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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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A vowe of Constancie.

First shal the raging flouds
against their course runne:
By day the moone shal lend her light,
by night the golden sunne.
First fickle fortune shall
stand at a stedy stay:
And in the sea the shining starres
shal moue and keepe their way.
First Fish amid the ayre,
shal wander to and fro:
The cloudes be cleere in beuty eke
the cole exceede the snowe.
First kinde shal alter all
and change her wonted state:
The blind shal see, the deafe shal heare,
the dumbe shal freely prate.
Before that any chaunce,
or let that may arise
Shalbe of force to wrest my loue
or quench in any wise.
The flame of my good will,
and faithful fancies fire:

[175]

Saue cruel death shal nothing daunt,
or coole my hote desire,
Desire that guides my life
and yeldes my hart his foode:
Wherfore to be in presence stil,
with thee, would doe me good
Which presence I presume
thou neuer wilt deny:
But as occasion serues,
so thou to frendship wilt apply.
Til when I giue thee vp,
to good and happy chaunce:
In hope that time to our delights,
wil seeke vs to aduance.
Adue (deere frend) to thee,
that art my only ioy:
More faire to me then Helen was
to Priams sonne of Troy.
And constant more in loue,
then was Vlisses make
Of whose assured life and zeale,
so much the Poets spake,
Lesse light then Lucrece eke
whom Tarquins lust defilde:
As curteous as the Carthage Queene,
that fowly was beguilde.
To quite all which good parts,
this vow I make to thee:

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I will be thine as long as I
haue power mine owne to be.