The pityfull histori[e] of two louing Italians, Gaulfrido and Barnardo le vayne, which ariued in the countrey of Grece in the time of the noble Emperoure Vaspasian and translated out of Italian into Englishe meeter by John Drout ...

Galfrido and Bernar●● le Vayne . NOw boystrous Boreas hath left off his puffing blastes to blowe , Now haue the soming seas theyr will to ebbe or for to flowe : The troubled sayler he doth laugh to sée the waues at rest , The marchant he triumphes for ioy , and thinkes the Gods haue blest Him carefull man : whose carefull head is troubled howe to kéepe Unruly barke of his , from wracke of suche as dayly créepe From shore to shore , still practising howe they myght gette the gayne Of suche things as the marchaunt he hath woonne with cruell payne . Dooth not the théeuishe rouer sporte when hée at anker lyes , Whiche lately with outragious cryes his ending day espyes ? Dooth he not thinke that Neptune God hathe ridde hym out of thrall ? Or did not that Aeneas vile , whiche Captayne was of all The lande and goods that Dido quéene was able for to make : Was he not glad at sodayne calmes ( thinke you ) and so to take His harbor where he might it finde , or where it was assingde By mightie Gods aboue , or else by mother his so kinde ? What fearefull nations did inuade Achilles woofull wight , When hushing waues ten in a rowe did ouerrunne him quight ? Did he not cut the waters salt the foming seas apace , When as the cruell nipping winde was wholly in his face ? Were not companions his sore to ylde vppon the raging flood ? But when that they arriude to Troy , then they did thinke it good That they had laborde so in stormes , for then in wether cléere They canuas may their bisket harde , and tipple vp the béere , Which lay all harde a sennights space , ( as Ouid he dooth tell : ) So may they tayre their bakon blacke , and féede of it full well , For Saylers they can féed apace in weather faire or fogge , And will not sticke ( in hunger theirs ) to eate a barking dogge . But now eche man they may reioyce that Lady Ver is nere , Now may they sée with glimmering eyes once Phoebus to appere : How Estas he with comely grace full trimly dooth display , And howe that Tellus floorisheth through ayde of lustie May : In pleasant moneth of this ( my frends ) eache man dooth ioy by kinde , And euery man dooth practise what were best to please his minde . As Gaulfrid here ( th' Italian Books do shewe his name to be ) Dooth séeke and search in rotten boats straunge countries for to sée . And comming to the lande of Grece , where Turrets hye doo stande , Where houses shining all of golds be plast ( as well I scande ) By chaunce , as fortune would it haue , he entered in at one , Where he found Barnarde le vayne then sitting all alone : A kinsman and a frend of his , whom then he did not know : The Gods them selues ( I thinke forsoth ) they would it should be so . Gaulfrydo he whose smirking lookes and liuely chere at last , Bewrayde the one t'other then ere foure words they had past . To sée the ioy of louing friends when they togither met , Tho Nestors life twice tolde I had I should them not forget . The one imbrast , the other kist , they wepe for ioy in place : Gaulfrydo could not speake bicause all smyred was his face , With driueling drops of lukewarm teares which trickled downe a pace His paled face : his fréend in déede as fast did poure agayne His dryry teares : incontinent then sayde Barnard le vayne , The day hath been , O coosin mine , that fréends we haue béen both , As we are now ( for ought I know and that we both were loth The one the other to displease , as reason wilde vs so , Whilst Babes we wer , we went to schoole together you do knowe , What did I euer in my life whereby that I your foe Should counted be : or that I haue not béen as true to thée As euer thou or any man coulde euer be to me ? Let womens teares exiled be , say to them all adewe . Gal. No , no , my fréende , of forged teares I thinke I haue but fewe , I would to God that thou hadst béen but halfe so true to mée , As I haue béen in euery thing a royall fréend to thée : Thou wouldest not haue hoysed vp thy sayles to euery winde , Not knowing I ( poore wretched wight ) in what place thée to finde : Nor yet thou wouldest once haue left me in a countrey rude , Among the rauening sort of woolues which sought for to detrude Me ( seely wretch ) from countrey mine , whereas my mother bore And kept me , from my cradle yong , ( hir greefe it was the more , ) Ne yet thou wouldest once haue made thy loytering boy to pull The vdder which doth guide the shippe , or els to hall the skull The which hath beaten foming seas a thousand times twise tolde , In Hyems ragged , gagged frosts when it was bitter colde , Thou little thoughtest on thy fréend when thou on hatches low Didst sléepe thy fill , all for thine ease it was , that I do know , All voyde of care thou wast in pup , alone there didst thou sit Like prince on throne , the master he belike did thée permit , When mates of thine , ech one wer fayne , to gather on a flocke , Bicause that surging Seas did rise , and tooke them to their cock : Their little pretty frysking bote which tottereth vp and downe , In hope to finde some ease when as they should espye the towne , Wheras they might haue some refuge , and succor for to saue Their wéeried corps , which only thing it was that they did craue . But when that darkned cloudes wer gone , and all things els did cléere , Then mate to mate eche other calde , and sayd , ho mate what cheere ? And yf you be all well , and as I hope you be , with spéede Set vp your sayles ( thus do you say ) to go we had but néede ? Then euery man doth hale and pull the Halliards all a row : Beholde thy foresayle it is vp , now Auster do thou blow A huffing gayle : and by and by bicause thou woldst be gone , The foretop and the mayne top sayle thou placest euen anone : Yet must thou haue thy spirit sayle out , all onely to be blowne , Thy Myssen yet must not be left behinde , to well is knowne . Thy roaring cannons and thy chens be layde on euery side , Yea bases , foulers , quarter slings which often hath béen tride : Thy Fakens , Taucknets , minions all a row thou hast them layde , Caleuer and thy hargabus , which lately hath béen made All onely for to kéepe me from thy rotten Oyster bote , Though litile I haue sayde ( my fréend ) full well I could it note . But for all that , thou séest how good the Gods haue béen to mée , To let me once approch the coast where as I might thée sée . Bar. Alasse why dost thou me suspect of such a haynous cryme , It was not long of me ( in faith ) that I went at this time , Full sore agaynst my will it was that I should leaue behinde Me , thée , who as a Pithias continually I finde : It was not the cruell tyrant Turks which only did vs chase , From all along the fierie Seas till we did come in place , Where as a mate of ours did sound foure hundred fadams déepe In brackishe Seas : so at the laste we chaunced for to créepe To this same village towne , wheras you founde me all alone : Whereas I haue acquayntance small , not being knowne of one . But euery day since I came foorth still thought I on thy name , I thought vpon our countrey rude , still praying for the same , Bicause I knew thy blessed corps had there his lodging place , In hope agayne that thou woldst looke my Picture on the face , Which hangs in chamber thine bedeckt , then wouldst thou haue in minde ( I would suppose ) Barnarde le vayne , which vnto thée did binde With faith and truth , a louing fréend , and faithfull for to bée , So long as that the gods should graunt Osselly mine to sée . No sooner had Aurora come but vp I would me hye Into the hyest place of shippe , and there I would discrie The tumbling whales , the Dolphins huge as I in Barke did stande . If wishes would haue then preuaylde I would haue béen on lande , At Brownbread crust with Galfrydo , then for to haue the wine That lay in ship ( which Bacchus brewde ) or els the biskets fine . Thus would I vewe and dayly thinke that thou wouldst after hye , Now would I thinke vnto my selfe thy shippe for to espye . But all for nought the longer I did gaze in open ayre : The farder still thou wast from me so muche more was my care , When as I had in memorie our parents that be dead , Our mothers kind which pampered vs and long ago had fed Both thée and me with milke so swéete , then was I like a stone Then was my hart euen like to burst my senses they were gone , My lights , my lungs , so vexed were , that none had thought that I Should euer haue skapt such trimbling fits but presently should dy , On salt sea flouds they minded all , and purposely were bent , To hang a warrant on my necke , and streight for to haue sent Me to the bote that Caron guides , the ferry man of hell : For they supposed that I would not any longer with them dwell . And yet for all these miseries that I haue waltered in , To charge me with vngratefulnesse me thinke you do not lin: But if thou beest a fréend to me as thou doest say thou art , Séeme not to lay them to my charge , but let them all depart Quite from thy hart : behold , these words he had no sooner spoke , But for to worke him iniury vile fortune dooth prouoke . Now doth she turne hir tottering whéele she looketh crabbed sowre , Now dooth she bend hir cursed browes now dooth she pout and loure , Now may you sée this fickle dame the Camelions part to play . How she will change in sundry formes a thousand times a day , How she doth play the wether cocke that turns with euery winde , To some she will be foolishe stout , to other some as kinde : O that she can so flatter men with graunting their desire , And will not suffer them to cleue to that they do aspire . To whome in all their lyfe almost hir friendship doth she showe : But when he thinkes him best of all , hath then his ouerthrowe ? I pray you did she euer yet aduaunce a man on earth , Whiche wholly put his trust on hir had not vntymely death ? Hath she not taken many men on hye from glimmering gleame ? Did she not slay king Priams babes and spoyle him of his realme ? Dooth she not play suche prety prankes continually with some ? Yes that she doth : When that they thinke theyr blessed state is come . But sée the chaunce that ha●ned nowe euen in the selfe same streete Where they did hoste , two enimies at that same tyme did méete , Who when they sawe eche other , gan their shiuering blades to drawe : And to be shorte , the one dyd thruste the other through the mawe , The guttes , the lungs , the intrayls all , but streyght away he went That didde the faete : But messengers immediately were sent With bilbow blades , and rusty billes , to bidde him come and dine In gayle , where as perchaunce he should fynde little store of wine For to digest the waightie boltes . Thus came they in a route , Tom with a clubbe , Dicke with a spitte , twoo propre men and stoute . They séeke as men should looke a hare , to let the gréedie hounde , Have now a snatche , and then a snatche to bring hir to the grounde . But all for nought , they founde him not whiche onely did the facte : In no place coulde they him espie , but backe ageyne they packt , Where as they sawe in myddest of stréete Galfrido looking out From wyndowe hye ( who maruelling what made them so to shoute And make a noyse ( with cryes so shryll . ) they did him straight espie , That he should be the murtherer , some there began to trie : Upon the which , they entred in , the host they first espyde , More bones they made not with him there , both hand , and foote they tyed Him séely man ( without offence ) with halters good and strong , Which fitter were for these same knaues that did him open wrong : Then vp they do ascend on hye where as these two did walke , They ment no gyle , they thought no hurt , no suche thing did they talke , They tooke them both , like séely lambs in arme in arme they went To prison strong , wheras their Oste was fully that way bent . Such comely persons to behold as they along did go , Would make a man as hard as flinte to melt , my selfe I know : But for to thinke what piteous lookes they shewed as they went , Agayne to sée what smiling chéere the one the other lent , To sée what wonderous changes was betwéene these troubled thrée , Tho that I liude seuen hundred yeres the like I should not see . Assoone as they to prison were committed one by one , The multitude diminished , then were they left alone Among the rustie iangling chaynes where vermin dooth abound In dungeon déepe ( where light as yet some thinke they haue not found ) Where Todes do kepe , and adders dwell , where as with vgly paw And gréedy corps , the serpent foule in fetters he dooth gnaw The seely soule which is bewrapt in many tangled snares , The simple man , whose troubled head is fixt with many cares : I thinke the foule infernall féends not halfe so ill do dwell , Nor they that dwell in Tartar déepe inhabite suche a hell . I thinke , not Tantal , Pelops sonne so cruelly was paynde , As these same three , the which my muse already héere hath faynde : Nor Titios ( in iudgement mine ) did euer feele such payne , Nor he that brought to mountaynes top the stone that fell agayne , Ne yet the tyred Byllices that hales the buckets twayne In drawing water , which returns , as Poets they do fayne : Tho Prometheus stands so still At cruell pinching racke , With hande and foote beset so wide till all his bones do cracke . Though these same troubled souls themselus suche spitefull payne endure , Yet may they nought at all compare with these ( that I am sure ) For paynefull pangs : but Fame she hath nowe sounded farre and néere This miserable cursed chaunce : but when that they did heare Which wer their mates , the hollow sighes yea euery man did fette , The trickling drops of many teares to shead they nothing lette : They houle and cry full piteously , and euermore they bande That cruell cursed Esterne winde which brought them to the lande . They teare their herish mantels gray , they pull in péeces fast , Their gally bréeches all a rowe , they were so sore agast : Who so had seene the Marriners their séely flesh to teare , Himselfe would thinke but that they had béen voyde of euery care : They lost their senses all at once , their faces all were pale And wan , to see the fortune that these men should come in gayle , Not being yet one houre ago since that they came on shore : If by their harts they might haue come I thinke they would haue tore In péeces small , they were so vext that instant present time , That none had thought that euer they the shrowdes agayne would clime : Nor yet haue sayled away with barke , they were in suche a case : Some drew no breath , why ? they wer dead thrée houres in that place : They were as wilde as hares that be ybred in bushes thicke , Or els the Roe which hedges hye to leape he dooth not sticke . Thus are the Sea men troubled to as well as other bée , They féele as bitter pangs , or worse as any of the thrée . Yet reason somewhat taketh place , and calleth backe agayne These troubled soules which lately were in miserable payne , Their wits to them be now restorde , they haue their memorie , They do pretend to go and sée this wofull tragidie : Where when they came in market place they saw the gallow trée , The scaffold where the iudges seat appoynted was to bée , The bar , wher they shuld plead their cause , yf giltie they were found , The Sargiants with the yeomens ayde which stoode about them round , Should lead them to the trée a crosse the which the hangman made The day afore , in hope that he twise double should be payde For this his worke , for he doth say that time doth him prouoke , That now the pigge is proffered to holde vp straight the po●e : For what so euer that they be that will not when they may , The Prouerbe hath him tolde that when he would he shall haue nay . Now euery thing prouided was , the iudge him selfe comes in , The gayler he commaunded was that he should neuer lin , Till that the prisoners were brought , their iudgement for to haue Aright , which they them selues that time most willingly did craue : They came full weakly God doth know , the one the other led , They lookt as tho that Atrapos had cut their fatall thréed , Their faces shewed as tho they had lien in their graue a yeare , To loke vpon them stedfastly eache one did stand in feare , So vgly was their looke when as they came from dungeon déepe , They were so faynt through féeblenesse that they could scarsely créepe , But by the stony walles , which would not suffer them to fall , Lest that perchaunce the stubborne bolts their féeble legs might gall : There might you sée thrée women , that were quicke with child in sound , Two men , a boy , a mayde , there starke dead that time was found : Ye might beholde the Marriners how they did tremble fast , What feruent fayth they suffered till these same thrée were past . Ay me alas ( quoth one ) that I should euer sée the day , Wo worth the time that I was borne an other he can say : The third he saide that he was curst the worser was his lucke , When as his nurse she gaue to him hir puffed teat to sucke : The fourth he said , I was bewitcht , when first I handled knife , I think my crooked armes wer curst it did not rid my life . What wicked fortune had we when we scaped in the night , ( What made vs all to cry aloude , now gallows clayme thy right ) When we wer almost drounde in déepest Sea by Libia ? What euill chaunce had we to scape the straights of Affrica ? Ther houls the ragged boy a mayne with open throte a loude , His voyce so shrill ascended straight vnto the hyest cloude That placed was in ayre , beset with starres on euery side , Or wher the glorious Phoebus runs his course ) so loude he cride , With cares he was so nipt at hart , that all things there he curst . He liude not long , incontinent amongst them all he burst . Gaulfrydo went before the Iudge all féeble as he might , Barnarde le Vayne trudged after fast , he was not out of sight . The Iayler led the inholder , which was in shackle strong , The quest did quit him by and by , he taried there not long . Of which his carefull wife was glad , of mirth was all hir song , The hangman held his head aside , he thought they did him wrong . Barnarde le vayne he pleaded harde . it did vpon him lye , That he was giltlesse of the déede eche one began to crye : The iudge himselfe could nothing finde , ne could the rest that went Upon that matter , harde to skanne , but wholly they were bent To sette him frée : And as they did who taried for to heare Galfrydos case , like to a fréende as héere it dooth appeare . Galfrydo he was called out his iudgement for to know , His hart was gone , he shaketh fast , he trembleth as the dow , To sée the cruell lookes , the which the Iudge did to him giue . When Iupiter was driuen out of heauen by cruell feare Of Ziphoon , that gyant huge , which did approche him neare : At that same time , I meane , when as full secretly he came To Egipt , where in forme and shape , was like vnto a ram : Iuno she was made a Cowe , Appollo was a crow , They stoode not halfe so much in feare as Galfryde I do know : Nor yet Dianas buttocks went so fast a pitte a patte , When she was driuen out of heauen , and then became a Catte : Nor Venus , who doth dayly make yong men hir birds to wish , Was not so feard ( as this our fréend ) when she was made a fish : Ne yet the mery Mercury which often would haue playde On Oten pipe , when Ibis he a pretty birde was made . They néeded not once to haue left the heauens for such a knaue : No more this wight he néeded not to feare , which will not saue Him selfe ( as it doth séeme to me ) but graunteth to the fact : And saide vnto the Iudge aloude , I onely did the act . At which his fréend all in a maze , began thus for to say : Ye Patrons graue and wise , giue ears to me I do you pray : This man ( O noble Senatours ) did neuer do the déede , It was my selfe I do confesse , no longer now you néede To toyle and moyle in searching foorth this matter , which is playne . Gal. O hold thy peace thou trustie fréend , thou speakest but in vayne , It was euen I that did the déede , if Iudges right they be , Let this my fréend go packe away , the law must go on me : Offender there must be but one , all you do know the same ▪ Afore you all , the murderer my selfe I do proclayme . Bar. Not so my fréend , but onely I whose craysed corps with stroke , In sunder quite , in midst of stréete , with bloodie sword I broke . Gal. I did the déede , yf that you meane the fellow for to take . Bar. Thou didst not , wherof leaue of thy forging tales to make . O constant man that euer was , thy fame will neuer dye , O noble hart that dwels in brest where such true loue doth lye . At sodayne sight of this the Iudge was wholly there amazde , Then hurly burly did begin , great rumors straight was raysde : Then euery man would be a iudge , and say that it was he That did the déede : some verdits were the other for to be . But God the truest searcher of the inwarde parts of man , The mightie Iudge , the Lord of all that possibly we can Or may recite , with foultring tong for his he dooth prouide . When they be in their troubles great , as héere it may be tride : The murderer stood by the stage whereas the iudges sate , His conscience so prickt him there , that vp aloft he gate Afore them all , where rudely he did draw his bloodie blade , Where easely it might be séene how it in blud was layde : This vile and cankred sword ( quoth he ) and I were at the fray , I am the man ( ye Iudges ) that did bring him to a bay , I laide along his laysie corps , I do it not denye , And if it were to do agayne , by God that sittes on hye , I would it do : wherfore these men haue suffered iniurie , Abiding for my onely déede suche cruell miserie . Upon the which the iudges they began a new assise , And better for to thinke vpon the matter they deuise : The quest agayne begins a fresh vpon these two to goe , The standers by they giue good eare the verdit for to knowe , The foreman he doth bring it in , he sheweth very playne ▪ The matter whole : but to be sure they are turnde backe agayne . Yet once more they do come , wher as they tolde the iudge that he That last of all did come in place , the murderer for to be . The Iudge he did condemne him there , the hangman he did watche , He thought within him selfe that he had caught a goodly catche . Where when the people heard him say , go hence the gallowes stayes , Their wits in searching foorth the truth , all there began to prayse . The Iudges prayse doth flée abrode , him euery man doth name , In countrey , towne and villages full rife is knowne his fame . The foresaide Mariners reioyce , their mates eche one be glad , That these their heads had scapt so wel : vpon the which they had . The towns men with their gladsom wiues their housholds whole and some , To take their pleasures of the wine if they would to them come , Whereas their ship did lye , which brought the claret , white and red , Their bisket good , but mouldy chéese , whereof they dayly fed . Eche one attended to their willes , they graunted their desire , They clothe them selues full sumptuously , they weare their best attyre : The day is come , the pretty dames which be so free and franke , Do go so sagely on the way by two and two a ranke , Which séemed well , but yet they would not bid vnto the feast The Murderer which hanged was , of whom they thought on least , Which was of them an ouersight : but if they him had bid , He would haue made them answere none , bicause that he had rid But lately here , one winching iade , which did him leaue behinde , So that the right way to his home he could not after finde : But in his stead one Tibine came , Amasina his wife , His daughter fayre Charina , whome they loued as their lyfe , Who dyd surmount the virgins all that euer was in Greece : I thinke the goddes neuer made a fayre or trimmer péece : They coulde not , why ? bycause the moulde ( whiche was with them so rare ) Themselues had lost : when first they made hir rosiall colour fayre , Hir princely corps , hir shoulders twayne , hir stature long and tall : Hir little head adorned was , whiche ouerlooketh all : With gorgious knackes of value greate hir fingers to depaynt , Apelles ours , or Xeuxes good , she woulde make for to faynt , The better of them bothe , if that they were on earth alyue , This to be done in euery poynt mans witte can not contriue : What though he tooke in hande to make dame Venus in hir plight , Yet durste he not set to his hande with pensill for to wright Or paynte at large this sumptuous dame whome euery one dooth vewe : Nay , if he shoulde , he myght perchaunce his hastinesse soone rewe , He woulde bée rapt in amours then farre further with this dame , Than euer he with Venus was , if I may tell you playne . But all this banket while : Bernard hée cast a glimmering eye , He was as glad as any man when hir he myght espie . Nowe all this whyle did Venus smyle , and Cupide craftie knaue : Sreight Bernards heart was stroke with dart , and suche a blowe he gaue , As none but that Charina she : Coulde helpe hym , I am sure , No physickes arte , but she alone was able for to cure His pangs , his pangs , his fretting pangs which vexed him so sore : A worser plague hath chaunced now than euer dyd before : Nowe is he driuen to study harde , he dares not to hir speake , His bloody heart it was so full that it was lyke to breake : But for all that he kept them tacke what euer that they did . Till that the night with mantle blacke the splendant light had hyd : For all that Nox was comming on , and Vesper after hyed , A little whyle yet did they staye bicause they had espied The bycornd Moone : who was at hand to light them on their way , The minstrell he was called in some pretty iest to play : Then Robin hood was called for , and malkin ere they went : But Barnard euer to the mayde a louing looke he lent , And he would very fayne haue daunst with hir , if that he durst : As he was offering , Galfryd caught hir by the hand at furst , Who being in as farre as one he was not to be blamde : But this same dorre his fréend abode , of which he was ashamde , There nought he said , but laught as fast as any of them did : When they had done , he toke the mayd , a galliarde he did bid : The minstrels play in comely sort , he led hir twice about , Then hir he capt , she cursie made afore the open rout : He trips about with sincopace , he capers very quicke , Full trimly there of seuen aleuen , he sheweth a pretty tricke : Eche man they did behold him there , hir father likes it well : Amasina hir mother saide that he should beare the bell . These words made glad the yongmans hart , the minstrels left to play , He gaue to hir the curtesie that dauncers vse to pay . They do depart , they hye them home , they thanke them for their chéere , The pretty maide she commeth on , to them she draweth néere , With cursies two or thrée she doth giue thanks vnto them both : But that she should them shortly sée at home she would be loth . Now for hir gentle curtesie a hundred thanks they giue : Ere two dayes past they saide they would , if they so long did liue . Now all the way they haue no talke , but of these louing twayne : Eche one they ioyed that these two were ridden of their payne . An olde saide saw it is the which is spoken of euery one , The lesser gréefe exiled is , a greater comes anone . These troubled two they go to bed , where they on fansies fed , The one he thinks vpon the mayde , the other thinks in déed That he was blest when he might by any meanes deuise , Once for to see with rouing sight that dame before his eyes : They turne and tosse in bed full oft , from side to side agayne , Now one would vp , the other downe , but nought would ease their payne . At last the Rauens did discry Aurora to be néere , Then vp they goe in comely wise eche one puts on his géere : They hyed to the wished place where as the virgin lay , Galfrydo saw she was not vp , he went him selfe away , Barnard le vayne he taryed still , he saw that did him please , He trudged home full merily , his feuers did appease . Galfrydo whippeth out anone , he goeth to hir round : Barnard he after hyes apace , where that same time he found Galfrydo talking soberly vnto the mayde alone : Barnard he thought his part was lost , his loue away was blowne , Of him he thought no count was made he durst not shew his minde To hir , who euer loude him well , as by due proofe we finde : He doubts she will not graunt to him that which he would desire , He durst not shew his inward gréefe which burneth as the fyre : But to his chamber straight he goes where vp and downe he walks In torments great , in fretting pangs , vnto him selfe he talkes : O God ( quoth he ) what makes my head to be so farre at square , My wittes be almost rauished , suche is my gréeuous care . But to asswage that dolefulnesse that heauinesse of minde , He taketh penne in hand to write to hir , some ease to finde . Trudge little letter , thou thinkest none yll , Go do thy dutie , all things to fulfill .

Seignor Bernardo to his mystresse Charina . MY Lady deare , in whome my lyfe and death is set , Refuse me not , ( I thee desire ) my greefe do not forget : But reade and iudge of this , as you shall thinke it best , See howe the fyery flame of loue abridgth my quiet rest , Ilyue , and yet doe dayly dye , I wyther as the floure , I follow death : yea death hym selfe , denies to shewe his powre . Fayne woulde I speake to thee ( my loue ) to shewe my pyning wo , My silly senses disagree , eche one I shoulde do so , That they myght take theyr rest , as they haue done before , For that my sorrowes still begins , and vexe mee more and more . I bathe my breast with dolefull teares , I neuer ceasse to mone , I sigh as dothe a wounded deare , into a place alone , Where as I do on fansies feede , thereby to please my mynde , Still fayning that I see thy face , some ease at length to fynde . Or else that I should so become as one forlorne ( alas ) My handes would not forbeare a whit to lette my soule out passe . Turne backe nowe ( good mysteresse myne ) regarde my sute I say : Let not a louer yong so soone bee brought vnto decay : Fleshe me therefore now ( I do say ) good lady in this game , Denie me not at fyrst , I craue , whiche neuer knewe the same . All this is for thy onely loue , that my poore harte dothe taste : Thou only arte the cause , god knowes , my piteous partes doo waste , Let nowe deare dame , some mercy come consider of my cause , That am but lately brought in holde to tast of louers lawes : That all the worlde may say thou damsell haste the knyfe , Who myght haue slayne me wofull wretch and yet didst saue my lyfe : Hereby thou winst the price , then print thys in thy mynde , Beholde howe pitie pleades my cause , lette hir some fauoure fynde . In hope hereof my deere adew , the treasure of my trust , The onely comfort of my care tyll I consume to dust . Your loyall and afflicted seruant Seignor Bernardo . Reade not in spight , but take delight in this , whiche once was prose , Whose watered plants scarse sicate were till he this same did close . But as he hath with good will writte , whose hearte thou haste in holde , So nothing lette to doe the lyke , wherof thou myght be bolde , To count him as thyne owne , Whose heart with thine shal rest alone . Nowe it is made , yet dooth hée doubte that this will not preuayle , Then starts he vp in furie great , and thus begins to rayle : O palefaced , hellish , lumpish sow , O grisly ghost , I say , What ment the hilles they fell not on my corps that present day When first I saw that Tigresse vile , that hart of marble stone , That traytresse rude , with whom I thinke my fréend is now alone : O that the heauens might fall on hir which worketh me this wo : I hope the earth will swallow hir , or Boreas he will blo Away with blasts that Lionesse , that no man may hir sée : I would the raging foming Seas they had hir for their fée . Or that the mightie Iupiter when he is in his yre , Might throwe vpon hir thunder boltes , or els consume with fire Hir cursed corps , which hath in it a poyson cankred hart : Or that the foule infernall féendes of hir might haue a part . His host then being néere at hand , heard him in raging wise , Who it should be he marueyled , he could not well deuise : But vp he goes , where him he founde , he asked him the cause , He doth not let , but telleth all , at it he doth not pause . Feare not my guest ( the good man said ) as yet she is not spead . Bar. If that she be , the diuell gnaw hir beastly carren head . But ere she be , I loke to haue a recompense of payne , And reason willes it so to be , vnlesse she list to fayne : But some respect for loue ( I thinke ) to haue vnfayned parte , And thinke it but a fit rewarde for suche a good desart : But I vnhappiest wight of all haue spent my time in vayne , In hope of succor at hir hands Whilst other get the gayne . As thirsty ground doth gape for thirst , and swalloweth in the shoure , Even so do I poore Arpalus , whom Cupides pangs deuoure , I till my soyle with gréeuous payne , I lay the séede thereon , And others come and reape the sheaues , and laugh when I am gon : Mine is the troublous winters toyle , and theirs the sommers gayne , The haruest falleth vnto his share that felt no part of payne . I fast whyle he doth féede apace , I thirst while he doth drinke , I mourne whilst he triumphs for ioy , he swimmes whilst I do sinke : He gathereth in the hoped gayne , whilst I the losse endure , He whole at hart , whilst I my gréefe by no meanes may recure , He shroudes him selfe in pleasant shade , I sitte in open sunne , He leapes as lammes in lustie lays , I lye as one vndone : I would but hir enioy at will , I craue that is debarde , He hath ( I say ) who can haue more ? his seruice is preferde . Thus I procure my wo ( alas ) in framing him his ioy , I séeke for to assalue my sore , I bréede my chéefe annoy . As shéepe with woll be clad full thicke , their masters haue the gayne , And birds do buylde their nests in brakes , and put them selues to payne , Yet others haue the fruite you see when that the birde is hatcht , The nest remaynes , the birds are gone , the chickens be dispatcht . But I thinke it ordaynde in déede by gryly goddes aboue , That I should gape whilst others gayne the guerdon of hir loue : But sith that womans wicked will is forgetfull of my wo , And not the mightie goddes ordeinde my destny to be so , Then must I néedes complayne apace , and curse that cruell kinde , That in requite of my good will hath shewde hir selfe vnkinde . But what euer be the cause God knows , hereafter I intende To faune on them that faune on me , to bow when other bend : This one abuse shall make with spéede me take the better kéepe , On whom I fixe my fansies fast , with whom I wake or sléepe . Host. If so you do you do but well , it will be for your best , He sayde no more , but went away , he lefte alone his guest . Bernarde le Vayne who when he sawe that no man coulde discrye The acte whiche he pretended had , when no man there was by , He drewe a glistering blade at once , he sette it to his harte : Tilt he had done that rufull déede , it dyd not once departe . This doone , Galfrido he comes home , a mery man was hée , Charinas smyling smirkyng lookes had made him so to bee . Where when he came in chamber foule his ioyes were layde asyde , He sawe his frende lye all for deade , the bloudy swoorde he spyde , Which had bereaued him of breath , the letter there he founde , He redde it out , when hée had doone he layde it on the grounde , He tooke the blade , he after went in darkenesse for to lye , Since that his frende was gone afore , he past not for to die . When as the host he hearde of this , hymselfe he went and hoong , An arina shée from window hye , hir comely corps she floong . Ynd Tibine too , when as he he heard his daughter to be dead , De stayed not , but with a knyfe his hungry throate hée fead . His wife , the mother to the mayde , she ranne to riuer rounde , Where as the crue of maryners that instant tyme shée founde : Shée tells to them these bloodie broyles whiche she that tyme did sée , Howe blood , by blood , and death by turnes in Greece nowe for to bée : These wordes once spoke , shée leaped in there shée gaue vp the ghoste . The Maryners they hoysed vp theyr sayle and left the coast . Not twice two leagues they had not gone , ( as many men did thinke , ) But that the shippe vnluckily , there presently did sinke . In déepest sea ▪ their graue was made the louers lye in towne , Where Tibine hath a place , besides Charina hath a roome . FINIS qd Iohn Grout gent.