If not for that he knew the happinesse of man consisted more in

auoyding the acquaintaunce of that fury, than by imbracinge, and

chearishing of the same, sith hir nature is altogether like vnto

Æsop's Serpent, which being deliuered from pearill and daunger

of death by the shepeheard, for recompence thereof, infected his

whole house with his venomous hissing, and rammish Breath.

O howe happy is hee that can mayster his owne affections, and

like a free man from that passion, can reioyce in liberty,

fleeing the sweete euill which (as I well perceyue) is the cause

of your despayre. But sir, your wisedome ought to vanquish those

light conceipts, by setting so light of that your rebellious

Gentlewoman, as shee is vnworthy to be fauoured by so great a

Lord as you be, who deserueth a better personage than hir's is,

and a frendlier entertainment than a farewell so fondly giuen."

Dom Diego, although that he tooke pleasure to heare those

discourses of his faythfull seruaunt, yet he shewed so sower a

Countenaunce vnto him, as the other with theese fewe wordes

helde his peace: "Sith then it is so syr, that you be resolued

in your mishap, it may please you to accept mee to wayte vpon

you, whither you are determined to goe: for I meane not to liue

at mine ease, and suffer my mayster, in payne, and griefe.

I will be partaker of that which Fortune shall prepare, vntill

the heauens doe mitigate their rage vpon you, and your

predestinate mishap." Dom Diego, who desired no better company,

imbraced him very louingly, thankinge him for the good will that

hee bare him, and sayd: "This present Night about midnight, we

wil take our Iourney, euen that way wheather our Lot and also

Fortune shall Guide vs, attendinge eyther the ende of my

Passion, or the whole ouerthrow of my selfe." Their intent they

did put in proofe: for at Midnight the Moone being cleere when

all thinges were at rest, and the Crickets chirpinge through the

Creauises of the Earth, they tooke their way vnseene of any. And

so soone as Aurora began to garnish hir Mantle with colors of

red and white, and the morning Starre of the Goddesse of

stealing loue, appeared, Dom Diego began to sigh, saying: "Ah

yee freshe and dewy Morninges, that my hap is farre from the

quiet of others, who after they haue rested vpon the Cogitation

of their Ease, and ioye, doe awake by the pleasaunte Tunes of

the Byrdes, to perfourme by effect that which the Shadowe and

Fantasie of their Minde, did present by dreaming in the Night,

where I am constrayned to separate by great distaunce exceeding

vehement continuation of my Torments, to followe wilde Beasts,

wandring from thence where the greatest number of men doe

quietly sleepe and take their rest. Ah Venus, whose Starre now

conducteth me, and whose beames long agoe did glow and kindle my

louing heart, how chaunceth it that I am not intreated according

to the desert of my constant minde and meaning most sincere?

Alas, I looke not to expect any thyng certayne from thee, sith

thou hast thy course amongs the wandring starres. Must the

Influence of one Starre that ruleth ouer mee, deface that which

the Heauens would to bee accomplished, and that my cruel

mistresse, deluding my languors and griefs, triumpheth ouer mine

infirmity, and ouerwhelmeth me with care and sorow, that I liue

pyning away, amongs the sauage beasts in the Wildernesse? For

somutch as without the grace of my Lady, all company shalbe so

tedious and lothsom vnto me, that the only thought of a true

reconciliation with hir, that hath my heart, shal serue for the

comfort and true remedy of all my troubles." Whiles he had with

these pangs forgotten himselfe, hee sawe that the day began to

waxe cleere, the Sun already spreading his golden beames vpon

the earth and therefore hastely he set himself forthwards, vsing

Bywayes, and far from common vsed trades, so neere as he could,

that hee might not by any meanes be knowne. Thus they rode forth

till Noone: but seeing their horsse to be weary and faynt, they

lighted at a village, farre from the high way: where they

refreshed themselues, and bayted their horsse vntill it was

late. In this sort by the space of three daies they trauersed

the Countrey vntill they arriued to the foote of a mountayne,

not frequented almost but by Wilde and sauage Beasts. The

countrey round about was very fayre, pleasaunt, and fit for the

solitarines of the Knight: for if shadow pleased him, hee might

be delighted with the couert of an infinite number of fruictfull

trees, wherewith only nature had furnished those hideous and

Sauage Desertes. Next to the high and wel timbred Forrests,

there were groues and bushes for exercise of hunting. A man

could desire no kinde of Veneson, but it was to be had in that

Wildernesse: there might be seene also a certain sharpe and rude

situation of craggy, and vnfruictful rocks, which

notwithstanding yelded some pleasure to the Eyes, to see theym

tapissed with a pale moasie greene, which disposed into a

frizeled guise, made the place pleasaunt and the rock soft,

according to the fashion of a couerture. There was also a very

fayre and wide Caue, which liked him well compassed round about

with Firre trees, Pine apples, Cipres, and Trees distilling a

certayne Rosen or Gumme, towards the bottom whereof, in the way

downe to the valley, a man might haue viewed a passing company

of Ewe trees, Poplers of all sortes, and Maple trees, the Leaues

whereof fell into a Lake or Pond, which came by certayne smal

gutters into a fresh and very cleare fountayne right agaynst

that Caue. The knight viewing the auncienty and excellency of

the place, deliberated by and by to plant there the siege of his

abode, for performing of his penaunce and life. And therefore

sayd unto his seruaunt: "My friend, I am aduised that this place

shall be the Monastery, for the voluntary profession of our

religion, and where we will accomplish the Voyage of our

Deuotion. Thou seest both the beauty and solitarinesse, which do

rather commaund vs here to rest, than any other place nere at

hand." The Seruaunt yelded to the pleasure of his mayster, and

so lightinge from their horsse, they disfurnished them of their

Saddles, and Bridles, gieuing to them the liberty of the fields,

of whom afterwards they neuer heard more newes. The saddles they

placed within the Caue and leauing their ordinary apparell,

clothed themselues in Pilgrimes weedes, fortifying the mouth of

the caue, that wilde beasts should not hurt them when they were

a sleepe. There the seruaunt began to play the Vpholster, and to

make 2 little beds of mosse, whose spindle and wheele were of

wood, so well pollished and trimmed, as if he had bin a

carpenter wel expert in that Science. They liued of nothing els,

but of the fruicts of those wilde trees, sometimes of herbs,

vntill they had deuised to make a crosbow of wood, wherewith

they killed now and then a Hare, a Cony, a Kid, and many times

some stronger beast remayned with them for gage: whose bloude

they pressed out betwene two pieces of wood and rosted them

against the Sunne, seruing the same in, as if it had bene a

right good Dishe for their first course of their sober and

vndelicate Table, whereat the pure water of the fountayne, next

vnto their hollow and deepe house, serued in steade of the good

Wynes, and delicious Drinks that abounded in the house of Dom

Diego. Who liuing in this poore state, ceased night nor day to

complayne of his hard fortune and curssed plight, going many

times through the Desertes all alone, the better to muse and

study thereupon, or (peraduenture) desirous that some hungry

Beare should descend from the mountayne, to finishe his life and

paynefull griefes. But the good Seruaunt knowing his Mayster's

sorow and mishap, would neuer go out of his sight but rather

exhorted him to retourne home againe to his goods and

possessions, and to forget that order of lyfe, vnworthy for

sutch a personage as he was, and vncomely for him that ought to

be indued with reason and iudgement. But the desperate Gentleman

wilfull in his former deliberation, would not heare him speake

of sutch retrayt. So that if it escaped the seruaunt to be

earnest and sharpe agaynst the rudenesse and sottish cruelty of

Gineura, it was a pastime to see Dom Diego mount in choller

against him, saying: "Art thou so hardy to speak il of the

gentlewoman, which is the most vertuous personage vnder the

coape of heauen? Thou maist thancke the loue I beare thee,

otherwise I would make thee feele how mutch the slaunder of hir

toucheth mee at the heart, which hath right to punishe me thus

for mine indiscretion, and that it is I that commit the wronge

in complayning of hir seuerity." "Now sir," sayd the seruaunt,

"I do indeede perceyue what maner of thing the contagion of loue

is. For they which once doe feele the corruption of that Ayre,

think nothing good or sauory, but the filthy smel of that

pestiferous meat. Wherefore I humbly beseech you a little to set

apart, and remoue from minde, that feare and presumptuous dame

Gineura, and by forgetting hir beauty, to measure hir Desert and

your griefe, you shall know then (being guided by reason's lore)

that you are the simplest and weakest man in the worlde, to

torment your selfe in this wise, and that shee is the fondest

Girle, wholly straught of wits, so to abuse a Noble man that

meriteth the good grace and sweete embracement of one more

fayre, wise and modest, than she sheweth hirselfe to be." The

knight hearing these words thought to abandon pacience, but yet

replied vnto him: "I sweare vnto thee by God, that if euer thou

haue any sutch talke agayne, eyther I will dye, or thou shalt

depart out of my company, for I cannot abide by any meanes to

suffer one to despise hir whom I do loue and honor, and shal so

do during life." The seruaunt loth to offend his mayster held

his peace, heauy for all that in heart, to remember how the

poore gentleman was resolued to finish there, (in a desert

unknowen to his Freendes) all the remnaunt of his life. And who

aswell for the euill order, and not accustome nourture, as for

assiduall playnts and weepings, was become so pale and leane,

as he better resembled a dry Chip, than a man, hauing feeling or

lyfe. His eyes were sonke into his Head, his Beard vnkempt, his

hayre staring, his skin ful of filth, altogether more like a

wilde and Sauage creature (sutch one as is depainted in brutal

forme) than faire Dom Diego, so mutch commended, and esteemed

throughout the kingdome of Spayne. Now leaue we this Amorous

Hermit to passionate and playne his misfortune, to see to what

ende the Letters came that he wrote to his cruel Mistresse. The

day prefixed for deliuery of his Letters, his seruaunt did his

charge, and being come to the house of Gineura, founde hir in

the hall with hir mother, where kissing his Mayster's Letters,

hee presented them with very great reuerence to the Gentlewoman.

Who so soone as shee knew that they came from Dom Diego, all

chaunged into raging colour, and foolishe choller, threwe theym

incontinently vppon the grounde, sayinge: "Sufficeth it not thy

Mayster, that already twice I haue done him to vnderstand, that

I haue nothing to doe with his Letters nor Ambassades, and yet

goeth he about by sutch assaultes to encrease my displeasure and

agony, by the only remembraunce of his folly?" The Mother seeing

that vnciuile order, although shee vnderstoode the cause, and

knowinge that there was some discorde betweene the two Louers,

yet thought it to bee but light, sithe the Comike Poet sayeth:

The Louers often falling out,

And prety warling rage:

Of pleasaunt loue it is no doubt,

The sure renewing gage.

She went vnto hir Daughter, and sayd vnto hir: "What great rage

is this: let me see that Letter that I may reade it: for I haue

no feare that Dom Diego can deceyue me with the sweetenes of his

honny words. And truly Daughter you neede not fear to touch

theym, for if there were any Poyson in theym, it proceeded from

your beauty that hath bitten and stong the knight, whereof if he

assay to make you a partaker, I see no cause why he ought to be

thus rigorously reiected, deseruing by his honesty a better

entertaynement at your hands." In the meane time one of the

seruing men toke vp the Letters, and gaue them to the Lady,

who reading them, found written as followeth.

_The letters of Dom Diego, to mistresse Gineura._

My dearest and most wel beloued Lady, sith that mine innocency

can finde no resting place within your tender Corpse, what

honest excuse or true reason so euer I do alledge, and sith your

heart declareth itself to be Implacable, and not pleased with

hym that neuer offended you, except it were for ouermutch loue,

which for guerdon of the rare and incomparable amity, I perceyue

my selfe to be hated deadly of you and in sutch wise contemned,

as the only record of my name causeth in you an insupportable

griefe and displeasure vnspeakeable. To auoide I say your

indignation, and by my mishap to render vnto you some ease and

contentment, I haue meant to dislodge my self so far from this

Countrey, as neyther you nor any other, shal euer heare by fame

or true report, the place of my abode, nor the graue wherein my

bones shall rest. And although it be an inexplicable heart's

sorrow and torment, which by way of pen can not be declared, to

be thus misprised of you, whom alone I do loue and shal, so long

as mine afflicted soule shall hang vpon the feeble and brittle

threede of life: yet for all that, this griefe falling vpon me,

is not irkesome, as the punishment is grieuous, by imagining the

passion of your minde when it is disquieted with disdayne and

wrath agaynst me, who liueth not, but to wander vpon the

thoughts of your perfections. And forsomutch as I doe feele for

the debility that is in me, that I am not able any longer to

beare the sowre shockes of my bitter torments and martyrdome

that I presently doe suffer, yet before my life doe fayle, and

death doe sease vpon my senses, I haue written vnto you this

present letter for a testimoniall of your rigour, which is the

marke that iustifieth my vnguiltynesse. And although I doe

complayne of mine vnhappy fortune, yet I meane not to accuse

you, onely contented that eche man doe know, that firme

affection and eternall thraldome do deserue other recompence

than a farewell so cruell. And I am wel assured, that when I am

deade, you will pitty my torment, knowing then, although to

late, that my loyalty was so sincere, as the report of those was

false, that made you beleeue, that I was very far in loue with

the Daughter of Dom Ferrande de la Serre. Alas, shall a Noble

gentleman that hath bene well trayned vp, be forbidden to

receiue the gifts that come from a vertuous Gentlewoman? Ought

you to be so incapable and voyde of humanity, that the sacrifice

which I haue made of the poore Birde, the cause of your

disdayne, my repentaunce, my lawfull excuses, are not able to

let you see the contrary of your persuasion? Ah, ah, I see that

the dark and obscure vayle of uniust disdayne and immoderate

anger, hath so blindfold your eyes, and inuegled your mynde, as

you can not iudge the truth of my cause and the vnrightousnes of

your quarell. I will render vnto you none other certificate of

myne innocency, but my languishinge heart, which you clepe

betweene your hands, feling sutch rude intertaynment there, of

whom he loaked for reioyse of his trauayles. But forsomutch then

as you do hate me, what resteth for me to do, but to procure

destruction to my self? And sith your pleasure consisteth in

mine ouerthrow, reason willeth that I obey you, and by deth to

sacrifice my life in like maner as by life you were the only

mistresse of my heart. One only thing cheereth vp my heart

agayne, and maketh my death more myserable, which is, that in

dying so innocent as I am, you shall remayne guilty, and the

onely cause of my ruine. My Lyfe will depart like a Puffe, and

Soule shall vanish like a sweete Sommer's blast: whereby you

shall be euer deemed for a cruell Woman and bloudy Murderer of

your deuout and faythfull Seruaunt. I pray to God mine owne

sweete Lady, to giue you sutch Contentation, Ioye, Pleasure, and

Gladnesse, as you do cause through your Rigor, Discontentment,

Griefe, and Displeasure to the poore languishing Creature, and

who for euermore shall bee

Your most obedient and affected

seruaunt Dom Diego.

The good Lady hauing red the Letter, was so astonned, as hir

words for a long space staied within hir mouth; hir heart

panted, and spirite was full of confusion, hir minde was filled

with sorrow to consider the anguishes of the poore vagabound,

and foster Hermit. In the ende before the houshold dissembling

hir passion which mooued hir sense, she tooke her Daughter a

side, whom very sharply she rebuked, for that she was the cause

of the losse of so notable and perfect a Knight as Dom Diego

was. Then she red the Letter vnto hir, and as all hir eloquence

was not able to moue that cruel damsell, more venemous than a

Serpent agaynst the knight, who (as she thought) had not indured

the one halfe of that which his inconstancy and lightnesse had

wel deserued, whose obstinate minde the mother perceyuinge,

sayde vnto hir: "I pray to God (deare daughter) that for your

frowardnesse, you bee not blinded in your beauty, and for

refusall of so great a benefit as is the alliaunce of Dom Diego,

you be not abused with sutch a one as shall dimme the light of

your renoume and glory, which hitherto you haue gayned amongs

the sobrest and modest maydens." Hauing sayd so, the wyse and

sage widow, went to the seruaunt of Dom Diego, of whom she

demaunded what day his mayster departed, which she knowing,

and not ignoraunt of the occasion, was more wroth than before:

notwithstanding she dissembled what she thought, and sending

backe his seruant, she required him to do hir hearty

commendations to the Lady his mistresse, which he did. The good

Lady was ioyfull of them not knowing the contents of her sonne's

letters, but looked rather that he had sent word vnto his lady

of the iust hour of his returne. Howbeit when she saw that in

the space of 20 dayes, nor yet within a moneth he came not, shee

could not tell what to thinke, so dolorous was she for the

absence of hir sonne. The time passinge without hearing any

newes from him she began to torment hirselfe, and be so pensiue,

as if she had heard certayne newes of his death. "Alas," (quod

she) "and wherefore haue the heauens giuen me the possession of

sutch an exquisite fruict, to depriue mee thereof before I do

partake the goodnesse, and swetenes therof, and before I do

enioy the grifts proceding from so goodly a stock. Ah God,

I fear that my immoderate loue is the occasion of the losse of

my sonne, and the whole ruine of the mother, with the demolition

and wast of al our goods. And I would that it had pleased God

(my Son) the hunter's game had neuer bene so deere, for thinking

to catch that pray thou thy selfe wast taken and thou wandring

for thy better disport, missing the right way, so strangely

didst straggle, that hard it is to reduce thee into the right

track agayne. At least wise if I knew the place, whereunto thou

arte repaired to finde againe thy losse, I would trauell thither

to beare the company, rather than to lyue heere voyde of a

Husbande, betrayed by them whom I best trusted and bereft from

the presence of the my Sonne, the Staffe and onely comfort of

myne olde age, and the certayne hope of all our House and

Family." Now if the Mother vexed hir selfe, the Sonne was eased

with no great reioyce, being now a free cittizen with the

Beasts, and Foules of the Forrests, Dennes, and Caues, leauing

not the Profundity of the Woods, the Craggednes of the Rocks, or

beauty of the Valley, without some signe or token of his griefe.

Sometime with a Puncheon wel sharpned, seruing him in steede of

a Penknife, he graued the successe of his loue vpon an hard

stone. Other times the softe Bark of some tender and new growen

spray serued him in steede of Paper, or Parchment. For there he

carued in Cyphres properly combined with a Knot (not easily to

be knowne) the name of his Lady, interlaced so properly with his

owne, that the finest heads might bee deceyued, to Disciphre the

righte interpretation. Vpon a day then, as he passed his time

(accordinge to his custome) to muse vpon Myssehaps, and to frame

his successe of loue in the Ayre, hee Ingraued these Verses vpon

a Stone by a Fountayne side, adioyning to his rude and Sauage

house.

If any Forrest Pan, doth haunt here in this place,

Or wandring Nymphe, hath hard my wofull playnt:

The one may well beholde, and view what drop of grace,

I haue deseru'de, and eke what griefes my heart do taynt,

The other lend to me some broke, or showre of rayne

To moyst myne heart and eyes, the gutters of my brayne.

Somewhat further of many times at the rising of the Sunne,

he mounted the Top of an high and greene Mountayne to solace

himselfe vpon the freshe and greene grasse, where four Pillers

were erected, (eyther naturally done by dame Nature, or wrought

by the industry of man,) which bore a stone in forme four

square, well hewed, made and trimmed in maner of an Aulter, vpon

which Aulter he dedicated these verses to the Posterity.

Vpon this holy squared stone, which Aulter men doe call,

To some one of the Gods aboue that consecrated is,

This dolefull verse I do ingraue, in token of my thrall,

And deadly griefes that do my silly heart oppresse,

And vex with endelesse paynes, which neuer quiet is,

This wofull verse (I say) as surest gage of my distresse,

I fixe on Aulter stone for euer to remayne,

To shew the heart of truest wight, that euer liued in payne.

And vpon the brims of that Table, he carued these Wordes:

This Mason worke erected here, shall not so long abide,

As shall the common name of two, that now vncoupled bee,

Who after froward fortune past, knit eche in one degree,

Shall render for right earnest loue, reward on either side.

And before his Lodging in that wilde and stony Forrest vpon the

Barke of a lofty Beeche Tree, feeling in himselfe an

unaccustomed lustinesse, thus he wrote:

Th'encreasing beauty of thy shape, extending far thy name,

By like increase I hope to see, so stretched forth my fame.

His man seeing him to begin to be merily disposed, one day said

vnto him: "And wherefore sir serueth the Lute, which I brought

amongs our Males, if you do not assay thereby to recreate youre

selfe, and sing thereupon the prayses of hir whom you loue so

wel: yea and if I may so say, by worshipping hir, you do commit

idolatry in your minde. Is it not your pleasure that I fetche

the same vnto you, that by immitation of Orpheus, you may mooue

the Trees, Rocks, and wylde Beastes to bewayle your misfortune,

and witnesse the penaunce that you doe for hir sake, without

cause of so haynous punishment:" "I see well," (quod the knight)

"that thou wouldest I should be mery, but mirth is so far from

me, as I am estraunged from hir that holdeth me in this misery.

Notwithstanding I will performe thy request, and will awake that

instrument in this desert place, wherewith sometime I witnessed

the greatest part of my passions." Then the knight receyuing the

Lute sounded thereupon this song ensuing.

The waues and troubled scum, that mooues the Seas alofte,

Which runs and roares against the rocks, and threatneth daungers oft

Resembleth lo the fits of loue,

That dayly do my fansie moue.

My heart it is the ship, that driues on salt Sea fome,

And reason sayles with senselesse wit, and neuer loketh home,

For loue is guide, and leades the daunce,

That brings good hap, or breedes mischaunce.

The furious flames of loue, that neuer ceaseth sure,

Are loe the busie sailes and oares, that would my rest procure,

And as in Skies, great windes do blo,

My swift desires runnes, fleeting so.

As sweete Zephyrus breath, in spring time feedes the floures,

My mistresse voice would ioye my wits, by hir most heauenly powers,

And would exchaunge my state I say,

As Sommer chaungeth Winter's day.

She is the Artique starre, the gratious Goddesse to,

She hath the might to make and marre, to helpe or els vndo,

Both death and life she hath at call,

My warre, my peace, my ruine and all.

She makes me liue in woe, and guides my sighs and lookes,

She holds my fredome by a lace, as fish is held with hookes,

Thus by despayre in this conceite,

I swallow vp both hooke and baite.

And in the deserts loe I liue, among the sauage kinde,

And spend my time in wofull sighs, rays'd vp by care of minde,

All hopelesse to in paynes I pyne,

And ioyes for euer doe resigne.

I dread but Charon's boat if she no mercy giue,

In darknesse then my soule shall dwell, in Pluto's raygne to liue,

But I beleue she hath no care,

On him that caught is in hir snare.

If she release my woe, a thousand thankes therefore,

I shall hir giue, and make the world to honor hir the more,

The Gods in Skies will prayse the same,

And recorde beare of hir good name.

O happy is that life, that after torment straunge,

And earthly sorows on this mould, for better life shal chaunge

And liue amongs the Gods on high,

Where loue and Louers neuer die.

O lyfe that here I leade, I freely giue thee now,

Vnto the fayre where ere she rests, and loke thou shew hir how

I linger forth my yeares and dayes,

To win of hir a crowne of prayse.

And thou my pleasaunt Lute, cease not my songs to sound,

And shew the torments of my minde, that I through loue haue found,

And alwayes tell my Mistresse still,

Hir worthy vertues rules my will.

The Foster Louer.

The Foster louer singing this song, sighing sundry tymes

betwene, the tricling teares ranne downe his Face: which thereby

was so disfigured, as scarse could any man haue knowne him, that

al the dayes of their lyfe had frequented his company. Sutch was

the state of this myserable yong gentleman, who dronke with hys

owne Wyne, balanced himselfe downe to despayre rather than to

the hope of that which he durst not looke for. Howbeit like as

the mischiefs of men be not alwayes durable, and that all

thinges haue their proper season, euen so Fortune repentinge hir

euill intreaty which wrongfully shee had caused this poore

penetenciary of Gineura to endure, prepared a meanes to

readuaunce him aloft vppon hir Wheele, euen when he thought

least of it. And certes, herein appeared the mercy of God, who

causeth things difficult and almost impossible, to be so easy,

as those that ordinarily be brought to passe. How may this

example show how they which be plunged in the bottome of

defiaunce, deeming their life vtterly forlorne, be soone exalted

euen to the top of all glory, and felicity? Hath not our age

seene a man whych was by aucthority of his Enimy iudged to dye,

ready to bee caried forth to the Scaffolde miraculously

deliuered from that daunger, and (wherein the works of God are

to be marueyled) the same man to be called to the dignity of a

Prynce, and preferred aboue all the rest of the people? Now Dom

Diego attending his fieldish Philosophy in the solitary valeys

of the riche Mountayne Pyrene, was rescowed with an helpe

vnlooked for as you shall heare. You haue hard how hee had a

Neyghbour and singuler Frend a Noble Gentleman named Dom

Roderico. Thys Gentleman amongs all his faithfull Companions did

most lament the harde fortune of Dom Diego. It came to passe

that 22 moneths after that the poore Wilde penitent person was

gonne on Pilgrimage, Dom Roderico tooke his Iourney into

Gascoyne for diuers his vrgent Affayres, which after hee had

dispatched, were it that hee was gon out of his way, or that GOD

(as it is most likely) did driue him thither, he approched

towarde that Coaste of the Pyrene Mountaynes, where that tyme

his good Frende Dom Diego did Inhabite, who dayly grew so Weake

and Feeble, as if God had not sent him sodayne succour hee had

gotten that hee most desired, which was death that should haue

bene the ende of his trauayles and Afflictions. The trayne of

Dom Roderico being then a bowe shot of from the sauage Caben of

Dom Diego, espyed the tractes of mens Feete newly troden, and

beganne to maruayle what hee should bee that dwelled there,

considering the Solitude, and Infertility of the Place, and also

that the same was farre of from Towne or House. And as they

deuised hereupon, they saw a man going into a Caue, which was

Dom Diego, comming from making his complayntes vppon the Rock

spoken of before. From which hauinge turned his face toward that

parte of the worlde where he thought the lodging was of that

Saynct, whereunto he addressed his deuotions, Dom Diego hearinge

the Noyse of the horsse, was retired because hee woulde not bee

seene. The knight which rode that way, seeing that, and knowing

how far he was oute of the way, commaunded one of his men to

Gallop towardes the Rocke, to learne what people they were that

dwelled within, and to demaund how they might coaste to the high

way that led to Barcelona. The Seruaunt approching neare the

Caue, perceiued the same so well Empaled and Fortified with

Beasts skins before, fearing also that they were Theeues and

Robbers that dwelled there, durst not approche, and lesse

enquire the way, and therefore returned towards his mayster,

to whom hee tolde what hee saw. The knight of another maner of

Metall and hardinesse than that Rascall and coward seruaunt,

like a stout, Couragious, and valiaunt Man, poasted to the Caue,

and demaundinge who was within, he saw a man come forth so

disfigured, horrible to looke vppon, pale with staring hayre

vpright, as pitifull it was to behold him, which was the seruant

of the foster Hermit. Of him Roderico demaunded what he was, and

which was the way to Barcelone. "Syr," aunswered that disguised

person: "I know not how to aunswere your demaund, and mutch

lesse I know the country where we now presently be. But sir,

(sayde he sighing) true it is that we be two poore companions

whom Fortune hath sent hither, by what il aduenture I know not,

to do penaunce for our Trespasses, and Offences." Roderico

hearing him say so, began to call to his remembraunce his

Freende Dom Diego, although he neuer before that tyme suspected

the place of his abode. He lighted then from his horsse,

desirous to see the singularities of the Rocke, and the

magnificence of the Cauish lodging, where hee entred and sawe

him whom he sought for, and yet for all that did not know him:

He commoned with him a long tyme of the pleasure of the solitary

life in respect of theym that liued intangled with the

combersome Follies of this World. "For somutch" (quod he) as the

spirite distracted and withdrawen from Worldly troubles is

eleuate to the contemplation of heauenly thinges, and sooner

attendeth to the knowledge and reuerence of his God, than those

that bee conuersaunt amongs men, and to conclude, the

complaynts, the delights, ambitions, couetousnesse, vanities,

and superfluities that abounde in the confused Maze of Worldely

troupe, doe cause a misknowledge of our selues, a forgetfulnesse

of our Creator, and many times a negligence of piety and

purenesse of Religion. Whiles the vnknowne Hermit, and the

knight Roderico talked of these thinges, the Seruauntes of

Roderico visiting all the Corners of the deepe, and Stony Cell

of those Penitents, by Fortune espied two Saddles, one of theym

rychely wroughte and Armed wyth Plates of Steele, that had bene

made for some goodly Ienet. And vppon the Plate well Wroughte,

Grauen and Enameled, the Golde for all the Rust cankering the

Plate, did yet appear. For whych Purpose one of theym sayde to

the seruaunt of Dom Diego: "Good Father hitherto I see neyther

Mule, nor Horsse, for whom these Saddles can serue, I pray thee

to sell them vnto vs, for they will doe vs more pleasure, than

presently they do you." "Maisters (quod the Hermit,) if they

like you, they be at your commaundement." In the meane time

Roderico hauing ended his talke with the other Hermit, without

knowing of any thinge that he desired, sayd vnto his men: "Now

sirs to horse, and leaue wee theese poore people to rest in

peace, and let vs goe seeke for the right way which we so well

as they haue lost." "Syr," (quod one of his men,) "there be two

Saddles, and one of them is so exceeding fayre, so well

garnished and wrought as euer you saw." The knight feeling in

himselfe an vnaccustomed motion, caused them to be brought

before him, and as he viewed and marked the riche Harnesse,

and Trappings of the same, he stayeth to looke vppon the Hinder

parte minionly wrought, and in the middest of the engrauing he

red this deuise in the Spanish Tongue.

_Que brantare la fe, es causa muy fea._

That is,

To violate or breake fayth, is a thing detestable.

That only inscription made him to pause a while. For it was the

Poesie that Dom Diego bore ordinarily in his armes, which moued

him to think that without doubt one of those Pilgrimes was the

very same man to whom that Saddle did appertayne. And therefore

he bent himselfe very attentiuely afterwardes to behold first

the one, and then the other of those desert Citizens. But they

were so altered, as hee was not able to know them agayne. Dom

Diego seeing his Freende so neare him, and the desire that he

had to knowe hym, chafed very mutch in hys mynde, and the more

his Rage began to waxe, when hee saw Roderico approch neare vnto

hym more aduisedly to looke vpon hym, for hee had not his own

Affections so mutch at commaundement, but hys Bloude mooued hys

Entrailes, and mounting into the most knowen place, caused

outwardly the alteration which hee endured, to appeare. Roderico

seeing hym to chaunge colour, was assured of that which before

hee durst not suspect: and that which made him the sooner

beleeue that he was not deceived, was a lyttle tuft of haire, so

yelow as Gold, which Dom Diego had vpon his Necke, whereof Dom

Roderico takyng heede, gaue ouer all suspition, and was well

assured of that he doubted. And therefore displaying himselfe

with hys armes opened vpon the necke of his friend, and

imbracing him very louingly, his face bedewed with tears, sayd

vnto him: "Alas, my Lord Dom Diego, what euill lucke from Heauen

hath departed you from the good company of them which dye for

sorrow, to see themselues berieued of the Beauty, lyght and

ornament of their felowship? What are they that haue giuen you

occasion thus to Eclipse the bryghtnesse of your name, when it

oughte most clearely to shyne, both for theyr present pleasure,

and for the honour of your age? Is it from me sir, that you

oughte thus to hide yourselfe? Do you think me so to be blynd,

that I know not ryght well, that you are Dom Diego, that is so

renoumed for vertue and prowesse? I would not haue tarried here

so longe, but to carry away a power to reioyce two persons, you

being the one, by withdrawing your selfe from this heauy and

vnseemely Wyldernesse, and my selfe the other, to enioy your

Company, and by bearyng newes to your fryends, who sith your

departure, do bewaile and lament the same." Dom Diego seeing

that he was not able to conceyle the truth of that which was

euidently seene, and the louing imbracements of his best

Friende, began to feele a certayne tendernesse of heart lyke

vnto that whych the Mother conceyueth, when she recouereth hir

Sonne that is long absent, or the chaste wyfe, the presence of

hir deare Husband, when she clepeth him betwene hir armes, and

frankely culleth and cherisheth hym at hir pleasure. For whych

cause not able to refrain any longer for ioy and sorrow

together, weping and sighing began to imbrace him wyth so good

and hearty affection, as with good wyl the other had sought and

longed to knowe where he was. And being come againe to himself,

he sayd to his faithfull and most louinge friend: "Oh God, how

vneasy and difficult be thy iudgments to comprehend? I had

thought to liue here miserably, vnknowen to al the world, and

behold, I am here discouered, when I thought least of it. I am

indeede" (quod he to Roderico) "that wretched and vnfortunate

Dom Diego, euen that thy very great and louing fryend, who weary

of his lyfe, afflycted wyth his vnhap, and tormented by fortune,

is retyred into these desertes to accomplysh the ouerplus of the

rest of his il luck. Now sith that I haue satisfied you herein,

I beseech you that being content wyth my sighte, yee wyll get

you hence and leaue me heere to performe that lyttle remnant

whych I haue to lyue, without telling to any person that I am

aliue, or yet to manifeste the place of my abode." "What is that

you say sir," (sayd Roderico) "are you so farre straught from

your ryght wits, to haue a minde to continue this brutal Lyfe,

to depryue al your friends from the ioy whych they receiue by

inioying your company? Think I pray you that God hath caused vs

to be born noble men, and hauing power and authority not to lyue

in Corners, or be buryed amid the slauery of the popular sort,

or remain idle within great palaces or secrete Corners, but

rather to illustrat and giue lyght with the example of our

vertue to those that shal apply themselues to our dexterity of

good behauior, and do lyue as depending vpon our edicts and

commaundments: I appeale to your faith, what good shall succede

to your subiects, who haue both heard and also knowne the

benefit bestowed vppon them by God, for that hee gaue them a

Lord so modest and vertuous, and before they haue experimented

the effect of his goodnesse and Vertue, depriued of him, that is

adorned and garnished with sutch perfections? What comfort,

contentation and ioy shall the Lady your mother receiue, by

feelyng your losse to be so sodaine, after your good and

delycate bryngyng up, instructed with sutch great diligence and

vtterly berieued of the fruict of that education? It is you sir,

that may commaund obedience to Parents, succor to the afflicted,

and do iustice to them that craue it: Alas, they be your poore

subiectes that make complaints, euen of you, for denying them

your due presence. It is you of whom my good madame doth

complayne, as of him that hath broken and violated his faith,

for not comming home at the promised day." Now as he was about

to continue his oration, Dom Diego vnwilling to heare him, brake

of his talk saying: "Ah sir, and my great Friend: It is an easy

matter for you to iudge of mine affayres, and to blame myne

absence, not knowing peraduenture the cause thereof. But I

esteeme you a man of so good iudgement, and so great a fryend of

thinges that be honeste, and a Gentleman of great fidelity, as

by vnderstanding my hard luck, when you be aduertised of the

cause of my withdrawing into this solitarie place, you wyll

rightly confesse, and playnely see that the wisest and most

constant haue committed more vaine follies than those don by

mee, forced with like spirite that now moueth and tormenteth

me." Hauing sayd, he tooke aside Roderico, where he dyd tell

vnto hym the whole discourse both of his Loue, and also of the

rigor of hys Lady, not without weepyng, in sutch abundaunce and

with sutch frequent sighes and sobs interruptyng so hys speach,

as Roderico was constrained to keepe him company, by remembryng

the obstinacie of hir that was the Mistresse of his heart, and

thinkynge that already he had seene the effect of lyke missehap

to fal vpon his owne head, or neare vnto the lyke, or greater

distresse than that which he sawe his deare and perfect Fryend

to endure. Notwythstanding he assayed to remoue him from that

desperate minde and opinion of continuance in the desert. But

the froward penitente swore vnto him, that so long as he liued

(without place recouered in the good graces of his Gineura,) he

would not returne home to his house, but rather change his

being, to seke more sauage abode, and lesse frequented than that

was. "For" (quod hee) "to what purpose shall my retourne serue

where continuinge mine affection, I shall fele lyke cruelty that

I dyd in time past, which wil bee more painful and heauy for me

to beare than voluntary exile and banyshment, or bring me to

that end wherein presently I am." "Contente your self I beseech

you, and suffer me to be but once vnhappy, and do not perswade

mee to proue a second affliction, worsse than the first."

Roderico hearing his reasons so liuely and wel applied would not

reply, onely content that he would make him promyse to tarry

there two monthes, and in that time attempt to reioyse himselfe

so wel as he could. And for hys owne part, he swore vnto him,

that he would bee a meanes to reconcile Gineura, and brynge them

to talke together. Moreouer, he gaue him assurance by othe, that

hee shoulde not bee discouered by hym, nor by any in his

Company. Wherewith the knyght somewhat recomforted, thanked him

very affectuously. And so leauyng wyth him a fielde bed, two

seruaunts, and Money for his Necessities, Roderico tooke hys

leaue, tellyng hym that shortely he would visite him againe, to

his great contentation, as euer he was left and forsaken with

gryefe and sorrow, himselfe makyng great mone for the vnseemely

state and myserable plyght of Dom Diego. And God knoweth whether

by the way, he detested the cruelty of pitilesse Gineura,

blasphemyng a million of times the whole sexe of Womankynd,

peraduenture not without iust cause. For there lieth hydden

(I know not what) in the brests of Women, which at times like

the Wane and increase of the Moone, doth chaunge and alter,

whereof a man can not tell on what foote to stand to conceiue

the reasons of the same: whych fickle fragility of theirs

(I dare not say mobility) is sutch, as the subtillest wench of

them al best skilled in Turner's Art, can not (I say deface) or

so mutch as hide or colour that naturall imperfection. Roderico

arriued at his house, frequented many times the lodging of

Gineura, to espy hir fashions, and to see if any other had

conquered that place, that was so well assayled and besieged by

Dom Diego. And this wyse and sage knyght vsed the matter so

well, that he fell in acquaintance wyth one of the Gentlewoman's

Pages, in whom she had so great trust, as she conceyled from him

very few of hir greatest secretes, not well obseruing the

preceipte of the wyse man, who councelleth vs not to tell the

secretes of the mynde to those, whose iudgement is but weake,

and tongue very lauish and frank of speach. The Knyght then

familiar with this Page, dandled him so with faire words, as by

lyttle and lytle he wrong the Wormes out of his Nose, and

vnderstode that when Gineura began once to take Pepper in snuffe

against Dom Diego, she fell in loue wyth a Gentleman of Biskaye,

very poore, but Beautyfull, young and lustye, whych was the

Stewarde of the house: and the Page added further that hee was

not then there, but woulde returne wythin three Dayes, as he had

sent Woorde to hys mystresse, and that two other Gentlemen

woulde accompany him to cary away Gineura into Biskaye, for that

was their last conclusion: "And I hope" (quod he) "that she will

take me with hir, bicause I am made priuy to their whole

intent." Roderico hearing the treason of this flight and

departure of the vnfaithful daughter, was at the first brunt

astonned, but desirous that the Page should not marke his

altered Countenaunce, said vnto him: "In very deede meete it is,

that the Gentlewoman should make hir owne choice of husband,

sith hir mother so little careth to prouide for hir. And albeit

that the Gentleman be not so riche and Noble as hir estate

deserueth, hir affection in that behalfe ought to suffise and

the honesty of his person: for the rest Gineura hath (thanks be

to God) wherewith to intertaine the state of them both." These

wordes he spake, farre from the thought of his hearte. For being

alone by himself, thus he said: "O blessed God, how blinde is

that loue, which is vnruled, and out of order: and what dispayre

to recline to them, which (voide of reason) doe feede so

foolishly of vayne thoughts and fond desires, in sutch wise as

two commodities, presented vnto them, by what ill lucke I know

not, they forsake the beste, and make choise of the worst. Ah

Gineura, the fairest Lady in all this Countrey, and the moste

vnfaithfull Woman of oure time, where be thine eyes and

iudgement? Whither is thy mynde straied and wandred, to acquite

thyselfe from a great Lord, faire, rich, noble, and vertuous,

to be giuen to one that is poore, whose parents be vnknowne, his

prowesse obscure, and birth of no aparant reputation. Behold,

what maketh me beleue, that loue (so wel as Fortune) is not

onely blynd, but also dazeleth the sight of them that hee

imbraceth and captiuateth vnder his power and bondage. But I

make a vowe (false woman) that it shal neuer come to passe and

that this Biskaye gentleman shall neuer enioy the spoyles whych

iustely bee due vnto the Trauaile and faithfull seruice of the

valyaunt and vertuous knyght Dom Diego. It shal be hee, or else

I wil dye for it, whych shall haue the recompense of his

troubles, and shall feele the caulme of that tempest, whych

presently holdeth hym at Anker, amyd the most daungerous rockes

that euer were." By this meanes Roderico knew the way how to

keepe promise wyth his friende, which liued in expectation of

the same. The two dayes past, whereof the Page had spoken, the

beloued of Gineura, fayled not to come, and with him two

Gallants of Biskaye, valiaunt Gentlemen, and well exercysed in

Armes. That Nighte Roderico wente to see the olde Wydowe Lady,

the Mother of the Mayden, and fyndyng oportunity to speak to the

Page, hee said vnto hym: "I see my Friend, accordingly as thou

diddest tell mee, that ye are vppon departing, the steward of

the house beeing now retourned. I pray the tel mee, if thou haue

neade of mee, or of any thyng that I am able doe for thee,

assuring thee that thou shalt obtaine and haue what so euer thou

requirest. And therewithall I haue thought good to tel thee, and

giue the warning (for thine owne sake specially) that thou keepe

all thynges close and secrete, that no slaunder or dishonour do

followe, to blot and deface the Same and prayse of thy

Mistresse. And for my selfe I had rather dye, than once to open

my mouth, to discouer the least intent of this enterpryse. But

tell mee, I praye thee, when do ye depart?" "Sir" (quod the

Page) "as my Mistresse saieth, to morow about ten or eleuen of

the Clocke in the Euening, when the Lady hir Mother shall bee in

the sound of hir first sleepe." The knight hearyng that, and

desirous of no better time, tooke hys leaue of the Page, and

went home, where he caused to bee sente for tenne or twelue

Gentlemen, his Neighbours and Tenaunts, whom he made priuy of

his secretes, and partakers of that he went about, to deliuer

out of Captiuity and miserie the chiefest of all his Friends.

The Nighte of those two Louers departure being come, Dom

Roderico, which knewe the way where they should passe, bestowed

him selfe and his Company in Ambush, in a little Groue, almost

three Miles of the Lodging of this fugitiue Gentlewoman: where

they hadde not long tarried but they hearde the tramplinge of

Horsse, and a certaine whispring noise of People riding before

them. Nowe the Nighte was somwhat cleare, which was the cause,

that the Knighte amonges the thronge, knew the Gentlewoman,

besides whome rode the Miserable Wretche that hadde stolne hir

awaye. Whome so soone as Roderico perceyued full of despyte,

moued wyth extreme passion, welding his launce into his rest,

brake in the nearest way vpon the infortunate louer, with sutch

vehemency, as neither coate of Maile or Placard was able to saue

his lyfe, or warraunt him to keepe company wyth that troupe

which banded vnder loue's Enseigne, was miserably slayne, by the

guide of a blynd, naked, and thieuish litle boy. And when he saw

he had done that he came for, he sayd to the rest of the

Company: "My Friends, thys man was carelesse to make inuasion

vpon other mens ground." These poore Biskayes surprysed vpon the

sodayne, and seeyng the ambushment to multiply, put spurres to

theyr horsse to the best aduantage they could for expedition,

leauing their Conduct or guid gaping for breath and geuing a

signe that he was dead. Whiles the other were making themselues

ready to runne away, two of Roderico his men, couered with

Skarfes, armed, and vnknowne, came to sease vppon sorrowfull

Gineura, who beholdyng her fryende deade, began to weepe and

crye so straungely, as it was maruell that hir breath fayled

not. "Ah trayterous Theeues," (said she) "and bloudy Murderers,

why do ye not addresse your selues to execute cruelty vppon the

rest, sith you haue done to death hym, that is of greater value

than you all? Ah my deare Fryend, what crooked and grieuous

Fortune haue I, to see thee grouelyng dead on ground and I

abyding in life, to be the pray of murderous Theeues and thou so

cowardly beryued of lyfe." Roderico wyth his face couered, drew

neare vnto her, and sayde: "I beseech you Gentlewoman, to forget

these straunge fashions of complaynt, sith by them ye bee not

able to reuiue the dead, ne yet make your ende of gryefes." The

maiden knowing the voyce of hym, that had slayne hir fryende,

began to cry out more fiercely than before. For whych cause one

of the gentlemen in company with Roderico, hauing a blacke

counterfait beard with two lunets, in manner of spectacles, very

large and great, that couered the moste part of his Face,

approched neare the bashful maiden, and with bigge voice and

terrible talk, holding his dagger vpon hir white and delicate

breast, said vnto hir: "I sweare by the Almighty God, if I heare

thee speake one word more, I wil sacrifice thee vnto the ghost

of that varlet, for whome thou makest thy mone, who deserued to

end his daies vpon a gallow tree rather than by the hands of a

gentleman. Holde thy peace therefore thou foolysh girle, for

greater honour and more ample Benefite is meant to thee, than

thou hast deserued. Ingratitude onely hath so ouerwhelmed thy

good Nature, as thou art not able to iudge who be thy friends."

The gentlewoman fearing death, whych as she thought was present,

held hir peace, downe alonges whose Eyes a ryuer of Teares dyd

run, and the passion of whose heart appeared by assiduall

sighes, and neuer ceassing sobbes, whych in end so quallifyed

hir cheare, that the exteriour sadnesse was wholy inclosed

wythin the mynd and thought of the afflicted Gentlewoman. Then

Roderico caused the body of the dead to be buryed in a lyttle

Countrey Chappell, not farre out of theyr way. Thus they

trauayled two dayes before Gineura knew any of them, that had

taken hir away from hir louer: who permytted none to speake vnto

hir nor she to any of hir company, beyng but a waiting maid, and

the page that hadde dyscouered al the secretes to Dom Roderico.

A notable example surely for stolne and secrete mariages,

whereby the honour of the contracted partes, is most commonly

blemyshed, and the Commaundement of GOD violated, whose word

enioyneth obedience to Parents in all ryghtfull causes, who if

for any lyght offence, they haue power to take from vs the

inheritance whych otherwyse naturall law would giue vs, what

ought they of duety to doe, where rebellyous Chyldren abusing

theyr goodnesse, do consume without feare of Liberty, the thynge

that is in theyr free wyll and gouernement. In like maner diuers

vndiscrete and folysh mothers are to be accused, which suffer

their daughters of tender and chyldysh age to be enamored of

theyr seruants, not remembryng how weake the flesh is, how prone

and ready men be to do euyl, and how the seducyng spirite

wayting stil vpon us, is procliue and prone to surpryse and

catch vs wythin his Snares, to the intent he may reioyce in the

ruine of soules washed and redeemed wyth the bloud of the Son of

God. This troupe drawing neare to the caue of Dom Diego,

Roderico sent one of his men to aduertise him of their comming,

who in the absence of his fryende, fylled and susteined with

hope, shortely to see the onely Lady of hys hearte, accompanyed

wyth a merry and ioyfull Trayne, so soone as hee had somewhat

chaunged his wilde maner of Lyfe, he also by lyttle and lyttle

gayned a good part of hys lusty and fresh coloure, and almost

had recouered that beauty, which he had when he firste became a

Citizen of those desertes. Now hauiug vnderstanded the message

sent vnto him by Roderico, God knoweth if with that pleasaunt

tydings he felt a motion of Bloud, sutch as made all his members

to leape and daunce, whych rendred hys Mynde astonned, for the

onely memorye of the thynge that poysed hys mynd vp and downe,

not able to be wayed in equall Balaunce whereof rather he ought

to haue made reioyse than complayne, being assured to see hir,

of whome he demaunded onely grace and pardon, but for recouery

of hir, he durst not repose any certayne Iudgement. In the Ende

hoystyng vp hys head lyke one rysen from a long and sound

sleepe, hee sayd: "Praise be to God, who yet before I dye, hath

done me great pleasure, to suffer me to haue a syght of hir,

that by causing my Matirdome, continueth hir stubburne manner of

Lyfe, whych shall procure in like sort myne vtter ruine and

decay. Vpon the approch of whom I shall goe more ioyfull,

charged with incomparable loue, to vysit the ghosts beneath, in

the presence of that cruel swete, that now tormenteth me with

the ticklysh tentation, and who sometimes hath made me tast a

kind of Hony sugred with bytter Gal, more daungerous than the

suck of Poyson and vnder the vermyllion rudde of a new sprouted

Rose diuiuely blowen forth, hath hydden secrete Thornes the

pryckes whereof hath me so lyuely touched, as my Wound cannot

well bee cured, by any Baulme that may be thereunto applyed,

without enioying of that myne owne missehappe, moste happy or

wythout that remedy, whych almost I feele restyng in death, that

so long and oftentymes I haue desired as the true remedy of all

my paynes and gryefe." In the meane whyle Dom Roderico, whych

tyll that tyme was not knowen vnto Gineura, drew neare vnto hir

by the way as he rode, and talked wyth hir in this sorte:

"I doubt not (Gentlewoman) but that you think your self not wel

contented to se me in this place, in sutch company and for

occasion so vnseemely for my degre, and state, and moreouer

knowying what iniury I seeme to do vnto you, that euer was, and

am so affectionate and friendly to the whole stocke of your race

and Lynage, and am not ignoraunte that vppon the firste brunte

you may iudge my cause vniust to carry you away from the handes

of your fryend, to bring you into these desertes, wylde, and

solitary places. But if ye considred the force of that true

amity, which by vertue sheweth the common Bondes of hearts and

myndes of Men, and shall measure to what end this acte is done,

without to mutch staying vpon the lyght apprehension of Choler,

for a beginnynge somewhat troublesom, I am assured then (that if

you be not wholly depryued of reason) you shall perceiue that I

am not altogether worthy blame nor your selfe vtterly voyde of

fault. And bycause we draw neare vnto the place, whether (by the

help of God) I meane to conduct you, I beseech you to consider,

that the true Seruaunt whych by all seruice and duety studieth

to execute the commaundementes of him that hath puissance ouer

him, doth not deserue to bee beaten or driuen away from the

house of his maister, but to be fauored and cherished, and ought

to receyue equal recompense for his seruice. I speake not this

for my selfe, my deuotion beinge vowed elsewhere, but for that

honest affection which I beare to all vertuous and chaste

persons. The effect whereof I will not deny to tell you in tyme

and place, where I shall use sutch modesty towards you, as is

meete for a maiden of your age and state. For the greatnesse of

Noble Men and puisant, doth most appeare and shew forth it self,

when they vse Mildenesse and Gentlenesse vnto those, to whom by

reason of their Authority they mighte execute cruelty and

malice. Now to the end that I do not make you doubtfull long, al

that which I haue done and yet meane to doe, is for none other

purpose but to ease the grieuous paines of that moste faithful

louer that loueth at thys Daye vnder the Circle of the Moone. It

is for the good Knighte Dom Diego, that loueth you so dearely

and still worshippeth your Noble fame, who bicause he wil not

shew himself disobedient, liueth miserably amonge bruite beasts,

amid the craggy rocks and mountaines, and in the deepe solitudes

of comfortlesse dales and valleis. It is to him I say that I do

bryng you, protesting vnto you by othe (Gentlewoman) that the

misery wherein I saw him, little more than VI. Wekes

past, toucheth me so neare the heart, as if the Sacrifice of my

lyfe sufficed alone, (and without letting you to feele this

painfull voyage) for the solace of his martirdome I would spare

it no more, than I do mine owne endeuor and honor, besides the

hazarding of the losse of your good grace and fauour. And albeit

I wel perceiue, that I do grieue you, by causing you to enter

this painfull iourney, yet I besech you that the whole

displeasure of this fact may bee imputed vnto my charge, and

that it would please you louingly to deale with him, who for

your sake vseth so great violence against himself." Gineura as a

woman half in despayre for the death of hir friend, behaued hir

selfe like a mad woman void of wit and sense, and the simple

remembraunce of Dom Diego his name so astonned her, (which name

she hated far more than the pangs of death) that she staied a

long time, hir mouth not able to shape one word to speake. In

the ende vanquished with impacience, burning with choler, and

trembling for sorrow, loked vpon Dom Roderico with an Eye no

lesse furious, than a Tigresse caught within the Net, and seeth

before hir face hir young Fawnes murdered, wringing hir hands

and beating hir delicate brest, she vsed these or sutch like

woordes: "Ah bloudy traitor and no more Knight, is it of thee

that I oughte to looke for so detestable a villany and treason?

How darest thou be so hardy to entreat me for an other, that

hast in myne owne presence killed him, whose death I will pursue

vpon thee, so longe as I haue life within this body? Is it to

thee false theefe and murderer, that I ought to render accompte

of that which I meant to doe? Who hath appointed thee to be

arbitrator, or who gaue thee commission to capitulate the

Articles of my mariage? Is it by force then, that thou wouldest

I should loue that vnfaithfull Knighte, for whom thou hast

committed and done this acte, that so longe as thou liuest shal

blot and blemish thy renoume, and shal be so wel fixed in my

mind, and the wounds shal cleaue so neare my heart, vntill at my

pleasure I be reuenged of this wrong? No, no, I assure thee no

force done vnto mee, shall neuer make mee otherwyse dysposed,

than a mortall Enimy both to thee which art a Theefe and

rauisher of an other man's wife, and also to thy desperate frend

Dom Diego, which is the cause of this my losse: and now not

satisfied with the former wrong done vnto me, thou goest about

to deceiue me vnder the Colour of good and pure Friendship. But

sith wicked Fortune hath made me thy Prysoner, doe with me what

thou wylt, and yet before I suffer and endure that that Traytor

Dom Diego doe enioy my Virginity, I will offer vp my lyfe to the

shadowes and Ghostes of my faythful fryend and husband, whome

thou hast so trayterously murdred. And therefore (if honestlye I

may or ought entreate mine Enimy) I pray thee that by doynge thy

duety, thou suffer vs in peace, and gyue lycence to mee, thys

Page, and my two pore Maydens to depart whether we lyst."

"God forbid" (quod Roderico) "that I should doe a Trespasse so

shamefull, as to depryue my dearest fryend of his ioy and

contentation, and by falsifiing my faith be an occasion of hys

death, and of your losse, by leauing you without company,

wandring amids this wildernesse." And thus he continued his

former discourse and talk, to reclaime thys cruell Damosell to

haue pity vpon hir poore penytent, but he gained as mutch

thereby, as if he had gone aboute to number the Sands alongs the

Sea Coastes of the maine Ocean. Thus deuising from one talke to

an other, they arryued neare the Caue, which was the stately

house of Dom Diego: where Gineura lyghted, and saw the pore

amorous Knight, humbly falling downe at hir feete, all forworne,

pale, and disfigured, who weeping with warme teares, said vnto

hir: "Alas, my deare Lady, the alone and onely mistresse of my

heart, do you not thinke that my penaunce is long inoughe for

the sinne which ignorauntly I haue committed, if euer I haue don

any fault at al? Behold [I beseech you (good ladie deare) what

ioy] I haue conceiued in your absence, what pleasures haue

nursed mine hope, and what consolation hath entertained my life:

which truely had it not bene for the continual remembraunce of

your diuine Beauty, I had of long time abreuiated the pains

which do renew in me so many times the pangs of death: as

oftentimes I think vpon the vnkindnes shewed vnto me by making

so litle accompt of my fidelity: whych can nor shal receiue the

same in good part, wer it so perfect as any assuraunce were able

to make it." Gineura swelling with sorrow and full of feminine

rage, blushing with fury, hir eyes sparcklinge forth hir

chollerick conceypts, vouchsafed not so mutch as to giue him one

word for aunswere, and bicause she would not looke vppon him,

she turned hir face on the other side. The poore and afflicted

Louer, seeing the great cruelty of his felonous Mystresse, still

kneeling vpon his knees, redoubling his armes, fetching Sighes

with a voyce that seemed to bee drawne by force from the bottome

of his heart, proceeded in these wordes: "Syth the sincerity of

my fayth, and my long seruice madame Gineura, cannot persuade

you that I haue beene most Obedient, Faythfull, and very Loyall

seruaunt towards you, as euer any that hath serued Lady or

Gentlewoman, and that without your fauour and grace it is

vnpossible for mee any longer to liue, yet I doe very humbly

beseech you, for that all other comfort is denied me, if there

bee any gentlenesse and curtesie in you, that I may receyue this

onely grace at your hands for the last that euer I hope to

craue: which is, that you being thus greeuously offended with

me, would do iustice vpon that vnfortunate man, that vpon his

Knees doth instantly craue the same. Graunt (cruell mistresse)

this my request, doe vengeaunce at your pleasure vpon him, which

willingly yeldeth himselfe to death with the effusion of his

poore innocent bloud to satisfy you, and verily farre more

expedient it is for him thus to die, by appeasing your wrath,

than to rest or liue to your discontentment or anoiaunce. Alas,

shal I be so vnfortunate, that both life and death should bee

denied me by one person of the world, whom I hoped to content

and please by any sort or meanes what so euer restinge in mine

humble obedience? Alas gentlewoman rid mee from this Torment,

and dispatch your selfe from the griefe you haue to see this

vnhappy Knight, who would say and esteeme himselfe most happy

(his life being lothsome vnto you) if he may content you, by

death done by your owne handes, sith other fauour he cannot

expect or hope for." The Mayden hardned in hir Opinion, stoode

still immoueable mutch like vnto a Rocke in the midst of the

Sea, disquieted with a tempest of billowes, and fomy Waues in

sutch wise as one word could not be procured from hir mouth.

Which vnlucky Dom Diego perceyuing, attached with the feare of

present death, and faylinge his Naturall force fell downe to the

Grounde, and faintyng saied: "Ah, what a recompence doe I

receiue for this so faythfull Loue?" Roderico bebolding that

rufull sight, whilest the others went about to relieue Dom

Diego, repaired to Gineura, and full of heauinesse mingled with

fury, said vnto hir: "By God (false fiendish woman) if so be

that I doe chaunge my mind, I will make thee feele the smarte,

no lesse than thou shewest thy selfe dishonourable to them that

doe thee honour: Art thou so carelesse of so greate a Lord as

this is, that humbleth himselfe so lowe to sutch a strumpet as

thou art: who without regarde either to hys renoume, or the

honour of his House, is content to bee abandoned from his noble

state, to become a fugitiue and straunger? What cruelty is this

for thee to mispryse the greatest humility that man can Imagin?

What greater amends canst thou wysh to haue, yea though the

offence which thou presupposest had ben true? Now (if thou be

wyse) chaunge thy Opinion, except thou wouldest haue mee doe

into so many pieces, thy cruel corpse and vnfaithful heart, as

once this poore Knight did in parts the vnhappy hauke, which

through thy folly did breede vnto him this distresse, and to thy

self the name of the most cruell and disloyall Woman that euer

lyued. But what greater benefite can happen vnto thee, than to

see thys Gentleman vtterly to forget the fault, to conceiue no

sinister suspition of thy running away, crauing pardon at thy

Hands, and is contented to sacrifice him self vnto thine Anger,

to appease and mytigate thy rage? Now to speake no more hereof,

but to proceede in that which I began to say, I offer vnto thee

then both death and Loue, choose whether thou lyst. For I sweare

againe by hym that seeth and heareth all thinges, that if thou

play the foole, that thou shalt feele and proue me to be the

cruellest Ennimy that euer thou hadst: and sutch a one as shall

not feare to imbrue his hands wyth the bloud of hir that is the

death of the greatest friend I haue, and truest knight that euer

bare armes." Gineura hearing that resolute aunswere, shewed hir

selfe to be nothing afrayde nor declared any token of feare, but

rather seemed to haue encouraged Roderico, in braue and mannish

sort, farre diuers from the simplicity of a young and tender

Mayden, as a Man would say, sutch a one as had neuer felt the

assaultes and troubles of adverse fortune. Wherefore frouncyng

her Browes, and grating hir Teeth wyth closed fists, and

Countenaunce very bold, she made him answere: "Ah thou Knight,

whych once gauest assault to commit a villany and Treason

thinkest thou now without remorse of conscyence to continue thy

mischyefe: I speak it to thee Villayne, whych hauing shed the

Bloud of an honester Man than thou art, fearest not now to make

me a Companion of hys Death. Which thyng spare not hardily to

accomplysh, to the intent that I liuinge, may not be sutch a one

as thou falsly iudgest me to be: for neuer Man hitherto vaunted,

and never shall, that hath had the spoyle of my dearest Iewell:

from the Fruict whereof, like an arrant Thiefe, thou hast

depryued my loyall Spouse. Now doe what you lyste: for I am

farre better content to suffer death, be it as cruel as thou art

mischieuous, and borne for the disquieting and vexation of

honest Maidens then yelde vnto thy furies: notwithstanding I

humbly beseech Almyghty God, to gyue thee so mutch pleasure,

contentation and ioy in thy loue, as thou hast done to me, by

hastening the death of my deare Husband. O GOD, if thou be a

iust GOD, sutch a one, as from whom we thy poore Creatures do

beleue al iustice to proceede, thou I say which art the Rampire

and refuge of al iustice, poure downe thy vengeance and plague

vpon these pestiferous Thieues and murderers, which prepared a

worldely plague vpon me thine innocent damsel. Ah wycked

Roderico, think not that death can be so fearful vnto me, but

that with good heart, I am able to accept the same, trusting

verily that one day it shal be the cause of thy ruine, and the

ouerthrowe of him for whom thou takest al these paines." Dom

Roderico maruelously rapte in sense imagined the Woman to be

fully bente against hym, who then had puissance (as he thought,)

ouer hir own heart: and thinking, that he sawe hir moued with

like rage against him, as she was against Dom Diego, stode stil

so perplexed and voyde of ryghte minde, as he was constrained to

sitte downe, so feeble he felt him self for the onely

remembraunce of hir euyll demeanor. And whilest this Pageant was

a doing, the handmayd of Gineura, and hir page, inforced to

persuade their mystresse to haue compassion vpon the Knight that

had suffred so mutch for hir sake, and that she would consent to

the honest requests and good counsell of Roderico. But she which

was stubbornely bent in hir fonde persuasions, made them

aunsere: "What fooles? are you so mutch bewitched, eyther with

the fayned teares of this disloyall Knight, whych colorably thus

doth torment himselfe, or els are yee inchaunted with the

venomous honny and tirannicall brauery of the Theefe which

murdered my husbande, and your mayster? Ah vnhappy caytife

mayden, is it my chaunce to endure the assault of sutch Fortune,

when I thought to liue at my best ease, and thus cruelly to

tomble into the handes of him, whom I hate so mutch as he

fayneth loue vnto me? And moreouer my vnlucky fate is not

herewith content, but redoubleth my sorrowe, euen by those that

be of my trayne, who ought rather to incourage mee to dy, than

consent to so vnreasonable requests. Ah loue, loue, how euill be

they recompenced which faythfully doe Homage vnto thee? And why

should not I forget all Affection, neuer hereafter to haue mynde

on man to proue beginning of a pleasure, which tasted and felt

bringeth more displeasure than euer ioy engendreth delight.

Alas, I neuer knewe what was the fruicte of that which so

straungely did attach me, and thou O trayterous and theeuishe

Loue, haste ordayned a banket serued with sutch bitter dishes,

as forced I am perforce to taste of their egre sweetes: Auaunt

sweete folly, auaunt, I doe henceforth for euer let thee slip,

to imbrace the death, wherein I hope to find my greatest rest,

for in thee I finde noughte else but heapes of strayninge

Passions. Auoyde from me all mishap, flee from me ye furious

ghostes and Fayries most vnkinde, whose gaudes and toyes dame

loue hath wrought to keepe occupied my louing minde, and suffer

me to take ende in thee, that I may liue in an other life

without thee, being now charged with cup of griefe, which I

shall quaffe in venomous drincke soaked in the Sops of

bitternesse. Sharpen thou thy selfe, (O death vnkinde) prepare

thy Darte, to strike the Corpse of hir, that she may voyde the

Quarelles shotte agaynst hir by hir Aduersary. Ah poore hearte,

strip thy selfe from hope, and qualifie thy desires. Cease

henceforth to wishe thy Lyfe, seeing, and feelinge the

appoyncted sight of loue and Life, combattyng within my minde,

els where to seeke my peace in an other world, with him to ioy,

whych for my sake was sacrificed to the treason of varlets

handes, who for the perfite hoorde of his desires, noughte else

dyd seeke but to soile his bloudy fists with the purest bloude

of my loyall friend. And I this floud of Teares do shead to

saciate his felonous moode that is the iust shortening of my

dolefull Dayes." When she had thus complayned, she began

horribly to torment hir selfe that the cruellest of the company

were moued with compassion, to see hir thus strangely straught

of hir wits: neuertheles they did not discontinue by duety to

solicite hir to haue regard to that which poore fayntyng Dom

Diego dyd endure: who so soone as wyth freshe Fountayn water hee

was reuiued, seeing still the heauinesse of his Lady, and hir

increased disdaine and choler againste hym vanished in diuers

soundings: which moued Roderico from studye deepe, wherein he

was, to ryse, whereunto the rage of Gineura had cast him downe,

bicause forgetting all imaginarie affection of his Lady, and

proposing his duety before his eyes, whych ech Gentleman oweth

to Gentle Damsels [and womenkind], styll beholding with

honorable aspect the gryefe of the martyred wyldernesse Knyght,

sighing yet in former gryefes, he sayd vnto Gineura, "Alas,

is it possyble, that in the heart of so young and delicate a

maiden, there may bee harboured so straunge fury and

vnreasonable rage? O God, the effect of the cruelty resting in

this Woman, painting it selfe in the imaginatiue force of my

mind, hath made me feare the like myssehappe to come to the

cruell state of this disaduenturous gentleman? Notwithstanding

(O thou cruell beast) thinke not that thys thy fury shall stay

me from doing thee to death, to rid thee from follye and

disdayne, and this vnfortunate louer from despayre and trouble,

verily beleuing, that in tyme it shalbe knowne what profit the

World shall gayne by purgyng the same of sutch an infected

plague as is an vnkynd and arrogante hearte: and it shall feele

what vtility ryseth by thyne ouerthrowe. And I doe hope besydes

in tyme to come, that Men shall prayse this deede of myne, who

for preseruynge the Honoure of one House, hath chosen rather to

doe to death two offenders, than to leaue one of them aliue, to

obscure the glory and brightnesse of the other. And therefore"

(sayd he, tourning his face to those of his traine,) "cut the

throte of this stubborne and froward beast, and doe the like to

them that be come with hir, shewe no more fauor vnto them all,

than that curssed strumpet doth mercy to the life of that

miserable Gentleman, who lieth a dying there for loue of hir."

The Mayden hearing the cruel sentence of hir death, cryed out so

loud as she coulde, thinking reskue woulde haue come, but the

poore Wench was deceiued: for the desert knew none other, but

those that were abiding in that troupe. The Page and the woman

seruaunt exclamed vpon Roderico for mercy, but he made as though

he heard them not, and rather made signe to his men to do what

he commaunded. When Gineura sawe that their deathe was purposed

in deede, confirmed in opinion rather to dy, than to obey, she

said vnto the executioners: "My friends, I beseech you let not

these innocentes abide the penaunce of that which they neuer

committed. And you, Dom Roderico, be reuenged on me, by whome

the fault, (if a woman's faith to hir husband may be termed a

faulte) is don. And let these infortunate depart, that bee God

knoweth guiltles of any cryme. And thou my friend, which liuest

amonges the shadowes of faythfull louers, if thou haue any

feelinge, as in deede thou prouest being in another world,

behold the purenesse of mine heart and fidelity of my loue: who

to keep the same inuiolable, do offer my self voluntarily to the

death, which this cruell tyrant prepareth for me. And thou

hangman the executioner of my ioyes, and murderer of the

immortall pleasures of my loue (sayd she to Roderico) glut thy

vnsaciable desire of bloud, make dronke thy mind with murder,

and boast of thy litle triumph, which for all thy threates or

persuasible words, thou canst not get from the heart of a simple

maiden, ne cary away the victory for all the battred breach made

into the rampare of hir honour." When she had so said, a Man

would haue thought that the memory of death had cooled hir

heate, but the same serued hir as an assured solace of hir

paynes. Dom Diego being come to himself and seing the discourse

of that tragedy, being now addressed to the last act and end of

that life and stage of faire and golden locked Gineura, making a

vertue of necessity, recouered a lyttle corage to saue, (if it

were possible) the life of hir, that had put hys owne in hazard

miserably to end. Hauing stayed them that held the maiden, he

repayred to Dom Roderico, to whom he spake in this wise: "I see

wel my good Lord and great Friende, that the good will you beare

me, causeth you to vse this honest order for my behalf, whereof

I doubt if I should lyue a whole hundred yeares, I shall not be

able to satisfy the least of the bondes wherein I am bound, the

same surpassing all mine ability and power. Yet for al that

(deare friend) sith you see the fault of this missehap to arise

of my predestinate ill lucke, and that man cannot auoyde things

once ordained, I beseech you do me yet this good pleasure (for

all the benefits that euer I haue receiued) to send back again

this gentlewoman with hir trayne, to the place from whence you

toke hir, wyth like assurance and conduct, as if shee were your

sister. For I am pleased with your endeuor, and contented with

my misfortune, assuring you sir besides, that the trouble which

she endureth, doth far more gryeue my heart than al the paine

which for hir sake I suffer. That hir sorrow then may decrease

and mine may renue againe, that she may lyue in peace, and I in

Warre for hir cruel beauty sake, I wyll wayt vppon Clotho, the

Spynner of the threden life of man vntil she breake the twysted

lace that holdeth the fatall course of my dolefull yeares. And

you Gentlewoman lyue in rest, as your poore suppliant, wretched

Dom Diego, shalbe citizen of wyld places, and vaunt you hardely

that yee were the best beloued maiden that euer liued."

Maruellous truly be the forces of loue, when they discouer their

perfection, for by their meanes thinges otherwise impossible be

reduced to sutch facility, as a man would iudge that they had

neuer bene so hard to obtaine, and so painefull to pursue: As

appeared by this damsel, in whome the wrath of fortune, the

pynche of iealosie, the intollerable rage of hir fryendes losse,

had ingendred a contempte of Dom Diego, an extreame desire to be

reuenged on Dom Roderico, and a tediousnesse of longer Lyfe.

And now putting of the vaile of blynde appetite, for the

esclarishing of hir vnderstandyng Eyes, and breakyng the Adamant

Rocke planted in the middes of hir breast, she beheld in open

sight the stedfastnesse, pacience and perseueration of hir great

fryend. For that supplycation of the Knight had greater force in

Gineura, than all hys former seruyces. And full wel she shewed

the same, when throwyng hir selfe vppon the Necke of the

desperate Gentleman, and imbracyng hym very louyngly she sayd

vnto him: "Ah sir, that your felicity is the begynnyng of my

great ioy of Mynd, whych sauoreth now of sweetnes in the very

same, in whom I imagyned to be the welsprynge of bytternesse.

The diminutyon of one gryefe is, and shall bee the increase of a

bonde, sutch as for euer I wyll call my selfe the moste humble

slaue of your honor, lowly beseechyng you neuerthelesse to

pardon my follyes, wherewyth full fondely I haue abused youre

pacience. Consider a whyle sir, I beseech you, the Nature and

secrecye of loue. For those that be blinded in that passion,

thynke them selues to be perfecte Seers, and yet be the first

that commit most filthy faultes. I doe not denie any committed

wrong and trespasse, and doe not refuse therefore the honest and

gentle Correction that you shall appointe mee, for expiation of

myne offence." "Ah my Noble Lady," (aunswered the knight, all

rapt wyth pleasure, and halfeway out of his wyts for ioy)

"I humbly beseech you inflyct vppon my poore wretched body no

further panges of Death, by remembryng the glory of my thought,

sith the recitall bryngeth with it a tast of the trauailes which

you haue suffred for my ioy and contentation." "It is

therefore," (quod she) "that I think my self happy: for by that

meanes I haue knowne the perfect qualyties that be in you, and

haue proued two extremities of vertue. One consisting in your

constancy and loyalty wherby you may vaunt yourself aboue hym

that sacrificed his Lyfe vpon the bloudy body of his Ladye who

for dying so, finished his Trauailes. Where you haue chosen a

life worse than death, no lesse paynefull a hundred times a Day,

than very death it self. The other in the clemency wherwyth you

calme and appease the rage of your greatest aduersaries. As my

self which before hated you to death, vanquished by your

courtesie do confesse that I am double bound vnto you, both for

my lyfe and honor: and hearty thankes do I render to the Lord

Roderico for the violence he dyd vnto me, by which meanes I was

induced to acknowledge my wrong, and the right whych you had to

complayne of my beastly resistance." "Al is wel," sayd Roderico,

"sith without peril of honor we may returne home to our houses:

I intend therefore (sayd he) to send word before to the Ladies

your mothers of your returne, for I know how so wel to couer and

excuse this our enterpryse and secrete iorneis, as by God's

assistance no blame or displeasure shall ensue thereof. And like

as (said he smiling) I haue builded the fortresse whych shot

into your campe, and made you flie, euen so I hope (Gentlewoman)

that I shalbe the occasion of your victorye, when you combat in

close campe, with your sweete cruel Ennimy." Thus they passed

the iorney in pleasaunt talk, recompensing the 2 Louers with al

honest and vertuous intertainment for their griefs and troubles

past. In the meane while they sent one of their Seruaunts to the

two widow Ladies, which were in greate care for their Children,

to aduertise them that Gineura was gone to visit Dom Diego, then

being in one of the castles of Roderico, where they were

determined if it were their good pleasure, to consumate their

mariage, hauing giuen faith and affiance one to the other. The

mother of Gineura could not heare tel of more pleasant newes:

for she had vnderstanded of the foolysh flyght and escape of hir

daughter, with the steward of hir house, wherof she was very

sorrowful, and for grief was like to die, but assured and

recomforted with those newes she failed not to mete the mother

of Dom Diego, at the appointed place whether the 2 louers were

arriued two daies before. Ther the mariage of that fair couple

(so long desired) was solempnised with sutch magnificence as was

requisite for the state of those two noble houses. Thus the

torment indured, made the ioye to sauour of some other taste

than they do feele, which without paine in the exercise of

loue's pursute, attaine the top of theyr desires: and truly

their pleasure was altogether like to him that nourished in

superfluous delicacy of meates cannot aptly so wel iudge of

pleasure as he which sometimes lacketh the abundance. And verily

loue wythout bitternesse, is almost a cause without effects, for

he that shall take away gryefs and troubled fansies from Louers,

depryueth them of the prayse of their stedfastnesse, and maketh

vayne the glory of their perseuerence: For{ }hee is vnworthy to

beare away the price and Garland of triumph in the Conflict,

that behaueth himselfe like a coward, and doth not obserue the

lawes of armes and manlike dueties incident to a combat. This

History then is a Mirrour for Loyall Louers and Chaste Suters,

and maketh them detest the vnshamefastnesse of those, which vpon

the first view do followe with might and mayne, the Gentlewoman

or Lady that gieueth them good Face, or Countenaunce whereof any

gentle heart, or mynde, noursed in the Schoolehouse of vertuous

education, will not bee squeymishe to those that shall by chaste

salutation or other incountry, doe their curteous reuerence.

This History also yeldeth contempt of them, which in their

affection forget themselues abasing the Generosity of their

Courages to be reputed of fooles the true champions of loue,

whose like are they that desire such regarde. For the perfection

of a true Louer consisteth in passions, in sorrows, griefes,

martirdomes, or cares, and mutch lesse arriueth he to his

desire, by sighes, exclamations, Weapings, and childishe

playnts: For so mutch as vertue ought to be the bande of that

indissoluble amity, which maketh the vnion of the two seuered

bodies of that Woman man, which Plato describeth, and causeth

man to trauell for hys whole accomplishment in the true pursute

of chaste loue. In which labour truly, fondly walked Dom Diego,

thinking to finde the same by his dispayre amiddest the sharpe

solitary Deserts of those Pyrene Mountaynes. And truely the

duety of his perfect friende, did more liuely disclose the same

(what fault so euer he did) than all his Countenaunces, eloquent

letters or amorous Messages. In like manner a man doth not know

what a treasure a true Friende is, vntill hee hath proued his

excellency, specially where necessity maketh him to taste the

swetenes of sutch delicate meate. For a frend being a seconde

himselfe, agreeth by a certayne naturall Sympathie and

attonement to th'affections of him whom he loueth both to

particpate his ioyes and pleasures, and to sorrowe his

aduersity, where Fortune shall vse by some misaduentures,

to shewe hir accustomed mobility.