THE TENTH NOVELL

 

       WHEREIN IS DECLARED, THAT HONEST LOVE AGREETH WITH PEOPLE

                               OF ALL AGES

 

  Master Albert of Bullen, honestly made a Lady to blush, that thought

to have done as much to him, because shee perceived him, to be

amorously affected towards her.

 

  After that Madam Eliza sate silent, the last charge and labour of

the like employment, remained to the Queene her selfe; whereupon

shee beganne thus to speake: Honest and vertuous young Ladies, like as

the Starres (when the Ayre is faire and cleere) are the adorning and

beauty of Heaven, and flowers (while the Spring time lasteth) doe

graciously embellish the Meadowes; even so sweete speeches and

pleasing conferences, to passe the time with commendable discourses,

are the best habit of the minde, and an outward beauty to the body:

which ornaments of words, when they appeare to be short and sweete,

are much more 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 have beene quicke and quaintly delivered. But when answering

suteth not with understanding, it is generally a shame in us, and all

such as live; because our moderne times have converted that vertue,

which was within them who lived before us, into garments of the body,

and shew whose habites were noted to bee most gaudy, fullest of

imbroyderies and fantastick fashions: she was reputed to have most

matter in her, and therefore to be more honoured and esteemed. Never

considering, that whosoever loadeth the backe of an Asse, or puts upon

him the richest braverie; he becommeth not thereby a jot the wiser, or

meriteth any more honor 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 utterly insensible? Or if (perchaunce) they make an answere,

when some question is demanded of them; it were much better for them

to be silent. For defence of honest devise and conference among men

and women, they would have the world to thinke, that it proceedeth but

from simplicity and precise opinion, covering their owne folly with

the name of honesty: as if there were no other honest woman, but

shee that conferres onely with her Chambermaide, Laundresse, or

Kitchin-woman: as if nature had allowed 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 action

of 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) to make

another body blush or be ashamed: not knowing what strength of wit

remaineth in the opposite, doe convert the same disgrace upon

themselves. Therefore, that we may the more advisedly stand upon our

owne guard, and to prevent the common proverbe, That Women (in all

things) make choyse of the worst: I desire that this dayes last

tale, which is to come from my selfe, may make us all wise. To the

end, that as in gentlenesse of minde we conferre with other; so by

excellency in good 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 farre

renowned, whose name was Master Albert, and being growne aged, to

the estimate of threescore and tenne yeares: hee had yet such a

sprightly disposition, that though naturall heate and vigour had quite

shaken hands with him, yet amorous flames and desires had not wholly

forsaken him. Having seene (at a Banquet) a very beautifull woman,

being then in the estate of widdowhood, named (as some say) Madam

Margaret de Chisolieri, shee appeared so pleasing in his eye; that his

sences became no lesse disturbed, then as if he had beene of farre

younger temper, and no night could any quietnesse possesse his

soule, except (the day before) he had seene the sweet countenance of

this lovely widdow. In regard whereof, his dayly passage was by her

doore, one while on horsebacke, and then againe on foot; as best might

declare his plaine purpose to see her.

  Both shee and other Gentlewomen, perceiving the occasion of his

passing and repassing; would privately jest thereat together, to see a

man of such yeares and discretion, to be amorously addicted, or

overswayed by effeminate passions. For they were partly perswaded,

that such wanton Ague fits of Love, were fit for none but youthfull

apprehensions, 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

divers other women of great account) being sitting at her doore;

espied Master Albert (farre off) comming thitherward, and a resolved

determination among themselves was set downe, to allow him

favourable entertainement, and to jest (in some merry manner) at his

loving folly, as afterward they did indeede.

  No sooner was he come neere, but they all arose, and courteously

invited him to enter with them, conducting him into a goodly Garden,

where readily was prepared choyse of delicate wines and banquetting.

At length, among other pleasant and delightfull discourses, they

demanded of him; how it was possible for him, to be amorously affected

towards so beautifull a woman, both knowing and seeing, how

earnestly she was sollicited by many gracious, gallant, and

youthfull spirits, aptly suting with her yeares and desires? Master

Albert perceiving, that they had drawne him in among them, onely to

scoffe and make a mockery of him; set a merry countenance on the

matter, and honestly thus answered.

  Beleeve mee Gentlewoman (speaking to the widdowe her selfe) it

should not appeare strange to any of wisedome and discretion, that I

am amorously enclined, and especially to you, because you are well

worthy of it. And although those powers, which naturally appertaine to

the exercises of Love, are bereft and gone from aged people; yet

good will thereto cannot be taken from them, neither judgement to know

such as deserve to be affected: for, by how much they exceede youth in

knowledge and experience, by so much the more hath nature made them

meet for respect and reverence. The hope which incited me (being aged)

to love you, that are affected of so many youthfull Gallants, grew

thus. I have often chaunced into divers places, where I have seene

Ladies and Gentlwomen, being disposed to a Collation or rerebanquet

after dinner, to feede on Lupines, and young Onions or Leekes, and

although it may be so, that there is little or no goodnesse at all

in them; yet the heads of them are least hurtfull, and most pleasing

in the mouth. And you Gentlewomen generally (guided by unreasonable

appetite) will hold the heads of them in your hands, and feede upon

the blades or stalkes: which not onely are not good for any thing, but

also are of very bad savour. And what know I (Lady) whether among

the choise of 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 the rest of your suters the sooner answered.

  The widdowed Gentlewoman, and all the rest in her company, being

bashfully ashamed of her owne and their folly, presently said.

Master Albert, you have both well and worthily chastised our over-bold

presumption, and beleeve me Sir, I repute your love and kindnesse of

no meane merrit, comming from a man so wise and vertuous: And

therefore (mine honour reserved) commaund my uttermost, as alwayes

ready to do you any honest service. Master Albert, arising from his

seat, thanking the faire widdow for her gentle offer; tooke leave of

her and all the company, and she blushing, as all the rest were

therein not much behinde her, thinking to checke him, became chidden

her selfe, whereby (if we be wise) let us all take warning.

  The Sunne was now somewhat farre declined, and the heates

extremity well worne away: when the Tales of the seaven Ladies and

three Gentlemen were thus finished, whereupon their Queene

pleasantly said. For this day (faire company) there remaineth nothing

more to be done under my regiment, but onely to bestow a new Queene

upon you, who (according to her judgement) must take her turne, and

dispose what next is to be done, for continuing our time in honest

pleasure. And although the day should endure till darke night; in

regard, that when some time is taken before, the better preparation

may bee made for occasions to follow, to the end also, that whatsoever

the new Queene shall please to appoint, may be the better fitted for

the morrow: I am of opinion, that at the same houre as we now cease,

the following dayes shall severally begin. And therefore, in reverence

to him that giveth life to all things, and in hope of comfort by our

second day; Madam Philomena, a most 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

reverently placed it upon Madam Philomenaes, shee first of all

humbly saluting her, and then all the rest, openly confessing her to

be their Queene, made gracious offer to obey whatsoever she commanded.

Philomena, her cheekes delivering a scarlet tincture, to see her selfe

thus honoured as their Queene, and well remembring the words, so

lately uttered by Madam Pampinea; that dulnesse or neglect might not

be noted in her, tooke cheerefull courage to her, and first of all,

she confirmed the officers, which Pampinea had appointed the day

before, then she ordained for the morrowes provision, as also for

the supper so neere approiching, before they departed away from

thence, and then thus began.

  Lovely Companions, although that Madam Pampinea, more in her owne

courtesie, then any matter of merit remaining in me, hath made me your

Queene: 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 with your assistance. And because you may know what I intend to

do, and so (consequently) adde or diminish at your pleasure; in very

few words, you shall plainly understand my meaning. If you have well

considered on the course, which this day hath bene kept by Madam

Pampinea, me thinkes it hath bene very pleasing and commendable; in

which regard, untill by over-tedious continuation, or other

occasions of irkesome offence, it shall seeme injurious, I am of the

minde, not to alter it. Holding on the order then as we have begun

to doe, we will depart from hence to recreate our selves a while,

and when the Sun groweth towards setting, we will sup in the fresh and

open ayre; afterward, with Canzonets and other pastimes, we will

out-weare the houres till bed time. To morrow morning, in the fresh

and gentle breath thereof, we will rise and walke to such places, as

every one shall finde fittest for them, even as already this day we

have done; untill due time shall summon us hither againe, to

continue our discoursive Tales, wherein (me thinkes) consisteth both

pleasure and profit, especially by discreete observation.

  Very true it is, that some things which Madam Pampinea could not

accomplish, by reason of her so small time of authority, I will

begin to undergo, to wit, in restraining some matters whereon we are

to speake, that better premeditation may passe upon them. For, when

respite and a little leysure goeth before them, each discourse will

savour of the more formality; and if it might so please you, thus

would I direct the order. As since the beginning of the world, all men

have bene guided (by Fortune) thorow divers accidents and occasions:

so beyond all hope and expectation, the issue and successe hath bin

good and successful, 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 every one

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 bee

allowed. But I intreate one speciall favour for my selfe, and to have

it confirmed to mee, so long as our company continueth; namely, that I

may not be constrained to this Law of direction, but to tell my Tale

at liberty, after mine owne minde, and according to the freedome first

instituted. And because no one shall imagine, that I urge this grace

of you, as being unfurnished of discourses in this kinde, I am well

contented to bee the last in every dayes exercise.

  The Queene, knowing him to be a man full of mirth and matter,

began to consider very advisedly, that he would not have mooved this

request, but onely to the end, that if the company grew wearied by any

of the Tales re-counted, hee would shut up the dayes disport with some

mirthfull accident. Wherefore willingly, and with consent of all the

rest he had his suite granted. So, arising all, they walked to a

Christall river, descending downe a little hill into a valley,

graciously shaded with goodly Trees; where washing both their hands

and feete, much pretty pleasure passed among them; till supper time

drawing neere, made them returne home to the Palace. When supper was

ended, and bookes and instruments being laide before them, the

Queene commanded a dance, and that Madam Aemilia, assisted by Madam

Lauretta and Dioneus, should sing a sweet ditty. At which command,

Lauretta undertooke the dance, and led it, Aemilia singing this song

ensuing.