wéeke for his merrit was holden very small that coulde bee intertained of none and her conditions very crooked that was beloued of none Item euery Gentleman was bound to geue his owne Mistresse the honour of his seruise and the chiefe place in his commendations vppon paine to lose her seruice and to bée entertained of no other For he that was dissoyall to one coulde not be holden faithfull vnto an other Item euery Gentlewoman was bounde to imploye her owne Seruaunt vppon paine to be reputed symple For she that affyed not in her owne Seruant had no reason to trust an others Item euery Gentleman was bound to defende the honor of his Misterisse both with worde and sworde vppon paine to be reputed a Coward and not to were her gloue For he was holden very vnsufficient that prysed not his Misterisse honor aboue his owne lyfe Item eurey Gentlewoman was bound to incouradge her Seruant with Good countenances and vppon the execution of any worthy seruice to rewarde him with the kissing of her hand vpon paine to be déemèd vnworthy to be serued For she of all the world is acounted to rigorous a Dame that with scorne receyueth dutifull seruice Item euery Gentleman was bounde to Court his misterisse with Ciuill speaches vpon paine to be forbiddeÌ„ to talke of loue for thrée daies For he was accompted bace mannered or verie grose witted that coulde not pleasantlye intertaine time with a ciuill discourse Item euery Gentleman was bound either by some exercise of value or by some shew of excellency of wit to approue him selfe worthy of his Mistrisse vpon paine to be spoyled of his Armes and the whole Christmas to attende with the Pages for he was holden vnworthy the societie of men or the affection of women that was neither valiant nor wise These Lawes proclaimed Quéene Aurelia appoynted an elderly Courtier named Fabritio and a well spoken Gentlewoman called Donna Isabella to be Iudges of the controuersyes in disputation and to attend her in her affaires of pleasure she chused Segnior Soranso a Gentleman Italion of Wit quick and sharp and for his deuices swéete and pleasant Don Dondolo a Napolitan haughtie and proude in his conceits Monsier Bargetto a Frenchman amourous and light headed Doctor Mossenigo a Germaine so called for the plaine discouerie of his mind Segnior Faliero a Scot subtill and cunnyng in his deuyces and my selfe Caualiero Ismarito an English man in whiche name heereafter I will present those actions that touch my selfe This wise choice she made to priueldge the Strangers with the hyest fauour Of Gentlewomen she chused Maria Belochy a Damsell whose eye was able to fire a mountaine of Ice Lucia Bella for fairenesse swéete behauiour an Angel Hellena Dulce a louing and affable Gentlewoman Franceschina sancta so called for hir modest and lowlye countenance Katherina Trista a â—…owre and testy Dame Aluisa Vechio who although shee were in the wayne of her yéeres yet was she in the pride of yong desires This done Quéene Aurelia by consent deuided the exercises of euery day into these times the forenoone to bée bestowed in the seruice of God after dinner two houres to be intertained in ciuell discourse and disputation the rest till Supper at pleasure and after supper to spende a time in daunsing maskinge or in other like pastimes as occasion presented The greater part of Christmas day was spent in esta blishing these orders the rest was ouercome in solâ—…pne Musick for among the better forte that day is honoured with no light mirth THe next daye by nine a Clocke according to one of the charges in the Proclamation you might sée the yong Gentlemen Gentlewomen coupled together lyke fowles on Saint Valentines day morninge But Cauiliero Ismarito hauing the eyes of his hart setteled vpon his Mistresse beautie with carelesse regarde behelde the rest of the company and leanyng by a dore thorow which she should passe he awayghted Quéene Aurelias comming Who at her accustomed howre presented her self with an aduauntage of brauerie whom the whole trowpe reuerently saluted and honorably accompanyed vnto the Chappell After Seruice Dinner and all were solempnlye ended Queene Aurelia with a chosen company retyred her selfe into a pleasant drawing Chamber to execute the reported ordenaunce But to quicken the Spirites of the company before they entred into discourse she commaunded a faire Eunucke Boy to singe some one songe as hée thought good who obaying her commaundement with a heauenly note vnto the Lute sunge this louyng Laye NO ioy comes neare the heauenly ioy of loue When we imbrace the wish of our desyre All pleasures els that kinde or Arte may moue To loue are lyke the heate of paynted fyre Loue is the roote whereon swete thoughts do grow Loue is the sowrce from whence content doth flow ¶ When I behould my Mistresse in the face Loue from her eyes a thousand Graces throwes But when in armes Idoe her selfe imbrace One smyling looke exileth all my woes Then straight our lippes prepare them selues to fight And on eche kys Loue seales a new delight ¶ What would you more I wish me in my graue Were but my soule with halfe these pleasures crownde And heare on earth to be my Misterisse slaue I hold me free and others to be bounde Wherfore I sing which I in sollace proue There is no heauen to lyfe bestowed in loue The swéet deliuerie of this sonet so inchanted y e harts of y e hearers as for a space their sences gaue place to the contemplatioÌ„ of their soules In the end Madona Isabella by this motioÌ„ made y e whole coÌ„pany a passadge for spéech If Loue be so swéete a passion quoth she I muse from what cause procéedeth the complaintes of Louers who w t showering teares bedeweth the earth with misty fights dimmeth the aire w t shril outcries pearceth the heauens The cause quoth Soranso procéeds of our fleshly imperfections which corruptes y e nature of good things not of any defect in loue for loue is a simple deuine vertue and hath his being in y e soule whose motions are heauenly I haue read ê™ Isabella that there be sundry kindes of loue The vse of loue are diuers ê™ Soranso as in zeale towardes God in duty towardes our Countrie in obedience towards our pareÌ„ts in affectioÌ„ towards our frends All which motions procéedeth forth of one loue although som are more vehement then y e other euen as many Rivers doo run out of one Spring whereof som haue a more swift course then the other But of that passion which we ordinarily call loue the wish either tends to Marriage or wantoÌ„nesse There is matter of disputation in Marriage ê™ Franceschina because y t estate is honorable yet subiect to crosse fortunes But touching your conclusioÌ„ of waÌ„toÌ„nes it deserueth to die in silence for known euils are to bée chastened without allowing their defences Madame ê™ Faliero vnlesse you reuoke
Marino ouercame him with suche a sodayne passion of Ioye who read and a hundred times ouer read this Life letter and for that it came from Felices swéete hand he a thousand times kissed the Paper Which done by the direction of Macrello this Conquerour Gowlde made suche a passage into a reputed honest Cytizens House as without suspition Marino Georgio and fayre Felice theare many tymes mette but to what purpose I leaue to your constructions and yet thus much I say this Fortune followed Marino in shorte space recouered his former Complection and it was not long before Felice was richer then either Father or Husband But O that Furie Ielousie enuying this Accord sent slie Suspition to infect Malipieroes heart who pryinge with Lynx his eyes presented him a thousande causes of mistrust which loue straite supprest with as manie contrarie imaginations of his Wiues good behauiour inso much that with the sharp incounter of Loue and mystrust poore man he was continually afflicted In conclusion seeing his Wife to excéede in brauerie and knowing himselfe to declyne with pouertie he resolued vppon this certentie this cost coulde not come from the emptie Coffers of her vndone Parentes and then procéedinge from others it was impossible to bee the fauours of honest curtesie so that armed with furie he deferred reuenge but to intrap the friende of his wiues follyes and the enymie both of her honour and his delyght In fine as héedefull as these Louers were in their dealinges Ielosye directed suspecte to Marino Georgio and moreouer made him an eye witnesse of the iniuries done vnto Malipiero which when he assuredly knew hée studied a while of a torture equall to this treacherie for who hath not hard the Neapolitan to bée the seuerest revenger of dishonor in the world To be bréese his bait was this he fayned a iournay far from home and furnished him selfe with such an apparance of trueth as tooke a way all colour of suspition whiche done with a dissembling kysse hée committed his wife to God and the charge of his house to her good gouernment and so set forwarde towards Rome Malipiero was no sooner a mile on his way then Macrello certified Marino of this wished oportunitie and Loue made both him and Felice so boulde as in his owne house they determyned the followinge night to exercise vppon Malipiero their wonted iniurie but about mydnyght when mistrust was at repose Malipiero entred the house with such a sodaine violence as these two vnfortunate fréendes were surprysed amids their imbracemeÌ„ts before they had warnyng to shift I sowrrow to tel the rest but trueth will haue passage Malipiero in his reuenge like a Lyon hungring after his pray with his Rapier and these bitter wordes nayled Marino vnto the Bed Thou Couche ê™ he soyled with dishonour washe out thy staynes with the Adulterers blood But holding death too easy a scurge for his wiues trespas hée condeÌ„ned her to this torture more extreme then death Hee made an Anotomy of her welbeloued Marino set him in a fayre Chamber within whiche hee inclosed his wyfe w tout dooing her any bodely iniurie saue the cutting of her haire and to say trueth this beautifull ornament of haire beséemeth not an Adultresse head And to punish her the more Malipiero caused her euerie dinner supper to take her accustomed place y t at meales shee might be tormented with the sighte of her lyuinge enemie and all the daye with the bones of her martired friende neither could she quenche her thirst but out of a Mazar made of Marrinoes skull But to tell her vertue with her vice hir patience was suche as shee was neuer harde to complaine of this crueltie and yet her penitent sorrowe so great as y e plentie of her teares somtimes moued her iniured Husbande to pittie But least he should be ouercome with compassion manie times from dinner hee commaunded her to her pryson who after an humble reuerence went behind the Tapestrie Hanginges and so vnto her solitarie Chamber barred from other companye then the gastly bones of vnfortunate Marino whiche pennaunce shée patientlye indured vntyll GOD who saw y t her repentaunce was vnfayned sent Segnior Cornaro to bée a peace maker betwéene her Husbandes iniurie and her offence who when Supper was sette vppon the Boorde séeing from behinde the Tapistrie Hanginges a fayre Gentlewoman to appéere somewhat pale with sorrowe her head bare both of attyre and Hayre apparrelled all in black and in her hand her drynking Bowle of Marinoes scul saying neuer a word w t a sober reuereÌ„ce sitting down in y e chéefest place was stroken with such a maze as on the suddayne he wist not what to say Dinner being ended which was longer then pleasant either to husbande wife or friende Felice as she entered so departed Wâ—… notwithstanding leaft part of her sorowe behinde in Cornaros heart whose cheareles countenance when Malipiero perceyued quoth he let not the martyrdome of this Woman afflicte you for her fault deserueth this vengeaunce and so recounted the reported aduenture And in aduantage shewed him her prison and the Annotomie of her dishonour and withall licensed him to talke with Felice to heare what plée shée had for her discharge Uppon which warrant quoth Cornaro Madame if your patience be equall with your torment I holde you the most happie Woman of the worlde Felice with a countenance abased and Cheakes dewed with teares tolde him in humble wordes that her trespasse was tenne times greater then the torment which the Lorde of the House whome shée was not â—…worthie to call husbande had appoynted her And therewithall the sorow of her hart tooke away the vse of her tongue Wherevppon Malipiero ledde the Gentleman awaye who rendred him affected thankes in that besides his good intertaynment he witsafed him the honour to knowe so great a secreasie withall moued with compassion hee effectually intreated Malipiero to accept Felices sorrow the true witnes of grace amendement as satisfaction of her offence which procéeded of frayltie and withall importuned him with such earnest reasons as Malipiero was content to sende both for her and his owne friendes To bee partly ruled and partly aduised by them in her behalfe The parentes and friendes of euerie side séeing the humilitie sorowe and patience of poore Felice were all earnest sutors for her remission The roote of auncient loue not altogether dead in Malipiero was comforted with their intercessions quickened with the hope of amendement in so much as vppon sollemne promise to be hencefoorth of good behauiour he receyued her to grace and to repayre her crased honour with the fauour of both their parentes hee newe married fayre Felice in which holy estate they liued loued and agréed manie happie yeares afterwarde together And with the Bones of Marino Georgio buried the remem brance of former iniuries Maister Doctor quoth
from that she loueth And in verie trueth so egall are their euilles as it were a harde matter to iudge who deserueth leaste blame or most excuse She reproacheth him of Beggerie Hooredome Unthriftinesse yll vsage and of the ruine both of her selfe and her Children He blameth her of Olde Age Ielousie curstnesse scowldyng for hidyng of her goods which he hath bought with doyng Iniurie vnto his person If she be determined to be merie he scornfully telleth her that it is as sightly for a toothelesse Mare to eate Marchpane as for suche a wrinckled Mumpes to fawle a bylling If he come in wel disposed affably intreateth her she calleth him dissembling Hipocrite saith he saluteth her w t his tong but his hart imagineth of his minions abroade she runneth to y e neighbors to coÌ„plaine In the meane while he sendeth her corne to the Market and her cattel to the Faire If the frends of good wil or neighbours of charytie labour to accord their coÌ„tention as she imagineth to shame him she thundreth out a thousaÌ„d Iniuries that he doth her for her owne praise she saith that of pure loue she maried him with nothing and to reproch him she sweares he hath spent her substance hateth her person To show her owne good Huswiferie she tels that she worketh al day at her Distaffe to blase his vnthriftinesse she showeth how heâ—… plaieth away her gaines at Dice She crieth out that perfore he taketh what he openly findeth priuylie stealeth what she secretly hideth These many moe complaints she preferreth against her Husband w t the vehemencie of a womans passion Her Husband y t knoweth how to be reueÌ„ged in déedes for his own credit is more milde in words he layeth al these blames vpoÌ„ her own crooked dispositioÌ„ who though she be so olde as a man can hardly loue her yet w t a cankred ielous froward nature she wold force a man to hate her But what remedie since his fortune was so hard he wold starue her w t patience and only adde this Suffrage to his Letanie A praua muliere good Lord deliuer mée These drie scoffes sets her hart in a light fire and saue that she hath not so many colours like vnto Iris thuÌ„dreth out the venome of her cankred Spirit in reuylings and raylyngs against her Husbande And to say trueth her case is to be pittied as much as her tong is to be blamed for Iniurie is not so greuous vnto a man as to sée his Aduersarie soothe his trespasse with an honest shoe But to my purpose her Husband crosseth her with a quiet Aunswere yon may sée friendes sayth he wyld fire wyl burne in water Drinke wil make the Dropsie dry and mildnesin mée mooueth madnesse in my wife by her example here you sée my lyfe at home as tedious as Hel then perhaps som flowting MarchaÌ„t sayth lyke ynuffe and the shée Deuill weareth the hornes Thus with their own michéefes they greue their friends delight their foes and wearie their Neighbors in according their debates and if they be in the morning quieted and go home in peace at Noone like enemies they ar redy to throwe the house out at the window a slut like the furie of lothsomenes shall bring in dinner because the Ielious wife dare not trust her husbande with any maide that is hansome the husbande offended throweth the Platters at her head and axeth if she meane to poyson him the Wife taketh pepper in the nose and sayth if hee had not married her he woulde haue beene glade of the worst morsell there The Husband replieth that if he had not béene so mad the diuell would not haue married her Then beginneth the old Musik tuned perchance with a rap or two of the lippes and when they haue brawled their fill shee runneth and bemoneth her selfe at her neighbors and he goeth and maketh himselfe merie with his Mistrisses In sooth maister Doctor it séemeth to mée quoth Sir Soranso that you haue verie substancially proued my opinion for Marriage equallye deuideth her blessings and mischaunces betwéene the married and as farre as I can sée neither of these knoweth who hath the better or worser bargen there is raylinges and vnquietnesse of both sides but what of that pleasure is best seasoned with paine and though they sometimes iarre at home they agrée wel wheÌ„ they are seperated among their neighbours And although you haue streatched their debates vpon the rack of vengeaunce yet at aduenture I wish my selfe no worse bestowed then marrie an to old welthy Widdow I doo not thinke but by good vsage to continue her first affection géeuen euen vnto hir verie Graue You will kill her with kindnesse quoth Maria Belochye Yea Madam ê™ Soranso if her nature be so froward as to die with good vsage In déede Ladyes quoth the Doctor there are some men that entertaine their olde wiues with such a fayre showe of flattering looue as they bewitche them euen to theyr latter gaspe But at what rate dooth she purchase this kindenesse O euen with the vndooing of her selfe and Children yea and which is worse it is the pollicie of Father in lawes to dandle the infancie of theyr wiues Children in the lap of Ignorance to this ende that béeing of lawfull age they may with lesse fetches beguyle them of theyr liuing so that the vnfortunate childe knowes not whether he may more bemone his losse of liuing or lacke of good bringing vp and in my iudgement of bothe the euils want of education is the greatest for learning and vertue purchaseth liuing and lyuing corrupteth but coyneth not good conditions and as Seneca sayeth libertie without learning is a bondage to the minde and further the Childe were better to be dead borne then barren of good Letters for that Ignoraunce is a graue which buryeth life Maister Doctor quoth Quéene Aurelia me thinketh your wordes doo too much wrong to the wife though they cannot sufficiently blame the husband I graunt that father in lawes estéeme their owne profiets before theyr wiues Chyldrens preferments but yet I suppose Nature dooth direct the naturall Mother to eye theyr good bringing vp who with muche sorrowe brought them foorthe For as the Prouerbe goeth things that are dearely bought are of vs intirely belooued and nothing is more dearely purchased then what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hazarde of life which venter the Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she is assured of her Childe then this cruâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her Children to satisfye the wyll of her seâ—… 〈◊〉 wyll make indifferent men holde her an vnâ—…â—…ther whether her husband estéeme her a dueâ—…â—…e or no. Oh good Madame quoth the Doctor how 〈◊〉 the Hen succour her Chickens when she her selfe is at the merey of the â—…ite how can the Conny preserue her Rabets when the Ferret is in possession of her Burrowe and how may the vnfortunate Mother Foster her shiftlesse Children either as she should or would when her
denie but that there is a difference of conditions in creatures of euerie kynde some horst an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder some in disspite of his rider will haue a radish tricke Some Hauke though shée bée euill serued will not stragle foorth and some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at 〈◊〉 same hound by no meanes wil be rated from riote and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his handes be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a â—…ootie will rather stearue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offende and tenne yeares louing sute can not ouercome some other But the vice vertue in euery creature by the opinions of manie sage Phylosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be founde but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man Now if by ouersight in choice the maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie soweth contention betwéene the unfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of bryth yeares and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour Reason that delighteth in â—…itie maketh the Ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore thinke I the opinion of Plato maye bee imbraced as a sounde iudgemente The whole assemblye allowed Falierees reason And Dondolo hymselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth w t her vnspeakable Ioy or vncurable sorrow How may a man assure himselfe of the one or avoide the 〈◊〉 when a womans vnsearcheable hart is the only harbour both of her good and euil coÌ„ditions and once in appearance the honourable and the dishonest the vertuous and the vicious and in briefe euery sorte of Women are naturally beautifyed with modestie If the good repulse dishonest request with chaste disdaine the badde with counterfet sobryâ—…e will blush at incontinent sutes If the good vseth â—…ence as a vertue the bad with well ordered speach will be as highly estéemed If the good with the beautie and benefites of Nature delighte the bad with the floriâ—…h of Arte will no lesse be fantasied So that at the first face the cunningest Clarke niâ—…y bee deceiued in iudgiâ—…ge who best desorueth The greatest Clarke ê™ Faliero proues not alwaies the wisest man and none more apt to be beguiled then he He valueth all that glistereth Golde he estéemeth fayre wordes as friendly deeds and thinketh that louely countenaunces dâ—… spring from a louyng â—…ndition When experience knowing the contrarie will trie them all by the test The corruptest Canker bloometh lyke the swéetest Eglantine the bitter Bullice resembleth the pleasaunt Damson and the sowre Crab the sauorie Pippin Euen so good and bad faire and fowle chaste and vnconstaunt Women are made of one moulde framde of one forme and naturaly graced with a shamfast blufhing but as in smell the Cankar in tast the Bullice and the Crab in relysh bewray their imperfections euen so with cunning vsage the subtillest woman will shew her vnnaturall conditions counterfeits will to linde Copper holds print but not touch with Gold Fire hid in Ashes will breake fooâ—…th in heat water courses stopt find out new passages euen so the impatient woman throwly moued discloseth her passions the prowde with sufferaunce exceedeth in pampe and the wanton sore charged will fall to folly Well ê™ Dondolo notwithstanding your directions be good yet the pathe to heauen is so difficult to fynde as the ignoraunt passenger without direction is like to follow the beaten waye to Hell and the surest guide is Experience So that the direction of the Parents is to be imbraced of the Chyldren in this behalfe Parents with regarde foresée the euils that negligent Children féele ere they withstand Parents prouide liuing to mainetaine their Childrens looue Children often times by matching with beggers diminish theyr parents inheritaunce Parents labour for necessaries to support an househoulde Children onely séeke for silken ragges to vpholde their pride Parents haue care to matche their Children with those of vertuous condition and Children lightly regarde no more then their loouers amiable countenaunce I confesse with you ê™ Faliero the ouersights of yonge men in their choyce but I crye out vppon forcement in Marriage as the extreamest bondage that is for that the raunsome of libertie is y e death of the one or y e other of the married The father thinkes he hath a happy purchase if he get a riche young Warde to match with his daughter But God he knowes and the vnfortunate couple often féele that he byeth sorrow to his Childe slaunder to himselfe and perchaunce the ruine of an auncient Gentlemans house by the riot of the sonne in Lawe not loouing his wife But admit there be no disagréement betwéene the parties which is rather fortune then foresight in parentes who regarde that the landes and goods be great but smally waye whether the beauty and behauiours please or no yet looue enforste taketh knowledge neither of fréendes fauour forme goods nor good bringing vp Delicate meate hardely forceth an appetite vnto the sycke Pleasure yieldes no sollace to the sorrowfull no more can forcement enforce the frée to fancie The Lyon with gentlenes may be tamed but with curstnes neuer conquered much more lordly is Loue for as Petrarke deuyneth The Prince the Peere the Subiect and the slaue Loue giues with care to him they make their mone And if by chaunce he graunt the grace they craue It comes of ruthe by force he yeeldes to none I could report many examples of large authoritie to prooue this inconuenience but to a néedelesse ende for tediousnes duls the remembraunce of the hearer and tyres the tongue of the Reporter In dayly action you may vew the libertie of Loue his contempt to be constrained and the great compassion he vseth when he is with curtesie acquired which account inforced Mariage is sildome considered There is procurement of fréendes before plightmeÌ„t of faith safety for liuinges before assuraunce of loue and clapping of handes before knitting of hartes an occasion that the sorrowfull partyes morne when they are Married and reioyse when by death they are seuered Dondolo replyed that when there is no remedy Reason will driue them to Loue. But Faliero maintayned that Reason and Loue are at deadely foode Reason byds thée looue but where thou art lyked and Loue byds thée fancie where thou art hated Reason directes for thy benefit and Loue allures to thy detryment and to conclude the office of Reason is to appease olde gréefes and the nature of Loue is to raise new debates Tush tush ê™ Bargetto among the married quarrels in the day are qualified with kisses in the night wherevpon groweth this Adage The iangling wordes that Louers vse in rage Giues Loue a grace when anger dooth
Well quoth Soranso though your Metamorphos bee vnlykly yet is it not vnnecessarilye applyed For for the most part those which are forced to Mariage agrée little better then Uipers But it séemeth to mée Segnior Faliero you haue too fauourably reported this Historie in Elysaes behalfe considering the mortal venyme she tempered in her harte O quoth Faliero longe fowle wayes both tyreth the Horse and wearieth his Ryder where both the one and the other ouercommeth the length of fayre passages with pleasure Euen so in a ruthfull Historie ouer plentie of wordes both gréeueth the reporter and giueth means for a thousande sighes to breake from the hearer where affected circumstances giue a grace to a pleasant tale Sorow to heare their kinde thus stayned with crueltye locked vp the tonges of the poore GentlewomeÌ„ a pretie while In the end ê™ Aluisa Vechio a dame more olde bold then the rest meséemeth that Faliero hath but little fauored Elysa for he hath showen her euill and the scourge of her euill and in charitie he was bounde to shewe the cause of her euill I would quoth Doctour Mossenigo that Frier Bugiardo had hearde this disputation it might haue ben the breaking downe of the Altar wherevpon he but lately committed blasphemie woulde haue more reformed him then his pleasing Sermon could haue confirmed vs. These aduantages the Doctor tooke to crosse the Gentlewomen his late open enemies and but nowe his fained friendes not vnlike a sneaking dog that neuer barkes but bites withall And to spite them the more quoth hee Monsier Bergetto since your are bound from speaking of loue you haue both cause and oportunitie to talke of womens hate Pardon me quoth Bergetto for this penance was but a due payne for my presumption which I hope to ouercome with patient suffering and sure in this milde aunswere Bergetto shewed a moral vertue and Doctor Mossenigo by his malicious question a canckred nature for simplie to offend procéedeth of frailtie but to perceauer in euill is a noate of wilfull frowardnesse Well notwithstanding Bergettos temperaunce a Caueler caught hold vppon this question as a Mastiue vppon an old drye Mariebone to proue a womans hatred more greater then her loue hée auouched manye cruell authorities But Faliero who had donne them some iniurie in reporting the late history made them part of amends put their aduersarie to silence in prouing the contrary his reason was that their hate in the extremest degrée stretched but to the death of another and their loue many times hath done wilful murder vpon them selues Then it followeth by how much we pryse our selues aboue an other by so muche theyr loue is greater then theyr hatred Yea quoth the Doctor but their loue and hatred are both violents and euery violent is an euill Yea Master Doctor quoth Maria Belochy their euills are the greater for men for by their flattering enchauntments wemen loue immoderately and stung with mens vnsusserable iniuries they hate mortally The Doctor replied there was more power in her lookes then authoritie in her wordes but least he should be subdued by the one he would not contend with the other Why quoth Quéene Aurelia beauty workes no more impression in a Doctors eye then doth poyson in Mineruas shéelde for he by Philosophy can subdue affection Madame quoth he you may well compare beauty and poyson together for their operations are a lyke saue that beauty is the more extreame in that she infertes with her lookes and poyson not vnlesse wée taste it or when it is most strong not vnlesse we touch it yea Euripides compareth her inchauntement with the inticementes of a kingdome whereas he saith IN these two thinges a Kingdome to obtaine Or else to worke the fayre to their will So sweetely tastes the grace of either gayne As men ne dread their friendes with foes to kyll The reason is controulment shrinkes the place Whereas a Kyng as soueraigne Iudge doth sit In loue because that reason lackes his grace For to restrayne the selfe conceyghtes of wit So that God knowes in daunger standes his lyfe That is a King or hath a fayre wife To deale in Princes affayres the companye was too gréene but in Beauties behalfe there was neither Gentleman nor Gentlewoman that was not desirous to boe reuenged of the Doctours detractyon for hée that hath a slaunderous tonge iniurieth manie and is himselfe hated of all men but for that it was nowe to late too decide any other great question Quéene Aurelia adiorned the ending of anie centrouersie vntill the next day The Deuice of the second Nights Mask BY a secreate foreknowledge of a Maske with which Soranso Bargetto Ismarito and others purposed to honour Segnior Phyloxenus and his company Supper was hastned soone ended and after the one had saluted the other with an accustomed reuerence while the rest of the Gentlemen interteined Time with dauncing or deuising with their Mistresses the Maskers withdrew themselues and about nine of the clocke in this disguise presented themselues agayne A Consort of swéete Musycke sounded the knowledge of their comming y t Musitians in Gyppons and Venetians of Russet and Blacke Taffata bended with Murrey and thereon imbroadered this Posie Spero Timeo Taceo expressing thereby the sundrye passions of Loue and before them two Torchbearers apparelled in Yallowe Taffata Sarcenet the Generall apparell of the Maskers was short Millaine Cloaks Dublet and hose of Grene Satten bordered with Siluer Greene Silcke stockes White Scarpines Rapiers and Daggers syluered Blacke Veluet Cappes and white Feathers They agréed to be thus attyred to showe themselues frée in the eye of the world and couertly bound vnto their Mistresses Ismarito for courtisy sake because he was a stranger and withal in that his Mistres was the most honourable had the leading of this Maske who lighted with a torch by his Page apparelled in Blue Carnation and whyte Taffata the colours of his Mistres entred with a Ventoy in his hand made like an Ashe-tree wrethed about with Iuye expressing this posye Testantevirebo with which vpon fit oportunitie he presented Quéene Aurelia his Mistresse within which weare couertly hid these verses in English Italion TWo Soueraigne Dames Beautie and Honestie Long mortal foes accorded are of late And now the one dwels in my Mistresse eye And in her hart the other keepes her state Where both to show the vertue of this peace To garnysh her make riot of their Grace In her fayre eye Dame Beautie doth increace A thousande Gleames that doo become her face And with her harte thus doth the other deale She lowly seemes and mountes throw chast disdaine So that her thrales doo serue with honest zeale Or fearing blame doe yeelde vnto their paine The heauenly soules enuies the earthes renowne Such gyftes deuine in humayne shape to see And Ioue still moues a Goddesse her to crowne Which is decred when Nature shall
by pacifieth contentions Vertue and vice bothe Feminine and Masculine Note Modesty an naturall vertue in a Woman The Fable of Ixion To be proude in vertues is commendable The scorge of vaine glory The soule traueleth to bring forth Diuine monuments in the heathen A discreete exordium for yong men that argue The excellencie of maÌ„ through the vertue of the soule Three dignities of the soule Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and coÌ„template one great matters Three euils or defects of the body Three remedies against the three euils of the body The originall of all Artes and Sciences Theorique Practise Mecanicall craftes Curtesie is commendable but super fluous sauours of flatterrie The euyll of Ielousie Harde is the difference be tweene a care lesse and a ielous Husbande Ouid. Meta. lib. 10. Eurydice Preuent a Scoffer and he becoÌ„meth a Sotte A CommendatioÌ„ of lofty Loue. The euyll of a thyng com mendeth the goodnesse Loue spareth no degre Hope to com passe great matters com forteth more then the possession of tryfles Reproofe of loftie Loue One kinsman hath an Interest in an others honor An inhumain parte Defence c. Reproofe c. A womaÌ„ that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in Law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie The naturall desires of a woman Iudgement in repoofof lofty loue Men must haue regarde how they blame least they byte themselues Defence of bace loue A riche Dowrie with a woman Reproofe c Kytte wyll to kynde The fall of Maria Bianca is written by the Aucthor in his Booke intituld The Rocke of Râ—… garde Aucthoryties for amorous Histories Defence Reproofe c A confession is a prety Iudgement 1. Inconstancie 2. Dissimulation 3. Ignorance 4. Chastytie 5. A Dicer 6. Enuie 7. Will. 8. Hope 9. Beautie 10. Ingratitude 11. Ielosie 12. Couotousnesse 13. Pride Vertue is coÌ„mended by vice Tamberlaine the Great in the beginniÌ„g a Pesaunt He is not alone that hath good Bookes A Gentleman tooke aduantage of a worde to praise the good as to check the euyll A most famous librarie in the Dukes Pallace at Florence lest by Cosmos de Medicis It belongeth to a Gentleman to be sene in many things Diuinitie Phisyck Lawe Art Militarie Moralitie Cosmographie Hystoriografie Armorie Segnior Philoxenus a perfect Cour 〈◊〉 Weâ—…en are to pitifull to be Iudges A scoffer is many times smiten with his owne 〈◊〉 pon Italions are wise but euiâ—… condicioned Enuy euermore quarre leth with those that are fauoured Quarrelers seeke their owne mischiefe A wise foresight in a Gentleman Palmestrie a pretye idle quallitie for a Gentleman A necessarie note for a Gentleman Defences where an old man marrieth a yonge woman Reproofe c Defence c. Reproofe c The mischaunces of an oulde man yongly maryed A yong wyfe is death to an old 〈◊〉 An honest woman is lightly slauudered by the imperfections of her Husband Repentanâ—… to late The wife are warned by the mischaun ces of other A Rhinocerot The Metamorphose of Rinautus a Gentleman of Naples Euyll men care not for the conscience so they haue a colour for their offences The force of Beautie No Affliction but hath his remedie Examples to be regarded Idlenes â—…oorisheth and exercise remedieth loue Flatterie the enemies of prueth Mariage com mended betwene an olde woman and a yong man Reproofe c Defence c. A good exchanâ—… of Marchandice The euylles in an olde wydowe PLATOES Hell in Mariage A great cause of ImpatieÌ„ce Defence c. A most wicked pollysie Senecas opinion that Children were better to be dead borne then ignoraunt of good letters Thinges that are beast esteemed Reproofe c. A hard extremitie An honorable custome of Spaine Meete husbandes for aged widdowes Experience is a iudge ment it selfe A worthie lawe made by Laertius It is no stâ—…iung against the streame The thriuing vnthrift proues the the best husband The yeare endeth and beginneth in it selfe Ancient customs are to be kepte The vertues of the minde are more glorious then any outward garment Custome in Italye in giuing of new yeares giftes contrarie to the custome of England The originall of nevv yeares giftes Segnior Philoxenus ban queting hous Among the iust promise is kept To praise or blame is qua litie of wit but to direct is a worke of iudgement We haue interest in an other mans vertues Princes commandements must be obay ed. Of the exelencie of mariage Mariage instituted before the fall of Adam by God in the earthly Paradice A confirmation of the fyrst institution by God Man and wife are two bodies and but one flesh The ioye of of marriage shineth aboue al other delightes Children are the most rich Iuelles in the worlde This Iuell was her sonne Alexander The blessing of Children is a duble life Offices of Ius tice apartaine to the maried The sweete Sympathie be tweene the married Loue to our Parents â—…ue rent Loue to our Bretheren naturall Loue to our Friendes affectionated Loue betwen the married irreuocable A good mean to trye the loue of the married The rynge a triall of the loue betwene the married An other sygure of the rynge Christ was borne of a married woman Licurgus law for the vnmaried The Lawe of the Romains for the vnmar ried Platos lawes for the vnma ried Alexander Seuerus loue to Memmia his wife Paulinas rare loue to her Husbande Seneca The precious loue of king Darius to his wife The deuine loue of king Admetus Wife The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife The wonder full loue of Queene Arti mesia towards her husbande Mausolus One of the seuen wonders of the worlde Aâ—…l Gel. in lib de nocti atti The Lawe is a scourge to the euill and comforte to the good Marriage con sistes as well in foresight as free choyce Equallity in yeares Equallity in manners Consent in religion Free choise in satisfaction of Fancie A mans house is a pettie common weale The office of the Wife The husbandes care apperraineth to thinges abroade The wiues chatge is huswiuery within doore Morall Philosophit to be learned by women Laciuious talke to be shunned of the husband The wife ought to be nice in cause of suspition Comelye apparell the husband should giue his wife Cleane lynnen commendable in a vvife The husbaÌ„d must bevvare of sollomnes The vvife must be amyable tovvardes her husband A lavve for a younge vvomans olde husband A regarde for an olde mans young vvyfe A regarde for an olde vvomans younge husband A regard for a young mans olde vvife Modest familiaritie not to be forbidden the Wife Light company to be shunned of the Wife The vengeaunce of Warre The blessings of peace The vertue of Peace The power of vertuous Loue. Enuy is murdered with his owne wepon
loue feare and obay her Highnesse from whome next vnder God thou receiuest such swéete blessinges as through the whole world her excellencie is renowned and thy prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill intertainment of strangers thou mayste perceyue with what Garland Courtisie is principally crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bergetto and other Gentlemen herein named thou haste a President of gouernment which will commend thée and by well regarding their spéeches thou shalt finde a discréete methode of talke méete for a Gentleman The lyke benefit shall Gentlewomen receiue in Imitating of Madona Aurelia Quéene of y t Christmas pleasures Maria Belochi Lucia Bella Franceschina Santa and the rest of the wel qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Morall documentes néedefull reprehensions and witty sayinges to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewomā Courteous Reader thou haste heare the honorable institution of Marriage so perfectly Anatomed as a verye weake Iudgement may sée the causes which make Houshould quarrelles to resemble Hell Againe the mā which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will chaunge his priuate house into a Paradice on earth If ciuill and Morall pleasures withall these benefites may make thée intertaine thys booke and report well of the Aucthor I assure thée thou shalt be pleased and I satisfied But if thou makest thy tongue enemie to thy owne reputation thou mayest detract but not reproche the worke Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Callumniators to scorne when either are readie to doe the discrete Reader seruice Some will perchaunce more of enuie to heare a stranger commended then of pittie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good intertainment of Signior Philoxenus But to giue such Suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankefulnesse I heare protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgeue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amendes in a little pittie But for that they and all such as vew my Report may learne of me to bee gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen That this trauell is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debter and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Uertues and my paynes to profite and cōmend them selues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherfore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies gentle Reader I ende as I hope to finde thée mine Thine assured friend George Whetston T. W. Esquier In the commendation of the Aucthor and his needefull BOOKE EUen as the fruictfull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Swéet Honie draine layes it vp to make the profit ours So Morall Whetstone to his Countrey doth impart A Worke of worth culd frō y t wise w t Iudgemēt wit art No Stage Toy he sets foorth or thundring of an Hoast But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burnyng fier frost Suche Uertues as beséeme the worthy Gentles breast In proper colours he doth blaze by followyng of the best The Uertue is but rare and Uice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th'abuse Such matter in good wordes these few leaues doo reueale Unforst or strainde as y t it séemes a naturall common weale Of forced Marriage he dooth shew the foule euent When Parents ioyne the Childrens hands before their harts And how these fortunes eke in wedlock séeldom proue consēt Vnequall choice in birth in yéeres and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned prooffes this sacred state dooth raise As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest praise More euery Page héere dooth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as help the weake doo confirme y e wise Which néedelesse were to blase in prayses to allure The holy Bush may wel be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to ISMARITO in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth daies Exercise placed in this Forefront for the excellencie of PANDORA THe mighty IOVE beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angry moode sent IRIS downe to mooue Throughout the worlde the exercise of foes With vengeance armde who poured downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fyre Whole Countries burnde did dim the Sun with smoke The Cannon noyse the Ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the Heauens shoke The Temples spoyld the'Townes to ruine went Vnwillyng yet to worke the worlds decay IOVE CYLLEN sent in part his wrath to staye Who hastes his charge with winges as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the grounde He could no way for clowdie darknes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie A PHAROS light which was a PHENIX eye Led by this Starre amaine he commeth downe And footing sets vppon a fruitfull Ile Where liu'd a Queene crownd with the worlds renowne Vpon whose rule Grace Peace and Wealth did smyle Her Senate graue her Citties Mansions weare For such as fled for persecutions feare To whom he gaue the tokens that were sent Faire PALLAS forme and VENVS louely face Sweete PITHOS tongue and DIANS chaste consent And of these giftes PANDORA nam'd her Grace And ioynes with all IOVES blessings to the same To make her liue in euerlasting fame These monsters fell which publike order breake Dissention Wrath and Tiranny he bounde This office done he thought as IOVE would leake To Heauen he hyes and blessed leaues the grounde Where this good Queene and Subiects quiet lyue When ciuill warres her neighbor kingdomes greeue Euen this is she whose sacred fame is knowne Through out the worlde in Enuie Feare and Loue Enui'd because she raignes in peace alone Feared in that she shielded is by IOVE Lou'd for desarte whose vertues shine as bright As twincking Stars do in the frome night This Siluer Pen meete for a Virgins praise VRANIE heere doth ISMARITO giue With charmed charge this Queenes renowne to raise As she in spight of Death and Time may liue Which right is hers the labour is but thine Then Iudging write as she may seeme deuyne Vaticinium VRANIES A breefe Summarie of the principall Argumentes handled in these seuen Dayes Pleasures 1 OF the difference betweene the Married state and the single lyfe 2 Of the inconueniences of forced Marriages 3 Of the inconueniences of rash Marriages 4 Of diuers speciall poyntes concerning Marriage in generall 5 Of the inconueniences of ouer loftye and too base Loue in the choyce of either Husband or Wyfe 6 Of the inconueniences of Marriages where there are inequalytie of yeares
this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes CaÌ„nons Priests may not marry they haue a custom among them selues not to liue chast Well ê™ Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne mée as an heretick good men will cannonise mée for a vertuous Uirgin Thease Digressions quoth Quéene Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories then to conclude any beneficial matter for our instruction And therfore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one Argument then sleightly to ouerrunne many causes where y e doubts we leaue vnresolued wyl be more daungerous vnto the hearer then the Counselles we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obay your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single lyfe is the greatest testimanie of Chastytie A ciuill Contention to prooue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens witâ—…s encountryng in doutful questioÌ„s openeth a passage for imprisoned Trueth Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the company lyked verie well of the Subieat and studing who weare the fittest to deale in this Controuersie Aurelia with a glaunsinge eye beheld that her seruant Ifmarito witsafed no greater Token that he tooke delight in thease actions then sometime the secrete bestowyng of a modest smile whervpon she forethought that as Floods when they are most hyest maketh least noise euen so perchaunce his styll tongue was gouerned by a flowyng witâ—… and desirous to sounde his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which wil serue in this question I feare me you coÌ„nâ—…aund Loue so much as you contempne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Tâ—…auayleri y e nature of which sort of people is to swell with a 〈◊〉 â—…isdayne of Mariage The reason is say they their Affections are poyioned with the knowledge of womens so haynous euyls as theâ—… dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they â—…learned so many â—…lties to deâ—… 〈◊〉 lesse wâ—… as dandled with the â—…ments of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wyfe And if you be infected w t the humour of thease sorte of Trauailers you may wel vndertake this charge for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I coÌ„maund you too vse all your possyble proofes in the Defence of a Single lyfe and for your Assistaunce I do appoinâ—…t you Lucia Bella whom this Charge can not mislyke because as I vnderstand she meanes to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therfore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so déepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue youre suggestions not answeared and my owne inneâ—…ency vnexcused only attend y e incounter of him y t wil maintaine Marriage to be more worthy then a syngle life which vocation of Marriage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Syr quoth Soranso though white be a fayre colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though Virginitie which is the fayrest flower of a single lyfe be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Marriage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Marryed are reuerently intertained when the vnmaryed are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the hyghest places the vnmarryed humble them selues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmayde of Marriage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruaunt by so much Marriage is more worthy then is single lyfe I confesse quoth Ismarito Marriage is an honourable eâ—…ate instituted of God and embraced of men but wheron had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Lawe was founded vppon this reason to punishe the trespasses of men But if no offence had ben giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had lyued within boundes of reason whiche before any commaundement geuen was vnto him a Law Marriage might haue ben spared and therefore in the hyest degrée is but a vertue vppon necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and perticypating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euer-springing Baye is the Metamorphos of chast Daphnè whom Appollo although he weare a soueraign GOD could not allure to Mariadge which prooueth Chastitie a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an ende of their incontinent desires where as the beautie of Marriadge is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Married Therfore think I by how much deuyne thinges are of greater emprise then earthlye by so much the Single lyfe is more worthy then then the maryed And in aduauntage ê™ Lucia Bella where Soranso sayth that there is great honour done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Baccus minions or the Muses most reuerensed Among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and amonge women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence ê™ Faliero because they professe a Single life but because their function is more sacred then other mens who if their prayers to GOD bee no more zealous then their vowes to chastytie are stedfast you flye to the authoritie of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith y t Mariage is but a verfue vpon necessytie to restrayne man from a greater euyll I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain Ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable Creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshyp ped Fowles of the Ayre I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féede together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute Beastes the lyke Constancie is fownd But generally there is neuer iarre nor mislykyng betwene the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures and among the most
the sacred Byble and the hard passages of Scrypture expounded in vulgar Language that your common sorte howesoeuer youre Prealates lyue vnderstande wheather they erre or no in theyr Doctryne And synce the Subiectes of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus honoured theyr Soueraygnes vertues wyth these acclamations NOble Allexaunder wee praye the Goddes that they haue no lesse care of youre Maiestye then you haue of vs most happye bee wee that wee haue you among vs. Noble Alexander The Goddes preserue you the Goddes defende you proceede foorth in your purpose we ought to loue you as our Father too honour you as our Lorde and to admyre you as a God heare among vs. And thervnto added Noble Emperour take what you wyll of our Treasure and substance to accomplish your Purpose only for buylding of three Hospitalles to succour the sicke bodies of the poore By how much more zeale ought you the good Quéene of Englandes Subiectes adde to this Prerogatiue Do gratious Queene Elizabeth what shall seeme to you good for your most blessed nature cannot erre or do any thing amis that you purpose who by diuine inspiration hath vnlocked the fountaine of grace so that the thirstye soules both of her rich and poore subiectes may freelye drinke the water of lyfe Segnior PHILOXENVS so affected this spéech as ISMARITO coulde not but imagyne hys heart adiudged him a straunger to Grace and vnworthy lyfe that was her vassaile and sayd not therevnto Amen The end of Fryar Buiardos clawing Sermon broke off thys priuate talke and the Gentlewomen proude of the commendation of their pytifull sexe now wisshed that Doctor Mossenigo had ben vnpardoned his yesternightes trespasse towards women that the holy Frier might haue cited him before our Ladie of Loretto who the greatter parte of Dinner time left his victuelles to inlarge his Fe minine prayses In the ende tasting y e goodnesse of the meate he fownd prating verie vnsauerie and therfore to recouer his losses his lippes layde on loade which Falerio and some other of the pleasaunt company perceiuing assayed to reward the Fryar for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions which he euer aunsweared in a monisillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding As ê™ Faleâ—…io a question or two Master Fryer I pray saye quoth he who strikes wyth the sharpest rod God of all other who is must euill Deuill in distresse who deserueth most rueth Trueth who is charged with most cryme Tyme what houlds the worlde in most imprice â—…ice who is the greatest lyer Fryer Desier without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eat Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine When they could deuise no talke to put lyfe in y t Fryars tongue doctour Mossenigo demaunded why he was so bréefe in his aunsweares O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then ê™ the Doctor it is good taking awaye this plenty of meat for cloying Fryar Buiardoes wit The hole company hearing the Fryar beaten with hys owne sentence tourned into a coutrary sence burst out into suche an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of y e Friar would not suffer him to swallowe one bitt more of meat in somuch as the boord was taken aâ—…aye and the Friar driuen to saye Benedicite with an emptye stomacke an intertaynment as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faythful seruant The office of courteous reuerence fully discharged the company retyred towards the fyre to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dynner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moaned the dysgrace of their prayse Master the Fryar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by theyr enemye the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto sayde merrily that the Fryar had taught hym such a cunning way to woo as to melt a womaÌ„ into pitty he woulde wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to prayse the thing they lyke Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercyfull it is necessary to brydle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue And questionlesse thys payne set vppon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée thinges is great daunger and smal discression to play with fire to striue with water and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therfore he that will discouer his owne secreat aduauntage is worthy to haue his heyre cutt wtth Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was reddy to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certayne of her chosen AttendaÌ„ts whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for auncient customs profitable are better then new lawes incertaine shee commaunded the Eunuk to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Luâ—…e after a dutifull obaysaunce played and sunge this followinge Sâ—…nnet in Italon TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bounde Amyd the Skies my wysh I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the grownde My eye sees Ioy my hart is grypde with payne I know my hurt and yet my good refrayne But how thease hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can geeue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reache so farre out goes As bownd perfore he yealdes to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioye Hope doth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownd as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To do whose wyll Desire in me hath wrought A strength to ronne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to staye It may suffise the wisest paaste my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to avoyde degression whiche rayseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a Repeticion of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Wherevpon ê™ Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the cause why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish take comfort in one anothers companie onelie by the Impression of nature and man and woman that are beâ—…tified both with the vertues of nature and reason manie times matched together make a hell of this hotie institution By Quéene Aurelias commauÌ„dement to aunswere Sir ê™ Faliero The aduantage of reason with which you haue preuiledged man and woman is the onelie cause thereof no man will
asswage A wytnesse that Vnkindnesse inlargeth Loue as the wracke of Winter dooth the beautie of Summer then although the Parents matche at first be without the fancie of the Children a reconciliation in fine will double their comforte Sir ê™ Soranso fauouring Falieros opinion you wrest the Adage is to a coÌ„trary meaning for it is to be vsed but where there hath béene sometyme perfect loue and where a grounded leue is although the Married menace with their tunges they malice not with their hartes on the contrarie parte looke what rule the Louer vseth in loue the Enemie obserueth in reuenge Therefore if the Maried abhorre before Marriage they may well desemble with their tounges but wyll neuer bée delighted in their harts and where there is such a deuision in the desires of the Married fayre fained semblaunce wil soone turne to flat fowle falling out their thrift goeth forwarde as the carriage drawen by two Oxen taile to taile the Husband wyll haue no delight to get nor the Wife desyre to saue Seruauntes with negligence will waste and hyrelinges with proloyning will winne and which is worst the continuaunce of mallice will custom them with mortall hatred hatred betwéene the Married bréedeth coÌ„tencion betwixt the parents coÌ„tencion betwixt the pareÌ„ts raiseth quarrels among the kindred quarrels amoÌ„g the kindred occupieth all the neighbours with slauÌ„der so y t for the most part these forced Mariages engendereth sorrowes for the Married disquietnesse to both their fréends kindâ—…ed but which still renueth gréefe the scandall of enemyes endeth in neyther of theyr wretchednesse This béeing said lyttle auayled the further prooffes of the contrary part so full was the crie Fye of forcement in Mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper coulours Quéene Aurelia coÌ„maunded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commaundement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The Historie in the reproche offorced Mariage reported by Faliero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometimes a riche Marchaunt named Tryfo This Tryfo had a wealthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one an other with a neighborly affection Tryfo to inherite all his liuings had but one onely sonne named Sicheus and Clearches one onely Daughter called Elisa The Parents to establish as they imagined an euerlasting amitie betwéene theyr houses concluded a Mariage for theyr vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite theyr affections as theyr liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish theyr Loue as the haste great to sollemnize the Mariage for that in theyr persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in theyr abilyties cause of exception but looue that behouldeth no more quicknesse in a Dyamond then in a dim Saphyre though he take impression by sight rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréen Youthe who intertaine their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew neare and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captaine animateth his Souldiers with some plausible Oration euen so the night before the Mariage Trâ—…fo scheeled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quod he so great are the follyes of men and so cunning the deceits of women as the most especially the yonger sorte wyll credite theyr lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their woordes and lightly regard their workes delyght to recount theyr entertainements and disdaine to reclion theyr shrewde payments For as the sycke pacient comforted with the Phisitions words leaues to examine the quallities of his receites BueÌ„ so the wretched Louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistrisse with negligence bothe ouer lookes his owne benefit her behauiour Salomon was deceyued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women Kinge Demetrius notwithstanding he was bothe wise and valiant was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorious strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raysed disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merrit excéeded them bothe or noe Yea when she died he caused her to be Intombed vnder his Bed Chamber windowe to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely belooued If the wisest and the worthyest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yeares art young of substaunce delicate and lustie and therefore apt to looue reddy in conceyt and of consideration vnperfect whot in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to preuent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife fayre to please theae ritche to continue looue her Parents my assured fréendes and she thy affected loouer loue her well beare with her in small faultes as a woman and the weaker bridle thy owne euill affections as a man her head and gouernour and in thus dooing God will multiply his blessings vpon you and make your aged Parents to dye in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Young Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doo their Tutors who giuing them leaue to playe admonisheth them with all to kéepe good rule which they promise and performe the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced Mariage He was not so soone wearie of dallying with his Wife as he was ready to entertayne a Harlot so that in shorte space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his libertie as dissolute in his actions and behauiour If his friends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharply reprehend him he would impudently aunswer he was past correction if his Wife found her selfe agréeued with his hard vsage she might well complaine but he would take no time to amend so that his dayly actions of euill tooke away all after hope of weldeeing in so much as he became odious vnto his friends that beheld his lewde inclination and a plague vnto his Wife who was dayly oppressed with his monstrous vices So that the ouercharge of sorrow made her many times passage for these and such like passions O vnhappie and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youthe with discontentments makest me resemble a fayre Fig Tree blasted with the after colde of an vntimely Spring but why blame I Mariage which is honourable alas because the abuse of good things worke euill effectes Roses vnaduisedly gathered pryck our hands Bees vngently vsed stinge our faces yet the one pleasaunt and the other profitable so that if their come any euil of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Aye me when I was married I was
to young to be a wife and therefore haue no reason to exclayme on folly But Fortune fowle falle thée which crossest me with cursses in possessing me with those things which others holde for blessings Wealth that bestoweth pleasures on many is the orriginall of my woe Mariage which giueth lybertye to many inlargeth my Fetters and demaundeth death for my raunsome Beautie that aduaunseth many is to me a disgrace for that inioying her forme I am of Sicheus not fantasied of whom euery foule and common Trull is belooued But therein Fortune thou doost me no wronge for my hate towards him ouerâ—…ayseth his light regarde of me O but my hart is continually afflicted with his euill and his finger neuer akes with my mallice Yea but Forberaunce edgeth the sword of Reuenge when Choller though it often strikes it woundes not muche Raine falleth euery where yet beateth but the leaues the thunder Bowlt lighteth in one place but yet teareth vp the rootes so though I dissemble tyll oportunitie Sicheus shall féele my hate to death and though I endure a space I will redéeme my dying life and perseuering in this resolution Elisaes thoughts that were lately drowned in sorrow now flamed with desyre of Reuenge and the Deuill who is the Executioner of Vengeance presented her foorthwith this vngratious meane A Yonge Gentleman named Chion among a troupe of other Ladyes and Gentlewomen beheld fayre Elisae with such a burning affection as he foorthwith dispossessed his owne hart to make his bosome the seate of her imagined Image so that his soule that continually eyed her beautie and his heart at the direction of his Mistresse gaue such a heate to his desire that had he béene sure to haue receiued Ixions torments for his ambitious attempting of Iunoes loue he could neither haue left to loue nor haue forborne to séeke for grace so that follow what would he foorthwith presented his affections in this ensuing Letter ⧠Chions Letter to Elisae FAyre Mistresse had I vertue to perswade you to ruthe as you haue power to make me loue the discouerie of my blasing affections would melt you were you a Mountaine of Ice to pitty But for that Loue is more vehement in the heart then in the tongue I appeale to your owne motions for grace if you haue euer loued if not I hope for such iustice at Venus handes as you shall loue and yet thus much I saye although I affye nothing in my perswations because they be but wordes I presume of my indeuours for that I haue vowed my life to death to do you seruice of which you can haue no better assuraunce then imployement nor I a hyer fauor then to be imployed Good Madame martir me not with ordinary doubts in that my affections are not ordinary For as your beautye excelleth all other Dames as the fayre Rose eache Garden Flower euen so the full power of loue hath made me in the estate of flaming flaxe that is presently to receiue grace or in a moment to perish Thus longing for your sweete aunswer I somewhat succour my torments with the imagination that I kisse your gratious hand No more his owne Chion This Letter sealed and subscribed was delyuered to so cunning a Messenger as néeded no instructions in Chions behalfe The Letter presented and aduisedly reade by Elysa surprised her with an vnmeasurable ioye not so much for that she had purchased her self a faithfull Loouer as procured her Husband a mortall enemy of which Chions Letter gaue her not so great assuraunce as the disposition of his countenaunces in a former regarde and thervppon pursuing Sicheus with more hate then minding Chion with affection she mused vppon an number of mischéefes inuented by desyre to be reuenged and suppressed by feare to be defamed In fine remembring that she had read Loue quickeneth a mans wit although it burieth Reason To trie if he could define what Seruice she desired she retourned Chion a Briefe wherin he had a light to mischiefe and yet might be read without bleamysh of her honour the Effect wherof was this Whyle CICHEVS doth lyue ELISA can not loue CHION receyued this Scrowle But yet before he presumed to reade the Contents he kissed and rekissed the same houldyng an opinion that commyng from his Mistresses handes it deserued suche honour althoughe it contayned Sentence of his death not vnlyke the foolishe Mahometians who vpon their Emperours Commaundementes are ready Executioners of their owne lyues But to my purpose when Chion had throughly pervsed this strange Aunswere weare it Cicheus his heauy Destinie or a iust Scourge for his fore trespasses accursed that he was he became too iust an Executioner of Elisaes wicked wil but yet with this interpretation that the loue she bare her Husband directed her in this answer In so much as ouercom with a furious hate towards Cicheus as the Barre of his welfare lyke a Lyon that bites the Iron grate which houlds him from his pray sodenly with this salutation he sheathed his Sword in Cicheus intrayles CICHEVS shall not lyue To hinder CHIONS loue The fact was so fowle and withall so publique as the Officers of Iustice immediatly seased vpoÌ„ Chion for y t his bloodie sword was a witnes of the trespas there was no Plea to saue him for wilfull faultes may be pitied but deserueth no pardon and to say trueth neither did he desire to lyue because ELISA the vertue of his lyfe by the charge of Lawe was bownd to sue him to death who followed the processe with an apparance of sorrow suche as if her Conscience had bene without scruple of guiltinesse or her harte a thowsande degrées from ioye when God knowes she was puffed with the one and the other so that the wonder at her dissimulation equalled the reproche of her notorious hatred To be shorte this was the Iudges sentence Chyon should be beheaded as amends for Cicheus death and the Widdow should be endowed with his goods for the dammage done vnto her but God which knoweth our seacret faultes when Iudges though they rule as Gods know but what they heare and sée as men not willynge to hide such an haynous offence First amased all the hearers with an vnknow voice Elisaes harte is as Gyltie as Chions hand and therewithal thundred this following vengeance vppon the cleared malefactor The Infant in Eysaes wombe as it were engendred of the Parents malyce at the verie instaunt not obeying the course of Nature so tyrannised her Intrailes as with very agony she dyed and with all remayneth an opinyon that the Husband Wife and Sonne by the appointment of the Gods were Metamorphosed into Vipers whiche venimous Beastes are thrall to these curses The female after shee hath engeÌ„dred murdreth the Male because she wil not be ruled as an inferiour and the yong eate themselues forth of their Dams Intrailes because they wil not be bound to the obedience of Nature
agree Thus happy I in Fortunes frownes long whyrld A Goddesse serue and soueraigne of the world BARGETTO lighted by a Page apparayled in his Mistresse colours Greene Carnation and Whyte followed Ismarito hauing the mouth of his Mask closed with a small Golden Lock as a witnesse of the true execution of his Mistresse Commaundement and vpon hys fist hee caried a Parrate to pratle to his Mistresse vppon pausing betwéene euery solemne Almayne and couertlye vnder the Parrats winge was hidden this passion HEnce burnyng sighes which sparckle from desyre To pitty melt my Mistresse frosen Hart Her frosen hart that Fancy cannot fyre Nor true intent perswade to rue my smart Haste haste I pray the Icye passage breake And pleade for him that is forbid to speake What though at first you faile to calme her rage Yet as the Sunne from earth doth draw the Rayne Your vertues so the stormes of scorne may swage Or feede Desyre with showers of disdayne For euen as drink dooth make the Dropsey drye So colde disdaine compels Desyre to frye Her wyll be done but I haue sworne to loue And with this vow will nourish my delight Her scorne my woe nay time may not remoue A faithful zeale out of my troubled spright Yea more then all Ile Sacrifice my blood And fyre my bones to doe my Mistresse Good SORANSO lighted by a Page in Orange Tawny Watchod and Greene was the next that presented him selfe who vppon his left side had a Harte of Crymson Granado Silke so artificyally made fastened to his duâ—…let as if his body had opened and his hart appéered which fell downe at his Mistresse féete vpon such a Fortune as she was bounde to take it vp which opened she might beholde the Picture of her selfe reading this submission EVEN as the Hart a deadly wounde that hath Retires him selfe with sighes to solace greefe And with warme teares his gored sides doth bath But finding mone to render small releefe Impatient Beast he giues a heauy Bray And hasts the Death that many woulde delay So I whose Loue beyond my hap doth mount Whose thoughts as Thornes yet prick me with Desire Whose sute and zeale return's with no accompt Whose hope is drye set in a harte of Fyre Holde this for ease foorthwith to spoyle the eye That lookte and lou'de then in dispaire to dye A happy Doome if it for Law might stande But men condemd them selues may not dispatch Their lyues and deathes are in their Soueraignes hand So myne in hers whose Lookes did me attache And therfore I to pardon or to kyll Must yeald my selfe the Prysoner of her wyll L'ENVOY THen Ladie faire receiue what longes to thee A fettred thralle attyred with disgrace And at thy feete his wounded hart here see And in the same the Image of thy face mone Whiche bleding fresh with throbs throwes foorth his Rueth rueth deare Dame for that I am your owne DONDOLO lighted by his Page apparayled in Tawnie Blew and Black Taffata was the fourth who vppon his Breast bare a Myrrour set the outeside inwarde and yet fastened so slope as it might receiue light with an Imagination that he showed his Hart the Beautie of his Mistresse in y t thought he wrot vpon the out side Basta che spero within whiche glasse this sonet was coningly coÌ„uated which vpoÌ„ a fit-oportunitie he presented vnto his Mistresse Lucia Bella. FRom shore to sea from dales to mountaines hie From meddowes faire amid the craggie rocke Loue doth me leade I know not whether I But euermore a passage doeth vnlocke Nowe doe I fight now weepe now death I feare In all these stormes yet loue the healme doth steare In desert woods I wander to and fro Where I wilde beastes and firie Serpentes meete Yet safe I passe Loue doth direct me so In tempestes rough my barke doth alwayes fleete Yea when Sunne Moone and starres forsake the skie Loue giues me light from my faire Mistresse eye I mount to heauen I know not with what winges I sinke to hell yet drowne not in distresse Twixt Ice and flame Loue mee in safetie bringes But to what end in sooth I cannot gesse Yet hap what shall Loue giueth me this scope In daungers mouth to liue alwaies in hope FALIERO lighted by a Page attired in Peach colour yellow and popeniay greene Taffeta was the fifte last that entred who as yf she were climynge vp his Arme caryed a whyght Turtle so artifyciallye made as it deceyued no lesse then Parrhasius paynted Table Clothe In whose Beake were fynely rowled these Uerses IF on firme Faith one Hart vncharg'd with frawd One langour sweete one wish desire dooth moue If honest Zeale a gentle breast doth lawde If wanderyng long in the Laborinth of Loue If wan pale cheekes are witnesses of woe If reaking sightes throwne from a burnyng harte If all these and thousand sorrowes moe May charme Mistrust and make you rue my smart Faire Mistresse looke but in my Meagre face And you shall reade that I haue neede of Grace In this order and with these deuises the Maskers entred and after they had saluted Quéene Aurelia and the honourable of the company they placed themselues some of the one side of the greate Chamber and some of the other obseruynge therein a more discreate order then the ordynary Maskers who at their first entraunce either daunce with them selues or rudelye sease vppon the Gentlewomen but these Maskers intertained a smal Tyme with their Musick while they had leasure to looke about and espie who were the worthyest amonge the Ladies In the ende Ismarito kyssing his hand with a Countenaunce abased humbly desired Quéene Aurelia to do him the grace to daunâ—… w t him Next Bergetto made choice of Franceschina Santa after him Soranso chewsed Maria Belochi Dondolo raysed Lucia Bella and last of all Faliero tooke his Mistresse Catharina Trista and thus they obserued in their choyce the same course they kepte in their entrance After this Companie had performed all the ciuill Seruices of Maskers leauyng behinde them their Mistresses honoured and the whole companie much contented they departed in the good order they entred saâ—…yng that their Mistresses were possessed with their seuerall Deuices Which done the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen began to shrinck out of the great Chamber as the Starres séeme to shoote the Skie towardes the Breake of Daye FINIS The thyrd Daies Exercise Contayning sundrie Morall Preceptes With a large Discouerie of the inconveniences of Rash Mariages THE Aucthorytie is dayly Experience that prooueth how that the bitterest worldly Sorow soone endes eyther by Benefit of Fortune or violence of death neither is the firmest worldly pleasure y e of more continuance then an Imagynation whiche is straight crost with a contrary Suggestion What difference was there betwene the Fortunes of Cesar and Pompey when their endes were both violent saue that I hould Cesars to be the harder for that he was murthered in the Armes of
Malipiero reuerensed in a mylde order commoned with him and amonge other questions demaunded with what reason he could iustifye his light affections and condemne the sounde aduyte of friendes Malipiero resolute in his loue boldly aunswered that Felices deuine beauty was a sufficient warrant for ether This wise Gouernour would not harden his hart with obstinacy in a sharp reprehension of his publike arrogant aunswere but with an affable countenaunce coniured hym to lysten vnto his graue sayinges O quoth he is she beautifull then you haue worke inough to watch her mischance sufficient to suspect her Is she beautifull then her rashnesse in consent showeth that she is indiseréet so that the diuersitie of quallities will soone finde out a diuision in your desires Is she beautifull then it is lyke by her quick agréement that she is poore then is her Loue fastened on your riches so that when you lacke money to maintaine her pompe she leaues to make much of your person Is she beautifull then she is withall lightly proude and the pride of a woman saith Perâ—…ander is lyke vnto a Dropsey for a drinke encreaseth the drouth of the one se sayeth he Cost enlargeth the expence of the other then if your Purse be not open to féede her folly she will pawne her honour to please her fancy Is she beautifull then her indiscreation in this hastinesse showes her but a slender huswife so that the charge of your house shall eate and consume your gaines abâ—…e Is she beautiful then your dispence must be in her disposition or els her lookes will litle repose you if she â—…der your goodes her expences will be great and her geâ—…â—…ges small your house shall be stored with costlye 〈◊〉 your seruants starued with lack of meate she will goe like a Pecock you like a meacock what followeth in her brauery she must be séene if she take the lyberty to walk shee giueth other occasion to speake your selfe to sigh A faire picture set in the Market place moueth many to gase if the counterfet giueth content ment the creature must néedes delight and if any view your wife with vnlawfull affection his practises wil be many to win his desyre Take héede you vndertake an intisinge course which without good order will make you breathlesse before the midst of your race you enter into great charge sée meanes to support it Your Father liues and must maintaine his accustomed reputatioÌ„ if he spare to sustaine you it is much to defraye the charge of your Wife and housholde he cannot therefore so loue that this dispence may be shared betwéene you and your wiues Parents and as far foorth as I can see Felices Father hath much adde to kéepe rayne out of his house top then if with difficultis he lieth drye in his Bed it is impossible he should haue anye great cheare at his Boorde what reckonyng can you make to be supported by him that hath it not and howe can you dare presume to bée supplyed by your owne Father when the timeritie of your marriadge displeaseth him to death Looke into these mischéeues before you féele the miseries they presage looke before you leape leaste you be wet before you be a ware your friendes hath a comfort but you the benefite of weldooing The Schoolemaister gaue Malipiero this aduice with such a temperate gesture that although good counsell preuailed not yet he reuerently told him that his experience knew more then his gréene imagination could containe and therefore he woulde meditate of his louing admonition and procéede no further without his priuitie But ah these weare but swéete wordes so betraye himselfe and to blinde his friende For vppon the first oportunytie Malipiero spéeds vnto PHILIPPO PROVOLO and recountes the importunyties of hys Fréendes with a desire to haue the Mariage preuilie solemnised since that he could not obtaine the open consent of his parentes Prouolo fearing the daunger of delay was as ready to satisfy as Malipiero was earnest to request insomuch as early in a morning Marco Malipiero was set in possession of his hearts delight and before night was dispossessed of his whole bodies welfare For his sorrowful Father and heauy friends hearing of this suddaine Mariage after they had a while bemoned the rashnes of Maliperio with the Affection of Parentes menaced to punish his ouersight in not regarding him as StraÌ„gers Prouolo on the other side to geue knowledge to his Sonne in Lawes frendes that althoughe Fortune had crossed him she had not wholly consumed him set out his abylytie to the most Aduauntage much like vnto a Market Marchant that on a Newyears Day mornyng exposeth his painted tokens to the ritchest show His Sonne in lawe was accomodated with the Attyre and furnyture of a Gentleman and his Wife was set foorth with the showe of rich Malipieroes Heires Espouse and not as poore Prouoloes Daughter Insomuch as the common sorte blinded with showes iudged after their eyes affection and reputed old Malipiero a cruel couetous Charle for dealing with Prouolo so frowardly that had intreated his Son so honorably But these murmurings litle moued the good auncient Knight for well he wist this brauerie was but a blase as soone ended as the flame of a drie Faggot And which should auenge him this pride promised a change attyred with as much pennurie as the other with pompe The following effect confirmed olde Malipieros opinion for Prouolo spent so largely at the beginning in hope with this florishe to make accorde betwéene the Sonne and the Father As nowe his Table was furnished with emptie Platters and his Audit Bagges with a set of Counters So that want that will make a toothlesse woman to bite at Brasen Walles entred into Prouolos House and swore both him and his whole householde vnto the statutes of necessitie whose lawes were so straite that although they all had great occasion of sorowe they had no leasure for shifting to supplie their wantes In so much as in shorte time there was no neighbour that Prouolo was not in his debt or daunger and no good natured youth there aboutes that Marco Malipiero had not boorded or coosoned And what shoulde faire Felice doe in this extremitie liue vpon her husbandes trauel and be idle her selfe that were no good Huswiferie and yet poore Malipiero loued her so dearely that hee woulde haue ventured vppon a thousande infamies to maintayne her in the state of an honest Gentlewoman but although his shiftes helped they defrayed not her desire to be braue A Diamond hath not his grace but in golde nor a fayre Woman her full commendation but in the ornamentes of brauerie So that attyred to her best aduantage faire Felice would manie times walke vnto the Piatso Richio a place where the brauest Gentlemen assembled where the fynest deuices were sould she taking this liberty to walke bound the gallant yong Gentlemen in curtesie to Court her
curtuous seruice is to be accepted with thankes acceptance of seruice inlargeth acquaintance acquaintance ingendreth familiarytie and famyliaâ—…ie setteth al Felies abroach So that let other Married men take warnyng by Malipieroes hard fortune for if their wyues loue gadding lyke faire Felice be inconstant do want or finde in their Husbands miscontentment Twentie to one they wil pawn their honours to please their fancies Well Felice lost nothyng by these Iorneyes for some one Gallant would present her with a Ventoie to coole her selfe some other with a Mirrour to behould her selfe and some with Lawnes Ruffes Coyfes and suche necessaries to set out her selfe yet vpon no dishonorable condition but by your leaue wyth hope of an after fauour This trafique faire Felice vsed vntill amonge a number that temperately affected her Marino Giorgio the rich Orphant of Capo Verdo immoderately loued her and withall the honors of courtisie serued her But notwithstanding his lusty personage might please his louely countenaunce might intyce and his rare wit passing through a swete tongue might bewitch a woman in loue for that Malipiero was inritched with these perfections Felice regarded Marino Georgio but with an ordinary grace and had it not ben for that Archinchaunter Golde perhappes would neuer haue bene inconstant This light account of Felice inlarged the affection of Marino for as drincke increaseth the dropsies drowth sâ—… disdaine heapeth coales vppon desire whereof Marino Teste se ipso hath leaft an infallible aucthoritie whose torments were so gréeuous as the fire which of al flames burneth most and appeareth least burst out of his mouth the smoake of such surious sighes that where he was but late of a pure Sanguine Complection hee seemed nowe nothyng but Choller adust So that his friendes mourned and many moued his strange alteration who counsayled him to take the Physitions aduire But neither Galen Hipocrates nor their Enemie Panacelsus could skyl of his cure so that he was in daunger to haue consumed to Cinders had nat Macrello the Physition of Loue vndertaken his helth who comforted him with many swéete wordes of hope but Marino continually afflicted himselfe in recounting an impossibilytie of fauour Why quoth Macrello is not your parsonage séemely Yes but it doth not please Is not your face louely Yes but it doth not allure Is not your wyt quicke and good Yes but it can not perswade Is not Felice a woman Yes and more an Angell Well then quoth Macrello be of good comfort Angelles be not cruell nor stéelie harted O quoth Marino but Felice is constant and true to her husband who to continue her affection is graced with these and many more perfections Yea quoth Macrello but hée wanteth one of your théefest beauties What one is that quoth Marinoâ—… Euen that that opened the double locked dores of Acrisius brasen Tower and put Iubiter in possession of his daughter Danais loue And thinke you this Goulden Beautie will not make a passage inâ—…o poore Malipieros Bed Camber I warrant you yeas you haue Goulde more at commaundement then I but I know the vertue better then you This short tale quickned dying Marrino as the flashe of Rose water dooth a sullen swounding Childe Wherupon quoth he Macrello if your Medicine be of no lesse vertue to restore my lyfe then your wordes to geue me hope the fortune shall be your profit as wel as my pleasure Well quoth Macrello sustaine your selfe with hope and for that your inuention is delicate deuise you some curious rich Iuell and let mée alone quoth hée bothe to charme and to present it and so with a remembraunce in the hande he lest Marino to contemplate of his loue and to consider how to recouer his lyfe who in the ende concluded to sende faire Felice the Image of himselfe in Goulde inameled blacke his face meager and pale and by a deuice the blacke mantell throwne aside for to appeare the bared Carkasse of Death with the intrayles consumed and in the seate of his lyfe to place Felice attyred with Diamonds Rubyes Emrodes and other precious Stones looking vppon his smoking harte whervppon was written these two bréefes Loue onely giues mee health Not Medicine nor wealth This Image made vnto his fancye he wrote this sollowing Letter Marino Georgios letter to Felice the fayre FAyre Mistresse if I enioyed any health I would wishe you parte but what I do possesse I acknowledge to be yours and my selfe to be but your steward And for this seruice because it is duty I craue nothing but leaue my merrit wholly to your consideration Yet least my scylence shuld rob the glory of your pitty and my death reaue you of a faythfull Seruaunt more of zeale to do you long seruice then of any desyre I haue to liue I heare present you my consumed selfe only kept aliue by the lyfe of fayre Felice who sitteth crowned in the Pallace of my heart whych bleeding at her feete showeth the meanes of my cure which if you witsafe I liue if not you see my death And thus doubtfull betweene both vntill I kisse your sweete aunsweare I remayne Vnto my latter Gaspe Your faythfull MARINO GEORGIO THis letter Sealed and Subscribed To the hands of the most faire Felice Macrello was sent for to whom Marino deliuered both the Iuell and the letter with out instructions to do his message for Protheus could not chainge himselfe into moe shapes then Macrello as well to auoide suspition as to compasse his purpose who behaued himselfe so cunningly in Marinoes errande as to be shorte vertuous Dames after many perswasions Felice returned him with this Answere ¶ FELICES Answere to Marino Georgio IAm not cruell althoughe with difficultie I consent too loue and for that your passions are so extreame I kepe your Picture in my Bosome But with what thought I blush to write though Pitie be my warrant so that I leaue the euent of our Loue to your Consideration and my yealding to Macrelloes Reporte who in bewraying your passions lette fall more teares then I could drie vp with a thousand sighes So that ouercom with rueth to see your Affection so great and your passion so daungerous I can not but commyt my loue my honour my selfe and all to the Affection and wise gouernment of Marino Georgio FELICE THis Letter was subscribed Lyfe to MARINO GEORGIO and deliuered to the faithfull Macrello with charge that he should make knowen his great Importunities before Felice woulde graunt so hye a fauour which Prouiso might haue ben spared for Macrello partly for his glorie but chiefely for his owne benefite vpon delyuerie of this Letter willed Marino to receiue it as a Conquest as hardly gotten as Hercules labours and if quoth he I had not indured your torments by ImaginatioÌ„ it had not ben impossible to haue mooued Felice to rueth Marino heard these circumstances with no better remembrance then if he had ben in an Extasie The Subscription Lyfe to
as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your hartes and so from shaddowes may growe euill effectes If there sight be so quick ê™ Franceschina Santa then If their sight be so quick quoth Franceschina Sancta then though by a negligent trespasse their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsadges they will giue them daylye occasion of reioysinge I graunt as muche quoth Soranso but this will follow the Husband will turne his owne mistruste to hys Wiues sorrow and receaue her good vsage to his owne pryuate comfort Indeede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sawced with such frowarde motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth mée not at al then with him that loueth mée too muche for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your mynde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husbande ielous then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being Ielous the Wife may studie out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easye conceited that if they perceiue a woman studdieth how to please them they straight waies imagine she will lykewise studdie how to deceiue them and therefore God shéelde mée from a Ielous Housbande I haue heard the whightstreaked Carnation Giliflower was the Metamorphos of a Faire Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this Ielous thought that his wife beinge so faire could not but be beloued of the Gods although hée had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger Example of Loue then the Aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of Hell and by ouer Ielous Loue sent her thither againe Doctor Mossenigo was smyling out a scoffe vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of Hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Parradice and therfore good we tourne backe agayne In déede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell styll to choose the leaste of Euylles it wyll be longe before we come to the Fountayne of Goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which mooued the late Question directes a fayre way to happinesse in Mariage for it commendeth loftie Loue And if accordyng to the oulde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this Aduenture geueth Hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in Mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by mariyng a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrarie Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whervpon quoth Soranso to geue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honor who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especiall Uertue that doth commende their choice and cleareth the Bleamish of their Husbandes basenes I must confesse that he which rayseth his thought so hye vndertaketh no doubt a tedious sute his delayes wyll be gréeuons and his Solliciters wyll be well rewarded in what sort so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perryll maketh honor perfect the styngyng of the Bée mendes the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refresheth our Sences when we prick our handes to reache them He that crackes the Nut thinkes the Kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thervnto belonging but for that the remeÌ„brance of y t euyl maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The Affection whiche is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaind with expence and compassed with sorow is held most pleasant most perfect of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good wyll becoÌ„meth in a while lothsome the cause is as I coÌ„ceiue for y t the pleasure was neuer seasoned w t paine Once a man in louing his better to encrease his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue yet to féede his hope he shal want neyther faire lookes good wordes nor possybilytie of fauour For for to obtain a great Ladie acquireth many circumstaunces not for that shee is precise to loue but for that shee is wise or woulde bee so thought in herprocéedinges But whether she loue or no Ouid saith there is no woman but wil indure the demaund she is contented with seruice to be courted in recoÌ„pence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustaineth hope the exaÌ„ple is in coÌ„tinual vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth y t mightiest in boÌ„dage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger faire Venus espoused yll fauoured Vulcan Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in imbrasing his owne shadow mightie Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dallie with simple country trulles then why shuld the affected how bace so euer his estate be dispaire to attempt a great Ladie wheÌ„ his warrant is signed with so large Aucthoryties But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or yll intreated the ymagination that time wil inuest his desire w t delight is to the Affected a Paradice farre exellyug the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue whiche can not choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her callyng And her Abylytie which allured at the first with his inhabylytie to realysh both can not but make the Husbande fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her Heade but which most contents she shal haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a House were as soone bilded as the Plot is drawn quoth Dondolo Shepherds wold disdaine to liue in Co rages eueÌ„ so if euery maÌ„ could as soone coÌ„passe a Lady for himselfe as he can report the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of mean Women But admit by the example of other mens Aduauncements that the meanest may be raised by the yeelding fancye of the mightie I prophesie that such an vpstarte had more néede of ten Eyes to warde the mallice of his Wiues kindred then one tongue to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot myslike affectionated profers because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempte for that the conclusion tendeth both to their and her dishonour A woman séeing her seruaunts passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her Kindred séeinge him in good way to bee beloued will lye in waite for his lyfe For though she may dispose of her
affection her kindred hath an interrest in her honour which if she consent to staine or deminishe shee dooth iniurie to her whole house The Cardinal of Aragon aduenged the base choice of his Sister the Duchesse of Malfy with the death of her selfe her Children and her Husband and alleadged in defence that he had done no iniurie to Nature but purged his House of dishonour for Nature quoth he is perfect and who blemisheth her is a monster in Nature whose head without wrong to Nature may be cut off Yea quoth Soranso but this Cardinall for all his habit and glose of Iustice is for this Act so often regestred for a Tirant as I feare mée he will neuer come among y e nuÌ„ber of Saints But the example of these Mariages are vsuall and such ensuing vengeaunce is â—…ut rare and besides her espetiall contentment a woman looseth none of her general titles of dignitie by matching w t her inferior In déede quoth Dondolo in common curtesie she enioyeth them but in the strickt construction of the Law she is degraded And by this meane is bounde to intertaine the meaner with familyaritie least they being prowde or reputing her scornfully doo crosse her ouer the thumbes with y e follyes of her fancy But admit y e meane seruant marrie his Mistresse and escapeth the mallice of her friendes which successe one amonge tenne suche Suters hardly attaineth Let him yéelde to pay this rent for his good fortune To suffer his Wife to rule to direct and to commaunde his owne determynations And where shee ordereth The vncontrouled Wife desireth to be serued with pompe and to be set foorth with pride whiche the ruling Husband would represse as wel for sauing his wiues honour as for sparing his owne pursse The vncontrouled wife desireth to walke at lybertie and to be visited of many of which the ruling Husbande woulde barre her as well to preserue his mynde from mistruste as to kéepe his Chimney from being fyred The vncontrouled wife disdayneth the Countrie and desireth the Citie which the rulyng Husband would mislyke for that in the Countrie the exercise of huswiuerie inlargeth his Wiues estimation and in the Cittie Idlenesse hazardeth her reputation The vncontrouled Wife desireth without checke to pratle and without discreation to gouerne which the rulyng Husbande in no wise would allowe for that manye wordes is a bleamish to his wiues modestie and the rule of his Wife is warrant sufficient for the wise to ouer rule him for a Woodcocke Many other vanities follow the desires of Women which a man thus aduaunst must forbeare to chasten least hée expose himselfe to a thousande daungers for the wife taking pepper in the nose will suffer him yea perchaunce agrée to make him a pray to the displeasure of his enemies I meane her able Friendes and kindred which bondage is not within the Paradice Plato speaketh off For according to the opinion of sundrie Philosophers as Nature will not be controuled for that she createth as Fortune is won with no praiers because â—…hee is blinde and shooteth at aduenture no more dooth Marriage alow of inequallitie because her will is to deuide her benyfites and blessing among the married with indifferencie To this ende Marriage is lykened to Sienes grafted in a stocke of contrarie qualitie for as by groweth and good order they both become of one nature euen so man and woman vnited in this honourable estate with good vsage become of one disposition Againe as Sienes thus grafted without speciall Husbandrie while they bee tender come to no proofe euen so man and woman thus ioyned in Matrimonie vnlesse in the prime of their Mariage with equall care they loue and cherrish one an other in the waine of their yeares the swéete Fruites of wedlocke will be blasted with repentaunce Segnior Fabritio to conclude Don Dolos opinion with his owne Iudgement saide in trueth that Marriage coulde not away with such seruitude as the Husband who is wise and the chéefe shoulde obay the wife who in common construction is simple weake and the inferiour And where a Rich woman as Don Dolo hath said Marieth her poore Seruant because she is the cause of his aduancement she will looke to gouerne which if she doo her indiscression will moue others to speake and her Husband to sorrow and if he challenge the preuiledge of a husband to direct hee shall bée bounde to a lyfe more bitter then Death Not but y t in respect of his former estate he may endure these crossinges of his wife but because as hee is growne in estimation so is hée growne in hautinesse of mynd and can now wurse brooke an vnkinde word then in times past an iniurious déede And therefore in Don Dolos behalfe I doo iudge Soranso to be in an errour I wil not dispute against the Authoritie of your iudgmeÌ„t ê™ Soranso but at aduenture if yonger BrethreÌ„ er in Mariage God send theÌ„ to stumble vpoÌ„ no worser fortune Quéene Aurelia who regarded that Dondolo was somewhat to lauish in painting out of the natural dessires of a woman knew as well how to set foorth his follyes and ouersight and therefore to take a modest reuenge ê™ shée I happinesse in Mariâ—…ge consisteth so much in the Lordly rule of the Husbande then where a man maryeth his inferriour in reputation there is a lykelyhood of good agreement Wherfore Segnior Dondolo because I think you married your wife with the same Iudgement with which you manyfested the inconueniences of loftye Loue I beseeche you show vs the blessinges of this inferiour choyce Soranso and the rest began to smyle to heare this com maundement for well they knew Dondolo was intrapt with a slauÌ„der of his owne reputatitoÌ„ but Dondolo although he were a litle gauled set a reasonable florish vpoÌ„ his bace fancie and therefore ê™ he as it is alreadie adiudged if a man marrie aboue his callyng he must beare with his Wife in folly as much as shee was blynded in fancying of him which bondage Mariage can hardly endure Then if hée matche with his inferiour if contraries haue contrarie qualyties per consequence she will be as lowly as the other is loftie as patient as the other is prowde as dutiful as y t other is disdainfull if the other prodigally spend because her portion is large shewil with huswiuerie spare because her substauÌ„ce was small If the other presume because of her Gentrie shée will seeke reputation with her good coÌ„ditions And if the other bolster her faults with the countenaunce of her able Friendes she dooing amisse will crie her Husbande mercie because she lackes succourers to sustaine her euill a course as Plato sayeth that maketh the dowrie of the poore virgin of greater vallue then the possessions of a riche Ladie You are nothing deceiued in the course quoth Faliero but much mistaken in the creature As touching your Contraries I mislike your Consequent For Fyre and
yonge wife a Companion to recreate an olde man but he shal finde her a Corsiue that wyl consume him to death A yong man concludeth the swéetest sollace in loue with sighes it is then lyke an olde man endes it with teares And God he knowes he often wéepeth more of desire to please his wyfe then of any Deuotion he hath to wantoÌ„nesse yet is al his paynes to a fruitlesse purpose for that the Game finissheth in his griefe neither began nor endes in his wyues contentment You are too quicke in Aduauntage Segnior Soranso quoth the Doctor Oulde Wine thoughe it be dead in the mouthe yet is it warme in the Stomacks when the Newe fumes in the Heade but comforteth not the heart Dry woodde maketh a bright Fyre where gréene Bowes consume halfe awaye in Fume and Somake The Sonne riseth watrishlye and is longe before it geueth heate where in the After noone it scorcheth the face So a Yonge man deuideth his Loue into a hundreth Affections and euery fancie pleased there wyll but a little fall to his wyues share where an Olde mans Loue is settled and his fancie is fixed vpon one And as the resighted Examples in Age are in best hart so to proue an olde mans sufficiencie there is a common Prouerbe Gray Haires are nourished with greene thoughts Now to coÌ„tent his yong wyfe she shal haue no cause to suspect his Affection abroade and shall not lacke to bée belooued at home Moreouer whiche delighteth a yong woman who naturallye is Ambitious shée shall take her place accordyng to the grauitie of her Husband and not as her yong yeares requyreth And to conclude to giue her an honourable name the most precious Iuell with which a woman may be beautified she shall receyue graue Directions from her Husbande and through the swéete delight she taketh in hearyng her good Gouernment coÌ„mended she wyll put them in Execution Doctor Mossenigo replied not with this vehemencie for any delight he had to commende this vnequall estate in Mariage but to flatter Katharina Trista with an Ambitious Hope of great Reputation in matchyng with his aged self but she that knew a leg of a Larke was better then the whole Carkasse of a Kyte woulde none God thank him And to make him horne wood if hée perseuered in his opinion in Soransoes behalfe quoth Bergetto his auncient crosser Maister Doctor theare is more pryde in your wordes then Substance in your proofes your hartie olde Wine must be drawen out when it is broached your drie woodde is but a blaze and your hot Sunne doth but sweate for sorow that he is goyng to cowche in the dark Caues of Tartessus But as touching Old men they may well be sufficient in gréene thoughts as you terme them but I am assured that in déedes they are weake and wythered And therefore a man cannot speake too muche euill of this excesse in dotage withered Flowers are more fit for a Dunghill then méete to deck a house olde rotten Trées are néedefull for the fyre but vnnecessarie to stande in an Orchad euen so olde decaied creatures are comely in the Church but vnséemely by a yong womans side The olde man which marrieth a yonge Wyfe is sure of this sowre sauce to rellish his swéete Imaginations his beloued wife how so euer she dissembleth disdayneth hym his neighbors al to be flouteth him and soothing Parisites beguileth him common opinion will counterfeit him lyke Acteon not so much for the ficklenesse they sée in his wife as for the infirmities they know in himselfe And bréefely to conclude his ioye hée may perchaunce lyue two yeares with his faire wife but the mischaunce of his Children will remember his infamie for euer Gréene Iuy which catcheth an olde Trée maketh quicke worke for the fire and the imbracements of a faire Woman hastneth an olde man to his Graue And although it be a haynous wronge causelesse to condemne the Wyfe yet this will be the opinyon shée killed her Husband with thought to heare and sée how she trespassed both against his and her owne honour Foule fall suche a Marriadge quoth Maria Belochy where the vertuous Wife shal be slaundered through the imperfections of her Husbande It is some wrong ê™ Fabritio but she might haue foreséene the mischiefe while she was frée Well quoth Quéene Aurelia vpon this knowledge of michaunce our companie are sufficiently warned Procéede in Iudgement as you allow eithers opinion Whereupon Fabritio with Isabella with one accord gaue sentence against Dâ—…ctor Mossenigo in these words An olde man amourous of a yong Woman is an enemie both to his health and reputation for the causes aforesaid The rest of the companie smyled to héere this iudgement but the Doctor brake foorth many a secret sigh not for the disgace he tooke in his pleading for he defended an yll matter with colour sufficient but in that he knew this verdict would alwaies be a barre in his sute While the Doctor and Soranso argued Quéene Aurelia espyed in the Cloath of Arras a Beast fourmed like an Unicorne saue that he bare his Horne in his nose whiche beast sléeping laide his murthering Horne in a yong Maidens lap and after the question was decided shee demaunded what that Beast was and what the misterie signyfyed but the meaning was as strannge as the sight to most of the companie In the ende quoth Ismarito Madam I haue read of a gallant yong Gentleman of Naples named Rinautus that was Metamorphosed into such a Beast by this adueÌ„ture passing through the Iland Circeâ—…uÌ„ that Homer speaketh off which is now annexed vnto the Continent he was espied of Circes who inhabited that Ilande This wrincled yll fauoured Witch at the first sight was surprised in Loue with the goodly shape and beautie of this seemely Gentleman but for al her charmes and Inchauntments her Arte failed either to force him to Loue or to frée her selfe from louing for notwithstandinge shee was a Goddesse he disdained her ouer worne soule and wythered visage and shee presumyng of her Sorcerie powred fresh Coales vppon her kyndled desyre in hope that necessitie would force him to consent to the requeste fréewill contemned but Cupid to whom such power onely belongeth to scourge her presumption in suche sorte hardened Rinautus harte that all Circes Sute and Sorceries tended vnto a fruitlesse successe In so much as in her rage she turned him into a Rhinocerot a Beast of vnconquerable force who in his nose beareth a borne much like to the Unicorne But notwithstanding hee was thus transfourmed as King Nahucadonizer in the fourme of an Oxe retained the spirit of a man so hée in his altered shape nourished his auncient disdaine of yll fauoured Circes and so bee fully auenged with all hys force pursueth olde Creatures and such as hée ouertaketh hée goreth to death yet is he by this polycie subdued Place a faire Maide in his walke and foorth with hee will with a
vertues illustreth the same through the whole worlde but to direct the maried is a laâ—…or of Arâ—… wit and expérience in the fyrst wherof I am ignoraunt in the second vnperfect and to the thirde a Strainger so that as I am sorry to iniurie your expectation so am I loth to expose my insufficient iudgement Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if wée were not assured of a lyberal contentment in conteÌ„plating of your waightie Censure we would receiue your modest refusall for iust excuse But for that we haue all an intrest in your vertues you should be enemie to your owne honorable coÌ„mendation in kéeping of them close prisoners in your brâ—…t although you be Lord of the Pallace yet I as â—…oue raigne of the Ciuill Pleasures commaund you to giue Cerimonies a disgrace and sincerely to obay my will Madam quoth Segnior Philoxenus so stricht is your charge as I must aduenture of this waighty labour hoping that as by authoritie you commaund my opinion so by y e motion of some one of your vertues you wil pardon my errours Upon which incouragement to obay your wyll I say and approoue by sacred Authoritie that this holy Institution of Marriage was erected by God in the earthly Paradice before the transgression of Adam when he ioyned him to Eue with these wordes of blessing Increase multiply and replenish the earth Againe after Adams fall and the deluge to strengthen his fyrst institution God commaunded the good Patriarcke Noe to encrease and multiply the earth a new Moreouer God would haue no more women then men in his Ark to show there shoulde be a Sympathie in number as well as agréement in loue betwene man and wife for if the one might lawfullye haue many Wiues and the other many Husbandes how should this expresse Commaundement of God be vnuiolated You shall be two bodies in one flesh and no more Compare the Ioye honour and reuerence geuen vnto Mariage by the delight that procéedeth from any other cause and you shal sée her gleame lyke a blasyng Comet and the other but twinckle as an ordinarie Starre Gorgeous and rich Apparayle delighteth the Gasers eye and perhaps offendeth the wearers hart where Maryage in homely Attyre is euery where honored and reaueth vnquiet wandring thoughts from the Maried to abounde in riches is a glorious fortune but they charge men with a dubble care extreame in the getting and fearefull in the kéeping the married hath as great or greater ritches in their children When the stately Dames of Rome bragged of theyr Iuelles Cornelia boasted that hers excelled them all A Ladye of the company séeing her set forth with none that was precious demaunded where her Iuelles were Yonder quoth Cornelia and poynted to her children When certaine most rare and precious Iuelles of King Darius and his wiues were presented to Olympia Mother of Alexander the great she bestowed them vpon her Ladyes as to lowe prised for her wearing who was continually adorned with a Iuell in value as riche as Asia Affrica and Europa And sure Quéene Olympia and Ladye Cornelia gloried not in their Iuelles without reason for golde and precious stones set but a glose vppon beautie when vertuous children geueth a newe lyfe vnto their parentes The administration of Iustice and aucthoritie in a common weale are the proper offices of the married for that the care of wife children presupposeth them to be setled when the vnmarried though their wittes be good rayseth a suspition in the wise that their thoughtes are vagrant The vnmaried hath no agreable Companion to participate of his pleasure or to lessen his sorrowe The Maried hath a Companion of his owne flesh of his owne wyll and of his owne Spyryt so wrought to his owne Affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodies but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substaÌ„ce one concord one wealth one pouertie Companions at one Boorde in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents is or ought to be reuerent and duetifull because they gaue vs lyfe Unto our Bréetherne naturall because of the priuitie in blood To our frendes affectionate by certaine Motions consents of the minde Notwithstanding that these Loues be thus greate yet are there diuers causes too lessen them But betwéene the married no mischaunce or infirme Fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason is so inhumaine as to mallice his owne fleshe Compare their seuerall affections by sorrow and you shal sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brother or friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if wée our selues are but a little wounded we crye outright so that by howe much we excéede in sorrowing our owne mischaunces aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more then another The Rynge that is geuen by the Husbande and put on the Wiues finger ought to be of Gould to witnes that as gould is the most precious of Mettalles so the loue of the married excéedeth all other loues To which effecte Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniugè maior moreouer the close Ioyning of the ringe is a figure of true vnitie of the married betwéene whom there should be no diuision in desire noâ—… difference in behauiour To honour this holy institution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a Wife perfectly married saue that shée was not Carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonians so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Lawe that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmarried after the age of thyrtie and eyght yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene that in the cold winter he shuld naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bounde to confesse how he iustly suffred y t punishment as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romaines were not so seuere but yet the Aged vnmaried were condempned accordyng to their abylytie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good SuÌ„me of Money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the Unmaried shuld execute no honourable Office Estate nor dignytie in the Common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Seuerus although he maryed rather to geue ende to his Mother Mammeas Importunyties then as he thought to begin a more happie lyfe yet fayre Memmia his wyfe so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renewe his Sorowe and remember her Uertues in these wordes So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothyng but that whiche offendeth but oh he hath reaued
louinge countenaunce repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestow his murthering Horne and sodainlye as one rauished with contentment hée fauleth a sléepe by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The Companie laughed well to heare this straunge Metamorphosis In the end ê™ Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had hard this Hystorie when hée so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue bene affraide of her vengeaunce seeing her power able to conquere sauage wilde Beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage not vnlyke the tuÌ„ning Lawier that buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes yet with some nice forfaitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage many times bringeth backe his money and kéepeth his bargen not caring for his Concience so that hée haue a colour for his offence or as the wysest sorte of Atheistes that liue as though they hoped neyther after heauen nor feared Hel yet confesse God with their mouth hecause the contrarie woulde make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintayne his former Blasphemie and to excuse his present Follie in Loue And to Aucthorize either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beaste approoueth myne opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her crueltie then is Doctor Mossenigo who confesseth that men in vayne prescribe Remedies for the Affected or Receites to preserue men from the Infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée ê™ Aluisa Vechio But to take awaye all hope of good intertaynment quoth Katharina Trista no no Maister Doctor you deceyue your selfe Beautie neyther retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection riseth from Beautie and not of the frée wyll of man But say yon all what you please good foresight wyll contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no griefe but hath his remedie nor no daunger but may be forstoode eyther by prayer or good indeuoure In déede quoth Faliero Socrates â—…altred his inclination by the Studie of Phylosophie The Nyniuites preserued their Cittie by prayer and Virbius dubled his life by mastering of his disposission Floradin bewitched with the loue of faire Persida his deare friend Pericles Wife wrote in a table Booke fye Floradin fye shée is thy friend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with thys passyon he read his written remembraunce and by some honest exercise remooued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindnes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspeckt of some other Plannet this howre It maye be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie who is euermore enemie to the plainnes of trueth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this bye matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinks it prophesieth muche mischaunce to an Dulde Wydowe whiche marteth a Yonge man and no greate pleasure to the yonge maried Bacheler O good Madam say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde wemen to their Graue It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bryngeth sorow into their House and maketh their life more vnpleasant then death and if Soranso followe this Course perhappes his day wyll be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smilinge saide shee feared this câ—…ntention woulde bring the companie to hell gates Yet quoth she In that I imagine the way will be pleasaunt I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Uppon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true which I haue alreadie alleadged in the commendation of this estate in marriage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disalowe nor the married couple shall haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh young Gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustinesse lights of a rich olde widow for that both their desires in this fortune shall bee satisfied He shall haue plentie of Coyne the onelie Grace hee lacked and she the possession of a goodlie Parsonage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchaunge of Marchandise can not chuse but continue their liking and raise much coutentment Cleane contrarie ê™ the Doctor for y e follies of a yong maÌ„ is sufficiently punished by marrying an olde womaÌ„ 〈◊〉 y e sins of an olde widdow ar fully plagued in matching w t a yong man for that contrarie to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his lyking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe hée ioynes to his gaine in matchinge with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them forth in sighes If his wife be ritche shee will looke to gouerne if shee bée poore he is plagued both with beggery and bondage If she be proude she will hide her abylytie to maintaine her pompe If she be testie he is forst to patience If she bee Ielous hée canne hardlye indure her rages And to conclude if the olde doting widdow be frée from one of thâ—…se faults she is tied to forty euils of lesse sufâ—…ce for if her Husbande commaunde her will shee straight waies sayeth her other Husband was more kinde If hée chance to dine from home she wyls him to â—…up with his harlots if he spend beyond her allowance thus she reuiles hym A Begger I fownd thee and so thou wylt leaue mee To chastice her talke setteth an edge of her tongue to suffer her in her rage maketh her raylynges irreuocable By your wordes Maister Doctor ê™ Lucia Bella the wife is the greatest cause of this contention and yet in common opinion the Husband is most blamed Madame you are too hastie in an aduauntage I ment no such parciallytie quoth the Doctor Yea Madame quoth Bargetto M. Doctor is now so conquered as his tong is the Trumpet of your pleasure It is so quoth the Doctor to sound out those thinges which are true and in trueth the yonge Husbande often tymes maketh the euilles good in déedes which the olde wyfe vseth but in wordes for no lenger then she féedeth him with Coyne shall she enioy his companie If she rob not her Children to inrich him she shall lack no froward lookes nor fowle vsage If she put him in possession of her lyuing he straight wayes dispossesseth her of his loue for hauing what he sought he wyl els where be enamoured And vprightly to speake she lacketh neither occasion too lament nor cause to be inraged for who is so patient as can dissemble her vnsufferable passions both to be spoyled of her lyuing and to be exyled