Mamillia The second part of the triumph of Pallas: wherein with perpetual fame the constancie of gentlewomen is canonised, and the vniust blasphemies of womens supposed ficklenesse (breathed out by diuerse iniurious persons) by manifest examples clearely infringed. By Robert Greene Maister of Arts, in Cambridge.

MAMILLIA TO THE Ladie Modesta.

MAdame Modesta, I haue receiued your letters, & haue viewed your doubtfull demaund, whereunto thus I answer, y^t to liue we must follow the aduise of our friends, but to loue our owne fancie: for to another mans liuing they may giue preceptes, but to fixe fancie in loue they can prescribe no certaine principles. Then Madame, sith you haue riches which may of a poore woer make a welthy spée∣der, wed not for wealth, least repentance cast the accounts, nor match not with a foole, least afterward thou repēt thine own follie, but choose one whose beautie may content thine eye, and whose vertuous wisedom may satisfie thy minde, so shalt thou haue neither cause to repent, nor occasion to mislike thy choyce, and that thou maist perceiue my mea∣ning more plainly, reade this following historie with good aduisement.

There dwelt in Toledo a certaine Castilian named

Valasco by parentage a Gentleman, by profession a Mar∣chant, of more wealth than worship, and yet issued of such parents as did beare both great countenance and credit in the countrie. This Valasco after the decease of his father was a ward to the Duke of Zamorra, who séeing him in∣dued with great wealth and large possessions hauing the disposition of his marriage in his hands, married him to a kinswoman of his named Sylandra, a Gentlewoman nei∣ther indewed with wit nor adorned with beautie: and yet not so witlesse but she was wilfull, nor so deformed but she was proude, insomuch as her inward vices and outward vanities, did in tract of time so quat the queasie stomacke of her husband Valasco, that although in his childish yéeres he did not mislike of her follie, yet in his ripe yéeres when reason was a rule to direct his iudgement, he so detested the infirmities of her nature and the infections of her nur∣ture, as she was the onely woman his crasie stomack could not digest. Valasco being thus combred with such a crosse, as the burthen thereof was to him more heauie than the weight of the heauens to the shoulders of Atlas, and know∣ing by experience what a miserie it was to marrie with∣out loue, or make his choice without skill, and how loath∣some it was to liue without liking, or to be wedded to her whom neither his fancie nor affection did desire to enioy: hauing by his wife Sylandra one onelie daughter named Syluia, determined with Themistocles to marrie her ra∣ther to a man than to monie, and neuer to match her with anie whom she did not both intirely loue and like. While he was in this determination Sylandra died, leauing Va∣lasco a diligent husband for the finishing of his wines fu∣nerals, and a carefull father for the well bringing vp of his daughter Syluia, who now was about the age of sixtéene yéeres, so beautified with the gifts of nature, and adorned with sundrie vertues and exquisite quallities, as the Citi∣zens of Toledo were in doubt whether her beautie or ver∣tue

deserued greater commendation. Syluia flourishing thus in the prime of her youth and proouing daylie more excellent as well in the complexion of the bodie as in the perfection of her mind, grew so renowmed for her famous feature almost throughout all Europe, that as they which came to Memphis thought they had séene nothing vnlesse they had viewed the Pyramides built by Rhodope, so the strangers which arriued at Toledo thought their affaires not fully finished vntill they had obtained the sight of Syl∣uia. So that as the most charie chafre hath euer most choice of chapmen, and as the richest iem hath euer most resort to viewe it and buy it, so by the meanes of Syluia the house of Valasco was so frequented with a noble traine of worthie Sutors, as if it had béene a common Burse for exchange of Marchandize. Yet all their woing proued small spéeding, sith Syluia kept a loofe frō seasing on the lure. For although there were diuers of most noble parentage and great pos∣sessions which required her in mariage, offering for her feoffment great lands and Lordships: yet Valasco would neither condiscende without her consent, nor constraine her to consent to his commaundement. Well, Syluia thus glorying in her fréedome, and taking pleasure to trace in the large lées of libertie, was not suffered so quietly to fortifie the bulwarke of her chastitie, but she had sundrie assaultes and daylie canuizadoes to force her yéeld the fort to some of her importunate suters, amongst whome, there repaired by meare chance at one time and in one day thrée Gentlemen of sundry nations and diuers dispositions, the first an Italian called S. Gradasso, the second a Frenchman named Monsieur de Vaste, the third, an Englishman called master Petronius. Signor Gradasso, was verie olde but of great wealth, Monsieur de Vaste of surpassing beautie, but somewhat foolish, and master Petronius of great wit, but of verie small wealth, these Gentlemen were verie courteously entertayned by Signor Valasco, whome they

requited with sundrie salutations to this effect. The re∣nowne sir, quoth Signor Gradasso, not onely of your daugh∣ters beautie, but also of her singular vertue is so blowne a∣broad by fame in euerie place, and in euery mans eares, as there hath bene no talke for a time in Italie but of the per∣fection of Syluia, which forced mée being now olde and stri∣ken in yeares, to repaire hither as one desirous not onelie to sée your daughter, but also to take her to wife, and to en∣due her with such feoffements and large possessions as she shalbe satisfied and you sufficiently contented. Gradasso ha∣uing said his mind, Monsieur de Vaste not being the wisest man of the world in telling a tale, let a man of his called Iaques be his interpreter, faining that he was vtterlie ig∣norant in the Spanish tongue, who in his masters behalfe framed his talke to this effect. Sir, quoth he, my master be∣ing the onely sonne and heire to his parents, and being left the onely piller of all his parentage, hath euer since the de∣cease of his father bene verie careful to match himself with such a one in marriage as might content him for her beau∣tie, and be his countenance and credite for her vertue & ho∣nestie. Hearing therefore of your daughters singular per∣fection as well in the one as in the other, he was inforced by an inward affectiō to come as one very desirous to match himselfe with so good a mate, offring all his lands in dower as a perfect pledge of his vnfained good will. Iacques had no sooner made an end of his parle, but poore Petronius offered his sute verie rufully. Sir quoth Petronius, as it is a signe of follie to cheape that chaffre for the which there is farre more offered than he is able to affoord: so the beautie, ver∣tue and parentage of your daughter Syluia, the great dow∣ries and large feoffments offred by sundrie sutors had dan∣ted my feruent affection, sith being a poore scholler by pro∣fession, & yet a Gentleman by birth, far vnfit by the meanes of want to be a wooer, had I not heard that you haue giuen the rains of libertie to your daughter to be mistresse of her

owne choice, neither respecting the defect of want, nor the superfluitie of wealth, so your daughter like and loue the partie. Incouraged with this her frée libertie in choice, I am come to offer her neither landes nor Lordships but my sillie selfe, readie in what I may and she please to pleasure her.

Signor Valasco, hauing heard and diligently marked the effect of their talke, smiling and maruelling at their straunge aduenture, that thrée Gentleman so farre distant in place and diuerse in condition should so fitly méete at one instant, yea and framing their sutes all to one effect, retur∣ned them this friendly and curteous answere. Gentlemen quoth he, you are not come in more haste, than welcome with a good heart, and for my part I conceiue such good li∣king of you all in generall, as I could be content to bestow my daughter vppon anie of you in particular. For neither thy olde age Signor Gradasso, nor your want of learning, Monsieur de Vaste, nor thy lacke of wealth maister Petro∣nius, do bréede in me any such misliking, but that if it please my daughter to consent, I will willingly condescend: for in her and not in me consisteth your deniall. Therefore fol∣low me and I will bring you where euerie man shall pre∣fer his suite, and haue a spéedie answere. And with that he carried them to Syluias chamber, whome they found sitting solitarie at her muses. Who espying her father accompa∣nied with these thrée Gentlemen entertained euerie one of them so curteously with a kisse, her countenance notwith∣sting importing such grauitie, as they perceiued she was neither infected with curiositie, nor deuoyd of surpassing modestie: which so astonished the passionate hearts of these thrée patients, that as the deare with the sigh•• of a faire ap∣ple standeth at gaze, so they were with her beautie & vertue driuen into such a maze, y^e Signor Valasco was fain to break silence in this maner. Syluia quoth he, these thrée gentlemē inforced by affection, & drawne by the report of thy beautie

(as they say) are come from forraine countries to craue thée in marriage, which sith it consisteth not in my power to graunt without thy consent, I haue brought them to thy Chamber, that both they may speake for themselues, and thou giue them such an answere as fancie or affection shall commaund thee. This Gentleman being olde is of great riches to maintaine thy estate: the other is as thou séest verie faire, but not verie wise: the last is learned and wise, but not of any wealth. Now Syluia the choice is in thine own hands, if thou loue one of them I shall like him, if thou refuse them all, I am still contented. Syluia yéelding most dutifull thanks to her father for his natural affection, returned him soberlie this solemne answere.

Sir quoth she, I now sée by experience that dreames are not alwayes vaine illusions and fond fantasies, but that sometime they prognosticate & foreshewe what afterward shall happen. For Iulius Caesar a little before he was Mo∣narch of the world dreamed that he had ouercome Mars in plaine battell. Penelope the night before her long looked for Vlisses came home, sawe in her sléepe Cupide pricking an Oliue branch at her beds head, and this night last past I did sée in a dreame Venus standing in a most braue and delicate garden wherein were but onely thrée trées, the one a verie olde and withered Oake, yet laden with Ackornes, the other a faire and beautifull Ceder trée, and yet the roote decayed and rotten, the third a gréene Bay trée flourishing and yéelding foorth an odoriferous smell, but being bar∣raine and without beries. And me thought as I thus stoode taking the viewe of the trées, Venus chaunged me into a turtle Doue, and bad me build my nest in one of these trées which best pleased my fancie. And as I was readie to yéeld her an answere, I sodeinlie awooke, and Venus lost her verdit. To diuine of this dreame it passeth my skill, but I coniecture the thrée trées did represent these thrée Gentlemen, and the Turtle my selfe: but what either

Venus or the building of the neast do signifie, it passeth my skill to coniecture. But omitting my dreame and the sig∣nification thereof till tract of time shall diuine it, sith you are Gentlemen of sundrie countries and diuerse dispositi∣ons, and yet all shoote at one marke: let me heare what e∣uerie one of you can say in commendation of his owne e∣state, and then as Fortune shall fauour you, and fancy force me, you shall receiue an answere. Syluia had no sooner en∣ded her talke, but the Gentleman began to diuine of the dreame very deuoutly, descanting diuersly of the building of the neast, and applying the interpretation to their parti∣cular preferment. The Turtle alwaies or most common∣ly, quoth Gradasso, buildeth on the tall and strong oake, ho∣nouring it because it is Arbor Iouis, the trée of Iupiter, and delighting to build in it by a secret motion of nature, and therefore I haue cause if the dreame proue true, to count my part the best portion. Nay sir, quoth Iacques in his mai∣sters behalfe, you haue least hope & greatest cause to doubt, for the oake was old & withered, & the turtle naturally de∣lighteth in gréene & flourishing trées, and especially in the tall and beautifull Cedar, and therefore you are exempted. As for the bay trée although it be gréene, yet Plinie repor∣teth it is the onelie trée which the turtle Doue abhorreth, and therfore of these premisses I infer this conclusion, that by the diuination of this dream my maister shal obtain the prise at this turnay. Wel masters quoth Petronius, though you thrust mée out for a wrangler, and count me as a Cy∣pher in Algorisme, yet I say, that neither I haue occasion to doubt nor you cause to hope. For though by the meanes of Venus there chanced such a Metamorphosis, yet though her body was transformed, her heart, mind & vnderstanding was not changed, though she were a Turtle in shewe, yet she was Syluia in sense, not hauing so base a minde, as ei∣ther to build her neast in a withered oake, where it were more méete for a myrie sowe to féede, than so gallant a bird

to build, or on a faire Cedar, sith the roote was rotten and readie to fall, but would rather make her choice of a faire and flourishing bay trée, which may both profite her selfe and pleasure her sences. So that if we haue part I hope and assure my selfe mine to be the best. Tush Gentlemen quoth Syluia, fish not before the net, nor make not your ac∣countes without your hostes, least happily your gaines be small, and your shot vncertaine. But if you please to haue my companie, leaue off all circumstances and goe to the matter. Signor Gradasso hearing Syluia to grow so short, began the assault with this March. It is necessarie saith Callymachus, for him which will be a perfect louer to haue experience in his wooing and constancie in his wedding, least by want of skill he loose his labour, and his mistresse through his inconstancy repent the bargain. For where ex∣perience wanteth, there commonly the choice hath an ill chaunce, and where constancie beares no sway, there the match is alwaies marred. Now these two so commendable quallities are alwaies found in olde age, and neuer séene in yong yéeres. The old Bucke maketh better choice of his food than the little Fawne, the olde Lyon chooseth alwaies a better praie than the yong whelpe, the bird Acanthis in her age buildeth her neast with most discretion, and an old man hath more experience to make a perfect choice, than a yong mans skill to gaine a happie chaunce, age directs all his doings by wisedome, and youth doteth vpon his owne will, age hauing bought witte with paine and perill, fore∣seeth daungers and escheweth the same, but youth follow∣ing wanton witte too wilfully, neuer preuenteth perilles while they be past, nor dreadeth daungers while hée be halfe drowned, yea there is such a difference betwéene an olde man and a young stripling, betwéene hoarie haires and flourishing youth, that the one is followed as a friend to others, and the other eschewed as an enemie to himself. The Brachmans & Gymnosophistes made a law that none

vnder the age of fortie should marrie without the consent of the Senior, least in making their choice without skil, the man in processe of time should begin to loathe, or the wo∣man not to loue. For youth fiereth his fancy with the flame of lust, and olde age fixeth his affection with the heate of loue. Young yeares make no account but vppon the glit∣tering shewe of beautie, and hoarie haires respecteth one∣lie the perfect substance of vertue. Age séeketh not with subtilties to inchaunt the minde, nor with sleightes to en∣trap the maide, he weareth not a veluet scabbard and a rustie blade, nor a golden Bell with a leaden clapper, he frameth not his affection in the forge of flatterie, nor draw∣eth not a false colour with the Pensill of dissimulation: he doth not coyne his passions with a counterfeit stampe, nor faine his loue with a coloured lye, he beareth not honie in his mouth & gall in his heart, he hath not an Oliue branch in his bosome and a sworde at his backe, hée carrieth not bread in his hand and a dagger in his sléeue, but if he fancie tis with faith, and if hée tell his tale it is tempered with truth, which shineth in a louer as a pollished iemme set in most glistring gold. So that old mē are oft enuied for their vertue, and yong men pittied for their vice. The hearbe Ca∣risnum being newly sprung vp hath a most sowre iuice, but being come to his groweth a most delicate sappe. The olde Firre hath the swéetest smell, the aged Panther the purest breath, and the oldest man the most perfect conditions: so that as it is naturall for the Palme trée to be straight, for the Corall to be red, for the Tygre to be fierce, for the Ser∣pent to be subtill, and the Camell to haue a crookt back, so is it proper to olde men to be endued with vertue, and young men imbrued with vice, for horie age to be entangled with loue, and stailesse youth to be entrapped with lust, that as the brauest Sepulchre cannot make the dead carkasse to smell swéete, nor the most delicate ienimes make a defor∣med face faire, so the richest attire or most costly apparrell

cannot make a young minde sauour of vertue. The olde Pine trée is more estéemed for the profit, than the flouri∣shing buds of the trées in the Ile of Colchos for their poy∣son, the olde Serpents Serapie are of greater account for their vertuous skinne, than the yoong and glistring Euets for their inuenomed hides. Age is alwaies more estéemed for his staied minde than youth for his stailesse mood. That flourishing and beautifull dame Rodophe which married old Sampniticus the King of Memphis, was woont to saie that she had rather be an olde mans darling than a young mans drudge, that she had rather content her selfe with an old man in pleasure, than féed her fancie with a yoong man in penurie, that she had rather be loued of an old man euer, than liked of a yoong man for a while. The mind of a yoong man is momentarie, his fancie fading, his affection fickle, his loue vncertaine, and his liking as light as the winde, his fancie fiered with euerie new face, and his minde moo∣ued with a thousand sundry motions, loathing that which alate he did loue, & liking that for which his longing mind doth lust, frying at the first, and frizing at the last, not soo∣ner inflamed than quickly cold, as little permanent as vio∣lent, and like the melting wax which receiueth euery im∣pression, where as age is constant like to the Emeraulde, which hauing receiued a forme neuer taketh other stampe without cracking. The mind of an old man is not mutable, his fancy fixed, and his affection not fléeting, he chooseth not intending to chaunge, nor chaungeth not til death maketh the challenge. The olde Oake neuer falleth but by the car∣penters axe, nor the affectiō of age but by the dint of death. The olde Cedar trée is lesse shaken with winde than the yoong Bramble, and age farre more staied than youth, yea though an old man be withered in age, yet he flourisheth in affection, though he want the beautie of bodie, yet hée hath the bountie of the minde, though age had diminished his colour, yet it hath augmented his vertue, though youth

excelleth in strength, yet age surpasseth in stedfastnesse, so that I conclude by how much the more the vertues of the minde are to be preferred before the beautie of the bodie, by so much the more ought an olde louer to be preferred before a young leacher. You haue heard Syluia what I haue said, and you know I haue spoken nothing but truth. If then it please you to thinke well of my part and accept of my person, to requite my loyall loue with lawfull li∣king, and my fixed fancie with feruent affection: assure your selfe you shall haue Signor Gradasso so at your com∣maund, as you in euerie respect can wish, and in the pledge of this my good will I will make your feofment a thou∣sand Crownes of yéerely reuenewes. Signor Gradasso had no sooner ended, but Iacques in his maisters behalfe framed his talke to this effect. There is nothing quoth he, which among mortall creatures is more detested than deformi∣tie, nor nothing more imbraced than beautie, which aboue all the giftes both of Nature and Fortune doth make vs most resemble the gods. So that where the bodie is ador∣ned with beautie and perfection of nature, there it séemeth the gods shewe most fauour and affection, sith that they tooke such care in caruing a péece of so curious perfection. Insomuch that they say when the gods made beautie, they skipt beyond their skill, in that the maker is subiect to the thing made, for what made Thetis be inconstant but beau∣tie, what forced Venus to be in loue with Anchises but beautie? what caused Luna to like Endymion but beautie? yea, it is sayde to be of so great force, that it bewitcheth the wise, and inchaunteth them that made it. There is none so addicted to chastitie whome beautie hath not chaunged, none so vowed to virginitie whome beautie hath not char∣med, none so seuere whome beautie hath not besotted, nor none so senselesse whome the name of beautie can not either breake or bende. Loue commeth in at the eye not at the eares, by séeing natures workes not by hearing

sugred wordes, and fancie is fedde by the fairenesse of the face not by the finenesse of the spéech. Beautie is the Syren which will drawe the most adamant heart by force, and such a charme as haue constrained euen the vestal virgins to forsake their celles, yea it so inueigleth the sight and bewitcheth the sences, it so troubleth the minde and distur∣beth the braine, yea it bringeth such extreame delight to the heart, so that as the Viper being tyed to a Béech trée, falleth into a slumber, so diuerse beholding beautifull per∣sons haue stoode as though with Medusas head they had bin turned to a stone. Anacharsis being demaunded what hée thought was the greatest gift that euer the Gods bestow∣ed vppon man, answered beautie, for that it both deligh∣teth the eye, contenteth the minde, and winneth good will and fauour of all men. Pigmaleon for beautie loued the I∣mage of Iuorie, and Apelles the counterfeite which he co∣loured with his owne skill, & the picture Ganimides great∣ly astonished the Ladies of Cypres. What made Aeneas so beloued of the Carthaginians but beautie? what gayned Theseus the good wil of Ariadne but beautie? what wonne Demophoon the loue of Phillis but beautie? and what for∣ced the Syluein Nimph Oenone to leaue the lawnes but the incomparable beautie of Paris? The Gentlewoman which hath a husband that is endued with beautie & ador∣ned with the giftes of Nature, shall haue euer wherewith to be satisfied, and neuer whereof to mislike: wheras con∣trarie the deformed man is such a monster in nature, and suche a sorrowe to a womans heart, as she bewailes her chaunce to haue chosen one that euery one doth loath. The foulest Serpent is euer most venimous, the trée with a wi∣thered rinde hath neuer a sugred sap, the durty puddle hath neuer good fish, and a deformed bodie seldome a reformed mind. The wise Lapidaries say that the pretious stone with the most glistring hue hath alwaies the most secret vertue. The pure gold is chose by the perfect colour, the best frute,

by the brauest blossomes, and the best conditions by the swéetest countenance. But perhaps mistresse Syluia you will say his faire face inflameth my fancie and his beautie bewitched my sences, his shape in déede doeth perswade me to requite his good will with mutuall affection, but then his folly againe quaileth my stomacke and is a cooling card to quench the fire of fancie, to which I answer Syluia, that his follie is not so preiudiciall as profitable, not so much hurtfull as commodious. Aspasia the louer of Socra∣tes, being demanded what thing a woman in the worlde chiefly desired, answered to rule, thinking that soueraign∣tie was the thing that women most desire, and men most feare to grant them. If then it be a womans wish to haue her owne will, and as the common prouerbe saith, to rule the rost after her owne diet, you shall in taking my master to your mate, haue so much your hearts ease as either you can desire or imagine. For my maister will whollie be led by your lyne, and you shalbe the starre, by whose aspect hée will direct his course, your yea shalbe his yea, and your nay his deniall. Thus although his follie be preiudiciall in one respect, it shalbe most profitable in another, so that his in∣comparable beautie shall sufficiently delight your fancie, and his follie be a meanes that without restraint you may enioy frée will and libertie. Thus mistresse Sylua, you haue heard what I in my maisters behalfe can alledge. If there∣fore you meane to repaie his good will with loue, he pro∣miseth not onely to make you sole mistresse of his heart, but of all his lands and lordships. Iacques hauing finished this tale, master Petronius as one betwixt feare & hope gaue the Fort the sorest assault with this Alarme. Plato the wise and graue Philosopher was wont to say, that as man diffe∣reth from brute beasts in reason, so one man excelleth ano∣ther by wisedome and learning: estéeming him that wan∣ted knowledge, science, and nourture, but the shape of a man though neuer so wel beautified with y^e gifts of nature,

supposing that although he were indewed with the out∣ward shadow of beautie, as iustly he might compare with Paris: or so stored with treasure and riches, as he might cast his countes with Craesus: yet if he wanted learning to enlarge his beautie, or wisedome to direct his wealth, he was to be counted no other but a beautifull picture burni∣shed with golde. He that enioyeth wealth without wise∣dome, sayeth Anaxagoras, possesseth care for himselfe, enuie for his neighbours, spurres for his enimies, a praie for théeues, trauaile for his person, anguish for his spirite, a scruple for his conscience, perill for his loue, sorrow for his children, and a cursse for his heires, because although hée knowes how to gather, he wanteth skill to dispose. Alex∣ander the Great made so great account of knowledge and wisedome, that he was oft woont to say, he was more bound to Aristotle for giuing him learning, than to his father Philip for his life, sith the one was momentarie, and the other neuer to be blotted out with obliuion. Nestor was more honoured and estéemed for his learning and wise∣dome at the siege of Troye, than either Achilles for his strength, Aiax for his valour, or Agamemnon for his stout courage. Cyrces was not enamoured with the beautie of Vlisses but intangled with his wisedome. Aeneas when as Dido sate in Parliament, tolde his tale with such wit and discretion, so seasoned with the salt of learning, and swéete sap of science, that not onely she was snared in his loue, but also saide, surely thou art come of the offspring of the Gods, alluding to this saying of Empedocles, that as we in nothing more differ from the Gods than when we are fooles, so in no thing we do come neare them so much as when we are wise. Socrates thanked the Gods onely for three things, first, that they made him a man and not a wo∣man, that he was borne a Grecian and not a Barbarian, thirdly, that he was a Philosopher and not vnlearned, e∣stéeming the gifts of nature and fortune of no value vnlesse

they be beautified with the gifts of the mind. Byas the Phi∣losopher being reproued by a certain iniurious person that he was poore and ilfauoured, answered that he was great∣ly deceiued both in his beautie and his riches, for quoth he, how can I be poore when I am wise, hard fauoured when I am learned, thinking it the chiefest beautie to be indued with learning, & the greatest treasure to be enriched with wisedome? The Philosopher Critolaus being verie defor∣med, as hauing a crooked backe and verie poore as begging with a staffe & a wallet, was notwithstanding so well belo∣ued of a certaine Gentlewoman of great wealth and wor∣shipfull parentage, as she would willingle haue accepted him for her husband, which Critolaus perceiuing, laid down his staffe and his wallet, and put off his cloake, the more to shew his crookt back, wishing her with more diligence to marke his deformed shoulders, to whom she answered, O Critolaus, thy deformitie cannot quench that which thy wis∣dome and learning hath set on fire. It is learning in déede which allureth when euerie word shall haue his waight, when nothing shall procéede but either it shall sauour of a sharpe conceite or a secret conclusion. It is wisedome that flourisheth when beautie fadeth, that waxeth yoong when age approacheth, resembling the sea huluer leafe, which al∣though it be dead still continueth gréene. Beautie withe∣reth with age, and is impaired with sicknesse, be the face neuer so beautifull, the least skarre or mole maketh it most deformed, but learning and knowledge by tract of time encreaseth like to the Cygnets which being young are ve∣rie blacke, but in their age most perfectly white: like the birdes that build in the rockes of the Sea, whose feathers grow most glistering in their age. As for riches it is mo∣mentarie, subiect to the chance of inconstant fortune, it may be consumed with fire, spent with follie, wasted with riot, and stolne away by théeues: but wisedome is a treasure so certaine as no mishap can diminish, neither be impaired by

any sinister frowne of fortune. Artemisia the Quéene being demanded by a certain gentlewomā, what choice she shuld vse in loue, marrie, quoth she, imitate the good Lapidaries, who measure not the value of the stone by the outwarde hue, but by the secret vertue: so choose not a husband for the shape of the bodie, but for the qualities of his minde, not for his outward perfectnesse, but for his inward perfection. For if thou like one that hath nothing but a little beautie, thou shalt séeme to be in loue with the counterfeit of Gani∣medes, and if thou fancie onely riches, thou choosest a wood∣den picture with a golden coate. Learning is the Iemme which so decketh a man, and wisedome the Iewel which so adorneth the minde, that she which chooseth a wise man to her mate, though neuer so poore, saith Themistocles, ma∣keth a good match. Thus mistresse Syluia you haue heard my opinion, though not so wisely as I would, yet as lear∣nedly as I could, not daring to be too bold, lest in wading too farre in an vnknowne foord I sodeinly slip ouer my shooes. Lands I haue none, to offer you large feoffements, nor li∣uings to assigne you a great dowrie: but if it please you to accept of a poore gentleman, I shall be bound by det & du∣tie to be yours for euer. Syluia hauing giuen attentiue héed to these thrée gentlemen, as one of a verie quicke wit and sharpe conceit, returned them these answeres. Signor Gra∣dasso, quoth she, it was a law among the Caspians, that he which married after he had passed fiftie yéeres should at the common assemblies and feastes sit in the lowest and vilest place as one that had committed a fact repugnant to the law of Nature, calling him which was well strooken in yeeres, & yet enamoured, that would frie in affection when he was wholie frozen in complexion, not an old louer, but a filthie foole, and a doting old leacher, and in my iudgement they had great reason so to tearme him. For olde rotten strawes, are more fit for doong than for the chamber, wi∣thered flowers to be cast away, than to be placed in a braue

nosegay, olde stickes more méete for the fire than for sump∣tuous building, and aged men are more fit for the graue than to spende their time in loue. Cupid, Signor Gradasso, alloweth none in his court but yoong men that can serue, fresh and beautifull to delight, wise that can talke, secret to kéepe silence, faithfull to gratifie, and valiant to reuenge his mistresse iniuries. He that is not indued & priuiledged with these conditions, may well loue but neuer be liked. How can a yoong woman fixe her affection vppon an olde man, who in y^e night time in stéed of talke telleth the clock, crieth out of the gout, complaineth of the Ciatica, is com∣bred with crampes, and troubled with the cough, hauing neither health to ioy himselfe, nor youth to enioy her. To the ende that loue be fixed sure, perpetuall and true, there must be equalitie betwéen the enamoured. For if the louer be olde and shée be yoong, he ouergrowne with age, and she in flourishing youth, assure your selfe that of fained louers they shalbe euer professed and vnfained enemies. For it is not loue but sorrow, not mirth but displeasure, not taste but torment, not delight but despight, not ioy but annoy, not recreatiō but confusion, when in the louer there is not both youth and libertie: yea, & the withered straw is soone set on fire and easily quenched, the olde and drie wood easily inflamed and quickly put out, age soone doteth and soone de∣testeth, now swimming in loue and presently sinking in hate like to y^e stone Draconites, that no sooner commeth out of the flame but it is vehemently cold. What a foolish moti∣on, nay what a frantike madnesse is it for him whom na∣ture denieth any longer to liue to intangle himselfe in the snares of loue whose naturall heate is turned to frost, with the match of fancie to kindle a new fire when sicknesse som∣mons him and age warnes him that death draweth nye, than to become a clyent vnto Cupid, to pleade for bountie at the cruell barre of beautie, knowing that y^e hearbe Adia∣ton cannot abide to touch the withered grasse, that the trées

in the mount Vernese detest to be clasped of the olde Iuie, and that youth greatly abhorreth to be coupled with age. Further whosoeuer being yoong, faire and beautifull, mat∣cheth her with a doting old louer be she as chaste as Lucre∣tia, as trustie as Penelope, as honest as Turia, as faithfull as Artemisia, as constant as Cornelia, yet her honor, hone∣stie and good name shall not onely be suspended but great∣ly suspected: yea, in so much that the olde man himselfe to kéepe his doting wits warme, will couer his head with a ielous cap, being very credulous to beléeue ech flying tale, and suspicious euermore to iudge the woorst. If his young wife be merie she is immodest, if sober, sullen, and thinkes of some louer whom she likes best, if pleasant inconstant, if she laugh it is leaudly, if she looke it is lightly: yea, he ca∣steth beyond the Moone, & iudgeth that which neither she would nor could imagine, restraining her from all libertie & watching as the craftie Cat ouer the sillie Mouse, should I than Gradasso seeing the trap follow the train, spying the hooke, swallow the baite, and séeing the mischiefe, runne wholie into miserie? No, no, I meane not to be so foolish as the birdes of Cholchos, which although they sée the nettes, yet willingly strike at the stale, or like the Tortuse which desireth the heat of the Sunne that notwithstanding brée∣deth his destruction, nor so sottish as with frée consent to crosse my selfe with perpetuall calamitie. Sith then Signor Gradasso I count you being so olde, not a fit match for my tender youth, I pray you at this time be cōtent to take my nay for an answere. And as for you Iacques which haue said so well in your masters behalf, I commend you for a faith∣full seruant, though your reasons were to small effect. I confesse Iacques, that nothing sooner delighteth the eye, con∣tenteth the sense, or allureth the minde of a young maide than beautie: but as the stone Topason is not more loued for the outward hue than hated for the poison which secret∣ly is hid within it, or as the hearbe Nepenthes is not more

liked for the pleasant shape, than loathed for the poysoned sap: so beautie cannot inflame the fancie so much in a mo∣neth, as ridiculous follie can quench in a moment: nay, as of all things wit soonest setteth the fancie on edge & sharpe∣neth affection, so follie cooleth desire, and forceth loue in the lowdest gale to strike saile and be quiet. What ioy can that Gentlewoman haue, whose husband hath neither modestie to moderate his affection, nor manner to be haue himselfe well in companie, who can neither be constant because hée is a foole, nor secret sith he is without sence, but as the Dol∣phin hath nothing to couer his deformitie but a few gliste∣ring scales, or as the clownish Poet Cherillus had nothing to be praised in his verses but the name of Alexander, so he hath nothing to shadow his follie but a faire face, nor no∣thing to be commended but a litle fading beautie. Wheras you alledge that Venus was intangled with the beautie of Anchises, and Luna with the feature of Endymion, & Dido with the braue shape of Aeneas. I answere, that Anchises was neither a foole, Endymion a sot, nor Aeneas witlesse: for if they had, they might assoone haue perswaded olde Sylenus to despise the rytes of god Bacchus as haue procured any of these thrée to yéeld to their alluremēts: sith they knew that beautie in a foole is as a ring of gold in a swines snout. We read that a Consull in Rome married a daughter of his to a faire foole, because he was endued with great possessions, who was not long married to his wife Iulia, for so was the Consuls daughter called, but for want of wit and lacke of wisedome, he so burned in ielousie and surged in the seas of suspicious follie, that as the poore Gentlewoman was stoo∣ping to pull on her shooe, he espying her faire and christall necke, entred into such a suspicious furie, that presently he thrust her through with his sword, verifying the saying of Castymachus, that a foole depriued of reason is no other but a mad man bereaued of his sence. Whereas you say that soueraintie and rule is the chiefest thing a woman doth

desire, and that by marrying a foole I shall haue the readie meanes to attaine it, put case I graunt the antecedent, yet I deny the cōsequent, for if I were as gréedy to beare sway as Semiramis that craued of her husband Nynus to rule the kingdome thrée daies, or as Cleopatra that coueted only to be maister of Marcus Antonius, yet a foole is so obstinate in his senslesse opinion, and so peruerse to be persuaded, that he will not only denie me the superioritie, but he wil himselfe rule the rost though it be to his vtter ruine. So that Iaques I conclude that your maister being somwhat foolish, and I my selfe none of the wisest, it were no good match: for two fooles in one bed are too many. But now maister Petronius no longer to féed you with hope I giue you this A dio, that although I confesse wisedome to be the most pretious iem wherewith the mind may be adorned, and learning one of the most famous qualities, wherefore a man may be prai∣sed, yet if you were as wise as Salomon, as learned as Ari∣stotle, as skilfull as Plato, as sensible as Socrates, as elo∣quent as Vlisses, Si nihil attuleris ibis Homere foras, for wit doth not more frie than want can frize, nor wisedome hea∣teth not so sore as pouertie cooleth, & rather had I in welth content my selfe with folly, than wedding myself to a poore wise man pine in pouertie. But sith I hope Petronius thou wilt proue like the stone Sandastra which outwardlie is rough, but inwardly full of glistring beames, and that thou wilt trie thy selfe so good a husband as thy vow, learning, and wisedome promiseth, I will not only supply thy want with my wealth, and thy pouertie with my plentie, but I will repaie thy fancie with affection, and thy loue with loi∣altie, hoping that although my friends wil count me a foole for making my choice, yet I my selfe shall neuer haue cause to repent my chance, & in pledge of this my plighted troth, haue here my heart and hand for euer at thy commaund. How Gradasso and Monsieur de Vaste liked of this verdit I néede not relate, nor what their answeres were I know

not, and if I knew to recount them it auaileth not, but I am sure Petronius thought he had made a fortunate iour∣ney. Well Signor Valasco hearing the determination of his daughter, was as well contented with the chaunce as she satisfied with the choice, and euer after made as great account of his sonne in law Petronius, and liked as well of the match as though she had married the richest Duke in Europe.

Madam Modesta, I haue recounted this historie that your doubtfull question might be throughly debated & ful∣lie decided. You sée that Siluia who was wise, faire, and ver∣tuous, would not be allured with the golden shew of riches because she loathed the person, nor be inchaunted with the charme of beautie sith she detested his folly, but choose poore Petronius who might both comfort and counsell her with his wisedome, and be her credite and countenance for his learning. If then your louer be both faire and wise though without wealth, why should you mislike your choice sith you are able to applie to his sore the like salue with Syluia, and of a poore scholler make him a wealthie Gentleman. Choose not Modesta so that thy friends shall like the choice and thou mislike the chaunce, least time and triall make thée account Rue a most bitter hearbe: thus wishing thy loue prosperous successe howsoeuer the matter happen, I bid thée hartily farewell.

Thine to her power contented Mamillia.