THE THIRTIETH NOUELL.

_A Gentleman of Siena, called Anselmo Salimbene, curteously

and gently deliuereth his enemy from death. The condemned

party seeing the kinde parte of Salimbene, rendreth into his

hands his sister Angelica, with whom he was in loue, which

gratitude and curtesie, Salimbene well markinge, moued in

Conscience, woulde not abuse hir, but for recompence tooke hir

to his wyfe._

Wee do not meane here to discouer the Sumptuosity and

Magnificence of Palaces, stately, and wonderfully to the view of

men, ne yet to reduce to memory the maruellous effectes of man's

Industry to builde and lay Foundations in the deepest Chanel of

the mayne sea, ne to describe their ingenious Industry, in

breaking the Craggy Mountaynes, and hardest Rocks, to ease the

crooked Passages of weary waies, for Armies to marche through in

accessible places. Onely now do we pretend to shewe the effects

of loue, which surmount all Opinion of common thinges, and

appeare so miraculous as the founding, and erecting of the

Collissæi, Collossæi, Theatres, Amphitheatres, Pyramides, and

other workes wonderfull to the world, for that the hard indured

path of hatred and displeasure long time begoon, and obstinately

pursued wyth straunge cruelty, was conuerted into loue, by

th'effect of concord, sutch as I know none, but is so mutch

astonned, as hee maye haue good cause to wonder, consyderyng the

stately foundations vppon which Kinges and greate Monarches haue

employed the chyefest reuenues of their prouinces. Now lyke as

ingratitude is a vice of greatest blame and discommendation

amongs men, euen so Gentlenesse and Kindnesse ought to beare the

title of a most commendable vertue. And as the Thebans were

accused of that crime, for their great Captaynes Epaminondas and

Pelopidas. So the Plateens (contrarywise) are praised for their

solempne obseruation of the Grekes benefits, which deliuered

them oute of the Persians bondage. And the Sicyonians beare away

the pryse of eternall prayse, for acknowledgyng the good turnes

receiued of Aratus, that delyuered them from the cruelty of the

tyrants. And if Philippo Maria, duke of Milan, deserued eternal

reproch for his ingratitude to his wife Beatrix, for the secrete

killing of hir, he being enryched with hir goodes and treasures:

a barbarous Turke borne in Arabia, shal carry the praise, who

being vanquished in Arabia, by Baldouine, kyng of Hierusalem,

and he and his Wife taken prysoners, and his treasures fallen

into the hands of that good king, issued of the Loraine bloud,

who neuerthelesse seeing that the Chrystian had deliuered him,

and restored againe his wife would not be vanquished in

magnificence and liberalitye, and mutch lesse beare the name of

an vnkind prince, but rather when Baldouine was ouercome of the

infidels, and being retyred within a certaine city, the Admiral

of Arabie, came to him in the night, and tellyng him the deuice

of his companions, conueyed hym out of the City, and was hys

guide vntill he sawe hym free from peril. I haue alleaged the

premysses, bycause the History whych I purpose to recyte,

aduoucheth two examples not Vulgare or Common, the one of very

great Loue, and the other of sutch acceptation and knowledgyng

thereof, as I thought it pity the same should lurk from the

Acquayntaunce of vs Englysh Men. And that they alone should haue

the Benefite thereof whych vnderstand the Italian tongue,

supposing that it shall bryng some fruyct and commodity to this

our Englishe Soyle, that ech Wyghte may frame their lyfe on

those whych in straung Countries far from vs, haue lyued

vertuously wythout reproch that might soyle or spotte theyr

name. In Siena then (an auncient, and very noble Citty of

Toscane, which no longe time past was gouerned by hir

Magistrates, and liued in hir own lawes and liberties, as the

Lucquois, Pisans, and Florentines do) were two families very

rich, noble, and the chiefe of the Citty called the Salimbenes,

and Montanines, of the Race and Stock whereof, excellent men in

their Common wealth haue descended, very good and expert

Souldiers for conducte of Armies. Those two houses in the

beginning were so great freendes, and frequented sutch loue and

familiarity, as it seemed they had bene but one house and

bloude, dayly vsinge eche others company, and banketting one

another. But Italy in all times being as it were a Store house

of troubles, and a very marte of sedition, bandes, and

parcialities, specially of ciuill warres in euery Citty, it

coulde not be that Siena shoulde alone enioy hir liberty in

peace, and accorde of Cittizens, and vaunt hir selfe to bee free

from knowledge of particular debate. For of warres shee had good

experience against the Florentines, who by long remembraunce

haue don what they coulde to make hir subiect vnto them. Nowe

the cause of that discorde rose euen by them which kept the

Cittizens in vnity and concord, and was occasioned by those 2

houses the noblest, and most puissant of their common wealth.

It is not vnknowne to any man, that antiquity ordayned it to be

peculiar for nobility, to trayne vp there children in huntinge,

aswell to bolden and Nosell theym in daungers, as to make them

stronge, and accustomed in trauayle, and to force them shun the

delicate lyfe and great Idlenes which accompany honorable

houses, and those of gentle bloud, forsomutch as by the pursuite

of Beastes, sleyghts of warre bee obserued: the Hounds be the

square battell, the Greyhoundes be the flanquarts and Wynges to

follow the enimy, the horseman serueth to gieue the Chace, when

the Game speedeth to couert, the Hornes be the Trumpets to

sounde the Chase and Retire, and for incouragement of the Dogges

to run. To be short, it seemeth a very Campe in battayle,

ordayned for the pleasure and passetyme of noble youth.

Neuerthelesse, by hunting diuers missefortunes doe arise, and

sundry daungers haue happened by the same. Meleager lost his

Lyfe for the victory of the wyld Bore of Callydonia, Cephalus

was slaine for kylling his deare beloued Pocris, and Acastus was

accursed for murdering the King's sonne of whome he was the

Tutour. William Rufus, one of our Englysh Kings, the son of the

Conquerour, was killed with an Arrow in the New Forrest by a

French Gentleman called Walter Tyrel, as he was pursuing the

Harte. Other histories reporte dyuers peryls chaunced in

hunting, but yet the same worthy to be cheryshed, frequented and

vsed by good aduise and moderate pastyme. So the huntinge of the

wylde Bore defyled the City of Siena, with the bloud of hir owne

Citizens, when the Salimbenes and Montanines vppon a daye in an

assembled company, incountring vpon a greate and fierce Bore,

toke hym by force of men and Beastes. When they had don, as they

were banketting and communing of the nimblenesse of their dogs,

ech man praising his owne, as hauing done beste, there rose

greate debate amongs them [vpon that matter], and proceeded so

farre, as fondly they began to reuile one another with words,

and from taunting termes to earnest blowes, wherewith diuers in

that skirmish were hurt on both sides: In the end the Salimbenes

had the worsse, and one of the principall slayne in the place,

which appalled the rest, not that they were discoraged, but

attending time and season of reuenge. This hatred so strangely

kindled betwene both partes, that by lyttle and lyttle, after

many combats and ouerthrowes of eyther side, the losse lyghted

vpon the Montanines, who with their wealth and rychesse were

almost brought to nothing, and thereby the rygour and Choler of

the Salimbenes appeased, none being able to resist them, and in

space of time forgot all iniuries. The Montanines also that

remayned at Siena, liued in quyet, wythoute chalenge or quarell

of their aduersaries, howbeit mutuall talke and haunt of others

company vtterly surceased. And to say the truth, there were

almost none to quarell wythall, for the whole Bloude and Name of

the Montanines rested in one alone, called Charles the Sonne of

Thomas Montanine, a young man so honest and well brought vp as

any then in Siena, who had a syster, that for beauty, grace,

curtesy and honesty, was comparable with the best in all

Thoscane. This poore young Gentleman had no great reuenue, for

that the patrimonie of his predecessors was wasted in charges

for entertainement of Souldiers in the time of the hurly burly

and debates aforesaid. A good parte also was confiscate to the

Chamber of Siena for trespasses and forfaitures committed: with

the remayne he sustained his family, and indifferently

maintained hys porte soberly within his owne house, keping his

sister in decent and moderate order. The Maiden was called

Angelica, a Name of trouth, without offence to other, due to

hir. For in very deede in hir were harbored the vertue of

Curtesy and Gentlenesse, and was so wel instructed and nobly

brought vp, as they which loued not the Name or race of hir,

could not forbeare to commend hir, and wyshe theyr owne

daughters to be hir lyke. In sutch wise as one of hir chiefest

foes was so sharpely beset with hir vertue and beauty, as he

lost his quiet sleepe, and lust to eate and drinke. His name was

Anselmo Salimbene, who woulde wyllinglye haue made sute to marry

hir, but the discord past, quite mortified his desire, so soone

as he had deuised the plot wythin his brayne and fansie.

Notwithstanding it was impossible that the louer so lyuely

grauen and roted in his mind, could easily be defaced. For if

once in a day he had not seene hir, his heart did fele the

torments of tosting flames, and wished that the hunting of the

Bore, had neuer decaied a family so excellent, to the intent he

myght haue matched himself with hir, whome none other could

displace out of his remembraunce, that was one of the rychest

Gentlemen and of greatest power in Siena. Now for that he durst

not discouer his amorous griefe to any person, was the chiefest

cause that martired most his hearte, and for the auncient

festred malice of those two families, he despayred for euer, to

gather either floure or fruict of that affection, presupposing

that Angelica would neuer fixe hir Loue on him, for that his

Parents were the cause of the defaite and ouerthrow of the

Montanine house. But what? There is nothing durable vnder the

heauens. Both good and euyll haue theyr reuolution in the

gouernment of humane affayres. The amityes and hatredes of

Kynges and Prynces, be they so hardened, as commonly in a Moment

hee is not seene to be a hearty Friende, that lately was a

cruell Foe, and spyred naught else but the ruine of his

Aduersary? Wee see the variety of Humayne chaunces, and then doe

iudge at eye what great simplicity it is to stay and settle

certayne, and infallible iudgement vppon man's vnstayed doings.

He that erst gouerned a king, and made all things to tremble at

his word, is sodaynely throwne downe, and dyeth a shamefull

death. In like sorte, another whych looketh for his owne

vndoinge, seeth himselfe aduaunced to hys estate agayne, by

reuenge ouer his Enimies. Calir Bassa gouerned whilom the great

Mahomet, that wan the Empire of Constantinople, who attempted

nothing without the aduice of that Bassa. But vpon the sodayne

he saw him selfe reiected, and the next day strangled by

commaundement of him, which so greatly honoured him, and without

iust cause did him to a death so cruell. Contrarywise Aragon the

Tartarian entring Armes against his Vncle Tangodor Caui, when

hee was vpon the Poynct to lose his Lyfe for his rebellion, and

was conueyed into Armenia to be executed there, was rescued by

certayne Tartarians the houshold seruaunts of his dead vncle,

and afterwards Proclaymed King of Tartary about the year 1285.

The example of the Empresse Adaleda is of no lesse credit than

the former, who being fallen into the hands of Beranger the

Vsurper of the Empyre escaped his fury and cruelty by flight,

and in the ende maried to Otho the firste, sawe hir wrong

reuenged vpon Beranger and all his Race by hir Sonne Otho the

second. I aduouch these Hystories to proue the mobility of

fortune, and the chaunge of worldly chaunces, to th'ende you may

see that the very same misery which followed Charles Montanine

hoysted him aloft agayne, and when he looked for least succour,

he saw deliueraunce at hand. Now to prosecute our Hystory: know

yee that while Salimbene by little and little pined for loue of

Angelica, whereof shee was ignoraunt and carelesse, and albeit

shee curteously rendred health to him, when sometimes in his

amorous fit he beheld hir at a Window, yet for al that shee

neuer so mutch as guessed the thoughts of hir louing enimy.

During these haps it chaunced that a rich Cittizen of Siena,

hauing a ferme adioyning to the Lands of Montanine, desirous to

encrease his Patrimony, and annexe the same vnto his owne, and

knowing that the yong Gentleman wanted many thinges, moued him

to sel his inheritaunce, offring hym for it in ready money,

a M. Ducates, Charles which of al the wealth and substaunce left

him by his auncester, had no more remaynyng but that countrey

Ferme, and a Palace in the City (so the rich Italians of ech

City, terme their houses,) and with that lytle lyued honestly,

and maintained his sister so wel as he could, refused flatly to

dispossesse himselfe of the portion, that renewed vnto him the

happy memory of those that had ben the chiefe of all the Common

Wealth. The couetous wretch seeing himselfe frustrate of his

pray, conceiued sutch rancor against Montanine, as he purposed

by right or wrong to make him not only to forfait the same, but

also to lose his lyfe, following the wicked desire of tirannous

Iesabell, that made Naboth to be stonned to death to extort and

wrongfully get his vineyard. About that time for the quarels and

common dyscordes raigning throughout Italy, the Nobility were

not assured of safety in their Countreis, but rather the common

sort and rascall number, were the chief rulers and gouerners of

the common wealth, whereby the greatest part of the Nobility or

those of beste authority being banished, the villanous band, and

grosest kind of common people made a law (like to the Athenians

in the time of Solon) that all persons of what degree and

condition so euer they were, which practized by himselfe or

other meanes the restablyshing or reuocation of sutch as were

banished out of their Citye, should lose and forfaite the

summe of M. Florens, and hauing not wherewith to pay the

condempnation, their head should remaine for gage. A law no

doubt very iust and righteous, scenting rather of the barbarous

cruelty of the Gothes and Vandales, than of true christians,

stopping the retire of innocents exiled for particular quarels

of Citizens incited one against another, and rigorously

rewarding mercy and curtesy, with execution of cruelty

incomparable. This Citizen then purposed to accuse Montanine

for offending against the law, bicause otherwise he could not

purchase his entent, and the same was easy inough for him to

compasse, by reason of his authority and estimation in the

Citye: for the Endytemente and plea was no sooner red and giuen,

but a number of post knightes appeared to depose against the

poore Gentleman, to beare witnesse that he had trespassed the

Lawes of the Countrey, and had sought meanes to introduce the

banished, with intent to kyll the gouerners, and to place in

state those factious, that were the cause of the Italian

troubles. The myserable Gentleman knewe not what to do, ne how

to defend himself. There were against him the Moone and the VII.

starres, the state of the City, the Proctor and Iudge of the

Courte, the wytnesses that gaue euidence, and the law whych

condempned him. He was sent to Pryson, sentence was pronounced

against him with sutch expedition, as he had no leysure to

consider his affayres. There was no man, for feare to incurre

the displeasures of the Magistrates, that durst open hys mouth

to speake or make sute for hys delyueraunce. Like as the most

part of fryendes in these dayes resembling the crow, that flyeth

not but after carrian to gorge his rauenous Crop, and sutch

friends doe visite the house of the fryend but for profit,

reuerencyng him so long as he is in prosperitye, accordyng to

the Poet's complaynt.

Like as the purest gold in fieri flames is tried,

Euen so is fayth of fryends in hard estate descried.

If hard missehap doth thee affray,

Ech of thy friends do flie away,

And he which erst full friendly semde to thee,

A friend no more to thy poor state is hee.

And simple Wyghtes ought not to bee afrayde, and thynke amyss if

Fryendes doe flee away, sith Prynces and great Lords incurre

sutch hap and Fortune. The great leader of the Romayne Armies,

Pompeius, the honor of the people and Senate of Rome, what

companion had he to flee with hym? Whych of his auncient friends

toke paine to rescue and delyuer him from his Enimyes hands

which did pursue him? A king of Ægipt which had known and found

this good Romane Prynce a kind and gentle fryend, was he that

killed him, and sent his head to his Victor and unsatible greedy

gutte Iulius Cæsar, falsifying his promised fayth, and

forgetting his receiued pleasures. Amongs all the comforts which

this pore Siena Gentleman found, although but a curssed Traitor,

was thys vnfaithfull and pestiferous Camæleon, who came and

offred him al the pleasure and kindnesse he was able to do.

But the varlet attended conuenient tyme to make him taste his

poyson, and to let him see by effect, how dangerous a thing it

is to be il neighbored, hoping after the condempnation of

Montanine he should at pleasure purchase the Lordshippe, after

whych with so open mouth he gaped. Ouer whom he had hys wyll:

for two or three dayes after the recitall of the endytement

and giuing of the euydence, Charles was condempned, and his

fine sessed at M. Florins to be payed within XV. dayes,

vntyl whych time to remaine in Pryson. And for default of

sutch payment to loose his heade, bicause he had infringed the

Lawes, and broken the Statutes of the Senate. This sentence was

very difficult for poor Montanine to digest, who saw all his

goodes like to be dispoyled and confiscate, complayning

specially the fortune of fayre Angelica his sister, whych all

the tyme of the imprysonment of hir deare brother, neuer went

out of the house, ne ceased to weepe and lamente the hard

fortune whereinto their family was lyke to fall by that new

mischaunce: "Alas," said the fayre curteous damsel, "will the

heauens never be appeased but continually extend their wrathe

vpon our deplored family, and shal our missehaps neuer cease?

Had it not bene more tollerable for our consumed bloude, that

the dissentions past, had been tried by dent of sword, than to

see the present innocency of the young Gentleman my brother in

daunger to be innocently accused and put to death, through the

vniustice of those, which beare mortal malice to noble bloud,

and glory in depryuation of the whole remembrance of the same?

O dampnable state that muste hale the guiltlesse to the gibet

and irreuocable sentence of those iudges remaining in a city,

which men cal free, albeit a confused multitude hath the vpper

hande, and may so bee, that Nature hath produced them to treade

vnder foote noble Wightes for their Offences. Ah dear Brother,

I see well what is the cause. If thou hadst not that lytle

lordshyp in the Countrey, and Pryncely House in the City, no man

would haue enuied thine estate, or could haue charged thee with

any Crime, which I would to God, thou hadst not onely

enterprysed, but also broughte to passe, to the intent thou

mightest haue ben reuenged of the wrong which these cankred

Carles ordinarily do vnto my Noble bloud. But what reason is it

that marchants and artificers, or the sonnes of villaines should

rule a common Wealth? O happy Countreis where kings giue Lawes,

and Princes see by proued sight, those persons which resemble

them, and in their places beare the sway. And O unhappy wee,

that be the slaues of a waiwarde state, peruerted by corruption.

Why dyd our predecessors minde to stablysh any lyberty at al, to

thrust the same into the confused gouernment of the commons of

our Countrey? We haue stil the Frenchman at our tayle, or the

people of our highest Bishop, or else those crafty Florentines,

we be the common pray of al those that list to follow the haunt,

and that which is our extreamest misery, we make oure selues the

very slaues of them that of right ought to be reputed the vilest

amongs us al. Ah deare Brother, that thy wretched tyme is come,

the onely hope of our decayed family. Thou hadest neuer bene

committed to Warde, had not thy false assured foes bene assure

of witnesse to condempne thee. Ah that my life mighte raunsome

thine, and redeme agayn thyne estate and succor, thou shouldest

be sure that forthwith Angelica would prepare hirself to bee the

pray of those hungry rauenyng Wolues, which bleat and bellow

after thy Lands and Lyfe." Whyle this fayre Damsell of Siena in

this sort dyd torment hir self, poore Montanine, seeinge that he

was brought to the last extremity of his desired hope, as eche

man naturally doth seke meanes to prolong his lyfe, knowing that

all other help fayled for hys delyueraunce except he sold his

land, aswel to satisfy the fine, as to preuayle in the rest of

his Affaires, sent one of the gailers to that worshipfull usurer

the cause of hys Calamity, to offer him his Land for the pryce

and sum of a M. Ducates. The pernicious and trayterous

villain, seeing that Montanine was at his mercy, and stode in

the water up to the very throte, and knew no more what to do,

as if already he had tryumphed of hys life and Land so greatly

coueted, answered him in this manner: "My friend thou shalt say

to Charles Montanine, that not long ago I would willingly haue

giuen him a good Summe of Money for his Ferme, but sithens that

tyme I haue imployed my Money to some better profit: and albeit

I was in minde to buy it, I would be loth to give aboue 7. C.

Florins, being assured that it cannot be so commodious, as my

Money is able to bring yearely Gayne into my Purse." See how

Auarice is the Pickpurse of secret and hidden gayne, and the

very Whirlepoole of Honesty, and Conscience, couetinge nought

els but by vnrighteous Pray of other mens goods, to accumulate

and heape together. The aboundance whereof bringeth no greater

good hap vnto the gluttonous Owner, but rather the minde of

sutch is more miserable, and carryeth therewithall more decrease

of quiet, than increase of filthy muck. The couetous man beareth

no loue but to his Treasure, nor exerciseth charity but vpon his

Coafers, who, than he would be dispossessed thereof, had rather

sell the life of his naturall Father. This detestable Villayne

hauing sometimes offered M. Ducates to Charles for his

Enherytaunce, will now doe so no more, aspiring the totall Ruine

of the Montanine Family. Charles aduertised of his minde, and

amazed for the Counsels decree, well saw that all thinges

contraried hys hope and expectation, and that he must needes dye

to satisfie the excessiue and couetous Lust of the Cormerant,

whose malice hee knew to bee so vehement, as none durst offer

him Money, by reason of the vnhappy desire of this neuer

contented Varlet: For which consideration throughly resolved to

dye, rather than to leaue hys poore Sister helplesse, and

without reliefe, and rather than he would agree to the bargayne

tending to his so great losse and disadvauntage, and to the

Tirannous dealing of the wicked Tormentor of hys Lyfe, seeing

also that all meanes to purge and auerre his innocency, was

taken from him, the finall decree of the Iudges being already

passed, he began to dispose himselfe to repentaunce and

saluation of his Soule, making complaynte of his Mishaps in thys

manner.

To what hath not the heauens hatefull bin,

Since for the ease of man they weaue sutch woe?

By diuers toyles they lap our crosses in

With cares and griefes, whereon our mischiefes groe:

The bloudy hands and Sword of mortall foe,

Doe search mine euill, and would destroy me quite,

Through heynous hate and hatefull heaped spite.

Wherefore come not the fatall sisters three,

That draw the line of life and death by right?

Com furies all, and make an ende of mee,

For from the world, my sprite would take his flight.

Why comes not nowe fowle Gorgon full in sight,

And Typhon's head, that deepe in hell remaynes,

For to torment the silly soules in paynes?

It better were for mee to feele your force,

Than this missehap of murdring enuy'es rage,

By curssed meanes and fall vpon my corse,

And worke my ruine amid my flouring age:

For if I were dispatch'de in this desire,

The feare were gone, of blacke infernall fire.

O Gods of Seas, and cause of blustring winde,

Thou Æolus and Neptune to I say,

Why did you let my Barke sutch fortune finde,

That safe to shore I came by any way?

Why brake yee not, agaynst some Rocke or Bay,

The keele, the sterne, or els blew downe the Mast,

By whose large sayles through surging seas I past?

Had these things hapt, I had not seene this houre,

The house of dole where wofull sprites complayne,

Nor vserers on me had vsde sutch power,

Nor I had seene depaynted in disdayne,

The God of care, with whom dead Ghosts remayne.

Who howles and Skrekes in hollow trees and holes,

Where Charon raygnes among condemned soules.

Ah, ah, since hap will worke my wretched end,

And that my ruine by iudgement is decreed:

Why doth not happe sutch happy fortune send,

That I may lead with me the man in deede,

That staynd his fayth, and faylde me at my neede,

For gayne of golde, as vsurers do God knowes,

Who cannot spare the dropping of their nose?

I should haue slayne the slaue that seru'd me so,

O God forbid my hands were brued in blood,

Should I desire the harme of friend or foe?

Nay better were to wishe mine en'my good:

For if my death I throughly vnderstood,

I should make short the course I haue to run,

Since rest is got when worldly toyle is done.

Alas, alas, my chiefest way is this,

A guiltlesse death to suffer as I can,

So shall my soule be sure of heauen's blisse,

And good renoume shall rest behinde me than,

And body shall take end where it began,

And fame shall fly before me, ere I flit

Vnto the Gods, where Ioue in throne doth sit.

O God conuert, from vyce to vertue now,

The heart of him that falseth fayth wyth me,

And chaunge his minde and mend his maners throw,

That he his fault and fowle offence may see,

For death shall make my fame immortall bee:

And whiles the Sunne which in the heauens doth shine,

The shame is his, and honor shall be mine.

Alas, I mourne not for my selfe alone,

Nor for the fame of my Forefathers olde,

'Tys Angelike, that causeth me to mone,

'Tys she that filles my brest with fansies colde,

'Tys shee more worth, than was the fliece of golde,

That mooues my minde and breedes sutch passions straunge,

As in my selfe I feele a wonderous chaunge.

Haue pitty Lord of hir and mee this day,

Since destny thus hath sundred vs in spite,

O suffer not hir vertues to decay,

But let hir take in friendship sutch delite,

That from hir brest all vice be banisht quite:

And let hir like as did hir noble race,

When I poore man am deade, and out of place.

Alas my hand would write these wofull lines,

That feeble sprite denyes for want of might,

Wherefore my heart in brest consumes and pines,

With deepe desires, that far is from man's sight,

But God he sees myne innocencie and right,

And knowes the cause of myne Accuser still,

Who seekes my bloud to haue on mee his will.

When Charles thus complayned himself, and throughly was

determined to dy, great pitty it was to see how fayre Angelica

did rent hir Face, and teare hir golden Locks, when she saw how

impossible it was to saue hir obstinate brother from the cruel

sentence pronounced vpon him, for whom she had imployed all hir

wits and fayre speach, to perswade the neerest of hir Kin to

make sute. Thus rested she alone ful of sutch heauinesse and

vexation as they can think which see themselues depriued of

things that they esteeme most dere. But of one thing I can wel

assure you, that if ill fortune had permitted that Charles

should haue bin put to death, the gentle damsel also had

breathed forth the final gasp of hir sorowful life, yeldinge

therewithall the last end of the Montanine race and family. What

booteth it to hold processe of long discourse? Beholde the last

day is come deferred by the Iudges, whereupon he must eyther

satisfie the fine, or dye the next day after like a rebel and

Traytor against the state, without any of his kin making sute or

meane for his deliueraunce: albeit they visited the fayre

mayden, and comforted hir in that hir wretched state,

instructing hir how shee should gouerne hir selfe patiently to

suffer things remedilesse. Angelica accompanied with hir kin,

and the maidens dwelling by, that were hir companions, made the

ayre to sound with outcries and waymentings, and she hir selfe

exclaymed like a woman destraught of Wits, whose plaints the

multitude assisted with like eiulations and outcries, wayling

the fortune of the yong gentleman, and sorowfull to see the

mayden in daunger to fal into some mishap. As these things were

thus bewayled, it chaunced about nine of the clocke at night,

that Anselmo Salimbene, he whom we haue sayd to be surprised

with the loue of Angelica, returning out of the Countrey, where

he had remayned for a certayne time, and passing before the

house of his Lady, according to his custome, heard the voyce of

women and maydens which mourned for Montanine, and therewithall

stayd: the chiefest cause of his stay was, for that he saw go

forth out of the Pallace of hys Angelica, diuers Women making

Moane, and Lamentation: wherefore he demaunded of the neyghbors

what noyse that was, and whether any in those Quarters were dead

or no. To whom they declared at length, al that which yee haue

heard before. Salimbene hearing this story, went home to his

house, and being secretly entred into his chamber, began

discourse with himselfe vpon that accident, and fantasying a

thousand things in his heade, in the ende thought that Charles

should not so be cast away, were he iustly or innocently

condempned, and for the only respect of his sister, that she

might not bee left destitute of the Goods, and Inheritaunce.

Thus discoursing diuers things, at length he sayd: "I were a

very simple person nowe to rest in doubt, sith Fortune is more

curious of my felicity than I could wishe, and seeketh the

effect of my desires, when least of all I though vpon them. For

behold, Montanine alone is left of all the mortall enimies of

our house, whych to morrow openly shall lose his head like a

rebell and seditious person, vpon whose Auncesters, in him shall

I be reuenged, and the quarell betweene our two Families, shall

take ende, hauinge no more cause to feare renuing of discorde,

by any that can descend from him. And who shall let mee then

from inioying hir, whom I doe loue, hir brother being dead,

and his goods confiscate to the Seigniory, and she without all

Maynetenaunce, and Reliefe, except the ayde of hir onely beauty

and curtesie? What maynetenaunce shall she haue, if not by the

loue of some honest Gentleman, that for hys pleasure may support

hir, and haue pitty vppon the losse of so excellent beauty? Ah

Salimbene, what hast thou sayd? Hast thou already forgotten that

a Gentleman for that only cause is esteemed aboue al other,

whose glorious facts ought to shine before the brightnesse of

those that force theymselues to followe vertue? Art not thou a

Gentleman borne, and Bred in noble house, Issued from the Loyns

of gentle and noble Parentes? Is it ignoraunt vnto thee, that it

pertayneth vnto a noble and gentle heart, to reuenge receyued

Iniuries himselfe, without seeking ayde of other or else to

pardon them by vsing clemency and princely curtesie, burying all

desire of vengeaunce vnder the Toumbe of eternall obliuion?

And what greater glory can man acquire, than by vanquishing

himselfe, and chastising his affections and rage, to bynde him

which neuer thought to receyue pleasure or benefit at his hand?

It is a thing which exceedeth the common order of nature, and so

is it meete and requisite, that the most excellent doe make the

effects of their excellency appeare, and seeke meanes for the

immortality of their remembraunce. The great Dictator Cæsar was

more praysed for pardoning hys enimies, and for shewing himselfe

curteous and easie to be spoken to, than for subduinge the braue

and valiaunt Galles and Britons, or vanquishing the mighty

Pompee. Dom Roderico Viuario, the Spaniard, although he might

haue bene reuenged vpon Dom Pietro, king of Aragon, for his

infidelity, bicause he went about to hinder his voyage agaynst

the Saracens at Grenado, yet woulde not Punishe or Raunsome him,

but taking him Prysoner in the Warres, suffred him to goe

without any Tribute, or any exaction of him and his Realme. The

more I followe the example of mighty Personages in thinges that

be good, the more notorious and wonderful shall I make my selfe

in their rare and noble deedes. And not willing to forget a

wrong done vnto me, whereof may I complayne of Montanine? What

thinge hath hee euer done agaynst me or mine? And albeit his

Predecessors were enimies to our Family, they haue therefore

borne the penaunce, more harde than the sinne deserued. And

truly I should be afrayde, that God would suffer me to tumble

into some mishap, if seeing one afflicted, I should reioyce in

his affliction, and take by his decay an argument of ioy and

pleasure. No, no, Salimbene is not of minde that sutch fond

Imagination should Bereue good will to make hymselfe a Freende,

and to gayne by liberality and curtesie hir, which for hir only

vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being assured, that

there is no man (except he were dispoyled of all good nature and

humanity) specially bearing the loue to Angelica, that I do, but

he would be sory to see hir in sutch heauinesse and despayre,

and would attempt to deliuer hir from sutch dolorous griefe.

For if I loue hir as I do in deede, must not I likewise loue all

that which she earnestly loueth, as him that is nowe in daunger

of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens? That my heart

doe make appeere what the loue is, which maketh me Tributary and

Subiect to fayre Angelica, and that eche man may knowe, that

furious loue hath vanquisht kings and great monarches, it

behoueth not me to be abashed, if I which am a man and subiect

to passions, so well as other, doe submit my selfe to the

seruice of hir, who I am assured is so vertuous as euen very

necessity cannot force hir to forget the house, whereof she

tooke hir originall. Vaunt thy selfe then O Angelica, to haue

forced a heart of it selfe impregnable, and giuen him a wound

which the stoutest Lads might sooner haue depriued of lyfe, than

put him out of the way of his gentle kinde: and thou, Montanine,

thinke, that if thou wilt thy selfe, thou winnest to day so

hearty a frende, as only death shall separate the vnion of vs

twayne, and of all our posterity. It is I, nay it is I my selfe,

that shall excell thee in duety, poynting the way for the

wisest, to get honor, and violently compel the mooued myndes of

those that be our aduersaries, desiring rather vainely to forgo

myne own life, than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts, which

be already grifted in my minde." After this long discourse

seeing the tyme required dilligence, hee tooke a thousand

Ducats, and went to the Treasurer of the fines, deputed by the

state, whom he founde in his office, and sayde vnto him: "I haue

brought you sir, the Thousande Ducates, which Charles Montanine

is bounde to pay for his deliueraunce. Tell them, and gieue him

an acquittaunce, that presently hee may come forth." The

Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest, that exceeded the

Summe of a Thousand Florens: but Salimbene refused the same,

and receyuing a letter for his discharge, he sent one of his

Seruaunts therewithal to the chiefe Gayler, who seeing that the

Summe of his condemnation was payd, immediately deliuered

Montanine out of the Prison where he was fast shut, and fettered

with great, and weyghty Giues. Charles thinckinge that some

Frier had bin come to confesse him, and that they had shewed him

some mercy to doe hym to death in Prison, that abroade in open

shame of the world he might not deface the Noble house whereof

he came, was at the first sight astonned, but hauing prepared

himselfe to die, praysed God, and besought him to vouchsafe not

to forget him in the sorrowful passage, wherein the stoutest and

coragious many times be faynt and inconstaunt. He recommended

his Soule, he prayed forgieuenesse of his sinnes: and aboue all,

he humbly besought the goodnesse of God, that it would please

him to haue pitty vpon his Sister, and to deliuer hir from all

Infamy and dishonor. When he was caried out of Pryson, and

brought before the Chiefe Gayler, sodaynely his Giues were

discharged from his Legges, and euery of the standers by looked

merily vppon hym, without speakinge any Woorde that might affray

hym. That Curtesie vnlooked for, made hym attende some better

thynge, and assured hym of that whych before by any meanes hee

durste not thyncke. And hys expectation was not deceiued. For

the Gayler sayde vnto hym: "Bee of good Cheare Sir, for beholde

the letters of your discharge, wherefore you may goe at liberty

whether you list." In saying so, he opened the Pryson, and

licenced Montanine to departe, praying him not to take in ill

part his intreaty and hard imprysonment, for that hee durst doe

none other, the State of the City hauing so enioyned hym. May

not ech Wyght now behold how that the euents of loue be diuers

from other passions of the mind? How could Salimbene haue so

charitably deliuered Montanine, the hatred beyng so long tyme

rooted between the two houses, if some greate occasion whych

hath no name in Loue, had not altred his Nature, and

extinguished hys affection? It is meritoryous to succour them

whome we neuer saw before, sith nature moueth vs to doe well to

them that be lyke our selues. But faith surmounteth there, where

the very naturall inclynation feeleth it self constrayned and

seeth that to be broken, whych obstynately was purposed to be

kept in mynde. The graces, gentlenesse, Beauty, mild behauior

and allurement of Angelica, had greater force ouer Salimbene,

than the humility of hir Brother, although he had kneeled a

hundred tymes before him. But what heart is so brute, but may be

made tractable and Mylde, by the Contemplation of a thyng so

rare, as the excellent Beauty of that Siena Mayden, and woulde

not humble it selfe to acquyre the good graces of so perfect a

Damsel? I wyll neuer accuse man for beyng in Loue wyth a fayre

and vertuous Woman, nor esteeme hym a slaue, whych painefully

serueth a sobre Mayden, whose heart is fraught wyth honeste

affections, and Mynd wyth desyre tending to good ende. Well

worthy of blame is he to be deemed whych is in loue wyth the

outeward hew, and prayseth the Tree onely layden with floures,

without regard to the fruict, whych maketh it worthye of

commendation. The young maiden must needes resemble the floure

of the Spryng time, vntill by hir constancy, modesty, and

chastity she hath vanquished the concupiscence of the flesh,

and brought forth the hoped fruicte of a Vertue and Chastity not

Common. Otherwyse, shee shall bee lyke the inrolled Souldyer,

whose valyance hys only mind doth wytnes, and the offer whych he

maketh to hym that doth register his name in the muster bookes.

But when the effect of seruyce is ioyned wyth his attempt, and

proofe belyeth not hys promyse, then the Captain imbraceth him,

and aduaunceth him, as a glasse for his affaires from that time

forth. The lyke of Dames hauing passed the assaults and resisted

the attempts of theyr assaylants which be honest, not by force

being not requyred, but inclyned by ther owne nature, and the

dyligence of theyr chast and inuincyble heart. But turne we

againe vnto our purpose, Montanine, when he was delyuered,

forthwyth wente home to hys house, to comfort hir, whom he was

more than sure to be in great distresse and heauinesse for his

sake, and whych had so mutch neede of comfort as he had, to take

his rest. He came to the gate of his Pallace (where beyng knowne

that it was Montanine) his sister by any meanes coulde not bee

made to beleue the same: so impossible seeme thynges vnto vs,

which we most desyre. They were all in doubte, lyke as wee reade

that they were when S. Peter escaped Herod's Pryson by the

Angel's meanes. When Angelica was assured that it was hir

Brother, sobbes wer layde aside, sighes were cast away, and

heauy weepings conuerted into teares of ioy, she went to imbrace

and kisse hir Brother, praising GOD for hys delyuerance, and

making accompt that he had ben raised from death to lyfe,

considering his stoutnes of minde rather bent to dye than to

forgo his Land, for so smal a pryce. The Dames that wer kin vnto

hym, and tarried there in Company of the maiden half in

dispayre, least by dispayre and fury shee might fall into

outrage therby to put hir lyfe in peril, with all expedition

aduertised their husbands of Montanine's Lyberty, not looked

for, who repayred thither, as wel to reioyce with him in his ioy

and good fortune, as to make their excuse, for that they had not

trauayled to ryd him from that misery. Charles whych cared

nothing at al for those mouth blessings, dissembled what he

thought, thanking them neuerthelesse for their visitation and

good remembrance they had of hym, for visiting and comforting

his sister which honor, he estemed no lesse than if they had

imployed the same vpon his owne person. Their friends and

kinsfolk being departed, and assured that none of them had payde

his ransome, hee was wonderfully astonned and the greater was

his gryef for that he could not tell what hee was, whych

withoute requeste, had made so gentle a proofe of his

lyberality: if he knew nothing, farre more ignoraunte was his

sister, forsomutch as she dyd thinke, that he had changed his

mind, and that the horrour of death had made him sel his

countrey inheritance, to hym whych made the first offer to buy

the same: but either of them deceyued of their thought went to

bed. Montanine rested not all the Nyght, hauyng still before his

eyes, the vnknowne image of hym that had delyuered him. His bed

serued his turne to none other purpose, but as a large field or

some long alley within a Wood, for walkes to make discourse of

hys mynde's conceipts, sometimes remembryng one, sometimes

another, without hitting the blanke and namyng of him that was

his deliuerer, vnto whome he confessed him selfe to owe hys

seruice and duety so long as hee lyued. And when hee saw the day

begyn to appeare and that the Mornyng, the Vauntcurrour of the

day, summoned Apollo to harnesse hys Horsse to begynne his

course in our Hemisphere, he rose and went to the Chamberlaine

or Treasurer, sutch as was deputed for receypt of the Fines,

sessed by the State, whom he saluted, and receyuing lyke

salutation, he prayed hym to shewe hym so mutch pleasure as to

tell hym the parties name, that was so Lyberall to satysfie his

fine due in the Eschequer of the State. To whome the other

aunswered: "None other hath caused thy delyueraunce

(O Montanine) but a certain person of the World, whose Name thou

mayst easily gesse, to whome I gaue an acquittance of thyne

imprysonmente, but not of the iuste summe, bycause hee gaue me a

Thousand Ducates for a Thousand Florens, and woulde not receyue

the ouerplus of the debte, whych I am readye to delyuer thee

wyth thyne acquyttaunce." "I haue not to doe wyth the Money"

(sayd Charles) "onely I pray you to tell me the name of him that

hath don me thys great curtesy, that hereafter I may acknowledge

him to be my Friend." "It is" (sayd the Chamberlayne) "Anselmo

Salimbene, who is to bee commended and praysed aboue all thy

parents and kinne, and came hither very late to bryng the Money,

the surplusage whereof, beholde here it is." "God forbid" (sayd

Montaine) "that I should take awaye that, whych so happily was

brought hither to rid me out of payne." And so went away wyth

his acquittance, his mind charged with a numbre of fansies for

the fact don by Salimbene. Being at home at his house, he was

long time stayed in a deepe consideration, desirous to know the

cause of that gentle parte, proceeding from him whose Parents

and Auncesters were the capitall Enimies of his race. In the end

lyke one risyng from a sound sleepe, he called to mynd, that

very many times he had seene Anselmo with attentiue eye and

fixed looke to behold Angelica, and in eying hir uery louyngly,

he passed euery day (before theyr gate) not shewing other

countenaunce, but of good wyll, and wyth fryendly gesture,

rather than any Ennimies Face, saluting Angelica at all tymes

when he met hir. Wherefore Montanine was assured, that the onely

loue of Salimbene towards his sister caused that delyueraunce,

concluding that when the passion doth proceede of good loue,

seazed in gentle heart and of noble enterpryse, it is impossible

but it muste bryng forth the maruellous effects of vertue's

gallantize, of honesty and curtesy, and that the spyrite wel

borne, can not so mutch hide hys gentle nourtoure, but the fyre

must flame abroade, and that whych seemeth dyfficult to bee

brought to passe, is facilitye, and made possible by the

conceiptes and indeuors so wel imployed: wherefore in the Ende

not to bee surmounted in Honesty, ne yet to beare the marke of

one, that vnthankefully accepteth good turnes, he determyned to

vse a great prodigality vppon him, that vnder the name of foe,

had shewed himselfe a more faythful friend, then those that bare

good face, and at neede wer furthest off from afflicted

Montanine, who not knowing what present to make to Salimbene,

but of himselfe and hys syster, purposed to impart his minde to

Angelica, and then vpon knowledge of hir wil to performe his

intent. For which cause vnderstanding that his gracious enimy

was gone into the Countrey, he thoughte well to consyder of his

determynatyon, and to breake wyth hir in hys absence, the better

to Execute the same, vppon his nexte retourne to the Citye. He

called Angelica asyde, and beynge bothe alone together, hee vsed

these or sutch lyke Woordes: "You knowe, deare Sister, that the

higher the fall is, the more daungerous and greater gryefe he

feeleth that doth fall from highe than hee that tumbleth downe

from place more low and of lesser steepenes. I speak this,

bicause I cal to mind the condition, nobility, and excellency of

our ancesters, the glorie of our race, and riches of all our

house, which constraineth me many tymes to sigh, and sheade a

streame of teares, when I see the sumptuous palaces that were

the homes and resting places of our Fathers, and grand fathers,

when I see on al parts of this City, the Armes, and Scutcheons

painted and imbossed, bearyng the mark of the Antiquity of our

house, and when I beholde the stately marble tombes and brasen

Monuments, in dyuers our Temples erected for perpetuall Memorye

of many knyghtes and generalles of warres, that sorted forth of

the Montanine race: and chyefly I neuer enter thys great Palace,

the remnant of our inheritaunce and patrimony, but the

remembraunce of our auncesters, so glaunceth ouer mine Hearte,

as an hundred hundred tymes, I wysh for death, to thynke that I

am the Post alone of the mysery and decay fallen vppon the name

and famous familye of the Montanines, whych maketh me thinke our

life to be vnhappy, being downe fallen from sutch felicity,

to feele a mysery most extreame. But one thing alone ought to

content vs, that amid so great pouerty, yl luck, ruine and

abasement, none is able to lay vnto our charge any thing

vnworthy of the nobility and the house, whereof we be descended,

our lyfe being conformable to the generositie of our

predecessors: whereby it chanceth, that although our poore

estate be generally knowne, yet none can affirme, that we haue

forligned the vertue of them, which vertuously haue lyued before

vs. If so bee wee haue receiued pleasure or benefit of any man,

neuer disdained I with al duety to acknowledge a good turne,

stil shunning the vyce of ingratytude, to soyle the reputation

wherein hitherto I haue passed my lyfe. Is there anye blot which

more spotteth the renoume of man, than not confessing receiued

benefites and pleasures perfourmed in our necessity? You know in

what peril of death I was, these few daies past, through their

false surmise which neuer loued me, and how almost miraculously

I was redemed out of the hangman's hands, and the cruel sentence

of the vnryghteous Magistrate, not one of our kin offrynge

themselues in deede or word for my defense, which forceth mee to

say, that I haue felt of my Kin, which I neuer thought, and haue

tasted sutch commodity at his hands, of whome I neuer durst

expect or hope for pleasure, relief, aide or any comfort.

I attended my delyueraunce by sute of those whome I counted for

Kin and fryends, but the same so soon vanished, as the Necessity

and peryll were present. So pressed with woe, and forsaken of

fryends, I was affrayde that our aduersaries (to remoue all

feare and suspition in tyme to come) would haue purchased my

totall ruine, and procured the ouerthrowe of the Montanines

name, by my Death, and approched end. But good God, from the

place whereof I feared the danger, the calme arose, which hath

brought my Barke to the hauen of health, and at his hands where

I attended ruine, I haue tasted affiance and sustentation of

myne honor and lyfe. And playnely to procede, it is Anselmo

Salimbene, the son of our auncient and capital enimies, that

hath shewed himself the very loyall and faithful fryend of our

family, and hath deliuered your brother by payment to the State,

the summe of a Thousand Ducats to raunsome the life of him, who

thought him to be his moste cruel aduersary. O Gentleman's heart

in dede and gentle mind, whose rare vertues do surpasse all

humaine vnderstanding. Friends vnited together in band of

Amitye, amaze the World by the effects not vulgar in things

whych they do one for an other. But thys surmounteth all,

a mortall Ennimy, not reconcyled or requyred, without demaund of

assuraunce for the pleasure which he doth, payeth the debts of

his aduersarie: which facte exceedeth all consideration in them,

that discouer the factes of men. I can not tel what name to

attribute to the deede of Salimbene, and what I ought to call

that his curtesy, but this must I needes protest, that the

example of his honestie and gentlenes is of sutch force, and so

mutch hath vanquished me, as whether I shal dye in payne or lyue

at ease, neuer am I able to exceede his lyberality. Now my life

being ingaged for that which he hath don to mee, and hee hauynge

delyuered the same from infamous Death, it is in your handes

(deare sister) to practize the deuyse imagined in my mind, to

the intente that I may be onely bound to you for satisfying the

liberalitye of Salimbene, by meanes whereof, you which wepte the

death and wayled the lost liberty of your Brother, doe see me

free and in safety hauyng none other care but to be acquited of

hym, to whome both you and I be dearely bound." Angelica hearyng

hir brother speak those words, and knowing that Salimbene was

he, that had surpassed all their kinne in amity and comforte of

theyr familye, answered her brother, sayinge: "I woulde neuer

haue thought (good Brother) that your deliuerance had come to

passe by him whose name euen now you tolde, and that our

Ennimyes breaking al remembraunce of auncient quarels, had care

of the health and conseruation of the Montanines. Wherefore if

it were in my power I would satisfy the curtesy and gentlenesse

of Anselmo, but I know not which way to begin the same. I being

a maid that knoweth not how to recompense a good turne, but by

acknowledging the same in heart: and to go to render thanks, it

is neither lawfull or comely for me, and mutch lesse to offer

him any thynge for the lyttle accesse I haue to his house, and

the small familiarity I haue with the Gentlewomen of his kinne.

Notwythstanding, Brother, consider you wherein my power resteth

to ayde and helpe you, and be assured (myne honor saued) I wyll

spare nothynge for your contentment." "Sister" (sayd Montanine)

"I haue of long time debated with my self what is to be done,

and deuised what myghte be the occasion that moued this young

Gentleman to vse so greate kindnesse toward mee, and hauing

diligently pondred and waied what I haue seene and knowne,

at length I founde that it was the onely force of Loue, which

constrained his affection, and altered the auncient hatred that

he bare vs, into new loue, that by no meanes can be quenched.

It is the couert fire which Loue hathe kindled in his intrailes,

it is loue whych hath raysed the true effects of gentlenesse,

and hath consumed the conceipts of displeased mind. O the great

force of that amorous alteration, which vppon the sodain

exchaung, seemeth impossible to receiue any more chaung or

mutation. The onely Beauty and good grace of you Syster, hath

induced our gracious Enimy, the seruaunt of your perfections, to

delyuer the poore Gentleman forlorn of all good fortune. It is

the honest lyfe and commendable behauiour of Angelica Montanine,

that hath incyted Anselmo to doe an acte so praise worthy, and a

deede so kinde, to procure the deliuerance of one, which looked

not for a chaunce of so great consequence. Ah gentle younge

gentleman: Ah pryncely minde, and heart noble and magnanimous.

Alas how shall it be possyble that euer I can approche the

honest liberalitye wherwyth thou hast bound me for euer? My lyfe

is thine, myne honour dependeth of thee, my goodes be tyed to

thee. What resteth then, if not that you (sister) voyde of

cruelty do vse no vnkyndnesse to hym that loueth you, and who

for love of you hathe prodygally offred hys owne goodes to ryd

me from payne and dyshonor? If so be, my lyfe and sauegarde haue

ben acceptable vnto thee, and the sight of me dyscharged from

Pryson was ioyful unto thee, if thou gauest thy willing consent

that I should sel my patrimony, graunt presently that I may wyth

a great, rare, and precious present, requyte the Goodnesse,

Pleasure and curtesye that Salimbene hath done for your sake:

And syth I am not able with goodes of Fortune to satisfie his

bountye, it is your person which may supply that default, to the

intent that you and I may be quytted of the oblygation, wherein

we stand bound vnto him. It behoueth that for the offer and

reward of Money whych he hath imployed, we make present of your

Beautye, not selling the pryce of your chastity, but delyueryng

the same in exchaunge of curtesye, beyng assured for hys

gentlenesse and good Nourtoure sake, hee wyll vse you none

otherwyse, or vsurpe any greater authority ouer you, than Vertue

permitteth in ech gentle and Noble hearte. I haue none other

means of satisfaction, ne larger raumsome to render free my head

from the Tribute whych Salimbene hathe gyuen for my Lyfe and

Liberty. Thynke (deare Sister) what determinate aunswere you

wyll make me, and consider if my request be meete to be denyed.

It is in your choise and pleasure to deny or consent to my

demaund. If so be that I be denyed and loose the meanes by your

refuse to be acquitted of my defender, I had rather forsake my

Citye and Countrey, than to lyue heere wyth the title of

ingratitude, for not acknowledging so greate a pleasure. But

alas, with what Eye, shall I dare behold the Nobility of Siena,

if by greate vnkyndnesse I passe vnder silence the rarest

friendship that euer was deuised? What heartes sorrow shall I

conceyue to bee pointed at wyth the finger, like one that hath

forgotten in acknowledging by effecte, the receiued pleasure of

my delyueraunce? No (sister) eyther you must bee the quyet of my

Minde, and the acquittance of vs bothe, or else must I dye, or

wander lyke a vagabond into straunge Countries, and neuer put

foote agayne into Italy." At those words Angelica stode so

astonned and confused, and so besides hir selfe, like as wee see

one distraught of sense that feeleth himself attached with some

amaze of the Palsey. In the end recouering hir sprytes, and bee

blubbered al with teares, hir stomacke panting like the Bellowes

of a forge, she answeared hir brother in thys manner: "I knowe

not louyng Brother by reason of my troubled minde howe to

aunswere your demaund, which seemeth to be both ryght, and

wronge, right for respect of the bond, not so, in consideration

of the request. But how I proue the same, and what reason I can

alleadge and discouer for that proofe, hearken me so paciently,

as I haue reason to complayne and dispute vpon this chaunce more

hard and difficulte to auoyde, than by reply able to be

defended, sith that Lyfe and the hazarding thereof is nothing,

in regarde of that which you wyll haue me to present with too

exceeding prodigall Liberality, and I would to God that Life

mighte satisfie the same, than be sure it should so soone be

imployed, as the promise made thereof. Alas, good God, I thought

that when I sawe my brother out of Pryson, the neare distresse

of death, whereunto vniustly he was thrown, I thought (I say)

and firmely did beleue, that fortune the Enimy of our ioy, had

vomitted al hir poison, and being despoyled of hir fury and

crabbed Nature had broken the bloudy and Venemous Arrowes,

wherewyth so longe tyme she hath plagued our family, and that by

resting of hir selfe, shee had gyuen some rest to the Montanine

house of al theyr troubles and misaduentures. But I (O miserable

wight) do see and feele how far I am deuided from my hope, and

deceiued of mine opinion, sith the furious stepdame, appeareth

before me with a face more fierce and threatning, then euer she

did, sharpening hir selfe against my youth in other sort, then

euer against any of our race. If euer she persecuted our

auncesters, if she brought them to ruine and decay, she now doth

purpose wholly to subuerte the same, and throw vs headelong into

the bottomlesse pit of all misery, exterminating for all

tegether, the remnaunte of our consumed house. Be it either by

losse of thee (good brother) or the vyolent death of me which

cannot hazarde my Chastity for the pryce of myne vnhappy life:

Ah, good God, into what anguish is my mynde exponed, and how doe

I feele the force and Vyolence of froward Fortune? But what

speak I of fortune? How doth hard lucke insue, that is

predestinated by the heauens vppon our familly? Must I at so

tender yeares, and of so feeble kinde make choyse of a thing,

which would put the wysest vpon Earth into their shifts? My

heart doth fayle me, reason wanteth and Iudgement hangeth in

ballaunce by continuall agitations, to see how I am dryuen to

the extremity of two daungerous straits, and enuironned with

fearefull ieoperdies, forcibly compelled either to bee deuided

and separated from thee (my Brother,) whome I loue aboue mine

owne life, and in whome next after God I haue fyxed and put my

hope and trust, hauing none other solace, Comfort and helpe, but

thee, or else by keping thee, am forced to giue vnto an other,

and know not how, the precious treasure which beyng once lost,

cannot be recouered by any meanes, and for the gard and

conseruation whereof, euery woman of good iudgement that loueth

vertue, ought a thousand times to offer hir selfe to death

(if so many wayes she could) rather than to blot or soyle that

inestimable Iewell of chastity, wherewith our lyfe is a true

lyfe: contrarywyse shee which fondly suffreth hir self to be

disseazed and spoyled of the same, and looseth it without honest

title, albeit she be a lyue, yet is she buryed in the most

obscure caue of death, hauing lost the honour which maketh

Maydens march with head vpryght. But what goodnesse hath a

Ladye, Gentlewoman, Maiden, or Wyfe, wherein she can glory, hir

honour being in doubt, and reputatyon darkened with infamie?

Whereto serued the imperyall house of Augustus, in those Ladyes

that were intituled the Emperour's Daughters, when for their

villany, theyr were vnworthy of the title of chaste and

vertuous? What profited Faustina the Emperiall Crowne vpon hir

head, hir chastity through hir abhominable Life, being rapt and

despoyled? What wronge hath bene done to many symple Women, for

being buryed in the Tombe of dark obliuion, which for their

vertue and pudique Lyfe, meryted Eternall prayse? Ah Charles,

my Brother deare, where hast thou bestowrd the Eye of thy

foreseeing mynde, that without prouidence and care of the fame

due to honest Dames, and chast Damosels of our Family, hauyng

lost the goodes and Fathers inheritance, wilt haue me in like

sort forgoe my Chastity, whych hytherto I haue kept with

heedeful dilygence. Wilte thou deare Brother, by the pryce of my

virginity, that Anselmo shall haue greater victorye ouer vs,

than he hath gotten by fight of Sword vpon the allied remnaunt

of our house? Art thou ignorant that the woundes and diseases of

the Mynd, be more vehement than those which afflict the Body? Ah

I vnhappy mayden, and what ill lucke is reserued for me, what

destiny hath kept me till this day to be presented for Venus'

Sacrifice, to satisfy a young manne's lust, which coueteth

(peraduenture) but the spoile of mine honor? O happy the Romain

maide, slayne by the proper hands of hir woeful Father

Virginius, that she myght not{ }be soyled with infamy, by the

Lecherous embracements of rauenous Appius, which desired hir

acquaintaunce. Alas, that my brother doe not so, rather I woulde

to God of his owne accord he be the infamous minister of my life

ready to be violated, if God by his grace take not my cause in

hand? Alas death, why dost thou not throwe against my hearte thy

most pearcing dart, that I may goe waite vpon the shadowes of my

thryce happy Parents, who knowing this my gryefe, wyll not be

voide of passion to helpe me wayle my woefull state. O God, why

was not I choaked and strangled, so soone as I was taken forth

the secret imbracements of my mother's Wombe, rather than to

arriue into this mishap, that either must I lose the thing I

deeme moste deare, or die with the violence of my proper hands?

Come death, come and cut the vnhappy threede of my woefull Lyfe:

stope the pace of teares with thy trenchant Darte that streame

outragiously downe my face, and close the breathing wind of

sighes, which hynder thee from doing thine office vpon my heart,

by suffocation of my lyfe and it." When she had ended those

Words, hir speache dyd faile, and waxing pale and faint,

(sitting vppon hir stoole) she fared as though that very death

had sitten in hir place. Charles thynking that his sister had

bene deade, mated with sorrowe, and desirous to lyue no longer

after hir, seeing he was the cause of that sownyng, fell downe

dead vpon the Ground, mouing neither hand nor foote, as though

the soule had ben departed from the bodye. At the noyse which

Montanine made by reason of hys fall, Angelica reuiued out of

hir sowne, and seeinge hir Brother in so pytifull plyght, and

supposing he had bene dead for care of hys request, for beyng

berieued of hir Brother, was so moued, as a lyttle thynge would

haue made hir do, as Thisbe dyd, when she viewed Pyramus to be

slayne. But conceyuing hope, she threw hir selfe vppon hir

Brother, cursing hir Fortune, bannyng the Starres of cruelty,

and hir lauish speach, and hir self for hir little loue to hir

brother, who made no refusall to dye to saue his Lande for

reliefe of hir: wher she denyed to yeld hir selfe to him that

loued hir with so good affection. In the end she applied so many

remedies vnto hir brother, sometimes casting cold water vpon his

face, sometimes pinching and rubbing the temples and pulses of

his armes and his mouth with vineger, that she made hym to come

agayne: and seeing that his eyes were open, beholding hir

intentiuely with the countenance of a man half in despayre, she

saied vnto him: "For so mutch brother as I see fortune to be so

froward, that by no meanes thou canst auoide the cruel lot,

which launceth me into the bottome of mortall misery, and that I

must aduenture to folowe the indeuors of thy minde, and obey thy

will, which is more gentle and Noble, than fraught with reason,

I am content to satisfy the same and the loue which hitherto

thou hast born me. Be of good cheere, and doe wyth mee and my

body what thou list, giue and presente the same to whom thou

pleasest. Wel be thou sure, that so sone as I shal bee out of

thy hands and power, I wyl be called or esteemed thine no more,

and thou shalt haue lesse authority to stay me from doing the

deuises of my fantasie, swearing and protesting by the Almighty

God, that neuer man shall touch Angelica, except it be in

mariage, and that if he assay to passe any further, I haue a

heart that shall incourage my hands to sacrifice my Life to the

Chastitye of Noble Dames whych had rather dye than liue in

slaunder of dyshonesty. I wyll die a body without defame, and

the Mynde voyde of consent, shall receiue no shame or filth that

can soyle or spot the same." In saying so, she began againe to

weepe in sutch aboundance, as the humour of hir brayne ranne

downe by the issue of bothe hir Eyes. Montanine albeit sorrowful

beyond measure to see his gentle and chast sister in sutch

vexation and heauinesse, reioysed yet in his mind, that she had

agreed to his request, which presaged the good lucke that

afterwardes chaunced vnto him, for hys Lyberal offer.

"Wherefore" (said he to Angelica,) "I was neuer in my Lyfe so

desirous to liue, but that I rather choose to dye, than procure

a thinge that should turne thee to displeasure and griefe, or to

hazarde thine honor and reputation in daunger or peryll of

damage, which thou hast euer knowne, and shouldest haue still

perceyued by effect, or more properly to speak, touched with thy

finger if that incomparable and rare curtesy and Lyberality of

Salimbene had not prouoked me to requyre that, which honestly

thou canst not gyue, nor I demaunde without wronge to thee, and

preiudice to mine owne estimation and honoure. But what? the

feare I haue to be deemed ingrate, hath made me forget thee, and

the great honesty of Anselmo maketh me hope, yea and stedfastly

beleue, that thou shalt receiue none other displeasure, but to

be presented vnto him whome at other times we haue thought to be

our mortal enimy. And I thinke it impossible that he wil vse any

villany to hir whome he so feruently loueth, for whose sake he

feareth not the hatred of his friends, and disdained not to save

him whome he hated, and on whome he myght haue bene reuenged.

And forsomutch sister, as the face commonly sheweth the signe

and token of the hearte's affection, I pray thee by any meanes

declare no sad countenaunce in the presence of Salimbene, but

rather cheere vp thy face, dry vp the aboundance of thy teares,

that he by seeing thee Ioyfull and mery, may be moued to

continue his curtesy and use thee honestly, being satisfied with

thy liberality, and the offer that I shall make of our seruice."

Here may be seene the extremitie of two dyuers thinges, duety

combatting with shame, reason being in contention with himself.

Angelica knew and confessed that hir brother did but his duetye,

and that she was bound by the same very bond. On the other side,

hir estate and virginall chastity, brake the endeuours of hir

duety, and denyed to doe that which she esteemed ryght.

Neuerthelesse shee prepared hir self to follow both the one and

the other: and by acquitting the duety to hir brother, she

ordayned the meane, to discharge him of that which he was bound

to his benefactor, determinynge neuerthelesse rather to dye,

than shamefully to suffer hir selfe to be abused, or to make hir

lose the floure, which made hir glyster amongs the maidens of

the city, and to deface hir good fame by an acte so vyllanous.

But that speciall rare vertue was more singular in hir, than was

that continency of Cyrus the Persian King, who fearing to be

forced by the allurements of the excellent beauty of chast

Panthea, would not suffer hir to be brought into his presence,

for feare that hee being surmounted with folysh lustes, should

force hir, that by other meanes could not be persuaded to breake

the holy lawes of Mariage, and promised faith to hir husband.

For Salimbene hauing in his presence, and at his commaundement

hir whome aboue al thyngs he loued would by no meanes abuse his

power, but declared his gentle nature to bee of other force and

effect, than that of the aforesaid king as by reading the

successe of this historie you shal perceiue. After that

Montanine and his sister had vttered many other words vpon their

determination, and that the fayre maiden was appeased of hir

sorrow, attending the issue of that which they went about to

begin: Anselmo was come home out of the Countrey, whereof

Charles hauing intelligence, about the second houre of the

night, he caused his sister to make hir ready, and in company of

one of their seruants that caried light before them, they came

to the lodginge of Salimbene, whose seruaunt seeing Montanine so

accompanied to knocke at the Gate, if hee did maruel I leaue for

you to think, by reason of the displeasure and hatred which he

knew to bee betweene the two families, not knowing that which

had already passed for the heginning of a final peace of so many

controuersies: for which cause so astonned as he was, he went to

tel his maister that Montanine was at the gate, desirous

secretly to talk vnto him. Salimbene knowing what company

Charles had with him, was not vnwilling to goe downe, and

causing two Torches to be lighted, came to his gate to

entertaine them, and to welcome the brother and the sister, wyth

so great curtesie and friendship as he was surprysed with loue,

seeing before his eyes the sight of hir that burned hys heart

incessantly, not discoueryng as yet the secrets of his thought

by making hir to vnderstand the good wyl he bare hir, and how

mutch he was hir seruant. He could not tel wel whether he was

incharmed or his eyes daselled, or not wel wakened from sleepe

when he saw Angelica, so amazed was he with the straungenesse of

the fact, and arriuall of the maiden to his house. Charles

seeing hym so confused, and knowing that the great affection he

bare vnto his sister, made him so perplexed and besides himself,

said vnto him: "Sir, we would gladly speake with you in one of

your Chambers, that there myght be none other witnesse of our

dyscourse, but we three together." Salimbene which was wrapt

wyth ioy, was able to make none other aunsweare, but: "Goe we

whether you please." So taking his Angelica by the hand, they

went into the Hall, and from thence into his chamber, whych was

furnyshed accordinge to the state and riches of a Lord, he being

one of the welthiest and chiefe of the City of Siena. When they

were set downe, and al the seruants gone forth, Charles began to

say to Salimbene, these words: "You may not thinke it straunge

(sir Salimbene) if against the Lawes and customes of our Common

Wealthe, I at thys tyme of the Nyght doe call you vp, for

knowyng the Bande wherewyth I am bound vnto you, I must for euer

confesse and count my selfe to be your slaue and bondman, you

hauing don a thing in my behalf that deserueth the name of Lord

and maister. But what vngrateful man is he that wil forget so

greate a benefit, as that which I haue receyued of you, holding

of you, life, goods, honor, and this mine own sister that

enioyeth by your meanes the presence of hir brother and hir rest

of mind, not losing our noble reputation by the losse prepared

for me through vnrighteous iudgement, you hauing staied the

ruine both of hir and me, and the rest of our house and kin.

I am ryghte glad sir, that this my duety and seruice is bounden

to so vertuous a Gentleman as you be, but exceeding sorry, that

fortune is so froward and contrary vnto me, that I am not able

to accomplishe my good will, and if ingratitude may lodge in

mind of a neady Gentleman, who hath no helpe but of himselfe,

and in the wyll of hys chast sister, and minde vnited in two

persons onely saued by you, duety doeth requyre to present the

rest, and to submit al that is left to be disposed at your good

pleasure. And bicause that I am well assured, that it is

Angelica alone which hath kindled the flame of desire, and hath

caused you to loue that which your predecessours haue deadly

hated, that same sparke of knowledge, whych our misery could not

quench with all his force, hath made the way and shewed the path

whereby we shall auoide the name of ingrate and forgetfull

persons, and that same which hath made you lyberall towards me,

shalbe bountifully bestowed vpon you. It is Angelica sir, which

you see present heere, who to discharge my band, hath willingly

rendred to be your owne, submittinge hir selfe to your good

wyll, for euer to be youres. And I which am hir brother, and

haue receiued that great good wyll of hir, as in my power to

haue hir wyl, do present the same, and leaue hir in your hands,

to vse as you would your owne, praying you to accept the same,

and to consider whose is the gift, and from whence it commeth,

and how it ought to be regarded." When he had sayd so, Montanine

rose vp, and without further talke, went home vnto his house. If

Anselmo were abashed at the Montanines arriuall, and astonned at

the Oration of Charles, his sodain departure was more to be

maruelled at, and therwithal to see the effect of a thing which

he neuer hoped, nor thought vpon. He was exceding glad and

ioyfull to see himself in the company of hir, whome he desired

aboue al things of the world, but sory to see hir heauy and

sorrowful for sutch chaunce. He supposed hir being ther, to

procede rather of the yong man's good and gentle Nature, than of

the Maiden's will and lykynge. For whych cause taking hir by the

hand, and holding hir betwene hys armes, he vsed these or sutch

lyke words: "Gentlewoman, if euer I had felt and knowne with

what Wing the variety and lyghtnesse of worldly thynges do flye,

and the gaynes of inconstant fortune, at this present I haue

seen one of the most manifest profes which seemeth to me so

straunge, as almost I dare not beeleue that I see before myne

Eyes. I know well that it is for you, and for the seruice that I

beare you, that I haue broken the effect of that hatred, whych

by inheritaunce I haue receiued against your House, and for that

deuotion haue deliuered your Brother. But I see that Fortune

wyll not let mee to haue the vpper hand, to bee the Conquerer of

hir sodaine pangs. But you your self shall see, and euery man

shall know that my heart is none other than noble, and my

deuises tend, but to the exploit of all vertue and Gentlenesse:

wherefore I pray you (sayd he, kissing hir louingly) be not sad,

and doubt not that your seruaunt is any other now, hauing you in

his power, than he was when he durst not dyscouer the ardent

Loue that vexed him, and held him in feeble state, ful of desire

and thought: you also may bee sure, that he hath not had the

better hande ouer me, ne yet for his curtesy hath obteined

victory, nor you for obeying him. For sith that you be myne, and

for sutch yelded and giuen to me, I wyl keepe you, as hir whome

I loue and esteme aboue al things of the World, makyng you my

Companion and the onely mistresse of my goodes heart, and wyll.

Thinke not that I am the Fryend of Fortune, and practise

pleasure alone without vertue. It is modesty which commaundeth

me, and honesty is the guide of my conceipts. Assure you then,

and repose your comfort on mee: for none other than Angelica

Montanine shall be the wyfe of Anselmo Salimbene: and during my

life, I wyll bee the Fryend, the defender and supporter of your

house." At these good Newes, the drousie and wandryng Spirite of

the fayre Siena mayd awaked, who endyng hir teares and appeasing

hir sorrow, rose vp, and made a very lowe reuerence vnto hir

curteous fryend, thanking hym for hys greate and incomparable

liberalitye, promising all seruice, duetie, and Amitye, that a

Gentlewoman ought to beare vnto him, whom God hath reserued for

hir Spouse and husband. After an infinite number of honest

imbracements and pleasaunte kisses giuen and receiued on both

partes, Anselmo called vnto him one of his Auntes that dwelled

within him, to whome he deliuered his new Conquest to keepe,

and spedily without delay he sent for the next of his Kinne and

dearest friends: and being come, he intreated them to kepe him

company, in a very vrgent and weighty businesse he had to do,

wherein if they shewed themselues dilygent in his request,

doubtful it is not, but he addressed speede for accomplishment

of his Enterpryse. Then causyng hys Aunte and welbeloued

Angelica to come forth, he carryed them (not without their great

admiration) to the pallace of Montanine, whither being arryued:

he and hys Companie were well intertayned of the sayd Montanine,

the Brother of fayre Angelica. When they were in the Hall,

Salimbene sayd to hys Brother in law that should be: "Senio

Montanine, it is not long sithens, that you in company of my

faire Gentlewoman heere, came home to speake wyth mee, desirous

to haue no man priuy to the effect of your conference. But I am

come to you with this troupe to disclose my minde before you al,

and to manifeste what I purpose to doe, to the intente the whole

World may know your good and honest Nature, and vnderstand how I

can be requited on them, which indeuor to gratifie me in any

thing." Hauing said so, and euery man being set down he turned

his talk to the rest of the company in thys wise: "I doubt not

my friends and Noble Dames, but that ye mutch muse and maruell

to see me in this house so late, and in your company, and am

sure, that a great desire moueth your minds to know for what

purpose, the cause, and why I haue gathered this assemblie in a

time vnlooked for, and in place where none of our race and kinne

of long time did enter, and lesse did meane to make hither their

repaire. But when you doe consider what vertue and goodnesse

resteth in the heartes of those men, that shunne and auoide the

brutyshnesse of Minde, to followe the reasonable part, and which

proprely is called Spirituall, you shall thereby perceiue, that

when Gentle kynde and Noble Heart, by the great mistresse dame

Nature be gryfted in the myndes of Men, they cease not to make

appeare the effect of their doings, sometyme producing one

vertue, sometimes another, which cease not to cause the fruicte

of sutch industry both to blome and beare: In sutch wyse, as the

more those vertuous actes and commendable workes, do appeare

abroade, the greater dyligence is imployed to searche the matter

wherein she can cause to appeare the force of vertue and

excellency, conceiuing singular delyghte in that hir good and

holy delyuery, which bryngeth forth a fruict worthy of sutch a

stocke. And that force of mind and Generosity of Noble Heart is

so firme and sure in operation, as although humane thinges be

vnstable and subiect to chaung, yet they cannot be seuered or

disparcled. And although it be the Butte and white, whereat

fortune dischargeth al hir dartes and shaftes, threatning

shooting and assayling the same round, yet it continueth stable

and firme like a Rocke and Clyffe beaten wyth the vyolent fury

of waues rising by wind or tempest. Whereby it chaunceth, that

riches and dignity can no more aduaunce the heart of a slaue and

villaine, than pouerty make vile and abase the greatnesse of

courage in them that be procreated of other stuffe than of

common sorte, whych daily keepe the maiesty of their oryginall,

and lyve after the instincte of good and Noble Bloude, wherewith

their auncesters were made Noble, and sucked the same vertue

oute of the Teates of Noursses Breasses, who in the myddes of

troublesome trauayles of Fortune that doe assayle them, and

depresse theyr modesty, their face and Countenaunce, and theyr

factes full well declare theyr condition, and to doe to

vnderstande, that vnder sutch a Misery, a Mynde is hydde which

deserueth greater Guerdon than the eigre taste of Calamitye. In

that dyd glowe and shyne the Youthe of the Persian and Median

Monarch, beynge nourssed amonges the stalles and Stables of hys

Grandfather, and the gentle kind of the founder of stately Rome

sockeled in the Shepecoates of Prynces sheepehierds. Thus mutch

haue I sayd, my good lords and dames, in consideration of the

noble corage and gentle minde of Charles Montanine, and of his

sister, who without preiudice to any other I dare to say, is the

paragon and mirrour of all chast and curteous maidens, well

trayned vp, amonges the whole Troupe of those that lyue thys day

in Siena, who beeyng brought to the ende and last poynt of their

ruine, as euery of you doth knowe, and theyr race so sore

decayed as there remayneth but the onely Name of Montanine:

notwythstanding they neuer lost the heart, desire, ne yet the

effect of the curtesy, and naturall bounty, whych euer doth

accompany the mynd of those that be Noble in deede. Whych is the

cause that I am constrayned to accuse our Auncesters, of to

mutch cruelty, and of the lyttle respecte whych for a

controuersye occured by chaunce, haue pursued them with sutch

mortall reuenge, as without ceasing, with all their force, they

haue assayed to ruinate, abolyshe, and for euer adnichilate that

a ryghte Noble and illustre race of the Montanines, amongs whome

if neuer any goodnesse appeared to the Worlde, but the Honesty,

Gentlenesse, Curtesy and vertuous maners of these twayne here

presente, the Brother and sister, yet they ought to be accompted

amonges the ranke of the Noblest and chiefest of our City, to

the intent in time to come it may not be reported, that wee haue

esteemed and chearyshed Riches and drossie mucke, more than

vertue and modesty. But imitating those excellent gouerners of

Italy, whych held the Romane Empire, let vs rather reuerence the

Vertuous Poore, than prayse or pryse the Rich, gyuen to vice and

wickednesse. And for so mutch as I do see you all to be desirous

to knowe the cause and argument, whych maketh me to vse this

talke, and forceth mee to prayse the curtesy and goodnesse of

the Montanines, pleaseth you to stay a lyttle with pacience,

and not think the tyme tedyous, I meane to declare the same.

Playnely to confesse vnto you (for that it is no cryme of Death,

or heinous offence) the gyfts of nature, the Beauty and

comelynesse of fayre Angelica heere present, haue so captiuate

my Mind, and depriued my heart of Lyberty, as Night and Day

trauailing how I might discouer vnto hir my martirdom, I did

consume in sutch wyse, as losing lust of slepe and meate,

I feared ere long to be either dead of sorrow or estranged of my

right wits, seing no meanes how I might auoide the same, bicause

our two houses and Families were at contynuall debate: and

albeit conflicts were ceased, and quarelles forgotten, yet there

rested (as I thought) a certaine desire both in the one and the

other of offence, when time and occasion did serue. And yet mine

affection for all that was not decreased, but rather more

tormented, and my gryefe increased, hopelesse of help, which now

is chaunced to me as you shall heare. You do know, and so do all

men, howe wythin these fewe dayes past, the Lord Montanine here

present, was accused before the Seniorie, for trespasses against

the statutes and Edicts of the same, and being Prysoner, hauing

not wherewith to satisfie the condempnation, the Law affirmed

that his life should recompence and supply default of Money.

I not able to suffer the want of hym, which is the brother of

the dearest thing I esteeme in the Worlde, and hauing not hir in

possession, nor lyke without him to attayne hir, payed that

Summe, and delyuered hym. He, by what meanes I know not, or how

he coniectured the beneuolence of my deede, thynking that it

proceeded of the honest Loue and affection which I bare to

gracious and amiable Angelica, wel consideryng of my curtesy,

hath ouercome me in prodigalitye, he this Nyght came vnto mee,

with his sister my mistresse, yelding hir my slaue and

Bondwoman, leauyng hir with me, to doe with hir as I would with

any thing I had. Behold my good Lordes, and yee Noble Ladies and

cosins, and consider how I may recompence this Benefit, and be

able to satisfie a present so precious, and of sutch Value and

regard as both of them be, sutch as a right puissant prince and

Lord may be contented wyth, a duety so Liberall and Iewell

inestymable of two offered thynges." The assistants that were

there, could not tell what to say, the discourse had so mutch

drawne their myndes into dyuers fantasies and contrary opinions,

seing that the same requyred by deliberation to be considered,

before lightly they vttred their mindes. But they knew not the

intent of him, which had called them thither, more to testify

his fact, than to iudge of the thing he went about, or able to

hinder and let the same. True it is, that the ladies viewing and

marking the amiable countenance of the Montanine Damsell, woulde

haue iudged for hir, if they feared not to bee refused of hym,

whome the thing did touche most neere. Who without longer staye,

opened to them al, what he was purposed to do, saying: "Sith ye

do spende time so long vpon a matter already meant and

determyned, I wyll ye to knowe, that hauing regard of mine

honour, and desirous to satisfie the honesty of the Brother and

sister, I mynde to take Angelica to my wyfe and lawfull spouse,

vniting that whych so long tyme hath bene deuyded, and making

into two bodyes, whilom not well accorded and agreed, one like

and vniforme wyll, praying you ech one, ioyfully to ioy with me,

and your selues to reioyse in that alliaunce, whych seemeth

rather a worke from Heauen, than a deede concluded by the

Counsell and industrie of Men. So lykewyse all wedded feeres in

holy Wedlocke (by reason of the effect and the Author of the

same, euen God himselfe, whych dyd ordayne it firste) bee

wrytten in the infallible booke of hys owne prescience, to the

intent that nothing may decay, whych is sustayned wyth the

mighty hand of that Almyghty God, the God of wonders, which

verily hee hath displayed ouer thee (deare Brother) by makynge

thee to fall into distresse and daunger of death, that myne

Angelica, beeing the meane of thy delyueraunce, myght also bee

cause of the attonement which I doe hope henceforth shall bee,

betwene so Noble houses as ours be." Thys finall decree reueled

in open audience, as it was, against their expectation, and the

ende that the kindred of Anselmo looked for, so was the same no

lesse straunge and bashfull, as ioyful and pleasaunt, feeling a

sodain ioy, not accustomed in theyr mynde, for that vnion and

allyaunce. And albeit that their ryches was vnequall, and the

dowry of Angelica nothyng neare the great wealth of Salimbene,

yet all Men dyd deeme him happy, that hee had chaunced vpon so

vertuous a maiden, the onely Modestie and Integritie of whome,

deserued to bee coupled wyth the most honourable. For when a man

hath respecte onely to the beauty or Riches of hir, whome he

meaneth to take to Wyfe, hee moste commonly doth incurre the

Mischiefe, that the Spyrite of dyssention intermeddleth amyd

theyr household, whereby Pleasuere vanishing wyth Age, maketh

the riueled Face (beset wyth a Thousand wrynkeled furrowes) to

growe pale and drye. The Wyfe lykewyse when she seeth her goodes

to surmount the substance of hir wedded Husband, she aduaunceth

hir hearte, she swelleth wyth pryde, indeuoryng the vpper hand

and souerainty in all thyngs, whereupon it riseth, that of two

frayle and transitorie things, the building which hath so fyckle

foundation, can not indure, man being borne to commaund, and can

not abyde a mayster ouer hym, beyng the chyefe and Lord of hys

Wyfe. Now Salimbene, to perfourme the effect of hys curtesie,

gaue his fayre Wife the moytie of his Lands and goods, in

fauoure of the Mariage, adopting by that meanes, Montanine to

bee his Brother, appointing hym to be heyre of all hys goodes in

case he deceased wythout heyres of his Body. And if GOD did send

hym Children, he instituted him to bee the heyre of the other

halfe, which rested by hys donation to Angelica his new espouse:

Whom he maried solempnely the Sunday folowing, to the great

contentation and maruell of the whole City, which long time was

afflicted by the ciuile dissentions of those two houses. But

what? Sutch be the varieties of worldly successe, and sutch is

the mischiefe amongs men, that the same which honesty hath no

power to winne, is surmounted by the disgrace and misfortune of

wretched time. I neede not to alleage here those amongs the

Romanes, which from great hatred and malice were reconciled with

the indissoluble knot of Amity; forsomutch as the dignyties and

Honoures of theyr Citty prouoked one to flatter and fawne vpon

an other for particular profit, and not one of them attained to

sutch excellencie and renoume, as the foresayd did, one of whome

was vanquyshed with the fire of an amorous passion, whych

forcyng nature hir selfe, brought that to passe, which could

neuer haue bene thoughte or imagyned. And yet Men wyll accuse

loue, and painte hir in the Colours of foolysh Furye and raging

Madnesse. No, no, Loue in a gentle heart is the true subiect and

substance of Vertue, Curtesy, and Modest Manners, expellynge all

Cruelty and Vengeance, and nourishyng peace amongs men. But if

any do violate and prophane the holy Lawes of Loue, and peruert

that which is Vertuous, the faulte is not in that holye Saincte

but in hym whych foloweth it wythout skyll, and knoweth not the

perfection. As hapneth in euery operation, that of it selfe is

honest, although defamed by those, who thinking to vse it, doe

filthily abuse the same, and cause the grosse and ignoraunte to

condempne that is good, for the folye of sutch inconstant

fooles: In the other is painted a heart so voyde of the blody

and abhominable sinne of Ingratitude, as if death had ben the

true remedy and meane to satisfie his band and duety, he would

haue made no conscience to offer himselfe frankly and freely to

the dreadful passage of the same. You see what is the force of a

gentle heart wel trained vp, that would not be vanquished in

curtesye and Lyberality. I make you to be iudges, (I meane you)

that be conuersant in loue's causes, and that with a Iudgement

passionlesse, voide of parciality doe dyscourse vppon the factes

and occurrentes that chaunce to men. I make you (I saye) iudges

to gyue sentence, whether of three caried away the pryse, and

most bound his companion by lyberall acte, and curtesie not

forced. You see a mortall enimy sorrow for the misery of his

aduersary, but solycited therunto by the ineuitable force of

Loue. The other marcheth with the glory of a present so rare and

exquisite, as a great Monarch would haue accompted it for

singuler fauor and prodigality. The maiden steppeth forth to

make the third in ranke, wyth a loue so stayed and charity

wonderfull towards hir brother, as being nothynge assured

whether he to whome she offered hir selfe were so Moderate, as

Curteous, she yeldeth hir selfe to the losse of hir chastity.

The first assayeth to make himselfe a conquerour by mariage, but

she diminishyng no iote of hir Noble mind, he must seeke else

where hys pryse of victory. To hir a desyre to kyll hir selfe

(if thinges succeeded contrary to hir minde) myght haue stopped

the way to hir great glory, had she not regarded hir virginity,

more than hir own Lyfe. The second seemeth to go half

constrained, and by maner of acquitall, and had hys affectyon

bene to render hymselfe Slaue to hys Foe, hys Patron and

preseruer, it would haue diminished his prayse. But sithens

inough wee haue hereof dyscoursed, and bene large in treatie of

Tragicomicall matters, intermyxed and suaged (in some parte)

wyth the Enteruiewes of dolor, modesty, and indifferente good

hap, and in some wholly imparted the dreadfull endes like to

terrible beginnings, I meane for a reliefe, and after sutch

sowre sweete bankets, to interlarde a licorous refection for

sweeting the mouthes of the delicate: And do purpose in this

Nouell insuing, to manifest a pleasaunt disport betweene a Wydow

and a Scholler, a passing Practise of a crafty Dame, not well

schooled in the discipline of Academicall rules, a surmountinge

science to trade the nouices of that forme, by ware foresight,

to incountre those that by laborsome trauayle and nightly watch,

haue studied the rare knowledge of Mathematicalles, and other

hidden and secrete Artes. Wishing them so well to beware, as I

am desirous to let them know by this rudiment, the successe of

sutch attemptes.