whose fauourable aspect might be the summe of his fortunes bashed at the first as Paris did in the vale of Ida and stoode as the foes of Perseus when hee vncased the head of Medusa and turned them to marble pictures so amazed stood Lentulus at the sight of such diuine excellencie till the Ladies seeing this Nouice thus in a quandarie beganne to smile which reuiuing a kind of amorous choller in the souldiers minde he beganne thus to play the Champion Ladies beléeue me Loue is of more force then warres and the lookes of women pierce déeper then the stroke of Launces their is no Curtelax so kéene but armour of high proofe can withstande but beauties arrowes are so sharpe and the dartes that flie from womens eyes so piercing as the Corslet tempered by Vulcan for Didoes paramour holdes not out the violence of there stroake The Gods tremble when Mars shaketh his Launce but he feareth when Venus casteth a frowne Alexander neuer tooke notice of the legions of his enemies but he stoode frighted at the beauty of the Amazon Then swéet saints of Rome maruell not if I were driuen into a maze at the sight of such beauteous creatures whose faces are Venus weapons wherewith shée checketh the pride of ouer daring warriours I cannot Ladies court it as your Romaine yongsters that tie their wits to their fancies nor fil your eares with amarous discourses as Cupids Apprentizes that spend their time in such louing philosophie Nor can I faine conceited supposes of affection to prooue my selfe louesicke by Poetrie But as a blunt souldier newe come from the warres I offer my selfe a deuoted seruant to your beauties swearing to defend your honours against all men with the hazard of my bloud and in pawne thereof generally to you all but specially to one as loue hath his vnitie I desire to bee intertained as a duetifull seruaunt to the Lady Terentia Lentulus hauing thus boldly boarded these louely Uirgins the Ladies séeing with what affection he offred his seruice to Terentia began to byte the lippe and shée to blush who séeing hir selfe toucht to the quicke made him this answere I know not Lord Lentulus how to answere of loue because as yet I neuer knew loue ignorant of his forces because neuer acquainted with his fortunes Vesta forbids vs virgins to name Venus as they of Ephesus hatefull Erostratus Diana deals not in Paphos nor suffers shée any of hir maidens to hunt on Erecynus least méeting with Venus mecocks they skippe with Calisto and so séek after losse The lesse you are priuate to loues passions the more welcome to our presence for rather had we still our eares with warres fortunes then with loues fâ—llies and swéeter are the teares that grows from a constant stratageme then a smyle from a comike tale of fancie For your seruice Lord Lentuâ—us finding my self vnworthy I craue pardon Nor can wee by Vestas charter admitte such seruaunts But if it please you to bee accepted as a worthy Romaine and my fathers friende looke for such fauour as mine honour and virginity can affoord Lentulus hearing the plausible answere of Terentia although hir first insinuation seemed to answere for his purpose as preferring the lawnes of Diana and fiers of Vesta before loues holy temples yet shée concluded so swéetely as might stand with the modestie of hir honour he therefore made thus his reply In that madame we are both nouices in loue the simpler are our thoughts and the néerer should be the simpathy of our affections Doues match â—hen â—hey are young Syenus are grafted when they are sprigs the one part not but by death nor are the other seuered but they perish Souldiers are like virgins the one striuing to liue vertuous the other to die valiant both enemies to loue while they wait on those which brooke not loue I meane warre and Vesta But both must loue as hauing hearts and thoughts eies to sée beautie and eares to iudge of vertue I madame while I thought none greater then Mars was vowed to Mars but séeing womens wits are worse then weapons and that their lookes pierce déeper then launces I haue resigned ouer my fortunes at the shrine of warre and meane to make proofe of the swéetenesse of loue Glad that in my first entrance I haue the patronage of your gracious fauour armde with the which Mars well may frowne but not conquer But sir quoth Terentia I graunted my fauor to Lentulus the souldier not to Lentulus the louer And so madame quoth he I accept of it for I am a souldier to doe you honour and a louer despight of my self Flauia hearing Lentulus beganne to reason pretily to the purpose being a Ladie of passing mirry disposition whose witte was as full of wiles as hir face of fauour second in the excellencie of beauty to the Lady Terentia thought to sift hir souldier in this manner I sée well Lord Lentulus that as women haue their fauours so men haue their sayings the one prodigall in graces the other polliticke in deceits being as cunning to dissemble loue as we chary to discharge loue We Romaine Ladies thought to haue founde you a flat souldier as ignorant in loues as we of fancies but how closely soeuer you couer the flame the fire wil be knowne by the smoke For your talke so sauours of loues principles as we iudgâ— you are as cunning in faining a passion as in figuring a battaile and can assoone deceiue a woman with a pen as slaughter an enemie with a launce This will make vs to take you for a day friend and what we like in you present to disallowe to morrowe swearing if you bring amongst vs Venus roses wee will beate you with Vestas nettles and therefore if you will be admitted as our souldier wee either forbidde you the name of loue or else you shall be out of our fauours Cornelia willing to breake a iest with this Champion thwarted Flauia thus And what of that madame hath not warre taught him patience hee hath past sharper brunts theÌ„ womens frownes But how your leuell is without aime If madame Terentia smylâ— his peny is good siluer â—is hir fauour that is the load-star of his fortunes and howe can we enter into hir thoughts but by coniectures shée ful of beauty and he a proper yong gentleman At this frumpe the Ladies smiled and Terentia blusht for anger But Lentulus séeing such a broad iest pinde on his shoulder willing to make answere for his Mistresse although he was sore put to his trumps as half set at a Non plus yet he followed his fortunes thus Indéede Ladies thinke I haue patience to beare womens frumpes that hath incountred an enemies blow but if I could as well answere the one as quit the other you shuld neither carry it to hel nor to heaueÌ„ But to reuenge my selfe as well as I can thus First madame to cleare my cunning in loue I refer my selfe to the verdict of your owne conscience who were you but as
and thoughtes as they haue weapons and that howe bluntlie so euer brought vp in the warres yet they are curious in the choises of their loues Well be it Lentulus loues Terentia an honour to set his fancie on hir but hee kept his loue secret froÌ„ Tullie a fault to be suspicious of his friend But why gréeues Lentulus Is not his parentage greater then the house of Flaminius Is not his honours sufficient to counteruaile hir beauties Why then is he so impatient in so agreable a passion Lentulus vpon this discoursed vnto Tullie from point to point the successe of his loues how he gaue his charge ouer to Lepidus onely that he might haue a sight of Terentia and then recounting what prattle had past betwixt him and hir after dinner Hir coy answeres and firmed resolution to remaine chast crauing counsell howe he might ease the disquiete of his thonghts Tullie pittying the extreeme passion of his friende deuised sundrie meanes howe to make him lorde of his desires But after the discourse of sundry plottes it was decreed that Lentulus shoulde write vnto Teren-Terentia Lentulus dispairing of his owne stile and methode required Tully to write him a letter passionate and full of familiar eloquence which at his request Cicero contriued after this manner where by the way gentlemen I am to craue you to thinke that Terentia kept the copy secrete so that neither it can bee founde amongst Lentulus loose papers nor in the familiar epistles of Cicero If the phrase differ from his other excellent forme of writing imagine he sought to couer his style and in his pen rather to play the blunt souldier then the curious Orator neither vsing those verborum fulmina that Papyrius obiects nor that swéete and musicall cadence of words which he vseth to Atticus but howsoeuer or whatsoeuer thus it was Lentulus Terentiae salutem QVod natura in venustatis formae tuae Idaea formauit suauissima Terentia nullo modo silentio praeterire possum Ne cum nimis cautus amoris ignem celare conarer incautus tanquam Aetna meipsum consumens in cineres redigar Cum inter Parthos versarer nihil nisi bellum arma cogitans a Roma vsque formae tuae pulchritudo morumque integritas à multis saepe nuntiata est Cuius rei faema ca iucunditate aures meas permulsit vt syrenum quasi cantu delectatus arma abijcere amorem cogitare coeperim meque totum in Terentiae potestatem tradere non erubescerem Diuinae autem excellentiae tuae cogitatio eos mihi pro tempore in bellicis negotijs addidit animos vt breui deuictis profligatis Parthis totam hanc Prouinciam Lepido commiserim quem vnum tum honoris tum fortunae meae participem feci Parthisque relictis Romam me contuli vt iucundissimo fructu tum aspectus tum consuetudinis tuae frui liceat Formae vero pulchritudinis tuae dignitas tanta tamque excellens fuit vt non modo famam sed expectationem meam longe superarit Vnde exquisitam tuam perfectionem oculis contemplans singulares animi dotes auribus accipiens excellentiae tuae Idaeam in imo pectore collocaui meque totum amori quasi constring endum tradidi Cum igitur tua vnius causa suauissima Terentia famam fortunasque arma proiecerim verum amantis officium fac praestes me non meritis sed amore fac metiare vt in amore tu mihi respondens ego in omni officio tibi satisfaciam Taceo genus parentes quos tamen bonos ciues senatores fuisse constat taceo triumphos qui quales fuerint Capitolium populusque Romanus locupletissimi sunt testes de diuitijs non glorior quas tâ—men mediocres esse constat sed virtutis vim amoris constantiaÌ„ tibi propono quae nec parui facienda nec ingratitudine compensanda sunt Me igitur fac redames mea Terentia pulchritudini comitatem coniungens parentibus honorem aâ—icis fidem Lentulo amorem tribuas vt parentibus gaudio amicis vtilitati Lentulo voluptati esse possis Non disertè vt Orator sed peramanter vt imperator tibi scribo quod si amorinostro consentire digneris de patris voluntate nihil est quod dubites sed si alieno amore non nostro delecteris dâ—lores meos augebo celabo quamcunque in partem te flexeris tibi tum vitam tranquillam tum mortem gloriosam vt fideliss amator exoptabo Vale plus oculis mihi dilecta Terentia me tui desiderio iam pene languentem aut ames cito aut oderis semper vale rescribe Lentulus to Terentia health I cannot swéete soueraigne of my thoughts and chiefe myrrour of our Romaine excellencie smother that with silence which nature hath figured in the portraiture of my lookes vnlesse kéeping the flame too secrete I shoulde like Aâ—tna consume to cinders When seated amongst the Parthians hauing nothing in my thoughtes but warres and stratagemes thy beauty was repeated as speciall newes from Roome amongst the Legions The melodie séemed so pleasing to mine eares as if the musicke of the Syrens had inchaunted my senses I ceased from warres to think of loue and from loue to doate on the conceit of Terentia The thoughtes of thy excellencie doubled such courage in my attempts that I conquered the Parthians yéelded vp my charge to Lepidus made him partaker of my honors and fortunes and came to Roome onely to sée Terentia whose sight was so beauteous and so farre beyond the report of fame that mine eies surueying exquisitely thy perfections and mine eares censuring of thy wit and vertues both in league conspired to present the Idea of thy selfe to the contemplation of my heart which gréedily intertaining such rare beauties hath euer since remained a poore distressed captiue Sith then Terentia thy Lentulus hath left his fortunes to followe fancy and hath forsaken the warres to winne thy loues holding thée more deare then country or honoâ—r shewe thy selfe a Romaine Lady that striuing in minde to be matchlesse thou mayest bee more prodigall in fauours then I worthy in deserts and yéelde mée such méede for my loue as Lentulus for his loyaltie doth merite I â—oast not of my parents they are Citizens of the Senate w t thy father I speak not of mine honors the Capitol can witnes what showtes past from the Romaines as victors what tears from the Parthians as vanquished both these passions growing from the fortunes of Lentulus My reuenewes are such as satisfie my desires But all these are externall fauours which though I rehearse yet I bragge not off But the constancy of my loue the loyalty of my thoughts These Terentia are gifts of the mind deseruing no light estéem much lesse to be requited with ingratitude Consider then swéete goddesse the sincerity of mine affections weigh howe Lentulus loues and so vse him in loue measure his fortunes by his fancies As thou art
war whose very frownes are honor and whose fauors immortall glories Blush at thy thoughts that are so base wéepe with Caesar that thou hast not done wonders with Alexander Thou art elected by the Consuls as a choise man of Rome as high prised for thy valour as thy parentage and yet thy mother was of the great Aemilij thou art sent against the Parthians a Nation warrelicke and resolute either to challenge thy graue with thy sword or carue out their tombes with thy Courtelax Darest thou then Lentulus amidst those glorious thoughts of a souldier admit the least passion of a louer shall thy pollicies too little for the Parthians be imployed in purchasing Terentia No Lentulus draw thy Fauchion brandish it against Rome and if Loue looke but ouer the walls menace hir with thy Martiall weapons and yet Lentulus be not so stoicall as to reiect such a mightie Deitie Haue not the Romaines erected a Temple néere vnto Campus Martius Are not Knights dubbed to defeÌ„d Ladies Make they not their Helmes proude with their Mistresse fauours Mars hath his amours as he hath his armours Alexander gloried in his loues as he triumpht in his victories Great Pompey hath his Iulia Caesar his Paramour Souldiers haue loued and so will I. Hauing thus discoursed with himselfe the hope of his loues draue such an inuincible courage into his minde that he past not many daies without giuing battaile to the Parthians in which getting a glorious victorie he sent great treasure and many Captiues home to Rome with great intercession to the Senate that he might not winter from his owne Countrie The Consuls gald to fauour him with any reasonable graunt sent Lepidus to take his place and recalled Lentulus home to the Citie The fame of whose high intended thoughts his conquest inlarged with infinite treasures rich Captiues made Rome to ring with ecchoes of his matchlesse excellency Insomuch that passing through the stréets to the Capitol there to be inuested with the honors due to his victories multitudes of Romanes were placed on Scaffoldes to take view of so braue and hardie a Captaine and the gorgeous windowes of the Citie were stuffed with troupes of beautiful Ladies tickled with an earnest desire to satisfie their sightes with his Personage Passing thus in pompe Iulius Caesar then being Dictator after the solemne rites magnificent triumphs were ended bad him home to dinner where hee feasted him with such royaltie as might beséeme the greatnes of the day and the highnes of his owne thoughts Thus flewe the fame of Lentulus through Rome as the wonder of this time but all those triumphant dignities coulde not extirpate the melancholy of this Romans thoughts inserted into his minde by the fond inchantments of loue but as the wounded Deare wringeth forth teares and the Mirtle pierced yeeldeth Gumme so Lentulus after this déepe impression of loue coulde afforde nought but sighes and sorrowes The Iemme of Terentias excellencie reflected in his minde like an obiect in a Christall myrrour that amiddest his most serious affaires hée founde the passions of loue to be intermedled Fortune that had tied hir fauours in the toppe of his Crest halfe perswaded to become constant to this warlicke Champion séeing Cupid wrongâ— him without cause thought with a souereign Antidote to preueÌ„t y â— further ensuing preiudices of fancy forcing therfore oportunitie to dance attendance vpoÌ„ this hir darling it fell out y â— Flaminius the father of Terentia séeing howe Lentulus was generally feasted of al y â— senators in Rome thought amongst y e rest to welcome home y â— warrior with a baÌ„ket therfore méeting him at one Titus Annius Milos house he solemnely inuited him home to dinner Lentulus as ful of curtesie as courage after great thanks promised to be his guest whereupon Flaminius passing home made prouisioÌ„ Lentulus stealing to his lodging being solitary conceiued such inward ioy at this swéete oportunitie that leaning vpon his left hand smiling to himself he breathed out these words viz. Such I sée well as Mars honours with fauours Venus will not crosse with frownes those that conquer in warres shall not perish in loues Cupid fauours his fathers followers such as Fortune smiles on in baâ—tail shée laughs on in fancies I coueted to beare charge against the Parthians and the Senate elected me Lord of their Legions Desire wisht me to haue a sight of Terentia and hir father interteines me for a guest I made conquest of mine enemies with the sword and why may I not win my loue with my loyaltie Feare not Lentulus these concluded comparisons are prodigious bee Augur then to thy selfe and calculate thy good fortunes by thy thoughts Loues and warres craues courage Feare not man for thy intreaties are as mightie as hir denials can be contrarie As thus he was debating with himselfe the Clocke tolde him it was time to goe visite his Host so that he made himselfe as sumptuous as might be and at the parting from his Chamber-dore hée saide thus If Venus quoth hee thou fauour mee in my loues I will become thy vowed seruant in my life I will strewe thy Altars with Roses and set thée vp shrines at Paphos I wil binde vp my temples with myrtle bowes and for the Martiall garland weare a wreath of flowers I wil haue Doues nests in my Pallaces and what belongs to thée shall be some of my delight onely grace me with the fauour of Terentia Ending this his vowe hee pased forward with his traine towards the house of Flaminius where beeing ariued the graue Senator intertained him with such magnificence as Lentulus perceiued his welcome by his honours The board couered and the company readie to sit Lentulus was placed chiefe at the table who all this while hauing no sight of Terentia sat as a man nipped on the heade although there were at the table to grace the feast manie braue beautifull Damosels Sitting thus in a dumpe he was cheared vp by all the companie but at last to set him in his iolitie Terentia was commanded by hir father to bring him in a cuppe of Gréekish wine Shée that little cared to be séene in open bankets as holding it contrarie to the rites of Vesta durst not yet but with all diligence signifie hir obedience Therfore attyred in a rich roabe of white spotted with starres of gold tempering the porphury of hir face with a vermilion blush looking like Diana when shée basht at Acteons presence shée came into the hall where humbly saluting all the companie shée deliuered the wine to hir father Lentulus séeing Fame had but blemisht hir fauours in being to partiall of hir praises sate so amased at the beauteous excellencie of Terentia as did the Centaure enamoured of Iuno His eie made suruey of hir beauties who posting them ouer to the contemplation of his thoughts so set on fire his heart with hir perfections as his stomacke shut vp hir Orifice to giue his eies leaue to
barke against the Moone suffer small rest and great hunger Arrowes shot against the starres pierce downeward and the Syrens that â—ought to intrappe Vlisses perisht themselues So gentlemen I sought to make experience of Lentulus eloquence and fortune hath allotted me to discouer mine owne ignorance but least I might be counted either too stoicall or to too full of selâ—e conceit for iealousie thus Archias discourse of Iealousie SUch as haue searched into the déepest Aphorismes of Anacreon or pried into the principles that Ouid sette downe in his volumes find Loue to be such a pure passion of the mind as like y â— Christal it admitteth no bruse without a cracke It groweth from the vnion of two minds coÌ„ceiued by y â— special liking of some excellent good consisting in exteriour beauty or interiour vertues or the combining of them both in one sole and singular perfection This choice of excellencie confirmed by election once imprinted in the hart is so pretious as the pearls of Cleopatra The fléece of Colchos the sands of Tagus are trash if brought into compare with this diuine and metaphysicall passion man hauing swilled in this nectar of loue is so chary that he not onely brooketh no corriual of his thoughtes but admitteth no partaker of his fauours and from this feare procéedeth that furie which men call ielousie béeing a secrete suspition that others shoulde enioy that excellencie that he hath chosen sole and singular to him self This noble Romaines is that fâ—end that Pluto sent to checke Cupid in his deitie this springing from hell bringeth worse torments to the minde then the stone of Sysiphus vulture of Titius or wheele of Ixion This is the cankar that fretteth the quiet of the thoughtes the moath that secretlie consumeth the life of man and the poyson specially opposed against the perfection of loue after the heart be once infected with ielousie the slepes are broken the dreames disquiet slumbers the thoughts cares sorrowes the life woe miserie that lyuing he dies dying prolonges out his life in passions worse then death None looketh on his loue but suspition sayes this is he that couetes to be corriuall of my fauours None â—nâ—ckes at his doore but starting vp he thinkes them messengers of fancie none talkes but they whisper of affection if shée frowne shée hates him and loues others if she smile it is because shée hath had successe in hir loues looke she frowardly on any man she dissembles if shee fauour him with a gratious eye then as a man straught with frensie hee eryeth out that neither fire in the strawe nor loue in the womens lookes can be concealed thus doth he liue restles and maketh loue that of it selfe is swéete to be in taste as bitter as gall This discouereth reuerent Senators that loue being of it selfe a most excellent passion is onely blemisht by this soule and disgraced staine of ielousie as hateful and hurtfull to the mind as the Cockatrice to the eye or hemlocke to the taste The purest Chrisolite hath his strakes the flowers in Sydon as they are pretious in the sight so they are pestilent in fauour Loue as it is diuine with loialtie so it is hellish with ielousie wherfore by an auncient Poet were written these verses When Gods had framd the sweete of womens face and lockt mens lookes within their golden haire That Phoebus blusht to see their matchles grace and heauenly gods on earth did make repaire To quippe faire Venus ouerweening pride Loues happie thoughtes to ielousie were tied Then grewe a wrinckle on faire Venus browe The amber sweete of loue was turnd to gall Gloomie was heauen bright Phoebus did auowe He could be coy and would not loue at all Swering no greater mischiefe could be wrought Then loue vnited to a ielous thought Had not Iuno béen ielous ouer Iupiter Io had not béene turned into a Heifer if suspition had not prickt Menelaus Helena had not stolne away with Paris Procris had beene aliue had shée not suspected Cephalus Then worthie Romaines we sée what a preiudiciall monster groweth from the fearefull excesse of loue that not onely shortneth the life disquieteth the minde but oft is the cause of most strange and vnnatural massacres If fortune frowne in loue we flie to patience If their happen iarres why louers brawâ—es are introductions to delight If pouertie why they hope vpon time thinking that there is vicissitudo omnium rerum The lowest ebbe may haue his flow and the deadest néepe his full tyde if gréefes sorrowes repulseâ— vnkindenes these bee but Amantium irae And tâ—ereâ—ore Amoris redintegratio but as the pumice stone 〈◊〉 the paper from spots and the fire consumeth flaâ—e so â—â—is inâ—ernall plague of iealousiâ— rooteth raceth all true loue 〈◊〉 the heart that yéelding my censure I conclude with this Poeme Vita quae tandem magis est iucunda Vel viris doctis magis expetenda Mente quam pura sociam iugalem Semper amare Vita quae tandem magis est dolenda Vel magis cunctis fugienda quam quae Falso suspecta probitate amicae Tollit amorem Nulla eam tollit medicina pestem Murmur emplastrum vel imago sagae Astra nec curant magicae nec artes Zelotipiam Archias hauing thus ended his discourse the Senators greatly praised his description of iealousie and from that fell to other pleasant talke as occasion offred Till dinner being ended they arose and after many thankes and curtesies according to the custome of the Romanes Flaminius to honour Lentulus the more taking him by the hand carried him into a garden where Terentia sate accompanied with other Uirgins of Roome namely Flauia Cornelia and Iulia all of such exquisite features as they séemed to be the choyce Paragons of that time Lentulus amazed at this gorgious sight wondred not onely at their beauties but maruailed why Flaminius brought him so friendly into their presence At last the old man burst forth into these words Lord Lentulus I measure the thoughts of young gentlemen by the prime of my forepassed youth not being so cinicall as with Chremes in Terence to proportion young affections by the cynders of olde age but to thinke with Menedemus that the spring hath flowers and blossomes where as winter hath dried braunches and tawnie leaues We olde men ouer whom Saturnus is predominant hauing infused melancholy in our mindes couet either to sit solitarie or that our talke be serious you that are young whose thoughts aime at delight séeke to passe the time in pleasant discourses Least therefore the time might be tedious I haue brought you amongst these faire Ladies y â— you may make experience of loues as you haue done of warres Mars no sooner puts off his helmet but he salutes Venus and you come from conquest of the Parthians see how you can enter combate with passions and so Lord Lentulus I leaue you Lentulus seeing himself thus enuironed with these miracles of beautie casting his eye vpon the Goddesse
to Flaminius for their good chéeâ—e they parted to their seuerall mansions Lentulus sâ—ipping from the rest of the companie and with a gratious courage tooke his adue of Terentia and the other of the Ladies vowing to be theirs euer in any due honourable seruice and so staying Terentia by the hande he went home with Titus Annius Milo where he founde Marcus Tullius Cicero then a youth in Rome about y e age of twenty yeres very priuate and familiar with Milo The fame of this Tullies surpassing â—loquence was so bruted abroade in Rome as they counted him the myrror of that time as in Greece they wondred at Demosthenes for his orations and the popular people fedde their eies with his sight so as Tully past through the stréets they cryed out Hic est ille Cicero saying that as Orpheus with his musicke made the stones and trees pliant to his melody so Tully tyed the peoples cares to his tongue by his eloquence And that Plato who for his philosophicall sentences was called diuine in whose lippes bées rested as presaging his future excellencie was inferiour to Tully in the musicall concord of his phrase Lentulus noting his perfections although his parentage was base yet thinking his eloquence might be profitable to his loues grewe to bee very familiar with Tully insomuch that of vnacquainted citizens they grew to be deare and priuate friends that their thoughts were vnited with a sure league of amity and their hearts were receptacles for their mutuall passions so that their most secrete affaires were frankely participated without any doubting suspition But leauing their familliarity conuersing in Milos house Let vs gentlemen sée how Terentia brookt his departure Cornelius Nepos forgets it in Tullies life 〈◊〉 if you will beléeue me it was thus No sooner were the Senatours and Lentulus departed from Flaminius house but Flauia and the rest of the Ladies tooke leaue of Terentia who being solitary by hir selfe sitting alone in an arbour of roses began to ruminate on the Idaea of Lentulus perfection and to call to minde his seueral and singular qualities his parentage his person honors and his great possessions but all in vaine Loues poyson was preuented with an antidote and hir thoughts sealed vp with an inuincible chastity For after shée had long sate At last with a smyle shée burst foorth into these tearmes If Venus could not infuse more dismall aspects in other Ladies thoughts then into my minde they should neither hold hir as a goddesse nor honour hir temples with presents Fonde are those women that are inquisitiue after Astrologers whether Venus be retrograde or combust in their natiuities Had they but tasted the swéete fauour of Vestas incense they would abandon hir as a planet carelesse in their natiuities and not trouble the Augurs or Aruspices to censure of their fatall or fortunate fancies For had they but insight into the swéete life of virgins how secure they liue if they liue vertuous they woulde neuer intangle themselues with the inconstant snares of fancy Vesta allowes vs frée thoughts Venus disquiet passionsâ— at hir Altars we haue swéete sâ—éepes in the others pallace broken slumbers Diana counteruailes our labours with myrth and quiet in Cipres we finde toyle tempered with care and sorrowes Being virgins we haue liberty maried we tie our selues to the variable disposition of a husband who be he neuer so excellent in perfection or exquisite in proportion we shall finde sufficient whereof to gather diâ—â—ike Then Terentia let Lentulus passe with his honors he hath subdued What though Alexander woone the whole world his glories are but fortunes fauours Account him then onely as thou promised thy fathers friend and thine as farre as he treats not of weddiâ—â— and with this vpon a sodaine shée start vp and went to passe away the time amongst companie holding Cupids deity at disdaine and accounting of loue as the Samnites did of golde which they sent as presents to their enemies but banisht from their owne common wealth But Flauia poore Lady was not pierced with so easie a passion for shée hauing more déepely imprinted in hir thoughtes his honours and vertues and measuring the man by the height of his fortunes fell into these bitter complaints With what little proportion doth iniurious Loue bestowe his fauours With howe small regarde doth blinde fortune powre out hir treasures Making in all their actions contrarieties that so they may triumph in inconstancie Loue hath brought Lentulus from the wars to Rome onely to sée Terentia Fortune hath brought Flauia to the house of Flaminius onely to loue Lentulus shée little regarding him he lightly respecting me Thus hath the contrariety of loue and fortune made Lentulus vnhappy and me without hope Ah but Terentia though shée séeme coy at the first will bee more curteous at the last when shée hath had but a moneths meditating on the excellency of Lentulus Then oh then sigh Flauia and say oh then wil Terentia not reiect so honourable a personage When shée considers his youth his beauty his parentage his dignities Lentulus no sooner shall wooe but shée will be woonne This is the coniecture of hir hap the dispaire of my hope And yet it may be that the destinies haue appointed their disagrée For starres are sticklers in loue and fates are principall fautors of wedlocke If my prayers may serue â—o Venus if my incense to Cupid if my vowes to Lucina if my sute to Loue. Let their loue perish in the budde and wither in the blossoms Had I Medeas magicke the drugs of Calipso the inchauntments of Cyrces the skill of Hecate all these should be imployed to breake the loue of Terentia and Lentulus Fond Flauia to be so franticke in thy passions suppose Terentia hated Lentulus can this conclude he wil loue thée No his thoughts are setled his rest set downe his vowes made his fancy fixed all vpon y e beautiful Terentia I there Flauia y â— is y e word y e galleth to the beautifull Terentia For of such surpassing beauty is the Lady that as Cynthia brookes no compare with hir glorious brother so thou must not enter comparison with y â— daughter of y â— Senatour Flaminius But what is this to Lentulus If shée be faire yea as faire as euer was Sulpitia if shée be as coy and disdainefull as Caelia had he not better loue homely Flauia who will counteruaile with loue what shée wants in beautie and proportion out in duety what shée defects in dignity But what of this loue admits no exceptions he cannot misâ—ike â—ught in Terentia Doth not present examples yea instances executed in Roome auerre so much Is not Anthonio enamoured of the blacke Egyptian Cleopatra Doth not Caesar enuy him in his loues and couets to be corriuall of his fancies Affection is oft blinde and déemeth not rightlie The blackest Ebon is brighter then the whitest Iuorie and Venus thought Vulcan at the first a proper stripling Were Terentia neuer so coy
Lentulus will count hir disdaine but chastitie yet Flauia pray then she may liue in this mislike then hast thou yet some cause to hope otherwise wéepe thy fill dispaire and then die for swéeter is death then to liue and sée Lentulus enioy the loue of Terentia Hauing at this period breathed awhile readie to goe forwarde in passions one of hir waiting women came in who breaking of hir complaintes past away the rest of the day in prattle Leauing hir therfore and hir maide at chat again to Lentulus who tooke such inwarde griefe at this newe conceited loue that his colour began to waxe pale and to discouer passions his sighes many and often to bewray his sorrows his sodayne startes in his sléepes and his musinges surcharged with melancholie These noted by Tullie his priuate friende made him coniecture that somewhat was amisse with Lentulus Hauing therefore fit opportunitie he began to sift him in this manner The auncient Gréetians swéete Lentulus y â— set downe principles of friendship account the secrete conuersiâ—g of friendes and their mutuall participating eyther of priuate sorrows or concealed pleasures the principall end of such professed amitie Therefore did Theseus choose Pirithous Orestes Pylades to that end or else you wronge me serues Tullie to his Lentulus If then it be requisite in friendshippe to abandon suspitious secrecie I cannot but take it vnkindly that Tullie is not made partaker of Lentulus passions For as the Carbuncle is not hid in the darke nor the fire shut vp in strawe so sorrowes cannot so couertly be concealed but the countenance will purtray out the cause by the effectes Thinke me not then so blind but I can Iudge of coullors nor so simple but I can deeme of affections what meane these farre fetcht sighes broken slumbers this newe delight to be solitarie but that Lentulus féeling a passion that pierceth to the quick yet séekes to kéepe it secrete from his friend Tullie Knowe this my good Lentulus that smoake depressed stiffleth more deadly That the Ouen the closer it is damd vp the greater is the heate and passions the more priuate the more preiudiciall Stop not then the streame least it ouerflow Conceale not sorrowes least they ouercharge and prooue like woundes that kepte long from the Chirurgian growe to be incurable vlcers If it be a Fathers frowne an enemies wrong a friendes mishap reueale it and séeke remedie If Lentulus gréeues hath left his honours in Parthia feare not Rome will haue more warres and Lentulus new dignities If the Senatoures haue delt ingratefully Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris The most famous Romaines haue forerunne thée in such hard fortunes Scipio subdued Affrica what his rewarde was let our annualles report If Lentulus misliks ought in Rome let him abandon Rome and Tullio will banishe himselfe from his countrie too with his friend Lentulus If since thy comming into this storehouse of natures prodigalitie thiue eye hath made suruaie of anie gorgious Damsell and so my Lentulus be in loue although wisedome wills to hide amors euen from amitie and to tie fancie in the lowest cell of his heart yet reueale it to thy friende Tullie and if any way hee may ease his Lentulus passions hee vowes to salue thy sore though with the hazarde of his owne safetie Lentulus hearing his friende leuell so néere the marke gaue a great grone at the name of loue and fetching a déepe sighe saide Actna grauius Amor. And with that starting from the place where hee sat taking Tullie by the hande he began thus Were it my Tullie that my passions had any hope of remedie or that my wounde were such as might bee cured by counsell long ere this had Lentulus powred his plaintes into the bosome of his friende Cicero but my sorrows as they are piercing so I haue kept them priuate as hoping for no ease and yet delighting in my martiredome The birde flieth the snare of the fouler No sooner doth the woodman bend his bowe but the Déere trippes through the lawnes euerie creature is taught by nature to feare his fall and yet wretched Lentulus hunteth after his owne mishappe So haue I described the furie of my passions as I can not but say it is loue that is thus impatient Loue my Tullie that is such a lord as insâ—nuating his power with fauour he kéeps possession by force Wars haue their endes either honors or death and in battaile prowesse oft makes constraint of fortune but in loue delay is the vnhappie deathsman that holding thée vp neither saues nor killes Since my comming to Rome my Tullie coueting to conuerse with beautifull Ladies as before I had done with martiall souldiers amongst manie curious Pearles I founde one Orient Margarite richer then those which Caesar brought from the western shores of Europe so long I gased at the beautie of this pretious Iem that I founde my selfe gald with such affection as well repeat I might but recall I coulde not and for thou shalt say she is loue worthie heare how in discribing hir excellencie I haue plaide the Poet. Lentulus description of Terentia in Latin Qualis in aurora splende scit lumine Titan Talis in eximio corpore forma fuit Lumina seu spectes radiantia siue capillos Lux Ariadne tua lux tua Phoebe iacet Venustata fuit verbis spirabat odorem Musica vox nardus spiritus almus erat Rubea labra genae rubrae faciesque decora In qua concertant lilius atque rosa. Luxuriant geminae formoso in pectore mammae Circundant niueae candida colla comae Denique talis erat diuina Terentia quales Quondam certantes Iuno Minerua Venus Thus in English BRightsume Apollo in his richest pompe was not like to the tramels of hir haire Hir eyes like Ariadnes sparkling starres shone from the Ebon Arches of hir browes Hir face was like the blushing of the east when Titan chardge the mornings Sun to rise Hir cheekes rich strewd with roses and with whyte did stayne the glorie of Anchises loue Hir siluer teates did ebbe and flowe delight Hir necke colummes of polisht Iuorie Hir breath was perfumes made of violets And all this heauen was but Terentia NO sooner had Lentulus ended his well written Poem and concluded his cunning with the name of his mistresse but Tullie hearing Terentia was the saint at whose shrine Lentulus offred vp his deuotion entring his exordium with a smyle he began to be thus pleasaut And is there no fruit will serue your taste but such as growe in the Gardens Hesperides nor no colour content your eye but such as is stayned by the fish Murex Must your senses be fed with nothing but that is excellent nor your loue haue no meane but to aime at the fairest What Terentia the beautie of Rome the pride of nature the wealth of all the fauouring graces whose excellencies are spreade throught the triple deuision of the worlde I see my Lentulus souldiers haue eyes as they haue hands
beautifull so vse iustice giue euery one his due Honour to the gods reuerence to thy father faith to thy friend and Loue to Lentulus and if it please thée to grace me with the title to thy husband Lentulus for I couet to like honestly not to loue wantonly I write Terentia as a souldier without eloquence and as a louer without flattery if thou satisfie my loue with thy fauours I doubt not to seale vp thy content with thy fathers and friends agrée If either thou art tied to former loues or mislikest of mine I will close vp my sorrows with silence Howsoeâ—er it shall please thée to returne answere Liue with content and die with honour Terentias newe intertained souldier Publius Cornelius Lentulus If gentlemen I haue not translated Lentulus letter verbatim worde for worde let me in mine owne excuse yéelde these reasons that neither the familiar phrase of the Romaines can brooke our harsh cadence of sentences nor durst I attempt to wrest Tullies eloquence to my rude and barbarous english fearing either to wrong so worthy an Orator in displacing or rather disgracing his phrase or in too far presuming purchase your frowne which I haue euer in all duty sought to auoid But howsoeuer my translation séemes wrested I haue kept his And so to Lentulus who hearing Tully reade the epistle both conceited the methode and allowed of the manner Onely carefull where to get a fit and conuenient messenger Tully at last called to remembrance one Eutrapelus an especiall friend of his who frequented the house of Flaminius by him did Lentulus sende the letter and so liuing in hope of a happy answere he left Tully in his study and went to the Capitoll Cicero no sooner was by himselfe but calling to mind the description of Terentia set out with such excellency by Lentulus in his new learnd poetrie and weighing how al Roome woondred at hir beauties began to féele certaine sparkes of loue kindling in his young desires which made him blush at his owne thoughtes and smile that fancy shoulde lie lurking amongst his library to take him at discouert But assoone as he remembred that Lentulus was in loue with hir the faith to his friend was a cooling carde to his affections and hee quenched those sparkes at the first lest suffered they might grow to a greater flame yet was he maugre his heade forced to say thus much Hast thou liued fortunate and fauoured in Roome hath honour raised thée from a meane cottage to be a companion to the sonnes of Senators Doe the Consuls make thee for thy learning one of the Pretâ—xtati and wilt thou for the hope of foolish beauty staine all thy fauours and fortunes with disgrace Nay rather Tully it will be honor to wooe the daughter of so famous a Romaine but shame to thee to take the repulse and be denied Thinkest thou Terentia will looke so lowe will Eagles catch at flies wil the woonder of our time the paragon of our age allied to the noblest houses in Roome make choise of so base and meane a person What hast thou to deserue hir loue any more then a little babling eloquence Womens eares are not their touchstones but their eies they sée and make choyse not heare and fancy A dramme of honour weighs downe a pound of wit and better is it to court with welthy reuenewes then with swéete lines or fine coucht poemes Thou hast nothing left but a poore farme called Cumanum whose rents quits not the charges of thy studies But suppose thou couldst winne Terentia suffice shée is loued by Lentulus and therefore froÌ„ this day name hir not in thy mouth nor weare hir in thy thoughtes least thou violate friendship which thou ought to prise dearer then life Thus Tully appeasing his passions went out of his study and willed Eutrapelus to deliuer the letter with secrecy who being one of Tullies chief familiars went with all spéede to the house of Flaminius where finding the Ladie Terentia sitting with Flauia Cornelia at worke he being homo facetus began merily to commend their huswifery after some iests broken betwixt the gentlewomeÌ„ him he craued to speak w t Terentia about certain serious affairs y â— greatly imported hir father Wherupon shée rising going with Eutrapelus into hir closet he there deliuered vnto hir Lentulus letter Terentia abashed at the sight blushed as half angrie with Eutrapelus that he made him selfe messenger in so vaine a matter yet considering it came from so honourable a personage as Lentulus shée vouchsafed it wisht Eutrapelus in the euening to come for an answere He was no sooner departed but Terentia vnripped the seales and then red the contentes which being contrarie to hir resolution shée determined to returne with a deniall But for that she would make hir friends priuie to hir new loues passions she went smiling in and shewed them the letter Upon poore Lentulus plainesong they all began to descant Cornelia praysing Terentias fortunes that was so enterely beloued of so honourable braue a Gentleman but Flauia hung the lippe and saying little only askt what a louing answere she would write I know not howe to replie quoth Terentia he hath written so eloquently and so cunningly But quoth Flauia I durst pawne my credite it was written by young Tullie that braue Orator for I haue red some of his Epistles and tis both his methode and his verie phrase That Tullie quoth Terentia whom I haue heard my Father and the Senators so highlie commend for his witte thinking him to excéede either Crassus or Hortensius and with that sitting downe they began to enter into discourse of Tullies excellencies concluding all that he was as singular amongst the Romaines as euer Demosthenes was amongst the Grecians At last Terentia remembring hir selfe tooke leaue for a whyle of hir two friendes and stealing into hir closet stepping to the standish shée was about to write but calling to minde the discourse of Tullies perfection letting fall hir penne she fell into a passion Cupid wayting to spie this vestall at aduantage séeing hir halfe at discouert vulosde a bolt headed with desire and fethered with conceite which piercing the tender briest of this young Damosell he made hir shrinck at the blow and so breath out this complaint Hast thou Terentia béene wondred at in Rome for despising loue and wilt thou now doting gyrle stomble on desire shall fancie eclipse all thy former glories shall Vesta léese a virgin and Venus winne a wanton Wilt thou resemble the buddes of an Elder trée which young are swéete and holesome but blomd foorth are bitter and preiudiciall thinke with thy selfe that Dianas shrubs are more pleasaunt than Cupids bowers the one harbours chast thoughts the other amorous fancies Truth but Lucina is a goddesse loue is diuine and marriage honorable Cedars are fayre but in yéelding no fruite they purchase the lesse estéeme To be a virgin is a glorious title but to liue euer so is to wrong nature in
hir fauors Well hast thou not then Terentia a noble gentleman of Rome Lord Lentulus to bee thy husbande a man whose youth is filled with honours and whose spring time â—â—orisheth dignities hath he not triumpht ouer the Parthians in conquest bouÌ„d fortune to his temples with wreathes of victorie Is not his parentage one of the greatest families in Rome Is he not for beautie like the fayre Gréekes Paramour For wisedome like wise Vlisses that Cyrces could not inchant For courage Hector Aud of such reuenewes as may maintaine thee with the most gorgeous dames of Italie But the chiefe of his graces is he not enamored of Terentia and sues for hir fauour This I confesse Sed deteriora sequor Loue ah that foolish passion which we tearme loue allowes nothing excellent but what it likes It shadowed begarie in Crates For Hipsycratea thought him rich in that he was vertuous deformitie in Vulcan for Venus would not beléeue hee had a poult foote Loue hath no lacke and lesse reason yet must I loue and whome ah Tullie swéete Tullie from whose mouth flows melodie more inchaunting then the Syrens on whose lips the muses make a newe Parnassus in whose thoughts rest Platos diuine spirites and in whose heade is contayned the subtilâ— witte of Aristotle Is not hee as glorious in Rome for his eloquence as thou for thy beauties Doth not the Senators wounder at his learning as at thy perfection Why should not then both our singularities be lincked in the vnion of Loue why shoulde not Terentia liue to Tullie and Tullie to Terentia Ah but he is base the first of his kyn that tasted of honour I but he is vertuous and famous for his eloquence graces that counteruaile the meanesse of his parentes I sée loue hath reasons béeing out of reason still to argue against reason therfore without further pro contra in mine owne passions I wil loue Tullie therfore thus to Lentulus With that taking vp hir penne she wrote him this aunswere Terentia to Lentulus health WHen I red Lorde Lentulus thy letters and spied thy loues I blusht at mine owne thoughtes and sorrowed at thy fortunes I serch not the cause of thy loue for it sufficeth to me thou doest loue if it lay in me either to graunt thy desire or satisfie thy passions Thy reasons are sufficient to moue were it not my vowe and my destines direct my minde to contrary thy affections Thy honours Lentulus knockes at the closet of my heart thy victories sue for their lordes libertie thy loyaltie enters pele mele with my thoughtes and giueth a sore assault to my setled resolutioÌ„ all these put in their pleas to purchase fauour for young Lentulus But Vesta hard harted Vesta that makes hir virgings pliant to hir owue properties commaunds that I shut mine ears against such alluring Syrens I count my selfe greatly honoured with the loue of so worthie a Romayne and euer will Terentia coâ—et to prooue as thankfull as he affectionate onely in loue pardon me for that either I neuer meane to loue or if I doe loue my thoughtes were fixed before Lentulus came from Parthia Wade not there where the ford hath no footing barke not with the Wolues of Syria against the Moone looke not to climâ— Olimpus way not at impossibilities but pacifie that with patience which thou canst not obtaine with beeing passionate If thou suest to my Father and he graunt to conclude a mariage yet shalt thou want a bride for I will first die before I violate my resolution Séeke not then by my preiudice to aime at thy owne content which be it euery way yet it shall neuer be in my loue not that I hate Lentulus but that my fortunes forbides me to loue Lentulus If thou thinkst these denials be but words of course and perswadest thy selfe that women will bee first coy and then courteous as the marble that drops of raine do pierce Thou shalt déepely deceiue thy selfe and highlie wrong me but I challenge thy promise that howsoeuer I frâ—strate thy expectation thou wilt burie thy conceipte in silence In which hope gréeuing that thy showers came in Autumne I wish quiet to thy thoughts and an ende to thy loues Thine euer but in loue Terentia TErentia hauing thus ended hir letter and newe begun hir loues the one directed to Lentulus the other deuoted to Tullie she went straight to hir two friends Cornelia and Flauia shewing them the contentes of the letter Cornelia saide she was too seuere and stoicall in sending such a peremptorie aunswere to so braue a gentleman Flauia ouercharged with ioy praysed the resolution of Terentia wishing that all maides were of hir minde misâ—iking that which shée most loued thinking by retreating Terentia from the chace to be mistresse of the game hir selfe Well this letter at last was sealed and deliuered to Eutrapelus who hying him fast to Tullies lodging founde Lentulus and him in secrete and serious discourse and all god wot was about Terentia Lentulus hauing receiued the letter entring with Tullie into his study read the contents No sooner had he viewed reuiewed ouer hir cruell determination but in a great extasâ—e of minde he cried out Dulcior est mors quam Amor. And with that flinging out of his study he fell into bitter and extreame sorrows Tully grieuing at his friendes harde fortune sought with plausible perswasions to appease his furious melancholy wishing him whatsoeuer Terentia wrote stil to thinke hir a woman that would one while thrust out fancy with a finger and straight interteine loue as a friend that either time or his constancy woulde make hir stoope to the lure of his desires Thus sought Tully to wrest him from his passions but in vaine for hir resolution confirmde with such effectuall and perswasiue determinations so quatted the conceit of his former hope that going passing melancholy to his bed he fell into an extreame feuer which aggrauated with the inward anguish of his minde grewe to be so dangerous that Asclapo the physitâ—on excellent at that time for his facultie iudged the disease â—o be mortall The Senatours hearing of Lentulus sickenesse sorrowed as fearing Roome by death shoulde bee depriued of such high ensuing hope his friends fâ—ocked to his lodging to visite him who noting the heate of the ague and the passions of his minde his sodaine starts his gash lookes and his abrupt answeres iudged the extremity of his sickenes had halfe brought him to a lunacy all séeking by counsaile to cure that which neither counsail nor medicine could mitigate Frustrate of their expectatioÌ„ they wished his weal and returned with grief Only Tully whose setled friendship no misfortune could remooue still day and night as a second Esculapius wayted vpon this perplexed patient But as the depth of his passion pierced into the center of his heart so the feuer increased that generally Roome began to sorrow so braue a warriour shoulde bee cut off in the very prime of his fortunes insomuch
this madame I speake as a familiar of Lentulus and no enemy to Terentias honour If he be a Romaine that Terentia loues let him either be more honourable more valiant more affable more excellent euery way then Lentulus nay more louing then the poore gentleman or else discarde him for a man insufficient either to tast of Terentias beauty or to be corriual with Lentulus in his loues Terentia had yéelded at this fierce assault had not loue laide an instance before hir of hir resolution For the more Tully pleaded for his friend the more was Terentia enamoured so that shée made him this answere If I knewe howe to certifie Lentulus of this dayes discourse he should highly reward you for playing so wel the Orator But I maruaile Cicero that being young and of such eloquence we heare not of your loues I feare you reach so hye that you thinke no maides in Roome honorable inough for your paramour Were I a man and had Tullies grace and his tongue I would plead for my selfe and vse one word for my friend and two for my selfe So madame quoth he shoulde men account mee a faithlesse friend and a flattering louer But leauing these suppositions madam how answere you my last reason With loue quoth shée and that is without reason for how might the gentleman to whom I finde my selfe affectionate thinke himselfe wrongd if without cause I should be inconstant Graunt I my loue to the meanest citizen a monarch shall not make conquest of my thoughts Suppose syr it were your selfe and that Terentia loued Tully coulde you brooke an other to braue you in your affections I would madame quoth Tully if it were no supposition And how then quoth Terentia if it were not Then would I quoth hee become Esculapius to Lentulus and sweare his disease shoulde not be incurable for I woulde coniure you by the rightes of loue by the sacred lawes of Venus and by the affection that were imprinted in your thoughtes to bestowe what yâ—u would impart vpon me to my only ioy Lord Lentulus But women cannot make loue voluntary Tush madame what cannot women doe for loue Any thing quoth Terentia but change loue Therefore concealing the party that I loue I will say and sweare Tully is my loue and so say to Lentulus With this Terentia blusht and for very griefe that Tully woulde not sée into hir thoughtes the teares stoode in hir eies which Tully spying it so prickt him to the heart that it neuer after was rased out To smooth therefore his rough methode with a fewe fine filed phrases hee salued the matter thus It is madame impossible to driue fire downeward or to make heauy things to mount Nature will not bee wrongd nor loue drawne out by constraint therfore I will leaue any more at this time to sue for Lentulus hoping the consideration of his martirdome will at length make battery into the bulwarke of your breast whereas you will sweare Tully is your lâ—ue you knowe madame we haue in ouâ— twelue tables a lawe against periury but if you vouch to grace me that title in all duty I wil rest your euer bounden seruant Why then seruant quoth shée let vs to yonder two Ladies that for want of a companion are faine to make an amarous knight of my page Flauia séeing they were halfe agréed â—earing Tully by his eloquence had perswaded Terentia waxed pale and incountred them thus What news quoth shée doth Lentulus winne or loose Neither madame quoth Tully but his cause hanges still in suspence the next court day I will end my oration and then the Iudge shall giue verdict As they were ready to haue gone forward in some pleasant prattle they espied a horseman making towards them with the greatest spéede that might bee When he came within ken Tully knew it to be Lentulus man and before he had leysure to do his message he demanded how his master did passing sicke syr quoth hee and hath sent that you be with him presently Tully who was toucht at the quicke with this newes put foote in the stirrop and mounted yet as one forgetting himselfe hee vsed these words Pardon Ladies if I passe manners and promise in leaping vp without leaue and returning in such post without your company It is for Lentulus whom you all loue and therefore I hope to rest blamelesse Now madam Terentia what shall I say to Lentulus No more quoth shée then what I saide to Tullie but how concludes Tullie of his last premisses that quoth hee Terentia shall frame the argument and so with this darke Aenigma he tooke leaue of the Ladies who after his departure fell in talke of his perfections Terentia so déepely praysing the man that hir companions easilie perceiued hir loues smilde that in forsaking a flower shée light vpon a wéede Well tracing still amongst the medows they chanced into a valley most curiouslie decked with Floras delicates in which were such varietie of flowers that nature séemed there to haue planted the storehouse of hir prodigalitie Adioyning to this valley was a pleasaunt riuer and a groue that gaue a grace to Cloris excellencie delighted with the scituation of this place as they passed along they metâ—e a shéepheard who doing reuerence to the dames Terentia demaunded of this swaine what the name of this pleasaunt place was Madam quoth he we shéepehardes here call it the vale of Loue And why so quoth Cornelia Although madam quoth he my flocke hath no guide but my dog and now in yeaning time the wolues are verie busie yet for that I see you are Senators daughters and with all passing courteous I will shew the reason and with that leaning on his staffe the Ladies sitting downe he began thus The Sheepheardes tale NOt many yeares since here in ArpynatuÌ„ dwelt a shepherdise called Phillis so famous for hir beauty that the Senators sonnes which you cal Pretextati not only came to féed their eyes with hir fauours but to satifie their fancies with hir loues in so much that she was courted of manie braue Romaine Gentlemen But shee that helde loue at the staffes end although hir parentes had left hir rich yet to banishe Cupid with labour she vouchsaft to be kéeper of hir owne flockes fearing the pride of the beautie if sâ—e should marrie with one of Rome would proue an enimie to hir humble thoughtes Liuing as chast as shée was inrouled for a Vestall and quoted by Diana for one of hir speciall followers hir excellencie was bruted abroad through all Italie But shee who feared to gase at starres for stumbling at stones laide hir thoughtes lowe and made choice of hir companie with countrie maydes and homely shepehards yet was hir attire rich as diuers that traueled this way tooke hir rather for a Nymphe the follower of some goddesse then a maide and daughter of a poore swaine While thus she liued ladie of the field there was in the same village one Coridon sonne to a simple shéepeharde
bee constant Amongst all that haue béene borne in the poore village of Arpinatum thou maist Tullie say that thy planets haue béene pleasing and thy desires fauorable who the son of a poore Fermour art in hope to make thy house equal with the most in Roome Measure but thy honour and Iudge of thy fortunes thy family base yet art thou companion with Senators and men of grauest account in the Citie Honour treades on thy héele and dignitie daunceth attendance at thy lookes but loue Cicero that deitie that diuine essence that sealeth vp content in al estates he stoopeth at thy frown presentes thée wreaths of myrtle that thou maist enter into Paphos without checke Terentia the wonder of Rome Natures Paragon the refined beautie of the heauens she that seemeth to glaunce on the Pretextati she that makes no account of the miracle of our time Lord Lentulus shée Cicero commaunded by loue yéelds hir selfe captiue to the sonne of a poore country villager in Arpinatum Then Tullie strew Venus temple with roses say there is no fount but Alcydalion no hill but Erecinus no bird but the doue no god but Cupid Loose not oportunity take hir by the foreheade let not slip occasion for shée glydes away like a shadow nor loue for she hangs at the héeles at time Nowe Terentia hath put the iron in the fire strike then while it is hot pay hir downe poundes of loue for drams of fancy for in matching w t the daughter of a senator think it presageth thou shalt be a Senator so shalt thou gaine at one time honour dignity wealth and beauty but with that loose thy faith Tully thy faith thou hast vowed to Lentulus who shuts vp his secretes in thy heart and resteth his thoughts on thy bosome Wilt thou preferre honour before thy friend or wealth before conscience Ah Tully if thou be the man y â— Roome woondreth at for thy eloquence be also the man that they shall canonize for thy vertues Beauty is but a bauins blaze wealth is but a fickle fauour of fortune dignity is haunted by enuy but friendship that is the pretious treasure that neither time nor fortune can violate Why but Terentia will neuer loue Lentulus then Tully hate thou euer Terentia I am a man and subiect vnto loue as well as Lentulus So art thou a man and being false to thy friend art vnworthy all loue Abandon Tully these vaine imaginations â—ount Terentia foule deformed vitious and what not as long as one sparke of loue lieth rakt vp in the cynders of thy thoughts and as long as Lentulus loues hir hate hir for thy self and â—oue hir for Lentulus Setting downe his rest at this period he went into the chamber to sée if Lentulus were awake but finding him still fast a sléepe he went towards the Capitoll where he met with Flaminius the father of Terentia who demaunded very heartily how Lentulus did Cicero with a déepe sigh said passing sick Wherof quoth Flaminius grows the disease I heard that Asclapo iudgeth his sickenes to be mortall Tully thinking to set all on the dice not respecting his owne loue but his faith to his friend began thus Graue Senator I néede not rehearse Lentulus byrth as beeing a citizen nor his reuenewes his possessions long knowne to euery man nor his honours ended in victories for the Parthians are sufficient euidence of his well discharged dignities and valour Lentulus graced in the prime of his youth with these fauours hearing of the beauty of a Romaine Lady left the warres and came to Roome where courting his mistresse not with wanton poemes but with tearmes of marriage hee fâ—und hir froward and his loue dasht in the prime The impression of hir beauty grauen with too déepe a caracter was too fast rooted in his heart to be thrust out with deniall yet Lentulus to content hir plaies like the phenix burnes in his owne parfumes rather wishing to die then to contrary hir resolution This is the cause that first brought Lentulus to his bedde and this ere long will bring him to his graue And who may it be quoth Flaminius of what family of what beauty of what degrée that can or dare deny Lorde Lentulus Is he not mighty and may commaund by force what he cannot obtaine by intreaty will not the souldiers at his becke rise in armes Feare not the Consuls themselues to wrong Lentulus Doth not all Roome hang their thoughts at his lookes Ah miserable father that harbours such a daughter and stubborne huswife that denies so braue a Romaine In friendship Tully tell me who it is Cicero willing to put a spurre to a frée horse and to loose his owne content to winne his friendes quiet told him flatly it was his daughter Terentia and for proofe he shewed him the letters that past betwixt Lentulus and hir Assoone as hir father had read the contents as a man half mad he fel into furious and frantick tearmes exclaiming against the headstrong humour of foolish Terentia After he had breathd out the heat of his choller he fell to be somewhat appeased and bad Tully home to supper promising all shoulde sort according vnto Lentulus minde With that departing from the Capitoll Tully and he went home to his house where the Cooke being somewhat slacke Flaminius hearing his daughter was all alone in the garden he wished Tully to try hir once againe and to perswade hir by all possible means to graunt to the request of Lentulus Upon this Tully went into the garden where finding Terentia sitting solitary in an arbour vp to the hard eares in a dumpe he wakened hir out of hir muse thus Vestas chiefe paragon and Venus newe interteined darling you madam Terentia I meane that sit in a muse are you offring orisons to Diana for your chastity or thanks to Cupid for your loues or what are you thinking on when you thinke on nothing Terentia turning hir head and séeing Tully all alone blusht more then Cynthia did when shée wantond it with hir faire faced shepheard yet welcomming hir loue with a smile shée tooke him by the hand and made him this answere Your subtile salutation concluding Vesta and Venus in one Dilemma commands me answere that I was dooing my deuotion to both offring prayers for my olde thoughts thanks for my newe loues scarce had I saide gramercy to the goddesse but you must come Cicero to make my thanks prodigious for my thinking when I thought of nothing it was of mens loues which are lighter then the flame and sooner faded then a flash of lightning But I pray you say what winde hath driuen you into this coast Marry madame the very sighes that fly from Lentulus breast grewe to so great a storme that I was blowne hither to séeke shelter for the tempest You haue nothing quoth Terentia but Lentulus in your mouth I pray you say how fares the gentleman Ill madame quoth Tully euery way for his dyet is badde in that his stomacke
is nought and his health is doubtfull in that his thoughtes are disquiet and madame it rests in you to saue so honourable a gentleman not onely from sickenes but from sorrowe Aeneas was a stragling Troian an exile periured and banisht euen from the ruines of Troy yet Dydo the famous Carthage quéene made him hir paramour Demophoon a pyrat a robber in Greece cast vp as shipwrack on the shore yet interteind by Phillis Phao a ferryman a slaue yet fauoured by Sapho Lentulus the hope of the Romains more beautifull then Eneas more couragious thâ— Demophoon more honourable then Phao more louing then them all is refused and reiected by Terentia his neighbour and familiar Thinke not Terentia but loue as hee hath roses so hee hath nettles as he hath perfumes so hath hee hemblocke and holding fauors the claspeth reuenge as ready to pierce as to pacifiâ— If you procure Lentulus death Cupid hath power to inforce your dispaire and to cause your loue to be as fickle to you as you are froward to him Then madam let me be the messenger of life and from your swéete selfe carry such conserues to Lentulus as may recouer his health and increase your honours This discourse of Tully did but sette Terentias heart more on fire For hearing the pleasant harmony of hir Cicero shée likt of the musicke as of the Syrens melody and so intangled hir selfe with many newe conceiued fancies insomuch that forgetting whose daughter shée was shée burst foorth into these tearmes Did I not Cicero tell thée twixt Arpinatum Roome y â— loue hath but one cell wherein to place the Idaea of y â— party loued wilt thou haue me like the Camelion to haue many colours or like Helena to intertain many loues I know Lentulus dignities are beyond my degrée that his honors are more then my fortunes that his loue is great and so I holde him the second in my most secrete thoughtes first he cannot be and that he craues Thou doest wring water out of the flint fier forth of y â— dry sandes immodesty from hir that hath euer béene honoured for chastily so that by wastlesse perswasions for thy friende I am forst to say thou art the friend that Terentia hath chosen amongst all the worthy Romains Before I sawe thée Tully I loued thee and now I haue setled my affection and thou wrongst me with discurtesie but either cease from intreating for Lentulus or looke to sée me worse then Lentulus And with this blushing at hir owne ouermuch loues shée poured foorth such abundance of teares as well might bewâ—ay the sincerity of hir affections Tully gréeuing to sée the goddesse of his thoughtes in this passion answered hir mildly thus Blame me not Terentia if I pleade for Lentulus séeing his sorrow and entring into mine owne promise Then friendship is no swéeter iewell then howe can I but labour ere I loose so rich a prize But séeing Terentia hath vouchsafed of so meane a man as Tully whose honours onely hanges in his studies loue béeing the strictest league of amity and no such friendship as is mariage I vowe by the Romaine gods euer to be a duetifull seruant vnto a Terentia and with my loyalty so to requite hir fauours as Roome shall more admire my affections then they haue woondred at my eloquence yet with this prouiso my swéete Terentia that although I preferre thy fauours before mine owne life yet if thou canst striue to loue Lentulus which if either the gods loue fortune or thy selfe can bring to passe I will with mine owne preiudice conquer mine owne thoughtes to satisfie the content of Lentulus As Terentia was ready to reply one of hir fathers seruants came to request Cicero to come to supper who taking his leaue of Terentia went in to hir father Flaminius who sitting downe to supper passed away the time in ordinary talke Their repast being taken Flaminius calling Tully on the one side demaunded what his daughters answere was Peremptory quoth Tully still to hold Lentulus in mislike Then you shall heare quoth hir father what I will say and so report to Lentulus so calling for Terentia they thrée being together he began thus I knowe not howe Terentia to insinuate my exordium whether friendly to perswade with a smyle or fatherly to admonish with a frowne thy follies are so great and my care so tender Roome hath hitherto admyred thy vertues and I haue praised thy obedience thou hast béene counted honorable and chast wise to eschew wantonnesse but neuer coy to be thought disdainefull and shall nowe all these graces ende in disgrace Then Terentia maiest thou repent hereafter and I powre forth present sorrowes I speake thus for that I heare in the city what maketh me to grieue and may force thée to blush They say Terentia is beautiful and proude witty and ouerwéening hauing coy disdaine crept into the place of curteous desire this men say that enuy thy follyes and grieue at Lentulus fortunes Now daughter thou séest the marke I aime at and maiest iudge of my shot by the leuell Lentulus is fallen into a feuer which Asclapo that famous Phisition of Patras censures to be mortall Thy frowardnes was the efficient of the disease and nowe thou deniest cure of the maladie Unaduised gyrle that neither weighest of thine owne honours nor his miseries Lentulus requires Terentia in mariage let vs make compare of the parties and so examine the cause of thy denials He is descended from the Lentuli and Aemilij two houses that euer haue béene the props of the Romaine dignities His honours are great as proconsul in his youth against the Parthians His fortunes mighty doubled with his conquests and victories His reuenewes such as he may with Crassus maintaine Legions If like Venus darling thou séekest to féede thine eie his fauour is more then his that pleased Cynthia If thou couetest a souldier Lentulus in Roome is as Hector was in Troy If a Courtier who braues it so in Italy To conclude if Terentia couet to loue there is none so fit to loue within the Romaine Empire as Lentulus Whereas Terentia is but the daughter of a meane Senatour hir dowry cannot be much for that hir fathers wealth is not great Beautifull shée is and so are many in Roome who are of meaner parentage Hir glories are but fortunes pelfe that florishe in the morning and fade before night What then can mooue Terentia to oppose hir selfe against Lentulus vnlesse shée fatally presageth hir owne discredit and the ruine of hir fathers house If then daughter thou art child to Flaminius I charge thée by the strickt law of nature which Philosophers call Regius amor a kingly loue if thou be a maide by the holy fiers of Vesta if beautifull by Venus deity if a Romaine by thy Countryes loue that thou loue Lentulus which if thou refuse to performe thy father shall curse thée Vesta shall shut thée from hir temples Venus from hir fauours and thy country
woone Andromache nor the wisedome of Vlisses that intangled Calipso nor the beauty of Priamus sonne that drew Greece in armes to Troy these perfections if combined in one man shoulde not mooue Terentia to listen to the allurements of Venus not that I make light estéeme of Lentulus or that I holde small account of Fabius as two chiefe myrrours of our Romaine gentlemen But that either my vowes are resolute to Vesta or if Cupid hath taken me by the héele it was before Lentulus came from Parthia or you from Arpinatum so that conclude howsoeuer it is I cannot become affectionate to Fabius At this reply Fabius stoode so amated as if hee had beene an vnwelcome guest at the feast of Perseus which Cornelia noting déepely in loue with Fabius shée told him thus Nor may you Fabius thinke much at this repulse sith Lentulus and you are in one predicament nowe both become gainers in liberty that haue béene loosers in loue and either gette the willowe garlande and so mourne for your Ladies frowne or séeke a mistresse that may shewe you more fauor For as for Terentia shée hath chosen and none must please hir but Oratours If there be Fabius but one Sunne that is thought the beauty of heauen yet there be planets that though not in shine yet in influence are as vertuous what there bee Ladies I meane of such course die as my selfe and Flauia that when Terentia is once married looke for husbands Fabius hearing Cornelia thus pleasant noted this quippe that none must please hir but Oratours which made Terentia blush for anger and Fabius to make this answere I knowe no Oratours in Roome quoth he whose yeares are answerable to Terentias thoughtes but onely Marcus Tullius Cicero and if it be he I sweare by the fitch that gaue him his syrname Terentia shall be mistresse of a goodly Cottage in Arpinatum Terentia hearing Fabius to giue Tully the frumpe answered thus The more his fortune if it be hee whose vertues hath made him master of his owne desires for his lands in Arpinatum as they be little yet shall his lacke be counteruaild with his loues and if he hath not one to inrich him with dowry yet I may perhaps content him with beauty And therefore Fabius to take away all suppositions it is Tully none but Tully y â— shall inioy Terentia And quoth Fabius in great choller nor Tully nor none besides Tully but Fabius shall inioy Terentia Whereupon departing without taking his farewell going vnto hir father and discoursing vnto him that Tully was the man that his daughter had chosen for hir husband swearing that his sword ere it were long should end their loues Although Flaminius were grieued yet he sought to pacifie Fabius but in vaine for hee flung out of the dores in a rage and went to Milos house to séeke Tully Where breathing out many despightfull threats against the Oratour it came at last to Lentulus eare Who nowe to make manifest the déepe affection he bare to Cicero trouping himselfe with a crue of the Praetextati and chiefe Romaine gentlemen that had béene souldiers and trained vp with him in the warres he went to séeke out Fabius and found him with certaine his companions about the Capitoll Lentulus not brooking the braue of any as carrying the heart of a Conquerour singled out Fabius and after some wordes they fell to blowes but Fabius part were the weaker so that many were wounded and some slaine Upon this the next day parts were taken the people began to mutiny and to fall to intestine and ciuil iarres that as in the time of Scilla and Marius so the stréets were filled with armed Souldiers The Senatours séeing what bloudy stratagems woulde insue of this strife if it were not pacified sent for the Consuls and charged them to raise vp some of the Legions and to bring Lentulus Tully and Fabius the next day to the senate house with Terentia and hir father They obeying their commaund put this charge in execucution and so qualifiyng somewhat the fury of the people brought these thrée wooers with Terentia before the whole state of Roome Where being arriued Tully fearefull of nature and sicke yet somewhat strengthened with the sight of his mistresse beeing glad Lentulus was his friend in his loues after due reuerence began thus Tullies Oration to the Senate COnscript Fathers and graue Senators of Room I was borne in Arpinatum of base parentage the first of the Ciceroes that euer pleaded in Rostro or bare title in the city If then aduanced by your fauours to these fortunes I should aspire without proportion to clime beyonde my degrée let me be the first and last whose presumption shall grow to this preiudice The temple of Ianus in Roome hath hir gates shut the sâ—reetes are full of armed men the stones of the Capitol blusheth at the bloud of Romaines shed against hir walles and all this mutiny cry mine aduersaries growes from Tully Not that Tully was then out of his bedde but that men of poore families lifted vp to honor are soonest bitten with enuy I appeale graue Senatours for my life to your owne censures if euer I haue not béene more carefull to profit my country then desirous of preferment for my labours But what then say the people is cause of such broyâ—es Terentia the daughter of Flaminius that firebrand that set Troy to cinders Beauty is like to bring Roome to confusion For the greatest houses and families are diuided the Lentuly and Vatinij and this for Terentia Let the cause be examined before the Senators and as they heare so let them doome Lentulus chosen by the Senate was sent Captaine euer many Legions against the Parthians where he tyed fortune to his thoughtes and by his great victories and conquests set vp trophées of Romaine chiualry Returning with glory to Roome hauing set in his place Lepidus he was enamonred not onely of the beauty but vertues of Terentia the fame of whose excellency was spred amongst the Parthians Coueting to match with so honourable a Lady he courted hir but in vaine not that shée disdained Lentulus but that shée had fixed hir fancy before shée sawe Lentulus and the platforme of loue is able to receiue but one impression If honours if conquestes if parentage if reuenewes if courage if goods of fortune body or minde might haue woonne Terentia al this was vnited in young Lentulus But Loue that liketh without exceptions had ouerbard hir heart with such former fancies as the passionate sute of Lentulus coulde haue no entrance His thoughtes were extreame and the disquiet of his minde brought a disease to his body But when he knew that Terentia loued his friend he appeased his passions and rested content with his fortunes The vnconstant goddesse whose smyles are ouershadowed frowns not conteÌ„t honor should spring vp without enuy sends Terentia to walke abroade towards Arpinatum where then Fabius liued as famous for his rusticke and vnciuile life as now he is woondred at for his braue and courtly behauiour Spying Terentia hee was as Lentulus snared in hir beautie that the Romains to report a miracle said loue made him of a clowne braue resolute gentleman The excellencie of Terentia hauing newe pollished nature in Fabius hee sues for hir fauour but hir thoughtes that were forepointed with other passions intreates him to bridle affection and to make a conquest of himselfe by subduing the force of fancie séeing hir resolution was directed to loue none but one and that was Tullie This worde graue Senators and Romaynes sounding basely in the eares of Fabius caused him take armes and Lentulus to defende his friend Cicero as for him before had lost his loue so he ment to loose his life and withstoode him in the face Thus grew this mutinie not against beautie for it is a cheefe good of it selfe nor against Tullie for hee is meane and vnworthie to bee reuenged by armes but against Terentia because shee vouchsafed to loue Tulllie This Romaines is the cause of this mutinie to suppresse which let Tullie die for rather had he pacifie this striffe by death then sée the meanest Romaine fall on the sword The common people at this began to murmour pleased with the plausible Oration of Tullie which one of the Senators seeing stoode vp and saide thus Terentia Cicero here hath shewed reasons why thou shouldst loue Lentulus and Fabius but what reason canst thou infer to loue so meane a man as Tullie Terentia blushing made this answere Before so honorable an audience as these graue Senators and worthy Romayne Citizens womens reasons would seeme no reasons especially in loue which is without reason therefore I onely yeld this reason I loue Cicero not able to ratefie my affection with anie strong reason because loue is not circumscript within reasons limits but if it please the Senate to pacifie this mutinie let Terentia leaue to liue because she cannot leaue to loue and onely to loue Cicero At this she wept and stayned hir face with such a pleasing vermilion die that the people shouted none but Cicero Whereupon before the Senate Tully and Terentia were betrothed Lentulus and Fabius made friends and the one named Lentulus as the Annales make mention maried to Flauia and Fabius wedded to the worthy Cornelia FINIS
that the report of his sickenes came to the eares of the thrée Ladies Terentia made light account as hauing hir heart hardned with the loue of Cicero but Flauia grewe passing passionate as being toucht at the quicke with the weake disposition of Lentulus wishing he might haue cure for his malady so it were not by the meanes of Terentia shée frequented the temples offred orizons made vowes and burnt incense to the gods that they would be fauourable to hir louer Lentulus coueting if possible it might be with the preiudice of hir selfe to haue profited him but in vaine Terentia was resolute and he was resolued as shée was dainty so to die in dispâ—ire Flauia if hir modesty might haue permitted would haue accompanied with other Ladies gone to his lodging but the rights of Vesta forbidding such familiar conuersing shée rather was restrained by force then withhelde by reason But seeing shée coulde by no meanes come to his sight yet to manifest the sincerity of hir loue shée sent him a letter to this effect Flauia to Lentulus health IF I could Lord Lentulus pourtray with outward actions the secrecy of my passions or force as many teares from mine â—ies as there flie sighes from my heart The anatomy of my thoughts would discouer a disquiet minde and the source of mine eies a fountaine of bitter laments But séeing that barrels the fuller they be the lesse sounde they yéeld And where the current is déepest there the water is most still and the minde surchargd with extreames hath least vtterance of grief I leaue you to suppose of my sorrowes which I cannot manifest But know Lord Lentulus that when the report of your sickenes came to the eares of your new intertained friends Terentia sighed as pitying with a common passion the ill of hir countryman but as one that might not relieue being intercepted with other loues Cornelia chid as holding your selfe in highest estéeme alleaging reasons to hir that admitted no reasons but hir owne loue which is without reason My selfe sorrowed as wishing desert shoulde haue his due where the honour of the man merites no lesse we perswaded in vaine and in séeking to bring Terentia to the bay we indeuoured to quench fire with swords Seeing then your thoughts leuell at a wrong marke and that no sutes can diuert hir from hir froward conceit in careles extreames vse patience wrestle with loue beeing wrongd by loue yéelde not to the arrest of Cupids mace but as he is young so holde him a boy Consider as Terentia is faire so shée is cruel and as shée is full of fauour so shée is too too vnkinde Fly not with Apollo after Daphnis Dyana hath more nymphes as chast and yet not so coy vse loue my Lentulus as children doe puppies which while they are pliant and gentle they cherish vp with crummes but when they waxe churlish they beate away with stroakes Thinke Roome is the mistresse of the worlde and hath many faire dames if not of such excellencie as Terentia yet are they more curteous and no lesse vertuous The curious Herbalists measure not the plants by their colours but by their properties the Lapidaries make estimate of their stones not by their outward hue but by the secrete vertues Use then the auncient custome of Esculapius let lillies wither on the stalke and weare violets in thy hand the one faire and vnsauorie the other blacke but of swéete verdure Let these counsailes Lentulus confute thée apply them not as outward plastures but as inward potions which if they profit none shall be more glad then Flauia who wisheth if shée might in this hard extreame to discouer the honour of hir thoughts and the resolution of a friende if ought rests in me that may pleasure Lentulus commaunde it of Flauia as one knowing Lentulus desires are wholy honorable Thus praying thou maiest haue ease in thy passions through end of thy loues I will offer sacrifice for thy health as shée that feares hir owne preiudice without thy recouery Thine Flauia of Roome No sooner had Flauia ended hir letter but shée sealed it and sent it away and with as much spéede as might be it was conueyed to Lentulus who reading the superscription and perceiuing it came from a woman supposing it was sent from Terentia started vp in his bed and rent open the sâ—ales when he had read the contents and saw it came from Flauia noting the extremity of hir loue by the plaine discouery of hir passions he said to himselfe Uniust loue that settles thy delight in crossing with contraries Some thou piercest with desire other with disdaine infusing sundry effectes in diuers affects I couet Terentia and shée is cruell Flauia fauours thée and thou art tyed to other loues What restes in these extreames but to curse fancy that maketh such a confused chaos of hir follyes Oppose then reason against affection and admitte not of loues conclusions vnlesse they be approoued principles Thy thoughts are deuoted to Terentia and shée onely vouchsafes thée the verdict of hir eares Thou art more honourable then shée of richer reuenewes then hir dowry can satisfie hauing as many desertes as shée hath beauties and yet coy dame as shée is shée twits thée with Vesta when God wotte Venus is the goddesse that heareth hir orisons If thou hast this insight into hir thoughts why wrongs thou thy selfe with such carelesse passions If shée be so â—amage let hir flâ—e and séeke for a 〈◊〉 that may prooue more gentle Let hir glory like Narcissus in hir beauties Loue can chastise if it be but with selfe loue Use no phisicke Lentulus but the consideration of hir frowardnesse Let the drugs of Apollo serue for others not for thée Thrust out fancy by force and setting Terentia at light esteeme make choice of Flauia Though 〈◊〉 be not so beautifull yet shée is second to hir in graces and farre beyoâ—d hir in curtesies Tie not thy selfe Lentulus so strickâ—ly to a woâ—ans face beauty is but times flower that as it is delicate so it sâ—â—e withereth Like the colours that Phidias drew in his pictures which shewing most glorious to the eye was yet blemisht with euery breath Venus was faire and wanton Helen the myracle of Greece but aske Troy of hir qualities Ah but Terentia is as chast as shée is bautifull So is Flauia to and farre more louing Hir byrth is of higher discent hir wealth more hir virtues no lesse but hir loue such as may challenge thy affection for debt Ah but Lentulus yet Terentia hir excellency is more then can be shaken off with so slight reasons and with that he shrunke downe into his bedde falling to his olde complaints yet did this letter of Flauia somewhat comfort him that he found it his best physicke But leauing him in his bed againe to Terentia who felt the disquiet of hir minde as restlesse For the Senatours daily repairing to hir fathers house had no other table talke but of the eloquence of Tully some
commending his witte other his study some his vertues but all his special gifts of nature that they put oyle into the flame and with these prayses so sette on fire Terentias fancy as nothing tumbled in hir thoughtes but the excellency of Cicero being so impatient as shée sought by all meanes possible to come to his sight and to féede hir eye with that wherwith shée had inchanted hir eares finding no ready way to attaine the ende of hir desires vntill loue that like Mercury is full of shifts and subtlety deuised this plot Tully being borne in a little village adioyning vnto Roome called Arpinatum vsed often to make his intercourse betwéene the towne and the citie for his pleasure Which Terentia hauing learned out thought this the fittest meanes to haue a sight of hir Cicero So that one day to take the aire accompanied with hir two friends Flauia and Cornelia hauing but a page to attend vpon them shée walked abroad into the fields Passing thus in merry chatte towards Arpinatum hauing some glances at the sicknes of Lentulus they had not walked aboue a mile before Flauia spied Tullie comming from Arpinatum to Roome Assoone as shée had discried him and for certainety knew that it was he yonder quoth shée comes that odde man of Roome that excellent Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero so highly renowmed through all our prouinces for his eloquence now shal we heare from Lentulus for they are the most familiar friends and priuate companions in Roome Terentia at 〈◊〉 as one wakened out of a dreame gaue a start and casting vp hir eye espied the Paramour of hir thoughtes which driue hir into such an extasie that surcharged with ouer much ioy shee felt an vnacquainted trembling in hir 〈◊〉 Being thus perplexed Tully drawing nye and séeing Terentia accompanied with his fâ—iende Flauia gaue 〈◊〉 to oportunity that shee had so highly fauoured his 〈◊〉 Lentulus as that he might now plead for his safety Tully thus incountring those three Romaine damosels aâ—ter a curteous Salue which made Terentia blush he began thus to board them The place swéete Romaines so aptly agréeing to the person this valley resembling Idas and Rome Troy I cannot but bash with Paris at the sight of thrée such godâ—â—â—ses whose deitie surpassed those which iudicially y â— shepharde suruaied with his eye Humbly therefore saluting you as Dianas darlings and beauties woonder séeing so small a trayne for such excellent personages although my affaires be serious and of importaunce yet please it you to vouche of my seruice I will attende on your walkes and conduct you safe to Rome Terentia féeding hir eyes on the swéete of Tullies face and swilling downe the nectar of his diuine eloquence stayning hir chéekes with such a die as did the fayre quéene of Cartharge courted by Aeneas she made him this aunswere Howe you make compare Cicero of this valley with the plaines of Troy as little skilled in Geographie or red in Homers Iliads I leaue without replie For y â— goddesseâ— that Paris incountred we are equall with them in nuÌ„â—er though far inferiour to them in beautie For your seruice we accept it and for your wages you shall haue gracions lookes and hartie thankes Séeing therefore wee are merilie minded supposing your selfe to be the shéepeharde which of vs shall be your Venus Not you madam quoth Tullie aboue all the rest And why so quoth Terentia because quoth Tullie the least â—lie hath his spleane the smallest ant her gall no haire so little but he hath his shadowe and no man so meane but he hath his enuie Why then quoth Terentia I will discarde you from the office of Paris as a man partiall But I pray thée Cicero wherein shoulde I offende thée hauing neuer séene thée before In this quoth hée that Lentulus hath séene you with that she blusht and Flauia and Cornelia fell into a great laughter that Tullie had so roughly crost hir ouer the thumbs Tullie prosecuting his purpose went forwarde thus For knowe madam that Lentulus the richest Trophee that fortune settes vp in the Theator of honour made shipwracke of his libertie for the report of your beautie leauing the wars and the great hope of his fortunes to haue a sight of Terentia who vnkinde not like Venus in curtesie though in fauours haue counterpoysde his fancie with misâ—ike and for the honie of his amorous thoughts haue powred him downe heapes of bitter and displeasing gall The crueltie of Cresida neuer amated so the hardy Troilus as the frowne of Terentia hath pierst Lentulus making so déepe a wound as no phisicke can cure onely your swéete selfe whose resolutions are so farre from the properties of your face as it séemes the gods wrongd nature in placing an adamant heart within a christall couerture The Ladies hearing Tully so sharpe bitte the lip and Terentia grieued angry shée coulde not be as one that was ouer the shooes in affection but thus shee cutte him off I cannot iudge Cicero by your sharpe and peremptory inuectiues vpon so small acquaintance but you professe your selfe a Cinicke If your philosophy be such I will brâ—â—k the blowes as wel as Alexander think nothing ill that is spoken from Diogenes Howsoeuer or whatsoeuer Cynicke or stoicke I argue thus against Lentulus that vowes made to Vesta are to be holden inuiolated and resolutions to liue a virgine are not to be broken with marriage Cornelia and Flauia hearing them thus farre in by the eares walked a little aside and left Tully to schoole Terentia who maintained hir arguments thus Suppose Tully it were not chast thoughts but newe loues that forced me to this refusal haue not trées their strings womeÌ„ their fancies and affections If his autum showers comming too late cause not his crops to proue what is that to me Loue consisteth in vnity the heart hath but one string the heauen one sunne and the Iris one property and women but one loue and that I tell thée Tully is placed on one that is as famous for his vertues as Lentulus for his wealth and dignities And what then can I giue or he rightly challenge Tully although hee conceiued in his thoughtes that Terentia yéelded great reason yet hée would not giue ouer the chase so but made this reply Ah but madame haue an insight into the depth of his affections howe he aimes not at your treasures hoping to be inriched by your great dowry For Lentulus is of the welthiest family in Roome but leuels at your vertues the syrens against whom he could not vse Vlisses pollicy If affections be but a little past if loue hath but drawne one line in your thoughts with his pensell wrastle with fansie blot out loues shadowes and helpe Lentulus who if you remaine so cruell shall be no more Lentulus If he dye for loue how shall the stréetes swarme with statues of his constancy If you be knowen the chiefe actor of the tragedy how will the people murmure of your cruelty Weigh
to die then to falsifie his faith such a secrete loue towardes Tullie so pierced the closet of his honourable thoughtes that he â—ell to conceipt but meanlie of Terentia and to wish that his friende Cicero might both recouer his health and his loue Now began the fancie of Lentulus to freze that earst was so great a flame and he that like the Salamander delighted to liue in the fire beganne to feare to accedere ad ignem least he shoulde Calescere plus quam satis Now he called to mind the resolution of Terentia tempered with frowardnesse and with this he did proportion the vertues of Flauia mixed with courtesie finding the fauour of the one aunswerable to the beauty of the other Then the faith of his friend his sickenes and extréeme sorrows These weighed with depe consideration he vowed to séeke by all meanes howe to win Terentia wholy for his friende Cicero In this humor he conuaide the letter vnder his beddes heade and rested silent till occasion might offer him oportunitie to discouer the perfection of his amitie Thus grewe Lentulus at one time from his sickenes his loue walking abroad visiting Flaminius who entertayned him in all sumptuous manner But Lentulus séeing the thrée Ladies made no showe to Terentia nor scarse glaunced a looke vppon hir beautie but onely courted the Ladie Flauia who he founde so agreeable and plyant to his sutes that Terentia and Cornelia might easilie sée howe depely they were linked in the league of affection Leauing Tullie thus sicke on his bed and Lentulus in swéete content with Flauia againe to our newe transformed Fabius who in this time prooued one of the brauest Gentlemen in Rome and finding a restlesse passion in his mind for the beutie of Terentia as hauing continually before his eye the Idaea of hir person séeing by hir meanes hee was metamorphosed brought to this perfection making the force of his loue priuie to his Father Vatinius he was not onely praysed for his good choice but willed to goe forwarde in the optayning of his affectioÌ„s Whereupon not willing to make a long haruest to a small crop to preuent as hee thought that none shoulde cut the grasse from vnder his féete hee went to Terentias Father and bluntâ—â— craued his daughter in marriage He knowing him to be of honourable parentage and of rich reuenewes séeing shée woulde not condiscende vnto Lentulus gaue him his francke good will if he could créepe into his daughters fauour who taking the aduantage of the time went to find out Terentia who as then was verie melancholie sitting with Flauia Cornelia talking of the sickenes of Tully As they were thus in â—hat came in Fabius who they streight knew wondered at his strange alteration he to shewe hee coulde as well court it as the brauest young gentleman in Rome began thus curteously to salute the Ladies Maruell not Ladies if a countrie swayne presume to attempt y â— presence of such rare excellencies séeing Oenones shéephearde durst with his eye suruay the beautie of diuine goddesses and they to shewe they were as gratious and full of fauours gaue him the greatest minion that was counted the swéetest Peragon of the world Earthlie creatures you be fayre Romaynes but heauenly faces whose looks lighten diuine influence into the thoughts of such as dare to contemplate your affections I speake this as being the man that from the cart liue in the court thus metamophosed by your supernaturall beauties For which fauour I am come in duetie to rest a bounden voterie to your swéete selues Terentia was so pensiue for Tullyes passions that shée woulde make no aunswere but Cornelia whom alreadie Cupid had set on fire with Fabius feature she returned him this replie I remember Fabius that sitting in the groue by Arpinatum a gentle swaine much like your self in proportion though not in properties séeing wee were slenderly garded with a page conducted vs home to Rome with his friendlie companie if it be your selfe had wee as braue a Ladie as Helena was and were shée in our power to bestowe wée woulde make you master and sole possessour of hir beauties so to rewarde your courtesie Fabius séeing the marke so faire thought not to loose his shoote but aimâ— his leuell thus And for that cause Ladies is Fabius come that his méeâ— may not want his merite glad that Venus dewes downe such fauors and oportunitie such showers of good fortunes to finde you all here in so fit a time For knowe honorable Romaineâ— that for my grosse and rude nature hating the ciuill behauiour of the citie I was surnamed Fabius in which obscure life I liued hauing my senses eclipsed with follie till the gods grudging at natures spight sent you thrée to bee ministers of my happines For comming into the groue where you lay all a sléepe casting mine eye on the beautie of Terentia Such a déepe impression was figured in my mind that I felt an vnacquainted motion with a milde reuerence to thinke well of hir perfection surueying hir singular beauties I fell so farre in loue with hir excellencie that from the countrie I came to y â— citie how since by hir gratious sight I haue metamorphosed my selfe your owne eares and the wonder of Rome is best ablè to witnesse Then Ladies I count the renewing of my life to come from the feature of Terentia and that she not as Diana chaunged mee from a man to bée a beast but contrarie full of fauour hath reduced me from a sensuall beast to a perfect resonable man Howe déepely then I ought to bée vowed to hir whose sight is the welspring of my happinesse let the greatnesse of my benefite make manifest In so much as féeding my thoughts with the contemplation of Terentias beautie I haue béene thus transformed but withall so surprised with hir loue that as I haue gaind a seconde essence by hir swéete selfe so I haue lost my selfe within the labyrinth of hir lookes that I remayne hir captiue while it pleaseth hir to graunt me libertie Bee then braue Romaine Dames impartiall doomers of my sute whether my desertes craue not Loue that thus haue béene chaunged for hir loue My Parentes are Senators my reuenewes inferiour to none old Vatitinius glad of my choise and Terentias father thrise happy if his daughter might like of Vatinius Nowe restes it onely in Terentias power to make me blessed or infortunate At this discourse of Fabius the Ladies were astonished and Terentia galled to the quick with this demaund held hir tongue till Cornelia and Flauia looking earnestly vpon hir asked hir what answere shée made to Fabius Such quoth shée as I returned to Lentulus for know syr if either the honor of a Souldier y â— dignity of a Romain the reuenewes of a Senators sonne or the déepe impression of fancy might haue drawn Terentia to loue I had beene ere this the wife paramour of Lentulus But not y â— courage of Hector that
from inioying the swéete content of honour and then make thée outcast of all the Romaine virgines More are my reasons to alleage then thy reasons able to contrary but omitting all and saying he is onely Lentulus Daughter what answere Terentia séeing hir father in such a choller and that hée was induced vnto it by Ciceros perswasioÌ„s in a furie began thus frantike I not denie but Fathers challenge loue by nature and obedience by duetie and both those sir I hope I haue euer performed if not I rest sorrowfull hartily craue pardon but in loue parentes haue no priuiledge For the liking of the Father is no contract of the daughter Venus conclusions growe not of parentes prâ—mises nor can affection bee like the fire stroken foorth a flint for loue is chosen by the eye and confirmed by the heart womens thoughtes are not the spoyles of Mars nor is the battell of fancie fought with the sworde but with the Senses loues arrowes are pointed by fate and fortune Weigh then Terentia who hath not hir loues in hir hande but in hir heart and thereinto none can make breach but such a one as the pleasing constellation of the stars haue appointed I not denie the excellencie of Lentulus as well in exterior shewe of honours wealth dignities and proportion as in interior vertues perfections of the minde and that he merittes a Ladie of farre more estéeme then Terentia but I knowe not what contrarie aspect either of the planets in our natiuities or of loues in our thoughtes or of fortune in our resolution â—o like hath crossed his desire and my fancie but of all the Romayne Gentlemen I cannot my Lorde fancie Lentulus Cressida confest Troylus was the better knight yet the Gréeke helde hir louely in his tent Sith then affection growes from desire and desire is tyed to destinie séeke not sir to wring water out of the pumex to couple the Mouse and the Elephant at one stall to vnite those loues that Venus in hir Sinod house hath expreslie countercheckt For to aunswere your obiection Terentia cannot force hir self to loue Lentulus Shée thus concluding with a few teares hir father departing from hir with a frown tolde Tullie that not reason was sufficient to induce his daughter to be affectionate and therefore that hee wished Lentulus to appease his passions and to salue such impossibilities with patience wherupon they after interchange of salutations and coÌ„mon courtesies parted with a friendlie farewell Tullie at his home comming reuealed vnto Lentulus the whole discourse howe Flaminius had searcht into the depth of Terentias thoughtes both with plawsible perswasions and inforced reasons and coulde finde no other conclusion but that shée could not loue Lentulus Although this newes pierced the verie center of his heart as mortallie as if hee had béene wounded with the sting of Aspis yet chéering himselfe a little he sat vp and in his owne minde hauing aboute or two with fancie he gaue hir so deepe a reuie that hee held affection at the swordes point But Tullie who betwéene friendship and loue felt a furious combate allured with the beauteous perfection of Terentia and forbidden that fauour by the entyre amitie hee had vowed vnto Lentulus entred into so déepe a melancholie that not able to master his passions he fell sicke and kept his bed Lentulus séeing hys Tullie thus distrest gréeued at his friends misfortune and chéered vp himselfe that hee might somewhat comfort his Cicero that newlie was crossed with a distempered sickenesse He sought by physicke to search out the nature of the disease but Asclapo could not déeme the cause by the effectes he sought by intreaties to wrest out the occasion of so sodayne a sorrow but in vayne Tullie was too secrete and silent to make anie shewe of his loues though he bought such secresie with death This gréeued Lentulus who féeling himselfe euery day to amend perceiued that Cicero daylie waxed worse and worse Lingring thus in inward passions Terentia that tooke it discourteously at Tullies hande that hee should force hir Father to inforce hir to loue Lentulus séeing shée had onely deuoted hirselfe as his howsoeuer fortune shoulde oppose hir selfe to ease hir mind of some choller that boiled in hir secret thoughts shée tooke penne and inke and wrote him a letter to this effect Terentia to Marcus Tullius Cicero health AS my thoughtes are secrete and my loues extréeme so is vnkindenesse bitter and the more vneasie borne Thou playest Tullie with me as doe the Leopards with there kéeper that euer wrong them most that giue them greatest store of fodder Are these Venus lawes to pay hunnie with Gall to make rods of nettles for Garlands of Roses to hate them most that loue most The ingratitude of Tullie hath drawen Terentia into this choller and if I write sharpely blame me not that am vsed so shrowdlie Before I euer sawe thy face I allowed thy fauour onelie hearing of thy vertues with myne eare I registred them vp déepely in my hearte Terentia hath béene courted of manie yet neuer made account of any sundry haue sought my loues but they haue returned with losse Lentulus the terrour of the Parthians the honour of the Romaines and thy friend hath long woode but what hath hee won onelie Tullie hath obtayned that which so many haue mist and yet he deales with Terentia as crabbedlie as shee vsed him courteously doe louers for fishes proffer scorpions or doe they like the serpent sting him which cheerisheth him vp in his bosome I séeke to fauour Tullie and hee importunate sues for fauour for Lentulus Art thou so déepe a philosopher as to déeme friendship aboue marriage or faith aboue fancie or thy Terentia lesse then thy Lentulus If it be so take héede that Terentia too much wronged scornes not both thée and Lentulus Womens thoughtes consistes oft in extréemes and they that loue most if abused hate most deadlie fear this and beware of my frowne as yet there is but one wrinckle in my brow but if it once proue full of angrie sorrowes it will bee too late to take holde of occasion behind Thou art forewarnd be forearmd and so farewell Thy Terentia if thou wrong not Terentia AFter shée had written this Letter shée causde it to bee conueied by Eutrapelus to Tullie who reading the contentes found not a salue to cure his maladie but that Terentia rubbed the scare a fresh by shaking him vp so sharpely yet coueting rather to die with an honourable minde to Lentulus then with a discredite to enioy beautifull Terentia he laide his heade on his pillowe and with manie sighes bewraide the depth of his sorrows Hauing laide his letter at his beds heade ouercharged with many cares poore Tullie fell a sléepe and so sodenlie that Lentulus by the helpe of Eutrapelus got to haue a sight of his letter Assoone as the Gentleman saw how déepely Terentia was affected to his friende and perceyued by the circumstances that he chose rather