THere dwelled in the Citie of Rome being metro­politane of the worlde, fa­mous as well for martiall Champions, as delicate for beautiful Ladyes; a Consul called Flaminius, made glo­rious by fortune, as hauing twise roade in the trium­phing chariot and worne t [...]e Lawrell wreath, giuen as a Palme to such as haue béene happie for manie great victories. This consull fa­mous in the common wealth for his martiall exploytes, Fortune whose conceit rests in extréemes, either too pro­digal in her fauors, or preiudicial in her frownes, to make this man the myracle of her deitie, lent him one onelie Daughter of such excellent exquisite perfection as Nature in her seemed to wonder at her owne workes. Hir haire was like the shine of Apollo, when shaking his glorious tresses he makes the world beauteous with his bright­nes. The Iuorie of hir face ouer dasht with a vermilion die, séemed like the blush that lept frō Endemions chéekes when Cynthia courts him on the hilles of Latmos. So did the proportion of her bodie answere to the perfection of the minde and the honour of hir thoughtes so fitted to the glory of hir fauors, as it rested doubtfull whether hir out­ward beauties or inward vertues helde the supremacie. [Page 2] In so much that as men flocke to Delphos to heare the Oracles of Apollo, so diuers resort to Rome to take veiw of the excellencie of Terentia: who once delighted with the sight of hir graces set downe this as an Axiome, that Pal­las the Patronesse of Troy for wisedome: or Venus the wonder of Heauen for beautie, might not disgrace the dig­nities of this gorgious Damosell. Rome swelling with the pride of this matchlesse Uirgin, whose thoughts were more humble then hir face beautifull: and yet the Pain­ters of that time feared to attempt hir portraiture, as fin­ding the perfection of nature to excéede the proportion of Art, made hir the Mistresse of their vestals, as one that counted fancie as vn [...]it for a maide, as Alexauder cowar­dize for a souldier. Cupid sitting on his mothers knée by the fount of Alcydalion, séeing howe Terentia enemie to his amarous Philosophie, set loue at so light estéeme, and for a charme against his magicall inchauntments, carried the euerburning fire of Vesta in hir breast, clasping his mother wantonly about y ^• necke he began thus to prattle. Séeing mother we haue left the places of our accustomed residēce, to auoid y ^• troups of such sutors as onely end their loues with their liues, & haue st [...]ln to this secret foūt here a while to be solitarie to weare away the time with some conceited chat, I pray you tell me whereof are womens hearts made? I aske the question mother for that I finde the distinction of their fa [...]cies like the difference of their faces, which as they be distinguisht in proportion, so they be altogether vnlike in properties. Venus hearing hir son make such a waggish demaunde, beganne thus to reply. Some say my boy of the liuer of a Camelion, whose nature is to bee changeable in hues, and women as variable in their thoughts. Others of a Pyrit stone, which handled softly is as colde as ice, but pressed betwéene the fingers burneth like fire: they which inser this comparison, say that women brooke not fauourable perswasions, nor may be woone by intreaties, but the readie way to kindle them [Page 3] to Desire is to crosse them with Disdaine. Some say their hearts are of Marble which being hard yet drops tears a­gainst euery storme: Some of waxe that is soft, admiting euery impression, those women haue their loues in their lookes, which taken in with a gase is thrust out with a winke: Some of Adamant, they be hard hearted, and yet men say the Lapidaries haue tooles to pierce them: O­thers of golde, and they be like Danae that will admit no louer but such as Iupiter. To be briefe my boy, so many fancies so many fictions, euery one censuring of womens hearts as his owne experience hath found hir froward or fauorable. Cupid hearing his mother discourse thus cun­ningly demanded amongest all these, whereof was Teren­tias heart of Rome formed: At this Venus fetching a déepe sigh prosecuted hir former premisses thus. Well wag for all you play the wanton, hast thou insight so far into thine enemies thoughts that thou hast coted in thy tables the resolution of Terentia, whom men count more beauti­full then my selfe, and more chast then Diana? Hir heart my boy is framed of the purest Diamond, which as it is hard to enterteine loue, so it is cleane, fit for the receit of vertue: I tell thée Cupid Terentia makes Desire hir drudge, and Disdaine hir Champion: Shée honors all the Gods but thée, and admits all recreations but loue: Shée armeth hir youth with Contempt of passions, that shée may finish hir age with Content of patience: The prime of hir yeares are graue that the fruits of hir time may be gracious, and shée striues to be as full of honor in hir life, as full of fauours in hir lookes. To conclude my boy shée is Terentia, who séekes with labors to auoid loues, & inde­uours to be called as vertuous, as other Ladies amarous. Thus Venus ended with a frowne and Cupid began with a smyle, she scorning at hir honors he studying on reuenge. after a little pause y ^• choloricke boy burst foorth into these tearmes: And shall Terentia offer perfumes to Vesta and Hemblocke to Venus, shall shee mother strawe Dianaes [Page 4] Lawnes with Roses and your Pallaces with Nettles? shall shee set Desire in ragges and Disdaine in silkes? No, Cupid hath his boults fethered with the winges of swal­lowes that flie swift, and his arrowes headed with strong tempered stéele that pierce déepe, like to Achilles launce, that did wound & heale, my shaftes mother are of sundrie mettels, the strongest of them all wil I aime at Terentia, and if my fortune fayle me not I will change hir songes to sighes and hir chast prayers to amorous passions. And with that leaping from his mothers lappe hee bent his bowe shott an arrowe and hit Terentia on the heart, but it was of such proofe as the boult rebounded and brake into a thousand shiuers. At this Cupid scorned séeing his de [...]tie counterchect with such constant chastitie, & Venus smyled séeing hir sonne in such a rage: which so increased his chollor that he discharged all his arrowes at randon, carelesse of his aime so he might any wayes reuenge. A­mongst the rest yong Lentulus a Romaine Caualier, vn­der whose conduct the consull sent manie legions to make warre against the Parthians, was one of those infortunate men that Cupid had brused with his arrowes. For hauing [...] a set battell and bought the victorie with great l [...]sse, fresh supplies were sent him from Rome. Lentulus [...]lcoming his newe come souldiers, demaunded what: [...]: af [...]er they had made report of the state of the com­ [...] wealth, they (then as a thing miraculous and super­na [...]urall [...] [...]is [...]oursed to him the excellencie of Terentia, set­ting out hir glories with such Emphaticall discriptions t [...]t Lentulus leaning his head on his hand became a wil­li [...] audit [...]r to such pleasa [...]t philosophie. Smiling thus in the ouersweete potions that Loue had tempered like Circes to bewitch the warie and warrelike Vlysses; hee caused his Souldiers with often repetitions of [...] beau [...]ie to grafte in the syenus of hys newe [...] sanci [...]s. In the day his heade was troubled with thoughts of Terentia: in the night conceit presented [Page 5] the visiōs of Terentia. Where before he laid plots how to circumuent the Parthians, now he deuised how to compasse his passions: Loue wisht him to make light estéem of war, but growing to be carelesse, he gaue his enemies occasion of incouragemēt. Being thus perplexed with vnacquain­ted fits, he began thus souldier like to debate with himself. Haue not the auncient Romaines whose statues and tro­phées hath filled the world with wonder of their Chiualry made the ende of their honours to consist in armes? haue they not fetcht Fame from the heauēs with their swords, and bounde hir to their fortunes with circumscriptions of bloud: haue not their launces pierst obliuion to the heart, and their martiall déeds registred their names in the Cro­nicles of memorie? and yet Lentulus dost thou make light estéeme of war, whose very frownes are honor, and whose fauors immortall glories? Blush at thy thoughts that are so base, & wéepe with Caesar that thou hast not done won­ders with Alexander. Thou art elected by the Consuls as a choise man of Rome, as high prised for thy valour, as thy parentage, and yet thy mother was of the great Aemilij: thou art sent against the Parthians, a Nation warrelicke and resolute, either to challenge thy graue with thy sword or carue out their tombes with thy Courtelax. Darest thou then Lentulus amidst those glorious thoughts of a souldier admit the least passion of a louer? shall thy polli­cies too little for the Parthians, be imployed in purchasing Terentia? No Lentulus draw thy Fauchion, brandish it a­gainst Rome, and if Loue looke but ouer the walls menace hir with thy Martiall weapons: and yet Lentulus be not so stoicall as to reiect such a mightie Deitie. Haue not the Romaines erected a Temple néere vnto Campus Martius? Are not Knights dubbed to defēd Ladies? Make they not their Helmes proude with their Mistresse fauours? Mars hath his amours as he hath his armours: Alexander glo­ried in his loues as he triumpht in his victories? Great Pompey hath his Iulia, Caesar his Paramour, Souldiers [Page 6] haue loued, and so will I. Hauing thus discoursed with himselfe, the hope of his loues draue such an inuincible courage into his minde that he past not many daies with­out giuing battaile to the Parthians, in which getting a glorious victorie, he sent great treasure and many Cap­tiues home to Rome, with great intercession to the Se­nate that he might not winter from his owne Countrie. The Consuls gald to fauour him with any reasonable graunt, sent Lepidus to take his place, and recalled Len­tulus home to the Citie: The fame of whose high intended thoughts, his conquest inlarged with infinite treasures & rich Captiues, made Rome to ring with ecchoes of his matchlesse excellency: Insomuch that passing through the stréets to the Capitol, there to be inuested with the honors due to his victories, multitudes of Romanes were placed on Scaffoldes to take view of so braue and hardie a Cap­taine, and the gorgeous windowes of the Citie were stuf­fed with troupes of beautiful Ladies tickled with an ear­nest desire to satisfie their sightes with his Personage. Passing thus in pompe, Iulius Caesar then being Dictator after the solemne rites & magnificent triumphs were en­ded bad him home to dinner, where hee feasted him with such royaltie as might beséeme the greatnes of the day and the highnes of his owne thoughts. Thus flewe the fame of Lentulus through Rome as the wonder of this time, but all those triumphant dignities coulde not extir­pate the melancholy of this Romans thoughts inserted in­to his minde by the fond inchantments of loue, but as the wounded Deare wringeth forth teares, and the Mirtle pierced yeeldeth Gumme, so Lentulus after this déepe im­pression of loue, coulde afforde nought but sighes and sor­rowes. The Iemme of Terentias excellencie reflected in his minde like an obiect in a Christall myrrour that a­middest his most serious affaires hée founde the passions of loue to be intermedled. Fortune that had tied hir fa­uours in the toppe of his Crest halfe perswaded to become [Page 7] constant to this warlicke Champion séeing Cupid wrong [...] him without cause thought with a souereign Antidote to preuēt y ^• further ensuing preiudices of fancy: forcing ther­fore oportunitie to dance attendance vpō this hir darling, it fell out y ^• Flaminius, the father of Terentia séeing howe Lentulus was generally feasted of al y ^• senators in Rome, thought amongst y ^e rest, to welcome home y ^• warrior with a bāket, & therfore méeting him at one Titus Annius Milos house, he solemnely inuited him home to dinner. Lentulus as ful of curtesie as courage, after great thanks, promised to be his guest, whereupon Flaminius passing home made prouisiō, & Lentulus stealing to his lodging being solitary, conceiued such inward ioy at this swéete oportunitie, that leaning vpon his left hand smiling to himself, he breathed out these words: viz. Such I sée well as Mars honours with fauours Venus will not crosse with frownes: those that conquer in warres shall not perish in loues. Cupid fauours his fathers followers, & such as Fortune smiles on in ba [...]tail, shée laughs on in fancies. I coueted to beare charge against the Parthians, and the Senate elected me Lord of their Legions: Desire wisht me to haue a sight of Terentia, and hir father interteines me for a guest: I made conquest of mine enemies with the sword, and why may I not win my loue with my loyaltie: Feare not Lentulus, these concluded comparisons are prodigious, bee Augur then to thy selfe, and calculate thy good fortunes by thy thoughts: Loues and warres craues courage. Feare not man, for thy intreaties are as mightie as hir denials can be contrarie. As thus he was debating with himselfe the Clocke tolde him it was time to goe visite his Host, so that he made himselfe as sumptuous as might be, and at the parting from his Chamber-dore hée saide thus. If Venus (quoth hee) thou fauour mee in my loues, I will become thy vowed seruant in my life: I will strewe thy Altars with Roses, and set thée vp shrines at Pa­phos: I wil binde vp my temples with myrtle bowes, and [Page 8] for the Martiall garland weare a wreath of flowers. I wil haue Doues nests in my Pallaces, and what belongs to thée, shall be some of my delight, onely grace me with the fauour of Terentia. Ending this his vowe hee pased forward with his traine towards the house of Flaminius, where beeing ariued the graue Senator intertained him with such magnificence, as Lentulus perceiued his wel­come by his honours. The board couered and the company readie to sit, Lentulus was placed chiefe at the table, who all this while hauing no sight of Terentia, sat as a man nipped on the heade, although there were at the table to grace the feast manie braue & beautifull Damosels. Sit­ting thus in a dumpe he was cheared vp by all the compa­nie, but at last to set him in his iolitie, Terentia was com­manded by hir father to bring him in a cuppe of Gréekish wine. Shée that little cared to be séene in open bankets as holding it contrarie to the rites of Vesta, durst not yet but with all diligence signifie hir obedience. Therfore attyred in a rich roabe of white, spotted with starres of gold; tem­pering the porphury of hir face with a vermilion blush, loo­king like Diana when shée basht at Acteons presence, shée came into the hall, where humbly saluting all the com­panie, shée deliuered the wine to hir father. Lentulus séeing Fame had but blemisht hir fauours in being to partiall of hir praises, sate so amased at the beauteous excellencie of Terentia, as did the Centaure enamoured of Iuno. His eie made suruey of hir beauties who posting them ouer to the contemplation of his thoughts, so set on fire his heart with hir perfections, as his stomacke shut vp hir Orifice, to giue his eies leaue to wonder at the serious conceit of natures cunning: his lookes beganne to sparkle loue as did those of Adon when he pried vpon the face of his Paramour, the change of his colour bewraied his newe entertained passi­ons which noted by Terentia half angry at loues folly, she discouered hir collor with such ablush as Lentulus letting fall his knyfe on his trencher saide aloude, Non fortuna [Page 9] non Bellum meaning that neither the highest state of fortune nor the fatall intent of warre could conquere that hart y ^• her beautie hath made subiect. Terentia at this vn­expected exclamation abashed and the rest of the compa­nie maruelled: but Flaminius willing to moue some table talke demaunded of Lentulus what hee ment by this sou­daine embleme. Lentulus, willing to make flight at the foule and yet not to haue a bel at his héele, answered thus. Whilst I lay in legar intrenching the Parthians more hardly with legions of men then with déepe raised conter­mures, my souldiers discouered a castle which once woone displaced the strength of the countrie, séeing the Romanes had made mee Uicegerente of their forces although the place séemed impregnable béeing as well defended by na­ture situate vpon a mount, as by prowesse stored with men and munitiō yet prising honor more déere then bloud, and countries profite beyonde the content of life, I bent certaine legions against the castle and following the opi­nion of Quintus Fabius Maximus sought by delay to driue them to composition. For it was said of him,

Séeking so to get conquest by famine which would haue béen preiudiciall with the sword, at last séeing their forces greatly weakened I gaue assault and entred putting the souldiers to the sword yet willing to saue the Lorde of the castle for that his valour discouered his thoughtes, sear­ching him out I found him in his bed chamber his wife slaine and the blade yet varnished with bloud grasped in his fist staring me in the face with a gastly looke, that stood amazed at the stratageme he spake thus. Romain report in the Senate house that where you excell vs in pollicie, [Page 10] we excéede you in resolution, this Ladie which thou séest here weltring in hir goore is my wife, and for she brokes not seconde fancies, shee craued to ende hir loue with hir life: I maried hir a virgine and honourable, shee dies a wife and honest, as famous in Parthia for hir vertues, as your Romayne Dames for their braue [...]ies. Wee liued without iarres, for y ^• the desire of the one was the content of the other, constancie banished ielousie and true loue helde supition at the launces poynt. Our fortunes Ro­mayne thou hast pulde downe, with thy prowesse warre hath made wracke of our safeties, but for our loues this sword shall linke them together by death, so that Non for­tuna, non bellum. And with y ^• the resolute souldier stabbed himselfe. Astonied at this peremptorie massacre, although all stained with the bloud of the Parthians: yet I could not but grieue at the passion of the man, and enter into consi­deration what that Loue should be, that wrought in mens mindes such resolued effects: So well liking of his deter­mined death, y ^• I vowed in my thoughts if euer I obteined the fauour of some gracious Damosell to write in bloude with the Parthian, Non fortuna, non bellum. The remem­brance (honorable Senatours) of this tragedie made me to shew my selfe so passionate. Lentulus hauing ended his discourse, the Senatours generally praised the resolution of the Parthian, and the Ladies the constancie of his wife, all concluding that no impression could be so déepely inser­ted into the heart loue. Terentia spying the flame by the smoake, smyled to sée howe couertly Lentulus had cloaked his thoughts, and how in vowing to be constant, he disco­uered his conceit, so that turning hir backe shée went into hir Closet, and there blamed Venus that had wrapt so br [...]ue a Champion in hir subtleties: not féeling either the personage or perfections of Lentulus to stirre the staied continencie of hir minde. Well the Senators not willing to let this fall to the grounde, talked still of the Parthian, and amongst the rest of those honourable guests that were [Page 11] there feasted, Archias the Poet a man of a pleasant dispo­sition, tooke the tale by the ende, and beganne to prosecute it thus.

Graue Senatours I remember I haue heard Horten­sus the great Orator say, that in times past the Consuls for recreatiō would vse light & honest pastimes especially myrth at meat, as y ^e fittest minister for digestiō, alleaging Scipio & Gracchus, who coueted to be as iocund at their banquets, as they were serious in matters of estate. Sée­ing then (reuerend fathers) Lentulus hath entred into the discourse of loue, producing the Parthian, who amongst his other singularities, boasted that his fancie had neuer béene stained with Iealousie a plague that is greatly now a daies predominant in Rome, might it please you to fa­uour vs with your gracious consent, we woulde intreate Lentulus to discourse to vs his opinion of iealousie. The Senatours graunted, and Terentia, being come to giue attendance on hir father, smyled. Lentulus casting his eie vpon his loue, séeing a dimple in hir chéeke which was to him Cos amoris, made Archias this present answere.

Had the Thebans appointed Zetus to haue discoursed of Musicke, or they of Thessaly, Menalcas to haue described the Court: The principles of the one had béene as voide of art, as the precepts of the other farre from honour: The one being an enemie to Musicke, the other a swaine and a shepheard. So (reuerend Senatours and honourable La­dies of Rome) Archias, how skilfull so euer in Poetrie, yet hath faild in his pollicie, to request him to discourse of iea­lousie, that neuer as yet offred incence at the Altars of Loue. If it had béene to make description of a battaile, to haue discoursed the order of the Phalaux, or any point of Martiall discipline, then could I as a souldier haue dilated such principles, as warrelike Captaines register in the field with their sword: But of loue whose amarous Dei­tie gréeth not with Drumme and Trumpet, or of iealou­sie as the shadowe of fancie, it fitteth me as little to dis­course, [Page 12] as the shoomaker of Apelles portrature. But if e­uer Venus shall vouch me that fauour to grace me with a speciall looke from my Mistresse excellencie, and that mine eie be allowed as Paris was to iudge of beauties, Archias shal commande me as a friend, in the meane time, for Po­ets and Painters ought to haue their conceites fethered with Mercuries plumes: I will desire Archias to supply my ignorance, and to describe the effects of iealousie. The Senators and the rest of the company, hearing how cun­ningly Lentulus retorted the argument vppon Archias, with a resolute consent they inioyned Archias to play the Orator, who being pleasantly disposed began thus.

The wolues in Syria that barke against the Moone suf­fer small rest and great hunger. Arrowes shot against the starres pierce downeward: and the Syrens that [...]ought to intrappe Vlisses, perisht themselues. So gentlemen, I sought to make experience of Lentulus eloquence, and for­tune hath allotted me to discouer mine owne ignorance, but least I might be counted either too stoicall, or to too full of sel [...]e conceit: for iealousie, thus.

Archias hauing thus ended his discourse the Senators greatly praised his description of iealousie, and from that fell to other pleasant talke as occasion offred. Till dinner being ended they arose, and after many thankes and cur­tesies according to the custome of the Romanes, Flaminius to honour Lentulus the more, taking him by the hand car­ried him into a garden where Terentia sate accompanied with other Uirgins of Roome: namely, Flauia, Cornelia, and Iulia, all of such exquisite features, as they séemed to be the choyce Paragons of that time. Lentulus amazed at this gorgious sight wondred not onely at their beauties, but maruailed why Flaminius brought him so friendly in­to their presence. At last the old man burst forth into these words: Lord Lentulus, I measure the thoughts of young gentlemen by the prime of my forepassed youth, not being so cinicall as with Chremes in Terence to proportion young affections by the cynders of olde age, but to thinke with Menedemus that the spring hath flowers and blos­somes, [Page 16] where as winter hath dried braunches and tawnie leaues: We olde men ouer whom Saturnus is predomi­nant hauing infused melancholy in our mindes, couet ei­ther to sit solitarie, or that our talke be serious: you that are young whose thoughts aime at delight séeke to passe the time in pleasant discourses. Least therefore the time might be tedious, I haue brought you amongst these faire Ladies y ^• you may make experience of loues, as you haue done of warres, Mars no sooner puts off his helmet but he salutes Venus: and you come from conquest of the Parthi­ans, see how you can enter combate with passions: and so Lord Lentulus I leaue you.

Lentulus seeing himself thus enuironed with these mi­racles of beautie, casting his eye vpon the Goddesse whose fauourable aspect might be the summe of his fortunes, ba­shed at the first as Paris did in the vale of Ida, and stoode as the foes of Perseus when hee vncased the head of Medusa, and turned them to marble pictures, so amazed stood Len­tulus at the sight of such diuine excellencie, till the Ladies seeing this Nouice thus in a quandarie beganne to smile, which reuiuing a kind of amorous choller in the souldiers minde, he beganne thus to play the Champion.

Ladies beléeue me, Loue is of more force then warres, and the lookes of women pierce déeper then the stroke of Launces, their is no Curtelax so kéene, but armour of high proofe can withstande, but beauties arrowes are so sharpe, and the dartes that flie from womens eyes so pier­cing as the Corslet tempered by Vulcan for Didoes para­mour, holdes not out the violence of there stroake. The Gods tremble when Mars shaketh his Launce, but he fea­reth when Venus casteth a frowne. Alexander neuer tooke notice of the legions of his enemies, but he stoode frighted at the beauty of the Amazon. Then swéet saints of Rome maruell not if I were driuen into a maze at the sight of such beauteous creatures whose faces are Venus wea­pons, wherewith shée checketh the pride of ouer daring [Page 17] warriours: I cannot (Ladies) court it as your Romaine yongsters that tie their wits to their fancies: nor fil your eares with amarous discourses as Cupids Apprentizes, that spend their time in such louing philosophie: Nor can I faine conceited supposes of affection to prooue my selfe louesicke by Poetrie. But as a blunt souldier newe come from the warres, I offer my selfe a deuoted seruant to your beauties, swearing to defend your honours against all men with the hazard of my bloud, and in pawne there­of generally to you all, but specially to one (as loue hath his vnitie) I desire to bee intertained as a duetifull seruaunt to the Lady Terentia. Lentulus hauing thus boldly boarded these louely Uirgins, the Ladies séeing with what affection he offred his seruice to Terentia, be­gan to byte the lippe, and shée to blush who séeing hir selfe toucht to the quicke made him this answere.

I know not Lord Lentulus how to answere of loue, be­cause as yet I neuer knew loue: ignorant of his forces be­cause neuer acquainted with his fortunes. Vesta forbids vs virgins to name Venus, as they of Ephesus hatefull Erostratus. Diana deals not in Paphos, nor suffers shée a­ny of hir maidens to hunt on Erecynus, least méeting with Venus mecocks they skippe with Calisto, and so séek after losse. The lesse you are priuate to loues passions, the more welcome to our presence: for rather had we still our eares with warres fortunes, then with loues f [...]llies: and swéeter are the teares that grows from a constant strata­geme, then a smyle from a comike tale of fancie. For your seruice Lord Lentu [...]us, finding my self vnworthy, I craue pardon: Nor can wee by Vestas charter admitte such ser­uaunts. But if it please you to bee accepted as a worthy Romaine and my fathers friende, looke for such fauour as mine honour and virginity can affoord.

Lentulus hearing the plausible answere of Terentia, al­though hir first insinuation seemed to answere for his pur­pose, as preferring the lawnes of Diana, and fiers of Vesta [Page 18] before loues holy temples, yet shée concluded so swéetely as might stand with the modestie of hir honour: he therefore made thus his reply.

In that madame we are both nouices in loue, the sim­pler are our thoughts, and the néerer should be the simpa­thy of our affections. Doues match [...]hen [...]hey are young: Syenus are grafted when they are sprigs, the one part not but by death, nor are the other seuered but they perish. Souldiers are like virgins, the one striuing to liue vertu­ous, the other to die valiant: both enemies to loue, while they wait on those which brooke not loue, I meane warre and Vesta: But both must loue as hauing hearts and thoughts, eies to sée beautie, and eares to iudge of vertue. I madame while I thought none greater then Mars, was vowed to Mars, but séeing womens wits are worse then weapons, and that their lookes pierce déeper then launces, I haue resigned ouer my fortunes at the shrine of warre, and meane to make proofe of the swéetenesse of loue: Glad that in my first entrance I haue the patronage of your gracious fauour, armde with the which Mars well may frowne, but not conquer. But sir, quoth Terentia, I graun­ted my fauor to Lentulus the souldier, not to Lentulus the louer. And so madame quoth he I accept of it, for I am a souldier to doe you honour, and a louer despight of my self. Flauia hearing Lentulus, beganne to reason pretily to the purpose, being a Ladie of passing mirry disposition, whose witte was as full of wiles as hir face of fauour, second in the excellencie of beauty to the Lady Terentia, thought to sift hir souldier in this manner.

I sée well Lord Lentulus, that as women haue their fa­uours, so men haue their sayings: the one prodigall in gra­ces, the other polliticke in deceits, being as cunning to dis­semble loue, as we chary to discharge loue. We Romaine Ladies thought to haue founde you a flat souldier, as ig­norant in loues as we of fancies: but how closely soeuer you couer the flame, the fire wil be knowne by the smoke: [Page 91] For your talke so sauours of loues principles, as we iudg [...] you are as cunning in faining a passion as in figuring a battaile, and can assoone deceiue a woman with a pen, as slaughter an enemie with a launce. This will make vs to take you for a day friend, and what we like in you pre­sent to disallowe to morrowe, swearing if you bring a­mongst vs Venus roses, wee will beate you with Vestas nettles: and therefore if you will be admitted as our soul­dier, wee either forbidde you the name of loue, or else you shall be out of our fauours. Cornelia willing to breake a iest with this Champion thwarted Flauia thus. And what of that madame, hath not warre taught him patience: hee hath past sharper brunts thē womens frownes. But how your leuell is without aime? If madame Terentia smyl [...] his peny is good siluer, [...]is hir fauour that is the load-star of his fortunes, and howe can we enter into hir thoughts but by coniectures: shée ful of beauty, and he a proper yong gentleman. At this frumpe the Ladies smiled, and Teren­tia blusht for anger. But Lentulus séeing such a broad iest, pinde on his shoulder willing to make answere for his Mistresse, although he was sore put to his trumps as half set at a Non plus, yet he followed his fortunes thus.

Indéede Ladies thinke I haue patience to beare wo­mens frumpes that hath incountred an enemies blow, but if I could as well answere the one, as quit the other, you shuld neither carry it to hel, nor to heauē. But to reuenge my selfe as well as I can, thus. First madame to cleare my cunning in loue, I refer my selfe to the verdict of your owne conscience: who were you but as fauourable, as you are frumpish, would soone censure by my talke how déepe I am reade in loues principles. But women speake by con­traries, crying like the lapwing farthest from their nests, and so I take it being checkt for ouermuch loue, when you sée I am a nouice in loue. Or perhaps madame Flauia you would haue me loue, if it be so I will become more stu­dious to satisfie your wish: but your calling mee a day [Page 20] friend that peremptory punishment were passing sharpe for one fault to shake me out of seruice, were it not that for so déepe a wound the Lady Cornelia bringeth in a leni­tiue plaisture alleadging my security if I bee armed with Terentias fauour. Blame mee not swéete goddesses if I aime at the fairest, souldiers haue eies that can iudge of beauty, though they haue not weapons to winne beauty: & eares to déeme of perfections, though they want tongues to discouer passions. The harmony of loue, I haue hearde them say, consists in vnities, and nothing is more preiudi­ciall to fancie then plurality either of thoughtes or of per­sons. Amongst many then am I charged but to like of one Mistresse: If I make choice of Terentia, and shee vouch to grace me with hir fauour, Cornelia concludes truely, that armde with the imagination of hir beauty, I thinke my selfe able to brooke your frumps, and to withstand the har­dy resolution of Mars.

I maruaile then quoth Flauia halfe in choller (if wo­mens beauty be like Delphicus gladius, of high proofe to defend, and of sharpe edge to offend) why the Senatours choose not out legions of Ladies, that with little cost and great assurance, they may make conquest of the world: but perhaps all souldiers be not of your temper, for they vse their weapons and you your lookes.

No madame quoth Lentulus y ^• is not the cause, for were it not that euery woman would be a Captaine, and striue for supremacie, they had resolued vpon this long agoe, but fearing a mutiny amongst themselues for superiority: sith euery one at home wil be counted most wise, & most beau­tifull, though their wits be meane, and fauours lesse, the Senate are glad to foresée such an inconuenience. The Ladies hearing howe cunningly Lentulus had gald ma­dame Flauia on the right side, began all to smyle, and shée after a blush for very anger began to laugh. Lentulus glad that he had giuen hir a soppe of the same sauce, and paide hir hir debt in hir owne coine: Calling to his boy to fetch [Page 21] him a Lute, willing to shew his mistresse he was not ig­norant in musicke, said he would prooue the force of beauty by a sonet which he heard was made by Orpheus when he fell first in loue with Euridice, tuning therefore his Lute to his voyce he sung this ditty.

Lentulus hauing sung this ditty, Terentia willing a little to shew hir wit began thus. I remember Lord Len­tulus, [Page 22] I haue heard my father say that souldiers were w [...]nt to carry fauours in their helmes, not fancies in their heart: and made choice of their mistresse to incou­rage their thoughts, not to inchaunt their affections. But I see the auncient hon [...]ur of the Romaines is slipt from prowesse to passions, and the men couet to be counted ra­ther amorous wooers, then hardy warriours: gasing Mars in the face with bright armour, but offring Orisons to Venus in secrete conceites. This did not Quintus Lu­cius Cincinnatus, who sette it downe as Crimen Capitale to speake of loue in the Armie. Nor Scypio Affricanus the greate who made lawes that no women shoulde bee brought prisoners within the Campe, least loue entring pele mele with war might hazard y ^• haughtines of their houors: And yet madame quoth Lentulus Cyncinnatus ha [...] a wife, and Scipio was marrieed. But quoth shée it was in their age rather chosen for succours then amarous passions: their youth was wholy spent in warres as ene­mies to loues, counting fancie as a dishonour to their martiall dignities: rightly in déede with a déepe insight entring int [...] [...]he enormities that growe from following to precisely the court of Venus. For beléeue me gentleman Poets and Painters erre much that ascribe a dei [...]y to Cupid, and were worthy to beare some gréeuous punish­m [...]nt for such a newe inuented heresie, which I will ap­p [...]oue with a Sonet that one of Dyanas nymphes made w [...]en Iupiter had faulted with Calipso. And so Terentia taking the Lute in hir hand beganne to warble out this [...]oundelet.

Terentia hauing ended hir roundelay, as Lentulus was ready to replie, Flaminius came into y ^• Garden with y ^e rest of y ^e senators, whose graue presēce brake of their amorous prattle, so y ^• he leauing y ^e Ladies taking his leaue friendly of them all, but specially with a pittiful glancing looke of Terentia as crauing some fauour for his farewell, hee went to the Senatours amongst whom he [...]coursed long of the maner and custome of the Parthians, [...] their reso­lution in warres, and of such serious matters concerning martiall discipline. Passing thus away part of the after­noone, the company at last taking their leaues yeelding great thankes to Flaminius for their good chée [...]e, they par­ted to their seuerall mansions. Lentulus s [...]ipping from the rest of the companie and with a gratious courage tooke his adue of Terentia and the other of the Ladies, vowing to be theirs euer in any due honourable seruice, and so staying Terentia by the hande he went home with Titus Annius Milo: where he founde Marcus Tullius Cicero, then a youth in Rome about y ^e age of twenty yeres & very priuate and familiar with Milo. The fame of this Tullies surpassing [...]loquence was so bruted abroade in Rome as they counted him the myrror of that time & as in Greece [Page 24] they wondred at Demosthenes for his orations, and the popular people fedde their eies with his sight, so as Tully past through the stréets they cryed out, Hic est ille Cicero: saying that as Orpheus with his musicke made the stones and trees pliant to his melody: so Tully tyed the peoples cares to his tongue by his eloquence: And that Plato who for his philosophicall sentences was called diuine, in whose lippes bées rested as presaging his future excellen­cie was inferiour to Tully in the musicall concord of his phrase. Lentulus noting his perfections although his pa­rentage was base, yet thinking his eloquence might be profitable to his loues, grewe to bee very familiar with Tully, insomuch that of vnacquainted citizens they grew to be deare and priuate friends, that their thoughts were vnited with a sure league of amity, and their hearts were receptacles for their mutuall passions, so that their most secrete affaires were frankely participated without any doubting suspition. But leauing their familliarity, con­uersing in Milos house: Let vs gentlemen sée how Teren­tia brookt his departure. Cornelius Nepos forgets it in Tullies life, [...] if you will beléeue me it was thus.

No sooner were the Senatours and Lentulus departed from Flaminius house, but Flauia and the rest of the La­dies tooke leaue of Terentia, who being solitary by hir selfe sitting alone in an arbour of roses, began to ruminate on the Idaea of Lentulus perfection, and to call to minde his seueral and singular qualities, his parentage, his person, honors, and his great possessions, but all in vaine. Loues poyson was preuented with an antidote, and hir thoughts sealed vp with an inuincible chastity. For after shée had long sate: At last with a smyle shée burst foorth into these tearmes.

If Venus could not infuse more dismall aspects in other Ladies thoughts then into my minde, they should neither hold hir as a goddesse, nor honour hir temples with pre­sents: Fonde are those women that are inquisitiue after [Page 25] Astrologers, whether Venus be retrograde or combust in their natiuities. Had they but tasted the swéete fauour of Vestas incense, they would abandon hir as a planet care­lesse in their natiuities: and not trouble the Augurs or A­ruspices to censure of their fatall or fortunate fancies. For had they but insight into the swéete life of virgins, how se­cure they liue, if they liue vertuous, they woulde neuer intangle themselues with the inconstant snares of fancy. Vesta allowes vs frée thoughts, Venus disquiet passions [...] at hir Altars we haue swéete s [...]éepes, in the others pallace broken slumbers. Diana counteruailes our labours with myrth and quiet, in Cipres we finde toyle tempered with care and sorrowes. Being virgins we haue liberty: mari­ed we tie our selues to the variable disposition of a hus­band, who be he neuer so excellent in perfection, or exqui­site in proportion, we shall finde sufficient whereof to ga­ther di [...]ike. Then Terentia, let Lentulus passe with his honors he hath subdued. What though Alexander woone the whole world, his glories are but fortunes fauours. Ac­count him then onely as thou promised, thy fathers friend and thine as farre as he treats not of weddi [...] and with this vpon a sodaine shée start vp, and went to passe away the time amongst companie, holding Cupids deity at dis­daine, and accounting of loue as the Samnites did of golde: which they sent as presents to their enemies, but banisht from their owne common wealth. But Flauia poore Lady, was not pierced with so easie a passion, for shée hauing more déepely imprinted in hir thoughtes his honours and vertues, and measuring the man by the height of his for­tunes, fell into these bitter complaints.

With what little proportion doth iniurious Loue be­stowe his fauours? With howe small regarde doth blinde fortune powre out hir treasures? Making in all their acti­ons contrarieties. that so they may triumph in inconstan­cie. Loue hath brought Lentulus from the wars to Rome, onely to sée Terentia. Fortune hath brought Flauia [Page 26] to the house of Flaminius onely to loue Lentulus, shée little regarding him, he lightly respecting me. Thus hath the contrariety of loue and fortune made Lentulus vnhappy, and me without hope. Ah but Terentia though shée séeme coy at the first, will bee more curteous at the last, when shée hath had but a moneths meditating on the excellency of Lentulus. Then, oh then sigh Flauia, and say oh then wil Terentia not reiect so honourable a personage: When shée considers his youth, his beauty, his parentage, his digni­ties Lentulus no sooner shall wooe, but shée will be woonne: This is the coniecture of hir hap, & the dispaire of my hope. And yet it may be that the destinies haue appointed their disagrée. For starres are sticklers in loue, and fates are principall fautors of wedlocke. If my prayers may serue [...]o Venus, if my incense to Cupid, if my vowes to Lucina, if my sute to Loue. Let their loue perish in the budde, and wither in the blossoms. Had I Medeas magicke, the drugs of Calipso, the inchauntments of Cyrces, the skill of He­cate, all these should be imployed to breake the loue of Te­rentia, and Lentulus. Fond Flauia, to be so franticke in thy passions: suppose Terentia hated Lentulus, can this con­clude he wil loue thée? No, his thoughts are setled, his rest set downe, his vowes made, his fancy fixed, & all vpon y ^e beautiful Terentia: I there Flauia y ^• is y ^e word y ^e galleth to the beautifull Terentia. For of such surpassing beauty is the Lady, that as Cynthia brookes no compare with hir glorious brother: so thou must not enter comparison with y ^• daughter of y ^• Senatour Flaminius. But what is this to Lentulus. If shée be faire, yea as faire as euer was Sulpi­tia: if shée be as coy, and disdainefull as Caelia, had he not better loue homely Flauia, who will counteruaile with loue, what shée wants in beautie, and proportion out in duety, what shée defects in dignity. But what of this, loue admits no exceptions, he cannot mis [...]ike [...]ught in Teren­tia. Doth not present examples yea instances executed in Roome auerre so much? Is not Anthonio enamoured of the blacke Egyptian Cleopatra: Doth not Caesar enuy [Page 27] him in his loues and couets to be corriuall of his fancies. Affection is oft blinde and déemeth not rightlie, The blac­kest Ebon is brighter then the whitest Iuorie: and Venus thought Vulcan at the first a proper stripling. Were Te­rentia neuer so coy, Lentulus will count hir disdaine but chastitie: yet Flauia pray then she may liue in this mislike, then hast thou yet some cause to hope, otherwise wéepe thy fill, dispaire and then die, for swéeter is death then to liue and sée Lentulus enioy the loue of Terentia. Hauing at this period breathed awhile readie to goe forwarde in passions, one of hir waiting women came in who brea­king of hir complaintes past away the rest of the day in prattle. Leauing hir therfore and hir maide at chat, again to Lentulus, who tooke such inwarde griefe at this newe conceited loue, that his colour began to waxe pale and to discouer passions his sighes many and often to bewray his sorrows, his sodayne startes in his sléepes, and his musinges surcharged with melancholie. These noted by Tullie his priuate friende made him coniecture that some­what was amisse with Lentulus. Hauing therefore fit op­portunitie he began to sift him in this manner.

The auncient Gréetians swéete Lentulus y ^• set downe principles of friendship, account the secrete conuersi [...]g of friendes, and their mutuall participating eyther of pri­uate sorrows or concealed pleasures, the principall end of such professed amitie. Therefore did Theseus choose Piri­thous, Orestes Pylades & to that end, or else you wronge me, serues Tullie to his Lentulus. If then it be requisite in friendshippe to abandon suspitious secrecie, I cannot but take it vnkindly that Tullie is not made partaker of Len­tulus passions. For as the Carbuncle is not hid in the darke, nor the fire shut vp in strawe, so sorrowes cannot so couertly be concealed but the countenance will purtray out the cause by the effectes. Thinke me not then so blind but I can Iudge of coullors, nor so simple but I can deeme of affections, what meane these farre fetcht sighes, broken [Page 28] slumbers, this newe delight to be solitarie, but that Len­tulus féeling a passion that pierceth to the quick, yet séekes to kéepe it secrete from his friend Tullie. Knowe this my good Lentulus that smoake depressed stiffleth more deadly. That the Ouen the closer it is damd vp the greater is the heate: and passions the more priuate the more preiu­diciall. Stop not then the streame, least it ouerflow. Con­ceale not sorrowes least they ouercharge, and prooue like woundes, that kepte long from the Chirurgian growe to be incurable vlcers: If it be a Fathers frowne, an e­nemies wrong, a friendes mishap, reueale it and séeke remedie. If Lentulus gréeues hath left his honours in Par­thia, feare not, Rome will haue more warres and Lentu­lus new dignities. If the Senatoures haue delt ingrate­fully: Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris. The most famous Romaines haue forerunne thée in such hard for­tunes. Scipio subdued Affrica, what his rewarde was let our annualles report. If Lentulus misliks ought in Rome, let him abandon Rome, and Tullio will banishe himselfe from his countrie too with his friend Lentulus. If since thy comming into this storehouse of natures prodigalitie, thiue eye hath made suruaie of anie gorgious Damsell, and so my Lentulus be in loue although wisedome wills to hide amors euen from amitie, and to tie fancie in the lowest cell of his heart, yet reueale it to thy friende Tullie, and if any way hee may ease his Lentulus passions, hee vowes to salue thy sore, though with the hazarde of his owne safetie. Lentulus hearing his friende leuell so néere the marke gaue a great grone at the name of loue, and fet­ching a déepe sighe saide Actna grauius Amor. And with that starting from the place where hee sat taking Tullie by the hande, he began thus.

Were it my Tullie that my passions had any hope of remedie, or that my wounde were such as might bee cu­red by counsell, long ere this had Lentulus powred his plaintes into the bosome of his friende Cicero: but my [Page 29] sorrows, as they are piercing so I haue kept them priuate, as hoping for no ease and yet delighting in my martire­dome. The birde flieth the snare of the fouler, No sooner doth the woodman bend his bowe, but the Déere trippes through the lawnes: euerie creature is taught by nature to feare his fall, and yet wretched Lentulus hunteth after his owne mishappe. So haue I described the furie of my passions, as I can not but say it is loue that is thus im­patient. Loue my Tullie that is such a lord as ins [...]nuating his power with fauour he kéeps possession by force. Wars haue their endes either honors or death, and in battaile prowesse oft makes constraint of fortune, but in loue de­lay is the vnhappie deathsman that holding thée vp nei­ther saues nor killes. Since my comming to Rome (my Tullie) coueting to conuerse with beautifull Ladies as be­fore I had done with martiall souldiers, amongst manie curious Pearles I founde one Orient Margarite richer then those which Caesar brought from the western shores of Europe: so long I gased at the beautie of this pretious Iem that I founde my selfe gald with such affection, as well repeat I might, but recall I coulde not: and for thou shalt say she is loue worthie. heare how in discribing hir excellencie I haue plaide the Poet.

NO sooner had Lentulus ended his well written Poem, and concluded his cunning with the name of his mi­stresse, but Tullie hearing Terentia was the saint at whose shrine Lentulus offred vp his deuotion, entring his exordium with a smyle he began to be thus pleasaut.

And is there no fruit will serue your taste but such as growe in the Gardens Hesperides, nor no colour content your eye but such as is stayned by the fish Murex. Must your senses be fed with nothing but that is excellent, nor your loue haue no meane but to aime at the fairest. What Terentia the beautie of Rome? the pride of nature? the [Page 31] wealth of all the fauouring graces, whose excellencies are spreade throught the triple deuision of the worlde? I see my Lentulus souldiers haue eyes as they haue hands, and thoughtes as they haue weapons, and that howe bluntlie so euer brought vp in the warres yet they are curious in the choises of their loues. Well, be it Lentulus loues Te­rentia, an honour to set his fancie on hir, but hee kept his loue secret frō Tullie a fault to be suspicious of his friend. But why gréeues Lentulus? Is not his parentage grea­ter then the house of Flaminius? Is not his honours suffi­cient to counteruaile hir beauties? Why then is he so im­patient in so agreable a passion? Lentulus vpon this dis­coursed vnto Tullie from point to point the successe of his loues, how he gaue his charge ouer to Lepidus onely that he might haue a sight of Terentia, and then recounting what prattle had past betwixt him and hir after dinner: Hir coy answeres and firmed resolution to remaine chast: crauing counsell howe he might ease the disquiete of his thonghts: Tullie pittying the extreeme passion of his friende, deuised sundrie meanes howe to make him lorde of his desires. But after the discourse of sundry plottes, it was decreed that Lentulus shoulde write vnto Teren-Terentia. Lentulus dispairing of his owne stile and me­thode, required Tully to write him a letter passionate and full of familiar eloquence, which at his request Cicero contriued after this manner: where by the way gentle­men, I am to craue you to thinke that Terentia kept the copy secrete, so that neither it can bee founde a­mongst Lentulus loose papers, nor in the familiar epistles of Cicero. If the phrase differ from his other excellent forme of writing, imagine he sought to couer his style, and in his pen rather to play the blunt souldier, then the curi­ous Orator, neither vsing those verborum fulmina, that Papyrius obiects, nor that swéete and musicall cadence of words, which he vseth to Atticus, but howsoeuer or what­soeuer, thus it was.

If gentlemen I haue not translated Lentulus letter verbatim worde for worde, let me in mine owne excuse yéelde these reasons, that neither the familiar phrase of the Romaines can brooke our harsh cadence of sentences: nor durst I attempt to wrest Tullies eloquence to my rude and barbarous english: fearing either to wrong so worthy an Orator in displacing or rather disgracing his phrase: or in too far presuming purchase your frowne, which I haue euer in all duty sought to auoid. But howsoeuer my tran­slation séemes wrested, I haue kept his. And so to Lentu­lus, who hearing Tully reade the epistle, both conceited the methode, and allowed of the manner: Onely carefull where to get a fit and conuenient messenger. Tully at last called to remembrance one Eutrapelus, an especiall friend of his, who frequented the house of Flaminius, by him did Lentulus sende the letter, and so liuing in hope of a happy answere, he left Tully in his study, and went to the Capi­toll. Cicero no sooner was by himselfe, but calling to mind the description of Terentia: set out with such excellency by Lentulus in his new learnd poetrie, and weighing how al Roome woondred at hir beauties: began to féele certaine sparkes of loue kindling in his young desires, which made him blush at his owne thoughtes, and smile that fancy shoulde lie lurking amongst his library to take him at dis­couert. But assoone as he remembred that Lentulus was in loue with hir, the faith to his friend, was a cooling carde to his affections: and hee quenched those sparkes at the first, lest suffered they might grow to a greater flame: yet was he maugre his heade forced to say thus much.

Hast thou liued fortunate, and fauoured in Roome? [Page 36] hath honour raised thée from a meane cottage to be a com­panion to the sonnes of Senators? Doe the Consuls make thee for thy learning one of the Pret [...]xtati? and wilt thou for the hope of foolish beauty staine all thy fauours and fortunes with disgrace? Nay rather Tully it will be honor to wooe the daughter of so famous a Romaine: but shame to thee to take the repulse and be denied. Thinkest thou Terentia will looke so lowe? will Eagles catch at flies? wil the woonder of our time, the paragon of our age, allied to the noblest houses in Roome, make choise of so base and meane a person? What hast thou to deserue hir loue, any more then a little babling eloquence. Womens eares are not their touchstones but their eies: they sée and make choyse, not heare and fancy. A dramme of honour weighs downe a pound of wit: and better is it to court with wel­thy reuenewes, then with swéete lines, or fine coucht po­emes. Thou hast nothing left but a poore farme called Cu­manum, whose rents quits not the charges of thy studies. But suppose thou couldst winne Terentia, suffice shée is loued by Lentulus: and therefore frō this day name hir not in thy mouth, nor weare hir in thy thoughtes, least thou violate friendship, which thou ought to prise dearer then life. Thus Tully appeasing his passions went out of his study and willed Eutrapelus to deliuer the letter with se­crecy: who being one of Tullies chief familiars, went with all spéede to the house of Flaminius, where finding the La­die Terentia sitting with Flauia & Cornelia at worke, he being homo facetus began merily to commend their hus­wifery & after some iests broken betwixt the gentlewomē & him he craued to speak w ^t Terentia about certain serious affairs y ^• greatly imported hir father. Wherupon shée ri­sing & going with Eutrapelus into hir closet he there deliuered vnto hir Lentulus letter. Terentia abashed at the sight blushed as half angrie with Eutrapelus, that he made him selfe messenger in so vaine a matter, yet considering it came from so honourable a personage as Lentulus, shée [Page 37] vouchsafed it & wisht Eutrapelus in the euening to come for an answere. He was no sooner departed, but Terentia vnripped the seales and then red the contentes, which be­ing contrarie to hir resolution, shée determined to returne with a deniall. But for that she would make hir friends priuie to hir new loues passions she went smiling in, and shewed them the letter. Upon poore Lentulus plainesong they all began to descant. Cornelia praysing Terentias fortunes that was so enterely beloued of so honourable & braue a Gentleman, but Flauia hung the lippe and saying little, only askt what a louing answere she would write. I know not howe to replie quoth Terentia, he hath writ­ten so eloquently and so cunningly. But quoth Flauia I durst pawne my credite it was written by young Tullie, that braue Orator: for I haue red some of his Epistles, and tis both his methode and his verie phrase. That Tul­lie, quoth Terentia whom I haue heard my Father and the Senators so highlie commend for his witte, thinking him to excéede either Crassus or Hortensius? and with that sitting downe they began to enter into discourse of Tul­lies excellencies, concluding all that he was as singular a­mongst the Romaines, as euer Demosthenes was a­mongst the Grecians. At last Terentia remembring hir selfe, tooke leaue for a whyle of hir two friendes, and stea­ling into hir closet stepping to the standish shée was about to write, but calling to minde the discourse of Tullies per­fection, letting fall hir penne she fell into a passion. Cu­pid wayting to spie this vestall at aduantage, séeing hir halfe at discouert vulosde a bolt headed with desire, and fethered with conceite, which piercing the tender briest of this young Damosell, he made hir shrinck at the blow, and so breath out this complaint.

Hast thou Terentia béene wondred at in Rome for de­spising loue, and wilt thou now doting gyrle stomble on desire, shall fancie eclipse all thy former glories▪ shall Ve­sta léese a virgin, and Venus winne a wanton? Wilt thou [Page 38] resemble the buddes of an Elder trée, which young are swéete and holesome, but blomd foorth are bitter and pre­iudiciall: thinke with thy selfe that Dianas shrubs are more pleasaunt, than Cupids bowers, the one harbours chast thoughts, the other amorous fancies. Truth, but Lucina is a goddesse, loue is diuine, and marriage hono­rable. Cedars are fayre, but in yéelding no fruite they purchase the lesse estéeme. To be a virgin is a glorious title, but to liue euer so, is to wrong nature in hir fauors. Well hast thou not then Terentia a noble gentleman of Rome, Lord Lentulus to bee thy husbande, a man whose youth is filled with honours and whose spring time [...]o­risheth dignities? hath he not triumpht ouer the Parthians in conquest & boūd fortune to his temples with wreathes of victorie. Is not his parentage one of the greatest fami­lies in Rome? Is he not for beautie like the fayre Gréekes Paramour? For wisedome like wise Vlisses that Cyrces could not inchant? For courage Hector? Aud of such reue­newes as may maintaine thee with the most gorge­ous dames of Italie? But the chiefe of his graces is he not enamored of Terentia and sues for hir fauour. This I confesse, Sed deteriora sequor. Loue ah that foolish pas­sion which we tearme loue allowes nothing excellent but what it likes. It shadowed begarie in Crates. For Hip­sycratea thought him rich in that he was vertuous: de­formitie in Vulcan, for Venus would not beléeue hee had a poult foote. Loue hath no lacke, and lesse reason: yet must I loue, and whome, ah Tullie swéete Tullie, from whose mouth flows melodie, more inchaunting then the Syrens, on whose lips the muses make a newe Parnassus, in whose thoughts rest Platos diuine spirites, and in whose heade is contayned the subtil [...] witte of Aristotle. Is not hee as glorious in Rome for his eloquence, as thou for thy beau­ties? Doth not the Senators wounder at his learning, as at thy perfection? Why should not then both our sin­gularities be lincked in the vnion of Loue? why shoulde [Page 39] not Terentia liue to Tullie, and Tullie to Terentia? Ah but he is base, the first of his kyn that tasted of honour, I but he is vertuous and famous for his eloquence, graces that counteruaile the meanesse of his parentes. I sée loue hath reasons béeing out of reason still to argue against reason, therfore without further pro & contra in mine owne pas­sions, I wil loue Tullie, & therfore thus to Lentulus. With that taking vp hir penne she wrote him this aunswere.

TErentia hauing thus ended hir letter and newe begun hir loues, the one directed to Lentulus the other deuo­ted to Tullie, she went straight to hir two friends Corne­lia and Flauia shewing them the contentes of the letter. Cornelia saide she was too seuere and stoicall in sending such a peremptorie aunswere to so braue a gentleman. Flauia ouercharged with ioy praysed the resolution of Te­rentia, wishing that all maides were of hir minde, mis [...]i­king that which shée most loued, thinking by retreating Terentia from the chace, to be mistresse of the game hir selfe. Well this letter at last was sealed, and deliuered to Eutrapelus, who hying him fast to Tullies lodging founde Lentulus and him in secrete and serious discourse, and all god wot was about Terentia. Lentulus hauing receiued the letter entring with Tullie into his study read the con­tents. No sooner had he viewed & reuiewed ouer hir cruell determination but in a great extas [...]e of minde, he cried out (Dulcior est mors quam Amor.) And with that flinging [Page 41] out of his study he fell into bitter and extreame sorrows. Tully grieuing at his friendes harde fortune sought with plausible perswasions to appease his furious melancholy, wishing him whatsoeuer Terentia wrote stil to thinke hir a woman that would one while thrust out fancy with a finger, and straight interteine loue as a friend: that either time or his constancy woulde make hir stoope to the lure of his desires. Thus sought Tully to wrest him from his passions but in vaine, for hir resolution confirmde with such effectuall and perswasiue determinations so quatted the conceit of his former hope, that going passing melan­choly to his bed, he fell into an extreame feuer, which ag­grauated with the inward anguish of his minde grewe to be so dangerous that Asclapo the physit [...]on excellent at that time for his facultie, iudged the disease [...]o be mortall. The Senatours hearing of Lentulus sickenesse sorrowed, as fearing Roome by death shoulde bee depriued of such high ensuing hope: his friends f [...]ocked to his lodging to vi­site him, who noting, the heate of the ague, and the passi­ons of his minde, his sodaine starts, his gash lookes, and his abrupt answeres, iudged the extremity of his sickenes had halfe brought him to a lunacy, all séeking by counsaile to cure that which neither counsail nor medicine could mi­tigate. Frustrate of their expectatiō they wished his weal and returned with grief. Only Tully whose setled friend­ship no misfortune could remooue, still day and night as a second Esculapius, wayted vpon this perplexed patient. But as the depth of his passion pierced into the center of his heart, so the feuer increased, that generally Roome began to sorrow so braue a warriour shoulde bee cut off in the very prime of his fortunes, insomuch that the report of his sickenes came to the eares of the thrée Ladies. Teren­tia made light account as hauing hir heart hardned with the loue of Cicero, but Flauia grewe passing passionate, as being toucht at the quicke with the weake disposition of Lentulus, wishing he might haue cure for his malady, so [Page 42] it were not by the meanes of Terentia: shée frequented the temples, offred orizons, made vowes and burnt incense to the gods, that they would be fauourable to hir louer Len­tulus, coueting if possible it might be with the preiudice of hir selfe to haue profited him: but in vaine, Terentia was resolute, and he was resolued: as shée was dainty, so to die in disp [...]ire. Flauia if hir modesty might haue permit­ted, would haue accompanied with other Ladies gone to his lodging, but the rights of Vesta forbidding such fami­liar conuersing, shée rather was restrained by force then withhelde by reason. But seeing shée coulde by no meanes come to his sight, yet to manifest the sincerity of hir loue, shée sent him a letter to this effect.

[Page 44]No sooner had Flauia ended hir letter, but shée sealed it and sent it away, and with as much spéede as might be, it was conueyed to Lentulus, who reading the superscripti­on, and perceiuing it came from a woman, supposing it was sent from Terentia, started vp in his bed and rent o­pen the s [...]ales: when he had read the contents, and saw it came from Flauia, noting the extremity of hir loue by the plaine discouery of hir passions: he said to himselfe.

Uniust loue that settles thy delight in crossing with contraries. Some thou piercest with desire, other with disdaine: infusing sundry effectes in diuers affects. I couet Terentia and shée is cruell: Flauia fauours thée, and thou art tyed to other loues. What restes in these extreames but to curse fancy, that maketh such a confused chaos of hir follyes. Oppose then reason against affection, and ad­mitte not of loues conclusions vnlesse they be approoued principles Thy thoughts are deuoted to Terentia, and shée onely vouchsafes thée the verdict of hir eares. Thou art more honourable then shée, of richer reuenewes then hir dowry can satisfie, hauing as many desertes as shée hath beauties: and yet coy dame as shée is, shée twits thée with Vesta when God wotte Venus is the goddesse that heareth hir orisons. If thou hast this insight into hir thoughts, why wrongs thou thy selfe with such carelesse passions? If shée be so [...]amage let hir fl [...]e and séeke for a [...] that may prooue more gentle: Let hir glory like Narcissus in hir beauties: Loue can chastise if it be but with selfe loue. Use no phisicke Lentulus but the considera­tion of hir frowardnesse, Let the drugs of Apollo serue for others not for thée. Thrust out fancy by force, and setting Terentia at light esteeme, make choice of Flauia: Though [...] be not so beautifull, yet shée is second to hir in graces, and farre beyo [...]d hir in curtesies. Tie not thy selfe Len­tulus so strick [...]ly to a wo [...]ans face, beauty is but times flower, that as it is delicate so it s [...]e withereth: Like the colours that Phidias drew in his pictures, which shewing [Page 45] most glorious to the eye was yet blemisht with euery breath. Venus was faire and wanton: Helen the myracle of Greece, but aske Troy of hir qualities. Ah but Terentia is as chast as shée is bautifull. So is Flauia to, and farre more louing. Hir byrth is of higher discent, hir wealth more, hir virtues no lesse: but hir loue such as may chal­lenge thy affection for debt. Ah but Lentulus yet Terentia hir excellency is more then can be shaken off with so slight reasons: and with that he shrunke downe into his bedde, falling to his olde complaints: yet did this letter of Flauia somewhat comfort him, that he found it his best physicke. But leauing him in his bed, againe to Terentia who felt the disquiet of hir minde as restlesse. For the Senatours daily repairing to hir fathers house, had no other table talke but of the eloquence of Tully, some commending his witte, other his study, some his vertues, but all his special gifts of nature, that they put oyle into the flame: and with these prayses so sette on fire Terentias fancy, as nothing tumbled in hir thoughtes but the excellency of Cicero: be­ing so impatient as shée sought by all meanes possible to come to his sight, and to féede hir eye with that wherwith shée had inchanted hir eares, finding no ready way to at­taine the ende of hir desires, vntill loue that like Mercury is full of shifts and subtlety, deuised this plot. Tully being borne in a little village adioyning vnto Roome called Ar­pinatum, vsed often to make his intercourse betwéene the towne and the citie for his pleasure: Which Terentia ha­uing learned out, thought this the fittest meanes to haue a sight of hir Cicero. So that one day to take the aire ac­companied with hir two friends Flauia and Cornelia, ha­uing but a page to attend vpon them, shée walked abroad into the fields. Passing thus in merry chatte towards Ar­pinatum, hauing some glances at the sicknes of Lentulus, they had not walked aboue a mile before Flauia spied Tul­lie comming from Arpinatum to Roome. Assoone as shée had discried him, and for certainety knew that it was he, [Page 46] yonder quoth shée comes that odde man of Roome, that excellent Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, so highly renow­med through all our prouinces for his eloquence, now shal we heare from Lentulus, for they are the most familiar friends and priuate companions in Roome. Terentia at [...] as one wakened out of a dreame gaue a start, and ca­sting vp hir eye espied the Paramour of hir thoughtes, which driue hir into such an extasie, that surcharged with ouer much ioy shee felt an vnacquainted trembling in hir [...]. Being thus perplexed Tully drawing nye, and sée­ing Terentia accompanied with his f [...]iende Flauia, gaue [...] to oportunity that shee had so highly fauoured his [...] Lentulus, as that he might now plead for his safe­ty. Tully thus incountring those three Romaine damosels a [...]ter a curteous Salue which made Terentia blush, he be­gan thus to board them.

The place swéete Romaines so aptly agréeing to the person, this valley resembling Idas, and Rome Troy, I cannot but bash with Paris at the sight of thrée such god­ [...]ses, whose deitie surpassed those which iudicially y ^• shep­harde suruaied with his eye: Humbly therefore saluting you as Dianas darlings and beauties woonder, séeing so small a trayne for such excellent personages, although my affaires be serious and of importaunce, yet please it you to vouche of my seruice, I will attende on your walkes and conduct you safe to Rome. Terentia féeding hir eyes on the swéete of Tullies face, and swilling downe the nec­tar of his diuine eloquence, stayning hir chéekes with such a die, as did the fayre quéene of Cartharge cour­ted by Aeneas, she made him this aunswere.

Howe you make compare Cicero of this valley with the plaines of Troy as little skilled in Geographie or red in Homers Iliads I leaue without replie. For y ^• goddes­se [...] that Paris incountred we are equall with them in nū ­ [...]er though far inferiour to them in beautie. For your ser­uice we accept it, and for your wages you shall haue gra­cions [Page 47] lookes and hartie thankes. Séeing therefore wee are merilie minded, supposing your selfe to be the shéepeharde which of vs shall be your Venus? Not you madam quoth Tullie aboue all the rest: And why so quoth Terentia? be­cause quoth Tullie the least [...]lie hath his spleane the smal­lest ant her gall, no haire so little but he hath his shadowe, and no man so meane but he hath his enuie: Why then quoth Terentia I will discarde you from the office of Pa­ris as a man partiall. But I pray thée Cicero wherein shoulde I offende thée hauing neuer séene thée before? In this quoth hée that Lentulus hath séene you: with that she blusht, and Flauia and Cornelia fell into a great laugh­ter, that Tullie had so roughly crost hir ouer the thumbs. Tullie prosecuting his purpose went forwarde thus. For knowe madam that Lentulus the richest Trophee that fortune settes vp in the Theator of honour made ship­wracke of his libertie for the report of your beautie, lea­uing the wars and the great hope of his fortunes to haue a sight of Terentia, who vnkinde not like Venus in cur­tesie, though in fauours; haue counterpoysde his fancie with mis [...]ike, and for the honie of his amorous thoughts haue powred him downe heapes of bitter and displeasing gall. The crueltie of Cresida neuer amated so the hardy Troilus as the frowne of Terentia hath pierst Lentulus, making so déepe a wound as no phisicke can cure onely your swéete selfe, whose resolutions are so farre from the properties of your face, as it séemes the gods wrongd na­ture in placing an adamant heart within a christall co­uerture. The Ladies hearing Tully so sharpe, bitte the lip and Terentia grieued: angry shée coulde not be as one that was ouer the shooes in affection, but thus shee cutte him off.

I cannot iudge Cicero by your sharpe and peremptory inuectiues vpon so small acquaintance, but you professe your selfe a Cinicke. If your philosophy be such, I will br [...]k the blowes as wel as Alexander, & think nothing ill [Page 48] that is spoken from Diogenes. Howsoeuer or whatsoeuer Cynicke or stoicke, I argue thus against Lentulus, that vowes made to Vesta are to be holden inuiolated, and re­solutions to liue a virgine are not to be broken with mar­riage. Cornelia and Flauia hearing them thus farre in by the eares, walked a little aside and left Tully to schoole Te­rentia: who maintained hir arguments thus. Suppose Tully it were not chast thoughts but newe loues that for­ced me to this refusal: haue not trées their strings & womē their fancies and affections? If his autum showers com­ming too late cause not his crops to proue, what is that to me? Loue consisteth in vnity: the heart hath but one string, the heauen one sunne, and the Iris one property, and women but one loue: and that I tell thée Tully, is pla­ced on one that is as famous for his vertues as Lentulus for his wealth and dignities. And what then can I giue, or he rightly challenge? Tully although hee conceiued in his thoughtes that Terentia yéelded great reason, yet hée would not giue ouer the chase so, but made this reply. Ah but madame haue an insight into the depth of his affecti­ons, howe he aimes not at your treasures hoping to be in­riched by your great dowry, For Lentulus is of the wel­thiest family in Roome: but leuels at your vertues, the syrens against whom he could not vse Vlisses pollicy. If affections be but a little past, if loue hath but drawne one line in your thoughts with his pensell: wrastle with fan­sie, blot out loues shadowes, and helpe Lentulus: who if you remaine so cruell shall be no more Lentulus. If he dye for loue, how shall the stréetes swarme with statues of his constancy? If you be knowen the chiefe actor of the trage­dy, how will the people murmure of your cruelty? Weigh this madame, I speake as a familiar of Lentulus, and no enemy to Terentias honour. If he be a Romaine that Te­rentia loues, let him either be more honourable, more va­liant, more affable, more excellent euery way then Lentu­lus, nay more louing then the poore gentleman, or else dis­carde [Page 49] him for a man insufficient either to tast of Terentias beauty, or to be corriual with Lentulus in his loues. Te­rentia had yéelded at this fierce assault, had not loue laide an instance before hir of hir resolution. For the more Tully pleaded for his friend, the more was Terentia enamoured: so that shée made him this answere.

If I knewe howe to certifie Lentulus of this dayes dis­course, he should highly reward you for playing so wel the Orator. But I maruaile Cicero that being young, and of such eloquence, we heare not of your loues: I feare you reach so hye, that you thinke no maides in Roome hono­rable inough for your paramour. Were I a man and had Tullies grace, and his tongue, I would plead for my selfe: and vse one word for my friend, and two for my selfe. So madame (quoth he) shoulde men account mee a faithlesse friend, and a flattering louer. But leauing these suppositi­ons madam, how answere you my last reason? With loue quoth shée and that is without reason, for how might the gentleman to whom I finde my selfe affectionate, thinke himselfe wrongd if without cause I should be inconstant. Graunt I my loue to the meanest citizen, a monarch shall not make conquest of my thoughts. Suppose syr it were your selfe, and that Terentia loued Tully, coulde you brooke an other to braue you in your affections. I would madame quoth Tully if it were no supposition. And how then quoth Terentia if it were not? Then would I quoth hee become Esculapius to Lentulus, and sweare his disease shoulde not be incurable, for I woulde coniure you by the rightes of loue, by the sacred lawes of Venus, and by the affection that were imprinted in your thoughtes, to bestowe what y [...]u would impart vpon me to my only ioy Lord Lentulus. But women cannot make loue voluntary. Tush madame what cannot women doe for loue? Any thing quoth Teren­tia but change loue. Therefore concealing the party that I loue, I will say and sweare Tully is my loue, and so say to Lentulus. With this Terentia blusht, and for very griefe [Page 50] that Tully woulde not sée into hir thoughtes the teares stoode in hir eies: which Tully spying, it so prickt him to the heart, that it neuer after was rased out. To smooth there­fore his rough methode with a fewe fine filed phrases, hee salued the matter thus. It is madame impossible to driue fire downeward, or to make heauy things to mount: Na­ture will not bee wrongd, nor loue drawne out by con­straint, therfore I will leaue any more at this time to sue for Lentulus: hoping the consideration of his martirdome will at length make battery into the bulwarke of your breast, & whereas you will sweare Tully is your l [...]ue: you knowe madame we haue in ou [...] twelue tables a lawe a­gainst periury, but if you vouch to grace me that title, in all duty I wil rest your euer bounden seruant. Why then seruant quoth shée, let vs to yonder two Ladies, that for want of a companion are faine to make an amarous knight of my page. Flauia séeing they were halfe agréed, [...]earing Tully by his eloquence had perswaded Terentia, waxed pale and incountred them thus. What news quoth shée, doth Lentulus winne or loose? Neither madame quoth Tully but his cause hanges still in suspence, the next court day I will end my oration, and then the Iudge shall giue verdict. As they were ready to haue gone forward in some pleasant prattle they espied a horseman making towards them with the greatest spéede that might bee. When he came within ken, Tully knew it to be Lentulus man, and before he had leysure to do his message, he demanded how his master did: passing sicke syr quoth hee, and hath sent that you be with him presently. Tully who was toucht at the quicke with this newes, put foote in the stirrop and mounted, yet as one forgetting himselfe hee vsed these words. Pardon Ladies, if I passe manners and promise, in leaping vp without leaue, and returning in such post without your company: It is for Lentulus whom you all loue, and therefore I hope to rest blamelesse. Now madam Terentia what shall I say to Lentulus? No more quoth shée [Page 51] then what I saide to Tullie, but how concludes Tullie of his last premisses? that quoth hee, Terentia shall frame the argument, and so with this darke Aenigma he tooke leaue of the Ladies: who after his departure fell in talke of his perfections. Terentia so déepely praysing the man that hir companions easilie perceiued hir loues, & smilde that in forsaking a flower shée light vpon a wéede. Well tracing still amongst the medows they chanced into a val­ley most curiouslie decked with Floras delicates, in which were such varietie of flowers, that nature séemed there to haue planted the storehouse of hir prodigalitie. Adioy­ning to this valley was a pleasaunt riuer and a groue that gaue a grace to Cloris excellencie: delighted with the scituation of this place, as they passed along they met [...]e a shéepheard, who doing reuerence to the dames: Teren­tia demaunded of this swaine what the name of this plea­saunt place was. Madam quoth he we shéepehardes here call it the vale of Loue, And why so quoth Cornelia? Al­though madam quoth he my flocke hath no guide but my dog, and now in yeaning time the wolues are verie busie, yet for that I see you are Senators daughters, and with all passing courteous I will shew the reason, and with that leaning on his staffe the Ladies sitting downe he be­gan thus.

ASsoone as the shepeharde repeated his Ode, Terentia delighted with the description of the pastorall loue for that it touched hir passions gaue him heartie thankes and so the swaine tooke his leaue and departed. Terentia and the rest hereupon growing into the effectes of loue that kéepes no proportion of persons, wandring on talking towardes the groue. And for that the sun [...]e grewe hote and was risen to the highest zenith of the hea­uens, seeking for shelter they went into the groue which was seated hard by the pleasant current, finding out there [Page 57] a place conuenient, these thrée Ladies [...]it them downe v­pon the grasse, where delighted with the melodie of the birdes, and the c [...]lenesse of the shade they fell a sléepe. Then liued in Rome Vatinus y ^• Senator which was one of the most wealthie in possessions of any that had béene consull in the Citie, fauoured euery way by fortune, had he not beene thwarted by one gréeuous & dolefull misfor­tune. For this Vatinius amongst manie children had his eldest sonne as first in byrth, so brauest in proportion, of such exquisite lyneaments touching the outwarde shape, as nature séemed to haue béene curious in hir workman­shippe: but otherwise hee was so foolish and of clownish capacitie that there was no hope of his future conceipt, his name was after his father Vatinius. But for because neither by the diligence of anie maister, nor the flattery of his friendes, correction, or anie other industrie he coulde bee made capable of learning or ciuilitie, vsing fashi­ons and woordes from a harshe and grosse voyce, re­resembling rather a bruite beast then a reasonable crea­ture, he was in derision called of euery man Fabius the Foole. Vatinius gréeuing that the gods had offered him this wronge for that the presence of Fabius was the con­tinuall source of his sorrowes, hée commanded that hee shoulde goe to his Farme, and there liue amongst his shepheards. This was no little content to Fabius as one that delighted more in the nature of Clownes and bond­slaues then in the courtly behauior of libertines & gentle­men. Fabius thus being in the countrie applying himselfe to all principles of husbandrie, one day amongst the rest walked foorth with a great batte on his necke to ouer-sée his fathers pastures, at last for y ^• the Sunne was hie and shone hote, he went into the groue then all ouerclad with leaues, for it was far spring, and féeling a place wherein at pleasure to rest himselfe, hee stumbled by fortune on the fount where Terentia lay a sléepe, who when Fabius espied being clad in a robe of Bisse so thinne as the white­nes [Page 66] of hir skinne did appeare, hauing hir two companions by hir side, he began as one amazed to beholde. Leaning therefore on his great batte without vttring one worde, he stood in great admiration what she should be, as though he had neuer séene so braue a creature before. Nowe en­tring into his rusticall and blunt vnderstanding (where neuer before could be ingrauen any impression of honest ciuilitie a thought of fancie which made him confesse in his grosse and materiall spirits that this mayde was the [...]airest thing y ^• euer could be censured by sight. In this hu­mour he began to descant of hir seuerall beauties, pray­sing hir hayre to be of gold, hir forehead of Iuorie, hir lips [...]oral, & aboue all hir two breasts which then began to ap­peare like pretie tender buddes, in such simple sort so di­stinguishing of hir fauours that from a grosse clowne hee became to be a Iudge of Beautie: especially coueting to sée hir eyes which heauie sléepe had shut vp, determining often to haue waked hir to haue contented himselfe with their sight. But séeing hir more faire then any creature that before he had séene, he thought hir to bee some God­desse. Hauing thus farre knowledge that things deuine should be reuerenced more then humaine, and therefore durst not attempe to wake hir, but (although shée had a sounde and long sléepe) tooke such pleasure in contempla­ting hir perfections that he would by no delay depart. At last after a longe space Terentia awaked before any of the rest, lifting vp hir drowsie eyes shee sawe before hir Fabius leaning vpon his staffe, whereof béeing halfe ama­zed shée asked of him. Fabius, what séekest thou here in this groue? Fabius who as well by his countenance as clemencie and for the nobilitie of his house, as the riches of his father, was generally knowne of all the Romains, made no answere to Terentia: but séeng hir eyes open he began to looke stedfastly vpon them féeling a pleasing con­tent to issu [...] from those Lampes which sparkle as the ve­rie flames of loue: insomuch that Terentia séeing him gase [Page 67] so earnestly fearing the sturdie clowne might offer hir some violence wakened hir companions and starting vp said Fabius farwell. To whome Fabius made aunswere I will goe with you. And although Terentia refused as being surprised with great fear of his rustical disposition, yet he would not forsake hir till he had brought hir to hir Fathers house, where bluntly leauing the Ladie he went home to his Fathers; saying hee woulde not returne ani [...] more into the countrie. Although it gréeued his Father to haue his sorrowe cōtinually before his eies, yet wondring what y ^e occasiō of this strange motiō should mean, he was content to let him remaine at home in the Citie. Loues arrowes thus piercing into the heart of Fabius wherein­to neuer before any ciuill thought could enter, made such a Metamorphosis of his minde that not onely his Fath [...]r & friends, but all Roome began to woonder at his sodaine alteration: for he required to be apparelled as the sonne of a Senator which his father with all diligence perfor­med, then frequenting the most courteous and honest young Gentlemen of the Citie, especially such as were amorous, he to the great astonishig of all not onely lear­ned his letters, but became verie studious, grew to haue déepe insight into philosophie, to be skilfull in musicke, to ride a horse and to be expert in all gentle and manlike ac­tiuitie, to conclude in short space he was one of the bra­uest young men of Rome.

Here by the way courteous Ladies and braue gentle­men what shal I say of the transformatiō of Fabius? one­ly in my opiniō this: That y ^• high vertues of the heauens infused into his noble brest were imprisoned by y ^• enuious wrath of Fortune within some narrowe corner of his heart, whose bandes went a sunder by loue, as a Lord to mightie for fortune. Cupid the raiser vp of sléepy thoughts dispersed those vertues into euery part of his mind obscu­red before with the eclipse of base thoughts. Let vs then think of loue as of the most purest passion that is inserted [Page 60] into the heart of man. Well, leauing Fabius studious how to excell in all laudable vertues, againe to Tullie, who ar­riued in post haste to the lodging of Lentulus and founde him passing sicke, yet somewhat comforted at the sight of Cicero, as of him y ^• he held most déere in the world. Tullie séeing him so ill & full of passiōs durst not tel him y ^• he had seene Terentia least hir froward answere should augment his miserie, concealing therfore his chat y ^• he had with y ^• Ladies, at last Lentulus shewed him the letter of Flauia: whereupon they fell to discourse of hir beauties and ver­tues, howe she was not much inferiour to Terentia in fa­uour, but farre beyond hir in honours, discoursing so long from point to point that after a vole of broken sighes tem­pered with some teares hée fell a sléepe. Tullie glade that he tooke a nappe stole softly out of the Chamber, and being by himselfe calling to minde the words of Terentia began to enter into this combate with himselfe.

So pliant are the aspectes of the foreappointing stars in some mens natiuitie as they force fortune mauger hir owne variable nature to bee constant. Amongst all that haue béene borne in the poore village of Arpinatum, thou maist Tullie say that thy planets haue béene pleasing, and thy desires fauorable, who the son of a poore Fermour art in hope to make thy house equal with the most in Roome. Measure but thy honour and Iudge of thy fortunes: thy family base, yet art thou companion with Senators and men of grauest account in the Citie. Honour treades on thy héele and dignitie daunceth attendance at thy lookes: but loue Cicero, that deitie, that diuine essence that sea­leth vp content in al estates he stoopeth at thy frown, pre­sentes thée wreaths of myrtle that thou maist enter into Paphos without checke. Terentia the wonder of Rome, Natures Paragon, the refined beautie of the heauens, she that seemeth to glaunce on the Pretextati: she that makes no account of the miracle of our time, Lord Lentulus: shée Cicero commaunded by loue, yéelds hir selfe captiue to the [Page 61] sonne of a poore country villager in Arpinatum. Then Tul­lie strew Venus temple with roses, say there is no fount but Alcydalion: no hill but Erecinus: no bird but the doue: no god but Cupid. Loose not oportunity, take hir by the foreheade, let not slip occasion, for shée glydes away like a shadow, nor loue, for she hangs at the héeles at time. Nowe Terentia hath put the iron in the fire, strike then while it is hot, pay hir downe poundes of loue for drams of fancy, for in matching w ^t the daughter of a senator, think it pre­sageth thou shalt be a Senator: so shalt thou gaine at one time honour, dignity, wealth, and beauty; but with that loose thy faith Tully, thy faith thou hast vowed to Lentu­lus, who shuts vp his secretes in thy heart, and resteth his thoughts on thy bosome. Wilt thou preferre honour before thy friend, or wealth before conscience. Ah Tully if thou be the man y ^• Roome woondreth at for thy eloquence, be also the man that they shall canonize for thy vertues. Beau­ty is but a bauins blaze, wealth is but a fickle fauour of fortune, dignity is haunted by enuy: but friendship that is the pretious treasure that neither time nor fortune can violate. Why but Terentia will neuer loue Len­tulus, then Tully hate thou euer Terentia. I am a man and subiect vnto loue as well as Lentulus: So art thou a man and being false to thy friend art vnworthy all loue. Abandon Tully these vaine imaginations, [...]ount Te­rentia foule, deformed, vitious and what not, as long as one sparke of loue lieth rakt vp in the cynders of thy thoughts: and as long as Lentulus loues hir, hate hir for thy self, and [...]oue hir for Lentulus. Setting downe his rest at this period, he went into the chamber to sée if Lentulus were awake, but finding him still fast a sléepe, he went to­wards the Capitoll, where he met with Flaminius the fa­ther of Terentia who demaunded very heartily how Len­tulus did. Cicero with a déepe sigh said passing sick. Wher­of quoth Flaminius grows the disease, I heard that Ascla­po iudgeth his sickenes to be mortall. Tully thinking to set all on the dice, not respecting his owne loue but his faith [Page 70] to his friend, began thus. Graue Senator, I néede not re­hearse Lentulus byrth, as beeing a citizen, nor his reue­newes, his possessions long knowne to euery man, nor his honours ended in victories, for the Parthians are sufficient euidence of his well discharged dignities and valour. Len­tulus graced in the prime of his youth with these fauours, hearing of the beauty of a Romaine Lady, left the warres and came to Roome, where courting his mistresse not with wanton poemes, but with tearmes of marriage: hee f [...]und hir froward, and his loue dasht in the prime. The impression of hir beauty grauen with too déepe a caracter was too fast rooted in his heart to be thrust out with deni­all: yet Lentulus to content hir, plaies like the phenix, burnes in his owne parfumes, rather wishing to die then to contrary hir resolution. This is the cause that first brought Lentulus to his bedde, and this ere long will bring him to his graue. And who may it be quoth Flaminius, of what family, of what beauty, of what degrée, that can or dare deny Lorde Lentulus? Is he not mighty and may commaund by force, what he cannot obtaine by intreaty? will not the souldiers at his becke rise in armes? Feare not the Consuls themselues to wrong Lentulus? Doth not all Roome hang their thoughts at his lookes? Ah miserable father that harbours such a daughter, and stubborne hus­wife that denies so braue a Romaine. In friendship Tully tell me who it is. Cicero willing to put a spurre to a frée horse, and to loose his owne content to winne his friendes quiet, told him flatly it was his daughter Terentia: and for proofe he shewed him the letters that past betwixt Lentu­lus and hir. Assoone as hir father had read the contents, as a man half mad he fel into furious and frantick tearmes, exclaiming against the headstrong humour of foolish Te­rentia. After he had breathd out the heat of his choller, he fell to be somewhat appeased, and bad Tully home to sup­per, promising all shoulde sort according vnto Lentulus minde. With that departing from the Capitoll, Tully and [Page 71] he went home to his house, where the Cooke being some­what slacke: Flaminius hearing his daughter was all a­lone in the garden, he wished Tully to try hir once againe, and to perswade hir by all possible means to graunt to the request of Lentulus. Upon this Tully went into the garden where finding Terentia sitting solitary in an arbour vp to the hard eares in a dumpe, he wakened hir out of hir muse thus. Vestas chiefe paragon, and Venus newe interteined darling, you madam Terentia I meane, that sit in a muse: are you offring orisons to Diana for your chastity, or thanks to Cupid for your loues: or what are you thinking on when you thinke on nothing? Terentia turning hir head and séeing Tully all alone, blusht more then Cynthia did when shée wantond it with hir faire faced shepheard, yet welcomming hir loue with a smile, shée tooke him by the hand and made him this answere.

Your subtile salutation concluding Vesta and Venus in one Dilemma commands me answere that I was dooing my deuotion to both, offring prayers for my olde thoughts & thanks for my newe loues: & scarce had I saide gramer­cy to the goddesse, but you must come Cicero to make my thanks prodigious: for my thinking when I thought of nothing it was of mens loues which are lighter then the flame, and sooner faded then a flash of lightning: But I pray you say what winde hath driuen you into this coast.

Marry madame the very sighes that fly from Lentu­lus breast grewe to so great a storme that I was blowne hither to séeke shelter for the tempest. You haue nothing quoth Terentia but Lentulus in your mouth: I pray you say how fares the gentleman? Ill madame quoth Tully euery way, for his dyet is badde in that his stomacke is nought, and his health is doubtfull in that his thoughtes are dis­quiet: and madame it rests in you to saue so honourable a gentleman not onely from sickenes but from sorrowe: Ae­neas was a stragling Troian an exile periured and banisht euen from the ruines of Troy, yet Dydo the famous Car­thage [Page 64] quéene made him hir paramour. Demophoon a py­rat a robber in Greece cast vp as shipwrack on the shore, yet interteind by Phillis. Phao a ferryman, a slaue, yet fa­uoured by Sapho. Lentulus the hope of the Romains, more beautifull then Eneas, more couragious th [...] Demophoon, more honourable then Phao, more louing then them all, is refused and reiected by Terentia, his neighbour and famili­ar. Thinke not Terentia but loue as hee hath roses so hee hath nettles, as he hath perfumes so hath hee hemblocke, and holding fauors the claspeth reuenge, as ready to pierce as to pacifi [...]. If you procure Lentulus death, Cupid hath power to inforce your dispaire, and to cause your loue to be as fickle to you as you are froward to him. Then madam let me be the messenger of life, and from your swéete selfe carry such conserues to Lentulus as may recouer his health and increase your honours. This discourse of Tully did but sette Terentias heart more on fire. For hearing the pleasant harmony of hir Cicero, shée likt of the musicke as of the Syrens melody, and so intangled hir selfe with many newe conceiued fancies, insomuch that forgetting whose daughter shée was, shée burst foorth into these tearmes.

Did I not Cicero tell thée twixt Arpinatum & Roome, y ^• loue hath but one cell wherein to place the Idaea of y ^• party loued: wilt thou haue me like the Camelion to haue many colours, or like Helena to intertain many loues? I know Lentulus dignities are beyond my degrée, that his honors are more then my fortunes, that his loue is great, and so I holde him the second in my most secrete thoughtes: first he cannot be and that he craues. Thou doest wring water out of the flint, fier forth of y ^• dry sandes, & immodesty from hir that hath euer béene honoured for chastily: so that by wastlesse perswasions for thy friende, I am forst to say thou art the friend that Terentia hath chosen amongst all the worthy Romains: Before I sawe thée Tully I loued thee, and now I haue setled my affection, and thou wrongst [Page 65] me with discurtesie: but either cease from intreating for Lentulus, or looke to sée me worse then Lentulus. And with this blushing at hir owne ouermuch loues, shée poured foorth such abundance of teares, as well might bew [...]ay the sincerity of hir affections. Tully gréeuing to sée the goddesse of his thoughtes in this passion answered hir, mildly thus. Blame me not Terentia if I pleade for Len­tulus, séeing his sorrow, and entring into mine owne pro­mise. Then friendship is no swéeter iewell, then howe can I but labour ere I loose so rich a prize. But séeing Terentia hath vouchsafed of so meane a man as Tully, whose ho­nours onely hanges in his studies: loue béeing the stric­test league of amity and no such friendship as is mariage: I vowe by the Romaine gods, euer to be a duetifull ser­uant vnto a Terentia: and with my loyalty so to requite hir fauours, as Roome shall more admire my affections then they haue woondred at my eloquence: yet with this proui­so (my swéete Terentia) that although I preferre thy fa­uours before mine owne life, yet if thou canst striue to loue Lentulus, which if either the gods, loue, fortune, or thy selfe can bring to passe, I will with mine owne preiudice conquer mine owne thoughtes to satisfie the content of Lentulus. As Terentia was ready to reply, one of hir fa­thers seruants came to request Cicero to come to supper, who taking his leaue of Terentia went in to hir father Flaminius, who sitting downe to supper, passed away the time in ordinary talke. Their repast being taken, Fla­minius calling Tully on the one side, demaunded what his daughters answere was. Peremptory quoth Tully still to hold Lentulus in mislike. Then you shall heare quoth hir father what I will say, and so report to Lentulus: so calling for Terentia they thrée being together, he began thus.

I knowe not howe Terentia to insinuate my exordium, whether friendly to perswade with a smyle, or fatherly to admonish with a frowne: thy follies are so great, and my care so tender. Roome hath hitherto admyred thy vertues, [Page 66] and I haue praised thy obedience: thou hast béene counted honorable and chast, wise to eschew wantonnesse, but ne­uer coy to be thought disdainefull: and shall nowe all these graces ende in disgrace? Then Terentia maiest thou re­pent hereafter, and I powre forth present sorrowes. I speake thus, for that I heare in the city what ma­keth me to grieue, and may force thée to blush. They say Terentia is beautiful and proude, witty and ouerwéening, hauing coy disdaine crept into the place of curteous desire: this men say that enuy thy follyes, and grieue at Lentu­lus fortunes. Now daughter thou séest the marke I aime at, and maiest iudge of my shot by the leuell: Lentulus is fallen into a feuer, which Asclapo that famous Phisition of Patras censures to be mortall. Thy frowardnes was the efficient of the disease, and nowe thou deniest cure of the maladie. Unaduised gyrle, that neither weighest of thine owne honours, nor his miseries. Lentulus requires Terentia in mariage: let vs make compare of the parties, and so examine the cause of thy denials. He is descended from the Lentuli and Aemilij, two houses that euer haue béene the props of the Romaine dignities. His honours are great, as proconsul in his youth against the Parthians: His fortunes mighty, doubled with his conquests and vi­ctories: His reuenewes such as he may with Crassus maintaine Legions. If like Venus darling thou séekest to féede thine eie, his fauour is more then his that pleased Cynthia. If thou couetest a souldier, Lentulus in Roome is as Hector was in Troy. If a Courtier, who braues it so in Italy? To conclude if Terentia couet to loue, there is none so fit to loue within the Romaine Empire as Lentu­lus. Whereas Terentia is but the daughter of a meane Senatour, hir dowry cannot be much, for that hir fathers wealth is not great: Beautifull shée is, and so are many in Roome, who are of meaner parentage. Hir glories are but fortunes pelfe, that florishe in the morning, and fade before night. What then can mooue Terentia to oppose hir [Page 67] selfe against Lentulus? vnlesse shée fatally presageth hir owne discredit, and the ruine of hir fathers house. If then daughter thou art child to Flaminius, I charge thée by the strickt law of nature, which Philosophers call Regius a­mor a kingly loue, if thou be a maide, by the holy fiers of Vesta: if beautifull, by Venus deity: if a Romaine, by thy Countryes loue, that thou loue Lentulus: which if thou re­fuse to performe, thy father shall curse thée, Vesta shall shut thée from hir temples, Venus from hir fauours, and thy country from inioying the swéete content of honour, and then make thée outcast of all the Romaine virgines. More are my reasons to alleage, then thy reasons able to contrary: but omitting all and saying he is onely Lentu­lus: Daughter what answere?

Terentia séeing hir father in such a choller, and that hée was induced vnto it by Ciceros perswasiōs in a furie be­gan thus frantike. I not denie but Fathers challenge loue by nature and obedience by duetie, and both those sir I hope I haue euer performed, if not I rest sorrowfull & hartily craue pardon: but in loue parentes haue no priui­ledge. For the liking of the Father is no contract of the daughter. Venus conclusions growe not of parentes pr [...] ­mises, nor can affection bee like the fire stroken foorth a flint, for loue is chosen by the eye and confirmed by the heart, womens thoughtes are not the spoyles of Mars, nor is the battell of fancie fought with the sworde, but with the Senses, & loues arrowes are pointed by fate and fortune. Weigh then Terentia, who hath not hir loues in hir hande but in hir heart and thereinto none can make breach, but such a one as the pleasing constellation of the stars haue appointed. I not denie the excellencie of Len­tulus as well in exterior shewe of honours, wealth, digni­ties, and proportion, as in interior vertues & perfections of the minde, and that he merittes a Ladie of farre more estéeme then Terentia, but I knowe not what contrarie aspect either of the planets in our natiuities, or of loues [Page 68] in our thoughtes, or of fortune in our resolution [...]o like, hath crossed his desire and my fancie, but of all the Ro­mayne Gentlemen I cannot my Lorde fancie Lentulus. Cressida confest Troylus was the better knight, & yet the Gréeke helde hir louely in his tent. Sith then affection growes from desire, and desire is tyed to destinie, séeke not sir to wring water out of the pumex, to couple the Mouse and the Elephant at one stall, to vnite those loues that Venus in hir Sinod house hath expreslie counter­checkt. For to aunswere your obiection, Terentia cannot force hir self to loue Lentulus. Shée thus concluding with a few teares, hir father departing from hir with a frown, tolde Tullie that not reason was sufficient to induce his daughter to be affectionate, and therefore that hee wished Lentulus to appease his passions and to salue such impos­sibilities with patience, wherupon they after interchange of salutations and cōmon courtesies parted with a friend­lie farewell. Tullie at his home comming reuealed vnto Lentulus the whole discourse howe Flaminius had searcht into the depth of Terentias thoughtes both with plawsible perswasions and inforced reasons, and coulde finde no other conclusion but that shée could not loue Len­tulus. Although this newes pierced the verie center of his heart as mortallie as if hee had béene wounded with the sting of Aspis: yet chéering himselfe a little he sat vp and in his owne minde hauing aboute or two with fan­cie, he gaue hir so deepe a reuie that hee held affection at the swordes point. But Tullie who betwéene friendship and loue felt a furious combate, allured with the beaute­ous perfection of Terentia, and forbidden that fauour by the entyre amitie hee had vowed vnto Lentulus: entred into so déepe a melancholie that not able to master his pas­sions, he fell sicke and kept his bed. Lentulus séeing hys Tullie thus distrest gréeued at his friends misfortune, and chéered vp himselfe that hee might somewhat comfort his Cicero that newlie was crossed with a distempered sicke­nesse. [Page 69] He sought by physicke to search out the nature of the disease, but Asclapo could not déeme the cause by the ef­fectes, he sought by intreaties to wrest out the occasion of so sodayne a sorrow, but in vayne, Tullie was too se­crete and silent to make anie shewe of his loues though he bought such secresie with death. This gréeued Lentulus who féeling himselfe euery day to amend, perceiued that Cicero daylie waxed worse and worse. Lingring thus in inward passions, Terentia that tooke it discourteously at Tullies hande that hee should force hir Father to inforce hir to loue Lentulus, séeing shée had onely deuoted hirselfe as his, howsoeuer fortune shoulde oppose hir selfe; to ease hir mind of some choller that boiled in hir secret thoughts shée tooke penne and inke and wrote him a letter to this effect.

AFter shée had written this Letter shée causde it to bee conueied by Eutrapelus to Tullie, who reading the contentes found not a salue to cure his maladie, but that Terentia rubbed the scare a fresh by shaking him vp so sharpely, yet coueting rather to die with an honourable minde to Lentulus, then with a discredite to enioy beau­tifull Terentia, he laide his heade on his pillowe, and with manie sighes bewraide the depth of his sorrows. Hauing laide his letter at his beds heade ouercharged with many cares poore Tullie fell a sléepe and so sodenlie that Lentu­lus by the helpe of Eutrapelus got to haue a sight of his letter. Assoone as the Gentleman saw how déepely Teren­tia was affected to his friende and perceyued by the cir­cumstances that he chose rather to die then to falsifie his faith, such a secrete loue towardes Tullie so pierced the closet of his honourable thoughtes that he [...]ell to conceipt [Page 71] but meanlie of Terentia and to wish that his friende Cice­ro might both recouer his health and his loue. Now be­gan the fancie of Lentulus to freze that earst was so great a flame, and he that like the Salamander delighted to liue in the fire, beganne to feare to accedere ad ignem, least he shoulde Calescere plus quam satis. Now he called to mind the resolution of Terentia tempered with frowardnesse, and with this he did proportion the vertues of Flauia mix­ed with courtesie, finding the fauour of the one aunswera­ble to the beauty of the other. Then the faith of his friend, his sickenes and extréeme sorrows. These weighed with depe consideration he vowed to séeke by all meanes howe to win Terentia wholy for his friende Cicero. In this hu­mor he conuaide the letter vnder his beddes heade and re­sted silent till occasion might offer him oportunitie to dis­couer the perfection of his amitie. Thus grewe Lentulus at one time from his sickenes & his loue, walking abroad & visiting Flaminius who entertayned him in all sumptuous manner. But Lentulus séeing the thrée Ladies, made no showe to Terentia nor scarse glaunced a looke vp­pon hir beautie, but onely courted the Ladie Flauia, who he founde so agreeable and plyant to his sutes, that Teren­tia and Cornelia might easilie sée howe depely they were linked in the league of affection. Leauing Tullie thus sicke on his bed and Lentulus in swéete content with Fla­uia, againe to our newe transformed Fabius who in this time prooued one of the brauest Gentlemen in Rome, and finding a restlesse passion in his mind for the beutie of Te­rentia, as hauing continually before his eye the Idaea of hir person séeing by hir meanes hee was metamorphosed & brought to this perfection making the force of his loue priuie to his Father Vatinius, he was not onely praysed for his good choice, but willed to goe forwarde in the op­tayning of his affectiōs. Whereupon not willing to make a long haruest to a small crop, to preuent as hee thought that none shoulde cut the grasse from vnder his féete, hee [Page 72] went to Terentias Father and blunt [...] craued his daugh­ter in marriage. He knowing him to be of honourable pa­rentage and of rich reuenewes, séeing shée woulde not condiscende vnto Lentulus gaue him his francke good will if he could créepe into his daughters fauour, who taking the aduantage of the time went to find out Terentia, who as then was verie melancholie sitting with Flauia & Cor­nelia talking of the sickenes of Tully. As they were thus in [...]hat, came in Fabius who they streight knew & won­dered at his strange alteration, he to shewe hee coulde as well court it as the brauest young gentleman in Rome, began thus curteously to salute the Ladies.

Maruell not Ladies if a countrie swayne presume to attempt y ^• presence of such rare excellencies séeing Oeno­nes shéephearde durst with his eye suruay the beautie of diuine goddesses, and they to shewe they were as grati­ous and full of fauours gaue him the greatest minion that was counted the swéetest Peragon of the world. Earth­lie creatures you be, fayre Romaynes, but heauenly fa­ces, whose looks lighten diuine influence into the thoughts of such as dare to contemplate your affections. I speake this as being the man that from the cart liue in the court, thus metamophosed by your supernaturall beauties. For which fauour I am come in duetie to rest a bounden vo­terie to your swéete selues. Terentia was so pensiue for Tullyes passions that shée woulde make no aunswere: but Cornelia whom alreadie Cupid had set on fire with Fabi­us feature she returned him this replie.

I remember Fabius that sitting in the groue by Arpi­natum a gentle swaine much like your self, in proportion though not in properties, séeing wee were slenderly gar­ded with a page conducted vs home to Rome with his friendlie companie, if it be your selfe, had wee as braue a Ladie as Helena was and were shée in our power to be­stowe, wée woulde make you master and sole possessour of hir beauties so to rewarde your courtesie. Fabius séeing [Page 73] the marke so faire thought not to loose his shoote, but aim [...] his leuell thus.

And for that cause Ladies is Fabius come that his mée [...] may not want his merite, glad that Venus dewes downe such fauors, and oportunitie such showers of good fortunes to finde you all here in so fit a time. For knowe honora­ble Romaine [...] that for my grosse and rude nature ha­ting the ciuill behauiour of the citie. I was surnamed Fabius: in which obscure life I liued hauing my senses eclipsed with follie, till the gods grudging at natures spight, sent you thrée to bee ministers of my happines. For comming into the groue where you lay all a sléepe casting mine eye on the beautie of Terentia: Such a déepe impres­sion was figured in my mind, that I felt an vnacquainted motion with a milde reuerence to thinke well of hir per­fection: surueying hir singular beauties, I fell so farre in loue with hir excellencie, that from the countrie I came to y ^• citie, & how since by hir gratious sight I haue metamor­phosed my selfe your owne eares and the wonder of Rome is best ablè to witnesse. Then Ladies I count the renew­ing of my life to come from the feature of Terentia, and that she not as Diana chaunged mee from a man to bée a beast, but contrarie full of fauour hath reduced me from a sensuall beast to a perfect resonable man. Howe déepely then I ought to bée vowed to hir whose sight is the wel­spring of my happinesse, let the greatnesse of my benefite make manifest. In so much as féeding my thoughts with the contemplation of Terentias beautie, I haue béene thus transformed, but withall so surprised with hir loue that as I haue gaind a seconde essence by hir swéete selfe, so I haue lost my selfe within the labyrinth of hir lookes, that I remayne hir captiue while it pleaseth hir to graunt me li­bertie. Bee then braue Romaine Dames, impartiall doomers of my sute, whether my desertes craue not Loue that thus haue béene chaunged for hir loue. My Parentes are Senators, my reuenewes inferiour to none, old Vati­tinius [Page 74] glad of my choise, and Terentias father thrise hap­py if his daughter might like of Vatinius. Nowe restes it onely in Terentias power to make me blessed or infortu­nate. At this discourse of Fabius, the Ladies were astoni­shed, and Terentia galled to the quick with this demaund held hir tongue, till Cornelia and Flauia, looking earnestly vpon hir, asked hir what answere shée made to Fabius. Such quoth shée as I returned to Lentulus, for know syr if either the honor of a Souldier, y ^• dignity of a Romain, the reuenewes of a Senators sonne, or the déepe impression of fancy might haue drawn Terentia to loue, I had beene ere this the wife & paramour of Lentulus. But not y ^• courage of Hector that woone Andromache, nor the wisedome of Vlisses that intangled Calipso, nor the beauty of Priamus sonne that drew Greece in armes to Troy, these perfecti­ons if combined in one man shoulde not mooue Terentia to listen to the allurements of Venus: not that I make light estéeme of Lentulus, or that I holde small account of Fabius, as two chiefe myrrours of our Romaine gentle­men: But that either my vowes are resolute to Vesta, or if Cupid hath taken me by the héele, it was before Lentu­lus came from Parthia, or you from Arpinatum: so that conclude howsoeuer it is I cannot become affectionate to Fabius. At this reply Fabius stoode so amated as if hee had beene an vnwelcome guest at the feast of Perseus, which Cornelia noting, déepely in loue with Fabius shée told him thus. Nor may you Fabius thinke much at this repulse sith Lentulus and you are in one predicament, nowe both be­come gainers in liberty, that haue béene loosers in loue: and either gette the willowe garlande and so mourne for your Ladies frowne, or séeke a mistresse that may shewe you more fauor: For as for Terentia shée hath chosen, and none must please hir but Oratours. If there be Fabius but one Sunne that is thought the beauty of heauen, yet there be planets that though not in shine, yet in influence are as vertuous: what there bee Ladies I meane of such [Page 75] course die as my selfe and Flauia, that when Terentia is once married, looke for husbands. Fabius hearing Cornelia thus pleasant, noted this quippe that none must please hir but Oratours, which made Terentia blush for anger, and Fabius to make this answere. I knowe no Oratours in Roome quoth he whose yeares are answerable to Teren­tias thoughtes but onely Marcus Tullius Cicero, and if it be he, I sweare by the fitch that gaue him his syrname, Terentia shall be mistresse of a goodly Cottage in Arpina­tum. Terentia hearing Fabius to giue Tully the frumpe answered thus.

The more his fortune if it be hee whose vertues hath made him master of his owne desires, for his lands in Ar­pinatum as they be little, yet shall his lacke be counter­uaild with his loues: and if he hath not one to inrich him with dowry, yet I may perhaps content him with beauty. And therefore Fabius to take away all suppositions, it is Tully, & none but Tully y ^• shall inioy Terentia. And quoth Fabius in great choller, nor Tully, nor none besides Tully, but Fabius shall inioy Terentia. Whereupon departing without taking his farewell, going vnto hir father and discoursing vnto him that Tully was the man that his daughter had chosen for hir husband: swearing that his sword ere it were long should end their loues. Although Flaminius were grieued, yet he sought to pacifie Fabius, but in vaine: for hee flung out of the dores in a rage, and went to Milos house to séeke Tully. Where breathing out many despightfull threats against the Oratour, it came at last to Lentulus eare. Who nowe to make manifest the déepe affection he bare to Cicero, trouping himselfe with a crue of the Praetextati, and chiefe Romaine gentle­men that had béene souldiers and trained vp with him in the warres, he went to séeke out Fabius: and found him with certaine his companions about the Capitoll. Lentu­lus not brooking the braue of any, as carrying the heart of a Conquerour, singled out Fabius, and after some wordes [Page 67] they fell to blowes: but Fabius part were the weaker, so that many were wounded, and some slaine. Upon this the next day parts were taken, the people began to mutiny, and to fall to intestine and ciuil iarres: that as in the time of Scilla and Marius, so the stréets were filled with armed Souldiers. The Senatours séeing what bloudy strata­gems woulde insue of this strife if it were not pacified: sent for the Consuls, and charged them to raise vp some of the Legions and to bring Lentulus, Tully and Fabius, the next day to the senate house, with Terentia and hir father. They obeying their commaund put this charge in execu­cution, and so qualifiyng somewhat the fury of the people, brought these thrée wooers with Terentia before the whole state of Roome. Where being arriued Tully feare­full of nature and sicke, yet somewhat strengthened with the sight of his mistresse, beeing glad Lentulus was his friend in his loues, after due reuerence began thus.