按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the name of honesty： as if there were no other honest woman； but
shee that conferres onely with her Chambermaide； Laundresse； or
Kitchin…woman： as if nature had allowed them； （in their owne idle
conceite） no other kinde of talking。
Most true it is； that as there is a respect to be used in the action
of things； so； time and place are necessarily to be considered； and
also whom we converse withall； because sometimes it happeneth； that
a man or woman； intending （by a word of jest and merriment） to make
another body blush or be ashamed： not knowing what strength of wit
remaineth in the opposite； doe convert the same disgrace upon
themselves。 Therefore； that we may the more advisedly stand upon our
owne guard； and to prevent the common proverbe； That Women （in all
things） make choyse of the worst： I desire that this dayes last
tale； which is to come from my selfe； may make us all wise。 To the
end； that as in gentlenesse of minde we conferre with other； so by
excellency in good manners； we may shew our selves not inferiour to
them。
It is not many yeares since （worthy assembly） that in Bulloigne
there dwelt a learned Physitian； a man famous for skill； and farre
renowned； whose name was Master Albert； and being growne aged； to
the estimate of threescore and tenne yeares： hee had yet such a
sprightly disposition； that though naturall heate and vigour had quite
shaken hands with him； yet amorous flames and desires had not wholly
forsaken him。 Having seene （at a Banquet） a very beautifull woman；
being then in the estate of widdowhood； named （as some say） Madam
Margaret de Chisolieri； shee appeared so pleasing in his eye； that his
sences became no lesse disturbed； then as if he had beene of farre
younger temper； and no night could any quietnesse possesse his
soule； except （the day before） he had seene the sweet countenance of
this lovely widdow。 In regard whereof； his dayly passage was by her
doore； one while on horsebacke； and then againe on foot； as best might
declare his plaine purpose to see her。
Both shee and other Gentlewomen； perceiving the occasion of his
passing and repassing； would privately jest thereat together； to see a
man of such yeares and discretion； to be amorously addicted； or
overswayed by effeminate passions。 For they were partly perswaded；
that such wanton Ague fits of Love； were fit for none but youthfull
apprehensions； as best agreeing with their chearefull complexion。
Master Albert continuing his dayly walkes by the widdowes lodging；
it chaunced upon a Feastivall day； that shee （accompanied with
divers other women of great account） being sitting at her doore；
espied Master Albert （farre off） comming thitherward； and a resolved
determination among themselves was set downe； to allow him
favourable entertainement； and to jest （in some merry manner） at his
loving folly； as afterward they did indeede。
No sooner was he come neere； but they all arose； and courteously
invited him to enter with them； conducting him into a goodly Garden；
where readily was prepared choyse of delicate wines and banquetting。
At length； among other pleasant and delightfull discourses； they
demanded of him； how it was possible for him； to be amorously affected
towards so beautifull a woman； both knowing and seeing； how
earnestly she was sollicited by many gracious； gallant； and
youthfull spirits； aptly suting with her yeares and desires？ Master
Albert perceiving； that they had drawne him in among them； onely to
scoffe and make a mockery of him； set a merry countenance on the
matter； and honestly thus answered。
Beleeve mee Gentlewoman （speaking to the widdowe her selfe） it
should not appeare strange to any of wisedome and discretion； that I
am amorously enclined； and especially to you； because you are well
worthy of it。 And although those powers； which naturally appertaine to
the exercises of Love； are bereft and gone from aged people； yet
good will thereto cannot be taken from them； neither judgement to know
such as deserve to be affected： for； by how much they exceede youth in
knowledge and experience； by so much the more hath nature made them
meet for respect and reverence。 The hope which incited me （being aged）
to love you； that are affected of so many youthfull Gallants； grew
thus。 I have often chaunced into divers places； where I have seene
Ladies and Gentlwomen； being disposed to a Collation or rerebanquet
after dinner； to feede on Lupines； and young Onions or Leekes； and
although it may be so； that there is little or no goodnesse at all
in them； yet the heads of them are least hurtfull； and most pleasing
in the mouth。 And you Gentlewomen generally （guided by unreasonable
appetite） will hold the heads of them in your hands； and feede upon
the blades or stalkes： which not onely are not good for any thing； but
also are of very bad savour。 And what know I （Lady） whether among
the choise of friends； it may fit your fancy to doe the like？ For；
if you did so； it were no fault of mine to be chosen of you； but
thereby were all the rest of your suters the sooner answered。
The widdowed Gentlewoman； and all the rest in her company； being
bashfully ashamed of her owne and their folly； presently said。
Master Albert； you have both well and worthily chastised our over…bold
presumption； and beleeve me Sir； I repute your love and kindnesse of
no meane merrit； comming from a man so wise and vertuous： And
therefore （mine honour reserved） commaund my uttermost； as alwayes
ready to do you any honest service。 Master Albert； arising from his
seat； thanking the faire widdow for her gentle offer； tooke leave of
her and all the company； and she blushing； as all the rest were
therein not much behinde her； thinking to checke him； became chidden
her selfe； whereby （if we be wise） let us all take warning。
The Sunne was now somewhat farre declined； and the heates
extremity well worne away： when the Tales of the seaven Ladies and
three Gentlemen were thus finished； whereupon their Queene
pleasantly said。 For this day （faire company） there remaineth nothing
more to be done under my regiment； but onely to bestow a new Queene
upon you； who （according to her judgement） must take her turne； and
dispose what next is to be done； for continuing our time in honest
pleasure。 And although the day should endure till darke night； in
regard； that when some time is taken before； the better preparation
may bee made for occasions to follow； to the end also； that whatsoever
the new Queene shall please to appoint； may be the better fitted for
the morrow： I am of opinion； that at the same houre as we now cease；
the following dayes shall severally begin。 And therefore； in reverence
to him that giveth life to all things； and in hope of comfort by our
second day； Madam Philomena； a most wise young Lady； shall governe
as Queene this our Kingdome。
So soone as she had thus spoken； arising from her seate of
dignity； and taking the Lawrell Crowne from off her owne head； she
reverently placed it upon Madam Philomenaes； shee first of all
humbly saluting her； and then all the rest； openly confessing her to
be their Queene； made gracious offer to obey whatsoever she commanded。
Philomena； her cheekes delivering a scarlet tincture； to see her selfe
thus honoured as their Queene； and well remembring the words； so
lately uttered by Madam Pampinea； that dulnesse or neglect might not
be noted in her； tooke cheerefull courage to her； and first of all；
she confirmed the officers； which Pampinea had appointed the day
before； then she ordained for the morrowes provision； as also for
the supper so neere approiching； before they departed away from
thence； and then thus began。
Lovely Companions； although that Madam Pampinea； more in her owne
courtesie； then any matter of merit remaining in me； hath made me your
Queene： I am not determined； to alter the forme of our intended
life； nor to be guided by mine owne judgement； but to associate the
same with your assistance。 And because you may know what I intend to
do； and so （consequently） adde or diminish at your pleasure； in very
few words； you shall plainly understand my meaning。 If you have well
considered on the course； which this da