THe Emperour Sigismōd enteryng into the town of Scene in Tuskane, what honours he receiued: is all redy euery wher published His palayce was prepared at saint Marthies chapel, in the strete that ledeth vn to the posterne, called To­phore. After the ceremonis finished, when Sigismōd was come thider, foure ladies in noblenes, facion, age and apparell semblable, did mete hym not lyke mortal women: but as goddes, to euery mans iudgmente and if they had ben but thre they had ben to be rekened thē that Paris saw in his dreme. Sigismond (thoughe he wer aged) was prone vnto lust, and delited much in de­sireing with ladies, and reioised in blādisments of wo­men nor nothing was to him more plesaunt, then to be hold goodly women. Then in aduisynge them (vnlike to the rest) he was receiued from his horse among thē and turning to his familiers said, saw ye euer any like to these women? I am in doubt whether these faces be mankynde, or aungels, but surely they are heauenly. They casting their eine to the ground in blushyng be­cam fayrer, and y^e ruddy flushing in their chekes gaue such a colour to their countenaūce, as hath the yud iuery stoined with the scarlet, or the whit lilies among the purple roses: But among al: Lucres the yonge Ladye, not yet of twenty yeres, shone in great bryghtnes yōg maryed in the famyly of the Camilles, vnto a very rich man, named Menelaus, vnworthy [...] such. [Page] [Page] [...] [Page]beautye shulde serue at home: but well worthye of hys wyfe to be deceyued. The stature of the Lady Lucres was more hygher than the other. Her he are plenteous and lyke vnto the goulde wyre, whyche hanged not downe behynde her, after the manner and custome of maydens: but in goulde and stone she had enclosed it, her forhed hyghe of semelye space, wythoute wrynkell, her browes bente, facyoned wythfe we he ares, by due space deuyded, her eyne shynyng wyth such bryghtnes that lyke as the sonne, they ouercame the behoulders lokyng: wyth those she myght whome she woulde, flee (and slayne) when she wold reuyue. Strayt as thriede was her noose, and by euen deuision parted, her fayre chekes, nothing was more amiable, then these chekes nor nothyng more delectable to behold, wherin (whan she did laughe) appeared two proper pyties, why [...] no man dyd se, that wished not to haue kyssed. Her mouth small and comely, her lyppes of corall colour, handsom to hyte on her small tethe, wel set in order, semed Cri­stal through which the quiuering tonge dyd send furth (not wordes) but moost pleasant armony. What shall I she we the beautye of her chynne, or the whytenesse of her necke? Nothynge was in that bodye not too bee praysed as the outwarde aparaunces shewed token of that that was inwarde, no man beheld her that dyd not enuy her husbande, she was in speche as the fame is, that the mother of Graccus was, or the daughter of Hortentius. Nothynge was more sweter, nor soberer than her talcke. She pretended not (as dothe many) honestye by heuy countenance: but with mery vysage, shewed her sobernes, not fearefull, nor ouer he ardye: but vnder d [...]ed [...], she cared in a womans hart [Page]Her apparell was dyuers, she wanted nether broches, borders, gyrdels, nor rynges. The abilimentes of her head, was sumptuouse, many pearles, many dyaman­tes, were on her fyngers and in her borders. I thyncke the day that the Greeke Menelaus feested Paris. He­len was no fayrer: Nor Adromaches no more gorgeus when shee was marryed vnto Hector. And amonge those, was Katheryne of Perusia, that shortelye aftere dyed, in whose funerals the Emperour was prefounte (and thoughe he were but a chylde) made her Sonne knyght, at her sepulchre, and of her the beautye was al so meruelouse: but nothyng so greate, as of Lucres.

Her dyd the Emperoure Sigismonde, and all othere, prayse and beholde, but one amonge theym, more than ynoughe was sette vppon here. ¶ Eurialus of the contre of Francony, whome neyther shap nor rychesse caused to be vnmere to loue, hee was of the age of two and thyrty yeres, not very hygh of stature, but of glad­some and pleasant facion, wyth noble eyne, his chekes ruddy and fayre, as the white lilies amonge the purple roses, his other members (as who sayeth) with a state­lynes of shape correspondent to his stature. The other courtiers by long w [...], [...] poore. Hee besydes his owne substaunce, by famylyarytie wyth the Empe­roure, receyued daylye rewardes. Hee was more and more gorgeouse in syghte of menne, and lede a greate trayne of seruauntes after hym, and he hadde suche a horse (as the tale reporteth) as Mennon hadde, whan he came to Troye. Nothyng he wanted to prouoke the same hete of the mynde, called loue, but onlye ydlenes Yet, youth lust, and the glad goodes of fortune, wyth whyche thynges hee was well [...] ouercame [Page]hym out of hys owne power. Eurialus, as sone as he had sene Lucres, he brent in the loue of the Lady, and fyxyng hys eyen in her face, neuer thought he to haue sene ynough, yet loued he not in vayne, it is a wounde­rouse thynge, there were manye goodly yong men but Lucres had only chosen this, there were manye good­ly women: but Eurialus had chosen her onlye. Neuer­theles, not at that time knewe Lucres the fame of Cu­rialus towarde her, nor he hers, but eche one of theym thought to haue loued in vayne.

THe ceremonyes vnto the Emperoure fini­shed, shee retourned whome, hoole vowed vnto Eurialus, and Eurialus clene geuen vnto Lucres, remayneth. Who nowe shulde maruell of the rale of Piramys and Thysbe? betwyxte whome, bothe acquayntaunce and neyghbourhode myghte be entre of theyr loue, and [...] tyme grewe theyre loue. Theese louers Eurialus and Lucres, neuer sawe nor hearde afore eyther of othere, he a Franconyen, and she a Tuskan, nor in theese bu­senes they occupyed not theyr tongues: but it was all done with eye ne, sythens that the one so pleased thee other. Lucres then wounded wyth greuous care, and taken wyth thee blynde fyre, forgettynge all readye that shee is maryed, hateth her husbande, and wyth woundes nouryshynge the wounde, holdeth fyxed in her brest the countenaunce and face of Eurialus, nor geueth no maner reast vnto her lymmes, and with her selfe sayth, I wote not what letteth me that I can no more companye wyth my husbande, nothyng delyteth [...] hys [...] hynge pleaseth me hys kysses [Page]hys wordes anoye me so standeth alwayes afore myne eyen the ymage of the straunger that to day was nexte vnto the Emperour. Caste halas, oh vnhappye, oute of my chaste breast that conceyued stames yf thou maye, yf I myghte, halas, I shoulde not be as I am, euell at ease. A new kynd of strength agaynst my wyl draweth me, my desyre and my reason meueth me dyuerslye, I knowe the best, and the worste I folowe. Oh Noble ci­tezen, what hast thou to do wyth an vnknowne man? why brennest thou in a straungers loue? whye seekest thou thy lust in a straung countrye? yf thy husband lo­ueth the thyne owne countrye maye geue the that thou louest. Oh, but what a maner of face hathe he? what woman woulde not be meaued wyth hys beauty, youth noblenes, and vertue? surely I a [...], and wythoute hys help I despayre, God graunt vs better. Shal I betray halas, the chaste spousels. and betake me too a straun­ger, I wotte not whence? which when he hath abused me, shall departe, and shall be an others, and so leaue me be hynde, but by his countenaunce, it is not lyke to be so, and the noblenes of hys mynde seameth not to be such, nor so pretendeth not the grace of hys beuty that I shuld fere disceyt or his forgetting of loue. And he shal promise aforehande assured, whye do I dreade? I shall apply it without ferther abrode, parde, I am so fayre that hee wyll no lesse desyre me, than I hym, hee shall be myne for euer, yf ones I maye receyue hym to my kysses. How many do woo me where so euer I go? how many ryuals do watche afore my dore? I shall en­tende to loue, eyther he shall tary here, or at hys depar­tyng cary me wyth hym. Shall I than forsake my mo thee, my husbande, and my countr [...] [...] is [...] [Page]warde and alwayes agaynste myne appetites my hus­bande I had rather wante, than haue, my countrey is ther as I delyte to dwell, but shal I so lease my fame? whye not? what haue I to doo wyth mennes woordes whyche I shal not here? Nothynge shall he dare, that feareth the threatnyng of fame, many other haue don the same. Helena woulde bee rauyshed. Paris caryed hee not away against her wyl. What shal I tel of Dia­na or Medea? no man blameth the fauter that fauteth with many. Thus said Lucres nor within his breaste [...] nouryshed Eurialus no lesse flames.

IN the mid way, betwixt the empe­rours court, and Eurialus loging was Lucreses house, & Eurialus myght not go vnto y^e pallace, but showing her self out of the highe windowes, was in his ein but al­ways Lucres blusshed, whan she saw Eurialus, whych thyng gaue vnto the Emperour knowlege of the loue. For as by custome he vsed to ride here & ther, passyng often y^t way, he sawe the woman chaunge countenaunce by Eurialus coming, whych was as next vnto him as Mecena to Detauian to whō the Emperour, loking aside, sayde doste thou bren women on thys facion Eurialus? that womā surely loueth the, and ones in maner as though he had enuied his loue, when hee came before Lucres house, he put Eurialus cappe ouer his eyne, thou shalte not se quod he that that thou louest, I wyl myselfe vse that syghte. Eurialus aunswered, syr what meaneth [...]? I [...] to doo wyth her, but take heede [Page]what ye doe, leaste ye brynge suspecte in them that bee here about vs. Eurialus was mounted vpon an hyghe rayned courier, with a smal head, whose short bely and fayre heare caused him to shewe goodlye, wel breasted, lusty, and courageous so that herynge the trumpet he could no where reast. he receiued the fury of the noise, his fayre mane honge vppon the ryghte syde, and the ground resowned, beten with his fote, and not muche vnlyke him was his mayster, when he had espyed Lu­cres who beyng alone, as sone as she hadde sene him, coulde neyther temper the flame, nor her self so the vn happye Lucres did burne. In mene houses dwelleth chastytie, and onely pouerty vseth good affection, and chastitie that haunteth smal cotages, knoweth not the policies, for riche menne, who that haboundeth in pros­peritie lightlye desyreth vnaccustomed thynges, fiers lust, companyon to fortune hathe chosen delycate hou­ses and statelye mancions. Lucres, that oftentymes beholding Eurialus passynge by, myghte not asswage her ardaunte desyre, busely thinckynge to whome she might her selfe discouer, for who that secreatlye bren­neth, more greuously suffreth. Ther was amonge the seruauntes of her husbande, one zosias an Almayne olde and faythful to his mayster: whome he had longe serued, verye honestlye, hym doth she go vnto, trusting more to the nacyon than to the man.

THe Emperoure accompanyed wyth ma­nye Noble menne, wente solacinge throu­ghe the towne, and euen nowe did he passe by the house of Lucres whō whā she knew y^t Eurialus was ther: Com hether quod she [Page]zosias I woulde speke wyth the, loke heare oute of the wyndowe, where in the worlde is there anye youthe lyke thys, seest thou howe vpryghte and fayre spredde shoulders they haue? behoulde theyr bushes and well kempte heares. Oh what faces, what fayre neckes.

What noble hartes theyr countenaunces doth pretend thys is an other kynde of people than oure Countrye dothe brede, they seme Goddes or of heauenlye kynde. O that fortune hadde geuen me an husbande of one of theese, yf myne eyene had not sene them, I woulde neuer haue beleued the; yf thou hadde coulde me of them. Yet the fame is that the Almaynes excelleth all other people, and surely I beleue that the colde geueth to them greate whytenes, the countries so drawynge towarde the Northe. But dooest thou knowe anye of them. Yea many quod zosias. Than quod Lucres, Eurialus the Franconien. dooste thou knowe hym? Ye as myne owne selfe saythe zosias, but whye doste thou aske? I shall tell the quod shee. I knowe it shal not bee disclosed, this hoope hath thy goodnes gyuen me.

Amonge all them that are about the Emperour, none pleaseth me lyke hym. In hym my mynde is meaned. I wotte not wyth what flames I burne, I canne ney­ther forgette hym, nor yet my selfe apease, excepte that I maye make my selfe acquaynted with hym. Go therfore I beseche the zosias, seeke Eurialus, tell hym I loue hym, nothynge elles I desyre of thee, and yet thys shalte thou not do in vayne. What is thys quod zosias? shall I eyther do such outrage, or ones thinke it Madame? shall I betraye my Mayster? shall I now olde begynne too deceyue, whiche I haue hated in my youthe? Rather mooste Noble Ladye of thys towne [Page]caste fourth the wycked furoure oute of thy chaste brest folowe not thy cruell hoope, but quenche the fyre. Hee dothe not paynfullye put backe loue, that resysteth the fyrste assautes, but hee that the sweete yll flatterynge dothe nouryshe, geueth hym to the bondage of a ryght harde and cruell mayster nor whan hee woulde, maye not forsake the yocke, whyche yf thy husbande shoulde knowe, halas vnder what facyon woulde he torments the? no loue can longe lye hyddene. Houlde thy peace quod Lucres, there is no fear at all, nothyng he fereth that feareth not death. I am content to suffer it what soeuer happeneth, what opinion dooste thou houlde? Oh vnhappye quod zosias, thou shalte shame thy house, and onelye of all thy kynne thou shalte bee ad­ulteresse, thynkeste, thynkest thou the deade can be se­create. A thousande eyne are aboute thee. Thy mo­ther, yf she do accordynge, shall not suffer thy outrage to be preuye, not thy husbande, not thy Cousyns, not thy maydens, ye, and thoughe thy seruauntes woulde holde theyr peace, the bestes wold speake it, the dogges the poostes, and the marble stones, and thoughe thou hyde all, thou can not hyde it from God, that seeth all. Vnderstande that payne is presente vnto a Gyltye thoughte, and the mynde, fylled wyth offence, feareth hym selfe. Faythe is denyed in greate crimes. Asswage I beseeche the, the flames of wicked loue, feare too mengle straunge makes in thy husbandes bedde, I knowe quod she it is accordinge as thou sayste, but the rage maketh me folow the worse. My minde knoweth howe I fal hedlyng, but furour hath ouercom, and reigneth and ouer all my [...] ruleth loue. I am deter­myned to folow the commaundemente of loue, ouer­muche [Page]muche alas haue I wreflied in vayne: yf thou haue pitie on me, carye my message. Ful he auye was zosias with this worde, and sayde to her thus, for these hoore heares on my heade, by age, and for the faythfull ser­uice that I haue done vnto thy kynne, humblye I be­sche the leue this furour and helpe thy selfe, a greate part of health, is to wyl to be healed. To whome sayth Lucres all shame hathe not forsaken my mynde, I wyll obeye the zosia, in the loue that canne not be hyd, onely the exchuyng of thys yll is by deathe to preuent the offence. zosias affeared wyth thys sayinge mode­rate quod hee my Ladye, the rage of thy vnbrideled mynde, tempere thy thoughte, nowe arte thou worthy lyfe, when thou iudgest thyselfe worthye of deathe I am determined quod Lucres to dye. Collatinus wyfe the faute committed, venged wyth aswearde. I more honestlye shall preuent it, I studye but the kinde of my deathe, a corde, swearde, fall, or poysone, shall reuenge chastitie, one of the ese. I shall assaye, I wyll not suffer the quod zosias, quod Lucres, who that determyneth to dye, can not be let. Perria, at the deathe of Brutus, whan weapon was taken from her, dyd eat hote coles. If the furoure bee soo frowarde in thy mynde quod zosias, thy life is rather to be socoured, than thy fame, deceytfull is fame that to the ill, better and to the good worser, is often geuē. Let vs assay this Eurialus, and let vs intende to loue, the laboure shall be myne, and as I thincke, I shal brynge it to effecte.

WIth theese woordes the kindled thoughte hee enflamed, and gaue hoope to the doubtefull mynde, but hys mynde was not to dee as hee [Page]sayde, he soughte to deferre the mynde of the woman, to aswage the desyre, as oftentymes tyme quencheth flames and sufferannce healeth diseases. zosias went with fals truste to dryue her forthe tyll the Emperoure shoulde departe, or shee shoulde chaunge her mynde, least yf he hadde denyed it, another messanger shulde haue bene found, or els the woman shuld haue slayne her selfe, oftentimes therefore hee fayned him selfe to goo and comme, and that he reioyced in her loue, and sought a conuenient time that they mighte talke toge­ther, sometime that he could not speke with him, some time he soughte to be sente oute of the towne, and tyll his retourne deferred her glad dayes, so, manye dayes he dyd feede the sycke mynde, and because he shoulde not lye in all thynges, once onelye he brake vnto Euri­alus, sayinge. O how thou art here beloued, yet whan he asked what that mente, he answered not. But Eu­rialus, stryken with the secret dart of Cupido, gaue no rest nor sleape to hys lymmes, the fyre so crepte in hys vaynes and vtterlye wasted his marye: yet knewe he not zosia, nor thoughte him to be the messenger of Lu­cres, so haue we all lesse hope then desyre. He whan he sawe him selfe burne, a great while with this wisdom wondered, and vnder thys facyon oftentymes blamed hym selfe. Lo Eurialus, thou knowest what the rage of loue is, longe playntes, and shorte laughters, fewe ioyes, and manye dreades, alwayes hee dyeth, and is neuer deade that loueth. What dooste thou meddle in vayne: at last quod he, all for noughte. O wretch, whye stryue I agaynst loue? May not I do that Iulius that Alexander, that Hanybal dyd? and these were worthye [Page]warryoures. Loke desydes vpon Pocies, Vngyll dra­wen vp by a roape, honge in the mydwaye to the wyn­dowe, trustynge to haue enbraced hys loue. If anye man wyll excuse the Poet, as a folower of a more disso­lute lyfe, what shall we saye of Philosophers, maistres of learning, and rulers of good lyuyng. A woman dyd ryde Aristotle lyke a horse, and ruled him wyth a bridle and spurred hym. It is not true that is sayde comonly honoure and loue accorde not together. The Empe­roures power is equall with the goodes, and who is a greater louer then hee? They saye that Hercules that was strongest of all menne, and of the race of Goddes the disroyle of the lyon and hys quyuere layde a parte, tooke in hande a rocke, and trymmed rynges for hys fyngers, and sette in order his rudde busshe, and wyth his hande, wherewyth he wonted too carye a mace, by tyrlynge of a spyndell he drewe a threde, it is a natural passyon. Byrdes are brent wyth thys fyre. The turtull and the doue doth loue. What shal I saye of beastes? The horse meueth battel forloue. The fearfull hearte seketh to fyght, and by beleuinge sheweth his furoure The fiers Tegre, and the cruell Boore, wheftyng hys teathe, doth vse it. And the Lions of Libia set vp theyr roughe manes, whan loue moueth. The monstures of the sea do fele this heate, nothynge is free, ne nothing vnto loue denyed. Hate gyueth place vnto it. If styr­red the fyers flames of youth, and vnto weryage itre­uoketh the dead heate, and striketh the brestes of may­dens with a brennynge fyre. Whye then doo I stryue agaynst the lawes of loue? Loue ouercommeth all thynge, and let vs gyue place vnto hym: ¶ Whan these thynges were concluded, he seeketh a [...] too [Page]whome he myghte take her letters to carye to her. Ni­sus was his faythefull felowe, and vnderstode muche in suche matters. He taketh the busynes in hande, and hyreth a woman to whome the letters were taken, writen as foloweth.

THeese letters sealed, when the woman hadde receyued, hastelye she wente vnto Lucres, and fyne dynge her alone, saide vnto her thus. The mooste Noble of the Emperoures Courte, thy louer sendeth the theese letters, and prayeth the instantlye to take him vnto thy grace. Thys woman was no­ted for a baude, and that knewe Lucres and tooke it verye displeasauntlye to haue a naughtye womanne sente vnto her, and to her shee sayde, what madnesse hathe meued the to come to my presence? arte thou so boulde to entre the houses of noble menn? darest thou prouoke greate ladyes to violate sacred mariage? skāt canne I houlde my handes from thy eare? bryngest thou letters vnto me? speakest thou vnto me? darest thou loke me in mi face? If I regarded not more what becommeth me, thanne what thou deseruest, I shulde so order the that thou shouldest after thys daye neuer carye more letters of loue, entre out of my syghte abhominable queane, and take thy letters wyth the, yea ra­ther gyue them me, that I maye caste them in the fyre and snatchynge the paper from her, tare it in peaces and trode vnder her fete, spyttynge at it, caste it in the asshes so shoulde thy selfe be punyshed, baud quod she more worthye the fyre, than thy lyfe pycke the hence [Page]shortlye leaste that my husbande, finedynge the heare gyue the that that I remytte vnto the, and whyle thou lyuest, neuer come in my syghte. Another would haue bene afrayd, but she wel acquaynted with the maners of women, thoughte to her selfe, nowe wouldest thou mooste, when thou shewest mooste the contrarye, and sayde vnto her forgeue me madame, I thoughte I had not done a mysse, and that it shoulde haue stande wyth thy pleasure, if it be otherwyse, pardone myne igno­raunce, if thou wylte not that I retourne vnto the, I shall obey thy commaundemente, but take thou heede what a louer thou forsakest, and with theese woordes departed from her, and when she hadde founde Euria­lus: be of good conforte quod she thou louer, the womā loueth more the, then shee is loued, but nowe it is was no tyme to wryte vnto the, I founde her sad, but whan I named the, and gaue her thy letters, she made good countenaunce, and kyssed the paper a thousand tymes doubte not, thou shalte shortlye haue an aunsweare, and thus the olde woman departynge, shee was well ware no more to be founde leaste she hadde suffred for her lyinge. ☞ Truelye Lucres, after the wo­man was departed soughte vp the peeces of the lettre, and sette eche in theyre place, and ioyned soo the torne woordes, that shee made it legeable whyche when shee hadde redde it a thousande tymes, a thousande tymes she kyssed it, and at the laste wrapped it in a fayre nap­kyn, and putte it amonge her Iuels, and remembryng nowe thys woorde, nowe that woorde, continuallye shee sooked in more loue, and determyned too wryte to Eurialus, and sente her lettere on thys fashyonen, dyted.

THe morning forsaking the goldē bed of Titan, reduced the disired day, and shortlie the sonne decla­ring the colour of eche thinge re­ioyced the wayter Eurialus, that thought him thē happy and fortu­nate, when hee sawe hym selfe a­mong the vyle portours, so goeth he furthe into the house of Lucres, charged hym selfe wyth whete and settinge it in the garner, descended last of the companye, and as he was taughte, the doore of the chambre then was putte too, he thrust open, and went in, and shuttynge the dore after hym, hee founde [Page]Lucres about sylkworcke and comynge towarde her, god spede quod he my dere harte and the onlye healpe and hoope of my lyfe, Lucres, thoughe shee hadde ap­poynted thys matter, at the fyrste sighte, was somwhat abashed, and thoughte it hadde beene rather a spy­rite, than her louer Eurialus for shee coulde not well beleue that suche a manne as he wolde venture suche bylles but afterwarde in kyssynge, and embracynge she knew well Eurialus, and sayd. Art thou here quod she pore portoure, arte thou here myne owne Eurialus and than shee straynynge hym strayter. lookynge in hys face, began hyr wordes agayne thus Alas quod she my deare hearte Eurialus, what daunger haste thou aduentured, what shall I saye nowe, I perceyue I am mooste deare vnto thee, I haue made proofe of thy loue, and thou shalte neuer fynde mee noone othere­wyse vnto the. God sende vs onlye good lucke, in oure loue, and whyle the spyryte shall rule my lym­mes, noone shall bee before thee wyth Lucres, noo. Not my husbande yf I cal hym ryghte: My husbande that was geuen mee agaynste my wyll, whereto my mynde neuer consented. But nowe I beseche the my Eurialus, cast away thys sacke clothe, and shewe thee vnto me as thou arte put away this porters garmente and laye awaye these ropes. Lette me se my Eurialus, than he cast of the fylthy apparel, and shone al in golde and purpull, and began to entende busely to the offyce of loue, whanne zosias scrapynge at thee doore, sayde take hede ye louers, Menelaus seekynge I wote not what, cometh hyder hide all thynge preuelye for out, ye can not scape. Than quod Lucres there is by the bed a darke closette where bee Iuels, thou wottest what I [Page]wrote vnto the, yf my husbande came in, whyle thou were wyth me, goo thou thythere, there thou mayst be sure in the derke, and neyther styrre nor spytte, Euria­lus beynge in doubte what he should doo, folowed the womans byddynge she sette open the dore and wente to her worke. Then came Menelaus, and one Bertus a scryuener wyth hym, to seeke thynges that belonged to the common weale, whiche when they were not in diuers boxes found, they are perauenture quod Menelaus in the closet. Go Lucres, and fetch a lyghte for to seke here. With this woord, Eurialus was sore afraid and beganne strayght to hate Lucres, and to hym self sayd. Ah foole that I am. Who caused me too comme hether, but myne owne lyghtenesse. I am takenne, I am ashamed, I shall lease the Emperoures fauoure, what for fauour? I wold God my lyfe were safe. Howe shall I scape a lyue? I am sure too dye. Oh vayne, and of all fooles mooste folyshe, I am fallen intoo theese breres wylfullye, to what purpose is thee enioyinge of loue, yf it be bought soo deare? the pleasures be shorte and the doloures infinite. Oh yf we woulde endure, these thynges for heauen, it is a maruelous folyshnes of men that forsaketh lyghte laboures, for longe ioyes and for loue, whose ioyes be comparable to smoke, wee putte our selfes into extreme daungers, Loo, myselfe nowe shall I bee a tale and example too euerye bodye, and knowe not what ende shall becomme of it, if anye good Saynte woulde healpe me hence, neuer agayne shall suche laboure deceyue. O good Lorde healpe mee hence, and pardon my youthe. Remember not myne ignoraunces, but saue me to repente me of thys faute. She hath not loued me, but as a dere hathe takene me [Page]in the net, my day is come, no manne may healpe me, but thou good Lorde. Oft haue I hearde the deceytes of women, and I coulde not eschew it yf I escape now there shall neuer no crafte of women deceyue me. But Lucres was all yll combred, that feared as muche hys healthe as her owne, and as womens wyttes is more redye than mannes, in sodeyne peryls, hadde found a remedy. Come hether quod she husband, here is a cas­ket in this wyndowe, wherein I haue sene you put dyuers thinges of charge let vs se yf the wrytyng be thee and runnynge as it were to opene it, ouerthrewe yt into the strete, and as it had bene bechaunce, alas quod she, come hether, husbande leaste we lese anye thynge the casket is fallen out of the windowe, go quyckelye, least anye Iewels or wrytynges fall oute, go goo for goddes sake, why tary ye? I wyll looke oute that noo man take nothynge. Se the desceyte of the womanne nowe truste them hardely, no man is so circumspecte, that can not be deceyued, he was neuer kyndlye decey­ued whome hys wyfe neuer assayed to deceyue, we are ofte more fortunate then wyse. Menelaus and Ber­tus abasshed with this same ranne bothe hastely into the strete, the house was high after the Italian facion and manye steppes downe. Whereby Eurialus hadde space to chaunge and putte himselfe by her councell in to another darcke corner. They when they had gathe­red the wrytinges and the iewels, because they found not that that they soughte, wente intoo the closette, where they founde it, and so byddynge her farewel, de­parted, and she barred the dore. Come forthe quod shee Eurialus come forthe my dere hart, and the summe of my ioyes, come the well of my delytes, and sprynge of [Page]my gladnes, all thynge is sure, we may talke at lyberty and now is the place sure for our enbracynges, fortune woulde haue letted oure kyssynges, but God hathe fa­uoured oure loue, and hathe not forsaken soo faythfull louers, why [...]aryest thou? here is thy Lucres, whye let­test thou to embrace her? Eurialus at the last forsakig hygh feare, clapseth her wyth hys armes. I in my lyfe quod he, was I neuer so fered, but thou art wel worthy for whome suche thynges shulde be suffered. Theese kyssynges and swete enbracynges quod he, no manne shulde haue for noughte, nor I (too saye trouthe) haue not boughte deare ynoughe soo greate a pleasure. If after my death I myghte lyue, vsynge thy companye, a thousande tymes wolde I dye to bye thy enbracinges so oftene. O howe happye and howe blessed, is it a vision or is it in deede? do I hold the in myne armes? or do I dreame? surelye it is thy selfe, and the I haue. Lucres was in a lyghte garmente, that wythoute plyghte or wrynkell shewed her bodye as it was, a fayre necke, and the lyght of her eyne lyke the bryghte sonne, gladsome countenaunce and a merye face, her chekes lyke lylyes, medeled wyth roses, sweete and so­ber was her laughynge, her breaste large, and the two pappes semynge apples, gathered in Venus gardayne meued the courage of the toucher. Eurialus coulde no longer suffer the spurre, but forgettynge all fear, and sobernes layde a parte, sayde vnto the woman: Let vs nowe taste of the fruyte of loue, hee pressed her soore, and she too the contrary resysted, shewynge howe she cared for her honestye, and that her loue desyred no­thynge but onelye woordes and kysses: Vnto whyche Eurialus smylynge dyd aunswere. It is known quod [Page]he that I am here, or it is not knowne, yf it be knowne there is no manne that wyll not Iudge the reaste, yf it bee not knowne, noo more shall thys bee, it is thee re­warde of loue, and lette me dye rather than wante that O but is offence quod Lucres. It is offence quod Eu­rialus not to vse pleasure whan thou mayst, shoulde I forsake suche occasion graunted and desired so great­lye? and takynge her garmente. The stryuynge wo­man that wolde not bee ouercomen, he ouercame Yet dyd hee not quenche thee desyre of Venus: but ra­ther prouoked a greater thyrste, but Eurialus fearyng a further daunger, after he hadde a litle banqueted, de­parted, somthyng agaynste her wyll and mynde, and no man suspected, because he was as one of thee por­toures. As he went through the strete, Eurialus won derynge on hym selfe, sayde. Oh yf the Emperoure shuld nowe mete with me, and knowe me. What sus­pecte would this garmente brynge hym in? how wolde he mocke me. I shuld be a tale for euery body, and euer a laughter for hym. Neuer wolde hee leue me, tyll tyme that he knewe all, and neades tell him I muste what thys apparell meaneth, but I woulde saye that it were for another woman than this, for perauenture hee lo­ueth her, and also it were not mete too declare hym my loue, for I woulde neuer so betray Lucres, that hathe both receyued and saued me and thus as he thoughte he sawe Nisus, Achates, and Plinius, and gothe afore and was not knowne of them tyl he came home, wher­as chaungynge hys clothes, vnder colour of other na­mes, he telleth the chaunce of the mattere, and as hee remembreth the feare and the Ioye so did he in telling feare and rejoice, and in the middes of his feare, ah [Page] [...]ole that I was quod he, I trusted a woman wyth my hed: so was I not councelled of my fathere, whan hee taught me to trust the fayth of no woman, for that they wexe cruell, deceytfull, chaungeable, and ful of dyuers passions, and I yll remembring the lesson, put my lyfe in a womans handes, what yf anye man had knowne me, when I was charged wyth wheate? what shame what slaunder hadde bothe I and myne had for euer? The Emperour wolde haue refused me, and as lyghte and madde brayned, myght haue estemed me, what yf her husbande had founde me in the closet? The cyuyll lawe is cruel to adulterers, but the furoure of the hus­bande would haue had greater payne, the tone hadde ben but short deathe: the other, deathe wyth cruell tor­mentes but set case that he hathe fauoured my lyfe, at the least he wold haue bound me, and sent me shamed vnto the Emperoure. Ye, though I hadde escaped his handes because hee hadde no weapon, and I hadde a sweard by my syde, yet hadde he a man wyth hym, and weapons honge at hande vppon the wall, and there was many seruauntes in the house, the noyse shoulde haue rysen and the dores shyt and I shoulde haue ben handled accordynge. Alas madde that I was, no wys­dome, but chaunce hath delyuered me from this daun­ger sorowe for chaunce, and it was the readye wytte of her. O trusty woman. O wise louer. O noble and excellent loue, why shuld I not trust vnto the? why shoulde I not trust thy fayth, yf I hadde a thousande lyues, I durst truste the with them all, thou arte faythfull and wyse, and wysely thou can loue, and healpe thy louer, who could so sone haue the waye to auoyde them that soughte me, as thou had? than haste saued my lyfe, and [Page]I vowe it vnto thee, the lyfe that I lyue, is not myne, but thyne, and it shall not be greuous vnto mee, for the to lease that by the I haue, thou haste the ryghte of my lyfe, and commaundement on my death. O fayre brest. O pleasaunt tongue. O swete eyen O freshe witte, O goodly lymmes and well furnyshed, whan shall I see you agayne? whan shall I byte that same corall lyppe, and here the speke wythin my mouthe? shall I neuere handell agayne those rounde breastes? O Achates, it is but lytle that thou haste sene in any woman in com­paryson to this, the more nearer she is, the more fayrer shee is. Lidia, thee fayre wyfe of Candalus, the Kynge was no fayrer: I wonder not yf hee woulde shewe her naked vnto Satius for to do him the greater pleasure for on my faythe, yf I myghts, so woulde I shewe thee this Lady, for els may I not declare vnto the her beuty nor thou perceyue what ioye I had, but reioyce wyth me, I beseeche the: that my pleasure was greater than can be expressed with wordes. Thus talked Euria­lus with Achates, and Lucres wyth her selfe sayde as muche, but so muche lesse was her gladnesse that shee might trust none to shewe it vnto, and vnto zosias the durst not for shame tel al.

IN the mean time a knight called Pacorus, of a noble hous foloing the Emperour, began to loue Lu­cres, and becaus he was fayr and goodli, thought to be beloued and onlye rekened the chastitye of the woman to let him. She (as the custom of Italy is) beheld euery bo­dy [Page]with a lourynge countenaunce, whether it were by disceyt or craft, least the true loue shulde appere. Paco­rus rageth and can not be in reast tyll he haue felt her minde. The matrones of Scene went oft to visite the chapel of our Lady of Bethlee in. Hyther was Lucres come wyth two maydens and an olde wyfe. Pacorus folowed her wyth a vyolet wyth golden leaues in hys hande. in the stalke whereof, he hadde hydde a letter of loue, wrytten in fyne letters, and haue noo maruayle thereof. For Cicero sayeth there was shewed hym the hole history of Troy, so fynelye written, that it myghte all haue bene closed in a nut shel. Pacorus offereth the violette too Lucres, recommendynge hym vnto her, and she refuseth it. He desyreth her instantlye to take it. Take the floure madame quod the olde wyfe, what feare you? there is no pearell, it is but a small thynge: wherein peraduenture ye may do the gentelman plea­sure. She folowed her counsell, and tooke the floure, and whanne she hadde gone a lyttle waye, she tooke it vnto the toone of her maydens, and shortelye after they mette wyth two scholers, whyche I wot not how lyghtly obtayned the floure of the mayde, and opening the stalke, founde the pleasaunte letter. Nowe after the matronnes of Scene, had founde the louers, that the Emperoure broughte, and after the Courte was come thyther, these folke were mocked and deceyued, and lyttle estemed, for the clatterynge of harneys de­lyted more these women then eloquence of learnynge Here vppon grewe greate enuye, and the long gowns soughte alwayes howe to lette the courtyers. Than whan the crafte of the vyolet was knowne, strayghte was Menelaus gone vnto, and desyred to reade the [Page]letter he beynge very angry, goeth home, blameth his wyfe, and fylleth all the house wyth noyse. And shee to the contrarye denyeth that there is one faute in her and tellynge the hole tale, bryngeth the olde wyfe for wytnesse. The Emperoure is gone to, complaynte is made, Pacorus is called for, and he confesseth the faut asketh forgeuenes and sweareth neuer more to vexe Lucres but ryghte well knewe he that Iupyter rather laugheth, then taketh angerly the periuring of louers and so the more that he was let, the more hee foloweth the vayne flame.

THe winter is come, & the North­winds had brought doun snows y^e town falleth on plaing y^t wiues cast snow balles into the stretes, and the yong men out of y^e stretes into their windowes. He are had Pacorus gotten occasiō, and had enclosed in waxe an other letter, and putteth it in a snowe ball, and castyng it vnto Lu­cres wyndowe who wyll not saye that fortune ruleth al thyng? one happy hour is more worth to the, than if Mars shuld recommende the in his letter too Venus Some saye that fortune hathe noo powere in wyse­menne, I graunte it too suche wyse menne that onlye delyte in vertue: and sufferynge pouertye syckenesse, and presonne canne thyncke them selfe blessed, whych one yet I neuere sawe, nor neuer thyncke there was. The commone lyfe of menne neadeth fortunes fauoure. Shee, whome shee wyll shee auaunceth, and whome she lysteth, ouerthroweth who hindered Paco­rus, [Page]but fortune, was it not wyselye handeled, in a violettes stalke too hide hys letters and nowe agayne to sende hys letter closed in snowe woulde anye man saye it myghteeb craftyer, so that yf fortune had holpe he had be iudged crafty, and excellently wyse, but con­trary chaunce brought the ball that fel out of her hand too the fyre, soo that the snowe ones wasted, and the waxe melted, the letters appeared, which bothe an olde womanne that warmed her, and Menelaus beynge by, dydde reade, and there beganne a newe noyse, whyche Pacorus dydde not tarye too excuse, but went hys waye. Thys noyse healped Eurialus, so that it is true that hathe bene sayd: it is hard defendyng that is dyuerssy assauted. The louers awayted for the second maryage, and there was a lyttle strayte lane betwyxte Lucres house and her neyghboures, by the whyche settyng hys fete vpon eche wall, he had not ouer harde clymynge to Lucres wyndowe, but thys myghte only he by nyght. Now must Menelaus goo into the coun­trey and there must he lye all nyghte, whyche daye was wayted for of those two louers, as it hadde bene a Iu­bile. The good manne is gone, and Eurialus, chaun­gynge hys clothes, is come into the lane, there hadde Menelaus a stable, wherein by the teachynge of zo­sias, all the euenynge he lay hydde in the haye, and loo where Dromo came, that was a seruaunte of Mene­laus, and hadde rule of hys horses, to fyll the rackes, and harde by Euriolus syde dyd pulle out hay, and had taken more, and stryken in hym wyth the forcke, hadde not zosias he alped, who whan he sawe thee daungere, brother quod he geue me thys worke. I shal geue hay to the horses, thou in the meane tyme, looke that oure [Page]supper be redy, we must be mery whyle oure maysters is furth, oure maystres is better felowe, shee is merye and liberall, he is angrye, full of noyse, couetous, and harde, we are neuer well when he is at home, se I pray the what lanke belyes we haue, he is hungry himselfe to sterue vs for hunger, hee wyll not suffer one moyste peece of browne breade to be loste, but the fragmentes of one daye, he keapeth fyue dayes after, and the gob­bets of salte fysh and salt eles of one supper, he kepeth vnto an other, and marketh the cut chese, least anye of it shulde be stolen. The fole that by suche wretchednes seketh hys ryches, for nothynge is more folysh than to lyue pore, for too dye ryche, howe muche are we better wyth oure maystres? that feedeth vs not onlye wyth veale and kidde, but wyth hennes and byrdes, and plē ­tye of wyne. Go Dromo and make the kytchen smoke, Mary quod Dromo, that shall be my charge, and soner shall I laye the tables, thanne rub the horse, I brought my mayster into the countree to daye that thee Deuyll breke hys necke, and neuer spake he woorde vnto me, but badde me whan I brought home my horses, to tell my maystres that he woulde not come home to nyghte but by God quod he, I prayse the zosias that at the last hast founde faute at my maysters condycions. I had forsaken my mayster, yf my maystres had not geuen me my morowe meles as she hathe, lette vs not steape to nyghte zosia, but lette vs eate and dryncke tyll it bee daye, my mayster shall not wynne so muche thys mo­neth, as we shall waste at one supper. Gladlye dyd Eu­rialus here this, and marked the maners of seruants, and thought he was serued a lyke, and whan Dromo was gonne, Eurialus arose, and sayd, O happy nyght [Page]that throughe thy healpe zosia, I shall haue that haste broughte me hether, and wyselye taken heede that I was not discouered, and thou shalt not see that I shal be vnkynde. The houre was come, and the glad Euri­alus, that had passed two daungers clame vp that wal, and at the wyndowe wente in where all thynge was ready, and Lucres by the fyre. She whan shee saw her louer, clapsed hym in her armes, there was embracyng and kyssyng, and wyth full sayle they folow their lusts and weryed Venus, nowe wyth Ceres, and now wyth Bachus was refreshed. Alas, howe longe busines and howe shorte bee the pleasures skante hadde Eurialus one glad houre and lo where zosias broughte woorde that Menelaus was comme, and marred all the plaie: Eurialus maketh hym readye too departe, ¶ Lucres when she hadde hidden the banket, meteth her husbād welcommynge hym home. Welcome quod she my hus­bande, by my trouthe quod she I wened that thou had­dest bene loste in husbandrye what haste thou done in the countrye thus longe? why tariest thou not at home thou makest mee sadde wyth thyne absence, I feare leaste thou haue some other that thou louest, these hus­bandes be so false to theyr wyues, yf thou wylte that I shall not mystruste the, neuer slepe oute of my compa­nye, For I can slepe no nyghte wythoute the, but lette vs suppe here and go to bed, they were than in the hall, where they vsed to dyne, and shee soughte for too haue kepte hym there tyll Eurialus had space for to goo hys waye, for it requyred somme leasure, but Menelaus hadde supped forthe, and hasted towarde hys chamber. Nowe on my faythe and trouthe quod Lucres, thou arte vnkynde, whye dyddest thou not rather sup wyth [Page]me, because thou was from hence. I haue eaten noo meate to day, and there were here men of the country that broughte in maruelous good wyne, as they sayde and yet I tasted not of it, but nowe that thou art come lette vs goo into the celler I beseche the and tast yf the wyne be, as they say, and so hauyng the lanterne in her one hande, pullynge her husband wyth the other hand wente into the celler, and soo longe perced thys vessell and that, and supped wyth her husbande, tyll shee thoughte that Eurialus was gonne, and so at the laste wente wyth her husbande to the euyll pleasaunt bed.

¶ Eurialus in the styll of the nyghte, wente home. And on the morowe, eyther for that it were necessarye to take hede or for some yl suspecte: Menelaus walled vppe the wyndowe: I thynke as our Cytezens be sus­pectuous and full of coniectures: so dyd hee feare thee commodyte of the place, and woulde eschewe the occa­syon, for though he knewe noughte, yet wyste hee well that shee was muche desyred, and daylye prouoked by great requestes, and iudged a womans thoughte vn­stable, whyche hathe as many myndes, as trees hathe leues, and that theyr kinde alway is desyrous of newe thynges, and seldom loue they theyr husbands whom they haue obteyned. Therefore dyd he folowe the: common opinion of maryed men: to auoyde mysshap. thoughe it come wyth good lucke. So was theyr me­tynge lette, and theyr sendynge of letters also stopped, for the Tauerner that dwelte behynde Lucres house, where as Eurialus was wonte to speke wyth her, and geue her letters: at Menelaus perswasion was putte out by the Aldermen, and onely remayned the behoul­dynge of theyr eyene, and wyth beckes the louers salu­ted [Page]eche other, and skante myghte they vse thys vtter­moeste poynte of loue, theyr sorowes were greate, and theyr formentes lyke the death, for they coulde neyther forget, nor vse theyr loue. Whyle Eurialus doothe study diligently what auyse he myght take in this ma­ter, he remembred Lucres councell whyche she wrote vnto hym of Menelaus cousyn Pandalus, and dydde as these cunnynge Phisicians, whose manners is, in daungerous syckenes to geue indyfferente medecins and in extreme to vse the last medecynes, rather than leue the dysease incurable, He determined to goo vnto Pandalus, and folowe that waye that afore he hadde forsaken, and when he hadde sente for hym, called hym into a secrete place. Syt downe quod he my frende, I must tel the a great thinge that requyreth such thinges as be in the, that is dilygence, fayth, and secretnesse. I would erre nowe haue shewed it the, but I knewe the not, nowe I do know the, and because thou arte an ho­nest faythfull man, I loue the and entrete the, soo that I knewe nothynge els, it is ynoughe that thy neyghe­boures prayse the, and my fellowes too, wyth whome thou haste entred frendshyppe, and who and of what sorte thou arte, they haue toulde me, of whome I haue learned that thou desyrest my frendshyppe, whyche I promyse nowe vnto the, for thou arte as well worthye myne, as I am thyne. Nowe for because amonge fren­des a thynge is done in fewe wordes, what I woulde, I wyll shewe the. Thou knowest howe the kynde of man is prone vnto loue, whether it bee vertue or vyce, it reygneth euery where, nor no hart there is of fleshe that somtyme hath not felt the pryckes of loue. Thou knowest that neyther the wyse Salomone, nor the [Page]stronge Sampson hathe escaped from thys passyon. Furthermore the nature of a kyndeled hearte and of a folyshe loue is thys the more it is lette, the more I bourne, wyth nothynge soner is thys dysease healed, than wyth the obtaynynge of the loued. Manye there hath bene, both in our time and in our elder to whome theyr let hathe bene cause of cruell deathe, and agayne manye after the thynge obtayned, haue lefte too rage, nothynge is better when loue is crepte into the bones than too geue place too thee rage, for who soo stryueth agaynste the tempest, ofte tymes suffreth wracke and who dryueth wyth the storme escapeth. Thys I tell the for that thou shalte knowe mee loue, and what for my sake thou muste doe, and then what profytte thou shalt haue thereby, I wyll shewe the all, for nowe I reaken the as one part of my harte. I loue Lucres, and trulye Pandalus it is not by my faut, but by the gouernance of fortune: in whose handes is the hole worlde that we inhabyte. The customes of the countrey were vn­knowen to me, I thoughte your wemen hadde felte in theyr hartes that they shewed with theyr eyene, and that hathe deceyued me, for I thoughte Lucres hadde loued me, because she behelde me pleasantlye and I a­gayn began to loue her, for I thought such a lady was not vnmeete to bee beloued for loue, and yet dyd I not knowe the, nor none of thy kynne. I loued, and wened to haue bene loued, who is so stonye harde (beynge lo­ued) that do the not loue (But after I sawe I was de­ceyued (leaste my loue shulde be vayne) wyth all man­ner of wayes I assayed too kyndell her wyth lyke and lyke fyre, for I bourned, and pyteouslye wasted and shame and trouble of my mynde daye and nyghte, dyd [Page]marueloussye tormente me, and I was soo tangled, that with no wayes I coulde escape, and at the laste I contynued so long, that the loue of vs both was like she is kyndeled, and I burne, and we bothe pearyshe, nor we se no remedy to our liues, but only thy healpe, her husbande keepeth her in his chamber. The waker dragon dyd neuer keepe so well the golden steece: nor Cerberus the entre of hel, as Lucres is kept I knowe your kynrede, and also I knowe that ye are noble and ryche, and amonge the best of thys towne be loued but who can wythstande destenye? halas Pandalus it was not by my choyce, but by chaunce, and thus stan­deth this matter, it is as yet secrete but wythoute it be well guyded, it is lyke, as God forbyd, to brede a greate myschefe. I peraduenture myghte apeace my selfe, yf I went from hence, whiche thoughe it were greuous vnto me, I woulde do for your families, if I thoughte that shoulde healpe, but well I knowe her rage, eyther she woulde folowe me, or els yf shee were constrayned to tarye, woulde kyll her selfe, whiche woulde bee vnto your house a perpetuall dishonoure. That I sente for you, is for your cause to wythstande these myscheues, nor there is none other waye but that thou wylte bee gouernoure of our loue, that the dissembled fyre maye be secreate. I recommende, I geue, and I dowe me holy vnto the, be diligente in this furoure, leaste whyle it be lette, it flame the more, do so muche that we maye mete together, and so shall the heate bee aslaked, and made more sufferable, thou knowest the wayes of the house, thou knowest when the good manne is absent, thou knowest howe too brynge me in, but Menelaus brother must be had oute of the waye, whyche wayteth [Page]euer diligentlye for these inatters, and kepeth Lucres in steade of her brother, and marketh dilygentlye her wordes, her lookes, her countenaunce, her spyttynges her coughes, her laughes, and eche thynge hre consy­dereth, him must I deceyue, and it cannot be wythout the. He alpe therfore I beseche the, and whan her hus­bande Menelaus is from home, aduertise me, and his brothers that taryeth, brynge theym oute of the waye that he neyther take hede to her, nor set none other ke­pers, ouer her, whiche yf thou wylte vndertake, and healpe me as my trust is in the, all is safe, for thou maist pryuelye, whyle the other be faste in sleape, lette me in, and ease our fur yous loue, what profyte shall ensue of this, I thynke thou vnderstandest by the dyscrecyon.

For fyrst thou shalte saue the honour of the house, and hyde the loue that in no wyse can bee publyshed wyth­oute your shame. Secondlye thou shalt saue thy cosen in lawes lyfe, and also too Menelaus saue a wyfe, too whome it shall not be so hurteful that shee were myne for one nyght (no man knowyng of it) as yf he shoulde lese her, all the worlde wonderynge, whan she shoulde folowe me. Dyuers womenne haue folowed theyr lo­uers, what if she determyned to folowe me? what dys­honour shuld it be to your kynne? what mocke among people? what shame as well to al the towne as to you? some wold peraduenture say, put her to deathe rather than she shoulde doe thus, but woo bee vnto hym that fyleth him with bludshedding, and reme dieth one faut by a greater. Myscheuousnes be not to be encreased but to be lessed, of two good thynges, wee knowe the best is to bee chosen, and of a good and of an ylle, thee good, and of two ylles, the least. Euerye waye is daun­gerous, [Page]but thys that I shewe the, is leaste peryllous, by which thou shalt not only helpe thyne owne bloude, but also me that am almoost out of my wytte to se Lu­cres suffre as she dothe for me: who I woulde rather dyd hate me, than I woulde entreate the but thus it is and at thys poynte, and wythoute thy crafte, thy wytte and thy diligence the shyp be guyded there, remayneth no hope of health. Helpe therfor both her and me, and saue thy house from shame, and thyncke not that I wyll be vnkynde, thou knowest what I may doe wyth the Emperoure, and what thou wylte, I wyll gette the graunted, and thys I promyse thee on my faythe thou shalt be an Earle by patent, and all thy posteritye shall inioye that same title, I commit vnto the both Lucres we, our loue and fame, and the honoure of thy kynne, I trust vnto thy fayth, thou art the arbyte, and al these be in thyne handes: Take hede nowe what thou doste, for lyke as thou mayst saue, so mayst thou spyl.

☞ Pandalus when he heard this, smyled and after a lytle pause, sayd (Al this haue I knowne quod he Euri alus, and wolde God it hadde not happened, but nowe as thou sayest: it is at that poynt that I must nedes do as thou byddest me: excepte I wold shame all our kyn and rayse a great slaunder: The woman in dede bren­neth, and hathe no power ouer her selfe, and wythoute I healpe, she wyl sle her selfe wyth some knife, or breke her necke out of some wyndow, neyther careth she for her honour, nor for her lyfe, she hathe toulde me her de­syre, I haue blamed her, I haue busyed me to quenche the flame, and all in vayne, she careth for noughte but for the, thou art alwayes in her mynd, the she wysheth, [Page]the she desyreth, and the only she thinketh vpon, often tymes callynge mee by thy name, soo is the womanne chaunged by loue, that she semeth not the same. Halas what pitye and what sorowe, there was none in all the towne more chaste or more wyfer then Lucres. It is a maruelous thynge if nature haue geuen loue suche lawe ouer the myndes of menne. Thys dissease must be healped, and with none other cure, than thou haste shewed, I wyll goo aboute thys busynes, and whanne tyme is, I shall warne thee, nor I seeke noo rewarde of the, it is not the offyce of an honest manne too aske thanke where none is deserued. I do it to auoyde thee same of our house, and if thou take any benefyt therby I am not therfore to be rewarded. Yet quod Eurialus for all that I thancke thee, and as I sayde, I promyse the to cause the to be made Erle, and refuse not hardly this honoure. I refuse it not quod Pandalus, but I woulde nat it shuld come by thys meanes, if it comme lette it come, I wyl nothynge doe by couenaunte, yf I myghte haue done it by vnknowne too the, that thou myghte haue bene wyth Lucres, I wol de gladly haue done it. Farewell, and thou also quod Eurialus, nowe that thou hast geuen me comforte, make fayne, fynde, or doe by some meanes, that we maye be together.

Thou shalt prayse me quod Pādalus, and he departed ful glad that he had entred in Eurialus grace. Hoping to be an Earle, where of hee was more desyrous, in as muche as he shewed leaste, for there be manye men, so women lyke, that whan they say most nay, they would fayneste, hee hathe gotten by furtheraunce of loue the name of an Earle, and his posteriars shall shewe for theyr noblenes a gylted bull.

NOt longe after ther was afray in the country amonge Menelaus husbandmen, and diuers of them that had dranke ouer much, were slayn, wherfore Menelaus must go forth to set good order in these maters, to whō Lucres said, hus­band thou art heauy and weake, and thy horse goeth hard, borowe therfore some ambe­ling horse. And whan he asked where he might borow any Mary quod Pandalus Eurialus had a very good one, and sure he wyl gladly lend hym the, if thou wylte I shall aske him. Doe quod Menelaus, and Eurialus assone graūted as he was desired, takyng it for a good token, and to hym selfe sayde, yf thou leape vppon my horse, I shall do the same vnto thy wyfe. Nowe the co­uenaunt was that at fiue of the clocke Eurialus shuld wayte in the strete, and shoulde hoope well-yf he harde Pandalus sing: Menelaus was gone, and the cloudy nyght had couered the heuen, Lucres taryed her tyme in her chambre, and Eurialus was afore the doore, and taryed the token, but hee neyther hearde hym synge nor spytte, the houre was past, Achates meued hym too departe. It was hard to departe, and ymagyned nowe one cause nowe another. Pandalus sang not be cause Menelaus brother was lefte there, that soughte eche cornes for feare of deceytes, and waked all the whyle. To whome Pandalus sayde, shall we not go to bedde thys nyghte, and I am wonderous slepy, I wonder of the that art a younge man, and lyke an olde manne, too whome drynes taketh awaye sleepe, thou neuer dooste slepe, but before day whan other men do ryse. Lette vs [Page]goo to bedde to what purpose doo we watche: Lette vs go quod Agemennon, yf thou wylte, but lette vs looke fyrst to the dores, yf they be well shutte for doubt of the­ues. And whan he was come to the dore, he putte to it, nowe one locke, nowe another, and bolted it. There was a great barre of yron that scante two coulde lyfte wherwyth the dore was neuer shut, whych whan Aga­mennon coulde not put to desyred healpe. Thou shut­test the dore quod Pandalaus as yf the house shuld be beseged, are we not in a sure city? we are at lyberty in thys towne, and quyetnes is come to vs all. The Flo­rentynes our ennemyes wyth whome we haue warre be farre hence. If thou drede enemyes, thys house can not healpe vs. I wyll thys nyghte lyfte noo burdons, my shoulders ake, and I am sore brused wythin, I am not mete for the burden, therfore lifte thou thy selfe, or let it alone. Wel then quod Agamennon it is ynough, and went to bed. Then quod Eurialus, I wil tary here thys houre to se peraduenture yf anye body do appere. Achates that was wyth Eurialus was wery of so long taryinge, and preuely cursed Eurialus, whyche hadde kepte hym soo longe from sleape. Yet they caryed not longe after, but they sawe Lucres throughe a creues, caryinge a lyghte in her hande. Towarde whome Eu­rialus went, and sayd, god spede quod he my dere hart Lucres and she beyng a feard, woulde haue gone her waye, but than remembrynge her selfe what man arte thou quod she that callest me? I thyne Eurialus am here quod he, opē the dore my delite, I haue taried here half this nyght. Lucres at the last knew hys voice, but because she feared deceyte, she durste not open tyll she knewe some token that it was hee, and so wyth greate [Page]labour she remoued the lockes, but because there were many fasteninges to the dore that a womans strength coulde not vndo, she opened it but halfe a foote wyde. Good ynough quod Eurialus, and stretchyng him self at last gat in and taketh her in his armes. Achates watched wythoute. Lucres, eyther for feare or for Ioye swowmed in Eurialus armes, and her strengthe fay­lynge wyth pale face semed al readye dead, but that her pulce and hete remayned. Eurialus wyth the sodeyne chaunce affeared, wyst not what to [...]o, if I goo hence thought he, the faut of her death shal be in me to leue a womanne in such daunger, if I tarye, Agamennon or some of the house shal come, and than I am vndone. Alas vnhappy loue that hast in the more gal, than hony the bytter wormewod is no more soure than thou arte What daungers hast thou alredy put me in? with how manidethes hast thou thretened mi hed? and hast thou lefte me nowe too haue a woman dye in myne armes? why hast thou not rather slayne me? why hast thou not torne me wyth lyons. Alas how much had it bene that I had dyed in her lappe, than she in my bosome? Loue had ouercome the man, and regardynge not his owne helth, taryed with the womanne, and lyftyng vppe her bodye all be moysted wyth teres kyssed her. Alas Lu­cres quod he, where art thou become? where bee thyne eares? why answerest thou not? whye herest thou not? open thyne eyes. I beseche the loke vpon me, smile on me as thou art wont, thy Eurialus is hear, he doth em­brace the, why doost thou thus trouble me? I wonder, arte thou gone, or doost thou slepe? where shall I seke the? yf thou woldest dye, whye dyddest thou not warne me that I myghte haue dyed wyth the? yf thou wylte [Page]not heare me, my sworde shall strayghte open my syde, and wee shall boothe dye at ones. Ah my lyfe, my dar­lyng, my delyte, my only hope, and my hole health, shall I thus lese the? open thyne eyne, lyft vp thy head, thou art not yet ded, If ele thou art warme, and thy breathe is yet in the, whye doste thou not speake to me? dooste thou receyue me of thys sort? doost thou call me to such pastyme? dooste thou gy [...]e me suche a nyghte? Ryse I beseche the mydewhart, looke on thy Eurialus, I am here and wyth that word the floud of his teres flushed so vppon her face, that as wyth droppes of water the woman awaked out of her slepe, and seynge her louer. Alas quod she Eurialus, where haue I ben? why dyd­dest thou not suffer me to dye? happelye had I dyed in thy armes, and would God I myght so dye? eare thou shulde departe the towne. Thus talckynge together, they wente into the chamber, where they hadde suche a nyghte, as wee iudge the two louers Paris and He­lena had after he had taken her away, and it was vnto them so pleasanut, that they thoughte Mars and Ve­nus hadde neuer none such, thou art quod Lucres my Canimedes, my Ypolitus, my Diomedes. Thou art quod Eurialus my Polexena, my emly, ye, and Venus her selfe, and her mouthe and nowe her eyene, and now her chekes he kysseth, and som tyme casting doun the clothes, he sawe suche beautye as hee neuer afore saw. I haue found more quod he than I wened, suche a one sawe Acteon of Dians, whanne she bathed her in the fountayne what is moore pleasaunter or more fayrer than these lymmes, nowe haue I bought them wyth pearyl, but what thyng shuld I not haue suffred for the? O fayre necke, and pleasaunt brestes, is it you [Page]that I touche? is it you that I haue? are ye in my han­des? O round lymmes, O swete bodye, haue I thee in my armes? Nowe where dothe pleasante in the fresh­nesse of my ioye, that no displeasure myghte here after hurte it. Do I holde the or doo I dreme? O pleasaunte kysses, Oh dere enbracynges, O sweete bytynges, no man lyuinge is more happye than I, or more blessed.

But alas how swyfte be these houres? Thou spytefull nyght, why goest thou awaye? abyde Apollo and tarye vnder the earth, why dost thou so sone put thy horse in to the chayre? let them repast, geue me thys nyghte as thou dyddest to Alemena, why doest thou Aurora leaue soo sone the bed of Titan, yf thou were as pleasaunte vnto hym as Lucres is to me, he wolde not suffer thee to arise so earlye. Neuer sawe I so shorte a nyghte, yet haue. I bene in Britayne and in Denmarke, thus sayd Eurialus, and Lucres sayde no lesse, nor suffered not one kysse nor one worde to passe vnrecompenced. Hee strayned, and she strayned, and whan they hadde done they were not wearye, but as Athens, rose frome thee grounde stronger, soo after battell were they more de­syrous of warre. The nyghte ended whan aurora toke from the Ocean her dewe here, he departed, and longe after myghte not retourne, by the dayelye watche that was put vnto her, but loue ouercame all thynge, and at laste they founde waye for theyr metynge, which longe while they vsed.

IN the mean tyme the Emperour that alredy was reconciled to Eugenius, determined to go to Rome. This did Lucres perceiue, for what is that y^e loue knoweth not? or who can deceiue a louer & therfor

¶ Wyth these letters the woman somwhat had appesed her selfe, and aunswered that shee woulde folowe hys councell.

SHortelye after, Eurialus wente to Rome wyth the Emperour, wher he had not ben longe, but he was sycke of an hote ague. The pore vnhappy man whē he was bur­nyng in loue, began also to burn in syck­nes, and whē loue had wasted his strēgth by dolour of the dysease, lyttle remayneth of hys life, & that spirit was rather entertaygned with Phisicions, than taryed of it self. The Emperour visyted him day­lye, confortynge hym as hys sonne, and commaunded that he shulde haue all cure of medecynes that myghte be, but none was of more effecte for hys remedye, then a letter from Lucres, wherby he vnderstode her helth, whych somewhat mynysheth hys sycknes, and made hym recouer hys fete, so that he was at the coronacion of the Emperoure, and there was made Knyghte. Af­ter thys whan the Emperoure went to Perusia, he ta­ryed at Rome, and from thence wente too Scene, all thoughe he were but yet weke and verye grene of hys sycknes but he myght only behoulde Lucres, and not speke to her. Many letters went betwext them, and a­gayne there was practisinge for her goinge away, thre dayes; dyd Eurialus tary there, and whē he saw no maner of wayes too come to her, that as then was taken from hym, he did aduertyse hys Lady of his departing but neuer had they such plesure in theyr conuersacion as they had displeasure in their departynge. Lucres was in her wyndowe when Eurialus ryd through the strete, and wyth theyr moyste eyen the one behelde the [Page]other, he wept and she wept, and bothe wer distrayned with greuous doloures, as they that felte theyr hartes tourne of theyr places. If any man doth not know the dolour of death, let hym consider the departing of two louers, whiche hath more heuynes and more paynfull tormente. The soule suffreth in death, for that it parte from the beloued bodye, and the bodye (the soule ones departed) suffereth not, but whanne two myndes, bee ioyned together so muche is the diuision more payne full, in so muche as the delyte of eyther of them is more sencyble, and surelye heare was not two myndes, but surelye as weneth Aristophanes one soule in two bo­dyes so departed not one mynde from another, but one loue and one mynde was in two deuyded, and the harte suffred particion. Parte of the mynde wente and part remayned and all the sences were disperpled and playned too departe from theyr owne selfe. Nor one droppe of bloude remayned in thee louers faces, but only teares and bewaylinges, and very deathe ap­ced in theyr vysages who maye wryte or declare, to thinke the grefes of those myndes, but hee that hathe ones in his life bene like wise mad. Laodomia, whan Prothesilaus went to the siege of Troi snowned, and whan shee knewe of hys deathe, dyed. Dido, after the predestinate departyng of Eneas, slewe her selfe. And Percia wolde not lyue after Brutus deathe. But thys oure Lucres, after Eurialus was out of her syght, fal­lyng to the earthe, was taken vp by her mayde as, and layde in her bedde and when she came too her selfe, all purple and golden clothes, and glad apparell she layde a parte, and ware displeasaunt tawny and neuer after was harde synge or seene laughe, nor by no sportes, no [Page]ioye, nor myrthe, myghte euer be reconforted, in which condicion when she hadde a lytle whyle continued, she fell into sycknes and because her harte was absente, the mynde woulde receyue no consolacion, and at the laste betwyxte the armes of her much wepyng mother (vsynge vayne confortable woordes) shee gaue vp the weryed goost, dysdayninge the sorowful lyfe.

EVrialus after he had passed the sight of those ein y^t shulde neuer again se him: neuer spake to any bodye in his iourney, but caryed onlye Lucres in hys minde, and thoughte busilye yf he might re­tourne, and at last came vnto the Emperoure at Perusia, & wente with him to Ferrar, to Mantua, to Tridente, to Constantia, and to Basile, and so into Hungery, and to Bohemy. But lyke as he folowed the Emperour so did Lucres folow hym in his slepe & suf­fred him no nightes rest, whom whē he knew hys true louer to be deed meued bi extreme dolour, clothed hym in mournyng apparell, and vtterly exclu­ded all comforte, and yet though the Em­perour gaue hym in mariage a right noble and excellente Ladye, yet he neuer enioied after, but incōclusion pitifulli wasted his pain ful life.