aboundantly, as if he had beene a childe severely disciplinde. On
the other side, Ghismonda hearing the speeches of her Father, and
perceiving withall, that not onely her secret love was discovered, but
also Guiscardo was in close prison, the matter which most of all did
torment her; she fell into a very strange kinde of extasie, scorning
teares, and entreating tearmes, such as feminine frailety are
alwayes aptest unto: but rather, with height of courage, controuling
feare or servile basenesse, and declaring invincible fortitude in
her very lookes, she concluded with her selfe, rather then to urge any
humble perswasions, she would lay her life downe at the stake. For
plainely she perceived, that Guiscardo already was a dead man in
Law, and death was likewise welcome to her, rather then the
deprivation of her Love; and therefore, not like a weeping woman, or
as checkt by the offence committed, but carelesse of any harme
happening to her: stoutely and couragiously, not a teare appearing
in her eye, or her soule any way to be perturbed, thus she spake to
her Father.
Tancrede, to denie what I have done, or to entreate any favour
from you, is now no part of my disposition: for as the one can
little availe me, so shall not the other any way advantage me.
Moreover, I covet not that you should extend any clemency or kindnesse
to me, but by my voluntary confession of the truth do intend (first of
all) to defend mine honour, with reasons sound, good, and
substantiall, and then vertuously pursue to full effect, the
greatnesse of my minde and constant resolution. True it is, that I
have loved, and still do, honourable Guiscardo, purposing the like
so long as I shall live, which will be but a small while: but if it be
possible to continue the same affection after death, it is for ever
vowed to him onely. Nor did mine owne womanish weaknesse so much
thereto induce me, as the matchlesse vertues shining clearly in
Guiscardo, and the little respect you had of marrying me againe. Why
royall Father, you cannot be ignorant, that you being composed of
flesh and blood, have begotten a Daughter of the selfe same
composition, and not made of stone or iron. Moreover, you ought to
remember (although now you are farre stept in yeeres) what the Lawes
of youth are, and with what difficulty they are to be contradicted.
Considering withall, that albeit (during the vigour of your best time)
you evermore were exercised in Armes; yet you should likewise
understand, that negligence and idle delights, have mighty power,
not onely in young people, but also in them of greatest yeares.
I being then made of flesh and blood, and so derived from your
selfe; having had also so little benefit of life, that I am yet in the
spring, and blooming time of my blood: by either of these reasons, I
must needs be subject to naturall desires, wherein such knowledge as I
have once already had, in the estate of my marriage, perhaps might
move a further intelligence of the like delights, according to the
better ability of strength, which exceeding all capacity of
resistance, induced a second motive to affection, answerable to my
time and youthfull desires, and so (like a yong woman) I became came
againe; yet did I strive, even with all my utmost might, and best
vertuous faculties abiding in me, no way to disgrace either you or
my selfe, as (in equall censure) yet have I not done. But Nature is
above all humane power, and Love commanded by Nature, hath prevailed
for Love, joyning with Fortune: in meere pitty and commiseration of my
extreame wrong, I found them both most benigne and gracious,
teaching mee a way secret enough, whereby I might reach the height
of my desires, howsoever you became instructed, or (perhaps) found
it out by accident; so it was, and I deny it not.
Nor did I make election of Guiscardo by chance, or rashly, as many
women doe, but by deliberate counsell in my soule, and most mature
advise; I chose him above all other, and having his honest
harmelesse conversation, mutually we enjoyed our hearts contentment.
Now it appeareth, that I have not offended but by love; in imitation
of vulgar opinion, rather then truth: you seeke to reprove me
bitterly, alleaging no other maine argument for your anger, but
onely my not choosing a Gentleman, or one more worthy. Wherein it is
most evident, that you do not so much checke my fault, as the
ordination of Fortune, who many times advanceth men of meanest
esteeme, and abaseth them of greater merit. But leaving this
discourse, let us looke into the originall of things, wherein we are
first to observe, that from one masse or lumpe of flesh, both we,
and all other received our flesh, and one Creator hath created all
things; yea, all creatures, equally in their forces and faculties, and
equall likewise in their vertue: which vertue was the first that
made distinction of birth and equality, in regard, that such as have
the most liberall portion thereof, and performed actions thereto
answerable, were thereby tearmed noble; all the rest remaining
unnoble: now although contrary use did afterward hide and conceale
this Law, yet was it not therefore banished from Nature or good
manners. In which respect, whosoever did execute all his actions by
vertue, declared himselfe openly to be noble; and he that tearmed
him otherwise, it was an errour in the miscaller, and not in the
person so wrongfully called; as the very same priviledge is yet in
full force among us at this day.
Cast an heedfull eye then (good Father) upon all your Gentlemen, and
advisedly examine their vertues, conditions, and manner of
behaviour. On the other side, observe those parts remaining in
Guiscardo: and then if you will Judge truly, and without affection,
you will confesse him to be most Noble, and that all your Gentlemen
(in respect of him) are but base Groomes and villaines. His vertues
and excelling perfections, I never credited from the report or
judgement of any person; but onely by your speeches, and mine owne
eyes as true witnesses. Who did ever more commend Guiscardo, extolling
all those singularities in him, most requisite to be in an honest
vertuous man; then you your selfe have done? Nor neede you to be
sorry, or ashamed of your good opinion concerning him: for if mine
eyes have not deceived my judgement, you never gave him the least part
of praise, but I have knowne much more in him, then ever your words
were able to expresse: wherefore, if I have beene any way deceived,
truly the deceit proceeded onely from you. How wil you then maintaine,
that I have throwne my liking on a man of base condition? In troth
(Sir) you cannot. Perhaps you will alledge, that he is but meane and
poore; I confesse it, and surely it is to your shame, that you have
not bestowne place of more preferment, on a man so honest and well
deserving, and having bene so long a time your servant.
Neverthelesse poverty impayreth not any part of noble Nature, but
wealth hurries into horrible confusions. Many Kings and great
Princes have heeretofore beene poore, when divers of them that have
delved into the earth, and kept Flockes in the field, have beene
advanced to riches, and exceeded the other in wealth.
Now, as concerning your last doubt, which most of all afflicteth
you, namely, how you shall deale with me; boldly rid your braine of
any such disturbance; for if you have resolved now in your extremity
of yeres, to doe that which your younger dayes evermore despised, I
meane, to become cruell; use your utmost cruelty against me: for I wil
never intreat you to the contrary, because I am the sole occasion of
this offence, if it doe deserve the name of an offence. And this I
dare assure you, that if you deale not with me, as you have done
already, or intend to Guiscardo, mine owne hands shall act as much:
and therfore give over your teares to women; and if you purpose to
be cruel, let him and me in death drinke both of one cup, at least
if you imagine that we have deserved it.
The King knew well enough the high spirit of his Daughter, but yet
(neverthelesse) he did not beleeve, that her words would prove
actions, or she do as she said. And therefore parting from her, and
without intent of using any cruelty to her, concluded, by quenching
the heat of another to coole the fiery rage of her distemper,
commanding two of his follow (who had the custody of Guiscardo) that
without any rumour or noise at all, they should strangle him the night
ensuing, and taking the heart forth of his body, to bring it to him,
which they performed according to their charge. On the next day, the
King called for a goodly standing cup of Gold, wherein he put the
heart of Guiscardo, sending it by one of his most familiar servants to
his Daughter, with command also to use these words to her. Thy
Father hath sent thee this present, to comfort thee with that thing
which most of all thou affectest, even as thou hast comforted him with
that which he most hated.
Ghismonda, nothing altered from her cruell deliberation, after her
Father was departed from her, caused certaine poisonous roots and
hearbes to be brought her, which shee (by distillation) made a water
of, to drinke sodainly, whensoever any crosse accident should come
from her Father; whereupon, when the Messenger from her Father had
delivered her the present, and uttered the words as he was commaunded:
shee tooke the Cup, and looking into it with a setled countenance,
by sight of the heart, and effect of the message, she knew certainely,
that was the heart of Guiscardo; then looking stearnely on the
servant, thus she spake unto him. My honest friend, it is no more then
right and justice, that so worthy a heart as this is, should have
any worser grave then gold, wherein my Father hath dealt most
wisely. So, lifting the heart up to her mouth, and sweetly kissing it,
she proceeded thus. In all things, even till this instant, (being
the utmost period of my life) I have evermore found my Fathers love
most effectuall to me; but now it appeareth farre greater, then at any
time heretofore: and therefore from my mouth, thou must deliver him
the latest thankes that ever I shall give him, for sending me such
an honourable present.
These words being ended, holding the Cup fast in her hand, and
looking seriously upon the heart, she began againe in this manner.
Thou sweete entertainer of all my dearest delights, accursed be his
cruelty, that causeth me thus to see thee with my corporall eyes, it
being sufficient enough for me, alwayes to behold thee with the
sight of my soule. Thou hast runne thy race, and as Fortune
ordained, so are thy dayes finished: for as all flesh hath an
ending; so hast thou concluded, albeit too soone, and before thy due
time. The travalles and miseries of this World, have now no more to
meddle with thee, and thy very heaviest enemy hath bestowed such a
grave on thee, as thy greatnesse in vertue worthily deserveth; now
nothing else is wanting, wherewith to beautifie thy Funerall, but only
her sighes and teares, that was so deare unto thee in thy life time.
And because thou mightest the more freely enjoy them, see how my
mercilesse Father (on his owne meere motion) hath sent thee to me; and
truly I will bestow them frankly on thee, though once I had
resolved, to die with drie eyes, and not shedding one teare,
dreadlesse of their utmost malice towards me.
And when I have given thee the due oblation of my teares, my
soule, which sometime thou hast kept most carfully, shall come to make
a sweet conjunction with thine: for in what company else can I
travaile more contentedly, and to those unfrequented silent shades,
but onely in thine? As yet am sure it is present here, in this Cup
sent me by my Father, as having a provident respect to the place,
for possess' of our equall and mutuall pleasures; because thy soule
affecting mine so truly, cannot walke alone, without his deare
companion.
Having thus finished her complaint, even as if her bead had been
converted into a well spring of water, so did teares abundantly flow
from her faire eyes, kissing the heart of Guiscardo infinite times.
All which while, her women standing by her, neither knew what heart it
was, nor to what effect her speeches tended: but being moved to
compassionate teares, they often demanded (albeit in vaine) the
occasion of her sad complaining, comforting her to their utmost power.
When she was not able to weepe any longer, wiping her eyes, and
lifting up her head, without any signe of the least dismay, thus she
spake to the heart.
Deare heart, all my duty is performed to thee, and nothing now
remaineth uneffected; but onely breathing my last, to let my ghost
accompany thine.
Then calling for the glasse of water, which she had readily prepared
the day before, and powring it upon the heart lying in the Cup,
couragiously advancing it to her mouth, she dranke it up every drop;
which being done, she lay downe upon her bed, holding her Lovers heart
fast in her hand, and laying it so neere to her owne as she could. Now
although her women knew not what water it was, yet when they had seene
her to quaffe it off in that manner, they sent word to the King, who
much suspecting what had happened, went in all haste to his
Daughters Chamber, entring at the very instant, when she was laide
upon her bed; beholding her in such passionate pangs, with teares
streaming downe his reverend beard, he used many kinde words to
comfort her: when boldly thus she spake unto him. Father (quoth she)
well may you spare these teares, because they are unfitting for you,
and not any way desired by me; who but your selfe, hath seene any
man to mourne for his owne wilfull offence. Neverthelesse, if but
the least jot of that love do yet abide in you, whereof you have
made such liberall profession to me; let me obtaine this my very
last request, to wit, that seeing I might not privately enjoy the
benefit of Guiscardoes love, and while he lived, let yet (in death)
one publike grave containe both our bodies, that death may affoord us,
what you so cruelly in life denied us.
