The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 3
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Title: The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 3
Translator: William Painter
Editor: Joseph Haslewood
Joseph Jacobs
Release date: January 3, 2011 [eBook #34840]
Most recently updated: January 7, 2021
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34840
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* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *
THE
PALACE OF PLEASURE
VOL. III.
* * * * *
*Ballantyne Press*
Ballantyne, Hanson and Co.
Edinburgh and London
* * * * *
The
*PALACE OF PLEASURE*
_Elizabethan Versions of Italian and French Novels_
_from Boccaccio, Bandello, Cinthio, Straparola,_
_Queen Margaret of Navarre,_
_and Others_
Done Into English
By WILLIAM PAINTER
_Now Again Edited For The Fourth Time_
By JOSEPH JACOBS
VOL. III.
[Illustration (Publisher's Device):
IN NUCE LIBELLUS]
_London: Published by David Nutt in the Strand_
MDCCCXC
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
VOLUME III.
TOME II.--_Continued._
Page
Title Page (Edition 1580) 1
Novel
XXIII. Duchess of Malfy 3
XXIV. Countess of Celant 44
XXV. Romeo and Juliet 80
XXVI. Ladies of Venice 125
XXVII. Lord of Virle 157
XXVIII. Lady of Bohemia 195
XXIX. Diego and Ginevra 222
XXX. Salimbene and Angelica 288
XXXI. Helena of Florence 329
XXXII. Camiola and Roland 354
XXXIII. Lords of Nocera 363
XXXIV. Sultan Solyman 395
XXXV. King of Morocco 416
Conclusion 431
The [S]econd Tome
of the Palace of Plea[s]ure,
*conteyning store of goodly Hi[s]tories,*
Tragicall matters, and other Mo-
*rall argument, very re-*
_qui[s]ite for delighte_
*and profit.*
_Cho[s]en and selected out of
diuers good and commen-
dable Authors:_
and now once agayn corrected and
encrea[s]ed
By William Painter, Clerke of the
Ordinance and Armarie.
Imprinted at London, in
Fleat [S]trete, by Thomas
Mar[s]he.
*The Palace of Pleasure.*
THE TWENTY-THIRD NOUELL.
_The infortunate mariage of a Gentleman, called Antonio
Bologna, wyth the Duchesse of Malfi, and the pitifull death
of them both._
The great Honor and authority men haue in thys World, and the
greater their estimation is, the more sensible and notorious are
the faultes by theim committed, and the greater is their
slaunder. In lyke manner more difficult it is for that man to
tolerate and sustayne Fortune, which al the dayes of his life
hath lyued at his ease, if by chaunce he fall into any great
necessity than for hym whych neuer felt but woe, mishap, and
aduersity. Dyonisius the Tyraunt of Scicilia, felt greater payne
when hee was expelled his Kyngdome, than Milo did, beinge
banished from Rome: for so mutch as the one was a Soueraygne
Lorde, the sonne of a Kynge, a Iusticiary on Earth, and the
other but a simple Citizen of a Citty, wherein the People had
Lawes, and the Lawes of Magistrates were had in reuerence.
So lykewyse the fall of a high and lofty Tree, maketh greater
noyse, than that whych is low and little. Hygh Towers, and
stately Palaces of Prynces bee seene further of, than the poore
Cabans, and homely Sheepeheardes Sheepecotes: the Walles of
lofty Cittyes more a loofe doe Salute the Viewers of the same,
than the simple Caues, which the Poore doe digge belowe the
Mountayne Rockes. Wherefore it behooueth the Noble, and sutch as
haue charge of Common wealth, to lyue an honest Lyfe, and beare
their port vpright, that none haue cause to discourse vppon
their wicked deedes and naughty life. And aboue all modesty
ought to be kept by Women, whom as their race, Noble birth,
aucthority and name, maketh them more famous, euen so their
vertue, honesty, chastity, and continencie more prayse worthy.
And behoueful it is, that like as they wishe to be honoured
aboue all other, so their life do make them worthy of that
honour, without disgracing their name by deed or worde, or
blemishing that brightnesse which may commend the same.
I greatly feare that all the Princely factes, the exploytes and
conquests done by the Babylonian Queene Semyramis, neuer was
recommended wyth sutch prayse, as hir vice had shame in records
by those which left remembrance of auncient acts. Thus I say,
because a woman being as it were the Image of sweetnesse,
curtesie and shamefastnesse, so soone as she steppeth out of the
right tract, and abandoneth the sweete smel of hir duety and
modesty, besides the denigration of hir honour, thrusteth her
selfe into infinite Troubles, causeth ruine os sutch whych
should bee honoured and praysed, if Womens Allurementes
solicited theym not to Folly. I wyll not heere Indeuour my selfe
to seeke for examples of Samson, Salomon or other, which suffred
themselues fondly to be abused by Women: and who by meane of
them be tumbled into great faults, and haue incurred greater
perils: contentinge my selfe to recyte a ryght pitifull History
done almost in our tyme, when the French vnder leadinge of that
notable Capitayne Gaston de Foix, vanquished the force of Spayne
and Naples at the Iourney of Rauenna in the time of the French
Kynge called Lewes the twelfth, who married the Lady Mary,
Daughter to Kynge Henry the seuenth, and Sister to the
Victorious Prynce of worthy memory kynge Henry the eyght, Wyfe
(after the death of the sayd Lewes) to the puissaunt Gentleman
Charles, late Duke of Suffolke. In the very tyme then lyued a
Gentleman of Naples called Antonio Bologna, who hauing bin
master of Household to Fredericke of Aragon, somtime king of
Naples, after the French had expelled those of Aragon out of
that Citty, the sayde Bologna retyred into Fraunce, and thereby
recouered the goods, which hee possessed in his countrey. The
Gentleman besides that he was valiant of his persone, a good man
of Warre, and wel esteemed amongs the best, had a passing numbre
of good graces, which made him to be loued and cherished of
euery wight: and for riding and managing of greate horse, he had
not his fellow in Italy: he could also play exceedynge well and
trim vpon the Lute, whose fayning voyce so wel agreed therevnto,
that the moste melancholike persons would forget their
heauinesse, vpon hearing of his heauenly noyse: and besides
these qualyties, he was of personage comely, and of good
proportion. To be short: nature hauing trauayled and dispoyled
hir Treasure House for inriching of him, he had by Arte gotten
that, which made him most happy and worthy of prayse, which was,
the knowledge of good letters, wherein he was so well trayned,
as by talke and dispute thereof, he made those to blush that
were of that state and profession. Antonio Bologna hauing left
Fredericke of Aragon in Fraunce, who expulsed out of Naples was
retired to king Lewes, went home to his house to lyue at rest
and to auoyd trouble, forgetting the delicates of Courtes and
houses of great men, to bee the only husband of his owne
reueneue. But what? it is impossible to eschue that which the
heauens haue determined vpon vs: or to shunne the vnhappe which
seemeth to follow vs, as it were naturally proceeding from our
mother's Wombe: in sutch wyse as many times, he which seemeth
the wisest man, guided by misfortune, hasteth himself with
stouping head to fall headlonge into hys death and ruine. Euen
so it chaunced to this Neapolitane Gentleman: for in the very
same place where he attained his aduauncement, he receiued also
his diminution and decay, and by that house which preferred hym
to what he had, he was depryued, both of his estate and life:
the discourse whereof you shall vnderstande. I haue tolde you
already, that this Gentleman was Mayster of the kinge of Naples
household, and beyng a gentle person, a good Courtier, wel
trained vp, and wyse for gouernment of himself in the Courte and
in the seruice of Princes, the Duchesse of Malfi thought to
intreate him that he would serue hir, in that office which he
serued the King. This Duchesse was of the house of Aragon, and
sister to the Cardinall of Aragon, which then was a rych and
puissant personage. Being resolued, and persuaded, that Bologna
was deuoutly affected to the house of Aragon, as one brought vp
there from a Chylde: shee sent for him home to his House, and
vpon hys repaire vsed vnto him these, or like Woordes: "Mayster
Bologna, sith your ill fortune, nay rather the vnhap of our
whole House is sutch, as your good Lord and Mayster hath forgon
his state and dignity, and that you therwithall haue lost a good
Maister, without other recompence but the prayse which euery man
giueth you for your good seruice, I haue thought good to intreat
you to doe me the honor, as to take charge of the gouernment of
my House, and to vse the same, as you did that of the King your
maister. I know well that the office is to vnworthy for your
calling; notwithstanding you be not ignorant what I am, and how
neare to him in bloud, to whom you haue bene a Seruaunte so
faythfull and Louing; and albeit that I am no Queene, endued
with greatest reuenue, yet with that little portyon I haue,
I beare a Pryncely heart: and sutch as you by experience do
knowe what I haue done, and dayly do to those which depart my
seruice, recompensing them according to theyr paine and
trauaile: magnificence is obserued as well in the Courts of
poore Princes, as in the stately Palaces of great Kings and
monarches. I do remembre that I haue read of a certain noble
gentleman, a Persian borne, called Ariobarzanes, who vsed great
examples of curtesie and stoutnesse towards King Artaxerxes,
wherewith the king wondred at his magnificence, and confessed
himself to be vanquished: you shal take aduise of this request,
and in the meane time do think you will not refuse the same,
aswell for that my demaund is iust, as also being assured, that
our House and race is so well imprinted in your heart, as it is
impossible that the memory thereof can be defaced." The
gentleman hearynge that curteous demaund of the Duchesse,
knowing himselfe how deepely bound he was to the name of Aragon,
and led by some vnknowen prouocation to his great il luck,
answered hir in this wise: "I would to God, Madame, that with so
good reason and equity I were able to make denyall of your
commaundment, as iustly you maye require the same: wherfore for
the bounden duety which I owe to the name and memorie of the
house of Aragon, I make promise that I shall not only sustaine
the trauell, but also the daunger of my Lyfe, dayly to be offred
for your seruice: but I feele in mynde I know not what, which
commaundeth me to withdraw my selfe to lyue alone at home within
my lyttle house, and to be content with that I haue, forgoing
the sumptuous charge of Prynces houses, which Lyfe would be wel
liked of my self, were it not for the feare that you Madame
should be discontented with my refusall, and that you should
conceiue, that I disdained your offred charge, or contempne your
Court for respect of the great Office I bare in the Courte of
the Kyng, my Lord and Mayster: for I cannot receiue more honour,
than to serue hir, which is the paragon of that stock and royal
race. Therfore at all aduentures I am resolued to obey your
will, and humbly to satisfy the duety of the charge wherein it
pleaseth you to imploy me, more to pleasure you for auoiding of
displeasure, then for desire I haue to lyue an honorable lyfe in
the greatest Princes house of the world, sith I am discharged
from him in whose name resteth my comfort and only stay,
thinking to haue liued a solitarye life, and to passe my yeres
in rest, except it were in the pore abilitye of my seruice to
that house, wherunto I am bound continually to be a faithfull
seruaunt. Thus Madame, you see me to be the readiest man of the
world, to fulfil the request, and accomplishe sutch other
seruice wherein it shall please you to imploy me." The Duchesse
thanked him very heartily, and gaue him charge of all hir
housholde traine, commaunding ech person to do him sutch
reuerence as to hir self, and to obey him as the chief of al hir
family. This Lady was a widow, but a passing faire Gentlewoman,
fine and very yong, hauing a yong sonne vnder hir guard and
keping, left by the deceased Duke hir husband, togither with the
Duchy, the inheritaunce of hir child. Now consider hir personage
being sutch, her easy life and delycate bringing vp, and hir
daily view of the youthly trade and manner of Courtiers lyfe,
whether she felt hir self pryckt wyth any desire, which burned
hir heart the more incessantly, as the flames were hidden and
couert: from the outward shew whereof shee stayed hir self so
well as shee coulde. But shee followinge beste aduice, rather
esteemed the proofe of Maryage, than to burne wyth so lyttle
fire, or to incurre the exchange of louers, as many vnshamefaste
strumpets do, which be rather giuen ouer, than satisfied with
pleasure of loue. And to say the truthe, they be not guided by
wisedom's lore, which suffer a maiden ripe for mariage to be
long vnwedded, or yong wife long to liue in widowe's state, what
assurance so euer they make of their chaste and stayed lyfe. For
bookes be to full of sutch enterpryses, and houses stored with
examples of sutch stolne and secrete practises, as there neede
no further proofe for assurance of our cause, the daily
experience maketh plaine and manifest. And a great folly it is
to build the fantasies of chastitye amid the follies of worldly
pleasures. I will not goe about to make those matters
impossible, ne yet will iudge at large, but that there be som
maydens and Wyues, which wiselye can conteine themselues amongs
the troupe of amorous suters. But what? the experience is very
hard, and the proofe no lesse daungerous, and perchaunce in a
moment the mind of some peruerted, which all their lyuyinge
dayes haue closed theyr Eares from the Sute of those that haue
made offer of louyng seruice. And hereof we neede not run to
forrayne Hystories, ne yet to seeke records that be auncient,
sith wee may see the daily effects of the lyke, practised in
Noble houses, and Courtes of Kyngs and Prynces. That this is
true, example of this fayre Duchesse, who was moued wyth that
desyre which pricketh others that be of Flesh and Bone. Thys
Lady waxed very weary of lying alone, and gryeued hir Hearte to
be wythoute a match, specially in the Nyght, when the secrete
silence and darkenesse of the same presented beefore the eyes of
hir mind, the Image of the pleasure which she felt in the lyfe
tyme of hir deceased Lord and Husband, whereof now feelyng hir
selfe despoyled, she felt a contynuall Combat, and durst not
attempte that which she desyred most, but eschued the thyng
wherof hir Mind lyked best. "Alas (sayd shee) is it possyble
after the taste of the Value of honest obedyence whych the Wyfe
oweth vnto hir Husband, that I should desyre to suffer the Heat
whych burneth and altereth the martyred mynds of those that
subdue themselues to loue? Can sutch attempt pierce the heart of
me to become amorous by forgetting and straying from the
limmetts of honest life? But what desire is this? I haue a
certayne vnacquaynted lust, and yet very well know not what it
is that moueth me, and to whom I shall vow the spoyle thereof.
I am truely more fond and foolyshe than euer Narcissus was, for
there is neyther shadow nor voyce, vpon which I can well stay my
sight, nor yet simple Imagination of any worldly man, whereuppon
I can arrest the conceypt of my vnstayed heart, and the desires
which prouoke my mynde. Pygmalion loued once a Marble Piller,
and I haue but one desire, the colour whereof is more pale than
death. There is nothyng which can geue the same so mutch as one
spot of vermilion rud. If I doe discouer these appetites to any
wight, perhaps they will mock me for my labor, and for all the
beauty and Noble byrth that is in me, they will make no
conscience to deeme me for their iesting stock, and to solace
themselues with rehersall of my fond conceits. But sith there is
no enemy in the field, and that but simple suspicion doth
assayle me, why breake I not the same, and deface the entier
remembraunce of the lightnesse of my brayne? It appertayneth
vnto mee to shewe my selfe, as issued from the Noble house of
Aragon: to me it doeth belonge to take heede how I erre or
degenerate from the royall bloud whereof I came." In this sort
that fayre Wydow and young Princesse fantasied in the night
vppon the discourse of hir appetites. But when the day was come,
seeing the great multitude of the Neapolitan Lords and Gentlemen
that marched vp and downe the Citty, eyinge and beholdinge their
best beloued, or vsing talke of loue with them whose seruaunts
they were, all that which she thought vpon in the night,
vanished so sone as the flame of burned Straw, or the Pouder of
Cannon shot, and purposed for any respect to liue no longer in
that sort, but promised the conquest of some frend that was
lusty and discreete. But the difficulty rested in that she knew
not vpon whom to fixe hir loue, fearing to bee slaundered, and
also that the light disposition and maner of most part of youth
were to be suspected, in sutch wise as giuing ouer al them which
vauted vpon their Gennets, Turkey Palfreis, and other Coursers
alonge the Citty of Naples, shee purposed to take repast of
other Venison, than of that fond and wanton troupe. So hir
mishap began already to spin the threede which choked the Ayre
and Breath of hir vnhappy life. Yee haue heard before that
Mayster Bologna was one of the wisest and most perfect Gentlemen
that the land of Naples that tyme brought forth, and for his
Beauty, Proportion, Galantnesse, Valiaunce, and good grace,
without comparison. His fauour was so sweete and pleasant, as
they which kept him company, had somwhat to do to abstayne their
affection. Who then could blame thys fayre Princesse, if
(pressed wyth desire of match, to remoue the ticklish
instigations of her wanton flesh, and hauing in hir presence a
man so wise) shee did set hir minde on hym, or fantasy to mary
him? Would not that party for calming of his thirst and hunger,
being set at a table before sundry sorts of delicate viands,
ease his hunger? Me thinke the person doth greatly forget
himselfe, which hauing handfast vpon occasion, suffreth the same
to vanish and fly away, sith it is wel known that she being bald
behinde, hath no place to sease vpon when desire moueth vs to
lay hold vpon hir. Which was the cause that the Duchesse became
extremely in loue with the mayster of hir house. In sutch wyse
as before al men, she spared not to prayse the great perfections
of him whom she desired to be altogether hirs. And so she was
inamored, that it was as possible to see the night to be voide
of darknesse, as the Duchesse without the presence of hir
Bologna, or els by talke of words to set forth his prayse,
the continuall remembrance of who (for that shee loued him as
hirselfe) was hir onely minde's repast. The Gentleman that was
full wyse, and had at other times felt the great force of the
passion which proceedeth from extreeme loue, immediatly did mark
the countenaunce of the Duchesse, and perceyued the same so
neere, as vnfaynedly hee knew that very ardently the Lady was in
loue with him: and albeit he sawe the inequality and difference
betweene them both, she being sorted out of the royall bloud,
and himself of meaner calling, yet knowing loue to haue no
respect to state or dignity, determined to folow his fortune,
and to serue hir which so louingly shewed hir selfe to him. Then
sodaynely reprouing his fonde conceit, he sayd vnto himself:
"What folly is that I enterprise, to the preiudice and peril of
mine honor and life? Ought the wisedome of a Gentleman to stray
and wandre through the assaults of an appetite rising of
sensuality, and that reason gieue place to that which doeth
participate with brute beasts depriued of all reason by
subduinge the minde to the affections of the body? No, no,
a vertuous man ought to let shine in him selfe the force of the
generosity of his minde. This is not to liue according to the
spirite, when pleasure shall make vs forget our duty and
sauegard of our Conscience. The reputation of a wise Gentleman
resteth not only to be valiant, and skilfull in feates of armes,
or in seruice of the Noble: but needefull it is for him by
discreation to make himselfe prayse worthy, and by vanquishinge
of himselfe to open the gate to fame, whereby he may
euerlastingly make himselfe glorious to all posterity. Loue
pricketh and prouoketh the spirite to do well, I do confesse,
but that affection ought to be addressed to some vertuous end,
tending to mariage, for otherwise that vnspotted Image shall be
soyled wyth the villany of Beastly pleasure. Alas," sayd he,
"how easie it is to dispute, when the thyng is absent, which can
both force and violently assayle the Bulwarks of most constant
hearts. I full well doe see the troth, and doe feele the thing
that is good, and knowe what behoueth mee to follow: but when I
view the pereles beauty of my Lady, hir graces, wisedome,
behauiour and curtesie, when I see hir to cast so louinge an eye
vpon me, that she vseth so great familiarity, that she
forgetteth the greatnesse of hir house to abase hirselfe for my
respect: how is it possible that I should be so foolish to
dispise a duety so rare and precious, and to set light by that
which the Noblest would pursue wyth all reuerence and deuoyre?
Shall I be so voyde of wisdome to suffer the yonge Princesse to
see hirselfe contempned of mee, thereby to conuert hir loue to
teares, by setting hir mynde upon an other, that shall seek mine
ouerthrow? Who knoweth not the fury of a woman: specially the
Noble dame, by seeing hirselfe despised? No, no, she loueth me,
and I will be hir seruaunt, and vse the fortune proffred. Shal I
be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a
Princesse? Is it not more honourable for mee to settle my mind
vpon a place so high, than vppon some simple wench by whom I
shall neyther attayne profit, or aduancement? Baldouine of
Flaunders, did not he a Noble enterprise when he carried away
Iudith the daughter of the French kynge, as she was passing vpon
the Seas into England, to be married to the kynge of that
Countrey? I am neither Pirat nor Aduenturer, for the Lady loueth
me. What wrong doe I then to any person by rendringe loue
agayne? Is not she at liberty? To whom ought shee to make
accoumpt of hir deedes and doinges, but to God alone and to hir
owne Conscience? I wyll loue hir, and cary lyke affection for
the loue which I know and see that she beareth vnto me, beinge
assured that the same is directed to good ende, and that a Woman
so wyse as she is, will not hazard the bleamish of hir honor."
Thus Bologna framed the plot for intertaynment of the Duchesse
(albeit hir loue already was fully bent vpon him) and fortified
hym selfe agaynst all perillous myshap and chaunce that might
succeede, as ordinarily you see that Louers conceyue all things
for their aduauntage, and fantasie dreames agreeable to their
most desire, resemblinge the Mad and Bedlem persons which haue
before their eyes, the figured Fansies whych cause the conceipt
of their fury, and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which
most troubleth their offended Brayne. On the other side, the
Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir Louer, the will of whom was
hid and secret, whych more did vexe and torment hir, than the
fire of loue that burned hir feruently. She could not tell what
way to hold, to do him vnderstand hir heart and affection. She
feared to discouer the same vnto hym, doubtinge eyther that some
fond and rigorous aunswere, or the reueylinge of hir mynde to
hym, whose presence pleased hir more than all of the men of the
World. "Alas," sayd shee, "am I happed into so straunge misery,
that with mine owne mouth I must make request to him, which with
all humility ought to offer mee hys service? Shall a Lady of
sutch bloud as I am, be constrayned to sue, where all other be
required by importunate instance of their Suters? Ah loue, loue,
what so euer he was that clothed thee wyth sutch puissaunce,
I dare say he was the cruell ennimy of man's freedom. It is
impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen, sith the
clemency and curteous influence of the same, inuesteth man with
better benefits, than to suffer hir nourse children to be
intreated with sutch rigor. He lieth which sayth that Venus is
thy mother, for the swetenes and good grace that resteth in that
pitifull Goddesse, who taketh no pleasure to see louers perced
with so egre trauayles as that which afflicteth my heart. It was
some fierce cogitation of Saturne, that brought thee forth, and
sent thee into the worlde to breake the ease of them which liue
at rest without any passion or griefe. Pardon me Loue, if I
blaspheme thy maiesty, for the stresse and endlesse grief
wherein I am plunged, maketh me thus to roue at large, and the
doubts, which I conceyue, do take away the health and soundnesse
of my mynde, the little experience in thy schole causeth this
amaze in me, to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the
duty, honor, and reputation of my state: the party whom I loue,
is a Gentleman, vertuous, valiant, sage, and of good grace. In
this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse, for all the
inequality of our houses, apparant vpon the first sight and shew
of the same. But from whence Issue Monarchs, Prynces and great
Lords, but from the naturall and common Masse of Earth, whereof
other men do come? what maketh these differences betwene those
that loue ech other, if not the sottish opinion which we
conceiue of greatnesse, and preheminence: as though naturall
affections bee like to that ordayned by the fantasie of men in
their lawes extreme. And what greater right haue Princes to
ioyne wyth a simple Gentlewoman, than the Princesse to mary a
Gentleman, and sutch as Anthonio Bologna is, in whom Heauen and
Nature haue forgotten nothinge to make him equall with them
which march amongs the greatest. I thinke we be the dayly slaues
of the fond and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts, which say
they haue puissance ouer vs: and that straininge our will to
their tiranny, we be still bound to the chaine like the Galley
slaue. No, no, Bologna shall be my Husband, for of a freend I
purpose to make my loyall and lawful Husband, meaning therby not
to offend God and men together, and pretend to liue without
offence of conscience, wherby my soule shal not be hindred for
any thyng I do, by marying him whom I so straungely loue. I am
sure not to be deceyued in loue. He loueth me so mutch or more
as I do him, but he dareth not disclose the same, fearing to be
refused and cast of with shame. Thus 2 vnited wils, and 2 hearts
tied togethers with equal knot cannot chose but bryng forth
fruites worthy of sutch society. Let men say what they list,
I will doe none otherwyse than my heade and mynd haue already
framed. Semblably I neede not make accompt to any persone for my
fact, my body, and reputation beynge in full liberty and
freedome. The bond of mariage made, shall couer the faulte whych
men woulde fynde, and leauyng myne estate, I shall do no wrong
but to the greatnesse of my house, which maketh me amongs men
right honorable. But these honors be nothyng worth, where the
Mynd is voyd of contentation, and wher the hearte pryckte
forwarde by desire leaueth the Bodye and Mynde restlesse wythout
quiet." Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterpryse, determining to
mary hir houshold Mayster, seeking for occasion and time, meete
for disclosing of the same, and albeit that a certaine naturall
shamefastnesse, which of custome accompanieth Ladies, did close
hir mouth, and made hir to deferre (for a certain time) the
effect of hir resolued minde: yet in the ende vanquished with
loue and impacience, she was forced to breake of silence, and to
assure hir self in him, reiecting feare conceiued of shame, to
make hir waye to pleasure, which she lusted more than mariage,
the same seruyng hir, but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir
follies and shamelesse lusts, for which she did the penaunce
that hir folly deserued. For no colorable dede or deceytful
trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wyckednesse. She
then throughly persuaded in her intent, dreamyng and thinking of
nought else, but vpon the imbracement of hir Bologna, ended and
determined hir conceits and pretended follies: and vpon a time
sent for him vp into hir chamber, as commonly she did for the
affaires and matters of hir house, and taking him a side vnto a
window, hauing prospect into a garden, she knew not how to begin
hir talk: (for the heart being seased, the mind troubled, and
the witts out of course, the tongue fayled to do his office,) in
sutch wise, as of long time she was vnable to speake one onely
woord. He surprised with like affection, was more astonied by
seeing the alteration of his Ladie. So the two Louers stoode
still like Images beholding one another, without any mouing at
all, vntill the Lady the hardiest of them bothe, as feelinge the
most vehement and greatest gryef, tooke Bologna by the hand, and
dissembling what she thought, vsed this or sutch language: "If
any other besides your selfe (Gentleman) should vnderstand the
secret which now I purpose to dysclose, I doubt what speeach
were necessary to colour, what I shall speake: but being assured
of your discretion and wisdom, and with what perfection nature
hath indued you, and Arte, hauing accomplished that in you,
which nature did begin to worke, as one bred and brought vp in
the royal court of the seconde Alphonse, of Ferdinando, and
Frederick of Aragon my cousins, I wil make no doubt at all to
manifest to you the hidden secretes of my heart, being well
persuaded that when you shall both heare and sauor my reasons,
and tast the light which I bring forth for me, easily you may
iudge that mine aduice cannot be other than iust and reasonable.
But if your conceits shall straye from that whych I determine,
I shal he forced to thinke and saye that they which esteeme you
wise and sage, and to be a man of good and ready wytte, be
maruelously deceiued. Notwithstanding my heart foretelleth that
it is impossible for mayster Bologna, to wandre so farre from
equitie, but that by and by he wil enter the lystes and dyscerne
the White from Blacke, and the Wronge fro that whych is Iust and
Ryghte: for so mutch as hitherto I neuer saw thinge done by you,
which Preposterated or peruerted the good iudgement that all the
world esteemeth to shine in you, the same well manifested and
declared by your tongue, the right iudge of the Mynde, you knowe
and see how I am a Wydow through the Death of that Noble
Gentleman of good remembrance, the Duke my Lord and husbande:
you be not ignoraunt also, that I haue lyued and gouerned my
self in sutch wise in my Widow state, as there is no man so hard
and seuere of iudgement, that can blason reproch of mee in that
whych appertayneth to the honestye and reputation of sutch a
Lady as I am, bearyng my port so righte, as my conscience
yeldeth no remorse, supposinge that no Man hathe wherewith to
byte and accuse me. Touchyng the order of the goods of the Duke
my Sonne, I have vsed them with diligence and discretion, as
besides the Dettes, whych I haue dyscharged sithens the death of
my Lord: I haue purchased a goodly Manor in Calabria, and haue
annexed the same to the Dukedome of his heire: and at this day
doe not owe one peny to any creditor that lent money to the
Duke, which he toke vp to furnish the charges in the warres,
which he sustayned in the seruice of the Kinges our soueraine
Lords in the late warres for the Kyngdome of Naples. I haue as I
suppose by this meanes stopped the slaunderous mouth and giuen
cause vnto my sonne, during his life to accompt himself bound
vnto his mother: now hauing till thys time liued for other,
and made my selfe subiect more than nature could beare, I am
entended to chaunge both my lyfe and condition. I haue tyll thys
time run, trauayled, and remoued to the Castels and Lordeships
of the Dukedome, to Naples and other places, being in mind to
tary as I am a widow. But what new affayres and new councel hath
possest my mynd? I haue trauayled and payned my self inoughe:
I haue to long abidden a widowe's lyfe: I am determined
therefore to prouyde a Husbande, who by louing me, shall honor
and cherysh me according to the loue which I shall beare hym,
and my desert. For to loue a man without mariage, God defend my
hearte should euer think, and shal rather dye a hundred thousand
deathes, than a desire so wicked should soyle my conscience,
knowyng well that a woman which setteth hir honor to sale, is
lesse than nothing, and deserueth not the common ayre should
breathe vpon hir, for all the reuerence that men do beare vnto
them. I accuse no person, albeit that many noble women haue
their forheds marked, with the blame of dishonest lyfe, and
being honored of some, bee neuerthelesse the common Fable of the
Worlde. To the intente then that sutch myshappe happen not to
me, and perceyuyng my selfe vnable styll thus to lyue, beyng
younge as I am, and (God bee thanked) neyther deformed nor yet
paynted, I had rather bee the louyng Wyfe of a symple feere,
than the Concubyne of a kynge or greate Prynce. And what? is the
myghty Monarche able to washe away the faulte of hys Wyfe whych
hath abandoned him contrary to the duety and honesty whych the
vndefyled bed requyreth? no lesse then Pryncesses that whilom
trespassed with those whych were of baser stuffe than
themselues. Messalina with hir imperiall robe could not so wel
couer hir faults, but that the Historians, do defame hir with
the name and title of a common woman. Faustina the Wyfe of the
sage Monarch Marcus Aurelius, gayned lyke reporte by rendringe
hir selfe to others pleasure, bysides hir lawfull Spouse. To
mary my selfe to one that is myne equall, it is impossible, for
so mutch as there is no Lorde in all this Countrey meete for my
degree, but is to olde of age, the rest being dead in these
later Warres. To mary a husband that yet is but a childe, is
folly extreeme, for the inconueniences which daily chaunce
thereby, and the euil intreaty that Ladies do receyue when they
come to age, when their nature waxeth cold, by reason whereof,
imbracements be not so fauourable, and their husbandes glutted
with ordinary meate, vse to run in exchange: wherefore I am
resolued without respite or delay, to choose some well qualified
and renoumed Gentleman, that hath more vertue than richesse,
that is of better Fame and brute, then of wealth and reuenue, to
the entent I may make him my Lord, Espouse, and Husbande. For I
cannot imploy my loue vpon treasure, which may bee taken away
from him, in whom richesse of the minde doth fayle, and shall
bee better content to see an honest Gentleman with little
liuing, to be praysed and commended of ech Degree for his good
Deedes, than a rich Carle curssed and detested of all the World.
Thus mutch I say, and it is the summe of all my secretes,
wherein I pray your councel and aduice. I know that some wil be
offended with my choise, and the Lords my Brothers, specially
the Cardinall will thincke it straunge, and receyue the same
with ill Digesture, that mutch a do shall I haue to bee agreed
with them and to remoue the griefe they shall conceyue against
mee for this myne attempt: wherefore I would the same should
secretly be kept, until without peril and daunger eyther of my
self or him, whome I pretende to marry, I may publish and
manyfest, not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall
soone bee consummate and accomplished wyth one, whome I doe loue
better than my self, and who as I ful well do know, doeth loue
me better than his owne propre lyfe." Mayster Bologna, which
tyll then hearkned to the oration of the Duchesse without
mouing, feeling himselfe touched so neare, and hearinge that his
Lady had made hir approche for mariage, stode still astonnied,
hys tongue not able to frame one word, onely fantasied a
thousand chimeraes in the Ayre, and formed like number of
imaginations in his minde, not able to coniecture what hee was,
to whom the duchesse had vowed hir loue, and the possession of
hir beauty. He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for
hymselfe, for that his Lady spake no word of him, and he lesse
durst open his mouth, and yet was wel assured that she loued him
beyond measure. Notwithstanding knowing the ficklenesse and
vnstable heart of women, he sayd vnto himselfe that she would
change hir mynde, for seeing him to be so great a Coward, as not
to offer his seruice to a Lady by whom hee saw himselfe so many
times both wantonly looked vppon, and intertayned wyth some
secresie more than familiar. The Duchesse which was a fine and
subtile dame, seeinge hir friend rapt with the passion, and
standing still vnmooueable through feare, pale and amazed, as if
hee had bene accused and condempned to dy, knew by that
Countenaunce and astonishment of Bologna, that she was perfectly
beloued of him: and so meaning not to suffer him any longer to
contynue in that amaze, ne yet to further feare hym, wyth
dissembled and fayned mariage of any other but wyth hym, she
tooke hym by the hand, and beholdinge him with a wanton and
luring eye, (in sutch sort as the curious Philosophers
themselues would awake, if sutch a Lampe and Torche did burne
wythin theyr studies,) she sayde thus vnto hym: "Seignor
Anthonio, I pray you be of good cheere, and torment not your
selfe for any thing that I haue sayd: I know well, and of long
time haue perceyued what good and faythful lone you beare mee,
and with what affection you haue serued me, sithens you first
came into my company. Thinke me not to bee so ignorant, but that
I know ful wel by outward signes, what secret thoughts be hid in
the inner heart: and that coniectures many times do geue me true
and certayne knowledge of concealed things: and am not so
foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue
marked my Countenaunce and maner, and thereby haue knowen that I
haue bene more affectioned to you, than to any other: for that
cause (sayde shee, strayninge hym by the hand very louingly, and
wyth cheerefull colour in hir face) I sware vnto you, and doe
promise that if you thinke meete, it shalbe none other but your
self whom I wil haue, and desire to take to husband and lawful
spouse, beynge assured so much of you, as the loue which so
longe time hath ben hidden and couered in our hartes, shall
appeare by so euident proofe, as onely death shal end and vndo
the same." The Gentleman hearing sutch sodain talke, and the
assurance of that which he most wished for, albeit he saw the
daunger extreme wherunto he launched himself by espousing this
great Ladie, and the ennimies he should get by entring sutch
aliaunce: notwythstandynge building vpon vaine hope, and
thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would
passe away if they vnderstoode the maryage, determined to pursue
the purpose, and not to refuse that greate preferment, being so
prodigally offred: for which cause hee answered his Lady in this
manner: "If it were in my power madame, to bryng to passe that,
which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging the benefits
and fauors which you depart vnto me, as my mind presenteth
thanks for the same, I would think my self the happyest
Gentleman that lyueth, and you the beste serued Pryncesse of the
world. For one beter beloued (I dare presume to say, and so long
as I liue wil affirme) is not to be found. If tyll thys time I
delayed to open that which now I discouer vnto you, I beseeche
you madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate, and to
the duty of my calling and office in your house, being not
seemelye for a seruaunte to talk of sutch secrets with his Lady
and Mistresse. And truely the payne which I haue indured to hold
my peace, and to hyde my grief, hath ben more noysom to me than
one hundred thousand like sorrowes together, although it had
bene lawfull to haue reuealed them to some trusty friend: I doe
not denye madame, but of long time you did perceiue my follie
and presumption, by addressing my minde so high, as to the
Aragon bloud, and to sutch a princesse as you be. And who can
beguile the Eye of a louer, specially of hir, whose Paragon for
good minde, wisedome and gentlenesse is not? And I confesse to
you besides, that I haue most euidentlye perceiued how a certain
loue hath lodged in your gracious hearte, wherwith you bare me
greater affection, than you dyd to anye other within the
compasse of your family. But what? great Ladyes heartes be
fraught with secretes and conceites of other effects than the
Minds of Symple Women, which caused me to hope for none other
guerdon of my loyal and faithful affection, than Deathe, and the
same very short, and sith that little hope accompanyed wyth
great, nay, rather extreme passion, is not able to giue
sufficient force, both to suffer and to stablish my heart with
constancye. Nowe for so mutch as of your motion, grace, curtesie
and liberality the same is offred, and that it pleaseth you to
accept me for yours, I humblye beseche you to dispose of me not
as husband, but of one whych is, and shalbe your Seruaunt for
euer, and sutch as is more ready to obey, than you to commaund.
It resteth now Madame, to consyder how, and in what wise our
affayres are to be directed, that thynges being in assurance,
you may so liue without perill and bruite of slaunderous
tongues, as your good fame and honest report may continue
without spot or blemish." Beholde the first Acte of this
Tragedy, and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent
them bothe to their graue, who immediatly gaue their mutual
faith: and the houre was assigned the next day, that the faire
Princesse should be in hir chamber alone, attended vpon with one
onely Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with her from the
cradle, and was made priuy to the heauy mariage of those two
louers which was consummate in hir presence. And for the present
time they passed the same in words: for ratification whereof
they went to bed togither: but the pain in the end was greater
than the pleasure, and had ben better for them bothe, yea and
also for the third, that they had shewed themselues so wyse in
the deede, as discrete in keeping silence of that which was don:
for albeit theyr mariage was secrete, and therby politikely
gouerned themselues in their stelthes and robberyes of Loue, and
that Bologna more ofte helde the state of the Stewarde of the
House by Daye, than of Lorde of the same, and by Nyghte supplyed
that Place, yet in the ende, the thynge was perceyued whych they
desyred to bee closely kepte. And as it is impossyble to tyll
and culture a fertyle Grounde, but that the same muste yelde
some Fruycte, euen so the Duchesse after many pleasures (being
ripe and plentiful) became with childe, which at the firste
astonned the maried couple: neuerthelesse the same so well was
prouided for, as the first Childbed was kept secret, and none
did know thereof: the Childe was nourced in the Towne, and the
father desired to haue him named Frederick, for remembraunce of
the parents of hys Wyfe. Nowe fortune whych lieth in dayly wayte
and ambushment, and lyketh not that men should longe Loyter in
Pleasure, and Passetime, being enuious of sutch prosperity,
cramped so the Legges of our two Louers, as they must needes
chaunge their Game, and learne some other practise: for so mutch
as the Duchesse beinge great with Childe agayne, and deliuered
of a Girle, the businesse of the same was not so secretly done,
but that it was discouered. And it sufficed not that the brute
was noysed through Naples, but that the sound flew further of:
As eche man doth know that Rumor hath many mouthes, who wyth the
multitude of hys Tongues, and Trumps, Proclaymeth in diuers and
sundry places, the things which chaunce in al the Regions of the
Earth: euen so that bablinge foole, caried the newes of that
second Childbed to the eares of the Cardinall of Aragon the
Duchesse brother, being then at Rome. Think what Ioy, and
Pleasure the Aragon brothers had, by hearinge the report of
their Sister's fact: I dare presume to say, that albeit they
were extremely wroth wyth this happened Slaunder, and wyth that
dishonest fame which the Duchesse had gotten throughout Italy,
yet farre greater was their sorrow and griefe for that they did
not know what hee was, that so curteously was allied to their
house, and in their loue had increased their Ligneage: and
therefore swelling wyth despite, and rapt with fury to see
themselues so defamed by one of their Bloude, they purposed by
all meanes whatsoeuer it cost them, to know the lucky Louer that
had so wel tilled the Duchesse their Sister's field. Thus
desirous to remoue that shame from before their eyes, and to bee
reuenged of a wrong so notable, they sent Espials round about,
and scouts to Naples, to view and spy the behauiour and talke of
the Duchesse, to settle some certayne Iudgement of him, which
stealingly was become their Brother in lawe. The Duchesse Courte
beinge in thys trouble, she dyd contynually perceiue in hir
house, hir brothers men to marke hir countenance, and to note
those that came thither to visite hir, and to whom she vsed
greatest familiaritie, bicause it is impossible but that the
fire, although it be raked vnder the ashes, must giue some heat:
and albeit the two Louers vsed eche others company, without
shewing any Sygne of their affection, yet they purposed to
chaung theyr estate for a tyme, by yelding truce to their
pleasures: yea, and although Bologna was a wise and prouident
personage, fearing to be surprised vpon the facte, or that the
Gentlewoman of the chamber corrupted with money, or forced by
feare, should pronounce any matter to his hinderance or
disaduantage, determined to absent himself from Naples, yet not
so sodainly but that he made the Duchesse his faithfull Lady and
companion priuy of his intent: and as they were secretly in
their chamber together, he vsed these or sutch like words:
"Madame, albeit the right good intent and vnstained conscience,
is free from faulte, yet the iudgement of men hath further
relation to the exterior apparance, than to vertue's force and
innocence it self, as ignoraunt of the secrets of the thought:
and so in things that be well done, wee must of necessity fall
into the sentence of those, whom beastly affection rauisheth
more, than ruled reason. You see the solempne watch and guarde
whych the Seruaunts of the Lordes your Brothers do within your
house, and the suspition which they haue conceiued by reason of
your second Childbed, and by what meanes they labor truely to
know how your affayres procede, and things do passe. I feare not
death where your seruice may be aduaunced, but ys herein the
Maiden of your Cbamber be not secrete, if she bee corrupted, and
if she keepe not close that which shee ought to doe, it is not
ignoraunt to you that it is the losse of my lyfe, and shall dye
suspected to bee a Whoremonger and varlot, euen I, (I say) shal
incurre that Peryll, whych am your true and Lawfull Husband.
Thys separation chaunceth not by iustyce or desert, sith the
cause is to ryghteous for vs: but rather your brethren will
procure my death, when I shall thinke the same in greatest
assurance. If I had to do but wyth one or two, I would not
chaunge the place, ne march one step from Naples, but be
assured, that a great band, and the same well armed will set
vppon me: I pray you, madame, suffer me to retire for a time,
for I am assured that when I am absent, they will neuer soile
their hands or imbrue their sweardes in your Bloud. If I doubted
any thing at all of Peryll touchyng your owne person, I had
rather a hundred hundred tymes die in your Company, than lyue to
see you no more: but out of doubt I am, that if our affaires
were discouered, and they knew you to be begotten with Chyld by
me, your safety would be prouided for wher I should sustain the
penaunce of the fact, committed without fault or sinne: and
therfore I am determined to goe from Naples, to order mine
affaires, and to cause my Reuenue to be brought to the place of
mine abode, and from thence to Ancona, vntyl it pleaseth God to
mitigate the rage of your brethren, and recouer their good wills
for consent to our mariage. But I meane not to do or conclude
any thing without your aduise, and if thys intente doe not like
you, gyue me Councell Madame, what I were beste to doe, that
both in Lyfe and Death you may knowe your faythfull seruaunt and
louing Husband is ready to obey and please you." This good Lady
hearing hir husband's discourse, vncertayne what to do, wept
bitterly, as well for grief to lose his presence, as for that
she felt her self with child the third time: the sighes and
teares, the sobbes and heauy lookes, which she threwe forth
vppon hir sorrowful husband, gaue sufficient witnesse of hir
payne and Gryef: and if none had hard hir, I thynke her playntes
would haue well expressed hir inwarde smarte of mynde. But like
a wise Ladye seing the alleaged reasons of hir husbande,
licensed him although agaynste hir minde, not wythout vtterance
of these fewe Words, before hee went out of hir Chamber: "Deare
husbande, if I were so well assured of the affectyon of my
Brethren, as I am of my mayde's fidelity, I would entreat you
not to leaue me alone: specially in the case I am, beynge wyth
Chylde: but knowyng that to be iust and true whych you haue
sayde, I am content to force my wyll for a certayne tyme, that
hereafter we may lyue at rest together, ioyning our selues in
the companye of our Chyldren and Famylye, voyde of those
troubles, whych greate Courts ordinarily beare within the
compasse of their Palaces. Of one thing I must intreat you, that
so often as you can by trusty messenger, you send me word and
intelligence of your health and state, bicause the same shall
bring vnto me greater pleasure and contentation, than the
welfare of mine owne: and bicause also, vpon sutch occurrentes
as shall chaunce, I may prouyde for myne owne affaires, the
surety of my self, and of our Children." In saying so, she
embraced him very amorously, and he kissed hir with so greate
sorrow and grief of heart, as the soule was ready out of his
Body to take hir flight, sorowful beyond measure so to leaue hir
whome he loued, for the great curtesies and honor which hee had
receiued at hir hands. In the end, fearing that the Aragon
espials woulde come and discrie them in those priuities, Bologna
tooke his leaue, and bad his Lady and spouse Farewell. And this
was the second Acte of this Tragicall Historie, to see a
fugitife husband, secretly to mary, especially hir, vpon whome
hee ought not so mutch as to loke but with feare and reuerence.
Behold here (O ye folish louers) a Glasse of your lightnesse,
and yee Women, the course of your fond behauyor. It behoueth not
the wise sodainly to execute their first motions and desyres of
their heart for so mutch as they may be assured that pleasure is
pursued so neare with a repentaunce so sharp to be suffred,
and hard to be digested, as their voluptuousnesse shall vtterly
discontent them. True it is, that mariages be don in heauen and
performed in earth, but that saying may not be applied to
fooles, which gouerne them selues by carnall desires, whose
scope is but pleasure, and the reward many times equall to their
follie. Shall I be of opinion that a houshold seruaunt oughte to
sollicite, nay rather suborne the Daughter of his Lorde without
punyshment, or that a vyle and abiect person dare to mount vpon
a Prynces Bed? No, no, pollicye requyreth order in all, and eche
wight ought to bee matched according to theyr qualytye, wythout
makynge a Pastyme of it to couer theyr Follyes, and knowe not of
what Force Loue and Desteny be, except the same be resysted.
A goodly thinge it is to Loue, but where reason looseth Place,
Loue is wythoute his effecte, and the sequele rage and Madnesse:
leaue we to discourse of those which beleue that they be
constrayned to folowe the Force of theyr Mynde, and may easilye
subdue themselues to the Lawes of Vertue and Honesty, lyke one
that thrusteth hys Heade into a Sack, and thynkes he can not get
out: sutch people do please themselues in theyr losse, and
thinke all well that is noysome to their Health, daily folowyng
theyr owne delyghtes. Come wee againe then to sir Bologna, who
after he had left hys Wyfe in hir Castell, went to Naples, and
hauing sessed a rent vpon hir lands, and leuyed a good summe of
Money, he repayred to Ancona a city of the patrimonye of the
Romane church, whither hee caryed the two Chyldren, which he
had of the Duchesse, causyng them to be brought vp with suche
Dyligence and care, as it is to be thought a Father well
affectyoned to hys Wyfe would doe, and who delyghted to see a
Braunch of the Tree, that to hym was the best beloued Fruyct of
the World. There he hyred a house for hys trayne, and for those
that wayted vppon hys Wyfe, who in the meane tyme was in great
care, and could not tell of what Woode to make hir arrowes,
perceyuing that hir Belly began to swell, and grow to the tyme
of hir deliuery, seeing that from Day to Day, hir Brothers
seruaunts were at hir back, voide of Counsel and aduise, if one
euenyng she had not spoken to the Gentlewoman of her chamber,
touchyng the doubts and peryl wherein she was, not knowing how
she might be deliuered from the same. That maiden was gentle and
of a good mind and stomake, and loued hir mistresse very derely,
and seeing hir so amazed and tormenting hir self to death,
mindyng to fray hir no further, ne to reproue hir of hir fault
which could not be amended, but rather to prouyde for the
daunger wherunto she had hedlong cast hir selfe, gaue hir this
aduyse: "How now, Madame" (sayd shee,) "is that wysdom whych
from your Chyldhode hath ben so famyliar in you, dislodged from
your brest in time when it ought chiefly to rest for incountryng
of those mishaps that are comming vpon vs? think you to auoid
the dangers, by thus tormentyng your self, except you set your
hands to the work therby to gyue the repulse to aduerse fortune?
I haue heard you many tymes speake of the Constancye and Force
of Mynde, whych ought to shine in the deedes of Princesses, more
clerely than amongs those dames of baser house, and whych ought
to make them appeare like the sunne and the little starres: and
yet I see you nowe astonned, as though you had neuer forseene,
that aduersity chaunceth so wel to catch the great within his
clouches, as the base and simple sort. It is but now that you
haue called to remembraunce that which might insue your mariage
with sir Bologna? Did hys onely presence assure you against the
waits of fortune, and was it the thought of paines, feares and
frights, which now turmoileth your dolorous mind? Ought you thus
to vexe your selfe, when nede it is to thinke how to saue both
your honor, and the fruicte wythin your intrailes? If your
sorrow be so great ouer sir Bologna, and if you feare your
childbed wil be descried, why seeke you not meanes to attempt
some voyage, for couering of the fact, to beguile the eyes of
them whych so diligently do watch you? Doth your hearte faile
you in that matter? whereof do you dreame? why sweat and freat
you before you make me answer?" "Ah sweete hearte," (answered
the Duchesse,) "if thou feltest the payne which I do suffer, thy
tongue would not be so mutch at wyll, as thou shewest it now to
bee for reproofe of my small Constancie. I do sorrow specially
for the causes which thou alleagest, and aboue all, for that I
know well, that if my Brethren had neuer so litle intelligence
of my beynge with Chyld, I were vndone and my Lyfe at an end,
and peraduenture poore Wench, thou shouldest beare the penaunce
for my sinne. But what way can I take, that stil these Candels
may not giue light, and I voided of the Trayne whych ought to
wayghte vpon my Brethren? I thinke if I should descend into
Hell, they would know, whither any shadowe there were in loue
with me. Now gesse if I should trauayle the Realme, or retire to
any other place, whither they would let me liue in peace?
Nothing lesse, for suspect they would, that the cause of my
departure proceeded of desyre to liue at liberty, to dallye wyth
hym, whom they Iudge to be other than my lawfull husbande: and
it may so be, that as they bee Wicked and suspicious, so will
they doubte of my beynge wyth Chylde and thereby shall I bee
farre more infortunate by trauaylyng, than here in miserie
amidde myne anguishe: and you the reste that be keepers of my
Councell, fall into greater Daunger, vppon whome no doubte they
will bee reuenged: and fleshe themselues for your vnhappy
waiting and attendance vpon vs." "Madame," sayd the bolde
Maiden, "be not afraide, and followe mine aduise, for I hope
that it shall be the meanes both to see your spouse, and to rid
those troublesome verlets out of your house, and in like maner
safely to deliuer you into good assuraunce." "Say your mind,"
quod the Ladye, "for it may bee, that I wyll gouerne my self
according to the same." "Mine aduise is then," sayd the
Gentlewoman, "to let your houshold vnderstand, that you made a
Vowe to visite the Holy Temple of our Lady of Loretto, (a Famous
Pilgrimage in Italy) and that you commaund your Trayn to make
themselues ready to wayt vpon you for accomplyshment of your
deuotion, and from thence you shall take your Iourney to
soiourne at Ancona, whither before you goe hence, you shall send
your Moueables and Plate, wyth sutch Moneye as you thynke
necessarye for furnyshing of your Charges: and afterwards God
will performe the rest, and through his holy mercy will guyde
and direct al your affaires." The Duchesse hearing the mayden
speake her good aduise and amazed of her sodayne inuention,
could not forbear to imbrace and kysse hir, blessing the houre
wherein she was borne, and that euer she chaunced into hir
Companye, to whome afterwards shee sayd: "My Wenche, I had well
determined to gyue ouer myne estate and Noble porte, ioyfully to
lyue a simple Gentlewoman with my deare and welbeloued Husband,
but I could not deuyse how I should conuenyently departe thys
countrey without suspition of some folly: and sith that thou
hast so well instructed mee for brynging that same to passe,
I promyse thee that so diligentlye thy counsel shal be
performed, as I see the same to be right good and necessary:
for rather had I see my husband, beynge alone without title of
Duchesse or great Lady, than to liue without him beautified with
the graces and Names of Honor and preheminence." This deuised
plot was no soner grounded, but she gaue order for execution of
the same, and brought it to passe with sutch dexterity as the
Ladye in lesse than VIII. Dayes had conueyed and sente
the most part of hir Moueables, and specially the chyefest and
beste to Ancona, taking in the meane time hir way towards
Loretto after she had bruted hir solempne vow made for that
Pilgrimage. It was not sufficient for this folysh Woman to take
a Husband more to glut hir libidinous appetite, than for other
occasion, except shee added to hir sinne another excreable
impietie, making holy places and dueties of deuotion, to be as
it were the shadowes of hir folly. But let vs consider the force
of Louers rage, which so soone as it hath seased vpon the minds
of men, we see how maruellous be the effects thereof, and with
what straint and puissaunce that madnesse subdueth the wise and
strongest worldlings: who woulde thinke that a great Lady
besides the abandoning hir estate, hir goodes and Chyld, would
haue misprysed hir honor and reputation, to follow like a
vagabond, a pore and simple Gentleman, and him besides that was
the household seruaunt of hir Courte? and yet you see this great
and mighty Duchesse trot and run after the Male, like a female
Wolfe or Lionesse (when they goe to sault,) and forget the Noble
bloud of Aragon whereof she was descended, to couple hir self
almost with the simplest person of all the trimmest Gentlemen of
Naples. But turne we not the example of follies to be a matter
of consequence: for if one or two become bankrupt of theyr
honor, it followeth not, good Ladyes, that theyr fact should
serue for a matche to your deserts, and mutch lesse a patron for
you to folow. These Hystories be not wryten to trayne and trap
you to pursue the thousand thousand slippery sleightes of Loue's
gallantise, but rather carefully to warne you to behold the
semblable faultes, and to serue for a drugge to dyscharge the
Poyson which gnaweth and fretteth the integrytie and soundnesse
of the soule. The wyse and skilfull Apothecary or compositor of
drugges, dresseth Vipers flesh to purge the patyent from hote
corrupted bloud which conceyueth and engendreth Leprosie within
hys Body. In lyke manner, the fonde loue and wycked rybauldry of
Semiramis, Pasiphae, Messalina, Faustina, and Romilda is shewed
in wryt, that euery of you maye feare to be numbred and recorded
amongs sutch common and dishonourable women. You Princes and
great Lords read the follies of Paris, the adulteries of
Hercules, the dainty and effeminate life of Sardanapalus, the
tiranny of Phalaris, Busiris, or Dyonisius of Sicile, and see
the history of Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, Domitian, and
Heliogabalus, and spare not to recompte them amongs our wanton
youthes which soile themselues villaines more filthily than the
swine do in the durt: al this intendeth it an instruction for
your youth to follow the infection and whoredome of those
Monsters? Better it were all those bokes were drenched in
bottomlesse depth of seas, than Christian life by their meanes
should be corrupted: but the example of the wicked is induced
for to eschue and auoid them, as the life of the good and honest
is remembred to frame and addresse our behauior in this world to
be praise worthy and commended: otherwyse the holinesse of
sacred writ should serue for an argument to the vnthrifty and
luxurious to confirm and approue their beastly and licencious
wickednesse. Come we againe then to our purpose: the good
Pilgrime of Loretto went forth hir voyage to atchieue hir
deuotions, by visiting the Saint for whose Reliques she was
departed the country of the Duke hir Sonne: when she had done
hir suffrages at Loretto, hir people thought hir voiage to be at
an end, and that she would haue returned again into hir
Countrey: but she said vnto them, that forsomutch as she was so
neare Ancona, being but XV. myles of, she would not
retyre but she had seen that auncient and goodlye city, which
diuers Hystories do greatly recommend, as wel for the
antiquitie, as for the pleasant seat therof. Al were of hir
aduise, and went forward to see the antiquities of Ancona, and
she to renue the pleasures whych she had before begon with hir
Bologna, who was aduertised of all hir determination, restyng
now like a God, possessed with the Iewels and rychesse of the
Duchesse, and had taken a fayre palace in the great Streat of
the City, by the gate wherof the traine of hys Lady must passe.
The Harbinger of the Duchesse posted before to take vp lodging
for the train, but Bologna offred vnto hym hys Palace for the
Ladye. So Bologna whych was already welbeloued in Ancona, and
newely entred Amytye and greate Aquayntaunce wyth the Gentlemen
of the Cytye, wyth a goodlye troupe of them, wente forthe to
meete hys Wyfe, to whom he presented his house, and besought hir
that shee and hir trayne would vouchsafe to lodge there. She
receiued the same very thankfully, and withdrew hir selfe vnto
his house, who conducted hir thither, not as a husband, but like
him that was hir humble and affectionate seruaunte. But what
needeth greate dyscourse of Woordes? The duchesse knowing that
it was impossible but eche man must be priuy to hir facte, and
know what secretes hath passed betweene hir and hir Husband,
to the ende that no other opynyon of hir Childebed should be
conceyued, but that whych was good and Honest, and done synce
the accomplyshment of the Maryage, the morrow after hir arryuall
to Ancona, assembled all her Trayne in the Hall, of purpose no
longer to keepe cloase that sir Bologna was hir Husbande, and
that alreadye shee had had two Chyldren by him, and agayne was
great with childe, with a third. And when they were come
togither after dynner, in that presence of hir husbande, shee
vsed vnto them these woordes: "Gentlemen, and al ye my trusty
and louyng seruaunts, hyghe tyme it is to manyfest to euery of
you, the thing which hath ben done before the Face, and in the
presence of hym who knoweth the most obscure and hydden secrets
of our thoughts. And needefull it is not to keepe silente that
which is neyther euyll done ne hurtfull to any person: If things
myght be kept secrete and styl remaine vnknowen, except they
were declared by the doers of them, yet would not I commit the
wrong in concealyng that, which to dyscouer vnto you doth
greatly delite me, and deliuereth my mind from exceeding grief,
in sutch wise as if the flames of my desire could break out with
sutch violence, as the fire hath taken heate within my mind, ye
should see the smoke mount vp with greater smoulder than that
which the mount Gibel doeth vomit forth at certayne seasons of
the yeare. And to the intent I may not keepe you long in this
suspect, this secret fire wythin my Heart, and that which I shal
cause to flame in open ayre, is a certain opinion which I
conceiue for a mariage by me made certain yeares past, at what
time I chose and wedded a husband to my fantasie and liking,
desirous no longer to liue in Widow state, being vnwilling to do
the thing that should preiudice and hurt my conscience. The same
is done, and yet in one thing I haue offended, which is by long
keepyng secrete the performed mariage: for the wycked brute
dispearsed through the realme by reason of my childbed, one
yeare paste, hath displeased some: howbeit my conscience
receiueth comforte, for that the same is free from fault or
blot. Now shall ye know therefore what he is, whom I acknowledg
for my Lord and spouse, and who it is that lawfully hath me
espoused in the presence of this Gentlewoman here present, which
is the witnesse of our Nuptials and accorde of mariage. This
gentleman also Antonio Bologna, is he to whom I haue sworn and
giuen my faith, and hee againe to mee hath ingaged his. He it is
whom I accompt for my spouse and husband, (and with whome
henceforth) I meane to rest and contynue. In consideration
whereof, if there be any heere amongs you all, that shal mislike
of my choyse, and is willing to wayt vppon my sonne the Duke,
I meane not to let them of their intent, prayinge them
faithfully to serue him, and to be careful of his person, and to
be vnto him so honest and loyall, as they haue bene to me so
longe as I was their mistresse. But if any of you desire stil to
make your abode wyth me, to be partakers of my Wealth and woe,
I will so entertayne them as they shall haue good cause to be
contented, if not let them departe hence to Malfi, and the
steward shal prouide for them according to their degre: for
touching my self I do mind no more to be termed an infamous
Duchesse: rather would I be honored wyth the Tytle of a symple
Gentlewoman, or wyth that estate whych shee can haue that hath
an honest husband, and wyth whom she holdeth faithfull and
loyall company, than reuerenced with the glory of a Pryncesse,
subiect to the despite of slaunderous tongues. Ye know" (said
she to Bologna) "what hath passed betwene vs, and God is the
witnesse of the integrity of my Conscyence, wherfore I pray you
bryng forth our Chyldren, that eche Man may beholde the Fruyctes
raysed of our allyance." Hauynge spoken those Woordes, and the
Chyldren broughte forthe into the Hall, all the companye stoode
styll so astonned wyth that newe successe and tale, as though
hornes sodainly had started forth their heads, and rested
vnmoueable and amazed, like the great marble piller of Rome
called Pasquile, for so mutch as they neuer thought, ne
coniectured that Bologna was the successor of the duke of Malfi
in his mariage bed. This was the preparatiue of the catastrophe
and bloudy end of this tragedie. For of all the Duchesse
seruaunts, there was not one that was willing to continue wyth
theyr auncient mistresse, who with the faithfull maiden of hir
chamber remained at Ancona, enioying the ioyful embracements of
hir Husbande, in all sutch Pleasure and Delyghts as they doe,
whych hauyng lyued in fear, be set at liberty, and out of al
suspition, plunged in a sea of ioy, and fleting in the quiet
calme of al passetime, where Bologna had none other care, but
how to please his best beloued, and she studied nothing else but
how to loue and obey him, as the wyfe ought to doe hir husband.
But thys fayre Weather lasted not long, for as the ioyes of men
do not long endure but wast in lyttle time, so bee the delights
of louers lesse firme and stedefast and passe away almost in one
moment of an houre. Now the seruaunts of the Duchesse which wer
retired, and durst tary no longer with hir, fearing the fury of
the cardinal of Aragon brother to the Lady, the verye Day they
departed from Ancona, deuised amongs themselues that one of them
should ride in post to Rome, to aduertise the cardinal of the
ladye's maryage, to the intente that the Aragon brethren myght
conceiue no cause to seke reuenge of theyr disloyalty. That
determination spedily was accomplished, one posting towardes
Rome, and the rest galloping to the countrey Castles of the
duke. These newes reported to the Cardinal and his brother, it
may be coniectured how gryeuously they toke the same, and that
they were not able to digest them wyth modestye, the yongest of
the brethren, yalped forth a Thousand Cursses and despytes,
agaynste the symple sexe of womankind. "Ha," said the Prince
(transported with choler, and driuen into deadly furie) "what
law is able to punish or restrayne the folysh indiscretion of a
Woman, that yeldeth hir self to hir own desires? What shame is
able to brydle and withdrawe a Woman from hir mind and madnesse?
Or with what fear is it possible to snaffle them from execution
of theyr filthinesse? Ther is no beast be he neuer so wilde,
but man sometime may tame, and bring to his lure and order. The
force and diligence of Man is able to Make mylde the stronge and
Proude, and to ouertake the swyftest Beaste and Foule, or
otherwyse to attayne the hyghest and deepest things of the
world: but this incarnate diuelish beaste the Woman, no force
can subdue hir, no swiftnesse can approch hir mobylity, no good
mind is able to preuent hir sleightes and deceites, they seem to
be procreated and borne againste all order of Nature, and to
liue withoute Lawe, whych gouerneth al other things indued with
some reason and vnderstanding. But howe great abhomination is
this, that a Gentlewoman of sutch a house as ours is, hath
forgotten hir estate, and the greatnesse of hir deceased
husband, with the hope of the toward youthe of the Duke hir
sonne and our Nephew. Ah, false and vile bytch, I sweare by the
Almighty God and by his blessed wounds, that if I can catch
thee, and that wicked knaue thy chosen mate, I wil pype ye both
sutch a wofull galiard, as in your imbracements ye neuer felt
like ioy and mirthe. I wil make ye daunce sutch a bloudy
bargenet, as your whorish heate for euer shall be cooled. What
abuse haue they committed vnder title of mariage, whych was so
secretly don, as their children do witnesse their lecherous
loue, but theyr promise of faith was made in open aire, and
serueth for a cloke and visarde of their moste filthy whoredom.
And what if mariage was concluded, be we of so little respect,
as the carion beast could not vouchsafe to aduertise vs of hir
entent? Or is Bologna a man worthy to be allied or mingled with
the roial bloud of Aragon and Castille? No, no, be he neuer so
good a gentleman, his race agreeth not with kingly state. But I
make to God a vow, that neuer wyll I take one sound and restful
slepe, vntill I haue dispatched that infamous fact from our
bloud, and that the caitif whoremonger be vsed according to his
desert." The cardinal also was out of quiet, grinding his teeth
togither, chattering forth of his Spanish mosel Jack an Apes
Pater-noster, promising no better vsage to their Bologna than
hys yonger brother did. And the better to intrap them both
(without further sturre for that time) they sent to the Lord
Gismondo Gonsago the Cardinal of Mantua, than Legate for pope
Iulius the second at Ancona, at whose hands they enioyed sutch
friendship, as Bologna and all his family were commaunded
spedily to auoid the city. But for al that the Legat was able to
do, of long time he could not preuail, Bologna had so greate
intelligence wythin Ancona. Neuerthelesse whiles hee differred
his departure, he caused the most part of his trayne, his
Children and goods to be conueyed to Siena, an auncient Citty of
Thoscane, which for the state and liberties, had long time bin
at warres with the Florentines, in sutch wyse as the very same
day that newes came to Bologna that hee should depart the Citty
within XV. daies, hee was ready, and mounted on horseback to
take hys flight to Siena, whych brake for sorrow the hearts of
the Aragon brethren, seeinge that they were deceiued, and
frustrate of their intent, bicause they purposed by the way to
apprehend Bologna, and to cut him in peeces. But what? The tyme
of his hard lucke was not yet expired, and so the marche from
Ancona, serued not for the Theatre of those two infortunate
louers ouerthrow, who certaine moneths liued in peace in
Thoscane. The Cardinall night nor day did sleepe, and his
brother still did wayt to performe hys othe of reuenge. And
seeinge their ennimy out of feare, they dispatched a post to
Alfonso Castruccio, the cardinall of Siena, to entreat the lord
Borgliese, cheyfe of the Seigniory there, that their Syster, and
Bologna should be banished the Countrey, and limits of that
Citty, which wyth small suite was brought to passe. These two
infortunate, Husband and Wyfe, were chasid from all places, and
so vnlucky as whilom Achastus was when he was accursed, or
Oedipus, after his father's death, and incestious mariage wyth
his mother, vncertayne to what Sainct to vow themselues, and to
what place to take their flight. In the ende they determined to
goe to Venice, but first to Ramagna, there to imbarke themselues
for to retyre in saulfty to the citty enuironned wyth the Sea
Adriaticum, the richest in Europa. But the poore soules made
their reconinge there wythout their hoaste, faylinge halfe the
price of their banket. For being vppon the territory of Forly,
one of the trayne a farre of, did see a troupe of horsemen
galloping towardes their company, which by their countenaunce
shewed no signe of peace or amity at all, which made them
consider that it was some ambush of theyr Enimyes. The
Neapolitan gentleman seeing the onset bendinge vppon them, began
to feare death, not for that hee cared at al for his mishap, and
ruine, but his heart began to cleaue for heauinesse to see his
Wyfe and little Children ready to be murdered, and serue for the
passetime of the Aragon Brethren's eyes, for whose sakes he knew
himselfe already predestinate to dy, and that for despite of
him, and to accelerate his death by the ouerthrow of hys Wyfe
and Children, he was assured that they would dispatch them all
before his face and presence. But what is there to be done,
where counsell and meanes to escape do fayle? Full of teares
therefore, astonishment and feare, he expected death so cruell
as man could deuise, and was already determined to suffer the
same with good courage, for any thing that the Duchesse could
say vnto him. He might well haue saued himself and his eldest
sonne by flight, being both wel mounted vpon two good Turkey
horsses, whiche ran so fast, as the quarrel out of a Crosbow.
But he loued to mutch his wife and children, and woulde kepe
them company both in lyfe and death. In th'ende the good Lady
sayd vnto him: "Sir, for all the ioyes and pleasures which you
can do me, for God's sake saue your selfe and the litle infant
next you, who can well indure the galloping of the horse. For
sure I am, that you being out of our company, we shall not neede
to feare any hurt: but if you do tary, you wil be the cause of
the ruine and ouerthrow of vs all, and we shal receiue thereby
no profit or aduauntage: take this purse therefore, and saue
yourself, attending better fortune in time to come." The poore
Gentleman Bologna knowing that his wife had pronounced reason,
and fearing that it was impossible from that time forth that she
or hir Traine could escape their hands, taking leaue of hir, and
kissing his chyldren not forgetting the money which she offred
vnto him, willed his seruants to saue themselues by sutch meanes
as they thought best. So gieuing spurs vnto his horse, he began
to fly amayne, and his eldest sonne seeing his father gone,
began to followe in like sorte: and so for that time they two
were saued by breaking of the intended ill luck lyke to light
vpon them. And where he thought to rescue himselfe at Venice, he
turned another way, and by great Iourneys arriued at Millan. In
the meane time the horsemen were approched neere the Duchesse,
who seeing that Bologna had saued himselfe, very courteously
began to speake vnto the lady, were it that the Aragon brethren
had geuen theym that charge, or feared that the Lady would
trouble them with hir importunate Cries, and Lamentations. One
therefore amongs the Troupe sayde thus vnto hir: "Madam, we be
commaunded by the Lordes your brethren, to conduct you home vnto
your house, that you may receiue agayne the Gouernment of the
Duchy, and the order of the Duke your sonne, and do maruell very
mutch at your folly, for giuing your selfe thus to wander the
Countrey after a man of so smal reputation as Bologna is, who
when he had glutted his lusting lecherrous minde with the
comelines of your noble Personage, wil despoyle you of your
goods and honour, and then take his Legs into som straung
countrey." The simple Lady, albeit greeuous it was vnto hir to
heare sutch speech of hir husband, yet helde hir peace and
dissembled what she thought, glad and wel contented with the
curtesy done vnto hir, fearinge before that they came to kyll
hir and thought hirselfe already discharged, hopinge vppon their
courteous Dealinges, that shee, and hir Chyldren from that tyme
forth should lyue in good assuraunce. But she was greatly
deceyued, and knew within shorte space after, the good will that
hir Brethren bare hir: for so soone as these Gallants had
conducted hir into the kyngdome of Naples, to one of the Castels
of hir sonne, she was committed to pryson wyth hir chyldren, and
she also that was the secretary of hir infortunate mariage. Til
this time Fortune was contented to proceede with indifferent
quiet against those Louers, but henceforth yee shall heare the
Issue of theyr little prosperous loue, and how pleasure hauing
blinded them, neuer forsooke them vntil it had giuen them the
ouerthrow. It booteth not heere to recite any Fables or
Hystories, contenting my self that Ladies do reade wythout to
many weping teares, the pitifull end of that myserable
princesse, who seeing hir selfe a Prisoner in the company of hir
litle chyldren and welbeloued Mayden, paciently liued in hope to
see hir Brethren appaysed, comforting hir selfe for the escape
of hir husband out of the hands of his mortal foes. But hir
assurance was changed into an horrible feare and hir hope to no
expectation of surety, when certayne dayes after hir
imprisonment, hir gaoler came in, and sayde vnto hir: "Madame,
I do aduise you henceforth to consider and examine your
Conscience, for so mutch as I suppose that euen thys very day
your Lyfe shall be taken from you." I leaue for you to thinke
what horrour, and traunce assayled the feeble heart of this
poore Lady, and wyth what eares she receyued that cruell
message, but hir cryes, and moanes together with hir sighes and
lamentations declared with what chere she receyued the
aduertisement. "Alas" (sayd she) "is it possible that my
brethren should so far forget themselues, as for a fact nothing
preiudicial vnto them, cruelly to put to death their innocent
Sister, and to imbrue the memory of their fact, in the bloud of
one which neuer did offend them? Must I against al right and
equity be put to death before the Iudge or Maiestrate haue made
triall of my lyfe, and knowne the righteousnesse of my cause? Ah
God, most rightfull and bountifull father, beholde the mallice
of my Brethren, and the Tyrannous cruelty of those which
wrongfully doe seeke my bloud. Is it a sinne to marry? Is it a
fault to fly, and auoide the sinne of Whoredome? What Lawes be
these, where marriage bed, and ioyned matrimony is pursued wyth
lyke seuerity, that Murder, Theft, and Aduoutry are? And what
Christianity in a Cardinall, to shed the bloud which hee ought
to defend? What profession is thys, to assayle the innocent by
the hygh way side, and to reue them of lyfe in place to punish
Theeues and Murderers? O Lord God thou art iust, and dost al
things in equity, I see wel that I haue trespassed against thy
maiesty in some more notoryous crime than in marriage: I most
humbly therefore beseech thee to haue compassion on mee, and to
pardon myne offences, accepting the confession, and repentaunce
of mee thine humble seruaunt for satisfaction of my sinnes,
which it pleased thee to washe away in the precious bloud of thy
sonne our Sauiour, that being so purified, I may appeare at the
holy banket in thy glorious kingdome." When shee had thus
finished hir prayer, two or three of the ministers which had
taken hir besides Forly, came in, and said vnto hir: "Now Madame
make ready your selfe to goe to God, for beholde your houre is
come." "Praysed be that God" (sayd she) "for the wealth and woe
that it pleaseth hym to send vs. But I beseech you my friendes
to haue pitty vppon these lyttle Babes and innocent creatures:
let them not feele the smarte whych I am assured my Brethren
beare agaynste their Poore vnhappy Father." "Well well, madame,"
sayd they, "we wil conuey them to sutch place as they shal not
want." "I also recommend vnto you" (quod she) "this pore
imprisoned mayden, and entreate hir well, in consideration of
hir good service done to the infortunate Duchesse of Malfi." As
she had ended those words, the two Ruffians did put a coarde
about her neck, and strangled hir. The mayden seeing the pitious
Tragedy commensed vpon hir maystresse, cried out a maine,
cursing the cruell malice of those tormenters, and besought God
to be witnesse of the same, and crying out vpon his diuine
Maiesty, she humbly praied unto him to bend hys iudgement
agaynst them which causelesse (being no Magistrates,) had killed
so innocent creatures. "Reason it is" (sayd one of the Tyrants)
"that thou be partaker of thy maystresse innocency, sith thou
hast bene so faythfull a Minister, and messenger of hir fleshly
follies." And sodaynly caught hir by the hayre of the head, and
in steade of a Carcanet placed a roape about her necke. "How
nowe" (quoth shee,) "is this the promised fayth you made vnto my
lady?" But those words flew into the Ayre wyth hir Soule, in
company of the myserable Duchesse. And now hearken the most
sorowfull scene of all the Tragedy. The little Chyldren which
had seene all this furious game executed vpon their mother and
hir mayde, as nature prouoked them, or as some presage of their
myshap might leade them thereunto, kneeled vpon their knees
before those Tyrants, and embracinge their Legges, wayled in
sutch wyse, as I thinke that any other, except a pitilesse heart
spoyled of all humanity, would haue had compassion. And
impossible it was for them, to vnfolde the embracementes of
those innocent creatures, whych seemed to foreiudge their death
by Sauage lookes and Countenaunce of those Roysters: whereby I
think that needes it must be confessed, that nature hath in hir
selfe, and in vs imprinted some signe of diuination, and
specially at the Houre and tyme of death, so as the very beastes
doe feele some forewarninges, although they see neyther Sworde,
nor Staffe, and indeuoure to auoyde the cruell Passage of a
thynge so Fearefull, as the separation of two thynges so neerely
vnyted, euen the Body, and Soule, which for the motion that
chaunceth at the very instant, sheweth how narure is constrained
in that monstrous diuision, and more than horrible ouerthrow.
But who can appease a heart determined to worke mischief, and
hath sworne the death of another forced thereunto by some
special commaundment? The Aragon brethren ment hereby nothing
else, but to roote out the whole name and race of Bologna. And
therfore the two ministers of iniquity did like murder and
slaughter vpon those two tender babes, as they had done before
vpon their mother not without some motion of horror, for an act
so detestable. Behold here how far the cruelty of man extendeth,
when it coueteth nothing else but vengeance, and marke what
excessyue choler the mind of them produceth, whych suffer
themselues to be forced and ouerwhelmed with fury. Leaue we
apart the cruelty of Euchrates, the Sonne of the kinge of
Bactria, and of Phraates the Sonne of the Persian Prynce, of
Timon of Athenes, and of an infinit number of those which were
rulers and gouernors of the Empyre of Rome: and let vs match
with these Aragon brethren, one Vitoldus Duke of Lituania, the
cruelty of whom, constrained his own subiects to hang themselues
for feare leaste they should fall into his furious and bloudy
hands. We may confesse also these brutall brethren to be more
butcherly than euer Otho Erle of Monferrato, and prince of Vrbin
was, who caused a yeoman of his chamber to be wrapped in a
sheete poudred with sulpher and brimstone, and afterwards
kindled with a Candle, was scalded and consumed to death,
bicause he waked not at an hour by him appointed: let vs not
excuse them also from some affinity with Manfredus the sonne of
Henry the second emperor, who smoldered hys own father, being an
old man, between two Couerlets. These former furies might haue
some excuse to couer their cruelty, but these had no other color
but a certain beastly madnesse which moued them to kil those
litle Children their nephews, who by no means could preiudice or
anoy the Duke of Malfi or his title, in the succession of his
Duchie, the mother hauing withdrawen hir goods, and had her
dowrie assigned hir: but a wicked hart wrapt in malice must
nedes bring forth semblable workes. In the time of these murders
the infortunate Louer kept himself at Millan with his sonne
Frederick, and vowed himself to the Lord Siluio Sauello, who
that tyme besieged the Castell of Millan, in the behalf of
Maximilian Sforcia, which in the end he conquered and recouered
by composition wyth the French within. But that charge being
atchieued, the general Sauello marched from thence to Cremona
with hys Campe, whyther Bologna durst not folow, but repayred to
the Marquize of Britone, in whych tyme the Aragon brethren so
wroughte as hys goods were confiscate at Naples, and he dryuen
to hys shiftes to vse the Golden Duckates which the Duchesse
gaue him to relieue himselfe at Millan, whose Death althoughe it
were aduertised by many, yet hee could not be persuaded to
beleue the same, for that diuers which went about to betray him,
and feared he shoulde flie from Millan, kept his beake vnder the
water, (as the Prouerb is,) and assured him both of the Lyfe and
welfare of his Spouse, and that shortly his Brethren in law
would be reconciled because many Noble men fauored hym well, and
desired his returne home to hys countrey. Fed and filled with
that vaine hope, he remayned more than a yeare at Millan,
frequentyng good company, who was well entertayned of the
rychest marchaunts and best Gentlemen of the Cytye: and aboue
all other, he had famyliar accesse to the house of the Ladye
Hippolita Bentiuoglia, where vppon a Daye after Dynner, takyng
hys lute in hand, whereon he could exceedyngly well play, he
began to sing a sonnet, whych he had composed vppon the
discourse of hys mysfortune, the tenor whereof insueth.
_The Song of Antonio Bologna, the husband of the Duchesse of
Malfi._
If loue, the death, or tract of tyme, haue measured my distresse,
Or if my beatinge sorrowes may my languor well expresse:
Then loue come soone to visit me, which most my heart desires,
And so my dolor findes some ease, through flames of fansies fires.
The time runnes out his rollinge course, for to prolong myne ease,
To th' end I shall enioy my loue, and heart himselfe appease,
A cruell darte brings happy death, my soule then rest shall find:
And sleepinge body vnder Toumbe, shall dreame time out of mynde,
And yet the Loue, the Time, nor Death, lookes not how I decreace:
Nor geueth eare to any thinge, of this my wofull peace.
Full farre I am from my good hap, or halfe the ioye I craue,
Whereby I chaung my state wyth teares, and draw full neere my graue.
The courteous Gods that giues me lyfe, now mooues the Planets all:
For to arrest my groning ghost, and hence my sprite to call.
Yet from them still I am separd, by thinges vnequall heere,
Not ment the Gods may be vniust, that breedes my chaunging cheere.
For they prouide by their foresight, that none shall doe me harme:
But she whose blasing beauty bright, hath brought me in a charme.
My mistresse hath the powre alone, to rid me from this woe:
Whose thrall I am, for whom I die, to whom my sprite shall goe.
Away my soule, goe from the griefs, that thee oppresseth still,
And let thy dolor witnesse beare, how mutch I want my will.
For since that loue and death himselfe, delights in guiltlesse bloud,
Let time transport my troubled sprite, where destny seemeth good.
This song ended, the poor Gentleman could not forbeare from
pouring forth his luke warme Tears, which abundantly ran downe
his heauy Face, and his pantinge Sighes truly discouered the
alteration of his mynde, whych mooued ech wight of that assembly
to pitty his mournful State: and one specially of no
acquaintance, and yet knew the deuises that the Aragon Brethren
had trayned and contriued against hym: that vnacquaynted
gentleman his name was Delio, one very well learned, and of trim
inuention, who very excellently hath endited in the Italian
vulgar tongue. This Delio knowing the Gentleman to be husband to
the deceased Duchesse of Malfi, came vnto him, and taking him
aside, said: "Sir, albeit I haue no great acquaintance with you,
this being the first time that euer I saw you, to my
remembrance, so it is, that vertue hath sutch force, and maketh
gentle myndes so amorous of their like, as when they doe beholde
ech other, they feele themselues coupled as it were in a bande
of mindes, that impossible it is to diuide the same: now
knowinge what you be, and the good and commendable qualities in
you, I coumpt it my duty to reueale that which may chaunce to
breede you damage. Know you then, that I of late was in company
with a Noble man of Naples, whych is in this Citty, banded with
a certaine company of horsemen, who tolde mee that he had a
speciall charge to kill you, and therefore prayed me (as it
seemed) to require you not to come in his sight, to the intent
he might not be constrayned to doe that which should offend his
Conscience, and grieue the same all the dayes of his life:
moreouer I haue worse Tidinges to tell you: the Duchesse your
Wyfe deade by violent hand in prison, and the most part of them
that were in hir company: besides this assure your selfe, that
if you doe not take heede to that which this Neapolitane
Capitnyne hath differred, other wyll doe and execute the same.
This mutch I haue thought good to tell you, bicause it would
very mutch grieue me, that a Gentleman so excellent as you be,
should be murdered in that myserable wyse, and I should deeme my
selfe vnworthy of lyfe, if knowing these practises I should
dissemble the same." Whereunto Bologna aunswered: "Syr Delio,
I am greatly bound vnto you, and geue you hearty thankes for the
good will you beare me. But in the conspiracy of the brethren of
Aragon, and of the death of my lady, you be deceyued, and some
haue giuen you wrong intelligence: for within these two dayes I
receyued letters from Naples, wherein I am aduertised, that the
right honorable and reuerend Cardinal and his Brother be almost
appeased, and that my goods shall bee rendred agayne, and my
dear Wyfe restored." "Ah syr," sayde Delio, "how you be beguiled
and Fedde wyth Follyes, and nourished with sleights of Court:
assure your selfe that they which write these trifles, make
sutch shamefull sale of your lyfe, as the Butcher doth of his
flesh in the Shambles, and so wickedly betray you, as impossible
it is to inuent a treason more detestable: but bethinke you well
thereof." When he had sayd so, he tooke hys leaue, and ioyned
hymselfe in company of fine and pregnaunt Wyttes, there
assembled together. In the meane tyme, the cruell Spirite of the
Aragon Brethren were not yet appeased with the former murders,
but needes must finish the last act of Bologna hys Tragedy by
losse of hys Lyfe, to keepe hys Wyfe and Chyldren company, so
well in an other Worlde as he was vnited with them in Loue in
this frayle and transitory passage. The Neapolitan gentleman
before spoken of by Delio, whych had taken this enterprise to
satissie the barbarous Cardinall to berieue his Countreyman of
lyfe, hauinge chaunged his mynde, and differring from day to day
to sorte the same to effect, it chaunced that a Lombarde of
larger Conscience than the other, inueigled with Couetousnesse,
and hired for ready Money, practised the death of the Duchesse
poore husband: this bloudy beaste was called Daniel de Bozola
that had charge of a certayne bande of footemen in Millan. Thys
newe Iudas and pestilent manqueller, who wythin certayne dayes
after knowinge that Bologna oftentymes Repayred to heare Seruice
at the Church and conuent of S. Fraunces, secretly conueyed
himself in ambush, hard besides the church of S. Iames, (being
accompanied wyth a certayne troupe of Souldiers) to assayle
infortunate Bologna, who was sooner slayne than hee was able to
thinke vpon defence, and whose mishap was sutch, as hee whych
kylled hym had good leysure to saue himselfe by reason of the
little pursuite made after hym. Beholde heere the Noble fact of
a Cardinall, and what sauer it hath of Christian purity, to
commit a slaughter for a fact done many yeares past vpon a poore
Gentleman which neuer thought him hurt. Is thys the sweete
obseruation of the Apostles, of whom they vaunt themselues to be
the Successours and followers? And yet we cannot finde nor
reade, that the Apostles, or those that stept in their trade of
lyfe, hyred Ruffians, and Murderers to cut the Throates of them
which did them hurt. But what? it was in the tyme of Iulius the
second, who was more martiall than Christian, and loued better
to shed bloud than giue blessing to the people. Sutch ende had
the infortunate mariage of him, whych ought to haue contented
himselfe wyth that degree and honor that he had acquired by the
deedes and glory of his vertues, so mutch by ech wight
recommended: we ought neuer to climb higher than our force
permitteth, ne yet surmount the bounds of duty, and lesse suffer
our selues to be haled fondly forth with desire of brutal
sensuality. Which sinne is of sutch nature, that he neuer giueth
ouer the party whom he maystereth, vntil he hath brought him to
the shame of some Notable Folly. You see the miserable discourse
of a Princesse loue, that was not very wyse, and of a Gentleman
that had forgotten his estate, which ought to serue for a
lookinge Glasse to them which bee ouer hardy in makinge
Enterprises, and doe not measure their Ability wyth the
greatnesse of their Attemptes: where they ought to mayntayne
themselues in reputation, and beare the title of well aduised:
foreseeing their ruine to be example for all posterity, as may
bee seene by the death of Bologna, and by all them which sprang
of him, and of his infortunate Spouse his Lady and Maistresse.
But we haue discoursed inough hereof, sith diuersity of other
hystories do call vs to bring the same in place, which were not
mutch more happy than the bloudy end of those, whose Hystory ye
haue already heard.
THE TWENTY-FOURTH NOUELL.
_The disordered Lyfe of the Countesse of Celant, and how shee
(causinge the County of Masino to be murdered,) was beheaded
at Millan._
Not wythout good cause of long tyme haue the wyse, and discrete,
Prudently gouerned their Children, and taken great heede ouer
their Daughters, and those also whom they haue chosen to bee
their Wyues, not in vsing them lyke Bondwomen, and Slaues, to
beereiue them of all Liberty, but rather to auoyde the murmur,
and secrete slaunderous Speach of the common people, and
occasions offred for infection, and marrying of Youth, specially
circumspect of the assaultes bent agaynst Maydens, being yet in
the firste flames of fire, kindled by nature in the hearts, yea
of those that be the wysest, and best brought vp. Some doe deeme
it very straunge, that solempne Guard bee obserued ouer those
which ought to lyue at lyberty, and doe consider how lyberty and
the bridle of Lycence let slip vnto Youth, they breede vnto the
same most strong and tedious Bondage, that better it had bene
for youth to haue beene chayned, and closed in obscure Pryson,
than marked wyth those blottes of infamy, which Sutch Lycence
and Lyberty doe conduce. If England doe not by experience see
Maydens of Noble Houses Infamed through to mutch vnbrideled,
and frank maner of Lyfe, and their Parents desolate for sutch
villanyes, and the name of their houses become Fabulous and
Ridiculous to the people: surely that manner of Espiall and
watch ouer Children, may be noted in Nations not very farre
conuening from vs, where men be Ielous of the very Fantasie of
them, whom they think to be indued with great vertues, and of
those that dare with their very Lookes geue attaynt, to behold
their Daughters: but where examples be euident, where all the
World is assured of that which they see by daily experience,
that the fruicts of the disordered, breake out into light,
it behooueth no more to attend the daungerous customes of
Countreyes, to condescend to the sottish Opinions of those,
whych say that youth to narrowly looked vnto, is trayned vp in
sutch grosenesse, and blockishnesse of spyrite, as impossible it
is afterwardes the same shoulde do any thinge prayse worthy.
The Romayne maydens whilom were Cloystered within their Fathers
Pallaces, still at their Mothers Elbowes, and notwithstanding
were so wel brought vp, that those of best ciuility and finest
trained vp in our age, shall not be the seconde to one of the
least perfect in the Citty. But who can learne ciuility and
vertue in these our dayes? our Daughters nousled in companies,
whose mouthes run ouer with Whorish and filthy talke, wyth
behauiour full of Ribauldry, and many fraughted wyth facts lesse
honest than Speach is able to expresse. I doe not pretend
heereby to depriue that sexe of honest and seemely talke, and
company, and leste of exercise amonges the Noble Gentlemen of
our Englyshe Soyle, ne yet of the Liberty receyued from our
Auncestours, only (me thyncke) that requisite it were to
contemplate the manners and inclination of wils, and refrayne
those that be prone to wantonnesse, and by lyke meanes to
reioyce the mindes of them that be bent to heauinesse, deuided
from curtefie and Ciuility, by attendinge of whych choyse, and
considering of that difference, impossible it is but vertue must
shyne more bright in Noble houses than homelynesse in Cabanes of
Pesauntes, and Countrey Carles: who oftentymes better obserue
the Discipline of our Predecessours in education of their
Chyldren, than they which presume to prayse themselues for good
skil in vse and gouernment of that age, more troublesome and
payneful to rule, than any other wythin the compasse of man's
lyfe. Therefore the good and wise Emperour Marcus Aurelius would
not haue his Daughters to be trayned vp in Courts. "For
(quod he) what profit shall the Nurse receyue by learning hir
mayden honesty and vertue, when our workes intice them to
daliaunce and vice, apprehending the folly of those that bee
amorous?" I make this discourse, not that I am so rigorous a
Iudge for our maydens of England, but that I wish them so
reformed, as to see and be seene should be forbidden, as assured
that vertue in what place so euer she be, cannot but open things
that shall fauor of hir excellency. And now to talke of an
Italian Dame, who so long as hir first husband (knowing hir
inclination) kept hir subiect, liued in reputation of a modest
and sober wyfe. Nothing was seene in hir that could defame hir
renoume. But so soone as the shadow of that free captiuity was
made free by the death of hir husband, God knoweth what pageant
she played, and how shee soyled both hir owne reputation, and
the honour of hir second Mate, as yee shall vnderstande if with
pacience yee vouchsafe to reade the discourse of thys present
Hystory. Casal, (as it is not vnknowen) is a Citty of Piedmont,
and subiect to the Marquize of Montferrato, where dwelled one
that was very rich, although of base birth, named Giachomo
Scappardone, who being growne wealthy, more by wicked art, and
vsury, to mutch manifest, than by his owne diligence, toke to
Wife a yong Greeke mayden, which the Marchiones of Montferrato
mother of Marquize Guglielmo, had brought home wyth hir from the
voyage that shee made into Grætia wyth hir husbande, when the
Turkes ouerran the countrey of Macedonia, and seased vpon the
Citty of Modena which is in Morea. Of that mayden Scapperdone
had a Daughter indifferent fayre, and of behauiour liuely and
pleasaunt, called Bianca Maria. The Father dyed wythin a while
after hir birth, as one that was of good yeares, and had bin
greatly turmoyled in getting of riches, whose value amounted
about one Hundred Thousand Crownes. Bianca Maria arriued to the
age of sixteene, or seuenteene yeares, was required of many,
aswell for hir Beauty, Gentlenes, and good grace, as for her
goods, and riches. In the ende she was maried to the Vicecount
Hermes, the Sonne of one of the chiefest Houses in Millan, who
incontinently after the mariage, conueyed hir home to hys house,
leauing his Greeke mother to gouerne the vsuries gotten by hir
dead husband. The Gentleman which amongs two greene, knew one
that was ripe, hauing for a certayne tyme well knowen, and
learned the maners of hys Wyfe, saw that it behooued hym rather
to deale wyth the Bit and brydle than the spur, for that she was
wanton, full of desire, and coueted nothing so mutch as fond and
disordered liberty, and therefore without cruell dealing,
disquiet, or trouble, hee vsed by little and little to keepe hir
in, and cherished hir more than his nature willingly would
suffer, of purpose to holde hir wythin the boundes of duty. And
although the Millan Dames haue almost like lyberties that ours
haue, yet the Lord Hermes kept hir wythin Dores, and suffred hir
to frequent none other house and company, but the Lady Hippolita
Sforcia, who vppon a day demaunded of him wherefore hee kept in
his wyfe so short, and persuaded hym to geue her somewhat more
the Brydle, bicause diuers already murmured of this order, as to
strayte and Frowarde, esteeming hym eyther to be to mutch fond
ouer hir, or else to Jealous. "Madame," sayde the Millanoise,
"they whych at pleasure so speake of me, know not yet the nature
of my Wyfe, who I had rather should be somewhat restrayned, than
run at Rouers to hir dishonour, and my shame. I remember wel
madame the proper saying of Paulus Emilius that notable Romane:
who being demauned wherefore he had put away his Wyfe being a
Gentlewoman so fayre and beautifull. 'O,' quod he and lifted vp
his leg {(}whereupon was a new payre of Buskins) 'yee see this
fayre Buskin, meete and seemely for this Leg to outward
apparance not greeuous or noysome, but in what place it hurteth
me, or where it wringeth yee doe neyther see nor yet feele.{'}
So I, madame, do feele in what place my Hoase doeth hurt and
wring my Legge. I know madame what it is to graunt to so wanton
a dame as my Wyfe is, hir will, and how farre I ought to slip
the rayne: iealous I am not vpon the fayth I beare vnto God,
but I feare what may chaunce vnto me. And by my trouth, madame,
I geeue her Lycence to repayre to you both Day and Nyght,
at whatsoeuer hour you please, being assured of the vertuous
company that haunteth your house: otherwyse my Pallace shall
suffyce hir pleasure for the common ioy of vs both, and
therefore I wish no more talk hereof, least too importunate
suites do offend my nature, and make me thinke that to be true
whych of good will I am loth to suspect, contenting my selfe
with hir Chastity, for feare least to mutch liberty do corrupt
hir." These words were not spoken wythout cause, for the wyse
husband saw wel that sutch beasts, albeit rudely they ought not
to be vsed, yet stifly to be holden short, and not suffred too
mutch to wander at will. And verily his prophecy was to true for
respect of that which followed: who had not bene maried full
VI. yeares, but the Vicecount Hermes departed thys
World, whereof she was very sory bycause she loued him derely,
hauing as yet not tasted the licorous baites of sutch liberty,
as afterwards she drank in gluttonous draughts, when after hir
husband's obsequies, she retired to Montferrato, and then to
Casal to hir Father's house, hir mother being also dead, and she
a lone woman to ioy at pleasure the fruict of hir desires,
bendinge hir only study to gay and trimme Apparell, and imployed
the mornings with the vermilion rud to colour hir cheekes by
greater curiosity than the most shamelesse Curtisan of Rome,
fixing hir eyes vppon ech man, gyring, and laughing with open
mouth, and pleasantly disposed to talk and reason with euery
Gentleman that passed by the streate. This was the way to
attayne the glorious feast of hir triumphant filthines, who wan
the prise aboue the most famous women whych in hir tyme made
profession of those armes, wherewith Venus once dispoyled Mars,
and toke from him the strongest and best steeled armure of all
his furniture. Thinck not fayre maydes, that talk and clattering
with youth is of small regarde. For a Citty is halfe won when
they within demaunde for parle, as loth to indure the Canon
shot. So when the eare of yong Wyfe or mayde is pliant to
lasciuious talk, and deliteth in wanton words, albeit hir
chastity receyue no damage, yet occasion of speach is ministred
to the people, and perchaunce wyth sutch disaduantage, as neuer
after hir good name is recouered. Wherefore needefull it is,
not only to auoyde the effect of euill, but also the least
suspition: for good fame is requisite for the Woman, as honest
lyfe. The great Captain Iulius Cæsar, (which first of al reduced
the common wealth of Rome in fourme of monarchie) beinge once
demaunded wherefore hee hadde refused hys Wyfe before it was
proued that she had offended with Clodius, the night of the
sacrifices done to the Goddesse Bona, answered so wysely as
truely, that the house of Cæsar ought not onely to be voyde of
whordome but of suspition therof. Behold therfore what I haue
sayd, and yet doe say againe, that ye oughte to take greate
heede to youre selues, and to laugh in tyme, not reclinyng your
eares to vncomely talke, but rather to follow the nature of the
Serpent, that stoppeth his eare with his tayle, to auoide the
charms and sorceries of the Enchaunter. Now this Bianca Maria
was sued vnto, and pursued of many at Casall that desired hir to
Wyfe, and amonges the rest two did profer themselues, which were
the Lord Gismondo Gonzaga, the neere kinsman of the Duke of
Mantua, and the Counte of Celant, a great Baron of Sauoy, whose
landes lie in the vale of Agosta. A great pastyme it was to thys
fyne Gentlewoman to feede hir self wyth the Orations of those
two Lordes and a ioye it was to hir, to vse her owne discourse
and aunswers expressinge with right good grace sundry amorous
countenances, intermingling therwithall sighes, sobbes, and
alteration of cheere, that full well it might haue bene sayde,
of loue trickes that shee was the only dame and mistresse. The
Marchyonesse of Montferrato desirous to gratify the Lord of
Mantua his sonne in law, endeuored to induce this wanton Lady to
take for spouse Gismondo Gonzaga, and the sute so well
proceeded, as almost the mariage had bene concluded if the Sauoy
Earle had not come betwixte, and shewed forth his Noblenesse of
minde, when he vnderstode how things did passe, and that another
was ready to beare away the pryse, and recouer his mistresse.
For that cause he came to visit the Lady, who intertayned him
wel, as of custom she did al other. And for that he would not
employe hys tyme in vayne, when he founde hir alone and at
conuenyent leysure, began to preache vnto hir in thys wyse with
sutch countenaunce, as she perceyued the Counte to be far in
loue with hir.
_The Oration of the Counte of Celant to his Ladye._
"I am in doubt Madame, of whome chiefly I ought to make
complaynt, whether of you, or of my selfe, or rather of fortune
which guideth and bryngeth us together. I see wel that you
receiue some wrong, and that my cause is not very iust, you
taking no regarde vnto my passion which is outragious, and lesse
hearkeninge vnto my request that so many times I haue giuen you
to vnderstand onely grounded vpon the Honest loue I beare you.
But I am besides this more to be accused for suffering an other
to marche so far over my game and soyle, as I haue almost lost
the tracte of the pray after which I most desire, and specially
doe condemne my Fortune, for that I am in daunger to lose the
thyng which I deserue, and you in peryll to passe into that
place where your captiuity shalbe worse than the slaues by the
Portugales condemned to the mines of India. Doeth it not suffise
you that the Lord Hermes closed you vp the space of V.
or VI. yeares in his Chamber, but wil you nedes attempt
the rest of your youthly daies amid the Mantuanes, whose
suspicious heads are ful of hammers working in the same? Better
it were madame, that we approchynge neerer the gallante guise of
Fraunce, should live after the lyberty of that Countrey, than
bee captiue to an Italian house, whych wyll restrain you with
like bondage, as at other tymes you have felt the experience.
Moreover ye see what opinion is like to be conceiued of you,
when it shalbe bruted that for the Marquize feare, you haue
maried the Mantuan Lord. And I know well that you like not to be
esteemed as a pupil, your nature cannot abyde compulsion, you be
free from hir authority, it were no reason you should be
constrained. And not to stay in framing of orations, or stand
vpon discourse of Words, I humbly beseche you to behold the
constant loue I beare you, and being a Gentleman so Wealthy as I
am, none other cause induceth me to make this sute, but your
good grace and bryngynge vp, whych force me to loue you aboue
any other Gentlewoman that liueth. And althoughe I myghte
alleage other reasons to proue my saying, yet referre I my self
to the experience and bounty of youre mynd, and to the equity of
your Iudgement. If my passion were not vehement, and my torment
without comparison, I would wish my fained griefs to be laughed
to scorne, and my dissembled payne rewarded with flouts. But my
loue being sincere and pure, my trauail continuall, and my
griefs endlesse, for pity sake I beseche you madame to consider
my faithfull deserts with your duetiful curtesie, and then shall
you see how mutch I ought to be preferred before them, which
vnder the shadow of other mens puissance, do seke to purchase
power to commaund you: where I do faithfully bynd and tye my
word and deede continually to loue and serue you, wyth promyse
al the dayes of my Lyfe to accomplish your commaundements.
Beholde if it please you what I am, and with what affection I
make mine humble playnt, regard the Messanger, loue it is
himself that holdeth me within your snares, and maketh mee
captyue to your beauty and gallant graces, which haue no piere.
But if you refuse my sute, and cause me breath my words into the
aire, you shalbe accused of cruelty, ye shall see the entier
defaict of a gentleman which loueth you better than loue
himselfe is able to yelde flame and fire to force any wight to
loue mortal creature. But, verily, I beleue the heauens haue
departed in me sutch aboundance, to the intent in louyng you
with vehemence so greate, you may also thinke that it is I which
ought to be the Friend and spouse of that gentle and curteous
Lady Bianca Maria, which alone may cal her self the mistresse of
my Heart." The Ladye whych before was mocked and flouted wyth
the Counte his demaunds, hearing thys laste discourse, and
remembring his first mariage, and the natural iealosie of
Italyans, half wonne, without making other countenance, answered
the Counte in thys manner: "Syr counte, albeyt that I am
obedyente to the wyll and commaundemente of madame the
Marchyonesse, and am loth to dysplease hir, yet wil I not so
farre gage my lybertye, but still reserue one poynt to saye what
reasteth in my thoughte. And what shoulde lette me to chose
sutch one, to whome I shalbe both his life and death? And
whereof beinge once possed, it is impossyble to be rid and
acquited? I assure you, if I feared not the speach and suspition
of malycious mindes, and the venime of slaunderous Tongues,
neuer husband should bryng me more to bondage. And if I thought
that he whom I pretend to chose, would be so cruel to me, as
others whom I know, I would presently refuse mariage for euer.
I thanke you neuerthelesse, both of your aduertisements giuen
me, and of the honor you doe me, your self desiryng to
accomplish that honor by maryage to be celebrated betweene vs.
For the fidelity of which your talke, and the little
dissimulation I see to be in you, I promise you that there is no
gentleman in this countrey to whom I giue more puissance ouer
me, than to you, if I chaunce to mary, and thereof make you so
good assurance, as if it were already done." The Counte seeing
so good an entry would not suffer the tyme to slip, but beating
the Bushes vntill the praye was ready to spryng, replyed: "And
sith you know (madame) what thing is profitable, and what is
hurtfull, and that the benefite of lyberty is so mutch
recommended, why doe you not performe the thinge that may
redounde to your honor? Assure mee then of your word, and
promise me the faith and loyaltie of maryage, then let me alone
to deale wyth the rest, for I hope to attayn the effect without
offense and displeasure of any." And seeing hir to remaine in a
muse without speaking word, he toke hir by the hand and kissing
the same a million of tymes, added these Words: "How now,
madame, be you appalled for so pleasaunt an assault, wherin your
aduersary confesseth himselfe to be vanquished? Courage, madame,
I say courage, and beholde him heere which humbly praieth you to
receiue him for your lawfull husband, and who sweareth vnto you
all sutch amitye and reuerence that husband oweth to hys loyall
spouse." "Ah, syr Counte," sayd she, "and what wyll the Marquize
say, vnto whom I haue wholly referred my self for mariage? shal
not she haue iust occasion to frowne vppon mee, and frowardly to
vse me for little respect I beare vnto hir? God be my witnesse
if I would not that Gonzaga had neuer come into this countrey:
for although I loue him not, yet I haue almost made him a
promyse, which I can not kepe." "And sith there is nothing don,"
(said the Sauoy Lord) "what nede you to torment your selfe? wyl
the Marquize wrecke hir tyrannie ouer the will of hir subiectes,
and force Ladyes of hir Lande to marie againste their luste?
I thinke that so wyse a princesse, and so well nurtured, will
not so far forget hir self, as to straine that which God hath
left at lyberty to euerye wight: promise me onely maryage and
leaue me to deale wyth the rest: other thynges shalbe wel
prouided for." Bianca Maria vanquished with that importunity,
and fearing againe to fal into seruytude, hoping that the Counte
would mainteine sutch liberty as he had assured, agreed vnto hym
and plyghted vnto him her faithe, and for the tyme vsed mutuall
promises by wordes respectiuely one to another: and the better
to confirme the fact, and to let the knotte from breakyng, they
bedded themselues togethers. The Counte very ioyfull for that
encountre, yelded sutch good beginning by his countenance, and
by Famyliar and continuall haunte with Bianca Maria, as shortly
after the matter was knowen and came to the Marquesse eares,
that the Daughter of Scappardone had maryed the Counte of
Celant. The good lady albeit that shee was wroth beyond measure,
and willingly would haue ben reuenged vpon the bride, yet hauing
respect to the Counte, which was a noble man of great authority,
swallowed down that pille wythout chewing, and prayed the Lord
Gonzaga not to be offended, who seing the light behauiour of the
Ladie, laughed at the matter, and praysed God for that the thing
was so wel broken off: and he did foresee already what issue
that Comedye would haue, beynge very famylyar for certayne Dayes
in the House of Bianca Maria. Thys maryage then was publyshed,
and the solempnity of the Nuptyals were done very pryncely,
accordyng to the Nobylity of hym whych had maryed hir: but the
augurie and presage was heauy, and the melancholike face of the
season (which was obscured and darkened about the time they
should go to church) declared that the mirth and ioy should not
long continue in the house of the counte, according to the
common saying: _He that loketh not before he leapeth, may
chaunce to stumble before he sleepeth_. For the lord of Celant
being retird home to his valeys of the Sauoy mountains, began to
loke about his businesse, and perceiued that his wife surpassed
al others in light behauiour and vnbrideled desires, whereuppon
hee resolued to take order and stop hir passage before she had
won the field, and that frankly she should goe seke hir ventures
where shee list, if she would not be ruled by his aduise. The
foolish Countesse seeing that hir husband well espied hir fond
and foolysh behauior, and that wisely he went about to remedy
the same, was no whit astonied, or regarded his aduise, but
rather by forging complaints did cast him in the teeth sometymes
with hir riches that she brought him, sometime with those whom
she had refused for his sake, and with whom farre of she liued
lyke a sauage creature amid the mountaine deserts and baren
dales of Sauoy, and tolde him that by no meanes she minded to be
closed and shut vp like a tamelesse beast. The Counte which was
wyse, and would not breake the Ele vppon his knee, prouidently
admonished hir in what wise a Ladye ought to esteeme hir honor,
and how the lightest faults of Noble sorts appeare mortal sinnes
before the world: and that it was not sufficient for a
Gentlewoman to haue hir body chast, if hir speach were not
according, and the minde correspondent to that outward
semblance, and the conseruation agreable to the secret
conceiptes of Mynd: "And I shall be ful sory swete Wife" (sayd
the Counte) "to giue you cause of discontent: for wher you
shalbe vexed and molested, I shall receiue no ioy or pleasure,
you being [such one as ought to be the second my self,
determining] by God's grace to keepe my promise, and vse you
like a wyfe, if so be you regard me with duety semblable: for
reason will not that the head obey the members, if they shew not
themselues to be sutch as depend vpon the health and life of it.
The husband being the Wyue's chiefe, ought to be obeyd in that
which reason forbiddeth: and shee referring hir selfe to the
pleasure of hir head, forceth him to whom she is adioyned, to do
and assay all trauayle and payne for hir sake. Of one thinge I
must needes accuse you, which is, that for trifles you frame
complaynt: for the mynde occupied in folly, lusteth for nothinge
more than vayne things, and those that be of little profite,
specially where the pleasure of the Bodye is onely considered:
where if it follow reason, it dissembleth his griefes with
wordes of wysedome, and in knowing mutch, fayneth
notwithstanding a subtile and honest ignoraunce: but I may bee
mutch deceyued herein, by thinking that a Woman fraught with
fickle Opinions may recline her eares to what so euer thing,
except to that whych deliteth hir mynde, and pleaseth the
desires framed wyth in hir foolyshe fantasie. Let not thys
speach be straunge vnto you, for your woordes vttered without
discretion, make me vse thys language: finally (good madame) you
shall shew your selfe a Wyse and louing wyfe, if by takinge
heede to my requests, you faythfully follow the advise thereof."
The Countesse whych was so fine and malicious as the Earle was
good and wyse, dissembling her griefe, and coueringe the venome
hidden in hir mynde, began so well to play the hypocrite before
hir husbande, and to counterfayte the simple Dame, as albeit he
was right politike, yet he was within hir Snare intrapt, who
flattered him wyth so fayre Wordes, as she won him to goe to
Casal, to visite the lands of hir Inheritaunce. We see whereunto
the intent of this false Woman tended, and what checkmate she
ment to geue both to hir husband, and hir honour: whereby we
know that when a woman is disposed to giue hir selfe to
wickednesse, hir mynde is voyd of no malyce or inuention to sort
to ende any daunger or perill offered vnto hir. The factes of
one Medea (if credite may be gieuen to Poets) and of Phædra, the
Woman of Theseus, wel declare with what beastly zeale they began
and finished their attempts: the eagles flight is not so high,
as the Foolyshe desires, and Conceiptes of a Woman that trusteth
in hir owne opinion, and treadeth out of the tract of duety, and
way of Wysedome. Pardon me, good Ladies, if I speake so largely,
and yet think not that I mean to display any other but sutch, as
forget the degree wherin their Auncestours haue placed them,
and whych digresse from the true path of those that haue
immortalized the memory of themselues, of their husbands, and of
the houses also whereof they came. I am very lothe to take vppon
mee the office of a slaunderer, and no lesse do mean to flatter
those, whom I see to their great shame, offende openly in the
sight of the worlde: but why should I dyssemble that which I
know your selues would not conceyle, yf in conscyence yee were
requyred? It were extreame follye to decke and clothe vice wyth
the holy garment of Vertue, and to call that Curtesie and
Ciuylity, whych is manyfest whoredom and Trechery: let vs terme
ech thyng by his due Name, and not deface that whych of it selfe
is faire and pure: let vs not also staine the renoume of those,
whom their own Vertue do recommende. This gentle Countesse
beeing at Casal, making mutch of hir husbande, and kissing him
with the kisse of treason, and of him being vnfainedly beloued
and cherished, not able to forget his sermons, and mutch lesse
hir own filthy lyfe, seeyng that with hir Counte it was
impossyble for hir to liue and glut her lecherous lust,
determined to runne away and seeke hir aduenture: for the
brynging to passe wherof she had already taken order for money,
the interest wherof growing to hir daily profite at Millan:
and hauynge leuied a good summe of Ducates in hande, vntyll hir
other rents were ready, she fled away in the night in companye
of certayne of hir men which were priuie to her doeings. Hir
retire was to Pauie, a City subiecte to the state and Duchy of
Millan, where she hired a pryncely pallace, and apparelled the
same according to hir estate and Trayne of hir husband, and as
her owne reuenue was able to beare. I leaue for you to thinke
what buzzings entred the Counte's head, by the sodayne flight of
his wife, who would haue sent and gone him selfe after to seke
hir out, and bryng hir home againe, had he not well considered
and wayed his owne profite and aduantage, who knowing that hir
absence would rid out of his head a fardell of suspitions which
he before conceiued, was in the ende resolued to lette hir
alone, and suffer hir remaine in what place so euer she was
retired, and whence hee neuer minded to cal hir home agayne.
"I were a very foole," (said he) "to keepe in my House so
pernicious and fearfull an enimy, as that arrant whore is, who
one day before I beware will cause some of hir ruffians to cut
my throte, besides the Vyolatyon of hir holye Maryage Bed: God
defende that sutch a Strumpet by hir presence should any longer
profane the house of the Lord of Celant, who is well rewarded
and punished for the exessiue loue whych he bare hir: let hir
goe whether shee list, and lyue a God's name at hir ease, I do
content my self in knowing what Women be able to do, wythout
further attempt of fortune or other proofe of hir wycked Lyfe."
He added further, that the honor of so Noble a personage as he
was, depended not upon a woman's mischief: and assure your selfe
the whole race of woman kind was not spared by the Counte,
against whom he then inueyed more through rage than reason,
he considered not the honest sort of women, which deface the
vyllany of those that giue themselues ouer to theyr own lusts,
wythout regarde of modesty and shame, which oughte to be
Famylyar, as it were by a certain Naturall inclynatyon in all
degrees of Women and Maydens. But come we again to Bianca Maria,
holding now hir Courte and open house at Pauie, wher she got so
holy a fame, as mistresse Lais of Corinth did, whose trumprie
was neuer more common in Asia than that of this fayre dame,
almost in euery corner of Italy, and whose conuersation was
sutch as hir frank liberty and famyliar demeanor to ech wyghte,
well witnessed hir horryble Lyfe. True it was that her
reputatyon ther was very smal, and she hired not hir selfe,
ne yet toke pains by setting hir body to sale, but for some
resonable gayne and earnest pain: howbeit she (of whom somtimes
the famous Greke orator would not buy repentaunce for so high a
pryce) was more excessiue in Sale of hir Merchaundyse, but not
more wanton: for she no sooner espyed a comely Gentleman that
was youthly, and well made, but would presently shew him so good
countenance, as he had ben a very foole, that knewe not what
prouender this Colt did neigh: whose shamelesse Gesture
Massalina the Romane princesse dyd neuer surmount, except it
were in that shee visited and haunted common houses: and this
dame vsed hir disports wythin hir owne, the other also receiued
indyfferently Carters, Galleye slaues, and Porters: and thys
halfe Greeke did hir pastyme wyth Noble Men that were braue and
lustye: but in one thing shee well resembled hir, whych was,
that Messalina was soner wearye with trauayle, than she
satisfied with pleasure and the filthy vse of hir body, like
vnto a sink that receyueth al filth, wythout disgorgyng any
throwne into the same: this was the chaste lyfe which that good
Lady led, after she had taken flight from hir husband. Marke now
whether the Milanois that was hir first husbande, were a grosse
headed person or a foole, and whither hee were not learned and
skilful in the science of Phisiognomy, and time for him to make
ready the rods to make hir know hir duety, therwith to correct
hir wanton youth, and to cut of the lusty twigs and proud
sciences that soked the moisture and hart of the stock and
braunches. It chaunced whiles she liued at Pauie, in this good
and honorable port, the Counte of Massino called Ardizzino
Valperga came to the Emperour's service, and therby made hys
abode at Pauie with one of his brothers: the Counte being a
goodly Gentleman young and gallant in apparel, giuen to many
good quallities had but one onely fault, which was a mayme in
one of his legges, by reason of a certain aduenture and blow
receiued in the warres, although the same toke away no part of
his comelinesse and fyne behauyor. The Counte I say, remaining
certayne days at Pauie beheld the beauty and singularity of the
Countesse of Celant, and stayed with sutch deuotion to view and
gaze vpon hir, as manye times he romed vp and down the streate
wherein she dwelt to find meanes to speak vnto hir. His first
talke was but a _Bon iour_: and simple salutation, sutch as
gentlemen commonly vse in company of Ladies, and at the firste
brunte Valperga coulde settle none other iudgement vpon that
Goddesse, but that she was a wise and honest dame, and yet sutch
one as needed not the Emperor's camp to force the place, which
as he thought was not so well flanked and rampired but that a
good man of Armes myght easily winne, and the breache so liuely
and sautable, as any souldier might passe the same: he became so
famyliar with the Lady, and talked with hir so secretly, as vpon
a day being with hir alone, hee courted in this wise: "Were not
I of all men moste blame worthy, and of greatest folly to be
reproued, so long time to be acquainted with a Lady so faire and
curteous as you be, and not to offre my seruice life and goodes
to be disposed where you pleased? I speake not thys, Madame, for
any euil and sinister iudgement that I conceyue of you, for that
I prayse and esteeme you aboue any Gentlewoman that euer I knew
til this day, but rather for that I am so wonderfully attached
with your good graces, as wrong I should doe vnto your honor and
my loyal seruice towards you, if I continued dumbe, and did
conceyle that whych incessantly would consume my heart with
infynyte numbre of ardent desyres, and wast myne intrailes for
the extreame and burning loue I beare you. I do require you to
put no credite in me, if I refuse what it shall please you to
commaund me: wherfore Madame, I humbly besech you to accepte me
for your owne, and to fauor me as sutch one, whych with all
fidelity hopeth to passe hys time in your company." The
Countesse although she knew ful wel that the fire was not so
liuely kindled in the stomacke of the Counte as hee wente aboute
to make hir beleue, and that his wordes were to eloquent, and
countenance to ioyfull for so earnest a louer as hee semed to
be, at thys first incountry: yet for that he was a valiant
Gentleman, yong, lusty, and strongly made, minded to retaine
him, and for a tyme to staye hir stomacke by appeasying hir
gluttonous appetite in matters of loue, with a morsell so
dainty, as was thys Mynion and lustye young Lorde: and when the
Courage of hym began to coole, another shoulde enter the listes.
And therefore she aunswered hym in thys wise: "Although I
(knowying the vse and manners of men, and with what Baits they
Hoke for Ladies, if they take not heede, hauing proued their
malice and little loue,) determined neuer to loue other than
mine affection, ne yet to fauoure Man excepte it bee by shewyng
some Familiar manner to heare theyr talke, and for pastime to
hearken the braue requests of those which say they burne for
loue, in the mids of some delyghtsome brooke. And albeit I think
you no better than other bee, ne more fayhfully, more
affectyonate, or otherwyse moued than the rest, yet I am
contente for respecte of youre honoure, somewhat to beeleue you
and to accepte you for myne owne, sith your dyscretyon is sutch
(I truste) as so Noble a Gentleman as you bee, wyll hym selfe
declare in those Affayres, and when I see the effecte of my hope
succeede, I cannot be so vnkynde, but wyth all honesty shall
assaye to satisfy that your loue." The Countee seeing hir alone,
and receyuing the Ladie's language for his aduantage, and that
hir countenance by alteration of hir minde did ad a certayne
beauty to hir face, and perceyuing a desire in hir that he
should not vse delay, or be to squeimish, she demaunding naught
else but execucion, tooke the present offred time, forgetting
all ceremonies, and reuerence, he embraced hir and kissed hir a
Hundred Thousande tymes. And albeit shee made a certayne simple
and prouoking resistance, yet the louer notinge them to be but
preparatiues for the sport of loue, he strayed from the bounds
of honesty, and threw her vppon a fielde Bed wythin the Chambre,
where hee solaced hymselfe wyth hys long desired suite. And
finding hir worthy to be beloued, and she him a curteous
gentleman, consulted together for continuaunce of their amity,
in sutch wise as the Lorde Ardizzino spake no more but by the
mouth of Bianca Maria, and dyd nothynge but what she commaunded,
being so bewrapped wyth the heauy Mantell of hir Beastly Loue,
as hee still abode nyght and day in the house of his beloued:
whereby the brute was noysed throughout the Citty, and the
songes of their Loue more common in ech Citizen's mouth, than
Stanze or Sonnettes of Petrarch, Played and Fayned vpon the
Gittrone, Lute, or Lyra, more fine and witty than those vnsauery
Ballets that be tuned and chaunted in the mouthes of the common
sort. Beholde an Earle well serued, and dressed by enioying so
false a Woman, which had already falsified the fayth betrouthed
to hir husband, who was more honest, milde, and vertuous than
she deserued. Beholde also, yee Noble Gentlemen, the simplicity
of this good Earle, how it was deceyued by a false and filthy
strumpet, whose stincking lyfe and common vse of body woulde
haue withdrawen ech simple creature from mixture of their owne
wyth sutch a Carrion. A lesson to learne al youth to refrayne
the Whoorishe lookes of lighte conditioned Dames, a number (the
more to be pittied) shewinge foorth themselues to the Portsale
of euery Cheapener, that list demaunde the pryce, the grozenes
whereof before considered, were worthy to be defied and loathed.
This Ladye seeinge her Louer nousled in hir lust, dandled him
with a thousand trumperyes, and made hym holde the Mule, while
other enioyed the secrete sporte which earst hee vsed hymself.
This acquayntance was so dangerous to the Counte, as she hir
selfe was shamelesse to the Counte of Celant: for the one bare
the armes of Cornwall, and became a seconde Acteon, and the
other wickedly led his lyfe, and lost the chiefest of that hee
loked for by the seruice of great Princes, throughe the treason
of an arrante common queane. Whiles this Loue contynued in al
Pleasure and lyke contentation of either parts: fortune that was
ready to mounte the stage, and shew in sight that her mobylytye
was no more stable than a woman's wyll: for vnder sutch habite
and sexe Painters and Poets describe hir) made Ardizzino
suspecte what desire she had of chaunge: and within a while
after, sawe himselfe so farre misliked of his Lady, as though he
had neuer bene acquainted. The cause of which recoile was, for
that the Countesse was not contented with one kind of fare,
whose Eyes were more greedy than hir stomake able to digest, and
aboue al desired chaunge, not seking meanes to finde him that
was worthy to be beloued and intertayned of so great a Lady, as
she esteemed hir selfe to be, and as sutch of their owne opinion
thinke themselues, who counterfaicte more grauitie and
reputation than they doe, whome Nature and vertue for theyr
maiesty and holynes of lyfe make Noble and praise worthy. That
desire deceiued hir nothing at all, for a certaine time after
that Ardizzino possessed the forte of this fayre Countesse,
there came to Pauia, one Roberto Sanseuerino earle of Gaiazzo,
a yong and valiaunte gentleman, whose Countreye lyeth on this
side the Mountaines, and was verye famylyar with the Earle of
Massino. This vnfaythful Alcina and cruel Medea had no soner
cast hir Eye vppon Signor di Gaiazzo, but was pierced with loue
in sutch wise, as if forthwith shee had not attayned hir
desyres, she would haue run mad, bycause that Gentleman bare a
certayne statelye representatyon in hys Face, and promysed sutch
dexteritie in hys deedes, as sodaynly she thought him to be the
man that was able to staunch hir filthy thurst. And therfore so
gently as she could, gave ouer hir Ardizzino, with whom she
vtterly refused to speake, and shunned hys company when she saw
him, and by shutting the gates agaynst him: the Noble man was
notable to forbeare from throwing forth some words of choler,
wherby she tooke occasion both to expell him, and also to beare
hym sutch displeasure, as then she conspired his death, as
afterwards you shall perceyue. This greate hatred was the cause
that she fell in loue as you haue harde wyth the Counte of
Gaiazzo, who shewed vnto him all signe of Amitye, and seeing
that hee made no greate sute vnto hir, she wrote vnto him in
this manner.
_The Letter of Bianca Marie, to the Counte of Gaiazzo._
Sir, I doubt not by knowing the state of my degree, but that ye
blush to see the violence of my mynd, which passing the limites
of modesty, that ought to guard sutch a Lady as I am, forceth me
(vncertayn of the cause) to doe you vnderstand the gryef that
doeth torment me, which is of sutch constraynt, as if of
curtesie ye do not vouchsafe to come vnto me, you shall commyt
two faults, the one leauing the thing worthy for you to loue and
regard, and which deserueth not to be cast of, the other in
causing the Death of hir, that for Loue of you, is bereft of
rest: wherby loue hath uery little in me to sease vpon, either
of heart or liberty. The ease of which gryef proceedeth from
your only grace, which is able to vanquyshe hir, whose
victorious hap hath conquered all other, and who attending your
resolut aunswer, shal rest vnder the mercifull refuge of hope,
whych deceiuing hir, shal se by that very meanes the wretched
end of hir that is al your owne.
Bianca Maria Countesse of Celant.
The yong Lorde mutch maruelled at this message, were it for that
already hee was in loue with hir, and that for loue of his
friend Ardizzino, durst not be known therof, or for that he
feared she wold be straught of wits, if she were despised, he
determined to goe vnto hir, and yet stayed thinking it not to be
the part of a faythfull companyon to deceiue his Friend: but in
the end pleasure surmounting reason, and the beauty ioyned wyth
the good grace of the Lady hauing blinded him, and bewitched his
wits so wel as Ardizzino, he toke his way towards hir house,
who waited for him wyth good deuotion, whither being arriued, he
failed not to vse like spech that Valperga did, either of them
(after certain reuerences and other fewe words) minding and
desyringe one kinde of intertaynement. This practize dured
certayn months, and the Countesse was so farre rapt with her new
louer, as she only employed hir self to please him, and he
shewed himself so affected as therby she thought to rule and
gouerne him in all things: wherof she was afterwards deceiued as
you shall vnderstand the maner. Ardizzino seing himself wholly
abandoned the presence and loue of his Lady, knowing that she
railed vpon him in al places where she came, departed Pauia
halfe out of his wittes for Anger, and so strayed from comely
ordyr by reason of his rage, as hee displayed the Countesse thre
times more liuely in hir colours, than she could be paynted,
and reproued hir wyth the termes of the vilest and moste common
strumpet that euer ran at rouers, or shot at random. Bianca
Maria vnderstode hereof, and was aduertised of the vile report
that Ardizzino spread of hir, throughout Lombardie, which
chaffed hir in sutch wyse as she fared like the Bedlem fury,
ceasing night nor day to playne the vnkindnes and folly of hir
reiected louer: somtimes saying, that she had iust cause so to
do, then flattering hir selfe, alledged, that men were made of
purpose to suffer sutch follyes as were wroughte by hir, and
where they termed themselues to bee Women's Seruauntes, they
ought at theyr Mystresse Handes to endure what pleased them.
In the end, not able any longer to restrayne hir choler, ne
vanquish the appetite of reuenge, purposed at all aduenture to
prouide for the death of her auncient Enimy, and that by meanes
of him whom she had now tangled in her Nettes. See the
vnshamefastnesse of this mastife bitche, and the rage of that
Female Tiger, howe shee goeth about to arme one friend against
an other, and was not content onely to abuse the Counte Gaiazzo,
but deuised how to make him the manqueller. And as one night
they were in the middest of their embracements, she began
pitifully to weepe and sigh, in sutch wise as a man would haue
thought (by the vexation of hir hearte) that the soule and body
would haue parted. The younge Lorde louingly enquired the cause
of hir heauinesse: and sayd vnto hir, that if any had done hir
displeasure, hee would reuenge hir cause to hir contentment.
She hearing him say so, (then in studie vpon the deuice of hir
Enimie's death) spake to the Counte in this manner: "You know
sir, that the thing whych moste tormenteth the Gentle heart and
minde that can abide no wronge, is defamation of honoure and
infamous reporte. Thus mutch I say for that the Lord of Massino,
(who to say the trouth, was fauoured of me in like sorte as you
be now) hath not been ashamed to publishe open slaunders agaynst
me, as thoughe I were the arrantest Whore that euer had giuen
her self ouer to the Galley slaues alongs the shore of Scicile.
If he had vaunted the fauour which I haue done him but to
certayne of his privat Friendes, I had incurred no slaunder at
all, mutch lesse any lyttle suspition, but hearyng the common
reportes, the wrongfull Woordes and wycked brutes that he hath
raysed on me: I beseech you syr, to do me reason that he may
feele his offence and the smart for his committed fault against
hir that is al yours." The Lord Sanseuerino hearyng this
discourse, promised hir to do hys best, and to teache Valperga
to talke more soberly of hir, whom he was not worthy for to
serue, but in thought. Notwithstandyng, he sayde more than he
ment to do, for he knew Ardizzino to be so honest, sage and
curteous a personage, as hee would neyther doe nor say any thing
without good cause, and that Ardizzino had iuster quarell
agaynst him, by takyng that from hym whych hee loued (althoughe
it was after his discontinuance from that place, and vpon the
onely request of hir.) Thus he concluded in mind styl to remayne
the fryend of Ardizzino, and yet to spend his time with the
Countesse, which he did the space of certayn months without
quarelling with Valperga, that was retired to Pauie, with whom
he was conuersant, and liued familiarly, and most commonly vsed
one table and bed togither. Bianca Maria seeing that the Lord of
Gaiazzo cared not mutch for hir, but onely for his pleasure,
determined to vse like practise against him, as she did to hir
former louer, and to banish him from hir House. So that when he
came to see hir, either she was sicke, or hir affaires were
sutch, as she could not kepe hym company: or else hir gate was
shut vpon him. In the end (playing double or quit) she prayed
the sayd Lord to shewe hir sutch pleasure and friendship, as to
come no more vnto hir, bicause she was in termes to goe home to
hir husband the Counte of Celant, who had sent for hir, and
feared least his seruaunts shoulde finde her house ful of
suters, alleaging that she had liued long inoughe in that most
sinful life, the lighest faultes whereof were to heynous for
dames of hir port and calling, concluding that so long as she
lyued she would beare him good affection for the Honest Company
and conuersation had betwene them, and for hys curtesie towards
hir. The yong Earle, were it that he gaue creadit vnto hir tale
or not, made as though he did beleue the same, and without
longer dyscourse, forbare approche vnto hir house, and droue out
of his heade al the Amorous affection which he caried to the
Piedmont Circes. And to the ende he might haue no cause to
thinke vpon hir, or that his presence should make hym slaue
againe to hir that first pursued him, he retired in good time to
Millan: by which retire hee avoided that mishap, wherwith at
length this Pestilent women would haue cut him ouer the shinnes,
euen when his mind was least theron. Such was the malice and
mischief of hir heart, who ceasing to play the whore, applied
hir whole pastime to murder. Gaiazzo being departed from Pauie,
thys Venus once agayne assayed the embracements of hir
Ardizzino, and knew not wel how to recouer hym agayne, bycause
she feared that the other had discouered the Enterpryse of his
Murder. But what dare not shee attempte whose mynde is slaue to
sinne? The first assayes be harde, and the minde doubtfull, and
conscience gnaweth vpon the worme of repentaunce, but the same
once nousled in vice, and rooted in the heart, it is more
pleasaunte, and gladsome for the wicked to execute, than vertue
is familiar to those that follow hir: So that shame separate
from before the eyes of youth, riper age noursed in impudency,
their sight is so daseled, as they can see nothing that eyther
shame or feare can make them blush, which was the cause that
this Lady, continuinge still in hir mischiefe, so mutch
practised the freendes of hym whom she desired to kill, and made
sutch fit excuse by hir Ambassades, as hee was content to speake
to hir, and to here hir Iustifications, whych were easy inough
to doe, the Iudge being not very guilty. Shee promised and swore
that if the fault were proued not to be in him, neuer man should
see Bianca Maria, (so long as she lyued) to be other than a
friend and slaue to the Lord Ardizzino, wholly submitting
hirselfe vnto his will and pleasure. See how peace was
capitulated betweene the two reconciled Louers, and what were
the articles of the same, the Lorde of Massino entringe
Possession agayne of the fort that was reuolted, and was long
tyme in the power of another. But when he was seazed agayne, the
Lady saw full wel, that hir recouered friend was not so hard to
please, as the other was, and that wyth him she liued at greater
liberty. Continuing then their amorous Daunce, and Ardizzino
hauing no more care but to reioyce himselfe, nor hys Lady, but
to cherishe and make mutch of hir friend, beholde eftsoones the
desire of Bloud and wyll of murder, newly reuiued in that new
Megera, who incited (I knowe not with what rage,) fansied to
haue him slayne, whych refused to kill hym, whom at this present
shee loued as hirselfe. And he that had inquired the cause
thereof, I thyncke none other reason coulde he rendred, but that
a braynelesse heade and reasonlesse minde, doe thincke most
notable murders, and myschiefe be easie to be brought to passe,
who so strangely proceeded in disordred Lustes, which in fine
caused their myserable shame, and ruine, wyth the death of
hirselfe and hym, whom she had stirred to the fact, boldeninge
him by persuasion, to make him beleue Vyce to bee Vertue, and
Gloriously commended hym in hys follies, whych you shall heare
by readinge at lengthe the discourse of thys Hystory. Bianca
Maria, seeing hirselfe in full possession of hir Ardizzino,
purposed to make hym chiefe executioner of the murder, by hir
intended, vpon Gaiazzo, for the doing whereof one night holdinge
hym betwene hir armes, after shee had long time dalyed with hym,
like a cunninge Maistresse of hir Art, in the ende weauinge and
trayning hir treason at large, she sayd thus vnto him: "Syr, of
long time I haue bene desirous to require a good turne at your
hands, but fearing to trouble you, and thereupon to be denied,
I thought not to be importunate: and albeit the matter toucheth
you, yet did I rather holde my peace then to here refusall of a
thinge, which your selfe ought to profer, the same concerning
you." "Madame," sayd hir Louer, "you know the matter neede to be
haynous and of great importaunce, that I should deny you,
specially if it concerne the bleamish of your honor. But you say
the same doth touch mee somewhat neerely, and therefore if
ability be in me, spare not to vtter it, and I wyll assay your
satisfaction to the vttermost of my power." "Syr," sayd she,
"is the Counte of Gaiazzo one of your very frends?" "I thinke"
(aunswered Valperga) "that he is one of the surest freends I
haue, and in respect of whose frendship, I will hazarde my selfe
for him no lesse than for my Brother, being certaine that if I
have neede of him, he will not fayle to do the like for me. But
wherefore doe you aske me that question?" "I will then tel you,"
sayd the Traytresse (kissing him so sweetely as euer he felt the
like of any Woman,) "for somutch as you be so deceyued of your
opinion in him who is wicked in dissembling of that, which
maliciously lieth hidden in hys heart. And briefly to say the
effect: assure your selfe hee is the greatest and most mortall
Ennimy that you haue in the Worlde. And to the intent that you
do not think this to be some forged Tale, of light inuention, or
that I heard the report of some not worthy of credit, I will say
nothinge but that whych hymselfe did tell me, when in your
absence he vsed my company. He sware vnto me, without
declaration of the cause, that hee coulde neuer bee mery, nor
hys mynde in rest, before hee saw you cut in pieces, and shortly
woulde giue you sutch assaulte, as al the dayes of our lyfe,
you shoulde neuer haue lust or mynde on Ladies loue. And albeit
then, I was in choler agaynst you, and that you had ministred
some cause, and reason of hatred, yet our first loue had taken
sutch force in my hart, and I besought him not to do that
enterprise so long as I was in place where you did remayne,
because I cannot abide (wythout present death) to see your
finger ake, mutch lesse your lyfe berieued from you. Vnto which
my sute his Eare was deafe, swearing still and protesting that
either he would be slayne himselfe, or else dispatch the Countee
Ardizzino. I durst not" (quod she) "ne wel could as then
aduertise you thereof, for the smal accesse that my seruants had
vnto your lodging, but now I pray you to take good heede by
preuenting his diuelishe purpose: For better it were for you to
take his lyfe, than he to kill and murder you, or otherwyse work
you mischiefe, and you shal be esteemed the wiser man, and he
pronounced a traytor to seeke the death of him, that bare him
sutch good will. Doe then accordinge to myne aduice, and before
he begin, doe you kill hym, by the which you shall saue your
selfe, and doe the part of a valyaunt knight, bisides, the
satisfying of the mynde of hir that aboue al pleasures of the
World doth chiefly desire the same. Experience now will let me
proue whether you loue me or not, and what you will do for hir
that loueth you so dearly, who openeth this conspired murder,
aswell for your safety, as for lengthening of the lyfe of hir,
which wythout yours cannot endure: graunt this my sute (O friend
most deare) and suffer me not in sorrowfull plight to be
despoyled of thy presence: and wilt thou suffer that I shoulde
dy, and that yonder Proude, Trayterous, and vnfaythfull varlet
should liue to laugh mee to scorne?" If the Lady had not added
those last words to hir foolish sermon, perchaunce she might
haue prouoked Ardizzino to folow hir Counsell: but seeing hir so
obstinately continue hir request, and to prosecute the same with
sutch violence, concluding vpon hir owne quarrel, his conscience
throbbed, and his minde measured the malice of that Woman, with
the honesty of him, against whom that tale was told, who knew
his frend to be so sound and trusty, as willingly he would not
do the thinge that should offend him, and therefore would geue
no credit to false report without good, and apparant proofe:
for which cause hee was persuaded that it was a malicious tale
deuised by some that went about to sowe debate betweene those
two friendly earles. Notwithstanding, vpon further pause, and
not to make hir chafe, or force hir into rage, he promised the
execution of hir cursed wil, thanking hir for hir aduertisement,
and that he would prouide for hys defence and surety: and to the
intent that shee might thyncke he went about to performe his
promise, he tooke his leaue of hir to goe to Millan, which hee
did, not to follow the abhominable will of that rauenous
Mastife, but to reueale the matter to his companion, and direct
the same as it deserued. Being arriued at Millan, the chiefe
Citty of Lombardy, he imparted to Gaiazzo from poynct to poynct
the discourse of the Countesse, and the peticion shee made vnto
hym, vppon the conclusion of hir Tale: "O God" (sayd the lord
Sanseuerino,) "who can beware the traps of Whoores, if by thy
grace our hands be not forbidden, and our hearts and thoughts
guided by thy goodnes? Is it possible that the Earth can breede
a Monster more pernicious than this most Pestilent Beast? Thys
is truely the grift of hir Father's vsury, and the stench of all
hir Predecessours villanyes: it is impossible of a Kyte or
Cormerant to make a good Sparhauk, or Tercle gentle. This carion
no doubt is the Daughter of a Vilayne, sprong of the basest race
amongs the common people, whose mother was more fine than
chaste, more subtile than sober: this minion hath forsaken hir
husband, to erect bloudy Skaffoldes of murder amid the Nobles of
Italy: and were it not for the dishonour which I should get to
soyle my hands in the bloude of a Beast so corrupt, I woulde
teare hir with my Teeth in a hundreth Thousand peeces: how many
times hath she entreated mee before: in how many sundry sortes
with ioyned handes hath she besought mee to kill the Lorde
Ardizzino? Ah, my Companion, and right well beloued Freende, can
you thincke mee to bee so Trayterous, and Cowarde a Knaue, as
that I dare not tell to them to whome I beare displeasure what
mallice lurketh in my heart?" "By the fayth of a Gentleman,"
(sayd Ardizzino,) "I would be sory my mynd should seaze on sutch
Folly, but I am come to reueale thys vnto you, that the Song
might sound no more wythin myne eares. It behoueth vs then, sith
God hath kept vs hytherto, to avoyde the ayre of that infection,
that our braynes be not putrified, and from henceforth to fly
those Bloudsuckers, the Schollers of Venus: and truely great
dishonour would redound to vs, to kill one an other for the
onely pastime and sottish fansie of that mynion: I haue repented
me an hundred times when she first mooued mee of the deuice to
kill you, that I did not geeue a hundred Poignaladoes wyth my
Dagger, to stop the way by that example for all other to attempt
sutch Butcheries: for I am well assured that the mallyce whych
shee beareth you, proceedeth but of the delay you made for
satisfaction of hir murderous desire, whereof I thancke you, and
yelde my selfe in all causes to imploy my lyfe, and that I haue,
to do you seruice." "Leaue we of that talk" (sayd Gaiazzo) "for
I haue done but my duety, and that which ech Noble heart ought
to euery wight, doing wrong to none, but prone to help, and doe
good to all: whych is the true marke and Badge of Nobility.
Touching that malignant Strumpet, hir owne lyfe shall reuenge
the wrongs which she hath gone about to venge on vs. In meane
while let vs reioyce, and thincke the goods, and richesse shee
hath gotten of vs, wil not cause hir Bagges mutch to Strout and
Swel. To be short, she hath nothing whereby she may greatly
laugh vs to scorne, except our good entertainment of hir night
and day do prouoke hir: let other coyne the pence henceforth to
fill her Coafers, for of vs (so farre as I see) she is
deceyued." Thus the two Lordes passed forth their tyme, and in
all Companies where they came, they spent their Talke, and
Communication of the disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant.
The whole Citty also rang of the sleights and meanes she vsed to
trappe the Noblemen, and of her pollicies to be rid of them when
her thirst was stanched, or diet grew lothesome for want of
chaunge. And that whych greued hir most, an Italyan Epigram
blased forth hir prowes to hir great dishonour, whereof the Copy
I cannot get, and some say that Ardizzino was the author: for it
was composed, when he was dispossessed of pacience: and if shee
coulde haue wreked hir will on the knights, I beleeue in hir
rage she would haue made an Anathomy of their Bones. Of whych
hir two enimies, Ardizzino was the greatest, agaynst whom hir
displeasure was the more, for that he was the first with whom
she entred skirmish. Nothing was more frequent in Pauy, than
villanous Iests, and Playes vppon the filthy Behauiour of the
Countesse, which made hir ashamed to goe out of hir Gates. In
the ende shee purposed to chaunge the Ayre and place, hoping by
that alteration to stay the Infamous Brute, and Slaunder: so she
came to Millan, where first she was inuested wyth state of
honour, in honest Fame of Chaste lyfe so longe as Vicount Hermes
liued, and then was not pursued to staunch the thirst of those
that did ordinarily draw at hir Fountayne. About the tyme that
she departed from Pauy, Dom Pietro de Cardone a Scicilian, the
Bastard Brother of the Counte of Colisano, whose Lieuetenaunt he
was, and their father slayn at the Battayle of Bicocca wyth a
band of horsemen arriued at Milan. This Scicilian was about the
age of one or two and twenty yeres, somwhat black of face,
but well made and sterne of countenance: whiles the Countesse
soiorned at Milan, this gentleman fell in loue with hir, and
searched all meanes he coulde to make hir hys friende, and to
enioy hir: who perceyuing him to be young, and a Nouice in
Skirmishes of Loue, lyke a Pigeon of the first coate, determined
to lure him, and to serue hir turne in that which shee purposed
to doe on those agaynst whom shee was outragiously offended. Now
the better to entice thys younge Lorde vnto her Fantasye, and to
catch hym wyth hir bayte, when hee passed through the Streate,
and saluted hir, and when he Syghed after the manner of the
Spaniard, rominge before hys Lady, shee shewed him an
indifferent mery Countenaunce, and sodaynely restrayned that
Cheere, to make hym taste the pleasure mingled with the soure of
one desire, which he could not tel how to accomplish: and the
more faynt was his hardines for that he was neuer practised in
the daliance and seruice of Lady of noble house or calling,
who thincking that the Gentlewoman was one of the Principall of
Millan, he was straungely vexed, and tormented for hir loue, in
sutch wyse as in the night he could not rest for fantasing, and
thynking vpon hir, and in the Day passed up and downe before the
Doore of her lodging. One eueninge for his disport hee went
forth to walke in company of another Gentleman, which well could
play vppon the Lute, and desired him to gieue awake vnto hys
Lady, that then for iealousie was harkeninge at hir window, both
of the sounde of the Instrument, and the Ditty of hir amorous
Knight, where the Gentleman song thys Sonet.
The death with trenchant dart, doth brede in brest sutch il,
As I cannot forget the smart, that thereby riseth stil.
Yet neerthelesse I am, the ill it selfe in deede,
That death with daily dolours deepe, within my breast doth breede.
I am my Mistresse thrall, and yet I doe not kno,
If she beare me good will at all, or if she loue or no.
My wound is made so large, with bitter wo in brest,
That still my heart prepares a place to lodge a carefull guest.
O dame that hath my lyfe and death at thy desire.
Come ease my mind, wher fancies flames doth burne like Ethna fire,
For wanting thee my life is death and doleful cheere,
And finding fauor in thy sight, my dayes are happy heere.
Then he began to sigh so terribly, as if already she had geuen
sentence, and difinitiue Iudgement of his farewell, and disputed
with his fellow in sutch sort, and wyth Opinion so assured of
hys contempt, as if he had bene in loue with some one of the
Infants of Spayne: for which cause he began very pitifully to
sing these verses.
That God that made my soule, and knows what I haue felt,
Who causeth sighes and sorows oft, the sely soule to swelt,
Doth see my torments now, and what I suffer still,
And vnderstands I tast mo griefs, than I can shew by skill.
Hee doth consent I wot, to my ill hap and woe,
And hath accorded with the dame that is my pleasaunt foe,
To make my boyling brest abound in bitter blisse,
And so bereue me of my rest, when heart his hope shall misse.
O what are not the songs, and sighs that louers haue,
When night and day with sweete desires, they draw vnto their graue,
Their grief by frendship growes, where ruth nor pity raynes,
And so like snow against the Sun, they melt away with pains.
My dayes must finish so, my destny hath it set,
And as the candle out I goe, before hir grace I get.
Before my sute be heard, my seruice throughly knowne,
I shalbe layd in Toumbe ful low, so colde as Marble stone.
To thee fayre Dame I cry, that makes my senses arre,
And plantest peace within my brest and then makes sodain war:
Yet at thy pleasure still, thou must my sowre make sweete,
In graunting me the fauour due, for faythfull Louers meete.
Which fauor geue me now, and to thy Noble mynde,
I doe remayne a Galley slaue, as thou by proofe shall finde.
And so thou shalt release my heart from cruell bandes,
And haue his fredome at thy wil that yelds into thy handes.
So rendring all to thee, the gods may ioyne vs both
Within one lawe and league of loue, through force of constant troth.
Then shalt thou mistresse be, of lyfe, of Limme and all,
My goods, my golde, and honour, loe! shall so be at thy call.
Thys gentle order of loue greatly pleased the Lady, and
therefore opened hir gate to let the Scicilian lorde, who seeing
hymselfe fauoured (beyond all hope) of his Lady, and cheerefully
intertayned, and welcommed with great curtesie stoode so still
astonnied, as if hee had beene fallen from the Cloudes: but she
which coulde teache hym good manner, to make hym the minister of
hir myschiefe, takynge hym by the hande, made hym sit downe vpon
a greene Bed besydes hir, and seeing that he was not yet
imboldened, for all hee was a Souldiour, shee shewed hir selfe
more hardy than hee, and firste assayled hym wyth talke,
sayinge: "Syr, I praye you thinke it not straunge, if at thys
houre of the nyght, I am bolde to cause you enter my house,
beinge of no great acquayntaunce wyth you, but by hearinge your
curteous salutations: and wee of thys Countrey bee somewhat more
at liberty than they in those partes from whence you come:
besides it lyketh mee well (as I am able) to honour straunge
gentlemen, and to retayne theym with right good willinge heart,
sith it pleaseth theym to honour mee wyth repayre vnto my house:
so shall you be welcome styll when you please to knocke at my
Gate, whych at all tymes I wyll to be opened for you, wyth no
lesse good wyll than if yee were my naturall Brother, the same
wyth all the thinges therein, it may please you to dispose as if
they were your own." Dom Pietro of Cardonne well satisfied, and
contented wyth thys vnlooked for kyndnesse, thanked her very
Curteously, humbly praying hir besides to dayne it in good
parte, if he were so bolde to make requeste of loue, and that it
was the onelye thynge which hee aboue all other desyred moste,
so that if shee would receiue him for hir friende and Seruaunt,
shee shoulde vnderstande him to be a Gentleman, which lightly
woulde promise nothing excepte the accomplishment did followe:
she that sawe a greater onset than she loked for, answered hym
smilyng with a very good grace: "Sir, I haue knowne very many
that haue vouched slipperie promyses, and proffered lordly
seruices vnto Ladies, the effect wherof if I myght once see,
I would not thinke that they coulde vanishe so soone, and
consume like smoake." "Madame" (sayde the Scicilian) "yf I fayle
in any thing which you commaunde mee, I praye to God neuer to
receiue any fauor or grace of those Curtesies whych I craue."
"If then" (quod shee) "you wyl promise to employ your selfe
aboute a businesse that I haue to do when I make request, I wyll
also to accept you for a friende, and graunt sutch secrecie as a
faithful louer can desyre of his Lady." Dom Pietro which would
have offred hym selfe in Sacrifice for hir, not knowyng hir
demaunde, tooke an othe, and promysed hir so lyghtly as madly
afterwardes he did put the same in proofe. Beholde the
preparatiues of the obsequies of their first loue, and the
guages of a bloudie Bed: the one was prodigall of hir honoure,
the other the tormente of his reputation, and neglected the
duety and honor of his state, which the house wherof he came,
commaunded hym to kepe. Thus all the nyght he remained with
Bianca Maria, who made him so wel to like hir good entertaynment
and imbracementes, as he neuer was out of her Company. And the
warie Circes fayned her self so fare in loue wyth hym, and vsed
so many toyes and gametricks of her filthy science, as he not
onelye esteemed hym selfe the happiest Gentleman of Scicilia,
but the most fortunate wight of all the Worlde, and by bibbing
of hir Wyne was so straungely charmed with the Pleasures of his
fayre Mystresse, as for hir sake he would haue taken vpon him
the whole ouerthrowe of Milan, so well as Blose of Cumes to
sette the Cittye of Rome on fire, if Tyberius Gracchus the
sedicious, woulde haue giuen it him in charge. Sutch is the
manner of wilde and foolish youth, whych suffreth it selfe to be
caried beyonde the boundes of reason. The same in time past did
ouerthrow many Realmes, and caused the chaunge of diuers
Monarchies: and truely vnseemely it is for a man to be subdued
to the will of a common strumpet. And as it is vncomly to submit
him selfe to sutch one, so not requisite to an honest and
vertuous Dame, his maried Wyfe. Which vnmanly deedes, be
occasions that diuers Foolishe Women commit sutch filthy factes,
with their inspekable trumperies begiling the simple man, and
perchance through to mutch losing the Bridle raynes to the
lawfull Wyfe, the poore man is strangely deceyued by some
adulterous varlet, whych at the Wyue's commaundment, when she
seeth oportunity, wil not shrinke to hazarde the honour of them
both, in sutch wise as they serue for an example vppon a common
Scaffold to a whole generation and Posterity. I wyll not seeke
farre of for examples, being satisfied with the folly of the
Bastard Cardonne, to please the cruelty and malice of that
infernall fury the Countesse, who hauinge lulled, flattered,
and bewitched with hir louetricks (and peraduenture with some
charmed drinke) her new Pigeon, seeinge it time to solicite his
promise, to be reuenged of those, whych thought no more of hir
conspiracies and trayterous deuises, and also when the time was
come for punishinge of hir whoredome, and chastising of the
breach of fayth made to hir husbande, and of hir intended
murders, and some of them put in execution, she I say, desirous
to see the ende of that, which in thought she had contryued,
vppon a day tooke Dom Pietro aside, and secretly began this
Oration: "I take God to witnes (sir) that the request which I
pretend presently to make, proceedeth of desire rather that the
Worlde may know how iustly I seeke meanes to mayntayne myne
honour, than for desire of reuenge, knowinge very well, that
there is nothing so precious, and deere vnto a woman, as the
preseruation of that inestimable Iewell, specially in a Lady of
that honourable degre whych I mayntayne amonge the best. And to
the intent I seeme not tedious with prolixity of words, or vse
other than direct circumstances before him that hath offred iust
reuenge for the wrongs I haue receyued: knowe you sir, that for
a certain tyme I continued at Pauie, kepynge a house and Trayne
so honest, as the best Lords were contented wyth myne ordinarye.
It chaunced that two honest Gentlemen of Noble House haunted my
Palace in lyke sort, and with the same intertainment whych as
you see, I doe receiue ech Gentleman, who beyng well intreated
and honoured of me, in the ende forgat themselues so farre, as
without respect of my state and callinge, wythout regard of the
race and family wherof they come, haue attempted the slaunder of
my good name, and vtter subuersion of my renoume: and sufficient
it was not for them thus to deale with mee poore Gentlewoman,
without desert (excepte it were for admyttyng them to haue
accesse vnto my house) but also to continue their Blasphemies,
to myne extreame reproach and shame: and howe true the same is,
they that know me can well declare, by reason whereof, the
vulgar people prone and ready to wycked reportes, haue conceiued
sutch opynion of me, as for that they see me braue and fine in
Apparell, and specyally throughe the slaunderous speache of
those gallantes, do deeme and repute me for a common Whoore,
wherof I craue none other wytnesse than your selfe and my
conscience. And I sweare vnto you, that sith I came to Milan, it
is you alone that hath vanquished, and made the Triumphe of my
Chastytye: and yf you were absent from this Citye, I assure you
on my fayth that I would not tarry heere XXIIII. houres. These
infamous ruffians I say, these persecuters and termagantes of my
good name, haue chased mee out of all good Cityes, and made me
to be abhorred of ech honest company, that weary I am of my
lyfe, and lothe to lyue any longer except spedye redresse bee
had for reuengement of thys wronge: wherefore except I finde
some Noble Champion and Valyaunte Personage to requyte these
Vyllains for their spitefull Speach blased on me in euerye
Corner of Towne and Countreye, and to paye them theyr rewarde
and hire that I may lyue at Lybertye and quyet, Sorrowe wyll
eyther consume mee or myne owne handes shall hasten spedye
Death." And in speakyng those Woordes, shee beganne to weepe
with sutch abundance of teares streaming downe hir Cheekes and
Necke of Alabaster hewe, as the Scicilian whych almost had none
other God but the Countesse, sayd vnto hir: "And what is he,
that dare molest and slaunder hir that hath in hir puissaunce so
many Souldiers and men of Warre? I make a vow to God, that if I
know the names of those two arrant villaynes, the which haue so
defamed my Mystresse name, the whole worlde shall not saue their
liues, whose carrion Bodies I will hew into so many gobbets, as
they haue members vpon the same: wherefore Madame" (sayd he,
imbracing her) "I pray you to grieue your selfe no more, commit
your wronges to me, only tell me the names of those Gallaunts,
and afterwards you shall vnderstande what difference I make of
woorde and deede, and if I doe not trimme and dresse theym so
finely, as hereafter they shall haue no neede of Barber, neuer
trust me any more." Shee, as reuiued from death to lyfe, kyssed
and embraced him a thousand tymes, thankinge hym for his good
will, and offering him all that she had. In the ende she tolde
him that hir enimies were the counties of Massino and Gaiazzo,
which but by theyr deaths alone were not able to amend and
repayre hir honour. "Care not you" (sayde hee) "for before that
the Sunne shall spreade his Beames twice 24 houres vpon the
earth, you shall heare newes, and know what I am able to do for
the chastisement of those deuils." As he promised, hee fayled
not to do: for wythin a whyle after as Ardizzino was goinge to
supper into the Citty, he was espyed by hym, that had in company
attendaunt vppon hym fyue and twenty men of Armes, which waited
for Ardizzino, in a Lane on the left hand of the Streate called
Merauegli, leading towards the church of Sainct Iames, through
which the Countee must needes passe. Who as he was going very
pleasantly disposed with his brother, and 5 or 6 of his men, was
immediately assayled on euery side, and not knowinge what it
ment, would haue fled, but the Wayes, and Passages were stopped
rounde aboute: to defende himselfe it auayled not hauing but
their single Swords, and amid the troupe of sutch a bande that
were throughly armed, which in a moment had murdred, and cut in
peeces all that company. And although it was late, yet the
Countie Ardizzino many times named Dom Pietro, which caused hym
to be taken, and imprisoned by the Duke of Bourbon, that was
fled out of Fraunce, and then was Lieutenaunt for the Emperour
Charles the fifth in Milan. Whosoeuer was astonned and amazed
with that Imprisonment, it is to bee thoughte that the Scicilan
was not greatly at his ease and quiet, who needed no torments to
force him confesse the fact, for of his owne accorde voluntarily
he dysclosed the same, but he sayde he was prouoked thervnto by
the persuasion of Bianca Maria telling the whole discourse as
you haue heard before. She had already intelligence of this
chaunce, and might haue fled and saued hir selfe before the fact
(by the confession of Dom Pietro) had ben discouered, and
attended in some secrete place till that stormie time had bene
calmed and appeased. But God which is a rightfull iudge woulde
not suffer hir wickednesse stretch any further, sith she hauing
found out sutch a nimble and wilful executioner, the Countee of
Gaiazzo could not long haue remained aliue, who then in good
time and happy houre was absent out of the City. So soone as Dom
Pietro had accused the Countesse, the Lord of Bourbon sente her
to pryson, and being examined, confessed the whole matter,
trustinge that hir infinite numbre of Crownes woulde haue
corrupted the Duke, or those that represented his person. But
hir Crownes and Lyfe passed all one way. For the day after hir
imprisonment shee was condempned to lose hir heade: and in the
meane time Dom Pietro was saued, by the diligence and suite of
the Captaynes, and was employed in other Warres, to whom the
Duke gaue him, for that he was lothe to lose so notable a
Souldiour, the very right hand of his Brother the Countee of
Colisano. The Countesse hauing sentence pronounced vppon hir,
but trusting for pardon, would not prepare hir selfe to dy, ne
yet by any meanes craue forgiuenes of hir faults at the hands of
God, vntil she was conueyed out of the Castell, and ledde to the
common place of execution, where a Scaffolde was prepared for
hir to play the last Acte of thys Tragedy. Then the miserable
Lady began to know hirselfe, and to confesse hir faults before
the people, deuoutly praying God, not to haue regard to hir
demerites, ne yet to determine his wrath agaynst hir, or enter
with hir in iudgement, for so mutch as if the same were decreed
accordinge to hir iniquity, no saluation was to be looked for.
She besought the people to pray for hir, and the countee of
Gaiazzo that was absent, to pardon hir malice, and treason which
she had deuised agaynst him. Thus miserably and repentantly dyed
the Countesse, which in hir lyfe refused not to imbrace and
follow any wickednes, no mischiefe shee accompted euill done, so
the same were imployed for hir pleasure and pastime. A goodly
example truely for the youth of our present time, sith the most
part indifferently do launch into the gulfe of disordred lyfe,
suffring themselues to bee plunged in the puddles of their owne
vayne conceiptes, without consideration of the mischieues that
may ensue. If the Lord of Cardonne had not bene beloued of his
generall, into what calamity had he fallen for yeldinge himselfe
a pray to that bloudy Woman who had more regarde to the light,
and wilfull fansie of hir, whom he serued like a slaue, than to
his duety and estimation? And truely all sutch be voyde of their
right wits, which thincke themselues beloued of a Whoore. For
their amity endureth no longer than they sucke from their
pursses and bodies any profit or pleasure. And because almost
euery day semblable examples be seene, I will leaue of this
discourse, to take me to a matter, not farre more pleasaunt than
this, although founded vpon better grounde, and stablished upon
loue, the first onset of lawfull mariage, the successe whereof
chaunced to murderous ende, and yet the same intended by neyther
of the beloued: as you shall be iudge by the continuance of
reading of the history ensuing. Beare with me good Ladyes (for
of you alone I craue this pardon) for introducing the Whoorish
lyfe of the Countesse, and hir bloudy enterprise: bicause I know
right wel, that recitall of murders, and bloudy facts wearieth
the mindes of those that loue to lyue at rest, and wish for
fayre weather after the troublesome stormes of raging Seas, no
lesse than the Pilote and wise Mariner, hauing long time endured
and cut the perillous straicts of the Ocean Sea. And albeit the
corruption of our nature be so great, as follies delighte vs
more than ernest matters fraught wyth reason and wisedome, yet I
thinke not that our mindes be so peruerted and diuided from
trouth, but sometimes wee care and seeke to speake more grauely
than the countrey Hynde, or more soberly than they, whose lyues
do beare the marke of infamy, and be to euery wight notorious
for the onely name of their vocation. Suffiseth vs that an
Hystory, be it neuer so full of sporte and pleasure, do bring
with it instruction of our lyfe, and amendement of our maners.
And wee ought not to be so curious or scrupulous, to reiect
merry and pleasant deuises that be voide of harmeful talke, or
wythout sutch glee as may hynder the education of Youth
procliue, and ready to choose that is corrupt, and naught. The
very bookes of holy scriptures doe describe vnto vs persons that
bee vicious, and so detestable as nothing more, whose factes
vnto the simple may seeme vnseemely, vpon the least recitall of
the same. And shall wee therefore reiect the readinge, and
eschue those holy bookes? God forbid, but with diligence to
beware, that we do not resemble those that be remembred there
for example, forsomutch as speedely after sinne, ensueth
grieuous, and as sodayne punishment. For which cause I haue
selected these Historyes, of purpose to aduertise Youth, how
they that follow the way of damnable iniquity, fayle not shortly
after their great offences, and execution of their outragious
vices, to feele the iust and mighty hand of God, who guerdoneth
the good for their good works and deedes, and rewardeth the euil
for their wickednes and mischiefe. Now turne we then to the
Hystory of two, the rarest Louers that euer were, the
performaunce, and finishinge whereof, had it bene so prosperous
as the beginning, they had ioyed ioyfully the Fruicts of their
intent, and two noble houses of one City reconciled to
perpetuall frendship.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH NOUELL.
_The goodly Hystory of the true, and constant Loue between
Rhomeo and Ivlietta, the one of whom died of Poyson, and the
other of sorrow, and heuinesse: wherein be comprysed many
aduentures of Loue, and other deuises touchinge the same._
I am sure that they which measure the Greatnesse of Goddes
worked accordinge to the capacity of their Rude, and simple
vnderstandinge, wyll not lightly adhibite credite vnto thys
History, so wel for the variety of straunge Accidents which be
therein described, as for the nouelty of so rare, and perfect
amity. But they that haue read Plinie, Valerius Maximus,
Plutarche, and diuers other Writers, do finde, that in olde time
a great number of Men and Women haue died, some of excessiue
ioy, some of ouermutch sorrow, and some of other passions: and
amongs the same, Loue is not the least, whych when it seazeth
vppon any kynde and gentle subiect, and findeth no resistaunce
to serue for a rampart to stay the violence of his course, by
little and little vndermineth, melteth and consumeth the vertues
of naturall powers in sutch wyse as the spyrite yealdinge to the
burden, abandoneth the place of lyfe: which is verified by the
pitifull, and infortunate death of two Louers that surrendered
their last Breath in one Toumbe at Verona a Citty of Italy,
wherein repose yet to thys day (with great maruell) the Bones,
and remnauntes of their late louing bodies: an hystory no lesse
wonderfull than true. If then perticular affection which of good
right euery man ought to beare to the place where he was borne,
doe not deceyue those that trauayle, I thincke they will
confesse wyth me, that few Citties in Italy, can surpasse the
sayd Citty of Verona, aswell for the Nauigable riuer called
Adissa, which passeth almost through the midst of the same, and
thereby a great trafique into Almayne, as also for the prospect
towards the Fertile Mountaynes, and pleasant valeys whych do
enuiron the same, with a great number of very clere and lyuely
fountaynes, that serue for the ease and commodity of the place.
Omittinge (bisides many other singularities) foure Bridges,
and an infinite number of other honourable Antiquities dayly
apparaunt vnto those, that be to curious to viewe and looke vpon
them. Which places I haue somewhat touched, bicause thys most
true History which I purpose hereafter to recite, dependeth
thereupon, the memory whereof to thys day is so wel known at
Verona, as vnneths their blubbred Eyes be yet dry, that saw and
beheld that lamentable sight. When the Senior Escala was Lord of
Verona, there were two families in the Citty, of farre greater
fame than the rest, aswell for riches as Nobility: the one
called the Montesches, and the other the Capellets: but lyke as
most commonly there is discorde amongs theym which be of
semblable degree in honour, euen so there hapned a certayne
enmity betweene them: and for so mutch as the beginning thereof
was vnlawfull, and of ill foundation, so lykewyse in processe of
time it kindled to sutch flame, as by diuers and sundry deuyses
practised on both sides, many lost their lyues. The Lord
Bartholmew of Escala, (of whom we haue already spoken) being
Lord of Verona, and seeing sutch disorder in his common weale,
assayed diuers and sundry waies to reconcile those two houses,
but all in vayne: for their hatred had taken sutch roote, as the
same could not be moderated by any wyse counsell or good aduice:
betweene whom no other thing could be accorded, but geuing ouer
Armour, and Weapon for the time, attending some other season
more conuenient, and wyth better leysure to appease the rest.
In the time that these thinges were adoing, one of the family of
Montesches called Rhomeo, of the age of 20 or 21. yeares, the
comliest and best conditioned Gentleman that was amonges the
Veronian youth, fell in loue with a yong Gentlewoman of Verona,
and in few dayes was attached with hir Beauty, and good
behauiour, as he abandoned all other affaires and busines, to
serue and honour hir: and after many Letters, Ambassades, and
presents, he determined in the ende to speake vnto hir, and to
disclose hys passions, which he did without any other practise.
But she which was vertuously brought vp, knew how to make him so
good answer to cut of his amorous affections, as he had no lust
after that time to returne any more, and shewed hir self so
austere, and sharpe of Speach, as she vouchsafed not with one
looke to behold him. But how mutch the young Gentleman saw hir
whist, and silent, the more he was inflamed: and after he had
continued certayne months in that seruice wythout remedy of his
griefe, he determined in the ende to depart Verona, for proofe
if by chaunge of the place he might alter his affection, saying
to himselfe: "What do I meane to loue one that is so vnkinde,
and thus doth disdayn me: I am all hir owne, and yet she flieth
from me. I can no longer liue, except hir presence I doe enioy:
and she hath no contented mynde, but when she is furthest from
me: I will then from henceforth Estraunge my selfe from hir, for
it may so come to passe by not beholding hir, that thys fire in
me which taketh increase and nourishment by hir fayre Eyes,
by little and little may dy and quench." But minding to put in
proose what he thought, at one instant hee was reduced to the
contrary, who not knowing whereupon to resolue, passed dayes and
nights in marueilous Playnts, and Lamentations: for Loue vexed
him so neare, and had so well fixed the Gentlewoman's Beauty
within the Bowels of his heart, and mynde, as not able to
resist, hee faynted with the charge, and consumed by little and
little as the Snow agaynst the Sunne: whereof hys parenttes,
and kinred did maruayle greatly, bewaylinge hys misfortune, but
aboue all other one of hys Companyons of riper Age, and Counsell
than hee, began sharpely to rebuke him: for the loue that he
bare him was so great as hee felt hys Martirdome, and was
pertaker of hys passion: which caused him by ofte viewyng his
friend's disquietnesse in amorous panges, to say thus vnto him:
"Rhomeo, I maruell mutch that thou spendest the best time of
thine age, in pursute of a thing, from which thou seest thy self
despised and banished, wythout respecte either to thy prodigall
dispense, to thine honor, to thy teares, or to thy myserable
lyfe, which be able to moue the most constant to pity: wherefore
I pray thee for the Loue of our auncient amity, and for thyne
health sake, that thou wilt learn to be thine owne man, and not
to alyenat thy lyberty to any so ingrate as she is: for so farre
as I coniecture by things that are passed betwene you, either
she is in loue wyth some other, or else determineth neuer to
loue any. Thou arte yong, rich in goods and fortune, and more
excellent in beauty than any Gentleman in thys Cyty: thou art
well learned, and the onely sonne of the house wherof thou
commest: what gryef would it bee to thy poore olde Father and
other thy parentes, to see the so drowned in this dongeon of
Vyce, specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather to put
them in some Hope of thy Vertue? begyn then from henceforth to
acknowledge thyne error, wherein thou hast hitherto lyued, doe
away that amorous vaile or couerture whych blyndeth thyne Eyes
and letteth thee to folow the ryghte path, wherein thine
auncestors haue walked: or else if thou do feele thy self so
subiect to thyne owne wyll, yelde thy hearte to some other
place, and chose some Mistresse accordyng to thy worthynesse,
and henceforth doe not sow thy Paynes in a Soyle so barrayne
whereof thou reapest no Fruycte: the tyme approcheth when al the
Dames of the Cyty shal assemble, where thou mayst behold sutch
one as shall make thee forget thy former gryefs." Thys younge
Gentleman attentyuely hearyng all the persuadyng reasons of hys
fryend, began somewhat to moderate that heate and to acknowledge
all the exhortatyons which hee had made to be directed to good
purpose: and then determined to put them in proofe, and to be
present indifferently at al the feasts and assemblies of the
City, without bearing affection more to one Woman than to an
other: and continued in thys manner of Lyfe, II. or III.
monthes, thinking by that meanes to quench the sparks of
auncient flames. It chaunced then within few dayes after, about
the feast of Chrystmasse, when feasts and bankets most commonly
be vsed, and maskes accordinge to the custome frequented, that
Anthonie Capellet being the Chief of that Familye, and one of
the principall Lords of the City too, made a banket, and for the
better Solempnization thereof, inuited all the Noble men and
dames, to which Feast resorted the most part of the youth of
Verona. The family of the Capellets (as we haue declared in the
beginninge of thys Hystory) was at variance with the Montesches,
which was the cause that none of that family repaired to that
Banket, but onelye the yong Gentleman Rhomeo, who came in a
maske after supper with certaine other yong Gentlemen: and after
they had remained a certayne space with their visards on, at
length they did put of the same, and Rhomeo very shamefast,
withdrew himself into a Corner of the Hall: but by reason of the
light of the Torches which burned very bright, he was by and by
knowen and loked vpon of the whole Company, but specially of the
Ladies, for besides his Natiue Beauty wherewyth Nature had
adorned him, they maruelled at his audacity how hee durst
presume to enter so secretly into the House of that Famyllye
which had litle cause to do him any good. Notwithstanding, the
Capellets dissembling their mallice, either for the honor of the
company, or else for respect of his Age, did not misuse him
eyther in Worde or Deede: by meanes whereof wyth free liberty he
behelde and viewed the Ladies at hys Pleasure, which hee dyd so
well, and wyth grace so good, as there was none but did very
well lyke the presence of his person: and after he had
particularly giuen Iudgement vppon the excellency of each one,
according to his affection, hee sawe one Gentlewoman amonges the
reste of surpassinge Beautye who (althoughe hee had neuer seene
hir tofore) pleased him aboue the rest, and attributed vnto hir
in heart the Chyefest place for all perfection in Beautye: and
feastyng hir incessantlye with piteous lookes, the Loue whych
hee bare to his first Gentlewoman, was ouercomen with this newe
fire, that toke sutch norishment and vigor in his hart, as he
was not able neuer to quench the same but by Death onely: as you
may vnderstande by one of the strangest discourses, that euer
any mortal man deuised. The yong Rhomeo then felying himselfe
thus tossed wyth thys newe Tempest, could not tell what
countenaunce to vse, but was so surprised and chaunged with
these last flames, as he had almost forgotten himselfe, in sutch
wise as he had not audacity to enquyre what she was, and wholly
bente himself to feede hys Eyes with hir sighte, wherewyth he
moystened the sweete amorous venome, which dyd so empoyson him,
as hee ended hys Dayes with a kinde of most cruell death. The
Gentlewoman that dydde put Rhomeo to sutch payne was called
Iulietta, and was the Daughter of Capellet, the mayster of the
house wher that assembly was, who as hir Eyes did rolle and
wander too and fro, by chaunce espied Rhomeo, which vnto hir
seemed to be the goodliest personage that euer shee sawe: and
Loue (which lay in wayte neuer vntill that time,) assayling the
tender heart of that yong Gentlewoman, touched hir so at the
quicke, as for any resistance she coulde make, was not able to
defende his forces, and then began to set at naught the
royalties of the feast, and felt no pleasure in hir heart, but
when she had a glimpse by throwing or receiuing some sight or
looke of Rhomeo. And after they had contented eche others
troubled heart with millions of amorous lookes which oftentimes
interchangeably encountred and met together, the burning Beames
gaue sufficient testimony of loue's priuy onsettes. Loue hauing
made the heartes breache of those two louers, as they two sought
meanes to speake together, Fortune offered them a very meete and
apt occasion. A certayne Lord of that troupe and companye tooke
Iulietta by the Hande to Daunce, wherein shee behaued hir selfe
so well, and wyth so excellent grace, as shee wanne that Daye
the prise of Honour from all the Damosels of Verona. Rhomeo
hauynge foreseene the place wherevnto shee mynded to retire,
approched the same, and so dyscretelye vsed the matter, as hee
founde the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir: Iulietta
when the daunce was finished, returned to the very place where
she was set before, and was placed betwene Rhomeo and an other
gentleman called Mercutio, which was a courtlyke Gentleman, very
well be loued of all men, and by reason of his pleasaunt and
curteous behauior was in euery company wel intertayned. Mercutio
that was of audacity among Maydens, as a Lyon is among Lambes,
seazed incontynently vpon the hande of Iulietta, whose hands
wontedly were so cold both in Wynter and Sommer as the Mountayne
yce, although the fire's heat did warm the same. Rhomeo whych
sat vppon the left side of Iulietta, seynge that Mercutio held
hir by the right hand, toke hir by the other that he myght not
be deceiued of his purpose, and strayning the same a little, he
felt himself so prest wyth that newe fauor, as he remayned mute,
not able to aunswer: but she perceyuyng by his chaunge of color,
that the fault proceded of the vehemence of loue, desyryng to
speake vnto hym, turned hir selfe towards hym, and wyth
tremblyng voyce ioyned with virginal shamefastnesse, intermedled
with a certayn bashfulnesse, sayd to hym: "Blessed be the houre
of your neare approche:" but mynding to procede in further
talke, loue had so closed vp hir mouth, as she was not able to
end hir Tale. Wherunto the yong Gentleman all rauished with ioy
and contentation, sighing, asked hir what was the cause of that
ryght fortunate blessing: Iulietta, somwhat more emboldened with
pytyful loke and smyling countenance, said vnto him: "Syr, do
not maruell yf I do blesse your comminge hither, bicause sir
Mercutio a good tyme wyth frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine,
and you of your curtesy haue warmed the same agayne." Wherunto
immediatly Rhomeo replyed: "Madame, if the heauens haue ben so
fauorable to employe me to do you some agreeable seruice, being
repaired hither by chance amongs other Gentlemen, I esteeme the
same well bestowed, crauying no greater benefite for
satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this World,
than to serue obey and honor you so long as my lyfe doth last,
as experience shall yeld more ample proofe when it shall please
you to geue further assaye: moreouer, if you haue receiued any
Heat by touche of my Hand, you may be well assured that those
flames be dead in respect of the lyuely Sparkes and violent fire
which sorteth from you fayre Eyes, which fire hath so fiercely
inflamed all the most sensible parts of my body, as if I be not
succored by the fauoure of your good graces, I do attend the
time to be consumed to dust." Scarse had he made an ende of
those last words but the daunce of the Torche was at an end:
whereby Iulietta, which wholly burnt in loue, straightly
claspyng her Hand with hys, had no leysure to make other
aunswer, but softly thus to say: "My deare frend, I know not
what other assured wytnesse you desire of loue, but that I let
you vnderstand that you be no more your own, than I am yours,
beying ready and dysposed to obey you so farre as honour shal
permyt, beseechying you for the present tyme to content your
selfe wyth thys aunswere, vntyll some other season meeter to
Commvnicate more secretly of our affaires." Rhomeo seeing
himselfe pressed to part of the Company, and for that hee knew
not by what meanes he myght see hir agayne that was hys Life and
Death, demaunded of one of his friends what shee was, who made
aunswer that she was the Daughter of Capellet, the Lord of the
house, and Mayster of that daye's feast (who wroth beyonde
measure that Fortune had sent him to so daungerous a place,
thought it impossible to bring to end his enterprise begon.)
Iulietta couetous on the other side, to know what yong Gentleman
he was which had so curteously intertayned hir that Nyght, and
of whome shee felt the new wound in hir heart, called an olde
Gentlewoman of honor which had nursed hir and brought her vp,
vnto whom she sayd leaning vpon hir shoulder: "Mother, what two
young Gentlemen be they which first goe forth with the two
Torches before them." Vnto whome the old Gentlewoman told the
name of the houses wherof they came. Then she asked hir againe,
what young gentleman that was which holdeth the visarde in his
hand, wyth the damaske cloke about him. "It is" (quod she)
"Romeo Montesche, the sonne of youre Father's capytall Enimye
and deadly foe to all your kinne." But the Mayden at the onely
Name of Montesche was altogyther amazed, despayrynge for euer to
attayne to husband hir great affectyoned fryend Rhomeo, for the
auncyent hatreds betweene those two Families. Neuerthelesse she
knewe so well how to dissemble hir grief and discontented Minde,
as the olde Gentlewoman perceiued nothing, who then began to
persuade hir to retire into hir Chamber: whom she obeyed, and
being in bed, thinking to take hir wonted rest, a great tempest
of diuers thoughtes began to enuiron and trouble hir Mynde, in
sutch wyse as shee was not able to close hir Eyes, but turninge
heere and there, fantasied diuers things in hir thought,
sometimes purposed to cut of the whole attempte of that amorous
practise, sometimes to continue the same. Thus was the poor
pucell vexed with two contraries, the one comforted hir to
pursue hir intent, the other proposed the immynente Perill
wherevnto vndyscretly she headlong threwe hir self: and after
she had wandred of long time in this amorous Laberinth, she knew
not whereuppon to resolue, but wept incessantly, and accused hir
selfe, saying: "Ah, Caitife and myserable Creature, from whence
do rise these vnaccustomed Trauayles which I feele in Mynde,
prouokynge mee to loose my reste: but infortunate wretch, what
doe I know if that yong Gentleman doe loue mee as hee sayeth.
It may be vnder the vaile of sugred woordes he goeth about to
steale away mine honore, to be reuenged of my Parentes whych
haue offended his, and by that meanes to my euerlastinge
reproche to make me the fable of the Verona people." Afterwardes
sodainly as she condempned that which she s
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