AS amongest all the bondes of beneuolence and good wil , there is none more honorable , auncient , or honest then Mariage , so in my fansie there is none that doth more firmely fasten , and inseparably vnite vs together then the same estate doth , or wherein the fruites of true freendship do more plenteously appeare : In the Father is a certayne seuere loue and carefull good will towardes the childe , the childe beareth a fearefull affection and awfull obedience towards the Father : the Master hath an imperious regarde of the seruant , the seruant a seruile care of the master . The frendship amongest men is grounded vppon no law , and dissolued vpon euery light occasion : the good will of kinsfolke is commonly colde , as mutch of custome as of deuotion : but in this stately state of Matrimonie , there is nothing fearefull , nothing fayned , all things are done faithfully without doubting , truely without doublyng , willingly without constraint , ioyfully without complaint : yea there is sutch a generall consent and mutuall agréement between the man and wife , that they both wish and will , couet and craue one thing . And as a sience grafted in a strange stalke , their natures being vnited by grothe , they béecome one , and together beare one fruite : so the loue of the wife planted in the breast of her husband , their harts by continuance of loue become one , one sence and one soule serueth them both . And as the sience seuered from the stocke withereth away , if it bée not grafted in some other : so a louing wife seperated from the societie of her husband , withereth away in woe , and leadeth a life no lesse pleasant then death , as the sequele of this history shall shew , wherin you shall sée a meruaylous Mirrour of blessed Matrimony , and a terrible tipe of beastly tyrannie .

In the Citie Sienna was a married couple , the husbande named Sinnatus , the wife called Camma , who as they were by estate worshipfull , by vertue honorable , and by goodnesse gracious , so were they in ritches fortunate , in children fruitfull , in friends flowrishinge , and in loue so loyall eche to other , that they long time led a louinge and quiet life together : but either fortune enuying their prosperity , or the diuell displeased with their vertuous life , or God disposed to try their truth , and make them patterns to their posterity , conuerted this hapy life to heauy estate , and raysed vp one Synorix to raze and beat down the firme foundacion of their faithfull buildinge and bydinge together . For this Sinorix glauncing his gazing eyes on the blazinge beuty of Camma , receiued so déep an impression , of her perfection in his hart , that immediatly he fixed his fancie vpon her comely corps . And beinge the chiefe ruler of the citie , hee perswaded him self that there was none in the city so stout but would stoup to his lure , nor none so faire but would faine imploy them selues to pleasure him : but on the other side the renowmed vertue of Camma came to his minde , which perswaded an impossibility to his purpose : and floting thus betwéene hope and dispaire he entred into these termes .

O miserable wretch that I am , to whom shall I addresse my complaintes , is it the heauenly powers and goddes of loue that haue depriued mee of my sences , and shewed their deuine working in mée , or is it the hellish Hags and spirites of spight that haue bereeued mée of reason , & executed their cruelty on mée ? is it loue that leadeth me to this lust , or is it hate that haleth mee to this hurt and mischiefe , no no the gods guide vs to goodnesse , the furies of hell it is that force vs to silthynesse : neyther doth it any way deserue the name of loue , which bringeth such torment to my troubled minde , that all the diuels in the world could not do the like . But sée my rashnes why am I so blindly bolde beastly to blaspheme against that which procéedes altogether of nature , which nature hath imparted to all men , and which I ought to follow without repininge or resistinge : for so long as I follow nature as my guide I cannot doe amisse , & seing nature hath taught vs to loue , why should I not rather prooue her precepts , then reproue that which by natures lore is allowed : and touchinge torment of minde , or either inconuenience that it bringeth , is it all able to impaire the least ioy which I shall inioy in imbracinge my Camma , is it not meete that hée which would reape should sowe , he that would gather fruite should plant trées , hée that would reach the swéete rose should now & then be scratched with the sharpe briers ? I meane it is meet if I purpose to possesse so proper a péece , as Camma is , that I should sly no labour or refure any peril in the pursute therof . And here vpon he determined to follow the fury of his fancy what pangues or perils soeuer hée incurred therby : and hauing reuolued many wayes in his minde how hée might aspire to his purpose , at length he resolued vpon this to institute a sumptuous Banquet , wherto hée inuited the chéeif of the citie , among whom Synnatus and his wife Camma were not forgotten , to wit the only autors of the feaste . Now for the more royall receiuinge of his guestes he met them at the entry into his Palaice , and gaue them this gréeting .

Faire Ladies as I am right ioyfull of your presence , so am I no les sorowfull for the paines which you haue taken in vndertaking so great a iourney this dark and misty euening , for the which I must account my selfe so mutch the more beholdinge to you , by how much greater your labour was in comming , and by how mutch lesse your chere shal be able to counteruayle it now you are come : & taking Camma by the hande , hee sayd softly vnto her , I pity the peines of these gentlewomen the les for that you were in their company , whose piersing eyes as celestiall starres or heauenly lampes might serue for lightes in the darke , whose swéete face might parfume the aier from all noysome smels which might annoy them : and by beholding your louely lookes and perfect shape they might take sutch delight , that the wearynesse of the way could nothing molest or gréeue them .

Camma hearing her selfe so greatly praysed of so great a personages as hée was , could not kéepe the Roseal redde out of her Alablaster chéekes , and thinking no sutch serpentine malice to lie hid vnder these merry and sugred woordes , shée gaue him this courteous answere .

If Sir the company had made no better prouision for lights and other thinges necessary then sutch as you speake of , they might soone haue slipt into the mier , but as I perceiue by your woords you are disposed to iest and bée méery , so I am content for this once to bée made the instrument thereof , thereby to ease some part of the paines which you are like to take in receiuing sutch troublesome guestes as wee are : and for our chere you néede take no thought , for it shal be so mutch to good for vs , by how mutch lesse wée haue deserued any at all at your handes .

After this amarousin counter , he caused the company to sit downe to the banquet , and so disposed the matter , that Gamma sat right ouer at the table against him , wherby hée fréely fed his eyes on that meat which conuerted rather to nourishment of sicknesse , then to wholesome humours of health . For as the finest meates that bée , eaten by one in extremity of sicknesse , resolue not to pure bloud to strengthen the body , but to watrish humors to féede the feuer and disease : so though her face and lookes were fine and swéete , and brought delight to all the beholders els , yet to him they wrought onely torment and trouble of minde : and notwithstanding hee perceiued her beauty to bréed his bane , & her lookes to procure the losse of his liberty , and that as the Cocatrice by sight only sleath , so shée by courteous countenance onely killed and wounded his hart , yet could he not refrain his eyes from beholding her , but according to the nature of the sickly pacient , which cheifly desireth that which cheiflye is forbidden him , hée so incessantly threw his amarous glaunces towards her , that his eies were altogether bleared with her beauty , and shée also at the length began to perceiue his louing lookes towards her , which made her looke pale in token of the litle pleasure shee tooke in his toyes , and of the great feare shee had least , some other should marke them , wherby her good name might come in question . The banquet beeing ended , euery one prepared themselues to heare a stage playe , which was then ready to bée presented . But Synorix being able to play but one part , which was of a pore passionat louer , determyned to go forward with the tragedy already begun betwéene Camma and him , and séeing her set out of the husbandes sight , placed him self by her , and entred into reasoning with her , to this purpose . If ( faier lady ) this simple banquet had bene so swéete and pleasant to your séemely selfe and the rest , as your sight is delightful to mee , I am perswaded you would not haue changed your chere for Nector and Ambrosia , which the Poetes faygned to bée the foode of the goddes : but seeing there was no cause of delighte in the one , and the other contayneth that in it which may content the gods them selues , I shall desier you in good part to accept the one , and courteously to accounte me worthy to inioy the other . And though I haue not here tofore by dutifull seruice manifested vnto you the loyalty of my loue , yet if my poore hart could signifie vnto you the assaults it hath suffred for your sake , I doubt not but you would confesse , that by force of loue I had woon you , & were worthy to weare you . For albeit by humane lawes your husband only haue interest in you , yet by natures lawes , which beinge more auncient ought to be of more auctority , he ought to inioy you which ioyeth most in you , which loueth you best , & indureth most paine for your sake : & for proufe of natures lawes , it may please you to consider the quality of the shée woulfe who alway choseth that woulfe for her make who is made most leane and foule by following her : besides that , my tytle marcheth vnder the ensigne of iustice , which is a vertue giuinge to euery one accordinge to his deserte , and that the desert of loue is onely loue againe , I know you are not to know : for all the goods in the worlde are not able to requite good will , the one belonginge to the minde , the others incident to the body , but from the equitie of my cause I appeale to your good grace and fauour , and at the bar of your beauty I humbly holde vp my handes , meaning to be tried by your courtesy and mine owne loyalty , and minding to abide your sentence either of consent vnto life , or of deniall vnto death . Camma hearing this discourse , asso●e loked red for shame , as soone pale for anger , neither would disdain let her make him answere , neither would her greife giue her leaue to holde hir peace , but standing a while in a maze betwéene silence and saying , at length shee brake of the one and burst out into the other in this sort .

If ( Sir ) your banquet had bene no better , then this your talke is pleasant to mée , I am perswaded the dishes woulde haue béen taken whole from the Table without touchinge , but as the one was far better then the company deserued , so the other for a far worse woman might more fitly haue serued , and if your swéete meate haue sutche sower sauce , the next time you send for mée , I will make you sutch answere as was made to Cratorus the Emperour by Diogenes , when he sent for him to make his abode with him in his courte , who answered he had rather be fed at Athens with salt , them liue with him in all delicacy : so for my part I promise you , I had rather be fed at home with bread and water then pay so derely for dainty dishes . Touching the paines you haue indured for my sake , I take your wordes to bee as false towardes mee , as you would make my faith towards my husband , but admit they were true , seeing I haue not willingly been the cause of them , I count not my self bound in conscience to counteruayle them , only I am sory they were not bestowed on some more worthy your estate and lesse worthy an honest name then my selfe , which beinge the cheife ritches I haue , I meane most diligently to keepe . The interest which cauilingly you cleime in me as it consisteth of false premises , so though the premises were true , yet the conclusion which you infer thereof followeth not necessarily , for were it so that your loue were greater towardes me then my husbandes ( which you can not induce me to beléeue ) yet séeyng my husbande by order of law hath first taken possession of mée , your title succéeding his , your successe and sute must néedes bée cold & naught : for as your selfe say of lawes , so of titles the first are euer of most force , and the most ancient of most auctoritie . Your Wolues example , though it shew your Foxely brayne , yet doth it inforce no sutch proofe to your purpose , but that by my former reason it may bée refelled , for that the Woulfe is frée from the proper possession of any : but therin truly you obserue decoram very duly , in vsyng the example of a Beast in so beastly a cause : for like purpose , like proofe : like man , like matter . Your manly marchyng vnder the ensigne of Iustice , if reason bée your captayne generall to lead you , I doubt not , but soone to tourne to a retire : for if it bée goodwill which you beare mée , I must néedes graunt you duly deserue the like agayne : but when you are able to prooue it goodwill to deflower my chastitie , to béeréeue mée of my good name , to despoyle mée of mine honour , to cause mée to transgresse the boundes of honestie , to infringe my faith towards my husband , to violate the sacred Rytes of Matrimonie , to pollute the Temple of the Lorde , with other innumerable enormities , when I say you are able to prooue these to procéed of good will , then will I willingly yéelde consent to your request . But sée the vnreasonablenesse of your suite , would you haue mée in shewyng curtesie towards you , commit cruelty towards my self ? should I in extendyng mercie to you , bring my selfe to miserie ? should I place you in pleasure , and displace my selfe of all ioy ? for what ioy can a woman inioy hauinge lost her chastitie , which ought to bée the ioy Iewell and Gemme of al Gentilwomen of my callyng and countenance ? your appeale from your owne cause to my courtesie bewrayeth the naughtinesse therof , for if it bée not ill , why sticke you not to it ? if it bée good , why appeale you from it ? but séeynge you haue constituted mée Iudge in this case , you know it is not the part of a Iudge to deale partially , or to respect the man more then the matter , or to tender more mine owne case then your cause : therefore indifferently this sentence definitiue I giue , I condemne you hencefoorth to perpetuall scilence in this sute , and that you neuer hereafter open your mouth herein , beeing a matter moste vnséemely for your honour , and most preiudiciall to my honestie : and in abidyng this sentence ( if you can bee content with honest amitie ) for the curte●ie which I haue alwayes founde at your handes , and for the good will which you pretend to beare mée , I promise you , you shall inioy the seconde place in my harte , and you shall finde mée fréendly in all thinges , which either you with reason can aske , or I with honestie graunt .

Synorix hauing heard this angell thus amiably pronouncing these woords , was so rapt in admiration of hir wisedom , and rauished in contemplation of her beutie , that though shée had not inioyned him to silence , yet had hée not had a woorde to say : and least his lookes might béewray his loue , and his countenance discouer his case , hée secretly and suddainly withdrew him selfe into his chamber , to study what face to set on the matter : & casting him self vpon his bed , after hée had dreamed a while vpon his dotinge deuises , at length he awaked out of his wauering thoughtes , and recouered the possession of his sences againe : by which time the play was ended , and his guestes ready to depart , whervpon hee was driuen to come foorth of his chamber to take his leaue of them : and bidding his Misteris good night , 〈◊〉 gaue her sutch a looke , that his very eyes séemed to plead for pity , so that what his tongue durst not , his eyes did . His guestes beeinge gone , he disposed him selfe to rest , but loue , which was then his good Maister , willed him otherwise to imploy that night , whiche was in examyning perticulerly euery point of her answere . And though the first part seemed sumwhat sharpe and rigorous , and the second contained the confutation of his cause : yet the third and last part seemed to be mixt with mettell of more milde matter , which he repeated to himselfe a thousand times , and there vppon , as vppon a firme foundacion , determined to raise vp his building again with the two former partes of her answere had vtterly ●ansakt to the grounde . But mistaking the nature of the ground wheron the foundation was layd , his building , as if it had been set in sandes , soone came to ruine : for by that promise of freendship , which she freendly made him , hee sinisterly conceiued hope of obtayning that which she neither with honour could promise , neither with honesty perfourme , and feeding him selfe with that vaine hope in great brauerie , as in a manner assured of the victorie , hee wrote vnto her to this effecte .

Albeit good Misteris , you haue inioyned my tounge to silence , yet my handes are at libertie , to bewray the secrets of my harte : and though you haue taken my harte prisoner , yet my head hath frée power to plead for release and releife . Neither would I you should count mee in the number of these cowardly Souldiours , which at the first Canon that roareth , giue ouer the siege of the citie they assaulted , for I haue been alwayes setled in this opinion , that the more harde the fight is , the more haughtie is the conquest , and the more doubtfull the battayle , the more doubtie the victory . And as it is not the part of a politike Captayne to put himself in perill , without hope of pray , or prayse : so to win the Bulwarks of your breast I count it a more ritche booty then Caesar had in ransacking so manie Cities , and a more rare prayse then euer Alexander had in subduing so many nations . And though my presumption may seeme great in practising one of so highe a calling as your swéet self , yet seing in al degrees of freind ship , equality is cheefly considered , I trust you will clere me of crime that way : neither would I , you should thinke my flight so frée to stoup at euery stale , for as the haughty Hauke will not pray on carrion , so neither will courtely silkes practise country sluttes . But bicause I knowe that to bee in you , which both concerneth my callynge , and consenteth with my fancie , I haue chosen you for the Goddesse of my deuotions , humbly beséechinge you with pitie to heare the prayers , whiche I with payne powre foorth beefore you , that it may not bee sayd your name hath been called on in vayne , whereby you may lose that honour , whiche others of dutie , and I of deuotion doo vnto you . The benefite which you bestow on mée in graunting mée the second place in your hart , as I must acknowledge though somwhat vnthankfully , so must I craue a greater though somwhat impudently : for séeinge my whole heart and body are yours , mee thinkes a péece of your heart is a poore peece of amendes . Way the matter vprightly , consider my case courtiously , and take compassion on mee speedely . Yours altogether , Don Sinorix de Sienna . Camma hauing receiued and red this letter was assayled diuersly , sometime with sorowe in thinking on the time shée first saw him or hée her , sometime with repentance of her former promise made him , sometime with pity on his part , sometime with piety on her owne : but at length piety vanquished pity , and caused her to send this rough reply to his letter .

The litle account you make of mée and my goodwill , I perceiue by the litle care you haue to satisfie that which I gaue you in charge , you would yl haue done as the knight Virla did , who at the commaundement of his lady Zilia , forbare the vse of his toung & remained dum the terme of . i● yeeres : but as you subtilly thinke to discharge your self of my charge by writing and not speakyng , so by writyng I simplie do you to vnderstand , that from henceforth you looke for no more at my handes then at a straungers , I wil not say an enemies , for seyng my promise was but vpon condition , the condition béeing broken , my promise is voyde : And séeing you haue plaied the pelting Merchant ventrer , to hazard that goodwill and credite you had with mee to get more , the tempest of my iust displeased minde hath driuen your sute against the rough rockes of repulse , and you haue made shipwracke of all : your couragious persisting in your purpose proueth you rather a desperate sot then a discrete souldiour : for to hop against the hill , and striue against the streame , hath euer bene counted extreeme folly : your valiaunt ventring for a pray of value proceedes rather of couetousnesse then of courage , for the valiant souldiour séeketh glory , not gaine , but therin you may bee more fitly resembled to the Caterpiller which cleaueth only to good fruite , or to the Moath which most of all eateth the best cloath , or to the Canker which commonly bréedeth in the fayrest Rose , or to the Woulfe whiche by his will wil kill the fattest sheepe . The equality which you pretend to be between vs is altogether vnequal , for both you exceede me in degree , and I excell you in honesty , so that neither in calling nor quality is there any equalitie beetwéen vs . Wheras you haue chosen me for your goddesse , I beseeche you suffer me to remaine an earthly creature , and serue you that god which can bridle your wanton desires , and giue you grace to giue your neighbours leaue to liue honestly by you . Least you take his name in vain , who will verely punish your vanity at the length , though for a time he suffer you to wallow in your wickednes , for it is the prudent pollicy of god to suffer the sinfull long time to swim in their sinne , to make their sinking more sorowfull , by their sodaine shrinking from prosperity to aduersity . For aduersity is euer most bitter to him who hath longe time liued in prosperity : neither must you thinke that that which is deferred is taken away , for as your self or any other that oweth m●ny , though you defer your creditour for a time , yet you defraude him not altogether of dis due , so though God take dayes with you for a time , yet assure your selfe hee will pay you truly at the length , yea and perchance with large vsury besides the due det . For as a hauke the higher pitch shee flieth from the ground with the more force shée stoupeth downe vpon her praye and can the more easely commaund it , or as a stroke or blowe the higher it is lifted the heuier it lightes , so gods vengance the longer it is deferred , the more it is to be feared . And this good counsayle take of mée as the last benefite which you shall euer receiue at my handes . Yours nothing at all Constantio Cāma . Sinorix hauing séen this rigorous resolution of his Misteris , went another way to work , hee suborned an old woman of the citie , wel seene in soliciting sutch sutes , to go vnto her and to present her from him with many ritch tewels , and which hée willed her to tell , hee would willingly bestowe for one simple consent of her good will . The olde woman hauing done his shamefull message without shame , sayd of her selfe in this sort .

Surely , Misteris Camma , if the experience which olde yéeres haue giuen mee , might craue credite for the counsayle which I shall giue you , I would not wish you to refuse the frendship of sutch a one as Sinorix is , who is able to fill your purse with perles , and fulfil you with pleasure euery way : neither is it wisdome for you to spend your golden yeeres but in golden pleasure , and not to bée tied to one diet which bringeth satiety and lothsomnesse , but to haue choice of chaung which breedeth appetite and lustinesse . The chast eares of Camma not able to indure this course discourse , shee cut of her gostely counsayle with these cutting woords , gentlewoman , if you were indued with as many good conditions as you haue liued yeares , you would neuer haue vndertaken so shameles a message and were it not more for reuerence of your yeeres , then respect of your errant , I would make your filthy trade of life so famous , that you should euer hereafter bee ashamed to shew your face in any honest company . What do you thinke , though mony can make you a baude , that it can make mee a harlot , and though you for gaine flie no filthinesse , that I for glory follow no faithfulnesse , either towardes my spouse and husband , either towardes my ● Lorde and god ? Do you iudge me so couetous of coine , or so prodigall of min● honour , that to get theone I wil loose the other ? Or doth hee that sent you thinke so abiectly of mee , that gaine may more preuaile with mée then good-will , mony more then a man , coyne more then courtesie , Iewels more then gentlenesse , Perls more then perils and paynes which hee hath indured for my sake : no let him vnderstand , if any thinge could haue caused mee to swarue from my duty , loue of luker should not haue allured mée therto . But as I am fully resolued , faythfully to keepe my vow and promise made to my husband , so I béeseeche him not to bestow any more labour in attempting that , which hee shall neuer attaine vnto : for before this my resolution shal bee reuersed , hée shall see the dissolution of my body into dust . But if hee will not thus giue ouer his sute , hee will cause mee to make those priuy to his dealing , who will make him ashamed of it : and for your part , you may packe you hence with this your trashe and trumpery to those , which measure their honour by the price of profite , and their glory by the gwerdon of gayne . This honest woman beeing gone a way with a slea in her eare , Camma began to thinke of the matter with aduysed deliberation , and entred into reasoning with her selfe in this sort .

What fearfull folly is this in mee to contemne the frendship of so great a lorde as Synorix is , whom the greatest Lady in this lande would willingly receiue for husband , and yet I rigorously refuse for seruaunt ? What is that honoure wheron I stand so stifly , shall it not rather increase mine honour to haue so honourable a seruaunt ? And what is that chastity which I seke so charily to keep , do not some men say that women alwaies liue chastly inough , so that they liue charily inough , that is so that they conuay their matters so couertly that their dooinges bée not commonly knowen , for otherwise to incontinency were added impudency : likewise , for a woman to enter into conuersation with a rascall of no reputation , can not but bee a great blemishe to the brightnesse of her name , ( for a foule adultrer is euer woorse then the adultry it self ) and it is a great signe she greatly lotheth her husband when she liketh one better , which is eueri way worse : but to haue a freende of reseruation whose very countenance may credit her & her husband , me thinkes can be no great dishonour to either the one or the other . What dishonour was it I pray you to Helen when she left her husband Menelaus & went with Paris to Troy ? Did not the whole glory of Greece to her great glory go in armes to fetch her again And if she had not been counted a peece of price , or if by the facte she had defaced her honour , is it to be thought the Grecians would haue continued ten yeeres in war continually to win her againe ? But to leaue honour and chastity , and come to commodity and safety , what do I knowe what perils will folow of this repulse : is it likely Sinorix wil put vp this reproche paciently ? may I not iustly lok● to haue his loue turned to hate , and that he will either by tyrannous meanes séeke the subuersion of my husbande & his whole household , either by trecherous meanes woork the ouerthrow of me and my good name ? For the first , Edward a kinge of England may serue for an example , who when the countesse of Salesbury would not consent to content his incontinent desire , he so raged against her parents and friends , that the father was forced to perswade his own daughter to folly : & the mother as a baud to prostitute her to the kinges lust , & bring her to his priuy chamber . For the second , the Erle of Pancalier may serue for testimony who when the duchesse of Sauoy would not yeeld to his lassciuious lust , wrought sutch wyles , that she was condemned for adultry , and iudged to suffer most shamefull death by burning . Now to preuent either of these perils it lieth in my power , & seing of euils the least is to be chosen , I think it better then to hazard life , liuing , or good name , to lose that which shal bee no great losse to my husband or my self , for as the sun though it shine on vs here in Italy , yet it giueth light likewise to those that are in England and other places : or as the sea hath fish for euery man , or as one good dishe of meate may well suffice two persons though very hungry , so is there that in mee wher with Synnatus may bee satisfied , and Synorix sufficed . And this incourageth ▪ mée hereto the rather , for that I sée by experience in most of my neighbours , that those are euer most made of by their husbandes , who that way deale most falsely with theyr husbandes . Besides that how openly soeuer they deale in these affaires , theyr husbandes neuer heare of it , and though they do heare of it , yet wil thei not harken vnto it , and though they do in a manner se it , yet will they not beleeue it , and though they doo béeleeue it , yet will they loue them the better to haue them leaue it the sooner . Againe , what know I whether my husband deale falsly with mée & row in some other streame , which if it bee so , I shal but saue my soule in paying his debts , & oxercise the vertue of iustice in requiting like for like . And touching corrupting of my childrens bloud , I thinke it made more noble in participating with a bloud more noble then my husbandsis . But canst thou harlot cal him husband , whom the meanest so wickedly to betray ? Am I in my wits to vse these witles words ? Is it my mouth that hath vttred this blasphemy , or was it the diuel within me that deliuered it forth ? No , if I were gyltie but in thought hereto , I would restore the fault with criminal penance , yea if I felt any part in me apt to any such euil , I would cut it of for feare of infecting the rest of the body . Good god , whether now is honour fled , which was euer wont to bée the fairest flower in my garland ? Whether now is chastity chas●d , which hath bene alwaies the cheifest stay of my state ? Shall the sunne of my shining life be now eclipsed with an acte so filthy , that the very remembrance thereof is no lesse greeuous then death ? Why , was Helen for all her heauenly hew , any other accounted then a common harlot , and was it not only to bee reuenged on her and her champion Paris , that the Grecians continued their siege so long ? And touchinge the inconueniences I may incur by this refusall , is any euill worse then honesty ? Is there any thinge to bee fled more then offence ? Is not the losse of goodes lesse , then of ones good name ? Is not an honourable death to bée preferred before an infamous life . And touching the Countesse before rehersed , had shée euer married with the kinge if shee had not continued in her constancy to the ende ? And for the Duchesse of Sauoy what hurt sustained shée by that false accusation ? Did it not make her glory and vertue shew more splendently to the whole world ? Yes no boubt of it , for like as streames the more ye stop them the higher they flow : and trées the more yée lop them the greater they growe , or as Spices the more they are beaten the swéeter sent they send forth : or as the herbe Camamile the more it is trodden downe the more it spreadeth abroad , so vertue & honesty the more it is spited , the more it sprouteth and springeth , for honour euer is the reward of vertue , and doth accompany it as duly as the shadow doth the body . And as the sun though it bée vnder a cloud kéepeth still his brightnes though weo sée it not , so vertue though it bée dimmed with diuelishe deuises , yet it keepeth her strength and power still , though to vs it seeme vtterly to bée extinguished , so that so longe as I remaine vertuous & honest , I neede not care what man , malice or the diuell can deuise against mee . No no deare children you shall not by my meanes bee suspected to bee bastardes , neither wil I make thée sweet husband ashamed to shew thy face amongest the best of them : and I wil let thée vnderstand the villany which that viper Synorix indeuoureth to death . And shall I deale so fondly in deede , is not the repulse punishment inough , onlesse I bée wray his dooinges to my husband and so procure him further displeasure ? Yea I might therby bee occasion to set them together by the eares , whereby it might fall out ( as the euent of battaile is alwayes doubtfull ) that my husband might bee hurt or slaine , and then the common report would bée ( as the people are euer prone to speake the woorst ) that I béeing an ill woman had conspired his confusion and seh Synorix to slea him . And though no sutch thing chauncet ( as God forbid it should ) yet this at least I should bee sure to get by it , that my busbande euer after would bee ielious ouer mée , and right carefull would hée bée to kéepe that which hée saw others so busily to seeke . And sutch is the malice of men , perchaunce hée would iudge some light behauiour in mée , to be the cause that incouraged Synorix to attempt my chastity . For men haue this common opinion amongest them , that as there is no smoake but where there is some fire , so seldom is there any feruent loue , but where there hath bene some kindnesse shewed to kindle ones desire . Moreouer this toy may take him in the head , that it is a practise betwéen vs two to preuent suspicion & cloake our loue , & with the firme perswasion of my inuincible chastity , to lull him a sléepe in security , and then most to deceaue him , when hée least suspecteth guile : and if at any time hée heare of it by other , I may stop his mouth with this , that I my selfe tolde him of it , which if I had ment to deale falsely with him , I would not haue done : yea what know I whether hée wil like the better or the worse of mée , for bréeding sutch a bées nest in his braine : lastly I should derogate mutch from mine owne vertue , and in a manner accuse my selfe of pronenesse to fal that way , as though I were not strong inough to withstand his assaultes without the assistance of my husband . Yes , god in whom I repose my trust , shall fortifie mée against the fury of my foes , and giue mée grace with wisdome to escape his wiles , with charines to eschew his charmes , and with pietie to resist his prauitie .