THere dwelled in the City of Mitylene , a certaine Duke called Clerophontes , who through his prowesse in all martial exploits wared so proud and tyrannous , vsing such mercilesse crueltie to his forraigne enemies , and such moodlesse rigor to his natiue Citizens , that it was doubtfull whether hée was more feared of his foes for his crueltie , or hated of his friends for his tyrannie : yet as the worst weed springeth vp more brauely then the wholsommest hearbe , and as the crookedst trée is commonly laden with most fruite , so this rigorous duke was so fauoured and fostered vp by fortune , his estate being so established with honor , & so beautified with wealth , so deckt with the Diadem of dignity , and endued with fortunate prosperity , hauing in warres such happie successe against his foes , and in peace such dutifull renerence of his friends , ( although more for feare than fauour ) as he séemed to want nothing that either fortune or the fates coulde allow him , if one onely sore which bred his sorrowe , coulde haue béen salued . But this griefe so galled his conscience , and this cursed care so cumbred his minde , that his happinesse was greatly surcharged with heauinesse , to sée the cause of his care could by no meanes be cured . For this Clerophontes , was indued with two children , the one a daughter named Lewcippa , and the other a sonne called Gwydonius : this Lewcippa , was so perfect in the complexion of her bodie , and so pure in the constitution of her minde , so adorned with outward beautie , and endued with inward bountie , so polished with rare vertues and exquisite qualities , as shée séemed a séemly Venus for her beauty , and a second Vesta , for her virginite : yea , Nature and the gods had so beuntifully bestowed their gifts vpon her , as same herselfe was doubtful whether she should make greater report of her excellent vertue , or exquisite beautie . But his sonne Gwydonius , was so contrarie to his sister Lewcippa , ( though not in the state of his bodie , yet in the staie of his mind ) as it made al men maruaile how two such contrarie stemmes could spring out of the self same stock : His personage indéed was so comely , his feature so wel framed , each limb so perfectly couched , his face so fair , and his countenance so amiable , as he séemed a heauenly creature in a mortall carcasse .

But his minde was so blemished with detestable qualities , and so spotted with the staine of voluptuousnesse , that hee was not somuch to bee commended for the proportion of his bodie , as to bee condemned for the imperfection of his minde . Hee was so endued with vanitie , and so imbrued with vice , so nursed vp in wantonnesse , and so nulled vp in wilfulnesse , so carelesse to obserue his fathers commaund , and so retchlesse to regard his counsell , that neither the dread of Gods wrath , nor the feare of his fathers displeasure , coulde driue him to desist from his detestable kinde of liuing . Nay , there was no fact so filchy , which hée would not commit , no mischiefe so monstrous , which hée would not enterprsse : no danger so desperate , which hée woulde not aduenture : no perill so fearefull , which hée would not performe : nor no action so diuelish , which hée would not execute . So immodest in his manners , so rude in his gestures , yea and so prodigall in his expences , as mines of golde were not able to maintaine such witlesse prodigalitie . This loathsom life of Gwydonius , was such a cutting corasiue to his Fathers carefull conscience , and such a haplesse clog to his heauic hart , that no ioy could make him enioy any ioy , no mirth could make him merry , no prosperity could make him pleasant : but abandoning all delight , & auoiding all companie , he spent his doleful daies in dumps and dolors , which he vttered in these words .

NOw ( quoth hée ) I proue by experience , the saying of Sophocles to be true , that the man which hath many children shall neuer liue without some mirth , nor die without some sorrow : for if they be vertuous , he shal haue cause whereof to reioyce , if vicious , wherefore to be sad : which saying I trie performed in myselfe : for as I haue one child which delights me with her vertue , so I haue another that despights me with his vanity , as the one by dutie brings me ioy , so the other by disobedience bréeds my anoy : yea as the one is a comfort to my minde , so the other is a fretting corasiue to my heart : for what griefe is there more griping , what pain more pinching , what crosse more combersome , what plagne more pernitious , yea , what trouble can torment me worle , then to sée my sonne , mine heir , the inheritor of my Dukedom , which should be the pillex of my parentage , to consume his time in roysting and ryot , in spending and spoiling , in swearing and swashing , & in following wilfully the furie of his own frantike fancie . Alas , most miserable and lamentable case , would to God the destinies had decreed his death in the swadling cloutes , or that the fates had prescribed his death in his infancie . Oh that the daie of his birth had béen the daie of his buriall , or that by some sinister storme of fortune he had béen stifled on his mothers knées , so that his vntimely death might haue preuented my ensuing sorrowes , and his future calamities : for I sie that the young frie will alwaies proue olde frogs , that the crooked twig will proue a crabbed trée , that the sower bud will neuer be swéet blossome , how that which is bred in the bone will not easily out of the flesh , that he which is carelesse in youth , will be lesse carefull in age , that where in prime of yéeres vice raigneth , there in ripe age vanity remaineth . Why Clerophontes , if thou séest the sore , why doest thou not apply the salue ? and if thou doest perceiue the mischief , why doost not preuent it with medicine ? take away the cause & the effect faileth : if Gwydonius be the cause of thy ruth , cut him off betimes , least hee bring thee to ruine : better hadst thou want a Son then neuer want sorrow . Perhaps thou wilt suffer him so long , til he fall sick of the Father , and then hée wil not only séek thy lands and liuing , but life and all , if thou preuent not his purpose : yea , and after thy death he will be through his lasciuious life the ouer throw of thy house , the consumer of thy Dukedome , the wracke of thy Common-weale , and the very man that shall bring the state of Mitylene to mischief & miserie . Sith then thy Son is such a sink of sorrowes , in whose life lies hid a loathsome masse of wretched mishaps , cut him off as a gracelesse graft , vnworthy to grow out of such a stock . Alas Clerophontes , shalt thou be so vnnaturall as to seek the spoile of thine owne childe , wilt thou bee more sauage then the brute Beastes in committing such crueltie ? no , alas , the least misfortune of our children dooth so mooue vs , that as the Spider féeleth if her web bee prickt but with the point of a pinne , so if they bée toucht but with the least trouble , we féele the paines thereof with pricking grief to pinch vs . Why hath not Nature then caused loue to ascend as well as to descend , and placed as dutifull obedience in the childe , as louing affection in the father : and with that he fetcht such a deep sigh , that it was a signe of the extreame sorrowe he conceiued for his sonnes witlesse folly . But as hée was readie againe to enter into his dolefull discourse , to aggranate his griefe the more , and increase his care , certaine complaints were brought him by sundry Citizens , of the outragious behauiour of his Sonne Gwydonius , which béeing attentiuely heard he in great choller called for his sonne , against whom hée thundred out such threatning reproaches , laying before his face the misery that would ensue of such recklesse mischiefes , and promising that if hee directed not his course by a new compasse , and leuelled his life by a new line , hee would not onely repay his folly with the penalty of the law , but also by consent of his commons , disinherite him of his Dukedome : that Gwydonius , greatly incensed with the seuere censure of his father , broyling with furious rage , sturdily burst forth into these stubborne tearmes .

SIr , ( quoth hée ) if Terence his Menedemus were aliue , and heard these your fond and fantasticall reasons , hee would as readily condemn you of crabbednesse , as he accused Chremes of currishnesse : for as he by too much austeritie procured his sonnes mishap , so you by too much seueritie séeke to bréed my misfortune . You olde men most iniustly , or rather iniuriously , measure our staylesse moode by your stayed minds , our yoong yeares by your hoary haires , our florishing youth by your withered age , thinking to direct our doings by your doatings , our wils by your wits , our youthfull fancies by your aged affections , & to quench our fierie flames by your dead coales and cinders : yea , supposing that the Leueret should be as skilfull in making of a head , as the olde Hare , that the yoong Cubs should assoon tapish , as the old Fox , that the yoong Frie should as well auoid the net as the old Fish , and that the yoong wantons should be as warie as the olde wisards . But this sir , is to make fire frost , to chaunge heate to colde , mirth to mourning , singing to sadnesse , pleasure to paine , and to tye the Ape and the Bear in one tedder . Sith then young stemmes will not bee set on a withered stocke , that the yoong twig lieth not vnder the old trée , that the toyish conceits of youth are vnfit for the testie cogitations of age : I mean for your satisfaction and my solace , to depart fram the Court , and to spend my dayes in trauell .

Clerophontes no sooner heard this determination of his sonne Gwydonius , but his sorrowe was halfe salued , and his care almost cured , thinking that by trauell hée should eyther end his life , or amend his lewdnesse , & therefore both heartned and hastened his sonne in this his new course , least delay might bréed danger , or time by some toy cause him turn his tippet , furnishing & finishing all things necessarie for his sonnes iournie : who readie to goe ( more willing to trauell , than his father to intreate him ) had this friendly farewell giuen him by Clerophontes .

SOnne ( quoth hee ) there is no greater doubt which doth more déeply distresse the minde of a young man , then to determine with himselfe what course of life is best to take : for there is such a confused Chaos of contrarie conceits in yong wits , that whiles they look for that they cannot like , they are lost in such an endlesse labyrinth , as neither choice nor chance can drawe them out to their wished desires : for so many vaines so manie vanities : if vertue draweth one way , vice driueth another way : as profit perswades them , so pleasure prouokes them : as wit weigheth , will wresteth , if friendes counsell them to take this , fancie forceth them to choose that : so that desire so long hanges in doubt , as either they choose none , or else chance on the worst . But in my opinion , the fittest kind of life for a young gentleman to take ( who as yet hath not subdued the youthfull conceits of fancie , nor made a conquest of his wil by wit ) is to spend his time in trauell , whearin hee shall finde both pleasure and profite : yea , and buy that by experience , which otherwise with all the treasure in the world he cannot purchase . For what changeth vanity to vertue , staylesse wit to stayed wisedome , fond fantasies to firme affections , but trauell : what represseth the rage of youth , and redresseth the witlesse furie of wanton yéeres , but trauell : what turneth a secure life to a carefull liuing , what maketh the foolish wise , yea , what increaseth wit and augmenteth skill , but trauell ? insomuch that the fame Vlysses wonne , was not by the tenne yéeres he late at Troy , but by the time he spent in trauell . But there is nothing Gwydonius , so precious , which in some respect is not perilous , nor nothing so pleasant which may not be painfull : The finest Golde hath his drosse , the purest wine his lees , the brauest Rose his prickles , each sweete hath his sower , each ioy his annoy , each weale his woe , and euerie delight his danger .

So trauaile , Gwydonius , is a course of life verie pleasant , and yet very perillous , wherein thou maiest practice vertue if thou take heed , or purchase discredit if thou béest carelesse : where thou maiest reape renowne if thou béest vertuous , and gaint reproach if thou be vicious : whereout do spring wisedome and folly , fréedome and bondage , treasure and trash , fame and discredit , honour and shame , according to the disposition of him which either vseth it to his profit , or abuseth it to his discemmoditie . Sith then thou shalt beare saile in such perillous Straightes , take heede lest thou dash thy Ship against most dangerous Rockes . It is a saying Gwydonius , not so common as true , that he which will heare the Syrens sing , must with Vlysles , tye himselfe to the mast of the ship , least happily he be drowned . Whoso means to be a suter to Circes , must take a Preseruatine , vnlesse he will be inchanted .

He that will fish for the Torpedo , must annoint his hand with the oyls of Nemiphar , least he be charmed , and whoso meaneth to enter combat with vanitie , must first surelie defence himselfe with the target of vertue , vnlesse he meane to be a captiue to care or calamitie . I speake this Gwydonius by experience , which afterward thou shalt know by proofe : for in trauell thou shalt finde such subtill Syrens , as will indanger thée , such sorcering Circes , as will inchaunt thée , such poysoned Torpedos , as will not only charme thy hand , but thy heart , if by my experience and other mens perils thou learne not to be ware . First Gwydonius , be not too sumptuous , least thou séem prodigall , nor to couetous , least they count thee a niggard : for by spending in excesse , thou shalt be thought a vaine glorious foole , & by too much sparing , a couetous pelant . Be not wilfull in thy doings , that they count thée not witlesse ; nor too rash , that they think thée not deuoid of reason : be not too merry , that they count thée not immodest ; nor too sober , least they call thée sullen , but shew thy self to be an old man for thy grauitie , and a yoong youth for thy actiuitie : so shall all men haue cause to praise thee for thy manners , and commend thee for thy modesty . Be not too curious Gwydonius , that they déem thée not proud , nor too curteous , least they call thée counterfaite . Be a friend to all , and a foe to none , and yet trust not without tryall , nor commit anie secret to a friendly stranger , least in too much trust lie treason , & thou be forced by repentance to crie Peccaui . The swéetest Muske is sower to be tasted , the finest Pilles most bitter to be chewed , and the flattering friend most tickle being tryed : then beware least faire wordes makes fooles fayne , and glozing spéeches cause Had I wist to come too late . Lend not , Gwydonius , a listning ear to the alarums of Loue , nor yield not thy fréedome to the assault of lust , be not dazeled with the beames of sading beautie , nor daunted with the desire of eeuery delicate damsell : for in time such blisse will proue but bane , and such delightfull ioy , but despightfull annoie . Lust Gwydonins will prooue an enemy to thy purse , and a foe to thy person , a canker to thy minde , and a corasiue to thy conscience , a weakner of thy wit , a molester of thy minde , a besofter of thy senses , and finally , a mortall bane to all thy body ; so that thou shalt finde pleasure the pathway to perdition , & lusting Loue the load stone to ruth and ruine . Séek not then Gwydonius , gréedily to deuoure that bait , wherein thou knowest a hurtfull hooke to bee hidden : frequent not that pleasure which will turne so thy poyson , nor couet that companie which will conuert to thy confusion , least through such folly thou haue cause in time to be sad , and I to besorrowfull . Now Gwydonius that thou hast heard the aduertisment of a louing Father , follow my aduise as a dutiful childe : and the more to bind thée to perform my former precepts , that this my counsaile be not drowned in obliuion , I giue thée this ring of golde wherein is written this sentence , Praemonitus , Praemunitus . A poesie pretie for the words , and pithie for the matter , short to be rehearsed , and long to be related ; inferring this sense , that he which is forewarned by friendly counsaile of imminent dangers , is forearmed against all future mishap and calamitie , so that he may by forewarning prenent perils if it bee possible , or if by sinister fortune hee cannot esehew them , yet hée may beare the Crosse with more patience and lesse griefe . Keepe this King Gwydonius carefully , that thou mayest shew thy selfe to respect thy owne case , and regard my counsaile : and in so dooing thou shalt please me , and pleasure thy selfe .

CLerophontes , hauing thus ended his discourse , embracing his sonne with fatherly affection , and giuing him his blessing , went secretly into his Chamber , the more to couer his griefe which hée conceiued for his sonnes departure : vnwilling his sonne should perceiue by his sorrow how vnfeinedly he both liked and loued him .

WEll : Gwydonius , hauing taken his leaue of his Father , furnished both with counsaile and coine , with aduise of wisedome and ayde of wealth , passed on his iourney very solemnly , vntill hee was past the boundes of his Fathers Dukedome : and then as merry as might be , he trauelled by the space of seauen weekes without anie residence , vntill he came to a Cittie called Barutta , where ( whether hee were delighted with the situation of the place , or deluded with the perswasion of some Parasiticall persons ) hée securely settled himselfe by the space of a whole yeare : in which time he so carelesly floated in the seas of voluptuousnesse , and so recklesly raunged in licentious and lawelesse libertie , thinking himselfe a peasant if he were not prodigall , counting nothing comely , if not costly , nothing seemely if not sumptuogs , vsing such monstrons excesse in all his actions , that the Citizens of Barutta noted him for a myrrour of immoderate life , and a very patterne of witlesse prodigalitie : yea , his excessiue expences daily so mercased , that mines of gold had not bin sufficient to maintaine his pompons magnificence ; insomuch , that the Magistrate of Barutta . not only maruelled where hee had coine to counteruaile his expenses , but also began to suspect him eyther for some skilfull Alcumist , or that he had some large commission to take vp those purles that fell into lapse , for want of sufficient defence : whervpon béeing called before the Magistrates and strictly examined what trade hee vsed , why he stayed so long in the Citie , and how hee was able to maintaine so princely a port as he carried : Gwydonius , vnwilling to haue them priuie to his parentage , began to coine a scuse , yet not so cunningly but hee was trapt in his own talk , and so cast in prison , where he lay clogged with care and deuoid of comfort , hauing not so much as one trustie friend , amongst all those trothlesse flatterers which in prosperitie had so frequented his companie : the ingratitude of whom so perplered his molested mind , as surcharged with sorrow , he burst forth into these tearms .

ALas ( quoth hee ) now haue I bought that by haplesse experience , which if I had béen wise , I might haue got by happy counsell : Now am I taught that with pain and peril , which if selfeloue had not besotted my senses , I might haue learned with profit and pleasure , that in the fairest Sandes is most ficklenesse , out of the brauest Blossome most commonly springeth the worst fruite , that the finest floure seldome hath the best smell , that the most glistering stone hath oftentimes the least vertue , and that in the greatest shew of good will , lyes oft times the smallest effect of friendship , in most flatterie least faith , in the fairest face the falsest heart , in the smoothest tale the smallest truth , & in the swéetest gloses , most lower ingratitude : Yea , I sée now ( quoth he ) that in trust lies treason , that fair words make fools fain , and that the state of these fained friends are like to the Marie-gold , which as long as the Sunne shineth openeth her leaues , but with the least cloud beginneth to close , like the Violets in America , which in sommer yéeld an odoriferous smell , and in winter a most pestilent fauour : so these Parasites in prosperitie professe most , but in aduersitie performe least : when Fortune fauoureth , they laugh , when shee frowneth , they lowre ; at eueryfull sea they flourish , but at euery dead Neape they fade : like to the fish Palerna , which being perfectly white in the calme , yet turneth passing black at euery storm : to the trées in that desarts of Affrica , that flourish but while the South winde bleweth , or to the Celedonie stone , which retaineth his vertue no longer than it is rubbed with gold .

Sith then Gwydonius ( quoth hée ) thou findes such falsehood in friendship , and such faithlesse déedes in such paynted spéeches , shake off these fawning curs with the flag of defiance , and from henceforth trie ere thou trust I , but ( quoth he ) it is too late to apply the salue when the sore is incurable , to crie alarum when the Citie is ouerrunne , to séeke for couert when the storme is past , and to take héede of such flattering mates , when alreadie thou art deceiued by such fawning merchaunts : now thou wilt crie Cave when thy coin is consumed , and beware when thy wealth is wracked : when thou hast nothing wherof to take charge , thou wilt be charie , and when follie hath alreadie giuen thee a mate . thou wilt by wisedome séeke to auoide the check : but now thou tryest it true that thy father foretolde thee , that so long thou wouldest be carelesse , as at last repentance would pull thee by the sléeue , and then Had I wist would come too late .

Well Gwydonius , sith that which is once past can neuer be recalled againe , if thou hast by folly made a fault , séek by wisedome to make amendes , and heap not care vppon care , nor adde not griefe to sorrowe , by these pitifull complaintes , but chéere vp thy selfe and take heart at grasse , for the ende of woe is the beginning of weale , and after miserie alwaies insueth most happie felicity .

Gwydonius hauing thus dolorously discoursed with himselfe , remained not aboue ten dayes in prison , but that the Senate taking pittie of his case , and séeing no accusations were inferred against him , set him frée from his purgatory , and gaue him good counsel , that hereafter hée should beware by such witlesse prodigalitie to incurre such suspicion . Theseus neuer triumphed more after he had escaped the danger of the perillous Labyrinth , than poore Gwydonius did when he was set frée from this pernitious Limbo : now the bitternesse of bondage made his fréedome séeme farre more sweete , and his danger so happily escaped , caused his deliuery séem farre more delightfull . Yet he conceiued such discurtesie against the Citizens , for repaying his liberal good will with such loathsome ingratitude , that the next morning he departed from Barutta , not stored with too much mony for molesting his minde , nor ouercharged with coine for cumbering his conscience with too much care : but hauing remaining of all his treasure onely that ring which his father gaue him , trauelled very solemnely toward Alexandria .

Where at that time ther raigned a certaine Duke named Orlanio , who was so famous and fortunate , for the peaceable gouernment of his Dukedome , administering iustice with such sinceritie , and yet tempering the extreamitie of the law with such lenitie , as hee both gayned the good will of strangers in hearing his vertue , and wonne the harts of his subiects in féeling his bounty , counting him vnworthy to hear the name of a Soueraigne , which knew not according to desert , both to cherish and chastise his subiects .

Fortune and the fates willing to place him in the palace of earthly prosperity , endowed him with two children , the one a sonne named Thersandro , and the other a daughter called Castania , either of them so adorned with the gifts of Nature , and be antifled with good nurture , as it was hard to knowe whether beautie or vertue helde the supremacie . But least by this happie estate Orlanio should be too much puffed vp with prosperitie , Fortune sparing him the mate , yet gaue him a slender checke , to warne him from securitie : for before his daughter came to the age of fouretéene yeares , his wife dyed , leauing him not more sorrowfull for the losse of her whom he most intirely loued , than carefull for the well bringing vp of her whom hee so dearely liked : Knowing that as his Court was a schoole of vertue to such as bridled their mindes with discretion , so it was a nurss of vice to those tender yeares that measured their willes with witlesse affection , esteeming libertie as perillous to the staie of youth , as precious to the state of age , and that nothing so soone allureth the minde of a young maide to vanity , and to passe her youth without feare in security . Feared with the consideration of these premisses , to auoyde the inconueniences that might happen by suffering Castania to leade her life in lawlesse libertie , hee thought it best to choose out some vertuous Ladie to kéepe her companie , who might direct her course by so true a compasse , and leuel her life by so right a line , that although her young years were verie apt to be intangled in the snares of vanity , yet by her counsaile and companie , shee might steadily tread her steps in the trace of vertue : and none he could find more fit for the purpose , than a certain olde widow , called Madame Melytta , honoured for her vertuous life throughout all Alexandria , who being sent for to the Court , he saluted on this manner .

MAdame Melytta ( quoth hée ) the report of thy honest conditions , and the renoume of thy vertuons qualities are such , as thereby thou hast not onelie purchased great praise , but wonne great credit throughout all the Countrie . In somuch that , incensed by this thy singular commendation , I haue selected thée as the onely woman to whome I meane to commit my chiefest treasure : I mean , Melytta , my daughter Castania , to whom I will haue thee bee both a companion and a counsellour , haping thou wilt take such care to traine her vp in vertue , & trace her quite from vice , to winne her minde to honestie , and weane her quite from vanitie , that she in her ripe yeares shall haue cause to thanke thee for thy paines , and I occasian to regard thée as a friend , and reward thee for thy diligence .

FIrst Melytta , see that she leade her life both charily and chastly . Let her not haue her owne will , least shee proue too wilfull : or too much libertie , least shee become too light . The palme tree pressed downe , groweth notwithstanding but too fast . The heath Spattania , though troden on , groweth verie tall : and youth although strictly restrained , will proue but too stubburne .

The vessell sauoureth alwayes of that licour wherwith it was first seasoned and the minde retaineth those qualities in age wherein it was trained vp in youth . The tender twig is sonner broken than the strong branch , the yong stem more brittle than the old stocke , the weake bramble shaken with euerie wind , and the wanering will of youth tossed with euerie paste of vanitie , readie to bee wracked in the waues of wantonnesse , vnlesse it be cunningly guided by some wise and warie Pilot.

Then Melytta , sith youth is so easily entrapped with the alluring traine of foolish delights , and so soone entangled with the trash of pernitions pleasure , suffer not my daughter to passe her time in idlenesse , least happily being taken at discouert , shee become a carelesse captiue to securitie : for whan the minde once floateth in the surging seas of idle conceits , then the puffes of voluptuous pleasures and the stifling stormes of vnbrideled fancy , the raging blastes of alluring beautie , and the sturdie gale of glozing vanitie , so shake the Shippe of recklesse youth , that it is dayly in doubt to suffer most dangerous shipwracke . But let her spend her time in reading such auncient authors as may sharpen her wit by their pithie sayings , and learne her wisedome by their perfect sentences . For where nature is vicious , by learning it is amended , and where it is vertuous by skill it is augmented . The stone of secret vertue is of greater price if it be brauely polished , the gold though neuer so pure of it selfe hath the better colour if it be burnished , and the minde though neuer so vertuous , is more noble if it be enriched with the gifts of learning . And Melytta , for recreation sake , let her vse such honest sports as may drine away dumps , least she be too pensiue , and free her minde from foolish conceits , that shee bee not too wanton .

Thus ( Madame ) as you haue heard my fatherly aduise , so I pray you giue my daughter the like friendly aduertisement ; that hereafter she may haue both cause to reuerence me , and to reward thee .

Melytta hauing heard with attentiue héed the minde of Orlanio , conceiued such ioy in this new charge , and such delight in this happy chance , as with cheerefull countenance she repayed him this answere .

SIr ( quoth she ) although in the largest seas are the forest tempests in the broadest waies most boisterous windes , in the highest hilles , most dangerous happes , and in the greatest charge the greatest care : yet the dutie which I owe you as my Soueraigne , and the loue I beare you as a subiect , the care I haue to please you as my Prince , and to pleasure you as a Potentate , the trust you repose in my trueth without sufficient tryall , the confidence you put in my conscience without sure proofe , the curtesie your Grace doth shewe me without anie desert , haue so inflamed the forepassed fire of dutifull affection , and so incouraged me to encounter your Graces curtesie , with willing constancie , that there is no hap so hard which I woulde not hazard , no danger so desperate which I woulde not aduenture , no burthen so heauie which I would not beare , no perill so huge which I would not passe , no charge so great , which both willingly and warily I woulde not performe . For , since it hath pleased your Grace to vouchsafe so much of my simple calling , as to assigne me for a companion for your daughter Castania , I will take such care in the charie performance of my charge , and indenour with such diligence both to counsaile & comfort Castania , as your Grace shall perceiue my dutie in pleasing you , and my diligence in pleasuring her .

THe Duke hearing the friendly & faithfull protestation of the good Lady Melytta , tolde her that although it were great trouble for one of her age to frame her self as a companion to such yong youth , and that some care belonged to such a charge , yet hee would so counternalle her painful labour with princely liberalitie , that both she and all Alexandria should haue cause to speak of his bountie .

MElytta , thanking the Duke for such vndeserued curtesie , setting her houshold affaires in good order , repayred to the Court as spéedily as might be . But leauing her with Castania , again to Gwydonius : who now being arriued in Alexandria , pinched with pouerty , & distressed with want , hauing no coine left wherewith to counteruaile his expences , thought it his best course , if it were possible , to compasse the Dukes seruice : repairing therfore to the court hée had not staied there thrée dayes before he found fit oportunitie to offer his seruice to Orlanio , whom very dutifully he saluted in this manner .

THe report ( right worthie Prince ) of your incomparable curtesie and pearlesse magnanimity is so blazed abroad throughout all Countries , by the golden trumpe of Fame , that your Grace is not more loued of your subiects which tast of your liberall bountie , than honoured of strangers , which only heare of your princely vertue . Insomuch that it hath forced me to leaue my natiue soile , my parents , kindred , and familiar friends , and pilgrimlike to passe into a strange Country , to try that by experience héer , which I haue heard by report at home . For it is not ( right worthy Sir ) the state of your Country that hath altured me ( for I deeme Bohemia , wherof I am , no lesse pleasant than Alexandria ) neither hath want of liuing or hope of gain intised me , for I am by birth a Gentleman , and issued of such parents as are able with sufficient patrimonie to maintaine my estate : but the desire , not onely to sée , but also to learne such rare curtesie and vertuous qualities as fame hath reported to be put in practice in your Court , is the onely occasion of this my iourny . Now if in recompenee of this mytrauaile , it shal please your Grace to vouchsafe of my seruice , I shall think my self fully satisfied , and my pains sufficiently requited .

Orlanio , hearing this dutifull discourse of Gwydonius , marking his manners , and musing at his modestie , noting both his excellent courtesie , and exquisite beautie , was so inflamed with friendly affection toward this yoong youth , that not only hee accepted of his seruice , but also preferred him as a companion to his sonne Thersandro , promising that since hee had left his Country and Parents for this cause , he would so counteruaile his dutifull desert with fauour and friendship , as he should neuer haue cause to accuse him of ingratitude .

Gwydonius repaying heartie thankes to the Duke for his vndeserued curtesie , being now brought from woe to weale , from despaire to hope , from bale to blisse , from care to securitie , from want to wealth , yea , from hellish misery , to heauenly prosperitie , behaued himselfe so wisely and warily with such curtesie in conuersation , and modestie in manners , that in short time hee not onely purchased credit and countenance with Orlanio , but was most intirely liked and loued of Thersando .

Now , there remained in the Court a young knight , called Signior Valericus , who by chance casting his glancing eies on the glittering beautie of Castania , was so fettered in the snare of fancie , and so entangled with the trap of affection , so perplered in the Labyrinth of pinching loue , and so inchanted with the charme of Venus Sorcerie , that as the Elephant reioiceth greatly at the sight of a Rose , as the Bird Halciones delighteth to view the feathers of the Phoenix , and as nothing better contenteth a Ro-Buck , than to gaze at a red cloth ; so there was no obiect that could allurc the wauering eyes of Valericus , as the surpassing beautie of Castania : yea , his only blisse , pleasure , ioy , & delight , was in féeding his fancy with staring on that Heauenly face of his goddesse . But alas her beautie bred his bane , her lookes his losse , her sight is sorrow , her exquisite perfections , his extreame passions , that as the Ape by séeing the Snaile is infected , as the Leopard falleth in a traunce at the sight of the Locust , as the Cockatrice dyeth with beholding the Chrisolito , so poore Valericus was pinched to the heart with viewing her comely countenance , was griped with galling griefe , and tortured with insupportable torments , by gazing vpon the gallant beauty of so gorgeous a dame : yea , he so framed in his fancie the forme of her face , and so imprinted in his hart the perfection of her person , that the remembrance therof would suffer him to take no rest , but he passed the day in dolour , the night in sorrow , no minute without mourning , no houre without heauinesse , that falling into pensiue passions hee began thus to parle with himselfe .