University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
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?)
  
[epigraph]
  
[dedication]

collapse section 
[section]
  
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.
collapse section 
[Tragicall Tales.]
collapse section1. 
[Through wilful loue, and liking ouermuch]
  
The argument to the first Historie.
  
[section]
  
The Ladies Letter of pittie to her afflictd friend, to whom she had been cruell
  
[section]
  
The Lenuoy.
collapse section2. 
[Nicocrates a cruell tyrant, slewe]
  
The Argument to the second Hystorie.
  
[section]
  
The Lenuoy.
collapse section3. 
[Gentile loude one Nicoluccios wife]
  
The argument to the third Historie.
  
[section]
  
Lenuoy.
collapse section4. 
[Two Knightes did linke in League of great goodwill]
  
The argument to the fourth Historie.
  
[section]
  
The Lenuoy.
collapse section5. 
[The Lumbard Albyon conquered Cunimund]
  
The Argument to the fift Historie.
  
[section]
  
The Lenuoy.
collapse section6. 
[The king of Thunise had a daughter faire]
  
The Argument to the sixt Historie.
  
[section]
  
Lenuoy.
collapse section7. 
[A merchāts daughter loude her brothers boy]
  
The Argument to the seuenth Hystorie.
  
[section]
  
Lenuoy.
 8. 
[VVhen Aristotimus did strike the stroke]
 9. 
[Symona likt of Pasquine passing well]
 10. 
[A merchants sonne that Girolanus hight]
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
To one whom he had long loued, and at last was refused vvithout cause, and one imbraced that least deserued it.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
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.
collapse section 
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 Spencer.
  
To Parker.
  
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.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile
next section

The argument to the first Historie.

1

Through wilful loue, and liking ouermuch,
Nastagios state did melt, and without returne
Of like good will: Euphymius minde was such
She felt no flame, when he, good man, did burne
But made his griefe her glee, his bitter smarte
Might nothing rize or pierce her marble harte.

2

By friendes aduise at last he parted thence,
Though greatly greeued, remouing racke him sore,
To quit the cause of al his fond expence,
And purchase ease which he had lost before:
A death (no doubt) it was to put away,
And yet no life with her in place to stay.

3

Beholde the happ, as he ful pensiue stoode
Amyd a groue adioyning to his tent,
Recounting former toyes: athwart the wood
With cruell curres an armed knight there went,
That had in chace a frotion fresh of hewe,
Whom he by force of sword and mastiues slewe.

4

And after death this lady liude againe
Vp start away she ran before the Knight,
For thus the Goddes alotted had her paine,
Bycause she slewe by scorne that louing wight:
In death he was her plague whome she in life
Enforst to slay himselfe with murthering knife.

5

Nastagio pondering in his restlesse thought
As wel the sequele, as the cause of all.
Seing that skorne the ladies penance wrought.
[12]

For dealing earst so hardely with hir thrall:
Bethought him howe to make a myrrour right
Both of the mayde, and eke the cursed knight.

6

His plat was thus: he byd in friendly sort
Vnto his tente, to feast and banket there
His auncient loue, that made his payne hir sporte,
Whose mother came and diuers friendes I feare,
Amyds the feast the knight pursude the mayde,
And slewe hir there, as I before haue sayde.

7

Which sight amazde the route, but most of all
That virgin coye, so carelesse of the man
Begonne to quake it toucht her to the gall,
And therevpon hir liking first began.
For after that she woxe his wife at last,
Dreading the gods reuenge for rigour past.
previous section Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile
next section