I never heard sound of any instrument, although I knew him to be skilful in only one, to the notes and tune of which I did first give an attentive ear, and after ask who he was that played on it, imagining still, that he might possibly be the same, whom I did so carefully seek after. There was not any pleasant Rock, Cool shore or shadowed Cave which I had seen, nor any company left unvisited of me, to see if happily I might have found him.
Certes I confess that sometimes this unfeigned and vain hope did abolish a great part of my sighs, which sighs (after that it was gone from me) amassed together in the concavity of my brain, whose natural issue was to have been breathed forth, converted now into bitter and brinish tears, were by the conduits of my sorrowful eyes poured forth, and so the counterfeit joys were turned into confected and true anguish of mind.
Our pleasant City, surpassing all other Cities in Italy that are held famous for noble feasts and royal shows, doth not only exhilarate her Citizens Naples — with generous and solemn Nuptials, refresh them with divers sweet walks, Crystalline Rivers, delightsome sea sands, pleasant shores and green banks, but, copious also in many goodly sports, as sometimes with one public and sumptuous spectacle, and now with another princely and solemn show, doth rejoice her people’s hearts, and stir them up to exceeding and general gladness. But amongst all other pastimes in the which it doth appear to the world most famous, in Tilt and tourney (which is almost daily exercised there), and generally in all feats of arms, it is chiefly renowned. This therefore was wont to be an ancient custom amongst us (after that the tempestuous and stormy blasts of shaking
Winter are past, and the merry Springtide, with her new flowers and green grass, hath brought again to the world her trepassed beauties, the vigour also and courage of young lusty Lords and Gentlemen being by the quality and season of the time rekindled, and their amorous hearts more prompt than before, to discover their fervent desires) that at the greatest and most stately houses of noblemen, the bravest most honourable Ladies, shining in glittering gold, and adorned with their most precious and rare Jewels, did with these frankly assent to meet joyfully together. I do not think that to behold King Priam his Daughters-in-Law, with many other of the Phrygian Ladies, when, attired and beautified in the bravest sort, they presented themselves, and came before their Father-in-Law, and sovereign, to dance, to feast and to make merry, was either a more rich or goodly sight than for to see in many pleasant places of our City the majestical meeting and brave assemblies of celestial demi-goddesses in the same, which, after that in fair troops they came to the public Theatres (every one to the utmost of her power showing herself most brave, and making herself most beautiful) I doubt not but if any Gentleman stranger, but indifferently conceited and judicious, had arrived there (having considered their haughty countenances, their noble behaviour, and viewed their costly apparel and rich ornaments, rather princelike than convenient for many (nay, most) Gentlewomen there) would not have judged them women of this latter age, but would have thought that some of those ancient and magnificent Ladies had been returned again to the world, saying with himself:
“She for her stateliness doth resemble Semiramis.” This other (gazing on her sumptuous apparel and Jewels) would rather be deemed Cleopatra. Another (considering her courtly and lovely graces) he would have compared to fair Helen. And another (viewing well her gesture and sweet actions in his mind) he would affirm not to be unlike to Queen Dido. Wherefore proceed I thus in comparison of them all? Every one by herself would rather seem a divine majesty than any human matter. And how oftentimes have I (miserable Woman), before I had lost my Panphilus, heard many young Gentlemen descant upon myself, contending to whether of these two I might have been best compared: to the Virgin Polixena, or to Venus of Cipres. Some of them saying that it was too much to compare me to a Goddess, and others, alleging the contrary, said that it was too little to resemble me to an earthly and mortal woman. There was not amongst so great and noble company any of them remaining long in their places, nor grave silence was kept there.
But the old and ancient Gentlemen, rising up to behold the lusty young Gentlemen, how lovingly some of them (taking the coy Gentlewomen by their delicate hands to dance) did amorously discourse with them according to the desires of their fancies, and how other some with tuned voice and melodious instrument deciphered the effects of his amorous passions. And in this sort was the hottest part of the day spent in all manner of noble sports and glee that might be devised.
And after that the Sun hath once begun to send forth his beams cooler than before, then do the honourable Princes of our Ausonian kingdom meet together in that habit as their high estate doth require. Who, after that they have beheld the divine graces of every Lady, and fed their greedy eyes with every Gentlewoman’s beauty, and marked well their dancing, commending some more, some less, but all generally, going away with almost all the Knights and Gentlewomen (as well married as unmarried men) after a little while, in great and most brave companies, with rich and new-fashioned apparel, and clean contrary to the rest, with Masks, and other goodly shows, they return back again.
What tongue is there, be it never so famous for golden eloquence and choice words, or wit, never so much commended for excellent sentences and exquisite invention, that could perfectly or particularly set down the Noble and gorgeous Habits, and the sundry brave suits of apparel (as pleasant for variety as wonderful for magnificence), which was seen there?
Not Homer, certes, so worthy amongst the Grecians, nor Virgil, so highly praised of the Latins, which with stately verse did write the infinite adventures and accidents, which both those noble men, and which the Grecians, Trojans and Italians, had of yore in their open wars, private peace and stratagems. I will therefore endeavour to make a brief relation of them to those Women who did openly never see them performed, which description shall not so vainly be inserted in this my pitiful discourse, and not to so small purpose, but that the wiser sort of Women may comprehend my sorrow beyond any woman’s past or present, to be without pause or relaxation still continuated: since that with the admirable dignity of so many princely shows and rare sights, it could not by any merry mean (were it never so little time) be broken from that cleaving and cloying grief. I say therefore (to come to the matter) that our noble Princes and valiant Lords were mounted upon Coursers of Naples, and Spanish Gennets, so passing swift in running, that any other beast whatsoever, yea, the very winds themselves (although they made never so much speed), they would in course (invisible almost) leave behind.
Whose youth and lusty years, comely favour, and approved magnanimity and courage, made them passing gracious, and renowned in every Gentlewoman’s eye and mouth. They came prancing forward on their barded horses, with caparisons of purple and crimson Satin, curiously embroidered with fine threads of shining Gold, and with cloth of the same artificially woven by Indian hands, with strange works of divers colours intermingled, filled and bordered with Gold, pearl and precious stones. Whose silken, soft and lovely locks, hanging down upon their stately shoulders, were tied round about with a fine filament of Gold, beset with Diamonds, Rubies and Emeralds, and with many other gems, or else with a little Garland of green Laurel, having on his left hand a light shield, and bearing a, strong Lance in his right hand, at sound of Tuscan trumpets making furious and courageous encounters either one against another, or many against many, after the Morisco guise, but generally in the most brave and admirable sort, before the noble Ladies and Gentlewomen begin their heroical sports. Commending him most who with the point of his Lance carried nearest to the ground, and closely couched under his shield, without any disordered motion of his body in the saddle, did show himself in running on his fiery steed.
To such kind of feasts and pleasant shows, as I was ever wont (poor and miserable Fiammetta), I was also invited, and certes not without great grief unto me, because beholding these pastimes it came to my mind that I had whilom seen my Panphilus sitting amongst our more ancient and reverend old Gentlemen, to behold suchlike sp
ectacles: whose sufficiency (according to the admirable gravity of his youth) deserved so high a place. And sometimes standing (as young Pretextatus amongst the noble and grave Senators of Rome) with the fore-said robed Knights, to judge of these pastimes, amongst whom, one for his authority was like unto Secuola, another for his gravity to either of the Catos, and some of so pleasant and delectable countenances that they seemed Pompey the Great or Marcus Marcellus, and others of so stern and martial looks that they seemed lively to represent the worthy African Scipio or Quintus Cincinnatus: all the which, equally and eagerly beholding the running of every one, and calling to mind their young and lusty passed years, pricked to the quick with glory of honour and courage, and muttering and fretting to themselves, sometimes commended one and sometimes another, Panphilus affirming all their sayings, and allowing their censures. Of whom sometimes I heard, how he compared (talking of this and that, now with one, and now with another) and how he resembled all those valiant Champions that did run, to the young and old renowned Heroes of the other worlds.
Oh, how dear a thing was this to my cars, as well for him that spake it as for them that attentively gave ear unto it, and also for my Citizen’s sake of whom it was spoken. So much truly, that the remembrance thereof is yet very grateful unto me. Of our young Princes, whose heroical countenances bewrayed their hardy and courageous minds, he was wont to say that one was like to Arcadius of Parthenope, of whom it is reported, and firmly believed, that none came better appointed and more resolute to the destruction of Thebes, at what time his mother sent him thither, being but a young youth. The next after he confessed to be like the sweet Ascanius, of whom Virgil (a singular record of so brave a youth) wrote so many golden verses. Comparing the third to Deiphobus, and the fourth for beauty to Ganymede.
Then coming to those of riper age, that followed these, he gave them no less perfect and pleasant semblances. For there might you see one coming along with a ruddy colour and a red beard, and with soft, bushy and crisped locks falling down upon his strong and flightly shoulders, and (no otherwise than Hercules was wont to have) bound up with a fine little garland of green leaves, apparelled with costly garments of silk, occupying no more room than the just quantity of his body, garnished with sundry brave works wrought with skilful hand, with a Mantle upon his right shoulder, fastened together with a button of Gold, and with a fair and rich shield covering his left side, and carrying in his right hand a light spear, as was most fit for that sport, whom he said that he was in gesture, and countenance, like to great Hector. After whom another coming along, adorned in like Habits, and with as stout a countenance as the other, having cast up the golden fringed border of his Mantle upon his shoulder, with his left hand cunningly managed his unruly horse, he judged another Achilles. Another following him, shaking his threatening Lance, and carrying his target behind his back, having his soft hair tied together with a fine veil (given him perhaps of his Lady) he called Protesilaus. After whom another following with a fine Hat on his head, of a brown colour in his face, and with a long beard, and of a fierce countenance, he called Pyrrhus.
And another after him with a more mild look, and with a sweet and smooth face, and more gorgeously adorned than the rest, he thought to resemble Paris of Troy, or King Menelaus.
What need I prolong my narration about this royal rank any further. In brief, as they passed in that long and goodly company, he showed who was like to Agamemnon, who to Ajax, who to Ulysses, who to Diomedes, or to any other Grecian, Trojan or Latin worthy of eternal praise and memory. Neither did he give them these names merely of his own pleasure, but, conferring and confirming his arguments with acceptable reasons about the manner of these paragoned Lords, did show that they were only and worthily compared unto them. Wherefore the hearing of these reasons was no less pleasant than to see the very same persons by whom and for whom he spake and framed them.
The gallant troop therefore of Horsemen, after riding three or four times with easy pace up and down, to show themselves to the lookers-on, courageously began their fierce courses, and, standing almost right up in their stirrups, bravely couched under their Targets, with the points of their Lances carried so even as they seemed to shave the ground, swifter than the swiftest wind their horses carried them away. And the air resounding with the shouts of the people that stood by, and the jangling of the silver and golden bells, that every horse was almost trapped withal, the noise also of Trumpets, and of other martial instruments, the flapping and smiting of the caparisons against the horses’ sides, and of their bases in the air, and the flyttering of their Mantles also against the wind, did prick on their fiery steeds to a more hot, braver, swifter and more courageous course.
And thus, everyone with great delight and joy continually beholding them, and marking the order of their courses, they made themselves to be worthily admired, and not unworthily praised in the secret hearts and open mouths of all the spectators.
How many Ladies and Gentlewomen (someone seeing her Husband amongst these here, another her Lover, and some their near Kinsmen) did I see many times clap their hands, and most highly rejoice at the dexterity and courage of their friends? Not a few truly. And not only these, but strangers also: myself only excepted: who (although I saw my Husband there, and other of my kindred with him) with sorrowful cheer did behold him, not seeing my Panphilus there. And when I remembered how far off he was from me.
Alas, good Ladies, is not this a marvellous thing, that that which I see, should be the material cause and substance of my sorrow? And that nothing may make me merry. Alas, what soul is there in hell, never so much tormented with endless pain, that seeing these things could not but feel some respective joy? Why, not one at all (I think). For they, ravished with the sweetness of Orpheus his harp, forgot for a time their cruel pains and torments. But I, set in the midst of a thousand torments, and placed amongst a thousand joys, and continually exercised in many and sundry kinds of sports, cannot (I say) bury my grief in momentary oblivion, nor assuage and lighten it, be it never so little a while. And put case that sometimes at those feasts, and suchlike, I have with an unfeigned and true countenance hid it, and have given respect to my tedious sighs, in the night afterwards, when I did find myself all alone, I did prolong, not pardon any part of my tears, but did pour out rather so many of them as the day before I had spared and kept in scalding sighs. And these things inducing me to more pensive and piercing thoughts, and especially in considering their vanities, more apt and possible to hurt than to help, as by proof of them I do manifestly know, the feast being finished, and myself going from it, and not without cause complaining and waxing angry against these vain shadows, and all other worldly shows, I began thus to say:
“Oh, how happy is that innocent man who dwelleth in the solitary village, enjoying only the open air! Who, employing his sole care and labour to invent subtle gins for simple beasts, and to make nets for unwary birds, with grief of mind can never be wounded. And if perhaps he suffer any great weariness in his body, in casting himself down upon the green grass incontinently he refresheth himself again, changing his place sometimes in the fresh river banks, and sometimes under the cool shadow of some great wood, where the chirping birds, with their pretty songs, and the soft trembling of the green leaves (shaken by some pleasant and little wind, as staying themselves to hearken to their silver notes), lull him sweetly asleep.
“Ah, Fortune, hadst thou granted me such a life (to whom thy desired gifts are but a cloying care, and detriment), it had been better for me. Alas, how my high Palaces, sumptuous beds, treasure and great family, anything profitable, and how little pleasant, unto me, when my mind, surcharged with overmuch anxiety, and wandering in unknown countries after Panphilus, cannot have any small rest, nor when any comfortable respiration may be granted to my wearied and breathless soul. Oh, how delightful and gracious a thing is it to press the green and sweet banks of the swiftrunning rivers, with a quiet and free mind, and upon the naked turfs to fetch a sound and unbroken sleep, which the gliding
river with murmuring bubbles and pleasant noise, without fear doth nourish and maintain. These eases are, without any grudge, granted to the poor inhabitants of the country village freely to enjoy, and are a great deal more to be desired than those toys which with many flattering words I have oftentimes fawned on, and have with such diligent and daily care embraced (as the fine dames of the Cities use commonly to do), and which at last, with the careless coil of the tumultuous family, or negligently, broken. His hunger (if at any time perhaps it prick him) with gathering of Apples in the faithful and secure woods he doth drive away, and many young and tender herbs, which the wide Champaigns or little hills of their own free will bring forth, are also a most savoury and sweet sustenance unto him. Oh, in how many running brooks, Crystalline fountains, and sweet waters, lying down all along, may he quench his thirst, and with the hollow of his hand in clear and streaming rivers? Ah, wicked and pinching care of worldlings, for whose sustentation nature doth require but little and doth prepare light things. We think with the infinite number and sundry sorts of delicate viands to fill the gourmandize of our bodies, and to please our queasy appetites, not perceiving at all, that in them there lie hidden the very causes, by means of which the ordinate humours and good blood are ever more corrupted than nourished.
“And how many times in cups of gold and silver, richly garnished with gems and precious stones, instead of sweet and delicious wines, do we daily hear that cold and swelling poisons are tasted, and do hourly see that in hot wines and compound drinks, licentious, unbridled and wicked lust is drunk and thrown headlong down. Whereupon, commonly they fall by means of these into a superfluous security: which by wicked words, or damned deeds, doth bring to them a miserable life, or doth pay them home with a most contemptible death, seeing moreover, by daily proof, that these kinds of unkind beverages made the drinkers’ bodies in a great deal worser and more miserable case than stark mad. The Satyrs, Fauns, Dryads, Naiads and Nymphs keep him faithful and simple company.
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