PEace fraught with plentie , waiting on the Scepter of a gratious Soueraigne , had nowe seated her selfe in Albion , whence at her ariuall , rough-fac'd Bellona the nursse of broyles , writing in blood , her bailefull tryumphes , fledde disconsolate to forraine coasts , and there sounded hir Tragique summons . At whose departure all things recouered their former quiet : As when the yeare haueing shaken of stormie winters Ice badge , growes young againe , greeting the earth with gladsome tidings of the Flower-clad springes approach . Sillie Sheepeherdes haunted securely with their harmelesse flockes , the westerne plaines , chanting by turnes sweete Roundelayes , or tyring with long play their Oaten pipes : Toyling husbandmen ioyde freely in the issue of their hopes , reaping haruests plenty the guerdon of their winters paines . Each season had his successe , each state his solace . In which tranquillitie of time and truce of fortune , their liued in the famous citie of Troinouant an ancient gentleman , sonne to a wealthie Citizen , who dying oulde , lefte him not younge , his onely childe , sole heire of his goodes , which , ( besides money & other moueables ) yealded him an ample reuenue of yearely rents . Giraldo , ( so was he named ) haueing enough , deemed it follye to toyle for super fluous store , or not to vse , what his Ancestors succesfull industrye had alreadie afforded him .

Hee therefore conform'd his life to luch a course , as might equall his calling , and not Impaire his credit , or procure his discontent . Liuing thus at quiet ( the more to Augmeut his ease , ) loue he esteemed so little , and mariage lesse , that he passed the most part of his time without a wife , in which Stoicall humor he determined to persiste , stiffely refusing many great offers , mou'd to him by sundrye of good account and knowne sufficience ; whether the care of housekeeping and feare to match with a mate of vnlike conditions , had dismaide him ; or the sweetenesse of a single life through long vse besotted him ; Howsoeuer this resolution seemd easie in regard of his yeares , yet did the sequell largely shewe , that no time , no temperature is exempted from loues tyranny ; nor ought lesse to be trusted , then affections try all : The Sunne ofte shines not , til nere his setting . Cinthia filles not her circle , til fardest from hir brothers Sphere . Smothered Cinders may breed a flame , where we least suspect a fire ; and winter fruites in growth lesse forwarde , are in lasting most forceable . The purest goulde hath his drosse ; the clearest Wine his dregges ; sweetest Roses their prickes ; sowrest Stoickes their passions . Loue hath his change of Arrowes , his choyce of obiectes , to intice euery eye , to intangle euery Age .

It chanced in a fatall hower , that Giraldo with sundry his familiers was inuited by a gentleman of the country ( his dead Fathers approued friende . ) to accompany him home , & passe with him some daies of pleasure at his howse , scituate in a gallant soyle fruitefull of all delightes . They agreeing to his friendly motion , lefte the Citie , and arriuing where he dwelt , found there such entertainement , as might assure their welcome , and warrant his good-will : They were richly feasted , and frollike royally in all gentlemanlike disportes , hunting , hauking , with what soeuer pleasant recreation their thoughts could ayme at , and the countrye yealde . Thus farre lasted Giraldos comedie : but heere ( though in a borrowed hue ) stept in his Tragedies sad Proem masking his following sorrows in outward semblance of alluring sweetnesse : Such are the wiles of loue and fortune , there first to smile , where they intend last and most to lower . This gentleman besides two sonnes of rare towardnesse , had one daughter , hir name Valeria , young and fayre , in discourse wittie , but in life wanton ; the fault and cause thereof , her education : for being the fathers ioy the Mothers Jewell , their last borne , and therefore most beloou'd , she was trained vp by her parents in all libertie , and taught , not that which best beseem'd , but which most delighted hir ; In steade of sowing , shee could sing , write , daunce , and sweetly touch hir Iuory Lute , with whose weltuned stringes , hir fingers were more acquainted , then with hir needle : Breefely what could shee not , which least she should , and all more exquisitly , then was meete for a modest virgine ? If then the strongest Marble bee in time worne by weake droppes of raine , the hardest Adamant , ( though otherwise impenetrable ) pearc'dby Goats warme blood : what maruel is it , that these so mightie inforcements , wrought so effectually on hir , whose fewe years , fraile sex , and sleight education made the couquest easie ? Yet rau he headlongforward , not heeding howe she was inclined , nor weighing as he should haue done , the issue of his attempt , which these so many , and so manyfest likelihoodes did forethreaten : Such was his blindnesse enen when he first behelde her , to whom nature had leut a looke so alluring , a tongue so inchanting , that it restes doubtfull , whether hir countenance could more intrappe , or hir wordes entangle . To those that neuer sawe the Ocean , narrowe straights may seeme large seas the which till now had neuer view'd with curious regarde , any such besotting obiect , demed Valeria the westerne prragon . His greedy euer gazing eyes , fed like hungry Guestes en hir faces beautie , yet neuer glutted ; for the more he looked , the more he looued ; Affection was no sooner bred , then wing'd ; no soner warme , then flaming ; ( a thing in nature maruelous , but in loue no miracle , ) she was the onely subiect of his conceipt , the onely ayme of his content : If she spake , his partiall eares deem'd hir voice more then Angelicall ; if she smil'd , he was rauisht : if shee frown'd , euen frowning shee seem'd fairer , and hir anger amiable . Thus were hir wordes his eares musique , her faire countenance his eyes harbor , hir selfe , his transported sowles supposed solace , while he though olde , yet a Nouice in the schole of fancie fed his vaine thoughtes , with vainer hopes : But when beginning his wooing with signes , he sawe portraide on hir lookes , a deepe misliking of his age , threatning a sequell of many sorrowes , a Centurie of sowltyring passions , then somewhat rowsing his charm'd sences , he began sadly to conferre his former course of life , with his present crosses in loue , weighing howe before he ioy'd in content , nowe ioylesse through discontent , then free from faucie , now slaue to beautie : And so farre he waded in this pensiue meditation , that sealing with manye sighes , each clawse of his complaints , he wished too late , than he had not come , or comming , had not seene ; or seeing , had not affected ; or affecting , had not so extreamly doted . But finding mone a bootlesse methode , a sleight medicine to cure harts maladye , he resolued to seeke some surer remedie : which , ( as he thought ) was immediatly to depart ; hoping that absence should worke his ease , and that his eyes not hauing whereon to gaze , his thoughtes should want wherewith to greeue him .

In the heat of which humor , he abruptly tooke his leaue of the gentleman his friend , and the other his familiars , feining sodaine and extraordinary occasions of busines , which drewe him thence . They no lesse beleening his wordes , then loath to hinder his waightie affaires , did not importune his tariance , yet vrged with much entreatie his spedy retorne , which he promising , though then not entending , lefte them ; but could not leaue so his sorrowe , for in him selfe he caried his owne wounde , the euer-fresh and perfect Idea of Valerias farre peircing beautie , a more inseperable companion to his thoughts , then the shadowe to his bodye : the one waiting without , the other working so forceably within , that by how much the more he stroue to alay his passions , by so much the more hee encreased his paines : concluding by his owne experience , that to attempt the quenching of loue with absence , is to cherish fire with oyse . For as the course of a stronge currant , counterchekt by a barre of earth , seekes with greater violence another issue , and hauing past his boundes , tornes the pleasant medowes , into vnpleasant marishes : As the slowest flame , somwhat daunted by water , gathers immediatly double force and brightnesse : so the frenzie of a louers fancie , is then most outragious , and feeles greatest lacke of wonted ease , when the eyes do want their wonted obiect . Giraldo therefore finding in the citie lesse comfort then in the contrye content , wandered in this labyrinth of woe , feeling his soules agonie howerly augmented : In the daie , he could not rest ; in the night , he could not sleepe ; if he sat , he sighed ; but sighes yealded him no solace : ofte he walked to out we are his sorrowe , but oft walking could not worke it : At the table he sat a cypher ; nor is it maruel , for how could he haue any stomacke to disgest his meat that wanted strength to disband his melancholie , which was so frutefull in afflicting him , that not Hydra , foggie Lernas fowle guest , could faster renue hir seauen heades , with seauenfoulde encrease , then his each-passion doubled his perplexitie , making his vnquiet life , the perfect map of a louers miserie : His friendes and neighbours mused much what might be the cause of his discontent , supposiug nothing lesse , then that loue had bene the occasion .

Among this number , one of like yeares & long acquaintance , did on a time so farre importune him , that Geraldo ( though loath to vtter his affection , yet able to denie him nothing , because he lou'd him dearely ) discoursed the whole at large , peremptorily concluding to hast with all speede possible ( if his speding might bee possible ) a maryage betweene Valeria and himselfe : For ( quoth hee ) as Telephus wounded by Achilles speare , could not be cured but by the rust of the same speare : And they which are stunge by the Serpent Dipsas , feele an vnquenchable thirst in the midst of water : so standes it with me , which haue surfeted , yet am not satiate : but being wounded with Telephus , must likewise with him deriue my helpe , whence I receiued my hurt . which word he had no soner vttered , then his amazed friend deeming this humor in those yeares , the eight miracle ; addrest himselfe to diuert him from so fonde a thought , and after some pawse began thus : Were I as wise , as I am willing to discharge the duety of a friende , then would I with mightie Arguments disswade you from a purpose so il beseeming : Can it be that Geraldo so stale a batcheler , so strict a follower of the Stoichs philosophie , is in the wain of his age become a woer ? He which laught at loue , and scornd fancy , nowe droupe for loue , and dote through folly : resembling in repugnance to nature , the stone Gagates , whereon if water be powred it kindles fyer , if oyle , it doth quench the flame : Two things I haue noted in many , and finde both in you : the first rare and commendable , the second ridieulous , yet common : A young man wise , an old man wanten . Weigh yet with your sefe , what your friends will say , and the worlde censure , hearing of this sodaine change : If mariage be a course so requisite , they will demaunde why you haue so long defer'd it ; if not to be respected , why you shoulde nowe determine it ? know you not that loue in olde men is no lesse vnsermely and vnseasonable , then frost in Aprill , snowe in Sommer , Ice in the entering of Autumne ? But admit it necessary , yet this hast is needlesse : Rash beginnings haue ruful ends : ripe counsailes right successe . The Elephant breedes not oft in age : The Phenix ( as some affirme ) takes life from Ashes , but once in sixe hundred and sixtie yeares : the one how mightie a beast ? the other how matchlesse a birde ? In Samos stoode a Temple of Hymen , ouer whose dore , on the outside , was set the portrature of a Snayle , to admonishe the beholders , that with slowe pace and deepe aduice they should proceede to a matter of such waighte , importing their extraordinarye weale or woe , Apelles drawing the picture of Folly , gaue hir winges , but not eyes ; hir eares stopt , thereby intimating , that fonde men runne headlong forwarde , not seeing what they do , nor hearing others , which fortell them , the issue of their vnheedfull actions . It greeues me Geraldo to thinke , that fondly gazing on fayre lookes , which do commonly shroud false hearts , you are taken in beauties trappe , entangled like the fishe , which leaping at the Sunne beames , gilding the waues , playes therwith , vntill the net haue made him prisoner . Had you fancied some modest Matron , not for beauty a fading blisse ; but for vertue a lasting value , your hast had bene yet more hopefull ; nor might any iustly haue accused your abstinence in youth , or your affection in age . But at these years , when the prime of fancy is past , to be won by a wanton glance , to dote on a silly Gerle , whose continence or constancy you know not , how farre vnfit ? The Cretans had a lawe made by Minos their iust Kinge , that if a youngman matcht with an olde woman , or an olde man wedded a young mayde , they both should forfet whatsoeuer they possessed , and the elder of either sexe so offending , lose the reuerence due to their age . Well sawe hee , that true affection could finde no residence , where the desires were so different ; the one ayming wholy at youths delights , the other dull to wonted daliance , whence followes breach of wedlocke . What is your Valeria that you so dote on hir ? say you shee is young ? then wauering : grauitie is seldome in greene yeares . But were shee well enclin'd , yet might ill companie corrupt hir : Earely buddes are soone blasted ; young sprigs do with the winde bende euery way . The flower-rich spring is natures firstborne , but not heire of Autumnes ripenesse . Say you she is faire ? then prowde , for as the herbe Fesula taken in wine , causeth the vaines to swell : so beautie in women doth enhance the thoughtes . I omitte to inferre hir store of fauorits , which will not faile to seduce hir , if coyne or counsaile may subdue hir . Is she wittie ? then wilie ; fraught still with new deuices to circumuent you . But shee can daunce , singe , finger a Lute , and all excellently : doe not these argue hir wanton education , or can you for these so highly fancie hir ? then what other instance neede I saue your selfe , to prooue that loue is blinde ? Loue , which hath the power of Lethe to induce obliuion , the windinges of a Labyrinth to entrappe the minde , the shape transforming iuce of Circes inchanting cuppes , to change thoughtes , as shee could alter bodies : Loue which for a minute of pleasure , yealdes a million of paines ; for a dramme of Hunny , an ounce of gall , resembling that tree in America , whose Apples are to the sight exceeding faire but to the tast , deathes foode . Cease then betimes friende Giraldo , least you repent to late , and sigh in vaine , to thinke on my sayings , when your supposed ioyes shal be smothered in surmising Ielousie . There is for euery sore prouided a salue , yet no simple for hartes sorrow : But as the bay tre alone is neuer hurt by lightning , so wisdome euer vnstain'd by wantonnesse , which is in you the ground of that woe . Against poysons we haue preseruatiues : Storme-beaten seamen , wrestling with the furye of windes and waters , ioy in the sight of Ledas twinnes : but thought sicke louers haue onely reason their soueraigne refuge : deuine reason the sole phisicke to cure loues follye , which straies from it so farre , that where the one raignes , the other cannot rest : For Amare & sapere vix deo conceditur .

Heere he paws'd and Geraldo thus replide : your counsaile sauours much of good will , little of conceipt : yet for your curtesie I thanke you , and for your kindnesse , I wil think of you , as of a well entending friend . You deeme it strange that I thus olde , ( though not so olde as you vrge ) should now resolue on mariage , haueing before shaped a contrary course of life . True it is , that whilome my sole delight was to liue single , but who knowes not , that ould opinions are ofte concealed by new occasions ? Must I be etter ill aduised , because once not well aduertised ? Is loue in oulde men so vnseasonable , in youth onely , ( yf at all ) commendable ? or rather as the herbe Moly tempered with newe wine doth much distemper the braines , and infeeble the whole bodye ; the same mingled with olde wine , doth soner effect the contrary , and releeue the ouer charged sences : So is affection in greene yeares full of perils , vrging young-men to extremes , which cannot moderate their passions ; but in riper yeares doth cheer the thoughts , glad the hart , awake the sences halfe dul and drooping . Admit the wants , the weakenesse , and whatsoeuer disabling defects incident to age . Tell mee ( I pray you ) who more needes comfort then they which want it ; or what greater comforte to men then kinde women ? How can you then with reason deny that to age ; which doth ease the toylfull burthen of age , or terme that needlesse , which is so necessarie , but you growing to farther dislikes , condemne myne haste , which resolue with speede to dispatch my purpose , know you not that delay is fraught with daungers , that occasion is balde behinde ? that they which deferre , are ofte preuented , and so circumuented ? Such as obserue not there times , do iustly faile in there deserued tryalles . On the lilie-garnisht bankes of Cephisus there springes a flower of rare effectes , yet merely forcelesse , if not applide at the instant , when Phebus doth in fiery maiesty touch the meridian . In like sort , young virgines fancies , prone to affection by yeares and nature , must be assailed while time doth serue : for their fauour once rooted ( a thinge easily performed ) can neuer bee recalde by threates of parents , or worldes of proffers . Speaking then betimes , I may perhaps speede : but deferring the one , I must dispaire of the other . Good wine needes no Iuie bush : Faier women want no woers . hereto you reply that you condemne not so much my age as Valerias youth : to haue wooed and wedded an auncient woman , had bene a match more meet : and this equalitie of yeares , caried more likelyhood of mutuall loue . For answere to which obiection , I craue no greater instance then your owne experience , that widowes are wily and wilfull ; that many scarse holsome morsels , do often vsurpe the attyre and gestures of honest matrons : heer is a Lerna of euils , a sea of dangers ; which to encounter , I haue no courage : to conquer , no fortune : But in one yet neuer matched , how can deceipt be setled , or how is shee acquianted with wiles , which throughly knowes not the world ? That Valeria is young , I yealde , nor am I very ould : but you will say that though a while I may entertaine hir with delight , yet I shal be past begetting , when she is in the prime of bearing : hereon you vrge , that giftes and pleasures are mighty tempters , women and they young , fraile vesseles , and therefore weake resisters . Yet doubt not I , that with a gentle minde , the knowen kindnesse of a louing husband , shall more preuaile , then the doubtfull counsailes of deluding strangers . That shee is fayer , I graunt also ; that therefore prowde , I deny . It suffiseth not with Ouid to say partially , fastus inest pulchris , sequitur que superbia formam , vnlesse you learne of Aristotle to proue the consequence , by a stroug coherence : It followes not that all are faultie , because some offend : but rather as the birde Rintaces bred in Persia , liueing by ayre and deawe onely , hath no excrements : so natures perfections polished by vertuous education , brooke no excesse .

For where shoulde inwarde graces be more resident , then where outwarde giftes are most resplendent ? That shee is wittye , in discourse , expert in dauncing , singing , and well fingering of a Lute , I confesse : that therefore wilye , or more apt for wantonnesse , I may in no sort graunt . The best things may be wrested to bad vses : Such recreations not misintended , hinder melancholy , and hurt not modesty . Thus haue I answered what you obiected , shewing reason the ground of my affection . Say then my friendes what they list , censure the world what it will , I am resolute to attempt , nor doubt I to attaine that , for which my soule doth long , and my heart languish . Stoicks are stockes ; sencelesse teachers that publish their owne follies , by denying that to wise men which the sences worke in all men . Till now I knewe not what it was to liue , because I felt not the power of loue . Haue not Planets their coniunctions the elements their mixtures , both their cooperant motions , which argue that nothing can be of it selfe sufficient ? Say that sicknesse should enfeeble me , who coulde so kindly comfort me , or would so willingly attende mee , as a louing wife : which would sit by me , sigh for mee , share with me my sorrowes , and vse all meanes to procure my safety ? If death should seaze on mee wiuelesse as I am , and childelesse , leauing my goodes to vnkinde , or vnknowne heires , with what discontent shoulde I breath out my drooping spirit ? But to your selfe I appeale which haue in part experemented this facilitie , what ioye it were , euen in death , to behoulde , the fruite of my owne bodie , the continuer of my name , liueing to possesse what I leaue : knowe you not that beastes voide of reason doe perpetuate , their seuerall kindes by procreation ? and shall men inriched by reason , be herein exceeded by beastes ? if all were such as you counsaile mee to continue , where were the hope of posteritie : And that taken away , where the spurre of vertue ? deserts guerdon , the taske of fame , sounding to succeding times true honours trophes in euerliuing notes ? I omit to alledge , that nature , and my countrye claime mariage of me as a debt : The Spartans among other lawes made by Licurgus , had this one , that the younger sorte should at all times and in all places , reuerence there elders : But to those of great Age wanting yssue , this preueledg was not due : So that Brasidas a valient chiefetaine neuer maried , laden with many yeares , but honored through more victories , passing by a young man , which sat still , not vsing to haue any shewe of reuerence , by mouing his bodie , or his bonet , and deeming it a great indignitie , receiued this answere : Thou hast not quoth he a sonne which may doe the like to me , if liuing to thy age . But whether runne I , in so large a fielde of mightie reasons , warranting my resolution beyond all compasse of contradiction ? Sith then to marry it is not onely seemely for any , but likewise necessary for all : in disswading mee from it , you highly iniury mee . That I haue hetherto abstained , it was my fault ; To persist in like humor , were deeper folly , Better is little , then nothing ; late then neuer ; not to bee , then in vaine to bee . Nascitur is frustra , per quem non nascitur alter . Hauing thus said and fearing to bee vrged with a fresh reply , he brake of there conference , by a feined occasion of businesse , leauing his well wishing friende in a deepe amasement , no lesse petying his daunger , then wondering at his dotage . But no soner had Aurora in her next vprise moystn'd with her earely teares , transform'd Adonis , and cherisht the forward springing of other flowers , then Giraldo mounting on his horsse , gallopt on the spurre in that gladsome season of the yeare , toward his harts wished harbor , where Valeria , ( whom leauing , he so languished , ) made hir residence : By whose father ( his asured friend ) he there alighting , was by so much the more louingly welcomed , by how much the lesse , his coming was then lookt for , which yealded in outwarde shewe , no other likelihoode of coniecture , but to be a bare iourney of recreation : till he impatient of all delay did fully ( though in feawe wordes , ) deliuer the soomme of his desire , which was to espowse Valeria ; whereto the soner to induce hir father , to whom onely he now communicated his affectious secrets , he promised to make hir a large ioynter , craueing of him no other dowery , then what himselfe would willingly assigne . Theodoro ( such was the others name ) haueing much vsed-the father , and long knowne the sonne ; of whose vertue , ( besides his breath , ) he was no lesse certaine , then of his wealth assured : and perhappes somewhat mou'd by the voluntary offer of so large a ioynter : yealded him his full consent : promising moreouer , to worke herein so effectually with his daughter , ( adding to his words the weight of a fathers authority ) that shee likewise , whom it most concerned , should grant his demaunde , or deny hir duety : Which promise he faild not to performe , moueing the matter to Valeria in such sort , that the wily gerle which could by little gather much , and by a sillable conceiue a sentence , was nothing ignorant of his entent herein , whom fearing to displease , & hoping by this match to raign as Mistrisse of all ( for well she knew the myldnesse of Geraldos nature ) though at the first for fashions sake somwhat sticking at his age , concluded hir answere with the offer of her obedience , in yeelding her selfe wholly to her fathers disposing . To bee shorte , Giraldo and shee were solemnly contracted , Valerias dowrie assigned , her ioynter set downe , all things confirmed , and they soone after openly espoused . Now seemed hee to himselfe infinitely happie , solacing in an earthly heauen of imaginarie ioyes , a Paradise of thought-exceeding pleasures . But between seeming and beeing , there hath euer beene a large difference : Cadmus seemed happie , but his liues sequell dasht his felicities vaine Hourish with a Chiliade of crosse Fortunes . Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera foelix . Had great Pompey with his third triumph finished his then-victorious life , hee had not famous'de Pharsalia through his foile , nor made Egypt fatall through his fall . Had Giraldo beene extinct in this the prime of his seeming happinesse , hee had not afterwarde dyed most happelesse . But to proceed , the Nuptials beeing ended , and Giraldo on his returne vnto the Citie ( whither hee purposed to take with him his beauteous Bride ) at the instant of their departure , Theodoro ( whose misgiuing heart did make him heauie ) taking aside his daughter , thus grauely bespake her .