A pleasaunt disport of diuers noble personages: written in Italian by M. Iohn Bocace Florentine and poet laureat: in his boke vvhich is entituled Philocopo. And nowe Englished by H. G.

The Prologue to the .xiii. Questions , composed in Italian , by M. Iohn Bocace , Florentine , and Poet Laureat : And nowe turned into English by H. G.

FLORIO surnamed Philocopo , accompanied wyth the Duke Montorio , Ascalion , Menedon & Massalino , in sayling to séeke hys Friende Biancofiore , was thorow a very obscure and darke night , by the fierce winds , driuen into gret dangers , but the perilles béeing once passed , they were cast into the Porte of the auncient PARTHENOPE . whereas , of the Mariners ( espying themselues in Hauen ) he receiued comfort , not knowing into what coast Fortune had forced him , yealded thankes to his Gods . And so tarried the newe day , the which after it once appeared , the place was of the Mariners discried , so that they all glad of suretie & of so acceptable arriuall , came a shoare . Philocopo with hys companions , who rather séemed to come forth new risen againe out of their Sepultures , than dysbarked from ship , loked backe towardes the waywarde waters , and repeating in themselues the passed perilles of the spente night , coulde yet scarcely thinke themselues in suretie . They all then with one voice praysed their Goddes , that had guided them safe out of so crooked a course , offred their pitifull Sacrifices , and beganne to receyue comforte , and were by a friende of Ascalions honorably receyued into the Citie , whereas they caused their Shippe to be all newe repaired and decked , of Mast , Saile , and better Sterne than were the others which they had lost : and so tarrying time for their furder voyage , the which was much longer lengthened than they loked for : by occasion wherof Philocopo would many times haue taken his iourney by land , but dyscouraged therin by Ascalion , stayed in tarrying a more prosperous houre in the aforesayde place , where he and his companions sawe Phebea fiue times rounde & as many times ho●ned , before that Notus did abanden his violent forces . And in so long a while , they neuer almost sawe time to be merrie , whervppon Philocopo , who was very desirous to performe his deferred iourney , one day called his companions vnto him , and sayd : Let vs go take the pleasant aire , and passe the time vpon the salt sea shoare in reasoning and prouiding for our future voyage . Thus he , with the Duke Parmenion , and the rest of his companions , dire●ted their walke with a milde pace ( discoursing diuers matters ) towardes that place where rest the reuerende Asshes of the most renoumed Peet Maro . They al thus talking a good space , were not gone far from the City , but that they came to the side of a Garden , wherein they heard gracious & ioyous feasting of yong Gentlemen , Dames , & Damsels : There the aire dyd al resounde with the noise of sundrie instruments , and as it were of angelicall voices , entring with swéete delight into the hearts of them , to whose eares it came : the which noise it pleased Philocopo to staie a while to heare , to the ende his former melancolie thorow the swéetenesse thereof , might by little and little departe away . Then Ascalion restrained their talke . And whilest Fortune helde thus Philocopo and his companions without the garden intentiuely listening , a yong gentleman comming forth thereof , espied them , & forthwith by sight , porte and visage , knew them to be noble Gentlemen , & worthie to be reuerenced . Wherefore he without tariaunce retourned to his companie and sayde : Come , lette vs goe welcome certayne yong men séeming to be Gentlemen of great calling , the which perhaps bashfull to enter herein not being bidden , staie without , giuing eare to our dysport . The companions then of this Gentleman left their Ladies at their pastime , & went forth of the Garden , & came to Philocopo , whom by sight they knew to be chiefe of all the reste , to whome they spake with that reuerence their reason could deuise and that was most conuenient for the welcomming of such a guest , praying him that in honour and increase of this their Feast , it would please him and his companions to enter with them the Garden , constrayning him thorowe many requestes , that he shoulde in no wise denie them this curtesie . These swéete prayers so pierced the gentle heart of Philocopo , and no lesse the heartes of his companions , that he answered the intreators in this sorte : Friends , of truth such a Feast , was of vs neither sought for nor fled from , but like weather beaten mates cast into your Port , we to the ende to flie drousie thoughtes which spring of ydlenesse , dyd in recyting our aduersities , passe by these sea banks : But howe Fortune hath allured vs to giue eare vnto you I know not , vnlesse as we think , desirous to remoue from vs all pensiuenesse , she hath of you , in whome I knowe to be infinite curtesy , made vs this offer : and therefore we will satisfie your desire , though peraduenture in parte we become somewhat lauesse of the curtesie which otherwise towardes others oughte to procéede from vs . And thus talking , they entred together into the Garden , whereas they founde manie faire Gentlewomen , of whome they were very graciously receyued , & by them welcomed to their feast . After Philocopo had a good while behelde this their Feasting and likewise had feasted with them , he thought it good to departe , and willing to take his leaue of the yong Gentlemen , and to gyue them th●nkes for the honor he had receyued , one Lady more honorable than the rest , indued with maruellous beautie and vertue , came forth where he stode , and thus sayde vnto him : Most noble Sir ▪ ye haue this morning thorowe this your great curtesie , shewed no small pleasure to these yong Gentlemen , for the which they shal be alwayes beholding vnto you , that is to wit , in that you haue vouchsafed to come to honor this our Feast . May it please you then not to refuse to shewe vnto me & to these other Dames , that fauor that I am secondarily to entreate you for : To whome Philocopo wyth a swéete voice aunswered : Most gentle Lady , nothing may iustly be denied you , commaunde therefore , for both I and these my companions are all prest at your will : To whome the Lady sayde in this wise : Forasmuch as this your comming hath increased this our Feasting , with a most noble and goodly companie , I shall desire you that you wyll not wyth departure lessen the same , but rather helpe vs here to spende thys day euen to the last houre , to that end we haue already begonne the same . Philocopo behelde hir in the face as she thus spake , and seing hir eies replete with burning rayes to twinckle like vnto the morning star , and hir face exceding pleasant and faire , thoughte neuer to had séene ( his Biancofiore excepted ) so faire a creature : to whose demaund he thus made answere : Madame I shall dispose my self to satisfie rather your desire than mine owne , wherefore , so long as it shall please you , so long will I abide with you , & these my companions also : The Lady gaue him greate thankes , and retourning to the others , beganne togethers with them all to be very merry . Philocopo abiding with them in this sorte , entred gret familiaritie with a yong Gentleman named Galione , adorned with good qualities , and of a singuler eloquence , to whome in talking he sayd thus : Oh , howe much are you more than any others beholding to the immortal Goddes , the which preserue you quiet in one will in this your mirth making . We acknowledge vs to be greatly bounden vnto them , answered Galeone . But what occasion moueth you to say this ? Philocopo answered : Truely none other occasion , but that I sée you all here assembled in one will . Oh , sayd Galeone , maruell not at all thereat , for this Lady in whom al excellencie doth reste , both moueth vs herevnto , and holdeth vs herein . Then demaunded Philocopo . And this Lady , who is she ? Galeone answered : It is she that made request vnto you that ye would tary here , when as a while since ye would haue departed . By syght she séemeth vnto me ( sayde Philocopo ) exceding faire , and of a surmounting worthinesse : but yet if my demaund be not vnléeful , manifest hir name vnto me , of whence she is , and of what parentes discended . To whome Galeone answered : No wayes may your request be vniust , bysides ther is none publiquely talking of hir , which doeth not vouchsafe to publish the renoume of so worthy a Lady , and therefore I shall fully satisfie your demaund . Hir name is of vs here called Fiametta , howbeit the greatest part of the people call hir by the name of hir , thorowe whome that wounde is shut vp , that the preuarication of the first mother opened . She is the daughter of a most high Prince , vnder whose Scepter these Countreyes are quietly gouerned , she is also Lady to vs all , and briefly , there is no vertue that ought to be in a noble heart , that is not in hirs . And as I thinke , in tarying this day with vs , you shall haue good experience therof . That which you say ( sayd Philocopo ) can not be hidden in hir semblance . The Gods guide hir , to that end that hir singuler gyftes do merite , for assuredly I beleue both that and much more than you haue affirmed . But these other dames , who are they ? These Gentlewomen ( sayde Galeone ) some of them are of Parthenope , and other some of places elsewhere , comen as are you your selues , hither into hir companie . And after they had thus helde talke a good space , Galeone sayd : Ah my swete friend , if it might not dysplease you , it shoulde be very acceptable vnto me to knowe further of your state and condition , than your outwarde appearance representeth , to the ende that by knowing you , we may do you that honor you worthily merite , bycause sometimes want of knoweledge bringeth lacke of duetie to them that honoure others in not doing their due reuerence . To whome Philocopo aunswered : No lacke in doing me reuerence coulde any wayes happen on your behalfe , but rather ye haue therin so farre exceded , as with excesse ye haue passed the boundes and limits thereof . But since you desire to knowe further of my condition , it shoulde be vniuste not to satisfie your desire therein . And therefore ( in how much it is léefull for me to dyscouer ) I shal tel you : I am a poore Pilgrim of Loue , and goe séeking as ye sée , a Lady of mine , taken away from me by subtile cautele by my Parents : and these Gentlemen whome ye sée with me , of their curtesie kepe me companie in this my Pilgrimage : and my name is Philocopo of Nation a Spaniarde , driuen through tempestuous weather ( séeking for the Iland of Cicilia ) into your Portes . But he knew not so couertly to talke , as that the yong Gentleman vnderstode not more of his condition , than he willingly desired he shoulde : and hauing compassion of th●se his hard happes ▪ somewhat comforted him wyth wordes whych promysed hym hereafter a more luckie lyfe , and from that tyme forwardes , to increase hys honour , willed that he should be honoured of them all , not as a Pilgrime or as a bydden gueste , but rather as the chiefe and principall Patrone of the Feaste . The Lady , who vnderstode hys state and condition , through the reporte of Galeone , esteming dearly of such an hap , commaunded specially that so it shuld be . Apollo was nowe with his Chariot of light mounted to the Meridian circle , and dyd scarcely beholde with leueled eye , the newe apparelled earth , when as as these Dames , Damsels , and yong Gentlemen being thus assembled together in that place , ( setting their feasting apart ) seking forth by sundry quarters of the Garden the delightfull shade , and flying the noysome heate that might offend their delicate bodies , toke by diuers companies , diuers delightes . And the Lady accompanied with foure others , toke Philocopo by the hande , saying : Sir , the heate doth constraine vs to séeke out the freshe aire , let vs therefore go to yonder medow you sée here before vs , and there with sundry discourses passe ouer the heate of the day . Philocopo then greatly praysed the Ladies deuise , & followed hir motion , and with him his companions . Galeone also with two others , went with them to the appointed medow , which was exceding faire of grasse and floures , and filled with a swete suauitie of smels , about the which grew store of yong trées very faire & thicke of gréene leaues , wherewith the place was defended from the parching beames of the great Plannet . There was in the middest of that meddow a proper Fountaine , very faire and cleare like Christall , about the which they all sate them downe , where some gazing in the water , & other some gathering floures , they began to talke of sundrie matters . But bicause sometimes at vnwares the one did interrupt that others tale , the faire Lady sayde vnto them thus : To the rude that this our discourse may procéede in a more better order , and so continue vntill the freshe coole houres , the which we attend for our furder feasting . Lette vs ordaine one of vs in place of our King , to whome eche one shal propound a Question of Loue , and shall receyue from him an apte resolution thereof : and truely ( as I thinke ) we shall no sooner haue made an ende of oure Questions , but that the heate ( we not knowing howe ) shall be paste , and the tyme spent to our profite and delight . This deuise pleased them all , and among them it was sayd : Let there be a King : and with one voice they al chose Ascalion to their King , for that he was some what more growen in yeares than was any of the rest : To whome hée made aunswere , to bée altogether insufficiente for so great an office , bycause he had spent moeyeres in the seruice of Mars , than of Venus . But yet he prayed them al to leaue vnto him she Election of such a King . They that thought him to be such a ●ne ( knowing so well before hand the qualities of them all ) as would constitute one such , as should yelde true aunswere to al their demaundes , did then wholly consent that the Election should fréely be remitted vnto him , since he would not take such a dignitie vpon himselfe . Ascalion then rose hym vp , & gathered certayne twygges Fiametta chosen quene to define the questions propounded . of a gréene Laurell , the shade whereof dyd ouerspread the freshe Fountaine , and thereof made a rich Coronet , the which he brought in presence of them all , and sayde in this wyse : From the time that I in my most youth full yeares began to haue vnderstanding , I swere by those Gods whome I worship , that I do not remember to haue séene or heard named , a woman of like worthinesse to Fiametta , of whome Loue holdeth vs all here in hir presence inflamed , and by whome we haue this day bene honoured in such sort , as we ought neuer to forgette the same . And bycause she ( as wythout doubt I know ) is plentifully endued with euery good grace , adorned both with beautie & good qualities , & endued with a flowing eloquence , I therfore make choise of hir to be our Quéene . For assuredly it is conuenient that the Imperiall Crowne be bestowed vpon hir magnificence , being discended from a stirpe royall , to whome the secret wayes of Loue , being ( as they are al ) open , it shall be an easie matter for hir to content vs in these our Questions . And this sayde , he humbly knéeled before this noble Lady saying : Most curteous Lady vouchsafe to deck your heade with this Crowne , the which is no lesse dearly to be estéemed of them , that are worthy thorow their vertues to couer their heades with the like , than if it were of Golde . The Lady with a newe r●● be painted hir white visage , and sayd : Truly ye haue not in due sorte prouided a Quene for this amorous people , ( that haue more néede of a most able King ) for that of al you that are present , I am the most simple & of least vertue , neyther is there any one of you that is not more mete to be inuested of such a crowne than am I. But since it thus pleaseth you , I can not withstande thys your Election : and to the ende I be not founde contrary to our made promisse , I will receyue it , and as I hope shal eke receiue from the Gods with it , the stomacke due to such an office : and thorow the help of him to whom these leaues were alwayes acceptable , I shall answere you all , according to my small knowledge : Neuerthelesse , I deuoutely pray him that he wil enter into my breast , and renewe my voice wyth that sounde wherewith be caused the valiante vanquished man Marsia , to deserue to be drawen forth of the sheath of his members . I by way of mirth shal giue you lyght aunsweres without syfting to the depth of your propounded Questions , the going about to search forth the which , ●●uld rather bring tediousnesse than delight to your mindes . And hauing thus sayde , she toke with hir delicate hand the offred Garlande , and therewithall crowned hir heade , and commaunded that ech one vpon payne to be depriued of the amorous ioyes , should prepare to put forth some question the which might be apte and conuenient to the purpose whereof they did intende to entreate , & such a one as should rather be an increaser of their mirth than thorough too greate subtiltie , or otherwise , a destroyer of the same .

¶ The first Question , proposed by PHILOCOPO .

ON the right hande of she Quéene sat Philocopo , The Quene commaundeth Philocopo to propound . to whome shée sayde : Noble Sir , you shall begin to propounde your Question , to the ende that the rest orderly , as we are here placed , maye after you , with more suertie propounde theirs also . To whom Philocopo thus made answere : Most noble Lady , without my forslowing , I shall obey your commaundement , and thus sayd : I remember that in the Citie , wherin I was borne , there was one day made a bountifull great Feast , whera● , to honor the same , were many Gentlemen ● Gentlewomen : And I that was likewise there roming about , and beholding Two Gentlemen enamored of one Gentlewoman them that were in the place , espied among the rest . ● . yong men very gracious to behold , that earnestly eyed an excéeding faire yong woman . Neither was I any ways able to discerne whether of them hir beautie had most inflamed . And as she in like sorte had a good space beheld them , not making greater semblance to the one than to the other , they betwene themselues began to reason of hir : and among the other wordes that I vnderstoode of their talke , was that eche one sayde , that hée was hir best beloued : and for proofe thereof , either of them alleaged in the furtherance of himself , diuers gestures then before done by the yong woman . And they thus remaining in this contention a long time , being now thorowe many words at daggers drawing , they acknowledged , that herein they did very euill , bicause in thus doing , they wrought hurt and shame to them selues , and displeasure to the woman . Wherfore ( moued of an equall agréement ) both two went to the mother of the maide , who was also at the same Feast , and thus sayd vnto hir : That forsomuch as aboue all other women of the worlde , either of them best liked hir daughter , and that they were at contention whether of them was best liked of hir , it would therefore please hir to graunt them this fauour ▪ to the end no greater inconuenience might spring therof , as to will hir daughter , that she either by worde or déede , would shewe whether of them shes best loued . The intreated Gentlewoman s●●ling , thus aunswered : Willingly . And so calling hir daughter to hir , sayd ▪ My 〈…〉 daughter , eche one of these preferreth the loue of thée aboue the loue of himselfe , & in this contention they are : whether of them is best beloued of thée : and they séeke of me this fauour , that thou either by signes or words , resolue them herein . Wher as loue is , ther peace ought to be . And therefore to the end that Loue , from whome all peace and goodnesse ought alwayes to spring , bréede not now the contrary , content them in this , and with semblable curtesie , shew towardes which of them thy mynde is most bent . The yong damsell sayd : It liketh mée right well . And so beholding them both a while , she saw the one of them to haue vpon his head The Loued giueth cause of argument to hir louers . a faire garlande of fresh floures , and that other to stand without any garlande at all . Then she that had likewise vpon hir head a garlande of gréene leaues , first tooke the same from hir head , and set it vpon his , that stode before hir without a garland . And after she toke that which that other yong man had vpon his head , and set the same vpon hirs : and so leauing them , shée returned to the Feast , saying that she had both performed the commaundement of hir mother , as eke their d●sire . The yong men being thus left , returned also to their former contention , ech one affirming that she loued him best . And he whose garlande shée tooke and set vpon hir head , sayde : Assuredly she loueth me best , bicause she hath taken my garland to none other ende , but for that what myne is , pleaseth hir , and to giue occasion to bée beholding vnto me . But to thée , she hath giuen hirs , as it were in place of hir last fare well ▪ vnwilling that ( like a countrey girle ) the loue which thou bea 〈…〉 hir , be without requital , and therfore lastly she giueth thee that garlande thou haddest ●●eri●●d The ●● her replying with the contrary , thus answered : Truly sheloweth that ●hine is , better than thée , and that may be sene in taking therof . And me she loueth better than what myne is , in as muche as she hath gyuen me of hirs ▪ And therefore it is no to 〈…〉 of hir last deserued gift , as thou affirmest ▪ but rather a beginning of amitie ●●d loue ▪ A gifte maketh the receiuer a subiecte to the giuer : and bicause shée p●●aduenture vncertaine of me , to the ende she might be more certaine to haue me hir subiect , wil binde me ( i● perhap●● were not bounde vnto hir before ) to bée hirs by gift . But how mayst thou thinke , if ●he at the first ●ake away from th●● that ●uer she may vouchesafe to giue thée and thus they abode a long time contending , and in the end departed without any definition at all . Now say I most puissant Quéene , if you shoulde bée demaunded of the laste sentence of such a contention , what woulde ye iudge . The faire Lady somewhat smiling , turned towardes Philocopo , ( hir eyes spark●ing with an amorous light ) and after a soft sigh , thus made answere : Most noble youth ; The Queenes iudgement vpon the question . proper is your question : And truely , as very wisely the yong woman behaued hir selfe , so eche one of the yong men right well defended his cause ▪ But bicause ye require what we lastly will iudge therof , thus we make you answere : It séemeth vnto vs , & so it ought to séeme to eche one that taketh good héede , that the woman had in hate neither y● one nor the other : but to kéepe hir intent couert dyd two contrary actes , as apeareth , and not without occasion . And to the end she might get more assured the loue of him whom she loued , as not to lose the loue of the other , whom she hated not , it was but wisely done . But to come to our Question , which is , to whether of the two greatest loue was shewed . We saye : that she loued him best and he chiefest in hir fauour , to whome shée gaue hir garlande : and this séemeth to be the reason : What so euer man or woman that loueth any person ▪ eche one thorowe force of the loue they heare , is so strongly bound to the person loued , that aboue al other things they desire to please the same , neither to bynde him or hir more strongly that thus loueth , néedeth either gifts or seruices , and this is manifest . And yet we sée , that who so loueth , though he endeuour him selfe sundry wayes , is not able to make the person loued , in any sorte benigne and subiect vnto hym , whereby he may bryng it to his pleasure , and so with a more hold face demaunde his desire . And that this is in suche sorte as we say , the inflamed Dido with hir doings , doth Dido . very well manifest the same vnto vs , who burning in the loue of Aeneas so long as it séemed hir neither Aeneas . with honours nor with gifts able to winne him , had not the courage to attempt the doubtfull waye of asking the question : So that then the yong woman sought to make him most beholding vnto hir , whom she best loued . And thus we say , that he that re●●yned the gift of the Garlande , was hir best beloued . As the Quéene become silent , Philocopo answered : Discrete Lady , greatly is your answere to be commended : Philocopo replieth to the Quene● . but for all that , you doe bring me into a greate admiration of that ye haue defined , touching the propounded question , bycause I woulde haue iudged rather the contrary . For so much as generally among louers , this was the wont●d custome , that is , to desire to 〈…〉 vppon them 〈…〉 Iewell , or some other thing of the persons loued , to th ende that most times they might glorie themselues more therein , than in all the remnant they had , and perceiuing the same aboute them , therewith to glad their mindes , as ye Paris . haue hear● . Parys seldome times or neuer entred into the bloud●e battailes against the Gréekes , without bearing some token vpon him , that had ben gyuen h●● by his Helene , beleuing better to preuaile Helen . therwith , than if he had gone without the same . And truely in my opinion , his thoughte was not vaine : therfore I shoulde thus say , that ( as you sayde ) the yong woman did very wysely , not defining it for all that as you haue done , but in this maner : She knowing ●ha● she was very wel loued of two yongmen , and that she coulde not loue moe than one , for that Loue is an indeu 〈…〉 e thing , she would rewarde the one for ●he loue he bare hir , to the end that such good will should not be vnrewarded , and so gaue him hir Garland in requitall therof . To the other whom she loued , she thought she would giue courage and assured hope of hir loue , taking his Garlande , and decking hir selfe therwith , in token wherof , she plainly shewed to be beholding vnto him for the same ▪ And therfore in my Iudgement she loued better him from The Quenes solution of this first question . whom she toke , than him to whom she gaue ▪ to whom the 〈…〉 us made aunswere : Youre argument should haue pleased vs right wel , if your self in your tale had no● condemned the same . Sée howe pillage and perfect loue can agrée together ? How can ye shew me , that we loue him whome we spoile , better than him , to whome we giue ? According to the Question propounded , to the one she gaue a Garland , and from the other she tooke a Garland : neyther had she from whom she gaue , ought giuen hir : and that which we sée euery day for example may here suffise , as is commonly sayde . They are of Gentlemen farre better loued , on whome they bestowe fauor and giftes , than those that are by them depriued of them . And for that cause we lastely holde opinion , concluding that he is better loued , to whome is giuen , than hée from whome is taken . We know very well , that in these our reasonings much might be obiected against this oure definition , and much also aunswered to the contrary reasons : But lastly such determination shall remaine true . And bicause time now serueth not , to stay with this our talke vpon one matter only without moe , we will giue eare to the rest if it please you . To whome Philocopo sayde : That it pleased him right wel , & that very well suffised such a resolution to his demaunded question : & so helde his peace .

¶ The second Question , proposed by LONGANO .

NExt to Philocopo was placed a curteous yong man , and gracious to behold , whose Name was Longano , who no sooner than Philocopo had left , thus began : Most excellent Quéene , so trim hath bene the firste question , that in my conceipt , myne shall bring no delight at all . Yet to the ende not to be seuered from so noble a company , forth it shal : & thus he folowed , saying : It is not many dayes past , that I abyding all solitarie in my chaumber , wrapte in a heape of troublesome thoughtes , sprong from an amorous desire , the which with a fierce battaile had assaulted my heart , by happe heard a pitious plaint , Two sisters complaine them of being in loue . wherevnto ( bycause I iudged it by estimation néere vnto me ) intentiuely I layde myne eare , and therby knew that they were women : by occasion wherof , I sodainly rose to sée who , and where they were : and loking forth at my chaumber window , I heard o●eragainst the same , in one other chaumber , two yong women , the same being sisters , adorned with an inestimable beautie , there abiding without any other companie , whome as I sawe making this sorowfull plaint , I withdrew my selfe into a secret place , without being of them espied , and so beheld them a long while , neither was I able for all that , to vnderstand all the wordes that they thorowe griefe vttered in teares , but that the effect of such plaint ( according to that I coulde comprehende ) séemed to mée to be for Loue : wherefore I thorowe pitie , and so swéete an occasion offred ( beyng thus close as I was ) began to ●heade my trickeling teares . And after that I had in their griefe perseuered in the same a good space ( for somuch as I was their very familiar and also their néere kinsman ) I purposed to vnderstande more certaine the occasion of their sorrowe , and so went vnto them , who had no sooner espied me , but al basheful they withheld them from teares , endeuoring themselues to do me reuerence . To whom I sayd : Gentlewomen , trouble not your selues , neyther let this my comming moue you to restraine your inward griefe , for your teares haue ben now a good space apparant vnto me . It shall bée therfore néedelesse to hide you , either yet thorowe bashefulnesse to hide from me the cause of this your plaint . For I am come hither to vnderstand the same . And be you assured , that ye shal not receiue by me either in word or déede any euil requital . But rather helpe and comfort in what I maye . The women greately excused them selues , saying , that they sorrowed for nothing : but yet after I had coniured them , and they seyng me desirous to vnderstande the same , the elder thus began to say : It is the pleasure of the Gods , that to thée our secretes be discouered : thou therfore shalt vnderstande , that wée , aboue all other women haue alwayes resisted the sharp dartes of Cupide , who of a long season in casting the same , was neuer yet able to fasten any one of them in ●nrhertes . But now lastly being further inflamed , & hauing determined to ouercome that his childish enterprise , tooke of new with his yong arme , of his best & dearest shafts , & with so great force wounded the hearts so sore inféebled through the sundry blowes before receiued , as the heades therof pierced déepe , so as they made a farre greatter wounde , than if resistance had not ben made ( to the other former ) had lyke to haue bene . And thus for the pleasure of two most noble yong Gentlemen , we are become subiects to his deitie , folowing his pleasure with more perfect faith , and feruent will , than euer any other women haue done . Now hath Fortune , & the loue of them ( as I shall declare vnto you ) lefte vs both comfortlesse . First I , before The first lamenteth the losse of hir enioied louer my sister here , was in loue , and through myne endeuor beleuing wisely to end my desire , so wrought as I got the loued yong Gentleman at my pleasure , whom I found as greatly enamoured of me as I of hym . But truly now hath not the amorous flame through such effect cessed , neither hath the desire lessned , but eache one more vehemently increaseth : and more than euer , I do now burne in his fire . And what tyme , seing how I might best mitigate the flame therof , holding it inwardly secrete , it after happened , that the horned Moone was no sooner come to hir perfect roundnesse , but that he at vnwares committed a fault , for the which was adiudged him perpetuall exile from this Citie , whervpon he dreading death , is departed hēre without hope euer to returne . I sorowfull woman aboue all others , more now inflamed than euer , am without him , left both dolefull and desperate . By occasion wherof I sorrow me , and that thing that most increaseth my sorrow is , that on euery side I sée the way hard from being able to folow him . Think therfore now , whether I haue cause to plaine me or no. Then sayde I : and this other , why sorroweth she ? The seconde hindred by ielousie , soroweth hir hap and she answered : This my sister likewise ( as I ) is enamoured of an other , and of him againe loued aboue measure . And to the ende her desires should not passe the amorous pathes , without tasting some part of delight , many times she hath endeuoured hir selfe to bring them to effecte , and contrary to hir deuise , Iealousy hath alwais occupied and broken the way , and bicause she could neuer attain thervnto , neither sawe howe to be able so to do , shée thus distressed , is thorow feruent loue consumed , as ye may wel think if euer ye were in loue . Seing we were then here all alone , we began to reason of oure misfortunes , and knowing the same farre greater than these of other women , we could not withhold from teares , but with wéeping sorowed our lucklesse lots , as ye might wel perceiue . To heare this of them it grieued me greatly , so that I encountred them with such wordes , as séemed me most profitable for their comforte , & so departed from them . Many times after , reuoluing in mynd their griefs , and somtimes bethinkyng me whether of the same shuld be the greater , at one time I agréed to that of the one , & at another time I yelded to that of the other : & the sundry reasons , wherewith as it séemeth me , eche one hath to lamente hir , will not suffer me to stay vpon any one , wherevpon I remaine here in doubt . May it therefore please you , that by you may be opened this errour , in telling me whether of these two infortunate louers séemed to sustaine the greatest griefe . Great was the sorrow of either of them , The Quene decideth the question . aunswered the Quéene : But considering aduersitie to be most grieuous to hir that hath tasted prosperitie , we esteeme that she that hath lost hir loue , féeleth the greatest griefe , and is of Fortune greatliest offended . Fabritius neuer bewept the chaunces of Fortune : Fabritius . Pompey . Medea . Iason . But that Pompey did is a thing very manifest . If swéete things were not tasted , the sowre shuld be yet vnknowen . Medea neuer knewe ( according to hir own saying ) what maner a thing prosperity was , whilest she was in loue , but beyng forsaken of Iason bewailed hir aduersitie . Who will euer lament for that he hath not had ? not one but will rather desire Longano of contrary opinion to the Quene . it . It is déemed therefore , that of the two women , the one wept for griefe , the other for desire . It is very hard for me ( gracious Lady ) to thinke that which you affirme ( sayde the yong Gentleman ) forsomuch as who that hath his desire of any desired thing , ought much more to content his mynde , than who that desireth , and can not fulfill his desire . Further , nothing is more light to lose , than what hope promiseth not hereafter to yelde . There ought to be vnmeasurable grief , where as y● not being able to bring egal willes to effect doth hinder . From thence lamentations take place , from thence thoughts and troubles do spring , bicause if the willes were not egall , of force the desire should want . But when as louers sée them selues in presence of that they desire , and can not attaine thervnto , then do they kindle & sorrow them much more , than if that they would haue , were farre from them . Tantalus . And who I pray you torments Tantalus in Hel ? but onely the Apples , and the Water , for that how much more néere they bende & swell to his mouth , so much the more ( afterwardes in flying the same ) they increase his hunger . Truly I beleue , that who hopeth for a thing possible to bée had , & can not attaine thervnto , thorowe contrary resisting impedimentes , féeleth more griefe , than who that bewaileth a thing loste and irrecuperable . Then sayde the Quéene , The Quenes solution of the i● . question . your answere woulde haue folowed very well , where youre demaunde should haue bene of an olde griefe , although to that also might be said : thus to be possible thorowe forgetting the griefe , to shorten the desire in the desired things , where as continuall impediment is séene not to be able to attaine them , as in those lost , wherin Hope doth not shewe vs , that wée shoulde euer haue them againe . But wée doe reason whether of them sorrowed most , when you saw them sorrowing : wherfore folowing the propounded case , we wil giue iudgement , that she felt greater grief that had lost hir louer , without hope to haue hym againe , ( putting the case that it be an easye matter to lose a thing impossible to haue agayne : neuerthelesse it was to be sayde : who loueth well , forgetteth neuer ) than the other , who if we loke well , might hope to fulfill that hereafter , that heretofore she was vnable to performe . For a greate lessner of griefe is hope . It had force to kepe chast and to diminish the sorrowes of the lingryng long lyfe of Penelope .

¶ The thirde Question , proposed by a yong Gentlewoman .

ON the right syde of Longano sate an excellent faire Gentlewoman and verie pleasant , who as she perceiued that Question by the Quéene determined , thus beganne with a swéete talke to say : Most renoumed Quéene , your eares graunte hearing to my wordes : And first by those Goddes whome you worship , and next by the power of our pastime , I pray you that ye will giue to my demaund profitable counsell . I as you know , being descended of noble Parentes , was borne in this City , and was named with a very gracious name , although my surname ( being Cara ) presenteth me grateful to the hearers , and as by my face it may appeare , I haue receyued from the Gods and Nature a singuler gift of beautie , the which ( in folowing my propre name more than my surname ) I haue adorned with an infinite pleasauntnesse , shewing my selfe benigne to whom that is delighted to behold the same : by occasion whereof many haue endeuoured themselues for their pleasure to occupie my eyes , against al whom I haue withstode with strong resistance holding a stable heart agaynst their assaultes : but bicause it séemeth to me vnléefull that I onely shoulde pretermit the lawes kept and obserued of all others , The Gentlewoman praieth to be resolued whether ought sonest to be loued , eyther the Strong ▪ the Liberal , or the Wise . that is , not to loue being loued of many , I haue determined to become enamored , and setting apart many séekers of such loue , whereof some do excell Midas in riches , some other passe Absalon in beauty , & other some in curtesie ( according to the common reporte of all ) are more splendent than any other . I haue of al these chosen thrée : Of whom eche one pleaseth me alike . Of the which thrée , the one of bodily force ( as I beleue ) would excell the good Hector , hée is at euery proofe so vigorous and strong . The curtesie and liberalitie of the seconde is such , that ( as I thinke ) his fame doth sounde thorowe eche pole . The third is al full of wisedome , so that he surmounteth all other wise men aboue measure . But for that ( as ye haue heard ) their qualities are diuers ▪ I doubt whether of them to take , finding in the antique age ech one of these to haue diuersly the courages of women , and of yelding men : as of Dianira , Hercules , of our Clitemnestra , Aegistus , and of Lucretia , Sextus ▪ Counsel me therfore , to whether of them sonest with least blame , and greatest suretie I ought to giue my selfe . The pleasant Quéene hauing heard the purpose of this Gentlewoman , The queenes aunswere . thus made answere . There is neuer a one of the thrée , that doth not worthily merite the loue of a faire and gracious Lady : but bicause in this case I am not to fight against Castels , or to giue away the kingdomes of greate Alexander , or the treasures of Ptholome , but that only that Leue and Honour are with discretion a long time to be kept , the which are maintained neither by force nor curtesy , but onely by wisedome : We say , that both you , and euery other woman ought rather to giue hir loue to a wise man , The reply of the Gentlewoman . than to any of the rest . Oh how diuers is my iudgement from yours , answered the propounding Gentlewoman . To me it séemeth , that eche one of the others were sooner to be taken than the wise , & this séemeth to be the reason : Loue ( as we sée ) is of that nature , as multiplying his force in one hearte , euery other thing he banisheth out thence , retaining that for hys seate , and mouing it after according to his pleasure , wherevnto no foresight is able to resist , but that it is conuenient for them to folow him , by whome it is ( as I haue said ) gouerned . And who doubteth that Biblis Biblys . knew it not to be euil to loue hir brother ? Who wil gaine say that it was not manifest to Leander , that Leander . he mighte drowne in Helespont , in his fortunate time , if he cast him selfe therein ? And none wyll deny that Pasiphe knew not a man to be more faire than a Pasiphe . Bul ? and yet they & ech one ouercome with an amorous pleasure , r●●●●ting all knowledge , folowed the same . Then if it haue power to take knowledge from she learned , takyng away the witt● from the wyse , they shall haue nothing lest : but if from the strong and curteous , it shall take away the little witte they haue , it shall yet increase them in their vertues , and so they shall become more than the wise enamoured . Further , Loue hath this propretie , it is a thing that can not long be hidde : and in reueling himself , he is wont oftentimes to bring greuous perils , wherunto what remedy shall the wise giue that hath nowe lost his witte ? He shall giue none at all , but the strong that vseth his force can helpe in a perill both himselfe and others . The curteous thorowe his curtesie shall with grateful beneuolence winne the myndes of many , whereby he may be both holpen and considered , and others also for his sake . Sée now what it is to be of your iudgement . She was by the Quéene answered The quenes last sentence ▪ to the thirde question . vnto , thus : If ther were such a one as you speake of , who shoulde then be wise ? not one . But if hée , whome you propounde wise , and enamoured of you , shuld be made a foole , he is not to be taken . The Gods forbid , that that wherof you speake , shoulde come to passe . And yet wée will not denie but that the wy●e know the euill , and do it : but for al that we wil say , that they thereby lose not their witte , forasmuch as what time it pleaseth them with the reason thei haue to bridle their willes , they will reduce them selues to their accustomed witte , guiding their motions in a due and straight ordre . And in this maner their loue shal be altogether , or at the least , a long time kepte secrete , and that without any doubtfull diligence , the which shall not happen to one of little witte , be he neuer so strong or curteous . And yet if perhappes it do happe , that such loue be discouered , a wise man will with a hundred foresightes , shut vp the eyes and vnderstanding of the tattlers therof , and shal prouide a safetie both for his owne honour , as for the honour ●f his loued Lady ▪ And if néede of safetie be , the helpe of the wi●e can not faile . That of the strong becommeth lesse . And the friendes that are gotten by Liberalitie , are accustomed in aduersitie to sh●●ke away . What is she of so lyttle discretion , that is brought to such a iumpe as hath néede of manifeste helpe ? o● that if hir loue be disclosed , séeketh fame in hauyng loued a Strong or Liberall man ? I beléeue there is none Rich. Let the wise then be soonest loued , ●oping that he must be in eche cause more profitable than any of the rest .

¶ The fourth Question , proposed by MENEDON .

The Gentlewoman by hir countenaunce seemed content , when Menedon , syttyng next vnto hir , sayde ▪ Most high and noble Quéene , nowe is it come to my tourne to propound my question here in your presence ▪ First Menedon telleth a tale . Wherfore by your licence , if in my talke I shal wade very long , yet during the same , I shal first of all of you , and next of the standers about , pray pardon : Bicause ye can not be made fully to vnderstand that , which I intende is propounde , vnlesse a tale , that peraduenture shall not be short , doe precede the same : and after those wordes thus she began to say : In the countrey where I was borne , I remember there was a noble knight , s●nnou●ting riche , the whiche loued in most loyall louè , a noble Gentlewoman , borne likewise there , whome hée tooke to wise : Of whome , being as she was , exceding faire : an other knight called Tarolfo a Knight was enamored of a Ladie . Tarolfo was after enamored , and with so great good will loued hir , as he sawe nothing he more desired than hir : And in sundry sortes , now with passing by before hir house , now iusting , now at the barriers , now with the often sending hir messangers , peraduenture promising hir greate giftes , whereby she might know his intent , and now with other like feates he indeuoured him selfe to purchase hir loue . All which things the Lady closely supported , without giuing signe or good aunswere to the knight , saying to hir self : When as this knight shall espie , that he can haue neither answere ne yet good countenan e of me , perhappes he wil forbeare any further , either to loue me , or to giue me these allurementes . Nowe for all this , Tarolfo surcessed not , following the precepts of Ouid , who sayth , that a man must not thorowe the hardnesse of a woman leaue to perseuer , bicause with continuance the soft water pierceth the harde stone . The Lady doubting least these things shoulde come to the eares of hir husbande , and that he should conceiue that the same happened thorowe hir good will , purposed to let him vnderstand the same . But yet after being persuaded thorow better aduisement she said , I might ( if I tell him ) moue such a broile betwirte The gift required by the Lady of Tarolfo , to withdrawe him from louing hir . them , as I should neuer after liue a merry life , and therfore he would be shaken of by some other means , and so she imagined a tri●●e guile . She sent to Tarolfo , saying , that if he loued hir so wel as he made shewe of , she would require one thing at his hands , the which if she receiued , she sware by hir Gods , and by that loyaltie that ought to be in a Gentlewoman , that she woulde accomplishe all his desire . And if he would not giue hir that she required , he should then content him selfe no further to allure hir hereafter , but in what he would be willing she shuld reueale to hir husband . The gift she required was this . She said she woulde haue in that countrey in the moneth of Ianuarie , a verie faire Garden , and large , replenished wyth hearbes , floures , and blossomed trées and fruites , as if it were in the moneth of May : saying to hir selfe : This is an impossible thing , so that in Tarolfo to performe his ꝓmis sought strange countreyes . this sort I shall ridde him from me . Tarolfo hearing this demaunde , & although it séemed vnto him impossible to be done , and that he knew very wel to what ende she required the same , answered , that he would neuer rest , neyther yet returne into hir presence , vntill such time he might giue hir the demaunded gift : And so forthwith departed his countrey with such a conueniente companie as pleased hym to take wyth him . He sought al the west partes for counsell howe to attaine to his desire , but not finding there that hée looked for , sought the most hote regions , and so came into Thessalia , as he had bene sent by a discrete man for that purpose . And hauing made his aboue there many dayes , not yet finding that he sought for : it happened , that being now almost desperate of his desire , Tarolfo found an old man called Thebane . and rising one morning before the sunne prepared to enter the dawning day , he al alone began to wander the miserable plaines , that were now : al imbrued with Romaine bloud : and hauing trauailed a long while vpon the same , he sodainly espied before him at the foote of a mountaine , a man not yong , nor of to many yores , bearded , small & very spare of person , whose attire shewed him to be but poore , who romed hither & thither gathering herbs , & with a little knife digged vp sundry rootes , wherof he had filled one of the skirts of his cote : whom as Tarolfo saw , he meruelled not a little , and doubted greatly least it had ben some other thing , but after that his ayme did certenly assure him to be a man , he drew nere vnto him , saluted him , & after asked him who he was , of whence , & what he made there at so timely an houre . To whome the old man answered : I am of Thebes , & Thebane is my name , and I go vp & downe this plaine , gathering of these herbes , to the ende y● with the iuyce thereof , I make diuers necessarie and profitable things for diuers in●●mities , wherby I may haue wher withall to liue : And to come at this houre , it is néede and not delight that constraineth me . But who are you , that in countenan e resembleth noble , and walk here al alone solitarie . To whom Tarolfo answered : I am of the extremes of the west , very riche , and vanquished of my conceipts , pricked forwards to an enterprise , not being able hytherto to atchieue the same , and therefore to be the better able without impediment to sorrow my happe , I goe thus all alone wandring . To whome Thebane sayde : Do you not know the qualitie of the place , and what it is ? Wherfore haue you rather taken your way on the other side ? You might easily here be rebuked with furious spirites . Tarolfo answered : God can doe here , as else where , it is he that hath my life and honour in his handes : lette him doe with me according to his pleasure : for assuredly death shoulde be to me a riche treasure . Then sayde Thebane : What is that your enterprise , for the which not beyng able to perfourme it ) you abide thus sorowfull ? To whom Tarolfo aunswered : It is such as séemes vnto me impossible to be able euer to attaine , since hitherto I haue here found no counsell . Then said Thebane : Dare ye vtter it ? Tarolfo aunswered : Yea. But what profiteth it ? Peraduenture nothing sayde Thebane , but what doth it hurt ? Then sayde Tarolfo . I séeke counsell howe Tarolpho reciteth to Thebane his promis made to his Lady of a garden ful of floures in the month of Ianuarie . may be had in the coldest moneth , a garden full of floures , fruites , and hearbes , as farre as if it were in the moneth of May , neither do I finde who can therin either helpe me , or giue me encouragement that it is possible to be had . Thebane stayde a while in a muse without aunswere , and after sayde : You and many others do iudge the skill and vertue of men according to their garments . If my goods were such as are yours , you woulde not haue lingred so long in discouoring your lacke : or if peraduenture you had founde me néere to some rich Prince as you haue in gathering of hearbes . But many times vnder the vilest vesture are hidden ▪ the greatest treasures of science : and therefore no one concealeth his lacke , to whome is proffered counsel or helpe : And if therfore he open the same , it can not preiudice him at al. But what would ye giue to him that should bring to effect that which you goe about thus séeking for ? Taralfo beheld him in the face , as he vttred these words , and doubted lest he went about to deride him , for that it séemed to him incredible , that he shuld be able to bring the same to passe vnlesse he were a God : notwithstanding he answered hym thus : I haue vnder my rule in my countrey many ca●tles , and there withall great treasures , all the which I would participate in the midst Theban promiseth Tarolpho to make him the garden . with him that wold do me so great a pleasure . Truly said Thebane , if ye would do so muche for me , I should no more néede to go thus about , in gathering of herbes . Assuredly said Tarolfo , if thou be able to giue true effect to that thou promisest , and giuest me it in déede , thou shalte neuer néede to carke ne yet to trouble thy selfe to become riche : but how and when canst thou bring me this to passe ? Then sayde Thebane , the tyme when , shal be at your choise , but for the maner howe , trouble not your selfe . And I will go with you , trusting to the wordes and promises ye haue made me , and when we shal be there , where it pleaseth you to be , commande what you would haue done , and I shall without faile performe the sanie .

Of this fortunate happe Tarolfo was so wel contented in him selfe , as litle more gladnesse could he haue receyued , if he had then helde his Lady embraced in hys armes , and sayde : Friende , to me it séemeth long , vntill thou haue performed , that thou hast promised , wherefore let vs depart without further tariance , and go thither where this is to be done . Thebane cast away his herbes , and tooke his bookes and other thinges necessary to his science , and with Tarolfo tooke his iourney : and in short time they both came vnto the desired Citie , very néere vnto the moneth in the which the Garden had bene required to be made . Where as all secrete and close they reposed them selues vntil the wished time . And now the moneth being entred , Tarolfo commaunded the Garden to be made , to the ende he might giue the same to his loued lady . So soone as Thebane had receiued this commaundemente , he taried the night ensuyng , the which being once come , he saw the hornes of the Moone gathered into a perfect roundnesse , & to shine vpon the frequented earth . Then he went him all alone forth of the citie , leauing his apparel apart , bare legged , and his dissheueled lockes hanging vpon his naked shoulders . The restlesse degrées of the night did passe : birdes , wilde beastes , and men , wythout any noise did take their rest : the vnfallen leaues without mouing did hang vpon the trées , and the moist aire abode in mylde peace : Onely the starres dyd shine , when as he oftentimes went about the groundes , & came to a place on a riuers side , which it pleased him to chose for his Garden . There he stretched forth his arme thrée times towardes the starres , and turning him selfe vnto them , he as often bathed his white locks in the running streame , crauing as many times with a most high voice their helpe : and after setting his knées to the hard earth , began thus to saye : Oh night , most , faithfull secreser of high The inuocation Magicall of Thebane . things , and you , oh ye starres , the which together with the Moone , do succede the splendant day : & thou oh singular Hecates , become an helper to this my begon enterprise , and thou oh holie Ceres , the renuer of the ample face of the earth : And you what soeuer verses , either artes , or herbes , and thou what soeuer earth bringing forth vertuous plants , & thou oh aire , windes , mountaines , riuers and lakes , and eche God of the woddes , and of the secrete night , by whose helpe I haue heretofore made the runnyng streames to recule , inforcing them to returne to their springs , and things running , to become firme , and things firme to become running , and that hast also giuen power to my verses to drye vp the Seas , that I at my pleasure might search the bottom therof , & to make the cloudie times cleare , & ( at my wil ) to fill the cleare heauens with obscure cloudes , to make the windes to ceasse , and to turne as it séemed me best : breaking therwith the harde iawes of the fearefull dragons , making also the standing woddes to moue , and the hault mountaines to tremble , and to returne to their dead bodies out of the Lake Stix those their shadowes , and aliue to come forth of their sepultures : and sometimes thée O ▪ Moone to drawe to thy perfect roundnesse : the attaining wherevnto a ring of Basons was wont to be an helpe , makyng also the cleare face of the sunne many times to become pale , be ye all present , and aide me with your helpe . I haue at this instant néede of the sappe and iuyce of hearbes , thorowe the which I may make in part , the dry earth fastned thorowe Autumne , and after thorowe the withering colde Winter , spoiled of his floures , fruites , and hearbes , to become flouring , and to spring before the due terme . And hauing thus said he sayde after , many other thinges softely , which hée added to his prayers . And those being ended , and he a while silent , the starres gaue not their light in vain . For more swifter than the flight of the wightest bird , Theban was caried in the aire in a chariot led by . ij Dragons . there appeared before him a Chariot drawen by two dragons , whervpon he mounted , & taking the raines of the bridles of the two bridled dragons in his hand , was caried into the aire . He then leauing Spayne , & all Affrica , toke his iorney by other Regions , & first sought for the Ile of Crete , & from thence after with a short course he sought Pelion , Othrys , and Ossa , the mount Nerium , Pachynus , Pelorus & Appaennine . Vpon them all plucking vp , & with a sharp sickle cutting downe such rootes and herbes as best liked him , neyther forgat he those whych he had before gathered when as he was found by Tarolfo in Thessalia . Hée tooke stones also vppon the mounte Causacus , and of the sandes of Ganges : and out of Libia , he brought tongs of venemous serpents . He serched the watrie bankes of Rodanus , of Senna at Parys , of the great Po , of Arnus , of the imperiall Tyber , of Nifeus , of Tana , and of Danuby : vppon those eke gathering such herbes as séemed to him most necessary for his purpose , putting these together with the others , gathered on the toppes of the sauage mountaines . He also sought the Ilandes of Lesbos and Pathmos , and euery other , wherin he perceiued any profitable thing to be had for his attempt : With all the which things he came ( the thirde day beyng not yet past ) to that place from whence he departed , and the dragons , that only had felt the odour of the gathered herbes , did cast of their olde hides of many yeares , and were with new renued and become yong . The ceremonies vsed in making the garden . Ceres . There he dismounted from his chariot , and of the gréene earth he made two altares ▪ on his right hand that of Hecates : and on the left that of the renuing goddesse : that being done , and deuout fires kindled thervpon , with lockes disperpled vpon the old shulders , he began with a murmuring noise to go about the same , & with gathered bloud oftentimes he besprent the blasing brandes . After he placed the same bloud vpon the altars , somtimes softning therwithall the grounde , appoynted for hys Garden : and after that , he softned agayne the selfe same thrée times , with fire , water , and Sulpher , setting after a great vessell full of bloud , milke , and water , vpon the burning brandes , which he caused to boile a good space , and put thereto the herbes and rootes , gathered in straunge places , minglyng therwith also diuers séedes and floures of vnknowen hearbes , he added thervnto stones , soughte in the extreame partes of the east , and deawe gathered the nightes paste , together with the flesh of infamous Witches , the stones of a Wolfe , the hinder part of a fat Cinyphis , & the skin of a Chilinder . And lastly a Lyuer , with the whole lunges of an exceding olde Harte : and herewithal a thousande other things , both without name , and so straunge , as my memorie can not againe tell them . After he toke a drie bough of an Oliue trée , and therwith began to mingle all these thinges together . In doing whereof , the dry bough began to waxe gréene , and within a while after to beare leaues , & not long after the new apparelling therof , it was laden with blacke Oliues . As Thebane sawe this , he tooke the boyling licours , and began therewithal to sprinkle & water in euery place the chosen soyle , wherin he had sette slippes of so many woddes , as he woulde haue trées , and of as many sortes as could be founde . The which licour the earth had no sooner tasted , but that it began to spring : yelding floures and new herbes , and the dry settes began to become all gréene & fruitfull plants . All this being done , Theban entring the Citie , returned to Tarolfo , whome he found all in a muse , fearing to be scorned thorowe hys long abode , to whom he said . Tarolfo , the thing ( thou requiredst ) Tarolfo offereth his Lady the garden which she demaunded . is done to thy liking . These newes pleased Tarolfo not a little , and happening the day folowing to be a great solemnitie in the Citie , he wente into the presence of his loued Lady , that had not now séene him of a long time past : and thus he sayde vnto hir : Madame , after a long and tedious trauaile , I haue performed that which you haue commaunded , and when as it shal please you to sée it , or to take it , it is redy at your pleasure . She in séeing him , maruelled much , and the more , hearing what he said , & not beleuing the same to be true , made him this answere : It pleaseth me right well , ye shall let me sée it to morrowe . The second day was come , and Tarolfo went again ▪ to his lady , and sayde : Madame , maye it please you to walke to the Garden , the which you required to haue this colde moneth . She then being accompanied The Lady goeth to see the garden . with many others , was moued to sée the same . And they al being come to the garden , entred therin by a faire portall : wheras they felt not the like cold as abrode , but the same to haue a swéete tēperats aire . The lady went about the same , & into euery corner therof , gathering both hearbes and floures , whereof shée sawe it very plentifull . And thus muche more also had the vertue of the spersed licours wroughte , that the fruites which August was accustomed to bring forth , the trées there in this sauage tyme , did yelde them very faire , wherof sundry did eate , that accompanied the lady thither . This Garden séemed to the Lady exceding faire and admirable , neither did she thinke to haue euer séene the like : and since she sundry ways knew it to be a true Garden , & the knight to haue perfourmed hir request , she turned towards The Lady graunteth the amorous demaund of Tarolfo . him , and sayde : Without doubt sir Knight , ye haue deserued my loue , and I am ready to stand to my promise . But I woulde pray you of this fauour , that it would please you to tary the tune or euer ye require me to your desire , that my Knight be gone a hunting or into some other place out of the Citie , to the ende ye may the more safely , and without any suspition , take your delight . This contented Tarolfo , who left hir the Garden , and so departed . This Garden was manifest to the whole countrey , although neuer a one knew of a long time , how it came to passe . And the Lady that had now receiued it , al sorowful departed from the same , returning to hir chamber , full of noysome care and griefe , bethinking hir in what sort she might returne backe according to hir promise : & as not finding any léeful excuse , so much the more increased hir care . The which thing hir husband espying , he began many times & often to maruell thereat , & to aske the cause of that hir grief , to whome she answered , that she ailed nothing , being bashful to discouer to him hir giuen promisse for hir craued gifte , doubting lest in so doing , he shuld accompt hir for leude . Lastly , she being vnable to withstand the continual instigations of hir husband , that now stil importunatly desired to know the cause of hir annoy , discoursed the same vnto him , from the beginning to the ende , & that therfore she abode thus pensiue . The husband hearing this , of long time suspected no lesse , & therby knowing in his conceipt , the puritie of the lady , thus said vnto hir : Goe & couertly kéepe thine othe , & liberally performe to Tarolfo what thou hast promised . For he hath with his great toile of right deserued the same . And hauing thus sayde , the lady began to wéepe , and to say vnto him : The Gods seuer me farre from such a ●ault . In no wise will I so doe : I will rather ridde my selfe of life than do any thing displeasant to you , or dishonour to your person . To whome the knight replied , saying : Wife , for this matter I will that ye do no iniurie to your selfe , neither yet conceiue any griefe therfore , for in no wise shall it displease me , go therfore , and performe what ye haue promised : for ye shall be neuer a whit the lesse deare to me : But as ye haue performed this your promise , so take ye better hede hereafter of such like , although the demanded gift may seme vnto you impossible to be had . As the lady perceiued the will of hir husbande , she decked & trimmed hir & made hir self very faire , toke company The Lady presenteth ●ir selfe to Tarolfo . with hir , and so went to Tarolfos lodging , and all bepainted with bashefulnesse presented hir selfe vnto him . Tarolfo as soone as he saw hir , all merua●ling , rose from Thebane , and encountred hir with great gladnesse , and very honourably receiued hir , demandyng the cause of hir comming . To whome she aunswered , I am come to be wholly at your will , do with me as it pleaseth you . Then sayde Tarolfo , ye make me to muse aboue measure , considering the time and the company wherwith ye are come : This can not be without some great alteration betwéene you and your husbande , tell me therfore I pray you , how the matter goth . The lady then shewed Tarolfo fully in order the whole matter and how it went : the which Tarolfo hearing , he began then to enter into a farre greater admiration than he had euer done before , and greatly to bethinke him hereof , and so in the ende to The liberalitie of Tarolfo towardes the Lady in releasing hir of hir promis . conceiue the great liberalitie of the husband , that had sent his wife vnto him ; wherupon he said to himself : Whatsoeuer he be ▪ that should so much as but thinke villanie towardes such a knight , were surely worthy of great blame : and so taking and talking with the Lady , he thus sayde vnto hir : Madame , like a worthy Lady , ye haue performed that to me due is : for the which cause I accompt that receiued of your handes , that I haue of you desired , and therfore when it shall please you , ye may returne to your husbande , and thanke him ( I pray you ) on my behalfe , for this his so great a pleasure done vnto me , and excuse me of the solie I haue heretofore committed towards him , assuring him , that hereafter I shal neuer put the like in practise . The lady giuing great thanks to Tarolfo for that his so great curtesie , merily departed thē●e and returned to hir husbande , to whom she recited in ordre all that had ben happened . But Theban , nowe comming to Tarolfo demaunded how the case stode . Tarolfo declared vnto him the whole discourse . To whom Theban then sayd : and I , shal I then lose that which thou hast promised me ? Tarolfo answered : no , but when it pleaseth thée , take thou halfe of al the castels & treasures I haue in sort heretofore promised thée . For I acknowledge , that thou hast fully serued my turne . To whome Theban aunswered : It may Liberalitie of Thebane towardes Tarolfo . neuer please the Gods , since the knight was so liberal to thée of his wife , & thou againe wast not a villaine to him in that his offer , that I become lesse than curteous . For aboue all things in the worlde it contenteth me , in that I haue serued thy turne : and therefore I will , that all that I ought to receyue in guerdon of my trauaile remaine all thine , in such sort as it hath euer bene heretofore : neither would he take of that was Tarolfos any thing at all . It is now doubted , The conclusion of the proposer . in whether of these was the greatest liberalitie , either in the knight that had giuen libertie to his wife to go to Tarolfo , either in Tarolfo , who sent the lady ( whom he had always desired , and for whose sake he had done so much , to come to that iumpe , whervnto he was commen , when as she came vnto him ) backe to hir husband frée : or in Thebane , who hauing abandoned his countrey ( being now olde ) for to gaine the promised rewardes , and being come thether , toiled him selfe to bring that to an ende , which he had promised , wherby he iustly deserued the same , did now remit the whole to Tarolfo , and remained poore as he was of the first . Very excellent is both the tale & The iudgement of the Queene vpon the fourth question . the demaunde , sayd the Quéene . Of trouth eache one was very liberall , considering the first of his honour , the second of his lasciuious desire , and the third that of his rewarded riches ; was very curteous . Nowe if we will knowe which of them vsed the greatest liberalitie or curtesie : It is méete we consider whether of the thrée déedes is moste acceptable , the which being well wayed , we shall manifestly knowe the most liberall , b●ause who most giueth , is to be helde most liberall : of the which thrée , the one is deare , that is Honour , the which Paulus Aemilius vanquishyng Perses , king of Macedonia , rather desired than the gained treasures . The second is to be fled , that is , the wanton delights of Venus , according to the sentence of Sophocles , and of Xenocrates , saying : That lust is to be fled as a furious gouernement . The third is not to be desired , that is Riches : forsomuch as the most times they are noisome to a vertuous life , and to such a one as can vertuously liue with moderate Diuers Romaines in times past pore , and yet vertuous . pouertie , as liued Marcus Curtius , Attilius Regulus , and Valerius Publicola , as by their workes is manifest . If then of these thrée , only Honour is to be helde deare , and the others not , he vsed the greatest liberalitie that gaue his wife to another , although he did lesse than wisely therin . He was also the chiefest in liberalitie , wherin the others folowed him : therfore according to our iudgement he that gaue his wife in whome consisted his honour , was aboue the rest , the most liberall . I ( sayde Menedon ) agrée , that in The reply of Men●d●● as much as ye haue thus sayde , it be as you say : but yet eche one of that other séemeth to me , to be more liberall , and ye shall heare howe . It is very true , that the first graunted his wife , but he vsed therin not so gret a liberalitie as ye speake of , bicause if he would haue denied hir , he might not iustly haue done it , by reason of the othe she made , the which was conuenient for hir to kéepe : and therfore who giueth that he may not denie , doth but well in making himselfe liberall thereof ▪ and it was but a trifle he gaue : and therfore ( as I haue sayde ) eche one of the other was more curteous . And for that ( as it is already sayde ) Tarolfo had now a long time desired this lady , and loued hir farre aboue all others , he for to attaine hir , had of long time abode great troubles , offering himselfe for to satisfie hir request , to séeke forth things almost impossible to be had , the which nowe obtained , he deserued ( through hir promised faith ) to obtain hir also , whome ( as we say ) being obteined , there is no doubt but that the honor of the the husband , and the release of that she had promised ( the which he released ) was in his hande . Then was he , to conclude , liberall both of the honor of the husbande , of the othe of his lady , and of his owne long desire . It is a greate matter to haue endured long thirst , and to come to a pleasant fountaine , and not to drinke , but to suffer others to drinke . The thirde was also very liberall , considering that pouertie is one of the most lothsome things of the worlde to beare , for so much as it is the chaser away both of mirth and rest , a flier of honors , a frequenter of vertue , and the inducer of crabbed Euery one f●ieth pouertie . care , so that euery one naturally endeuoure them selues wyth a fiery desire to flie the same , the which desire is so kyndled in many , to the ende to lyue very splendantly in reste , as they giue them selues no lesse to dishonest gaine , than to disordinate spences , peraduenture not knowing , or not otherwayes being able to féede that their desire : which is cause many times either of death or exile . How much then ought the riches to please & to be acceptable to them that in due sorte doe both gaine and possesse them ? And who wil doubt that Theban was not most poore if he beholde howe he abandoning his nightes rest , wente gathering of hearbes , and digging vp of rootes , in doubtfull places for the better sustentation of hys poore life . And that this pouertie did occupie hys vertue , may be also beleued , in hearing how Tarolfo did déeme to be by him disceiued , when he beheld him apparelled in vile vesture , and seing him desirous to shake of that miserie to become riche , knowing howe he came as farre as from Thessalia , into Spayne , hasarding him self to perillous chaunces thorow doubtfull iourneys and vncertaine aire , to the ende to perfourme the promisse he had ▪ made , and to receyue the like from an other . Also it may be euidently séene , that without doubt who giues him self to such and so many miseries to the ende to flie pouertie , knoweth the same to be full of all grief & troubles . And how much the more he hath shaken of the greatest pouertie , and is entred a rich life , so much the more is the same life acceptable vnto hym . Then who that is become of poore , riche , if therwith his life doth delight him , how great , and what maner of liberalitie doth he vse , if he giue the same away , and consenteth to returne to that state , the which he hath with so many troubles fled ? Assuredly he doth a thing exceding great and liberal . And this séemeth farre greater than the rest , considering Olde folkes commonly couetous . also of the age of the giuer , that was now olde : forasmuch as Auarice was wont to be continually of greater force in olde men than in yong , whervpon I gather , that eche one of the two folowing , hath vsed a greater liberalitie than hath the first , so much commended by you , and the third farre more than either of the others . In howe much your reason might bée well by any one defended , so well is the same defended by you ( sayd the Quéene ) but we minde to shew vnto you briefly how our iudgement rather than yours ought to take place . Ye will say , that he shewed no The quenes solution to the fourth question . Liberalitie at all , graunting the vse of his wife to an other , bicause of reason it was conuenient thorow the othe made by the Lady , that he should so do , the which ought to be in déede if the othe might holde . But the wife forsomuch as she is a membre of hir husband , or rather one body with him , could not iustly make such an othe without the will of hir husbande : and yet if she did make such an othe , it was nothing , bicause the first othe lawfully made , could not with reason be derogate by any following , chiefly not by those that are not duly made for a necessary cause . And the maner is in matrimoniall vnitings the man to sweare to be contente with the woman , and the woman with the man , and neuer to chaunge the one the other for an other . Now then , the woman can not sweare , and if she do sweare ( as we haue sayde ) she sweareth for a thing vnlawful , and so contrary to the former othe it ought not to preuaile , and not preuailing otherwise than for his pleasure , he ought not to commit his wife to Tarolfo , and if he doe commit hir to hym , then is he Liberall of his honour , and not Tarolfo , as you holde opinion . Neither coulde he bée liberall of his othe in releasing it , for as much as the othe was nothing . Then onely remained Tarolfo liberall of his wanton desire : the which thing of propre duetie is conuenient for euery man to doe , bicause we all thorowe reason are bounde to banish vice , and to folow vertue . And who that doth that , wherevnto he is of reason bounde is ( as ye haue sayd ) nothing at all liberal , Flie vice and followe vertue . but that which is done more than dutie requireth , may well and iustly be termed Liberalitie . But bicause you peraduenture with silence argue in your minde , what honour may that be of a chaste woman to hir husbande , which ought to be so deare : we wil prolong somewhat oure talke in shewing you , to the ende that ye may the more clearely sée , that Tarolfo and Thebane , of whome we intende next to speake , vsed no liberalitie at all in respect of the Knight . Ye shal know that chastitie together with the other vertues , yeld none other reward to the possessours therof , Chastitie a vertue most excellent . than honour , the which honour among vertuous men , makes the least vertuous , the most excellent . This honour if men with humilitie séeke to support it , it maketh them friendes to God , and so by consequent to liue , and after death , to possesse the goodes The ioy of a man is to haue a good wife . eternal : the which if the woman conserueth for hir husbande , he may liue merily , and certaine of his ofspring , and frequent in open sight among the people content to sée hir for such hir vertues honored among the most high and chiefest dames , and in his minde it is a manifest token that she is good , feareth God , and loueth him , which is no small pleasure , seing shée is giuen him for an euerlasting companion indiuisible , sauing by death : He thorow this obtained fauour is séene continually to increase , both in spirituall and The grief of a man hauing an euil life . wordly wealth . And so on the contrary , he whose wife hath defaulte of suche vertues , can neuer passe one houre with true consolation , nothing is acceptable vnto him , and continually the one desireth the death of the other , he perceiueth him selfe thorowe this disordred vice to bée caried in the mouthes of the veriest misers , neither séemeth it vnto him , that such a fault should not be beleued , of whome so euer it is hearde : And if she were largely endowed with all other vertues , yet this vice séemeth to haue such a force as to bring hir in contempt , & to vtter ruine . Then is this honour that maketh the woman both chast and good to hir husbande , a most great gift , and so is to be held most dearely . Blessed may he be called to whom thorowe grace is graunted such a gifte , although we beleue they are but few , towards whome is borne enuy for so gret a benefite . But to returne to our purpose , it is to be séene how much the Knight did giue . It is not fled our memorie when as ye sayd , that Theban was of the rest most liberall , who being with trouble enriched , hath not doubted to returne into the miserie of poore estate , in gyuing away that which he had gotten . It apparantly appeareth , that ye are euill acquainted with pouertie , who if she come vnto vs mery , surmounteth all riches . Thebane now peraduenture The care which riches bring . thorow the attained wealth , felt him self replete of sundry sowre cares . He did nowe imagine that it séemed Tarolfo to haue done very euill , and therfore woulde practise by murdring hym , to recouer againe his Castels . He abode in feare to be peraduenture betrayed of his tenantes . He was entred into care touching the gouernement of his landes . He now knew all the prepared guiles to bée done vnto his coparteners . He saw him selfe greatly enuied for his riches , and doubted least théeues should secretely spoile hym therof . He was stuffed with so many such and sundry thoughtes and cares , as all quietnesse was fled from him . Thorowe the which occasions , calling to minde his former life , and that without so many cares hée passed the same merrily , sayd to him selfe : I desired to grow riche , to the ende to attaine quiet rest ▪ but I sée it is the increaser of troubles and cogitations : so is it the flier of quietnesse : And therefore desirous to be in his former estate , he rendred them all to him by wh●me they were gyuen . Pouertie is the refused rich , sa goodnesse vnknowen , a flier of prouocations , Pouertie highly estemed in times past . the whiche was of Diogenes fully vnderstoode . As much suffiseth pouertie , as Nature requireth . He liueth safe from euery disceite that paciently approcheth therewith , neither is he disabled to attaine to greate honours , that ( as wée haue sayde ) vertuously liueth therewith : and therefore as Thebane reiected this allurement he was not liberall , but wise . So gracious he was to Tarolfo , in that it pleased him to giue the same rather to hym than to an other , where as hée might haue bestowed the same vppon many others . Then to conclude , the Knight was more liberal that graunted his honour , than any of the others : And thinke this one thing , that the honour he gaue was not to be againe recouered , the which happeneth not in many other things , as of battailes , prowesse , and others like : For if they are at one tyme lost , they are recouered at an other , and the same is possible ▪ Therefore this maye suffise for answere vnto youre demaunde .

¶ The fift Question , proposed by CLONICO .

AFter the Queene became silent , & Menedon satisfyed , a worthy yong gentleman called Clonico , that fat next to Menedon , thus began to saye : Most mighty Quéene , this gentlewomans tale hath bene so excellent , and therwithall so long , as I in what I may , shall briefly shewe vnto you this my ●onceipt , to the ende the rest may the better at their more leasure say theirs . Then for as much as I , although very yong , knew the life of the subiects of our Lorde Loue , to be replete with many cares and sundry pyning prouocations , yet with small delight I haue long tyme as I was able , fled the like , rather eschewing than commending them which follow him : And although I was sundry times tempted , yet with a valiant minde ( leauing the pitched snares ) I alwayes resisted : But bicause I being not strong enough , coulde no wayes resist that force , wherevnto Phoebus was vnable to gainstand , Cupide hauing taken heart to bring mée into the number of his thralles , was taken before I knewe howe . For one day being allured abrode thorow the fresh renued time , , walking all merry , & for my delight gathering of shell fysh vpon the salte Sea bankes , it happened as I tourned mine eyes towardes Foure yong damsels in a Barke vpon the Sea . the glittering waues , I soddaynely sawe a little Barke comming towardes me ; wherin , with one only marined , were foure yong Gentlewomen so faire , as i● was a maruellous thing to behold the beauty thei séemed to haue . They nowe being approched somewhat néere vnto me , and I not hauing as yet turned mine eye from them , sawe in the middest of them an excéeding great light , wherin , as my estimation gaue me , me thought I sawe the fygure of an Angell , very yong , and so faire , as I neuer behelde thing more fairer : whome as I thus eyed , me thought he said vnto Clonico attanited of Loue . me with a voice farre discrepant from ours : O yong foole , persecuter of our power ( and being therwith arriued ) I am come hither with foure yong damsels , let thy eye make ▪ choise of hir for thy maistresse , that best liketh thée . I when I heard this voice , abode all appalled , and deuised both with eye and heart to auoyde that which heretofore I had many times fled : but all was bootelesse , for the strength of my legs sayled me , & byside , he had bowe & wyngs to ouertake me quickly : wherevpon I in gazing among them , espied one so faire , so benigne of cheare , and so piteous of semblaunce , as I imagined to make choise of hir , as of a singuler maystresse , saying to my selfe : This damsel presenteth hirselfe so humble to my eyes , as assuredly she will neuer become enimie to my desires , as many others haue bene to them , whome I haue in beholding full of troubles alwayes scorned , but she shall rather bée a chaser awaye of my annoyes : and hauing thus thought , I forthwith answered : The gracious beautie of that yong damsell , that ( O my Lord ) sitteth on your right hand , makes me desire to be both to you , and hir , a most faithfull seruant . I am therefore ready to obey your will , do with me as shall best like you . I had not ended my tale , but that I felt my left side wounded The. ij . shaftes of Loue are different with a shining shaft shot from the bow which he bare , as me thought the same was of gold . And assuredly , I saw him as he turned towardes hir , to strike hir with an other of leade . And thus I being in this sort taken , abode in the snares I had of long time fled . This yong damsel hath and doth so much content mine eye as all other pleasure is very scarce in comparison of this . The which she espying , of long time shewed hir selfe content : but after that she knew me to be so taken with this delight , as no● to loue hir was a thing impossible , incontinent shée discouered hir guile towards me ▪ with an vndeserued disdaine , showing hir selfe in apparance a most cruell enimie , alwayes turning hi● eye the contrary way , as she happened to espie me ▪ and with wordes , on my part vndeserued , alwayes dispraising me , by oc●asion wherof , I haue in sin●●ry sortes endeuoured my selfe both with prayers and humilitie to appease hir crueltie ▪ but beyng vnable , I oftentimes bewéepe and lament this my hard fortune , neither can I any wayes withdraw me from Clonico an vnbeloued Louer . louing hir , but rather how much the more I finde hir cruell , so much the more me thinketh the flame of hir pleasure doth set my sorowful heart on fire ▪ As I thorowe th●se occasions , one day being all solitarie in a garden , bewailed my happe with infinite sighes , accompanied with many teares , there came vpon me a singuler friend of myne , to wh●m part of my griefs were discouered , who with pitifull wordes began to comfort me the best he could , but I giuing thervnto no eare at all , answered him , that my miserie exceded all others . Whervnto he made me this answer : A man is so much the more miserable ( sayde he ) as he either malieth or reputeth himself a miser : but assuredly I haue greater cause to lament than hast thou . I then al angry turned towards him with a disdainfull loke , saying : And how ? Who can haue greter cause than I ? Do not I for good seruice receiue euil recompence ? Is not my faithful loue rewarded with hatred ? So that any may be as sorrowfull as I , but more he can not bée . Truly ( sayd my friend ) I haue greater cause of grief A Louer infected with ielousie reciteth to Clonico the good entertainement of his Lady . than hast thou , and heare how . It is not vnknowen to thée , but that I haue of long time , & yet doe loue a Gentlewoman as thou knowest : neither was there euer any thyng that I thought might pleasure hir , which I ga●e not my selfe with all my witte and power to bring to effecte . And truely when she vnderstode the same , of that I desired , she made me a gracious gift , the which as I had receiued , and receiuing it at what time it pleased me , me thought none by a greate way to haue a life comparable to myne in gladnesse : only one thing pricked me , that I coulde not make hir beleue how perfectly I loued hir . Further than this , she perceiuing me to loue hir ( as I sayd ) passed lightly for me . But the Gods that will graunt no worldly good turne without some bitternesse , to the ende that the A goodly sentence . heauenly may be the better knowen , & by consequent the more desired , to this they gaue me an other corsey without comparison noisome , that is , that it hapned one day , as I abode with hir all alone , in a secret place , séeing ( without being againe séene ) who passed by , espied a propre yong man , and of a pleasant countenance to come along by vs , whom she behelde as I perceiued , with a fixed eie , and being past , she fette a pitifull sigh , the which I espying , sayde : Alas , do you so soone repent , as that ye now sigh for the loue of an other ? She , whose face was thorowe this occasion painted with a new rudde , swearing by the power of the high Gods , began with many excuses to endeuor hir self to make me beleue the contrary of that which I had conceiued thorowe the sigh , but all was to no purpose , bicause she kindled my heart with an anger so exceding fierce , as she made me then almost ready to chide with hir , but yet I withhelde me therfrom : And certainely it wil neuer out of my minde but that she loueth him or some other better than me : and all those persuasions , the which at other times heretofore she vsed for my helpe , that was , that she loued me better than she did any other , I nowe esteme them all in contrary , imagining that she hath fainedly sayde , and done all that she hath heretofore wrought , wherby I endure intollerable griefe , neither doth any comfort at all preuaile therin : but bicause shame often times doth bridle the wil I haue rather to sorrowe me than glad me , I doe not continue my bitter griefe , so as I make any apparaunce therof : but briefly I am neuer without cares and cogitations , the which bring me far greater annoy than I willingly would . Lerne then to beare the lesse griefs , since thou séest the greatest with a valiant minde borne of me . To whome I answered , that as it semed to me , his grief although it wer great , was no wayes to be compared to myne . He answered me the contrary , and thus we abode in a long contention , and in the ende parted without any The quenes iudgement vpon this fift question . diffinition . Wherefore , I pray you that ye wyll say your iudgement hereof . Yong Gentleman , sayd the Quèene , great is that paine of yours , and greate wrong doth the damsell committe in not louing you . But yet at al times your grief may by hope be eased , the which happeneth not to your companion , bicause that since he is once entred in suspect , nothing is able to draw it away . Therfore continually whilest Loue lasteth he sorroweth without confort : So that in our iudgement greater séemeth the griefe of the iealous , than that of the vnloued Louer . Then said Clonico , The contrary opinion of Clonico . Oh noble Quéene , since you saye so , it playnely appeareth that you haue alwayes bene loued againe , of him whome you haue loued , by occasion whereof , ye hardely knowe what my payne is . Howe may it appeare , that iealousie bryngeth greater griefe than is that I féele , forsomuch as the iealous possesseth that he desireth , & may in holding the same , take more delight therof in one houre , than in a long time after to féele any paine thorowe want thereof : and neuerthethelesse he may ( thorow experience ) abandon such ielousie , if it happen that this iudgement be found false : But I being kindled with a fiery desire , how much the more I sée my selfe farre off from the attaining thesame , so much the more I burne and consume my self assaulted of a thousande instigations , neyther is any ●●perience able to helpe me therein , bycause thorowe the often reprouing hir , and finding hir euery houre more sharpe , I liue desperate . Wherefore your answere séemeth contrary to the truth , bycause I doubt not but that it is much better to hold wyth suspition , than to desire with teares . That amorous flame that doth shine in our eyes , and that euery houre doth adorne our sight with the greater beautie , doeth neuer consent ( replied the Quéene ) that we loue in vaine , as The Quene replieth . you affirme : but for al that it is not vnknowen to vs , how great and what maner of payne that is , both of the one and the other : and therefore as our answere hath bene confirmable to the truth ▪ one thing we wil shewe to you . It is manifest that those things which most do hynder the quiet of the minde , are cares , the whiche are some of them come to a merrie ende , so some we sée to ende with great sorrowe , wherof , how much more the minde is repleate , so muche the more hath it of griefe , and chiefliest , when as the same are noisome : and that the iealous haue more store therof than haue you , is manifest , bicause you héede nothing else but only to get the good will of the damsel whome ye loue , the which not being able to attaine , is to you a griefe most grieuous : but yet it is certayne that it may easly come to passe to attaine the same at one instant , not thinking thereof ( forsomuch as womens heartes are inconstant ) bysides peraduenture she loueth you not withstanding ( to proue if you also loue hir ) she sheweth the contrary , and so perhappes wyll shewe vntill suche time as she shall be well assured of your loue , so that with these thoughtes , hope can mitigate vnfained griefe : but the iealous hath hys mind full fraught of infinite cares , agaynst the which neyther hope nor other delyght can bring comfort , or ease the paine . For he standeth intentiue to giue a Lawe The effectes of Iealousie . to the wandring eyes , the which his possessor can not giue . He will and doth endeuour himselfe to giue a Law to the féete , to the hands , and to euery other act of his Mistresse . He will be a circumspect knower both of hir thoughts , and of hir myrth , interpreting euery thing in euill parte towardes him selfe , beleuing that eache one desireth and loueth hir whome hée loueth . Likewise he imagineth euery word that she speaketh to be twaine , & full of disceite . And if he euer committed any detraction towards hir , it is death to him to remember it , imagining to be by the like meanes deceiued . He wil with coniectures shut vp the ways of the aire , & of the earth . And briefly the heauens , the earth , birds , beastes , & euery other creature that he thinketh doth hinder his deuises . And to remoue him from this , hope hath no place , bicause in this doing , if he find the woman faithfull , he thinketh that she espieth that which he doth , and is therfore hedefull therin . If he findeth that he séeketh for , and that he would not finde , who is more dolorous than he ? If peraduenture ye thinke that the imbracing hir in his armes be so great a delight vnto him as should mitigate these pangs , your iudgement is then false , bicause such maner of colling bringeth him in choller , in thinking that others as well as he , hath imbraced hir in the like sort : & if the woman peraduenture do louingly entertaine him , he demeth that she doeth it to the ende to remoue him from such his imaginations , and not for the true loue she beareth him . If he finde hir maliciously disposed , he thinketh that she then loueth an other , and is not content with him . And thus we can shew you an infinite numbre of other suspitions and cares that are harbored in a iealous person . What shal we then say of his lyfe , but that it is farre more greuous than that of any other liuing creature . He liueth beleuing , & not beleuing , The miserie of a iealous life . and still alluring the woman : and most times it hapneth , that these iealous persons doe ende their liues thorowe the selfe same malice , wherof they liue fearfull , and not without cause , for that with their reprehensions , they shewe the way to their owne harmes . Considering then the aforesayde reasons , more cause hath your friende that is iealous to sorrow , than haue The conclusion of the Queene vpon the fift question . you , bicause you may hope to get , & he liueth in feare to lose that which he scarsly holdeth for his owne . And therfore if he haue more cause of griefe than you , and yet comfortes him selfe the best he can , muche more ought you to comfort your selfe , and to set aside bewailings that are more méete for faint heartes : and hope , that the assured loue which you beare towards your Lady , shal not lose his due desert : For though she shew hir selfe sharpe towards you at this present , it can not be but that shée loueth you , bicause that loue neuer pardoned any loued to loue : and ye shal know , that with the fierce vehement windes are sooner broken the stubbourne okes , than the consenting réedes .

¶ The sixt Question , proposed by a yong Gentlewoman .

NExt vnto Clonico sate a faire Gentlewoman apparelled in blacke vesture vnder an honest veile , who as she perceyued the Quene to haue made an end of hir words , thus began to saye : Most gracious quene I remembre , that being a litle girle , how one day I with my brother , who was a propre yong man and of ripe yeares , abode all alone in a garden , without other company : and in tarying there together , it happened that two Two dansels amorous of a Gentleman he not knowing thereof : and that which happened . yong damsels of noble bloud , abounding in riches , & borne in this our Citie , who loued this my brother very well , and perceiuing him to be in the sayde garden , came thyther , and began a farre off to beholde him that was altogether ignoraunt of their purpose . And after a while , seyng him all alone , sauing for me of whom they reckned not , bicause I was but a little one , thus the one began to say to the other . We loue this yong Gentleman aboue all others , neyther doe knowe whether he loueth vs or no , yet is it méete that he loue vs both : so that now it is léeful for vs to satisfie our desire : and to knowe whether he loue eyther of vs , or whether of vs he best loueth , to the ende that she , whome he shall best like of , may after remain his , without being hindred of that other : wherfore since he is all alone , & that we haue a méete time offred , let vs runne vnto him , & eche one imbrace and kisse him , that done , he shall take whether of vs best pleaseth him . These two yong Gentlewomen being thus determined vpon this resolution , began to runne their race towardes my sayde brother . Wherat he maruelled greatly , espying them , and seeing in what sort they came : but the one of them or euer she came at vs , by a good waye , stayed all bashfull , and almost wéeping ripe : the other runne thorowe , and came vnto hym , whom she imbraced and kissed , and so sate hir downe by him , recommending hir selfe vnto him . And he , after the admiration conceyued of hir boldenesse , was somewhat ceassed , prayed hir as euer she loued hym , to tell him truly what moued them thus to doe ? She concealed nothing from him , the which hée hearyng , and examining well in his mynde that which the one and other had done , knewe not how to persuade hym selfe , whether of them best loued him , neyther yet whether of them he might best loue . And so hapnyng at that time to depart from them , he after prayed counsel of many of his friendes touching this matter : neither hath any one euer satisfied his desire touching y● demaunde . For the which cause ( I praye you ) from whome I assuredly beleue to haue a true definition of this my question , that ye will tel me whether of these two damsels ought soonest to be loued of the yong man . To this Gentlewoman the Quéene thus made aunswer : The aunswer of the Queene . Truly of the two yong women , she as it semeth loued your brother best , and soonest ought to be loued of him againe , y● ( doubting ) bashfully abode without imbracing him , and why I thus thynke , this ●● the reason : Loue ( as we knowe ) maketh those alwayes Loue is accompanied with feare . fearfull in whome he d●eth abide : and where he is of greatest force , there is likewise the greatest feare : and this hapneth , bicause the intent or consent of the person loued can not be fully knowen . And if it could be knowen , many things should be done , that in fearing to offende , are lefte vndone , bicause the one knoweth that in displeasing , is taken awaye euery occasion to be loued : And with this feare and loue shamfastnesse is always accompanied , and not without reason . Rereturning then to our question . Wée say , that it was an act of one vnfainedly enamoured , that of the Gentlewomans , whereby she shewed hir selfe both fearefull and bashfull : And that of the other , was rather the part of one both leude and licencious . And therefore he being of hir best beloued , ought the rather ( according to our iudgement ) to loue hir best . Then answered the Gentlewoman : Most curteous Quéene , The Gentlewoman replieth to the Queene . it is true , that where loue abideth with moderation there fear and bashfulnesse doth altogether frequent , but where he doeth abounde in such quantitie as he taketh away the sight from the most wise ( as is alredy said ) I say , that feare hath there no place , but that the motions of him that féeleth the same , are according to him that vrgeth them forwards , and therfore that Gentlewoman seing hir desire before hir eyes , was so hotly kindled , as al shamfastnesse abandoned , she ranne straight to him , by whom she was so vehemently pricked forwardes , as till then vnable to abyde . The other not so muche inflamed , obserued the amorous termes , being bashefull and remayning behinde , as you ●●● . So that then she that ran , loued most , & most ought●o be loued againe . Discrete Gentlewoman , The Quene to the Gentlewoman maketh answer . ( sayd the Quéene ) true it is , that excessiue loue taketh away the sight , and euery other due perseuerance in things that are ought of his nature , but not in those that belong vnto him , the which as he increaseth , so grow they . Then howe greater quantitie of loue is found in any one , so much the more feare ( as wée said at the first ) is there also founde . And that this is true the cruell heart of Biblis doth manifest the same vnto Biblis . vs , who howe much she loued , was séene by the sequele therof . For she seing hir self abandoned and refused , had not the audacitie to discouer hir selfe with hir propre wordes , but writing she disclosed hir vnfitting desire . Likewise Phedra many times gaue the attempt Phedra and Hippolito . to go to Hippolito , to whom she thought boldly to speake , and to tel how much she loued him : but the wordes she had to vtter , no sooner came into hir mouth , but they stayed vpon hir tong and there died . Oh howe fearefull is the persone that loueth ? Who Alcides . hath ben more mightie than Alcides , to whom satisfied not the victorie of humaine things , but also he gaue him selfe to beare vp the heauens , and not withstanding was lastly so enamoured , not of a woman , but of a yong wenche , a slaue , which he had gained , as fearing hir commaundements , did lyke an humble subiect or seruant , euen the very basest things . Also Paris in Paris . what he durst not attempt neyther with eye nor tong , with his finger in the presence of his loue , wryting first hir name with wine that had ben spilt , wrote after , I loue thée . How farre passing all these doth Pasiphe bring vs a due exaumple of feare , the which Pasiphe . without any reasonable intendement , yea & without understanding , durst not so much as expresse hir desire to a beast , but with hir propre handes , gathering the soft grasse , endeuoured hir self to make him benigne vnto hir , oftentimes decking hir selfe at the glasse for to please him , and to kindle him in the like desire that she was in , to the ende he might attempt to seke that which she durst not demaunde . It is not méete for a Shame prescribeth the honour of Ladies . woman enamoured , neither for any other , to be prompt and ready , forasmuch as the great shamfastnesse onely which ought to be in vs , doth remaine as the guarder of our honour . We haue the voyce among men , ( and the trouth is so ) to know better how to hide the amorous flame than they do , and nothing else engendreth this in vs , but the gret feare , the which doth rather occupie our forces than those of men . Howe many hath there ben of them ( and peraduenture we haue knowen some ) which many times haue caused themselues , to haue bene bidden , to the ende thereby they might haue atchieued to the amorous effects , the which willingly woulde rather haue bidden the bidder , before he them , if due bashefulnesse and feare had not detained them : and not only that , but euery time that No , is scaped their mouthe , they haue had in their mindes a thousande repentyngs , saying from their hearts a thousand times Yea. There remaineth then the like scelerate fire on the behalfe of Semiramis , & Semiramis and Cleopatra . Cleopatra , the which loued not , but sought to quiet the rage of their wanton willes , and the same beyng quieted , they after remembred not them selues the one of the other . Wise marchauntes vnwillingly doe aduenture at one time all their treasures to the hasard of Fortune , and yet notwithstanding , they care not to graunt hir som smal portion , the which if they happen to lose , yet doe they féele no griefe of minde at all The conclusion of the Queene vpon the sixt question . for the same . The yong woman therfore that embraced your brother , loued him but a little , and that little she committed to Fortune , saying : This Gentleman if I may hereby get him , it is wel : but if he refuse me there shall be no more but let him take an other . The other that abode all bashefull , forasmuch as she loued him aboue all others , she doubted to put so great loue in aduenture , imagining lest this peraduenture shuld displease him , & he so refuse hir , that hir griefe should be then such and so much , as she should die therof . Let therfore the second be loued before the first .

¶ The seuenth Question , proposed by GALEONE .

A Cleare Sunne beame piercing thorowe amongst the gréene leaues , did strike vpon the aforesayde Fountaine , and did rebound the light therof vpon the faire face of the adorned Quéene who was thereby apparelled with that colour , wherof the heauens maketh shew when as both the children of Latona ( from vs hidden ) with their starres onely giueth vs light : and besides the splendour it brought to hir face , it did so lighten the place , as among the fresh shade it yelded a maruellous luster to the whole company . Further what time the reflected raye did extende euen to that place where the Laurell crowne on hir head on the one side , & the golden tresses on the other , dyd determine : It so entermingled there among with twinings , not artificial as at the first sight one woulde haue sayde , that there had issued forth among the gréene leaues a cleare flame of a burning fire , which did spread in such sort , as the aburne haires wer easily séene to the standers about . Galeone that was peraduenture sooner or better awares of this maruellous sight than any of the rest ( being set in circle ouer against the Quéene deuided only with the water ) did very intentiuely behold the same almost as though he cared for nothing else : so that he moued not his mouth to the question that was nowe come to his turne : To whome the Quéene therfore ( hauing now both kept silence a good space , as eke contented the witty Gentlewoman ) thus sayd : The only desire peraduenture of the thing which thou beholdest , stayeth thée : Tell what is the occasion that holdeth thée thus appalled , as in following the order of the rest thou speakest not ? It is onely ( as we beleue ) the gazing at our head , as if ye had neuer séene the same before : Tell vs first , and after as the other haue propounded , euen so propound you . At this sodain voice Galeone lift vp his mind replete with swéete thoughtes , somwhat comming to him selfe , as what time he is wont to do , that thorow a sodain feare doth breake his golden sléepe , and thus sayde : Most noble and renoumed Quéene , whose worthinesse it shoulde be impossible for me to declare , my minde was so wrapped in gracious thoughtes ( when as I did so firmely loke at your heade , as in beholding the bright raye , streaming into the freshe fountaine , and rebounding vpon your face , me thought there issued forth of the water , a little sprite so gentle and gracious to sée vnto , as he plucked my minde backe , to behold that which he did , and perceiuing peraduenture , my eyes altogither insufficient to beholde so great a ioy , he mounted by the cleare raye into your eyes , and there for a good space made maruellous myrthe , adorning the same with a newe clearenesse : And after mounting more high , I sawe how he ascended by this light ( leauing his footesteppes in your eyes ) vpon your crowne , where as he together with the raye , kindled ( as it séemed vnto me ) a newe flame , such a one as was of yore séene by Tanaquil to appeare to Seruius Tullus a little boye , whilest he slept , and so went about your crowne , leaping from sprigge to sprig , like a litle amorous birde , that singing doth visite many leaues , mouing youre hartes with sundry iestures , sometimes wrappyng & hiding him selfe therein , beyng more merrier euery time he came forth therof , & therwith ( as it séemed vnto me ) so iocund in him selfe , as nothyng more , & that singing , or with a swéet voice he vttred these words :

Of the third rolling Skie , the benigne babe deuine I am : enamoured so , to neast in these two eyen , That doubtlesse die I should , were I of mortall route : From twig to twig I twine to feede this my delight , These golden Tresses whirling in and out : My selfe , inflaming my selfe , right So as with flame I shew , th effect , the potent might ▪ Of my dartes deuine , piercing where I goe , Eche one wounding , that with sweete sight , Doth gaze hir in the eyes : whereas eche houre loe , If such hir pleasure be , I there descend adowne , For of my kingdomes she , Quene is of great renowne .

And herewith he sayd much more , goyng about as at what tyme ye called me , and ye had no sooner spoken , but that he sodenly retired into youre eyes , the which sparklyng like to the mornyng starre gaue a newe light that made all the place to shine : ye haue now heard with what ioy new thoughts haue stayed me for a time . Philocopo and the reste maruelled not a little hereat , and turnyng their eyes towardes their Quéene , saw that , which to heare semed to them impossible . And she that was attired with humilitie , listned to the wordes that were truly reported of hir , and abode with a stable countenance makyng no answere at all . And therfore Galeone speaking in this wyse , followed with hys Question : Moste gracious Quéene , I desire to know whether a man ought to be enamoured for his delight or no ? And to demaunde this , many things moue me , both séene , heard , & held , thorowe the sundry opinions of many . The Quéene behelde Galeone a good while in the face , and afterwardes , after a certaine sigh , thus made answere . It is conuenient we speake against that which with desire we séeke to follow . And truely that which you in askyng , do propound in doubt , ought to be very manifest vnto you . In answering you therfore there shal be kept the begon order . And he whose subiects we are , pardon vs the words , that we , as constrained thorow force of Iudgement , shall ( more sooner than willing ) saye against his diuine maiestie , least thereby his indignation do fall vpon vs . And you that lykewise as well as we are his subiecte , with a bolde minde giue eare vnto them , neither do you for all that chaunge your purpose at all . And to the ende that so much the better , & with a more apparant intendinēt our words may be receiued , we will somewhat digresse from our matter , returning again thervnto as briefly as possible we may , & thus we say : Loue is of thre sortes , thorow the which thrée all other things ar loued , some thorow the vertue of one , & some thorow the power of an other , according as is the thing loued , & likewise the louer : The first of the which thrée is called honest loue : This is the good , vpright , and loyall Loue , the which of all persons ought to be receiued : This , the high & first creator holdeth , linked to his creatures , and them he tieth therewith vnto him . Thorowe this , the heauens , the worlde , Realmes , Prouinces , and Cities do remain in their state : Thorow this we do merite to be eternal possessors of the celestiall kingdom : And without this is lost all that we haue , in power of wel doing . The seconde is called Loue for delight : And this is he , whose subiectes we are : This is our God , him we do worship , him we do pray vnto , in him doe we trust , that he may be our contentation , and that he fully may bring our desire to passe : Of this is put the question , whervnto we shall duely answer . The third is Loue for vtilitie , of this loue the worlde is ●eplenished more than of any of the other things . This is coupled with Fortune , whilest she tarieth , he likewise abideth : but if they parte , he is then the waster of many goodes . And to speake reasonably , he ought to be déemed rather hate than loue . Nowe as touching the propounded question , we nede to speake neither of the first , nor of the last : we will speake of the seconde , that is , of Loue for delight , to whome truely , no persone that desireth to leade a vertuous life , ought to submit him selfe , bicause he is the depriuer of honors , the bringer of troubles , the reueler of vices , the copious giuer of vaine cares , and the vnworthy occupier of the libertie of others , a thing aboue all things to be held most deare . What is he then regarding his own wealth ( being wise ) that will not flie such a gouernment ? Let him that may lyue frée , following those things that do euery way increase his libertie , and let vicious gouernours gouerne vicious vassals . I did not thinke , sayd Galeone then , to giue occasion thorowe these my wordes to the lessning of this our disport , nor to disquiet the regiment of our Lord Loue , neither yet to trouble the myndes of any others , but did rather imagine ( you defining it according to the intent of me and many others ) that ye might thereby confirme those that are his subiectes with a valiaunt mynde , and inuite those which are not , with as gréedy appetite : but I sée that youre intent is all contrary to myne , bicause you with your wordes do shew to be iij. sortes of Loue , of the which thrée , the first and the last I consent they vs ( as you say ) but the second , the which answereth to my demaund , ye say it is as much ●o be fled : As I holde opinion , it is as the increaser of vertue to be followed of him that desireth a glorious ende , as I beleue to make apparaunt vnto you by this that followeth . This Loue , of whom we reason ( as i ▪ maye bée manifest to all the worlde , bicause wée proue it ) doth work this propretie in humaine hearts , that after it hath disposed the mynde to a thing which pleaseth , it spoileth the same of all pride & of all fiercenesse , makyng them humble in eche doyng , as it is manifest vnto vs by Mars , whome we finde , that in louing Venus , became of a fierce and sharpe Duke in battaile , a most humble and pleasant Louer . It makes the gréedie and couetous , liberall and curteous . Medea the most carefull hider of hir arte , after she felt his flames , liberally yelded hir selfe , hir honour and hir artes to Iason . Who makes men more diligent to high attemptes than he ? And what he can do , beholde by Paris and Menelaus . Who furthereth forwardes the angry fiers more than doth he ? He sheweth vs how oftentymes the anger of Achilles , was quieted thorowe the swéete prayer of Polixena , He aboue all others maketh men couragious and strong . Neither know I what greater example may be giuen vs , than that of Parseus , who for Andromaca made a maruelous proufe of his vertuous force . He dec●eth al them that are by him apparelled , with excellent qualities , with ornate talke , with magnificence , and with pleasauntnesse . He I say bestoweth vpon all his subiectes finenesse , and gentlenesse . Oh how many are the good thinges which procede from him ? Who moued Virgill ? Who O●●de ? Who the other Poets to leaue of themselues eternall fame in those their holy verses , the which ( if he had not bene ) should neuer haue comen to our eares , but he ? What shal we say further of his vertues ? but that he was able to giue such a swéetenesse to Orpheus harpe , as after that he had called to that sound all the woodes , standers about , and made the running streames to stay , & to come into his presence in milde peace the fierce Lions togethers , with the faint hearted Hartes , & all other beastes : he made likewise the infernall furies quiet , and gaue rest and swéetenesse to the troubled soules , and after al this the sounde was of such vertue , as he attained to haue againe his lost wife . Then is he not the chaser away of honour as you say , neyther the giuer of vnfitting troubles , nor the prouoker of vices , nor the disposer of vaine cares , nor the vnworthy vser of the libertie of others . So that euery one of whom he maketh none accompt , and is not as yet his seruaunt , ought with all their wit and diligence , to endeuour and to occupy themselues in the attaining the fauour of such a Lord , and to become his subiect , since through him he becommeth vertuous . That which pleaseth the Gods , and men of greatest strength , ought likewise to please vs . Let such a Lord therfore be loued , serued , and liue alwayes in our myndes . Greatly deceiueth thée thine opinion said the Quéene , and it is no maruell , bicause as farre as we vnderstand , thou art so far enamoured , as none the like , and without doubt the iudgement of the enamoured is méerely false , bicause as they haue lost the sight of the eyes of their minde , so haue they banished reason as their vtter enimy . And for this cause it shall be conuenient that we against our wil speake of Loue , the which greueth vs , since we be his subiects . But yet to plucke thée from thine error we shall turne our silence to a true report , and wil therfore that thou know , that this Loue is nothing else , than an vnreasonable will sprong of a passion thorowe wanton pleasure , that is opened to the eyes , nourished with idlenesse , by the memorie and thoughts of foolish myndes : and many times in how much it multiplieth , it taketh away the in●ent of him in whom it abideth , from things necessary , & disposeth the same to things vnprofitable . But bicause that thou thorow example giuing dost endeuor thy selfe to shew that all goodnesse & all vertue doth procede from him , we will procede to the disproufes of thy proufe . It is no part of humilitie vniustly to bring to a mans self , that which belongeth to an other , but rather an arrogan●ie and an vnfitting presumption : The which thing Mars ( whome thou makest thorowe loue to become humble ) assuredly vsed in taking away from Vulcan , Venus his most lauful wife . And without doubt this humilitie that appeareth in the face of louers doth not procede of a benigne heart , but taketh roote from guile and deceipt , neither makes this loue the couetous liberall , but when as such abundance as thou layest to haue bene in Medea , doth abounde in the heart , and doth depriue the same of the sight of minde , and most foolishly is become prodigall of things heretofore dul● est●●ed deare , and not giuing the same with measure , but vnprofitably casting them away , beleueth to please ▪ & displeaseth . Medea nothyng wise of hir prodigalitie , in short time repented very much without vtilitie , and knew that if she had modestly ▪ vsed those ●ir dere gifts , she should not haue comen to so vile an ende . And that soliciting that purchaseth or worketh hurt to the soliciters , as it seemeth to vs , ought not any ways to be sought for ▪ for much better it is to stand idle , than worke harme , although that neither the one nor the other is to be praysed . Paris was a solicitour to his owne distruction , if he behelde the ende of his soliciting . Menelaus as reason was , became diligent , not for loue , but to recouer his honor lost , as eche discrete person ought to doe . Neither yet is this loue a meane to mitigate anger , but the benignitie of mind , the br●nt being past that induceth it , makes it to become nothing , & remitteth the offence against whome it is angry . And yet louers and discrete persons were wont at the prayers of the persone loued , or of some friende , to forgiue offences , to shew them selues curteous of that which coste them nothyng , and to make the crauers therof beholdyng vnto them . And in this sort Achilles , many times shewed him selfe to expell from him this congeled anger . Likewise it séemes that this makes men couragious and worthy : But therof I can shew you the contrary . Who was a man of greter valour than Hercules , and yet being enamoured became vile and forgetfull of his force , so that hée did spin thréede with the women of Iole ? Assuredly in thinges , wherin occurreth no daunger , a most hardy people are the enamoured , and wherin daunger hapneth they shew them selues in apparaunce hardy , and put them selues forward , neither doth loue , but little wit allure them so to do , to the ende they may after haue glory in the sight of their loues , although it hapneth very seldome , bicause they doubt so much the losyng of the person loued , that they are rather content to be helde ●●le & of little courage , than to giue them selues to perill . And yet we doubte not , but this Loue reposeth all swéetnesse in Orpheus harpe . We agrée that it is true that thou haste shewed , that truely in generall loue ladeth the tongs of his subiects with such a swéetenesse , & with so many enti●ements ▪ as they many times would therby make the stones turne vp side downe , so y● to entice is not only the propretie of wauering and inconstant men , but of vile men . Howe shall we say , that such a lorde ought to be followed , thorowe the good propretie of the follower ? Assuredly he ( in whom he abideth ) maketh wise and profitable counsels to be despised . For it was euill with the Troians that those of Cassandra ▪ were not heard of Paris . He maketh likewise his subiects to forget and despise their good fame , the which ought to remayne to vs all on earth after our deathes , as an eternall heire of our memorie . And how much these aforsaid did contemne , the same Aegistus maye suffise for an example : Although Scylla wrought no lesse hurt than Pasiphe . Is not he the occasion that breaketh sacred bondes of the promised pure faith ? Yes truely what had Ariadna done to Duke Theseus , wherby contaminating the matrimoniall bandes , and giuing himselfe and his promised faith to the windes , he shoulde abandon hir poore miser among the desert rockes ? A little pleasure in gasing in the eyes of Phedra , was occasion to celerate so much euill , and of such requitall for the receiued honor . In him also is found no law : and that it is true , may be sene by the doings of Tereus , who hauing receiued Philomena ▪ from hir pitifull father , and carnally knowen hir , made no stay to contaminate the most holy lawes matrimonially contracted betwene him and Progne , the sister of Philomena . This also calling and causing himself to be called a God , occupieth the reasons of the gods . Who could euer fully with words shew the iniquitie of him ? He to speake briefly , leadeth them that follow him to all euils : and if by happe his followers do any vertuous act ( which happeneth very feldome ) with a vicious beginnyng they beginne it , desiring thereby to come very quickly to the desired end of their loths●m willes , the which may be rather sayd vices , than vertues , forsomuch as that is not to be héeded only which man doth , but with what minde it is doone , and so according to the will of the worker , to repute the same vicious or vertuous , bicause that neuer of an euill roote sprang a good trée , nor from an euill trée good fruite . This Loue then is leude and naught : and if he be naught , he is to be fled . And who that flieth things euill , of consequent foloweth ●he good , and so is both good & vertuous . The beginning of this loue is none other thing than feare , the sequele is sinne , and the ende is griefe and noy , it ought then to be fled , and to be reproued , & to feare you to haue him in you , bicause he is violent , neither knoweth he in any of his doings to vse measure , and is altogether void of reason . He is without al doubt the destroyer of the minds , the shame , anguish , passion , griefe , & plaint of the same , neuer consenteth that the heart of whom that lodgeth him be without bitternesse , who will then praise that he is to be followed , but fooles . Truly if it were lauful we would willingly liue without him , but of such an harme we are to late awares , and therefore it is conuenient for vs , since we are caught in his nettes ; to follow his life vntil what time as that light which guided Aeneas out of the dark waies flying the perillous fiers , may appeare to vs , & guide vs to his pleasures .

¶ The eight Question proposed by a faire Gentlewoman named POLA.

ON the right hand of Galeone , was set a fayre Gentlewoman , whose name was Pola , pleasant , and yet vnder an honest couerture , who after the Quéene blent , thus began to saye : O noble Quéene , ye haue domed at this present , that no person ought to folowe this our Lord Loue , & I for my part consent therevnto : but yet since it séemes to mée impossible , that the youthfull race both of men and women should be runne ouer without this benigne Loue : I gather , at this present , setting apart ( by your leaue ) your sentence , that to be enamoured is léefull , taking the euill doing for due working : And in following the same , I desire to know of you , whether of these two women Of what degree one should chose his louer . ought rather to be loued of a yong man , both two pleasing him alike , either she that is of noble bloude , and of able kinsefolke , and copious of hauing much more than the yong man , or the other that is neither noble nor riche , nor of kin●folkes so abounding as is the yong man ? To whom the Quene thus made answere : Faire Gentlewoman , admitting the case that The Queenes aunswer . both man and woman ought to follow Loue as you haue before affirmed , we giue iudgement ; that in how much the woman is richer , greater , and more noble than the yong man , of whatsoeuer degrée or dignitie he be of , euen so she ought to be rather preferred to the loue of a yong man , than ought she that hath any thing lesse than he : bicause mans mynde was created to follow high things . And therfore he must séeke rather to aduance than any ways to imbace him self . Further there is a common prouerbe , which sayth :

The good to couet better t is , Than to possesse that bad is .

Wherfore in our iudgement thou art better to loue the most noble , & with good reason to refuse the lesse noble . Then said pleasant Pola ▪ Noble Quéene , I would haue giuen an other iudgement ( if it had ben to mée ) The contrary opinion of Pola with hir reasons . of this question , as ye shall heare . We all naturally doe rather desire short and briefe , than long and tedious troubles , and that it is a lesse and more briefe trouble to get the loue of the lesse noble , than of the more noble , is manifest . Then the lesse ought to be followed : for as much as the loue of the lesse may be said to be alredy wonne , the which of the more is yet to get . Further , many perills may folow to a man louing a woman of a greater condition , than him self is of , neither hath he lastly therby any greater delight , than of the lesser . For we sée a great woman to haue many kinsfolkes , and a great family , and them all as diligent héeders of hir honour , to haue an eie vnto hir , so that if any one of them happen to espie this loue , therof may folow ( as we haue already sayde ) great perill to the louer , the which of the lesse noble can not so lightly come to passe : and these perils eche one ( as he is able ) ought to flie , for as much as who that receiueth harme is sure therof , & who that hath done it , la●gheth him after to scorne , saying he sp●edeth well , where he liketh , there let him loue : yet dieth he more than once . But how ▪ that once hapneth , where , and for what occasion , besides eche one ought to take good héede : it is very credible that a Gentlewoman will lightly estéeme of him , for that she will desire to ●●●e one more noble or greater than hir self and not one inferiour to hir selfe : wherby seldom or neuer , he shal attaine his desire . But of the lesser shal happen the contrary , bicause that she will glory to be loued of such a louer , and will endeuour hir selfe to please him , to the ende to nourishe Loue , and yet if this were not ▪ the power of the louer onely myght be able without feare to being to passe to fulfill his desire . Wherfore I gather , that the lesse noble ought to be preferred in loue before the more noble . Youre iudgement deceiueth you ( sayde the Quéene ) to the faire Gentlewoman , bicause Loue is of this nature that how much the more one loueth , so much the more he desireth to loue : And this maye be séene by them , The Quenes olution vpon the eight question . that thorowe Lo●e féele the greater griefe , the which although it trouble them not a little , yet loue they continually the more : Neither doeth any one from his heart , although he make great apparance in wordes , desire therof a spéedie ende . Then as small troubles are sought for of the slouthefull , of the wise , things that are attained with moste trouble , are helde most deare and delightful . And therfore in louing the lesse woman , to get hir , shuld be ( as you say ) little trouble , and the loue both little and short , & should be folowed as though one in louing would desire to loue lesse & lesse , which is contrary to the nature of Loue , as we haue sayd . But in louing the greater , that is gotten with trouble , happeneth the contrary : bicause ▪ that as in a thing dearely gotten , with trauaile is reposed all diligence to the well héeding of the gained Loue , euen so is she euery houre the more loued , & the longer doth continue the delight and pleasure thereof . And yet if ye will say that all the doubte is of their kinsmen , we wil not deny it , for this is one of the occasions . Wherfore , it is a trouble to haue the loue of one of these great women : But notwithstandyng the discrete in such cases procéede by a secrete way . And we doubt not but that the honor both of the greatest and meanest woman is by some of their kinsfolkes according to their power loked vnto , in such sort , as a fole may come to an euill aduenture , louing aswel in a base , as in a noble stock : But what shall he be the The cruelty of Pisistratus . will passe Pisistrato in crueltie , hauing offended them which loued his without forethinking that which he should afterwardes haue done to those that had had the same in harte ▪ In saying also , that louing a greter woman then himselfe , he shall neuer bée able to come to the ende of his desire , bicause the woman coueteth to loue one greater than hir selfe , and therfore will make of him no estimation at all , ye shewe your selfe to be ignorant that the meanest man ( in The meanest man of better condition than the noblest woman . what belongeth to natural vertues ) is of greater and better condition , than the noblest woman of the world . Whatsoeuer man she then desireth , she desireth him that is of greater and better condition than hir self , bicause the vertuous or vicious life maketh many tymes the meane great , and the great meane . In as much therfore as any woman shall bée solicited by any man in ●ue sorte , euen so without doubt she shall yeld to his desire , though the great with more trouble , than the meane . For we sée the softe water with a continuall fall to breake and pierce the hard stone : and therfore let none despaire to loue . For so much goodnesse shall follow him that loueth a greater woman than hymselfe , The Quene concludeth that we should rather loue the more noble woman than the lesse noble . as he shall endeuour him selfe to please hir , to haue decent qualities , the companie of noble personages , to be ornate of swete talk , bolde in enterprises , and splendant in apparell , and if he shall attain to greater glorie , the greater delight shall he haue of minde , likewise he shall be exalted with the good report of the people , and reputed of a noble mynde . Let him therefore followe the most noble , as we haue already sayd .

¶ The ninth Question proposed by FERAMONTE , Duke of Montorio .

NExte vnto pleasant Pola sat Feramonte duke of Montorio , who after the Quéene had sayde , thus began : I consente that it be conuenient to loue , the ye haue alredy fully answered this Gentlewoman to hir question . And that a man ought to loue rather a more noble woman than a lesse noble than hymself , may very wel be yelded vnto thorow the sundry resons by you shewed touching the same . But forasmuch as there are sundry Gentlewomen of sundry sorts attired Whether is to be chosen in louing either the wife , the widowe , or the maide . with diuersities of habites , that ( as it is thought ) do diuersly loue , some more , some lesse , some more hotly , and some others more luke warme . I desire to vnderstande of you , whether of these thrée , a yong man to bring his desire to a most happy ende , ought soonest to be enamoured of , either of hir that is maried , or of the maide or of the widow ? To whome the Quéene made this aunswer : Of the thrée , the one , that is the The Queenes answere . maried woman , oughte in no wise to bée desired , bicause she is not hir own , neither hath libertie to giue hir selfe to any : and therfore either to desire hir , or to take hir ; is both to commit an offence against the diuine lawes , as also against the lawes naturall and positiue , the offending wherof , is to heape vpon our selues , the diuine anger , and by consequent , heauie Iudgement . Howbeit , who that gropeth not his conscience so farre inwardly , doth oftentimes spéede better in louing hir , than of any of the other two , either maide or widowe , in as muche as he ( although such loue sometimes be with greate perill ) is to haue the effect of his desire . And why this loue may diuers times bring the louer to his desire , sooner than the loue of the others , this is the reason : It is manifest , that in how much more the fyer is blowen , so muche the more it flameth , and without blowing , it becommeth dead . And as all other things thorowe much vse doe decay , so contrarywise lust the more it is vsed , the more it increaseth . The widow in that she hath ben a long time without the like effect , doth féele the same almost as though it had neuer ben , and so is rather kindled with the memorie therof , than with any concupiscence at all : The mayde that yet hath no skill thereof , neyther knoweth the same but by imagination , desireth as it were one luke warme : and therfore the maried woman kindled in such passions doth more than any of the others desire such effectes . What time the maried are wont to receiue from their husbands oultragious wordes or dedes , wherof willingly they would take reuenge if they might , there is no way left more redier vnto them , than in despite of their husbandes to giue their loue to him , by whome they are allured to receiue the like . And although it be expedient that such maner of reuenge be very secrete , that no shame grow thereby , neuerthelesse are they yet content in their myndes . Further the always vsing of one kind of meate is tedious : and wée haue oftentimes séene the delicate meates left for the grosse , turning afterwardes vnto the same againe , what time the appetite hath ben satisfied of the others . But bicause ( as wée haue sayd ) it is not lawfull thorowe any vniust occasion to desire that which is an other mans , we w●ll leaue the married to their husbandes , and take of the others , wherof a copious numbre our Citie doeth set The widow is to be loued before the maide . before our eyes . And we wold in bestowing our loue rather séeke the widows than the rude maides , grosse for such a misterie , and that are not without greate trouble ( the whiche in widowes néedeth not ) made able to a mans desire . Further if maydes loue , they knowe not what they desire , and therefore they doe not follow with an intentiue mynde , the steps of the louer as do the widowes , in whom now the antique fier taketh force , & maketh them to desire that which thorowe long abuse they had forgotten : so that to come to such effect , they ( to late ) bewéepe the loft times , and the solitarie long nightes , the which they haue passed in their widowish beds . These are therfore ( as it séemeth vnto vs ) rather to be loued of them in whome is the libertie to submit them selues to others , than any of the reste . Then aunswered Faramonte : The contrary opinion of Faramonte : Moste Excellent Quéene , what ye haue sayde of the maried , I had determined in my minde that so it ought to be : and now hearing the same from you , I am the rather assured thereof . But touchyng the maides and widowes , I am of the contrarie opinion , bicause ( setting the maried aparte , for the reasons by you alleaged ) it séemeth vnto me , that the maide rather than the widow ought to be desired : for as much as the loue of the maide séemeth more firme and assured than that of the widow . For the widow without doubt hath already loued one other time before , and hath séene and felt many things of Loue , & knoweth what shame may follow therof : and therefore knowing these things better than the maide , loueth faire and softly : and doubting and not louyng firmely , desireth now this & now that , and knoweth not to whether for hir most delight and greatest honour to linke hir selfe , for sometimes she wil neither the one , nor the other : so that deliberation doth wauer in hir mynde , neither is the amorous passion able to take there stabilitie : but to the maide these things are altogether vnknowen . And therefore as ●he persuadeth The constancie of maides in loue . hir selfe with good aduisement , that of many yong men she greatly pleaseth one , so without further examination she maketh choise of him as of hir louer , and to him onely disposeth hir loue , not knowing how for his pleasure to shew any contrary act , neither is there for the more sure tying of the louer , any newe deliberation by hir sought forth , touching hir loue , so that she is then pure at the will and pleasure of him that simply pleaseth hir , and quickly disposeth hir wounded heart him onely to serue as lord . The which thing ( as I haue already sayde ) hapneth not of the widowe , & therfore is the other , the rather to be followed . Further , with more efficacie the maide tarieth those things that neuer any one of hir sorte hath séene , heard , or proued . And yet she desireth more to sée , heare and proue them , than who that hath many tymes both séene , heard and proued them , and this is manifest . Emong the other occasions for the which our life doeth greatly delight vs , and is desired to be long , is for to sée newe things , such as we haue yet neuer séene before . And also for to sée thyngs moste new we haue a great delight to runne with a diligent pace to that , which we aboue all other things do endeuour our selues to flie , that is death , the last ende of our bodies . The maide knoweth not that delightfull coniunction , thorow the which we come into the worlde , and yet is it naturall to euery creature thorowe a desire to be drawen thervnto . Further she many times hath heard from them , that know what maner a thing it is , howe much swéetenesse doth consist therin , the which with wordes haue giuen fier to the desire , and therfore drawen of nature , and of a desire to proue the thing , of hir not as yet proued , doth thorowe the wordes which she hath hearde , desire boldly with a kindled heart this concourse . And with whom is it presumed to be had but onely with him , whome shée hath already made lorde of hir mynde ? This heate shall not be in the widowe , bycause hauing once proued and felte what maner a thing it was , she is thereby prouoked thereunto : So that the maide then shall loue more , and be more diligent ( thorowe the reasons aforesaid ) to the pleasure of hir Louer , than the widowe . To what ende shall we then wade any further in séeking that the maide ought not rather The Quenes solution vpon the nynth question . to be loued than the widow ? You , said the Quene reason well , and very well you defende your iudgement : But yet we wil shew you with apparant reason , howe you likewise ought to holde the same opinion , that we hold of this contention , if with a straight eye ye loke to the nature of Loue . Thus in the Maide as in the widow , & so in the widowe as in the Maide we sée him to be firme , strong , and constant , and that this is true . Dido and Adriana with their doings haue left vs an e●aumple . And where as this loue is neither in the one nor the other , none of the aforsaid operations will therof folow . Then is it conuenient that eche one of them doe loue , if we will haue that to follow , wherof both you and I haue alredy talked . And therfore in louing either maide or widow , without going about to séeke whether of them doth most discretely enamour ( as we are certain of the widow ) Maides ought not to loue , but in respect of mariage . we shall shew you how the widowe is more diligent to the pleasure of the louer , than is the maide . For doubtlesse among those things , that a woman estéemeth deare aboue the rest , is hir virginitie : and this is the reason , bycause therin consisteth all the honor of hir following life . And without doubt she shall neuer be so much vrged forwardes to loue , as she shall not willingly be courteous therof , but yet to him only , to whome she beleueth to be coupled ▪ as wife , thorowe the matrimoniall lawe . And therfore we go not about séeking for this : for there is no doubt but that who will loue to marry , ought rather to loue the maide than the widowe , bicause she shall be slow and negligent in giuing hir selfe to him that loueth hir not ( if she knowe it ) to that effecte . Further , maides are generally fearful , neither are they subtile enough to finde the wayes and meanes , whereby they may take the stollen delightes : But the widowe of these thinges maketh no doubt at all , bicause that she already hath honorably giuen that which the other tarieth to giue , and being without the same , doubteth not in giuing hir selfe to an other , that token which may accuse : Whereby afterwardes , she becommeth the more aduenturous , bicause ( as is said ) the chiefest occasion that bringeth doubt is not in hir : besides she knoweth better the secrete wayes , and so putteth them in effect . In that which you say , that the maide as desirous of a thing which she neuer proued , maye be made more diligent to this than the widowe , that knoweth what maner a thing it is , therof the contrary . Maides do not at the first time for their delight , runne to such effect ( although the thing that delighteth , the oftener it is séene , heard , or felte , the more it pleaseth , & the more carefull is euery one to follow the same ( bicause it is then more noysom than plesant to them . This thing wherof we reason , doth not folow the order of many other things , that once or twice being séene , are afterwards no more desired , but rather the oftener it is put in effecte , with so much the more affection it coueteth to returne , and more desireth he the thing whom it pleaseth , than doth he whom it ought to please , and hath not as yet tasted therof . Wherfore the widowe forasmuch as she giueth least , and is best able to giue , she shall be the most liberall , and the more sooner than the maide , that must giue the dearest thing she hath . Also the widow shal be sooner drawn ( as we haue shewed ) than the maide to suche effects . For the which occasion , let the widowe be rather loued than the Maide .

¶ The tenth Question , proposed by ASCALIONE .

IT was conuenient that Ascalione , who in circle sat next vnto the Duke Feramonte , shuld now propound : and therfore thus hée sayde : Most excellent Quene I remember that there was heretofore in this our citie a faire and noble Gentlewoman left the widow of a worthie husband , the which for that hir maruellous beautie , was of many a noble yong Gentleman beloued . And of those many , there were two Gentlemen couragious knightes , eche one in what he could did endeuour him selfe to attain hir loue . And whilst this continued , by chaunce it hapned , that an vniust accusation was brought against hir , by certain of hir kinsfolkes , before the Magistrate , and after by false euidence proued , thorowe the which vntrue processe she was condemned to the fier . But bicause the conscience of the Iudge was perplexed , for that it séemed him , as it were , to knowe the vniust proufe , he was willing to commit hir life to the Gods , and to Fortunes happe , and so tied such a condition to his giuen sentence , as after the Gentlewoman should be ledde to the fier , if any knight coulde be founde the which woulde combate in the defence of hir honor , agaynst him that would maintaine the contrary , and shoulde happe to ouercome , she should then be frée , and if the contrary , to be burned according to the domed sentence . Two Knightes amorous of one Gentlewoman , did in sundry wise sh●w their loue . As the condition was vnderstoode of hir two Louers , and by chaunce sooner knowen to the one than to the other : He which knewe the same soonest , forthwith toke him to his armour , mounted on horsbacke , and came into the fielde , gainsaying him that would come & maintaine the death of the Gentlewoman . The other , that somewhat later than the first vnderstode of this sentence , and hearing how that the knight was already in fielde in hir defence , neither that there was th●n place for any other to goe thither in that enterprise , and therfore not knowing herein what to do , became very sorowfull , imaginyng that thorowe his slacknesse he had lost the loue of the loued Gentlewoman , and that the other iustly had deserued the same : & whilest he thus sorowed his missehap , he bethought him , that if he before any other should go armed into the fielde , saying that the Gentlewoman ought to dye ▪ and so suffer him selfe to be ouercome , he might thereby cause hir to escape , and so according to his deuice , he put the same in effecte . The Gentlewoman hereby escaped , and was deliuered from peril . So that then after certaine dayes , the first knight went vnto hir , and recommended him selfe vnto hir , putting hir in remembrance , howe that hée , to preserue hir from death , had a fewe dayes past , offred him self to the perill of death , and thankes be to the Gods , and to his forces , he had deliuered both hir and him selfe from so hard an happe : Whervpon it would please hir , according to his desert to giue hir loue , the which aboue all things he had alwayes desired . Afterwardes with the like prayers came the seconde Knight , saying that for your sake I haue hasarded my life , and bycause you should not die , suffred my selfe to be ouercome , whervpon I haue purchased to my selfe eternall infamie : wheras I contrarywise with incountring your suretie , and willing to vse my force , might haue ben able to haue gotten the honor of the victory . The Gentlewoman thanked eche one of them very benignely , promising them both due recompence for the receyued seruice . And now they beyng departed , she abode in great doubt to whether of them she should the rather giue hir loue , to the first , or to the seconde , and therof prayeth counsell of you , on whether of them ye wold say , that she ought soonest to bestowe the same . We The Queenes iudgement vpon the contrary doings of the ●● Knightes . déeme ( sayde the Quéene ) that the first is to be loued , and the last to be left : bicause the first vsed force , and shewed his assured loue in diligent sorte , gyuing him selfe to euery perill , that might happen thorow the future battaile , euen vnto the death , whereby it myght very well haue folowed , forasmuch as if such a battail to be done against him , had ben as lefull to any of the enimies of the Gentlewoman as it was to the louer , he had ben in perill of death for hir defence : neyther was it manifest to him , that one should come against him , that would suffer him selfe to be ouercomen , as it happened . The last truely went well aduised not to die , neither to suffer the Gentlewoman to die . Then , forasmuch as he put least in aduenture , he meriteth to gaine the lesse . Let the first then haue the loue of the faire Gentlewoman , as the iuste deseruer thereof . Ascalione sayd : O moste prudent Quéene , what is that you say ? Doth not one time suffise to be rewarded Ascalion contrarieth the Quene . for well doing , without crauing further deserte ? Truely yes . The first is well requi●ed , with being of euery one honoured for the receyued victorie : and what greater rewarde nedeth he than honour the rewarde of vertue ? the receyued honour did suffise for a greater matter than he did . And he that with all his witte came well aduised , ought he to be vnrecompenced ? and further he to be of euery one euil spoken of , hauing nothing lesse than the first holpen the gentlewoman to escape ? Is not the witte to foresée euery bodily force ? Howe so ? If this man with all his wit came for the safetie of the Gentlewoman , ought hée for his desert to be reiected ? God forbid it shoulde so be . If he knewe not the same so soone as the other , this was not thorow negligence : for if perhappes he had knowen it before the other , he would haue runne to that , which he toke discretely for the last remedy : wherof , rewarde iustly ought to folow , the which rewarde ought to be the loue of the Gentlewoman , if rightly she sée vnto him : and yet you say the contrarye . God defende from your mynde ( aunswered the Quéene ) that vice come to a good ende , merite the The 〈…〉 solution ●● the x. question . same rewarde that vertue done to the like ende meriteth : but rather in as much as vice deserueth correction , so no worldly deserte can iustly satisfie vertue . Who shall denie vs to beleue ( although we can not manifest the same with apparant reason ) but that the last Knight as enuious of the good turne he saw prepared for the other , was moued to such an enterprise , to the ende to disturbe the same , and not for the loue he bare to the Gentlewoman , and yet his deuice failed him . He is a foole that vnder the colour of an enimie doeth endeuour him selfe ( to the ende to receiue recompence ) to helpe an other . Infinite are the wayes wherby it is possible enough for vs to shewe at the first with open frendship , the loue , that one of vs beareth towardes the other , without shewing our selues as enimies , and after with coloured wordes to make shew to haue profited . That which we haue sayd may now suffise you for aunswere , whome olde age more than any thing else , ought to make discrete . And we beleue , that when your minde shall haue duely disgested these things , ye shall not find our iudgement guileful , but true , & to be folowed . And so she held hir peace .

¶ The eleuenth Question , proposed by a Gentlewoman , named GRACE.

THere folowed after hym a Gentlewoman of cheare very mylde , whose name was Grace , & assuredly the name was consonant to hir nature , wh●e wyth an humble and modest voyce beganne these wordes : It is come to my tourne , Oh moste vertuous Quéene , to propounde this my Question , the which to the ende the time ( that now approcheth to our las● feasting , may be swetened with the newe beginning thereof ) bée onely spente in talke , I shall briefly propound the which willingly ( if it wer leful for me ) I wold passe ouer ▪ but yet not to pretermit the limits of your obedience , neither the order of the rest , I shall propounde this : Whether is it great delight to the louer to sée his loue present , or not seeing hir , to thinke amorously on hir ? My gracious Grace said the Quene , we beleue that muche more delight is taken in thinking , Whether is greater pleasure to a Louer to see the present , or to thinke on the absent . than in beholding : bicause in thinking on the thing loued , all the sensitiue spirites do then graciously féele a maruelous ioy , and as it were do content their inflamed desires , with the delight only of the thought . But this happeneth not in the beholdyng , bicause y● onely the visible spirite féeleth ioy , and the others are kindled with suche a desire that they are not able to endure , and so remaine vanquished : and that visible spirite somtime taketh so great pleasure , that of force The iudgement of the Queene . he is constrained to withdraw him selfe back , remaining vile and altogether vanquished . Then doe wée gather hereof , that greater delight is to thynke than to beholde . That thing which is loued , answered the Gentlewoman , how much the more it is séene , so much the more it delighteth : and therefore I beleue , that greater delight bringeth the beholding , than doth the thynking , bicause euery beautie at the first , pleaseth thorowe the sight thereof : and so after thorowe the continuall sight , suche pleasure is confirmed in the mynde , as therof is ingendred Loue , and those pleasures that spring from him . No beautie is so much loued , neither for any other occasion than to please the ●yes , & to content the same . Then in séeing they are contented , & in thinking to sée , the desire increaseth : so that more delight foeleth he that is contented , than doeth hée that desireth to contente hym selfe . Wée may see and knowe by Laodomia how muche more the present sight than the absent thought doth delight , Laodomia and Prothesilaus . bicause wée are to thinke that hir Prothesilaus neuer departed from hir thought , neither yet was she euer séene disposed to other than to melancolie , refusyng to decke and apparell hir selfe with hir costlye garments : The which thing in séeing him neuer happened : For what time she abode in his presence , she was mery , gracious , and alwayes ioyfull , and trimly attired . What more manifest testimony wil we haue than this , that the gladnesse is not greater of the sight than of the thought ? Bicause that thorow the exteriour doings , that may be comprehended , which in the heart is hidden ? The Quéene then , thus made answer , The quenes solution of the .xi. question , defining that the thought is to be preferred before the looke . Those thinges , both delightful and noysome , that approche most nere to the mynde , bring more annoye , and more ioy , than do those farre off from the same . And who doubteth but that the thought abideth in the minde , and that the minde is not from the eye ? although thorow the particuler vertue of the mynde , they haue their sight , & that it is conuenient for them by sundry meanes to render their proportions to the animate vnderstanding . Hauing then in the minde a swéete thought of the loued , in that acte which the thought bringeth , in that together with the thing loued , it séemes the louer to be . Then he séeth the same with those eyes , to whome nothing , no not of a long distance may be hidden . Then he speaketh with hir whom he loueth , and peraduenture with piteous stile telleth the annoyes sustained for hir sake . Then it is lawfull for him without feare to embrace hir . Then doth he according to his desire maruelously glad himselfe with hir . Then doth he holde her wholly at his pleasure , the which in beholding happeneth not , bicause the sight onely at first taketh pleasure without passing further . And as we say , Loue is timorous & feareful , and in beholding , doeth make the hearte tremble in such sorte , as it leaueth neither thought nor spirite in his place . For many with the long beholding of their ladies , lose those their natural forces , & remain vanquished : and many not being able to moue , stande like posts , The effecies of fond amorous lookes . other some , in tangling and trauersing their legges , fall to the grounde ▪ Others therby lose their speache : & by sight we knowe many other like things to haue happened , the which all should haue ben very acceptable to them , to whome ( as we haue sayde ) they haue happened , if they had not happened at all , howe then bringeth that thing delight , that shall willingly be fled ? We confesse , that if it were possible to beholde without feare , it should be a greate delight . But yet litle or nothing without the thought , the which without the bodily sighte , pleaseth very muche . And that that whereof we haue spoken may come to passe thorow the thought , it is manifest , that , yea , and muche more . For we finde that men with thought haue passed the heauens , & tasted of the eternall peace . Than more delighteth the thought than the syght . And if ye say that Laodomia was melancolie with thinking , we doe not denie it , but yet it was rather a dolorous than an amorous thoughte , that dyd trouble hir : She as it were a deuiner to hir owne harme , alwayes doubted the death of Prothesilaus , & stil was thinking theron , contrary to those thoughts wherof we reason , which thorow that doubt coulde not enter into hir , but rather sorowing thorow this occasion as reason was , she sh●wed a troublesome & heauy loke .

¶ The twelfth Question proposed by PARMENIO .

PArmenio sat next to thys Gentlewoman , and withoute attendyng further , as the Quéene had lefte , thus began ▪ Most mighty quene I was of long time companyon with a young Gentleman , to whome that hapned which I intend to shew . He as much as any man could loue a woman , loued a fayre yong Gentlewoman of our citie , gracious , gentle , and very rich , both of wealth & parents , & she eke loued him for ought that I ( to whom his loue was discouered ) could vnderstande . This Gentleman th●n louing hir in most secrete sorte , fearing that if it should bée bewrayed , that he shoulde no wayes be able to speake vnto hir : to the ende therfore that he might discouer his intent , and be certified likewise of hirs , he trusted no one that should attempt to speake of this matter : yet his desire inforcing hym , hée purposed since that he could not bewray him selfe vnto hir , to make hir vnderstande by some other , that which he suffred for hir sake . And bethynkyng hym many dayes by whom he might most closely signifie vnto hir that his intent , he sawe one day a poore olde woman , wrinkled , and of an orenge tawnie colour , so despiteful to beholde as none the like , the which being entred the house of the yong woman to aske hir almesse , followed hir forth of the doore , and many tymes after in like sorte , and for like occasion , he sawe hir returne thither . In this woman his heart gaue him to repose his whole trust , imagining that she should neuer be had in suspicion , and that she might fully bring his desire to effect : therfore calling hir to him , he promised hir most great giftes , if she woulde helpe him in that which he should demaunde of hir : She sware to doe hir endeuour , to whome this Gentleman then discouered his mynde . The olde woman departed , and after a whyle hauyng certified the yong woman of the loue that my companion bare hir , & him likewise , howe that she aboue all other things of the worlde did loue A gentleman a gentlewoman and an olde woman were taken by the brethren of the gentlewoman . him , she deuised how this yong man should be secretly one euening with the desired woman : & so he going before hir , as she had appointed , she guided him to this yong gentlewomans house , wherin he was no sooner entred than thorow his misfortune , the yong woman , the olde , and he , were all thrée found , & taken togithers , by the brethren of the yong woman , & compelled to tell the trouthe of that they made there , who confessed the whole matter as it was . These brethren , for that they were the frendes of this yong Gentleman , and knowing that he as yet had attained nothing that might redounde to their shame , wold not do him any harm as they might haue done , but laughing sayd vnto him in this sort : Thou art now in our hands , & hast sought to dishonour vs , and for that we may punishe thée , if The Gentleman codemned to lye with the yong and olde woman eyther of them a yeare . we will , of these two wayes sée that thou take the one , either that thou wilt we take thy life from thée , or else that thou lie with this olde woman , and this our sister , either of them one yere , swearing faithfully , that if thou shalt take vpon thée to lye with either of them a yeare , and the first yere with the yong woman , that as many times as thou shalt kisse , or haue to do with hir , as many times shalt thou kisse & haue to doe with the olde woman the second yeare . And if thou shalt take the first yere the olde woman , looke how many times thou shalte kisse and touche hir , so many times likewise , and neither more nor lesse shalt thou do the like to the yong woman the second yeare . The yong man listening to the sentence , and desirous to liue , sayde , that he woulde lie with these two , two yeares . It was graunted him . But he remained in doubt , with whiche of them he shoulde first beginne , either with the yong , or with the olde . Whether of them would you giue counsell he shoulde first , for his moste consolation begyn withall ? The Quéene , and The Quene decideth the xij . question likewise the whole company somewhat smiled at this tale , and after , she thus made answere : According to our iudgement the yong Gentleman ought rather to take the faire yong woman , than the fowle olde , bycause no present good tourne ought to be left for the future , neither the euill to be taken for the future good , bycause we knowe that we are vncertaine of things to come : and in doing the contrary hereof , many haue alredy sorowed to late : and if any haue praised himselfe herein , not Dutie but Fortune hath therin holpen him . Let the faire therefore be firste taken . Ye The contrary opinion of Parmenio . make me greatly to maruell ( sayde Parmenio , ) séeing that the present good ought not to be lefte for the future , to what end then is it conuenient for vs with a valiant mynde to followe and beare worldly troubles , where as we maye flie them , if it were not thorowe the future eternall kingdomes promised to vs thorowe hope ? It is a maruellous thing that such a shocke of people as are in the worlde , all moyling to the ende at one time to taste of rest , and being able to rest before trouble , should remaine so long while in such an errour , as trouble after rest were better than before . It is a thing very iuste ( as it séemeth to me ) after troubles to seke rest , but to desire to rest without trouble in my iudgement ought not to be , neither can it bring delight . Who then will giue counsell to any , that he lie first with a faire Gentlewoman one yeare , the which is the onely rest and ioy of him that must lie with hir , in shewyng him after that there must folowe so great anoy and vnpleasant life , as he must in euery act wherin he abode with the yong woman , haue to do as long with a lothsome old woman ? Nothing is so noysome to a delightfull life , as to remembre , that after death we shall be founde spotted . This death returning to our memorie as enimie contrary to our being doth disturbe vs of all goodnesse & pleasure , and whilest this is remembred , ther can neuer be ioy tasted in worldly things . Likewise no delight can bée had with the yong woman , that is not troubled or destroyed in thinking and remembryng that it behoueth him to do as much with a most vile olde woman , who shall alwayes be remaining before the eyes of his mynde . The time that flieth with an inestimable wing , shal séeme vnto him to ouerflie , lesning eche day a great quantitie of the due houres : and this mirthe is not tasted , where as infallible future sorrowe is taried for . Wherfore I would iudge , that the contrary were better counsell , that is , that all trouble , wherof gracious rest is hoped for , is more delightfull , than the delight , wherof anoy is taried for . The colde waters séemed warme , and the dreadfull time of the darke night séemed cleare and sound day , and turmoiles rest to Leander , at what time he went to Hero , swimming with the force of his armes , thorow the salt sourges betwene Sesto and Abido , for the delight that he conceiued to haue of hir tarrying his comming . God forbid then , that a man shoulde co●et rest before trauaile , or rewarde before the doyng his seruice , or delight , before he hath tasted tribulation : forasmuch as if that way ( as we haue already sayde ) should be taken , the future annoy should so much hinder the present ioye , that not ioy , but rather annoy , it might be sayde . What delighte coulde the delicate meates , and the instrumentes founded with cunning hande , and the other maruellous ioyes made to Dionysius the tyraunt bring , when as he sawe a sharpe Dionysius . pointed sword hang by a fine thréede ouer his head ? Let then sorowfull occasions be first fled , that afterwardes with pleasure , and that without suspicion , gracious delightes may bée followed . The Quéene made him answere , saying : You answere in part as The Queenes solution of the .xij. question , defining that the yong is to be lyen with before the olde . though we did reason of eternal ioyes , for the purchasing whereof , there is no doubt but that all troubles ought to bée taken in hande , and all worldly wealth and delight to be left aparte : but at this instant wée doe not speake of them , but doe moue a Question of worldly delights , and of worldly annoyes . Whervnto we answer as we sayde before , that euery worldly delight , that is followed with worldly anoy , ought rather to be taken , than the worldly annoy that tarieth worldly delight : bicause who that hath time , and tarieth tyme , loseth tyme . Fortune graunteth hir goodnesse with sundry mutations , the whiche is rather to be taken ▪ when as she giueth , than to moyle to the ende after turmoiles to get the same . If hir whéele stoode firme and stable , vntill that a man had toiled so much as he should nede to toile no more , we would then say , that it were to be graunted to take paines first : but who is certaine that after the euill may not follow the worsse , as well as the better that is taried for ? The tymes together with worldly things are all transitory , and therfore in taking the olde woman , before the yeare be complete , the which shall neuer séeme to waxe lesse , the yong woman may die , and hir brethren repent them of this they haue done , either else she may be giuen to some other , or peraduenture stolne away , so that after one euill , there shall follow a worse to the taker . But contrariwise , if the yong woman shall be taken , the taker shall therby haue his desire so long tyme of him desired , neither shall there after follow that annoy of thoughte , that you say must follow therby , bycause that we must dye is infallible , but to lie with an old woman is a hap able enough with many remedies to be of a wise man auoyded , & worldly things are to be taken of the discrete with this condition , that eche one whilest he holdeth , and enioyeth them , he dispose himselfe with a liberall mynde , when he shall bée required to restore or leaue them . Who that busieth himself to the ende to rest , bringeth a manifest example that without that he cannot haue rest : and since he therefore taketh troubles to the ende to haue rest , how much more is it to be presumed , that if rest were as ready as is trouble , but that he woulde sooner take that than thys ? Neyther is it to bée thought that Leander if he had bene able to haue had Hero without passing the tempestious arme of the sea , wherin after he perished , would not rather haue taken hir , than haue swo●●e the same . It is conuenient to take Fortunes happes what tyme she gyueth them . For no gift is so small , that is not better than a promised A smalle gift in hand is better than a promised greater . greater . And as for Future thinges , let remedies be taken , and the present gouerned accordyng to their qualities . It is a natural thing to desire rather the good than the euil , when as equally they concurre , and who that doth the contrarie followeth not naturall reason , but his owne folly . We confesse , that after troubles quietnesse is more gracious & better knowen than before , but yet not that it is rather to bée taken than the other . It is possible for wise men and fooles to vse the Counsels both of fooles and wisemen according to their liking : but for all that the infallible veritie is not altred , the which doth gyue vs leaue to sée that rather the faire yong woman than the lothsome olde is to be taken of him , to whome was made suche a choise .

¶ The thirtenth Question , proposed by MASSALINE .

MAssaline the whiche sate on the right hand of the Quéene , & nexte to Parmenio , performing the circle , sayde in thys wyse : It is mete that I lastly propounde my question : And therefore to the ende that I may make the pleasaunt told tales , and the before propouned Questions to seme more swete , I shal tel you a short tale worth the hearing , wherin there falleth a question very propre to make an ende withall . I haue heretofore heard say that there was in this oure Citie a gentleman , who was very riche , that had to wife an excéedyng faire A Gentlewoman was loued of a Knight . yong Gentlewoman , whom he loued aboue al worldly thinges . This gentlewoman was intierly beloued of a Knight of the same Citie , but she loued him not at all , neither cared for him , by occasion wherof , the Knight was neuer able to get from hir , either good wordes or curteous countenance : and while he thus liued comfortlesse of such loue ▪ It happened that h● was called to the regiment of a citie not farre distant from this of ours . And accordingly he went thither , hauing honorably gouerned the same all the time of his abode there : during the which it happened , that there came a messanger vnto hym , who after other The Knight aduertised of the death of hir whom he loued . newes thus said : Sir ye shall vnderstande , that the Gentlewoman of our Citie , whome you so entierly loued aboue all others , this morning labouring with great griefe to be deliuered of childe dyed , not being deliuered , and was in my presence , of hir parents honourably buried . The Knight not without great sorrowe , gaue eare to this tale , & with a strong heart endured the telling thereof , without shewing any alteration of countenance at all , & to him selfe thus sayd : Ha wretched death , cursed be thy power , thou hast depriued me of hir , whome I loued aboue all others , and whome I desired more to serue , although I knew hir cruell vnto me , than any other worldly wight . But since it is ●hus come to passe , that which Loue in hir life time woulde not vouchsafe to graunt me , now● that she is dead , he can not denie me : That assuredly if I should die therefore , I will now kisse the face of hir being dead , that liuing I loued so well . And so staying vppon this determination he taried vntill it was night , and then toke one of his seruants , whom he best trusted with him , and trauailed the dreadfull The Knight seketh his loued Gentlewoman in hir graue . darke wayes till at the last he came to the Citie : And being entred the same , he went straight to the sepulture , wherin the Gentlewoman was buried : And after he had comforted his seruant , that he without any feare shoulde attende him there , he opened the same , and went therinto , where as lamenting with a piteous plaint he kissed the Gentlewoman , and tooke hir in his armes , and not satisfied therwith , he began to féele her here and there , and to put his hand ▪ into hir frosen breast among the colde dugs . But afterwards ( being become more bolde than was méete ) to séeke out vnder the riche attire whiche shée had on , the secrete parts of the body , going and féeling with a fearfull hande hither and thither till at the last he spread the same vppon hir stomacke , where as with a féeble motion he felt the weake pulses somewhat to moue . He then became very feareful , but yet loue made him bolde , and therfore trying further with a more assured hede , he knew that she was not dead : and first of all with a swete mutation he drewe hir oute of that place , and after wrapping hir in a great mantel ( leauing the sepulture open ) he and his seruaunt caried The knight carieth hi● lady to hi● mothers house . hir secretly to his mothers house , where as he coniured his said mother , thorowe the power of the gods , that she , neither this , nor any thing else should manifest to any persone liuing . He caused great fires to be made , to the end to comfort the colde membres ▪ whervnto the lost forces did not therby returne in due sort : by occasion wherof , as one peraduenture discrete in such a case , willed a solemne hote house to be prepared , wherin he caused first to be strowed many vertuous herbes , and after placed the Gentlewoman therin , causing hir as it was mete for one in that plight , to be tenderly looked vnto . In the which hotehouse , after she had for a time made hir abode there , the bloud coagulate about the heart , began thorow the receyued heate to disperse by the colde vaines , and the spirites half dead began to return● to their places : whervpon the Gentlewoman ( no sooner féeling the same ) began to call to hir mother , and after to aske where she was : to whome the Knight in stede of hir mother made answere , that she was in a very good place , and Lucina , the goddesse of childe bearing . that she should comfort hir selfe : She abiding in this sort , calling vpon the woman Lucina for helpe , was as it pleased the Gods ( aboue all expectation ) deliuered of a fayre sonne , and therewith of great trouble and peril : wherof remaining disburdened , and being ioyfull of hir newe borne childe , there were oute of The Gentlewoman abiding with the Knight , was deliuered of child . hande prouided nourses , both for the charge of hir , as also of hir sonne . The Gentlewoman nowe after all these heauie troubles , returned to hir perfect vnderstanding , and the newe sonne was also borne to the worlde , before she sawe either the Knight that thus loued hir , or his mother who was prest to do hir seruice , neither did she sée any one of hir parents or kinsfolkes about hir , for to looke vnto hir : whervpon being come into a cogitable admiration as it were all amased , sayd : Where am I ? what a wonder is this ? Who hath brought me hither , whereas I was neuer before ? To whom the Knight aunswered : Gentlewoman , The knight declareth to the Gentlewoman how she was brought into his house . maruell not , confort your self , for that which you sée , hath ben the pleasure of the gods , and I shal tell you howe , and so declaryng from the beginning to the ende all that whiche was happened hir , concluded that thorowe him , shée and hir sonne were aliue : By occasion wherof they were alwayes bounden to be at his pleasure . The Gentlewoman perceiuing this to be true , knowing assuredly that she could not by any other meanes but only by this whiche he shewed hir , be come to the hands of the knight : first of al with a deuout voice , rendred thanks to the immortal Gods , & after to him , offring hir self to be always at his pleasure & seruice . Then sayd the knight : Gentlewoman , since ye know your selfe to be beholdyng vnto me , I will that in guerdon of my well doyng , ye comfort your selfe here in this place , vntill I returne from my office , wherevnto it is nowe so long since that I was chosen , as the date therof is almoste at an ende . Besides ye shal promisse me faithfully neuer to bewraye your selfe without my licence , eyther to your husbande , or to any other person . To whome the Gentlewoman answered , that she was vnable to denie him eyther this , or any other requeste , and that assuredly she woulde comfort hir selfe : and so by othe made vnto him , she affirmed neuer to cause hir selfe be knowen without his pleasure . The Knight séeyng the Gentlewoman out of all perill to receyue comfort , after he had abode .ij. dayes in hir seruice , recommended hir and hir childe to his mothers charge , and so departed , returning to the gouernement of his said office , the which after a little while he honorably ended , and returned home to his owne house and possessions : where as of the Gentlewoman he was graciously The knight biddeth the husbande of the Gentlewoman to ● banquet , receiued . Certaine dayes after his returne , he caused to be prepared a great banquet , wherevnto he inuited the husbande of this Gentlewoman , whome he loued , hir brethren , and many others of hir frends and his : and the bidden guestes beyng set downe at the table , the Gentlewoman according to the pleasure of the Knight , came apparelled in those garmentes , and decked with that crowne , ring , and other precious orna●●nts ( as the vse was then ) wherwith she was buried . And by the commandement of the knight placed hir selfe on the one side by hir husband , and on the other side by him selfe , where as she fed that morning , without speaking any word at all . This Gentlewoman was oftentymes behelde of hir husbande , and hir attire and ornamentes also : and as it semed vnto him , he knew hir to be his wife , and those to be the garmentes wherein she was buried : but yet for that he thought he had buried hir dead into hir sepulture ▪ and not beleuyng that she was rysen againe , durs●e not once giue hir a worde , doubting least she had ben some other that did resemble his wife , imagining that it were more easy to finde one woman , in attire & ornaments like to an other , than to raise vp a dead body . But yet for all this ▪ he turned many times towardes the knight , and asked him who she was . To whome the knight answered : Aske of hir ▪ whome she is , sor I can not tell , out of so vnpleasant a place I haue brought hir . Then the husband asked the wife who she was , to whome she aunswered : I was brought by this Knight by vnknowen wayes in to this place , to that gracious life , that is of euery one desired . At these wordes there wanted no admiration in the husbande , but rather the same increased , and so they remained vntill the banket was ended . Then The knight restoreth the gentlewoman to hir husbande . the Knight l●dde the husbande of this Gentlewoman into a chamber , and with him the Gentlewoman , & the others lykewise that banketted with them , where as they found the Gentlewomān faire and gracious sonne in the nourses armes ▪ whome the knight delivered into the fathers handes , saying : This is thy sonne , and giuing him the right hande of his wife , sayde : This is thy wife , and mother of this childe : shewing to him and to the rest , how it happened that she was brought thither . They all after greate wonder , made great ioye , and chiefly the husbande of his wife , and the wife with hir husband , of their sonne . And so both two thanking the Knight , returned merily home to their house , many dayes after makyng maruellous ioy . This Knight entreated this Gentlewoman with that tendernesse and that pure faith , as if she had bene his sister , and therefore it is doubted which of these two was the greater : either the loyaltie The Question is whether ●he loyaltie of the Knight , or the ioy of the husband was the greater . The Quenes iudgement . of the Knight , or the ioye of the husband , that had nowe gotten againe his lost wife , whome he reputed as dead . I pray you to say your opinion , and what you would iudge hereof ? Most great ( as we beleue ) ( answered the Quéene ) was the ioy of the again gotten wife , and of hir childe : and likewise noble & very great was the loyaltie of the Knight . But for that it is a naturall thing to be glad of the getting agayne of things lost ( neither coulde it otherwise be bycause it would an other ) and specially in the gettyng againe of a thing before so greatly loued , with a childe , wherof there coulde not bée made so greate ioye , as was conuenient . We doe not repute it to be so greate a matter as ●o doe that wherevnto a man is of hys propre vertue constrained to doe , the which in being loyall cometh to passe , bycause the being and not being loyal , is a thing possible . We say then , that from whom procedeth the being loyal in a thing so greatly loued , that he doeth a most great and noble thing in keping loyaltie , and that in a farre greater quantitie loyaltie doth increase in him , than doth ioy in the other , and thus we iudge . Truly sayd Massaline ▪ most renoun●ed Quéene , I beleue it be as you say : but yet The contrary opinion of Massaline . it semes vnto me a greate matter to thinke , that with so great ioy as was in him that had gotten again his wife , there coulde be made comparison of greatnesse in an other thing : forasmuch as greater griefe is not supported , than when as thorow death a thing loued is lost . Further , if the knight were faithful , as is already sayde , he dyd therin but his dutie , bycause we all are bounden to the working of vertue : and he that doth that , whervnto he is of dutie bounden , doth but wel , but yet it is not to be reputed for so great a matter . Therfore I imagine , that there may be iudged greater The Quenes solution vpon the last Question . ioye than loyaltie . You with your words do contrary your selfe ( sayde the Quéene ) bicause man ought as well to reioyce in the goodnesse of God in takyng him away , as thorowe the working of vertue : but if the one coulde be in the one case , as sorrowfull as the other could be in the other case disloyall , it might be consented to your iudgement . To followe the lawes of nature , which can not be fled ▪ is no greate matter , but to obey the positiue lawes , is a vertue of the minde , and the vertues of the minde , both for greatnesse as for euery other respect are to be preferred before bodily workes . And if vertuous workes ( making due recompence ) do surmount in greatnesse euery other working , it may be sayde , that the hauing ben loyall , dureth alwayes in beyng . Ioye may be turned into sodaine sorow , either else in a shorte space of time become little or nothing , losing the thing thorowe ●he which it is become mery . And therfore let it be sayde of him , that vprightly will iudge , the Knight to haue bene more loyal , than the other mery . Not one there was that followed Massaline , that had any thing more to say , for that they all had now propouned their Questions . The Sunne now in setting , lefte the place replete with a temperate aire . By reason whereof , Fiametta , moste reuerent Quéene of this amorous people , raised hir on foote , and thus sayd : Gentlemen & Gentlewomen , your Questions are finished : whervnto ( the Gods be thanked ) we haue accordyng to our small knowledge , made answere , following rather pleasant reasoning , than matter of contention . And we know , that much more might haue ben aunswered vnto the same , yea and in farre better sorte than we haue done : But yet that which we haue said may suffise to our pastime : and for the reste , let it remaine to the Philosophers of Athens . We sée Phoebus nowe not to behold vs with a straight aspect , we féele the aire refreshed , and know this Feast , which we at our comming hither left thorowe the excessiu● heate , to be againe begonne by our companions . And therfore it semeth vs good , that we returne to the same : and this beyng sayd , she toke with hir delicate hand , the Laurell crowne from hir heade , and in the place where she sate , she laide it downe , saying : I leaue here the crowne of my honour and yours , vntil that we shall returne hither to the like reasoning . And hauing thus sayd : she toke Philocopo by the hand , that nowe with the rest was risen , and so returned with them all to their Feast . Thence was heard of al sides the pleasant instruments , and the aire resounding of amorous songs , no part of the Garden was without banketting : wherein they all abode merily all that day , euen to the last houre : but night being come vpon them , and the starres shewing forth their light ▪ it semed good to the Lady , & to them al , to depart & to returne to the citie , wherein being entred , Philocopo takyng his leaue , thus sayde vnto hir : Most noble Fiametta , if the Gods shoulde euer graunt me , that I were myne own , as I am an others , without doubt I shoulde bée presently youres , but bicause myne owne I am not , I can not gyue my selfe to an other : Howe be it forsomuch as the miserable heart coulde receyue strange fier , so muche the more it féeleth thorow your inestimable worthinesse to bée kindled , and shall féele alwayes and incessauntly , with more effect shal desire neuer to be forgetfull of your worthinesse . She thanked Philocopo gretly of this curtesy at his departure , adding that it would please the Gods quickely to bryng a gracious peace to his desires .

FINIS .