sorrow, presently she awaked, being then not a little joyfull, that
she found no such matter as she feared, yet continued very doubtfull
of her dreame. In regard whereof, Gabriello being desirous to visite
her the night following: she laboured very diligently to hinder his
comming to her; yet knowing his loyall affection toward her, and
fearing least he should grow suspitious of some other matter, she
welcommed him into the Garden, where gathering both white and
Damaske Roses (according to the nature of the season) at length,
they sate downe by a very goodly Fountaine, which stoode in the
middest of the Garden.
After some small familiar Discourse passing betweene them, Gabriello
demanded of her, upon what occasion shee denyed his comming thither
the night before, and by such a sodaine unexpected admonition?
Andreana told him, that it was in regard of a horrid Dreame, wherewith
her soule was perplexed the precedent night, and doubt what might
ensue thereon. Gabriello hearing this, began to smile, affirming to
her, that it was an especial note of folly, to give any credit to idle
dreames: because (oftentimes) they are caused by excesse of feeding,
and continually are observed to be meere lyes. For (quoth he) if I had
any superstitious beleefe of Dreames, I should not then have come
hither now: yet not so much as being dismayed by your dreame, but
for another of mine owne, which I am the more willing to acquaint
you withall.
Me thought, I was in a goodly delightfull Forrest, in the Noble
exercise of sportfull hunting, and became there possessed of a young
Hinde, the verie loveliest and most pleasing beast that was ever
seene. It seemed to be as white as snow, and grew (in a short while)
so familiar with me, that by no meanes it would forsake mee. I could
not but accept this rare kindnes in the beast, and fearing least I
should loose it, I put a collar of Gold about the necke thereof, and
fastned it into a chaine of Gold also, which then I held strongly in
my hand. The blind afterward couched downe by me, laying his head
mildely in my lap; and on the sodaine, a black Grey-hound bitch came
rushing; on us (but whence, or how, I could not imagine) seeming halfe
hunger-starved, and very ugly to looke upon. At me she made her full
carreere, without any power in me of resistance, and putting her mouth
into the left side of my bosom, griped it so mainly with her teeth,
that (me thought) I felt my heart quite bitten through, and she tugged
on still, to take it wholly away from me; by which imagined paine
and anguish I felt, instantly I awaked. Laying then my hand upon my
side, to know whether any such harme had befalne me, or no, and
finding none, I smiled at mine owne folly, in making such a
frivolous and idle search. What can be said then in these or the
like cases?
Divers times I have had as ill seeming dreames, yea, and much more
to be feared, yet never any thing hurtfull to me, followed thereon;
and therefore I have alwayes made the lesse account of them.
The young Maiden, who was still dismayed by her owne Dreame,
became much more afflicted in her minde, when shee had heard this
other reported by Gabriello: but yet to give him no occasion of
distast, she bare it out in the best manner she could devise to doe.
And albeit they spent the time in much pleasing discourse,
maintained with infinite sweete kisses on either side: yet was she
still suspitious, but knew not whereof; fixing her eyes oftentimes
upon his face, and throwing strange lookes to all parts of the Garden,
to catch hold on any such blacke ugly sight, whereof he had formerly
made description to her. As thus she continued in these afflicting
feares, it fortuned, that Gabriello sodainly breathing forth a very
vehement sighe, and throwing his armes fast about her, said: O helpe
me dear Love, or else I dye; and, in speaking the words, fell downe
upon the ground. Which the yong Damosel perceiving, and drawing him
into her lappe, weeping saide: Alas sweete Friend, What paine doest
thou feele?
Gabriello answered not one word, but being in an exceeding sweate,
without any ability of drawing breath, very soon after gave up the
ghost. How greevous this strange accident was to poore Andreana, who
loved him as deerely as her owne life: you that have felt loves
tormenting afflictions, can more easily conceive, then I relate.
Wringing her hands, and weeping incessantly, calling him, rubbing
his temples, and using all likely meanes to reduce life: she found all
her labour to be spent in vaine, because he was starke dead indeed,
and every part of his body as cold as ice: whereupon, she was in
such wofull extremity, that she knew not what to do, or say. All about
the Garden she went weeping, in infinite feares and distraction in
soule, calling for her Chamber maid, the only secret friend to their
stolne meetings, and told her the occasion of this sodaine sorrow.
After they had sighed and mourned awhile, over the dead body of
Gabriello, Andreana in this manner spake to her maide.
Seeing Fortune hath thus bereft me of my Love, mine owne life must
needs be hatefull to me: but before I offer any violence to my
selfe, let us devise some convenient meanes, as may both preserve mine
honour from any touch or scandall, and conceale the secret love
passing betweene us: but yet in such honest sort, that this body
(whose blessed soule hath too soone forsaken it) may be honourably
enterred. Whereto her Mayde thus answered: Mistresse, never talke of
doing any violence to your selfe, because by such a blacke and dismall
deed, as you have lost his kind company here in this life, so shall
you never more see him in the other world: for immediately you sinke
downe to hell, which foule place cannot be a receptacle for his
faire soule, that was endued with so many singular vertues. Wherefore,
I hold it farre better for you, to comfort your selfe by all good
meanes, and with the power of fervent praier, to fight against all
desperate intruding passions, as a truly vertuous minde ought to
doe. Now, as concerning his enterrement, the meanes is readily
prepared for you here in this Garden, where never he hath bene seene
by any, or his resorting hither knowne, but onely to our selves. If
you will not consent to have it so, let you and I convey his body
hence, and leave it in such an apt place, where it may be found to
morrow morning: and being then carried to his owne house, his
friends and kindred will give it honest buriall.
Andreana, although her soule was extraordinarily sorrowfull, and
teares flowed abundantly from her eyes; yet she listned attentively to
hir maids counsell; allowing her first advice against desperation,
to be truly good; but to the rest thus she replyed. God forbid
(quoth she) that I should suffer so deere a loving friend, as he
hath alwayes shewed himselfe to me; nay, which is much more, my
husband; by sacred and solemne vowes passed betweene us, to be put
into the ground basely, and like a dog, or else to be left in the open
street. He hath had the sacrifice of my virgin teares, and if I can
prevaile, he shall have some of his kindreds, as I have instantly
devised, what (in this hard case) is best to be done. Forthwith she
sent the maid to her Chamber, for divers elles of white Damaske
lying in her Chest, which when she had brought, they spread it
abroad on the grasse, even in the manner of a winding sheete, and
therein wrapped the body of Gabriello, with a faire wrought pillow
under his head, having first (with their teares) closed his mouth
and eyes, and placed a Chaplet of Flowers on his head, covering the
whole shrowd over in the same manner; which being done, thus she spake
to her Maid.
The doore of his owne house is not farre hence, and thither
(betweene us two) he may be easily caried, even in this maner as we
have adorned him; where leaving him in his owne Porch, we may
returne back before it be day: and although it will be a sad sight
to his friends, yet because he dyed in mine armes, and we being so
well discharged of the body, it will be a little comfort to me. When
she had ended these words, which were not uttered without infinite
teares, the maid entreated her to make hast, because the night swiftly
passed on. At last, she remembred the Ring on her finger, wherewith
Gabriello had solemnly espoused her, and opening the shroud againe,
she put it on his finger, saying; My deere and loving husband, if
thy soule can see my teares, or any understanding do remaine in thy
body, being thus untimely taken from me: receive the latest guift thou
gavest me, as a pledge of our solemne and spotlesse marriage. So,
making up the shroud againe as it should be, and conveighing it
closely out of the Garden, they went on along with it, towardes his
dwelling house.
As thus they passed along, it fortuned, that they were met and taken
by the Guard or Watch belonging to the Potestate, who had bin so
late abroad, about very earnest and important businesse. Andreana,
desiring more the dead mans company, then theirs whom she had thus met
withall, boldly spake thus to them. I know who and what you are, and
can tell my selfe, that to offer flight will nothing availe me:
wherfore, I am ready to go along with you before the Seigneury, and
there will tell the truth concerning this accident. But let not any
man among you, be so bold as to lay hand on me, or to touch me,
because I yeeld so obediently to you; neyther to take any thing from
this body, except hee intend that I shall accuse him. In which
respect, not any one daring to displease her, shee went with the
dead bodle to the Seigneurie, there to answere all Objections.
When notice heereof was given to the Potestate, he arose; and shee
being brought foorth into the Hall before him, he questioned with her,
how and by what meanes this accident happened. Beside, he sent for
divers Physitians, to be informed by them, whether the Gentleman
were poysoned, or otherwise murthered? All of them affirmed the
contrarie, avouching rather, that some Impostumation had engendered
neere his heart, which sodainly breaking, occasioned his as sodaine
death. The Potestate hearing this, and perceiving that Andreana was
little or nothing at all faulty in the matter, her beauty and good
carriage, kindled a vitlanous and lustful desire in him towards her,
provoking him to the immodest motion, that upon granting his
request, he would release her. But when he saw, that all his
perswasions were to no purpose, hee sought to compasse his will by
violence; which like a vertuous and valiant Virago, shee worthily
withstood, defending her honour Nobly, and reprooving him with many
injurious speeches, such as a lustfull Letcher Justlie deserved.
On the morrow morning, these newes being brought to her Father,
Messer Negro da Ponte Cararo, greeving thereat exceedingly, and
accompanied with many of his friends, he went to the Pallace. Being
there arrived, and informed of the matter by the Potestate: he
demaunded (in teares) of his daughter, how, and by what meanes shee
was brought thither? The Potestate would needs accuse her first, of
outrage and wrong offered to him by her, rather then to tarry her
accusing of him; yet, commending the yong Mayden, and her
constancie, proceeded to say, that onely to prove her, he had made
such a motion to her; but finding her so firme, his liking was now
so addicted to her, that- if her Father were so pleased to forget
the remembrance of her former secret husband, he willingly would
accept her in marriage.
While thus they continued talking, Andreana comming before her
Father, the teares trickling mainly downe her cheekes, and falling
at his feete, she began in this manner. Deare Father, I shall not
neede to make an Historicall relation, either of my youthfull
boldnesse or misfortunes, because you have both seene and knowne them:
rather most humbly, I crave your pardon, for another errour by mee
committed, in that, both without your leave and liking, I accepted the
man as my troth-plighted husband, whom (above all other in the world I
most intirely affected. If my offence heerein doe challenge the
forfeite of my life, then (good Father) I free you from any such
pardon; because my onely desire is to dye your daughter, and in your
gracious favour: with which words, in signe of her humility, she
kissed his feete. Messer Negro da Ponte, being a man well in yeeres,
and of a gentle nature, observing what his daughter saide, could not
refraine from teares, and in his weeping, lovingly tooke her from
the ground, speaking thus to her.
Daughter, I could have wisht, that thou hadst taken such an Husband,
as (in my judgement) had bene best fitting for thee: yet if thou
madest election of one answerable to thine owne good liking, I have no
just reason to be offended therewith. My greatest cause of complaint
is, thy too severe concealing it from me, and the small trust thou
didst repose in me, because thou hast lost him before I knew him.
Neverthelesse, seeing these occasions are thus come to passe, and
accidents already ended, cannot possibly be re-called, it is my
will, that as I would gladly have contented thee, by making him my Son
in Law if he had lived, so I wil expresse the like love to him now
he is dead. And so turning himselfe to his kindred and friends,
lovingly requested of them, that they would grace Gabriello with
most honourable obsequies.
By this time, the kindred and friends to the dead man (uppon noise
of his death bruited abroad) were likewise come to the Pallace, yea,
most of the men and women dwelling in the Cittie, the bodie of
Gabriello being laide in the midst of the Court, upon the white
Damaske shrowd given by Andreana, with infinite Roses and other
sweet Flowers lying theron: and such was the peoples love to him, that
never was any mans death, more to be bemoaned and lamented. Being
delivered out of the Court, it was carried to buriall, not like a
Burgesse or ordinary Citizen, but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord
Baron, and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen, with great
honor and reverence.
