Zelauto. The fountaine of fame Erected in an orcharde of amorous aduentures. Containing a delicate disputation, gallantly discoursed betweene to noble gentlemen of Italye. Giuen for a freendly entertainment to Euphues, at his late ariuall into England. By A.M. seruaunt to the Right Honourable the Earle of Oxenford. Honos alit artes.

¶ After that Rodolfo and Strabino had borrowed the money of Signor Truculento, they de∣parted to their lodgings, and in the morning goe and buy the ritch Iewell, which Strabino presenteth to Signor Giorolamo Ruscelli, the Father of Corne∣lia, and obtayneth promise that he shall haue her in marriage. Cap. 6. (Book 6)

ROdolfo in the morning, repayreth to y^e Chāber of his assured Strabino, where béeing entred, he found him in his study at his Booke, away∣ting his company to goe about their businesse. Strabino (quoth he) let your Bookes a whyle be left: and frame your selfe to furder your fancie, let be the solemnesse you vse in your study: for you are lyke to pur∣chase a double delyght, the tyde taryeth no man, and when we are assured of our wished Iewell: then may we deferre y^e tyme as long as we lyst. Wherefore, my selfe desyrous to hasten in our enterprise, and also to prooue the doubt of a dreame. I desire the more to make an ende of this matter. Quoth Strabino, hath a dreame driuen you in any such doubt, or haue you séen a fancie in your sléepe, which you shall prooue effectuous now you are waking: if it shall like you to tell me the trueth, I will define thereon as well as I can.

To trifle the tyme in talke (quoth Rodolfo) may let our la∣bour, and beside, to shew you the effect of the same: would cause you to delude me, wherefore I will let it alone tyll we returne, and if by the way it prooue to perfection (as my de∣sire is of God it may not) truly I wyll tell you. They take theyr way downe by Signor Truculentos doore, where he sawe the Saint sitting which all night was in his vision, no fur∣ther could he goe he was so faynt, but stoode leaning on the brest of his fréend Strabino, at last he burst foorth in these woordes, saying.

O my Strabino, but that you are my fréend, and one whom

I doo highly make accoumpt of: I should doubt to discouer the cause of my dollor, and feare to display my so sodayne pas∣sions, yet séeing your selfe hath tasted like torment, and haue borne out the bruntes which now I abide: the bolder I may my secretes bewraye, and the surer demonstrate the cause of my care. Yet you will condempne me for my preter presumption, and may rightly controule me for my rashe reprehension: yet iudge with indifferencie, and deale with me fréendly, let olde faultes be forgotten, and penaunce clay∣me pardon. I sée there is no stomacke so stoute: but looue will allay it, no courage so conquerous: but looue will con∣uince it, nor no heart so hautie: but looue can bring lowe: Euen so my selfe, who was a reiecter of looue, am now en∣forced to followe my fancie, and I who enuied against Wo∣men kinde: am now become a thrall to one my selfe.

With that for feare of béeing suspected in the open stréete: they went theyr wayes about theyr other affayres, and as they were walking, quoth Strabino. I sée déere fréende, that the most learned Clarkes, are not the wisest, the most valiaunt, not the surest, nor the greatest boasters, the best perfourmers, I perceyue you would haue béene in your deskant, before you knewe what pertayned to pricke Song. What say you nowe to Plautus woordes? What say you to all the matters wherewith you charged me? Well, I will not replye so rashlie as you dyd: nor I will not giue you such colde comfort, as you vsed to me, but I wyll doo the best to make vp the matter, and my head to a halfepeny, I wyll bring it to effect.

I knowe it is Truculentos Daughter whome you desire, and she it is must cease your sorrowes: let vs first ende the matter we haue in hande, and then you shall sée how I wyll compasse this géere. Rodolfo well satisfied with Strabinos pro∣mise: went and bought the Iewell which his Father so much desired, and there withall a fayre white Iennet of Spayne, and comming home: found his Father sitting at the doore, he entred, leauing Strabino to talke with him, who after he had saluted him in séemely sort: beganne his matters in

this order as followeth.

To rip vp the chéefe occasions (woorthy Sir) that procureth me in what I can to pleasure you: would be ouer tedious to me in the telling, and somewhat troublesome to you in the hearing, wherefore letting them passe as remembred in minde, and recounting such matters as occasion dooth byd me: I first and formost present you with this rytch & sump∣tuous Iewell, wishing it so much woorth, as I could wyl∣lingly bestowe.

When Signor Ruscelli sawe the Iewell, which so long he desired, and that his sonnes fréend and Companion was the bestower of the same: he was ouercome with such excéeding ioy: that it is vnpossible for me to expresse. But when he had well viewed all about, & séene the sumptuousnesse bestowed thereon: he aunswered Strabino to his great contentment.

If I should shew you (quoth he) how much this gyft plea∣seth me, and besides, make manifest the good wyll I beare you: you would suppose I dyd but flatter you, and déeme my woordes of no true intent. Wherefore to driue you out of all such doubtes, and to make apparaunce of that I haue spoken: demaund of me what you shall déeme expedient, and I vow to the vttermost to graunt your request.

With that Cornelia came to the doore, and séeing the Iewel in her Fathers hande: commended greatly the lyberalitie of her Brothers fréende, and informing her Father to make him large amendes.

Syr (quoth Strabino) the Iewell giuen, byds me (vnder ver∣dite of your lycence) craue an other Iewell, and this Ien∣net besides I giue you, wishing but to spéede of that Iewell. What Iewell soeuer it be (quoth he) I haue, or any other thing, that may séeme to suffice you: on my credite and fide∣litie, you can but aske and haue. Strabino stepped vp and tooke Cornelia by the hand, saying: then giue me this Iewell in re∣compence of my Iewell: so shall I be contented, and you no∣thing iniured.

Syr Strabino (quoth Signor Ruscelli) the demaund you haue made is doubtfull, and the choyse you haue chosen, nothing

correspondent to mine intent, her mariage is already made, and she is giuen to one whose wealth is so woorthy, & whose store so surpassing: that whyle she liueth, she shall néede to lacke nothing. You are a young Gentleman, youthfull and lyberall, and will spend more in a day: then he in a yéere, he is warie and wise, you youthfull and prodigall, therefore the matche is otherwise determined, any thing else remayneth at your request. Syr (quoth Strabino) you haue left a poynt open, and I haue a man to enter, respect your play wisely, least you loose the game outright. A promise may alwayes be claymed for a due debt, and such a man as you should ne∣uer shrinke at his woord, I may clayme this Iewell by a suf∣ficient tytle: for that in your promise you made no exception. Yea but Strabino (quoth he) I meant you should haue desired some other desert. But I meant (quoth Strabino) to craue none other, so that you standing to the bargaine, and I lyber∣tie to take what best lykes me: this Iewell is mine, and your woorde a sufficient warrant.

Besides, where you doubt my liuing is not sufficient to welcome such a Wife: I trust that the patrimony my Pa∣rentes dooth allowe me, is more then the dowrie you wyll make to her mariage. Againe, if my lyberalitie, of you be dys∣lyked, and the niggardly sparing of a worldly wretch so much commended: I perceyue you preferre rytches before a noble minde, and accoumpt more of vanitie, then you doo of vertue. Mazeus when he receyued his Pretorship of Alexander: in commendation of his munificence, vsed these woordes. My Prince Darius was euer but one man: but thou by thy lyberalitie, makest many Alexanders. Scipio Africanus ne∣uer rode abroade, but he would vse such lyberalitie ere he returned: that of his greatest fooes, he would make his dée∣rest fréends. Isocrates wysheth Nicocles to be familliar with this excellent vertue, wylling him in his apparell to be gal∣lant and glorious: and let his lyberalitie set foorth his mag∣nificence. Then neuer disprayse lyberalitie, which is the chéefe ornament of a noble minde: but hate that worldly pleasure, enemie to all vertuous actions. I content my selfe

to stand to her gentle iudgement, if she doo not regard me: I am content you shall refuse me, and if she lyke me not: I will let her alone.

What bargayne is betwéene you twayne (quoth Signor Ruscelli) I knowe not, nor how you haue deuised the matter in hope to deceyue me, yet haue I séene no such familliarity, whereof I should accoumpt: nor any such likelyhood, that she will chuse you to her Husband. I am content to abyde her agréement, wherefore speake Daughter as your minde shall best serue you.

Then since déere Father (quoth Cornelia) it hath lyked you to graunt me my minde, in making my choyse, and that you will not be offended at my bolde behauiour: Syr Strabino, you are the man whome I most accoumpt of, and no other will I haue during lyfe.

When Signor Ruscelli perceyued it was come to that passe, and that his promise bound him to stand to her verdict: he sayd. Take héere then Strabino, the Iewell of my ioy, to quite your Iewell so lyberallie bestowed, and God graunt you such prosperitie whyle you liue together: as I wishe to mine owne soule, I speake vnfaynedly. The Nuptialles shall be celebrated when you thinke best, in the meane while I will take you as my Sonne, and you bothe as Man and Wife.

After much talke passed betwéene them: out commeth the mournfull Rodolfo, rauished with such inward desyre, and tossed in such frantick fittes: as his pittious plight bewray∣ed the state of his sicknesse. Strabino taking leaue of his new found Father, and of his swéet Lady and wife Cornelia: went with him. And as they were going (quoth Rodolfo.) O my déere Strabino, néedes must I goe, to knowe eyther of or on, her Father shall knowe the good will I beare her, and she shall perceyue I wishe her to my Wife. If I maye spéede, I haue my desire, if not, the greater wyll be my di∣stresse.

Ah Syr (quoth Strabino) how lyke you looue? Who shall controule you for following your fancie? A man knowes

what his beginning is: but he knoweth not his ending. Brag is a good Dogge, whyle he will holde out: but at last he may chaunce to méete with his matche. In such like conference they came to the house of Signor Truculento, and who should open the doore but Brisana his Daughter, the Mistresse of Rodolfo, whome he saluted in very fréendly sort. But euen so willing as he was to haue her to his Wife: she was as desi∣rous to haue him to her Husbande. Héere was hote looue on bothe sides, and each of them so farre in: that it was vn∣possible for eyther to gette out. Rodolfo, he in secrete telles Truculento such a flattering tale in his eare, howe his Sister had calmed her courage, and was content to stand to her Fa∣thers appointment: that the day after the debt was dischar∣ged the mariage should be made, so he for ioy of these new-come tydinges: ioyneth them bothe hand in hand, to marie when they will, & God giue them much ioy▪ Heere were ma∣riages soone made, and Wiues soone wonne, I beléeue if I should sue for lyke succour: I should perforce take longer space to spéede.

Nowe is Rodolfo returned reioysing, and Strabino right glad of his good successe, Truculento presently hyes him to horsebacke, to goe wyll all his fréendes, to méete at his mari∣age.

When Signor Ruscelli knew how his sonne had spedde, and by so fine a drift had deceyued Truculento: the next morning marieth his sonne, and Truculentos Daughter together, and Cornelia and Strabino in the selfe same sort. What ioy was héere on eyther side: iudge you that are maried folkes and meddle in such matters, yet though I be vnskilfull to define on such clauses: I must néedes suppose, that since each of thē gayned, the thing which they most desired: their ioy was not lyttle, nor their pleasure lightly to be accoumpted of.

Strabino he with his swéete Cornelia passeth the tyme plea∣santly, & Rodolfo with his braue Brisana lyueth at hearts ease & tranquilitie, so that they thinke there is no other felycitie.

But now Gentlemen (as the auncient Prouerbe is) after pleasure comes payne, and after mirth comes myserie, and

after a fayre and sunny day, ariseth blustring windes & sharp showers: Euen so to this passed pageant of pleasure, is an∣nexed a stratageme of sorrowes.

Truculento is returned from bydding his Guestes, and hath heard of the hap which chaunced in his absence, he comes as one bereft of his wyttes, or as a man feared out of his fiue sences, and vttereth this tale to Signor Giorolamo Ruscelli. Syr, blame not my boldnesse, for that I am constrayned, nor reprehend my rashnesse, since I am so misused, I thought more credite had consisted in your auncient heart, and that you would not haue dissembled with any such double dealing. Dyd not you perfectly promise I should matche with your Daughter, and that no one should gayne her but only I? Did not I giue your Sonne my Daughter on the selfe same con∣dition? And haue you in my absence maryed her to an other? Not cōtented with matching my Daughter with your Son, I béeing not present▪ but to goe and play such a Parasites part. Well, well, I doubt not but to deale so sharply with some: that they shall wishe they neuer had maried my promi∣sed wife.

Fewe woordes & swéete Syr (quoth Signor Ruscelli) threat∣ned folkes liue long, and angrie men are subiect to many sor∣rowes, I gaue you no other consent, then on my Daughters agréement, and when I mentioned the matter: I styll found her contrarie. Wherfore you must pacifie your selfe, there is no other remedy, and learne to make a vertue of necessity, for sure your lucke was still turned to losse. And whereas my Sonne hath matched with your Daughter: I déeme you are not greatly to finde any fault, but rather may be glad she hath sped so well, for y^e day hath béene he might haue had her betters. Wherfore if you séeme to chafe your selfe vpon so lyght occasion, and that you will not be cōtented, we offering you such courtesy: meddle in no more matters then you may, nor heape any more harmes on your head, then you are wyl∣ling to beare. If you set not a poynt by vs: we care not a pyn for you, if we may haue your good will so it is: if not, kéepe your winde to coole your Pottage.

This aunswere made Truculento more mad then he meant to be, and he flung foorth of doores in such a fume: as though all the Towne would not haue helde him.

On the morrow, he caused Strabino and Rodolfo to be sum∣moned to appéere before the Iudge, for the payment of the money, which when Cornelia and Brisana perceyued: they willed their Husbandes in nothing to doubt, for that by their industrie they should be discharged. Cornelia apparelleth her selfe all in blacke like a Scholler, and Brisana attyreth her selfe in the same sorte. After dinner they appéered before the Iudge, where Truculento appealed against them in this or∣der.