fruition of their felicities; which are such, as no mortality can be
capeable of, no, not so much as in imagination.
The wise Gentlewoman replied, that she was well contented, in
regard of the severe punishment inflicted on him by God Cupid, for the
reproachfull speeches he had given her; to allow him so poore a
kinde of consolation, as he had requested her to grant him. Whereuppon
Friar Albert saide: Be ready then Madam to give him welcome to
morrow in the evening, at the entering into your house, for comming in
an humane body, he cannot but enter at your doores: n e whereas, if
(in powerfull manner) he made use of his wings, he then would Eye in
at your window, and then you could not be able to see him.
Upon this conclusion, Albert departed, leaving Lisetta in no
meane pride of imagination, that God Cupid should be enamoured of
her beauty; and therefore she thought each houre a yeare, till she
might see him in the mortall shape of Friar Albert. And now was his
braine wonderfully busied, to visite her in more then common or humane
manner; and therefore he made him a sute (close to his body) of
white Taffata, all poudred over with Starres, and spangles of Gold,
a Bow and Quiver of Arrowes, with wings also fastened to his backe
behinde him, and all cunningly covered with his Friars habit, which
must be the sole meanes of his safe passage.
Having obtained licence of his Superiour, and being accompanied
with an holy Brother of the Convent, yet ignorant of the businesse
by him intended; he went to the house of a friend of his, which was
his usuall receptacle, whensoever he went about such deeds of darknes.
There did he put on his dissembled habit of God Cupid, with his
winges, Bowe, and Quiver, in formall fashion; and then (clouded over
with his Monkes Cowle) leaves his companion to awaite his returning
backe, while he visited foolish Lisetta, according to her expectation,
readily attending for the Gods arrivall.
Albert being come to the house, knocked at the doore, and the Maide
admitting him entrance, according as her Mistresse had appointed,
she conducted him to her Mistresses Chamber, where laying aside his
Friars habite, and she seeing him shine with such glorious
splendour, adding action also to his assumed dissimulation, with
majesticke motion of his body, wings, and bow, as if he had bene God
Cupid indeede, converted into a body much bigger of stature, then
Painters commonly do describe him, her wisedome was overcome with
feare and admiration, that she fell on her knees before him,
expressing all humble reverence unto him. And he spreading his wings
over her, as with wiers and strings he had made them pliant; shewed
how graciously he accepted her humiliation; folding her in his
armes, and sweetly kissing her many times together, with repetition of
his entire love and affection towards her. So delicately was he
perfumed with odorifferous savours, and so compleate of person in
his spangled garments, that she could do nothing else, but wonder at
his rare behaviour, reputing her felicity beyond all Womens in the
world, and utterly impossible to be equalled, such was the pride of
her presuming. For he told her clivers tales and fables, of his
awefull power among the other Gods, and stolne pleasures of his upon
the earth; yet gracing her praises above all his other Loves, and
vowes made now, to affect none but her onely, as his often visitations
should more constantly assure her, that she verily credited all his
protestations, and thought his kisses and embraces, farre to exceed
any mortall comparison.
After they had spent so much time in amorous discoursing, as might
best fit with this their first meeting, and stand cleare from
suspition on either side: our Albert Cupid, or Cupid Albert, which
of them you best please to terme him, closing his spangled winges
together againe behinde his backe, fastening also on his Bow and
Quiver of Arrowes, overclouds all with his religious Monkes Cowle, and
then with a parting kisse or two, returned to the place where he had
left his fellow and companion, perhaps imployed in as devout an
exercise, as he had bin in his absence from him; whence both repayring
home to the Monastery, all this nightes wandering was allowed as
tollerable, by them who made no spare of doing the like.
On the morrow following, Madam Lisetta immediately after dinner,
being attended by her Chamber-maid, went to see Friar Albert,
finding him in his wonted forme and fashion, and telling him what
had hapned betweene her and God Cupid, with all the other lies and
tales which hee had told her. Truly Madam (answered Albert) what
your successe with him hath beene, I am no way able to comprehend; but
this I can assure you, that so soone as I had acquainted him with your
answer, I felt a sodaine rapture made of my soule, and visibly (to
my apprehension) saw it carried by Elves and Fairies, into the
floury fields about Elisium, where Lovers departed out of this life,
walke among the beds of Lillies and Roses, such as are not in this
world to be seene, neither to be imagined by any humane capacity. So
super-abounding was the pleasure of this joy and solace, that, how
long I continued there, or by what meanes I was transported hither
againe this morning, it is beyond all ability in mee to expresse, or
how I assumed my body againe after that great God had made use thereof
to your service. Well Fryar Albert (quoth shee) you may see what an
happinesse hath befalne you, by so grosse an opinion of my
perfections, and what a felicity you enjoy, and still are like to
do, by my pardoning your error, and granting the God accesse to me
in your shape: which as I envy not, so I wish you heereafter to be
wiser, in taking upon you to judge of beauty. Much other idle folly
proceeded from her, which still he soothed to her contentment, and (as
occasion served) many meetings they had in the former manner.
It fortuned within few dayes after that Madam Lisetta being in
company with one of her Gossips, and their conference (as commonly
it falleth out to be) concerning other women of the City; their
beauty, behaviour, amorous suters and servants, and generall opinion
conceived of their worth, and merit; wherein Lisetta was over-much
conceyted of her selfe, not admitting any other to be her equall.
Among other speeches, savouring of an unseasoned braine: Gossip (quoth
she) if you knew what account is made of my beauty, and who holdes
it in no meane estimation, you would then freely confesse, that I
deserve to be preferred before any other. As women are ambitious in
their owne opinions, so commonly are they covetous of one anothers
secrets, especially in matter of emulation, whereupon the Gossip
thus replyed. Beleeve me Madam, I make no doubt but your speeches
may be true, in regard of your admired beauty, and many other
perfections beside; yet let me tell you, priviledges, how great and
singular soever they be, without they are knowen to others, beside
such as do particularly enjoy them; they carry no more account, then
things of ordinary estimation. Whereas on the contrary, when any
Lady or Gentlewoman hath some eminent and peculiar favour, which few
or none other can reach unto, and it is made famous by generall
notion; then do all women else admire and honor her, as the glory of
their kinde, and a miracle of Nature.
I perceive Gossip said Lisetta, whereat you aime, and such is my
love to you, as you should not lose your longing in this case, were
I but constantly secured of your secrecy, which as hitherto I have
bene no way able to taxe, so would I be loth now to be more suspitious
of then needs. But yet this matter is of such maine moment, that if
you will protest as you are truly vertuous, never to reveale it to any
living body, I will disclose to you almost a miracle. The vertuous
oath being past, with many other solemne protestations beside, Lisetta
then pro. ceeded in this maner.
I know Gossip, that it is a matter of common and ordinary custome,
for Ladies and Gentlewomen to be graced with favourites, men of fraile
and mortall conditions, whose natures are as subject to inconstancy,
as their very best endevours dedicated to folly, as I could name no
mean number of our Ladies heere in Venice. But when Soveraigne deities
shall feele the impression of our humane desires, and behold
subjects of such prevailing efficacy, as to subdue their greatest
power, yea, and make them enamored of mortall creatures: you may
well imagine Gossip, such a beauty is superiour to any other. And such
is the happy fortune of your friend Lisetta, of whose perfections,
great Cupid the awefull commanding God of Love himselfe, conceived
such an extraordinary liking: as he hath abandoned his seate of
supreme Majesty, and appeared to in the shape of a mortall man, with
lively expression of his amourous passions, and what extremities of
anguish he hath endured, onely for my love. May this be possible?
replied the Gossip. Can the Gods be toucht with the apprehension of
our fraile passions? True it is Gossip, answered and so certainly
true, that his sacred kisses, sweete embraces, and most pleasing
speeches with proffer of his continuall devotion towards me, hath
given me good cause to confirme what I say, and to thinke my
felicity farre beyond all other womens, being honoured with his
often nightly visitations.
The Gossip inwardly smiling at her idle speeches, which
(nevertheles) she avouched with very vehement asseverations: fell
instantly sicke of womens naturall disease, thinking every minute a
tedious month, till she were in company with some other Gossips, to
breake the obligation of her vertuous promise, and that others (as
well as her selfe) might laugh at the folly of this shallow-witted
woman. The next day following, it was her hap to be at a wedding,
among a great number of other women, whom quickly she acquainted
with this so strange a wonder; as they did the like to their husbands:
and passing so from hand to hand, in lesse space then two dayes, all
Venice was fully possessed with it. Among the rest, the brethren to
this foolish woman, heard this admirable newes concerning their
Sister; and they discreetly concealing it to themselves, closely
concluded to watch the walks of this pretended God: and if he soared
not too lofty a flight, they would clip his wings, to come the
better acquainted with him. It fortuned, that the Friar hearing his
Cupidicall visitations over-publikely discovered, purposed to check
and reprove Lisetta for her indiscretion. And being habited
according to his former manner, his Friarly Cowle covering all his
former bravery, he left his companion where he used to stay, and
closely walked along unto the house. No sooner was he entred, but
the Brethren being ambushed neere to the doore, went in after him, and
ascending the staires, by such time as he had uncased himselfe, and
appeared like God Cupid, with his spangled wings displayed: they
rushed into the Chamber, and he having no other refuge, opened a large
Casement, standing directly over the great gulfe or River, and
presently leapt into the water; which being deepe, and he skilfull
in swimming, he had no other harme by his fall, albeit the sodaine
affright did much perplex him.
Recovering the further side of the River, he espied a light, and the
doore of an house open, wherein dwelt a poore man, whom he earnestly
intreated, to save both his life and reputation, telling him many lies
and tales by what meanes he was thus disguised, and throwne by
night-walking Villaines into the water. The poore man, being moved
to compassionate his distressed estate, laid him in his owne bed,
ministring such other comforts to him, as the time and his poverty did
permit; and day drawing on, he went about his businesse, advising
him to take his rest, and it should not be long till he returned.
So, locking the doore, and leaving the counterfet God in bed, away
goes the poore man to his daily labor. The Brethren to Lisetta,
perceiving God Cupid to be fied and gone, and she in melancholly
sadnesse sitting by them: they tooke up the Reliques he had left
behind him, I meane the Friars hood and Cowle, which shewing to
their sister, and sharpely reproving her unwomanly behaviour: they
left her in no meane discomfort, returning home to their owne
houses, with their conquered spolle of the forlorne Friar.
During the times of these occurrences, broad day speeding on, and
the poore man returning homeward by the Rialto, to visit his guest
so left in bed: he beheld divers crouds of people, and a generall
rumor noysed among them, that God Cupid had bene that night with Madam
Lisetta, where being over-closely pursued by her Brethren, for feare
of being surprized, he leapt out of her window into the gulfe, and
no one could tell what was become of him. Heereupon, the poore man
began to imagine, that the guest entertained by him in the night time,
must needs be the same suppose God Cupid, as by his wings and other
embellishments appeared: wherefore being come home, and sitting
downe on the beds side by him, after some few speeches passing
betweene them, he knew him to be Friar Albert, who promised to give
him fifty ducates, if he would not betray him to Lisettaes Brethren.
Upon the acceptation of this offer, the money being sent for, and
paied downe; there wanted nothing now, but some apt and convenient
meanes, whereby Albert might safely be conveyed into the Monastery,
which being wholly referred to the poore mans care and trust, thus
he spake. Sir, I see no likely-hood of your cleare escaping home,
except in this manner as I advise you. We observe this day as a
merry Festivall, and it is lawfull for any one, to disguise a man in
the skin of a Beare, or in the shape of a savage man, or any other
forme of better advice. Which being so done, he is brought upon S.
Markes market place, where being hunted a while with dogs, upon the
huntings conclusion, the Feast is ended; and then each man leades
his monster whether him pleaseth. If you can accept any of these
shapes, before you be seene heere in my poore abiding, then can I
