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University of Virginia Library

Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile

In time of his troubles out of sundrie Italians, with the Argument and Lenuoye to eche Tale

Turberville, George (1540?-1610?)

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To his verie friend Ro. Baynes.

Ro. Baynes to the Reader, in the due commendation of the Author.

The Authour here declareth the cause why hee wrote these Histories, and forewent the translation of the learned Poet Lucan.

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[Tragicall Tales.]

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1.

[Through wilful loue, and liking ouermuch]

The argument to the first Historie.

The Ladies Letter of pittie to her afflictd friend, to whom she had been cruell

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2.

[Nicocrates a cruell tyrant, slewe]

The Argument to the second Hystorie.

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3.

[Gentile loude one Nicoluccios wife]

The argument to the third Historie.

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4.

[Two Knightes did linke in League of great goodwill]

The argument to the fourth Historie.

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5.

[The Lumbard Albyon conquered Cunimund]

The Argument to the fift Historie.

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6.

[The king of Thunise had a daughter faire]

The Argument to the sixt Historie.

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7.

[A merchāts daughter loude her brothers boy]

The Argument to the seuenth Hystorie.

8.

[VVhen Aristotimus did strike the stroke]

9.

[Symona likt of Pasquine passing well]

10.

[A merchants sonne that Girolanus hight]

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EPITATHES and Sonnettes annexed to the Tragical histories, By the Author.

A farevvell to a mother Cosin, at his going tovvardes Moscouia.

That nothing can cause him to forget his frend, vvherein is toucht the hardnes of his trauayle.

He declares that albeit he were imprisoned in Russia, yet his minde was at libertie, & did daily repaire to his frend.

A comparison of his mistresse, with a braue Lady of Russia.

To his frend promising that though her beautie fade, yet his loue shall last.

From the citie of Mosqua, to his friend in England.

To his mistres, declaring his life only to depend of her lookes.

Virtuti comes inuidia.

That though he may not possible come or send, yet he liues mindfull of his mistresse in Moscouia.

To a faire gentlevvoman, false to hir friend.

A farewell to a craftie, deceitfull Dame.

Spare to speake, Spare to speede.

Wearie of long silence, he breakes his mind to his mistresse.

He vvisheth his dreames either longer or truer.

Vnable by long and hard trauell to banish loue, returnes hir friend.

That he findeth others as faire, but not so faithfull as his frend.

Trauailing the desert of Russia, he complayneth to Eccho, vvith request that she comfort his afflicted state.

He craues his mistresse to accept his wryting being otherwise insufficient to vvinne good liking from her.

The meane is best.

To his friend Edward Dancie of Deceit.

Of the right noble L. VVilliam, Earle of Pembroke his death.

Finding his Mistresse vntrue, he exclaimeth thereat.

A warning that she be not vncourteous.

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To one whom he had long loued, and at last was refused vvithout cause, and one imbraced that least deserued it.

An Epitaph vpon the death of Henry Sydhnam, and Giles Bampfield Gentlemen.

A letter begun to a Gentlewoman of some account, which was left of by means of the aduise of a friend of his, who said she was foresped.

To his friend not to change, though iealousie debarre him hir company.

To his frend not to forget him.

A vowe of Constancie.

Another Epitaph vpon the death of Henry Sydhnam, and Gyles Bampfield gent.

A louer deceiued, exclaimes against the deceiuer and hir kind.

Yet ere I die, receiue this Swan-like song, To ease my hart, and shew thine open wrong.

To his cruel mistresse.

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The Author being in Moscouia, wrytes to certaine his frendes in Englande of the state of the place, not exactly, but at all aduentures, and minding to haue descrybed all the Moscouites maners, brake off his purpose vpon some occasion. The three Epistles followe.

To his especiall frende, master Edwarde Dancie.

To his friend Nicholas Roscarock, to induce him to take a wife.

A gentlewomans excuse for executing vnlawfull partes of loue.

Of his Constancie.

The Authors Epilogue.

The Authors excuse for writing these and other fancies, with promise of grauer matter hereafter.

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[149]

To his mistres, declaring his life only to depend of her lookes.

The Salamander cannot liue
without the help of flaming fire:
To bath his limmes in burning coales,
it is his glee and chiefe desire.
The litle fish doth loue the lake,
dame nature hath assigned him:
To liue no longer then he doth
amid the siluer channel swimme.
Chameleon feedes but on the ayre,
the lacke whereof is his decay:
These three doe perish out of hand,
take fire, flouds, and ayre away.
Iudge you (my deere) the danger then
of very force that must ensue:
Unto this careful heart of mine,
that cannot liue withouten you.
I am the fish, you are the flood,
my heart it is that hangs on hooke:
I cannot liue if you doe stoppe,
the floudhatch of your frendly brooke.
I silly Salamander die,
if you maintaine not frendships fire:
Quenche you the coale and you shal see
me pine for lack of my desire.
You are the pleasant breathing ayre,

150

and I your poore Chameleon,
Barre me your breath and out of hand
my life and sweete delight is gone.
Which sith tis so (good mistresse) then
doe saue my life to serue your turne
Let me haue ayre and water stil
let me your Salamander burne.
My death wil doe you litle good,
my life perhaps may pleasure you:
Rewe on my case and pitie him,
that sweares himself your seruant true,
I beare the badge within my brest,
wherin are blazde your colours braue:
Loue is the only liuery, that
I at your curteous hand doe craue.
I doe desire no greedy gaine,
I couet not the massye golde:
Embrace your seruant (mistres) then,
his wages wil be quickly tolde.
As you are faire so let me finde
your bountie equall to your face:
I cannot thinke that kinde so neere,
to beauties bower would rigor place,
Your comely hewe behight me hope,
your louely lookes allow mee life.
Your graue regard doth make me deeme,
you fellow to Vlisses wife,
Which if be true then happy I,

[150]

that so in loue my fancie set,
In you doth rest my life, my death,
by slaying me no gaine you get.
The noble minded Lion kils
no yeelding beast by crueltie,
And worthie dames delight to saue
their seruants liues by curtesie.