The discreet widow shew'd some tokens of joy in her countenance women can faign at pleasure and a fresh commands Fosca that she should go into one of the lower Rooms and prepare a convenient bed for that she was confident her Lover would that very night come to finde her alone and there she intended their amorous enjoyments All was executed Gelindo having open'd the letter reads it and findes these words GELINDO BECAVSE it often happens that those women who easily give themselves in prey to young Lovers finde themselves quickly deceiv'd and penitent I that I might not fall into the like error would from length of time have experience of your faith and affection whereof being assur'd I cannot deny you the reward ef the excesse of the love which I know you bear me If it please you therefore about midnight to come to my house where my Maid shall expect you to let you in to the place where you may be happy we will either contract marriage or otherwise as you shall think fit Since I desire nothing more then to be for ever Your Servant LIMISINDA He was astonish'd at the reading of this Letter and gave Love and Fortune thanks that they had shew'd themselvs so favourable towards him Retiring himself full of thoughts to the others dwelling expecting with impatience grievously sighing after that midnight which was to be the last of his life The hour came and he departs and alone goes to Limisinda's house behinde the door which was half open he findes Fosca who with a small light in a little Lantern stood there expecting him He enters and is presently led into the Chamber which he fancied should be the Theater of his Pleasures but prov'd afterwards that of his Tragedy O how ill doth a man oppose himself to what must happen Alas with what blinde steps Love guides us to precipices The Maid leaves him in the Chamber with some Candles lighted and goes up Stairs to give notice to her Mistris She having taken some Comfits and some costly Wines though sleepy sends back the Maid telling her Bid Gelindo from me refresh himself with these Junkets the better to prepare himself for those delights and then come back and I will presently come to him Fosca goes and returns The lovesick Gelindo forc'd himself although against his will to tast a part of them and having taken a cup of Wine he sends it down his brest sending to his heart the advertisement of his own death He had scarce drunk but he findes his eyes out of measure possest with a heavy sleep He sits himself down on a Chair and scarce was setled but he falls profoundly asleep When Limisinda imagin'd that the Poyson began to work she comes down Stairs and enters the Room where Gelindo was asleep The young Lady was in a confusion and almost repented that she had before taken such a resolution Nevertheless taking up her Heart with a Courage and although she had hid a Dagger in a Corner of the Chamber yet would she not take it but takes from the young man that which he wore by his side and striking it often through his throat he not stirring at all otherwise then streching out his last with his Legs and his Arms. Thus dyed this unhappy man and thus she sacrificed his Soul to the Soul of her dead Husband Having executed this she goes up and brings Fosca with her to terrifie her with the horror of this miserable Spectacle The Maid sayes twice or thrice with a loud voice and with actions as of a desperate person Alas O God! Alas And had follwed it with other words had not Limisinda cryed out and threatned to call out for the Neighbourhood reversing all the crime on her Poor Fosca was thus forc'd to be quiet to fly her own shame and the danger of punishment which the Justice might have inflicted And being help'd by her Mistris they silently carried the body to a place where they buried it that none ever knew any thing of the Fact till many years after it was known from Limisinda her self a while before the hour of her death Let the unwary Youth learn by this History to Regulate his Immoderate Affections Nor so much trust Women as to beleeve they may not at last be deceived IRLANDO and ARMANDO NOVEL XI The ARGUMENT Irlando and Armando love Rosalia and Rosalia and Emilia love Irlando and after many various deceits and turns of Fortune finding fidelity in their Lovers the Ladies fix a constant and sincere affection IN Padua a City the more noble by how much the more ancient the compendium of beauty was to be seen in the likeness of a most graceful Lady who might have boasted to have debauched the graces from Venus to get a glorious train for her self Whensoever she made shew of her self to the eies of others 't was necessary to beleeve that heaven keeping open Court did abundantly disperse its splendors Who with a chance look could steal away pledges of Love she had a perpetual light in her minde which rallied up in the thoughts of all the hight of the greatest beauties which possibly could be admired in a created object Glances need not be repeated in that face which lightning with Majesty oblig'd the errors of a timerous boldness to correct themselves with modesty Sitting sometimes at a window she sent abroad Love her son to hunt after hearts born from her eyes and bred in the cradle of her lips and raigning in the throne of her countenance There were bound with the chains of her looks the souls of a thousand Lovers With an extraordinary violence being so neer the sun every one was constrained either to have the tenderness of his heart melted or burnt with the bait of affections In fine the rayes of Divinity could finde no fitter sphere then that most beautiful face when it would make it self visible to mortal eyes It was once gaz'd on by two Cavaliers born in France but following their studies inhabitants of that City The conjunction of their minds had unanimously led them out of their Native Kingdom and indissolvably link'd them together with the tye of a singular friendship inviolably observing the laws thereof they never suffered their alwaies regulated affections to disturb their mutual contentment They were unanimous in their apparel and diet inseperable in conversation and indivisable in love so that they it seem'd agreeâ— together to lose their liberties the soul willingly following the looks fled away to imprison it self if we may call Heaven a prison in the bosom of so eminent a beauty They unanimously Courted the Idol who on the Altar of her Window receiv'd the victims of their hearts they sometimes fix'd their eyes on one another I know not whether to move a mutual pitty towards eithers ardors and to testifie the excess of that beauty which silencing the tongue rendred the eyes talkative yet was it superfluous for the eyes to speake the language of
Cannot exaggerate the quality of my ardors which are even exstinguish'd by the ink discredited by the Hiperboles which a pen can afford Prohibit but these and I am denied to express the truth of my affections yet nevertheless if the reflection of your countenance will illuminate the obscurity of these Characters you will know what the fire is which is enlightned by the rayes of so much beauty Admit me but to your presence the tongues of my flames shall speak in my eyes to witness that my heart is a living furnace my blood shall assure you that the wound of my affections is made by your looks so that as its usual in presence of my Murtheress my face will shew you a blushing mantle to testifie it worthy of a kiss Besides I shall shew my heart not onely wounded but torn whereby you cannot but be oblig'd out of pitty to the duty of a civil correspondence Your Servant and Lover IRLANDO To testify his amorous thoughts he recommends this Letter having sealed it up to a faithful servant of his commanding him to conceal especially from his friend this love negotiation affirming that secrecy was the chiefest part of his hopes Who in the same manner and with the same orders had received a Letter from Armando for so was the other Cavalier call'd In which this was written Fairest Lady AFfection hath no bridle to restrain it within those limits which bound the knowledg of my smal merit unruly in Love's carriere from that point where it received the impulse of its violence which being frō your beauty it s now at last reduc'd to this resolution considering that all wills guided by reason are oblig'd to love what 's fair whereupon I ought not to fear the discovery of the excessive love of this heart which were guilty if it should not love you If it act then conformable to its duty it deserves no punishmen forbid your cruelty therefore to punish me with rigour since I love you and rather let it acquit me the reward of an amorous correspondence obliging me to serve your merit with the weight of those sufferings which love begets which you your self knowing may assure your self that my affections lye not but you ought also to consider it injust to suffer for me the fallacy of my hopes It s sufficient I say I love you for your knowing what your beauty deserves will also know what your affection owes to Your Servant in Love ARMANDO Both these Letters come to Rosalia's hands almost at the same time when those of their Messengers were delivered Irlando from the two Ladies The soul of this Cavalier ran with its most vital spirits to honor with gratitude that of his beloved In the tenderness of his highest Jubily the affections extended themselves that they might the more actively rise to the Sphere of so much contentment and to shun the necessity of being carried away by the violence of so great a joy Finding himself gratified with a correspondence which he desir'd he thought he might presage that his love would most happily succeed when graces ran before the very flight of his desires 'T was fit for him to moderate the effects of so much sweetness in reading Emilia's Letter whose civility rather invited then enticed that heart which rejoyc'd onely in its effects for the beauty of the other Armando comes in when his eyes and his minde were attentively examining those Characters to whom smiling he shews the Letter discovering those heedless loves but hides Rosalia's esteeming that confidence without judgment might ruin the interest of his felicity When Love will be alone all his lawes are contrary to those precepts which conversation or friendship hath established The remembrance of Love raiseth suspitions original even in him from his own knowledge they having unanimously ador'd that Lady But although they had had no occasion to doubt rivality yet he might fear least he might fail of such a beauty who was so apt to afford favours and love So that in discoursing of Emilia he shew'd himself even in his memory far from thinking on the other naming her onely when it was necessary to circumscribe this comparison of hers The Gentleman who thought this occasion fit to felicitate his thoughts us'd all the efficacy possible to perswade his his friend not to refuse the favors of so loving a Lady which if he could have oblig'd him to he pretended that it would be free for him to seek Rosalia's love Extending his discourse in her praise celebrating her singular merit to shew him how unjust the refusal of his affection would be He tells him that the fairer a woman is she is so much the prouder and less tractable then another who being inferiour in beauty would be wanting as much of pride which usually checks the delights of love In a fair woman quarrels and contests were ordinary forasmuch as knowing the power her looks have over hearts she alwaies pretends such an Empire over her Lovers that it often deserves the title of Tiranny He added that it was the common course of Nature that where beauty was wanting she supplied it with abundance of graces which give the best relishes to amorous delights At last he concluded That when we aspire to the highest pitch of prosperity in love a man never ought to make choice of a Lady of excessive beauty It being sufficient so she be not deform'd to that heart which seeks true and continued enjoyments In obliging them by the interest of higher contents a man might perhaps presume to make the observance of that duty inevitable whereby he was bound not to refuse the invitation of so much civility And in fine That his perswasions were not ill grounded That as Emilia's beauty was not in excess yet was it not far short Yet all this could not pervert Irlando's thoughts who treacherously glorious applauded in himself how he was lifted up by his towring hopes to a heaven far more sublime He could not have prejudic'd his fortune by changing his propos'd election for all the treasures of the world yet on the other side he fancies thinking he might gain a greater liberty in his love with Rosalia could his dissimulations but be credited as made to Emilia The other remains so fully deceiv'd in beleeving these appearances whence concluding that he could not offend their friendship he designs to follow the waies of love with that Lady who wholly possest his minde Nevertheless Irlando advanceth to enjoyment before the other procures himself to be loved He writes back to both the Ladies with a diverse sense according to the pleasure of his affections or according to the little correspondence of his minde Those he sent to Rosalia were thus express'd Fairest Lady THE showers of your civilities which dissolves in deluges of grace might justly threaten tempests of disdain should I not come to enjoy the presence of that sun from which there distils a dew of delights To night I shall come to sacrifice
these imaginary comforts she solac'd her grief whilst with the assurance of real contentment the other confirm'd her minde with her desir'd consolations Irlando at last goes to her enjoyment Armando at least as he thought to contention Both were civilly admitted not without the astonishment of the one who thought his admittance prohibited by disdain seeing his way made plain by love His heart leapt at this incredible novelty which before was sunk with dispair Fancying a happy omen to himself he thought to resolve those words in thanksgivings which like clouds thickned with fury threatned to fulminate reproofs The reception of Emilia forewarning him of a cheat renued the tumult of his thoughts which afterwards conspired to torment him when having enquir'd after Rosalia she answer'd him That she was there in her steed she her self having made the change Hence she went to speak of love promising to act that person in all degrees of complacency which might satisfie a Lover And thereupon with carresses and other love tricks she began to weave those delights which alone captivate the sense Yet did his affection spume away even those powerful motives of sense obstinately obliging him to continue his vassaladge to the others beauty who although she was ungrateful yet she did not forbear to be adoreable nevertheless the bridle of consideration impos'd rules to this disorder suggesting as unreasonable to despise the favours of so kinde a Lady in hope to aspire to the others favours who even loath'd him So that with his genius and with his consent he inclin'd to that part which with reason predominated even to enjoyment He was not inferiour to his friend in running through the lists of delight whose bounds and carriere were her fair brests These two fortunate couple of Lovers will have no cause to envy one the other both being equally in the road of contentemnt if not of old of newer loves and far more vehement affections Thus Emilia and Armando revolv'd the sailes of their thoughts fitted to the wind their hopes being already undeceiv'd to finde harbor whereto their desires had at first steer'd The dispute of Rivalship being thus taken away the practise of these Lover was free between whom mutually there was a strait knot of friendship Yet the flight of this liberty a fresh transports the affections to the shunn'd post of their election Irlando loves Emilia and Rosalia Armando The cause of this change was either the usual property to finde that loathsome which we have long enjoy'd or the ordinary condition of our desires which alwaies more ardently aspires to the possession of that which we may acquire by depriving our selves of the other Others things seem alwaies better to us then our own forasmuch as being oblig'd by our being to be alwaies content its necessary that not vallewing what we enjoy we desire what we see another possess principally in love which the likeness of fire shews whose common condition is to aspire to new objects This element the greater nourishment it receives as it were to glut the pride of its ardors raising its flames so much the higher seems to demonstrate the voracity of its appetite greedy of making new prey As novelties most delight so the thoughts began to suggest hopes of more grateful felicities in these new Lovers Irlando to whom these desires shut the fight to the beauties of Rosalia considered in the other the excess of such a good grace that it engrav'd in his heart the adorable idol of his affections The Lady also who saw that Emilia was had in greater esteem of Armando whom she thought far inferior to her in desert resolv'd presently subjection of love to him who could acknowledge it with the greater tribute of reverence This change of their own wills was conceited with looks carresses and jests which being the effect of a friendly union degenerate into affectionate accents Emilia was satisfied with the behaviour of her Lover and gave way to no thoughts which bore not the marks of her being consecrated to him Even Armando also remembring the great kindeness with which his Lady at first confirm'd the excess of love before she reveal'd it had oblig'd his heart to preserve his affections that he could not mix them with those which carried any other image but that of Emilia So that those two lost the field being excluded from any correspondency who first of all entred loves Capital in triumph To continue it amongst themselves it seem'd impossible for their luke-warmness was soon converted into coldness and that into ice so that at last disdain and loathings sprung from corrupt dispositions each of them thinking themselves oblig'd to revenge the others infidelity or at least inconstancy which begot an exceeding hatred to paralel the punishment with the crime The assaults were revolv'd against the true Lovers who in opposition to their discord rendred the indissolveable union of their affections the more strongly fortified mutually confessing their genius transported out of the center of themselves and lockt up within the circumference of their amorous wills agreeing to cast off the love of their two friends although to their disgust With faign'd fictions they perswaded the more highly to fix these roots in their hearts which us'd to breed affectionate correspondence that jealousie might not move the others to suspend or prohibit them this commerce wherein these rivals equally found acquest of enjoyments Familiarity sometimes permitted a kiss to be snatcht whereof these Lovers took an usurious interest considering the penury of other pleasures The occasion of a jest oblig'd a carress and those endearments without offending those mindes with suspitions who thinking even that the others hearts were interchangeably knit they doubted not that aspiring to any other object they would by their rivalship disturb their contentment Rosalia at last being importun'd by accidity with the more pleasure to terminate these deceits renders her friend jealous with a faign'd jealousie of her own She seems to doubt that the Lovers being tir'd with their long possession were equally traytors of their oblig'd faith She said that she knew very well that Armando's minde was inclin'd towards her as one the other side she perceiv'd her Lovers heart aspire towards her Being thus perswaded to discover the proof of this truth they should one evening fraudulently exchange the Gentlemen and by this occasion the liberty of amorous demonstrations would discover to whom their affections most enclin'd They promis'd one the other to revenge the the others offended faith with rigorous reproofs when the vayl of dissimulation was taken off and the stains of treachery appear'd The other being after this manner imbued with suspitions consents to the experiment to assure her self of this relation of her pretended faithful friend Thus Rosalia with Armando and Irlando with Emilia were in posture to compleat the web of their own contentments brought about by this cheat The two Ladies one evening invited their two Lovers to a private treat every one
even his Fathers Genius finds a thousand excuses to delay his journey but they nothing prevailed since our Lover must obey Florida remain'd astonished at the newes of this sad separation and then burst forth into so high a resentment of griefe which the tendernesse of a Woman and the folly of a lover could possibly suggest She with a good will would have followed him had she not fear'd to have ruin'd him by the ruines of her selfe in repute and honour Yet she remain'd like the Heliotrope altogether mortified when the Evening divorceth it from the Rayes of the Sunne Octavio being gone who went away immerc'd with griefe bathing with his tears the earth he stampt on with his feet Being arrived at Bologna in the pleasing quiet of Letters he finds the warre of his affections still the more cruell whence he concludes it false That absence cures the infirmity of love His own thoughts became his executioners alwayes martyrizing him with the memory of his so much regretted felicity then which nothing was more dear The Lectures and Scholastick Conferences so gratefull to the vertuous to him who was opprest with griefe and whose soul was in an agony seemed like Funerall Songs and study appear'd truly the sepulture of the living He tasted not the Nectar of Wisdome since spirits weakned by dissolutenesse usually suffer the disrelish of all good things He then remained in Bologna and though in appearance he frequented the Schooles yet in effect he heard the Masters as an Asp and profited like a stock He liv'd a Scholar in name onely amongst students without study idle at their exercises and so desperate that he even lost his life in that place where others render it immortall with the glory of Learning Octavio was at last in the midst of so many afflictions consolated by Fortune who by the hands of certain Merchants caused his Fathers liberality to fall into his hands converted into showers of gold So that being richly provided with money he ravisheth himselfe to Parthenope to visit his Florida the sweet cause of his cruell torments Being arrived unknown without going to his Father he so orders the businesse that she hath notice of his arrivall so that through the favourable darknesse of the night he came to adore her at a little window of her house It 's superfluous to relate the Complements which past or how many tears were shed out of tenderness since any man knows what affections an unthought-of accident will raise in two hearts tenderly loving one the other and so long tormented with such longing desires to review one another But these pleasures lasted but a few nights for that Octavio refus'd treacherously to tempt his Fortune having already experimented that with velocity she turns her wheele in felicity but slowly in time of misery He therefore parts burthening himselfe by this his new departure with new griefs and being scarce come to Bologna and having hardly furnished himselfe with necessaries that the businesse might not be discovered he retakes his journey back again to Parthenope So that for the space of a whole year he alternatively travelling and resting liv'd betwixt torments and contentments The yeare being almost at an end Octavio being at Bologna falls fick of a Feaver which though it was without danger yet was long and many great perplexities of mind befell him because it diverted him from his journey In the mean time Horatio for so was Florida's father call'd concludes her marriage with Don Fernando Marquiss of Tuedos she having been from her infancy design'd for him He was of Arragon descended from Dukes a Cavalier of a small Fortune of great parentage and for pretences at all He presumed that he had a greater wealth then truly he possest that he was more valiant then indeed he was and yet more Gentile then he seem'd of a short stature of a proud port of a brown complexion and lame so that to give the faire Florida to Fernando was the same thing as afresh to grant a Venus to a Vulcan This was the Bridegroom which Horatio had prepar'd not to accommodate his daughter but to advantage himselfe in the Court of Castile Cursed interest cruel and perverse Numens which necessitates men to sacrifice even their own children unto you Florida having heard the conclusion of the marriage became sad yet seem'd pleas'd to her Father and dispenc'd tears which seem'd of joy but were of grief After a day she feigns herself ill and begs that all publick or privat solemnity might be suspended till her recovery In the mean time she dispatcheth a Letter to Octavio which included this following sense My Lord MY Fathers authority forceth me to break my faith with you to violate my genius and to be no more yours He hath promised me to the Marquess Don Fernando a Cavalier whom I wish a Monarch that I might shew my self the more constant to you by despising a Regal match for your sake I fear my fathers Anger will become murtherous when I shall have discovered him our loves Therefore come my Octavio but come quickly to see your Florida who is inmoveably disposed either to live with you or dye for you Come and hear my mournful Nenias insteed of Epithalamiums And to see how contentedly I shall go to my grave if Fate consents not to joyn me to your bed Remember your self then my Lord if I shall see you no more of your oaths and of our mutual affections and live happy since what ever happens I shall be sure to die Your most faithful FLORIDA THis Letter was an enchantment which would have ravished Octavio out of Hell aswel as from his bed He who already was better'd in his health rose assoon as he had read it and no sooner got to horse but away for Parthenope guided by fury and accompanied with dispair Somtimes with a raging heart he wish'd himself alive only to be reveng'd of his Rival and somtimes with a desperate voice he begg'd Heaven to thunder-strike him that he might not see Florida either subject to death or Fernando's Spouse But Fortune which equally preserves both fools and desperate persons happily brings this unhappy man to Parthenope being arrived at his Father Odoardo's house and before he lighted from his horse having seen the fair Florida appear at the Balcony he salutes her with a joy mixt with grief of heart as ignorant whether he honoured her as his own or as the spouse of another man Fortune would have it so he findes his Father's house without his Father who was newly parted for some Domestick occasion whereby he had the opportunity to speak from his wonted apartment to his dearest who thereby testified inexplicable signes of contentment The first complement past she confirms him the great danger of her life how far greater her faith was and that towards him her affection was supreme She also added my Octavio did you know with how much satisfaction for your sake I shall encounter death perhaps without
with a deceit in some manner to correspond with my obligations and your love The love practises of the other night were with my Chamber-maid Aleria I being forbid both by the advantage of my birth and my husbands honor She is here present to give testimony of this truth Oliverio expected not that she should proceed in her discourse but full of malice returned home machinating in his minde a thousand precipices against the reputation and life of the Countess At last reason having gain'd the field admiring the prudence of the Lady who without prejudice of her own honor had so prettily deceiv'd her lover he chang'd his sensuality into friendship and respect Hence may Ladies of honor learn to shield themselves from the dangers of necessity without hazarding their reputations And Cavaliers may learn not to tempt the chastity of a prudent Lady since they may gain onely cheats or reproches It being not blamable sometimes to use deceit to shun the Tyranny of necessity LEONORA NOVEL IV. The ARGUMENT Gernando and Anselmo love two Gentlewomen whom after several accidents they enjoy which their wives having discover'd occasion by their jealousie an unhapy Tragedy NAPLES is a City delightful in all seasons the flattring accents of the inhabiting Sirens turns with the reeling lubricity of Fortune if the truth prevail their mindes are to be preferr'd to all others like those of Paradice Many years since in that place as in a Theater amongst others the chance of two most noble Cavaliers was presented who qualified with that air fruitful in titles were call'd most excellent Princes The one Gernando the other Anselmo the vicinity of their Palaces the likeness of their years the sympathy of their mindes had in a manner so united their wills that having inseparably ingrafted their hearts they possest nothing amongst them imcommunicable but their wives Gernando was married with the Princess Leonora who mixing in her most beautiful countenance sweetness withseverity majesty represented only a lively transmutation taken from the most exquisit excellencies of Venus Bellona Anselmo was wedded to Celinda a Lady who with her sweet behaviour and with her winning fashion was thought worthy to be preferr'd to the Graces to suckle and nourish most tender loves Both the one and the other liv'd a whole age deliciating themselves with the legitimate sweets of exquisit pleasures their world would have been beleev'd a Heaven had their happiness but constantly wheel'd about they often left the City to disport themselves amongst the delightful Groves of their pleasant Villa's where fully enjoying the prerogatives of a Golden age each did enjoy in their own amorous possessions the redoubled contentment of the others legitimate enjoyments jealousie did not sowre their sweet the least cloud of grief did not disturb the tranquillity of their contentment They usually went out to enjoy the fresh air of the cleer morning and what beyond measure was Leonora's sport which had a bizar capricio to shoot birds incredibly bragging at every shot she made of her prey whilst Celinda intended more tender pastimes gathering the Flowers of the field she weav'd Garlands to crown the triumphs of her conquering companion neither did they with less pleasure pass the remainder of the day for Rosalba Celinda's Gentlewoman did harmoniously sing whilst Doâ—illa Leonora's sweetly plaid on her Lute with their singing and playing making so ravishing a melody that from the loving brest of their hearers by the treachery of pleasure their souls had fled away could they but one moment have been releas'd from their adored beauties Amongst the rest one day Rosalba having let loose her voice to the singing of a wanton song she lighted on such affectionate notes upon the lasciviousness of some amorous accident that she awaken'd the soul of Gernando to admire her good grace and facility he began like those who dote accusing himself of sacriledge for that till then he had not contemplated in that most beautiful singer the excellency of the noblest Seraphin in Heaven whereupon his heart being incourag'd by the reverberation of murthering accents he the more lively imprinted that likeness which condemned him to the sufferance of such a grievous martyrdom where the wretch at once being bloodless and liveless his motion and speech being taken away he lifts up a languishing look with a dying sigh you would swear that he retain'd not the least spirit of life the Lass observ'd it and joggs Dorilla perceiving that her finging had wounded his minde and colouring her cheeks with rosy blushes with which she had bereft the miserable dying man of accusing the murtherous wound yet she thereby forbore not the more spitefully to pursue it so that with the tone of her voice lifting up the lamp of a smile she lightned so sweet a look that fascinating him with a wonderful Magick she took him quite away from living any longer to Leonora and brought him to live a fresh but a painful life in her own bosom from that time the unhapy man felt so unmesurable a fire to run about his heart which inwardly burning him sends up the ashes into his face to accuse the burning as inextinguishable Thus did this miserable man burn and silence it three whole moneths Being brought to Town he was visited by the Phisitians and afterwards forsaken whose opinion was that he was opprest with an unknown disease and that his ill was incurable Leonora aflicted her self at the sickness of her beloved consort and no less amongst themselves suffering the like did Anselmo and Celinda lament so that daily frequenting visits and Anselme with much familiarity did somtimes stay by the by to jest with Dorlla with cunning slights who being taken I know not how with him suffer'd not one to pass without giving him an answer yet she one day resented a peece of pungent treachery when Anselmo told her I perceive very well now Dorilla why you are so coy towards me why do you not love me why do I not love you said she for my part I could wish to see you languishing as Gernando is whereupon with a wink her cheeks blushing she added then should you not finde me so cruel as Rosalba is these last words seem'd to Anselmo as the words of an Oracle revealing the secret of Gernando's hidden infirmity whereupon without any more to do running quickly to his bed he findes him ravished in Rosalba's eyes who stood by Leonora and Celinda who were to no purpose on either side of him comforting him to take away that strange melancholy from his heart which for his unknown passion occasioned in them so manifest a grief and attentively observing him he clearly verified Dorilla's enigma whereupon having made the motion that all should go out of the Chamber he begins Is the love then of Anselmo so little known to thee that out of idle respects thou doubtest to discover it to me at last I have found it out thy heart is wounded the shaft comes from Resalba and it
discourse now with one and then with another turning to Emilio she favours him with a smile and says It displeaseth me to see that your Lady suffers you to appear so poor in favours Emilio answer'd That he wanted one but the following day he hop'd to make prize of one and shewing the manner how he intended to pursue his design he shews her the gun he had one his shoulder Then says Cleria you would have a dead Lady To whom Emilio replies That he followed his deer but to cast her down Cleria adds That since he had such thoughts there was no Lady but would be proud of his service I know very well replies Emilio That a Lady hath no greater pleasure then to fall before those who desire her and though she flees she desires to be taken and overcome I says Cleria but by other means For me replies Emilio at this time I know no other more proportionable means then this for to compass my ends At this answer Hippolito jestingly says Signor Emili I shall resign you my wife for your Lady assuring me that you will willingly quit me of the trouble Cleria turning to her husband with a disdainful smile says I thank you with so good a heart that perhaps you may repent it They fell upon other discourse till they all took their way towards the appointed place Emilio walk'd along with Cleria and led her by the hand introducing by this oportunity several discourses whereto Cleria alwayes concluded That she indeed was his Mistris Hippolito hath given me to you now it belongs to you to cast me down but beleeve me I will not dye alone and at last she said she resolv'd to live hereafter but only in and for him These discourses assur'd Emilio of Cleria's heart to his great displeasure forasmuch as her husbands friendship permitted him not so maliciously to offend him in his reputation He answered her with ceremony seeming not to understand the end she aim'd at The day past with infinite solace Emilio was onely troubled that he could not correspond with the Love of Cleria whose beauty forc'd all hearts to adore her After a few daies winter drawing neer Hippolito retreats to the Town to the great grief of Cleria who thereby was deprived of the opportunity so frequently and familiarly to commerce with her Dear Before her departure she importunately exacted from him promises with oathes whereby she oblig'd him every day to let her see him in that street where she liv'd that at least she might be consolated with the sight of him Emilio inviolably observes his promise and thence forward about the shutting up of the evening his ordinary walk was by Cleria's window who constantly expected him giving him multiplied signs of Love which being observ'd by many neither can it happen otherwise in what publick place soever rais'd the general opinion That although very secretly yet Emilio and Cleria were contented Lovers There liv'd in Lucca banish'd from his Country Millan one call'd Diego a Gentleman of Spanish blood who having observ'd the mutual looks which past betwixt Cleria and Emilio and concluding that they secretly enjoy'd the fruits of Love he resolv'd to tempt his fortune with the Lady And giving way to such thoughts flyes out in words saying that he even also would enjoy her since she felicitated Emilio with an amorous correspondence A Cavalier hears these words and answers him You have a very base esteem of Emilio I know that he is not of such a humor that he will either suffer a rival in love or abandon the Lady If he forsakes not his beloved answers Diego he must abandon his life This his arrogancy displeas'd the Gentleman so that he could not at least but discover it to his friend who burning with disdain was resolv'd to make tryal of his pride He prays his friend that he might do it alone and presently going towards Cleria's street He went not far but Diego comes thither Emilio orders it so that he meets him under the window where Cleria was and with a loud voice says Signor Diego this is the place where one of us must leave his life or his Lady and his hand accompanying his tongue he at the same time draws his sword Diego does the like who although he behaved himself gallantly yet he remains mortally wounded and his death had suddenly followed had not Cleria with her crying out oblig'd Emilio to retire Diego was carried home and knowing that himself had been the cause of his mischance was easily reconciled so that their peace was soon made The success was divulâ—'d in Lucca The love of Cleria was found guilty who by her husband who threatned to kill her was sent away to his Country house This opinion was noised about the Town struck Emilio to the heart since it covered her with shame who was the soul of his soul and that himself was accused as having broken his faith with his friend Hippolito He was afflicted so that he gave all up to dispair and thought on nothing but to finde out a way to undeceive the people and recover the Lady her honor and restore his own reputation Being thus agitated in a Sea of trouble he continued his accustomed walk through Cleria's street to shew that he had not yeilded to Diego Fortune had oblig'd Leonello a Neapolitan Gentleman to love Silvia by way of marriage who liv'd just over against Cleria's house He began to frequent that street which suggested to Emilio's minde that he might take this occasion to abolish the suspition of those who perswaded themselves that he for love of Cleria had fought with Diego He hereupon resolves to quarrel with Leonello and brings his intention to pass at such a time when Hippolito was looking out of the Window and stopping him there Emilio says to the other with a lofty voice That if he valued his own life he should voluntarily banish himseelf from that street nor any longer pretend to Silvia Leonello although a youth encouraged by the presence of his Lady who then lookt on him made ready to answer him with his sword and boldly defends himself against Emilio Yet he remains wounded the other being a perfect good sword man and at that time seconded with his own natural fury reduc'd Leonello to beg his life of him who as he was retiring wraps himself in his own cloak and falls Emilio gets him up and leads him to his house where by the intercession of friends they were soon pacified Hippolito who had seen all was confus'd and divulging the sequel about the City firmly concluding that both disputes had been for the love of Silvia neither was there any who now doubted otherwise forasmuch as in both the written agreements which were already published in Lucca Emilio had alwaies declared how he drew his sword out of his jealousie for Silvia Hippolito had no sooner thought himself an Acteon but he had shun'd the company of the Hunter and fled from Emilio