When Mayster Philippo had written out these verses, immediately he returned to the court, and caused Madona Paolo, to be called vnto him by one of the Gromes of the Chamber, to whom he sayd: "Maystresse Paola, I haue brought you a ditty, that is very trim and prety, which I pray you deliuer to the Queene, and I will do what I can to get other." Maistresse Paola tooke them, and went into the chamber, and findinge the Queene alone, sayd to hir: "Madame, this morninge yee commaunded me to get you some Italian Rithmes, and vpon inquirie I haue receyued these few verses of mayster Philippo, secretary to the Lord Andrea Borgo, who hath promised to bring me other." The Queene hearing hir speake those words, smilinge receiued the Paper, and read the same: the sense whereof she liked very well, thinking that mayster Philippo had bene the compositor of the same, and that of purpose he had made them for hir, whereby shee was out of doubt that it was shee that mayster Philippo so feruently loued, and the better hir opinion was confirmed, bicause some of the words tended to the state of hir personage. And considering the valor of hys minde, she praysed Nature, for that in a man so basely borne shee had sowen the seeds of a gentlemanlike and n.o.ble heart, greatly to hir selfe commendynge the yong man. Then she conferred the whole matter wyth hir Coosin Queene Marie: which was a wyse and comely Ladye, and vpon that loue they vsed many discourses, more and more hauing in regard the behauiour of that yong Gentleman.
Queene Anne determined, when conueniently shee might, to rendre to mayster Philippo, for his great loue condigne rewarde: and studying still how to requite his curtesie, euer when she saw maister Philippo, shee vsed him with her wonted chere and grateful salutation (which thinge onely euery honest gentleman ought to expect that is indued wyth reason at the hands of a pryncesse so n.o.ble and worthy, as a reward sufficient, the inequality of the parties considered.) Whereof mayster Philippo was the best contented man of the world, and durst not hope for greater guerdon, continuing his wonted lyfe fed hym self stil with that beloued sight, in sutch wyse as many Gentlemen enuied the fauor borne vnto him by the Queene, who for none other cause did vse that curtesy, but for that she saw him to be Vertuous and well learned: continually esteemyng sutch as wyth learning or other gyftes of the mynd were indewed: and when occasion chaunced, shee vouchesafed to bestowe vpon them curteous intertaynment and lyberall rewardes. It fortuned about that time that the Emperor Maximilian died, Charles his nephew (which was the Emperor Charles, the fifth,) then beyng in Spayne, by reason of whose death the Lord Andrea Borgo, purposed to send one of hys Gentlemen to kyng Charles, for the confirmation of that lyuing he enioyed, giuen vnto him for his long and faythfull seruyce by the said Maximilian. Amongst al he chose this maister Philippo, for his wisdome and experience in sutch affayres.
Which don, he went to the Queenes, and gaue them to vnderstand that shortely he would send his Secretarie into Spayne, and told them the cause, humbly praying them both, that they would write their fauorable letters in his behalf. The Queenes knowing what payne and trauell hee had sustayned in the seruice of Maximilian, and what daungers he had pa.s.sed, were very willing therunto. Now Queene Anne remembred that she had conuenient time to recompence maister Philippo for hys long loue born vnto hir: and bicause she was the most curteous Lady of the world, and therwithal most bountifull and liberal, and not onely with comely talke and gesture: but also in effecte willing to do them good, whome she honoured in minde, concluded what to do, requiring the Lord Andrea to send his Secretarie vnto hir, when he was ready to depart, for that besides Letters, she woulde by mouth commit certain businesse for hir to do in the Courte of Spayne. When the Lord Andrea was gone, Queene Anne began to deuise with the other Queene what she mighte doe for mayster Philippo, who prayed Queene Anne, after she had commended him in letters, to suffer hir to make the ende and conclusion of the same. Whereupon both the Queenes wrote many letters into Spayne, to king Charles, and to the Lord Chancellour and other n.o.ble men, whome they thought to bee apte and mete ministers to bring the effect of their letters to pa.s.se. When the Lord Andrea had put all thinges in order for that dispatch, he sayd to mayster Philippo, (which was now furnished with all thyngs necessary and apertinent for that long voyage:) "Philippo, remembre this day that you goe to Quene Anne, and tell her, that I require you to come vnto hir, to know if she would commaund you any seruice to the Catholike Kynge, where you shall humbly offer your seruice, in what it pleaseth hir to commaunde: you shall also tel hir what things I haue gyuen vnto you in charge by speciall commission." Neuer could more pleasant talke found into the eares of maister Philippo, than this, who for that he should bothe see and speake vnto his Lady before his departure, and for that she would commit vnto him the doing of hir affayres in Spayne, was the gladdest and best contented man of the world.
The houre come when he thought good to repayre to the Queene, he went vnto hir, and gaue hir to vnderstand by one of the priuy Chamber, that he was attendant there to know hir pleasure. The Quene certyfied of his readinesse to depart, by and by toke order that he should come into hir chambre, who entring the same with trembling heart, and after he had done hys humble reuerence, with great feare and bashfulnesse, said: "Pleaseth your Maiesty, that my Lorde Borgo, being about to addresse mee hys Secretarie into Spayne, to the Catholike King there, hath commaunded me to wayte vpon your hyghnesse, to knowe your pleasure for certain affayres to be don for your maiesty: Wherfore may it please the same to employ mee, your humble seruaunte, I shall thinke my self the happiest man of the world: A thing so blessed and ioyfull vnto me, as no benefite or commoditie can render vnto me greater felicitie." Then he dysclosed vnto her thee rest of his message, which was committed vnto hym by his lord and maister. The Queene beholding hym wyth mery countenaunce gently sayd vnto hym: "And we for the trust we haue in you to do our message and other affayres in Spayne, haue requyred you to come hither: And bycause we knowyng you to be a Gentleman, and a.s.sured that you wyll gladly do your endeuour in any thing that may do vs pleasure, haue chosen you aboue any other. Our wyl and commaundement is, that fyrst you delyuer these letters, conteining matters of great importance to the hands of the catholike King, and that you do our humble commendations to his maiesty. Then al the rest accordingly as they be directed, which princ.i.p.ally aboue other things we pray you to dispatch vpon your arriuall: And if we bee able to do you any pleasure, eyther for your preferment, or for other commodity, spare not to write vnto vs your mynd, and (we doe a.s.sure you) the same shalbe efectually accomplyshed, to the vttermoste of our indeuour, whych we do of our owne motion frankely offre vnto you, in consideration of the fidelitie, worthinesse, and honeste behauiour alwayes knowen to be in you."
Mayster Philippo hearynge these wordes was replenyshed with sutch ioy, as he thought hymselfe rapt into the heauens, and his heart felt sutch pleasure, as it semed to flote in some depe sea of delights: and after the best maner he coulde, thanked hir for hir curtesie: and albeit (he sayd) that hee knew hymself vnworthy of that fauor, yet he dedicated the same to hir commaundement, surrendring himselfe as a slaue and faythful seruant to hir maiesty. Then vppon his knees, to his great contentation he kissed hir hands, which of hir selfe she offred vnto him, and then reuerently he toke his leaue. When hee was gone oute of the chamber, he met with the Queene"s Coferer, that attended for him, who taking him aside, did put into his hand a purse with 500. crowns, and the maister of the horsse presented vnto him a very goodly and beautifull horse, wherewith maister Philippo was so well pleased, as he was like to leape out of his skin for ioy. Then he toke his iorney and arriued at the Courte in Spayne, where at oportunity, he deliuered his Letters to King Charles, and accomplished other busines and message prescribed vnto him by Quene Anne: And when he had dispatched the Queene"s other letters, he attended the businesse of his Lord Andrea Borgo. The king perused the Contentes of the letters sent vnto him by his sister and kynswoman, so did the Lord Chauncellour, (which at that time was the Lord Mercurino Gattinara,) and other, to whom the Queenes had written: whereby the king was solicited to stand good Lord, to the Lorde Andrea Borgo, and likewise exhorted him to be beneficial to mayster Phylippo, whom for his good condicions and experience they had sent vnto him in the amba.s.sage. Vpon a day the king moued by the Lorde Chancellor, caused maister Philippo to come before him, to whom kneling before his maiesty, the king said these words: "The testimony and report so honorably made of you by the two Queenes, from whom you brought vs letters, and the hope which we haue to find you a faithful and profitable seruant, and to be correspondent in effecte to the tenor of those letters, moueth vs to accepte you into the numbre of one of our Secretaries, wherein before our presence you shal sweare vnto vs to be faithfull and true." Maister Philippo that expected for no sutch dignity, maruelled at the Kyng"s wordes, and there by oth ministred vnto hym by the Lorde Chauncellour was receyued into his seruice, and exercysed that office, in singular fauor of the King, to the great satysfaction of al men. And after that King Charles was elected Emperor, knowing the experience that maister Philippo had in the affaires of Italy, and specially in Lombardie, he commytted vnto hym all matters touchyng the state of the region, which so happily came to pa.s.se to maister Philippo, as besides the ornaments of vertue and wisedom, he acquyred greate riches, and yet he continually serued and worshipped the Queene as his n.o.ble patronesse and worthy mystresse. Tel me now ye faire Ladies and Gentlewomen! What shall we say of the princely behauiour and n.o.ble disposition of this Queene? Truly in my iudgment, she deserueth that prayse and commendation that may be attributed to the moste excellente Ladye of the Worlde, who neuer gaue ouer her faythful seruant tyl she had bountifully with hir own hands and commendation, rendred vnto hym a most Pryncely rewarde. And as the funne in beautye and bryghtnesse doeth surmounte the other furniture of the Skies, euen so Magnyfycence, and liberality in ech Lady doth excell all other vertues, specially in those personages, that keepe the state of Princes. But to conclude, mete and requisite it is, that yee beautify this most curtuous and liberall Queene wyth due prayses: For surely in my iudgement, if all Women would confer theyr heades and Wittes together, and deuise Hymnes and Sonnets of Liberality, they can neuer sufficiently be able to celebrate the prayse and glory of thys Queene.
THE TWENTY-SECOND NOUELL.
_The gentle and iust act of Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence, vpon a Gentleman whom he fauoured, who hauing rauished the Daughter of a poore Myller, caused him to mary hir, for the greater honour and celebration whereof, he appoynted hir a rich and honourable Dowry._
If the Force of Vertue were apparant at the sight of eye, it would be deemed to be of lesse value than the greatnesse thereof deserueth (for sundry causes rising in the mindes of men) and that by performinge the little which rested for th"entier perfection of hir whole vnited glory. Now because that hir effects be diuerse, and that dyuersly they be vsed, the examples also of sutch diuersity, do variate and make diuerse the affections of men: some to follow that quality and other that part, proceeding from the whole and perfect body of vertue, which hath caused some to win the price of modesty and temperance in their deedes, other full of magnanimity (not familiar to many) haue resisted the a.s.saults of fortune. Many other haue embraced that only honor whych is the nourice of ech good act, whereby they haue either wel ruled the state of free citties, or guided the armies of mighty Monarchs. And sutch whilom the cities of Rome, Athenes, Sparta, and the auncient Monarchs of the Medes, Persians, and the a.s.syrians did see.
I wil omit a good company of the sage and wyse, which haue appaysed the troubles of Citties, the inquietations of Palaces, the cries of Iudgement seates, the dissimulation and deceiptfull flatteries of Courts, the carefull griefs which the householder by gouernment of his house and family doth sustaine and feele, of purpose more frankly to retire to the study of sapience, which alone is able to make a man happy, and worthy to be partaker of the diuinity. But aboue al, I wil prayse him which not subiect to the law lyueth neuerthelesse like him that is most thrall thereunto, or without respect of bloude or frendship shall exercise Iustice vpon his dearest and best beloued: as in olde time Manlius and Torquatus at Rome, the people of Athenes towards one Timagoras, who beyond the duty of the Amba.s.sador of a frank citty, fel down on his knees and worshipped the Persian king. And in our time the Marquize of Ferrara, by doing to death his own son for adultry committed wyth his mother in Law. And yet Iustice may fauour of some cruelty, which rather turneth to shame than praise: as Ihon Maria Visconte Duke of Milan, when he caused a couetous priest to be buried quick with the corps of him whom he had refused to bury without money, the history wherof is hereafter remembred. So as mediocrity of punishment ought to be yoked with the rigor of law, for the mitigation thereof. And beholde, wherefore the great Dictator Iulius Caesar loued better to gayn the heart of his enemies with mercy, than vanquish and bring them to obedience with ma.s.sy manacles and giues of Iron. Moreouer in our age Alphonsus of Aragon (the true Sampler of a iust and Righteous Prynce) dyd not hee esteeme (when hee strayghtly besieged Gaiette) the Vyctory to be more Gloryous and better gotten, which is done by composition and gentlenesse, than the bloudy conquest, colored wyth teares and bloud of a poore simple people? And truly princes, and great lordes, specially they which newly (without succession receyued from their ancestors) arriue to the gouernment of some commonwealth, ought continually to haue before their eies, an honest seuerity for the holines of the law, and a graue mildnesse, to moderat the rigour of their duety: For by that meanes right is mainteined, the heart of man is won, so wel as by violence: and the state of gouernment taketh so good footing, as the winde of no sedition afterwards can remoue the same, beinge founded vpon a sure stone, and framed vpon a rock durable for a long tyme. Whereof wee haue an example of fresh memory of a kinde act, full both of wysedome and of gentle seuerity, in a prynce of our time, who wythout effusion of bloud punished with rigor enough, a trespa.s.se committed, and sweetely remitted the payne vpon him, which merited grieuous, nay mortall punishment, as at large you shall see by the discourse that followeth.
Alexander de Medices, fauoured by the Church of Rome, (and armed with the Papall standard) was hee that first with great actiuity and Wisedome inueyed the Seniory of Florence, immediatly vsurping the name, t.i.tle, and prerogatiue of Duke. The same albeit vpon the prime face he was odious to the people of Florence, wroth for losing of their ancient liberty, and displeasant to the Senatours and potentates, to see them selues depriued of the soueraignty of Iustice, and of the authority they had to commaund ouer all the Citizens, yet for all that was he indued wyth so good qualities, and gouerned so wel his princ.i.p.ality, as that which at the beginning was termed Tyranny, was receyued as iust domination, and that which was supposed to be abused by force, seemed to be done as it were by lawfull succession. And they counted themselues happy (when they saw their lucke to bee sutch as their common wealth must needs obey the aduice and pleasure of one Prince alone) to haue a soueraygn lord, so wise, so vertuous and so ful of curtesie: and albeit in all other things he shewed himselfe prayse worthy, n.o.ble, and of gentle kinde, yet in this he vanquished himselfe in himselfe, by that indifferent iustice, which made him wonderful, denying the same to none, and in no one iote shewed himselfe parcial to any, which thought by hym to bee supported in their follies: And that which is more to bee wondred in him, and doth augment the prayse of his integrity in iudgement, was, that he punished in another the thynge, which hee ought to haue pardoned and remitted, hee hymselfe beinge attaynted wyth that dysease. But thys good Duke applyed to Reason, to tyme, and to the Grauity of the fact and quality of the offended persones: For where the greatnesse of a deede surpa.s.seth all occasion of pardon and mercye, there the Prynce, Iudge, or Magistrate ought to dispoyle and put of his sweetest affections, to apparell himselfe with rigor, whych reacheth the knyfe into the hand of the Ruler, of purpose that pryuate familiaritie, do not in ende rayse in the subiect"s hearte a contempte of superiours, and unbrydled licence, lawlesse to liue at their pleasure. Now the thing which I meane to tell, consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite Prynce, which seldome or neuer harboureth in yong age, the heates whereof can not but with greate difficultie, feele the coldnesse and correction of reason: And likewise the causes from whence wisdome"s force proceede, do rest in longe experience of things, whereby men waxe olde in ripenesse of witte, and theyr deedes become worthy of prayse. This Duke Alexander ordred so wel his estates, and kepte sutch a goodly and plentifull Court, as the same gaue place to no Prynce of Italy, how great or rich so euer it was, which n.o.ble court he kept aswell for his owne garde and honor as to shew the naturall stoutnesse of his corage, not vsing for all that any insolencie or vnseemely dealing agaynste the haynous and auncient enemies of his familie. Amongs his gallant troupe of Courtiers, which ordinarily attended, there was a Florentine gentleman, very neare the Duke, and the beste beeloued of them all. This yong Gentleman had a Manor hard by Florence, where he was very well and stately lodged, which caused him many times to forsake the City, wyth two of his companions, to recreate himself in that pleasant place. It chaunced vpon a time, he being in his fieldish house, besides the which there was a Myll, the maister of the sayd Myll had a pa.s.sing fayre daughter, whom thys Gentleman did well marke and beholde, and with hir beauty beecame straungely in loue, in whom also appeared some n.o.ble port, that exceded the bloud and race whereof she came. But what? The heauens be not to spare distributers of theyr gifts, but sometimes they diuide them with the least measure, and at some other times in equall weight or greatest heape, to them that be of the basest sorte and popular degree, so wel, as to the greatest and of most n.o.ble race. Rome somtimes hath seen a bondman and slaue, somtimes a Runnegate"s sonne, for his wit and Courage to beare the Scepter in his hand, and to decide the causes of that lofty people, who by sleyghts and practises aspired the Empyre of the whole worlde. And he that within our Fathers remembrance desireth to knowe what great Tamberlane of Tartarie was, the astonishment and ruine of al the East partes, shall well perceyue that his originall sorted from the vulgar sorte, and from the lowest degree that was amongs all estates: whereby must be confessed, that the goodnesse of nature is sutch and so great, as she will helpe hir nourice children (whatsoeuer they be,) the best she can: Not that I meane to infer hereby, but that the bloud of Predecessors, with the inst.i.tution of their Posterity, mutch augmenteth the force of the spirit, and accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto nature hath giuen a beginninge. Now to com to our purpose, this yong Courtier, taken and chayned in the bands of loue, settred and clogged wyth the Beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench, forethought the meanes how he myght inioy the thynge after which hee hoped. To loue hir he deemed it vnworthy of his degre: And yet he knew hir to be sutch (by report of many) as had a very good Wit, tongue at wyll, and which is more esteemed, a Paragon and mirror of chaste life and modesty. Which tormented this amorous Mounsier beyond measure, and yet chaunged not his affection, a.s.suring himselfe that at length he should attayne th" end of his desires, and glut that his vnsatiable hunger, which pressed him from day to day to gather the soote and sauorous frute which Louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of semblable age, who then was betweene XVI. and XVII. yeares. This Louer dyd to vnderstand to hys companions his griefe and frensie, who sory for the same, a.s.sayed by all meanes, to make him forget it, telling hym that it was unseemely for a Gentleman of his accompt, to make himselfe a fable to the people, which woulde come to pa.s.se if they knew how vndiscretely hee had placed hys loue: and that there were a number of fayre and honest gentlewomen more to whom besides conuenably and with greater contentation he might addresse the same. But he which mutch lesse saw, than blind loue himselfe that was his guid, and he that was more bare of reason and aduice than the Poets fayne Cupido to be naked of apparell, would not harken to the good counsel, which his companions gaue him, but rather sayd that it was lost time for them to vse sutch spech, for he had rather dy, and indure all the mocks and scoffs of the world, than lose the most delicate pray (in his mynde,) that could chaunce into the hands of man, adding moreouer, that the homelynesse and rudenes of the country, had not so mutch anoyed his new beloued, but she deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the greatest Minion and finest attyred gentlewoman of the Citty: For this mayden had but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged, where other artificially force by trumperies, to vsurpe that which the heauens deny them. "Touching her vertue let that pa.s.se in silence, sithens that she" (quod he sighinge) "is to chast and vertuous for one whom I would choose to daly withal: My desire is not to make hir a Lucrece, or some of those auncient Matrones, which in elder yeres builded the temple of woman"s Fortune at Rome." The companions of this louer seeing how he was bent, promised him what they were able to doe, for accomplishment of his will, for the which he thanked them very heartely, offring like duty, where fortune should prepare the proofe of their affection and neede of his amorous seruice: In the mean time, conceiuing in his minde some new deuice, which so soone as he had found out was not able to be brought to pa.s.se, and knowing that the duke seldome would haue him out of his sight, began to inuent lyes, doing hym to vnderstand that he had necessary occasion, for a certain time, to remain and be at his country house. The duke which loued him, and who thought that either he had som secret sicknes, or els som wench which he was loth to discouer before his companions, gaue him leaue for a month, which so pleased this amorous Gentleman, as he lept for ioye, and was not able to rest one hour before he had found out his frends and companions, to mount on horsback to visit hir that had vnder hir power and obeisance the best portion of him, which was his hart and his most secret thought. When he was come to his Countrey house, hee began to stalke abrode, and daunce a round about the Mill, where his beloued did dwel, who was not so foolish, but by and by suspected whereunto those goings and commings of the Pilgrim tended, and for what pray he led his Dogs in lease, and caused so many Nets and Cords to be displayed by hunters of euery age and s.e.xe, who to discouer the Countrey, a.s.sayde by beating the Bushes, to take the Beaste at forme: For which cause she also for hir part, began to fly the snares of those Byrders, and the raunging of the Dogs that vented after hir, strayinge not from the house of the good man hir Father: whereof this poore louer conceyued great dispayre, not knowinge by what meanes he might rouse the Game after which he hunted, ne finde the meanes to do hir vnderstand his playnts and vnmeasured griefe of heart, the firme loue, and sinceere mynde wherewyth he was so earnestly bent, both to obay and loue hir aboue all other: And that which most of all increased his payne, was that of so great a troupe of messages whych he had sent, with giftes and promisses the better to atchieue his purpose, no one was able to take place or force (neuer so little) the chast.i.ty of that sober and modest mayde. It chaunced one day as this Gentleman was walking a long a wode side newly felled, hard adioyning to his house, by whych there was a cleare and goodly fountayne shadowed betweene two thick and lofty Maple trees, the Myller"s Daughter went thither for water, and as she had set downe hir payles vpon the fountaine brink, hir Louer came vnto hir, litle thinking of sutch a ioyful meeting, which he wel declared by these words: "Praysed be G.o.d, that when I hoped least of this good hap, he hath sent me hither, to see the onely substaunce of my ioy." Then turninge his face towards the mayden, sayd vnto her: "Is it true that thou art heere (or do I dreame) and so neare to him that most desireth to gratyfie thee in any thynge wherewyth it may please thee to commaunde him?
Wilt thou not haue pity vpon the paynes and griefs which continually I indure for the extreme loue I beare thee?" And saying so, he would haue imbraced hir. But the mayde, which cared no more for his flatteries, than before she did for his presents and messages seeing the same to tend to nothing else but to hir ruine and great dishonor, wyth stout countenaunce, and by hir liuely colour declaring the chast and vertuous motion of her bloud, sayd to this valiant Gentleman: "How now, syr, do you thinke that the vilenesse of myne apparell, holdeth lesse vertue, than is vnder the rich and sumptuous Ornaments of greatest Ladyes? Do you suppose that my bringing vp hath bred in me sutch grose bloud, as for your only pleasure, I shoulde corrupt the perfection of my minde, and blot the honour which hitherto so carefully I haue kept and religiously preserued? Be sure that sooner death shall separate the soule from my body, than willingly I would suffer the ouerthrow and violation of my virginity. It is not the part of sutch a Gentleman as you be, thus to espy and subtlely pursue vs poore Countrey maydens to charme vs with your sleights and guilfull talke: It is not the duety of a Gentleman to subborne sutch vaunte currors to discouer and put in perill, the honour of chaste maydens and honest Wyues, as heretofore you haue done to me. It ought to suffice, that you haue receyued shame by repulse of your messengers, and not to come your selfe to bee partaker of their Confusion." "And that is it, that ought to moue you sweete heart" (aunswered he) "to take pitty vpon my griefe, so playnly seeing that vnfaynedly I doe loue you, and that my loue is so well planted, as rather had I suffer death, than occasion the least offence that may displease you: Only I beseech you, not to shew your selfe so cruel vnto him, who disdayning all other, hath made you so frank an offer both of himselfe and of al that he hath to commaund." The maide not greatly trusting his words, feared that he prolonged time to make hir stay till hys seruants came to steale hir away: And therefore without further aunswere, she taking vp hir payles, and half running till she came neere the Myll, escaped his hands, telling hir father no part of that talk betwene them: who began already to doubt the treason, deuised by the Gentleman, agaynst the pudicity of his daughter, vnto whom he neuer disclosed his suspition, were it that he knew hir to be vertuous inough, and constant to resist the luring a.s.saults of loue, or considred the imbecillity of our flesh, and the malice of the same, which dayly aspireth things thereunto defended, and by lawes limitted and prescribed, which lawes it ought not to excede, and yet therof it wisheth the abolishment.
The Gentleman seeinge that the mayden had forsaken hym, and little esteemed hys amorous onset, outraged for loue, and chased wyth choler, spake these wordes to hymselfe: "Ah foolish and dastard louer, what didst thou meane when thou hadst hir so neere thee, in place so commodious, where shee durst not gaynesay thee that thou didst no better pursue hir? And what knowest thou if shee came of purpose to ease thy payne and to finish thy troublesome trauels? Surely I suppose she did so, but that shame and duety forced hir to vse those wordes, to make mee thinke, that lyghtly she would not bee ouercome by persuasions: And put the case that it were not so, who coulde haue let mee to take by force that, whereunto willingly she would not accorde: But what is she to be reuenged of sutch an iniury? She is for conclusion the daughter of a Miller, and may make hir vaunte, that she hath mocked a Gentleman, who beinge alone wyth hir, and burninge wyth loue, durst not staunch hys thirst (although full dry) so neere the fountayne: And by G.o.d (sayd he rising from a greene banke neere the fountayne"s side) if I dy therefore, I wyll haue it eyther by loue or force." In this wicked and tyrannicall mynde, hee returned to hys place, where his companions seeing him so out of quiet, sayd vnto him: "Is thys the guise of a gentle minde, to abase it selfe to the pursute of so simple a Wench? Doe not you know the malice of that s.e.xe, and the guiles wherewith those Serpents poyson men? Care you so little for a woman as she doth for you, and then wyll she imbrace you and make mutch of you, whose only study is (which I beleeue) to frame hirselfe agaynst all that, for which humble sute is made: But admit, that women hath some qualities to draw men to loue them, to honour and serue them, which if it so be truely that office and dutifull deuoyre ought to be imployed in seruice of them, that be honourable and in spirite and iudgement of gentle kinde, which no doubt wil counteruayle the merite of sutch a suter: And certesse I am of opinion that a man may vaynely consume a yere or two in pursute and seruice of this mealy Countrey wench, so well as addresse his loue in the obedience of some fayre and honest Gentlewoman: which courteously and with some fauour wyll recompence, the trauayles of hir seruaunt, where that rude and sottish gyrle, by pryde will vaunt and looke a loft, at the honor done vnto hir, despise theym whose worthynesse she knoweth not, and whom neyther she nor the best of her seede, be worthy to serue in any respect: will you know then what I thinke best for you to do? myne aduice is then, that one of these euenings, she be trussed vp in a Maile and brought hither, or in some place els where you thinke good, that you may enioy at pleasure the beauty of hir whom you do praise and wonder at so mutch: And afterwards let hir dissemble it she l.u.s.t, and make a Iewel of hir chast.i.ty when she hath not to triumph ouer you, by bearing away the victory of your pursutes." "Ah my good friend," aunswered the desperate louer, "how rightly you touch the most daungerous place of al my wound, and how soueraygne a salue and plaister you apply therevnto: I had thought truly to intreate you of that, whereof euen now you haue made the ouerture, but fearing to offend you, or to mutch vsurpe vpon your friendship, rather had I suffer a death continuall, than rayse one point of offence, or discontentation in them, which so frankly haue offred to doe me pleasure, whereof (by G.o.d"s a.s.sistaunce) I hope to be acquited with all duety and office of frendship. Now resteth it, to put in proofe, the effect of your deuise, and that so shortly as I can: In like manner you see that the terme of my heere abode, will shortly expire, and if wee be once at the Courte, impossible it is for me to recouer so good occasion, and peraduenture she wil be maried, or some other shal cary away the pray after which I haue beaten the Bush." The plot then of this mayden"s rape, was resolued vpon, and the first espied occasion taken: But the louer which feared least this heat of his companions would coole, sollicited them so mutch, as the execution was ordayned the following night: which they did, not so mutch for the pleasure of their frend, to whom in sutch aduentures they ought to deny all helpe, (sith frendship ought not to pa.s.se, _Sed vsq; ad aras_, as Pericles the Athenian sayd, so far as was sufferable by the lawes of G.o.d) as for that they wer of nature of the self same tramp, which their pa.s.sionate companion was, and would haue made no conscience to enterpryse the same for themselues, although the other had not tolde them hys affections: These bee the Fruictes of vnruled Youth, wherein onely the Verdure and greennesse of the Age beareth greatest sway, the wyll whereof reason can not restrayne, which sooner reclineth to the carnall part, than to that which tendeth to the honest repast and contentment of the mynd. The next night, they three accompanied with V. or VI. seruauntes (so honest as theyr maisters) gaue the onset in armure and weapons well appointed to defende and hurt, if any resistance were made, they myght be able to repell theyr aduersaries. Thus about two of the clocke in the night they came to the Mil, the Heauens hauyng throwne theyr mantell ouer the vaporous earthe, and dymmed hir Face with theyr vayle obscure and darke, and yet not sutch, but that the ayre was cloudye cleere: and when no man doubted of so great offence, and of sutch vnhappy rape, they brake into the poore Miller"s House, beetwene whose armes they toke away his daughter deare, and almost dead for feare, piteously began to cry for help, defending herself so well as she could from those Theeues and Murderers. The desolate father raging with no lesse fury then the Hircanian Tigre, when hir Faucons be kylled or taken away, ran first to one, and then to another, to stay them from carying of hir away, for whom they came. In the end the amorous rauisher of his daughter sayd vnto hym: "Father, Father, I aduyse thee to get thee hence if thou loue thy lyfe, for thy force is too weake to resist so many, the least of whome is able to coole this thy foolish heart and choler, for the whych I would be sory, for the great Loue I beare vnto thy daughter, who (I hope) before she depart my company, shal haue wherewith to be contented: and thou cause to pacifye this thine immoderate rage, which in vayne thou yalpest forth agaynst this troupe." "Ah false Knaue and theefe," (sayd the honest pore man) "it is thou then, which by thine infamous filthinesse and insaciable knauery, doest dishonor the commendable fame of my daughter, and by like meanes shortnest the hoped yeres of me hir poore vnhappy father, loosinge through thy wickednesse, the staffe and stay of myne olde aged life? Thynkest thou Traytor, that liuing till this day (for all my pouertye) in reputation of an honest Man, in myne olde Dayes will become an vnshamefast and vyle Minister and Chapman of my daughter"s maidenhoode and virginity? No knaue thinke not that I forget the wrong receiued of thee, for which by some meanes or other, I wyll purchase iust reuenge vpon thee or thyne?" The Gentleman caryng little or nothyng for the old man"s wordes, hauyng in hys hand his desired spoyle, commanded his Men to marche before with the Mayden, leauing behind the poore olde Man which thundred against them a thousand bitter cursses, threatning and reuyling them, by all the termes he could deuise, desirous (as I think) to haue them turne backe to kyll him. But thereunto they gaue so little heede, as when he wylled them to leaue his daughter behynde them: to whome the amorous courtier addressing himselfe, began to kysse hir, and a.s.sayed by all meanes with pleasaunt Woordes and many sweete promisses to comfort hir: but the poore Wenche knowyng full well, that they wente about to play the Butchers wyth her Chast.i.tye, and to commyt Murder wyth the floure of hir Virginity, began to cry so piteously with dolorous voice, as she would haue moued to compa.s.sion the hardest Hartes that euer were, excepte the Hearte of hym which craued nothyng more than the spoyle of that his sweetest Enimy. When the poore Wenche saw hir Vertue ready to be spoyled by one, who (not in Maryage ioyned) wente aboute to vyolate and possesse the same, and knewe that afterwardes hee woulde vaunte hymselfe for the Victorye of sutch a precious pryce: "Alas (quod she) is it possyble that the Souerayne Iustyce of G.o.d can abyde a Myschiefe so greate and curssed, and that the Voyce of a poore Wretched afflicted Mayde cannot be heard in the presence of the Myghty Lord aboue? Why may not I nowe rather suffer Deathe, than the Infamy whych I see to wander before myne Eyes? O the good olde Man my deare and louing Father, how farre better had it bene for thee to haue slayne mee wyth thy Dagger, betwene the Handes of these moste wycked Theeues, than to let mee goe to bee the praye of those my Foes that seeke the spoyle of Vertue, and the blotte of thy reputation. O happy a hundred hundred tymes bee yee, whych haue already pa.s.sed the ineuitable tract of Death when ye were in cradle, and I poore vnhappy Wench no lesse blessed had I bene if pertaker of your Ioy, where now I rest alyue to feele the smarte and Anguish of that Death more egre to support, than that whych deuydeth the body and soule." The Gentleman offended with those complaynts, beganne to threaten, that hee woulde make hir forget hir disordered behauiour, sayinge that shee must change an other tune, and that hir plaints were to no purpose amongs them which cared not, nor yet were bent to stay vppon hir Womanishe teares, Lamentations and cries. The poore Mayden hearinge there resolution, and seeing that shee vaynely dysparckled hir Voyce into the Ayre, began to holde hir peace, whych caused the Louer to speake vnto hir these wordes: "And what my Wench? Dost thou thinke it straunge, that for the heate of loue I beare to thee that I should force sutch violence? Alas it is not malyce nor euill wyll that causeth me to doe the same, it is loue whych cannot bee inclosed, but must needes breake forth to manyfest his force. Ah that thou hadest felt, what I doe suffer and indure for loue of thee. I beleeue then thou wouldest not bee so hard hearted, but haue pitty vppon the griefe whereof thou shouldest haue proued the vehemence." Whereunto the mayde aunswered nothinge but Teares and Syghes, wringing hir Armes and Handes, and sometymes makinge Warre vppon hir fayre Hayre. But all these Feminine Waylinges nothinge mooued thys Gallant, and lesse Remooued hys former desire to haue hir, which hee atchieued in dispite of hir Teeth, so soone as hee arryued at his owne House. The remnaunt of the Night they lay together, where hee vsed hir wyth all sutch kynde of flatteringe and louinge Speech, as a Louer (of longe tyme) a Suter could deuise to do to hir, whom at length he dyd Possesse. Now all these flatteringe Follies tended onely to make hir his owne, to keepe hir in hys Countrey House for hys Pleasure. Shee that for hir Age (as before is sayd) was of condition Sage, and of gentle mynde, began subtilely to dissemble and fayne to take Pleasure in that which was to hir more bitter than any Aloes or Woode of Myrrha, and more agaynst hir heart than remembraunce of Death, whych styll shee wyshed for remedy of hir gryefe, and Voluntaryly woulde haue killed her selfe lyke a Lucrece, if the feare of G.o.d, and dreadfull losse of Body and Soule, had not turned hir mynde, and also hoped in G.o.d that the Rauysher should repayre the fault whych he committed, and beare the penaunce for his temerity, whereof she was no whit deceyued, as yee shall perceyue, by that which presently doth follow. Now whilest the Rauisher tooke his pleasure wyth his Rape, the miserable father made the Ayre to sound with his complaints, accusinge fortune for letting the Whorish varlet so to pa.s.se, wythout doing him to feele the l.u.s.tinesse of hys age, and the force that yet reasted in his furrowed face, and corpse withered with length of yeares.
In the end knowing that his playnts, curses, and desire were throwne forth in vayne, perceiuing also his force vnequal to deale with sutch an Ennimy, and to get agayne by violence hys stolne Daughter, or to recouer hir by that meanes whereby she was taken away, he determined the next day to go and complaine to the Duke: and vpon that determination he layd him downe to sleepe vnder the trees, which ioyned to the fountayne, where sometimes the Courtier had communed with his daughter. And seeing that the Element began to to shewe some splendent hue Interpaled with coulours of White, Yealow, and Red, Signes preceedinge the risinge of fresh Aurora, started from his sleepe and tooke hys way to Florence, whither he came, vpon the openinge of the Citty Gates. Then going to the Pallace of the Duke, he tarried vntill he saw the Prynce goe forth to seruice.
The good man seeing him of whom he attended to receyue succour, fauour, and iustice, began to freat, and rage for remembraunce of his receyued wronge, and was ashamed to see himself in place not accustomed: and although it grieued his heart wyth hardy speach to presume in presence of so many, yet the iust anger and desire of vengeance emboldned hym so mutch, as kneelinge vpon his knees before the Maiesty of the Duke, aloud he spake these woordes: "Alas (my Soueraygne Lord) if euer your grace had pity vpon a desolate man, full of dispayre, I humbly beseech the same that now you do regard the misery which on euery side a.s.sayleth me. Haue pity vpon the pouerty of that vnfortunate olde man agaynst whom one hath done sutch wrong, as I hope by force of your vertue and accustomed iustice, you wil not leaue a sin so detestable without deserued punishment, for respect of mischiefes that may insue where sutch wickednesse shalbe dissembled without due correction." Sayinge so, the great teares ran downe his hory Bearde, and by reason of his interrupted sighes and continual sobbes, the panting of his stomack might easily haue bene perceiued all riueld for age, and Sunneburned with heate and continuall Countrey trauaile: and that which moued most the standers by, was the ruefull loke of the good old man, who casting his lookes heare and there, beheld eche one with hys holowe and dolorous Eyes, in sutch wise as if he had not spoken any word, hys countenance would haue moued the Lords to haue compa.s.sion vpon his misery, and his teares were of sutch force, as the Duke which was a wyse man, and who measured thinges by reason"s guide, prouided with wisedome, and foreseeinge not without timely iudgement, would know the cause whych made that man so to make his plaint, and notwithstanding a.s.sailed (with what suspition I know not) would not haue him openly to tel hys tale, but leading him aside, he sayd vnto him: "My frend, albeit that greeuous faultes of great importance, ought grieuously and openly to be corrected, yet it chaunceth oftentimes, that he which in a heate and choler doth execution for the guylt (although that iustly after hee hath disgested his rage, at leasure hee repenteth his rigor and ouer sodaine seueritie,) offence being naturall in man, may sometyme (where slaunder is not euident) by mild and mercyfull meanes forget the same without infringing or violating the holy and ciuil const.i.tutions of Lawmakers. I speake thus mutch bicause my heart doeth throbbe that some of my house haue don some filthy faulte against thee or some of thine. Now I would not that they openlye should be slaundered, and yet lesse pretend I to leaue theyr faultes vnpunished, specially sutch as by whose offensiue cryme the common peace is molested, wherein I desyre, that my People shoulde lyue. For which purpose G.o.d hath const.i.tuted Prynces and Potestates as shepheardes and guides of hys flocke, to the ende that the Tyrannicall fury of the vitious, mighte not destroy, deuoure and scatter the impotente flock, of no valoure if it be forsaken and lefte forlorne by the mighty Armes of Prync.i.p.alities and Monarchyes.{"} A singuler modesty doubtlesse, and an incredyble example of Clemencye in hym, whome hys Cytyzens thoughte to be a Tyrant and vniust vsurper of a free Segnyorye, who so priuily and with sutch familiarity, as the Friend could wish of his companion, hearkened to the cause of the poore Countrey man, and moreouer hys modesty so great, as hee would it not to bee knowen what fault it was, or else that the offenders shoulde publikely bee accused, offering for all that to be the reuenger of the wronge done vnto the poore, and the punisher of the iniury exercised agaynste the desolate, a worke certainly worthy of a true Chrystian Prince, and which establisheth kingdomes decayed, conserueth those that be, rendring the Prynce to be beloued of G.o.d, and feared of his Subiects. The pore olde man seeing the Duke in so good mynde, and that accordingly hee demaunded to know the wrong don vnto him, the Name of the factor, and that also he had promised him his help and ryghtfull correctyon due vnto the deserued fault, the good olde man I say conceiuing courage, recited from poynt to poynte the whole discourse of the rape, and the violence done, vppon hys poore vertuous Daughter, declaring besides the name and surname of those which accompanied the Gentleman, the author of that conspiracy, who (as we haue already sayd) was one that was in greatest fauor with the Duke: who notwithstanding the Loue that he bare to the accused, hearing the vnworthinesse of a deede so execrable, said: "As G.o.d liueth this is a detestable facte, and well deserueth a sharpe and cruell punyshment: Notwithstanding freend, take good heede that thou doeste not mistake the same, by accusing one for an other, for the Gentleman whome thou haste named to be the rauisher of thy daughter, is of all men deemed to bee very honest, and doe well a.s.sure thee that if I finde thee a lyer, thy heade shall answere for example to eche false accuser and slaunderer in time to come. But if the matter be so true as thou hast sayde, I promise thee by the faith I beare to G.o.d, so wel to redresse thy wrong, as thou shalt haue cause to be thoroughly satisfied with my iustice." To whome the good olde man thus answered: "My Lord the matter is so true, as at this day hee keepeth my Daughter (like a common strumpet) in his house. And if it please your highnesse to send thither, you shall know that I do not falsely accuse or vtter lying woordes before you, my Lord and Prynce, in presence of whom as before the mynister and Lyeuetenaunte of G.o.d, Man oughte not to speake but truely and religeously." "Sith it is so," sayd the Duke, "get thee home to thy house, where G.o.d willing, I will be this day at dinner, but take hede vpon thy life, thou say nothing to any man what so euer he be: for the rest let me alone, I will prouide according to reason." The good man almost so glad for his good exploit, as the day before he was sorowful for his losse, ioyfully went home to his homely house and Countrey Cabane, whych he caused to be made ready so wel as hee could, attending the comming of his deliuerer, succor, support, and iudge, who when he had heard seruice, commanded his Horse to be made ready: "For (sayd he) I heare say there is a wylde Boare haunting hereby, so well lodged as is possible to see: wee wyll goe thyther to wake hym from his sleepe and ease, and vse that pastime til our dinner be ready."
So departing from Florence, he rode straight vnto the Mil wher his dinner was prepared by hys Seruauntes. There he dined very soberly, and vsing fewe words vnto his company, sate stil al pensiue, musing vpon that he had to doe: For on the one side the grauitie of the facte moued him rigorously to chastise him which had committed the same. On the other side the loue which he bare him (mollifing his heart) made him change his minde, and to moderate his sentence. The Prynce"s minde, thus wandering beetwene loue and rigor, one brought him worde that the Dogs had rousde the greatest Hart that euer he sawe: which newes pleased him very mutch, for by that meanes he sent away the mult.i.tude of his Gentlemen to follow the chase, retaining with him his moste familiar friends, and those that were of his priuy and secrete councel, whom he would to be witnesses of that which he intended to doe, and causing his hoast to come before him, he sayd: "My friend, thou muste brynge vs to the place whereof thys Mornynge thou toldest me, that I may discharge my promyse." The Courtyers wondred at those Woordes. ignoraunte whereunto the same were spoken: but the good Man whose Hearte leapte for ioy, as already feelynge some greate Benefyte at Hand, and Honoure prepared for the beautyfyinge of hys House, seeynge the Duke on Horsebacke, ran besydes hym in steade of hys Lackey, wyth whome the Prynce held mutch pleasaunt talke all along the way as they wente togyther, but they had not gone farre, but the Gentleman the Rauysher, wyth his Companyons, vnderstandyng that the Duke hunted there aboutes, came to doe hym reuerence: and his Fortune was sutch, as hee nor any of his frends perceiued the olde man, by meanes whereof they nothing suspected what did insue. For that cause the said Rauisher said to his prince: "My Lord, if fortune had so mutch fauored me, as I mighte haue knowen of your commyng into these quarters, I would haue don my duetie to entertaine you, not as appertayneth to the greatnesse of your excellency, but according to the ability of the least, and yet the most obedient of your seruaunts." To whom the Duke dissembling his anger sayd: "Sir, I dined heere hard by within my tents, not knowing that your house was so neare vs: but sith that I haue met you vpon your own Marches and Confines, I wyll not goe hence before I see your lodging: for so farre as I can iudge by the outwarde parte of this goodly building, me thinkes the workman hath not forgotten any thing that should serue for the setting forth and ornament of this parte of the house, which for the quant.i.ty is one of the fairest plottes that I haue seene." So approching the Castell the Duke lyghted to view the commodities of the place, and specially the image, for whych alone hee was departed from his City, whereof the Mayster of the House (dronke with the sodaine pleasure to see the Duke there) thought nothyng. So descending into the base Court, they saw a Marble fountaine that discharged the water in foure greate gutters, receiued by foure naked Nimphes, and by them poured into Vessells, richely wrought with Damaskyne, where was an armed Knyght, lying vnder an hyghe and broade tree, that ouershadowed the Fountaine: And hard by, they espied a lyttle doore whych shewed the way into so singulare and well planted a Garden, as euer the delycious and pleasant Gardens were of Alcinoe: For in the same (bysides the Artyfyciall Workemanshyppe, and ordinarye Trauell of the Gardener) Nature produced foure Fountaynes in the foure Corners, makynge the Place and plaine of Garden equally parted in fouresquare forme.
Now these fountaynes watered all the fayre knots of the same, wythout any payne to the Gardener, except to open certayne little Conduicts, whereby the water sprange and ran to what part he thought it needfull. I will heere leaue to speake of the Trees and fruictes deuided in fiue forme order, the Laberynthes subtilely and finely wrought, the sweete Herbers yelding sutch contentation to the eye, as if the Duke had not respected the wrong done to the Miller"s daughter, the gentlenesse of the mayster of the house, and the singularity of the place, perchaunce might haue made him forget himselfe within that little earthly Paradise. And to performe the excellency of that Garden, the workinge hand and industry of man, holpen by the benefite of Nature, had formed within the Ground wherein were bestowed a number of Antiquities, and wherein the immortal voice of an Eccho answered their talke with a triple sounde in that profound and earthly place: which moued the Duke to call the Gentleman vnto him, vnto whom he sayd: "If it bee so, that the rest of the house doe match wyth that whych I haue already seene, I am out of doubt it is one of the fayrest and most delectable houses at thys day wythin the compa.s.se of all Italy.
Wherefore my Frende, I pray thee that wee may see the whole, both for the contentation of our Mindes, and also that I may make some vaunt that I haue seene the rarest and best furnished little House that is within the iurisdiction of Florence." The Gentleman bathed in ease and full of pleasure, seeynge that the Duke lyked so well his House, brought hym from chamber to chamber, which was enryched eyther with stately tap.i.s.sarie of Turkey making, or with riche Tables diuinely wrought, vtensils so neate and fit, as the Duke could cast his eye vpon none of them, but he was driuen into an admiration and Wonder. And the further he went, the greater hee sawe the increase, and almost a Regeneration, or as I may say, a newe Byrth of rare thinges, which made the littlenesse of the Place more Stately and wonderfull: Wherefore hee greatly esteemed hym in hys Mynde whych had deuysed the Magnificence of sutch a Furnyture. After then that hee had visited the Portals, Galleries, Parlers, Chambers, Garrets, Wardrobes, Closets, and chiefest Romes of that house, they came into a Gallerie, which had a direct prospect vpon the Garden, at the end wherof there was a chamber shut, ouer which sutch Antike and Imbossed worke, as it was maruell to behold, and vpon the garden side in like workemanship, yee mighte haue viewed a troupe of Nymphes (a long the side of a woode adioyning vpon a great Riuer) flying from an hierd of Satires, that made as though they would haue ouerrunne them: a pleasure it was to see their gaping mouthes, theyr eyes fixed vpon the place where theyr clouen-footed pursuters were, and the countenance of them, which so well expressed theyr feare, as there wanted nothing but speache. Moreouer a better sight it was to beholde the Satire Bucks, with dysplayed throte, and theyr fyngers poynting at the hast of those pore fearfull runawayes, as though they mocked theyr sodaine flyghte. Within a while after ye might haue seene Hercules lyinge a Bed with his wife, towards whom a Faunus came thinking to enjoy the beauty and embracements of the sleping dame: But fayrer it was to see how that strong Amphitrionian gaue him the mocke, and strained him so hard, as he thought his belly would burste. The Duke beholding as he thought, the fayrest Chamber of the house so shut, by and by suspected the truth of the cause: For the Gentleman knowing the comming of the Duke, had withdrawen his woman into the same for that it was the most secrete of his house, and the furdest from all ordinary seruice. Vpon surmise the Duke demaunded wherefore that Chamber was not opened so wel as the rest: "I suppose the same to be your treasure house?"
(quod hee) "and the storehouse of your most delicate things: Wee pray you let vs looke into it." "My Lord" (sayd the Gentleman) "the place is to farre out of order, at this time to shew your grace: Moreouer I knowe not where the Keyes be, for thys morning the keeper of my house is gone into the city, and I can not tell to whom hee hath delyuered them." The Duke which heard the end of his excuse, not accepting the same for the pryce which the Courtier woulde and thoughte to haue solde it, was sure then of that which before he did suspect. Wherfore with furious countenaunce he sayd vnto him: "Goe too, goe too, either with the key, or without the Key, let this door be opened, that I may see all thy secretes within." The rauisher seeing the Duke to be earnest, could not tell at the first Face, of what Woode to make his arrowes, stode stil astonned, and was surprysed wyth a newe feare. In the end notwythstandyng, playinge the good fellowe, hee went vnto the Duke, in whose eare smilinge hee whispered (bicause he knew right well that the Duke was an indifferent good companion, and loued so well his neighbor"s Wyfe, as his owne:) and sayd: "My Lord there is a prety wench within, whome I do kepe, and would not shewe hir to any lyuing man but to you."
"That is the cause I aske" (sayd the duke) "let vs see hir that I may geue iudgement of hir beauty, and tell you whither shee bee worth the keeping or not." The mayster of the house opened the chamber dore, thinking to haue gained mutch, and supposed to insinuate himselfe the better into the fauor of the Duke, but immediatlye hee saw himselfe farre deceiued of his accompt. For the rauished and shamefast maiden comming forth of the Chamber with hir hayre about hir eyes, and hir garments berent and torne, hir stomake and breast all naked and discouered, hir Face and Eyes all blubbered wyth Teares, lyke a desperate woman threw hir selfe at the Prince"s feete, crying out: "Ah (my lord) beholde heere and haue pity vpon the most vnfortunate Wenche of all most wretched caytyfe Women, who shamefully and Trayterously hath bene abused and defloured by him, whych impudently dareth to bryng you into the place the wytnesse of hys abhominable and wycked Lyfe." The Duke seeing this sight, and hauing compa.s.sion vpon the Maiden, turned his face towardes the Gentleman and hys Companyons (which by chance wer come thither, as the Duke was entred into the Gallerie) not with milde and pleasant countenance as hee shewed from the beginning, but with a looke so graue and seuere, as the hardiest of the company could not tell what to do, or what answere to make hym. Vpon them than began the ryghteous Prynce to vomit his dyspleasure, sayinge: "Is this the inn.o.bling of the Bloud whereof thou art descended, to rauyshe thy Neyghbors and my subiectes Daughters, that duetyfully lyue vnder myne obeysance and protection? Doest thou thus abuse the familiaritie whych hytherto I haue shewed vnto thee? Thinkest thou that the Lawes be peruerted together with the chaunge of the common Wealth of Florence? No, I a.s.sure thee, for so long as the Soule shal abyde within my body, I will be he that shal pursue the wycked wyth all extremitie, and shall not indure the oppressyon of the pore, enough afflicted with their own proper misery. O G.o.d could I haue thought that a Gentleman of my House, woulde haue bene so prodigall of his honour, as to soyle hys Hands so filthily by rauishing of them which ought to be required, and to dishonour them in place where their Vertue ought to shine for generall example? I cannot tell what stayeth me from cutting those curssed Heades of yours from of your shoulders like arrant Traytors and Theues as you be. Get ye hence, ye infamous villaynes and beastly Ruffians, the troubles of your Neyghbors rest, and the spoylers of the fame of hir, that is more worth than all ye together." Then speaking to the Mayde hee sayd: "Rise vp my wench, and on me repose thy comfort, for I promise the by the faith of a Gentleman, that I will do thee sutch reason, and vse thee so vpryghtlye as bothe my Conscience shal be quieted, thou contented, and thine honour restored for the wrong and iniury whych it hath receiued of these Gallantes." And by and by he commaunded the Miller to come before him, and all those whom he had brought wyth hym to a.s.sist his doings, before whom he caused to be brought both the rauished maiden, and the condempned of the rape: vnto whom he said: "This is the pray my friends that I sought after, which I haue taken without toyles, nets, or chaunting of the Dogs.
Beholde, I pray you the Honoure whych my Householde Seruauntes doe vnto my House, who ouerrunne the Symple Countrey People, and rauyshe theyr Daughters betweene the Armes of theyr propre parentes, who breake, beate downe, and ouerthrowe the Doores of theyr Houses, that under the Lawes of our City and ought to enioy lyke Pryuiledge of Lybertye and Franchyze. If one respecte (whych I wyll not dysclose) dyd not impeache and stay mee, I would doe sutch cruell iustice vppon the offenders as the posterity should make report thereof. Notwithstanding it shal suffise that they receiue this shame before you all, by seeing themselues vanquished of a crime, which for expiation and reuenge, deserueth most shamefull death, and to receyue of mee for proofe of mercy, an vndeserued pardon of their fault: with condition neuerthelesse that thou (speaking to the Gentleman Rauisher) shalt take this mayden to Wyfe, for otherwyse thou art not able to repayre the honour thou hast taken from hir) and shalt loue hir so dearely, as fondly heeretofore she was beloued of thee, to esteeme and loue hir so mutch, as if she were the very sister of me the Duke of Florence, who commaundeth thee for the raunsome and redemption of thy head, presently to mary hir.
I will moreouer, and ordayne by reason of hir father"s pouerty, that for the wrong which he hath receyued of you three, that his daughter shall bee indowed wyth two thousand Crownes by him that marrieth hir, and with a thousand of eyther of the two other, to th" entent that if hir husband dy (wythout heire,) shee haue wherewith honestly to mayntayne hir degree, and the honest port of hir house. And hereof I will that without delay a contract be made, and a publike instrument of good record inrolled, swearing once agayne before thee, that if I vnderstand, thou vse her otherwise, than a Wyfe ought to bee of hir husband, I will deale sutch punishment and correction ouer thee, as all men in time to come shal take example." The Gentleman which expected no better meede than death, ioyfull of that sentence, fell downe prostrate before the Duke in signe of consente, and the lyke did his Companions. But the ioy of the Miller and his daughter cannot be expressed, who extolled the vertue and iustice of the Prynce vp into the heauens: to whom with sutch humility they rendred theyr humble thanks, as he would doe that saw himselfe in so great calamity, and brought to sutch dishonour as earst they were seene to be, by meanes of him that acknowledged one of them for his sonne, and the other for hir lawfull Spouse. Thus was the mariage consummat in presence of the Duke, with so great ioye, and content of all partes, as there was rage and trouble for the Rape of the Bryde. The Duke beinge retourned to Florence, the Brute of this act incontinently was disparkled almost throughout the Region of Italy, and this iudgement no lesse praysed, than the sentence which Kynge Solomon gaue vppon the Controuersie of the two Harlots for the liuing childe, which eyther of them claimed for hir owne. And for this cause was hee extolled aboue any other Prynce or Lorde that in tymes pa.s.sed did commaund or rule the Common wealth wythin the Countrey of Thuscan. In thys wyse that modesty made him worthy of the Princ.i.p.ality, which almost against all ryght he had vsurped, and of a prayse whych shall no lesse continue, than the Memory of man is able to extende the same from one generation to an other, and which those that be Couetous of the prayse of a Prince so vertuous, iust and modest, shal not cease to ill.u.s.trate and gloriously aduaunce him in open euydence, to the ende that hys like may exercise like things, or of greater consequence, by not sufferinge venemous and vnprofitable hearbs to grow within the Garden of their Common wealth. Wythin the which, a little mildew or vntimely rayne, is able to marre and corrupt all the good Seedes and Plantes sowen, and grifted there before: For commonly wicked Weedes and b.a.s.t.a.r.d Impes take deeper roote than those that beare a good and fauorous fruict, for conseruation whereof, the diligent husbandman imployeth his labour throughout all the Seasons of the yeare.
END OF VOL. II.