procure and worke that mans good that would doe thee a mischiefe and cut thy throat if it were in his power to doe it this is opus supernaturale a worke aboue the reach of nature it is that diuine Ladder whereby we climbe vp by the rounds of Charitie to glorious Eternitie it is that key of the crosse which openeth the gates of Heauen it is the soules sweet peace and the bodies quiet rest But reuenge is a life without quietnesse one cals vpon another and all vnto death Is not he a foole nay worse then a mad-man who if his doublet chance to wring him will thrust his ponyard into his owne body And what other thing is reuenge then to doe ill vnto our selues out of a desire to doe ill vnto others And to plucke out both our owne eyes to put out one of our enemies Or to spit against heauen that it may presently fall againe in our owne faces Seneca vnderstood this doctrine wonderfull well when an enemy of his hauing giuen him a boxe of the eare in the Market-place and all that saw it did incite him to complaine thereof vnto the Iustice he smiling vpon them said vnto them Were it not a foolish part in me thinke you to call a beast into the Court As if he should haue said With that buffet hee like a beast did expresse his rage and I like a man did scorne and contemne this his brutish behauiour Can there be any brutishnesse greater then to doe ill Or can there bee any greatnesse like vnto that which shall despise the ill that is done him and set light by it The Duke of Orleans hauing formerly beene iniured by one when he was afterward King of France he was put in minde that hee might now be reuenged of the wrong he then receiued for now it was in his power to doe it But he looking sowrely on him that did so aduise him told him it was not fit that the King of France should reuenge the wrongs of the Duke of Orleans If for a man to conquer himselfe be counted so great a Victory Why by subduing our appetites allaying our anger and rebating our rancour doe not we gaine vnto our selues this glorious Palme Since that besides that which is promised vnto vs in the future euen in this life also wee shall auoid many mischiefes which may either take away our life from vs or rob vs of this our vaine honour and consume our wealth O good God had I beene a good Lad that which I heard from that good man I might haue been the better for it all the dayes of my life But I was young and past it quickly ouer that treasure was ill bestow'd vpon me I lost it it was corne that fell in the high-way it did not thriue with me His good conuersation and doctrine entertained vs to Cantillana whither we came about Sun-set I with a good desire to my Supper and my Companion with an earnest expectation to haue his but that neuer came The two Clergie men made their ranke apart and went to a friends house that they were acquainted withall in the Towne and we to our Inne CHAP. V. How Guzman and the Carrier did eate of a young Mule thinking it had beene Ueale beeing coozened by his Host in Cantillana and discourseth by the way of the coozening tricks which â—…ad Hosts put vpon poore Trauellers WHen the Company that came along with vs had left vs and were gone euery man his way I askt my Camerade Whither shall we goe now He told me Here 's an honest Host hard by one of my old acquaintance a good-fellow where we shall be well lodged fare daintily and kindly entertained Well along we trudge together till we came to this his so much commended Inne hauing brought me as you shall heare hereafter to one of the veryest theeues and arrantest knaues that there was not such another in all that part of the Country wherin he liu'd Heere new occasion of matter was offered fresh plates set vpon the boord and such prouision as you may therewith well entertaine the time Was I not thinke you in fine taking when I leapt out of the Frying-pan into the fire and fell into Scilla seeking to shunne Charibdis Our Host had for his owne vse a good strong Asse and a Galitian Mare that was a pretty little Tit. And because men in their necessitie doe not stand vpon beauty youth nor pompe of apparell but content themselues onely with Night-caps when their heads are mangie and scabbed it is no maruell if the like should happen euen amongst brute beasts They were alwayes fellow-feeders in one Stable one Racke and one Field and he that was owner of them tooke no great heed to haue them tyde fast but let them go loose of purpose to the end that they might helpe the other Beasts in the Inne in the repeating of their lessons Whereby it came to passe that this Mare grew great with Foale by liuing at large amongst this good company It is an inuiolable law in Andaluzia That no such Coniunction or Commixture be permitted and to this end grieuous penalties are ordained This Mare then hauing in her due time foaled a pretty young Mule mine Host was willing to make profit thereof and to that end nourished and bred it vp He kept this businesse very secret some certaine dayes and was wonderfull carefull that it might not come to light but because he saw it was not possible for him to hide this matter long and to keepe it from the knowledge of the world that he might not giue his enemies aduantage of reuenge carried away partly with the feare of his owne hurt and partly with the greedinesse of gaine he resolued this last Friday night to kill him He cuts me out the flesh of it into pieces which he powders vp in a pickle made of purpose and made ready against the next day being Saturday for his Ghests partes minutiores huius animalis vt pedes ilia venter c. all the intrailes and offals of this beast as feet tripes the cragge-end of the necke tongue braine and the like We as I told you came to our Inne in a very good hower for he that trauailes takes contentment vpon the way that hee may come into his Inne betimes that he may haue meat to fill his empty guts and a bed to rest his weary bones My Companion as soone as he had alighted and taken off his lading and put vp all things safe sets vp his Asses in the Stable taking order for their dressing and their feeding But I came thither so wearied that I was not able when I lighted to stand vpon my legges but was faine to lie downe on the ground and was not able for a great while to turne my selfe any way in the world For all my muscles and sinewes were quite benum'd my legges and feet swolne vvith their long hanging downe for lacke of
her person The time we see weares away and we must weare with it that runnes from vs and we must follow after it Euery day that opens discouers new things and with the rising of the morning arise new alterations And let vs labour and do all that we can we may not be excused nor can the flower of our youth escape in its due time the cutting Sythe of Death For there is not the shortest moment that passes that doth not shorten somewhat of our life And the older still we grow the neerer we are to our graue The good old Knight as formerly you haue heard was an ancient man and of a feeble body my mother young faire and full of wit and knew so well how to prouoke his appetite vpon all occasions that his disorder opened the doore to his death for the old Lad by ouer-doing himselfe hastened his owne end First his stomacke began to faile him then was he taken with a paine in his head after that followed a burning Feuer which after some few fits began to leaue him but though that ceased he had neuer awhit the more mind to his meate he could eate nothing so by little and little hee consumed away and after some few puls he died My mother not being able to restore him to life though she would euer sweare vnto him that she was his life and he hers But all that protestation proued to be but a lie for he was buried yet she still liued The old Knight left many kinsmen behind him in the house when he dyed but none of them of the same sute with my selfe though they colour'd for it onely my mother and I sorted well together as for the rest they were pâ—…n de diezmo cada vno de la suya like the bread that the people offer vp to the Priest euery one with a different deuice or contrary marke that his loafe may be knowne from others That good old Gentleman God be with him and haue mercy on his soule had but little comfort in this life and at the time of his death they on the one side my mother on the other while the breath was yet in his body pull'd the linnen from vnder him leauing him a soule in his body but not a sheet in his bed so that the sacking of Antwerpe which for the cruelty thereof is growne into a Prouerbe compared with this was not halfe so rigorous nor halfe so inhumane as this and all forsooth for feare of a Sequestration to haue the goods deposited But my mother as she churned the milke so she was her owne caruer she was the Taylor to cut out her owne coat and the worker of her owne fortune Shee found a time not long after to put her hands there where her heart was long before and fell to fingring of his mony For she had the chiefest of all his goods in her owne keeping vnder locke and key and was Mistris of all that was woorth the hauing But seeing her selfe in danger and fearing to be put to her iumpes shee thought it better to steale then to begge and like a thiefe to make a start out of a bush then hereafter to aske an almes for Gods sake They were so nimble on all hands that there was scarce inough left where-withall to bury him Some few dayes were scarce ouer-past but many diligences were vsed for to make these his goods appeare They set vp Excommunications at the Churches and vpon mens doores to try if that would do any good and make the purloyners to bring in the goods but all to small purpose for hee that steales seldome returnes to make restitution But my mother made her excuse saying That the Knight God be with him would still tell her when he came to visit his moneys and ran ouer his Coffers and his Cabinets or had brought any thing into the house This is thine sweet heart it is all for thee So the Lawyers were of opinion that with this she might very well satisfie her conscience Besides they affirmed that it was a due debt and properly belonged vnto her for though she gain'd it ill yet it was not receiued ill And howbeit the Act were not lawfull yet the Compact was iustifiable It was not lawfull for her to play the whore yet might shee by Law haue whatsoeuer was promised her for the vse of her body In this mans death I found that to be verified which I had often heard before That rich men dye of hunger poore men of surfets and those which haue no Heyres and enioy the goods of the Church of cold So that this man may serue herein for an Example For whilest he was yet liuing they left him not so much as a shirt saue only that which he wore on his backe which of courtesie they were content he should carry out of the world with him Rich men for feare they should be sicke with eating too much to auoyd hurt hurt themselues since by eating by ounces and drinking by thimble-fuls they liue by drams dying rather out of hunger then their disease Poore men in that they are poore euery man takes pitie of them one sends another brings to them all of all sorts and from all parts repaire vnto them to giue them reliefe especially when they are in that extremity And when they find themselues leane and hunger-staru'd they make no good choyce of their feeding for want of some discreet bodie that should administer vnto them and order them in their dyet whereupon they eate so much and glut themselues so full that they cannot digest their meat for want of naturall heat and so choaking themselues with ouer-gorging their pannels they meerely die surfeited The like happeneth likewise in your Hospitals where some deuout fooles tender-hearted women who go thither to visit them out of meere deuotion stuffe their pockets and their sleeues full of banquetting-stuffe to carry along with them sending their seruants laden with baskets of regalo's and delicate choice Dainties And thinking therein to do an almes-deed out of them charity they kill them for Gods-sake In my opinion this ought not to be suffered but this cost should rather be bestowed vpon the sicknesse then the sick and be put into their Keepers hands that are sworne to haue a due care of them for by that meanes hauing the counsell of some learned Physician these things shall be better distributed in their proper place and make more for their good And to doe otherwise may proue hurtfull and dangerous And in this their ill-dispensed charity not weighing the good nor the hurt the season nor the sicknesse whether it be fitting or not fitting they cramme their crawes like so many Capons in a Coope till they can swallow no more and so die of the throttle Hencefoorth therefore let it be ordained that such things as these be giuen to those which minister vnto them who know better how to dispose of them or let it be
part in euery thing imbrace and giue a friendly reception to that which may be profitable for thee reiecting that which is otherwise or whatsoeuer else is bad as meerely mine Albeit I am very confident that those things which cannot hurt are wont many times to doe much good In this Discourse thou maist moralize things as they shall bee offered vnto thee Thou hast a large margent left thee to doe it That which thou shalt find lesse graue or discomposed presents it selfe in the person of a Picaro or Rogue which is the Subiect of this Booke Such things as these which are not very many sport thy selfe a while with them iest play the wagge and afterwards shake hands with them For at great Feasts we must haue meats for all mouthes and dishes for all tastes Pleasant and sweet wines which must cheere the heart and helpe digestion and musicke for to please and delight the eares Vale Amice A Declaration for the better vnderstanding of this BOOKE HAuing written this Poetical History with purpose to haue it printed in one only Volume in the discourse whereof those doubts might be cleared which now being diuided might offer themselues it appeared to my seeming a very iust thing to remoue this inconuenience beeing it might easily be done and that in very few words For which purpose it is to bee pre-supposed That Guzman de Alfarache our Picaro hauing by his study come to be a good Latinist Rhetorician and Grecian as we shall deliuer vnto you in this first Part after that hee had returned out of Italy into Spaine he went forward in his Studies with purpose to professe the state of Religion and to make himselfe a Church-man But by reason of his often relapsings to his Vices he left that course after he had spent some yeeres therein Now himselfe writeth his owne life from a-boord the Gallies where hee remained and was put to the Oare for the faults which hee had committed hauing beene a most famous Thiefe and notorious Offender as you shall see more at large in the second Part. Nor is it any improprietie or beyond our present purpose if in this first Part I shall set before you some Tracts of Doctrine But rather seemeth agreeable vnto reason to present vnto you a man of a cleere vnderstanding holpen by Learning and punished by Time making benefit of that idle time which hee had in the Gallies Being that we likewise see many ignorant poore soules sentenced to death who being to spend the remainder of their time in thinking on their soules health diuert their thoughts from all other worldly things for to make a short studied speech when they come to the Ladder This Booke diuides it selfe into three parts In the first it is treated of Guzman de Alfaraches going forth of his mothers house and the slender consideration of yong men in those indeuours which they attempt And how though their eye-sight be cleere they will not see precipitated and blinded with their false pleasures In the second the life of a Picaro or Rogue which hee vnder-went and the lewd tricks which he was led into by ill company and the time which he idly mis-spent In the third the calamities and extreme pouertie whereunto he grew and the inconsiderate courses which he ran into because he would not take vp himselfe in time and his obstinacie in not suffering himselfe to be ruled by those who were both able and desirous to doehim good In that which I shall write hereafter I shall God willing giue an end to this Story AN ELOGIVM Of ALFONSO de BAROS Chamberlaine to KING PHILIP the third in praise of this Booke and of MATHEO ALEMAN the Author thereof IF we owe somewhat to those Painters who in a Treasurie as it were of Monuments or some faire Store-house haue reserued and lapt vp in their linnen clothes though vnder lines dumbe colours the pictures of those who for their Heroicall Actions merited their Tables As also of those who by their vnworthie carriage gaue motion to their Pensils for that with the pleasing portraiture of the one and the abhorred aspect of the other they awaken and stirre vp our Spirits through the ones fame to imitation and through the others infamie to feare and aduisement Much more obligation without all comparison haue we vnto those who to their full life represent these things vnto vs in their Histories who doe vs more good in what they haue written and haue this aduantage of the others limming that their reports and relations doe worke so strongly and with that perswasiue power vpon our imagination as if we had really and in truth seene both them and all that they did with these our bodily eyes In these and all the rest if there resteth any obligation that may be greater we haue both the lighte and the life from this our Author For in this his Historie which he now hangs foorth as Painters doe their pictures in the open streete to the eye of all the world he hath portraited so to the life a sonne of idlenes a loytering Rogue that there is not any man though neuer so ignorant but will knowe him at the first sight for that he is so like his father Who as he is the parent of all Uices so this his childe came to be the Center and Gulfe of them all suffering them to imbosome themselues within him receiuing in as sinkes doe infinite gatherings not of waters but of filth and mire And being now so farre improued in them that he might serue for an example and patterne vnto those who should dispose themselues to inioy the like kinde of life the Authors drift is that no man should adorne himselfe with such roabes as these For there is not any one so abhorring himselfe that at so deare a rate will cloathe himselfe with his Liuerie seeing that he payd with a shamefull end the punishment of his offences and the disordinate actions which his licentious desires did commit Whose merited and exemplary chastisemen is expressed with Categoricall and strong tearmes and with an argument ex contrario to wit the reward fortunate successes which shall follow him who liuing vprightly and spending his time well shall in his course of life apply himselfe to a certaine and determined end and make himselfe the opposite and Antipodes as it were of the inconstant Figure of this insuing discourse Wherein for his admirable order and good obseruations bearing in the face of it the resemblance of a Historie the Author hath happely attained the name and office of an Historian and a Painter as well in those representations that are to be seene a farre off as in those shadowes wherewith he hath disguised his instructions and those his so necessary rules and aduertisments appertaining to a politicall life and to Morall Philosophie whereunto hee principally aimed shewing plainely that which Lâ—…curgus expressed by the example of those two Whelps of one litter whereof the one
couetousnesse in their canine and dogge-like appetite through the heate of that infernall fire that is in their soule which makes them to swallow downe without chewing bee it good or bad right or wrong another mans goods And because euer and anon vpon euery slight occasion they take that which is not their due and for that the money that is put into the palmes of their hands their fist beeing well greased therewith is in an instant conuerted into flesh and bloud and incorporated into one the selfesame substance with themselues they haue no more power to cast it off frō them then they haue to shake off the World or the diuell who sit so close vnto them that they can hardly be remoued So that it seemeth vnto me that when any such is saued for it cannot be that all should bee such as I haue heere taken vpon me to treat of at his entrance into glory the Angels fulfilled with ioy will cry out one to another Laetamini in Domino A Scriuener come into Heauen new fruit new For Scriueners are not pomi Paradisi such fruit growes not there And with this he ended his Sermon But let it passe and goe for currant that some good may be wrought vpon a Scriuener and that there may be some hope his soule may bee saued by changing his former course of life yet for all this fall backe fall edge goe which way you will to worke with him he will be well inough able to answere for himselfe by laying an excuse vpon his faults for iron also may be guilded and then will he tell you that these are the rates of old and that they take no more but their wonted fees that victuals and other things grow still dearer and dearer and the meanes to maintain them worse and worse That the Kings rents and prices are variable that they had not their Offices for nothing but paid soundly for them and therefore must licke himselfe whole as well as he can sauing himselfe harmelesse out of other mens gettings And that there is no reason but that he should bee well paid for the imployment of his person and his paines taking This hath been the course of all ages and for ought I see is like still so to continue Howbeit Aristotle tels vs That the greatest wrong that can be offered to a Commonwealth is the sale of Offices And Cleomenes the Spartane being demanded how a Kingdome might come to be happy made answere When a King should not respect his priuate profit But for a Iudge that comes freely by his place to whom they haue giuen the Title of gracious Lord in hope that he will doe the office of God which is to doe Iustice and to shew Mercy and therefore are called Gods vpon earth that to such a one it should be imputed that he sels Iustice omitting to punish the bad and to reward the good and that hee will salue and couer a fault in a lewd fellow or saue a notorious offender from the gallowes I absolutely deny it and proue this my proposition by plaine and euident Reasons For who can thinke that there should be in the world a Iudge so ill so vnorderly so impudent and so shamelesse for such a one must he be that will doe such things tho a mountaine of gold should make his Mace or rod of iustice to bend and compell him to breake the Law Howbeit there are some abroad in the world who sticke not to say that this suing for Offices and seates of Iustice goes by certaine indirect pathes and by-wayes vnusuall courses out of the common track vn-accustomed or to speake more properly by false reports and forged Relations whereof they make benefit and grow thereby into great Estates And after that they once grow warme in their places see that they are surely setled in them they then make vp their stocke againe and set vp for themselues and begin to play their prizes raking and scraping at whatsoeuer comes within their reach like vnto the Polypus or Cuttle Fish that hath many clawes like so many Wyers to catch his prey There is not a pore or ioynt in all his body but is either a mouth to swallow or a paw to take hold if you once come within his clutches Heere he seazeth on Wheat there on Barley heere Wine there Oyle besides flitches of Bacon cloathes both woollen linnen silks of all sorts Iewels money frō the Hangings in the dining Chamber to stoope so low as the spice-boxe in the Kitchen from the Masters-bed to the Mules Cratch from the purest wheat in the granarie to the very straw and chaffe that lyes at the barnes doore choosing rather to play at small game then to sit out From which terrible griping and violent hold-fast nothing can vn-hitch them but deaths flesh-hooke For when the hand takes a bribe and they once begin to be corrupted there is no ho with them they are marred for euer after by an euill vse and neuer come to be good And so they receiue with open hand all manner of Bribes as if they were men in pay and what they wrongfully take were true wages and lawfull fees So that they obserue not Iustice they winke at theeues because they offer vnto them the first fruits and tithes of their thefts they haue gotten the fauour of some Courtier to beare them out in that which they haue bought for their money wherevpon they relying cast away all feare of wresting and peruerting Iustice. Thus is it in all your Officers of Iustice as well with your royall Merchant as your Retayler your Alcalde as your Alguazil your Iudge as your Petty-fogger with him that selleth in grosse as him that selleth by retayle your Iusticer is the Merchant your Petty-fogger the Pedler And for their better thriuing in the world euery one hath his bonus Genius or Angell of guard either bought out-right for his money or at least so settled vpon him that it can hardly be alienated from him for those impertinent necessities of the body besides that which God hath giuen them for those that import the Soule So that they haue two Genij as men for the more surety wil haue two strings to their Bowe The Court Genius which is the Protector of their bodily goods and Gods good Angell that is the Protector of their soules So that out of all this you see something may be gathered and happely a great part of it too true yet for all this we must not hence presume to conclude of all But he that shall fall through couetousnesse into the like basenesse which perhaps may be one of a thousand and the same some base-born Slaue an ill-bred fellow or of a vile and abiect minde thou needest not wish him greater harme or worse misfortune then hath already lighted vpon him for he carries with him his owne chastisement He is pointed at where-euer hee goes with the finger he
remained no whit in his debt for kinde words So that in the end there was a great League of friendship professed and confirmed betweene them in publike but a stricter tye in secret betwixt my Father and his Mistresse for the good pawnes and pledges of Loue that had lately past between them But there is a difference betweene Loue Friendship and Good-will Good-will is that which I may beare to one that I neuer saw in all my life nor had any other knowledge of him then that I haue heard of his vertues or of his noble disposition or some other worthy parts in him which makes me to wish him well and drawes my affection by a violent kind of motion as it were to follow after him Friendship we call that which is commonly concluded betwixt man and man or one friend with another vpon some long Treaty or Communication Similiancie in condition or some other pledges of loue and reall courtesies that haue passed betweene them so that Good-will is said to bee betweene those that are absent and Friendship betweene those that are present But Loue runnes by another kind of course it steeres by another Compasse That must of force be reciprocall a commutation of hearts a copy or counterpane of interchangeable kindnesse a translation of two soules where each striues with other with all their might and maine to assist there more where it loues then where it liues And this takes its perfection from its obiect the perfecter the obiect the perfecter the Loue but the truest Loue of all is diuine Loue. And therefore we are to loue God aboue all things with all our heart with all our strength and with all our soule seeing that he so much loueth vs. Next vnto that is your Amor coniugalis that Loue which is betweene a man and his wife and then that which is betwixt neighbour and neighbour or one friend towards another For lewd Loue and that which is dishonest whose ground growes not from Vertue is not worthy of this name of Loue as being of a bastard-brood But hap what may hap come what will come fall backe or fall edge wheresoeuer this lewd loue raigneth there are all your Witchcrafts as no where in the world more there your inchantments there your Sorceries This lewd loue is that which like another Circes alters the conditions of men aduentureth thorow all difficulties and makes them easie it is that alone which tameth the strongest and fiercest Lyons For to say that there are Philtra amorous potions poysons of loue and the like baits and trickes to force affection it is all false for this alone is sufficient of it selfe to turne a mans braines to peruert his iudgement to take away his life to confound his memory to draw on diseases and to occasion sundry shrewd fits either of melancholy or of madnesse Loue ought to be free and to haue the libertie and power to consigne deliuer ouer al the faculties of the soule to the thing beloued For the Alcayde or Gouernour of a Castle cannot be sayd to giue vp the Castle when as by force it is taken from him so hee that shall make loue by indirect and euill meanes it cannot be truly said that hee loueth but that he is forced contrary to his better will and violently carried away with that eager passion of lust and sensualitie which like a head-strong beast beares a man on headlong to his destruction The conuersation went forward Cards are call'd for and to play they go Their game was Primera at three hands my mother she got the money for my father was willing to lose to her and it beginning now to waxe night they gaue off play and went out into the garden to take the ayre In the meane while the Cloth was layd and their supper brought in and set on the boord they sit downe they eate and haue sup't And hauing giuen order against after supper that a Barge should be made ready for them and tricked vp with fresh Flagges and greene Boughs when they came to the water side they tooke Boat and were no sooner lanched foorth into the channell but they might heare from other Vessels which went to and fro vpon the riuer sundry Consorts of all sorts of Musicke which made a most melodious sound being an vsuall and ordinary thing with them in such a place and such a time as that was being in that season of the yeere that was fittest for it In this manner they were brought along till at last they landed and being now come into the city they tooke their leaues euery one betaking himselfe to his owne home and his owne bed saue onely my fathers contemplatiue pate whose rouing head was so full of fancies that it could take no rest My mother too like another Melisendra full of musing and thoughtfull loue slept with her bedfellow her old Consort her body beeing prisoner in Sansuenna and her soule a slaue in Paris her corps in one place and her mind in another From that day forwards such a strong knot of friendship was there knit betweene them and continued with so much discretion and good cunning considering their ouer-venturousnesse and the danger they might run into as could possibly be presumed from the quaint wit and close conueyance of an Easterling dyed into a Genouese and dipt in the Vat of Vsury who knew well inough how to put out his money to the best profit who could cleare you any account could liquidate and diuide you to an haire how much losse there was in measure from the wastings that arose from the winnowing and cleansing of corne how many graines lost in the refining of such a proportion or quantity of Metall nay she could tell you to a crumme how much losse there was in an hundred doozen betweene the bread that was broken with the hand and that which was cut with the knife As likewise from a woman of that good talent and those gifts and conditions which I haue heretofore acquainted you withall it is inough if I say no more that she was an Andaluz borne in the towne of Seuill and bred vp in that good schoole where she prooued so good a proficient that shee ranne thorow the whole course of her Art and did all her Exercise for her Degree of a Whore which she had laudably taken by making her appointments betweene the two Quires and the Naves or Isles of the old Church Now my mother had her fits and flings before this time this was not her first flying out insomuch that not hauing any thing of her owne in her owne hands that was woorth the keeping that very day that she compounded with this old Knight for her company and had driuen her bargaine with him she swore vnto me that she put ouer in trust aboue 3000. Ducats onely in Iewels of gold and Plate besides the moueables of her house and her change of apparell for the setting foorth of
iniury to me are forgiuen and remitted an infinit number of sinnes and if he speake ill of me and I speake well of him his euill language cannot hurt me and his bitter tongue shall bring me a blessing Come ye blessed of my Father c. So that by his thoughts words and workes my enemy makes mine to be good and true And what is the cause thinke you of this so great a wonder and whence is the force of this so excellent a vertue I shall tell it you because it is a thing commanded by God because it is his expresse will and commandement so to do And if we are to obserue that of the Princes of this world much better without comparison is it to keep that which is commanded vs by the King of heauen before vvhom are humbled all the hearts both of heauen and earth And that saying of his I command you this is a sweet conserue which is applied to the distasted palate of him that is commanded As if the Physicians should prescribe their sicke Patients to take flowres of Oranges young preserued Wall-nuts buds of Limmons rindes of Pome-Citrons the rootes of wild Borage or Buglosse What shall I say more O my good Lord doe not giue me any such thing for a body that is strong and in health can by no meanes away with it but is rather vnpleasing then otherwise But for the better swallowing of these Pilles and to make the rellish the sweeter they are so well candyed and rolled vp in Sugar that what was hard in it selfe to be taken downe is now become sweet and sauoury vnto vs. The like effect doth this sweet Conserue of Gods Word worke with vs. I commend saith the Text that ye loue your enemies This is a dainty Sauce made for that soure Morsell which before was so vnsauoury to our tastes So that that which goes most against our stomackes and which flesh and blood can hardly indure by reason of its bitternesse being to our concupiscences and fleshly desires no better then very Gall and Worm-wood The Spirit tels vs in the voyce of a good Physician now it is made more pleasant more sauoury and sweeter for you since that Christ our Redeemer hath so commanded it So that if a man should now strike me on the one cheek I would turne the other for it is an honour vnto vs punctually to obserue those orders which are deliuered vnto vs by those that are set in authority ouer vs and not to breake them in the least branch or tittle A Generall doth command one of his Captaines that he make good such a strong place or passage by which the enemy is to passe where if he will himselfe it shall be in his power to ouercome him and to kill him but his Generall tels him Take heed I charge you for it much importeth my Seruice and it is my pleasure so to haue it that when he shall passe by you you offend him not but let him goe quietly along notwithstanding that he should giue you cause to the contrarie and prouoke you all that he can to fight with him Now when this his enemy shall passe thus along by him and shall braue him to his face and reuile him with reprochfull and iniurious termes calling this Captaine Coward and other the like disgracefull names will this Captaine thinke you though thus mightily abused and affronted in the face of the whole Armie offer him hereupon any offence at all or violently set vpon him No certainly But he will rather laugh at him as a Braggadoccio and vaine-boaster and though he could easily haue ouerthrowne him and kill'd him at pleasure yet he doth it not onely because he would keepe that Order which was giuen vnto him And if he should haue broken it he had done very ill and contrary to his duty and therefore had well deserued to be punished for it What reason then is it that we should not diligently obserue the orders and ordinances giuen vs by God Why should we goe about to breake them or seeke euen in the least kinde of manner to contradict them If a Captaine for his pay onely and vpon hope of some better preferment which is a hazzard whether he shall euer attaine there-unto or no shall bee so punctuall why should not we be as obseruant since we shall gaine thereby a celestiall reward which is reserued for vs Especially since that hee that made the Law had the first handsell of it himselfe and submitted himselfe thereunto by suffering and receiuing from that vnhallowed and sacrilegious hand of an vnder-officer a great buffet on that most sacred face of his without returning him so much as an euill word or any angry looke If God himselfe could be content to indure such rough vsage and pocket it vp with so much patience Why should this same Nada del hombre this same nothing of man this res nihili why I say should he be puffed vp with pride transported with passion and stand vpon his puntos and termes of honour And why for to receiue satisfaction of a poore silly word shot out vn-awares or aduisedly or howsoeuer complaining of the infinitenesse of the wrong breaking forth into rage should one Christian challenge the field of another seeking amongst Infidels as if he were one of them himselfe a place where to fight it out or to speake more truely to thrust themselues wilfully into the hands of the Diuell their mortall enemy flying from those of their Creator Of whom we may learne that when he was to leaue this world and was to seale his last Will and Testament he suffered himselfe to bee nayled to the Crosse his body to be bored his flesh to be torne being full of paine and gored all in bloud from the sole of his foot euen to the crowne of his head whose haire did cleaue to his most precious bloud being congealed and clodded together in hard-plotted Knots and matted as it were with the cruell wounds occasioned by that his sharpe thorny crowne which they scornefully crowned him withall And when he was to take his leaue of his Mother and that his beloued Disciple amongst other his last words that he vttered as it were by way of his last request and charge vnto them and in that his violent and extreme agony which was then plucking vp his soule by the rootes from his diuine body he prayed vnto his eternall Father that hee would pardon those that had thus persecuted him and put him to this so shamefull and painfull a death This mildnesse of our Sauiour was imitated by Saint Christopher who when he had a sound boxe on the eare giuen him calling that to mind which his Master had before receiued told him that strooke him If I were not a Christian I would be reuenged on thee So that reuenge then is a member put apart from the children of the Church our Mother The like blowe was giuen to Saint
Bernard in the presence of his brethren and they being very earnest to reuenge this wrong done vnto him hee ranne in amongst them telling them It is not fit that we should reuenge the iniuries done vs by others when as wee doe all day-long kneeling humbly on our knees craue pardon for our owne offences Saint Steuen when they were stoning him to death doth not grieue for those cruell blowes which bereaue him of his life but his sorrow was to see that these bloudy Ministers should lose their soules and grieuing for them desires God euen then when the pangs of death were vpon him that hee would pardon his persecutors and Saul especially who being deceiued and zealous of his Law thought to merit heauen by looking to the Cloakes and other cloathes belonging to those that were the Executioners to the end that hauing nothing to hinder their armes they might being ridde of those lets wound him with the greater force And so feruent was his Prayer that this glorious Apostle Saint Paul vvas afterwards reduced to the faith who like a wise Doctor well experienced in this doctrine finding it to be so necessary a thing and so much importing our saluation as nothing more giues vs this good counsell That we should forget and lay aside all anger that we should not suffer the Sunne to goe downe vpon our wrath Rather blesse then curse your persecutors Giue them to eate if they suffer hunger and if they be a-thirst giue them drinke which if you shall not doe the same measure that you mete vnto others shall be mete vnto you againe and as you forgiue so shall you be forgiuen The Apostle Saint Iames saith Without mercy shall they be iudged that haue no mercy and the rigour of iustice shall be returned on those that are rigorous Very fearefull of the breach of this diuine precept was Constantine the Great who when one told him how his enemies to affront him had in contempt and scorne of him throwne stones at his picture wounding him with their strokes in the head and the face so great was his modesty that neglecting the iniury he began to touch feele with his hands from place to place all the seuerall parts of his body Asking when he had so done What are become of these blowes where are those wounds you talk off I feele none nor haue I any paine of all those thou tell'st me they haue done vnto me Giuing thereby to vnderstand that there is no dishonour done to any but to him that will esteeme it so Besides he was willing thereby to inferre that whosoeuer does thee an iniury shall not scape scot-free or goe cleere away with it though thou doe not reuenge it nay though thou for thy part shouldst pardon the wrong that he hath done thee For what iniury he hath offered vnto thee he hath likewise offered the like vnto God whose both thou and he art Duenno tiene est a hazienda these goods haue an owner And therefore you must not be your owne caruers For if in a Princes Palace or a Kings Court any affront shal be done it is likewise done vnto the Lord thereof nor shall the pardon of him that is affronted be sufficient absolutely to excuse the other because by that indiscreet act of his and inferred iniury are likewise iniured the lawes of that Prince the good gouernment of his house questioned and his Kingdome scandalized thereby And therefore God saith Reuenge belongeth vnto me and when I see my time I shall punish the offender Vengeance is mine and mine owne hands shall execute the same Wretched then is that man who is thus threatned for if Gods owne hands shall giue him his chastisement better had it beene that he had neuer beene borne So that thou must neuer requite ill with ill vnlesse thou wilt that ill shall light vpon thy selfe Moreouer thou shalt merit much thereby and thou shalt be thine owne pay-master for by imitating him that commandeth thee thou shalt be made like vnto him Giue way therefore to the ire and fury of your persecutors that you may merit Gods fauour Thanke him for these outrages and wrongs that are done you and you shall in requitall receiue glory and obtaine eternall rest And there he rested I would fame haue committed to memory that good doctrine which hee deliuered vnto me to this purpose that I might repeat it heere vnto you For it was all heauenly stuffe Fine most fine holy Scripture From that time forward I vnfeignedly propounded to my selfe to make true profit thereof And if it be well considered he spake very home and well vnto mee What greater â—…uenge can there be then that a man may be reuenged if hee will Posse nolle nobile is as true a saying as it is old And what thing can bee more foule then reuenge being that it is a passion of iniustice And such a one as none is more odious in the sight both of God and Man For it is onely proper vnto brute beasts Reuenge is but a kinde of cowardize and a certain Actus foeminilis an effeminate Act and womanish kinde of weakenesse Whereas the forgiuing of a wrong is a glorious kinde of Victory The reuengefull man makes himselfe the Reus when by pardoning he might bee made the Actor that is in stead of an Accuser the Accused What greater presumption can there be in the world then that the creature should vsurpe the office of his Creator appropriating that vnto him which is none of his and going away as we say with another mans wealth whereunto hee hath no right in the world If thou thy selfe art not thine owne nor in thine owne disposall neither hast thou any thing of thine owne in thee that he who as thou sayst hath offended thee can take from thee Such actions as these thou canst not commence thy selfe they belong vnto thy Lord which is God Leaue vengeance therefore vnto him God will take it of the wicked tardiùs aut citiùs at one time or another early or late And that cannot bee termed too late which is in a continuall inclination to its end And to take it out of his hands is a heynous offence a mighty mis-regard and a contempt in the highest degree But admit satisfaction should belong vnto thee and that the Law were in thine owne hands tell me I pray thee What thing can be more noble then to doe good And what more good then not to do ill One onely which is this To doe good vnto him that doth ill vnto thee and doth persecute thee as it is commanded vs which we are bound to obey For to repay ill with ill is the Diuels office to doe good to him that doth good vnto thee is a naturall debt betweene man and man nay the wilde beasts of the Forrest doe acknowledge as much and doe not waxe furious against those that do not seeke to hurt them But to
and the Comendadors of Calatraua and to Françisco de Bouadilla that they should charge them with their troopes vvhere the Artillery was planted The Moores thereupon drew foorth another third Squadron against them and it vvas brauely fought on both sides as vvell by the Moores as the Christians And the King being himselfe in this conflict discouered by those of his Campe they armed vvith all the haste they could and vvent foorth to ayde him And so thicke vvere the Troopes of those that came to succour him that the Moores being vnable any longer to make resistance betooke themselues to flight the Christians still hauing them in chase making great slaughter of them pursuing them euen to the very suburbes of the Citie vvhereinto many of the Souldiers entred and got rich pillage taking some of the principall persons prisoners in which number was Daraxa a Moorish Damosell the onely daughter of the Alcalde of that Fort. Her beauty was her owne and the most perfect one that euer eye had seene her yeeres vvere rather shorter then full seuenteene being so well growne in the bud that she vvas now ready for the blowing And beeing in this true height of excellencie as is here set downe it was raised much the higher by her discretion grauity and gracefull carriage She spake Spanish so well that a man that had not knowne her vvould haue taken her to haue beene an old Christian for she might haue past amongst those that speake the purest Language The King did highly esteeme of this Lady accounting of her as of a iewell of great price And therefore sent her as a treasure to the Queene his Wife who made no lesse reckning of her receiuing her very graciously as well for her owne desert and worth for that she was of principall ranke and qualitie being descended of Kings and the daughter of so honourable a person as also for to try whether she might be a meanes to make the Citie to yeeld without farther fight and shedding of bloud Whereupon she treated her with all kindnesse and the best vsage shee could deuise farre exceeding the fashion of those her other Ladies which were neerest about her person So that not as a Captiue but as a Kinswoman she entertained her in the kindest manner that could be greatly desiring that such an excellent piece of nature as she was and where such surpassing beauty did possesse the body there the soule might not with fowle Paganisme be sullied and defiled These were sufficient reasons of themselues to haue her still in her sight besides the content she receiued in talking and conuersing with her For shee was able to giue her so good an account of the state of the whole Country and of euery particular passage in those warres though she were but of yong and tender yeeres as if she had been of maturer age and the wisest Counsellor in the Kingdom And albeit the King and Queene hapned afterwards to meet in Baça that Citie being rendred vp into their hands vpon certaine conditions yet the Queene would neuer suffer Daraxa to be from her side for that great affection which she bare vnto her promising the Alcalde her father to doe her many particular fauours Her absence did much grieue him but the loue which he saw their Catholike Maiesties bare vnto her did somwhat lessen his sorrow conceiuing that much honour and profit would redound vnto her thereby And so rested himselfe contented and pocketed vp his griefe in silence The Queene as I told you would neuer be without her and at length carried her along with her vnto Seuill where out of the desire shee had to winne her to be a Christian for to dispose her thereunto by little and by little vsing no violent but tractable meanes she tooke her one day aside and said thus vnto her Thou canst not by this time Daraxa but truely vnderstand how well I affect thee and the great desire I haue had to giue thee content In requitall whereof I shall intreat thee for my sake to grant me one request which is that thou wilt exchange this attire thou now wearest and put on such cloathes as I shall inuest thee withall appertaining to mine owne person and to weare and enioy them being that thy beauty will be much aduantaged by this habit of ours Daraxa mildly made answere I shall willingly performe what your Maiesty shall be pleased to command me For by obeying you herein if there be any discretion in mee or any consideration of worth in this my weake apprehension I shall from this day forward thinke the better of it and hold it for good for doubtlesse it cannot be otherwise but that these your Maiesties ornaments will adde a grace to my imperfections and your rich dressings supply my poore defects Daraxa replide the Queene it is not your modesty that can make you derogate from your selfe For if euer Nature made a perfect worke shee sum'd it all vp in thy selfe But not to insist vpon the praise of that which can not sufficiently be expressed we graciously accept of this your seruice and the willing tender you make thereof vnto vs. Now was Daraxa apparelled after the Spanish fashion residing certaine dayes in the Palace till such time as their Catholike Maiesties departed from thence to goe to the siege of Granada And therefore as well for the troubles that attend the Warres as also that she might take some sauour in the things of our Faith the Queene thought it fit to leaue her in the house of Don Luys de Padilla a man of quality and a Fauourite where shee might entertaine her selfe with Donna Eluira de Guzman his Daughter and a Virgin to whom was giuen in charge the care of her entertainment with expresse order to vse her with all respect and that shee should want nothing that might giue her content And albeit she were accordingly receiued by them being feasted and courted with all the pleasures that place could affoord yet it grieued her much to see her selfe so farre from her natiue home besides other causes which gaue her much more discontent but those shee did not discouer for vvith a cheerefull countenance and a pleasant semblance shee made show that seeing it was her Maiesties pleasure so to dispose of her that shee did esteeme it as a fauour and so did expresse it in her lookes and gesture This Damsell her Parents had betrothed to a Moorish Gentleman of Granada whose name was Ozmin whose qualitie and condition together with his disposition was in all points sutable to that of Daraxa Hee was young rich of a sweet behauiour personable discreet and aboue all very valiant and full of courage and euery one of these parts well adapted and disposed to receiue many other which as they were fit for him so they did well become him Besides he was so dextrous in the Spanish tongue as if hee had been bred vp in the heart of Casiile and a naturall of that Countrey it being
which would be hard to do as long as Ambrosio was there Let vs Sir sayd he make some triall by sundring them some few dayes one from another and then we shall see what effect it will bring foorth Don Luys did no whit mislike his sonnes councell and presently picking a quarrell where no cause was for of great men we must not aske the reason of things and a Captaine with his souldiers will bee bold now and then to make fifteene of two â—…ights he dismissed him of his seruice commanding him that he should not so much as once dare to passe by the doore And hee tooke him so on the sudden that he could not take his leaue of Daraxa And so obaying his Master faining lesse sorrow then what he felt he remoued his body from thence for that pledge he could carry whither he listed but for his soule that abode still with her in whose power it had formerly so long remained THE ARGVMENT Continuing the Story of the loue of Ozmin and Daraxa are recounted the troubles and griefes that befell them both as also those publike Feasts that were made by diuers Knights and Gentlemen for to glad and cheare vp the dis-consolate Daraxa and of the valour which Ozmin in disguise and vnknowe did performe in them DAraxa seeing so sudden a change began to suspect that his former sorrow had its birth from that new successe and now by the sequele assured her selfe it was so whereupon adding one euill to another sorrow to sorrow and griefe to griefe wanting the sight of her espoused Lord albeit the poore Lady did dissemble it all that shee could yet this was that which did most trouble her Giue them leaue to weepe howle sigh cry and talke that find themselues afflicted for albeit they doe not there-with take away the burthen of that paine which they indure yet it doth lessen sorrow and makes the load somewhat lighter She was so depriued of all content so heauily sad and so bodily afflicted that you might read her griefes not onely in her face and countenance but throughout all the course of her carriage Our inamoured Moore would not change his estate and condition of life for as he went clad before the same stile he still continued and in the habit of a day-Labourer he followed his painefull fortune therein hee had had good successe and he hoped the like with aduantage He daily followed his worke hard where there was ought to be got going in this sort from place to place to proue his fortune trying if by this meanes he could come to heare or hearken out any thing that might import him or serue his turne concerning Daraxa for no other end or interest in the world had he but this to labour so hard as he did for he had liberally to spend with a large hand for many dayes together out of the meanes that he had brought from home in money and in Iewels But as well for that vvhich hath beene sayd as also because hee vvas well knowne in that habit that he might haue the freer licence wheresoeuer he came and himselfe remaine safe in his person vnder this disguise lest his designes might otherwise be ouerthrowne he continued his wonted weare Those young Canallero's that serued Daraxa knowing the fauour that she bare to Ozmin and that he was now no longer seruant in Don Luys his house euery one did couet him for himselfe and his owne ends and happy vvas he that could make the first purchase so generall was their desire to haue him theirs But Don Alonso de Cuniga got the start of all the rest being a Gentleman of that City one that was borne to a great estate young gallant and rich and one that was confident that others want and his wealth by the helpe of Ambrosio should carry the businesse He commanded him to be sent for intertained him in his seruice did him many knowne good turnes made him more aduantageous proffers gaue him many kind and louing words and in conclusion a kind of friendship was begun betweene them if any such thing may be found betweene master and man notwithstanding inasmuch as man is compatible it is commonly called by the â—…ame of Priuancie or Inwardnesse vvhereinto men grow by some deseruing seruice vvith whom hauing runne ouer some passages he came in the end to discouer his desire vnto him promising him great rewards all which was â—…ut an opening vnto him of his old wounds and a ripping vp of his sores to make them greater then before if he were ielous before of one now he had two Corriuals and vvithin a short time after he knew of many which his Master had discouered vnto him and which way they marched and the meanes whereby they thought to preuaile but for his owne part he neither sought nor desired any furtherance of others saue onely his good intelligence beleeuing as he verily perswaded himselfe that solely his intercession should bee sufficient to effect it I am not able to imagine much lesse to expresse the griefe vvhich hee conceiued seeing himselfe now the second time to be made a Bawd to his owne wife and how fitting notwithstanding it was for him to past thorow all these pikes with a discreet kind of dissimulation He intertained him with good words for feare lest it might happen vnto him as it did with Don Rodrigo and if he should carry himselfe violently and inconsideratly with the rest with whom he had to deale with he should finde his hands too full and giue himselfe a great deale of trouble and in the end lose all and not come to the knowledge of any thing concerning his bestbeloued And if we will peaceably inioy the end of our desires we must put on Patience and sufferance in the atchieuement of them He bore him fayrely in hand albeit his heart was all on fire his various thoughts gaue him many a shrewd battell and assaulted him on euery side galling him in such cruell manner that like a Bull inraged he knew not how to helpe himselfe nor whither to fly for succour nor behind vvhom to runne nor could he find any comfort for to ease those intolerable torments which he indured The Hare was single the Grayhounds many and all light-footed they had certaine Falcons too in their fauour that for all their high place would not refuse to stoope to their Lure for hope of reward to these I may adde a number of she-friends and acquaintance comming to visit and banquet with Daraxa who too too vsually set fire to the honour of many a faire Lady and blow the coales of Lust in many Noble houses of good report and honest fame many Ladies and Gentlewomen enter for such they are in appearance and all forsooth vnder the faire name of Uisites some out of the difficulty they find at home in their owne houses to effect their purpose others to worke deceite and to bring innocent Dames by one deuice or other into the same net
did this fierce fight appeare Don Alonso in crossing the street was vn-awares with an vnluckie stone strooke on the brest and fell to the ground wanting strength to recouer himselfe to returne afresh to the fight Wherefore as well as he could he crawled vp and with-drew himselfe aside while Ozmin in the meane time draue them vp before him in the street working them much harme for some of them and those not a few were sore hurt and three left dead in the place The tumult increasing all the whole Village came out at once and stopt the passage that he could not though he would neuer so faine haue fled from them There was got now on the one side of him a Turfe-breaker a sturdy stout Rogue who vvith the Barre of a doore strooke him such a cruell blow on the shoulder that he forc't him vpon his knees but it did nothing benefit him that he was the Alcalde's sonne for before that he could come to double his blow vpon him which he was about to do he gaue him such a slash that he claue his head in twaine as it had bin of a Kid or a Calfe leauing him lying like a Tunny on the shore hauing rendred vp his life in satisfaction of his Roguery So many charged him on euery side and laid such load vpon him that being vnable any longer to defend himselfe he was taken by them Daraxa and Donna Elvira saw heard all that had past between them but with much sorrow to see such vnciuil out-rage euen from the very first beginning of the Fray as also what a coyle they kept when they had caught him thus aliue and had him in their hold and how they bound his hands behind him with a Cord as if he had beene one of their fellow-rogues All of them on all sides intreated him ill one buffetted him another puncht him a third kickt him throwing on him a thousand disgracefull affronts vvherewith they sought to be reuenged on him for all the wrongs he did them who before he was their prisoner durst not looke him in the face What a beastly and a shamefull thing was this to vse a man thus when he was not able to make resistance his hands being bound to the peace A thing neuer to be done by any but such base Villaines and dogged Clownes which kind of coorse vsage is naturall and proper vnto them But what becomes now of Daraxa how does she brooke this misfortune how is she able without swouning to see his person thus basely abused who did so much loue and adore his shadow on the one side to see him prisoner on the other to see some wounded and some slaine and her honour lying in the midst betweene them both for she knew well enough when the case should bee layd open Don Luys of force could not but aske what Ambrosio made there and what occasion drew him thither In this confusion necessity draue her to sit in councell with her selfe what course were best to be taken To preuent therefore farther mischiefe she deuised a Letter which when she had sealed she lockt it vp in a little Cabinet that she had to the intent that when Don Luys should come vnto her shee might make shew thereof for her owne discharge Now by this time the day began to appeare and yet the people were not quieted They had sent vnto the City to giue notice of what had happened to the end that information might be taken how things had past and to open the businesse And when the Notary was come they began to examine Witnesses whereof many without being called made their voluntary appearance For ill men of themselues inuite themselues vnbidden onely out of a desire to do that is ill and of enemies become friends to condemne the innocent Some sware that Ozmin had sixe or seuen besides himselfe in his company others that he was seene to come out of Don Luys his house and that some cryde out of the window Kill them kill them Others that the people of the Towne resting secure and quiet they wilfully set vpon them others that they came and challenged them out of their houses there not being one man amongst them all that sware a truth God deliuer vs from such Clownes for they are as stiffe as Oakes and of the same toughnesse of nature cruell and hard-hearted if you will haue any fruit from them they must bee vsed like Akornes beaten downe with Cudgels and dry blowes for they will sooner suffer themselues to be pluckt vp by the rootes though it be to the vtter ruine of themselues and their estates then to bow or stoope bee it neuer so little And if they be once minded to persecute a man they will periure themselues a thousand times though the matter in question be not worth a straw onely out of an inclination to doe that which is euill And the ill is so much the worse that these wretches thinke that they do God good seruice therein and that their soules are saued by it and it is a wonder if they confesse their fault and repent themselues of this their rancour and malicious poyson The deaths and wounds receiued were prou'd vpon him and the poore Gentleman laden with yrons and put in safe custody Don Luys as soone as he had notice hereof hastened to the Village his daughter informed him of the businesse acquainting him truly with all that had past he inquired likewise of Daraxa who told him the same tale and that she had sent for Ambrosio to come thither for to dispatch him thence with Letters for Granada and before that he could get to speake with her they had these two nights together beaten him with Cudgels and pelted him with stones so that though her Letters were written and lay ready for him shee could not come to deliuer them into his hands Don Luys desired her that she would shew him the Letter as well to see the contents thereof as also for his owne discharge she being by their Maiesties committed to his custody Shee though she seemed loth so to do condescended at last to his request and gaue him the Letter how beit little intreaty would haue serued the turne for she desired nothing more then to haue him see what she had writt And taking it from foorth her Cabinet she sayd vnto him I giue it vnto you that you may perceiue my truth and conceiue no ielousie that I vvrite any thing vvorthy the hiding from you Don Luys tooke the Letter and going to reade it found that it was vvritten in the Arabicke tongue wherein he had no knowledge Hee then made inquirie for one that could reade and interpret that Language the Contents whereof were that she signified vnto her father vvhat a griefe it vvas vnto her to liue thus diuided from him and that she desired to be certified of his welfare and if the desire she had to see him did not ouer-sway all other respects she liu'd otherwise
he was silent and spake not a word nor shew'd any signe of sadnesse in his lookes but with a smiling kinde of countenance beheld them all as he passed along They made now and then certaine stops to see if they could exhort him to confesse himselfe labouring all they could to perswade him that hee would not lose body and Soule both at once But hee answered them not a word but held his peace all the while The people continuing thus in this confusion and the Citie wayting on this sad spectacle Don Luys came making the people giue way pressing through the throng to hinder the Execution The a Alguazils thought it was a resistance of Iustice and out of very feare which they had of Don Luys for that he was a stout and valiant Gentleman and dared to oppose himselfe to any danger they forsooke Ozmin who was vnder their guard and with a great hurry and clamour they ranne to giue account of what had past to the Magistrates whose authority they thought it more neerly touched Whereupon they came to know what might be the cause of so great disrespect done vnto them He put his hand in his pocket and taking out the Kings Order he deliuered it vnto them which was by them to their great contentments most willingly obeyed And so they brought Ozmin being accompanied with all the Gentlemen of that Citie and the common ioy of the people to Don Luys his house Where that night hee was intertained with a gallant Maske setting vp many Torches and Cressets in the streetes and windowes for to giue the more generall content And in token of their great ioy they would haue celebrated those dayes hee stayed there with publike feasts for now they knew who he was But Don Luys would not giue vvay thereunto but tying himselfe to his Instructions carried him as his prisoner along with him the next morning being kindely vsed and well intertained vpon the way according to the greatnesse of his ranke and quality Being now arriued at Granada hee kept him secretly with him some few dayes vntill such time as he had order from their Maiesties to bring him to Court Who when he was come before them they ioyed much in the sight of him and whilest he was standing thus in their presence they commanded Daraxa to be called forth Now when these two Louers thus suddenly met in such a place as that was so vnexpectedly and so farre beyond their hopes euery man may make his owne heart iudge of the wonderfull ioy which they receiued in this happy but vnlooked for incounter and imagine with himselfe what each of them did thinke and conceiue thereof When each others eyes had fed their fill the Queene made towards them and told them that both their fathers were become Christians howbeit Daraxa knew so much before She desired them to doe the like which shee should receiue as a singular fauour from them but that no other loue nor feare should inforce them thereunto saue onely that of God and their owne saluation But howsoeuer whether they did so or no for she would not compell the conscience her pleasure was that they should now instantly inioy their liberty and dispose of their Estates and Persons according to their owne will and pleasure Ozmin would faine haue answered the Queene with all the ioynts and sinnewes of his body making them so many tongues to render thankes to her Maiesty for this so great a benefit signifying that he was very willing to be baptized and them addressing himselfe to Daraxa in the presence of their Maiesties he intreated her to doe the like Daraxa whose eye was neuer off from her dearest Ozmin so hungry was she in beholding him shedding a few sweet teares from her Rosie cheekes directing her lookes speech vnto their Maiesties she told them That since it was Gods will to inlighten their vnderstanding and by many tribulations to bring them to the knowledge of his truth she was disposed and that vnfeignedly and with a true heart humbly to submit her selfe thereunto and to the obedience of their Maiesties vnder whose protection and princely hands she reposed both her selfe and all that she had So anon after they were christened with a great deale of Ceremonie naming the one Ferdinand and the other Isabell according to that of their Maiesties who as God-father and God-mother gaue them their names at the Font. Within some few dayes after their Nuptials were celebrated with a great deale of glory and ostentation many Presents and other courtesies being conferred vpon them in that City where they liued all their life-time and left behinde them an illustrious and noble off-spring which continueth yet to this day in much honour and reputation in their Country We went hearkening to this Story with a great deale of Silence being led on attentiuely with it till we came within sight of Caçalla so that it seemed to haue been measured iust out for that iourney so truely did the one iumpe with the other Howbeit it was somewhat more inlarged by the Author flourished ouer with finer phrases and a different Soule to that which I haue deliuered vnto you Our honest Carrier who remained mute from the beginning to the ending which was no more then all of vs did began now to finde a tongue and was the first that opened his mouth Alight my masters quoth hee For heere I must leaue you my way lyes along by this path And with that hee cals vnto me Come hither my yong Gallant let vs make vp our reckoning before we part When I heard this I was almost ready to hang my selfe it was the bitterest draught that ere went downe my throat Is it e'ne so said I to my selfe Well let it goe for I did verily beleeue that all that past betweene vs had been in the way of friendship Well I dis-mounted and got not vp so lightly before as I now came downe heauily for I knew not in the world what answer to make him saue onely to aske him how much I was to pay him for the riding of nine Leagues See what these Gentlemen giue so must you For your lodging and your dyet you are to pay me three Royals more The Vmbles of the Mule I now found to be deare meat vnto me and that they stucke a little also in his stomake but that which grieu'd me most was That I had not money to pay for it And therefore I came vnto him and told him My friend â—…o heere is your money for the reckning so much you say is my part of the shot but for my horse-hyre I owe you nothing for you your selfe without any intreatie of mine desired me to get vp inuiting me thereunto of your owne accord What a Diuell quoth he meane you by this Marry gupp with a murraine you are a fine Gentleman indeed doe you thinke to ride a cock-horse on free cost you are a pretty Youth indeed I replyde vpon him we fall to scuffling
the Cookes wife his Mistrâ—…sse THat man is much to be commended who knowes to gaine by his labours But much more ought hee to be esteemed who by his vertue knowes how to keepe that which he hath gotten I did striue all I could to please euery body albeit the ill custome of my former lewd life did now and then lead me awry so that whatsoeuer I did was like forced earth that fell in short time to it's old leuell and being all but counterfeite stuffe were but Apâ—…h imitations contrarie to mine owne nature and that bent whereunto I had beene vsed For that Glory that is falsely gotten indureth but a while it is not permanent but quickly passeth away I was like vnto a drop of Oyle that falls vpon a garment which Si fresca no paraâ—…e breuemente se desâ—…ubre 〈◊〉 If it be not presently perceiu'd and taken off in time discouers it selfe and goes increasing Now they would no longer trust me One would call me Cedaâ—…illo nueuo the new little Siue or the youth of three daies standing For as your new married Wiues that buy a little Siue to straine their Wine or any other liquor for some few daies are very carefull of it hang it vp vpon a Naile or some woodden Pin but anon after thinke no more of it and let it lie tumbling on the ground so is it with your new seruants you shall haue them at the first very diligent and carefull and like new Broomes sweepe all cleane but after a while they grow negligent and lazie and are wearie of well doing Another would câ—…ll me La Gata de Uenus one of Uenus Cats A craftie knaue from the Cradle But they were all deceiued For I was naturally good and in mine owne disposition I neither had read nor knew so much but I depraued this good nature of mine and did ill dispose of it Vice and want altred this my good inclination and made me otherwise then I would haue beene And what knauery I had in me I learnt it of the Officers there and other the seruants of the house And these are they that I must thanke for they were the only men that brought mee to it I was but coorse Sugar till they refin'd me There are some happie theeues that come to be old men before they die others are so vnlucky that for the very first robberie that euer they committed haue beene taken in the manner and presently hanged without any more adoe That which in others was but a veniall was in me a mortall sinne And it was fit it should be so because I did degenerate from what I was by doing that which I ought not to haue done I did vndoe my selfe by ill company which is Vices Ladder Vertues Hangman the Wine that makes drunke the Smoake that choaketh the Sorceresse that bewitcheth Marches Sun-shine a deafe Adder and an intising Syrene When I first began to serue I applied my selfe to my worke and sought to please but afterwards my ill-acquaintance bad friends as they were did sweetly vndoe me Idlenesse was a great helpe thereunto if not the sole cause of all my hurt For as vnto him that is well occupied no Vertue is wanting so vnto him that is idle there is no Vice which is not his Companion Idlenesse is the high way to destruction it is that spacious field that opens to perdition it is that Plough wherewith bad thoughts are sowne It is the seed of Tares cast into the ground it is that Woman-weeder that plucks vp goodnesse by the roots It is that Sickle that cuts downe all our good works It is that Flaile which thresheth all honour out of vs. It is that Cart which comes loaden home with mischiefe and it is that Baâ—…ne wherein all the Vices in the world are mowed and stored vp Mine eie was not set vpon my selfe but on others and looke what I saw them doe that me thought was likewise law full for me Not considering that because they were in places of credit that were able to beare them out and being old-beaten soldiers in all manner of theeueries it might become them well enough to doe as they did for by this meanes they were to make themseluâ—…s a Fortune and to this end only doe they seeke to serue good Masters I was willing to be one of the number and would faine ranke my selfe amongst them by doing as they did being no way their equall but a poore Picaro a ragg-taild Rogue out both of clothes and credit But if excuses may preuaile and that I may say something for my selfe When I saw that euery man walkt so freely this way without checke or controule it seemed to me to be the land of Permission and that I might passe vp and downe there as well as they Being perswaded as I told you before that it was a worke of Vertue a very good deed and very iustifiable how be it afterwards I was beaten from that errour My thought though was good but my vnderstanding was amisse For the Grace and fauour of this Bull did in especiall words grant the vse and exercise thereof to the elder brothers that are free of the Incorporation of the Rich and Potent to those that are Fauorites to the Proud to the Arrogant to Flatterers to those that are neuer without Crocodils teares to Scorpions which bite not with the mouth but sting with the taile to smooth-tongu'd Parasites who with sweet words cherish the body but with sowre workes destroy the soule These were the men that might doe any thing all was well done that they did but in such as my selfe it was falshood and roguerie I was in an errour and together with this my error I became so dissolute and liu'd so disorderly that my disease euen a farre off might easily be discerned how be it all was not worth a straw as being things not to be reckoned of or scarce worthy the talking of It is a common saying Que el postrero que Sabe las desgraçias es el Marido That the good man is the last that knowes what things are amisse at home Of all these my mad prankes and crosse fortunes that did befall me scarce one of a thousand came to my Masters eares Either because being willing as I was to please them and to get their good will they would not haue my Master to conceiue hardly of me and so put me away Or else because though now and then they would chide me and tell me mine owne seeing all the World was alike and that it was euery mans Case as well as mine they did not much wonder at it But for some negligences of mine and other things that were too transparent my Master grew some what angrie with me and spuâ—…'d hard to ouertake me It so fell out that he was one day sent for to prepare a Feast for a certaine Prince that was a stranger newly come to Court and carried me along with
and wrapping the money in the linings of my breeches and my doublet I put it in couering it ouer very handsomely with sand and stones setting vp a marke that I might not forget the place where I had hid it hankering there-abouts that I might euer and anon haue an eie vpon it for the space of almost fifteene daies And all because I would not trouble my selfe hereafter in seeking for it some two foot neerer or farther off which would haue beene as bad as death vnto me if I should not haue hapned to light vpon it as soone as euer I had thrust in my hand And the rather for that some nights I went from thence to the neighbouring places there-abouts to get me some victuals for three or foure daies returning presently backe againe to my old haunt keeping my selfe close after the Sunne once began to peepe forth in that Wood adioyning to the Pardo Hither in this manner as you see had I with-drawne my selfe till the Hue and Crie were past and gone which vndoubtedly was made after mee Now by this time they had lost my footing and I conceiuing with my selfe that the Coast was now cleere and that I might safely passe that I might remoue my Tent and march forward I made me vp a little fardle of the old linings that were left of my Ierkin wherein I had closely lapt vp this my heart-blood So that I had nothing now left me saue the old linings of my Breeches a poore ragged Doublet and a Shirt all torne and full of holes but all as white and cleane as a curd for I had lately washt them So that I was apparelled all in white being wonderfull well fitted for to make vp one in a Morris-dance I got me two delicate fine walking Cudgels which I had cut my selfe and pill'd off the Rinde and made as smooth and neat as could be deuised On the one I hung the precious bundle which I bare at my backe the other I made a Truncheon of it to carrie in my hand I was now fat and full fed and began to grow wearie of being any longer a Conie in that Warren fearing lest one of the Keepers or some other Ferreter should finde me there in the Berrie and pull me out as a suspicious person To preuent that I began to take my iourney by night when it was darke going out of the rode-way taking crosse pathes by-places and vntrodden tracks passing thorow La Sagra de Toledo a certaine Territorie belonging to that kingdome till I came two leagues beyond it to a little place that stood in a bottome called Açuqueica whither I had reached betimes in the morning There I rested my selfe vnder the shadow of certaine Quince-trees where I meant to spend that day Where e're I was aware I found hard by me a prettie young stripling much about my pitch He seemed to be some Citizens sonne who out of some vn-aduised consideration as mine was had forsaken his Parents to trauell abroad and goe see the world He carried his Fardle at his backe and being but a young nouice bred vp daintily and newly taken from his mothers teat the Milke yet hanging on his lips was wearie of his burthen and himselfe seemed heauie in hauing so heauie a load sure he had no great minde to returne home againe to his friends and as little that they should finde him out He walk't as I did in the day thorow Groues and thickets and in the night along the high-way seeking couert where to shrowde himselfe Which the rather I ghesâ—…e to be so for that from our arrinall there vntill it were night that we were to depart he did not budge a foot from the place where I was When we were to goe our waies taking vp his Fardle very heauily he let it fall againe to the ground saying Gods curse goe with thee a little thing would make mee to leaue thee here behinde mee Now I must tell you by the way that we had had some talke together before and exchanged as occasion offred good store of words taking account one of another of our Voyages and what and whence we were He did not deale truly with me and I would not confesse my selfe to him For by mine owne lies I knew those that he told me And so wee were both payd in our owne coyne All that I could sucke from him was that he acquainted me with his wants Now finding the coniuncture good and the distaste great which he had taken at that heauy burthen which he bore at his backe but much more that his purse was so light I began to coniecture with my selfe that it might haply be a sute of cloathes Wherevpon I askt him what luggage was that he carried which did giue him so much trouble and made him so weary Heâ—… told me it was a sute of apparell This suted well with my desires the induction me thought was good Therevpon I proceeded farther and told him Sir I could giue you reasonable good counsell if you would bee willing to accept of it He intreated me to giue it him and that finding it to be such he should be very thankefull vnto me for it My aduice then vnto him was That since he went laden with that which as yet he had no great need of nor would it much import him if he had that he should rid himselfe of it and haue recourse to that which might be more necessary for him Heere you carry a wardrop or what else so euer it be about you I would wish to sell it and put it in your purse for besides that it will weigh lesse you shall make your profit of the money you shall receiue for it The yong Youth discreetiy replyde for your Toledanos haue passing good wits This aduice of yours I like well and would follow it but I hold it impertinent for the present And Consejo sin remedio es cuerpo sin alma Counsell without a cure is a body without a Soule What doth it import me to sell it if I want a Chapman to buy it I haue no occasion to goe into any Town either to truck for it or to sell it and no body will buy it of mee that does not know me Then I demanded of him what pieces they were that hee had in his packe He told they were certaine cloathes for change when he was minded to â—…hift those others that hee had on his backe I askt him of the colour and whether it had beene much worne He answered mee that it vvas a mingled colour and reasonable good This pleas'd me better and better I could not dislike of it Therevpon I offred him present paiment if the cloathes did fit me The Youth beganne to looke sadly vpon me as one that had beene strooke into a muze and fell to eye me from top to toe for all that I had on my back was not worth so much thred as would serue to binde vp a farthing-worth of Saffron
good haue gone bare So that we had shooes and no shooes hats and no hats For our shooes were sandal-fashion old enough and torne enough and our hats were sutable vnto them the one would scarce hang on our feet the other scarce sit on our heads Wee seldome wore any shirt at all For when according to our accustomed humilitie we should craue an almes at such a doore they would ordinarily say Pardon me my friend I haue not for you God helpe you I will giue you something at another time Then we begin anew and cry An old paire of shooes or an old hat good Master for this poore soule that hath neuer a shoot to his foot to beare him out of the durt nor neuer a hat to defend his head from the Sunne and the raine Gods holy name be praised The Lord blesse your Worship and deliuer your good Worship from such a deale of miserie and wretchednesse as we poore creatures indure God multiply his blessings vpon you and free you and yours and all that you haue from the power of Traitors and Villaines Christ Iesus guard your Worship and giue you health both of body and soule which is the greatest wealth of all and the truest riches If after this he shall reply Indeed brother I haue not for you I can not pleasure you at this time excuse me Then vpon the necke of that comes another replicant and he laies about him beseeching him to bestow vpon him some old shirt though neuer so ragged and torne for to couer the â—…esh and to cure the wounds of this poore miserable man and that he shall finde it againe in heauen and that God will one day couer him againe with the cloathing of his mercy and put vpon him a newer and a whiter stole of innocencie and righteousnesse that shall neuer weare out I begge it of you for Iesus Christ his sake he knowes my wants and that I am not able to worke and labour for my liuing The Lord helpe me And the Lord reward you And praised be that pure vnspottednesse of ouâ—… blessed Lady the Virgin Mary Now tell me what heart is there in the world though of Iasper and what bowels though as tough as Iron and as hard as steele which will not bee made malleable with this hammer and melt into compassion with the heat and warmth of so many good words Few houses did escape vs without some one purchase or other And neuer a paire of shooes could be so bad no hat so vile and no shirt so old that was giuen vs but yeeld vs more then a piece of three pence To vs it was much but to him that parted with it of no profit and lesse reckning It was to vs a mine in the Scrro de Potosi We had Morchants and Brokers for euery one of these things who would lay vs downe money for them on the boord perfumed and washt ouer with the water of Angels We had vpon the way certaine little Asses whereon we did ride by turnes when any store of raine fâ—…ll that we might the better passe ouer the Riuers when the waters were risen And if we did light by chance vpon any person that seemed to beare the face of authoritie we began to call vpon him a farre off many a large step before we came at him to the end that he might haue leisure enough to pull out his Purse and take forth an almes for if we should stay our begging till we did iust incounter each other many would forbeare to giue vs lest they might be hindred in their iourney and so we should goe without it And taking this course we did seldome misse Other-whiles when we saw fit occasion and time for it vpon discouerie of some companie of people that came trooping together we would prepare our selues to put on a counterfeit lamenesse to fall a halting and betake vs to our Crutches we would change our lookes alter our countenances take one another vp vpon our backs writhe our mouthes turne the lids and balls of our eyes vp to heauen some feigning themselues dumbe other-some crippled and blinde making shew that wee could not goe but vpon Stilts when as indeed we were as nimble and light-footed as the Bucke We would clap our feet in a trice in certaine Swathes that hung at our necks for that purpose and carry our armes in a string so that with these counterfeit tricks and the helpe of good language desiring God to send them well on their iourney and that he would preserue their limmes and blesse their eye-sight and bring them safe to their iournies end did alwaies bring vs in money And these we did call our Aduentures because these good fortunes befell vs abroad in strange Countries in places that were desart and vnpeopled and because commonly it succeeded well with vs. But otherwise we did goe no farther then what was precisely set downe vnto vs and was held to be necessarie for the performance of our Progresse We had one excellent gift aboue all the rest That there was not any Feast where we were not present getting vs some one good place or other nor any Banquet whereof we had not a part Our noses were so good that wee could smell such things some ten streets off Wee had no house at all yet euery house was ours For either a Cardinals an Embassadours or some Noble-mans Porch or other did neuer faile vs And if all or any of these did faile vs the Church Porches were free and no body could there put vs out So that hauing no proprietie in any thing wee did not withstanding possesse euery thing There were some likewise that had old ruinous Castles decayed buildings and other poore lodgings not worth any thing where we did make our Rendevous For all were not permitted to be Aduenturers nor all allowed Pipkins to boyle their meat in But I who was but a young strippling looke where I was ouer-night I would be sure to be there againe the next day So that albeit I had many times bad lodging yet my youth bore it out and it seemed to me as good as the best CHAP. IIII. Guzman de Alfarache discourseth of the Charitie that we are to vse towards our neighbour He recounteth what befell him with a Gentleman And of the free life and great libertie which a Begger inioyes ONe true signe and assured token of our predestination is the Pitie and Compassion which wee haue of our neighbour For to haue a fellow-feeling of another mans miserie as if the case were our owne is a deed of Charitie which couereth a multitude of sinnes and where there is loue there is God and he euermore plentifully dwelleth in those hearts by his holy Spirit where Charitie and mercy aboundeth All things with it haue life and being without it dye and come to nothing For neither the gift of Prophecie nor the vnderstanding of Mysteries nor the knowledge of God
vvas the rule by which I directed all my actions To all that vvas said vnto me I put on Merchants eares vvas still deafe to all good counsell appealing from good aduice to mine owne flesh vvhich being ready still at hand in fauour of my vices I did vtterly vndoe my selfe by following of her ill counsell For to execute her suggestions I had force enough to seeke out occasions of sinne abilitie sufficient to perseuer in them an vntyred constancie and in not leauing them a firmenesse not to be remoued I was as vvell acquainted vvith all manner of Vice as I vvas a stranger to all kinde of Vertue And to lay the fault vpon Nature I haue no reason for it in the world For I had no lesse abilitie for good then inclination to euill The fault was mine owne for shee neuer did any thing out of reason Shee was alwaies the Mistresse of truth and modestie she was neuer defectiue in what was fitting but as shee hath beene corrupted since through sinne and mine were so many that I produced the cause of this bad effect and became mine owne hangman CHAPTER X. Guzman de Alfarache discourseth of ill Companie of Hospitalitie of Patience And how being put out of the Cardinals house he placed himselfe with the Embassadour of France where he playde some Knauish prankes Hee relates a Storie which he heard from a Gentleman of Naples And ending with that he giues an end to the first part of his life I Could not as I told you before iustly complaine or finde fault with any body but my selfe that my Lord had thus dismist me and turn'd me out of seruice For the very truth was he made earnest sute through the importunitie of his seruants who were very instant with me to haue me to come backe againe vnto him but because my bloud whose heat was not yet allay'd still boyled in my brest and was not come to its wonted coolenesse I did ill consider mine owne good or should rather haue sayd That I did well ill in not considering my ill well Being thus discarded I wandred vp and downe at mine owne pleasure as my fancie did lead me thorow the streetes of Rome And because in my prosperity I had purchased some friends of mine owne profession they seeing me vn-prouided for and that I went vp and downe like a Masterlessehound here one would inuite me and there another howbeit it cost mee deare for that meale that is made in ill company though it giue nourishment to the body yet it filleth the soule with ill humours to its vtter ouerthrow and destruction Nor did those good morsels so well satisfie hunger as their ill counsell and lewd conuersation did vndoe me Whereof nothing now remaineth but repentance For I began then and neuer till then to know in what danger I was when I saw the water was come vp to my chinne and ready to runne into my mouth Vices come stealing in vpon a man they enter with silence they are a smooth still File that cuts without any noyse they are not heard till they haue wrought mans ruine They are as easie to be receiued as they are hard to be reiected And such kinde of friends as these are those Bellowes which kindle that flame which sets the whole soule on fire and with a little sparke raiseth a great blaze I might very well haue recouered my allowance and had meate of mine owne to put in my mouth for the Steward told me that my Lord had giuen him order that I should dayly come and fetch it or send for it as I would my selfe But I was so obstinate that I would none of it For I was so lewdly giuen that I had rather indure hunger with ill company then feed vpon the best meat with honest and ciuill people But they quickly payd me home who first gaue me counsell to refuse my boord-wages as I did relying vpon them and their aduice for they were soone weary of helping me any longer and they did not only not relieue me but because they would not doe it they did shunne and auoyd me So that I might starue for any succour that I was to looke for from them This same thing called Hospitality and entertaining of friends and guests carries a kinde of mysterie with it I euermore found in his mouth that inuiteth honie but in his hands gall they promise liberally but giue sparingly they bid with ioy but eate with sorrow Hee that will bee another mans guest must be content to be ordred as he will haue him besides he must be rich and well to passe other-wise he shall not be welcome he must not tread many steps in the house his breech must scarce warme his Chayre nor must he sit long at boord for feare of being too troublesome Doe not flatter thy selfe that thou art liberally and freely welcome because a man giues thee good words and speakes kindely and louingly vnto thee and tels thee thou art heartily welcome For I haue euer obserued it as a true rule amongst other the Lawes of Hospitalitie that a man may dyet with his kinsman a seuen-night with his elder brother a moneth with his friend a yeere and with a bad Father all his life time The Father only is not weary perhaps of entertaining his sonne but all the rest take dislike if not a loathing of his company If thou shalt stay with them beyond that time they will hate thee to the death and picke one quarrell or other against thee and if that will not serue the turne to set thee packing they will put crooked Pinnes in thy Bread or lay baytes to poyson thee that they may once be rid of thee But admit that thou art inuited by a married man and that his wife bee close-fisted a very Crib her wealth her owne and she somewhat proud and scornefull say she be thy Mother or thy Sister in fine she is a woman who for the most part are all of them greedy and couetous so that they will whine for anger to see thee there looke scuruily vpon thee grudge thee thy meat chaâ—…e with her husband for bringing thee thither curse both him and thee and wish you both choakt Better is a hard crust in thine owne house then a cram'd Capon in another mans It is a miserable thing to set thy foot vnder another mans table My friends growing now weary of me I needed not out of shame to leaue them for they had already cast me off streightning more and more their hand towards me who were so farre from giuing me any thing that now they could shamefully deny me without blushing They needed no maske nor disguise for to dissemble the businesse They could boldly bid me Goe by I was therefore driuen to seeke out some Wall where-against to leane and betake my selfe to some Tree for shelter vnder whose shadow I might quietly take my feeding For I was now in that extreme want
holpen on by the desire which he had to vnderstand how the world went striuing to fortifie himselfe against this fierce assault which had already shaken the very Walls of his hearr with a troubled voyce he began to inquire what the matter was Ualerio from point to point deliuered vnto him all the particulars and told him that he was now going to call a Surgeon intreating him that he would goe along with him fearing lest the life of Clorinia through too much delay might runne some hazard Dorido accompanyed him and albeit hee had more need of comfort himselfe then to giue comfort vnto others yet notwithstanding framing himselfe thereunto as well as he could at length he brake thus with him Friend Ualerio this dolefull misfortune of yours and the lamentable case of your vnfortunate sister Clorinia doth so neerely touch me and workes that true sense of sorrow in me that no lesse then to your selfe they may giue me the Pésame and come and condole with me this disastrous mischance for I am so truly sensible thereof that I dare aâ—…ow you haue no aduantage of me nor can your sorrow exceed mine But seeing our griefe can doe vs but little good and that it is to no end to weepe and take on for that vvhich cannot now be holpen My aduice is that you vvould consult what is to be done in this case and if I may perswade I would haue all diligence vsed for the finding out of that Traytor which hath done this villanous Act to the end that vengeance and full reuenge may be taken of him which was neuer yet executed vpon any other This taske you shall put vpon me I vvill take this charge to my selfe and doubt not but by one meanes or other I shall come to finde it out Goe you and call the Surgeon For it is not fit where so many things are to be done we should be all busied about one and the same thing especially that which belongs to my charge being a businesse which vvill require much labour Let euery man take his Qu and perfect his owne part Follow you yours and I will follow mine and so farewell for I haue not the patience to deferre it any longer And so they parted Now Dorido had a strong beliefe and did confidently assure himselfe that Horatio and none but Horatio could be the author of so great wickednesse and falsehood induced there-vnto by those many reasons which did concurre to confirme this perswasion the least vvhereof vvas a manifest token and apparant euidence that it vvas onely his Act and none but his Wherevpon he resolued with himselfe to inflict such a punishment vpon him as should be equall to that his iust disdaine and answerable to the heinousnesse of his offence With this determination he went home to his owne house and being entred into his lodging shutting the doore to him he let loose the reines to his teares grieuously lamenting this sad mischance that had thus vnhappily befalne his Mistris O Clorinia said he the delight of my eyes and the ioy of my heart I see what harme thou hast suffered for my sake I vnfortunate I was the cause thereof It was that Traytor Horatio that thus deceiu'd thee whom thou supposedst to haue been beloued Dorido O vnhappy Mistris of my life I haue brought thee to this miserable passe it is I that haue kill'd thee and no body else for it was I that did disturbe thee of thy rest it was I that drew thee out from thy retyred and reserued course of life O accursed chinke O accursed eyes that euer yee peep 't thereinto O accursed tongue that madest the motion that we should there meet and talke together O my deare Clorinia Clorinia my life yet not my life but my death since that mine must follow thine I was the cause of all this ill Yet will I spare my selfe so much life as to liue to reuenge this notorious wrong and liue thou too Clorinia till thou see the vengeance that shal be done vpon this Traytor which shall be as exemplary as iust that it may remaine as a memoriall to all succeeding Ages And I heere solemnely vow to sacrifice to thy sacred and innocent ashes the impious bloud of this vile Traytor Horatio For that one hand which he hath taken from thee I will giue thee two of his Hee cut off one that vvas innocent and harmelesse and I will cut off two that were wicked and sacrilegious Let Heauen lengthen thy life so long till I effect this my purpose and suffer thee to enioy that recompence which I doe owe vnto thy loue And thou sweet Clorinia pardon so much of the fault as was in me And if my death will doe you any pleasure or that it stand with your liking mine owne hands ere this should haue made vvay there-vnto and laid it downe at your feet With these and other pittifull complaints did he bewaile this heauy accident worthy of eternall teares and surely sorrow would there and then haue made an end of him so extremely had it seazed vpon him and with that violence of passion if his afflicted soule had not beene vnder-propt vvith the desire of reuenge and thus betweene death and life did hee spend that night The next day following he went to visit Clorinia whither when he was come her Parents and her Brother began afresh to renew their teares imbracing and weeping one ouer another till at last the father of Clorinia began as well as his griefe would giue him leaue to say O sonne Dorido what misfortune can be so great so miserable as ours What rigour of the heau'ns hath conspired against vs What infernall fury euer inuented the like mischiefe What thinkest thou of this sad chance What deem'st thou of our honour What cloake will couer so foule a spot And what reuenge may mitigate so great a wrong as this and giue satisfaction answerable to these our sorrows Tell vs I pray what comfort can we looke for Or how can we liue without her who hath giuen vs life Dorido not being able to abstaine from teares comforting her afflicted Parents and Brother told them Wee are not now to spend the time in teares and lamentations but in that which may import vs most And albeit that which I am willing to propose ought rather to proceed from any body else then my selfe yet the occasion and the secresie wherewith it is fit it should be carried obligeth me there-vnto You all know very well and haue seene to your griefes the generall misfortune that hath befalne vs all being as well yours as mine and rather mine then yours for that your sorrow is ioyned vnto mine which addition makes but the heape of mine owne the bigger Besides I see the thred of my life cut off before my face that now I expect a death as bitter as I thought it would haue beene pleasant vnto me if it had made an end of me before Clorinia Ye are not ignorant
true which Don Luys hath deliuered vnto your Lordship for that I was an eye-witnesse of all this businesse in regard of that great loue and friendship which was euer betweene vs yet now at this present he hath no reason to pretend the Diamond for if he would but free himselfe of passion and put on temperate consideration of the pāssages in this his loue and that he and I might but change places I doe assure my selfe that he would iudge this cause in my fauour and giue sentence against himselfe But being that he is now blinded so with passion that he can not discerne things with indifferencie your Excellencie may be pleased to iudge first of his Loue and afterwards to censure the bad successe of mine which shall take it's beginning from the end of his which your Excellencie hath already heard him recount And thus may it please you to giue me the hearing did things passe It is not long agoe that he and I went walking abroad neere to this Riuer side where now we are talking and discoursing of some things farre out of the reach of our hopes when vnlooked for there came to Don Luys an ancient seruant belonging to this Gentlewoman his Mistresse from whom he secretly deliuered him a Letter Which he hauing opened and read it ouer when he had done he gaue it me that I likewise might peruse it Which I did againe and againe wondring very much at the Contents thereof For which cause as also hauing a reasonable good memorie I carried it all away which speaketh after this manner DEare Sir you haue little reason to accuse me of ingratitude only because it seemes vnto you that you haue some iust cause so to doe For it is not possible that any one should forget as you haue thought of me him whom he truly loues And since I know mine owne Obligation and your constancie I would haue you likewise to vnderstand though perhaps you will not acknowledge so much that I neither now doe or haue heretofore committed any fault against you And that my Actions did not correspond with your deserts the reason was because they could not stand with that Decorum which was due to my Mayden-state and the danger that might insue thereupon My Marriage with you which I desired more then I did mine owne life the obedience of a Daughter did disturbe and the Commands and earnest importunities of my Parents who were violently carryed away moued thereunto by vaine interest and the Title of a Countesse which I hold against my will since they did force me to yeeld my body vnto him to whom I could neuer surrender my soule being in condition and yeeres so contrary vnto me I haue beene yours I am yours and shall be yours all the dayes of my life I shall giue you to vnderstand that the Count my Husband is to vndertake a long iourney hasten hit her vnto me as soone as you 〈◊〉 and bring no other person along with you saue your friend Don Rodrigo And when you shall come to this Towne you shall finde in a Heremitage adioyning thereunto order giuen you for that which you are to doe Loue me with all your heart as you were wont and as I doe you And liue you as happily as I wish you Concluding my Letter with deare imbracements which attend your comming These were the Contents of the Letter which Don Luys hauing well seene and considered did expect nothing lesse then what was therein contained which was the only thing he wished and desired aboue all other happinesse in this world So that if I would yet I should not be able to expresse vnto you those amorous passions that he then felt He read it ouer and ouer dwelling vpon euery word and sillable of this Letter He looked vpon euery line more then once or twice weigh'd them as a man would weigh gold and when he had ballanced them in his iudgement and found they were not light but bare their full poyze putting them to his mouth hee kist them a thousand and a thousand times ouer Hee first look't earnestly on the Letter then on the bearer and my selfe as if he stood expecting that wee should speake our mindes and with a loud voyce proclaime the certaintie of this his promised good and the great content that he tooke in this fortunate but vnexpected newes For as yet he doubted thereof but at last when he had recollected his spirits which had beene all this while a wool-gathering with somewhat a troubled but more cheerefull countenance he said vnto me What is this Don Rodrigo that we see Am I out of my wits Or is this a dreame Art thou sure that it is thee and I that haue read this Letter Is this happely the Countesses Letter this her owne hand and that her old Seruant Doth my iudgement peraduenture faile me Or as an afflicted Louer growing on to desperation doe I feigne imaginations to my selfe to deceiue my phantasie After that he had thus continued a while driuen to and fro with these distractions as a Boat that waues this way and that way hauing the tyde with it but the winde against it I assured him that these were not illusions or idle apparitions but things really true and that carried along with them assured hopes of recouering and inioying his lost Iewell And thereupon I heartened him on that he should hasten his departure with all possible speed that he might comply with that which his Mistresse had giuen him in charge This was presently put in execution for we streight tooke horse and away we went And when we came to the Heremitage we found therein a very graue and reuerend Dame who for that she had notice giuen her before hand of the day and houre that we were to come thither stayd there expecting of our comming Now when she knew that we were the men she looked for she deliuered vs a Message the effect whereof was this That her Lord the Conde was gone forth vpon his iourney but was now newly returned by reason of a certaine indisposition of body that seazed on him vpon the way But intreated vs notwithstanding that we would haue the patience to stay there till she went to the Palace to acquaint her Lady the Countesse of our comming She went we staid I much amazed and Don Luys quite out of heart I for those difficulties which might offer themselues He in considering his crosse fortune which did neuer leaue off to persecute him Now while this good woman was gone vpon her errand in the meane while till she should make her returne we ranne ouer many stories and I know not what idle tales and discourses which being of different subiects are not fit to be inter-serted with this that we haue now in hand Well about eleuen a clocke at night shee came backe a gaine vnto vs and told vs we must follow her We did so The darkenesse of the night did much befriend vs so that by this
went vnto this Gentleman to demand so much of him as he was rated at in their note He refused to pay it Whereupon they distrained on his goods and paid themselues The Gentleman being much offended with this their proceeding goes forthwith to his Lawyer asks his counsell who in conclusion drawes me a petition for him grounded vpon all both Law and Reason wherein he layes open his ancient Gentry and the noblenesse of his House and that in regard thereof he was priuiledged from all manner of sessings and such other the like payments and that therefore he did humbly petition the Court that they would be pleased to giue present order that what the Collectors had forcibly taken from him might againe be restored and be deliuered backe vnto him as in all equitie it ought When this petition was by them deliuered vnto the Alcalde hauing read it and heard what they could say for themselues he called to the Register and said vnto him Mark well what I shal say vnto you see you set it down in the very same words as I shall deliuer it vnto you This Petitioner then said he as he is a Gentleman I will by no meanes debarre him of his priuilege God forbid I should denie him his iust request but as he is a poore man his House growne now to decay and himselfe as you see in want I hold it very fit that he pay as others doe That I had iustice on my side no man doubted it it was so publike a thing that all the world tooke notice of it But I was poore and needy and therefore it was fit I should pay for all and there was no reason in that respect that they should doe mee iustice I presently smelt a rat I saw this was a bad signe and was shrewdly afraid that all my labour would be lost But I could not for all this perswade my selfe nor could it sincke into my head that I should be that man or whom it is said by way of prouerbe Paçiente y apaleado That I must goe away with the wrong and the blowes too First be made cuckold and afterwards knockt for my prating Well such was my hard fortune that being not able to bring in my proofes in so short a time it so fell out with me that my Bill of Complaints was throwne out of the Court and held as a thing of no validitie or force in Law and that of the aduerse part tooke place against me declaring there in Court that I by this my petition had shamed an infamous Lâ—…bell against his sonne by meanes whereof his House and hâ—… honour was much defamed adding and interferting in maiorem cautelam I know not what a world of words and what strange and intricate termes That I did spâ—…te indubitatè c. That I did it wittingly and willingly impudently and malitiously aggrauating the matter against me with all the odious termes they could deuise that if I should set them downe one by one they would take vp a whole sheet of paper Alleaging farther against me that forasmuch as his sonne was a quiet honest and peaceable Gentleman and of a good both report and life I did deserue I know not what exemplarie punishment hanging burning and drowning all was too little that I knew not what to make of it nor what a Gods name they would doe with me Which things wâ—…n they were read vnto me I said to my selfe These men may haue healthy bodies but I am sure they haue sicke soules They may haue good purses but I finde to my cost they haue bad consciences I was carelesse as one that was confident of a good cause I neuer shrunke aside and as I was afterwards going about my businesse that my sute might not fall for want of following I was taken vp in the midst of the street by an Arrest and presently carried away to prison without any other information against me saue only the putting vp of my petition and acknowledging it to be mine There is no sword that hath so keene and sharpe an edge as Calumnie and false Accusation and then cuts deepest when it is in the hand of a tyrannous Iudge whose force and power is such that it is able to ouerthrow and lay leuell with the ground the best grounded Iustice that is though it haue neuer so sure neuer so strong a foundation Which it doth then most and most easily when a poore mans cause comes in his way who suspects poore harmelesse soule nothing lesse then to receiue hurt from him to whom he flyes for helpe My businesse was plaine no tricks no giggs in it I did only set downe the naked truth but they made it I know not how by their quillets and deuices knotty and vneuen though there was not a man neither within nor without the Towne that did not know all was true that I had deliuered and all this did plainly appeare to the Iudge to be so and that I had sufficient information All this is very good yet for all this goodman Guzman giue me leaue to tell you that you are a goose-cap Thou art poore thou wantest fauour and friends and therefore art neither to be heard nor beleeu'd These are not Cases that are to be brought before the Tribunals of men but when thou hast occasion to haue thy cause try de goe get thee to God petition him where the truth shall appeare face to face without any need of the fauour of thy friend nor an Aduocate to plead thy cause nor a Register to record it nor a Iudge to wrest it But here they made a sport of Iustice and like Iuglers plaid leggerdemaine with me They punisht me as an vnmannerly man of my tongue a lyar and a lewd companion I had spent my moneyes lost my goods put in prison gyves clapt on my legs treated with euill language vpbraiding mee with many foule and vnciuill reproches vnworthy my person without suffering me to open my mouth in mine owne defence And when I would haue answered their obiections and giuen them satisfaction by writing when they saw how the world went with me my Proctor forsooke me my Solicitor would not come at me my Aduocate refused to plead for me so that I only now remained in the power of the publike Notarie The only comfort that I had was the generall voice of my wrong comforting me that that terrible and fearefull day would one day come that the powerfull shall for all his power be condemned to Hell and that there your potentes potenter punientur your mighty men shall be mightily punished for that they are accursed of God for peruerting of Iustice. And that which he shall leaue behinde him shall not continue to the third heyre though he tye his land neuer so fast nor make neuer so strong a conueyance that it shall not goe from the house For he cannot though hâ—… would neuer so faine tye the inclinations of those that
of the same cup as he hath done I would not hazard much to get a little Aguilera told vs that his master was euen ready to dye for very griefe and almost mad with imagining how this was brought about and that it would not sinke into his head but that this was the deuils doing and that he and none but he was able to bring such a thing to passe I told him out a hundred crownes for those Doblones of ten which he had receiued of me with his owne hands and gaue him iust to a haire as much as his share came too Hauing dispatcht him I came to Sayavedra and offred him his part together with the gaines of the former fiue hundred crownes But he told me that he knew he was sure enough of them when-soeuer he should haue occasion to vse them and that not knowing well where to keepe them he was content they should remaine still in my hands till he should finde some fitter opportunitie to dispose of them We continued in Milan some ten or twelue dayes after this though not altogether free from feare lest the winde might chance to chop about and therefore we did agree to goe from thence and to get vs to Genoa making no body liuing acquainted with our intended iourney nor spake so much as one word of it our selues for feare of what might follow thereupon But rather gaue out that wee were to goe for some other place farre wide of that faigning a businesse which did much concerne vs to make all the haste we could It was my chance before I went away to walke through one of the streets in Milan wherein there was such choyce and variety of wares and in that abundance that I stood amazed at the sight of them and by chance I espy de a chaine in a certaine shop which they had sold to a Souldier which in my eye was one of the fairest that euer I saw I had such a great good liking vnto it and was so earnestly affected with it that I was resolued either to buy it in case they had not already agreed vpon the price or to take order to haue iust such another made me Whereupon I drew neere vnto the stall and standing by began to looke vpon it without giuing them to vnderstand that I had any minde thereunto but it pleas'd me so well and I was so taken with it that vpon the sodaine in that little scantling of time taking it to be fine and pure gold I had presently plotted in my head how I might haue it along with me to Genoa and that without any great labour I stood listning while he was bargaining for it and while they were thus beating the price the seller demanded very little for it which me thought was dog-cheape whereupon I began to suspect that what hee asked was rather for the workmanship of the chaine then the chaine it selfe but they not agreeing on the price I began presently to pitch my hey asking him what it might bee vvorth and what it vveighed I had no sooner made him this question but the Merchant casting vp his head lookes vpon mee and falls withall a smiling telling mee Sir this is not to bee sold by the weight but taking it altogether as it is wee sell it as reasonably as wee can afford it This word alone was enough for by this I knew that it was false and counterfeit and holding it a great basenesse for so slight a toy to hazard much treasure and that this plot of mine which I had already cast in my head might stead mee better hereafter reseruing it for some great occasion and of more importance then this could bee besides being that no wise man will aduenture his person for nifles in a bagge I forborâ—…o execute my purpose wisely considering with my selfe that if I should haue gone on with this and miscarried therein it would haue beene a sufficient proofe against mee that I had plaid the Impostor in my late businesse with my Merchant I presently therefore came to his price and paid it him with as good a will as if it had been a thing of great value and I must tell you that I made no small reckoning of it in regard of those designes for which I intended it and particularly in that which as it afterwards fell out turned to my exceeding great good and benefit For which purpose hauing the plot already in my pate I resolued with my selfe to make mee one of gold out of hand iust of the same making and fashion as that was in euery respect that you should not bee able to discerne which was which so like would I haue them to bee the one to the other Whereupon I got me to a Gold-smith who made it according to my minde showing himselfe so good an Artizan that should you haue taken them both into your hand and compared them together it was impossible to iudge which was the true one from the counterfeite saue only by the sound and the weight for the false one was somewhat lighter then the other sounding more bell-like whereas that of gold was more massie and had a more churlish kinde of sound with it it cost mee in the whole about some sixe hundred and thirty Crownes and I should not haue beene sory if I had bestowed a thousand for then that counterfeite one should haue yeelded mee as much with them I bought likewise two little curious boxes as like as like might be to lay vp these chaines in each by himselfe in his seuerall boxe which were fitted and fashioned as I could haue wisht them And because all the ioynts of my body did still paine mee very much conceiting with my selfe that my ribs and my huckle bones were dislocated and slipt out of their right places euer since that nights kinde entertainment which my worshipfull Vncle gaue mee which I haue kept hitherto written in my soule the inke thereof being not as yet dry and being now vpon the way for Genoa I imparted some part of my minde to Sayavedra not recounting vnto him all the whole Story of it but onely acquainting him that when I past that way being but a childe to speake of some of my friends had done mee an affront and put a ieast vpon mee because I was not either in such good cloathes as might honor and grace their company or so flush of money that they might get something by mee And I was heart-angry with my selfe that I had told him so much because hee should not take mee in a lye if hee should chance to remember what I had told him before But letting that passe and dwelling no longer vpon it I went on in my discourse and said farther more vnto him if thou Sayavedra wert that true friend as thou professest thy selfe to be vnto me thou wouldst ere this haue beene at Genoa and haue reuenged the wrong that I there receiued But I must bee inforced to doe it my selfe
it away with her leauing with him the name of the street whither he should either come or send for that which was remayning behinde That done they presently went their way the poore young man being so loue-strucken after their departure and so pittifully wounded with this amorous arrow that he was as farre from him-selfe as from all rest being tossed to and fro with various thoughts hauing his braines beaten with many troublesome and vnquiet imaginations Loue had almost burst the very heart of him He did neither eat nor drinke nor any thing else that might seeme to beare the name of life so altogether was his soule occupied in the contemplation of that rare and incomparable beauty and that mirrour of all vertue that this his troublesome life was to him as bad as death not knowing in the world what to doe At last it seeming vnto him that shee was a poore young mayden and that by meanes of mariage his chafte desires might arriue in the end to some happy port hee resolued to informe him-selfe what shee was as also of what life behauiour and birth The reports which were giuen of her were such that hee was now more perplexed and lesse confident then before Despairing in a manner with him-selfe that he should euer be able to enioy so rich a iewell holding him-selfe full more and more vnworthy of so great a happinesse as to obtaine her to bee his Spouse Hee was now quite out of heart as knowing him-selfe too meane for her worth But because it was not possible for him now to goe backe nor did it lye in his hands if he would to haue done it and for that the passions of the soule are no lesse preualent in the poore then the powerfull and that all are all alike subiect thereunto and equally affected with them howbeit he found him-selfe cast so farre behind-hand yet did hee neuer leaue striuing to trie if he could get before perseuering still in his honest purpose for that hee put him-selfe into Gods hands who doth alwayes fauour our good intentions and knowes how to accommodate those things that tend to his seruice according to his diuine will and pleasure presenting euermore in his prayers and supplications vnto him that his desire was no other then to get him a companion with whom he might be the better inabled to serue him and more particularly that he might be linked in lawfull mariage vvith this so vertuous a creature and one that vvas so much to his hearts-liking and content yet not that his but Gods vvill should be done where-unto he should most vvillingly submit him-selfe and that he should so farre grant his request and no farther as it should seeme best to his Maiestie and make most for his seruice He went likewise discoursing with him-selfe and amongst many other this one presented it selfe to his imagination That peraduenture her great pouerty her wary discretion and vigilant fore-sight would force her thereunto considering the solitary kind of life she now led and the remedy thereof and laying aside those vaine points of honour not measuring her selfe by what shee was but what she is she would happely accommodate her selfe to the condition of her present fortune and that when his honest desire to serue her should bee truly represented vnto her she may chance to yeeld to my faire request Intertaining him-selfe with these thoughts cares he was minded to call vpon her for the money which she ought him but not with purpose to presse her therewith nor to be troublesome therein vnto her but taking occasion rather one while to see this her curious worke another while that passing that way hee was of purpose come thither to know whether she needed any more gold and if she did that she should not want it whilest he had any that was fit for her so fetching many a walke thither excusing him-selfe in the best mannerthat he could and as he thought would make most for the performing of these his frequent visites and the procuring of her good will and acquaintance for that time he pretended nothing else to the end that this being first obtained he might the better play his game hereafter and in the interim mitigate some part of that sorrow which her absence did continually torment him withall In this the young man shew'd him-selfe as discreet as solicitous and as solicitous as truly louing Going on in those good and honest tearmes that in a short time he gained the good wills of all those that conuersed and were companions to Dorotea Being so farre from disliking his often visites that they rather receiu'd them as fauours and courtesies Amongst the rest that liu'd there together there were foure Sisters to one of which as being the grauest and reuerendest of the company they did all shew a kinde of respect as well for her temper and wisedome as also for her priority of yeeres With this graue Matron our young man seekes to enter into a stricter kind of friendship by reuerencing her and obseruing her and by presenting her with some such tokens and remembrances as might suâ—…e best with the respect more then loue that he bare vnto her So that in the end time bringing forth occasion by degrees he discouered him-selfe vnto her making her acquainted with his desires not omitting any thing that might make her fully to vnderstand the greatnesse of his affection and the fairnesse of his pretension Earnestly intreating her withall that by interposing her power and authority she would be a meanes that his hopes should not returne home empty and vnrewarded her worth and wisedome putting him in good assurance of the contrary And that therefore she would be pleased to continue her good fauour towards him and as occasion should offer that she should goe working and disposing this peâ—…ce of waxe to receiue the impression of his affection leauing it to her to imprint it in her to the life that seeing the truenesse of the stampe shee might be the sooner molded to entertaine the motion But in case shee should not finde her plyable but tough and hard to be wrought vpon shee would seeke to mollifie her by her meeke and gentle perswasions and remoue all those difficulties which on her part might be a hinderance to these his honest desires for on his part he vow'd and protested vnto her that nothing should be able to crosse it but that with open armes he would runne to embrace her submitting himselfe to be in all things ordered if not ouer-ruled by them Good meanes seconded by good intentions and which without any humane respects treat of honest things carrying a sound heart in their breasts and a true tongue in their heads haue alwayes such force and power with them that they easily perswade because truly beleeu'd This Gentle-woman so wrought with Dorotea sometimes this way and sometimes that now vsing t'one then t'other meanes till at last shee brought the businesse so about that shee being conuinced by
a most fierce and cruell beast it ouercomes all treads downe all that stands in its way and commands all It makes euery thing stoope to its power it â—…ubjcteth the earth and all that therein is By riches the fiercest beasts are 〈◊〉 â—…me no fish though neuer so great can resist riches nor the least of fishes that hide them-selues in the concaues and hollow holes of the rocks though ouer-whelmed with water and drowned in the deepe can escape its â—…orce nor can the fowles of the ayre though of the swiftest and nimblest wing 〈◊〉 from its Empire it exenterates and pulls out the very bowels from the profoundest parts of the earth vpon which the highest mountaines haue their foundation and it maketh dry the most hidden sands which the Sea doth couer in her bottomlesse Abysse What altitudes hath not it abased What difficulties hath not it ouercome What impossibilities hath not it facilitated In what dangers hath shee wanted safetie In what aduersitie hath not shee found friends What thing hath shee desired which shee hath not obtayned Or what Law hath shee made which hath not beene obeyed And being as it is so venomous a poyson that not onely like the Basiliske by being beheld by vs it killeth our bodies but by a bare desire onely being coueted destroyeth our soules damning them for euer to the bottomlesse pit of Hell yet shee her-selfe is a treacle to the harme we receiue from her and a counterpoâ—… to that venome where-with shee infecteth our soules and conscience if he that possesseth riches can as of an Antidote or some pretious preseruatâ—… make 〈◊〉 vse thereof Riches in its owne nature and in it selfe hath 〈◊〉 â—…ur 〈◊〉 knowledge nor power nor valour nor any other good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 punishment nor glory more then that whereunto they that doe posâ—…e it doe direct it It is like vnto the Cameleon which assumeth the colour of that thing on which it settles its selfe Or of the nature of that water of the Lake Fenco of which the Arcadians report that he that drinketh thereof ouernight growes sicke but he that takes it after the Sunne is once vp waxeth well He that shall liue in idlenesse heaping vp treasure by night that is secretly scraping a great deale of wealth together ouer-charging his conscience there-with he sure shall be sicke But he that shall vse them in the day time and show them to the light that his workes may shine before men and that he come with a cleare conscience hauing the stomacke of his soule empty of sin and his conscience not ouer-clogg'd with worldly cares this man shall be made whole Neither is the rich man condemned nor the poore man saued for that the one is rich and the other poore but onely because the rich man abuseth his riches and the poore man his pouertie For if the rich man treasures vp and the poore couer neither is the rich man rich nor the poore man poore and both are to be condemned But that may be called the best and the truest riches which being possessed is despised Fpr riches serue onely at least should to releeue our owne necessities to communicate with the good and to distribute amongst our friends The better and greater pare which rich men haue of riches is the lester part in regard they are so occasionall in men inciting them especially if their hearts be once set vpon them to this or that other sinne Ill desires beget ill doings Riches in its owne nature is a very sweet thing To this mans appetite hath a sweet tooth and a greedy gaping after it And as it is in the Prouerb La mançana corre peligro en las pujas del erizo that Apple is in great danger that stickes on the prickles of a Hedge-hogs backe The Diuine prouidence for our greater good being to diuide and distribute its gifts not laying all the weight of them vpon one side thought good to repart them in different manner and on different persons to the end that all might be saued This Prouidence made both the rich and the poore To the rich she gaue temporall goods to the poore spirituall blessings to the end that the rich man distributing his riches to the poore might thereby purchase Gods fauour and so remaining both equall might equally gaine heauen which is to be opened with a golden key to wit with riches by vsing them well And sometimes likewise this doore of heauen is to be opened with a picklocke that is by dispensing our goods to the poore Yet notwithstanding doth not man onely for that he has more thereby merit more but because he more despiseth then desireth For without comparison much more is the riches of a poore man that is contented then of a rich man that is neuer satisfied He possesseth them that is not possessed by them hee is rich that seekes not after riches and he hath most store that is the least storer This is the only man whom we may truly tearme rich wise and honourable And if the wiseman would vse his wisedome well and would measure that which he hath need of with that which he hath nature would content it selfe with a little and euen in that little would hee find an ouerplus But because the foole inlargeth the cord and would imbrace that which he hath according to that which he desireth God so orders this measure that though he had all whatsoeuer the world containes yet should he still be poore To him that is not contented nothing is enough To a hauing mind all is too little wanting much by hauing too much The eye of a couetous man will neuer say no more then will the Sea or Hell Yame hasta Now I haue enough Rich and wise shalt thou be when thou liu'st so within thy compasse that hee that knowes thee should admire the little that thou hast and the much that thou spendest and when it shall not cause any wonder in thee to see what little meanes thou hast to liue and what great possessions other men inioy Thou seest me here now rich very rich and in Spaine but farre worse then I was before for if before pouerty made me too impudent why riches hath now made me too confident If I could but haue contented my selfe or had I but had the temper of a well gouern'd man I could neuer haue wanted but because I neither did the one nor knew the other for to get money I endanger'd my body and hazarded my soule I was neuer contented neuer satisfied neuer at quiet with my selfe And for that I led an idle kind of life and was not willing to take any paines vnlesse it were in roguery I lost that with ease which I got with much labour I was like vnto that wheele which conuayes water to your Aqueducts no sooner full but presently empty I cared little for money kept it lesse but alwaeys imploy'd it ill My money was the price
these earthly thing For seldome or neuer are riches possessed without a mans setling his affection vpon them it being so easie a thing to haue it wedged to the things of this world And by so much the more by how much the more strongly the heart of man is knit vnto them The Glosse saith That with difficultie wee despise them and with lothnesse leaue them But the safest and surest way is neyther to loue them nor to keepe them And therefore that Kingly Prophet said If riches increase set not thy heart vpon them True it is that they are as hurtfull for the soule as dangerous for the body And therefore our Sauiour Christ much pitying and lamenting those who possessing them did heartily loue them said Woe vnto you that are rich for yee haue already receiued your comfort And S. Iames likewise with a great deale of griefe and sorrow doth bewaile and lament these kind of men saying Goe to now yee rich men weep and howle for the miseries that shall come vpon you your riches are corrupted and your garments moath-eaten your gold and siluer is cankred and the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire you haue heaped treasure together for the last dayes Behold the hyre of the Labourers which haue reaped downe your fields which is of you kept backe by fraud cryeth And the cryes of them which haue reaped are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabaoth Yee haue liued in pleasure on the earth and beene wanton yee haue nourished your harts as in a day of slaughter Yee haue condemned and killed the iust and he doth not resist you Bemourne therefore the miseries wherein you are for your riches shall end in anguish and vexation of spirit and all your comforts shall forsake you you shall sleepe your sleepe and when you awake finde your hands empty Dauid saith Rich men turne fooles through their too much wealth they become ambitious and vaine they giue themselues ouer to a thousand vices they suffer a thousand sharpe iourneyes and as many troublesome toylings for to get riches which when they haue got they haue a daily fit of feare and trembling lest they may chance to lose them The imagination of their losse causeth extreame sorrow in them their braines are still working and their vnderstanding neuer taketh any rest For as our Sauiour said Where a mans treasure is there also is his heart O wretched man thou dost not any thing in this world that is so bad for thee as the loue of money For they that seeke to make them-selues rich fall into a thousand temptations and into as many snares which the Deuill hath laid to intrap them For the root of all euill is couetousnesse This causeth vs to commit sacrileges thefts murders rapines it is the author of symony the causer of vsâ—…ring contracts of vngodly gaine and of a thousand deceits and frauds of breakings both in our deeds and in our words of periuries and peruerting of iustice O what an vnquenchable fire is the desire of riches O how insatiable is this our lust but much more insatiable our will Tell me he that can who did euer yet see the rich man satisfied who heare him say That he had now enough For when hee hath got what he desired he hath no sooner obtained it but he is as greedy as hee was before like vnto your hungry Curres who when you throw them one morsell stand gaping for another His end is alwayes on that he desireth forgetting how full hee is and the store of wealth that he possesseth The eye of a louer is neuer satisfied with looking And the couetous minde hath neuer money enough But which is a curse that accompanieth the couetous he that loueth riches neuer reapes the fruits of them Hell is neuer satisfied with the swallowing downe of soules neither the eyes nor heart of the couetous with riches For these wicked men haue two horse-leaches belonging vnto them which alwayes crye giue me here and giue me there let more and more come in still By so much the more the loue of money increaseth by how much the more our money increaseth O what a false and vnfortunate felicity is that of riches 〈◊〉 because it maketh him truly vnhappy who doth not truly possesse them The poore man liues more contented with that little which hee hath then the rich man that walloweth in his wealth O how many haue beene deceiued with the desire of riches Balaam hearing the ringing and sound of money which King Balack offered vnto him fell into despaire and had a miserable end Achaâ—… being desirous of a rich rayment and a wedge of gold was slaine and stoned to death together with all his family King Achab out of the desire he had to haue Nabothes vineyard was the occasion of Nabothes death who by Iezabels order wife vnto Ahab was stoned to death For which euill fact Ahab was depriued of his life and his Kingdome and his wicked wife Iezabel the inuenter of this villany deuoured of dogs Gehezi out of a desire to be rich receiued so many changes of rayment for which hee was cloathed all his life time with a most loathsome leprosie Iudas to get thirty pieces of siluer lost his Apostleship and his body together with his soule by becomming his owne executioner Ananias and Saphyra out of greedinesse of gaine were sodainly strucken dead If thou wilt bee rich thou shalt not bee without sinne for such is their miserable and vnhappy condition Moreouer it induceth men to embrace vice and to abandon vertue it falling out for the most part that where theâ—… is aboundance of riches there is aboundance of pleasures and sensuall delights and of euill company which are often an occasion of infinite infamies and wicked actions with great offence to the Maiestie of God The rich thinke that God hath no power ouer them but they are much deceiued who with open eyes see them-selues carried headlong into hell And this misfortune befals them because the feare of God is not before their eyes and for that they loue not their neighbour as they ought But rather on the contrary loue their riches better then them-selues nay more then their owne soules O miserable and vnhappy men as you are looke and diligently consider that which happened vnto Lazarus that poore beggar who receiued moâ—…e contentment in that his extreame pouerty and in those his ragges and stinking sores liuing in the feare of the Lord then in any other thing in this world by meanes whereof he came to enioy those rich treasures of heauen and the continuall and eteâ—…nall vision of his God For a man to make him-selfe rich it is a dangerous thing for before euer he is aware hee drawes vpon him an infinitie of all kind of troubles and miseries It is a wonder to see at how deare a rate they buy hell who pretend to be rich seeing with how
to gnaw vpon Shall I roste one of my rafters That will be burnt away vpon the spit I found that a naked house without something to maintaine it could not afford me any kinde of remedie I could thinke vpon no better thing then to betake my selfe to sacred Orders and to become a Church man Saying to my selfe I haue humane learning I will make benefit of that by hearing those Lectures read in Alcala de Henares I haue some little smackering also in the Liberall Arts and Diuinitie and when I haue studyed these a-while I will take my Degree then shall I be qualified for the Pulpit and being able to say Masse and to preach a Sermon I shall be sure to haue wherewithall to eat and if all should fayle I would turne Fryar at the last whereby I should not onely liue vpon certainties but should also lead a very safe and secure life For a Dominus vobiscum did neuer yet dye of hunger By this course I shall not only repayre my life but I shall free it likewise from any danger whatsoeuer which I might haue incurred by my former misdemeanors The time for the payment of my debts drawes on a-pace and my wealth goes away as fast if by this meanes I did not prouide for the storme that was now a comming I might afterwards see my selfe oppressed and in great perill to be vtterly lost I knew that this came not from my heart for I was not ignorant of mine owne euill inclination but he that hath no other meanes and is put to his shifts must doe as he may He that cannot make choyse of his game must flie at that which comes next in his way Now that I am imbarked I must play the cunning Mariner and seeing I cannot sayle with a fore-winde I must fetch boords and come about with a side-winde Any one will serue my turne so it be not such a contrary winde as shall chop me into the mouthes of my hungry Creditors This is the key that must make all sure and keepe them out from comming within me The money that I shall make of this house will serue well enough to maintaine me as a scholler which being well husbanded though I should spend yearely a hundred Ducats or a hundred and fiftie which will be the most and is a good liberall allowance I shall haue store of money for that time that I shall need to continue there so that I may liue like a Duke if I list my selfe and yet haue wherewithall to buy me bookes and to take some honourable Degree I will make choyse of a good Chamber-fellow a student of mine owne profession that we may follow our studies close together heare the Lectures compare our Notes communicate our doubts that so by ioyning our forces together and ayding one another we should be able to quit our selues like braue fellowes when we came to breake a lance in those lists In this manner had I made vp my recknings with my selfe this was my consultation and this was I fully resolued to put in execution But how ill a consultation and how worse a resolution that I should determine to studie Diuinitie more for the nourishing of this my body then for the feeding of others soules How a Gods name should it enter into my imagination to be a Masse-Officiall and not a Masse-priest Or that I should once thinke of becomming a Religious man hauing such a scandalous spirit Accursed I and accursed he who is so vnhappy as not primarily to propose vnto him-selfe the seruice and glory of God And most vnfortunate are they of all others who treat of their owne profit of their preferments of their honours and of the maintayning of their backe and belly by this so worthy and diuine a Calling and that doe not solely and wholly take the Ministerie vpon them for no other end but to be Gods Messengers and to doe him seruice in his Church and that shall not worthily performe that holy function and that shall not desire learning for any other end then to be a light vnto himselfe and vnto others Traytor as I was why did I treat like another Iudas of the selling of my Master And I speake it to all as well as to my selfe that he shall be taken for no other then a Traytor that shall treat of being a Priest or a Fryar hauing no other ayme but to feed his belly cloath his backe and spend lauishly And that father is a Traytor whosoeuer he be that shall enforce his sonne contrary to his owne inclination and liking to take the Ministerie vpon him because his Grand-father his Vnckle his kinsman or his friend hath left him such a Patronage or such an Advouson if his sonne shall in such a time take holy Orders When a father casts about with him-selfe to make his sonne a Fryar or one or more of his daughters Nunnes either because hee hath not store of wealth to leaue them or that he may leaue his other children the richer or for any other worldly causes which cannot be but vaine and idle let him weigh and consider well with him-selfe what hee doth in so doing For it is a great wonder if one of a hundred proue good I say nothing of the Nunnes the most part of them roming and rambling through the world like a companie of vagabonds and Apostata's dishonouring their religion disgracing their habit putting their liues in perill and sending their soules to Hell It is God that must call vs to this holy Calling For it is hee that anoynted Dauid hee that made choyse of the Priests and the Prophets The religious man must be religious meerely for Religions sake for the very loue that hee beareth vnto it This must be the principall end this the substance and all the rest but matter of dependance For it is fit and iust that he that serues at the Altar should liue by the Altar and it were inhumanitie when thy Oxe hath plowed thy ground and laboured hard to tye him to his stall and giue him no meat Let euery one open his eyes and looke well about him before he resolue as I did Let him weigh well with him-selfe what charge he takes vpon him and what a deale of danger hee runnes Let him first aske of him-selfe what moues him to take that estate vpon him For by walking in the darke the eye that sees not must make the feet to stumble The marke whereat a good Priest and an honest religious soule should shoot at must be brighter purer and clearer then the Sunne Let not Parents thinke that for to fill their sonnes bellies they must needs make them Church-men nor let them thinke when they haue a lame weake sickly vnprofitable crumptback't or ill-featur'd sonne to offer him vpon Gods Altar or to make him a Priest For God will haue the best and those that are without blemish for his sacrifice being that hee offered vp the best
your wringing it so hard you shall neuer squeeze any iuyce from thence This put a little more mettall into me and added farther boldnesse to my words So that faigning that we staid behind because we were not able to goe any faster we went discoursing together of our Loues I speake onely of mine owne for shee laught at all that I sayd making her selfe merry therewith the better as shee would haue it so to seeme to intertaine and passe away the time Her mother was a crafty slye subtill thing she sought after sonnes-in-Law and her daughters were desirous of husbands nor did they mislike of the man They gaue me line enough till they had led me along by the nose within their owne doores whither when we were come they made mee enter into their priuate chamber which was very well furnisht they brought me a chayre and would needs haue me sit downe that I might rest my selfe a while and taking out of a Cupboord neere there at hand a boxe of Conserues they brought me with it a iarre of water which was no more then needed for to quench the fire of that poyson which had so scorcht my heart but all would not doe It was now time for mee to take my leaue I did so desiring them to giue mee leaue that I might now and then receiue the like fauours againe from them They told me that they should esteeme it as a great courtesie that I would bee pleased to command this their house and to make my selfe no stranger and that in so doing they should thereby know that my words did correspond with my workes Well now haue I left them and am gone Not so I am neither gone nor yet haue I left them For my heart staid still there with my deare that she might the better imprint in it the liuely image of her matchlesse beauty I had already bid them good night But what a night trow you was this to me How long were the houres How short the sleepes What a confusion of thoughts What distractions of mind What a generall warre What a battaile of cares What a cruell tempest risen on the sodaine euen in the very Port and Hauen where I thought my selfe so surely anchored the skie being so cleare the weather so faire and the Sea so smooth as heart could wish This made me say to my selfe How in so quiet a calme could such a sodaine storme come vpon me without perceiuing its approach or knowing how in the world to prouide any remedy against it I am vtterly lost and vndone for euer so vncertaine is my hope of recouery But now that morning was come and that I had got me to the Schooles when I came thither I knew not whether I were there or no nor did I vnderstand any one word that was read vnto me all the while that the Lecture lasted That done I returned home the cloath was laid dinner brought in I sate downe and offering to eate my meat would not goe downe my morsels remained as it were frozen within my mouth and seemed so carelesse in all that I did that it wrought amazement in my fellow-Students and admiration in our Tutor who thought with him-selfe that this was but an induction to some most grieuous insuing sicknesse Nor was he therein deceiued for this was the disease that afterwards wrought my death He askt me what I ayled I knew not what answer to make him onely I told him That my heart did fore-bode some great mis-fortune that was comming towards me for euer since yesterday my thinkes I feele it sunke downe as it were into my body and so shrunke together that I find my selfe in a manner without a soule All is Lead and lumpishnesse with me that I know not what to thinke of it He told me that I must not be a Mendoçino nor be so superstitious as to admit such idle toyes to my imagination nor to let such abusing illusions to come within me but to keepe them off at armes-end for this ill said he which you presage vnto your selfe is nothing else but the abundance of some ill humour in the body which will quickly be remoued Now for that I already knew that my malady Nullis erat medicabilis herbis was not to be cured by any herbes or other medicinable drugges I dissembled the businesse and that I might not manifest the misfortune that was likely to befall me I sayd vnto him it may be so Sir and I hope it shall be so but in the meane while it paines me much I rose from boord but not from dinner for I had eaten nothing And thence got mee to my chamber where I was so oppressed with sorrow that suffering my selfe to fall downe vpon my bed wrapping my mouth and eyes in my pillow I powred forth teares in abundance burying my sighes within the stuffing thereof What with this and the desire that I had to see the Physician of my soules health I found my selfe somewhat eased So putting on my cloake and putting off my Lecture I went home to her house I may not omit onely in two words to tell you That there is not any exercise but desires a continuance thereof wherein to faile though neuer so little more then ordinary is like to the breaking of a stich in a mans stockin which if it be not taken vp in time will rauell out all the rest With this Lecture that I lost I lost the benefit of all my former tearmes and with them my selfe For one after another I left off to continue them not caring a rush for them Loue had now matriculated me in his Schoole Grace was my Rector her grace my Tutor and her will my exercise I did now desire to heare no other Lectures but those shee read to me nor any other directions saue what her eyes taught me I beganne in ioy but ended in teares I beg'd in iest of them a bit of their beuer but I found in earnest how going crosse my throat I was choaked with this contrary morsell Besides I was poysoned therewith for it had quite taken my vnderstanding from me hauing now beene bereft thereof for the space of three moneths and more it being much pittied but more condemned in me that one that had beene heretofore so studious and so famous a Scholler for his time as there were few better in the Vniuersity should now when hee was come to the vp-shot roue thus at randome losing both him-selfe and that good opinion which the world had of him The Rector when he had notice hereof taking compassion of mee sought to apply some remedy to cure me of this my disease but therein he rather did me hurt then good for seeing my selfe so hardly set vpon on all sides but much more oppressed with mine owne proper passion not hauing any power of resistance I burst forth into open rebellion following my vnruly appetite The bones of reason which like so many props should haue seru'd to strengthen
error For euer since the fall of our first parents with that Leauen of theirs was the whole lumpe and masse of mankind made sowre and corrupted with these their hereditary vices the frame of this humane horologe was so broaken and put out of order that there was not one whole wheele left to answer one another nor any spring remaining whereby to giue it motion But was so vtterly spoiled so rent and torne in pieces and so wholly out of all frame and order as if it had beene a cleane contrary thing so differing was it now from that first setled estate wherein God had created it the alteration of this its truer course arising from mans disorderly disobedience From hence grew that blindnesse in his vnderstanding that forgetfulnesse in his memory that defect in his will that disorder in his appetite that deprauednesse in his Actions that deceit in his senses that weaknesse in his strength and those paines and torments in his greatest delights and pleasures A cruell squadron of sore and fierce enemies who as soone as God hath infused our soules into our bodies incompassing vs on euery side violently set vpon vs and so hotly assaile vs with the sweet enticements of sin faire promises and the false apparances of foule and filthy pleasures that they ouer-throw all goodnesse in vs and so taint and corrupt our soules that they put them quite out of that good course for which they were created So that it may be said of the soule that it is composed of two contrary parts the one rationall and diuine and the other of naturall corruption And forasmuch as the flesh on that side whereto it inclines is weake fraile and so full of imperfection sinne hauing so wholly infected it cleane throughout hence is it come to passe that imperfection and disorder is as it were naturall vnto vs. And such and so great is this extreame that man cannot account any conquest greater then the subduing of his passions Great is his courage whosoeuer he be that can resist them and bring them vnder in regard of that mortall warre and infernall enmity which is and still will be betweene our Reason and our Appetite For our Appetite perswadeth vs vnto that which is most agreeable to our nature to that which doth best like and please vs and to things of that quality which we take pleasure to treat of and haue a desire to obtaine them Whereas on the contrary Reason is like vnto a Schoole-master who that she may the better correct vs goes alwayes with a rod of reprehension in her hand condemning the ill which wee commit But wee like little children play the Trâ—…ants and flye from this Schoole for feare of correction when wee doe amisse and runne a-mouching eyther to our Aunts house or our grandfathers where wee are made much of and suffered to play the wantons Thus often if not alwayes Reason remaineth which ought not so to be in vassallage and slauery to our Appetite Which when it hath once gotten so great a power and dominion ouer vs that of filthy Loue being so vehement so violent so powerfull so proper to this our being so solely and wholly ours so sutable to our disposition so glued and wedged to our nature that to breathe or liue is not more proper vnto vs it must of necessitie follow that it is the hardest passion to represse the terriblest enemy that wee haue to deale withall and who with most strength and greatest force comes vpon vs assaults vs and subdues vs. And albeit it be true that Reason holding as shee doth her ancient place of preheminence is wont sometimes to hinder by her great wisedome and valour the sodaine working of a looke although it haue the power of potent causes to assist and further the same that it may not easily and as it were in a trice rob vs of our will before wee are aware putting a man in an instant besides himselfe yet as already hath beene said for as much as the Appetite and the Will are such sure marke-men so free so Lord-like being neuer yet taught to obey nor acknowledge any Superiour it is an easie thing for them hauing Loue on their side to worke whatsoeuer effects and in such forme and manner as shall seeme best to stand with their owne liking And because likewise there is not any thing which doth not naturally appeterc bonum desire that which is good and that euery action which wee vndergoe is in regard of that good which represents it selfe vnto vs or that happinesse wee finde to be in it wee euermore desire to obtaine the same and ioyne it vnto vs side as they say to side nay wee would if it were possible out of this our earnest desire conuert it and incorporate it into our owne substance From hence then this Conclusion may be gathered That for a man to fall in loue there is no such force or necessitie in it that there should some distance of time interpose it selfe that some discourse ensue thereupon or that there be any election or deliberation had in the matter but that vpon the very first veiw that onely sole single and primary sight there may ioyntly concurre in both a correspondencie or consonancie or as we here in Spaine commonly vse to call it Vna confrontacion de sangre a confronting or conformitie of the blood wherin the starres by a particular influence are wont to worke and doe often moue vs thereunto For being that these beames doe dart themselues by the eyes from the heart they take infection from that which they finde before them especially if those they encounter withall be like vnto their owne and returning presently backe againe to the very selfe-same place from whence they were sent forth as they draw these in with them to the heart so doe they portrait and ingraue therein that fayre obiect which they saw and desired And because it seemeth to the Appetite to be a noble pledge and well worthy the buying at any rate or price whatsoeuer esteeming it as a thing of infinite value it presently enters into treaty how he may come to inioy the same freely offring for it and with a very good will the greatest treasure and riches that hee hath which is his Liberty his heart being made prisoner by that Lord whom himselfe admitted into his bosome And in that very instant that this bonum or this thing be it what it will bee comes to be beloued and entertained by vs it is likewise to be considered that man doth forthwith apply his vnderstanding to esteeme it as its summum bonum or chiefest happinesse and so desiring to haue it conuerted into himselfe is himselfe conuerted into that which he so much desireth Whence it commeth to passe that those very selfe-same effects which may be wrought by length of time getting ground vpon vs by continuation consideration and conuersation so also they may be occasioned in that instant that this contentment
on such as these It is the sonne of Nothing the Child that knowes neither father nor mother the Earth's off-spring beeing raised out of the dust thereof it is a fraile Vessell full of cracks of flawes and of holes vncapable of containing any thing in it that is of any moment or worth Fauour hath indeuoured to mend this broken Bucket and to stop the Leakes thereof with clouts and with rags and putting therevnto the rope of priuate interest now they draw vp water with it and it seemeth to bee very beneficiall and profitable vnto them It is one of Peter the Taylors sonnes whose father howsoeuer he got it were it well or were it ill made a shift to leaue him something to liue vpon Or like vnto that other who by stealing from others got wherewithall to giue and where-with to bribe and suborne These are the men that are honoured now adaies they speake high language and vtter arrogant words and presse into all your great Assemblies and principall meetings as if they were the only men and none but they These now take the vpper hand sit downe first and take place of all men whom heretofore you might haue ranked amongst your Muletters or scarce so good men as they Behold how many good men haue with-drawne themselues from the Court and liue a priuate and retyred life at home How many habits of St. Iago Calatraua Alcantara sowne with white threed How many of the ancient Nobilitie of Zayn Caluo and Nunno Rasura trodden vnder feet Tell me I pray who is that that giues honour vnto some and takes it from other some Marry it is more or lesse wealth O what a braue Canon is this to qualifie a man what an excellent Rector what a learned Schoolemaster How discreetly doe they graduate a man what a good examination doe they take before they preferre any Tell me once more I pray What difference is there in their Obligation between him that cōmeth fairely as thou saidst before by an Office and him that buyes an Office whose money only without any other merit hath inthroned him in the Sancta Sanctorum of the world Whence comes it to passe that the man that is discreet noble vertuous well descended of a sound and sober iudgement long practice more experience a true Master of his Art should by being depriued of his due preferment remaine poore and needy shut vp in a corner excluded from businesse afflicted and peraduenture inforced to derogate from his owne worth and to doe that which is not agreeable to his disposition that he may auoid the incurring of a worse inconheuience Thou hast put too hard a taske vpon me considering that slender satisfaction that I am able to giue thee But I shall tell thee according to my talent and as the poorenesse of my vnderstanding shall giue me leaue When I consider thereon as a thing properly appertaining vnto God whose iudgements are inscrutable and hidden both from men and Angels I shall not inter-meddle or straine my selfe any further therin then the shortnes of my apprehension shall be able to reach vnto Which is That he very well knoweth how to proportion his gifts and to giue vnto euery one so much as is needfull for him for his saluation And therefore when a man shall faile of such or such an Office or misse such or such a preferment God saw it was not so fitting for him for causes best knowne vnto himselfe or for that hee fore-knew that it would be a meanes to worke his condemnation whom he is willing to saue because he hath predestinated him to a better place And this is as much as can be said concerning him who doth not obtaine that which he deserueth But for that Fauorite or person of Power with his Prince that shall either be a blocke in this mans way or strippe him of the Office that he worthily holdeth who is not a Iudge of the inward intentions nor of the hearts of men neither is able to examine them but must goe vpon trust and make his iudgement by externall and outward things which he can only see and know doth often-times tread awry and peruert and wrest things to an ill sense If it may be lawfull for vs to speake in a rusticall phrase applying the language of heauen to that here on earth I say that vpon the margent of this great mans Account God doth as we vse here to doe when we will marke a thing the better and looke more narrowly into it shut one of his eies to make his sight the surer when he mindes to hit the marke hee aimes at I say then I wil demand of these men what cause they had to do this wrong knowing that my threatnings are out against them O ye Iudges of the earth because ye haue iudged vnrighteously I haue prepared for you a hard and insufferable punishment I will reside in the Synagogue of the gods and I will iudge them O what a griefe is it how many thousands of pitties that these men knowing this to be true will aduenture to come before that vpright and true Iudge when the Accusation is certaine which is brought in to condemne them and the restitution now wanting which they ought to make without the which their sinne cannot be forgiuen them and yet would not when time serued take order to make amendment for so foule a fault True it is that peraduenture there were not some wanting that would whisper them in the eare and say Sir you may doe this very well and not sinne it is not a thing that ought to trouble your conscience you did well which is no more then euery wise man would doe were he in your place in bestowing this Office on that kinsman that acquaintance that friend or seruant of yours which are neerest vnto you But to speake the truth thou couldst not doe it for thou didst remoue it from it's right place and put it into that which was vnfit and improper for it Looke ouer thy Cardes a little better thinke well on this businesse and then thou wilt tell me my friend that it was an errour in thee and that thou couldst not doe it And because thou couldst not do◅ it thou didst sinne And because thou didst sinne it was not well done Doe not listen to the words of fooles nor of flatterers in a thing that concernes thee so much as this doth it were better for thee that thou wouldst gird vp thy loynes and looke vnto that which may doe thee hurt and seeke in time to preuent it lest the remedie come too late For there are some Confessors that will giue large Absolutions who are like vnto Taylours who will tell thee that the garment which they haue made for thee fits thee very well but thou knowest better then they whether it wring thee or no whether it be too streight and vneasie for thee and how it sitteth to thy body And God doth permit because
thou didst not seeke after one whilest thou wast liuing and in place of authoritie that should tell thee the truth at the time of thy death when thou art in thy last agonie and anguish of soule thou shalt not meet with that true friend that shall then tell it thee but rather sooth thee vp to thy condemnation Looke about with thine eies open wide thine eares and suffer not these busie Bees of Satan to put honie into them nor there to swarme and in-hiue themselues For these their sweet words will but leade thee on in the high and ready way to damnation But to returne againe vnto these kinde of men in respect of God I doubt not of their punishment And in regard of man I must plainely tell thee that they open the doore to murmuration and giue occasion to the people to speake thereof in publike not sticking to vtter as I said before those ends which I thought should haue beene kept secret taking pittie and compassion of so many merits so ill rewarded and of so dis-proportionable an Exchange as this in seeing the euill by euill meanes to be in highest esteeme and the good by reason of their goodnesse to be excluded and shut out of all But I can assure you that God hath numbred all the haires of their head and will not suffer one of them to fall to the ground Though men therefore may chance to faile them yet let them comfort themselues with this that they haue a good God to friend that will neuer forsake them This is the World and thus things goe I therefore will neither haue Empire nor Dignitie I will not haue Honour I will not so much as once looke vpon it Keepe thy selfe as thou art Guzman continue my honest friend the same man still Let others a Gods name be the Councell of the Common-wealth the Oracles of the State let them neuer thinke vpon thee Enter not into that place whence thou canst not get out when thou wouldst Doe not put thy selfe into that danger which may bring a continuall feare with it Desire not to haue too much lest it chance to be taken from thee nor too little lest thou bee driuen to beg Doe not pretend any thing by way of flatterie Doe not intangle thy selfe in many businesses lest they should disquiet thee Seeke to be the Vsufructuarie and free inioyer of thy life that by vsing of it well thou maist liue safe in thy estate Why shouldst thou keepe a stirre and trouble thy selfe for that which to morrow is to be no more and when it is at the most is of no iong continuance What doest thou or any man else know is become of the Mayor-Domo to King Don Pelayo or of the Chamberlain to Conde Fernan Gonçales They had honour and they held it but neither of them nor that is any memory remaining So shalt thou the next day be forgotten as if thou hadst neuer beene at all Why then is there so much greedinesse so much thirst and so much coile one for his belly for to so great a Vanitie are wâ—… now growne that to eate and waste much is held no small reputation another for his backe and a third for honour No no these things are not for thee and if thou offer to trouble thy thoughts with them thou shalt not liue to be an old man or else thou shalt be old before thy time Leaue leaue off I say the swelling pride of these huge Gyants and thrust them vp against the Walls let them stand there as Bug-beares to fright children as being good for nothing else Cloath thy selfe in the winter with that which may keepe thee Warme and in the Summer with that which may couer thee not going too slouenly nor too pompously rather decently then richly Eate no more then may suffice nature preferring moderation before excesse for whatsoeuer is more then necessary is meerely superfluous For by it neither the rich man liues nor the poore man dies But the diuersitie and abundance of meates is rather a disease then otherwise breeding viscous and slimy humours whence arise grieuous sicknesses and mortall Apoplexies Twice thrice nay foure times happy art thou who risest in the morning when thou wilt and at what houre thy selfe listeth without once thinking of seruing or being serued by any body for although it be a trouble to haue a Master it is also a trouble to haue a seruant as you shall here by and by At noone feed freely dinesecurely runne not vpon the score with thy Cooke nor be indebted to thy Dispensero send not for thy Coales from the Merchants Sellar where they gather wet and moisture in stead where of they will bring thee in dust and stones wherewith thou wilt be coozened for there are more deceits in the world then thou or any man else knowes saue God alone Seeke not to excell in brauerie affect not too much neatnes feare not euery spot that may fall vpon thy clothes be not in loue with rich Imbroderies be not too carefull to keepe nor too fearefull to lose Bee not enuious nor suspicious Let no occasion moue thee to lie Doe not purchase preferment by vndermining of others nor worke not another mans Ruine to worke thy selfe into fauour Thinke it fitter for thee to goe alone then accompanied a quicke then a slow pace rather laughing then weeping eating then dancing without being noted by any That is the best Tauerne to thee where thou meetst with the best Wine And that the best Cookes shop where thou lightest on the best morsell In the Market place thou maist make choice of the best seat and so thou maist the like at all publike Feasts In the Winter get thee into the Sunne in the Summer into the shade Thou maist couer thy Boord according to thine owne minde thou maist make thy Bed according to thine owne liking without paying one pennie either for the making or standing of it And maist choose whether any man shall see thee disquiet thee or contradict thee Keepe thy selfe aloofe from Law-businesses liue a stranger to Sutes Actions free thy selfe from false Witnesses for feare they should part thy goods amongst them and become masters of all that thou hast Let no man be able to aske thee a penny keepe thy selfe safe from Decrees Beware how and whom you trust and vpon what termes but aboue all which will be no small glory vnto thee take heed how thou becom'st a surety for any man Giue no cause to haue any executions come out against thee nor thou to doe the like against others Shunne all contentions and debates and all manner of suites in Law Last of all rest thou satisfied and contented so that nothing may oppresse thee nor breake thy sleepe that thou maist rise betimes in the morning to thinke vpon those things that may turne to thy good by reforming what is amisse All men can not doe all that they would yet our good God is not forgetfull of