French fiction -- Translations into English; Italian fiction -- Translations into English
procured hir to passe the mountayns trauaile, than due and
honest Amitye, wherewith she was double bound through his
perseuerance and humble seruice, with whose sight hee was so
appalled, as he fared like a shadowe and Image of a deade man.
Wherefore callyng to mynd the rigour of his lady, hir inciuility
and fonde Commaundement, so longe time to forbidde hys Speach,
the Loue which once hee bare hir, with vehement desire to obey
hir, sodainly was so cooled and qualyfyed, that loue was turned
into hatred, and will to serue hir, into an appetite of reuenge:
whereupon he determined to vse that presente Fortune, and to
playe his parte wyth hir, vpon whom hee had so foolyshly doted,
and to pay hir with that Money wherewyth she made him feele the
Fruicts of vnspeakable crueltye, to giue example to fonde and
presumptuous dames, how they abuse Gentlemen of sutch Degree
whereof the Knyghte was, and that by hauing regarde to the
merite of sutch personages, they be not so prodigall of
themselues, as to set their honour in sale for vyle reward and
filthy mucke: whych was so constantly conserued and defended by
this Gentlewoman, agaynst the assaultes of the good grace,
beauty, valour, and gentlenesse, of that vertuous and honest
suter. And notwithstanding, in these dayes wee see some to
resiste the amity of those that loue, for an opynyon of a
certayne vertue, which they thinke to be hydden within the corps
of excellent beauty, who afterwards do set themselues to sale to
hym that giueth most, and offreth greatest reward. Sutch do not
deserue to be placed in rank of chast Gentlewomen, of whome they
haue no smacke at al, but amongs the throng of strumpets kynde,
that haue some sparke and outward shew of loue: for she which
loueth money and hunteth after gayne, wyl make no bones, by
treason’s trap to betray that vnhappy man, which shall yelde
himselfe to hir: hir loue tending to vnsensible things, and
sutch in dede, as make the wisest sorte to falsifie their fayth,
and sel the ryghte and Equity of their Iudgment. The Lorde of
Virle, seeing Zilia then in his company, and almost at his
commaundement, fayned as though hee knew hir not, by reason of
his small regard and lesse intertaynment shewed vnto hir at hir
first comming. Which greatly made the poore Gentlewoman to muse.
Neuerthelesse she making a vertue of necessity, and seeing hir
selfe to bee in that place, from whence shee could not depart,
without the losse of hir honor and Lyfe, purposed to proue
Fortune, and to committe hir selfe vnto his mercy, for all the
mobilytie whych the auncients attribute vnto Fortune. Wherefore
shutting fast the doore, shee went vnto the Knight, to whom she
spake these words: “And what is the matter (sir knight) that now
you make so little accompte of your owne Zilia, who in times
past you sayd, had great power and Authorytye ouer you? what is
the cause that moueth you hereunto? haue you so soone forgotten
hir? Beholde me better, and you shal see hir before you that is
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account