left his victualles to inlarge his feminine praises In the end tasting the goodnesse of the meate hée found prating very vnsauerie and therefore to recouer his losses his lippes laide on loade which Faliero and some other of the pleasant company perceiuing assayed to reward the Frier for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions Questions answered by monosillable which he euer answered in a monosillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding as quoth Faliero a question or two Master Frier I pray say quoth he who strikes with the sharpest rod God of all other who is most euill Diuell in distresse who deserueth most ruth Truth who is charged with most crime Tyme what holds the world in most imprice Vice who is the greatest lier Frier desire without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eate Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine when they could deuise no talke to put life in the Friers tongue doctor Mossengio demaunded why hée was so briefe in his answeres O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then quoth the Doctor it is good taking away this plenty of meate for cloying Frier Bugiardoes wit The whole company hearing the Frier beaten with his owne sentence turned into a contrary sence burst out into such an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of the Frier would not suffer him to swallowe one bit more of meate in so much as the boord was taken away and the Frier driuen to say Benedicite with an empty stomack an intertainement as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faithful seruant The office of courteous reuerence A good reward for Flatterie fully discharged the company retired towards the fire to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dinner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moned the disgrace of their praise master the Friar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by their enemy the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto said merisy that the friar had taught him such a cunning way to woo as to melt a woman into pitty he would wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to praise the thing they like Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercifull it is necessarie to bridle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue and questionlesse this paine set vpon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée things is great danger and smal discretion to play with fire to striue with water A profitable Note and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therefore he that will discouer his owne secret aduantage is worthie to haue his haire cut with Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was ready to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certaine of her chosen attendants whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for ancient customes profitable are better then new lawes incertaine she commanded the Eunuke to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Lute after a dutifull obeysance played and sung this following Sonnet in Italion TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bound Amid the Skies my wish I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the ground My eye sees Ioy my heart is gripde with paine I know my hurt and yet my good refraine But how these hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can giue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reach so farre outgoes As bound perforce he yeelds to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioy Hope dooth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownde as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To doe whose will Desire in me hath wrought A strength to runne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to stay It may suffise the wisest past my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to auoide digression which raiseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a repetition of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Whereupon quoth Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the causes why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish and take comfort in one anothers companie onely by the impression of nature and man and woman that are beautified both with the vertues of nature and reason many times matches together make a hell of this holy institution By Quéene Aurelias commaundement Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures to answere Sir quoth Faliero the aduantage of reason with which you haue priueledged man and woman is the onely cause thereof no man will denie but that there is a difference of conditions There is diuersitie of condition in euery kinde in creatures of euery kinde some horse an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder and some in despite of his rider will haue a iadish tricke Some Bauke though she be euil serued wil not straggle forth some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at checkes some hound by no meanes will be rated from riot and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his hands be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a bootie will rather starue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offend and ten yeares louing sute cannot ouercome some other Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in mariage But the vice and vertue in euery creature by the opinions of many sage Philosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be found but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man now if by ouer sight in choice maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie Causes of comfort in mariage soweth contention betwéene the vnfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of byrth yeres and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour reason that delighteth in vnitie maketh the ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore think I the opinion of Plato may be imbraced as a sound iudgement The whole assembly allowed Falieroes reason and Dondolo himselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth with her
of the most faire Felice Macrello was sent for to whom Marino deliuered both the Iewell the letter without instructions to doe his message for Protheus could not change himselfe into moe shapes then Macrello as well to auoyd suspition as to compasse his purpose who behaued himselfe so cūningly in Marinoes errand as to be short vertues dames after many perswasions Felice returned him with this answere Felices answere to Marino Georgio I Am not cruell although with difficultie I consent to loue and for that your passions are so extreame I keepe your Picture in my bosome But with what thought I blush to write though pittie be my warrant so that I leaue the euent of our Loue to your consideration and my yeelding to Macrelloes Reporte who in bewraying your passions let fall more teares then I could drye vp with a thousand sighes So that ouercome with rueth to see your affection so great and your passion so daungerous I can not but commit my loue my honour my selfe and all to the Affection and wise gouernement of Marino Georgio FELICE THis Letter was subscribed Life to Marino Georgio and deliuered to the faithfull Macrello with charge that he should make knowen his great importunities before Felice would graunt so hie a fauour which Prouiso might haue béen spared for Macrello partely for his glory but chiefly for his owne benefite vpon deliuery of this Letter willed Marino to receiue it as a Conquest as hardly gotten as Hercules labours if quoth he I had indured not your torments by Imagination it had not béen impossible to haue mooued Felice to rueth Marino heard these circumstances with no better remembrance Sodaine ioy or sorrow dulleth our sences than if he had béen in an Extasie The Subscription Life to Marino ouercame him with such a sodaine passion of Ioy who read and a hundred times ouer read this Life letter and for that it came from Felices swéet hand he a thousand times kissed the Paper Which done by the direction of Macrello this Conquerour Golde made such a passage into a reputed honest Citizens house as without suspition Marino Georgio and fayre Felice there many times mette but to what purpose Gold maketh passage into difficult places I leaue to your constructions and yet thus much I say this Fortune followed Marino in shorte space recouered his former Complexion and it was not long before Felice was richer then either Father or Husband But O that Furie Ielousie enuying this Accord sent slie Suspition to infect Malipieroes heart who prying with Lynx his eyes presented him a thousand causes of mistrust Thevenemous nature of Ielousy which loue straite supprest with as many contrarie imaginations of his Wiues good behauiour insomuch that with the sharpe uicounter of Loue and mistrust poore man he was continually afflicted A shrewd suspition In conclusion séeing his Wife to excéede in brauery and knowing himselfe to decline with pouerty be resolued vpon this certainty this cost could not come from the empty Coffers of her vndone Parents Suspect is more cunning then Argus was wary and then procéeding from others it was impossible to be the fauoures of honest curtesie so that armed with furie he deferred reuenge but to intrap the friend of his wiues follies and the enemie both of her honour and his delight In fine as héedeful as these Louers were in their dealings Ielousie directed suspecte to Marino Georgio and moreouer Neapolitans are most seuere in reuenge made him an eye witnesse of the iniuries done vnto Malipiero which when he assuredly knew hee studied a while of a torture equall to this trecherie for who hath not heard the Neapolitan to be the seuerest reuenger of dishonor in the world To be briefe his bait was this hee fayned a iourney far from home and furnished himselfe with such an apparance of trueth A Iudas kisse as tooke a way all colour of suspition which done with a dissembling kisse he committed his wife to God and the charge of his house to her good gouernement and so set forward towardes Rome Malipiero was no sooner a mile on his way then Macrello certified Marino of this wished opportunitic and Loue made both him and Felice so bolde as in his owne house they determined the following night to exercise vpon Malipiero their wonted iniurie A fit time to deceiue mistrust but about midnight when mistrust was at repose Malipiero entered the house with such a sodaine violence as these two vnfortunate friends were surprised amids their imbracements before they had warning to shifte I sorrowe to tell the rest but trueth will haue passage Malipiero in his reuenge like a Lyon hungring after his praye with his Rapyer and these bitter wordes nayled Marino vnto the Bed Thou Couch quoth he soyled with dishonor washe out thy staynes Death is too easie a scourge for a disloyall wife with the Adulterers blood But holding death too easie a scourge of his wiues trespasse he condemned her to this torture more extreme then death He made an Anatomie of her welbeloued Marino and set him in a fayre Chamber within which hee inclosed his wife without dooing her any bodily iniurie saue the cutting of her haire and to say trueth Haire the ornaments of Chastitie this beautiful ornament of haire beséemeth not an Adultresse head And to punish her the more Malipiero caused her euery dinner and supper to take her accustomed place that at meales she might bee tormented with the sight of her liuing enemie and all the day with the bones of her martyred friend neither could shée quench her thirst but out of a Mazar made of Marinoes skul But to tell her vertue The bounden office of a Writer with her vice her patience was such as she was neuer heard to complain of this cruelty and yet her penitent sorrow so great as the plenty of her teares sometimes moued her iniured Husband to pittie But least he should be ouercome with compassion Iustice must not yeeld to the teares of Trespassers many times from dinner hee commaunded her to her prison who after an humble reuerence went behinde the Tapestry hangings and so vnto her solitary Chamber barred from other company thē the gastly bones of vnfortunate Marino which penance she patiently indured vntil God who saw that her repentance was vnfayned sent Segnior Cornaro to be a peace maker betwéene her husbands iniurie God regardeth repentance and her offence who when Supper was set vpon the Boorde séeing from behinde the Tapistrie Hangings a fayre Gentlewoman to appeare somewhat pale with sorrow her head bare both of attyre and hayre apparelled all in black and in her hand her drinking Boule of Marinoes skull and saying neuer a word with a sober reuerence sitting downe in the chiefest place was stroken with such amaze as on the sodayne he wist not what to say Dinner being ended which was longer than pleasant either to husband wife or
she comprehendeth in her thrée dignities to wit Intendment Wit and Memorie And as the sonne is ingenered of the Father Three dignities of the soule and the holy Ghost procéedeth from both euen so Will is ingendered of Intendment and Memorie procéedeth from both and as the thrée persons of the Trinitie are but one GOD so the thrée powers of the soule are but one soule and in that man is created in this sort Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and contemplate on great matters according to the Image of God because he should resemble his creator in excellencie hee is formed straight and not curbed to behold the earth not thereby to shew a difference betwéene him and other brute Beastes but only because he should rayse his spirite and heaue his eyes to heauen his originall to contemplate of diuine and durable thinges and not of earthly and such as perishe And sure the Monuments that to this day renowme heathē Alexander Iulius Caesar Scipio Haniball and many other stout warriours Plato Pythagoras Socrates Solon and many thousand graue Philosophers were the exercises of the soule who in her function is alwayes occupied to make men shine like Angels And doubtlesse the exploits of man would be wonderfull and glorious Three euils or defects of the body were not the passages of the thrée powers of the soule Intendment Will and Memorie stopped with these thrée euils or defects of the body Ignorance of that which is good Couetousnes of that which is euil and the Infirmitie and languor of the body These be the euils that eclipse the excellencie of many who other wise would appeare more glorious then the Sunne Moone Starres and Christall Firmament into whose motions reuolutions and influences his knowledge foreséeth or the earth with all her fayre furniture which he gouerneth and therefore he is called Microcosmos for that in excellencie he egalleth the beauty of the whole worlde Sir quoth Soranso you haue enchaunted my eares with such a pleasing regarde as if you were as tedious in discourse as I would be attentiue in hearing we should both lose our dinners without any great repining but in adnantage I beséech you what may bee the remedie of these thrée euils which thus obscure the excellencie of man Thrée soueraigne remedies quoth Ismarito to witte Three remedies against the 3. euils of the body Wisedome Vertue and Necessitie which to chase the other thrée euils are thus ordered Wisdome against Ignorance Vertue against Vice and Necessitie agaynst Infirmitie Wisdome is to be vnderstoode according to the condition of the things wherein we be ignorant Vertue is an habite of the soule which without great difficultie cannot be shaken out of his place and subiect By Necessitie The original of al Artes and Sciences absolutely is intended a supplie against those wants with which Infirmity hath charged vs as if we be lame to haue horse to ride if we be sicke to haue medicine if our bodies be weake to haue nourishing meates c. And by these thrée remedies all Artes and Disciplines haue béene inuented to acquire Wisdome Theorique which is contemplatiue Theorique and consists in these thrée partes Practise Theologie Phisicke and Mathematique was found for Vertue Practise which is actiue and deuided Mechanichall craftes into Solitarie Priuate and Publike was put in vse And for Necessitie all Mecanicall craftes were inuented These thrée vertues if we imbrace them will chase the other thrée both out of our body soule and remembrance You haue giuen me a short swéete reason quoth Soranso And a long remēbrance of my weak vnderstanding quoth Ismarito but for that I haue made this Sermon vpon your importunitie your courtesie I hope will pardon me as well as your wisedome will correct my errours I had thought Ceremonies had béen in disgrace Curtesie is commēdable but superfluous sauours of flatterie among you Englishmen quoth Soranso but I finde you superstitious in courtesie and therefore will take no example by you but let it suffice I am your friend and will deserue this fauour in any resonable seruice By this time Dinner was ready to bée set vpon the Boorde and Quéene Aurelia came agayne vnto the open view whose presence was as welcome vnto the generall company as the cleare Sunne after rough stormes to the wether-wearied Saylour After she had acquited the courteous salutations of the whole troup she first took her place then the rest as they pleased or were accustomed At this Dinner there passed much pleasant Table talke impertinent for this reporte which being done at the accustomed houre Quéene Aurelia sent for the chosen cōpany who placed in the drawing chamber the Eunuch knowing his charge tuned his Lute and sung this following Sonet WHo prickles feares to pluck the louely Rose By my consent shall to a Nettle smell Or through faint heart who dooth a Lady lose A droyle I wish or to leade Apes in Hell On Thornes no Grapes but sowre Slowes do growe So from base loue a base delight doth flowe Then minde crowne thou my thoughts aboue the skie For easie gaynde the Conquest is not sweete My sancy swift with Icarus wings doth flie Yet fastned so as fire and frost may meete For pleas'd am I if hope returne but this Grace is obtaynde thy Mistresse hand to kisse A Grace indeede far passing all the ioy Of egall loue that offereth wish in will For though her scorne and light regard annoy Despaire of grace my fancie cannot kill For why this ioy all passions sets in rest I dayly see my mistresse in my brest Whoso inuented this Sonet quoth Quéene Aurelia deserueth to be well fauoured of his Mistresse in that hee kept her so carefully in his bosome Nay quoth Dondolo if his eyes were so subtil as absent he could sée her behauiour his affection were more dangerous then his seruice necessary We giue you to know quoth Isabella that we wey not though our Husbands a hundred miles off know our behauiours at home I thinke so quoth the playne Doctor for so farre off they may sigh at their owne mischance but not chasten your amisse Perchance they should not be charged with such iniurie as this company should be quoth Maria Belochi if we would offer to answere your enuious suggestions Ladies I speak not with intent quoth Soranso to make a question of your behauiours but admit you of al creatures the most perfect yet for that you haue motions as wel bad as good you may many times make shew of euill and yet not doe amisse which if your husbands be so quick sighted as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your heartes and so from shadowes may growe euill effects If their sight bée so quicke quoth Francheschina Sancta then though by anegligent trespas their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsages they will giue them dayly occasion of
AVRELIA The Paragon of pleasure and Princely delights Contayning The seuen dayes Solace in Christmas Holy-dayes of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas Pastimes sundry other well-courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen in a noble Gentlemans Pallace A worke most sweetely intercoursed in ciuill and friendly disputations with many amorous and pleasant Discourses to delight the Reader and plentifully garnished with Morall Notes to make it profitable to the Regarder By G. W. Gent. R I HEB DDIM HEB DDIEV At London printed by Richard Iohnes 1593. To the friendly Readers both Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Wealth and Welfare GEntlemen Gentlewomē I present you here as I think a profitable vnpolished labor For he that is the Trouchman of a strangers toung may wel declare his meaning but yet shall marre the grace of his Tale And therefore Themistocles the noble Captayne and Philosopher of Athens compareth such forced speeches to Tapistrie Hangings rowled vp which being open appeare beatifull and foulded reserue their Vertue but lose their shew But I expect somwhat a better euent then may an Interpreter that is bound to a present Reporte for my Respit hath been sufficient to consider of Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable companies vertues and least by rash acquital of their fauours I should doe iniurie to their reputation I haue with well aduised Iudgement bethought me of such memorable Questions and deuices as I heard and saw presented in this most noble Italian Gentlemans Pallace the Christmas past and answerable to my weake capacitie haue exposed the same in such sorte as if you be not too curious may delight and content you and if not too carelesse may direct and benefite you And to satisfie you herein I giue you friendly knowlehge that Segnior Philoxenus reuerent regarde of the Queenes Maiesties high vertues is a president for you with a dutiful and vnfayned heart to loue feare and obey her Highnesse from whom next vnder God you receiue such blessings as throgh the whole world her excellencie is renowmed and your prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill entertainement of straungers you may perceiue with what Garland Courtesie is principall crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bargetto and other Gentlemen herein named you haue a President of gouernment which will commend you and by well regarding their speeches you shal finde a discreet methode of talke meete for you Gentlemen The like benefite shall Gentlewomen receiue in imitating of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas pleasures Maria Beloch◠Lucia Bella Franceschina Sancta and the rest of the well qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Moral documents needful reprehensions and wittie sayings to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewoman Courteous Gentlemen and Gentlewomen you haue here the honorable institution of Mariage so perfectly Anatomed as a very weake iudgement may see the causes which make housholde quarrels to resemble Hell Agayne the man which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will change his priuate house into a Paradise on earth If ciuil Moral pleasures with al these benefites may make you entertayne this booke and report wel of the Author I assure you you shal be pleased and I satisfied But if you make your tongue enemie to your owne reputation you may detract but not reproch the work Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Calumniators to scorne when either are ready to doe the discreete Reader seruice Some wil perchance more of enuy to heare a stranger commended then of pitie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good entertainmēt of Segnior Philoxenus But to giue such suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankfulnesse I here protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgiue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amends in a little pitie But for that they and all such as view my reporte may learne of me to be gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen that this trauel is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debtor and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Vertues and my paynes to profite and commend themselues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherefore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen I end as I hope to finde you friendly Your assured friend G. W. T.W. Esquier in the commendation of the Author and his needfull Booke EVen as the fruitefull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Sweete Honie drayne and layes it vp to make the profite ours This Morall Author so to vs he doth imparte A Worke of worth culd from the wise with iudgement wit Arte. No Stage toy he sets foorth or thundering of an Host But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burning fire and frost Such vertues as beseeme the worthy Gentles brest In proper colours he doth blaze by following of the best The Vertue is but rare and Vice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th' abuse Such matter in good words these fewe leaues doo reueale Vnforst or strainde as that it seemes a kindely common weale Of forced Mariage he dooth shew the fowle euent When Parents ioyne the childrens hands before their hearts consent And how these fortunes eke in wedlock seldome prooue Vnequall choyce in birth in yeares and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned proofes this sacred state dooth rayse As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest prayse More euery Page here doth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as helpe the weake and doe confirme the wise Which needlesse were to blaze in prayses to allrue The holy Bush may well be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to Ismarito in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth dayes exercise placed in this Forefrunt for the excellencie of Pandora THe mighty Ioue beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angrie moode sent Iris downe to moue Throughout the world the exercise offoes With vengeance armde who powred downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fire Whole Countries burnde did dimme the Sunne with smoake The Canon noyse the ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the heauens shoke The Temples spoylde the Townes to ruine went Vnwilling yet to worke the Worldes decay Ioue Cyllen sent in part his wrath to stay Who hastes his charge with Wings as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the ground He could no way for clowdy darkenes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie Apharos
of brauerie whom the whole troupe reuerently saluted and honorably accompanyed vnto the Chappell After Seruice Dinner and all were solemnly ended Quéene Aurelia with a chosen company Musick refresheth the wit retyred her self into a pleasant drawing Chamber to execute the reported ordenaunce But to quicken the Spirites of the company before they entred into discourse she commaunded a faire Eunuche Boy to sing some one song as he thought good who obaying her commaundement with a heauenly note vnto the Lute sung this louing lay NO ioy comes neere the heauenly ioy of loue When we imbrace the wish of our desire All pleasures els that kinde or Art may moue To loue are like the heate of painted fire Loue is the roote whereon sweet thoughts do growe Loue is the sowrce from whence content doth flow When I beholde my Misterisse in the face Loue from her eyes a thousand Graces throwes But when in armes I doe her selfe imbrace One smiling looke exileth all my woes Then straight our lips prepare themselues to fight And on ech kisse loue sets a new delight What would you more I wish me in my graue Were but my soule with halfe these pleasures crownde And heare on earth to be my Misterisse slaue I holde me free and others to be bound Wherefore I sing which I in solace proue There is no heauen to life bestowed in loue The swéet deliuery of this sonet so inchanted the harts of the hearers as for a space their sences gaue place to the contemplation of their soules In the end Madona Isabella by this motion made the whole company a passage for spéech If Loue be so swéet a passion quoth she I muse from what cause procéedeth the complaints of Louers who with showring teares bedewe the earth with misty sights dimme the aire and with shrill outcries pearse the heauens The cause quoth Soranso procéedes of our fleshly imperfectiōs which corrupts the nature of good things and not of any defect in loue Loue simply is good for loue is a simple deuine vertue and hath his being in the soule whose motions are heauenly I haue read quoth Isabella that there be sundry kindes of loue The vse of loue are diuers quoth Soranso as in zeale towards God The distinctions of loue in duety towards our Country in obedience towards our parents and in affection towards our fréends All which motions procéede foorth of one loue although some are more vehement then the other euen as many Riuers doo run out of one Spring whereof some haue a more swift course then the other But of that passion which we ordinarily call loue the wish either tends to Mariage or wantonnes There is matter of disputation in Mariage quoth Franceschina Knowne euik are not to be defended because the estate is honorable and yet subiect to crosse fortunes But touching your conclusion of wantonnes deserues to dye in silence for known euils are to be chastened without allowing their defences Madame quoth Faliero vnlesse you reuoke this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes Canons Priests may not marry and they haue a custome among themselues not to liue chaste Well quoth Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne me as an heretick good men will cannonise me for a vertuous Virgin These digressions quoth Quéen Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories A necessary note then to conclude any beneficiall matter for our instruction And therefore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one argument thē sieightly to ouerrun many causes where the doubts we leaue vnresolued wil be more dangerous vnto the hearer then the counsels we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame A contention whether Mariage or the single life is the worthier quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obey your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single life is the greatest testimony of Chastity A ciuill Contention to proue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens wits encountring in doubtfull questions openeth a passage for imprisoned Truth Quéene Aurelia Argument decideth doubts and the rest of the company liked very well of the Subiect and studying who were the fittest to deale in this controuersie Aurelia with a glauncing eye behelde that her seruant Ismarito witsafed no greater token Wise silence worketh more regarde then foolish talke that he tooke delight in these actions then sometime the secret bestowing of a modest smile whereupon she forethought that as Floods when they are most highest make least noise euen so perchaunce his still tongue was gouerned by a flowing wit and desirous to sound his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which will serue in this question I feare me you commaund Loue so much A fault in many trauellers as you contemne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Trauailer the nature of which sort of people is to swell with a monsterous disdaine of Mariage The reason is say they their affections are paysoned with the knowledge of womens so hamous euils as they dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they haue learned so many subtilties to deceiue a shiftles woman as dandled with the imbracements of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wife And if you be infected with the humour of these sorte of Trauailers you may well vndertake this charge All vnmarried passe vnder the name of chast for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I commaund you to vse all your possible proofs in the Defence of a Single life and for your assistance I do appoint you Lucia Bella whom this charge cannot mislike because as I vnderstand she means to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therefore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so deepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue your suggestions not answeared and my owne innocency vnexcused and only attend the incounter of him that wil maintain Mariage to be more worthy then a Single life which vocation of Mariage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Sir Defences of Mariage quoth Soranso though white be a faire colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though
vnspeakable ioy or vncurable sorrow how may a man assure himselfe of the one or auoide the other when a womans vnsearcheable heart is the only harbor both of her good euil conditions and once in appearance the honourable and the dishonest the vertuous the vicious and in briefe euery sorte of women are naturally beautified with modestie If the good repulse dishonest request with chast disdaine the badde with counterfet sobrietie will blush at incontinent sutes if the good vseth silence as a vertue the bad with well ordered spéech wil be as highly estéemed if the good with the beautie and benefites of nature delight the bad with the florish of Art will no lesse be fantasied So that at the first face the cunningest Clarke may be deceiued in iudging who best deserueth The greatest Clarke quoth Faliero proues not alwaies the wisest man none more apt to be beguiled then he He valueth all that glistereth Golde he estéemeth faire words Experience is the best ludge as friendly déeds and thinketh that louely countenances do spring from a louing condition when experience knowing the contrarie will trie them all by the best The corruptest Canker bloometh like the swéetest Eglantine the bitter Bullice resembleth the pleasant Damson and the sower Crah the sauorie Pippin Euen so good and bad faire and fowle chaste and vnconstant women are made of one moulde framed of one forme The forme deceiueth but the qualitie sheweth the creature naturally graced with a shamefast blushing but as in smell the Canker in tast the Bullice and the Crab in relish bewray their imperfections euen so with cunning vsage the subtillest woman will shew her vnnaturall conditions counterfeits will to kinde copper holds print but not touch with gold fire hid in ashes will breake forth in heate water courses stopt find out new passages euen so the impatient woman throughly moued discloseth her passions the proud with sufferance excéedeth in pompe and the wanton sore charged wil fall to folly Well quoth Dondolo notwithstanding your directions be good yet the path to heauen is so difficult to finde as the ignorant passenger without direction is like to follow the beaten way to hell and the surest guide is Experience So that the direction of the Parents The foresight of Parents is to be imbraced of the Children in this behalfe Parents with regarde foresée the euils that negligent Children féele ere they withstand Parents prouide liuing to maintaine their Childrens loue Children often times by matching with beggers diminish their parents inheritance Parents labour for necessaries to support an house-hould Children onely séeke for silken ragges to vpholde their pride Parents haue care to match their Children with those of vertuous condition and Children lightly regard no more then their louers amiable countenance I confesse with you quoth Faliero the ouersights of yong men in their choyce A reprehension of forced mariage but I crie out vpon forcement in Marriage as the extreamest bondage that is for that the ransome of libertie is the death of the one or the other of the maried The father thinks he hath a happie purchase if hée get a rich yong Warde to match with his daughter but God he knowes and the vnfortunate couple often féele that hée byeth sorrow to his Childe slander to himselfe and perchance the ruine of an ancient Gentlemans house by the riot of the sonne in Lawe not louing his wife But admit there bée no disagréement betwéene the parties which is rather fortune then foresight in parents who regarde that the lands and goods bée great but smally waie whether the beauty and behauiours please or no yet loue inforst taketh knowledg neither of friends fauor forme Loue will not be constrained goods nor good bringing vp Delicate meate hardly forceth an appetite vnto the sick Pleasure yéelds no sollace to the sorrowfull no more can forcement enforce the frée to fancie The Lyon with gentlenes may bée tamed but with curstnes neuer conquered much more lordly is Loue for as Petrarke defineth The Prince the Peere the Subiect and the slaue Loue giues with care to him they make their mone And if by chance he grant the grace they craue It comes of ruth by force he yeelds to none I could report many examples of large authoritie The euill of tediousnes to proue this inconuenience but to a néedelesse ende for tediousnes duls the remembrance of the hearer and tyres the tongue of the reporter In dayly action you may view the libertie of Loue his contempt to bée constrained and the great compassion he vseth when he is with curtesie acquired which account in forced Mariage is sildome considered There is procurement of friends before plightment of faith safety for liuings before assurance of loue and clapping of hands before knitting of hearts an occasion that the sorroful parties mourne when they are Married reioyse when by death they are seuered Dondolo replyed that when there is no remedy Reason will driue them to loue But Faliero maintayned that Reason and Loue are at deadly food Reason bids thée loue but where thou art liked Reason and Loue as enemies and Loue bids thée fancie where thou art hated Reason directs for thy benefit and Loue allures to thy detryment and to conclude the office of Reason is to appease olde griefes and the nature of Loue is to raise new debates Tush tush quoth Bargetto among the maried quarrels in the day are qualified with kisses in the night whereupon groweth this Adage The iangling words that Louers vse in rage Giues Loue a grace when anger dooth asswage A witnesse that vnkindnesse inlargeth Loue as the wrack of Winter doth the beautie of Sommer then although the Parents matche at first bée without the fancie of the Children a reconciliation in fine will double their comfort Sir quoth Soranso fauoring Falieros opinion you wrest the Adage is to a contrarie meaning Another reprehension of forcement in mariage for it is to bée vsed but where there hath béen some time perfect loue and where a grounded loue is although the Married menace with their tounges they malice not with their hearts on the contrarie part looke what rule the Louer vseth in loue the enemie obserueth in reuenge Therefore if the Maried abhorre before Marriage they may well dissemble with their tongues but will neuer be delighted in their harts where there is such a deuision in the desires of the Married fayre fained semblance will soone turne to flat fowle falling out their thrift goeth forward as the carriage drawne by two Oxen taile to taile the husband will haue no delight to get nor the wise desire to saue seruants with negligence will waste and hyrelings with prolining wil win and which is worst the continuance of mallice wil custome them with mortal hatred hatred betwéene the Married bréedeth contention betwixt the parents contention betwixt the parents raiseth quarrels among the kindred
offend through ignorance which is excused without a pardon for ignorance is without intent of euil therefore to be suffered though not to be cherished a man may offend through necessitie which commendeth Iustice with the vertue to forgiue for necessitie is bound vnto no law and therefore deserueth not to be punished with the rigour of law To the third a man may offend through rashnes and make amends with repeutance which Iustice may pardon without preiudice to equity and herein faire Mistres I haue showen my trespas and the reparation of my trespasse To your third thrée questions Three iniuries may pas vnteuenged a man may hurt his friend against his will which is an iniurie yet ought not to be reuenged for reneng can but afflict the trespasser and the misfortune grieueth him before the husband a man may kisse the wife by mistaking which is an iniury not to be reuenged for the wife may wipe away the wrong with her hand and the husband by reuenge may make worke for the Chirurgion and to the last a man must be content to take good words of a beggerly debtor which is an iniury not to be reuenged for a man can haue of a Cat but her skin and of a begger but his scrip vnles he will sell the Apothecary the greace of the one and the dice maker the bones of the other The whole company gaue a verdict that Bergetto had expounded his Mistres doubts without blemish to Iustice and therefore were ernest suters for his remission Whome shée pardoned with this prouiso that hée should behaue himselfe honourably towards women hereafter For his libertie Bargetto reuerently kissed his Mistresses hand and thus all vnkindnesse pacified Quéene Aurelia mouing a little raisde the company from the Table who a pretty time after dinner had respyt to prepare their wits for the accustomed exercise The Clocke had no sooner sounded the disputation houre but Quéene Aurelia and her Ladies were ready in the drawing Chamber and vpon warning the chosen Gentlemen gaue their attendance who hauing taken their places the Eunuck knowing his charge vnto the Lute sung this Sonet TO thee I send thou fairest of the fayre The vowes and rites of an vnfained heart Who with my plaints doe pearce the subtill Ayre That Beautie thou maist heare and see my smart Who sues but that thy deputie on earth May take in gree my off'rings of good will And in account returne my Loue in worth With charge thy priests my bones to ashes burne And with the same thy aulters all to meale That I may make to serue eache louers turne The peace off'ring with Sacrifice of zeale This Sonet in Beauties behalfe put the whole companie in remembrance of Doctor Mossenigoes last nights lauish spéech of Beautie and the scandalous comparing of her to poyson or which is worse a more subtill infection and therefore to bée resolued of his wrong or her gyltines Quéene Aurelia appointed Monsier Bargétto to bée her Champion and to assist him for it was agréed that frée choice of Mariage should this day be disputed whose affection for the most procéedeth from the vertue of Beautie she lycensed euery one that fauoured her cause which done she willed the Doctor and his fauorers to spit their venym Maddame quoth the Doctor Olde men are bound by their grauitie to say no more then they will stand to it neither beséemeth the stayednes of my yeares nor agréeth with the grauitie of my profession in such an assembly to speake the thing I dare not auouch therefore since it cōmeth to this issue that I must hazard vpon a charge or shrinke away with shame though my enemies be many my cause is iust vpon which warrant I am feareles of my foes and resolute in mine opinion Bargetto likewise glad of this fauour protested before Quéene Aurelia and the whole company that in the faithfull execution of his charge the prodigall spoyle of his life should giue contempt to death The Doctor The dash of a Pen is more grieuous then the counterbuse of a lance that had giuen as many déepe wounds with his Pen as euer he had done with his lance shronke no more at these threats then an Oke at the Helue of an Axe but coldely willed him to vse his pleasure hée was ready to defend or to die in his opinion Whereupon Bargetto to strengthen himselfe the better made this remembrance of the yester dayes report It is quoth he already approoued Free choise in mariage defended if the married in forced mariages could as well finish with the Church as they can account with their consciences their ioy to be Maried was not so colde as their destre to bée deuorsed would bée whot therfore by this awke ward successe in forcement a frée choise in Mariage cannot choose but continue as I think as much loue betwéene the Maried as the other sowed debate Rashnes and constraint quoth the Doctor are both violents Reproofe c. Defence c. and euery violent is a vice then how can a vicious attempt haue a vertuous successe men doo euill quoth Bargetto that good may come of it and it is allowed And men doo good quoth the Doctor that euill may come of it and it is forbidden Reproofe c. for it is the intent both in good and euill that commendeth or condemneth and what good intent hath the foolish young man that by his rashnes in mariage robbeth his parents of their comfort and himselfe of his credit He satisfieth his fancy quoth Bargetto a special regarde in Mariage where there is a swéete accord betwéene the Maried the parents cannot but reioyce and the neighbours are bound to speake well and beautie in his wiues face wil féed his heart with a thousand delights so that he shall sustaine want with little griefe labour to get wealth with a great desire for where vnitie is small things growe to great Such may be the vnitie quoth the Doctor as smal griefes may growe to great sorrowes Reproofe c. when the winde is in the neck of a stooping Trée it falleth downe right and when the vnthriftines of the Husband agréeth with the euill huswiferie of the Wife Sorrow striueth to be in the maried mans bosome before the maried be in his wiues bead and what other expectation may there be either of the one or the other when he satisfieth his fancie before he considereth of the duties of Mariage and she in taking an husband that is ignorant in the affaires of husbandrie and in offices of Mariage It is the office of the maried to be aduised ere he loue Duties before Mariage and louing to be reposed in his choise It is the office of the maried to be prouide for an household before he take possessiō of his hearts delight and it is the office of the maried to examine the conditions of his mistresse before he enter into any couenant of mariage And how
ill vsed a beautie in the Chest a bondage to the minde and a blot in the soule but a couple vnited by this affection for a little Fleabiting of worldly penury suck Nectar betwéene their lips cram Manna into their Bowels possesse heauen in their harts How farre Master Doctor argueth from the opinion of ancient Philosophers and famous Schoolemen these authorities witnesseth A ioy of true loue Ouid Nigidius Samocratius Petrarke and others in their life time adored Beauty with their bookes honored her by their deaths eternized her glory But for that her vertues be diuine and Maister Doctor is soyled with slannder blasphemy and mallice he is vnworthy to be perfected with one thought of her excellency which ignorance maketh him so obstinate The yonger company began to take hart in hearing of this tale so that the Gentlewomen strengthened Bargetto with good countenances for for modesties sake they were silent and the Gentlemen succoured him with their best reasons but all this hope proued but a lightning ioy for Doctor Mossenigo double enraged partly for the check he receiued partly for the countenance the company gaue his aduersary but chéefely for to beholde a new Dye set vpon a stained matter so sharpely refuted Bargetto as he had no delight to reply nor his supporter desire to succour him Quoth he Ouid dreamed of a diuinitie in beauty but neuer tasted other then a swéete venime to procéede from her He loued Iulia Augustus daughter and enioyed her but with what fortune Sundry famous Philosophers and Poets punished for their loues Cause of rash Mariages marry he was stript of his liuing and spoyled of his liberty for her sake Nigidius an ancient Romaine and in great fauour with the people for this folly tasted of Ouids fortune which was to dye in exile Samocratius was in youth so prodigall of his Loue as in age hated of his fréends he died in prison with famine And as for frantick Petrarke I feare me Madonna Laura smiled more often in reading of his follies then he him selfe did with the swéet recompences of his fancies All these were men learned wise and in their other actions for their grauitie were admired and onely for their lightnesse in loue liue to this day defamed For your other authorities your owne remembrance of their deaths shew a vengeance sufficient for the contempt of their children But where you say Beauty Loue and Frée-choyse lade the Maried with such pleasures that they endure pouertie as a Fleabiting Indéede want will so quicken them as the husband will leap at a crust and the wife trot for her dinner But suppose the best thus maried whose loues are indifferent with patience doo indure the afflictions of Fortune their agréement is no generall warrant The greater number of these Mariages are not solemnized through equalitie of liuing The couetous Marchant with no more delight heareth the passing bell of his rich neighbour which promiseth him the first loppe of his sonnes liuing then the poore Gentleman eyeth the able heire with desire to match him perhaps with his faire proud daughter Then as pleasant baites baineth Fish as counterfeit Calles beguileth foules and as Crocodiles teares intrappeth fooles to like destruction lures are throwne to lime this gallant fréendly vsage shall intice him good wordes shall welcome him curtesie shall chéere him Beauty shall bewitch him and faire promises shall altogeather beguile him Newe vessels are apt for any liquour and yong heads empty of experience are seduced with easie subtilties to be short he shal be betrothed by cunning An vnfortunate Mariage his promise once past for that in delay is danger the Mariage must be in poste haste and the misliking at leasure but in most of these matches the sorrow beginneth before the solemnity of the Mariage endeth The father hearing of the indiscretion of his sonne galleth his hart with gréefe the mother spoyleth her eyes with teares and the fréend occupieth his tung in bemoning of his kinsemans folly There is yet a further sorrow bitter to the father and vnbeneffciall to the sonne The father that thought to bestowe his daughter with the Mariage money of his sonne is forced to diminish his inheritance for her aduauncement and by this meanes the ioy which begun in the beauty of his wife is like to ende in the beggerye of himselfe and since these vnsauery effects growe from the vertue of beauties diuinitie let Mounsier Bargetto burne in his heresie But Doctor Mossenigo will holde himselfe happie neuer to be warined by her fire Bargetto had not a woord more to say A Gentleman in his reuenge ought not to offend a ciuill company but angerly looked vpon his swoord with a countenance that promised vengeance vpon the Doctors blasphemous tung had he not béen staied with a reuerent consideration of the company In the end because Maister Doctor should not be too proud of his conquest nor Bargetto ouermuch apalled with his defeate quoth Segnior Fabritio Iudge of the controuersies in a single controuersie the argument of the one is to be allowed as truth and the cauilling of the other to be reiected as error but for that this hath béene a double contention as in defence and reproofe both of Beauty and Frée-choise of mariage Madona Isabella and I pronounce sentence with Bargetto in the behalfe of Beauty for Beauty is a blessing and if she worke euill effects in some their naughty disposition and not Beauty is to be blamed and with Doctor Mossenigo we likewise giue iudgement in reproofe of rashnes in Mariage This iudgement pleased Quéene Aurelia and the whole company who were glad that they were thus forewarned of the inconuenience of Frée-choyse in Loue which they a little fauoured but yet were moreglad of the triumph of beauty whom they all affectedly honoured Vertue commendeth heselfe and therefore quoth Quéene Aurelia good wine néed no Iuie Bush fine Marchādise are sold without a Signe and beauty is sufficienly commended by her own excellency and therefore we will spare Bargettos ready seruice vntill oportunitie present further imployment But for that your triumph shal haue his full right we licence you to tel some one historie to confirme your reasons The Doctor glad of this liberty who although he had receiued no disgrace yet he repined that he had not that whole honour of the disputation determined in his history a little more to nettle that fauourers of beauty with which intent vpō Quéen Aurelias commaundement he reported as foloweth The History in reproofe of rash Mariages reported by Doctor Mossenigo BEsides Capo Verdo in times past the capitall Citie within the kingdome of Naples sometime dwelled a forward yong Gentleman called Marco Malipiero Beauty half a Dowry in a woman the sonne heire of Caualiero Antonio Malipiero in his youth renowned for many valiant seruices This yong Gentleman in the pride of his youth became inamoured of a most faire Gentlewoman named Felice the Daughter
of Philippo Prouolo an auncient Gentleman by harde aduenture decaied But yet in despite of Fortunes iniurie who disabled him with many losses and thereby of small wealth to aduance his Daughter Felice her selfe was inriched with such perfections of nature that the fréends lamented but could not blame the affection of yong Malipiero which in very déede grewe so great as it contemned the dutie of a childe and scorned the aduise of a Father Felice alone gouerned him and none but Felice he obeyed Prouolo intertained Malipiero with the curtesie of a fréend The poore seeketh to match with wealthy as the good partes he possessed as for the possibilitie of liuing he stood in who striking the iron while it was hotte secretly fianced Malipiero to his faire Daughter The olde Knight stormed at these newes and notwithstanding this knowne contract if by any perswasions he could haue reuoked his sonnes consent he would haue caused the Pope to haue dispensed with his conscience and to that effect he caused sundry of his fréends to deale with him in these affaires And among many an auncient Gentleman his Gouernour and sometimes his Schoolemaister whose grauitie Malipiero reuerenced in a milde order commoned with him and among other questions demaūded with what reason he could iustifie his light affections and cōdemne the sound aduice of fréends Malipiero resolute in his loue boldely answered A rash answere that Felices deuine beauty was a sufficient warrant for either This wise Gouernour would not harden his hart with obstinacy The wordes sheweth the wit of the reporter but his gesture causeth attention in the hearer in a sharpe reprehension of his publike arrogant answere but with an affable countenance coniured him to listen vnto his graue sayings O quoth he is she beautiful then you haue work inough to watch her and mischaunce sufficient to suspect her Is she beautifull then her rashnes in consent sheweth that she is indiscréete so that the diuersitie of qualities will soone finde out a diuision in your desires Is she beautifull then it is like by her quick agréement that she is poore then is her loue fastened on your riches so that when you lack money to maintain her pomp she leaues to make much of your person Is she beautifull then she is withall lightly proud The nature of Pride and the pride of a woman saith Periander is like vnto a Dropsey for as drinke encreaseth the drouth of the one so saith he Cost enlargeth the expence of the other then if your pursse be not open to féede her folly she will pawne her honour to please her fancy Is she beautifull then her indiscretion in this hastinesse shewes her but a slender huswife so that the charge of your house shall eate and consume your gaines abroad Is she beautifull then your dispence must be in her disposition or else her lookes will little repose you if she order your goods her expences will be great and her gettings small your house shall be stored with costly stuffe and your seruants starued with lack of meat she will goe like a Peacock and you like a meacock what followeth in her brauery she must be séene if she take the libertie to walke she giueth other occasion to speak and your selfe to sigh A faire picture set in the market place moueth many to gase if the counterfeit giueth contentment the creature must néeds delight and if any vie we your wife with vnlawfull affection his practises will be many to winne his desire Take héede you vndertake an intising course which without good order will make you breathelesse before the midst of your race you enter into great charge sée meanes to support it Your Father liues and must maintin his accustomed reputation if he spare to sustaine you it is much to defray the charge of your Wife and housholde he cannot therfore so loue that this dispence may be shared betweene you and your wiues Parents and as far foorth as I can sée Felices Father hath much adoe to kéepe raine out of his house top then if with difficultie he lieth dry in his Bed it is impossible he should haue any great cheare at his Boorde what reckoning can you make to be supported by him that hath it not and how can you dare presume to be supplyed by your owne Father when the temeritie of your mariage displeaseth him to death Look into these mischéefes before you féele the miseseries they presage looke before you leape least you be wet before you be aware your fréendes hath a comfort but you the benefite of well dooing The Schoolemaister gaue Malipiero this aduice with such a temperate gesture Loue enioyneth vs to doe what we know is amis that although good counsell preuasled not yet he reuerently tolde him that his experience knew more then his gréene imagination could attaine and therefore he would meditate of his louing admonition and procéede no further without his priaitie But ah these were but swéet words to betray himselfe and to blinde his fréend For vpon the first oportunitie Malipiero spéedes vnto PHILIPPO PROVOLO and recountes the importunyties of his fréends with a desire to haue the Mariage priuily solemnised since that he could not obtaine the open consent of his parents Prouolo fearing the danger of delay was as ready to satisfie as Malipiero was earnest to request insomuch as early in a morning An early mariage worketh a late repentāce Marco Malipiero was set in possession of his harts delight and before night was dispossessed of his whole bodies welfare for his sorowful Father and heauy fréends hearing of this suddaine Mariage after they had a while bemoned the rashnes of Malipiero with the affection of Parents menaced to punish his ouersight in not regarding him as Strangers Prouolo on the other side to giue knowledge to his Sonne in lawes fréends The reward of pride is pouertie that although Fortune had crossed him she had not wholy consumed him set out his ability to the most aduantage much like vnto a market Marchant that on a New yéeres day morning exposeth his painted tokens to the richest shew his Sonne in law was accommodated with the attire and furniture of a Gentleman and his wife was set foorth with the shew of rich Malipieroes Heires Espouse and not as poore Prouoloes daughter The common sort iudge as they affect Insomuch as the common sort blinded with shewes iudged after their eyes affection and reputed old Malipiero a cruel couetous Churle for dealing with Prouolo so frowardly that had intreated his Sonne so honourably But these murmurings little moued the good ancient knight for wel he wist this brauery was but a blase as soone ended as the flame of a dry Faggot And which should auenge him this pride promised a change attired with as much pennurie as the other with pompe The following effect confirmed olde Malipieros opinion for Prouolo spent so largely at the beginning in hope with
friend Felice as she entered so departed Who not withstanding left part of her sorrow behinde in Cornaros heart whose cheareles countenance whē Malipiero perceiued quoth hee let not the martyrdome of this woman afflict you for her fault deserueth this vengeaunce and so recounted the reported aduenture And in aduantage she wed him her prison A honourable fauour and the Anatomie of her dishonour and withall licensed him to talke with Felice to heare what plea shee had for her discharge Vppon which warrant quoth Cornaro Madame if your patience bee equall with your torment I holde you the most happy Woman of the world Felice with a countenance abased and Chéeks dewed with teares tolde him in humble words The true ensigne of sorrow that her trespasse was ten times greater then the torment which the Lord of the house whome shee was not worthy to call husband had appoynted her And therewithall the sorrow of her heart tooke away the vse of her tongue Whereupon Malipiero led the Gentleman away who rendred him affected thankes in that besides his good entertaynment hée witsafed him the honour to know so great a secresie withall moued with compassion he effectually intreated Malipiero to accept Felices sorrow True repentance is to be receiued in satisfaction of offences the true witnesse of grace and amendment as satisfaction of her offence which procéeded of frailtie and withall importuned him with such earnest reasons as Malipiero mas content to send bath for her and his owne friends Perfect loue cannot be so iniured but it will alwaies retaine some affection To be partly ruled and partly aduised by them in her behalfe The parentes and friends of euery side séeing the humilitie sorrow and patience of poore Felice were all earnest sutors for her remission The roote of auncient loue not altogether dead in Malipiero was comforted with their intercessions and quickned with the hope of amendment in so much as vpon solemne promise to be henceforth of good behauiour hee receiued her to grace and to repayre her crased honour with the fauour of both their parents he new maried fayre Felice in which holie estate A reparation of dishonour they liued loued and agréed many happie yeares afterward together And with the bones of Marino Georgio buried the remembrance of former iniuries Master Doctor quoth Fabritio you haue reported a very necessary historie for it contayneth many héedfull notes both of admonition and aduise Besides the due punishment of rashnes in Marriage For therein we may sée how hungerstarued want compelleth the best natured man to deceiue his friend and yéelde vnto his owne slaunder Againe how that monster Golde conquereth the honour of the fayrest Yea quoth Isabella corrupteth that conscience of the wisest so that this is no example of any honour to you men because Golde inticed Felice to be disloyall to her husband for it draweth many of you both from the feare and loue of God Well quoth Soranso let it passe Felice in her repentance hath made a large amends of her trespasse and I feare me if euerie like offence were so sharpely punished wee should haue Mazers of mens Skuls more ordinary then siluer Boules and pouled women more common than balde men Not so quoth Quéene Aurelia Feare of correction brideleth the affections of the euill for a few of these examples would bridle the incontinent affections both of man and woman if not for the loue of vertue for the feare of correction After these and a fewe other Moral notes were culled out of Doctor Mossenigoes History What hurteth one instructeth the other Madame quoth Dondolo if we continue this course it will be a good while before we doo finde out the Paradise that Plato speaketh of Be it so quoth Quéene Aurelia but if we still continue the way to his house Hell our errour will instruct others and since we haue yet long respite it shall not bée amisse euery day to take a sundry hie way vntil we find out the true passage And for that our Question is concluded and our houre glasse run we wil for this Day make here an end The Question that arose by beholding the Mountebanks in the third Nights Pastime AT the accustomed houre Supper was serued in with manie dayntie Dishes which were sauced with sundry short ciuill and pleasant euents of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomens wits For he or she was held of weake capacitie that either of forestudy or vpon offered occasion could say nothing of good regarde In the ende when supper was done Breuitie is best for Table talke and Quéene Aurelia and the most Honourable of the company had taken their places vpon a Scaffold made for the nonce there mounted a Mountebanke his neck bechayned with liue Adders Snakes Mountebanks of Italie are in a maner as English pedlers Eau'ts and twentie sundry kinde of venymous vermines whose mortall stinges were taken away by Arte and with him a Zanni and other Actors of pleasure who presented themselues onely with a single desire to recreate Segnior Philoxenus and his worthy company and not with the intent of common Mountibankers to deceiue the people with some vnprofitable Marchandise In the middest of this pastime an ancient Gentleman of the Societie séeing these Viperous Beasts by cunning vsage to be made so Domesticke and affable whether it were vpon an impression of his owne griefe or of the experience he had of another mans Plague I knowe not but sure I am he burst into these passions O God The strange nature of 〈◊〉 womans tung quoth he of what mettal is a womans toung which correction cannot chastise nor lenitie quiet when these dumb Serpents by the one or the other are tamed Marie quoth a pleasant companion it is made of the same mettall that Virgils Brasen Flayle was of which strooke both his friends and foes But quoth the Gentleman Virgil knew and taught others how to pacifie this engine It is true quoth the other but in teaching the secrete vnto his scruant cost him his own life So a womā knowes how to holde her tongue by hauing of her will but if a man thinke to stay it he must beate her to death A young youth named Phrisio thinking to winne the Spurres Defences for a chiding wife by building a Fortresse for women who haue no weapons but their tongues to defend and offend tooke vpon him to prooue a chiding wife though she bee a little vnpleasant both profitable and necessary his reasons were these Vnsauourie receits turne to holsome effectes The strongest Poyson is pleasant in taste and the remedie for the poysoned offendeth the mouth with tartenesse Nettles that stinges the hande maketh Pottage to comfort the heart the blood of the Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper If poysoned vnpleasant and bitter thinges retayne a vertue for the benefite of man in my imagination quoth he an vnquiet wife is not vnprofitable though she be a little
reioycing I graunt as much quoth Soranso but this will follow The euil of Ielousie the Husband will turne his owne mistrust to his Wines sorrow and receiue her good vsage to his owne priuate comfort Indéede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sauced with such froward motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth me not at al then with him that loueth me too much for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your minde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husband ielous Hard is the difference betweene a carelesse and a ielous Husband then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being ielous the wife may study out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easie conceited that if they perceiue a woman studieth how to please them they straightwayes imagine she will likewise study how to deceiue them and therefore God shielde me from a ielous husband I haue heard the white streaked Carnation Gilleflower was the Metamorphos of a fayre Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this ielous thought that his wife being so fayre could not but bee beloued of the Gods Ouid. Metam lib. 10. although he had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger example of Loue then the aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of hell Eurydice and by ouer ielous Loue sent her thither agayne Doctor Mossonigo was smiling out a scoffe Preuent a scoffer and he becommeth a Sotte vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Paradise therefore good we turne back agayne Indéede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell still to choose the least of euils it will be long before we come to the Fountaine of goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which moued the late Question A Commendation of lofty Loue. directs a fayre way to happinesse in mariage for it commēdeth lofty Loue And if according to the olde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this aduenture giueth hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso and I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by marying a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrary Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whereupon quoth Soranso to giue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honour who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especial vertue that doth commend their choyce and cleareth the blemish of her husbands basenesse I must confesse hat he which raiseth his thought so hie vndertaketh no doubt a tedious suite his delaies will bee grieuous and his Soliciters will be well rewarded in what sorte so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perill maketh honor perfect the stinging of the Bée mends the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refreshe oursences when we prick our hands to reach them The euill of a thing commendeth the goodnesse He that crackes the Nut thinkes the kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thereunto belonging but for that the remembrance of the euill maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The affection which is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaynd with expence compassed with sorrow is held most pleasant most perfect and of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good-wil becommeth in a while lothsome the cause is as I conceiue for that the pleasure was neuer seasoned with paine Once a man in louing his better to increase his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue and yet to féede his hope hée shall want neither faire lookes good words nor possibility of fauour For for to obtain a great Lady acquireth many circumstances not for that she is precise to loue but for that she is wise or would be so thought in her procéedinges But whether shee loue or no Ouid sayth there is no womā but will indure the demand she is contēted w e seruice to be courted Loue spareth no degree and in recompence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustayneth hope the example is in continuall vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth the mightiest in bondage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger fayre Venus espoused ill fauoured Vukane Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in embracing his owne shadow and mighty Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dally with simple country trulles then why should the affected how bace soeuer his estate be despayre to attempt a great Lady when his warrant is signed with so large Authorities But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or ill intreated the imagination that time will inuest his desire with delight Hope to compasse great matters comforteth more then the possession of trifles is to the affected a Paradise farre excelling the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue which cannot choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her calling And her Abilitie which allured at the first with his inabilitie to realish both cannot but make the Husband fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her head Reproofe of lofty Loue. but which most contents she shall haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a house were as soon builded as the Plot is drawen qd Dondolo Shepheards would disdain to liue in Cotages euē so if euery man could as soone compasse a Lady for himselfe as he can reporte the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of meane women But admit by the example of other mens aduancements that the meanest may be raysed by the yéelding fancie of the mighty I prophesie that such an vpstart had more néede of ten eyes toward the malice of his Wiues kindred thē one tung to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot mislike affectionated proffers One kinsman hath an interest in anothers honor because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempt for that the conclusion tendeth both to their her dishonour A woman séeing her seruants passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her kindred séeing him in good way to be beloued wil lye in waite for his life For though she may dispose of her affection her kindred hath an interrest in her
of the poore virgine of greater vallue then the possesions of a rich Lady You are nothing deceiued in the course quoth Faliero but much mistaken in the creature Reproofe c. As touching your Contraries I mislike your Consequent for fire and Water haue contrarie working and vnorderly vsed both hurtfull prodigallitie and couetousnesse are contraries and necessarie euen so the courtly dame and the Countrey droyle as they are contrary in calling so are they contrary in conditions and so they may be matched neither profitable A Diamond is blemisht by the setting in Brasse and a Flynt not the beautifuller for being garnisht with Golde euen so the honour of a woman is Cclipst in matching with her Seruant her slaue or her inferior for that Strangers will valew her by her Fortune although her haughtie nature will not lose the name of her reputation neither is the estimation of a Kitchinstuffe inlarged by marrying with a Courtier for that the best will dâ—â—â—aine her basenes not so much for her byrth as her bringing vp yet presuming on her Husbands calling Kytte will to kinde in pride she will pearch with the highest which Soueraigntie in the one and saucines in the other separats pleasantnesse from their husbands and quietnes both from themselues and their households where as if the Gentlewoman marrie with a Gentleman and a Kitchinstuffe with a Cooke the one with duetifull regarde of her husband may hold her reputation and the other shall not be driuen to dissemble with their kinde Wel let this suffice to refell their suggestions that think pleasantly to spend their dayes by marrying either their better or inferiour Now touching the generall disposition of such women as from the cart are raysed vnto this account they will vse the better sorte with strangenesse because they lacke the order of honest curtesie to entertaine them and with the basest wil be familiar because the rudenes of the one answereth the ignorance of the other so that it is more requisite for him that is thus maried to watch his wiues going into the Stable for feare of his horsekéeper then in her Parlor to eye her behauiour in entertaining the Gallant Examine King Astolphus what constancie he found in his thrée halpenie Iuell whom he had turned out of Shéeps russet into Cloth of Siluer in such honours had no otherwise altered her manners but that she thought the lippes of a Captaine was as swéete as a Kings and therefore in al her brauerie she fell to her kinde If this suffice not heare the vsage of Bianca Maria The fall of Maria Bianca is written by the Author in his booke intituled the Rocke of Regarde daughter and onely Heire of Giaccomos Scapardon a notable Vsurer of Baetta Biancas beautie made her sufficiently known but her Fathers bagges made her wonderfully desired so that both ioyned together aduanst her from a shop Maide first to be the wife of Vicount Hermes after whose death clyming vp to further honor and declining in honestie shée esppused the Counte of Zeland Long after the second Mariage she dailyed not with her disposition which was rather in an open shop to be courted with men then in a secret chamber to be accompanied with waiting women so that following her vnmodest fancy with a few Prentices shée fled from her husband to Padua where she set vp for herselfe and thus she vnworthely raised to be a Countesse wickedly and wilfully fell to be a Eourtesan Andrea Zeno a Gentleman of Venice was as fluttishly serued with Via a Cookes daughter who vpon her Mariage day made an easie way for her husband with no better man then a Carpenter If you couet more Authorities to approue so common a mischiefe read Ouid Metamorphosis in Latine Segnior Lodouicus Regesterin Italian Amadis de Gaule in French Aucthorities for amorous Histories and the Pallace of pleasure in English where you shall finde store of Histories to the like purpose Sir quoth Dondola without offence either to your person or your proofes for that the one I loue Defence and the other I allowe to confirme my opinion I can likewise summon women as base as these in birth and as high as these in fortune which with their good behauiours gaue a grace to their reputation Chaste Epethia the well beloued wife of Harmo Prince of Garthage was a Saylers daughter The vertuous Virginia espoused to Sextillius a worthie Senator of Rome was a Laundres Both these were beautified with such singuler vertues as while they liued their honest liues instructed the greatest Lady in points of honor and being dead the remembrance of their worthinesse is a special commendation to the whole sexe of women Sir quoth Faliero as the Prouerbe goeth Reproofe c. One or two Swallowes prooues not Summer two or thrée may thriue by Dice yet is dycing ill husbandrie because for the inriching of a few it beggereth many so though two or thrée worthy Parsonages were well wiued out of worthles parentages a thousand following the same course haue had a contrary fortune and where the knowledge of euill is more then the possibility of good vertue warrants not the venter In warre the miraculous escape of two or thrée rash persons is no safeconduct for euery man to run vpon the pikes yet I grant that in war desperate men are néedefull for the safetie of the discreate and so are homely women necessaris for their seruice but if you will vse either to your benefit incourage the one with great pay and the other with good wages for if you commit a charge to a harebraine Souldior his temerity in one houre will hinder more then his yeares hazard did further And as I haue said if you make of your Kitchen-maide a companion her pride in one dayes liberty will anoy more then her seauen yeares loue will comfort Séeing the company begin to smile I am satisfied quoth Dondolo But how quoth Aluisa Vechio doo you repent you of your bargaine or disallow of Falieros proofes Neither quoth Dondolo For in generall choyce this course is out of the way to Platos Paradice but for that my especiall Fortune is good I am pleased Yea quoth Soranso or if the contrary had happened this might haue comforted you that your wife should not haue béen the only blamed woman in the Parish nor you the sole vnfortunate man Well quoth Fabritio and Isabella A confession is a prety Iudgement There néedes no further iudgement in this question then Dondolos confession and his yéelding to Falieros proofes We haue in this exercise taken thrée sundrie wayes quoth Quéene Aurelia and yet neuer a one the right way to our Paradice and now it is too late to trauel any further Therefore we will refresh our spirits with a little Musick and so adiourne our further controuersies vntil to morrow but as the Eunuche was a tuning his voyce to haue fulfilled his Ladies commaundement knowledge was giuen of certaine honourable Personages
owne will and of his owne Spirite so wrought to his owne affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodyes and but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substance one concord Loue to our Parēts reuerent one wealth one pouertie companions at one Boord and in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents Loue to our brethren naturall is or ought to be reuerent and dutifull because they gaue vs life vnto our Brethren naturall because of the priuitie in blood to our friends affectionate by certaine motions and consents of the minde Notwithstanding Loue to our friends affectionated that these Loues be thus great yet are there diuers causes to lessen them But bet wéene the maried no mischance or infirme fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason Loue between the maried irrcuocable is so inhumane as to malice his own flesh Cōpare their seueral affections by sorrow and you shall sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brether A good meane to trie the loue of the maried or Friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if we our selues are but a little wounded we crie outright so that by how much we excéede in sorrowing our own mischances The ring a triall of the loue betweene the maried aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more than another The King that is giuen by the husband put on the wiues finger ought to be of golde to witnes that as golde is the most precious of Mettals so the loue of the maried excéedeth all other loues To which effect Another figure of the ring Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniuge maior Moreouer the close ioyning of the ring is a figure of true vnitie of the maried betwéene whom there should be no deuision in desire nor difference in behauiour Christ was borne of a maried woman To honour this holy iustitution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a wife perfectly maried saue that she was not carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonias Licurgus lawe for the vnmaried so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Law that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmaried after the age of thirty eight yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene and that in the colde winter he should naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bound to confesse how he iustly suffered that punishmēt as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romanes were not so seuere The Law of the Romanes for the vnmaried but yet the aged vnmaried were condemned according to their abilitie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good summe of money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the vnmaried should execute Platoes lawes for the vnmaried no honourable Office Estate nor dignitie in the common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Scuerus although he maried rather to giue ende to his mother Mammeas importunities then as he thought to begin a more happy life yet fayre Memmia his wife so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renew his sorrow and remember her vertues in these wordes Alecander Scuerus loue to Memmia his wife So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothing but that which offendeth but oh he hath reaued the better part of my selfe How wonderfully was the loue of Paulina sage Senecaes wife who opened her Veines not onely Paulinaes rare loue to her Husband Seneea with an intent to accompany him to death but also with a desire to féele her husbands maner of death Quintus Curtius reciteth that King Darius with an vnapauled Spirite The precious loue of king Darius to his wife tooke his ouerthrowes by Alexander the Great the ruine of his kingdome the danger of his Royal person But hauing knowledge of his wiues death he wept bitterly shewing by this sorrow that he loued his Quéene farre aboue his Crowne King Admetus being fore sicke receiued this answere from the Oracle that if he liued his best friend must dye The deuine loue of king Admetus wife which when the good Quéene heard she presently slew her selfe and in the trembling passage of death censtantly said To giue King Admetus life his Queene and dearest friend doth dye Tiberius Graccus finding two Serpents in his chamber The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife went to the Augurs to knowe what they diuined Who answered that he was bound to kill the one of these two Serpents if he slew the male he should die himselfe if he killed the female he should lose his wife who murtherer of himselfe slew the male and saued his wife and so by his rare loue raised a question whether his wife were more fortunate in hauing such a husband The wonderful loue of Queene Artimesia towards her husband Mausolus or vnhappie in loosing of him One of the seuen wonders of the world is an eternall testimonie of the loue which Quéene Artimesia bare to her husband Mausolus who for to engraue his dead Coarse erected a Sepulchre so royall and sumptuous as tooke away the glory of all Princely Toombes before her time and left no possibilitie for any in time to come to excell the same One of the seuen wonders of the woilde but holding this too base a mansion for his kingly heart she dried the same to pouder spicing her wine therwith she buried it in her owne bowels to crowne his fame with an euerlasting memorie for that that ruine of his Sepulchre was subiect to the iniurie of time with great rewards she encouraged Theopompus Theodectes Naucrites Isocrates foure of the most famous Orators of Greece to renowme his vertues Among whom Aul. Gel. in lib. de nocti aiti Theopompus as we reade receiued the triumph of victory in that learned skirmish I could reportè many other authorities of vnseparable Loue betwéene the Maryed the least of a hundred whereof would equall the friendships of Titus and Gisippus or of Damon and Pithias the two wonders of mens affections But for that I know the able wits here present can cloth my naked proofes of the excellencie of Mariage and of the diuine Loue betwéene the maried with many other sounde reasons I will giue place Madame that you and the rest of your Ingenious company may doo better seruice to the one and Iustice to the other desiring that that which is sayd may discharge my promise though not satisfie your expectation Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if you giue vs good lawes to preserue Loue among the
with Phrigius louing commendations his letter Who so in the Springtime in one moment had séene rayne and sunshine might againe beholde the like change in Pierias troubled countenance who found no lesse ioy in reading the letter then cause of wonder in beholding the superscription who by the consent of Diana to bring peace into Myletum was by loue with the selfe same Arrowe and at one instant wounded in as déepe affection as Phrigius notwithstanding bound to no desire so much as to the direction of her parents she shewed them this letter who wearie of the warres and embracing this meane of peace after they had aduisedly considered the contents to comfort Phrigius without iniurie to Pierias chast behauiour in her name they returned this answere Pierias answere to Phrigius Letter SIr Phrigius I receaued your Letter as I confesse that your praises so far passe my merit as I wonder at the error of your iudgement so I doubt whether so honorable a personage as your Lordship can yeelde your seruice to so meane a Lady or if loue were of that power whether you would obay to be seruant to her whose Fathers riuall your parents and you are but on the other part I entertaine a faint hope that you are not so much enemie to your honor as to leaue in your Aduersaries possession a monument of Dissimulation vpon which warrant and your free offer of seruice I binde you by a courteous request to indeuour to conclude a speedie peace that I may without danger of hostility repaire to Dianas Temple in compassing of which gratious league you shal receiue great glory the countrey much quiet and I whom you wish such welfare shall be bound to doe you any honourable fauour Pieria of Myos This answere sealed and subscribed To my Lord Phrigius deliuered by the hands and blessed with the louing countenance of Pieria was returned to Phrigius by his own messenger who after hée had read and reread this Letter not for that the Contents gaue him any assurance of loue but for because they commanded an imployment of seruice he comforted his spirit with hope that his indeuour in this charge should both reaue all doubt of dissimulation by him and smoothe Pierias Browe of Chaste disdayne and to further a happie ende of the Countries calamitie In the beginning of Phrigius contentment Lorde Miletus had so dealt in these affaires as in short time Duke Nebeus and Prince Pythes came to parle of peace and while the counsels of either parte considered vpon the Articles of agréement safeconduit of Tratick was giuen to the inhabitants of either Citie How swéete the friendly incounters of these ancient enemies were is the office of him that hath béen scourged with warres The vertue of Peace who though they were but in the estate of repriued men yet the hope of assured peace lightned their harts of former sorrowe and replenished the place with gladnesse Faire Pieria now safely repaired to the Aulters of Diana and Phrigus more of desire to salute his Mistris then of zeale to sacrifice to Chastitie fayned many deuotions to visit her Temple where these Louers for the reuerence they bare to the place forbare to encounter in any spéeche of loue yet if Diana would haue published their thoughts she should haue confessed that the most deuotionate of them both in their hearts honored Iuno in the eye of her owne Image and aulters But Diana though she be the Soueraigne of single Nimphes yet is she friend to Iuno and the Chast Married and only enemie to Venus and the wanton sort so that she tooke in worth this light trespasse yea held her selfe honoured that her sacred Temple should be the originall cause of Myletum and Myos peace and amitie and the ende of their auncient enuie and enmitie Wherefore to conclude the begun agréement she sent Concorde and Charitie to chayne vp grudge and dissention Duke Nebeus and Prince Pythes fréed from the vexation of these furies with affable and friendly intertainment reasoned of their affayres and while the Parents parled of their common profit the children vpon lawfull oportunities deuised of their priuate loues but yet with such a dutiful regarde of their friends consent that although their hearts were linked together by frée choyce the clapping of hands was referred to the foresight of Parents who burying former iniuries in the caue of obliuion made an Edict of Amitie sealed The power of vertuous loue strengthned with the mariage of Phrygius and Pieria Heires of eithers renowne and dignitie Behold here the worke of loue grafted in the honorable harts of the vertuous The wrath and stormes of war is turned to calme and temperate peace the blossoms of enmitie are altred into fruits of amyty and the roote of mallice growne to the trée of pittie The Nobles in honor of this mariage lauisht out their treasure in al their triumphes and showes to be in good equipage The meaner Gentlemen by excéeding cost learned by experience how afterward to spare The Citizens with giftes of great imprize presented their dutiful affections The learned eternised this mariage peace in tables of memorie The Cleargy song Himnes of ioy the common people rung the Belles and euery sort shewed some token of delight So that Phrigius and Pieria after the deathes of their aged fathers were crowned with the dignities of Myletum and Myos and all their happie life were honored with these acclamations of their subiects Liue blessed Princes the appeasers of Iupiters wrath by whome War the Monster of humanitie is fast chayned and peace the soueraigne of morall vertues Triumpheth in the Capitals of Ionia liue blessed princes and long enioy the hearts of your subiects In your vertues who haue multiplied wealth and to doe you seruice are readie to spend their liues This zeale and reuerence of their subiects Phrigius and Pieria many yeres possessed betwéene whom there was such equallitie in disposition as fortune knew not by any accident of ioy or mischance how to seuer their desires And when the time came that the heauens enuying the glorie of the earth in possessing this diuine couple charged nature to render their right Who obaying the will of Ioue sent sickenes to summon both Phrigius and Pieria and licensed death to doe his worst And as there yet remaineth an opinion in Miletum as their loues began in one houre so their liues ended in one moment whose spirits Metamorphosed into white Turthes tooke their flight towards that heauenly Paradise Where I wish al faithfull louers this louely company abiding places Segnior Philoxenus by the vertue of this dayes exercise the onely trauell of his learned wit so raysed the hearts of the companie with the desire of Mariage that Lucia Bella who in the beginning of Christmasse was determined to haue béene a vestall Nunne now confessed that they were enemies to Nature not worthy the society of men which scandalised or scorned this sacred institution The rest of this