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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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158

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

You hollow hilles and vallies wide,
that wonted are to yelde againe:
The latter cause of louers cries
resound and help me to complaine.
Repeate my piteous pensiue plaints,
recite my tale when I haue done:
Howle out ye hilles and let me heare
my voice among your rockes to run.
It wil delight my dazed sprites,
when I report my mistresse name:
Amid my plaint to heare the hilles,
at euery call to call the same.
Good Eccho shew me thy good will,
is no man here but thou and I:
Take vp my tale as I lament,
and say (Alas) as I doe crie,
Was neuer man that did enioy,
a better dame then I haue done:
But now (Alas) she is alacke,
helpe Eccho, helpe, I am vndone
Besides mine absence from her sight,
another doth possesse my place,
And of my haruest sheares the sheaues,
helpe Eccho, helpe, lament my case.

[158]

I know not when I shal returne,
or when to see that sweete againe:
For (out alas) she is away
good eccho helpe to ease my paine.
But nought I see it doth auaile,
thy talke encreaseth but my woe:
It irkes me to recite her name,
and misse the saint I honor so.
Wherefore sith bootlesse be complaints,
and clepings cannot right my case:
I bid thee (Eccho) here adew
I will goe seeke to see her face.
The face that Paris would haue chose,
if he had seene her in the mount:
Good faith the lady Uenus had
been had as then in small account.
And as for Pallas and the third,
I meane the mighty Iunos grace:
I know right wel they would haue hid
themselues, and neuer prest in place.
For nature made hir not to match,
but to exceede and passe the rest:
Thrice happy he that can attaine
her loue, and to be liked best.