Certaine tragicall discourses written out of Frenche and Latin, by Geffraie Fenton, no lesse profitable then pleasaunt, and of like necessitye to al degrees that take pleasure in antiquityes or forreine reapportes

The argument.

BEcause I haue already in diuerse places suf∣ficientlye deciphered the forces of loue, and what effectes he exposeth, hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensu∣al appetyt, whereō whosoeuer Syppeth, swa¦loweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies: I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place, that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those, whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill, Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of ge∣neralitie, that, that infection procedes rather of the corrup∣cion of our owne nature, then of the perfection of the same: Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to ad∣uowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man, wherein I see neyther authoritie to al¦lowe their saing, nor reason to confirme their opinion, on∣les they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion, for a familiar testymonie wherof, I haue preferred this historie folowing, not only affirminge my former pro¦testacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue, but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference, betwene the deuise of loue, and raginge fyttes of frenezy, or one posseste with a wicked spirite, for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan (to enioye a presence and plea¦sure of his La•••••• refuseth not to cōmit himselfe to mani∣fold daungers, with diuerse perillous encounters, wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other, and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder, albe∣it his felicitie defended him from harme, and the peril pas∣sed makes him dread a future plunge,

SONDRYE PERILLS, happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myl∣lanin the poursewte of his Ladye

NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FOR∣CE by the guide of euill fortune, & wante of good gouernmente in himselfe, hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS, whō the power and pollecie of the great TRI∣VOLSO did not only abandon their natu∣rall soyle and place of a bode, dryuinge theym from the pos∣session of their worldlye porcions, but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie, that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare, if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope, they reaposed in thassis∣tance of themprour MAXIMILIAN, who more willing then hable to restore their desolation, pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN: where he receyued suche hoat repul∣ses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon (thenne viceroye or deputie to the frenche kynge) that pain∣tynge the gates wyth the blod of hys capteines, and leauing the deade bodyes of hys people in witnes of his beyng there, the maiestie retorned wythe more commendacion for hys good meanynge, thenne fame or glorye of the victorie, lea∣uyng the miserable s••radyates (bathed in the teares of their seconde sorowe) to the guide and gouernemente of their for∣tune, who seamed at laste to enter into suche compassion of their miserie, that shee restored the greateste parte not only to the libertie of their contrey and societie of former haby∣tacion,

but also to chuse of their goodes and reuenues vsur∣ped by the enemie: the rest shee deuided into diuerse corners of christendom, som went to Trent and were sworne the sub∣iectes of Francis Sforce Duke of Bary, other found place of abode in the kingdom of Naples, to some she gaue passeporte to at∣tempte the deuocion of the wholly vicar of rome, and the rest repaired to MANTVA: amongest whiche ••••ewe or last com∣pany, was one CORNELIO (vpō whom this history maketh his chiefest discourse) whom albeit fortune had made parta∣ker of her malice amongest the reste of his contreymen, yet hys mynd grudging with thiniurye of fate, loste nothing of her entyer and vertue, for notwithstandinge hee was of the race of the SFORCIANS, and chiefest enemye to the vsur∣ped gouernement and prowde behauior of the frenchemen wythin MILLAN, and that hee had lefte amongeste theim his inheritance and goodes to confiscacion, yet was he assis∣ted wyth so fyne a pollecye and great indeuor of his mother, that he had sufficient exhibicion to meinteyne his auncient porte and callinge.

And as the statelie viewe and feyture of his complexion and lyms, presented a speciall conninge of nature, lackynge besides no gyfte or qualitie due to a gentleman and pestered wythall wyth no more yeres then were conueniente for the decoracion of so seamely a bewtie: So being the chiefe cour∣tier that hawnted the companie of Ladyes, and no lesse wel∣come amongest the lostie dames of MILLAN afore the sub∣uercion of their societie by the crueltie of the fren∣chemen, hee made a choise of one from amongeste the reste, whom he failed not to court wyth a contynual proffer of his seruice and other offices of humanitie prescrybed in the skole of loue, vntill he thought himselfe sufficientlye rampierd in the intralls of her hart, and left her no lesse willinge to yelde a perticipacion of affection, then himselfe passioned wyth de∣syer to pursewe the quest and conquere her bewtie, her name was PLAVDINA equall to him in the height of estate, and nothing inferior in the golden giftes and ornamentes of na∣ture?

And albeit she had newlie made a proofe of the maried mans pastyme, & offred the flower & first frutes of her vir gynitie vpon thalter of wedlocke: yet the youngnes of her yeres (defending her bewtie from al argumentes of alteraci∣on or cha••ng) wolde not suffer the hoat and often encoun∣ters of her husbande, to ympaire any waye the glasse or pre∣cious dye of so rare a perfection: wherein as she was noted y^e odd peragon of Italy aswell for that respecte, as other orna∣mentes of maiestie incydente to honor: So the commenda∣cion of these vertues seamed not so fyt an instrument to ad∣uance her fame and glorye, as presente meanes to pro∣cure treble passion to the new disquiet of CORNELIO, who greued not so muche wyth the sentence of aduersitie, as cry∣ed out of the Lawe of nature and malice of his presente for∣tune, for that the one had geuen hym a harte to loue, and li∣bertie to chuse, and the other being his guide in the toile and trauell of his sute, toke hym awaye when hee attended to reape the frutes of his harueste, but that whiche broughte more oyleto hys matche, and kindled the coales of freshe dis∣quiett was, that albeit he knewe hym selfe to be reciprocal∣lie loued, or at leaste nere the good wyll of his ladye, yet was hée voyde of meanes and mynisters to solicite hys cause, or bewraie that whyche hee durste not discouer, other thenne thamarous regardes and glaunces of the eye, wyth certeine sighes and secret wringing of the hande, and kisses gotten by stealthe in corners, whiche albeit argued a likelihod and SIMPATHYA of affection, ympartinge an e∣qualitie of desyer to the hartes of theim both, yet the one be∣inge affraied to geue the charge, and the other ashamed to resigne without any alaram, seamed bothe plonged indiffe∣rentlye in a passion of doubt and feare, vntill loue (whose af∣faires can not well bée dispatched without thassistance of a thirde) quarellinge with the simplicitye of Cornelio, presen∣ted him with a messenger conueniente for the conueighe of their buysines: for there was a pore Swaine, sometime ser∣uing as a drudge to the mother of CORNELIO, and nowe

preferred to his Ladye PLAVDINA in the rowmthe of her wagyner or coache dryuer, whose office as it was alwayes to go by the doare of her coache when her pleasure was to ••isyt places of solace, and take open ayre in the feldes, so rea∣posinge muche for himselfe in the fidelitie of his slaue, thin∣king to enioyne a greater credit to thauthorytie of his small office, admitted him in his hart the aptest coll carier betwene hym and his Ladye: wherfore after he had contured hym by feare and faire promisses to ad••owe his diligence to ••hutter∣moste, wyth no lesse secrecye, then wisedom, and conuenient expedicion at al tymes, he made a firste proofe of his pollecie and fyne conueighe of his charge, in the delyuerye of a letter, whiche be willed him to presente vnto PLAVDINA, thinward affection and disposition of whose hart, as hee mea∣sured by the messages of her eyes, so he preferred his seruice & boarded her good wil w^t these tearmes: If it were not good madam that euerye state and condicion of man, were subiect to his peculyar desaster, and that the noble hart (made of a de∣licat mettal) is more full of affections and apte to encl••yne to the loare of loue, then the rest of the rude and harbarous people, I woulde thinke that the passion whyche pinchethe suche as do loue, were a skourge and due correction sente from aboue, for a chastismente of their lostye and wanton ymagynacions, but seinge it is moste sewer that nature hath put a certeine difference betwene the dispositions of her crea∣tures, wyth a desier to pursewe the sommonce of her insti∣gacion accordinge to the priuiledge of their degrée, it is not in our power to disclaime thinstructions of such a guide, nor degenerat from thinstinct of that destenie geuen vs in oure conception, wherin as the noble mynde loathinge the enter∣pryse of base or vile condicion, delites in such conquestes as yelde moste fame or commendacion, So you oughte not to meruaile, if the glymeringe beames of your rare bewtie, paynted by deuine arte in the forefronte of your face, the a∣doracion whyche all men yelde to youre singler vertues,

with other semely perfections and gyftes of maiestie gyuen you by the heauens for a dowry aboue the rest, haue made me strike saile of my former lybertie, wyth franke resi∣gnacion of my harte and dearest parte in me, to the dis∣posicion of your mercye, neyther haue I any cause at all to mislike the sentence of my fate, or grudge wyth the lot of my present choice, yf the respecte of my vnfained loue and sincere loyaltye, maye moue you to paye the tribute of my seruice, with an assuraunce of semblable affection, wherein because both daunger and distaunce of our abodes (denienge the tongue to do his office) barreth vs also to vse the benefytt of mutuall conference, I humbly craue (good Madam) an absolute resolution by your letters, of that which the secret signes and messengers of loue, do not only put me in hope, but importes a warrantie of the conquest of your good wyll, wherein yf I maye be assisted with the goodnes of the heauens, and consent of fortune so farfurth, as the same maye make me meritorious of your fauour, and that the meritt of my seruice maye bée measured with a graunte of your good wil, there shall no peril withstande the proffer of my lyfe to do you pleasure, nor any occasion or chaunce whether it be accidental or proper, haue power to breake the vowe which my harte hath alredie sworne to dye and lyue in the seruice and contemplacion of youre beautie, neyther shal any Ladye in this corner of the world, haue more cause to ioye in the choice of her seruāt, then the Peragon Plaudi∣na, whose hande I kysse with greate humilitye, and honour the remembrance of her name, with no lesse sinceritie being absent, then desyerous to yelde my homage with due adora∣cion to the presence of so faire a creature. Yours more then his owne. Cornelyo.

The Ladye being darted afore with the desyer of Cornelio, and wold gladly haue entred the listes and gyuen the onset, if it had not bene for the respect of her honour, was nowe so wounded to the quicke, that she fel into tearmes of commē∣dacion of her chaunce, blissynge the goodnes of her fortune,

that had not onely planted her affection in so highe a place, but (yeldynge her rewarde wyth semblable glée) hath made her the mystres of hym, whom her hart had alredye chosen and admitted into vndoubted fauor, whiche she confirmed eftesones with such tearmes of gratulation and arguments of present gladnes, that yf the remorce of shame and re∣putacion of her honor, hadde not bene impedimentes to the desyer of her harte, cloasinge her mouth againste the present conceytes of ioye in this newe societie, she had im∣mediatlye dismissed the messenger, with absolute assurance to performe the request of him that sent hym: wherof albeit shame seamed to abridge the expedicion, and offer causes of staye for the time, yet wantynge force to mortifye altoge∣ther the humour of ragyng desyer, the was driuen to gyue place to the prouocation of loue, who deuestinge her of ho∣nest shamfastnes, whiche oughte to be the chiefe habite and decoracion of the beautie of greate Ladyes, willed her to de∣ferre no lenger the thynge she had alredye vowed, & seynge y^e iniurie of present tyme, denied her to satisfye hym as she woulde, at leaste to yelde hym suche contentement as she maye: wherfore takynge pen, ynke and paper, she replied to his letter wyth this aunswere.

The circumstaunce of your present letter (syr) seames to argue an excepcion against the frendly lookes and glaunces of mine eyes, wherin albeit I could note a great simplicitie & want of discrecion in him, that constreth the regardes of a Ladye (cast at vnwares) to the commoditye of hymselfe in wynninge the good will of her that meaneth nothing lesse, then to make them the Ministers of loue: yet beinge more ready to content you therin, then curious of mine owne be∣hauiour, I am to acquite you of imputacion that waye, and cōuert y^e note of y^e follie to the ouersight of my selfe. And al∣beit the pleasant encounter of mine eys, seaming more libe∣ral on your behalf, with a familiaritie more thē ordinarie to al men, may persuade a certein differēce I haue put betwen the frendship of you & respect of any other, with desyer to em∣brace

you aboue any one creature. Yet was I of opiniō that your sondrye vertues & reputation of honor, would not suf∣fer you to chalenge me for the firste faulte, or to conuerte theis regardes of simple and colde fauor into suche conse∣quence, as to attempte the violation of that, which mine ho∣nor grudgeth to lose, and the vowe of faith to my husbande forbiddes me to depart withall: notwithstanding I yelde you no lesse thankes for your curtesye then you seame to gyue commendacion to my beautye and other giftes you note in me, accomptinge the same of greater price, by the value and estimacion you make of them, neither wil I refuse y^e proffer of your present frendship, which, (as I hope) is voyde of in∣tent to preiudice mine honor, so let it suffise you that I am not only contented to admit you into fauor, but also deter∣mined to hold you no lesse deare then the tendrest part of my selfe. And because letters (being incident to manye casual∣ties) are commonly the fyrst discloasers of the secretes of lo∣uers, my aduise is, that hensfurth you staye not only the di∣ligence of your pen, in sealing such great importance with∣in a dissemblyng pece of paper, but also be contented to com∣mit the whole conueighe of our busines to the credit of this bringer, who is to yelde you salutacion on the behalf of her, who ioyeng no lesse in the vnitye of this frendship, then ha∣ting the thing that maie seame hurteful to the cōsommariō of the same, doth wishe your constancie of no longer conti∣nuance, then you shal fynde cause of credit in the loyaltie of your vnfayned. Plaudina.

The report of this letter preferred such a possibilitie & likeli∣hode of good lucke to the Myllanoys, that dismissing euen now al argumēts of former doubte, he determined to accepte the offer of his fortune & pursue y^e benefit of present time, wher∣in he was so furthered by the diligence of the minister and messenger of their loue, that theare seamed to want (for the fynall complote of theyr busynes) but only the consent of conuenient tyme & place, which had folowed accordingly, yf for the more assurance of the bargaine they had bry••ed the

good wyll of the blinde goddesse, whom as the Poetes haue chrtstened by the name of Dame Fortune, gyuinge her charge ouer the change and alteracion of things, so she is not so in∣constant of her selfe, as readye to manifest her mutabilitie, when the wretches of the worlde seame to reapose mest as∣surance in her frendship. And as the pleasant apple muste∣ring with delicate glée vpō the heyght of the highest spraise, is blowen down, with the least poffe of winde that breathes, and so oppressed wyth the violence of the fal, that the fruts is quyte taken awaye in the middest of his glory, so the case and quiet of man, is fauored wyth so small a moment of time, and subiect to so many chaunges, that we oughte ney∣ther esteme (so greatlye as we do) the tikle pleasures of so small abode, nor iudge assurance in suche vncerteine vani∣ties, seing withal the same is of suche malicious disposicion, that when we haue laied the fundation of oure pleasure and prosperitie, with full perfuacion to enioye our quiet with∣out controllement it is then that fortune discouereth her ambushs, and inuaoynge vs at vnwares wyth the furye of her malice, paieth our former pleasure wyth an interest of treble desolacion, that fayleth not to attende vs euen vntill our fatall days of reapose, whereof you maye note a familyar proffe in the sequeile of this CORNELIO, who be∣inge vppon the point to taste of the delicat frutes in loue, and embrace hys Ladye with suche contentement as louers do commonlye wishe, and seldome encounter, beholde the malice of the Frenche men began to rage wyth suche ex∣tremitie againste the lynage of the SFORCIANS, where∣of he was one of the chiefest) that he was dryuen to a∣uoyde the present daunger of hys lyse, wyth a soddaine fleight and secrete stealynge oute of the towne, wherin he was so hoatlye puriued with thextremitye of his perill, that beyng barred anye leasure to communicate wyth hys dearest frends, & lesse time to impart his mish ap to his lady, or once salute her with a simple farewell, which seamed not so greuous to himselfe, as of treble-dolour to the sorowfull

PLAVDINA, who distillynge no small nomber, of teares on the behalfe of the soddain departure and absence of her deare frende, and restored at laste to a moderation and patience by force, began to cast the circumstaunce of his daunger, wher∣in the ymagined all suche doubtes as eyther hope or feare coulde put in her head, somtime persuadynge, he should bee ouertaken and oppressed by the waye, and by and by she fea∣red leaste he were betrayed into the handes of his enemies, by the malice of such as he put intruste with his life, wherin she was no lesse doubteful of the one, then in dispaire of tho∣ther, and in such perplexitie with the conceite of them both, that she seamed no lesse passioned for the time, then if the enemies of her frende had cut her CORNELIO in peces a∣fore her face. And as she molde haue dismissed theis tragi∣call conceites of doubte & feare, and retired to a quiet, wyth exspectation of better fortune, she was sodainly assailed. with a seconde alarame in her hart, which mortifyenge all care of the well doinge of her absent CORNELIO, preferred a vehe∣ment desyer not onely to recouer hym (wherin appcared a greate impossibilitye) but also wishinge to bée a companyon of his iorney, and partaker of his miserye, she seamed to ex∣pose a franke of that whiche earste she was ash amed and made conscience to graunt, & as she was voyd of al com∣fort in this calamitys, sauinge that the often remembrance of her frende, seamed to restore some litle contentement, so ymagininge that the breath of the ayre wolde cary the Eccho of her complaintes into the eares of hym that was gon, she saluted his absence with theis tearmes.

All thinges ought to be hatefull to the eares, which seame hurteful to the quiet of the mynde, and yet one chiefe conso∣lation wee fynde in miserye, is to recorde the circunstaunce of our misfortune, neither can that grief be of greate impor∣tance, whose cause is of small moment, but alas what sorow is semblable to the separacion of frendes? Ah CORNE∣LIO what auncient grudge procureth this newe mislike, or what offence haue I don of late, that makes me merito∣rious

of this greate discurtesye? Wyl thou paye the merite of my frendshypp wyth so vnthankefull a trybute, and a∣buse therspeaarion whiche all men had of thy vertue? haste thou plyed me to thappetit of thy wyll, and no we determi∣ned to leaue me in the greatest distresse of desyer to enioye thée? or canst thow vse so small regarde to the desolate state of the sorowfull PLAVDINA, as leauynge her hathed in the teares of vnderserued dule, to steale awaye, wyth oute the comfort of one simple adieu? What nedest thou haue doubted to commununicate wyth her, who hath alwayes reserued an equall care of thy sauetye, and her owne lyfe? And yf the loue thou haste vaunted to bere me, had bene matched wyth an vnfained meanynge of continuance and constancie, the feare of the enemy had not preuented thy comminge to me, for loue alas defyeth the malice of daunger, and perill is the thynge that least troubleth the harte that is trulye affectio∣nate: What comfort in my present miserie, or exspectation of future redresse, beinge out of hope eftesones to reclaime hym, that receyued but nowe the sentence of continuall exile? How am I plunged in a passion of double extremetie, meyther content to disclayme my affection, and lesse hable to dismisse the remembrance of hym that is the cause of my wo? I fynde nowe (alas to soone.) Howe iustelye we wo∣men mave exclayme againste nature, who framynge vs of a brickle moulde apte to yelde, and easye to be wonne, hath enioyned vs withall a certeine vehemencie of affecti∣on, pearsynge the harte wyth desyer in suche sorte, as be∣ing once thorowlye coyffed wyth loue, we are not onelye forsaken, when wée wishe thieflye to embrace the obiect of oure appetit, but also are subiect to abyde all sortes of re∣uenge of the ordinarye rigour of men. And what rigouro? wronge haue I offred the Dh CORNELIO wherof I haue not felte the firste apprehencion? For forcyng my selfe to yelde the contentement, I spared not the proffer of myne honour to purchasse thy frendshipp, and in gyuynge the assuraunce of my good wyll, I haue spotted the renowme

of my former reputacion, whereof the bloode of shame puttes me in remembraunce wyth grudge at so greate a faulte, and thy conscience is my present witnes of my vnfayned loyaltye: neyther wyll the flatteryng lynes of thy sondrie letters conceile this discurtesye, nor the messenger and faythfull solicitour of oure loue, forgett to re∣proche the of vnconstaunt behauyour to thy loyall PLAVDINA, who feelynge now what it is to lacke the societye of hym, whome the harte hath chosen to loue, is equallie pin∣ched wyth the panges of suche as plunged in the passion of desyer, do wyshe that they wante, and lacke the thynge they chieflye woulde haue, whereby they seame to norishe lyfe wyth the onely breathe of a simple and colde hope. But why am I so pertiall on myne owne behalfe, in exclaimyng againste the discurtesye of hym, who peraduenture deser∣ueth not theis tearmes of blame? or why doe I not rather respect the true cause of his departure, sturred vp (as it sea∣meth) by the necessitye of the tyme, forcinge hym to haban∣don his parentes, countreye and reuenue, onles he wolde quenche the thirste of his enemyes, wyth the abundance of his blood, and appease theyr malyce wyth the price of his heade, certeinlye the vertues and gyftes of CORNELIO acquite hym of all argumentes of inconstancie neyther can a bodye of so rare perfection harbor suche dyssemblynge disposicion. But as the desyerous harte is seldome at rest, so the doubtefull mynde is dreadefull of deceite, and qua∣reliynge continuallye with his good hap or synister for∣tune, is alwayes in ymaginacion what iudgement to re∣solue vppon the condition of his owne estate, so my case is of no lesse perpleritie, for wafting indifferētly betwene happie chaunce, & euil successe, I fele my selfe double passioned, som∣time moued to reioice my good hap, in beīg loued of so honest curteouse, & noble a gentlemā as Cornelio, and by & by driuen to inueighe againste my euill fortune, that hath put suche distance and seperacion of oure bodies when we weare at

point to performe the consommacion of our acquaintaunce. And albeit the common chaunces of this worlde resemble a confection made of hony and gall, and that the banquettes of loue, beinge garnished with dishes of both sortes, will vs to make choice wyth deliberacion, alledgynge that the plea∣sure is not so great, as the repentaunce & penaunce of harde disgestion, yet I thinke the vertue to performe the vowe of the hart, takes awaye the greatnes and haynous disposicion of the faulte, wherefore seing my hart hath made his choice, and the reste of my partes resolued to performe the quest, I wyll not onelye dismisse all doubtes of the assurance of his good wyll, but studye to excede hym in affection, deuisinge the meanes from hensfurth, to make hym féele the force of my goodwill, with the desyer I haue to knitt an indissoluble vnitye of the ij. mindes, whose bodies are forced to lyue in seperacion by the malice of the worlde, and angrie dome of our fortune.

Here yf PLAVDINA inueighed onely vpon ij. pointes of her desaster, the one for the soddaine departure of her frende and the other for the doubte she seamed to put in the assu∣raunce of his loue, it is to bée thoughte that CORNELIO had cause of treble complaint, bothe to be driuen to saue his lyfe by cowardlye flighte, to steale awaye in suche secret & scilent maner, as only his guide was pryuie to his goinge, & also to bée distressed with such shortnes of time, that he was barred to seame thankeful to his Ladye with a simple fare∣wel, whiche was sufficient to sturre vp her Ielous humour againste hym, but that whiche exceded the rest in greatnes of gréef, was that he had no man of trust to carye her newes of his being, and muche lesse durste he communicat his buy∣synes wyth any straunger, neyther had he hope to be aduer∣tised of the accurrantes of MYLLAN, nor meane to make reaport of his owne estate at MANTVA, for that he durst not discouer the place of his present abode there, wherefore cry∣eng out of the constellation and clymat of his destynies, he complained his vnhappie case in this sorte

If my offence were as greate, as my punyshmente is gre∣uous: I wolde thinke no submission worthie of place, nor my falte meete to be dispensed withall, or if I had as iustlye deserued this wronge, as I am sewer to suffer the smarte, I had no reason to commence cause of complaint agaynste the malice of y^e world, & much lesse accuse the iniquitye of present tyme, nor yet crye out of y^e synister disposition of fortune, to whom as the poetes seame to attribute some power ouer our worldly affaires (bestowinge their indeuor therin I thinke) rather to féede the time and ymagynacions of the people, with a shape or figure of an vnconstante creature, then wyth in∣tente to perswade a credit in so senceles an ymage: so I am also perswaded by the present experience of her inconstancie, that she is not so liberall to geue, as readye to take awaye, a lesse hable to contynue the felicitie wherwyth she seames to flatter y^e conceite of y^e simple, for whō she hath brought to beleue in her, she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then hable to receiue it: wherin who maye more iustely ex∣claime agaynst her mobylitie, thē y^e vnhappie CORNELIO, whō (being fauored w^t y^e offer of a reciprocal affection, and at the pointe to be put in the possession of his desyer) shee hath not only taken the praie out of my mouthe, but comitted me wyth cruelty, into the vale of extreme desolacion: of what moment are y^e greatnes of princes, or to what end serues ho∣nor or highe callinge, seinge bothe the one and the other are subiect to confucion, and readye to yelde at the leaste poffe of winde that bloweth from a contrary shoare. Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner callinge, thenne∣mie wolde neyther watche my doings wyth so manye eyes, nor pursewe my deathe by publike or pryuate inuacion, and I suffered to liue as free from the troubles and tumultes of the worlde, as farr from any care or accompte of the doings of great men, where nowe alas thonly heighte of my estate, tipped wyth the tytle of honor, depryueth me of thuse of my contrey, societie of my frendes, and contemplacion of the

thinge I holde no lesse deare thenne the healthe of my soule: But if any thinge colde stoppe the couetous hu∣mor of man, and euerye one (contente wyth the lot of his porcion) would cease to inuade the dominion of an other, kinges shoulde sytt sewer in their troanes, and the pallais of princes voide of suspicious feare and care, and then (myne owne PLAVDINA) shoulde not I liue wythout the compa∣nie of the, nor thou haue cause to doubt the firme constan∣cie of thy seruant, whose reputacion of honor and faythe to∣wardes his prince, denieth hym for the presente, to honor the wyth the duetye whych thy vertues deserue, and albeit it is no lesse follye then tyme loste, to trauell in dispite of loue and fortune, whyche bothe haue conspired my distruc∣tion, and ioyned in confente to kepe mee frome enioy∣enge the fauor of her, who merites the seruice of one more noble and worthie euery way then I, and because no distāce shal dissolue my affection, nor dymynishe the leaste braunche of good will, nor yet time her selfe haue power to ouertreade the vertue of my faythe, I will so dispose of the reste of my life, as the same shall make absolute declaracion of the vn∣fained constancie of my mynd, wyth the sincere vowe of loy∣altie, whiche I haue sworne and dedicated to the seruice of her deuyne bewtie, euen vntill the laste and extreme sepe∣racion of my soule and bodie: wherin because aduersatie is rather subiect to many miseries, then apte to admit any con∣solation, and that the goodwill of fortune, comes rather at vnwares, then won by speciall sute, I wyl perforce contente my selfe wyth the gyfte of presente time, and vsinge the re∣membrance of my mistres as a speciall moderation of the hardnes of my exile, so honor thymage and picture of her bewtie, painted alreadie in thintralls of my harte, that thon∣ly remembrance and inward view of my deare PLAVDINA, shall norishe the remeindor or my miserable daies, wyth no lesse contentment being absent, then I toke pleasure in y^e re∣garde of her glistring eyes and the rest of her delicat propor∣cion, at such time as my good fortune was content to geue

me the glée of her presence. Wherin Albeit hee spente cer∣teine time, wyth ymagynacion that his Ladye harde the crye of his complaintes, and gaue iudgemente of his syde, for thassurance of his loyaltie, yet he forgat not to hawnte the companies of the Dames of MANTVA, refusinge to resem∣ble in any wise the order of those shaded louers who brought vp in the skoole of one ROMANTO TRISTANO, or lea∣dinge therraunte and obscure lyfe of AMYDES, do fill the ayre full of their dollorous sighes, and sekynge to recorde their passions in the depe and hidden caues of the earthe, delyte not in the place and felowshippe of good hawnte, ney∣ther are they at any time so well in quiet, as when they feele their desolate bodies shrowded vnder the shade of solitarye places, or when by longe ranginge the wildernes and de∣serte landes, they fynde by chaunce some odd hermitage farr from the vse and ordynary habitacion of men, where fedynge only vpon the hoalsomnes of the ayre, and ymagy∣nacion of their owne conceit, they pyne away in exspectation that some good Aungell or oracle, wyll appeare vnto theim wyth the message of good newes, or els the fatall sentence of their lyfe. As those kynde of tortles or domesticall fooles, degeneratinge from the planet that gouerneth thinclyna∣cion of true louers, whose complexion ought not to be dym∣med wyth the darkenes of desolate places, do seame to haue their consepcion from vnder the angrye and crabbed constel¦lacion of SATVRNE, wishinge willinglie that their Ladies were conuerted into the shape of Nymphes, whom the poe∣tes faine to wander and dwell in the thickest couert of the woddes, to thende that none but they shoulde enioye the glaunce and viewe of their bewtie: So the true and lōyall louer, (armed wythe vnfayned assuraunce of his vowe) doubts not to aduance himself in the presse of most repaires, thinkinge he can geue no greater proofe or declaration of hys constancie to his mistres, then to withstand thymportu∣nities and alarams of other, which you may note in this Cor∣nelio, who visiting the assemblies & metings of the Ladies of

MANTVA was marked ymediatly of one of the chiefest La∣dies of the Citie, and regarded wyth so good an eye, that fal∣linge extremely in loue wyth the vertues and other dexte∣rities of the banished knight, she embraced hym so straite∣lye in the intrals of her harte, that vppon thinstante she had forgot the honour and reputacion of her state, wyth the vaile of shame, (which ought to soole the eyes of great Ladies, and correcte the humor of their fonde appetit) in executing thoffice of a shamefull clyent, in a cause, whiche she neyther ought to haue solicited, and muche lesse condiscended vnto by force of any ymportunities howe great soeuer they were, if it had not bene for thassistance of an olde neighbour of hers who vnderstandinge the disease of her mistrys, promised her diligence to procure the remedye with expedicion, wher∣in she omitted no oportunitye as occasion was geuen, for attendinge the offer of conuenient time, she founde the mea∣nes to encounter (CORNELIO one morninge all a lone in a churche, at whom she roaued in this sorte.

The condition of nobilitye consistes not so muche in the title and surname of honor, as in the commendacion and ef∣fecte of true vertues, appearinge in a grafte discended of so noble a stocke: And the greatest thinge (Sir) that makes a valyante man knowen to the worlde, and preserueth the re∣nowne of his reputacion in entyer, is not to refuce thocca∣syon and offer of his fortune, geuen him for thincrease of his felicitie, neyther can any man more abuse thexcellente giftes and goodnes of nature, then to contemne thinstinct & pryuiledge whyche she hathe geuen him for the decoracion of his estate. The gentleman somewhat astonied wyth the soddayne encounter of his neighbour, seamed to marueile no lesse at the retorike of tholde MARMOTTA, then muse what myghte bée thintent of such formal protestacion, wher wyth for his parte, hauinge no great leasure to deuise for his aunswere, cold not replie but wyth tearmes of curtesye in this sorte. Yf at vnwares my tonge hath stollen a libertie in talkynge the thynge that hathe offended the eares of you

or any other, or by like ouer sighte haue don that whyche your disposition can not brooke, nor the Law of curtesye al∣lowe wyth the consente of your opynion, I am rather to be pardoned by course, then punished by iustice, for that suche offences beinge common and naturall, seame rather to pro∣cede of ignorance, then of thinstigacion of malice, or corrup∣tion of the mynde, wherin as your iudgemente is no lesse e∣quall then my innocencye meritorious, so if it wyll please you to reueale the chiefe pointes of my falte, you shal sée the hardenes of the pennaunce, with treble satisfaction of the wronge, shall take awaye the foulnes of the fact: which kinde of curteys replie liked not a litle the eares of the messenger, who accomptinge him worthie to enioye the good will of the greatest Ladie of a contrey, gaue iudgement of the victorie wyth ende of thenterprice, wherin notwithstanding she was no lesse deceaued, then shame, with the respect of her callinge oughte to haue cloased her mouthe, from solycitinge so badd a case: for albeit she discouered point by poynte, the cause of her cominge, with a peculyar commendacion and praise of the Ladie that sent her, forgettinge not to decypher artyfy∣ciallie her sondrye properties and many giftes of nature, but chieflie her vnfained affection, with readie offer and confor∣metie of that, whereof Lawe of kinde makes all men not only desierous, but studie to wyn by longe sute and seruicea∣ble diligence, yet wantinge force to shake the walls of so sewer a fortresse, her arte seamed also insufficiēt to perswade the mynde of CORNELIO, who albeit was of opynion and knew well enough, that the wisedom was no lesse in accep∣tinge thoffer of a good aduenture, then the follie of doble moment to refuce the preferment of fortune, yet was he so whollie resolued in the loyall loue of his Ladye at MILLAN, whose only and simple remembrance, restored suche a re∣morce of the vowe whiche his hart had alredie sworne on her behalfe, that he seamed more willinge to embrace the last and fatal dome of his lyfe, then desyerous to abuse the least point of his dutie and seruice vnto her, And albeit the desyers wée

feele sturre in vs, ymporte no other thinge then a certeine mirror or lokinge glasse receiuinge the darke ympressions whych our appetites presente vnto vs, and that they whiche ymagyn whole castells of constancie, with protestacion ne∣uer to fainte in the vowe they haue made, do no other thing thenne giue occasion to writars to bewtyfye their histories with the circumstance of their follie, with suche a blowe and open mockerye in the ende, that they sticke not to dis∣cribe their vaine and fonde humor vppon publike stage, in the hearinge of all the worlde, yet am I of opynion, that as the garmente that is fyt for euery man, is well framed for no man, so the harte that is as apte to declyne as the appetit is readie to sommon, is neyther meritorious of fauor in any sort, nor meete to kepe place in the rancke of the vertues, chieflye where hee refuseth thobiecte of his owne choice, neyther is it possible that two sonnes geue lighte to y^e world at one instante, nor once conueniente for the mynde of one man, to embrace thymage or figure of more then one saint, wherein thexample of CORNELIO, callinge vs to thymy∣tacion of the like vertue, serues also to confute thopposici∣ons of certeine couetous Ladies now a daies, who rather gre¦die of glorie, thenne hable to deserue it, do not sticke to whet their wittes and inueighe synisterly against thinconstancie of men, transporting the whole title and honor of true loy∣altie to themselues, as though there remained no sparke nor showe of that vertue in the hartes of men, who as they were the firste partakers of that gifte, so the constante order of their doinges and lyues (beinge founde for the moste parte the longeste in breath) do argue them no lesse worthy of that perfection, then hable to excede that flatteringe crew of flic∣keringe creatures, who in robbinge vs of that which we de∣serue by iuste title, doo seame to bewtifye theimselues wyth the merite of other mens vertues: But because the eares of al women can not brooke the hearinge of a troth and that the pursewte of this quarrell, (arguinge a more daun∣ger

in thaduenture, then gaine in the victorye) mighte set abroache the faltes of some of our contreywomen, I am con∣tente to geue theim that they will haue by force, and reti∣ringe to the place of my historie, declare vnto you the aun∣swer of CORNELIO to the messenger. I am sorye (saieth he) the large honor and liberall offer whyche you seame to presente vnto me on the behalfe of your Lady and mystrys, is of a more highe momente, thenne eyther I am worthys to possesse, or hable to requite wyth equall merite, wherein because the harde condition of my presente state, seames my chiefeste enemye to soo greate a prefermente, I doubte howe to seame thankefull to her, and satisfye the tyme both together, albeit as thinges ympossible are not to bee pur∣sewed, and offences forced of necessitie are moste meritori∣ous of pardon, so beynge not hable to aunswere her exspecta∣cion in counterchaunge of affection, I am onlye to racke the litle tallent that is lefte me to so highe a pyn, that onlye shee shall dispose of my honor and lyfe wyth all that I haue in the worlde at her pleasure, whyche it maye like her to vse as a supplie of y^e presēt dutie and seruice she demaundes at my hand, onelye being at this presente not the maister of my selfe, nor the vse of my harte in mine owne possession, my sute is that shee rather blame the wronge whiche time offreth to vs bothe, then note me of any disdayne in refusing the frendshippe of her, who merites more then I am hable to performe: for if my harte were as frée from forreine and former bondes, as shée deserueth to be serued, and that my affections did not excede thordenary ympressions whiche as∣saile the mynde of man, assure youre selfe shee shoulde not lyue longe vnsatysfyed to her contentmente, and muche lesse haue cause to enter into suspection of Ieleous disdaine in me, for retorning the offer of that which maye serue for a present to the greatest prince in ITALY: neyther will I so much abuse the proffer of her acquaintance, or cause of your cōming, as eyther her liberal offer, or vehemēcie of your im∣portunities on her behalf, shal moue me to resolue a worseo∣pynion or more slēder credyt on y^e honor or honestie of her y^t sente

you, desyeringe you for end to preferr my excuse accordinge to thintegretie of the same, with this further addicion and humble requeste, that she bee as bolde to employe me in any other respecte, no lesse amplye and so far furthe, as my honor and lyfe will extende: more honestlie (saithe the messenger) colde you not refuce the offer of that whyche earste was ne∣uer presented to any, and muche lesse so neare the poynte to make a price of so precious amarchandise, neyther do I thinke you worthie of the title of that courtesye, whereof you are commended, nor yet am I of mynde that youre harte is capable of the noble vertue of loue, seynge y^e reno∣wne & honor of her, whose bewty only hath the greatest prin∣ces of Italye in awe, canne make no breache nor enter. And who woulde seame of so slender iudgemente (onlesse hee hadde quite disclaimed the order of reason) that beinge proffered frelie that, whiche princes can not get by any sute, and not onely desired, but pursewed wyth greate instance, wolde let slippe the gyft of so good a fortune, and make chip∣pes of the frendshippe of so faire and curteons a Ladye: wyth what face dare you visyt hereafter th assemblies of greate dames, hauynge committed so greate a falte on the behalfe of her, whose goodwill you do not deserue, if her cur¦tesye did not call you to that prefermēt? are you of opynion that the merite of your bewtie and other proporcion, excedes the honore and heighte of her that woeth you? ymagyn the same to bee of suche force, that it is hable to drawe Ladyes to doate of you euen vnto deathe, woulde you become so harde harted as to encrease your glorye, wyth thexployt of so great a crueltie? If you bee subiecte to soo fonde an hu∣mor, you muste nedes bee incydente to the iuste reuenge which the god of loue is readie to thonder vpon such as seame to hold his loare in skornful contempte, whereof as I haue harde mo examples, then my skill is hable to reueile in good order, being neuer trained in the torning ouer of volumes & histories, So I wishe chieflie the plage of NARCISSVS maye

put you in remembrance of your present ouersighte, leaste in disdaininge the frendshippe of such as excell your selfe e∣uery way, you doate vppon thymage of your owne shadowe, and by that meanes yelde treble vsurye to the wronge you offer her, whose loyall affection deserueth a better rewarde then the retorne of a repulse of so small ymportance: wher∣with CORNELIO cuttinge of the reste of her waspishe dis∣course, desyered her to presse him wyth no greater ymputa∣cion, then his offence deserued, for (saieth he) in tearminge me vnworthie of the title of curtesye, and that my hart is to harde to admit the impression of loue, you rather slaunder me by ignorance, then accuse me by iustice, seinge the onlye force of loue hath forced alreadie a vowe of my affection and harte to a Ladie of MILLAN, whose presence albeit thini∣quitie of fate hath taken from me for a time, yet shall the on∣ly remembrance and inwarde regard of her bewtie and ver∣tue, suffice to minister sufficient moderaciō & chiefe cōpfort during y^e angry dome of my hard exile, neyther shal y^e force of any enchauntment, and much lesse y^e charme of any intysing perswacion, preuaile so far ouer mée, as once to make mée transgresse the leaste point of my confirmed loyaltie, where∣in as the Salemandre lyues in the flame, so wyll I pyne away and consume by péecemeale in the passion of true loue, til the angrye fates, ceassinge to wreake their malice vpon me, do place me in the possession of the due méede of my merit.

Here this olde enchauntresse vnderstandinge the circum∣stance and full of his disease, and that his harte was so tho∣rowlie lymed with the bewtie of his Ladie at MILLAN, that it denied thimpression of her offer, wherein albeit there ap∣pered an ympossibilitie to wythdrawe, or at leaste to procure moderacion to the vehemencie of his affection, yet beinge no lesse loath to take a foyle in her enterprise, then desyerous to performe her charg to thuttermost, wyth intente to retor¦ne the messeger of absolute cōtentmēt, or vndowted dispair, thoughte not to leaue hym till shee hadde Syfted and tryed euery synowe and vaine of his disposicion, and hauinge but

one pece of retoricke remayninge, shée boolked it out vn∣der a couertely kinde of reprehending his folie in this forte, are you one of that vaine crue (saith she) & archfooles of the world, that striuing to bende y^e bow of loyal louers, do make a glorie of a thing as requisite in loue, as cowardnes or wāte of courage in the soldiour meinteining skirmish against the enemie? do not you thinke that a woman of indifferent iud∣gement will not rather laughe at such foyle in her seruant, then allowe his fonde constancie begon without reason, and kepte with so small discrecion. And albeit it is glorye of a Ladye to be onely embraced and dearly beloued, & that they haue (as it were by a speciall instinct of nature) a desyer a∣boue all creatures to be the only possessours of the hartes of their louers, do you not thinke for all that, that they giue not leaue and libertye to theyr seruantes to make a seconde choyce or chaunge of mistres, to thende they maye be tho∣rowly resolued of the loyaltie of their seruante, and he dis∣cerne the true difference betwene the affections of bothe his Ladies. And sewer that hart is wroughte of strange mettal, and the sprite of slender capacitie, that being bounde (as it were) to a taske, is subiect only to one simple desyer, with∣out power to bestow his regardes in more places then one, admit constancie to be as greate a vertue as you make it, & that the faith in loue is to be kepte withoute violacion, I praye you in asking you one question by frendshipp, let me be aunswered by the veray touch and reaport of your con∣science, what assurance haue you of equalitye or semblable affection at the handes of your mistrys of Myllan, whome you haue more reason to doubte, then cause to beleue? Do you thinke that you are only beloued, or that beinge pu∣nished by exile, without greate hope eftesones to recouer you, she can continue as faythfull for her parte, as you seame foolishe in beinge the slaue and subiect of an ymage or shadowe of a thynge so farre hence? no, no, do awaye theis toyes of small substance, and let my experience Sei∣gneur Cornelyo prescribe you one chief and generall rule, that

no woman beinge once disposed to loue, and hauynge the obiect of her fancie taken out of her presence, is so hable to represse the humour of desyer, or correct thinstigacion of her appetit, as it is eyther in her power to disclaime at her pleasure, or degenerat from that wherin she hath a facilitie by nature: But as one spoiled of all resistance & arguments of vertue, she ceasseth not to followe the queste of her li∣cencious inclinacion, till she haue founde a freshe supplie to enter the lystes, and paye tharrerages of hym that first con∣quered the place. Women be neither equall wyth saintes nor like vnto angels, neyther are they made of other mettal then suche as is distilled of thimperfections of your selues, and in place of priuiledge or frée dispence from the passions of loue, I affirme theim to excede all other creatures in the vehemencye of that impression, and chieflye where the effect, doth not followe thassurance of the worde: for as the drawinge glaunces of the eye, and pleasaunt platt of the tongue, is rather an earnest penny of y^e bargaine, then a ful consommacion of thaggrement, so the hungrye appetit of the hart affected, is neuer satisfyed to his contentement, till he haue tasted of the delicate frute growynge in the middest of thorcharde and paradise of loue, whiche onely concludes and knyttes vp the reste of thimperfect bargain: wherein as I must confesse vnto you, that both the lawe of loyaltye is to be obserued, and faith kepte inuyolable, where we fynde an vnitie of affection, and full effect of our desyer so to bestowe loue in the ayre, and lyue without hope of the thing that is wished, I accompte, it rather the part of a mad∣man, then office of one that hath his wittes at cōmaūdemēt, nether doth the end of suche pynyng cōceites importe other cōsequence, then a loathsom wearines and vnnatural hate of lyf, with continuall exspectation to dye, and an euerlastinge remembrance of his follye after hys death. And for your parte, comparynge the SYMPTOMES of your present pas∣sion, with thunlikelihod I sée to haue spedie ende of youre

martirdom, you bringe in remembraunce the miserable state of y^e simple sparowhake, who being hooded to take away her wildnes, syttes al y^e day longe beckinge vpon her Iesses and whettinge her beake vppon the pearche, rather in dis∣paire then certein of the comming of her keper: let me pearce that harde harte of yours with perswacions of reason, and seame not so rashe in refusinge the goodnes of fortune, who albeit is accompted an enemy to moste menne, yet is she also frendlie to some, and ymagyn that once in the course of your lyfe, she kisseth your cheke, and holdeth her lapppe open with an offer of a good torne, whiche if you refuce, is not to be re∣claimed eftesones by any arte or pollecie, Conuert your af∣fection founded vpon such slipper substaunce, and no lesse in∣certaine of his due mede, into a ballance of equal frendshippe and harte of semblable honor and vertue, and exchange at last these languishinge conceites that tormente youre pyninge spirite, for a pleasure no lesse precious then of great merite, who is no lesse readie thē willing, & more apte to offer, then you hable to receiue, cease hensfoorthe to loue vppon credyt and crye out of the shadowe or figure of a thinge, that hathe neyther eares to heare your complainte, nor meanes to re∣leue your distresse, and thinke that the glorye of loue consis∣tes not in the simple desyer of the mynde, nor in the foolishe prouocacions of our vaine conceites, but passing further, the pleasante reward and tryumphe of that victorie, consisteth in the consommacion of the worke, wythout the whiche, loue seameth no other thinge, then a bare plat or table whervpon the painter maye drawe what propercion hee lyste. And truely as there is no manne happie in loue, nor hathe cause to vaunte of the victorye, but hée that encountrethe thob∣iecte of hys desyer, soo mee thinketh a manne shoulde not loue that hee hathe not, nor desyer the thynge that is vt∣terlye vnknowen vnto hym, I saye thus muche (Syr) be¦cause youre resolute affection towardes youre Ladye of MYLLAN seamethe rather to argue ann humor of

frenzye, then vertue in loue, and vayne opinion, then true effect, aduisynge you for ende to haue a care of your selfe and speciall regarde to this laste request of myne, that is, in leauyng the shryne to honor the sainct, and to cloase your mouthe from gapinge after that you can not get, as the vu∣quiet dogge in the night that barketh at the shadowe of the Moone.

The Oration of this bawde semed suche Musicke to the ea∣res and mynde of CORNBLIO, that he rather wished a con∣tinuance of her iargon, then an abridgement of her tale, but seynge she gaue ende to her owne discourse, with exspectatiō to heare hys replye, he dysmissed her with this shorte aun∣swere: albeit your present repeticion of thabuse in loue (sea∣minge in some respect to bee assisted bothe with rayson and Iustice) dothe discouer diuerse faltes in sondrye women, wherof as you say the most part deliteteth asmuch to Ronne ryot and seeke a chaunge of pasture, as the other takes plea∣sure in the vertue of true constancie, yet oughte wee to vse suche an integretie betwene the good and euill, that the fal∣tes of the wicked, do not deface the renowme of theym that deserue but well, and as you saye it is harde for a manne to loue that he hathe not, so I note no lesse-rashnes in you to giue iudgement of the thinge you knowe not, but by exami∣nacion: for I am fullie perswaded, that no distance of places, nor aduersitie of times, haue power to dyminishe, and much lesse dissolue thaffection of her, whose presence I hope here∣after to enioye with no lesse pleasure, then her absence sea∣mes now to gyue me cause of annoye. And albeyt I haue not yet tasted of the frute whiche all louers do wyshe, and fewe happen to fynde, yet dare I accompte my selfe as depe∣lye in the fauor of my absent mistrys, as the best of that hap∣pye companie, and suche weakelinges as accompte no ver∣tue in loue, but in thencounter of their lasciuius desyer, and can not rest satisfied except they crop the hearbe of pleasure, are alwayes founde more liberall in wordes, then constant in loue, and more hoat in the begynnyng, then hable to con∣tinue

to the end, neyther do I see any experience to the con∣trary but that the passion whiche I suffer, ought rather too beare the true title of loue, then the surname of a simple de∣sier, seynge the delite I take in the remēbrance of her beau∣tie, is no lesse pleasure vnto me, then if I had alredie perfor∣med and tasted of the delicat effect of loue, which I am deter∣mined to attende, tyl eyther the goodnes of a better fortune restore me to my desert, or the force of death giue end to my desolacion, willing you herewith to correct your iudgemēt, and cesse to inueyghe against her, whose constancie & vertue only, defaceth the vsurped comendacion of the most of your corrupte sect: for the rest: the iustice of my cause (I hope) wil make my excuse tollerable in the opinion of her that sent you, and for your paiues I can but yelde you the choice of a thousande thankes: wherewith mother retrician tooke her leaue and retired with lesse contentemēt in her bad successe, then assured hope to preuaile in the beginning, towards her MANTVAN lady, to whom recounting eftesones y^e particu∣larities of her discourse with CORNELIO she cōcluded that, he beyng limed with an other bushe, had no power to make a graūt of his good wil without a special pasport frō MILAN, where (saith she) he hath lefte both body & hart, and appereth here but in the liknes and shape of a figure with out sence or feelyng, and lesse hable to admitt the preferment of honor or proffer of raison, which albeit seamed greatly to grudge the conscience of the lady, chiefly for that she was intercepted of that which she accompted no lesse sewer, then the articles of her credear to be beleued, yet waighing y^e reasons of his ex∣cuse, with y^e raging ouersight of her selfe, in indifferent bal∣lance, she made of necessitie a vertue, & retired to a pacience parforce, forgetting not to punish her falt w^t the pennance of repētāce, & comend to y^e skies the incōperable loialty of COR∣NELIO, with no lesse gratulation on the behalf of her, y^t had made choice of so constant a seruant, who for her part also, al this while was in no lesse care of his weldoyng, then busily occupied in deuise how to recouer his presence, & requite the

passion of his painful torment which he chiefly desyred & iu∣stely deserued, wherein as she for her part wyshed no lesse to embrace hym, then he meritorius to possesse her, So al∣beit there passed certaine letters betwene theim seaminge rather to doble the desier of theym both, then yeld moderatiō to the passion of either of theim, yet she found the meanes to coaste the malice of her fortune with a contrarye sleyghte, by procuryng to her husbande a iorneye of xx. or xxx. dayes traueil, wherevpon she dismissed imediatly a corrior to COR¦NELIO with the reaport of y^e newes in this letter folowing.

Albeit (sir) calamitie of her owne nature is so quarelous, that she ceasseth not to assaile thafflicted with continual som∣monce of perentorye dispaire, yet oughte we not reappose so slender assurance in the assystance of vertue, as eyther to make a marchandise of the goodnes of our fortune, & muche lesse sell the hope of future filicitie, nor yet vtterlie dis∣paire of the benefyt of time, who as she is thā••eful enoughe to suche as suffer her with pacience, so hathe she presentlye entred into suche compassion of our mutuall distresse, that somonyng my husbande with a iorney of a monethes trauel in forreine affaires, she hath opened vs a most sewer meane to meete and reioyce together without daunger, wherein as all such seldome proffers of frendshypp ought to be no lesse welcome when they come, then they seame of tickle aboade whē we haue theim, so if you wish to be resolued of y^e which you doute, and haue no lesse care of your owne contente∣ment, my aduise is you embrace the benefyt of so conueniēt a time, persuadyng your selfe that if you were here, I wold communicate with you more liberally, then I dare discour∣se by letter, and onelye yourselfe is of creditte, to serue as a secretorye in affaires of suche secret importance, whereof you maye conster the meaninge, without great studie, only ymagyn that fortune is not such a nigarde of her frendship, as spitefullyf her offer be refuced, & time so disdaineful, that she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tarye a moment aboue her stynte. Yours without change Plaudgna.

Yf thies newes were welcome to CORNELIO, I leaue yt to the iudgement of that amarus crewe, who seame so reso∣lute and simple in their loue, that their lyfe is onely prolon∣ged by a desyred daye, but when they see an approche of their liberty, with licence to quenche their hungry myndes, with the fode they chieflye wishe to feede vppon, god knoweth the small regarde they haue to honor, and lesse respect to the du∣tie of their conscience, and with what slender aduise and lesse time, they make the poore husbande a rampier of hornes to defend his forhead from the shott of thennemie, wherein se∣wer their delite is not so great, and glorie of so foule a con∣quest of suche comendacion, as she worthie of treble tormen∣tes, who for the glott of her fylthie desyer, and satisfyenge their founde ymportunities, dothe make no conscience to defile the mariage bedd of her husbande, take awaye the re∣nowne of her former estimaciō, deface the glorie of her aun∣cestors, and leaue besides a title of villanous reproche vp∣pon her children and posteritie, of whose reputacion shee oughte to bee more carefull, then myndefull to satisfie the greedye appetit of her owne pleasure, or folyshe pursuete of their filthie loue, and from this fountaine of execrable abuse distilleth also the sondrie sortes of vnnaturall diuisions, hap¦pening at this day between noble houses, and men of meaner discentes, the children detestynge the Father, and the father abhorringe theim whom he thinkes to bee none of his, and one brother persecutinge an other with no lesse mortality of hate, then if they were cōmon enemies of forreine contreys: for the bed being once stained, the blod mixed, and the law of mariage abused, yt muste nedes follow that the frute proce∣dynge of suche seedes, can neyther degenerate nor bee with∣out corruption, neyther can the son yelde honor or dutie to him whom nature denieth to bee his Father, wherein albeit I haue somewhat exceded the compasse of my cōmission, yet I am so persuaded of thindifferencie of those fewe Ladyes whiche fele theimselues toched with this shorte dygression, that they will not grudge with this parable of their falte,

seinge truthe marcheth vnder oure enseygne, readye to ad∣uoche and witnes the circunstance of my allegacions, which like as I inferred rather to aduise you, to eschew the lyke e∣uil, then for any derogacion of your honor, so yt maye lyke you al to excuse my reasons by thintegrety of the cause, and pardon me by iustice, retiringe now with semblable pacien∣ce to the sequeile of our CORNELIO, who construinge the wordes of the letter accordyng to the meaning of the writer, ymagined by and by thimportance of thaffaires she had too communicate with hym, wherein albeit loue moued hym on the one side to performe the desier of hys ladye, yet reason on the other part required hym to be careful of his owne saue∣tie, and not to buy a taste of his flypper pleasure with the price of his lyfe, for (saith shee) if you go to MYLLAN, and he discouered by anye of the frenche race or frendes of theyr faction, your daunger wilbe to great to escape, and you shal come to too late a repentance of your follie, wherefore bal∣lacinge indifferently betwene doute and feare, with desier to vse this occasion, leaste he myghte seame vnthankefull to the good will and requeste of his mistres, he imparted the whole circunstance to one DELIO a deare frende of hys, of whom (beyng pryuye from the begynnynge to his amarus practise) he demaunded earnestly a speciall assistance of good councell touchynge thabsolution of his present doute: thys DELIO hauing ••rodden alredy the whole laborinth of loue, and knewe by experience what an ••lne of suche follies was worthe, gaue as ryghte a iudgement of the disease of hys frende, as yf he had felte the mouynge of his polses, or tried the disposition of his water againste the son in an vrynall, wherein he failed not to discharge thoffice of a true frend in assaynge to remoue thoccasion, and mortefye the yll with thies perswations.

Like as sayth he small s••ares require slender medecins, and great greues are want to try thutter moste of the arte of Phizicke, and that the wise and experienced Phizision a∣fore he vndertake to cure the disease of hys patient, or giue

certeine iudgement of his recouerye, doth not only examine thoccasion of his greif, but makes also his firste indeuour to take awaye and mortifye the cause, afore he disclose the skil and hidden mistories of his arte, So the maladie of loue be∣ing nothing inferior to the ragyng oppressiō of the burnyng feuer, who desyereth alwayes thinges that be hurtefull, and esche weth the necessarie preseruatiues of health, is neyther to bée cured nor delte with all in any sorte, onlesse the pa∣cient wil suffer the circumstance of his disease to be Syfted to thuttermost, and abide an incisyon of the soare euen to the quicke, to thende that by thoperacion of the Cataplame whiche shalbe ministred to you, you dispayre not of recoue∣rye, althoughe there appeare diuerse lykelihodes of daun∣ger, nor I brought to aunswer for my frendshipp, whiche I proteste to be without spot of dishonest intēt. And as it is no lesse necessarie for hym that is sicke to reapose a speciall cre∣credit in his Phisicion, then the minister of medecins to bee of exquisite skyll, for that the opinion and conceite of his connynge, importes a greate consolation to the mynde of hym that is sicke, so you muste neyther denie the vertue of my medecine to worke his force, nor doubte of any thing I meane to tell you, for the tale can woorke small effects where the reaporter is of slender credit, therfore afore I Sifte you any further, I requeste you onely of one thing, as moste chief and necessarye to preuent the present peril, whiche attendes you, I meane that in chaungynge your affection, you wyll also dismisse and breake the resoluci∣on whyche I knowe youre harte hath alredye determined. The disposicion and exterior apparance of youre counte∣naunce, argue a wonderfull deuocion you haue to visitte your oracle and saint at MILLAN, whiche also I coulde well admitte, if I sawe not in the ende of that vayne pilgrymage, a harde pennance accompanied with more pe∣rils then euer happened to the son of AVCHIS••S, vnderta∣kynge to visitt thinfernall valleyes by the guide of his SY∣••ILLA. You knowe well enough your banyshment from

MILLAN proceded of rebellion, and that your offence is so haynous in the conceite of the maiestie theare, that one∣lye the price of your heade can make the attonement and quenche the rage of his wrath: and seinge the sleighte of your enemies and malice of fortune, haue dogged you, and your doinges so nearely since your comming to Mantua, that you haue not spoken or don a thinge of suche councell, but fame hath discouered your intent, and made your aduersa∣ries partakers of your meaning, it behoueth yon to thinke that of late she is not become so wel affected towards you, as she can or will conceile this last & most perillous resolution: besides in what sorte could you disguise your selfe, that your sondrie secret markes wold not bewraye you, or what waye haue you to passe, where you are out of knowledge of al mē, & admit your owne sleight & pollecie were hable to preuayle aboue the malice of your fortune, in defending you frō the daunger of the waye, & diuerse ambushes of your enemyes, are you so persuaded of thassurāce of your Plaudina, that you wil cōmit your life & losse of honor to the fained faith of a de∣ceitefull woman, & that without a proffe of her cōstancie? Yf the miste of fonde affection doth so much dim your eyes, and gifte of present vnderstanding, that you are not hable to di∣scouer the legerdemaines of lighte womē, let my experiēce warne you to beware of the subtill sleightes & fyne Allure∣mentes of so venemous a serpent? What can you tell whe∣ther this traine she hath made, be a stale to betraye you, and committ you to the mercye of your enemye? or peraduen∣ture she hathe sente for you, because she séeth an impossibi∣litie in thenterprice, and rather to bringe you in daunger, then of intent to yelde satisfaction to your desyer. But lett vs conster her meaning to the best, with ymaginacion that her faith is without corrupcion, and that she is no lesse de∣syrous to sée you, then you (assotted vpon her beautie) seame readie to run thorow the fyer of a thousande perils, only to content her, will you by so vaine a pleasure, that is of lesse moment or abode then the thoughte of a man, at so deare

a price as the losse of your honor and lyfe. Remember that the end of that enterprise can not be good, whose begining is not founded vppon discrecion, and sequell gouerned by the rule of raison, neyther can you more greatlye deface the auncient renowme of your honor, nor leaue a greater spot of reproche to your house and frendes that liue after you, then to conclude and ende the course of your life, in the pur∣seute of so dishonest a queste, and your enemyes can not so lardgelie triumphe in your ouerthrowe and deathe, as your frendes haue cause to lament that your owne rashenes and follie were the only furtherours of the fatall bane of your lyfe: where of the contrarye parte, yf beyng cut in peces in the seruice of some noble prince, or yelde to the loare of na∣ture in som valiant exploit or enterprise of warr, you shold not only aggrauate the praise of your lyfe passed with the glorie of an honorable death, discarge your frendes and suc∣cession of al imposicions of villanous infamie, but also for∣ce your enemies to a conuersion of their malice, into a gene∣ral comendacion of your vertue and vndouted faith towar∣des your prince. Besides if you will wayghe the mortall plages threatened in the gospell to be thondered vpon tha∣dulteror, and suche as contaminat the maried mans bedd, or rightly measure the penaunce of the falte with the foulnes of the fact, you shal not only iudge with me that there is no lyfe more dampnable afore god, nor deathe more skandalus to the worlde, then to be ouerthrowne in the combat, whi∣che of ryght is due to bee parformed by an other: but also that there is more vertue and ease in sufferance, then profit or pleasure in hast, or comoditie in rashe execution. But yf the power of the fleshe, preuailynge aboue your resistance hath sturred vp this humor of hoat desier, whiche seames to presse you so far that you make no conscience to exchange your former glorie, for a title or surname of a fylthie adul∣teror, go not so far to seke your destruction, seing MANTVA presentes you with sufficiēt choice and change of releif, bet∣ter cheape and with less peril then the hazarde of reputation

or losse of lyfe.

This charme of DELYO seamed so to enchante and driue reason into the waueringe mynde of the MYLLANOIS, that hee tooke respite to replie till the nexte morninge, than∣king him notwithstanding of his frendlie aduertisementes whiche (saith he) haue so vnséeled the eyes of my minde, that I fynd my selfe now hable to discerne that, whych loue wold not suffer me earste to perceiue, and muche lesse to feare or doubte: wherewith retiringe to his lodginge, hee passed the nighte in the onely contemplacion of his fancie, wherein ap∣pered suche warr and contrarietie of thoughts, with figures of hollowe conceites, that the desyer and course of slepe, was whollie conuerted into an humor of vncerteine ymagynaci∣ons, And if by chaunce his eyes offred to cloase their liddes, and sommon the reste of the partes to the quiet reapposed in sléepe, the remembrance and care of his buysynes, interup∣tinge the office of the eyes, presented eftfones a new conflict and second supplie of his passion, in such sorte, as beynge to weake to resiste the alaram, he yelded to the stronger parte, whiche was the maisterles appetit of sensualtie, and hol∣dinge more deare the pleasures of the fleshe, then the saue∣garde of his life, determined to take the forde and trye if for∣tune wolde performe asmuche as shee seamed to promise by a flatteringe hope, whych appeared in his ydle braine to em∣brace his mistres without daunger, ympartinge the nexte daye his resolucion to his deare frende DELYO, to whom saith he, because perils are commonly made greater by reap∣port, then found daungerous in thaduenture, and that all likelehodes seldom or neuer do happen: the valyant ought not to feare the thinge that is doubtfull nor dread the sim∣ple mouinge of a shadowe, neyther is there glorie of the victorie, but where thaduenture excedeth thexspectacion of men, wherfore I am perswaded to geue a charg of the good will of fortune, and take my iorney towardes MILLAN, to∣morow, wher if I bée sommoned wyth the writ of my desty∣nies, or malicious dome of vnhappye fortune by death,

MYLLAN will serue me aswell of a tombe, as eyther MAN∣TVA or other santuarie of the worlde, neyther can I make a better declaracion of my fayth towardes my mistres, then in defyenge the feare of so many perills, to appeare more rea∣die to obey her commaundemente, then curious or carefull of myne owne life, whyche I accompte ymploied with no lesse iustice on her behalfe, then honor to my selfe, if the same be put to extreme torments and vtterlie executed in the pla∣ce, wher the view of her own eyes may bée thindifferent iud∣ges betwene my firme constancie, and small dissymulacion, neyther can I leaue her a more precious pawne of myne in∣dissoluble loue, then beinge cut in peces in the pursewte of her seruice, to leaue the walls and posterns of her pallais, painted and all to besprent with the bloode of the most loyall seruant and frend that euer bare name to do honor or seruice to any of that noble sect. Your desperat resolucion (saith DE∣LYO) excedinge all thexperience I haue harde or redd, of any that haue bene possessed with the like infection, argueth the vnbridled humor of loue to be a kynde of rage a thousand ti∣mes more straunge and lesse reasonable, then eyther the bur∣ning feuer, or frantike maladie of suche, as are infected with the fury of frenzye, for what greater follye or rather despera∣cion can be noted in the madman, then to Ronne headlong in to the middest of the fyer, or cōmit himselfe vnarmed to the mercie of the glaues and sharp swords of his enemie? How may a mā tearme this same amarous rage, and effect of smal reason and lesse discrecion which accompanie suche as make themselues a praie to their proper sensualitie, if not some spirite or lymme of Sathan sent to torment vs, in making vs thabhomynable workemen of such miracles of mischiefe, and he that sayth that loue procedeth other wayes then of our sel∣ues, seameth rather to mocke the truth, then hable to iustefy his argument by approued authorities, seing the mischief is deriued of our selues, and norished of the corruption of our nature, whose wicked force preuaileth so much ouer the gifte of our vnderstanding and darkeneth the vertue of the spirit,

that wée are denied to se and muche lesse to treade the pathe of our dutie, honestie, or conscience. But thamarous Crew of f••yuolus louers now a dayes, eyther to support their dam∣pnable enterprises with a boulster or showe of a newfounde vertue, or to set a more brauerie of their doinges, then eyther reason or conscience will allow, or rather: to make their secte fauored with a fame or name of perpetuitie, haue deuised to christen their follie by the name of sincere and true loyaltie, whiche they also forget not to confirme by the title of con∣stancie, as thoughe without the hazarde of the soule, and ab∣solute destruction of the bodie, suche execrable villenies and abuses of men, colde beare the name or be registred in y^e boke of vertue, wherin albeit I cold bée assisted with infynities of examples both familiar and aunciente, yet because such dis∣course wold rather seame tedious, thē thankful to the guiltie mynds of a nomber of our contreymen, I am content to dis∣misse al antiquities, and pursewe my allegacion with thau∣thorytie of this CORNELIO who rather enchaunted then rauished with the remembrance of his Ladye, and suggestion of his own follie, tolde DELIO for ende, that if all the waies betwen MANTVA and MYLLAN were strewed or pitched with rasors, and euerye gate and windowe decked with the doble cannon readie charged to salute hym at his cominge, yet (making litle or none accompte of these mortal perils) in respect of the dutie he seamed to owe to his deare PLAVDI∣NA, he failed not to begyn to perform y^e sōmonce of her letter the next morning, when with ij. seruants no lesse strange to him, then vnknowen to al men, and himself attyred in the wede of a marchāt trauellor, he departed Mantua at the open∣ing of the gates, & marching no lesse spedelie, then by secrete & vnknowē pathes, he measured his time according to thim portāce & dāger of his enterprise in such sort, as he gat w^tin y^e walls of Myllan at the verie last glymmer and cloasing of the euening, wher refusing y^e house of his mother, because y^e pro¦spect opening vpon the pallais of hys chiefeste enemye, sea∣med more apt to discouer, then hable to hyde hys being ther,

he addressed hym to a deare frende of his called Mes••ieur Am∣brosio, where beyng let in in the darkest of the euenyng, he was lodged in a lowe chamber, ioyned as a pendle to thut∣termost corner of the house, moste conuenient to worke his secret misterye.

His first indeuor after his saffe arryual at MILLAN, was to send for an appoticarye, whose fidelitie he had earst pro∣ued in the enterchaunge and conueighe of diuerse letters betwene his Ladie and hym who not so much amazed to see hym there whom he loked not for, as glad of his comminge, for the contentement of Plaudina, assured hym of the depar∣ture of her husbande, his second diligence appeared in ther∣pedicion he vsed to aduertise his mistrys of his commynge, whom he requested by a letter vnder the conduit of this col∣carior, to appoint a conueniēt leasure, that he might speake to her in secret, for (saith he) the conference I haue to impart with you, is of other importance, then to be debated in the hearyng of witnesses, and much lesse recorded by anye then the only presence of our selues.

The Lady althoughe she desired nothyng so muche as the presence of her seruant, whose only comyng seamed almoste to make her excede the bondes of reason for ioye, yet was she semblablie traunced in a passion of dreedefull conceites and doutefull feare, the one for that she feared tho malice of the frenchemen, the rather because they extended weekely a pri∣uye searche, vppon all the houses and places whyche they iudged frendes to CORNELIO, the other & chief cause of her dollor was, for that by the wronge datyng of her letter, she failed of the daye of the departure of her husbande, whereby she had not only procured to hym, a more daunger thē neded but also abused his aduenture, in beyng not hable to giue so longe a time to their pleasures as he iustelye deserued and they bothe desired, notwithstandyng she retorned the mes∣senger with a gentle aunswere••, wherein aboue all other thinges, she gaue singler comendacion to his firme loyaltie, andno lesse falte toher owne follie and rashenes, whyche

because she woulde not onelye excuse, but also counteruaile or rather excede wyth a recompence to his contentation, she willed hym by y^e messenger, to passe by the gate in the attire of a masquer, where the woulde attende his commynge about x. or xj. of the clocke the same euenynge, resoluynge vppon a certeine watche worde or other secret instructions whereby she might discerne hym from the reste of his fe∣lowshipp. Yt is to bée thoughte CORNELIO did neyther mislike the message, and muche lesse forgett the hower of appointmente, nor yet seame a cowarde in this chiefeste exployte of his aduenture, I am rather of opinion, that his foolishe rashenes dyd so much excede the vertue of the minde, that yf the whole garrison of the frenchemen, had bene en∣camped in the stréete, and redie to receyue hym vppon the pointe of their pickes, he woulde rather haue accepted the offer of present death, then lost so good an occasion to en∣counter a simple glaunce or glée of his greate frende, who no lesse mindefull of her promisse, then readie to performe it wyth a double diligence, in hope to enioye an interest of suche pleasure as loue yeldes to suche as fortune makes happie and hable to receiue, attended hys commynge at the place and hower of accorde. And as she was one of the best Courtiars, passinge the rest of the traine and troupe of La∣dies in beautie, behauiour and other gyftes of flatterynge showe, so was she more courted wyth the continnall haunts and companie of the Gentlemen and Princes of ITALY, then any other of what degre so euer she were, in suche sort as at the instant and present approche of her seruant, she was deuisinge familiarlye with diuerse Gentlemen of the Citie, who seing this masque noblie mounted after the spa∣nishe order make their staye afore Plaudina, & she for her part accepting their curtesye with a countenaunce more thanke∣ful then of ordinarie, iudged his embassage to the Ladye to néede neyther secret witnes nor publike audience, wherfore not ignorant in thoffice of humanitie, and because their pre∣sence shold seame no impediment to the proffit or pleasure of

an other, they toke leaue of PLAVDINA resigning the cāpp and capteine to the marchant straunger, whom yf they had knowen, they would suerlie haue rated the penny worthes of that praye at to deare a price for him to haue caried away without a gage or pawne no lesse pretious then his lyfe.

Here althoughe y^e fortune of CORNELIO had hlessed him, with doble felicitie at one instant, bothe in auoydynge the place of companie, and yelding hym large viewe of the pre∣sence of his mistreys without interupcion, yet loue seamed to sturr vp suche alteracions and diuersaty of amaze within him, that the vse of his tonge was not only taken away, and the rest of his partes, retired to a quyueryng feare, but also his eyes were so resolued in the gredy gaze of her bowtie, that in place to do her honor with any deuise or show of hys dutie by wordes, he broughte her in terror with the viewe of his dombe behauior, resembling rather the ghastly figure of ZELIO POLINO, whom the poetes fayning to be enchaū∣ted by his wyfe, do affirme that for the pennance of his of∣fence, and abuse towardes her, he is bounde vpright agaynst a wall with a gag in his mouthe, without licence or liber∣tie to speake, til she pul the pegge from betwene his Iawes, so CORNELIO albeit he was an orator sufficient enoughe, and specially in disputation of loue, yet founde he here hys tongue so punished with the pennance of POLINO, that he colde neither pleade for hymself at lardge, nor yet playe the parte of a stotting solicitor, till the longe viewe of her pro∣porcion of maiestie vnseelyng hes eyes, lent hym also a coū∣tercharme to take away the misterie of his hiddeus traunce, with comission to make a breache of his scilence, and restore hym to thuse and libertie of his tonge, whyche he exposed as a tryall of his newe benefit in this sort: yf all the giftes and good tornes whiche fortune euer bestowed vppon suche as receiued frendship or fauor at her hande, were here presen∣ted vnto me, with licence and libertie to chuse whych I wold haue, I doute whether I colde pike oute one of suche a nom∣ber, that were hable to counteruaile the greatnes of my pre¦sent

encounter, or if they al had power to yelde me such con∣tentement as I fynde in the contemplacion & regard of your deuine bewtye, and for your parte good madā, what greater proff can you haue of the honor and seruice with vnfayned loyaltie I haue longe vowed vnto you, then for the only res∣pect of y^e dutie I owe you, to see me comitt that which is and oughte to bee most deare to al men, to the hazarde of a thou∣sande perilles, wherein notwithstandynge yf the god of my destynies, hath aggreed to toche me with the malice of hys dome, and publishe my sentence of death in this place, I ex∣cuse hym of present rigour, for that he hath deferred me he∣therunto, and accomptes great iustice in this fatal execuciō, seyng youre self shalbee iudge with what integretie I haue serued you, since the first vowe and mocion of my affection, whervnto PLAVDINA REPLIED, yf you thinke you so de∣pelie in the debte of fortune, for the simple offer of so small a frendshypp, I accompte my self no lesse bounde to yelde her doble sacrafyze of semblable thākes gyuyng, not for that she hath added so greate a daunger to the declaracion of your goodwill (whereof I neuer dowted) but because in graun∣tynge vs a mutuall accesse and presence together, I maye (thoughe not so amplye as I wolde, and as you haue deser∣ued) yet in some parte, yelde you the meede of so greate a merit: yf you accompte the pleasure in deathe (happenynge in the pursute of this aduenture) peculiar to youre selfe, you doo wronge to the sincere loue and loyall affection of your deare PLAVDINA, who resolued to passe vnder the same sentence, will neyther excede you in lengthe of lyf, nor gyue you anye place in firme constancie of mynde, ney∣ther doo I greatlye feare the threates of present daunger, considerynge your auncient felicitie whyche hathe alwayes delyuered you in anye your attemptes what dyfficultie so euer appered in theim, onelye I quarrell with myne owne follye, in mystakynge the daye of the departure of mye husbande, and greue no lesse wyth thyniquitye of pre∣sente tyme, who enuyeng (as yt seames) our amarus enter∣pryse,

is readie to abridge the course of our desyered plea∣sure wyth a soddaine retourne of hym, whom I wishe with∣out eyes in thuttermost ende of thorient, notwithstandynge as the faultes proceding of rashe ouersight or ignorance, are rather excusable, then meritorious of frée pardon, so al∣thoughe I haue offended greuously, yet do I not dispaire of mercie, consideryng that besides the confession of the faulte, I yelde me to suche pennance as shall please you to enioyne me, whiche also you shall fynde me readie to performe, if at the firste hower after this midnight, you comme hether in as secret maner as you can, and strikinge but once vppon the clapper of the wicket, oure Ianiquetta (whome you know hath bene heretofore a messenger of our loue) shall open the gate, and conueighe you into a place of pleasant torments, where yf you fynde your selfe greued with anye wronge I haue don you, you may paye the reuenge with such interest as you thinke good. Wherewith albeit CORNELIO grud∣ged at the spedie retourne of y^e goodman, yet conuertyng the passion of those heauy newes, into a conceit of present glad∣nes for the franke and liberall consent of his Ladye, he con∣tented hymselfe wyth the offer of hys tyme and fortune, and yeldynge a lowe reuerence to hys loftye PLAVDINA, retired in haste to his lodgynge, where attendynge the approche of his hower of appointement, wyth no lesse deuo∣cion, then the Papistes in Fraunce performe their ydola∣trous pilgrimage to theyr ydoll Sainct Tronyon vppon the mont Auyon besides Roan, or our supersticious catholikes of England of late dayes to the holye ••oode of Chester, or ymage of our Ladie at walsingham, he seamed to attire him∣selfe for the bed, as though he woulde not sturre out of his chamber that nyghte, by whiche semblance or dissimuled showe, he dismissed the companye that was with hym, shut∣tynge the windowes and doares of his lodgynge, tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte, sommonynge all sortes of peo∣ple to reste, seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to per∣performe,

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 fu∣ture 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 en∣terprise, yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduen∣ture, seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the at∣tempt, 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 vndoub∣tedly 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: be∣sides, loue is of so venterous a disposicion, sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he pos∣sesseth: 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 for∣tune: So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same prin∣ciple, 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 in∣fected 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 y∣magine, and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to sh••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, sea∣minge (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 Epi∣cure

order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shr••••tide, when diuerse glottons delite in no∣thing but to do sacrifyce to their belly: And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspici∣on or feare eyther preuented or prouided for (as they thou∣ght) 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 ab∣sent: But here they made their reckoning without their ost, and were forced to rise from the banquet, rather with in∣crease of appetyt, then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon: for as they had newly begon the pre∣amble to the part they ment to plaie, and entred into thama∣rous 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 yon∣ge 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 compa∣nye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor, that bothe the one and the other of oure louers sea∣med indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare, the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre & ••proare of the frenchmen, to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him, then an Inqui∣rendum 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 then∣nemye, then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne disho∣nestie, 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 sewer∣tye of theym bothe, shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse ma∣ryner or shypmaister, who in the furye of a storme, wil not sticke to preuent the destruction of the whole, with the losse of the lesser parte, and bestowynge his wares of precius va∣lue in the sewrest comethes of his shyp, makes no consciēce in suche an extremety, to expose the reste to the mercie of thangrye waues: so knowynge that yf CORNELIO were not discouered, the matter woulde neyther growe to suspi∣cion, and muche lesse to daunger or cause of feare, she wil∣led hym to mounte into the middest of a narrowe chymney, where beynge denied scoape to sytt or to leane sometimes for his ease, the litlenes of the place gaue hym onely licence to stande vprighte vpon a barr of yron rammed with stoane and morter in bothe sydes of the chymney, where hauynge his sworde drawen in his hande, he resembled thymage of some Iupiter, holdynge a thonderbolte betwene hys fyngers readye to throwe at suche as disquietynge hys sleepe, do hunte the litle cryckettes chirpynge in the walles and cre∣uisses of the earthe, and herselfe as more hardye or rather readye of wytt in extremeties, discendes to the court, wyth all the keyes of her howsse in her hande amongest the rude watche, where after she had founde the capteine, she forgate not to fordge sondrye causes of grudge against his discurte∣sye, reprehendinge his inorderly dealynge with many was∣pishe words, but chiefly for that at so indecent an hower, and vnseamelie order, he soughte to abuse the reputacion of her husbande, in breakyng open the doares of his pallays & that in his absence, wherewith albeyt her complaint seamed to

importe a semblance of iustice, with no lesse reason on her behalfe, yet the neyghbour or firste accusor, aduowchynge eftesones his confession, forced the capteine (halfe agaynste his wil) to follow the searche, whereuppon he had the keyes deliuered, with libertie to ransecke eche corner and cabynet of the house at his pleasure, wherein he omitted neyther di∣ligence in execution, nor pollecye in the searche, for there was no coffer escaped without his bottom torned vpwarde, euerye bedd and bolster was tryed with the point of a sharpp dagger, ye no benche nor hollowe place apte to hyde a ten∣nesball was dispenced from the malice of thies rakehells of the watche. But when the frenchemen in armor came into the chamber where our CORNELIO was cammed vp in the tewell of a chymney, god knoweth whether he wished hym at Mantua with hys frende DELIO or no, & you louers that haue passed the lyke straites, maye better iudge his pas∣sion then I hable to reaport the misterie, but me thynkes I heare hym curse and Comitt to the deuil both loue & all hys practises, and beynge in continuall expectacion that some roostye halbarde shoulde bee throste vpp into the chymney where he stoode, I thynke at that instant he powred owte more prayers to god for hys deliuerie, then euer affore hee made requestes or peticions to hys Ladie to enioy her beau∣tie, neyther ys it lyke that his appetit continued, or his a∣marus humor so feruent, as hys desyer greate to be further frome the place of suche daunger: albeyt as yt is a generall rule that one euil neuer cometh alone, so this feare was not so greate, as the future pennance of harde disgestion, ney∣ther had he scarce tyme to take breathe afore he was assailed with a seconde misfortune, for vnderstandynge the watche to bee retired, and the whole guarryson of thennemies without the gates, wher vppon beyng at the point to discend from his smoaky pauillion, as one that accōpted himself past the feare of fortune, beholde the goodman alyghted at the doare, who fyndynge the streetes pestered with people in armor, hys doares open with hys house confused, and all

thinges out of order, was no lesse astonied then he had cause, and yet not so abashed at the straungenes of the thynge, as hys wyfe in doble dispair of meanes to auoyde thys seconde inconuenience, albeyt as increase of perill sturrynge vpp a freshe supplie of shyftes, pearseth the vttermoste corner of the wittes, so PLAVDINA, standyng betwene the present offer of open shame, and the malice of a most vnhappye for∣tune, was dryuen to retire to y^e benefitt of that gyfte, which the Philosopher attrybutes in comon to al women, sayinge that in an extremety, the witt of a woman is so muche at cō∣maundement, that she is as sewer of a shyfte, as certaine of her lyfe, and makynge of necessetie a vertue, she vsed suche artificial sleighte in bleiring the eyes of the goodman Iohn her husband, that he allowed greately the honest diligence of hys wyfe, and blamed altogether thabuse of the capteyne, whome he threatened to requyte with semblable curtesye, wherin as she dowted nothing of the tractable nature of her simple husbande, (beyng glad notwithstandyng to haue so smothly appeased the humor of his iust anger) so she accomp∣ted her selfe, neyther free from cause of feare, nor quite deli∣uered from distresse, till she had made a meane to manifest the comming of her husbande to her louer in the chymneye, whom as she knew to be passed the feare of the frenchemē, So dowting he wold dread no further daunger, but discende ymediatly from his frozen mewe, toke her goodman by the hand and led hym from place to place where the watche had lefte al thynges oute of order, bringing hym at last into the chamber where CORNELIO stoode like a crowe in a gutter or an oracle to giue aunswer to suche as are desyerus to bee resolued of dowtefull demaundes. And albeit the vyolence of the frost, with the Nyppynge season of the wynter, had so pinched al his partes with extremety of cold, together with the passion of feare which he felte duringe his abode in hys narrow castell or cage of small ease, y^t the pennance he indu∣red seamed rather to excede the haynous respect of his offēce, then a sufficient punishement for his falte, beyng only a de∣syer

and no vyolacion nor act don, yet the veraye voice of her husbande restored hym to suche treble perplexitie, that he seamed to feele thapproche and vttermost sommonce of hys fates, and passe thorowe the laste traunce and passion of life, for beynge escaped from the daunger he feared most, he sawe hymself subiect to thaudersatye he dowted leaste, wherin al∣so as the present viewe of hys seconde perill, renewed a ly∣uelye remembrance of hys daunger paste, presentyng more ympedymentes to hys delyuerye, then meanes or wayes to escape, So yf yt were not that necessitie geueth corage to the faint stomacke, and dispaire bryngeth often tymes a cause of good hope, I thynke (in defyenge all the delayes and dal∣lyenges of fortune) he had at that instant abridged the pur∣sute of his amarus enterprise, and naturall course of hys owne lyfe, by showynge a tomblinge caste from the topp or greeselye rooff of his grymie pallais. But PLAVDINA had doble reason in her deuise, both to aduertise her louer (as yt were in a visyon) that albeit he was bownde to too longe a deuocion, in so vnseamelye a temple, yet he shoulde not dis∣pair of the goodnes of a better fortune, and also not to seame Ialous of her indeuor and diligence in the redresse of his case, for that she colde not (without great argument of suspicion) habandon the companie of her husbande, till she had got him to bed, wherein notwithstandyng her pollecie was no lesse frustrate, and she eftesones deceiued, then the poore ymage in the chemney assailed with the malice of a third mischiefe, for her husbande beynge in bed in hys owne cabynet, com∣maūded ij. of his men that had attended him in his iorney, to lye in the chamber wher CORNELIO had passed the mistery of so many trāses, which albeit PLAVDINA resisted to thut∣termost she cold do, yet (Mauger her hart) the authority of the goodman preuailed, albeit dowting the cold villains (rydyng all day in the frost) wolde haue made a fier in the chymney, and either sacrafised the sainct that ment nothing lesse thē to become a burnt offringe, or smothered as an innocent that deserued not such purgatorye, she gaue speciall charge, not

to light so much as a candle with in the chimney: for the rest, she prayed that the god and patrone of true louers wold take such compassion of his present distresse, that if he denied him for that time the due guerdon of his rare and firme loyalty, yet at the leaste hée wolde graunte him dispence, and saffe∣conduit to passe thorow the pikes of his infortunat dangers, and as she was thus in earnest contemplacion to the maiestie of the blinde god of loue for the safe delyueryé of her frende, wyth no lesse care how to redeme him from the fylthye don∣geon of the hollowe chymney wythout the raunsom of pub∣like reproche to her selfe, and doble daunger to hym, and he also (for his parte) tyering of a patience perforce, with some hope and likelihod of good lucke notwithstandinge, for that he had alreadie escaped suche .iii. hoat skirmishes of fortune, whom he iudged now to haue drawen the thred of her spite to an ende, beholde the alaram of the iiii. assalte, more vyo∣lent then any of the rest, and excedinge theim all in absolute argumentes of perentory perills, for the iustice not satysfy∣ed of the morder, and harpinge still vppon the confession of him that first opened the presumpciō, sent hym in the garde of certeine officers to the Lord MOMBOYER, chiefe of the senat afore whō he aduowched (with new othe) the perticu∣laryties of his former deposicion, whervpon, was enioyned eftsones a straite commandement to the iustice, to make a se conde searche in the house of PLAVDINA, who if she were now more a mazed then afore, & almost at point to yeld, to dis pair, it is to be thought pore CORNELIO, had no lesse cause of disquiet, for that yeldinge himself alreadie dyscouered by his enemies, he iudged the new broyle and clattering of ros∣tye halbardes, to be messengers sente by the iudge to appre∣hende him, wherein his opinion was the rather confirmed, for that assone as they were within the house, and afore the good man colde make himselfe readie to méete theim, they made no staie till they came to the chamber of the selly hous∣doue in the chymney, wher fynding by euill happ a case with ••agges, and other weapons of suspicion, brought thether

by the ii. seruantes sleping in their owne misfortune, rather wearye with their longe iorneye, then likely to cōmit a morder, they condemned theim by and by, as guiltie of the fact, wherwyth omittinge no rigour of their office, they cop∣pled the ii. innocentes together in a scarffe of hemp, wherin as the goodman made hast to come to the reskew of his men, he was encountred by the way, by certeine sergeants or cry∣mynall officers, who arresting him as prysoner on the be∣halfe of the king, ledd hym captyffe to the castell amongest the rest of his miserable seruantes, neyther colde hée bée suf∣fred to commence matter for his own iustifycaciō, nor haue indifferencie in excusing thinnocency of his men, such was the rage of these Rakehells and officers of hel, who are com∣monly more prest to oppresse innocencie by vyolence, then readie to doo iustice sincerelie accordynge to theyr othe and dutie.

Here although fortune began to change complexion, and moderate somwhat her angrye clymat towardes our sorow∣fullouers, by lockyng the husband wyth the moste of his ser∣uantés in close pryson, yet this happie torne of her whéele vnloked for, seamed such a myst to the mind of CORNELIO, that he was not hable to descerne that which his hart dyd dy∣uyne, nor beleue that fortune vpon such a soddaine, cold con∣uert her angrie and wrathful humor into suche spedie com∣passion, neyther cold the conceites of his doubtfull hart geue other iudgement, then that the laste retire and departure of the guarde, was rather a vision or dreame, then a thing of effect: such bée the ordynary allaroms appointed to quarell with the doubtfull mynd, who in an extremetie, is alwai∣es more apt to ymagyn the worst, then hable to beleue or geue credyt to thinges that bée true, and when daunger and peril occupie the place, confydence is often torned into feare, and feare is of such force, that it doth not only denie vs to vse councel in our euill, but makes vs (for the moste part) to re∣fuse the thinge that should be our most sauegarde, wherein the poore CORNELIO, seamed no lesse passioned then afore,

and assailed rather with doble dispair, then hable to admit a∣ny simple proffer of hope, in such sorte as deuisinge to what sainte to vowe himselfe, he put his speciall and chiefe confi∣dence at laste in his praiers to the great God, whom he desy∣red aboue all thinges with teares to defend his deare PLAV∣DINA from any note of infamie or shame by his meanes, & for himselfe, if his glasse were now run out, and the dome of his extreme destynies colde bée no longer deferred, that at the least hée would, by the hand of some Aungell and other ver∣tue of great miracle, bestow him in some soile vnknowen, a∣fore the fates had ful power to execute the vttermost of their rigorous commission, protesting notwithstandinge, that if he might bée despensed withall for this one falt, neuer to bée found so forgetful of himselfe hereafter, if God and nature wéere content to seale him an assurance of the race and yeres of NESTOR. PLAVDINA on thother syde seamed indyffrent lye passioned betwene dissembled sorow and assured gladnes, a forced grudge and an vnfained ioye, greuinge in the one, for thimprisonement of her husband, whose innocencye shée knew dyd warrant his belyuerie, and reioysinge in the o∣ther, for that contrary to her exspectacion, fortune had made the way open and geuen her consent for the consommacion of the banquet with her languishinge louer, whose safe and happie preseruacion seamed more to delite her, thenne the remembrance of the hard and wrongful ymprisonement of her husband greued her, neyther was she so carefull to rede∣me him from captiuitye, as readie-wyth great deuocion to geue loue and fortune their peculyar thankes, the one for that in preseruing his champions from the malice of daun∣ger and marke of open shame, seamed to restore the felde, and assist theim with soccour, whenne they dispaired most of consolacion, the other, for that contrary to her nature and cus tume, she had torned theirmanifold afflictions into a pleasure more precious & acceptable, thē al y^e desasters of y^e whole wor∣lde seamed greuous, or hurtfull, in which passion of ioye shée mounted into the chamber of Iacke of the clockhouse, who

resembling a red heyring dryed in the smoake agaynst the be∣ginning of the next lent, attended her comming wyth no lesse deuocion then the Iews exspect their MESSIAS, and albeit, the approch of present ioye, forcinge some teares in remem∣brance of the feare passed, seamed for the time to take away y^e vse and libertie of her tongue, yet she cut of y^e traunce of that pleasant sorowe without thassistance of any special counter∣charme, other then that whych proceded of a vehement de∣syer to behold and speake wyth her frend in the chymney, wherfore after shée had dryed and drained the wet humor of her waterie eyes, and dismissed all argumentes of former dule, she retired to her auncient complexion of ioy, and cal∣ling with a smyling voire to him in the topp of the rooffe, willed him to discend hardly from his darke troane and thea∣trie of hell, wher (sayth she) if god had not deuised the meane of your delyuerie, and seamed willing that you shold receiue the due guerdon of your loyaltie, in consenting to commit my husband to pryson, you had stil remeined there, norished with the vapour of y^e moone, longer then eyther I wold haue wished, or had bene necessarie for your health. Here albeit CORNELIO was sufficiently perswaded of the voice of his Ladie, and that he knew all the house to be voyed of suspicion or cause of further daunger, yet the remembrance of his pe∣rill passed, presented such a feare to fall eftsones into the like perplection, that hée neyther beleued that which hée hard, nor durst forsake his habytacion on highe, til he was sommo∣ned the second tyme by his PLAVDINA, who by the help of her woman, reared a lather to the top of the loft where the grymy roode stode, who being discended and in the presence of his Ladye, seamed no lesse amased, then those desolate or rather dronken creatures, who wandring the night by vn∣knowen waies, do thinke theimselues guided by the vision of some ill spirit: And the wantō ladie on thother syde, seing the ghastlie astonishement of her frend, not much vnlike in cōplexion to the chymney swepers cōminge out of the yle of

BERGAMASQVA cold not so moderat her present gladnes, but burstinge into a soddaine laughter, shée seamed to cru∣cifye the remembrance of the tragedie passed, wyth the sin∣gler contentment shée toke in beholdinge her CORNELIO, dyed (as it were) in the smotheringe tanfat of hyddeous col∣lours: And albeit (you louers) who for a simple glée and res∣pect of fauor of your Ladies, haue earste bene sprinkled, with the water of semblable affliction, and after (getting thupper hand of your fortune) possesse the presence of your dames in such oglye and deformed attire, canne best iudge of the pre∣sent case of CORNELIO, I meane whether hée hadde more cause of shame, then astonishmente, iuste anger against hys fortune, or reason to exclaime his mishappe, chieflie for that he fonnd himself so braue a companion in the lothsom badge or lyuerye of the chymneye, and whether he had so greate courage to cōmunicate wyth his PLAVDYNA, resembling the blacke knight or feryman of ZENOLOZ, as he showed hymselfe valyant, in thattempte of an enterpryse of so great aduenture, yet thauthorytie of my historye aduoucheth thus farr of his doinges at that tyme, that notwithstandinge the malice and diuersitie of all his mishapps, with the perfumed, figure and gréeselie show of himselfe, he neyther loste corage to demaunde the due méede and hyer of his daungerous tra∣ueile, nor forgat to do sacrafise to his fortune for the retorn of her frendshippe, affirminge there, that they dyd her wronge that christenned her by the name of cruell, and suche no lesse abused her, that tearmed her by the title of an vnrightuous or rigorous iudge, consideringe she doth but iustice sometime to checke or chasten our offences and we no reason to pleade for our selues but by appellacion to the pryuiledge of her fa∣uor, neyther is she cruell for euer, nor so maliciouslye bente in the begynning, but shée is hable and will vse moderacion in her angrie moode, and restore vs in the end, to treble con∣tentacion. And like wise (sayth hée) as the poore trauellour in a strange contrey, hauynge once passed diuerse light pe∣perills

and daungers of no great ymportaunce, is not only made strōger to encounter greater inconueniences, but also restored to a meruelous contentment & quiet of minde, whē w^tout daunger hée may enioye his rest, and record his perills paste. Euen so fortune this night hathe geuen vs an experi∣ence of diuerse desasters, bothe to vse her aduertisemente as a speciall armour to resyste thassaltes of semblable acciden∣ts hereafter, and also to confirme our affections with a stron∣ger bonde or vndoubted vnytie, makinge the pleasures of our loue of greater price and moment after so sharp stormes of raging tempestes. And what is hée that is worthie to taste of the delites and pleasures of the worlde, that is not hable to disgeste one simple pill of bitter confection: neyther dothe hope dekaie but with the ende of life, and the vertue of a most true and inuincible loyaltie, is neuer frustrate nor voyed of his rewarde, and tochinge the stormes paste (my deare PLAV DINA) saith he, like as it is a chiefe consolacion to a man in calamytie to knowe his mishapp, so there is also a speciall compfort that followeth the remembrance of the euills whi∣che wée haue alredie suffred, and a treble contentmente be∣inge permitted to recorde theim wythout daunger, and hée that is desierous to bée crowned with the garland and glorie of victorie, must not feare the malice of perill nor hazarde of lyfe, for who contemneth death, escapeth his malice, but such as feare and flée from hym, do often fal into his daunger, nei∣ther is there lesse fame in the valyant aduenture, then in the fortunat victorie, And for my parte, if my lyfe had ended in thassalte of any of these distresses, the same had not exceded a simple oblation of my dutie towardes you, whiche also had followed wyth no lesse expedicion, then I had great desyer to geue you so vnfayned a shewe of my seruice, if in the ve∣rye act, had not appeared a manifest derogacion and cause of infamie to your honor, wherwith meaninge yet to prolonge his discourse hée was interupted with the replie of PLAVDI∣NA, who more desyerous to taste of the pleasures to come, then willinge eftsones to prefer a second view of y^e mischie∣nes

passed, wished hym to dismisse the remembraunce of their former perils, and seame more willyng to embrace the gyfte of present time, for there is not so greate consolacion in the recorde of our miserie past, as cause of worthie an∣noye, if we seame vnthankefull to the newe offer or gyfte of oure fortune. And albeit (sayth she) some what smilynge, that your boldnes was more then deserued praise, yet your felicitye you sée, hath defended you from perill, and the rashnes of the valyaunt, is often times tourned into an encrese of his glorye, with double contentement not loked for wherwith embracinge her CORNELIO, she helped to dissornishe hym of his loathsom attire, and after he had pu∣rifyed his grymye bodye in ij. or iii. perfumed baines made for the purpose by the Chambriere whilest they were in dis∣course, they entred together the lystes in a faire féelde bed readye dressed, armed onely with naked weapons, where it is no lesse harde for the ignoraunt to iudge theyr encoun∣ters, then impossible for thabsent to witnes who wan the price of the battayle, onelye I leaue the sentence of them both to the resolucion of you (my Lordes) that haue or wolde bée speciall sticklors in suche a combat, but thus muche I maye ymagine without offence, that the inno∣cent hornsbye in the castell, founde not so muche plea∣sure in his prison, as CORNELIO toke delite beinge the lieutenant of his bedd, in daunsinge the maried mans rounde without other musicke then the instrument of his wyfe, which both triumphynge indiffyrentlye ouer the in∣fortunat and miserable birde in the cage, & ratinge the plea∣sures of the rest of that nighte, with an aduauntage of vij. or biii. dayes more, at what interest they thought good, forgat not to dob hym that was absent, knighte, of the forqued or∣der of Vulcā. And albeit fortune shewed heare a maruelous partialitie & cōning in the cōueigh of this buysines, I meane to aduaunce the attempte of the louer, by the oppression and vniust captiuitie of the innocent husbande, yet was not her fauor so cleare, but there appeared a threatenyng sommāce

of spedie change, for that the good man being iustifyed with in vj. or vij. dayes tryall, was redemed from pryson, whose delyuerie was not so acceptable to himself, as displeasant to his ij. corriuals, whereof the one féedyng hym wyth the re∣uercion and leauynge of an other man, gaue hym onely the possession of shapp and bodye of a woman wythout a hart. And the other wearye or cloyed with the toile of one kinde of exercise, or not hable any longer to mainteine the skir∣mishe without freshe supplies, or fearynge peraduenture the torne of his fortune, who neuer yeldes vs pleasure with∣out a sharp repentaunce in the ende, if we preuent not her dome by discrecion, was as willynge to resigne the forte, as at the first, he scanted desirous to enter the breache, wherup∣pon resoluynge vpon an other time for the further consom∣macion & complot of their felicitie, they departed, not with∣out signes of secret sorowe, appearynge by the teares stan∣ding in their eyes, the one to her husbande, who wearynge by ignorance, a forqued garland made of the leaues of the frée, wherof an other had coolled and cropped the frute, was content with that he founde, and reioysed in his happy en∣counter, the other not without great daūger retired to Man∣tua, where takynge more pleasure in the repeticion of his perils passed, then desyrous (without better aduise) to reit∣terate or vndertake againe the lyke aduenture, he discour∣sed the whole to his frende DELIO, who for his parte, reioy∣synge more in the saffe retorne of his frende, then commen∣ding his wisdom in thattempt of so rashe & perillous an en∣terprise, exclaimed against y^e detestable rage & furie of loue, which as al antiquities do affirme, to be of more force & infe∣ction, then al the Ruberbe of Alexandria or antycyria is eyther hable to heale or delaie y^t least furie of so vncurable a poyson, so y^e familiar experiēce of this age, iustifiyng the protestaciō of former time, doth yeld vs such diuersities of exāples, tou∣ching y^e raging dispositiō of that frātike humour, y^t we ought not only to shon y^e aire of such a pestilēt plage, no les thē the mariner, y^t goth a loofe & giueth place to the harde rockes in

the daungerous Occean, but also to stande so sewerlye vpon our guarde, that we seame not once to lysten to thintisynge sommance or lewer of so execrable corrupcion, who once takynge possession of the sensible parts within vs, besides that he ceasseth not to interrupte our quiett wyth continuall torment and passion, stretcheth yet his power so farr, that he bringes vs in case not only to commit our lyues to mani∣fest perils, forgett the dutye of our conscience, with breache of the commaundement of God, but also (to satisfye the ap∣petit of wanton lubricitie) he makes vs corrupt the puritie of the soule, with the spott of abhominable adulterye, a syn most apte of all other to incense the vengeance of God againste vs, whereof we haue sewer prooff in the de∣struction of Sodom and Gomorra wyth diuerse other countreys and common welthes, whiche he hath plaged and brought to ruyne, for the onely lycencious ly∣uyng of the people.

FINIS.

Notes

• Loue Proce∣des of the cor¦rupcion of our ovvne na¦ture.
• Secret solici∣tors of the in¦vvard affecti∣on of the harte.
• Cornelio vvri¦teth to plau∣dyna
• The eyes be the secret si∣gnes and me∣sengers of loue.
• Plaudyna aunsvvereth the letter of her seruant.
• Portune a blind goddes.
• The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her bodye.
• Plaudina menteth the absence of her frēd vvith complaint 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gainste her ovvne misfor∣tune.
• Loue este∣meth no daū∣ger.
• The desye∣rous harte is seldom at rest and doubte∣full mindes dreede al∣vvayes de∣ceite.
• The com∣plaint of Cor¦nelyo beinge in exile.
• His mistres.
• The order of a desolate louer.
• The desier of a desperat louer.
• The firste metinge of the baude vvith Corne∣lio.
• Men more constant then vvomen.
• Cornelyo aunsvverethe the baude.
• Narcissus doateth vpon his ovvne sha∣dovve.
• Constancie.
• VVomen deri¦ued of the im¦perfections of men.
• Faith to be obserued∣vvhere the de¦syer is perfor¦med.
• Cornelio gi∣ueth his la•••• aunsvvere to the baude.
• Plaudyna.
• Plaudyna ad¦uertiseth her louer of the departure of her husband.
• Delyo per∣suadeth Cor¦nelyo not to go to Millan
• perills be grea¦ter in reaport then daunge∣rous in thad∣uenture.
• Cornelio as∣tonied in the presence of his Ladye.
• Cornelio spe¦keth to his Ladye.
• Lyfe.
• Plaudina re∣plieth to her seruant.
• Her husband
• Loue makes a man valiant or rather fo∣lishe hardie.
• An order not necessarie for a comm•••• vvealth.
• A woman more readye of vvitt then a man in ex∣eremeties.
• Necessetie geueth corage to the fainte harte.
• The doubte∣full mynd is rather apt to beleue the vvorste then credyt thin∣ges that b•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉.