The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1

W >> William Painter >> The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26

Pleasaunt they be, for that they recreate, and refreshe weried mindes,
defatigated either with painefull trauaile, or with continuall care,
occasioning them to shunne and auoid heauinesse of minde, vaine
fantasies, and idle cogitations. Pleasaunt so well abroade as at home,
to auoyde the griefe of Winter's night and length of Sommer's day, which
the trauailers on foote may vse for a staye to ease their weried bodye,
and the iourneors on horsback for a chariot or lesse painful meane of
trauaile, insteade of a merie companion to shorten the tedious toyle of
wearie wayes. Delectable they be (no doubt) for al sortes of men, for
the sad, the angry, the cholericke, the pleasaunt, the whole and sicke,
and for al other with whatsoeuer passion rising either by nature or vse
they be affected.

The sad shal be discharged of heauinesse, the angrie and cholericke
purged, the pleasaunt mainteined in mirthe, the whole furnished with
disporte, and the sicke appaysed of griefe. These Nouelles then, being
profitable and pleasaunt Histories, apt and meete for all degrees,
I truste the indifferent Reader, of what complexion, nature and
disposition so euer he bee, will accepte in good parte, althoughe
perchaunce not so set foorth or decked with eloquent stile, as this age
more braue in tongue then manners dothe require, and do praye thee to
receiue them into thy curteous hands, with no lesse good wil (though not
with like regard) then Alphonsus king of Arogon did Q. Curtius, out of
whome be some of these selected, Who vpon a time beinge sicke at Capua,
receiuing at the handes of diuers Phisitions manye medicines, in his
greatest fit called for the historie of Q. Curtius, in whome hauing
great delight for his eloquent description of gestes and factes of king
Alexander, when he was restored to health, sayd: Farewell Auicen, Adieu
Hipocrates and other Phisitians, welcome Curtius the restitutor and
recouerie of my health. Whereby he declared what pleasure he had in the
exercise and reading of Histories, not contempning for all that, the
honorable science of Phisicke, which in extremities be holsomely vsed.
What commoditie and pleasure histories doe yelde to the diligent
serchers and trauailers in the same, Tullie in his fift booke _De
finibus bonorum et malorum ad Brutam_, doth declare who affirmeth that
he is not ignorant, what pleasure and profit the reading of Histories
doth import. And after hee hath described what difference of commoditie,
is betweene fained fables, and liuely discourses of true histories,
concludeth reading of histories to be a certain prouacation and
allurement to moue men to learne experience. If Tullie then, the Prince
of Orators, doth affirme the profite and pleasure to be in perusing of
histories, then fitlye haue I intituled this volume the Palace of
Pleasure. For like as the outwarde shew of Princesse Palaces be
pleasaunt at the viewe and sight of eche man's eye, bedecked and
garnished with sumptuous hanginges and costlye arras of splendent shewe,
wherein be wrought and bet with golde and sylke of sondrye hewes, the
dedes of noble states: Euen so in this our Palace here, there bee at
large recorded the princely partes and glorious gestes of renowmed
wights represented with more liuely grace and gorgeous sight then
Tapestrie or Arras woorke, for that the one with deadlye shape doth
shewe, the other with speaking voyce declare what in their time they
were. Vpon whom do wayte (as meete it is) inferiour persones, eche one
vouchsafing to tell what hee was, in the transitorie trade of present
life.

Wherefore accepte the same in gratefull wise, and thinke vpon the mynde
of him that did the same, which fraughted is with no lesse plentie of
good will, then the coafers of kyng Craesus were, with store of worldlye
pelfe. Farewell.

THE PALACE OF PLEASURE.

THE FIRST NOUELL.

_The Romaines and the Albanes being at warres, for iniuries mutually
inferred, Metius Suffetius the Albane captaine deuised a waye by a
combate, to ioygne bothe the cities in one. Victorie falling to the
Romaines, the Romaine victor killed his sister and was condemned to
die. Afterwardes vpon his fathers sute he was deliuered._

As the name of Palace doth carie a port of Maiestie as propre for
princes and greatest estates, and as a Palace and Court by glorious
viewe of loftie Towers, doe set forth an outwarde showe of greate
magnificence; and as that glittering sight without importeth a brauer
pompe and state within, whose worthiest furniture (besides the golden
and curious ornamentes) resteth in the Princely train of courtly
personages, most communely indowed with natures comliest benefites and
rarest giftes incident to earthly Goddes, as well for the mindes
qualities, as for the bodies acts. So, here at our first entrie,
I thought to staye as it were at the gate of this palace, to discouer
the incountrie of sixe renowmed Gentlemen, brethren of equal numbre,
that, by consent of either state, fought and vsed dedes of armes, not
for sportes of Ladies, or for precious prises, but for Countrie quarell
and libertie of Natiue soyle. For the vpper hand and vniting two most
mighty Italian cities, that before bare eche other moste mortall spite
and deadlye foode, whiche in ende after the bloudie skirmishe of those
chosen brethren (for sauing of a bloudier battell) were conioyned in
vnited Monarchie. An historie though dreadfull to hearing as fitter for
the Campe then Courte, yet, for the worthinesse of the quarell, not to
bee shunned from tendrest eares, for that it spreadeth foorth a
victorious paterne of valiant Chiualrie. And so do the rest succeding,
which speake of glorious chastitie, of inuincible mindes, of bold
Aduentures for Countries saufetie, of naturall pietie in parentes and
children, and the othe of other honorable causes, fitte to be displaied
to eche degree, and practised by such, whose functions, principally do,
or ought to aspire semblable valiaunce, for defence of that whiche their
Elders by bloudie swette haue honorably gotten, and most carefully kept.
But not by tedious proeme to holde the desirous minde from what is
promised, thus it beginneth.

Numa Pompilius the second king of the Romaines being dead, Tullus
Hostilius succeded, which was a lustie and couragious younge Gentleman:
And as Numa was giuen to peace, so was he to warres and valiance. It
chaunced in his time that certaine peasauntes of the Romaine dition, and
the like of the Albanes, were foraging and driuing of booties the one
from the other. At that time raigned in Alba one C. Cluilius, from
whence and from Rome, Ambassadours were sent to redemaunde the thinges
stollen. Tullus commaunded his people that they should deliuer nothing
till commaundement were giuen in that behalfe: for than he knewe right
well that the Alban king would not restore at all, and therefore might
vpon iust cause, proclaime warres. Hee receiued the Alban Ambassadours
in verie courteous manner, and they as courteously celebrated his
honourable and sumptuous intertaignement. Amitie proceded on either
parties, till the Romanes began to demaunde the first restitution which
the Albanes denied, and summoned warres to bee inferred vppon them
within thirtie daies after. Whereupon the Ambassadours craued licence of
Tullus to speake, which being graunted, they first purged themselues by
ignoraunce, that they knewe no harme or iniurie done to the Romaines,
adding further, that if any thing were done that should not please
Tullus, it was against their willes, hoping he would remember that they
were but Ambassadours, subiect to the commaundement of their Prince.
Their comming was to demaunde a restitution, without whiche, they were
straightlye charged to proclayme defiaunce. Whereunto Tullus aunswered:
"Tell your maister, that the king of the Romaines doth call the Gods to
witnes, whether of them first maketh the quarel, to thintent all men may
expect the reuenge of those warres." Which answere the Albane
Ambassadours retourned to their maister. Great prouision for the warres
was made on both partes, much like to a ciuile contention, almost
betwene the father and the sonne, for the citie of Lauinium was builded
by the Troians, and Alba by the Lauinians, of whose stocke the Romaines
toke their beginning. The Albanes seing that they were defied of the
Romaines, began first to enter in armes, and with a maine power perced
the land of the Romaines, and encamped within fiue miles of the citie,
enuironing their campe with a trenche, which afterwardes was called
Fossa Cluilia, of their capitaine, wherin Cluilius the king died. Then
the Albanes appointed one Metius Suffetius, to be their Dictator. Tullus
vnderstanding the death of their Prince, with great expedition marched
into the countrie about Alba, pssiang by the Albanes campe in the night
which by the watche and scoutes was skried. Then he retired to lodge as
nere the enemie as hee could, sending an Ambassadour before, to require
Tullus that he would come to parle before they fought, and than he had a
thing to saye, no lesse profitable to the Romaines, then to the Albanes.
Tullus not contempning that condition, agreed. Whereupon both did put
them selues in readines, and before they ioyned, both the captaines with
certain of their chiefe officers, came forth to talke, where Metius
sayde these wordes: "The mutuall iniuries that hath been done, and the
withholding and keping of thinges caried away, contrary to the truce,
and that our king Cluilius, is the authour and beginner of these warres,
I do heare and assuredly vnderstande for a trothe. And I do not doubte,
Tullus, but thou also doest conceiue the same, to be the only occasion
of this hostilitie. Notwithstandinge, if I may speake rather the truthe,
then vtter any glosing woordes by waye of flatterie, the ambicious
desire of both the Empires, doth moste of all stimulate and prouoke both
the cities, being of one affinitie, and neighbours, to vse this force of
Armes. But whether this my coniecture bee righte or wrong, they oughte
to consider, whiche firste began the warres. The Albanes haue created me
their Captaine of this enterpryse. I come to geue aduertisement to thee,
O Tullus, of this one thing. Which is, that the Thuscans being a great
nation, and of power right famous, doth inuirone vs both rounde about,
and the nerer they be vnto you, the more knowledge you haue of them.
They be mightie vpon lande, and of great power vpon Sea. Call to thy
remembraunce and consider, that when thou geuest the signe and watch
worde of the battell, our twoo armies shall bee but a ridiculous
spectacle to them. So sone as they doe perceiue vs twoo to bee spent,
and weried with fighting, they will bothe assayle the vanquished, and
him also that doeth ouercome. Wherefore if the Goddes do fauour eyther
of vs, let vs not shewe our selues to bee wearie of our libertie and
franchise that is certaine, and hazard the dice to incurre perpetuall
seruitude and bondage. Therfore let vs deuise some other waye, wherby
the one of vs may gouerne the other without effusion of eithers bloud."

This condition nothing displeased Tullus, although in courage, and hope
of victorie, he was more fierce and bolder then the other. And being in
consultation about the purpose, fortune ministred an apt occasion to
them both: for in either campes there were thre brethren, of age and
valiance semblable. The brethren that were in the Romaine campe were
called Horatij, the other Curiatij. Whereupon a combate was thought
meete betwene these sixe persones. After the Romaines had vsed their
solempne maners of consecrating the truces, and other rites concerning
the same, either partes repaired to the combate. Both the armies stode
in readines before their campes, rather voyde of present perill then of
care: for the state of either of their Empires, consisted in the
valiance and fortune of a fewe. Wherfore theire mindes were wonderfullye
bent and incensed vpon that vnpleasant sight. The signe of the combat
was giuen. The thre yonge men of either side do ioigne with furious and
cruel onset, representing the courages of two battelles of puissaunt
armies. For the losse consisted in neither those three, but the publique
gouernement or common thraldome of both the cities, and that was the
future fortune, whiche they did trie and proue. So sone as the clashing
armoure did sound at their first incountrie, and their glittering
swordes did shine, an incredible horror and feare perced the beholders,
and hope inclining to either partes, their voyce and myndes were whist
and silent. But after they were closed together, not onely the mouing of
their bodies, and doubtfull welding and handling of their weapons, but
bloudye woundes appeared, two of the Romaines falling downe starke dead
one vppon an other: But before the three Albanes were sore hurt. Whereat
the Albane hoste shouted for ioye. The Romaine Legions were voyde of
hope, amazed to see but one remayne against three: It chaunced that hee
that liued whyche as hee was but one alone (an vnmeete matche for the
rest) so he was fierce, and thought himselfe good enough for them all.
Therefore to separate their fight, he flede backe, meaning thereby to
geue euery of them their welcome as they followed. When he was retired a
good space from the place wher they fought, loking back, he sawe them
followe some distance one from an other, and as one of them approched,
he let driue at him with great violence. And whiles the Albane hoste
cried out vpon the Curiatij, to helpe their brother, Horatius had killed
his enemie, and demaunded for the seconde battaile. Then the Romaines
incouraged their champion with acclamations and shoutes, as fearefull
men be wont to do vpon the sodaine, and Horatius spedeth himselfe to the
fight. And before the other could ouertake him, which was not farre off,
hee had killed an other of the Curiatij. Nowe were they equally matched
one to one, but in hope and strengthe vnlike. For the one was free of
wounde or hurte: cruell and fierce by reason of double victorie, the
other faint for losse of bloud, and wearie of running, and who with
panting breath, discomfited for his brethrens slaughter, slaine before
him, is now obiected to fight with his victorious enemy. A match
altogether vnequall. Horatius reioysing sayd, two of thy brethren I haue
dispatched, the thirde, the cause of this battaill, I will take in hand:
that the Romaines maye bee lordes of the Albanes. Curiatius not able to
sustaine his blowe, fell downe, and lying vpon his backe, he thrust him
into the throte with his sworde, whiche done he dispoyled him of his
armure. Then the Romanies in great triumphe and reioyse intertaigned
Horatius, and their ioye was the greater, for that the feare of their
ouerthrowe was the nearer. This combate being ended, the Albanes became
subiecte to the Romaines, and before Metius departed, he asked Tullus if
hee would commaunde him any further seruice. Who willed him to kepe the
younge souldiours still in intertaignement, for that hee woulde require
their aide against the Veientes. The armie dissolued, Horatius like a
Conquerour marched home to Rome, the three spoyles of his ennemies being
borne before hym.

The said Horatius had a sister, which was espoused to one of the
Curiatij that were slaine, who meeting her brother in the triumphe, at
one of the gates called Capena, and knowing the coate armure of her
paramour, borne vpon her brothers shoulders, which she had wrought and
made with her owne handes: She tore and rent the heare of her heade, and
most piteouslye bewayled the death of her beloued. Her brother being in
the pride of his victorie taking the lamentation of his sister, in
disdainful part, drew oute his sword, and thruste her through speaking
these reprochfull woordes: "Auaunt with thy vnreasonable loue, gette
thee to thy spouse. Hast thou forgotten the deathe of thy two brethren
that be slaine, the prosperous successe of thy victorious brother, and
chiefelye the happye deliueraunce of thy countrie: Let that Romaine
woman whatsoeuer she be, take like rewarde, that shall bewaile the death
of the ennemie." Which horrible facte seemed most cruell to the fathers
and people. For which offence he was brought before the kinge, whom he
deliuered to be iudged according to the lawe. The law condempned him,
then he appealed to the people. In which appeale P. Horatius his father
spake these wordes: "My doughter is slaine, not without iust desert,
which if it were not so, I would haue sued for condigne punishmente, to
be executed vpon my sonne, according to the naturall pietie of a father:
Wherfore I beseech you do not suffer me, whom you haue seene in time
past, beautified with a noble race and progenie of children, nowe to be
vtterlye destitute and voyde of all together."

Then hee embrased his sonne amonges them all, and shewed the spoiles of
the Curatiens, sayinge: "Can you abide to see this noble Champion (O ye
Romaines) whom lately ye behelde to go in order of triumphe in
victorious maner, to lye nowe bounde vnder the gibet, expecting for
tormentes of death: Which cruell and deformed sight, the Albanes eyes
can not well be able to beholde, goe to then thou hangman, and binde the
handes of him, who hath atchieued to the Romaine people a glorious
Empyre: Goe, I saye, and couer the face of him that hath deliuered this
citie out of thraldome and bondage. Hang him vpon some vnhappie tree,
and scourge him in some place within the Citie, either amongs these our
triumphes, where the spoiles of our enemies do remaine, or els without
the walles, amonges the graues of the vanquished. Whether can yee deuise
to carrie him, but that his honourable and worthye actes, shal reueng
the villanie of his cruel death." The people hearing the lamentable
talke of his father, and seinge in him an vnmoueable minde, able to
sustaine al aduersity, acquited him rather through the admiration of his
vertue and valiance, then by iustice and equity of his cause. Such was
the straite order of iustice amonges the Romaines, who although this
yonge gentleman had vindicated his countrie from seruitude and bondage
(a noble memorye of perfecte manhode) yet by reason of the murder done
vppon his owne sister, were very straite and slacke to pardon: because
they would not incourage the posteritie to like inconuenience, nor
prouoke wel doers in their glorye and triumphe, to perpetrate thinges
vnlawfull.

THE SECOND NOUELL.

_Sextus Tarquinius rauished Lucrece. And she bewayling the losse of her
chastitie, killed her selfe._

Great preparation was made by the Romaines, against a people called
Rutuli, who had a citie named Ardea, excelling in wealth and riches
which was the cause that the Romaine king, being exhausted and quite
voyde of money, by reason of his sumptuous buildinges, made warres vppon
that countrie. In the time of the siege of that citie the yonge Romaine
gentlemen banqueted one another, amonges whom there was one called
Collatinus Tarquinius, the sonne of Egerius. And by chaunce they entred
in communication of their wiues, euery one praysing his seueral spouse.
At length the talke began to grow hot, whereupon Collatinus said, that
words were vaine. For within few houres it might be tried, how much his
wife Lucretia did excel the rest, wherefore (quoth he) if there be any
liuelihod in you, let us take our horse, to proue which of oure wiues
doth surmount. Wheruppon they roode to Rome in post. At their comming
they found the kinges doughters, sportinge themselues with sondrye
pastimes: From thence they went to the house of Collatinus, where they
founde Lucrece, not as the other before named, spending time in idlenes,
but late in the night occupied and busie amonges her maydes in the
middes of her house spinning of woll. The victory and prayse wherof was
giuen to Lucretia, who when she saw her husband, gentlie and louinglie
intertained him, and curteouslye badde the Tarquinians welcome.
Immediately Sextus Tarquinius the sonne of Tarquinias Superbus, (that
time the Romaine king) was incensed wyth a libidious desire, to
construpate and defloure Lucrece. When the yonge gentlemen had bestowed
that night pleasantly with their wiues, they retourned to the Campe. Not
long after Sextus Tarquinius with one man retourned to Collatia vnknowen
to Collatinus, and ignorant to Lucrece and the rest of her houshold, for
what purpose he came. Who being well intertayned, after supper was
conueighed to his chamber. Tarquinius burninge with the loue of Lucrece,
after he perceiued the housholde to be at reste, and all thinges in
quiet, with his naked sworde in his hande, wente to Lucrece being a
sleepe, and keeping her downe with his lefte hande, saide: "Holde thy
peace Lucrece, I am Sextus Tarquinius, my sworde is in my hand, if thou
crie, I will kill thee." The gentlewoman sore afrayed, being newely
awaked oute of her sleepe, and seeing iminent death, could not tell what
to do. Then Tarquinius confessed his loue, and began to intreate her,
and therewithall vsed sundry minacing wordes, by all meanes attempting
to make her quiet: when he saw her obstinate, and that she woulde not
yelde to his request, notwithstanding his cruell threates, he added
shameful and villanous speach, saying: That he would kill her, and when
she was slaine, he woulde also kill his slaue, and place him by her,
that it might be reported howe she was slaine, being taken in adulterie.
She vanquished with his terrible and infamous threate, his fleshlye and
licentious enterprice, ouercame the puritie of her chaste and honest
hart, which done he departed. Then Lucrece sent a post to Rome to her
father, and an other to Ardea to her husbande, requiringe them that they
would make speede to come vnto her, with certaine of their trustie
frendes, for that a cruell facte was chaunced. Then Sp. Lucretius with
P. Valerius the sonne of Volesius, and Collatinus with L. Iunius Brutus,
made hast to Lucrece: where they founde her sitting, very pensife and
sadde, in her chamber. So sone as she sawe them she began pitiously to
weepe. Then her husband asked her, whether all thinges were well, vnto
whom she sayde these wordes.

"No dere husbande, for what can be well or safe vnto a woman, when she
hath lost her chastitie? Alas Collatine, the steppesof an other man, be
now fixed in thy bed. But it is my bodye onely that is violated, my
minde God knoweth is giltles, whereof my death shalbe witnesse. But if
you be men giue me your handes and trouth, that the adulterer may not
escape vnreuenged. It is Sextus Tarquinius whoe being an enemie, in
steede of a frende, the other night came vnto mee, armed with his sword
in his hand, and by violence caried away from me (the Goddes know) a
woful ioy." Then euery one of them gaue her their faith, and comforted
the pensife and languishing lady, imputing the offence to the authour
and doer of the same, affirming that her bodye was polluted, and not her
minde, and where consent was not, there the crime was absente. Whereunto
shee added: "I praye you consider with your selues, what punishmente is
due for the malefactour. As for my part, though I cleare my selfe of the
offence, my body shall feele the punishment: for no vnchast or ill
woman, shall hereafter impute no dishonest act to Lucrece." Then she
drewe out a knife, which she had hidden secretely, vnder her kirtle, and
stabbed her selfe to the harte. Which done, she fell downe grouelinge
vppon her wound and died. Whereupon her father and husband made great
lamentation, and as they were bewayling the death of Lucrece, Brutus
plucked the knife oute of the wound, which gushed out with aboundance of
bloude, and holding it vp said: "I sweare by the chast bloud of this
body here dead, and I take you the immortall Gods to witnes, that I will
driue and extirpate oute of this Citie, both L. Tarquinius Superbus, and
his wicked wife, with all the race of his children and progenie, so that
none of them, ne yet any others shall raigne anye longer in Rome." Then
hee deliuered the knife to Collatinus. Lucretius and Valerius, who
marueyled at the strangenesse of his words: and from whence he should
conceiue that determination. They all swore that othe. And followed
Brutus, as their captaine, in his conceiued purpose. The body of Lucrece
was brought into the market place, where the people wondred at the
vilenesse of that facte, euery man complayning vppon the mischiefe of
that facinorous rape, committed by Tarquinius. Whervpon Brutus perswaded
the Romaynes, that they should cease from teares and other childishe
lamentacions, and to take weapons in their handes, to shew themselues
like men.

Then the lustiest and most desperate persons within the citie, made
themselues prest and readie, to attempte any enterprise: and after a
garrison was placed and bestowed at Collatia, diligent watche and ward
was kept at the gates of the Citie, to the intent the kinge should haue
no aduertisement of that sturre. The rest of the souldiours followed
Brutus to Rome.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26