Greenes neuer too late. Or, A powder of experience: sent to all youthfull gentlemen to roote out the infectious follies, that ouer-reaching conceits foster in the spring time of their youth. Decyphering in a true English historie, those particular vanities, that with their frostie vapours nip the blossoms of euery ripe braine, from atteining to his intended perfection. As pleasant, as profitable, being a right pumice stone, apt to race out idlenesse with delight, and follie with admonition. Rob. Greene in artibus Magister.

GREENES Neuer too late . Or , A Powder of Experience : Sent to all youthfull Gentlemen ; to roote out the infectious follies , that ouer-reaching conceits foster in the spring time of their youth . Decyphering in a true English historie , those particular vanities , that with their frostie vapours nip the blossoms of euerie ripe braine , from atteining to his intended perfection . As pleasant , as profitable , being a right pumice stone , apt to race out idlenesse with delight , and follie with admonition .

Rob. Greene in artibus Magister .

Omne tulit punctum .

LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for N.L. and Iohn Busbie . 1590.

To the right Worshipfull , Thomas Burnaby Esquire , Robert Greene wisheth encrease of al honorable vertues .

SVch ( right Worshipfull ) as coueted to decke the Temple of Delphos , adorned the shrine eyther with greene bayes , or curious instruments , because Apollo did as well patronize Musicke as Poetrie . When the Troyans sought to pacifie the wrath of Pallas : the peoples presents were books and launces , to signifie her deitie , as well defended by letters as armes . And they which desired to be in the fauor of Alexander , brought him either wise Philosophers or hardy Souldiours ; for hee sought counsellers like Aristotle , and captaines like Perdycas . Seeing then how giftes are the more gratefullie accepted , by how much the more they fit the hum●r of the party to whome they are presented : desirous a long time to gratifi● your Worship with something that might signifie , how in al bounden duetie . I haue for sundry fauors bin affected to your Worship , and finding my ability to be vnfit to present you with any thing of woorth ; at last I resolued so farre to presume as to trouble your Worship wyth the patronage of this Pamph●●t , knowing you are such a Maecenas of learning ●hat you will as soone vouch with Augustus a f●w verses , giuen by a poor Greeke as of the Arabian Courser , presented by Tytinius . The Booke is little , yet drawen from a large principle , Nunquam 〈◊〉 est ad bonos mores via : wherin I haue discouer●● so artificially the fraudulent effects of Venus trumperies , and so plainly as in a platforme , laide open the preiudiciall pleasures of loue , that Gentlemen may see , that as the Diamond is beauteous to the sight , and yet deadly poyson to the stomacke , that as the Ba●an leafe containeth both the Antidote , and the Aconiton , so loue ( vnlesse only grounded vpon vertue ) breedeth more disparagement to the credit than content to the fancy . If then ( right Worshipfull ) out of this confused Chaos Gentlemen sh●ll gather any principles , whereby to direct their actions , and that from rash and resolute mainteners of Venus heresies they become reformed champions to defend Vestaes philosophies . Then all the profit and pleasure that shall redound to them by this Pamphlet shall be attribu●ed to your Worship , as to the man , by whose meanes th●s Nunquam sera came to light . Hoping therfore your Worship wil with a fauorable insight enter more into the mind of the giuer than the woorth of the gift , I commit your Worship vnto the Almightie .

Your Worships humbly to commaund , Rob. Greene .

To the Gentlem●● Readers .

SVch Gentlemen as had their ●ares filld with the harmony of Orpheus harp , could not abide th' arsh musick of Hiparchions pipe ; yet the Thessalians would allowe t●e poore fidler license to frolick it among shepheards . Though no pictures could goe for currant with Alexander , b●t such as past through Apelles pensill , yet poore men had their houses shadowed with Phidias course colours . Ennius was called a Poet as well as Virgil , and Vulcan with his po●t foote friskt with Venus as well as Mars . Gentlemen , if I presume to present you as hethertoo I haue done with friuolous toyes ; yet for that I stretch my strings as hie as I can ; if you praise me not with Orpheus , hisse me not out with Hiparchion : if I I paint not with Apelles , yet scrape not out my shadowes with disgrace ; if I stirre my stumpes with Vulcan , though it bee lamely done , yet thinke it is a daunce : so if my Nunquam sera est please not ; yet I pray you passe it ouer with patience , and say t is a booke . So hoping I shall finde you as euer I haue done , I end .

Robert Greene .

A Madrigale to wanton Louers . YOu that by Alcidalions siluer brookes Sit and sigh out the passions of your loues , That on your Goddesse beauties feede your lookes , And pamper vp sweete Venus wanton Doues , That seeke to sit by Cupids scorching fire , And dally in the fountaines of desire . You that accompt no heauen like Venus spheare , That thinke each dimple in your Mistresse chin Earths paradice , that deeme her golden haire Tresses of blisse wherein to wander in : That sigh and court suppliant all to proue , Cupid is God , and there s no heauen but Loue . Come see the worke that Greene hath s●ilie wrought , Take but his Nunquam sera in your view , As in a myrrour there is deeply taught The wanton vices of prowd fancies crew , There is depainted by most curious art , How loue and follie iumpe in euery part . There may you see repentance all in blacke , Scourging the forward passions of fond youth , How fad●ng pleasures end in dismall wracke , How louers ioyes are tempred all with ruth , Sith then his Nunquam sera yeeldes such gaines , Reade it , and thanke the Author for his paines . Ralph Sidley .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . IF Horace satyres merit mickle praise , For taunting such as liu'd in Paphos I le , If wise Propertius was in elder dayes Laureat for figuring out fond Venus wile : If Rome applauded Ouids pleasing verse , That did the salues that medcine loue rehearse . Then English Gentles stoope and gather bayes , Make coronets of Floraes proudest flowers , As gifts for Greene for he must haue the praise , And taste the deawes that high Parna●sus showers , As hauing leapt beyond olde Horace straine , In taunting louers for their fruitlesse paine . His Nunquam sera more conceits combines , Than wanton Ouid in his art did paint , And sharper satyres are within his lines , Than Martial s●ong prowd Venus to attaint , Reade then his art , and all his actions proue , There is no follie like to foolish loue . Richard Hake , Gent.

GREENES Nunquam sera est .

BEing resident in Bergamo , not farre distant from Venice , sitting vnder a coole shade that then shrowded me from the extreme violence of the meridionall heate , hauing neuer a booke in my hand to beguyle tyme , nor no patheticall impression in my head to procure any secret meditation , I had flat fallen into a slumber , if I had not espied a traueller weary and desolate , to haue bended his steppes towards me . Desirous to shake off drowsinesse with some companie I attended his arriuall ; but as hee drewe ne●re , he s●emed so quaint in his attire , and so conceited in his countenaunce , as I deemed the man eyther some penitent pilgrime that was very religious , or some despayring louer that had bin too too affectionate : For thus take his description .

An Ode . Downe the valley gan he tracke , Bagge and bottle at his backe , In a surcoate all of gray , Such weare Palmers on the way , When with scrip and staffe they see Iesus graue on Caluarie , A hat of straw like a swaine Shealter for the sonne and raine , With a scollop shell before : Sandalls on his feete he wore , Legs were bare , armes vnclad , Such attire this Palmer had . His face faire like Titans shine● Gray and b●●some were his eyne , Whereout dropt pearles of sorrow : Such sweete teares Loue doth borrow , When in outward d●awes she plaines Harts distresse that Louers paines● Rubie lips , cherrie cheekes , Such rare mixture Venus seekes , When to keepe hir damsels quiet Beautie sets them downe their diet : Adon ' was not thought more ●aire . Curled lockes of amber haire : Lockes where Loue did sit and twine Nets to snare the gazers eyne : Such a Palmer nere was seene , Lesse loue himsel●e had Palmer been . Yet for all he was so quaint Sorrow did his visage taint . Midst the riches of his face , Griefe decyphred hi● disgrace : Euerie step stra●●d a ●eare , Sodaine sighes shewd his feare : And yet his feare by his sight , Ended in a str●nge delight . That his passions did approue , We●des and sorrow were for loue .

Thus attired in his trauelling roabes and leueld out in the lineaments of his Phis●●mie , not seeing me that lay close in the thicketh h●●●ate him downe vnder a Beech tree , where after he had taken vp his seate with a sigh he began thus to point out his passions .

Infortunate Palmer , whose wéedes discouers thy woes , whose lookes thy sorrowes , whose sighes thy repentance : tho● wandrest to beway●e thy sinne , that hereto● fore hast not wondred at the greatnesse of sinne ; and seekest now by the sight of a strange Land , to satisfie those sol●●es committed in thy Natiue home . Why , is there more grace in the East than in the West●● is God more gracious in ●ewrie , than mercifull in England ? more fauourable to Palmers for their trauell , than pi●ifull to sinner● for their penaunce ? No , bee not so superstitious , least thou measuring his fauour by circumstaunce , hee punish thy faultes in seueritie . Ah , but the déepest vlcers haue the sharpest corasiues , some sores can not be cured but by Subl●matum , and some offences as they beginne in content so they ende in sack●loth : I weare not this Palmers gray to challenge grace , nor seeke the holy Land to counteruaile the Lawe , nor am a Pilgrime to acquittance sinne with penaunce : but I content mee in this habite to shewe the meeknes of my hart , and trauel through many countries to make other men lear●e to beware by my harmes : for if I come amongst youth , I will shew them that the finest buds are soonest ●●p● with frosts , the sweetest flowers sores● eaten with canckars , & the ripest & yong●st ●its soonest ouergrowen with follies : if I chance among Courtiers , I wil tel them , ●hat as the star Artophilex is brightest , yet setteth soonest ; so their glo●●es b●ing most gorgeous , are dash● with sodainest ouerthrowes : if among schol●ers , I wil proue that their Philosophical axiomes , their quiddities of Logicke , their aphorisms of art , are dissolued with this definit peri●d Omma sub sole vanitas ● If amongst Louers , and with this the teares fell from his eyes , and the sighes flew from his hart , as if all should split again : If quoth he , ( and he doubled his words with an Emphasis ) I fall amongst Louers , I will de●ypher to them that their God is a boy , as fond as he is blinde ; their Goddesse a woman , inconstant● false , flattring , like the windes that rise in the shoares of Lepanthus , which in the morning send forth gusts from the North , and in the Euening calmes from the West● that their fancies are like Aprill showers , begun with a Sunne shine , & ended in a storme ; their passions déep hels , their pleasures Chimeraes portraitures , sodaine ioyes that appearing like Iuno , are nothing when Ixion toucheth them but duskie & fading clowdes . Here he stopped , and tooke his scrip from his backe , and his bottle from his side , and with such cates as he had , as limons , apricocks and oliues , he began a palmers banquet , which digesting with a cup of wine well tempred with water , after euerie draught he sighed out this Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via . When he had taken his repast , casting vp his eyes to heauen , as beeing thankfull for his benefites and sorrowfull for his sinnes , falling into a déepe meditation , after hee had a while lien as a man in a Traunce , he started vp sodainly , and with a halfe chéered countenance song out this Ode .

The Palmers Ode . OLde Menalcas on a day , As in field this shepheard lay● Tuning of his o●en pipe , Which he hit with manie a stripe ; Said to Coridon that hee Once was yong and full of glee , Blithe and wanton was I then : Such desires follow men . As I lay and kept my sheepe , Came the God that hateth sleepe , Clad in armour all of fire , Hand in hand with Queene Desire : And with a dart that wounded nie , Pearst my heart as I did lie : That when I wooke I gan sweare , Phillis beautie palme did beare . Vp I start , foorth went I , With hir face to feede mine eye : There I saw Desire sit , That my heart with Loue had hit , Laying foorth bright Beauties hookes To intrap my gazing lookes . Loue I did and gan ●o woe , Pray and sigh , all would not doe : Women when they take the toy Couet to be counted coy . Coy she was , and I gan court , She thought Loue was but a sport . Profound Hell was in my thought , Such a paine Desire had wrought , That I sued with sighes and teares , Still ingrate she stopt hir eares , Till my youth I had spent . Last a passion of Repent , Tolde me flat that Desire , Was a br●nd of Loues fire , Which consumeth men in thrall , Vertue , youth , wit , and all . At this sawe backe I start , Bet Desire from my hart , Shooke of Loue and made an ●th , To be enemie to both . Olde I was when thus I fled , Such fond ●oyes as cloyde my hea● . But this I learnd at Vertues ga●e , The way to good is neuer late . Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via .

As soone as he had ended his Ode , he fell to his old principle Nunquam sera est : and confirming it with a sigh , he rose vp , & was ready to depart towards Bergamo to take vp his lodging , for the s●nne was declining towardes the West .

But I desirous to search further into this passionate Palmer , crost him the way with this salutation : Palm●r ( for so thy appar●ll discouers ) and penitent , if thy inward h●art agree with thy outward passions ; if my ques●ions may not aggrauate thy griefe , nor my demaund be tedious to thy trauels , let me craue of curtesie whither thou dost bend the end of thy pilgrimage , that if thou beest stept awry , I may dir●ct thee , or if thou knowest the countrey , I may wish boone fortune to thy iou●ney ; for I haue all my life time coueted to be faithful to my friends and curteous to strangers . The Palmer amazed at my sodaine salutation stept backe and be●● his bro●es , as if he feared some preiudice , or were offended at my presence ; but when h●e saw me weaponlesse , and without companie , and yet so affable in words a●d debonaire in exterior curtesi●s as might importe a Gentleman , he deuoutly mooued his bonnet of gray , and m●de this reply .

Gentleman ( for no lesse you seeme ) if the flower may be knowen by smel , or the man by his words . I am a Palmer , discouered by my gray , and a penitent , if you note my griefe , which sorrow is as effectuall as my attire is lit●le counterfeite , the direction of my iourney is not to Ierusalem : for my faith telles me , Christ can d●aw as great fauour downe in England as in Iericho : and prayers are not heard for the place , but in the b●h●lfe of the person hartilie repentant . My natiue home is England , the ende of my iourney is Venice , where I meane to visit an olde f●iend of mine , an Eng●ishman , to whome I haue beene long time indebted , and nowe meane partely to repay with such store as I haue bought with hard expe●ience . This night I will r●st in the next vill●ge , and thus I hope sir you rest sa●●sfied .

This auswere of the Palmer made mee the more desirous to enquire into his state , that I intreted him I might be hoste to such a guest : and seeing I was resident in Bergamo , where that night he mean● to harbour , such lodging as a country Gentleman could affoord , and such che●re as such a village might on the sodaine yéelde , should be at his commaund .

Well coulde this Palmer skill of courtesie , and returning mee many thankes , voucht of my proffer , and was willing to take my house for his Inne . As wee past on the way , wee chaunced to fall into prattle thus . Sir ( quoth I ) if I might wi●h many questions not be offensiue , I woulde faine be inquisitiue to knowe , as you haue passed along France , Germanie , the Rine , and part of Italie , what you haue noted woorthie of memorie . Moouing his cappe as a man that was passing courteous , he answered thus : I tell you sir ( quo●h he ) as a foolish ques●ion merites silence , so a familiar demaunde craues a friendly replie of duety , although Zeno the philosopher counted it more honour to be a silent naturall●st , than an eloquent Oratour . But as I am not a Gymnosophist to iangle at euery Sophisticall Obiection , so I am not a seuere Stoicke to answere but by Syllables , and therfore thus to your question .

After I had cut from Douer to Calice , I rem●mbred what olde Homer writte of Vlysses , that he coueted , not onely to sée strange Countries , but with a déepe insight to haue a view into the manners of men : so I thought as I passed thorough Paris , not onelie to please mine eie , which the curious Architecture of the building , but wi●h the diuerse disposition of the inhabita●tes . I f●unde therfore the Court ( for I aime first at the fayrest ) to haue a King fit for so royall a Regiment , if hee had ●eene as perfect in true Religion , as pollitique in Martiall Discipline , th● Cour●●ers , they as Aris●ippus faw●de vpo● Dyonisius , turning like to the Cameleon into the likenesse of euerie Obiect that the King proff●red to their humorous conceits , for if the king smiled euery one in the Court was in his iollitie , if he frownd , their plumes fell like the peacocks feathers , so that their outward presence depend●d on his inward passions . Generally so , but particularly thus ; the French Gentlemen are amorous , as soone perswaded by the beauty of their mistresse , to make a braule , as for the maintenance of religion , to enter ●rmes ; their eyes are like Salamander stones , that fier at the sight of euery flame ; their hearts as queasie as the mineralls of Aetna that burne at the heate of the sunne , and are quencht with the puffe of euery winde . They count it Courtlike to spende their youth in courting of Ladies , and their age in repen●ing of sinnes , yet more forward in the one , than deuout in the other . They bandy glaunces vpon euery face , and as though they would approoue euery passion for a principle , they set downe the p●riod with a deepe sigh : yet , as the breath of a man vpon st●●le no sooner lighteth on but it leapeth off , is the beginning and ending of their loues . Thus much for th●i● amour● . Now for their a●ms , they be hardy souldiors and r●s●l●●e . For their faith , friendship , religion , or other par●icular qualities , for there is a league betwixt vs & them : I wil spare to speak , least in b●ing Satyricall , I should plod too far with Diogenes , or in flattering their faults or their follies , I shold claw a fooles shoulder with Dauus in Terence , skipping therefore from them to the Germans . Nay stay sir ( quoth I ) before you passe the Alpes , giue me leaue to holde you an houre still in Lions : for though you be a Palmer and religious , yet I hope such deepe deuotion rested not in you , but an ounce of Venus fauours hung in your eies , and when you had sp●nt the morning in orisons , you could in the afternoone lend a glaunce to a faire Lady . The egle soares not so hie in the aire , but ●e can spie a little fish in the sea , the sunne in Cancer goes retrograde , the coldest clime hath his summer , and Apollo was neu●r so stoicall , but sem●l in anno he could let fall a smile ; and the most seuere p●lgrime or palmer hath an eye well 〈◊〉 a heart , and a looke to lend to beauty as a thought to bend to Theology . Therfore I pray you what thinke you of the French women : at this question although his grauity was great , y●t with a pleasant countenance he made this reply : although fire is hote as well in the coldest region of the North , as in the furthest Southerne paralell , the grasse of the same colour in Egypt as it is in Iewry , and women wheresoeuer they be br●d be mala necessaria , yet though their general essence be all one as comming from Eua , and therefore froward , inconstant , light , amorous , d●c●itfull● and quid non , better desciphered by Mantuan than I can make description of : yet as the Diamonds in India be more harde than the Cornish s●on●s in England , as the margarites of the west are more orient than the pearles of the Sou●h , so womens affections are ●ffected after the disposition of the clime wh●rein they are borne although Auycen in his Aphorismes settes downe this conclusion , that thornes no where growe without prickes , nor nettles without stings ; but leauing off these preambles , thus to your qu●stion . The women in France generally as concerning the exteriour ●iniam●nts of their outward perfection , are beautifull , as being westernly seated neere great Brittaine where nature si●s & hatcheth beauteous paramours : yet although natur● naturans hath shewed her cunning in their purtraiturs , as women that thinke nothing perfect that Arte hath not pollished , they haue drugges of Alexandria , mineralls of Egypt , waters from Tharsu● , paintings from Spaine : and what to doe forsooth ? To make them more beautifull than v●rtuous , and more pleasing in the eies of men than delitefull in the sight of God , this is but their ext●rior vanitie that blemisheth their inward vertues , if they haue any , but more to their interior inclination . Some , as if they were votaries vnto Venus , and at their natiuities had no other influence , take no pleasure but in amorous passions no delight but in madrigales of loue , wetting Cupids winge● with rosewater , and tricking vp his quiuer with swéete perfumes , they set out their faces as Foulers doo their daring glasses , that the Larks that soare highest may stoope soonest , and assoone as the poore louing fo●les are wrapt within their nettes , then they sue with sighes , and plead with Sonnets , faine tears , & paint out passions to win her , that seeming to be coy , comes at the first lure : for when they sée yong nouices intrapt , then the French dames are like to the people Hyperborei that spurning liquorice with their féet , secretly slake their hunger with the iuice therof ; so they outwardly seming to contemne their sutors motions , stand in deadly feare , least they shuld leaue off their amorous passions : so that they haue loue in their eie-lids , so slenderly tacked on by fancy , as it drops off with euery dreame , and is shakte off with euery vaine slumber . Some of them are as Sapho was , subtile to allure , & slippery to deceiue , hauing their hearts made of waxe ready to receiue euery impression , not content till they haue as many louers as their hearts haue entrance for loue , and those are like to pumice stones that are light & ful of holes . Some are as inconstant as Cressyda , that be Troilus neuer so true , yet , out of sight out of mind : and as soone as Diomede begins to court , she like Venetian traffique is for his penny , currant à currendo , sterling coine passable from man to man in way of exchange . Others are as Lidia , cruell , whose harts are hammered in the forge of pride , thinking themselues too good for all , and none worthie of them , and yet oft times nestling all day in the sunne with the béetle , are at night contented with a cowsherd for shelter . These haue eies of Basiliskes , that are preiudiciall to euery obiect , and hearts of Adamant not any way to be pierced : and yet I thinke , not dying maides , nor leading Apes in hel : for Vestaes sacrifice ceased long since in Rome , and Uirgins are as rare as blacke swannes , opportunitie is ● sore plea in Venus Court , able , I tell you , to ouerthrowe the coyest she that is : I could inferre more particular instances , and distinguish more at large of the French Gentlewomen : but let me leaue them to their humorous vanities , and resolue ●ur selues , that Ireland doth not onely bring forth wolues , nor Egypt Crocodiles , nor Barbaris Leopards , nor Franc● such qualified women , but as the earth yéeldes weedes as wel in the lowest valleys , as in the highest mountains , so women are vniuersally mala necessaria , wheresoeuer they be ●yther bred or brought vp . With this conclusiue period he breathed him : & I could not but smile to see the palmer shake his head at the fondnesse of women , as a man that had bin galled with their ingratitude . Well , after he had pawsed a little , he left France , and began to talke of Germany , and that was thus : After I had left Lions , I passed vp the Alp●● , and coasted into Germany , where , as I found the Country seated vnder a cold clime , so I perceiued the people high-minded and fuller of wordes than of courtesie , giuen more to drincke than to deuotion : and y●t sundry places stuffed with schismes and heresies , as people that delight to be factious : there might you see their interior vanities more than their outward apparell did importe , and oft times their vaunts more than their manhoode : for loue , as I saw Venus of no great accompt , yet shee had there a temple , and though they did not beautifie it with iewels , they plainely powred foorth such Orizons as did bewray , though they could not court it as the French did with art , yet their Iust was no lesse , nor their liues more honest . Because the people were little affable , I grewe not so farre inquisitiue into their manners and customes , but sicco pede past them ouer , so that I trauelled vp as farre as Vienna , where I saw a thing worthie of memorie . In a Ualley betweene two high mountaines topt with trees of marueilous verdure , whereby ran a fountaine pleasant as well for the murmure of the streames , as for the sweetenesse of waters , there was scituated a litle lodge artificialy built , and at the doore , a man of v●rie great grauitie and no lesse age , sa●e leaning vpon his staffe , so to take the benefit of the aire & the sunne , his haires were as white as the threeds of silke in Arabia , or as the Palme trees on the mount Libanus ; many yeeres had made fur●ows in his face , where experience face and seemed to tel forth oracles : deuotion apeared in his habite , & his outward cloth discouered his inward heart , that the old Hermit seemed in the world a resolute despiser of the world : standing a while and wondring at this olde man , at last al reuerence doone that his yeeres did require , or my youth was bound vnto , after salutations I questioned him of the order of his life , who answered me with such curtesie and humilitie as I perceiued in his words the perfit Idea of a mortified man : after sundry questions broken with pro & contra , at last he tooke me by the hand & caried me into his cell , where I found not those Vtensilia which Tully sayes are necessary to be in euery cottage , but I found books and th●t of Theologie , a drinking cup , and that was full of water : a d●ad mans scul , an houre glasse , and a Bible , thus only was his house garnished . After he had sate downe a litle , he looked me very earne●●ly in the face , as a man that had some skil in phis●ognomy , to censure of the inward qualities by the outward appearance , at last in ●ough hie Dutch verses he thus breached out his opinion , which I drew thus into blancke verse .

The Hermites first exordium . Here looke my sonne for no vainegloriou● shews Of royall apparition for the eye , Humble and m●eke befitteth men of yeeres , Behold my cell built in a silent shade , Holding content for pouertie and peace , And in my lodge is fealtie and faith , Labour and loue vnited in one league . I want not , for my minde affordeth wealth● I know not enuie , for I climbe not hie : Thus do I liue , and thus I meane to die .

Then hee stept to his shelfe , and takes downe a deaths head , whereon looking as a man that meditated vpon some déepe matter , he shooke his head , and the teares standing in his ●yes , he prosecuted his matter thus .

If that the world presents illusions , Or Sathan seekes to puffe me vp with pompe , As man is fraile and apt to follow pride : Then see my sonne where I haue in my cell , A dead mans scull which cals this straight to mind That as this is , so must my ending be . When then I see that earth to earth must passe , I sigh , and say , all flesh is like to grasse .

After he had thus explained the reason why he kept the dead mans scull in his Cell , he reacht to his hower glasse , and vpon that he began thus to descant .

If care to liue , or sweete delight in life , As man desires to see out manie daies , Drawes me to listen to the flattering world : Then see my glasse which swiftly out doth runne , Comparde to man , who dies ere he begins . This tells me , time slackes not his poasting course , But as the glasse runnes out with euerie hower , Some in their youth , some in their weakest age , All sure to die , but no man knowes his time . By this I thinke , how vaine a thing is man , Whose longest life is likened to a spar.

Lastly , he tooke his Bible in his hand , whereupon leauing his arme he amplified thus .

When Sat●an seekes to si●t me with his wiles , Or proudly dares to giue a fierce assault , To make a shipwracke of my faith with feares : Then armde at all points to withstand the foe With holy armour : here s the martiall sword : This booke , this bible , this two edged blade , Whose sweete content pierceth the gates of hell : Decyphring lawes and discipline of warre , To ouerthrowe the strength of Sathans iarr● .

Thus the Hermite discouered to mee the secrets of his Cell : and after , that I should be priuie to all his Patheticall conceipts , hee brought foorth a fewe rootes , and such s●mple diet as he had , to confirme that hee tyed Nature euerie waye within hit limits : wondring at the methode he vsed in his Cell , after I had taken my repast with him , as we met courteouslie , we parted friendly ; he with exhortations to beware of youths follies ; I with thankes and reuerence to his age● yeares , for his graue and fatherly perswasion : so I went from his Cell to Vienna , and from thence coasted vp into the borders of Italy .

The Palmer had scarce named Italy , but wee were come to my house , where I gaue him such intertainment , as either the abilitie of my substaunce , the plentie of the Countrey , or the shortnesse of the time could affoord : and because I would euerie wa● grace him , I brought downe my wife to giue him a royall welcome ; a fauour seldome shewed in Italy : yet because hee was a Palmer and his profession valued beautie at a light price , I did him that grace . To be short , at last we sate downe to supper , and there past the time with such pleasing chatt , as the pleasant Palmer p●eased to conferre vpon . Supper done , I des●red the Palmer to discourse ( if it were not offensiue ) what reason mooued him to direct his Pilgrimage onely to Venice ? Raising himselfe vp with a smiling countenaunce he made this reply .

Courteous Gentleman , for so much your affable and liberall disposition doth a●prooue . Iupiter when hee was interteined by poore Baucis , accounted ingratitude so heynous , as hee turnde their cottage to a Temple , and made them Sacrificers at his Altars : Hospitalitie is so precious , as no price may value . Then , if I should not graunt anie lawful demaund , I might séeme as little pliant to humanitie , as you lyable to courtesie : and therefore if the Ge●tlewoman your wife and you will sit vp to heare the discourses of a traueller , I will first rehearse you an English Historie acted and euented in my Countrey of England : but for that the Gentleman is yet liuing I will shadowe his name , although I manifest his follies ; and when I haue made relation I will shew why I directed the course of my Pilgrimage onely to Venice . My Wife by his countenaunce séemed to be merueilous content , and my selfe kept silence : Whereupon the Palmer began as followeth .

The Palmers Tale .

IN those dayes when Palmer●● reigned King of great Britaine , famoused for his déedes of Chiualrie , there dwelled in the Citie of Caerbranck ; a Gentleman of an ancient house , called Francesco a man whose parentage though it were worshipfull , yet it was not indued with much wealth : in somuch that his learning was better than his reuenewes , & his wit more beneficiall than his substance . This Signor Francesco desirous to bend the course of his compasse to some peaceable Port , spread no more cloath in the winde than might make easie saile , least hoys●ing vp too hastely aboue the maine yeard , some sodain● gust might make him founder in the déep . Though he were yong yet he was not rash with Icarus to soare into the skie , but to crie out with olde Dedalus , Medium tenere tutissimum : treading his shooe without anie slip . He was so generally loued of the Citizens , that the richest Marchant or grauest Burghmaster would not refuse to graunt him his daughter in mariage , hoping more of his insuing fortunes , than of his present substance . At last , casting his eye on a Gentlemans daughter that dwelt not far from Caerbranck , he fell in loue , and prosecuted his sute with such affable courtesie , as the maide considering the vertue and wit of the man , was content to set vp her rest with him , so that her fathers consent might be at the knitting vp of the match . Francesco thinking himselfe co●ksure , as a man that hoped his credite in the Citie might carrie away more than a country Gentlemans daughter , finding her father on a day at fit opportuni●ie , he made the motion about the grant of his daughters mariage . The olde churle that listened with both eares to such a question , did not in this in vtramuis aurem dormire : but leaning on his elbow , made present aunswere , that hir dowrie required a greater feoffinent than his lands were able to affoord . And vpon that , without farther debating of t●e matter , he rose vp , and hied him home , whether as soone as he came , he called his daughter before him , whose name was Isabel , to whom he vttered these words ; Why Huswife quoth he , are you so idle tasked , that you stand vppon thornes while you haue a husband ? are you no sooner hatched with the Lapwing , but you will runne away with the shell on your head ? Soone prickes the trée that will proue a thorne , and a Girle that loues too soone , wil repent too late . What a husband ? Why the Maides in Rome durst not looke at Venus temple till they were thirtie , nor went they vnmasked till they were maried ; that neither their beauties might allure other , nor they glaunce their eyes on euerie wanton . I tell thée fond Girle , when Nilus ouerfloweth before his time , Aegipt is plagued with a dearth : the trées that blossom in Februarie , are nipped with the frosts in May ; vntimely frutes had neuer good fortune , & young Gentlewomen that are wooed and won ere they be wise , sorrow and repent before they be olde . What séest thou in Francesco , that thine eye must choose , and thy heart must fancie ? Is he beautifull ? Why fonde Girle , what the eye liketh at morne , it hateth at night : Loue is like a hauyn , but a blaze ; and Beautie , why how can I better compare it than to the gorgeous Cedar , that is onely for show and nothing for profite ; to the apples of Tantalus , that are precious in the eye , and dust in the hand ; to the starre Artophilex , that is most bright , but fitteth not for anie compasse ; so yong men that stand vpon their outward portraiture . I tel thée they are preiudicial : Demophon was faire , but how dealt he with Phillis ? Aeneas was a braue man but a dissembler : fond girle , all are but little worth , if they be not welthie . And I pray thée , what substance hath Francesco to endue thée with ? Hast thou not heard , that want breakes amitie , that loue beginneth in golde and endeth in beggerie ; that such as marie but to a faire face , tie themselues oft to a foule bargain ? And what wilt thou doo with a husband that is not able to maintain thée ? buy forsooth a dram of pleasure with a pound of sorrowe , and a pint of content with a whole tunne of preiudiciall displeasures ? But why doo I cast stones into the aire , or breath my words into the winde ; when to perswade a woman from her wil is to roll Sisiphus stone ; or to hale a headstrong Girle from loue , is to tie the Furies againe in fetters . Therefore huswife , to preuent all misfortunes , I will be your Iay●er . And with that , he carried her in and shut her vp in his owne chamber , not giuing her leaue to depart but when his key gaue her license : yet at last she so cunningly dissembled , that she gat thus farre libertie , not to bee close prisoner , but to walke about the house ; yet euerie night hee shut vp her cloathes , that no nightly feare of her escape might hinder his broken slumbers .

Where leauing her , let ●s returne to Francesco ; who to his sorrowe heard of all these hard fortunes : and beeing pensiue was full of manie passions , but almost in despayr● ; as a man that durst not come nigh her Fathers doore , nor send anie letters whereby to comfort his Mistresse , or to lay anie plot of her libertie : for no sooner anie stranger came thether , but hee suspitio●s they came from Francesco , first sent vp his Daughter into her chamber ; then as watchfull as Argus with all his eyes , he pried into euerie particular gesture and behauiou● of the partie : and if anie ielous humour tooke him in the head , he would not onely bee verie inquisitiue with cutting questions , but would straine courtesies and search them very narrowly , whether they had ●●ie letters or no to his Daughter Isabel.

This narrow inquisitio● made the poore Gentleman almost franticke , that he turned ouer Anacreon , Ouid de Ar●● amend● , and all books that might teach him any sleights of loue : but for all their principles , his own wit serued him for the best shift , and that was happely begun & fortunately ended thus ; It chaunced that as hee walked thus in his muses , fetching the compasse of his conceipt beyonde the Moone , he met with a poore woman that from dore to dore sought her liuing by charitie . The woman as her custom● was , began her exordium with I pray good Master , & so foorth , hoping to finde the Gentleman as liberall , as hee was full of gracious fauours : neither did she misse of her imag●nation ; for he that thought her like●y to be drawen on to the executing of his purpose , conceipted this , that golde was as good as glew to knit her to anie practise whatsoeuer , & therfore out with his purse , and clapt her in the hand with a French crowne . This vnaccustomed reward made made her more frank of her cur●sies , that euerie rag reacht the Gentleman a reuerence with promise of many prayers for his health . He that harped on another string tooke the woman by the hand , & sitting down vpon the gréen grasse , discourst vnto her from point to point the beginning & sequell of his loues , and how by no meanes ( except by her ) he could conuay anie letter . The begger desirous to do the Gentleman anie pleasure , said shee was readie to take anie paines that might redound to his content . Whereupon he replied thus ; Then mother , thou shalt goe to yonder Abbey which is her fathers house , & when thou commest thether vse thy wonted eloquence to intreate for thine almes : if the master of the house be present , shewe thy pasport , and séeme verie passionate : but if he be absent or out of the way , then , oh then mother , looke about if thou séest Diana masking in the shape of a Uirgin , if thou spi●st Venus , nay one more beautifull than loues goddesse , & I tell thée she is my loue faire Isabel , whom thou shalt discerne from her other sister , thus : her visage is faire , conteining as great resemblance of vertue as liniaments of beautie , & yet I tell thee she is ful of fauor , whether thou respects the outward portraiture or inward perfection : her eye like the diamond , & so pointed that it pearceth to the quick , yet so chast in the motion as therein is séene as in a myrrour courtesie tempred with a vertuous disdaine : her countenance is the verie map of modestie , and to giue thée a more néere marke , if thou findest her in the way , thou shalt sée her more liberall to bestow , than thou pitifull to demaund , her name is Isabell : to her from me shalt thou carrie a letter , foulded vp euerie way like thy pasport , with a greasie backside , and a great seale . If cunningly and closely thou canst thus conuey vnto her the tenure of my minde , when thou bringest mee an answere , I wil giue thée a brace of Angels . The poore woman was glad of this proffer , and thereuppon promised to venter a ioynt , but shee would further him in his loues : whereupon she followed him to his chamber , & the whiles he writ a letter to this effect .

Signor Francesco to faire Isabel.

WHen I note faire Isabel the extremitie of thy fortunes and measure the passions of my Loue , I finde that Venus hath made thée constant to requit my miseries ; and that where the greatest onset is giuen by fortune , there is strongest defence made by affection : for I heard that thy father suspitious , or rather ielous of our late vnited simpathie , dooth watch like Argos ouer Io , not suffring thee to passe beyonde the reach of his eye , vnles ( as he thinkes ) thou shouldest ouerreach thy selfe . His minde is like the Tapers in Ianus Temple , that sette once on fire burne till they consume themselues ; his thoghts like the Sunne beames , that search euerie secrete . Thus watching thée hee ouerwaketh himselfe ; and yet I hope profiteth as little as they which gaze on the flames of Actna , which vanish out of their sight in smoake .

I haue heard them say ( faire Isabell ) that as the Diamondes are tryed by cutting of Glasse , the Topace by byding the force of the Andu●ile , the Sethin Woode by the hardnesse , so womens excellence is discouered in their constancie . Then if the periode of all their v●rtues consist in this , that they take in loue by months , and let it slip by minutes , that as the Tortois● they créepe pedetentim , and when they come to their rest , wil● hardly be remooued . I hope thou wilt confirme in thy loues the very patterne of femenine loyaltie , hauing no motion in thy thoughts , but fancie , and no affection , but to thy Francisco . In that I am stopped from thy sight , I am depriued of the chiefest Organ of my life● hauing no sense in my selfe , perfect , in that I want the viewe of thy perfection , ready with sorrow to perish in dispayre , if resolued of thy constancie , I did not triumph in hope . Therefore nowe restes it in thée to salue all these sores and prouide medicines for these daungerous maladies , that our passions appeased , we may end ou● harmony in the faithfull vnion of two hearts . Thou seest loue hath his shifts , and Venus q●iddities are most subtill sophistry , that he which is touched with beauty , is euer in league with opportunitie : these principles are prooued by the messenger , whose state discouers my restlesse thoughts , impatient of any longer repulse . I haue therefore sought to ouermatch thy father in pollicie , ●s he ouer straines vs in ielousie , and seeing hee seekes it , to let him find a knot in a rush ; as therefore I haue sent thee the summe of my passions in the forme of a pasport , so returne mee a reply wrapt in the same paper● that as wee are forced to couer our deceits in one shift , so here after we may vnite our loues in one Simpathie : Appoint what I shall doe to compasse a priuate conference● Thinke I will account of the seas as Leander , of the wars as Troylus , of all dangers as a man resolued to attempt any perill , or breake any preiudice for thy sake . Say , when , and where I shall meete thee , and so as I be●gunne passionately , I breake off abruptly . Farewell .

Thine in fatall resolution , Seigneur Francisco .

AFter hee had written the letter , and dispatcht the messenger hir mind was so fixed on the brace of Angels , that she stirred her old stumpes til she came to the house of Seigneur Fregoso , who at that instant was walkt abroad to take view of his pastures . She no sooner beganne her methode of begging with a solempne prayer , and a pater noster . But Isabell , whose deuotion was euer bent to pity the poore , came to the doore , to see the necessity of the party , who beganne to salute her thus . Faire Mistresse , whose vertues exceede your be●●ties , and yet I doubt not but you deeme your perfection equiuolent wyth the rarest paragons in Brittaine , as your eye receiues the obiect of my miserie , so let your heart haue an insight into my extremities , who once was young● and then fauoured by fortunes , now olde and crossed by the destinies , driuen when I am weakest to the wal , and when I am worst forst to hel●e the candle . Seeing then the faultes of my youth hath forst the fall of mine age , and I am driuen in the winter of min● yeeres to abide the brunt of al stormes , let the plenty of your youth p●ty the want of my dec●epite state ; and the rather , because my fortune was once as hie as my fall is nowe lowe : for proofe , sweete Mistresse , see my pasporte , wherein you shall finde many passions and much patience : at which period , making a cour●esie , her very r●gges seemed to giue Isabell reuerence . She hearing the beggar insinuate with such a sensible preamble , thought the woman had had some good partes in her , and therefore tooke her certificate , which as soone as she had opened , and that she perceiued it was Franciscoes hand , she smiled , and yet bewrayed a passion with a blush . So that stepping from the woman , she went into her ●hamber , where shee read it ouer with such patheticall impressions as euery motion was intangled with a dilemma : for on the one side , the loue of Francisco grounded more on his interiour vertues , than his exteriour beauties , gaue such fierce assaults to the bulwa●ke of her affection , as the Fort was ready to bee yeelded vp , but that the feare of her fathers displeasure armed with the instigations of nature draue her to meditate thus with her selfe .

Now Isabell , Loue and Fortune hath brought thee into a Labyrinth , thy thoughts are like to Ianus pictures , that present both peace and warre , and thy mind like Venus Anuile , whereon is hammered both Feare and Hope . Sith then the chance lieth in thine own choice , do not with Medea see and allow of the best , and then follow the worst : but of two extremes , if they be Immediata , choose that may haue least preiudice and most profi●e . Thy father is aged , and wise , and many yeeres hath taught him much experience . The olde Foxe is more subtile than the young Cub , the bucke more skilfull to choose 〈◊〉 than the yong sawnes . Men of age feare and for●see that which youth leapeth at with repentance . If then his graue wisdome exceedes thy greene wit , and his ripened frutes ●hy sprowting blossoms , thinke if he speake for thy auaile , as his principles are perfect , so they are grounded on Loue and Nature . It is a neere collo● , saies he , is cut out of the owne flesh , and the ●●ay of thy fortunes , is the staffe of his life● no dou●t he sees with a more p●etting iudgement into the life of Francesco : for thou ouercome with fancie , censurest of all his actions wyth partialitie . Francesco , though hee be young and beautifull , yet his reuenewes are not answerable to his fauours : the Cedar is faire , but vnfruitfull , the Volgo a bright streame , but without fish : men couet rather to plant the Oliue for profite , than the Alder for beautie , and young Gentlewomen shoulde rather fancie to liue , than affect to lust : for loue wythout Landes , is like to a fier wythout fewell , that for a while sheweth a bright blaze , and in a m●ment dyeth in his owne cinders . Doost ●hou thinke this Isabell , that thine eye may not surfeit so with beautie , that the minde shall vomite vp repentaunce : yes , ●or the fairest R●ses haue prickes , the purest Lawnes their moles , the brightest Diamonds their crackes , and the most beautifull men of the most imperfec● conditions , for nature hauing care to pollish the body so faire , ouerweenes herselfe in her excellencie , that shee leaues th●ir mindes vnperfect . Whither now Isabell , into absurd Aphorismes ? what can thy father perswade thee to this , that the most glorious shelles haue not the most orient mar●arites , that the purest flowers haue not the most perfect sauours , that men , as they excell in proportion of bodie , so the● exceede in perfection of minde ? Is not nature both curious and absolute , hiding the most vertuous mindes in the most beautifull couertures . Why what of this fonde girle ? suppose these premises be granted , yet they inferre no conclusion : for , suppose hee be beautifull and vertuous , and his wit is equall with his parentage , yet hee wantes wealth to maintaine loue , and therefore sayes olde Fregose not worthy of Isabels loue . Shall I then tie my affection to his lands or to his liniaments ? to his riches or his qualities ? are Venus altars to be filled with gold or loialty of harts ? Is the Simpathie of Cupids consistorie vnited in the abundance of coyne ? Or the absolute perfection of constancie ? Ah Isabell , thinke this , that loue brooketh no exception of want , that where fancie displayes her coulours there alwayes eyther Plentie keepes her Court , or else Patience so tempers euery extreame , that all defectes are supplied with content . Upon this , as hauing a farther reach , and a déeper insight , she stept hastely to her standish , and writte him this answere .

Isabell to Francisco , health .

ALthough the nature of a father , and the duetie of a childe might mooue me resolutely to r●iect thy letters , yet I receyued them , for that thou art Francisco and I Isabell , who were once priuate in affection , as now we are distant in places . But know , my father , whose commaund to me is a law of constraint , settes downe this censure , that loue wit●out wealth is like to a Cedar tree without frute , or to corne sowen in the sands that withereth for want of moisture : and I haue reason Francesco to deeme of snow by the whitenesse , and of tr●●s by the blossoms . The olde man whose wordes are Oracles tells me that loue that entreth in a moment , flieth out in a minute , that mens affections is like the deawe vpon a christall , which no sooner lighteth on , but it leapeth off : their eyes with euery glaunce make a newe choice , and euery looke can commaunde a sigh , hauing their heartes like Saltpet●r , that fiereth at the first , and yet prooueth but a flash , their thoughts r●aching as high as C●dars , but as brittle as rods that breake with euery blast : had Car●hage b●ene bere●t of so famous a Virago : if the beaut●ous Troian had b●ene as constant as he was comely ? Had th● Qu●ene of Poetry beene pinched with so many passions , if the wanton Ferriman had beene as faithfull as he was faire . No Francesco , and there●ore seeing the brightest blossoms are pes●red with most caterpillers , the sweet●st Roses wyth the sharp●st prickes , the fairest Cambrickes with the fowlest staines , and men wi●h the best proportion , haue commonly least perf●ction . I ●ay feare to swallowe the ●ooke , l●ast I finde more ba●e i● the confection , than pleasure in the baite . But here let m● breath , and with sighes foresée mine owne follie . Women , poore soules , are l●ke to the Harts in Calabria , that knowing Dictannum to be deadly , yet bruse on it with greedinesse , res●mbling the ●ish Mugra , that seeing the hooke bare , y●t swallow●s it with d●light , so women for●see , yet doo not preu●nt , knowing what is profitable● yet not esc●ewing the preiudice : so Francesco I see thy beauties , I know● thy wa●t , and I feare thy vanities , yet can I not but allowe of all , w●re they the woorst of all , because I finde in my minde this principle ; in Loue is no lacke . What should I ●rancesco couet to dally with ●he Mouse when the Cat stands by , or fill my letter full of needlesse ambages when my father like Argos setteth a hundred eies to ouerpry my actions , while I am writing thy messenger stands at the doore praying . Therefore least I shoulde holde her too long in her orisons , or keepe the poore man too long in suspence ; thus briefly , Be vpon Thursday next at night hard by the Orchard vnder the greatest Oake , where expect my comming , and prouide for our safe passage : for stood all the worlde on the one side , and thou on the other , Francesco should be my guide to direct me whither hee pleased . Faile not then , vnlesse thou bee false to her that would haue life faile , ere she falsifie faith to thee .

Not hir owne , because thine , Isabell.

AS soone as shee had dispatcht her letter shee came downe , and deliuered the letter folded in forme of a pasport to the messenger , giuing her after her accustomed manner an almes , and closely clapt her in the fist with a brace of Angelles , the woman thanking h●r good Maister , and her good mistresse , giuing the house her benison , hied her backe again● to Francesco , whom sh● found sitting sollitary in his chamber : no sooner did he spie hir , but flinging out of his chaire , he changed coulour as a man in a doubtfull extasie what should b●tide : yet conceyuing good hope by her count●naunce , who smiled more at the remembrance of her rewarde ●han at any other conce●t , he tooke the letter and read it , wherein he found his humour so fitted , that he not only thanked the messenger , but gaue her all the money in his purse , so that she returned so highly gratified , as neuer aft●r she was founde to exercise h●r old occupation . But leauing her to the hope of her hus●●f●i● againe to Francesco , who seeing the constant affection of his mistresse , that neither the sower lookes of her father , nor his hard threats could afright her , to make chaunge of her fancie , that no disaster fortune could driue hir to make shipwracke of her fixed affec●ion , that the blustering stormes of aduersitie might assault , but not sacke the for●e of her constant resoltuion , hee fell into this pleasing passion : Women ( quoth he ) whi● as they are heauens weal●h , so they are earthes myracles , ●ramed by nature to despight beauty , adorned wyth the singularitie of proportion , to shrowde the excellence of all perfection , as farre exceeding men in vertues as they excell them in beauties , resembling Angells in qualities , as they are , like to gods in perfectnesse , being purer in minde than in mould , and yet made of the puritie of man : iust they are , as giuing loue her due ; constant , as holding Loy●ltie more pretious than life ; as hardly to be drawen from vnited affection , as the Salamanders fro the cauerns of Aetna . Tush quoth Francesco , what should I say they be women ? and therefore the continents of all excellence . In this pleasant humour he passed away the time , not slacking his businesse for prouision against thursday at night ; to the care of which affaires let vs leaue him and returne to Isabell , who after shee had sent her letter fell into a great dumpe , entring into the consid●ration of mens inconstancie , and of the ficklenesse of th●ir fancies , but all these meditations did sort to no ●ffect ; whereupon sitting downe , she tooke her Lute in her hand , and sung this Ode .

Isabells Ode . Sitting by a riuer side , Where a silent streame did glide , Banckt about with choice flowers , Such as spring from Aprill showers , When faire Iris smiling sheaws All her riches in her dewes , Thicke leaued trees so were planted , As nor arte nor nature wanted , Bo●dring all the broke with shade , As if Venus there had made By Floraes wile a curious bowre To dally with her paramours . At this current as I gazde , Eies intrapt , mind amazde , I might see in my ken , Such a flame as fireth men , Such a fier as doth frie , With one blaze both heart and ●ie , Such a heate as d●oth proue No heate like to heate of loue . Bright she was , for t was a she That tracde hir steps towards me : On her head she ware a bay , To fence Phoebus light away : In hir face one might descrie The curious beauty of the skie , Her eies carried darts of fier , Feathred all with swift desier , Yet foorth these fierie darts did passe Pearled teares as bright as glasse , That wonder t was in her eine Fire and water should combine : If ●h'old saw did not borrow , Fier is loue , and water sorrow , Downe she sate pale and sad , No mirth in hir lookes she had , Face and eies shewd distresse , Inward sighes discourst no lesse : Head on hand might I see Elbow leaned on hir knee , Last she breathed out this saw , Oh that loue hath no law ; Loue inforceth with constraint , Loue delighteth in complaint . Who so loues hates his life : For loues pe●ce is mindes strife . Loue doth frede on beauties fare , Euerie dish saw●t with care : C●iefly women , reason why , Loue is hatcht in their eye : Thence it steppeth to the hart , There it poysonet● euerie part : Minde and heart , eye and thought , Till sweete loue their woe● hath wrought . Then repentant they gan crie , Oh my heart ●hat trowed mine eye . Thus she said and then she rose , Face and minde both full of woes : Flinging thence with this saw , Fie on loue that hath no law .

Hauing finished her Doe , she heard that her father was come in ; and therefore leauing hir an ●●ous i●strumen●s , she fell to her labour , to confirme the olde proue●be in her fathers i●lous head , Otia si ●ollas , periere Cupidinis arcu● : but as warye as she was , yet the old goose could spi● the gosling winke , and woulde not vp anie meanes trust her , but vsed his accustomed manner of restraint : yet , as it is impossible for the smoake to be concealed , or fire to be suppressed ; so Fregoso coulde by no subtill driftes so war●ly watch his ●ra●s●ormed Io , but she found a M●rcurie to release her . For vpon the thurs●ay lying in her bed with little intent to sléepe , she offered manie sighes to Venus that she would be ●●atresse to Morpheus that some dead slumber might possesse all the house ; which fel out accordin●ly , so that at midnight she rose vp & finding her apparell shut vp , she was faine to goe without hose , onely in her ●mocke and her peticoate with her fathers hat and an olde cloake . Thus attired like Diana in her night géete , shee marcheth downe softly , where she found Francesco readie with a priuate and familiar frend of his to watch her comming forth , who casting his eye aside , & séeing one in a hat and a cloake , suspecting some treacherie drew his sword , at which Isabel smiling she incountred him thus .

Gentle sir , if you be as valiant as you séeme cholaricke , or as martiall as you would be thought hardie ; set not vpon a weaponlesse woman , least in thinking to triumph in so meane a conquest , you be preiudicte with the taint of cowardise . T was neuer yet read , that warlicke Mars drew his fawchion against louely Venus ● were her offence neuer great , or his choller neuer so much . Therefore Gentleman if you be the man I take you , Isabels Francesco , leaue off your armes and fall to amours , and let your parlée in them be as short , as the night is silent , and the time dangerous . Francesco séeing it was the Paramour of his affections , let fall his sword , and caught her in his armes , readie to fall in a swound by a sodaine extasie of ioy : at last recouering his senses , he encountred her thus .

Faire Isabel , Natures ouermatch in beautie , as you are Dianas superior in vertue : at the sight of this atti●e , I dre● my sword , as fearing some priuie foe ; but as soone as the view of your perfection glaunced as an obiect to mine eye , I let fal mine armes , trembling as Acteon did , that he had dared too farre in gazing against so gorgeous a Goddesse : yet readie in the defence of your sweet selfe , and rather than I would loose so rich a prize , not onely to take vp my weapons , but to incounter hand to hand with the stoutest champion in the world . Sir ( quoth she ) these protestations are now bootlesse : and therefore to bee briefe , thus ( and with that the teares trickled downe the vermilion of her chéeks , and she blubbred out this passion ) O Francesco , thou maist sée by my attire the depth of my fancie , and in these homely roabes maist thou noate the rechlesnesse of my fortunes , that for thy loue haue straind a note too high in loue . I offend nature as repugnant to my father , whose displeasure I haue purchast to please thée ; I haue giuen a finall farewell to my friends , to be thy familiar ; I haue lost all hope of preferment , to confirme the simpathie of both our desires : Ah Francesco , see I come thus poore in apparell , to make th●e rich in content . Now if hereafter ( oh let me sigh at that , least I be forced to repent too late ) when thy eye is glutted with my beautie , and thy hotte loue prooued soone tolde , thou beginst to hate hir that thus loueth thee , and p●oue as Demophon did to Phillis , or as Aeneas did to Dido : what then maye I doo reiected , but accurse mi●e ●wne folly , that hath brought mee to such hard fortunes . Giue me leaue Francesco , to feare what may fall : for men are as inconstant in performance , as cunning in practises . She could not fully discourse what she was ●bo●t to vtter ; but he broke off with this protestation . Ah Isabel , although the windes of Lepanthos are euer inconstant , the Chris●●oll euer brittle , the Polype euer changeable ; yet measure not my minde by others motions , nor the depth of my affection by the fléeting of others fancies : for as there is a Topace that will yéeld to euerie stamp , so there is an Emerald that will yéeld to no impression . The selfe same Troy , as it had an Aeneas that was fickle , so it had a Troylus th●t was constant . Greece had a Piramus , as it had a Demophon ; and though some haue béen ingrateful , yet accuse not al to be vnthankful : for when Francesco shall let his eye slip from thy beautie , or his thoughts from thy qualities , or his heart from thy vertues , or his whole selfe from euer honouring thée : then shal heauen cease to haue starres , the earth trées , the world Clements , and euerie thing reuersed shall fall to their former Chaos .

Why then ( quoth Isabel ) to hors●backe , for feare the faith of two such Louers be impeached by my fathers wakefull iealouzie . And with that ( poore woman ) halfe naked as she was , she mounted , and as fast as horse would pace away they post towards a towne in the said Countrey of Britaine called Dunecastrum . Where let vs leaue them in their false gallop , and returne to old Fregoso , who rising early in the morning , and missing his Daughter , asked for her through the whole house , but séeing none could discouer where she was , as a●sured of her escape , he cried out as a man halfe Lunaticke , that he was by Francesco robde of his onely iewell . Whereupon in a despayring furie he caused all his men and his tenaunts to mount them , and to disperse themselues euerie one with hue and crie for the recouerie of his daughter , he himself being horst , and riding the readie way to Dunecastrum . Where hee no sooner came , but fortune meaning to dally with the olde doteard , and to present him a boane to gnaw on , brought it so to passe that as he came riding downe the towne , he met Francesco and his daughter comming from the Church , which although it piercte him to the quicke , and strainde euerie s●ring of his heart to the highest noate of sorrow , yet he concealed it till he tooke his Inne ; and then stumbling as fast as he could to the Mayors houle of the towne , he reuealed vnto him the whole cause of his distresse , requiring his fauour for the clapping vp of this vnruly Gentleman , and to make the matter the more hamous , hee accused him of felonie , that he had not onely contrarie to the custome bereft him of his daughter against his wil , but with his daughter had taken away certaine pla●e . This euidence caused the Mayor straight garded with his Officers to march downe with Fregoso to the place where Isabel and her Francesco were at breakfast , little thinking poore soules such a sharp storme should follow so quiet a calme : but fortune would haue it so . And therefore as they were carrowsing each to other in a swéete frolicke of hoped for content , the Mayor rusht in , and apprehended him of felonie ; which draue the poore perplexed louers into such a dumpe , that they s●ood as the pictures that Perseus with his shield turnde into stones . Francesco presently with a sharpe insight entred into the cause , and perceiued it was the drift of the olde foxe his father in lawe : wherefore he tooke it with the more patience . But Isabel séeing her new husband so handled , fell in a swownd for sorrow , which could not preuaile with the Serieants , but they conueyed him to prison , and her to the Mayors house . As soone as this was done , Fregoso as a man carelesse what should become of them in a straunge Countrey , tooke horse and rode home , hee past melancholy , and these remained sorrowfull , especially Isabel : who after shee had almost blubbred out her eyes for griefe , fell at length into this passion .

Infortunate Isabel , and therefore infortunate because thy sorrowes are more than thy yeares , and thy distresse too heauie for the prime of thy youth . Are the heauens so vniust , the starres so dismal , the planets so iniurious , that they haue more contrarie oppositions than fauourable aspects ? that their influence doth infuse more preiudice than they can inferre profite ? Then no doubt if their motions be so maligne , Saturne conspiring with all his balefull signes , calculated the hower of thy birth full of disaster accidents . Ah Isabel , thou maist sée the birds that are hatched in Winter , are nipt with euerie storme ; such as flie against the Sunne are either scorched or blinded ; & those that repugne again nature , are euer crost by fortune . Thy father foresaw these euills , and warned thée by experience ; thou reiectedst his counsaile , and therefore art bitten with repentaunce : such as looke not before they leape , ofte fall into the ditch ; and they that scorne their parents , cannot auoyd punishment . The yong Tygers followe the braying of their olde sire , the tender Fawnes choose their foode by the olde Bucke : These brute beasts and without reason stray not from the limits of nature ; thou a woman and endued with reason , art therefore thus sorrowfull , because thou hast been vnnaturall .

Whether now Isabel ? What , like the shrubbes of India parched with euerie storme ? Wilt thou resemble the brookes of Caruia , that drie vp with euerie Sunne-shine ? Shall one blast of Fortune blemish all thy affection ? one frown of thy father infringe thy loue toward thy husband ? Wilt thou bee so inconstant at the first , that hast promised to bee loyal euer ? If thou béest daunted on thy marriage day , thou wilt be fléeting hereafter . Didst thou not choose him for his vertues , and now wilt thou refuse him for hi● hard fortunes ? Is hee not thy husband ? yes : and therefore more déere to thée than is thy Father . I Isabel , and vpon that resolue , least hauing so faithfull a Troilus , thou prooue as hatefull a Cressyda : sorrowe Isabel , but not that thou hast followed Francesco : but that Francesco by thée is fallen into such misfortunes : séeke to mitigate his maladies by thy patience , not to incense his griefe with thy passions : courage is knowen in extremities , womanhood i● distresse : and as the Chrisolite is prooued in the fire , the diamond by the anuill ; so loue is tried , not by the fauour of Fortune , but by the aduersitie of Time . Therefore Isabel , Feras , non culpes , quòd vitari non po●es , and with Tully resolue thus : Puto rerum humanarum nihil esse firmum : Ita nee in prosperis la●itia gost●s , nec in aduersis dolore concides . With this she held he● peace and rested , silent , so behauing her selfe in the Mayors house with such modestie and patience , that as they held her for a paragon of beautie , so they counted he● for a spectacle of vertue : thinking her outward proportion was farre inferiour to her inward perfection : so that generally she wan the hearts of the whole house , in that they pitied her case , and wished her libertie . Insomuch that Francesco was the better vsed for hir sake : who being imprisoned , gréeued not at his owne sinister mishap , but sorowed for the fortune of Isabel , passing both day and night with manie extreame passions , to thinke on the distresse of his beloued paramour . Fortune who had wrought this tragedie , intending to shewe that her frunt is as full of fauours as of frown●s ; and that shee holdes a dimple in her chéeke , as she hath a 〈◊〉 in her brow , began thus in a Comicall vaine to bee pleasant . After manie daies were passed , and that the Mayor had e●●red into the good demenor o● them b●th , noting that it procéeded rather of ●he ●ispleasure of her father , than for anie special ●●sart of felonie , seeing youth would haue his swinge , and that as the mineralls of Aetna stooue fire , as the leaues in Parthia burne with the Sunne ; so yong yeares are incident to the heate of loue , and affection will burst into such amorous parties . He , not as Chremes in Ter●nce , measuring the flames of youth by his dead cinders , but thinking of their present fortunes by the follies of his former age , called a Conuenticle of his Brethren , and séeing ther was none to giue any further euidence , thought to let Francesco lose . Hauing their fr●e consent , the next day , 〈◊〉 Isabel with him , hee went to the Iayle , where they heard such rare 〈◊〉 of the behauiour of Francesco , that they sorrowed not so much at his fortunes , as ●hey wondred at his ●ertues : for the Iayler discourst vnto them , how as he was greatly passionate , so he vsed great patience , hauing this v●●s oft in his mouth Fortiter ille f●cit , ●q●i miser esse po●est . That he was affable and courteous , winning al , and offending none , that all his house as they greeu●d at his imprisonment , would be sor●ie at his enlargement ; not for enuie of his person , but for sorrowe of his absence . The Iaylour thus commending the Gentleman , conducted them to the chamberdoore where Francesco lay , whom they found in secret meditation with himselfe : therefore they stayed , and were silent auditors to his passions . The first word they heard him breath out with a sigh was this , Soasrir me plaist , cur l'espoir me conforte .

And with that taking a Citterne in his hand , saying this note Pour paruenir l'endure . He warbled out this Ode .

Francescos Ode . WH●n I looke about the place Where sorrow nurseth vp disgrac● , Wrap● within a folde of cares , Whose distresse no heart spares : Eyes might looke , but see no light , Heart might thinke but on despight , Sonne did shine , but not on me : Sorrow said it may not be , That heart or eye should once possesse Anie salue to cure distresse : For men in prison must suppose Their couches are the beds of woes . Seeing this I sighed then , For●une thus should pu●ish men . But when I calde to ●●nd● her face For whose loue I brooke this place , St●rrie eyes whereat my sigh● , Did eclipse with much delight , Eyes that lighten and doo shine , Bea●es of loue that are diuine , Lilly cheekes whereon beside Buds of roses shew their pride , Cherrie lips which did speake Words that made all hearts to break● ; Words most sweete , for breath was sweete , Such perfume for loue is meete . Precious words , as hard to tell Which more pleased wit or smell . When I saw my greatest paines Grow for hir that beautie staines . Fortune thus I did reproue , Nothing grieuefull growes from loue .

Hauing thus chanted ouer his Ode , he heard the chamber doore open ; whereupon he grew melanchol●e , but when he saw the goddesse of his affection , on whose constant loyalty depended , the essence of his happines , he started vp as when loue-sicke Mars saw Venus entring his pauilion in triumph , entertaining them all generally with such aff●bilitie , & her particularly with such courtesie , that he shewed himselfe as ful of nurture as of nature . Interchange of intertainment thus past betwéene these two louers , as well with emphasis of words as extasie of mindes , concluding with streams of patheticall teares . The Mayor at la●● entred parlee , & told Francesco , though his father in law had alledged felony against him , yet because he perceiued that it rather procéeded of some secret reuenge , than any manifest trueth , and that no further euidence came to censure the allegation , he was content to set him at libertie , conditionally , Francesco should giue his hand to be answerable to what hereafter in that behalfe might be obiected against him . These conditions accepted , Francesco was set ●t libertie , and he and Isabell , ioyntly together taking ●hemselues to a little cottage , began to be as Cy●eronicall as they were amorous ; with their hands thrift coueting to satisf●e their hearts thirst , and to be as diligent in labours , as they were affectionate in loues : so that the parish wherin they liued , so affected them for the course of their life , that they were counted the very myrrours of a D●mocraticall methode : for hee being a Scholler , and ●urst vp in the Uniuersities , resolued rather to ●iue by his wit , than any way to be pinched with want , thinking this olde sentence to be true , that wishers and woulders were neuer good housholders , therefore he applied himselfe to teaching of a Schoole , where , by his i●dustry he had , not on●lie great fauour , but gote wealth to withstand fortune . Isabel , that she might séeme no le●se profitable than her husband careful , fel to her needle , and wi●h her worke ●ought to preuent the iniu●ie of necessitie . Thus they laboured to mainetaine their loues , being as busie as b●es , and as true as Turtles , as desirous to satisfie the worlde with their desert , as to feede the humours of their owne desires . Liuing thus in a league of vnited ver●ues , out of this mutuall concorde of confirmed perfection , they had a sonne answerable to their o●●e proportion , which did increase their amitie , so as the ●ight of their young infant was a double ratifying of their affection . Fortune and Loue thus ioyning in league to make these parties to forget the stormes that had nipped the blossomes of their former yeers , addicted to the content of their loues this conclusion of blisse . After the tearme of fiue yeares Seigneur Fregoso hearing by sundry reports the fame of their forwardnesse , howe Francesco co●●ted to be most louing to his daughter , and she most dutifull to him , and both striue to excéede one an other in loyalty , glad at this mutuall agréement hee fell from the fury of his former melancholie passions , and satisfied him selfe with a contented patience , that at l●st he directed letters to his sonne in lawe , that he should make repayre to his house with his daughter . Which newes was no s●●ner come to the eares of this married couple ; but prouiding for all things necessary for the furniture of their voyage they pos●ed as fast as they coulde towardes Caerbrancke , where speedily arriuing at their fathers house they found such friendly intertainement at the olde mans hand , that they counted this smile of Fortune able to counteruaile all the contrarie stormes , that the aduerse planets had inflicted vpon them . Seated thus , as they thought , so surely , as no sinister chaunce , or dismall influence might remoue . She that is constant in nothing but inconstancie , beganne in faire skie to produce a tempest thus .

It so chanced that Francesco had necessarie businesse to dispatch certaine his vrgent affaires at the chiefe city of that Iland called Troyno●ant ; thither wi●h l●aue of his father , and farewell to his wife , the departed after they were married seuen yeeres : where after he was arriued , knowing that he should make hi● abode there , for the space of some nine weeks he solde his horse and hired him a chamber , earnestlie endeuouring to make spéedie dispatch of his affaires , that he might the sooner enioy the sight of his desired Isabel : for did he sée any woman beautiful , hee viewed her with a sigh , thinking howe farre his wife did surpasse her in excellence : were the modesty of any woman well noted by her qualities it gréeued him , hee was not at home with his Isabel , who did excell them all in vertues .

Thus hee construed all to her perfection , hauing no vacant time , neither day nor night ●herein he did not ruminate on the perfection of his Isabell. As thus his thoughts were diuided on his businesse , and on his wife , looking one day out at his Chamber windowe hee espied a young Gentlewoman which looked out at a casement right opposite against his prospect , who fixed her eies vpon him with such cunning and artificiall gla●●ces , as she shewed in them a chaste disdaine , 〈◊〉 yet a ●odest desire . Where ( by the way Gentlemen ) let me say this much , that our curtiza●s of Troyn●●●n● are far ●uperiour in artificiall allurement to them of all the worl● , for al●hough they haue not the painting of It●lie , nor the charms of France , nor the iewelles of Spaine , yet they haue in their eies adamants that wil drawe youth 〈◊〉 the I●t the s●ra●e , or the sight of the Panther the 〈…〉 looks are like lu●es that will reclaime , and like Cy●●es apparition● , that can represent in them all motions : they containe modesty , mirth , chastity , wantonnes , and what not , and she that holdeth in her eie most ciuility , hath oft in hir heart most dishonestie , bring like the pyrie stone , that is , fier wit●out and frost within . Such a one was this mery minion , whose hon●stie was as choice as Venus chastitie , being as faire as Helena and as faithlesse , as wel featured as Cressida and as craftie ; hauing an eie for ●uery passenger , a sigh for euerie louer , a smile for euery one that vailde his bonnet : and because shee loued the game well , a quiuer for euerie woodmans arrowe . This courtisan seeing this countr●y Francesco was no other but a meere nouice , & that so newly , that to vse the old prouerb , he had scarce séent the lions . She thought to intrap him and so arrest him with her amorous glances that shee would wring him by the pursse : wherevpon euery day she would out at hir casement stand , and there discouer her beauties . Francesco , who was like the Flie that delighted in the flame , and coueted to feed his eie on this b●auteous Courtisan tilted at her with interchange of glaunces , and on a day to trie the finesse of his wit , with a poeticall fury , began thus to make a Canzone .

Canzone . As then the Sun sate lordly in his pride , Not shadowed with the vale of any cloude : The Welkin had no racke that seemd to glide , No duski● vapour did bright Phoebus shroude : No blemish did eclipse the beau●eou● skie From setting foorth heauens secret searching eie . No blustring winde did shake the shadie trees , Each leafe lay still and silent in the wood , The birds were musicall , the labouring Bees That in the sommer heap●● their winters good , Plied to their hiues sweete hony from those flowers , Whereout the serpent strengthens all his powers . The lion laid and stretcht him in the lawnes , No storme did hold the Leopard fro his pray , The fallow fields were full of wanton fawnes , The plough-swaines neuer saw a fairer day , For euery beast and bird did take delight To see the quiet heauens to shine so bright . When thus the windes lay sleeping in the caue● , The ayre was silent in her concaue sphere , And Neptune with a calme did please his slaues , Ready to wash the neuer d●enched Beare : Then did the change of my affects begin , And wanton loue assaid to snare me in , Leaning my backe against a lof●ie pine , Whose top did checke the pride of all the aire , Fixing my thoughts , and with my thoughts mine eine Vpon the sunne , the fairest of all faire : What thing made God so faire as this , quoth I ? And thus I musde vntill I darkt mine eie . Finding the sunne too glorious for my sight , I glaunst my looke to shun so bright a lamp● , With that appeare an obiect twice as bright , So gorgeous as my senses all were damp● . In Ida richer beautie did not win When louely Venus shewd her siluer skin . Her pace was like to Iunoes pompous straines , When as she sweeps through heuens brasse paued way , Hir front was powdred through with azurde vaines , That twixt sweet Roses and faire lillies lay , Reflecting such a mixture from her face , As tainted Venus beautie with disgrace . Artophilex the brightest of the stars Was not so orient as her christall eies , Wherein triumphant sat both peace and wars , From out whose arches such sweete fauours flies , As might reclai●● Mars in his highest rage , At beauties charge his fury to assuage . The diamond gleames not more reflecting lights Painted with fiery pyramides to shine , Than are those flames that burn●sh in our sights , Darting fire out the christall of her eine , Able to set Narcissus thoughts on fier Although he sw●re him foe to swe●te desi●r . Gasing vpon this lemman with mine eie , I felt my sight vail● bonnet to her lookes , So deepe a passion to my heart did flie , As I was trap● within her luring lookes , F●rst to confesse before that I had done , Her beauty farre more brighter than the Sunne .

Francesco hauing thus in a poeticall humour pleased his fancie , when his leisure serued him woulde to make proofe of his constancie interchange amorous gl●unces with this faire curtisan , whose name was Infida , thinking his inward affections were so surely grounded on the vertues of his Isabel , that no exterior proportion could effect any passion to the contrary : but at last he found by experience , that the fairest blossomes , are soonest nipt with frost , the best fruite s●onest touched with Caterpillers , and the ripest wittes most apt to be ouerthrowen by loue . Infida taught him with her lookes to learne this , that the ●ie of the Basiliske pierceth with preiudice ; that the 〈◊〉 of Celidonie is swéete , but it fretteth deadly ; that Cyrces cuppes were too strong for all antidotes , and womens flatteries too forceable to resist at voluntarie : for shee so snared him in the fauours of her face , that his eie beganne to censure partially of her perfection , insomuch , that he thought her second to Isabel , if not superiour . Dallying thus wyth beautie as the flie in the flame : Venus willing to shewe how forceable her influence was , so tempred with opportunitie , that as Francesco walked abroad to take the ayre , he met with Infida gadding abroad with certaine hir companions , who like blazing starres shewed the ma●kes of inconstant minions ; for she no sooner drew neere Francesco , but dying her face with a Uermillion blush , and in a wanton ●ie hiding afained modesty , shee saluted him with a lowe courtesie . Seigneur Francesco that coulde well skill to court all kinde of degrees , least he might then be thought to haue little manners , returned , not onely her courtesies with his bonnet , but taking Infida by the hand beganne thus . Faire mistresse , and if mine eie be not deceiued in so bright an obiect , mine ouerthwart neighbour : hauing often seene with delight , and coueted with desire to be acquainted with your sweete selfe ; I can not now but gratulate fortune with many thankes that hath offered such fit opportunitie to bring me to your presence , hoping I shall finde you so friendly , as to craue that wee may be more familiar . She that knewe howe to entertaine such a young nouice made him this cunning replie . Indeede sir , neighborhoode crau●s charitie , and such affable Gentlemen as your selfe deserues rather to be entertained with courtesi● than reiected with disdaine . Therfore sir , what priuate friendship mine honour or honestie may affoord you aboue all ( that hitherto I haue knowne ) shall commaund . Then Mist●rs ( quoth hee ) for that euery man counts it credite to haue a pa●ronesse of his fortun●s , and I am a meere straunger in this Citie : let mee finde such fauour , that all my actions may be shrowded vnder your excellence , and carrie the name of your seruant , ready for requitall of such gr●●ious countenaunce to vnsheath my sworde in the ●efence of my patronesse for euer . She that had her humour ●itted with this motion , answered thus , with a l●●ke that had beene able to haue forced Troylus to haue beene tr●thlesse to his Cressida : How kindly I take it Seigneur Francesco , for so I vnderstand your name , that you pr●●fer your seruice to so meane a Mistresse , the effectuall fa●●urs that shall to my poore abilitie gratifie your curtesie , shall manifest how I accompt of such a friend . Therfore from henceforth Infida intertai●s Francesco for her seruant : & I ( quoth he ) accept of the beauteous Infida as my Mistresse . Upon this they fell into other amorous pr●ttle which I leane off , and walked abroad while it was dinner time . Francesco stil hauing his eie vpon his new mistresse , whose bea●ties he thought , if they were equally tempered with vertues , to exce●de all that yet his eie had made suruey of . Doating thus on this newe face with a new fancie , hee often wroong her by the hand , and brake o●f his sentences , with such deepe sighes , that she perceiued by the Weather-cocke where the winde blewe : returning such amorous passions , as she seemed as much intangled , as he was enamoured . Well , thinking now that she had bayted her hooke , shee woulde not cease while she had fully caught the fish , she beganne thus to lay the traine . When they were come neere to the City gates , she stayed on a sodaine , & strayning him hard by the hand , and glauncing a looke from her eies , as if she would both shew fauour , and craue affection , she began thus smilinglie to assault him .

Seruant , the Lawyers say the assumpsit is neuer good , where the partie giues not somewhat in consideration ; that seruice is voide , where it is not made fast by some fée . Least therefore your eie should make your minde uariable as mens thoughts follow their sights , and their lookes wauer at the excellence of new obi●c●s , and so I loose such a seruant : to tie you to that stak● with an earnest , you shall this day be my guest at dinner . Then if heereafter you forget your mistresse , I shal appeale at the barre of Loyaltie , and so condemne you of lightnes . Francesco that was tied by the ei●s , & had his har● on his halfpeny , could not deny her● but with many thanks accepted of hir motion , so that agréed they went all to Infidaes house to dinner ; where they had such cheere as could vpon the sodaine be prouided . Infida giuing him such friendly & familiar intertainement at his repast , aswel with swéet prattle , as with amorous glances , that he rested captiue within the laborinth of hir flatteries . After dinner was done , that she might tie him from starting , she thought to set all her wits vpon Ela. Therfore she tooke a Lute in her hand , and in an angelicall harmonie warbled out this conceited dittie .

Infidas song . SWeet Adon ' darst not glaunce thine eye N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Vpon thy Venus that must die , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy . See how sad thy Venu● lies , N'oseres vous , mon bel ●●y , Loue in heart and teares in eyes , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vou● , mon bel amy . Thy face as faire as Paphos brookes , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Wherein fancie baites her hookes , Ie vous ●n prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy● Thy cheekes like cherries that doo growe N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Amongst the Westerne mounts of snowe , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous mon bel amy . Thy lips vermilion , full of loue , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Thy necke as siluer , white as doue , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy . Thine eyes like flames of holie fires , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Burnes all my thoughts with sweete desires , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy . All thy beauties sting my hart , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , I must die through Cupids dart , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous mon bel amy . Wilt thou let thy Venus die , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , Adon were vnkinde say I , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N●oseres vous , mon bel amy . To let faire Venus die for woe , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy , That doth loue sweete Adon so , Ie vous en prie , pitie me : N'oseres vous , mon bel , mon bel , N'oseres vous , mon bel amy .

While thus Infida sung her song , Francesco sate , as if with Orpheus melodie he had béen inchaunted , hauing his eyes fixed on her face , and his eares attendant on her Musicke , so that he yéelded to that Syren which after forst him to a fatal shipwrack : Infida laying away her lute after fell to other prattle . But because it grew late in the afternoone , Francesco that was called away by his vrgent affairs , t●●ke his leaue : whereat Infida séemed verie melancholy , which made our yong scholler half mad yet with a solemp●e conge departing he went about his busines : whereas our cunning Curtizan , séeing her nouice gone , began to smile , and said to her companions , that shee had made a good market that had caught such ● tame foole . Alas poore yong Gentleman ( quoth she ) he is like to the leaues in Aegipt , that as they spring without raine , so they burne at the sight of the fire : or to the swallowes , that thinke euerie Sunne shyne a Summers daye . Hee was neuer long wayter in Venus Court , that counts euerie smile a fauour , and euerie laugh to be true loue : but t is no matter , he hath store of pence , & I will sell him manie passions , vntill I leaue him as emptie of coyne , as my selfe is void of fancie . And thus leauing hir i●●●ing at her new intertained seruant , againe to Francesco , who after he had made dispatch of his businesse , got him home to his lodging : where sitting solitarie in his chamber , he began to call to remembrance the perfections of his new Mistresse , the excellent proportion of her Phisnomie , her stature , voyce , gesture , vertues ( as he thought ) ruminating vpon euerie part with a plaudite . At last , as he was in this pleasing suppose , he remembred his swéete Isabel , whose beautie and vertue was once so precious , that betwéen his old loue , and his new fancie , he fell into these passions . Ah Francesco , whether art thou caried with new conceits ? shal thy fruites be more subiects to the Northern blasts , than thy blossomes ? shal thy middle age be more ful of folly , than thy tender yeres ? wilt thou loue in thy youth , and lust when thy dayes are halfe spent ? Men say , that the Cedar , the elder it is , the straighter it growes ; that Narcissus flowers the higher they spring , the more glorious is their hiew : and so shoulde Gentlemen as they excéede in yeres excell in vertues : but thou Francesco are like to the Halciones , which being hatcht white as milke , grow to be as blacke as Ieat ? ; the yong storkes haue a musical voyce , ●ut the old a fearfull sound . When thou wert of small age men honored thée for thy qualities , & now in yeares , shall they hate thée for thy vices . But to what ende tendes this large preamble to checke thy fondnesse , that must leaue to loue , and learne to lust ? What leaue to loue Isabel , whose beautie is deuine , whose vertues rare , whose chastitie loyall , whose constancie vntainted ? And for whom ? for the loue of some vnknowen Curtizan . Consider this Francesco , Isabel for thy sake hath left her parents , forsaken her friends , reiected the world , and was content rather to brook pouertie with thée , than possesse wealth with her father . Is shee not faire to content thine eye , vertuous to allure thy minde ? nay , is she not thy wife , to whom thou art bound by lawe , loue , and conscience : and yet wilt thou start from her ? what from Isabel ? Didst thou not vowe that the heauens should be without lampes , the earth without ●eas●s , the world without Elements , before Isabel should be forsaken of her Francesco ? And wilt thou prooue as f●lse as she is faithfull ? Shall she like Dido crie out against Aeneas ? like Phillis against Demophon ? like Ariadne against Theseus ? and thou be canonized in the Chronicles , for a man full of periurie . Oh consider Francesco whome thou shalt lose if thou losest Isabel , and what thou shalt gaine , if thou winnest Infida : the one being a louing wife , the other a flattring Courtisan . Hast thou read Aristotle , and findest thou not in his Philosophie , this sentence set downe . Omne animal irrationale ad sui similem diligendum natura dirigitur . And wilt thou that art a creature indued with reason as thou art , excelling them in wisedome , excéede them in vanities ? Hast thou turnd ouer the liberall sciences as a scholer , and amongst them all hast not found this general principle , that vnitie is the essence of amitie , and yet wilt thou make a diuision in the greatest simpathie of all loues . Nay Francesco , art thou a Christian , and hast tasted of the swé●t fruites of Theologie , and hast not read this in holy writ● , pend downe by that miracle of wisedome Salomon , th●● he which is wise should reiect the strange woman , and not regard not the sw●etnesse of hir fl●ttrie :

Desire not the beautie of a strange woman in thy heart , nor be not intrapped in her eye liddes :

For through a whorish woman , a m●n is brought to a morsell of bread , and a woman will hunt for the precious life of a man .

Can a man take fire in his bosome , & not be burnt ? Or can a man tread vpon coales , and not be scorched ?

So he that goeth to his neighbors wife , shall not be innocent whosoeuer toucheth her .

Men do not despise a theefe when hee stealeth to satisfie his soule : but if he be found he shall restore seuen folde or giue all the substaunce of his house .

But he that committeth adultrie with a woman , he is destitute of vnderstanding : hee that dooth it , destroyeth his owne soule .

He shall finde a wound and dishooour , and his reproach shall neuer be put away .

If then Francesco , Theologie tells thée such axiomes , wilt thou striue against the streame ? and with the déere féede against the winde ? Wilt thou swallow vp sinne with gréedines , that thou maist be punished without repentance ? No Francesco , home to the wife of thy youth , and drinke the pleasaunt waters of thine owne well . And what of all these friuolous circumstances ? Wilt thou measure euerie action with philosophie , or euerie thought with Diuinitie ? Then shalt thou liue in the world , as a man hated in the world . What Francesco , hee that is afraid of euerie bush , shal neuer proue good huntsman , and he that at euerie gu●t puts to the Lee shall neuer be good Nauigator . Thou art now Francesco to be a Louer , not a Diuine ; to measure thy affections by Ouids principles , not by rules of Theologie : and time present wills thee to loue Infida , when thou canst not looke on Isabel , distance of place is a discharge of d●●i● , and men haue their falts , as they are ful of fancies . What the blind ●ates manie a flie , and much water runnes by the mill that the Miller neuer knowes of ; the euill that the eye s●es not the heart rues not , Castè si non cautè : Tush Francesco , Isabel hath not Lynceus eyes , to sée so farre . Therfore while thou art resident in London , enioy the beautie of Infida , and when thou art at home onely content thée with Isabel : so with a small fault shalt thou fully satisfie thine own affection . Thus Francesco soothed himselfe , and did In vtram●is aurem dormire , caring little for his good , as long as he might please his newe Goddesse ; and making no exception of a wife , so he might bee accepted of his paramour . To effect therfore the desired end of his affects , he made himselfe as neate and quaint as might be , and hied him to his newe Mistresse house , to put in practise that which himselfe had purposed ; whether in the afternoone ariuing , he vnderstood by her chamber maide that she was at home and solitarie : by her therefore hee was conducted to Infidas closet , wher he found her séeming melancholy , and thus awaked her from her dumpes .

Fair Mistres , haile to your person , quiet to your thoghts and content to your desires . At my first comming into your chamber , séeing you sit so melancholy , I thought either Diana sate musing on the principles of her modestie , or Venus malecontent dumping on her amours ; for the shewe of your vertues represents the one , & the excellence of your beauties discouers the other : but at last when the glister of your beautie surpassing them both , reflected like the pride of Phoebus on my face , I perceiued it was my good Mistres , that discontented sate in her dumpes : wherefore as your bounden seruant , if either my word or sword may frée you from these passions , I am here readie in all actions howsoeuer preiudiciall , to shew the effect of my affection . Infida glad to sée her Louer in this Laborinth ; wherein to binde him sure , she taking him by the hand , made this wilie aunswere .

Swéete seruant , how discontent soeuer I séeme , dismay not you ; for your welcome is such as you can wish , or the sinceritie of my heart afford : w●mens dumps growe not euer of a preiudicial mishap , but oftimes of some superficiall melancholy , inforced with a frowne , and shaken off with a smile ; hauing sorrow in their faces , and pleasure in their heart ; resembling the leaues of the liquorice , that when they are most full of d●aw without , are then most dry within . I tell you seruant , women are wily cattle , & therefore haue I chosen so g●●d a heardsman as your selfe , that what our wantonnes offends , your wisedome may amend . But trust me Francesco , were I wronged by Fortune , or iniured by ●nie foe , the promise of such a Champion were sufficient to arme me with disdaine agai●●● both : but rest satis●●ed , your presence hath banished all passi●●s : and therefore you may sée seruant , you are the Loadstone , by whose vertue my thoughts take all their direction . Beeing thus pleasant , she sate Francesco downe by her , & hand in hand interchanged amorous glaunces . But he that was abasht to discouer his minde , in that some sparkes of honestie still remained in his heart , sate tormented with loue and feare , prickt forward by the one to discourse his desires , kept backe by the other from vttring his affections . Thus in a quandarie , he sate like one of Medusaes cha●glings , til Infida séeing him in this sodaine amaze , began thus to shake him out of his passions .

Now Signor Francesco , I s●e the olde adage is not alwayes true , Consulenti nunqu●● caput doluit : for you that earst alledged perswasions of mirth , are now ouergrowen with melancholy . When a extreame Storme followes a pleasant calme , then the effectes are Metaphusicall , and where such a violent dumpe of cares is sequence to such an extasie of ioyes , either I must attribute it to some apoplexy of senses , or some strange alteration of passions . Francesco the ouen dampt vp hath the greatest heate , fire supprest is most forceable , the streames stopt , either breake through or ouerflow ; and sorrowes concealed as they are most passionate , so they are most peremptorie .

What Francesco ? spit on thy hand , and lay holde on thy hart , o●e pound of eate payes not an ounce of debt , a friend to reueale is a medcine to releeue , discouer thy griefe , and if I be not able to redresse with wealth , although what I haue , is at thy commaund , yet I will attempt with counsaile , either to perswade thée from p●ssi●●s , or intreat thee to patience : say Francesco , and feare not , for as I will be a friendly counseller , so I will be a faithfull co●cealer . Our young Gentleman hearing Infida apply such le●atiue plaisters to his cutting corasiues , thought the patient had great hope when the phisition was so friendly , he therefore with a demure countenance beginning louer like his preamble with a deepe sigh courted her thus .

Faire Mistresse ( quoth hee ) if I faile in my speaches ; thinke it is , because I faint in my passio●s , being as timorous t● offend as I am amorous to attempt , when the obiect is offered to the se●se , the sight i● hindred , Sensibil● sensui opposi●um , nulla fit sensatio : Mars coulde neuer play the Orator when he wr●●ng Venus by the hands : nor Tulli● tell his tale when his thoughts were in Terentiaes eyes : Louers are like to the ●eba● blossomes that open with the deawe , and sh●t with the sunne , so they in presence of their Mistresse haue their to●gues tied , and their eies open , pleading with the one , and being silent in the other , which one describeth thus .

Alter in alterius iactantes ●●mina vultus , Quarebant taciti noster vbi esset amor .

Therefore , sweete Infida , what my tongue vtters not , thinke conceited in my hart , and then thus : since first my good fortune , if thou fa●o●rest me , or my aduerse destinies , if I finde the contrary , brought me to Troyno●ant , and that these ouerdaring eies were intertained into those gorg●ous obiects , knowe that Cupid lying at aduantage so snared mee in thy perfections , that e●er s●●ce euery sense hath rested imperfect . For when I marked thy face , more beaut●ous than Venus , I 〈◊〉 it with a sigh , and mi●● eie p●rtrayed it with a passion , when I noted thy vertues , the● my mind rested capti●e , when I heard thy wit , I did not onely wo●der , but I was so wr●pt in the laborinth of thine excellence , that no ●tarre but I●fida could be the guide whereby to 〈◊〉 my course . 〈…〉 Mistresse , you , and ●●ne but you , 〈…〉 of my a●●ertions , h●●bo●r 〈◊〉 in such a sweete body a 〈…〉 , but doe 〈◊〉 iustice , let me haue loue for 〈◊〉 , least I complain● my 〈◊〉 ●ot to be equiualent to my 〈◊〉 , and thinke my fortunes to be sharper thus my 〈◊〉 . Thin●e Infida 〈◊〉 in affections , are but sleight follies ; Venus hath shri●es to shadow her tr●●ants , and Cupids wings are shelters for such as ●●●ter farre to content their thoughts . 〈◊〉 vnséene , are ●●lfe pardoned ; and Law requires not chastitie , but that her souldi●ur● 〈…〉 . Then thinke ( 〈◊〉 Infida ) if thou gr●unt my desire , how carefull I will be of thy honour , rather readie to abide the preiudice of life , than to br●●ke the disparagement of thy fame : In lieu therefore of my loyall seruice , gra●●t me that swéete gift , which as it begins in amitie , can no way take 〈◊〉 but in death : otherwise I shall bee forced to accurse my fortunes , accuse thy frowardnes●e , and expect no oth●r 〈◊〉 , but a life full of miseries , or a death full of martyrdome . With this passion ending his plea , he dissolued into such ●●ghes , that it disco●ered his inward affection ●o● to be lesse th●● his outward protestation . Infida noting the perplexitie of her Louer , conceited his griefe with great ioy : yet that she might not be thought t●o forward , she séemed thus froward ; and although her thoughts were more than his desires , and that her mind was no lesse than his motion , yet pulling her hand from his , she made this frow●ing replie .

What Francesco , when the Tygre hunteth for his pray , doth he then hide his clawes ? Is the pyrit sto●e the● most hote , when it looketh most colde ? Are men so subtile , that when they seem most holy , they are farthest from god , can they vnder the shadow of vertue couer ●he substance of vanitie , & like Ianus be double faced , to present both faith & flattery . I had thought ( seruant ) when I entertained thee for thy courtesie : I should not haue had occasion to shake thée off for thy boldnes : nor ●●en I lik●e thée for thy affable s●mplicity I should ha●e ●●sliked thee for thy secret subtilty : What Francesco , to de●●re such a gra●t as may , i● thou wert wise , neither stand with thy honesty to intend , nor with my honor to effect . Tel me Francesco , hath either my countenaunce bin so ouerc●●teous , that it mig●● promise such small curiosity , or my looks so lasciuious that thou mightest hope to find me sol●●ish , or my actions so wauering , or my disposition so ful of vanitie that my honor might seeme soone to be assaulted , & soon sacked . If I haue ( Francesco ) bin faulty in these follies , then wil I seek to amend wherin thou saiest I haue made offence ; if not , but that thou thinkest , for that I am a woman , I am eas●e to be wonne , with promises of loue and protestations of loyaltie , thou arte ( sweet seruant ) in a wrong box , and sittest far beside the c●shion ; for I passe of my honor more than life , & couet rather to haue the title of honestie , than the dignitie of a diademe● cease then , vnlesse thou wilt surcease to haue my fauor , and content● thee with this● that Infida allowes of thee for loue , not for lust : & yet if she should treade her shoo awrie , would rather yeelde the spoile of her honor to h●r seruant , than to the greatest prince of the world . Francesco , though he was a nouice in these affaires , and was nipped on the head with this sharp repulse , yet he was not so to take the showre for the first storme , nor so ill a woodman to g●ue ouer the chace at the first default , but that he prosecuted his purpose thus . I am sory ( faire goddesse of my deuotion ) if my presumption hath giuen any offence to my sweet mistresse , for rather than I should but procure a frown in hir forhead : I would haue a dé●p wound in my own hart , coueting rather to suppres my passions with death , than to disparage my credite with so g●●d a patronesse . Therfore although my destinies be extreame , my affection great , and my loues such as can take no end , but in your fauours , yet I rest vpon this , Infida hath comma●ded me to cease , and I will not dare so much as to prosecute my sute , although euerie passion should be a purgatorie , and euery dayes de●i●ll a moneths punishment in hell : with that he set downe his period with such a sigh , that as the Marriners say , a man would haue thought all would haue split againe . This cunning Curtizan beeing afraid , with this checke to haue quatted the qu●●zie stomacke of her louer , de●irous to draw to her that with both hands , which she had thrust away with her little finger , began to be pleasant with Francisco , thus .

What seru●nt , are you such a fresh water souldier , that you faint at the first skirmish ? feare not man , you haue not to deale with Mars , but with Venus ● and her darts of deniall as they pricke sharpe , so th●y pierce little● and her thunderbolts doo afright , not preiudice . Feare not man , a womans heart and her tongue are not relatiues ; t is not euer true , that what the heart thinketh the tongue clacketh . Venus stormes are tempred with Rose water , and when shee hath the greatest wrinkle in her ●rowe , then shee hath the sweetest dimple in her chin : be blithe man , a faint heart neuer wonn● faire Ladie . Francesco hearing hi● Mistresse thus pleasant , tooke oppor●●nitie by the forhead , and dea●t so with his Infida , that before hee went all was well , shee blusht not , nor he● basht , but both made vp their market with a faire of ki●ses : which simpathie of affections , bred the poore Gentlemans ouerthrow ; for he was so snared in the wily tramels of her alluring flatterie , that neither the remembrance of his Isabel , the care of his childe , the fauor of his friendes , or the feare of his discredit , coulde in anie wise hale him from that hell , whereinto through his owne follie , he was fallen .

Where , by the way ( Gentlemen ) let vs note the subtiltie of these Syrens , that with their false harmonie perswade , and then preiudice ; who bewitch like Calipso , ● and inchaunt like Circes , carying a showe as if they were Uestalls , and could with Amulia carrie water in a siue , when they are flat Curtizans , as farre from honestie , as they are from deuotion . At the first , they carrie a faire shew , resembling Calisto , who hid hir vanities with Dianas vail , hauing in their lookes a coy disdaine , but in their hearts a bote desire , denying with the tongue , and enticing wyth their lookes , reiecting in wordes , and alluring in gestures , and such a one ( gentlemen ) was Infida , who so plied Francesco with her flattering fawnes , that as the yron follows the adamant , the straw the Iet , and the Helitropion the beames of the sunne , so his actions were directed after her eie , and what she saide stoode for a principle , insomuch , that he was not onely readie in all submisse humours to please her fancies , but willing for the least worde of offence , to draw his weapon against the stoutest champion in al Troynouant . Thus seated in her beauty hee liued a long while , forgetting his returne to Ca●rbrancke , till on a day sitting musing with himselfe , he fell into a déepe consideration of his former fortunes and present follies ; whereupon taking his Lute in his hand he so●ng this Roundley .

Francescoes Roundeley . Sitting and sighing in my secret muse . As once Apollo did surprisde with loue , Noting the slippery wayes young yeeres do vse What fond affects the prime of youth doth moue , With bitter teares despairing I do crie , W● worth the faults and follies of mine eie . When wanton age the blossoms of my time Drewe me to gaze vpon the gorgeous sight That beauty pompous in her highest prime , Presents to tangle men with sweete delight , Then with despairing tear●s ●y thoughts do cri● , W● worth the faults and folli●s of 〈◊〉 ●i● . When I s●r●eid the riches of her lookes , Whereout flew fl●●es of neuer quencht d●sire , Wherein lay baites , that Venus snares with ●ookes . Oh where proud Cupid s●te all armde with fire : Then toucht with loue my inw●rd soul● did cri● , W● worth the f●ultes and follies of mi●●●i● . The milke-white Galaxia of her 〈◊〉 , Where loue doth daunce la voltas of his ski●● , Like to the Temple where true louers vow To follow what shall please their Mistresse wi●● , Noting her i●orie front , 〈◊〉 do I crie , W● worth the faul●s and follies of mi●e ●i● . Hir face like siluer Luna in hir shin● , All tainted through with bright Vermilli●● str●i●es , Like lillies dipt in Bacchus choicest wine , Powdred and inters●●●d with az●rde de v●ines , Delighting in their pride now may I cri●● W● worth the faults and folli●s of mi●e ●i● . The golden wyers that checkers in the d●y , Inf●●●our to the ●resses of her 〈◊〉 , Hir amber tra●ells did my heart dis●●y , That when I look●e I durst not ouer d●●● : Prowd of her pride now am I f●rst to cri● . W● worth the faults and follies of mi●e ●i● . These fading beauties drew me ●n to sin Natures great riches fra●de my bitter ruth , These were the trappes that loue did snare me in , Oh , these , and none but these haue wrackt my youth , Misled by them I may dispairing crie . Wo worth the faults and follies of mine eie . By these I slipt from vertues holy tracke , That leades vnto the highest christall sphere , By these I fell to vanitie and wracke , And as a man forlorne with sin and feare , Despaire and sorrow doth constraine me crie , Wo worth the faults and follies of mine eie .

Although this sonnet was of his ready inuention , and that he vttered it in bitternesse of minde , yet after he had past ouer his melancholy , and from his solitarie was fallen into companie , he forgate this patheticall impression of vertue , and like the dogge did redire ad vomitum , and fell to his owne vomite , resembling those Gretians , that with Vlysses drinking of Cyrces drugges , lost both forme and memorie : Wel his affaires were done , his horse solde , and no other businesse now rested to hinder him from hying home , but his Mistresse which was such a violent deteyner of his person , and thoughts , that there is no heauen but Infidaes house , where although hee pleasantly entred in with delight , yet cowardly he slipt away with repentance . Well , leauing him to his new loues , at last to Isabell , who daily expected the comming home of ●er best beloued Francesco , thinking euery houre a yeare , till she migh● sée him , in whome rested all h●r coutent . But whe● ( poore soule ) shee coulde neither ●éede her sight with his presence , nor her eares with his letters , she b●ganne to lower and grew so discontent , that shee fell into a feuer . Fortune that meant to ●rie hir patience thought to pro●u● her with these tragicall newes : It was tolde her by certaine Gentlemen her friends , who were her husbands priuate familiars , that he meant to soiorne most part of the yeere in Troynouant : one blunt fellowe amongest the rest that was playne and wythout falsh●●de , tolde her the whole cause of his residence , howe ●ee was in loue wyth a m●st beautifull Gentlewoman called Infida , and that so deepely , that no perswasion might reuoke him from that alluring curtizan . At this Isabell made no accompt , but tooke it as a friuolous tale , and thought the woorse of such as buzzed such fantasticall follies into h●r eares , but when the generall report of his mis●emeanours were bruted abroad throughout all Caerbrancke , then with blushing chéekes , she hid her head , & gre●uing at his follies , and her owne fortunes , smothered the flames of her sorrows with inward conceit , but outwardly withs●●●d such in satyricall tearmes as did inueigh against the hone●●ie of Francesco , so that she wonne great commendations of all for her loyaltie and constancie , yet when she was gotten secret by hir selfe , hir heart full of sorrowfull passions , and her eies full of teares , she beganne to meditate with her selfe of the prime of her youth vowed to Francesco , how she fors●●ke father , fri●ndes and Countrey to bee paramour vnto her hearts paragon . The vowes hee made , when he carried her away in the night , the solempne promises and protestations that were vttered . When shee had pondred all these things , then she called to minde Aeneas , Demophon and Theseus , and matcht them with Dido , Phillis and Ariadne , and at last sighed thus : And shal it be so betwéene Isabel and Francesco ? No , thinke n●t so ( fond woman ) let not ielousie blinde thee , whome loue hath indne● with such a pi●rcing insight : for as there is no content to the swéetenesse of loue , so there is no despaire to the preiudice of Ielousie : whereupon to shake off all fancies , she ●ooke her Citter● in her hand , and soong this verse out of Ariosto .

Che piu felice é pui i●condo stato , Che viuer pui dolce é pui beato Sarui di seruire vno amoroso cuore , Che d'esser in seruitu d'amore , Se non fusse huomo sempr● stimulato , Da quella rio timore , da quella frenezia , Da quella rabbia , della i●lozia .

Yet as women are constant , so they are easie to beléeue , especially trueth , and so it fell out with Isabell , for shee ( poore soule ) could take no rest , so was her ha●d troubled with these ●●wes , hammering a thousand humours in her braine how she might know the certaintie of his follies , and how she might reclaime him for his newe intertained affection . She considered with herself , that men allure Doues by the beauty of the house , and reclaime hawkes by the fairnesse of the lure , and that loue ioyned with vertue , were able to recall the most stragling A●neas to make sayles againe to Carthage . Tush quoth she to her selfe , suppose he be falne in Loue with a curtizan , and that beautie hath giuen him the braue : what shall I vtterly condempne him ? No , as he was not the first , so he shall not be the last : what youth will haue his swindge , the briar will bee full of prickles , the nettle will haue his sting , and youth his amours : men must loue and will loue , though it be both against l●w and reason ; a crooked sien will proue a straight tr●e , the Iuniper is sower when it is a twigge , and swéete when it is a trée ; time changeth manners , and Francesco when hee entreth into the conditions of a ●●attring Curtizan , will forsake her , and returne penitent and more louing to his Isabel . Thus like a good wife she const●●●● all to the best , yet she though● to put him in minde of his returne , and therefore she writ him a letter to this effect .

Isabel to Francesco health .

IF Penelope long●● for her Vlysses , thinke Isabel ●●sheth for her Francesco , as loyall to thée as she was constant to the wily Greeke , and no lesse desirous to s●● thée in Caerbranck , than she to enioy his presence in I●●●ca , watering my chéeckes with as manie teares , as she her face with plaints , yet my Francesco , hoping I haue no such cause 〈◊〉 she to increase hir cares : for I haue such resolution in thy constancie , that no Circes with all her inchantments , no Calipso with all her sorceries , no Syren with all their melodies could peruert thée from thinking on thine Isabel , I know Francesco so déeply hath the faithful promise and loyall vowes made & interchanged betwéen vs taken place in thy thoughtes , that no time how long soeuer , no di●●ance of place howsoeuer different , may alter that impression . But why 〈◊〉 I inferre this néedlesse insinuation to him , that no vanitie can alienate from vertue : let me Francesco persw●de th●● with other circumstances . First my 〈◊〉 , thinke how thine Isabel lies alone , measuring the time with sighes , & thine absence with passions ; counting the day ●ismall , and the night full of sorrowes ; being euerie way discontent , because shee is not content with her Francesco . The onely comfort that I haue in thine absence is thy child , who lies on his mothers knee , and smiles as wantonly as his father when he was a wooer . But when the boy sayes : Mam , where is my dad , when will hee come home ? Then the calme of my content turneth to a present storme of piercing sorrowe , that I am forced sometime to say : Unkinde Francesco , that forgets his Isabell. I hope Francesco , it is thine affaires , not my faults that procureth this long delay . For if I knewe my follies did any way offend thée , to rest thus long absent , I woulde punish my selfe both with outward and inward penaunce . But howsoeuer , I pray for thy health , and thy speedie returne , and so Francesco farewell .

Thine more than her owne Isabell.

SHe hauing thus finished her letters con●cied them speedelie to Troynouant , where they were deliuered to Francesco , who receiuing them with a blush , went into his study , and there v●ript the seales with a sigh , perceiuing by the contents that Isabell had an inckling of his vnkinde loues , which driue him into a great quandarie , that deepely entring into the insight of his lasciuious life , hee beganne to feele a remorce in his conscience , howe grieuously hee hath offended hir , that had so faithfullie loued him . Oh , quoth hee , shall I be so ingrate as to quittance affection with fraud ? So vnkinde as to weigh downe loue with discourtesie , to giue her a wéede that presents me a flower , and to beate her with nettles that perfumes me with roses , consider with thy selfe Francesco , how deeply thou doost sinne : First , thou offendest thy God in choosing so wanton a goddesse ; then , thou doost wrong thy wife , in preferring an inconstant curtizan before so faithfull a paramour : yet Francesco , thy haruest is in the grasse , thou maiest stoppe at the brimme , because thou hast neuer touched the bottome . What ? men may fall , but to wallowe in wickednesse is a double fault . Therefore recall thy selfe , reclayme thy affections : Is not thine Isabell as faire ? Oh , if shee be not , yet shee is more vertuous . Is not Isabell so wittie as Infida ? Oh but shee is more constant , and then art thou so madde , to preferre drosse before Golde , a common Flint before a choice Diam●●d , vice before vertue , fading beautie before the excellence of inward qualilties : No , shake off these follies , and say , both in mouth & in hart ; None like Isabell ; This he s●ide by himselfe , but when he went foorth of his Chamber , and spied but his Mistresse looking out of her windowe all this geare chaungde , and the case was altered : shee calde , and in hée must , and there in a iest scofft at his Wiues Letters , taking his Infida in his armes , and saying , I will not leaue this Troy for the chastest Penelope in the world .

Thus hee soothed himselfe in the swéetenesse of his sinne , resembling the Leopardes that féede on Marioran while they die , or the People Hyperborei , that sit so long and gaze against the Sunne till they become blinde ; so hee doated on the perfection of Infida , till it gr●we to his vtter preiudice : for no reason coulde diuert him from his damned intent , so had he drowned himselfe in the dregges of lust : insomuch that hee conuted it no sinne to ●ffend with so ●aire a Saint : alluding to the saying of the holy Father .

Consuetudo peccandi , tollit sensum peccati .

Thus did these two con●inue in the Sympathie of their sinnes , while p●●re Isabel rested her at home content in this , that at last he would bee reclaimed , and till then shee wold vse patience , séei●g Nunquam sera est ad bonos mor●● via . Wallowing thus in the foldes of their owne follies , Fortune that meant to experience the force of Loue , dealt thus conceiptedly ; After these two Louers had by the space of thrée yeares securely slumbred in the swéetnesse of their pleasures , and drunke with the surfet of Content , thought no other heauen , but their owne suppos●d happinesse ; as euerie storme hath his calme , and the greatest Spring-tide the deadest ebbe , so fared it with Francesco : for so long w●nt the pot to the water , that at last it came broken home ; and so long put he his hand into his pursse , that at last the emptie bottome returned him a Writt of Non est inuentus ; for well might the Diuell da●ce there , for euer a crosse to keepe him backe .

Well , this Louer fuller of passions than of pence , began ( when hee entred into the consideration of his owne estate ) to mourne of the chyne , and to hang the lippe as one that for want of sounding had stroke himselfe vppon the Sands ; yet he couered his inward sorrowe with outward smiles , and like Ianus present●d his Mistresse with a merrie looke , when the other side of his visage was full of sorrowes . But she that was as good as a touchstone to trye mettalls , could straight spie by the laste where the shooe wringde him : and seeing her Francesco was almost foundred , thought to see if a skilfull Farrier might mend him ; if not , like an vnthankefull Hackney-man shee meant to tourne him into the bare leas , and set him as a tyrde iade to picke a sallet .

Uppon which determin●tion , that shee might doo nothing rashly , shee made enquirie 〈◊〉 his estate , what Liuings he had , what La●des to sell , howe they were eyther tyed by Statute , or I●tail●e ? At last , thorough her secret a●d subtill inquisition , she found that all his corne was on the floore● that his she●pe were clipt , and the W●●ll folde ; to be short , that what he had by his Wife coulde neither be solde nor morgaged , and what he had of his ●wne was spent vppon her , that nothing was lefte for him to liue vppon but his wits . This newes was such a cooling Card to this Curtizan , that the extreame heate of her loue was alreadie growen to bee luke warme : which Francesco might easely perceiue ; for at his arriuall , his welcome was more straunge , her lookes more coy , his fare more slender , her glaunces lesse amorous : and she séemed to bee Infida in proportion , but not in wonted passions .

This vncouth disdaine made Francesco maruell , who yet had not entred into her deceiptes , nor ( beeing ●●mple of himselfe ) had euer yet experienst a strumpets subtiltie ; he imputed therefore his Mistresses coynesse to the distemperature of her bodie , and thought that being not well , it was no wonder though shee gaue him the lesse welcome .

Thus poore Nouice did he conster euerie thing to the best , vntill Time presented him with the truth of the worst : for in short time , his hostesse calde for money , his creditors threatened him with an arrest , his cloathes waxt thred bare , and there was no more coyne in the Mynte to amende them . Whereupon on a day , sitting in a great dumpe by his Infida , who was as solempne as he was sorrowfull , hee burst foorth into these speaches .

I haue read swéete Loue in the Aphorismes of Philosophers , that heate suppressed is more violent , the streame stopt makes the greater Deluge , and passi●ns concealed , procure the déeper sorrowes . Then if Contrariorum Contraria est r●●io , there is nothing better than a bosome friend with whome to conferre vpon the iniurie of fortune . Finding my selfe ( my Infida ) full of Pathemas as sting to the quicke , inuenymed with the Tarantula of heart sicke torments , I thinke no medicine fitter for my maladie , than to be cu●ed by the musicall harmonie of thy friendly counsai●e . Knowe then Infida that Troynouant is a place of great expence , like the Serpent Hidaspis , that the more it suckes , the more it is a thirst , eating men aliue as the Crocodile , and being a place of as daungerous allurement , as the seate where the Syrens sit and chaunt their preiudiciall melodie . It is to young Gentlemen , like the Laborynth , whereout Theseus could not get without a threed , but here be such monstrous Minotaures as first deuour the thréed , and then the person . The Innes are like hotehouses , which by little and little sweate a man into a consumption ; the hoste he carries a pint of wine in the one hand to welcome , but a poniard in the other to stab ; and the hostesse she hath smiles in her forhead , and prouides good meate for her guests , but the sauce is costly , for it far excéeds the cates . If coyne want , then either to Limbo , or els clap vp a commoditie ( if so much credite be left ) where he shall finde such knots , as he will neuer be able without his vtter preiudice to vntie . Brokers , I leaue them of , as too course ware to be mouthde wit● an honest mans tongue . These Mi●otaures faire Infida , haue so eaten mee vp in this Laborinth , as to bee p●aine with thee that art my second selfe , I want , and am so farre indebted to the Mercer and mine Hostesse , as either thou must stand my friend to disburse so much money for me , or els I must depart from Troyno●ant , and so from thy sight , which how precious it is to mee , I referre to thine owne conscience ; or for an Vltimum vale take vp my lodging in the counter , which I know , as it would be vncouth to me , so it would bee gréeuefull to thee ; and therfore now hangs my welfare in thy wil. How loath I was to vtter vnto thee my want and sorrowe , measure by my loue ; who wish rather death than thy discontent .

Infida could scarce suffer him in so long a Periode , and therefore with her forehead full of furrowes , shee made him this answere . And would you haue me ( sir ) buy an ounce of pleasure with a cunne of mishappes , or reach after repentaunce with so hie a rate : haue I lent thee the blossoms of my youth , and delighted thee with the prime of my yeares ? hast thou had the spoile of my virginitie . and now wouldest thou haue the sacke of my substaunce ? when thou hast withered my person , aymest thou at my wealth ? No sir , no ; knowe , that for the loue of thee , I haue crackt my credite , that neuer before was slained . I cannot looke abroad without a blush , nor go with my neighbours without a frump , thou , and thy name is euer cast in my dish , my foes laugh , and my f●●ends sorrow to sée my follies : wherefore seeing thou beginnest to picke a quarrell , and hereafter , when thine owne base fortunes haue brought thee to beggarie ●ilt say , that Infida cost thee ●o many Crownes , and was thine ouerthrowe : auaunt nouice , home to thine owne wife , who ( poore Gentlewoman ) sits and wants what thou consumest at Tauerns . Thou hast had my despoyle , and I feare I beate in my bellie the token of too much loue I ought thée . Yet co●tent with this discredite , rather than to runne into further extremitie : get thée out of my d●●res , for from hencefoorth thou shalt neuer be welcome to Infida . And with that shee ●●ung vp , and went into her Chamber : Francesco would haue made a replie , but shee woulde not heare him , nor holde him any more ●hat : Wherev●on with a st●ain his eare , hee went to his lodging . There ruminating on the number of his follies , and the hardnesse of his fortunes , seeing his skore great● his coyne little , his credite lesse : weighing how hardly he had vsed his Isabell : at last leaning his head on his hand , with teares in his eies , he beganne to be thus extremely passionate . Nowe Francesco piscator ictus sapit , experience is a true mistresse , but shee maketh her Schollers treade vpon Thornes , hast thou not leaped into the ditch , which thou hast long foreséene , and bought that with repentance which thou hast so gréedily desired to reape . Oh now thou seest the difference betweene loue and lust : the one ful of contented pleasure , the other of pleasing miseries : thy thoughts were feathered with fancie , and whether did they flie so farre that they fréeed themselues , and thou rests consume● . Oh Francesco , what are women ? If they bee honest Saints , the puritie of nature , the excellence of vertue , the perfection of earthly content . But if they bee curtisans and strumpe●s . Oh let mee breath before I can vtter the depth of such a monstrous description . They be in shape Angels , but in quallities Deuilles , painted Sepulchres with rotten bones , their foreheads are Kalenders of misfortunes , their eies like comets , that when they sparkle foretell some fatall disparagement , they allure with amorous glaunces of lust , and kill with bitter looks of hate , they haue dimples in their cheekes to deceiue , and wrinckles in their browe● to betray , their lippes are like honie combes , but who tasteth the droppes is impoisoned ; they are as cle●re as Christall , but bruse them , and they are as infectio●s as the Diamond , their teares are like the Aconiton , that the Hidra wept ; they present as Deiani●a shirts for presents , but who so puts them on , consumes like Hercules , they lay out the foldes of their haire , and i●tangle men in their tresses , playing the horse-leach , that sucketh while they burst ; betweene their breasts i● the vale of destruction , and in their beds o● there is sorrow , repentance , hell & despayre . They consume man aliue , and ayme at his substance not his perfection ; like eagles , that onely flie thither , where the carrion is , they leade men to hell , and leaue him at the gates . To ●e briefe , they are ingrateful , peri●red , vntrue , inconstant , ●●e●ting , full of fraud , deceitfull , and to conclude in one worde , they be the very refuse of natures extrements . Oh Francesco , what a Satyricall inuectiue hast thou vttered ? I may best , quoth hee , for I haue bought euery principle with a pound : What nowe rests for thee poore infortunate man ? Thou hast yet left a meanes to ende all these miseries , and that is this Drawe thy rapi●r and so die , that with a manly resolution thou mayest preuent thy further misfortunes . Oh although thou hast ●inned , yet despair● not , though thou art●●nathema , yet proue not an Atheist , the mercie of God is aboue all his workes , 〈…〉 balme . Home to thy wife , to the wife of thy youth Francesco , to Isabell , who with her patience will couer all thy follies : remember th●s man , Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via .

Thus hee ended , and with verie griefe fell in a slumber . At this the Palmer breathed , and made a stop and a long periode . His hoste desirous to heare out the ende of Francescoes fortunes , wished him to goe forwarde in his discourse . Pardon mee Sir , quoth the Palmer , the night is late , and I haue trauelled all the day ; my bellie is full , and my bones would be at rest . Therefore for this time , let thus much suffice , and to morrowe at our vprising , which shall be with the Sunne . I will not onelie discourse vnto you the ende of Francescoes amours , of his returne home to his wife , and his repentaunce , but manifest vnto you the reason whie I aymed my pilgrimage to Venice .

The Gentleman and his Wife verie loath to bee tedious to the good Palmer , were content with his promise ; and so taking vp the candle lighted him to bedde● where we leaue him . And therefore assoone as may bee Gentlemen , looke for Francescoes further fortunes , and after that my Farewell to follies , and then adieu to all amorous Pamphlets .

FINIS .

¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for N. L. and Iohn Busbie , and are to bee solde at the West ende of Paules Church . 1590.

●ra●ce●cos Fortunes : Or The second part of Greenes Neuer too late .

Wherein is discoursed the fall of Loue , the bitter fruites of Follies pleasure , and the repentant sorowes of a reformed man .

Sero , sed serio .

Robertus Greene in Artibus Magister .

Imprinted at London for N.L. and Iohn Busbie . 1590.

To the right Worshipfull Thomas Burnaby Esquier , Robert Greene wisheth increase of all honorable vertues .

THe Athenians counted such men vnworthie their Common wealth as were ingratfull : and Plato seeing an vnthankefull man prosper , said , see men of Greece the Gods are prooued vniust ; for they haue laden a thistle with fruite . When ( right Worshipfull ) these reasons entred into my reach , and that I sawe how odious in elder time ingratefull men were to all estates and degrees ; least I might be stained with such a hatefull blemish , hauing receiued many friendly , nay fatherly fauours at your ●ands , I resolued to indeuour how I might shewe the depth of my affection towards your Worship , I found my abilitie was not ●●swerable to my desires to proportionate equall requitall to your deserts , so that I onely thought to make thankes my pay mistris , and so passe ouer your good turne with the old prouerb , God and Saint Francis thank you . Yet when I perceiued great men had taken little gifts , I tooke heart at grasse , and imboldened my selfe to present you with a Pamphlet of my penning , called my Nunquam sera est : which your Worship so gratefully accepted , measuring my will more than the worth ; that hauing made my second part , wherein is discoursed the sequell of Francescoes further fortunes , I thought to shrowde it vnder your patronage : I haue discouered herein the other follies of his youth , and how at last , repentance stroke in him such a remorse , that his sorrowe for his sinnes were more than the pleasures conceipted in his vanities . I haue from the loue of a lasciuious Curtizan , brought him to the Wife of his youth : the storie necessarie for yong Gentlemen , and not offensiue vnto graue eares : for the most seuere Stoick of all that seekes a knot in a rush , may herein finde some sentence woorth the marking . And though you as Virgill hold Ennius , yet you may out of his drosse gather some golde . They which thinke there is no God to their Goddesse , may here finde that wanton loues are the readie paths to preiudice , and that effeminate follies are the efficient causes of dyre disparagement , and that there is no Iewel like the gift of an honest wife . But whatsoeuer it is , all is shrowded vnder your fauour : which hoping you will as gratefullie patronage as the former , I wish your Worship as manie good fortunes as your self can desire , or I imagine .

Your Worships adopted sonne in all humble dutie to commaund . Robert Greene . .

●o the Gentlemen Readers health .

IF ( Gentlemen ) I had not promised the further discourse of Francescos fortunes , this Pamphlet had not come to the presse : but seeing promise was debt , and sundrie made challenge at the Stationers shoppe , that I should bee a man of my word . To satisfie therefore al my well wishers , I haue written what befell Francesco after he had forsaken his Infida , no great aduentures , but you may see plotted downe many passions full of repentant sorrowes , and reade many of his Sonnets that hee made in remorse of minde ; such as they bee they are yours , or what my pen can doo , but looke for it in more deeper matters .

Yours , Robert Greene .

In laudem Authoris . THough wanton Horace writ of Loues delite , And blythlie chaunted of his lasse , Bonny and bright as any glasse : Yet did the Poet Odes and Satyres write , Wherein he taught fond youth That follie hatchethruth , And with his toyes Mixt vertues ioyes : So by his workes he reapt immortall praise . Let him that writes the fall of Louers fits , Of beautie and her scortching fires , And fancie and her fond desires : If vnto vertues l●re he wrest his wits , And pen downe follies fall , Whereto yong youth is thrall , Haue honor then To grace his pen : But enuie liues too much in these our daies . Richard Hake . Virtutis comes inuidia .

R. S. THe Bee is praisde for labour , not for ease , The more she workes the richer is her hiue : The little Ant that teacheth man to thriue , Is fam'd for that her labours neuer cease . The more the fruite , more precious is the tree ; The more the fish , more valued is the streame ; The sweetest night when many stars doo gleame● The better ground that brings most graine we se● . The more it workes , the quicker is the wit● The more it writes , the better to be steemed : By labour ought mens wills and wits b● deemed , Though dreaming dunces doo inueigh against it . But write thou on , though Momus sit and frowne , A Cart●rs Iigge is fittest for a Clowne . Bonum quo communius , eo melius .

Greenes Neuer too late . Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via .

NO sooner did Phoebus burnish the heauen with his brightnesse , and deckt in a glorious diadem of chrisolites , had mounted him on his Coach to lighten the Lampe that makes Flora beauteous , but the Palmer was vp and at his Orysons , beeing as deuoute in his thoughts , as hee was mindfull of his trauels : walking in the garden all alone , and seeing the Sunne new peeping out of the East , he began to meditate with himselfe of the state of man , comparing his life to the length of a spanne , or the compasse of the Sunne , who rising bright and orient , continueth but his appointed course , and that ofttimes shadowed with so many Clowdes , and strainde with a sable vale of such thicke fogges , that he is more darkened with s●ormes than beautified with light : and if it fortune his shine is without blemish , yet he setteth and that more oft in a folde of Clowdes , than in a cléere Skie : so man bor●●●n the pride of beautie or pompe of wealth , bee his honors equall with his fortunes , and hee as happie as Augustus ; yet his life hath but his limittes , and that clogged with so many cares and crosses , that his daies are more full of miseries than of pleasures , and his disas●er mishaps are more than his prosperous fortunes : but if the starres grace him with all fauourable aspects , and that hée liue full of content in many honours and much wealth , yet his prime hath his Autum , his faire blossomes turnes to tawnie leaues , age will shake him by the shoulder , and nature will haue his due , that at last he must set with the Sunne , and perhaps in such a clowde of sinne , as his rising may be in a storme of sorrowes . Thus did the Palmer meditate with himselfe , ●éeing penitent for the follies of his youth , that at last thinking to be as musicall to himselfe , as the birds were melodious , he chaunced out this O●e .

The penitent Palmers Ode . Whilome in the winters rage A Palmer old and full of age , Sat and thought vpon his youth , With eyes , teares , and harts ruth , Being all with cares yblent , When he thought on yeares mispent . When his follies came to minde , How fond loue had made him blinde , And wrapt him in a ●ield of wo●s , Shadowed with pleasures shoes , Then he sighed and said alas , Man is sinne and flesh is grasse , I thought my mistris haires were gold● And in their lockes my heart I folde : Her amber tresses were the sight That wrapped me in vaine delight : Her Iuorie front , her preti● chin , Were stales that drew me on to sin : Her starrie lookes , her Christall eyes , Brighter than the Sunnes arise : Sparkling pleasing flames on fire , Yoakt my thoughts and my desire , That I gan crie ere I blin , Oh her eyes are paths to sin . H●r face was faire , her breath was sweete , All her lookes for loue was meete : But loue is follie this I kn●we . And beautie fadeth like to snowe● Oh why should man delight in pride , Whose blossome like a deaw doth glide : When these supposes toucht my thought , That world was vaine and beautie nought , I gan sigh and say alas , Man is sinne and flesh is grasse .

The Palmer hauing ended this Ode , sat in a great dump in the garden , when his Host accompanied with his wife , desirous to heare out Francescos fortune , were come into the place and gaue him the bon iorno thus . Courteous Palmer , a kinde salute to waken you from your mornings meditation , I see you keepe the prouerbe for a principle , to bed with the Bée and vp with the Larke : no sooner the Sunne in the Skie but you are at your Orysons , either ruminating passions or penance , either some old remembrance or some newe reuerse . Howsoeuer ( gentle Palmer ) t is no manners to enter to● farre into your thoughts , and therefore leauing your secrets to your selfe , Com● stat● la vos●ra signoria quest a matina . The Palmer that had learned a little broken Italian , seeing his honest host in such a merie moode , made this answer . Io sto bensignior di● merce , ringratiando●i sonnamenti di vostra grande cor●esia , holding it fi● for my fortunes to haue many cares and little s●eepe , that my pennance may be great sith my sinnes are many : long slumbers are for idle persons , not for penitent Palmers ; and sweete dreames are no instances of hartie deuotion ; therefore doo I watch with the mouse to argue my selfe miserable , and enioyne my selfe to much paines , because I am combred wi●h many passions . This morning entring into this garden● I sawe by the workes of nature the course of the world : for when I sawe Floras glorie shut vp in the soldes of I●is frownes , I began to consider that the pride of man was like the pompe of a flower , that to day glories in the field and to morrowe is in the furnace ; that we be like the flies Hemerae , that take life with the Sunne and dye with the deaw ; that our honors are compared to the blossomes of a Cedar , which vanish ere they begin to burnish , and al our triumphs like caracters written in snowe , that printed in a vapour , at the least Sunne shine discouer our vanitie , for they are as soone melted as our pleasures are momentarie . Tied by Fates to this ti●kle state , wee haue nothing more certaine than to dye , nor nothing more vncertaine than the houre of death : and therefore when I call to minde the follies of my youth , how they haue been tickled with vice , I eouet in the flower of mine yeares to repent and amend : for Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via .

You doo well sir ( quoth the Gentleman ) in al your actions to consider the end ; for he that forerepents , foresees many perrills● Had I wist is a great fault , and after wits are bitten with many sorrowes : therefore such as gréeue at their follies , & couet to preuent dangerous fortunes , they which take an antidote of grace against the deadly aconiton of sinne , and with present remorse preuent ensuing vanities : such indeed , as they liue well , shall dye blessed . But leauing this humour till another time , you may see by our earely rising how my wife and I were delighted with your euenings par●ie : for trust me sir , desire of Francescos further fortunes made vs thus watchfull , and therefore seeing the morning is gray and our longing great , and yet a good while to breakefast , if your leisure may affoord so much , I pray you sit downe and tell vs what was the ende of his loues , and the effects of his repentance . The Palmer verie willing to pleasure his courteous host , sat him downe in an Arbour and began thus .

The Palmers tale of Francesco .

AS soone as Francesco awak● from his slumber , and began to enter further into the consideration of Infidas cousenage , his heart throbd at his follies , and a present passion of his great misfortunes so payned him , that all perplexed he began againe to sing his former song , and to say that womens thoughts were like to the leaues of a Da●e tree that change colours with the wind● , in a moment figuring out sorrowe with teares , and in that instant deciphering pleasure with smiles : neither too resolute with the Stoickes to yeeld to no passions , nor too absolute with the Esseni to surfet with ouer much chastitie : their desires ( quoth he ) resemble Aeolus forhead , that next euery storme contains a calme : their déedes are like Almanacks that decipher nothing but vncertaintie ; either too scrupulous with Daphne to contemne all , or too voluptuous with Venus to desire all ; and straight neither flesh nor fish as the Porpus , but time pleasers , to content themselues with varietie of fancies . In this humorous melancholie hee arose vp and raunged about the Citie , despayring of his estate as a man pennylesse , and therefore impatient because he knewe not how to redresse his miseries : to relie vppon the helpe of a Curtizan , he sawe by experience was to hang hope in the ayre : to stand vpon the fauour of friends , that was bootelesse ; for he had fewe in the Citie , as being but a straunger there , and such as he had were wonne with an Apple , trencher friends , ●nd therefore to bee left with the puffe of the least blast of aduersities . To goe home to his wife to faire Isabel , that was as hard a censure as the sentence of death , for shame of his follies made him ashamed to shewe his face to a woman of so high desarts . In this perplexitie he passed ouer three or foure daies till his purse was cleane emptie , his score great , and his hostesse would trust him for no more money , but ●hreatned him , if present payment were not made , to lay him in prison . This newes was hard to Francesco , that knewe not how to auoyd the preiudice , only his refuge was to preuent such a misfortune to carrie his apparell to the Brokers , and with great losse to make money to pay for his diet : which once discharged , he walk● vp and downe as a man forlorne , hauing neither coyne nor credite . Necessitie that stingeth vnto the quick , made him set his wits on the tenter , and to stretch his braines as high as Ela , to sée how he could recouer pence to defray his charges by any sinister meanes to salue his sorrowes : the care of his parents and of his owne honor perswaded him from making gaine by labour : he had neuer been brought vp to any mechanicall course of life . Thus euery way destitute of meanes to liue , he sight out this olde sayd sawe , Miserrimum est fuisse beatum : yet at last , as extremities search very farre , he calde to minde that he was a scholler , and that although in these daies Arte wanted honor , and learning lackt his due , yet good letters were not brought to so lowe an ebbe , but that there might some profite arise by them to procure his maintenance . In this humour he fell in amongst a companie of Players , who perswaded him to trie his wit in writing of Comedies , Tragedies , or Pastorals , and if he could performe any thing worth the stage , then they would largelie reward him for his paines . Francesco glad of this motion , seeing a meanes to mitigate the extremitie of his wa●● , thought it no dishonor to make gaine of his wit , or to get profite by his pen● and therefore getting him home to his chamber writ a Comedie , which so generally pleased all the audience , that happie were those Actors in short time that could get any of his workes , he grewe so exquisite in that facultie . By this meanes his want was releeued , his credit in his hosts house , recouered his apparell in greater brauerie then it was , and his purse well lined with Crownes .

At this discourse of Francesco , the Gentleman tooke his guest by the hand and broke off his tale thus . Now gentle Palmer , seeing we are fallen by course of prattle to parlie of Playes , if without offence doo me that fauour to shewe me your iudgement of Playes , Playmakers and Players . Although ( quoth the Palmer ) that some for being too lauish against that facultie , haue for their satiricall inuectiues been well canuased , yet seeing here is none but our selues , and that I hope what you heare shall be ●roden vnder foote , I will flatlie say what I can both euen by reading and experience . The inuention of Comedies were first found amongst the Greekes , and practised at Athens : some thinke by Menander whom Terence so highlie commends in his Heautontimorumenon . The reason was , that vnder the ●ouert of such pleasant and Comicall euents , they aym●d at the ouerthrowe of many vanities that then raigned in the Citie : for therein they painted out in the persons the course of the world , how either it was graced with honor , or discredited with vices : There might you see leueld out the vaine life that boasting Thrases vse , smoothed vp with the selfe conceipt of their owne excellence ; the miserable estate of couetous parents , that rather let their sonnes ●ast of any misfortunes , than to releeue them with the superfluitie of their wealth : the pourtraiture of parasiticall friends and flattering Gnatos , that only are time pleasers and trencher friends , which sooth yong Gentlemen subtellie in their follies , as long as they may : Ex eorum sullo viuere was set out in liuely colours . In those Comedies the abuse of Bawdes that made sa●e of honest virgins , and liued by the spoyle of womens honors , was deeply discouered . To be short , Lecherie , Couetousnesse , Pride , selfe-loue , disobedience of parents , and such vices predominant both in age and youth were shot at , not onely with examples and instances to feede the eye , but with golden sentences of morall works to please the ear● . Thus did Menander win honor in Greece with his works , & reclaime both old & yong for their vanit●es by the pleasant effects of his Comedies . After him this facultie grew to be famous in Rome , practised by Plautus , Terence , and other that excelled in this qualitie , all ayming as Menander did in all their worke● to suppresse vice and aduance vertue . Now , so highlie were Comedies esteemed in those daies , that men of great honor and graue account were the Actors , the Senate and the Consuls continuallie present , as auditors at all such sports , rewarding the Author with rich rewards , according to the excellencie of the Comedie . Thus continued this facultie famous , till couetousnesse crept into the qualitie , and that meane men greedie of gaines did fall to practise the acting of such Playes , and in the Theater presented their Comedies but to such onely , as rewarded them well for their paines : when thus Comedians grewe to bee mercinaries , then men of accompt left to practise such pastimes , and dis●ained to haue their honors blemisht with the staine of such base and vile gaines● in so much that both Comedies and Tragedies grew to lesse accompt in Rome , in that the free sight of such sports was taken away by couetous desires : yet the people ( who are delighted with such nouelties and pastimes ) made great resort , paide largely , and highly applauded their doings , in so much that the Actors by continuall vse grewe not onely excellent , but rich and insolent . Amongst whome in the daies of Tully one Roscius grewe to be of such exquisit perfection in his facultie , that he offered to contend with the Orators of that time in gesture , as they did in eloquence ; boasting that he could expresse a passion in as many sundrie actions , as Tully could discourse it in varietie of phrases : yea so prowde he grewe by the daylie applause of people , that he looked for hon●ur and reuerence to bee done him in the streeres : which selfe conceipt whe● Tully entred into with a pearcing insight , he quipt at in this manner .

It chanced that Roscius & he met at a dinner , both guests vnto Archias the Poet , where the prowd Comedian dared to make comparison with Tully : which insolencie made the learned Orator to growe into these termes ; why Roscius , art thou proud with Esops Crow being 〈◊〉 w●●h ●he glorie of others feathers● of thy selfe thou canst say nothing● and if the Cobler hath taught thee to say● Aue Caesar , ●isdain not thy tutor , because thou pratest in a Kings chamber : what sentence thou vtterest on the stage , flowes from the censure of our wittes ; and what sentence or conceipte of the inuention the people applaud for excellent , that comes from the secrets of our knowledge . I g●a●nt your action , though it be a kind of mechanical labour ; yet wel done t●s worthie of praise : but you worthlesse , if for so small a ●oy you wa●e proud . At this Roscius waxt red , a●d bewraied his imperfec●ion with silence : but this check of Tully could not keepe others from the blemish of that fault , for it grew to a generall vice amongst the Actors , to excell in ●●de as they did exceede in excellence , and to braue it in the streets , as they bragge it on the stage● so that they reueld it in Rome in such costly roabes , that they seemed rather men of great patrimonie , than such as li●ed by the fauour of the people . Whic● Publius Seruilius very well noted ; for hée being the sonne of a Senatour , and a man very valiant , met on a day with a player in the streetes richly apparrelled● who so ●arre forgat himselfe , that he tooke the wall of the young noble man● which Seruilius taking in dis●aine , counterchecke with ●his f●ump : My friend ( quoth hee ) be not so bragge of thy silken roabes , for I sawe them but yesterday make a gre●● shew in a broakers shop . At this the one was ashamed , and the other smilde● and they which ●ea●d the ●uip●●augh● at the folly of the one & the wit of the other . Thus sir ●aue you heard my opinion briefly of plaies , that Menander deuise● th●● for the s●ppressing of vanities , necessarie in a common we●●●● , as long as they are vses in their right kind ; the play makers worthy of ●onour for their Arte : & pla●er●● men deseruing both pray●e and profite , as long as they wa●●●●ther couetous nor insolent . I haue caused you 〈◊〉 ( ●uoth the gentleman ) to make ● large digressiō● but y●u haue resolued me in a matter that I long doubted of : and therefore I may 〈◊〉 againe to Francesco . Why then thus quoth th● Palmer● After he grew excellent for making of Comedies , he wa●t not onely braue , but full of Crownes : which Infida hearing of , and hauing intelligence what course of life he did take● thought to cast foorth her lure to r●claime him , though by her vnkindnesse he was proued haggard ; for she thought that Francesco was such a ●ame foole that he would he brought to strike at any stale , ●ecking her selfe therefore as gorgiously as she could , painting her face with the choyce of all her drugges , she walk● abroade where shee thought Francesco vsed to take the ayre ; Loue and Fortune ioyning in league so fauoured her , that according to her desire she met him . At which incounter I gesse , more for shame than loue she blasht ; and fild her countenaunce with such repentant remorse ( yet hauing her lookes full o● amorous glaunces ) that she seemed like Venus , reconciling her selfe so froward Mars . The sight of Infida was pleasing in the eyes of Francesco , and almost as deadly as the basilisk : that had hee not had about him Moly as Vlisses , he had been inchaunted by the charmes of that wylie Circes ; but the abuse so s●ucke in his stomack that she had profered him in his extremitie , that he returned all her glaunces with a frowne , and so parted . Infida was not ama●ed with his angry moode , as one that thought loues furnace of force to heat● the coldest Amatist , and the swe●te words of a woman as able to dr●w on desire , as the Syrens melody the passengers . What quoth shee , though for a while he be cholerick , Beautie is able to quench the ●●ame , as it sets hearts on fire ; as Helens faultes angred Paris , so her fauours pleasd Paris : though she were false to Menelaus , ye● her faire made him brook her follie● : Women are priuiledgd t● haue their words and theyr wil● , and whome they kill with a ●rowne they can reuiue with ● smile . Tush , Francesco is not so froward , but he may hee wonne , hee is n● Saturnist to beare anger long , hee is soone hot and soone colde , cholerick and kinde harted ; who though 〈◊〉 be sco●ded away with bitter words 〈◊〉 will be reclaimed againe with sweete kisses● a womans teares are Adam●nt , and men are no harder than Iron● and therefore may ●ee drawne to pitie their passions . I will faine , fla●ter , and what not , to get againe my Francesco ; for his purse is ful , and my coffers wax emptie . In this humor taking pen and paper , she wrote a letter to him to this effect .

Infida to Francesco wisheth what he wants in health or wealth .

IF my outward penaunce ( Francesco ) could discouer my inward passions , my sighe● bewray my sorrowes , or my countenaunce my miseries , then should I looke the most desolate of all , as I am the most distrest of all ; and the furrowes in my face ●ee numberlesse , as the griefes of my heart are matchles : But as the feathers of the Halciones glister most against the ●orest storme , and Nylus is most calme against a deluge● so the sorrowes of my minde are so great that they smother inwardly , though they mak● no out●●rd appearance of mishap . All these miseries Francesco grow from the consideration of mine owne disc●●●esies : for when I thinke of thy constancie , thy faith , thy ●●●ture , and thy beautie , and weigh with my selfe how all these v●wed vnto Infida , they were lost by the disloyaltie of Infida : I ca●● i● in question , whether I had better dispaire and die , or in ●ope of thy fauour linger o●● my life . Penaunce of freewill merits pardons of course , and griefes that grow from rem●rse , deserue to ●ee salued with ru●h . I confesse Francesco that I wrongd the● , and therefore I am wroong at y● hear● : but so doth the 〈◊〉 of thy perfection , & the excellence of thy ●●●tues 〈…〉 in my heart 〈◊〉 although th●● shouldest vow t● lo●th me . I 〈◊〉 ceas● to ●oue thee . O● consider , 〈◊〉 haue their f●ults 〈◊〉 their fo●l●e● , & act that in an houre which they rep●t a● their life alter . Though Mars & Ven●● 〈◊〉 , they were friends after 〈◊〉 for 〈…〉 and forget Francesco then hartelie , that I repent so deepely : grace thy Infida againe with one smile , ease her impatient passions with thy sweete presence ; and assure thy selfe shee will satisfie with loue , what shee hath offended with follie . Bones that are broken & after set again , are the more stronger : where the Beech Tree is ●ut , there it growes most hard : reconciled friendship is the sweetest amitie . Then be friends with thy Infida : looke on her , and but visite her : and if shee winne not thy loue with her wordes , and shewe her selfe so penitent that thou shalt pardon : then let her perish in her owne misfortunes , and die for the want of thy fauour . Farewell .

Thine euer , dispay●ing Infida .

THis letter shee sealed vp and sent it by a secret friend to Francesco : who at the first , knowing from whence it came , would scarcely receiue it ; yet at last willing to heare what humor had made the Curtizan write vnto him ; hee ●roke ●pe the seales and read the former contents : which when he had throughly perused● hee found himselfe perplexed : for the cunning of her flatterie made the poore man passionate . In somuch that sitting down with the letter in his hand ; he began thus to meditate with himselfe .

Why doost thou vouchsafe Francesco to looke on her letters that is so lewd , to view her lines that are powdred with flatterie , to heare her charmes that seekes thy preiudice , to liste● to such a Calipso that almes onely at thy substance , not at thy person ? Whilt thou wer● poore her forhead was full of frowns , and in her loo●● sate the stormes of disdaine : but when the sées thou ●ast fethered thy ●est , & hast crowns in thy purse , shee would play the hors-le●ch to ●uck awaie thy wealth : & n●w would shee be 〈◊〉 harts gold , while she ●est thee not one dra● of go●●e . Oh Francesco she ●ides her ●lawes , 〈◊〉 loo●●s ●or her pray with the ●y●er , she weepes with the Crocodile , and smiles with the Hi●na , and ●●●tters with the Panther , and vnder the couer● of a 〈…〉 , shrowdes the intent of thy ●a●e . Knowest thou not that a● the Marble dr●p●s against rayne , 〈◊〉 their teares fo●●poynt mischiefe , that the sauours of a Curtizan are like the song● of the Grashoper , that euer fortel some fatal disparagement , Beware then Francesco ( Pisca●●● actu● s●pl● ) shee hath once burnt thee , feare fire with the Chil●● shee hath crost thee with disdaine , couet not her with desi●●● h●●e h●● , ●or in loathing such a one thou louest thy GOD . Returne not with the dog to the vomit , wallow not with ●wine in the myre , foresee not the best & follow the worst . And 〈◊〉 Francesco trust me shee is faire , bea●tifull and wise : I but with that a Curtizan● perhaps she will now loue thee faithfully● if she doe , fond man , is not her hartie liking , hatefull lu●t● dangero●s to thy bodie , and damnation to thy Soule . T is a saying not so common as true , that he which looketh continually against the Sunne shall at la●● be blind●● that who so handleth pitch must needes be de●iled , the tree 〈◊〉 abideth many blasts , at last falleth by the Carpenter 〈◊〉 , th● bird that striketh at euery stale cannot long escape the 〈◊〉 , ●o long goeth the pitcher to the brooke● that at last it ●omes broken home , and hee that securely swimmeth in 〈◊〉 shall surely be drowned in iniquitie , who so ●indeth sins together shall neuer be neuer be vnreue●g●d in the one , and he that delighteth to offend in youth , shall no doubt fe●le the p●nishment . Quod defir●ur n●n ●nfertur . Though GOD for a time suffer a man to wallow in his owne wick●●nesse , and to say vnto his soule , Tush the Lord regardeth not the way of sinne 〈…〉 seeme the more , and thy sinne the greater . He that hath the dropsie , drinketh while he bursteth and yet not 〈◊〉 ; the Horseleach hath two daughters that neuer trie ●●●ugh who so is slung with the Serpent Dipsas , burneth , ●ut can neuer be c●●led : and who so is inflamed with sinne , thirsteth continuallie after wickednes● vntill he hath s●ppe● the dregges of Gods displeasure , to his owne destruction . Beware by this , fall not into the trap , when thou fee●● the traine : for knowing the sinne , if thou offendest against thine own conscience ; the Lord will send vpon thee cursing , trouble , and shame in all that thou settest thy hand vnto , and will not cease to reuenge vntill thou perish from off the face of the earth . Oh hast thou not at home an Isabel that is the wife of thy youth and the onely friend of thy bosome , indued with such exquisit● beautie and exce●ding vertue , that it is hard to iudge whether the pure complexion of her bodie , or the perfect consti●ution of h●r minde , holds the supremacie . And is not a peaceable woman and of a good heart , the gi●t of the Lord ? There is nothing so much worth as a woman well instructed● a shame fast and faithfull woman is a double grace , and there is no treasure to bee compared to her continent mind : but as the glistering beames of the sun when it ariseth , decketh the heauen : so the beautie of a good wife adorneth the house : & as golden pillers ●●e shine vpon the sockets of siluer , so doth a faire face in a vertuous minde . Shall the fear of God then Francesco be so farre from thine eyes as to leaue thine owne wife and imbrace a Curtizan , to leaue the law of God , and suffer thy heart to be subuerted by ●u●t . The Lyon so abhorreth this crime , as he killeth the Lyonesse , for commit●ing this fac● . Th● Storke neuer m●dlet● 〈◊〉 with ●is 〈◊〉 . The Iaci●th 〈◊〉 w●● not be wor●e on the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 , nor the Oliue grow , if pl●●ed 〈◊〉 one tha● lendeth his life in vnlawfull lusts : and wil● thou 〈◊〉 thy self more ●a●●les in this crime than 〈…〉 , more ●●ckles th●● vnreasonable creatures , more 〈◊〉 than 〈◊〉 ● y●a far lesse in vertue than a man , & far 〈…〉 vice than a beast . Then 〈◊〉 the Lord l●ok down from heauen , and plague thée with a heauy 〈◊〉 . At this ●●●use standing a great while in a maze , at last hee stepe to h●s 〈◊〉 and wrote this answere .

Francesco wisheth to Infida remorse of conscience , & regard of honesty .

I Haue read thy letters Infida wherin I hoped to haue 〈◊〉 more honesty and l●sse vani●y ; a signe of better though●●● and lines of more remorse ; else had I lef● them sealed , as I c●uet to leaue thee vnseene . But I percei●e as no time wil alter the Panther from his spots , the Mouse from hir feare , nor the Tyger from his fearcenes ; so neith●r date nor reason will change the conditions of a Curtizan : Thou writest thou are pe●i●●●● , so I think , but it is no● for thy sinnes ; but that thou hast not libertie enough to ●in , enioynd by some ouerthwart neighbour to be more honest than thou wo●l●●t be , which is ●s great a penance to one of thy trade , as a long pilgrimage to a s●●rowful Palme● . A ●eare in a 〈…〉 like heat ●●ops in a bright 〈…〉 the Crocodile when she weep● , a Cur●e●●●s laughter is like to lightning , the beawtifies the ●eau●● for a bl●ze but fore●●● stormes and thunder . Art tho● in loue with Francesco , ●●●rie gippe Giglet , thy loue sits on thy ●onges 〈◊〉 , readie to leape off assoone as thy mouthe ope●s● and thine hones●ie hangs at thine ●ye● which fall● away with euerie 〈…〉 art 〈◊〉 with my be aw●● , that is because thou hear●●t I haue a rich p●rse , not afaire face● for thou va●e west as much of beautie without pence , as a horse of a foyre ●tabl● without prenēder . Thou art en●ised by my vertues , I wo●der how that word vertue comes in thy mouth , when it is so far from thy heart● and pe●●●o●r●●●●e , for the most infectious Serpents ha●e sweet●t breathes : ●nd the commone●t Curtezans , the most curteous speeches .

Thou wo●ldest haue mee g●ace thee with my prese●●●● and 〈◊〉 our old● friendshippe : so I will , when ● meane to giue my bodie to the Surgeon , & my Soule to the Diuell : for in louing thee , I must needes graunt this Legacie . Thy reason is , that bones once broken , vnited againe , are the strongest . I would thy neck might make the experience , and then I would trust the instance . But why pe●ter I so much paper to so lew● a person ? as I found thee at the first , I leaue thee at the last , euen empty gordgde to bai●e at a full purse , incon●inient , false , periured ; as far from God as thou art friend to the Diuell : and so adieu .

Franc●sco penitent , and therefore a persecuter of curtizans .

AFter hee had written this letter he sent it to Infida , ●horeading it , and seeing shee could get●e no 〈◊〉 at the hands of Francesco ; that wrought she neuer so subtillie , yet her traines were discouered , that her painted luers could no● make him stoop , so had ●e with reason re●elled his former follie : when she perceiued ( I say ) that all her 〈◊〉 potions were found to ●e● poyso●s , though shee couered them neuer so clarkly● she ●el not in dispaire with ouermuch loue , but swore in her selfe to intend him some sec●e●e ●●eiudice , if euer it lay in her by any meanes to procure i● : but leauing her to the Iustice of him that poyseth the deedes of such impenitent persons in his ballance , and committing Francesco to the making of some strange comedie● I will shew you how Fortune made an assault to the vnfained affection of fayre Isabel.

The discourse of Isabels Fortune● .

ISabel liuing thus pensiue in that shee wanted ●●e presence of her Francesco , yet for her patience and vertu● grew so famous , that all Caerbranck talked of her pe●fections : her beautie was admired of euerie eye , bee ●●●lities applauded in euerie mans eare , that she was estéemed for a patterne of vertuous excellence throughout the whole Citie . Amongst the rest that censured of her curious fauours , there was one Signor Bernardo ● Bourgomaster of the Citie , who chauncing on a time to passe by the ●●●re where Isabel so iourned ; seeing so sweete a Saint , began to fa●l enamoured of so faire an obiect : and although he was olde , yet the fire of lust crept into his eyes and so inflamed his heart , that with a disordinate desire he began to affect her : but the renowme of her chastitie was such , that it almost quatted those sparkes that heated him on to such lawlesse affection . But yet when he calde to minde that want was a great stumbling blocke , and sawe the necessitie that Isabel was in by the absence of Francesco , he thought gold would bee a readie meanes to gaine a womans good will● and therefore dispayred not of obtaining his purpose . After that this Signor Bernardo had well noted the exquisite perfection of h●r bodie , and how she was adorned with most speciall gifts of nature , he was so snared with the ●etters of lasciuious Concupiscence , as reason could not redresse what lust had ingrafted ; his aged yeares yéelded vnto danitie , so that he turned away his minde from God , and durst not lift vp his eyes vnto heauen , least it shoul● be a witnesse of his wickednesse , or a corasiue to his guiltie conscience : for the remembrance of God is a terrour to the vnrighteous , and the sight of his creatures is a sting to the minde of the ●●probate . He therefore feeling his diuellish heart to b●e ●●rplexed with such hellish passions , carele●●●● cast off the 〈◊〉 of God from before his eyes , neither remembr●●● 〈…〉 was an Elder to giue good counsaile , ●or a Iudge in th●●●tie to minister right : his hoarie haires could not ha●e him from sinne , nor his calling conuert him from filthinesse , but he gréedilie drunke vp the dregges 〈…〉 carefullie ●us●ed his braines to oppresse 〈…〉 obtaine his purpose 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 thus . Being 〈…〉 Bourgomaster in all the citie , he determined to make a priuie search for some suspected person ; and being master of the watch himselfe , to goe vp into her chamber , and there to discouer the depth of his desire , so he thought to ioyne loue and opportunitie in one vnion , and with his office and his age to wipe out all suspition . Age is a crowne of glorie when it is adorned with righteousnesse , but the dregges of dishonor when t is mingled with mischiefe : for honourable age consisteth not in the tearme of yeares , nor is not measured by the date of a mans daies , but godlie wisedome is the gray haire , and an vndef●led life is ●lde age . The Herbe grace the older it is , the ranker smell it hath : the Sea starre is most blacke being olde : the Eagle the more yeares , the more crooked is her bill ; and the greater age in wicked men , the more vnrighteousnesse : which this Signor Bernardo tried true ; for desire made him hate delap , and therefore within two or three nights , picking out a watch answerable to his wish , hee himselfe ( as if it had béen some matter of great import ) went abroade , and to colour his follie with the better shadowe , hee searched diuers houses , and at last came to the place where Isabel lay , charging the host to rise and to shewe him her chamber ; for ( quoth he ) I must conferre with her of most secret affaires . The good man of the house obeyed willinglie , as one that held Bernardo in great reuerence , and brought him and the match to the chamber doore . Bernardo taking a ●andle in his hand , ●ad them all depart till he had ●alked with the Gentlewoman , which they did , and he entring in shutting the doore , found her fast on sleepe ; which fight ●raue the olde Lecher into a 〈◊〉 for there seein● nature in her pride , lust 〈◊〉 him the more , that he sat on ●he bed side a great while viewing of her beautie : at last starting vp , he awak● her out of a sw●ete ●●umbe●● Isabel looking vp , and seeing one of the Bourgomasters in the chamber , ( for Bernardo was knowne for his grauit●● and wealth of euery one in the Citie ) she was amazed● yet gathering her wits together , raysing herselfe vp on her pillowe , although he knewe she 〈◊〉 rightly refell hi● follie , and ●a●●ly perceiued her c●●●s●ile cooled the extreame of his desires , yet the feare of God was so farre from him , that he prosecuted his intent thus .

Signor Bernardos answer to Isabels replie .

WHy Isabel ( quoth he ) thinkest thou thy painted sp●●●ches , or thy hard d●nialls shall preu●il● against 〈◊〉 pretended purpose ? No , he is a coward that y●eldeth at the first shot , and h● no● w●●thie to weare the bud of beautie that is daunted with the 〈◊〉 repulse . I haue the tr●e in my hand and meane to enioy the fruite : I haue he●ten the bush and now will not let the birds ●●ie● and seei●g 〈…〉 here alone , your 〈…〉 shall stand for no sterlin●●hat if you consent , bee 〈◊〉 of a most trust●e fr●●nd● if not , hope for no other hap b●● open infamie . For ●●ou knowest ( Isabel ) that a womans chiefest treasure is her good 〈◊〉 , & that shee which hath 〈◊〉 her ●redite is h●lfe hanged , for death cu●s off all miseries , but 〈◊〉 is the beginning of all sorrowes . Sith then infamie i● worse than losse of life , assure thy sel●e I will 〈◊〉 thee to the quicke , for I will presentlie send thee to prison , and cause some R●ffi●n in the citie to sweare ●hat stars the absence of thy 〈…〉 Franc●s●● ● he hath 〈…〉 so shall 〈…〉 punishm●nt , and make 〈◊〉 laughing stocke to the world , odious to thy friends , a●d to liue hated of thy husband : mine 〈◊〉 and au●hor●tie , my ag● and 〈…〉 my pr●ten●e 〈…〉 th●n ( ●ai●e Is●bel ) 〈…〉 of thy 〈…〉 thy selfe a wi●e woman , 〈…〉 ●●●●bel hearing the mis●hieuous 〈…〉 Le●h●r and se●ing he had 〈…〉 she coul● not auoid 〈…〉 of the bodie or the destruction of the soule , was so driuen into such a passionate dilemma , that she burst foorth into teares , sighes and plaints , which she blubbred foorth on this wise .

Alas ( quoth she ) most vile and vniust wretch , is the feare of God so farre from thy minde , that thou seekest not only to sacke mine honour , but to sucke my bloud ? Is it not iniurie enough that thou seekest to spoyle mine honestie , but that you long to spill my life ? Hath thy swéete loue pretended such bitter tast ? Is this the fruite of your fained fancie ? No doubt the cause must bee pernicious when the effect is so pestilent . Flatter not yourselfe in this thy follie , nor sooth not thy thoughts in thy sinnes ; for there is a God that seeth and will reuenge , and hath promised that who bindeth two 〈◊〉 together shall not be vnpunished in the one . But what auaileth it to talke of wisedome to a foole , or of the wrath of God to a wilfull reprobate . The Charmer charme hee neuer so wisely , charmes in vaine if the Adder be deaffe ; and he casteth stones against the winde that seeketh to drawe the wicked from his follie : let me therefore ( poore soule ) more narrowlie consider mine owne case , I am perplexed with diuers doubtfull passions , and gréeuous troubles assaileth me on euerie side : if I commit this crime though neuer so secretly , yet the Lord is 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and pearceth into the verie thoughts , and mine owne conscience will be a continuall witnesse against me of this wickednesse : Stopendium peccatimors , then what other hap can I hope for but perpetuall damnation , sith the Lord himselfe hath promised to bee a swi●● witnesse against all wilfull adulterers : And if I consent not vnto this vnrighteous wretch , I am like to be vniustlie accused of the like crime , and so shall I being guiltlesse , haue mine honour euer blemishe with infamie . By this meanes what a discredite shall I bring to my parents , to my husband and my children : the hoarie hai●es of my father shall be brought with sorrowe vnto the graue , Francesco shall be ashamed to shewe his face in the streates of the Citie , and my 〈…〉 seede of an harlot● and 〈◊〉 alas I m● self● 〈◊〉 ●acklesse . Why my secret offence shal 〈◊〉 al this open shame ; The Lord is slow to wr●th , 〈◊〉 his mercie exceedeth al his workes : hee wisheth not the death 〈…〉 ●nd 〈◊〉 repentance pacifi●th his displeasure . But oh vile wretch that I am , why doe I blaspheme 〈…〉 the L●● and his Law ? why doe A 〈…〉 C●n I say I will rep●●● at my 〈◊〉 or shall I 〈◊〉 sinne in hope because the Lorde is merci●●ll ? 〈◊〉 , it i● better for me to fall into thy handes 〈…〉 commit the 〈◊〉 than to sinne in the sight of the Lor●● shal I not rather feare God than man ; and dread him more that killeth both soule and body , than him that h●th pow●r 〈◊〉 to kil the bodie onely ? Yet his feare shall be my def●●ce . 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 shee raysed her selfe vp , spitted in his face , and wisht him to doe his worst : whereupon ●e calle● vp the w●tch , and commanded her to make hee readie , for sh●● should to priso● . Her Host wondring what the cause should 〈…〉 to her ●ctions and the ●ertue of he● life ; 〈…〉 his word for he● , that she should the ●ext day 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer should be obiected against her● but hi● wo●de woulde not be taken ; for Bernardo 〈◊〉 ●ull of ●urie , & caried her away to prison ; where d●epel● grie●●d , and yet smothering her sorrow wi●h patience , 〈…〉 next morrow assoone as day brake , she cald for pen and inck and wrote this mournfull 〈◊〉 .

Isabels Sonnet that she made in prison . No 〈…〉 For 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 Report that sild to honour is a friend , May many li●s against true meaning mynt : But yet at last , Gainst slaunders blast , Truth doth the silly sackles soule defend . Though false reproach seeks honour to distaine , And enuy bites the bud though nere so pure , Though lust doth seek to blemish ●hast desire : Yet truth tha● b●o●kes not falshoods flaunderous staine , Nor can the spight of en●ies wrath indure : Will trie tru● loue from lust in I●stice fire : And mau●ge● all Well free from thr●●● The guiltles soule that keepes his footing sure . Where innocence triumpheth in her prime , And guilt cannot approach the honest mind ; Where chast intent is free from any misse , Though 〈◊〉 striue , yet searching time With piercing insight will the truth out finde , And make discouerie who the guiltie is● For time still tries The truth from lies : And God makes open what the world doth blinds . Veritas Temp●ris filia .

ISabel wetting her sonnet with ●eares , and pronouncing euery line with a sigh , sate in a dump . Whilest the fame of this fact was spread abroad throughou● al Caerbranck , euery man began sundrie coniectures as affection led them : her friendes sorrowing suspected the cankred mind of the Burgomaster ; yet for his calling durst not discouer their suspition : hir foes laughing saide , that dissembled holynes was a double sinne , and that the holi●st cou●●enaunce hath mischiefes , I thought it my duety to bring her into open infamie that she may be punished for her fault , knowen for a h●rlot , and from hencefoorth liue dispised and hated of all For proofe that shee hath liued long in this leawd kinde of life , this young man shall here before you all make present deposition ; and with that he reacht him ● bible : whereo● he swore that hee had long time conuerst dishonestly with Isabel , euer since the departure of her husband . At which oath the people that were Iurours in the cause , beleeuing the protestation of Bernardo , and the deposition of the youth , presently found hir guiltie : and then Bernardo and the rest of the B●rgomasters gaue iudgement , that she should presently haue some open and seue●● punishment , & after ●t banished ●ut of the town . Assoone as Isabel heard the censure , she appeald for no mercy , nor bashed any whit , as one desirous of fauour ; but lifting vp her eyes to heauen , onely sayd thus . O God which seest the secrets of all hearts , and knowest all things before they come to passe , which des●er●est the very inward thoughts , and ●riest the heart and the reines : Thou knowe●t that because I would not consent vnto the filthie Iust of this ●oting lecher ; nor agree by defiling my husbands bed to fulfil his fleshly desires , that he hath slandred me with that crime wherof I was neuer guilty , that he hath produced this young ma● by sinister subornation to periure himself in a fault wheras not so much as in thought I committed such a fact ; he hath to satisfie his malicious mind without cause deuised this false crime . I confesse O Lordis be a most grieuous offend●r , and to deserue farre greater punishment , but not for this d●●●e . Heare then O Lord my pr●yer , and let the innocence of my case plead before thy deuine maies●y : if it be thy will pre●●●● his 〈◊〉 , confound his counsels and let him which hath digged the pit for others , fall into the snare himselfe . Thou hast neuer as yet O Lorde lets the su●c●●rles without helpe● but hast deliuered them which feare thee from al aduersiti● : thou did●se set free Ioseph from the handes of his brethren which sought to spill his bloud , and didst preuent the practises of S●●l , inte●●ed against thy seruant Dauid● Elize●● 〈…〉 Dotham was not onely freed from his 〈◊〉 but also guarded about with a troupe of holy Angels : Elias was ●reserued from the cruel●ie of Iesabel , and 〈◊〉 with Rauens . But chiefly in my case ; howe mightily ●i●st thou 〈◊〉 Susanna from the ●reacherie of the two Elders in raysing vp young Daniel to maintaine her right● Nay 〈◊〉 hath trusted in thy mercie , which hath come to mish●ppe● or who hath put his hope in thee and hath suffered harme . So O Lord , if it be thy will thou canst disciose the deuise of this Signor Bernardo , and vnfoulde the follyes of this false wit●esse : helpe then O LORD , for in thee is my trust .

The people hearing the solemne protestation of sorrowful Isabel , though● she had spoken these words to excuse her fault , but not that shee was guiltles of the fact ; giuing more credite to the reuerend age of Bernardo , and the ●ath of the young man countena●●tou● by the B●rgomaster ; th●n to the young yea●es of a simple woman , supposing her speaches were more of custom● to cloake her follies , than of conscience to cleare her of that crime ; and therefore they woul● haue returned her back againe vnto prison , till the day assigned for her punishment . As sh●e was readie to be caried away , hee which had accused I●abel ●●are vp as a man lu●●ticke , and cried out vnto the peopl●● Thus I haue ●ame● men of Caerbranck , I haue sinned● the thought of my ●●esent periurie is a hell to my 〈◊〉 ; for I hau● 〈◊〉 fal●ly against th● innocent and haue co●sented to condemne Isabel without cause : an● wi●h that hee 〈◊〉 at the ba●re how Signor Bernardo had 〈◊〉 him against the Gentlewoman , and how in all hi● life before he neuer wa● in her comp●●●e . 〈◊〉 which confession of the young man , the Burg●m●st●●s examined the matter more effec●●ally , and found tha● ●sabel was cleare , tha●● , honest and vertuous , and Bernardo was a doting lecher : where●p●● they not onely amersed him in a great fine , to bee payde to Isabel , but put him for euer after from ●earing any office in the Citie .

Thus was Isabel deliuered from her enimies , and reckoned more famous for hir chastitie through al Caerbranck . This strange euent spread abroad through all the countrey● and as fame ●lies swift and far , so at last i● came to the eares of Francesco : for he sitting in Tr●ynouant at an ordinarie amongst other Gentleman , heard this fortune of Isabel reported at the table for straunge newes , by a Gentleman of Caerbranck , who brought in Isabel for a myrrour of chastitie , and added this more , that she was married to a Gentleman of a ripe witte , good parentage , and well skild in the liberall Sciences , but ( quoth he ) an vnthrist ; and one that hath not beene with his wife this sixe yeares . At this all the table condemned him as passing vnkinde , that could wrong so vertuous i● wife with absence : He was silent and blusht , feeling the worme of his conscience to wring him ; and that with inch a sharpe sting , that assoone as he got into his chamber , he fell to meditate with himselfe of the great abuses he offered his wife , the excellence of her exteriour perfection , her beautie , vertue , and other rare ornaments of nature presented themselues into his thoughts , that he began not onely to be passing passionate ; but deepely penitent , sorrowing as much at his former follies , as his hope was to ioy in his ensuing goood fortunes : Now he saw that Omnia sub sole vanitas : that beautie without vertue was like to a glorious flower without any operation , which the Apothecaries set in their shoppes for to be seene , but assoone as it withereth , they cast it into the furnace as an vnprofitable weede : that the imbracings of a Curtizan seeme they neuer so sweete , yet they were the paths to destruction ; that their lookes were stales vnto death , and the foldes of their ha●des are fetters to snare men in sinne . Now hee sawe that pride was extreame folly , for such as look● most high against the Sunne grew soonest blinde : that Icarus caught his fall , by soring high● that ●ime 〈◊〉 spent in●●●itie , in ryotous companie , amongst a ●rew of carelesse Caualier● , that would boast it in the towne , not braue in the field wa● neither to bee recalled nor recompen●● . Oh Francesco ( quoth hee ) how 〈◊〉 thou beene lead away with euery loo●e , fed vppon with Trencher flie● , eaten aliue ●ith fla●te●●rs , giuen to look at a ●●oddesse more than thy God , more readie to a Bowle th●n thy Boo●e , squaring in the streetes when thou shoul●●st bee meditating in thy chamber . If thou knowest these to be extreame parts o● follie , repent and amend : The Deare knowing Tam●risk is deadly to his nature , scornes to come neare the tree . The Unicorne will not brooke to re●t vnder a Cytron t●ee , for that hee holdes it mortall : The Eleph●n● will flie out of the comp●nie of a murtherer . These brute beasts auoide what nature tells them is perilous : thou huntest after those harmes with greedinesse , that thou knowest are preiudiciall .

Well Francesco , then now or else n●uer t●ey with such follies ; steppe at the bottom , ●nd then it is S●ro , 〈◊〉 let it bee Seri●● home to thy wife of shy youth , recon●ile thy selfe to her , she will forgiue and forget thy former fondnesse , a●d entertaine her penitent pa●●m●●r , with as great kind●esse● as he comes home with penau●●e : What man , Nu●qu●● sera ●st ad bonos mores via . With that Francesco tooke ●en● and paper , and wrote this 〈◊〉 .

Francescoes Sonnet , made in the prim● of his penaunce . With sweating browes I long haue plowde the sand●● My seeds was youth , my cr●ppe was endl●sse care : Repent hath sent me home with emptie hands At last , to tell how rife our follies are : And time hath left experience to approue● The gaine is griefe to those that traffique lo●e . The sil●nt thought of my repentant ye●res That fill my head , haue cald m● home at last : Now loue vnmaskt a wanton wretch apeares ; Begot by guilefull thought with ouer hast . In prime of youth a rose , in age a we●de , That for a minutes i●ye payes endlesse neede . Dead to delights , a foe to fond conceipt , Allied to wit by want , and sorrow bought : Farewell fond youth , long fostred in deceipt : Forgiue me Time disguis● in idle thought . And Loue adew , loe hasting to mine ende ; I finde no time too late for to amend .

HAuing framed this sonet , he gaue the coppy to some of his friends● making ma●ifest to them his resolution to leaue Troynouant , and to go home , and by their help , who furnished him with such necessaries ●s he did want , he in short time tooke his iour●ey . The day of his departure was ioyfull to all his friends , in so much that as manie as knew of his Iurney , gathered themselues togeather , and made him a banquet ; where ( verie merie and pleasant ) they karoust to the health of his Isabel : One amongst the rest who loued Francesco so tenderlie , tooke a cuppe of wine in his hand , & with teares in his eies , said thus : Francesco , I haue nothing to giue thee , being my selfe pinched with want : but some precepte● of witte that I ha●e bought with much experience , those shalt thou haue at my ha●des . which if thou put in practise , think I haue giuen much tre●sure .

The farewell of a friend . 1 Let gods worship be thy mornings work , and his wisedome the direction of thy daies labour . 2 Rise not without thankes , not sleepe not without repentance . 3 Choose but a fewe friends and trie those ; for the fla●terer speakes fairest . 4 If thy wife be wise make her thy Secretarie , else locke thy thoughts in thy heart , for women are sildome silent . 5 If she be faire , bee not iealous ; for suspition cures not womens follies . 6 If she be wise , wrong her not : for if thou louest others she will loath thee . 7 Let thy childrens nou●●ure be their richest portion : for wisedome is more precious than wealth . 8 Be not proude amongst thy poore neighbours : for a poore mans hate is perilous . 9 Nor too familiar with great men : for presumption wins disdaine . 10 Neither bee too prodigall in thy fare , nor die not indebted to thy bellie , but enough is a feast . 11 Bee no● enuious , least thou fall in thine owne thoughes . 12 Vse patience , mirth , and quiet : for care is enemie to health .

And Francesco ( quoth his friend ) that thou maiest remember my precepts I drinke to thée . Upon this he pl●●ged him , and so in pleasant that they past away the time till breakfast was done , and then he ga● him to horse , and then brought him a mile out of the Cit●e . At last , alt●ough they playd loth to depart , yet Francesco must away , but before he departe● , when they were readie to shake hands , 〈◊〉 out of his sléeue a Sonnet that he had made and gaue them it . The effec●s were these .

Francescos Sonnet cald his parting blow . Reason that long in prison of my will Hast wept thy mistris wants and losse of time : Thy wonted siege of honour safely clime , To thee I yeeld as guiltie of mine ill . Lo ( fettered in their teares ) mine eyes are prest To pay due homage to their nati●e guide , My wretched heart wounded with bad betide , To craue his peace f●●m reason , is addrest . My thoughts ashamd since by themselues consumd , Haue done their duetie to rep●ntant wit : Ashamde of all sweete guide I sorie sit , To see in youth how I too farre presumde . Thus he whom loue and errour did betray , Subscribes to thee , and takes the better way . Sero sed serio .

Assoone as hee had deliuered them the Sonnet , shaking hands , he put spurres to his horse and roade onward on his iourney● within fiue vaies hee arriued at Caerbrancke , where assoone as he was lighte● he went to the house where his wife soiourned , and one of the maides espying Francesco , yet knewe him for all his long absence , and ●anne in and tolde it to Isabel that her husband was at the d●ore : she being at worke in he● chamber , sat at this newes a● one in an extasie , vntill Francesco came vp , who 〈◊〉 ●he 〈◊〉 sighe of his wife , considering the excellencie of her beautie , her vertues , chastitie , and other perfections , and measuring he● constancie with his disloyaltie , stoode as a man metamorph●sed : at last he began thus .

Ah Isabel , what shal I say to thy fortunes or my 〈◊〉 ? what exordium shall I ●se to shewe my penance , or disco●e● my sorrowes , or expresse my present ioyes & For I ●ell th●e I conceiue as great pleasure to s●● th●● well , as griefe in that I haue wronged thee with my absence . Might sighes , ( Isabel ) teares , plaints , or any such exteriour p●ssions pourtray out my inward repentance , I would shewe thee the Anatomie of a most distressed man : but ●mongst many sorrowing thoughts there is such a confusion , that superflu●●●●●f griefes stops the source of my discontent . To figure out my follies or the extremitie of my fancie● , were but to m●nifest the bad course of my life● and ●o ra● the fearre by ●●●ting out mine owne scathe● a●● theref●re 〈◊〉 it suffice , I r●pent heartelie , I sorrowe ●eeplie , and meane to amend and continue in the same constan●ite . A● th●● Francesco st●●de and w●p● , which Isabel seeing , conteined by ●is outward griefes his secret passions , and therefore taking him about the necke , wetting his cheekes with the teares that fell from her eyes , she made him this womanlie , and wise answere .

What Francesco , comest thou home ful of woes , or s●ekest thou at thy returne to make me wéepe ? Hast thou be●● long absent , and now bringest thou me a treatise of discon●ent ? I see thou are penitent , and therefore I like not to heare wh●t follie● are past . It 〈◊〉 for Isabel that he●cefoor●h thou wilt loue I●●bel . and vpon that condition without any more wordes welcome to Isabel. With that she smiled and wept , and in doing both together sealed vp all her contrarie passions in a kisse . Many lo●kes p●st betweene them , many odde 〈◊〉 and many fauours● but what they did , or how th●y agreed in secrete that I 〈…〉 foorth they c●me great 〈◊〉 out of the chamber , where Francesco was welcomed home of his wifes ●ost with great cheate● who to shewe his kindnesse the more , ●ad prouided ●●●lemne ●an●●e● , hauing hidden many of hi● neighbours to supper , that they might accompanie F●●●●esco .

Well , supper being done and they sitting by the fire , the host seeing them all in a dumpe , sayd , that to driue them out of their melancholie he would tell them a tale , which they al desirous of , sat silent , and he began thus .

The Hosts tale .

IN Thessalie , where Nature hath made the soyle proude with the beautie of Shepheards , there dwelled a swayne called Selador ; auncient , as hauing age seated in his haires ; and wealthie , as infeoffed with great possessions ; and honest , as being indued with many vertuous qualities . This Selador had to ioy him in his age a daughter of great beautie , so exquisite in her exteriour feature , as no blemish might eclipse the glorie that Nature b●stowed in her liniaments . As thus she was faire , so was she wise , and with her wit ioyned vertue , that to behold , she was Helena ; to heare , Pallas ; and to court , a Daphne . This Damosell whose name was Mirimida , kept h●r fathers shéepe , & in a scarlet peticoate , with a chaplet of flowers on her head , went euery day to the ●●●lds , where she plide the care of her fathers foldes with such diligence , that she seemed with Labour to enter armes against Loue , & with her hands thrift to preuent her hear●s gréefe . Using thus daylie the playnes of Thessalie , the Shepheards delighted at the gaze of so excellent an obiect , and held their eyes fortunate when they might behold her feature , estéeming him happie that could lay his flockes néerest to her foldes . Amongst the rest of all the swaynes that fed their thoughts 〈◊〉 hee fauours , there was one called Eurymachus , a young youth that had th● pride of his yeares triumphing in his countenance , wittie and full of pleasant conceipts , and that Fortune might iumpe with loue , and make him gracious in womens eyes he was wealthie ; for gold is the Chrisocoll of loue . This Eurymachus alwaies so plotten the course of his shéepe walke , that he was next neighbour to Mirimida , in so much that to discouer his fancie hee did her often fauours ; for when any of her Lambes went ●●tray , or any thing grewe amisse , then Eurymachus was the swayne that indeuoured by his labour to redresse euery losse . By this meanes hée waxed priuate and familiar with Mirimida , which was the meanes that wrought him into a preiudiciall l●borinth ; for he did so neere acced●r● ad ig●em , that hée did calescere plu● quam saetis : for as none comes néere the fume of the Misselden but he waxeth blind , nor any touch the Salamander but he is troubled with the palsie ; so none could gaze on the face of Mirimida 〈◊〉 they went away l●nguishing . This did poore E●rymachus experience : for although he knewe Loues fires were fatall , and did not warme but scortch ; yet he loued with the bird ●o flie to the ●lame though he burne his wings and fell in the ●ush ; he would not with Vlisses stop his eares , but sit and sing with the Syreus ; he feared no inchantment , but caroust with Circes , till his ouerdaring drewe him into a passionate danger , and so long suckt in the beautie of Mirimida with his euer thirstie eyes , till his hart was fuller of passions , than his eyes of affections : yet discouer his thoughts he durst not , but smoothered vp his inward paynes with outward silence ; hauing the Ouen the hatter within for that it was dam● vp , and his gre●fes the deeper for that they were concealed . To manifest his maladie to her he durst no● , he thought himselfe too homely a patient for such a Phisition : to vtter his loue● to another and make any his Secretarie but himselfe , he supposed was to drawe in a riuall to his loues . Thus was Eurymachus perplexed , till at last to giue a little ●ent to the flame , sitting on a day on a hill , hée puld foorth pen and incke , and wrote this fancie .

Eurymachus fancie in the prime of his affection . When lordly Saturne in a sable roabe Sat full of frownes and mourning in the West , The euening starre scarce p●●pt from out her lodge , And Phoebus nowly gallopt to his rest : Euen th●n Did I Within my boate sit in the silent streames , All voyd of cares as he that lies and dr●am●s . As Phao so a Ferriman I was , The countrie lasses sayd I was too faire , With easie toyle I labourd at mine ●are , To passe from side to side who did repaire : And then Did I For pain●s take pence , and Charon like transport Assoone the swayne as men of high import . When want of worke did giue me l●aue to rest , My sport was catching of the wanton fish : So did I weare the tedious time away , And with my labour mended oft my dish● For why I thought That idle houres were Calenders of ruth● And time ill spent was preiudice to youth . I scornd to loue , for were the Nimph as fa●re As she that loued the beauteous Latmian swayne , Her face , her eyes , her tresses , nor her browes Like Iuorie could my affection gaine : For● by I said With high disdaine , Loue is a base desire , And Cupids flames , why the are but ●atrie fire . As thus I sat disdayning of proud loue , Haue euer F●rri●●● there cried a boy , And with him was a paragon , for bu● A louely 〈◊〉 beauteous and coy , And ●●ere With her . A maiden , couered with a t●●nie val● , Her face vnseene far breeding louers bal● . I stird my boate , and when I came to shoare The boy was wingd , me thought it was a wonder : The dame had eyes like lightning or the flash That runnes before ●he 〈◊〉 report of thunder ; Her smiles . Were sweet● , Louely her face : was neere so faire a creature , For earthly cark●sse had a heauenly feature . My friend ( quoth she ) 〈…〉 behold , We three must passe , but not af●r thing fare , But I will giue ( for 〈◊〉 Queene of l●ue ) The brightest lasse thou lik'st vnto thy share , Choose where Thou ●●est , Be she as faire as Loues sweete Ladi● is , She shall 〈◊〉 if 〈◊〉 will be thy blisse . With that she smiled with such a pleasing face , As might haue made the marble rocke relent : But that I triumph● in disdaine of loue , Bad 〈◊〉 on him 〈◊〉 ●o fond loue was bent , And then Said thus , So light the Ferriman for loue doth care , As Venus passe not , if she pay no f●r● . At thi●●● a frowne ●at on her angrie brow , She winkes vpon her wanton sonne hard by : He from his quiuer drow a bolt of fire , And aymd so right as that he pearst mine eye : And then Did she Draw downe the v●le that hid the virgins face , Whose heauenly beauti● lightned all the place . Straight then I leande mine arme vpon mine eare , And ●ookt vpon the Nymph ( if so ) was faire : Her eyes were starres , and like Apollos lo●ks Me thought appeard the tramels of her haire . Thus did I ga●e And suckt in beautie till that sweete desire Cast fue●● on and set my thought on fire . When I was lodgd within the net of loue , And th●t they saw my heart was all on flame , The Nymph away , and with her trips along The winged boy , and with her goes his dame . Oh then I cried Stay Ladies stay and take not any care● You all shall passe and pay no penny fare● Away they fling , and looking coylie backe They laugh at me : oh with a loude disdaine . I send out sighes to ouertake the Nimphs , And t●●res a● lures to call them backe againe : But ●●ey Flie ●hence , But I sit in my boat● , with 〈…〉 And feele a pain● , 〈◊〉 knowe not what 〈◊〉 sore . At last I feele it is the flame of loue , I striue but bootlesse to expresse the paine , It cooles , it fires , i● hopes , i● feare● , i● fr●ts , And s●irreth passions thr●●ghout euery 〈◊〉 That 〈◊〉 I sat● And sighing did fair● Venus lawes appr●●● , And swore n● thing so ●weete and sowre as loue , ●r●●lorida pungu●● .

Hauing made this Canzon he put it in his bosome , and oft when he was by himselfe would reade it , easing his passion with viewing the conceip●s of his owne fancie : on a day hauing brought downe his s●eep● he espies Mirimida , a●d to her he goes , and after his wonted salut● sat downe by her , and fell to such ●hat 〈…〉 , int●rmedling his passion with so 〈◊〉 sighes , 〈…〉 his eye so effectually vpon her face without 〈◊〉 , that she perceiued the Shepheard had 〈…〉 , and that there was none but she that b●re the Antidote . As thus she noated his passions , she espied a 〈◊〉 of paper sticking out of his bosome , which she 〈…〉 p●●ceiuing it was a Sonne● she read it , and th●● lo●king earnestlie on Eurymachus 〈…〉 , and she with a friendly smile began to crosse him 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 .

What Eurymachus 〈…〉 labours wipe away wanton Amours , nor thy sh●●pes care preuent thy 〈◊〉 loue ? I had thought fancie 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 on thy ●●ele , nor affection presented any obiect ●o thine eye● 〈◊〉 now 〈…〉 the Cameli●n cannot liue without ayre , 〈…〉 ●er without fire : so men 〈…〉 quiet in 〈◊〉 life , vnlesse they acquaint them with l●ue : I see swaynes are not such swads but they haue thoughts and passions , and be they neuer so lowe they can looke at beautie . Corydon in his gray cassocke had his faire Phillis , and Menalcas could court Galatea in his Shepheards cloake , and Eurymachus be he neuer so homely will hazarde , but at whome there lies the question .

At whom ( quoth Eurymachus ) ah Mirimida , at one that is too high for my thoughes , and too beauteous for my fortunes : so that as I haue soared with the Hobby , I shall bate with the Bunting ; & daring with Phaeton , I shall drowne with Icarus : mine eye was too proude , my thoughts too forward ; I haue stared at a ●●arre , but shall stumble at a stone , and I feare because I haue ouerlookt in loue , I shal be ouerlaid in loue . With that he sighed , and Mirimida smiled and made this replie . Why Eurymachus , a man or a mouse ? what is there any Cedar so high but the slowest snayle will créepe to the top ? any fortune so base but will aspire ; any loue so precious but hath his prize ? What Eurymachus , a Cat may looke at a King , and a swaynes eye hath as high a reach as a Lords looke . Vulcan in his leather sutes courted Venus in her silkes : the swayne of La●mos w●ed Luna , both dare● , and both had their desires . What ? Loue requires not wealth but courage , & parentage is not so high prizd by fancie as personage : fe●●e not man , if thou hast lookt hie , followe thy though●s , and crie loues fauours , for deniall is no dishonour . Eurymachus hearing Mirimida in such an amorous humour , incouraged by her perswasions , thought now to strike while the yron was hot , and therefore taking her by the hand began thus .

Trueth Mirimida , Venus ●awes are bounded with constraint , and when loue leadeth the eye , desire kéepes no compasse : when Paris courted Helena , though she were coy and denied , yet was she not discourteous & disdained ; for she answered thus mildly : Nemo etenim succens●t amanti . This ( Mirimida ) makes me hardie to take thee by the hand , and

Nay ( quoth Eu●ymachus ) and hee tooke her ●ast by the arme , if I were sure you had power as Diana had to plague me with Act●●●● punishment , you passe not without a little more prattle ; if I anger you , t is first a preparation ●o ● good stomacke , for ●holler is a friend to digestion : secondly , as the Chrisocoll and the golde by long stri●ing together growe to bee one mettall ; so by o●e falling out we shall be be●ter friends : for Amantium i●ae amoris redintegratio est .

Therefore ( faire Mistris ) si● still and graunt some fauour to him that is ●e pained with fancie , I will loue you though I am poore , and a King can doo but so much : if you thinke my degrée be to● lowe for so high beautie , thinke of all parte● the meane is the mer●iest , and that the Shepheards gray hath lesse grie●e ●ho● th● Lordly estates : I knowe women must be coy , because they are women , and they must haue time to be wonne , or else they would be thought to ●e wantons● therefore whatsoeuer you say now I holde it not authent●call , yet for that I would haue some hope , goo● M●rimida let me see th●e laugh . She could not but smile to see the Shepheard so pleasant , and so Eurymathus rested content , and from amor●us that they fell to talke of other matters till euening grewe on , and then they folded their sheepe and with a friendly 〈◊〉 parted .

Eurymachus was not alone thus 〈◊〉 of the fal●● Mirimida , bu● all the Shepheards of Thessalie wri● Po●ms and D●●●es of her bea●●ie , and we●e ●ute●s to her for fauour ; she like 〈◊〉 held loue in 〈◊〉 , and yet wa● courteous to all 〈◊〉 o●her kinde of conference . Amongs● the rest , Venus ( ●e●●ke ) willing to bee pleasant , had 〈◊〉 one in the laborinth of loue called Mullidor , a ●ellow●●h●● was of honest patents , but very poore , and his person●●● was as if he had been cast in Esops moul● , his 〈◊〉 like● 〈…〉 of the largest life in folio , able to furnish a Coble●● 〈◊〉 sat downe to his pottage and eate off his 〈◊〉 full , the old woman stumbles to the pot againe for a fresh messe . Ah mother ( quoth hee with a great sigh ) no more br●ath ●o nigh● : with that she clapt her hand o● her knee , and swore her ●oy was not well that hée forsooke his supping , yet hée fell to a peece of bacon that stood on the board , and a ●ough barley pudding : but he rose before the rest and gat him into a corner , where folding his armes together he sat thinking on his loue . Assoone as the rest of the swaynes were vp from the table and turning Crabbes in the fire , she tooke her sonne into the seller , and sitting downe in her chaire began thus .

Sonne Mullidor , thy chéekes are lea●e , and thou lookest like le●ton , pale & wanne , I saw by thy stomacke to night thou art not thine owne man , thou hadst alate ( God saue thée ) a louely fat paire of chéekes , and now thou lookest like a shotte● herring : Tell me Mullidor , and feare not to tell me , for thou tellest it to thy mother , what aylest thou ? Is it griefe of bodie or of minde that keepes thée on holidaies from frisking it at the footeball ? Thou art not as thou wert wont , & therefore say what thou aylst , and thou sh●l● see old women haue good counsaile .

At th●se spéeches of his mother , Mullidor fetche a great sigh , and with that ( being after supper ) he brake winde● which Callena hearing , oh sonne ( quoth she ) t is ●he Collic● that troubles thée ; to bed man , to bed , and wée will haue a warme p●tled . The Collick mother , no t is a disease that all the cunning women in the Countrie cannot cure , and strangely it holdes me for sometimes it paynes me in the head● somewhiles in mine eyes ; my heart , my heart , oh there mother it playes the diuell in a morter● somewhile it is like a frost , cold● sometimes as a fire , hot : when I should sleepe then it makes m● wake ; when I eate it troubles my stomacke ; when I am in companie it makes me sigh ; and when I am alone it makes me crie right out , that I ●an wet one of my newe Lo●ker●●●apkins w●●h weeping . It came to me by a great chau●●e● for as I 〈◊〉 on a faire ●lower , a thing I knowe not what 〈◊〉 in at 〈◊〉 eyes , a●d ranne round about all my vay●●s , and at last ga● int● my heart , and there euer since hath remained , and there mother euer since so wring● me , that Mullidor must dye , and with that he fell on weeping .

Call●na seeing her sonne shed ●●ares , fell to her hemp●n apron and wipt her bleared eyes , and at last demaunded of him if it were not loue . At that question he hung downe his head and fighthed . Ah my sonne ( quoth she ) now I see t is loue ; for he is such a sneaking fellowe , that if he bu● le●●e in at the eylid a●d diue downe into the heart , and there rests as colde as a stone , yet touch him and he wi●● s●●ike : for t●ll me Mullidor , what is she that thou lo●est and will not loue thee ? If she bee a woman as I ●m , she cannot ●ut fancie thée ; for mine eye though it bee now olde ( and with that vp went her apron and she wipt them cléere ) hath b●en a wanton when it was young , and would haue chosen at the first glance the prope●est springall in the Parish : and trust me Mullidor , but bée not proude of it , when I looke on thee I finde ●hee so louely , that I count her worse th●n accurst would not ch●ose thee for her Paramour . With these woordes Mullidor began to smile , and trou●led his mother ere she had halfe ended he● tale on this ma●ner .

Mother , I may righ●●y compare the Church to a l●oking glasse ; for as man may see himselfe in the one , and the●e see his proportion : so in the other the wenches e●●s are a testificate ; for vpp●● whome you se● all the girles looke , hée for foo●e and fare carries away the bell , and I am sure for these two yeares I ne●er come in●o the Church and was no sooner set , but the wenches began to winke one on another to looke on mée and laugh . Oh ware mother when a dogge wagges his taile hée loues his master , and when a woman laughs , for my life she is ouer the head & eares in loue . Then if my fortune serue me to be so well thought on , why should I not ●enter on her I loue . It is ( mother ) Seladors daughter Mirimida . Now Gods blessing on thy heart ( quoth Callen● ) for louing such a smugge lasse , marrie her ( my sonne ) and thou shalt haue my benizon in a clowte . Mirimida ? marie t is no mar●ell if thy chéekes are fallen for her : why , she is the fairest b●ossome in all the towne : to her sonne , to her , tricke thy selfe vp in thy best reparrell , & make no bones at it but on a woing : for womens desires , I may tell thee boy , are like childrens fancies , won oft with an apple when they refuse an Angell , and Mullidor take this with thee and feare not to speede : A womans frowne is not euer an instance of choller : if she refuse thee outwardlie , she rega●ds t●ee inwardly ; and if she shake thée vp and bid thée be packing , haue the better hope , Cats and Dogs come together by s●ratching : if she smile , then sonne say to thy selfe , she is thine● and yet women are wyl●e cattel , for I haue seene a woman laugh with anger , and kisse him she hath desired to kill : she will be co● ( Mullidor ) but care not for that , t is but a thing of course ; speake thou faire , promise much , praise her hig●ly , comm●nd her beautie aboue all , and her vertue more than all , sigh often , and shewe thy selfe full of passions , and as sure as thy cap is of wooll , the wench is thine .

Mullidor hearing his mother giue such good counsaile , sayd he would ieopard a ioynt , and the next day haue a fling at her . With that he sayd his heart was eased , and his stomacke somewhat come downe with her good perswasions : where●pon the Am●rie was opened , and he turned me ouer the cantle of a Chée●e and went to bed . The next morning vp he rose , and his holy day roabes went on , his sta●d ●ppes ●ewe black● , his cappe faire brush● , and a cleane Lockeram band . Thus ●etyred , away flings Mullidor to the field , and carried away his sheepe & led them into the playnes where Mirimida sought to feede her flockes : comming there , he that Venus fires as well warme the poore as the rich , and that deformitie was no meanes to abridge fancie : wherevpon she replied thus . Why Mullidor are you in loue , and with me : i● there none but Mirimida that can fit your eye , b●ing so many beautifull damzels in Thessalie ; take heede man , look● before you leap least you fall in the ditch : I am not good enough for so proper a man as your selfe , es●e●ially being his mothers onely sonne : what Mullidor , let m● counsaile you , there are more maides than Malkin and the countrey hath such choice as may breede your better content : for mine own part at this time I meane not to marry . T is no matter quoth Mullidor what you say : for my mother tolde me , that maides at first would bee coy when they were wooed , and mynse it as ●were a mare ouer a mouth full of This●les , and yet were not a whit the worse to be likte , for t was a matter of custome . Well then Mullidor quoth Mirimida , leaue off for this time to talke● of loue ; and hope the best : to morrow perchaunce it will bee better : for women are like vnto children , that will oft refuse an Apple , and straight crie for the paring : and when they are most hungrie , then for fullennesse fast : This Mullidor quoth she , is the frowardnesse of loue : Marie then quoth he , if they haue childrens malladies , t were good to vse childrens medicines , and that s a rod : for ●e they neuer so froward , a ier●k or two will make them forward : and if that would bring women to a good temper ; my mother hath a stiffe cudgell , and I haue a strong arme .

Thus these two past away the day , till presently they espied a farr● off a Gentleman with a Ha●ke on his fist , to come riding towards them : who drawing nie and seeing so faire a Nimph , raind his horse , and stoode still , as Acteo● when he gazed at Diana : at last hee alighted , and comming towards her , saluted her thus curteously● Faire vi●gin when I saw such a sweete Saint with such a crooked Apostle , I straight thought Venus had bee● walking abr●ad● to take the ●yre with Vulcan ; but ass●ne as mine eyes began narrowly to make 〈◊〉 of thy b●●utie , I found V●nus ●lemishe with thy rare 〈…〉 sheepe that are folded by su●h 〈…〉 are the●e shephear●s that enioy the presen●e of such a beauteous creature : no marue●●● if Apollo became a 〈◊〉 , o● Mercury a ●eatheard , when their 〈◊〉 are recompe●st with such loues . My selfe faire damasell , if either my degree were worthy , or my deserts any , wo●lde craue to haue entertainement to become your dutif●l 〈…〉 wh●le Mirimida held downe her head and blush● : at last , lifting vp her eyes full of modestie , and her face full of 〈◊〉 colours● such as florish out the fronts of Dianas virgins she made the Gentleman this answere . My seruant sit ( quoth shee ) 〈◊〉 , your worth is far aboue my wealth , and your dignity 〈◊〉 high for my degree , p●ore cuntrie Damo●●●● must n●t ayme too hie at fortune , nor flye too fast in desires , least ●ooking at their ●eete with the Peacock they let fall their pl●●es , and so shame at their owne follies : but if my gr●● w●●● so great as to enterteine such seruants , I must bestowe vpon 〈◊〉 some changable liuorie , to shew the ●arietie of the●● minds● for mens hearts are like to the ●oli●e , tha● will 〈…〉 to all col●ors but ble● , and their though●●s into all 〈◊〉 but const●ncie● In that sit , ●ou● 〈◊〉 ●azled and 〈…〉 , for Venus , 〈…〉 Gentleman t●●s abu●e h●s patience , as a man conceipted in his owne propernesse , and especially afore Mirimida , thwarte● him thus . You master meacock that stand vpon the beauty of your churmnilke face ; as brag with your Buzzard on your fist , as a Sow vnder an apple tree : know that wee countrey swaines as we are not beholding to Nature for beautie , so we little accompt of Fortune . for any fauour : Tush man , my crooke back harboureth more honest conditions , than thy fleering countenaunce : and these course suites , can fetch more pence than thy silkes : for I beleeue thou makst a sco●●e of the Mercers booke : thou hast made such sure entrance there , that thou wilt neuer from thence till thou beest come out by the eares . Goodman courtier , though we haue backes to beare your fr●mps ; yet we haue queake stomack● tha● will hardly brooke them : and therefore fine foole , be gone with your foule , or I wil so be labour you , as you shall feele my fingers this f●rtnight : And with that Mull●dor heaued vp his sheephook & bent his bro●●s , so that the Gentleman gi●ing Mirimida the ●die● , hee pu● spurs to his horse and went his way .

At this manly part of Mullidor , Mirimida laugh● heartilie ; and he tooke a great conceipt , that hee had shewd himselfe such a ●all man : Upon this , Mirimida gaue him a Nosegay which stuck in her bosome for a fauour ; which hee accepted and gratefully , as though another had giuen him a tunne of golde . Night drew on , and they folded th●ir sheepe and departed , shee to her Father , and hee towardes olde Callena , as ioyful a man as Paris , when he had the promise from Venu● ● hee plodded on his way with his head full of passions and his heartfull of new thoughts , and 〈◊〉 eye was on the Nosegay , in so much that he stoode in a 〈◊〉 whether it were Loue or some other 〈◊〉 worse 〈…〉 , that thu● hincht him & pin●ht him : at la●● he fel with himselfe 〈◊〉 this meditation . Now doe I pe●●●iue that Loue is a purgation , and searcheth euery v●ines tha● though & ente● at the ●ye , yet it runnes to the heart , and then it 〈…〉 olde coyle , where it worketh like a iuglers 〈◊〉 . Oh Loue thou art like to a flea which ●itest sore , and yet leapest ●way and art not to be found : or to a pot of strong al● , that maketh a man cal his Father whoreson : so both them bewitch a mans wits that he knoweth not a B. from a Battildore . Infortunate Mullidor , and therefore infortunate , because thou art ouer the eares in Loue ; and with whome ? with Mirimida : whose eyes are like to sparks of f●re , and ●hine like a pound of butter , like to be melted with her beau●y , and to consume with the frieng flame of fancie . Ah Mullido● her face is like to a ●ed & white Daisy growing in a greene meddow , & thou like a bee , that commest and suckest honie from it , and cariest it home to the hiue with a heaue & hoe : that is as much to say , as with a head full of woes , & a heart full of sorrowes and mala●ies . Be of good cheare , Mirimida laughes on thee , & thou knowest a womans smile is as good to a louer , as a sunshine day to a Ha●maker : she shewes thee kind looks , & ca●ts many ● sheeps eye 〈◊〉 thee : which signif●es that shee counts thee a man worthi● to iumpe a ma●ch with hir : nay more Mullidor , shee hath giuen thee ● Nosegay of flowers wherin as a top gallant for all the rest , is set in Rosemary for remembrance : Ah Mullidor cheere thy s●lfe , feare not ; loue & fortune fauors lusty 〈◊〉 ●owards are n●t friend● to affection : therefore venter● for thou has● wonne her : els 〈◊〉 she not gi●en thee this no●egay . And with this remembring himselfe , he 〈◊〉 vp , left off his am●rous passions and ●●udgeth home to his house ; where comming i● , olde Calena stumbles to see in wha● humour hir sonne c●me ho●e : ●●●●lick he was , & his ●ap on the one●ide , he askt if supper we●e ready : his mother seeing his stomack was good , thought there was some hope of her Sonnes good fortunes , and therefore sayd , there was ● 〈◊〉 in the po● that is almost enough : but sonne quoth she , what newes● what successe in thy loues ? how doth Mirimida 〈…〉 Ah , ah , quoth Mullidor , and he smiled , how should I be vsed : but as one that was wrape in his m●●hers smock when hee was borne , Can the s●nne want heat , and the winter cold : or a proper man be denied in his suites ? No mother , assoone as I began to circumglaze her with my Sophistrie : & to fetch her about with 2 or three venies : from mi●e eyes I gaue her such a thump on the brest , that she would scarce say no : I told her my mind & so wrap● hee in the prodigallitie of my wit that she said an other time shoulde : but then wee parted laughing , with such a sweete smile that it made mee loose in the ha●t like a dudgin dagger : she gaue me this nosegay for a fauour , which how I est●emed it gesse you● thus haue I vsed her in ki●dnesse , and she vsed me in curtesie ; & so I hope we shal make a friendly conclusion . By my troth sonne quoth she , & I hope no lesse , for I tell you , when maids giue gifts , they meane well ; and a woman if she laugh with a glauncing looke wisheth it were neither to do nor vndone : she is thine my sonne feare not : and with that she laid the cloth and se● victuals on the borde where Mullidor tried himselfe so tall a trencher man , that his mother perceiued by his drift he would not 〈◊〉 for loue . Leauing this passionate ●ubber , to the conceip● of his loues ● let vs returne to the young cou●●yer called Radagon , who ●ro●ting a soft pace vpon his cours●r seeing the sunne now bright and then ouershadowed with clouds , began to ●ompare the state of the weather fantas●ically to the humor of his Mirimidas fancies : saying , when Phoebus was eclipst with a vapour , then she lowred : when hee shewd his glorie in his brightnesse , the● she smiled● Thus hee dallied in an ●n●oth m●tion so long , that at last hee began to feele a fire that fretted to the heart . Ryding thus in a quandarie he entred into the consideration of Mirimidas beauty wherupon frolickly in an extemperat humor he made this sonnet .

Radagons Sonnet . No cleare appeard vpon the azurd Skie , A val● of stormes had shadowed Phoebus face● And in a sable man●le of disgrace : Sate he that is ycleap●d heauens bright eye , As though that he , P●rplex● for Clitia , meant to leaue his place , And wrapt in sorrowes did resolue to di● ; For death to louer● woes is euer me● Thus foulded in a hard and mournfull laz● Distrest sate hee . A mistie fogge had thickned all ●he ayre , Iris sate solemne and denied her showers Flora in taunie hid vp all her flowers And would not diaper her meads with faire , As though that shee Were armd vpon the barren earth to lowre Vnto the founts Diana nild repaire , But sate as ouershadowed with dispaire Solemne and sad within a withered bower Her Nymp●es and she . Mars malecontent lay sick on Venus knee , Venus in dumps sat muffled with a frowne Iuno laid all her frollick humors downe , And Ioue , was all in dumps as well as she : T was Fates decree . For Neptune ( as he ment the world to drown ) Hea●d vp his surges to the highest tre● , And leagud with Eol , mard the Seamans gle● Beating the Cedars with his billows downe Thus wroth was hee . My mistris deynes to shew hir sunb●ight face , The ayre cleard vp , the clowds did fade away , Phoebus was frollick when she did display The gorgious bewties , that her frunt do grace . So that when she● But walkt abroad , the stormes then fled away , Flora did checker all her treading place , And Neptune calmde the surg●●●ith his mace , Diana a●d hir Nimphes were bl●the and gaie , When h●r th●y see .

kill a thousand men . Indeed I cannot denie but oft sub melle latet venenum , that beautie without vertue is like a boxe of Iuorie containing some balefull Aconiton , or to a faire shooe that wrings the too●e ; such loue as is laid vpon such a foundation is a short pleasure full of payne , and an affection bought with a thousand miseries ; but a woman that is faire and ve●tuous maketh her husband a ioyfull man ; and whether he be rich or poore , yet alwaies he may haue a ioyfull heart . A woman that is of a silent tongue , shamefast in countenance , sober in behauiour , and honest in condition , adorned with vertuous qualities correspondent● is like a goodly pleasant flower deckt with the colours of all the flowers of the garden : and such a one ( quoth he ) is Mirimida , and therfore though she be poore I will loue her and like her ; and if she wil fancie me I will make her my wife . And vpon this he resolued to prosecute his sute towards her , in so much that assoone as he came home and had rested himselfe a while , he stept to his standish and wrote her a letter .

Radagon was not more pained with this passionate maladi● than poore Eurymachus , who could t●ke no r●st , although euery day in her presence he fed his eye with the beautie of her face : but as the Hidaspis the more he drinkes the more thirstie he is ; so Eur●machus the more he looked the more he loued , as hauing his eye deeply e●amoured of the obiect ; reueale any more his su●e he durs● not , be●●use wh●n he began to that of loue she sha●● him off● and either 〈◊〉 ●way in a rage , or else forst him to fall to other prattle ; in so much that he determined to discourse his minde in a letter● which he performed as cunningly as he could & sent it her●

Mullido● that asse r●pt out his reasons diuers ●imes to Mirimida , vntil she was weary of the 〈…〉 fooleries , and so with a sharpe wor● or two ●ip● him on the pate : whereupon asking his mothers counsaile , she persw●ded him to write v●to Mirimida , altho●gh he and a p●n wer● as fit as an ●●●e and ● harpe● 〈…〉 and stealing into the Churchyard vnder an Appletre●● 〈◊〉 in his muses he framed a letter and sent it her .

Thus had Fortune ( meaning to be merrie ) appoynted in her secret synod that al these three should vse one meanes to possesse their loues , & brought it so to passe that the thrée letters from these three riuals were deliuered at one instant : which when Mirimida saw , she sat her downe and laught , wondring at the rarenes of the chance that should in a moment bring such a conceipt to passe ; at last ( for as then shee was leading foorth her shéepe ) shee satte her downe , and looking on the superscription saide to her selfe ; what Adamants are faire faces that can draw both rich , poore & fooles to lodge in the laborinth of their beauties : at this she sighed , & the first letter she broake open , because he was her first louer , was Eurymachus . The contents whereof were these .

Eurymachus the Shepheard to Mirimida the Goddesse of Thessalie .

WHen ( Mirimida ) I sit by thy sweet selfe & wonder at thy sight , feeding as the Bée vpon the wealth of thy beauties , the conceipt of ●hine excellencie driues me into an extasie , that I became dumme with ouer much delight ; for Nature sets downe this as an authenticke principle : Sensibile sensui suppositum nulla fi● sensatio . If the flower be put in the nostrill there is no smell ; the colour clapt close to the eye blemisheth the sight : so a louer in presence of his mistris hath the organs of his speech tied , that he conceales with silence , a●d sighs out his smoothered passions with sorowes . Ah Mirimida , consider that loue is such a fire as either will burst foorth or burne the house ; it is such a streame as will either haue his course , or breake through the bankes & make a deluge , or els force their hart strings crack with secrecy . Then Mirimida , if I be lauish in my pen , blame me not that am so laden with loue ; if I be bold , attribute it to thy beautie , not my impudencie , & thinke what I ouer dare in , it growes through the extremitie of loyal affection , which is so déeply imprinted in my thoughes , as neither time can diminish nor misfortune blemish . I aime not ( Mirimida ) at thy wealth , but at thy vertues ; for the more I consider thy perfection , the more I grow passionate , & in such an humour , as if thou denie , there is no meanes to cure my maladie but that salue which healeth all incurable sores , & that is ●eath . Therefore ( sweet Mi●imida ) consider of my loues & vse me as my loyaltie deserues : let not my pouertie put in any barre , nor the basenesse of my birth be● any excuse of thy affection ; weigh my desires , not ●y degrees , & either send me a speedie pla●ster to salue my ●espairing passions , or a corasiue to cut off my lingering sorowes , either thy fauour with life , or thy deniall with death , betwéene which I rest in hope till I heare thine answer .

Thine , who can be no others but thine , the Shepheard Eurymachus .

To the end of this letter ( for that he would runne des●ant vpon his wit ) he set downe a Sonnet written in the forme of a Madrigale , thus .

Eurimachus in laudem Mirimidae , his Motto Inuita fortuna dedi vota concordia . When Flora proude in pompe of all her flowers Sat bright and gay , And gloried in the d●aw of Iris sh●wers , And did display Her mantle checquered all with gawdy greene : Then I Alone A mournfull man in Er●cine was seene . With folded armes I trampled through the grasse , Tracing as he That held the Throane of Fortune brittle glasse , And loue to be Like Fortune fleeting as the restlesse wind Mixed With mists Whose dampe doth make the cleerest eyes grow blind . Thus in a maze I spied a hideous flame , I cast my sight , And sawe where blythly bathing in the ●ame With great delight , A worme did lye , wrapt in a smokie sweate : And yet T was strange It carelesse lay and shrunke not at the heate . I stood amazd and wondring at the sight , While that a dame That shone like to the heauens rich sparkling light , Discourst the same : And sayd , my friend this worme within the fire Which lies Content , Is Venus worme , and represents desire . A Salamander is this princely beast , Deckt with a crowne , Giuen him by Cupid as a gorgeo●s erest Gainst fortunes frowne , Content he lies and bathes him in the flame , And goes Not foorth● For why he cannot liue without the same . As he : so louers lie within the fir● Of feruent loue , And shrinke not from the flame of hot desire● Nor will not mooue From any heate , that Venus force imparts : But lie Conten● Within a fire and wast away their harts . Vp flew the da●● and vanisht in a cl●wd● , But there stood I , And many thoughts within my mind did shrowde Of loue : for why , I felt within my heart a scortching fire , And yet As did The Salamander , t was my whole desire .

Mirimida hauing read this Sonnet , she straight ( being of a pregnant wit ) conceip●ed the drift of his Madrigale , smiled and layd it by , and then next tooke vp Radagons letter , which was written to this effect .

Radagon of Thessalie to the faire Shepherdize Mirimida health .

I Cannot tell ( faire Mistris ) whether I should praise Fortune as a friend , or curse her as a foe , hauing at vnwares presented me with the view of your perfection , which sight may be either the sunne of my blisse , or the beginning of my vale : for in you rests the b●llance either to weigh me downe my 〈◊〉 with courte●●e , or my deniall with ex●reame vnkindnes . Such as are pric●e with the boanes of the Dolphin , heare musicke and they are presently ●eales of their maladie ; they which are i●ne●ymed with the U●per , rubbe the so●e with R●barb and feel● a remedie , and those which drinke Aco●iton are cured by Antidotes . But loue is like the sting of a Scorpion , it must be salued by affection ; for neither charme , hear●e , stone , nor mynerall hath vertue to cure it : which made Apollo excla●e this passion .

Hei mihi quod nullis amor est medicabilis herbis .

With the same distresse ( swéete Mirimida ) am I pained , who lighting by chance as Paris did in the vale of Ida vpon Venus , haue seene a brighter Danie than Venus ; but I feare me lesse courteous than Venus . I haue no golden apple ( faire Nymph ) to present thee with , so to prooue thée supreme of beautie ; but the deuotion of my thoughts is offered humblie at thy feete , which shall euer confesse none so beauteous as Mirimida . Then as Venus for reward gaue Paris Helena , so courteous Nymph bee prodigall of thy fauours and giue me thy heart , which shall bee to me more deare than a hundred Helens .

But here perhaps thou wilt obiect , that mens pleas are like Painters pe●sels , which drawe no substance but shadowes , that to the worst proportions giue the richest colours , and to the coursest pictures the finest glasses , that what wee write is of course , and when wee faine passions , then are wee least passionate , hauing sorrowfull pens when wee haue secure hearts , and louring lookes when wee haue laughing thoughts . I cannot denie ( sweete Mistris ) but that hot loues are like a bauins blaze , and that men can promise more in a moment than they will performe in a moneth . I knowe there was a Demophon that deceiued Phillis , an Aeneas that falsified his faith to Dido , a Theseus that forsooke his Ariadne : yet measure not all by some mens minds ; of a fewe particular instances , conclude not generall axiomes ; though some haue been fleeting● thinke not all to be false ; trie me , I referre your passions to my proofe , and as you finde me loyall so reward me with loue . I craue no authenticall graunt , but a superficiall fauour : say ( Mirimida ) that Radagon shall bee welcome if he bee faithfull , and then my hope shall comfort my heart . In which s●spence ● rest confused , at the barre of your courtesie . Farewell .

Mirimidas Radagon , though she will not be Radagons Mirimida .

This she read ouer twise and bl●sht at it , as féeling a little heate , but straight she sighed and shake it from her heart , and had laid it by , but that turning ouer the next page she espied certaine verses , which was a Canzon per● thus .

Radagon in Dianam Non fuga Tencrus amat : quae ●amen odit habet . It was a valley gawdi● greene , Where Dian at the fount was seene , Greene it was , And did passe All other of Dianas bowers , In the pride of Floras flo●●●s . A fount it was that no Sunne sees , Circled in with Cipres trees , Set so nie , As Phoebus eye Could not doo the Virgins seathe , To see them naked when they bathe . She sat there all in white , Colour ●i●ting her delite , Virgins so Ought to go : For white in Armorie is plast To be the colour that is chast . Her ta●t a Cassocke might you see Tucked vp aboue her knee , Which did show There below Legges as white as whales bone . So white and chast was neuer non● . Hard by her vpon the ground , Sat her Virgins in a round Bathing their Golden haire , And singing all in notes hye Fie on Venus flattring eye . Fie on loue it is a toy , Cupid witlesse and a boy , All his fires And desires Are plagues that God sent downe from hie , To pester men with miserie . As thus the Virgins did disdaine Louers ioy and louers paine , Cupid nie Did espie , Greeuing at Dianas song , Slylie stole these maides among . His bow of steele , darts of fire , He shot amongst them sweete desire● Which straight flies In their eyes . And at the entrance made them start , For it ran from eye to hart . Calisto straight supposed loue Was faire and frolicke for to loue : Dian shee Scapt not free : For well I wot hereupon She loued the swayne Endimion . Clitia Phoebus , and Cloris eye Thought none so faire as Mercu●ie : Venus thus Did discusse By her sonne in darts of fire , None so chast to checke desire . Dian rose with all her maids , Blushing thus at loues braids , With sighs all Shew their thrall . And flinging hence pronounce ●his saw , What so strong as Lou●● sweet l●w ?

Mirimida hauing read the letter of Radagon , perceiued that loue was in his eyes , and pe●haps had s●ylie toucht hi● heart : but she that was charie of her choyce , and resolute not to fetter her selfe with fancie , did passe ouer these passions , as men d●● the shadowes of a painters pensell● which while they view they praise , and when they haue praised , passe ouer without any more remembrance : yet she could not but enter into the humorous ●each of his conceipt , how hee checkt the coy disdaine of women in his Sonnet , she blusht , and her thoughts went away with her ●loud , and so she lighted on the letter that Mullidor had sent her , which droue her into a pleasant vaine . The effects of his passions were these .

Mullidor the malecontent , with his pen clapt full of loue , to his Mistris Mirimida greeting .

AFter my heartie Commendations remembred , hoping y●● be in as g●●d health as I was at the making hereof . This is to certi●●● you , that loue may well bee compared 〈◊〉 a bottle of hay , which once set 〈…〉 or to a cup full of strong ale , which when a man hath once tasted , he neuer leaues till he hath drunke it all vp : so Mistris Mirimida , after the furious flames of your two eyes had set my poore heart on the coales of loue , I was so scorthed on the grediron of affection , that I had no rest till I was almost turned to a c●ale , and after I had tasted of the liquour of your sweete phisnomie , I neuer left supping of your amiable countenance , till with loue I am almost readie to burst . Consider with your selfe faire Shepheardize , that poore men feele paine as well as Princes ; that Mullidor is sicke of such a malladie , as by no meanes can bee cured , vnlesse your selfe lay a sea●ecloth to draw away my sorrowes : then be pitifull to me least you bee counted disdainful , to put so trustie a louer out of his right wits ; for there s no ho but either● I must haue you , or els for very plaine loue runne mad . It may be ( Mirimida ) you thinke me too base for your beautie : why ? when you haue married me I am content to serue you as a man , and to doo al those indeuours that belongs to a seruant , and rather to holde you for my Mistris than my wife . Then seeing you shall haue the soueraintie at my hands , which is the thing that all women desire , loue me sweete Mirimida , and thinke this , if you match with mee , olde Callena my mother hath that in a ●lowte that will doo vs both good . Thus hoping you will ponder my passions in your minde , and be more courteous than to cast away a young man for loue . Farewell .

Yours halfe mad because he would bee yours , Mullidor the malecontent .

Such a poetical ●urie tooke Mullidor in the braines , that he thought to shewe his vaine in verse , and therfore annexed to his letter this pleasant Dittie .

Mullidors Madrigale . Dildido dildido , Oh loue , oh loue , I feele thy rage romble below and aboue . In sommer time I sawe a face , Trope belle pourmoy helas helas , Like to a st●●nd horse was her pace : Was eu●r yong man so dismaid , Her eyes like waxe torches did make me afraid , Trop belle pour moy voila mon trespas . Thy beautie ( my Loue ) exceedeth supposes , Thy haire is a nettle for the nicest roses , Mon dieu aide moy , That I with the primrose of my fresh wit , May tumble her tyrannie vnder my feete , He donque ie sera vn ie●ne roy . Trope belle pour moy helas helas , Trop belle pour moy voyla mon trespas .

Mirimida hauing read this humorous fancie of Mullidor , began thus to meditate with her selfe . Listen not fond wench to loue , for if thou doest thou learnest to loose , thou shal● finde griefe to bee the gaines , and follie the paymistr●is that rewards all amorous trauells . If thou web thy selfe to Radagon , thou aimest beyond thy reach : and looking higher than thy fortunes , thou wilt repent thy desires ; for Mirimida affects beyond compasse , haue ofttime infortutunate effects ; rich roabes haue not euer sweete consent , and therefore the meane 〈◊〉 the merriest honour . What then , mu●t Eurymachus of all these t●●●● bee the man that must make vp the match ; he is a shepheard and harbours quiet in his cottage , his wishes are not aboue his wealth , nor doth his conceipt climbe higher than his deserts . He hath sufficient to sh●owde thee from wa●● , and to maintaine the state of an honest life . Shep●eards wrong not their wiues with suspition , nor doo countrie Swaynes estéeme lesse of their loues than higher ●egrees . But Mirimida , meane men haue frownes as wel● as kings ; the least haire hath his shadow , the Flye her spléene , the Ant her gall , and the poorest Pea●sant his chol●er . Peasants can weld a cudgell better than a great Lord , and dissention will haue a fling amongst th● meanest . 〈◊〉 therfore mariage must haue her inconuenience , better golden gyues than yron fetters . What saiest thou then to Mullidor ? that he is Mullidor , and let that suffice to shake him off for a foole ; for it were thy discredite to haue onely a woodcock to keepe the woolfe from the doore . Why then , meanest thou not to loue ? No fond lasse if thou bee wise ; for what is sweeter than libertie ? and what burthen heauier than the fist of a froward husband . Amongst many Scorpions thou lookest for one E●le ; amongst a hedge full of nettles for one flower ; amongst a thousand flatterers for one that is faithful ; & yet when thou hast him thy thoughts are at his will , and thy actions are limited to his hum●●rs . Beware Mirimida , strike not at a stale because it is painted ; though honey be sweete Bées haue stings ; there is no sweeter life than chastitie , for in that estate thou shair liue commended and vncontrold .

Upon this she put vp the letters , and because she would not leade her Louers into a labori●th of hope , the appoynted them all to meete her at the Shéepfolds on one day and at one houre , where the Woers that ●●ood vpon thornes to heare her censure met without faile . After salutes post betweene Mirimida and them , she began to parley with them thus .

Gentlemen , all riualls in loue and ●●me●s at o●● fortun●● though you three affect like desire to haue M●rimidas fauour , yet but one of you can were the flower , and perhaps none , for it is as my fancie censures : therefore are you content that I shall set downe which of you , or whether none of you shall enioy the ende of you● sutes , and who so is forsaken , to part hence with patience and neuer more to talke of his passions . To this they all agreed and she made this answere . Why then Radagon and E●●ymachus weare you two the Wil●owe Garland , not that I hold either your degrees or deserts worthlesse of a fairer than Mirimida : but that the destinies doo so appoynt to my desires , that your affects cannot worke in me any effects . At this , Radagon and Eurymachus frowned , not so much that they were forsaken , but that so beautifull a creature would wed her selfe to such a deformed asse as Mullidor , and the foole he simpered it in hope to haue the wench . Now ( quoth she ) Mullidor may hope to bee the man : but trust me as I found him I leaue him , a dolt in his loues , and a foole in his fortunes . At this they laught and he hung the head , and she left them all . Radagon taking his hawke to goe flie the Partridge● Eurymachus marching with his sh●ephooke to the folds ; Mullidor ●ying home to his mother to recount his mishaps , and Mirimida singing that there was no Goddesse to Diana , no life to libertie , nor no loue to chastitie .

Francesco , Isab●l , and all the rest of the guests applauded this discourse of the pleasant Host : and for that it was late in the night they all rose , and taking their leaue of Francesco departed , he and his wife bidding their Host good night , and so going to bed , where wee leaue them to leade the rest of their liues in quiet .

Thus ( quoth the Palmer ) you haue heard the discouerie of ●ouths follies , and a true discourse of a Gentlemans fortunes .

But now courteous Palmer ( quoth the Gentleman ) ●t rests that we craue by your owne promise the reason of your pilgrimage to Venice . That ( quoth the Palmer ) is discourst in a word : for knowe sir , that enioyning my selfe to penance for the follies of my youths passions hauing liued in loue , and therefore reape all my losse by loue●●earing that of all the Cities in Europe , Venice hath most semblance of Venus vanities . I goe thether not onely to see fashions , but to quip at fol●●es , that I may drawe others from that harme that hath brought me to this hazard . The Gentlewomen of Venice your neighbours , but vnknown to me , haue more fauours in their faces than vertue in their thoughts ; and their beauties are more curious than their qualities be precious , caring more to be figured out with Helen , than to bée famozed with Lucrece ; they striue to make their faces gorgeous , but neuer seeke to fit their minds to their God , and couet to haue more knowledge in loue than in religion : their eyes bewray their wantonnesse , not their modestie ; & their lookes are lures that reclaime not Hawkes , but make them onely bate at dead stales : As the Gentlewomen so are the men , loose liuers and straight louers , such as hold their conscience in their purses and their thoughts in their eyes , counting that houre ill spent that in fancie is not mispent . Because therefore this great Citie of Venice is holden Loues Paradize , thether doo I direct my pilgrimage , that seeing their passions , I may being a palmer , win them to penance , by shewing the miseries that Venus mi●eth with her momentarie contents : if not , yet I shall carrie home to my countrimen salues to cure their sores ; I shal see much , heare little , and by the insight into other mens extreames , returne both the more warie and the more wise . What I see at Venice ( sir ) and what I note there , when I returne back , I meane to visite you and make you priuie to all .

The héedfull Host hauing iudiciallie vnderstoode the pitifull report of the palmer , giuing truce to his passions with the teares he spent , and resolued to requite that thankfullie which he had attended heedfullie , gaue this Catastrophe to his sad and sorrowfull discourse . Palmer , thou hast with the Kitrell foreshewed the storme ere it comes , painting out the shapes of loue as liuely , as the Grapes in Zeuxis Tables were pourtraied cunningly ; thou hast lent youth Egle eyes to behold the Sunne ; Achilles sword to cut and recure , leauing those medicines to salue others , that hath lost thy selfe , and hauing burnt ●hy wings with t●e 〈…〉 dallying too long with th●●●re● thou hast bequeathe● other● a lesson with the Unicorne to preuent poyson by preserues before thou tast with the lippe . The onely request I make in requit●ll of my attention , is , that thou leaue certaine testimonies on these walles , where●n whensoeuer I looke , I shall remember Francescos follies and thy foresight .

The Palmer estéeming the courteous replie of his hos● , and desirous to satisfie his request , drawing bloud from the vaine Cephalia , ( on an arch of white Iuorie erected at the ende of an Arbour , adorned with Honysuckles and Roses ) he wrote thus with a pencell .

In greener yeares when as my greedie thoughts Gan yeeld their homage to ambitious will , My feeble wit that then preuailed noughts , Perforc● presented homage to his ill : And I in follies bonds fulfild with crime , At last vnloosd : thus spide my losse of time . As in his circuler and ceaseles ray The yeare begins , and in it selfe retu●nes Refresht by presence of the eye of day , That sometimes ni● and sometimes farre soiournes : So loue in me ( conspiring my decay ) With endles fire my heedles bosome burnes , And from the end of my aspiring sinne , My paths of error hourely doth begin .

Aries . When in the Ram the Sunne renewes his beames , Beholding mournfull earth araid in griefe , That waigh●●eliefe from his refreshing gleames , The tender flockes r●ioycing their reliefe Doo leape for ioy and lap the siluer streames . So a● my prime when youth in me was chiefe , All Heifer like with wanton horne I playd , And by my will my wit to loue betrayd .

Taurus . When Phoebus with Europas bearer bides , The Spring appeares , impatient of delaies The labourer to the fields his plow swaynes guides , He sowes , he plants , he builds at all assaies , When prime of yeares that many errors hides , By fancies force did trace vngodly waies , I blindfold walkt disdayning to behold , That life doth vade , and yong men must be old .

Gemini . When in the hold whereas the Twins doo rest , Proud Phlaegon breathing fire doth post amaine : The trees with leaues , the earth with flowers is drest : When I in pride of yeres with peeuish braine Presum'd too farre and made fond loue my guest ; Wi●h frosts of care my flowers were nipt amaine . 〈◊〉 height of weale who beares a careles hart , R●pents too late his ouer foolish part .

Cancer . When in Aestiuall Cancers gloomie bower , The greater glorie of the heauens dooth shine ; The aire is calme , the birds at euerie stowre To tempt the heauens with harmonie diuine . When I was ●irst inthrald in Cupids powre , In vanei I spent the May-month of my time● Singing for ioy to see me captiue thrall To him , whose gaines are griefe , whose confort smal .

Leo. When in the height of his Meridian walke The Lions holde conteines the eye of day , The riping corne growes yeolow in the stalke , When strength of yeares did blesse me euerie way . Maskt with delights of follie was my talke , Youth ripened all my thoughts to my decay : In lust I sowde , my frute was losse of time ; My hopes were proud , and yet my bodie slime .

Virgo . When in the Virgins lap earths comfort sleepes , Bating the furi● of his burning eyes , Both corne and frutes are firmd , & confort creepes On euerie plant and flowre that springing rise : When age at last his chiefe dominion keepes , And leades me on to see my vanities ; What loue and scant foresight did make me sow● In youthfull yeares , is ripened now in woe .

Libra . When in the Ballance Daphnes Lemman blins The Ploughman gathereth frute for passed paine : When I at last considered on my sinnes , And thought vpon my youth and follies vaine ; I cast my count , and reason now begins To guide mine eyes with iudgement , bought with paine , Which weeping wish a better way to finde , Or els for euer to the world be blinde .

Scorpio . When with the Scorpion proud Apollo plaies● The wines are trode and carried to their presse , The woods are f●ld gainst winters sharp affraies : When grauer yeares my iudgements did addresse , I gan repaire my ruines and decaies : Exchanging will to wit and soothfastnesse : Claiming from Time and Age no good but this , To see my sinne , and sorrow for my misse .

Sagittarius . When as the Archer in his Winter holde The Delian Harper tunes his wonted loue , The ploughman sowes and tills his labored molde ; When with aduise and iudgement I approue , How Loue in youth hath griefe for gladnes solde , The seedes of shame I from my heart remooue , And in their steads I set downe plants of Grace And with repent bewailde my youthfull race .

Capricornus . When he that in Eurotas siluer glide Doth baine his tresse , beholdeth Capricorne , The daies growes short , then hasts the winter tide The Sun with sparing lights doth seem to mourn , Gray is the green , the flowers their beautie hides : When as I see that I to death was borne , My strength decaide , my graue alreadie drest , I count my life my losse , my death my best . Aquarius .

When with Aquarius Phoebes brother staies , The blythe and wanton windes are whist & still , Colde frost and snow the pride of earth betraies : When age my head with hoarie haires doth fill , Reason sits downe , and bids mee count my dayes , And pray for peace , and blame my froward will : In depth of griefe in this distresse I crie , Peccaui Domine , miserere mei .

Pisces . When in the Fishes mansion Phoebus dwells , The dayes renew , the earth regaines his rest : When olde in yeares , my want my death foretells : My thoghts & praiers to heauen are whole addrest Repentance youth by follie quite expells , I long to be dissolued for my best , That yong in zeale long beaten wi●h my rod , I may grow old to wisedome & to God .

The palmer had no sooner finished his circle , but the Host ouer read his conceipt , and wondering at the excellencie of his wit , from his experience began to suck much wisedome , & beeing verie loath to detaine his guest too long : after they had broken their fast , and the goodman of the ●ouse courteouslie had giuen him thankes for his fauor , the Palmer set forward towards Venice : what there he did , or howe hee liued , when I am aduertised ( good Gentlemen ) I will send you tidings . Meane while , let euerie one learne ( by Francescoes fall ) to beware , least at last ( too late ) they be enforced to bewaile .

FINIS .