on other very discontentedly, she heavily weeping and lamenting, and
greatly complaining of Gisippus, for wronging her so unkindly.
But before any further noyse was made in the house, shee went to her
Father, to whom, as also to her Mother, shee declared the whole
trecherie, how much both they and their other friends were wronged
by Gisippus, avouching her selfe to be the wife of Titus, and not of
Gisippus, as they supposed. These newes were highly displeasing to the
Father of Sophronia, who with hir kinred, as also those of Gisippus,
made great complaints to the Senate, very dangerous troubles and
commotions arising daily betweene them, drawing both Gisippus and
Sophronia into harsh reports; he being generally reputed, not onely
worthy of all bitter reproofe, but also the severest punishment.
Neverthelesse, hee maintained publikely what he had done, avouching it
for an act both of honour and honestie, wherewith Sophronia's
friends had no reason to bee offended, but rather to take it in very
thankfull part, having married a man of farre greater worth and
respect, than himselfe was, or could be.
On the other side, Titus hearing these uncivill acclamations, became
much moved and provoked at them, but knowing it was a custome observed
among the Greeks, to be so much the more hurried away with rumours and
threatnings, as lesse they finde them to be answered, and when they
finde them, shew themselves not onely humble enough, but rather as
base men, and of no courage; he resolved with himselfe, that their
braveries were no longer to be enclured, without some bold and manly
answere. And having a Romane heart, as also an Athenian understanding,
by politique perswasions, he caused the kinred of Gisippus and
Sophronia, to be assembled in a Temple, and himselfe comming
thither, accompanied with none but Gisippus onely, he began to deliver
his minde before them all, in this manner following.
"Many Philosophers doe hold opinion, that the actions performed by
mortall men, doe proceed from the disposing and ordination of the
immortall gods. Whereupon some doe maintaine, that things which be
done, or never are to be done, proceed of necessity: howbeit some
other doe hold, that this necessity is onely referred to things
done. Both which opinions (if they be considered with mature judgment)
doe most manifestly approve, that they who reprehend any thing which
is irrevocable, doe nothing else but shew themselves, as if they
were wiser then the Gods, who we are to beleeve, that with
perpetuall reason, and void of any error, doe dispose and governe both
us, and all our actions; In which respect, how foolish and
beast-like a thing it is, presumptuously to checke or controule
their operations, you may very easily consider; and likewise, how
justly they deserve condigne punishment, who suffer themselves to be
transported in so temerarious a manner.
"In which notorious transgression, I understand you all to be
guiltie, if common fame speake truely, concerning the marriage of my
selfe and Sophronia, whom you imagined as given to Gisippus; for you
never remember that it was so ordained from eternitie, shee to be
mine, and no Wife for Gisippus, as at this instant is made manifest by
full effect. But because the kinde of speaking, concerning divine
providence, and intention of the Gods, may seeme a difficult matter to
many, and somewhat hard to bee understood: I am content to presuppose,
that they meddle not with any thing of ours, and will onely stay my
selfe on humane reasons, and in this nature of speech, I shall be
enforced to doe two things, quite contrary to my naturall disposition.
The one is, to speake somewhat in praise and commendation of my selfe:
And the other, justly to blame and condemne other mens seeming
estimation. But because both in the one and the other, I doe not
intend to swerve a jot from the Truth, and the necessitie of the
present case in question, doth not onely require, but also command it,
you must pardon what I am to say.
"Your complaints doe proceed, rather from furie then reason, and
(with continuall murmurings, or rather seditions) slander,
backe-bite and condemne Gisippus, because (of his owne free will and
noble disposition) hee gave her to be my Wife, whom (by your election)
was made his; wherein I account him most highly praiseworthy: and
the reasons inducing mee thereunto, are these. The first, because he
hath performed no more then what a friend ought to doe: And the
second, in regard he hath dealt more wisely, then you did. I have no
intention, to display (at this present) what the sacred law of
amitie requireth, to be acted by one friend towards another, it
shall suffice mee onely to informe you, that the league of
friendship (farre stronger then the bond of bloud and kinred)
confirmed us in our election of either at the first, to be true,
loyall and perpetuall friends; whereas that of kinred, commeth onely
by fortune or chance. And therefore if Gisippus affected more my life,
then your benevolence, I being ordained for his friend, as I
confesse my selfe to be; none of you ought to wonder thereat, in
regard it is no matter of mervaile.
"But let us come now to our second reason, wherein, with farre
greater instance I will shew you, that he hath (in this occasion)
shewen himselfe to be much more wise, then you did, or have done:
because it plainely appeareth, that you have no feeling of the
divine providence, and much lesse knowledge in the effects of
friendship. I say, that your foresight, councell and deliberation,
gave Sophronia to Gisippus, a yong Gentleman, and a Philosopher:
Gisippus likewise hath given her to a yong Gentleman, and a
Philosopher, as himselfe is. Your discretion gave her to an
Athenian; the gift of Gisippus, is to a Romaine. Yours, to a Noble and
honest man; that of Gisippus, to one more Noble by race, and no
lesse honest then himselfe. Your judgement hath bestowed her on a rich
young man: Gisippus hath given her to one farre richer. Your
wisedome gave her to one who not onely loved her not, but also one
that had no desire to know her: Gisippus gave her unto him, who, above
all felicitie else, yea, more than his owne life, both entirely
loved and desired her.
"Now, for proofe of that which I have said, to be most true and
infallible, and that his deede deserveth to bee much more commended
then yours, let it bee duely considered on, point by point. That I
am a young man and a Philosophe, as Gisippus is; my yeares, face,
and studies, without seeking after further proofe, doth sufficiently
testifie: One selfe-same age is both his and mine, in like quality
of course have wee lived and studied together. True it is, that hee is
an Athenian, and I am a Romaine. But if the glory of these two
Cities should bee disputed on: then let mee tell you, that I am of a
Citie that is Francke and Free, and hee is of a Tributarie Citie. I
say that I am of a Citie, which is chiefe Lady and Mistresse of the
whole World and hee is of a Citie subject to mine. I say that I am
of a Citie, that is strong in Arms, Empire, and studies: whereas his
can commend it selfe but for Studies onely. And although you seeme
heere to bee a Scholler, in appearance meane enough, yet I am not
descended of the simplest stocke in Rome.
"My houses and publique places, are filled with the ancient
Statues of my Predecessors, and the Annales recorde the infinite
triumphs of the Quintij, brought home by them into the Romane
Capitole, and yeares cannot eate out the glory of our name, but it
will live and flourish to all posteritie.
"Modest shame makes me silent in my wealth and possessions, my minde
truely telling mee, that honest contented povertie, is the most
ancient and richest inheritance, of our best and Noblest Romanes,
which opinion, if it bee condemned by the understanding of the
ignorant multitude, and heerein wee shall give way to them by
preferring riches and worldly treasures, then I can say that I am
aboundantly provided, not as ambitious, or greedily covetous, but
sufficiently stored with the goods of Fortune.
"I know well enough, that you held it as a desired benefit, Gisippus
being a Native of your Citie, should also be linked to you by
alliance: but I know no reason, why I should not be as neere and deere
to you at Rome, as if I lived with you heere. Considering, when I am
there, you have a ready and well wishing friend, to stead you in all
beneficiall and serviceable offices, as carefull and provident for
your support, yea, a protectour of you and your affaires, as well
publique as particular. Who is it then, not transported with
partiall affection, that can (in reason) more approve your act, then
that which my friend Gisippus hath done? Questionlesse, not any one,
as I thinke. Sophronia is married to Titus Quintus Fulvius, a Noble
Gentleman by antiquitie, a rich Citizen of Rome, and (which is above
all) the friend of Gisippus: therfore, such a one as thinkes it
strange, is sorrie for it, or would not have it to be; knoweth not
what he doth.
"Perhaps there may be some, who will say, they doe not so much
complain, that Sophronia is the wife to Titus; but of the manner
whereby it was done, as being made his wife secretly, and by theft,
not any of her parents, kinred or friends called thereto: no, nor so
much as advertised thereof. Why Gentlemen, this is no miraculous
thing, but heeretofore hath oftentimes happened, and therefore no
noveltie.
"I cannot count unto you, how many there have beene, who (against
the will of their Fathers) have made choice of their husbands; nor
them that have fled away with their lovers into strange Countries,
being first friends, before they were wives:
nor of them who have sooner made testimonie of marriage by their
bellies, then those ceremonies due to matrimonie, or publication
thereof by the tongue; so that meere necessity and constraint, hath
forced the parents to yeeld consent: which hath not so happened to
Sophronia, for she was given to me by Gisippus discreetly, honestly,
and orderly.
"Others also may say, that shee is married to him, to whom it
belonged not to marrie her. These complaints are foolish, and
womanish, proceeding from verie little, or no consideration at all. In
these daies of ours, Fortune makes no use of novell or inconsiderate
meanes, whereby to bring matters to their determined effect. Why
should it offend me, if a Cobler, rather than a Scholler, hath ended a
businesse of mine, either in private or publique, if the end be well
made? Well I may take order, if the Cobler bee indiscreet, that hee
meddle no more with any matters of mine, yet I ought, in courtesie, to
thanke him for that which hee did.
"In like manner, if Gisippus hath married Sophronia well, it is
foolish and superfluous, to finde fault with the manner hee used in
her marriage. If you mislike his course in the case, beware of him
hereafter, yet thanke him because it is no worse. "Neverthelesse,
you are to understand, that I sought not by fraud or deceit, (but
onely by witte) any opportunitie, whereby any way to sullie the
honestie and cleere Nobilitie of your bloud, in the person of
Sophronia: for although in secret I made her my wife, yet I came not
as an enemie, to take her perforce, nor (like a ravisher) wronged
her virginitie, to blemish your no. titles, or despising your
alliance. But fervently, enflamed by her bright beauty, and incited
also by her unparalleld vertues, I shaped my course; knowing well
enough, that if I tooke the ordinarie way of wiving, by moving the
question to you, I should never winne your consent, as fearing, lest I
would take her with me to Rome, and so conveigh out of your sight, a
jewell by you so much esteemed, as she is.
"For this, and no other reason, did I presume to use the secret
cunning which now is openly made knowne unto you: and Gisippus
disposed himselfe thereunto, which otherwise hee never determined to
have done, in contracting the marriage for me, and shee consenting
to me in his name.
Moreover, albeit most earnestly I affected her, I sought to
procure your union, not like a lover, but as a true husband, nor would
I immodestly touch her, till first (as her selfe can testifie) with
the words becomming wedlocke, and the Ring also I espoused her,
demanding of her, if shee would accept mee as her husband, and shee
answered mee, with her full consent. Wherein, if it may seeme that
shee was deceived, I am not any way to be blamed, but she, for not
demanding, what, and who I was.
This then is the great evill, the great offence, and the great
injurie committed by my friend Gisippus, and by mee as a Lover: that
Sophronia is secretly become the wife of Titus Quintus Fulvius. And
for this cause, like spies you watch him, threaten him daily, as if
you intended to teare him in pieces. What could you doe more, if hee
had given her to a man of the very vilest condition? to a villaine, to
a slave? What prisons? what fetters? Or what torments are sufficient
for this fact? But leaving these frivolous matters, let us come to
discourse of more moment, and better beseeming your attention.
The time is come, that I may no longer continue heere, because
Publius my Father is dead, and I must needs returne to Rome, wherefore
being minded to take Sophronia thither with mee, I was the more
willing to acquaint you therewith, as also what else I have said,
which otherwise had still beene concealed from you. Nor can you but
take it in good part, if you be wise, and rest well contented with
what is done: considering, if I had any intention eyther to deceive,
or otherwise wrong you, I could have basely left her, and made a
scorne both of her and you, you not having any power to stay mee
heere. But the Gods will never permitte that any couragious Romane,
should ever conceive so vile and degenerate a thought.
Sophronia, by ordination of the Gods, by force of humane Lawes,
and by the laudable consent of my friend Gisippus, as also the
powerfull command of Love is mine. But you perchance, imagining your
