Gentleman, who was called Perdicano, and gave him liberall
endowments with her.
Madame Fiametta being come to the end of her Novell, and the great
magnificence of King Charles much commended (howbeit, some of the
Company, affecting the Ghibelline faction, were otherwise minded)
Madame Pampinea, by order given from the King, began in this manner.
There is no man of good understanding (honourable Ladies) but will
maintaine what you have said of victorious Charles; except such as
cannot wish well to any. But because my memory hath instantly informed
me, of an action (perhaps) no lesse commendable then this, done by
an enemy of the said King Charles, and to a yong Maiden of our City, I
am the more willing to relate it, upon your gentle attention
vouchsafed, as hitherto it hath been courteously granted.
At such time as the French were driven out of Sicilie, there dwelt
at Palermo a Florentine Apothecary, named Bernardo Puccino, a man of
good wealth and reputation, who had by his Wife one onely Daughter, of
marriageable yeares, and very beautifull. Piero, King of Arragon,
being then become Lord of that Kingdom, he made an admirable Feast
Royall at Palermo, accompanyed with his Lords and Barons. In honour of
which publique Feast, the King kept a triumphall day (of Justs and
Turnament) at Catalana, and whereat it chanced, that the Daughter of
Bernardo, named Lisana, was present. Being in a window, accompanied
with other Gentlewomen, she saw the King runne at the Tilt, who seemed
so goodly a person in her eye; that being never satisfied with
beholding him, she grew enamoured, and fell into extremity of
affection towards him.
When the Feastivall was ended, she dwelling in the house of her
Father, it was impossible for her to thinke on any thing else, but
onely the love, which she had fixed on a person of such height. And
that which most tormented her in this case, was the knowledge of her
owne condition, being but meane and humble in degree; whereby she
confessed, that she could not hope for any successefull issue of her
proud love. Neverthelesse, she would not refraine from affecting the
King, who taking no note of this kindnesse in her, by any
perceivable meanes; must needs be the more regardles, which procured
(by wary observation) her afflictions to be the greater and
intollerable.
Whereon it came to passe, that this earnest love encreasing in her
more and more, and one melancholly conceit taking hold on another: the
faire Maide, when she could beare the burden of her griefe no
longer; fell into a languishing sickenesse, consuming away daily (by
evident appearance) even as the Snow melteth by the warme beames of
the Sunne.
The Father and Mother, much dismayed and displeased at this haplesse
accident, applying her with continuall comforts, Phisicke, and the
best skill remayning in all the Phisitions, sought all possible meanes
wayes to give her succour: but all proved to no effect, because in
regard of her choyce (which could sort to none other then a
desperate end) she was desirous to live no longer. Now it fortuned,
that her parents offering her whatsoever remained in their power to
performe, a sudden apprehension entred her minde, to wit, that (if
it might possible be done) before she dyed, she would first have the
King to know, in what manner she stood affected to him. Wherefore, one
day she entreated her Father that a Gentleman, named Manutio de
Arezza, might be permitted to come see her. This Manutio was (in those
times) held to be a most excellent Musitian, both for his voyce in
singing, and exquisite skill in playing on Instruments, for which he
was highly in favour with King Piero, who made (almost) daily use of
him, to heare him both sing and play.
Her tender and loving father conceived immediately, that shee was
desirous to heare his playing and singing, both being comfortable to a
body in a languishing. sickenesse, whereupon, he sent presently for
the Gentleman, who came accordingly, and after he had comforted Lisana
with kind and courteous speeches; he played dexteriously on his
Lute, which purposely hee had brought with him, and likewise he sung
divers excellent Ditties, which insted of his intended consolation
to the Maid, did nothing else but encrease her fire and flame.
Afterward, she requested to have some conference with Manutio alone,
and every one being gone forth of the Chamber, she spake unto him in
this manner.
Manutio, I have made choyce of thee, to be the faithfull Guardian of
an especial secret, hoping first of al, that thou wilt never reveale
it to any living body, but onely to him whom I shall bid thee: And
next, to helpe me so much as possibly thou canst, because my onely
hope relyeth in thee. Know then my dearest friend Manutio, that on the
solemne festivall day, when our Soveraigne Lord the King honoured
his exaltation, with the noble exercises of Tilt and Turney; his brave
behaviour kindled such a sparke in my soule, as since brake forth into
a violent flame, and brought me to this weake condition as now thou
seest. But knowing and confessing, how farre unbeseeming my love is,
to aime so ambitiously at a King, and being unable to controule it, or
in the least manner to diminish it: I have made choyce of the onely
and best remedy of all, namely, to dye, and so I am most willing to
doe.
True it is, that I shall travaile in this my latest journey, with
endlesse torment and affliction of soule, except he have some
understanding thereof before, and not knowing by whom to give him
intelligence, in so oft and convenient order, as by thee: I doe
therefore commit this last office of a friend to thy trust, desiring
thee, not to refuse me in the performance thereof. And when thou
hast done it, to let me understand what he saith, that I may dye the
more contentedly, and disburdened of so heavy an oppression, the onely
comfort to a parting spirit: and so she ceased, her teares flowing
forth abundantly.
Manutio did not a little wonder at the Maides great spirit, and
her desperate resolution, which moved him to exceeding
commiseration, and suddenly he conceived, that honestly he might
discharge this duty for her, whereupon, he returned her this answer.
Lisana, here I engage my faith to thee, that thou shalt find me
firme and constant, and die I will, rather then deceive thee.
Greatly I doe commend thy high attempt, in fixing thy affection on
so Potent a King, wherein I offer thee my utmost assistance: and I
make no doubt (if thou wouldest be of good comfort) to deale in such
sort, as, before three dayes are fully past, to bring such newes as
will content thee, and because I am loath to loose the least time, I
will goe about it presently. Lisana the yong Maiden, once againe
entreated his care and diligence, promising to comfort her selfe so
well as she could, commending him to his good fortune. When Manutio
was gone from her, hee went to a Gentleman, named Mico de Sienna,
one of the best Poets in the composing of verses, as all those parts
yeelded not the like. At his request, Mico made for him this ensuing
Dittie.
THE SONG
SUNG IN THE HEARING OF KING PIERO, ON THE
BEHALFE OF LOVE-SICKE LISANA
Goe Love, and tell the torments I endure,
Say to my Soveraigne Lord, that I must die
Except he come, some comfort to procure,
For tell I may not, what I feele, and why.
With heaved hands Great Love, I call to thee,
Goe see my Soveraigne, where he doth abide,
And say to him, in what extremity,
Thou hast (for him) my firm affection tryed.
To die for him, it is my sole desire,
For live with him I may not, nor aspire,
To have my fortunes thereby dignified,
Onely his sight would lend me life a while:
Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile.
Goe love, and tell the torments, etc.
Since the first houre that love enthralled me,
I never had the heart, to tell my griefe,
My thoughts did speake, for thoughts be alwayes free,
Yet hopefull thoughts doe find but poore reliefe.
When Gnats will mount to Eagles in the ayre,
Alas! they scorne them, for full well they know,
They were not bred to prey so base and low,
Aloft they look, to make their flight more faire.
And yet his sight would lend me life a while:
Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile.
Goe love, and tell the torments, etc.
If sight shall be denyed, then tell them plaine,
His high triumphall day procurd my death,
The Launce that won him Honour, hath me slaine,
For instantly it did bereave my breath.
That speake I could not, nor durst be so bold,
To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe:
Alas! I lookt so high, and doing so,
Justly deserve by death to be controld.
Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while,
Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguffe.
Goe love, and tell the torments I endure,
Say to my Soveraigne Lord, that I must die:
Except he come, some comfort to procure,
For tell I may not, what I feele, and why.
The lines contained in this Ditty, Manutio fitted with noates so
mooving and singularly musicall, that every word had the seisible
motion of life in it, where the King being (as yet) not risen from the
Table, he commanded him to use both his Lute and voyce.
This seemed a happy opportunity to Manutio, to sing the dittie so
purposely done and devised: which hee delivered in such excellent
manner, the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing;
that all the persons then in the Presence, seemed rather Statues, then
living men, so strangely they were wrapt with admiration, and the King
himselfe farre beyond all the rest, transported with a rare kinde of
alteration.
When Manutio had ended the Song, the King demanded of him, whence
this Song came, because he had never heard it before? My gracious
Lord, answered Manutio, it must needes seeme straunge to your Majesty,
because it is not fully three dayes, since it was invented, made,
and set to the note. Then the King asked, whom it concerned? Sir
(quoth Manutio) I dare not disclose that to any but onely your
selfe. Which answer made the King much more desirous, and being
risen from the Table, he tooke him into his Bedchamber, where
Manutio related all at large to him, according to the trust reposed in
him. Wherwith the King was wonderfully well pleased, greatly
commending the courage of the Maide, and said, that a Virgin of such a
valiant spirit, did well deserve to have her case commiserated: and
commanded him also, to goe (as sent from him) and comfort her, with
promise, that the very same day, in the evening, he would not faile to
come and see her.
Manutio, more then contented, to carry such glad tydings to
Lisana; without staying in any place, and taking his Lute also with
him, went to the Apothecaries house, where speaking alone with the
Maide: he told her what he had done, and afterward sung the song to
her, in as excellent manner as he had done before, wherein Lisana
conceived such joy and contentment, as even in the very same moment,
it was observed by apparant signes, that the violence of her fits
forsooke her, and health began to get the upper hand of them. SO,
without suffering any one in the house to know it, or by the least
meanes to suspect it; she comforted her selfe till the evening, in
expectation of her Soveraignes arrivall.
Piero being a Prince, of most liberall and benigne nature, having
afterward divers times considered on the matters which Manutio had
revealed to him, knowing also the yong Maiden, to bee both
beautifull and vertuous: was so much moved with pitty of her
extremitie, as mounting on horsebacke in the evening, and seeming as
if he rode abroad for his private recreation; he went directly to
the Apothecaries house, where desiring to see a goodly garden,
appertaining then to the Apothecarie, he dismounted from his horse.
Walking into the garden, he began to question with Bernardo,
demaunding him for his Daughter, and whether he had (as yet) marryed
her, or no? My Gracious Lord, answered Bernardo, as yet shee is not
marryed, neither likely to bee, in regard shee hath had a long and
tedious sickenesse: but since Dinner time, she is indifferently
eased of her former violent paine, which we could not discerne the
like alteration in her, a long while before.
The King understood immediately, the reason of this so sudden
alteration, and said. In good faith Bernardo, the world would sustaine
a great maine and imperfection, by the losse of thy faire daughter;
wherefore, we will goe our selfe in person to visite her. So, with two
of his Lords onely, and the Father, he ascended to the Maides
Chamber and being entred, he went to the Beds side, where she sate,
somewhat raised, in expectation of his comming, and taking her by
the hand, he said. Faire Lisana, how commeth this to passe? You
being so faire a Virgin, yong, and in the delicacy of your daies,
which should be the chiefest comfort to you, will you suffer your
selfe to be over-awed with sickenesse? Let us intreat you, that (for
our sake) you will be of good comfort, and thereby recover your health
the sooner, especially, when it is requested by a King, who is sorry
to see so bright a beauty sicke, and would helpe it, it consisted in
his power.
Lisana, feeling the touch of his hand, whom she loved above all
things else in the world, although a bashfull blush mounted up into
her cheekes: yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure,
that she thought her selfe translated into Paradise, and, so well as
she could, thus she replyed. Great King, by opposing my feeble
strength, against a burden of over-ponderous weight, it became the
occasion of this grievous sickenesse: but I hope that the violence
thereof is (almost) already kild, onely by this soveraigne mercy in
you, and doubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliverance. The King
did best understand this so well palliated answere of Lisana, which as
he did much commend, in regard of her high adventuring; so he did
