SHAKESPEARE'S LIBRARY.
PART I.— VOL. I.
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
ROMEO AND JULIET. KING RICHARD II.
HENRY IV. HENRY V.
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. >^
MERCHANT OF VENICE. ' TWELFTH NIGHT
EEV
OL. I.
PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
'si Htfcrarp
A COLLECTION OF THE
PLAYS ROMANCES NOVELS POEMS
AND HISTORIES
EMPLOYED BY
SHAKESPEARE
IN THE COMPOSITION OF HIS WORKS
Snttotiuctions antj $ote0
SECOND EDITION
CAREFULLY REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED
STfje Eext nofo JFtrst fotmeli
from a |lefo Collation of tfje Original Copies
VOLUME THE FIRST
LONDON
REEVES AND TURNER TOO CHANCERY LANE W.C.
PR
H3
\MR COLLIERS PREFACE TO THE
EDITION OF 1844^
THE following work supplies an important deficiency
in our literature as regards Shakespeare : it brings
into one view all that has been recovered of the
sources he employed, in various degrees, in the com
position of such of his dramas as are not derived from
Grecian, Roman, or English History, or were not
formed upon some earlier play. The romances, novels,
and poems to which he resorted are scattered over
many volumes, some of them of the rarest occurrence,
existing only in our public libraries : these are in
cluded in the ensuing pages. We have ventured to
call the work " Shakespeare's Library," since our
great dramatist, in all probability, must have possessed
the books to which he was indebted, and some of
which he applied so directly and minutely to his own
purposes. Until now the ordinary reader of Shake
speare's plays has enjoyed very imperfect means of
judging how far, and in what respects, our most ori
ginal poet was obliged to others, and what he owed
only to the exhaustless resources of his own mind.
He employed the materials supplied by some of his I
predecessors and contemporaries merely as a great /
VOL. i. b
VI ^ MR COLLIERS PREFACE.
painter uses what is called a lay-figure : he borrowed
the position, but invested it himself with drapery,
colour, character, and sentiment. He exceeded all
art, by communicating to it life and action.
It is remarkable, after all that has been written and
accumulated regarding Shakespeare during the last
century and a half, that it should have been left to us,
and to our time, to perform this undertaking, so neces
sary to the formation of a just estimate of his produc
tions. An unsatisfactory attempt of the kind was
made about a century ago, and the commentators
have here and there furnished extracts from most of
the pieces we have reprinted ; but those extracts afford
no adequate opportunity of judging of the works as a
whole.
The Editor has had time to do little more than to
afford a general superintendence, and to prepare the
introductory notices : the intelligent publisher, who
has devoted so much time and study to Shakespearian
literature, has often saved him the trouble of search
ing for materials in public and private depositories,
and of collating the reprints with the originals. For
this part of the task, therefore, Mr Rodd is respon
sible; and in the performance of it he gladly, and
thankfully, acknowledges the ready assistance he has
received from the Rev. Dr Bandinel, of the Bodleian
Library, Oxford, and from the Rev. Mr Smith, of
Trinity College Library, Cambridge.
J. P. C.
KENSINGTON, July 14, 1843.
PREFA CE.
IN his preface attached to the six foundation-plays,
which he published in 1779 at the suggestion of
George Steevens, in two octavo volumes, Nichols puts
the matter both neatly and happily where, in explain
ing the object in view, he states : —
" Their claim to be preserved is built on their having sug
gested such plans as his [Shakespeare's] superior genius and
judgment enabled him to improve. A basket placed by accident
over a weed, and covered with a tile, is recorded by Vitruvius as
the origin of the Corinthian capital."
The facilitation of access, in a convenient form, to
the materials and foundation-stories, which Shake
speare employed, in a greater or less degree, in the
composition of his plays, cannot fail to be of utility
and value, and the idea of such a literary undertaking
occurred to Mr Collier thirty years ago, and was
embodied by him in the publication so well known as
" Shakespeare's Library."
" Shakespeare's Library " was, unfortunately, imper
fect in its range, and not accurate in its texts. As
regards its incompleteness, it may be suggested that.
Vlll PREFACE.
in Mr Collier's view, some of the matter which con
stitutes part of the present series was within reach of
scholars in other shapes ; and so far as the texts are
concerned, it is due to Mr Collier to say that he left
the correction of the proofs to his publisher, who dis
charged the trust unmercifully ill. The collation of
the old copies has proved a laborious, tbut a pro
ductive, operation.
But, once for all, it is proper to guard the reader
against the idea that " Shakespeare's Library " at all
supersedes such publications as the Illustrations of
Douce, and the New Illustrations of Hunter. It is a
companion to those two admirable works, and should
be consulted and read with them; for, in fact, it
would be simply impracticable, if it were not also
beside the object, to assemble together in the follow
ing sheets all the detached scraps and passages from
books which shed an incidental light on places in the
plays — that is, of course, the province of the Editors.
I am only afraid that, by having admitted into the
collection a few such items, either unknown or widely
scattered, I have laid myself open to a charge of in
consistency and of want of a definite plan. But those
who have worked, as I have, at these matters, know
how hard it is to draw the line.
It is doubtful if I have not gone beyond my com
mission a little in admitting " The Northern Lord," a
ballad containing the story of the bond, and the
ballad of " Lear and his Three Daughters ;" but these
weak productions, though in all likelihood never be
held by Shakespeare, and even (almost to a certainty)
PREFACE. IX
later than his day, originated in the popularity and
celebrity of his contributions to the theatre, and so
have for us an interest of a reflected kind.
To this division of the subject and inquiry belong,
of course, the drolls of "Bottom the Weaver" and
" The Bouncing Knight," formed out of particular
scenes in the plays, as well as the altered versions of
the plays in their entirety, which were introduced on
the boards after the Restoration, and that singular
example of a novel built upon a dramatic composi
tion, " The Adventures of Pericles, Prince of Tyre,"
1608, by the younger Wilkins, which has the special
interest of preserving portions of the drama which
were allowed to drop out of the old printed copy.
It has been thought that the ballad-poem of the
" Cruel Uncle," of which the oldest edition extant (or
known) is dated 1670, should be treated as a tradi
tional popular transmission of the historical tragedy
which has blackened the name of Richard III. It is
the same story as the " Babes in the Wood." How
long before 1670 it existed in print, we seem to have
no present evidence. My friend Mr Furnivall urged
me very strongly to include the shorter extracts from
Holinshed, illustrating the Histories, but I have ar
rived at the conclusion that those prose parallels
should rather find a place in an edition of the poet,
where they would enjoy the advantage of immediate
juxtaposition.
Another group of productions there is, which are
apt to secure a certain share of our attention by reason
of being analogues, or of being derivatives from a
X PREFACE.
common source, rather than as originals, to which the
bard of Stratford was immediately under obligations.
This remark applies perhaps especially to those Italian
stories which we have printed hereinafter in connec
tion with the " Merry Wives of Windsor," but of which
no English renderings have so far come to light.
When Shakespeare first commenced his professional
career as a playwright — probably as an improver and
polisher of other men's labours — pitifully slender was
the stock of material capable of being turned by him
to practical account, and such as it was, it was raw.
The poet saw himself surrounded by abundance of
books, but could discern very little literature. In fact,
until Shakespeare's sun rose above the horizon, no
writer of first-rate original powers had appeared in
England, save Spenser, since the death of the author
of the " Canterbury Tales," though Scotland, in the
long interval, had produced D unbar, to whom, per
haps, we should add Lyndsay.
Great, however, as was the dearth of the real ima
ginative and poetical faculty, there neither had been,
nor was, any lack of men of fair ability, whose literary
efforts might supply hints, outlines, and sub-strata, not
to mention here and there cleverly-managed incidents
and well-conceived passages ; and of all these Shake
speare knew how to avail himself in the fullest mea
sure, sifting the ore from the dross with the hand and
eye of a true master. The process of transformation
differed (with the circumstances) both in character and
in degree. In one case, as in the early revision of the
Henry VI. series, the great literary artist satisfied him-
PREFACE. XI
self with a few touches and a little patchwork ; while,
in dealing with the stories of Hamlet and Lear, he
took the widely different course of pulling the old
fabrics to pieces, and rebuilding them up in a manner
consonant with his own theories of human nature and
dramatic art.
Shakespeare also found it possible to create out of
such crude stuff as Greene's " Pandosto " and Lodge's
" Rosalind " such masterpieces of structure and fancy
as the " Winter's Tale " and "As You Like It." Much
the same is to be said of his metamorphosis of " Romeo
and Juliet," where his only ostensible resource lay be
tween Painter's dull tale and Broke's duller poem.
Mr Collier has adduced testimony in favour of the
supposition that the dramatist made considerable use
of Broke ; for the rest, in the absence of better infor
mation, we are bound to conclude that he went to the
novel almost exclusively.
Those interesting and eminently useful men, the
early Italian novelists and story-tellers, produced an
immense stock of workable and improvable matter,
derived from middle-age apologues, actual adventures,
and other sources, which (filtered for the most part
through French strainers) found its way to English
readers and students of and before Shakespeare's day ;
nor, in estimating that poet's ways and means, should
it be forgotten that there was, ready to an author's
hand, a certain proportion of what (from long natural
isation) might be fairly treated as native folk, fairy,
and romantic lore, both in an oral and a printed shape,
as it had come down, transmitted from age to age.
Xll PREFACE.
Mr Furnivall remarks to me, I think justly, in
regard to such plays as " Love's Labour's Lost,"
where the scantiness of materials is at first sight
rather striking, that there being no plot or dramatic
development, but the drama named (for instance)
being a conversation-piece, consisting almost exclu
sively of dialogue and character, we are not to look
for any distinct or specific model or precursor, but
should regard such compositions as the product of
the writer's personal experiences, gleaned from gossip
and u many-tongued " report.
It has already been pointed out that in another
of the Shakespeare series — the " Midsummer Night's
Dream," for which we equally want any original, the
FAIRIES constitute the prominent feature, and occupy
the foreground; and although Plutarch's "Life of
Theseus" has been reprinted as one of the
Shakespeare Lives from North's book, it cannot
be concealed that the dramatist made very little
use of it, and indeed, for the general notion of the
Greek hero and his spouse, is just as likely to have
been indebted to the account of Theseus and Hip-
polita in the " Knight's Tale " of Chaucer, which like
wise enters into our series, as the prototype of " The
Two Noble Kinsmen."1
As to the order in which the matter is here arranged,
it has to be said, that it is, in the main, the order
settled in Mr Furnivall's pamphlet. I have not
entered into this question myself; and I agree with
1 " Fairy Tales, £c., illustrating Shakespeare," 1875, Preface.
PREFACE. Xlll
the opinion lately expressed by Mr Halliwell, that it
is one which continues, and will continue to be,
surrounded by uncertainty, until some absolute evi
dence as to the chronological succession of the plays
shall be discovered.
In preserving the original spelling, I have not so
much followed my own convictions, as deferred to
what I understand to be the wishes and convenience
of those for whose use these volumes are intended,
and who seem to regard a faithful representation of
the old copies with greater favour, in a work of re
ference like the present, than a critical text with
modernised orthography.
The re-edition now in the hands of the public of
" Shakespeare's Library," as we must continue to call
it, for the sake of identification, probably embraces
within its limits all that will ever reach us in the
shape of Shakespeare's sources of information — his*
debt, not a very heavy one, to other pens and other ,
minds j and the volumes will place us in a better '
position to form an estimate of the extent to which
" our ever-living poet " evolved from his miraculous ,
brain works which are a glory to England and
English-speaking men everywhere, exceeding a million- j
fold in worth the "Golden Legacy" of the dull and
pedantic Euphues.
My best thanks are due, in the first place, to Mr
Collier and Mr Halliwell, who, with their habitual
liberality, accorded me leave to make whatever use I
pleased of their Prefaces and Notes ; secondly, to
Mr Furnivall and Mr Simpson, who supplied
XIV PREFACE.
me with a variety of useful suggestions in further
amplification of a plan already amplified somewhat
beyond my original design, and, again, to Mr Henry
Huth, who confided to me, for the purposes of colla
tion, several precious and all but unique books.
But I must not omit to record the obligations of
an equally important character under which I have lain
to Mr B. J. Jeffrey, of the Department of MSS. British
Museum, whose scrupulous accuracy and superior
intelligence render his services as a copyist or collater
of exceptional value. Mr Jeffrey verified for me a
large proportion of the texts introduced here, and the
volumes owe to him the correction of innumerable
errors in the former edition.
W. C. H.
KENSINGTON, April 1875.
SYNTHETICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST:
The Story of Charles, King of Navarre, from Mon-
strelet.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM :
The Life of Theseus, from North's Plutarch.
COMEDY OF ERRORS:
1. Menoechmi, translated from Plautus, by W. W., 1595.
(Part II.}
2. The Story of the Two Brothers of Avignon, [from
Goulart's Admirable and Memorable Histories,
1607, p. 529.]
ROMEO AND JULIET :
1. Romeus and Juliet, a poem by Arthur Broke, 1562.
2. Rhomeo andjulietta, from Painter's Palace of Plea
sure, 1566.
RICHARD III. :
1. The True Tragedy of Richard III., 1594. (Part II.}
2. Legge's Richardus Tertius. (Do.}
XVI CONTENTS.
KING JOHN :
The Troublesome Reign of John, King of England,
1591. (Part II.)
FIRST PART OF HENRY IV. :
SECOND PART OF HENRY IV. :
HENRY V. :
1. The Famous Victories of Henry V., 1598. (Part 77.)
2. Agincourt, the English Bowman 's Glory, a ballad.
SECOND PART OF HENRY VI. :
The First Part of the Contention between the Houses of
York and Lancaster, 1 594. (Part 77.)
THIRD PART OF HENRY VI. :
The True Tragedy of Richard, Duke of York, 1595,
(Do.}
Two GENTLEMEN OF VERONA :
The Story of the Shepherdess Felismena, from the Diana
of Montemayor, 1598.
MERCHANT OF VENICE:
1. The Adventures of Giannetto, from the Pecorone of
Ser Giovanni Fiorentino.
2. Of a Jew who would for his Debt have a Potmd of
the Flesh of a Christian, from the Orator of Alex.
Silvayn, Englished by L. P., 4to, 1596.
3. The Story of the Choice of Three Caskets, from the
English Gesta Romanorum (edit. Madden, pp.
238-43)-
4. The Northern Lord, a ballad.
5. Gernutus, the Jew of Venice, a ballad.
TWELFTH NIGHT :
History of Apollonius and Silla, by Barnaby Rich,
1581.
CONTENTS. XV11
As You LIKE IT:
Rosalynde : EuphueJ Golden Legacie, by Thomas
Lodge, 1592.
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR :
1. The Story of Filenio Sister na of Bologna, from Stra-
parola.
2. The Story of Biicciolo and Pietro Paulo, from the
Pecorone.
3. The Story of Lucius and Camillus.
4. The Story of Nerino of Portugal.
5. The Tale of the Two Lovers of Pisa.
6. The Fishwife's Tale of Brentford.
7. The First Sketch of the Play, 1602. (Part //.)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING :
1. The Story of Ariodanto and Genevra, from Haring-
ton's Ariosto, canto v.
2. The Story of S. Timbreo di Cardona, from Bandello,
parte prima, Nov. 22.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL :
Giletta of Narbona, from Painter's Palace of Pleasitre,
1566.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE :
1. History of Promos and Cassandra, 1578, by George
Whetstone. (Part //.)
2. The same, in prose, from Whetstone's Heptameron,
1582.
3. Similar stories from Goulart's Admirable and Me
morable Histories, 1607 ; and from Giraldi Cinthio,
Nov. 5, decad. 8.
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA :
[It seems eminently probable that Shakespeare's play
was indebted in some degree to an earlier one on
XV1U CONTENTS.
the same subject (no longer known) by Dekker and
Chettle, but the foundation-story was undoubtedly
Chaucer's ; nor is it, on the whole, very likely that
Shakespeare resorted either to Caxton's Recueil or
to Lydgate. See further what is said in the Intro
duction.]
MACBETH :
The History of Makbeth, from Holinshed.
CYMBELINE :
1. Abstract of Boccaccio's tale of Bernabo da Genova,
with an account of an early French miracle-play,
and two French romances, containing incidents
similar to those in the English drama.
2. The Account of Kymbeline, from Holinshed.
3. The Story of the Fishwife of Standon-the-Green,
from Westward for Smelts, 1620.
HAMLET :
The Historie of Hamblet, 1608.
OTHELLO :
The Story of a Moorish Captain, from the Hecatommithi
of Giraldi Cinthio, parte prima, decaterza, Nov. 7.
KING LEAR :
1. The History of Lear, from Holinshed.
2. The same, from the English Gesta Romanorum, edit.
Madden, pp. 450-3.
3. The History of Leir and his Three Daughters, 1605,
a play. (Part //.)
4. Queen Cordela, an historical poem, by John Higins,
from the Mirror for Magistrates.
5. The Story of the Paphalgonian Unkind King, from
Sydney's Arcadia.
6. The Ballad of Lear and his Three Daughters.
CONTENTS. XIX
JULIUS CAESAR :
1. Life of Julius C<zsar, from North's Plutarch.
2. Life of Brutus, from the same.
CORIOLANUS :
The Life of Coriolanus, from North's Plutarch.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA :
The Life of Antony, from North's Plutarch.
THE TEMPEST :
1. Search for the Island of 'Lampedusa, from Harington's
Ariosto, canto xli.
2. The Origin of the " Speech of Gonzalo? from a pas
sage in Florio's Montaigne, 1603.
THE WINTER'S TALE :
The History of Pandosto, by Robert Greene, 1588.
HENRY VIII. :
[" Frequently in Henry VIII. we have all but the very
words of Holinshed." — Dyce.]
1. Selected passages from Holinshed's History of the
Reign of Henry VI I L (edit. 1808, iii. 708, et seq.)
2. Extract from Fox's Martyrs, directly illustrative of a
passage in act v. sc. i.
Two NOBLE KINSMEN :
1. Abstract of the Teseide of Boccaccio.
2. Chaucer's Knight's Tale.
PERICLES :
1. Apollonius of Tyre, from Gower's Confessio A mantis.
2. The Patterne of Painfull Adventures, a novel formed
from Gower and other sources, by Laurence Twine
(i 576V
3. The Life of Pericles, from North's Plutarch.
XX CONTENTS.
TIMON OF ATHENS :
1. Timon, a play anterior to Shakespeare's. (Part If.}
2. The Life of Timon, from Painter's Palace of Pleasure,
1566, vol. i., Nov. 28.
3. Account of Timon, from Sir Richard Barckley's Feli
city of Man, 1598.
TAMING OF A SHREW :
1. The old comedy of the Taming of a Shrew, 1594
(Part //.)
2. Story of the Induction, from Goulart's Admirable
and Memorable Histories, 1607, p. 587.
3. The Waking Man's Fortune, a fragment of an old
story-book, containing an incident similar to that
of the tinker.
4. The Shrewd and Curst Wife Lapped in Morel's
Skin, a poem.
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST.
VOL i.
As in the case of "Henry VIII.," " Troilus and Cressida,"
"Much Ado about Nothing," and "The Tempest," the
labours of three generations of editors and commentators have
so far failed to discover any one production from which the
poet could have framed his own play ; and we must look upon
"Love's Labour's Lost" as, to a large extent, an evolution
from his own brain, and the embodiment of certain scattered
and detached reading. Florio, the translator of Montaigne, is
supposed to have sat for the portrait of Holofemes, and Shake
speare had no difficulty in finding hints or models for Don
Adriano de Armado in the literature and hearsay of his time.
The heroines are largely his own creations.
The annexed extract from Monstrelet, translated by Johnes,
1807, i. 54, is given here in pursuance of a suggestion found in
Dyce's edition of Shakespeare, 1868, ii. 161. But compare
Hunter's "New Illustrations," i. 256.
" CHAPTER XVII.
*' Charles, King of Navarre, negotiates with the King of
France, and obtains the Duchy of Nemours.
" At this same season, Charles, King of Navarre,
came to Paris to wait on the king. He negotiated
so successfully with the king and his privy council,
that he obtained a gift of the castle of Nemours, with
some of its dependent castlewicks, which territory was
made a duchy. He instantly did homage for it, and
at the same time surrendered to the king the castle of
Cherbourg, the county of Evreux, and all other lord
ships he possessed within the kingdom of France,
renouncing all claim and profit in them to the king
and to his successors, on consideration that with this
Duchy of Nemours the King of France engaged to
pay him two hundred thousand gold crowns of the
coin of our lord the king."
A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
THE "Life of Theseus," from North's Plutarch, is the only
distinct production known to be in print at the time of the com
position of this play, to which the poet is likely to have re
sorted ; but there were several tales and legends then current on
the subject of Robin Goodfellow, the fairies, and that class of
folk-lore, which may have furnished hints. See " Fairy Tales,
Legends, and Romances, Illustrating Shakespeare," &c. 1875,
2 vols. 12°.
It is sufficiently well known that out of the interlude, which
constitutes no uninteresting part of "A Midsummer Night's
Dream," though a subordinate one, was formed the droll of
Bottom the Weaver, printed by Kirkman in his " Sport upon
Sport."
The Life of Theseus.
IKE as the historiographers which do set forth
the description of the earth in figure (my friend
Sossius Senecio), are wont to place in the lowermost
part of their maps the far-distant regions unknown
unto them, and to mark in the margin such like notes
and reasons as these : — Beyond these countries are
nothing but deep dry sands without water, full of foul,
ill-favoured, venomous beasts, or much mud unnavig-
able, or Scythia forsaken for cold, or else the sea
frozen with ice. Even so in this my history I could
speak of strange things, and more ancient and further
off from men's memory. But herein I have com
pared the lives of some noble men, the one with the
other, having followed all those times, whereof the
monuments remain yet so whole, that men may speak
of very great likelihood, or rather write a very troth.
What hath been written before is but of strange feign-
ings, and full of monstrous fables, imagined and
devised by poets, which are altogether uncertain, and
most untrue. Howbeit, having heretofore set forth
the lives of Lycurgus (which established the laws of
the Lacedaemonians) and of King Numa Pompilius,
methought I might with reason also ascend unto the
time of Romulus, since I was come so near unto his
time. Wherefore, having long debated with myself
what ^Eschylus the poet said —
8 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
What champion may with such a man compare ?
Or who (thinks I ) shall be against him set ?
Who is so bold ? or who is he that dare
Defend his force in such encounter met ?
In the end I resolved to compare him which did
set up the noble and famous city of Athens unto him
which founded the glorious and invincible city of
Rome, wherein I would have wished that the fables
of her antiquity had been set out so in our writings,
that we might yet have graced them with some
appearance of historical narration. But if by chance
in some places they range a little too boldly out of
the bounds or limits of true appearance, and have no
manner of conformity with any credibleness of matter,
the readers in courtesy must needs hold me excused,
accepting in good part that which may be written
and reported of things so extremely old and ancient.
Now, surely methinks that Theseus in many things
was much like unto Romulus. For being both be
gotten by stealth, and out of lawful matrimony, they
were both bruited to be born of the seed of gods.
Both valiant were, as all the world doth know.
Both were very wise, and strong besides of body.
The one of them built Rome, and the other the city
of Athens, two of the most noble cities of the world.
The one and the other were ravishers of women ; and
neither the one nor the other could avoid the mischief
of quarrel and contention with their friends, and to de
file themselves with the blood of their nearest kinsmen.
Moreover, they say that both the one and the other in
the end did get the hate and ill-will of their citizens.
At the least, if we believe those things which are left
written, and carry greatest show of troth, Theseus, of
his father's side, was descended of the right lineage of
Erichtheus the Great, and of the first inhabitants which
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 9
occupied the country of Attica, the which since were
called Autocthones, as much as to say, as born of
themselves. For there is no memory, or other men
tion made, that they came out of any other country
than that. And of his mother's side he came of Pelops,
who was in his time the mightiest king of all the
country of Peloponnesus ; not so much for his goods
and riches, as for the number of children which he
had. For his daughters, which were many in number,
he bestowed them on the greatest lords of all the
country : his sons also, which likewise were many,
he dispersed into every city and free town, finding
means to make them governors and heads of the same.
Pitheus, grandfather to Theseus on the mother's side,
was one that founded the little city of Troezen, and
was reputed to be one of the best learned and wisest
men of his time. But the knowledge and wisdom
which only carried estimation at that time, consisted
altogether in grave sentences and moral sayings. As
those are which won the poet Hesiodus such fame
for his book entitled "The Works and Days :" in the
which is read, even at this present, this goodly sen
tence, which they father upon Pitheus —
Thou shalt perform thy promise and thy pay
To hired men, and that without delay.
And this doth Aristotle the philosopher himself
testify : and the poet Euripides also, calling Hippo-
litus the scholar of the holy Pitheus, doth sufficiently
declare of what estimation he was. But y£geus, de
siring (as they say) to know how he might have
children, went into the city of Delphes, to the oracle
of Apollo, where, by a nun of the temple, this notable
prophecy was given him for an answer. The which
did forbid him to touch or know any woman, until he
was returned again to Athens. And because the
words of this prophecy were somewhat dark and hard,
10 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
he returned by the city of Troezen, to tell it under
Pitheus. The words of the prophecy were these —
O thou, which art a gem of perfect grace,
Pluck not the tap out of thy trusty tun :
Before thou do, return unto thy place
In Athens' town, from whence thy race doth run.
Pitheus, understanding the meaning, persuaded
him, or rather cunningly by some device deceived
him, in such sort, that he made him to lie with his
daughter, called ^Ethra. y£geus, after he had ac
companied with her, knowing that she was Pitheus'
daughter with whom he had lain, and doubting that
he had gotten her with child, left her a sword and a
pair of shoes, the which he hid under a great hollow
stone, the hollowness whereof served just to receive
those things which he laid under it, and made no
living creature privy to it but her alone, straitly
charging her, that if she happened to have a son,
when he were come to man's estate, and of strength
to remove the stone, and to take those things from
under it which he left there : that she should then
send him unto him by those tokens, as secretly as she
could, that nobody else might know of it. For he
did greatly fear the children of one called Pallas, the
which lay in wait and espial by all the means they
could to kill him, only of despite because he had no
children, they being fifty brethren, and all begotten of
one father. This done, he departed from her. And
JEthra within few months after was delivered of a
goodly son, the which from that time was called
Theseus : and, as some say, so called because of the
tokens of knowledge his father had laid under the
stone. Yet some others write that it was afterwards
at Athens, when his father knew him and avowed him
for his son. But in the meantime, during his infancy
and childhood, he was brought up in the house of his
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. II
grandfather Pitheus, under the government and teach
ing of one called Connidas, his schoolmaster : in
honour of whom the Athenians to this day do sacrifice
a wether, the day before the great feast of Theseus,
having more reason to honour the memory of this
governor, than of a Silanion and of a Parrhasius, to
whom they do honour also, because they painted and
cast moulds of the images of Theseus. Now there
was a custom at that time in Greece, that the young
men, after their infancy and growth to man's state,
went unto the city of Delphes, to offer part of their
hairs in the temple of Apollo. Theseus also went
thither as others did : and some say that the place
where the ceremony of this offering was made hath
ever since kept the old name (and yet continueth)
Theseia. Howbeit he did not shave his head, but
before only, as Homer saith, like the fashion of the
Abantes in old time ; and this manner of shaving of
hairs was called, for his sake, Theseida. And as con
cerning the Abantes, in troth they were the very first
that shaved themselves after this fashion ; nevertheless
they learned it not of the Arabians, as it was thought
of some, neither did they it after the imitation of the
Missians. But because they were warlike and valiant
men, which did join near unto their enemy in battle,
and above all men of the world were skilfullest in
fight hand to hand, and would keep their ground : as
the poet Archilochus witnesseth in these verses —
They use no slings in foughten fields to have.
Nor bended bows ; but swords and trenchant blades.
For when fierce Mars beginnethfor to rave
In bloody field, then every man invades
His fiercest foe, and fighteth hand to hand,
Then do they deeds right cruel to recompt.
For in this wise the brave and warlike band
Do show their force, which come from Negropont.
12 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
The cause why they were thus shaven before was,
for that their enemies should not have the advantage
to take them by the hairs of the head while they were
fighting. And for this selfsame consideration Alex
ander the Great commanded his captains to cause all
the Macedonians to shave their beards ; because it is
the easiest hold, and readiest for the hand, a man can
have of his enemy in fighting, to hold him fast by the
same. But to return to Theseus. ^Ethra, his mother,
had ever unto that time kept it secret from him who
was his true father. And Pitheus also had given it
out abroad that he was begotten of Neptune, because
the Troezenians have this god in great veneration,
and do worship him as patron and protector of their
city, making offerings to him of their first-fruits j and
they have for the mark and stamp of their money the
three-piked mace which is the sign of Neptune, called
his trident. But after he was come to the prime and
lustiness of his youth, and that with the strength of
his body he showed a great courage, joined with a
natural wisdom and staidness of wit, then his mother
brought him to the place where this great hollow stone
lay, and telling him truly the order of his birth, and
by whom he was begotten, made him to take his
father's tokens of knowledge, which he had hidden
there, and gave him counsel to go by sea to Athens
unto him. Theseus easily lift up the stone, and took
his father's tokens from under it ; howbeit he an
swered plainly that he would not go by sea, not
withstanding that it was a great deal the safer way,
and that his mother and grandfather both had instantly
entreated him, because the way by land from Troezen
to Athens was very dangerous, all the ways being
beset by robbers and murderers. For the world at
that time brought forth men which for strongness in
their arms, for swiftness of feet, and for a general
strength of the whole body, did far pass the common
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 13
force of others, and were never weary for any labour
or travail they took in hand. But for all this, they
never employed these gifts of nature to any honest or
profitable thing, but rather delighted villanously to
hurt and wrong others ; as if all the fruit and profit of
their extraordinary strength had consisted in cruelty
and violence only, and to be able to keep others
under and in subjection, and to force, destroy, and
spoil all that came to their hands ; thinking that the
more part of those which think it a shame to do ill,
and commend justice, equity, and humanity, do it of
faint, cowardly hearts, because they dare not wrong
others, for fear they should receive wrong themselves,
and therefore, that they which by might could have
vantage over others had nothing to do with such quiet
qualities. Now Hercules, travelling abroad in the
world, drew away many of those wicked, thievish
murderers, and some of them he slew and put to
death ; other, as he passed through those places
where they kept, did hide themselves for fear of him,
and gave place ; insomuch as Hercules, perceiving
they were well tamed and brought low, made no
further reckoning to pursue them any more. But
after that by fortune he had slain Iphitus with his own
hands, and that he was passed over the seas into the
country of Lydia, where he served Queen Omphale a
long time, condemning himself unto that voluntary
pain for the murder he had committed. All the
realm of Lydia, during his abode there, remained in
great peace and security from such kind of people.
Howbeit in Greece, and all thereabouts, these old
mischiefs began again to renew, growing hotter and
violenter than before ; because there was no man that
punished them, or that durst take upon him to destroy
them. By which occasion, the way to go from Pelo
ponnesus to Athens by land was very perilous. And
therefore Pitheus, declaring unto Theseus what man-
14 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
ner of thieves there were that lay in the way, and the
outrages and villanies they did to all travellers and
wayfaring men, sought the rather to persuade him
thereby to take his voyage across the seas. Howbeit,
in mine opinion, the fame and glory of Hercules'
noble deeds had long before secretly set his heart on
fire, so that he made reckoning of none other but of
him, and lovingly hearkened unto those which would
seem to describe him what manner of man he was,
but chiefly unto those which had seen him, and been
in his company when he had said or done anything
worthy of memory. For then he did manifestly open
himself, and he felt the like passion in his heart which
Themistocles long time afterwards endured when he
said that the victory and triumph of Miltiades would
not let him sleep. For even so, the wonderful admira
tion which Theseus had of Hercules' courage, made
him in the night that he never dreamed but of his
noble acts and doings, and in the day-time pricked
forwards with emulation and envy of his glory, he
determined with himself one day to do the like, and
the rather because they were near kinsmen, being
cousins removed by the mother's side. For ^Ethra
was the daughter of Pitheus, and Alcmena, the mother
of Hercules, was the daughter of Lysidices, the which
was half-sister to Pitheus, both children of Pelops and
of his wife Hippodamia. So he thought he should be
utterly shamed and disgraced that Hercules, travelling
through the world in that sort, did seek out those
wicked thieves, to rid both sea and land of them, and
that he, far otherwise, should fly occasion that might
be offered him to fight with them that he should meet
on his way. Moreover he was of opinion he should
greatly shame and dishonour him whom fame and
common bruit of people reported to be his father, if,
in shunning occasion to fight, he should convey himself
by sea, and should carry to his true father also a pair
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 15
of shoes (to make him known of him), and a sword
not yet bathed in blood. Where he should rather
seek cause, by manifest tokens of his worthy deeds,
to make known to the world of what noble blood he
came, and from whence he was descended. With
this determination Theseus holdeth on his purposed
journey, with intent to hurt no man, yet to defend
himself, and to be revenged of those which would take
upon them to assault him. The first, therefore, whom
he slew within the territories of the city of Epidaurum,
was a robber called Periphetes. This robber used for
his ordinary weapon to carry a club, and for that
cause he was commonly surnamed Corynetes, that is
to say, a club-carrier. So he first strake at Theseus
to make him stand ; but Theseus fought so lustily
with him that he killed him. Whereof he was so glad,
and chiefly for that he had won his club, that ever
after he carried it himself about with him, as Hercules
did the lion's skin. And, like as this spoil of the lion
did witness the greatness of the beast which Hercules
had slain, even so Theseus went all about, showing
that this club, which he had gotten out of another's
hands, was in his own hands invincible. And so,
going on further, in the Straits of Peloponnesus, he
killed another, called Sinnis, surnamed Pityocamtes,
that is to say, a wreather or bower of pineapple-trees,
whom he put to death in that self cruel manner that
Sinnis had slain many other travellers before. Not
that he had experience thereof, by any former practice
or exercise ; but only to show that clean strength
could do more than either art or exercise. This
Sinnis had a goodly fair daughter called Perigouna,
which fled away when she saw her father slain, whom
he followed and sought all about. But she had hidden
herself in a grove full of certain kinds of wild pricking
rushes called staebe, and wild sparage, which she simply
like a child entreated to hide her, as if they had heard
1 6 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
and had sense to understand her, promising them with
an oath that if they saved her from being found, she
would never cut them down nor burn them. But
Theseus finding her, called her, and sware by his faith
he would use her gently, and do her no hurt nor dis
pleasure at all. Upon which promise she came out
of the bush and lay with him, by whom she was con
ceived of a goodly boy, which was called Menalippus.
Afterwards Theseus married her unto one Deioneus,
the son of Euritus the CEchalian. Of this Menalippus,
the son of Theseus, came loxus, the which with
Ornytus brought men into the country of Caria, where
he built the city of loxides. And hereof cometh that
old ancient ceremony, observed yet unto this day by
those of loxides, never to burn the briers of wild
sparage, nor the staebe, but they have them in some
honour and reverence. Touching the wild savage
Sow of Crommyon, otherwise surnamed Phaea, that is
to say, overgrown with age, she was not a beast to be
made light account of, but was very fierce and terrible
to kill. Theseus, notwithstanding, tarried for her, and
killed her in his journey, to the end it should not
appear to the world that all the valiant deeds he did
were done by compulsion and of necessity, adding
thereto his opinion also that a valiant man should not
only fight with men, to defend himself from the
wicked, but that he should be the first to assault and
slay wild hurtful beasts. Nevertheless others have
written that this Phaea was a woman-robber, a mur
derer, and naught of her body, which spoiled those
that passed by the place called Crommyonia, where
she dwelt, and that she was surnamed a Sow for her
beastly, brutish behaviour and wicked life, for the
which in the end she was also slain by Theseus.
After her he killed Sciron, entering into the territories
of Megara, because he robbed all travellers by the
way, as the common report goeth, or, as others say,
THE LIFE OF THESE U§. I 7
for that of a cruel, wicked, and savage pleasure, he
put forth his feet to those that passed by the seaside
and compelled them to wash them. And then, when
they thought to stoop to do it, he still spurned them
with his feet till he thrust them headlong into the sea,
so Theseus threw him headlong down the rocks.
Howbeit the writers of Megara, impugning this com
mon report, and desirous (as Simonides saith) to over
throw it, that had continued by prescription of time,
did maintain that this Sciron was never any robber
nor wicked person, but rather a pursuer and punisher
of the wicked, and a friend and a kinsman of the most
honest and justest men of Greece. For there is no
man but will confess that ^Eacus was the most vir
tuous man among the Grecians in his time, and that
Cychreus the Salamanian is honoured and reverenced
as a god at Athens; and there is no man also but
knoweth that Peleus and Telamon were men of a
singular virtue. Now it is certain that this Sciron was
the son-in-law of Cychreus, father-in-law of u^Eacus,
and grandfather to Peleus and of Telamon, the which
two were the children of Endeida, the daughter of the
said Sciron and of his wife Chariclo. Also it is not
very likely that so many good men would have had
affinity with so naughty and wicked a man, in taking
of him and giving him that which men love best of
all things in the world. And therefore the historio
graphers say that it was not the first time, when
Theseus went unto Athens, that he killed Sciron, but
that it was many days after, when he took the city of
Eleusin, which the Megarians held at that time, where
he deceived the governor of the city called Diocles,
and there he slew Sciron. And these be the objections
the Megarians alleged touching this matter. He slew
also Cercyon the Arcadian, in the city of Eleusin,
wrestling with him. And going a little further, he
slew Damastes, otherwise surnamed Procrustes, in the
VOL. I. B
1 8 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
city of Hermionia, and that by stretching of him out,
to make him even with the length and measure of his
beds, as he was wont to do unto strangers that passed
by. Theseus did that after the imitation of Hercules,
who punished tyrants with the self-same pain and
torment which they had made others suffer. For
even so did Hercules sacrifice Busiris. So he stifled
Antheus in wrestling. So he put Cycrus to death,
fighting with him man to man. So he brake Ter-
merus's head, from whom this proverb of Termerus's
evil came, which continueth yet unto this day; for
this Termerus did use to put them to death in this
sort whom he met, to roll his head against theirs.
Thus proceeded Theseus after this self-manner,
punishing the wicked in like sort, justly compelling
them to abide the same pain and torments which they
before had unjustly made others abide. And so he
held on his journey until he came to the river of
Cephisus, where certain persons of the house of the
Phytalides were the first which went to meet him to
honour him, and at his request they purified him
according to the ceremonies used at that time, and
afterwards having made a sacrifice of propitiation unto
their gods, they made him great cheer in their houses,
and this was the first notable entertainment he found
in all his journey. It is supposed he arrived in the
city of Athens the eighth day of the month of June,
which then they called Cronius. He found the com
monwealth turmoiled with seditions, factions, and
divisions, and particularly the house of ^Egeus in very
ill terms also, because that Medea (being banished
out of the city of Corinth) was come to dwell in
Athens, and remained with .^Egeus, whom she had pro
mised by virtue of certain medicines to make him to
get children. But when she heard tell that Theseus
was come, before that the good King ^Egeus, who was
now become old, suspicious, and afraid of sedition, by
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 19
reason of the great factions within the city at that
time, knew what he was, she persuaded him to poison
him at a feast which they would make him as a
stranger that passed by. Theseus failed not to go to
this prepared feast whereunto he was bidden, but yet
thought it not good to disclose himself. And the
rather to give ^Egeus occasion and means to know
him, when they brought the meat to the board, he
drew out his swprd, as though he would have cut
withal, and showed it unto him. .^Egeus, seeing it,
knew it straight, and forthwith overthrew the cup with
poison which was prepared for him ; and after he had
inquired of him, and asked things, he embraced him
as his son. Afterwards, in the common assembly of
the inhabitants of the city, he declared how he avowed
him for his son. Then all the people received him
with exceeding joy, for the renown of his valiantness
and manhood. And some say that when ^Egeus over
threw the cup, the poison which was in it fell in that
place, where there is at present a certain compass
enclosed all about within the temple, which is called
Delphinium. For even there^ in that place, in the old
time, stood the house of yEgeus, in witness whereof
they call yet at this present time the image of Mercury
(which is on the side of the temple looking towards
the rising of the sun) the Mercury gate of .^Egeus.
But the Pallantides, which before stood always in
hope to recover the realm of Athens, at the least after
JEgeus's death, because he had no children, when they
saw that Theseus was known and openly declared for
his son and heir, and successor to the realm, they
were not able any longer to bear it, seeing that not
only ^Egeus (who was but the adopted son of Pandion,
and nothing at all of the blood royal of the Erictheides)
had usurped the kingdom over them, but that Theseus
also should enjoy it after his death. Whereupon they
determined to make war with them both, and dividing
20 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
themselves into two parts, the one came openly in
arms with their father, marching directly towards the
city; the other lay close in ambush in the village
Gargettus, meaning to give charge upon them in two
places at one instant. Now they brought with them
a herald born in the town of Agnus, called Leos,
who betrayed unto Theseus the secret and device of
all their enterprise. Theseus, upon this intelligence,
went forth, and did set on those that lay in ambush,
and put them all to the sword. The other, which
were in Pallas's company, understanding thereof, did
break and disperse themselves incontinently. And
this is the cause, as some say, why those of Pallena
do never make affinity nor marriage with those of
Agnus at this day, and that in their town when any
proclamation is made, they never speak these words
which are cried everywhere else throughout the whole
country of Attica, Acouete Leos (which is as much
to say as, Hearken, O people) they do so extremely
hate this word Leos, for that it was the herald's name
which wrought them that treason. This done, Theseus,
who would not live idly at home and do nothing, but
desirous therewithal to gratify the people, went his
way to fight with the bull of Marathon, the which did
great mischiefs to the inhabitants of the country of
Tetrapolis. And having taken him alive, brought him
through the city of Athens, to be seen of all the
inhabitants. Afterwards he did sacrifice him unto
Apollo Delphias. Now, concerning Hecale, who was
reported to have lodged him, and to have given him
good entertainment, it is not altogether untrue. For
in the old time, those towns and villages thereabouts
did assemble together, and make a common sacrifice
which they called Hecalesion, in the honour of Jupiter
Hecalian, where they honoured this old woman, call
ing her by a diminutive name, Hecalena; because
that when she received Theseus into her house, being
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 21
then but very young, she made much of him, and
called him by many pretty-made names, as old folks
are wont to call young children. And forasmuch as
she had made a vow to Jupiter to make him a solemn
sacrifice if Theseus returned safe from the enterprise
he went about, and that she died before his return ; in
recompense of the good cheer she had made him, she
had that honour done unto her by Theseus' com
mandment, as Philochorus hath written of it. Shortly
after this exploit, there came certain of King Minos's
ambassadors out of Greta to ask tribute, being now
the third time it v/as demanded, which the Athenians
paid for this cause : Androgeus, the eldest son of
King Minos, was slain by treason within the country of
Attica ; for which cause Minos, pursuing the revenge
of his death, made very hot and sharp wars upon the
Athenians, and did them great hurt. But besides all
this, the goddess did sharply punish and scourge all
the country as well with barrenness and famine as
also with plague and other mischiefs, even to the
drying up of their rivers. The Athenians, perceiving
these sore troubles and plagues, ran to the oracle of
Apollo, who answered them that they should appease
Minos, and when they had made their peace with
him, that then the wrath of the goddess would cease
against them, and their troubles should have an end.
Whereupon the Athenians sent immediately unto him,
and entreated him for peace, which he granted them,
with condition that they should be bound to send
him yearly into Greta seven young boys, and as many
young girls. Now thus far all the historiographers do
very well agree, but in the rest not. And they which
seem farthest off from the truth do declare, that when
these young boys were delivered in Greta they caused
them to be devoured by the Minotaure within the
Labyrinth ; or else that they were shut within this
Labyrinth, wandering up and down, and could find
22 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
no place to get out until such time as they died, even
famished for hunger. And this Minotaure, as Euri
pides the poet saith, was
A corps combined, which monstrous might be deenid ':
A boy, a bull, both man and beast it seem'd.
But Philochorus writeth that the Cretans do not
confess that, but say that this Labyrinth was a jail or
prison in the which they had no other hurt saving
that they which were kept there under lock and key
could not fly nor start away, and that Minos had in
the memory of his son Androgeus instituted games
and plays of prize, where he gave unto them that won
the victory, those young children of Athens, the which
in the meantime notwithstanding were carefully kept
and looked unto in the prison of the Labyrinth, and
that at the first games that were kept one of the king's
captains called Taurus, who was in best credit with
his master, won the prize. This Taurus was a churlish
and naughty natured man of condition, and very hard
and cruel to these children of Athens. And to verify
the same, the philosopher Aristotle himself, speak
ing of the commonwealth of the Bottieians, declareth
very well that he never thought that Minos did at any
time cause the children of Athens to be put to death ;
but saith that they poorly toiled in Creta, even to
crooked age, earning their living by true and painful
service. For it is written that the Cretans (to satisfy
an old vow of theirs which they had made of ancient
time) sent sometime the first-born of their children
unto Apollo in the city of Delphes, and that amongst
them they also mingled those which were descended
of the ancient prisoners of Athens, and they went
with them. But because they could not live there,
they directed their journey first into Italy, where for a
time they remained in the realm of Puglia, and after-
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 2$
wards from thence went into the confines of Thracia,
where they had this name of Bottieians. In memory
whereof, the daughters of the Bottieians, in a solemn
sacrifice they make, do use to sing the foot of this song,
" Let us to Athens go." But thereby we may see how
perilous a thing it is to fall in displeasure and enmity
with a city which can speak well, and where learning
and eloquence doth flourish. For ever since that time
Minos was always blazed and disgraced throughout all
the theatres of Athens. The testimony of Hesiodus,
who calleth him the most worthy king, doth nothing
help him at all, nor the praise of Homer, who nameth
him Jupiter's familiar friend, because the tragical poets
got the upper hand in disgracing him, notwithstanding
all these. And upon their stages, where all the tragedies
were played, they still gave forth many ill-favoured
words and foul speeches of him, as against a man that
had been most cruel and unnatural. Yet most men
think that Minos was the king which established the
laws, and Radamanthus the judge and preserver of
them, who caused the same also to be kept and ob
served. The time now being come about for payment
of the third tribute, when they came to compel the
fathers which had children not yet married to give
them to be put forth to take their chance and lot, the
citizens of Athens began to murmur against ^Egeus,
alleging for their griefs that he who only was the
cause of all this evil, was only alone exempted from
this grief. And that to bring the government of the
realm to fall into the hands of a stranger his bastard,
he cared not though they were bereft of all their
natural children, and were unnaturally compelled to
leave and forsake them. These just sorrows and
complaints of the fathers whose children were taken
from them, did pierce the heart of Theseus, who, will
ing to yield to reason, and to run the self-same fortune
as the citizens did, willingly offered himself to be sent
24 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
thither, without regard taking to his hap or adventure.
For which the citizens greatly esteemed of his courage
and honourable disposition, and dearly loved him for
the good affection he seemed to bear unto the com
monalty. But ^Egeus, having used many reasons and
persuasions to cause him to turn and stay from his
purpose, and perceiving in the end there was no
remedy but he would go, he then drew lots for the
children which should go with him. Hellanicus, not
withstanding, doth write, that they were not those of
the city which drew lots for the children they should
send, but that Minos himself went thither in person
and did choose them, as he chose Theseus the first,
upon conditions agreed between them — that is, to wit,
that the Athenians should furnish them with a ship,
and that the children should ship and embark with him,
carrying no weapons of war, and that after the death
of the Minotaure this tribute should cease. Now
before that time there was never any hope of return,
nor of safety of their children, therefore the Athenians
always sent a ship to convey their children with a
black sail, in token of assured loss. Nevertheless
Theseus, putting his father in good hope of him, being
of a good courage, and promising boldly that he
would set upon this Minotaure, ^Egeus gave unto the
master of the ship a white sail, commanding him that
at his return he should put out the white sail if his
son had escaped, if not, that then he should set up
the black sail, to show him afar off his unlucky and un
fortunate chance. Simonides, notwithstanding, doth
say that this sail which y£geus gave to the master
was not white but red, dyed in grain, and of the
colour of scarlet, and that he gave it him to signify
afar off their delivery and safety. The master was
called Phereclus Amarsiadas, as Simonides saith. But
Philochorus writeth, that Sirus the Salamanian gave
to Theseus a master called Nausitheus, and another
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 2$
mariner to tackle the sails, who was called Phaeas,
because the Athenians at that time were not greatly
practised to the sea. And this did Scirus, for that one
of the children on whom the lot fell was his nephew,
and thus much the chapels do testify which Theseus
built afterwards in honour of Nausitheus and of Phaeas,
in the village of Phalerus, joining to the temple of
Scirus. And it is said, moreover, that the feast which
they call Cybernesia, that is to say, the feast of
patrons of the ships, is celebrated in honour of them.
Now after the lots were drawn, Theseus, taking with
him the children allotted for the tribute, went from
the palace to the temple called Delphinion, to offer
up to Apollo for him and for them an offering of
supplication which they call Hiceteria, which was an
olive bough hallowed, wreathed about with white
wool. After he had made his prayer, he went down to
the seaside to embark, the sixth day of the month of
March, on which day at this present time they do send
their young girls to the same temple of Delphinion,
there to make their prayers and petitions to the goddess.
But some say that the oracle of Apollo in the city of
Delphes had answered him, that he should take Venus
for his guide, and that he should call upon her to con
duct him in his voyage ; for which cause he did sacri
fice a goat unto her upon the seaside, which was found
suddenly turned into a ram, and that therefore they
surnamed this goddess Epitragia, as one would say,
the goddess of the ram. Furthermore, after he was
arrived in Greta, he slew there the Minotaure (as the
most part of ancient authors do write) by the means
and help of Ariadne, who, being fallen in fancy with
him, did give him a clue of thread, by the help whereof
she taught him how he might easily wind out of the
turnings and cranks of the Labyrinth. And they say,
that having killed this Minotaure, he returned back
again the same way he went, bringing with him those
26 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
other young children of Athens, whom with Ariadne
also he carried afterwards away. Pherecides saith,
moreover, that he brake the keels or bottoms of all
the ships of Greta, because they should not suddenly
set out after them. And Demon writeth, that Taurus,
the captain of Minos, was killed in a fight by Theseus,
even in the very haven mouth as they were ready to
ship away and hoist up sail. Yet Philochorus report-
eth, that King Minos, having set up the games, as he
was wont to do yearly in the honour and memory of
his son, every one began to envy captain Taurus, be
cause they ever looked that he should carry away the
game and victory, as he had done other years before ;
over and above that, his authority got him much ill-
will and envy, because he was proud and stately, and
had in suspicion that he was great with Queen Pasiphae.
Wherefore when Theseus required he might encounter
with Taurus, Minos easily granted it. And being a
solemn custom in Greta that the women should be
present, to see these open sports and sights, Ariadne
being at these games amongst the rest, fell further in
love with Theseus, seeing him so goodly a person, so
strong and invincible in wrestling, that he far exceeded
all that wrestled there that day. King Minos was so
glad that he had taken away the honour from captain
Taurus, that he sent him home frank and free into his
country, rendering to him all the other prisoners of
Athens, and for his sake clearly released and forgave
the city of Athens the tribute which they should have
paid him yearly. Howbeit Clidemus, searching out
the beginning of these things to the utmost, reciteth
them very particularly, and after another sort. For
he saith, about that time there was a general restraint
throughout all Greece, restraining all manner of people
to bear sail in any vessel or bottom wherein there
were above five persons, except only Jason, who was
chosen captain of the great ship Argus, and had com-
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 27
mission to sail everywhere, to chase and drive away
rovers and pirates, and to scour the seas throughout.
About this time Daedalus, being fled from Greta to
Athens in a little bark, Minos, contrary to this re
straint, would needs follow him with a fleet of divers
vessels with oars, who being by force of weather driven
with the coast of Sicily, fortuned to die there. After
wards his son Deucalion, being marvellously offended
with the Athenians, sent to summon them to deliver
Daedalus unto him, or else he would put the children
to death which were delivered to his father for hos
tages. But Theseus excused himself, and said he
could not forsake Daedalus, considering he was his
near kinsman, being his cousin-german, for he was the
son of Merope, the daughter of Erichtheus. Howbeit
by and by he caused many vessels secretly to be made,
part of them within Attica itself, in the village of
Thymetades, far from any highways, and part of them
in the city of Troezen, by the sufferance of Pitheus
his grandfather, to the end his purpose should be kept
the secretlier. Afterwards, when all his ships were
ready and rigged out, he took sea before the Cretans
had any knowledge of it ; insomuch as when they saw
them afar off, -they did take them for the barks of
their friends. Theseus landed without resistance, and
took the haven. Then having Daedalus and other
banished Cretans for guides, he entered the city self
of Gnosus, where he slew Deucalion in a fight before
the gates of the Labyrinth, with all his guard and
officers about him. By this means the kingdom of
Creta fell by inheritance into the hands of his sister
Ariadne. Theseus made league with her, and carried
away the young children of Athens which were kept
as hostages, and concluded peace and amity between
the Athenians and the Cretans, who promised and
swore they would never make wars against them.
They report many other things also touching this
28 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
matter, and specially of Ariadne, but there is no truth
nor certainty in it. For some say that Ariadne hung
herself for sorrow when she saw that Theseus had cast
her off. Others write that she was transported by
mariners into the Isle of Naxos, where she was mar
ried unto CEnarus, the priest of Bacchus, and they
think that Theseus left her because he was in love
with another, as by these verses should appear —
j&gles the nymph was loved of Theseus ;
Who was the daughter of Panopeus.
Hereas the Megarian saith that these two verses in
old time were among the verses of the poet Hesiodus,
howbeit Pisistratus took them away, as he did in like
manner add these other here in the description of the
hells in Homer, to gratify the Athenians —
Bold Theseus, and Pirithous stout,
Descended both from gods immortal race,
Triumphing still this weary world about
In feats of arms, and many a comely grace.
Others hold opinion that Ariadne had two children
by Theseus : the one of them was named (Enopion,
and the other Staphylus. Thus amongst others the
poet Ion writeth it, who was born in the Isle of Chio,
and speaking of this city, he saith thus —
(Enopion, which was the son of worthy Theseus,
Did cause men build this stately town, which now
triumpheth thus.
Now what things are found seemly in poets' fables,
there is none but doth in manner sing them. But
one Paenon, bora in the city of Amathunta, reciteth
this clean after another sort, and contrary to all other,
saying that Theseus by tempest was driven with the
Isle of Cyprus, having with him Ariadne, which was
great with child, and so sore sea-sick that she was not
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 2$
able to abide it. Insomuch as he was forced to put
her a-land, and himself afterwards returning aboard,
hoping to save his ship against the storm, was forth
with compelled to loose into the sea. The women
of the country did courteously receive and entreat
Ariadne, and to comfort her again, for she was mar
vellously out of heart to see she was thus forsaken, they
counterfeited letters, as if Theseus had written them
to her. And when her groaning-time was come, and
she to be laid, they did their best by all possible means
to save her ; but she died notwithstanding in labour,
and could never be delivered. So she was honourably
buried by the ladies of Cyprus. Theseus, not long
after, re turned thither again, who took her death marvel
lous heavily, and left money with the inhabitants of the
country to sacrifice unto her yearly, and for memory of
her, he caused two little images to be molten, the one
of copper and the other of silver, which he dedicated
unto her. This sacrifice is done the second day of
September, on which they do yet observe this cere
mony ; they do lay a young child upon a bed, which
pitifully crieth and lamenteth, as women travailing
with child. They say also that the Amathusians do
yet call the grove where her tomb is set up, the wood
of Venus Ariadne. And yet there are of the Naxians
that report this otherwise, saying there were two
Minoses, and two Ariadnes, whereof the one was mar
ried to Bacchus in the Isle of Naxos, of whom Sta-
phylus was born, and the other, the youngest, was
ravished and carried away by Theseus, who afterwards
forsook her, and she came into the Isle of Naxos with
her nurse, called Corcyna, whose grave they do show
yet to this day. The second Ariadne died there also,
but she had no such honour done to her after her
death as to the first was given. For they celebrate
the feast of the first with all joy and mirth, where the
sacrifices done in memory of the second be mingled
30 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
with mourning and sorrow. Theseus, then departing
from the Isle of Greta, arrived in the Isle of Delos,
where he did sacrifice in the temple of Apollo, and
gave there a little image of Venus, the which he had
gotten of Ariadne. Then with the other young boys
that he had delivered, he danced a kind of dance,
which the Delians keep to this day, as they say, in
which there are many turns and returns, much after
the turnings of the Labyrinth. And the Delians call
this manner of dance the crane, as Dicsearcus saith.
And Theseus danced it first about the altar, which is
called Ceraton — that is to say, horn-staff, because it
is made and builded of horns only, all on the left
hand well and curiously set together without any
other binding. It is said also that he made a game
in this Isle of Delos, in which at the first was given
to him that overcame a branch of palm for reward of
victory. But when they drew near the coast of Attica,
they were so joyful, he and his master, that they forgot
to set up their white sail, by which they should have
given knowledge of their health and safety unto
^Egeus, who, seeing the black sail afar off, being out
of all hope ever more to see his son again, took such
a grief at his heart, that he threw himself headlong
from the top of a cliff and killed himself. So soon as
Theseus was arrived at the port named Phalerus, he
performed the sacrifices which he had vowed to the
gods at his departure, and sent a herald of his before
unto the city to carry news of his safe arrival. The
herald found many of the city mourning the death of
King ^Egeus. Many others received him with great
joy, as may be supposed. They would have crowned
him also with a garland of flowers, for that he had
brought so good tidings, that the children of the city
were returned in -safety. The herald was content to
take the garland, yet would he not in anywise put it
on his head, but did wind it about his herald's rod he
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 31
bore in his hand, and so returneth forthwith to the
sea, where Theseus made his sacrifices, who, per
ceiving they were not yet done, did refuse to enter
into the temple, and stayed without for troubling of
the sacrifices. Afterwards, all ceremonies finished, he
went in and told him the news of his father's death.
Then he and his company, mourning for sorrow, hasted
with speed towards the city. And this is the cause
why to this day at the feast called Oscophoria (as
who would say the feast of boughs) the herald hath
not his head but his rod only crowned with flowers,
and why the assistants also after the sacrifice done,
do make such cries and exclamations : Ele, leuf, mi,
iou, whereof the first is the cry and voice they com
monly use one to another to make haste, or else it is
the foot of some song of triumph, and the other is the
cry and voice of men as it were in fear and trouble.
After he had ended the obsequies and funerals for his
father, he performed also his sacrifices unto Apollo
which he had vowed the seventh day of the month of
October, on which they arrived at their return into
the city of Athens. Even so the custom which they
use at this day to seethe all manner of pulse, cometh
of this, that those which then returned with Theseus
did seethe in a great brass pot all the remains of their
provision, and therewith made good cheer together.
Even in such sort as this came up the custom to carry
a branch of olive, wreathed about with wool, which
they call Iresione, because at that time they carried
boughs of supplication, as we have told ye before.
About which they hang all sorts of fruits ; for then
barrenness did cease, as the verses they sang after
wards did witness : —
Bring him good bread that is of savoury taste,
With pleasant figs, and drops of dulcet me/!,
Then supple oil, his body for to baste,
And pure good wine, to make him sleep full well.
32 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
Howbeit there are some which will say that these
verses were made for the Heraclides — that is to say,
those that descended from Hercules — which, flying
for their safety and succour unto the Athenians, were
entertained and much made of by them for a time.
But the most part hold opinion they were made upon
the occasion aforesaid. The vessel in which Theseus
went and returned was a galliot of thirty oars, which
the Athenians kept until the time of Demetrius the
Phalerian, always taking away the old pieces of wood
that were rotten, and ever renewing them with new in
their places. So that ever since, in the disputations
of the philosophers, touching things that increase — to
wit, whether they remain always one, or else they be
made others — this galliot was always brought in for
example of doubt. For some maintained that it was
still one vessel, others to the contrary defended it was
not so. And they hold opinion also that the feast of
boughs, which is celebrated at Athens at this time,
was then first of all instituted by Theseus. It is said,
moreover, that he did not carry all the wenches upon
whom the lots did fall, but chose two fair young boys,
whose faces were sweet and delicate as maidens' be,
that otherwise were hardy and quick spirited. But he
made them so oft bathe themselves in hot baths, and
keep them in from the heat of the sun, and so many
times to wash, anoint, and rub themselves with oils,
which serve to supple and smooth their skins, to keep
fresh and fair their colour, to make yellow and bright
their hairs, and withal did teach them so to counter
feit the speech, countenance, and fashion of young
maids, that they seemed to be like them, rather than
young boys. For there was no manner of difference
to be perceived outwardly, and he mingled them with
the girls, without the knowledge of any man. After
wards, when he was returned, he made a procession,
in which both he and the other young boys were
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 33
appareled then as they be now, which carry boughs
on the day of the feast in their hands. They carry
them in the honour of Bacchus and Ariadne, following
the fable that is told of them, or rather because they
returned home just at the time and season when they
gather the fruit of those trees. There are women
which they call Deipnophores — that is to say, supper-
carriers, which are assistants to the sacrifice done that
day, in representing the mothers of those upon whom
the lots did fall, because they in like sort brought
them both meat and drink. There they tell tales, for
so did their mothers tattle to their children, to com
fort and encourage them. All these particularities
were written by Demon, the historiographer. There
was, moreover, a place chosen out to build him a
temple in, and he himself ordained that those houses
which had paid tribute before unto the King of Greta,
should now yearly thenceforth become contributories
towards the charges of a solemn sacrifice which should
be done in the honour of him, and he did assign the
order and administration of the same unto the house
of the Phytalides, in recompense of the courtesy which
they showed him when he arrived. Furthermore, after
the death of his father ^Egeus, he undertook a mar
vellous great enterprise, for he brought all the inha
bitants of the whole province of Attica to be within
the city of Athens, arid made them all one corporation
which were before dispersed into divers villages, and
by reason thereof were very hard to be assembled
together when occasion was offered to establish any
order concerning the common state. Many times
also they were at variance together, and by the ears,
making wars one upon another. But Theseus took
the pains to go from village to village, and from family
to family, to let them understand the reasons why they
should consent unto it. So he found the poor people
and private men ready to obey and follow his will,
VOL. i. c
34 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
but the rich, and such as had authority in every vil
lage, all against it. Nevertheless he won them, pro
mising that it should be a commonwealth, and not
subject to the power of any sole prince, but rather a
popular state, in which he would only reserve to him
self the charge of the wars and the preservation of the
laws ; for the rest, he was content that every citizen
in all and for all should bear a like sway and authority.
So there were some that willingly granted thereto.
Others who had no liking thereof, yielded notwith
standing for fear of his displeasure and power, which
then was very great. So they thought it better to
consent with good-will unto that he required, than to
tarry his forcible compulsion. Then he caused all
the places where justice was ministered, and all their
halls of assembly, to be overthrown and pulled down.
He removed straight all judges and officers, and built
a town-house and a council-hall in the place where
the city now standeth, which the Athenians call A sty,
but he called the whole corporation of them, Athens.
Afterwards he instituted the great feast and common
sacrifice for all of the country of Attica, which they
call Panathenaea. Then he ordained another feast
also -upon the sixteenth day of the month of June, for
all strangers which should come to dwell in Athens,
which was called Metsecia, and is kept even to this
day. That done, he gave over his regal power, ac
cording to his promise, and began to set up an estate
or policy of a commonwealth, beginning first with the
service of the gods. To know the good success of
his enterprise, he sent at the very beginning to the
oracle of Apollo in Delphes, to inquire of the fortune
of this city; from whence this answer was brought
unto him —
O thou which art the son o
Begot by him on Pitheus* daughter dear
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 35
TJie mighty Jove ', my father glorious,
By his decree hath said there shall appear
A fatal end of every city here.
Which end he will shall also come adown,
Within the walls of this thy stately town.
Therefore show thou a valiant, constant mind,
And let no care nor cark thy heart displease.
For like unto a bladder bloivn with wind
Thou shalt be tost upon the surging seas.
Yet let no dint of dolours thee disease.
For why 1 thou shalt nor perish nor decay,
Nor be overcome, nor yet be cast away.
It is found written also, that Sibylla afterwards gave
out such a like oracle over the city of Athens —
The bladder blown may fleet upon the flood,
But ca?inot sink, nor stick in filthy mud.
Moreover, because he would further yet augment
his people and enlarge his city, he enticed many to
come and dwell there by offering them the selfsame
freedom and privileges which the natural-born citizens
had. So that many judge that these words which are
in use at this day in Athens, when any open pro
clamation is made, All people, come ye hither, be the
selfsame which Theseus then caused to be proclaimed
when he in that sort did gather a people together of
all nations. Yet for all that, he suffered not the great
multitude that came thither, tag-and-rag, to be with
out distinction of degrees and orders. For he first
divided the noblemen from husbandmen and artificers,
appointing the noblemen as judges and magistrates
to judge upon matters of religion, and touching the
service of the gods ; and of them also he did choose
rulers, to bear civil office in the commonweal, to de
termine the law, and to tell all holy and divine things.
By this means he made the noblemen and the two
36 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
other estates equal in voice. And as the noblemen
did pass the other in honour, even so the artificers
exceeded them in number, and the husbandmen them
in profit Now that Theseus was the first who of all
others yielded to have a commonweal or popular
estate (as Aristotle saith), and did give over his regal
power : Homer's self seemeth to testify it, in number
ing the ships which were in the Grecians' army before
the city of Troy. For amongst all the Grecians he
only calleth the Athenians people. Moreover, Theseus
coined money, which he marked with the stamp of an
ox, in memory of the bull of Marathon, or of Taurus,
the captain of Minos, or else to provoke his citizens
to give themselves to labour. They say also that of
this money they were since called Hetacombceon, and
Decaboeon, which signifieth worth a hundred oxen,
and worth ten oxen. Furthermore, having joined all
the territory of the city of Megara unto the country
of Attica, he caused that notable four-square pillar to
be set up for their confines within the Strait of Pelo
ponnesus, and engraved thereupon this superscription,
that declareth the separation of both the countries
which confine there together. The superscription is
this—
Where Titan doth begin his beams for to display,
Even that way stands Ionia, in fertile wise alway :
And where again he goeth adown to take his rest,
There stands Peloponnesus1 land, for there I compt it
west.
It was he also which made the games called
Isthmia, after the imitation of Hercules, to the end
that as the Grecians did celebrate the feast of games
called Olympia, in the honour of Jupiter, by Her-
cules's ordinance, so that they should also celebrate
the games called Isthmia, by his order and institution,
in the honour of Neptune. For those that were done
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 37
in the Straits in the honour of Melicerta, were done
in the night, and had rather form of sacrifice or of a
mystery than of games and open feast. Yet some
will say that these games of Isthmia were instituted in
the honour and memory of Sciron, and that Theseus
ordained them in satisfaction of his death, because he
was his cousin-german, being the son of Canethus and
of Heniocha, the daughter of Pitheus. Others say
that it was Sinnis and not Sciron, and that for him
Theseus made these games, and not for the memory
of the other. Howsoever it was, he especially willed
the Corinthians that they should give unto those that
came from Athens to see their games of Isthmia so
much place to sit down before them (in the most
honourable part of the feast-place) as the sail of their
ship should cover in the which they came from
Athens ; thus do Hellanicus and Andron Halicarnas-
seus write hereof. Touching the voyage he made by
the sea, Major, Philochorus, and some others, hold
opinion that he went thither with Hercules against
the Amazons, and that to honour his valiantness
Hercules gave him Antiopa the Amazon. But the
more part of the other historiographers, namely, Hel
lanicus, Pherecides, and Herodotus, do write that
Theseus went thither alone after Hercules's voyage,
and that he took this Amazon prisoner, which is
likeliest to be true. For we do not find that any
other who went this journey with him had taken any
Amazon prisoner besides himself. Bion also, the
historiographer, this notwithstanding, saith that he
brought her away by deceit and stealth. For the
Amazons (saith he) naturally loving men, did not
flee at all when they saw them land in their country,
but sent them presents, and that Theseus enticed her
to come into his ship, who brought him a present, and
so soon as she was aboard, he hoisted his sail, and so
carried her away. Another historiographer, Mene-
38 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
crates, who wrote the history of the city of Nicea, in
the country of Bythinia, saith that Theseus, having this
Amazon Antiopa with him, remained a certain time
upon those coasts, and that amongst others, he had
in his company three younger brethren of Athens,
Euneus, Thoas, and Solois. This last, Solois, was
marvellously in love with Antiopa, and never betrayed
it to any of his other companions, saving unto one
with whom he was most familiar, and whom he trusted
best, so that he reported this matter unto Antiopa.
But she utterly rejected his suit, though otherwise she
handled it wisely and courteously, and did not com
plain to Theseus of him. Howbeit, the young man,
despairing to enjoy his love, took it so inwardly, that
desperately he leapt into the river and drowned him
self; which when Theseus understood, and the cause
also that brought him to this desperation and end, he
was very sorry and angry also. Whereupon he re
membered a certain oracle of Pythia, by whom he
was commanded to build a city in that place in a
strange country where he should be most sorry, and
that he should leave some that were about him at
that time to govern the same. For this cause, there
fore, he built a city in that place, which he named
Pythopolis, because he had built it only by the com
mandment of the nun Pythia. He called the river in
the which the young man was drowned Solois, in
memory of him, and left his two brethren for his
deputies, and as governors of this new city, with an
other gentleman of Athens, called Hermus. Hereof
it cometh that at this day the Pythopolitans call a
certain place of their city Hermus's house. But they
fail in the accent, by putting it upon the last syllable ;
for in pronouncing it so Hermus signifieth Mercury.
By this means they do transfer the honour due to the
memory of Hermus unto the god Mercury. Now
hear what was the occasion of the wars of the
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 39
Amazons, which methinks was not a matter of small
moment, nor an enterprise of a woman. For they
had not placed their camp within the very city of
Athens, nor had not fought in the very place itself
(called Pnyce) adjoining to the temple of the Muses,
if they had not first conquered or subdued all the
country thereabouts ; neither had they all come at the
first so valiantly to assail the city of Athens. Now,
whether they came by land from so far a country, or
that they passed over an arm of the sea which is
called Bosphorus Cimmericus, being frozen, as Hel-
lanicus saith, it is hardly to be credited. But that
they camped within the precincts of the very city
itself, the names of the places which continue yet to
this present day do witness it, and the graves also of
the women which died there. But so it is, that both
armies lay a great time one in the face of the other
ere they came to battle. Howbeit, at the length
Theseus, having first made sacrifice unto Fear, the
goddess, according to the counsel of a prophecy he
had received, he gave them battle in the month of
August, on the same day in the which the Athenians
do even at this present solemnise the feast which
they call Boedromia. But Clidemus, the historio
grapher, desirous particularly to write all the circum
stances of this encounter, saith that the left point of
their battle bent towards the place which they call
Amazonion, and that the right point marched by the
side of Chrysa, even to the place which is called
Pnyce, upon which the Athenians, coming towards the
temple of the Muses, did first give their charge. And
for proof that this is true, the graves of the women
which died in the first encounter are found yet in the
great street which goeth toward the gate Piraica, near
unto the chapel of the little god Chalclodus. And
the Athenians (saith he) were in this place repulsed
by the Amazons, even to the place where the images
40 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
of Eumenides are, that is to say, of the furies. But
on the other side also, the Athenians, coming towards
the quarters of Palladium, Ardetus and Lucium drave
back their right point even to within their camp, and
slew a great number of them. Afterwards, at the end
of four months, peace was taken between them by
means of one of the women called Hyppolita. For this
historiographer calleth the Amazon which Theseus
married Hyppolita, and not Antiopa. Nevertheless,
some say that she was slain (fighting on Theseus's
side) with a dart, by another called Molpadia. In
memory whereof the pillar which is joined to the
temple of the Olympian ground was set up in her
honour. We are not to marvel if the history of things
so ancient be found so diversely written. For there
are also that write that Queen Antiopa sent those
secretly which were hurt then into the city of Calcide,
where some of them recovered and were healed, and
others also died, which were buried near to the place
called Amazonion. Howsoever it was, it is most cer
tain that this war was ended by agreement. For a
place adjoining to the temple of Theseus doth bear
record of it, being called Orcomosium, because the
peace was there by solemn oath concluded. And the
sacrifice also doth truly verify it which they have made
to the Amazons, before the feast of Theseus, long
time out of mind. They of Megara also do show a
tomb of the Amazons in their city, which is as they
go from the market-place to the place they call Rhus,
where they find an ancient tomb, cut in fashion and
form of a lozenge. They say that there died others
of the Amazons also, near unto the city of Chaeronea,
which were buried all alongst the little brook passing
by the same, which in the old time (in mine opinion)
was called Thermodon, and is now named H Demon,
as we have other places written in the life of Demos
thenes. And it seemeth also that they did not pass
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 41
through Thessaly without fighting ; for there are seen
yet of their tombs all about the city of Scotusa, hard
by the rocks, which be called the dog's head. And
this is that which is worthy memory (in mine opinion)
touching the wars of these Amazons. How the poet
telleth that the Amazons made wars with Theseus to
revenge the injury he did to their Queen Antiopa,
refusing her to marry with Phaedra, and for the mur
der which he telleth that Hercules did, that methinks
is altogether but device of poets. It is very true that
after the death of Antiopa Theseus married Phsedra,
having had before of Antiopa a son called Hippolytus,
or as the poet Pindarus writeth, Demophon. And
for that the historiographers do not in anything speak
against the tragical poets, in that which concerned!
the ill-hap that chanced to him in the persons of this
his wife and of his son, we must needs take it to be
so as we find it written in the tragedies. And yet
we find many other reports touching the marriages
of Theseus, whose beginnings had no great good
honest ground, neither fell out their ends very for
tunate ; and yet for all that they have made no tra
gedies of them, neither have they been played in the
theatres. For we read that he took away Anaxo, the
Troezenian, and that after he had killed Sinnis and
Cercyon, he took their daughters perforce ; and that
he did also marry Peribaea, the mother of Ajax, and
afterwards Pherebaea, and Joppa, the daughter of
Iphicles. And they blame him much also for that he
so lightly forsook his wife Ariadne for the love of
^Egles, the daughter of Panopaeus, as we have recited
before. Lastly, he took away Helen : which ravish
ment filled all the realm of Attica with wars, and
finally was the very occasion that forced him to for
sake his country, and brought him at the length to
his end, as we will tell you hereafter. Albeit in his
time other princes of Greece had done many goodly
42 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
and notable exploits in the wars, yet Herodotus is of
opinion that Theseus was never in any one of them,
saving that he was at the battle of the Lapithae against
the Centauri. Others say to the contrary that he was
at the journey of Cholchide with Jason, and that he
did help Meleager to kill the wild boar of Calcydonia,
from whence (as they say) this proverb came : Not
without Theseus, meaning that such a thing was not
done without great help of another. Howbeit it is
certain that Theseus's self did many famous acts,
without aid of any man, and that for his valiantness
this proverb came in use, which is spoken : This is
another Theseus. Also he did help Adrastus, King
of the Argives, to recover the bodies of those that
were slain in the battle before the city of Thebes.
Howbeit it was not, as the poet Euripides saith, by
force of arms, after he had overcome the Thebans in
battle, .but it was by composition. And thus the
greatest number of the most ancient writers do declare
it. Furthermore, Philochorus writeth that this was
the first treaty that ever was made to recover the dead
bodies slain in battle ; nevertheless we do read in the
histories and jests of Hercules that he was the first
that ever suffered his enemies to carry away their dead
bodies, after they had been put to the sword. But
whosoever he was;at this dayin thevillage of Eleutheres
they do show the place where the people were buried,
and where princes' tombs are seen about the city of
Eleusin, which he made at the request of Adrastus.
And for testimony hereof, the tragedy ^Eschylus made
of the Eleusinians, where he cause th it to be spoken
even thus to Theseus himself, doth clearly overthrow
the petitioners in Euripides. Touching the friendship
betwixt Pirithous and him, it is said it began thus.
The renown of his valiancy was marvellously blown
abroad through all Greece, and Pirithous, desirous to
know it by experience, went even of purpose to invade
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 43
his country, and brought away a certain booty of oxen
of his taken out of the country of Marathon. Theseus,
being advertised thereof, armed straight, and went to
the rescue. Pirithous, hearing of his coming, fled not
at all, but returned back suddenly to meet him. And
so soon as they came to see one another, they both
wondered at each other's beauty and courage, and so
had they no desire to fight. But Pirithous, reach
ing out his hand first to Theseus, said unto him : I
make yourself judge of the damage you have sustained
by my invasion, and with all my heart I will make
such satisfaction as it shall please you to assess it at.
Theseus then did not only release him of all the
damages he had done, but also requested him he
would become his friend and brother-in-arms. Here
upon they were presently sworn brethren in the field,
after which oath betwixt them, Pirithous married
Deidamia, and sent to pray Theseus to come to his
marriage, to visit his country, and to make merry
with the Lapithse. He had bidden also the Centauri
to the feast, who being drunk, committed many lewd
parts, even to the forcing of women. Howbeit the
Lapithse chastised them so well, that they slew some
of them presently in the place, and drave the rest for
wards out of the country by the help of Theseus, who
armed himself and fought on their side. Yet Hero
dotus writeth the matter somewhat contrary, saying
that Theseus went not at all until the war was well
begun ; and that it was the first time that he saw
Hercules, and spake with him near unto the city of
Trachina, when he was then quiet, having ended all
his far voyages and greatest troubles. They report
that this meeting together was full of great cheer,
much kindness and honourable entertainment between
them, and great courtesy was offered to each other.
Nevertheless methinks we should give better credit to
those writers that say they met many times together,
44 THE L1FE OF THESEUS.
and that Hercules was accepted and received into the
brotherhood of the mysteries of Eleusin, by the means
of the countenance and favour which Theseus showed
unto him, and that his purification also was thereby ,
allowed of, who was to be purged of necessity of all
his ill deeds and cruelties before he could enter into
the company of those holy mysteries. Furthermore,
Theseus was fifty years old when he took away Helen
and ravished her, which was very young, and not of
age to be married, as Hellanicus saith. By reason
whereof, some seeking to hide the ravishment of her
as a heinous fact, do report it was not he, but one
Idas and Lynceus that carried her away, who left her
in his custody and keeping, and that Theseus would
have kept her from them, and would not have deli
vered her to her brethren Castor and Pollux, which
afterwards did demand her again of him. Others
again say it was her own father Tyndarus who gave
her him to keep, for that he was afraid of Enarsphorus
the son of Hippocoon, who would have had her away
by force. But that which cometh nearest to the truth
in this case, and which indeed by many authors is
testified, was in this sort. Theseus and Pirithous went
together to the city of Lacedaemon, where they took
away Helen (being yet very young), even as she was
dancing in the temple of Diana surnamed Orthia,
and they fled for life. They of Lacedaemon sent after
her, but those that followed went no further than the
city of Tegea. Now when they were escaped out of
the country of Peloponnesus, they agreed to draw lots
together which of them two should have her, with
condition that whose lot it were to have her, he should
take her to his wife, and should be bound also to help
his companion to get him another. It was Theseus's
hap to light upon her, who carried her to the city of
Aphidnes, because she was yet too young to be mar
ried. Whither he caused his mother to come to bring
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 45
her up, and gave his friend called Aphidnus the charge
of them both, recommending her to his good care,
and to keep it so secretly that nobody should know
what was become of her. Because he would do the
like for Pirithous (according to the agreement made
betwixt them), he went into Epirus with him to steal
the daughter of Aidoneus, King of the Molossians,
who had surnamed his wife Proserpina, his daughter
Proserpina, and his dog Cerberus, with whom he
made them fight which came to ask his daughter in
marriage, promising to give her to him that should
overcome his Cerberus. But the king, understanding
that Pirithous was come, not to request his daughter in
marriage, but to steal her away, he took him prisoner
with Theseus: and as for Pirithous, he caused him
presently to be torn in pieces with his dog, and shut
Theseus up in close prison. In this meantime there
was one at Athens called Menestheus, the son of
Peteus, which Peteus was the son of Orneus, and
Orneus was the son of Erictheus. This Menestheus
was the first that began to flatter the people, and did
seek to win the favour of the commonalty by sweet,
enticing words, by which device he stirred up the
chiefest of the city against Theseus (who indeed long
before began to be weary of him) by declaring unto
them how Theseus had taken from them their royalties
and signiories, and had shut them up in such sort
within the walls of a city, that he might the better
keep them in subjection and obedience in all things,
after his will. The poor, inferior sort of people he
did stir up also to rebellion, persuading them that it
was no other than a dream of liberty which was pro
mised them, and how contrariwise they were clearly
dispossessed and thrown out of their own houses, of
their temples, and from their natural places where they
were born, to the end only that in lieu of many good
and loving lords which they were wont to have before,
46 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
they should now be compelled to serve one only head,
and a strange lord. Even as Menestheus was very
hot about this practice, the war of the Tyndarides fell
out at that instant, which greatly furthered his pre
tence. For these Tyndarides (to wit, the children of
Tyndarus) Castor and Pollux, came down with a great
army against the city of Athens, and some suspect sore
that Menestheus was cause of their coming thither.
Howbeit at the first entry they did no hurt at all in
the country, but only demanded restitution of their
sister. To whom the citizens made answer that they
knew not where she was left, and then the brethren
began to make spoil, and offer war indeed. Howbeit
there was one called Academus, who having knowledge
(I cannot tell by what means) that she was secretly
hidden in the city of Aphidnes, revealed it unto them.
By reason whereof the Tyndarides did always honour
him very much so long as he lived, and afterwards
the Lacedaemonians, having oft burnt and destroyed
the whole country of Attica throughout, they would
yet never touch the Academy of Athens for Acade-
mus's sake. Yet Dicearchus saith that in the army
of the Tyndarides there were two Arcadians, Eche-
demus and Marathus, and how of the name of one of
them it was then called the place of Echedemie,
which since hath been called Academia, and after the
name of the other there was a village called Marathon,
because he willingly offered himself to be sacrificed
before the battle, as obeying the order and command
ment of a prophecy. So they went and pitched their
camp before the city of Aphidnes, and having won the
battle, and taken the city by assault, they razed the
place. They say that Alycus, the son of Sciron, was
slain at this field, who was in the host of the Tyndar
ides, and that after his name a certain quarter of the
territory of Megara was called Alycus, in the which
his body was buried. Howbeit Hereas writeth that
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 47
Theseus' self did kill him before Aphidnes, in witness
whereof he allegeth certain verses which speak of
Alycus —
While as he fought with all his might and main
(In thy defence, fair Helen, for to fight}
In Aphidnes upon the pleasant plain,
Bold Theseus to cruel death him dig/it.
Howbeit it is not likely to be true that Theseus
being there, the city of Aphidnes and his mother also
were taken. But when it was won, they of Athens
began to quake for fear, and Menestheus counselled
them to receive the Tyndarides into the city, and to
make them good cheer, for they would make no wars
but upon Theseus, which was the first that had done
them the wrong and injury, and that to all other else
they should show favour and good-will. And so it
fell out. For when the Tyndarides had all in their
power to do as they listed, they demanded nothing
else but that they might be received into their cor
poration, and not to be reckoned for strangers, no
more than Hercules was, the which was granted the
Tyndarides, and Aphidnus did adopt them for his
children, as Pylius had adopted Hercules. Moreover,
they did honour them as if they had been gods, calling
them Anaces. Either because they ceased the wars,
or for that they ordered themselves so well that their
whole army being lodged within the city, there was
not any hurt or displeasure done to any person ; but
as it became those that have the charge of anything,
they did carefully watch to preserve the good quiet
thereof. All which this Greek word Anacos doth
signify, whereof perchance it comes that they call the
kings Anactes. There are others also who hold
opinion that they were called Anaces because of their
stars which appeared in the air. For the Attican
tongue saith Anacas and Anecathen, where the com-
48 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
mon people say Ano and Anothen, that is to say,
above. Nevertheless ^Ethra, Theseus' mother, was
carried prisoner to Lacedaemon, and from thence to
Troy with Helen, as some say, and as Homer himself
doth witness in his verses, where he speaketh of the
women that followed Helen —
sEthra, the daughter dear of Pit hens' aged sire,
And with her fair Clymene, she whose eyes most men
desire.
Yet there are others who as well reject these two
verses, and maintain they are not Homer's, as also
they reprove all that is reported of Munychus. To
wit, that Laocide being privily conceived of him by
Demophon, he was brought up secretly by ^Ethra
within Troy. But Hester the historian, in his thir
teenth of his histories of Attica, maketh a recital far
contrary to others, saying that some hold opinion
that Paris Alexander was slain in battle by Achilles
and Patroclus in the country of Thessaly, near to the
river of Sperchius, and that his brother Hector took
the city of Troezen, from whence he brought away
.^Ethra, in which there is no manner of appearance or
likelihood. But ^Edoneus, King of the Molossians,
feasting Hercules one day as he passed through his
realm, descended by chance into talk of Theseus and
of Pirithous, how they came to steal away his daughter
secretly, and after told how they were also punished.
Hercules was marvellous sorry to understand that one
of them was now dead, and the other in danger to
die, and thought with himself that to make his moan to
^Edoneus it would not help the matter ; he besought
him only that he would deliver Theseus for his sake.
And he granted him. Thus Theseus, being delivered
of his captivity, returned to Athens, where his friends
were not altogether kept under by his enemies, and at
his return he did dedicate to Hercules all the temples
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. 49
which the city had before caused to be built in his
own honour. And where first of all they were called
Thesea, he did now surname them all Herculea, ex
cepting four, as Philochorus writeth. Now when he
was arrived at Athens, he would immediately have
commanded and ordered things as he was wont to
do ; but he found himself troubled much with sedition,
because those who had hated him of a long time had
added also to their old cankered hate a disdain and
contempt to fear him any more. And the common
people now were become so stubborn, that where
before they would have done all that they were com
manded, and have spoken nothing to the contrary,
now they looked to be borne with and flattered.
Whereupon Theseus thought at the first to have used
force, but he was forced by the faction and contention of
his enemies to let all alone, and in the end, despairing
he should ever bring his matters to pass to his desire,
he secretly sent away his children unto the Isle of
Eubcea, to Elphenor, the son of Chalcodus. And
himself, after he had made many wishes and curses
against the Athenians, in the village of Gargettus, in
a place which for that cause to this day is called Ara-
teriod (that is to say, the place of cursings), he did
take the seas, and went into the Isle of Sciros, where
he had goods, and thought also to have found friends.
Lycomedes reigned at that time, and was king of the
isle, unto whom Theseus made request for some land,
as intending to dwell there ; albeit some say that he
required him to give him aid against the Athenians.
Lycomedes, were it that he doubted to entertain so
great a personage, or that he did it to gratify Menes-
theus, carried him up to the high rocks, feigning as
though he would from thence have showed him all
his country round about. But when he had him there,
he threw him down headlong from the top of the rocks
to the bottom, and put him thus unfortunately to death.
VOL. I. D
50 THE LIFE OF THESEUS.
Yet others write that he fell down of himself by an
unfortunate chance, walking one day after supper, as
he was wont to do. There was no man at that time
that did follow or pursue his death ; but Menestheus
quietly remained King of Athens, and the children of
Theseus, as private soldiers, followed Elphinor in the
wars of Troy. But after the death of Menestheus,
who died in the journey to Troy, Theseus' sons re
turned unto Athens, where they recovered their state.
Since there were many occasions which moved the
Athenians to reverence and honour him as a demigod.
For in the battle of Marathon many thought they saw
his shadow and image in arms, fighting against the
barbarous people. And after the wars of the Medes
(the year whereon Phaedon was Governor of Athens)
the nun Pithia answered the Athenians, who had sent
to the oracle of Apollo, that they should bring back
the bones of Theseus, and putting them in some
honourable place, they should preserve and honour
them devoutly. But it was a hard matter to find his
grave, and if they had found it, yet had it been a hard
thing to have brought his bones away for the malice
of those barbarous people which inhabited that isle,
which were so wild and fierce that none could trade
or live with them. Notwithstanding Cimon, having
taken the island (as we have written in his life) and
seeking his grave, perceiving by good hap an eagle
pecking with her beak and scraping with her claws in
a place of some pretty height, straight it came into
his mind (as by divine inspiration) to search and dig
the place, where was found the tomb of a great body,
with the head of a spear which was of brass, and a
sword with it. All which things were brought to
Athens by Cimon in the admiral's galley. The Athen
ians received them with great joy, with processions and
goodly sacrifices, as if Theseus himself had been alive,
and had returned into the city again. At this day all
THE LIFE OF THESEUS. $1
these relics lie yet in the midst of the city, near to
the place where the young men do use all their exer
cises of body. There is free liberty of access for all
slaves and poor men (that are afflicted and pursued
by any mightier than themselves) to pray and sacrifice
in remembrance of Theseus, who while he lived was
protector of the oppressed, and did courteously receive
their requests and petitions that prayed to have aid of
him. The greatest and most solemn sacrifice they do
unto him is on the eighth day of October, in which
he returned from Greta, with the other young children
of Athens. Howbeit they do not leave to honour
him every eighth day of all other months, either be
cause he arrived from Troezen at Athens the eighth
day of June, as Diodorus the cosmographer writeth,
or for that they thought that number to be meetest
for him, because the bruit ran he was begotten of
Neptune. They do sacrifice also to Neptune the
eighth day of every month, because the number of
eight is the first cube made of even number, and the
double of the first square, which doth represent a
steadfastness immovable, properly attributed to the
might of Neptune, whom for this cause we surname
Asphalius, and Gseiochus, which by interpretation
doth signify the safe-keeper and the stayer of the
earth.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
W. W.'s translation of the "Mencechmi" of Plautus, 1595, supplied
Shakespeare with the plot, outline, and part of the material for
this drama ; but he was also indebted to other scattered informa
tion, and possibly the story which is printed from Goulart here
may have been seen by him in some earlier publication. Gou
lart has collected a few other cases of the same kind, but only
that selected is of any immediate relevance. Warner's version
of the "Mencechmi," though not published till 1595, had been
completed some time before, and handed about among the
translator's friends. Probably Shakespeare may have seen it
in MS.
No early English version, in print or MS., of the " Amphitruo "
of Plautus is known ever to have existed ; but the same idea is to
be found in it, as indeed is pointed out in the following extract ;
and Dryden has founded his play of "The Two Sosias" on the
story as dramatised by Plautus.
THE STORY OF THE TWO BROTHERS
OF A VIGNON.
(From Gonlarfs " Adjnirable and Memorable
Histories" 1607.)
IN our time there were in Avignon two gentlemen
brethren, one resembling another, both born at one
birth, sons to an audiencer of the Pope's court. They
lived long, well-limbed and strong, flaxen-haired, both
short-sighted, of a sweet speech, gentle spirits, and
pleasing aspect. They were both learned, affecting
to follow great men, and to deal in affairs. They
played both of the lute, sung their parts, and did
write one like unto another ; the sound of their voice,
words, gesture, going, and all their actions were so
like, as their father, mother, and brethren were de
ceived to show the difference. John Willemin, a
learned man, hath confessed unto me, that living
usually with these two brethren, and talking in a
manner hourly unto them, yet he could not distin
guish them, so as thinking to impart some secret unto
the one, he found afterwards that it was the other :
so as it was a reviving of Sosias in Plautus Amphitrio.
Moreover, these two brethren have been surprised at
one instant, and separated one from another, they have
been touched with one desire, and thought upon the
like design. Besides, one being sick, the other did
likewise feel the apprehension, and did suffer some
56 THE TWO BROTHERS OF AVIGNON.
part of his brother's grief. Moreover, the one not
knowing anything of the other, being both affected
to one great woman, she made them the like answers,
but severally, and at diverse hours, unknown one
unto another, to whom the gentlewoman answered,
sometimes to the one, thinking it had been the other,
then to the second, whom she made much of under
this veil, which deceived her by the report of his
countenance with his brother's. To conclude, the
difference could never be known but by themselves ;
the one having a certain mark on his neck which he
brought from his mother's womb, by the impression
whereof nature would make some difference, thereby
to take away that perfect resemblance, and to hold
her propriety, which is to rejoice in the diversity of
things. — In, the 2d tome of "Prodigious Histories"
Part II. Hist. i.
ROMEO AND JULIET.
THE two chief sources of Shakespeare's obligation in respect to
his "Romeo and Juliet," are Arthur Broke's novel, translated
from Bandello, and printed in 1562 and 1587, and the story of
" Romeus and Julietta," included in Paynter's "Palace of P'lea-
sure," 1566-7.
Mr F. W. Cosens has lately favoured his friends with a private
impression of two Spanish plays on the same story, in an English
dress, by Lope de Vega, and Rojas y Zorilla ; but these works,
though founded on the old family feuds of the two great Italian
families, handed down by tradition, and first embodied in a
poetical form by Luigi da Porto, differ in the conduct of the
narrative, and in the catastrophe.
Mr HalliwelPs " Dictionary of Old Plays," 8°, 1860, takes no
notice of the Latin play on this favourite story anterior to
Shakespeare's, and also in all probability to Broke's novel, of
which a fragment is in Sloane MS., 1775. It is not likely,
however, to have served Shakespeare.
MR COLLIER'S INTRODUCTION.
THE present publication consists of two portions —
the one a poem by Arthur Broke, the other a pro^e
narrative by William Paynter. The first purports to
be a translation from Bandello ; the second is a literal
version of a story in Belleforest's " Histoires Tragi-
ques." It will be more convenient to speak of them
separately.
Only three copies of the earliest edition of the
poem by Broke are known ; one at Oxford, in
Malone's Collection, from which our re-impression
has been made, a second in the library of Mr Huth,
and another at Cambridge, among Capell's books.
The latter is defective in the preliminary matter,
wanting the prose address "To the Reader;" so
that the only known perfect exemplars are Mr Huth's
and that in the Bodleian Library. Our heartiest
acknowledgments are due to the Rev. Dr Bandinel for
the very kind assistance he afforded in collating our
transcript, by which means some glaring and important
errors committed by Malone in his reprint (first given
in his "Supplement," 1780, i., 276) have been cor
rected, and the work is now presented to the reader
as nearly as possible as it issued from the press of
Richard Tottle in I562.1 It consists of eighty-four
1 [The text of 1844 has been carefully collated with the copy of
the edit of 1562 in Mr Huth's possession.^
6 O I NT ROD UC TION.
numbered leaves, besides four of introduction. We
have not thought it right to correct even the obvious
errors of the early press, in order that the poem might
be read in its most genuine state : thus, on p. 92, 1.
1 8, the word " befylde " occurs, instead of defylde :
on p. 175, we meet with "tempted" for tempered^
&c. It was again entered by Tottell on the books of
the Stationers' Company in 1582 ; but if any such
edition were published, we have never had an oppor
tunity of examining it. It was reprinted by R. Robin
son in 1587, with the following explanatory addition
to the title, which Ritson supposed to be the first
title ("Bibliogr. Poet." p. 144), "contayningin it arare
example of true constancie, with the subtill counsells
and practises of an old fryer, and their ill event."
" A new ballad of Romeo and Juliett " was entered
on the Stationers' books in 1596 by Edward White,
but no copy of it is known, and it was probably a
different and a shorter publication. Shakespeare!s
"Romeo and Juliet" was first printed in 1597, and
it has been conjectured byMalone that it was written
in the preceding year ; it is therefore possible, though
not probable, that White, in the indefinite language
of the time, meant the play when he called it a
" ballad/' and that he wished to establish some prior
claim to the publication of Shakespeare's tragedy.
It will be observed that on the title-page of Broke's
poem, the story is said to have been " written first in
Italian by Bandell," as if Broke had versified the
novel as he found it in Bandello ; but such is by no
means the case, for he much more closely follows the
authority which we shall presently see that Paynter
employed a few years afterwards. However, he is
not at all faithful to any preceding narrative that has
ever been pointed out, or that we have been able to
consult : the truth is, that Broke's poem reads more
like an original work than a translation, though in
INTRODUCTION. 6 1
the body of it he several times (in imitation of the
romance writers of Italy) speaks of his author, and
inserts such expressions as " the written story saith."
In some places Broke writes as if in the character of
a minstrel addressing a listening auditory : —
" If any man be here whom love hath clad with cajre
To him I speakc]' &c.
It is a production of singular beauty for the time,, t
full of appropriate and graceful imagery ; and although^
the similes and other figures may now and then be al
little too highly wrought, or not quite in the best taste, ]
it places Broke, in this style of writing, above anyj
known competitor. Bernard Garter's " Tragicall and
true History, which happened betwene two English
Lovers" (printed by R. Tottell in 1565) was com
posed in decided imitation of Arthur Broke's "Romeus
and Juliet," perhaps in consequence of the success of
it, but it is inferior in every poetical quality. Those
who have hitherto spoken of Broke's poem have not
spoken of it as it deserves ; and the commentators on
Shakespeare seem scarcely to have ventured (even if
they had formed) an opinion upon its merits. Here
and there the author employs a few fl.rr.hq.isms, such
as " gleade " for fire, " blyn " for cease, &c. ; but in
general the tale is told with mucjx-sinogjicity, and the
descriptions_jir<s sometimes elaborately minute, and
afford very striking and graceful pictures. One of these,
in a single couplet, may be quoted from p. 142, where
Romeo and Juliet, in their grief at his banishment,
are standing together —
" But on his brest her hed doth joy less e Juliet /ay,
And on her slender necke his chyn doth ruthfiill
Romeus stay ;"
which would afford an excellent and a touching sub
ject for any modern artist with taste and talent for
6 2 INTROD UCTION.
illustration. It is, at all events, much more pleasing
and poetical than Dante's simile in his " Inferno,"
canto xxix., where he likens two weeping lovers,
leaning against each other, to two pans reared up to
drain at a cottage door. Broke's versification consists
throughout of alternate, lines of twelve and fourteen
syllables, a measure that was frequently thus divided,
for the convenience of printing : —
" There is beyonde the Alps
A towne of auntientfame,
Whose bright renoune yet shineth deare,
Verona men it name"
In our impression, as the width of the page would
allow it, the lines are printed at length. It will be
found that the author was partial to_clouble rhymes,
which he introduces without constraint, a"nd with con-
siderable judgment, in order to lighten the weight
of monosyllabic terminations. In this, and some
othg-r respects, he writes like a practised versifier ;
and in the introductory lines "To the^Reader" he
tells us that he had composed other works " in divers
kindes of styles," adding —
" The eldest of them, loe,
I offer to the stake; my yoiithfull wocrke" 6-v.
The whole passage reads as if Broke intended by it
to apologise for the imperfections of an early produc
tion, which, later in life, he thought fit to publish.
— How old he might be in 1562 we have no means
of knowing j but he tells us himself, in our reprint,
where he speaks in his own person, that he was
unmarried. He was dead in 1563 : in that year
came out, " An Agreement of sundry places of Scrip
ture," collected by Arthur Broke, and in some verses
prefixed, and subscribed Thomas Brooke, we are in
formed that the author had perished by shipwreck.
George Turbervile, among his " Epitaphs and other
IN TROD UC TION". 6 3
Poems," 1567, has one "On the death of Maister
Arthur Brooke, drownde in passing to Newhaven."
That it was the same Arthur Broke cannot be
doubted, because Turbervile mentions the story of
" Romeus and Juliett " as a proof that the person who
was drowned "for metre did excel." This epitaph
supplies the only certain evidence that " The Tragi-
call Historye of Romeus and Juliet " was by Broke ;
for, as o,ur readers will perceive, the title-page merely
states " and nowe in Englishe, by Ar. Br."
All it is necessary to say of William Paynter, and
of his portion of the following work, may be put in a
shorter compass. He was Clerk of the Armoury
(Lansd. MS., No. 5) to Queen Elizabeth, not long
after she came to the throne, and he published " The
goodly history of the true and constant love betwene
Rhomeo and Julietta," as part of " the second tome "
of his " Palace of Pleasure," a collection of stories
derived from various sources, ancient and modern.
He dates the dedication of this " second tome,"-the
4th of November 1567, five years after Broke's poem
had appeared, and " two years almost " after the first
tome of " The Palace of Pleasure" had been published.
Paynter's novel, as we have already stated, is a literal
translation from Belleforest's " Histoires Tragiques,
extraictes des CEuvres de Bandel, et mises en langue
Franchise, les six premieres par Pierre Boaistuau, &c.,
et les suyvantes par Frangois Belleforest ; " and as it
forms the third history In that collection, it follows
that it was mis en langue Fran$oise by Boaistuau, and
not by Belleforest. It is there called " Hrstoire de
deux Amans, dont Tun mourut de venin, 1'aujtre de
tristesse ; " but, it differs from Bandello in more re
spects than amplification : in his work it forms the
ninth novel of the second part, and is entitled " La
sfortunata morte di dui infelicissimi Amanti, che 1'uno
di veleno, e 1'altro di dolore morirono."
6 4 JNTR OD UC TIOiV. *
The original narrator of the story of Romeo and
Juliet, as far as has yet been ascertained, was Luigi
da Porto, of Vincenza, who died in 1529, and whose
novel was not printed until six years afterwards in
Venice. It was reprinted in 1539, and again in 1553,
and obtained great notoriety. Whence Luigi da Porto
derived his materials is uncertain, but Douce (" Illus
trations of Shakespeare," ii. i98)haspointed outa strong
resemblance between some of the chief incidents in
" Romeo and Juliet " and those in the Greek romance
of Xenophon of Ephesus, called " The Love Adven
tures of Abrocomas and Anthia." It is pretty clear,
however, that Bandello borrowed from Luigi da Porto,
and we are quite sure that Boaistuau followed Ban
dello (varying the conclusion), and that Paynter tran
slated Boaistuau. Boaistuau asserts that in his day the
remembrance of the incidents was so recent, q-iia
peine en sont essuiez lesycux de ceux qui out veu cepitaix
spectacle ; which Paynter thus renders : — " The me
mory whereof to thys day is so wel known at Verona, *^
as unneths their blubbred eyes be yet dry% that saw 1
and beheld that lamentable sight." This 'assertion
seems to have been merely gratuitous on the part of
Boaistuau, for Bandello says nothing of the kind,
knowing, perhaps, how much older the story really
was than such a statement would lead readers* to
imagine. Bandello merely observes, verro a dirvi un
pietosocaso ed infortunio grandissimo, che a dui nobilissimi
amanti avenne.\ Paynter was only a servile copyist of
his French original, and there is certainly little grace
or ease of style to recommend 'his translation. Unlike
Broke, Paynter invented and added nothing.
It was natural, therefore, that Shakespeare, when
he took up the story of " Romeo and Juliet " as a fit
subject for the stage, should turn from Paynter' s hard,
cold, and dry narrative to Broke's more attractive and
interesting poem. To those who read the play with
INTR OD UC TION. 6 5
an eye to the two pieces now reprinted, it will be
evident that Shakespeare was more indebted to Broke
than to Paynter, and Malone has thus enumerated
his reasons for thinking so.
" i. In the poem, the Prince of Verona is called
Escalus ; so also in the play. In Paynter's transla
tion from Boaistuau, he is named Signor Escala, and
sometimes Lord Bartholomew of Escala. 2. In Payn
ter's novel, the family name of Romeo are called the
Hontesches ; in the poem and in the play, the Mon
tagues. 3. The messenger employed by Friar Law
rence to carry a letter to Romeo, to inform him when
Juliet would awake from her trance, is in Paynter's
translation called Anseleme ; in the poem and in the
play, Friar John is employed in this business. 4. The
circumstance of Capulet's writing down the names of
the guests whom he invites to supper is found in the
poem and in the play, but is not mentioned by Payn
ter, nor is if*found in the original Italian novel. 5.
The residence of the Capulets in the original and in
Paynter is called Villa Franca; in the poem and in
the play, Freetown. 6. Several passages of ' Romeo
and Juliet' appear to have been formed on hints
furnished by the poem, of which no traces are found
either in Paynter's novel or in Boaistuau, or in the
original ; and several expressions are borrowed from
thence, which will be found in their proper places.^ —
Malone's Shakespeare, by JBoswell, vi. 3.
These " proper places " are, of course, the notes gf
Malone's edition of " Romeo and Juliet," and it is~
needless to repeat them here. The result is to ren
der it pretty clear that Shakespeare made com
paratively little use of Paynter's version, while his
obligations to Broke were numerous and consider
able.
To what degree our great dramatist might also be
indebted to some earlier and now lost tragedy must
VOL i. E
66 IN TR OD UC TION.
be matter of mere conjecture. One point is quite
certain from Arthur Broke's address " To the Reader,"
viz., that prior to 1562 the subject had been brought
upon the English stage : his words are the more re
markable, because he gives extraordinary commenda
tion to the piece, and the excellence of his own work
shows that he must have been a competent judge.
" Though," he says, " I saw the same argument lately
set foorth on stage with more commendation than I
can looke for, being there much better set forth then
I have or can dooe." Thus we see that there was
not only a play, but, in the estimation of Broke, a good
play, upon the history of " Romeo and Juliet " in the
very commencement of the reign of Elizabeth,1 for the
term "lately" would scarcely warrant us in going
back beyond the year 1558. This fact furnishes the
strongest evidence of the popularity of the incidents,
even before Broke made use of them ; and the pos
sibility that Shakespeare availed himself, in 1596, of
the work of some older playwright is considered in
" The History of English Dramatic Poetry and the
Stage," ii. 416.
It ought to be mentioned that, two years before
Paynter published his translation, what may be called
the " argument " of it, was thus stated by T. Peend,
or Delapeend, in his " Pleasant Fable of Herma-
phroditus and Salmacis," 1565 : — " A noble mayden of
the cytye Verona, in Itayle, whyche loved Romeus,
eldest soone of the Lorde Montesche, and beinge
pryvely maryed togyther, he at last poysoned hym-
selfe for love of her. She, for sorowe of his death e,
slewe selfe in the same tombe with hys dagger." This
is inserted by way of explanation of a passage in the
1 [Perhaps the Latin play, supposed by Hunter to be anterior
to Shakespeare, of which an imperfect copy is among the Sloans
MSS.]
INTRODUCTION. 6*J
poem, in which the names " Juliet and Romeus " are
introduced.
In truth, the story must have been very familiar to
everybody long before Shakespeare thought fit to
adopt it for the company to which he belonged. One
early notice of it, three-and-twenty years older than
the date of the first edition of " Romeo and Juliet,"
is to be found in " A right excellent and pleasant
Dialogue betwene Mercury and a Souldier," 8°, 1574;
and there the author, Barnabe Rich, informs us that,
"the pittifull history of Romeus and Julietta" was
represented upon tapestry, as if it were then not an
uncommon subject for that species of domestic illus
tration. The next allusion to it is in " The Gorgeous
Gallery of Gallant Inventions," 1578; and in the
following year we find it spoken of in "A Poor
Knight his Palace of Private Pleasure ;" while Stany-
hurst, in his Epitaph at the end of his hexametrical
translation of " The first foure bookes of Virgil's,
^Eneis," 1582, places Juliet in the same line with
Dido and Cleopatra. The last instance to which it
is necessary to allude is contained in Melbancke's
" Philotimus — the Warre betwixt Nature and For
tune," 1583.
It will be observed that Broke, Paynter, and ShalTe-
speare all conclude the story in the same manner :
Juliet does not wake from her trance in the tomb
until Romeo is dead ; but in Luigi da Porto's narra
tive, and in Bandello's, novel founded .upon it, she
recovers her senses in time to hear him speak, and to
see him expire : instead of stabbing herself with his
dagger, she dies, as it were, of a broken heart, on the
body of her lover.
THE TRAGIC ALL HIS
torye of Romeus and luliet, writ
ten first i?i Italian by Bandell,
and nowe in English* by
Ar. Br.
In czdibus Richardi Tottdli.
Cum Privilegio.
TO THE READER.
THE God of all glorye created universallye all creatures,
to sette forth his prayse, both those whiche we esteme
profitable in use and pleasure, and also those whiche
we accompte noysome and lothsome. But principally
he hath appointed man, the chiefest instrument of his
honour, not onely, for ministryng matter thereof in
man himselfe : but as well in gatheryng out of other,
the occasions of publishing Gods goodnes, wisdome,
& power. And in like sort, everye dooyng of man
hath by Goddes dyspensacion some thynge, whereby
God may, and ought to be honored. So the good
doynges of the good, & the evill actes of the wicked,
the happy successe of the blessed, and the wofull pro-
cedinges of the miserable, doe in divers sorte sound
one prayse of God. And as eche flower yeldeth
hony to the bee : so every exaumple ministreth good
lessons to the well disposed mynde. The glorious
triumphe of the continent man upon the lustes of
wanton fleshe, incourageth men to honest restraynt of
wyld affections, the shamefull and wretched endes of
such, as have yelded their libertie thrall to fowle
desires, teache men to withholde them selves from
the hedlong fall of loose dishonestie. So, to lyke
effectjY.by sundry meanes, the good mans exaumple
byddetri men to be good, and the evill mans inis-
chefe, warneth men not to be evyll. To this good
ende, serve all ill endes, of yll begynnynges. And to
72 TO THE READER.
this ende (good Reader) is this tragicall matter written
to describe unto thee a coople of unfortunate lovers,
thralling themselves to unhonest desire, neglecting the
authoritie and advise of parents and frendes, confer
ring their principall counsels with dronken gossyppes,
and superstitious friers (the naturally fitte instrumentes
of unchastitie) attemptyng all adventures of peryll, for
thattaynyng of their wished lust, usyng auriculer con
fession (the kay of whoredome and treason) for further-
aunce of theyr purpose,fabusyng the honorable name
of lawefull mariage, to" cloke the shame of stolne
contractes,"1 finally e, by all meanes of unhonest lyfe,
hastyngto mostunhappye deathe. /This president (good
Reader) shalbe to thee, as the slaves of Lacedemon,
oppressed with excesse of drinke, deformed and altered
from likenes of men, both in mynde, and use of body,
were to the free borne children, so shewed to them by
their parentes, to thintent to rayse in them an hatefull
lothyng of so filthy beastlynes. Hereunto if you
applye it, ye shall deliver my dooing from offence, and
profit your selves. T* Though I saw the same argument
lately set foorth on stage with more commendation,
then I can looke for : (being there much better set
forth then I have or can dooe) yet the same matter
penned as it is, may serve to lyke good effect, if the
readers do brynge with them lyke good myndes, to
consider it, which hath the more incouraged me to
publishe it, suche as it is. Ar. Br.
TO THE READER.
AMID the desert rockes, the mountaine beare
Bringes forth unform, unlyke herselfe her yonge ;
Nought els but lumpes of fleshe, withouten heare.
In tract of time, her often lycking tong
Geves them such shape, as doth (ere long) delight
The lookers on ; or when one dogge doth shake
With moosled mouth, the joyntes too weake to fight,
Or when upright he standeth by his stake,
(A noble creast,) or wylde in savage wood,
A dosyn dogges one holdeth at a baye,
With gaping mouth, and stayned jawes with blood.
Or els, when from the farthest heavens, they
The lode starres are, the wery pilates marke,
In stormes to gyde to haven the tossed barke ; —
Right so my muse
Hath (now at length) with travell long brought forth
Her tender whelpes, her divers kindes of style,
Such as they are, or nought, or little woorth,
Which carefull travell and a longer whyle
May better shape. The eldest of them'loe,
I offer to the stake ; my youthfull woorke,
Which one reprochefull mouth might overthrowe :
The rest (unlickt as yet) a whyle shall lurke,
Tyll tyme geve strength, to meete and match in fight
With slaunders whelpes. Then shall they tell of stryfe,
Of noble tryumphes, and deedes of martial might,
l| And shall geve rules of chast and honest lyfe.
The whyle, I pray, that ye with favour blame,
Or rather not reprove the laughing game
Of this my muse.
THE ARGUMENT.
LOVE hath inflamed twayne by sodayn sight,
And both do graunt the thing that both desyre ;
They wed in shrift by counsell of a frier ;
Yong Romeus clymes fayre Juliets bower by night.
Three monthes he doth enioy his cheefe delight :
By Tybalts rage, provoked unto yre,
He payeth death to Tybalt for his hyre.
A banisht man he scapes by secret flight :
New mariage is ofTred to his wyfe :
She drinkes a drinke that seemes to reve her breath ;
They bury her, that sleping yet hath lyfe.
Her husband heares the tydinges of her death ;
He drinkes his bane ; and she with Romeus knyfe,
When she awakes, her selfe (alas) she sleath.
Romeus and luliet*
''T'HERE is beyonde the Alps, a towne of auncient
-L fame,
Whose bright renoune yet shineth cleare, Verona men
it name ;
Bylt in an happy time, bylt on a fertile soyle :
Maynteined by the heavenly fates, and by the townish
toyle.
The fruitefull hilles above, the pleasant vales belowe,
The silver streame with chanell depe, that through the
towne doth flowe ;
The store of springes that serve for use, and eke for
ease :
And other moe commodities, which profite may and
please ;
Eke many certaine signes of thinges betyde of olde,
To fyll the houngry eyes of those that curiously be-
holde ;
Doe make this towne to be preferde above the rest
Of Lumbard townes, or at the least compared with the
best.
j6 ROME US AND JULIET.
In which whyle Escalus as prince alone dyd raigne,
To reache rewarde unto the good, to paye the lewde
with payne,
Alas (I rewe to thinke) an heavy happe befell :
Which Boccace skant (not my rude tong) were able
forth to tell.
Within my trembling hande, my penne doth shake for
feare,
And on my colde amased head, upright doth stand my
he are.
But sith shee doth commaunde, whose best I must
obaye,
In moorning verse, a wofull chaunce to tell I will assay e.
Helpe learned Pallas, helpe, ye Muses with your arte,
Helpe all ye damned feends to tell, of joyes retournd
to smart.
Helpe eke ye sisters three, my skillesse pen tindyte :
For you it causd which I (alas) unable am to wryte.
There were two auncient stockes, which Fortune
high dyd place
Above the rest, indewd with welth, and nobler of their
race,
Loved of the common sort, loved of the prince alike,
And like unhappy were they both, when Fortune list
to strike.
Whose prayse with equal blast, Fame in her trumpet
blew ;
The one was cliped Capelet, and thother Montagew.
A wonted use it is, that men of likely sorte,
(I wot not by what furye forsd) envye eche others
porte.
So these, whose egall state bred envye pale of hew,
And then of grudging envyes roote, blacke hate and
rancor grewe.
As of a little sparke, oft ryseth mighty fyre,
So of a kyndled sparke of grudge, in flames flashe out
theyr yre :
ROME US AND JULIET. 77
And then theyr deadly foode, first hatchd of trifling
stryfe,
Did bathe in bloud of smarting woundes, it reved
breth and lyfe.
No legend lye I tell, scarce yet theyr eyes be drye,
That did behold the grisly sight, with wet and weping
eye.
But when the prudent prince, who there the scepter
helde,
So great anew disorder in his common weale behelde ;
By jentyl meane he sought, their choler to asswage;
And by perswasion to appease, their blameful furious
rage.
But both his woords and time, the prince hath spent
in vayne ;
So rooted was the inward hate, he lost his buysy
payne.
When frendly sage advise, ne jentyll woords avayle;
By thondring threats, and princely powre their courage
gan he quayle.
In hope that when he had the wasting flame supprest,
In time he should quyte quench the sparks that boornd
within their brest.
Now whilst these kyndreds do remayne in this estate,
And eche with outward frendly shew dooth hyde his
inward hate :
One Romeus, who was of race a Montague,
Upon whose tender chyn, as yet, no manly ke beard
there grewe,
Whose beauty and whose shape so farre the rest did
stayne :
That from the cheefe of Veron youth he greatest fame
dyd gayne,
Hath founde a mayde so fayre (he found so foule his
happe)
Whose beauty, shape, and comely grace, did so his
heart entrappe,
78 ROME US AND JULIET.
That from his owne affayres, his thought she did
remove ;
Onely he sought to honor her, to serve her, and to love.
To her he writeth oft, oft messengers are sent,
At length (in hope of better spede) himselfe the lover
went ;
Present to pleade for grace, which absent was not
found e :
And to discover to her eye his new receaved wounde.
But she that from her youth was fostred evermore
With vertues foode, and taught in schole of wisdomes
skilfull lore :
By aunswere did cutte of thaffections of his love,
That he no more occasion had so vayne a sute to
move.
So sterne she was of chere, (for all the payne he tooke)
That in reward of toyle, she would not geve a frendly
looke.
And yet how much she did with constant minde retyre :
So much the more his fervent minde was prickt fourth
by desyre.
But when he many monthes, hopelesse of his recure,
Had served her, who forced not what paynes he did
endure :
At length he thought to leave Verona, and to prove
If chaunge of place might chaunge awaye his ill-be
stowed love;
And speaking to himselfe, thus gan he make his mone:
" What booteth me to love and serve a fell unthank-
full one,
Sith that my humble sute and labour sowede in vayne,
Can reape none other finite at all but scorne and
proude disdayne ?
What way she seekes to goe, the same I seeke to
runne :
But she the path wherein I treade, with spedy flight
doth shunne.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 79
I can not live, except that nere to her I be ;
She is ay best content when she is furthest of from me.
Wherefore henceforth I will farre from her take my
flight;
Perhaps mine eye once banished by absence from her
sight,
This fyre of myne, that by her pleasant eyne is fed,
Shall little and little weare away, and quite at last be ded."
But whilest he did decree this purpose still to kepe,
A contrary repugnant thought sanke in his breast so
depe :
That douteful is he now which of the twayne is best :
In sighs, in teares, in plainte, in care, in sorow and
unrest,
He mones the daye, he wakes the long and wery
night ;
So deepe hath love with pearcing hand, ygravd her
bewty bright
Within his brest, and hath so mastred quite his hart :
That he of force must yeld as thrall ; no way is left to
start.
He can not staye his steppe, but forth still must be
ronne,
He languisheth and melts awaye, as snow against the
sonne.
His kyndred and alyes do wonder what he ayles,
And eche of them in frendly wise his heavy hap be-
wayles.
But one emong the rest, the trustiest of his feeres,
Farre more than he with counsel fild, and ryper of his
yeeres,
Gan sharply him rebuke, suche love to him he bare :
That he was felow of his smart, and partner of his care.
" What meanst thou Romeus (quoth he) what doting
rage
Dooth make thee thus consume away, the best parte
of thine age,
So ROME US AND JULIET.
In seking her that scornes, and hydes her from thy
sight,
Not forsing all thy great expence, ne yet thy honor
bright,
Thy teares, thy wretched lyfe, ne thine unspotted
truth :
Which are offeree (1 weene) to move the hardest hart
to ruthe.
Now for our frendships sake, and for thy health I
pray ;
That thou hencefoorth become thine owne ; O geve
no more away
Unto a thankeles wight, thy precious free estate :
In that thou lovest such a one, thou seemst thy selfe
to hate.
For she doth love els where (and then thy time is
lorne)
Or els (what bootest thee to sue) Loves court she hath
forsworne.
Both yong thou art of yeres, and high in Fortunes
grace :
What man is better shapd then thou? who hath a
swetter face ?
By painfull studies meane, great learning hast thou
wonne :
Thy parentes have none other heyre, thou art theyr
onely sonne.
What greater griefe (trowst thou ?) what wofull dedly
smart
Should so be able to distraine thy seely fathers hart ?
As in his age to see thee plonged deepe in vyce,
When greatest hope he hath to heare thy vertues fame
arise.
What shall thy kinsmen thinke, thou cause of all theyr
ruthe ?
Thy dedly foes do laugh to skorne thy yll employed
youth.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. Si
Wherfore my counsell is, that th.ou henceforth be-
ginne
To knowe and flye the errour which to long thou
livedst in.
Remove the veale of love, that keepes thine eyes so
blynde,
That thou ne canst the ready path of thy forefathers
fynde.
But if unto thy will so much in thrall thou art,
Yet in some other place bestowe thy witles wandring
hart.
Choose out some worthy dame, her honor thou and
serve,
Who will geve eare to thy complaint, and pitty ere
thou sterve.
But sow no more thy paynes in such a barrayne soyle !
As yeldes in harvest time no crop, in recompence of
toyle.
Ere long the townishe dames together will resort :
Some one of bewty, favour, shape, and of so lovely
porte,
With so fast fixed eye, perhaps thou mayst beholde :
That thou shalt quite forget thy love, and passions
past of olde."
The yong mans lystning eare recivde the holesome
sounde,
And reasons truth yplanted so, within his head had
grounde ;
That now with healthy coole ytempred is the heate,
And piecemeale weares away the greefe that erst his
heart dyd freate.
To his approved frend, a solemne othe he plight,
At every feast ykept by day, and banquet made by
night,
At pardons in the churche, at games in open streate,
And every where he would resort were Ladies wont
to meete ;
VOL. i. F
82 ROME US AND JULIET.
Eke should his savage heart lyke all indifferently,
For he would view and judge them all with unallured
eye.
How happy had he been, had he not been forsworne;
But twyse as happy had he been, had he been never
borne.
For ere the Moone could thryse her wasted homes
renew,
False Fortune cast for him, poore wretch, a myschiefe
newe to brewe.
The wery winter nightes restore the Christmas
games,
And now the season doth invite to banquet townish
dames.
And fyrstin Capels house, the chiefe of all the kyn
Sparth for no cost, the wonted use of banquets to
begyn.
No Lady fayre or fowle was in Verona towne,
No knight or gentleman of high or lowe renowne;
i But Capilet himselfe hath byd unto his feast,
Or by his name in paper sent, appoynted as a geast.
Yong damsels thether flocke, of bachelers a rowte,
Not so much for the banquets sake, as bewties to
searche out.
But not a Montagew would enter at his gate,
For as you heard, the Capilets and they were at
debate.
Save Romeus, and he, in maske with hidden face :
The supper done, with other five dyd prease into the
place.
When they had maskd a whyle, with dames in courtly
wise,
All did unmaske, the rest dyd shew them to theyr
ladies eyes ;
But bashfull Romeus, with shamefast face forsooke
The open prease, and him withdrew into the chambers
nooke.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 83
Bat brighter then the sunne, the waxen torches shone : X
That mauger what he could, he was espyd of every one.
But of the women cheefe, theyr gasing eyes that threwe
To woonder at his sightly shape and bewties spotles
hewe ;
With which the heavens him had and nature so bedect,
That Ladies thought the fayrest dames were fowle in
his respect.
And in theyr head beside, an other woonder rose,
How he durst put himselfe in throng among so many
foes.
Of courage stoute they thought his .cumming to
precede :
And women love an hardy hart as I in stones rede.
/The Capilets disdayne the presence of theyr foe,
Yet they suppresse theyr styreed yre, the cause I do
not knowe :
Perhaps torTend theyr gestes the courteous knights are
loth,
Perhaps they stay from sharpe revenge, dreadyng the
Princes wroth.
Perhaps for that they shamd to exercise theyr rage :
Within their house, gainst one alone, and him of tender
age.
They use no taunting talke, ne harme him by theyr
deede :
They neyther say, what makst thou here, ne yet they
say God speede.
So that he freely might the Ladies view at ease :
And they also behelding him, their chaunge of fansies
please.
Which Nature had him taught to doe with such a grace,
That there was none but joyed at his being there in
place.
With upright beame he wayd the bewty of eche dame,
And judgd who best, and who next her, was wrought
in natures frame.
84 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
At length he saw a mayd, right fayre of perfect shape,
Which Theseus or Paris would have chosen to their
rape.
Whom erst he never sawe, of all she pleasde him most :
Within himselfe he sayd to her, thou justly mayst thee
boste
Ofperfit shapes renoune,and beauties sounding prayse,
Whose like ne hath, ne shalbe scene, ne liveth in our
dayes.
And whilest he fixd on her his partiall perced eye,
His former love, for which of late he ready was to dye,
Is nowe as quite forgotte, as it had never been :
The proverbe saith, unminded oft are they that are
un scene.
And as out of a planke a nayle a nayle doth drive,
So no veil love out of the minde the auncient love doth
rive.
This sodain kindled fyre in time is wox so great,
That onely death and both theyr blouds might quench
the fiery "heate.
When Romeus saw himselfe in this new tempest tost,
Where both was hope of pleasant port, and daunger
to be lost :
He doubtefull, skasely knew what countenance to
keepe ;
In Lethies floud his wonted flames were quenched
and drenched 4eepe.
Yea he forgets himselfe, ne is the wretch so bolde
To aske her name, that without force hath him in
bondage folde.
Ne how tunloose his bondes doth the poore foole
devise,
But onelyseeketh by hersight to feedehis houngry eyes :
Through them he swalloweth downe loves sweete
empoysonde baite :
How surely are the wareless wrapt by those that lye in
wayte ?
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 85
So is the poyson spred throughout his bones and
vaines,
That in a while (alas the while) it hasteth deadly
paines.
Whilst Juliet (for so this gentle damsell hight)
From syde to syde on every one dyd cast about her
sight :
At last her floting eyes were ancored fast on him,
Who for her sake dyd banishe health and fredome
from eche limme.
He in her sight did seeme to passe the rest as farre
As Phoebus shining beames do passe the brightnes of
a starre.
In wayte laye warlike Love with golden bowe and
shaft,
And to his eare with steady hand the bowstring up he
raft.
Till now she had escapde his sharpe inflaming darte :
Till now he listed not assaulte her yong and tender
hart.
His whetted arrow loosde, so touchd her to the
quicke,
That through the eye it strake the hart, and there the
hedde did sticke.
It booted not to strive, for why, she wanted strength ;
The weaker aye unto the strong of force must yeld at
length.
The pomps now of the feast her heart gyns to despyse ;
And onely joyeth when her eyen meete with her
lovers eyes.
When theyr new smitten heartes had fed on loving
gleam es :
Whilst passing too and fro theyr eyes ymingled were
theyr beames.
Eche of these lovers gan by others lookes to knowe,
That frendship in their brest had roote, and both
would have it grow.
86 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
When thus in both theyr harts had Cupide made his
breach e :
And eche of them had sought the meane to end the
warre by speache,
Dame Fortune did assent theyr purpose to advaunce :
With torche in hand a comly knight did fetch her
foorth to daunce ;
She quit herselfe so well, and with so trim a grace,
That she the cheefe prayse wan that night from all
Verona race.
,x£he whilst our Romeus a place had warely wonne,
' Nye to the seate where she must sit, the daunce once
beyng donne.
Fayre Juliet tourned to her chayre with pleasant cheere,
And glad she was her Romeus approched was so neere.
At thone syde of her chayre her lover Romeo,
And on the other syde there sat one cald Mercutio ;
A courtier that eche where was highly had in pryce,
For he was coorteous of his speche, and pleasant of
devise.
Even as a Lyon would emong the lambes be bolde,
Such was emong the bashfull maydes, Mercutio to
beholde.
With frendly gripe he ceasd fayre Juliets snowish
hand:
A gyft he had that Nature gave him in his swathing
band,
That frosen mountayne yse was never halfe so cold,
As were his handes, though nere so neer the fire he
dyd them holde.
As soone as had the knight the vyrgins right hand
raught,
Within his trembling hand her left hath loving Romeus
caught.
For he wist well himselfe for her abode most payne,
And well he wist she loved him best unless she list to
fayne.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 87
Then she with tender hand his tender palme hath prest;
What joy trow you was graffed so in Romeus cloven
brest ?
The soodain sweete delight had stopped quite his tong,
Ne can he claime of her his right, ne crave redresse of
wrong.
But she espyd straight waye, by chaunging of his hewe
From pale to red, from red to pale, and so from pale
anewe ;
That vehment love was cause, why so his tong dyd stay,
And so much more she longde to heare what Love
could teache him saye.
When she had longed long, and he long held his peace,
And her desire of hearing him, by sylence dyd encrease,
At last with trembling voyce and shamefast chere, the
mayde
Unto her Romeus tournde her selfe,. and thus to him
she sayde :
O blessed be the time of thy arrivall here :
But ere she could speake forth the rest, to her Love
drewe so nere :
And so within her mouth, her tonge he glewed fast,
That no one woord could scape her more, than what
already past.
In great contented ease the yong man straight is rapt :
What chaunce (q.'1 he) unware to me O lady myne is
hapt ?
That geves you worthy cause, my cumming here to
blisse ?
Fayre Juliet was come agayne unto her selfe by this :
Fyrst ruthfully she lookd, then sayd with smylyng chere:
Mervayle no whit my heartes delight, my only knight
and fere,
Mercutious ysy hande had all to frosen myne,
And of thy goodnes thou agayne hast warmed it with thine.
l[i.e., Quoth.]
88 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Whereto with stayed brow, gan Romeus to replye
If so the gods have graunted me suche favour from
the skye,
That by my being here, some service I have donne
That pleaseth you I am as glad, as I a realme had
wonne.
O wel bestowed tyme, that hath the happy hyre,
Which I woulde wysh if I might have, my wished harts
desire.
For I of God woulde crave, as pryse of paynes forpast,
To serve, obey, and honour you, so long as lyfe shall
last:
As proofe shall teache you playne, if that you like to
trye
His faltles truth, that nill for ought unto his laclye lye.
But if my tooched hand, have warmed yours some
dele,
Assure yourself the heat is colde, which in your hand
you fele,
Compard to such quick sparks and glowing furious
gleade
As from your bewties pleasaunt eyne, Love caused to
proceade ;
Which have so set on fyre, eche feling parte of myne,
That lo, my mynde doeth melt awaye, my utwerd parts
doe pyne.
And but you helpe all whole, to ashes shall I toorne ;
Wherefore (alas) have ruth on him, whom you do
force to boorne.
Even with his ended tale, the torches daunce had
ende,
And Juliet of force must part from her new chosen
frend.
His hand she clasped hard, and all her partes did
shake,
When laysureles with whispring voyce thus did she
aunswer make :
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 89
You are no more your owne (deare friend) then I am
yours
(My honour saved) prest tobay your will, while life
endures.
Lo, here the lucky lot that sild true lovers fmde,
Eche takes away the others hart, and leaves the owne
behinde.
A happy life is love if God graunt from above,
That hart with hart by even waight doo make ex-
chaunge of love.
But Romeus gone from her, his hart for care is colde ;
He hath forgot to aske her name that hath his hart in
holde.
With forged careles cheere, of one he seekes to knowe,
Both how she hight, and whence she camme, that him
enchaunted so.
So hath he learn d her name, and knowth she is no
geast,
Her father was a Capilet, and master of the feast.
Thus hath his foe in choyse to geve him lyfe or death,
That scarsely can his wofull brest keepe in the lively
breath.
Wherefore with piteous plaint feerce Fortune doth he
blame,
That in his ruth and wretched plight doth seeke her
laughing game.
And he reproveth love, cheefe cause of his unrest,
Who ease and freedome hath exilde out of his youth-
full brest.
Twyse hath he made him serve, hopeles of his rewarde \
Of both the ylles to choose the lesse, I weene the
choyse were harde.
Fyrst to a ruthlesse one he made him sue for grace,
And now with spurre he forceth him to ronne an
endles race.
Amyd these stormy seas one ancor doth him holde,
He serveth not a cruell one, as he had done qf olde.
QO ROME US AND JULIET.
And therefore is content, and chooseth still to serve :
Though hap should sweare that guerdonles the
wretched wight should sterve.
The lot of Tantalus is Romeus lyke to thine ;
For want of foode amid his foode, the myser styll doth
pine.
As carefull was the mayde what way were best
devise
To learn e his name, that intertaind her in so gentle
wise;
Of whome her hart received so deepe, so wyde a
wounde,
An auncient dame she calde to her, and in her eare
gan rounde :
This olde dame in her youth, had nurst her with her
mylke,
With slender nedle taught her sow, and how to spin
with silke.
What twayne are those (quoth she) which prease unto
the doore,
Whose pages in theyr hand doe beare, two toorches
light before ?
And then as eche of them had of his houshold name,
So she him namde yet once agayne the yong and
wyly darne.
And tell me who is he with vysor in his hand,
That yender doth in masking weede besyde the win
dow stand.
His name is Romeus (sayd she) a Montegewe,
Whose fathers pryde first styrd the strife which both
your housholdes revve.
The woord of Montegew, her joyes did overthrow,
And straight in steade of happy hope, despayre began
to growe.
What hap have I, quoth she, to love my fathers foe ?
What, am I wery of my wele ? what, doe I wishe my
woe?
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 91
But though her grievous paynes distraind her tender
hart,
Yet with an outward shewe of joye she cloked inward
smart j
And of the courtlyke dames her leave so courtly tooke,
That none dyd gesse the sodain change by changing
of her looke,
That at her mothers hest to chamber she her hyde,
So well she faynde, mother ne nurce, the hidden harme
descride.
But when she should have slept as wont she was, in
bed,
Not halfe a winke of quiet slepe could harber in her
hed.
For loe, an hugy heape of dyvers thoughtes arise,
That rest have banisht from her hart, and slumber
from her eyes.
And now from side to side she tosseth and she turnes,
And now for feare she shevereth, and now for love
she burnes.
And now she lykes her choyse, and now her choyse
she blames,
And now eche houre within her head, a thousand
fansies frames.
Sometime in mynde to stop, amyd her course be-
gonne,
Sometime she vowes what so betyde, that tempted
race to ronne.
Thus dangers dred and love, within the mayden fought :
The fight was feerce, continuyng long by their con
trary thought.
In tourning mase of love she wandreth too and fro,
Then standeth doutfull what to doe, last overprest
with woe.
How so her fansies cease, her teares did never blyn,
With heavy cheere and wringed hands, thus doth her
plaint begyn.
92 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Ah sily foole (quoth she) ycought in soottill snare :
Ah wretched wench, bewrapt in woe, ah caytife clad
with care.
Whence come these wandring thoughtes to thy uncon-
stant brest ?
By straying thus from raysons lore, that reve thy wonted
rest.
What if his suttell brayne, to fayne have taught his
tong?
And so the snake that lurkes in grasse, thy tender hart
hath stong ?
What if with frendly speache the tray tor lye in wayte ?
As oft the poysond hooke is hid, wrapt in the pleasant
bayte ?
Oft under cloke of truth, hath falshod served her lust ;
And toornd theyr honor into shame, that did so slightly
trust.
What, was not Dido so, a crouned queen, defamd ?
And eke for such an hey nous cry me, have men not
Theseus blamd ?
A thousand stories more, to teach me to beware,
In Boccace, and in Ovids bookes too playnely written
are.
Perhaps the great revenge he cannot woorke by
strength :
By suttel sleight (my honor staynde) he hopes to worke
at length.
So shall I seeke to finde my fathers foe his game ;
So I befylde, report shall take her trompe of blacke
defame,
Whence she with puffed cheeke shall blowe a blast so
shrill
Of my disprayse, that with the noyse Verona shall she fill.
Then I a laughing stocke through all the towne be-
comme,
Shall hide my selfe, but not my shame, within an
hollowe toombe. ^
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 93
Straight underneth her foote, she treadeth in the
dust
Her troublesom thought, as wholy vaine, ybred of
fond distrust.
No no by God above, I wot it well, quoth shee,
Although I rashely spake before, in no wise can it bee,
That where such perfet shape, with pleasant bewty
restes,
There crooked craft and trayson blacke, should be
appoynted gestes.
Sage writers say, the thoughts are dwelling in the
eyne;
Then sure I am, as Cupid raignes, that Romeus is
myne.
The tong the messenger, eke call they of the mynd ;
So that I see he loveth me, shall I then be unkynd?
His faces rosy hew, I saw full oft to seeke ;
And straight againe it flashed foorth, and spred in
eyther cheeke.
His fyxed heavenly eyne, that through me quite did
perce
His thoughts unto my hart, my thoughts thei semed
to rehearce.
What ment his foltring tunge, in telling of his tale?
The trembling of his joynts, and eke his cooller waxen
pale?
And whilst I talke with him, hym self he hath exylde
Out of him self (as seemed me) ne was I sure begylde.
Those arguments of love, Craft wrate not in his face,
But Natures hande, when all deceyte was banishd out
of place.
What other certain signes seke I of his good wil ?
These doo suffise ; and stedfast I will love and serve
him still,
Till Attropos shall cut, my fatall thread of lyfe,
So that he mynde to make of me his lawfull wedded
wyfe.
94 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
For so perchaunce this new alliance may procure
Unto our houses suche a peace as ever shall endure."
Oh how we can perswade, our self to what we like,
And how we can diswade our mynd, if ought our mynd
mislyke.
Weake arguments are stronge, our fansies streyght to
frame
To pleasing things, and eke to shonne, if we mislike
the same.
The mayde had scarsely yet ended the wery warre,
Kept in her heart by striving thoughtes, when every
shining starre
Had payd his borowed light, and Phoebus spred in skies
His golden rayes, which seemd to say, now time it is
to rise.
And Romeus had by this forsaken his wery bed,
Where restles he a thousand thoughts had forged in
his hed.
And while with lingring step by Juliets house he past,
And upwards to her windowes high hi-s gredy eyes did
cast :
His love that looked for him, there gan he straight
espie.
With pleasant cheere eche greeted is, she followeth
with her eye
His parting steppes, and he oft looketh backe againe,
But not so oft as he desyres, warely he doth refrayne.
What life were lyke to love, if dred of jeopardy
Ysowred not the sweete ; if love were free from jelosy.
But she more sure within, unseene of any wight,
When so he come, lookes after him, till he be out of
sight.
In often passing so, his busy eyes he threw,
That every pane and tooting hole the wily lover knew.
In happy houre he doth a garden plot espye,
From which except he warely walke, men may his love
descrye ;
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 95
For lo, it fronted full, upon her leaning place,
Where she is woont to shew her heart by cheerefull
frendly face.
And lest the arbors might theyr secret love bewraye,
He doth keepe backe his forward foote from passing
there by daye ;
But when on earth the night her mantel blacke hath
spred,
Well armd he walketh foorth alone, ne dreadfull foes
doth dred.
Whom maketh love not bold, naye -whom makes he
not blynde ?
He reveth daungers dread oft times out of the loves
minde.
By night he passeth here, a weeke or two in vayne ;
And for the missing of his marke, his griefe hath hym
nye slaine.
And Juliet that now doth1 lacke her hearts releefe :
Her Romeus pleasant eyen (I meene) is almost dead
for greefe.
Eche day she chaungeth howres, (for lovers keepe an
howre)
When they are sure to see theyr love, in passing by
their bowre.
Impacient of her woe, she hapt to leane one night
Within her window, and anon the Moone did shine
so bright,
That she espyde her love, her hart revived, sprang
And now for joy she clappes her handes, which erst
for woe she wrang.
Eke Romeus when he sawe his long desired sight,
His moorning cloke of mone cast off, hath clad him
with delight.
Yet dare I say, of both that she rejoyced more :
His care was great, hers twise as great, was all the
time before ;
1 Both in text.
96 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
For whilst she knew not why he dyd himselfe absent,
Ay douting both his health and lyfe, his death she dyd
lament.
Eorjove is fearefull oft, where is no cause of feare,
And what love feares, that love laments, as though it
chaunced weare.
Of greater cause alway is greater woorke ybred;
While he nought douteth of her helth, she dreads lest
he be ded.
When onely absence is the cause of Romeus smart,
By happy hope of sight agayne he feedes his faynting
hart.
What woonder then if he were wrapt in lesse annoye ?
What marvel if by sodain sight she fed of greater
joy?
His smaller greefe or joy no smaller love doo prove ;
Ne for she passed him in both, did she him passe in
love :
But eche of them alike dyd burne in equall flame,
The welbeloving knight, and eke the welbeloved dame.
Now whilst with bitter teares her eyes as fountaynes
ronne,
With whispering voyce ybroke with sobs, thus is her
tale begonne :
O Romeus (of your lyfe) too lavas sure you are,
That in this place, and at thys tyme, to hasard it you
dare.
What if your dedly foes, my kynsmen, saw you here?
Lyke lyons wylde, your tender partes asonder would
they teare.
In ruth and in disdayne, I, weary of my lyfe,
With cruell hand my moorning hart would perce with
bloudy knyfe.
For you myne owne once dead, what joy should I
have heare ?
And eke my honor staynde which I then lyfe doe holde
more deare.
ROME US AND JULIET. 97
Fayre lady myne dame Juliet my lyfe (quod he)
Even from my byrth committed was to fatall sisters
three.
They may in spyte of foes, draw foorth my lively
threed ;
And they also, who so sayth nay, a sender may it
shreed.
But who, to reave my lyfe, his rage and force would
bende,
Perhaps should trye unto his payne how I it could
defende.
Ne yet I love it so, but alwayes for your sake,
A sacrifice to death I would my wounded corps betake.
If my mishappe were such, that here before your
sight,
I should restore agayne to death, of lyfe my borrowde
. light,
This one thing and no more my parting sprite would
rewe,
That part he should, before that you by certaine triall
knew
The love I owe to you, the thrall I languish in,
And how I dread to loose the gayne which I doe hope
to win :
And how I wishe for lyfe, not for my propre ease,
But that in it, you might I love, you honor, serve and
please,
Tyll dedly pangs the sprite out of the corps shall
send :
And thereupon he sware an othe, and so his tale had
ende.
Now love and pitty boyle, in Juliets ruthfull brest ;
In windowe on her leaning arme, her weary hed doth
rest:
Her bosome bathd in teares, to witnes inward payne,
With dreary chere to Romeus, thus aunswerd she
agayne :
VOL. i. G
98 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Ah my deere Romeus, keepe in these woords (quod she)
For lo, the thought of such mischaunce, already
maketh me
For pitty and for dred welnigh to yelde up breath ;
In even ballance peysed are my life and eke my death.
For so my heart is knitte, yea, made one selfe with
yours,
That sure there is no greefe so small, by which your
mynde endures,
But as you suffer payne, so I doe beare in part
(Although it lessens not your greefe) the halfe of all
your smart.
But these thinges overpast, if of your health and myne
You have respect, or pitty ought my teary weping
eyen,
In few unfained woords, your hidden mynd unfolde,
That as I see your pleasant face, your heart I may
beholde.
For if you doe intende my honor to defile,
In error shall you wander still, as you have done this
whyle :
But if your thought be chaste, and have on vertue
ground,
If wedlocke be the end and marke which your desire
hath found,
Obedience set aside, unto my parentes dewe,
The quarrell eke that long agoe betwene our hous-
holdes grewe,
Both me and myne I will all whole to you betake,
And following you where so you goe, my fathers
house forsake.
But if by wanton love, and by unlawfull sute,
You thinke in ripest yeres to plucke my maydenhods
dainty frute,
You are begylde, and now your Juliet you beseekes
To cease your sute, and suffer her to live emong her
likes.
ROME US AND JULIET. 99
Then Romeus, whose thought was free from fowle
desyre,
And to the top of vertues haight, did worthely as-
pyre,
Was fild with greater joy than can my pen expresse,
Or till they have enjoyd the like, the hearers hart can
gesse.
And then with joyned hands heavd up into the skies,
He thankes the Gods, and from the heavens for
vengeance downe he cries,
If he have other thought, but as his lady spake ;
And then his looke he toornd to her, and thus did
aunswer make :
Since Lady that you like to honor me so much,
As to accept me for your spouse, I yeld my selfe for
such.
In true witnes wherof, because I must depart,
Till that my deede do prove my woord, I leave in
pawne my hart.
Tomorrow eke bestimes, before the sunne arise,
To fryer Lawrence will I wende, to learne his sage
advise.
He is my gostly syre, and oft he hath me taught
What I should 'doe in things of wayght, when I his
ayde have sought.
And at this selfe same houre, I plyte you here my
fayth,
I wilbe here (if you thinke good) to tell you what he
sayth.
She was contented well; els favour found he none,
That night at lady Juliets hand, save pleasant woordes
alone.
This barefoote fryer gyrt, with cord his grayish
weede,
For he of Frauncis order was, a fryer as I reede.
Not as the most was he, a grosse unlearned foole,
But doctor of divinitie preceded he in schoole.
IOO ROMEUS AND JULIET.
The secretes eke he knew, in Natures woorkes that
loorke ;
By magiks arte most men supposd that he could
wonders woorke.
Ne doth it ill beseeme devines those skils to know,
If on no harmefull deede they do such skilfulnes
bestow ;
For justly of no arte can men condemne the use,
But right and reasons lore crye out agaynst the lewd
abuse.
The bounty of the fryer and wisdom hath so wonne
The townes folks herts, that welnigh all to fryer
Lawrence ronne,
To shrive them selfe the olde, the yong, the great and
small ;
.Of all he is beloved well, and honord much of all.
And for he did the rest in wisdome farre exceede,
The prince by him (his counsell cravde) was holpe at
time of neede.
Betwixt the Capilets and him great frendship grew,
A secret and assured frend unto the Montegue.
Loved of this yong man more then any other gest,
The frier eke of Verone youth, aye liked Romeus
best;
For whom he ever hath in time of his distres,
(As erst you heard) by skilfull lore, found out his
harmes redresse.
To him is Romeus gonne, ne stayth he till the morowe ;
To him he paynteth all his case, his passed joy and
sorow.
How he hath her espyde with other dames in daunce,
And how that first to talke with her, himselfe he did
advaunce ;
Their talke and change of lookes he gan to him
declare,
And how so fast by fayth and troth they both ycoupled
are,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. IOI
That neither hope of lyfe, nor dreed of cruel death,
Shall make him false his fayth to her while lyfe shall
lend him breath.
And then with weping eyes he prayes his gostly syre
To further and accomplish all theyr honest hartes
desire.
A thousand doutes and moe in thold mans bed arose,
A thousand daungers like to come, the olde man doth
disclose,
And from the spousall rites he readeth him refrayne,
Perhaps he shalbe bet advisde within a weeke or
t\vayne.
Advise is banishd quite from those that folio we love,
Except advise to what they like theyr bending mynde
do move.
As well the father might have counseld him to stay
That from a mountain es top thrown downe, is falling
halfe the way,
As warne his frend to stop, amyd his race begonne,
Whom Cupid with his smarting whip enforceth foorth
to ronne.
Part wonne by earnest sute,the fryer doth grauntatlast;
And part, because he thinkes the stormes, so lately
overpast,
Of both the housholdes wrath, this manage might
apease ;
So that they should not rage agayne, but quite for ever
cease.
The respite of a day, he asketh to devyse,
What way were best unknowne to ende so great an
enterprise.
The wounded man that now doth dedly paines endure,
Scarce pacient tarieth whilst his leeche doth make the
salve to cure :
So Romeus hardly graunts a short day and a night,
Yet nedes he must, els must he want his onely hearts
delight.
102 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
You see that Romeus no time or payne doth spare;
Thinke that the whilst fayre Juliet is not devoyde of
care.
Yong Romeus powreth foorth his hap and his mishap,
Into the friers brest ; but where shall Juliet unwrap
The secretes of her hart ? to whom shall she unfolde,
Her hidden burning love, and eke her thought and
cares so colde.
The nurce of whom I spake, within her chaumber
laye,
Upon the mayde she wayteth still j to her she doth
bewray
Her new received wound, and then her ayde doth
crave,
In her she saith it lyes to spill, in her, her life to save.
Not easely she made the froward nurce to bowe,
But wonne at length, with promest hyre, she made a
solemne vowe,
To do what she commaundes, as handmayd of her
hest;
Her mistres secrets hide she will, within her covert
brest.
To Romeus she goes of him she doth desyre,
To know the meane of manage, by councell of the
fryre.
On Saterday quod he, if Juliet come to shrift,
She shalbe shrived and maried, how lyke you noorse
this drift ?
Now by my truth (quod she) God's blessing have your
hart,
For yet in all my life I have not heard of such a part.
Lord how you yong men can such crafty wiles devise,
If that you love the daughter well, to bleare the
mothers eyes.
An easy thing it is, with cloke of holines,
To mocke the sely mother that suspecteth nothing
lesse.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 103
But that it pleased you to tell me of the case,
For all my many yeres perhaps, I should have found
it scarse.
Now for the rest let me and Juliet alone ;
To get her leave, some feate excuse I will devise anone;
For that her golden lockes by sloth have been unkempt,
Or for unwares some wanton dreame the youthfull
damsell drempt,
Or for in thoughts of love her ydel time she spent,
Or otherwise within her hart deserved to be shent.
I know her mother will in no case say her nay;
I warrant you she shall not fayle to come on Saterday.
And then she sweares to him, the mother loves her
well j
And how she gave her sucke in youth, she leaveth not
to tell.
A prety babe (quod she) it was when it was yong ;
Lord how it could full pretely have prated with its
tong !
A thousand times and more I laid her on my lappe,
And clapt her on the buttocke soft, and kist where I
did clappe.
And gladder then was I of such a kisse forsooth,
Then I had been to have a kisse of some olde lechers
mouth.
And thus of Juliets youth began this prating noorse,
And of her present state to make a tedious long dis-
coorse.
For though he pleasure tooke in hearing of his love,
The message aunswer seemed him to be of more
behove.
But when these Beldams sit at ease upon theyr tayle,
The day and eke the candle light before theyr talke
shall fayle.
And part they say is true, and part they do devise,
Yet boldly do they that of both, when no man checkes
theyr lyes.
104 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Then he vj crownes of gold out of his pocket drew,
And gave them her ; a slight reward (quod he) and so
adiew.
In seven yeres twise tolde she had not bowd so low.e,
Her crooked knees, as now they bowe : she sweares
she will bestowe,
Her crafty wit, her time, and all her busy payne,
To helpe him to his hoped blisse, and, cowring downe
agayne,
She takes her leave, and home she hyes with spedy
pace;
The chaumber doore she shuts, and then she saith
with smyling face :
Good newes for thee my gyrle, good tidings I thee
bring.
Leave off thy woonted song of care, and now of
pleasure sing.
For thou mayst hold thy selfe the happiest under
sonne,
That in so little while, so well so worthy a knight hast
woone.
The best yshapde is he, and hath the fayrest face,
Of all this towne, and there is none hath halfe so good
a grace :
So gentle of his speche, and of his counsell wise :
And still with many prayses more she heaved him to
the skies.
Tell me els what (quod she) this evermore I thought ;
But of our manage say at once, what aunswer have
you brought ?
Nay soft quoth she, I feare, your hurt by sodain
joye;
I list not play quoth Juliet, although thou list to
toye.
How glad trow you was she, when she had heard her
say,
No farther of then Saterday, differred was the day.
ROME US AND JULIET. 1 05
Againe, the auncient nurce doth speake of Romeus,
And then (said she) he spake to me, and then I spake
him thus.
Nothing was done or said that she hath left untolde,
Save onely one, that she forgot the taking of the
golde.
There is no losse quod she, (sweete wench) to losse of
time,
Ne in thine age shalt thou repent so much of any
crime.
For when I call to mynde, my former passed youth,
One thing there is which most of all doth cause my
endles ruth.
At sixtene yeres I first did choose my loving feere,
And I was fully ripe before, (I dare well say) a yere.
The pleasure that I lost, that yere so overpast,
A thousand times I have bewept, and shall while life
doth last.
In fayth it were a shame, yea sinne it were y wisse
When thou mayst live in happy joy, to set light by
thy blisse.
She that this mornyng could her mistres mynde dis--
swade,
Is now becomme an Oratresse, her lady to perswade. «
If any man be here whom love hath clad with care,
To him I speake ; if thou wilt speede, thy purse thou
must not spare,
Two sortes of men there are, seeld welcome in at
doore,
The welthy sparing nigard, and the sutor that is poore.
For glittring gold is woont by kynd to moove the
hart;
And often times a slight rewarde doth cause a more
desart.
Ywritten have I red, I wot not in what booke,
There is no better way to fishe then with a golden
hooke.
I06 ROME US AND $ULIET.
Of Romeus these two doe sitte and chat a while,
And to them selfe they laugh, how they the mother
shall begyle.
A feate excuse they finde, but sure I know it not,
And leave for her to goe to shrift on Saterday she got.
So well this Juliet, this wyly wench dyd know
Her mothers angry houres, and eke the true bent of
her bowe.
The Saterday betimes, in sober weede yclad,
She tooke her leave, and forth she went with visage
grave and sad.
With her the nurce is sent as brydle of her lust,
With her the mother sendes a mayde, almost of equall
trust.
Betwixt her teeth the bytte, the Jenet now hath cought,
So warely eke the vyrgin walkes, her mayde perceiveth
nought.
She gaseth not in churche, on yong men of the towne,
Ne wandreth she from place to place, but straight she
kneleth downe
Upon an alters step, where she devoutly prayes,
And there upon her tender knees the wery lady staves;
Whilst she doth send her mayde the certain truth to
know,
If fryer Lawrence laysure had, to heare her shrift, or no.
Out of his shriving place he commes with pleasant
cheere ;
The shamefast mayde with bashfull brow to himward
draweth neere.
Some great offence (q'1 he) you have committed late,
Perhaps you have displeasd your frend, by geving him
a mate.
Then turning to the nurce, and to the other mayde,
Goe heare a masse or two quod he, which straight
way shalbe sayde.
1 i.e., Quod or quoth.
ROME US AND JULIET. IOJ
For her confession heard, I will unto you twayne
The charge that I receivd of you, restore to you
agayne.
What, was not Juliet trow you right well apayde ?
That for this trusty fryre hath chaungde her yong mis
trusting mayde ?
I dare well say there is in all Verona none,
But Romeus, with whom she would so gladly be alone.
Thus to the fryers cell they both foorth walked bin ;
He shuts the doore as soone as he and Juliet were in.
But Romeus, her frend, was entred in before,
And there had wayted for his love, two howers large
and more.
Eche minute seemde an howre, and every howre a day,
Twixt hope he lived and despayre of cumming or of
stay.
Now wavering hope and feare, are quite fled out of
sight,
For what he hopde he hath at hande, his pleasant
cheefe delight.
And joyfull Juliet is healde of all her smart,
For now the rest of all her parts, have found her
straying hart.
Both theyr confessions first the fryer hath heard them
make,
And then to her with lowder voyce thus fryer Lawrence
spake :
Fayre lady Juliet, my gostly doughter deere,
As farre as I of Romeus learne, who by you standeth
here,
Twixt you it is agreed, that you shalbe his wyfe,
And he your spouse in steady truth till death shall
end your life.
Are you both fully bent to kepe this great behest ?
And both the lovers said it was theyr onely harts
request.
When he did see theyr myndes in linkes of love so fast,
108 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
When in the prayse of wedlocks state somme skilfull
talke was past
When he had told at length the wife what was her
due,
His duety eke by gostly talke the youthfull husband
knew ;
How that the wife in love must honor and obay,
What love and honor he doth owe, and dette -that he
must pay.
The woords pronounced were which holy church of
olde
Appointed hath for mariage, and she a ring of golde
Received of Romeus ; and then they both arose.
To whom the frier then said : Perchaunce apart you
will disclose,
Betwixt yourselfe alone, the bottome of your hart;
Say on at once, for time it is that hence you should
depart.
Then Romeus said to her, (both loth to part so soone)
Fayre lady, send to me agayne your nurce this after-
noone.
Of corcle I will bespeake, a ladder by that time ;
By which, this night, while other sleepe, I will your
window clime.
Then we will talke of love and of our olde dispayres,
And then with longer laysure had, dispose our great
affaires.
These said, they kisse, and then part to theyr
fathers house,
The joyfull bryde unto her home, to his eke goth the
spouse ;
Contented both, and yet both uncontented still,
Till Night and Venus child, geve leave the wedding
to fulfill.
The painfull souldiour, sore ybet with wery warre,
The merchant eke that nedefull things doth dred to
fetch from farre,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. IOC)
The ploughman that for doute of feerce invading foes,
Rather to sit in ydle ease then sowe his tilt hath
chose,
Rejoyce to heare proclaymd the tydinges of the
peace ;
Not pleasurd with the sound so much ; but, when the
warres do cease,
Then ceased are the harmes which cruell warre bringes
foorth :
The merchant then may boldly fetch, his wares of
precious woorth ;
Dredelesse the husband man doth till his fertile feeld.
For welth her mate, not for her selfe, is peace so pre
cious held :
So lovers live in care, in dread, and in unrest,
And dedly warre by striving thoughts they kepe. within
their brest :
But wedlocke is the peace wherby is freedome wonne
To do a thousand pleasant thinges that should not els
be donne.
The newes of ended warre these two have hard with joy,
But now they long the fruite of peace with pleasure
to enjoy.
In stormy wind and wave, in daunger to be lost,
Thy stearles ship (O Romeus) hath been long while
betost ;
The seas are now appeasd, and thou by happy starre,
Art comme in sight of quiet haven ; and, now the
wrackfull barre
Is hid with swelling tyde, boldly thou mayst resort
Unto thy wedded ladies bed, thy long desyred port.
God graunt no follies mist so dymme thy inward sight,
That thou do misse the chanell that doth leade to thy
delight.
God graunt no daungers rocke ylurking in the darke,
Before thou win the happy port, wracke thy seabeaten
barke.
110 ROME US AND JULIET.
A servant Romeus had, of woord and deede so just,
That with his life (if nede requierd) his master would
him trust.
His faithfulnes had oft our Romeus proved of olde ;
And therfore all that yet was done unto his man he
tolde.
Vho straight as he was charged, a corden ladder
lookes,
To which he hath made fast two strong and crooked
yron hookes.
The bryde to send the nurce at twylight fayleth not,
To whom the bridegroom e yeven hath the ladder that
he got.
And then to watch for him appointeth her an howre,
For whether Fortune smyle on him, or if she list to
lowre,
He will not misse to comme to his appoynted place,
Where wont he was to take by stelth the view of
Juliets face.
How long these lovers thought the lasting of the day,
Let other judge that woonted are lyke passions to
assay :
For my part, I do gesse eche howre seemes twenty
yere :
So that I deeme, if they might have (as of Alcume we
heare)
The sunne bond to theyr will, if they the heavens
might gyde,
'Black shade of night and doubled darke should straight
all over hyde.
Thappointed howre is comme; he clad in riche
araye,
Walkes toward his desyred home : good fortune gyde
his way.
Approching nere the place from whence his hart had life,
So light he wox, he lept the wall,- and there he spyde
his wife,
ROME US AND JULIET. I I I
Who in the windowe watcht the camming of her lorde ;
Where she so surely had made fast the ladder made of
corde,
That daungerles her spouse the chaumber window
climes,
Where he ere then had wisht himselfe above ten thou
sand times.
The windowes close are shut; els looke they for no gest ;
To light the waxen quariers, the auncient nurce is prest,
Which Juliet had before prepared to be light,
That she at pleasure might beholde her husbandes
bewty bright.
A carchef white as snowe, ware Juliet on her hed,
Such as she wonted was to weare, attyre meete for the
bed.
As soone as she hym spyde, about his necke she clong,
And by her long and slender armes a great while there
she hong.
A thousand times she kist, and him unkist agayne,
Ne could she speake a woord to him though would
she nere so fayne.
And like betwixt his armes to faynt his lady is ;
She fettes a sigh, and clappeth close her closed mouth
to his :
And ready then to sownde, she looked ruthfully,
That loe, it made him both at once to live and eke to
dye.
These piteous painfull panges were haply overpast,
And she unto her selfe agayne retorned home at last.
Then through her troubled brest, even from the far
thest part,
An hollow sigh, a messenger she sendeth from her hart.
O Romeus quoth she, in whome all vertues shyne,
Welcome thou art into this place, where from these
eyes of myne
Such teary streames dyd flowe, that I suppose welny
The source of my bitter teares is altogether drye.
112 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Absence so pynde my heart, which on thy presence fed,
And of thy safetie and thy health so much I stood in
dred.
But now what is decreed by fatall desteny,
I force it not; let Fortune do and death their woorst
to me.
Full recompensd am I for all my passed harmes,
In that the Gods have graunted me to claspe thee in
myne armes.
The christall teares began to stand in Romeus eyes,
When he unto his ladies woordes gan aunswere in this
wise :
Though cruell Fortune be so much my dedly foe,
That I ne can by lively proofe cause thee (fayre dame)
to knowe
How much I am by love enthralled unto thee,
Ne yet what mighty powre thou hast by thy desert
on me,
Ne tormentes that for thee I did ere this endure,
Yet of thus much (ne will I fayne) I may thee well
assure ;
The least of many paynes which of thy absence sprong,
More paynefully then death it selfe my tender hart
hath wroong.
Ere this one death had reft a thousand deathes away,
But lyfe prolonged was by hope of this desired day ;
Which so just tribute payes of all my passed mone,
That I as well contented am, as if my selfe alone
Did from the Ocean reigne unto the sea of Inde.
Wherfore now let us wipe away old cares out of our
mynde :
For as the wretched state is now redrest at last,
So is it skill behinde our backe the cursed care to
cast.
Since Fortune of her grace hath place and time assinde,
Where we with pleasure may content our uncontented
minde,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 113
In Lethes hyde we deepe all greefe and all annoy,
Whilst we do bath in blisse, and fill our hungry harts
with joye.
And for the time to comme, let be our busy care
So wisely to direct our love as no wight els be ware ;
Lest envious foes by force despoyle our new delight,
And us thro we backe from happy state to more un
happy plight.
Fayre Juliet began to aunswere what he sayd,
But foorth in hast the olde nurce stept, and so her
aunswere stayde.
Who takes not time (quoth she) when time well
offred is,
An other time shall seeke for time, and yet of time
shall misse.
And when occasion serves, who so doth let it slippe,
Is woorthy sure (if I might judge) of lashes with a
whippe.
Wherfore, if eche of you hath harmde the other so,
And eche of you hath been the cause of others wayled
woe,
Loe here a fielde (she shewd a fieeldbed ready dight)
Where you may, if you list, in armes, revenge your
selfe by fight.
Wherto these lovers both gan easely assent,
And to the place of mylde revenge with pleasant
cheere they went,
Where they were left alone, the nurce is gone to rest :
How can this be ? they restles lye, ne yet they feele
unrest.
I graunt that I envie the blisse they lived in ;
Oh that I might have found the like, I wish it for no sin,
But that I might as well with pen their joys depaynt,
As heretofore I have displayd their secret hidden playnt.
Of shyvering care and dred, I have felt many a fit,
But Fortune such delight as theyrs dyd never graunt
me yet.
VOL. I. H
114 ROME US AND JULIET.
By proofe no certain truth can I unhappy write,
But what I gesse by likelihod, that I dare to endite.
The blyndfyld goddesse that with frowning face doth
fraye,
And from theyr seate the mighty kinges throwes downe
with hedlong sway,
Begynneth now to turne to these her smyling face ;
Nedes must they tast of great delight, so much in
Fortunes grace.
If Cupid, God of love, be God of pleasant sport,
I thinck O Romeus Mars himselfe envies thy happy
sort.
Ne Venus justly might, (as I suppose) repent,
If in thy stead (O Juliet) this pleasant time she spent.
This1 passe they foorth the night in sport, in joly
game;
The hastines of Phoebus steeds in great despyte they
blame.
And now the virgins fort hath warlike Romeus got,
In which as yet no breache was made by force of
canon shot,
And now in ease he doth possesse the hoped place :
How glad was he, speake you that may your lovers
parts embrace.
The manage thus made up, and both the parties
pleasd,
The nigh approche of dayes retoorne these seely foles
diseasd.
And for they might no while in pleasure passe theyr
time,
Ne leysure had they much to blame the hasty morn
ings crime,
With frendly kisse in armes of her his leave he takes,
And every other night to come, a solemne othe he
makes,
1 The catchword is Thus, but This is in the text.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 1 15
By one selfe meane, and eke to come at one selfe
howre :
And so he doth till Fortune list to sawse his sweete
with sowre.
But who is he that can his present state assure ?
And say unto himself, thy joyes shall yet a day
endure ? .x
So wavering Fortunes whele, her chaunges be so
straunge ;
And every wight ythralled is by fate unto her chaunge ;
Who raignes so over all, that eche man hath his
part,
(Although not aye perchaunce alike) of pleasure and
of smart.
For after many joyes, some feele but little payne,
And from that little greefe they toorne to happy joy
againe.
But other somme there are, that living long in woe,
At length they be in quiet ease, but long abide not
so;
Whose greefe is much increast by myrth that went
before,
Because the sodayne chaunge of thinges doth make it
seeme the more.
Of this unlucky sorte our Romeus is one,
For all his hap turnes to mishap, and all his myrth to
mone.
And joyfull Juliet an other leafe must toorne ;
As wont she was (her joyes bereft) she must begin to
moorne.
The summer of their blisse, doth last a month or
twayne,
But winters blast with spedy foote doth bring the fall
agayne.
Whom glorious fortune erst had heaved to the skies,
By envious fortune overthrowne on earth now grovel
ing lyes.
Il6 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
She payd theyr former greefe with pleasures doubled
gayne,
But now for pleasures usery ten-folde redoubleth
payne.
The prince could never cause those housholds so
agree,
But that some sparcles of their wrath, as yet remain
ing bee ;
Which lye this while raakd up in ashes pale and ded,
Till tyme do serve that they agayne in wasting flame
may spred.
• At holiest times men say most heynous crimes are
donne ;
The morowe after Easter day the mischiefe new
begonne. "
A band of Capilets did meete (my hart it rewes)
Within the walles by Pursers gate, a band of
Montagewes.
The Capilets as cheefe, a yong man have chose out,
Best exercisd in feates of armes, and noblest of the
rowte,
Our Juliets unkles sonne that cliped was Tibalt ;
He was of body tall and strong, and of his courage halt.
They neede no trumpet sounde to byd them geve the
charge,
So lowde he cryde with strayned voyce and mouth
outstretched large :
Now, now (quod he) my friends, our selfe so let us
wreake,
That of this dayes revenge, and us, our childrens heyres
may speake.
Now once for all let us their swelling pride asswage ;
J Let none of them escape alive. Then he with furious
rage
And they with him gave charge, upon theyr present foes,
And then forthwith a skyrmishe great upon this fray
arose.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 117
For loe, the Montagewes thought shame a\vay to flye,
And rather then to live with shame, with prayse did
choose to dye.
The woordes that Tybalt usd to styre his folke to
yre,
Have in the brestes of Montagewes kindled a furious
fyre.
With Lyons hartes they fight, warely themselfe defende ;
To wound his foe, his present wit and force eche one
doth bend.
This furious fray is long, on eche side stoutly fought,
That whether part had got the woorst, full doutfull
were the thought.
The noyse hereof anon, throughout the towne doth flye,
And partes are taken on every side : both kindreds
thether hye.
Here one doth gaspe for breth, his frend bestrideth
him ;
And he hath lost a hand, and he another maymed lim :
His leg is cutte whilst he strikes at an other full,
And whom he would have thrust quite through, hath
cleft his cracked skull.
Theyr valiant harts forbode theyr foote to geve the
grounde ;
With unappauled cheere they tooke full deepe and
doutfull wounde.
Thus foote by foote long while, and shield to shield
set fast,
One foe doth' make another faynt, but makes him not
agast.
And whilst this noyse is ryfe in every townes mans
eare,
Eke walking with his frendes, the noyse doth wofull
Romeus heare.
With spedy foote he ronnes unto the fray apace ;
With him those fewe that were with him he leadeth to
the place.
Il8 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
They pittie much to see the slaughter made so greate,
That wetshod they might stand in blood on eyther
side the streate.
Part frendes (sayd he) part frendes, helpe frendes, to
part the fray,
And to the rest, enough (he cryes) now time it is to
staye.
Gods farther wrath you styrre, beside the hurt you
feele,
And with this new uprore confounde all this our
common wele.
But they so busy are in fight so egar and fierce,
That through theyr eares his sage advise no leysure had
to pearce.
Then lept he in the throng, to part and barre the
blowes,
As well of those that were his frendes, as of his dedly
foes.
As soone as Tybalt had our Romeus espyde,
He threw a thrust at him that would have past from
side to side ;
But Romeus ever went (douting his foes) well armde,
So that the swerd (kept out by mayle) had nothing
Romeus harmde.
Thou doest me wrong (quoth he) for I but part the
fraye ;
Not dread, but other waighty cause my hasty hand
doth stay.
Thou art the cheefe of thine, the noblest eke thou
art,
Wherefore leave of thy malice now, and helpe these
folke to parte.
Many are hurt, some slayne, and some are like to dye :
No, coward tray tor boy (qd1 he) straight way I mynd
to trye,
1 [/.^., quod.]
ROME US AND JULIET. 119
Whether thy sugred talke, and tong so smootely
fylde,
Against the force of this my swerd shall serve thee for
a shylde.
And then at Romeus hed, a blow he strake so hard,
That might have clove him to the brayne but for his
cunning ward.
It was but lent to him that could repay agayne :
And geve him death for interest, a well forborne
gayne.
Right as a forest bore, that lodged in the thicke,
Pinched with dog, or els with speare ypricked to the
quicke,
His bristles stiffe upright upon his backe doth set,
And in his fomy mouth, his sharp and crooked tuskes
doth whet :
Or as a Lyon wylde that rampeth in liis rage,
His whelpes bereft, whose fury can no weaker beast
asswage ;
Such seemed Romeus in every others sight,
When he him shope, of wrong receavde tavenge him
self by fight.
Even as two thunderboltes throwne downe out of the
skye,
That through the ayre the massy earth and seas have
power to flye ;
So met these two, and while they chaunge a blowe or
twayne,
Our Romeus thrust him through the throte, and so is
Tybalt slayne.
Loe here the ende of those that styrre a dedly
stryfe :
Who thyrsteth after others death, himselfe hath lost
his life.
The Capilets are quaylde by Tybalts overthrowe,
The courage of the Mountagewes by Romeus sight
doth growe.
120 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
The townes men waxen strong, the prince doth send
his force ;
The fray hath end, the Capilets do bring the brethles
corce
Before the prince, and crave, that cruell dedly payne
May be the guerdon of his fait, that hath their kins
man slaine.
The Montagewes do pleade, theyr Romeus voyde of
fait;
The lookers on do say, the fight begonne was by Tybalt.
The prince doth pawse, and then geves sentence in a
while,
That Romeus, for sleying him should goe into exyle.
His foes would have him hangde, or sterve in prison
strong;
His frendes do think (but dare not say) that Romeus
hath wrong.
Both housholds straight are charged on payne of los
ing lyfe,
Theyr bloudy weapons layd aside, to cease the styrred
stryfe.
This common plage is spred, through all the towne
anon,
From side to side the towne is fild with murmour and
writh mone.
For Tybalts hasty death, bewayled was of somme,
Both for his skill in feates of armes, and for in time to
comme
He should (had this not chaunced) been riche and of
great powre,
To helpe his frendes, and serve the state, which hope
within an howre
Was wasted quite, and he thus yelding up his breath,
More than he holpe the towne in lyfe, hath harmde
it by his death.
And other somme bewayle, (but ladies most of all)
The lookeles lot by Fortunes gylt, that is so late befall,
ROME US AND JULIET. 121
(Without his fait,) unto the seely Romeus ;
Forwnilst that he from natife land shall liveexyled thus,
From heavenly bewties light and his well shaped parts,
The sight of which, was wont (faire dames) to glad
your youthfull harts,
Shall you be banishd quite, and tyll he do retoorne.
What hope have you to joy ? what hope to cease to
moorne ?
This Romeus was borne so much in heavens grace,
Of Fortune, and of nature so beloved, that in his face
(Beside the heavenly bewty glistring ay so bright,
And seemely grace, that wonted so to glad the seers
sight)
A certain charme was graved by natures secret arte,
.That vertue had to draw to it, the love of many a hart.
So every one doth wish, to beare a part of payne,
That he released of exyle, might straight retorne
agayne. ^
But how doth moorne emong the moorners Juliet ?
How doth she bathe her brest in teares ? what depe
sighes doth she fet ?
How doth she tear her heare ? her weede how doth
she rent ?
How fares the lover hearing of her lovers banishment ?
How wales she Tibalts death, whom she had loved so
well?
Her hearty greefe and piteous plaint, cunning I want
to tell.
For delving depely now in depth of depe despayre,
With wretched sorowes cruell sound she fils the empty
ayre;
L\nd to the lowest hell, downe falls her heavy crye,
lAnd up unto the heavens haight her piteous plaint
doth flye.
[The waters and the woods, of sighes and sobs resounde,
lAnd from the hard resounding rocks her sorrowes do
rebounde.
122 ROMEUS AND JULIET,
from her teary eyne, downe rayned many a showre,
That in the garden where she vvalkd might water
herbe and flowre.
But when at length she saw her selfe outraged so,
Unto her chaumber straight she hide; there over
charged with wo,
Upon her stately bed, her painfull parts she threw,
And in so wondrous wise began hersorowes to renewe,
That sure no hart so hard, (but it of flint had byn,)
But would have rude the pitious plaint that she did
languishe in.
Then rapt out of her selfe, whilst she on every side
Did cast her restles eye, at length the windowe she
espide,
Through which she had with joy scene Romeus many
a time,
Which oft the ventrous knight was wont for Juliets sake
to clyme.
She cryde, O cursed windowe, acurst be every pane,
Through which (alas) to sone I raught the cause of
life and bane,
If by thy meane I have some slight delight receaved,
Or els such fading pleasure as by Fortune straight
was reaved,
Hast thou not made me pay a tribute rigorous ?
Of heaped greefe, and lasting care? and sorowes
dolorous ?
That these my tender partes, which nedeful strength do
lacke,
To beare so great unweldy lode, upon so weake a backe,
Opprest with waight of cares and with these sorowes
rife,
At length must open wide to death, the gates of lothed
lyfe;
That so my wery sprite, may somme where els unlode
His dedly lode, and free from thrall may seeke els
where abrode ;
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 123
For pleasant quiet ease and for assured rest,
Which I as yet could never finde, but for my more
unrest ?
0 Romeus, when first we both acquainted were,
When to thy paynted promises I lent my listning eare,
Which to the brinkes you fild with many a solemne
othe,
And I them judgde empty of gyle, and fraughted full
of troth,
1 thought you rather would continue our good will,
And seeke tappease our fathers strife, which daily
groweth still.
I little wend you would have sought occasion how
By such an heynous act to breake the peace, and eke
your vowe ;
Wherby your bright renoune, all whole yclipsed is,
And I unhappy husbandles, of comfort robde, and
blisse.
But if you did so much the blood of Capels thyrst,
Why have you often spared mine? myne might have
quencht it first.
Since that so many times, and in so secret place,
(Where you were wont with vele of love to hyde your
hatreds face,)
My doubtfull lyfe hath hapt by fatall dome to stand,
In mercy of your cruell hart, and of your bloudy hand.
What ? seemd the conquest which you got of me, so
small?
What ? seemd it not enough that I poore wretch, was
made your thrall ?
But that you must increase it with that kinsmans
blood,
Which for his woorth and love to me most in my
favour stood ?
Well, goe hencefoorth els where, and seeke an othsr
whyle
Some other as unhappy as I, by flattry to begyle.
124 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
And where I comme, see that you shonne to shew
your face,
For your excuse within my hart shall finde no resting
place.
And that I now too late my former fault repent,
Will so the rest of wery life with many teares lament.
That soone my joyceless corps, shall yield up banishd
breath,
And where on earth it restless lived, in earth seeke
rest by death.
These sayde, her tender hart, by payne oppressed
sore,
Restraynd her teares, and forced her tong to keepe
her talke in store ;
And then as still she was, as if in sownd she lay,
And then agayne, wroth with her selfe, with feeble
voyce gan say :
Ah cruell murthering tong, murthrer of others
fame,
How durst thou once attempt to tooch the honor of
his name ?
Whose dedly foes doe yelde him dewe and earned
prayse;
For though his fredome be bereft, his honor not de-
cayes.
Why blamst thou Romeus for sleying of Tybalt,
Since he is gyltles quite of all, and Tybalt beares the
fait?
Whether shall j£he (alas) poore banishd man nowflye?
What place of succor shall he seeke beneth the starry
skye?
Synce she pursueth him, and him defames by wrong,
That in distres should be his fort, and onely rampier
strong.
Receive the recompence, O Romeus of thy wife,
Who for she was unkind her selfe, doth offer up her
lyfe,
ROME US AND JULIET. 125
In flames of yre, in sighes, in sorow and in ruth,
So to revenge the crime she did commit against thy
truth.
These said, she could no more, her senses all gan
fayle,
And dedly panges began straight way her tender hart
assayle ;
Her limmes she stretched forth, she drew no more her
breath :
Who had been there, might well have scene the signes
of present death.
The nurce that knew no cause, why she absented
her,
Did doute lest that some sodain greefe too much tor
mented her.
Eche where but where she was, the carefull Beldam
sought,
Last, of the chamber where she lay, she haply her be
thought ;
Where she with piteous eye, her nurce childe did be-
holde,
Her limmes stretched out, her utward parts as any
marble colde.
The nurce supposde that she had payde to deth her
det,
And then as she had lost her wittes, she cryed to
Juliet :
Ah my dere hart (quoth she) how greeveth me thy
death ?
Alas what cause hast thou thus soone, to yelde up
living breath ?
But while she handled her, and chafed every part,
She knew there was some sparke of life by beating of
her hart,
So that a thousand times she cald upon her name ;
There is no way to help a traunce, but she hath tryde
the same :
126 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
She openeth wide her mouth, she stoppeth close her
nose,
She bendeth downe her brest, she wringes her fingers
and her toes.
And on her bosome colde, she layeth clothes hot,
A warmed and a holesome juyce she powreth downe
her throte.
At length doth Juliet heave fayntly up her eyes,
And then she stretcheth forth her arme, and then her
nurce she spyes.
But when she was awakde, from her unkindly traunce,
Why dost thou trouble me (quoth she) what drave thee
(with mischaunce)
To come to see my sprite, forsake my brethles corce ?
Goe hence, and let me dye, if thou have on my smart
remorse.
For who would see her frend to live in dedly payne ?
Alas, I see my greefe begoone, for ever will re-
may ne.
Or "who would seek to live, all pleasure being past ?
My myrth is donne, my moorning mone for ay is like
to last.
Wherfore since that there is none other remedy,
Comme gentle death, and ryve my hart at once, and
let me l dye.
The nurce with tricling teares, to witnes inward
smart,
With holow sigh fetchd from the depth of her ap-
pauled hart,
Thus spake to Juliet, yclad with ougly care ;
Good lady myne, I do not know what makes you
thus to fare ;
Ne yet the cause of your unmeasurde heavines.
But of this one I you assure, for care and sorowes
stresse,
1 [My in text by evident error.]
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 127
This hower large and more, I thought (so god me
save)
That my dead corps should wayte on yours, to your
untimely grave.
Alas my tender nurce, and trusty frend (quoth she)
Art thou so blinde, that with thine eye, thou canst not
easely see
The lawfull cause I have, to sorow and to moorne,
Since those the which I hyld most deere, I have at
once forlorne.
Her nurce then aunswerd thus, Me thinkes it fits you yll,
To fall in these extremities that may you gyltles
spill.
For when the stormes of care, and troubles do aryse,
Then is the time for men to know, the foolish from
the wise.
You are accounted wise, a foole am I your nurce •
But I see not how in like case I could behave me
wurse.
Tibalt your frend is ded, what weene you by your
teares,
To call him back againe ? thinke you that he your cry
ing heares ?
You shall perceve the fait (if it be justly tryde)
Of his so sodayn death, was in his rashnes and his
pryde.
Would you that Romeus, him selfe had wronged so,
To suffer himselfe causeless to be outraged of his
foe?
To whom in no respect, he ought a place to geve ?
Let it suffise to thee fayre dame, that Romeus doth
live,
And that there is good hope that he within a while,
With greater glory shalbe calde home from his hard
exile,
How wel yborne he is, thy selfe I know canst tell,
By kindred strong, and well alyed, of all beloved well.
128 ROME US AND JULIET.
With patience arme thy selfe, for though that Fortunes
cryme,
Without your fait, to both your greefes, depart you for
a time,
I dare say, for amendes of all your present payne,
She will restore your owne to you, within a month or
twayne,
With such contented ease, as never erst you had ;
Wherfore rejoyce a while in hope, and be ne more so
sad.
And that I may discharge your hart of heavy care,
A certaine way I have found out, my paynes ne will I
spare,
To learne his present state, and what in time to
comme
He mindes to doe, which knowne by me, you shall
know all and somme.
But that I dread the whilst your sorowes will you
quell,
Straight would I hye where he doth lurke to frier
Lawrence cell.
But if you gyn eftsones (as erst you did) to moorne,
Wherto goe I, you will be ded before I thence re-
toorne.
So I shall spend in wast, my time, and busy payne,
So unto you (your life once lost) good aunswere
commes in vayne ;
So shall I ridde myselfe with this sharpe pointed
knife,
So shall you cause your parents deere wax wery of
theyr life ;
So shall your Romeus, (despysing lively breath)
With hasty foote (before his tyme) ronne to untimely
death.
Where if you can a while, by reason, rage suppresse,
I hope at my retorne to bring the salve of your dis-
tresse.
ROME US AND JULIET. I2Q
Now choose to have me here a partner of your payne,
Or promesse me to feede on hope, till I retorne
agayne.
Her mistres sencles her forth, and makes a grave
behest,
With reasons rayne to rule the thoughts that rage
within her brest.
When hugy heapes of harmes, are heapd before her
eyes,
Then vanish they by hope of scape ; and thus the
lady lyes,
Twixt well assured trust, and doubtfull lewd dispayre :
Now blacke and ougly be her thoughts ; now seeme
they white and fayre.
As oft in summer tide, blacke cloudes do dimrne the
sonne,
And straight againe in clearest skye his restles steedes
do ronne,
So Juliets wandring mynd yclowded is with woe,
And by and by her hasty thought the woes doth over-
goe.
But now is time to tell whilst she was tossed thus
What windes did drive or haven did hold her lover l
Romeus.
When he had slayne his foe, that gan this dedly
strife,
And saw the furious fray had ende, by ending Tybalts
life,
He fled the sharpe revenge of those that yet did live,
And douting much what penall doome the troubled
prince myght gyve,
He sought some where unseene, to lurke a little
space,
And trusty Lawrence secret cell, he thought the
surest place.
1 [In the text lover is repeated, but undoubtedly by error.]
VOL. I. I
130 ROME US AND JULIET.
In doutfull happe ay best, a trusty frend is tride ;
The frendly fryer in this distresse, doth graunt his
frend to hyde.
A secret place he hath, well seeled round about,
The mouth of which, so close is shut, that none may
finde it out ;
Both roome there is to walke, and place to sitte and
rest,
Beside, a bed to sleape upon, full soft and trimly
drest
The flowre is planked so with mattes, it is so
warme,
That neither wind nor smoky damps have powre him
ought to harme.
Where he was wont in youth, his fayre frendes to'be-
stowe,
There now he hydeth Romeus, whilst forth he goeth
to knowe
Both what is sayd and donne, and what appoynted
payne
Is published by trumpets sound ; then home he hyes
agayne.
By this, unto his cell, the nurce with spedy pace,
Was comme the nerest way ; she sought no ydel rest
ing place.
The fryer sent home the newes of Romeus certain
helth,
And promesse made (what so befell) he should that
night by stelth
Comme to his wonted place, that they in nedefull
wise
Of theyr affayres in time to comme, might thorowly
devyse.
Those joyfull newes, the nurce brought home with
mery joy;
And now our Juliet joyes, to thinke, she shall her
love enjoy e.
ROME US AND JULIET. 131
The fryer shuts fast his doore. and then to him be-
neth,
That waytes to heare the doutefull newes of lyfe or els
of death.
Thy hap quoth he, is good, daunger of death is
none,
But thou shalt live, and doe full well, in spite of spite-
full fone.
This onely payne for thee was erst proclaymde
aloude,
A banishd man, thou mayst thee not within Verona
shroude.
These heavy tydinges heard, his golden lockes he
tare,
And like a frantike man hath torne the garmentes
that he ware.
And as the smitten deere, in brakes is waltring found,
So waltreth he, and with his brest doth beate the
troden grounde.
He rises eft, and strikes his head against the wals,
He falleth downe againe, and lowde for hasty death
he cals.
Come spedy death (quoth he) the readiest leache in
love,
Since nought can els beneth the sunne the ground of
griefe remove,
Of lothsome life breake downe the hated staggering
stayes,
Destroy, destroy at once the lyfe that faintly yet
decayes.
But you (fayre dame) in whome dame nature dyd
devise
With cunning hand to woorke, that might seeme won
drous in our eyes,
For you I pray the Gods, yo'ur pleasures to increase,
And all mishap, with this my death, for evermore to
cease.
132 ROME US AND JULIET.
And mighty Jove with speede of justice bring them
lowe,
Whose lofty pryde (without our gylt) our blisse doth
overblowe.
And Cupide graunt to those theyr spedy wrongs re-
dresse,
That shall bewayle my cruell death, and pity her dis-
tresse.
Therewith a cloude of sighes, he breathd into the
skies,
And two great streames of bitter teares, ran from his
swollen eyes.
These thinges, the auncient fryre, with sorow saw, and
heard,
Of such begynning eke, the ende, the wise man greatly
feard.
But loe, he was so weake, by reason of his age,
That he ne could by force, represse the rigour of his
rage.
His wise and frendly woordes, he speaketh to the ayre,
For Romeus so vexed is, with care and with despayre,
That no advice can perce, his close forstopped eares,
So now the fryer doth take his part, in shedding ruth-
full teares.
With colour pale, and wan, with armes full hard
yfold,
With wofull cheere, his wayling frend he standeth to
beholde.
And then, our Romeus, with tender handes ywrong,
With voyce, with plaint made horce, w' sobs, and
with a foltring tong,
Renewed with novel mone the dolours of his hart ;
His outward dreery cheere bewrayde, his store of in
ward smart,
Fyrst, nature did he blame, the author of his lyfe,
In which his joyes had been so scant, and sorowes
aye so ryfe ;
ROME US AND JULIET. 133
The time and place of byrth he fiersly did reprove,
He cryed out (with open mouth) against the starres
above :
The fatall sisters three, he said, had done him wrong, J
The threed that should not have been sponne, they
had drawne foorth too long.
He wished that he had before this time been borne,
Or that as soone as he wan light, his life he had for-
lorne.
His nurce he cursed, and the hand that gave him
pappe,
The midwife eke with tender grype that held him in
her lappe ;
And then did he complaine, on Venus cruel sonne,
Who led him first unto the rockes, which he should
warely shonne :
By meane wherof he lost, both lyfe and libertie,
And dyed a hundred times a day, and yet could never
dye.
Loves troubles hasten long, the joyes he geves arc
short ;
He force th not a lovers payne, theyr ernest is his
sport.
A thousand thinges and more, I here let passe to
write,
Which unto love this wofull man, dyd speake in great
despite.
On Fortune eke he raylde, he calde her deafe, and
blynde,
Uinconstant, fond, deceitfull, rashe, unruthfull, and
unkynd.
I And to him self he layd a great part of the fait,
j For that he slewe, and was not slayne, in fighting with
Tibalt.
I He blamed all the world, and all he did defye,
1 But Juliet, for whom he lived, for whom eke would he
dye.
134 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
When after raging fits, appeased was his rage,
And when his passions (powred forth) gan partly to
asswage,
So wisely did the fryre, unto his tale replye,
That he straight cared for his life, that erst had care
to dye.
Art thou quoth he a man ? thy shape saith so thou
art;
Thy crying and thy weping eyes, denote a woman s
hart.
For manly reason is quite from of thy mynd outchased,
And in her stead affections lewd, and fancies highly
placed :
So that, I stoode in doute this howre (at the least)
If thou a man, or woman wert, or els a brutish beast.
A wise man in the midst of troubles and distres
Still standes not wayling present harme, but seeks his
harmes redres.
As when the winter flawes, with dredfull noyse arise,
And heave the fomy swelling waves up to the starry
skies,
So that the broosed barke in cruell seas betost,
Dispayreth of the happy haven in daunger to be lost,
The pylate bold at helme, cryes, mates strike now
your sayle,
And tornes her stemme into the waves that strongly
her assayle ;
Then driven hard upon the bare and wrackfull shore,
In greater daunger to be wract, then he had been
before,
He seeth his ship full right against the rocke to
ronne,
But yet he dooth what lyeth in him the perilous rocke
to shonne ;
Sometimes the beaten boate, by cunning government,
The ancors lost, the cables broke, and all the tackle
spent,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 135
The roder smitten of, and over boord the mast,
Doth win the long desyred porte, the stormy daunger
past.
But if the master dread, and overprest with woe,
Begin to wring his handes, and lets- the gyding rodder
goe,
The ship rents on the rocke, or sinketh in the deepe,
And eke the coward drenched is : So, if thou still
beweepe
And seke not how to helpe the chaunges that do
chaunce,
Thy cause of sorow shall increase, thou cause of thy
mischaunce.
Other account thee wise, proove not thy selfe a foole ;
Now put in practise lessons learnd, of old in wis-
domes schoole.
The wise man saith, beware thou double not thy
payne,
For one perhaps thou mayst abyde, but hardly suffer
twayne.
As well we ought to seeke thinges hurtfull to decrease,
As to endevor helping thinges by study to increase.
The prayse of trew fredom, in wisdomes bondage
lyes,
He winneth blame whose deedes be fonde, although
his woords be wise.
Sickenes the bodies gayle, greefe, gayle is of the mynd ;
If thou canst scape from heavy greefe, true fredome
shalt thou finde.
Fortune can fill nothing, so full of hearty greefe,
But in the same a constant mynd, finds solace and
releefe.
Vertue is alwayes thrall, to troubles and annoye,
But wisdome in adversitie, findes cause of quiet joye.
And they most wretched are, that know no wretched -
nes,
And afther great extremity, mishaps ay waxen lesse.
136 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Like as there is no weale, but wastes away som-
time,
So every kind of wayled woe, will weare away in
time.
If thou wilt master quite, the troubles that the spill,
Endevor first by reasons help, to master witles will.
A sondry medson hath, eche sondry faynt disease,
But pacience, a common salve, to every wound geves
ease.
The world is alway full of chaunces and of chaunge,
Wherfore the chaunge of chaunce must not seeme to
a wise man straunge.
For tickel Fortune doth, in chaunging but her kind,
But all her chaunges cannot chaunge, a steady con
stant minde.
Though wavering Fortune toorne from thee her smyling
face,
And sorow seeke to set him selfe in banishd pleasures
place,
Yet may thy marred state, be mended in a while,
And she eftsones that frowneth now, with pleasant
cheere shall smyle.
For as her happy state, no long whyle standeth sure,
Even so the heavy plight she brings, not alwayes doth
endure.
What nede so many woordes, to thee that are so wyse ?
Thou better canst advise thy selfe, then I can thee
advyse.
Wisdome I see is vayne, if thus in time of neede,
A wise mans wit unpractised, doth stand him in no
steede.
I know thou hast some cause, of sorow and of care,
But well I wot thou hast no cause thus frantikly to
fare.
Affections foggy mist, thy febled sight doth blynde,
But if that reasons beames agayne, might shine into
thy mynde,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 137
If thou wouldst view thy state with an indifferent eye,
I thinke thou wouldst condemne thy plaint, thy sigh
ing, and thy crye.
With valiant hand thou madest thy foe yeld up his
breth,
Thou hast escapd his swerd, and eke the lawes that
threatten death.
By thy escape, thy frendes, are fraughted full of joy,
And by his death thy deadly foes are laden with annoy.
Wilt thou with trusty frendes, of pleasure take some
part?
Or els to please thy hatefull foes, be partner of theyr
smart ?
Why cryest thou out on love, why doest thou blame
thy fate ?
Why dost thou so crye after death ? thy life why dost
thou hate ?
Dost thou repent the choyce, that thou so late didst
choose ?
Love is thy Lord, thou oughtest obay, and not thy
prince accuse.
For thou hast found (thou knowst) great favour in
his sight,
He graunted thee at thy request, thy onely hartes
delight.
So that the Gods envyde the blisse thou livedst in ;
To geve to such unthankefull men, is folly and a sin.
Me thinkes I heare thee say the cruell banishment,
Is onely cause of thy unrest, onely thou dost lament,
That from thy natife land, and frendes thou must
depart,
Enforsd to flye from her that hath the keping of thy
hart :
And so opprest with waight of smart that thou dost
feele,
Thou dost complaine of Cupides brand, and Fortunes
turning wheele.
138 ROME US AND JULIET.
Unto a valiant hart there is no banishment,
All countreys are his native soyle beneath the firma
ment.
As to the fishe, the sea, as to the fowle, the ayre,
So is like pleasant to the wise, eche place of his
repayre.
Though froward fortune chase thee hence into exyle,
With doubled honor shall she call thee home within a
whyle.
Admyt thou shouldst abyde abrode a yere or twayne,
Should so short absence cause so long, and eke so
greevous payne ?
Though thou ne mayst thy frendes, here in Verona see,
They are not banishd Mantua, where safely thou mast
be.
Thether they may resort, though thou resort not
h ether,
And there in suretie may you talke, of your affayres
together.
Yea, but this whyle (alas) thy Juliet must thou misse,
The onely piller of thy helth, and ancor of thy blisse.
Thy hart thou leavest with her, when thou dost hence
depart,
And in thybrest inclosed bearst, her tender frendly hart.
But if thou rew so much, to leave the rest behinde,
With thought of passed joyes, content thy uncontented
mynde ;
So shall the mone decrease, wherwith thy mynd doth
melt,
Compared to the heavenly joyes which thou hast often
felt.
He is too nyse a weakeling, that shrinketh at a showre,
And he unworthy of the svveete, that tasteth not the
sowre.
Call now againe to mynde, thy first consuming flame ;
How didst thou vainely burne in love of an unloving
dame ?
ROME US AND JULIET. 139
Hadst thou not welnigh wept, quite out thy swelling
eyne ?
Did not thy parts, fordoon with payne, languishe
away and pyne ?
Those greefes and others like, were happly overpast,
And thou in haight of Fortunes wheele, well placed at
the last !
From whence thou art now falne, that raysed up
agayne,
With greater joy a greater while in pleasure mayst
thou raygne.
Compare the present while, with times ypast before,
And thinke that fortune hath for thee, great pleasure
yet in store,
The whilst, this little wrong, receive thou paciently,
And what of force must nedes be done, that doe thou
willingly.
Foly it is to feare that thou canst not avoyde,
And madnes to desire it much, that can not be en-
joyde.
To geve to Fortune place, not ay deserveth blame,
But skill it is, according to the times, thy selfe to
frame.
Whilst to this skilfull lore, he lent his listning
eares,
His sighes are stopt, and stopped are the conduits of
his teare's.
As blackest cloudes are chaced, by winters nimble
winde,
So have his reasons chaced care, out of his carefull
mynde.
As of a morning fowle, ensues an evening fayre,
So banisht hope returneth home, to banish his des-
payre. 5
Now is affections veale, removed from his eyes,
He seeth the path that he must walke, and reson
makes him wise.
140 ROME US AND JULIET.
For very shame, the- blood doth flashe in both his
cheek es,
He thankes the father for his lore, and farther ayde
he seekes.
He sayth that skilles youth, for counsell is unfitte,
And anger oft with hastines are joind to want of witte ;
But sound advise aboundes in heddes with horishe
heares,
For wisdom is by practise wonne, and perfect made
by yeares.
But aye from this time forth, his ready bending will,
Shalbe in awe, and governed, by fryer Lawrence skill.
The governor is nowe, right carefull of his charge,
To whom he doth wisely discoorse, of his affaires at
large.
He telles him how he shall, depart the towne un-
knowne,
Both mindfull of his frendes safetie, and carefull of his
owne
How he shall gyde him selfe, how he shall seeke to
winne,
The frendship of the better sort, how warely to crepe in
The favour of the Mantuan prince ; and how he may
Appease the wrath of Escalus, and wipe the fault
away ;
The choller of his foes, by gentle meanes tasswage,
Or els by force and practises, to bridle quite theyr rage :
And last he chargeth him, at his appointed howre,
To goe with manly mery cheere, unto his ladies bowre.
And there with holesome woordes, to salve her
sorowes smart,
And to revive, (if nede require), her faint and dying
hart.
The old mans woords have fild with joy, our Romeus
brest,
And eke the olde wives talke, hath set our Juliets
hart at rest.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 14!
/ Whereto may I compare, (O lovers) this your day ?
Like dayes the painefull mariners, are woonted to
assay; _
For beat with tempest great, when they at length,
espye
Some little beame of Phoebus light, that perceth
through the skie,
To cleare the shadowde earth, by clearenes of his face,
They hope that dreadles, they shall ronne the remnant
of their race ;
Yea, they assure them selfe, and quite behynd theyr
backe,
They cast all doute, and thanke the Gods for scaping
of the wracke ;
But straight the boysterous windes, with greater fury
blowe,
And over boord the broken mast, the stormy blastes
doe throwe ;
The heavens large, are clad with doudes, as darke as
hell,
And twise as hye, the striving waves begin to roare,
and swell ;
With greater daungers dred, the men are vexed
more,
In greater perill of their lyfe then they had been
before.
The golden sonne, was gonne to lodge him in the
west,
The full moone eke in yonder south, had sent most
men to rest ;
When restles Romeus, and restles Juliet,
In woonted sort, by woonted meane, in Juliets chaum-
ber met.
And from the windowes top, downe had he leaped
scarce,
When she with armes outstretched wide, so hard did
him embrace,
142 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
That welnigh had the sprite (not forced by dedly
force)
Flowne unto death, before the time abandoning the
corce,
Thus muet stoode they both, the eight part of an
howre,
And both would speake, but neither had of speaking
any powre ;
But on his brest her hed doth joylesse Juliet lay,
And on her slender necke, his chyn doth ruthfull
Romeus stay.
Their scalding sighes ascende, and by their cheekes
downe fall,
Their trickling teares, as christall cleare, but bitterer
farre then gall.
Then he to end the greefe, which both they lived in,
Did kysse his love, and wisely thus hys tale he dyd
begin :
My Juliet, my love, my onely hope and care,
To you I purpose not as now, with length of woords
declare,
The diversenes, and eke the accidents so straunge,
Of frayle unconstant Fortune, that delyteth still in
chaunge ;
Who in a moment heaves her frendes up to the height,
Of her swift turning slippery wheele, then fleetes her
frendship straight.
O wondrous change, even with the twinkling of an eye
Whom erst her selfe had rashly set, in pleasant place
so hye,
The same in great despyte, downe hedlong doth she
thro we,
And while she treades and spurneth at the lofty state
laid lowe,
More sorow doth she shape within an howers space,
Than pleasure in an hundred yeres ; so geyson is her
grace.
KOMEUS AND JULIET. 143
The proofe wherof in me (alas) too plain e apperes,
Whom tenderly my carefull frendes have fostered with
my feers,
In prosperous high degree, mayntayned so by fate,
That (as your selfe did see) my foes envyde my noble
state.
One thing there was, I did above the rest desire,
To which, as to the soveraigne good, by hope I would
aspyre.
Thol by our mariage meane, we might within a while,
(To worke our perfect happines) our parentes reconsile :
That safely so we might (not stopt by sturdy strife)
Unto the boundes that God hath set, gyde forth our
pleasant lyfe.
But now (alacke) too soone my blisse is overblowne,
And upside downe my purpose and my enterprise are
throwne.
And driven from my frendes, of straungers must I
crave,
(O graunt it God) from daungers dread, that I may
suertie have.
For loe, henceforth I must, wander in landes unknowne,
(So hard I finde the princes doome,) exyled from myne
owne.
Which thing I have thought good, to set before your
eyes,
And to exhort you, now to prove your selfe a woman
wise,
That paciently, you beare my absent long abod,
For what above by fatall doomes decreed is that God,
And more than this, to say it seemed he was bent,
But Juliet, in dedly greefe, with brackish teares be
sprent,
Brake of his tale begonne, and whilst his speche he
stayde,
These selfe same wordes, or like to these, with dreery
chere she sayde :
144 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Why Romeus, can it be, thou hast so hard a hart ?
So farre removed from ruth ? so farre from thinking
on my smart ?
To leave me thus alone ? (thou cause of my distresse)
Beseged with so great a campe, of mortall wretched-
nesse.
That every hower now, and moment in a day,
A thousand times, death bragges, as he would reave
my lyfe away.
Yet such is my mishap, (O cruell destenye)
\ That still I live, and wish for death, but yet can never
dye :
So that just cause I have, to thinke (as seemeth me)
That froward Fortune did of late, with cruell death
agree
To lengthen lothed life, to pleasure in my payne,
And tryumph in my harme, as in the greatest hoped
gayne.
And thou the instrument of Fortunes cruell will,
Without whose ayde she can no way, her tyrans lust
fulfill :
Art not a whit ashamde, (as farre as I can see)
To cast me of, when thou hast culd the better part of
me.
Wherby (alas) to soone, I seely wretch do prove,
That all the auncient sacred lawes of frendship and
of love,
Are quelde and quenched quite, since he on whom
alway,
My cheefe hope, and my steady trust, was woonted
still to stay,
For whom I am becomme, unto my selfe a foe,
Disdayneth me his stedfast frend, and scornes my
frendship so.
Nay Romeus, nay, thou mayst of two thinges choose
the one,
Either to see thy castaway as soone as thou art gone,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 1^5
Hedlong to throw her selfe downe from the windowes
haight,
And so to breake her slender necke, with all' the
bodies waight,
Or suffer her to be companion of thy payne,
Where so thou goe (Fortune thee gyde) till thou re-
toorne agayne.
So wholy into thine, transformed is my hart,
That even as oft as I do thinke that thou and I shall
part,
So oft (me thinkes) my life withdraw es it selfe awaye,
Which I retayne, to no end els, but to the end I may
In spite of all thy foes, thy present partes enjoye,
And in distres to beare with thee, the halfe of thine
annoye.
Wherfore in humble sort (Romeus) I make request,
If ever tender pity yet, were lodgde in gentle brest,
O let it now have place, to rest within thy hart ;
Receave me as thy servant, and the fellow of thy
smart : ,
Thy absence is my death, thy sight shall geve me life.
But if perhaps thou stand in dred, to leade me as a wyfe,
Art thou all counsellesse, canst thou no shift devise ?
What letteth, but in other weede I may my selfe dis-
guyse ?
What, shall I be the first ? hath none done so ere this,
To scape the bondage of theyr frendes ? thy selfe can
aunswer, yes.
Or dost thou stand in doute, that I thy wife ne can,}
By service pleasure thee as much as may thy hyred
man?
Or is my loyalte of both accompted lesse ?
Perhaps thou fearst lest I for gayne, forsake thee in
distresse.
What, hath my bewty now, no powre at all on you,
Whose brightnes, force, and praise sometime, up to
the skyes you blew ?
VOL. i. K
146 ROME US AND JULIET.
My teares, my frendship, and my pleasures donne of
olde,
Shall they be quite forgote in dede ?" When Romeus
dyd behold
The wildness of her looke, her cooler pale and ded,
The woorst of all that might betyde to her, he gan to
dred ;
And once agayne he dyd in armes his Juliet take,
And kist her with a loving kysse, and thus to her he
spake :
" Ah Juliet (quoth he) the mistres of my hart,
For whom (even now) thy servant doth abyde in dedly
smart,
Even for the happy dayes which thou desyrest to see,
And for the fervent frendships sake that thou dost owe
to mee,
At once these fansies vayne, out of thy mynd roote
out,
Except perhaps unto thy blame, thou fondly go about
To hasten forth my death, and to thine owne to ronne,
Which Natures law, and wisdoms lore teache every
wight to shonne.
For, but thou change thy mynde, (I do foretell the
ende)
Thou shalt undoo thyselfe for ay, and me thy trusty
frende.
For why, thy absence knowne, thy father wilbe
wroth,
And in his rage, so narowly he will pursue us both,
That we shall trye in vayne, to scape away by flight,
And vainely seeke a loorking place, to.hyde us trom
his sight.
Then we found out, and caught, quite voyde of strong
defence,
Shall cruelly be punished, for thy departure hence ;
I, as a ravishor, thou, as a careles childe,
I, as a man who doth defile, thou, as a mayde denlde ;
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 147
Thinking to lead in ease, a long contented life,
Shall short our dayes by shamefull death : but if (my
loving wife)
Thou banish from thy mynde, two foes that counsell
hath,
(That wont to hinder sound advise) rash hastines, and
wrath ;
If thou be bend tobay the lore of reasons skill,
And wisely by her princely powre suppresse rebelling
will :
If thou our safetie seeke, more then thine owne de
light,
Since suerty standes in parting, and thy pleasures
growe of sight,
Forbeare the cause of joy, and suffer for a while,
So shall I safely live abrode, and safe torne from exile:
So shall no slaunders blot, thy spotles life destayne,
So shall thy kinsmen be unstyrd, and I exempt from
payne.
And thinke thou not that aye, the cause of care shall
last;
These stormy broyles shall overblowe, much like a
winters blast.
For Fortune chaungeth more, then fickel fantasie ;
In nothing Fortune constant is, save in unconstancie.
Her hasty ronning wheele, is of a restles coorse,
That turnes the clymers hedlong downe, from better
to the woorse,
And those that are beneth, she heaveth up agayne :
So we shall rise to pleasures mount, out of the pit of
payne.
Ere fowre monthes overpasse, such order will I take,
And by my letters, and my frendes, such meanes I
mynd to make,
That of my wandring race, ended shalbe the toyle,
And I cald home with honor great, unto my native
soyle.
148 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
But if I be condemn d to wander still in thrall,
I will returne to you (mine owne) befall what may
befall.
And then by strength of frendes, and with a mighty
hand,
From Verone will I cary thee, into a forein lande,
Not in mans weede disguisd, or as one scarcely
knowne,
But as my wife and only feere, in garment of thyne
owne.
Wherfore represse at once, the passions of thy hart,
And where there is no cause of greefe, cause hope to
heale thy smart.
For of this one thing thou mayst well assured bee,
| That nothing els but onely death shall sunder me
from thee.
The reasons that he made, did seeme of so great
waight,
And had with her such force, that she to him gan
aunswer straight :
Deere syr, nought els wish I, but to obay your will ;
But sure where so you go, your hart with me shall
tary still,
As signe and certaine pledge, tyll here I shall you
see,
Of all the powre that over you your selfe did graunt
to me ;
And in his stead take myne, the gage of my good
will:
One promesse crave I at your hand, that graunt me
to fulfill ;
Fayle not to let me have at fryer Lawrence hand,
The tydinges of your health, and how your doutfull
case shall stand.
And all the wery while that you shall spend abrode,
Cause me from time to time to knowe the place of
your abode.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 149
His eyes did gushe out teares, a sigh brake from his
brest,
When he did graunt, and with an othe did vowe to
kepe the best.
-Thus these two lovers passe away the wery night,
In payne and plaint, not (as they wont) in pleasure
and delight.
But now (somewhat too soone) in farthest East arose
Fayre Lucifer, the golden starre, that Lady Venus
chose ;
Whose course appoynted is, with spedy race to ronne,
A messenger of dawning daye, and of the rysing sonne.
Then freshe Aurora, with her pale and silver glade,
Did cleare the skyes, and from the earth, had chased
ougly shade.
When thou ne lookest wide, ne closely dost thou
winke,
When Phoebus from our hemysphere, in westerne
wave doth sinke,
What cooler then the heavens do shew unto thine eyes,
The same, (or like) saw Romeus in farthest Esterne
skyes.
As yet, he saw no day, ne could he call it night,
With equall force, decreasing darke, fought with in
creasing light.
Then Romeus in armes his lady gan to folde,
With frendly kisse, and ruthfully she gan her knight
beholde.
With solemne othe they both theyr sorowfull leave do
take ;
They sweare no stormy troubles shall theyr steady
frendship shake.
Then carefull Romeus, agayne to cell retoornes,
And in her chamber secretly our joyles Juliet moornes.
Now hugy cloudes of care, of sorow and of dread,
The clearnes of their gladsome harts hath wholy over
spread.
150 ROME US AND JULIET.
When golden crested Phoebus bosteth him in skye,
And under earth, to scape revenge, his dedly foe doth
flye,
Then hath these lovers day an ende, their night be-
gonne,
For eche of them to other is, as to the world the
sunne.
The dawning they shall see, ne sommer any more,
But blackfaced night with winter rough, (ah) beaten
over sore.
The wery watch discharged, did hye them home to
slepe,
The warders, and the skowtes were chargde their place
and coorse to keepe,
And Verone gates awyde the porters had set open,
When Romeus had of his affayres with frier Lawrence
spoken,
Warely he walked forth, unknowne of frend or foe,
Clad like a merchant venterer, from top even to the
toe.
He spurd apace and came withouten stop or stay,
To Mantua gates, where lighted downe, he sent his
man away,
With woords of comfort, to his olde afflicted syre ;
And straight in mynd to sojorne there, a lodgeing
doth he hyre,
And with the nobler sort he doth himselfe acquaint,
And of his open wrong receaved, the Duke doth heare
his plaint.
He practiseth by frendes, for pardon of exyle ;
The whilst, he seeketh every way, his sorowes to
begyle.
But who forgets the cole that burneth in his brest ?
Alas his cares, denye his hart, the sweete desyred rest ;
No time findes he of myrth, he findes no place of
joye,
But every thing occasion geves, of sorow and annoye.
ROME US AND JULIET. 151
For when in toorning skies, the heavens lampes are
light,
And from the other hemysphere, fayre Phoebus
chaceth night,
When every man and beast, hath rest from painfull
toyle,
Then in the brest of Romeus, his passions gyn to
boyle.
Then doth he wet with teares, the cowche whereon
he lyes,
And then his sighes the chamber nil, and out aloude
he cryes
Against the restles starres, in rolling skyes that raunge,
Against the fatall sisters three, and Fortune full of
chaunge.
Eche night a thousand times he calleth for the day,
He thinketh Titans restles stedes, of restines do
stay;
Or that at length they have some bayting place found
out,
Or (gyded yll) have lost theyr way and wandred farre
about.
Whyle thus in ydel thoughts, the wery time he
spendeth,
The night hath end, but not with night, the plaint of
night he endeth.
Is he accompanied, is he in place alone ?
In cumpany he wayles his harme, a part he maketh
mone :
For if his feeres rejoyce, what cause hath he to
joy>
That wanteth still his cheefe delight, while they theyr
loves enjoy ?
Uut if with heavy cheere, they shewe their inward
greefe,
He wayleth most his wretchednes, that is of wretches
cheefe.
152
ROMEUS AND JULIET.
When he dothheare abrode, the praise ofladies blown e,
Within his thought he scorneth them, and doth pre-
ferre his owne.
When pleasant songes he heares, wheile others do re-
joy ce,
The melody of musike doth styrre up his mourning
voyce.
But if in secret place he walke some where alone,
The place it selfe, and secretnes redoubleth all his
mone.
Then speakes he to the beastes, to fethered fowles,
and trees,
Unto the earth, the cloudes, and to what so beside he
sees.
To them he shewth his smart, as though they reason
had,
Eche thing may cause his heavines, but nought may
make him glad,
And (wery of the day) agayne he calleth night,
The sunne he curseth, and the howre, when fyrst his
eyes saw light.
And as the night, and day, their course do enter-
chaunge,
So doth our Romeus nightly cares, for cares of day
exchaunge, .^1
In absence of her knight, the lady no way could
Kepe trews betwene her greefes and her, though nere
so fayne she would ;
And though with greater payne she cloked sorowes
smart,
Yet did her paled face disclose the passions of her hart.
Her sighing every howre, her weping every where,
Her recheles heede of meate, of slepe, and wearing of
her geare,
The carefull mother markes ; then of her helth afrayde,
Because the greefes increased still, thus to her child
she sayde :
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 153
Deere daughter, if you shoulde long languishe in this
sort,
I stand in doute that over soone your sorowes will
make short
Your loving fathers life, and myne, that love you more
Than our owne propre breth and lyfe. Brydel hence
forth therfore
Your greefe, and payne, your selfe on joy your thought
to set,
For time it is that now you should our Tybalts death
forget.
Of whom, since God hath claymd the lyfe, that was
but lent,
He is in blisse, ne is there cause why you should thus
lament?
You can not call him backe with teares, and shrikinges
shrill :
It is a fait thus still to grudge at God's appoynted
will.
The seely soule hath now no longer powre to fayne,
Ne longer could she hyde her harme, but aunswered
thus agayne,
With heavy broken sighes, with visage pale and ded :
Madame, the last of Tybalts teares, a great while since
I shed ;
Whose spring hath been ere this so laded out by me,
That empty quite, and moystureles, I gesse it now to be.
So that my payned hart by conduites of the eyne,
No more henceforth (as wont it was) shall gush forth
dropping bryne.
The.wofull mother knew not, what her daughter ment,
And loth to vexe her child by woordes, her peace she
warely hent.
But when from howre to howre, from morow to the
morow,
Still more and more she saw increast her daughters
wonted sorow,
154 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
All meanes she sought of her, and houshold folke to
know
The certaine roote, whereon her greefe, and booteles
mone doth growe.
But lo, she hath in vayne, her time, and labour lore,
Wherfore without all measure, is her hart tormented
sore.
And sith her selfe could not fynd out the cause of
care,
She thought it good to tell the syre, how yll his childe
did fare.
And when she saw her time, thus to her feere she
sayde :
Syr, if you marke our daughter well, the countenance
of the mayde,
And how she fareth, since that Tybalt unto death,
(Before his time, forst by his foe) dyd yeld his living
breath,
Her face shall seeme so chaunged, her doynges eke
so straunge,
That you will greatly wonder at, so great and sodain
chaunge.
Not only she forbeares, her meate, her drinke, and
sleepe,
But now she tendeth nothing els but to lament and
weepe.
No greater joy hath she, nothing contentes her
hart
So much, as in her chaumber, close to shut her selfe
apart :
Where she doth so torment her poore afflicted
mynde,
That much in daunger standes her lyfe, except somine
helpe we fynde.
But (out alas) I see not how it may be founde,
Unlesse that fyrst, we might fynd, whence her sorowes
thus abounde.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 155
For though with busy care, I have employde my wit,
And used all the wayes I knew, to learne the truth
of it,
Neither extremitie, ne gentle meanes could boote ;
She hydeth close within her brest, her secret sorowes
roote.
This was my fyrst conceite, that all her ruth arose
Out of her coosin Tybalts death, late slayne of dedly
foes ;
But now my hart doth hold a new repugnant thought ;
Some greater thing, not Tybalts death, this chaunge
in her hath wrought.
Her selfe assured me, that many dayes agoe
She shed the last of Tybalts teares, which woord
amasd me so,
That I then could not gesse what thing els might her
greeve :
But now at length I have bethought me ; and I doe
beleve
The onely crop and roote of all my daughters payne,
Is grudgeing envies faynt disease : perhaps she doth
disdayne
To see in wedlocke yoke the most part of her feeres,
Whilst onely she unmaried, doth lose so many yeres.
And more perchaunce she thinkes you mynd to kepe
her so ;
Wherfore dispayring doth she weare her selfe away
with woe.
Therfore (deere syr) in time take on your daughter
ruth;
For why, a brickel thing is glasse, and frayle is frayl-
lesse youth.
Joyne her at once to somme, in linke of mariage,
That may be meete for our degree, and much about
her age :
So shall you banish care out of your daughters brest,
So we her parents in our age, shall live in quiet rest.
'56
ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Wherto gan easely her husband to agree,
And to the mothers skilful talke, thus straightway
aunswerd he.
Oft have I thought (deere wife) of all these thinges ere
this,
But evermore my mynd me gave, it should not be
amisse
By farther leysure had, a husband to provyde ;
Scarce saw she yet full XVI. yeres : too yong to be a
bryde. ^^ —
But since her state doth stande on termes so perilous,
And that a mayden daughter is a treasour daungerous.
With so great speede I will endevour to procure
A husband for our daughter yong, her sickenes faynt
to cure,
That you shall rest content, (so warely will I choose)
And she recover soone enough the time she seemes to
loose.
The whilst, seeke you to learne, if she in any part,
Already hath (unware to us) fixed her frendly hart ;
Lest we have more respect to honor and to'welth,
Then to our daughters quiet life, and to her happy
helth :
Whom I do hold as deere, as thapple of myne eye,
And rather wish in poore estate, and daughterles to
dye,
Then leave my goodes and her ythrald to such a
one,
Whose chorlish dealing, (I once dead) should be her
cause of mone."
This pleasaunt aunswere heard, the lady partes
agayne,
And Capilet the may dens sire, within a day or
twayne,
Conferreth with his frendes, for manage of his daughter,
And many gentlemen there were, with busy care that
sought her ;
ROME US AND JULIET. 157
1 Both for the mayden was well shaped, yong, and fayre,
As also well brought up, and wise ; her fathers onely
heyre.
Emong the rest was one inflamde with her desire,
Who, County Paris cliped was, an Earle he had to
syre.
Of all the suters, him the father liketh best,
And easely unto the Earle he maketh his behest,
Both of his owne good will, and of his frendly ayde,
To win his wife unto his will, and to perswade the
mayde.
The wife did joy to heare the joyfull husband say,
How happy hap, how meete a match, he had found
out that day :
Ne did she seeke to hyde her joyes within her hart,
But straight she hyeth to Juliet, to her she telles apart,
What happy talke (by meane of her) was past no
rather
^etwene the woing Paris, and her carefull loving
father.
jThe person of the man, the fewters of his face,
His youthfull yeres, his fayrenes, and his port and
semely grace,
{With curious wordes she payntes before her daughters
eyes,
And then with store of vertues prayse, she heaves him
to the skyes.
|She vauntes his race, and gyftes, that Fortune did him
gevV
'Wherby (she saith) both she and hers, in great delight
i shall live.
When Juliet conceived her parentes whole entent,
Wherto, both love, and reasons right forbod her to
assent.
Within her self she thought, rather then be forsworne,
With horses wilde, her tender partes a sonder should
be torne.
158 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Not now with bashful brow (in wonted wise) she spake,
But with unwonted boldnes, straight into these woordes
she brake :
Madame, I marvell much, that you so lavasse are,
Of me your childe, (your jewel once, your onely joy
and care,)
As thus to yelde me up, at pleasure of another,
Before you know if I doe like, or els mislike my lover.
Doo what you list, but yet of this assure you still,
If you do as you say you will, I yelde not there untill.
For had I choyse of twayne, farre rather would I
choose
My part of all your goodes, and eke my breath and lyfe
to lose,
Then graunt that he possesse of me the smallest part;
First, weary of my painefull life, my cares shall kill
my hart,
Else will I perce my brest, with sharpe and bloody
knife ;
And you my mother shall becomme the murdresse of
my life,
In geving me to him, whom I ne can ne may,
Ne ought to love : wherfore on knees, deere mother I
you pray
To let me live henceforth, as I have lived tofore :
Ceasse all your troubles for my sake, and care for me
no more ;
But suffer Fortune feerce, to worke on me her will,
In her it lyeth to doe me boote, in her it lyeth to
spill.
For whilst you for the best, desyre to place me so,
You hast away my lingring death, and double all my
woe.
So deepe this aunswere made the sorowes downe to
sinke,
Into the mothers brest, that she ne knoweth what to
thinke,
ROME US AND JULIET. 159
Of these her daughters woords, but all appalde she
standes,
And up unto the heavens she throwes her wondring
head and handes.
And nigh besyde her selfe, her husband hath she
sought,
She telles him all, she doth forget ne yet she hydeth
ought.
The testy old man wroth, disdain full without measure,
Sendes forth his folke in haste for her, and byds them
take no leysure ;
Ne on her teares or plaint, at all to have remorse,
But (if they can not with her will,) to bring themayde
perforce.
The message heard, they part, to fetch that they must fet,
And willingly with them walkes forth obedient Juliet.
Arrived in the place, when she her father saw,
Of whom (as much as duety would) the daughter stoode
in awe,
The servantes sent away, (the mother thought it
meete,)
The wofull daughter all bewept, fell groveling at his
feete,
Which she doth washe with teares as she thus grovel
ing lyes :
So fast and eke so plenteously distill they from her
eyes :
When she to call for grace her mouth doth think to
open,
Muet she is: for sighes and sobs her fearefull talke
have broken.
The syre, whose swelling wroth1 her teares could not
ass wage,
With fiery eyen, and skarlet cheekes, thus spake her
in his rage,
1 \_\Vorth in text, by error.]
l6o ROME US AND JULIET.
Whilst ruthfully stood by the maydens mother mylde
Listen (quoth he) unthankfull and thou disobedient
childe ;
Hast thou so soone let slip out of thy mynde the
woord,
That thou so often times hast heard rehearsed at my
boord ?
How much the Romayne youth of parentes stood in
awe,
And eke what powre upon theyr seede the fathers hac
by lawe ?
Whom they not onely might pledge, alienate, and
sell,
(When so they stoode in neede) but more, if children
did rebell,
The parentes had the power, of lyfe and sodayn death.
What if those goodmen should agayne receave the
livyng breth,
In how straight bondes would they thy stubberne body
bynde ?
What weapons would they seeke for thee ? what
tormentes would they fynde?
To chasten (if they saw) the lewdness of thy lyfe,
Thy great unthankfulnes to me, and shamefull sturdy
strife ?
Such care thy mother had, so deere thou wert to me,
That I with long and earnest sute provided have for
thee
One of the greatest lordes, that wonnes about this
towne,
And for his many vertues sake, a man of great renowne.
Of whom, both thou and I, unworthy are too much,
So rich, ere long he shalbe left, his fathers welth is
such,
Such is the noblenes, and honor of the race,
From whence his father came, and yet thou playest in
this case,
ROMEUS AND JULIET, l6l
The dainty foole, and stubberne gyrle, for want of
skill
Thou dost refuse thy offred weale, and disobay my
will.
Even by his strength I sweare, that fyrst did geve me
lyfe,
And gave me in my youth the strength to get thee on
my wyfe,
On lesse by Wensday next, thou bende as I am
bent,
And at our castle cald Freetowne thou freely doe
assent
To Counte Paris sute, and promise to agree
To whatsoever then shall passe, twixt him, my wife,
and me,
Mot onely will I geve all that I have away,
From thee, to those that shall me love, me honor, and
obay,
But also too so close and to so hard a gayle,
I shall thee wed for all thy lefe, that sure thou shalt not
fayle,
A thousand times a day to wishe for sodayn death,
And curse the day and howre when first thy lunges did
geve thee breath.
Advise thee well, and say that thou art warned now,
And thinke not that I speak in sport, or mynd to
breake my vowe.
For were it not that I to Counte Paris gave
My fayth, which I must kepe unfalst, my honor so to
save,
Ere thou goe hence, my selfe would see thee chastned so,
That thou shouldst once for all be taught, thy duetie
how to knowe ;
And what revenge of olde, these angry syres did
finde
Against theyr children that rebeld, and shewd them
selfe unkinde.
VOL. i. L
162 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
These sayd, the olde man straight is gone in hast
away ;
Ne for his daughters aunswere, would the testy fathe
stay.
And after him, his wife doth follow out of doore,
And there they leave theyr chidden chylde kneeling
upon the floore,
Then she that oft had scene the fury of her syre,
Dreading what might come of his rage, nould farthe
styrre his yre.
Unto her chamber she withdrew her selfe aparte,
Where she was wonted to unlode, the sorowes of he
hart.
There did she not so much busy her eyes in sleping,
As overprest with restles thoughts in piteous boote
less weping.
The fast falling of teares make not her teares decrease
Ne by the powring forth of plaint, the cause of plain
doth cease.
So that to thend the mone and sorow may decaye,
The best is that she seeke somme meane to take th
cause away.
Her wery bed berime the wofull wight forsakes,
And to sainct Frauncis church to masse her way de
voutly takes.
The fryer forth is calde, she prayes him heare her shrift ;
Devocion is in so yong yeres, a rare and precious gyft.
When on her tender knees the dainty lady kneeles,
In minde to powre forth all the greefe, that inwardly
she feeles,
With sighes and salted teares her shryving doth
beginne,
For she of heaped sorowes hath to speake, and not
of sinne.
Her voyce with piteous plaint was made already horce,
And hasty sobs, when she would speake, brake of her
woordes parforce.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 163
I But as she may peece meale, she powreth in his
lappe,
The manage newes, a mischief newe, prepared by
mishappe,
Her parentes promisse erst to Counte Paris past,
Her fathers threats she telleth him, and thus con
cludes at last :
Once was I wedded well, ne will I wed agayne,
For since I know I may not be the wedded wyfe of
twayne,
For I am bound to have one God, one fayth, one
make,
My purpose is as soone as I shall hence my jorney
take,
With these two handes which joynde unto the heavens
I stretch,
The hasty death which I desire, unto my selfe to
reache.
This day (O Romeus) this day thy wofull wife
Will bring the end of all her cares by ending carefull
lyfe.
So my departed sprite shall witnes to the skye,
And eke my blood unto the earth beare record how
that I
Have kept my fayth unbroke, stedfast unto my frende.
When this her heavy tale was tolde, her vowe eke
at an ende,
Her gasing here and there, her feerce and staring
looke,
Did witnes that some lewd attempt, her hart had
undertooke.
Whereat, the fryer astonde, and gastfully afrayde,
Lest she by dede perfourme her woord, thus much to
her he Gayde :
' Ah lady Juliet, what nede the woordes you spake ?
I pray you graunt me one request for blessed Maries
sake.'
I 64 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Measure somewhat your greefe, holde here awhile
your peace,
Whilst I bethinke me of your case, your plaint and
sorowes cease.
Such comfort will I geve you, ere you part from
hence,
And for thassaltes of Fortunes yre prepare so sure
defence,
So holesome salve will I for your afflictions finde,
That you shall hence depart agayne with well con
tented mynde.
His wordes have chased straight out of her hart des-
payre,
Her blacke and ougly dredfull thoughts by hope are
waxen fayre.
So fryer Lawrence now hath left her there alone,
And he out of the church in hast is to his chaumber
gone;
Where sundry thoughtes within his carefull head arise ;
The old mans foresight divers doutes hath set before
his eyes.
His conscience one while condems it for a sinne,
To let her take Paris to spouse, since he himselfe
had byn
The chefest cause, that she unknowne to father or
mother,
Not five monthes past in that selfe place was wedded
to another.
An other while an hugy heape of daungers dred
His restles thought hath heaped up, within his troubled
hed.
Even of it selfe thattempt he judgeth perilous ;
The execucion eke he denies so much more dai
gerous,
That to a womans grace he must himselfe commit,
That yong is, simple, and unware, for waighty. affaires
unfit,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. " 165
For if she fayle in ought the matter published,
Both she and Romeus were undonne, himselfe eke
punished.
When too and fro in mynde he dyvers thoughts had
cast,
With tender pity and with ruth his hart was wonne at
last;
He thought he rather would in hasard set his fame,
Then suffer such adultery. Resolving on the same,
Out of his closet straight, he tooke a litele glasse,
And then with double hast retornde where wofull
Juliet was ;
Whom he hath found welnigh in traunce, scarce
drawing breath,
Attending still to heare the newes of lyfe or els of death.
Of whom he did enquire of the appointed day ;
On Wensday next (quod Juliet) so doth my father say,
I must geve my consent ; but (as I do remember)
The solemne day of manage is the tenth day of Sep
tember.
Deere daughter quoth the fryer of good chere see
thou be,
For loe, sainct Frauncis of his grace hath shewde a
way to me,
By which I may both thee, and Romeus together,
Out of the bondage which you feare assuredly deliver.
Even from the holy font thy husband have I knowne,
And since he grew in yeres, have kept his counsels as
myne owne.
For from his youth he would unfold to me his hart,
And often have I cured him, of anguish, and of smart ;
I know that by desert his frendship I have wonne,
And I him hold as dere, as if he were my propre
sonne.
Wherfore my frendly hart, can not abyde that he
Should wrongfully in ought be harmde, if that it lay in
me,
I 66 ROME US AND JULIET.
To right or to revenge the wrong by my advise,
Or timely to prevent the same in any other wise.
And sith thou art his wife, thee am I bound to love,
For Romeus frindships sake, and seeke thy anguishe
to remove,
And dreadfull torments, which thy hart besegen rounde ;
Wherfore my daughter geve good eare unto my coun
sels sounde.
Forget not what I say, ne tell it any wight,
\Not to the nurce thou trustest so, as Romeus is thy
knight ;
For on this threed doth hang thy death and eke thy
lyfe,
My fame, or shame, his weale or woe, that chose thee
to his wyfe.
Thou art not ignorant, (because of such renowne
As every where is spred of me, but chefely in this
towne,)
That in my youthfull dayes abrode I travayled,
Through every lande found out by men, by men in
habited ;
So twenty yeres from home, in landes unknowne, a
gest,
I never gave my weary limmes long time of quiet rest,
But in the desert woodes, to beastes of cruell kinde,
Or on the seas to drenching waves, at pleasure of the
winde,
I have committed them to ruth of rovers hand, •
And to a thousand daungers more, by water and by
lande.
But not in vayne (my childe) hath all my wandring
byn;
Beside the great contentednes my sprete abydeth in,
That by the pleasant thought of passed thinges doth
grow,
One private frute more have I pluckd, which thou shalt
shortly know :
ROMEUS AND JULIET. l6"J
What force the stones, the plants, and metals have to
woorke,
And divers other things that in the bowels of earth do
loorke,
With care I have sought out, with payne I did them
prove ;
With them eke can I helpe my selfe at times of my
behove,
(Although the science be against the lawes of men)
When sodain daunger forceth me, but yet most cheefly
when
The vvorke to doe is least displeasing unto God
Not helping to do any sinne that wrekefull Jove for-
bode.
For since in lyfe no hope of long abode I have,
But now am comme unto the brinke of my appointed
grave,
And that my death drawes nere, whose stripe I may
not shonne,
But shalbe calde to make account of all that I have
donne,
Now ought I from hence forth more depely print in
mynde
The judgement of the Lord, then when youthes folly
made me blynde,
When love and fond desyre were boyling in my brest,
Whence hope and dred by striving thoughts had
banishd frendly rest.
Knowe therfore (daughter) that with other gyftes which I
Have well attained to by grace and favour of the
skye,
, Long since I did finde out, and yet the way I knowe,
Of certain rootes, and savory herbes to make a kinde
of dowe,
Which baked hard, and bet into a powder fine,
And dronke with conduite water, or with any kynd of
wine,
1 68 EOMEUS AND JULIET.
It doth in halfe an howre astonne the taker so,
And mastreth all his sences, that he feeleth weale nor
woe,
And so it burieth up the sprite and living breath,
That even the skilfull leche would say, that he is slayne
by death.
One vertue more it hath, as mervelous as this,
The taker by receiving it, at all not greeved is ;
But painelesse as a man, that thinketh nought at all,
Into a swete and quiet slepe immediately doth fall,
From which (according to the quantitie he taketh,)
Longer or shorter is the time before the sleper
waketh ;
And thence (theffect once wrought) agayne it doth
restore
Him that receaved unto the state, wherein he was be
fore.
Wherfore, marke well the ende, .of this my tale be-
gonne,
And therby learne what is by thee hereafter to be
donne.
Cast of from thee at once, the weede of womannish
dread,
With manly courage arme thy selfe, from heele unto
the head ;
For onely on the feare or boldnes of thy brest,
The happy happe, or yll mishappe of thy affayre doth
rest.
Receive this vyoll small, and keepe it as thine eye ;
And on the manage day, before the sunne doe cleare
the skye,
Fill it with water full, up to the very brim,
Then drinke it of, and thou shalt feele, throughout eche
vayne and lira,
A pleasant slumber slide, and quite dispred at length,
On all thy partes, from every part reve all thy kindly
strength ;
ROME US AND JULIET. 169
Withouten moving thus thy ydle parts shall rest,
No pulse shall goe, ne hart once beate within thy
hollow brest,
But thou shalt lye as she that dyeth in a traunce,
Thy kinsmen, and thy trusty frendes shall wayle the
sodain chaunce ;
The corps then will they bring to grave in this church-
yarde,
Where thy forefathers long agoe a costly tombe pre-
parde.
Both for himselfe, and eke for those that should come
after,
Both deepe it is, and long and large, where thou shall
rest my daughter,
Till I to Mantua sende for Romeus, thy knight ;
Out of the tombe, both he and I will take thee forth
that night.
And when out of thy slepe thou shalt awake agayne,
Then mayst thou goe with him from hence, and healed
of thy payne,
In Mantua lead with him unknowne a pleasant life ;
And yet perhaps in time to comme, when cease shall
all the strife,
And that the peace is made twixt Romeus and his
foes,
My selfe may finde so fit a time these secretes to dys-
close,
Both to my prayse, and to thy tender parentes joy,
That daungerles without reproche thou shalt thy love
enjoy.
When of his skilfull tale, the fryer had made an ende,
To which our Juliet so well her eare and wits dyd bend,
That she hath heard it all, and hath forgotten nought,
Her fainting hart was comforted, with hope and plea
sant thought,
And then to him she said, doubte not but that I will
With stouteand unappauled hart, your happy hest fulfill.
I 70 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Yea, if I wist it were a venemous dedly drinke,
Rather would I that through my throte the certaine
bane should sinke,
Then I (not drinking it) into his handes should fall,
That hath no part of me as yet, ne ought to have at all.
Much more I ought with bold and with a willing hart
To greatest daunger yelde my selfe, and to the dedly
smart,
To comme to him, on whome my life doth wholy stay,
That is my onely hartes delight, and so he shalbe aye.
Then goe (quoth he) my childe1 I pray that God on hye.
Direct thy foote, arid by thy hand upon the way thee
gye:
God graunt he so confirme in thee thy present will,
That no inconstant toy thee let, thy promesse to fulfill.
A thousand thankes and more, our Juliet gave the
fryer,
And homeward to her fathers house joy full she doth
retyre ;
And as with stately gate she passed through the streete,
She saw her mother in the doore, that with her there
would meete,
In mynd to aske if she her purpose yet did holde,
In mynd also apart twixt them, her duety to have tolde ;
Wherfore with pleasant face, and with unwonted chere,
As soone as she was unto her approched sumwhat nere,
Before the mother spake, thus did she fyrst begin :
Madame, at sainct Frauncis churche have I this morn
ing byn,
Where I did make abode, a longer while (percase)
Then dewty would, yet have I not been absent from
this place,
So long a while, whithout a great and just cause why,
This frute have I receaved there, my hart erst lyke
to dye,
1 In text, Then goe qnoth he (my childe).
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 17 I
Is now revived agayne, and my afflicted brest
Released from affliction, restored is to rest.
For lo, my troubled gost (alas too sore diseasde)
By gostly counsell and advise, hath fryer Lawrence
easde,
To whome I dyd at large discourse my former lyfe,
And in confession did I tell of all our passed strife ;
Of Counte Paris sute, and how my lord my syre,
By my ungrate and stubborne stryfe, I styrred unto
yre,
But lo, the holy fryer hath by his gostly lore,
Made me another woman now, then I had been before,
By strength of argumentes he charged so my mynde,
That (though I sought) no sure defence my serching
thought could finde.
So forced I was at length to yelde up witles will,
And promist to be orderd by the friers praysed skill.
Wherfore, albeit I had rashely long before,
The bed and rytes of manage, for many yeres for
swore,
Yet mother now behold, your daughter at your will,
Ready (if you commaunde her ought) your pleasure to
fulfill.
Wherfore in humble wise, dere madam I you pray
To goe unto my lord and syre, withouten long delay ;
Of him fyrst pardon crave of faultes already past,
And shew him (if it pleaseth you) his child is now at
last
Obedient to his just and to his skilfull hest,
And that I will (God lending life) on Wensday next
be prest
To wayte on him and you, unto thappoynted place,
Where I will in your hearing and before my fathers
face,
Unto the Counte geve my fayth and whole assent
And take him for my lord and spouse ; thus fully
am I bent.
172 ROME US AND JULIET.
And that out of your mynde I may remove all doute
Unto my closet fare I now, to searche and to choos
out
The bravest garmentes and the richest jewels there,
Which (better him to please) I mynd on Wensda
next to weare ;
For if I did excell the famous Gretian rape,
Yet might attyre helpe to amende my bewty and m
shape.
The simple mother was, rapt in to great delight ;
Not halfe a word could she bring forth, but in thi
joyfull plight,
With nimble foote she ran and with unwonted pace,
Unto her pensive husband, and to him with pleasan
face
She tolde what she had heard, and prayseth much th
fryer;
And joyfull teares ranne downe the cheekes of thi
gray-berded syer.
With handes and eyes heaved up, he thankes God in
his hart,
And then he sayth, this is not (wife) the friers firs
desart.
Oft hath he shewde to us, great frendship hereto
fore,
By helping us at nedefull times, with wisdomes pre
tious lore :
In all our common weale, scarce one is to be founde
But is for somme good torne unto this holy fathe
bounde.
Oh that the thyrd part of my goods (I doe no
fayne)
But twenty of his passed yeres might purchase bin
agayne
So much in recompence of frendship would I geve,
So much (in faith) his extreme age my frendly har
doth greve.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 173
These said, the glad old man, from home, goeth
straight abrode,
And to the stately palace hyeth, where Paris made
abode ;
Whom he desyres to be on Wensday next his geast,
At Freetowne, where he myndes to make for him a
costly feast.
But loe, the earle saith such feasting were but lost,
And counsels him till manage time to spare so great
a cost.
For then he knoweth well the charges wilbe great,
The whilst his hart desyreth still her sight, and not
his meate.
He craves of Capilet, that he may straight go see
Fayre Juliet, wher to he doth right willingly agree.
The mother warnde before, her daughter doth pre
pare,
he warneth and she chargeth her that in no wyse she
spare
Her curteous speche, her pleasant lookes, and
commely grace,
But liberally to geve them forth when Paris commes
in place :
Which she as cunningly could set forth to the shewe,
As cunning craftesmen to the sale do set their wares
on rew ;
That ere the County did out of her sight depart,
So secretly unwares to him, she stale away his hart,
That of his lyfe and death the wyly wench hath powre.
And now his longing hart thinkes long for theyr
appoynted howre.
And with importune sute, the parentes doth he pray
The wedlocke knot to knit soone up, and hast the
mariage day.
The woer hath past forth the first day in this sort,
And many other more then this, in pleasure and dis
port.
174 ROME US AND JULIET.
At length the wished time of long hoped delight
(As Paris thought) drew nere, but nere approched
heavy plight :
Against the bridall day the parentes did prepare,
Such rich attyre, such furniture, such store of dainty
fare,
That they which did behold the same the night before,
Did thinke and say, a man could scarcely wishe for
any more.
Nothing did seeme to deere, the deerest thinges were
bought,
And (as the written story saith) in dede there wanted
nought.
That longd to his degree and honor of his stocke ;
But Juliet the whilst her thoughts within her brest did
locke ;
Even from the trusty nurce, whose secretnes was tryde,
The secret counsell of her hart the nurce childe seekes
to hide.
For sith to mocke her dame she dyd not sticke to lye,
She thought no sinne with shew of truth, to bleare her
nurces eye.
In chamber secretly the tale she gan renew,
That at the doore she tolde her dame as though it
had been trew.
The flattring nurce dyd prayse the fryer for his skill,
And said that she had done right well by wit to order
will.
She setteth foorth at large the fathers furious rage,
And eke she prayseth much to her, the second manage,
And County Paris now she praiseth ten times more,
By wrong, then she her selfe by right, had Romeus
praysde before.
Paris shall dwell there still, Romeus shall not re-
tourne,
What shall it boote her life, to languish still and
mourne.
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 175
The pleasures past before, she must account as gayne ;
But if he doe retorne, what then ? — for one she shall
have twayne.
The one shall use her as his lawfull wedded wyfe,
[n wanton love, with equall joy the other leade his
lyfe;
And best shall she be sped of any townish dame,
Of husband and of paramour, to fynde her chaunge of
game.
These wordes and like, the nurce did speake, in hope
to please,
But greatly did these wicked wordes the ladies mynde
disease ;
But ay she hid her wrath, and seemed well content,
When dayly dyd the naughty nurce new argumentes
invent.
But when the bryde perceved her howre approched
nere,
She sought (the best she could) to fayne, and tempted
so her cheere,
That by her outward looke, no living wight could
gesse
Her inward woe, and yet anew renewde is her dis
tress e.
Unto her chaumber doth the pensive wight repayre,
And in her hand a percher light the nurce beares up
the stayre.
In Juliets chamber was her wonted use to lye,
Wherfore her mistres dreading that she should her
work descrye
As sone as she began her pallet to unfold,
Thinking to lye that night, where she was wont to lye
of older
Doth gently pray her seeke, her lodgeing some where
els.
And lest she crafty should suspect, a ready reason
telles.
176 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Dere frend (quoth she) you knowe, to morow is the day,
Of new contract, wherfore this night, my purpose is to
pray,
Unto the heavenly myndes, that dwell above the skyes,
And order all the course of thinges, as they can best
devyse,
That they so smyle upon the doynges of to morow,
That all the remnant of my lyfe, may be exempt from
sorow j
Wherefore I pray you leave me here alone this night,
But see that you to morow comme before the dawning
light,
For you must coorle my heare, and set on my attyre.
And easely the loving nurse, dyd yelde to her desire,
For she within her hed dyd cast before no doute,
She little knew the close attempt, her nurce childe
went about.
The nurce departed once, the chamber doore shut
close,
Assured that no living wight, her doing myght disclose,
She powred forth into the vyole of the fryer,
Water out of a silver ewer, that on the boord stood(
by her.
The slepy mixture made, fayre Juliet doth it hyde,
Under her bolster soft, and so unto her bed she hyed
Where divers novel thoughts arise within her hed,
And she is so invironed about with deadly dred,
That what before she had resolved undoutedly
That same she calleth into doute, and lying doutfullj
Whilst honest love did strive with dred of dedly payne,
With handes ywrong, and weping eyes, thus gan she
to complaine : —
What is there any one beneth the heavens hye,
So much unfortunate as I, so much past hope as I ?
What, am not I my selfe of all that yet were borne,
The depest drenched in dispayre, and most in For
tunes skorne ?
ROME US AND JULIET. 177
For loe the world for me hath nothing els to finde,
Beside mishap and wretchednes, and anguish of the
rnynde ;
Since that the cruel cause of my unhappines,
Hath put me to this sodaine plonge, and brought to
such distres,
As (to the end I may my name and conscience save,)
I must devowre the mixed drinke, that by me here I
have,
Whose woorking and whose force as yet I doe not know.
And of this piteous plaint began another doute to grow,
What doe I knowe (quoth she) if that this powder shall
Sooner or later then it should or els not woorke at all?
And then my craft descride, as open as the day,
The peoples tale and laughing stocke, shall I remayne
for aye.
And what know I (quoth she) if serpentes odious,
And other beastes and wormes that are of nature
venomous,
That wonted are to lurke, in darke caves under
grounde,
And commonly as I have heard in dead mens tombes
are found,
Shall harme me yea or nay, where I shall lye as ded,
Or how shall I that alway have in so freshe ayre been
bred,
Kndure the lothsome stinke of such an heaped store
Of carkases, not yet consumde, and bones that long
before
Intombed were, where I my sleping place shall have,
Where all my auncesters doe rest, my kindreds com
mon grave ?
Shall not the fryer and my Romeus, when they come,
Fynd me (if I awake before) ystifled in the tombe ?
And whilst she in these thoughtes doth dwell som-
what to long,
| The force of her ymagining, anon dyd waxe so strong,
voi, i. M
178 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
That she surmysde she saw out of the hollow vaulte,
(A griesly thing to looke upon) the carkas of Tybalt,
Right in the selfe same sort, that she few dayes before
Had seene him in his blood embrewde, to death eke
wounded sore.
And then, when she agayne within her selfe had wayde,
That quicke she should be buried there, and by his
side be layde,
All comfortles, for she shall living feere have none,
But many a rotten carkas, and full many a naked
bone,
Her dainty tender partes gan shever all for dred,
Her golden heares did stand upright, upon her chillish
hed,
Then pressed with the feare that she there lived in,
A sweat as colde as mountaine yse, pearst through
her tender skin,
That with the moysture hath wet every part of hers,
And more besides, she vainely thinkes, whilst vainely
thus she feares,
A thousand bodies dead have compast her about,
And lest they will dismember her, she greatly standes
in dout.
But when she felt her strength began to weare away,
By little and little, and in her hart her feare increased
ay:
Dreading that weakenes might or foolish cowardise
Hinder the execution of the purposde enterprise,
As she had frantike been, in hast the glasse she cought,
And up she dranke the mixture quite, withouten far
ther thought.
Then on her brest she crost her armes long and small,
And so her senses fayling her, into a traunce did fall.
And when that Phoebus bright heaved up his
seemely hed,
And from the East in open skies his glistring r:r
dispred,
ROME US AND JULIET. 179
The nurce unshut the doore, for she the key did keepe,
And douting she had slept to long, she thought to
breake her slepe :
Fyrst, softly dyd she call, then lowder thus did crye,
Lady, you slepe to long, the Earle will rayse you by
and by.
But wele away, in vayne unto the deafe she calles,
She thinkes to speake to Juliet, but speaketh to the
walles.
If all the dredfull noyse, that might on earth be found,
Or on the roaring seas, or if the dredfull thunders
sound,
Had blowne into her eares, I thinke they could not
make,
The sleping wight before the time by any meanes
awake :
So were the sprites of lyfe shut up, and senses thrald ;
Wherwith the seely carefull nurce, was wondrously
apalde.
She thought to daw her now as she had donne of olde,
But loe, she found her parts were stiffe, and more
than marble colde :
Neither at mouth nor nose, found she recourse of
breth ;
Two certaine argumentes were these, of her untimely
death.
Wherfore as one distraught, she to her mother ranne,
With scratched face, and heare betorne, but no woord
speake she can,
At last (with much adoe) dead (quoth she) is my childe,
Now out alas (the mother cryde) and as a Tyger wilde,
Whose whelpes whilst she is gonne out of her denne
to pray,
The hunter gredy of his game, doth kill or cary away ;
So, rageing forth she ranne, unto her Juliets bed,
And there she found her derling. and her onely com
fort ded.
l8o ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Then shriked she out as lowde, as serve her would
her breth,
And then (that pity was to heare) thus cryde she out
on death.
Ah cruell death (quoth she) that thus against all right
Hast ended my felicitie, and robde my hartes delight,
Do now thy worst to me, once wreake thy wrath for all,
Even in despite I crye to thee, thy vengeance let thou
fall.
Wherto stay I (alas) since Juliet is gone ?
Wherto live I since she is dead, except to wayle and
mone ?
Alacke dere chyld, my teares for thee shall never
cease,
Even as my dayes of life increase, so shall my plaint
increase.
Such store of sorow shall afflict my tender hart,
That dedly panges when they assayle shall not aug
ment my smart.
Then gan she so to sobbe, it seemde her hart would
brast,
And while she crieth thus, behold the father at the last,
The County Paris, and of gentilmen a route,
And ladies of Verona towne, and country round about,
Both kindreds and alies, thether a pace have preast,
For by theyr presence there they sought to honor so
the feast ;
But when the heavy newes the bydden geastes did
heare,
So much they mournd, that who had scene theyr
countenance and theyr cheere,
Might easily have judgde, by that that they had seene,
That day the day of wrath, and eke of pity [to] have
beene.
But more then all the rest the fathers hart was so
Smit with the heavy newes, and so shut up with sodain
woe,
ROME US AND JULIET. I Si
That he ne had the powre his daughter to bewepe,
Ne yet to speake, but long is forsd, his teares and
plaint to keepe.
In all the hast he hath for skilfull leaches sent ;
And hearyng of her passed life, they judge with one
assent,
The cause of this her death was inward care and
thought,
And then with double force againe the double sorowes
wrought.
If ever there hath been a lamentable day,
A day, ruthfull, unfortunate, and fatall, then I say,
The same was it in which, through Veron towne was
spred,
The wofull newes how Juliet was sterved in her bed.
For so she was bemonde, both of the yong and olde,
That it might seeme to him that would the commen
plaint behold,
That all the commen welth did stand in jeopardy;
So universall was the plaint, so piteous was the crye.
For lo, beside her shape, and native bewties hewe,
With which, like as she grew in age, her vertues
prayses grewe,
She was also so wise, so lowly, and so mylde,
That even from the hory head, unto the witles
childe,
She wan the hartes of all, so that there was not one,
Ne great ne small, but dyd that day her wretched state
bemone.
Whilst Juliet slept, and whilst the other wepen thus,
Our fryer Lawrence hath by this, sent one to Romeus,
A frier of his house, there never was a better,
He trusted him even as himselfe, to whom he gave a
letter :
In which he written had, of every thing at length,
That past twixt Juliet and him, and of the powders
strength.
1 8-2 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
The next night after that, he willeth him to comme
To helpe to take his Juliet out of the hollow toombe,
For by that time, the drinke he saith will cease to
woorke,
And for one night his wife and he within his cell shall
loorke,
Then shall he cary her to Mantua away,
(Till fickell Fortune favour him,) disguisde in mans
aray.
Thys letter closde he sendes to Romeus by his
brother ;
He chargeth him that in no case he geve it any other.
Apace our frier John to Mantua him hyes ;
And for because in Italy it is a wonted gyse
That friers in the towne should seeldome walke alone,
But of theyr covent ay should be accompanide with
one :
Of his profession straight a house he fyndeth out,
In mynde to take some frier with him, to walke the
towne about.
But entred once, he might not issue out agayne,
For that a brother of the house, a day before or
twayne,
Dyed of the plague (a sickenes which they greatly
feare and hate)
So were the brethren charged to kepe within theyr
covent gate,
Bard of theyr felowship, that in the towne do wonne;
The towne folke eke commaunded are, the fryer
house to shonne :
Till they that had the care of health, theyr fredoi
should renew,
Wherof, as you shall shortly heare, a mischeefe great
there grewe.
The fryer by this restraint, beset with dred and sorow,
Not knowing what the letters held, differd untill the
morowe ;
ROME US AND JULIET. 1 8
And then he thought in tyme to send to Romeus.
But whilst at Mantua where he was, these dooinges
framed thus,
The towne of Juliets byrth was wholy busied,
About her obsequies, to see theyr darlyng buried.
Now is the parentes myrth quite chaunged into mone,
And now to sorow is retornde the joy of every one ;
And now the wedding weedes for mourning weedes
they chaunge,
And Hymene into a Dyrge ; — alas it seemeth
straunge.
In steade of mariage gloves, now funerall gloves they
have,
And whom they should see maried, they follow to the
grave.
The feast that should have been of pleasure and of
joy,
Hath every dish, and cup, fild full of sorow and
annoye.
Now throughout Italy this common use they have,
That all the best of every stocke are earthed in one
grave.
For every houshold, if it be of any fame,
Doth blyde a tombe, or digge a vault, that beares the
houshouldes name,
Wherein (if any of that kindred hap to dye)
They are bestowde, els in the same no other corps
may lye.
The Capilets, her corps in such a one dyd lay,
Where Tybalt slayne of Romeus, was layde the other
day:
An other use there is, that whosoever dyes,
Borne to their church with open face, upon the beere
he lyes
In wonted weede attyrde, not wrapt in winding sheete.
So, as by chaunce he walked abrode, our Romeus
man dyd meete
184 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
His masters wyfe, the sight with sorow straight dyd
wounde
His honest hart, with teares he saw her lodged under
ground.
And for that he had been sent to Verone for a spye,
The doynges of the Capilets by wisdome to descrye,
And for he knew her death dyd tooch his maister
most,
(Alas) too soone. with heavy newes he hyed away in
post;
And in his house he found his maister Romeus,
Where he, besprent with many teares, began to
speake him thus :
Syr, unto you of late is chaunced so great a harme,
That sure except with constancy you seeke your selfe
to arme,
I feare that strayght you will brethe out your latter
breath,
And I most wretched wight shalbe thoccasion of
your death.
Know syr that yesterday my lady and your wyfe,
I wot not by what sodain grefe, had made exchaunge
of life ;
And for because on earth, she found nought but unrest,
In heaven hath she sought to fynde a place of quiet •
rest.
And with these weping eyes my selfe have scene her
layde
Within the tombe of Capilets, and here withall he
stayde.
This sodayne message sounde sent forth with sighes
and teares,
Our Romeus receaved too soone with open listening
eares,
And therby hath sonke in such sorow in his hart,
That loe, his sprite annoyed sore with torment and
with smart,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 185
Was like to breake out of his prison house perforce,
And that he might flye after hers, would leave the
massy corce.
But earnest love that will not fayle him till his
ende,
This fond and sodain fantasy into his head dyd
sende :
That if nere unto her he offred up his breath,
That then an hundred thousand parts more glorious
were his death,
Eke should his painfull hart a great deale more be
eased,
And more also (he vainely thought) his lady better
pleased.
Wherfore, when he his face hath washt with water
cleene,
Lest that the staynes of dryed teares, might on his
cheekes be seene,
And so his sorow should of every one be spyde,
Which he with all his care dyd seeke from every
one to hyde :
Straight wery of the house, he walketh forth abrode,
His servant at the maisters hest in chamber styll
abode ;
And then fro streate to streate, he wandreth up and
downe,
To see if he in any place may fynde in all the towne,
A salve meete for his sore, an oyle fitte for his
wounde,
And seeking long (alac too soone) the thing he
sought, he founde.
An Apothecary sate unbusied at his doore,
Whom by his heavy countenaunce he gessed to be
poore,
And in his shop he saw his boxes were but fewe,
And in his window (of his wares) there was so small
a shew,
1 86 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Wherfore our Romeus assuredly hath thought,
What by no frendship could be got, with money
should be bought.
For nedy lacke is lyke the poore man to compell,
To sell that which the cities lawe forbiddeth him to
sell.
Then by the hand he drew the nedy man apart,
And with the sight of glittring gold inflamed hath his
hart,
Take fiftie crown es of gold (quoth he) I geve them
thee,
So that before I part from hence thou straight deliver
me,
Somme poyson strong, that may in lesse than halfe
an howre,
Kill him whose wretched hap shalbe the potion to
devowre.
The wretch by covetise is wonne, and doth assent
To sell the thing, whose sale ere long, too late he
doth repent.
In hast he poyson sought, and closely he it bounde,
And then began with whispering voyce thus in his
eare to rounde,
Fayre syr (quoth he) be sure this is the speeding gere,
And more there is then you shall nede, for halfe of
that is there,
Will serve, I undertake, in lesse then halfe an howre,
To kill the strongest man alive, such is the poysons
power.
Then Romeus, somwhat easd of one part of his care,
Within his bosome putteth up his dere unthrifty ware.
Retorning home agayne, he sent his man away,
To Verone towne, and chargeth him, that he with
out delay,
Provyde both instruments to open wyde the toombe,
And lightes to shew him Juliet, and stay (till he shall
comme)
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 187
Nere to the place whereas his loving wyfe doth rest,
And chargeth him not to bewray the dolours of his
brest.
Peter, these heard, his leave doth of his maister take,
Betyme he commes to towne, such hast the paynfull
man dyd make,
And then with busy care he seeketh to fulfill
p]ut doth dysclose unto no wight his wo full maisters will.
Would God he had herein broken his maisters hest.
Would God that to the fryer he had dysclosed all hys
brest.
But Romeus, the whyle, with many a deadly thought,
Provoked much, hath caused ynke and paper to be
brought,
And in few lynes he dyd of all his love dyscoorse,
How by the fryers helpe, and by the knowledge of the
noorse,
The wedlocke knot was knyt, and by what meane that
night
And many moe he dyd enjoy his happy hartes delight,
Where he the poyson bought, and how his lyfe should
ende ;
And so his wailefull tragedy the wretched man hath
pend.
The letters closd and seald, directed to his syre,
He locketh in his purse, and then, a post hors doth he
hyre.
When he approched nere, he warely lighted downe,
And even with the shade of night, he entred Verone
towne ;
Where he hath found his man wayting when he should
com me,
With lanterne and with instruments, to open Juliets
toome,
Helpe Peter, helpe quod he, helpe to remove the stone,
And straight when I am gone fro thee, my Juliet to
bemone,
1 88 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
See that thou get thee hence, and on the payne of
death,
I charge thee that thou comme not nere, whyle I abyde
beneath,
Ne seeke thou not to let thy masters enterprise,
Which he hath fully purposed to do in any wise.
Take there a letter, which as soone as he shall ryse,
Present it in the morning to my loving fathers eyes ;
Which unto him perhaps farre pleasanter shall seeme,
Than eyther I do mynd to say, or thy grose head can
deeme.
Now Peter that knew not, the purpose of his hart,
Obediently a little way withdrew himselfe apart,
And then our Romeus, (the vault stone set up upright)
Descended downe, and in his hand, he bare the candle
light.
And then with piteous eye, the body of his wyfe,
He gan beholde, who surely was the organ of his lyfe.
For whom unhappy now he is, but erst was blyst ;
He watered her with teares, and then an hundred times
her kyst ;
"And in his folded armes, full straightly he her plight.
But no way could his greedy eyes be filled with her
sight : •
His fearfull handes he layd upon her stomacke colde,
And them on divers parts besyde, the wofull wight did
hold.
But when he could not fynd the signes of lyfe he
sought,
Out of his cursed box he drewe the poyson that he
bought,
Wherof, he gredely devowrde the greater part,
And then he cryde with dedly sigh, fecht from his
mourning hart :
Oh Juliet, of whom the world unworthy was,
From which, for worldes unworthines thy worthy gost
dyd passe :
ROME US AND JULIET. 189
What death more pleasant could my hart wish to abyde,
Then that which here it suffreth now, so nere thy
frendly syde ?
Or els so glorious tombe, how could my youth have
craved,
As in one selfe same vaulte with thee haply to be in-
graved ?
/Vhat Epitaph more worth, or halfe so excellent,
To consecrate my memorye, could any man invente
As this, our mutuell, and our piteous sacrifice
Of lyf'e, set light for love ? but while he talketh in this
wise,
And thought as yet a while his dolors to enforce,
His tender hart began to faynt, prest with the venoms
force ;
Which little and litle gan to overcomme hys hart,
And whilst his busy eyne he threwe about to every
part :
He saw hard by the corce of sleping Juliet,
Bold Tybalts carkas dead, which was not all consumed
yet.
To whom (as having life) in this sort speaketh he,
Ah cosin dere Tybalt, where so thy restless sprite now
be,
With stretched handes to thee for mercy now I crye,
For that before thy kindly howre I forced thee to dye.
But if with quenched life, not quenched be thine yre,
But with revengeing lust as yet thy hart be set on fyre:
What more amendes, or cruell wreke desyrest thou
To see on me, then this which here is shewd forth to
thee now ?
Who reft by force of armes from thee thy living breath,
The same with his owne hand (thou seest) doth poy-
son himselfe to death.
And for he caused thee in tombe too soone to lye,
Too soone also, yonger then thou himselfe he layeth
by.
IpO ROMEUS AND JULIET.
These said, when he gan feele, the poysons force pre-
vayle,
And little and little mastred lyfe, for aye beganne to
fayle,
Kneeling upon his knees, he said with voyce full lowe,
Lord Christ that so to ransoume me descendedst long
agoe,
Out of thy fathers bosome, and in the virgins wombe,
Didst put on fleshe, Oh let my plaint out of this hollow
toombe,
Perce through the ayre, and graunt my sute may
favour finde ';
Take pity on my sinneful, and my poore afflicted
mynde !
For well enough I know, this body is but clay,
Nought but a masse of sinne, to frayle, and subject to
decay.
Then pressed with extreme greefe, he threw with so
great force,
His overpressed parts upon the ladies wayled corps
That now his wekened hart, weakened with torment
past,
Unable to abyde this pang, the sharpest and the last ;
Remayned quite deprived, of sense and kindly strength,
And so the long imprisond soule, hath freedome wonne
at length.
Ah cruell death, too soone, too soone was this de-
vorce,
Twixt youthfull Romeus heavenly sprite, and his fayre
earthy corse.
The fryer that knew what time the powder had been
taken,
Knew eke the very instant, when the sleper should
awaken,
But wondring that he could no kind of aunswer heare,
Of letters, which to Romeus his fellow fryer did
beare :
•
ROMEUS AND JULIET. IQI
Out of sainct Frauncis church hymselfe alone dyd fere,
And for the opening of the tombe, meete instrumentes
he bare :
Approching nigh the place, and seeing there the lyght,
Jreat horror felt he in his hart, by straunge and
sodaine sight ;
?yll Peter (Romeus man) his coward hart made bolde,
Vhen of his masters being there, the certain newes he
tolde :
There hath he been (quoth he) this halfe howre at the
least,
Vnd in this time I dare well say his plaint hath still
increast.
Then both they entred in, where they (alas) dyd
fynde,
The brethles corps of Romeus, forsaken of the
mynde,
Where they have made such mone, as they may best
conceve,
That have with perfect frendship loved, whose frend
feerce death dyd reve.
But whilst with piteous playnt, they Romeus fate be-
wepe,
\n howre too late fayre Juliet awaked out of slepe,
And much amasde to see in tombe so great a light,
She wist not if she saw a dreame, or sprite that walkd
by night.
But dimming to her selfe, she knew them, and said
thus :
What fryer Lawrence, is it you? where is my Romeus?
And then the auncient frier, that greatly stoode in feare,
Lest if they lingred over long, they should be taken
theare,
In few plaine woordes the whole that was betyde he
tolde,
And with his fingar shewd his corps out stretched,
stirle, and colde ;
IQ2 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
And then perswaded her with pacience to abyde
This sodain great mischaunce, and sayth, that he will
soone provyde
In soome religious house for her a quiet place,
Where she may spend the rest of lyfe, and where in
time percase
She may with wisdomes meane measure her mourning
brest,
And unto her tormented soule call backe exiled rest.
But loe, as soone as she had cast her ruthfull eye
On Romeus face, that pale and wan, fast by her side
dyd lye,
Straight way she dyd unstop the conduites of her teares,
And out they gushe, with cruell hand she tare her
golden heares.
But when she neither could her swelling sorow swage,
Ne yet her tender hart abyde her sickeness furious
rage:
Falne on his corps, she lay long panting on his face,
And then with all her force and strength, the ded corj
dyd embrace,
As though with sighes, with sobs, with force and bus]
payne
She would him rayse, and him restore from death t<
lyfe agayne :
A thousand times she kist his mouth as cold as stone,
And it unkist agayne as oft, then gan she thus tc
mone,
Ah pleasant prop of all my thoughtes, ah onely grounde
Of all the sweete delightes, that yet in all my lyfe I
found,
Did such assured trust within thy hart repose,
That in this place, and at this time, this churchyard
thou hast chose ?
Betwixt the armes of me, thy perfect loving make ?
And thus by meanes of me to ende thy lyfe, and for
my sake ?
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 193
Even in the flowring of thy youth, when unto thee,
hy lyfe most deare (as to the most) and pleasant
ought to be :
[ow could this tender corps withstand the cruell
fight
f furious death, that wonts to fray the stoutest with
his sight ?
How could this dainty youth agree with willing hart,
this so fowle infected place (to dwell) where now
thou art ?
Vhere spitefull Fortune hath appoynted thee to be.
'he dainty foode of greedy woormes, unworthy sure
of thee.
Ylas, alas, alas, what neded now anew,
ly wonted sorowes doubled twise agayne thus to re-
newe ?
Vhich both the tyme, and eke my pacient long
abode,
hould now at length have quenched quite, and under
foote have trode,
\hwretch, and caytive that I am, even when I thought
To find my painefull passions salve, I myst the thing
I sought ;
\nd to my mortall harme, the fatall knyfe I grounde,
"hat gave to me so deepe, so wyde, so cruell dedly
wounde,
Ah thou most fortunate, and most unhappy tombe,
'or thou shalt beare, from age to age, witnes in time
to comme,
Of the most perfect leage, betwixt a payre of lovers,
That were the most unfortunate, and fortunate of
others :
Receave the latter sigh, receave the latter pang,
Of the most cruell of cruell slaves that wrath and death
ay wrang.
And when our Juliet would continue still her mone,
The fryer and the servant fled and left her there alone.
VOL. i. N
194 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
For they a sodayne noyse, fast by the place did heare,
And lest they might be taken there, greatly they stoode
in feare.
When Juliet saw her selfe left in the vaulte alone,
That freely she might worke her will, for let or stay
was none ;
Then once for all, she tooke the cause of all her
harmes,
The body dead of Romeus, and claspd it in her armes,
Then she with earnest kisse, sufficiently did prove,
That more then by the feare of death, she was attaint
by love.
And then past deadly feare, for lyfe ne had she care,
With hasty hand she did draw out, the dagger that he
ware.
O welcome death (quoth she) end of unhappines,
That also art beginning of assured happines,
Feare not to darte me nowe, thy stripe no longer stay,
Prolong no longer now my lyfe, I hate this long delaye,
For straight my parting sprite, out of this carkas fled
At ease shall finde-my Romeus sprite) emong so man
ded.
And thou my loving lord, Romeus my trusty feer,
If knowledge yet doe rest in thee, if thou these woorde
dost heer,
Receve thou her whom thou didst love so lawfully,
That causd (alas) thy violent death, although unwill
ingly ;
And therefore willingly offers to thee her gost,
To thend that no wight els but thou, might have just
cause to boste
Thinjoying of my love, which ay I have reserved,
Free from the rest, bound unto thee, that hast it well
deserved :
That so our parted sprites, from light that we see here,
In place of endlesse light and blisse, may ever live
yfere.
ROME US AND JULIET. 1 95
These said, her ruthlesse hand through gyrt her valiant
hart.
Ah Ladies helpe with teares to wayle, the ladies dedly
smart,
She grones she stretcheth out her limmes, she shuttes
her eyes,
And from her corps the sprite doth flye ; what should
I say? she dyes.
The watchemen of the towne, the whilst are passed by,
And through the gates the candel light within the
tombe they spye ;
Wherby they did suppose, inchaunters to be comme,
That with prepared instrumentes had opend wide the
tombe,
In purpose to abuse the bodies of the ded, 1
Which by theyr science ayde abusde do stand them
oft in sted.
Theyr curious harts desire, the trueth herof to know,
Then they by certaine steppes descend, where they
do fynd below
In clasped armes ywrapt the husband and the wyfe,
In whom as yet they seemd to see somme certame
markes of lyfe.
But when more curiously with leysure they did vew,
The certainty of both theyr deathes, assuredly they
knew :
Then here and there so long with carefull eye they
sought,
That at the length hidden they found the murthrers,
so they thought.
In dongeon depe that night they lodgde them under
grounde,
The next day do they tell the prince the mischefe
that they found.
The newes was by and by throughout the towne
dyspred,
Both of the takyng of the fryer, and of the two found ded.
196 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Thether you might have scene whole housholdes forth
to ronne,
For to the tombe where they did heare this wonder
straunge was donne,
The great, the small, the riche, the poore, the yong,
the olde,
With hasty pace do ronne to see, but rew when they
behold e.
And that the murtherers to all men might be knowne,
Like as the murders brute abrode through all the towne
was blowne
The prince did straight ordaine, the corses that wer
founde
Should be set forth upon a stage, hye raysed from the
grounde,
Right in the selfe same four me, (shewde forth to all
mens sight)
That in the hollow valt they had been found that other
night ;
And eke that Romeus man, and fryer Lawrence should
Be openly examined, for els the people would
Have murmured, or faynd there were some wayghty
cause,
Why openly they were not calde, and so convict by
lavves.
The holy fryer now, and reverent by his age,
In great reproche set to the shew upon the open stage,
(A thing that ill beseemde a man of silver heares)
His beard as whyte as mylke he bathes, with great
fast falling teares,
Whom straight the dredfull judge commaundeth to
declare
Both, how this murther hath been donne, and who
the murthrers are ?
For that he nere the tombe was found at howres unfitte,
And had with him those yron tooles, for such a pur
pose fitte.
ROME US AND JULIET. 197
The fryer was of lively sprite, and free of speche,
The Judges woords appald him not, ne were his wittes
to seeche.
But with advised heed, a while fyrst did he stay,
And then with bold assured voyce, aloude thus gan
he say,
My lordes, there is not one emong you, set to-
gyther,
So that (affection set aside) by wisdome he consider
My former passed lyfe, and this my extreme age,
And eke this heavy sight, the wreke, of frantike For
tunes rage,
But that amased much, doth wonder at this chaunge,
So great, so sodainly befalne, unlocked for, and
straunge
For I, that in the space of Ix yeres and tenne,
Since first I did begin to soone to leade my lyfe with
men,
And with the worldes vaine thinges my selfe I did
acquaint,
Was never yet, in open place at any time attaynt
With any cryrne, in waight as heavy as a rushe,
Ne is there any stander by, can make me gylty
blushe ;
(Although before the face of God, I doe confesse,
My selfe to be the sinfulst wretch of all this mighty
presse.)
When readiest I am, and likeliest to make
My great accompt, which no man els for me shall
undertake ;
When wormes, the earth, and death, doe cyte me every
howre,
Tappeare before the judgement seate of everlasting
powre,
And falling ripe I steppe upon my graves brinke :
Even then am I most wretched wight (as eche of you
doth thinke,)
198 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Through my most haynous deede, with hedlong sway
throwne downe,
In greatest daunger of my lyfe, and domage of renowne.
The spring, whence in your head, this new conceite
doth ryse,
And in your hart increaseth still your vayne and wrong
surmise :
May be the hugenes of these teares of myne, percase,)
That so aboundantly downe fall, by eyther syde my
face ;
As though the memory in scriptures were not kept,
That Christ our Saviour himselfe for ruth and pittie
wept;
And more whoso will reade, ywritten shall he fynde,
That teares are as true messengers of mans ungyltie
mynde.
Or .els (a liker proofe) that I am in the cryme,
You say these present yrons are, and the suspected
tyme ;
As though all howres alike had not been made above,
Did Christ not say the day had twelve? whereby he
sought to prove,
That no respect of howres, ought justly to be had,
But at all times men have the choyce of dooing good
or bad.
Even as the sprite of God, the hartes of men doth
guyde,
Or as it leaveth them to stray from Vertues path asyde.
As for the yrons that were taken in my hand,
As now I deeme, I neede not seeke, to make ye un-
derstande,
To what use yron first was made, when it began ;
How of it self it helpeth not, ne yet can helpe a
man.
The thing that hurteth, is the malice of his will,
That such indifferent thinges is wont to use and
order yll
ROME US AND JULIET. I 99
Thus much I thought to say, to cause you so to know,
That neither these ray piteous teares, though nere so
fast they flowe,
Ne yet these yron tooles, nor the suspected time,
Can justly prove the murther donne, nor damne me •
of the cryme :
No one of these hath powre, ne povvre have all the
three,
To make me other then I am, how so I seeme to be.
But sure my conscience, (if so my gylt deserve,)
For an appeacher, witnesse, and a hangman eke should
serve,
For through myne age, whose heares, of long time
since were hore,
And credyt greate that I was in, with you, in time
tofore,
And eke the sojorne short that I on earth must make,
That every day and howre do loke my journey hence
to take,
My conscience inwardly, should more torment me
thrise,
Then all the outward deadly payne that all you could
devyse.
But (God I prayse) I feele no worme that gnaweth
me,
And from remorses pricking sting, I joy that I am
free:
I meane as touching this, wherwith you troubled are,
Wherwith you should be troubled still if I my speche
should spare.
But to the end I may set all your hartes at rest,
And plucke out all the scrupuls that are rooted in your
brest.
Which might perhappes henceforth increasing more
and more,
Within your conscience also, increase your curelesse
sore :
200 ROME US AND JULIET.
I sweare by yonder heavens, whither I hope to clym,
And for a witnes of my woordes, my hart attesteth him,
Whose mighty hand doth welde them in theyr vyolent
sway,
And on the rolling stormy seas the heavy earth doth
stay :
That I will make a short and eke a true dyscourse
Of this most wofull Tragedy, and shew both thend
and sourse
Of theyr unhappy death, which you perchaunce no
lesse
Will wonder at, then they (alas) poore lovers in dis-
tresse,
Tormented much in mynd, not forcing lively breath,
With strong and patient hart dyd yelde themselfe to
cruell death,
Such was the mutuall love, wherin they burned both :
And of their promyst frendshippes fayth, so stedy was
the troth.
And then the auncient frier began to make dys
course,
Even from the first, of Romeus, and Juliets amours,
How first by sodayn sight, the one the other chose,
And twixt them selfe dyd knitte the knotte, which
onely death might lose ;
And how within a while, with hotter love opprest,
Under confessions cloke, to him, them selfe they have
adrest,
And how with solemn othes they have protested both,
That they in hart are maried by promise and by othe :
And that except he graunt the rytes of church to geve,
They shall be forst by earnest love, in sinneful state
to live :
Which thing when he had wayde, and when he under-
stoode,
That the agreement twixt them twayne was lawful!,
honest, good,
ROMEUS AND JULIET. 2OI
And all thinges peysed well, it seemed meete to bee/
For lyke they were of noblenesse, age, riches, and
degree ;
Hoping that so at length, ended myght be the stryfe,
Of Montagewes and Capelets, that led in hayte theyr
lyfe,
Thinking to woorke a woorke well pleasing in God's
sight,
In secret shrift he wedded them, and they the selfe
same night,
Made up the manage in house of Capelet,
As well doth know (if she be askt) the nurce of Juliet,
He told how Romeus fled, for reving Tybalts lyfe,
And how the whilst, Paris the Earle was offred to hys
wyfe.
And how the lady dyd, so great a wrong dysdane,
And how to shrift unto his church she came to him
agayne ;
And how she fell flat downe before his feete aground,
And how she sware her hand, and blody knife should
wound
Her harmeles hart, except, that he some meane dyd
fynde
To dysappoynt the Earles attempt, and spotles save
her mynde.
Wherfore he doth conclude, (although that long be
fore)
By thought of death, and age, he had refusde for ever
more
The hidden artes which he delighted in, in youth,
Yet wonne by her importunenes, and by his inward
ruth,
And fearing lest she would her cruell vowe dyscharge
His closed conscience he had opened and set at large,
And rather did he choose to suffer for one tyme,
His soule to be spotted somdeale with small and easy
cryme,
2O2 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
Then that the lady should, (wery of livyng breath,)
Murther her selfe, and daunger much her seely soule
by death,
Wherfore, his auncient artes agayne he puttes in ure,
A certaine powder gave he her, that made her slepe
so sure,
That they her held for dead ; and how that frier
John
With letters sent to Romeus, to Mantua is gone ;
Of whom he knoweth not as yet, what is becomme.
And how that dead he found his frend within her kin
dreds tombe.
He thinkes with poyson strong, for care the yong
man sterved,
Supposing Juliet dead, and how that Juliet had carved
With Romeus dagger drawne her hart and yelded
breath,
Desyrous to accompany her lover after death ;
And how they could not save her, so they were
afeard,
And hidde them selfe, dreding the noyse of watchmen,
that they heard,
And for the proofe of thys his tale, he doth desyer
The Judge to send fortwith to Mantua for the fryer
To learne his cause of stay, and eke to reade his letter ;
And, more beside, to thend that they might judge his
cause the better,
He prayeth them depose the nurce of Juliet,
And Romeus man, whom at unawares besyde the
tombe he met.
Then Peter not so much erst as he was, dysmayd,
My lordes (quoth he) too true is all, that fryer Laur
ence sayd.
And when my maister went into my mystres grave,
The letter that I offer you, unto me then he gave,
Which he himselfe dyd write as I do understand,
And charged me to offer them unto his fathers hand.
ROMEUS AND JULIET, 203
The opened packet doth conteyne in it the same,
That erst the skilfull frier said, and eke the wretches
name
That had at his request, the dedly poysori sold,
The price of it, and why he bought, his letters playne
have tolde.
The case unfolded so, and open now it lyes,
That they could wish no better proofe, save seeing it
with theyr eyes :
So orderly all thinges were tolde and tryed out,
That in the prease there was not one, that stoode at
all in doubte.
The wyser sort to councell called by Escalus,
Have geven advyse, and Escalus sagely decreeth
thus:
The nurce of Juliet, is banisht in her age,
Because that from the parentes she dyd hyde the
manage,
Which might have wrought much good, had it in lime
been knowne,
AVhere now by her concealing it, a mischeefe great is
grown e ;
And Peter, for he dyd obey his masters best,
In woonted freedome had good leave to leade his lyfe
in rest ;
Thapothecary, high is hanged by the throte,
And for the paynes he tooke with him, the hangman
had his cote.
But now what shall betyde of this gray-bearded syre ?
Of fryer Lawrence thus arraynde, that good barefooted
fryre ?
Because that many times he woorthely did serve
The commen welth, and in his lyfe was never found
to swerve,
He was discharged quyte, and no marke of defame,
Did seeme to blot, or touch at all, the honor of his
name.
204 ROMEUS AND JULIET.
But of him selfe he went into an Hermitage,
Two myles from Veron towne, where he in prayers
past forth his age,
Till that to earth from heaven, his heavenly sprite dyd
flye,
Fyve years he lived an Hermite, and an Hermite dyd
he dye.
The straungenes of the chaunce, when tryed was the
truth,
The Montage wes and Capelets hath moved so to ruth,
That with their emptyed teares, theyr choler and theyr
rage,
Was emptied quite; and they whose wrath no wisdom
could asswage,
Nor threatning of the prince, ne mynd of murthers
donne,
At length (so mighty Jove it would) by pitye they are
wonne.
And lest that length of time might from our myndes
remove,
The memory of so perfect, sound, and so approved
love,
The bodies dead removed from vaulte where they did
dye,
In stately tombe, on pillers great, of marble rayse they
hye.
On every syde above, were set and eke beneath,
Great store of cunning Epitaphes, in honor of theyr
death.
And even at this day the tombe is to be seene.
So that among the monumentes that in Vero&a been,
There is no monument more worthy of the sight,
Then is the tombe of Juliet, and Romeus her knight.
IF Imprinted at London in Flete strete within
Temble barre, at the signe of the hand and
starre, by Richard Tottill the xix day of Nov
ember, An. do. 1562.
The Goodly History of the True and Con
stant Love between Romeus and
THE TWENTY-FIFTH NOVELL.
77ie goodly Hystorie of the true and constant Love be-
tweene Rhomeo and Julietta, the one of whom died
of poyson, and the other of sorrow, and hevinesse :
wherein be comprised many adventures of love, and
other devises touchinge the same.
THE xxv.
I AM sure, that they whiche measure the greatnesse
of Gods works according to the capacitie of their
rude and simple understanding, wyll not lightly ad-
hibite credite unto this historic, so wel for the varietie
of strange accidents which be therein described, as
for the noveltie and straungenesse of so rare, and
perfect amity. But they that have redde Plinie,
Valerius Maximus, Plutarche, and divers other
writers, doe fmde, that in olde tyme a greate number
of men and women have died, some of excessive
joye, .some of overmuch sorrowe, and some of other
passions : and amongs the same, Love is not the
1 [From Painter's Palace of Pleasure, vol. ii., 4to, 1567.]
206 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
least, which when it seaseth uppon any kynde and
gentle subject, and findeth no resistance to serve for
a rampart to stay the violence of his course, by litle
and litle undermineth melteth and consumeth the
vertues of natural powers, in such wyse as the sprite
yelding to the burden, abandoneth the place of life :
which is verified by the pitifull and infortunate death
of two lovers that surrendered their last breath in one
Tombe at Verona a Citie of Italy, wherein repose yet
to this day : (with great marvel) the bones and rem-
nantes of their late loving bodies : an history no lesse
wonderfull than true. If then perticular affection
which of good right every man ought to beare to the
place where he was borne, do not deceive those that
travaile, I thinke they will confesse with me, that few
cities in Italic, can surpasse the said cittie of Verona,
as well for the Navigable river called Adissa, which
passeth almost through the midst of the same, and
therby a great trafique into Almayne, as also for the
prospect towards the fertile Mountaines, and plesant
valeies which do environ the same, with a great num
ber of very clere and lively fountains, that serve for
the ease and commodity of the place. Omitting
(bisides many other singularities) foure bridges, and an
infinite numbre of other honorable antiquities, daily
apparant unto those, that be to curious to viewe and
loke upon them. Which places I have somewhat
touched, bicause this most true Historic which I
purpose hereafter to recite, dependeth therupon, the
memory whereof to this day is so well knowne at
Verona, as unneths their blubbred eyes be yet dry,
that sawe and behelde that lamentable sight.
When the senior Escala was Lord of Verona, there
were two families in the Citie, of farre greater fame
than the rest, as well for riches as Nobilitie : the one
called the Montesches, and the other the Capellets :
but like as most commonly there is discorde amongs
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 2OJ
them which be of semblable degree in honour, even
so there hapned a certaine enimitie betwene them :
and for so much as the begin ningTrieroT was un
lawful, and of ill foundation, so likewise in processe of
time it kindled to such flame, as by divers and sundry
devises practised on both sides, many lost their lives.
The Lord Bartholmew of Escala, (of whome we have
already spoken) being Lord of Verona, and seeing
such disorder in his common weale, assayed divers
and sundry wayes to reconcile those two nouses, but
all in vaine : for their hatred had taken sutch roote,
as the same could not be moderated by any wise
counsell or good advice : betwene whome no other
thing could be accorded, but giving over armure and
weapon for the time, attending some other season
more convenient, and with better leisure to appease
the rest. In the time that these things were adoingT™
one of the familie of Montesches called Rhomeo, of
the age of xx. or xxi. yeres, the fairest and best con
ditioned Gentleman that was amongs the Veronian
youth, fell in love with a young Gentlewoman of
Verona, and in few dayes was attached with her
comely and good behaviour, as he abandoned all
other affaires and businesse to serve and honor hir.
And, after many letters, ambassades, and presents,
he determined in the end to speke unto hir, and to
disclose his passions, which he did without any other
practise. But she which was verteously brought up,
knew how to make him so good answer to cutte of
his amorous affections, as he had no lust after that
time to return any more, and shewed hir self so
austere and sharp of speach, as she vouchsafed not
with one loke to beholde him. But the more the
yong Gentleman saw hir whist and silent, the more
he was inflamed ; and after hee had continued
certaine months in that service wythout remedy of his ./
griefe, he determined in the end to depart Verona,
208 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
for proofe if by change of the place he might alter his
affection, and sayd to himself: "What doe I meane
to love one that is so unkinde, and thus doeth dis-
daine me. I am all hir owne, and yet she flieth from
me. I can no longer live, except hir presence I doe
enjoy : and she hath no contented minde, but when
she is furthest from me. I wil then from henceforth
estraunge my selfe from hir, for it may so come to
passe by not beholding hir, that thys fire in me which
taketh increase and nourishment by hir faire eyes,
by little and little may die and quench." But mind
ing to put in proofe what hee thought, at one instant
hee was reduced to the contrarie, who not know
ing whereuppon to resolve, passed dayes and nights
in marvellous plaintes and Lamentations. For Love
vexed him so neare, and had so well fixed the Gentle
woman's beautie within the Bowels of his heart and
minde, as not able to resist, hee fainted with the
charge, and consumed by little and little as the Snow
against the Sunne. [Whereof his parents, and kin-
red did marvell greatly, bewaylinge his misfortune,
but above all other one of his companions of riper age
and counsell than he, began sharply to rebuke him.
For the love that he bare him was so great as hee felt
his Martirdome, and was partaker of his passion :
which caused him by ofte viewing hys friends dis-
quietnesse in amorous pangs, to say thus unto him :
" Rhomeo, I marvell much that thou spendest the
best time of thine age, in pursute of a thing, from
which thou seest thy self despised and banished,
without respecte either to thy prodigall dispense, to
thine honor, to thy teares, or to thy miserable life,
which be able to move the most constant to pitie.
Wherefore I pray thee for the Love of our ancient
amitie, and for thine health sake, that thou wilt learn
to be thine owne man, and not to alienate thy liberty
to any so ingrate as she is : for so farre as I conjee-
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA, 209
ture by things that are passed betvvene you, either she
is in love with some other, or else determined never
to love any. Thou arte yong, rich in goods and for
tune, and more excellent in beautie than any Gentle
man in this Citie : thou art well learned, and the only
sonne of the house wherof thou commest. What
grief wold it be to thy pore old father and other thy
parents, to see thee so drowned in this dongeon of
vice, specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather
to put them in some hope of thy vertue ? Begin then
from henceforth to acknowledge thine error, wherein
thou hast hitherto lived, doe away that amorous vaile
or coverture which blindeth thine eyes and letteth
thee to folow the right path, wherein thy ancestors
have walked : or else if thou do feele thy. selfe so
subject to thine owne will, yelde thy heart to some
other place, and choose some Mistresse according to
thy worthinesse, and henceforth doe not sow thy
paines in a soil so barrain whereof thou reapest no
frute : the time approcheth when al the dames, of the
Citie shall assemble, where thou maist behold such^
one as shall make thee forget thy former griefs."
This yong Gentleman attentively hearing all the per-
suading reasons of his friend, began somewhat to
moderate that heat and to acknowledge all the exhor
tations which he had made to be directed to good
purpose. And then determined to put them in proofe,
and to be present indifferently at all the feasts and
assemblies of the citie, without bearing affection more
to one woman than to an other. And continued in
this manner of life ii. or iii. monthes, thinking by that
meanes to quench the sparks of auncient flames. ("It
chaunced then within few dayes after, about the feast -
of Christmasse, when feasts and bankets most com
monly be used, and maskes according to the custom e
frequented : And bicanse that Anthonie Capellet was
the chief of that familie, and one of the most princi-
VOL. i. o
210 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
pal Lords of the Citie made a banket, and for the
better solempnization of the same invited all the
noble men and dames, at what time ther was the most
part of the youth of Verona. The family of the
Capellets (as we have declared in the beginning of
this History) was at variance with the Montesches,
which was the cause that none of that family repaired
to that banket, but onely the yong Gentleman
Rhomeo, who came in a Maske after supper with
certain other yong Gentlemen. And after they had
remained a certaine space with their visards on, at
length they did put of the same, and Rhomeo very
shamefast, withdrew himself into a corner of the Hall :
but by reason of the light of the torches which burned
very bright, lie was by and by known and loked upon
of the whole company, but specially of the Ladies :
for bisides his native beautie wherewith nature had
adorned him, they marvelled at his audacitie how he
durst presume to enter so secretly into the house of
those which had litle cause to do him any good.
Notwithstanding, the Capellets dissembling their
malice, either for the honor of the company, or else
for respect of his age, did not misuse him either in
Nkrord or deede : by meanes whereof with free liberty
he behelde and viewed the ladies at his pleasure,
which he did so wel, and with grace so good, as there
was none but did very well like the presence of his
person : and after hee had particularly given judgement
uppon the excellency of each one, according to his
affection} he saw one gentlewoman amongs the rest of
surpassing beautie who (although he had never scene
hir tofore) pleased him above the rest, and attributed
unto hir in heart the chiefest place for all perfection
in beautie. And feastyng hir incessantly with pite
ous lookes, the love which he bare to his first Gentle
woman, was overcomen with this new fire, that tooke
such norishement and vigor in his heart, as he was
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 211
able never to quench the same but by death onely :
as you may understande by one of the strangest dis
courses, that ever any mortal man devised. The yong
Rhomeo then feelyng himselfe thus tossed with this
new tempest, could not tel what countenaunce to use,
but was so surprised and chaunged with these last
flames, as he had almost forgotten himselfe in suche
wise as he had not audacitie to enquire what shee was,
and wholly bent hym selfe to feede his eyes with hir
sighte, wherewyth hee moystened the sweete amorous
venom, which dyd so empoyson him, as hee ended
his dayes with a kynd of moste cruell death.^The
Gentlewoman that dydde put Rhomeo to suche 'p'ayne,
was called Julietta, and was the daughter of Capellet,
the maister of the house where that assemblie was,
who as hir eyes dydde roll and wander too and fro,
by chaunce espied Rhomeo, whiche unto hir seemed
to be the goodliest Gentleman that ever shee sawe.
And Love which lay in wayte never untyl that time,
assailing the tender heart of that yong Gentlewoman,
touched hir so at the quicke, as for any resistance
the coulde make, was not able to defende hys forces,
and then began to set at naught the royalties of the
feast, and felt no pleasure in hir hart, but when she
had a glimpse by throwing or receiving some sight or
looke of Rhomeo. And after they had contented
eche others troubled hart with millions of amorous
lokes whiche oftentymes interchangeably encountered
and met together, the burning beames gave sufficient
testimonie of Loves privie onsettes.
Love having made the heartes breach of those two
lovers, as they two sought meanes to speake together,
Fortune offered them a very meete and apt occasion.
A certain lorde of that troupe and company took
Julietta by the hande to daunce, wherein shee behaved
hir selfe so well, and with so excellent grace, as shee
wanne that daye the price of honour from all the
j 212 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
maidens of Verona. Rhomeo, havyng forseene the
^place whereunto she minded to retire, approched the
''same, and so discretely used the matter, as he found
the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir. Julietta
when the daunce was finished, returned to the very
place where she was set before, and was placed betwene
Rhomeo and an other Gentleman called Mercutio,
which was a courtlike gentleman, very wel beloved of
all men, and by reason of his plesant and curteous
behavior was in all companies wel intertained. Mer
cutio that was of audacitie among maidens, as a lion
is among lambes, seased incontinently upon the hande
of Julietta, whose hands wontedly wer so cold bothe
in winter and sommer as the mountain yce, although
the fire's heat did warme the same. Rhomeo which
sat upon the left side of Julietta, seing that Mercutio
held hir by the right hand, toke hir by the other, that
he might not be deceived of his purpose, and strain -
s ing the same a litle, he felt himself so prest with that
\j newe favor, as he remained mute, not able to aunswer:
But she perceiving by his change of color, that the
fault preceded of very vehement love, desiring to speake
unto him, turned hir selfe towards him, and with
trembling voice joyned with virginal shamefastnesse,
intermedled with a certaine bashfulnesse, sayd to him :
" Blessid be the hour of your nere aproche :" but
minding to proceede in further talke, love had so closed
up hir mouth, as she was not able to end hir tale.
Whereunto the yong gentleman all ravishedttwith
joy and contentation, sighing, asked hir what was the
cause of that right fortunate blessing. Julietta, som-
what more emboldened with pitiful loke and smiling
countenance, said unto him : " Syr, do not marvell if
I do blesse your comming hither, bicause sir Mercutio
a good time with frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine,
and you of your curtesy have warmed the same
again." Whereunto immediatly Rhomeo replied :
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 2IJ
" Madame, if the heavens have bene so favorable to
employ me to do some agreable service being re
paired hither by chaunce amongs other Gentlemen, I
esteeme the same well bestowed, craving no greater
benefite for satisfaction of all my contentations received
in this worlde, than to serve, obey and honor you as long
as my life doth last, as experience shall yeld more ample
proofe when it shall please you to give further assaye.
Moreover, if you have received any heat by touche of
my hand, you may be well assured that those flames
be dead in respect of the lively sparks and violent fire
which sorteth from your faire eyes, which fire hath so
fiercely inflamed all the most sensible parts of my
body, as if I be not succored by the favoure of your
divine graces, I doe attend the time to be consumed
to dust.;' Scarse had he made an end of those last
words, but the daunce of the Torche was at an end.
Whereby Julietta, which wholly burnt with love,
straightly clasping hir hand with his, had no leisure to
make other aunswere, but softly thus to say : " My
deare friend, I know not what other assured witnesse
you desire of Love, but that I let you understand that
you be no more your owne, than I am yours, being
ready and disposed to obey you so farre as honoure
shall permit, beseeching you for the present time to
content your selfe with this answere, untill some other
season meeter to communicate more secretely of our
^affaires/^JRhomeo seeing himself pressed to part
with the companie, and for that hee knewe not by
what meanes hee might see hir againe that was his life
and death, demaunded of one of his friends what she
was, who made answer that she was the daughter of
Capellet, the Lord of the house, and maister of that
dayes feast (who wroth beyond measure that fortune
had sent him to so daungerous a place, thought it
impossible to bring to end .his enterprise begon.)
Julietta covetous on the other side, to know what
214 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
yong Gentleman hee was which had so courteously
intertained hir that night, and of whome she felt the
new wound in hir heart, called an old Gentlewoman
of honor which had nurssed hir and brought hir up, unto
whom she sayd, leaning upon hir shoulder : " Mother,
what two yong Gentlemen be they which goe forth
with two torches before them ? " Unto whome the olde
Gentlewoman told the name of the houses wherof
they came. Then she asked hir againe, What young
gentleman is that which holdeth the visarde in his
hande, with the Damaske cloke about him ? " It is "
(quod she) "Rhomeo Montesche, the sonne of youre
Father's capitall enimy and deadly foe to all your
kinne." But the maiden at the only name of Montesche
was altogether amazed, despairing for ever to attain to
husband hir great affectioned friend Rhomeo, for the
auncient hatreds betwene those two families. Never
theless she knew so wel how to dissemble hir grief
and discontented minde, as the olde Gentlewoman
perceived nothing, who then began to persuade hir
to retire into hir chamber : whome she obeyed : and
being in hir bed, thinking to take hir wonted rest, a
great tempest of divers thoughts began to environ and
trouble hir minde, in such wise as she was not able to
close hir eyes, but turning here and there, fantasied
divers things in hir thought, sometimes purposed to
cut of the whole attempt of that amorous practise,
sometimes to continue the same. Thus was the poore
pucell vexed with two contraries, the one comforted
hir to pursue hir intent, the other proposed |he
imminent perill wherunto undiscretely she headlong
threw hir self: and after she had wandred uf-hmg-
time in this amorous Laberinth, she knew not where
upon to resolve, but wept incessantly, and accused hir
self, saying: "Ah, Caitife and miserable creature,
from whence doe rise these unaccustomed travailes
which I feele in minde, provoking me to loose my
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 215
rest : but infortunate wretch, what doe I know if that
yong Gentleman doe love me as hee sayeth. It may
be under the vaile of sugred woords hee goeth about
to steale away mine honoure, to be revenged of my
Parents which have offended his, and by that meanes
to my everlasting reproche to make the fable of the
Verona people." „-
Afterwards sodainly as she condempned that which
she suspected in the beginning, sayd : " Is it possible
that under such beauty and rare comelinessse, dis-
loyalie and treason may have their siedge and lodg
ing ? If it be true that the face is the faithfull
messanger of the mindes conceit, I may be assured
that hee doeth love me : for I marked so many
chaunged coloures in his face in time of his talke with
me, and sawe him so transported and besides him
self, as I cannot wishe any other more certaine
lucke of love, wherin I will persist immutable to
the last gaspe of life, to the intent I may have
him to be my husband. For it may so come
to passe, as this newe alliance shall engender a
perpetuall peace and amitie betwene his house and
mine." Aresting then upon this determination still,
as she saw Rhomeo passing before hir father's gate,
she shewed hir self with merry countenance, and fol
lowed him so with looke of eye, untill she had lost his
sight. And continuing this manner of life for certaine
dayes, Rhomeo not able to content himself with lookes,
daily did beholde and marke the situation of the
house, and one day amongs others hee espied Julietta
at hir chamber window, bounding upon a narrow lane,
right over against which Chamber he had a gardeine,
which was the cause that Rhomeo fearing discovery
of their love, began then in the day time to passe no
more before the gate, but so soone as the night with
his browne mantell had covered the earth, he walked
alone up and doivne that little street. And after he
2l6 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
had bene there many times, missing the chiefest cause
ofhiscomming, Julietta impacient ofhir evill,one night
repaired to hir window, and perceived through the
brigh tnesse of the Moone her friend Rhomeo hard under
hir window, no lesse attended for, than he himselfe was
waighting. Then she secretely with teares in hir eyes,
and with voyce interrupted by sighes, sayd : " Sig-
nior Rhomeo, me thinke that you hazarde your per-
sone to much, and commit the same into great danger
at this time of the night, to protrude your self to the
mercy of them which meane you little good. Who if
they had taken you, would have cut you in pieces,
and mine honor (which I esteeme dearer than my life),
hindered and suspected for ever." "Madame," an
swered Rhomeo, "my life is in the hand of God, who
only can dispose the same : howbeit if any man had
sought meanes to berieve me of life, I should (in the
presence of you) have made him known what mine
abilitie had bene to defend the same. Notwithstand
ing life is not so deare, and of such estimation unto
me, but that I could vouchsafe to sacrifice the same
for your sake : and although my mishap had ben so
great, as to be dispatched in that place, yet had I no
cause to be sorry therefore, excepte it had bene by
loosing of means, the same to forgoe, the way how to
make you understand the good will and duety which
I beare you : desiring not to conserve the same for
any commoditie that I hope to have therby, nor for
any other respect, but only to love, serve, and honor
you, so long as breath shal remaine in me." So
soone as he had made an end of his talke, love and pitie
began to sease upon the heart of Julietta, and lean
ing hir head upon hir hand, having hir face all be
sprent with teares, she said unto Rhomeo : " Syr
Rhomeo, I pray you not to renue that grief againe :
for the only memory of such inconvenience, maketh
me to counterpoise betwene death and life, my heart
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 217
being so united with yours, as you cannot receive the
least injury in this world, wherin I shall not be so great
a partaker as your self: beseeching you for conclu
sion, that if you desire your owne health and mind,
to declare unto me in fewe wordes what youre deter
mination is to attaine : for if you covet any other
secrete thing at my handes, more than myne honour
can well allow, you are marvelously deceived : but if
your desire be godly, and that the friendship which
you protest to beare me be founded uppon vertue,
and to be concluded by mariage, receiving me for
your wyfe and lawfull spouse, you shall have such
part in me, as whereof without any regard to the
obedience and reverence that I owe to my parentes,
or to the auncient enimitie of our families, I will make
you the onely Lord and maister over me, and of all
things that I possesse, beyng prest and readie in all
points to folowe your commaundment : but if your
intent be otherwise, and thinke to reape the fruit of
my virginitie, under the pretense of wanton amitie,
you be greately deceived, and doepraye you to avoide
and suffer me from henceforth to live in rest amongs
mine equals." Rhomeo which looked for none other
thing, holding up his handes to the heavens, with
incredible joy and contentation, answered : " Madame,
for so much as it hath pleased you to do me that
honour to accept me for such a one, I accorde and
consente to your request, and do offer unto you
the best part of my heart, which shall remaine with
you for guage and sure testimonie of my saying, untill
such time as God shall give me leave to make you the
entier owner and possessor of the same. And to
the intent I may begyn mine enterprise, to morrow
I wil to frier Laurence for counsell in the same,
who besides that he is my ghostly Father, is accus
tomed to give me instruction in all my other secrete
affaires, and fayle not (if you please) to meete me
2l8 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
againe in this place at this very hour, to the intent
I may give you to understande the' devise betwene
him and me," which she liked very wel, and ended
their talk for that time. Rhomeo receiving none
other favour at hir hands for that night, but only
words. This frier Laurence, of whom hereafter we
shal make more ample mention, was an auncient
Doctor of Divinity, of the order of the friers Minors,
who besides the happy profession which he had made
in studie of holie writ, was very skilful in Philosophy,
£nd a great searcher of nature secrets, and exceeding
famous in Magike knowledge, and other hidden and
secret sciences, which nothing diminished his reputa
tion, bicause hee did not abuse the same. And this
Frier through his vertue and piety, had so wel won
the citizens hearts of Verona, as he was almost the
confessor to them all, and of al men generally rever
enced and beloved : and many tymes for his great
prudence was called by the lordes of the Citie, to the
weightie causes of the same. And amonges other he
was greatly favored by the lord of Escale, that time
the principal governor of Verona, and of al the familie
of Montesches, and of the Capellets, and of many
other. The yong Rhomeo (as we have alredy de
clared) from his tender age, bare a certein particle
amitie to frier Laurence, and departed to him his
secrets, by meanes wherof so soone as he was gone
from Julietta, went straight to the Friers Franciscans,
wher from point to point he discoursed the successe
of his love to that good father, and the conclusion of
the mariage betwene him and Julietta, adding upon
the end of talk, that hee wold rather choose shameful
death, than to faile hir of his promise. To whom the
good Frier after he had debated divers matters, and
proposed al the inconveniences of that secrete mar
iage, exhorted hym to more mature deliberation of the
same : notwithstanding, all the alleged persuasions
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 2 19
wer not able to revoke his promise. Wherfore the
Frier vanquished with his stubbornesse, and also fore
casting in his minde that the manage might be some
meanes of reconciliation of those two houses, in the
end agreed to his request, intreating him, that he
might have one delayed day for leysure to excogitate
what was beste to be done. But if Rhomeo for his
part was carefull to provide for his affaires, Julietta
likewise did her indevor. For seing that she had
none about hir to discover hir passions, she devised
to impart the whole to hir nurse which laye in hir</
chambre, appointed to waite upon hir, to whome she
committed the intier secrets of the love betwene
Rhomeo and hir. And although the old woman in
the beginning resisted Julietta hir intent, yet in the
ende she knewe so wel how to persuade and win hir,
that she promised in all that she was able to do, to
be at her commandement. And then she sent hir
with al diligence to speake to Rhomeo, and to know
of him by what meanes they might be maried, and
that he would do hir to understand the determination
betwene frier Laurence and him. Whom Rhomeo
answered, how the first day wherin he had informed
frier Laurence of the matter, the said frier deferred
answer until the next, which was the very same, and
that it was not past one houre sithens he returned
with final resolution, and that frier Laurence and he
had devised, that she the Saterday folowing, should
desire leave of hir mother to go to confession, and to /,
repaire to the church of Saint Francis, where in a / /
certain chapel secretly they shold be maried, praying v
hir in any wise not to faile to be there. Which thing
she brought to passe with such discretion, as hir
mother agreed to hir request : and accompanied onely
with hir governesse, and a yong mayden, she repaired
thither at the determined day and time. And so soone
as she was entred the church, called for the good
220 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
Doctor frier Laurence, unto whom answere was made
that he was in the shriving chapel, and forthwith ad
vertisement was given him of hir comming. So soon
as frier Laurence was certified of Julietta, he went into
the body of the church, and willed the old woman and
yong maiden to go heare service, and that when he
had hearde the confession of Julietta, he would send
for them again to waite upon hir. Julietta being
entred a litle cell with frier Laurence, he shutte fast
the doore as he was wont to do, where Rhomeo and
he had bene together shut fast in, the space of one
whole houre before. Then frier Laurence, after that
hee had shrived them, sayde to Julietta : " Daughter,
as Rhorneo here present hath certified me, you be
agreed and contented to take him to husband, and he
likewise you for his espouse and wife. Do you now
still persist and continue in that minde?" The lovers
answered that they desired none other thing. The
Frier seeyng their conformed and agreeable willes,
after he had discoursed somewhat upon the com
mendation of manage dignitie, pronounced the usuall
woordes of the Church, and she having received the
ryng from Rhomeo, they rose up before the Frier,
who sayd unto them : " If you have any other
thing to conferre together, do the same with spede :
for I purpose that Rhomeo shall go from hence so
secretely as he can." Rhomeo sorie to go from
Julietta sayd secretly unto hir, that she should send
unto him after diner the olde woman, and that he
woulde cause to be made a corded ladder the same
evening, thereby to climbe up to hir chamber window,
where at more leysure they would devise of their affaires.
Things determined betwene them, either of them
retired to their house with incredible contentation,
attendyng the happie houre for consummation of
their manage. When Rhomeo was come home to
his house, he declared wholly what had passed betwene
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 221 ^
-?««-
him and Julietta, unto a servant of his called Pietro,
whose fidelitie he had so greatly tryed, as he durst -
have trusted him with his life, and commaunded him
with expedition to provide a ladder of cordes with ii. .
strong hookes of iron fastned to both ends, which he
easily did, bicause they were much used in Italic.
Julietta did not forget in the evening about five of
the clocke, to sende the old woman to Rhomeo, who
having prepared all things necessary, caused the
ladder to be delivered unto hir, and prayed hir to
require Julietta the same evening not to faile to be
at the accustomed place. But if this jorney seemed
long to these passioned lovers, let other judge, that
have at other times assayed the like : for every minute
of an houre seemed to them a thousand years, so
that if they had power to commaunde the heavens (as
Josua did the Sunne) the earth had incontinently
bene shadowed wyth darkest cloudes. The ap- J
pointed houre come, Rhomeo put on the moste sump
tuous apparell he had, and conducted by good fortune
neere to the place where his heart toke life, was so
fully determined of his purpose, as easily hee clymed
up the garden wall. Being arrived hard to the
window, he perceived Julietta, who had already so
wel fastned the corded ladder to draw him up, as
without any daunger at all he entred hir chambre,.
which was so clere as the day, by reson of the tapers
of virgin wax, which Julietta had caused to be lighted
that she myght the better beholde hir Rhomeo.
Julietta for hir part was but in hir night kerchief: who
so soone as she perceived him colled him about the
neck, and after she had kissed and re-kissed hym a
million of times, began to imbrace hym betweene hir
armes, having no power to speke unto him, but by
sighes onely, holding hir mouth close against his, and
being in* this traunce beheld him with pitiful eye,
whiche made him to live and die together. And
222 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
"W
afterwardes somewhat come to hir selfe, she sayd with
sighes depely fetched from the bottom of hir heart :
" Ah Rhomeo, the exampler of al vertue and gentle-
nesse, you be most hartely welcome to this place,
wherin for your lacke and absence, and for feare of
your persone, I have gushed forth so many teares as
the spryng is almost dry : but nowe that I holde you
betweene my armes, let death and fortune doe what
they list, for I count my selfe more than satisfied of
all my sorrowes past, by the favour alone of your pre-
* sence:" whom Rhomeo with weping eye, giving
over silence answered : " Madame, forsomuch as I
never received so much of fortunes grace, as to make
you feele by lively experience what power you had
over me, and the torment every minute of the day
sustained for your occasion, I do assure you the least
that vexeth me for your absence, is a thousand times
more painful than death, which long time or this had
cut off the threede of my life, if the hope of this happy
journey had not bene, which paying me now the
just tribute of my weepings past, maketh me better
content and more glad, than if the whole world were
at my commaundement, beseeching you (without
further memory of ancient grief) to take advise in
time to come how we may content our passionate
hearts, and to sort our affaires with such wisedome
and discretion, as our enimies without advantage
may let us continue the remnant of our dayes in rest
and quiet." And as Julietta was about to make
answer, the olde woman came in the mean time, and
sayd unto them : " He that wasteth time in talke, re-
covereth the same to late. But for so much as either
of you hath endured such mutuall paines, behold
(quoth she) a campe which I have made ready"
(shewing them the field bed which she had prepared
and furnished,) wherunto they easily agreed, and
being then betwene the sheetes in privy bed, after
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 22$
they had gladded and cherished themselves with al
kinde of delicate embracementes which love was
able to devise, Rhomeo unloosing the holy lines
of virginity, tooke possession of the place, which
was not yet besieged with such joy and conten-
tation as they can judge which have assayed such
delities. Their mariage thus consumate, Rhomeo
perceiving the morning make too hastie approach,
tooke his leave, making promise that he would not
faile within a day or two to resort againe to the place
by like meanes and semblable time, untill Fortune
had provided sure occasion unfearfully to manifest
their mariage to the whole worlde. And thus a month
or twaine, they continued their joyful mindes, to their
incredible satisfaction, until Lady Fortune, envious of
their prosperitie, turned hir wheele to tumble them
into sutch a bottomlesse pit, as they payed hir usury
for their plesures past, by a certain most cruell and
pitiful death, as you shall understand heereafter by
the discourse that foloweth. Now as we have before
declared, the Capellets and the Montesches were not
so wel reconciled by the Lord of Verona, but that
there rested in them such sparkes of ancient dis
pleasures, as either partes waited but for some light
occasion to draw togithers, which they did in the Easter
holy dayes, (as bloudy men commonly be most will
ingly disposed after a good time to commit some
nefarious deede) besides the gate of Boursarie leading
to the olde castell of Verona, a troupe of the Capellets
rencountred with certain of the Montesches, and
without other woordes began to set upon them. And
the Capellets had for chief of their glorious enterprise
one called Thibault cosin Germaine to Julietta, a
yong man strongly made, and of good experience in
armes, who exhorted his Companions with stout
stomakes to represse the boldnesse of the Montesches,
that there should from that time forth no memory of
224 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
them be left at all. And the rumoure of this fray was
increased throughoute all the corners of Verona, that
succour should come from all partes of the Cittie to
departe the same. Whereof Rhomeo advertized, who
walked alonges the Citie with certaine of his com
panions, hasted him spedily to the place where the
slaughter of his Parentes and alies were committed :
and after he had well advised and beholden many
wounded and hurt on both sides, he sayd to his com
panions : " My friends, let us part them, for they be
so flesht one upon an other, as they wil all be hewed
to pieces before the game be done." And saying so,
he thrust himself amids the troupe, and did no more
but part the blowes on either side, crying upon them
aloud : " My friends, no more, it is time henceforth
that our quarel cease. For bisides the provocation
of Gods just wrath, our two families be slaunderous
to the whole world, and cause this common wealth to
grow unto disorder." But they were so egre and
furious one against the other, as they gave no audience
to Rhomeo his councel, and bent themselves to kill,
dismember and teare eche other in pieces. And the
fight was so cruell and outragious betwene them, as
they which looked on were amased to see them
endure those blowes, for the ground was al covered
with armes, legges, thighs, and blond, wherein no signe
of cowardnesse appeared, and maintained their fighte
so long, that none was able to judge who had the
better, untill that Thibault cousin to Julietta, inflamed
with ire and rage, turned towards Rhomeo, thinking
with a foine to run him through. But he was so well
armed and defended with a privie coate which he
wore ordinarily for the doubt hee had of the Capellets,
as the pricke rebounded : unto whom Rhomeo made
answer : " Thibault, thou maiest know by the pacience
which I have had untill this present time, that I came
not hither to fight with thee or thine, but to seeke
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 22$
peace and attonement betwene us, and if thou thinkest
that for default of corage I have failed min endevor,
thou doest great wrong to my reputation. And impute
this my suffrance to some other perticular respect,
rather than to want of stomake. Wherfore abuse me
not but be content with this great effusion of bloud
and murders already committed, and provoke me not
I beseeche thee to pass the bounds of my good wil
and mind." "Ah Traitor," sayde Thibault, "thou
thinkest to save thy selfe by the plot of thy pleasant
tong, but see that thou defend thy selfe, else presently
I will make thee feele that thy tong shall not garde thy
corpse, nor yet be the buckler to defend the same from
present death." And saying so, he gave him a blowe
with such furie, as had not other warded the same, he
had cut of his head from his shoulders. And the one
was no readier to lend, but the other incontinently was
able to pay againe, for he being not only wroth with
the blow that he had received, but offended with the
injurie which the other had done, began to. pursue his
enimie with such courage and vivacitie, as the third
blow with his sweard he caused him to fall backe-
warde starke deade upon the ground with a pricke
vehemently thrust into his throte, which he fol
lowed till his sweard appeard through the hinder parte
of the same, by reason whereof the conflict ceased.
For bisides that Thibault was the chief of his companie
he was also borne of one of the Noblest houses within
the Citie, which caused the potestate to assemble his
Soldiers with diligence for the apprehension and im
prisonment of Rhomeo, who seeing yl fortune at hand,
in secrete wise conveyed himself to frier Laurence at
the Friers Franciscanes. And the Frier understanding
of his facte, kept him in a certaine secrete place of his
Convent until Fortune did otherwise provide for his
safe going' abroad. The brute spred throughout the
Citie, of this chaunce don upon the Lord Thibault,
VOL. i. p
226 RHOMEO AND yULIETTA.
the Capellets in mourning weedes caused the dead
body to be carried before the signiory of Verona, so
well to move them to pitie as to demaund justice for
the murder : before whome came also the Montesches,
declaring the innocencie of Rhomeo, and the wilful
assault of the other. The Counsel assembled and
witnesses heard on both parts, a straight commaunde-
ment was given by the Lord of the Citie to give over
their weapons, and touching the offense of Rhomeo,
bicause he had killed the other in his owne defense,
he was banished Verona for ever. This common mis
fortune published throughout the Citie, was generally
sorowed and lamented. Some complained the death
of the Lord Thibault, so well for his dexteritie in
armes, as for the hope of his great good service in
time to come, if he had not bene prevented by such
cruell death. Other bewailed (specially the Ladies
and Gentlewomen) the overthrow of yong Rhomeo,
who bisides his beautie and good grace wherwith he
was enriched, had a certaine naturall allurement, by
vertue whereof he drew unto him the hearts of eche
man, like as the stony Adamant doth the cancred iron,
in such wise as the whole nation and people of
Verona lamented his mischance : but above al, in-
fortunate Julietta, who advertised both of the death
of hir cousin Thibault, and of the banishment of hir
husband, made the aire sound with infinite numbre of
mornefull plaints and miserable lamentations. Then
feeling herself to much outraged with extreme passion,
she went into hir chamber, and overcome with sorow
threw hir self upon hir bed, where she began to rein
force hir dolor after so strange fashion, as the most
constant would have bene moved to pitie. Then like
one out of hir wittes, she gazed heere and there, and
by Fortune beholding the window whereat Rhomeo
was wont to enter into hir chamber, cried out : " Oh
unhappy windowe, Oh entry most unlucky, wherein
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 227
were woven the bitter toyle of my former misschaps,
if by thy meanes I have received at other times some
light pleasure or transitorie contentation, thou now
makest me pay a tribute so rigorous and painefull, as
my tender body not able any longer to support the
same, shall henceforth open the gate to that life where
the ghost discharged from this mortall burden, shall
seeke in some place else more assured rest. Ah
Rhomeo, Rhomeo, when acquaintance first began
betweene us, and I reclined mine eares unto thy
suborned premisses, confirmed with so many othes, I
wold never have beleived that in place of our con
tinued amitie, and in appeasing of the hatred of our
houses, thou wouldest have sought occasion to breake
the same byan acte so vituperious and shamefull, where
by thy fame shall be spotted for ever, and I miserable
wretch desolate of spouse and companion. But if
thou haddest bene so greadie after the Capellets bloud,
wherefore didst thou spare the deare bloud of mine
owne heart when so many times, and in such secrete
place, the same was at the mercie of thy cruell handes ?
The victorie which thou shouldest have gotten over
me, had it not bene glorious inough for thine ambiti
ous mind, but for more triumphant solempnitie to be
crowned with the bloud of my dearest kinsman ? Now
get thee hence therefore into some other place to
deceive some other, so unhappy as my selfe^ Never
come again e in place where I am, for no excuse shall
heereafter take holde to asswage mine offended minde.
In the meane time I shall lament the rest of my heavie
life, with such store of teares, as my body dried up
from all humiditie, shall shortly search reliefe in earth."
And having made an ende of those hir words, hir
heart was so grievously strained, as she could neither
weepe nor speake, and stoode so immoveable, as if
she had bene in a traunce. Then being somewhat
come againe unto hir self, with feeble voyce she sayde :
^228 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
" Ah murderous tong of other mennes honor, hower
darest thou so infamously to speake of him whome
his very enimies doe commend and praise? How
presumest thou to impute the blame upon Rhomeo,
whose ungiltinesse and innocent deede every man
alloweth ? Where from henceforth shall be his re
fuge? sith she whiche ought to be the only bul-
warke, and assured rampire of his distresse, doth
pursue and defame him? Receive, receive then
Rhomeo the satisfaction of mine ingratitude by the
sacrifice which I shal make of my proper life, and so
the fault which I have committed against thy loyaltie,
shalbe made open to the world, thou being revenged
and my self punished." And thinking to use some
further -talke, all the powers of hir body failed hir
with signes of present death. But the good olde
woman which could not imagine the cause of Julietta
hir long absence, doubted very much that she suffred
some passion, and sought hir up and downe in every
place within hir fathers palace, untill at length she
ifound her lying a long upon hir bed, all the outward
parts of hir body so colde as Marble. But the good
olde woman which thought hir to be dead, began to
cry like one out of hir wittes, saying : " Ah deare
.daughter, and noursechilde, how much doeth thy
deathe now grieve me at the very heart ?" And as
she was feeling all the partes of hir body, she per
ceived some sparke of life to be yet within the same,
whych caused hir to call hir many times by her name,
till at length she brought her out of hir sounde.
Then she sayd unto her : " Why Julietta, myne own
deare darling, what meane you by this turmoiling of
your self? I cannot tel from whence this your be
havior and that immoderate heavinesse doe precede,
but wel I wote that within this houre I thought to
have accompanied you to the grave." "Alas good
mother " (aunswered wofull Julietta) " doe you not
22QU
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 2 29
most evidently perceive and see what juste cause I
have to sorrow and complaine, losing at one instant
two persons of the worlde which were unto me moste
cleare?" " Methinke," answeared the good woman,
" that it is not semely for a Gentlewoman of your
degree to fall into such extremetie : for in time of
tribulation wisdome shoulde most prevaile. And if
the Lord Thibault be dead, do you thinke to get hym
againe by teares ? What is he that doth not accuse
his overmuch presumption ? would you that Rhomeo
had done that wrong to him, and his house, to surfer
himselfe outraged and assailed by one, to whome in
manhode and prowesse he is not inferiour ? Suffiseth
you that Rhomeo is alive, and his affaires in such
estate who in time may be called home again from
banishment, for he is a great lorde, and as you know
wel allied and favored of all men, wherfore arme your
self from henceforth with pacience. For albeit that
Fortune doth estraunge him from you for a time, yet
sure I am, that hereafter shee will restore him unto
you againe with greater joye and contentation than
before. And to the end that we be better assured in
what state he is, if you will promise me to give over
your heaviness, I will to-day know of frier Laurence
whether he is gone." To whiche request Julietta
agreed, and then the good woman repaired to St
Frauncis, where she found frier Laurence, who told
hir that the same night Rhomeo would not fail at his
accustomed houre to visit Julietta, and there to do hir
to understand what he purposed to doe in time to
come. This jorney then fared like the voyages of
mariners, who after they had ben tost by great and
troublous tempest, seeing some Sunne beanie pierce
the heavens to lighten the land, assure themselves
agayne, and thynkyng to have avoyded shipwracke,
and sodainly the seas begin to swell, the waves do
roare, with such vehemence and noyse, as if they were
230 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
fallen againe into greater datmger than before. The
assigned houre come, Rhomeo fayled not according to
his promise to bee in his Garden, where he found his
furniture prest to mount the chamber of Julietta, who
with displayed armes, began so straightly to imbrace
hym, as it seemed that the soule woulde have aban
doned hir body. And they two more than a large
quarter of an houre were in such agonie, as they were
not able to pronounce one worde, and wettyng cache
others face faste closed together, the teares trickeled
downein suche abundaunce, as they seemed to bee thor-
oughlye bathed therein. Whiche Rhomeo perceyving,
and thynkyng to staye those immoderate teares, sayde
unto hir : " Myne owne dearest friende Julietta, I am
not nowe determined to recite the particulars of the
straunge happes of frayle and inconstaunte Fortune,
who in a momente hoystethe a man up to the hyghest
degree of hir wheele, and by and by, in lesse space
than in the twynckelying of an eye, shee throweth hym
downe agayne so lowe, as more miserie is prepared for
him in one day, than favour in one hundred yeares :
whyche I now prove, and have experience in my selfe,
whiche have bene nourished delicately amonges my
friends, and mainteyned in suche prosperous state,
as you doe little knowe, (hoping for the full per
fection of my felicitie) by meanes of oure maryage
to have reconciled oure parentes, and friendes, and
to conducte the residue of my lyfe, accordyng to
the scope and lot determined by Almighty God :
and neverthelesse all myne enterprises be put backe,
and my purposes tourned cleaTne contrarye, in suche
wyse as from henceforthe I muste wander lyke a
vagabonde through dy verse Provinces, and sequestrate
my selfe from my friendes, withoute assured place of
myne abode, whych I desyre to lette you wete, to the
intente you maye be exhorted, in tyme to come,
pacientely to beare so well myne absence, as that
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 231
whych it shall please God to appointed But Julietta,
al affrighted wjth teares and mortall agonies, woulde
not suffer him to passe any further, but interruptyng
hys purpose, sayde unto hym : " Rhomeo, howe canst
thou bee so harde hearted and voyde of all pitie, to
leave mee heere alone, besieged with so many deadly
myseries ? There is neyther houre nor Minute,
wherein Death dothe not appeare a thousand tymes
before mee : and yet my missehappe is suche, as I
can not dye, and therefore doe manyfestely perceyve,
that the same Deathe preserveth my lyfe, of purpose
to delyghte in my griefes, and triumphe over my evyls.
And thou lyke the mynister and tyrant of hir crueltie,
doest make no conscience (for oughte that I can see)
havyinge atchieved the summe of thy desyres and
pleasures on me, to abandon and forsake me.
Whereby I well perceyve, that all the lavves of Amitie
are deade and utterly extinguished, for so muche as
hee in whome I hadde greatest hope and confidence,
and for whose sake I am become an enimie to my
self, doth disdaine and contemne me. No, no,
Rhomeo, thou must fully resolve thy selfe upon one
of these ii. points, either to see me incontinently ^
throwen down hedlong from this high window after
thee : or else to suffer me to accompanie thee into
that countrey or place whither Fortune shall guide *"
thee : for my heart is so muche transformed into
thine, that so soone as I shall understande of thy
departure, presently my lyfe will depart this wofull
body : the continuance wherof I doe not desire for
any other purpose, but only to delight my selfe in
thy presence, and to be partaker of thy missefortunes.
And therefore if ever there lodged any pitie in the
hearte of Gentleman, I beseeche thee Rhomeo with
al humilitie, that it may now fynd place in thee, and
that thou wilt vouchsafe to receive me for thy servant,
and the faithful companion of thy myshaps. And if
232 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
thou thinke that thou canst not conveniently receive
me in the estate and habite of a wife, who shall let
me to chaunge myne apparell ? Shall I be the first
that have used like shiftes, to escape the tirannie of
parentes ? Dost thou doubt that my service will not
bee so good unto thee as that of Petre thy servaunt?
Wyll my loialtie and fidelitie be lesse than his ? My
beautie which at other tymes thou hast so greately
commended, it is not esteemed of thee ?. My teares,
my love, and the auncient pleasures and delights that
you have taken in me shall they be in oblivion ? "
Rhomeo seeing hir in these alterations, fearing that
worsse inconvenience would chaunce, tooke hir
againe betweene his armes, and kissyng hir amor
ously, sayd : "Julietta, the onely mistresse of my
heart, I pray thee in the name of God, and for the
fervent love which thou bearest unto me, to extirpate
and do away those vaine cogitations, except thou
meane to seeke and hazard the destruction of us both :
for if thou persever in this determination, there is no
remedie but we must both perish : for so soon as thine
absence shalbe knowne, thy father will make such
ernest pursute after us, that we cannot choose but be
discried and taken, and in the ende cruelly punished,
I as a theefe and stealer of thee, and thou as a dis
obedient daughter to thy father : and so in stead vof
pleasant and quiet life, our dayes shalbe abridged by
most shameful death. But if thou wilt recline thy
selfe to reason, (the right rule of humane life), and
for the time abandon our mutual delights, I will take
v . such order in the time of my banishment, as within
M iij. or iiij. months without any delay, I shalbe revoked
home again. But if it fall out otherwise (as I trust
not), how so ever it happen, I wil come againe unto
thee, and with the helpe of my friends wil fetch thee
from Verona by strong hand, not in counterfeit ap
parell as a stranger, but like my spouse and perpetuall
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. m 233
companion. In the meane time quiet your self, and
be sure that nothing else but death shal devide and
put us asunder." The reasons of Rhomeo so much
prevailed with Julietta, as she made him this answer :
" My deare friend, I will doe nothing contrary to your
will and pleasure. And to what place so ever you
repair, my heart shall be your owne, in like sorte as
you have given yours to be mine. In the meane
while I pray you not to faile oftentimes to advertise
me by frier Laurence, in what state your affairs be,
and specially of the place of your abode." Thus these
two pore lovers passed the night togither, untill the
day began to appeare, which did separate them, to their
extreame sorow and grief. Rhomeo having taken leave
of Julietta, went to S. Fraunces, and after he hadde
advertised frier Laurence of his affaires, departed from
Verona in the habit of a Marchaunt straunger, and
used such expedition, as without hurt hee arrived at
Mantoua, (acompanied onely with Petre his servaunt,
whome hee hastely sent backe againe to Verona, to
serve his father) where he tooke a house : and living
in honorable company, assayed certaine months to
put away the griefe which so tormented him. But
during the time of his absence, miserable Julietta
could not so cloke hir sorow, but that through the
evill colore of hir face, hir inwarde passion was dis-
cried. By reason whereof hir mother, who heard hir
oftentymes sighing, and incessantly complaining, could e
not forbeare to say unto hir: " Daughter, if you con
tinue long after this sorte, you will hasten the death
of your good father and me, who love you so dearely
as our owne lives : wherefore henceforth moderate
your heavinesse, and endevor your self to be mery :
thinke no more upon the death of your cosin Thibault,
whome (sith it pleased God to call away) do you
thinke to revoke with teares, and to withstand his
almighty will ? " But the pore Gentlewoman not able
234 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
to dissemble hir grief, sayd unto hir : " Madame, long
time it is sithens the last teares for Thibault wer
poured forth, and I beleve that the fountaine is so
well soked and dried up, as no more will spring in
that place." The mother which coulde not tell to
what effect those woords were spoken held hir peace,
for feare she should trouble hir daughter : and cer
tain e dayes after seeing hir to continue in heavinesse
and continuall griefs, assayed by all meanes possible
to know, as well of hir, as of other the housholde
servauntes, the occasion of hir sorow, but all in vaine :
wherwith the pore mother, vexed beyonde measure,
proposed to let the Lorde Antonio hir husband to
understand the case of hir daughter. And upon a
day seeing him at convenient leisure, she sayd unto
him : " My Lord, if you have marked the counten-
aunce of our daughter, and hir kinde of behavior
sithens the death of the Lord Thibault hir cosin, you
shall perceive so straunge mutation in hir, as it will
make you to marvell : for she is not only contented
to foregoe meat, drinke, and sleepe, but she spendeth
hir time in nothing else but in weeping and lamenta
tion, delighting to kepe hir selfe solitarie within hir
chamber, where she tormenteth hir self so outragiously
as if wee take not heede, hir life is to be doubted, and
not able to know the originall of hir paine, the more
difficulte shall be the remedie : for albeit that I have
sought meanes by all extremitie, yet cannot I learne
the cause of hir sicknesse. And where I thought in
the beginning, that it proceeded upon the death of hir
cosin, now I doe manifestly perceive the contrary,
specially when she hir self did assure me that she had
already wept and shed the last teares for him, that
she was minded to do. And uncertaine wherupon to
resolve, I doe thinke verily that she mourneth for
some despite, to see the most part of hir companions
maried, and she yet unprovided, persuading with hir
.
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 235
self (it may be) that we hir parents doe not care for
hir. Wherefore, deare husband, I heartely beseeche
you for our rest and hir quiet, that hereafter ye be
carefull to provide for hir some manage worthy of our
state : " whereunto the Lord Antonio willingly agreed,
saying unto hir : " Wife, I have many times thought
upon that whereof you speake, notwithstanding sith
as yet she is not attained to the age of . xviii. yeares,-<l.
I thought to provide a husband at leisure. Never-
thelesse things being come to these termes, and know
ing that virgins chastitie is a dangerous treasure, I
will be mindful of the same to your contentation, and
she matched in such wise, as she shall thinke the
time hitherto well delayed. In the meane while
mark diligently whither she be in love with any, to
the end that we have not so gret regard to goodes, or
the nobilitie of the house wherein we meane to be
stow hir, as to the life and helth of our daughter, who
is to me so dere as I had rather die a begger without
lands or goods, than to bestow hir upon one which shal
use and intreat hir yll." Certaine dayes after that the
Lord Antonio had bruted the manage of his Daughter,
many Gentlemen were suters, so wel for the excellencie
of her beautie, as for hir great richesse and revenue.
But above all others the aliance of a yong Earle
named Paris, the Counte of Lodronne, liked the Lord
Antonio : unto whome liberally he gave his consent,
and told his wife the party upon whom he did meane
to bestow his daughter. The mother very joy ful
that they had found so honest a Gentleman for
their daughter : caused hir secretly to be called before
hir, doing hir to understand what things had passed
betwene hir father and the Counte Paris, discoursing
unto hir the beauty and good grace of that yong
Counte, the vertues for which he was commended of
al men, joyning therunto for conclusion the great
richesse and favor which he had in the goods of for-
236 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
tune, by means whereof she and hir friends shold live
in eternall honor. But Julietta which had rather to
have bene torn in pieces than agree to that mariage,
answered hir mother with a more than accustomed
stoutnesse : " Madame, I much marvel, and therwithal
am astonned that you being a Lady discreete and
honorable, vvil be so liberal over your daughter as to
commit her to the plesure and wil of an other, before
you do know how hir minde is bent : you may do as
it pleaseth you, but of one thing I do wel assure you,
that if you bring it to passe, it shal be against my will.
And touching the regarde and estimation of Counte
Paris, I shall first loose my life before he shall have
power to touch any part of my body : which being
done, it is you that shall be counted the murderer, by
delivering me into the hands of him, whome I neither,
can, wil, or know which way to love. Wherfore I pray
you to suffer me henceforth thus to live, wythout
taking any further care of me, for so much as my cruell
fortune hath otherwise disposed of me."
The dolorous mother whiche knewe not what judge
ment to fixe upon hir daughters aunswere, like a woman
confused and bisides hir self went to seke the Lorde
Antonio, unto whome without conceyling any part of
hir daughters talke, she did him understand the whole.
The good olde man, offended beyonde measure, com-
maunded her incontinently by force to be brought be
fore him, if of hir own good wil she wold not come.
So soone as she came before hir father, hir eyes ful
of tears, fel downe at his feet, which she bathed with
the luke warm drops that distilled from hir eyes in
great abundance, and thinking to open hir mouth to
crie him mercie, the sobbes and sighes many times
stopt hir speach, that she remained dumbe not able to
frame a worde. But the old man nothing moved with
his daughters teares, sayde unto hir in great rage :
" Come hither thou unkynde and disobedient daughter,
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 237
hast thou already forgotten howe many times thou
hast heard spoken at the table, of the puissance and .
authorytie our aunciente Romane fathers had over their
children ? unto whorne it was not onely lawfull to sell,
guage, and otherwise dispose them (in their necessitie)
at their pleasure, but also whiche is more, they had
absolute power over their death and lyfe ? With what
yrons, with what torments, with what racks would those
good fathers chasten and correct thee if they were
alive againe, to see that ingratitude, misbehavor, and
disobedience which thou usest towards thy father, who
with many prayers and requestes hath provided one of
the greatest lords of this province to be thy husband,
a gentleman of best renoume, and indued with all
kinde of vertues, of whome thou and I be unworthie,
both for the notable masse of goodes and substance
wherwith he is enriched, as also for the honour and
generositie of the house whereof hee is discended,
and yet thou playest the parte of an obstinate and
rebellious childe against thy fathers wil. I take the
omnipotencie of that almightie God to witnesse, whiche
hath vouchsafed to bryng thee forth into this worlde,
that if upon Tuesday nexte thou failest to prepare thy
selfe to be at my castel of Villafranco, where the
Counte Paris purposeth to meete us, and there give
thy consent to that which thy mother and I have
agreed upon, I will not onely deprive thee of my
worldly goodes, but also will make thee espouse and
marie a prison so strayght and sharpe, as a thousande
times thou shalt curse the day and tyme wherin thou
wast borne. Wherfore from henceforth take advise
ment what thou dost, for except the promise be kept
which I have made to the Counte Paris, I will make
thee feele how great the just choler of an offended
father is against a childe unkinde." And without stay
ing for other answer of his daughter, the olde man
departed the chamber, and lefte hir uppon hir knees.
238 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
Julietta knowing the furie of hir father, fearing to in-
curre his indignation, or to provoke his further wrath,
retired for that day into hir chamber, and contrived
the whole nyght more in weeping than sleeping. And
the next morning faining to goe heare service, she
went forth with the woman of hir chamber to the friers,
where she caused father Laurence to be called unto
her, and prayed him to heare hir confession. And
when she was upon hir knees before him, shee began
hir confession with teares, tellyng him the great mis
chief that was prepared for hir, by the manage accorded
betweene hir father and the Counte Paris. And for
conclusion said unto him : " Sir, for so much as
you know that I cannot by Gods law be maried
twice, and that I have but one God, one husbande,
and one faith, I am determined (when I am from
hence) to with these two hands which you see joyned
before you, this day to end my sorowful life, that my
soule may beare witnesse in the heavens, and my
bloode upon the earth, of my faith and Joyaltie pre
served." Then havyng ended hir talke, she looked
about hir, and seemed by her wilde countenaunce, as
though she had devised some sinister purpose.
Wherefore frier Laurence, astonned beyond mesure,
fearing lest she wold have executed that which she
was determined, sayd unto hir : " Mistresse Julietta,
I pray you in the name of God by litle and litle to
moderate youre conceyved griefe, and to content your-
selfe whilest you be here, untill I have provided what
is best for you to do, for before you part from hence,
I wil give you such consolation and remedie for your
afflictions, as you shall remaine satisfied and con
tented." And resolved uppon this goode minde, he
speedily wente out of the Churche unto his chamber,
where he began to consider of many things, his con
science beyng moved to hinder the mariage betwene
the Counte Paris and hir, knowing that by his meanes
RHOMEO AND JULIE7TA. 239
she had espoused an other, and callyng to remem
brance what a dangerous enterprise he had begonne
by committyng hymselfe to the mercie of a symple
damosell, and that if shee failed to be wyse and
secrete, all their doings should be descried, he de
famed, and Rhomeo hir spouse punished. Hee then
after he had well debated upon an infinite numbre of
devises, was in the ende overcome with pitie, and de
termined rather to hazarde his honour, than to suffer
the adulterie of Counte Paris with Jirlietta. And
beyng determined hereupon, opened his closet, and;
takyng a vyoll in hys hande, retourned agayne to
Julietta, whome hee founde lyke one that was in a
traunce, wayhtynge for newes, eyther of lyfe or deathe.
Of whome the good olde father demaunded uppon
what day hir maryage was appointed. " The first
day of that appointment (quoth she) is upon Wednes
day, which is the day ordeined for my consent of
manage accorded betwene my father and Counte .
Paris, but the nuptiall solemnitie is not before the . x. L
day of September." " Wei then" (quod the religious
father) "be of good cheere daughter, for our Lord
God hath opened a way unto me both to deliver you
and Rhomeo from the prepared thraldom. I have
knowne your husband from his cradle, and hee hath
dayly committed unto me the greatest secretes of his
conscience, and I have so dearely loved him again,
as if he had ben mine own sonne. Wherfore my
heart can not abide that any man shold do him wrong
in that specially wherin my counsell may stande him
in stede. And for somuch as you are his wife, I
ought likewyse to love you, and seke meanes to
deliver you from the martyrdome and anguish wher-
wyth I see your heart besieged. Understande then
(good daughter) of a secrete which I purpose to
manifest unto you, and take heede above all things
that you declare it to no living creature, for therein
240 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
consisteth your life and death. Ye be not ignorant
by the common report of the citizens of this Cittie,
and by the same published of me, that I have tra
vailed thorough all the Provinces of the habitable
^ earth, wherby during the continuall time of. xx. yeres,
I have sought no rest for my wearied body, but rather
have mani times protruded the same to the mercy of
brute beasts in the wildernesse, and many times also
to the mercylesse waves of the seas, and to the pitie
of common pirates, together with a thousand other
daungers and shipwracks upon sea and land. So it
is good daughter that all my wandryng voyages have
not bene altogethers unprofitable. For besides the
incredible contentation received ordinarily in mynde,
I have gathered some particular fruit, whereof by the
grace of God you shall shortly feele some experience.
I have proved the secrete properties of stones, of
plants, metals, and other things hidden within the
bowels of the earth, wherewith I am able to helpe my
selfe against the common law of men, when necessity
doth serve : specially in things wherein I know mine
eternall God to be least offended. For as thou
knowest I being approched as it were, even to the
brimme of my grave, and that the time draweth neare
for yelding of mine accompt before the auditor of all
auditors, I ought therefore to have some deepe
knowledge and apprehension of Gods judgement
more than I had when the heat of inconsidered
youth did boyle within my lusty body. Know you
therefore good daughter, that with those graces,
and favors which the heavens prodigally have be
stowed upon me, I have learned and proved
of long time the composition of a certaine
si paaste, which I make of divers soporiferous
simples, which beaten afterwards to poudre,and dronke
with a quantitie of water, within a quarter of an houre
after, bringeth the receiver into such a sleepe, and
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 241
burieth so deeply the senses and other sprites of life,
that the cunningest Phisitian wil judge the party dead :
and besides that it hath a more marvellous effect, for
the person which useth the same feeleth no kinde of
grief, and according to the quantie of the dough, the
pacient remaineth in a sweete slepe, but when the
operation is perfect and done, hee returneth into his
first estate. Now then Julietta receive mine instruc
tion, and put of all feminine affection by taking upon
you a manly stomake, for by the only courage of your
minde consisteth the hap or mishap of your affaires.
Beholde heere I give you a viole which you shal keepe
as your owne propre heart, and the night before your
mariage, or in the morninge before day, you shal fil v
the same up with water, and drink so much as is con
tained therin. And then you shall feele a certain
kind of pleasant sleepe, which incroching by litle and
litle all the parts of your body, wil constrain them in
such wise, as unmoveable they shal remaine : and by not
doing their accustomed dueties, shall loose their naturall
feelings, and you abide in such extasie the space of . xl.
houres at the least, without any beating of poulse or other
perceptible motion, which shall so astonne them that
come to see you, as they will judge you to be dead,
and according to the custome of our Citie you shall be
caried to the churchyard hard by our Church, where
you shall be intombed in the common monument of
the Capellets your ancestors, and in the meane time we
wil send word to Lord Rhomeo by a speciall mes-
sanger of the effect of our devise, who now abideth at
Mantua. And the night folowing I am sure he will
not faile to be heere, then he and I togither will open
the grave, and lift up your body, and after the opera
tion of the pouder is past, he shall convey you
secretely to Mantua, unknowen to all your Parents and
friends. Afterwards (it may be) Time, the mother of
truthe, shall cause concord betwene the offended Citie
VOL. I. Q
242 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
of Verona and Rhomeo. At which time your common
cause may be made open to the generall contentacion
of all your frendes." The words of the good Father
ended, new joy surprised the heart of Julietta, who
was so attentive to his talke as she forgate no one
point of hir lesson. Then she sayde unto him :
" Father, doubt not at all that my heart shall faile in
performance of your commaundement : for were it the
strongest poyson, or moste pestiferous venome, rather
would I thrust it into my body, than to consent to fall
into the hands of him, whome I utterly mislike : with
a right strong reason then may I fortifte my self, and
offer my body to any kind of mortal danger to ap-
proche and draw neare to him, upon whome wholly
dependeth my life and al the contentation I have
in this world." " Go your wayes then my daughter "
(quod the Frier) " the mighty hand of God keepe you,
and his surpassing power defend you, and confirme that
will and good mind of yours, for the accomplishment
of this worke." Julietta departed from frier Laurence,
and returned home to hir fathers pallace about . xi.
of the clock, where she founde hir mother at the gate
attending for hir : and in good devotion demaunded
if she continued stil in hir former follies ? But Julietta
with more gladsome cheere than she was wont to use,
not suffering hir mother to aske againe, sayde unto
hir : " Madame, I come from S. Frauncis Church,
/ where I have taried longer perad venture than my duetie
l/requireth : how be it not without frute and great rest
to my afflicted conscience, by reason of the godly per
suasions of our ghostly father frier Laurence, unto
whom I have made a large declaration of my life.
And chiefly have communicated unto him in confes
sion, that which hath past betwene my Lord my father
and you, upon the mariage of Counte Paris and me.
But the good man hath reconciled me by his holy
words, and commendable exhortations, that where I
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 243
had minde never to marry, now I am well disposed to
obey your pleasure and commaundement. Where
fore, Madame, I beseeche you to recover the favor
and good will of my father, aske pardon in my behalfe,
and say unto him (if it please you) that by obeying
his fatherly request, I am ready to meete the Counte
Paris at Villafranco, and there in your presence to
accept him for my Lord and husband : in assurance
wherof, by your pacience, I meane to repair into
my closet, to make choise of my most pretious
jewels, that I being richly adorned and decked,
may appeare before him more agreeable to his mind
and pleasure." The good mother, rapte with exceed
ing great joy, was not able to answer a word,
but rather made speede to seeke out hir husband
the Lord Antonio, unto whome she reported the
good will of hir daughter, and how by meanes of frier
Laurence hir minde was chaunged. Wherof the good
olde man marvellous joyfull, praised God in heart,
saying : "Wife, this is not the first good turne which
we have received of that holy man, unto whom euery
Citizen of this Common wealth is dearly bound. I
wold to God that I had redeemed . xx. of his years
with the third parte of my goods, so grievous is to me
his extreme olde age." The self same houre the Lord
Antonio went to seeke the Counte Paris, whome he
thought to persuade to goe to Villafranco. But the
Counte tolde him againe, that the charge would be to
great, and that better it were to reserve that cost to
t!ie mariage day, for the better celebration of the
same. Notwithstanding if it were his pleasure, he
would himself goe visite Julietta : and so they went
together. The mother advertised of his comming,
caused hir daughter to make hir self ready, and to\ /
spare no costly jewels for adorning hir beauty against
the Counte's comming, which she bestowed so wel for
garnishing of hir personage, that before the Counte
244 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
parted from the house, she had so stolne away his
heart, as he lived not from that time forth, but upon
meditation of hir beautie, and slacked no time for
acceleration of the mariage day, ceasing not to be
importunate upon father and mother for the ende and
consummation thereof. And thus with joy inoughe
passed forth this day and many others until! the day
before the mariage, against which time the mother of
Julietta did so well provide, that there wanted nothing
to set forth the magnificence and nobilitie of their
house. Villafranca, wherof we have made mention,
was a place of pleasure, where the lorde Antonio was
wont many times to recreate himself a mile or two
from Veronna, there the dynner was prepared, for so
muche as the ordinary solemnitie of necessitie muste
be done at Veronna. Julietta perceiving hir time to
approach, dissembled the matter so well as shee
coulde : and when time forced hir to retire to her
chambre, hir woman wold have waited upon hir, and
have lyen in hir chambre, as hir costume was : But
Julietta sayde unto hir : " Good and faithfull mother,
you know that to morrow is my mariage day, and for
that I would spende the most parte of the night in
prayer, I pray you for this time to let me alone, and
to morrow in the morning about . vi. of the clocke
come to me againe to helpe make mee redie." The
good olde woman willing to follow hir mind, suffred
hir alone, and doubted nothing of that whiche she
did meane to do. Julietta being within hir chambre
having an eawer ful of water standing upon the table
filled the viole which the Frier gave hir : and after
she had made the mixture, she set it by hir bed side,
and went to bed. And being layde, new thoughts
began to assaile hir, with a conceipt of grievous death,
which broughte hir into such case as she coulde not
tell what to doe, but playning incessantly sayd : " Am
not I the most unhappy and desperat creature, that
RHOMEO AND JUL1ETTA. 245
ever was borne of woman ? For me there is nothyng
left in this wretched worlde but mishap, misery, and
mortall woe, my distresse hath brought me to such
extremitie, as to save mine honor and conscience, I
am forced to devoure the drinke wherof I know not
the virtue : but what know I (sayd she) whether the
operation of this pouder will be to soone or to late,
or not correspondent to the due time, and that my
faulte being discovered, I shall remayne a fable to
the people ? What know I moreover, if the serpents
and other venomous and crauling wormes, which
commonly frequent the graves and pittes of the earth,
will hurt me, thinking that I am dead ? But howe
shal I indure the stinche of so many carions and
bones of myne auncestors which rest in the grave, if
by fortune I do awake before Rhomeo and frier
Laurence doe come to help me ? " And as she was
thus plunged in the deepe contemplation of things,
she thought that she sawe a certain e vision or fansie
of her cousin Thibault, in the very same sort as she
sawe him wounded and imbrued wyth blod, and
musyng howe that she must be buried quicke amongs
so many dead carcases and deadly naked bones, hir
tender and delicate body began to shake and tremble,
and her yelowe locks to stare for feare, in such wise
as frighted with terrour a colde sweate beganne to
pierce hir heart and bedew the rest of all hir mem-
bres, in suche wise as she thought that a hundred
thousand deathes did stande about hir, haling her on
every side, and plucking her in pieces, and feelyng that
hir forces diminyshed by litle and litle, fearing that
through to great debilitie she was not able to do hir
enterprise, like a furious and insensate woman, with
out further care, gulped up the water within the viol,
then crossing hirarmes upon hirstomacke, she lost at
that instant all the powers of hir body, and remained in
a traunce. And when the mornyng light began to thrust
246 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
is head out of his Orient, hir chamber woman which
had lockte hir in with the key, did open the doore,
and thinking to awake hir, called hir many times, and
sayde unto hir : " Mistresse, you sleepe to long, the
Counte Paris will come to raise you." The poore olde
woman spake unto the wall, and sang a song unto the
deafe. For if all the horrible and tempestuous soundes
of the worlde had bene canoned forth oute of the
greatest bombardes, and sounded through hir delicate
eares, hir spirits of lyfe were so fast bounde and stopt,
as she by no meanes coulde awake, wherewith the
poore olde woman amazed, began to shake hir by the
armes and handes, which she founde so colde as
marble stone. Then puttyng hir hande unto hirmouthe,
sodainely perceyved that she was deade, for she per-
ceyved no breath in hir. Wherfore lyke a woman
out of hir wyttes, shee ranne to tell hir mother, who
so madde as tigre, bereft of hir faons, hyed hir selfe
into hir daughters chaumber, and in that pitifull state
beholdyng hir daughter, thinking her to be deade,
cried out : "Ah cruell death, which hast ended all my
joye and blisse, use the last scourge of thy wrathful!
ire against me, least by sufferyng me to lyve the rest
of my woeful dayes, my tormente do increase." Then
she began to fetch such straining sighs, as hir heart
dyd seeme to cleave in pieces. And as hir cries be-
ganne to encrease, beholde the father, the Counte
Paris, and a greate troupe of Gentlemen and Ladies,
which were come to honour the feaste, hearing no
soner tell of that which chaunced, were stroke into
such sorrowfull dumpes as he whiche had behelde
their faces would easily have judged that the same
had ben a day of ire and pitie, specially the lord
Antonio, whose heart was frapped with such surpass
ing wo, as neither teare nor word could issue forth,
and knowing not what to doe, streight way sent to
seke the most expert phisitians of the towne, who
RHOMEO AND yULIETTA. 247
after they had inquired of the life past of Julietta,
deemed by common reporte, that melancholic was the
cause of that sodaine death, and then their sorowes
began to renue a freshe. And if ever day was lament
able, piteous, unhappie, and fatall, truely it was that
wherin Julietta hir death was published in Verona :
for shee was so bewailed of great and small, that by
the common plaintes, the Common wealth seemed to
be in daunger, and not without cause : for besides hir
natural beautie (accompanied with many virtues where
with nature had enriched hir) she was else so humble,
wise and debonaire, as for that humilitie and curtesie
she had stollen away the heartes of every wight, and
there was none but did lamente hir misfortune. And
whilest these things were in this lamented state, frier
Laurence with diligence dispatched a Frier of his
Covent, named frier Anselme, whome he trusted as
himselfe, and delivered him a letter written with his
owne hande, commanding him expressly not to gyve
the same to any other but to Rhomeo, wherein was
conteyned the chaunce which had passed betwene
him and Julietta, specially the vertue of the pouder,
and commanded him the nexte ensuing night to speede
himselfe to Verona, for that the operation of the
pouder that time would take ende, and that he should
cary with him back againe to Mantua his beloved
Julietta, in dissembled apparell, untill Fortune had
otherwise provided for them. The frier made such
hast as (too late) he arived at Mantua, within a while
after. And bicause the maner of Italic is, that the
frier travailing abroade oughte to take a companion
of his covent, to doe his affaires within the Citie, the
frier went into his covent, but bicause he was entred
in, it was not lawfull for him to come out againe that
day, for'that certain dayes before, one religious of that
covent, as it was sayd, did die of the plague. Where
fore the magistrates appointed for the healthe and
248 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
visitation of the sicke, commaunded the warden of the
house that no Friers should wander abrode the Citie,
or talke with any citizen, untill they were licensed by
the officers in that behalfe appointed, which was the
cause of the great mishap, which you shal heare here
after. The Frier being in this perplexitie, not able to
goe forth, and not knowing what was contained in the
letter, deferred his jorney for that day. Whilest things
were in this plight, preparation was made at Veronna,
to doe the obsequies of Julietta. There is custome
also (which is common in Italic), to place all the
beste of one lignage and familie in one Tombe,
wherby Julietta was layde in the ordinarie grave of
the Capellettes, in a Churcheyarde, harde by the
Churche of the Friers, where also the Lorde Thibault
was interred.it And hir obsequies honourably done,
every man returned : whereunto Pietro, the servant
of Rhomeo, gave" hys assystance. For as we have
before declared, his mayster sent him backe againe
from Mantua to Veronna, to do his father service,
and to advertise hym of that whiche shoulde chaunce
in his absence there : who seeing the body of Julietta,
inclosed in tombe, thinkyng with the rest that she
had bene dead in deede, incontinently .toke poste
horse, and with diligence rode to Mantua, where he
founde his master in his wonted house, to whome he
sayde, with his eyes full of teares : " Syr, there is
chaunced unto you so straunge a matter, as if so bee
you do not arme your selfe with constancie, I am
afrayde that I shall be the cruell minister of your
death. Be it knowne unto you syr, that yesterday
morning my mistresse Julietta left hir lyfe in this world
to seke rest in an other : and wyth these eyes I saw
hir buried in the Churchyarde of S. Frauncis." At
the sounde of which heavie message, Rhomeo began
wofully to lamente, as though his spirites grieved with
the tormente of his passion at that instant woulde
RHOMEO AND JULIETTA. 249
have abandoned his bodie. But strong Love which
woulde not permitte hym to faint untill the extremitie,
framed a thoughte in his fantasie, that if it were pos
sible for hym to dye besides hir, his death shoulde be
more glorious, and shee (as he thought) better con
tented. By reason whereof, after hee had washed his
face for feare to discover hys sorrow, he went out of
hys chamber, and commaunded hys man to tarrie be
hind hym, that hee might walke through oute all the
corners of the Citie, to fynde propre remedie (if it
were possyble) for hys griefe. And amonges others,
beholdyng an Apoticaries shoppe of lytle furniture
and lesse store of boxes and other thinges requisite
for that science, thought that the verie povertie of the
mayster Apothecarye would make hym wyllyngly yelde
to that whych he pretended to demaunde. And after
hee hadde taken hym aside, secretely he sayd unto
hym : " Syr, if you be the mayster of the house, as I
thynke you be, behold here Fiftie Ducates, whych I
gyve you, to the intent you delyver me some strong
and violent poyson that within a quarter of an houre
is able to procure death unto hym that shall use it."
The couetotis Apothecarie entised by gayne, agreed
to hys request, and fayning to gyve hym some other
medicine before the peoples face, he speedily made
ready a strong and cruel poyson, afterwardes hee sayd
unto hym softely : " Syr, I gyve you more than is
needefull, for the one halfe in an houres space is able
to destroye the strongest marine of the worlde : " who
after he hadde receyved the poyson, retourned home,
where he commaunded his man to departwith diligence
to Veronna, and that he should make provision of
candels, a tynder boxe, and other instrumentes meete
for the openyng of the grave of Julietta, and that above
all things he should not faile to attende hys commyng
besides the Churchyarde of S. Frauncis, and upon
paine of his life to keepe his intente in scilence.
250 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
Which Pietro obeyed in order as his master had com-
maunded hym, and made therin such expedition, as
he arrived in good tyme to Verona, taking order for
all thinges that were commaimded him. Rhomeo in
the mean whyle beyng solicited wyth mortal thoughtes,
caused incke and paper to be broughte unto hym, and
in fewe wordes put in writing all the discourse of his
love, the manage of hym and Julietta, the meane ob
served for consummation of the same, the helpe that
he hadde of Frier Laurence, the buying of his poyson,
and last of all his death. Afterwardes, having finished
his heavie tragedie, hee closed the letters, and sealed
the same with his scale, and directed the Superscrip
tion thereof to hys father :, and puttyng the letters into
his pursse, he mounted on horsebacke, and used such
diligence, that he arrived uppon darke night at the
Citie of Veronna, before the gates were shut, where
he found his servant tarying for him with a Lanterne
and instruments as is beforesayd, meete for the openyng
of the grave, unto whome hee said : " Pietro, helpe
mee to open this Tombe, and so soone as it is open,
I commaunde thee uppon payne of thy lyfe, not to
come neere me, nor to stay me from the thing I pur
pose to doe. Beholde, there is a letter which thou
shalt present to morrow in the morning to my father
at hys uprisyng, which peradventure shall please him
better than thou thynkest." Pietro, not able to ima
gine what was his maisters intent, stode somewhat
aloofe to beholde his maisters gestes and countenance.
And when they hadde opened the vaulte, Rhomeo
descended downe two steppes, holdyng the candell in
his hand and beganne to beholde wyth pitifull eye, the
body of hir, which was the organ of his lyfe, and
washt the same with the teares of his eyes, and
kyst it tenderly, holding it harde betwene his armes,
and not able to satisfie him selfe with her sight,
put his fearefull hartdes uppon the colde stomacke
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 251
of Julietta. And after he had touched her in manye
places, and not able to feel any certain judgemente
of lyfe, he drewe the poyson out of his boxe, and
swalowyng downe a greate quantitie of the same,
cried out : " O Julietta, of whome the worlde was un-
worthie, what death is it possible my hearte coulde
choose out more agreable than that whiche it suffereth
hard by thee? What grave more glorious, than to be
buried in thy tombe ? What more worthie or excel-
lente Epytaph can bee vowed for memorie, than the
mutuall and pitifull sacrifice of our lyves?" And
thinking to renue his sorowe, his hearte began to
frette thorough the violence of the poyson, which by
litle and litle assailed the same, and lookyng aboute \
hym, espyed the bodie of the Lorde Thibault, lying J
nexte unto Julietta, whyche as yet was not al together **~
putrified, and speakyng to the bodye as though it
hadde been alyve, sayde ; " In what place so ever
thou arte (O cousyn Thibault) I most heartily doe
crye thee mercy for the offense whyche I have done
by deprivyng of thy lyfe : and if thy ghost doe wyshe
and crye oute for vengeaunce upon mee, what greater
or more cruell satisfaction canste thou desyre to have,
or henceforth hope for, than to see hym which mur
dered thee, to bee empoysoned wyth hys own handes,
and buryed by thy syde ? " Then endyng hys talk,
feling by litle and litle that his life began to faile,
falling prostrate uppon his knees, with feeble voice ^
hee softly said : " O my Lord God, which to redeeme
me didst descend from the bosome of thy father, and
tokest humane flesh in the wombe of the virgine, I ac
knowledge and confesse, that this body of mine is
nothing else but earth and dust." Then seased upon
with desperate sorow, he fell downe upon the body
of Julietta' with sutch vehemence, as the heart faint and
attenuated with too great torment, not able to beare
so hard a violence, was abandoned of all his sense
252 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
and naturall powers, in such sort as the siege of his
soul failed him at that instant, and his membres
stretched forth, remained stiffe and colde. Frier
Laurence, which knew the certaine time of the pouders
operation, marvelled that he had no answere of the
letter which he sent to Rhomeo by his fellow frier
Anselme, departed from S. Frauncis, and with instru
ments for the purpose, determined to open the grave
to let in air to Julietta, which was ready to wake: and
approaching the place, he espied a light within, which
made him afraid untill that Pietro which was hard by,
had certified him that Rhomeo was within, and had
not ceased there to lament and complaine the space
of half an houre. And when they two were entred
the grave, and rinding Rhomeo without life, made
such sorowe as they can well conceive which love their
deare friend with like perfection. And as they were
making their complaints, Julietta rising out of hir
traunce, and beholding light within the tombe, un-
certaine whether it were a dreame or fantasie that
appeared before hir eyes, comming againe to hir selfe,
knew frier Laurence, unto whom she sayd : "Father,
I pray thee in the name of God to perfourme thy pro
mise, for I am almost deade." And then frier Laur
ence concealing nothing from hir, (because he feared
to be taken through his too long abode in that place)
faithfully rehearsed unto hir, how he had sent frier
Anselme to Rhomeo at Mantua, from whome as yet
he had received no answer. Notwithstanding he found
Rhomeo dead in the grave, whose body he pointed
unto, lying hard by hir, praying hir sith it was so,
paciently to beare that sodaine misfortune, and that if
it pleased hir, he would convey hir into some monas
tery of women, where she might in time moderate hir
sorow, and give rest unto hir minde. ' Julietta had no"
sooner cast eye upon the dead corpse of Rhomeo,
but began to breake the fountaine pipes of gushing
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 253
teares, which ran forth in such aboundance, as not
able to support the furor of her grief, she breathed
without ceasing upon his mouth, and then throwing
hir selfe upon his body, and embracing it very hard,
seemed that by force of sighes and sobs, she wold
have revived, and brought him againe to life, and after
she had kissed and rekissed him a million of times,
she cried out : " Ah the swete rest of my cares, and
the only porte of all my pleasures and pastimes, hadst
thou so sure a heart to choose thy Churchyarde in
this place betwene the armes of thy perfect lover,
and to ende the course of thy life for my sake in
the floure of thy youth when life to thee shold have
bene most dear and delectable ? how had this tender
body power to resist the furious combat of death,
very death it self being here present ? How could
thy tender and delicate youth willingly permit that
thou shouldest approch into this filthy and infected
place, where from henceforth thou shalt be the
pasture of worms unworthy of thee? Alas, alas,
by what meanes shall I now renew my plaints,
which time and long pacience ought to have buried and
clearly quenched ? Ah I miserable and caitife wretch,
thinking to finde remedie for my griefs, have sharpned
the knife that hath given me this cruell blow, wherof
I receive the cause of mortall wound. Ah happy and
fortunate grave which shalt serve in world to come
for witnesse of the most perfect aliance that ever was
betwene two most unfortunate l lovers, receive now the
last sobbing sighes, and intertainment of the most
cruel of all the cruell subjects of ire and death." And
as she thought to continue hir complaints, Pietro ad
vertised frier Laurence that he heard a noise bisides
the citadel, wherwith being afraid, they spedily de
parted, fearing to be taken. And then Julietta seing
1 [Fortunate in text.]
254 RHOMEO AND JUL1ETTA.
hir self alone, and in full libertie, toke againe Rhomeo
betwene hir armes, kissing him with such affection, as
she semed to be more attained with love than death,
nd drawing out the dagger which Rhomeo ware by
his side, she pricked hir self with many blowes against
the hart, saying with feble and pitiful voyce : Ah death
the end of sorow, and beginning of felicity, thou art
most heartily welcome : feare not at this time to
sharpen thy dart : give no longer delay of life, for
fear that my sprite travail not to finde Rhomeos
ghost amonges such numbre of carion corpses. And
thou my deare Lord and loyall husbande Rhomeo, if
there rest in thee any knowledge, receive hir whome
thou hast so faithfully loved, the only cause of thy
violent death, which frankely ofTereth up hir soule
that none but thou shalt joy the love wherof thou
hast made so lawfull conquest, and that our soules
passing from this light, may eternally live together in
the place of everlasting joy : " and when she had
ended those words she yelded up hir ghost. While
these things thus were done, the garde and watch of
the Citie, by chance passed by, and seeing light with
in the grave, suspected straight that they were Necro
mancers which had opened the tombe to abuse the
dead bodies for aide of their arte : and desirous to
know what it merit, went downe into the vaut, where
they found Rhomeo and Julietta, with their armes
imbracing eche others neck, as though there had ben
some token of life. And after they had well viewed
them at leisure, they knew in what case they were.
And then all amazed they sought for the theves which
(as they thought) had done the murder, and in the
end found the good father frier Laurence, and Pietro
*the servaunt of dead Rhomeo (which had hid them
selves under a stall) whom they carried to prison, and
advertised the Lord of Escala, and the Magistrates of
Verona of that horrible murder, which by and by was
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 255
published throughout the Citie. Then flocked to
gether al the Citzens, women and children, leaving
their houses, to looke upon that pitiful sight, and to the
ende that in presence of the whole Citie, the murder
should be knowne, the Magistrates ordained that the
two dead bodies should be erected upon a stage to
the view and sight of the whole world, in such sort
and maner as they were found within the grave, and
that Pietro and frier Laurence should publikely be
examined, that afterwardes there might be no mur-
inure or other pretended cause of ignorance. And/
this good olde Frier being upon the scaffold, having
white beard all wet and bathed with teares, the judges
commaunded him to declare unto them who were the
authors of that murder, sith at untimely houre he was
apprehended with certaine irons bisides the grave.
Frier Laurence a rounde and franke man of talke, no
thing moved with that accusation, sayd unto them
with stoute and bolde voyce : " My masters, there is
none of you all (if you have respect unto my fore-
passed life, and to my aged yeres^ and therewithall
have consideration of this heavy spectacle, wherunto
unhappy fortune hath presently brought me) but doeth
marvell of so sodaine mutation and change unlocked
for, for so much as these three score and ten or twelve
yeares sithens I came into this world, and began to
prove the vanities thereof, I was never suspected,
touched, or found guilty of any crime which was able
to make me blush, or hide my face, although (before
God) I doe confesse my self to be the greatest and most
abominable sinner of al the redeemed flock of Christ. \1
So it is notwithstanding, that sith I am prest and ready
to render mine accompt, and that death, the grave and
wormes do daily summon this wretched corps of mine
to appeare before the justice seate of God, still wayht-
yng and attending to be caried to my hoped grave,
this is the houre I say, as you likewise may thinke
256 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
wherein I am fallen to the greatest damage and
prejudice of my life and honest port, and that which
hath ingendred this sinister opinion of me, may per-
adventure be these great teares which in abundance
trickle downe my face as though the holy scriptures
do not witnesse, that Jesus Christ moved with humane
pitie, and compassion, did wepe, and pour forth teares,
and that many times teares be the faithfull messengers
of a mans innocency. Or else the most likely evi
dence and presumption, is the suspected houre, which
(as the magistrate doth say) doe make me culpable
of the murder, as though all houres were not indiffer
ently made equall by God their creator, who in his
owne person declareth unto us that there be twelve
houres in the day, shewing therby that there is no ex
ception of houres nor of minutes, but that one may
doe either good or yll at all times indifferently, as the
partie is guided or forsaken by the sprite of God :
touching the irons which were found about me, neede-
full it is not now to let you understand for what use
Iron was first made, and that of it self it is not able
to increase in man either good or evill, if not by the
mischevous minde of him which doth abuse it. Thus
much I have thought good to tell you, to the intent
that neyther teares nor iron, ne yet suspected houre,
are able to make me Guiltie of the murder, or make
me otherwise than I am, but onely the witnesse of
mine owne conscience, which alone if I were guilty
should be the accuser, the witnesse, and the hang
man, which, by reason of mine age and the reputation
I have had amongs you, and the litle time that I have
to live in this world should more torment me within,
than all the mortall paines that could be devised.
But (thankes be to mine eternall God) I feele no
worme that gnaweth, nor any remorse that pricketh
me touching that fact, for which I see you all troubled
and amazed. And to set your hearts at rest, and to
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 257
remove the doubts which hereafter may torment your
consciences, I sweare unto you by al the heavenly
parts wherein I hope to be, that forthwith I will dis
close from first to last the entire discourse of this
pitifull tragedie, which peradventure shall drive you
into no lesse wondre and amaze, than those two pore
passionate lovers were strong and pacient, to expone
themselves to the mercy of death, for the fervent and
indissoluble love betwene them." Then the Fatherly
Frier began to repeate the beginning of the love
betwene Julietta and Rhomeo, which by certaine
space of time confirmed, was prosecuted by woordes
at the first, then by mutuall promise of mariage, un-
knowne to the world. And as wythin fewe dayes
after, the two lovers feelinge themselves sharpned
and incited with stronger onset, repaired unto him
under colour of confession, protesting by othe that
they were both maried, and that if he would not
solempnize that mariage in the face of the Church,
they should be constrained to offend God to live in
disordred lust. In consideration whereof, and speci
ally seeing their alliance to be good, and conformable
in dignitie, richesse and Nobilitie on both sides,
hoping by that meanes perchance to reconcile the
Montesches and Capellets, and that by doing such
an acceptable worke to God, he gave them the
Churches blessing in a certaine Chappel of the Friers
Church, whereof the night following, they did con
summate the mariage fruites in the Palace of the
Capellets. For testimony of which copulation, the
woman of Juliettaes chamber was able to depose :
Addmg moreover, the murder of Thibault, which was
cosin to Julietta : by reason whereof the banishment
of Rhomeo did folowe, and how in the absence of
the said Rhomeo, the mariage being kept secrete
betwene them, a new Matrimonie was intreated wyth
the Counte Paris, which misliked by Julietta, she fell
VOL. i. R
258 RHOMEO AND JULIETTA.
downe prostrate at his feete in a Chappell of S.
Frauncis church, with full determination to have
killed hir selfe with hir owne hands, if he gave hir not
councel how she should avoide the manage agreed
betwene hir father and the Counte Paris. For con
clusion, he sayd, that although he was resolved by
reason of his age and nearnesse of death to abhorre
all secrete Sciences, wherein in his yonger yeares hee
had delight, notwithstanding, pressed with impor-
tunitie, and moved with pitie, fearing least Julietta
should doe some crueltie against hir self, he st[r]ained
his conscience, and chose rather with some little fault
to grieve his minde, than to suffer the yong Gentle
woman to destroy hir body, and hazarde the daunger
of hir soule. And therefore he opened some part of
his auncient cunning, and gave her a certain e pouder
to make hir sleepe, by meanes wherof she was thought
to be deade. Then he told them how he had sent
frier Anselme to cary letters to Rhomeo of their
enterprise, whereof hitherto he had no answere.
Then briefly he concluded how hee founde Rhomeo
deade within the grave, who as it is most likely
did impoison himselfe, or was otherwise smothered
or suffocated with sorow by finding Julietta in that
state, thinking she had bene dead. Then he tolde
them how Julietta did kill hir selfe with the dagger of
Rhomeo, to beare him company after his death, and
how it was impossible for them to save hir for the
noise of the watch, which forced them to flee from
thence. And for more ample approbation of his say
ing, he humbly besought the Lord of Veronna and the
Magistrates to send to Mantua for frier Anselme to
know the cause of his slacke returne, that the content
of the letter sent to Rhomeo might be scene. To
examine the woman of the chamber of Julietta, and
Pietro the servaunt of Rhomeo, who not attending for
furder request, sayd unto them : " My Lordes when
RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA. 259
Rhomeo entred the grave, he gave me this Pacquet,
written as I suppose with his owne hand, who gave me
expresse commaundement to deliver them to his
father." The pacquet opened, they found the whole
effecte of this story, specially the Apothecaries name,
which solde him the poyson, the price, and the cause
wherefore he used it, and all appeared to be so cleare
and evident, as there rested nothing for further verifi
cation of the same, but their presence at the doing of
the particulars thereof, for the whole was so wel de
clared in order, as they were out of doubt that the
same was true. And then the Lord Bartholomew of
Escala, after he had debated with the Magistrates of
these events, decreed that the woman of Julietta hir
chamber should be banished, bicause she did con-
ceyle that privie mariage from the father of Rhomeo,
which if it hadde been knowne in time, had bred to
the whole Citie an universal benefit. Pietro bicause
he obeyed his masters commaundement, and kept
close his lawful secrets, according to the wel con
ditioned nature of a trusty servant, was set at liberty.
The Poticarie taken, rackt, and founde guiltie, was
hanged. The good olde man frier Laurence, as well
for respect of his auncient service which he had done
to the Common wealth of Veronna, as also for his
vertuous lyfe (for the which he was specially recom
mended) was let goe in peace, withoute any note of
infamie. Notwithstanding by reason of his age, he
voluntarily gave over the worlde, and closed him selfe
in a hermitage, two miles from Veronna, where he
lived . v. or . vi. yeares, and spente his tyme in con-
tinuall prayer, untill he was called out of this transitorie
worlde, into the blisfull state of everlasting joy. And
the compassion of so straunge an infortune, the
Montesches and Capellets poured forth such abund
ance of teares, as with the same they did evacuate
their auncient grudge and choler, whereby they were
260 RHOMEO AND JU LI ETTA.
then reconciled. And they which coulde not be brought
to attonement by any wisedome or humane councell,
were in the ende vanquished and made friends by
pitie. And to immortalizate the memorie of so intier
and perfect amitie, the lorde of Veronna ordeined
that the two bodies of those miraculous lovers should
be fast intombed in the grave where they ended their
lives, where was erected a high marble piller, honoured
with an infinite numbre of Epitaphes, which to this
day be apparant, with such noble memorie, as amongs
all the rare excellencies, wherewith that Citie is
furnished, there is none more famous than the monu
ment of Rhomeo and Julietta.
KING RICHARD II.
No original for King Richard II., except the account of his life
and reign found in the "Chronicles," is at present known to
exist ; but Camden speaks of a drama (different from Shake-
peare's) which was performed at the Globe Theatre in 1601
and (as it appears from other authorities) afterwards. Hay-
ward's History of the First Year of Henry IV., which 'relates
the deposition of his predecessor, was not published till 1599,
whereas Shakespeare's play came from the press in 159 7-
In Spedding's edition of Bacon's "Conference of Pleasure,"
4°, 1870, p. xix., is a curious early reference from a MS. at North
umberland House to this drama and to " Richard III."
See further in Dyce's Shakespeare, 1868, iv. 102-3.
FIRST AND SECOND PARTS
OF
KING HENRY IV.
Two plays, anterior to Shakespeare's two-part drama on this
reign, appear to have been once in existence ; but they are no
longer known, and consequently the poet's amount of obliga
tion to them cannot be ascertained. The comic business is
chiefly of Shakespeare's own invention, as usual.
Thomas Shipman mentions in his volume of poems, entitled
"Carolina," 8°, 1683, p. 169, that he had composed a dramatic
work on Henry IV. ; but it does not seem to have come down
to us.
HENRY V.
THE old romance-poem of the "Batayle of Egyngecourte" will
be found printed, with notes and an introduction, in Hazlitt's
"Popular Poetry," vol. ii. But it was thought that the ballad
here annexed would have a certain interest in connection with
the play, as it is nearer Shakespeare's time, and is more likely
to have fallen under his notice than the older performances, on
which it was perhaps founded.
"The Famous Victories of Henry V." will form part of the
Second Series of " Shakespeare's Library," and will be reprinted
for the first time from the extraordinarily rare editio princeps of
1598.
Agincourh
OR THE ENGLISH BOWMANS GLORY.
To a pleasant new Tune.
A GINCOURT, Agincourt !
^*- Know ye not Agincourt,
Where English slue and hurt
All their French foemen ?
With their pikes and bills brown,
How the French were beat downe,
Shot by our Bowmen !
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt,
Neuer to be forgot,
Or known to no men ?
Where English cloth-yard arrows
Killed the French, like tamed sparrows,
Slaine by our Bowmen !
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt,
Where we won field and fort,
French fled like wo-men ?
268 AGINCOURT.
By land, and eke by water,
Neuer was scene such slaughter,
Made by our Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
English of euery sort,
High men and low men,
Fought that day wondrous well, as
All our old stories told us,
Thankes to our Bowmen !
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
Either tale or report
Quickly will show men
What can be done by courage ;
Men without food or forage,
Still lusty Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
Where such a fight was fought,
As, wrhen they grow men,
Our boys shall imitate,
Nor neede we long to waite ;
They'll be good Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
Where our fift Harry taught
Frenchmen to know men :
And when the day was done
Thousands there fell to one
Good English Bowman.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Huzza for Agincourt !
AGINCOURT. 269
When that day is forgot
There will be no men r
It was a day of glory,
And till our heads are hoary,
Praise we our Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ;
When our best hopes were nought,
Tenfold our foemen ?
Harry led his men to battle,
Slue the French like sheep and cattle,
Huzza. \ our Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
O, it was noble sport !
Then did we owe men :
Men who a victory won us
Gainst any odds among us :
Such were our Bowmen.
Agincourt, Agincourt !
Know ye not Agincourt ?
Deare was the victory bought
By fifty yoemen.
Ask any English wench,
They were worth all the French :
Rare English Women !
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.
THE story of " Felismena," upon which it is generally held
that Shakespeare built portions of the framework of this play,
is contained, as mentioned presently, in Yonge's version of the
" Diana " of Montemayor. But that book, though not printed
till 1598, had been finished sixteen years before. He seems to
have commenced the undertaking soon after his return from
Spain in 1579. Before Yonge's time, a partial version was
made by Edward Paston, Esquire, and in 1596 the First Part
was turned into English by Thomas Wilson, and dedicated to
Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton ; but neither ap
parently was ever printed.
MR COLLIER'S INTRODUCTION.
THE present portion of our publication would not
have been included by us (and we only give the earlier
part of the tale as a specimen), but for the opinion of
Farmer and others, " that the story of Proteus and
Julia (in ' The Two Gentlemen of Verona ') might be
taken for a similar one in the * Diana ' of George of
Montemayor." The objection to this notion is, that
there can be no reasonable doubt " The Two Gentle
men of Verona" was one of Shakespeare's earliest
plays, while the " Diana " was not translated by
Bartholomew Young until 1598, in which year Francis
Meres mentions " The Two Gentlemen of Verona "
as a known play.1 ("Palladis Tamia," 1598, 8°, sig.
Oo2). The opinion that other incidents of that play
were derived from Sidney's "Arcadia," first printed
1590, 4°, is more plausible ; but the resemblance is too
slight and casual to warrant any decided conclusion
of that kind. The source of the plot of " The Two
Gentlemen of Verona " is yet to be discovered. It is
not impossible that the " History," called (in the
" Revels' Accounts," by Mr P. Cunningham, p. 189)
" Felix and Philiomena," may have been a drama upon
the ensuing incidents, one of the names having been
miswritten.
1 [See, however, what is said on the preceding leaf.]
VOL. I.
The Shepherdess Felismena.
YOU shall therefore knowe (faire nymphes) that
great Vandalia is my natiue countrie, a prouince
not far hence, where I was borne, in a citie called
Soldina, my mother called Delia, my father Andronius,
for linage and possessions the chiefest of all that
prouince. It fell out that as my mother was married
many yeeres and had no children (by reason whereof
she liued so sad and malecontent that she enjoyed
not one merry day), with teares and sighes she daily
importuned the heauens, and with a thousand vowes
and deuout offerings, besought God to grant her the
summe of her desire : whose omnipotencie it pleased,
beholding from his imperiall throne her continual!
orisons, to make her barren bodie (the greater part of
her age being now spent and gone) to become fruit-
full. What infinite joy she concerned thereof, let her
judge, that after a long desire of any thing, fortune at
last doth put it into her handes. Of which content
my father Andronius being no less partaker, shewed
such tokens of inward joy as are impossible to be ex
pressed. My mother Delia was so much giuen to
reading of ancient histories, that if, by reason of sick-
nes or any important businesse, she had not bene
276 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
hindred, she would neuer (by her will) haue passed
the time away in any other delight ; who (as I said)
being now with childe, and finding herselfe on a night
ill at ease, intreated my father to reade something vnto
her, that, her minde being occupied in contemplation
thereof, she might the better passe her greefe away.
My father, who studied for nothing els but to please
her in all he might, began to reade vnto her the his
toric of Paris, when the three Ladies referred their
proude contention for the golden Apple to his con
clusion and iudgement. But as my mother held it
for an infallible opinion that Paris had partially giuen
that sentence (perswaded thereunto by a blinde
passion of beautie), so she said, that without all doubt
he did not with due reason and wisedome consider
the Goddesse of battels ; for, as martiall and heroicall
feates (saide she) excelled all other qualities, so with
equitie and iustice the Apple should have bene giuen
to her. My father answered, that since the Apple
was to be giuen to the fairest, and that Venus was
fairer than any of the rest, Paris had rightly giuen his
iudgement, if that harme had not ensued thereof, which
afterwardes did. To this my mother replied, that,
though it was written in the Apple, That it should be
giuen to the fairest, it was not to be vnderstood of cor-
porall beautie, but of the intellectual beautie of the
mind. And therefore since fortitude was a thing that
made one most beautiful, and the exercise of arms an
exterior act of this vertue, she affirmed, that to the
Goddesse of battels this Apple should be giuen, if
Paris had iudged like a prudent and vnapassionate
iudge. So that (faire Nymphes) they spent a great
part of the night in controuersie, both of them alledg-
ing the most reasons they could to confirme their
own purpose. They persisting in this point, sleepe
began to ouercome her, whom the reasons and argu
ments of her husband coulde not once mooue ; so
THE SHEPHERDESS FEL1SMENA. 2"JJ
that being very deepe in her disputations, she fell into
as deepe a sleepe, to whom (my father being now
gone to his chamber) appeered the Goddesse Venus,
with as frowning a countenance as faire, and saide,
I maruell, Delia, who hath mooued thee to be so con-
trarie to her, that was neuer opposite to thee ? If
thou hadst but called to minde the time when thou
wertso ouercome in loue for Andronius, thou wouldest
not have paide me the debt (thou owest me) with so
ill coine. But thou shaltnot escape free from my due
anger; for thou shalt bring forth a sonne and a
daughter, whose birth shall cost thee no lesse than
thy life, and them their contentment, for vttering so
much in disgrace of my honour and beautie : both
which shall be as infortunate in their loue as any
were ever in all their Hues, or to the age wherein,
with remedylesse sighes, they shall breath forth the
summe of their ceaselesse sorrowes. And hauing
saide thus, she vanished away : when, likewise, it
seemed to my mother that the Goddesse Pallas came
to her in a vision, and with a merry countenance saide
thus unto her : With what sufficient rewardes may I
be able to requite the due regarde (most happie and
discreete Delia) which thou hast alleaged in my fauour
against thy husbands obstinate opinion, except it be
by making thee vnderstand that thou shalt bring foorth
a sonne and a daughter, the most fortunate in armes
that haue bene to their times. Having thus said, she
uanished out of her sight, and my mother, thorow ex
ceeding feare, awaked immediately. Who, within a
moneth after, at one birth was deliuered of me, and
of a brother of mine, and died in childebed, leauing
my father the most sorrowfull man in the world for
her sudden death ; for greefe whereof, within a little
while after,% he also died. And bicause you may
knowe (faire Nymphes) in what great extremities loue
hath put me, you must vnderstand, that (being a
278 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA*
woman of that qualitie and disposition as you haue
heard) I haue bene forced by my cruell destinie to
leaue my naturall habit and libertie, and the due re
spect of mine honour, to follow him, who thinkes
(perhaps) that I doe but leese it by louing him so
extremely. Behold, how booteless and vnseemely it
is for a woman to be so dextrous in armes, as if it
were her proper nature and kinde, wherewith (faire
Nymphes) I had neuer bene indued, but that, by
meanes thereof, I should come to doe you this little
seruice against these villaines ; whiche I account no
less then if fortune had begun to satisfie in part some
of those infinite wrongs that she hath continually done
me. The Nymphes were so amazed at her words,
that they coulde neither aske nor answere any thing
to that the faire Shepherdesse tolde them, who, pro
secuting her historic, saide :
My brother and I were brought vp in a Nunnerie,
where an aunt of ours was Abbesse, until we had
accomplished twelue yeeres of age, at what time we
were taken from thence againe, and my brother was
caried to the mightie and inuincible King of Portugall
his Court (whose noble fame and princely liberalitie
was bruted ouer all the world) where, being growen
to yeeres able to manage armes, he atchieued as
valiant and almost incredible enterprises by them, as
he suffered vnfortunate disgraces and foiles by lone.
And with all this he was so highly fauoured of that
magnificent King, that he would neuer suffer him to
depart from his court. Vnfortunate I, reserued by
my sinister destinies to greater mishaps, was caried to
a grandmother of mine, which place I would I had
neuer scene, since it was an occasion of such a sor-
rowfull life as neuer any woman suffered the like.
And bicause there is not any thing (faire Nymphes)
which I am not forced to tell you, as well for the great
uertue and desertes which your excellent beauties doe
testifie, as also for that for my minde doth giue me,
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 279
that you shall be no small part and meanes of my
comfort, knowe, that as I was in my grandmothers
house, and almost seventeene yeeres olde, a certaine
yoong Gentleman fell in loue with me, who dwelt no
further from our house than the length of a garden
Terrasse, so that he might see me euery sommers night
when I walked in the garden. When as therefore
ingratefull Felix had beheld in that place the vnfor-
tunate Felismena (for this is the name of the wofull
woman that tels you her mishaps) he was extremely
enamoured of me, or else did cunningly dissemble it,
I not knowing then whether of these two I might
beleeue, but am now assured, that whosoeuer beleeues
lest, or nothing at all in these affaires, shall be most
at ease. Many daies Don Felix spent in endeauouring
to make me know the paines which he suffered for
me, and many more did I spende in making the
matter strange, and that he did not suffer them for
my sake. And I know not why loue delaied the time
so long by forcing me to loue him, but onely that
(when he came indeed) he might enter into my hart
at once, and with greater force and violence. When
he had, therefore, by sundrie signes, as by Tylt and
Tourneyes, and by prauncing vp and down vpon his
proude jennet before my windowes, made it manifest
that he was in loue with me (for at the first I did not
so well perceive it) he determined in the end to write
a letter vnto me ; and hauing practised diners times
before with a maide of mine, and at length, with many
gifts and faire promises, gotten her good will and
furtherance, he gaue her the letter to deliuer to me.
But to see the meanes that Rosina made vnto me,
(for so was she called) the dutifull seruices and vn-
woonted circumstances, before she did deliuer it, the
othes that she sware vnto me, and the subtle words
and serious protestations she used, it was a pleasant
thing, and woorthie the noting. To whom (neuerthe-
lesse) with an angrie countenance I turned againe,
280 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
saying, If I had not regard of mine owne estate, and
what heereafter might be said, I would make this
shamelesse face of thine be knowne euer after for a
marke of an impudent and bolde minion. But bicause
it- is the first time, let this suffice that I haue saide,
and giue thee warning to take heede of the second.
Me thinkes I see now the craftie wench, how she
helde her peace, dissembling very cunningly the
sorrow that she conceiued by my angrie answer ; for
she fained a counterfaite smiling, saying, lesus, Mis-
tresse ! I gaue you, bicause you might laugh at it,
and not to mooue your patience with it in this sort :
for if I had any thought that it would haue prouoked
you to anger, I praie God he may shew his wrath as
great towards me as euer he did to the daughter of
any mother. And with this she added many wordes
more (as she could do well enough) to pacific the
fained anger and ill opinion that I had conceiued of
her, and taking her letter with her, she departed from
me. This hauing passed thus, I began to imagine what
might ensue thereof, and loue (me thought) did put a
certaine desire into my minde to see the letter,
though modestie and shame forbad me to ask it of
my maide, especially for the wordes that had passed
betweene vs, as you haue heard. And so I continued
all that day vntill night, in varietie of many thoughts.
But when Rosina came to helpe me to bedde, God
knowes how desirous I was to haue her entreat me
againe to take the letter, but she would neuer speake
vnto me about it, nor (as it seemed) did so much as
once thinke thereof. Yet to trie, if by giuing her
some occasion I might preuaile, I said vnto her :
And is it so, Rosina, that Don Felix, without any
regard to mine honour, dares write vnto me ? These
are things, Mistresse (saide she demurely to me
againe), that are commonly incident to loue, where
fore I beseech you pardon me, for if I had thought
THE SHEPHERDESS FEL1SMENA. 281
to haue angred you with it, I would haue first pulled
out the bals of mine eies. How cold my hart was at
that blow, God knowes, yet did I dissemble the
matter, and suffer my selfe to remaine that night
onely with my desire, and with occasion of little
sleepe. And so it was, indeede, for that (me thought)
was the longest and most painfull night that euer I
passed. But when, with a slower pace (then I de
sired) the wished day was come, the discreet and subtle
Rosina came into my chamber to helpe me to make
me readie, in dooing whereof, of purpose she let the
letter closely fall, which, when I perceiued, what is
that that fell downe ? (saide I), let me see it. It is
nothing, Mistresse, saide she. Come, come, let me
see it (saide I) : what ! mooue me not, or else tell
me what it is. Good Lord, Mistresse (saide she),
why will you see it : it is the letter I would haue
giuen you yesterday. Nay, that it is not (saide I),
wherefore shewe it me, that I may see if you lie or
no. I had no sooner said so but she put it into my
handes, saying, God neuer giue me good if it be anie
other thing ; and although I knew it well indeede, yet I
saide, what, this is not the same, for I know that well
enough, but it is one of thy louers letters : I will read
it, to see in what neede he standeth of thy fauour.
And opening it, I founde it conteined this that
followeth :
" I euer imagined (deere Mistresse) that your dis
cretion and wisedome woulde haue taken away the
feare I had to write vnto you, the same knowing well
enough (without any letter at all) how much I loue
you, but the very same hath so cunningly dissembled,
that wherein I hoped the only remedie of my griefes
had been, therein consisted my greatest harme. If
according to your wisedome you censure my bold-
nes, I shall hot then (I know) enioy one hower of
life 3 but if you do consider of it according to loues
282 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
accustomed effects, then will I not exchange my hope
for it. Be not offended, I beseech you (good Ladie),
with my letter, and blame me not for writing vnto
you, vntil you see by experience whether I can leaue
of to write : and take me besides into the possession
of that which is yours, since all is mine doth wholly
consist in your hands, the which, with all reuerence
and dutifull affection, a thousand times I kisse."
When I had now scene my Don Felix his letter,
whether it was for reading it at such a time, when by
the same he shewed that he loued me more than him-
selfe, or whether he had disposition and regiment
ouer part of this wearied soule, to imprint that loue
in it whereof he wrote vnto me, I began to loue him
too well (and, alas, for my harme !) since he was the
cause of so much sorrow as I haue passed for his
sake. Whereupon, asking Rosina forgiuenes of what
was past (as a thing needfull for that which was to
come) and committing the secrecie of my loue to her
fidelitie, I read the letter once againe, pausing a little
at euery worde (and a very little indeede it was), bi-
cause I concluded so soone with my selfe, to do that
I did, although in verie truth it lay not otherwise in
my power to do. Wherefore, calling for paper and
inke, I answered his letter thus :
" Esteeme not so slightly of mine honour, Don
Felix, as with fained wordes to think to enueagle it,
or with thy vaine pretenses to offend it any waies. I
know wel enough what manner of man thou art, and
how great thy desert and presumption is; from whence
thy boldness doth arise (I gesse), and not from the
force (which thing thou wouldest faine perswade me)
of thy feruent loue. And if it be so (as my suspicion
suggesteth) thy labor is as vaine as thy imagination is
presumptuous, by thinking to make me do any thing
contrarie to that which I owe vnto mine honour.
Consider (I beseech thee) how seldome things corn-
THE SHEPHERDESS FEL1SMENA. 283
menced vnder suttletie and dissimulation haue good
successe ; and that it is not the part of a Gentleman
to meane them one way and speak them another.
Thou praiest me (amongst other things) to admit thee
into possession of that that is mine : but I am of so
ill an humour in matters of this qualitie, that I trust
not things experienced, how much lesse then thy bare
wordes ; yet, neverthelesse, I make no small account
of that which thou hast manifested to me in thy letter;
for it is ynough that I am incredulous, though not un-
thankfull."
This letter did I send, contrarie to that I should
haue done, because it was the occasion of all my
harmes and greefes ; for after this, he began to waxe
more bolde by unfolding his thoughts, and seeking
out the meanes to haue a parly with me. In the end
(faire Nymphes), a few daies being spent in his de-
maunds and my answers, false loue did worke in me
after his wonted fashions, euery hower seasing more
strongly vpon my vnfortunate soule. The Tourneies
were now renewed, the musicke by night did neuer
cease ; amorous letters and verses were re-continued
on both sides; and thus passed I away almost a
whole yeere, at the end whereof, I felt my selfe so far
in his loue, that I had no power to retire, nor stay my
selfe from disclosing my thoughts vnto him, the thing
which he desired more then his owne life. But my
aduerse fortune afterward es would, that of these our
mutuall loues (when as now they were most assured)
his father had some intelligence, and whosoever
reauled them first, perswaded him so cunningly,
that his father (fearing lest he would haue married
me out of hand) sent him to the great Princesse
Augusta Caesarinas court, telling him, it was not
meete that a yoong Gentleman, and of so noble
a house as he was, should spend his youth idly
at home, where nothing could be learned but ex-
284 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
amples of vice, whereof the verie same idlenes (he
said) was the only Mistresse. He went away so pen-
siue, that his great greefe would not suffer him to ac
quaint me with his departure ; which when I knew,
how sorrowfull I remained, she may imagine that
hath bene at any time tormented with like passion.
To tell you now the life that I led in his absence,
my sadnes, sighes, and teares, which euery day I
powred out of these wearied eies, my toong is far
vnable : if then my paines were such that I cannot
now expresse them, how could I then suffer them ?
But being in the mids of my mishaps, and in the
depth of those woes which the absence of Don Felix
caused me to feele, and it seeming to me that my
greefe was without remedie, if he were once scene or
knowen of the Ladies in that Court (more beautifull
and gracious then my selfe). By occasion whereof,
as also by absence (a capitall enemie to loue), I might
easily be forgotten, I determined to aduenture that,
which I think neuer any woman imagined ; which was
to apparell myselfe in the habit of a man, and to hye
me to the Court to see him, in whose sight al my
hope and content remained : which determination,
I no sooner thought of, then I put in practise, loue
blinding my eies and minde with an inconsiderate
regarde of mine owne estate and condition. To the
execution of which attempt I wanted no industrie ;
for, beink furnished with the helpe of one of my
approoued friends, and treasouresse of my secrets,
who bought me such apparell as I willed her, and a
good horse for my journey, I went not onely out of my
countrie, but out of my deere reputation, which (I
thinke) I shall neuer recouver againe ; and so trotted
directly to the Court, passing by the way many acci
dents, which (if time would giue me leaue to tell them)
would not make you laugh a little to heare them.
Twenty daies I was in going thither, at the ende of
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 285
which, being come to the desired place, I took vp
mine Inne in a streete less frequented with concurse
of people. And the great desire I had to see the
destroier of my ioy did not suffer me to thinke of any
other thing, but how or where I might see him. To
inquire of him of mine host I durst not, lest my
comming might (perhaps) haue bene discouered ; and
so seeke him foorth I thought it not best, lest some
inopinate mishap might haue fallen out, whereby I
might haue bene knowen. Wherefore I passed all
that day in these perplexities, while night came on,
each hower whereof (me thought) was a whole yeere
vnto me. But midnight being a little past, mine host
called at my chamber doore, and tolde me if I was
desirious to heare some braue musicke, I should arise
quickly, and open a window towards the street. The
which I did by and by, and making no noise at all, I
heard how Don Felix his Page, called Fabius (whom
I knew by his voice), saide to others that came with
him, Now it is time, my Masters, bicause the Lady is
in her gallerie oner her garden, taking the fresh aire
of the coole night. He had no sooner saide so, but
they began to winde three Cornets and a Sackbot,
with such skill and sweetenesse, that it seemed celes-
tiall musicke. And then began a voice to sing, the
sweetest (in my opinion) that euer I heard. And
though I was in suspence, by hearing Fabius speake,
whereby a thousand doubtes and imaginations (re
pugnant to my rest) occurred in my minde, fyet I
neglected not to heare what was sung, bicause their
operations were not of such force that they were able
to hinder the desire, nor distemper the delight that
I conceiued by hearing it. That therefore which was
sung were these verses : —
Swede Mistresse, harken vnto me
(If it greeues thee to see me die),
286 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
And hearing, though it greeueth thee,
To heare me yet do not denie.
O grant me then this short content,
For fore W / am to thee toflie.
My sighes do not make thee relent,
Nor teares thy hart do mollifie.
Nothing of mine doth giue thee pay ne,
Nor think' st thou of no remidie :
Mistresse, how long shall I sustaine
Such ill as still thou dost applie ?
In death there is no helpe, be sure,
But in thy will, where it doth lie :
For all those illes which death doth cure,
Alas ! they are but light to trie !
My troubles do not trouble thee,
Nor hope to touch thy soule so nie :
O / from a will that is so free,
What should I hope when I do crie ?
How can I mollifie that braue
And stonie hart of pitie drie ?
Yet Mistresse, turne those eies (that haue
No peer es] shining like stars in skie ;
But turne them not in angrie sort,
If thou wilt not kill me thereby :
Though yet, in anger or in sport,
Thou killest onely with thine eie.
After they had first, with a concert of musicke, sung
this song, two plaied, the one vpon a Lute, the other
vpon a siluer sounding Harpe, being accompanied
with the sweete voice of my Don Felix. The great
ioy that I felt in hearing him cannot be imagined, for
(me thought) I heard him nowe, as in that happie
and passed time of our loues, But after the deceit of
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 287
this imagination was discouered, seeing with mine eies,
and hearing with mine eares, that this musick was
bestowed vpon another, and not on me, God knowes
what a bitter death it was vnto my soule. And with
a greeuous sigh, that carried almost my life away with
it, I asked mine host if he knew what the Ladie was
for whose sake the musicke was made ? He answered
me, that he could not imagine on whom it was be
stowed, bicause in that streete dwelled manie noble
and faire Ladies. And when I saw he could not
satisfie my request, I bent mine eares againe to heare
my Don Felix, who now, to the tune of a delicate
harpe, whereon he sweetely plaied, began to sing this
Sonnet following : —
A SONNET.
My painefull yeeres impartial! Loue was spending
In vaine and booteles hopes my life appaying,
And cruell Fortune to the world bewraying
Strange samples of my teares that have no ending.
Time, euerie thing at last to truth commending,
Leaues of my steps such marks, that now betraying,
And all deceitfull trusts shall be decaying,
And none hane cause to plaine of his offending.
Shee, whom I lodd to my obliged power,
That in her sweetest loue to me discoiiers
Which neuer yet I knew (those heauenly pleasures),
And 1 do sate, exclaiming euery hower,
Do not you see what makes you wise, O Loners ?
Loue, Fortune, Time, and my fair Mystresse trea
sures.
The Sonnet being ended, they paused awhile, play
ing on fower Lutes togither, and on a paire of Vir
ginals, with such heauenly melodic, that the whole
worlde (I thinke) could not affoord sweeter musick
to the eare nor delight to any minde, not subiect to
288 THE SHEPHERDESS F ELI S MEN A.
the panges of such predominant greefe and sorrow as
mine was. But then fower voices, passing well tuned
and set togither, began to sing this song following : —
A SONG.
That sweetest harme I doe not blame,
First caused by thy fairest eies,
But greeue, bicause too late I came,
To know my fault, and to be wise.
I neuer knew a worser kind of life,
To Hue in fear e, from boldnesse still to cease ;
Nor, woorse than this, to Hue in such a strife,
Whether of bothe to speake, or holde my peace ?
And so the harme I do not blame,
Caused by thee or thy fair e eies ;
But that to see how late I came,
To know my fault and to be wise.
I euer more didfeare that I should knowe
Some secret things, and doubtfull in their kinde,
Because the surest things doe euer goe
Most contrarie vnto my wish and minde.
And yet by knowing of the same
There is no hurt ; but it denies
My remedie, Since late I came,
To knowe my fault, and to be wise.
When this song was ended, they began to sound
diuers sorts of instruments, and voices most excel
lently agreeing togither, and with such sweetnes that
they could not chuse but delight any very much who
were not so farre from it as I. About dawning of the
day the musicke ended, and I did what I could to
espie out my Don Felix, but the darknes of the night
was mine enimie therein. And seeing now that they
were gone, I went to bed againe, where I bewailed
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 289
my great mishap, knowing that he whom most of al I
loued, had so vnwoorthily forgotten me, whereof his
music was too manifest a witnes. And when it was
time, I arose, and without any other consideration,
went straight to the Princesse her pallace, where (I
thought) I might see that which I so greatly desired,
determining to call my selfe Valerius, if any (perhaps)
did aske my name. Comming therefore to a faire
broad court before the pallace gate, I viewed the
windowes and galleries, where I sawe such store of
blazing beauties, and gallant Ladies, that I am not
able now to recount, nor then to do any more but
woonder at their graces, their gorgeous attyre, their
iewels, their braue fashions of apparell, and orna
ments wherewith they were so richly set up. Vp and
downe this place, before the windowes, roade many
lords and braue gentlemen in rich and sumptuous
habits, and mounted vpon proud lennets, euery one
casting his eie to that part where his thoughts were
secretly placed. God knowes how greatly I desired
to see Don Felix there, and that his iniurious loue had
beene in that famous pallace ; bicause I might then
haue beene assured that he should neuer haue got any
other guerdon of his sutes and seruices, but onely to
see and to be scene, and sometimes to speake to his
Mistresse, whom he must serue before a thousand eies,
bicause the priuilege of that place doth not giue him
any further leave. But it was my ill fortune that he
had settled his loue in that place where I might not
be assured of this poore helpe. Thus, as I was stand
ing neere to the pallace gate, I espied Fabius, Don
Felix his page, comming in great haste to the pallace,
where, speaking a word or two with a porter that kept
the second entrie, he returned the same waie he came.
I gessed his errant was, to knowe whether it were fit
time for Don Felix to come to dispatch certaine busi-
nes that his father had in the court, and that he could
VOL, i. T
2 QO THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
not choose but come thither out of hand. And being
in this supposed ioy which his sight did promise me,
I sawe him comming along with a great traine of fol
lowers attending on his person, all of them being
brauely apparelled in a liuerie of watchet silke, garded
with yellow veluet, and stitched on either side with
threedes of twisted siluer, wearing likewise blew, yel
low, and white feathers in their hats. But my Lorde
Don Felix had on a paire of ash colour hose, em-
brodered and drawen foorth with watchet tissue ; his
dublet was of white saten, embrodered with knots of
golde, and likewise an embrodered ierkin of the same
coloured veluet; and his short cape cloke was of
blacke veluet, edged with gold lace, and hung full of
buttons of pearle and gold, and lined with razed
watchet satten : by his side he ware, at a paire of em
brodered hangers, a rapier and dagger, with engrauen
hilts and pommell of beaten golde. On his head, a
hat beset full of golden stars, in the mids of euerie
which a rich orient pearle was enchased, and his feather
was likewise blew, yellow, and white. Mounted he
came vpon a faire dapple graie lennet, with a rich
furniture of blew, embrodered with golde and seede
pearle. When I saw him in this rich equipage, I was
so amazed at his sight, that how extremely my sences
were rauished with sudden ioye I am not able (faire
Nymphes) to tell you. Truth it is, that I could not
but shed some teares for ioy and greefe, which his
sight did make me feele, but, fearing to be noted by
the standers by, for that time I dried them vp. But
as Don Felix (being now come to the pallace gate)
was dismounted, and gone vp a paire of staires into the
chamber of presence, I went to his men, where they
were attending his returne ; and seeing Fabius, whom
I had scene before amongst them, I tooke him aside,
and saide vnto him, My friend, I pray you tell me what
Lord this is, which did but euen now alight from his
THE SHEPHERDESS FEL1SMENA. 2QI
lennet, for (me thinkes) he is very like one whom I
haue scene before in an other farre countrey. Fabius
then answered me thus : Art thou such a nouice
in the court that thou knowest not Don Felix ?
I tell thee there is not any Lord, knight, or gentleman
better knowne in it than he. No doubt of that (saide
I), but I will tell thee what a nouice I am, and how
small a time I haue beene in the court, for yesterday
was the first that euer I came to it. Naie then, I
cannot blame thee (saide Fabius) if thou knowest him
not. Knowe, then, that this gentleman is called Don
Felix, borne in Yandalia, and hath his chiefest house
in the antient cittie of Soldina, and is remaining in
this court about certaine affaires of his fathers and his
owne. But I pray you tell me (said I) why he giues
his liueries of these colours? If the cause were not
so manifest, I would conceale it (saide Fabius), but
since there is not any that knowes it not, and canst
not come to any in this court who cannot tell thee the
reason why, I thinke by telling thee it, I do no more
then in courtesie I am bound to do. Thou must
therefore vnderstand, that he loues and seruesa Ladie
heere in this citie named Celia, and therefore weares
and giues for his liuerie an azure blew, which is the
colour of the skie, and white and yellow, which are
the colours of his Lady and mistresse. When I heard
these words, imagine (faire Nymphes) in what a plight
I was ; but dissembling my mishap and griefe, I
answered him : This ladie certes is greatly beholding
to him, bicause he thinkes not enough, by wearing
her colours, to shew how willing he is to serue her,
vnlesse also he beare her name in his liuerie ; where-
vpon I guesse she cannot but be very faire and
amiable. She is no lesse, indeede (saide Fabius),
although the other whom he loued and serued in our
owne countrey in beautie farre excelled this, and loued
and fauoured him more then ever this did. But this
292 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
mischieuous absence doth violate and dissolue those
thinges which men thinke to be most stronge and
firme. At these wordes (faire Nymph es) was I faine
to come to some composition with my teares, which,
if I had not stopped from issuing foorth, Fabius could
not haue chosen but suspected, by the alteration of
my countenance, that all was not well with me. And
then the Page did aske me, what countreyman I was,
my name, and of what calling and condition I was :
whom I answered, that my countrey where I was borne
was Vandalia, my name Valerius, and till that time
serued no Master. Then by this reckoning (saide he)
we are both countrey-men, and may be both fellowes
in one house if thou wilt ; for Don Felix my Master
commanded me long since to seeke him out a Page.
Therefore if thou wilt serue him, say so. As for
meate, drinke, and apparell, and a couple of shillings
to play away, thou shalt neuer want ; besides pretie
wenches, which are not daintie in our streete, as faire
and amorous as Queens, of which there is not anie
that will not die for the loue of so proper a youth as
thou art. And to tell thee in secret (because, perhaps,
we may be fellowes), I know where an old Cannons
maide is, a gallant fine girle, whom if thou canst but
finde in thy hart to loue and serue as I do, thou shalt
neuer want at her hands fine hand-kerchers, peecesof
bacon, and now and then wine of S. Martyn. When
I heard this, I could not choose but laugh, to see how
naturally the vnhappy page played his part bydepainting
foorth their properties their liuely colours. And because
I thought nothing more commodious for my rest, and
for the enioying of my desire, then to follow Fabius his
counsel, I answered him, thus : In truth, I determined
to serue none; but now, since fortune hath offered me
so good a seruice, and at such a time, when I am con
strained to take this course of life, I shall not do
amisse if I frame myself to the seruice of some Lord
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 293
or Gentleman in this Court, but especially of your
Master, because he seemes to be a woorthy Gentle
man, and such an one that makes more reckoning of
his seruants then an other. Ha, thou knowest him
not so well as I (said Fabius) \ for I promise thee,
by the faith of a Gentleman (for I am one indeede,
for my father comes of the Cachopines of Laredo),
that my master Don Felix is the best natured gentle
man that euer thou knewest in thy life, and one who
vseth his pages better than any other. And were
it not for those troublesome loues, which makes vs
runne vp and downe more, and sleepe lesse, then we
woulde, there were not such a master in the whole
worlde againe. In the end (faire Nymphes) Fabius
spake to his master, Don Felix, as soone as he was
come foorth, in my behalfe, who commanded me the
same night to come to him at his lodging. Thither I
went, and he entertained me for his Page, making the
most of me in the worlde ; where, being but a few
daies with him, I savve the messages, letters, and
gifts that were brought and caried on both sides,
greeuous wounds (alas ! and corsiues to my dying
hart), which made my soule to file sometimes out of
my body, and euery hower in hazard to leese my
forced patience before euery one. But after one
moneth was past, Don Felix began to like so well of
me, that he disclosed his whole loue vnto me, from
the beginning vnto the present estate and forwardnes
that it was then in, committing the charge thereof to
my secrecie and helpe; telling me that he was fauored
of her at the beginning, 'and that afterwards she waxed
wearie of her louing and accustomed entertainment,
the cause whereof was a secret report (whosoeuer it
was that buzzed it into her eares) of the loue that he
did beare to a Lady in his owne countrey, and that
his present loue vnto her was but to entertaine the
time, while his business in the court were dispatched.
294 THE SHEPHERDESS FEL1SMENA.
And there is no doubt (saide Don Felix vnto me) but
that, indeede, I did once commence that loue that
she laies to my charge ; but God knowes if now there
be any thing in the world that I loue and esteeme
more deere and precious then her. When I heard
him say so, yon may imagine (faire Nymphes) what a
mortall dagger pierced my wounded heart. But with
dissembling the matter the best I coulde, I answered
him thus : It were better, sir (me thinkes), that the
Gentlewoman should complaine with cause, and that
it were so indeed ; for if the other Ladie, whom you
serued before, did not deserue to be forgotten of you,
you do her (vnder correction, my Lord) the greatest
wrong in the world. The loue (said Don Felix
againe) which I beare to my Celia will not let me
vnderstand it so ; but I haue done her (me thinkes)
the greater iniurie, hauing placed my loue first in an
other, and not in her. Of these wrongs (saide I to
my selfe) I know who beares the woorst away. And
(disloyall) he, pulling a letter out of his bosome, which
he had received the same hower from his Mistresse,
reade it vnto me, thinking he did me a great fauour
thereby, the contents whereof were these : —
'C diets letter to Don Felix.
Neuer any thing that I suspected, touching thy
loue, hath been so farre from the truth, that hath not
giuen me occasion to beleeue more often mine owne
imagination then thy innocencie; wherein, if I do thee
any wrong, referre it but to the censure of thine owne
follie. For well thou mightest haue denied, or not
declared thy passed loue, without giuing me occasion
to condemne thee by thine owne confession. Thou
saiest I was the cause that made thee forget thy
former loue. Comfort thy selfe, for there shall not
want another to make thee forget thy second. And
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 295
assure thy selfe of this (Lord Don Felix) that there is
not any thing more vnbeseeming a Gentleman, then
to finde an occasion in. a Gentlewoman to leese him-
selfe for her loue. I will saie no more, but that in an
ill, where there is no remedie, the best is not to seeke
out any.
After he had made an end of reading the letter, he
said vnto me, What thinkest thou, Valerius, of these
words ? With pardon be it spoken, my lord ; That
your deedes are shewed by them. Go to, said Don
Felix, and speake no more of that. Sir, saide I, they
must like me wel, if they like you, because none can
iudge better of their words that loue well then they
themselues. But that which I thinke of the letter is,
that this Gentlewoman would haue beene the first, and
that Fortune had entreated her in such sort, that all
others might have enuied her estate. But what would-
est thou counsell me ? said Don Felix. If thy griefe
doth suffer any counsell, saide I, that thy thoughts be
diuided into this second passion, since there is so
much due to the first. Don Felix answered me
againe, sighing, and knocking me gently on the
shoulder, saying, How wise art thou, Valerius, and
what good counsell thou dost giue me if I could fol
low it. Let vs now go in to dinner, for when I haue
dined, I will have thee carie me a letter to my Lady
Celia, and then thou shalt see if any other loue is
not woorthy to be forgotten in lieu of thinking onely
of her. These were wordes that greeued Felismena
to the hart, but bicause she had him before her eies,
whom she loued more than her-selfe, the content, that
she had by onely seeing him, was a sufficient remedie
of the paine, that the greatest of these stings did make
her feele. After Don Felix had dined, he called me
vnto him, and giuing me a speciall charge what I
should do (because he had imparted his griefe vnto
296 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
me, and put his hope and remedie in my hands) he
willed me to carie a letter to Celia, which he had
alreadie written, and, reading it first vnto me, it said
thus —
Don Felix his letter to Celia.
The thought, that seekes an occasion to forget the
thing which it doth loue and desire, suffers it selfe so
easily to be knowne, that (without troubling the minde
much) it may be quickly discerned. And thinke not
(Faire Ladie) that I seeke a remedie to excuse you of
that, wherewith it pleased you to vse me, since I neuer
came to be so much in credit with you, that in lesser
things I woulde do it. I have confessed vnto you
that indeede I once loued well, because that true
loue, without dissimulation, doth not suffer any thing
to be hid, and you (deare Ladie) make that an occasion
to forget me, which should be rather a motiue to loue
me better. I cannot perswade me, that you make so
.small an account of your selfe, to thinke that I can
forget you for any thing that is, or hath euer been,
but rather imagine that you write cleane contrarie to
that, which you have tried by my zealous loue and
faith towards you. Touching all those things, that,
in preiudice of my good will towards you, it pleaseth
you to imagine, my innocent thoughts assure me to
the contrarie, which shall suffice to be illrecompenced
being so ill thought of as they are.
After Don Felix had read this letter vnto me, he
asked me if the answer was correspondent to those
words that his Ladie Celia had sent him in hers, and
if there was any thing therein that might be amended ;
whereunto I answered thus : I thinke, Sir, it is need-
lesse to amende this letter, or to make the Gentle
woman amendes, to whom it is sent, but her, whom
you do iniure so much with it. Which vnder your
THE SHEPHERDESS F ELI S MEN A. 2Q7
Lordships pardon I speake, bicause I am so much
affected to the first lone in all my life, that there is
not any thing that can make me alter my minde.
Thou hast the greatest reason in the world (said
Don Felix) if I coulde perswade my selfe to leaue of
that, which I haue begun. But what wilt them haue
me do, since absence hath frozen the former loue, and
the continuall presence of a peerlesse beautie rekindled
another and more feruent within me ? Thus may she
thinke her selfe (saide I againe) vniustly deceiued,
whom first you loued, because that loue which is
subiect to the power of absence cannot be termed
loue, and none can perswade me that it hath beene
loue. These words did I dissemble the best I could,
because I felt so sensible griefe, to see myselfe for
gotten of him, who had so great reason to loue me,
and whom I did loue so much, that I did more, then
any would have thought, to make my selfe still un-
knowen. But taking the letter and mine errant with
me, I went to Celias house, imagining by the way
the wofull estate whereunto my haplesse loue had
brought me ; since I was forced to make warre
against mine owne selfe, and to be the inter-
cessour of a thing so contrarie to mine owne con
tent. But comming to Celias house, and finding
a page standing at the clore, I asked him if I might
speake with his Ladie : who being informed of me
from whence I came, tolde Celia how I would speake
with her, commending there wit hall my beautie and
person vnto her, and telling her besides, that Don
Felix had but lately entertained me into his seruice ;
which made Celia saie vnto him, What, Don Felix so
soone disclose his secret loues to a page, but newly
entertained ? he hath (belike) some great occasion
that mooues him to do it. Bid him com in, and let
us know what he would haue. In I came, and to the
place where the enimie of my life was, and, with great
298 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
reuerence kissing her hands, I deliuered Don Felix
his letter vnto her. Celia tooke it, and casting her
eies vpon me, I might perceiue how my sight had
made a sudden alteration in her countenance, for she
was so farre besides herselfe, that for a good while she
was not able to speake a worde, but/remembring her
selfe at last, she saide vnto me, What good fortune
hath beene so fauourable to Don Felix to bring thee
to this Court, to make thee his Page ? Euen that,
faire Ladie, saide I, which is better then euer I
imagined, bicause it hath beene an occasion to make
me behold such singular beautie and perfections as
now I see cleerely before mine eies. And if the
paines, the teares, the sighes, and the continuall dis
quiets that my lord Don Felix hath sufTred haue
greeued me heeretofore, now that I haue scene the
source from whence they flow, and the cause of all
his ill, the pittie that I had on him is now wholly
conuerted into a certaine kinde of enuie. But if it
be true (faire Lady) that my cofnming is welcome
vnto you, I beseech you by that, which you owe to
the great loue which he beares you, that your answer
may import no lesse vnto him. There is not anie
thing (saide Celia) that I would not do for thee,
though I were determined not to loue him at all, who
for my sake hath forsaken another. For it is no
small point of wisedome for me to learne by other
womens harmes to be more wise, and warie in mine
owne. Beleeue not, good Lady (saide I), that there
is any thing in the worlde that can make Don Felix
forget you. And if he hath cast off another for your
sake, woonder not thereat, when your beautie and
wisedome is so great, and the others so small that
there is no reason to thinke that he will (though he
hath woorthelie forsaken her for your sake) or euer
can forget you for any woman else in the worlde.
Doest thou then know Felismena (saide Celia), the
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 299
lady whom thy Master did once loue and serae in
his owne countrey? I know her (saide I), although
not so well as it was needfull for me to haue pre-
uented so many mishaps (and this I spake softly to
my selfe). For my fathers house was neere to hers ;
but seeing your great beautie adorned with such per-
fectiones and wisdome, Don Felix can not be blamed,
if he hath forgotten his loue only to embrace and
honour yours. To this did Celia answer, merily and
smiling, Thou hast learned quickly of thy Master to
sooth. Not so, faire Ladie, saide I, but to serue you
woulde I faine learne : for flatterie cannot be, where
(in the iudgement of all) there are so manifest signes
and proofes of this due commendation. Celia began
in good earnest to ask me what manner of woman
Felismena was, whom I answered, that, touching her
beautie, some thought her to be very faire ; but I
was neuer of that opinion, bicause she hath many
daies since wanted the chiefest thing that is requisite
for it. What is that ? said Celia. Content of minde,
saide I, bicause perfect beautie can neuer be, where
the same is not adioyned to it. Thou hast the greatest
reason in the world, saide she, but I haue seene some
ladies whose liuely hewe sadnes hath not one whit
abated, and others whose beautie anger hath en-
creased, which is a strange thing me thinkes. Hap-
lesse is that beauty, saide I, that hath sorrow and
anger the preseruers and mistresses of it, but I cannot
skill of these impertinent things: And yet that
woman, that must needes be molested with con-
tinuall paine and trouble, with greefe and care of
minde and with other passions to make her looke
well, cannot be reckoned among the number of faire
women, and for mine owne part I do not account
her so. Wherein thou hast great reason, saide she,
as in all things else that thou hast saide, thou hast
showed thy selfe wise and discreete. Which I haue
300 THE SHEPHERDESS F ELI S MEN A.
deerely bought, saide I againe : But I beseech you
(gracious Lady) to answer this letter, because my
Lord Don Felix may also haue some contentment, by
receiuing this first well emploied seruice at my hands.
I am content, saide Celia, but first thou must tell me
if Felismena in matters of discretion be wise, and
well aduised ? There was neuer any woman (saide I
againe) more wise than she, bicause she hath beene
long since beaten to it by her great mishaps : but she
did neuer aduise her selfe well, for if she had (as she
was accounted wise) she had neuer come to haue
bene so contrarie to her selfe. Thou speakest so
wisely in all thy answeres, saide Celia, that there is
not any that woulde not take great delight to heare
them : which are not uiands (saide I) for such a
daintie taste, nor reasons for so ingenious and fine a
conceit (faire lady), as you haue, but boldly affirming,
that by the same I meane no harme at all. There is
not any thing, saide Celia, whereunto thy wit cannot
attaine, but because thou shalt not spende thy time so
ill in praising me, as my Master doth in praying me, 1
will reade thy letter, and tell thee what thou shalt say
vnto him from me. Whereupon vnfolding it, she
began to read it to her selfe, to whose countenance
and gestures in reading of the same, which are often
times outwarde signes of the inwarde disposition and
meaning of the hart, I gaue a watchfull eie. And
when she had read it, she said vnto me, Tell thy
Master, that he that can so well by wordes expresse
what he meanes, cannot choose but meane as well as
he saith : and comming neerer unto me, she said
softly in mine eare, And this for the loue of thee,
Valerius, and not for much for Don Felix thy master
his sake, for I see how much thou lovest and tenderest
his estate. And from thence, alas (saide I to my
selfe), did all my woes arise. Whereupon kissing her
hands for the great curtesie and fauour she shewed
THE SHEPHERDESS PEL IS MEN A. 30!
me, I hied me to Don Felix with this answer, which
was no small ioy to him to heare it, and another
death to me to report it, saying rnanie times to my
selfe (when I did either bring him home some ioyfull
tydings or carrie letters or tokens to her), O thrise
vnfortunate Felismena, that with thine owne weapons
art constrained to wounde thy ever-dying hart, and to
heape vp fauours for him, who made so small account
of thine. And so did I passe away my life with so
many torments of minde, that if by the sight of my
Don Felix they had not beene tempered, it could not
haue otherwise beene but that I must needes haue
lost it. More then two monethes togither did Celia
hide from me the feruent loue she bare me, although
not in. such sort, but that by certaine apparant signes
I came to the knowledge thereof, which was no small
lighting and ease of that griefe, which incessantly
haunted my wearied spirites ; for as I thought it a
strong occasion, and the onely meane to make her
vtterly forget Don Felix, so likewise I imagined, that,
perhaps, it might befall to him as it hath done to
many, that the force of ingratitude, and contempt of
his loue, might haue vtterly abolished such thoughtes
out of his hart. But, alas, it happened not so to my
Don Felix ; for the more he perceiued that his ladie
forgot him, the more was his minde troubled with
greater cares and greefe, which made him leade the
most sorrowfull life that might be, whereof the least
part did not fall to my lot. For remedie of whose
sighes and pitious lamentations, poore Felismena
(euen by maine force) did get fauours from Celia,
scoring them up (whensoever she sent them by me)
in the catalogue of my infinite mishaps. For if by
chaunce he sent her anie thing by any of his other
seruants, it was so slenderly accepted, that he thought it
best to send none vnto her but my selfe, perceiuing what
inconuenience did ensue thereof. But God knowes
302 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
how many teares my messages cost me, and so many
they were, that in Celias presence I ceased not to
powre them foorth, earnestly beseeching her with
praiers and petitions not to entreat him so ill,
who loued her so much, bicause I would binde
Don Felix to me by the greatest bonde, as neuer
man in like was bounde to any woman. My
teares greeued Celia to the hart, as well for
that I shed them in her presence, as also for that she
sawe if I meant to loue her, I woulde not (for requitall
of hers to me) haue sollicited her with such diligence,
nor pleaded with such pittie, to get fauours for another.
And thus I liued in the greatest confusion that might
be, amids a thousand anxieties of minde, for I ima
gined with my selfe, that if I made not a shew that I
loued her, as she did me, I did put it in hazard lest
Celia, for despite of my simplicitie or contempt,
woulde haue loued Don Felix more then before, and
by louing him that mine could not haue any good
successe ; and if I fained my selfe, on the other side,
to be in loue with her, it might haue beene an occasion
to haue made her reiect my Lord Don Felix ; so that
with the thought of his loue neglected, and with the
force of her contempt, he might haue lost his content,
and after that, his life, the least of which two mis-
chiefes to preuent I would haue giuen a thousand
liues, if I had them. Manie daies passed away in this
sort, wherein I serued him as a thirde betweene both,
to the great cost of my contentment, at the end
whereof the successe of his loue went on woorse and
woorse, bicause the Loue that Celia did beare me
was so great, that the extreme force of her passion
made her loose some part of that compassion she
should haue had of her selfe. And on a day after
that I had caried and recaried many messages and
tokens betweene them, sometimes faining some my
selfe from her vnto him, bicause I could not see him
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 303
(whom I loued so deerely) so sad and pensiue, with
many supplications and earnest praiers I besought
lady Celia with pittie to regard the painfull life that
Don Felix passed for her sake, and to consider that
by not fauouring him, she was repugnant to that
which she owed to her selfe : which thing I entreated,
bicause I saw him in such a case, that there was no
other thing to be expected of him but death, by reason
of the continuall and great paine which his greeuous
thoughts made him feele. But she with swelling teares
in her eies, and with many sighes, answered me thus,, :
Vnfortunate and accursed Celia, that nowe in the end
dost know how thou liuest deceiued with a false
opinion of thy great simplicitie (vngratefull Valerius)
and of thy small discretion. I did not beleeue till
now that thou didst craue fauours of me for thy
Master, but onely for thy selfe, and to enioy my sight
all that time, that thou diddest spende in suing to me
for them. But now I see thou dost aske them in
earnest, and that thou art so content to see me vse
him well, that thou canst not (without doubt) loue me
at all. O how ill dost thou acquite the loue I beare
thee, and that which, for thy sake, I do nowe forsake?
O that time might reuenge me of thy proude and
foolish minde, since loue hath not beene the meanes
to do it. For I cannot thinke that Fortune will be
so contrarie vnto me, but that she will punish thee for
contemning that great good which she meant to bestow
on thee. And tell thy Lord Don Felix, that if he will
see me aliue, that he see me not at all : And thou, vile
traitour, cruell enemie to my rest, com no more (I
charge thee) before these wearied eies, since their
teares were neuer of force to make thee knowe how
much thou art bound vnto them. And with this she
suddenly flang out of my sight with so many teares,
that mine were not of force to staie her. For in the
greatest haste in the worlde she got into her chamber,
304 THE SHEPHERDESS F ELI S MEN A.
where, locking the dore after her, it auailed me not lo
call and crie unto her, requesting her with amorous
and sweete words to open me the dore, and to take
such satisfaction on me as it pleased her : nor to tell
her many other things, whereby I declared vnto her
the small reason she had to be so angrie with me, and
to shut me out. But with a strange kinde of furie she
saide vnto me, Come no more, vngratefull and proud
Valerius, in my sight, and speake no more unto me,
for thou art not able to make satisfaction for such
great disdaine, and I will haue no other remedie for
the harme which thou hast done me, but death it selfe,
the which with mine owne hands I will take in satis
faction of that, which thou deseruest : which words
when I heard, I staied no longer, but with a heauie
cheere came to my Don Felix his lodging, and, with
more sadnes then I was able to dissemble, tolde him
that I could not speake with Celia, because she was
visited of certaine Gentlewomen her kinsewomen.
But the next day in the morning it was bruted ouer
all the citie, that a certaine trance had taken her that
night, wherein she gaue vp the ghost, which stroke all
the court with no small woonder. But that, which
Don Felix felt by her sudden death, and how neere it
greeued his very soule, as I am not able to tell, so
cannot humane intendement conceiue it, for the com
plaints he made, the teares, the burning sighes, and
hart-breake sobbes, were without all measure and
number. But I saie nothing of my selfe, when on the
one side the vnlucky death of Celia touched my soule
very neere, the teares of Don Felix on the other did
cut my hart in two with greefe : and yet this was
nothing to that intolerable paine which afterwards I
felt. For Don Felix heard no sooner of her death,
but the same night he was missing in his house, that
none of his seruants nor any bodie else could tell any
newes of him.
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 305
Whereupon you may perceiue (faire Nymphes) what
cruell tormentes I did then feele : then did I wish a
thousand times for death to preuent all these woes and
mysteries, which afterwards befell vnto me : for Fortune
(it seemed) was but wearie of those which she had but
till then giuen me. But as all the care and diligence
which I emploied in seeking out my Don Felix was
but in vaine, so I resolued with my selfe to take this
habite vpon me as you see, wherein it is more then
two yeeres since I haue wandered vp and downe,
seeking him in manie countryes : but my Fortune
hath denied me to finde him out, although I am not a
little now bounde vnto her by conducting me hither
at this time, wherein I did you this small piece of
seruice. Which (faire Nymphes) beleeue me, I
account (next after his life in whom I haue put all rny
hope) the greatest content that might haue fallen
vnto me.
The Shepherdesse hauingmade an ende of her sharpe
answer, and Felismena beginning toarbitrate the matter
between them ; they heard a great noise in the other
side of the meadow, like to the sounde of blowes, and
smiting of swordes vpon harneies, as if some armed
men had fought together, so that all of them with
great haste ranne to the place, where they heard the
noise, to see what the matter was. And being come
somewhat neere, they saw in a little Hand (which the
riuer with a round turning had made), three knights
fighting against one. And although he defended him-
selfe valiantly, by shewing his approued strength and
courage, yet the three knights gaue him so much to do,
that he was faine to helpe himselfe by all the force and
pollicie he could. They fought on foote, for their horses
were tied to little trees, that grew thereabouts. And
now by this time, the knight that fought all alone and
defended himselfe, had laide one of them at his feete
VOL. i. u
306 THE SHEPHERDESS PEL ISM EN A.
with a blowe of his good sword, which ended his life.
But the other two that were very strong and valiant,
redoubled their force and blowes so thick on him,
that he looked for no other thing then death. The
Shepherdesse Felismena seeing the knight in so great
danger, and if she did not speedily helpe him, that he
could not escape with life, was not afraide to put hers
in ieopardy, by doing that, which in such a case she
thought, she was bound to performe : wherefore putting
a sharpe headed arrowe into her bowe, shee saide vn'to
them : Keepe out knights, for it is not beseeming men
that make account of this name and honour, to take
aduantage of their enimies with so great oddes. And
ayming at the sight of one of their helmets, she burst
it with such force, that the arrow running into his
eies, came out of the other side of his head, so that
he fell downe dead to the ground. When the dis
tressed knight sawe two of his enimies dead, he ran
vpon the third with such force, as if he had but then
begun the combat ; but Felismena helped him out of
that trouble, by putting another arrow into her bow,
the which transpiercing his armour, she left vnder his
left pap, and so iustly smote his heart, that this knight
also followed his two companions. When the Shep
herds and the knight beheld what Felismena had done,
and how at two shootes she had killed two such
valiant knights, they were all in great wonder. The
knight therefore taking off his helmet, and comming
unto her saide, How am I able (faire Shepherdesse)
to requite so great a benefite, and good turne, as I
have received at thy hands this day, but by acknow
ledging this debt for euer in my gratefull minde.
When Felismena beheld the knights face, and knew
him, her sences were so troubled, that being in such a
traunce she could scarce speake, but comming to her-
selfe againe, she answered him. Ah my Don Felix,
this is not the first debt, wherein thou art bound vnto
THE SHEPHERDESS PEL IS MEN A. 307
me. And I cannot beleeue, that thou wilt acknow
ledge this (as thou saiest) no more then thou hast
clone greater then this before. Beholde to what a
time and ende my fortune and thy forgetnesse hath
brought me, that she that was woont to be sensed of
thee in the citie with Tilt and Tourneyes, and hon
oured with many other things, whereby thou didst
decieue me (or I suffered my selfe to be deceiued)
doth nowe wander vppe and downe, exiled from her
natiue countrey and libertie, for vsing thus thine owne.
If this brings thee not into the knowledge of that
which thou owest me, remember how one whole yeere
I serued thee as thy page in the Princesse Cesarinas
Court : and how I was a solicitor against my selfe,
without discouering my selfe, or my thoughts vnto
thee, but onley to procure thy remedie, and to helpe
the greefe, which thine made thee feele. How many
times did I get thee fauours from thy mistresse Celia
to the great cost of my teares and greefes : all which
account but small Don Felix in respect of those
dangers (had they beene vnsufficient) wherein I would
haue spent my life for redresse of thy paines, which
thy iniurious loue affoorded thee. And vnlesse thou
art weary of the great loue that I haue borne thee,
consider and weigh with thy selfe the strange effects,
which the force of loue hath caused me to passe. I
wrent out of my natiue countrey, and came to serue
thee, to lament the ill that thou. did'st suffer, to take
vpon me the iniuries and disgraces that I receiued
therein ; and to giue thee any content, I cared not to
lead the most bitter and painefull life that euer
woman liued. In the habite of a tender and daintie
Ladie I loued thee more then thou canst imagine, and
in the habite of a base page I serued thee (a thing
more contrarie to my rest and reputation then I
meane now to reherse), and yet now in the habite of a
poore and simple Shepherdesse I came to do thee
308 THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
this small seruice. What remaines then more for me
to doe, but to sacrifice my life to thy louelesse soule, if
with the same yet, I could giue thee more content :
and if in lieu therof thou wouldest but remember,
how nvuch I haue loued, & do yet loue thee : here
hast thou thy sword in thy hand ; let none therefore
but .thy selfe reuenge the offence that I haue done
thee. When the Knight heard Felismenas words,
and .knew them all to be as true as he was disloyall,
his hart by this strange & sudden accident recouered
some force againe to see what great iniurie he had
done her, so that the thought thereof, and the plente
ous effusion of blood that issued out of his woundes,
made him like a dead man fall downe in a swoune at
faire Felismenas feete. Who with great care, and no
lesse feare, laying his head in her lap, with showers of
teare-s that ;• rained from her eies, vpon the Knights
pale visage, began thus to lament. What meanes this
cruell Fortune ? Is the periode of my life come iust
with the last ende of my Don Felix his daies ? Ah
my Don Felix (the cause of all my paine) if the plente
ous teare-s, which for thy sake I haue shed, are not
sufficient : and these which I now distill vpon thy
louely cheekes, too fewe to make thee come to thy
selfe againe, what remedie shall this miserable soule
haue to preuent, that this bitter ioy by seeing thee,
turne not into occasion of vtter despaire. Ah my
Don Felix, Awake my loue, if thou dost but sleepe,
or beest in a traunce, although I would not woonder if
thou dost not, since neuer any thing that I could do,
preuailed with thee to frame my least content. And
in these and other lamentations was faire Felismena
plunged, whom the Portugall Shepherdesses with their
teares and poore supplies, endeuored to incourage,
when on the sudden they saw a faire Nymph comming
ouer the stony causey that lead the way into the
Ilande, with a golden bottel in one hand, & a
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 309
sillier one in the other, whom Felismena knowing by
and by, saide vnto her, Ah Doria, could any come
at this time to succour me, but thou faire Nymph?
Come hither then, & thou shalt see the cause of al
my troubles, the substance of my sighs, & the obiect
of my thoughts, lying in the greatest danger of death
that may be. In like occurrents (saide Doria) vertue
and a good hart must take place. Recall it then
(faire Felismena) and reuiue thy daunted spirits,
trouble not thy selfe any more, for no we is the ende
of thy sorrowes and the beginning of thy contentment
come. And speaking these wordes, she besprinkled
his face with a certaine odoriferous water which she
brought in the siluer bottle, whereby he came to his
memorie againe, and then saide vnto him, If thou
wilt recouer thy life, Sir Knight, and giue it her that
hath passed such an ill one for thy sake, drinke of the
water in this bottle : The which Don Felix taking in
his hande, drunke a good draught, and resting vpon it
a little, founde himselfe so whole of his wounds, which
the three knights had giuen him, and of that, which
the loue of Celia had made in his brest, that now he
felt the paine no more<, which either of them had
caused in him, then if he had neuer had them. And
in this sort he began to rekindle the old loue, that he
bare to Felismena, the which (he thought) was neuer
more zealous then now. Whereupon sitting downe vpon
thegreene grasse,hee tooke his Lady and Shepherdesse
by the hands, and kissing them manie time saide thus
vnto her. How small account would I make of my
life (my deerest Felismena) for cancelling that great
bond, wherein (with more then life) I am for euer
bound vnto thee : for since I enioy it by thy meanes,
I thinke it no more then right, to restore thee that
which is thine owne. With what eies can I behold
thy peerelesse beautie, which (though vnaduisedly) I
knew not to be such, yet how dare I (for that which I
3IO THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA.
owe thee) cast them in any other part ? What wordes
are sufficient to excuse the faults, that I haue com
mitted against thy faith, and firmest loue, and loyaltie ?
Wretched and accursed for euer shall I be, if thy con
dition and 'clemencie be not enclined to my fauour
and pardon : for no satisfaction can suffice for so
great an offence, nor reason to excuse me for that,
which thou hast to forget me. Truth it is, that I
loued Celia well, and forgot thee, but not in such sort
that thy wisedome and beautie did euer slide out of
my minde. And the best is, that I knowe not where
in to put this fault, that may be so iustly attributed to
me ; for if I will impute it to the yoongage that I was
then in, since I had it to loue thee, I shoulde not
haue wanted it to haue beene firme in the faith that I
owed thee. If to Celias beautie, it is cleere, that
thine did farre excell hers and all the worlds besides.
If to the change of time, this shoulde haue beene the
touchstone which should haue shewed the force and
vertue of my firmenes. If to iniurious and trayterous
absence, it serues as little for my excuse, since the
desire of seeing thee should not haue been absent
from supporting thy image in my memorie. Behold
then Felismena, what assured trust I put in thy good-
nes, that (without any other meanes) I dare put be
fore thee, the small reason thou hast to pardone me.
But what shall I doe to purchase pardon at thy
gracious hands, or after thou hast pardoned me, to
beleeue, that thou art satisfied : for one thing greeves
me more then any thing else in the world, and this it
is. That, though the loue which thou hast borne me,
and wherewith thou dost yet blesse me, is an occasion
(perhaps) to make thee forgiue me, and forget so
many faults : yet I shal neuer lift vp mine eies to be
hold thee, but that euerie iniurie, which I have done
thee, will be worse than a mortal incision in my
guiltie hart. The Shepherdesse Felismena, who saw
THE SHEPHERDESS FELISMENA. 31 I
Don Felix so penitent for his passed misdeedes, and so
affectionately returned to his first thoughts, with many
teares told him, that she did pardon him, bicause the
loue, that she had euer borne him, would suffer her to
do no lesse : which if she had not thought to do, she
would neuer haue taken so great paines and so many
wearie iourneyes to seeke him out, and many other
things, wherewith Don Felix was confirmed in his
former loue. Whereupon the faire Nymph Doria
came then to the Knight, and after many louing words
and courteous offers in the Ladie Felicias behalfe
passed betweene them, she requested him and faire
Felismena to goe with her to Dianas Temple, where
the sage Ladie (with great desire to see them) was at
tending their comming. Don Felix agreed thereunto,
and taking their leaue of the Portugal! Shepherdesses
(who wondered not a little to see what had happened)
and of the woefull Shepherd Danteus, mounting vpon
the horses of the dead Knights that were slaine in the
late combate, they went on their waie. And as they
were going, Felismena told Don Felix with great ioy,
what she had past since she had last scene him, which
made him to marvell verie much, and especially at the
death of the three Sauages, and at the Palace of the
sage Ladie Felicia, and successe of the Shepherds
and Shepherdesses, and at euerie thing else contained
in this booke. And Don Felix wondred not a little
to vnderstand how his Ladie Felismena had serued
him so many daies as his page, and that he was so
far gon out of his wits and memorie, that he knew her
not all that while. And his ioy on the other side, to
see that his Ladie loued him so well, was so great,
that by no meanes he could hide it. Thus therefore
riding on their way, they came to Dianas Temple,
where the sage Felicia was looking for their comming :
and likewise the Shepherd Arsileus, and Belisa, Syl-
uanus, and Seluagia, who were now come thither not
312 THE SHEPHERDESS F ELI S MEN A.
many dales before. They were welcomed on euerie
side, and with great ioy intertained ; but faire Felis-
mena especially, who for hir rare vertues and singular
beautie was greatly honored of them all. There they
were all married with great ioy, feasts, and triumphes,
which were made by all the goodly Nymphes, and by
the sage and noble Ladie Felicia ; the which Syrenus
with his comming augmented not a little.
MERCHANT OF VENICE.
To what Mr Collier printed in his edition we have now added
the curious old ballads of the "Northern Lord," of which an
edition exists coeval, or nearly so, with Shakespeare's time, and
•which contains the story of the bond, and of " Gerutus, the Jew
of Venice."
Another play, called "The Jew," is cited by Gosson in his
" School of Abuse," 1579, as then, or at an earlier date, in favour,
and as one of the pieces performed at the Bull Theatre.
The story of the three caskets is given in Morlini's "Novelle,"
Nov. 5, as pointed out by Douce (" Illustr." ii. 276), and that
critic seems to trace the origin of all these stories, as regards
their general structure, to the classical legend of Prometheus.
MR COLLIER'S INTRODUCTION.
THE story of " The Merchant of Venice," as regards
the penalty of flesh for the non-payment of money at
a stipulated time, is unquestionably of oriental origin.
It was, however, written in Italian, by Giovanni Fio-
rentino, as early as 1378, although not printed until
nearly two centuries afterwards. Whether it had pre
viously found a place in the "Gesta Romanorum"
may be a question of difficult solution, but we cer
tainly trace it there at a very early date. It has
been printed by Mr Wright, in his " Latin Stories of
the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries," which he
compiled for the Percy Society, and which includes
many other interesting and highly curious early nar
ratives illustrative of our ancient literature. It is there
entitled (p. 114), " De Milite conventionem faciente
cum Mercatore ;" but the merchant is not represented
as a Jew, and the contract is, " conventio talis erit,
quod mihi cartam unam de sanguine tuo facias, quod
si diem inter nos non tenueris assignatam, libere ha-
beam sine conditione omnes carnes tui corporis evel-
lere cum gladio acuto." In the novel in " II Pecorone"
of Giovanni Fiorentino, the lender of the money
(under very similar circumstances, and the wants of
the Christian borrower arising out of nearly the same
events), is a Jew, and there also we have the
" equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me."
3 T 6 INT ROD UC TIQN.
The words in the Italian are, " che '1 Giudeo gli
potesse levare una libra di carne d'addosso di qua-
lumque luogo e' volesse," which are so nearly like
those of Shakespeare as to lead us to believe that he
followed here some literal translation of the novel in
" II Pecorone." None, such has, however, reached
our time, and the version we have printed at the foot
of the Italian was made and published in 1755.
The translation, which we may suppose to have
existed in the time of Shakespeare, was not the occa
sion of the " Declamation," as it is called, in the work
entitled "The Orator," printed in 1598, because that
was " englished " from the French of Silvayn, by
Anthony Munday, under the assumed name of La
zarus Plot. We know that Shakespeare's " Merchant
of Venice" was written before 159$, because in that
year it is mentioned by Francis Meres in his " Pal-
ladis Tamia," 1598; and the "Declamation," with
" The Christian's Answer," as given by Munday, does
not seem to refer to the same incidents as those in
the play, because we are told that " the ordinary judge
of the place appointed him (the Jew) to cut a just
pound of the Christian's flesh ; and if he cut either
more or less, then his own head should be smitten off."
Nothing is here hinted at of the intervention of Portia,
nor is anything said of the consequences of shedding
" one drop of Christian blood."
It seems at least a plausible supposition that " The
Merchant of Venice" had been preceded by some
drama upon similar incidents ; for in his " School of
Abuse," 1579 (Shakespeare Society's reprint, p. 30),
Stephen Gosson especially praises a play called " The
Jew," which, he adds, " represented the greediness of
worldly chusers, and bloody minds of usurers."
The words the " greediness of worldly chusers " lead
us to notice the final portion of our present publication,
for they seem to refer to that part of the plot of " The
INTRODUCTION. 317
Merchant of Venice" which relates to the choice of
the caskets. The work known as the " Gesta Ro-
manorum " is here again resorted to ; and as certain
portions of it had been translated and published as
early as 1577, by Robinson, we have reprinted what
relates to the selection of one out of three caskets by
a young princess. The connecting link between this
story and Shakespeare's play is the description of the
caskets themselves, and of the inscriptions upon them,
which closely resemble those given in " The Merchant
of Venice." Tyrwhitt was of opinion that Shakespeare
" followed some unknown novelist, who saved him
the trouble of working the two stories into one."
Such may have been the fact ; but it is also not at all
impossible, and Gosson seems to hint as much, that
in the old play of " The Jew," which had been " shown
at the Bull" before 1579, the incidents regarding the
pound of flesh and the three caskets were united.
NOVELS, &c.,
MORE OR LESS RESEMBLING
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE,
i.— THE ADVENTURES OF GIANNETTO.
[From the Pecorone of Ser Giovanni Fiorentino,
Milano 1558.]
EGLI hebbe in Firenze in casa gli Scali tin mer-
catante, il quali hebbe nome Bindo ; il quale
era stato piu volte e alia Tana, e in Alessandria, e
in tutti que' gran viaggi che si fanno con le merca-
tantie. Era questo Bindo assai ricco, e haveva tre
figliuoli maschi grandi ; et venendo a morte, chiamo
il maggior e '1 mezzano, et fece in lor presenza testa-
mento, et lascio lor due heredi di cio ch' egli haveva
al mondo ; e al minore non lascio niente. Fatto
ch' egli hebbe testamento, il figliuol minore, che
THERE lived at Florence, in the house of the Scali, a mer
chant whose name was Bindo, who had been several times at
Tana, and at Alexandria, and had made the other long voyages
usually made by the merchants. This Bindo was rich, and had
three sons grown to man's estate. He being near his end,
called for the two eldest, and in their presence made his will,
and left these two heirs of every thing he had in the world ; to
320 GIORNATA QUARTA.
haveva nome Giahnetto, sentendo questo andb a tro-
varlo al letto, et gli disse, Padre mio, io mi maraviglio
forte di quello che voi havete fatto, a non esservi
ricordato di me su '1 testamento. Rispose il padre,
Giannetto mio, e' non e creatura : a cui voglia meglio
che a te et pero 6 io non voglio che dopo la morte mia
tu stia qui, anzi voglio, com' io son morto, che tu te ne
vada a Vinegia a un tuo santolo, che ha nome messere
Ansaldo, il quale non ha figliuolo nessuno, e hammi
scritto piii volte ch; io te gli mandi. Et sotti dire chj
egli e il piu ricco mercatante che sia hoggi tra Chris-
tiani. Et pero voglio, che come io son morto tu te
ne vada a lui, et gli porti questa lettera : et se tu
saprai fare, tu rimarrai ricco huomo. Disse il fig
liuolo, Padre mio, io sono apparecchiato a fare cid
che voi mi comandate: di che il padre gli die la
benedizione, et ivi a pochi di si mon, et tutti i fig-
liuoli ne fecero grandissimo lamento, et fecero al
corpo quello honore che si gli conveniva. Et poi ivi
a pochi di questi due frateli chiamarono Giannetto,
et si gli dissero, Fratello nostro, egli e vero che nostro
padre fece testamento, et lascib heredi noi, et di te
the youngest he left nothing. The will being made, this
youngest, whose name was Giannetto, hearing what had been
done, went to his father's bed-side, and said to him, What has
my father done ? not to have mentioned me in his will is some
what extraordinary. The father replied, My dear Giannetto,
there is no creature living to whom I wish better than to you ;
and therefore 'tis my desire that you leave this city after my
death, and that you go to Venice to your godfather, whose
name is Ansaldo ; he has no child, and has wrote to me _ often
to send you there to him ; and I can tell you, he is the richest
merchant amongst the Christians ; and therefore it is my request,
that as soon as I am dead, you go and carry this letter to him,
and if you behave well, you will be certainly a rich man. The
son answered, I am ready to do whatever my dear father shall
command : upon which he gave him his benediction, and in a
few days died.
The sons all made great lamentation at his death, and paid
G 10 R NAT A QUART A. 321
non fe veruna menzione : nondimeno tu se pure nosto
fratello, et per tanto a quell' hora manchi a te, che a
noi, quello che c' e. Rispose Gianetto, Fratelli miei,
10 vi ringratio della vostra proferta ; ma quanto a me,
I'animo mio e d'andare a procacciare mia ventura in
qualche parte ; et cosi son fermo di fare, et voi v'
habbiate 1' heredita segnata et benedetta. Onde i
fratelli veggendo la volonta sua, diedergli un cavallo
et danari per le spese. Gianetto prese commiatto da
loro, et andossene a Vinegia, et giunse al fondaco di
messere Ansaldo, et diegli la lettera che Jl padre gli
haveva dato innanzi che morisse. Perche messere
Ansaldo leggendo questa lettera, conobbe che costui
era il figliuolo del suo carissimo .Bindo ; e come T
hebbe letta, di subito 1' abraccio, dicendo, ben venga
11 figliuoccio mio, il quale io ho tanto desiderate : et
subito Io domando di Bindo ; dove Giannetto gli
rispose ch' egli era morto : percho'egli con molte
lagrime 1'abbraccio et bascib, et disse, ben mi duole
la morte di Bindo, perch'egli m' aiuto guadagnare
gran parte di quel ch' io ho ; ma tanta e 1' allegrezza
ch'io ho hora di te, che mitiga quel dolore. Et
all necessary honours to his corpse. Some days after, the two
brothers sent for Giannetto, and told him, Brother, it is true
that our father made a will, and we two are left his heirs, with
out any mention of you ; nevertheless, you are our brother, and
shall have the command of every thing as much as we our
selves ; you shall , not want till we are in want. Giannetto
replied to this, My dear brothers, I thank you most heartily for
your offer, but I am resolved to seek my fortune in some other
place, and do you enjoy here the riches left to you. His
brothers, finding him determined, made him a present of a
horse, and money to bear his expenses. Giannetto took leave
of them, and went to Venice, to the counting-house of Ansaldo,
and presented the letter given by the father before his death.
Ansaldo reading the letter, knew this young man to be the son
of his dearest friend Bindo ; and having finished the letter, ran
immediately to embrace him, crying out, My dearest godson,
whom I have so long wished to see, is welcome to my arms.
VOL. I. X
322 GIORNATA QUART A.
fecelo menare a casa, et comando a fattori suoi, e a
compagni, e a scudieri, e a fanti, e quanti n'erano in
casa, che Giannetto fosse ubidito et servito piu che
la sua persona. Et prima aUui con segno le chiavi di
tutti i suoi contanti, et disse, Figliuolo mio, cib che
c' e spendi, et vesti, et calza hoggi mai come ti piace,
et metti tavola a cittadini, et fatti conoscere : perb
ch'io lascio a te questo pensiero, et tanto meglio ti
vorrb, quanto phi ben ti farai volere. Perche Gian
netto comincib a usare co' gentilhuomini di Vinegia,
a fare corti, desinari, a donare, et vestir famigli e a
comperare di buoni corsieri, e a giostrare e bagordare,
come quel ch'era esperto, et pratico, et magnonimo,
et cortese in ogni cosa ; et ben sapeva fare honore
et cortesia dove si conveniva : et sempre rendeva
honore a messere Ansaldo piu che se fosse stato cento
volte suo padre. Et seppesi si saviamente mantenere
con ogni maniera di gente, che quasi il commune di
Vinegia gli voleva bene, veggendolo tanto savio, et
con tanta piaeevolezza, et cortese oltre a misura : di
che le donne et gli huomini ne pare vano innamorati ;
et messere Ansaldo non vedeva piu oltre che lui,
Then asking news of his father, Giannetto replied, He is dead.
Embracing him again with tears, and kissing him, I am much
grieved, replied Ansaldo to hear of the death of Bindo ; by his
assistance it was that I got the greatest part of what I am
worth ; but the joy I feel in seeing you mitigates my sorrow
for the loss of him. He conducted him to his house, and gave
orders to his clerks, his grooms, his servants, and every one in
the house, that Giannetto should be obeyed, and served with
more attention than had been paid to himself. He then de
livered him the keys of his ready money ; and told him. Son,
spend this money in dressing and equipping yourself in the
manner you like best ; keep a table to entertain company, and
make yourself known ; I shall leave it to you to do as you think
best ; and remember, that the more you gain the goodwill of
everybody, the more you will be dear to me.
Giannetto now began to visit and frequent the gentlemen of
Venice, to give entertainments, had a number of servants, and
GIORNATA QUARTA. 323
tanto gli piacevano i modi et le maniere sue. Ne si
faceva quasi niuna festa in Venegia, che 1' detto
Giannetto non vi fosse invitato, tanto gli era voluto
bene da ogni persona. Ora avvenne che due suoi
cari compagni volsero andare in Alessandria con loro
mercatantie, con due navi, com' erano usati di fare
ogni anno, onde eglino il dissero k Giannetto, di-
cendo, Tu devresti dilettarti del mare con noi, per
vedere del mondo, et massimamente quel Damasco,1
et quel paese di la. Rispose Giannetto, In buona
fe chio verrei molto volentieri, se '1 padre mio
messere Ansaldo mi desse la parola. Disser cestoro,
Noi faremo si ch'e te la dar&, et sara contento.
Et subito se n'andarono a messer Ansaldo, et
dissero, Noi vi vogliamo pregare, che vi piaccia di
dare parola a Giannetto che ne venga in questa pri-
mavera con noi in Alessandria, et che gli forniate
qualche legno b nave, accio ch'egli vegga un poco
del mondo. Disse messere Ansaldo, lo son contento,
se piace a lui. Risposero costoro, Messere,2 egli e
contento. Perche messere Ansaldo subito gli fe
fornire una bellissima nave, et fella caricare di molta
bought good horses to assist at all tiltings and tournaments, and
such like exercises, at which he excelled ; being adroit, expert,
well-bred, and knowing how to do the honours on all the occa
sions that offered ; particularly to Ansaldo, he was more obedient
and courteous than if he had been an hundred times his lather.
He conducted himself so discreetly with all sorts of people, that
almost everybody in Venice was fond of him, and loved him
greatly. Ansaldo could think of nothing but him ; so much
was he pleased with his good manners and behaviour. There
was scarce any party of pleasure in Venice to which Giannetto
was not invited, so much was he esteemed by all.
Now it happened, that two of his most intimate acquaintance
had designed to go with two ships, laden with merchandize, to
Alexandria, as was usual every year ; they told Giannetto he
would do well to take pleasure in a voyage at sea with them, to
1 Domasco in text. 2 Missere in text.
324 GIORNATA QUARTA.
mercatantia, et guernire di bandiere et d' armi quanto
fe mestiero. Et dipoi ch'ella fu acconcia, messere
Ansaldo commando al padrone et a gli altri, ch'erano
al servitio della nave, che facessero cio che Giannetto
commandasse loro, et che fosse loro raccomandato ;
perb ch'io non lo mando, diceva egli, per guadagno ch'io
voglia ch'e' faccia, ma perch' egli vada a suo diletto
veggendo il mondo. Et quando Giannetto fu per
montare tutta Vinegia trasse a vedere, perche di gran
tempo non era uscita di Vinegia una nave tarito bella,
et tanto ben fornita, quanto quella. Et a ogni persona
incresceva della sua partita : et cosi prese commiato da
messere Ansaldo et tutti i suoi- compagni, e entrarono
in mare, e alzarono le-vele, et presero il camino d'
Alessandria nel nome di Dio, et di buona ventura.
Ora essendo questi tre compagni in tre navi, et
navicando piu ,e phi di, avvenne che una mattina
innanzi giorno il detto Giannetto vide un golfo di
mare con un bellissimo porto, et domando il padrone
come si chiamava quel porto j il quale gli rispose,
Messere, quel luogo e d'una gentildonna vedova, la
quale ha fatto pericolare molti signori. Disse Gian-
see the world, and more especially Damascus, and the countries
near it. Giannetto said, In good faith I would go willingly if
my father Ansaldo will give leave. We will manage so well
with him, his companions answered, as to make him content.
They go to Ansaldo, and beg his permission for Giannetto to
go in the spring with them to Alexandria ; and desire 'him to
provide him a ship, that he might see a little of the world.
Ansaldo said he would give leave if the other desired it. They
answered, it was his desire. Ansaldo immediately provided a
very fine ship, and loaded it with merchandize, and adorned it
with streamers, and furnished it with arms as many as were
necessary ; and as soon as it was ready, he gave orders to the
captain and sailors to do every thing Giannetto commanded. He
told them, he did not send him in hopes of great gain, but to
see the world at his pleasure. And when Giannetto was going
on board, all Venice was gathered to see him ; for there had not,
for a long time, so fine a ship been seen to sail from thence.
GIORNATA QUART A. 325
netto, Come ? Rispose costui, Messere, questa e
una bella donna et vaga, et tiene questa legge ; che
chiunque v' arriva, convien che dorma con lei ; et s'
egli ha a far seco convien ch'e' la tolga per moglie, et
e signora del porto et di tutto'l paese. Et s'egli non
ha a fare con lei, perde tutto cio ch' egli ha. Penso
Giannetto fra se un poco, et poi disse ; Trova ogni
modo che tu vuoi, et pommi a quel porto. Disse il
padrone, Messere, guardate cio che voi dite, pero
che molti signori vi sono iti, che ne sono rimasi
diserti. Disse Giannetto, Non t' impacciare in altro ;
fa quel ch'io ti dico j et cosi fu fatto, che subito
volsero la nave, et calaronsi in quel porto, che i
compagni dell' altre navi non se ne furono accorti
niente. Perche la..mattina si sparse la novella, come
questa bella nave era giunta in porto ; tal che tutta la
gente trasse a vedere ; et fu subito detto alia donna,
si ch'ella mando per Giannetto, il quale incon-
tanente fu a lei, et con molta riverenza la salutb; et
ella lo prese per mano, et domandollo chi egli era, et
donde, et se e' sapeva V usanza del paese. Rispose
Giannetto ; che si, et che non v' era ito per nessuna
Everybody was concerned at his departure. He took his leave
of Ansaldo and his acquaintance ; and putting out to sea, they
hoisted the sails, and stood for Alexandria. The three friends
with their ships sailing in company for some days, it happened
one morning early, that Giannetto saw a gulph, with a fine
port, and asked the captain how the port was called ? He re
plied, That place belongs to a widow lady, who has ruined many
gentlemen. In what manner? says Giannetto. He answers,
This lady is a fine and beautiful woman, and has made a law,
that whosoever arrives here is obliged to go to bed with her,
and if he can have the enjoyment of her, he must take her for
his wife, and be lord of the port, and all the country ; but if
he cannot enjoy her, he loses every thing he has brought with
him. Giannetto, after alittle reflection, tells the captain to do every
thing in his power to get into the port. The captain bids him
consider what he had commanded ; that many persons had gone
in who had been stripped of every thing. Giannetto tells him
326 GIORNATA QUARTA.
altra cosa. Et ella disse, Et voi siate il ben venuto
per cento volte ; et cosi gli fece tutto quel giorno
grandissimo honore, et fece invitare baroni, et conti,
et cavalieri assai, ch' ella haveva sotto se, perch' e'
tenessero compagnia a costui. Piacque molto a tutti
i baroni la maniera di Giannetto, e'l stio essere cos-
tumato, et piacevole, et parlante ; si che quasi ogniuno
se ne innamorb, et tutto quel giorno si danzb, et si
canto, et fecesi festa nella corte per amore di Gian
netto j e ogniuno sarebbe slato contento d'haverlo
havuto per signore. Ora venendo la sera la donna lo
prese per mano, et menollo in camera, et disse, E' mi
pare hora d7 andarsi a letto. Rispose Giannetto,
Madonna, io sono a voi ; et subito vennero due
damigelle, Funa con vino, et F altra con confetti.
Disse la donna, Io so, che voi avete colto sete, pero
bevete. Giannetto prese de confetti, et bevve di
questo vino, il quale era lavorato da far dormire, et
egli nol sapeva, et hebbene una mezza tazza, perche
gli parve buono ; et subitamente si spoglib, e an-
dossi a riposare. Et come egli giunse nel letto, cosi
fu addormentato. La donna si coricb a lato a costui,
not to trouble himself on that score ; do what I order. He was
obeyed ; and in an instant they turned the ship, and slide into
the port so easily that the other ships perceived nothing.
In the morning the news was spread of a fine ship being
arrived in the port, so that everybody ran to see it. The lady
was informed soon of it, and sent for Giannetto, who waited on
her immediately, and salutes her with a low bow. She, taking
him by the hand, asks him who he is ? from whence he came ?
and if he knew the custom of the country ? He answers in the
affirmative ; and that the knowledge of that custom was his only
reason for coming. The lady replies, You are a hundred times
welcome ; and that day paid him great honours, and sent for
her barons, counts, and knights in great number, who were her
subjects, to keep Giannetto company. These nobles were highly
delighted with the good breeding and manners of Giannetto ;
every one was in raptures with him, and the whole day was
spent in musick and dancing, and feasting at the court, in honour
GIORNATA QUARTA. 327
che mai non si risenti infino alia mattina, ch'era passata
terza. Perche la donna quando fu giorno si levb, e fe
cominciare a scaricare la nave, la quale trovb piena di
molta ricca et buona mercatantia. Ora essendo passata
la terza, le cameriere della donna andarono al letto a
Giannetto, et fecerlo levare, et dissergli, che s'andasse
con Dio ; perb ch'egli haveva perduto la nave, cio et v'
che era; di ch' e' si vergognb, e parvegli avere mal fatto.
La donna gli fece dare im cavallo, et danari per le spese,
et egli se n' andb tristo et doloroso, e vennesene verso
Vinegia ; dove come fu giunto, non voile andare a casa
per vergogna, ma di notte se n' ando a casa d' un suo
compagno, il qual si maraviglib molto, et gli disse,
Oirne Giannetto, ch'e questo ? Et egli rispose, La
nave mia percosse una notte in uno scoglio, et
ruppesi, et fracassossi ogni cosa, et chi ando qua, et
chi la ; io m' attenni & un pezzo di legno, che mi
gittb a proda, et cosi me ne sono venuto per terra, et
son qui. Giannetto stette piii giorni in casa di questo
suo compagno, il quale andb un di a visitare messere
Ansaldo, et trovollo molto maninconso. Disse
messere Ansaldo, Io ho si grande la paura, che questo
of him ; and all would have been rejoiced to have him for their
lord.
The night being come, the lady taking him by the hand, and
leading him to her chamber, said, It seems to be time to go to
bed. Giannetto tells the lady he is entirely devoted to her
service ; and immediately two damsels enter with wine and
sweet meals. The lady say?, she is sure he must be thirsty ;
and entreats him to taste the wine : he takes the sweet meats
and drinks some of the wine, which was prepared with ingre
dients to cause sleep ; this he was ignorant of, and drank half
the cup, as he found it to his taste. He then undresses himself,
:md goes into the bed, where he instantly falls asleep ; the lady
lays in the bed by his side : he never wakes till late in the
morning ; but the lady rose with the sun, and gave orders to
unload the vessel, which she found full of rich and costly mer
chandize. After nine o'clock, the women servants of the lady
go to the bedside, order Giannetto to rise and be gone, for he
328 G 10 R NAT A QUART A.
mio figliuolo non sia morto, 6 che '1 mare non gli
faccia male, ch'io non trovo luogo, et non ho bene ;
tanto e 1'amore ch'io gli porto. Disse questo giovane,
lo ve ne so dire novelle, ch'egli ha rotto in mare,
et perduto ogni cosa, salvo ch' egli e campato. Disse
messere Ansaldo, Lodato sia Dio; pur ch' egli sia
campato, io son contento ; dell' havere ch'e perduto
non mi euro. Ov' e ? Questo giovane risposse, Egli
e in casa mia ; et di subito messere Ansaldo si mosse,
et voile andare a vederlo ; et com' egli lo vide subito
corse ad abracciarlo, et disse, Figliuol mio, non ti bis-
ogna vergognar di me, ch'egli e usanza che delle navi
rompano in mare ; et perb, figliuol mio non ti sgo-
mentare; poiche non t' hai fatto male, io son contento ;
et menosselo a casa, sempre confortandolo. La no
vella si sparse per tutta Vinegia, e a ogniuno incres-
ceva del danno che havea havuto Giannetto. Ora
avvenne ch' indi a poco tempo quei suoi compagni
tornarono d' Alessandria, et tutti ricchi, et com' eglino
giunsero, domandarono di Giannetto, et fu loro detta
ogni cosa : perche subito corsero ad abbracciarlo
dicendo, Come ti partisti tu, 6 dove andasti, che noi
had lost the ship and every thing belonging to it. He was much
ashamed ; and then perceived that he had been guilty of great
folly. The lady gave him a horse, and money for his pocket,
and he leaves the place very sorrowful and melancholy, and
goes forwards on the way towards Venice. When he arrives,
he dares not return home for shame ; but at night goes to the
house of a friend, who is surprised to see him, and inquires of
him the cause of his return ? He answers, his ship had struck
on a rock in the night, and was broke in pieces, and every thing
destroyed ; he held fast a great piece of wood, which threw him
on shore, and so he came there by land.
He staid many days in the house of this friend, who going
one day to make a visit to Ansaldo, and finding him very dis
consolate : I fear, says Ansaldo, so much, that this son of mine
is either dead, or that the sea does not agree with him, that I have
no rest day or night ; so great is my love to him. The friend
told him, he could tell him news of him ; that he had been ship-
GIORNATA QUART A. 329
non potemmo mai sapere nulla di te, et tornammo
indietro tutto quel giorno, ne' mai ti potemmo vedere,
ne sapere dove tu fossi ito; e n' habbiamo havuto
tanto dolore, che per tutto questo camino non ci
siamo potuti rallegrare, credendo che tu fossi morto ?
Rispose Giannstto, E; si-levo un vento in contrario in
un gomito di mare, che menb la nave mia a piombo
a ferire in uno sooglio ch'era p res so a terra, che ap-
pena campai ; e ogni cosa andb sottosopra. Et questa
e la scusa che Gianneto die, per non iscoprire il
difetto suo. Et si fecero insieme la festa grande,
ringraziando Iddio pur ch'egli era campato ; dicendo,
A quest' altra primavera, con la gratia di Dio, guad-
agneremo cio che tu hai perduto a questa volta; et pero
attendiamo a darci buon tempo senza maninconia.
E cosi attesero a darsi piaeere et buon tempo, com'-
erano usati prima. Ma pure Giannetto non faceva se
non pensare, com' egli potesse tornare a quella donna,
imaginando et dicendo, Per certo e' conviene ch'io 1'
habbia per moglie, 6 io vi morrb ; et quasi non si
poteva rallegrare. Per che messere Ansaldo gli disse
piii volte, Non ti dare maninconia, che non hab-
wreckt, and had lost his all ; but that he himself was safe. God
be praised, says Ansaldo ; if he be alive, I am satisfy'd : I do
not value the loss of the ship : where is he? The young man
reply'd, He is at my house. Ansaldo instantly gets up, and
runs to find him, and when he saw him, embracing him, My
dear son, says he, you need not fear my displeasure for what
has happened ; it is a common accident ; trouble yourself no
farther ; as you have received no hurt, all is well. He takes
him home, all the way telling him to be chearful and easy.
The news of this accident was soon known all over Venice,
and every one was concerned for the loss Giannetto had sus
tained. Some time after this, his companions arrived from
Alexandria very rich, and demanded what was become of their
friend, and having heard the story, they ran to see and em
brace him, asking him in what manner he parted from them ?
where he went? that they could hear nothing of him ; that they
sailed backwards and forwards all that day3 and could not see
330 GIORNATA QUARTA.
biamo tanta roba, che noi ci possiamo stare molto
bene. Rispose Giannetto, Signer mio, io non saro
mai contento, se io non rifo un' altra volta questa
andata. Onde veggendo pure messere Ansaldo la
volonta sua, quando fu il tempo gli forni un' altra
nave di piu mercatantia che la prima, et di piu valuta,
tal che in quella mise la maggior parte di cio ch' egli
haveva al mondo. I compagni, quando hebbero for-
nite le navi loro di cio che faceva mestiero, entra-
rono in mare con Giannetto insieme, et fecer vela, et
presero lor viaggio j et navicando piu et piii giorni,
Giannetto stava sempre attento di rivedere il porto di
quella donna, il quale si chiamava il porto della donna
del Belmonte. Et giugnendo una notte alia foce di
questo porto, il quale era in un gomito di mare, Gian
netto 1' hebbe subito conosciuto, et fe volgere le vele e'l
timone, et calovvisi dentro, tal che i compagni, ch'
erano nell' altre navi anchora non se n' accorsero. La
donna levandosi la mattina, et guardando giu nel
porto, vide sventolare le bandiere di questa nave, et
subito 1' ebbe conosciute ; et chiamo una sua came-
riera, et disse, Conoscitu quelle bandiere? Disse la
nor hear any tidings of his ship. They told him their uneasiness
had been so great during the voyage, that the pleasure was
spoiled by the fear of hearing news of his death. Giannetto tells
them, a contrary wind blowing from an arm of the sea, drove
his ship plum against a rock near shore, and with difficulty he
saved himself ; but every thing was wreckt. * This was the ex-
cuse Giannetto forged, not to be obliged to make known his
folly. They rejoiced with him, and returned thanks to God for
his safety ; telling him that next spring, by God's assistance, he
might gain as much as he had lost the last ; and therefore, say
they, let us enjoy ourselves, and not be dejected: and they
amused and diverted themselves as usual. But Giannetto had
no thoughts other than of his return to the lady ; and was re-
solved to marry her, or die in the attempt : and with these
thoughts could hardly be chearful. Ansaldo told him frequently,
not to be cast down ; says he, We have enough left to live very
comfortably. Giannetto said, he should never be happy till he
GIORNATA QUARTA. 331
cameriera, Madonna, ella pare la nave di quel giovane
che chi arrivb, hora fa uno anno, che chi mise cotanta
dovitia con quella sua mercatantia. Disse la donna,
Per certo tu di il vero ; et veramente che costui non
meno che gran fatto debbe essere innamorato di me ;
perb ch'io non ce ne vidi mai mai nessuno, che ci
tornasse piu che una volta. Disse la cameriera, lo
non vidi mai il piu cortese ne il piu gratioso huomo
di lui. La donna mandb per lui donzelli et scudieri
assai, iquali con molta festa lo visitarono ; et egli con
tutti fece allegrezza e festa; e cosi venne su nel castello
et nel cospetto della donna. Et quando ello lo vide,
con grandissima festa e allegrezza 1' abbraccib j et egli
con molta riverenza abbraccio lei : et cosi stettero
'tuto quel giorno in festa e in allegrezza, perb che la
donna fece invitare baroni et donne assai, i quali ven-
nero alia corte a far festa per amore di Giannetto; et
quasi a tutti i baroni n' increscieva, et volentieri 1'
haverebbono voluto per signore per la sua tanta piace-
volezza et cortesia ; et quassi tutte le donne n' erano
innamorate, veggendo con quanta -misura e' guidava
una danza ; et sempre quel suo viso stava allegro, che
was at liberty to make another voyage. Ansaldo, perceiving his
intention, when the time was come, provided another ship of
more value, and with more merchandizes than the first ; and, in
deed, freighted it with almost all he was worth in the world. His
companions, when their ships had every thing in order, set sail, with
Giannetto ; and sailing along for several days together, he was
all attention to discover once more the port of the lady, which
was called The port of the lady of Belmonte. Coming one night
to the mouth of it, which was in a gulph of the sea, he immedi
ately knew it to be the same, and shifting sails and rudder, he
entered so secretly, that his companions in the other ships had
no apprehension that his ship was missing.
The lady the next morning looking on the port from the bed
chamber, and seeing the streamers of the ship playing in the
wind, knew it ; and asked her maid, if she knew the streamers ?
The maid said, she imagined it was the ship of the young man
who arrived the last year, and had left so fine a cargo behind
332 GI OR NAT A QUART A.
ogniuno s'avisava ch' e' fosse figliuolo di qualche gran
signore. Et veggendo il tempo d' andare a dormire
questa donna, prese per mano Giannetto et disse, An-
dianci a posare ; e andaronsi in camera, et posti a se-
dere, ecco venire due darnigelle con vino et confetti, et
quivi beverono et confettaronsi, et poi s' andarono a
letto ; et com' egli fu nel letto, cos-i fu addormentato.
La donna si spoglib e coricossi a lata a costui, et breve-
mente e' non si risenti in tutta notte. Et quando venne
la mattina, la donna si levb, et subito mandb a fare sca-
ricare quella nave. Passato poi terza, et Giannetto si
risenti, et cercb per la donna, et non la trovb ; alzb il
capo, et vide ch' egli era alta mattina; levossi et comin-
ciossi a, vergognare ; et cosi gli fu donate un cavallo
et danari per ispendere,et dettogli, Tira via; e tegli con
vergogna subito si parti tristo et maninconoso ; e infra
molte giornate non ristette mai, che giunse a Vinegia ;
e di notte se ne andb a casa di questo suo compagno :
il quale quando lo vide, si die maggior maraviglia del
mondo, dicendo, Oime ch; e questo ? Rispose Gian
netto ; E male per me ; che maladetta sia la fortuna
mia, che mai ci arrivai in questo paese. Disse questo
him. You are in the right, answered the lady ; he must surely
have a great regard for me, for never any one returned here a
second time : the maid said, she had never seen a more agreeable
man. The lady sent her servants in great number to attend
him, who served him with much attention, and he treated them
very graciously ; and went to the castle and presented himself to
the lady ; who, as soon as she saw him, embraced him, which
embrace he as devoutly returned, and the day was passed in joy
and revels ; for the lady had sent for her nobles of both sexes,
who came to do honour to Giannetto, and were so well pleased
with his behaviour, that they were sorry not to have him for their
master. The ladies were enamoured of his dancing ; the come
liness of his person, and the sweetness of his countenance, made
all of them suppose him to be the son of some great man. Bed
time being come, the lady taking him by the hand, entreated him to
go to rest : when they were seated in the chamber, the two damsels
entered with wine and sweet meats ; and having eat and drank
G1ORNATA QUARTA. 333
suo compagno, Per certo tu la puoi ben maladire,
pero che tu hai diserto questo messere Ansaldo, il
quale era il maggiore e' 1 piu ricco mercatante che
fosse tra Christian! ; et peggio e la vergogna che '1
danno. Giannetto stette nascoso piu di in casa
questo suo compagno et non sapeva che si fare ne
che si dire, e quasi si voleva tornare a Firenze senza
far motto a messere Ansaldo ; e poi si delibero pure
d' andare allui, ecosi fece. Quando messere Ansaldo
lo vide, si levo rittb, et corse ad abbracciarlo et disse,
Ben venga il figliuol mio. Et Giannetto lagrimando
abbraccio lui. Disse messere Ansaldo, quando hebbe
inteso tutto, Sai com'e, Giannetto ? non .ti dare punto
di maninconia ; poi ch'io t'ho rihavuto, io son con-
tento. Anchora c'e rirnaso tanto che noi ci potremo
stare pianamente. Egli e usanza del mare ad altri
dare, ad altri togliere. .La novella and.6 per tutta
Vinegia di questo fatto, e ogniuno diceva di messere
Ansaldo, et gravemente gl' incresceva del danno
ch'egli haveva havuto e convenne che messere Ansaldo
vendesse di molte possession! per pagare i creditori
che gli havevano dato la roba. Avvenna che quei
of them, they go to bed, and immediately Giannetto falls asleep,
the lady undressed lying by his side ; but, in short, he waked not
the whole night. In the morning, the lady rises, and gives
orders to strip the ship. After nine o'clock, he awakes, seeks
for the lady, finds nothing ; raises his head from the pillow, and
finding it is late, gets up, and is ashamed of what has happened.
He has a horse and money given to him, and is told to be
gone, and away he goes sorrowful and sad, and never stops till
he gets to Venice ; and at night goes to the house of the same
friend, who when he saw him, with great wonder and astonish
ment asked him what was the matter? I am undone, says
Giannetto, my cursed ill fortune first brought me to Venice.
His friend answered, You may well curse your fortune, for you
are the cause of the ruin of Ansaldo, who was the greatest and
richest merchant of any of the Christians ; and your shame ought
to be greater than the loss you have suffered. Giannetto lived
privately many days in the house of his friend, not knowing what
334 GIORNATA QUARTA.
compagni di Giannetto tornarono d' Alessandria molto
ricchi, et giunti in Vinegia fu lor detto come Giannetto
era tomato, et come gli haveva rotte e perduto ogni
cosa, di che essi si maravigliarone dicendo, Questo
e il maggior fatto che si vedesse mai ; e andarono a
messere Ansaldo e a Giannetto, e facendogli gran
festa, dissero, Messere, non vi sgomentate, che noi
intendiamo d' andare questo altro anno a guadagnare
per voi ; perb che noi siamo stati cagione quasi di
questa vostra perdita, da che noi fummo quegli, che
inducemmo Giannetto a venire con noi da prima. Et
perb non temete, et mentre che noi habbiamo della
roba, fatene come della vostra. Messere Ansaldo gli
ringrazib, et disse che benet haveva anchora tanto, che
ci potevano stare. Ora avvenne che stando sera et
mattina Giannetto sopraquesti'pensieri, e' non si poteva
rallegrare: et messere Ansaldo lodomandb quelloch'egli
haveva; et egli rispose, lo non sarb mai contento, s' io
non racquisto quello ch' io ho perduto. Disse messere
Ansaldo, Figliuol mio, io non voglio che tu vi vada
piu ; perb ch' egli e il meglio, che noi ci stiamo piana-
mente con questo poco che noi habbiamo, che tu lo
to do or say, in the design of returning to Florence without see
ing Ansaldo. At last he took a resolution of seeing him, and
accordingly waited on him When Ansaldo saw him, he rose
from his chair, and running to embrace him, told him he was
welcome : Giannetto with tears returned his embraces. Ansaldo,
when he had heard his tale, Do not grieve, my dear son, says
he, be assured that I cannot be angry, since I find you safe ; we
have still enough remaining to live decently ; the sea enriches
some men, others it ruins.
All Venice heard the story, and was concerned for Ansaldo :
this misfortune obliged him to sell some estates to satisfy his
creditors, who furnished the goods. The companions of Gian
netto returned again from Alexandria very rich, and when at
Venice they were informed of this accident, they said it was the
most extraordinary accident that could happen : they made a
visit to Ansaldo and Giannetto, and with great kindness told
them not to take too much to heart what was passed. We pro-
G 10 R NAT A QUART A. 335
metta piii a partito. Rispose Giannetto, lo son fermo
di fare tutto quel ch' io posso : perch' io mi riputerei
in grandissima vergogna, s' io stessi a questo modo.
Per che veggendo messere Ansaldo la volonta sua, si
dispose a vendere cio ch' egli haveva al mondo, et
fornire a costui un' altra nave; et.cosi fe; che vende,
tal che non gli rimase niente, e forni una bellissima
nave di mercatantia : et perche gli mancavano dieci
mila ducati, ando a un Giudeo a Mestri, e accattogli
con questi patti e condizioni, che s' egli non glie
1'havesse renduti dal detto di a San Giovanni di
Giugno prosimo a venire, che ;1 Giudeo gli potesse
levare una libra di carne d'addoso di qualunque luogo
e' volesse ; e cosi fu contento messere Ansaldo, e '1
Giudeo di questo fece trarre carta autentica con testi-
moni, et con quelle cautele e solennita, che intorno
a cio bisognavano : et poi gli annoverb diecimila
ducati doro, de quali danari messere Ansaldo fornicio
che mancava alia nave ; e se 1' altre due furone belle,
la terza fu molto piu ricca e me fornita ; et cosi i
compagni fornirono le loro due, con animo che cio
ch' eglino guadagnassero fosse di Giannetto. Et
pose to make, say they, the next year, a voyage on your account :
we have been the cause of this your loss, as we advised Giannetto
at first to venture to sea ; therefore fear nothing ; as long as we
have any thing, it will be at your disposal as much as if it was
your own. Ansaldo returned them his thanks, and said he had
still enough not to be troublesome to his friends. Poor Gian-
netto's head was day and night full of the thoughts of his bad
success, and he could not put on a face of chearfulness : when
Ansaldo enquired what was the matter, he confessed, he could
never be contented till he should be in a condition to regain all
that he lost. My dear child, you shall go no more, says Ansaldo ;
it will be better to stay here, content with the little we have left,
than to risk another voyage.
Giannetto told him, he had made a firm resolution, to do all
in his power to go again ; that he could not bear the shame of
living in the manner he must do. When Ansaldo found him
resolved, he began to sell every thing he had, and equip another
336 GIORNATA QUART A.
quando fu il tempo d'andare, essendo per movere,
messere Ansaldo disse a Giannetto, .Figliuol mio, tu
vai, e vedi nelP obligo ch' io rimango, d'una gratia ti
prego, che se pure tu arrivassi male, cbe ti piaccia
venire a vedermi, si ch' io possa ^vedere te innanzi
ch' io moia, e andronne contento. Giannetto gli
rispose, Messere Ansaldo, io faro tutte quelle cose
ch' io creda piacervi. Messere Ansaldo gli die la sua
benedittione, et cosi presero commiato, e andarono a
loro viaggio. Havevano questi due compagni sempre
cura alia nave di Giannetto : et Gianetto andava
sempre avvisato e attento di calarsi .in questo porto
di Belmonte. Perch' e' fe tanto con uno de' suoi
nocchieri, che una notte e' condusse la nave nel
porto di questa gentildonna. La mattina rischi-
arato il giorno i compagni ch' erano nell' altre
due navi ponendosi mente intorno, et non veggendo
in nessum luogo la nave di Giannetto, et dissero
fra loro, Per certo questa e la mala ventura per
costui, et presero per partito di seguire il camin loro,
facendosi gran maraviglia di cio. Ora essendo questa
nave giunta in. porto,. tutto quel castello trasse a ve-
ship ; and so he did, and disposed of all he was worth, and left
himself destitute, to furnish this other fine ship with merchandize :
but, as he wanted still ten thousand ducats, he apply'd himself
to a Jew at Mestri, and borrowed them on condition, that if they
were not paid on the feast of St John in the next month of June,
that the Jew might take a pound of flesh from any part of his
body he pleased. Ansaldo agreed, and the Jew had an obligation
drawn, and witnessed, with all the form and ceremony necessary ;
and then counted him the ten thousand ducats of gold ; with
which Ansaldo bought what was still wanting for the vessel. This
last ship was finer and better freighted than the other two, and
his companions made ready for the voyage, with a design that
whatever they gained should be for their friend. When it was
time to depart, Ansaldo told Giannetto, that since he well knew
of the obligation to the Jew, he entreated him in case any mis
fortune happened, that he would return to Venice, that he might
see him before he died ; and then he could leave the world with
GIORtfATA QUARTA. 337
dere, sentendo che Giannetto era tomato, et maravig-
liandosi di cid molto, et dicendo, Costui dee essere fig-
liuolo di qualche grand' humo, considerando ch' egli ci
viene ogni anno con tanta mercantia e con si be navigli ;
che volesse Iddio, ch' egli fosse nostro signore ; et cosi
fu visitato da tutti i maggiori, et da baroni et cavalieri di
quella terra, et fu detto alia donna; come Giannetto era
tomato in porto : perche ella si fece alle fmestre del pa-
lazzo, et vide questa bellissima nave, et conobbe le ban-
diere : et di cio si fece ella il segno della santa croce,
dicendo, Per certo che questi e qualche gran fatto, et
e quell' huomo che ha messo dovizia in questo paese ;
e mando per lui. Giannetto ando allei con molte
abbracciate, et si salutarono, et fecersi riverenza : et
quivi s; attese tutto quel giorno a fare allegrezza et
festa ; et fessi per amor di Giannetto una bella giostra ;
et molti baroni et cavalieri giostrarono quel giorno, et
Giannetto voile giostrare anch' egli, et fece il di mira-
coli di sua persona ; tanto stava bene nell' armi' e a
cavallo ; et tanto piacque la maniera sua a tutti i
baroni, che ogniuno lo desiderava per signore. Ora
avvenne che la sera essendo tempo d'andare a posarsi,
satisfaction : Giannetto promised to do every thing that he con
ceived might give him pleasure. Ansaldo gave him his blessing,
they take their leave, and the ships set out.
The two companions observed carefully the ship of Giannetto,
while he had nothing in his head but to contrive in what manner
to steal into the port of Belmonte ; and he prevailed with one of
the sailors in the night to sail the vessel into the port of the
lady. The morning being clear, his companions looking round,
and not seeing any where the vessel, said to themselves, Giannetto
has certainly bad luck ; but continued their course, wondering
greatly where the ship could be gone. The ship being arrived
in port, all ran from the castle, hearing Giannetto was come again,
and wondering much at his return. He must undoubtedly, say
they, be the son of some great personage, as he comes every year
with such rich merchandize, and fine ships : would to God he was
our master ! He was visited by all the principal men of the
country, and it was told to the lady, that Giannetto was arrived in
VOL. I. Y
338 GIORNATA QUARTA.
la donna prese per mano Giannetto, e disse, Andiamo
a posarci; et essendo siuT uscio della camera, una
cameriera della donna, cui incresceva di Giannetto, si
gl' inchinb cosi all' orecchio, e disse pianamente, Fa
vista di bere, et non here sta sera. Giannetto, intese
le parole, e entrb in camera, et la donna disse, lo so
che voi havete colto sete, et perb io voglio che voi
beate prima che v'andiate a dormire ; et subito ven-
nero due donzelle, che parevano due agnioli, con
vino e confetti al modo usato, et si attesero a dar
bere. Disse Giannetto, Chi si terrebbe di non bere,
veggendo queste due damigelle tante belle ? di che la
donna rise. Et Giannetto prese la tazza, e fe vista di
bere, e cacciosselo giu pel seno, et la donna si cre-
dete ch' egli havesse bevuto, et disse fra '1 suo cuore,
Tu conducerai un' altra nave, che questa hai tu per-
duta. Giannetto se n' andb nel letto, e sentissi tutto
chiaro, e di buona volonta, e parevagli mille anni, che
la donna ne venisse a letto ; et diceva fra se mede-
simo, Per certo io ho giunta costei, si ch' e' ne
pensa una il giotto, e un' altra il tavernaio. Et
perche la donna venisse piu tosto nel letto, com
port. She saw from the window the vessel, and knew the streamers ;
and making the sign of the cross, cries : This is certainly a bold
undertaking ! This is the man who has already left so great riches
in this country ; and immediately sent for him.
Giannetto goes to the castle, salutes, embraces her, and
makes his bows, and the day is spent in joy and feasting ; and
to honour him, a tournament is ordered, and many barons and
knights tilted that day. Giannetto did wonders, so well did he
understand the lance, and was so graceful a figure on horse
back ; he pleased so much, that all were again desirous to have
him for their lord.
The lady, when it was the usual time, taking him by the
hand, begged him to take his rest. When he passed the door
of the chamber, one of the damsels of the lady, laying her
mouth to his ear, in a whisper said to him, Make a pretence
to drink the liquor, but touch not one drop this evening. He
understood what she meant, and when the lady said, I know
G 10 R NAT A QUART A. 339
incio a far vista di russare et dormire. Per
che la donna disse, Sta bene, et subito si spoglio,
e ando k leto a Giannetto, il quale non aspetto punto,
ma comunque la donna fu entrata sotto, cosi si volse
allei, e abbracciola, et disse, hora ho quel ch' io ho
tanto desiderate, et con questo le donb la pace del
santissimo matrimonio, et in tutta notte non gli usci
di braccio ; di che la donna fu piu che contenta, et
si levb la mattina innanzi giorno, e fece mandare per
tutti i baroni e cavalieri, e altri cittadini assai, e disse
loro, Giannetto e vostro signore, e pero attendete a
far festa ; di che subito per la terra si levb il romore,
gridando, Viva il signore, viva il signore, et da nelle
campane et ne gli stromenti sonando a festa; et
mandossi per molti baroni et conti clr erano fuor del
castello, dicendo loro, Veriite a vedere il signor
vostro ; et quivi si comincio una grande et belissima
festa. Et quando Giannetto usci della camera, fu
fatto cavaliere, et posto sulla sedia, et dato gli fu la
baccheta in mano, et chiamato signore con molto
trionfo et gloria. Et poi che tutti i baroni et le
donne furono venute k corte, egli sposb questa gentil-
you must be thirsty, I must have you drink before you go to
bed, immediately two damsels, handsome as angels, with wine
and sweet meats, in the usual manner, entered the room, and
presented the wine. Who can refuse wine from such beautiful
hands ? cries Giannetto ; at which the lady smiled. Giannetto
takes the cup, and making as if he had drank, pours the wine
into his bosom. The lady thinking he had drank, says aside to
herself with great joy, You must go, young man, and bring
another ship, for this is condemned. Giannetto went to bed,
and finding himself brisk and in great spirits, he thought it a
thousand years till the lady came to bed, comforting himself
with the hopes that he had caught her now certainly, and that
she would find she was mistaken in her man ; and in order to
entice her soon to bed, he began to snore as if he slept soundly.
The lady perceiving this, said, This will do, and laid herself
down by his side. Giannetto loses no time, but turning to the
lady, embraces her, saying, Now am I in possession of my
34° GIORNATA QUART A.
donna con tanta festa, et con tanta allegrezza, che
non si potrebbe ne dire ne imaginare, perche tutti i
baroni et signori del paese vennero alia festa a fare
allegrezza, giostrare, armeggiare, danzare, cantare, et
sonare, con tutte quelle cose che s'appartengono a
far festa. Messer Giannetto, come magnanimo
comincib a donare drappi di seta e altre ricche cose
ch' egli haveva recate, et divento virile, et fecesi
temere a mantenere ragione et giustizia a ogni
naniera di gente : et cosi si stava in questa festa e
allegrezza, e non si curava ne ricordava di messere
Ansaldo cattivello, ch' era rimaso pegno per dieci
mila ducati a quel Giudeo. Ora essendo un giorno
messer Giannetto alia finestra del palazzo con la donna
sua, vide passare per piazza una brigata d' homini con
torchietti in mano accesi, i quali andavano a offerire.
Disse messer Giannetto, Che vuol dir quello ? Rispose
la donna, Quella e una brigata d' artenci che vanno a
offerire alia chiesa di san Giovanni, perch'egli e hoggi
la festa sua. Messer Giannetto si ricordb allhora di
messer' Ansaldo, et levossi dalla finestra, et trasse un
gran sospiro, et tutto si cambio nel viso, e andava di
utmost wishes. He gave her immediately the strongest proofs
of his affection, and lay all night in her arms. The lady was
highly pleased with her lover, and early in the morning sent for
her principal subjects, telling them that Giannetto was their
lord ; and gave them orders to pay all possible honours to him.
Immediately the news is spread through the whole territory ;
the people crying, Long live our new master ! long live our
new master ! the bells and musical instruments inviting all to
joy and mirth. The nobles who were not at the castle were
sent for to appear there, and behold their master, and assist at
all the rejoicings. When Giannetto came out of his chamber,
he was knighted, and placed in the chair of state; had the
sceptre put into his hand, and .was proclaimed sovereign of the
country, with great pomp and splendour ; and when the lords
and ladies were come to the castle, he married the lady in
great ceremony. Nothing can be imagined equal to the joy on
that occasion, as every one endeavoured to excell in tilting,
G 10 R NAT A QUART A. 341
giu in su per la sala piu volte pensando sopra questo
fatto. La donna il domando quel ch' egli haveva.
Rispose messer Giannetto : lo non ho altro. Perche
la donna il comincio a essaminare, dicendo, Per certo
voi havete qualche cosa, et non lo volete dire ; et
tanto gli disse che messer Giannetto le contb come
messer' Ansaldo era rimaso pegno per dieci mila
ducati, et questo di corre il termine, diceva egli, et
perb ho gran dolore che mio padre moia per me,
perche se hoggi e' non glie li da, ha a perdere una
libra di carne d' addosso. La donna disse, Messer,
montate subitamente a cavallo, et attraversate per
terra, che andrete piu tosto che per mare, et menate
quella compagnia che vi piace, et portate cento mila
ducati, et non restate mai che voi siate a Vinegia ; et
se non e morto, fate di menarlo qui. Perche egli
subito fe dare nella trombetta, e montb a cavallo con
venti compagni, e tolse danari assai, e prese il camino
verso Vinegia. Ora avvenne che compiuto il termine,
il Giudeo fe pigliare messer' Ansaldo, et volevagli
levare una libra di carne d' addosso, onde messer'
Ansaldo lo pregava, che gli piacesse d' indugiargli
dancing, musick, and every amusement and diversion practiced
at such solemnities.
Giannetto, who was of a disposition that did honour to his
exaltation, gave presents of every thing of value he had brought
with him : he governed excellently well, and caused justice to be
administered impartially to all sorts of people. He continued
some time in this happy state, and never had entertained a
thought of poor Ansaldo, who had given his bond to the Jew for
ten thousand ducats. But one day, as he stood at the window of
the palace with his bride, he saw a number of people pass along
the piazza, with lighted torches in their hands, who were going
to make their offerings. What is the meaning of this ? says he.
The lady answered, They are a company of artificers, who are
going to make their offerings at the Church of St John, this day
is his festival. Giannetto instantly recollected Ansaldo, and
leaving the window, he gave a great sigh, and turned pale ;
running about the room in great distraction. His lady inquired
342 GIORNATA QUARTA.
quella morte qualche di, acciocche se il suo Giannetto
venisse, almeno e' lo potesse vedere. Disse il Giudeo :
10 son contento di dare cid che voi volete quanto
all' ondugio, ma s' egli venisse cento volte, io intendo
di levarvi una libra di carne d' addosso, come dicono
le carte. Rispose messere Ansaldo ; ch' era contento.
Di che tutte Vinegia parlava di questo fatto ; ma a
ogniuno ne incresceva, e molti mercatanti si raunarono
per volere pagar questi danari, e '1 Giudeo non voile
mai, anzi voleva fare quella homicidio, per poter dire
che havesse morto il maggiore mercatante che fosse
tra' Christian!. Ora avvenne, che venendo forte
messer Giannetto, la donna sua subito si gli mosse
dietro vestita come un giudice con due famigli.
Giugnendo in Vinegia messer Giannetto ando a casta
11 Giudeo, et con molta allegrezza abbraccib messere
Ansaldo, e poi disse al Giudeo che gli voleva dare i
danari suoi, e quel phi ch' egli stesso voleva. Rispose
il Giudeo, che non voleva danari, poi che non gli haveva
havuti al tempo ; ma che gli voleva levare una libra di
carne d' addosso : et qui fu la quistion grande, e ogni
persona dava il torto al Giudeo ; ma pure considerato
the cause of his sudden change. He said, he felt nothing. She
continued to press with great earnestness, till he was obliged
to confess the cause of his uneasiness, that Ansaldo was engaged
for the money, and that the terrn was expired ; and the grief he
was in, lest his father should lose his life for him : that if the
ten thousand ducats were not paid that day, he must lose a
pound of his flesh. The lady told him to mount on horseback,
and go by land the nearest way, which was better than to go by
sea ; to take some attendants, and an hundred thousand ducats ;
and not to stop till he arrived at Venice : and if he was not dead,
to endeavour to bring Ansaldo to her. Giannetto takes horse
with twenty attendants, and makes the best of his way to
Venice.
The time being expired, the Jew had seized Ansaldo, and in
sisted on having a pound of flesh. He entreated him only to
Wait some days, that if his dear Giannetto arrived, he might have
the pleasure of embracing him before his death : the Jew replied
GIORNATA QUART A. 343
Vinegia essere terra di ragione, e il Giudeo haveva le
sue ragioni piene e in publica forma, non is gli osava
di dire il contrario per nessuno, se non pregalro.
Talche tutti i mercatanti di Vinegia vi furono su a
pregare questo Giudeo ; et egli sempre piu duro che
mai. Perche messer Giannetto glie ne voile dare
venti mila, et non volse, poi venne a trenta mila, et
poi a cinquanta mila ; et cosi ascese inftno a cento
mila ducati : ove il Giudeo disse, Sai com' e ? se tu
mi desee phi ducati che non vale questa citta, non gli
torrei per esser contento ; anzi i vuo fare quel che
dicon le carte mie. Et cosi stando in questa quis-
tione, ecco giugnere in Vinegia questa donna vestita
a modo di giudice, et smonto a uno albergo : et 1'
albergatore domando un famiglio, Chi e questo gentil*
huomo ? II famiglio gia avisato dalla donna di cio
che ;1 doveva dire essendo di lei interrogate, rispose,
Questo si e un gentil' huomo giudice, che vien da
Bologna da studio, et tornasi a cassa sua. L' alber
gatore cio intendendo gli fece assai honore, et essendo
a tavola il giudice disse all' albergatore, come si regge
questa vostra citta ? Rispose 1' hoste : Messere, fac-
he was willing to wail, but, says he, if he comes an hundred times
over, I will cut off the pound of flesh, according to the words of
the obligation : Ansaldo answered that he was content.
Every one at Venice who had heard of this affair was much
concerned : several merchants would have jointly paid the
money ; the Jew would not hearken to the proposal, but insisted
that he might commit this homicide, to have the satisfaction of
saying, that he had put to death the greatest of the Christian
merchants. Giannetto making all possible haste to Venice, his
lady soon followed him in a lawyer's habit, with two servants
following her. Giannetto when he came to Venice, goes to the
Jew, and (after embracing Ansaldo) tells him, he is ready to pay
the money, and as much more as he should demand. The Jew
said, he would take no money, since it was not paid at the time
due ; but that he would have the pound of flesh. And now this
was much talked of, and every one blamed the Jew : but as
Venice was a place where justice was strictly administered, and
344 GIORNATA QUART A.
isi troppa ragione. Disse il giudice, Come ? Sog-
giimse F hoste, Come messere io ve lo diro. E' ci
venne da Firenze tin giovane, il quale haveva nome
Giannetto, et venne qui a un suo nonno che ha nome
messere Ansaldo, et e stato tanto aggratiato et tanto
costumato, che gli huomini et le donne di questa terra
erano innamorati di lui. Et non ci venne mai in
questa citta nessuno tanto aggratiato quanto era
costui. Ora questo suo nonno in tre volte gli form
tre navi, le quali furono di grandissima valuta, e ogni
hotta glie ne incontro sciagura, si che alia nave da
sezzo gli mancb danari, tal che questo messere An
saldo accatto dieci mila ducati da un Giudeo, con
questi patti, che s' egli non glie li havesse renduti da
ivi a San Giovanni di giugno prossimo che venia,
il detto Giudeo gli potesse levare una libra di carne
d' addosso dovunque e' volesse. Ora e tomato
questo benedetto giovane, e per que' dieci mila
ducati glie ne ha voluto dare cento mila, e ;1 falso
Giudeo non vuole ; et sonnvi stati a pregarlo tutti i
buoni huomini di questa terra, et non giova niente.
Rispose il giudice, Questa quistione e agevole a diter-
the Jew had his pretensions grounded on publick and received
forms, nobody dared to oppose him, and their only resource was
entreaty ; and when the merchants of Venice applied to him,
he was inflexible. Giannetto offered him twenty thousand, which
he refused ; then thirty thousand, afterwards forty, fifty, and at
last an hundred thousand ducats. The Jew told him, if he
would give him as much gold as the city of Venice was worth,
he would not accept it ; and says he, you know little of me, if
you think I will desist from my demand.
The lady now arrives at Venice, in her lawyer's dress ; and
alighting at an inn, the landlord asks of one of the servants who
his master was? The servant having learned his lesson, an
swered, that he was a young lawyer who had finished his studies
at Bologna, and was returning to his own country. The landlord
upon this shews his guest great civility : and when he attended
at dinner, the lawyer, inquiring how justice was administered in
that city, he answered, Justice in this place is too severe. How
G 10 R NAT A QUART A. 345
minare. Disse 1' hoste, Se voi ci volete durar fatica a
terminarla, si che quel buon' huomo non muoia, voi n'
acquisterete la gratia et 1' amore del piu virtuoso
giovane che nascesse mai, et poi di tutti gli huomini
di questa terra. Onde questo giudice fece andare un
bando per la terra, che qualunque havesse a diter'-
minare quistion nessuna venisse da lui ; ove fut detto
a messer Giannetto come e' v' era venuto un giudice
da Bologna, che determinarebbe ogni quistione. Per
che messer Giannetto disse al Giudeo, Andiamo a
questo giudice. Disse il Giudeo, Andiamo ma venga
chi vuole, che a ragione io n' ho a fare quanto dice la
carta. Et giunti nel cospetto del giudice, et fattogli
debita riverenza, il giudice connobbe messer Gian
netto, ma messer Giannetto non conobbe gia lui, perche
con certe herbe s' era trasfigurata la faccia. Messer
Giannetto e ;1 Giudeo dissero ciascuno la ragion sua,
et la quistione ordinatamente innanzi al giudice; ilquale
prese le carte et lessele, et poi disse al Giudeo, Io voglio
che tu ti tolga questi cento mila ducati, et liberi
questo buon huomo, il qual' anco te ne sara sempre
tenuto. Rispose il Giudeo, Io non faro niente. Disse
comes that ? says the lawyer. I will tell how, says the landlord :
You must know, that some years ago there came here a young
man from Florence, whose name was Giannetto, he was recom
mended to the care of a relation who is called Ansaldo : he
behaved here so well as to possess the esteem and affections of
every living creature, and never was a youth so well beloved.
Now this Ansaldo sent him out three times, each time with a ship
of great value; he, every time, was unfortunate: and to furnisli
the last, Ansaldo was forced to borrow ten thousand ducats of a
Jew, on condition, that if he did not repay them in June, at the
Feast of St John, the Jew might take a pound of his flesh. This
excellent young man is now returned, and offers to pay an
hundred thousand ducats : the wicked Jew won't take them,
although the best merchants in the city have applied to him, but
to no purpose. Says the lawyer, This question may be easily
answered. If you can answer it, says the landlord, and will
take the trouble to do it, and save this worthy man from death,
34-6 GIORNATA QUARTA.
il giudice, Egli £ il tuo meglio. E '1 Giudeo, che al
tutto non ne voleva far nulla. Et d' accordo se n'
andarono all' ufficio diterminato sopra tali casi, e' 1
giudice parlb per messere Ahsaldo et disse, Oltre fa
venir costui; et fattolo venire, disse il giudice, orsu
lievagli una libra di carne dovunque tu vuoi, e fa i
fatti tuoi. Dove il Giudeo lo fece spogliare ignudo,
et recossi in mano un rasoio, che per cib egli haveva
fatto fare. Et messer Giannetto si volse al giudice, et
disse, Messere, di questo non vi pregava io. Rispose
il giudice, Sta franco, che egli non ha anchora spic-
cata una libra di carne. Pure il Giudeo gli andava
addosso. Disse il giudice, Guarda come tu fai; perb
che se tu ne leverai piu b meno che una libra, io ti
faro levare la testa. E anhco io ti dico piu, che se
n' uscira pure una giocciola di sangue, io ti faro
morire ; perb che le carte tue non fanno mentione di
spargimento di sangue, anzi dicono che tu gli debba
levare una libra di carne, et non dice ne piu ne
meno. Et per tanto, se tu se' savio, tieni que' modi
che tu credi fare il tuo meglio. Et cosi subito fe
mandare per lo giustitiere, et fegli recare il ceppo
youwill'get the love and esteem of a most deserving young man,
and of all the best men of this city. The lawyer caused a pro
clamation to be made, that whoever had any law matters to
determine, they should have recourse to him : so it was told to
Giannetto, that a famous lawyer was come from Bologna, who
could decide all cases in law. Giannetto proposed to the Jew to
apply to this lawyer. With all my heart, says the Jew : but let
who will come, I will stick to my bond. When they came to
this judge, and had saluted him, he immediately knew Giannetto ;
but he did not remember him : for he had disguised his face
with the juice of certain herbs. Giannetto, and the Jew, each
told the merits of the cause to the judge ; who, when he had
taken the bond and read it, said to the Jew, I must have you
take the hundred thousand ducats, and release this honest man,
who will always have a grateful sense of the favour done to him.
The Jew replied, I will do no such thing. The judge answered,
}t will be better for you. The Jew was positive to yield nothing.
GIORNATA QUART A. 347
et la mantaia, et disse, Com' io ne vedro uscire
gioccioia di sangue, cosi ti faro levare la testa. II Giu-
deo comiricio haver paura, et messer Giannetto a ral-
legrarsi. Et dopo molte novelle disse il Giudeo,
Messer lo giudice, voi n' havete saputo piu di me, ma
fatemi dare quei cento mila ducati, et son contento.
Disse il guidice, Io voglio che tu vi levi una libra di
came, come dicono le carte tue, pero ch' io non ti
darei un danaio ; havessigli tolti, quando io te gli
volli far dare. II Giudeo venne a nonanta mila, et
poi a ottanta mila, e ;1 guidice sempre piu fermo.
Disse messer Giannetto al giudice, Diangli cib che e'
vuole, pure che ce lo renda. Disse il guidice, Io ti
dico, che tu lasci fare a me. Allhora il Giudeo disse,
Datemene cinquanta mila. Rispose il giudice, Io non
te ne darei il piu tristo danaio che tu havessi mai.
Soggiunse il Giudeo, Datemi almeno i miei dieci mila
ducati, che maladetta sia P asia et la terra. Disse il
giudice, Non m' intenditu ? io non te ne vuo dar nes-
suno ; se tu glie la vuoi levare, si gle la lieva ; quanto
che no, io te faro protestare e annullare le carte tue.
Talche chiunque v' era presente, di questo faceva
Upon this they go to the tribunal appointed for such judgments :
and our judge speaks in favour of Ansaldo ; and desiring that
the Jew may stand forth, Now, says he, do you (to the Jew)
cut off a pound of this man's flesh where you chuse. The Jew
ordered him to be stripped naked ; and takes in his hand a
razor, which had been made on purpose. Giannetto seeing this,
turning to the judge, This, says he, is not the favour I asked of you.
Be quiet, says he, the pound of flesh is not yet cut off. As soon
as the Jew was going to begin, Take care what you do, says the
judge, if you take more or less than a pound, I will order your
head to be struck off : and I tell you beside, that if you shed one
drop of blood you shall be put to death. Your paper makes no
Jnention of the shedding of blood ; but says expressly, that you
may take a pound of flesh, neither more nor less ; and if you are
wise, you will take great care what you do. He immediately
sent for the executioner to bring the block and axe ; and now,
says he, if I see one drop of blood, off goes your head. The
GIORNATA QUARTA.
grandissima allegrezza, e ciascuno si faceva beffe di
questo Giudeo dicendo, Tale si crede uccellare, ch'
e uccellato. Onde veggendo il Giudeo, ch' egli non
poteva fare quello ch' egli havrebbe voluto, prese le
carte sue, et per istizza tutte le taglib, et cosi fu libe
rate messere Ansaldo, et con grandissima festa messer
Giannetto lo rimenb a casa; et poi prestamente prese
questi centi mila ducati, e andb a questo giudice, e
trovollo nella camera che s' acconciava per volere
andar via. Allhora messer Giannetto gli disse, Mes
sere, voi havete fatto a me il maggior servigio, che
mai mi fosse fatto ; et perb io voglio che voi portiate
questi danari a casa vostra : perb che voi gli havete
ben guadagnati. Rispose il giudice, Messer Gian
netto mio, a voi sia gran merce, ch' io non n' ho di
bisogno ; portategli con voi, si che la donna vostra
non dica, che voi habbiate fatto male masseritia. Disse
messer' Giannetto, Per mia fe ch' elta e tanto magna-
nima, et tanto cortese, et tanto da bene, che se io ne
spendessi quattro cotanti che questi, ella sarebbe
contenta ; perb ch' ella voleva ch'io ne arecassi molto
piu che non sono questi. Soggiunse il giudice, Come
Jew began to be in great fear, and Giannetto in as great joy.
At length the Jew, after much wrangling, told him, You are more
cunning than I can pretend to be ; however, give me the hun
dred thousand ducats, and I am content. No, says the judge,
cut off your pound of flesh according to your bond ; I will not
give you a farthing : why did not you take the money when it
was offered ? The Jew came down to ninety, and then to eighty
thousand, but the judge was still resolute. Giannetto told the
judge to give what he required, that Ansaldo might have his
liberty : but he replied, Let me manage him. Then the Jew
would have taken fifty thousand : he said, I will not give you a
penny. Give me at least, says the Jew, my own ten thousand
ducats, and a curse confound you all. The judge replies, I
will give you nothing : if you will have the pound of flesh, take
it ; if not, I will order your bond to be protested and annulled.
Every one present was greatly pleased ; and deriding the Jew,
said, He who laid traps for others, is caught himself. The Jew
GIORNATA QUARTA. 349
vi contentate voi di lei ? Rispose messer Giannetto :
E' non e creatura al mondo, a cui io voglia meglio
che allei; perch' ella e tanto savia e tanto bella,
quanto la natura 1' havesse potuta far piu. Et se voi
mi volete fare tanta gratia di venire a vederla, voi vi
maraviglierete dell' honore ch' ella vi fara, et vedrete
s' egli e quel ch' io dico 6 piu. Rispose il giudice,
Del venire con voi non voglio, pero che io ho altre
facende ; ma poi che voi dite ch' ella e tanto da bene,
quando la vedrete, salutatela per mia parte. Disse
messer Giannetto, Sara fatto ; ma io voglio che voi
togliate di questi danari. Et mentre che e' diceva
queste parole, il giudice gli vide in ditto uno annello,
onde gli disse, Io vuo questo annello, e non voglio
altro danaio nessuno. Rispose messer Giannetto, Io
son contento, ma io ve Io do mal volentieri ; pero che
la donna mia me Io donb, et dissemi ch' io Io por-
tassi sempre per suo amore: et s' ella non me Io
vedra, credera <ch' io 1' abbia dato a qualche femina,
et cosi si crucciera con meco, et credera ch' io sia
innamorato, e io voglio allei che a me medesimo.
Disse il giudice, E' mi par esser certo, ch' ella vi
seeing he could gain nothing, tore in pieces the bond in a great
rage. Ansaldo was released, and conducted home with great
joy by Giannetto. The hundred thousand ducats he carried to
the inn to the lawyer, whom he found making ready to depart.
You have done me, says he, a most important service, and I
entreat you to accept of this money to carry home, for I am
sure you have earned it. I thank you, replied the lawyer,
I do not want money ; keep and carry it back to your lady,
that she may not have occasion to say, that you have squan
dered it away idly. Says Giannetto, My lady is so good and
kind, that I might venture to spend four times as much, with
out incurring her displeasure ; and she ordered me, when I came
away, to bring with me a larger sum. How are you pleased with
the lady ? says the lawyer. I love her better than any earthly
thing, answers Giannetto : Nature never produced any woman
so beautiful, discreet, and sensible, and seems to have done her
utmost in forming her. If you will do me the favour to come
350 GIORNATA QUARTA.
vuole tanto bene, ch' ella vi credera questo ; et voi
le direte, che V havete donato a me. Ma forse lo
volavate voi donare a qualche vostra manza antica
qui ? Rispose messer Giannetto, Egli e tanto I1
amore et la fe ch' io le porto ; che non e donna al
mondb, a cui io cambiassi ; tanto compiutamente e
bella in ogni cosa : et cosi si cavo 1' annello di dito,
et diello al giudice: e poi s' abbracciarono facendo
riverenza V un all' altro. Disse il giudice, Fatemi
una gratia. Rispose messer Giannetto, Domandate.
Disse il giudice : Che voi non restiate qui, andatene
tosto a vedere quella vostra donna. Disse messer
Giannetto : E' mi pare cento mila anni ch' io la
riveggia, et cosi presero commiato. II giudice entro
in barca e andossi con Dio : et messer Giannetto
fece cene et desinari, et dono cavalli et danari a que'
suoi compagnoni, et cosi fe piu di festa, et mant enni
corte, et poi prese comiato da tutti i Vinitiani, et
menossene messere Ansaldo con seco, et molti de
and see her, you will be surprised at the honours she will shew
you ; and you will be able to judge whether I speak truth or
not. I cannot go with you, says the lawyer, I have other
engagements ; but since you speak so much good of her, I must
desire you to present my respects to her. I will not fail, Gian
netto answered ; and now, let me entreat you to accept some of
the money. While he was speaking, the lawyer observed a
ring on his finger, and said, If you will give me this ring, I shall
seek no other reward. Willingly, says Giannetto ; but as it is a
ring given me by my lady, to wear for her sake, I have some
reluctance to part with it, and she may think, not seeing it on
my finger, and will believe, that I have given it to a woman that
I love, and quarrel with me, though I protest I love her much
better than I love myself. Certainly, says the lawyer, she
esteems you sufficiently to credit what you tell her, and you may
say you made a present of it to me ; but I rather think you want
to give it to some former mistress here in Venice. So great,
says Giannetto, is the love and reverence I bear to her, that I
would not change her for any woman in the world, she is so
accomplished in every article. After this he takes the ring from
GIORNATA QUART A. 351
suoi compagni antichi se n' andarono con lui ; et
quasi tutti gli huomini e le donne per tenerzza
lagrimarono per la partita sua ; tanto s' era portato
piacevolmente nel tempo ch' egli era stato a Vinegia
con ogni persona ; et cosi si parti et tornossi in
Belmonte. Ora avvene che la donna sua giunse
piu di innanzi, et fe vista d' essere stata al bag-
no, et rivestissi al modo feminile, et fece fare 1'
apparechio grande, et coprire tutte le strade di zen-
dado, et fe vestire molte brigate d' armeggiatori. Et
quando messer Giannetto, et messere Ansaldo giun-
sero, tutti i baroni e la corte gli andarono incontra,
gridando, Viva il signore, viva il signore. E come e'
giunsero nella terra, la donna corse ad abbracciare
messere Ansaldo, e finse esser' un poco crucciata con
messer Giannetto, a cui voleva meglio che a se.
Fecesi la festa grande di giostrare, di armeggiare, di
danzare et di cantare per tutti i baroni et le donne et
donzelle che v' erano. Veggendo messer Giannetto
his finger, and presents it to him ; and embracing each the other,
I have still a favour to ask, says the lawyer. It shall be granted,
says Giannetto. It is, replied he, that you do not stay any time
here, but go as soon as possible to your lady. It appears to me
a thousand years till I see her, Giannetto answered : and im
mediately they take leave of each other. The lawyer embarked,
and left Venice. Giannetto made entertainments, and presents
of horses and money to his former companions ; and having
made a great expense for several days, he took leave of his
Venetian friends, and carried Ansaldo with him, and some of
his old acquaintance accompanied them. Everybody shed tears
at his departure, both men and women ; his amiable deportment
had so gained the good-will of all. In this manner he left
Venice, and returned to Belmonte.
The lady arrived some days before ; and having resumed her
female habit, pretended to have spent the time at the baths ; and
now gave orders to have every thing prepared, and the streets
lined with tapestry, and filled with men armed for the tiltings
and exercises. And when Giannetto and Ansaldo were landed,
all the Court went out to meet them, crying, Long live our
352 G1ORNATA QUARTA.
che la moglie non gli faceva cosi buon viso com' ella
soleva, andossene in camera, et chiamolla et disse,
Che hai tu ? et volsela abbracciare. Disse la donna,
Non ti bisogna fare queste carezze, ch' io so bene,
che a Venegia tu hai ritrovate le tue manze antiche.
Messer Giannetto si comincio a scusare. Disse le
donna, Ov' e 1' annelle ch' io ti diedi ? Rispose
messer Giannetto, Cio ch' io mi pensai, me n' e in-
contrato, et dissi bene, che tu te ne penseresti male.
Ma io ti giuro per la fe ch; io porto a Dio e a te, che
quello annello io Io donai a quel guidice che mi die
viuta la quistione. Disse la donna, Io to giuro per
la fe ch' io porto a Dio ea te, che tu Io donasti a una
femina, e io Io so ; et non ti vergogni di giurarlo.
Soggiunse messer Giannetto, Io prego Iddio che mi
disfaccia del mondo, s' io non ti dico il vero, et piu
ch' io Io dissi col giudice insieme, quano egli me Io
chiese. Disse la donna, Tu vi ti potevi ancho rima-
nere, et qua mandare messere Ansaldo, et tu goderti
sovereign lord ! long live our sovereign lord ! When they
arrived at the palace, the lady ran to embrace Ansaldo ; but
feigned anger against Giannetto, though she loved him exces
sively : yet the feastings, tilts and diversions went on as usual,
at which all the lords and ladies assisted. Giannetto seeing
that his wife did not receive him with her accustomed good
countenance, called her, and inquiring the reason, would have
saluted her. She told him, she wanted not his caresses : I am
sure, says she, you have been lavish of them to some of your
former mistresses at Venice. Giannetto began to make excuses.
She asked him where was the ring she had given him ? It is
no more than what I expected, cries Giannetto, and I was in the
right to say you would be angry with me ; but, I swear by all
that is sacred, and by your dear self, that I gave the ring to the
lawyer who gained our cause. And I can swear, says the lady,
with as much solemnity, that you gave the ring to a woman ;
and I know it certainly : therefore swear no more. Giannetto
said, If what he had told her was not true, he wished every mis
fortune to fall on him, that might destroy him ; and that he said
fdl this to the lawyer, when he asked for the ring. The lady
G10RNATA QUARTA. 353
con le tue manze, che odo che tutte piangevano
quando tu ti partisti. Messer Giannetto comincio
a lagrimare, e a darsi assai tribulation e, dicendo, Tu
fai sacramento di quel che non e vero, et non potrebbe
essere. Dove la donna veggendolo lagrimare, parve
che le fosse dato dj un coltello nel cuore, e subito
corse ad abbracciarlo, facendo le maggiori risa del
mondo ; e mostrogli P.annello, e dissegli ogni cosa,
com' egli haveva detto al giudice, et come ella era
stata quel giudice, e in che modo glielo diede. Onde
messer Giannetto di questo si fece la maggior mara-
viglia del mondo ; et veggendo ch' egli era pur vero,
ne comincio a fare gran festa. E uscito fuor di
camera lo disse con alcuno de suoi baroni et com-
pagni, et per questo crebbe et moltiplicb 1' amore fra
loro due. Dapoi messer Giannetto chiamo quella
cameriera che gli haveva insegnato la sera che non
beesse, et diella per moglie a messere Ansaldo ; et
cosi stettero lungo tempo in allegrezza et festa, mentre
che durb la lor vita.
replied, You would have done better to stay at Venice with
your mistresses^ and have sent Ansaldo here ; for I hear they
all wept when you came away. Giannetto's tears began to fall,
and in great sorrow he assured her that what she supposed
could not possibly be true. The lady seeing his tears, which
were daggers in her bosom, ran to embrace him, and in a fit of
laughter shewed the ring, told every thing which he had said to
the lawyer ; that she was herself the lawyer ; and how she
obtained the ring. Giannetto was greatly astonished, finding
it all true, and was highly delighted with what he had heard ;
and went out of the chamber, and told the story to the nobles
and to his companions ; and this heightened greatly the love
between him and his lady. He then called the damsel who had
given him the good advice the evening not to drink the liquor,
and gave her to Ansaldo for a wife ; and they spent the rest of
their lives in great felicity and contentment.
VOL. I.
Of a Jew, who woitld for his debt have
a pound of the flesh of a Christian.
[From the Orator of Alex. Silvayn, Englished by L. P.,
4&, 1596.]
A Jew unto whom a Christian Marchant ought nine
hundred crownes, would have summoned him for
the same in Turckie: the Merchant because he
would not be discredited, promised to pay the said
summe within the tearme of three months-, and if
he paied it not, he was bound to give him a pound
of the flesh of his bodie. The tearme being past
some fifteene dates, the Jew reftised to take his
money, and demaunded the pound of flesh : the or-
dinarie Judge of that place appointed him to cut
a just pound of the Christians flesh, and if he cut
either more or lesse, then his owne head should be
smitten off: the Jew appealed from this sentence,
unto the chief e judge, saying:
IMPOSSIBLE is it to breake the credite of trafficke
amongst men without great detriment unto the
Commonwealth : wherfore no man ought to bind
himselfe unto such covenants which hee cannot or
wil not accomplish, for by that means should no man
feare to be deceaved, and credit being maintained,
35 6 OF A JEW WHO WOULD HAVE A POUND
every man might be assured of his owne ; but since
deceit hath taken place, never wonder if obligations
are made more rigorous and strict then they were
wont, seeing that although the bonds are made never
so strong, yet can no man be very certaine that he
shal not be a loser. It seemeth at the first sight, that
it is a thing no lesse strange than cruel, to bind a man
to pay a pound of the flesh of his bodie, for want of
money : Surely, in that it is a thing not usuall, it ap-
peareth to be somewhat the more admirable, but there
are divers others that are more cruell, which because
they are in use seeme nothing terrible at all : as to
bind al the bodie unto a most lothsome prison, or unto
an intollerable slaverie, where not only the whole
bodie but also al the sences and spirits are tormented,
the which is commonly practised, not only betwixt
those which are either in sect or Nation contrary, but
also even amongst those that are all of one sect and
nation, yea amongst neighbours and kindred, and even
amongst Christians it hath ben scene, that the son
hath imprisoned the father for monie. Likewise, in
the Roman Commonwealth, so famous for laws and
armes, it was lawfull for debt, to imprison, beat, and
afflict with torments the free Citizens : How manie of
them (do you thinke) would have thought themselves
happie, if for a small debt they might have ben excused
with the paiment of a pound of their flesh ? Who
ought then to marvile if a Jew requireth so small a
thing of a Christian, to discharge him of a good round
summe ? A man may aske why I would not rather
take silver of this man, then his flesh : I might
alleage many reasons, for I might say that none but
my selfe can tell what the breach of his promise hath
cost me, and what I have thereby paied for want of
money to my creditors, of that which I have lost in
my credit : for the miserie of those men which
esteeme their reputation, is so great, that oftentimes
OF A CHRISTIAN'S FLESH FOR HIS DEBT. 357
they had rather indure any thing secretlie then to
have their discredit blazed abroad, because they would
not be both shamed and harmed. Nevertheless^ I
doe freely confesse, that I had rather lose a pound of
my flesh, then my credit should be in any sort cracked :
I might also say that I have need of this flesh to cure
a friend of mine of a certaine maladie, which is other
wise incurable, or that I would have it to terrifie
thereby the Christians for ever abusing the Jewes
anie more hereafter : but I will onelie say, that by
his obligation he oweth it me. It is lawfull to kill
a souldior if he come unto the warres but an houre
too late, and also to hang a theefe though he steale
never so little : is it then such a great matter to
cause such a one to pay a pound of his flesh, that
hath broken his promise manie times, or that putteth
another in danger to lose both credit and reputation, yea
and it may be life and al for greife ? were it not better
for him to lose that which I demand, then his soule,
alreadie bound by his faith ? Neither am I to take
that which he oweth me, but he is to deliver it me :
And especiallie because no man knoweth better then
he where the same may be spared to the least hurt
of his person, for I might take it in such a place as
hee might thereby happen to lose his life: what a
matter were it then, if I should cut of his privie mem
bers, supposing that the same would altogether weigh
a just pound ? Or els his head, should I be suffered
to cut it off, although it were with the danger of mine
owne life ? I beleeve I should not ; because there
were as little reason therein, as there could be in the
amends whereunto I should be bound : or els if I
would cut off his nose, his lips, his eares, and pull out
his eies, to 'make them altogether a pound, should I
be suffered ? Surely I thinke not, because the obli
gation dooth not specific that I ought either to chuse,
cut, or take the same, but that he ought to give me
358 OF A JEW WHO WOULD HAVE A POUND
a pound of his flesh. Of every thing that is sold, he
which delivereth the same is to make waight, and he
which receiveth, taketh heed that it be just : seeing
then that neither the obligation, custome, nor law
doth bind me to cut, or weigh, much lesse unto the
above mentioned satisfaction, I refuse it all, and re
quire that the same which is due should bee delivered
unto me.
The Christians Answere.
It is no strange matter to here those dispute of
equitie which are themselves most unjust ; and such
as have no faith at all, desirous that others should
observe the same inviolable, the which were yet the
more tollerable, if such men would bee contented
with reasonable things, or at the least not altogether
unreasonable : but what reason is there that one man
should unto his own prejudice desire the hurt of
another ? as this Jew is content to lose nine hundred
crownes to have a pound of my flesh, whereby is
manifestly scene the antient and cruell hate which he
beareth not only unto Christians, but unto all. others
which are not of his sect; yea, even unto the Turkes,
who overkindly doe suffer such vermine to dwell
amongst them, seeing that this presumptuous wretch
.dare not onely doubt, but appeale from the judge
ment of a good and just Judge, and afterwards he
would by sophisticall reasons proove that his abho-
mination is equitie : trulie I confesse that I have
suffered fifteene daies of the tearme to passe, yet who
can tell whether he or I is the cause thereof: as for
me I thinke that by secret meanes he hath caused
the money to bee delaied, which from sundry places
ought to have come unto me before the tearm which
I promised unto him ; Otherwise, I would never have
been so rash as to bind my selfe so strictly : but
although he were not the cause of the fault, is it there-
OF A CHRISTIAN'S FLESH FOR HIS DEBT. 359
fore said, that he ought to bee so impudent, as to goe
about to proove it no strange matter that he should
be willing to be paied with mans flesh, which is a
thing more natural for Tigres, then men, the which
also was never heard of : but this divell in shape of a
man, seeing me oppressed with necessitie propounded
this accursed obligation unto me. Whereas hee
alleageth the Romanes for an example, why doth he
not as well tell on how for that crueltie in afflicting
debtors over greevously, the Commonwealth was
almost overthrown e, and that shortly after it was for
bidden to imprison men any more for debt. To
breake promise is, when a man sweareth or promiseth
a thing, the which he hath no desire to performe,
which yet upon an extreame necessitie is somewhat
excusable ; as for me, I have promised, and accom
plished my promise, yet not so soone as I would ; and
although I knew the danger wherein I was to satisfie
the crueltie of this mischeevous man with the price of
my flesh and blood, yet did I not flie away, but sub
mitted my selfe unto the discretion of the Judge
who hath justly repressed his beastlinesse. Wherein
then have I falsened my promise, is it in that I would
not (like him), disobey the judgement of the Judge ?
Behold I will present a part of my bodie unto him,
that he may pay himselfe, according to the contents
of the judgement, where is then my promise broken ?
But it is no marvaile if this race be so obstinat and
cruell against us, for they doe it of set purpose to
offend our God whom they have crucified : and where
fore ? Because he was holie, as he is yet so reputed
of this worthy Turkish nation : but what shal I say ?
Their own bible is full of their rebellion against God,
against their Priests, Judges, and leaders. What did
not the verie Patriarks themselves, from whom they
have their beginning ? They sold their brother, and
had it not been for one amongst them, they had
360 OF A JEW WHO WOULD HAVE A POUND, ETC.
slaine him even for verie envie. How manie adul
teries and abhominations were committed amongst
them? How manie murthers ? Absalon did not he
cause his brother to be murthered ? Did he not per
secute his father? Is it not for their iniquitie that
God hath dispersed them, without leaving them one
onlie foot of ground ? If then, when they had newlie
received their law from God, when they saw his
wonderous works with their eies, and had yet their
Judges amongst them, they were so wicked, what
may one hope of them now, when they have neither
faith nor law, but their rapines and usuries? And
that they beleeve they do a charitable work, when
they do some great wrong unto anie that is not a
Jew ? It may please you then most righteous Judge
to consider all these circumstances, having pittie of
him who doth wholy submit himself e unto your just
clemencie : hoping thereby to be delivered from this
monsters crueltie.
3- The Story of the Choice of Three
Caskets?
[From the " Gesta Romanorum"]
[STORY LXVL]
ANCELMUS THE EMPEROUR.
A NCELMUS regnyd Emperour in the cite of Rome,
**• and he weddid to wife the kynges do}ter of Je
rusalem, the whiche was a faire woman, and long
dwelte in his company j but she neuer conceyvid, ne
brou}t forthe frute, and therof were lordis gretly heveid
and sory. Happinge in a certeyne evenynge, as he
walkide after his soper in a faire greene, and tho3te of
alle the worlde, and specially that he had noon heyr,
and howe that the kynge of Naplis strongly therfore
noyed him eche 3ere ; and so, whenne it was ny}t, he
went to bedde, and tooke a slep, and dremyd this.
He sawe the firmament in his most clernesse, and
moore cler than it was wonyd to be, and the mone
1 [In the former edition, a comparatively modern edition of
R. Robinson's translation was employed ; but the text is now
taken from Sir F. Madden's valuable edition, 1838, pp. 238-43.]
362 THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS.
was more pale j and on a party of the mone was a
faire colourid brid, and beside hire stoode too bestis,
the whiche norisshid the brid with hire heete and
brethe. After this come diuerse bestis and briddis
fleynge, and thei song so swetly, that the Emperour
was with the songe awakid. Thenne on the morowe the
Emperour hadde gret merveile of this sweuene, and
callid to him divinours, and lordis of alle the empire,
and said to hem, " Deere frendis, tellithe me what is
the interpretacione of my sweuene, and I shalle wel
rewarde you ; and but if 36 do, 36 shulle be dede."
And then thai saide, "Lord, shew to vs thi dreme, and
we shulle telle the the interpretacione of it." And
then the Emperour tolde hem as is said before, fro
bigynnynge to endynge. And then thei were glad,
and with a gret gladnesse spake to him, and saide,
" Ser, this was a goode sweuene; for the firmament
that thou sawe so clere is the empire, the which hens
forwarde shalle be in prosperitie ; the paale mone is
the empresse, the whiche hath conceivid, and for hire
conceivinge is the more discolourid ; the litille bryd
is the faire sone whom the emperesse shalle brynge
forthe, when tyme comithe ; the too bestis ben riche
men and wise men, that shulle be obedient to thi
childe ; the other bestis ben other folke, that neuer
made homage, and nowe shulle be subiet to thi sone ;
the briddis, that songe so swetly, is the empire of
Rome, that shalle ioy of thi childis burthe ; and, sir,
this is the interpretacione of your drem." When the
empresse hurde this, she was glad y-nowe ; and soone
she bare a faire sone, and therof was maade moche
ioy. And when the kynge of Naplis hurde that, he
thowte to him selfe, "I haue long tyme holdyne werre
ayenst the Emperour, and it may not be but that it
wol be tolde to his sone, when that he comythe to
his mile age, howe that I haue fo3t alle my lyfe ayenst
his faclir. 3e," thowte he, " he is nowe a childe, and
THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS. 363
it is goode that I procour for pese, that I may haue
rest of him, when he is in his best, and I in my
worste." So he wrote letteres to the Emperour, for
pese to be had ; and the Emperour seynge that he
dude that more for cause of drede than of love, he
sent him worde a3en, and saide, that he would make
him surte of pese, with condicione that he wolde be
in his servitute, and 3elde him homage alle his life,
eche 3er. Thenne the kynge callid his conseil, and
askid of hem what was best to do ; and the lordis of
his kyngdome saide, that it was goode to folowe the
Emperour in his wille. " In the first 36 aske of him
surte of pese ; to that we say thus, thou hast a
dou3ter, and he hathe a sone; late matrimony be maad
bytwene hem, and so ther shalle be good sikirnesse ;
also it is goode to make him homage, and 3elde him
rentes." Thenne the kynge sent worde to the Em
perour, and saide, that he wolde fulfille his wille in
all poyntys, and 3ive his dorter to his sone in wife,
yf that it were plesing to him. This answere likid
wele the Emperour, but he sent worde a3en, that he
wolde not assent to matrimony, but if that his do3ter
hadde bene a virgine fro hire natiuite. The kinge
was herewith hiely glad, for his do3ter was suche a
cleene virgyn. So letteres were maade of this coue-
naunt; and he maade a shippe to be ordeyned,
to lede his do3ter with a certayne of kny3tis and
ladeys to the Emperour, to be mareyd with his sone.
And whenne thei were in the shippe, and hadde
far passid fro the londe, ther rose vp a gret hor-
ribille tempest, and draynt alle that were in the
ship, except the mayde. Thenne the mayde sette
all hire hope strongly in God ; and at the laste, the
tempest sesid; but their folowide strongly a gret
whale, to devowre this maide. And whenne she
sawe that, she moche dradde ; and whan the ny3t com,
the maide dredynge that the whale wolde haue swole-
364 THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS.
wide the ship, smot fire at a stone, and hadde gret
plente of fire ; and as longe as the fire laste, the whale
dorst come no nere, but abowte cockis crowe the
mayde, for gret vexacione that she hadde with the
tempest ; felle on slepe, and in hire slep the fire went
out ; and when it was out, the whale com nye, and
swolewid bothe the ship and the mayde. And when
the mayde felte that she was in the wombe of a whale,
she smot, and maade gret fire, and greuously woundid
the whale with a litille knyfe, in so moche that he
drowe to the londe, and deyde ; for that is the kynde,
to drawe to the londe when he shall dye. And in
this tyme there was an erle namyd Pirius, and he
walkid in his disport by the see, and afore him he
sawe the whale come towarde the lond. He gaderid
gret helpe and strenght of men ; [and] with diuerse
instrementis thei smote the whale in euery party of
hym. And when the dameselle hurde the gret strokys,
she cryde with an hye voys, and saide, " Gentille siris,
havithe pite of me, for I am the dowter of a kynge,
and a mayde haue y-ben sithe I was borne." Whenne
the erle hurde this, he merveilid gretly, and openyd
the whale, and tooke out the dameselle. Thenne the
maide told by ordre how that she was a kyngys dowter,
and howe she loste hire goodis in the see, and how
she sholde be mareyd to the sone of the Emperour.
And when the erle hurde theise wordis, he was
glad, and helde the maide with him a gret while, till
tyme that she was wele confortide; and thenne
he sent hire solemply to the Emperour. And
whenne he sawe hire comynge, and hurde that she
had tribulacions in the see; he hadde gret compas-
sione for hire in his herte, and said to hire, " Goode
dameselle, thou hast sufferid moche angre for the love
of my soone, neuerthelese, if that thou be worthi to
have him, I shalle sone preve." The Emperour late
make iij. vesselles, and the first was of clene goolde,
THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS. 365
and full of precious stonys owtewarde, and withinne
fulle of deede bonys ; and it hade a superscripcione
in theise wordis, Thei that chese me shulle fynde in me
that thri seruyde. The secunde vesselle was alle of
cleene siluer, and fulle of precious stonys ; and out-
warde it had this superscripsione, Thei that chesithe
me, shulle fynde in me that nature and kynde desirithe.
And the third vesselle was of leed, and with inne was
fulle of precious stonys ; and with oute was sette this
scripture, Thei that" chese me, shulle fynde [m] me that
God hathe disposid. Theise iij. vessellys tooke the
Emperour, and shewid the maide, seyinge, " Lo !
deere dameselle, here ben thre worthi vessellys, and
thou chese on of theise, wherein is profit, and owithe
to be chosyne, thenne thou shalt haue my sone to
husbonde; and if thou chese that that is not profitable
to the, ne to noone othir, forsothe thenne thou shalt
not haue hym." Whenne the dowter hurde this, and
sawe the thre vessellys, she lifte vp hire yene to God,
and saide, "Thowe, Lord, that knowist alle thinges,
graunt me thy grace nowe in the nede of this tyme,
sdl. that I may chese at this tyme, wherthorowe I may
ioy the sone of the Emperour, and haue him to hus-
bond." Thenne she byhelde the first vesselle, that
was so sotilly maad, and radde the suerscripcione ;
and then she thowte, what haue I deservid for to haue
so precious a vesselle, and tho} it be neuer so gay with
oute, I not howe fowle it is with inne ; so she tolde
the Emperour that she wolde by no way chese that.
Thenne she lokid to the secunde, that was of siluer,
and radde the superscripcione ; and thenne she saide,
"My nature and kynde askithe but dilectacions of the
flessh; forsothe ser," quod she, "and I refuse this."
Then she lokid to the third, that was of leede, and
radde the superscripcione; and then she saide,
" Sothely, God disposide neuer iville ; forsothe that
which God hathe disposid wolle I take and chese."
366 THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS.
And whenne the Emperour sawe that, he saide,
" Goode dameselle, opyne nowe that vesselle, and see
what thou hast fondyne." And whenne it was openyd,
it was fulle of golde and precious stoonys. And
thenne the Emperour saide to hire a}en, " Dameselle,
thou hast wisely chosen, and wonne my sone to thyn
husbonde." So the day was sette of hire bredeale,
and gret ioy was maade ; and the sone regnyde after
the decese of the fadir, the whiche maad faire ende.
Ad quod nos perducat ! Amen.
4- The Northern Lord.
IN FOUR PARTS.
To a pleasant new Tune.
A NOBLE lord of high renowne
Two daughters had, the eldest browne ;
The youngest beautifull and faire.
By chance a noble knight came there.
The father said, Kind sir, I haue
Two daughters, & which do you crave ?
One that is beautifull, he cryed,
The noble knight he then replyed.
She's young, she's beautifull and gay,
And is not to be giuen away ;
But, as jewels are bought and sold,
She shall bring me her weight in gold.
The price, methinkes, you need not grtitch,
Since I will freely giue as much
With her owne sister ; if I can
Finde out some other nobleman.
With that bespake the noble knight :
More welcome is the beauty bright
At that high rate, renowned lord,
Then the other with a vast reward.
368 THE NORTHERN LORD.
So then the bargain it was made ;
But ere the money could be paide
He borrow'd it of a wealthy lew,
The sum so large. The writings drew,
That if he failde, or miss'd his day,
So many ounces he should pay
Of his owne flesh, instead of gold.
All was agreed ; the sum was told.
So he return'd immediately
Vnto the lord, where he did buy
His daughter deare, of beautie rare,
And paide him downe the money there.
He bought her so : it was well knowne
Vnto all men she was his owne.
By her a son he did enioy,
A noble sweete and comely boy.
At length the time of pay drew neare,
Whenas the knight began to feare :
He dreaded much the cruell Jew,
Because the money then was dew.
His lady askt him why he griev'd ?
He said, My Jewell, I receiv'd
Such a huge sum, and of a Jew,
And with it I did purchase you.
But now the day of payment's come,
I know not how to raise the summe;
He'll have my flesh, yea, weight for weight,
Which makes my grief and sorrow great.
Tush ! neuer feare, the dame reply'd :
We'll cross the raging ocean wide,
And so secure you from the fate.
To her request he yeelded strait.
THE NORTHERN LORD. 369
PART II.
Then hailing past the raging seas,
They trauail'd on, till by degrees
Vnto the German court they came ;
The knight, his sonne, and comely dame.
Vnto the emperor he told
His story of the summe of gold
That he had borrowd of a lew,
And that for feare of death he flew.
The emperor he did erect
A court for them ; and shewd respect
Vnto his guests, because they came
From Britain, that blest land of fame.
As here he liued in delight,
A Dutch lord told our English knight,
That he a ton of gold would lay
He could enioy his lady gay.
This Lord from her, then, was to bring
A rich and costly diamond ring,
That was to proue and testifie
How he did with his lady lye.
He tried, but neuer could obtaine
Her fauour, but with high disdaine
She did abhor his base intent ;
So to her chambermaid he went,
And told her, if she would but steale
Her lady's ring, and so conceale
The same, and bring it to him strait,
She should enioy his whole estate.
In hopes of such a great reward
The ring she stole ; and the Dutch lord
VOL. I. 2 A
370 THE NORTHERN LORD.
Did take it to the English knight,
Who almost swounded at the sight.
Home goeth he to his lady strait :
Meeting her at the pallace gate,
He flung her headlong in the moate,
And left her there to sinke or floate.
Soone afterward, in armour greene,
She like a warlike wight was scene ;
And in most gallant seemely sort
She rode vnto the emperors court.
Now, when the emperor behild
Her graue deportment, he was fill'd
With admiration at the sight.
Who caird her selfe an English knight.
The emperor did then reply :
An English knight's condemn'd to dye
For drowning his false lady gay.
Quoth she, He free him, if I may.
PART III.
She to the emperor did ride,
And said, Now let the cause be tryde
Once more ; for lue resolu'd to saue
This noble gallant from the grave.
It was decreed, the court should set.
The Dutch lord came, seeming to fret,
About the ring ; as if in feare
The truth would make his shame appeare.
And so it chanc'd ; for soone they call
The maid, who on her knees did fall
Before the judge, and did descry
The Dutch lord's shamefull treachery.
THE NORTHERN LORD. 371
The court declared it to be so :
The lady too, for ought we know,
May be aliue : therefore we stay
The sentence till another day.
Now the Dutch lord gaue him the ton
Of gold, that he had iustly wonne ;
Which hauing done with shame and griefe,
The English lord had some reliefe.
The Dutch lord, to reuenge the spight
Upon our noble English knight,
Did send a letter out of hand,
And gaue the Jew to understand,
How he was in the German court :
Therefore, vpon this good report,
The Jew he crost the ocean wide,
Intent on being satisfied.
Soone as he fixt his greedy eies
Vpon the knight, in wrath he cries,
Your hand and seale I haue : behold !
Your flesh He haue instead of gold.
Then said the noble knight in greene :
Sir, may not the deed be seene ?
Behold it here ! replyed the Jew,
But I resolue to haue my due.
Lo ! then the knight began to reade.
At last he said : I find in deede
Nothing but flesh you are to haue.
Answerd the Jew, That's all I craue.
The poore distressed knight was broght :
The bloody-minded Jew he thought
That day to be reuengde on him,
And cut his flesh from euery limb.
372 THE NORTHERN LORD.
The knight in greene said to the Jew.
Theres nothing els but flesh your due :
Then, see no drop of blood you shed,
For if you do, you lose your head.
Now take your due with all my hart ;
But with his blood we will not part.
With that the lew soone went his way.
Nor had another word to say.
PART IV.
No sooner were these troubles past
But the wifes father came in hast,
Determin'd for to haue his life
For drowning his beloued wife.
Ouer the seas her father brought
Many braue horses : one was bought
By the disguised knight in greene,
Which was the best that ere was scene.
They brought her lord from prison then.
Guarded by many armed men,
Vnto the place where he must dye ;
And the greene knight was standing by.
Then from her side her sword she drew,
And ran her gelding through and through.
Her father askt, Why dost thou so ?
I may ; it is mine owne, you know.
You sold your gelding, 'tis well knowne \
I bought it, making it mine owne,
And may doe what I please with it.
So then to her he did submit.
THE NORTHERN LORD. 373
Here is a man arraign'd and cast,
And brought to surfer death at last,
Because your daughter deare he slue ;
But if he did, concerns it you ?
You had your money, when you sold
Your daughter for her weight in gold :
Wherefore he might, as I haue showne,
Do what him pleased with his owne.
Then, hauing changed her armour greene,
And drest her selfe like to a queene,
Her father and her husband strait
Both knew her ; and their ioy was great.
Soone did they carry this report
Vnto the famous German court,
How the renowned English knight
Had found at length his lady bright.
The emperor and his lords of fame
With cheerfull harts did then proclaim
An vniuersall ioy, to see
This lady's life and libertie.
A new Song, shewing the cnteltie of Gernutus, a
Jew who, lending to a merchant an hundred
crowns, would have a pound cf his fleshe,
because he could not pay him at the time
appointed-
To the tune of Blacke and Yellow.
o
THE FIRST PART.
IN Venice towne not long agoe
A cruel Jew did dwell,
Which lived all on usurie,
As Italian writers tell.
Gernutus called was the Jew,
Which never thought to dye,
Nor ever yet did any good
To them in streets that lie.
His life was like a barrow hogge,
That liveth many a day,
Yet never once doth any good,
Until men will him slay.
Or like a filthy heap of dung,
That lyeth in a whoard ;
Which never can do any good,
Till it be spread abroad.
GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE.
So fares it with the usurer,
He cannot sleep in rest,
For feare the thiefe will him pursue
To plucke him from his nest.
His heart doth thinke on many a wile,
How to deceive the poore ;
His mouth is almost ful of mucke,
Yet still he gapes for more.
His wife must lend a shilling,
For every weeke a penny,
Yet bring a pledge, that is double worth,
If that you will have any.
And see, likewise, you keepe your day.
Or else you loose it all :
This was the living of the wife,
Her cow she did it call.
Within that citie dwelt that time
A merchant of great fame,
Which being distressed in his need,
Unto Gernutus came :
Desiring him to stand his friend
For twelve month and a day,
To lend to him an hundred crownes :
And he for it would pay
Whatsoever he would demand of him,
And pledges he should have.
No, (quoth the Jew with Searing lookes)
Sir, aske what you will have.
No penny for the loane of it
For one year you shall pay ;
You may doe me as good a turne,
Before my dying day.
GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE. 377
But we will have a merry jeast,
For to be talked long :
You shall make me a bond, quoth he,
That shall be large and strong :
And this shall be the forfeyture :
Of your owne fleshe a pound,
If you agree, make you the bond,
And here is a hundred crownes.
With right good will ! the marchant says :
And so the bond was made,
When twelve month and a day drew on
That backe it should be payd.
The marchants ships were all at sea,
And money came not in \
Which way to take, or what to doe,
To thinke he doth begin :
And to Gernutus strait he comes
With cap and bended knee,
And sayde to him, Of curtesie
I pray you beare with mee.
My day is come, and I have not
The money for to pay :
And little good the forfeyture
Will doe you, I dare say.
With all my heart, Gernutus sayd,
Commaund it to your minde :
In thinges of bigger waight then this
You shall me ready finde.
He goes his way ; the day once past
Gernutus doth not slacke
To get a sergiant presently ;
And clapt him on the backe :
GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE.
And layd him into prison strong,
And sued his bond withall ;
And when the judgement day was come,
For judgement he did call.
The marchants friends came thither fast,
With many a weeping eye,
For other meanes they could not find,
But he that day must dye.
THE SECOND PART.
Of the Jeivs cruellie ; setting foorth the merdfulnesse of the Judge
toivards the Marchant. To the tune of Blacke and Yellow.
Some offered for his hundred crownes
Five hundred for to pay j
And some a thousand, two or three,
Yet still he did denay.
And at the last ten thousand crownes
They offered, him to save.
Gernutus sayd, I will no gold :
My forfeite I will have.
A pound of fleshe is my demand,
And that shall be my hire.
Then sayd the judge, Yet, good my friend,
Let me of you desire
To take the flesh from such a place,
As yet you let him live :
Do so, and lo ! an hundred crownes
To thee here will I give.
No, no : quoth he ; no : judgement here !
For this it shall be tride,
For I will have my pound of fleshe
From under his right side.
GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE. 379
It grieved all the companie
His crueltie to see,
For neither friend nor foe could helpe
But he must spoyled bee.
The bloudie Jew now readie is
With whetted blade in hand,
To spoyle the bloud of innocent,
By forfeit of his bond.
And as he was about to strike
In him the deadly blow :
Stay (quoth the judge) thy crueltie ;
I charge thee to do so.
Sith needs thou wilt thy forfeit have,
Which is of flesh a pound :
See that thou shed no drop of bloud,
Nor yet the man confound.
For if thou doe, like murderer,
Thou here shalt hanged be :
Likewise of flesh see that thou cut
No more than longes to thee :
For if thou take either more or lesse
To the value of a mite,
Thou shalt be hanged presently,
As is both law and right.
Gernutus now waxt franticke mad,
And wotes not what to say ;
Quoth he at last, Ten thousand crownes,
I will that he shall pay ;
And so I graunt to set him free.
The judge doth answere make ;
You shall not have a penny given ;
Your forfeyture now take.
380 GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE.
And at the last he doth demaund
But for to have his owne.
No, quoth the judge, doe as you list,
Thy judgement shall be showne.
Either take your pound of flesh, quoth he,
Or cancell me your bond.
O cruell judge, then quoth the Jew,
That doth against me stand !
And so with griping grieved mind
He biddeth them fare-well.
" Then" all the people prays'd the Lord,
That ever this heard tell.
Good people, that doe heare this song,
For trueth I dare well say,
That many a wretch as ill as hee
Doth live now at this day ;
That seeketh nothing but the spoyle
Of many a wealthey man,
And for to trap the innocent
Deviseth what they can.
From whome the Lord deliver me,
And every Christian too,
And send to them like sentence eke
That meaneth so to do.
TWELFTH NIGHT.
INTR OD UCTION.
IT is not necessary to say much of Barnaby Rich's
" History of Apollonius and Silla," and of its con
nection with " Twelfth Night/' The novel was origin
ally published in 1581, 4°, and we give the following
exact transcript of the tract, because only a single
perfect copy of that date is known : — " Riche his
Farewell to Militarie profession : conteinyng verie
pleasaunt discourses fit for a peaceable tyme : Gathered
together for the onely delight of the courteous Gentle
women, bothe of Englande and Irelande, for whose
onely pleasure thei were collected together, and unto
whom thei are directed and dedicated by Barnabe
Riche, Gentleman. Malim me divitem esse quam
vocari. Imprinted at London, by Robart Walley,
1581." The extreme rarity of this edition of the book
is proved by the fact that neither Ames, Herbert, nor
Dibdin, has included it in any list of works from
Waley's press. It was reprinte.d in 1606, 4°; and in
a manuscript note to his copy of that impression
Malone speaks of a copy of 1583 : it may then have
been republished, as the work could not fail to have
been popular ; but no such edition appears to exist in
384 INTROD UCTION.
any public or private collection, and it is not at all im
possible that Malone mistook, and meant the impres
sion of 1581, as he does not seem to have been aware
of any in that year. It is among Bishop Tanner's
books, at Oxford, and it is therefore included in the
folio Catalogue of the printed works in the Bodleian
Library.1 Our re-impression has been made from the
edition of 1581.
It was supposed until lately that Shakespeare, in
composing " Twelfth Night," had employed the edition
of 1606, because Malone conjectured that that play
was not written, at the earliest, until 1607 (Mai.
Shaksp., by Boswell, ii. 441). It turns out, however,
that " Twelfth Night " was in being in 1602 (" Hist, of
Engl. Dram. Poetry and the Stage," i. 327), having
been acted on February 2 in that year, in the Middle
Temple Hall : consequently Shakespeare, as far as he
was indebted to Rich's story, must have resorted to an
earlier impression than that of 1606. It was formerly
a question, whether our great Dramatist was not under
obligation to two Italian comedies, both called " Gl'
Inganni," and in both of which characters and incidents
occur similar to those in " Twelfth Night." One was
by Nicolo Secchi, the other by Curzio Gonzaga. The
part of the plot in which Viola, disguised as a page,
is made the medium of courtship between her lover
and -her rival, is common to various old novels and
dramas in different languages : our readers will here-
1 It has been reprinted entire in the Shakespeare's Society's
Series, 8°, 1846.
JNTR ODUC TION. 385
after find that it belongs to the story of Felismena, in
the " Diana ;' of Montemayor, which appeared in
English in 1598. Mr Hunter subsequently discovered
in a comedy called " Gli Ingannati," first printed 1550,
and often afterwards, a far greater resemblance to the
English play. But, after all, Mr Dyce is probably right
in assuming that Shakespeare derived his knowledge
of these dramatic incidents, which he has turned 'to
his own purposes, not from any of the Italian produc
tions themselves, but from some intermediate English
work of fiction, no longer known, in which they
were embodied. An analysis of the " Inganni " and
"Ingannati" is contained in "Farther Particulars
regarding Shakespeare and his Works," 8°, 1839, and
in Hunter ; and the " Ingannati " has been translated
into English by Mr J. L. Peacock, 12°, i862.1
1 See further Dyce's introduction to "Twelfth Night," edit,
of Shakespeare, 1868,111.324-5, but (better) Hunter's "New
Illustrations," i. 391.
VOL. I, 2 B
Apolonius and Silla.
DURING the tyme that the famous Citie of Con
stantinople remained in the liandes of the
Christians, emongst many other noble menne, that
kepte their abidyng in that florishing Citie> there was
one whose name was Apolonius, a worthie Duke, who
beyng but a verie yong man, and euen then nevve come
to his possessions whiche were verie greate, leuied a
mightie bande of menne, at his owne proper charges,
with whom he serued against the Turke, duryng the
space of one whole yere, in whiche tyme although it
were very shorte, this yong Duke so behaued hym
selfe, as well by prowesse and valiaunce shewed with
his owne handes, as otherwise, by his wisedome and
liberalise, vsed towardes his Souldiors, that all the
worlde was filled with the fame of this noble Duke.
When he had thus spent one yeares seruice, he caused
his Trompet to sounde a retraite, and gatheryng his
companie together, and imbarkyng theim selues he
sette saile, holdyng his course towardes Constanti
nople : but beeyng vppon the Sea, by the extremitie
of a tempest whiche sodainly fell, his fleete was de-
seuered some one way, and some an other, but he
hym selfe recouered the He of Cypres, where he was
388 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
worthily receiued by Pontus Duke and governour of
the same He, with whom he lodged, while his shippes
were newe repairyng.
This Pontus that was Lorde and gouernour of this
famous He, was an auncient Duke, and had twoo
children, a soonne and a daughter, his sonne was
named Siluio, of whom hereafter we shall haue further
occasion to speake, but at this instant he was in the
partes of Africa, seruyng in the warres.
The daughter her name was Silla, whose beautie
was so perelesse, that she had the soueraintie emongest
all other Dames, aswell for her beautie as for the
noblenesse of her birthe. This Silla hairing heard of
the worthinesse of Apolonius, this yong Duke, who
besides his beautie and good graces, had a certaine
naturall allurement, that beeyng now in his companie
in her fathers courte, she was so strangely attached
with the loue of Apolonius, that there was nothyng
might content her but his presence and sweete sight,
and although she sawe no maner of hope, to attaine
to that she moste desired : Knowing Apolonius to be
but a geaste, and readie to take the benefite"*of -the
next Winde, and to departe into a straunge Countrey,
whereby she was bereued of all possibilitie euer to
see hym againe, and therefore striued with her self to
leaue her fondenesse, but all in vaine, it would not
bee, but like the foule whiche is once Limed, the more
she striueth, the faster she tieth her self. So Silla
was now constrained perforce her will to yeeld to
loue, wherefore from tyme to tyme, she vsed so greate
familiaritie with hym, as her honour might well per-
mitte, and fedde him with suche amourous baites as
the modestie of a maide could reasonably afforde,
whiche when she perceiued, did take but small effecte,
feelyng her self so muche out raged with the ex-
treamitie of her passion, by the onely countenaunce
that she bestowed vpon Apolonius, it might haue been
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 389
well perceiued, that the verie eyes pleaded vnto hym
for pitie and remorse. But Apolonius commyng but
lately from out of the feelde, from the chasyng of his
enemies, and his furie not yet thoroughly desolved,
nor purged from his stomacke, gaue no regarde to
these amourous entisementes, whiche by reason of his
youth, he had not been acquainted with all. But his
minde ranne more to heare his Pilotes bryng newes
of a merrie winde, to serue his turne to Constantinople
whiche in the ende came very prosperously : and
giuing Duke Pontus heartie thankes for his greate
entertainment, takyng his leaue of hym self, and the
Ladie Silla his daughter, departed with his companie,
and with a happie gaale ariued at his desired porte :
Gentlewomen accordyng to my promise, I will heare
for breuities sake, omit to make repetition of the long
and dolorous discourse recorded by Silla, for this
sodaine departure of her Apolonius, knowyng you to
bee as tenderly harted as Silla her self, whereby you
maie the better coniecture the furie of her Feuer.
But Silla the further that she sawe her self bereued
of all hope, euer any more to see her beloued Apolo
nius, so muche the more contagious were her passions,
and made the greater speede to execute that she
had premeditated in her mynde, whiche was this :
Emongest many seruauntes that did attend vppon her,
there was one whose name was Pedro, who had a
long time waited vpon her in her Chamber, whereby
she was well assured of his fidelitie and trust : to that
Pedro therefore she bewraied first the feruencie of her
loue borne to Apolonius, coniuring him in the name of
the Goddes of Loue her self, and bindyng hym by the
duetie that a Seruante ought to have, that tendereth
his Mistresse safetie and good likyng, and desiryn.g
hym with teares tricklyng doune her cheekes, that he
would giue his consent to aide and assiste her, in that
she had determined, whiche was for that she was fully
3QO APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
resolued to goe to Constantinople, where she might
againe take the vewe of her beloued Apolonius, that
hee accordyng to the trust she had reposed in hym,
would not refuse to giue his consent, secretly to con-
uaye her from out her fathers Courte accordyng as she
should giue hym direction, and also to make hym self
partaker of her iourney, and to waite vpon her, till
she had seen the ende of her determination.
Pedro perceiuyng with what vehemencie his Ladie
and Mistressse had made request vnto hym, albeeit
he sawe many perilles and doubtes, dependyng in her
pretence, notwithstandyng, gaue his consent to be at
her disposition, promisyng her to further her with his
beste aduice, and to be readie to obeye whatsoeuer
she would please to commaunde him. The match
beyng thus agreed vpon, and all thynges prepared in
a readinesse for their departure : It happened there
was a Gallic of Constantinople, readie to departe,
whiche Pedro vnderstandyng came to the Captaine,
desiryng him to haue passage for hym self, and for a
poore maide that was his sister, whiche were bounde
to Constantinople vpon certain e vrgent affaires, to
whiche request, the Captaine graunted, willyng hym
to prepare aborde with all speede, because the winde
serued hym presently to departe.
Pedro now commyng to his Mistres and tellyng
her how he had handeled the matter with the Cap
taine : she likyng verie well of the deuise, disguisyng
her self into verie simple atyre, stole awaie from out
her fathers Court, and came with Pedro, whom now
she calleth brother aboarde the Galleye, where all
thynges beyng in readinesse and the winde seruyng
verie well, they launched forthe with their Oores, and
set saile, when thei were at the Sea, the Captaine of
the Galleye takyng the vewe of Silla, perceiuyng her
singular beautie, he was better pleased in beholdyng
of her face, then in takyng the height either of the
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 391
Sunne or Starre, and thinkyng her by the homelinesse
of her apparell, to be but some simple maiden, callyng
her into his Cabin, he beganne to breake with her
after the Sea fashion, desiryng her to vse his owne
Cabin for her better ease : and duryng the tyme that
she remained at the Sea, she should not want a bedde,
and then wisperyng softly in her eare, he saied, that
for want of a bedfellow, he hym self would supplie
that rome. Silla not beyng acquainted with any
suche talke, blusshed for shame, but made hym no
aunswere at all, my Captaine feelyng suche a bicker-
yng within him self, the like whereof he had never
indured vpon the Sea : was like to bee taken prisoner
aboard his owne Shippe, and forced to yeeld hym
self captiue without any Cannon shot, wherefore to
salue all sores, and thinkyng it the readiest waie to
speed, he began to breake with Silla in the waie of
mariage, tellyng her how happie a voiage she had
made, to fall into the likyng of suche a one as him
self was, who was able to keepe and maintaine her
like a gentilwoman, and for her sake would likewise
take her brother into his fellowship, whom he would
by some meanes prefarre in suche sorte, that bothe of
theim should haue good cause to thinke them selues
thrise happie, she to light of suche a housbande, and
he to light of suche a brother. But Silla, nothyng
pleased with these prefermentes, desired hym to cease
his talke, for that she did thinke her self indeede to
bee to vnworthie suche a one as he was, neither was
she minded yet to marrie, and therefore desired hym to
fixe his fancie vppon some that were better worthie than
her self was, and that could better like of his curtesie
then she could dooe, the Captaine seeyng hymself thus
refused, beyng in a greate chafe, he saied as followeth.
Then seeyng you make so little accompte of my
curtesie, proffered to one that is so far vnworthie
of it, from henceforthe I will vse the office of my
39 2 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
aucthoritie, you shall knowe that I am the Captaine
of this Shippe, and haue power to commaunde and
dispose of thynges at my pleasure, and seying you
haue so scornfully reiected me to be your loiall
housbande, I will now take you by force, and vse you
at my will, and so long as it shall please me, will
kepe you for myne owne store, there shall be no man
able to defende you, not yet to perswade me from that
I have determined. Silla with these wordes beyng
stroke into a great feare, did thinke it now too late, to
rewe her rashe attempte, determined rather to dye
with her ownehandes, then to suffer herself to be abused
in suchersorte, therefore she moste humbly desired the
Captaine so muche as he could to saue her credite,
and seyng that she must needes be at his will and
disposition, that for that present he would depart, and
suffer her till night, when in the darke he might take
his pleasure, without any maner of suspition to the
residue of his companie. The Captaine thinking
now the goole to be more then half wonne, was con
tented so farre to satisfie her request, and departed
out leavyng her alone in his Cabin.
Silla, beyng alone by her self, drue out her knife
readie to strike her self to the harrt, and fallyng vpon
her knees, desired God to receiue her soule, as an
acceptable sacrifice for her follies, which she had so wil
fully committed, crauyng pardon for her sinnes, and
so forthe continuying a long and pitifull reconcilia
tion to GOD, in the middest whereof there sodainly
fell a wonderfull storme, the terrour whereof was suche,
that there was no man but did thinke the Seas would
presently haue swallowed them, the Billowes so
sodainly arose with the rage of the winde, that thei
were all glad to fall to heauing out of water, for other
wise their feeble Gallic had neuer bin able to haue
brooked the Seas ; this storme continued all that daie
and the next night, and thei beyng driuen to put
AFOLONIUS AND SILLA. 393
romer before the winde to keepe the Gallic a hed the
Billowe, were driuen vppon the maine shore, where
the Gallic brake all to peeces, there was euery man
prouidyng to saue his own life, some gat vpon
Hatches, Boordes, and Casks, and were driuen with
the waues to and fro, but the greatest nomber were
drouned, amongst the whiche Pedro was one, but
Silla her self beying in the Caben as you have heard,
tooke holde of a Chest that was the Captaines, the
whiche by the onely prouidence of GOD brought her
safe to the shore, the which when she hed recouered,
not knowyng what was become of Pedro her manne,
she deemed that bothe he and all the rest had been
drouned, for that she sawe no bodie vppon the shore
but her self, wherefore, when she had a while made
greate lamentations, complainyng her mishappes, she
beganne in the ende to comforte herselfe with the
hope, that she had to see her Apolonius, and found
such meanes that she brake open the Chest that
brought her to lande, wherin she found good store
of coine, and sondrie sutes of apparell that were the
captaines, and now to preuent a nomber of iniuries, that
might bee proffered to a woman that was lefte in her
case, she determined to leaue her owne apparell, and to
sort her self into some of those sutes, that beyng taken
for a man, she might passe through the Countrie
in the better safetie, & as she changed her apparell,
she thought it likewise conuenient to change her
name, wherefore not readily happenyng of any other,
she called her self Siluio, by the name of her owne
brother, whom you haue heard spoken of before.
In this maner she trauailed to Constantinople, where
she inquired out the Palace of the Duke Apolonius,
and thinking her self now to be both fitte and able to
plaie the seruing-man, she presented her self to the
duke crauyng his seruice, the duke verie willyng to
giue succour vnto strangers, perceiuyng him to bee a
394 APOLONIUS AND SILLA.
proper smogue young man, gaue hym entertainment :
Silla thought her self now more then satisfied for all
the casualties that had happened vnto her in her
iourney, that she might at her pleasure take but the
vew of the Duke Apolonius, and aboue the reste of
his seruauntes was verie diligent and attendaunt
vppon hym, the whiche the Duke perceiuyng, beganne
likewise to growe into good likyng with the diligence of
his man, and therefore made hym one of his Chamber,
who but Siluio then was moste neate about hym, in
helpyng of hym to make hym readie in a mornyng in
the settyng of his ruffes, in the keepyng of his Cham
ber, Siluio pleased his maister so well that aboue all
the reste of his seruauntes aboute him, he had the
greatest credite, and the Duke put him moste in trust.
At this verie instaunt, there was remainyng in the
Cittie a noble Dame a widowe, whose houseband was
but lately deceased, one of the noblest men that were
in the partes of Grecia, who left his Lady and wife
large possessions and greate liuinges. This Ladies
name was called lulina, who besides the aboundance
of her wealth, and the greatnesse of her reuenues,
had likewise the soueraigntie of all the Dames of
Constantinople for her beautie. To this Ladie lulina,
Apolonius became an earnest suter, and accordyng to
the maner of woers, besides faire woordes, sorrow-
full sighes, and piteous countenaunces, there must
bee sendyng of louyng letters, Chaines, Bracelets,
Brouches, Rynges, Tablets, Gemmes, Juels, and pre-
sentes I knowe not what : So my Duke, who in the
tyme that he remained in the He of Cypres, had no
skill at all in the arte of Loue, although it were more
then half proffered vnto hym, was now become a
scholler in Loues Schoole, and had alreadie learned
his first lesson, that is, to speak pitifully, to looke
ruthfully, to promise largely, to serue diligently, and
to please carefully : Now he was learnyng his seconde
APOLON1US AND SILL A. . 395
lesson, that is to reward liberally, to giue bountifully,
to present willyngly, and to write lovyngly. Thus
Apolonius was so busied in his newe studie, that I
warrant you there was no man that could chalenge
hym for plaiyng the truant, he followed his profession
with so good a will : And who must bee the messen
ger to carrie the tokens and loue letters, to the Ladie
lulina, but Siluio his manne, in hym the Duke re
posed his onely confidence, to goe betweene hym and
his Ladie.
Now gentilwomen, doe you thinke there coulde
haue been a greater torment devised wherewith to
afflicte the harte of Silla, then her self to bee made
the instrumente to woorke her owne mishapp, and to
plaie the Atturney in a cause, that made so muche
againste her self. But Silla altogether desirous to
please her maister, cared nothyng at all to offende
her selfe, followed his businesse with so good a will,
as if it had been in her owne preferment.
lulina now hauyng many tymes, taken the gaze of
this yong youth Siluio, perceiuing hym to bee of
suche excellente perfecte grace, was so intangeled
with the often sight of this sweete temptation, that
she fell into as greate a likyng with the man, as the
maister was with her self : And on a tyme Siluio
beyng sent from his maister, with a message to the
Ladie lulina, as he beganne very earnestly to solicet
in his maisters behalfe, lulina interruptyng hym in
his tale, saied : Siluio it is enough that you haue
saied for your maister, from henceforthe either speake
for your self, or saie nothyng at all. Silla abashed to
heare these wordes, began in her minde to accuse the
blindnesse of Loue, that lulina neglectyng the good
will of so noble a Duke, woulde preferre her love
vnto suche a one, as Nature it self had denaied to
recompence her likyng.
And now for a tyme, leauyng matters dependyng
APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
as you haue heard, it fell out that the right Siluio in-
deede (whom you haue heard spoken of before, the
brother of Silla,) was come to his Fathers Courte into
the He of Cypres, where vnderstanding, that his sister
was departed, in maner as you haue heard con-
iectured, that the very occasion did proceade of some
liking had betwene Pedro her man (that was missyng
with her) and her self, but Siluio who loved his sister,
as dearly as his owne life, and the rather for that
she was his naturall sister, bothe by Father and
Mother, so the one of theim was so like the other, in
countenaunce and fauour, that there was no man
able to descerne the one from the other by their face,
sauyng by their apparell, the one beyng a man, the
other a woman.
Siluio therefore vowed to his father, not onely to
seeke out his sister Silla, but also to reuenge the
villanie, whiche he concerned in Pedro, for the carri-
yng awaie of his sister ; and thus departyng, hauyng
trauailed through many Cities and Tounes, without
hearyng any maner of newes of those he wente to
seeke for, at the laste he arriued at Constantinople,
where as he was walkyng in an euenyng for his owne
recreation, on a pleasaunte greene yarde, without the
walles of the Citie, he fortuned to meete with the
Ladie lulina, who likewise had been abroad to take
the aire, and as she sodainly caste her eyes vppon
Siluio, thinkyng hym to bee her olde acquaintaunce,
by reason thei were so like one an other, as you haue
heard before, saied vnto hym, sir Siluio, if your haste
be not the greater, I praie you let me haue a little
talke with you, seyng I haue so luckely mette you in
this place.
Siluio wonderyng toheare hym self so rightlie named,
beeyng but a straunger, not of aboue twoo daies con-
tinuaunce in the Citie, verie courteouslie came to-
wardes her, desirous to heare what she would saie.
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 397
lulina commaunding her traine somthyng to stande
backe, saied as followeth. Seyng my good will and
frendly lone, hath been the onely cause to make me
so prodigall to offer, that I see is so lightly reiected,
it maketh me to thinke, that men bee of this con
dition, rather to desire those thynges, whiche thei can
not come by, then to esteeme or value of that, whiche
bothe largely and liberallie is offered vnto theim, but
if the liberalise of my proffer, hath made to seme
lesse the value of the thing that I ment to present, it
is but in your owne c[ori]ceipt, considering how
many noble men there hath been here before, and be
yet at this present, whiche hath bothe serued, sued,
and moste humbly intreated, to attaine to that, whiche
to you of my self, I haue freely offred, and I per-
ceiue is dispised, or at the least verie lightly re
garded.
Siluio wonderyng at these woordes, but more amazed
that she could so rightlie call him by his name, could
not tell what to make of her speeches, assurying hym
self that she was deceiued, and did mystake hym, did
thinke notwithstandyng, it had been a poincte of
greate simplicitie, if he should forsake that, whiche
Fortune had so fauourably proffered vnto hym, per-
ceiuyng by her traine, that she was some Ladie of
greate honour, and vewyng the perfection of her
beautie, and the excellencie of her grace and coun-
tenaunce, did thinke it vnpossible that she should be
despised, and therefore aunswered thus.
Madame, if before this tyme, I haue seemed to
forgett my self, in neglectyng your courtesie, whiche
so liberally you haue ment vnto me : please it you to
pardon what is paste, and from this daie forewardes,
Siluio remaineth readie preste to make suche reason
able amendes as his abilitie maie any waies permit, or
as it shall please you to commaunde.
lulina the gladdest woman that might bee, to heare
398 APOLONIUS AND S1LLA.
these ioyfull newes, saied : Then my Siluio see you
faile not to Morowe at night to Suppe with me at my
owne house, where I will discourse farther with you,
what amendes you shall make me, to whiche request
Siluio gaue his glad consente, and thus thei departed
verie well pleased. And as lulina did thinke the
tyme verie long, till she had reapte the fruite of her
desire : so Siluio he wishte for Haruest before Corne
could growe, thinkyng the tyme as long, till he sawe how
matters would fall out, but not knowyng what Ladie
she might bee, he presently (before lulina was out of
sight) demaunded of one that was walkyng by, what
she was, and how she was called, who satisfied Siluio
in euery poincte, and also in what parte of the toune her
house did stande, the whereby he might enquire it out.
Siluio thus departing to his lodging, passed the
night with verie vnquiet sleapes, and the nexte Morn-
yng his mynde ran so muche of his Supper, that he
neuer cared, neither for his Breakfast, nor Dinner,
and the daie to his seemyng passed away so slowelie,
that he had thought the statelie Steedes had been
tired, that drawe the Chariot of the Sunne, or els
some other losua had commaunded them againe to
stande, and wished that Phaeton had been there with
a whippe.
lulina on the other side, she had thought the
Clocke setter had plaied the knaue, the daie came no
faster forewardes, but sixe a clocke beeyng once stro-
ken, recouered comforte to bothe parties ; and Siluio
hastenyng hymself to the Pallace of lulina, where by
her he was frendly welcomed, and a sumpteous supper
beeyng made readie, furnished with sondrie sortes of
delicate dishes, thei satte theim doune, passyng the
Supper tyme with amarous lokes, louyng counte-
naunces, and secret glauces conueighed from the one
to the other, whiche did better satisfie them, then the
feedyng of their daintie dishes.
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 399
Supper tyme beeyng thus spent, lulina did thinke
it verie vnfitly, if she should tourne Siluio to go seeke
his lodgyng in an euenyng, desired hym therefore, that
he would take a bedde in her house for that Night,
and bringyng hym vp into a faire Chamber, that was
verie richely furnished, she founde suche meanes, that
when all the reste of her housholde seruauntes were a
bedde and quiet, she came her self to beare Siluio
companie, where concludyng vppon conditions, that
were in question betweene them, they passed the night
with suche ioye and contentation, as might in that
conuenient tyme be wished for, but only that lulina,
feedyng too muche of some one dishe aboue the rest,
receiued a surfet, whereof she could not bee cured in
fourtie wekes after, a naturall inclination in all women
whiche are Subiecte to longyng, and want the reason
to vse a moderation in their diet : but the Mornyng
approchyng, lulina took her leaue, and coueighed her
self into her owne chamber, and when it was faire
claie light, Siluano makyng hym self readie, departed
likewise about his affaires in the towne, debatyng
with hymself how thynges had happened, beyng well
assured that lulina had mistaken hym, and therefore
for feare of further euilles, determined to come no
more there, but tooke his iourney towardes other
places in the partes of Grecia, to see if he could learne
any tidynges of his sister Silla.
The duke Apolonius hauyng made a long su{£ and
neuer a whit the nerer of his purpose, came to lulina
to craue her direct aunswere, either to accept of hym,
and of suche conditions as he proffered vnto her, or
els to giue hym his laste farewell.
lulina, as you hatie heard, had taken an earnest
penie of an other, whom he [she] had thought to be
the Dukes man, was at a controuersie in her self, what
she might doe: one- while she thought, seying her
occasion serued so fitt to craue the Duke's good will,
400 APOLON1US AND SILL A.
for the mariyng of his manne, then againe, she could
not tell what displeasure the Duke would conceiue, in
that she should seeme to preferre his man before hym
self, di'd thinke it therefore beste to conceale the
matter, till she might speake with Siluio, to vse his
opinio how these matters should be handled, and
herevpon resoluyng her self, desiryng the duke to
pardon her speeches, saied as followeth.
Sir Duke, for that from this tyme forvvardes I am
no longer of my self, hauing giuen full power and
authoritie ouer to an other, whose wife I now re-
maine by faithfull vowe and promise : And albeeit,
I knowe the world will wonder, when thei shall vnder-
stande the fondnesse of my choice, yet I trust you your
self will nothyng dislike with me, sithe 1 haue ment
no other thing, then the satisfiyng of myne owne con-
tentation and likyng.
The Duke hearyng these woordes, aunswered :
Madam, I must then content my self, although against
my wil, hauing the Lawe in your owne handes, to like
of whom you liste, and to make choise where it
pleaseth you.
lulina gluing the Duke greate thankes, that would
content himself with suche pacience, desired hym like
wise, to giue his free consent and good will, to the
partie whom she had chosen to be her housebande.
Naie surely Madam (q[uoth] the Duke) I will neuer
giue niy consent, that any other man shall enioye you
but my self, I haue made too greate accompt of you,
then so lightly to passe you awaie with my good will :
But seeyng it lieth not in me to let you, hauyng
(as you saie) made your owne choise, so from hence
forwardes I leaue you to your owne likyng, alwaies
willyng you well, and thus will take my leaue.
The Duke departed towardes his owne house verie
sorrowfull, that lulina had thus serued hym, but in
the meane space that the Duke had remained in the
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 401
house of lulina, some of his seruantes fell into talke
and conference, with the seruantes of lulina, where
debatyng betwene them, of the likelihood of the
Manage, betweene the Duke and the Ladie, one of the
seruantes of lulina saide : that he had neuer sawe his
Ladie and mistres, vse so good countenaunce to the
Duke hym self, as she had doen to Siluio his manne,
and began to report with what familiaritie and
courtesie she had receiued hym, feasted hym, and
lodged hym, and that in his opinion, Siluio was
like to speede before the Duke or any other that
were suters.
This tale was quickly brought to the Duke hym-
self,who makyng better enquirie into the matter, founde
it to be true that was reported, and better consideryng
of the woordes, whiche lulina had vsed towardes hym-
self, was veriewell assured that it could be no other then
his owne manne, that had thrust his Nose so farre out
of ioynte, wherefore without any further respect, caused
hym to be thrust into a dongeon, where be was kept
prisoner, in a verie pitifull plight.
Poore Siluio, hauyng gotte intelligence by some of
his fellowes, what was the cause that the Duke his
maister did beare suche displeasure unto hym, deuised
all the meanes he could, as well by meditation [medi
ation] by his fellowes, as otherwise by petitions, and
supplications to the Duke, that he would suspende
his ludgemente, till perfecte proofe were had in the
matter, and then if any maner of thyng did fall out
againste him, wherby the Duke had cause to take
any greef, he would confesse hymself worthie not
onely of imprisonmente, but also of most vile and
shamefull death : with these petitions he daiely plied
the Duke, but all in vaine, for the duke thought he
had made so good proofe, that he was throughlie con
firmed in his opinion against his man.
But the Ladie lulina wonderyng what made Siluio,
VOL. i. 2 c
4O2 APOLON1US AND SILLA.
that he was so slacke in his visitation, and why he
absented hym self so long from her presence, beganne
to thinke that all was not well, but in the ende, per-
ceiuyng no decoction of her former surfette, receiued,
as you haue heard, and findyng in her self, an vn-
wonted swellyng in her bellie, assuryng her self to bee
with child, fearyng to become quite bancroute of her
honour, did thinke it more then tyme to seeke out a
Father, and made suche secret searche, and diligent
enquirie, that she learned the truthe how Siluio, was
kepte in prison, by the Duke his Maister, and mindyng
to finde a present remedie. as well for the loue she
bare to Siluio, as the maintainaunce of her credit and
estimation, she speedily hasted to the Pallace of the
Duke, to whom she saied as followeth.
Sir Duke, it maie bee that you will thinke my
commyng to your house in this sorte, doeth some-
thyng passe the limites of modestie, the whiche I
protest before GOD, proceadeth of this desire, that
the worlde should knowe how iustly I seke meanes to
maintaine my honour, but to the ende I seeme not
tedious with prolixitie of woordes, not to vse other
then direct circumstaunces, knowe sir, that the loue I
beare my onely beloued Siluio, whom I doe esteeme
more then all the lewells in the worlde, whose per
sonage I regard more then my owne life, is the onely
cause of my attempted iourney, besechyng you, that
all the whole displeasure, whiche I vnderstand you
haue conceiued against hym, maie be imputed vnto
my charge, and that it would please you louingly to
deale with him, whom of my self I haue chosen
rather for the satisfaction of mine honest likyng,
then for the vaine preheminences or honourable dig
nities looked after by ambicious myndes.
The Duke hauing heard this discourse, caused
Siluio presently to be sent for, and to be brought
before hym, to whom he saied : Had it not been
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 403
sufficient for thee, when I had reposed myself in thy
fidelitie, and the trustinesse of thy seruice, that thou
shouldest so traiterously deale with me, but since
y* tyme haste not spared, still to abuse me with so
many forgeries, and periured protestations, not onely
hatefull vnto me, whose simplicitie thou thinkest to
bee suche that by the plotte of thy pleasaunt tongue,
thou wouldest make mee beleeue a manifest vntrothe,
but moste habominable bee thy doynges in the
presence and sight of God, that hast not spared to
blaspheme his holy name, by callying hym to bee a
witnesse to maintaine thy leasynges, and so detest
ably wouldest forsweare thyself, in a matter that is so
openly knowne.
Poore Siluio whose innocencie was suche yl he
might lawfully sweare, seing lulina to be there in
place, aunswered thus :
Moste noble Duke, well vnderstandyng your con
cerned greefe, moste humbly I beseche you patiently
to heare my excuse, not mindyng thereby to aggra-
uate or heape vp youre wrathe and displeasure,
protestyng before God, that there is nothying in the
worlde, whiche I regarde so much, or dooe esteeme
so deare, as your good grace and fauour, but desirous
that your grace should know my innocencie, and to
cleare my self of suche impositions, wherewith I
knowe I am wrongfully accused, whiche as I vnder-
stande should be in the practisyng of the Ladie
lulina, who standeth here in place, whose acquitaunce
for my better discharge, now I moste humbly craue,
protestyng before the almightie God, that neither in
thought, worde, nor deede, I haue not otherwise vsed
my self, then accordyng to the bonde and duetie of
a seruaunte, that is bothe willing & desirous, to
further his Maisters sutes, which if I haue otherwise
saied then that is true, you Madame lulina, who can
verie well deside in the depthes of all this doubte, I
404 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
moste humbly beseche you to certifie a trothe, if I
haue in any thyng missaied, or haue otherwise spoke,
then is right and iust.
lulina hauyng heard this discoorse whiche Siluio
had made, perceiuing that he stoode in greate awe of
the Dukes displeasure, aunswered thus : Think not
my Siluio that my commyng hither is to accuse you
of any misdemeanour towardes your Maister, so I
dooe not denaie, but in all suche Imbassages wherein
towardes me you haue been imployed, you haue
vsed the office of a faithfull and trustie messenger,
neither am I ashamed to confesse, that the first daie
that mine eyes did beholde, the singuler behauiour,
the notable curtesie, and other innumerable giftes
wherwith my Siluio is endued, but that beyonde all
measure my harte was so inflamed, that impossible it
was for me, to quenche the feruente lone, or extin-
guishe the least parte of my concerned torment,
before I had bewraied the same <vnto hym, and of
my owne motion, craued his promised faithe and
loialtie of marriage, and now is the tyme to manifest
the same vnto .the xworlde, whiche hath been done
before God, and betwene our .selues.: knowyng that
it is not needefull, to keepe .secret that, whiche is
neither euill doen, .nor hurtfull-tp any persone, there
fore (as I saied before) Siluio is my housbande by
plited faithe, whom I hope to obtaine without offence,
or displeasure of any one, trustyng that there is no
manne, that will so farre forget hym self, as to restraine
that, whiche God hath left at libertie for euery wight,
or that will seeke by crueltie, to force Ladies to
marrie otherwise, then accordyng to their owne
likyng. Feare not then my Siluio to keepe your
faith and promise, whiche you haue made vnto me,
and as for the reste : I doubte not thynges will so
fall out, as you shall haue no maner of cause to
complaine.
APOLONIUS AND SILLA. 405
Siluio amased to heare these woordes, for that lulina
by her speeche, semed to confirme that, whiche he
moste of all desired to bee quite of, saied : Who
would haue thought that a Ladie of so greate honour
and reputation, would her self bee the Embassadour,
of a thyng so preiuditiall, and vncomely for her
estate, what plighted promises be these which bee
spoken of : Altogether ignoraunt vnto me, whiche if
it bee otherwise then I haue saied, you Sacred Goddes
consume me straight with flashyng flames of fire.
But what woordes might I vse to giue credite to the
truthe, and innocencie of my cause ? Ah Madame
lulina ! I desire no other testimonie then your owne
honestie and vertue, thynking that you will not so
muche blemishe the brightnesse of your honour,
knowyng that a woma is or should be the Image of
curtesie, continencie, and shamfastnesse, from the
whiche so sone as she stoopeth, and leaueth the
office of her duetie and modestie, besides the degrad-
uation of her honour, she thrusteth her self into the
pitte of perpetuall infamie, and as I can not thinke
you would so far forgette your self, by the refusall of
a noble Duke, to dimme the light of your renowne
and glorie, whiche hitherto you haue maintained,
emongest the beste and noblest Ladies, by suche a
one as I knowe my self to bee, too farre vnworthie
your degree and callying, so most hubly I beseeche
you to confesse a trothe, whereto tendeth those vowes
and promises you speake of, which speeches bee so
obscure vnto me, as I knowe not for my life how I
might vnderstande them.
lulina somethyng nipped with these speeches,
saied, and what is the matter that now you make so
little accoumpte of your lulina, that beeyng my hous-
bande in deede, haue the face to denaie me, to whom
thou art contracted by so many solemne othes : what
arte, thou ashamed to haue me to thy wife? how
406 APOLONIUS AND SILLA.
muche oughtest thou rather to be ashamed to breake
thy promised faithe, and to haue despised the holie
and dreadfull name of GOD, but that tyme con-
straineth me to laye open that, which e shame rather
willeth I should dissemble and keepe secret, behold
me then here Siluio whom thou haste gotten with
childe, who if thou bee of suche honestie, as I trust
for all this I shall finde, then the thyng is doen without
preiudice, or any hurte to my conscience, consider-
yng that by the professed faithe, thou diddest
accoumpt me for thy wife, and I receiued thee for
my spouse and loyall housbande, swearying by the
almightie God, that no other then you haue made the
coquest and triumphe of my chastitie, whereof I craue
no other witnesse then your self, and mine owne con
science.
I praie you Gentilwomen, was not this a foule ouer-
sight of lulina, that would so precisely sweare so
greate an othe, that she was gotten with childe by
one, that was altogether vnfurnishte with implementes
for suche a tourne. For Gods loue take heede, and
let this bee an example to you, when you be with
childe, how you sweare who is the Father, before you
haue had good proofe and knowledge of the partie,
for men be so subtill, and full of sleight, that God
knoweth a woman may quickly be deceiued.
But now to returne to our Siluio, who hearyng an
othe sworne so deuinely that he had gotten a woman
with childe, was like to beleeue that it had bin true in
very deede, but remembryng his owne impediment,
thought it impossible that he should committe suche
an acte, and therefore half in a chafe, he saied, What
lawe is able to restraine the foolishe indescretion of a
woman, that yeeldeth her self to her owne desires,
what shame is able to bridle or withdrawe her from
her mynd and madnesse, or with what snaffell is it
possible to holde her backe, from the execution of
APOLONIUS AND SILLA. 407
her filthinesse, but what abhomination is this, that a
Ladie of suche a house should so forget the great-
nesse of her estate, the aliaunce whereof she is
descended, the nobilitie of her deceased housbande,
and maketh no conscience to shame and slaunder her
self, with suche a one as I am, beyng so farre vnfit
and vnsemely for her degree, but how horrible it is to
heare the name of God so defased, that wee make no
more acompt, but for the maintenaunce of our mis-
chifes, we fear no whit at all to forsweare his holy
name, as though he were not in all his dealinges moste
righteous true and juste, and will not onely laie open
our leasinges to the worlde, but will likewise punishe
the same with moste sharpe and bitter scourges.
lulina not able to indure hym to proceede any
farther in his Sermon, was alreadie surprised with a
vehement greefe, began bitterly to crie out, vtteryng
these speeches followyng :
Alas, is it possible that the soueraigne Justice of
God, can abide a mischiefs so greate and cursed, why
maie I not now suffer death, rather then the infamie
whiche I see to wander before myne eyes. Oh
happie and more then right happie had I bin, if in
constant fortune had not deuised this treason, where
in I am surprised and caught, am I thus become to be
intangled with snares, and in the handes of hym, who
inioiyng the spoyles of my honour, will openly de-
priue me of my fame, by makyng me a common fable
to all posteritie in tyme to come. Ah Traitour and
discourtious wretche, is this the recompence of the
honest and firme amitie which I have borne thee,
wherin I haue deserued this discourtesie, by louing
thee more then thou art able to deserue ? Is it I,
arrant theefe is it I, vppon whom thou thinkest to
worke thy mischiues, doest thou think me no better
worthe, but that thou maiest prodigally waste my
honour at thy pleasure, didest thou dare to adventure
408 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
vppon me, hauing thy conscience wounded with so
deadly a treason : ah vnhappie and aboue all other
most vnhappie, that haue so charely preserued myne
honour, and now am made a praie to satisfie a yong
mans lust, that hath coueted nothyng but the spoyle
of my chastitie and good name.
Here withall the teares so gushed doune her
cheekes, that she was not able to open her mouth
to vse any farther speeche.
The Duke who stoode by all this while, and heard
this whole discourse, was wonderfully moued with
compassion towardes lulina, knowyng that from her
infancie she had euer so honourably vsed her self,
that there was no man able to detect her of any
misdemeanour, otherwise then beseemed a Ladie of
her estate, wherefore beyng fully resolued that Siluio
his man had committed this villanie against her, in a
greate furie drawyng his Rapier, he saied vnto Siluio :
How canst thou (arrant theefe) shewe thy self so
cruell and carelesse to suche as doe thee honour, hast
thou so little regard of suche a noble Ladie, as
humbleth her self to such a villain e as thou art, who
without any respecte either of her renowme or noble
estate, canst be content to seeke the wracke and vtter
ruine of her honour, but frame thy self to make such
satisfaction as she requireth, although I knowe vn-
worthie wretche, that thou art not able to make her
the least parte of amendes, or I sweare by god, that
thou shalt not escape the death which I will minister
to thee with myne owne handes, and therefore aduise
thee well what thou doest.
Siluio hauyng heard this sharpe sentence, fell doune
on his knees before the Duke crauyng for mercie,
desiryng that he might be suffered to speake with the
Ladie lulina aparte, promising to satisfie her accord-
yng to her owne contentation.
Well (q[uoth] the Duke) I take thy worde, and
APOLONIUS AND SILL A. 409
there with all I aduise thee that thou performe thy
promis, or otherwise I protest before God, I will
make thee suche an example to the worlde, that all
Traitours shall tremble for feare, how they dooe seeke
the dishonouryng of Ladies.
But now lulina had conceived so greate greefe
against Siluio, that there was muche a dooe to per-
swade her to talke with hym, but remembryng her
owne case, desirous to heare what excuse he could
make, in the ende she agreed, and beyng brought
into a place seuerally by them selues, Siluio beganne
with a piteous voice to saie as followeth :
I knowe not Madame, of whom I might make com
plaint, whether of you or of my self, or rather of
Fortune, whiche hath conducted and brought vs both
into so greate aduersitie, I see that you receiue greate
wrong, and I am condemned againste all right, you
in periil to abide the brute of spightful tongues, and
I in daunger to loose the thing that I moste desire ;
and although I could alledge many reasons to proue
my saiynges true, yet I referre my self to the experi
ence and bountie of your minde. And here with all
loosing his garmentes doune to his stomacke, and
shewed lulina his breastes and pretie teates, sur-
mountyng farre the whitenesse of Snowe it self, saiyng:
Loe Madame, behold here the partie whom who haue
chalenged to bee the father of your childe, see I am
a woman the daughter of a noble Duke, who onely
for the lone of him, whom you so lightly haue shaken
of, haue forsaken my father, abandoned my Countrie,
and in maner as you see am become a seruing man,
satisfiyng my self, but with the onely sight of my
Apolonius, and now Madame, if my passion were not
vehement, & my tormentes without comparison, I
would wish that fained greefes might be laughed to
scorne, & my des£bled paines to be rewarded with
floutes. But my loue beyng pure, my trauaile con-
41 0 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
tinuall, & my greefes endlesse, I trust Madame you
will not onely excuse me of crime, but also pitie my
destresse, the which I protest I would still haue kept
secrete, if my fortune would so haue permitted.
lulina did now thinke her self to be in a worse case
then euer she was before, for now she knewe not who
to chalenge to be the father of her child, wherfore,
when she had told the duke the very certantie of the
discou[r]se, which Siluio had made vnto her, she
departed unto her owne house, with suche greefe and
sorrowe, that she purposed neuer to come out of her
owne doores againe aliue, to be a wonder and mock
ing stocke to ye worlde.
But ye Duke more amased, to heare this strauge
discourse of Siluio came vnto him, who when he had
vewed with better consideratio, perceiued in deede
that it was Silla, the daughter of Duke Eontus, and
imbrasing her in his armes, he saied :
Oh the braunche of all vertue and the flowre of
curtesie it self, pardon me I bes[e]che you of all
suche discourtesies, as I haue ignorantlie committed
towardes you : desiring you that without farther
memorie of auncient greefes, you will accept of me,
who is more ioyfull and better contented with your
presence, then if the whole worlde were at my com-
maundement Where hath there euer bin founde
suche liberalise in a Louer, which hauyng been
trained vp and nourished emongest the delicacies
and banquettes of the Courte, accompanied with
traines of many faire and noble ladies liuing in plea
sure, and in the middest of delightes, would so prodi-
gallie aduenture your self, neither fearing mishapps,
nor misliking to take suche paines, as I knowe you
haue not been accustomed vnto. O liberalitie neuer
heard of before ! O facte that can neuer bee suffi
ciently rewarded ! O true Loue moste pure and
vnfained : here with all sendyng for the moste arti-
APOLONIUS AND SILLA. 41!
ficiall woorkmen, he prouided for her sundrie sutes
of sumpteous apparell, and the Marriage daie
appoincted, which was celebrated with greate tri-
urnphe through the whole Citie of Constantinople,
euery one prasing the noblenesse of the Duke, but so
many as did behold the excellent beautie of Silla,
gaue her the praise aboue all the rest of the Ladies in
the troupe.
The matter seemed so wonderfull and straunge that
the brute was spreade throughout all the partes of
Gretia, in so muche that it came to the hearyng of
Siluio, who as you haue heard, remained in those
partes to enquire of his sister, he beyng the gladdest
manne in the worlde, hasted to Constantinople, where
comming to his sister he was ioyfullie receiued, and
moste louynglie welcomed, and entertained of the
Duke, his brother in Lawe. After he had remained
there twoo or three daies, the Duke reuealed unto
Siluio, the whole discourse how it happened, betweene
his sister and the Ladie lulina, and how his sister was
chalenged, for gettying a woman with childe : Siluio
blushyng with these woordes, was striken with greate
remorse to make lulina amendes ; vnderstanding her
to bee a noble Ladie, and was lefte defamed to the
worlde through his default, he therefore bewraied the
whole circumstaunce to the Duke, whereof the Duke
beyng verie ioyfull, immediatlie repaired with Siluio
to the house of lulina, whom they found in her
chamber, in great lamentation & mourning. To
whom the Duke saide, take courage Madam for
beholde here a gentilman, that will not sticke, bothe
to father your childe and to take you for his wife, no
inferiour persone, but the sonne and heire of a noble
Duke, worthie of your estate and dignitie.
lulina seyng Siluio in place, did know very well
that he was the father of her childe, and was so
ravished with ioye, that she knewe not whether she
412 APOLONIUS AND SILL A.
were awake, or in some dreame. Siluio imbracyng
her in his armes, crauyng forgiuenesse of all that was
past : concluded with her the manage daie, which
was presently accomplished with greate ioye and con-
tentation to all parties : And thus Siluio hauyng
attained a noble wife, and Silla his sister her desired
houseband, they passed the residue of their daies with
suche delight, as those that haue accomplished the
perfection of their felicities.
END OF VOL. I.
Hazlitt, William Carev
Shakespeare's library
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1875
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