IN the time , when the reuested earth doth shew it selfe more pleasant and fayrer , then in any other season of the yéere : borne of most noble parents , and receiued heere of bountifull and fauourable Fortune , I came into thys Worlde .

Accursed bée that day , and hated of me more then any other , in the which I first enioyed this common light . Howe happy had I béene ( alas ) if I had neuer béene borne , or if I had at the time of my vnfortunate byrth , béene carryed to my graue , or had not breathed anie longer time , then the téeth sowne of Cadmus : or els , The menne borne that were sowne of Cadmus teeth , lyued but a day if Lachesis at one and selfe same howre , had begunne and cut in too her vitall thredde : because then , in that small time of life , these infinite woes , which are nowe a sorrowfull occasion to putte my penne to Paper , shoulde wyth the same haue béene concluded . But what dooth it nowe auayle for these causes to lament ? For héere I am neuerthelesse by the generall decrées and pleasures of the Goddes .

Béeing receiued then ( as I haue sayde ) in most hygh delights , and nourished onelie amongst them , and in my yong and tender yéeres , brought vppe vnder a reuerend and sage Matrone , I easilie learned euerie good qualitie , which was most conuenient and commendable for anie yong and noble Woman . And as my personage did wyth passed yéeres encrease , so were my beauties also multiplied , which were the onely and especiall occasions of all my sorrowes , and infinite gréefes . Alas ( although I was yet but a little one ) how great lie did I glory with my selfe , in hearing my commendations in euery ones mouth , and did therefore with arte and industrie dailie studie to make them more perfect and curions .

But arriued nowe from my childhoode , to a more full and ryper age , and conceauing by the instincts of nature , with what burning desires amorous yong Gentlewomen may entice yong and wanton youthes , I perceiued that my surpassing beautie , Beauty hurt full to her that hath it . ( a myserable gift to her , who loues to leade a vertuous life ) did not onelie incende most of al those yong Gentlemen , who liued at the time in florishing youthe like my selfe , but manie other noble menne , with a feruent and amorous fire : who infinite times with diuers dryfts , manie meanes , and sundry slights , ( vnknowne to mee as then ) did attempt to kindle mee with that fire , wherewith they themselues did burne , and that it should not then onely scorche mee , but in processe of time , in long and lingering flames vtterlie consume mée . And of manie with earnest sute , as well to my Parents , as especiallie to mée , I was requested in marriage . But after that one among all the rest ( a most absolute ( in my opinion ) and perfect Gentleman ) had wonne that prize , for which they striued all , the importunous and troublesome route of wooers ( béeing nowe past all hope , ) did cease to sullicite mée anie more with their cunning and dailie pursutes . Wherefore remaining in iust content with my louing Husbande , I liued a most happy & ioyfull Woman , vntill furious Loue with a secrete kinde of vnknowne fire , and neuer felt of mée before , entred into my tender and yong breast . Alas there was not anie thing , that might sa●is-fye either my desire , or any Womans els , which presently I had not for my pleasure and contentation . I was the onelie ioy , and singuler felicitie of my yong Husbande , and as hee was truely beloued of mee , so did hee equally and greatlie loue me againe .

O how happy might I haue thought my selfe aboue all other Women , if this newe loue had for euer continued inuiolated in my hart ? Lyuing therefore in great happinesse , and spending my youthfull yéeres in daylie sports , and ioyfull feastes , false Fortune , the suddaine chaunger of worldly things , and most enuious of the selfe same goods that she had earst bestowed on me , purposing nowe to withdrawe her hande , and not knowing by what meanes to spett forth her venome , with subtile and Sophisticall arguments , made an aduerse way ( leading to the Dungion of sorrowe ) open to mine eyes . And truely by no other meanes , but by those by which fonde Loue entred into my hart shee could entrap me , or vse her force at all , but the Gods fauorable to me , and carefull of my affayres , perceiuing her couert and malitious guyles , did intend to arme my yéelding hart and féeble breast with weapons , if I hadde béene so wyse to haue taken and vsed them for my defence , because I might come forewarned and not vnarmed to the battayle in the which I should miserablye haue fallen . Wherefore with a manifest vision in my dreames , the verie night before the day ( that dismall day I saie ) did come , which was the sorrowfull beginning of my endles paynes , and losse of libertie , they did cléerely admonish me of future accidents in this sort .

Mée thought lying in a faire broade bedde , with euerie part of my bodie resolued into deepe sléepe , Dreames somtimes foretell things to come . I sawe the fayrest and brightest day that might be , and my selfe ( I knowe not how ) more iocant and merrie , then euer I had béene before . And ioying all alone in this kind of mirth , I did imagine that I sat in a swéete Medowe , vpon the gréene grasse , and amongst manie golden and pleasant flowres , defended from the heate of the Sunne , and from his parching beames , with manie coole shadowes of diuers Trées , newly apparelled with thicke and gréene leaues . And hauing gathered manie flowres in the same , wherewith all that place was most brauelie depainted , with my lyllie white handes I did seperate one from another , as they lay confused and mingled in my lappe , and with the finest that I coulde picke out , I made a fayre and little Garlande , wherewith I did adorne my statelie head . Beautified thus , and rysing vp ( as Proserpina did , when Pluto didde rauishe her from her mother ) I went singing vp and downe in this pleasant and trym Medowe , reioysing at the entrance of merrie Springtide . And afterwards , féeling my selfe somewhat wearie , I layde mée downe amongst the thickest and freshest grasse to reste my selfe a little . But like as that little hydden Viper did pricke Euridices tender foote , euen so a lurking and créeping Serpent did likewyse appeare to my sight , as I lay along vpon the soft and thicke grasse , the which ( me thought ) did wyth her cruell tongue sting me vnder the left pappe , which venimous byting , at the first entrance of her sharpe téeth , dydde séeme to burne me like a scalding and fierie flame . And then béeing almost assured , and past feare of the worst , mee thought I put the colde Serpent into my burning bosome , imagyning that wyth the benefit of her colde skynne , she shoulde a little ease me , and be more fauourable vnto me for this gentle déede . But emboldened rather by the same , and nowe become more fierce then before , to the foresayd sting , she reioyned her cruell mouth , and hauing after a good while sucked a great quantitie of my vitall blood , me thought , that meerely going out from my wounded bosome , ( though I did stryue to the contrarie ) she went also away wyth my fainting soule . At the departing of which , the golden day obscured , and ( like a shadow driuen by the Sunne comming behind me ) did couer me all ouer , after which followed a foggy & mistye darknes , accompanied with multitudes of black & thick clowdes , which hanging vpon it , did séeme to bee drawne after , and like a confused and difformed Chaos to follow . And not long after , ( as a little white stone cast into a déepe and cléere water , doth by little and little vanish away from the sighte of them that doo beholde it ) euen so was the brightnes of thys Sunne shyne day taken away from my dimmed sight . Then might I perceiue the Heauens to bee ouercome with darknes , and the gladsome Sun retyred backe , and obscure night approching , made me call to mind , that this suddaine alteration was not vnlike vnto that , which happened to the Grecians , when the Sunne did hide his face , Atreus hys fault was , that hee made the Father , which was his brother , to eate hys owne Son , wherupon the Sun retired backe againe , because it would not see so wicked a messe and table . because he woulde not for shame behold the enormitie of Atreus his foule fault . The fearefull lightnings péecemeale glaunced vp and down in the ayre , and cracking thunders made the earth , but mée most of all afraide . And the wound which vntill this time , had but onely stunge mée ( me thought ) by reason of the late byting , remaining now full of viperous venome , ouerranne , and occupyed all my bodie with most filthie and lothsome swellings , no secrets of phisicke béeing able to cure the same . Whereuppon féeling my selfe at the first without any spirite , and afterwardes the force of the poyson by more subtill entraunces serching euerie vaine of my hart , I tumbled and tossed my selfe vp and downe the gréene grasse , expecting alwayes when death would assaile mee . And nowe the finall howre ( to my thinking ) béeing come , terrified also with the horror of the time , and with the extreame gréefe of my infected hart , attending the mortall stroke of death , made mee to shryke and start on a suddaine in such sort , that it caused my deadly sléeping bodie to shake againe , and so brake mee out of that horrible and gastlie dreame .

After the which ( as it was very suddaine ) and not a little afraide also of those things , which ( me thought ) I hadde séene , with my right hand I made great spéede to my bytten left side , séeking that presently there , which was afterwards prepared for me in time to come . But yet when I found no wound , nor anie signe thereof , passing merrie againe , and carelesse , I began to deride , and laughe at the foolishnesse of dreames , and so accounted the labour of the Goddes héerein but vaine . But , wretch that I am , how iustly ( though then I scorned them ) haue I afterwardes to my greate gréefe of minde beléeued , and found them most true , and planted them without anie fruite , béeing no lesse gréeued at the Gods , who declare their secrets to vncapable minds with so greate obscuritie , the which no sooner shewed , but incontinently they happen . Béeing therefore thorowlie awaked , I lifted vppe my head , and by a little creuisse in the dore , did sée Titan forsake Auroras Chamber , and enter into mine . Wherefore casting all such fond conceits aside , I rose vp .

That was a high and festiuall day almost to all the world , in the which euerie one , to honor the solemnitie of it , attyred themselues with their best and brauest robes : wherefore , apparrelling my selfe moste curiously with garments woouen with shyning Golde , and with cunning and skilfull hande , setting euerie thing in euery part about me in the finest order , & adorned like to the fayrest of those thrée Goddesses , which Paris sawe in the Valies of Ida , I prepared my selfe to goe to this solemne and high feast . And while I was beholding my selfe on euerie side , not otherwise then the Pecock doth her gay Feathers , and imagining as well to please others , as my selfe , one of my flowres ( broken from my crowne by the Curtaine of the bedde , or els perhappes plucked from my heade by some celestiall & inuisible hande ) fell from my head to the ground . But I , taking no regarde of the secrete operations of the Goddes , and estéeming it as nothing , tooke it vppe , and put it in his former place againe , and so passed it slightlie ouer .

Alas what more manifest signe coulde the Goddes giue me of that , which afterwards did happen then this . Truely none at all . This had béene sufficient inough to declare vnto me , that my soule , that day so frée , and mistresse of it selfe , laying downe her swéete signorie , shoulde bee made seruile and bonde , as it happened indéede . Oh if my mind had béene sounde , howe had I not then foreknowne that day , ( that blackest day ) that afterwards happened vnto me , and had safely ouerpassed it without going once out of my dores . But the Goddes although they lende them ( with whom they are angry ) certaine signes and tokens of their welfare , yet do they neuerthelesse depriue them of the due knowledg of the same . And so in one howre séeme to doo their willing deuoyre , and to fulfill their wrathfull minds . My hard destinies therfore did ( as it were ) driue me on forwards like a vain & carelesse Woman , and béeing accompanied with many Gentlewomen , that serued on my trayne , with a soft and stately pace , I went to the holy Temple , in which the sollemne and diuine office , due for that day , was celebrated . The antiquitie of my generous predecessors , and my nobilitie also had reserued a high place for me , amongst other most excellent and worthie Ladies there , in the which , after that I was sette , obseruing my olde custome , which was , in suddainly casting mine eyes rounde about , I sawe the Church equally full of of Men and Women , in diuers companies , diuersly to employ themselues . But no sooner was I espyed in the Temple , though in the midst of sacred seruice time , but ( as it was a common thing many times before so then did it also fall out ) that not Men onely , but euery woman did turne their eies towards mee , to beholde mée : and wondering at mee , as if Venus or Minerua ( neuer séene of them before ) hadde béene verelie come down from Heauen amongst them .

O howe manie times did I smyle with my selfe , féeling such content to tickle mee , and glorying in my selfe no lesse then a Goddesse , béeing not a little proude of all these moste happy fauours . All the company therfore of yong Gentlemen , A fine description of a trim woman , leauing of ( at sight of me ) to gaze vpon other Gentlewomen , ( of which there was no small number of rare and passing beautie ) and placing themselues about me , didde in manner of a Crowne compasse me round about . And euerie one after his owne fancie , speaking and diuersly discoursing of my beautie , but all concurring and concluding in one sentence , did highlie extoll and commende it . But I , who with mine eyes turned another way , made a semblaunce to busie my mind in deuotions , but giui … 〈…〉 talke , did conceiue and féele 〈…〉 desired pleasure and co … 〈…〉 … ing my selfe greatlie beh … 〈…〉 eye and pleasant regarde 〈…〉 gaine . Whereupon I mig … 〈…〉 … nie of them fondly conceiui … 〈…〉 hope thereof , did greatly g … 〈…〉 their companions for the same 〈…〉

Whilst I remained thus 〈…〉 and beheld greatly of many , a … 〈…〉 should captiuate others , it chaunced that an others most vnfortunatly entrapped me . And béeing nowe néere to that dolorous passage , which of most certaine death , or els of such a kind of life , that should be full of anguish and sorrowe , might haue béene a sorrowfull and sinister occasion , I knewe not with what spirite mooued , but with a séemely grace lyfting vp mine eyes , with an earnest and sharpe viewe I spredde theyr beames amids the multitude of yong Gentlemen , that dyd enuiron me round about . Fiammetta is enamoured in the Temple . And beyond them all I espyed a propper yong Gentleman , leaning vpon a Marble pillar , as directly obiect to my sight as myght be . And instigated by my pursuing destinies , I beganne to marke his personage , and his behauiour , which of any other before , I had neuer to doo so much . I say therefore , that ( according to my slender iudgment , which was not yet verie rype about loue matters ) in his countenaunce hee was passing fayre and amiable , in hys actions swéete and pleasant , and in his attyre decent and comely . And the little golden & crisped wooll which began to appeare on his louely chéekes , did giue a manifest signe of his yong and florishing age . Who béeing no lesse pittifull ( as it séemed ) then wyse , omitted not betwéene Man and Manne , to requite mée with louing lookes againe . And though I had somtimes the power to withdrawe mine eyes a little whyle from beholding him , yet no accident whatsoeuer , no , not my selfe ( though stryuing to the contrary ) could make mee le●●e of to trauerse many straunge and vncouthe 〈…〉 so liuely was hys very counter … 〈…〉 my hart , that with what 〈…〉 … e same , I am not able to 〈…〉 … s did affyrme wyth my 〈…〉 … eare in him , to bee moste 〈…〉 … ented in mind , and wysh … 〈…〉 I cast sometimes a glance 〈…〉 me .

〈…〉 … ymes that I beheld him ( vn … 〈…〉 … he secrete snares of loue ) fyr … 〈…〉 … newhat longer vpon hys , then I was wont to doo , and the percing beames of his fayre eyes encountring with mine , me thought , that with a pittiful and swéete countenaunce bee séemed to speake these wordes . O Lady , thou art mine onely ioy and singuler felicitie . Truely if I should say , that these wordes did not worke an extraordinarie delight in me , I shoulde flatly lye : the supposition of which did so highly please mee , that from the center of my hart they drew forth a swéete and profound sigh , which came accompanied with these words . And thou art myne . But that remembring my selfe , I tooke them from my mouth . But what did it auaile ? That which was not expressed and vttered forth , my hart did conceiue & imagine with it selfe , retaining that in it , which if it had gone forth , perhaps I shold haue yet béene frée . Then from that time forwarde , making my foolish eyes the whole arbyters of that , the good whereof they were so gréedy to enioy , I did ( me thought ) in so dooing greatlie content & please them . And certes if the Gods , who deduct all thinges to some knowne and certaine ende , had not taken away my vnderstanding , and bereaued me of my due knowledge , I myght haue styll béene myne owne woman . But all such considerations layde aside , I followed my sensual appetite , & quickly perswaded my selfe to yéeld to loue : Because no otherwise then the elementarie coruscations shooting themselues from one parte of the ayre to another , a shyning light issuing from out hys cléere eyes , & running by a most subtile and fine beame , did méete and hytte directly against mine , which contending to passe furder , by what secret wayes ( I knowe not ) suddainly went penetrating to my very hart , which fearing theyr violent entrance , and calling to it all her exterior forces , left me altogether pale and colde : But their aboade was not so long there , but the greatest feare was past , and then were they welcomed wyth a hote and burning passion : wherevpon the foresayde forces returning to their places againe , brought with them a certaine heate , which driuing all palenes quite away , paynted my face like the vermillion Rose , and made me burne as hote as fire : And yet beholding from whence all this dydde procéede , I could not but breathe out a sorrowfull sigh . And from that howre forwarde , my thoughtes were occupyed in nothing els , but meditating of his braue personage , and apparant vertues , and especially in imagining howe to please him .

In all these intercourses , without chaunging of place or countenaunce , he did most priuilie steale now & then a looke at me againe . And peraduenture as one who hadde béene a tryed Souldiour in other amorous battailes , and knowing with what Engines his wyshed praye might best be taken , wyth arguments of greater humilitie , continually he shewed himselfe more pittifull , and full of amorous desires . Alas how much deceite was hydden vnder the vaile of that pietie , which ( according as the present effects doo testifie ) béeing nowe mortified in his hart , where it neuer reuiued againe , ) bare onely but an outward show and vysard of loue ? And because I may prosecute euery thing & action in perticuler , whereof there was not any , which was not fraught with rare fraude and cunning guile , whither it was he , that voluntarily did worke it , or my vnlucky stars , that would haue it so , thus it fell out , that ( wanting the due skyl exactly to shew you how ) I found my selfe entangled wyth suddaine and vnlooked for loue , as at this present I am not frée from the same .

Thys therefore was he ( most pittifull Ladyes ) whom my conquered hart wyth a foolish conceite , amongst so manie noble , beautifull , and valiant yong Gentlemen , that were not onely there present , but also in all my Parthenope , dyd choose to be the first , Naples . the onely , and last Lorde and maister of my life . This was he , whom I loued , and do loue styll more then anie one in all the worlde besides . Thys was hee who was the beginning and principall occasion of all my woes , and shal be ( as I hope ) the finall cause of my tragicall death at laste . Thys was that day , in the which , first of a most frée and happy Lady , I became a most miserable & vnhappy captiue . Thys was that day , in the which I did first apprehende the miserable effects of foolish loue , neuer knowne of me before . This was that day , wherin venereous venoms contaminated first my pure and chaste breaste . Alas poore wretch , how manie sorrowes , and what misery came thys day into the world to thée , by thine owne default ? Howe far ( alas ) should annoy and griefe haue béene from me , yf thys day had béene turned into darknes ? and howe great an enemie was this day to my vnstayned honor ?

But euill things ( alas ) which are committed and past , All things which are doone , may be sooner controlled then remedied . may be easier reprehended then amended . I was therefore taken ( as I haue sayde ) and whither it was some infernall furie , or enuious fortune , which did so emulate my chast felicitie , laying snares to entrappe mee , may thys day wyth hope of infallible victory tryumph and reioyce in my miserable fall . Béeing therefore possessed , nay rather oppressed with new kinds of passions , as one astonied , and like a sencelesse Woman I satte amongst the other Ladyes and Gentlewomen . And troubled thus in mind , I did neglect the sacred and diuine seruice , which as I did scarcely heare , so dyd I not vnderstande it at all : and thought the sundry speeches and discourses of Gentlewomen , that satte round about me , but a kind of buzzing and murmuring in my troubled eares . And so this newe and vnexpected loue did take suddaine possession of my tender hart , so that eyther wyth myne eyes , or with my thoughtes I was euer contemplating on my beloued yong Gentleman . And yet my simplicitie was such , that I did not almost then know , what ende I might wysh or desire of such a straunge and feruent passion . How many times ( alas ) coueting to haue séene him approche néere vnto mee , did I blame his staying behind al the rest of the Gentlemen , thinking wyth my selfe that that was but a colde kinde of affection in him , which he did perhaps craftilie vse , and for a pollicie , to make mee more desirous to looke on hym , and in looking to loue him more .

And moreouer , the companie of lustie youthes , that stoode before hym , did greatly hinder my sight , of whom , whilst that I busied myne eyes in looking sometimes amongst them , there were not a fewe , that , ( thinking , that for theyr sakes I looked so much towards them ) did vainely perhappes beléeue , that I did it for loue of them . But while my thoughts and sences were occupyed in these fancyes , the sollemne seruice was finished : and the Ladyes and the rest of my companions were risen vp to depart , when I , recalling my wits together , which went wandring about the swéete imagination and figure of theyr onely obiect , at the last I beheld my louelie yong Gentleman againe . And now my selfe risen vp with the other Gentlewomen ready to be gone , and turning mine eyes towardes him , I perceiued that by his pittifull lokes ( which I had thought to haue preuented by mine ) that his departure , and mine didde greatlie gréeue him . But notwithstanding , after certaine secrete sighes , and yet ignorant of what parentage , estate and condition hee was , I went away .

Alas ( gentle Ladies ) who would beléeue it possible , that ones hart in a moment and point of time shoulde alter and chaunge so much ? Who would say that a man neuer séene before might be so extreamelie loued at the first sight ? And who would thinke , that the desire of séeing should bee so feruentlie kindled in ones breast , as the very sight it selfe , and béeing depriued of that , to féele the greatest paine in the world , for desire to sée the same thing againe ? Who would imagin that all those things , that haue béene so ioyfull and delightful to vs before , in respect of a newe thing come in place , should not yéelde anie more pleasure at all . Not any one truely , vnlesse he had prooued and felt them , as I doo nowe . Alas that loue is not onelie content to vse such a strange , and too seuere kinde of crueltie towardes mee , Howe loue is engendred in diuers parts and soules of the body successiuely , but in subduing mee to his might , to prescribe new Lawes , cléene variant from others . I haue oftentimes hearde , that loue in others at his first entrance is but light , but by nourished thoughtes augmenting his force , is made greater . But so it fared not with mee : for he entred into my heart wyth that same force , wherwith hée continued euer afterwardes , as one , who at the verye firste assault had most entyre and frée possession of me . And lyke as the gréene wood , which is hardly at the first sette on fire , and doth lie a long time , before it receiueth flames , but after it is once kindled , with greater heate dooth conserue the fire longer , euen so it happened vnto me , who with this kynd of pleasing passion , neuer ouercome of any before ( though attempted of many ) and at the last conquered of one , haue burned and kept , ( as yet I doo more sensibly ) these new flames , that haue taken more hold of mee , then euer they did of anie other , who before haue assayed the like . But leauing aside many thoughts , which with diuers accidents that morning turmoyled my troubled mind , and besides these , which nowe I haue told , I say , that béeing incended with a newe furie , with my captiuated and bonde soule I returned againe thither , from whence ( not long since ) I had brought it frée .

Where afterwardes , that I was nowe come into my Chamber all alone , kindled with variety of burning desires surcharged with new thoughts , and pricked with a thousand stinging cares , terminating euerie ende of them in the imagined apprehension of my yong Gentleman , I thought , that if I coulde not weane my selfe from this newe loue , at the least in my secret and sorrowfull breast , wisely to haue nourished and gouerned the same , and warilie to haue brought it to some good effect . Which things , howe difficult they are to performe , none can tell vnlesse they proue them , vndoubtedlie beléeuing , that they doo no lesse harme , then loue it selfe . Wherefore , confirmed as it were in this opinion , I saide thus to my selfe . Alas thou art in loue poore soule , and yet thou doost not know with whom .

What kinds of cruell thoughts , and howe many carefull cogitations were engendred of this loue , it shoulde be too tedious for you daintie Ladies to heare , and to gréeuous for me to tell . But yet ( though forcing my selfe thereunto ) to obtayne the more pittie at your handes , and some comfort thereby , I meane to vnfolde some of them vnto you . I say therefore , that carelesse of all other thinges , to spende the time in thinking of my beloued and amiable yong Gentlemanne , was only most deare and pleasant vnto me . And imagining with my selfe , that perseuering in this , that which I did intend to conceale , might perhaps haue easily béene presumed , I oftentimes found fault with my selfe for it . But what did it helpe ? My owne reprehensions gaue place to my desires , and like words of light worth passed away with the ayre . I chiefely desired manie daies together , to knowe what my beloued youth was , to the vnderstandinge of which thing , newe thoughts made me an open way , by meanes of which most warily and priuilie I knewe it , and whereof I remained not a little contented . My goodly ornaments likewyse , which ( as one that little néede them ) were not before thys time so much in request with me , began now to be greatlie liked of me , thinking that béeing adorned with them , I myght please the more : Wherefore I estéemed nowe more of gorgious apparrell , gold , pearles , and other precious stones , and gemmes , then euer I did before . And I , who vntil this time had frequented the holy Temples , Feastes , Sea banks , and pleasant Gardens , without any further intent or desire , than to kéepe other Gentlewomen and Ladyes company , began , ( altered now in mind ) for new purposes to resorte more often to the foresaid places , thinking , that there I might with pleasure not onely beholde , but with delight and desire bee séene againe . But the great affiaunce ( truely ) which I was wont to haue in my beautie , forsooke me nowe quite , wherefore I neuer went out of my Chamber , without the infallible counsell of my trustie Glasse : And my cunning handes , ( I know not by what curious instructor newly taught ) finding euerie day more braue and rare ornaments , conioyning artificiall with naturall beautie , did make mee like Venus starre ) shine amongst other Ladyes . The great honours moreouer , curtesies , and obeisance , which other Ladyes and Gentlewomen of theyr méere good wyls , and dueties did vnto me , although indéede they were incident to my nobilitye , I nowe began to accept and expect as seruices duely & worthily belonging to my high estate , thinking that I shoulde please my louer most of all , when by these meanes he didde perceiue , that I was of noble byrth and lynage . And that common couetousnes , which is naturally borne and ingraffed in all Women , did worke in mee ( eschewing the same ) no other effects , then to estéeme of all my riches , land & treasure , as if they had not béene mine owne : wherby I became not onelie liberall , but féeling also a certaine séemelie boldnes to encrease in me , made me deuoide of all womanlie and suspicious feare , accounting but one thing only déerer to me now then before . And besides all this , my eyes which vntill this time had béen but simple , and vnexpert in amorous regards chaunged their former fashions , and grewe meruailous skilfull in performing their parts . And I discouered moreouer in me diuers other mutations , all which by one and one , I care not to set downe , because first , it would bée too long a labour , and secondlie , because I beléeue that you ( faire Ladyes ) enamored perhaps like my selfe , are not ignorant how great and manie those are , which accompany louers in like causes .