As shewed curtesie deserueth grateful acquital and frendly
fauour forceth mutual merit. So for gentle acceptation of my
other boke, I render to thy delite and profit a second Tome, for
which I craue but like report: albeit, neither worthy of any: or
other then the rude artificer gayneth by tryal of his art. Who
hauing committed to his skil and workmanship, some substance of
gold, or other precious matter, fashioneth the same with such
bungled shape and order, as (besydes disprayse) it carieth the
vnablenes of the workman. Howsoeuer (then) the ablenes or
perfection herof vniuersally shal content or particularly
displease: the boke craueth mild construction, for imploied
paines. And yet the same (liking or lothing the licorous diet,
and curious expectation of som) shal beare regarde with those
that more delite in holsom viandes (voyd of variety) than in the
confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farr of. Who no doubt
will supply with fauorable brute, default of ablenes and riper
skil in the Histories of forren spech. Which is the guerdon
(besides publike benefyte) after which I gaze, and the best
stipend that ech wel willinge mind (as I suppose) aspireth for
their trauel, and briefly to touch what comodity thou shalt
reape of these succeding Histories, I deme it not vnapt for
thine instruction, to vnfold what pith and substance, resteth
vnder the context of their discourse.
In the Nouel of the AMAZONES, is displayed a straunge or
miraculous port, (to our present skill) of womens gouernment,
what state they subdued, what increase of Kingdome, what combats
and conflictes they durst attempt contrary to the nature of that
sexe.
In ALEXANDER the greate, what ought to bee the gratitude and
curtesye in a puissant Prince, toward his slaue and captiue, and
to what perilous plunge he slippeth by exchange of vice for
vertue.
In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to
auoyde the beastly lust and raging fury of Tyrantes.
ARIOBARZANES telleth the duty of a subiect to his Prince: and
how he ought not to contende with his souerayn in matters of
curtesy, at length also the condition of courting flatterers:
and the poison of the monster Enuy.
ARISTOTIMVS disgarboyleth the intralles of Tiranny, describing
the end whereunto Tirants do attein and how that vice plagueth
their posterity.
The two Romayne QUEENS do point (as it wer) with their fyngers,
the natures of Ambition and cruelty, and the gredy lust (hidden
in that feeble sexe) of souerainty.
SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beauty, and what poyson
distilleth from that licourous sappe to inuenim the hartes of
valiant gentlemen.
The gentlewomen of HYDRVSA the ficlenes of Fortune.
The Empresse FAUSTINA, and the countesse of CELANT, what
blossoms blome of whorish life, and what fruictes therof be
culled.
The letters of the Emperour TRAIANE, do paynt a right shape of
vertue, a good state of gouernment, and the comly form of
obedience.
Three Amorous Dames reueale the sleights of loue the redines of
Nobles to be baited with the amorous hoke, and what desire such
infamous strumpets haue to be honored.
Queene ZENOBIA, what the noble Gentlewomen (whom the fates
ordayne to rule) ought to do, how farre their magnanimity ought
to stretch, and in what boundes to conteine their souerainty.
EVPHIMIA a king's daughter of Corinth, and the vnfortunate
Duchesse of Malfi, what match of mariage Ladies of renowne, and
Dames of Princelye houses ought to chose.
Mistresse DIANORA, MITHRIDANES and NATHAN, KATHERINE of Bologna,
and SALADINE, the mutual curtesies of noble and gentle
Personages, and for what respectes.
Quene ANNE of Hungarie, the good nature and liberalitye of a
Quene: and with what industry Gentlewomen of priuy chamber ought
to preferre the sutes of the valiant, and of such as haue wel
serued the common welth.
ALEXANDRE de Medices, Duke of Florence, the iustice of a Prince,
and gouernour to the wronged party, what vertues ought to shine
in Courtiers, and with what temperance their insolence is to be
repressed.
IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the harty affections of two
incomparable louers, what secret sleights of loue, what danger
either sort incurre which mary without the aduise of Parentes.
Two Gentlewomen of VENICE, the wisedom and pollicy of Wiues to
chastice and restrain the follies of husbands, and the stoutnes
they ought to vse in their defense.
The Lord of VIRLE, and the widow ZILIA, geue lessons to Louers,
to auoyde the immoderate panges of loue, they prognosticate the
indiscretion of promised penance, they warne to beware al
vnseemly hestes, lest the penaltyes of couetise and vayn glory
be incurred.
The Lady of BOEME, schooleth two noble Barons that with great
boast assured themselues to impair her honor.
DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA, record the cruelty of women bent to hate
and the voluntarye vow performed by a passionate Knight, with
the parfect friendship of a true frend in redresse of a frend's
mishap.
SALIMBENE and ANGELICA, the kindnes of a gentleman in deliuerie
of his ennemy, and the constant mynd of a chast and and vertuous
mayden.
Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom lustes do
lurk vnder the bark of fading beauty, what stench of filthy
affection fumeth from the smoldring gulfe of dishonest Loue what
prankes such dames do play for deceit of other, and shame of
themselves.
CAMIOLA reproueth the mobility of youth such chiefly as for
noble auncestry regarded ritches more than vertue, she lyke a
mistresse of constancye lessoneth her equalles from wauering
myndes, and not to aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts: with those
that care not (vnder what pretence) they com by riches.
The lords of NOCERA fortel the hazardes of whordom, the rage of
Ielousy, the difference of duty betwene Prince and subiect, the
fruites of a Rebell, the endes of Traitery and Tiranny, and what
monstruous successe such vices do attain.
The king of MAROCCO describeth the good nature of the homely and
loial subiect, the maruaylous loue of a true and symple
Countryman towarde his liege and soueraygne Lorde, and the
bounty of a curteous Prince, vpon those that vnder rude attyre,
be garnisht with the floures of vertue.
To be short, the contentes of these Nouels from degre of highest
Emperour, from state of greattest Quene and Lady, to the homelye
Cuntry peasant and rudest vilage girle, may conduce profite for
instruction, and pleasure for delight. They offer rules for
auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue to al estates. This
boke is a very Court and Palace for al sortes to fixe their eies
therein, to vew the deuoyres of the Noblest, the vertues of the
gentlest, and the dutyes of the meanest. Yt is a stage and
Theatre for shew of true Nobilitye, for profe of passing loialty
and for tryal of their contraries. Wherfore as in this I haue
continued what erst I partelye promised in the first so vppon
intelligence of the second signe of thy good wil, a third
(by Gods assistance) shal come forth. Farewell.
_Authorities from whence these Nouelles be collected: and in the
same auouched._
Strabo.
Plinie.
Quintus Curtius.
Plutarche.
Titus Liuius.
Dionysius Halicarnassæus.
Appianus Alexandrinus.
Ouide.
Horace.
Propertius.
Cicero.
Valerius Max.
Trebelius Pollio.
Xenophon.
Homere.
Virgilius.
Baptista Campofulgosus.
Bandello.
Bocaccio.
Gyraldi Cynthio.
Belleforrest.
Boustuau.
Petro di Seuiglia.
Antonio di Gueuarra.
*The Palace of Pleasure.*