THE FIFT NOVELL

 

      WHEREIN IS PLAINLY PROVED, THAT LOVE CANNOT BE ROOTED UPPE,

         BY ANY HUMANE POWER OR PROVIDENCE; ASPECIALLY IN SUCH

              SOULE, WHERE IT HATH BENE REALLY APPREHENDED

 

  The three Brethren to Isabella, slew a Gentleman that secretly loved

her. His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe, and shewed her in what

place they had buried his body. She (in silent manner) brought away

his head, aid putting it into a pot of earth, such as Flowers, Basile,

or other sweete hearbes are usually set in; she watered it (a long

while) with her teares. Wherefore her Brethren having intelligence;

soone after she dyed, with meere conceite of sorrow.

 

  The Novell of Madame Eliza being finished, and some-what commended

by the King, in regard of the Tragicall conclusion; Philomena was

enjoyned to proceede next with her discourse. She being overcome

with much compassion, for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino, and

his beautifull Princesse, after an extreame and vehement sighe, thus

she spake. My Tale (worthy Ladies) extendeth not to persons of so high

birth or quality, as they were of whom Madame Eliza gave you relation:

yet (peradventure) it may prove to be no lesse pittifull. And now I

remember my selfe, Messina so lately spoken of, is the place where

this accident also happened.

  In Messina there dwelt three young men, Brethren, and Merchants by

their common profession, who becomming very rich by the death of their

Father, lived in very good fame and repute. Their Father was of San

Gemignano, and they had a Sister named Isabella, young, beautifull,

and well conditioned; who upon some occasion, as yet remained

unmarried. A proper youth, being a Gentleman borne in Pisa, and

named Lorenzo, as a trusty factor or servant, had the managing of

the brethrens businesse and affaires. This Lorenzo being of comely

personage, affable, and excellent in his behaviour, grew so gracious

in the eyes of Isabella, that she affoorded him many very respective

lookes, yea, kindnesses of no common quality. Which Lorenzo taking

notice of, and observing by degrees from time to time, gave over all

other beauties in the City, which might allure any affection from him,

and onely fixed his heart on her, so that their love grew to a mutuall

embracing, both equally respecting one another, and entertaining

kindnesses, as occasion gave leave.

  Long time continued this amorous league: of love, yet not so

cunningly concealed, but at the length, the secret meeting of Lorenzo,

and Isabella, to ease their poore soul of Loves oppressions, was

discovered by the eldest of the Brethren, unknowne to them who were

thus betrayed. He being a man of great discretion, although this sight

was highly displeasing to him: yet notwithstanding, he kept it to

himselfe till the next morning, labouring his braine what might best

be done in so urgent a case. When day was come, he resorted to his

other Brethren, and told them what he had seene in the time past,

betweene their sister and Lorenzo.

  Many deliberations passed on in this case; but after all, thus

they concluded together, to let it proceede on with patient that no

scandall might ensue to them, or their Sister, no evill acte being (as

yet) committed. And seeming, as if they knew not of their love, had

a wary eye still upon her secret walkes, awaiting for some

convenient time, when without their owne prejudice, or Isabellaes

knowledge, they might safely breake off this their stolne love,

which was altogether against their liking. So, shewing no worse

countenance to Lorenzo, then formerly they had done, but imploying and

conversing with him in kinde manner; it fortuned, that riding (all

three) to recreate themselves out of the City, they tooke Lorenzo in

their company, and when they were come to a solitarie place, such as

best suited with their vile purpose: they ran sodainly upon Lorenzo,

slew him, and afterward enterred his body, where hardly it could be

discovered by any one. Then they returned backe to Messina, and gave

it forth (as a credible report) that they had sent him abroad about

their affaires, as formerly they were wont to do: which every one

verily beleeved, because they knew no reason why they should

conceite any otherwise.

  Isabella, living in expectation of his returne, and perceiving his

stay to her was so offensive long: made many demands to her

Brethren, into what parts they had sent him, that his tarrying was

so quite from all wonted course. Such was her importunate speeches

to them, that they taking it very discontentedly, one of them returned

her this frowning answer. What is your meaning Sister, by so many

questionings after Lorenzo? What urgent affaires have you with him,

that makes you so impatient upon his absence? If hereafter you make

any more demands for him, we shall shape you such a reply, as will

be but little to your liking. At these harsh words, Isabella fell into

abundance of teares, where-among she mingled many sighes and

groanes, such as were able to overthrow a farre stronger constitution:

so that, being full of feare and dismay, yet no way distrusting her

brethrens cruell deede; she durst not question any more after him.

  In the silence of darke night, as she lay afflicted in her bed,

oftentimes would she call for Lorenzo, entreating his speedy returning

to her: And then againe, as if he had bene present with her, she

checkt and reproved him for his so long absence. One night amongst the

rest, she being growen almost hopelesse, of ever seeing him againe,

having a long while wept and greevously lamented; her senses and

faculties utterly spent and tired, that she could not utter any more

complaints, she fell into a trance or sleepe; and dreamed, that the

ghost of Lorenzo appeared unto her, in torne and unbefitting garments,

his lookes pale, meager, and staring: and (as she thought) thus

spake to her. My deere love Isabella, thou dost nothing but torment

thy selfe, with calling on me, accusing me for overlong tarrying

from thee: I am come therefore to let thee know, that thou canst not

enjoy my company any more, because the very same day when last thou

sawest me, thy brethren most bloodily murthered me. And acquainting

her with the place where they had buried his mangled body: hee

strictly charged her, not to call him at any time afterward, and so

vanished away.

  The young Damosell awaking, and giving some credite to her Vision,

sighed and wept exceedingly; and after she was risen in the morning,

not daring to say any thing to her brethren, she resolutely

determined, to go see the place formerly appointed her, onely to

make triall, if that which she seemed to see in her sleepe, should

carry any likelyhood of truth. Having obtained favour of her brethren,

to ride a dayes journey ney the City, in company of her trusty

Nurse, who long time had attended on her in the house, and knew the

secret passages of her love: they rode directly to the designed place,

which being covered with some store of dried leaves, and more deeply

sunke then any other part of the ground therabout, they digged not

farre, but they found the body of murthered Lorenzo, as yet very

little corrupted or impaired, and then perceived the truth of her

vision.

  Wisedome and government so much prevailed with her, as to instruct

her soule, that her teares spent there, were meerley fruitelesse and

in vaine, neither did the time require any long tarrying there. Gladly

would she have carried the whole body with her, secretly to bestow

honourable enterment on it, but it exceeded the compasse of her

ability. Wherefore, in regard she could not have all, yet she would

be. possessed of a part, and having brought a keene razor with her, by

helpe of the Nurse, she divided the head from the body, and wrapped it

up in a Napkin, which the Nurse conveyed into her lap, and then

laide the body in the ground againe. Thus being undiscovered by any,

they departed thence, and arrived at home in convenient time, where

being alone by themselves in the Chamber: she washed the head over and

over with her teares, and bestowed infinite kisses thereon.

  Not long after, the Nurse having brought her a large earthen pot,

such as we use to set Basile, Marjerom, Flowers, or other sweet

hearbes in, and shrouding the head in a silken Scarfe, put it into the

pot, covering it with earth, and planting divers rootes of excellent

Basile therein, which she never watered, but either with her teares,

Rose water, or water distilled from the Flowers of Oranges. This pot

she used continually to sitte by, either in her chamber, or any

where else: for she carried it alwaies with her, sighing and breathing

foorth sad complaints thereto, even as if they had beene uttered to

her Lorenzo, and day by day this was her continuall exercise, to the

no meane admiration of her bretheren, and many other friends that

beheld her.

  So long she held on in this mourning manner, that, what by the

continuall watering of the Basile, and putrifaction of the head, so

buried in the pot of earth; it grew very flourishing, and most

odorifferous to such as scented it, that as no other Basile could

possibly yeeld so sweete a savour. The neighbours noting this

behaviour in her, observing the long continuance thereof, how much her

bright beauty was defaced, and the eyes sunke into her head by

incessant weeping, made many kinde and friendly motions, to understand

the reason of her so violent oppressions; but could not by any

meanes prevaile with her, or win any discovery by her Nurse, so

faithfull was she in secrecie to her. Her brethren also waxed wearie

of this carriage in her; and having very often reproved her for it,

without any other alteration in her: at length, they closely stole

away the potte of Basile from her, for which she made infinite

wofull lamentations, earnestly entreating to have it restored

againe, avouching that she could not live without it.

  Perceiving that she could not have the pot againe, she fell into

an extreame sicknesse, occasioned onely by her ceaselesse weeping: and

never urged she to have any thing, but the restoring of her Basile

pot. Her brethren grew greatly amazed thereat, because she never

called

for ought else beside; and thereupon were very desirous to ransacke

the pot to the very bottome. Having emptied out all the earth, they

found the Scarfe of silke, wherein the head of Lorenzo was wrapped;

which was (as yet) not so much consumed, but by the lockes of haire,

they knew it to be Lorenzoes head, whereat they became confounded with

amazement.

  Fearing least their offence might come to open publication, they

buried it very secretly; and, before any could take notice thereof,

they departed from Messina, and went to dwell in Naples, Isabella

crying and calling still for her pot of Basile, being unable to give

over mourning, dyed within a few dayes after. Thus have you heard

the hard fate of poore Lorenzo and his Isabella. Within no long

while after, when this accident came to be publikely knowne, an

excellent ditty was composed thereof beginning thus.

 

    Cruell and unkinde was the Christian,

    That robd me of my Basiles blisse, etc.