"In a little town not far from this great city, there was a
gentleman named Telemachus married with a fair lady, not so chaste
as the Roman Lucretia although she carried her name; the report was,
that this marriage was made against her wishes, and it is likely to
be true, as by the effects it was afterwards witnessed: her
melancholy increased, her beauty and clothes neglected, did show a
languishment, as roses, when the radical moisture of their boughs
decreases. Telemachus did force himself to divert her from this sad
kind of neglect, least it might seem unto some which should see her,
that this sadness proceeded from his default, for oftentimes
innocent husbands are accused for their wives' evil conditions. He
apparelled her richly, allowed her to solace and recreate herself at
sea, and carried her to see the choicest gardens. And this being not
sufficient he opened his house to all good company. Amongst the
young knights which did ordinarily frequent and converse with them,
there was one called Mireno, so much my friend, that if death had
not set a difference between us, I could not have been persuaded (he
being alive) to discern which of us two had been myself. This man
cast his eyes (until this time busied in the consideration of
another's beauty) upon Telemachus' fair wife; who looking upon him
more earnestly than upon any other, had (it may be) incited him: for
although it be said that love can pierce as a spirit, into the most
close and secret places: yet I do think it impossible, that any man
should love, if he be not at the first obliged thereunto by some
little hope. He concealed from me the beginning of his thought: for
love is always borne discreetly, and dumb as a child. But the same
sweetness of its conversation doth so quickly teach it to speak,
that like a prisoner at the bar he oftentimes cast himself away by
his own tongue. So after he saw himself admitted in Lucretia's eyes
(an evident index that he was already in her soul) not being able to
suffer the glory of that whereof he easily endured the pain; he made
unto me a great discourse of his fortune, or to say truer, of his
folly; which could not have been hurtful unto him, if he had
followed my advice as well as he asked it. But it is ordinary,
especially with those who are in love, to ask counsel, then when as
for nothing in the world they would forbear to do that which they
have in their mind. There was no history, either divine or human,
which was within my knowledge and to the purpose, that I did not lay
before him, exaggerating the evils which did proceed from like
enterprises. But Mireno who had already firmly determined to follow
his purpose, and thinking that I was not apt for his design, by
little and little, forbore to visit me. Quickly did he forbear to
accompany me in walking: we went no more by day to public
conversations, nor by night to private; A notable error in the
condition of men, whose loves and friendships are kept by flattery,
and lost by truth. I did bear Mireno's absence with great
impatience, and he had no feeling of his living without me; because
Lucretia being now his whole soul, could not suffer that he should
have another Mireno: having thus shaken me off, communicated his
business with a third, who was so common a friend unto us both, that
when I wanted Mireno, or Mireno wanted me, we did seek one the other
at his house. This man was not so considerate as I was, contrariwise
there was no kind of danger, into which he would not precipitate
himself to pleasure his friend; such friends are like powder on
festival days, which to rejoice others spendeth itself. This made me
disguise myself to follow them in the night; and one time above the
rest, when I had more patience, and they less consideration than the
ordinary, I saw how they set a ladder to a window of a tower, which
revealed a spacious prospect towards the sea, over a garden of
Telemachus: I stayed to the end, not to discover what they did, but
to see if I could serve in any stead in the importance of this
danger, and my heart did not deceive me, although Mireno who was
within it did deceive me. For after the first sleep, then when as
with less force he vanquisheth the cares of a master of a family, I
heard a noise, and presently I saw Mireno coming down the ladder,
and Aurelio (for so was he called with whom he was accompanied)
receiving him in his arms, and persuading him to fly: hardly were
they out of the street, when a servant loosing the ladder let it
fall. I ran to the fall thereof, and as well as I could gathering it
up, stepped behind a corner, from whence I espied Telemachus in his
shirt, having his sword naked in one hand, and a candle in the
other: and looking out from the window of the tower if he could
discern anything upon the ground, of that which he had heard: I
crept softly to the gate; and hearkening what was said in this
family where there was this alarm, I understood that the disgrace of
our two lovers, was taken to be the industry of robbers. In this
they were not deceived, for those are no small thieves, who steal
good name and rob away honour: I returned a little more contented to
my house, but slept but badly, in this care. The morning being come
I sent for Mireno, with whom having discoursed of divers matters, I
asked what news of Lucretia? He told me he did not speak with her:
for all wicked secrets do for the most part conceal themselves from
true friends. I said then unto him, that I wondered he would
dissemble a thing so known; Telemachus her husband being come unto
my house, to tell me that he had heard him within his; that looking
out of a window of a tower, he had seen him go down by a ladder:
Mireno astonished and wondering at my revelation, confessed unto me
what had passed, and how Lucretia having yielded to his letters,
messages, and services had made him master of her liberty, yielding
unto him the treasure which was so fiercely guarded by Telemachus'
hundred eyes. Which was the reason why I placed this hieroglyphic of
Argus and Mercury, with the epigram:
Subtle love deceiveth jealousy.
He proceeded to tell me that when Telemachus was asleep, they talked
together in a garden, into which he entered by a ladder made of
cords, which Aurelio kept, unto whom only he had imparted this
secret, having found me so averse from succouring him. I asked what
he had done with the ladder? He told me that from the leaving of
that proceeded Telemachus' advertisement. I told him that Telemachus
knew nothing, neither had the ladder served as an occasion to
discover anything unto him: and letting him see the service which I
had done him, I did begin to conjure him, that he would abandon the
perilous success which he ought to expect from the pursuit of this
design, seeing that Telemachus at the least had notice that his wife
was not by his side when there was noise in the lodging. So that he
promised me, he would not go any more thither, and the more to
divert him from going thither, he resolved to absent himself from
Barcelona. I confirmed him in this resolution; because that truly
there is nothing which so much eclipseth the desire of lovers, as an
interposed distance of place between them; yet it was not needful,
because by the time Mireno disposed himself to depart, Telemachus
had already changed his dwelling from this city unto the little
place where he was married; and this was a memorable observation,
Mireno losing the repeated view of his Lucretia, lost her also out
of his thought, and confirmed his love better than ever to Erisila,
(she was that other lady whom I in the beginning of my discourse I
said he had loved) who again loved him better and with more pleasure
than before, because that love which succeedeth after jealousy is
more violent. Besides, the amiable parts which were in Mireno, who
was of a goodly stature, of great spirit, and an illustrious blood,
of a free condition, amiable both on horseback, and on foot, and
renowned beyond all of his age, for all military exercise; as for
his face, behold this picture, wherein I assure you, the painter was
no flatterer; I keep it here for my comfort, although it be always
present in my soul, as you may judge by the words written:
Before my eyes in a dream, sad Hector did appear.
Because truly his image did never abandon my sight, but either
sleeping or waking he was represented to my eyes: in effect we fell
into our old inwardness; but in the midst of this peace, the wife of
Telemachus had so much power over him, that vanquished with her
prayers, he brought her again to Barcelona, where she was no sooner
seen by Mireno, but the ancient flames of his love, blowing away the
ashes into the wind, revealed themselves more lively: and I fearing
what might happen by this coming back of Lucretia, persuaded Mireno
to marry. He himself finding that it was the honorablest, the
easiest and the safest way to distance himself from these loves,
entreated me to find out some worthy subject, who might set a bound
unto his affections: I propounded many who I thought were of his
quality, although not of his merit; but it was with him as with
those who buy without pleasure, and do not content themselves with
any price; for some are too high, others too low: these black, those
pale; one lean, the other too fat; this was too fine, another too
sluttish: in short, seeing that he liked none of those, and would
not marry, I left him, for I saw that Lucretia had more power with
him than all the others together. They then began to see one another
again, for in these good works, mediators are seldom wanting:
Erisila who was passionately in love with Mireno, began to discern
in him a coldness and a carelessness in seeing her, and that he did
divert himself by other pleasures. She (in this suspicion, which may
be called a true jealousy) began to observe and follow him; so that
without spoiling much, she knew, if not all that passed, at the
least what was the subject which ravished away her Mireno.
Who will believe so extraordinary a conceit as I shall tell you?
Truly he only, who doth know how much the spirit of a woman is
disposed (especially if she is in love) to any kind of industry and
subtility: Erisila never left seeking occasion that Telemachus
should see her, until in the end Telemachus did behold her, and in
viewing Erisila, he saw in her a brave disposition of a woman, who
looked upon him with fair and sweet eyes; for when they will
deceive, they make their eyes snares, and their sweetnesses baits:
Telemachus yielded himself (although he loved Lucretia) forced by
the eyes and beauty of Erisila, which did so much the more provoke
him, by how much she desired to deceive him: he began to come to her
house, and she to feign a great deal of passion, Mireno giving them
leisure enough, as he did not frequent her house as he was
accustomed. Finally their affection came to the point that Erisila
desired. Then she said unto him one day (as if she had not known him
to be married, which he dissembled also) that she had seen him enter
into one Lucretia's house, whereat she had conceived great jealousy.
Telemachus smiling, began to appease her saying, that it was without
any design that he had entered into this house (whereof indeed he
was master) and as she began to witness a more feeling sorrow,
accompanied with false tears; he began to remonstrate that Lucretia
was virtuous and well born; with a great many other commendations of
her chastity, and of Telemachus her husband's care (commending
himself). And some are of the opinion that self-commending is not
unbeseeming, when it importeth the good opinion of another man.
Erisila then finding a good occasion for her wicked design, told him
that Lucretia's husband might be a gallant man, yet nevertheless she
knew that Lucretia did not forbear to make love unto a knight of the
city; and she was afraid that she might as well love him as the
other: because whatsoever woman she be, she doth easily suffer
herself to be won, after the first lightness: Telemachus who began
to wax so pale that it was easily seen in his face, what interest he
had in this discourse; entreated her to discover who was this
knight: but she feigning to be jealous of him, whom she did
endeavour to make so jealous, enforceth her complaints, persuading
him that she was troubled with that jealousy which indeed she had
raised in him. In short, Erisila was unwilling to name who it was;
Telemachus suddenly stepped to her, and drawing his dagger, setting
it to her throat made her utter the name of Mireno, a person whom he
knew better then she: with this Telemachus went away, confessing it
was true that he had loved Lucretia, not knowing she had another
lover; but now from this time forward he would hate her, and would
settle all his affection upon her, in confirmation of which, he gave
her a chain of gold, and a diamond.
By this means, Erisila thought that the husband would keep his
house, and that Mireno (by this means barred from seeing Lucretia)
would come to visit her as he was accustomed. But the knight, whom
it concerned to wipe away this spot from his honour by the blood of
he who had offended him, seeing it was now no longer time to keep
that which was lost, feigning a few days after to go to Montserrat,
gave a beginning to his revenge, and an end unto my life. The two
lovers were not so besotted, nor I such a fool, that we did not
think (although we were ignorant of Erisila's malice) that this
absence might be feigned; having had so many examples in the world;
wherefore we sent our faithful friend Aurelio secretly after him.
But the advised Telemachus, who knew well that he was not to deceive
fools, feigning that he went to Valencia, returned when he was
halfway, and hid himself in Barcelona.
Now Mireno could not spend the night so assured with Lucretia but
that I kept the door, although he did entreat me not to do it; God
knoweth how many nights I passed without pleasure; for my heart did
always tell me that their two lives did run a dangerous fortune. But
Telemachus the third night after entering by a secret door into the
garden (as I spoke of unto you) without being heard or seen by any
person, with only one servant with him, who carried a halberd, came
unto the chamber where his steps were heard, and out of which Mireno
came to meet him, very evil provided of arms to defend himself, not
that I doubt he would not have well defended himself, half asleep
and naked as he was, with his sword alone which he had in his hand:
If his adversary, who was accommodated with more advantageous arms,
had not overthrown him dead to the ground with an arquebus shot: the
report of the piece, made me judge that such a salutation at that
time of the night, was rather a condemnation, than anything else:
wherefore endeavouring to break open the doors, I waked the
neighbours, some of whom running thither with their arms, and having
helped me to overthrow the doors, we entered in. Already had
Telemachus broken into his cabin, where Lucretia was hid, and
dragging her from thence, not far from the place where Mireno lay,
he thrust his sword into her, so that as we arrived, her breath went
away with a last Jesu. And as he had already killed Mireno,
methought Scaliger's verse, which is under this picture was not
unapt:
Was it not enough to kill and vanquish men?
I had not as yet seen Mireno, and searching him with mine eyes all
about the room, I saw him lying dead: thou may see in the tears
which now flow from my eyes, what was then my grief, I do not know
what I did, yet seeking for Telemachus, I did excuse him for the
care of defending himself; and from justifying so bloody an
execution: for having met face to face, I thrust at him, with which
thrust, he accompanied their two lives, which he had extinguished.
By this time the house was beset by those whom the Justice had
raised, who apprehended as many as they found, and me especially,
for having killed Telemachus without cause, although according to
the laws of the world there was but too much cause, and here they
put me where thou now see me, and where I have lived this five
years, desiring death, as thou may see by this winged heart of mine
flying after this image of dead Mireno; with these words out of
Virgil:
My Pallas dead, I bide alive by force.
My travels are figured in those of Sisyphus, and Titius, and
represented by these words out of Ovid:
O wretched state, constrain'd to live In plaints eternally: When
Death which only help can give, Affords no power to die.
The sorrow which this great city felt by the loss of Mireno is
expressed in this figure of the head and heart of Orpheus, with
these words:
There wept the Woods, the Beasts, and the Serpents.
For I do not think that there was either tree or stone which were
not moved with this so pitiful an accident. And here will I end his
story, with these tears which I will offer incessantly to his
memory, and these words which I have made for Lucretia's tomb:
Here lieth Lucretia, less chaste than the Roman, but more fair:
Tarquin did not force her, but love; and although she died for her
infidelity, love, who was the cause, has the power to excuse her.
So the faire Lucretia remained in mortal rest, and her name, in my
imagination, is not worthy of blame: for having been overcome by the
excellent parts of her lover, and by that unchangeable force which
love ever useth against great and free courages."
The pilgrim's imprisonment had not passed at so easy a rate of his
patience, had not Everard (so was the knight called that made this
discourse) favoured his affairs: for his innocence could not gain
him his liberty, nor good opinion, which he did deserve; so powerful
was his only habit, to work in the judges an evil conceit of his
person; yet Doricles (captain of those robbers) being pardoned, and
received again into the city's favour; the pilgrim was also
absolved, as were his confederates.
His curiosity to hear the fisherman's singing having brought him to
receive a hurt in his arm with a piece, into an extreme danger of
hanging, unto three months imprisonment, which without the help of
Everard had been insupportable. They took their leaves one of
another, with a thousand loving embraces, and Everard having further
obliged him with some money, he resolved to go to Montserrat, and I
to finish this First Book.
The end of the First Book.