capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
owne nature accordinge to the authorytie of the poet affirminge that by loue the rudeman is reduced to a cyuilitie the foole learneth wisedom the cowarde becomes valiaunte and the couetouse nigard settes his purse wyde open to hys frende neyther is there any kinde of curtesye wherwith hee that is in loue doth not participat but who makes an experience of the contrarye I meane without aduise or iudgemente will throwe himselfe hedlonge into the golphe of a folishe and ronning phantasye escapes hardly without the rewarde whiche that frantike passion yeldeth ordenarely to suche as are vnhappelye partakers of suche infection neyther is there any thinge more furthereth the ruyne and dekaie of man then suffriuge the eyes of our vnderstandinge to be seeled with suche ymitate to ymate that as a glott of our gredy desyers whiche nature hathe enioyned to all estates to honour and embrace as a speciall vertue And trulye me thinkes that that folishe and infortunat crewe mighte reserue therrours and destructions of others as speciall pattornes and preceptes to restraine the humor of their owne madnes by the whiche or they be aware they are ledd to the brinke of mortall destruction albeit thindiscretion of that miserable sorte seames nothinge vnlike in comparaison to those that hauinge longe vsed the trade of thefte and robberye and seinge their companions passe by the sentence of a corde lacke grace notwithstandinge to disclaime the wickednes wherin they haue bene nozeled so many yeares neyther is their plage or rather iuste punishmente any thinge inferior for they makinge a chiefe glorye of that whiche is moste imperfecte in loue are eyther so subiecte to dispaire or beastely assotted withe the greedye encownter of the pleasure they fynde that procuring by theyr owne folly and want of order the processe of their fatall sommaunce in the entrey to their felycitye are forced to resigne at one instante their lyfe and loathinge contentmente of lesse contynuance then the paines in loue seame greuous to the mynde that hath y e gift to passe theim ouer by reason And like as a vehement and inwarde greffe of the mynd proceding by the malice of a synister fortune is of such force to close the poares and couduictes of the vitall partes of man that cancellinge the commission of lyfe the soule departes leauinge the body without sence like power I saye hath the vehemencie of semblable gladnes which occupienge all the partes with a generall ioye excedinge the strength of nature makes the mynde insufficent of force to withstande so greate a passion whereby strykinge the saile of lyfe the bodye is seene to vanishe as the candle lackinge waxe or weake or other matter assistinge the flame which giueth light to the beholders wherof we haue diuerse authoryties in the histories of antiquitye as one of the doughters in law to the high priest Helye who hearinge of the death of her husbande the takinge of the arke of the lord ended her lyfe with the dollorous reapport the lyke happeninge vnto her father in law for the ouerthrowe of the children of Israell by the infydelles and vncircumcised in like sorte we haue confirmacion in diuerse prophane discourses of such as haue yelded the ghoste in a traunce of vnreasonable ioye and lawghiuge as Dyagore Rhodiotto the philosopher Chilon who vpon the newes that their children had won the prise at the plaies at Olympus embrased their happye fortune with such exceding gladnes that vpon the place and present they yelded againe their tearme of borowed yeres also a folyshe Romaine woman hearing of the death of her son in a battaile fought against thennemy disgested it with great constancy but seing his safe retorne from the field contrary to her expectacion and former newes she was so assailed with superfluity of gladnes that in place to congratulate his deliuery from the perill of war she dyed in embrasing hym as of a passion of dismeasured contentmeÌ„t which argueth sufficiently the folly of them that in any degre bestowe eyther ioy or sorow so neare their harte that besydes the destruction of the body they become thunnatural morderers of their owne soules wherin w t what enamel so euer they seke to guild colour such vices yet can they not be excused of an humour of madnes proceding of a vaine braine exposing frutes according to y e spirit or guide y e possesseth them neyther is ther any coÌ„mendation at al due vnto such as thorow ympacience giue ende to their lyfe by dispaire with what title or sorname of constancy the fond philosophers of olde time do baptyse those accions of meare fury frenecy wherof as the miserable end of these ii louers yeldes sufficient testymonie dieng both in one hower of diuerse accideÌ„ts the one of a dismeasured ioye the other of a passion of desperatte sorowe so because the discourse is of vndowted troth I wishe it might moue credyt to the reador and councell to al men to eschew the like inconuensence deryued of semblable occasion THE LONG AND LOYall Loue betwene Lyuyo and Camylla together with their lamentable death the one dying of a passion of ioye the first night he embraced his mystres in bedde the other passed also the same way as ouercome wyth present sorow for the deathe of him whom she loued no lesse then her selfe ⧠⸫ AT such tyme as ALEXANDER the sixt surnamed BORGIA supplied the papistical seate at rome dwelt in SYSENNA a yong gentleman called LYVYO with his syster CORNELIA neare vnto whome was the house of a knight bering y e name of RENALDO hauing a son called CLAVVDIO with a daughter CAMYLLA which two yong dame selles by reason of neighborehead and contynuall norryture together duringe their infancye reteyned a league of suche mutuall famylyaritie and conuersacioÌ„ y t their socyetye with often entercourse together seamed no lesse then if nature had made theym the children of one father wherein as Râ—NALDO and his wife reioysed not a litle on the behalfe of their doughter for that CORNELIA was accompted to excede the rest of yonge Ladies in honest behauiour and gyftes of vertue So if it had not bene for a froward disposicion in CLAVVDIO who grudged without cause the companye of LYVYO this conuersacion and haunt of the girles had seamed of easier continuance Albeit as his presence gaue often ympedimente to their metinge so his absence restored their enterviewe in such sorte as he was no soner departed to parforme his fathers affaires at Rome or els where but his syster forgat not to visit her deare CORNELIA passinge theyr pettie follyes and recreacions of honest delyte most coÌ„monly at the lodginge of LYVYO for that there was neither awe of father nor other authoritie to controll their exercise which for the most part was every after none to dresse fyne banquetes striuing to excede one an other in curiositye and conning with a thousande other conceytes and merye chaâ— of huswiferie which seamed of no lesse pleasure to theim
endowed me with the gyfte of thanckfull contentacion that my estate with contynuall vse of honest trauaile ys no lesse plesannt to me theÌ„ y e dilicate order ful of superfluite of vaine pompe vsed by great Ladyes now a dayes wantonlye norished in pallays and places of princes beynge more redy to roÌ„ne vnder the danger of a thowsand torments yeldyng death hys tribute with the sacrifyce of my bodye then to laye my chastitie in pawne as you perswade me for thinlarging y e hard condicion of my selfe or state of my poore parents neither haue I hetherto felt any mocioÌ„ of that follie which you call loue and muche lessemene I to make anye experience of his flatteryng offers howe great so euer they appere wherfor let yt suffice you to haue broached the vessel of your villanie afore her that in respecte of your yeres is coÌ„tented to comytt your filthye message to scilence wyshyng you hensfurth to broake in matters of more honestie or at y e least to seke to solicit such as are as careles of theyr honour as you redy to seduce it for my part I haue weighed min honour and lyfe in indifferent ballaunce with intent to exchange both the on and the other at equall price and as for the galland y t sent you he makes true declaration of the loue he bears me in semyng more desyerous to enioye the pleasure of my bodye then carefull to preserue myne honour or preueÌ„t the dauÌ„ger of my soule you as y e vnnatural bourreaâ— suborned to subuert the chefest ornameÌ„t of my life are coÌ„tent to become his messenger and minister and vnder the coollor of deuacion to communicate matters of bawdry so for his part let him kepe that he hath won and pay hym selfe with y e tribut of his own folly for I am not only resolued heÌ„sfurth once to speke to hym but also to shonne the place wher he is as a venemous serpent and rauenous wolfe rather desyerous to make marchaÌ„dise of my body then careful any waye of my reputacioÌ„ wishyng you also for end to depart y e place least your long taryeng yelde you the due reward of your trauaile whiche sharpe repuâ—se and last threates so amased the bawde nipped her in y e head y t although she wer more excelleÌ„t in y e gyfts of an oratour then beloÌ„ged to one of her trade yet durste she neyther truste the smoth and sugred stile of her tounge in excusinge the cause of her comming nor seme eftesones to credite the fynes of her wytt in deuisyng newe charmes to enchaunt the pudicitie of the mayde but as one no lesse ashamed of that she had don then fearynge to be discouered and committed to shame retyred with lesse noyse theÌ„ ioye of her message leuynge Iulya reioysyng the goodnes of her Fortune that had delyuered her so saffelye from the perils of so greate a mischiefe persuadynge her selfe hensfurth to vse the pollycye of the serpent in stoppynge her eares leaste with the assistaunce of time and libertie to here her speke she might unhappely fal into the daunger of her charme wherin she semed to obserue y e rule of wisdoÌ„ which bidd all women of honest parte the cacquett or companye of theÌ„ that go about to corrupte their chastetie seinge that she y t willingly admittes listeneth to the infectious that of such deuouring cater pillers semes in y e iudgemeÌ„t of y e world to be of disposition redy to obey their loare and what greate battery nede we to beate that fortresse whose captaine demaunds a parley and seweth for composition but what was the passion all this while of the poore Ferrarois of not such as commonly is incident to them that languishe of the lyke desease for waftinge indifferently betwene hope and dispaier he semed more redye to incurr the daunger of the on then hable to conuert the benefyte of the other into a helpe for himself wherin he was the rather furthered by the reporte of his bawde who denied to perform any ê‘te of her promise and lesse hable to answere his exspectation retorned as it wer w t a flea in her eare being no less ashamed of y t she had don theÌ„ doubtful to procede any further semed w t y e report of her colde successe to pronounce the extreme sentence finall arrest of his life but loue who first stirred vp the humor of his folly vndertaking to be his guide during y e conueigh of this buysines wolde not leue him alone in the middeste of his pagaunte without sufficiente matter to treate vppon neither thought he it time to present the catastrophe or dismiss him froÌ„ the stage till he had plaied the vttermost acte of his folly wherfore fedyng the fondling with vaine suggestioÌ„ dandlynge him stilw t dyuerse arguments and likelyhodes of good successe offred therwith the assistaunce of a new deuise which was that seing praiers could not preuaile nor importunityes take place y e fraÌ„ke offer of his coÌ„tinual seruice not only refused but resolued her so depely in the disdaine hate of his remeÌ„brance that she abhorred his coÌ„pany no lesse then the preseÌ„ce of the Cockatrice or baselyke serpeÌ„t he shold retire to thatteÌ„pte of money as a sure helpe to supplie y t weakenes of his former deuises whose force albeit is so great y t of it selfe it is hable to pearce the strongest tower of a kyngdom being the chefest engin as the poets faine that opened Iupiter the doare of the brasen tower wherin the faier doughter of Achrises was curiously kept yet hath it no power to approche the pallais of vertue and lesse hable to inuade or make any breache into the hart confirmed in pure chastitie wherof our poore Iulya hath left an vndowted example to all degrées of future succession for she resolued wholy in y e true ymitacioÌ„ of vertu reiected al offers of filthy gaine accoÌ„pting the contentment of the mynde to excede al the riches of the world neyther thought shée her worthy of due veneracion nor méete to be admitted in the feloshypp of the tryed sorte that with aconstaÌ„t profe of their faith do not make their chastitie of as greate admiration as the frugilitie of man semes great in doating vpon a beautie that fadeth as a shadow and of lesse continuance then a flower but nowe to your Vallett of chamber who somwhat reuyued with a new hope of goodlucke in the sequele of this second deuise preferred yt ymedyatly to execucion and encoraging the bawde with the offer of his hope instructed her eftesones with new termes more vehement to perswade then likely to spede and so dismissing this seconde embassage commites her to the goodnes of fortune here mother bée loden with money Iewels retires again to her former trade of shame wher marching with no lesse corage then hope of good spede thought her selfe armed w t sufficieÌ„t wepons to enter the fortresse and to put the prisoner into the
assailed by the other who perswading her to scilence said her brauery was to great for one of her calling and that they came not thither to take pitty of her complaints neither shold she escape so good cheape as she thought she desired theÌ„ to abstein from violation of her body geue her what death they thought good they excused them selfes of any intent to do mordore only saye they we are com hither to bend you by force that will not bow by any entreatye wherefore if you thincke you haue any wronge referr the cause to the longe contynuance of your crueltie which is now at point to be reuenged pytty it was to heare the dolorous tunes of the poore maide with the miserable skrikes which she thrue vpp into the ayre to witnes her innocencye wherein shee contynued wythout any eccho of reschewe til y e detestable pallyard had spoyled the flower of her virginitie and then he begaÌ„ to perswade her to pacyeÌ„ce willing her her eafter not to become so curious of her chastitie nor refuce to admit y e offer of his freÌ„dshipp wherof he promised so largly that if she wold he wold take her from her father and kepe her at his charges presenting at thinstaÌ„t a purse ful of money willing her thensfurth to caste awaye all cause of care and dispose her selfe onlye to cherishe and make much of the rest of her life for the whiche saith he you shal fynde me as careful as you shal thinke conuenieÌ„t and if hereafter you haue a desyre to mary doubt not to repose your selfe therin vpon me for I wil so wel prouide and assiste you wyth so good a porcion that the same shal be plentifull inoughe to susteine you and releue the needfull condicion of your parentes but she no lesse loathing the offer of his filthy promise then detesting the villen that wold not cease yet to corrupt her hauinge by this time recouered her sences defyed him wyth his mynisters of infection saing that although his villeny force hath defiled the chastitie of her body and geuen him theffecte of his lasciuious desier yet shold he neuer be hable eyther wyth his money or other wayes to corrupt the sincerytie of her hart whose innocencye saith she wyl tryumphe ouer thy execrable acte afore him who is to yelde the the due hyer of thy trauaile is it in thy power to satisfie or leue me coÌ„tented y t froÌ„ me which al y t world caÌ„not eftsones restore me No no it is god of whoÌ„ I must claime satisfactioÌ„ in punishing y e two trayterous Borre ans and rauenous spoilers of y e virginitie of me pore wretch who was borne to abyde y e setence of my destinye y e galland thinckyng to appease thextremitie of her passion began to prefer perswacions of coÌ„fort which she defied with such spite and bitter termes of iust reproche against him that lothyng to suffer her eyes to féede vppon him that had infected all the partes of her body tolde him that the only veiwe of his villanous lookes made her forgett all order of pacience which he toke as a comission to depart fearyng withal y t the noyse of her coÌ„plaints might bechauÌ„ce com to y e eares of som that passed y e way who vnderstandyng the discourse of the rape wold make reporte to the bishop whose profession and othe is chefelye to punishe offendours in the like accydentes here the sorowful IVLIA being void of companie sauyng the doleful ecchoes of woodes and ryuers that answered her cryes wyth lyke complaint renewes the warre of her present desaster which tearing her heares without respecte and quarellyng with y e dowery that nature had gyuen her wold gladly haue touched her with ymputacion in makyng her incydent to so wretched a destenye in exclaiming still vppon the malice of her Fortune yf thabundaunce of teares accompayned wyth sighs of pytyfull disposicion hadd not so stopped the course of speche that for the time she was dryuen into scilence and beyng by litte and litle restored againe to the libertie of her tounge and the source of her sorrowe somewhat retyred she made a short inuocacion to God in this sorte oh heuenlye father sayeth she I sée that the rigour of thy iustice hath preuailed aboue the benefytt of thy mercie and that thou doste awarde me this harde penaunce for the punyshment of my faltes passed w t what face alas shal I behold my poore father whose compfort as it consisted in my wel doing so his gréefe wil be without comparison hering of the hard termes of my myschaunce in desolacion shal he knitt vpp the remeynder of his olde yeres that commyng into any place the remembrauÌ„ce of my falte drawing the blood of shame into his face will make him blushe and eschewe the companye wher afor he neded not haue douted to haue marched amoÌ„gest the best and shall I dissemble that whyche I entende not to hydd or kepe it secret that toucheth me so nere No no as thinâ—â—cencye of my mynde is recorded afore god so because the world shall also witnes how clere I was from consente I wil vse no other water to washe away so great a spott then the sacryfice of death which I will followe with no lesse expedicion then the treason of the villaine hath bene cruel in takinge from me that whyche made me to lyue wherwithe dismissing her complaint she ceassed also froÌ„ teares and put herselfe in order to go to the house of her father who by euill â—ucke was not then at home there she puts on the beste garment she had and attyring her self in order to go to some great méeting or banquet shittes the doare of her cotage and leading her yonger syster in her haÌ„d went furthwith to an awnt of hers who as one ouercharged with sicknes and yeres was not hable to sturr out of her bedd affore whome as she was in the middest of the repeticion of her chaunce reueiling the whole order and circumstance of the fact which she cold not do without great effusion of teares for that the very remembrance of the deede restored a freshe alaram of her sorowes she fel sodeinly into a qualme or passion of soundyng wherein she remayned traunced wythout all argument of lyfe til by the helpe of the assistaÌ„ce she was eftsones delyuered to thuse and libertie of her senses when quarelling stil w t the horror of the fact desire to be reuenged by death she seamed to rebuke her owne ymbecillitie and faintnes of corage saing what signe of vertu is this to seame to shrink when argumeÌ„ts of constancy ought chiefly tappere who wyll desire to lyue that hath lost the renoume of honor which ought to be the most precious Iewel and badge of the lyfe or what pleasure is it to possesse the presence of the body alredy spotted with infamye when the soule wery of her habytacioÌ„ is redy to resigne her auncyent aboade what felicitie haue they in lyfe that being
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
the crosse to giue lyfe to theim that were deade in synne and blood sealed the articles of reconcilement and forgiuenes of synners amongest whom as I confesse mine owne abhominacion to excéede the moste haynous offences that euer weare so I humblye craue to bee absolued by the benefit of thy mercie and that thowe forbeare to enter into iudgemēt against my soule respect not oh lord the nōber of my falts for that they excede cōputacion nor deale not with me according to the greatnes of the leaste of theime for that without thassistance of thy speciall goodnes hell is the rewarde and merite of my wycked lyfe whyche I wyshe maye worke a warnynge to all degrées of equall disposition to my selfe that althoughe they féede for a time of a flatterynge pleasure or fauor of this worlde yet seing theyr iniquityes in th ende are discouered by them selues whereby they are sewer to receiue with me the hyer of their euill by an infamous death I wishe them stande in awe of thinfallible iudgement and praye wyth the prophet to participat in the general satisfaction whiche the death of his sonne hath made for all fleshe fallen for want of grace in the fyrst mā whose faultes haue bene alredie purified by the blodd of that most innocent lambe into whose handes I commende my penitent spritt in th ende of whiche prayer he was drawen out of the prison and ledd to the theatrie of publike execution where he receiued the reward of hys badd lyf by a worthie death to the speciall contentement of his father in law and generall ioye of all the Ladyes and gentlewomen of the countrey excepte the miserable wydowe of Chabrie who beinge adiorned and not appearyng accordyngly was condemned and executed by figure accordynge to the custome in Fraunce in that behalfe whereof she was made to vnderstande by som secret spye who also warned her of the diligent inquisicion and meanes that were made to fynde her to th ende iustice mighte pass vppon her wherevppon doubtyng eyther assurance or sauetye at Pogetto went to Ieyues with one man only called Iacques Pallyero who some what Ielouse of the cōming awaye of his mystres or rather fearinge in the ende to be partaker of the punishment of her wicked lyfe made no conscience one daye as she was in her deuocions in the churche to robb her of euery part and parcel of her money and Iewels with other necessaryes sauing suche as she ware about her which was such a corsaye of secret and frettynge grief for the time that she was at point to admitt thoffer of dispaire albeit beinge alredie entred into repentance and iudginge that misfortune of litle or no value in respect of thinfinit abuses of her former time gaue God thankes for his visitation and entring into deuise for meanes to support the residue of her yeares addressed her to an auncient wydowe to whom as she accomptes her present necessitye proceding of the villanie of her man without any mencion I am sewer of her detestable trade passed or cause of her present beinge there so she founde suche fauor in this matrone that in respect of her showe of honest behauiour and grauitye arguinge her discent from nobilitee she committed vnto her the gouernement bringynge vp of her doughters in whiche trade she ended veraye porelye albeit with more honor then she deserued her vnhappye dayes Here you sée the miserie of this wretch who earst hath commaunded ouer a howshould of seruantes gentlewomen at her becke is nowe brought to lyue vnder the awe of one inferiour to her house and calling and who passing her youth with all pompp and delicat norriture nowe drawinge to th ende of her yeres is forced to an experience of continual exile subiect to the wil and pleasure of an other prest as she did indéede to dye out of her countrey without the companye or compfort of any her frendes to cloase her eyes or couche her boanes in other shryne or sepulchre then by thappointment of straungers wherein certeinelye appeareth rightlye the infallible iudgemēt of God who forsaken of suche as yelde honor to their proper desyers suffreth theime also to fall in suche sorte that in the ende they are constrained to confess their faultes with detestatiō of their synne when they féele his iuste vengeance powred vpon theim like as it happened to those miserable or rather morderyng louers whose ende notwithstandyng I accompte veray happie seing they were not voyede of repentance in the last hower and moment of lyfe and trulye he is sufficientlye blyssed the eyes of whose minde in the laste and fatall hower bée not dymmed wyth the darknes of infidelitie and obstinate desperacion seing it is vpon the bodye soules of suche that God thondereth fyer of his anger and flame of immortall furye Beholde heare the ende of thimpudent loue of these adulterers the frutes of so detestable a trée the fortune of suche falsours of their promise and othes made in the face of the church and heare you may sée the commoditie that commonly attendes the villanie of suche as vniustlye spill the blood of their neighbour seinge that God hath willed by his diuine prouidence that tooth for toothe and eye for eye be taken from hym who wythout the consent of the lawe offendeth his brother in whom appeareth the liuelye ymage of oure sauiour who hath also forbidden by speciall inhibicion the violacion of blood by morder euery thoughte and effect of adulterie and whordome but chieflye the vnhonest embracinge of the wyfe of our neygbour who once vnited with the bodie of her husbande whereby of ij moyties are made one whole and entyer hart dothe abuse and dishonnor the bonde of their sacred league yf she but wishe and muche more enioye the companye of any other in vnlawfull sorte FINIS The argument AMongest all the passions which nature sturreth vp to disquiet the mind of man there is none of such tyrany or kepes vs more in awe then the detestable humor of couetousnes and raging appetyt of whoredome wherof as both the one and the other engender frutes of semblable furie and expose effectes of equal euill So he is of treble commendacion that being possessed of the firste dothe rather abandon his goodes then in pursewinge the suggestion of his insatiable desier semes to procure willingly his owne torment in this world with assured daunger to his soule in the day of general accompt and vanquishing the second which earst had thon y awe and dominion of him he leaues a glorious remembrance of ymortalitie to his name and dischargeth his conscience of a heauie and yrkesome burden But if the desier to wynn great treasures makes the noble mynd forgetful of the regarde of his honor with constraint to do things not worthie any way of the title of vertue or if according to virgil in his second Eneydos this gredy thirst after golde is of force to corrupt the hartes of mortall men and fill
rather perswaded my deare brother for that the tearmes of thy laste requeste dependinge vpon yssues of extremeties do argue bothe a iustice to performe thy desyer and an incyuilitie in the in makinge so vnreasonable a demaunde the one chalenginge a consente in me by thympression of nature and bonde of dutifull zeale on my behalfe towards the the other charginge the wyth iniquitie for the respecte of that whiche thou wouldest haue me to do But seinge euerye requeste craueth a retorne of aunswere and the greater qualytie or condition the cause is of the greater delyberacion oughte wee to vse â—â—iefelye where it ymportes eyther thabsolute breache or firme confirmation of the league of lyneall consanguynitye I beseche you graunte no lesse patience to the wordes of my replie then I haue bene contented to fauor your vehement protestacion with a dollorous scilence neyther let me any longer inveighe in myne aunswere then I shall seame to preferre good reason to iustefye my iuste complaint the cause wherof doth marche with more alarams of annoye thorow all the partes in me then if I wer presently pinched with the most greuous tormentes of the worlde seing that my life with therposition of the same is nothing in respecte of that which thy ymportunities do labour to set abroche and put in vent for the onely satisfaction of a prodigall liberalitye for if the price of my life woulde suffice for the raunsom of myne honor and appaisement of thy appetit thou couldest no soner ymagyn thy contentement then the same shoulde be exposed on thy behalfe neyther wolde I take halfe the tyme to performe it which I haue vsed in making y t the promise I thought alas the late delyuery of my brother had brought to vs all an vndowted dispense of further trouble and that he had buryed in the pitt of his ymprysonmente all occasions of further disquiette And who wolde haue iudged but in the laste assalte and vniuste offer of vndeserued deathe fortune had spitt the vttermoste of her poysened malice and that in deuestinge herselfe frome the theatrye or throane of rigorous crueltie she had also broken in peces the bloddye arrowes wherewith of so longe time shee hathe persecuted our desolate howse pronounced trewyce at last to the wearye miferies of the wretched state of the MONTANINS But alas vnhappie creature that I am I fynde nowe our destenie is rather deferred then our miserye at an end seing y t that vniuste goddes of vnworthy reuenge and moste cruell stepmother inuadinge mee wythe more fury then affore doth threaten my yonge and tender yeares with more perentorye plages then euer shee thondred vppon any of my former race for if euer shee pursewed oure fathers graundefathers or anye predecessours with mortall affliction or intente of vtter ruyne it is nowe shee hathe chosen her tyme to put to her laste hande to the extreame extirpacion of the miserable reliques and remeyndor of oure pore house eyther by the wilfull losse and perpetuall exile of y e my deare brother or vntymely death of thy dysolate ANGELIQVA who canne not make prostitucion of her chastetye wythout the sacrafyce and oblation of her miserable life what is destenye if this be not the consent and iudgement of the heauens w t resolutioÌ„ to subplaÌ„t y e stock graâ—tes of our house seing y t I a simple girle w tout force voide of assistance of age or experience is constrained to admytt th one of two euils whereof the choise oughte and is hable to amase the moste wise and experienced creature that this day enioyeth the benefytt of mortall life alas my harte faileth me and reason forsaken and flede from me hath lefte my minde ballauncinge in suche confucion and contraryetie of thoughtes that beinge broughte to thertremetye of two distresses of equall perill and indifferente terror I doubte whether to coÌ„mit my life to shorte and sharppe penaunce or prolonge my dayes in pyninge dollor and secrete care of minde for the sentence which thou haste pronounced of both our estates is eyther to make a seperation by extreme exile of my brother who is no lesse deare in my harte then the ten drest part of myne eye and in whom nexte after GOD I haue reposed the whole assuraunce of my hope and consolacion of life or els in conseruinge him I see my selfe at pointe to bee constrained to make marchandise I can not tell in what sorte nor for what price of that precious treasure whiche once loste is not to be reclaimed by any meanes and for the garde wherof al women of vprighte minde honoring vertue or desierous of reputacion oughte rather to expose theimselues to a thousande mortal perilles and hazardes of deathe if nature and life were hable to abide soo manye encownters then to suffer one spotte of infamie to staine or corrupt this precious ornament and gifte of chastitie which as it is the only support and decoration of y e life of an honest woman so for a contrarye she that loseth the possession of so riche a Iewel or deuesteth her selfe of the title and crown of so great a glorye althoughe she seame to liue and kepe place amonge other creatures yet is she dead in effecte and her life recorded in the booke of blacke defame as a witnes againste herselfe in the latter days and in the meane tyme a continual reproch and obiection of shame to such as she leaueth to succede her in kindred or name How can that Lady or gentlewoman marche amongeste the crewe of vertuous dames whose honor is eyther in doubte or reputacion in dekaye by the losse of her honour but that the blod of shamo appearyng in all parts of her face wil not only discouer her faulte but makes her wearye of her lyfe by the remorce or remembrance of so foule a forfaiture How could the doughters of the Emprour AVGVSTVS seame iustly meritorious of the title of true nobilitie or worthely deserue to be called the children of such a father after their sondry villaines and lasciuious trade of lyuing hadd dispoyled them of the giftes and ornamentes of vertue presentyng theim to the eyes of all the world as creatures not worthy to haue the common ayre to breath vpon them what honor hadd FAVSTINA in wearyng the Imperial crowne vpon her head seyng she had loste the crowne and garlande of chastetie by her disordred and dishonest life Sewer she ought not to enioy the breath of lyfe nor participati with the presence or benefitt of the earth that makes lesse stoare of her honestie then of the deareste part belongynge to her soule or bodye neyther is shée worthie to be admitted amongest the felowshipp of vertues Dames that departeth with so precious an ornament at other priceâ— then the exchange or loasse of her lyfe notwithstandynge the writers of former tyme haue done manifest wronge to diuerse simple women whose vertue in preseruinge their honest name with true title of pudicitie deserueth rather an euerlastynge remembrance
thy will gyuynge the ful commission to dispose of this pore carkasse at thy pleasure make a present of it to suche as thou accomptes thy selfe so greatly indebted vnto only I am to warne the of one thing wherin thou canst not note me of any mislike by iustice because y e integritie vertue of my intent defends me froÌ„ imputacion y t waye which asso I giue the absolute assurance to performe that is being once discharged of thy authoritie thou shalt vse no more power to restraine me froÌ„ doinge the thing which my minde hath alredye decreed protesting vnto the by the right hande of hym that gouerneth the vniuersal globe that as no man shal touch ANGELIQVA but in sorte order of mariage so if I be committed to a further force thou al the worlde shal perceiue that I haue a hart wil enharden thies handes to make a sacrifice of my life to the chastetie of those noble Ladyes whiche heretofore haue rather desyred to dye then liue with a note of infamie or dishonour for as my soule shal neuer stande in hazarde of grace by the villany of any acte which my bodye shal commit by free consent euen so if this carkasse be forced to violacion I doubte not but the integritie of my minde wil purchasse a priuiledg againste all purgatorie of my soule witnessing in the other worlde myne innocencie and inuincible hart wherewith she renewed the alaram of her sorowe with a freshe supplie of sodaine teares with suche abundaunce and impetuositie of dule that a man woulde haue thoughte that the whole humour and moyste partes of her braine had bene drained and dried vp by the surges of continuall teares whiche ceassed not to fal froÌ„ her waterie eyes her brother for his part albeit he greued with the desolation of his chaste syster yet the â—oye he conceiued in her present consent to his demaunde toke awaye the passion of that sorowe felynge as it were some secret instinct or fore warnyng of the happye successe effect of the liberal offer of ANGELIQVA to whom he excused his importunitie in some sorte after this maner I was neuer so gredie of life saith he but I could be content rather to renounce nature and dye then to solicite the in any respect whiche mighte bringe thy honor or reputacion in peril of infamous interest neyther would I lyue to se and muche lesse be partaker of the thinge that anye waye seames to tourne thee to displeasure whiche thou shouldest alwayes haue founde by effect and touche of finger if this liberall curtesye of our enemye had not procured me to wrest the to that which honestie denieth the to graunt I vnhable to demaunde without great wronge to thy vertue no lesse preiudice to mine owne honor And as the feare I haue to be noted of ingratitude hath taken away al respects of honor or honestie to vs both so the vertue noble hart of ANSEAMO doth not only offer an assured argumeÌ„t of hope but also presentes absolute cause of firme belefe that the only displeasure thou shalte finde in this enterprise will appeare when thou art firste presented vnto him For it is not possible he shold vse villany on the behalfe of her the onely regarde of whose loue hath made him make no coÌ„science to hazarde the displeasure of his parents chief frendes not refusing withall without sute or importunitie to delyuer him whome he hated had power to put to what vengeauÌ„ce he wold Here may be noted thoperacion of two extremities of seueral dispositions natural zeale fraternal dutie quarellinge wyth womanly shame raison mentaining coÌ„tencion with in her self ANGELIQVA knewe coÌ„fessed that her brother dyd no more then he oughte that she was also leuiable to the same bond obligation of dutie and on the other part thestimacioÌ„ of her honor with regard to defende her chastetie supplaÌ„ted such dutifull respectes of nature forced her to an integritie of iudgement in that which she accompted both vniust vnlawful wherupon resoluing to obserue both the one and the other seame chiefly to be thankeful to the demande of her brother determined to discharge him of the debte towardes his long enemy late frend with intent notwithstaÌ„ding rather to die by the stroake of her owne handes then villanously to loase the flower of that which made her lyue famous of greater renowme then the moste part of the ladies of that citie But the vertue of this SALYMBINO is of more rare singularitie deserueth a greater coÌ„mendacion then the continencie of CYRVS sometime king of PERSIA who â—ering a force of inâ—ysement to lorke vnder the flattering beautie of the faire and common PANTEA wold neuer suffer her to be brought to his presence leaste her wanton regardes shoulde make him abuse the renowme of his auncieÌ„t honor breake the sacred deuocioÌ„ which all men ought to vse in mariage w t violacion of his faith confirmed by former vowe to his wyfe For ANSEAMO enioyeng the presence with free coÌ„mandement ouer her whom he loued no lesse then his owne life did not only abstaine to abuse the bountiful gifte of his fortune but also declared an effect of more nobilitie vertue of mind then y e saied CYRVS as you may note in the next acte of this historie atteÌ„ding his present discouerie for as the Montanyn his sister had deuided their deliberacioÌ„ into certaine points with abrigement at laste of their longe discourse that the faire ANGELIQVA had staied the source of her teares with expectatioÌ„ of the ende of that which they had but nowe begoÌ„ ANSEAMO repaires from the contrey to his pallais in the towne wherof at viij of the cloke in the euening Don Charles receiued aduertisement and without delaye of further time willed his sister to attire her selfe in the best order she could with whom and onely one man to cary a lanterne of slender lighte they went to the lodging of SALIMBYNO whose seruant by chaunce encountred them at the pallais gate of his maister not without astonishment to see them there with desier to speake with Seigneur Salymbyno who vnderstaÌ„ding what companie the MONTANYN brought with hym was not forgetful for his part to discende with expedicioÌ„ hauiÌ„g caried afore him .ij. stafftorches geuing light til he came euen to the gate where omitting no kinde of curtesye in receauing y e brother he was barred as it seamed to expose any shew of seruice on the behalfe of her whom he chiefly desiered to honor but standing as it were a maÌ„ enchaunted or some Hermit in expectation to heare the aunswere of his oracle was no lesse astonied with the viewe of his newe gestes then if he had sodainly dropped out of the cloudes which coÌ„fusion trouble of mind was immediatly espyed of DON CHARLES who as he imagined without great studie that the presence beautie of his sister sturred vp y e perplexitie
helpe in mortall distresse it is tyme nowe good madam to conuerte your Auncient crueltie into an humour of compassion both to defende your self from thymputacion of a tyrant and my lyfe from a wretched ende of miserable dispair ceasse hensfurthe to dissymule thuttermost of your rigour or drop of present grace seinge that both the one and the other hath indiffrent power to releue my distresse eyther by death in denieng me your fauour or contynuance of longer lyfe by impartyng your specialle grace come cruell misters and see thy vnfortunate LIVIO without hart hope or argument of longer breathe yf by a promisse of thy good will thou breathe not an ayre of freshe consolacion and by the sommaunce of thy worde reuoke my dyeng mynde from thys tombe of myserable dispaire where in I feele my self so tormented with thofficers of deathe that nature ceassyng to supplie my weary partes with force I fynd an impossibilitie in my tonge to obey any longer the desyers of my hart wherewith his breath began to drawe short staying the course of further speche yf not that in entryng into hys fatall traunce he exposed certeine dolefull groanes whyche caused bothe the younge Ladies to Ronne in haste to the succour of the patient whome they founde stryuinge with thextremetie of hys laste pange albeit not without some litle perye of breathe whyche he seamed to reserue wyth greate difficultie whereuppon CAMYLLA seynge a prouffe of his constancie euen to the laste moment and hauynge but one meane to releue hys traunce made no conscience to lett fall her rosye and courrall lyppes vppon the mortifyed mouthe of her diynge LIVIO who receyued suche present consolaciō by thys offer of fauour vnloked for that y e force of nature and vitall strengthe ready to depart out of euery vayne of hys bodye retired to theyr auncient places wherewith he vsynge the benefytt of his fortune forgatt not to embrase his Ladye with an infinite of kysses whereof shee restored hym a double interest albeit because he shoulde make no greate proffytt of thys soddayne courtesye and to preuent with all a suspicion of lyghte behauiour in her self she vsed her accustumed wysdome entering into familiar conference in thys sort I hope SEIGNEVR LIVIO you will not conuert thys compassion whych I haue vsed in the rappeale of your mortall farewell into any synister opinion of the diminucion of thintegretie of CAMILLA who as longe as she lyueth will so stande vppon the garde of her honour and honest renowme that no degree shall haue iuste cause to reprehende the leaste fauor shee extendes to any man in whyche conceyte I am also content to impart a credyt to your loyaltie perswadynge the same to bee without fiction whereof I am no lesse glade then I hope the loue whyche youe beare me is chaste and of honest intent respectynge an ende of sinceritie for yf I sawe any lykelyhodd to the contrary and that a dyseordinat wyll did guide your desyer and were the cause of your passion assure your selfe I woulde make lesse conscience to committe me to the mercye of the moste horrible tourmentes in the worlde eye and perill of present deathe then to lease anye parte of that whyche makes me marche without blushynge amongest the beaste of oure contrey in whyche respect wyth full perswacion of a sincere simplicitie in your loue I can not but retourne you a semblable fauour with absolute assuraunce from thys instaunte of such firme affection and zeale as any ladye oughte to impart to hym who seekes her frendshyppe in sorte of honeste and lawfull mariage neyther shall yt dekaye after theffect of desyer be parformed nor dymynishe by any synister accident vntill the fatall sequestracion of our sowle and bodye whereof lette vs vse wisdome in the conueyghe of suche affaires as maye bee taken bothe in good and euyll parte to th ende that the maiestye of the hyghest beyng not offended our honour fall not into the slaunder of the worlde wherein for a first charge to bee comitted to your diligence and with all to prefer an assured effect of the vehemencie of your affection towardes me dispose your self to demaunde me of my Father whose consent you shall fynde me to confirme in such sorte as your selfe shal deuise Arme your selfe then with compfort and retire to healthe at the request of her who takynge no pleasure in solitarie regardes wisheth you to reserue this precious flower of your youth for other exercises then to wast with passions of desperacion no lesse enemies to the strenghte of the bodye then hurtefull to the healthe of the sowle and seynge besides that in the recouery of you consistes the healthe of your syster suspende no longer the consolacion of her and contentement of your selfe and me who in attendynge your expedicion to procure the goodwill of my father will dispose my selfe in the meane while to bee thankefull vnto you any waye wherein myne honour and honestye will iustifie my doynge whiche laste wordes seamed of suche operation in the traunsed mynde of LIVIO that discharged as it were of a perillous vision in a dreame lyfted vp hys eyes and handes towardes heauen yeldyng honour to the goddes for hys happye encounter and kyssynge the white and delycate hande of hys newe mystresse he forgatt not to gyue her suche humble thankes as the greatenes of hys felicitie required whych seamyng to hym to excede the compasse and power of fortune iudged it rather the vertue of a dyuyne miracle then an effect mortall for that in so soddayne amoment he was acquited of so perentory a daunger assuring her that assone as health and strengthe of body woulde assyste the desyer of his mynde he would performe her comaundement in demaundynge her fathers consent wherein he hoped to delay no long time for that he felte a wonderful approche of health by the viewe of her presence in his late last storme of afflictiō I wold do no lesse saith she then yelde you soccours in so great an extremitie both to delyuer my selfe out of payne in seinge you passioned and also to qualifye the greffe of my deare companion your syster to whom you are also bounde in some sorte to be thankeful for my commynge hether For albeit my conscience sommoned me to a compassion of your torment with desier to yelde you the due hyer and consideraciō of the honest loue you beare me yet y e regarde of mine honour deniynge me to visite you seamed an impediment to theffect of that wherunto I was bounde by so many duetifull merites prayinge you for ende to excuse that whiche is past and pardon me for the present in that I can not assiste you with longer companye persuadyng thy selfe my deare LYVIO that althoughe my bodye muste supplye an other place to coullour the trafficque of our loue and preuent suspicion yet thou hasts made suche a stealth of my hart that the same will not fayle to kepe the companye in my absence wherewith takynge her leaue
that we seale tharticles of the contract wyth a ful consommation of the secret ceremonies in mariage bothe to take awaye all occasion of offence and also to mortifye the malice of my brother maugre his hart wherin sayth she beinge fully persuaded of youre consente to my proposition and for that in cases of loue delayes and longe consultation bée hurtefull and stâ—rre vp causes of displeasure to the hartes of suche as be striken with the same disease wherof the contrarye the reste of oure humaine affaires require a maturitie of councel to th ende the successe may aunswere therspectation of the parties so I wishe you to attende the benefyt of time this euenynge I meane at the hower of supper when men are gyuen least to suspicion you faile not to come in as secret maner as you can to the gardeine gate wher my woman shal be readye to conueigâ—e you into my chamber to th ende we maye there take aduise of that which we haue to do wherunto LIVIO was not curious in consent and lesse vnmindeful to yelde her the choice of a thousande thankes for offringe the priuiledge which he doubted to demaunde giuyng her assuraunce to vse suche exact wisdome in the conueyghe of so secret a misterie that ARGVS himselfe if he were vpoÌ„ earth shold not descrye his coÌ„ming much lesse any be pryuye to the daunce but such as performed the rounde wherin he was not deceaued for as he was the firste so shee failed hym not at the cloase and bothe theyr miseries of equall qualitie in the ende like as it happenethe often times that those amarous bargaines redoundes to the harmes of suche as bee the parties who albeit do alledge a certaine respect of honestie in theyr doinges by pretence of mariage yet God being the iudge of their offence will not suffer the wronge to the obedience of their parentes in concludyng priuye contractes vnpunished and that wyth suche a penaunce as the remembrance is notorious in all ages But now to our LIVIO who neyther vnmindeful of the hower and lesse forgetfull to kepe appointement attyreth himselfe for the purpose in a nighte gowne girt to hym with a paire of shoes of felte leaste the noyse of his féete shoulde discouer his goinge and for a more honor of his mistres he forgat not his perfumed shyrte spidered with curious braunches accordinge the fansie of his Ladye with his wrought coyffe poudred with diuerse drogues of delicat smell wherewith he stealeth in as secret maner as hée can to the gate of appointement where he founde the guide of his loue whome hee embrased aswell for the seruice he founde in her as also in that she resembled the beautye of his mistres CAMYLLA who after she had taken her nightes leaue of her father and brother with search that euery man was in his place of reste retireth to her chamber with such deuocioÌ„ as commonly they y t fynde themselues in semblable iorneye to worke theffect of such like desir where encountering her infortunat seruant it was concluded to imploye no time in vayne reuerence or idle ceremonies but in a moment they entred their fatal bed together where after certaine amarous threates and other folyes in loue seruyng as a preamble to the part they ment to playe LIVIO entred into the vnhappye pageant of his fatal last pleasure wherin he chaffed hymselfe so in his harnesse and was so gréedie to cooll the firste flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA that whether the passion of ioye preuailynge aboue y e force of the hart and thinner partes smothered with heate coulde not assiste thenterprise accordynge to their office or that he exceded nature in surfettinge vpon his pleasant banquet he founde hymselfe so sharplye assayled wyth shortnes of breath that his vitall forces began to faile him in the middest of the combat like as not longe since it happened to ATTAL VS the cruell king of the HVNES who in y e first nighte of his infortunat mariage in HVNGARYE enforced hymself to so greate a corage in the pleasaunt encounter wyth hys newe wyfe that hys dead bodye founde in her armes the nexte mornynge witnessed his excesse and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of loue whyche also myghte bee the bane of thys LIVIO who respectynge no measure in drinkynge of the delicat wyne no more then yf it had bene but one banquet dressed for hym in the whole course of his lyfe was so ouer charged with desyre in that pleasaunt skirmishe that the conduites of lyfe stoppynge vppon a soddaine barred to adde fourther strengthe to hys gredye appetyt wherevppon he became without m ocion or féelinge in the armes of CAMYLLA who féelynge hym without sence and that he seamed more heauy and rude vppon her then affore dowted a trothe wherin also she was fully satisfyed by the lyght of y e candle which she caused her chamberiere to bringe to the bedde syde where vewinge the dead bodye of him whom she loued no lesse then her self and iudgyng the cause as yt was in deede entred ymedyatly into suche a mortall passion of dollour that albeyt she woulde haue exposed some woordes of compassion on the behalfe of the pytefull accident yet féelyng a generall dymynucion of force thorowe all her partes by thynnundacion or waues of soddaine sorowe she founde her tonge not hable to supplye the desyer of her hart whych wyth the consent of the reste loathynge the vse of longer lyf resigned her borowed tearme to the fates fallynge at thynstant without sence or féelynge vppon the dead body of hym whom shee accompted a dutye to accompanie in the other worlde aswell as she delyted in hys presence durynge their mutuall aboade in thys miserable valey A happye kynde of deathe yf wee had not to consyder the perill whyche attendes suche wretches as hauing no meane to performe theffect of their pleasure but by vnlafull stealthe are so franke for the shortnes of their tyme that in satisfynge the glot of their gredye appetit they make no conscience to sacrifise ther owne lyfe but yf wee passe furthe in the viewe of these offences we shall fynde a derogacion of the honour and integretye of the mynde with a manifest preiudice and hazarde to the healthe of the sowle whyche makes me of opinion that yt is the most miserable ende that maye happen to manne the rather for that the chyefest thynge whyche is regarded in the putsuet of that entreprise is to obeye the sommance of a bestely and vnbridled luste of the fleshe wherein I wyshe oure frantike louers whoe makynge contemplacion vppon causes of loue accomptes yt a vertue to ende their lyues in thys LASCIVIVS bonde of pryuye contract to refrayne that whyche is so indifferent hurtefull bothe to the sowle and body seynge theire death is not onelye without argument of desperation but also their sowles moste sewer to receiue the guerdon of cyuil morder whyche we oughte to feare and eschewe as neare as wee
bodye being the house or harborer of the mynd framed of the substance of claye or a thing of more corruption doth so preuayle and ouercome the qualytyes and gyftes of the mynde in casting a myste of darkenes afore our vnderstandinge that the soule is not only barred to expose the frutes of reuelacion but also it is not beleued when she prognosticates a trothe neyther is it in the power of man to shone or shrinke frome that whiche the foreknowledge of the highest hath already determined vpoÌ„ vs much lesse to preuent or withstaÌ„d the sentence of hym whose dome is as certeine as himselfe is truthe wherein because I am sufficiently sustefyed by thauthorities of dyuerse histories aswell sacred as prophane I will not stande here to enlarge the proofe with copy of examples but referr you to the readinge of the sequeile of this woful ladye who although her fate was reueyled vnto her afore yet was she denied to shone the destenye and sharppe iudgement whiche the heauens were resolued to thunder vppon her But nowe to our pourpose thagrement thus made betwene the fayre greke Ladye and don SPADO the valiant Capteine ther lacked nothing for consemacion of the mariage but thassistance of the rites and auncient ceremonies appoynted by order of holly churche whiche the capteine forgat not to procure with all expedicion of tyme and for the more honour and decoracion of the feast he had ther the presence of the marques of MANTVA beinge there not so much for the honour of the brydegrome as to testefye to the open face of the world thearnest affection he bare to her fyrst husbande RARZO whom he accompted no lesse deare vnto hym for credytt and truste then the nearest frende of his blod But now this albanoys enioy eng thus the frutes of his desier colde not so wel brydel his present pleasure nor conceile the singuler contentment he conceiued by the encounter of his new mystres but in publike show began to prate of his present felicitye arguinge the same to be of greater moment then if he had ben frankly restored to the tytle and dygnitie of a kingdome geuing fortune also her peculiar thanks that had kept this good torne in store for him saying y t she cold not haue honored him with a greater preferment then to put him into the possessioÌ„ of her who was without a second in al Europe But as in euery thing excesse is hurtful bringinge with it a doble discomoditie I meane both a sourfet to y e stomake by the pleasure we del ite in a Ielouse loathing of y e thing we chiefly loue and hold most dere so the extreme and superfluitye of hoate loue of this fonde husband towards his wife began w tin the very month of the mariage to conuert it selfe into a coÌ„trary disposition not much vnlike the louing rage of the she ape to wards her yongeones who as y e poetes do affirme doth vse to chuse amoÌ„g her whelpes one whoÌ„ she loues best kepiÌ„g it alwaies in her armes doth cherish loll it in such rude sorte that or she is ware she breketh the boanes and smothereth it to death killing by this meanes with ouermuch loue y e thing which yet wold liue if it were not for thexcesse of her affectioÌ„ in like sort this ALBANOYSE doating without discracion vppon the desyer of his newe lady rather drowned beastely in the superfluitie of her loue theÌ„ waighing rightly the meryte vertue of true affectioÌ„ entred into such tearmes of feruent Ielowsie y t euery fle that wasteth afore her made hym sweate at the browes with the suspicion he had of her bewty wherin he suffereth him selfe to be so much subiect ouercome with y e rage of this follie that according to the Ielowse humor of thytalyan he thoughte euery man that loked in her face wente aboute to grafte hornes in his forehed Oh smal discrecioÌ„ and lesse wisedome in one that ought with y e shappe and forme to merite the name vertue of a maÌ„ what sodaine chaung alteracioÌ„ of fortune seames nowe tassayle this valiaÌ„t captein who earst loued loyallie w tin the compas of raisoÌ„ now doating without discrecion thinketh him selfe one of the forâ—ued ministeres of cornwaile albeit I must coÌ„fesse vnto you y t y e more rare precious a thiÌ„g is of it selfe y t more diligeÌ„ce regarde ought we to vse to preserue kepe it in good estate yet a wise and chast womaÌ„ being one of y e rarest things of the world special gift of god ought not to be kept in y e mew nor garded w t curious continual wach much lesse atended vpoÌ„ w c y e ielouse eyes of Argus for like as shee y t waigheth her honor life in indiffereÌ„t ballance not meaning to exchange the one but w t the losse of the other is not easely corrupted by any sugred traine of flattering loue so y e restraint of y e lyberty of womenne to gether with a distruste procedinge of none occasion is the chiefeste meane to seduce her that ells hath vowed an honeste and integrety of lyfe euen vntill the ende of her naturall dayes And in vaine goeth hee aboute to make his wife honest that eyther lockes her in his camber or fylles his house full of spyes to note her doinges consideringe the iust cause he gyues her hereby to be reuenged of the distruste he hath of her with out occasion seinge with al the nature of some women is to enlarge their libertie that is abridged theim in doinge the thinge they are forbidden more in disspyte of the distruste of their folyshe husbandes then for any appetyt or expectacion of other contentment to themselues neyther hath this folyshe humor of Ielowzy so much power to enter into the hart of the vertuous and wise man who neyther wyll giue his wife suche cause to abuse her selfe towardes hym nor suspect her wythout great occasyon nor yet gyue iudgement of any euill in her withoute a sewer grounde and manifest proofe and yet is he of suche gouernemente for the correction of such a falte that he had rather cloke and disgest it with wisedome then make publication with open ponishement in the eye of the slaunderous worlde by whiche rare patience and secret dissimulation he dothe not onely choke the mouth of the slaunderor buryinge the falte with the forgetfulnes of the facte but also reclaymes her to an assured honestie and fayth hereafter that earst had abused him by negligence and yl fortune but he which pennes his wife in y e higest vaulteof his house or tieth a bell at her sleue because he may heare whether she goeth or when he takes a long iorney paintes a lambe of her bellie to know if she plaie false in his absence these sleightes I saye do not only deceiue him that deuiseth theym but also giues him for his trauell the true title of coockeholde in like sort what
howe fyne so euer they were aswell to preferr her dutie to thuttermoste as also to auoyde imputacion or cause of suspicion on her parte wherwith entring into termes of persuacion she added also this kynde of consolacion folowinge More do I greue syr sayth she wyth the small care you seame to take of your selfe then the tearmes of your disease do trouble me consideringe the same procedes of so slender occasioÌ„ that the veray remeÌ„brance of so great an ouersight ought to remoue the force and cause of your accident admit your griefe were greate indéede and your disease of no lesse importance yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desyere to dye that in eschewing to preuent the wyl and set hower of the Lorde you séeke not to further youre fatall ende by vsynge vnnaturall force against your selfe making your beastly will the blodye sacrifize of your bodie whereby you shal be sewer to leaue to the remeinder of youre house a crowne of infamie in the iudgement of the worlde to come and put your soule in hazarde of grace afore the troane of iustice aboue you knowe syr I am sewer that in this transitorye and paineful pilgrimage there is nothing more certeine then death whom albeit wee are forbiddeÌ„ to feare yet oughte wee to make a certeine accompt of his coÌ„ming neyther is it any other thinge according to the scripture then the minister and messenger of God executynge his infallible wil vpon vs wretches sparinge neyther age condicion nor state It is he that geues ende to oure miserie heare and saffe conduyte to passe into the other worlde and assoâ—e as we haue taken possession of the house of reste he shooteth the gates of all annoye againste vs fedinge vs as it were with a swete slomber or pleasant sléepe vntil the last soÌ„moÌ„ce of generall resurrection So that syr methinkes they are of the happie sorte whome the great God vouchesafeth to call to his kyngdome exchangynge the toiles manifolde cares incident to the creatures of this worlde with the pleasures of his paradise place of reapose that neuer hath ende And touchinge your deuocion to him that was dead with vaine desyer to visit his ghoste in the other worlde persuadynge the same to procede of a debte and dutifull desyer you haue to make yet a further declaracioÌ„ of your vnfained minde towardes him I assure you syr â–ª I am more sorye to see you subiect to so great a follie then I feare or exspect the effect of your dreame for as it seames but a ridle procedinge of the vehemencie of your sicknes So I hope you will directe the sequeile by sage aduise conuertinge the circumstance into ayre without further remeÌ„braÌ„ce of so foolish a matter wherin also I hope you wyll suffer the wordes of the scripture to direct you who allowinge smal ceremonies to the dead forbides vs to yelde any debte or dutie at all to suche as be alredie passed out of the worlde and muche lesse to sacrifyze oure selues for their sakes vpon their tombes accordynge to the supersticious order of y e barbarians in olde time remeinyng at this daye in no lesse vse amonge the people of the weste worlde but rather to haue their vertues in due veneracion and treadynge in the steppes of their examples to imytate theyr order with like integretye of lyfe And for my parte saith she dyenge her garmentes with the droppes of her waterye eyes prouynge to late what it is to loase a husbande and to forget hym whome bothe the lawe of God and nature hathe gyuen me as a seconde parte of my selfe to lyue wyth mutuall contentement vntyll the dissolucion of oure sacred bonde by the heauye hande of God am thus farre resolued in my selfe protestynge to performe no lesse by hym that lyueth that yf the furie of your passion prevaile aboue your resistaunce or your disease growe to suche extreame tearmes that death wyll not be otherwayes aunswered but that you muste yelde to hys sommance and dye I wyl not lyue to lament the losse of my second husbande nor vse other dule in the funerall of youre corps then to accompanye it to the graue in a shéete or shroode of lyke attire for youre eyes shall no sooner cloase their liddes or loase the lyght of this worlde then theis haÌ„ds shal be readye to performe the effecte of my promisse and the bell that gyueth warnyng of your last hower shall not ceasse his doleful knil til he haue published with like sound y e semblable ende of your deare and louynge wyfe whose simple and franke offer here openynge a most conuenient occasion for her wylfull husbande to disclose the true cause of hys disease preuailed so muche ouer his doubtefull and waueringe mynde that dismissing euen then his former dissimulacion he embraced her not without suche abundance of teares and vnruly sighes that for the tyme they tooke awaie the vse of his tounge Albeit beinge deliuered of his trauÌ„ce and restored to the benefit of his speche he disclosed vnto her the true cause and circumstaunce of his gréefe in this forte Albeit since the time of my sicknes saith he you haue séene what distresse and desolation haue passed me wyth fyttes of straunge and diuerse disposition marueilynge no lesse I am sewer from what fountaine haue flowed the Symptomes of so race a passion wherein also your continuall presence and â—iewe of my weake state is sufficientlye hable to recorde the whole discourse of my disease yet are you neyther partaker of my payne nor priuye to the principall causes of so straunge an euill neyther haue I bene so hardie to discouer theim vnto you because I haue ben hetherto doubtful of that whereof your laste wordes haue fullye absolued me And nowe being weakened with the wearines of tyme sicknes in suche sort as nature hath ridd her handes of me and gyuen me ouer to the order of death who is to spare me no loÌ„ger but to vtter these laste wordes vnto you I accompte it a special felicitie in my harde fortune that in thoppenyng of the true causes of my greâ—e I may cloase and seale vp the laste and extreame tearme of my lyfe And because I wil cleare in few wordes the misterie which seames to amaze you You shall note that there be iij. onely ministers and occasyons of my disease whereof the firste and of leaste importance is for the death of my late Lorde and maister Don Ihon tryuoulso whereof you are not ignorant the second excedinge the firste in greatnes of grefe and force againste me is to thinke that the rigour of my destinies and violence of sicknes yeldynge me into the handes of death will dissolue and breake by that meanes the league of longe and loyall loue whiche from the beginnynge my harte hath vowed vnto you but the thirde and laste of a more strange qualitie then eyther of the reste is to thinke that when I am dead and by time worne
doares of his lodgynge tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte sommonynge all sortes of people to reste seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to perperforme so that arming himself only with sleues of male and a naked rapiour vnder his mantell he marched towards the pallais of PLAVDINA wyth more haste then good spéede and lesse assuraunce of sauetye then likelihod of good lucke for as he accompted hymselfe no lesse frée from all daungers then farre from any occasion or offer of perill so fortune displayinge the flagge of her malice encountred hym soddainely with a desaster excedynge his exspectation whereby she warned hym as it were of the ambushe of future euils whiche were readye to discouer themselues And albeit this first accident was nothinge in respect of the other straung mischiefes which she ceassed not to thonder vppon hym one in the necke of an other afore the ende of his enterprise yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduenture seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the attempt nor honestie in the victorye But who doubteth that the luste of the bodye is not the chiefest thinge that infecteth the minde wyth all syn and that the beautye of a woman dothe not onelye drawe and subdue the outwarde partes but also leuyeth suche sharpp assaultes to the in warde forces of the mynde not sewerly rampierd in vertue that they are not onely denyed to eschewe suche thinges as bée vndoubtedly hurtefull both to the bodye and soule but also drawen to desyer that which they ought not to ymagine and muche more abhorre to do as a thynge of greate detestation besides loue is of so venterous a disposicion sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he possesseth that he makes theim not onely vnmindefull of all daungers but also to seame hable to passe the lymittes of the Son wyth power to excede the bondes of Hercules and Bacchus neyther makes he any thynge vnlawfull whiche he thinketh reasonable nor gyueth glorie to that enterprise whiche is not accompanied with infynitie of perills But as the wyse man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the deuise bée put in execution yeldyng no difference of rewarde with a successe of semblable and equall effecte to hym that rashely crediteth thaduise of hymselfe and suche as committ theyr bodies and doinges to one stroake of fortune So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same principle to examyne the circumstaunce of our enterprises and caste the good and euil that maye happen wyth so sewer and steddye a iudgement that there can no daunger so soone appeare but we maye bee assisted wyth the choice of ij or iij. remedies to represse hym wherein if CORNELIO had bene as throwly instructed as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of follye he neded not haue fallen into suche daunger as he doubted least nor dispaire of that whiche he seamed to desyer moste and muche lesse assailed euen in the begynnynge and brunt of hys buysynes wyth that soddaine feare whiche earste he was not hable to ymagine and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to shâ—n for as he attended the comming of Ianiqueta to open the doare beholde there ronge in his eares a greate brute or noyse of the clatteringe of naked weapons and men in harneys seaminge as it was in déede a set fraye betwene ij enemies in the ende or corner of the same stréete which was so hoatlye pursued that one of the skirmishers beinge hurte to the death brake out of the presse and fleinge towardes the place where CORNELIO stoode fainted and fell downe dead at his féete euen as the maide opened the wicket to take hym in whiche was not so secretlye don but the eyes of certeine neighbours beholdynge the fraye oute of their windowes discouered the goinge in of CORNELIO with a nacked sworde in his hande wherevpon followed the alarame to the innocent louer as you shall heare herafter but beinge within the courte and the gates shotte againe he was léed by the litle Darioletta of their loue into a garderobe or inner gallery till the seruantes were retired to reste who for the most parte laye out of the house that night beinge busye in visiting the banquettes abroade accordynge to the Epicure order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shrâ—â—tide when diuerse glottons delite in nothing but to do sacrifyce to their belly And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or feare eyther preuented or prouided for as they thought PLAVDINA sent for her seruant into her chamber thin king to worke theffect of both their desyers and plante the maried mans badge in the browes of her husband being absent But here they made their reckoning without their ost and were forced to rise from the banquet rather with increase of appetyt then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon for as they had newly begon the preamble to the part they ment to plaie and entred into thamarous exercise of kissinge and embrasinge eche other whereof neyther the one nor thother hadde earste made assaie together beinge at the pointe to laye their hands to the last indeuor and effect of loue which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy they hard a greate noyse and horleyborley in the stréete of the garde and chiefe officers of y e watche who fyndynge the deade bodye at the doare of PLAVDINA began to make such inquisition of y e murthur wyth threatenyng charge to vnderstande the manner and cause of his deathe that amongest the neyghbours whyche behelde the fraie there was one affyrmed that at the same instant that the broyle was moste hoat hée sawe a tall yonge gentleman let in at the gates of PLAVDINA with a sworde in his hande armed on the armes wyth sleues of male whervpon the capteine of the watche beganne to bounce at the doare as thoughe his force hadde bene hable to beate downe the walls wyth suche a rowte and companye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor that bothe the one and the other of oure louers seamed indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre â—proare of the frenchmen to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him then an Inquirendum for the murdor wherof he was no less ignorant then innocent the other dispairing no lesse of the delyuery of her frende yf he fell once vnhappelye into the handes of thennemye then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne dishonestie beynge knowen to conceile a stranger in the secret corners of her house wherein hauyng albeit but bad choice of meanes to auoyde suche ij threatenynge euills and lesse tyme to take councell of their present perill yet beyng of opynion that in the sauetie of the one consisted the sewertye of theym bothe shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse maryner or shypmaister
or troubled wyth other bulynes that she coulde not kepe hym companie not lettynge somtime to shoott her gates against hym all whiche because she sawe lacked force to make hym refraine she retired to thassistance of pollecie desyeryng hym wyth simple and colde termes to do her so muche honor as to forbeare from hensfurth all access to her house for that she was in mynde to retourne to her husbande with whome theffect of attonement was alredye wroughte by certeine her frendes who beinge vpon the waye to fetche her hoame she woulde not by any meanes should finde her in the attire of a Cortisan or woman makynge loue Besides syr saith she not without some dissembled teares I féele a remorce of conscience on the behalfe of the longe abuse I haue vsed towardes hym and that albeit my offence procedynge of follye seames not altogether worthye of frée pardon yet it maye appeare in some sorte excusable so he that confesseth his faulte gyueth greate argument of amendement and restoreth the trespasse to sufficient recompense desyerynge you for ende to haue no lesse consideracion of my present case then heretofore you haue founde no wante of good wyll in me to satisfye the respecte of your pleasure at all tymes where with to prefer a more credit to her suborned discourse she promised hym a contynuacion of fauor wyth assuraunce of vnfayned good wyll so longe as nature was content to lende her the vse of lyfe The erle whether he gaue faythe to her fayned woordes or dissembled a credytt for the nonst yet he seamed to perswade a trothe in the matter for that from the hower of suche conference he checked the humour of hys accustomed desyer vsynge exquisitt medecines to mortifye that blynd affection whiche so longe had kepte hym in captiuitye in the bottomles goolphe of his Pyemount And be cause he woulde aswell remoue the cause as take awaye the disease ferynge leaste eyther the viewe of her presence or some force of newe charme mighte eftesones enchaunte hym and sett abroche the humor of former desyers he retired immediatlye to MYLLAN He feared also the fall of some soddaine mischiefe chieflye for that he had sufficient experience of the cursed disposicion of this Viper whose harte was so infected with the poysoned ayre of euery syn that beinge wearye of the excercise of whordome she would make no conscience to furnishe the stage with vnnaturall morders For what exspectation of other frute is in them whose mindes are cleane dispoiled of vertue if not suche as are allowed by the guyde and wicked spirite that gouerneth their diabolicall disposition or who is ignoraunt of the tyrannye of a woman conuerted whollye into the appetit of rage and reuenge neyther is her crueltye any thyng inferior to the deuouring monster and excedes euerye waye the brutishe inclination of the barbarous sorte of creatures whose rage albeit now and then procureth them to vse force against the natural procreacioÌ„ frutes of their owne wombes yet do they staye to committ any kinde of crueltie to suche as haue traffiqned wyth them in the trade of licencious luste accomptinge no greater sacrilege or profanacion of the lawe and ceremonies due to their goddes then to pollute their handes wyth the blodde of suche as earst haue supplied the luste of their sensual pleasure wherin if they whych had no kuowledge of god nor feared the deuill and voyde altogether of discipline and experience in humanitie reserued a certeine honor and respect to nature why shoulde there be eyther frée dispense or tolleracion of punishment to the wretches of our age who notwythstandynge the dayly vse of the lawe written by the very fynger of god and reueiled vnto vs byhys prophetes and Apostles wyth diuerse threateninge inhibicions noted in thinfallible booke do not feare to offende the maiestie of the high este not only in stayninge theyr sowles wyth the spot of adulterie but also in dyenge the earthe wyth the blodd of their bretherne and fellowes in Christe wherein this historie shal present you with a sufficieÌ„t profe for this time The Lord GAIAZO had no soner lefte PAVYA then this infernall goddesse began to attempte the recouerie of her firste louer VALPERGO wherin notwithstandinge there apeared an equalitie of doubt and difficultie chieflie for that she feared that he that laste left her had diciphered her intent wyth reuelacion of the meane she had deuised to procure hys deathe But what enterprise is it that he dare not attempte whose mynde is the bondeman and slaue of syn wherin albeit the beginninge seame to ymport a certeine difficultie for that the soule preferreth a resistance and the conscience waueringe is moued to a remorse and remembrance of repentance yet whan a man is alreadis become old in syn and the harte enuyroned with the braunches of iniquitie the wycked man hath a more facilitie in th execution of mischiefe then he that is good hable to kepe the renowne of vertue euenso when youth is norished in ympudencie and age deuested of honeste shame there is no perill can make the one affraied nor ymputacion of reproch geue cause to the other to blushe like as this ympudent Pyemountâ—â—se renewinge the traffique of her aunciente wickednes practised so far wyth the familiars and frendes of hym whose deathe as you harde she earste conspired by malice excusinge herselfe so amplie by embassages and letters of vehement perswacion that he was content to heare in what sort she was hable to purge her selfe wherin her iustificacion was the sooner admitted for that the iudge was not only pertiall on her behalfe but rather enclyned to foolishe pytie then disposed to enioyne iuste pennance shee promised by protestacion of fayth and religious othe not only to become hys subiect and slaue so longe as her soule was caried aboute vppon the mortall chariot of her bodie but also gaue hym at thinstant a pawne of her lyfe wyth all that she had for the performaÌ„ce of her laste promise Here was the peace eftsones concluded betwene the wicked countesse and vnhappy earle whose articles were registred and seales put to the night folowinge when the Lorde VALPERGO was restored to the possession of the fortresse whiche earste was reuolted and lyued longe dnder the awe of an other prince wherin as they thus renewed the rounde of their amarous daunce the one fynding a more skoape of libertie vnder her recouered louer then afore the other resolued whollie to obserue thappetite of his Ladie beholde a seconde desyer of blodd and suggestion of morder appearing eftsones in the face of this MEGERA who croppinge altogether the hearbe of reuenge longed nowe for the destruction of hym who as you harde promised to do sacrafice on the bodie whyche presentlie she embrased and helde in moste estimacion wherof if she had béene demaunded the cause I thinke she coulde haue geuen no other reason of her malice then that deliting in bloddie enterprises shee accompted it a pryncipall vertue
their diligence doings deserue by iustice like as the grekes and romans painting with an exquisitedexteritie of y e pen their pollicy in warr the valiantnes of their Captaines their wonderfull fortune and good successe in all enterprises with other discourses of their vertues do argue them more glorious in their owne acts then meritorious in deade of true commendacion for that in arrogatinge vnto themselues the only title and name of all knowledge they make our time seme naked of all vertue sauinge such as is deriued from theim and ymytacion of their doings Albeit we maye obiect with the spartayne agaynste thathenians that those lippwise soldiours or scoole orators had a more facilitie in discouering then facylitie in execucion of noble effects not for that I meane to do such wrong to their estimacion as not to yelde to theim a title of singularitie in all perfections yet I may also be bould to preferr the benefit of oure time which participating wyth their golden age in any respect of honest gift or qualitie is hable to preseÌ„t a furniture of as many examples and authorities of vertue as we rede were found in the politike state of Rome when Cato Camilla or Scipio gouerned that proude Citye or when on Pericles Themistocles or Aristides bare authoritie in the florishinge Acadimia of Athens for if we go about to discourse of the valyantnes in armes or stody to be pryuy to y e sleightes and pollecy in warr we nede not thassistance of one Hannybal discipline of Marius pellecy of Pompeius nor corage of Cesar or Alexander seing our fertile Evropa brings furth such store of excellent captaines that if those great couqwerours and subuertors of whole countries amongs the Grekes and Romains wer now in the feilde with their invincible force they should not finde a mettellus orgalozs without armes nor encounter a company of effemynate Persyans or haue to do with serfull Italyans but they shold buckle wyth the valiant cauelery and gendarmy of fraunce fele the force of the couragious englishmen make a proofe of the puisance of the mightie Almaine and make heade agaynst the armes of the loftie Spanyarde wherein as the shortnes of time denieth me to yelde to euerye captein and souldiour his peculyar commendacion so my endeuor could not escape without ympu tacion of superfluitie if I shold enterlard my Catalogue of the gracious gifts of our tyme withe the due glorye of the fathers of iustice deuising wonderful pollicyes and necessarye Lawes for regarde of the publike weale in the senate wherein our world I thinke oweth nothinge to antiquitie neyther neede I preferr the singularitie and exquisite skil of oure payntors or forgers of curious ymages whose arte at this daye contendes wythe the aunciente conninge of Appelles Albeit vppon the commendacions of these dexterities in armes and arts coÌ„cerning y e hands I find attendinge a worthie cause of generall complaynte agaynst the slowthfulnes of our tyme geuinge wyth al the title of iuste prayse to the diligence of thauncyentes who preseruing the memory of such as deserued reuowme amoÌ„genst them for any vertue hath left vs cause to blush in our owne abuses and be ashamed of the negligence we vse in recording the rarietyes of our time or perfections of suche as are iustly meritorious of prayse and albeit of long time thiniquitie of the bad sort of men haue so much preuailed ouer the worthie renowne of vertuous women that they haue not sticked to whet their malicious tongues with diuerse blasphemous reproches agaynst such as by misfortune haue geuen som salfe bownd to their honor yet ought we not to be vnthanckful to the chastetie and honest conuersacion of the rest who rather then they wold departe wyth the badge of their pudycitie haue bene sene with their bodyes full of wounds and faces died with blode and sometime passed the panges of painfull death in resistinge the force and fleshely vylanye of the wicked corrupters of the virginitie wherin if the Goekes â—aue geuen such great comendacion to the faire Hippo who being made a pray amongest other spoyles of y e countrey to a barbarous pirott on the sea with present daunger to depart wyth the badge of her honor chused rather to bury her body in the belly of some fyshe and consecrat her integrytie to the waues then suffer an insydell pallyard to hurt her soule to the deathe in depryuinge her of that which all the worlde are not able to restore or make good if the Boecyans haue not forgot to engraue in pillors of eternetye the memorye of a Ladye in Thebes who forced to the vyolacion of her bodye by a rude souldiour oft he Kynge of the macedonions dissimuled for the time her dystres wyth fayned showes that she delyted in the pleasure til encountringe at laste a conuenient occasion she reuenged the wronge done to her honor with the death of him that had vsed such force agaynst her where also herself loathing the vse of longer yeares hauing already lost the onlye ioye and felicitie in lyfe gaue place to nature and at thinstanct made a blody sacryfice of herself by her own hands And if the Romains haue had alwayes in their mouthe the prayse of Lucrese whose chastetie they haue placed in the theatrye or circle of Mars and geuen her a chiefe place amonges the trains of the chast Diana if all these I say haue bene so thankfull to the vertuouse womeÌ„ of their time that by their diligence the memorye of their vertue remaineth in recorde to the posteritie of all ages what worthie cause of rebuke haue we who lyuyng vnder a better clymat and constellacion enioying more pure lawes and aspiring nerer thymage or semblaunce of dyuynitie will not erpose the noble frutes of our tyme whyche yeldes not onely example of sembla ble vertue to thauncientes but excedes them in contynent lyuinge and chast disposicion wherof we haue an example of Yphygenne doughter of y e kyng of Ethiopia who hauyng already vowed her vyrginitie to the spouse of oure soules accepted rather the offer of present deathe then to be ioyned in Mariage to a wanton younge prince prouyded for her by her father with a nomber of lyke authorities which I colde infer to proue the sinceritie of womeÌ„ who at the beginning when our religion was first founded did lay the cornerstone of puretie without hauing y e knowledge of man neyther is our age so voide of examples of contynency nor the roote of vertue so cleane extirped from amongest vs but we maye se at this day sundry pattorns of pudycitye in the persons of all degres of women aswel noble as of meaner condicion exceding the vertue of such as antiquitie hath in so great veneraion wherin for a familiar reuenge of our Ladyes now a dayes touching the synyster ympositions of dyuers euil tongues inveighinge agaynst the whole sect I haue presented hereupoÌ„ the stage this historie taken out of Italyon whose authoritie as it is sufficient to
in vertue or more apte to fall then we neyther ought we do them that wronge in estemynge themlesse weake theÌ„ our selues or more subiect to syn theÌ„ the moste and beste assured of vs all seinge we fynde them longer in breath and vse more assurance in with standynge the sensuall prouocations of the fleshe then we haue reason to assaulte them with the like alarams and truly he geues more argument of his fragilitie weake resistaunce who at the first assaulte mocion of his wanton affections doth yelde himselfe prisoner to thappetit of his will with intent to pursue th end of his lasciuious desire then she that resisting of loÌ„g time the hoat alarams of his vehemeÌ„t requests is dryuen at laste vnwillyngly to resigne the keys of her for tresse more peraduenture to preuent the danger of dispaier in hym whome she séeth redye to die for her sake then for anye desire to content thappetite of her owne will and yet can not she escape the malice of suspicion nor merite the name of perfet coÌ„stancie that is ouercome with any enchantement howe strong so euer it be for that she can not beare the title of true vertue onles shee remaine inuincible to th eÌ„de waighiÌ„g her honor lyfe in indiffereÌ„t balauÌ„ce wherof al ladies may behold a familiar prof in this mirror Iemme of coÌ„stancy Iulya who the more shee was pressed courted with the pepered aluremeÌ„ts of y e valtaÌ„t souldior of loue the more did she rampire her selfe in assurance of vertue seaming valiant in the defence of a fort that was inexpugnable whiche ministrynge nothynge but a present dispaier to him to preualle by any pollicyes afore deuised driue him to resorte to thassistance of the pernicious coÌ„mon meane vsed ordinarily by the detestable palliard that can not other waies deceiue the symplicitie of honest maides and whiche as an infection worse then the ayr of the pestilence doth corrupte the gréenes of youth afore it be confirmed wyth experience and discrecion I meane a she bawde wherof Paris hath lesse wante then choise or store of honest women whiche coyffed with a visor or cloke of fained hollynes and masqued wholy with a mofler of Hypocricy seamyng to the worlde to mortifye her bodye with iij. or iiij solemne fastes in the weke watchinge in deuoute maner at the churche doare for the deuocion and aimes of the people and caryinge in her hande a baudy baskett rather to coolor her villanye then to serue her necessarye tourne becoms the collcaryour betwene the louer and his trol makyng a matche no lesse odyous in the eye of the worlde then detestable afore the throne of the highest becominge by this meanes the fyrst seducer of theÌ„ that afore the offer of her charmes of painted allurement were peraduenture no lesse voyde of suche ymaginacion then frée from intent euer to commit so foule an acte yet vse they suche secret sleight in the conueighe of their busines that the finest wittes can hardely espye them the best ties had néede of spectacles to discouer their trade but what is it that loue can not fynde out whose eies albeit be so percyng of them selues that they will penetrat fynd a whole to péepe out of the strongest closest tower in a countreye yet hath his arte suche a gyfte of reuelacion in this case that ther is no meane howe secret so euer it be but he geues informacion of it to him that traffiques in his affaires wyth intent to aduaunce theffect of his desier wherein this vallett of chamber forgetting neither rule nor instruction gat him in hast to this double doxye and solemne Hypocryte whom he knewe to be an ordinarye solyciâ—â—y in the lyke affaires and a redye phisicioÌ„ to cure all dise 〈◊〉 of his importance he first coniures her in any wyse to make councell of that whiche he ment to communicate vnto her then to assiste his gréef wyth the vttermost of her diligence wherwith she seinge euen nowe as farr into his disease as his phisicion did into his vrine castyng alredye in her head what marke the poore louer woulde shoot at began to prefer a certen difficultye to promise eyther the on or the other alledging that if his request shoulde tende to the hurte or disaduantage of her conscience his labor were lost any further to pursue the assistaunce of her god will for saith she I had rather dye wyth the note of honest name whiche hetherto I haue kepte then vpon the ende of my yeres do the thynge with my bodye that in the other worlde might bryng my soule in hazarde of grace afore him whome it behoues me not to offeÌ„de but the subtill louer who knew wel inough that her trade consisted in the conueighe of bawdye errandes and that the body and soules of suche filthes were no lesse subiecte to corrupcion then their hypocrisye and vaile of hollynes detestable brake with her in fewe wordes of the cause of his comming desyryng her in any wyse not to dissemble her indeuour on his behalf addinge for a further circomstaunce that she shoulde reape a thankefull rewarde of her trauaile wherin because he knewe that money was the nexte meane and only key to open the deuout harte of this moÌ„ster and that such she apes and goolphes of iniquitye haue no other God but the geine of their abhominable trade let fal into her lapp some iij. or iiij duckets whose first vewe preuailed so much had such power to conuert this painted Image that wythout further entreatie she remoued the vaile of her fyrst hardnes and aduowed her selfe the handmaide of his behest wyllynge hym to lyue in hope and repose him selfe wholly vppon her diligence wherof saieth she I doubt not to present the suche spedie effecte as within fewe daies the ioye y t thou shalt féele by the encounter of thy desyre shall farr excede the languishyng gréefe of thy 〈◊〉 passion and thusmuche I will promise the further 〈◊〉 if shée be but a woman nott possessed with any parte of a deuill as many of vs be I wil so coniure her withe charmes and enchauntmentes of my arte that of her selfe she shal offer thee the possession of that which heretofore thow couldest neuer wyn by power or pollicy but take head my sonne saith she that this be mom and my indeuor not discouered to any for as pytty more then other respecte hathe moued me to vndertake thusmuche for thy conteÌ„tacion beyng the first that euer brought me to practyse so badd a trade so I wold not for the price of all I haue that y e world shoulde vnderstand I were a broaker in a busynes so farre vnmete for myne honour and age tushe sayeth this fondlyng and cockney of FERRARA let not the feare of that be any ympediment to your diligence for I am no lesse carefull of your reputacion then desirous to see theffecte of your promise wherein I praye you forgett not to make expedicion your
man that receiueth the wrong is rather iested at and pointed to with forqued fingers accordiÌ„g to y e Italyan bragge then he persecuted in any sorte that procureth the euill which partialitye or rather vnlawfull fauor of the Lawe and deputies of iustice serueth as a sufficiente encouragement both to the one and other whoremonger wherupon followeth so many morders of husbandes by meane handes of their wiues to th ende they maye passe their amarous practyse with more pleasure and lesse feare the poyseninge and drowninge of so many lawfull children for aduauncement of those whose bastarde race is bew tified with a masqued title of true procreacion whose end is sesewerly matched with destruction to themselues and euer lasting dis honour to their parentes and posteritie wherof behold here you Ladyes a familiar proffe in the blacke picture or portraytur of this bloddie gentlewoman who forgetting the vertue of her youth worthelie renowmed of all men colde not be satisfyed wyth thabuse of her age and hoarie heares touchinge thincestious prostitucion of her body without the nomber of vnnaturall morders wherwyth you maye see her tyrannous handes dyed and thinnocent soules of her husband and ii sonnes kneling afore the troane of iustice for vengance of her wickednes THE YMPVDENT LOVE of the Lady of Chabrye wyth her procurer Tolonio together wyth the detestable morders committed betvvene theim YF wee maye Creditt the reapportes of Fraunce and Italye we nede not doubt of the singularyties of Prouyncia which y e chronicles of both contries do aduowche to owe nothing to any one corner in Christendome eyther for the glorious sâ—yte and scituacion of the place fertilletie and plentye of euery thinge whiche pleasure or necessetie can wish riche statelie Cities builded with a forme of maiestie more then the common sorte of townes and peopled besides wyth euerye sorte of cyuilitie and curteyse inhabytantes in the middest whereof is a litle village called Lagrassa planted as it seames in a pleasaÌ„t vale yelding a chiefest bewtie and furniture of glory to the whole platt or circuite of Prouyncia for it is assisted on euerie parte with the champaine furnished wyth all sortes of delite both by wod and water wyth a glistering glee of the grene meadowes who yelde suche a contynual fertilytie that if it wer not y e deuowring Iawes of their gréedie cattal a man wold thinke they were specially fauored with a spring time at al seasons in the yere in diuerse partes of this herbage florishing with blossoms of euery entising flower shal you see as it were certeine cloase arbours and open alleyes beutified w t y e smal spraies of lymmoÌ„ trees oringes Granades offring to be thankful w t their seueral frutes to straÌ„gers passing y e way with euery other graft of pleasaÌ„t view or tast dispersed w t such order both in round quadraÌ„t tryangle forme that only nature her selfe is to bée thoughte the chiefe woorkemoman in that misticall conueighe whyche resembleth rather a seconde groue or gardyne of Thessalya so muche comended by Herodotus Plyny Strabo besides other of the poeticall crewe then a place of general haunte assailed comonlye with passyngers of all sortes and continuallie spoiled by thinhabytantes who make oppen war both with the boodds and braunches frute and trees of this vale intrenched as yt were on euery side with greate hilles whose heighte and hugenes defendes the violence of hurtefull wyndes assistes the naturall goodnes of the soile with the moysture of diuerse streames droppinge oute of the bellies of diuerse rockes norrished in thintralles of the saied mountes in this prouinciall paradise then and not far from the saied towne is a caftell whereof was Lorde and owner a noble gentleman of the countrey who in the entrey of hys storyshynge time maried a youÌ„g gentlewomaÌ„ of equall honor heighte of estate to himselfe who for her part had a grace to gouerne y e hoatt time of her youthe with such modestie that her honeste conueyghe and integretie of lyfe seamed to deserue no lesse then the vertue of Lucresia according to thistorians or chaste abstinence of Penelope by the fictions of the Poetes But whether the secrett hypocrasie of her infected mynde colde no longer conceile or refrayne to euent the frutes of suche villanie or whether age had abated the former force of her husbande drayning his synews and vaines of their auncient moysture with conuersion of his sapp of strenghte into withered humors of debilitie or participating paradueÌ„ture withe the desyer and dispocicion of suche as delite in the taste of inordynat pleasure with often chaunge of dyot hauinge alredie passed the vttermoste of fyftie yeares of a chaste and vertuouse younge ladie became an old strompet without honestie or shame and whose delicate youthe gaue more argumentes and effect of stayed lyfe then her olde age hable to mortefye or kéepe vnder the prouacions propre onlye to the follye of vnbridled youth to whom alone is due the title of founde affection with actes of smal discrecioÌ„ And as the frenche adage aduowcheth that of a young saint procéedes an old SATHAN and a timely hermitt makes a tyraÌ„nous deuil so this diabolical Lady supplienge y e yeres of her youth with loyaltie towardes her husband necessarie praier and inuocacion to God with due respect to the order guide of her house was séene to make a coÌ„uersion of thys vertues into a desyer and effect of no lesse detestacion then the offeÌ„ce of CAYN or other morderer for that without respect to the nomber of her children or viewe of hoarie haires with other argumentes of age she began to practise pollecies in loue wishinge in her husbande a continuance of that whiche nature can not giue twyse to any man and that whereof shée seamed not halfe so desyerus in the veraie heate of the flame whiche kindleth the sensuall appetitt makyng vs sometime excede the order of reason in performinge the sommonce of sensualitie wherein féeling a wante in her husbande to satisfye her filthie thurste and wearie alredie with his colde compfort in bedd entred into deuise to furnishe her lacke that waye whereby as yt chaunced she wroughte the webb of destruction to her selfe with continuall infamie to her house for euer whyche bée the ordinarie frutes of this beastelie pleasure bréeding the tempest vnder a masque or counterfaite vaile of calme seas and then to drenche the passingers when they are moste perswaded of assurance and who wil not confesse by this authorytie bothe familiar and true but loue is an vndowted rage and furie seynge he forceth and giueth fyer to that whyche oughte to quenche and conquerr the flame kindled firste by his suggestion This gentleman of the castell of CHABRYE hadd for one of his next neyghbours a doctor of the lawe called MESSIEVR Tolonyo whome for the creditt of hys learnyng he vsed as a chiefe companion by whyche meanes also he hadde the fauour of familiar conference with his wyfe without
suspicion not refusynge diuerse tymes in the absence of the knighte to enter the bedd chamber and consulte wyth her vppon her pillowe wherein he exacted vppon the honest libertie giuen hym by the goodman for that one daye during hys absence the aduocatt vnder cooler to councell the Lady in certaine affaires touchynge the commoditie of her husbande came to her beddsyde where he behelde her in other sorte then he is wonte to vysytt the cases of lawe for her husbande neyther hadd age so altered her complexion but there appered follie in all partes of her face with other intisinge glées shrowded vnder the lyddes of her allurynge eyes whyche with his libertie of frée accesse and her contentement to admitt hys compaine forced the rather an affection in the proccurer in whome also as shée noted certaine dextereties no lesse hable to performe the buysynes of the bedd then to followe the processe of lawe so shée dyd not only allowe his amarus glauÌ„ces with interest of equal glée on her part but also as one whollie deuested of thattyre of shame made no conscience to discouer that part of the bodie whyche nature hathe forbidden to bée séene of anye and all women of honest parte oughte to kepe from the sighte and knowleadge of man whych shée accompained also with such lasciuius regardes of wanton countenance that the dymmest eyes that bée in loue myghte easelie discerne the pathe of her entent and iudge with what fethers her arrowes wolde slye wherein also TOLONYO no lesse experienced then the best forgat not to féede the humor of her meaning wyth speciall tearmes of reproche against the weakenes of tholde man condemnynge hym as moste vnworthie to enioye the benefytt of her beautie and muche lesse to taste in any sorte of the pleasure or delicatt proporcion of thys Alcyne who to further the forwardnes of her doctour added thiâ—s tearmes of complaint to the wordes of hys former reproche howe ryghtelye maye shée tryumphe with treble felicitie in this worlde who delytinge to embrace her husbande participateth indiffrentlie with the solace of outward ioye and pleasure of secrett contentement the remembraunce of whose happie state alas yeldes me double cause of exclamacion agaynste the debilitie of my aged knyghte bothe for that hys weaknes denyeth force to furnyshe the sportes of the bed and I in the heate of desyer to wyshe and not fynde the chiefeste pillor of my consolacion yf I hadd not earste Sipped of the cupp of sugred delite the desyer had dekaied because I hadd no taste of the pleasure where the viewe of former solace increaseth my present thurste and can not bée satysfyed or yf nature colde broache an other vessell of strengthe in my wythered husbande or restore a freshe heate to hys dekaied partes my loathesome life wold resume eftensones cause of perfect contentement I in the meane wile shold do wronge to accuse his present weaknes what is my passion thinke you Seigneur Tolonio prouyng perforce the wante of courage in my husbande with the extreme desyer in my selfe he hathe no other care then too momble hys mornyng prayers and Pater noster in the night whilest I poore sowle halfe starued attend a seconde froste or colde compfort in hym whyche rather mortefyeth my desyer then satisfyeth in any sorte the vehemencye of myne appetytt and yf sometime I séeke to force a mocion in hym with indeuour to gyue lyfe to his dead sprites I am aunswered with hollow groanes and excuses of age that alas my thurste is rather increased then desyer satisfyed I forced to féede of suche drye banquettes with no lesse grudge and gréeff of mynde then I shoulde take singler pleasure in the companye of one worthie of me and hable to furnyshe at full thappointement due in mariage all whyche the doctour was no lesse gladd to heare then desyerus to knowe the intent of the discourse whyche he pursewed in iestinge sorte saying I am content madame you make A tryal in this sort of my loyalty towards you your house albeit I am so persuaded of the corage of your husbande y t notw tstanding any impedimeÌ„t by age he is sufficieÌ„tly hable to dispatch y e affaires of the most likelye and lustie gentlewoman in your traine suche saith she as knowe nothing but by oponion imagination do commonly iudge at pleasure vpon matters of importance where they that haue felte the effectes and made an experience of euerye point maye resolue accordynge to a troth wherin your ignorance acquites you for this tyme of imputacioÌ„ touching the loftines of my husbande whoÌ„ as you at vnwares accoÌ„pte a chaÌ„pyon of suche courage y t there is no harnesse whiche he is not hable to pearce so the longe prooff I haue had of his worthines may warraunte you the contrarye of such conceites commendynge vnto you withall the compassion of my distresse with desyer to procure some spedie meane of delyuerye or release from this loathsome torment wherewith maister aduocat began to excuse hym of any entent to increase her griefe what construction so euer she made of his former wordes protestyng wythal that the offer of death should bée more acceptable vnto hym then the simple remeÌ„brance to do her the leaste euill in the worlde if she sorowed in the prooffe of a badd husband his gréefe was no lesse in the veraye viewe of her languishynge state that I wishe madame saith he that my indeuor might discharge you of paine or the spoile of my lyfe and all that I haue of the worlde confirme your quiet accordyng to the consent of your owne minde then should you sée whether your Tolonyo woulde put any difference betwene pleasant promises whiche euery man can make and assured effect whiche few men performe with this further experience yf it please you to employe me to excede euery one of your domesticall traine in yeldyng to the sommonce of your commaundement albeit it importe the sacrifice of my lyfe or dissolutioÌ„ of honor both which I accoÌ„pte happely preferred yf they end in the pursewte of your seruice wherewith he seased vpon one of her delicate handes whiche he forgat not to honor with the often printe of his mouth in sondry sortes of kysses whiche as they argued thuttermost of his further entent so she furthered an expedicion of thindifferent desyers of theim both in grasping his hand with no lesse affection theÌ„ he did amarus homage to al her tender parts with this shorte question in smylynge order yf the goodnes of your fortune Seigneur Tolonio the synister guide of my destines accompanied with the mocion of loue wold giue you as muche power ouer me as you seame desierous to enioye my fauor howe would you accompte of suche preferment or what iudgement woulde you set of her liberall offer who neyther respectyng life nor regard to honor is here to leaue you her harte in gage and her bodye to the vse of your pleasure Ah madame saith this amarous Cyuilyan howe
experience of the disposition of loue and suche as he infecteth with hys frantike poyson tryenge in like sorte the difference betwene the vanities of the worlde and the contemplacion of celistiall thinges or other vertues of diuyne operacion vpon earthe openinge as it were to all degrees of mortalytie an entrey or way to come to the glorye and honor of theuerlastinge Paradise aboue to suche I saye maye I boldely appeale for confirmacioÌ„ of thauncient opynion grounded in the stomakes of men from the beginning that the bewtie and flattering behauiour of a woman is the true and natural Adamant seing that that stoane by a certeine vertue attractiue and speciall gifte by nature hath not such power to force and drawe the heauie yron vnto it as the secret misterie hydden in the eyes and face of a woman are of authoritie to sommon and steale thaffections and hartes of men which hath wrought a resolucion or thinge of most certeintie amongest a nomber of men now a dayes that such charmes and serpentine allurementes were sente a mongeste vs frome aboue aswell to tormente our pleasure as also in soÌ„e sort to geue ease to thafflictioÌ„ of such as are vnhappelie contrybutors to that poysoned participacion wherin as we haue long marueiled why Parys forsoke the delites of Troye to become the thrall of Helene in greece what moued one Hercules to abandon his beauye mase and clubb of conquest to depende whollye vppon the commaundement of his women frende or howe Salomon abused the gifte of his wisedome to commit follie with her who only gouerned him y t guided the whole monarkye so behold I haue to encrease your wonder with a true poâ—rtrayte or picture of a more force in a woman and folly in a man who with out any vse of former or hope of future fauor sauinge to fullfill the fonde appetit of his folishe mistrys habandoned the vse and benefytt of his speche for thre yeres putting on by that meanes the shapp of brutalitie betwene whom and the creatures of vnderstandinge the philosophers conclude an only difference of the vse of reason and speache A case sewer no lesse notorious for the raryâ—tie that waye then declaringe a singuler force of nature in the subiect vpon whom shee seames to bestowe suche prehemiuence aboue all other misteries vppon earth whereof maye serue for sufficiente proofe theffeminate alteration in Hercules the decrease of strengthe in Sampson the losse of wisedom and vnderstandynge in Salomon and the simplicitie of this gentleman whose discourse foloweth THE CRVELTIE OF A Wydowe in enioyninge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his speache the foolish loyaltie in hym in performinge her commaundemente and the meane vvherby he was reuenged of her rigour ⧠AMongeste the lymytrophall townes con ynynge the borders of Pyemount no man dowtes I thinke that the Citie of THVRYN beinge thonly lanterne to geue light to al the prouinces there about for eiuill orders and integritie of conuersacion is not also a chief rampier and sewer bulwarke to her owne countrey agaynst thincurcion of enemyes neyther is it of lesse estimacion for the naturall scituacion of the place then bewtified greatly by thin dustrius endeuor of man addinge as it seames a more decoratioÌ„ of late to that towne then eyther nature or the slender deuise of men in tymes passed colde ymagyn Somewhat without the suburbes of this riche and populus Citie is planted in a pleasant valley a little village called Montcall worthie euery way to be ioyned in neighbourhead to so great a Citie being inuironed on th one side w t the fragrant ayre of the fertil feldes al to bedewed with the sondry swete smelles of thincense of Aurora on thother side with y e loftie hilles breathing from the mouth of Zephire the ayre of health to refresh in time of nede the drowsie tenants of the valley which amongest other happie influences of the heauens semed also to haue aspecial fauor of the godes to bring furth and norish the most faire verteous curtoyse ladyes y t cold be fouÌ„d in any one corner of Europe amoÌ„gest whoÌ„ not withstaÌ„ding there was not long since a young widow called Zilya who declyning froÌ„ y e dispositioÌ„ of y e clymat and planet of her natiuitie became so hagarde lyke and enclyned to crueltie that she semed rather to take her begining among the desertes and craggie places of Scauoye then too sucke the brestes of the delicat norsses in the pleasante champayn refreshed by the beautifull hande of Erydan sometyme called the father of ryuers and nowe termed by the title of Po whose christall channells and siluer streames deuydynge theym selues into diuers distillinge brokes do not onelye driue men into admiration but also draw theym to become neighbours to alicour of suche delite This disdainefull wydowe and enemye to all curtesie although she hadd asyet skarcely entred into the twentie and fourthe yere of her age yet she perswaded her selfe herafter to abandon vtterly the societie of man whether it were by mariage or otherwaies aduowing to spende the remeynder of her yeres in singlenes of lyfe a resolucion truly bothe godly and commendable yf the tiklishe motions of the fraile fleshe woulde be contente to obey the wholsome exhortacions of the sprite But whereas our declynyng bodyes pampred in all delicacye together with the vnruly appetites ragynge after wilfull desier doo seme to quarrell with our chastetie and vanquishe all resistance the councell of thapostell is to bée followed who willes that we marie in christe to auoyed the daunger of the sowle and common slaunder of the world she also after she had alredie performed the due debte of her dutie to the deade bodye of her husbande whome she accompayned to the graue with abundance of teares and other funerall dule soughte not accordyng to the trade of young wydowes now adayes lefte without controlmente to abuse the benefitte of her libertie or dispose the tyme of her widowehead in other exercise then in augmentacion of the patrimonye lefte to her litle sonne and enryche her selfe by the trauell of her owne handes wherein shée became soo conetouse and gredie of gayne that cuttynge of her ydle traine of loyterers haunting commenly the houses of great men she onely reserued suche for the necessarye members of her houshold as with the sweate of their browes refused not the toile of any honest trauel neither made she conscieÌ„ce to trade vp the delicate trowpe of gentlewomen attendinge vpon her in thaffaires of house keping and other honest exercises of the hande to whom she was alwayes a coÌ„panioÌ„ her selfe thinking nothing so well don as that which passed in the presence of her eye or with thassistance of her owne hande wherin certeynly her vertue was no lesse meritorius then her endeuour commendable For the office of a mother or mystres of families consistes not only in kepyng her seruantes to continuall trauaile or taking accompte of their doings and daies labour
meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
presence drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow proceding by his wickednes wherewith her eyes performed her desier with such plentie of teares that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her not ceassing notwithstanding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes beholdinge the lamentable passion of hys mistres with certeine likelehodes he espied showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym but he retired to his former debilitie fallinge downe dead betwene the armes of suche as suported hym and albeit hée was eftsones restored yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other in such sorte as the whole company gaue iudgment of hys death amongest the whych Roderico was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobstinate crueltie of Geniuera and present perill of hys deare freÌ„d Diego was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one and preuent the daunger of the other he perswaded that if he killed the willful Geniuera he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one depended the life of the other and so in doinge no good to any he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder and also to become the author of his death in whose lyfe he reaposed his most worldly felycitie on thother side y e vntowardnes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde remorce that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill so he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera with gentle perswacions lainge afore her what vertue ought to appere in suche tender and delicate yeres and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution he retired to thextremitie of his former threates and last pollecie swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne and desolate state of hys frende whom as he doubted not woulde deserne in tyme what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact chiefly for that in preseruinge y e honour of a familie he thought it more expediente to exterminat the two principall offenders then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house wherefore regarding the rest of his traine hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mercy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life escrâ—ed the morder with open mouthe as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe wherein her hope was frustrate for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes for mercie to Roderico who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng made a signe to his men to put effecte to his commandement Geniuera entreating for the liues of her page and woman desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her froÌ„ whom the falte yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womaÌ„ to kepe her fayth to her husbande is deriued and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wretches least th execution of their ynnocentiâ— increase your detestable offence oh saieth she with her handes and eyes beholdyng the heauens thou my most deare and lawfull husbande whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceritie of my loue then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake neyther shalte thou for thy parte oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde glorifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentlewoman and muche lesse made a breache into her honor eyther by terrible threates or sugred perswations vpoÌ„ which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death hadd somewhat quallified her vehemency and mortified the greatest part of her former furies Dom Diego by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico with this requeste My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre vndoubted meanyng towardes me that if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert So considering the cause of this misfortune procedes only of the malice of mine owne destenie and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs I beseche you by the vertue of your honor for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me to graunte me yet one requeste whiche is that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her companie you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim with no lesse assuraunce and saffetie then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego for my parte being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies I am perswaded to a contentement touchinge my lot assurynge you for the reste that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth giueth me more cause of passion then y e gréef which I endure by her meanes troubleth me let her liue in peace and me in exspectation to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres till whiche tyme I haue sworne to kepe resideÌ„ce in