play at Cardes let me heare thée tell a tale to requite yesternightes chat Delia nothing dainty with hir husband taking the tongs in hir hand to kéepe the fire in reparations began in this manner Delia hir tale IN the Ile of Lyppary there dwelled sometime a Gentleman of good parentage as descended from worshipfull and honest parents learned by education as trained vp amongst the Philosophers in their academies vertuous in his actions as putting in practize those principles which he hearde in their Shooles as Axiomes generally well nourtred in so much that he liued in very good account in the Iland This Gentleman called Alcimides although fauoured thus with sondrie good qualities yet was greatly enuied by loue and fortune for his waÌ„t was such as his reuenewes were nothing aunswerable to his minde but liâ—ed poorely and yet contentedly in meane estate Fancie séeing fortune frowne to fill vp the tragedie presented him with the sight of a young GentlewomaÌ„ called Constance who beinâ— both wise and beautifull two perswasions sufficient to induce affection was so narrowly marked of Alcimides as he thought no obiect to fit his eie but her person nor no melodie to please his eare but the sound of her modest and graue communication Snared thus with the consideration of this young Gentlewoman at the first he found waâ—es to proffer hir roses and perfumes but at the last pilles and hemlock For the young virgin hearing of the vertuous disposition of Alcimides and séeing his minde was as well garnished with good qualities as his bodie with proportion vsed lex talionis and repaied him loue for loue so farre as his honestie might desire her honor admitte in so much that nothing was wanting in the accoÌ„plishment of their thoughtes but her fathers consent who being moued by Alcimides in the matter flatly denied and made this obiection that he was to poore to make his daughter any sufficient ioynter Which answere so mazed Alcimides that in a desperate moode aquainting certaine friendes with his purpose He rigged forth a ship to sea with full resolution either to retourne rych or to leaâ—e his louer and him selfe in the boosome of Neptune Upon which determination resting he loosed with his companions from Lyparie in manner of mart made hauock on y â— Coast of Barbarie so that in short time he became very rich but insatiate couetise that like the serpent Hidaspis is euer a thiefe so haled him to the hope of more rich purchase that at last he and all his men were taken by the Sarrasins and carried away prisoners into ThuÌ„nes The news of this mishap as report must euer be pratling came flying to the Ile of Lypary that the ship wherein Alcimides and his Souldiours was imbarqued was drowned in the Coast of Barbarie Constance no sooner heard of this cursed Stratageme but she determined to ende these miseries with death and that in the sea that she might imitate Alcymides who was reported to perish in the same Element to the ende therefore â—ir purpose might the more easily be brought to passe ConstaÌ„ce walking downe to the shoare found a little fisher boate readie furnished with mast sayles other prouision floating in the the hauen Which Constance espying taking this for good occasion she spéedely went into the boat and as well as she coulâ— as the women of that Iland are most skilfull in nauigation haled forth into the maine and there committed hir selfe to the mercie of the waue and winding thinking by this meanes to procure sonest hir fatall ende sith so many accidents were readie as death daunger euerie minute Passed thus two or thrée dayes alongst the Coast till at last a Southeast wynde dryue the ship vpon the shoare of Barbarie The Barke thus beaten vp there was at that present in the same place a poore woman who made cleane the fishermens nets which séeing the ship so roughly arriued thought the Marriners had bene a sléepe to warne them therefore of their landing she went vp the hatches and found none in so much that séeking further she found this young Gentlewoman fast a sléepe as one secure and carelesse of hir misfortune whome the poore fisherwife waking perceiuing by hir apparell that she was a Christian demaunded in the latine toung of whence she was and the cause of hir so straunge imbarking Constance risen as it were from a dreame hearing one speake latine thought she had béene driuen back againe to Lypary but casting hir eye about and séeing hir selfe in an vnknowen Coast she craued of the woman the name of the countrey who tolde hir she was in Barbarie neare a cittiâ— called Suâ—e Which greatly grieued Constance that hir death was prolonged by such a luklesse aduenture so that fearing some dishonour in so barbarous a countrey might befall hir virgins estate she sat her downe and wept The poore woman taking pittie of hir passions caried hir home to hir little cottage and there as well as she might so comforted the distressed maide that she tolde hir from point to point the some of this haplesse accident and grewe so farre in familiaritie that Constance demaunded of hir what she was who made aunswere that she was of Trapany a seruant to certaine fishers hir-name Mawdleyne Constance séeing she was a Christian and could speake Latine very perfecâ—lie began to intreate hir that she would for the loue of their religion and faiâ—h tell her what course she had best take that she remaine for a time safe without preiudice either of honor or honesty Mawdleyne a woman of good and vertuous disposition told her that there was a Sarrazen widow in the Citie of vertuous life and good conscience whose house was oft a sanctuary for the distressed there she durst assure hir selfe she might for a time remaine till time and opportunitie should better prouide for her estate Constance glad of this newes desired Mawdleyne to fauour hir with the benefit of that seruice who willing to pleasure her before two dayes were pasâ— setting all things to hir minde in order went with Constance to the widowes house who hauing heard before of Mawdleyne of this maide gaue her verye good intertainement as one pittying hir distresse heard hir sorrow with teares and remorse well Consâ—anâ—e thus placed being in the company of sundry other maides that wrought néedle-worke so applied hir selfe to hir labour that not only by hir diligence she procured hir mistresse fauour but by hir courtesie the generall loue good liking of all hir fellowes Remaining thus quiet though not satisfied fortune willing after so sharpe a Catastrophe to induce a comicall conclusion tempered hir storme with this pleasant calme Alcymedes lying thus in prison hauing no hope to recouer his fréedomâ— but looking euerye daye to be condemned perpetuall slaue to the Galleys newes came that a Nobleman of great reputation dignitie power had made claime to the kingdome of Thimes as his owne and ment by the sworde to take it from
that selfe loue hangâ—s in the heart not in the habite that Plato durst say Calco fastidium-Diogenis meaning that the poore Cynick was as insolent in his patcht cloake as Alexander the great in all his royâ—ltie Enuie of all othervites hee did eschewe as a cancker so pâ—stilâ—nt to an honest minde that it suffereth quiet not so much as to pry into the motions of the heart Couetous hâ— was not as one that sought by his handes thrift to satisfie his owne necessitie and if any surplusage were graunted by good lucke hée slept not soundly on saturday at night till he his wife and his neighbours had merilie and honestlie spent it at a homelie banquet He wanted nothing as one that against all spight of Fortune opposed patience and against necessitie content And yet Fortune that she might not be thought to iniuâ—ious in lieu of all her other dissauours lent him a wife of his owne conditions whome he loued more then himselfe for the poore woman although she was barren and had no children yet was she of a verie pure and perfect complexion and withaâ—l of such good bâ—hauiour first in loue and dutie to her husband and then in friendly and familiar conuersation with her neighboâ—rs that shée was thought a wife fit for so honest a husband These two thus beloued of all the inhabitants of Memphis prescribed them selues such an order of life as diuerse men of great calling sought to be carefull imitators of their methode for suffring no priuate iarres to come within their poore cottage as a thing most preiuditiall to an Oeconomicall estate no sooner had thesâ— two past away the day he at his hammers and she at the Bellowes for boy they had none but that sitting them selues to supper they satisfied nature with that their labour did get and their calling allow and no sooner had they taken their repast but to passe the rest of the euening merely they fell to pleasant chatte betwéene them selues sometimâ— discoursing of what came first in their heads with Pro coÌ„tra as their naturall logick would graunt them leaue other while with merie tales honest and tending to some good end without either lasciousnesse or scurilitie thus euer they passed away the night and for that the Egyptians as a great monument kept diuerse of their discourses which some by chance had ouerheard and put downe as a Iewell in their librariâ— I meane as their recordes doe rehearse to set downe in brief two of their nightsprattle which although homely tolde yet being honestand pleasant I thought they would breadâ— some conceipted delight to the hearers and therefore thus The first nightes discourse NO sooner had Perymedes and his wyfe Delia for so was her name ended their dayes worke and taken their repast but sitting safely in their simple cottage by a little fire Perymedes begaÌ„ thus solemnly and sadlie to enter into a discourse I can not thinke wife but if we measure all our actions with a true proportion that wée haue supt as daintely as the proudest in all the Cittie of Memphis for the ende of delicates is but to satisfie nature which is so partiall in hir desires that were not our vitious mindes drowned in gluttonie content would seale vp hir request with a very small pittance but such is the course of the world now a daiâ—â— that euerie man séekes with Philoxenus to haue his necke as long as a Crane that he may with more pleasure swill in the sweete tast of their superfluous deinties But wife since I can remember here in Memphis Psamnetichus our king was of so sparing a diet that being demaunded by an Ambassadour what Caters he had for his houshold made answere his Cooke and his stomake in seeming by this that his Cooke bought no more in the shambles than woulde satisfie what his stomack desired But now wife euery meane man must be so curious in his fare that we are rather to be counted Epicurians than Egiptians and our Chaldees haue more skill in a cup of wine than in a â—ibrarie which superfluitie bredeth both beggerie to manie and diseases to all For so they drowne them selues in the bottomlesse sea of gluttonie as at last they make their bodies a subiect for the Physition thinking that the temperature of their complexions can neuer be well affected vnlesse their stomacks bee made a verie Apotecaries shoppe by receiuing a multitude of simples and drugges so to settle their wauering constitution those men that wed them selues to such inordinate excesse finde diuerse and sondrie passions to torment the stomack and all the body which no sooner paynes them but straight as experieÌ„ce is a great mistresse they calculate the nature of the disease and straight â—â—ye to purging to phlebotomie to fomentacions such medicinall decretals according to the interiour or exteriour nature of the disease where as perhaps some slender fault is the efficient cause of such a momentanie passion better to be cured by time than physick But excesse in diet wiâ—e bréedeth this restlesse desire and so manie are the diseases incident by our owne superfluities that euerie one had néede to haue an Herball tied at his girdle well I haue heard my father say that he was but one daie sicke in all his life time being then also through ouer much labour fallen into a feauer And this perfect temperature of the bodie did not procéedâ— from the diuersities of potions and daintie delicates but by a true proportion of exercise and diet which Zeno the Philosopher noted well to be true who beeing of a verie weake and tender constitution subiect oft to sicknâ—sse yet neuer kept his bed Being demaunded of a Lacedemonian what preseruatiues he did vse Zeno willing to be briefe in his answeres shewed then a péece of bread a dish of water with a strong bowe of Stéele meaning by this Enigma to discouer vnto them that he raced out his diseases by exercise and fasting as two especiall pointes necessarie for the perfecting of mans health You say truth husband quoth Delia for oft haue I heard my mother say that thrée thinges are the chiefest delicates which who so vseth shall liue long and happely Hunger quiet and mirth but to auer your sayings to be true euerie one séekes to attaine the contrarie which causeth such sodaine death perilous diseases mo perish by gluttonie than by the sworde for in steade of hunger men séeke to satisfie nature with excesse for quiet enuie at others happinesse presentes a stratageme for mirth melancholie and couetous humours how most gréedily to gaine thus euerie one séekes that time and experience proues most preiudiciall but the time hath bene yea Perymedes and within my remembrance when the inhabitantes of Memphis knewe not what ryot and ill diet ment but euery man applying him selfe to frugalitie coueted to be thought honest and vertuous where as nowe a daies the meanest doth desire to be thought proud and sumptuous While Numa Pompilius banished excesse out of Rome
peartlie to prie into the exquisitnesse of hir perfection noting that she was passing beautifull and young and that vertue added a grace vnto nature and that being of noble parentage beautie decked nature with dignitie This interchange coÌ„sidered so charmed the poore gentlemans affectionsâ— that fayne he would haue made requitall of hir fauours with like courtesie if hir honourable estate had not quatted his presumption with feare houering thus betweene two streames at last he burst forth into these complaintes Doest thou not know poore Procidor that actioÌ„s wrought against nature reape despight and thoughts aboue fortune disdaine that what byrd gaseth against the Sunne but the Eagle becommeth blinde and that such as step to dignitie if vnfit fall that thoughtes are to be measured by fortunes not by desires how falleÌ„s come not by stouping lowe but by clyming to hie Shall therefore all feare fo aspyre because some hap to fall no Procidor though thou art in ragges yet thou art noble borne thou art not inferiour to Marcella in byrth though in riches then dare to attempt sith she shewes thee such manifest fauours Ah nouice in loue doest thou count euery dimple in the cheeke a decrée in the heart euery lims a warrant of loue Venus fond man lookt on more than the loued or els she passing amorous womens smiles are oft more of custome than of courtesie and passing prodigall they bee with their eyes when they are nyggardes in their hearts for thinke not fond man that Eagles will catch at flyes Cedars stoope to braâ—â—les nor such honorable dames at such homely peasants no no thinke hir disâ—aine is greater than thy desirâ— for accounting thée but a slaue and hir fathers mercinarie man she doth but repay thy labours with affabilitie therefore cease not onely to say but to thinke she loues thée Procidor with these pithie perswasioÌ„s somewhat appeasing the sparkling flames of loue that already were â—â—ndles in his brest applied him selfe to his wonted labour suppressing his affections with the due consideration of hir honour and his owne meane estate and couÌ„ting it frenzie not fancie to couet that which the very destinies woulde denie him to obtaine These two thwarted thus with feare and shame lingreth forth the time till at last fortune willing to present in a sweete figge bitter wormewood found such fit oportunitie that Procidor and Marcella met at such leysure that not long after Marcella was knowen to be with childe which newes no sooner came to the eares of the Despot but as a maÌ„ in raged furie and reuenge driuing reason out of conceiptâ— he presently caused Procidor to be apprehended and his daughter Marcella resoluing that according to the law of the countrey they should die The mother more pitifull considering the follies of hir owne youth began to intreate hir husband to spare their liues and assigne what punishment els though the torture were neuer so grieuous which by long perswasion he consented vnto committing them vnto straight prison where they lay in great distresse the space of ten wéekes before euer the Despot made any question of their imprisonment While thus Procidor lay sorrowing more for the mishap of Marcella than for his own misfortune newes was brought to Decapolis that Euribates sonne had gathered an host and sought to driue Voltarus out of the Confines of Tyre which Procidor hearing he began thus to meditate with him selfe Unhappy Procidor see howe fortune intending thy good the haplesse fates séeke to frustrate such successe hast thou these fourteen yeeres gone as a vacabonde about the world vnknowen and despised hoping for this day that Euribates sonne should séeke reuenge on Voltarus and art thou now in pryson when oportunitie offrâ—â—h such good fortune yea and in such a place as nought but death can redéeme thée The Iaylor ouerhearing Procidor asked him what he had to doe with the peace or warres of Princes Ah my good friend quoth he when I consider in what estate my father whilome liued in that couÌ„trey as I haue heard and am able almost to remember I cannot but grone to see my present ill happe And who was thy father quoth the Iaylor Sâ—ing answered Procidor that time hath sâ—t the sonne of Euribates almost in his kingdome I feare not to discouer what I am my fathers name is Prestines Lieutenant of Tyre vnder Euribates my name not Procidor but Castriot and I doubt not but if I were there for my fathers sake to reape credit and authoritie Without further questioning the Iaylor went presently and tolde the Despot what he had heard who making small account of the matter yet presently considered with him selfe if it were true howe greatly he should by making such a marriage auoyde the shame like to befall to his daughter therefore he went asked of Mariana what her eldest sonnes name was who made answere Castriot that if he liued he was about twentie yeares of age the Despot suspecting it was he went secretly to the pryson where examining Procidor of al his life past found by probable circumstances that he was Prestines sonne whereupon he began to recount vnto him howe he tooke him into his seruice placing him in his fauour then the iniurie he offred him by infringing his daughters honor yet for all this crauing no other amends but that he would take hir to wife Procidor made answere what he had done was the faults of his youth and that he was both sorrowfull and repentant and that he might thinke it firme loue and not fading fancie that forst him to commit such a fault he was ready at his pleasure to take Marcella to his wife The Despot séeing sparkes of his fathers courage in his resolutions embrased him and sending for his daughter into the same prison there secretly betrothed each to other then tooke them out and sent them to a graunge place of his in the countrey within short time they recouered their former complexions greatly impaired by their close imprisonment In the meane space the Despot prouiding all things necessarie for the marriage séeing they were retourned into the former fourme caried his wife and madame Mariana to his graunge where by the way he demaunded of hir how happy it would be vnto hir if he did marrie his daughter to hir eldest sonne Castriot Madame Mariana smiling told him it was impossible sith she thought him dead being well arriued at his farme he brought his wife the Ladie into the chamber where the two louers sate very richely appareled vnto whom at large he discouered what had happened WheÌ„ Mariana knewe hir sonne Castriot noting very well the liniaments of his face she fell in a sound for ioye but being at last reuiued after many and hartie embracings and ioy on al partes they sat downe to dinner Castriot desiring the Despot that he would send to Iaphet where was one Lamoraque Gouernour of the towne that helde his yonger brother his nourse as slaues This motion was greatly
shâ—uld valiantly resist the inchanting tunes of Cupids sorcorâ—â— and so stand to the chance whatsoeuer the mayne were or els yeelde to the alluring call of Beawtye and so spend his youth in seeking and suing for doubtfull though desired fauours Tossed a while in these contrary thoughts and pinched with the consideration of his owne estate he began to think that to fixe his fancie vpon Melissa was with the yoong Griâ—â—oâ—s to â—â—cke against the â—tars and with the Woolues to barke against the Moone seeing the basenesse of his birth and such a rich â—â—â—â—all as Ressilius wasâ— would greatly preiudice his intended lâ—te These considerations began somewhat to râ—presse his â—â—ting fancies but Cupid not willing â—â— take so slender a râ—pulsâ— thoughâ— sâ—raight to race out these deâ—pairing thoughtsâ— with the comfortable Conserues of Hope and to draw Bradamant out of the Laborinth of distrusting â—eaâ—e with the assured possibilities of atchieuing his enterprise He therefore began to incourage â—â—s Champion with these plawsible coniectures tâ—aâ— Meâ—â—â—â—a was a woman and therefore to be woone it â—eautifull with prauâ—s â—â— coâ—e wiâ—th praiers if proud with gifts if couetous with promises to conclude that as there is no stone â—o hard which cannot â—e cut no Hawke so â—ammage that cannot be manned no Tygre so fierce wâ—ich 〈◊〉 â—e tamed so there is no woman â—o infected with the bâ—â—ter 〈◊〉 on of selfe-will noâ—e so spotted with the staine of hellish crueltieâ— nor so wedded vnto wilfull frowardnesse but thâ—y may be drawne to the â—ure by some of the forenaâ—ed practises Bradamant pricked forward with these pithie perswasions and yet driuen backe with the feare of some haplesse deniall stâ—od diuersly perplexed whether he should with a momentary content sue after losse or with a long â—isquiet séeke after gaine remaining awhile in these doubts halfe frantike wiâ—h such â—naccustomed fits he fell into these passionate complaints Oh Bradamant how art thou diuersly perplexed driuen either to purchase haplesse content with fading pleasures or to gaine à happy disquiet with ensuing profitsâ— if thou choose the first thou art like to repent at the last if the sâ—ond sâ—râ— with Herculeâ— after painefull labours to obtaine fame and quiet the Caspians fearing to be stiâ—â—â—d with sweete sauours weare in their bosomes bands of Hemlocke the people Pharusij doubting to surfet with drinking the iuice of Liquorice preuent such perrilâ— with â—hewing Rewbarbe it is better to be pained with the sting of a Snake and recouer then be tickled with the venime of Tarantula and dye laughing hard yea hard it is Bradamant to ride on Seianus Horse for his beauty and then perish or to gaine the Golde of Thalessa with assured mishap better it is for a time with sorrow to preuent dangers then to buye fading pleasures with repentance Why Bradamant what cause shalt thâ—u haue to repent Is paine alwayes a companion to pâ—easure is danger the hand-maide to Louâ— is Fancye neuer painted but treading vpon thornes yes no doâ—bt as Cupid hath arrowes that doo pierceâ— so they make swéete wounds Veâ—us I grant â—aâ—h a wrinckle in her browâ— but two dimples in her â—â—eekesâ—â—he frownâ—s not vpoÌ„ them that sacrifice at Paâ—hos but paines such as deâ—pise hir Deitye Loue Bradamant why doost thou loue yea alas and therefore vnhappy because in loue a passion so vnfit for thy yoong yeares as if thou yéeld to Cupids allurements thou shalt haue cause either to curse the Desâ—inies â—or appointing him a God or accuse the Gods for errating thâ—e a man for loue whatsoeuer the lucke be is alwaiâ—s tempered with losse if thou winne thy gaines shall be like theirs who buye Hony mixed with Gall the swéetnesse not halfe so much pleasing the taste as the bitternesse infecteth the stomacke Paâ—rhasiâ—s drawing the counterfeit of loue painteth hir tickling Youth on the left side with a Feather and stinging him on the right with a Scorpion meaning that they which are sotted with the sorceries of Cupid reape for a draâ— of Goâ—de a pound of drosse and for a pinte of pure oyle a whole â—un of infectious poison being a fading pleasure mixed with bitter passions and a miserye tempered with a â—ew sâ—riue not then against the streame féed not with the Deare against the winde sake not to appease Venus with slanders buâ— with sacrifice Melissa is beautifull and vertuous to be wâ—â—â—e with intreatie if thou feare not to attempt what thâ—ugh Gradaâ—â—o frowne may not the fauour he sâ—â—fled with â—â—uerâ—â—e and therefore must hate she stirred by Venus and therefore must loue if Melissa like passe not if he lowreâ— yea 〈◊〉 boâ—h your parents mislike so you two rest in contented qâ—iet Bradamant had no sooner vttered these words but he felt his minde halfe eased with slattering himselfe thus in his fâ—llies so that from doubting if he might loue he fell to deuising how to obtaine his loue Resting thus diuersly passionate Mâ—â—issa of the contrarye part began greatlye to affect young Bradamant and though his meane byrthe his parentage and lyuing did disswade her from liking so base a youth yet a restlesse desire a secret Idea and contemplation of his vertues and beautye made him thinke if Gradasso would graunt she could prefer Bradamant before Resillius so that hindred in a Dylemma she began thus doubtfully to debate with hir selfe Oh vnhappy Milissa whose minde is payned with vnacquainted passions and whose head is troubled with vnequall thoughts shall thy Uirgins state be stained with fond desires or thy young yeares darkened with Cupids shadowes Tis fit for thée Melissa to spend thy youth in laboures not in loues to pace sollemnly after Vesta not to gad wantonly after Venus maides must haue deniall in their mouth and disdayne in their harts so shall they safelye remaine free and securelye despise Fancie Diana is painted kissing Uertue and spotting Beauties face with a Pensell Uirgins must delight in ancient counsailes not amorous conceits least in smelling vpon swéete Uiolets they stumble on bitter Rue Truth Melissa thou giuest good precepts if thou canst follow thine owne principle thou art perswaded by Bradamant to loue but take héede of such balefull allurements arme thy selfe against his charming desire with a chaste disdaine so shalt thou be sure as he which weareth Lawrell cannot be 〈…〉 carieth 〈◊〉 of â— Eagle perish with 〈…〉 shall neither Loue 〈…〉 paine 〈◊〉 with haplâ—sse 〈◊〉 thinke this Bradâ—â—â—â—â— is a man and therefore inconstant and as he sayth a Louer and therefore a flatterer as fickle as the Woolues of Syria which forget their praye ere they be halfe satisfied as dissembling as Iupiter who féedeth Semele for a while with Nectar 〈◊〉 then killeth hir with fire Sith then Melissa to loue is to lâ—â—fe feare not Venus as a Goddesse but despise her as a â—anton intreate not Cupid with prayers but with curses tell Fancie thou wilt reiect his as a vassall not regard hir as a vertue for Bradamant raile at him as a peasant to
lowe for thy passions in stéed of courtesie present him with Medaeas inchanted Casket dooth Bradamant loue Melissa no he hateth Melissa he faineth loue to procure thy losse he flattereth to trye thy follie and if he find thée to fond he will bring thée a sléepe with melodie and then strike of thy head with Mercurie Oh Melissa condemne not BradamaÌ„t without cause if thou meanest not to loue him delight not to lacke him proffer him not Netlâ—s sith he presents thée with Roses if he yéeld the Honie rub not his hiue with gall answere him fréendly though thou straine courtesie to flatter for swéete promises please more then sower gifts and pleasant potiâ—ns are better taken though infectious then bitter pils though most wholesome know this Melissa that the flame of the hill Chymera is to be quenched with Haye not with water the mountaine in Harpasa to be remooued with ones finger not with the whole strength and loue to be driueâ— out with reason not to bee thrust out with force least in striuing against Venus she play the woman and séeke to reuenge Melissa had no sooner vttered these words but going into her Closet she passed awaye the time two or thrée dayes perplexed her swéete loue Rosilius could not with all his clownish courting driue hir from hir dumpes but still all her thoughts and imaginations were fixed on the wytte and personage of yoong Bradamaâ—t so that both the louers sought by walking in the woods to méete there 〈…〉 within 〈…〉 course that hiâ— loue 〈…〉 repaireâ— to a groū◠〈◊〉 Melissa presently res 〈…〉 â—he Saint whom in heart she did reuerence stealâ—ng secretly amidst the thicket she determined to heare some part of his passions BradamaÌ„t full of melancholy dumps tuning his Lute began to warble â—â—t this madrigale The Swans whose pens as white as Iuory Eclipsing fayre Endymions siluer-loue Floting like snowe downe by the banckes of Po. Nere tund their notes like Leda once forlorne VVith more dispairing sortes of madrigales Then I whome wanton loue hath with his gad Prickt to the Courte of deepe and restlesse thoughts The frolike yoongsters Bacchus liquor mads Run not about the wood of Thesâ—aly VVith more inchaunted fits of lunacy Then I whome loue whome sweete and bitter loue Fiers infects with sundry passions Now lorne with liking ouermuch my loue Frozen with fearing if I step to far Fired with gazing at such glymmering stars As stealing light from Phebus brightest rayes Sparkles and sets a flame within my brest Rest restlesse Loue fond baby be content Child hold thy darts within thy quiuer close And if thou wilt be rouing with thy bowe Ayme at those hearts that may attend on loue Let countrey swaines and silly swads be still To Court yoong wag and wanton there thy fill After that Bradamant had recorded this dittie he heard a great rushling in the bushes wherevpon desirous to sée what it might be he espyed Melissa at whose sight he stood so amazed as if with Medusaes head he had béene turned to a stone the Lady as much agast hauing a coosin of hirs with hir called Angelica vttered not a word but the Louers made mute with loue stood as persons in a trance til Bradamant discoursing his loues and making open his priuie passions fell downe at her féete and craued mercie the Ladye as déepely payned as he was passionate could not conceale fire in the straw nor dissemble loue in her lookes but flatlye tolde him that both the proportions of his bodye and the vertues of hys minde had made such a conquest in her affections that were it not the crabbed and couetous disposition of the Duke she could find in her heart to make him hir onely paramour but hir father Gradasso had prouided her a mariage whome she durst not refuse a man able with his wealth to maintaine hir with his parentage to credit hir and that his possessions were great gifts to content and little gods to command euen Vesta her selfe to leaue hir Uirginitie but quoth she how I rest discontent with the match I appeale to the Gods and mynâ— owne conscience Bradamant hearing her so willing to be wonne tolde hir that pollicies in loue were not deceipts but wisdome that to dissemble in affection was to offer Venus her rights and therfore if her fancy were such as she did protest it were easie to inioye the fruition of their loues Not so quoth Melissa for rather had I marrye Rosilius and so wed my selfe to continuall discontent and repentance then by being lose in my loues and wanton in my thoughts disobeying my fathers commaund to disparage mine honour and become a by-word throughout all Aegipt for Ladyes honors are like white lawnes which soone are stayned with euerye mole men in their loues haue liberties that soare they neuer so high nor stoope they neuer so lowe yet their choice is little noted but women are more glorious obiects and therfore haue all mens eyes attentiuelye bent vpon them yet quoth she how I mislyke of my Fathers commaund and how male-content I am lend me your Lute and you shall heare my opinion Bradamant glad that his Mistresse would vouchsafe to grace him with a Song deliuered hir the instrument wherevpon Melissa beyng verye skilfull warbled out this Dittye Obscure and darke is all the gloomie â—ire The Curtaine of the night is ouerspred The sylent Mistresse of the lowest spheare Puts on her sable coulered vale and lower Nor Star nor Milkewhite cyrcle of the skye Appeares where discontent doth hold her lodge She sits shrind in a Canâ—apie of Clouds Whose massie darkenesse mazeth euery sense Wan is her lookes her cheekes of Azure hue Hir haires as Gorgons foule retorting Snakes Enuie the Glasse wherein the hag doth gaze Restlesse the clocke that chimes hir fast a sleepe Disquiet thoughts the minuts of her watch Forth from her Caue the fiend full oft dooth flie To Kings she goes and troubles them with Crownes Setting those high aspiring brands on fire That flame from earth vnto the seate of Ioue To such as Midas men that dote on wealth And rent the bowels of the middle earth For come who gape as did faire Danae For showers of Gold their discontent in blacke Thâ—owes forth the viols of her restlesse cares To such as sit at Paphos for releefe And offer Venus manie solemne vowes To such as Hymen in his Saffron robe Hath knit a Gordion knot of passions To these to all parting the glomie aire Black discontent doth make hiâ— bad repaire No sooner had Melissa ended this Sonnet but for feare the two louers though most vnwilling parted determining when occasion would serue they would meete againe yet was not their méeting so in secret but old Gradasâ—o knew of their conference wherevpon he not onlye blamed his daâ—ghter and in bitter and railing tearmes misused the father of Bradamant but sought with all possible spéed to dispatch the marriage Melissa passing the dayes in melancholie and the night in
Actum est de amicitia and so farewell Thine William Bubb. The Author BEing GentlemeÌ„ thus strictly coniured by mine especiall good freend I dare not but rather hazard my credit on your courtesies then loose for so small a trifle his freendship whome I haue euer found as faithfull as familiar and so familiar as can come within the compasse of amitie then I humbly intreate if my verses be harse or want the grace that Poems should haue that you will ouershadow them with your fauours and pardon all the rather for that I present them vpon constraint if in this your courtesies shall freend me I will either labour to haue better skill in Poetrie or els sweare neuer to write anye more and so I hartely bid you farewell R. G. WHen the Caldees ruled in Aegypt as the Gimnosophists did in India and the Sophi in Greece they vsed to endeuor as far as their graue counsailes could preuaile to suppresse all wanton affections respecting not the degrees of persons to whome they deliuered their satyricall exhortations it chanced therfore that Psamnetichus yoongest sonne addicted to much to wanton desires and to sot himselfe in the beautie of women one of the Caldees hauing an insight into his lasciuious lyfe perswaded him to desist from such fading pleasures whose momentarye delights did bréede lasting reproche and infamie the yoong Prince making light account of his words went into his Studye and writ him an answer Sonnet-wise to this effect I am but yoong and may be wanton yet IN Cypres sat fayre Venus by a Fouâ—t Wanton Adonis toying on her knee She kist the wag her darling of accompt The Boie gan blush which when his louer see She smild and told him loue might challenge debt And he was yoong and might be wanton yet The boy waxt bold fiered by fond desire That woe he could and court hir with conceipt Reason spied this and sought to quench the fire With cold disdaine but wily Adon straight Cherd vp the flame and saide good sir what let I am but young and may be wanton yet Reason replied that Beawty was a bane To such as feed their fancy with fond loue That when sweete youth with lust is ouertane It rues in age this could not Adon moue For Venus taught him still this rest to set That he was young and might be wanton yet Where Venus strikes with Beauty to the quick It litle vayles sage reason to reply Few are the cares for such as are loue sicke But loue then though I wanton it awry And play the wag from Adon this I get I am but young and may be wanton yet After the young Prince had ended his sonnet and gyuen it as it were in derysion to the Caldee the olde man willing to gyue him a Sop of the same sawâ—e called together his wyts and refelled his reason thus after his owne methode The Syren Venus nourist in hir lap Faire Adon swearing whiles he was a youth He might be wanton Note his after-hap The guerdon that such lawlesse lust ensueth So long he followed flattering Venus lore Tâ—ll seely Lad he perisht by a bore Mars in his youth did court this lusty dame He woon hir loue what might his fancy let He was but young at last vnto his shame Vulcan intrapt them slily in a net And call'd the Gods to witnesse as a truth A leachers fault was not excus'd by youth If crooked Age accounteth youth his spring The Spring the fayrest season of the yeare Enricht with flowers and sweetes and many a thing That fayre and gorgeous to the eyes appeare It fits that youth the spring of man should be Richt with such flowers as vertue yeeldeth thee After that the olde Caldee had penned this Poeme hée presented it to the young Prince but how it tooke effect I litle know and leaue you to suppose but this I am sure Delia kept it in hir Casket as a Relick and therefore as I had it I present it This Sonnet had no name prefixed so that I knowâ— not whose inuention it was but Delia held it more déere then all the rest so that before shee drew it out off hir Boxe shée praysed it with many protestations but as the Argument may inferre coniecture it was doone by a Louer whose Mistresse was hard-hearted which hée dysâ—â—uered Metaphorically and myldly Thus FAire â—s my loue for Aprill in her face Hâ—r louely brests September claimes his part And Lordly Iuly in her eyes takes place But colâ—e December dwelleth in her heart Blest be the months thâ—t sets my thoughts on fire Accurst that Month that hindreth my desire Like Phoebus â—ire so sparkles both her eies As ayre perfumde with Amber is her breath Like swelling waues her louely teates do rise As earth hir heart cold dateth me to death Ave me poore man that on the earth do liue When vnkind earth death and dispaire doth giue In pompe sits Mercie seated in hir face Loue twixt her brests his troâ—hees dooth imprint Her eyes shines fauour courtesie and grace But touch her heart ah that is framd of flynt That fore my haruest in the Grasse beares graine The rockt will weare washt with a winters raiâ—e This read ouer she clapt it into her casket and brought out an old rustie paper and with that she smyled on hâ—er husâ—and and spake to her neighbour â—itting by I will tell you Gossip quoth she as preciselye as my husband sits hee hath béene a wag but nowe age hath pluckt out all his Coltes téeth for when hee and I made loue one to another hee got a learned clarke to write this dittie subtilly contriued as though it 〈◊〉 béâ—ne betwéene Sheepheards but he ment it of me and himâ—selfe Perymedes laught at this and so the Sonnet was read thus PHillis kept sheepe along the westerne plaines And Coridon did feed his flocks hard by This Sheepheard was the flower of all the swaines That trac'd the downes of fruitâ—ull Thessalie And Phillis that did far her flocks surpasse In siluer huâ— was thought a bonny lasâ—e A Bonny lasse quaint in her Country tire Was louely Phillis Coridon swore so Her locks her lookes did set the swaine on fire He left his Lambes and he began to wâ—e He lookt he sithi he courted with a kisseâ— No better could the silly â—wad then this He little knew to paint a tale of Loue Sheepheards can fancie but they cannot sayeâ— Phillis gan smile and wily thought to proue What vncouth greeâ—e poore Coridon did paie She askt him how his flocks or he did fare Yet pensiue thus his sighes did tell his care The Sheepheard blusht when Phillis quesâ—ioned so And swore by Pan it was not for his â—â—ocke Tis loue faire Phillis breedeth all this woe My thoughts are trapt within thy louely locks Thine eye hath pearst thy face hath set on fire Faire Phillis kinâ—leth Coridons desire Can Sheepheards loue said Phillis to the swaine Such saints as Phillis Coridon replied Men when they lust can many â—ancies faine Said Phillis this not Coridoâ— denied That lust had lies but loue quoth he sayes truth Thy Sheepheard loues then Phillis what ensueth Phillis was wan she blusht and hung the head The swaine stept to and cher'd hir with a kisse With faith with troth they stroke the matter dead So vsed they when men thought not amisse This Loue begun and ended both in one Phillis was loued and she lik't Corydon And thus Gentle-men at my fréends request I haue put in print those bad Sonnets which otherwise I had resolued to haue made obscure like the pictures that Phidius drew in his prentize-hood which hée paynted in the night and blotted out in the day if they passe but with silence howsoeuer you smyle at them secretly I care not if they bée so ill that you cannot but murmur openly at such trash I runne to the last clause of my fréends letter doo this Aut actum est de amicitia and so I bid you farewell FINIS The wâ—â—â— the woâ—â—â— paymaâ—â—â— â—â—lanchoâ—â— the soâ—â— enemy 〈◊〉 mans â—â—alth 〈◊〉 discriâ—â—ion of a â—â—â—sition â—he marks 〈◊〉 a good â—â—hiâ—ition â—â—tience a â—â—ecious â—â—mple â—â—ope a sinâ—ular preâ—â—ruatiue â—â—arts ease 〈◊〉 defensoâ—â— against griefe The husbands 〈◊〉 a law to 〈◊〉 honest wiâ—e Friend countrâ—â—deate tâ— man The disâ—â—ton of â—â—â—â—tune Ingratâ—â—tudeoâ— neuer 〈◊〉 vsed â—â—ue a peâ—â—us laâ—â—rinth â—â—sick miâ—â—ats not 〈◊〉 Vnpossiâ—â— to coÌ„ceâ—â— loue