we feede them with flatterie because we will giue them little and so of all our louing déeds they make these lewd deuises yea when we haue brought them vp with great care and cost when we haue trauailed all our time by sea and by land earely and late in paine and in perrill to heape vp treasure for them when we haue by continuall toyle shortned our owne liues to lengthen and inlarge their liuings and possessions yet if we suffer them not to royst and to ryot to spill and to spoyle to lauish and to consume yea and to follow the furie of their owne frantick fancies in all things this forsooth is our recompence they wish an end of our liues to haue our liuings Alas a lamentable case why hath not nature caused loue to ascend as well as descend why hath she indued the Storke with this propertie to féede his damme when she is old and men with such malice to wish their parents death when they are aged But I speake perchaunce of my owne proper griefe God forbid it should be a common case for my daughter why doe I call her daughter hath not onely wisht my death but wrought it She knewe she was my onely delight she knewe I could not liue she being out of my sight she knew her desperate disobedience would driue me to a desperate death And could she now so much doate on a poore shepheard to force so little of her louing father Alas a husband is to be preferred before Father and Friend but had she none to fixe her fancie on but a Swaine the sonne of I knowe not whome Alas loue hath no respâ—â—â— of persons yet was not my good will and 〈◊〉 to be craued therein alas she sawe noe possibilitie to obtaine it But now alas I would grant my good will but it is too late her feare of my furie is too great euer to be found her 〈◊〉 is too great euer to looke me in the face any more and my sorrow is too great euer to be salued And thereupon got him to bed very heauilie affected dayly bewayling the losse of his daughter Varrona with whom I do now begin The Sunne soiourning in his winter mansion had disrobed Arcadia of all her pleasures and disgarnished Vestaes mantle of delights variable choice wherewith Flora had in plentie powdred the freshnes of her earst gréene hue Night suted in a duskie robe of pitchie darkenes besieged the globe with long shadowes while Phoebus wanting wonted vigour did by darting his scarce reflected beames affoord surall comfort to the earths increase so that Arcadia earst the soueraigne seate of all content and sole place of worlds perfections séemed now a patterne of the ancient Chaos wherein all things if things were confounded Fields flowerlesse trées leauelesse ground heatelesse brookes streamelesse springs vnhaunted groues vnhalowed augmented this hue of horrour blemish of Europs paradice The mayden huntresse Arcadiaes patronesse did seldome trace the plaines guarded with her troupe of virgin knights to fixe shafts on the flying beasts whose wont was in time of heauens more milde aspect to grace the fields with her daily presence and when her brothers scorching heate tired her limbs with faintnes to bath her chast bodie in some pleasant brooke Nor did the wanton Satyres lightlie skipping on the painted meades painted I meane by natures workemanship vaunt their bodies agilitie to the fairie wood-Nymphs Pan Arcadiaes president pend vp himselfe in his winter lodging and the other rurall powers séeing their glories date ended for that yéere shrouded themselues in the place of their wonted repose In this season a season well fitting their melancholie thoughts distracted with moodie passions Varrona and Lysimachus the maps of fortunes mutabilitie left their countrie wandred in middest of winters rage surcharged with sorrow the extremitie whereof made them haplesse abiects while rough Boreas winters henchman mustering legions of stormes scourged the plaines with a trouâ—e of tempests and aimed his violent blasts at the tallest trees to loy their heights pride and combatting with his companions filled the aire with dreadfull noyse of their tumultuous encounter these infortunate louers in whose minds loue martialled millions of striuing passions thus wandring whom fancie tost in a boundlesse Ocean of perplexing thoughts ceased not their trauaile till the weathers intemperate furie calmed by heauens milder influence tooke truce with time and sealed the attonement with a sodaine change But when Phoebus renuing his yéerely taske and denying longer residence to stormie winter had pierced earths entrailes with comfortable warmth opening a frutefull passage for the issue of her wombe to cloath Pomonaes branches with natures bountie and diapre her owne mantle with Floraes sense-alluring pomp Lysimachus and Varrona entred the maine continent of Arcadia where séeing the late hue of horrour turned to an heauen of eyes happines they redoubled many sighes drawne from the depth of their wofull hearts centre for remembring that Tellus was earst dismantled the trees bereaued of their blossomes beautie earths naturall defects anatomized by time in the place where frostie Hyems had displaied her ycie trophies they lamented to thinke that these tokens of worlds mutabilitie had recouered their former flourish by the yéeres timely alteration but their desperate fortunes as they imagined had no hope of any happie spring to calme the winter of their woes Drowned in these deepe meditations they procéeded pensiue but they had not walked farre when they espied a faire broad Oake whose spatious branches enuironed the ground lying vnderneath with a shadie circle There they determined to rest a while their bodies wearied by long iourneis and somewhat disburthen their soules by displaying their sorrowes As thus they were discoursing of their fortunes they beheld as they looked back an Arcadian and by his habit seemed a Shepheard who ouer-hearing the last words of their complaints and aiming though amisse at the occasion of their sorrowes thought that being strangers he lameÌ„ted the losse of their way to which imaginatioÌ„ applying his words he began thus Friends for so I may tearme you without offence the day is almost spent and the night being dangerous for such as you are or at least seeme to be I meane strangers accept then a simple lodging in my cottage with such homely fare as Shepheards houses yeeld and when to morrowes Sunne shal display his bright though late forcelesse beames ye may prosecute your intended iourney wherein if my directions may further you ye shall find me readie to affoord them They wondering at such rare humanitie harboured in those contemptible wéeds made a loÌ„g pause as if they had enioyned their mouthes to perpetuall silence at last Lysimachus shapt him this replie Friend for so your preffered courtesie bindes vs to tearme you muse not that sobs interrupt my words or sorrowes season my discourse which onely comfort my fates haue assigned me What we were we list not now to repeate what we are you sée we grieue a lodging in your
difficult to be by him accomplished which hardly enterpriseth it With that he tooke a Lute in his hand and played a note to a dittie which he sung as followeth Valentines Song I would thou wert not faire or I were wise I would thou hadst no face or I no eyes I would thou wert not wise or I not fond Or thou not free or I not so in bond But thou art faire and I cannot be wise Thy sunlike face hath blinded both mine eyes Thou canst not be but wise nor I but fond Nor thou but free nor I but still in bond Yet am I wise to thinke that thou art faire Mine eyes their purenesse in thy face repaire Nor am I fond that doe thy wisedome see Nor yet in bond because that thou art free Then in thy beautie onely make me wise And in thy face the Graces guide mine eyes And in thy wisedome onely see me fond And in thy freedome keepe me still in bond So shalt thou still be faire and I be wise Thy face shines still vpon my cleared eyes Thy wisedome onely see how I am fond Thy freedome onely keepe me still in bond So would I thou wert faire and I were wise So would I thou hadst thy face and I mine eyes So would I thou wert wise and I were fond And thou wert free and I were still in bond With these and such like sayings encouraging himselfe he purposed to pursue his purpose and sayled not daily to attend vpon his mistresse with all dutie and diligence sought all occasions he could to let her vnderstand his loyal loue and great good will towards her which she perceiuing disdayned not to acknowledge by her amiable and courteous countenance towards him wherewith he held himselfe as well satisfied as if he had bene made Monarch of the whole world And though he were oft determined in words to present his sute vnto her yet when it came to the point he should haue spoken feare of offending her altogether disappointed his purpose and made him mute in the matter which he minded to vtter But at length perceiuing that delay bred danger for that she had many other suters and féeling by experience that as fire the more it is kept downe the more it flameth vp so loue the more he sought to suppresse him the more fiery forces within him he expressed he beganne to set feare aside and to force a supply of courage in his faint heart and séeing his mistresse fit in the presence alone he entred into reasoning with her in this manner Madam for that I sée you without company I am the bolder to presume to prease in place whereof though I be altogether vnworthy yet am I willing to supply it and if my company may content you as well as your sight satisfieth me I doubt not but you will accept it in good part and so much the lesse I hope my cōpany shall be cumbersome vnto you for that you are busied about nothing whereto my presence may be preiudiciall And verily when I consider the common course of life which your swéet selfe and other maydes of your estate leade me thinkes it is altogether like the spending of your time at this present which is with your leaue be it spoken idly vnfruitfully without pleasure without profit And if my credit were such with you to craue beléefe for that which I shal speake I would not doubt but to perswade you to another trade of life more commendable to the world more honorable amongst all men and more acceptable in the sight of God For beléeue me I pittie nothing more then virgins vaine pittie who thinke they merit reward for liuing chastly when in déed they deserue blame for spending their time so wastly Sir said she as your company contenteth me well enough so your talke liketh me but a little for though I must confesse I sit at this present without doing any thing yet in my fancie it is better to be idle then ill imployed as your selfe is now in reprehending that state of life which excelleth al others as farre as the Sunne doth a star or light darknesse and wherin I meane for my part to passe the pilgrimage of this my short life if either God dispose me not or my friends force me not to the contrary God forbid Madame said he you should continue your time in any such trifling trade of life which indéed is to be counted no life at all as the Grecian Ladies can truely testifie who as Homer reporteth reckon their age from the time of their marriage not from the day of their birth and if they be demaunded how old they be they begin to number from their marriage and so answere accordingly for then onely say they we begin to liue when we haue a house to gouerne and may commaund our children and our seruants Tush said the Ladie this is but the sentence and proper opinion of our peculiar people who perchance by nature of their countrie or otherwise are more desirous of husbands then other neither is it any more reason that we should be tied to their example then they bound to follow our virgin Vestals or other who consume the whole course of their life without contaminating their corps with the company of man Nay rather said he without receiuing their perfection from men according to the opinion of Aristotle But Madame I did not produce that example as necessarie for all to follow but as profitable to prooue and shew what base account they made of virginitie which you so highly estéeme of But to leaue particular opinions and come to generall constitutions and customes I meane both naturall humane and diuine lawes and you shall sée them all to make against you And first if you consider natures which in the doings of creatures without reason are plainely set downe you shall behold no liuing wight in the world vniuersall but that so soone as by age they are apt thereto applie themselues to that life whereby their kind may be conserued and number increased Behold the high flying Falcon which soareth so high in the aire that a man would thinke she should neither stoupe to lure or lust yet she is no sooner an Entermurer or at the farthest a white Hawke but that of her owne accord she commeth to the call of the Tersell-gentle her mate Likewise the Doe which flingeth so fréely about the woods as though she made no account of the male yet she is no sooner a forressister but that she seekes the societie of the Bucke Yea if it would please your seemely selfe to enter into the consideration of your owne nature or if your courtesie would déeme me worthie to haue the examination of your secret thoughts I doubt not but you would confesse your selfe to feele a fierie force of that naturall inclination which is in other creatures which being so you must graunt to deale vnnaturally in resisting that motion which cannot be ill or idle because nature hath
made no better prouision for lights and other things necessarie then such as you speake oâ— they might soone haue slipt into the mire but as I perceiue by your words you are disposed to iest and be merrie so I am content for this once to be made the instrument thereof thereby to ease some part of the paines which you are like to take in receiuing such troublesome guests as we are and for our cheere you neede take no thought for it shall be so much too good for vs by how much lesse we haue deserued any at all your hands After this amorous encounter he caused the company to sit downe to the banquet and so disposed the matter that Varrona sat at the table right ouer against him whereby he freely â—ed his eyes on that meat which coÌ„uerted rather to the norishment of sicknes then to wholesome humors of health For as the finest meats by one in extremitie of sicknes resolue not to pare blood to strengthen the bodie but to watrish humours to feed the leuer and disease so though her face and lookes were fine and swéet and brought delight to all the beholders eies yet to him they wrought onely torment vexation of mind And notwithstanding he perceiued her beauty to bréed his bane and her lokes to procure the losse of his libertie that as the Cocatrice by sight only slaieth so she by curteous countenance only killed wounded his heart yet would he not refraine his eyes from beholding hir but according to the nature of the sickly patient which chiefly desireth that which most of all is forbidden him he so incessantly threw his passionate glaunces towards her that his eyes were altogether bleared with her beautie and she also at the length began to perceiue his louing looks towards her which made her looke pale in token of the little pleasure she tooke in his toyes of the great feare she had least some other shuld mark them wherby her good name might come in question The banquet being ended euery one of theÌ„ prepared themselues to heare a stage play which was theÌ„ readie to be performed But Maechander being able to play but one part which was of a poore distracted louer determined to goe forward with the tragedie alreadie begun betwéene Varrona and him and séeing her set out of her husbands sight placed himselfe by her and entered into reasoning with her to this purpose If faire Varrona this simple banquet had bene so swéet and pleasant to your séemely selfe and the rest as your sight is delightfull to me I am perswaded you would not haue changed your chéer for Nectar and Ambrosia which the Poets faine to be foode of the gods but séeing there was no cause of delight in the one the other containeth that in it which may coÌ„tent the Gods theÌ„selues I shal desire you in good part to accept the one and courteously to accept me worthy to enioy the other And though I haue not heretofore by dutifull seruice manifested vnto you the loyaltie of my loue yet if my poore hart could signifie vnto you the assaults which it hath suffered for your sake I doubt not but that you would confesse that by force of loue I had woon you were worthy to weare you For albeit by humane lawes your husband onely hath interest in you yet by natures lawes which being more ancient ought to be of more authoritie he ought to enioy you which ioyeth most in you which loueth you best endureth most paine for your sake And for proofe of natures lawes may it please you to consider the qualitie of the she wolfe who alwaies chooseth that wolfe for her make who is made most leane and foule by following her besides that my tytle marcheth vnder the ensign of iustice which is a vertue giuing to euery one according to his deserts that the reward of loue is onely loue againe I know you are not ignorant For all the Gods in the world are not able to requite good will the one belonging to the mind the other incident to the bodie but from the equitie of my cause I appeale to your good grace fauour and at the barre of your beautie I humbly hold vp my hands meaning to be tryed by your owne courtesie my owne loyaltie minding to abide your sentence either of coÌ„sent vnto life or denial vnto death Varrona hearing this discourse looked one while read for shame another while pale for anger neither would disdain let her make him answer nor grief giue her leaue to hold her peace but staÌ„ding in a maze betwéene silence and speaking at length she brake of the one and burst out into the other in this sort If sir your banquet had bene no better then this your talke is pleasant vnto me I am perswaded the dishes would haue bene taken whole from the table without touching but as the one was far better theÌ„ the company deserued so the other for a far worse woman might more fitly haue séemed if your sweet meat haue such sower sawce the next time you send for me I will make you such an answere as was made to Craterus the Emperour by Diogenes when he sent for him to make his abode with him in his court who answered he had rather be fed at Athens with salt then to liue with him in all delicacie so for my part I promise you I had rather be fed at home with bread water theÌ„ pay so déerly for dainty dishes Touching the paines you haue endured for my sake I take your words to be as false towards me as you wold make my faith towards my husbaÌ„d But admit they were true séeing I haue not bin the cause of theÌ„ I count not my selfe bound in conscience to counteruaile them only I am sory they were not bestowed on some more worthie your estate and lesse worthie an honest name then my selfe which being the chiefe riches I haue I meane most diligently to keepe The interest which cauellingly you claime in me as it consisteth of false premises so though they were true yet the conclusion which you infer thereof followeth not necessarilie For were it so that your loue were greater towards me then my husbands which you cannot induce me to beléeue yet séeing he by order of lawe hath first taken possession of me your title succeeding his your succession sute must néeds be cold naught for as your selfe saith of lawes so of titles the first are euer of most force and the most ancient of most authoritie Your woluish example though it shew your foxely braine yet doth it in force no such proofe to your purpose but that by my former reason it may be refelled for that the wolfe is free from the proper possession of any but therein truly you obserue decorum in vsing the example of a beast in so brutish a cause for like purpose like proofe like man like matter Your manly marching vnder the
the pietie towards your parents and the duetie of a daughter towards her father so vtterly forgotten that you will prefer the loue of an vnthrift before my displeasure and to please him care not to offend your parents who trauaile to bestowe you vpon one worthie your estate and ours No neuer thinke Valentine shall inioy you with my good will and neuer take me for your father if you graunt him your assent thereto Fuluia hearing this cruell conclusion of her father Hermodius with bashfull countenance and trembling tongue framed her answere in this fourme I beséech you good father not to thinke me so gracelesse a childe as once to imagin much lesse to do any thing which may heape your heauinesse or hasten your death the least of which two would be more bitter vnto me then death For if it please you to vnderstand I haue not granted my good will to any vnlesse yours be thereto gotten Neither haue I as you sée preferred the loue of an vnthrift before your displeasure But as I cannot let that noble Gentleman Valentine to loue me so can I not to confesse the truth but loue him mary in heart onely for my bodie as you gaue it me so shall you haue the disposing of it And as I faithfully promise you by the loue which of duetie I owe you that I will neuer haue any husband without your approbation so I humbly begge of you for the affection which by nature you beare me that you will neuer force me to any without my good liking For if for the transitorie life you haue giuen me you make me pay so déerely as to be linked with one against my will I must néedes count it a hard peniworth and well may I wish that neuer I had béene borne I beséech you Sir consider the inconueniences alwayes incident to those marriages where there is more respect of money then of the man of honours then of honestie of goods then of affection of the parties each to other What strife what iarres what debate at bed and at boord at home and abroade about this about that neuer quietnes with contentation neuer merrie countenance without countersaiting neuer louing déeds without dissimulation And whence but from this rotten roote springeth so many dishonest women so many euill liuing men Is it not the loathing of neuer liked lips that maketh women stray from their husbands to strangers And is it not either the difference of yeeres or the diuersitie of manners or disagreement of natures that maketh the husband forsake the wife and follow other women And where are any of these differences or inequallities betweene the married but where the force of friends not libertie of loue linketh them together These things by your wisedome considered I trust as you restraine me from one whom I loue so you will not constraine me to any whom I loue not in so doing doubt not but you shall find in me modestie meetâ— for a mayd vertue fit for a virgin dutie beseeming a daughter and obedience becomming a child Her father hauing mildly heard her modest talke told her he meant not to force her to any but would prouide her a husband whom he doubled not should like her better euery way then Valentine did and therefore willed her to race out of her minde the liking which she had conceiued of him and so gaue her leaue to depart And being in her Chamber she began to deuise all the meanes she could to â—oose out of her heart the loue which she bare vnto Valentine and reuoked to her memorie her fathers displeasure and her owne preferment with many other discommodities that way arising But nothing preuailed for as the bird caught in sinne the Deare in a soyle the more they striue the faster they sticke so the more diligentlie she laboured to get out of the laborinth of fancie the more doubtfully was she therein infricated and as â—ne climbing on high his féete fasting and he in danger to fall more firmely fastneth his hold then before he did so Loue seeing himselfe readie to be dislodged out of her brest tooke such sure hold and fortified himselfe so stronglie within her that no vigour was of force sufficient to fetch him from thence Which the good Gentlewoman perceiuing thought best for her case and quiet to yéeld the summons of loue to be disposed at his pleasure wherein no doubt she had reason For as the swift running streame if it be not stopped runneth smoothly and without noise but if there be any damme or loâ—ke made to stay the course thereof it rageth and wareth and swelleth aboue the banks so Loue if we obey his lore and yéeld vnto his soueraignitie dealeth with vs gentlie and like a louing Lord raigneth ouer vs but if we withstand his â—orâ—e and seeke to stay the passage of his power he rageth ouer vs like a cruell tyrant Which this Gentlewoman as I said perceiuing without any more resistance determined in her heart to loue Valentine onely and euer Now Valentine notwithstanding the angrie looke of the father the frowning face of the mother and the strange counterfait countenance of the daughter followed his suite so effectuallie vsed such apt perswasions to the maide and in short time insinuated himselfe so farre into her familiaritie that her parents lowred not so fast but she allured as much and thought she receiued no other contentation in the whole world but in his companie which her parents perceiuing and besides dreading the Kings displeasure thought as good by their consent to let them goe togither as by seueritie to kéepe thâ—m asunder whom the Gods séemed to ioyne togither and so much the rather they were induced thereto for that they sawe their daughter so affected to Valentine that the hearing of any other husband was hatefull and vnto her hurtfull And hereupon the marriage was concluded and consummated and to this bargaine only the fancie of Valentine forced him Now behold the nature and condition of fortune for she hauing saiued these men namely Valentine and the two rogues a long while with roses 〈◊〉 now to whip them with nettles and hauing presented them with the brightnes of her fauours now she crost them with many frownes They that did thinke themselues the most fortunate amongst men may now account theÌ„selues the most distressed of all men For they hauing carelesly floated in the seas oâ— voloptuousnes and retchlesly reigned in the lazie seas of lawlesse libertie where they fed on nought but loosenes and liceutiousnes whereby most prompt to wickednes were wrapt in the performance of most desperate designements For one of them named Delfridus was by the furies of hell so set on fire in libidiâ—ous lust towards his mistres Fuluia that he sought all the meanes possible to win her to his wicked will not much vnlike Maechander aboue mentioned the other called Insolainder was so instigated on with arrogancie that he daily aucupated after the destruction of him who was the cause
he made himselfe messenger of so vaine a matter yet considering it came from that worthie shepheard she vouchsafed it and wished the messenger in the euening to come for an answere Varrona immediately vpon her man Toxeus departure pervsed it a thousand times and a thousand times kissed it till at last wrapping it in a white silke scarfe she gaue it a place amongst her iewels of price very glad therefore that Lysimachus had giuen the onset she determined to counterbuffe him in this manner Varrona to Lysimachus health WHen I read kind Lysimachus thy Letters and spied thy loues I blusht at mine owne thoughts and sorrowed at thy fortunes I search not the cause of thy loue for it sufficeth me thou doest loue if it lay in me either to grant thy desire or satisfie thy passions Thy comelinesse Lysimachus knockes at the closet of my heart thy exquisitie feature sue for their maisters libertie thy loyaltie enters pele mele with my thoughts and giueth a sore assault to my setled resolution all these put in their pleas doe purchace fauour for young Lysimachus But Vesta hard hearted Vesta that makes her virgins pliant to her owne properties commaunds that I shut mine eares against such alluring Syrenâ— I count my selfe greatlie fauoured with the loue of so worthie a swaine and ouer will Varrona couet to prooueds thankfull as he affectionate onely in loue pardon me for that I neuer mean to fall into that predicament Wade not therfore where the foord hath no footing barke not with the wolues of Syria against the Moone looke not to climbe to Olympus way not at impossibilities but pacific that with patience which thou canst not obtaine being passionate If thou thinkest these denialls be but words of course and perswadest thy selfe that women will be first coy and then courteous as the marble that drops of raine doe piere thou shalt sweete heart deeply deceiue thy selfe and highly wrong me In a word I wish quiet to thy thoughts and an end to thy loues Thine euer but in loue Varrona Varrona hauing thus ended her letter she deliuered it to Toxeus who sending him spéedely to Lysimachus lodging 〈◊〉 him very melancholy and all God wâ—t was about Varrona Lysimachus hauing receiued the letter entered into his Chamber and read the contents No sooner had he viewed and reuiewed ouer her cruell determination but in a great extasie of minde he cried out Dulcior est mors quà m amor and with that slinging out of his Chamber he fell into bitter and extreame sorrowes Procyon grieuing at his friends hard fortune sought with plausible perswasions to appease his furious melancholie wishing him whatsoeuer Varrona wrote still to thinke her a woman that would one while thrust out fancie with a finger and streight entertaine loue as a friend that either time or his constancie would make her stoope to the lure of his desires Thus sought the Shepheard to wrest him from his passions but in vaine for her answers confirmed with such perswasâ—â—e determinations so quietted the conceit of his hope that going melancholie to his bed loue left him to his quiet slumbers which were not long for as soone as Phoebus shaking his deawie lockes on the mountaines had posted from the watry cabbin of Nereus summoning plow swames to their handie labour Lysimachus rose and with Procyon went into the fields where vnfolding their Sheepe they sate them downe vnâ—eâ— on Oliue trée both of them diuersly affected Lysimachus ioying in the excellencie of Varrona and Procyon sorrowing for the griefes which Lysimachus susteined not quiet in thought till he might heare of his health As thus both of them sate in their 〈◊〉 they might espie where Varrona with her two Gentlewomen tript amongst the lawnes At this sodaine spectacle as a man metamorphosed he lightly sprang from the groand desiring to salute the sole mistres of his thoughts wherefore willing the Shepheard to expect his returne he boâ—ded her with this kind of gréeting giuing her likewise the Boniorno thus Gentle Nymph all hayle and as prosperous be you in your enterprises as you happie in content If I be blunt in discouering my affections and 〈…〉 loquence in â—uelling out my loues I appeale to the 〈◊〉 of veritie which moweth no subtiliâ—â—eâ— to 〈◊〉 my selfe therefore 〈◊〉 your 〈…〉 with 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Varrona that before I saw you I knew not loues cumber but held affection as a toy not as a maladie vsing fancie as the Hiperborej do their flowers which they weare in their bosomes all day and cast them into the fire for fuell at night I liked all because I loued none and who was most faire on her I fed mine eyes but as charilie as the Bée that as soone as she hath suckt hony from the Rose streight flies to the Marigold Liuing thus at my owne list I wondred at such as were in loue and when I read their passions I tooke them only for poems that flowed from the quicknes of their wit not the sorrowes of the heart But now faire Nymph loue hath taught me such a lesson that I must confesse his deitie and dignitie as there is nothing so pretious as beautie so there is nothing more piercing then fancy For since my eye tooke a curious suruey of your excellence I haue béen so fettered with your beautie and vertue as swéete Varrona Lysimachus without further circumstance loues Varrona I could point out my louely desires with long ambages but seeing in many words lies mistrust and that truth is euer naked let this suffice for countrie wooing Lysimachus loues Varrona and none but Varrona Although these words were most heauenlie harmonie in the eares of the Nymph yet to séeme coy at the first courting and to disdaine loue howsoeuer she disdained loue she made him this replie Ah Lysimachus though I séeme simple yet am I more subtile then to swallow the hooke because it hath a painted bait as men are wise so women are warie specially if they haue that wit by others harmes to beware Do we not know Lysimachus that mens tongues are like Mercuries pipe that can inchaunt Argus with an hundred eyes and their words as preiudiciall as the charmes of Circes that transformed men into monsters If such Syrens sing we poore women had â—â—de stop our eares least in hearing we prooue so foolish hardie 〈◊〉 to belieue them and so perish in trusting much and suspâ—â—ting little Lysimachus Piscator ictus sapit he that hath bene once poisoned and afterwards feare not to bowse of euery potion is worthie to suffer double penance Giue me leaue to mistrust though I do not condemne Lysimachus is now in loue with Varrona he a Shepheard of meane parents she a Lady of great parentage he poore she honourable Can loue consist of contrarieties Will she Faulcon pearch with the â—atresse the Lion harbour with the Wolfe Will Venus ioyne roabes and rags together or can there be a sympathie betweene a King and a begger Then Lysimachus how can I
beléeue that loue should vnite our thoughts when fortune hath set such difference betweene our degrees But thou likest of Varronas beawtie Men in their fancie resemble the Waspe which scornes that flower froÌ„ which she had fetcht her wax playing like the inhabitaÌ„ts of the Iland Tenerifa who wheÌ„ they haue gathered the sweet spices vse the trées for fewell so men hauing glutted theÌ„selues with the faire of womens faces hold them for necessarie euils and wearied with that which they séemed so much to loue cast away fancie as children do their rattles and loathing that which so deeplie before they liked especially such as take loue in a minute and haue their eyes attractiue like iet apt to entertaine any obiect are as readie to let it slip againe Lysimachus hearing how Varrona harpt still on one string which was the doubt of mens constancie he brake off her sharp inuectiue thus I grant Varrona quoth he many men haue done amisse in proouing soone ripe and soone rotten but particular instances infer no generall coÌ„clusions and therfore I hope what others haue faulted in shall not preiudice my fauours I will not vse sophistrie to coÌ„firme my loue for that is subtilitie nor long discourses least my words might be thought more then my faith but if this will suffice that by the trust of a Shepheard I loue Varrona and woe Varrona not to crop the blossomes reiect the trée but to consummate my faithfull desires in the honourable end of marriage At this word marriage Varrona stood in a maze what to answere fearing if she were too coy to driue him away with her disdaine if she were too courteous to discouer the heate of her desires in a dilemma thus what to do at last this she said Lysimachus euer since I saw thée I fauoured thée I cannot dissemble my desires because I sée thou dost faithfully manifest thy thoughts in liking thée I haue thée so far as my honour holds fancie still in suspence but if I knew thée as vertuous as thy actions do pretend and as well qualified whereof you make demonstration the doubt should be quickly decided but for this time to giue thée answer assure thy selfe thus I will either marrie with Lysimachus or still liue a virgin with this they streined one anothers hand He hauing his answer gaue a curteous adew to them 3. but specially to Varrona so playing loth to depart he went to Procyon who all this while attended his comming vnto whom Lysimachus made a true relation of all those things which passed betwéene them aduertising him of the lenitiue remedies which she applied vnto his maladious spirit whom we will for a time permit to meditate on his singular expectations and returne vnto Syllanus Varronas father He hauing intelligence of the secret méetings which these two louers daily vsed being excéeding much displeased vpoÌ„ a day as he walked into his Garden by chance he met with Varrona accompanied with diuers Gentlewomen whom saluting very gratiously he passed by them and taking his daughter by the hand walking aside with her into an open gréene walke fell into this talke with her Why huswife quoth he are you so idle tasked that you stand vpon thornes vntill you haue a husband are you no sooner hatched with the Lapwing but you wil run away with the shel on your head soone pricks the tree that wil prooue a thorne and a girle that loues too soone wil repent too late What a husband why the maydes of Rome durst not looke at Venus temple till they were 30 nor went they vnmasked till they were maried that neither their beauties might allure other nor they glance their eyes on euery wanton Egipt is plagued with a dearth I tell thée fond girle when Nilus ouerfloweth before his time the trées that blossome in February are nipped with the frosts in May vntimely fruits had neuer good fortune yong Genile-women that are wooed and wonne ere they be wise sorrow and repent before they be old What 〈◊〉 thou in Lysimachus that thine eye mâ—st choose and thy heart must fancie Is he beautiful why fond girle what thy eye liketh at morne it hateth at night loue is like a hauen but a blaze and beautie how can I better compare it then to the gorgeous Cedar that is onely for shewe and nothing for profit to the apples of Tantalus that are precious in the eye and dust in the hand to the starre Artophilax that is most bright but fitteth not for any compasse so yong men that stand vpon their outward portrayture I tell thee are preuidiciall Demophoon was fayre but how dealt he with Phillis Aeneas was a braue man but a dissembler all but little worth if they be not wealthie And I pray thee what substance hath Lysimachus to endue thée with hast thou not heard that want breakes amitie that loue which beginneth not in gold doth end in beggerie that such as marrie but to a faire face tie themselues oft to a soule bargaine And what wilt thou doe with a husband that is not able to maintaine thée buy forsooth a dram of pleasure with a pound of sorrowe and a pinte of content with a whole tunne of preiudiciall displeasures But why doe I cast stones in the ayre or breath my words into the wind when to perswade a woman from her will is to rowle Sisyphus stone or to tie a head-strong girle from loue is to tie furies againe infetters Therefore huswife as you tender my affection I commaund you to surcease those vaine and idle matters which please me as much as the stinging of a waspe and shall profit you as little as fire to coole your thirst And with that in a rage he flung away not admiting her replie Varrona perceiuing her fathers good will thus alienated from her fearing a further inconuenience did in humilitie submit her selfe to his disposing not vsing any longer her accustomed walkes Which Lysimachus perceiuing mused greatly what should become of his loue somewhile he thought she haâ— taken some word vnkindly and had taken thâ— pet then he imagined some new loue had withdrawne her fancie or happilie she was sicke or detained by some great buâ—â—nesse of Syllanus These 〈◊〉 â—id Lysimachus cast into his head who hauing loue in his heart proued restlesse and halfe without patience that Varrona wronged him with so long absence for loue measures euery minuit and thinkes houres to be daies and dayes to be monethes till he feeds his eies with the sight of his desired obiect Thus perplexed liued poore Lysimachus while on a day siting with Procyon in a great duâ—pe he was crediblie informed by Toxc us of those sorrowfull accidents at which being sodainely surprised with griefe and string his eyes on the starrie concaue began thus in their presence to vtter passionate coÌ„plaints not limiting his lamneÌ„ts with distinct clauses for his moane admitted no methode Iniurious heauens quoth he hath your influence effected this misfortune iniust
trées the world elements and euery thing reuersed shall fall to their former Chaos Hauing thus plight their troth each to other séeing they could not haue the full fruition of their loue in Thessalia for that Syllanus consent would neuer be granted to so meane a match Varrona determined as soone as time and opportunitie would giue her leaue to prouide a great masse of money and many rich and costly iewels for the easier carriage and then to transport themselues and their treasure into Thracia where they would leade a contented life vntill such time as either she should be reconciled to her father or else by succession being the sole child her father had come to the Dukedome This deuise was greatlie praised of Lysimachus for he feared if the Duke her father should but heare of the contract that his furie would be such as no lesse then death would stand for painment He therefore told her that delay bred danger that many mishaps did fall out betwéene the cup and the lip and that to auoyd anger it were best with as much spéede as might be to passe out of Thessalia least fortune might preuent their pretence with some new despight Varrona whom loue pricked forward with desire promised to dispatch her affaires with as great haste as either time or opportunitie would giue her leaue and so resting vpon this point after many imbracings and swéete kisses they departed Varrona hauing taken her leaue of her best beloued Lysimachus went immediately home her merrie countenance giuing no suspition of mistrust at all Lysimachus poore soule was no lesse ioyfull that being a Shepheard fortune had fauoured him so as to reward him with the loue of a Ladie hoping in time to be aduanced from that condition to be the husband of a rich Princesse So that he thought euery houre a yeare till by their departure they might preuent danger not ceasing still to go euery day to his Shéepe not so much for the care of the flocke as for the desire he had so sée his loue and swéete heart Varrona who oftentimes when opportunitie would serue priuately repaired thither albeit her fathers prohibition to the contrary to feede her fancie with the sweete content of Lysimachus presence And albeit she neuer went to visit him but most secretly yet her oft repaire made her not only suspected but knowne to diuers of their neighbours who for the good will they bare to old Procyon told him secretly of the matter wishing him to aduertise Lysimachus of it that he would if it were possible restraine his libertie In the meane time Varrona was not slacke in her affaires but applied her matters with such diligence that she prouided all things fit for their iourney Treasure and Iewels she had gotten great store thinking there was no better friend then mony in a strange country rich attire she had prouided for Lysimachus and because she could not bring the matter to passe without the help and aduise of some one she made the old seruant of hers called Toxeus who had serued her from his childhoode priuie to her affaires who séeing no perswasions could preuaile to diuert her from her setled determination gaue his consent and dealt so secretlie in the cause that within short space he had gotten a Ship readie for their passage The Mariners seeing a fit gale of wind for their purpose wished Toxeus to make no delayes least if they pretermitted this good weather they might stay long ere they had such a faire winde Toxeus fearing that his negligence should hinder the iourney in the night time conueighed the Trunkes full of treasure into the Ship and by secret meanes let Lysimachus vnderstand that the next morning they meant to depart he vpon the newes slept very little that night but got him vp earely and went to his sheepe looking euery minute when he should sée Varrona Now see the valiantnes of a virgin or rather consider the force of loue which maketh the weake strong the witlesse wise the simple subtile yea and the most cowards most couragious For that morning Varrona attired her selfe in one of her Pages apparell and trudged out of the towne as if she had béen sent on some message and so fast as her faint legges but strengthened by loue could carrie her she hasted through the woods to the fields where the saint whom she only honoured was readie to receiue her who though at the first he knew her not but thought she had béen Cupid or Mercurie fallen from the heauens yet at length by her louing lookes cast vpon him he knew who it was and embracing her fast in his armes said If Iupiter swéete wench should sée thée in this Pages apparell no doubt but he would forgoe his Ganymede and take thée vp into heauen in his stéede O most soueraigne Ladie and Mistres what seruice shall I be able euer to do you which may counteruaile this kindnes what dutie can be a due recompence to this good will If I by any meanes can requite this curtesie I neuer doubt to be déemed vngratefull while I liue But accept good Ladie I beséech you that which is in me to performe which is the faithfullest heart that euer was vowed to Ladie which when it swerueth from you let the torments of Tantalus Tytius Sysiphus and all the ruthfull rout of hell be heaped vpon me Varrona hearing him so earnest said Few words most worthie Lysimachus are enough to win credit to a matter alreadie belieued for only vpon confidence of your constant faithfull heart towards me I haue thus vnaduisedly aduentured mine honour as you see desiring you not sinisterlie to thinke of this my attempt being boldned thereto by the great loue which I bare towards you by the loyaltie which I looke for of you towards me Ah said Lysimachus if I should make any ill interpretatiō of your vertuous loue and sincere affection towards me I were the veriest villaine on earth for I take God to witnes I take your forward will for such friēdly fauour that I doubt my deserts will neuer be able to answer thereto as I desire and with that he aptly ended his talk vpō her mouth Now frō thence they posted to the hauen where the Ship lay not daring any longer to stay for feare of apprehēsion by posts which should be sent after thē Whither so soone as they were come the Mariners were readie with their Cock-boate to set them aboord where being coucht together in a cabbin they horsting their maine sailes weighed anchor and haled into the deepe hauing a lustie gale in the poope which draue them gallantly forward But on the next morning about the breake of the day the aire began to be ouercast the winds to rise the seas to swell yea presently there arose such a fearefull tempest as the Ship was in danger to be swallowed vp with euery sea the maine mast with y◠violēce of the wind was throwne ouer-boord the sayles were torne the tackling
ensigne of iustice if reason be your Captaine generall to leade you I doubt not but soone to turne to a retire for if it be good will which you beare me I must néedes grant you duly deserue the like againe but when you are able to prooue it good will to deflowre my chastitie to bereaue me of my good name to dispoile me of my honour to cause me to transgresse the bonds of honestie to infringe my faith towards my husband to violate the sacred rites of Matrimonie with other innumerable enormities when I say you are able to prooue these to proceede from affection then will I willingly yéeld consent to your request But sée the vnreasonablenes of your suite would you haue me in shewing courtesie towards you commit crueltie towards my selfe Should I in extending mercie to you bring my selfe to miserie Should I place you in pleasure and displace my selfe of all ioy For what solace can a woman purchase hauing lost her chastitie which ought to be the ioy iâ—well and ienâ—me of all Gentlewomen of what calling and countenance soeuer Your appeale from your owne cause to my courtesie bewrayeth the naughtinesse thereof for if it be not ill why stick you not too it if it be good why appeale you from it But séeing you haue constituted me iudge in this case you know it is not the part of a iudge to deale partially or to respect the man more then the matter or to tender more my owne case then your cause therefore indifferently this sentence definitiue I giue I condemne you henceforth to perpetuall silence in this suite and that you neuer hereafter open your mouth herein being a matter most vnséemely for your honour and most preiudiciall to my honestie and in abiding this sentence if you can be coÌ„tent with honest amitie for the courtesie which I haue found at your hands and for the good wil which you pretend to beare me I promise you you shal enioy the second place in my heart and you shall finde me friendly in all things which either you with reason can aske or I with honestie grant Maechander hauing heard this angell thus amiably pronouncing these words was so rapt in admiration of her wisedome and rauished in contemplation of her beautie that though she had not inioyned him to silence yet had he not had a word to say and least his lookes might bewray his loue and his countenance discouer his case he secretly and sodainely withdrew himselfe into his chamber to studie what face to set on the matter and casting himselfe vpon the bed after he had dreamed a while vpon his doating deuises at length he awaked out of his wauering thoughts and recouering the possession of his senses againe he sung this mournefull Dittie Maechanders Sonnet O Cupid thou which doest in haâ—ty skies Amongst the great and mightie gods soiourne And eke that present art with terreine wightâ— To cause their hearts with louers lawes to burne To thee O God whose bowe and golden shaâ—â— Doth wound both gods and men alike And causest euery one to yeeld themselues to thee And subiects to become for all Dianaes spite To thee I make and sweare my fixed vowe If I by help of thee my wished ioyes attaine Then must I onely praise thy mighty bowe And subiect will to thee alwayes remaine By this time the Play was ended and his guests readie to depart whereupon he was driuen to come forth of his chamber to take leaue of them and bidding his mistres good night he gaue her such a looke that his very eyes séemed to pleade for pittie so that what his tongue durst not his eyes did His guests being gone he disposed himselfe to rest but loue willed him otherwise to employ that night which was in examining particularly euery point of her answere And though the first part séemed somewhat sharp and rigorous and the second conteined the confutation of his cause yet the third and last part seemed to be mixt with mettall of more milde matter which he repeated to himselfe a thousand times and thereupon as vpon a firme foundation determined to raise vp his building againe which the two former parts of her answere had vtterlie ransackt to the ground But mistaking the nature of the soyle whereon the foundation was laid his fabrike as if it had béen set in the sand soone came to ruine for by that promise of friendship which she kindlie made him he sinisterly conceiued hope of obteining that which she neither with honour could promise nor with honestie performe and feeding himselfe with that vaine hope in great brauerie as in a manner assured of the victorie he wrote vnto her to this effect Machander to Varrona wisheth what he wants himselfe ALbeit good mistres you haue inioyned my tongue to silence yet my hands are at libertie to bewray the secrets of my heart and though you haue taken my heart prisoner yet my head hath free power to pleade for release and reliefe Neither would I you should count me in the number of those cowardly souldiers who at the first Canon that roareth giue ouer the siege for I haue been alwayes setled in this opinion that the more hard the sight is the more haughtie is the conquestâ— and the more doubtfull the battaile the more doughtie the victorie And as it is not the part of a politike Captaine to put himselfe in perill without hope of gaine or praise so to winne the bulwarke of your brest I count it a more â—ich bootie then Caesar had in ransacking so many Cities and a most râ—â—e praise then euer Alexander had in subduing so many nations And though my presumption may seeme great in assaulting one as is your sweete selfe yet seeing in all degrees of friendship equalitie is chiefly considered I trust you will cleare me of crime that way neither would I you should thinke my flight so free as to stoope 〈…〉 the haughtie Hawke will not pray on carion so neither will courtlie silks practise countrie sluts 〈◊〉 because I 〈◊〉 that to be in you which both concerneth my caâ—â—ing and consenteth with my fancie I haue chosen 〈◊〉 to for the◠〈◊〉 of my deuotions humbly 〈…〉 that it may not be said your name hath bin called vpon in vaine â—hereby you may loose that honour which I in 〈…〉 vnto you The benefit which you bestow on me 〈…〉 the second place in your heart as I mus◠〈…〉 though somewhat vnthankfullie so must I craue a greater though 〈…〉 heart and bodie are yours 〈…〉 amends Weigh the matâ—â—â— vprigh 〈…〉 casâ— courteouslie and take compassion on me 〈…〉 Yours altogether Maechander To this letter â—e 〈◊〉 this passion MY boate doth passe the straights of seas incenst with fire Fild with forgetfulnesse amidst the winters night A blind and carelesse boy brought vp by fond desire Doth guide me in the sea of sorrow and despight For euery oare he sets a ranâ—e of foolish thoughts And cuts in stead of waue a hope
by it that my husband euer after would be iealous ouer me and right carefull would he be to keepe that which he sawe others so busily to séeke And such is the malice of men perchance he would iudge some light behauiour in me to be the cause that encouraged Maechander to attempt my chasâ—itie For men haue this common opinion amongst them that as there is no smoake but where there is fire so sieldome is there any seruent loue but where there hath béen some kindnes shewed to kindle ones desire Moreouer this toy may take him in the head that it is a practise betwéene vs two to preuent suspition and cloake our loue and with the firme perswasion of my inuincible chastitie to lull him a sléepe in securitie and then most to deceiue him when he least suspected guile And if at any time he heare of it by others I may stop his mouth with this that I my selfe told him of it which if I had meant to deale falsely with him I would not haue done Yea what know I whether he will like the better or worse of me for bréeding such a bées nest in his braine Lastly I should derogate much from my owne chastitie and in a manner accuse my selfe of pronenesse to fall that way as though I were not strong ynough to withstand his assaults without the assistance of my husband Yes God in whom I repose my trust shall fortifie me against the furie of my foes and giue me grace with wisedome to escape his wiles with charinesse to eschew his charmes and with pietie to resist his prauitie Now to returne to Maechander so soone as that old bawde had related vnto him at large the answere of his mistres he fell from the place where he sate flat vpon the groued and lay in a traunce a great while and now those sparkes which before loue had kindled in him were with continuall sighes so blowne as it were with a paire of bellowes that they brake forth into fierie flames that which before was fancie was now turned into turie For being come to himselfe or rather being quite past himselfe with staring lookes pale countenance with fierâ—e eyes with gnashing téeth with trembling tongue in rage he roared forth these words And shall I thus be frustrate of my desire shall I with words and workes with prayers and presents pursue the good will of a daintie disdaining dame and receiue but labor for my loue and gréefe for my affection But oh franticke foole why doe I in a furie rage against her who is the most faire and courteous creature vnder heauen No it is that churle Lysimachus that soweth the séed of my sorrow it is his seueritie towards her that causeth her crueltie towards me the feare which she hath of him is the cause she dareth not take compassion on my afflictions And shall be swim in blisse and I lie drencht in deepe dispaire shall he be ingorged with pleasure and I pine away in paine No I will make him féele that once which he maketh me feele athousand times a day And herevpon determined with himselfe by some meanes or other to procure the death of Lysimachus thinking thereby the sooner to obtaine his purpose of his wife And calling vnto him one of his swearing swash-buckler seruants he layde before him the platforme of his purpose and told him plainly if he would spéedily dispatch Lysimachus out of the way he would giue him a thousand crowns in his purse to kéepe him in another country His seruant though altogether past grace yet for fashion sake began to aduise his master more wisely saying For my owne part it maketh no matter for an other countrie is as good for me as this and I count any place my country where I may liue well and wealthily But for your selfe it is requisite that extraordinary care be added in regarde that your loue towards Varrona is kowne to diuers of this cittie by reason wherof if I should coÌ„mit any such fact it must néeds be thought that you are accessarie thereto which will turne though not to your death for that none hath authoritie aboue you to execute the rigour of the lawes vpon you yet to your vtter shame and reproach it cannot but conuert Tush said his maister the case is light where counsaile can take place what talkest thou to me of shame that am by imurious and spitefull dealing depriued of the vse of reason and dispossessed of my wits and senses Neither am I the first that haue played the like part Did not Dauid the chosen seruant of God being blasted with the beautie of Bersheba cause her husband Vrias to be set in the vanward to be slaine which done he maried his wife And why is it not lawfull for me to doe the like But I know the worst of it if then wilt not take it vpon thée I will either performe it my selfe or procure some other that shall The man séeing how his maister was bent both to satisfie his mind and to gaine so great a summe of mony consented assoone as opportunitie would giue him leaue to murther Lysimachus wherewith Maechander remayned somewhat appeased hoping now to be inuested into the throne of his delights But the ground of this vnnaturall deuise was most strangely detected For all their consultations were ouerheard by Conscionato an other of Maechanders men but more religiously addicted being then resident in a chamber néere adioâ—ning vnto that place wherein those things were thus debated He vtterly condemning his maisters too much luxurious thoughts and greatly misliking his fellowes impudent promise but especially affecting Lysimachus as a man in whom the true sparkes of vertue were eminent made manifest incontinently the whole conspiracie which Maechander for the loue of his wife had deuised against him desiring him not to account him a traytor for bewraying his maisters counsel but to thinke that he did it for conscience hoping that although his maister inflamed with desire or incensed by lust had imagined such causelesse mischiefe yet when time should asswage his desires and moderate his affections that then he would count him as a faithfull seruant that with such care had kept his maisters credit Lysimachus had not fully heard the man tell forth his tale but a quaking feare possessed al his limunes thinking that there was some plot wrought and that the fellow did but shadowe his craft with these false colours wherefore he began to wax in choller and said that he doubted not Maechander sith he was his friend and there hâ—d neuer as yet bene any breach of amitie he had not sought any wayes to wrong him with slaunderous spéeches to offend him by sinister reports to molest his patience but in word and thought he rested his at all times he knews not therefore any cause that should moue Maechander to seeke his death but suspected it to be a compacted knaâ—â—rie of some to bring the gentlewoman and him at oddes Conscionato staying him
planted it in you For God and nature do nothing vainely or after a vile manner And in that some do amisse in rebelling against her their owne scrupulous nicenesse is the cause when they will impose vpon themselues heauier burdens then they are well able to sustaine and refuse those which nature hath appointed them to beare being indéede but light What talke you sir said she so much of nature and of creatures without reason as though we ought to follow either the instinct of the one or the example of the other I haue béen alwayes taught that reason is the rule whereby our actions ought to be directed and that we ought to lay before vs the déeds of creatures indued with reason to follow and imitate For if you stick so strictly to the example of brute beasts you should vse the company of women but once or twice at the most in a yéere as most of them do with their females whereto I am sure you would be loth to be tyed Madame replied he a Gentlewoman of this citie hath alreadie answered this obiection for me Why then quoth she will you condemne their doings in some points and place them for patternes to be practised by other some Yea why not said he otherwise you might generally take exception against the example of men for that some men in some matters do amisse The good euer is to be vsed and the euill reiected Doth not euery man so soone as his daughter is arriued to ripe yéeres trauaile to bestow her in marriage whereby she may enioy the fruites of loue and participate with pleasures incident to that estate whereby they plainely shewe that the cause why they beget them with pleasure and bring them vp with paine is to haue them enter into that trade of life wherein not onely themselues may liue happily abounding in all pleasure but also by the fertill fruite of their bodie make their mortall parents immortall that when they shall be blasted with age and withered away the issue of their seede may begin gréenely to growe and flourishly to spring to the great comfort both of father and daughter For what pleasure the Grandfather taketh in the sporting pastime of his proper daughters prettie children I thinke you partly vnderstand and what delight the mother taketh in the toyes of her little sonne you soone shall perfectlie perceiue if it please you fréely to followe the friendlie counsaile which I frankly pronounce vnto you For do you thinke if virginitie were of such vertue that parents would not rather paine themselues to kéepe their daughters modest maydes then straine themselues and their substance to ioyne them in Iunoes sacred bond Yes perswade your selfe if â—our mother were so assured she would rather lock you vp câ—ose in her closet then suffer any to enioy the soueraigne sight of your beautie or once aspire to your spéech whereby you might be perswaded to some other kind of life But she experienced by yéeres knoweth what is best for your behoofe and would you should follow her example and make no conscience to loose that which she herselfe hath lest which except she had we had mist so rare a iewell as your séemely selfe is which what a detriment it had béen to my selfe I dare not say least you should count vertue vanitie and truth trifling flatterie But to our purpose you perceiue as I said your parents pleased with the accesse of Gentlemen vnto you whereby you may conceiue their minde is you should accept such seruice as they profer and partake with those pleasures which they prefer vnto you Why sir said she you altogether mistake the meaning of men in this matter for when fathers tender marriages to their daughters it is not for any minde they haue to haue them married but onely for feare least they should fall to follie other waies for knowing the fickle frailtie of youth and our propensâ—ues to grauitie and weakenesse they prouide vs marriages to preuent mischiefes and seeing of euils the least is to be chosen they count wedlock a lesse euill then the lightnes of our life and behauiour Alas good Madame said Valentine why do you so much prophane the holie state of Matrimony as to count it in the number of euils whereas the Gods themselues haue entred into that calling whereas Princes pleasantly passe their time therein whereas by it onely mankind is preserued and amisse and loue amongst men continued of the woorthinesse whereof I am not sufficient to open my lips Sir said Fuluia I speake it not of my selfe but according to the opinion of the most wise and learned Philosophers that euer liued amongst whom one Aminius so much misliked of marriage that being demanded why he would not marrie answered because there were so many inconueniences incident to that estate that the least of them is able to sley a thousand men Why Madame replied he you must consider there is nothing in this mortall life so absolutely good and perfect but that there be inconueniences as well as commodities thereby incurred by that reason you may take the Sunne out of the world for that it parcheth the Sommer gréene and banisheth away the beautie of those that therein blaze their faces But to leaue naturall and humane lawes and come to diuine precepts proceeding from Gods owne mouth doth not God say It is not good for a man to liue alone and therefore made Eue for an help and comforter Likewise in diuers places of Scripture he doth not onely commend marriage vnto vs saying Marriage and the bed vndefiled are honourable but also commaundeth vs to it saying You shall forsake father and mother and follow your wiues Why sir said she and doth not God say It is good for a man not to touch a woman And if thou be vnmarried remaine so But why alleadge you not this text It is better to marry then to burne whereby is plainely shewed that marriage is but a meane medicine for the burning in concupicence and lust But because we entred into these misteries I could refer you to an historie where it is reported that in heauen Uirgins chiefely serue God and set foorth his glorie And Mahomet the great Turke when he was in heauen said he sawe there Uirgins who if they issued from heauen would lighten the whole world with their brightnes and if they chanced to spit into the sea they would make the whole water as swéete as hony but here is no mention of married folkes Belike said he those Uirgins are like your selfe and then no maruaile though God be delighted with the sight of them which perchance is the cause he hath them in heauen to attend vpon him as first Hebe and after Ganymedes did vpon Iupiter But generally of women the histories record that by bringing foorth of children they shall be honoured and inioy a place in heauen which must be by marriage if honestly But because I am perswaded that it is only for argumeÌ„t sake that you
disalow marriage and that you pretend otherwise in words then you intend to do in works I am content to giue you the honour of the field and thus far to yeels my consent to your opinion that virginitie considered of it owne nature simply without circumstance is better then matrimony but because the one is ful of perill the other fraught with pleasure the one full of ieopardie the other full of securitie the one as rare as the blacke swanne the other as common as the black crowe of good things I thinke the more common the more commendable I said she I haue gotten any conquest thereby I thanke mine owne cause not your courtesie who yéelds when you are able to stand no longer in defence Nay Madame say not so quoth he for in that verie yéelding to your opâ—â—â—on 〈◊〉 marriage better then virginitie for that it is more common neither would I haue you turne my silence 〈◊〉 this matter in lacke of knowledge or reprehend me if I spare to inforce further proofe in a matter alreadie sufficiently prooâ—ed no more then you would rebuke the spanniell which ceaseth to hunt when he seeth the hawke seazed on the paâ—tridge But you may maruaile madam what is the cause that maketh me perswade you thus earnestly to marriage which as mine owne vnworthynesse willeth me to hide so your incomparable courtesie enâ—â—rageth me to disclose which maketh me thinke that it is no small cause which can make you greatly offended with him who beareth you great good will and that what sute soeuer I shall prefer vnto you you will either graunt it or forgiue it pardon or pittie it Therefore may it please you to vnderstand that since not long since I tooke large view of your vertue and beautie my heart hath bene so inflamed with the bright beames thereof that nothing is able to quench it but the water which floweth from the fountaine that first infected me and if pittie may so much preuaile with you as to accept me I dare not say for your husband but for your slaue and seruant assure your selfe there shal no doubt of danger driue me from my duetie towards you neither shall any Ladie whatsoeuer haue more cause to reioyce in the choice of her seruant then shall your selfe for that I wil account my life no longer pleasant vnto me then it shall be imployed in your seruice Fuluia dying her little chéekes with vermilion red and casting her eyes on the ground gaue him this answere As I am to yéeld you thanks for your good wil so am I not to affoord consent to your request for that I neither mind to marrie nor thinke my selfe worthie to retaine such a seruant But if I were dâ—â—pâ—sed to receiue you any way I thinke the best manner meane enough for your worthinesse Immediately hereupon there came company vnto them which made them breake off their talke and Fuluia being got into her chamber began to thinke on the sute made vnto her by Valentine and by this time Cupid had so cunningly carued and ingraued the idoll of his person and behauiour in her heart that she thought him worthie of a farre more excellent wife then her selfe and perswading her selfe by his words and lookes that his loue was loyall without lust true without trifling and faithfull without faigning she determined to accept it if her parents would giue thereto their consent Now Valentine nothing dismayed with her former deniall for that it had a courteous close so soone as opportunitie serued set on her againe in this sort Now Madame you haue considered my case at leisure I trust it will stand with your good pleasure to make me a more comfortable answere I beseech you sir said she rest satisfied with my former resolution for other as yet I can make you none Alas Madame quoth he the extremitie of my passion will not suffer long prolonging of remorse wherefore I humbly entreat you presently to passe your sentence either of bale or blisse of saluation or damnation of life or death or if the heauens haue conspired my confusion and that you meane rigorously to reiect my good wil I meane not long to remaine aliue to trouble you with any tedious sute for I account it as good reason to honour you with the sacrifice of my death as I haue thought it conuenient to bestow vpon you the seruice of my life Alas quoth she this iesting is nothing ioyfull vnto me and I pray you vse no more of it for the remembrance of that which you vtter in sport maketh me féele the force thereof in good earnest for a thousand deaths at once cannot be so dreadfull vnto me as once to thinke I liue to procure the death of any such as you are If said he you count my words sport iest and daliance assure your self it is sport without pleasure iest without comfort and daliance without delight as tract of time shall truly maniâ—est But if you loue not to heare of my death why like you not to giue me life which you may doe onely by consent of your good will Why sir quoth she you know my consent consisteth not in my selfe but in my parents to whom I owe both duetie and honour therefore first it behooueth you to demaund their consent Why Madame quoth he shall I make more account of the meaner parts then of the head you are the chiefe in this election and therefore let me receiue one good word of your good will and then let heauen and earth doe their worst It is not the coyne countenance or credit of your parents that I pursue for to purchace such a treasure as is your good will I could be content all the dayes of my life to be obnoxious vnto all calamities so that you be mainteyned according to your desire and worthinesse Well said she séeing I am the onely marke at which you shoote assay by all meanes to get my friends good liking and if you leuell any thing straight me you shall not misse Valentine vpon this procured the Kings letters for in his fauour he was highly interested to her father in this behalfe who hauing pervsed them said he trusted the King would giue him leaue to dispose of his owne according to his pleasure and that his daughter was too néere vnto him to sée her cast away vpon one who for lacke of yéeres wanted wisedome to gouerne her and for lacke of lands liuing to mainteine her And calling his daughter before him he began to expostulate with her in this sort Daughter I euer heretofore thought you would haue béen a solace and comfort to my old yeeres and the prolonger of my life but now I see you will increase my hoaâ—â—e haires and be the hastner of my death Doth the tender care the carefull charge and chargeable cost which I haue euer vsed in bringing you vp deserue this at your hands that you should passe a graunt of your good will in marriage without my consent Is