French fiction -- Translations into English; Italian fiction -- Translations into English
Gittrone, Lute, or Lyra, more fine and witty than those vnsauery
Ballets that be tuned and chaunted in the mouthes of the common
sort. Beholde an Earle well serued, and dressed by enioying so
false a Woman, which had already falsified the fayth betrouthed
to hir husband, who was more honest, milde, and vertuous than
she deserued. Beholde also, yee Noble Gentlemen, the simplicity
of this good Earle, how it was deceyued by a false and filthy
strumpet, whose stincking lyfe and common vse of body woulde
haue withdrawen ech simple creature from mixture of their owne
wyth sutch a Carrion. A lesson to learne al youth to refrayne
the Whoorishe lookes of lighte conditioned Dames, a number (the
more to be pittied) shewinge foorth themselues to the Portsale
of euery Cheapener, that list demaunde the pryce, the grozenes
whereof before considered, were worthy to be defied and loathed.
This Ladye seeinge her Louer nousled in hir lust, dandled him
with a thousand trumperyes, and made hym holde the Mule, while
other enioyed the secrete sporte which earst hee vsed hymself.
This acquayntance was so dangerous to the Counte, as she hir
selfe was shamelesse to the Counte of Celant: for the one bare
the armes of Cornwall, and became a seconde Acteon, and the
other wickedly led his lyfe, and lost the chiefest of that hee
loked for by the seruice of great Princes, throughe the treason
of an arrante common queane. Whiles this Loue contynued in al
Pleasure and lyke contentation of either parts: fortune that was
ready to mounte the stage, and shew in sight that her mobylytye
was no more stable than a woman’s wyll: for vnder sutch habite
and sexe Painters and Poets describe hir) made Ardizzino
suspecte what desire she had of chaunge: and within a while
after, sawe himselfe so farre misliked of his Lady, as though he
had neuer bene acquainted. The cause of which recoile was, for
that the Countesse was not contented with one kind of fare,
whose Eyes were more greedy than hir stomake able to digest, and
aboue al desired chaunge, not seking meanes to finde him that
was worthy to be beloued and intertayned of so great a Lady, as
she esteemed hir selfe to be, and as sutch of their owne opinion
thinke themselues, who counterfaicte more grauitie and
reputation than they doe, whome Nature and vertue for theyr
maiesty and holynes of lyfe make Noble and praise worthy. That
desire deceiued hir nothing at all, for a certaine time after
that Ardizzino possessed the forte of this fayre Countesse,
there came to Pauia, one Roberto Sanseuerino earle of Gaiazzo,
a yong and valiaunte gentleman, whose Countreye lyeth on this
side the Mountaines, and was verye famylyar with the Earle of
Massino. This vnfaythful Alcina and cruel Medea had no soner
cast hir Eye vppon Signor di Gaiazzo, but was pierced with loue
in sutch wise, as if forthwith shee had not attayned hir
desyres, she would haue run mad, bycause that Gentleman bare a
certayne statelye representatyon in hys Face, and promysed sutch
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