A Modest Meane to Mariage: pleasauntly set foorth by that famous Clarke Erasmus Roterodamus, and translated into Englishe by N.L.Erasmus, Desiderius
General
A Modest Meane to Mariage: pleasauntly set foorth by that famous Clarke Erasmus Roterodamus, and translated into Englishe by N.L.
Erasmus, Desiderius
Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern) -- Translations into English; Marriage -- Early works to 1800
=Ma.= How commeth it to passe then, that since he which loueth is the
doer and shée which is beloued is but the sufferer, she should be
infamed for a murtherer, which is beloued. When as in verie déede, he
that loueth rather murthereth himself?
=Pam.= Nay, it is contrarie, for he that loueth suffreth, she that is
beloued doth.
=Ma.= That shall you neuer proue true with the consent of our chiefe
_Areopagites_ of Grammer.
=Pam.= But this will I proue true by the consent of the whole
Parliament of Logitians.
=Ma.= But aunswere me to this againe, loue you with your wil, or
against your wyll?
=Pam.= With my will.
=Maria.= Ergo, sithence it is in frée choise to loue, or not to loue,
whoso loueth, is a murtherer of himselfe, and wrongfullye accuseth the
poore wench beloued.
=Pam.= Why? I say not that the wench murthereth bicause she is
beloued, but bicause she loueth not againe the party which loueth hir:
for (truth it is) she is guilty of murther, which might saue a mans
life and will not.
=Ma.= I put case a yong man cast his loue vpon one, which he ought not
to loue, or maye not lawfully obtaine, as an other man hys wyfe, or a
Virgine, which hath professed continuall chastitie, shall she loue him
againe, so to preserue and saue hir louer?
=Pam.= But this yong man loueth that, which to loue is both lawfull
and godly, and standeth both with reason and equity, and yet
neuerthelesse is cast away. That in case you set light by the crime of
homicide, I will aguilt you also of sorcerie and enchaunting me.
=Ma.= Marrie gods forbod man, what will you make of me a _Circes_
ympe, a witch?
=Pa.= Yea and somewhat more cruell yet, than euer was _Circes_. For I
had rather be a groueling Hog or beare, then as I am, without life or
soule.
=Ma.= And with what kinde of sorcerie I praye ye doe I destroy men.
=Pam.= By euill aspect.
=Ma.= Will you then that I hurt you no more with loking vpon you?
=Pam.= Not so for Gods sake, but rather looke more vpon me.
=Ma.= If mine eyes be witches, how hapneth it then that other also do
not consume awaye, whome I looke vpon as ofte as you, therfore I feare
me much, y^e bewitching is in your owne eyes, not in mine.
=Pam.= Why thinke you it not inough to flea _Pamphilus_, except you
triumph ouer him being dead.
=Maria.= Oh queint handsome, nise dead body: when shall your funerals
be prouided for.
=Pam.= Sooner than you thinke ywisse, except you remedie in time.
=Ma.= I remedie good Lord? am I able to doe such a cure?
=Pam.= Yea surely: all were I deade, it lyeth in you to rayse me vp
againe to life, and that with a light thing.
=Maria.= As you say, peraduenture I might doe it, if some bodye woulde
helpe me to the herbe _Panaces_, wherevnto they ascribe so great a
vertue.
=Pam.= There needeth none herbes to doe it, only vouchsafe to loue
againe, what is more easie to be perfourmed? nay rather what is more
due and iust? otherwise you shall neuer acquite your selfe of
manspilling.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account