Volume Ii Part 4 (1/2)
EVPHIMIA a king's daughter of Corinth, and the vnfortunate d.u.c.h.esse of Malfi, what match of mariage Ladies of renowne, and Dames of Princelye houses ought to chose.
Mistresse DIANORA, MITHRIDANES and NATHAN, KATHERINE of Bologna, and SALADINE, the mutual curtesies of n.o.ble and gentle Personages, and for what respectes.
Quene ANNE of Hungarie, the good nature and liberalitye of a Quene: and with what industry Gentlewomen of priuy chamber ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant, and of such as haue wel serued the common welth.
ALEXANDRE de Medices, Duke of Florence, the iustice of a Prince, and gouernour to the wronged party, what vertues ought to s.h.i.+ne in Courtiers, and with what temperance their insolence is to be repressed.
IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the harty affections of two incomparable louers, what secret sleights of loue, what danger either sort incurre which mary without the aduise of Parentes.
Two Gentlewomen of VENICE, the wisedom and pollicy of Wiues to chastice and restrain the follies of husbands, and the stoutnes they ought to vse in their defense.
The Lord of VIRLE, and the widow ZILIA, geue lessons to Louers, to auoyde the immoderate panges of loue, they prognosticate the indiscretion of promised penance, they warne to beware al vnseemly hestes, lest the penaltyes of couetise and vayn glory be incurred.
The Lady of BOEME, schooleth two n.o.ble Barons that with great boast a.s.sured themselues to impair her honor.
DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA, record the cruelty of women bent to hate and the voluntarye vow performed by a pa.s.sionate Knight, with the parfect friends.h.i.+p of a true frend in redresse of a frend's mishap.
SALIMBENE and ANGELICA, the kindnes of a gentleman in deliuerie of his ennemy, and the constant mynd of a chast and and vertuous mayden.
Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom l.u.s.tes do lurk vnder the bark of fading beauty, what stench of filthy affection fumeth from the smoldring gulfe of dishonest Loue what prankes such dames do play for deceit of other, and shame of themselves.
CAMIOLA reproueth the mobility of youth such chiefly as for n.o.ble auncestry regarded ritches more than vertue, she lyke a mistresse of constancye lessoneth her equalles from wauering myndes, and not to aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts: with those that care not (vnder what pretence) they com by riches.
The lords of NOCERA fortel the hazardes of whordom, the rage of Ielousy, the difference of duty betwene Prince and subiect, the fruites of a Rebell, the endes of Traitery and Tiranny, and what monstruous successe such vices do attain.
The king of MAROCCO describeth the good nature of the homely and loial subiect, the maruaylous loue of a true and symple Countryman towarde his liege and soueraygne Lorde, and the bounty of a curteous Prince, vpon those that vnder rude attyre, be garnisht with the floures of vertue.
To be short, the contentes of these Nouels from degre of highest Emperour, from state of greattest Quene and Lady, to the homelye c.u.n.try peasant and rudest vilage girle, may conduce profite for instruction, and pleasure for delight. They offer rules for auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue to al estates. This boke is a very Court and Palace for al sortes to fixe their eies therein, to vew the deuoyres of the n.o.blest, the vertues of the gentlest, and the dutyes of the meanest. Yt is a stage and Theatre for shew of true n.o.bilitye, for profe of pa.s.sing loialty and for tryal of their contraries. Wherfore as in this I haue continued what erst I partelye promised in the first so vppon intelligence of the second signe of thy good wil, a third (by G.o.ds a.s.sistance) shal come forth. Farewell.
_Authorities from whence these Nouelles be collected: and in the same auouched._
Strabo.
Plinie.
Quintus Curtius.
Plutarche.
t.i.tus Liuius.
Dionysius Halicarna.s.saeus.
Appia.n.u.s Alexandrinus.
Ouide.
Horace.
Propertius.
Cicero.
Valerius Max.
Trebelius Pollio.
Xenophon.