekyng the graunte of your fauour so I laye theim also afore you as witnesses to aduouche thusmuche further on my behalfe that thonlye respect of your beautie with other giftes of rare consequence in you haue sturred vpp my affection with desyer to do you seruice and craue good will in sorte of honest and lawfull mariage and Albeit I coulde yet haue thassystance of a thousande other reasons to iustyfie thusmuche of me yet reapposing muche for my self in thintegretie of my cause I commende vnto you the present viewe of an vnfained experience and comit my selfe whollie to thindifferencie of your iudgement for yf my passion were not vehement and my tormēt continual without comparaison or yf my requeste had neyther reason nor iustice on his syde I had but righte yf I were retorned with a repulse of my dissembled sute receiue the due hyer of a deceitful mynde but seing my demaund standes vppon tearmes of simplicitie voyed of treason importinge an vnfained effecte semblable to the dollorous regardes of my complerion and seing withal I come accompanied with sincerity vndowted entēt of honest dealing that I cānot take day with my passion but by the consent of your good will regarde I besech you the merite of my faith and measure the meede according to thequitie of my deserte resolue an equal difference good madam betwene the deserte of hym that vnder the vaile of the power and authoritis of an other dothe seke to conquere your good will with intent to keepe you in continuall captiuitie and the iust merite of me who respectyng only your beautie and vertue hath vowed mine honor and lyf to the continuall contemplacion of the same with this further vowe to lyue dye the seruant and slaue of the least of your commaundements let the vehemency of my affection with the vowe and intent of vnfained loyalty precure you but to a iuste remorse and indiffrent consideracion of me regarde I beseche you thembassadour which is loue hymself who in conuertinge myne auncient libertye into a present captiuitie and awe of your beautie hath forced also suche a vehemencie of zeale in me that yf my cause retorne with an effect contrarye to the hope which hetherto hath only preserued me you will come to too late a repentance of your crueltie by my death shal be witnessed thintegretie and honest hart which I bare to my onely mistrys and most faire ladie Blanche Maria who notyng the roundenes of therle with the dollorus regardes of face accompanieng his complaint gaue iudgemēt of the simplicity of his loue renewing besides in her mind the misery of her laste mariage with the natural Ialousie of al Italians seamed not only to mislike of her rash graunt to the marquesse but also to prefer a special likyng to the present offer of the Scauonian to whom she replied that albeit y e sondrie benefits of the Ladie marquesse had bounde her to a thankefull consideracion to her power that she was almost as loath to offend her as displease her self yet she had not engaged her libertie so far but she reserued one point to stande her self in stead what neede so euer she had for in the choice of our husbands saith she we ought to respect a fre wil cōsent of our selues and not to obserue thappetite of an other or constrained thereunto by straungers seyng that as thinstitucion of god doth gyue theim vnto vs for companions without seperacion so yt is our partes to consider at large afore we resolue of the choice to th ende that in breakyng so holye a ceremonie we seame not vnworthie of so sacred and highe a participacion But for my part sir yf yt were not to auoyde the grudge of suspicion in the wicked sorte with the pertiall and poysoned bable of malicius tounges I assure you I would liue without a seconde assaye of the curtesye of an other husbande protestinge vnto you with vnfained vowe that if I thought that he whom my destenies haue reserued for my nexte consorte wolde represent eyther in qualitie or condicion circunstance or effect the doinges of hym that is dead the bale sholde be broken from thinstant and the bargaine reuoked what earnest or assurance so euer is giuē of it I thanke you for your aduertisement with treble tribute for the honour you do me in desyeringe a composicion of mariage betwene vs promissing you in simple consideracion of the same with the small
mortall so euer they appeare can staye her from performing the end of her dampnable deuise wherof the tragedie of MEDEA follie of the frende of Theseus argueth sufficiently their tickle constaÌ„cie in vertue great zeale and desier to do thinges contrarye to all honestie neither doth the Egle soaring in the ayre conueighe her selfe to so hyghe a gate by the force â—leight of her wings as the vaine conceites ymaginacions of a woman gouernedby her owne opinion filleth her full of deuises of iniquitie with desier and meanes to performe theâ—feâ—t of any euill wherin as I touch only suche as hauing made open sale of their honor are not worthy eftesoones to chalenge their place amongest the societie of chaste verteous dames so I hope the same is sufficient to procure my excuse amongest the crewe of honeste Ladies and gentlewomen the rather for that the publicacioÌ„ and deâ—yphering of the iuste infamye of the corrupted sorte giueth a greater show of your glorie makes your honour and vertue of more reputacion neither woulde I be noted in this place of malice to moue question of theime whose liues and doinges euerie waye are ful of integretie nor vse any pertiall adulacion or flutterie on the behalfe of suche as be notorius of euill in the eye of al the world but in making an indiffrent diuisioÌ„ of the desertes of euery degre to giue to either sorte his peculiar title neither conceiling the corrupcion and villanie of the one nor carping the vertue and iuste renowne of thother whereof I leaue the iudgement and my excuse in ballance amongest you chaste dames who I am sewer do wishe no lesse a discouerie punishement of the faltes of others theÌ„ your selues desier a iuste encrease of glorie and name of reputacion for euer and retornes nowe to the pursute of our countesse of CELAND who dandlinge her husband at CASALIA with a glee of masqued frendship kissinge cherishing him after a Iudas order who embrased her vnâ—ainedlie from the bottome of his hart adding eftesones a freshe remembrance to his late discurtesye with a vehement desyer to satisfye the glotte of her fyltie lust wherein she accompted the presence companie of the countey 〈◊〉 speciall ympediment seing y e so long as she was with him yt was impossible to water her gardeine with other pott then y t which she detested no lesse then thoffer of poisoÌ„ determyned to giue present remedie and putt herself in free libertie by a secret fleighte stealinge awaye from her husbande wherein for a firste begynning or sewer fondation of this deuise she leuied by secret meanes a great soÌ„me of money whiche she put in banke to ronne in interest to her vse and reseruinge a thousande doockattes to supplie her necessarie torne till the daye of receite of the vsurie or hier of her banke wherwith in the only companie of ij or iij. seruantes which wer secretaries of her deuise shee taketh the aduauntage of a faire nighte when the clearenes of the moone and starrs fauored the diligence of the â—â—caboundes and fleethe to PAVYA a towne subiect to the state and dukedome of MYLLAN where shee hyered one of the faireste lodginges in the towne whose windowes opened all vppon the street with certeine backe doares to receiue a secret messenger a shoppe moste necessarie for her trade and whych also she forgat not to decke and trym vpp with faire beddes riche hanginges and other accottrementes of glee more to allure a repaire of gesse then eyther seamelie or necessarie for her estate I leaue you to iudge what Tyntamar entred the head of therle by the soddaine and secret departure of his wyfe and I aske this question how many of you wold haue raised the hewe and crye or dispatched any messengers for the recouerie of so great a losse I aduouche thusmuche on y e behalf of therle that at the first noise brute of thaccident he did not only enter into tearmesof inordinaâ—rage with inteÌ„t to raise the whole contreye but also was readye to pursue the chasse in persoÌ„ albeit after y e furie of his storme was retired giuing place to thinstigacioÌ„ of reasoÌ„ that he had coÌ„ferred y e present effect fact of his wife with the former circuÌ„stance argumeÌ„ts of licencious desier in her he rather gaue thaÌ„kes to his fortune for her freÌ„dship theÌ„ entred into teares or sorowe for thabsence of so lewâ—e a guest and seyng her departure had discharged his head of a greate deale of care he determined not only to vse no impediment to her libertie but also not to offer himself any waye to recouer her whose absence imported an assurance of future quiet and contentemeÌ„t during the remeinder or reste of his age He that is assured saith he of the malice of his enemye hath smal cause to feare his force for that he is warned to stande vpon his guarde againste all doubte or distruste of treason but suche is in treble daunger as embraseth in his armes a mortall enemye in thabite and attire of an assured frende and trustyng to the smilynge regardes of the Cockatrice doth not eschew the peril till she haue won the place to shootefurth her stinge of mischiefe yf my wyf had taken longer dayes in dissimulynge her malice my perill had increased with the ignorance of her wicked intent where nowe I am not only priuye to her whole disposttioÌ„ but happelie rid of so deceiptful a frend secret enemye who no doubte wold not onely haue slauÌ„dered my bed w t vnlawful adulterie but indefiling her handes with my blood woulde one day haue made no coÌ„science to cut my throate or furthered my death otherwayes by some of her ruffyans or coherentes of iniquitie I am content with this indifferent pennance and punishment due to me by ryght for thextreme loue I hare her wythout further desyer that the breath and presence of so pestilent an infection maye eftsones pollute the worste corner in my house let her go and rate her pleasure at what interest she thinkes good for this so late and familiar experience shall suffice not only to instruct but also warne me to be ware of suche deceiptful and counterfeite ymages And procedynge still with tearmes of complaint concluded that the honor of a man did neyther depende nor was any waye defaced by the disorder or dishonestye of his wycked wyfe chieflye where such abuse is deriued rather of a corrupte inclinacion of her selfe then any discurtesie or vnseamelye dealyng on his parte his passion forced hym to exclaime againste all sortes of women sparynge neyther state nor degrée of that sect against whome he séamed to inueygh rather by transport then consent of reason and without all regarde or remembraunce of any one of thinfynite nomber of honeste Ladyes whose simplicitie and vpright order of lyfe do not only defende themselues from the stinge of any reproche but also discouereth the villenie of suche as abandone
expedicion for that wythin some xviii or xx dayes after VALPERGO had taken possession and entred the forte of the countesse there arryued at PAVYA SEIGNEVR SANSEVERINO earle of GAIAZO whose promptenes of wit and perfection of bodie and membres with a valyant corage of the harte as they made his name and renowme excede all other betwene that the mountes so thys desloyal Aleyne cruel Medea had no soner takē a simple view on him w t a flickering glance of her vncertein eye but she felt a mociō of vehemēt zeale sturr and kindle within her whiche within shorte tyme grewe to tearmes of suche certeine affection that she which earste had dalyed with all men becomes now to doate vppon this new earle and that in such sorte that yf fortune wold not award present compassion and loue lende her a spedie meane to recouer thobiect of her desier she seamed not only to enter the tormentes of dispair but also to make smal accompte of the vse of longer lyfe iudging by thexterior and outewarde promises of this younge Lorde that it was only he that seamed sufficient to quenche the thurste of her greedie appetit wherfore she began to dispatche her handes of her first frend Valpergo with whom from that instant she did not onlye refuse to speake but also shonninge all places of his presence and repaire wold not sticke sometime to shott her gates against hym whych he colde not disgest without certeine iniurious wordes and tearmes of reproche whereuppon she grounded a grudge of suche mortall enimitie and spite againste him that her mynd reteined a remembrance of the quarrell till her malice had procured his death wherof the discourse followeth in his place desiering as yt seamed thacquaintāce of therle Gainzo aswel for her assistāce in thexcucion of theffect of her presēt spite against Valpergo as for the respect of true affection wherein as she was whoattlye called vppon by ij earnest solicitours loue and reuenge the one sewinge for a consommacion of her wicked deuise the other prickyng her with desier to procure theffect of her newe affection wyth the seconde earle to whom albeyt she displayed suche manyfeste sygnes of good wyll as eyther the arte of loue coulde imagyne or her wanton and idle brayne deuise yet seynge so slender a replye on his parte withe an encrease of her burning appetite she thought it necessarie to put spurs to his dull disposicion makinge no conscience to become the shameles clyent in a cause wherin the most vile and simple woman that is suffreth her selfe to be sewed vnto with no small adoo wherein beinge voyde of meanes to vse mutuall conference she makes this litle letter the messenger of her vnseamelie request The respect of the place and estimacion whiche I holde syr I am sewer will putt you in some amaze at the firste viewe of theis lynes vndoubted messengers of my harte seing that in preferring the lewde suggestiō of my vnrulie fancie afore the due regarde and consideracion of modestie whiche oughte to accompanie all Ladies of honor I make requeste of that whose simple remembrance makes me blushe at so greate an abuse But yf you consider the commission of loue who sommoneth rather by commandement then requeste with suche a generall awe ouer all estates and peculiar authoritie to punishe vs women with vehemencye of affection in desyeringe the thinges whiche nature hath forbidden vs to attempte you will not onelye dispense with my rashe follye but dispose your selfe to take awaye or at leaste diminish the greatnes of my present passion whiche as it was founded at fyrst vppon the generall fame of your vertues so the often viewe of your rare perfection of person since your repaire to Pauya hath forced suche an increase of zeale with aggrauacion of my desyer that if my destenie denye me a spedye supplye of reléefe or fortune forbide you to come and visitt my longyng estate your crueltye shall mortifye my passion and giue ende to my lyfe together wherein seinge loue hath fauored you wyth the victorie and conqueste of her who earste had power to vanquishe all men showe your selfe no lesse willynge to embrace the benefytt then worthie of the glorye and deferr not syr to expose effectes of pitie on the behalfe of her who lyueth onely vnder the mercie of a simple hope whiche yf the retourne of your resolucion do make frustrate and conuerte my desyer into ayre the same shall also pronounce the fatall ende of the vnhappie and your moste loyall Blanche Maria. This embassage with further commission by the mouth of the bringer sturred vp no smal alteracion in the mynde of the younge earle chieflye for that he sawe hymselfe pursued with a franke offer of that whiche yf the affectioned zeale he bare to his deare frende and companion the Lorde Valpergo had not stayed thattempte he had soughts longe since to obteine And albeit he iudged it neyther tollerable by humanitie nor thoffice of a gentleman to supplant the pleasure of his frende and marche in the steppes of his praye yet being charmed as it were with the vehement wordes of the letter with opinion that the discurtesie were to greate to abuse the liberal offer of so faire a Ladye gaue place to the sommonce and wente immediatlye to her house where fyndynge her voyede of all companie in her bedd chamber sawe small occasion to preferr halfe the circumstance and courtlike wooing wiche Seigneur Valpergo vsed for that both the one and the other after certeine intisinge kisses and other drawyng allurements performed on both partes disposed themselues tomake present sacrifyce to the goddesse of loue in putting an effect to the thyng which they both thirsted to accomplish with equalitye of desyer which amarous practise continued betwen them certeine monethes in such sorte that therle was so assotted became so ydolatrous on her behalfe that he performed no deuocion to other saint sauing the vnseamely shryne of his new mynion who also seing him stāde in water to the chin whollie subiect to the yoke of her awe determined to kepe a harde hande of the bridle with intent to make hym the bloddye executioner of her detestable deuise against her former louer Valpergo whose felicitie defended him eyther frō the peril of that imaginacion or els God wold not yet gyue leaue to her wickednes for that her hope was deceiued touching any help or assistance of her newe frend for Valpergo seing himself not onely dispossessed of the loue of his Ladye but dishonored by her mouthe wyth diuerse wordes of reproche in hys absence iudged it no grudge of conscience to mynister semblable reuenge on her behalfe the rather for that she was bothe the authour of the euyll euill first breaker of her faithe without cause and now the begyner of the quarrell of slaunder wherefore departynge from PAVIA he painted her dishonestie vppon euerie poste he passed by blasynge her armes with suche base and vile coollours and in suche
such indeuor to make declaration of the dutifull zeale he bare her that she shoulde fynde hym nothing inferior to any gentilman that euer made profession of loue or other seruice to his Ladye nor haue cause any way to mislike her choise for y t he wold neuer be so rash in promise as redie to expose an effect nor she so willyng to require as he twyse diligent to parforme thuttermost of her cōmaundements she felyng her selfe clawed in y t place that ytched most replyed with a smyling countenance that ther perience of the often breache of promisse in suche as vse to court vs simple Ladyes wyth the marchandise of loue doth argue so much thincōstancye of men saith she that for my part if I sawe a present effect of true loyaltye before myne eyes yet could I hardlye he brought to repose eyther credit or assurance in any promise seing men them selues nowe a dayes are infected wyth the ayre of such fragility that they neyther respect the honestye of their word nor the vertue in parformyng the least effect of a thousand liberal offers they make at vnwares Albeit as he y t chargeth the guyltles with the offence of the murderer doth wrong to his innocencye so I haue learned that it is a speciall vertue to be persiall in opinion toward straūgers and iudge the best of euery man wherfore for your part syr if you will enlarge the offer of your fyrst faith with this addicion that I may be bold to imploye you in one spectall affaire of mine at suche time as I shall sommon you therunto I am content not onely to put you in possession of your request But also to bynd my selfe to no lesse loyaltye on your behalfe then euer appeared in any Ladye to wards her faythful seruant The captayne that would willyngly haue sacrifised hym selfe for the raunsome of her fauor stoode not to examine what charge she would enioyne him vnto but cōfirmed an assurance with sundry sorts of othes being no lesse rashe in y e promise of euel thē hastie to performe th executiō as herafter you shal heare Here was brewed the broth or preparatyue of the fatall obsequies of her former loue the earnest penny gyuē of the blodie bargayn death of Seigneur Valpergo for she by the too liberall vnhoneste vent of her honor made him the Borreau vnnatural executioner of noble blod defacinge by y e same meanes the gentrie of his house which he ought to haue preserued til the last drop of blood in his body And remaining there al that night she made him so pleasant a bāquet of delicat kysses other exercises of y e bed that the more he tasted of y e pleasure the more he thrusted with desyre to cōtinue y e sport y e subtil Cirses for her part semed so vehemēt in loue with dissimuled arguments of vnfayned affection that in persuading himselfe of the victorye of her good wyl he thought he had made a conquest of the whole easte parte of the worlde seming so drowned in the deuocion of his new Sainte charmed with the enchauntmentes of her art which peraduenture lente her some power or assistance of legierdemain to force his humor of earnest zeale that if she had sayd the worde he had made no conscience to haue committed the whole Citye of Myllan to the mercie of fyre and gunpowder lyke as Blouse de Cume was redye to put fyer into all partes of the cytie of Rome if the Sedicius Tyberyus Gracchus had geuen it hym in charge suche is the rage and frantyke folye of youth when they suffer their amarous transport to excede the caryr of reason or discression and from this fountayn haue distilled heretofore many destructions of Realmes with subuerciōs and alteracions of monarchies wherin also may be noted a maruelous corrupt and vaine disposicion in such as wyl rather affect and haunte the companye of a publike curtysan then honor the vertue of a chast lady although she were his lawful wyfe and companion of bedd and yet those gallandes wyll not sticke to Ieste and point at the maried man gouerned sometime by the sage aduice of his lawful wife wher they seme readye at the commaundemente of a strompet or arrand whoare not only to hazarde the price of their honor but also in fauoring thinstygaciō of her wickednes to make their testament vpon a skafolde layinge their heades vnder the edge of the sworde of Iustice wherin I nede not torne ouer many bokes for copy of exāples seing you may be sufficiently satisfyed wyth y e view of the folye of this bastarde of Cardonne in performinge the suggestion and malice of this mordering corntesse who seinge her captayne sufficientlye framed to the postey of her wyll thoughte it was now time to put him in remembrance of his promise and somon him to the reuenge of them that thought no more of her cōspiracyes nor traynes of treason wherin as the howre approched that her Lasciuious trade of life shoulde be enioyned to open pennance and the wrong violacion of faith to her husbād with her pernicious intentes effectes of murders receyue theire due hyre and punishment and that the rage of destenie woulde not be appeased tyll som man weare committed to execution so for a more expedicion of the fatall ende of her miserable lyfe she entised her bastard louer into a close arbor in the gardin where only y e byrdes weare witnes of their discours and brake with hym in this sorte Yf nature Sir hath gyuen to euery one a speciall care to holde the vse of lyfe moste deare with a peculyar desyer to fauor the cours of our dayes wyth so lōg a tearme as we can how much more are we bounde to embrace and be carefull of that whiche causeth vs to lyue wyth a singuler renome from amongst the rest of the baser sort of people who lyenge alwaye in watch to marke oure order of lyuing are no lesse glad to haue an occasion of slaunder then redye to impart it to all the worlde with such percialitye of vnworthie bruit y t the greater we seame in degrée the more hainous they make our offence and mortal fautes not only scarse noted but also tollerable in meaner personages wherin as we women are most incident to the awe of that malicious clymat of people both for that they Sift vs and our doings more narrolye thē the rest and because we beinge the weaker companye are not armed with sufficient force to resiste their rage so the indifferēt sorte ought not to be rashe in iudgement on their sydes nor gyue sentence of discredit or dishonesty againste vs the rather by a sinister suggestion of suche a vulgar and barbarous crewe neyther ought we to spare or feare anye sort of reuenge whiche maye aduaunce the recouerye of that wherof we are wrongfully deuested Thus much I haue inferred syr as a preamble to the request I meane to make which I take
endowed me with the gyfte of thanckfull contentacion that my estate with contynuall vse of honest trauaile ys no lesse plesannt to me theÌ„ y e dilicate order ful of superfluite of vaine pompe vsed by great Ladyes now a dayes wantonlye norished in pallays and places of princes beynge more redy to roÌ„ne vnder the danger of a thowsand torments yeldyng death hys tribute with the sacrifyce of my bodye then to laye my chastitie in pawne as you perswade me for thinlarging y e hard condicion of my selfe or state of my poore parents neither haue I hetherto felt any mocioÌ„ of that follie which you call loue and muche lessemene I to make anye experience of his flatteryng offers howe great so euer they appere wherfor let yt suffice you to haue broached the vessel of your villanie afore her that in respecte of your yeres is coÌ„tented to comytt your filthye message to scilence wyshyng you hensfurth to broake in matters of more honestie or at y e least to seke to solicit such as are as careles of theyr honour as you redy to seduce it for my part I haue weighed min honour and lyfe in indifferent ballaunce with intent to exchange both the on and the other at equall price and as for the galland y t sent you he makes true declaration of the loue he bears me in semyng more desyerous to enioye the pleasure of my bodye then carefull to preserue myne honour or preueÌ„t the dauÌ„ger of my soule you as y e vnnatural bourreaâ— suborned to subuert the chefest ornameÌ„t of my life are coÌ„tent to become his messenger and minister and vnder the coollor of deuacion to communicate matters of bawdry so for his part let him kepe that he hath won and pay hym selfe with y e tribut of his own folly for I am not only resolued heÌ„sfurth once to speke to hym but also to shonne the place wher he is as a venemous serpent and rauenous wolfe rather desyerous to make marchaÌ„dise of my body then careful any waye of my reputacioÌ„ wishyng you also for end to depart y e place least your long taryeng yelde you the due reward of your trauaile whiche sharpe repuâ—se and last threates so amased the bawde nipped her in y e head y t although she wer more excelleÌ„t in y e gyfts of an oratour then beloÌ„ged to one of her trade yet durste she neyther truste the smoth and sugred stile of her tounge in excusinge the cause of her comming nor seme eftesones to credite the fynes of her wytt in deuisyng newe charmes to enchaunt the pudicitie of the mayde but as one no lesse ashamed of that she had don then fearynge to be discouered and committed to shame retyred with lesse noyse theÌ„ ioye of her message leuynge Iulya reioysyng the goodnes of her Fortune that had delyuered her so saffelye from the perils of so greate a mischiefe persuadynge her selfe hensfurth to vse the pollycye of the serpent in stoppynge her eares leaste with the assistaunce of time and libertie to here her speke she might unhappely fal into the daunger of her charme wherin she semed to obserue y e rule of wisdoÌ„ which bidd all women of honest parte the cacquett or companye of theÌ„ that go about to corrupte their chastetie seinge that she y t willingly admittes listeneth to the infectious that of such deuouring cater pillers semes in y e iudgemeÌ„t of y e world to be of disposition redy to obey their loare and what greate battery nede we to beate that fortresse whose captaine demaunds a parley and seweth for composition but what was the passion all this while of the poore Ferrarois of not such as commonly is incident to them that languishe of the lyke desease for waftinge indifferently betwene hope and dispaier he semed more redye to incurr the daunger of the on then hable to conuert the benefyte of the other into a helpe for himself wherin he was the rather furthered by the reporte of his bawde who denied to perform any ê‘te of her promise and lesse hable to answere his exspectation retorned as it wer w t a flea in her eare being no less ashamed of y t she had don theÌ„ doubtful to procede any further semed w t y e report of her colde successe to pronounce the extreme sentence finall arrest of his life but loue who first stirred vp the humor of his folly vndertaking to be his guide during y e conueigh of this buysines wolde not leue him alone in the middeste of his pagaunte without sufficiente matter to treate vppon neither thought he it time to present the catastrophe or dismiss him froÌ„ the stage till he had plaied the vttermost acte of his folly wherfore fedyng the fondling with vaine suggestioÌ„ dandlynge him stilw t dyuerse arguments and likelyhodes of good successe offred therwith the assistaunce of a new deuise which was that seing praiers could not preuaile nor importunityes take place y e fraÌ„ke offer of his coÌ„tinual seruice not only refused but resolued her so depely in the disdaine hate of his remeÌ„brance that she abhorred his coÌ„pany no lesse then the preseÌ„ce of the Cockatrice or baselyke serpeÌ„t he shold retire to thatteÌ„pte of money as a sure helpe to supplie y t weakenes of his former deuises whose force albeit is so great y t of it selfe it is hable to pearce the strongest tower of a kyngdom being the chefest engin as the poets faine that opened Iupiter the doare of the brasen tower wherin the faier doughter of Achrises was curiously kept yet hath it no power to approche the pallais of vertue and lesse hable to inuade or make any breache into the hart confirmed in pure chastitie wherof our poore Iulya hath left an vndowted example to all degrées of future succession for she resolued wholy in y e true ymitacioÌ„ of vertu reiected al offers of filthy gaine accoÌ„pting the contentment of the mynde to excede al the riches of the world neyther thought shée her worthy of due veneracion nor méete to be admitted in the feloshypp of the tryed sorte that with aconstaÌ„t profe of their faith do not make their chastitie of as greate admiration as the frugilitie of man semes great in doating vpon a beautie that fadeth as a shadow and of lesse continuance then a flower but nowe to your Vallett of chamber who somwhat reuyued with a new hope of goodlucke in the sequele of this second deuise preferred yt ymedyatly to execucion and encoraging the bawde with the offer of his hope instructed her eftesones with new termes more vehement to perswade then likely to spede and so dismissing this seconde embassage commites her to the goodnes of fortune here mother bée loden with money Iewels retires again to her former trade of shame wher marching with no lesse corage then hope of good spede thought her selfe armed w t sufficieÌ„t wepons to enter the fortresse and to put the prisoner into the
so diligentlye thassistance of conuenient tyme and place that one mornyng he dogged the knighte who walkynge in the fatall pathe of hys mysfortune to a warreine of conies a good distance from hys castell was soddeinelye inuaded by the hyered ennemye to hys lyfe with one other of equall intent who had no soner performed their cursed charge on the vnhappie gentleman but they retired in suche secrett manner to the place where the morder was firste conspired that they were vnseene of euerie one and their doynges knowen to no man by which meanes they were neither taken and much lesse douted for any suche offence neyther wolde any haue entred into suspicion either against the Ladie or her proccurer Tolonio considering bothe their former credit with thinnocent nowe dead and also their present sleighte in coollorynge their late detestable traison for the dead knyght was no sooner discouered by certeine passengers that waye by chaunce but the counterfaite ymage his wyfe fayning a necligent care and desperacion of her selfe falleth without respecte vpon the disfigured and bleedinge bodye of her husbande rentynge her haire and garmentes wateringe his dead face with a whole riuer of fained teares and as one thoroulye instructed afore in the office of thypocrite forgat no sorte of feminine cryes sometyme wrynging her handes wyth a dollorous regarde to his dead bodye kissyng euery parte of hys senceles ghoste preferryng sometime a soddaine scilence forced as it were by her passion of secret sorowe retired at last to a broken voice with open exclamacion against the dolefull chaunce in this sorte Ah infortunate gentleman to whose vertuouse lyfe thy destenies haue don manifest wronge in takynge the awaye amyd the solace of thy olde yeares wyth abridgement of the reste and reapose exspected in age and that by a traine of mortall and bloddye treason wherin appeares thiniquitye of the fates yf not that in wreakynge theyr malyce of the innocent they dispence wyth the villenie of thowsandes more worthye of death then he that heare hath payed an vntimelye tribute to the fatall executioner that I woulde to God I mighte participate wyth hys fortune in embracyng in the graue the ghoaste of him whose remembrance and loue wyll neuer loase harbor in thintralls of my harte tyll my bodye lye shryned within the sheete that shroodes his dismembred corps Oh cruell morderer who so euer thow art what desolation am I brought vnto by thy wyckednes howe many flooddes of teares will neuer ceasse hensfurth to gushe and distill vpon the tombe of hym whom thou haste trayterouslye slayne what toarches what incense what sacrifice shall not ceasse to frye and burne vppon the alter that couereth his guiltles boanes yea the blood whiche I meane to spill in reuenge of his wronge shall accuse thy villenie and witnes my loyall harte in honorynge the shadowe of hym that is dead by seuer punishment of suche as committed the morder Ah deare harte saith she kissinge the disfigured carcasse of the knight yf they had béene acquainted with thy bountye thou hadst not tasted of their crueltie or yf they had had but half the experience of thy curteyse inclinacion as thou wast entierlye beloued of all suche as knewe the perfectly they had sewerlye refrained from slaughter and thou enioyed styll the societie of thy carefull Ladye who heare vppon her knees aduoweth a sharpp vengeance for the leaste dropp of blodd drayned out of thy bléedyng woundes vppon as many as were eyther maisters or ministers in the morderyng enterprise crauynge also with the teares of a desolate wydow that he that gaue the mortal blowe haue neuer power to escape the daunger of hym into whose handes God wyll put the sworde of reuenge of thaffliction of suche as I am Oh children why staye you your teares in the miserie of your mother and losse of so good a father who shall from hensfurth fauor your tender yeres with further sustentation or defend the weakenes of my widowhead agaynste the malice of the worlde What support haue wee lefte seyng the chiefe pillor of oure house is perished by the wickednes of others wherewith the doctor hauynge fylled all the contrey wyth hewe and crye to apprehende the traytours whom he lodged wythin his house was at her elbowe or she wiste and ioyeng not a lytle in her Artificiall skill in playinge that part of the tragedye whereof hymselfe performed the firste acte began to persuade her to consolation and not wythout thassistaunce of some suborned teares willed her not to sorowe for that whyche coulde not bee recouered for saith he seinge God hathe touched your husband with the messenger of hys wyll wee oughte not to resiste the iudgement of the highest and muche lesse argue againste the determinacion of the heauens neyther is there vertue in teares or complaintes to raise vpp hym that sléepeth in his fatall mowlde the beste is to expose frutes of patience and bée thankefull to his goodnes who by the example of this affliction warneth you and all the worlde of his royall power ouer all estates wyth a readye indeuor in your selfe to manifest your dutye to hym that is dead in the persecution of suche as shal be founde guiltye in the cause of your present heauines neyther let the viewe of his mangled carkasse restore you to encrease of dollor seing that as the earth chalengeth his boanes as firste framed out of her bellye and intralls so I wishe you to giue order for his buryall in sorte appertayning to his estat whereof the effect and expedicion followed accordynglye not without the greate sorowe of his subiectes who also gréeued in equall sorte on the behalfe of their Ladye who showing thuttermost of her connyng in craftie paintynge in the funerall hower coulde not bee holden from fallynge into the graue whiche she watered on euery syde wyth the teares of her eyes crauynge that she mighte make a sepulchre in her owne brest to shryne the bodye of her husbande or at leaste that it mighte be lawfull to boorne his boanes to th ende she mighte consume by peacemeale in drinkynge the ashes as Ariomesia did the skorched reliques and cendres of her deare Mansoll Oh deceite and deuelish hypocrisye of a woman What enchauntement so strongelye made of whome thy subteltie can not vndo the charme What armour of suche force that is not founde to weake to resiste the strengthe of thy malice What medecine of suche vertue which can preuaile aboue thy infection What traine What traison What mischiefe or morderynge crueltie is hable to compare wyth the villenie of a woman vnhappely deuested of thattire of reason and vertue whiche for the moste part are or ought to bee moste familiar with that secte wherin appeareth an euident prooffe of the venemous pollecie in a woman yf the outward aparance of an extreme sorow the hart reioysinge w c treble cōtentemēt within do not declare her deceitful disposiciō what hipocrisie is greater thē to suborne al sortes of teares
experience of the disposition of loue and suche as he infecteth with hys frantike poyson tryenge in like sorte the difference betwene the vanities of the worlde and the contemplacion of celistiall thinges or other vertues of diuyne operacion vpon earthe openinge as it were to all degrees of mortalytie an entrey or way to come to the glorye and honor of theuerlastinge Paradise aboue to suche I saye maye I boldely appeale for confirmacioÌ„ of thauncient opynion grounded in the stomakes of men from the beginning that the bewtie and flattering behauiour of a woman is the true and natural Adamant seing that that stoane by a certeine vertue attractiue and speciall gifte by nature hath not such power to force and drawe the heauie yron vnto it as the secret misterie hydden in the eyes and face of a woman are of authoritie to sommon and steale thaffections and hartes of men which hath wrought a resolucion or thinge of most certeintie amongest a nomber of men now a dayes that such charmes and serpentine allurementes were sente a mongeste vs frome aboue aswell to tormente our pleasure as also in soÌ„e sort to geue ease to thafflictioÌ„ of such as are vnhappelie contrybutors to that poysoned participacion wherin as we haue long marueiled why Parys forsoke the delites of Troye to become the thrall of Helene in greece what moued one Hercules to abandon his beauye mase and clubb of conquest to depende whollye vppon the commaundement of his women frende or howe Salomon abused the gifte of his wisedome to commit follie with her who only gouerned him y t guided the whole monarkye so behold I haue to encrease your wonder with a true poâ—rtrayte or picture of a more force in a woman and folly in a man who with out any vse of former or hope of future fauor sauinge to fullfill the fonde appetit of his folishe mistrys habandoned the vse and benefytt of his speche for thre yeres putting on by that meanes the shapp of brutalitie betwene whom and the creatures of vnderstandinge the philosophers conclude an only difference of the vse of reason and speache A case sewer no lesse notorious for the raryâ—tie that waye then declaringe a singuler force of nature in the subiect vpon whom shee seames to bestowe suche prehemiuence aboue all other misteries vppon earth whereof maye serue for sufficiente proofe theffeminate alteration in Hercules the decrease of strengthe in Sampson the losse of wisedom and vnderstandynge in Salomon and the simplicitie of this gentleman whose discourse foloweth THE CRVELTIE OF A Wydowe in enioyninge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his speache the foolish loyaltie in hym in performinge her commaundemente and the meane vvherby he was reuenged of her rigour ⧠AMongeste the lymytrophall townes con ynynge the borders of Pyemount no man dowtes I thinke that the Citie of THVRYN beinge thonly lanterne to geue light to al the prouinces there about for eiuill orders and integritie of conuersacion is not also a chief rampier and sewer bulwarke to her owne countrey agaynst thincurcion of enemyes neyther is it of lesse estimacion for the naturall scituacion of the place then bewtified greatly by thin dustrius endeuor of man addinge as it seames a more decoratioÌ„ of late to that towne then eyther nature or the slender deuise of men in tymes passed colde ymagyn Somewhat without the suburbes of this riche and populus Citie is planted in a pleasant valley a little village called Montcall worthie euery way to be ioyned in neighbourhead to so great a Citie being inuironed on th one side w t the fragrant ayre of the fertil feldes al to bedewed with the sondry swete smelles of thincense of Aurora on thother side with y e loftie hilles breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health to refresh in time of nede the drowsie tenants of the valley which amongest other happie influences of the heauens semed also to haue aspecial fauor of the godes to bring furth and norish the most faire verteous curtoyse ladyes y t cold be fouÌ„d in any one corner of Europe amoÌ„gest whoÌ„ not withstaÌ„ding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya who declyning froÌ„ y e dispositioÌ„ of y e clymat and planet of her natiuitie became so hagarde lyke and enclyned to crueltie that she semed rather to take her begining among the desertes and craggie places of Scauoye then too sucke the brestes of the delicat norsses in the pleasante champayn refreshed by the beautifull hande of Erydan sometyme called the father of ryuers and nowe termed by the title of Po whose christall channells and siluer streames deuydynge theym selues into diuers distillinge brokes do not onelye driue men into admiration but also draw theym to become neighbours to alicour of suche delite This disdainefull wydowe and enemye to all curtesie although she hadd asyet skarcely entred into the twentie and fourthe yere of her age yet she perswaded her selfe herafter to abandon vtterly the societie of man whether it were by mariage or otherwaies aduowing to spende the remeynder of her yeres in singlenes of lyfe a resolucion truly bothe godly and commendable yf the tiklishe motions of the fraile fleshe woulde be contente to obey the wholsome exhortacions of the sprite But whereas our declynyng bodyes pampred in all delicacye together with the vnruly appetites ragynge after wilfull desier doo seme to quarrell with our chastetie and vanquishe all resistance the councell of thapostell is to bée followed who willes that we marie in christe to auoyed the daunger of the sowle and common slaunder of the world she also after she had alredie performed the due debte of her dutie to the deade bodye of her husbande whome she accompayned to the graue with abundance of teares and other funerall dule soughte not accordyng to the trade of young wydowes now adayes lefte without controlmente to abuse the benefitte of her libertie or dispose the tyme of her widowehead in other exercise then in augmentacion of the patrimonye lefte to her litle sonne and enryche her selfe by the trauell of her owne handes wherein shée became soo conetouse and gredie of gayne that cuttynge of her ydle traine of loyterers haunting commenly the houses of great men she onely reserued suche for the necessarye members of her houshold as with the sweate of their browes refused not the toile of any honest trauel neither made she conscieÌ„ce to trade vp the delicate trowpe of gentlewomen attendinge vpon her in thaffaires of house keping and other honest exercises of the hande to whom she was alwayes a coÌ„panioÌ„ her selfe thinking nothing so well don as that which passed in the presence of her eye or with thassistance of her owne hande wherin certeynly her vertue was no lesse meritorius then her endeuour commendable For the office of a mother or mystres of families consistes not only in kepyng her seruantes to continuall trauaile or taking accompte of their doings and daies labour
whych beinge drayned from the bottome of hys bellie ascended to the vppermost partes to fynd out their naturall issue to th ende that wyth the retire of these drayninge humors his life might also vanishe as in a slomber or quiet qualme whych moued such a pitie in his neighboure on the behalfe of his dollor that she was forced to kepe him company with semblable kindnes offeringe eftsones her helpe vnder these tearmes Albeit saith she the regarde of myne honestie with thestimacion of the place which I holde without blushinge amoÌ„gest the troupes of honor and dames of great calling in this Citie do forbidd mée the enterprise of any thinge that myne honor can not broâ—â—e yet the sorowefull sommonce of your last complainte tempred wyth so manye tunes of dolefull note hathe filled me so full of compassion on your behalfe that I will not dowt to laie my conscience to gage for the redresse of your present affliction wherein if you will giue me the charge of my commission tellinge mée what it is that I shall do for you you shall sée my endeuor shal be no lesse frankelye emploied for you then I knowe by the viewe of mine owne eyes that your passion is simple and withoute all dissimulation onely there restes that I know what she is to whom you haue auowed so large a deuotion for I promisse you to salute her so amplie with the reaport of your loyaltie and seruice whiche I knowe you owe to her that is the mistres of your harte that oneles her mouth be vtterlye out of taste and thappetit of curtesie cleane taken from her she shal not refuce thoffer of your good will which I thinke is without a seconde in any place of the worlde And trulye albeit diuerse women nowe a dayes haue good cause to inueighe by complaintes against the disloyaltye of men yet this Ladye whome you seme to honour so muche hathe neyther cause to mislike her choice nor reason to refuce the consent and offer of your seruice where of as the earthe semes a verye nigarde to brynge furthe and norishe so fewe of your disposition so it can not be chosen but pure loyaltye for lacke of harbor within the hartes of moste men muste retire and seke her a newe habitacion within the delicate intrailes of vs women who embracynge no lesse that vertue wyth deare affection then desyerous to expose vnfained frutes of the same are accompted to be cladde in the habite of crueltie yf we séeme to stande vppon our garde and expulse thassaulte of that friuolus and fleshelye crewe of vaine louers who profferinge theyr seruice vnder a masque of fayned teares sighes of double deceite with other courtelyke importunytyes do bende the pollecie of all their practises to none other ende then to abuse the fauor whiche they fynde at theyr handes that vnhappelye committe their honor to the kepinge of those Sycophantes and common enemies to the renowme of all Ladies Ah good madam sayth he although my lytle hablenes denies me sufficient meanes to measure the rewarde of your franke offer accordynge to the meritt of your great curtesie yet beholde heare a soldiour and gentleman bounde to be no lesse prodigall of his lyfe and spende the deareste dropp of his blodd in your seruice then you seme liberal of your estimation for the appeasyng of his greff and seyng your promisse is so farr past by wordes of confirmation to do your beste for me as the same ymportes an assured hope of spedie helpe to comme by our meanes the chiefest thyng that I committ to your frendshipp is to deliuer a letter froÌ„ me to Madame ZYLIA whose beautie hath alredye made suche a breache into my harte and brued the broth of the tormente which you sée I suffer that onelesse I be spedie releued I do not se but that y e thre fattals weary with drawing furthe the spindell of my lif will ymediatly cutt a sonder y e twiste whiche hanges onely by the hope of your succours in purchasyng me fauor with her that hath made me captiff in the prison of her commandement wherwith the faithfull burgoise beynge very sorie that so honeste a gentleman had sowen the séedes of his good will in a soile of so bad increase bringing furth but frutes of crueltie assaied to take the worme out of his nose in vsing perswacions to remoue his phaÌ„tasie but he that was alredie resolued in his mishap detested all councell and shoote his eares from the wholesome aduise of the wise matrone who doutyng that he wold conster her wordes contrarye to her meanyng in thinkinge that she inferred exhortacions to purchase a releace of her promisse willed hym to write his letter and she wolde not only deliuer it but also bring hym a reaporte of that which sholde be sente hym for aunswere whereby saieth she you shall see the litle gaine and lesse easse that will followe the meritt of your painefull trauell ymployed in the seruice of so vnthankful a woman with whom seynge I am thorowely acquainted and her disposicion no stranger vnto me I meane not to praâ—ise in any other sorte then to discharge y e part of a messeÌ„ger in deliuering your letter which yf you haue not alredie made I will attende your leasure to thend to performe my promisse wherewith he thanked her as apperteined and beynd alone in hys chamber sommoned all hys wittes together to deuise his letter which semed to be written in thies or like tearme Yf my dysease good madame were deryued eyther of the shaking or burnyng feuer Catterres Apoplexies or any other hurtefull influence incidente commonly to annoye the partes of mannes bodye I woulde reasorte too the councell of Phisicke and vse the discipline of wholsome dyot but wher my presente passion procedes only of the feruente affection I beare you thextremitie of the same denyes also to be cured by anye other remedie then the happye encounter of that which is thoriginall cause of my gréeff wherin albeit I halfe assure my selfe rather to receiue spedie ease and ende of my tormente by the fatall domme of death then abridgment of my dollors or consolacion in my distresse by any indeuour or affection reciprocall of you yet am I so lynked in the laborinth of loue that I am denied euery waye to take truce with my vnrulye desiers and lesse hable of my selfe to reuoke the vowe of my vnfayned deuocion to your rare and heauenle beautie in whome consistes the propper Cataplasma of my disease Alas vnder what crabbed constellacion was I conceiued or what cruell destenye directes the course of my yeres seing that in the glorie of my youthe and pryme time of myne age I am at one instante threatned of the heauens made subiecte to the malice of loue and readye to incurr the perilus daunger of dispaire for wante of hope to drawe furthe the length of my dayes to thuttermost date of my life whiche I thynke was formed first by nature and coÌ„tinued
a wretched and stinkinge dongeon here maye be noted one chiefe frute of couetous desier and an effecte of filthie gaine when the gredie mynde in goinge about to glott thappetit of his coffers leaueth an example of his wretched follie to all ages Oh howe happie be they who contented with the gifte of a meane fortune do not seke to loade shippes and remeine from hower to hower within thrée inches of death either to be buried in the bellies of the monsters in the Sea or beinge caste vppon some deserte shoare to serue as praye to the deuouring Iawes of wilde beastes was it not sufficiente alas to be touched with the experience of a repulse in loue but y t I must fele the heauye hande mobilitie of fortune in an element more incoÌ„stante then the variable course of the moone Ah Carmosyna what wroÌ„g dost thou to my misery if thy teares do not helpe to lament my distress seing y t in seking to haue the to my wyfe I am maryed to a heauie burden of boltes and shackells of yron and in place of my mariage bedde with the my destenies haue appoynted me a pillowe of carthe in a darke and filthie hoale where notwithstanding yf there were any offer of hope eftesones to enioye thy presence I coulde easely disgeste the Symptomes of my martirdome and in attenâ—â—ng the happie consent of such good fortune to make a plaiâ—ante exercyse of my presente and paynefull ymprisonment By this tyme fame had ymparted the desolacion of our venturers to the whole Citie of Naples not withoute the generall sorowe of all men and speciall teares of such as were contributarie to the losse albeit makyng of necessitie a vertue tyme gaue ende to their dollor and dismissed theym all with desier to redeme his captif frend but Carmosyna knowyng her PERILLO to be one of the miserable nomber and waighing the circumstance of his mishapp whiche stode vppon tearmes of more extremitie then all the reste bothe for that by the losse of his porcion she douted to set him on foote againe and muche more dispaired of meanes to paye hys raunson entred into suche presente rage that she was redy to vse force againste herself whereunto she hadd putt an effect if it had not bene for her gouernesse who reprehending sharply her wilfull follie appeased at laste with greate raison her desperatt intente conuertynge the furious humor of the desolate mayde into a riuer of teares distillynge a mayne downe her reasie chekes complayninge notwithstandynge with tearmes of gréef the misfortune of her frende but chiefly for that her selfe was the principall cause of his ruynous estate and that the rude aunswere of her father forced him to abandon his countrey for the gaine of a contynuall captiuitie Ah infortunat girle saieth she and insatiable couetusnes in the old age of my father who in refusing the honest request of Perillo respected more the masse of filthie treasure then the vertues or good disposicion in the younge man Why wolde not he consider that the manners of men do chaunge of a prodigall youthe procedes a sparing olde man neither oughte we to dispaire of his recouerie who fynding y e falte of his owne follie disposeth him selfe to amendment of life what cause of care hathe he either of the pouertie or richâ—â—â— of his children after his death seynge the remembrance of the worlde dekayeth with the loss of lyfe can he carie with hym any care of our aduauncement seynge he is forced to leaue behynde hym the thynge whyche is more deare vnto hym then the prosperetie or healthe of hys children yf he presente me with a husbande and porcion of a kingdom the offer of no millions shall mortefie in me the loue I beare my PERILLO neither is it a vertue to sell affection for the price of monie and muche lesse to seame to loue hym whom my harte can not brooke for there is neyther pleasure nor contententent where the mynde is not in quiett No no lett hym vse the skoape of hys crabbed age and do what he thynkes good for my parte I will not be desloyall on the behalfe of hym who I knowe honoreth me with sincere affection neyther shall he lye longe in prison nor contynue any tyme the sonne of pouertie for I knowe wher be a companie of duckattes whyche sawe no lyghte since I hadde the vse of discrecion whyche I doute not will bothe pawne his deliuerie and furnyshe hym wyth a seconde trade more fortunate I hope then the firste and for my parte the gréenes of my age gyueth me leaue to suspend certeine yeres without any haste to marie wherein she demaunded thassistance of her gouernes who gaue her not onely a firme assurance of her ayde but also promised a supply of monie towardes the furniture of her expedicion desieringe her for the reste to do awaye all argumentes of dollar leaste the same discouered her passion to her father wherein as they consumed certeine monethes in beauise to deliuer PERILLO with secrett practisses in leuienge the price of his raunsom so fortune began to enter into tearmes of pitie towardes hym and preuented the meanyng of his mystris by takyng hym oute of prison in sorte as you shall heare Wherein albeit she exceded the mayde with spede in excucion yet oughte wee to gyue the title of worthie thankes to Carmosyna whose example of vertue in this case I wishe maie soÌ„mon a remorce to our lighte and inconstante dames nowe a dayes who are so incerteine in true affection that the respecte of presente pleasure takes awaye the remembrance of their absente frende and maketh theim vnmyndfull of the faith of their former promisse wherin I am not prouided to enter into argument at this presente bothe for that I doâ—t to gaine displeasure in discoueryng a truth and also suche discourse is without the compasse of my comissioÌ„ whiche is nowe to recompte vnto you the deliuerie of pore Antonio Olde Minyo the father of Carmosyna had ioyned with hys richesse and desyer of worldly gaine certeine vertues and commendable giftes as veraye deuote in visiting the churches and places of prayer of a charitable disposicion in releuing the distresse of thafflicted and so full of compassion on the behalf of the nedie that seldome any pore man departed from hym emptie handed besides he extended amerueilus charitie and acte of pitie to the desolate captiues amongeste the Moares in suche sorte as making euery yere a voyage into Barbaria he made an ordinarie to redeme and bring awaie with hym ten or twelue christian prisoners of whome such as were hable restored the price of their raunson whithout any interest thinkinge the gaine sufficient in that he was the cause of their deliuerie but the reste he sente frelie into their countrey exspectynge the méede of that vertue at the handes of god with this onely charge that in remeÌ„brance of the benefit they wold not forget him in their priuat praiers The gifte of
was conuenient in a maide carefull of the garde of her honor wherein albeit her mother reaposyng indifferent credit in the vertue of theym both gaue leaue to her doughter to kepe hym companie yet as Aristotle affirmeth honesty doth not broke longe dalliance or wanton chatt in chast maydes w t the first that accoasteth theim w t conferēce in corners with any but suche as by consente of the church haue gott the power and possession of their bodie and is or oughte to be the one halfe or moytie of their mynde whiche albeit was thintente and desier of theis two louers yet y e simplicitie of their frendes deferring theffect wrought not only a breach of y e bargain but also sturred vp in her an humor of mortal spite against the sinceritie of her loyal seruāt who endewred y e reuēge of her vniust anger vnder a punishmēt of a most sharp long penance in deserts inhabitable vnknowē for in y e heate of this reciprocal loue betwene thies younglings it chaūced y t a meruellous faire and goodly gentle woman doughter of a greate lorde of the countrey called Forrando de la Sara vsyng familiarly the companie of Geniuera becam by that meanes extremely in loue with Dom Diego assayinge by publike and priuate meanes to imparte vnto hym what power and authoritye she woulde willingly giue hym ouer her harte yf for his part he would requite the sinceritie of her loue with semblable honor and affection wherein experiencynge the benefytt of all honest meanes seamyng any waye to fauour the effecte of her desyer considered at last that aboue all other exercises the knight tooke greatest pleasure in hawkes wherfore vnder coulor to make a breache into his fauour with assistyng the disposition of his delite she sente him one daye a tassell gentle as the chiefeste Iewell she had to presente hym withall excepte the offer of her owne good wyl wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an other and with the losse of his libertie hadd also so departed wit his iudgement that he could not discerne thintente and honest zeale of the gentlewoman yet he accepted her presente and retorned the messenger with suche thankes as appertayned In the receiuing of this hawke appeared absolute showes of the euill fortune of the pore Diego which immediatly fayled not to thunder vppon hym without cōpassion for as he went often to visitt his mystres so he forgott not continually to cary this hawke vppon his fiste boastinge so farr vppon the goodnes of the birde that he chaunced in her presence to saye that it was one of the thinges in the worlde he helde moste deare Sewerly this wordes were sifted more nerely then there was cause and construed to other end then he mente them seinge that certeine dayes after in his absence deuising vppon his sondry vertues some commended his honeste and curteus behauior some gaue praise to his valyauntnes and dexteritie in armes some exalted in him the sondrye giftes of nature and passing further he was generallye preferred of all the companie for his sinceritie and constant dealynge in matters of loue sauing of one Graciano who rather enuyinge the vertue of the knight by malice then hable to deface y e leaste of his gyftes by reason ioyned with the reste in commendacion of his personage actiuitie and other dowries of nature but for his faith or care of promiss where loyaltye shoulde moste appere I accompte hym sayeth he so apte to dissemble and inconstante by nature that he vseth no difference of personnes in grounding his affections makynge no conscience to seame to languishe mortallye where he meaneth nothing lesse then firme constancie which touched Geniuera so neare that she coulde not giue place any longer to the sinister bable of Graciano desieringe hym to vse other tearmes touchinge the honestie of Dom Diego for saith she I am of opinion that he will rather passe vnder the sentence of any death then forfeyt the leaste pointe of his promise passed alreadie vnder the seale of his faith to a gentlewoman of this contrey besides his loue I knowe is so sincere and vpright that I dare pawne my lif on y e behalf of th assurāce There is the miste that dimmeth your eyes sayeth this cankarde ennemye of Diego for vnder the vaile of a periured loyaltie he abuseth the simplicitie of honeste Ladyes whereof I nede not go farr for a prooff nor you doubt much of the misterye if you conferr the circumstāce of his former profession towardes you with the presente ▪ league of frende shipp betwene him and the doughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara cōfirmed alredye by the gyfte of a tassell gentle which for her sake he estemeth aboue all the thinges in the world which last allegatiō restoring a remembrance of the words pronounced not longe ago by the knight touching the deare accompte he made of his hawke began to brede a suspicion of his constancie and an assured creditt in the information of thunhappie Graciano wherein swelling immediatly with her vniust collor incensed by a simple cold Ielowsie was forced to abandon the place retire into her chamber wher she gaue suche skoape to her synister conceite that she was vpon tearmes manye times to vse force againste her selfe whereunto she had added present dispatche if a hope to procure in time the reuenge of the wronge whiche she perswaded to haue receiued of her Diego had not staide th execution albeit she coulde not so gouerne her malicious disposition but the deadly hate conceiued in this moment against thinnocente gentleman did not onely supplante both stocke and roote of aunciente zeale on her parte but also grewe to suche mortalitie in her venemous stomake that she seamed not to delite so muche in the vse of her owne life as in desyer to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of hym who no lesse innocent in the cause then ignorante of the grudge came the nexte mornynge as he was wonte to sée her hauing vppon his fiste by euill fortune the birde which bredd firste this mortall Ielowzye And as he satt deuisyng with her mother fyndinge a wante of thaccustomed companie of his mistres he asked where she was whereunto he was aunswered by one of her women that assone as she sawe hym enter the house she tooke her chamber all whiche he dissimuled by his wisdom imagininge the same to procede of some wanton fancie or coye conceite whereunto the most part of women are cōmonly incident so that when he sawe his time he tooke leaue of her mother departed meting by chaunce as he wente downe the steares of the hall one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Geniuera whō he requested to kisse the hande of his mistres on his behalfe whiche she promised to performe hopinge to do a thinge no lesse acceptable to her mistres then to gaine thankes of him on whose behalfe she presented the curtesie Albeit as it is to
meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
more of this gentleman theÌ„ in forgiuing the falte of thy false coÌ„tracte with thy last minion not only to forbeare to enter into suspicioÌ„ touching thy vnsemely ronnyng awaye with an vnknowen villeine but also crauing the guerdoÌ„ of his constancie is at point to sacrafice his life to appaise thy anger and yeld the contentment for end I aduise you to chaunge opinioÌ„ least I coÌ„mitt to as many morsels thy desloial body as this wofull knight not long since made bloddie deuision of his vnhappie hawke the only cause of his preseÌ„t distresse and by your owne folly ready to giue you a title of the most tyrannouse arrogant gentlewoman that is neither haue I begon this enterprise to leaue it vnperfecte or giue it ouer with this successe wherfore seynge you take pleasure in extremities I will fede your delite with the offer of loue or death wherof as I giue you the benefitt of the choice so I sweare vnto you by hym that is not ignorante of my intente that if you refuce the first you shall not faile in thys place to passe vnder the sentence of the last wherin my selfe will not feare to discharge thoffice of the fatall minister in embruyng my handes in the blood of her whose follie only causeth the death of one of my dearest frendes Thies threates dismayed nothing the malicious Geniuera nor abated any parte of her presumptuouse arrogancie for who had sene the fyerie regardes of her eyes the knittynge of her browes whettyng of her teethe closinge her delicate fingars withe other braueries excedynge farre the simplicitie of suche tender yeres vnexperienced asyett in thassaltes and malice of an aduerse fortune wolde haue sayed shée hadd rather procured terrour to Roderico then giuen place to his fearefull offer or somounce of loue or death defyenge also the rigour of his authoritie with thies tearmes Lyke as thowe kaitife knighte sayeth she he that is once thorough bathed in the suddes of ynnocente blodde is so fleshed and hardened in villenie that no acte of detestation seames any synne to hym So it is no merueile if thowe whyche haste committed vnnaturall slaughter of one whose true vertue exceded the flatterynge fame of thy renowne and gaue no place to the integretie of life arte not without feare to committ me to the same guide leaste in sufferynge me to liue thou couldest not auoyce the iustice whyche I am to procure vpon the iniury I haue receiued besides I am here readie to laye my heade vppon the blocke of execution rather then to giue the honour of my virginitie to any seinge the cursed handes haue depriued me of hym to whome bothe the trée and frute dyd only apperteine neyther do I tremble in the remembrance of the stroke of deathe howe cruell so euer it appere for that I shall the rather stande affore the troane from whence is graunted all vengaunce to suche wretches as thou arte ha God seing thou arte righteouse why doste thou not thonder iustice vpon the wronge which thies outlawes haue don thy ynnocente hande mayde Ah traitor Roderico perswade thy selfe that thou canste not offer me so cruell a deathe as I am moste readye to endure the tormente hopynge the same shall serue hereafter as the only cause and meane of thindifferent destructiou of thy selfe and hym for whom thou trauellest thus in vaine here her woman and page began to perswade her to pitie on the behalfe of the knighte that suffred such passion for her sake with consente to the honeste requestes of Roderico solicitynge her so frankelye towchynge thextremities of theym both that she entred into tearmes of reprehencion againste their honeste meanynge will you saieth she be eyther enchaunted with the fayned teares of this deloyall who passioneth hym selfe vppon creditt or stande in awe of the tyrannouse threates of thys morder or whose villanie wyth couered face hathe taken awaye the lyfe of youre mayster Ah vnhappye girle that I am it is nowe alas that I feele the heauie handes of fortune whose malyce hathe not onelye putte me béetwene the handes of hym whome I hate no lesse then I haue already experienced his dyssembled loue but also in doublynge my mishap assaileth me with the sinister perswacions of my seruants coÌ„panioÌ„s of care who ought rather to allowe my resolucion in death then prefer motion in any sort touchinge my consente to requests of no less corruption then theim selues be infected who solicite in so bad a caâ—e Ah loue I proue to late alas thinfydelytie of thy promise fyndinge so bad a recompense for so dutifull obedience to yelde at thy sommonce and so slender defence for suche as commit theim selues faythfullye to the gouernmente of thy lore why sholde nature be more curius to frame vs of a more delicate molde tempered with a mettel of fragilitie then careful to leaue vs armour of resistance agaynste thassaltes of fortune for if I had not had a perle of flattering affection painted in my face I had not tasted y e beginning of a pleasure whose dollorous farewell for euer brings more cause of gréeff then thapprehencion at the first engendred parfecte contentment for beinge alas vppon the point to Sipp of the sugred cup wyth exspectacion to féede of the frute of my pleasant attainte Lo how traiterus loue serueth me with dishes of mortal annoye and in place of the deynties which others finde in the ende of their longe hope it is I that am presented with the banquet of al bitter confections which makes me heare resigne and declare my fatal testament vpon thinconstancye of that pleasante follye whom as I leaue at libertie to make hys gaine of others aswell as he hath dallied with me so I reioyce in thexchaunge of so great an euil for so present a consolacion as deathe in whom I hope to fynd no lesse contentment and quiet then the other hath assailed me with diuersatie of passion Retire oh cursed mishap to th ende that dyenge by thy meanes I may liue without the in thother worlde wherein place of a thousand annoyes which yf I shold consente to longer life thou hast yet to thonder vpon me I shal be sewer of eternall reapose norished with thinuisible foode whych god ympartes to hys Angels and soules assistinge his heaueÌ„ly paradise Come deathe and do thyne office vpon thys wretched girle who attendes the sharpnes of thy darte to preuente the â—earcinge arrowes of myne aduersarye Ah poore harte deuoyde of hope am desperate touching the consommacion of thy desyers ceasse hensfurth to wishe the fruytion of longer tearme seinge destenie loue and lyf are determined to dysmisse me here hence to sewe for peace elswhere and embrase the ghost of hym whose lif was sacrafized to the deloyaltie of thys wretche who also for his parte not satisfyed with the blod of ynnocencye takes no compassion vpon my teares which I wishe to distyll by suche abundance that in ouerflowing the vital paxtes in me he might sée me perishe in his
truellie cōsistes not in passion or pyning cares much lesse cometh he to the ful of his desier by sighes dollorus regardes or lamentable exclamaciōs accordīge to the Spanyard nor so lemne vowes to visitt far places for her sake or childishe feares as the amarus Italyan to whom also we may ad this barceloniā Diego who thought thorow his desperat penānce in the desertes of Pireneus to reclayme the goodwill of his mystres seing that as in al our affayres we ought not excede the institucion of vertue so she chiefly is to beare a swaighe in y e knot of this indissoluble amytie besids we se heare that the diligence of a perfect frende is of more force in those cases then all the passions panges letters of pithie perswacion orother ymportunyties whatsoeuer tollerated in matters of loue neither can a man iudge what a treasor it is to haue an assured frende tyll eyther the want of suche a Iewell or experience of his frendshipp make hym tast the benefit of so great and rare a gift seyng that a true frende beinge the second part or one moyetie of our selues is alwayes so guided by a natural Sympathya of affection towardes hym whō he loueth that he reioyseth in the pleasure and commodytie of hys frende and is readye to participat with hys aduersaty when fortune is disposed to plaie any part of her accustomed mobilitie whereof albeit we fynde not at thys daye so many thorowly perfect in that vertue as the whole worlde on all partes swarmes withe infynitye of the contrarye faction whych the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos That is a demye or halfe frende accordynge to thinglishe phrase Yet am I moued by diuerse occasions to passe ouer suche discourse contentinge my selfe that the diuersatye of my histories gyue recreaciō to the reader wythout stayinge to infer authorities whych may touche or sift the conscience of any And obseruing chiefly as nere as I colde an order of truth my seconde respecte was to prefer suche examples as myghte best serue to instruct our youthe who as they maye sée heare the faltes of fragilitie punished with shame losse of honor cruell deathe and perpetual infamie to their posteritie So haue they also of the contrarye speciall patternes of vertue alluringe theym to ymytacion of semblable honestye wyth diuersitie of authorities prouinge the reward of vertue and vertuouse lyuinge whereof lett all degrées make their proffit as they thinke good accordinge to the flée in the milke fedinge of the good and vertuous frute and leaue the reste as poison and bitter dregges to such as are wholly drowned in the desiers of the fleshe and buryed in a pitt of worldly filthe and as I haue seamed in some places to enterlarde this profane traslation with certeyne testimonies oute of sacred recordes So I hope the same will the rather defende th'integritie of myne intente againste all obiections consideringe that the most parte of the simple and ignoraunte sorte are rather moued with suche examples then reduced with the seuere sentences of somme great philosopher or reformed theologyan Besydes in theis discourses of loue th' adulteror is putt in remembrance of his faulte the morderer séeth the rewarde of his iniquitie he that yeldes to the sommonce of fowle cōcupiscence is sewer to be touched with the marke of infamie and suche as passioneth him selfe vpon creadit maye beholde heare the méede of his follye wherein for my parte as I greue that the worlde at this presente swarmeth with so greate a nomber of insensed men readye to dye for a pleasure of so small momente as the contentemente of the bodie So I wishe that as in writynge thies tragicall affaires I haue founde the falte of mine owne life that also the reste of the younglinges of our countrey in reding my indeuor maye breake the slepe of their longe follye and retire at laste to amendement of lyfe leaste in remeyninge still in the laborinth of sensuallitie they serue not hereafter as a fable and stage playe to the posteritye of a multitude for ende I exspecte no other hier of my traueile then that my diligence maye seame thankefull to her to whose honor and goodnesse I owe no lesse then all that I haue FINIS The Table A Wounderful vertue in a Gentleman of SIENNA on the behalfe of his enemie whome he deliuered from death and the other to retorne his courtesye with equall frendshipp presented hym wyth his syster whome he knewe he loued entierelie Histo 1. Fol. 4. The longe and loyal loue betwene LYVIO and Camylla together wyth theyr lamentable death the one dyenge of a passion of ioye the firste nighte he embraced his mistrys in bedd the other passed also the same waye as ouercome with present sorowe for the death of him whome she loued no lesse then her selfe Histo 2. fol. 39. A younge Ladye in Myllan after she had longe abused the vertue of her youth and honor of mariage with an vnlawfull haunte of diuerse yonge Gentlemen becomes an vnnaturall morderor of the frute of her wombe for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with childe Histo 3. Fol. 62. An Albanoise Captayne beynge at the point to dye killed his wyf because no man sholde enioye her beautie after his death Histo 4. Fol. 80. Sondrye perills happenyng to a younge Gentleman of Myllan in the pursute of his Ladie Histo 5. Fol. 95. The villanie of an Abbot in séeking to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defending her honor against him and his companions of trayson Histo 6. fol. 124. The disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant who lyuynge long in adulterie and after she had procured diuerse morders receyued the hyer of her wickednes by shamefull death Histo 7. Fol. 136. IVLYA drowneth her selfe for that her bodye was abused by force Histo 8. Fol. 170. The impudent loue of the Ladye of Chabrie with her procurer Tolonyo together with the detestable morders committed betwene theim Histo 9. Fol. 188. LVCHIN is longe in loue wyth a simple maide whom he woeth and can not wyn by anye passion he endureth at laste necessitie yeldeth her into his handes when he dothe not onelye refuce to abuse her bodie but also takes order to susteine her and supplie her wantes no lesse amplie then yf she had bene his syster Histo 10. Fol. 208. The crueltye of a wydowe in enioynynge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his spéeche the folishe loyaltye in hym in performynge her commaundement and the meane whereby he was reuenged of her rigour Histo 11. Fol. 226. PERYLLO suffreth muche for the loue of Carmosyna marying her in the ende were both two stricken to death with a thonderbolte the first nighte of theyr infortunat mariage Histo 12. Fol. 252. A wonderful constancie in Dom Diego who for the respect of Geniuera la Blunde vndertooke a harde pennaunce vpon the mountes Pyreney where he led the lyfe of an Hermitt til he was founde out by chaunce by
baude Narcissus doateth vpon his ovvne shadovve Constancie VVomen deriued of the imperfections of men Faith to be obseruedvvhere the desyer is performed Cornelio giueth his laâ—â— aunsvvere to the baude Plaudyna Plaudyna aduertiseth her louer of the departure of her husband Delyo persuadeth Cornelyo not to go to Millan perills be greater in reaport then daungerous in thaduenture Cornelio astonied in the presence of his Ladye Cornelio speketh to his Ladye Lyfe Plaudina replieth to her seruant Her husband Loue makes a man valiant or rather folishe hardie An order not necessarie for a commâ—â— vvealth A woman more readye of vvitt then a man in exeremeties Necessetie geueth corage to the fainte harte The doubtefull mynd is rather apt to beleue the vvorste then credyt thinges that bâ—◠〈◊〉 A discrip cioÌ„ of Naples accordig to the cronicles of tuskan Diuerse englishe gentlemen enterteined there at this daye Loue a common enemy to the ease of man The Abbot vvriteth to his mistres Loue. Thexclamacion of the Abbot His letter BlaÌ„che maria maried to the Viscount hermes The order of a wise husbaÌ„d in repre hendinge the follies of his gyife The vvise aunsvvere of the Viscount thouchynge the gouernement of hys vvife The visecount dieth VVomenne muste avoide asvvel the suspicion as thact of euyll A pollecye of the serpent Alteracyons in a louer in the presence of his ladye The carle vvoethe the vvidovve The Ytalian Ielousie by nature The vvidovves replye A contracte forced is a vyolacion of mariage A litle falte in a great lady is made a mortal offeÌ„ce in the iudgement of the vvorlde A vvoman reformed rather by faire intreatie the force of constraint Phedra She letteth her banke of money â—oÌ„ne in interest at Myllan She rouneth from her husbande The honor of a maÌ„ ought not to be defaced by the deshonestie of his vvife Shame ought to direct the doinges of vvomen Demosthenes refused the companie of Lays for that she held a nightes lodging at to high a price The first vnlavvfull louer of the countesse The order of a curtisan to allure men to affection Th erle valpergo proffereth his seruice to the countesse She graunteth fauor to therle Acteon transformed into a hart by Dyana Fortune dravven in shape and attire of a vvoman The couÌ„tesse vvoeth therle Gaiazo by letter Morder most haâ—nous in the sighte of god She entreateth her second frend to kyll her firste louer She discontinueth her freÌ„dship vvith the Lord Gaiazo Some faultes may be excused that can not be pardoned The barbarians more curious theÌ„ vve in obseruinge their lavves Shame as necessarie for age as avve for yong meÌ„ Death the due revvâ—â—de of morder The sin of the father punished vpon the children The couÌ„tesse to her last louer No morder escapeth vnpunished Ydlenes the mother of mischiefe In doing nothinge men learne to do euill Loue. The geÌ„tlemaÌ„ maketh loue to Iulya Iulya ansvvereth God The dovvtefull mynde is neuer in quiett The bavvde to Iulya VvomeÌ„ ought to be curteus by nature Iulya reprehendeth the baude Money the mynisters of corrupcion The beginning of euery thing seames harde Iulya rauished by force Money the ministers oâ— infection Beautie Iuly a drovvneth her selfe The bible thinfallible booke Dyuine and humaine lavves The Ladye wâ—â—the her procurer vnder a complaint against the vveakne in her husbande The knights slaine by the â—â—â—â—soÌ„ of hys 〈◊〉 The Ladye â—ayneth a sorovv for the death of her husband Death the messenger of the vvill of God The eldeste sonne chargeth his mother vvith incestuose life vvith tolonyo Honor. She replyeth to her sonne Vertue is coÌ„tinualie assailed vvith enuye spite Her eldest sonne slaine by treason Yt is easye to corrupt him vvhich is euil of himselfe Her seconde sonne slaine by her vvickednes The deuill Tolonyo kil leth his vvife Her father in lavve coÌ„plaineth to the iudge criminall The Ladye fleethe to po getto Tolonyo repenteth and praieth to God for forgyuenes of his sinnes Iere .xxxi. Luke .xxii. Tolonyo exe cuted A vvonderful vertue in a romaine Capteine A merueilus contynencie in the great Alexander The order of the hungrye Spanyarde Yt is necessary to feele sometime a chaunge of fortune Beautye VvomeÌ„ seame masquers in painting their faces beautie Mearemaides Ianiquetta aunsvvereth her compaignion The norsse Luchyne vvoeth Ianiquaette Ianiquetta aunsvvereth Luchyn God Loue. Golde and syluer The bavvde vvoeth Ianiquette Riches Ianiquette reprehendethâ— the bavvde Money A maide ought to defend her honestie euen to the laste dropp of her blodde The Shebaud in LondoÌ„ car yeth a basket in her hande the he bavvde a ring in his mouth Vvomen deriued of thim perfection of men Love The frendes of Luchyn persvvade hym to mary age and amendment of life Honor and liuynge Nothing 〈◊〉 sausfye the couetusâ—â—s of man The husbaÌ„d The bable of of the people is rather of custome then of creditt Necessetie forceth Ianiquette to offer her selfe in praie to Luchyn Luchyn abstained from vyolacion of Ianiquetta Luchyn coÌ„pforteth Ianiquetta Luchyn presenteth Ianiquetta to his vvyfe Xenocrates refused a yoÌ„g maid layed in bedd vvith hym GentlevvomeÌ„ oughte to be skilful in houskeping The charge of a mistris or gouernor of housholde Parentes Phillyberto falleth in loue vvith the vvydovve He vvas made â—understande of thinciuili tye of the vvydovve Loue. Seigneur phil liberto vvoeth his neighbor to solicite his loue to zylia The aunsvver of his neyghbour His neighbour makes a second offer of her helpe Philliberto vvriteth to his Ladye The messenger to the vvy dovve Zilia ansvvereth the messenger The coÌ„plaint of Seigneur Philiberto Loue not seuiahle to any order VVomen are borne to bee obedient to men Fleshelie louers coÌ„pared to the Scorpion Zilya repre hendeth her vvoer 1451. 143â— Written in their boke of 〈◊〉 called caâ—alogue des martuis The desier of vnhoâ—eâ—te gaine the fountaine of all euills Crassus fell into the handes of 〈…〉 Zylpa sorovveth her for mer crueltie Honestie the chiefest support of lyfe Vertues in loue Dicesing house Perillo repreheÌ„ded of cer teine his fren des The house of play a store house of all vices Tenaunte by the high vvay side called theaues in plaine englyshe Loue. Riches most respected in mariages novv a dayes Perillo vvriteth to Carmosy na Carmosyna aunsvve rethe the letter of Perillo Mynio denie the to mary his doughter to Perillo The coÌ„plaiÌ„t of perillo Perillo taken prisonner and his goods spoiled The complaint of Peaitllo in prison The Sea Carmosina complayneth the misery of perillo Richeâ— A speciall chalenge The poore man demaunding his almes is the deputie of Christ vvho saithe vvhat vve geue to the nedy vve bestovve vppon hym Perillo redemed from pryson Carmosyna comfortethe Perillo Perillo and Carmosyna maried Perillo his vviffe slaine vvith Athonder oolte Loue. Dom Diego made knyght The first meting vvords betvven Diego and Geniuera A discriptioÌ„ thattiâ—e and beautye of Geniuera Geniuera fal leth in loue vvith Diego Loue procedes of a fond opynion Dom diego passioned vvith loue Slepe the ceremonies of the night Geniuera and her mother at the house of Diego Diego vvoeth Geniuera in a daunse Geniuera auÌ„ svvereth vvith half consent to his request Yt is hard to conceile the passion of loue Mariage Geniuera falleth iÌ„ disdain vvith Diego Geniuera exclaimeth against Diego Geniuera reprocheth Diego by a letter The coÌ„plaint of Diego Death the last and best repose of mise rye His man dissuadeth hym from the pilgrims voiage The most perfect victorie is to make a conquest of our selues Diego begin neth his pilgrymage Diego complaineth his chaunge of estate vpon the vvaye The contentes of Diegos letter to geniuera Deathe the dreadefull messenger The havvke Venice taken and putt to sacke by Pirro Fregos Theues Roderico dis couereth embraseth his frende Dom Diego Diego acknovvledgeth himselfe to Roderico Thoffice of a noble man or one in authoritie Diego excuseth hys departure from his contrey The vvise man vvil neuer comytt councelle to children VVomen coÌ„pared to infates Roderico killeth the biskaine Cupido Roderico to geniuera Geniuera exclameth against Roderico Diego vpon his knees 〈◊〉 ueth pytye Dom Diego being stil prostrate crieth for coÌ„passion to his mistrys Roderico threatneth Geniuera Geniuera be ginneth to shovve arguments of compassion diego sevveth for the lyf of Geniuera Her hart Ge niueâ—a eâ—â—useth her former faiâ—e and folâ—â—e vvich promise of vnfayned fayth to Diego The conclucion of the traÌ„slator vpoÌ„ his volume of tragicall discourses