Palermo in Sicily. As the poor Countess was careless of herself, as a woman half in despair, so she little regarded to what port of Christendom the bark made, and therefore hired passage in that ship so secretly, that none but her own self and a page did know when or whither she meant to make her voyage; so that on a sudden, having certain intelligence at what hour the ship would warp out of the haven, she slipped away, and her page with her, and getting aboard under sail, committed herself to God, the mercy of the seas, and to the husband of many hard misfortunes. The ship had not gone a league upon the seas, but PHILOMELA began to be sick; whereupon the master of the ship coming in to comfort her, found her in his eye one of the fairest creatures that ever he saw; and though her colour were something pale through her present sickness', yet he could compare it to no worse shew than the glister of the moon in a silent night and a clear sky, so that the poor shipper's conscience began to be pricked, and love began to shake him by the sleeve, that he sate down by her, and after his blunt fashion gave her such sweet comfort as such a swain could afford. PHILOMELA thanked him, and told him, it was nothing but a passion that the roughness of the seas had wrought in her, who heretofore was unacquainted with any other waters than the river Po, and such small creeks as watered Italy. Hereupon the master departed, but with a flea in his ear, and love in his eye; for he had almost forgot his compass, he was so far out of compass with thinking how to compass' PHILOMELA. In this amorous humour he began to visit often the cabin wherein 1 Shakespeare somewhere has an expression, that "Sorrow eats the bud of Beauty." The image drawn from " the moon in a silent night and clear sky," is very poetical. This miserable play upon words shews the literary infection of the age. PHILOMELA lay, which was a means rather to increase his fury than to qualify the fire of love that began to heat him: for, as he that playeth with a bee may sooner feel her sting than taste of her honey', so he that acquainteth himself with love may more easily repent him than content him; and sooner inthrall himself in a labyrinth, than get an hour of quiet liberty. So it fell out with TEBALDO, for so was the master of the ship called for he, by conversing privately and familiarly with PHILOMELA, became so far in love, that he held no happiness like the obtaining of this love; he noted the excellency of her beauty, the exquisiteness of her qualities, and measured every part with such precise judgment, that the small heat of desire grew to a glowing fire of affection'. But for all this he durst not reveal his mind unto her, lest happily by his motion she should be moved unto displeasure. But as by time small sparks grow into great flames, so at last he waxed so passionate, that there was no way with him but death or despair, if he did not manifest his thoughts unto her: resolving thus damnably with himself, that howsoever love or fortune dealt with him, he would have his mind satisfied; for if she granted, then he would keep her in Palermo, as his paramour; if she denied, seeing he had her within the compass of his bark, he would have his purpose by force, and so become lord of his content by conquest. Thus resolute, he went towards the cabin of PHILOMELA, to bewray his affection unto her, when, drawing near the door, he heard her playing most cunningly upon a lute certain lessons of curious descant. Staying awhile, lest he might interrupt so sweet music; at last she left off, and fell from her lute to this lamentable complaint. “Oh, poor woman, worthy so termed, being brought to thy woe by a man; now dost thou see, that as such as are stung by the tarantula are best cured by music; so such minds as are vexed by sorrow, find no better relief than a sweet relish of comforting melody'. "Ah, ABSTEMIA, for so she now called her name, the more to disguise herself; if music should be answerable to thy martyrdom, or the excellency of descant conformable to the intent of the distressor, then must Apollo be fetched from heaven, Orpheus from his grave, Amphion from his rest, the Syrens from their rocks, to qualify thy musings with their musics; for though they excel in degrees of sounds, thou exceedest in diversities of sorrows, being far more miserable than musical; and yet they, the rarest of all others. Once, ABSTEMIA, thou wast counted the fairest in all Italy, and now thou art holden the falsest; thy virtues were thought many, now thy dishonours are counted numberless; thou wert the glory of thy parents, the hope of thy friends, the fame of thy country, the wonder of thy time for modesty, the paragon of Italy for honourable grace, and the pattern whereby women did measure their perfections for she that was holden less modest, was counted a wanton; and she that would seem more virtuous, was esteemed too precise; but now thou art valued worthless of all thy former honours, by the stain of one undeserved blemish. 66 Ah, had I been false to my husband, perhaps I had been more fortunate, though not in mine own conscience, yet to the eyes of the world less suspected, and so not detected; but inno 1 No charm like music to a weary spirit. Hen. IV. cency to God is the sweetest incense, and a conscience without guilt is a sacrifice of the purest savour'. What, though I be blamed? if my life be lent me, my honour will be recovered; for, as God will not suffer a murder to escape without punishment', so he will not let the wrong of the innocent go to his grave without revenge. Though thou be banished, ABSTEMIA, yet comfort thyself; account each country thine own, and every honest man thy neighbour; let thy life be mean, so shalt thou not be looked into, for envy creepeth not so low as cottages; reeds bend with the wind, when cedars fall with a blast: poor men rely lightly of fortune, because they are too weak for fortune, when higher states feel her force, because they nursle in her bosom3: acquaint not thyself with many, lest thou fall into the hands of flatterers', for the popular sorts' have more eyes and longer tongues than the rich: seem courteous to all, but converse with few; and let thy virtues be much spoken, though thyself live never so private. Hold honesty more dear than thy life; and be thou never so poor, yet be chaste; and choose rather to starve in the streets, than live daintily at a lecher's table. If, as thou art beautiful, ABSTEMIA, any fall in love with thy favours, and what he cannot win by suits will seek to get by force, and so ravish thee of thy richest glory, choose rather to be without breath, than live with such a blemish'. Thou art friendless in Sicilia, and though thou complainest, thou shalt not be heard: might overcomes right, and the weakest are still thrust to the wall. "To prevent, therefore, constraint in love in the greatest prince, I have provided (quoth she) a poison in the seal of my ring, as deadly as it is little, resolving as stoutly as Hannibal did, who held the like in the pommel of his sword, and chose rather to die free, than fall into the hands of Scipio. So, before any lecher shall force me to satisfy his passion, I will end my life with this fatal poison. So, ABSTEMIA, shalt thou die more honourably, which is more dear than to live disgraced; enough is a feast; poor wench, what needs these solemn preachings? Leave these secret dumps, and fall to thy lute, for thou shalt have time enough to think of sorrow." And with that she tuned her strings, and in a merry vein played three or four pleasant lessons, and at last sung to herself this conceited ditty. AN ODE. What is love once disgraced? 1 Dearer than life is spotless chastity. |