AFter that Pharicles vnder the profession of a Pilgrim was parted from the coastes of Italie , his secret and sodaine departure caused all the citizens of Padua to coniecture diuersly of the cause of his iourney , but especially it draue such a doubt into the sorrowfull heart of Mamillia , and stroke such a dump into the musing mind of her father Gonsaga , as it was hard to gesse whether Mamillia conceiued greater griefe for the vnkinde departure of her newe betrothed friend , or her father sorrow , in that he gaue his consent of so chary chaffre to so churlish a chapman : But whether it were , no doubt their care was greater than their well meaning mindes in any respect had deserued , and by so much the more their sorrowe increased , by how much the report of Pharicles supposed Pilgrimage was to his great reproch daily bruted abroad the Cittie : Gonsaga supposing Pharicles discredite considering the late contract , to bréede his daughters vtter infamie . For the Citizens gaue their verdit of the Gentlemans iourney as their fond affection had perswaded them to thinke eyther well or ill of his person : his friendes supposing the best , said , that he meant to spend his time in trauell vntill the next spring , wherein he meant to consummate the mariage his foes contrariwise coniecturing the worst , said that his pompous prodigalitie and rich attire , were the two blazing starres and carefull comets which did alwaies prognosticate some such euent in tract of time should happen , and that his sumptuous expenses had so rackt his reuenewes , wasted his patrimonie , and brought his wealth to such a lowe ebbe , as being fallen into an english consumption , there remained no hope of his health , vnlesse hée meant for debt to take his Innes in S. Patricks purgatory . But these dry blowes could draw no bloud , this wauering winde could shake no corne , neither coulde those spightfull reportes of his protested foes anie iot mooue Mamillia to thinke euill of her professed friend , & by so much the lesse , in that she knew his reuenewes were able to maintaine a greater port than euer he caried in Padua . But as thus her panting heart wauered betwéene feare and hope , it was for certaintie told her and her father by a secret friend , that Pharicles was either married or betroathed to her cousin Publia , and the sting of conscience so combred his guiltie minde for committing this troathlesse treacherie , that the shame of so haplesse a fact caused him to take this vnhappie iourney . This tale not fully finished , Mamillia stoode vpon thornes cast beyond the moone , and coniectured that which neither the tale did import , nor Pharicles himself imagine : but the lesse she was to be blamed , because the more perfect loue , as the sooner it is drencht with the misling showres of distrust , and this direfull distrust is such a hellish foe to the heauie minde , that it suffers the passionate person to take no rest till manifest triall hath raced out this foolish frenzie , which Mamillia tried true : for combred thus with the clog of care , she conueied her selfe couertly into her closet , where surcharged with the sorrowe of this noysome news , she burst forth into bitter teares and balefull terms to this effect .

With what greater plague quoth she , can either the vniust gods or cruel destinies wreck their wrath and exreme rigour vppon any man , than whiles he safely flotes in the seas of prosperitie , to ouerwhelme him with the raging waues of aduersitie , than amidst the happie gale of good lucke , to daunt him with the stormes of disaster fortune , than to repay his blisse with bale , his ioy with annoy , and his happy felicitie with most haplesse & distressed misery ? And yet there is no sore so ill , but it séemes more sower being remedilesse , than if it might be cured with cunning , nor no wound so déepe , but it is thought more dangerous being incurable , than if either nature or art had prouided a salue to heale it , nor no misfortune so great but it séemes more grieuous if there be left no hope that the present miserie may in time be requited with prosperitie . For where the conserue of hopes is wanting to confort the distressed heart , there the corasiue of despaire doth so fret asunder the molested mind as it maketh the perplexed person to pine in perpetuall calamitie .

All which alasse I sée performed by proofe in mée most miserable creature , which alate safely harboured in the hauen of happinesse , and so fostered vp by fortune as shée séemed to will that I did wish , am now so daunted with the despight of sinister mishap , and so crossed with the rigorous repulse of frowning fortune by the disloyall dealing of flattering Pharicles , as my weale to woe , my happinesse to heauinesse , yea all my ioy and delight is turned to extreme sorrowe and despight : and by so much the more this my griefe is intollerable , by howe much the more there remaineth the hope of redresse . For alaste , too late it is to recall the stone alreadie cast , to beate the bush the bird being flowen , to breake the bargaine the bandes being sealed , and to reclaime affection where both lawe and loue hath fettered fancie with constraint , and as hard it is for thée poore Mamillia to hope to winne Pharicles againe to thy lure he being alreadie seased on his desired pray , yea , so fast tied to his tackling with thy cosin Publia , as no means but death can breake the bargaine , no the knot is so knit , that if Pharicles himselfe did will what thou didst wish , and would proue as lewd vnto her as light vnto thée , yet hée striues against the streame , and séekes to beare saile both against winde and weather : for as hée was assured vnto thée by promise , so he is betrothed vnto her by performance : as he was linked vnto thée ( as thou supposedst ) in the perfect league of amitie , so he is ( for certaine ) coupled vnto her in the perfect lawe of matrimonie .

O ingratefull and periured Pharicles , hath the constant state of thy Mamillia procured thy inconstancie ? hath her troath made the trecherous ? hath her loue made thée disloyall ? wilt thou disgresse so farre from nature , and resist the lawe of nurture , as to repay faith with flatterie , sincere affection with fained fancie , and good will with hate ? hast thou no more care of thy credite but to cracke it with inconstancie ? nor no more regard to thy solemne othe than to foile it with periurie ? Why was nature so fond vnder so fine a shell to hide so rotten a kernell , vnder such golden fethers such ranke fleshe , vnder the shape of a Lambe the substaunce of a Tigre , vnder so sweete a face so sower a minde , to match so currsh conditions vnder so courteous a countenance , so perfect a person with such imperfect qualities , so fine a feature with such filthy flatterie ?

Why but Mamillia can these sorrowfull exclamations cure thy maladie , or can the rubbing of thy wound procure thine ease ? nay rather remember the olde prouerbe , not so common as true , past cure , past care , without remedie without remembrance ? Wilt thou proue so fond to set that at thy heart which Pharicles sets at his héele , to wéep for him which wailes not for thée : to sorrow for his amitie which laughes at thy miserie ? No no , cast away care , let the remembraunce of his treacherie mittigate the fire of thy fancie , lyke not where thou art not loued , nor loue not where thou findes such inconstancie : as hée hath made a chaunge , so make thou a new choice , for since he hath falsified his faith without cause , thou art frée from thy promise without care : yea as he hath laide his loue vpon Publia , so laie thou thy liking vpon some other gentleman which both for his person and parentage may deserue as well to be loued as hée to be liked , and in so doing shalt thou content thy parents , procure thine owne ease , and pay Pharicles his debt in the same coine .

Why Mamillia art thou mad , or is fancie turned into frenzie ? Shal the cowardize of the Kistrel make the Faulcon fearefull ? Shall the dread of the Lambe make the Lion a dastard ? Shall the leaudnesse of Pharicles procure thy lightnesse , or his inconstancie make thée wauering ? His new desire in choice make thée delight in chaunge ? Shall I say his fault make thée offend , his want of vertue force thée yéeld to vanitie ? If hée by committing periurie be a discredite vnto men , wilt thou by falsifying thy promise be an vtter infamie to women ? No the Gods forbid . For since Pharicles first wonne me , either he himselfe or none shall weare me , and although he hath crackt his credit , violated his oath-falsified his faith , and broke his protested promise , yet his inconstancie shall neuer make mée to wauer , nor his fléeting fancie shall not diminish mine affection . But in despight both of him and fortune , I will be his in dust & ashes . Y●●●uen that vnfaithfull Pharicles shall be the saint at whose sh●●●e I meane to doo my deuotion vntil my haplesse heart through extreame sorrow receiue the stroke of vntimely death , which if it come not spéedelie , these hands inforced by dispaire , by some sinister meanes shall ende my miserie , and with that such scalding teares distilled from her christall eyes , as they were sufficient witnesses of her insupportable sorrow .

Where , by the way , Gentlemen , if fond affection be not preiudiciall vnto your iudgement , wée are by conscience constrained to condemne those vnséemly Satyres and vaine inuectiues , wherein with taunting tearmes and cutting quippes diuerse iniurious persons most vniustlie accuse Gentlewomen of inconstancy , they themselues being such coloured Camelions , as their fondnesse is so manifest , that although like Aesops asse they clad themselues in a Lions skinne , yet their eares wil bewray what they be : yea they accuse women of wauering when as they themselues are such weathercocks as euerie wind can turne their tippets , and euerie new face make them haue a new fancy , dispraising others as guiltie of that crime wherewith they themselues are most infected , most vniustly straining at a gnat , and letting passe an elephant , espying one dram of drosse , and not séeing a whole tunne of ore , so iniuriously descanting vppon some one dame which for her wauering minde perhaps deserueth dispraise , and not attributing due honor to so manie thousand Ladies which merite to be canonized as Saintes for their incomparable constancie . But now their cauilling is so common , and their causelesse condemning come to such a custome , as Gentlewomen thinke to bee dispraised of a vaine iangler rather bringeth commendation than inferreth discredite , estéeming their wordes as winde and their talke as tales : yea their despightfull spéeches carrie so litle credite , as euerie man thinkes they rather come of course than of cause , & that their cynicall censures procéed rather of selfe will than either of right or reason . Well Gentlemen , if I might without offence inferre comparison , we should plainly perceiue that for inconstancie men are farre more worthie to be condemned than women to be accused . For if we reade the Romane records or Grecian histories , either fained fables or true tales , yet we shall neuer finde anie man so faithfull which hath surpassed women in constancie . Their onelie paragon wherof they haue to boast is poore Piramus , which killed himselfe for Thisbe , but to giue them a sop of a more sharper sauce , let them tel me if euer any of their brauest champions offered to die for his wife as Admeta did for her husband Alcest ? What man euer swallowed burning coales as Portia did for Cato ? Who so affectioned to his wife as Cornelia was to Gracchus ? Who euer so sorowed for the misfortune of his Lady as Iulia did for the mishap of her best beloued Pompey ? Did euer any aduenture such desperat dangers to inioy his loue as Hipsicratea did for her husbande Mithridates ? What shuld I speak of Tercia , Aemillia , Turia , Lentula , Penelope , or this our constant Mamillia with innumerable other , whose chastitie faith & constancy toward their louers could not euen by the dint of death be chaunged ? But least for saying my fancie some accuse me of flatterie , againe to Mamillia , who thus plunged in perplexity , & driuen into the dangerous gulf of distrust , ouercharged afresh with the remembrance of Pharicles discurtesie , had burst foorth a new into her woonted teares , had not her father preuented her by comming into the closet , where finding her so bedewed with teares , yea in such distresse as a woman halfe in dispaire , blamed her follie in this effect .

Daughter , quoth hée , as it is a signe of a carelesse minde not to be moued with mishap , so it is a token of follie to be careful without cause , and to be gréeued for that which if it were iustly weied offreth at al no occasion of sorow : in which you commit the fault , & deserue the blame , for your care is too great , & the cause none at all . The sodain departure of your friend Pharicles ( as I gesse ) brought you into this dumpe , which in my fancie could bréed no doubt : for although sundrie and vncertaine rumors be spredde of his iourney , and diuerse men descant diuerslie of his departure , as fonde affection leadeth them , his friendes supposing the best excuse his faulte , his foes mistrusting the worst accuse him of follie , and yet they both ayme at the marke as the blinde man shootes at the crowe , Pharicles perhaps hauing so iust occasion of his iourney ( as his spéedie and happie returne shall make manifest ) that his friends by hoping well shall merite praise , and his foes by iudging ill discredite . But perhaps the late report how either he was married or betroathed to your cousin Publia is the fretting canker which so combers your disquiet conscience , which tale in my opinion as it was last set abroach , so it deserueth least trust , and especially on your behalf , since neither you haue heard him counted for inconstant , nor you your selfe haue tryed him wauering . Wil you then be so light as to call his credite in suspence which neuer gaue you occasion of suspition , and reward him with distrust which neuer gaue you occasion to doubt ? No Mamillia , beware of such fondnesse , least Pharicles hearing of your follie performe that in déed whereof you suspect him without desert . But suppose the worst , he hath falsified his faith , hath crackt his credit , and like a troathlesse Theseus proued himselfe a traitor : what then ? Shall this his dissembling driue thée into dispaire ? or his péeuish inconstancie be thy perpetuall care ? No , but rather Mamillia as he hath stained his faith , so straine thou thy affection , as hée hath fainted in performance , so faile thou in promise , yea learn to loath him for his vice as thou louedst him for his vertue , moderate thine affection , withdraw thy good will , and if thou hap to finde him halting , race him quite out of thy remembrance , and in so doing it shall both please me and ease thée , in the meane time suppose the best .

Mamillia perceiuing her fathers friendly affection by this his carefull counsel , and seeing his talke tended to her weale , was driuen into a doubtful dilemma what answere to frame : for if she should séeme so light of loue as to haue her heart at libertie both to like and loath as fickle fancie ledde her , all the world might condemne her of inconstancie : againe if shée did not whollie agrée to her fathers iudgement , he might thinke shée did contemne his counsell and her owne commoditie : to auoid therfore the blame of disobedience and the blemish of discurtesie , she framed him an answere on this wise .

Sir , quoth she , it is farre more easie for the Phisition to giue counsell , than for the patient to put it in practise , and a thing of lesse charge to finde a fault than to amend it : yea it were an easie matter to be prickt with sorrow if the distressed man might assoone bée cured as counselled : but to remoue care or cease from griefe is lightly perswaded , but verie hardly performed , which by experience I finde in my selfe . For I both know your counsell to be good , and also I most heartily desire to follow it , yet the griefe of Pharicles ingratitude hath taken such déepe roote in my haplesse hart that neither counsaile nor constraint can race it out of my remembrance . And whereas sir you perswade me to moderate mine affection , to withdraw my good wil from Pharicles , and to quench the fire of fancie with the despightfull droppes of hatred , I coniecture they be rather wordes of course to trie my constancie , than spoken in good earnest to exhort mée to such trecherie . For you know I chose Pharicles for my mate , and you were content with the match , I fixed mine affection not to continue with him a yeare in dalliance , but to remaine with him all my life in marriage , wherin no fond and vncertaine liking but sincere and perpetuall loue is to be required : for to marrie without the force of fancie , is to become a seruile slaue to sorrowe . There must bee a knitting of hearts before a striking of hands , and a constraint of the minde before a consent with the mouth , or else whatsoeuer the flower is , the fruite shall be repentaunce . Which things considered , I am not to be blamed , though I cannot leaue to loue at mine owne pleasure , nor to be condemned though I am so ouercharged with sorrow , sith an other shall enioy him vpon whom my heart is wholie fixed .

Tush Mamillia quoth Gonzaga interrupting her talke , I say as I said before , that it is good to be carefull if there were any cause , but since no occasion of sorrow is offered , why should you be ouergrowne with griefe ? Pharicles hath taken a sodaine and vncertaine iourney , what then ? Wilt thou condemne him of follie before thou heare the vrgent cause of his spéedie departure ? No , but wil you say the case is too manifest , and so inferre the rumor of his late supposed marriage , which I deny as a most infamous slaunder raised vpon so honest a Gentleman . And for better proofe thereof come with me , for I will go to my brother Gostino , that there your cousin Publia may dissolue your doubt and confirme my hope , and so without any delaie they hasted to heare the case decided .

Where I cannot passe ouer without some spéech , gentelwomen , the incomparable constancie of Mamillia , which was so surelie defenced with the rampier of vertue , as all the fierce assaults of fortune could no whit preuaile as preiudiciall to such professed amitie , no the fained treacherie of so troathlesse a traitour as Pharicles , did rather strengthen than astonish her infallible friendship : the counsell of her father , the feare of his displeasure , the hope of profit , or the dread of future daunger , were of so litle force to diminish her affection , as it rather remained by those contrarie blastes of fortune farre more inflamed than anie whit extinguished .

And yet inferre Mamillia and a thousand other Ladies ( who for their loyaltie deserue as good report and as great renowne ) as perfect presidentes against those vniust pratlers , which séeke like sicophants to discredit womens constancie , and forsooth they must stand for no paiment : but alasse , if they spie one silly dame to halt or tread her shoe awrie , her fault is as much as though all did offend , for they will exclaime against all in general , as though none were to bee founde guiltlesse . But it is no maruell if the sillie Lambe be vniustly accused where the Woolfe comes in as plaintife .

Well , Gonzaga being come to the house of his brother in lawe Gostyno , he found the olde gentleman so far spent with his long and lingring sicknes , that he was very loth with such friuolous questions to trouble his patience , yet after salutations and many wordes passed betwéene them , wherin the one deciphred his paines , and the other lamented his case , the sicke man vttering his griefe with sighes , and the other his sorrow with teares , Gonzaga like a wilie Foxe found occasion to bring the matter in question so subtilly , as Gostyno either not at all , or else verie hardlie spied the fetch , framing his talke to this or such like effect .

Although Plato in the bookes of his common wealth doth counsell the Athenians not to visit any of their friendes in time of aduersitie , except they could by some meanes redresse their miserie , because that comfort ( saith hée ) is cold and vnsauourie which commeth not bewrapt with some kind of remedy : yet as one condemning Platoes iudgement in this case , I am come to comfort you as a friend , but not to cure you as a Phisition , lest I might be thought to hant my friend in his health , and hate him in his sicknes , which either belongeth to a foole or a flatterer . But if I were as cunning a Phisition as a constant friend , and had as great skill to cure as to counsell , yet if I take not my markes amisse , I shoulde more profite you with good aduise than with anie potions were they neuer so soueraigne . For your daungerous disease , which most importeth death , is age , and your sorest sicknesse is many yéeres , I speake Gostyno the more boldly , sith I heare you are more willing to die than desirous to liue , & that you séek more the welth of your soule than the health of your bodie . In déed Appollonius Tianeus reporteth , that the Gymnosophists made a lawe , that no man hauing passed thréescore yeares should buy any land before he made himselfe a graue , nor build any house before he had prouided for himselfe a Sepulchre : because in age wée ought to make more readinesse to die than prouisions to liue , for the stéele being spent , the knife cannot cut , the oyle consumed the lampe goeth out , the Sunne being set the day cannot tarry , the flower being falen there is no hope of fruite , and old age being once come life cannot be lasting . You knowing therefore that nothing is so certaine in old age as euerie day to looke to die , hauing shewed your self both to be wise and warie , in that hauing but one only daughter , you both sée her brought vp in your life , and that which is more , most worshipfully married before your death , yea and to such a mate as shée cannot but loue for his person , and you like for his parentage and patrimonie , I meane our friend & neighbor Pharicles , whose wit , wealth , and exquisite perfection both of minde and bodie , hath made all Padua astonished .

Staie there quoth Gostyno , & thinke not much though I interrupt your talk so rashly , for as I receiue both comfort and consolation by your good aduise and counsaile , so your strange news hath driuen me into a quandary , whether I should take your wordes in earnest or iest : for I am sure my daughter Publia is as far from a husband as I am from a wife , or else I am greatly beguiled . And with that he called Publia which stoode at the window talking with her cousin Mamillia , and began to sift her on this wise .

If the newes daughter be true that your vncle Gonzaga hath told me , I may iustly be accused of folly , & you be condemned of disobedience : for in that I alwaies left you the raines of libertie being yong , to vse your wil as a law , and to leade your life after your owne lust , I may be counted a foole , and in that you haue abused this law of libertie , wedding your self to your own wil & despising my fatherly care & counsel as of none effect , you may be thought a disobedient child . Why ? was my nature euer so strange , or your nourture so straight , was I so vnwilling that you shuld match , or so wilfull to kéepe you from marriage , as you shoulde choose without my aduise , yea , and that which is more , marrie without my consent ? Well , I knowe I haue alwayes had such a care to pleasure you as a father , and you such a feare to displease me as a daughter , that I both thinke the newes vntrue , and thée vnworthy of such a report . But if the case be so , thou art not the first , nor shalt be the last which haue slipt awrie in this point : yet since thou hast heere such a care of thy choice as to looke before thou leape , and to loue such a one as is to be liked for his liuing , both for his person and vertue , thou deseruest the lesse to be blamed , and I haue the lesse cause to be offended : to put mée therefore out of doubt , and to satisfie thine vnckle Gonzaga , I charge thée by the law of dutie to tell me what hath passed betwéene thée and Pharicles .

Sir quoth she , as I haue alwaies found you to haue had a fatherly care to prouide for my welfare , so I haue alwayes counted it religion to requite that fatherly affection with the dutie and obedience of a childe , least happily I might séeme to be more void of nature than the brute beasts which want nurture . The yoong lamb by méere instinct of Nature obeieth the bleating of the old shéepe : The sucking fawne followeth the steps of the Doe : The Cignets dare not resist the call of the old Swan : the yong Tigre ( though neuer so wild ) runneth at the beck of the old Tygresse : and should I then , syr , be so voide of grace , as to be more lewd than the yong lambe , more voide of Nature than the sillie Fawne , more senselesse than the yong Cignets , and more fierce than the cruell Tygres : No no sir : But when I so farre forget my selfe , as to passe these vnreasonable creatures in carelesse disobedience , then the Gods requite so lothsome a fact with most hellish misery . Although the voyce of the common people be a great verdit to confirme a thing in question , yet that which is spoken of many is not always true , much lesse the rumour which is raised by some one tatling person , doth followe by consequence as a thing necessarily to be beléeued . And therefore mine vncle Gonzaga did verie ill in giuing credite to such a flying tale , and did more ouershoote himselfe in blowing it into your eares , vntill by further triall he had searched out the trueth of the matter .

In déede sir I confesse , that Pharicles hath shewed mée some curtesie , and I haue not altogither requited him with curiositie , he hath made some shew of loue , and I haue not wholie séemed to mislike , least in louing lightly I might séeme lasciuious , and in contemning churlishly I might be iudged very curious : but for to contract I neuer meant without your consent , nor neuer intended to set on the seales before you had strooke vp the bargaine . And for the confirmation of these my wordes , and the better satisfying of mine vnckle Gonzaga , sée héere the letters which haue passed betwixt me and Pharicles .

Gostyno perceiuing by the tenure of these letters , that this tale which was told of his daughter was wholy without troth , woulde verie gladly haue knowen of Gonzaga who was the authour of such a report , thinking himselfe ill dealt withal to haue so causelesse a slaunder raised vpon his daughter : but Gonzaga not willing to bring the matter any surther in question , made him this answere .

Brother Gostyno quoth he , I know it is ill putting the hand betwéen the barke and the trée , & great folly to meddle in other mens matters , neither was it my minde when I told you this tale , to sowe any dissention betwéene your daughter Publia and you , but I came to warne her as a friend , and counsell her as a kinsman , that she might take héede of the traine , least she were taken in the trap , that she might not strike at the stale least she were canuased in the nettes , that she might not venter no father into the foord than she might easily retire without danger , I meane that she shoulde not lay her loue no surer vppon Pharicles , but that she might plucke it off at her owne pleasure , for Pharicles is betroathed , and contracted long since to my daughter Mamillia , so that there remaineth nothing but that at his returne home they consummate the marriage . To cause therefore your daughter to take héed of such cogging copesmates was the cause of my comming , least vnaduisedly shée might buy repentance too deare .

Gostyno séeing the danger whereinto his daughter had fallen , if Gonzaga had not preuented it , gaue him heartie thankes for his friendly counsell , and counted both himself and his daughter greatly bound vnto him for preuenting so secret a mischiefe , being to exclaime against the péeuish periurie and trothlesse trecherie of Pharicles , had not Gonzaga broken off the talke with taking his leaue of his brother , and Mamillia giuing the A dio to her coosin Publia , departed leauing Gostyno and his daughter wholly counselled , but not halfe comforted , because they could not so sodainly disgest the great abuse of Pharacles .

But poore Mamillia who before was drowned in dread , doth now swimme in hope , before ( as shée thought ) crossed with calamitie , but now crowned with prosperitie , alate drenched in the dregs of distrust , and now safely setled in assurance , before she feared the worst , and now she hoped the best , at her comming nothing but woe woe , at her returne all was ioy , her woe to weale , her bale to blisse , her despight was turned to pleasure and delight . For now she hoped that although Pharicles had sowen wilde Oates hée should reape good graine , that he had not runne so farre but he might easily return , that bought wit was best , and the being throughly beaten with his owne rod , he would in time learne to be wise , and that whereas before hée was trothlesse now he woulde be trustie , as he was false so hée would be faithful : she thus perswading her selfe of the best was as merry as before she was sorie . But contrariwise Publia being before secure was now crossed with care , before in happinesse now wholly in heauinesse , alate in ioy , now in sorrow and annoy , so that getting her selfe secretlie into her chamber she fell into these pittifull plaints .

Alasse quoth she , poore soule , it is too late to defend the walles when the Citie is ouerrunne , to sound the retreate when the battell is fought , to applie the salue when the sore is incurable , and to séeke to comfort where counsell commeth too late , and to reclaime affection fancie being alreadie fixed . Thou speakest poore Publia by experience , for the counsell thine vncle Gonzaga , gaue thée was not a confect to heale thy sorrow , but a corasiue to renew thy griefe . And why ? because to séeke to cure an incurable disease is to double the patients paines . Mine vncle Gonzaga did wisely warne me to beware of the traine , and alas I was before taken in the trap , he wisht me to beware of liking and I was long before in loue , he had me take héede for wading too far , and I was before ouer my shoes . Why but fond foole thou hast not gone so farre but thou mayst retire , thou art not so fast in the nettes but thou mayst returne , thy loue is not so surely lodged , but thou mayst pull off thy liking , thou hast made no contract but thou mayst reclaime , nor giuen no consent but thou mayst recall , yea , & without clog to thy conscience or crack to thy credit . For why , he hath sworne to performe that which he could not iustly promise , he hath offered thée his faith , whereas before another had his fréedome , the greatest substance of his loue was but a meare shadowe of lust , then Publia cast him off which so did scoffe thée , and detest him which so déepely dissembled : yea , for what fondnesse were it for thée to like him which is another womans loue , to make a choice of him whom another already hath chosen , to fixe thy fancie vpon Pharicles since Mamillia shall enioy him . Alasse I know all this , but what then ? the person of Pharicles , his beautie , bountie , and rare qualities are so surely shryned in my breast , as they can neuer be raced out with obliuion : let Mamillia enioy him as her husband ( yea , and I pray the Gods send them long and happie daies togither ) yet I will both loue him and like him in a chast minde for euer . What though he were false , shall I be faithlesse ? though he had no troth , shall I be trecherous ? shall his sleeting make me fickle , or his inconstancie make me without conscience ? No , no , I haue once giuen my heart and I meane not to pull backe my hand , I haue once loued him and I meane neuer to like any other : but here before the Gods I vowe my selfe a vestall virgin till death shall end my sorrow .

And indéed shée promised nothing but she did performe , for not long after Gostyno died leauing her sole heire to al his possessions . And although shée was dayly sued vnto by diuerse braue and gallant gentlemen , yet she refused them all , and the better to auoyd the resort of suters which dayly frequented her house , she let all her lands to lease , and entred her selfe into a religious Monasterie where shée led her life as a chast and famous virgin , and at her death dying without issue ( for all his treacherie ) she bequeathed her possessions to her best beloued Pharicles .

Where gentlemen ( thinke of me what you please ) I am constrained by conscience ( considering the constancie of Publia ) to blame those blasphemous blabs which are neuer in their vaine except they be breathing out some iniurious spéeches against the constancie of women , not yéelding any reason of their verdit or reproch , but the reckles rancor of their own peruerse will pricks then forward to this despitefull folly . But I hope whatsoeuer the enuious crue shall crow against me for defending the loyaltie of women , vertuous & wel disposed gentlemen wil neither appeach me of flattery , nor condemne me of folly : But leauing these suppositions at last to Pharicles , who after that vnder the profession of a Pilgrim he had cut the straightes with a spéedie gale , and the mariners by compas of their course were come within ken of land , and had descried the cliffes of Sicilia : séeing the place of this pretensed ixile to be so neare , had his hart encountred with such a diuerse combate , and was so plunged in perplexitie and drenched in the dregges of doubt , as being almost frettised for feare , the marriners by his oft changing of coulours thought that either the poore pilgrim was in his Orisons , or else paying his debt by death vnto nature . But as their imagination procéeded but by coniecture of his féeble complexion , so their aime was quite beyond the marke , for Pharicles was wishing for rayne when the shower was past , drying the malt when the kill was on fire , sounding the retreat when the battell was fought , yea buying repentance too late . Now he confessed the fault when iudgement was past , and found himselfe guilti● when there was no hope of pardon : Nowe he fealt within his crazed conscience a cruell conflict betwéene wit & wilfulnesse , loue and lightnesse , fancie and faith : on the one side the fixed minde of Mamillia proued his fading fancie to be founded on the tottering stage of flattery : on the other the constancie of Publia so galded his guiltie conscience , as he frankly accused himselfe to be as fickle in his faith , and as light in his loue , as the leaues of the hearbe Baaran which continually shake without ceasing .