A most lamentable and tragicall historie conteyning the outragious and horrible tyrannie which a Spanishe gentlewoman named Violenta executed vpon her louer Didaco, because he espoused another beyng first betrothed vnto her. Newly translated into English meter, by T.A. 1576

❧ The Tragicall Historie of Didaco , and Violenta . WHere Phoebus firie foming stéedes , Their restles race doo ende : And leauing our Horizon , to Th' Antipodes doo wende , Right there dooth lye a famous soyle . Whose farthest boundes of land : Enuirond with the brinishe floods , Of Ocean Sea doo stand . Whose weary warning weltring waues , Against the Cliffes doo rore : And tumble foorth their rowling streames , And surges to the shore . And then deuiding foorth it selfe , In seuerall armes againe : Dooth on his swelling tides , the waight Of fléeting Barke sustayne . Whereby an hougy heape of wealth . And fruites of sundry sortes : By entertraffique from a farre , Are leuied to the Portes . Long entercourse of nations straung . Haue so enrichte the same : That this from all Europaes boundes , Hath borne away the fame . Our former auncetors haue tearmde , The same Hesperia hight : But tract of time presound , the name Iberia for to write . Both names by great dexteritie , And iudgement founde , againe Hispania the same at last , Was callde , in Englishe Spaine . Spayne therefore slowyng ofte in wealth , In buildinges fine and braue : Of all the nations round about , Deserues the crowne to haue . The pleasaunt planted soyle thereof , In eche respect excels : The pompouse Ilande Paphos , where The goddesse Venus dwelles . And gorgeous glistering Guidos eke , Whereas her throne dooth rest : Or faire Ephesus where was kept . A solemne yéerely feast . In chaste Dianaes sacred fance , Whose building fine and rare : Of all the monuments in Gréece , The cheefest glory bare . All these I say must stoupe , when as Recorded is the fame : Of woorthy Spayne , and yéelde they must , All honour to the same . If Champions stoute were requisite , For Mars his griessely traine : A mighty campe of warlike Impes , Might soone be had in Spayne . In prowes like the Romane knightes , Whose force so fierce in féelde : Constrainde the hunger starued Iewes , Vnto their yoke to yeelde . And raunged foorth so farre in fine , That all the worlde at last : Was subiect to their seruitude , When many a broyle was past . In courage , not inferiour , Vnto the Troiane knightes : Whose valiant hartes and noble force , Was tryde in sundry fyghtes . Against the griessely Grecian crue , Whose engins strong did shake : The Troiane walles so stoutly , that The very grounde did quake . And so in fine ( but hauing fyrst Sustayned many a foyle ) Did woorke the finall fall thereof , In tearme of ten yeeres toyle . But yf the woorthy Troiane knightes , Had had a Spanishe band , Then surely the stately walles of Troy , Vnto this day should stand . And yf that age so practised were . And skild in feates of warre : The raging Macedonian route , Had neuer rom'd so farre . A●aine , if Territories braue , Or stately Towers on hye : With woorthy prayse deserue , to be Extolled to the skye . Then Spayne in that respect , is not Inferior to the rest : But for the beautie rare thereof , Coequall to the best . Whose farthest limits with prospectes . Of Cities large and strong : Are fortified about and fenste , With bulwarkes great among . In beautie like the stately forte , Which Dido once did frame : When she exiled from her land , To mightie Afrike came . Valence among the rest , this day A Citie of passing fame : Through regions farre and neere , in Spayne , Dooth beare a princely name . A fortresse and a rampiar strong , That gardeth all the land : A brasen wall for to repulse , The force of forraine hand . Maintayned with a lusty troupe , Or warlike Impes beside : Whose valiaunt actes haue purchaste fame , Through regions farre and wyde . Among the rest not long agoe , There dwelt a woorthy knight : Deriu'd from auncient royall race , His name Didaco hight . In chiualrie to Hector like , Like Hercules in might : In policy Vlisses mate , Like Hannibal in fight . In martiall prowes ioyning aye , Him selfe to Mars assignde : So that for courage stoute , his peere In Spayne was hard to finde . He knewe the skill by stayed arme , The quiuering launce to shake : To tosse the thirling darte a farre , And make the pike to quake . To brandishe braue the blade so bright , At barriers to contend : The glauncing shafte with twanging bowe , From marke to marke to send . At tylt to trye the sturdy strength , Of stately steede in féelde : And eke to crase the shiuering speare , On creste of glistering shielde . If euer warlike wight had cause , In warlike feates to vaunt : That knewe by setled strength , his foes In furious fight to daunt . Didaco then , Didaco he , Might ioy aboue the rest : Whose actes had purchaste him a name , Superior to the best . What great delight did he conceaue , To marche in midst of féelde : Protected with a fatall blade , And eke a glistering shielde . Sometime to trauerse foorth his ground , His foe for to entrappe : And then retyring backe agayne , To shunne the afterclap . And mounting eft the prauncing stéede , To gall with dent of spurre : Whose swiftnesse was a remedie , From daungers to recurre . None better knewe with skill to guide , God Mars his pompous trayne : Or to direct his winges and troupes , In order in the playne . Long practizd had this Iouiall Impe , His gréene and youthfull dayes : To winne the spurres in chiualrie , And martiall actes of prayse . Enioying still his libertie , Not knowyng Venus yoke : Vnexpert in the panges of loue , And cursed Cupides stroke . He neuer haunted Venus Court , Ne yet her carped troupe : Such weaklinges he abhord , his mind To no such thing would stoupe , He let that passe to amorous knightes , Whose seruile yeeres were spent : In seruice of dame Venus , whyle Her Courte they did frequent . To leane to Cupids seruile lore , He counted it a payne ; The glauncing glées of amorous dames , Such toyes he counted vayne . Such execise vnfit for Mars , Or Mars his warlike band : To bowe to such a shrine , would not With Mars his honor stand . No , no , God Mars his votaries , Delight in Trumpets sound , To heare the battering bullet , foorth From Engine to rebound . To tosse the iron tipped pike , To gird the dart at length : To shake the warlike persing launce , By sleight of setled strength . To trauerse foorth his grounde , to place His troupes in batayle ray : To set his garisons , sometime To marche , sometime to stay . Long Winter watches to endure , To beare the furious force : Of nipping colde , to ioye in armes , And strength of baughtie horse . And not to loyter by the fyre , Like Cupids carpet crue : Which homage yeelde to Venus lawes , And bid god Mars Adieu . And lingering long in louers lore , These Impes in fine are faine : A colde pursute to render vp , with trauayle for their payne . No , no , Didaco doth pretend , To runne another race : To honour Mars , and not to sue Nor seeke for Venus grace . Let them that haue abandoned , The race that I wyll runne : Submit them selues to Venus lure , And Mars his practise shun . Whose fainting fingers farre vnfit , To handle speare or shield : With amorous lynes their duetie may , Vnto their Ladyes yéeld . Didaco of that Cloyster yet , Wyll not a brother be : That brotherhood I say doth not , Accoro with his degree . Adien therefore dame Venus thou , Adien ye weakelinges all : Whose humour suckes the filthy dregges , Of Venus poysoned gall . Cupide Adieu thou eluishe dwarfe , In spite of this thy bowe : And percing dartes Didaco he , Wyl not thy godhead knowe , Didaco cruell warre proclaymes , Vnto thy desperate arte : He nought regardes the percing stroke , Of this thy poysoned darte . Sound out alarum loude , and woorke Didacos chéefe annoy : Doo what thou canst , I le make thee graunt . Thou dealste not with a boy . Helpe goddesse Venus , helpe thy sonne , Expresse part of thy cure : Didaco , spite of both , wyll not Be subiect to your lure . Assayle me both at once I say , Shewe here your heauenly skyl : Didaco singes , in spite of both , I le be a warrier still . The goddesse Venus whyle she sate , In her supernall throne : Reuoluing proud Didacos vauntes , Vnto her selfe alone . And pondering , that a mortall wight , Her godhead did reiect : To Cupid she addrest her tate , In this , or lyke effect . Cupide thy mothers onely care , And meane of good successe : Attend myne hestes incontinent , Thereto thy selfe addresse . And as thou art the sonne of Mars , And mighty in thy kinde : To shewe thy force without remorse , To please thy mothers minde . My griefe is thyne , not myne alone But common to vs both : A mortall wight with vaunting bragges , Our power deuine dooth lothe , Hast thou not yet , long time or this , By Trumpe of blasting fame : Heard of a ryght redouted knight , Didoco calld by name . He he it is that shakes our throne , With many a thundring vaunt : Howe that our power is not of force , His courage for to daunt . And shall a mortall wight presume , Our godhead to prouoke ? Shal he from Venus scot free scape ? And shun god Cupides stroke ? And shall this youngling vndertake With Venus to contend ? Shall he presume agaynst our forte His batterie for to bend ? Where then shall Venus godhead lye ? Her art ? her power deuine ? Forsooth euen prostrate in the dust , And voyde of name in fine . Who hencefoorth wyll adore my shrine ? Or Venus godhead knowe : Or shortly on myne aulters , who Due honour wyll bestowe ? My ioy and dearling deare , why is Thy bowe vnbent so long ? Why shall we beare this iniurie , Or tollerate such wrong . If this should passe , the brute shal raigne , By euery humaine wight : That Cupids bowe is out of force , And wants his woonted might . Eclipsed shall our honour be , Farewel god Cupids name : And dame Venus power , none nowe , Acknowledge wyll thy name . Bend vp I say thy twanging bowe , And with thy golden darte : In open streetes whereas he walkes , Goe wound Didacos hart , Fyrst whet thy denting shafte his point , Then drawe thy stryng so farre : That so this youth may learne , what is With Venus for to warre . Thou knowest right well his wonted haunt , In Valence citie bright : Euen in the Goldsmithes rowe doth walke , This right renowmed knight . Fayre Violenta she it is , The instrument must woorke : Theffect of this the late deuise , Whiche in my brest doth lurke . On her enamored shall he be , When fyrst he vewes her face : And mauger all his vauntes , shal stoupe , To séeke and sue for grace . So shal dame Venus godhead lyue , Her fame shall not decay : The memory of Cupids acte , Shal be aduauncte for aye . Nowe dearling myne , I haue displayd , The summe of myne entent : Expecting here howe thou the same . To execute art bent . Deare Lady , quéene , and mother mine , Cupide Your Cupids only stay : Your part it is for to commaund , My duetie to obey . Behold my bended bowe , behold , My pearcing shaftes are prest : And me in eche respect full bent , To execute your heste . Long since I vewed his glorious vauntes . And yet I still decréed : To suffer him his humour fond , With folly for to feede . He hath not been the first perdie , That spurned at my lore : The wound is not past cure , my dart Hath launcte as great a sore . He neuer yet was priuiledge , From Cupids heauenly power : I le teache him well inough to come , And goe at Venus lure . I mightie Ioue enamoured , On Ledyes glistering face , And causd him , chaung int' shape of Swanne : His Lady to embrace . And then shall he , a humaine wight , Depriud ' of mortall race : Presume so much vpon his strength , As Cupide to deface ? No , no , I le sone his courage coole , I le tame this newcome geste . That from his scornefull lippes at last , Peccaui I wyll wreste , Nowe Ladie mother mine adue , Your Cupide wyll attend , The comming of this Champion stout , My golden howe to bend . In hope t' achiue this feate so well , That all the worlde may knowe : Howe Cupide wyll not sticke , his arte In Venus cause to showe . This sayde from skies vnto the Earth : He takes his flight amayne . And ouer Valence towne his winges His naked corps sustayne . Right soone the shout Didaco comes , Frequenting still his gyse , And veweth al the streetes about . With glaunce of rowllyng eyes . Thus raunging long at laste his eyes , On Violenta cast . Wherewith blinde Cupids poysoned shafte , From bowe so fiercely brast . That glidyng through the Ayre at last , It touchte so nere the quicke , So that thinfected point thereof , Dyd in his stomacke sticke . He féeling efte his secret wound , As mute he stoode agaste . And groning once or twise , in fyne , Int ' this complaynt be braste . O Heauen , o , earth , o Ioue aboue , What meanes this sodayne stroke ? Did euer poore Didaco yet Thy power diuine prouoke ? What sodayne marirdome is this ? What pinching pangues of hell ? The fates agaynst the fréedome , of Didaco doe rebell . Oh what infernall monster thus : Doth worke Didacos thrall . What fury fell of Stigian Lake . Hath nowe conspiro my fall ? Oh pinching panges of seruitude , What iust desert dyd make The gods on poore Didacos lyfe , Suche vengeance for to take ? O goddesse Venus bowe thyne eares , Of mercy to my playnt : At lestwyse to these parching flambes , Apply thou some restraint . Powre not forth al thy penalties , Vpon one simple wight But nowe whereas I mercy craue , Doo mitigate thy spite : What honor shall redound to thee , By plaguing thus the ghost : Of one poore captiue knight ( alas ) In treble tormentes toste . O qualifie thy burnyng rage , Represse thy boyling ire : Destil the droppes of mercie , on Didacos feruent fyre . I vowe my selfe thy seruaunt then . Thy bondslaue and thy thrall : With duetifull obedience , To come when thou shalt call . And sith I haue transgreste thy lawes , And spurned at thy state : Yet mercie graunt , Repentaunce due , Doth neuer come to late . O Cupide thou , whose fatall shaft , Hath thirld my wounded hart : Some pitie to thy prisoner shewe , And mitigate his smart . Due homage I wyll yeeld to thee , Thy power I wyll confesse : And prayses to thy sacred name , With thankfull voyce expresse . My former vauntes I here recant , The palme to thee I render : With thy celestiall power to striue , My force is farre to slender . Reuoluing thus he throwes himselfe , Vpon his pensiue bed : A thousand heapes of wauering thoughtes , Turmoyles his doubtfull head . Oh Violenta bright , quod he , Of bewtie passing rare : Whose orient hue of face hath trapt , My sences all in snare . Why did curst fortune to vs both , Such haples hap assigne : That thy descent , and race , is not Coequall vnto myne ? What hellishe hagge did gyde the glaunce , Of this my raunging vewe : That th' amorous glée of thée ( poore girle ) My sences should subdue ? What spitefull constellacion , did Enuy thy lucklesse fate , To spring of line vnequall for , Heroicall estate ? At least to all those giftes so rare , Wherwith thou art possest : Why did not Nature pitie plant , Within thy stonie brest ? The rare perfection which she framd , In thée by heauenly art : Wil be eclipsed with the cloude , Of this thy sauage hart . Right sure I am , yea to to sure , Thou wilt not once relent : Vnto those thousand seas of teares , Which I for thee haue spent . Thy heauie hardned eares will not , Vnto my charmes encline : But suffer poore Didaco still , In languor for to pine . Thy stomacke , sturdie , stonie , sterne , Alas will neuer bend : To poore Didacos flowing teares , Whose dolors haue no end . O cruell , crabbed , cursed fate , O hap of all most harde : What desperate dolefull destenie , Haue you for me preparde ? What gilt of mine hath wrought such cause Didaco to enthrall : On her , whose hart as hard is bent , As is the brasen wall ? In nature like the Adamant , Whose substance will not yeld : Though thousand shoures from top of house , Were on the same distild . But oh my Violenta why Do I thy rigor blame ? Why vomite I such foule despite , Against thy sacred name ? I neuer felt thy furious moode , I neuer tride thy spite : Ne yet that thou didst loyall loue , with rigor rude requite . Dame nature framing this thy forme , When she her skill expreste : She might as well engraffe the sparkes , Of pitie in thy brest . And so per●ie she did . Why then Do I ( mad man ) accuse : Thy sundry vertues with reproche ? And eke thy name abuse . Ioue graunt , there rest not in thine hart , Of pitie such a want : That I may iust occasion haue : Thy prayses to recant . Thus beating still his busied braine , With many a wauering thought : With thousand checkes he bannes the fates , That this his thraldome wrought . Againe rebuking this his rage , With bit of reasons lore : Reuokes eftsoone the curses , which He thundered out before . Fie fond Didaco , fie ( quod he ) Sith Ioue appoynts it so : Thy teares do but renue thy griefe , And aggrauate thy woe . Why dost thou spurne against the fates ? Thy burthen thou must beare , Exclaime no more on Venus , why Dost thou her godhead feare . Why railste thou thus on Cupids bowe ? Why spurnste thou at his stroke ? No , no , thy stout vntamed necke , Must bowe vnto his yoke . Thou hast not bene the first , or this That tasted of his dart , Ne yet shalt be the last perdie , That he shall make to smart . As valiant knightes , as thou , or this Haue bended at his becke : And borne the waight of Cupids yoke , Vpon their tamed necke . Where is Hercules that worthy wight , That made the world to wonder ? Who in his Cradle tare the Iawes , Of Scorpions twaine asunder . Why , was not he for all his might , Enthrald in Venus lure : And forc'te his Ladies loue in fine . By teares for to procure ? Yes sure if credite ought be due , To Poets learned lore : If that their volumes he perusde , As gemmes of passing store . Then this they say , that Hercules , His Ladies loue to winne : Was faine in womans habite , on A distaffe for to spinne . And all that he had wrought by day In turning of his wheele : At night he was constraynde , the same , Vpon his rocke to réele . If loue of Lidian Omphale , Were of such passing might : The traunced sences for to daunt , Of this renouned Knight . As to enioyne such péeuish taskes , To Mars his chiefest saint : What marueile then , I say , if loue Hath made Didaco faint ? Didaco thou art not a god , Nor sprong of heauenly line : But subiect to mortalitie , The fates did so assigne . And was not mightie Ioue himselfe , Who with his stately becke : Could cause the heauens and earth to quake , And surging seas could checke , Why , was not he , I say , a thrall , And slaue to Venus lure ? Could his celestiall deytie , His maladie recure ? Could be such sacred influence , Into his vaines instill : His fixed fancie to remoue ? Had Ioue such heauenly skill ? No , no , his honor to withdrawe , That feate farre paste his Art : His wound to déepe was trenched in , By bloodie Cupidoes dart . So farre vnable to expell , his late conceaued flame : That euery houre did minister , A faggot to the same . In fine constrained his deytie , To chaunge into shape of bull : Was faine that practise for to proue , In hope to wynne his trull . Why then if mightie Ioue himselfe , Who rules the loftie skie : For all his secrete god head , yet In flames of loue did frie . Then fond Didaco cease at laste , Gainst Cupides lore to spurne : Who made the mightie Ioue aboue . In feruent amours burne . He was a God and forc'te to yelde , But thou a mortall man : And spronge of humaine progenie , Wilt kicke at Cupide than ? No , no Didaco bend thy wittes , Some other way to proue : Adapt thy selfe to Venus lore , And learne to liue by loue . Renounce thy triple trenching launce , Detest thy fatall blade : Abandon now thy glistering targe , Of golde and amber made . Farewell all martiall practises , Bid griesely Mars Adieu : And all his traine : be dubde a knight , Of Venus courtly crue . Resigne thy warlike exercise , To guyde a pompous traine : Thou taken hast another charge , In hand . Such toyes are vaine . Farewell ye Impes of Chiualrie , That Mars his bands do rule : Didaco taken hath degree , Within another schoole . A prentice now to Cupids trade , And Ladie Venus thrall : Fast bound in sacred soleme vowe , To come when they shall call . Ten thousand times ye Spanish knightes , In prowes that excell , And all the band of Mars his badge , Ten thousand times farewell . Well now Didaco frame thy selfe , To take a second vewe : Of that so amorous glée , which first Thy sences did subdue . With flowing teares from eyes distild , With many a pensiue grone : With thousand signes of loyaltie , Goe make to her thy moue . Vnfold those restles agonies , Expresse the endles smarte : Which since th' encounter of her vewe , Haue slaine thy poore true harte . Perchaunce , she is not of haggards kind , Nor hart so hard is bend : But thy distylling teares in fine , May moue her to relend . But if thy profered loyall loue , with sterne replies be fed : Then farewell life , and libertie , Didaco thou art dead . Hap glad , or sad , I meane to prooue , If that my restles flame : With thousand flouds of teares expreste , My Ladyes hart may tame . Perchaunce my plaints may mollifie , Her hard and stonie minde : And that the planges which I sustaine , Some swéete remorse may finde . Resolued thus within his minde , From bed he rose againe : And layes his faintie limmes , within A swéete perfumed bayne . And casting on his Spanish Cape , Directes his trembling pace : Into goldsmithes rowe , to haue a vewe , Of Violentas face . And often trauersing the stréetes , Adioyning to her boure : To cast a secrete glaunce , sometimes His eyes he doth inure . Full many a pilgrimage he made . His fancie for to féede : Vnto the shrine of this his saint , Before he once could spéede . In fine when many an amorous glaunce , He wrested had in vaine : Vnto the temple , where he knewe , The goddesse did remaine . In th' end Dame fortune fickle Dame , In lieu of former spite : Preferres this doting amorous Impe , Vnto his ladyes sight . Who tooke the present offer straight , And costing thwart the way : With bonnet vayld vnto the ground , Before his saint doth stay . She not forgetting yet the trade , And courteous gyse of Spayne : Doth with a courtly braue Boniour , Salute the knight agayne . Whereat his fond conceytes did sinke , So deepe into his braine : So that the flaming humor straight , Re●yrde into euery vayne . And feeding on a frustrate hope , With visage wanne and pale : In this effect vnto his dame , He frames his trembling tale . If that the dames of destenie , The twiste in twayne had shred : By which the vitall breth into , My panting vaynes is led . If they I say had fined my fate , Before mine eyes did see : The forme of this thy heauenly face , Adornd with such a glee . Then Madame , neuer had I felt , The feuers of such payne : Ne had your bewtie brued the bale , That I poore man sustayne . At least wise this straunge martirdome , That rackes my wounded hart : Farre easier were to tolerate , And lesser were my smart , Thine orient bewtie eke , which first My sences did enthrall : Might better be dispenst withall , For this my fatall fall . A fall sayd I ? nay rather downe , To Limbo lake deiecte : If mercy thine be not a meane , My state for to erecte . Thy face hath captiuate my witts , And traunc'te my sences so : That euery houre with thousand thoughtes Doth aggrauate my woe . And doubtles ( dame ) except your grace , That did my thrall procure : Prepare some speedie remedie , My feuer to recure . These handes of mine shall execute , The cursed fates beheste : With bloudie knife to perce the hart , In this turmoyled brest . And when this breathles corps of mine , Shal be interd in mould : This Epitaph shall there be fixt , For all men to behold . Stay passenger , a knight within , This secrete vaute doth he : Who pyning long with restles loue , At last for loue did die . Then Ladie shalt thou noted be , And pointed at of all : As she whose hardned hart did worke . The poore Didacoes thrall . O harden not thine heauie eares , Against the grieuous grone : Of poore Didaco , whom thy loue Hath causde to make his mone . Recount the restles agonies , Record the endles smart : And pyning passions , that turmoyle And racke Didacoes hart . O thinke vpon that hell of paines , That raunge within my minde : Thinke on my mortall martirdome , That no reliefe can finde . Stoppe not thine eares , as doth the Aspe , Against my piteous plaints : But harken to the restles toyle , That thus my soule atteints . And sure I thinke , if that the sound Of these my drery teares : With seas of sobbing sighes expreste , Might perce your hardned eares . The vehemence therof no doubt , Would openly define : The furious force of these turmoyles , Wherein ( poore man ) I pine . Although ten thousand flouds of teares , Cannot at full expresse : The lingring languor , and the woe That doth myne hart oppresse . This said , with many a secrete grone , Displaying forth his case : The brinishe teares distilling downe , Embrude his blubbered face . That who had séene his tragicall lookes , In gesturing his part : Would say his tongue did truly tell , The message of his hart . She somwhat basht at this discourse , Which he poore man expreste : With gesture séemely set , in fine This short replie addreste . My Seigniour Didaco if your youth , In martiall practise spent : And perfect skill in Chiualrie , Which vse to you haue lent . Or if your brute iblazd abroade , With golden trumpe of fame : Cannot enforce you to represse , This brutish raging flame . Why , then with hitt of reasons lore , Restrayning your desire : Endeuour for to quench the sparkes , Of this turmoyling fire . Didaco , once you numbered were , The floure of Mars his traine : And throughly tried in all respectes , That vnto warre pertaine . And haue not you full ofte or this , With golden crested shield : And with a fatall slicing blade , Marchste formost in the field . You sundry times haue made you foes , With terror for to quake : And eke the brasen bulwarkes strong , With Engins force to shake . And then shall he whom thousand foes , Could not subdue in fight : Be made a seruile slaue and thrall , To Cupids onely might ? What shame is this to you , who erst In fight haue wonne such fame : Yet now at last to want the force , Your owne desires to tame ? But sure not you alone sustayne , The force of Cupids flame : But I poore girle as well haue felt , The furie of the same . And yet so farre to my desires . I neuer loase the rayne : But that I know by reasons rule , The brydle to restraine . And sure Didaco if your sute , To honest purpose tend : If vnder cloke of loyall loue , No treason you pretend . Then Violenta vowes her selfe , Your seruant for to be : Till tearme of these her dayes shal be , Abridgde by fares decrée . But if to glut your lust , you vile , Your purpose to obtaine : In faith your labour is but lost , And all your trauaile vaine . And ther fore best it were in time , Your fancie to forgoe : Least further fostering of the same , Do aggrauate your woe . This said within the doores she flange , And so her aunswere ended : With scornefull scoffes , and furious face As though she were offended . He silly soule when this reply , So sterne , had cut his combe : With minde surprised with thousand panges , In fine returneth home . And casting downe his faynting corps , Vpon his restles bed : Renues the wonted heape of plaints , Within his wauering head . O poore Didaco , what desert , Or worthy guilt of thine : Enflamd the furious hellish fates , Thy life for to repine ? What mou'd their mindes for to directe , Thy wanton glauncing eye : On her who forceth not thy griefe , Though thousand times thou die ? O Cupid thou , thou iudge vniuste , Vniustest iudge of all : Do thou in equall balance payse , The burthen of my thrall . Thy golden quiuer ransacke vp , And with the selfe same dart : Wherwith thou first didst perce my brest , Wound Violentas hart . O let not poore Didaco pine , In restles languor still : Whose frustrate plaints , with piteous sounds , The vacant-ayre doe fill . Whose griefe succeedes a second griefe , Whose plaints fresh plaints ensueth : Whose racking martirdome would mo●● , A stonie rocke to ruthe . Some say that Orpheus with the tune , Of syluer sounding stringe , Causde trées to moue and birdes to carpe , And stones to leape and springe . The groning ghostes of Stigian lake , Were all istriken mute : To heare the soleme ditties sound , Recorded on his lute . The staruing Tantalus that stoode , The weltring floud within : And pines though Apples touch his nose , And water reach his chinne . When once be heard this hermony , ( Though staruing still he stoode : ) He forced not the fruite , ne yet The water of the floud . Thou sweting Sisiphus amayne , Whose straunge and endles taske : Requires an endles time to doe , And endles toyle doth aske . Who toilste in tumbling vp thy stone , Vnto the top of hill : And yet for all thine Art , the same , Comes rowling downward still . Orpheus his lute did lullaby , Thy traunced sences so : That thou didst rest vpon thy stone , And cleane forgotst thy woe . You Belides which for to fill , The hogsheads take such payne : And yet the water that you poure , Comes gusshing forth againe . The siluer sound of Orpheus lute : Your myndes did so enchaunte : That you forgat the taske which erst . Did vse your spirites to daunt , Irion , thou , whose snakie whele , For euer turneth round : The same had not the power to moue , At Orpheus heauenly sound . The rauening vulture eke constraynd , His talents to withdrawe : And forced not with becke to rent , Promethus mangled mawe . The gréedie gripe which erst was wont , To play his cursed part : Doth loath his pray , and cease to teare . Poore Titius rented hart . But if thou Sisiphus shouldst vewe , My restles plaints and moone : I thinke thine hand would cease to rowle , The fatall tumbling stone , Thou Tantalus , and all the ghostes , That lurke in Stygian lake : Wheras your hellish howling throates . A monstrous noyse do make . Thou Pluto with thy griesely trayne . And all th' infernall crue : Would bend your eares to heare my plaints , And eke my dolors rue . The martirdome that mortifyes , My musing mazed minde : The dayly restles agonies , Which no reliefe can finde . The percing panges and endles toyles , which I poore man sustayne : Would moue an hart of flint , to rue The rigor of my payne . I frie , I freese , I burne , I broyle , I starue , I 〈◇〉 I fume : I liue and die , I die and liue , In languor I consume . O poore Didaco wretched wight . which liuing , still dost die : Whose limmes within the smothering flames , Of Aetna sulphure frie . O martird man consumd away , In stormes of treble thrall : Thou bearst she shadow of a man , And art no man at all . But from a man into a ghost , The destenies did thee chaunge : Full like th' infernall furies which , In Plutoes kingdome raunge . Therfore Didaco arme thy selfe , Against the fates decrée : Sith that thy toile with nought but death , Shall counteruayled bee . Yet wretched man what dost thou meane , Thy traueile to resigne ? Thy sute , if well pursued it be , May haue successe in fine . Some say there is no fort so strong , Though founded on a rocke : But that a golden key hath power , And force to breake the locke . Therfore , where loue doth want the skill , Thy purpose for to reache : There hazard once to put in proofe , If Coyne can make the breache . Thy Lady is not of royall race , But of a meane descent : Therfore thy golden chaines perchaunce , May cause her to relent . When this was sayd , with trembling fiste , He frames his louing lines : The faithfull charge wherof , vnto His seruaunt be assignes . Sir hundred Ducats therewithall , To send he doth not faile : To proue , where feruent sute was vaine , If gold could there preuaile . The Post , who of this Embassage , The full effect had scand : Surrenders vp the signed briefe , To Violentas hand . Who hauing vewde with rowling eye , The tenure of the same : Could not represse her rage , but forth , It burst into a flame . What moues your maisters mind , ( quod she ) Such battery for to bend : Against the fort where sure he is , The beare foyle in th' end . And did he thinke , his wished pray , With golden trappes to trayne : Where lingring loue with restles sute , His purpose could not gayne . Goe , bid him proue some other dames . With this his tangling tale : For Violenta hath not set , Her chastitie to sale . The loue of other wanton dames , Let him with golde procure : That are more prone and pliable , Vnto his beastly lure . Poore Violentas loue , is not With money to be solde : The price of her Virginitie , She measures not with golde , And sure the breache thereof , shall not With golden siege be wrought : Where loue with profered seruice once , Thereto preuayled nought . Therfore desire him cease his sute , And frustrate trauayle end : For sure he shall not wynne his will . By meanes he doth pretend . This dolefull newes , the Post vnto Didaco doth display : Recounting all the case at large , In chamber where he lay . Who when he heard that all his driftes , Her loue could not attayne : And how that this vncessant toyle , And trauayle was in vayne . Full faine God wotte poore man he would , Haue quencht this raging fyre : But yet he wanted force and strength , To brydle his desire . O Violenta fayre , quod he , Why did the fates decrée : That thou by line all race art borne , Inferiour farre to mée . In thee alone ( poore girle ) doth rest . The cause of lyfe of death : Thy stonie hart will force me yeld , This brittle borowed breath . But sith dame reason is exild , And fancie beares the sway : That wisdomes rule is not of force , Affection to allay . But wit and will with wauering thoughts , Do combate in my brayne , Néedes must I proue some straunge deuise , My purpose to obtayne . Didaco , why is thy fond mynd , With lusting humors led : Why doest thou not with nuptiall bands , Adioyne her to thy bed . Forsooth thy reason is because , Shee is not of royall line : But of base parentage deriu'd , Vnequall farre for thine . And then shouldst thou conioyne thy selfe . To such a one as shee ? Fie , no , that match were farre vnfit , And not for thy degrée . Why foole doth true nobilitie , Consist in bloud alone ? Is there no meane , but noble race , To clime to honors throne ? Yes , foolish man , the vertues rare , That harber in her brest : Haue power to scale the stéepie mount , where honors seate doth rest . When nature this her image formd , Her giftes she did not scant : But to to prodigall the same , In this one péece did plaint . Why then if natures noble gyftes , That glyster in her face : May counterpayse the dignitie , And fame of royall race . Then doubt not , Violenta bright , To take vnto thy mate : Whose vertues matche the titles , of Heroicall estate . And sure I meane if fates agrée , Euen thée poore girle to choose : If thou wilt dayne for to accept , Didaco to thy spouse . And hauing thus his minde resolu'd , Within his wauering brest : On Violenta nowe a freshe , The onset he addrest . Madame , if Spousall vowes be demed , The touchstone for to be : Whereby men try the sacred bonds . Of perfect amitie . Then haue you gotte , if so you please , Such one to be your feere : Who , then thimperiall crowne of Spaine , Esteemes your loue more deere . He is not borne of base degree , Ne yet of rascall race : Didaco I euen I am he , The knight you shall embrace . Whom , from his faith no daungers great . Nor perilles shall remoue : If that you doe him worthy deme , For to enioye your loue . She rauished with ioye , to heare , The knight this tale recite : Her foltring tongue within her mouth , Stoode mute and speachles quite . At last with shamefast bashfulnes , She set aside the vaile : Of silence , and to this effect , She framd her sugred tale . Didaco you perdie haue forgde , This long discourse of loue : To vndermine my meaning , and My constancie to proue . But yet assure your selfe of this , If that your meaning tend : Vnto no worse effect then this , That you in words pretend . Though Violenta be deriu'd , Of parentage but base : Yet sure in zeale of loyall loue , She will not geue you place . And further hopes , for to behaue , Her selfe so well in fine : That you shall haue no cause to wishe , Her person to resigne . Not for the worthiest dame in Spayne , Though she in dignitie : Do farre surmount the basenes , of My simple pedegrée . Hereat his motions of delite , Beginning to renue : Doth with a precious Emerald , Confirme his plighted vowe . And printing many an amorous kisse , Her orient lippes vpon , Debateth of the Nuptiall rites , And howe to haue them done . Wherof they both concluded thus , To be a meane most fit : That some vnknown strange minister That sacred knot should knit . And that before the twinkling starres , were from the heauens fled : Or flaming Phoebus should display , His glorious glistring head : And so resolu'd , before day light , Didaco did her wed : Where she by plighted vow was made Partaker of his bed . And spending all that ioyfull day , In seas of braue delight : Enioye alike the benefite , Of that long wished night . Thus twelue ful moneths had passed one , Deuoyd of all annoy : And no deuise was left vnprou'd , That might augment their ioy . In briefe he neuer was at ease , But in his ladies sight : And she did neuer ioy , without The presence of her knight : Thus euery night in couert wise . He marcheth to her boure : To staunch his gréedie lusting thrist , And toyes to put in vre . So long he haunted this recourse , Vnto his Idolls shrine : That Violentas honesty , Was doubted of in fine . Some demd because that he so soft , From home to her retired : He vsed more homely valiance , Then honestie required . Wherby her fame defamed was With this surmised blot : Which by the oft repayring of Didaco , she had got . But she whose blameles conscience , Was giltles of the crime : Referres the triall of her cause , To course of further time . Although ( the bruted false surmise , Of people to deface : ) She prayes her spouse to take her home , Vnto his dwelling place . But he that know with long delayes , Her fancie for to féede : Protractes the time , and neuer to Her iuste request agréed : And hauing purchased the whole , Possession of her harte : He knewe the meanes , her doting minde , As pleasde him to conuert . That gathering by her amorous looke , Her loue did still enflame : By litle he withdrewe his mynde , And zeale more cold became . And leauing now the gyse , which erste , He vsed to frequent : Accustometh at sundry times , Himselfe for to absent . And whensoeuer he repayred , Her companie vntyll : Was still to glut his greedy lust , And neuer for good will . In fine he loathes his former matche , And pondering in his brayne : What great reproche , his honor was , In daunger to sustayne . If brute should now be blazd abroade , That he had tane to mate : A girle , whose linage was so farre , Vnfit for his estate . To this effect he bends his toyle , And trauelles all doth frame : What way he soonest might preuent , The cause of such defame . Wheron acquainting straight himselfe , with dames of noble race : In fine he founde one to supply , Poore Violentas place , Of qualities so excellent , And bewtie passing rare : That might with any Spanish dame , In eche respect compare . He taking efte the benefite , Of this so happy fate : The nuptiall rites to consecrate , Doth in his minde debate . Procuring such triumphant showes , And choyse of princely sportes : That all the crue of Spanish knightes , To vewe thereof resortes . The prauncing coursers some bestride , with percing launce in rest : The mightie troncheons do rebound , Icrasde on helmets crest . Some try their skill at bended bowes , At barriers braue some fight : And some with maskes of rare deuise , The lookers on delight . The straunge confects of daintie cates , The choyse of pleasant wine : The curious course of costly knacks . With iunkers passing fine . Did make the Spanish knights to muse , That bruted was the fame : How that no feast in twentie yeares , Was iudged of such fame . The noyse wherof the vulgar sort , So worthylie displayes : That vnto Violentas eares , I blazd was the praise . Who hearing that Didaco he , Had falsifyed his vowes : In that , against his othe , he tooke Another dame to spouse . With scratching nayles shée rent her haire , And braue attaire defac'te : And in her closet all alone : Into this complaint shée braste , O wretched girle what fate hath wrought , These plunging panges of thine ? What starre at thy natiuitie : So lucklessely did shine . O rage of restles hellish thralles , O stinge of endles smart : O seas of thousand great annoyes , That racke my wounded hart . O cursed fates , why did you not , Then execute your spite : On this tormented corps of myne , When first it came to light . O wretched wight then hadst thou bene , Ten thousand times iblest . If thou hadst bene interd in mawe , Of some deuouring beast . Or if into the surging seas , Thou hadst bene throwne at once : Where monsters fell , with grating Iawes , Might tire thy rotten bones . Then shouldst thou not haue languisht thus , In gulfes of treble payne : Ne knowne the furie of such panges , As now thou dost sustaine . Accursed be that cursed houre , wherin thy tender eyes : At time of thy natiuitie , Beheld the azurd skies . O false Didaco periurd wight , Did euer my desert : Geue cause to alienate thy vowes , Once plighted with thy hart . O periurd Iason faithles man , why hast thou thus deceau'd : The wight that trusted thée so well , And all her ioyes bereui'd . Is this thy care of plighted faith ? Is this thy sacred vowe ? Is this the true performance , which Thy promise doth ensue . O haples hap and dolefull chaunce , That euer thy tangling tonge : Made breache into my Virginitie , which I preseru'd so longe . O caylife wretch , and can thine eyes , Sustaine for to behold : These raging panges and martirdome , wherein I am enrold ? Is this the guerdon of the fayth , which I haue vsde alway : Now like a beast and reprobate , Thus to be cast away ? Why did not Ioue consent , my line More noble for to bee : That I might worke a full reuenge , Of this thy villanie ? But sith the heauens haue denyed , Me ( wretched girle ) that fate : With tooth and nayle , I le toyle to shake , The ground of thine estate . And that my grudging hart may still , At thy successe rebell : With mortall hate I le prosecute , Thine odious ghost to hell . Thus thundering out the raging flames , That from her stomacke springe : With howling shrikes and frensie plaints , She makes the house to ringe , Wherat her mother with her mayd , Hight Iamque by name : And eke her sonne , for to appease , Her daughters fury came , All they with holsome preceptes , toile To qualifie her rage : But all their witt had not the skill , Her howling to asswage , Whereat her mother with her sonne , Away with teares are gone : And leaue her pencing forth her plaints , To Iamque alone . The mayd with sundry reasons séekes , Her mistres to entreate : To quench at last the smothering smoke , Of that turmoyling heate . Deere dame ( she sayd ) why doth disdaine , Thus boyle within your brest : Or why doth rancor ransacke thus , Your mynd from setled rest , Why raunge you thus in rage , wherin Nought else but griefe ye finde ? Repr●sse these furious fits and calme , This tempest of your minde . Know this you haue not first bene trapt , In mens alluring net : Ne shall you be the last perdie , That shal be tangled yet . Did not periurd Demophoon , Leaue Phillis on the strand : When secretely by night embarke , He launced from the land ? And Thesus , Aruidue bright , Where he such loue did finde : At last in desert Maxos I le , Left her poore girle behinde . Why then turmoyle you thus your selfe , In flouds of endles teares : Sith he respecteth nought the panges , That your vext conscience beares , Be sure he forceth nought the griefes , And horror that you féele : But that which you set next your hart , He setteth next his heele , Therefore cease of those trickling feares , which from your eyes distill : And then referre your cause , vnto The triall of my skill . I hope or long so happely , My traueyle to bestowe : That you vpon his life may take , Reuengement of your woe . Meane time with pacience arme your selfe , And ease your heauie hart : While I meane while do put in proofe , Some practise of myne Arte . Dame Violenta , easde with this , Discoursing of her mayde . Swéete Iamque ( quod she ) if thou , Can doe as thou hast sayde . Twelue hundred Crownes of readie coyne . I le render to thine hand : Whereby thou mayst conuay thy selfe , Into some vnknowen land . And neuer to returne againe , Into thy natiue soyle , But leaue me to sustayne theuent : And hazard of the broyle . Then mystres myne sayd she , attend To that I shall recite : Your chiefest charge is this : you must A dolefull scroll endise . Contayning such infernall panges , And passions of the minde : That you by meanes therof , no rest Nor ease at all can finde . Then next rip vp the poysoned sore , Of that so stinging smart : Which for th' excessiue loue of him , Hath slaine your loyall harte . Next adding that he might renue , The cause of your delight : If he sometimes will take the paynes , To visite you by night . As erste he vsed for to doe , When this is done , procéede : In such a methode as you knowe , May best his fancie féede . And when you haue displayde at large , The meaning of your will : Commit the charge thereof , to be Directed by my skill , I trow that force of fyled phrase , His wittes shall so enchaunt : That he with frée consent , sometime To visite you , shall graunt . And when he in the dead of night , His soundest rest doth take : We 'le set him then in such a traunce , That he shall neuer wake . O gentle Iamque , sayd shée , If thy deuise take place : Then hast thou sure for euer wonne , Poore Violentas grace . This sayd , to frame her fayned lynes , Her fiste she doth directe : The stile whereof imported this , Or else the like effecte .

Seignieur Didaco , I am persuaded that if you will vouchsafe to peruse the tenure of these my lamentable lines , you will be moued with some remorse and compassion , in contemplation of the true image of my wretched life purtraied & truelie described in the same , which through your disloyaltie and breach of promise is consumed , and spent with so manie riuers of vncessant teares and lamentations , that many times I marueyle with my self that nature , amidst so many martirdomes , hath neuer yet had the force to separate that vnitie which coupleth my soule vnto this turmoyled carcasse . Alas howe many thousand times a day haue I called for death , to abridge and interrupte the course of these myne vnhappie dayes . And yet she reclineth not vnto my crie ? Alas howe many Millions of times euery day hath my tormented minde bene vanquished with the extremitie of this intollerable hell of vexations , expecting still the time when I may take mine Ultimum vale of all worldly delightes , being now arriued at the vttermost panges of death . But what is this in comparison of the horror that oppresseth my waueuering minde when time requireth that I should then take some rest . And recreation of my dayly traueyles , for if it chaunce that mine eyes fall a sleepe immediately my cogitations are surprised with dreadfull and horrible visions representing the perfect figure of her that enioyeth my place , which of all my other calamities is the sharpeste sword vnto my sorowfull soule . But oh me happy gi●le if I were able to dissolue the perfection of mine outragious loue toward thee , grounded vpon the rocke of immoueable affection , wherby the remembrance of thy disloyaltie might be vtterly extinguished . And extirped from the secrete closet of my rauished mind then shuld thy trechery no more burthen my tormented conscience . But sith my desire is frustrate of effect , come hyther I say thou cruell & hard harted man and with some signe of humanitie , mollifie the rage of my continu●ll calamities , the vewe whereof will represent vnto thine eyes the liuely pourtraiture of my restles agonies . And if euer sparke of pitie did warme thy frosen hart , arme thy selfe with greater crueltie then euer thou was wont to doe , and come hyther with speede to make her sobbe her last sighes whom thou most traiterously hast deceaued . For in doing otherwise thou maiest peraduenture to late , bewaile thy beastly crueltie , and the vntimely death of me poore desolate wretch , and miserable caytife .

Violenta . This done , the brinish trickling teares of , Distilled from her eye : Write would she faine , but that the wordes , Within her mouth did die . And casting by the instrumentes , That did this Engine frame , With seale she signes it vp , and to Her mayde she yeldes the same . Holde Iamque she sayd and if , Thou play thy part so fine : As I in forging of these lines , At large haue vttered myne . I doubt not , but or long we shall . Entrap the traytour so : That he shall quite forget the meanes , To worke poore maydens thrall . Shée hauing once receyued the briefe , With speede doth post away : Vnto the palaice where she knewe , The knight Didaco lay . Where hauing once attaynd vnto , The spéeche of him alone : In this effect the traytorous bagge , Her Iudas tale begonne , Seignieur Didaco : in mysteries , Of learning I am mute : But sure I am this signed briefe , Importes some earnest sute . For naught but drouping , all this day , And griefe hath vexte my dame : And eke amidst a thousand sighes , She did this letter frame . And sure to say the truth , you séeme , To offer her great wrong : Because that from her house , you doe Absent your selfe so long . As for your breach of Mariage , At that she naught repines : And reason to , if that she waye , The difference of your lines : But this one pange aboue the rest , Doth aggrauate her woe : Because you see her not sometimes , As erst you vsde to doe . God wotte , she sillie soule would thinke , Her selfe of Ioue most blest : If that some nightes she might obtaine , By your sweete side to rest . And by that meanes , the second place Of your loue to possesse : If this she had , then easde she were , Of this so great distresse . And sure sir Knight you may do well , Your fancie for to bend : In séeing her sometimes , vnto Her sute to condescend . So may you iustly vaunt that you , As braue a spouse retayne : And eke as faire a paragon , As any liues in Spayne . This said , she renders vp the briefe , Vnto Didacoes hand : Who , when with christall rowling eye , Th'effect thereof had scand . His dumpish mynd was for a space , with wauering fancies led : For loue , and hate with motions straunge , Did combate in his head , At last he sayd : deéere Iamque , Thy mistres certifye : That time permits me not as now , To frame a new replye . But that I le visite her before , The rysing of the sonne : To morow morne , and there discourse , The summe of that is donne . She glad , with fayned reuerence , Premisd away doth trotte : And , till she was within the doores , To runne she ceaseth not . Where to her dame the order of , Her toile she doth display : And how Didaco would be there , The next ensuing day . Her mystres hearing this discourse , Her sorowes all were gone ; And hard embracing Iamque , This wise replyed anone . Sweete wench if thou hast framd the grynne , This traytour to begyle : Be sure of this , that for my part , I haue not slept the while . But after sundry thoughtes , I haue Deuisde this pretie fetche , To execute our brochery , On this false periurd wretch , Thy chiefest charge is this : thou must A mightie rope prepare : Wherwith , when fast he is a sléepe , We may this traytor snare . Next that two monstrous chopping kniues , Must for this feate be bought : Although the price be neuer so great , Yet spare thou not for ought . That done let me my selfe alone : Our practize to fulfill : Thou maist referre that knacke , To tryall of my skill . I trow that or he passe from hence , I le charme my youth so well : That he , who vsde him in such sort , Shall neuer haue time to dwell . The cursed wench , to ready bent , To doe as she decréed : For slowes no time but doth prepare . The instrumentes with speede . The time drue on when he poore man , To Iamque did say : That he his former wife would sée , Before the breake of day . And so what time the clocke stroke foure , His seruaunt he doth wake : Two Spanish Iennets of the best , For iourney prest to make . And mounted on their coursers braue , In shade of vgly night : Euen at the turning of the stréete , Didaco doth alight . And to his man commits his horse , Commaunding him to ryde : Into the countrie , where he should , Vntill the morowe abyde . And then before that Phoebus lampe , Displayed her wonted fire : To him at Violentas house , In hast he should retyre : Meane time his Iennets to bestowe , Within some secrete Inne : For none might know how he that while , Had with his louer bin . This sayd he marcht with speedie pace , Vnto his former wife : Preparing syllie soule , his throte , Vnto the hangmans knife . And knocking softly at the gate , Where Iamque did waite : She into her mystres closet doth , Conuay Didaco straight . The knight , who ere his comming , had A fine excuse prepard : Doth greete her with a friendly kisse . Enquiring how she feard . Didaco , you in word● ( quod she ) Seeme carefull for my state : Although your stomacke inwardly . Repineth at my fate . I trowe your giltie conscience , Will testifie the payne : Which I poore girle vncessantly , Both day and night sustayne . The furie of which martirdome , Hath brought my soule so lowe : That still I looke when as the breath , My carcasse will forgoe . And yet the letter which I sent , I wrote not to this ende : In hope it would your stonie hart , To rue mine anguishe bend . For sure I am you will not cease , To worke their endles thrall : Which to these glosing words of yours , To credence geue at all . Wherof I wretched wench , at first Vnwitting of your trade : Of this your trecherous villany , To plaine a proofe haue made . He fearing , least her boyling rage , Would more and more enflame : With often kissing of her chéeke , This forg'd reply doth frame . Madame why doubt you of my faith ? My match was but pretended : For willingly vnto the same , I neuer condescended . And though I was enforste to take , Another to my wife : Yet sure or long , I le cut in twayne , The fillet of her lyfe . And when my practize once hath wrought , Her cursed finall end : The remnant of my vitall race , with thée ( my deare ) I le spend . And then in tearme of further time . It plainely shall appeare : How that Didaco is the knight , That holdes thy loue most deare . Thus chaunting on the pleasant cordes , Of this his tangling tonge : With filed phrase he seekes to frame , Excuse for former wronge . Shée loth to loose the benefite , Of this so fit a time : Doth seeme to hold the knight excusde , For that pretended crime . And with a forced smiling face , ( But with a Iudas brest . ) In this effect vnto the knight , Her aunswere she addrest . Didaco , I am content this once , To thinke your aunsweres iust : Although your déedes haue geuen me cause , Your sayings to instrust , But sure your loue so rooted is , Within my burning hart : That néedes the crime must heynous be , That may the same auert : Therfore I will constrayne my selfe , To thinke your saying true : If you to visite me sometimes , By night , will plight your vowe . For if at certaine times I might , Your companie enioye : Than would I thinke my selfe iblest , And frée from all annoye . He sillie man , right glad to sée , Her furie to represte : With sacred vowe and plighted faith , Accorded to her heste . Thus while they both no truth at all , But déepe dissembling ment : Darke Nox with mantle black approchte , And Phoebus race was spent , And while the remnant of the night , with spéedie passage flyes : At last god Morpheus charmes attachte , Didacoes drousy eyes , That able scarce to keepe a wake , His weary drouping head : With Violenta croucheth downe : Within his fatall bed . Then Iamque rakes vp the fire , And takes the light away : And softly from the bed , she doth Didacoes sword conuaye . Next that the cursed trayterous bitch , Beneath the bed doth grope : ( As though she somwhat had to doe , ) And maketh fast the rope : And marching to the chamber doore , To goe her way doth fayne : But hauing hard the same full fast , Returneth in againe , And so when Somnus deadly charmes , Had all his vaines possest : And throughly drencht his heauy limmes , In gulfe of careles rest . Precisely Iamque besturres , her selfe in shade of night : And into Violentas handes , Directs the rope aright . Who when shée had with nimble fyst , bestowde the same full fast : The end againe crosse thwart the bed , To Iamque shee cast . Who foulding it about her armes , With bum flat clapt on floore : Hoystes vp her féete against the bed , To pull when he should sturre . This done , her mystres takes in hand , Her fatall caruing blade : And searching secretely , wheras Th'assalt might soonste be made . Forthwith his tender throte with knife , So fiercely she doth pricke : That glyding thorow , the poynt therof Did in the pillowe sticke . He syllie soule when first he felt , The cursed stroke she strake : With frustrate hands poore man he striues , Resistance for to make . Wherwith the deadly snaring rope , His wittes did so appall : That hand or foote to saue himselfe , He could not stirre at all . And féeling efte a second charge , His naked throte vpon : Both strength to striue , and speach to speake , Were quite bereft and gone . Shee like a vile Medea fell , Her deuelish rage prouokes : And on his wretched rented corps , Redoubleth still her strokes . So long with dent of trenching blade , His martird limmes she tyred : Tyll that his senceles corps at last , The grudging ghost expyred . Nowe , Iamque my girle , quod shée , With speede prepare a light : So shall we quickly see if that , This feare be wrought aright . Where hauing vewde with firie lookes , His breathles corps at full : The closed eyes from forth his head , With scortching knife doth pull . And hauing throughly launc'te the same , With many a griesely gashe : At last with choler hotte enflamd , Her venome forth doth flashe . Resigne you trayterous lampes , I say , The fort you erst possest : Come forth for aye , come forth : for there You shall no longer rest . Come forth from this your shameles siege , Where you so long did byde : For nowe your fount of fayned teares , Is cleane exhaust and dride . Then haling forth his senceles tongue , With force of murtherous hand : When she with many a monstrous slashe , The forme thereof had scand . O tickling tangling , tongue quod she , That vtteredst nought at all : But déepe deceyt in cloake of loue , And hony mixst with gall . How long didst thou turmoyle in vayne , With this thy cannon shotte : Or that of my Virginitie , Thou hadst the conquest gotte . Whereof depriued by thy meanes , I le hasten eke to death : For hauing lost that precious gemme , Nought profits vitall breath . Then launching in a violent hole , Into his swelling brest : With tygers nayles she rents the hart , From where it erst did rest . And hauing caru'd the same at large . With dent of launcing blade : With thundering checkes against the same , Her inuectiue she made . O hart more hard then Adamant , Whose Anduill did prepare : The trapping toyles and gaging grynnes , Which me poore girle did snare . Why could I not thy former thoughtes , So perfectly descrie : As thy materiall substance now , I vewe with perfect eye . Then had I not poore wretch ( alas ) In these thy trappes bene tane : Ne had thy ha●tery brued the bale , Of my vnhappy bane . This said she bathes her deuelish nayles , within his blood a freshe : And cuts her curst anatomy , Vpon his mangled-fleshe . Then he wing all his other partes , So long shee wreakes her teene : That no one place in all his limmes , Deuoyd of scarres was seene . Now Ianique my déere she sayd , This taske doth yet remayne : That we this monstrous mangled beast , Vnto the windowe traine . For as by meanes of his deceyt , My shame abroade is blowen : So will I eke that this reuenge . Should openly be knowen . This sayd , they both the martird corps , Vnto the windowe drewe : And then with violent hands the same , Vpon the pauement threwe . Now take this golde my girle she sayd , In guerdon of thy payne : And spéede thee hence into Africa , And neuer come againe . The mayde with teares doth take her leaue , And purposde so to doe : Long time before , although her dame , Had not aduisde her so . Which done this boocher frames her selfe , Some quiet sléepe to take : Because all night to worke her feate , Shée tooke such paynes to wake . O monstrous hellish hagge , that forth From Plutoes kingdome brake : O hydeous hissing Hydra buge , That lurkes in Lerna lake . O bitch for sprong of serpents séede , And not of humayne stocke : But sosterd vp in desert groues , Within some holowe rocke : Where fostered thou waste with milke ; From ramping tygers dugge : Which thou amongst the craggy cliffes , With sauage chappes didst tugge . The raging senceles Lions brode , Within themselues agree : Detesting all against their makes , Iniurious for to bée . But thou deriu'd of humayne race , Endued with reason to : Aduenturest vpon such factes , As they abhorre to doe . O curtall curst , of woman kind , Vnworthy of the name : But aye for to be bayted at , With trumpe of blacke defame . You Ladies all whose weeping eyes , This hystorie peruse : At rarenes of this monstrous fact , No marueyle though ye muse . But as the splendant blasing lampe , Doth neuer burne so bright : As when a darkesome shade doth séeme , For to eclipse his ligh . So you , déere dames whose vertuous minds , Abandon all such wayes : By contrarie of this foule facte , Deserue immortal prayse . But now this charge at last remaynes , To prosecute the acte : Although my mazed mynd abhorres , So thinke vpon the facte . No sooner had the day appéered , And Phoebus showne his head : But that this monstrous murther straight , Through all the towne was spred . That great concourse from euery where , Resorted to the place : In mightie companies , to scanne , The strangenes of the case . But yet the sillie martirs face , And limmes were mangled so , That though the multitude were great , Not one the man did know . Some iudgde there had a fray bene made , And so the partie slaine : Some this , some that , but none of all , Could to the truth attaine . She leaning all this while alone , And vewing of the thronge : At last with manly courage mou'd , She steppes the preafe among . My maisters all ( quod she ) you seeme , To diuersly to scanne : With iudgements contrary , the case Concerne this sayd man . And yet scarce two are of one mynde , For some say that some this . And eche man thinkes his verdite best , But all the marke do misse . The meaning of this mystery , By me must be reuealed : Which else ( no doubt ) in couert wise , Long time would lie concealed , Therefore your listening eares I say , Vnto my words apply : This is the Lord Didaco he , That slaine on grounde doth lye . But first because it is requisite , His friends the case should know , Let them be straight accited , then Th'effect of all I le showe . Whereon Didacos kinsfolkes all , Were somoned to the place : In presence of the Iudge , so heare The scanning of the ease : Which done , this hellish Hydra forth , Was led the stréetes throughout : Vnto the iudgement hall , which their Was pestered with the rout . Where with a quiet countenance , And conscience voyde of grudge : She frames her loathsome long discourse , In hearing of the iudge . Howe that the knight long fiftéene monethes , Had languisht styll in loue : And neuer any rest attaynd , His panges for to remoue . But lingring long , and not of force , His fancie to represse : That euery day with thousand thoughts , Augmented his distresse . In fine resolu'd , what way he might , His hotte consumption cure : By sacred solemne nuptiall bands , He wanne me to his lure . But hauing falsifyed at last , His former plighted vowes : He cast me of and chose eftsone , Another Dame to spouse . Therefore because my fame by him , Into the lapse was brought : With helpe of Ianique my mayde , This due reuenge I wrought . Wherefore pronounce your righteous doome , Of death vpon my acte : Or else these hands of myne shall take , Reuengement of the facte . This sayd , she ceasde , with gréedie eyes , Vpon the iudges bent : Who with distilling teares amayne , The heauie hap lament . And after due enquirie made , The case so playne did lye : That forc'te they were by righteous doome , To iudge this hagge to die . From whence she was vnto the place , Of execution led : Where with the stroke of fatall blade , Shee lost her cursed bead . And nowe this dolefull Tragedy , To end , my muse decreed : Inough to make a stonie hart : With brackish teares to bléede . Loe here you amorous knightes a glasse , Wherein you plaine may vewe , The future fate and last euent : That louers liues ensue , Why then enforce you not your selues . Such humors to represse : And to preuent by reasons lore , The cause of your distresse . With brydle of discretion séeke , This fire for to allay : That Phoebe may possesse the fort , Where Venus bare the swaye . Consider this , if wisedomes bit , You desperately let fall : You hazard rashely on the rocke , Of euerlasting thrall . Or else if long pursute , with teares , Your remedie procure : Yet commonly those wished ioyes , Do neuer long endure .

The somme of both is this

Hay glad or sad , hap weale or woe , Hap hoped ioy , or payne : Yet both in this one issue end , In loue nought is but vayne , FINIS . ( {quod} ) Thomas Achelley .