_Master_ Albert _of Bullen, honestly made a Lady to blush, thatthought to have done as much to him, because shee perceived him, to beamorously affected towards her._
The tenth Novell.
_Wherein is declared, that honest love agreeth with people of all ages._
After that Madam _Eliza_ sate silent, the last charge and labour ofthe like employment, remained to the Queene her selfe; whereupon sheebeganne thus to speake: Honest and vertuous young Ladies, like asthe Starres (when the Ayre is faire and cleere) are the adorning andbeauty of Heaven, and flowers (while the Spring time lasteth) doegraciously embellish the Meadowes; even so sweete speeches and pleasingconferences, to passe the time with commendable discourses, are thebest habit of the minde, and an outward beauty to the body: whichornament of words, when they appeare to be short and sweete, are muchmore seemely in women, then in men; because long and tedious talking(when it may be done in lesser time) is a greater blemish in women,then in men.
Among us women, this day, I thinke few or none have therein offended,but as readily have understood short and pithy speeches, as they havebeene quicke and quaintly delivered. But when answering suteth not withunderstanding, it is generally a shame in us, and all such as live;because our moderne times have converted that vertue, which was withinthem who lived before us, into garments of the bodie, and shew whosehabites were noted to bee most gaudie, fullest of imbroyderies, andfantastick fashions: she was reputed to have most matter in her, andtherefore to be more honoured and esteemed. Never considering, thatwhosoever loadeth the backe of an Asse, or puts upon him the richestbraverie; he becommeth not thereby a jote the wiser, or merritethany more honour then an Asse should have. I am ashamed to speake it,because in detecting other, I may (perhaps) as justly taxe my selfe.
Such imbroydered bodies, tricked and trimmed in such boasting bravery,are they any thing else but as Marble Statues, dumbe, dull, and utterlyinsensible? Or if (perchaunce) they make an answere, when some questionis demaunded of them; it were much better for them to be silent. Fordefence of honest devise and conference among men and women, they wouldhave the world to thinke, that it proceedeth but from simplicity andprecise opinion, covering their owne folly with the name of honesty:as if there were no other honest woman, but shee that conferres onelywith her Chamber-maide, Laundresse, or Kitchin-woman, as if nature hadallowed them (in their owne idle conceite) no other kinde of talking.
Most true it is, that as there is a respect to be used in the actionof other things; so, time and place are necessarily to be considered,and also whom we converse withall; because sometimes it happeneth,that a man or woman, intending (by a word of jest and merriment) tomake another body blush or be ashamed: not knowing what strength ofwit remaineth in the opposite, doe convert the same disgrace uponthemselves. Therefore, that we may the more advisedly stand upon outowne guard, and to prevent the common proverbe, _That Women (in allthings) make choyse of the woorst:_ I desire that this dayes last tale,which is to come from my selfe, may make us all wise. To the end, thatas in gentlenesse of minde we conferre with other; so by excellency ingood manners, we may shew our selves not inferiour to them.
It is not many yeares since (worthy assembly) that in _Bulloigne_there dwelt a learned Physitian, a man famous for skill, and farrerenowned, whose name was Master _Albert_, and being growne aged, to theestimate of threescore and tenne yeares: hee had yet such a sprightlydisposition, that though naturall heate and vigour had quite shakenhands with him, yet amorous flames and desires had not wholly forsakenhim. Having seene (at a Banquet) a very beautifull woman, being thenin the estate of widdowhood, named (as some say) Madame _Margaret deChisolieri_, shee appeared so pleasing in his eye; that his sencesbecame no lesse disturbed, then as if he had beene of farre youngertemper, and no night could any quietnesse possesse his soule, except(the day before) he had seene the sweet countenance of this lovelywiddow. In regard whereof, his dayly passage was by her doore, onewhile on horsebacke, and then againe on foote; as best might declarehis plaine purpose to see her.
Both shee and other Gentlewomen, perceiving the occasion of hispassing and repassing; would privately jest thereat together, to seea man of such yeares and discretion, to be amorously addicted, orover-swayed by effeminate passions. For they were partly perswaded,that such wanton Ague fits of Love, were fit for none but youthfullapprehensions, as best agreeing with their chearefull complexion.Master _Albert_ continuing his dayly walkes by the widdowes lodging,it chaunced upon a Feastivall day, that shee (accompanied with diversother women of great account) being sitting at her doore; espied Master_Albert_ (farre off) comming thitherward, and a resolved determinationamong themselves was set downe, to allow him favourable entertainement,and to jest (in some merry manner) at his loving folly, as afterwardthey did indeede.
No sooner was he come neere, but they all arose, and courteouslyinvited him to enter with them, conducting him into a goodly Garden,where readily was prepared choyse of delicate wines and banquetting. Atlength, among other pleasant and delightfull discourses, they demandedof him: how it was possible for him, to be amorously affected towardsso beautifull a woman, both knowing and seeing, how earnestly she wassollicited by many gracious, gallant, and youthfull spirits, aptlysuting with her yeares and desires? Master _Albert_ perceiving, thatthey had drawne him in among them, onely to scoffe and make a mockeryof him; set a merry countenance on the matter, and honestly thusanswered.
Beleeve mee Gentlewoman (speaking to the widdowe her selfe) it shouldnot appeare strange to any of wisedome and discretion, that I amamorously enclined, and especially to you, because you are well worthyof it. And although those powers, which naturally appertaine to theexercises of Love, are bereft and gone from aged people; yet goodwillthereto cannot be taken from them, neither judgement to know suchas deserve to be affected: for, by how much they exceede youth inknowledge and experience, by so much the more hath nature made themmeet for respect and reverence. The hope which incited me (being aged)to love you, that are affected of so many youthfull Gallants, grewthus. I have often chaunced into divers places, where I have seeneLadies and Gentlewomen, being disposed to a Collation or rere-banquetafter dinner, to feede on Lupines, and young Onions or Leekes, andalthough it may be so, that there is little or no goodnesse at allin them; yet the heads of them are least hurtfull, and most pleasingin the mouth. And you Gentlewomen generally (guided by unreasonableappetite) will hold the heads of them in your hands, and feede upon theblades or stalkes; which not onely are not good for any thing, but alsoare of very bad savour. And what know I (Lady) whether among the choiseof friends, it may fit your fancy to doe the like? For, if you did so,it were no fault of mine to be chosen of you, but thereby were all therest of your suters the sooner answered.
The widdowed Gentlewoman, and all the rest in her company, beingbashfully ashamed of her owne and their folly, presently said. Master_Albert_, you have both well and worthily chastised our over-boldpresumption, and beleeve mee Sir, I repute your love and kindnesse ofno meane merit, comming from a man so wise and vertuous: And therefore(mine honour reserved) commaund my uttermost, as alwayes ready todo you any honest service. Master _Albert_, arising from his seat,thanking the faire widdow for her gentle offer; tooke leave of her andall the company, and she blushing, as all the rest were therein notmuch behinde her, thinking to checke him, became chidden her selfe,whereby (if wee be wise) let us all take warning.
The Sunne was now somewhat farre declined, and the heates extremitywell worne away, when the Tales of the seaven Ladies and threeGentlemen were thus finished, whereupon their Queene pleasantly said.For this day (faire company) there remaineth nothing more to be doneunder my regiment, but onely to bestow a new Queene upon you, who(according to her judgement) must take her turne, and dispose what nextis to be done, for continuing our time in honest pleasure. And althoughthe day should endure till darke night, in regard, that when some timeis taken before, the better preparation may be made for occasions tofollow, to the end also, that whatsoever the new Queene
shall please toappoint, may be the better fitted for the morrow: I am of opinion, thatat the same houre as we now cease, the following dayes shall severallybegin. And therefore, in reverence to him that giveth life to allthings, and in hope of comfort by our second day; Madame _Philomena_, amost wise young Lady, shall governe as Queene this our Kingdome.
So soone as she had thus spoken, arising from her seate of dignity,and taking the Lawrell Crowne from off her owne head; she reverentlyplaced it upon Madame _Philomenaes_, she first of all humbly salutingher, and then all the rest, openly confessing her to be their Queene,made gracious offer to obey whatsoever she commaunded. _Philomena_, hercheekes delivering a scarlet tincture, to see her selfe thus honouredas their Queene, and well remembring the words, so lately uttered byMadame _Pampinea_; that dulnesse or neglect might not be noted in her,tooke cheerefull courage to her, and first of all, she confirmed theofficers, which _Pampinea_ had appointed the day before, then sheeordained for the morrowes provision, as also for the supper so neereapproaching, before they departed away from thence, and then thus began.
Lovely Companions, although that Madam _Pampinea_, more in her ownecourtesie, then any matter of merit remaining in mee, hath made me yourQueene: I am not determined, to alter the forme of our intended life,nor to be guided by mine owne judgement, but to associate the same withyour assistance. And because you may know what I intend to do, and so(consequently) adde or diminish at your pleasure; in verie few words,you shall plainly understand my meaning. If you have well consideredon the course, which this day hath bene kept by Madam _Pampinea_, methinkes it hath bene very pleasing and commendable; in which regard,untill by over-tedious continuation, or other occasions of irkesomeoffence, it shall seeme injurious, I am of the minde, not to alterit. Holding on the order then as we have begun to do, we will departfrom hence to recreate our selves awhile, and when the Sun growethtowards setting, we will sup in the fresh and open ayre: afterward,with Canzonets and other pastimes, we will out-weare the houres tillbed time. To morrow morning, in the fresh and gentle breath thereof,we will rise & walke to such places, as every one shall finde fittestfor them, even as already this day we have done; untill due time shallsummon us hither againe, to continue our discoursive Tales, wherein (methinkes) consisteth both pleasure and profit, especially by discreeteobservation.
Very true it is, that some things which Madam _Pampinea_ coulde notaccomplish, by reason of her so small time of authority, I willbeginne to undergo, to wit, in restraining some matters whereon we areto speake, that better premeditation may passe upon them. For, whenrespite and a little leysure goeth before them, each discourse willsavour of the more formality; and if it might so please you, thus wouldI direct the order. As since the beginning of the world, all men havebene guided (by Fortune) thorow divers accidents and occasions: sobeyond all hope & expectation, the issue and successe hath bin good andsuccesfull, and accordingly should every one of our arguments be chosen.
The Ladies, and the yong Gentlemen likewise, commended her advice,and promised to imitate it; onely _Dioneus_ excepted, who when everyone was silent, spake thus. Madam, I say as all the rest have done,that the order by you appointed, is most pleasing and worthy to beeallowed. But I intreate one speciall favour for my selfe, and to haveit confirmed to me, so long as our company continueth; namely, that Imay not be constrained to this Law of direction, but to tell my Taleat liberty, after mine owne minde, and according to the freedome firstinstituted. And because no one shall imagine, that I urge this graceof you, as being unfurnished of discourses in this kinde, I am wellcontented to be the last in every dayes exercise.
The Queene, knowing him to be a man full of mirth and matter, beganto consider very advisedly, that he would not have mooved thisrequest, but onely to the end, that if the company grew wearied byany of the Tales re-counted, hee would shut uppe the dayes disportwith some mirthfull accident. Wherefore willingly, and with consentof al the rest he had his suite granted. So, arising all, they walkedto a Christall river, descending downe a little hill into a vally,graciously shaded with goodly Trees; where washing both their handsand feete, much pretty pleasure passed among them; till supper timedrawing nere, made them returne home to the Palace. When supper wasended, and bookes and instruments being laide before them, the Queenecommanded a dance, & that Madam _?milia_, assisted by Madam _Lauretta_and _Dioneus_, shold sing a sweet ditty. At which command, _Lauretta_undertooke the dance, and led it, _?milia_ singing this song ensuing.
_The Song.
So much delight my beauty yeelds to mee, That any other Love, To wish or prove; Can never sute it selfe with my desire.
Therein I see, upon good observation, What sweete content due understanding lends: Olde or new thoughts cannot in any fashion Rob me of that, which mine owne soule commends. What object then, (mongst infinites of men) Can I ever finde to dispossesse my minde, And plant therein another new desire? So much delight, &c.
But were it so, the blisse that I would chuse, Is, by continuall sight to comfort me: So rare a presence never to refuse, Which mortall tongue or thought, what ere it be; Must still conceale, not able to reveale, Such a sacred sweete, for none other meete, But hearts enflamed with the same desire. So much delight, &c._
The Song being ended, the Chorus whereof was aunswered by them all,it passed with generall applause: and after a few other daunces, thenight being well run on, the Queene gave ending to this first dayesRecreation. So, lights being brought, they departed to their severallLodgings, to take their rest till the next morning.
_The End of the first Day._