Two Tales, Translated out of Ariosto The one in dispraise of Men, the other in disgrace of Women. With certaine other Italian Stanzes and Prouerbs. By R. T. [i.e. Robert Tofte] |
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| I. | THE FIRST TALE: Cant. 43. Stanza II. |
| II. |
 | Two Tales, Translated out of Ariosto |  |
THE FIRST TALE: Cant. 43. Stanza II.
Not farre from hence you left a cittie nie,
Bout which a cristal riuer cleere doth run,
Into whose streame the surging Po doth hie
And fountains head doth from Benaco come
This cittie founded was (when cruelly
Thebes was destroyd) built by Agenors sonne)
There was I borne of ancient gentle blood,
But poore in wealth, in liuing and in good.
Bout which a cristal riuer cleere doth run,
Into whose streame the surging Po doth hie
And fountains head doth from Benaco come
This cittie founded was (when cruelly
Thebes was destroyd) built by Agenors sonne)
There was I borne of ancient gentle blood,
But poore in wealth, in liuing and in good.
If Fortune at my birth had little care,
To make me rich in heapes of glittring gold,
Nature that fault supplide with beauty rare,
That fairer then my selfe none could beholde,
Both maides and married wiues goodwill me bare,
When I was young, their hearts for loue were colde,
For I was curteous, and still shewd the same,
(Although for one to praise himselfe tis shame.)
To make me rich in heapes of glittring gold,
Nature that fault supplide with beauty rare,
That fairer then my selfe none could beholde,
Both maides and married wiues goodwill me bare,
When I was young, their hearts for loue were colde,
For I was curteous, and still shewd the same,
(Although for one to praise himselfe tis shame.)
(By chaunce) within this cittie did abide,
A reuerend Sire, whose learning did surmount
Beyond all credit farre, who when he dide,
His yeares a hundred twentie eight did count,
From company he kept himselfe still wide,
Till in his latter age he left his wont,
For being in loue, through gifts (such was his lot,)
He of a matron faire, a maide begot.
A reuerend Sire, whose learning did surmount
Beyond all credit farre, who when he dide,
His yeares a hundred twentie eight did count,
From company he kept himselfe still wide,
Till in his latter age he left his wont,
For being in loue, through gifts (such was his lot,)
He of a matron faire, a maide begot.
And to prouide the daughter should not be
Like to the mother, who for greedy gaine,
Did sell that gemme (sans price) her chastitie,
Worth farre more golde than doth in world remaine,
From place where was resort, he (here) did hie,
Where finding this alone and desart plaine,
This rich and sumptuous Pallace passing faire,
He diuells forc'te to make b'inchantment rare.
Like to the mother, who for greedy gaine,
Did sell that gemme (sans price) her chastitie,
Worth farre more golde than doth in world remaine,
From place where was resort, he (here) did hie,
Where finding this alone and desart plaine,
This rich and sumptuous Pallace passing faire,
He diuells forc'te to make b'inchantment rare.
By women old and chaste, his daughter deere
He causde in this for to be nourished,
Where neuer man she once could see, or heare
To speake (whilst she was yong) was suffered,
And that she might of Ladies without peere,
Examples take, of such as banished
A! lawlesse loue, he made for hir delight,
Such to be carude, and drawne in colours right.
He causde in this for to be nourished,
Where neuer man she once could see, or heare
To speake (whilst she was yong) was suffered,
And that she might of Ladies without peere,
Examples take, of such as banished
A! lawlesse loue, he made for hir delight,
Such to be carude, and drawne in colours right.
Not onely such as by their vertues rare,
Adorned haue the world in times thats past,
Whose glorious fame olde histories declare,
And make them liue whilst heau'n and earth shall last,
But such to come, who Italie most faire
Shall make through their behauiour sweete and chaste
He causde their pictures liuely drawne to be,
As are these Eight you in this fountaine see.
Adorned haue the world in times thats past,
Whose glorious fame olde histories declare,
And make them liue whilst heau'n and earth shall last,
But such to come, who Italie most faire
Shall make through their behauiour sweete and chaste
He causde their pictures liuely drawne to be,
As are these Eight you in this fountaine see.
At last, when he his daughter iudged ripe,
To ioyne with man in nuptiall married bed,
Whether my good lucke twas, or me to spite,
I chosen was fore others, her to wed,
These spatious fieldes about the walles in sight,
With fish-ponds, champaine grounds where beasts are bred
(Which twenty miles in compasse bout do wind,)
He for his daughters dowry me assinde.
To ioyne with man in nuptiall married bed,
Whether my good lucke twas, or me to spite,
I chosen was fore others, her to wed,
These spatious fieldes about the walles in sight,
With fish-ponds, champaine grounds where beasts are bred
(Which twenty miles in compasse bout do wind,)
He for his daughters dowry me assinde.
Faire was she, and so louely qualified,
As I desire could not, or couet more
For cunning stitch where needle, colours hide,
The wittie Pallas she might goe before,
Her touch on lute, and song did well describe,
In heau'n, and not on earth that she was bore,
And so to the liberall Artes she had giuen her minde,
She little came her fathers skill behinde.
As I desire could not, or couet more
The wittie Pallas she might goe before,
Her touch on lute, and song did well describe,
In heau'n, and not on earth that she was bore,
And so to the liberall Artes she had giuen her minde,
She little came her fathers skill behinde.
With wisedome great, with beauty (daunting blame)
(Which would haue made to loue a senslesse stone)
Was ioynde such loue, and sweetenesse to the same
As makes my heart (to thinke thereon,) to groane,
No ioy nor pleasure did she feele, but paine,
Vnlesse she went, and was with me alone,
Thus long we liude sans iarre or iealous gruch,
At last, through folly mine we had too much.
(Which would haue made to loue a senslesse stone)
Was ioynde such loue, and sweetenesse to the same
As makes my heart (to thinke thereon,) to groane,
No ioy nor pleasure did she feele, but paine,
Vnlesse she went, and was with me alone,
Thus long we liude sans iarre or iealous gruch,
At last, through folly mine we had too much.
When I fiue yeeres had liude a married man,
My father in lawe did leaue this world of woe,
And then to spring my sorrowes first began,
Which yet I feele, and how the same Ile show,
Whilst on my wife Loue breathde with chastest fan
Fresh loue for me, which causde me loue her so,
A noble Dame of this our Cittie here,
Enamoured mightily of me did appeare.
My father in lawe did leaue this world of woe,
And then to spring my sorrowes first began,
Which yet I feele, and how the same Ile show,
Whilst on my wife Loue breathde with chastest fan
Fresh loue for me, which causde me loue her so,
A noble Dame of this our Cittie here,
Enamoured mightily of me did appeare.
She of enchantments and of witches craft,
Did know as much as any sorceresse,
The day as night, the night she day by Art,
And sunne moouelesse could make, the earth stil fresh
As Maie, yet neuer could she mooue my heart,
To heale her amorous wound remedilesse,
With plaister such as well I could not giue,
Vnlesse I should my wife vniustly grieue.
Did know as much as any sorceresse,
The day as night, the night she day by Art,
And sunne moouelesse could make, the earth stil fresh
As Maie, yet neuer could she mooue my heart,
To heale her amorous wound remedilesse,
With plaister such as well I could not giue,
Vnlesse I should my wife vniustly grieue.
And though she curteous was and louely more,
And though I knew she lou'de me as her selfe,
Although she offered gifts and promist store,
And laide before me baites of ticing pelfe,
Yet not one iote of my goodwill therefore
Shee ere could get from me by amorous stealth,
To know my wife to me was constant true,
My heart and fancie to her wholly drew.
And though I knew she lou'de me as her selfe,
Although she offered gifts and promist store,
And laide before me baites of ticing pelfe,
Shee ere could get from me by amorous stealth,
To know my wife to me was constant true,
My heart and fancie to her wholly drew.
The hope, the firme beliefe, sure certainety,
I held of my deare Spouses loyalnesse,
Would me haue made the beauty to deny
Of Ledas daughter, and her daintinesse,
Or th'other proffers which on Ida hie,
Had Paris by the angry Goddesses,
Yet were not my repulses of such strength,
That I could rid my hands of her at length.
I held of my deare Spouses loyalnesse,
Would me haue made the beauty to deny
Of Ledas daughter, and her daintinesse,
Or th'other proffers which on Ida hie,
Had Paris by the angry Goddesses,
Yet were not my repulses of such strength,
That I could rid my hands of her at length.
One day as forth, this witch of Pallas mine,
Melissa found me, (so each did her call)
And to discourse with me had space and time,
She found the meanes to turne my sweete to gall,
That faith I had still of my wife so kind,
Through iealousie she causde from heart to fall,
Beginning thus: She praised mine intent,
Faithfull to be where faithfulnesse was meant.
Melissa found me, (so each did her call)
And to discourse with me had space and time,
She found the meanes to turne my sweete to gall,
That faith I had still of my wife so kind,
Through iealousie she causde from heart to fall,
Beginning thus: She praised mine intent,
Faithfull to be where faithfulnesse was meant.
But say thou canst not, faithfull is thy Wiue,
Lesse first (quoth she) of her thou triall make,
Put case the loyalst wench she be aliue,
If falne she hath not, yet she fall may take,
Then if thou n'er her from thy side depriue,
Nor other man than thee, sees sleepe, or wake,
How hast thou this foole hardinesse to say?
She constant is like to the Laurel Bay.
Lesse first (quoth she) of her thou triall make,
Put case the loyalst wench she be aliue,
If falne she hath not, yet she fall may take,
Then if thou n'er her from thy side depriue,
Nor other man than thee, sees sleepe, or wake,
How hast thou this foole hardinesse to say?
She constant is like to the Laurel Bay.
Do but absent thy selfe awhile from home,
Through citie and through country giue thou out,
That thou art parted, and leaue her alone
And licence Louers come with reuell rowt,
If she by luring gifts or piteous mone
Make not strange grafts within thy braine to sprowt,
And seek to hide the same, hauing done amisse,
Then maist thou rightly say, she honest is.
Through citie and through country giue thou out,
That thou art parted, and leaue her alone
And licence Louers come with reuell rowt,
If she by luring gifts or piteous mone
Make not strange grafts within thy braine to sprowt,
Then maist thou rightly say, she honest is.
With such strange speech, and to the same much leeke
Th'enchantresse (subtill) egges me onward stil,
That I to know my Ladies faith will seeke
By proofe to see, hap to me good or ill,
Suppose (quoth I) the nuptiall bands she breke,
Which I cannot beleeue, beleeue nor will,
How may I afterward my selfe assure,
If praise, or shame she merites to endure?
Th'enchantresse (subtill) egges me onward stil,
That I to know my Ladies faith will seeke
By proofe to see, hap to me good or ill,
Suppose (quoth I) the nuptiall bands she breke,
Which I cannot beleeue, beleeue nor will,
How may I afterward my selfe assure,
If praise, or shame she merites to endure?
Melissa answered; Ile bestowe on thee
A Cup to drinke in, of rare Vertue strange,
(Morgana's worke) that brother hers might see,
How oft from faith Geneuora did range,
Who a wife hath chaste, drinke in't may frank & free,
But, he cannot, if she be giuen to change:
For when he thinkes the wine to drinke therein,
It spils and spurts in bosome strait of him.
A Cup to drinke in, of rare Vertue strange,
(Morgana's worke) that brother hers might see,
How oft from faith Geneuora did range,
Who a wife hath chaste, drinke in't may frank & free,
But, he cannot, if she be giuen to change:
For when he thinkes the wine to drinke therein,
It spils and spurts in bosome strait of him.
Before thou part, I will the same thou proue,
And without shedding drop, thou drink it shall,
For I do know thy wife's yet true in loue,
As soone thou this effect see plainely shal;
But if at thy returne thy hart thee moue
Triall to make, I doubt what will befall,
For if not shedding in bosome drinke thou can,
Then Ile count thee the happiest married man.
And without shedding drop, thou drink it shall,
For I do know thy wife's yet true in loue,
As soone thou this effect see plainely shal;
But if at thy returne thy hart thee moue
Triall to make, I doubt what will befall,
For if not shedding in bosome drinke thou can,
Then Ile count thee the happiest married man.
This proffer (with the Cup) she doth bestowe
On me, I do accept and put in vre
The proofe, and finde (as I desirde) to know
My louing Mate, chaste to me, constant, pure
Melissa saith, alittle from her go,
A month or two to stay from home endure:
Then turne againe and trie, if in this Cup,
Thou without spilling, canst the wine drinke vp.
On me, I do accept and put in vre
The proofe, and finde (as I desirde) to know
My louing Mate, chaste to me, constant, pure
Melissa saith, alittle from her go,
A month or two to stay from home endure:
Then turne againe and trie, if in this Cup,
Thou without spilling, canst the wine drinke vp.
To me it seemde a death, to go my way,
Not that I doubted of her faith so much,
As, cause a day, I could not from her stay,
No not an houre, my loue to her was such,
Ile make thee finde the trueth of this, did say
Melissa, if thou wilt by other touch,
Change shalt thou speech and wotdes for this intent,
And (like another) fore her thy selfe present.
Not that I doubted of her faith so much,
As, cause a day, I could not from her stay,
No not an houre, my loue to her was such,
Ile make thee finde the trueth of this, did say
Melissa, if thou wilt by other touch,
Change shalt thou speech and wotdes for this intent,
And (like another) fore her thy selfe present.
Hearke how. The Po a citie doth defend,
Which stands here by with fierce and threatning Horn
Whose iurisdiction doth from hence extend
To the place where Sea his ebbe and flow doth turne,
For auncientnesse it yeeldes, but doth contend
With others, richnes such doth it adorne.
The Troyans Ofspring there, first plot did lay,
Which scaped from the scourge of Attila.
Which stands here by with fierce and threatning Horn
Whose iurisdiction doth from hence extend
To the place where Sea his ebbe and flow doth turne,
For auncientnesse it yeeldes, but doth contend
With others, richnes such doth it adorne.
The Troyans Ofspring there, first plot did lay,
Which scaped from the scourge of Attila.
In treasure rich, a louely youthfull Knight,
This Cittie bridle doth with lordly raine,
Who after Falcon ranne (which did alight
One day by chance in pallace thine) amaine:
Where he thy wife sawe, who so at first sight
Pleasde him, as signe in heart doth still remaine,
And many shifts he vsed afterward
To his desire to make her bowe (too hard.)
This Cittie bridle doth with lordly raine,
Who after Falcon ranne (which did alight
One day by chance in pallace thine) amaine:
Where he thy wife sawe, who so at first sight
Pleasde him, as signe in heart doth still remaine,
And many shifts he vsed afterward
To his desire to make her bowe (too hard.)
Yet her repulses sharpe, so bitter were,
That he his sute gaue ore as desperate,
But yet her beauty, which Loue drawne had there,
Within his minde he helde, and n'er forgate.
Melissa so me flattered, in mine eare,
As I content was she should lay this plat:
And me she changde (but how I know not I)
Like him in speech, and fauour sodainely.
That he his sute gaue ore as desperate,
But yet her beauty, which Loue drawne had there,
Within his minde he helde, and n'er forgate.
Melissa so me flattered, in mine eare,
As I content was she should lay this plat:
And me she changde (but how I know not I)
Like him in speech, and fauour sodainely.
I had (before) vnto my wife yfainde,
That towardes the Leuant I parted was to goe:
But in this youthfull louer being changde,
In gate, in voyce, in habite, and in show,
I with my Witch returnde, who still remainde
With me, and tooke of Page the shape as tho,
And gemmes of price had, which as we did faine,
From th'Indians and the Eritreans came.
That towardes the Leuant I parted was to goe:
But in this youthfull louer being changde,
I with my Witch returnde, who still remainde
With me, and tooke of Page the shape as tho,
And gemmes of price had, which as we did faine,
From th'Indians and the Eritreans came.
I which did know ech doore of pallace mine,
Boldly entred, Melissa following me,
And found my Woman then at such a time,
As man nor maide I there with her could see,
I shew my griefe, and then with cunning fine,
(The Spurres of euill, if so she will agree)
I offer Rubies, Diamonds, Emeraulds, such
As would haue moude a minde more chaste by much.
Boldly entred, Melissa following me,
And found my Woman then at such a time,
As man nor maide I there with her could see,
I shew my griefe, and then with cunning fine,
(The Spurres of euill, if so she will agree)
I offer Rubies, Diamonds, Emeraulds, such
As would haue moude a minde more chaste by much.
And tell her, this is but a trifle small,
To such rare Iewels, as afterward shall come,
The opportunitie she hath withall
I shew her, sith her husband is from home,
Then (as she knew) I prayde to mind to call,
How I to be her Louer still haue showne:
And that I louing her with loue so chaste,
Well worthy was of some rewarde at last.
To such rare Iewels, as afterward shall come,
The opportunitie she hath withall
I shew her, sith her husband is from home,
Then (as she knew) I prayde to mind to call,
How I to be her Louer still haue showne:
And that I louing her with loue so chaste,
Well worthy was of some rewarde at last.
Much was she grieude at first these words to heare,
Nor would she heare me speake, but blusht for shame,
But seeing those costly gems, which shone more cleare
Than fire, her stubberne hart, strait meek became,
And answered with a soft and fainting cheare,
That, which to thinke on makes me dead remaine,
That if she were assurde none might this know,
She ready was this pleasure me to show.
Nor would she heare me speake, but blusht for shame,
But seeing those costly gems, which shone more cleare
Than fire, her stubberne hart, strait meek became,
And answered with a soft and fainting cheare,
That, which to thinke on makes me dead remaine,
That if she were assurde none might this know,
She ready was this pleasure me to show.
This speech to my heart as poisned dart did come,
Through which my soule (me thought) transfixed was:
Through euery ioint a sodaine cold did run,
My speech remaind twixt iawes, nor forth could passe:
Melissa, who her Chauntments had vndone,
Turnde me into my proper shape and face,
Imagin how she lookte, when found by me,
Her selfe she sawe in so fowle fault to be.
Through which my soule (me thought) transfixed was:
Through euery ioint a sodaine cold did run,
My speech remaind twixt iawes, nor forth could passe:
Melissa, who her Chauntments had vndone,
Imagin how she lookte, when found by me,
Her selfe she sawe in so fowle fault to be.
Both of vs pale became, as death most like,
Both of vs speechlesse, with our eyes on ground,
Scarce had my faltring tongue such force and might,
Thus to crie out (griefe so my heart did wound,)
And wouldst thou then betray me (shamelesse wight?
When who would buy mine honor) thou hadst found?
To this no answere gaue she me at all,
But teares like orient pearles on cheekes let fall.
Both of vs speechlesse, with our eyes on ground,
Scarce had my faltring tongue such force and might,
Thus to crie out (griefe so my heart did wound,)
And wouldst thou then betray me (shamelesse wight?
When who would buy mine honor) thou hadst found?
To this no answere gaue she me at all,
But teares like orient pearles on cheekes let fall.
Great was her shame, her coller more, not lesse,
To see me gainst her worke this strange disgrace,
And so increast (at last) in headinesse,
As rage and deadly hate in her tooke place:
Seeking to flie from me with speedinesse,
And when the Sunne had run his wonted race,
She to the riuer steales, where all the night
In Barge she rowes away with maine and might.
To see me gainst her worke this strange disgrace,
And so increast (at last) in headinesse,
As rage and deadly hate in her tooke place:
Seeking to flie from me with speedinesse,
And when the Sunne had run his wonted race,
She to the riuer steales, where all the night
In Barge she rowes away with maine and might.
And in the morning doth her selfe present
Before that Knight, who her long time had lou'de,
Vnder whose habite false and shape I went,
When witlesse gainst mine honour I her mou'de.
Iudge you how welcome, she, and her intent
Was, to him, who n'er thoght such ioy t'haue prou'de:
Thence word she sent me (which as death doth gore)
That n'er she would be mine, nor loue me more.
Before that Knight, who her long time had lou'de,
Vnder whose habite false and shape I went,
When witlesse gainst mine honour I her mou'de.
Iudge you how welcome, she, and her intent
Was, to him, who n'er thoght such ioy t'haue prou'de:
Thence word she sent me (which as death doth gore)
That n'er she would be mine, nor loue me more.
Wo is me, from that day vnto this, in ioy
She liues with him, and iesteth at my griefe,
And I (thankes to my selfe) in this annoy
Do pine away, and no where finde reliefe,
Still growes it, and iust tis, it me destroy,
And little now remaines my dayes to briefe,
Nor scarce I thinke, the first yeere had I liuen.
But that one thing to me hath comfort giuen.
She liues with him, and iesteth at my griefe,
And I (thankes to my selfe) in this annoy
Do pine away, and no where finde reliefe,
Still growes it, and iust tis, it me destroy,
And little now remaines my dayes to briefe,
Nor scarce I thinke, the first yeere had I liuen.
But that one thing to me hath comfort giuen.
The comfort's this, that of so many men,
Which here for ten yeeres space y-lodged be,
(For I this Cup doe offer all of them)
Not one (sauns sheading) drinke I yet could see,
To see, (as mine,) so many, with like wem
Vpon their cheeke, some comfort is to me,
Thou onely done, amongst so many hast
Wisely, for to refuse so dangerous taste.
Which here for ten yeeres space y-lodged be,
(For I this Cup doe offer all of them)
Not one (sauns sheading) drinke I yet could see,
To see, (as mine,) so many, with like wem
Vpon their cheeke, some comfort is to me,
Thou onely done, amongst so many hast
Wisely, for to refuse so dangerous taste.
My curious will, which made me search to know,
(More than I ought) the manners of my Wife,
Makes care and griefe fresh in me still to grow,
And forceth me to leade a hellish life.
Of this Melissa glad herselfe did show,
(But small it durde) being author of this strife,
For I her hated so, for this my ill,
That her I n'er would see, and so do still.
(More than I ought) the manners of my Wife,
Makes care and griefe fresh in me still to grow,
And forceth me to leade a hellish life.
Of this Melissa glad herselfe did show,
(But small it durde) being author of this strife,
For I her hated so, for this my ill,
That her I n'er would see, and so do still.
She taking this my hate impatient
Whome she to loue more then her selfe did faine,
Where Lady of my heart incontinent,
She thought in place of th'other to remaine,
Not for to haue her griefe so nigh, she went
Heauie from hence, because of my disdaine,
And from this country wandred she so far,
As after neuer newes I heard of her.
Whome she to loue more then her selfe did faine,
Where Lady of my heart incontinent,
She thought in place of th'other to remaine,
Not for to haue her griefe so nigh, she went
Heauie from hence, because of my disdaine,
And from this country wandred she so far,
As after neuer newes I heard of her.
Thus saide and ceast, the wofull Caualiere,
Who liude in anguish to his latest day,
Too late repenting that his louely Pheere
Through folly his, he forst to go her way:
A caueat good for iealous heads to beare
In minde, lest for their paines they finde like pay.
To whom I wish such lucke as had this Knight,
And to their Wiues like change for their delight.
Who liude in anguish to his latest day,
Too late repenting that his louely Pheere
Through folly his, he forst to go her way:
A caueat good for iealous heads to beare
In minde, lest for their paines they finde like pay.
To whom I wish such lucke as had this Knight,
And to their Wiues like change for their delight.
Siena 28. di Lulio 1592.
| Two Tales, Translated out of Ariosto | |