The blazon of iealousie· A subiect not written of by any heretofore· First written in Italian, by that learned gentleman Benedetto Varchi, sometimes Lord Chauncelor vnto the Signorie of Venice: and translated into English, with speciall notes vpon the same; by R.T. Gentleman.

THE BLAZON of Jealousie .

EVen as the omnipotent and incomprehensible a a God the beginning of all things ( the IDEA and patterne of all Good and Goodnesse ) is that Almightie Omnipotencie , which wanteth Beginning and Ending , which being made of None , hath by his owne power created all things : and as another saith excellent well ; God is beyond fraile sense to comprehend . Hee , first , beganne All , and of All is End . HOLY ONE , is not alone the Author and Preseruer of this vniuersall world , and of euery thing that moueth therin ; but is ( likewise ) most glorious and most absolute , most blessed and most perfect , beyond all humane beliefe and imagination ; so hath he giuen and imparted to all creatures , ( most Princely Duke , Honourable and Graue Senators , and yee my Fellowes and Companions of b b Amongst other laudable customes , vsed among the better sort of learned Gentlemen in Italy , their priuate Exercises , called ACADEMIES , are most commendable and praise-worthy , of which the INTRONATI of Sienna , the INFIAMMATI of Padoa , the GELOSI of Rome , the PAZZI , the ZOPPI , and such like , are of most fame and note : the manner whereof is after this sort . A certaine number of Gentlemen ( the best Schollers and Courtiers of such Cities , where they enhabit ) draw themselues into a Societie and Company together , whereof the Duke himselfe , or the chiefe Magistrate of that Citie is ( alwayes ) one . These , once a weeke , at some houre set downe , in the afternoone , assemble and meete in a goodly Hall , appoynted for that purpose ; where one of them mounteth vp to a place called the Harangue , a little higher than the rest , and in his owne naturall language maketh an Oration of an houre long , of what Subiect or Theame soeuer himselfe shall like best : this Orator hauing warning so to doe , by an Officer , a pretty while before his day . For they chuse euery halfe yeere a Consull or chiefe Magistrate amongst them , who appoynteth sundry men ●o the Harangue , for sundry dayes ; and when the houre of their Assembly approacheth , all the Gentlemen of that Company repayre to the Consuls house , bringing him honourably to his Chayre , where hee sitteth highest , although the Duke or chiefe Gouernour of that Citie be there present And these be the Gentlemen of the fore-said Academies , who in the Christmas and Carnouall time ( tearmed by vs Shroue-tide ) deuise many rare showes & sports , presenting before the Ladies and Gentlewomen ( there ) excellent , witty , and pleasant conceited Comedies , with such like delightfull Exercises , to their owne no small commendations and credit , and to the wonderfull applause and conteutment as well of their owne Countrymen as of all other strangers whatsoeuer . this flourishing ACADEMIE of this most feruent and zealous INFIAMMATI , ) not onely a naked Substance or Beeing , by meanes whereof they onely are ; but moreouer , a good and perfect Beeing , so farre forth , as each ones nature is apprehensible and capable . And hereof it proceedeth that all things contend to be like the Creator , so farre as they are able , and naturally couet and desire ( aboue all ) not onely ( simply ) to exist and bee , but farther also , to be perfect and hap●y , each thing in that , which best standeth with his owne nature and qualitie .

And because ( as the c c He meaneth Aristotle , ( Disciple to Plato ) who was an admirable singular wittie man , inferiour to None ; Platoes Better in varietie of knowledge , and all the worlds Superiour in disputation . Philosopher saith in his Booke , De Coelo ) God and d d Nature is that Spirit or diuine Reason , which is the efficient . Cause of naturall works , and the preseruing cause of those things that haue beeing , through the onely power of the heauenly Word . Nature make not any thing in vaine ; therefore haue all things their Meanes , Faculties , or Possibilities , as well to attaine vnto these two things , as to preserue and keepe them : for as concerning their existence or beeing , they ( generally ) haue a kinde of promptnesse and inclination ( as wee may tearme it ) from Nature her selfe , to defend and protect themselues ( as much as their force will giue them leaue ) from all such things as may offend , or corrupt them , any way .

Now to doe good , or to doe well , they haue likewise a kinde of appetite or desire , through which instinct , they ( all ) couet , and seeke , what is good , or ( at least ) that which they imagine to be good for them : As contrariwise , they shunne , and haue in hatred , what , eyther is , or , which may be presupposed by them , to be hurtfull , and bad , considering they are ( many times ) deceiued before they be aware .

Neyther must we thinke , that the knowledge of the e e The exteriour Senses are the powers of the Soule and Body , and are in number fiue , viz. Seeing , Hearing , Smelling , Tasting and Touching : the right vse of which may be set downe thus ; Looke , but aright , and long but for your owne . Heare all alike , and Trust , when Truth is knowne . Taste ( but to feed ) yet feede not ( still to please . ) Touch neuer more , than lawfull is to sieze . The Senses thus you ( rightly ) shall enioy , Which ( oft ) makes many , Seruants of annoy . Senses , as well exteriour , as interiour , ( as I may say ) of liuing Creatures , was giuen them to any other end , but onely for this , viz. that their Iudgements should eyther pricke them forward to good , or else draw them backe from that which is euill : and the Actions of these Faculties or Powers , which our f f The Soule is a created Substance , invisible , incorporall , and immortall , resembling the Image of her Creator : Plato deuideth the Soule into three parts , in his Timeus , placing Anger in the Heart , Concupiscence in the Lyuer and Splene , and Reason ( the Lady and Gouernesse of the worke ) in the Braine . Soules haue to follow such things , as doe delight and helpe , or be loathsome and to be auoyded , were called by the Latines , g g Plato saith , that Affections in a man , are like Nerues or little Sinewes or strings , wherby Nature draweth vs forward into contraries , as themselues are contrary ; but he that hath giuen his Reason ( once ) dominion ouer them , shall finde their force of no effect worth esteeming : and to this purpose , one writeth very well thus : Sad perturbations , that Affections guide . Should not giue iudgement till their Cause were ●ride . Affections or Perturbations of the h h The Minde is that bright eye which guides the Soule , and gouernes men in all their actions whatsoeuer : and as one saith ; The Minde hath in it selfe a Deitie , And in the stretching Circle of the eye All things are compast , all things present still . Will fram'd to power doth make vs what wee will . Minde ; but the Tuscanes ( following , in this , as in many other matters , the Grecians ) tearme them i i Passions are certaine internall Acts or Operations of the Soule , bordering vpon Reason and Sense , prosecuting some good thing , or flying some ill thing , causing ( therewithall ) some alteration in the Body . Passions , because the whole minde ( being troubled and stirred vp through the same ) doth suffer and endure . Now , of all the perturbations and passions , which haue their Beeing & Breeding in the vnreasonable part of our Soules , and which are chiefly k k Viz. Loue , Hate , Ioy and Sorrow ; and they haue foure chiefe Gouernours , Reason , Patience , Time , and Experience . foure , ( as I haue discoursed , heretofore more at large in this place , ) there is no question , but that l l Loue , according to Plato , is three-fold ; the first imbraceth Vertue onely ; the second is infamous , which preferreth bodily pleasure ; and the third is of the body and the soule : nothing more noble than the first , than the second nothing more vile : the third is equall to both . But this Loue of which our Author now speaketh , is comprehended in these two lines onely : Loue is a Fiend , a Fire , a Heauen , a Hell , Where Pleasure , Paine , Griefe , and Repentance dwell . But hee that will see a most liuely description of this kinde of Loue , indeede , and more at large , let him reade Mr , Michael Draitons Definition thereof , in The Flowers of English Parnassus . LOVE aboue all the other three , is ( by much odds ) most potent and strong , as being that , from whom ( if wee consider throughly thereof ) All the rest proceede , and therefore not without great reason , was it said of the Father and Prince of m m Of Virgil it is said , that for his great learning and iudgement , hee encountred with Theocritus , vanquisht Hesiodus , and ranne the selfe-same race , as fairely and as well as Homer himselfe did . Romane Poets : L'Amor vince tutte le cose . Loue ouercomming euery thing , Vnder his proud subiection doth vs bring .

And the auncient Poets , and Theologitians of Greece , meant no other thing , by the mysticall History of Paris ( who leauing Pallas the Goddesse of Wisedome , and Iuno the Lady of Wealth and Riches , tooke part with Venus , the Commandresse of Beautie ) but to shew the meruailous , and incredible power of Loue ; because Loue dominiereth ouer vs , as doth our n n The Stoickes hold , that , onely to be Will , when a thing is firmely and constantly desired , and therefore it is defined to be a Desire of any thing with Reason , which is in a wise man onely ; but that which is against reason , is called Lust , or an inordinate desire , being resident in all Fooles : whereupon an English Poet , setting downe the difference betwixt Will and Wit , writes thus : Will holds the royall Scepter in the Soule . And o'er the Passions of the Heart doth raigne . Wit , is the Minds chiefe Iudge , which doth controule Of Fancies Court , the iudgement false and vaine . Will puts in practise what the Wit deuiseth . Will euer acts , and Wit contemplates still : And as in Wit the power of Wisedome riseth , All other Vertues , Daughters are to Will , Will , which draweth and forceth vs vnto his scope and drift : this his motion being most vehement , and more stirring than any other whatsoeuer ; as well in respect of himselfe , ( Loue being most mighty and powerfull ) as also for that it groweth , and increaseth , with the good leaue , the quicke readines , and best liking of our owne will ; so that it is no otherwise , than like that man , who is not alone fiercely spurred forward with a continuall force , but ( as it were ) is vrged thereunto , through his owne willingnesse , maugre his owne might , and as they say , quite against the hayre .

And certainely , were it not but that Nature , ( who for many respects , is thought by diuers , to be rather a o o And yet there are foure chiefe bridles by which Nature is curbed , which are Want , Authoritie , Hope , and Feare . cruell stepdame , than a kinde and louing mother ) had ordayned that all our sweet meates should be ( euer ) seasoned with sowre sawce , then doubtlesse should euery one be most happy , but p p To this sense , one imitating Ariosto ( herein ) saith thus : The ioyes of Louers , if they still should last , Without Affliction , or Disquietnesse , That worldly Chances doe amongst them cast , Would be on earth , too great a Blessednesse ; Liker to Heauen , than to mortall wretchednesse . Therefore the winged God , to let them weete That here on earth is no true Happinesse . A thousand sowres hath tempered with one sweet , To make it seeme more dainty , as is meete . aboue all , loyall Louers should be more blessed than the rest . But as no sweetnesse , no pleasure , nor happinesse , are so delightfull , so pleasant , nor so much desired , as that which proceedeth from Loue ; euen so againe , those bitter pils , those vntollerable Griefes , and those disasterous Mischances , or rather Mischiefes , which fall out in Loue , exceede ( beyond all comparison , ) all other Torments , and Tortures whatsoeuer , as they who haue proued , and tryed them , finde it to be but ouer-true , especially the q q A Tragedy so called , presented by the Gentlemen of the ●●TRONATI , in Sienna , where all the Actors in the same , came to seuerall vnfortunate and disasterous ends . Perottinian Louers .

Yet will I not denie , ( but iustifie what I now speake , for a most constant truth ) that all those disdainfull Disgraces , but now spoken of , all those burning Martyrings , all those insupportable Punishments ; and to be briefe , all those vnspeakable bloudy Passions in Loue , ( yea , were they ( All placed in one body together ) are nothiug , or rather , passing pleasing and sweet , in respect of that one damned Feare , or hellish Suspect , or rather vncurable Plague , and deadly Poyson , cleped r r Socrates saith , Iealousie is a disease of the minde , proceeding from a Feare , which a man hath , lest that thing be communicated to another , which hee would not ( in any wise ) haue common , but priuate to himselfe . IEALOVSIE : which ( coupled together with Loue , ) is no other thing , then ( as hath oftentimes beene deliuered in this place , ) A certaine eager and earnest Desire to enioy the s s Beautie ( as a certaine graue and learned Gentleman , our Country-man writeth ) is nothing else , but a iust proportion of the parts , with an apt correspondency in colours in these inferiour bodies : of which Subiect● the immortall Muse , of our euer memorable SPENSER , singeth thus : Nought vnder heauen , so strongly doth allure The Sense of Man , and all his Minde possesse , As Beauties loueliest bait , that doth procure Great Warriours ( oft ) their Rigour to suppresse , And mighty Hands forget their Manlinesse . Driuen with the power of an Heart-robbing eye , And wrapt in Flowers of a golden Tresse , That can with melting pleasance mollifie Their hardened Hearts enur'd to Crueltie . Beauty of one alone , by himselfe onely . Of which Subiect , not any Poet , eyther Latine or Graecian , ( let it I beseech yee ( noble Auditors ) be lawfull for mee boldly to speak what I think ) nor hath any other t t Hee saith so , because , none have written at all ( to speake of any thing to the purpose , ) of this Subiect before , and this ( so much , as hee tearmeth it ) is onely here and there a Stanzo of Ariosto's , in his Orlando Furioso : and this one Sonet of Monsig or Dela Casa , commented vpon by this Author : but now of late a Country-man of mine , although a stranger vnto mee , called Mr. George Wither , hath penn'd diuers witty Satyres , whereof one is of this Subiect , which you may read in his Abuses stript and whipt . discoursed thereon ( so much ) or so learnedly , as two rare , and ( as I may say ) diuine Wits of this our Age haue done ; the first of which , and the most auncient , was that learned and iudicious Mr. u u

Lodouicus Ariosto , borne in Rheggio , a towne subiect to the Dukedome of Ferrara , wrote that famous worke ORLANDO FVRIOSO , in honour of Cardinall Hipolito d' ESTA , his Lord and Master , ( whom hee then followed , ) besides diuers other Bookes , as his Comedies , Tragedies , and Satyres ; which Satyres I translated into English Verse , with Notes vpon the same ; although , vnknowne to mee , they were set forth in another mans name . In his later time , being somewhat discontented , hee with-drew himselfe priuately home to his owne house , where after hee had continued a few yeeres , hee dyed of a payne in his stomacke , and was buryed in S. Bennets Church in Ferrara , where hee hath a fayre Monument of white Marble , with his Statue erected thereupon , and this Epitaph :

Lodouico Ariosto Poetae , Patritio Ferrariensi , Augustinus Mustus tanto viro , ac de se bene merenti Tumulum & Effigiem Marmoreum are proprio pos●it . Ann. Dom. 1571. Alfonzo secundo Duce .

Hic ARIOSTVS est situs qui Comico Aures Theatri sparsit vrbanus sale , Satiraque mores strinxit acer improbos : Heroa cultu , qui FVRENTEM carmine Ducumque curas cecinit atque praelia , Vates Corona dignus vnus triplici , Cui trina constant quae fuere vatibus , Graijs , Latinis , vixque Hetruscis singula .

Natus est Ariost. 1474. Vixitannos . 59. Obijt anno salutis , 1533. Idus 8. Iulij . But if you will know his whole life more at large , then reade the fore-said English Satyres , where you shall be satisfied at the full .

Lodouic● Ariosto of Ferrara ; and the other is the reuerend , Lord , Giouanni , surnamed x x This man was both a Philosopher and a Poet , borne not far from Florence , and liuing within the memory of man . He wrote many Sonnets in praise of a faire Gentlewoman , his Mistresse , called DIANA , of the house of the Saluiati in Florence ; and a Treatise in Prose of Good Manners , ( ycleped Galateo ) much in request amongst the Italians . Hee was very inward with Cardinall Bembo , Speren Speroue , Benedetto Varchi , and other learned men of his time , with whom hee conuersed ( for a certaine time ) in Venice , in the interim of which , hee wrote an excellent Oration ( penn'd in the behalfe of Horatio , Grand-childe to Pope Paul the third , of the house of the Farnesi in Rome ) who petitioned with the same , to the Emperor Charles the fift , that he might succeed Peter Luigi his father , in the Dukedome of Parma and Piacenza , ( as afterward he did ) the Emperour commending highly the foresaid Oration . This Giouan de la Casa , held Petrar●q to be a better Poet than Dant , contrary to the opinions of most Schollers in those daies . To conclude , he growing in yeeres , returned backe to Florence , where he dyed of the payne of the Collicke , and in the 62 yeere of his age , & lyeth buryed in the Certosi , a Sumptuous Monastery , not far from Florence De la Casa . The one in his first Stanza of his 31. Canzon of his Orlando Furioso , The other in a Sonnet of his owne , no lesse graue , then learned , and as daintie , as euery way witty , which hee made in the prime of his young and blooming yeeres : which Sonnet , I ( following the laudable custome of this most flourishing Academie ) and to shew my deuoted Affection , and dutious Seruice , vnto you ( most Royall Prince ) haue made choyse of ( this day ) to explaine and expound at large , according vnto that small Talent , which it hath pleased the Almightie Power to bestow vpon mee .

To commend , as is reason , and were but fitting , the Bountie and Learning of this our Author ; his owne Greatnesse , and mine Insufficiencie , his discreete Modestie , and natiue Country ( common vnto vs Both ) forbid mee to say what I should , although I am not ignorant , but that as well the one , as the other , is knowne vnto the maior part of you here present : part also , shall you perceiue thereof , by this his admirable Sonnet , which whilest I repeate , and make plaine , vouchsafe of your acustomed gentlenesse ( as your courteous nature is wont to doe ) with still attention to giue mee the hearing .

SONETTO . CVRA , che di timor ti nutri , & cresci , Et tosto fede à tuoi sospetti acquisti , Et mentre con la fiammail gelo mesci , Tutto'l regno d'Amor turbi , & contristi . Poi che in brieu'hora entro'l mio dolc' hai misti Tutti gli'amari tuoi , de'l mio cor esci , Torna à Cocito , à , i lagrimosi , & tristi Ghiacci d'Inferno , iui' à te stessa incresci . Iui senza riposo , i giorni mena , Senza sonno le notti , iui ti duoli Non men di dubbia che di certa pena . Vattene : à che piu fiera , che not suoli , S'el tuo velen m'è c●rso in ogni vena , Con nuoue Larue , à me ritorni , & voli ! CARE , thou that nourishest thy selfe , o'er bolde With Feare , encreasing still , and soone d●st g●●e Credit , to thy suspitions , whilst chill cold Thou minglest with a hot and burning Flame ; By which thou all the Kingdome of milde Loue Dost trouble , heauy make , and too much moue : Since thou so soone vpon my sugred Sweete Hast mixt thy bitter Drugs , hence from my Heart , Turne backe to Cocitus , and to those Icies Deepe , Those sad , and wofull waters , full of smart ; Pack ( hence ) to Hell , thou worse than hellish Elfe , There , vexe , torment , and gawle thine inward selfe ▪ There ( without rest ) prolong thy weary dayes ; There , let thy nights , withouten sleepe be spent ; There torture still , and grieue thy selfe ( alwayes ) As well with doubtfull , as sure punishment : Fret thine owne bowels forth , stamp , stare , be mad , Be euer heauy , neuer blithe , nor glad . Dispatch , begone ; why fiercer than before , And farre more stronger , then thou wontst to be , ( Since venim thine , to poyson mee the more , Through euery veyne dispersed is in mee . ) Dost thou returne ( afresh ) in shadowes new , The more to make me still to waile and rew ?

THe Subiect of this high and Egelike Sonnet , which is both for the Conceit , the Words , and the Order of the Verse , solemne and graue , and repleate , full of a kinde of religious and compassionate Indignation and Anger ; seemeth to mee , that it is willing to instruct , and declare ( no lesse according vnto the truth , and like a wise y y A Philosopher , according to Cic●roes definition , is a Louer of Wisedome , and one that is learned in the knowledge and vnderstanding of the Arts and Sciences which is the mother of all Vertue & Perfection : the Greeke Monuments recording two kinds of Philosophers . The Italian●● out of that part of Italy , whilome called Magna Gretia , and the Ionian in the Country now called Grece ; Pithag●ra● of Samos , being the first Author of the name of Philosophers . Philosopher , then z z There are seauen kindes of Poetizing , in the Florenti●● tongue , as this our Author reporteth in his Italian Herc●l●no . The first and principall is that of Dant and Petrarcq : the second , of Luigi , and Lucas Pu●cio ( brethren● ) the third , as Burchiello wrote ( for he also was a Poet : ) the fourth , the Chapiters of Ber●ia : the fift , the Sonnets of An●on● Alleman●●● : and besides these fiue , there are two , to sing Pastorals ; the one in left , as that called N●ncia , di Lorenzo de Medices , and that Beca , of Lewis Pulci ; and another in truth and in good earnest : and this also is diuided into two parts , for some write Eglogs , in loose Verse , and the other in Verse , ending in meeter or rime : and this also is done two manner of wayes ▪ e●ther with ordinary versifying , or with that long kinde of smooth , sliding , and running Rim● , which S●nazar vsed in his Writings and is in Italian called Sdursciol● . Poetically , with great * * Inuention is an 〈◊〉 ●hat hath more of the Wit , Imitation of the Will , yet Imitation commeth short of Inue●●●●● 〈◊〉 though Inuention is the most dangerous of both . Inuention and Skill ) what thing Iealousie is , whence it springeth , how it is nourished , and what a wicked , and hurtfull plague it is . And this hee sheweth , by the Effects , and Accidents of the same , which being more apparant , and better knowne vnto vs , ( than the Occasions and Substance thereof ) will stand vs in great stead ( as testifieth Aristotle in his first Booke De Anima , to learne vs to know , of what nature and condition it is : and therefore hee fayneth ( or perhaps because it was so indeede ) to discharge , and to driue from him , that frightfull Monster , and infernall Fury , which with her sad and blacke poyson , had very much troubled him , in his Businesse , turning all his amorous sweetnesse into sowre and hatefull bitternesse . Neyther gaue shee ouer , ( as if it had beene but a small thing to vexe him euery houre , ) but rather became more grieuous , and troublesome ( continually ) vnto him . And although this Sonnet , might be deuided into two especiall parts , yet for our more ease , and for the better vnderstanding thereof ( because the matter is very difficult and hard ) wee will diuide it into foure Stanza's :

The first thus : a a Of Care one prettily and briefly writes thus : Men dye , and humane kinde doth passe away , Yet Care , that makes them die , doth euer stay . And mine old Acquaintance and Friend , Mr. Henry Cunnestable , hauing set downe this Passion in her right colours , I could not chuse but acquaint the Reader therewith . Care , the consuming canker of the minde . The Discord that disorders sweet Hearts tune . Th' abortiue Bastard of a Cowards kinde , The light-foote Lackie , that runs post to death , The busie Aduocate that sels bis breath , Denouncing worst to him , that is his Friend . CARE , thou that nourishest thy selfe ( o'er bold ) With Feare , encreasing still , and too-too soone dost gaine Credit , to thy suspitions , whilst chill cold Thou minglest with a hot and burning Flame , By which , thou , All the Kingdome of milde Loue Dost trouble , heauy make , and too much moue .

In this first part , in which the foure things ( before specified ) are contayned , our Poet , no lesse learnedly than briefly , speaketh to IEALOVSIE , and most artificially calleth her , not by her direct and playne name , but vseth a Periphrasis here , and setteth downe a description of her , saying ; Care , thou that nourishest thy selfe , &c.

And this course did Ariosto take in his first Stanza , of his 31. Canto , who before hee deliuered her proper name , branded her with fiue villanous words , euery one of them being worse than other ; and thus hee ranked them , as it were in battell aray : b b Suspicion is a certaine doubtfull timerousnes of the minde , detaining the hart most fearefully , with sundry Affections and vncertaine proceedings , according to this saying : Suspect bewrayes our thoughts , betrayes our words , Wounds Hearts like sword , and nought but Griefe affords . Suspicion , c c Feare is two-fold , Good and Euill ; Good Feare is that which is grounded vpon a good discourse of Reason , and Argument , standing in awe of blame , reproach and dishonour , more than of Griefe or Death : Euill Feare is destitute of Reason , and is that which wee call Cowardlinesse or Pusillanimitié , alwayes attended vpon with two perturbations of the Soule , Feare and Sadnesse : and of this sort is this whereof the Author speaketh , wherevpon one saith well to this purpose . Feare is defect of manly Fortitude , Continually , by Dread and Doubt pursude . Montagnie also saith , it is so strange a Passion , that as Philosophers affirme , there is none doth sooner transport our Iudgement out of his dew seate , then this doth : and to this purpose one saith thus : Feare is more paine , than is the paine it feares , Disarming humane mindes of Natures might , Where each conceit an vgly figure beares , Which were not Euill , well view'd in Reasons sight . Feare , d d Martyring is a kinde of inward painefull Conceit or Thought , that vexeth and galleth as well the body as the minde of man most feelingly , not vnlike a martyring kinde of sensible racke or torture . Martyring , e e Frenzy is a distemperature of the braine , through some so daine affrighting or inward conceit , but Madnesse is a furious passion , that taketh away the right Senses and Wits for euer , whereupon one writeth thus : This bedlam Madnesse for forerunner sends Mannie & Frenzie , to suborne her Friends , Whereof the one drying , the other ouer-warming The feeble braine ( the edge of Iudgement harming ) Within the Soule fantasticqly they fayne A confus'd Hoste of strange Chymera's vaine . Frenzie , and Madnesse .

But because euery one of these foure Verses , are full of learning , and all the difficultie and hardnesse consisteth in this first part of the Sonnet , wee therefore for your better vnderstanding ( therein ) will explaine one Verse after another , with as great case as wee may , and after the best manner wee can deuise .

Care , thou that nourishest thy selfe , o'er bold , &c.

Considering that in these first foure Verses hee defineth , or rather describeth what IEALOVSIE is ; and there being two manner of Distinctions , the one , which declareth her name , the other , which sheweth her nature : pleaseth it you first to vnderstand that this Greeke word 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , compounded of two words , ( from whence f f Three things ( saith one ) breedes IEALOVSIE ; a mighty State , a rich Treasure , and a fayre Wife . This Fiend , a quondam kinde Acquaintance of mine , Mr. Thomas Watson , paynteth forth very liuely in these Verses : Pale IEALOVSIE , childe of insatiate Loue , Of Heart-sicke Thoughts which Melancholy bred , A Hell tormenting Feare , no Faith can moue , By Discontent with deadly poyson fed , With heedlesse youth , and Errour vainely led , A mortall Plague , a Vertue drowning Flood , A hellish Fire , not quenched but with Blood . Gelosia , that is , IEALOVSIE , commeth in our language ) signifieth no other thing , than a certaine Emulation , or an Enuy , of Forme , or Beautie : which name it seemeth that the Latines want . * * Definitions of IEALOVSIE . True it is that that famous Orator Marke Tully , translated it Obtrectatio , and defined it to be a Passion , wherewith some one man is possessed , least another , should holde and enioy that which hee , onely coueteth to possesse and keepe alone . Others affirme , that IEALOVSIE is a certaine suspition which the Louer hath , of the party he chiefely loueth , least she should be enamoured of another . A third sort there is , that saith , IEALOVSIE is a fearefull and timerous suspicion or Doubt in the Louer , least the Woman whom hee affecteth , and whom hee would not haue to be common with any other man , should lend her body vnto another . All which three are in effect one , and the selfe-same thing , but yet particularly , and not vniuersally , as the right and perfect definitions vse to be set downe , because they comprehend that Party onely , which is iealous , by reason of his owne desire and proper longing or coueting ; that is , that hee might ( alone ) enioy , what hee most wished for ; as if there were no Iealousie to be had of our Daughters , Mothers , Sisters , or others , eyther shee kinred or Friends , which are left in our Custody , Wardship , and Protection , and whom wee desire to haue ( not to enioy them our selues ) but least some other , whom wee mislike or disdayne , should ( against our wils , and to the disparagement of our Honor ) get possession and interest in them . The Authors defining of IEALOVSIE . And therefore wee will say that IEALOVSIE is a certaine Feare or Doubt , least any one whom we would not , should enioy a Beautie that wee make account of ; and , this , for two Reasons , eyther because wee our selues would enioy the same alone , or else , that such a one as we like and desire , might haue the sole fruition and possession thereof . Now there is no doubt but that g g Enuy is a vice that inflicteth those most extreamely , that vse itmost , and it ( immediately ) succeedeth Pride , by nature ; for a proud man so loueth himselfe , that he grieues that any should excell him , which when he cannot auoid , then hee enuies them : and this is the difference betwixt Hatred and Enuy ; Hate extendeth to Some , Enuy to All , whereupon one saith : Enuy is nothing else but griefe of minde , Conceiu'd that Others Happinesse doe finde : 'T is Honours shame , and Glories secret Foe , Whose Fruits are Hate , Despight , sad Griefe and Woe . IEALOVSIE is a Spice or Species of Enuy , and although it followeth not of necessitie , that wheresoeuer Enuy is , there IEALOVSIE should be , yet is it necessary , that wheresoeuer IEALOVSIE is the Precursor , there Enuy must be the Follower alwayes , as that which is a liuing Creature , is not a man , and yet euery man is a liuing Creature . Whereupon Plato defineth a Iealous man to be one , that hath an enuie or malice towards another , by reason of some amorous suspicion , which hee conceiueth against him . And for this cause ( perhaps ) our non-paraleld Poet Petrarcq in one of his sweet Sonnets , saith thus : Liete & pensose , accompagnate , & sole , Donne , cheragionando ite per via ; Oue , è la vita oue la morte mea , &c. Fayre Ladies , yee , who talking vp and downe this way , Pleasant and sad , accompanied , yet ( alone ) I see , Ah , tell me , where 's my Life ? where is my Death I pray ? Why , is shee ( now ) not here ? as she was wont to be . Pleasant we are , when her we call but to our minde : Sad , that , we cannot haue her wisht-for Company , Whom ENVY and bad IEALOVSIE doe stay behind , Whom neighbors good , more than their own mishap makes cry . But who can Louers bridle ? who Lawes can them giue ? None can the Mind restraine . Anger and deep Despight The Body for a while ( perhaps ) may vexe and grieue , Which ( now ) on Her , and ( then ) on Me doth often light . Yet if the Countenance be the Harts bright myrrour true ( As oft it is ) then did we see her Beautie fayre , To be ecclipst , whilst wee her louely Eyes did view Teares to distill from Limbecke of sad Care , My comfort 's this , in me fault was there none , 'T was dread of lewd Tongues made her stay at home .

Although ( as sometimes after the Poeticall manner ) he maketh his LAVRA to be enamoured of her owne selfe , like another Narcissus , and so hides herselfe from him , as in this Sonnet of his ; beginning , Il mio Auersario , in cui videre solete , &c. My mortall Foe , in whom you wonted were to see Your diamond eyes , which heauen & loue do honor much Not with his Beautie , ( but your owne ) makes you to be Enamourd ; t is so rare , so sweet , of Vertue such : ( Lady ) by his aduise you haue casshiered me , ( A wofull Exile , from that louely Lodge of mine ) Although I yeeld my selfe vnworthy for to be Placed ; where you sit crown'd with Fauour most diuine . But had I bin ( as you made show ) deare in your Loue , Me thinkes a paltry Looking-glasse in my disgrace Should not haue made you halfe so proud , as to remoue Your fancy from me , which you on your selfe ( now ) place . Assure you , if you thinke but on Narcissus fall , Your Destiny , and his , are like to be all one , Although the ground ( when you turne to a Flowre ) shall Vnworthy be for to enioy so rare a One. Remember Pride's the roote of euery sinne : Rather be Courteous , so you prayse shall winne . And in that delightfull and pretty Canzon , which beginneth , S' el pensier chi mi struggi Come è pungente & saldo , &c. If th' amorous Thought of mine that vexeth mee . As it is fierce , bad colour like the same , Perhaps my Body then should heated be , And I should Partner be , in that Loues Flame , That Flame of Loue which now doth sleepe in her ( May chance ) would then beginne in me to stirre . If so , I then should not so idly liue , I then ( abroad ) should waite and on her tend ; Nor I so much with weeping ( then ) should grieue , And Heate , not Colde , from me should still ascend : I should be turned into nought but Fire , The Brand of Loue , the Torch of hot Desire . And in that Disticq . of his : Se forse ogni sua gioia , Nel suo bel viso è solo . If all her Ioy and chiefe delight Be onely in her Count'nance bright . &c.

So likewise this Poet ( in another place ) maketh her Iealous againe of her owne selfe : which selfe-same course , the learned h h Francis Maria Molza , borne in Modena in Lombardie , was one of the best Schollers of his time , as wel for Prose as Verse . He was a Retayner to that great Cardinall Alexander Farnesi , of whom it is constantly reported , that by his great power , wealth , and friends , hee could haue made whom hee pleased Pope , in any sede vacante , but for himselfe , he was neuer able to doe the same , so much was hee doubted and feared , because of his huge meanes and great authoritie he had in Rome . Of this iolly Cardinall then , was this Molza ( as I said ) a Follower , who bestowed a bountifull pension on him during his life , as hee did on many others beside . He was buryed in Modena with this Epitaph : Qui lepido Veteres cantauit carmine MOLZA , Hic iacet aetatu maximu● huius honos . Molza taketh , in the end of a certaine witty Sonnet of his , where hee wishing and aduising his Mistresse , that shee should be content , and indure to be eyed and marked of others , and not stand ouer-long prying and gazing in her Glasse , hee ( calling her his glorious Sunne ) concludeth after this sort ; Voi non doureste hauer tanta paura , Ne , l'essere guardata , da chi u'ama . You neede not thus to stand in so great feare , Nor to be watched , so by him that loues you deare , As if you doubted , ( as it seemes to mee ) That by your owne selfe you should stollen be .

But leauing ( for this present time ) to speake any thing at all of that kinde of IEALOVSIE , which Parents haue of their Daughters , Brethren of their Sisters , and of the like by bloud and Alliance , neare and deare vnto them : and reasoning onely of that which is incident to Louers onely , IEALOVSIE of Louers , three-fold . I say that they may be iealous three manner of wayes ; and that IEALOVSIE may be taken after three seuerall fashions : 1. Eyther when wee would not haue , that any one should obtayne , that which wee our selues haue already gotten : 2. Or that which wee wish and desire to obtayne : 3. Or which wee haue laboured and endeuoured , following it in chase , and yet could neuer gayne the same . Now this IEALOVSIE springing from our owne couetous minde and proper greedinesse to haue such a thing , is after a foure-fold manner , viz. By reason 1 Of Pleasure . 2 Of Passion . 3 Of Property or Right . 4 Of Honor. .

IEALOASIE commeth of i i Pleasure is of two sorts ; one is said to be of honest & good things , and the other of dishonest . In respect of honest things it is called voluntas , but in respect of dishonest , it is called voluptas , therefore very wittily saith one to this purpose . Pleasures , like p●asting guests , make but small stay . Where Griefes bide long , and leaue a score to pay . Pleasure , when wee estimate and prise the k k There be two sorts of Delight , Sensuall and Intellectuall . Sensuall , which taketh his sourse from Sense and Passion ; and Intellectuall , which draweth his originall from the Vnderstanding and the Will . delight wee take in the Partie we loue , at so high a rate , as we would engrosse it wholy vnto our selues , and when wee thinke , or imagine , it will decrease and waxe lesse , if it should be communicated , or lent vnto another : and in this poynt , in my conceit , Tibullus , the Poet , speaketh most diuinely ( as most commonly he doth in all his Writings ) but especially in that excellent Elegy of his , where he beginneth thus : Quid mihi , sifuer as teneros laesuros amores , Foedera per Diuos clam violanda dabas ? Art thou a faithfull Friend and seek'st To cheate me of my Loue ? And break'st ( in priuate ) Friendships Bonds , Confirm'd by Gods aboue ?

And in those other no lesse sweet than daintie Disticques beginning after this manner : Semper , vt inducar , blandos offers mihi vultus , Post , tamen , es , misero , tristis & asper Amor. Quid tibi seuitiae est mecum ? an gloria magna est Infidias homini composuisse Deum ? To toule me in , and draw me on , Most cunning art thou ( LOVE , ) Sweet meate ( at first ) but afterward Sowre sawce thou mak'st me proue , Why shouldst to mee thus cruell show ? What credit is t for thee ? A God to entrap a silly wretch , Think'st thou 't will Glory be ?

This Latine Verse is so pleasing , as I could not choose but translate it into our Italian Tongue , applying it to our purpose , after this manner : Sempre acciò ch'io piu volontier m'inuecchi , Con lieti risi , & gratiosicenni , Dolcemente da prima ( Amor ) m'adeschi , Ma poscia ( lasso ) come tuo diuonni , Si mi gouerni giorno , & notte ch'io , Altro che danno , & duol mai non sostenni , A che sei tanto in me spietato & rio ? E però gloria tal con sorza , e'nganni , Tender lacciuoli ad huom mortal' è Dio ? &c. The better for to bring me to thy Lure , And as thy prise and pray to get me sure , ( LOVE ) thou , at first , dost lay thy tising bait Most cunningly , to catch me with doceit : Sweetly and mildely , thou dost set thy ginne , By s●gre●● smiles and lookes to draw me in : But ( woe i● me ) no sooner am I caught , But that I finde to danger I am brought . Thine Entertainment day and night is such , As makes me grieue and sorrow ouer-much : Why art so spightfull , and incenst gainst mee , When better guerdon'd I deserue to be ? No doubt great glory shall to thee redound , When it abroad shall euerywhere be found , A mighty God , a silly man did ketch Within his Nets , by force and subtill fetch .

IEALOVSIE proceedeth from l l This Passion may be rightly tearmed some timerous conceit , or strange kinde of Feare , such Feare commonly bringing much griefe to the minde , as one saith to this purpose , thus : Passionate Feare still taketh her delight In perill , which exceedeth perils might . Passion , when we couet to enioy or possesse that which we most loue and like , wonderfully fearing lest we should loose the possession thereof , as if our Mistresse should become a secret sweet Friend vnto another man : and in this pittifull m m When IEALOVSIE once siezeth on such weake and resistlesse soules ( as Propertius was ) it is pittifull to see , how cruelly it tormenteth , & how insultingly it tyrannizeth ouer them , for of all the mindes diseases , that is it , where to most things serue for sustenance , but fewest for remedy ; such a furious perturbation , and moody Agitation it is , which throweth them into Extremities , altogether contrary to the cause . perplexitie and case was Propertius , as may appeare , when hee made this mournfull and mestfull Elegie ; beginning thus : Eripitur nobis iampridem cara Puella , Et tu me lachrymas fundere ( Amice ) vetas ? My Wench is gone and stollen away , Whom I did loue so deare , And art my Friend , and yet forbidst , That I from teares forbeare ?

Thirdly , IEALOVSIE springeth from the n n Property or Right , is a kinde of Interest or Clayme , which one challengeth to any thing as his owne , and as peculiar & proper to himselfe , and wherein no other can ( truely ) demand any share or part . Yea , so peremptory are some men in this point ( especially if they know they may lawfully challenge this high pris'd commoditie of Loue as their owne , and that they haue payed for the same , ) as they haue cast off their Wiues , and Mistresses , onely vpon a meere suspicion , or scandallous report of a malicious & backe-biting tongue , the poore women being in no fault at all , but their owne fantastique and iealous Conceits and Humours , for who can stop a slanderous speech when it is once spread abroad ? since w●o knoweth not , that , Reports ▪ at rand●me runne , whi●st Truth they misse . And s●y●onne ●onne to ' a L●ar counted is . And such a one was a certaine Gentleman , a friend of mine , who vpon a false surmise and giddy Toy that troubled his br●ine , forsooke a fayre Gentlewoman ( his Mistresse , ) not so much as once vouchsafing or enduring to heare how shee could excuse and answere for her selfe : hee being so peremptory in his opinion , that because shee was thought to be false vnto him , therefore shee must be needes so indeede , as you may perceiue by these few Verses , being part of a bitter Letter hee sent her , which you shall finde at the ende of this Booke , and these be they : And where to witnesse thou dost call ( For thy true faith ) the Heauens all , I tell thee ( Dame ) the Wench that I Shall like for mine owne company , Shall not alone , right honest be , But from suspicion shall be free : That all may say , shee hath no Fault , No not so much as she can halt . So you may perceiue by this , hee would haue her more fortunate than any other ; for what Woman or Man is there , almost liuing , but that hath beene eyther suspected , scandalized , or ill spoken of by one lewd tongue or another : And it is but too true , considering , What Malice likes not , straight disprais'd must be , For Slander 's blinde and cannot Vertue see . Lyes , Slander , flattry , Birds are of one feather , Forsworne false Friends they are , and dwell together . Propertie or Right that wee haue , when we ( enioying our Lady or Mistresse ) would haue her soly and wholy vnto our selues ; without being able ( by any meanes ) to suffer or endure , that another man should haue any part or interest in her , any way , or at any time : and to this purpose doth the foresaid Poet write , exceeding well , to Lin●●us , his fellow Poer , ( an old smell-smocke , and an auncient acquaintance and familiar friend of his ) who ( belike ) being more forward in this amorous Businesse than the other could haue wisht ; Propertius takes exceptions against him for the same , and withall , earnestly entreates him to giue ouer the Game hee had in chase , as in this Elegie following , you shall finde more at large : Tumihi vel ferro pectus , vel perde veneno , A Domina tantum te modo tolle mea ; Te socium vitae , te corporis esse licebit , Te Dominum admitto rebus ( Armice ) meis , Lecto te solum , lecto te deprecor vno , Riualem possum nin ego ferre Iouem . Stab me with Sword , or Poyson strong Giue mee to worke my bane , So thou court not my Lasse , so thou From Mistresse mine refraine , Command my selfe , my Body , Purse , ( As thine owne Goods ) take All , And as my nearest , dearest Frend , I ( euer ) vse thee shall : Oh spare my Loue , to haue ( alone ) Her , to myselfe I craue , Swounds Ioue himselfe I le not endure My Riuall for to haue .

And so puissant and potent is this our desire , which wee haue to enioy that Party ( which wee loue ) soly and alone , without the societie and company of any other whatsoeuer , as that ( many times ) when this our high-pris'd Commoditie chanceth to light into some other merchants hands , and that this our priuate Inclosure proueth to be a Common for others , wee care no more for it , but giue it altogether ouer , quite extinguishing and quenching in vs , not alone the Iealousie wee had of the same , but likewise the hot loue and affection wee bare it before , as Ouid in his second Booke of his amorous Elegies , speaketh in a manner to the same effect , when he saith thus : Quod licet ingratum est , quod non licet acrius vrit , Ferreus est , si quis quod finit alter amet . What 's lawfull , base ; what 's hard to get , More eager doth vs moue : Senselesse , that suffreth others court His Wife , yet her will loue . And in another place thus : Pinguis Amor nimiumque potens , in taedia nobis Vertitur , & stomaco dulcis vt esca nocet . Too much of easie yeelding Loue My minde doth soone annoy , Too much of common daintie Fare The Stomacke ( still ) doth cloy . In a third , thus : Quin alium , quem tanta iuuat patientia quaere , Me tibi Riualem , si iuuat esse veta . So many Sutors to endure , Thy patience sheweth too base , Another seeke , as Riuall now , For to supply my place .

Lastly , IEALOVSIE commeth in respect of a mans o o Honor , is the Reputation and Credit , or the good name and Fame , of a Man , which the generous Spirit priseth , at so high a rate , as before hee will haue the same eclipst , hee will loose all his wealth , yea , and his dearest life to , according vnto the saying of a certaine graue and wise Gentleman : Vntainted HONOR ( not long life ) the treasure is Which noble Mindes doe hold to be their chiefest blisse . Reputation and Honour , according as his nature is , or as his Breeding hath beene , or after the fashion and manner of the Country , in which hee is borne and liueth , because ( in this point ) diuers are the opinions of men , and as contrary are the Customes of Countries , wherevpon they say , that the p p The Persians were wont to be so iealous of their Wiues , as they neuer suffered them to goe abroad , but in Waggons close shut ; but at this day the Italian is counted the man that is most subiect to this vice , the sallow complectioned fellow , with a blacke beard , being hee that is most prone , as well to suspect , as to be suspected about Womens matters , according to the old saying : To a Red man reade thy Reade , With a Browne man breake thy Bread , At a Paleman draw thy Knife , From a Blacke man keepe thy Wife . Which wee expound after this manner : The Red is wise , the Browne trusty , The Pale enuious , and the Blacke lusty . Southerne Nations , and such as dwell in hot Regions are very Iealous ; eyther because they are much giuen and enclined vnto Loue naturally : or else for that they hold it a great disparagement and scandall , to haue their Wifes , or their Mistresses taynted with the foule blot of Vnchastitie : which thing those that are of contrary Regions , and such as liue vnder the North-Pole , take not so deepe at the heart , and therefore wee may perceiue that this our Poet , hath done excellent well , to call and as it were define IEALOVSIE , to be q q That IEALOVSIE , in a manner , is no other thing than a kinde of suspicious CARE , or a carefull kinde of SVSPITION : this Sonnet following ( penn'd by an Italian Gentleman ) and seeming , ( as it were ) to be done in imitation of the Authors Mounsignior de la Casa , aforesaid ) sheweth as much ; which because it is annext vnto this Worke of Benedetto Varchies , I thought good to translate into English thus : CVRA , che sempre vigilant é desta , &c. CARE , who as vigilant , dost alwayes watch , Perswading mee to what is worse than ill , And seek'st my pensiue Heart still for to catch , To force him yeeld to thy accursed will , Making me leade a heauy wofull life , Whereas ( before ) Pleasures with me were rife . Bane to my sweetest Thoughts , thou gloomy storme , That all my Hopes and best Times ouerthrowes : Why with Suspicious new mak'st me forlorne ? Why dost thou vexe my minde with wicked woes ? Why dost thou gall me more and more each houre , To wreake thy vengeance on me through thy power ? O Monster fierce , more Fierce then monsterous ! O Pestilent plague of loyall Louers true ! What hellish Fiend , what Hagge most furious From that deepe horrid Caue , thee ( hither ) drew ? Why in so hydeous shape dost thou appeare ? To torture mee , and spoyle my pleasures here ? Packe hence , away , thy power th' hast too much showne , And therefore mestfull Iacke , with trembling Feare Shall write the Sorrowes which through thee are growne , And wofull plaints which in my Breast I beare . ( Damn'd IEALOVSIE ) I le blaze thee , Herauld-like , That all the world may loath thee with despight . CARE , that is , a Thought or Passion which proceedeth and leadeth on Feare , which is as much to say , as if it came of Dread and Suspect . And by this phrase of speech hee giueth vs to vnderstand from whence it springeth , because ( as the r r Well may Aristotle be tearmed the Prince of Philosophers , since ( as that famous Auerrois writeth ) Nature ment ( when Aristotle was borne ) to shew the vtmost proofe of all her strength and power , so that what was possible for a mortal man to know , so much did hee vnderstand . Prince of Philosophers teacheth vs ) wee are easily and best nourished with that with which wee are borne .

Neyther doth hee thinke it sufficient to haue said thus much , but he addeth besides , ( Cresci , thou growest or increasest ) which word no doubt is set downe by him , with great and excellent iudgement , by reason that IEALOVSIE may ( as other like Qualities ) encrease or diminish , and it increaseth or diminisheth through foure things , IEALOVSIE encreaseth or decreaseth . or meanes , to wit , 1. According to the Persons : 2. According to the Places : 3. According to the Times : 4. And lastly , according to the Businesses taken in hand .

The persons , by meanes whereof IEALOVSIE encreaseth or decreaseth , are in a manner alwayes three .

1 The Party that is Iealous . Three Persons which encrease IEALOVSIE . 2 His Mistressee , ouer whom he is Iealous . 3 The Person whom hee suspecteth , and therefore is Iealous of him .

Concerning the Partie that is Iealous : such as know themselues to be s s Indeede I am of opinion , that the most worthlesse persons are alwayes most subiect to this infectious Disease of Iealousie , as Mr. George Wither rightly saith . There is None Iealous I durst pawne my life , But hee that hath defilde anothers Wife : And commonly , Mala Mens malus Animus , An ill Disposition breedes an ill Suspition . And for that hee himselfe hath gone astray , Hee straight-way thinkes his Wife will tread that way . The best counsell therefore I can giue to these kindes of suspitious Braines , is to possesse their soules with patience , considering it is the best Salue for this Sore , and to giue ouer this frantique Malady , following this good Counsell . Thy Wife being fayre , be not thou Iealous , Because Suspicion cures not womens Follies . destitute and depriued of euery good Qualitie and Vertue , and that finde themselues to be little ( or nothing at all ) fauoured or respected of their Mistresses and Ladies , swallow downe more easily , and sooner , this poyson than others doe . A Testimoniall of which Mr. Iohn Bocchas setteth downe most iudiciously ( as is his wonted manner ) in the ninth Tale of his seauenth Giornata or dayes Worke , in the person of t t See this Tale in Bocchas Decameron , and in his seauen Giornata , the Argument whereof is briefely thus : Annigucchio , a rich Marchant of Florence , being iealous of his fayre wife , perceiued how shee vsed to tye a small line or thread about one of her feet when she went to bed , whereupon hee one night finding his Riuall to pull the same , leapt out of his Bed with his Sword drawne to follow him , and shee seeing that her deuise was discride , got her maid to lye in her place in the bed , whom her Husband comming backe ( for hee could not ouer-take the fore-said Fellow ) beat most pittifully , and that done , set his Wiues kindred , to see her in that pittifull taking , but when they saw it was another , and not their kinsewoman , they beganne to swagger with him , and she to rayle at him , for calling her good name in question , whereupon he being out-fac't by his Wife , and the rest , that hee was drunke , was glad to aske her forgiuenesse , as if hee had done her great wrong and , after that , neuer durst finde fault with her more , but suffered her to haue her will , and take her pleasure where shee thought good , and lik't best . Annigucchio Berlinghieri , as euery one may perceiue that will take the paines to read the same . Besides , it importeth very much to know of what nature the Iealous man is , because if hee be naturally suspitious , hee then will take euery thing in the worse sense , interpreting all whatsoeuer he eyther heareth or seeth , in a sinister and bad sense or meaning , and so his Disease ( in time ) commeth to be desperate . And such a v v Of the Fellow that suspecting his Wife , and being exceeding Iealous of her , would needes shriue her in the habit of a Priest , reade Bocchas Tale , in the fore-said Decameron and Giornata 7. the substance whereof is this : A certaine Fellow suspecting his Wife of Incontinency , perswaded her to goe to Confession and Shrift , and shee smelling his drift , made show to be willing thereunto : whereupon hee getting the habit of a Priest , stayed for her in a certaine Church , whither he had appointed her to goe to her Ghostly Confessor , she making shew , ( when she came thither ) that shee knew him not , and telling him , how shee lay with a Priest euery night . Hee hearing this , when shee was gone , and that it was night , stayed about the doore of his house watching to take her Sir Domine napping , as hee should come to his Wife , whilst shee in the meane time , hauing giuen a secret Item of all these proceedings , to her amorous Friend , by a priuate dore in the Gutter , let him in , where they enioyed one anothers company all the night long , the Gull her Husband staying all that while , shaking for cold in the streete , and when morning beganne to appeare , she let her Friend forth by the same doore he came , Wiseakers her Husband , neuer so much as once doubting or dreaming of any such matter . Fellow was hee who ( in Bocchas ) would needes ( in the habit of a Priest ) confesse and shriue his Wife , and of this kinde of mould are most of our Iealous Creatures made , and therefore our Poet very wisely added in his second Verse : Et tosto fede à tu●i sospetti ac quisti . — And too-too soone dost gaine Credit to thy suspitions . — For so is the true Copy , and not as I haue seene in some other false Bookes . Et piu temendo , maggior forza acquisti , &c. And fearing ( still ) thou greater force dost gaine , &c. Although I deny not , but that this might passe for currant , well , and might be counted tollerable enough , as being perhaps borrowed from Virgill , where he saith : Fama , malum , quo non aliud velotius vllum , Mobilitate viget viresque acquiret eundo , &c. Anon through all the Cities great of Africque , Fame is gone , That blazing Flame , a Mischiefe such , as swifter there is none , By mouing 〈◊〉 shee breedes , and as shee runnes her might doth rise . Below ( for feare ) shee lurketh , first , then straight aloft , in skies She mounteth .

Besides , who knoweth not , but that the more one feareth , the more hee is Iealous ? Ariosto likewise setteth downe the quicke swiftnesse , and the strange credulitie of Iealous folkes , when he saith , that this vncurable and mortall wound , is so easily imprinted in the heart of a Louer . And certainely it is wonderfull , and almost incredible to beleeue , that men should be such deadly enemies vnto themselues , and of their owne liues ( as many times they are , ) through these strange and foolish x x Humours are tumours of a swelling minde . Sprung from Selfe-will vnconstant as the winde . humours , that for one word onely , or for a signe , a becke , or a glance cast vpon one , without as much as a thought of any ill ; nay , more , that they will ( despight of their owne selues ) imagine and conceit that which doth so much afflict , gaule , and torment them incessantly , and without any rest , as if there were not ( properly ) in loue , other Cares and Troubles beside , then those onely , which wee our selues ( without any profit or pleasure at all ) seeke to purchase most vnseasonably euery houre of the day : y y To this purpose , one writeth that all the defects of out Wit , may be reduced into two , viz. Ignorance and Error . By Ignorance wee know not things necessary : by Error we know them falsely : Ignorance is a Priuation ; Error a positue action : All Ignorances cannot be preuented ; many Errors ( but not All ) may be escaped . From Ignorance floweth Vice , from Error Heresie , and therefore well may we say of the first . Grose Ignorance ( to Truth the Opposite ) Fa●shood and Doubt doe breed , and Foes to Right . And of the last , thus : Error the Daughter of blinde Ignorance . Hates Wisedomes lore , lead by vncertaine Chance . But of both of them one writeth thus : Image of Hellish Horror , Ignorance , Borne in the Bosome of the blacke Abisse , And fed with Furies milke for sustenance , Of his weake Infancie begot amisse , By gnawing Sloath vpon his Mother Night : So hee , his Sonnes , both Sire and Brother hight . A grosse Errour and a Token of much insufficiency of wit .

But to come to the expounding of this our Sonnet , I say , that ( Acquistar fede ) in this place doth not signifie , to be beleeued , or to be a meanes for beliefe , as in the first Stanzo of Petrarcqs , where he saith : Che acquistar fede alla pensosa vita , &c. It nourisheth matter to a perplexed life , &c. And in that other matchlesse Sonnet of his , beginning thus : Se com'eterna vita è veder Dio , &c. As t' is a blessed thing God to be●●●● in skie , So blessed , as wee can , nor ought , to couet more : So happy am I when I view thy face with eye , Since nothing in this world I doe so much adore , Nor haue I seene thee fayrer then I view thee now , Vnlesse mine Eyes ( as partiall ) iuggle with Conceit ; Hope of my Life , the Mindes chiefe Beauty true , On whom ( as dutie bindes ) my Heart doth wait : But th' art no sooner seene , but art straight out of sight , Else would I not thy Company so much desire ; Then if some liue by Sent , ( as wee beleeue ) they write By Water some , and some by Taste , by Touch , and Fire , Why by your sweet sight then , should I not liue , Feeding on nothing else , since life you giue ?

But it signifieth ( quite contrary ) a firme and infallible Beliefe and Faith : in which sense Petrarcq vseth it in this Sonnet : Solea lontana , in sonno consolarmi , &c. Once was I wont to comfort me in sleepe With that sweet heauenly face of Mistresse mine ; But now in Feare and Griefe it doth me keepe . ( Yet Greife nor Feare can ease mee any time ) Me thought I saw within that beauteous Face True Pittie , and still Sorrow plac't aright , My Heart gaue firme Beliefe to this sad Case , Disarming mee of Hope , and Pleasure quite . Remember well said shee , that latest Eue , That Night in which I left thee weeping so , And when ( constrain'd through Time ) which mee did grieue , I went my wayes and left thee plung'd in Woe , Then could not I tell thee so much for Griefe . Now doe I tell thee what thou find'st too true , Dispayre therefore , and thinke not of reliefe Thou ( neuer more ) mee in this world shalt view . Too true I heard what my sicke Heart beleeu'd , And ( euer ) shall , for which it still hath grieu'd .

But to come ( where I left ) to entreate of IEALOVSIE , I say that this malignant Spirit , encreaseth and decreaseth , according vnto the Party for whose sake we are Iealous ; and this we doe , not alone in respect shee is well bred , is pittifull of Nature , proper of Personage , constant , wittie , discreete , modest , of few z z What others would request or desire in their Wiues or Mistresses , I know not ; but my nature so much abhorreth a Woman of much tongue , as I had rather haue her infected with any of the seauen deadly Sinnes , then to be counted a notorious Scold : and therefore , A Womans Tongue that is as swift as Thought , Is euer bad , and she her selfe starke Nought : But shee that seldome speakes and mildly then , Is a rare Pearle amongst all other Women . Maides must be seene , not heard , or selde or neuer , O may I such one wed , if I , wed euer . A Maide that hath a lewd Tongue in her head , Worse than if she were found with a Man in bed . Be she best of her Sexe , ( Good All , ) I hold , She is worse then worst , if once she proue a Scold . Flye then such Furies as ( still ) scold and raile , Queanes of their Tongue , are ( most ) Queanes of their Taile . words , tender of her owne Reputation and Honour , and other such like good parts in her : but ( withall ) likewise consider and haue a a How iealous the Italians are of their owne neerest and dearest Acquaintance & kindred , for feare of their Wiues , and how they vse to watch them narrowly , read my Ariostoes Satyres in English , and therefore not without cause is that Prouerbe rise amongst them : Chi non tocca parentado , Tocca mai , o , rado . The nigher kinne , the farther in . an eye euen vnto her owne Mother , her Nurse , her Sisters , and Kindred , her Familiars , Acquaintance , and such Neighbours as she conuerseth withall , which poynt is most excellently well set downe , by Boccas in many places , whereupon Petrarcq ( his Mistresse Laura being a Saint , graue , wise , courteous , honest and fayre ) saith hee is not iealous of her , in the end of that no lesse pleasant than hard and darke Sonnet of his , beginning after this manner , where he speaketh of IEALOVSIE thus : L'Amor ch'incend' il cuor d'ardente zelo , &c. Loue , which enflam'st the troubled Heart with burning Zeale And kep'st him shut in Prison fast with icy Feare ; And ( which is most ) to 'th doubtfull sense dost not reueale Or Hope , or Feare , or Fire , or Ice , which he doth beare . In greatest Heate I shake , and burne in coldest time : Full of Desire , and yet is my suspect as much As if a Woman should hide vnder garments fine Some liuing man , ( although there can be nothing such . ) Of all these plagues , the first is proper vnto mee , To burne both day and night , yet how this harmefull flame Is sweet in minde , and pleasant seemeth for to be No thought can well expresse , nor pen can write the same : The other's none of mine ▪ for my fire 's of such power . As goeth beyond the force of man so farre to reach : Who thinkes by his flight to the height thereof to skoure : F●ies but in vaine , and soone a dangerous fall may catch : Well may All striue this golden Ball to gaine , But in the end they shall ( deceiu'd ) remaine .

Besides , the Minde and Condition of the Louer towards the Woman whom hee affecteth , importeth very much in this businesse ; for if he be giuen to choler , or is ( by any other Accident ) discontent and displeased , hee will then quickly take occasion to be angry with her , and euery mote ( as the Prouerbe goeth ) is a Beame in his eye : which qualitie you shall finde in many of Bocchas Nouels , and in b b See the strange passion and life of this Lady more at large in the 32. Canto of Orlando Furioso . This Bradamanta a warlike Mayde , daughter to Duke Aymon , and Beatrice his Wife , was sister to Rinaldo , one of the douze Peeres of France , for her valiant prowesse King Charlemaine made her Gouernesse of Marselles in Prouance . She was wife to that braue Rugiero , & dyed for griefe of the Paladines ouerthrow , who were most of them treacherously slaine at R●uceueax , a Citie bordering on Spaine , through the treason of that Arch-traitor Gano. Bradamantas Humors : and so againe , if hee be temperate , and stayed in Condition , being well conceited , and hauing a good opinion of the party he liketh ; then is the case quite altered , and he is iocond and blithsome , and not c c The more discretion a man hath , the lesse shall hee bee troubled with these franticke fits : and seeing , as a certaine noble Gentleman fayth , the Honour of a true heroique spirit dependeth not vpon the carriage or behauiour of a woman , I see no reason why the better sort should take this false playing of their Wiues so much at the heart as they doe ; especially , when it is their Destinie , and not Desert , to be so vsed . Montaigne , that braue French Barron , being of this minde ; for saith he , the Gallantest men in the world , as Lucullus , Caesar , Anthony , Cato , and such like Worthies , were all Cuckolds ; yea , and ( which was more ) knew it , although they made no stirre about it : neither was there in all that time , but one Gull , and Coxcombe , and that was Lepidus , that dyed with the anguish thereof . Read the third Chapter of the third Booke of the foresayd Montaignies Essayes , and he will satisfie you at large in this poynt . troubled at all : and therefore is it very requisite and needfull that men should not be ouer-heady , nor rash , in their Humors , and proceedings , but rather discreet , wary , and coole , canuasing and measuring euery action and behauiour of their Mistresses , with sound discretion and iudgement , and not to be ouer-forward and too much credulous , or too too light of beliefe , without any d d For this makes Women worse than they would be , and to doe that which they neuer meant . For Women thas are chaste , when they are trusted ; Proue wantons when they ( causelesse ) are suspected . iust cause giuen them , which is the onely reason ( as we daily see ) of many grosse absurdities , springing and issuing from such like light and idle occasions as these .

Lastly , IEALOVSIE encreaseth or abateth , according as the qualities are in the partie , whom the Iealous man suspecteth to be familiar with his Mistresse , and therefore is iealous of him . For if hee be poore , or ill fauoured , basely borne , illitered , of bad or no breeding , and hath few or no friends of worth , to be a countenance or credit vnto him , hee then doubteth him the lesse , and hath no great feare of him ; as ( contrariwise ) if he be rich , a proper man , well descended , learned , commendable for his qualities , and withall , potent , and mighty in Friends and Alliance , he then taketh on the more , vexing and tormenting himselfe without measure , and neuer giuing ouer to watch and prye into all his deuises and doings . And this is the propertie of such kind of natured men : and although Petrarcq ( as we said but euen now , and as he himselfe reporteth ) was ( ordinarily ) neuer Iealous , yet hee sheweth how by an e e Indeed Montaigne confesseth , that the best disciplined haue beene ( heerewith ) somewhat tainted , and some reason may be for the same ; but yet neuer quite carried away with it , forit is our owne fault , that wee haue raised to the highest straine , the excesse of this moodie Feuer , after the example of some barberous Nations . extraordinary chance , hee fell into this fit a little now and than , as you shall perceiue in this his Sonnet , beginning thus . In mezzo di duo amanti , honesta , altera , &c. A modest and maiestike Lady did I see , Betwixt two Louers ; of which twaine myselfe was one . The other , the glorious Sunne with his most brightsome glee : The Sunne on th' one side , I on th' other then was gone . But when she did perceiue , she compast was about With the hot rayes of her braue and heroycke friend , She ( smiling ) turned toward me , and wound her selfe thereout . ( Ah would that she had neuer vs'd me more vnkind , ) This made me quickly turne my Ielousie to ioy , Which at the first began to grow within my hart , Lest such a mighty aduersary should me noy ; Which he had done , but that shee ( soone ) from him did part . This caus'd him seeme to haue a sad and watry face , Whilest that a pretty shower did compasse him each side As he did gloomy show because of his disgrace , So much to be o'recome ; did it pull downe his pride : The Sunne so grieu'd at Lauras deepe disdaine , At his bright Beames were turn'd to duskie raine .

In this place hee calleth the Sunne by his proper name , which the Latines call ( in such a case as this ) a f f Riuals in Loue will be suspitious quickly , And through Conceit ( not reason ) straight grow sickly . Riuall : but I must needs confesse not so properly , nor so happily ( by great oddes ) as the Grecians doe , which ( considering you know better then I can any way set downe ) I will giue ouer to speake any more thereof .

Now as concerning the second part of our former Discourse , which is in respect of the place ; there is lesse or more IEALOVSIE , concerning the qualitie of the same , which may be eyther g g Of fit places for Amorous purposes , you may read Ouid de Arte Amandi , his first Book , and that notable plot ; Mundus ( a Romane Knight laid with the consent of the Priests belonging to the Temple of the Goddesse Isys , to obtaine his will of a fayre Lady his Mistresse , ) in S. Augustines booke , called De Ciuitate Dei . Sacred or Prophane ; farre off , or hard by ; open , or shut , commodious , or vnfit , or such like ; or after such a manner . And how much euery one of these ( different one from another ) may import and auaile a man about his amorous affaires , any of meane capacitie may comprehend , and the h h Danae was daughter to Acrisius , King of the Argiues , vnto whom ( being closed in a strong Tower ) Iupiter came in the forme of a showre of golden Raine , in at the house top , and begot on her Perseus , that valiant Knight that rescued Andromada from a Monster . This Perseus gaue the name first to the Countrie and people of Persia. But the truth is , Iupiter being a gallant young Prince , sent priuately rich treasure vnto Danae , and likewise to them that had the keeping of her , wherewith they ( being corrupted ) suffered Iupiter to enter into the Tower , & so he obtained his purpose . The Morall of this Tale declareth the force of Money and Gifts , in assulting of Chastitie . Tower wherein Danae was shut , and close Prisons , and Iayles , can giue instance sufficient , besides that common Prouerbe of ours .

Lodo inamorarsi in vicinanza . That place I ( best of all ) commend , Where nighest at hand is our fayre Friend .

So likewise as concerning the third , which is i i A fit and opporune season is not a little auaialble in this businesse , considering that Time is the plotter of Exp●rience , and Obseruation the Instrument of Knowledge : which two , taken right , effect great matters ; and to this purpose a certaine Philosopher being demaunded , what was the first thing , needfull to winne the loue of a woman , answered , Opportunitie ; being asked what the second , replied , Opportunitie ; and being demaunded what was the third , answered still , Opportunitie ; and therefore he spake not amisse that said , Occasion , Time , and Opportunitie , Compasse what we desire effectually . But me thinkes this second spake better , who wrote thus : Fayre Opportunitie can winne the coyest she that is , So wisely he takes time , as hee 'l be sure he will not misse ; Then he that rules her gainesome vaine , and tempers Toyes with Art , Bringes Loue that swimmeth in her eyes , to diue into her Hart. Time , there is none but may imagine , that as it is available in other matters , so no doubt is it of great consequence in this businesse , considering that such occasions , as wee may take in the k k This iouiall season amongst the Italians beginneth about the 13. of Ianuary , and continueth till Ashwednesday , it being the chiefe time of sports and meriments amongst them , they assuming ( as then ) more libertie and licentiousnesse , for their deuises and pleasures , than in all the yeere after ; which they spend most commonly in Reuelling , Masking , and Feasting , presenting of Comedies , and pleasing showes , and in courting of their Mistresses , with such delightfull exercises . Carnouall time , or at Shrouetide , to serue our purpose , l l The Italians haue more libertie , & accesse for pleasure on the Holy-dayes , and in many of their solemne feastiuall dayes , than in the Lent , and on Fasting dayes ; for those seasons they obserue very precisely , hauing as then no Feasting , Reuellings , nor Merry-meetings , but onely Fasting and Prayer . we cannot vse them in the Lent , nor may wee put them in practise on Fasting dayes ; and so likewise , is the difference great , which men worke to purchase and compasse what they seeke to effect on the Holy-dayes , it being a quite contrary course to that they take on the working-dayes , about any such matter .

Lastly , as concerning the fourth and last point , which is the imployments and Businesses : who knoweth not but that he that is laborious , and beateth his braines about one thing or another ; is lesse Iealous than he that is m m A man being idle , hath his minde apt to all vncleannesse , and when the minde is void of Honestie : Idlenesse being the onely Nurse and Nourisher of sensuall appetites , and the sole maintainer of vnlawfull affections , whereupon one saith : Sloath is to Vertue chiefest Enemie . And Idlenesse the Guide to misery . idle , and doth nothing all the day long : and as Ouid saith of Aegistus .

Quaeritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter , In promptu causa est desidiosus erat . My question 's why Aegistus lewd became Adulterer vile , T is answer'd : Hee not labour would , his lasinesse did him spoyle .

So may we say , that he that will take no paines but giues himselfe to be idle , will soone come to be Iealous .

Besides , there is no feare of such a one as giueth his minde to matters of great importance & difficultie , or of him that esteemeth more of commoditie and profit , then of any vaine pleasure whatsoeuer : and so by the contrary , contrary causes arise , considering that of contrary occasions contrary Effects spring and grow : so that according as they shall be greater or smaller , the things ( spoken of before ) shall be greater or smaller , not according to the rule of Truth , but as IEALOV●IE it selfe shall conceit thereof . And although wee ( for the most part ) speake in the Masculine Gender , yet must you vnderstand we n n Bartello the Italian , saith , that a pale coloured woman , with a blacke dead eye , and a reddish hayre , of a middle stature , and shrill in voyce , is most subiect to IEALOVSIE and such a one is Progne described to be , and this differeth not much from our olde Said-saw here in England , about the complexions and conditions of Women . Fayre and foolish , Little and loud , Long and lusty , Blacke and proud , Fat and merry , Leane and sad , Pale and pettish , Red and bad . And Burchiello , that fantasticque Writer saith thus : High Colour ( in a Woman ) Choler showes , And shee 's vnwholsome that like Sorrell growes , Nought are the Peeuish , Proud , Malitious , But worst of all the Red , shrill , Iealious . Besides , the Iealous woman and the curst Shrow , differ not much , they being very nigh kinne one to another : considering the Shrow is reported to be of a middle Stature , and somewhat pale or sallow in colour , with a thinne lip , a sharpe nose , a Hawkes eye , and a shrill voyce , that sounds like a Bell ; and such a one is Zantippe , Socrates wife , noted to be . But as Plato saith , to a shroud horse belongeth a sharpe bridle , so ought a curst wife to be curbed euery way , but he that hath a peaceable Woman , and of few words , being here on earth , hath attayned Heauen , being in want hath obtayned wealth , and being in care , hath purchast comfort . And as concerning this poynt , this is my Catholicke beliefe : A slow soft Tongue betokens Modestie , But , quicke and loud signe 's of Inconstancy : Words , more then swords the inward Heart doe wound , And glib'd tongue'd Women seldome chaste are found . Much tongue in Wiues is bad , in Maides farre worse , A long tongu'd Maide is right the Diuels dry Nurse : He roares aloud , shee scoldeth shrill like bell ; Both worse than Fiends , both fit to liue in Hell . Yea , so distastfull a plague was a bad tongue to Ariosto , as he preferreth a wittie woman that secretly playeth false with her Husband , before a common and notorious Scold , as in his fifth Satyre treating of Marriage you may see more at large . meane as well Women as Men , who being giuen no lesse to loue then men , and hauing ( generally ) lesse wisdome and discretion then the other , they must therefore o o What Montagnies opinion is in this poynt , and what hee setteth downe of the Female Sexe , as concerning this matter , I had rather referre the Readers to his third Booke of Essayes , then to say any thing hereof my selfe , considering Veritas Odium parit , Verdiuyce and Oate-meale good for a Parrot . needes fall into this dangerous disease , suffering themselues to be possessed now and than with this damnable Fury .

But here ( perhaps ) some of you expect from mee , to know whether p p Man is the most noblest creature God made , whose duety consisteth in knowing his owne Nature , and in labouring to profit others , of whom ( after Tassos Imitation ) this Disticque is written . Man is a Creature of such excellence . As ( All ) created was for his defence . Man or q q Woman is of one and the self-same substance with Man , is what Man is , onely so much more imperfect , as she is created the weaker vessell , and Hermes auoucheth that a beautifull and chaste woman is the perfect workmanship of God , the true Glory of Angels , the rare Myracle of Earth , and the sole wonder of the World , a moderne Writer concluding thus : Women to Men are equall euery way , And like infirmities ( in both ) doe stay . WEE MEN are Women , Women are WEE MEN ; What difference is twixt vs and Women then ? Woman , be more extreame and outragious , in this more than monstrous Malady .

Noble ( no doubt ) and magnanimious is Mankinde , and so most delicate and generous is that pleasing Sexe of Women , I will not ( herein ) commend Man much , neyther will I so much as discommend the Woman a little for the same , since borne wee were for their r r Women are daintie Vessels fine , yet tender weake and soft ; They must somtimes be born withall , since they do beare so oft Then let vs not these creatures sweet disgrace , scorn or disdain , When ( truth to say ) we came from them . & they from vs first came . defence , and brought into the world to doe them dutifull seruice . Comparisons are odious , and to infer , or affirme vpon Conclusions , bringeth on ( oftentimes ) farther danger : onely gladly , would I please both Kindes , and not willingly displease eyther : vouchsafe then ( most Princely and Honourable Assembly ) the opinion herein , of a famous Poet ( for I neither dare nor will presume to deliuer mine owne ) and one , that in my poore conceit , had good iudgement in IEALOVSIE , and that is OVID , a taste and touch whereof you may take , and then be Iudges your selues , prouided alwayes that you be not ouer partiall on your owne side .

The Verses are these : Sed neque fuluus Aper medea tam saeuus in ira est . Fulmineo rapidos dum rotat ore Canes . Nec Leo dum catulis lactantibus vbera prebet , Nec breuis ignaro Vipera laesa pede , Foeminea quam , &c. But neyther rauening Tyger mad , Nor wildest foaming Bore , Are halfe so fierce , baited by Dogs , Whom they doe panch and gore : Nor ruthlesse Lionesse , who sucke Giues to her little ones : Nor Viper quicke , trod on by chance By Traueller on the stones : As is a iealous Womans minde , Whom Fury doth enflame . Her gastly Count'nance showes her Thoughts , None can her malice tame : To Sword and Fire shee flyes , all Shame Shee casteth from her quite , Like such as are possest in Soule , With some most hellish Spright . Behold Medea , how shee seekes , Reuengement for to take Vpon her Children and her Spouse , Whom shee away would make . Another cruell mother is The Swallow , which you see Begor'd with bloud on brest , a marke That with her Fact doth gree . This is that damned IEALOVSIE , Which o'er much Loue doth breede . The wiser sort must shunne this Fiend , And of the same take heede .

But now let vs come vnto the third verse of our Sonnet .

Et mentre , con la Fiamma il Gelo mesci . — Whilst chill cold Thou minglest with a hot and burning Flame .

In this Verse our Poet sheweth the operation and working of IEALOVSIE , viz. that it mingleth chilly Cold ( which is no other thing than Feare and Suspition ) together with burning Flames of Fire , that is , with Loue , which is no thing else but a kinde of Fire . And t t Poetry is farre more commended then Prose , being far more honor to the Language it writes in , than the other , both because Poets were before Orators , and for that to write in Verse is more pleasing , more cunning , and more delightfull euery way . Besides , Poets ( onely ) haue the honour to be crowned with Myrtle and Laurell , and no Schollers else : for they haue other Rewards ; but these , Garlands and Crownes which last for euer . herevponour Poets vse these words ( Fiamma & Fuoco ) not alone for Loue , but likewise , for the Women themselues whom they affect and like , as Petrarq did , when hee wrote this Canzon : L'alma mia Fiamma , oltre le belle , &c. My loueliest Flame , more beauteous then the best , Who had the heauens ( her country ) so much at command Is thither gone ; where , with the blessed , she doth rest , And ( as a glorious star ) by Venus ( there ) doth stand , Now I beginne to wake , & ( by Her ) I doe finde , That ( for my Good ) she crost me in my prime Desire , And with a sweet disdaine ( for my deserts ) too kinde , She temper did my more than hot and raging Fire . I humbly thanke her , and thanke her Discretion sage , Who with such mildnes cool'd my hasty youthfull Heate , Whilst I giuen o'er through fancy fond to raue and rage , My Mind ( thus yong ) about my soules health I did beat . O dainty Arts , and rare Effects , fit for the same : The one , my Verse , her matchles face , the other , wrought . She vertuous seedes did sow in me , I rais'd her Fame : Her sacred selfe , my witty Braine , to passe this brought . Thrice happy I , if that so rare a Muse Had liued ( still ) Grace in me to infuse .

And the reuerend Cardinall v v Peter Bembo , sonne to Bernardo Bembo , and to Helena Marcella , ( a Romane borne ) was excellent as well in Prose as in Verse , and for the commendable parts in him , Pope Leo the tenth , made him his Secretary ; and not long after , Paul the third created him Cardinall . He dyed at Venice , and lyeth buryed in S. Anthonies Church in Padoa , where his Statue ( of white Marble ) is to be seene at this day . Bembo , in those his diuine Terzanes of LOVE , saith thus : Vn dinanzi al suo fuoco effer de neue , Iliuro , &c. He swore his Lasse , more white than mountaine Snow , Before him sweetly smiling stood , as tho .

Where you must vnderstand , that there is alwayes some pretty Epithite , added vnto the same , as Petrarcq did before : L'alma mia Fiamma . And in another place : Il mio bel fuoco è tale . Che io desidero di vederlo , &c. My dainty Loue , my Fire so bright , It shee in whom I doe delight .

And this kinde of phrase is much in request with the Latines , and not without great reason ; wherevpon Virgill in his Bucolickes , saith thus : At mihi sese offert vltro meus Ignis Amintas . But my sweet Girle , Amintas wanton Lasse , Offers her selfe to mee , as by her I did passe .

And that Cold or Ice , is set downe , for Feare , ( that is , the Effect , for the Occasion , or Cause ) is a most vsuall Figure , not onely with those who are Versifiers , but such likewise as write in prose , follow the same course . Now , the reason of this is , for that whosoeuer doth feare , waxeth pale and colde as a stone , because Dread and Feare draw vp , and weaken the heart , wherevpon Nature ( to succour and comfort the same ) the x x Aristotle in his Booke De natura Anim. saith , the heart of man , is lodged on the left side of his body , but in all other creatures else , it is naturally in the middest of their brest . And it is a common receiued opinion among all Naturall Philosophers , that the very first part which is formed of man , is the heart of man , ( as the maine roote of all his other members , and the spring and fountaine of naturall heate ) and it is also the onely member that last looseth his moouing , and dyeth in man ; It being a member so noble and delicate , that it cannot endure any touching , but presently the party dyeth . Heart being the most noble part of man , and being that which ( according to the Peripatetical Philosophers , is the first of all the Body that hath life , and the last that dyeth ) disperseth and sendeth the bloud abroad , that is aboue it , and finding that not sufficient , conueyeth that bloud also , for his ayde and helpe which is below ; and hereof commeth the palenesse in a mans face , and the fearefull cold , hee hath therewithall . Besides , a man trembleth and shaketh for Feare , by reason that ( the Heart trembling ) all the whole Body shaketh after his first stirring . And this kinde of speech did Petrarcq vse of IEALOVSIE in the Sonnet alledged a little before : Amor ch'encende il cuor d'ardente Zelo , Di gelata paura , il tien costretto , &c.

Where Icy Feare , without doubt , signifieth nothing else but IEALOVSIE : and therefore addeth : Et qual sia più , fa dubbio , all'Intelletto , La speranz'ol timor , là fiamma o'l gelo .

He taking ( as I said ere while ) la fiamma , ●'l Gelo , the Fire for Loue , and the cold for Iealousie : as in this place the meaning of our Poet is the like : so againe Petrarcque vseth this Verse ( Mescere ) in the selfe-same signification Mounsign or De la Casa , doth ; who speaketh in the Triumph of Diuinitie thus : Ogni gratia mi fia , se mai l'impetro , Che i● veggio iui presente il sommo bene , &c. Oh what great Grace should I thinke done to me , If l'that chiefest Good might ( present ) see . And not what 's bad and ill , which Time alone Brings mingled with him , and with him is gone ?

Although it may be taken as a Metaphor for Wine , as they ( commonly ) vse this kinde of phrase , euery where in Florence ; in which sense that sharpe conceited Wit of this our dayes , and my very inward Friend Mr. Lodouicque Martelli tooke this phrase , y y A Florentine borne , and a familiar friend of this our Authors , was excellent in Poetry , especially for composing of Elogies , and therefore was tearmed by many a second Tibu●lus . He wrote ( amongst other things ) a Tragedie called Tullia , and replyed against Giouan Giorgio Trissino ( a learned Venetian , ) about his Epistles , betweene which twaine , was some controuersie . He dyed very young , and as some say , was made away by poyson in Regno , a country belonging to the Kingdome of Naples , about the yeere 1566. leauing many workes of his vnfinisht , in that hee was preuented by so vntimely a death . set downe in one of his dainty Madrigals , where he beginneth after this manner : Io ho nel cu●re vn Gelo , Che quanto peu lo scaldo , piu s'indura , A chilly Cold or freesing Ice Lyeth bout my Heart below , Which ( more it burnes ) the harder still Within mee it doth grow .

And then a little after , ( to come to this our word Mescere ) hee saith : Il soffrir mesce martire a l'aspra doglia . If I should seeke to ease my Griefe , My selfe I kill out-right : If , suffer it , it mixeth paine Mongst it , more , me to spight .

But now let vs come to the fourth Verse of our Sonnet : Tutto il regno d' Amor turbi & contristi . By which ( thou ) all the Kingdome of milde Loue Dost trouble , heauy make , and too much moue .

In these few words of this Verse onely , all the griefes and discontentments which can be imagined in loue , are here ( generally ) contayned , which by how much it is pleasing and sweet of it selfe , by so much the more it is distastfull and vnpleasant , being mixed with IEALOVSIE , no otherwise than if a most bitter poyson should be mingled with some excellent and pure Sugar or Honey .

But it is now high time , to come vnto the rest of the other Stanzaes , which we will quicklie dispatch as soone as we shall deliuer and show , that not without great skill and Iudgement , these foure first verses were wouen , and knit together , for as much as euery one of them concludeth with a fit sentence ( as it were ) and so likewise end : which , besides a certaine kinde of Grauitie , with a maiesticq manner of disdaine , ( that is included within them ) force there Auditors , the more attentiuely to heare them : this sort of workmanship being as cunningly contriued by our fore-said graue Bembo , in a Sonnet of his where hee speaketh of z z Hope is a pleasant passion of the minde , which doth not onely promise vs those things that wee doe desire , but such things also as we haue vtterly despayre of , and therefore one speaketh wittily to this purpose , saying ; Hope is the Fooles God , the Merchants Comfort , the Souldiers Companion , and the Ambitious Mans poyson : but yet notwithstanding this last Definition , Hope is the sad Hearts helpe , the sicke Thoughts Friend . And what Distrust impaires , Hope doth amend . True Hope is swift , and flyes with Swallowes wings , Kings it makes Gods , and meanest Creatures Kings . Hope thus : Speme , che gli'occhi nostri veli , & fusci , Sfreni , & sferzi le voglie , &c. Thou Hope , which cloud'st and shadow'st our sight still , Which forward yerk'st & whipst our courage & our wil. Thou Hope , the Bread and Food of hungry men , ( Louers I meane ) they oft are hungry then . And so forth , as in the Sonnet .

But now wee will come to the second Stanza of our Sonnet .

Poi che in breui hora entrol' mio dolce hai misti , &c Since thou ( so soone ) amongst my sugred Sweet Hast mixt thy bitter Drugs , hence from my Heart , Goe packe to Cocytus , and to those Ioyes Deepe , Those sad and wofull waters full of smart .

As concerning the chiefe point of this second part ( in the which our Poet hauing before discoursed of IEALOVSIE , and of her Effects at the full ) hee now commeth to the particulars , and commanding or rather entreating her to leaue and part from forth his Body and his Heart , hauing done the worst she could , after her wonted manner , and made him of a most fortunate man , the most wretchedst creature aliue ; and therefore there remayning nothing for her ( as now to doe more ) he telleth her , that she may do well to a a For there is her chiefe mansion house , according to the opinion of a Gentleman , an acquaintance of mine , who to this effect , writeth thus : A seeming Friend , but Enemie to Rest , A wrangling Passion , yet a gladsome thought ; A bad Companion , yet a welcome Ghest , A Knowledge wisht , yet sound too soone vnsought ; From Heauen suppos'd , but ( sure ) sprung first from Hell , Is IEALOVSIE , and there ( forlorne ) doth dwell . From thence she sends fond Feare , and false Suspect , To haunt our Thoughts , bewitched with mistrust , Which breedes in vs the Issue and Effect Both of Conceit , and Fictions most vniust : The griefe , the shame , the smart thereof doth proue That IEALOVSIE is Death , and Hell to Loue . For what but Hell , moues in the iealous Heart , Where restlesse feare workes out all sugred ioyes , Which doth both quench , and kill that louing part , And cloyes the minde with worse then knowne annoyes Whose pleasure farre exceeds Hels deepe Extreames , Such life leades Loue , entangled with Misdeames . returne backe to Hell , from whence she ( first ) came , as this word ( Torna ) signifieth . But this Stanza because it is easie enough of it selfe , and because we haue discoursed sufficiently at large thereof before , we will spend no longer time therein , ( only ) we will ( briefely note ) certaine speciall things , as concerning some words he vseth here . And first , we will say , that the first halfe line ( Since thou so soone ) was set downe with great Iudgement , and for the nonce , not so much to answere that Verse aboue written . — And too-too soone dost gaine Credit to thy suspitions , — As to shew the force and sudden power of this detestable poyson , which worketh most violently and suddenly . ( Hai misti . ) That is , hast mixt , or mingled , as Petrarcq saith in this his Sonnet .

Se Virgilio & Homero hauessin visto Quel sol , il qual , vegg'io con gli occhi miei , &c. If Virgil , or learn'd Homer seene had my Sun bright , Which I so oft behold with these my happy eyes , They would haue mixt ( to blaze her Fame ) their vtmost might , In both their tongues they would haue rais'd her to the Skies : They would haue made Aeneas discontent and sad , Achillis , graue Vlissis , many Heroies then , Augustus , and Orestes , ( who Aegistus bad Did kill ) should still haue laine in darke Obliuions den : Old Ennius sang in harsh and ragged formed Verse , Don Scipios praise ( the matchlesse wonder of his age . ) I striue a peerelesse Virgins fame for to rehearse , Who wins the Garland for her vertuous carriage sage . Heauens grant , though ( for this subiect ) meane's my wit , That shee 'l not skorne me , but accept of it . Torna à Cocito e à lagrimosi , & tristi , Chiacci d'Inferno , &c.

Giacci , and not Campi , you must read ( as I haue seene in some Copies ) and this is a certaine Poeticall description of HELL , and very rightly , and fitly doth he will her to returne to Hell , from whence she came ; since ( certainely ) it is a right Furie indeed , Ariosto hauing Christned it by the name of an infernall plague . And therefore you must note , that as euery thing which is good and fayre , is said to proceed and come from Paradise ; so contrariwise , All , whatsoeuer is foule , and bad , we terme to come from Hell ? as Virgill saith that desperate Gaming , and ghastly Famine issue from thence : Petrarcq speaking as much of Laura's Looking-glasse , after this manner : Questo fu fabricato sopra l'acque , d' Abisso , & tinto nel eterno oblio , Onde il principio dimio morte nacque . No doubt , some Fiend , this Looking-glasse did make , Within the waters of th' infernall Lake ; Forgetfulnesse eternall , dyed the same From whence ( at first ) did spring my mortall bane . And in another place , taxing the Court of Rome , he calleth it the HELL of the Liuing ; as in a third passage hee termeth the World after this manner ; when he wrote thus : Non v●rrei riuederla in ques'tinferno , &c. Not willingly I would her see againe , In this bad world ; this Hell , this Gulfe of paine : But now to the rest . Iui , iate stessa incresci , &c. Packe hence to Hell , thou worse than hellish Elfe , There vexe , torment , and gawle thine inward selfe . Meaning , she should there tortor her selfe , and not be grieuous and troublesome vnto others , and in this sort doth he paint and set forth the Nature and Conditions of IEALOVSIE , which Lodouicq Martelli hath no lesse elegantly , than eloquently set downe in one of his Canzons , entreating of Loue , and which , because I perceiue you stand attentiue to heare , I will most willingly acquaint you withall .

Quel the interrompe ilòr casto desire , E se quel ch'è d'un solo à molti è dato , Quest' ingombra i mortai di sdegni , & ire ; Et turba , & volue ogni amorsolo stato , &c , That which breakes Louers chaste designes in twaine , And giues to Many , what ( to One ) doth appertaine , Is that which fils mens hearts with furious sire , And ( topsi turui ) turnes each amorous desire ; Is that which makes Men wish ( so oft ) to dye , And to contest gainst God , he is borne disasterously ; Makes him disclaime his Goodnesse and his Grace , When as he findes himselfe in such hard case : To liue as one forsooke , and quite exild , From all good Fortune , and from pitty milde :

But although this Verbe ( Iucressere ) signifieth to haue compassion and pitty ( for the most part ) as that deepe and b b This learned Poet was borne in Florence , his Wife being of the house of the DONATI , there , and called BIANCA , but he being banished from thence , liued in the ancient Citie Rauenna , in Romagna , where he lieth enterred , hauing a fayre Tombe ouer him , which Bernardo Bembo , ( Father to Cardinall Bembo ) reedified and made new , when hee remained Podesta ( there ) for the Signorie of Venice , with this Epitaph ouer him . Exigua Tumulo ( DANTE 's ) hic sorte iacebas , Squallenti nulli , cognite ( paene ) situ ; At nunc Marmor●o , subnixus conderis arcu Omnibus , & cultu splendidiore nites , Nimirum BEMBVS , Musis incensus Hetruscis , Hoc tibi , quem imprimus hae coluere dedit . But the aforesaid Citie of Rauenna is now subiect to the Romane Church . This Dant is by some learned Italians compared and equalled with Homer and Virgill , and was not alone a Poet , but a Philosopher , a Deuine , a Phisitian , and an Astronomer with all : yet doth Cardinall Bembo preferre Petrarcq before him . When Dant was young , hee was Scholler to Brunetto Latini , Vincentio Borghim , Prior of the Hospitall of the Innocenti in Florence , hauing made an excellent Comment vpon all his workes . profound Poet Dant sheweth , in one of his learned and morall Canzons , beginning ( as it were ) somewhat abruptly , thus : Em'incresce di me si altamente Ch'altro tanto di doglia Mireca la pietà , quanto'l martire . So much I sorrow for my selfe , And in so high degree ; As pitty brings as much of griefe , As tortors doe to mee . And Petrarcq ( after the same manner ) writeth thus : Hor de mici danni a me medessimo incresse , &c. Now to my selfe , I grieue for this my losse . Though by her lookes she shewed she sorry was . Yet neuerthelesse , the same Poet in the first Stanza of his Canzon , of his transformations , taketh it in this our sense , when he saith : Poise giuro si come à me n'increbbe , &c. Then sware she that to me she did no wrong , Although she vext me for to stay , and looke so long . And this is worth the noting ( as I said a little before ) that one Tuscan word alone , should signifie two things ; and those so much different one from another : the Latines likewise , hauing the like signification in these two Verbes : Miseret , and Taedet : It pittieth me , and it irketh me . Iui senza riposo i giorni mena , &c. There ( without rest ) prolong thy weary dayes , And let thy Nights withouten sleepe be spent ; There tortor ( still ) and grieue thy selfe alwayes , As well for doubtfull as sure punishment , &c. In this part hee goeth on , describing and setting downe the Nature and Life of such as be Iealous , vnder the description of IEALOVSIE herselfe , who ( alwayes ) liuing as it were , in a continuall Hell , take no rest in the day ; neither can they sleepe at all in the nights , but ( euer ) grieue and lament , taking on as well for that which is false , as for what they stand in doubt of to be true ; imagining many times , and conceiting diuers things that are altogether impossible ; for this strange Maladie engendreth a continuall and a perpetuall c c According to this saying applyed vnto a suspitious or Iealous person . Suspect like traytor false , bewrayes our words , Suspicious eyes are messengers of woe . Iealous Suspect vgly Despayre affords , And of thy dearest friend makes deadliest Foe . discontentment and disquietnesse in the minde , so that hee is not able , nor hath-any power to giue ouer from vexing himselfe , standing ( alwayes ) watchfull with his cares wide open , to hearken and listen to euery word , euery voyce , euery sound , and euery winde : all which , hee taketh in a wrong and sinister sence , coniecturing ( euermore ) worse of the same than hee neede . And therefore Propertius excuseth himselfe , about this fault , in one of his Elegies , thus : Omnia me terrent , timidus sum , ignosce timori , Et miser in tunica suspicor esse virum ; Me laedit , simulta tibi dabit oscula , mater Me , Soror , & cum qua dormit Amica simul . Each thing affrights me , I doe feare Ah pardon mee , my feare . I doubt a man is hid within The cloathes which thou dost weare : If thine owne Mother kisse thee ( oft ) Or Sister thine , I grieue : I feare the Mayde that lyeth with thee , And in thy House doth liue . Each thing makes me suspect ; I looke With iealous watchfull eye ; The Nurse makes me to doubt , and Childe That doth in Cradle lye .

And this , Petrarcq reprehending as a vaine and impossible thing , saith : Pur come Donna in vn vestire schietto . As if a woman in her Gowne , Or in a slender Vayle , A liuing man should ( secret ) hide , Which is a senslesse tale .

Yea , this franticque Humour , runneth on ( oftentimes ) so farre , as it taketh away a mans senses , as if hee were not the same partie hee was before : whereupon , all those things not onely proceede which Horace setteth downe in that pleasant Ode of his : beginning , Cum te Lydia , Telephi , &c. With thee my wanton Lydia , Who giuen art o'er much to play &c.

But , which is more , we are afraid of our owne shadow : which Propertius confesseth thus : Ipse meas solus ( quod nil est ) aemuler vmbras , Stultus , quod stulto saepe timore , tremo . I mine owne shadowes dread , alone , Which ( nothing are ) in vaine , And , like a foole , through foolish feare , Oft put my selfe in paine .

And the learned Molza , imitating this Poet , beginneth one of his Sonnets , after such a manner , writing thus : Io son del mio bel sol , tanto Geloso . So Iealous am I of my beauteous Sunne , As ( scarsely ) can I brooke , ( Such is my doubt ) that any should As much as on her looke .

And because ( as I said before ) IEALOVSIE is a kinde of Enuy , grieuing as much at anothers Good , as shee doth at her owne hinderance and hurt . Iealous folke are content to endure any discommodity whatsoeuer , vpon condition that no other shall enioy the benefit thereof .

And hereupon our amorous Poet Tibullus , speaketh thus in an Elegie of his : At tu fallacis Coniux incaute puellae , Tu quoque seruato , peccet vt illa nihil . But thou ( kinde Witall ) Husband thou Vnto my subtle Wench , I pray thee haue a watchfull eye , Least shee play false at Fence .

What shall I say more : such as be iealous , feare not men onely , but likewise suspect and doubt the Gods themselues ; and therefore saith Ouid in his Epistles for Sappho : Hunc ne pro Cephalo raperes , Aurora timebam , Ouid in his Epistle of Sappho to Pha● . Et faceres , sed te prima rapina tenet , &c. I dread ( Aurora ) least for Cephalus thou would Haue chosen him , saue that thy former Rape doth thee with-hold : If Phoebe view him ( once ) that all suruayes with Eye , My Phao shall be quickely forc't in slumbers long to lye : In Iuory Waggon would Dame Venus to the Starres Haue borne him , but she fear'd , hee would haue coyde the God of Warres .

Many more examples could I alledge for this purpose , most of the Poets , especially the Grecians and the Latines , not talking of any thing so much , nor that toucheth and galleth the Heart so sharply , as this doth : which forced Propertius to write thus : Nullae sunt inimicitiae nisi Amoris acerbae , &c. There 's no vnkindnesse like Loue wrong'd , Such things most bitter are to mee , Let me mine owne throate cut ; yet I A kinde Foe to my selfe shall be : With what face can I see strange Armes My Wench for to imbrace and twine , When shee anothers shall be tearm'd , Who ( but euen now ) was called Mine ? Sure all things change and Louers mindes Doe change , and ( changing ) proue . Winne thou in Loue , or doe thou loose , So turnes the wheele of Loue .

But our Tuscane d d The worth of Poets and Poetrie , can neuer be sufficiently commended enough , although this Iron age hath nothing more in contempt , which is not the fault of Schollers , but of those dull Midasses , now liuing , who make so small account of them , and therefore passing well said hee that wrote this Disticque : The Man that scorneth Poets , and Arts Schoole , Lackes but a long Coate to be Natures Foole. Yet in despight of these worse than nasty Iaylors , that keepe such store of wealth in their bard Closets , and secret places far darker than Lymbo it selfe , from those that deserue it better euery way than themselues , ( and all which dunghill muck is nothing but the base Excrements of this stinking Earth ) I will set downe here the worth of a Poet ( more in value by much than their Idolatrous trash ) as that sweet Muse of his ( who not vnworthily beareth the name of the cheifest Archangell ) singeth after this Soule-rauishing manner : When Heauen would striue to doe the best shee can , And put an Angels spirit into a Man . Then all her powers shee in that Worke doth spend , When shee a POET to the world doth send ; The difference onely twixt the Gods and Vs , Allow'd by them , is but distinguisht thus ; They giue them breath , Men by their Powers are borne , That life they giue the POET doth adorne : And from the world , when they dissolue mans breath , They in the world doe giue Man life in death . Poets , louing more chastly than the Heathen , wrote more discretely , and with a better minde of this subiect , neyther had they so much cause to complayne , or enueigh against this wicked Fury .

And now as concerning the two first lines of this last Stanza , in my conceit this word ( iui ) ( there ) is not without good grace and much elegancy vttered three times , one after another , not so much to knit and ioyne the Verses following , to those that goe before , as for that Flourish or Figure , called Repetitio , by our Rhetoritians , and because of that other which is tearm'd an Article , the conioyning and coupling of the Coniunction ( Et , And ) being not put to any of them .

I giorni mena .

This phrase Menare i giorni , is , in this place , after the same fashion as Petrarcq vseth the same in that Sonnet of his : Chi e fermato di menar sua vita , &c. Who is resolu'd to lead his life vnsure , Amid the wauering Seas and Rockes so high Fearelesse of death in Barke which cannot dure , Must make account he to his End is nigh . 'T is good for such an one to hoyse his sayle , And towards the Hauen get for his auayle .

Imitating herein the Latinists , who say , ducere vitam , to liue . And yet Petrarcq in this Sonnet following , turned it to another sense .

Po ben puo tu portarnclaescorza , &c. Well maist thou ( Po ) my body carry fast , By reason of thy swift and mightie wane , My Soule the Ghest within this lodging plac't , For all thy force with thee , thou canst not haue : This neare giues o'er , but striues to mount on high , Forcing ( herselfe ) vnto the clouds to glide , Vntill it to that happy place come nigh , Where it doth hope in perfect Blisse to bide : Thou Prince of Riuers , prouder than the rest , Encountring with the Sunne when day doth breake : And in the ponent of that Light quite disposest , Where waters thine beginne for to grow weake , Beare thou this outward shape alone with thee , Whilst my Soule in her sweet lodge longs to be .

And this kinde of phrase is ( most commonly ) taken after the worse sense , as in the first Chapter of Loue , he speaketh thus : Qual e morte da lui , qual con piu graui , &c. What Death is his ? what wretched life , That pouer wretch sustaines ? Whom Lawes seuere command him lye Shut close , and bound in chaynes , &c. But now to our Poet againe . Non mendi dubbia che dicerta pena . As well for doubtfull as sure punishments , &c.

In my conceit he could neuer more learnedly , nor more , and as I may say , more elegantly expresse and set downe the last difference of IEALOVSIE , than hee hath ( here ) done in this Verse , considering there may ( perhaps ) be found such a kinde of gnawing Corsiue or inward fretting Passion , that may haue part , or the most of these troubles that IEALOVSIE hath , but that there ( euer ) should be found any one that shall continually , lament and grieue , as much for that which is impossible and doubtfull , as for what is certaine and well knowne , that can I neuer be induced to belieue : this one thing being rightly the propertie and nature of this franticque Maladie . And therefore Ariosto said likewise well , when ( speaking of IEALOVSIE ) he wrote thus : Non men per falso che per ver suspetto , &c. This hellish Hag makes men to wayle and rue , Through false suspect , as well as for what 's true .

Petrarcque intimating as much , when ( as before is alledged ) hee said : Pur come Donna in vn vestir schietto , &c. Like to a woman that is finely clad , And vnder garment hers some man she had .

Inferring hereby no other thing , then ( as hath beene often repeated before ) that Iealous persons are afraid of what they neede not , they being alwayes full of Suspition and dread , no otherwise than as if it were a likely or possible thing that a woman should hide a liuing man vnder her vaile or her attyre . And in this Sonnet ( aforesaid ) Petrarch setteth downe IEALOVSIE by foure diuers names : viz. trembling Cold , shiuering Feare , chilly Ice , and melancholy Suspect e e Well may Petrarcq brand Loue with foure such seuerall tearmes , when , that learned Philosopher Marcus Aurelius calleth it a cruell impression of that wonderfull passion , which to be defined is impossible , because no words reach to the strong nature of it , and onely they know it , who inwardly doe feele it . And therefore I will be bold to descant vpon it thus , What is not LOVE ? t is All , Vertue and Vice , Humble , proud , witty , foolish , kinde and nice ; A golden bubble , blowne big with idle Dreames , That waking breakes , and fils vs with Extreames . Or rather thus ; LOVE backeward speld ( put I for O ) is EVIL Adde D before the same , and t is the DEVIL . A DEVIL 't is , and mischiefe such doth worke , As neuer yet did Pagan , Iew , nor Turke . as he calleth Loue by foure other seuerall words , Zeale , Hope , Fire and Desire : the Reasons whereof we will ( at some other time ) disclose , and so conclude with our Authors Epilogue : Vatene ; ache piufiera che non suole , &c. Dispatch , begone ; why fiercer than before , And farre more stranger than thou wont'st to be : ( Since venime thine , to poyson me the more Through euery vayne dispersed is by thee ? ) Dost thou returne to me in shadowes new , The more to force me still to grieue and rew ?

This fourth and last part agreeth meruaylous well with the beginning and middest of this Sonnet , according to Horace his Aduice , where hee saith , in his Booke De Arte Poetica .

Primum ne medio , medium ne discrepet imo , &c. The First with Midst , the Middest with The latter must agree . If thus thy worke be framde aright , It needes must perfect be .

Thus with a kinde of briefe Repetition he concludeth and shutteth vp the whole substance of his Sonnet , willing IEALOVSIE once more to be packing , and as it were , seeming to be angry and to chide her , alledging ( to perswade her the sooner to be gone , ) the Reasons before alledged : for as much signifieth these two Verses : Since venime thine , to poyson me the more , Through euery veyne dispersed is in mee , As the other twaine aboue mentioned : Since thou ( so soone ) amongst my sugred sweets , Hast mixt thy bitter Drugs , &c.

And partly it declareth the nature of this insatiable Monster , who thinketh it not enough , to haue infected and spoyled a man with her poyson on the sodayne : but shee must also turne backe againe , with diuers and strange Apparisions and Shadowes , that is , with new Fashions and Shapes , after a more cruell and fearefull manner , euery day more than other , and so encreaseth continually , to the greater discontentment of his minde . But this Part being sufficient playne of it selfe , I will speake the lesse herein , onely , as you know well enough , this word ( f f Besides these Laruae ( in Latine the condemned Soules of the wicked ) the Heathens held there were these kindes of Spirits more , LARES , GENII , MANES , and LEMVRES , and the Lares , which came of of LARVE , were those Shadowes and Ghosts which they supposed did torment the domesticall and particular Inhabitants of priuate houses . Larue ) in the Latine tongue , signifieth the condemned Soules of the wicked , which we in our vulgar tongue terme Spirits of Ghosts : but here it intimateth g g A Fantasme is according to S. Austin , an Imagination , and an Impression in the Soule , of such Formes and Shapes as are knowne , or of such as shall be imagined without any sight had of them . But a Spectre or Apparition is an Imagination of a Substance without a Body , the which presenteth it selfe sensibly vnto man , against the order and course of Nature , and maketh him afraid , onely the difference betweene the one and the other is this ; A Fantasme is a thing without life and substance , and the APPARISION or SPECTRE , hath a substance hidden and concealed , which seemeth to moue the fantasticq body , the which it hath taken . sundry Shadowes , Fantasmes , and Apparisions , in which ( as they say ) they vse to appeare . And this is borrowed out of Petrarcq , in one of his Sonnets beginning thus : Fuggendo la preson ou ' Amor , &c. Ladies , it tedious were to set downe here , How much I grieue at my new libertie , Since I brake prison ; where so many yeere Loue kept mee ( as he pleas'd ) most watchfully , My Heart would tell mee oft hee could not liue , But as hee did , whilst Cupid ( subtle Else ) Met me in Shadowes false , me ( more ) to grieue , And might deceiue a wiser than my selfe . This makes me oft looke backe , and ( sighing ) say Woe 's me too late , now to my losse I finde , 'T is worse with mee now I am scap't away , My Yoake and Chaines were wont to be more kinde : Too late I now perceiue my wilfull fall , And hardly ( now ) can I my selfe vntwine From my first Error , which I would recall , In which I wound my selfe through Follies mine ; When I was bound , I then wisht to be free ; Now I am freed , I loath my Libertie .

And now this Sonnet of our being expounded and ended , there are ( most noble Auditors ) many and sundry goodly and delightfull doubts , no lesse profitable than difficult and hard to conceiue , about this subiect of IEALOVSIE . But because ( presuming vpon your curteous patience ) I haue somewhat exceeded the prefixed time , appointed for this solemne place , I would be loth ( any longer ) to be tedious vnto you ; and therefore we will onely touch some of the chiefe and principall of them by the way , and such as wee shall thinke to be most fitting and necessary for vs . First then , some make a doubt , and are maruellous desirous to be resolued in this point , which is : whether Loue , I meane that h h There are sixe properties in LOVE . Selfe-Loue is the ground of Mischiefe . Laciuious Loue , the roote of Remorse . Wanton Loue the Cowards warfare . Pure Loue neuer saw the face of Feare . Pure Loues eies pierce the darkest corners , and pure Loue attempteth the greatest dangers , but this Loue which is a desire of Beautie , is a Hea●●ull of Coldnesse , a Sweet full of Bitternesse , a Paine full of Pleasantnes making thoughts haue Eyes , and Hearts Eares . It is bred by Desire : nursed by Delight : weaned by Iealousie : kild by Dissembling , and buried by Ingratitude ; to be briefe , It is not to be supprest by Wisedome , because not to be comprehended with Reason . Loue which is the desire of beautie , may be without IEALOVSIE , as it seemeth Petrarcq is of that opinion , in that Sonnet of his , ( mentioned so often by vs heretofore ) where he saith , that he loueth his Mistresse Laura , without being Ielous at all ; and he sheweth the reason thereof , and what the cause was he did so , when he said : L'altra non già ch'el mio bel fuoco è tale , &c. The other 's none of mine , For my fire 's of such power , &c. l' Amor chen cend il cuore , To this we answere briefly thus :

i i True Loue doth looke with pure suspicious eye , And you kill Loue , cashiering IEALOVSIE ? Although another writeth after this sort : On Loue ( saith some ) waits IEALOVSIE , But IEALOVSIE wants Loue : When curiously the ouerplus , Doth idle quarrels moue . Loue ( truly ) we cannot , vnlesse there be some spice of IEALOVSIE therein ; and the reason is , for that ( as Aristotle in his eyght Booke of Elegies saith , Loue is of one alone , but Friendship is amongst few . And where Ouid writeth to k k Ouid. lib. 2. & Eleg. 10. The substance of which Elegie is this . Grecinus , well I wot thou told'st me once , I could not be in Loue with two at once ; By thee deceiu'd , by thee surpris'd am I , For now I Loue two Women equally : Both are well fauoured , both rich in aray , And which the lou'liest is , t' is hard to say , This seemes the fairest , so doth that to me , And this doth please me most , and so doth she : Euen as a Boat tost by contrary Winde , So with this Loue , and that wauers my Minde . Grecinus , that hee liked and loued two women , and ( both of them ) at one time : my opinion , vnder correction ) is , hee mistooke himselfe in the name , although greater matters than these are tollerable , and passe for currant amongst Poets , whereupon our amorous Master l l This man was borne in Pratolino , a small Village in Tuscanie , not farre from Florence , he wrote many sorts of Poemes , especially , Elegies , in which hee is counted , and ( as others write ) preferred before Ouid. Hee had two Kinsemen , that were Schollers , the one Baptista Allemanni , Bishop of Macone , a little Towne in Lombardie , and of inward acquaintance with this Author Benedisto Varchi , and the other called Antonio Allemanni , who wrote many pretty and witty workes , in the Italian tongue , imitating Burchiello , in his manner of Verse , called BVRCHIELLESCA , and had acquaintance with most of the learned men of his time , whom he mentioneth very often , especially , in this Sonnet following . Io , non inu●co Apollo , o altro Iddio , E veggio che le Muse'launo troppo n●ia , L'a iuto Orrinzo , el , Fedele , el , Pistoia , Pietro , Pamfilo , Sasso , el , Tibaldeo , E frai nostri Toscani , il Vnice , e Ceo , Questi versacchi miei , son loro a noia , E come Marzia , io prenderei la quoia , Che io non son con costor bu●n Cetaro . Lewes Allemanni sayth , imitating his most witty Shoolemaster Ouid , in one of his dainty and sweet Tuscan Elegies , thus .

Per qual cagion auien crudel Amore , Che fuor d'ogn' uso human per Cinthia & Flora , Porto due fiamme , & non hà più d'un cuore ? What is the reason ( tell me ) cruell Loue , That gainst all common sence I wretch should proue , And beare two fires , when I haue but one hart , For Cinthia and for Flora , more to make me smart ?

Now if the woman that is beloued , should affect another , ( when there cannot be any Loue true , but of one alone ) it must then of necessitie follow , that she should not care for her first friend or Louer , this being the principall point required of her . Besides , the m m According to that saying : Loue doth desire the thing belou'd to see , That like it selfe in lou'ly shape may be . And as another very wittily writeth : LOVES greatest powerfull Force and Excellence , Is to transforme the very Soule and Essence Of the Louer into the thing belou'd , For so by deepe Philosophy t' is prou'd . Louer coueting and desiring to beget of his Mistresse a thing like vnto himselfe , it must follow by this rule , that he should not obtaine his purpose , hauing his she-Friend common to another . And whosoeuer beleeueth , or is of opinion , that a man may ( truly ) and from the heart , loue and affect more then one , at one and the selfe-same time , is very much mistaken , as ( besides the authoritie of Aristotle aforesaid ) we haue proued ( euen now ) in this place : neither doth he rightly vnderstand how that partie who loueth indeed , loueth his Friend as his owne proper and best good , hee crauing and desiring nothing so much than that twaine should become one , as Plato reporteth , those two Louers answered Vulcan very well , and to this purpose Lodouicq Martelli spake excellent well , saying : Nessun può far , di queich ' al mondo sono , A più d' una di se gradito dono . No man ( for present ) can himselfe bestow , But on one woman , if he honest show . And ( me thinkes ) he spake as well , when he said thus : Et poco e'ldon , ch'un di se stesso fece , &c. Thinke you that man doth giue but little wealth , When ( gift-wise ) he bestoweth All himselfe ? Hauing sayd before . Et quei ch'ama diuoi , ( donne ) piu d'una , &c. Fayre Ladies , he that shall loue more Than one of any you ; And at one time dissembler is , His Loue can not be true : His mind 's beyond his might , like he That with his daring eye Stands staring on the Sunny beames , And blinded is thereby :

Wee will then , for conclusion , say , that wheresoeuer n n With which opinion these Verses agree well . The trewest Loue ( sometim's ) suspicious , And feedes on Cares and Feares most amorous ; Nor can LOVE liue without some IEALOVSIE , Which tane away , it strait begins to dye . true Loue is , there indeed some IEALOVSIE must most necessarily be , and where no IEALOVSIE is , there of necessitie can be no true Loue indeed ; as a certaine Gentleman ( a friend of mine ) wrote to his Mistresse , ( who tooke some exceptions against him , because hee seemed to be a little yellow of her ) when amongst other things he wrote thus vnto her . Nor let not this ( Lady ) your minde once moue : Iealous to be ( in some sort ) is true Loue . And of this opinion was Petrarcq , as you may perceiue in the beginning of that his Sonnet so often , by peece-meale , repeated by vs , although ( in the end therof ) he to insinuate into her fauour , ( and to commend his Mistres Laura the more ) faineth like a right Poet , that there was no IEALOVSIE in him , which neuerthelesse , he yeeldeth to be in any other Louer else ; and which our familiar acquaintance Master Lewes Allemanni , knowing to be but too true , added ( therefore ) those speeches ( set downe a little before by mee ) Fuor d'ogni vso humano . Meaning hereby , as if it were a thing against nature any liuing man , should not haue some small spice of IEALOVSIE in him .

Another doubt is , whether IEALOVSIE be ( naturally ) in Louers or no , many affirming it is , and withall , alleadging the same likewise to be in euery bruit Beast , as well as in man , o o Considering the great Plagues and Afflictions which many ( too too Iealous ouer their Wiues ) inflict most worthily vpon themselues , the voluntary Cuckolds , and kinde Wittols , are to be counted wise , in respect of the other , because they are neuer tortured with such frightfull and sensible punishment : for , Most certaine t' is , where IEALOVSIE is bred , HORNES in the Mind , are worse then HORNES on the Head . Nay more , I holde Cockolds for their patience ( herein ) to be the only true happie & wise men indeed , for if ( according to Seneca in his Epistles ) hee that is Temperate , is Constant ; who is Constant is vntroubled , who is vntroubled is without sorrow ; who is without sorrow , is happy , wherefore he that is such a one is Happy , & wisedome is sufficient to a happy man : then say I , that all these Qualities coueriuing in a Cuckold , hee must needes be both Wise and Happy . excepting onely in those kinde of ouerkinde Creatures , to whom our language hath giuen a strange name , by reason they are carelesse and respectlesse of their owne honours , accounting it a small matter for their Wiues to be of the common gender , and more courteous then indeed ciuility or good manners require they should be .

And certainely it cannot be denied , but that p p That Beastes participate of this plague , the Shepheard Cratis found too much to his cost , who being falne in Loue with a shee-Goat , her Buck ( through meere Iealousie ) beat out his braines , as he lay asleepe . many sencelesse and brute beastes are Iealous , as is apparantly seene in Buls , in q q The Tale of the Swanne about Windsor , finding a strange Cocke with his Mate , and how farre hee swam after the other to kill it , and then returning backe , slew his Hen also ( this being a certaine truth , & not many yeers done vpon this our Thames ) is so well knowne to many Gentlemen , and to most Watermen of this Riuer , as it were needlesse , to vse any more words about the same ; yet are there two brethren that I know , who ( should any such strange thing be reported vnto them , especially by a Traueller ) they would but scoffe at him for his labour , so peremptory and yet simple are they in their owne conceits ; yea , they will not sticke to laugh and gibe thereat , as if it were a loud lye , onely because they themselues haue neuer seene nor knowne the like : but these silly animals , and iolly crowing Cocks on their owne Dung-hill , Ariosto taxeth excellently well in the beginning of his seauenth Canto , of his Orlando Furioso , but this being out of their element , I will tell them , in their owne naturall and Mother tongue , what our Countrey man young Master Withers writes : ( Whose pleasing Satyres neuer shall decay , But flourish greene , like Laurell and the Bay . ) T' is grosse , sayth hee , and vaine for to vpholde That all reports which Trauellers vnfolde Of forraine Lands , are lyes ; because they see No such strange things in their owne Parish be , And if I may not tearme such Fellowes vaine , I le say , they are dull , and of a shallow braine . And him I count no wiseman that imparts To men of such base misconceiuing hearts Any rare matter ; for their brutish wit Will very quickly wrong both him and it : For thus the saying is , and I hold so , Ignorance onely is true Wisedomes foe . Swannes , in Lyons , in Doues , in Hennes , and such like . Besides , mee thinkes , it is as naturall a thing for a man to be Iealous , as to desire to engender , and beget that which is like to himselfe , which is the most naturall thing ( as Aristotle auoucheth in his second Booke De Anima ) that liuing Creatures can doe . And this they doe , that they might ( as hee alleadgeth oftentimes ) in some sort , participate and come neere vnto diuine Nature , as much , and after the best manner they shall be able .

Now if any shall doubt whether IEALOVSIE be a naturall thing or no , or ( if it being so ) why then should it be condemned and blamed so much ( considering that according to Aristotles rule , none ought eyther to be praised or blamed for any thing , they do through the secret instinct of Nature , they being as it were indifferent ( as we may terme them ; ) To them I answere thus : wee condemne not IEALOVSIE it selfe , but the r r Here the Author sheweth his opinion as concerning IEALOVSIE , because hee would not be mistaken , condemning this foolish and suspitious Humor ; taken or conceited vpon no occasion or cause giuen , by many men ouer-rashly , and to the vtter ouerthrow , many times of themselues , and of such as they loue & affect most deerely , wishing the golden Meane , that is , the Mediocritie or Vertue herein , to be vsed by euery one , and that also with great Discreation and Iudgement , remembring alwayes this Lesson . T' is fast good-will , and gentle curtesies , Reclaimes a Woman , and not watching eyes ; For where Suspect directeth forward wils , Beauties sweet dalliance with despight it kils : And where a Man is Iealous without cause , The Woman good , for to be bad ( oft ) drawes . Excesse , and the too-too much of the same , as we find not fault with eating & drinking moderately , and other such naturall desires ; but the abuse thereof , through too much glutonie . Surfetting , Quaffing , and Drunkennesse , being that which wee blame and disallow of , and therefore if any shall be Iealous with discretion , ( and not without great and important cause , ) obseruing a true and temperate decorùm in the Time , the place , the person , and the cause , as is fit and conuenient for him ; especially , if it shall concerne his owne reputation and credit , or the good name of his Mistresse , or Wife , he is not to be discommended at all .

Another doubt is , whether this Disease is to be holpen , s s And yet vnder correction , and by the Authors leaue , it is hardly cured , if it haue once taken any deepe roote , especially ( as Montagnie writeth ) in the Femall Sexe , whom to aduise , to distaste and giue ouer this franticque Passion , were but time and labour lost . Their Essence , as he affirmeth , ( for I will not in any wise subscribe to such an Hereticall opinion as this is , and therefore I alledge authoritie , Certissima omnium regula ) being so much infected with IEALOVSIE , with Vanitie , and Curiositie , that there is no hope to cure them by any lawfull meanes , they often recouering of this infirmitie , by a forme of health , much more to be feared , than the disease it selfe : for euen as some Enchantment cannot ridde away an euill spirit , but with laying it vpon another , so when they loose it , they transferre and bestow this Malady vpon their husbands . But ( holla ) pardon mee , ( fayre-Ladies and Gentlewomen ) to whose lot it shall fall by chance to read this Note . Had it not beene but that I should haue left this part Defectiue , and a meere Heteroclite , I would not haue proceeded so farre as I did : and now for amends , ( yet not to flatter you at all , ) speake Mounsieur Montagnie in French what he list , yet could I , and can alledge as much , if not more , against our owne Male-kinde , the Italian and others , and ( I am sorry so to say ) some here in our owne Countrey of England , testifying as much , who are and haue beene as violent , and virulent in this Bedlam-like Humour , as any Woman Virago whatsoeuer . or else be a wound immortall , and incurable , as Ariosto affirmeth , with diuers others , who all subscribe to his opinion . To which I answere , that as the occasions which first bred the same , shall decrease or increase , so shall IEALOVSIE it selfe , eyther decay or continue , and so when the cause shall be quite remoued , t t Some say I , and some say No , But few the Truth as yet doe know . Gramatici certant & adhuc sub Iudice lis est , The Maior part thinke this Iealosie to be like the Zwitzers in Germany , who if they once get entertainement in some good Castle or Holde , they will hardly , or neuer out : resembling such as keepe possession of a place , from whence they are seldome remoued , but by some great danger , or bloodshed : for as of little Brookes proceed great Riuers , so from small sparkes of IEALOVSIE arise great flames of distemperature , and then to trouble ; such a one with good counsell , is but to augment his paine with suspition the more : and as a certaine writer speakes very well . No thraldome like the yoake of IEALOVSIE , A yoake that makes the liuing ( still ) to dye : It is the gnawing Vultur of the minde , For which nor Wit , nor Counsell , helpe can finde . IEALOVSIE it selfe shall be quite taken away , as the saying is , Sublata causa tollitur Effectus , I meane the Effects thereof , & that which is more than needeth , for as we see that in a sicke body wee may expell all superfluities , with purgations , and all grosse humors from thence , eyther by fit Medicine , or by abstinence from Meates , or by forbearing of Drinkes , or such like good and wholesome kinde of Diet : Euen so , with Wisedome , Discretion , and v v Patience is the Mother of Opportunitie , shee presenting her selfe to them that nourish her Daughter carefully , when ( before Rashnesse and Anger ) she goeth inuisibly , and hindereth them from what they most thirst after , and therefore Patience preuailes gainst wrongs ; effects them All In Time ; when Haste headlong makes Men to fall . And to this effect another writeth thus . The Mindes afflictions , Patience can appease , It Passions kils , and healeth each Disease . And a third man thus . Patience is praise , Forbearance is a Treasure , Suffrance an Angell , Rage a Fiend sans measure : Let gentle Patience profit thee , for Patience is a thing , Whereby a Beggar gaineth of a discontented King . Patience , may wee easily driue away and expell the Force and Rage of IEALOVSIE , eyther more or lesse , according to the orders before appointed ; and so againe by the contrary reasons ( wanting the foresaid discreet remedies ) it sometimes bursteth out so farre , and exceedeth beyond her bounds so much , as it turneth it selfe into extream Hatred , and from thence falleth into a Frensie , and Madnesse , not alone against the partie it loueth , or his aduersary or Riuall , but as well against all such , who , as he thinkes , may be any way an obstacle or let , to hinder or crosse him in his dissigne and purpose , whereupon haue ensued most cruell reuengements , and most horrible and sauage murthers , beyond all common sense and reason ; yea , many times against their owne reputations and Honours , and against their owne proper selfes , and lifes , as we may see and read in Histories , as well Auncient as Moderne , and as Poets in their fictions and shadowes , show more at large , as when they faine how x x See Ouids Metamorphosis , for this History , and the other of Calisto at large , which to set downe were tedious . Io was turned into a Cow , through meere IEALOVSIE , and Calisto into a Beare , and the Tale of Procris , who by chance was slaine by her owne Husband Cephalus .

y y The like tragicall Tale may you read in Platoes Moral discourses , of this Cyanippus , and of another called Emilius , where the Curious may content himselfe euery way . Plato likewise , a most graue and veritable writer , affirmeth such an other disastre to haue happened vnto the Wife of one called Cyanippus , and of a second man ycleped Emilius : but the most z z These two first Tragedies , the one of a Captaine of Nocera , a Towne belonging to the Dukedome of Spoleto in Italy : and the other of a Knight of Millane , you shall find in diuers Italian Authors , diuersly set downe , and as well translated ( but that hee is a little too tedious in his phrase of speech ) into English by Sir Geffery Fenton Knight , one of our late Queene Elizabeths ( of euerliuing memory ) priuy Counsell in Ireland . strangest and horrible murthers committed in these our dayes , through the furie of IEALOVSIE , were these three : the one by a Captaine of Nocer● ( a Citie in Italy ) vpon his Lord and Master , by reason of his Wife : the second more execrable than the other , was of a Knight of Millan , a follower of the Lord Trivultio , who causelesse ( through the diuelish instinct of this hellish IEALOVSIE ) slew his faire and vertuous wife , onely because he could not endure that any man should match with her , after his owne death : and that done , He , with the selfe-same bloody dagger , stabbed himselfe through his owne heart . The third and last , was , ( as I haue beene credibly enformed by a Venetian Merchant , a friend of mine , traffiking in the famous City of London , ) perpetrated by a a a This was W. C. of C. in the Countie of Yorke Esquire ; who practised murther vpon his fayre and vertuous Wife , but committed the same vpon two young Infants , his Sonnes , the 23. of Aprill ( then S. Georges day ) in Anno 1605. For which he was executed on Monday the 5. day of May , next following . young Gentleman of a great House in ENGLAND , who left his fayre Wife for dead , after hee had butchered two louely Babes , his owne little Sonnes , and entending to haue killed the third , but that hee was by great good fortune , preuented of this his bloudy purpose .

But leauing to speake any more of such Tragicall and vnmanly attempts as these , I say , there are some that deserue to be reprehended , in the sharpest manner that may be , who , knowing that Loue is in God , nay rather , that hee is the first Loue , and the occasion of all other good Affections whatsoeuer , are so sottish as to suppose , that their is IEALOVSIE , after the same manner in him , as there is in vs , which is meere and monstrous Blasphemy , for one ( but in thought ) to conceit as much , they not knowing , or at least-wise forgetting , that all things in God , or which are attributed vnto him , are in him , after another different manner , then they are in vs , because , that Loue which is in God , is meere Pietie and b b Of the marriage of Charitie with her other two Sisters Faith and Hope , there is a pretty Tale , which is this : About the Beginning of the world , these three Sisters , left Heauen , to come downe here to the earth , to get good Husbands : and such was Faiths good fortune , as shee stayed not long , but sped of her purpose : for Abraham , who was the Father of the Faithfull , tooke her quickely to Wife . Hope seeing her Sisters good hap , had good hope to meete with the like good match , yet stayed shee somewhat long , before shee could speede ; but in the end Dauid tooke her to his Spouse : for hee alwayes hoped in God , and as hee saith , My Soule hopeth in the Lord . But poore Charitie had the worst lucke of the three ; for euer since her first comming hither , she hath wandered vp and downe and none would entertaine her , nor as yet will ; so that ( by reason the world is so colde in Charitie , ) she is like to remayne a Virgin still , and so returne to the better place , from whence shee first came . Charitie , and is in him endlesse , whereas the Affection and Loue , which men beare one to another , hath his End as well as his Beginning : But this Subiect , is too deepe and bottomlesse a Sea , for the light plummet of my Shallow wit to sound , and too high a Mistery for my slender conceit to diue or search into the secrets thereof : And therefore rendering most humble thankes vnto that Almightie c c Wee will in our Notes , as wee began , so conclude with God , who as hee is the Beginning of All things , so is he the End , ALPHA and OMEGA ; He is the First LOVE , and the Last LOVE , and is CHARITIE it selfe : than which nothing more precious , since hee that dwelleth in CHARITIE , dwelleth in God , and what more secure ? and God in him , then , what more delectable ? and to conclude : God is all Loue , Affection , Charity , Which hath no end but is eternally . Power , who is All in All , knoweth All , and can doe All ; and acknowledging my selfe much beholding vnto All here , for your extraordinary and vndeserued Patience , I rest ,

A most deuoted Seruant vnto you All , B. V. FINIS .