I Am sory Venus , that thou art descended from mee beeing a God , or that the destinies ( not to bee controlled ) haue appointed thee for a Goddesse : but especially that thou art one of the vii . Planets , whose celestiall influences are predominant in terrestiall creatures . I heare the complaints of them which are skilfull in the calculation of natiuities , exclaiming against thy thrise accursed constellation , for by thee , Venus , the prime of yeeres which ought to bee spent in vertues , is consumed in idle vanities . Youth whiche in the golden age delighted to trie their vertues in hard armours , take their onely content in delicate and effeminate amours : through thee young mindes are blinded with lasciuious loue , and aged yeeres pestered with fresh affections : thou doest inchaunt the heartes of men with vnfitte fancies , and layest beauty as a snare to intrappe vertue . Loue ( as they whom haplesse experience hath taught make report ) , is the onely plague which infecteth the myndes of mortall men , and what daungerous euentes proceede of this franticke impression , springe , fond Venus , of thy accursed influence : so that if the Gods woulde bee ruled by me , thou shouldest not onely be depriued of thy place among the Planets , but exiled from all dignitie in the heauens and denyed to haue any more power vpon earth .

Truth Venus , & therefore Saturne for a while by the consent of his own son Iupiter , was most iustly exiled , for that through his peeuish frowardnes , neither could the gods agree in heauen , nor men vpon earth .

Mars , you mistake the matter : my father Saturne is the most noble of all the planets , for his influence is principally predominant in age , wherein vayn thoughtes and fresh affections are suppressed , and wisedome onely beares swaye , breeding in mens minds a hatefull contempt of vice , and a happie desire of vertue , & therfore the golden age wherin al liued iustly was called Aetas Saturnea .

Tush Iupiter , blame not Mars , his hande is on his halfepenie , he plaieth like the Lidian stone , which rubbed with the iuice of Mandrake becommeth hot where before it is most colde . Venus is the goddesse of beauty , and will loue : Mars a god , & must loue : let not his broken coyne stand for starling , for he speaketh of affection : all the Gods either do know it or may know it .

Luna , your reproch maye bee counted a praise , for there is no hold to be taken at your words , whose verdict is so variable , the ere Iupiter can turne his backe , you wil chaunge your tale , neuer singing one soug●e , nor remaining in one mynd , least if your censure should at any time be al one , you might be thought not to be Luna . But it is for you to talke with the goddesses not with the Gods .

Mars , Luna hath reported as much as she can proue , and yet no more then we know , but letting her defend her own quarrel , I say , that respecting your own lucklesse constellation , it were most fit for you to hold with Saturne , for wrath , enuie , warres , choler , bloud , murther , hatred , proceedeth from your influence .

Not so Sir , in this I will speake for Mars , hee breedeth in mens mindes valour , prowesse , magnanimity , courage , constancy , resolutions , without feare , & setled determination , without change .

And you Mercurie , pollicies sleights , faire promises & small performance , causing men by your variable impression to flatter friend or foe , to sweare in mouth , and for sweare in hart , to beare two faces vnder a hood , to carry a Lamb in his shield , and a Tygre in his bosome : with the one hand to present spice , and wyth the other hemblocke .

Not so Sol , we will haue Venus wanton toyes discouered in heauen , that her lasciuious allurements may be auoided on earth , I will proue her by inuincible arguments , to be the most pernitious of all the Planets , and if she and the rest of the Gods bee content sith in order thou art placed in the midst of vs all , thou shalt be moderator in our controuersies .

No doubt saturn , a good motion , for now thogh I cannot reuenge thy vniust iniuries by force , yet I may plague thee with my tongue , in telling the truth . I am content to accept Sol as an indifferent Iudge , whose doome once pronounced , shal stand without controlment . I will therefore to confirme my former reasons , first , make a perfect description of Saturnes essentiall estate , then shew by a historie not vnknown to you al , what haplesse mischiefes proceed from his infectious influence .

THese Saturnistes are straunge affected 〈◊〉 laughing once in their life with Crassus making slowe hast in all thinges : carrying Uinager in their breastes : and bying hope with golde : euery where holding the Woolfe by the eares : as full of cyes as Argus : smelling at Onyons , yet eating the seede : in friendshippe doubtfull , smally regarding their neighbours profite : reiecting the Oxen , yet vsing the Carts : brought vp in Heraclitus house , and taught in the Schoole of the Areopagite : determining one thing while they sitte , and another as they stande : hardly with olde Foxes caught in the snare : preferring hate before loue : and with one breath blowing both hotte and colde : hardly graunting their right hande to any manne : more inexorable than Rhadamentus : more cruell in speech then the Scythians : vncertaine in sure matters , alwayes knitting their browes and looking downe to the ground : Supping with Hecates , and taking counsaile in the night : gaping for dead carcasses , as Uultures : seeing bo●h before ●nd behinde as Ianus : hauing eyes in their hands : which beleeue nothing but that they see , and as the Lattine prouerbe saith : Ni●●l nisi quod Aristophanis & Cl●antis lucernam ●lea● emitten●●●●● in couetousnesse insatiable : strayning all things through a seue : bearing hope in their face and sorrow fit their hearts● knowne more by name then by manners : tything my●● an● 〈◊〉 s●r●e : in delayes surpassing Scipio , and Fabius : changing all into 〈◊〉 as Mydas : so many words , so many senses● as hardly changing their hayre , as the Woofe : skilfull Artificers in resembling , or dissembling : delighting to feede on sowre Grapes● carying breade in the one hand , and a stone in the other : as vnthankfull as Swallowes● in steede of a Fish giuing a Scorpion 〈◊〉 of companie , doing nothing well but when they die : thinking the sauour of any gaine to be sweete , preferring profite before shame , and requiring tribute of the deade : hauing many eares , and many eyes : bearing a head without a tongue : more dumbe then Fishes : at talke and company , not vttering one worde , and yet Sardonio risu omnia condientes : reaping that which other men sow : ignorant in that they cheefely know , answering all things in three words : fearing their owne shadowes , and starting at flies : licking vp salt and feeding vpon gall : giuing haire for wooll , seeking a knotte in a rush : in life resembling cockles : and doing sacrifice without any smoake : and thus much for their disposition . Nowe as concerning the diseases incident to the Saturnine constitution which commonly proceede of too much blacke choller , adust or corruption of bloud , cruditye or rawnes : imbecillitie of heart excesse of cold and drynesse , or aboundance of grosse phlegme : they be these : Quartaines , Falling sicknesse , Leprosies , Morphes : Canckers , Apostumes , Dropsie , Palsies , Hemoraydes , Bluddy flixe , paine of the Guts and Raines , with other more . As concerning other thinges , the Saturnistes haue their pulses slow and small : sweate , sowex , and heauie : blacke deiections , terrible dreames , as of death , Carkasses , Sepulchres Darknesse , Torments , Diuels , and blacke thinges : As touching the foure faculties of humaine life , for his secreat mallice Saturne chalengeth none : although there bee some Phisitions and Astrologers that do attribute vnto him the facultie Retentiue . In these few wordes I haue decyphered Saturnes malignant disposition , and nowe by your patience meane to confirme my reasons with a pleasant , though Tragical , History .

THere dwelled in the Citie of Ferrare a Duke called Valdracko , fauoured of his Citizens more for feare , as they were subiectes , then for loue , as they were freemen , honoured of straungers , who had cause to trafficque in his territories , otherwise hated of all , whom neither dutie nor profite had intangled : For this Valdracko being striken in age , was of such a melancholicke disposition , as hee ruled more after the crabed frowardnesse of his owne doting will , then dyrecting his course to minister Iustice mingled with mercy . Yet in this one thing deseruing great commendation , that hee was neuer founde to be partiall to any : I meane not that he vsed such a due proportion of Iustice , but that he loued none but himselfe . Polliticke hee was , ( taught by the experience of many yeares ) hardly admitting any into familiaritie , vnlesse he might sell his courtesie for profite , and they buy his fauour with repentaunce . But in priuate and secreate counsayles hee vsed no friende but himselfe , fearing to finde that in others which he found rooted in his own canckred stomacke : So skilfull to shadow his spightful practises with glosing coulours , as resembling the Pyrit slo●● hee burned sorest when he was thought most colde . To trust anie he thought was to despise securitie , and to desire mishappe , and therefore knowne more for his authority , then by his manners . He caried his thoughts sealed vp with silence , pained with that which he most liked : namely , fearefull mistrust . Hee counted great giftes little goddes , caring not if hee might gaine , what meanes hee did vse to gette , counting all thinges honest that were profitable , and thinking Gall most sweete if it were tempered with Goulde , as the euent of his wretched life did make manifest . For this Valdracko although despighted by the gods and nature , for placing such o●ous qualities in such an olde carcasse , yet was hee fauoured by Fortune in possessing large and sumptuous reuenewes , and not onely aduaunced with the title of honour and dignities : but also , wherein hee most ioyed , he had one onely childe called Pasylla a Ladie , so furnished with outward shape of the body , and inward qualities of the minde , so decked with the giftes of Nature , and adorned with sundrie exequisite vertues , as Ferrara did not so much despise hir Father for his vicious disposition , as they did extoll her fame for her vertuous sinceritie . For shee ( although to her great griefe ) seeing into her Fathers lawlesse actions , howe with pretensed fla●tery , like to the Hiena , he had snared some to their vtter mishappe , and that vnder colour of law with exacted extortion , he had oppressed the poore , sought not onely as farre as shee durst , to pull her Father from such inordinate gaines , but also secreatly made recompence to such as her father vniustlie had almost brought to ruine . This Pasylla florishing thus in happie and deserued fa●e , was generally loued of all , but particularly liked of one called Rodento , onely sonne and heyre to an Earle in Ferrara called Il Conte Coelio , who on a time passing by the Pallace of Valdracko , chaunced to haue a sight of the Lady Pasylla , as she stoode in a window talking with a young Gentlewoman , her Cozen Germaine , called Pandyna , Rodento amased at the sight of such a heauenly creature , stood a long while astonished at her excellent beautie , insomuch that Pasilla casting her eye aside espyed him , and with that shut the casement , which somewhat daunted the minde of the young Gentleman to be so sodainly depriued of that obiect which so greatly pleased his eyes . But taking this her modest discourtesie in good part , he passed on to the Church : where hauing deuoutly heard deuine seruice he retourned home , f●eling in his minde a sparkling heat of affection , which he tooke as a toie of youth , rather to be laught at for the sodaine passion , then to be preuented for any insuing daunger . But after he had taken his repast with the Earle his Father , he withdrewe himselfe into his Chamber thinking to beguile the long sommers day with a fewe sweete slumbers , which fell out otherwise : For being once solitarie he felt his minde perplexed with more vehement and straunge passions : whereas before his affection was scarce warme , now his fancie beganne to flame : the Idea of Pasyllas comely personage presented it selfe so liuely into Rodentos imagination , as he felt himselfe halfe snared with her singular bewtie : which craftie Cupid noting , hauing his wings plumde with times Fethers , least hee might let slippe occasion , seeing this young nouice at discouert , thought to strike while the yron was hot , and so drew a boult to the head and hitte Rodento at the verie heart , which pearced so deepe as no meanes but death coulde euer after cure his maladie : for then the fame of Pasyllas vertuous life began to allure him , the report which all Ferrara made of her courtesie , was a chain to intangle his freedome : her honour , birth , parentage , and incomparable beautie gaue such fierce assaultes to his perplexed fancie , as no defence of reason was able to withstand these violent impressions . Rodento seeing himself payned with these vnacquainted fits , was driuen into a quandarie , whither he should valiantly resist the inchaunting tunes of Cupids sorcerie , and so stande to the chaunce what so euer the maime were : or else yeelde to the alluring call of beawtie , and so spende his youth in seeking , and sing for doubtfull , though desired fauours . Tossed a while in these contrarie thoughts he began to consider at last , that to fixe his fancie vpon Pasylla , was with the young Griphons to pecke against the starres : and with the wolues to barke against the moone , for there had ben such a perenmitie betweene the house of the Valdracchie and the Celij , that neither the Duke would condiscende his daughter should match with him : nor yet the Earle his father be content that he should fancy Pasylla . Further hee knew that as the hearbe Spattania no sooner sprouteth aboue grounde but it blometh , and the Egges of the Lapwing are scase hatched before the young ones can runne : so women resembling the Apples of the tree Pala , are scarce ripe before they desire to bee pluckte , and their yeares not able to discerne loue before they behalfe drowned in loue : wherof he might gather that Pasylla being so young , beautifull , and a woman , coulde not liue so long but erre this tyme affection had puld her by the sleue : if then this his coniecture were true , his loue should reape but losse , & his paine be requited with trauel . These considerations began somewhat to represse his doting fancies , but Cupid not willing to take so slender a repulse , sought straight to race out these despayring thoughtes with the comfortable conserues of hope , and to drawe Rodento out of the Labirinth of distrusting feare , with the assured possibilitie of atchiuing his enterprise . He therefore began to incourage his champion with these plausible coniectures : that although there had beene a perpetual dissention betweene their two houses , yet there might grow as great friendship in their heartes , that the enmitie of the parentes coulde not hinder the amitie of the children , that Pasylla was a woman , and therefore to be wonne : if beautiful , with prayses : if coie , with praiers : if proude , with giftes : if couetous , with promises : in fiue , that as there is no stone so harde which cannot be cut , no Hawke so ramage which cannot be manned , no Tygre so fierce which cannot be tamed : so there is no woman so infected with the bitter poyson of selfe will , none so spotted with the staine of hellishe crueltie , nor so wedded vnto wilful frowardnesse , but they may be drawne to the lure by some of the forenamed practises . Rodento pricked forward with these pithie perswasions , and yet dryuen backe with the feare of some hopelesse denyall , stoode diuersly perplexed , whether hee shoulde with a momentarie content sue after losse , or with a long disquiet seeke after gaine : remaining a while in these doubtes halfe franticke with such vnaccustomed fittes he fell into these passionate complaintes .

Ah Rhodento , howe art thou diuersly perplexed ? driuen either to purchase haplesse content with fading pleasures , or to gaine a happie disquiet with ensuing profites : if thou choose the first thou arte like to repente at the last , if the other , suer with Hercules after painefull laboures to obtaine fame and quiet . The Caspians fearinge to bee stiffled with sweet sauors , weare in their bosomes buds of Hemlock , the people Pharusii doubting to surfet with drinking the Iui●● of lyquorrise , preuent such perils with chewing Rhewbarbe . It is better to be payned with the sting of a snake , and recouer : then bee tickled with the venome of the Tarantula , and so die laughing . Harde , yea ●ard it is Rodento , to ride on Seianus horse for his beauty , and then perish , or to gaine the gold of Tolosse with assured mishap . Better it is for a time with sorow to preuent da●gers , then to buy fading pleasure with repentance . Repentance ? Why Rodento what cause shalt thou haue to repent ? Is payn alwayes a companion to pleasure ? is daunger the handmayd to loue ? is fancy neuer paynted but treading vpon thornes ? Yes no doubt , as Cupid hath arrowes that doe pierce , so they make sweete woundes . Venus I graunt hath a wrinckle in her brow , but ii . dymples in her cheekes : she frownes not vpon them that sacryfice at Paphos , but paines such as despise her deitie . Loue Rodento , why doest thou loue ? yea , alas : and therfore vnhappy because in loue , a passion so vnfit for thy young yeeres , as if thou yeelde to Cupids allurements , thou shalte haue cause either to curse the destinies for appointing him a God , or accuse the gods for creating thee a man . For Loue whatsoeuer the lucke be , is alwaies tempered with losse : if thou winne , thy gaines shal be like theirs , who buy hony mixed with gall , the sweetnes not halfe so much pleasing the tast , as the bitternesse infecteth the stomake . Parrasius drawing the counterfait of loue , painteth her , tickling youth on the lefte side with a feather , and stinging him on the right with a Scorpion , meaning that they which are sotted with the sorceries of Cupid , reape for one dram of golde , a pounde of drosse , & for one pynt of pure oyle , a whole tun of infectious poison , beeing a fading pleasure mixed with bitter passions , and a mysery tempered with a fewe momentary delightes . It is for youth Rodento , to spend their flourishing yeeres in vertues not in vanities , to delight in hard armours , not in delicate and effeminate amours , not to dally in the chamber with Paris , but to march in the fielde with Hector , to wish they coulde loue Loue , not to repent they haue loued . Hercules 〈◊〉 his fame , not with recounting his lawlesse and lic●nci●us loues , but by atchieui●g straunge and inuincible labours , the one winning him endlesse renowne , the other vntimely death . Seeke then to brydle fancy with reason , and to restrayne d●●●ing affections with due counsaile : quench the flame of appetite with wisedome , and reaching at hon●r , spurne at beautie : so maiest thou saye , Venus flames are but flashes , and cal Cupid a despised boye , not a re●oubted God .

Rodento thinking thus with blaspheming curses to shake off fancies shackles , went out of his chamber to sport himself with his companions , where he passed away the day in playing at chesse , but althogh hee gaue the checke , he was faine at last to take the mate : for Venus hearing with what despitefull termes , he abused her dietie , thought , seing he despised loue , to make him yeeld vnto loue , & with panting sighes to craue pardon , where with bitter speeches he had rayled : she therefore , seeing that he began to make a rampier against fancie , thought to giue a freshe assaulte to his halfe defended fortresse , & to send desire as a Heraulde to make the chalenge , the beuty as a champion might perform the charge : which done , Rodento willing still to withstand her power , passed three or foure dayes in perplexed passions , counting loue as a toy , which being taken in a minute , might be left off in a moment : but he found that as the Abeston stone once kindled , can neuer be quenched , as the Griphon if he once soare into the ayre , wil neuer come downe without his pray : so if Venus giue the assault , it is vnpossible to escape without sacking : if Loue display her flagge , she neuer returns without victory , which forced Rodento to present them with prayers , whom he had plagued wyth curses , and where he had shed the blood there to offer the sacrifice . For the remembrance of Pasillas beauty so fiered his affections , that as the flie Pyralis cannot liue out of the flame , nor the bird Trochiles keepe from the infectious Crockedile , so vnles he might inioy that which he feared to possesse , no means but death could cure his maladie . Rodento pyning a long while in these doubtful thoughts , began once again to debate with himself in this fort .

O poore & infortunat Rodento , thou art perplexed thou knowest not how , pestered with vnfit fancies , and pained with fonde affections , wishing to possesse with an vnwilling mind , & in a hot desire troubled with a colde disdaine . Alas thou reachest at that with thy hand , which thy heart would fayne refuse : playing like the bird Ibis , in Egypt , which hateth serpentes , yet feedeth on their egges . Thou loueth Pasilla , a thing far vnfit for thy yeres , thy calling , thy thoughts . Consider , consider Rodento , thou ar● the sonn of Conte Celio , who had rather see thee taken away with vntimely death , then attainted with such vnhappye loue , the one should breed but his momentary sorow , the other his & thy perpetual misery . Yet loue is a vertue : truth , if it bee measured with dutiful choice , not if it be maimed with wilful chance . Is there none to loue but Pasilla the daughter of Valdracko , betweene whom & thy father there hath bin such a mortal emnity ? wil she consent to loue , who alredy is sworn to hate● wil Celio agree , or Valdacko condiscend ? No , nor if thou be wise , wilt persist in su●h vnnatural passions : for better were it for thee to die by concealing loue , then liue and enioy such vnfitte loue . The Bul and the Hiena cannot be fedde together in one stall . The Elphant eateth not where the mouse hath crept . The Eagle & the Doue , peark not on one braunche . These br●●te beastes mooued onelye by sence , thou a manne and not to be perswaded by reason ? Cease then Rodento to loue her whom thou oughtest to hate , let rigour blast fancies blossoms , and enuies shadowes spot beauties colours with disdayne : play like the tree Cytisus , that suffereth no flie to light vpon his flower , let thy mind bee like Hercules temple whereinto no dogge canne enter , suffer not loue to scale that fort wherein freedome hath taken charge , so shalte thou both escape ensuing daungers , and prooue thy selfe a du●tifull childe . Ah Rodento , what doest thou meane to measure the Heauens with a lyne ? or to furrow the Seas wyth a plough ? Seekest thou to extinguishe Loue by force , or to preuent fancye by counsayle ? Doest thou meane too quenche fire with a swoorde , or to stoppe the wynde wyth a feather . Thou knowest Loue is to bee feared of menne , because honoured of the Gods . Iupiter could not resist fancie , nor Apollo withstand affection : they Gods , and yet in loue , thou a man , and appointed to loue . It is an impression Rodento , not to bee suppressed by wisedome , because not to bee comprehended by reasons : without law , and therefore aboue all law : striue not then against the streame , feede not with the Deere against the wind , seek not to appease Venus with slanders , but with sacrifice . Pasilla is beautiful & vertuous , to be wonne with intreatie , if thou feare not to attempt . What thogh Valdrecko frown , may not she fauour ? he stiffled by Saturne , and therfore must hate , she stirred by Venus , and therefore will loue . If Pasilla like , passe not if he lowre : yea let both your Parentes mislike , so you two rest in contented quiet .