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    A modest meane
    _to Mariage, plea_sauntly_
    set foorth by that
    _famous Clarke Erasmus Roterodamus,
    and translated
    into Englishe
    by N. L._

    _Anno_. 1568.

    [pilcrow] _Imprinted at Lon_don
    by Henrie Denham,
    _dwelling in Pater noster
    Rowe, at the signe
    of the Starre_.




[pilcrow] To the right worship_full Maister Francis Rogers_ Esquire, one of
the Gentlemen pen_sioners vnto the Queenes Maiestie, Nicholas Leigh
wisheth long & quiet lyfe, with much increase of virtue and worship_.


_When I remember (gentle Maister Rogers) the auncient acquaintance and
friendship, and the daylie and accustomed metings, recourse and
familiaritie that (amog the rest) did happen and passe betwene vs in
times past, in those our yong and tender yeares, and in those famous
places of studie, vnto the which we were by oure friendes appointed
and then sent for learning sake. And when moreouer, I doe remember,
waye, and cosider therin on the one side, that state and condition of
life, in the which I was then, with that, which for my part on the
other side, I doe now find and haue long since felt and tasted of, I
cannot but recken and thinke that time most happily passed which I
bestowed in the trauaile and study of good letters. For besides the
inestimable fruit, & the incomparable pleasure & delectation, that the
Muses doe bring vnto the studious, beside the sweete rest of minde,
voyde of all worldly cares and troubles, the faire & pleasaunt walkes,
which we there (with a number of vertuous, and well disposed, and a
sort of learned, ciuill, friendly and faithfull companions) enioyed,
togither with the wholesome and cleane diet, not infected with
outragious or any surfetings (a vice else where to much vsed) what
honest and godly exercises had we then there to the furtherance and
increase of vertue, & to the abandoning of vice? insomuch that in a
maner it hath fared with me euer since my departing thece, as with one
that being expelled and exuled from a second Paradise, replenished and
adorned with all kinde of flagrant & of most wholesome and sweete
flowers and delights, is presently fallen as it were into a darke & an
yrkesome thicket of bushes and brambles of the cares and troubles of
this worlde, daylie readie, not onely to molest and perturbe the quiet
studious minde, but also so complete with an infinite number of
displeasures, dammages, and daungers on euerye side that (verye much
according to the auncient and wonted prouerbe) I may now iustly say_
vix fugiet Scyllam, qui vult vitare Charybdim. _Wherefore that mans
saying seemed not altogither voyde of reason, that sayde, that if
there were anye choyse to be had as touching the estate of man, the
better parte and the first thereof was not to be borne at al, the next
vnto that was to die verie shortly. And yet by the way neuerthelesse,
as he that hath bene once in any suche kinde of Paradise or place of
pleasure, as is aforesaide, hath alwayes nowe and then some motions
and occasions, to cast his sorrowfull eye with a mournfull minde
towardes the same: euen so I of late beholding and lamenting that
chaunged place and state of life, and in the meane season pervsing
some pieces of mine olde exercises which I had then and did there
(whereof I was alwayes bolde partly to make you priuie, as one among
all others whose discreete iudgement and towardnesse in learning
togither with the great curtesie and singuler humanitie and
friendship, and the passing readie and great pleasantnesse of wit,
ioyned therewith was then certes not a little had in admiration and
embraced euery where) happily I founde certaine loose papers of two
Dialogues of the famous and excellent Clarke_ Erasmus _of_ Roterodame,
_by me translated into englishe (partly for the pleasantnesse of the
matter, as it seemed vnto me then, partly also for the proofe and
triall of my selfe what I coulde doe in translating, and lastly as the
matter semed swete and pleasaunt, so not altogither voide of godlye
and wholesome exhortations and lessons, for all sortes no lesse
necessarie than profitable). Which when I had with earnest view
pervsed, and hauing in minde diuers times to gratifie your goodnesse
with some friendly token of remembraunce, forthwith I thought (renuing
my woted exercises) to dedicate these two Dialogues vnto you. Whose
knowledge and learning I know, and gentlenesse therwithal to be such,
that I am in an assured hope that (vntill I may giue better) ye will
vouchsafe in the meane season thankefully to accept these my
recreations, and these few lines at my handes as a pledge and a poore
present of the continuall remembrance, and the vnfeyned good will I
beare towards you, & your vertuous demerites. Wherin notwithstanding,
albeit peraduenture the exercise of study and learning, and especially
the matter it selfe therein contained maye seeme to bee of very small
importance or pleasure, & rather otherwise different or something
disagreeable vnto your vocation on euerie side, and also vnto all such
for the most part as in the roome and place of armes, are called
towardes the seruice of the Princes Maiestie, and of their Countrie_
(Rara enim inter Arma & literas vel togas est amicitia vel societas)
_Yet I knowing the great reuerence and the singular regard and
estimation that you do beare, and alwayes haue borne towardes the
learned and towardes good letters, for the pleasant and fruitefull
knowledge that you your selfe haue most happily and with great
dexteritie both reaped and tasted among them in times past, I doubt
not but that (waying the worthinesse of the Author of them, and
accepting the faithfull indeuours of me the rude translator of them)
you will be content to permit the same to passe vnder your wing, and
so much (I know) the rather for that they both doe tende to vertues
purpose. The one of them being betweene a Woer and his Feere, wherein
albeit the naturall ouerthwartnesse of the womanishe minde, doth now
and then burst out as out of the frayler and weaker vessell, yet is
therein a godlye kinde of woeing without any scurilitie, very
pleasantly, liuely, and plainly declared and set forth, to the good
behauiour and honest inducement and furtherance of such as are yet to
take that matter or enterprise in hand, farre from prouoking any vice,
as the maner and guise of a number of lasciuious Louers and fayned
woers nowe a dayes is, whose craftie and counterfet dealings, fonde
iestures and motions, and vncomely and vaine communications and ydle
talks is better to be passed ouer with silence than paper to be
stained therewith, or any time to bee spent therein. The other is
betweene a yong man and a light Woman, who in times past had bene
further acquainted then honestie required, and hee hauing bene absent
from hir for a certaine space, at last repaired to hir house, who
after hir accustomed maner and wont, beganne to entise and allure him
to their former follies, who perceyuing hir purpose therein,
discreetly and properly perswaded hir by diuers and sundrie godly and
vertuous reasons to leaue and forsake that kinde of life, as of all
other most detestable, and in the ende making hir thereby to loath hir
frayle and accustomed follies, bringeth hir vnto an honest and chaste
conuersation. Thus the effect of the whole matter you haue in few
words. Accept therfore (I praye you) this my simple doing in good
part, weying my good will in the friendly Ballance of your accustomed
gentlenesse, which I trust shall somewhat counterpaise the
vnworthinesse of this my so grosse and rude a translation of so worthy
a writer._

  Vale.

  Yours vnfeynedly Nicholas
    Leigh.




To the Reader.


I have (Gentle Reader) set foorth to thy viewe, two Dialogues of the
Reuerende & renowmed Clarke _Erasmus Roterodamus_: whose learning,
vertue, and authoritie is of sufficient force to defend his doyngs.
But bicause I haue chaunged his eloquent stile, into our English
phrase: and thereby altered his liuerie, and embased the perfite grace
of his Muse, I am compelled to craue pardon of this my doings,
consider I beseeche thee (learned Reader) that if it had still rested
in that Noble language wherein hee left it, although thy knowledge had
yelded thee greater felicitie than this my trauaile can, yet
thousandes, which by this mine indeuour may draw out some sweete sap
of these his pleasant and fruitfull doings, might (thorow ignorance)
haue wanted thys peece of delyght. Therfore the offence (if any be) is
made to _Erasmus_ a ma of that pacience in his lyfe, as I assure my
self that this my bold dealing with him, can not a whit disquiet his
ghost. Harme to thee at all it can not bee, for that I haue not
digressed from mine Author. Pleasant and profitable I hope it will be
to many of my country folks whose increase in vertue I greatlye
desire. Then suffer mee I pray thee to rest with thy quiet and
thankfull iudgement: whereby thou shalt vrge me to attempt farther
enterprise (perchance to thy delight.) Thus assuring my selfe of thy
lawfull fauour, I rest voyde of care of the vnlearneds reproche, if
they beyonde their skill shall couet to chat. And wishing to thee thy
full delight in learning & to them increase of knoweledge, I bid you
both farewel.


  _FINIS._




  Pamphilus, the Louer, _Maria, the woman_ beloued.


Good morrowe cruell, good morrow ruthlesse, good morrow (I say) thou
stony harted woman.

=Maria.= I wishe you the same againe _Pamphilus_ as often, and as
muche as you please. And by what name you lyke best to be saluted. But
in the meane while it seemeth you haue forgotten my name, my name is
_Maria_.

=Pamphilus.= It might more rightlye haue beene _Martia_.

=Maria.= And why so I beseech you? what haue I to doe with _Mars_?

=Pamphilus=: For as that God counteth it but a pastime to murther and
kill men, euen so doe you. Herein yet more cruell then _Mars_, for you
murther him that hartily loueth you.

=Maria.= Good wordes I praye you, where is that heape of deade bodies
whom I have murthered? where is the bloud of them which by me are
slaine?

=Pamphilus.= One lifelesse bodye thou seest present wyth thine eyes,
if (pardie) thou seest me.

=Ma.= What saye you man? doe you both talke and walke, and yet dead? I
pray to God I neuer meete with ghostes more to be feared.

=Pam.= Thus thou makest but a laughing matter of it. Nathelesse thou
hast reft me wofull creature my life, and more cruelly doest murther
me, than if thou should stab me into the body with a weapon, for now
am I miserably torne and vexed with long torments.

=Maria.= Yea good Lord? tell mee how manye women with childe haue lost
their fruite by meeting with you?

=Pam.= Yet this pale wanne colour sheweth mee to bee more bloudlesse
than any shadowe.

=Ma.= But this palenesse (thanked be God) is died with some Violet
colour, you are euen so pale as a Chery waxing ripe, or a Grape when
he commeth to his purple skin.

=Pam.= Thus with disdaine ynough you mocke a man in state rather to be
pittied.

=Ma.= Why in case you beleeue not mee, take the Glasse, & beleeue your
owne eyes.

=Pam.= I woulde wishe no better Glasse, neyther (I suppose) is there
anye, more cleere, than that in which I presentlye behold my selfe
euen now.

=Ma.= What Glasse speake you off.

=Pam.= Marie euen your owne eyes.

=Ma.= Duertharter: how thou talkest alwayes lyke thy selfe, but howe
proue you your selfe to bee deade: Doe ghostes & shadowes use to eat
meat:

=Pam.= They doe, but find no sauour therin, no more doe I.

=Ma.= And what, what doe they eate I praye?

=Pam.= Mallowes, Leekes and Lupines.

=Ma.= But you (I hope) let not to eate Capons and Partriches.

=Pam.= I graunt, howbeit I feele no more pleasure in eating them, than
if I should crashe vpon Mallowes, or Beetes, without Pepper, wine and
vinegar.

=Ma.= Alack for you good man, and yet you are in meetely good lyking,
& do ghostes speake also.

=Pam.= Euen as I doe with a Verye pewling and faint voice.

=Ma.= But not long since, when I hearde you checking with mine other
suter, your voice was not very foeble pardie. Moreouer I beseech you
tell me this, doe ghostes vse to walke; are they clad in garments; doe
they eftsoones sleepe.

=Pam.= Yea more than all that, they practise the acte of kinde, but
after their owne maner.

=Ma.= Now by the faith of my bodye you are a pleasaunt trifler.

=Pam.= But what will you saye, if I proue this by substantiall and
strong reasons (I meane) my selfe to be dead, and you to be a
murtherer.

=Ma.= God shylde that (friend _Pamphile_) but let me heare your
Sophistrie.

=Pam.= First you wil graunt me this: (I suppose) that death is naught
else but a seperation of the soule from the body.

=Ma.= I graunt.

=Pamphilus.= But graunt it so y^e you reuoke and call it not back
againe, afterwarde.

=Ma.= No more I wyll.

=Pam.= Secondly, you wil not denie but he which reaueth the soule,
wherein consisteth life, is a murtherer.

=Ma.= I consent.

=Pam.= You will I am sure graunt me this lykewyse, which most graue
and credible Authors haue affirmed, & by the consent and iudgement of
all ages hath bene holden truth and allowed, (I meane) that the soule
of a man is not where he liueth, but where he loueth.

=Ma.= You must vtter that after a more grosse, and plaine sorte, for
in good faith I perceyue not your meaning.

=Pam.= And I am the more sorie, and euill at ease, bicause you doe
not perceiue and feele this to be true, as well as I doe.

=Ma.= Make me to feele it then.

=Pam.= As well mightest thou bid me, make an Adamant feele it.

=Ma.= Now truely I am a yong wench, not a stone.

=Pam.= Truth, but more harde yet than the Adamant stone.

=Ma.= But proceede with your argument.

=Pam.= Those which are rapt in the spirite, or fallen into a traunce
(as they call it) neyther heare, nor see, nor smell, nor feele any
thing, no though you would kil them.

=Ma.= Surely I haue hard say so.

=Pa.= And what think you to be the cause of this insensibilitie.

=Ma.= I would learne that of you which are a Philosopher.

=Pam.= Bicause (pardie) the soule or minde is in heauen, where it hath
that which it vehemently loueth, & is not present with the body.

=Ma.= And what is next? what conclude you vpon this?

=Pam.= Askest thou what O cruell? euen this necessarily followeth, my
selfe to be deade, and thy selfe to bee a murtherer.

=Ma.= Why, where is your soule become and God wil?

=Pam.= There it is, where it loueth.

=Ma.= And who hath reft it from you? why sigh you man? speake and
feare not, you shall not be hindered by me.

=Pam.= A certaine cruell and pittilesse mayde, whome neuerthelesse I
cannot finde in my hart to hate, being by hir spoyled of my life.

=Ma.= Ah, a louing hart, ah gentle nature. But why do you not againe
take from hir, hir soule, and serue hir as they saye, with the same
sause.

=Pam.= The happiest in the worlde, were I, if I could make that
exchaunge (I meane) that hir minde might come dwell in my brest, in
sorte as mine hath wholye dwelled in hir body.

=Ma.= But wil you giue me leaue now eftsones a while to play the
Sophister his part with you?

=Pam.= Nay the Sophistresse parte.

=Ma.= Is it possible that one and the same bodie both haue the soule
and be without the soule.

=Pam.= Not both togither or at one time.

=Ma.= When the soule is awaye, then the body (you say) is deade.

=Pam.= Truth.

=Ma.= And it lyueth not but when y^e soule is present withall?

=Pam.= Be it so verily.

=Ma.= How commeth this to passe then, that y^e soule being there where
it loueth, the body yet wherout it is departed, neuerthelesse lyueth?
for if it lyueth in one place, when it loueth in an other, by what
reaso is it called _Exanime Corpus_, as you would say, a lifelesse
body, since it hath life and sense in it.

=Pam.= By saint Marie you playe the Sophistres meetelye well, howbeit
you cannot snarle me in such chicken bandes. That soule which after a
sort gouerneth the bodye of a liuing creature being in suche case is
improperly called the soule, for in very dede it is a certaine small
portion of the soule, which remaineth behind, euen as the sauor of
Roses tarieth still in the hande of him, which bare them, when y^e
very Roses themselues be done away.

=Ma.= I see well inough it is hard to take a foxe in a pitch, but
answere me to this also. Is not he a doer which murthereth.

=Pam.= What else.

=Ma.= And is not y^e partie a sufferer, who is murthered?

=Pam.= Yes.

=Ma.= How commeth it to passe then, that since he which loueth is the
doer and shee which is beloued is but the sufferer, she should be
infamed for a murtherer, which is beloued. When as in verie deede, he
that loueth rather murthereth himself?

=Pam.= Nay, it is contrarie, for he that loueth suffreth, she that is
beloued doth.

=Ma.= That shall you neuer proue true with the consent of our chiefe
_Areopagites_ of Grammer.

=Pam.= But this will I proue true by the consent of the whole
Parliament of Logitians.

=Ma.= But aunswere me to this againe, loue you with your wil, or
against your wyll?

=Pam.= With my will.

=Maria.= Ergo, sithence it is in free choise to loue, or not to loue,
whoso loueth, is a murtherer of himselfe, and wrongfullye accuseth the
poore wench beloued.

=Pam.= Why? I say not that the wench murthereth bicause she is
beloued, but bicause she loueth not againe the party which loueth hir:
for (truth it is) she is guilty of murther, which might saue a mans
life and will not.

=Ma.= I put case a yong man cast his loue vpon one, which he ought not
to loue, or maye not lawfully obtaine, as an other man hys wyfe, or a
Virgine, which hath professed continuall chastitie, shall she loue him
againe, so to preserue and saue hir louer?

=Pam.= But this yong man loueth that, which to loue is both lawfull
and godly, and standeth both with reason and equity, and yet
neuerthelesse is cast away. That in case you set light by the crime of
homicide, I will aguilt you also of sorcerie and enchaunting me.

=Ma.= Marrie gods forbod man, what will you make of me a _Circes_
ympe, a witch?

=Pa.= Yea and somewhat more cruell yet, than euer was _Circes_. For I
had rather be a groueling Hog or beare, then as I am, without life or
soule.

=Ma.= And with what kinde of sorcerie I praye ye doe I destroy men.

=Pam.= By euill aspect.

=Ma.= Will you then that I hurt you no more with loking vpon you?

=Pam.= Not so for Gods sake, but rather looke more vpon me.

=Ma.= If mine eyes be witches, how hapneth it then that other also do
not consume awaye, whome I looke vpon as ofte as you, therfore I feare
me much, y^e bewitching is in your owne eyes, not in mine.

=Pam.= Why thinke you it not inough to flea _Pamphilus_, except you
triumph ouer him being dead.

=Maria.= Oh queint handsome, nise dead body: when shall your funerals
be prouided for.

=Pam.= Sooner than you thinke ywisse, except you remedie in time.

=Ma.= I remedie good Lord? am I able to doe such a cure?

=Pam.= Yea surely: all were I deade, it lyeth in you to rayse me vp
againe to life, and that with a light thing.

=Maria.= As you say, peraduenture I might doe it, if some bodye woulde
helpe me to the herbe _Panaces_, wherevnto they ascribe so great a
vertue.

=Pam.= There needeth none herbes to doe it, only vouchsafe to loue
againe, what is more easie to be perfourmed? nay rather what is more
due and iust? otherwise you shall neuer acquite your selfe of
manspilling.

=Maria.= And before what iudgement seate shall I be arrayned, before
the seuere =Areopagetes= and God will?

=Pam.= Not so, but before the tribunall seate of _Venus_.

=Maria.= Best of al, for they say she is a patient and pitiful
Goddesse.

=Pam.= Say you so, there is not one amongst them all, whose wrath is
more to be feared.

=Ma.= Why, hath she a thunderbolte?

=Pam.= No.

=Maria.= Hath she a threeforked mase like _Neptune_?

=Pam.= Not so.

=Ma.= Hath she a speare as _Pallas_?

=Pam.= Neyther: but shee is a Goddesse of the Sea.

=Maria.= I come not within hir kingdome.

=Pam.= But she hath a boye.

=Maria.= I feare no boyes.

=Pam.= He is readie to reuenge, and will paye home when he striketh.

=Ma.= And what shall he doe to me?

=Pam.= What shall he doe: the gods fore let him. I will prognosticate
none euill vnto one, whome I beare good will.

=Ma.= Yet tell me I pray you, I will take no conceit of it.

=Pam.= Then will I tell you if you shall disdaine this louer, who
doubtlesse is not vnworthie your loue, verily I beleue, that same boy
(peraduenture at the comaundement of his mother) wyll thirle into your
heart a launce embrued with to bad a poyson, wherby you shal set your
affection miserably vppon some hoblout, who shall not loue you any
whit againe.

=Ma.= Marrie that were a plague in deede, of all other most to be
detested. Certes I had rather to die, than to be entangled in the loue
of one which is deformed, & could not finde in his hart to loue me
likewise againe.

=Pam.= But it is not long time, since there was a right notable
example of this euil, which I now speak off, shewed in a certaine yong
damzel.

=Ma.= In what place, and I may be so bold as to ask you?

=Pam.= At the Citie _Aurelia_.

=Ma.= Howe many yeares ago?

=Pam.= Howe many yeares, nay, it is scarse yet ten monethes.

=Ma.= And what was the Maydes name? whereat sticke you?

=Pam.= Nothing. I knewe hir as well as I knewe you.

=Ma.= Why tell you me not hir name then?

=Pam.= Bicause I like not the lucke therof, I had rather she had had
any other name: She had euen the verie name that you haue.

=Ma.= Who was hir father?

=Pam.= He is yet man aliue, and amongst the Lawyers is one of chiefe
estimation, and of substantiall welth.

=Ma.= Tell me his name also.

=Pam.= _Mauritius._

=Ma.= His surname.

=Pam.= His surname was _Aglaus_.

=Ma.= Liueth the mother yet?

=Pam.= She departed of late.

=Ma.= Of what disease died shee?

=Pam.= Of what disease, quoth you, for meere sorrow & heauinesse. And
the father himselfe albeit he is a man of a strong nature scaped very
narowly.

=Ma.= And may I learne at your hand also the name of the mother.

=Pam.= With all mine hart, who is he that knoweth not _Sophrona_. But
what meane you by this questioning? Thinke you that I contriue fables
for you.

=Ma.= Why would I thinke so, that is rather to be suspected in oure
kinde, but tell on, what befell vnto this mayde.

=Pam.= This damzell was come of an honest stock (as I haue said) and
wanted no welth to hir preferment: for bewty and shape of body, also
goodly to beholde, what needeth many words, she was well worthy to
haue lien by a Prince his side. She had a wooer, who earnestly
besought hir good will, a man for personage & bewtie not vnlike hir
self.

=Ma.= And what was his name?

=Pam.= Alas, God blesse me from the luck, hys name also was
_Pamphilus_, when he had done all that he could, and assayed all waies
possible to obtaine hir good will, she still obstinately despised him.
In fine, the yong man pined away with sorrow, and dyed. Not long
after, this wench beganne to dote vppon such a handsome squire, as for
his personage, I might more rightly call an Ape than a ma.

=Ma.= What say you man?

=Pam.= She was so farre fallen in the brakes with him, that I am not
able to expresse.

=Ma.= What, so proper a wench with so vnsightly a peece?

=Pam.= He had a head made like a sugar lofe, the heare thereof growing
as it were by stitches and that knotted, vnkempt, full of scurfe and
nittes, and a good parte of hys scalpe was bared by the disease called
_Alopecia_, his eies sunk into his head, his nosethrils wide & turning
vpwardes, a mouth like an Ouen with rotten teeth, and a stamering
tongue, a scuruy beard, a hunch backe, a belly like a tode, and legges
as right as a paire of horse hames.

  [Sidenote: Alopecia _is a disease that causeth the heare to pill
  off_.]

=Ma.= Marry sir you describe him to be a very _Thersites_?

  [Sidenote: Thersites _a Prince, that came with the Greekes to the
  siege of Troye, which in person and condicion was of all other most
  deformed_.]

=Pam.= Nay besides al this, they say, he had but one of his eares.

=Ma.= Peraduenture he had lost the other in some battaile.

=Pam.= No surely, euen in peace.

=Ma.= Who durst be so bolde to doe that?

=Pam.= Who but _Dionysius_ that cutteth of eares at the Pillory.

=Ma.= Wel, it may be yet y^e his substance at home was such as made a
full mendes for all the deformitie that you haue spoken of.

=Pam.= Nay surely: he had vnthriftilye spent all, and ought more than
hee was worth, with this suchen an husbande doth this so goodly a
wench nowe lead hir life.

=Ma.= You haue declared a thing much to be pittied.

=Pam.= Surely it is true, the Goddesse _Nemesis_ woulde so haue it,
that the iniurie of the yong man, whome shee despised might be
requited of hir.

  [Sidenote: Nemesis, _the Goddesse of wrath or indignation_.]

=Ma.= I would rather wish to be destroyed with a thunderbolt out of
hande, than to be yoked with such a mate.

=Pam.= Therfore beware how you prouoke this Ladie, who reuengeth
disdaine, and frame your harte to loue him againe, who loueth you.

=Ma.= If that may suffice (loe) I loue you again.

=Pam.= But I craue that loue at your hand, which should be perpetuall
and to loue me as your owne. I seeke a wife, not a friend.

  [Sidenote: Deliberandum est diu, quod statuendum est semel.]

=Ma.= I know that well inough, but that thing requireth long
deliberation, and much aduisement, which when it is done, cannot be
vndone againe.

=Pam.= I haue deliberated vppon it to long for my part.

=Ma.= Well (I reede you) take heede, least loue who is not the best
counseller beguile you, for men say that loue is blinde.

=Pam.= Nay, that loue hath eyes which springeth vpon iudgement: I doe
not therfore take you to be such a one as you are, bicause I loue
you: but I loue you for that I plainly see you to be such a one.

=Ma.= Beware I say, you mistake me not, you maye bee ouerseene, if you
had worne the shoe, then you shoulde perceyue where it wringeth.

=Pam.= I must put it in a venture, although by many good tokens I
conceyue a hope of better lucke.

=Ma.= Whye, are you skilfull in signes and tokens, are you become an
Augur?

=Pam.= Yea marry am I.

  [Sidenote: _Augurs bee they which by certaine signes in birdes and
  beasts descrie things to come._]

=Ma.= By what Augurall signes I praye you, do you coniecture that it
shal be thus? hath the night Crowe taken hir flight before you?

=Pam.= She flieth for fooles.

=Ma.= What, haue you seene a cowple of Dooues come flying towardes you
on the right hande?

=Pam.= No such thing, but I haue knowne for the space of certaine
yeares the verteous and honest behauiour of your parents, that is a
birde not least to be regarded (I think) to be come of a good stock.
Moreouer, I am not ignorant with what wholesome instructions, and
verteous examples you haue bene traded and brought vp by them. And
truely good education is of more effect than good Parentage. This is
an other signe which moueth me to conceyue a good hope, beside this,
betwene my parents, which I hope I neede not to be ashamed of and
yours, haue (as I suppose) bene, no smal loue and friendship. Yea we
our selues from our biggens (as they say) haue bene brought vp
togither, & not much vnlike one vnto another in nature and
disposition. Now our age, substance, estimation, and bloude are as
well betweene vs two, as betweene both our parentes in a maner equall.
Lastly that which in friendship is the chiefe thing, your maners
seemeth not the worste to square vnto my minde and liking, for it maye
bee that a thing is simply and of it selfe right excellent and yet not
apt and meete for some vse. How my maners frameth vnto your minde
againe I knowe not. These, these be the birdes (my Ioy) which putteth
mee in an assured hope, that a coniunction betweene vs two, shall be
right ioyfull, pleasant, stable, & sweete, so that you could finde in
your hart to sing that song, which I so much desire to beare.

=Maria.= What song is that you would haue me to sing.

=Pam.= I will teach you the tune therof. _Sum tuus_, say you againe,
_Sum tua_.

  [Sidenote: _I am thine.
  Be thou mine._]

=Ma.= The song in deede is short, but me thinks it hath a verie long
ende, and much matter dependeth thereon.

=Pam.= What forceth it for the length, so it be pleasant & sweete vnto
you.

=Ma.= I loue you so well that I woulde not haue you doe that, whereof
you should herafter repent & beshrew your self.

=Pa.= I pray you neuer speake of any repentance.

=Ma.= Peraduenture you shoulde otherwise esteme of me, when eyther age
or sicknesse shall chaunge this fourme or fauour.

=Pam.= Why? this body of myne (O my deere) shall not alwayes continue
in this estate, thus prest and lustie, but I respect not so muche this
flourishing and bewtifull house, as I doe him that dwelleth therein.

=Maria.= What meane you by that you speak of him that dwelleth within?

=Pam.= Verily, I meane your well disposed and vertuous minde, whose
beawtie alwayes encreaseth with age.

=Ma.= What, your sight is yet more pleasant than _Linx_, if you can
espie that, through so many couerings.

=Pam.= Yea certes with my mind I doe right well espie your minde:
moreouer (I saye) in those children which God shall sende vs, wee
shall as it were, ware yong againe.

=Maria.= But in the meane time virginitie is lost.

=Pam.= Truth, in good faith, tell me if you had a goodly orchyarde
plat, whether woulde you with nothing should therein grow but
blossomes, or else had you rather (the blossomes fallen awaye) beholde
your trees fraught and laden with pleasaunt fruite?

=Maria.= Howe sliely he reasoneth.

=Pam.= At the least aunswere me to this: whether is it a better sight
for a Vine to lye vppon the grounde and rot, or the same to embrace a
poale, or an elme, and lode it full with purple grapes?

=Maria.= Now sir aunswere me to this againe, whether is it a more
pleasant sight a Rose trim and milkewhite, yet growing on his stalk,
or the same plucked with the hande, and by little and little withering
awaye?

=Pam.= Certes in mine opinion the rose is the happiest, and commeth to
the better ende, which withereth and dieth in the hande of man,
delighting in the meane while both the eies and nosethrils, than
thother which withereth on the bush, for there muste it needes wither
also at length, euen as that wine hath better luck which is drunken,
than that which standeth still, and is turned into vinigar. And yet
the flowring beautie of a woman doth not decay forthwith as soone as
she is maried, for I knowe some my selfe, who before they were maried,
were pale colored, faint, and as it were pined away, who by the
friendly felowship of an husband, haue wared so faire, and
welfauoured, that you would think they neuer came to the flower of
their beautie till then.

=Ma.= But for all your saying, virginity is a thing much beloued and
lyked with all men.

=Pam.= I graunt you, a yong woman, a virgine, is a fayre, & goodly
thing, but what by course of kind is more vnseemly tha an old wrinkled
maide: Had not your mother bene contented to lose that flower of hir
virginitie, surely we had not had this flower of your beautie. So that
in case (as I hope) our mariage be not barren, for the losse of one
virgine we shall paye God manye.

=Ma.= But they saye chastitie is a thing wherein God is much
delighted.

=Pam.= And therefore doe I desire to couple my selfe in mariage with a
chast mayden, that with hir I may leade a chaste life. As for our
mariage it shall rather be a mariage of our minds, than of our bodies,
we shall increase vnto Christ, we shall increase vnto the comon welth.
How little shall this matrimonie differ fro virginitie? & peraduenture
hereafter we shall so liue togither, as blessed Marie liued with
Joseph, no man cometh at the first to perfection.

=Maria.= What is that I heard you say euen now, must virginity be
violated and lost, therby to learn chastitie?

=Pam.= Whye not, euen as by drinking of wine moderately, we learn by
little and little to forbeare wine vtterlye, which of these two
seemeth vnto thee to be more temperat, he that sitting in the mids of
many daintie dishes, abstaineth from them all, or he which forbeareth
intemperauncie, hauing none occasio to moue him vnto the same?

=Ma.= I suppose him to haue the more confirmed habite of temperance
whom plentie alwayes prest can not corrupt.

=Pam.= Whether deserueth more the prayse of chastitie, he that
geldeth him selfe, or he which keeping his members all and sounde
abstaineth from all womans companie?

=Ma.= Verily by my consent the latter shal haue the praise of
chastitie, that other of mad follie.

=Pam.= Why? those which by vowe haue abiured matrimonye doe they not
after a sort gelde themselues?

=Maria.= Verily it seemeth so.

=Pam.= Thus you see, it is no vertue to forbeare womens companie.

=Maria.= Is it no vertue?

=Pam.= Marke me this, if it were simplye a vertue to forbeare the
companie of a woman, then shoulde it be also a vice to vse the
companie of a woman, but sometime it befalleth that it is sin to
refuse the acte, and a vertue to vse it.

=Ma.= In what case is it so?

=Pam.= In case the husband requireth of his wife the debt of marriage,
euen so often as he shall do it, especially if he requireth it for the
desire of generation.

=Ma.= But what if he be fleshfond and wanton, may she not lawfully
denie it him?

=Pam.= She maye admonish him of his fault and rather gently perswade
him to bridle hys affections, to giue him a flat nay when he
straineth vpon hir, she may not. Albeit I here verie fewe men
complaine of their wyfes vncurtesie this way.

=Ma.= Yet mee thinks libertie is sweete.

=Pam.= Nay rather virginitie is a heauie burthen. I shall be to you a
King, and you shall be to me a Queene. And eyther of vs shall rule the
familie, as we thinke good, take you thys to be a bondage?

=Ma.= The common sort calleth mariage an halter.

=Pam.= Now on my fayth they are well worthie an halter that so termeth
it. Tell me I praye you is not your soule bounde vnto your body?

=Ma.= I thinke so.

=Pam.= Yea surely euen as a bird vnto hir cage, & yet if ye should
aske him the question, whether he would bee loosed or no, I suppose he
would saye nay. And why so? bicause he is willinglie and gladlie
bounde therevnto.

=Ma.= We haue little to take to neither of vs both.

=Pam.= So much the lesse indaungered to fortune are wee, that little
you shall encrease at home wyth sauing, which as they counteruayleth a
great reuenue, and I abroad with diligence.

=Ma.= An houshold of children bringeth innumerable cares.

=Pam.= On the other side agayne, the same children bringeth infinite
pleasures, and oftentimes requiteth the parentes naturall paines to
the vttermost, with great ouerplusse.

=Ma.= Then to lead a barren life in marriage is a great miserie.

=Pam.= Why are you not now barraine? tell me whether had ye rather
neuer be borne, or borne to die.

=Ma.= Certes I had rather be borne to die.

=Pam.= So that barrainnesse is yet more miserable which neyther hadde,
nor shall haue child, euen as they be more happie which haue alreadie
lyued, then they which neuer haue, nor shall hereafter be borne to
liue.

=Ma.= And what be those, I praye you which neyther are, nor shall be.

=Pam.= For he that cannot finde in his hart to suffer and abide the
chaunges, & chaunces, whervnto all we indifferently be subiect, as
well men of poore estate, as Kings, & Emperours, he is not to dwell
here, let him get him out of this worlde. And yet, whatsoeuer shal
mischaunce vnto vs two, yours shoulde be but the one halfe thereof,
the greater parte I will alwaies take vnto mine owne selfe. So that if
anie good thing doe happen vnto vs oure pleasure shall be dubble if
anye euill betide vs, you shall haue but the one halfe of the griefe,
and I the other. As for my selfe, if God so woulde, it were vnto me a
pleasure, euen to ende my life in your armes.

=Ma.= Men can better sustaine and beare with y^t which chaunceth
according to the common course and rule of nature. For I see that some
parentes are more troubled wyth their childrens euill manners, than
with their naturall deathes.

=Pam.= To preuent such misfortune, that it happen not vnto vs, it
resteth for the most part in our power.

=Ma.= How so?

=Pam.= For commonly parentes, which bee good and vertuous, haue good &
vertuous children, I meane as concerning their natural disposition,
for doues do not hatch Puthockes: wherefore we will first indeuour to
bee good our selues, and oure next care shall bee, that our children
may euen from the mothers brest, be seasoned with vertuous counsails,
and right opinions, for it skilleth not a little what licour you poure
into a newe vessell at the first. Finallye, we shall prouide that
they may haue euen at home in our house a good example of lyfe to
followe.

=Ma.= Harde it is to bring that to passe that you say.

  [Sidenote: Difficiliaque pulchra. _Godly things be harde._]

=Pam.= No maruaile, for commendable, and good it is. And for that also
are you harde to bee entreated and wonne, the more deficile and harde
it is, the more good will and indeuour shall wee put there vnto.

=Maria.= You shall haue mee a matter soft and plyant, see you y^t you
do your part in forming and shaping me as you ought.

=Pam.= But in the meane while saye those three wordes which I require
of you.

Ma.= Nothing were more easie for me to doe, but wordes be wynged, and
when they be flowen out once doe not retire, I will tell you what were
a better way for vs both. You shall treate with your Parentes and
myne, and with their will and consent let the matter be concluded.

=Pam.= Ah you set me to wooe againe, it is in you, with three words to
dispatch the whole matter.

=Ma.= Whether it lyeth in mee so to doe (as you say) I knowe not, for
I am not at liberty. And in olde time mariages were not concluded
without the will & consent of their parents or elders. But howsoeuer
the case be, I suppose our mariage shall bee the more luckie, if it be
made by the authoritie of our parents. And your part it is to seke and
craue the good will, for vs to doe it, it were vnseemelye: virginite
would seeme alwayes to be taken with violence, yea though sometime we
loue the partie most earnestly.

=Pam.= I wil not let to seeke their good will, so that I may alwayes
be in an assurance of your consent.

=Ma.= You neede not doubt thereof, be of good cheere (my _Pamphile_)

=Pam.= You are herein more scrupulus yet then I woulde wish you to be.

=Ma.= Nay marie, waye, and consider you well with your selfe, before,
whervnto you haue set your minde and will. And do not take into your
counsaile, this blind affection borne towardes my person, but rather
reason, for that which affection decerneth is liked for a reaso, but
that which reason auiseth is neuer mislyked.

=Pam.= Certes thou speakest like a wittie wench; wherefore I intende
to followe thy counsayle.

=Ma.= You shall not repent you thereof, but how he sirha there is now
fallen into my minde a doubt, which vexeth mee sore.

=Pam.= Away with all such doubtes for Gods sake.

=Ma.= Why will you haue me marry my selfe to a dead man.

=Pam.= Not so, for I will reuiue againe.

=Maria.= Now, loe you haue voided this doubt, fare yee well my
_Pamphile_.

=Pam.= See you I pray that I may so doe.

=Ma.= I pray God giue you a good night, why fetch you such a sighe
man?

=Pam.= A good night say you? I woulde to God you would vouchsafe to
giue me that, which you wishe mee.

=Ma.= Soft and faire, I pray you your haruest is as yet but in the
greene blade.

=Pam.= Shall I haue nothing of yours wyth me at my departure.

=Ma.= Take this Pomander to cheere your harte wyth.

=Pam.= Yet giue me a kisse withal I pray thee.

=Ma.= I would keepe my virginitie whole, and vndefiled for you.

=Pam.= Why doth a kisse take ought away from your virginitie?

=Ma.= Would you thinke it well done that I shoulde be free of kisses
vnto other men.

=Pam.= Nay marrie I would haue my kisses spared for my selfe.

=Ma.= I keepe them for you then. And yet there is an other thing in
y^e way, which maketh me that I dare not at thys time giue you a
kisse.

=Pam.= What is that.

=Ma.= You saye that your soule is alreadie gone well neere altogither
into my body, and a very small parte thereof taryeth behinde in your
owne, so that I feare in time of a kisse, that which remayneth might
happen to sterte out after it, & then were you altogither without a
soule. Haue you therefore my right hande in token of mutuall loue, and
so fare you well. Go you earnestly about your matters. And I for my
part in the meane while, shall pray vnto Christ, that the thing which
you do, may be vnto the ioy and felicitie of vs both. Amen

[Illustration]

       *       *       *       *       *




    Of the yong man and the
    _euill disposed woman_.




=Lucrecia.= =Sophronius.=


Iesu mercy my olde louing Frynde _Sophronius_, are you at length come
againe vnto vs? nowe mee thinkes you haue beene awaye euen a worlde
space, Truelye at the first blushe I scarce knewe you.

=Sophronius.= And why so myne olde acquanintaunce _Lucres_?

=Lucres.= Why so? bicause at your departing you had no berd at al,
now you become a handsome beardling. But what is the matter my sweete
harte: for me thinks you are waxed more sterne and graue countenaunced
then to fore you had wont.

=Sophronius.= I would gladly talke with you friendlye in some place
aparte from all companye.

=Lucres.= Why are we not here alone (my luste?)

=Sophronius.= No, let vs go our selues into some place yet more secret
and priuie.

=Lu.= Be it so, let vs go into my inwarde chamber, if ought you list
to doe.

=Sophronius.= Yet mee thinketh this place is not close & secret
ynough.

=Lucres.= Why? whence comes this new shamefastnesse vpon you. I haue a
Closet wherein I lay vp my Iewels and array, a place so darke that
vnneth the one of vs shall see the other.

=So.= Looke round about it, if there be any crany or rifte.

=Lu.= Here is not a cranye nor rifte to be seene.

=So.= Is there no body neere that mought listen and here vs?

=Lu.= No verily not a flie (my ioy) why doubt you? Why go you not
about your purpose?

=So.= Shall wee here beguile the eies of God?

=Lu.= Not so, for he seeth thorow all things?

=So.= Or shall wee be out of the sight of his Aungels?

=Lu.= Neyther, for no bodie can hide him out of their sight.

=So.= How happeneth it then, that we be not ashamed to doe that before
the eies of God, and in the presence of his holy Aungels, which wee
woulde be ashamed to doe in the syght of men?

=Lu.= What a strange thing is this, came you hither to preache? put
yee on, one of Saint Francis cowles, and get ye vp into the Pulpit,
and let vs heare you there my yong Beardling.

=So.= Neither would I thinke it much so to doe, if by that meane I
might call you backe from thys kind of life, not only most foule &
shameful, but also most miserable.

=Lu.= And why so good sir? I must get my liuing one way or other,
euery man liueth and is maintained by his craft, & science, this is
our trade our lands and reuenues.

=So.= I would to God (good friende _Lucres_) that you, voyding for a
while this dronkennesse of the mynde, coulde finde in your heart
rightly to ponder and consider with me, the thing as it is.

=Lu.= Keepe your sermond till an other time, nowe let vs take our
pleasure (my good friende _Sophronie_).

=So.= All that you doe, you doe it for lucre and gaines I am sure.

=Lu.= Therin you haue gone nere the marke.

=So.= Well, you shall loose no parte of that, which you make your
accompt vppon, I will giue you euen foure times as much onely, to lend
me your attentiue care.

=Lu.= Say on then euen what you please.

=So.= First aunswere me to this. Haue you any that beareth you euill
wil?

=Lu.= Mo then one.

=So.= And are there not some againe, whome you hate likewise?

=Lu.= Euen as they deserue at my hande.

=So.= Now if it lay in thee to pleasure them wouldest thou in faith
do it?

=Lu.= Nay sooner woulde I giue them their bane.

=So.= Verie well, consider now, consider I saye whither ought thou
mayest doe to them more pleasaunt and better lyked, then to let them
see thee leade this maner of lyfe, so shamefull and wretched. On the
other side, what canst thou do more to the griefe and misliking of
them, which be thy verye friendes in deede?

=Lu.= Such was my lot, and destinie.

=So.= Moreouer, that which is compted to be the most harde, and heauie
happe of those which are cast out into Ilands, or banished vnto the
people most inhumaine and barbarous, the same haue you of your owne
free will, and election, taken vnto your selfe.

=Lu.= And what is that?

=So.= Hast not thou of thine accorde renounced & forsaken all naturall
affections and loues, your father, mother, brethren, sistrene, aunt,
great aunt, & whomsoeuer beside nature hath linked vnto thee for they
in verye deede, are full euill ashamed of thee, and thou darest not
once come into their sight.

=Lu.= Naye marrye, mee thinkes I haue luckilye chaunged myne affectes,
in that for a few louers, nowe I haue won me verie many, among whome
you are one, whome I haue accompted off as my naturall brother.

=So.= Let passe this light accustomed talke, & way the matter as it
is, in earnest. And first beleeue mee this (my _Lucres_) shee that
hath so many louers, hath no loue at all. They that resort vnto thee,
doe not take thee for their loue, but rather for their luste, see
howe thou hast debased thy selfe wretched Woman. Christ helde thee so
deere, that hee vouchsafed to redeeme thee with his most precious
bloud, to the ende, thou mightest partake with him in his heauenlye
kingdome. And thou makest thy selfe a comon Gonge, or muckhill
wherevnto fowle and filthy, scalde, and scuruie, doth at their
pleasure resort, to shake off their filth and corruption. That if thou
be yet free and not infected wyth that lothsome kinde of leprie,
commonly called the french pockes, assure thy selfe thou cannot long
be wythout it. Which if it chaunce thee to haue, what in more
miserable and wretched case then thou, yea, though other things were
as thou wouldst wish (I meane) thy substance and fame, what shalt thou
then be, but a lump of quick carraine: you thought it a great matter
to be obedient vnto your mother, now you liue in seruitude, vnder a
filthie bawde. It went to your heart to heare the good aduertisements
of your father, here you must often tymes take in good parte, euen the
stripes of dronkardes, and madbraines, you coulde awaye with no maner
of worke, when you were with your friendes, to helpe towardes your
lyuing, but in this place what trouble, what continuall watcking are
you faine to sustaine?

=Lu.= From whence (and God will) coms this new prating preacher.

=So.= Now I praye thee, haue this also in thy minde. The flower of
beautie, which is the baite that allureth men to loue thee, in shorte
time it shall fade, and decaye. And what shalt thou then doe, vnhappie
creature, what donghill shall be more vile, and vnregarded than thou
then? than loe, thou shalt of an hoore, become a bawde, yet euery one
of you commeth not vnto that promotion, but if that befalleth thee,
what is more abhominable, or nerer reprocheth euen to the wicked
occupacion of the deuill.

=Lu.= Truth it is in good faith, _Sophronie_ in a maner all that you
haue hitherto sayde. But howe commeth this newe holinesse vpon you,
who were wont to be amongst all the little goods, yet one of the
least, for no man repaired hither, eyther oftener or at more vntimely
howres, than your self? I heare say you haue beene at Roome latelie.

=So.= I haue so in deede.

=Lucres.= Why men are wont to come from thence worse than they went
thither. How happeneth the contrarie to you?

=So.= I will tell you, bycause I went not to Rome, with that minde,
and after that sort, other commonlie goe to Rome, euen of set purpose
to retourne woorse, & so doing they want none occasions when they come
there, to be as they purposed. But I went thither in the companie of
an honest vertuous man, by whose aduise, in steede of a bibbing
bottel, I caried with me, a handsome little booke the new testament of
_Erasmus_ translation.

=Lu.= Of _Erasmus_? And they saye he is an heretike and an halfe.

=So.= Why hath the name of that man come hither also?

=Lu.= None more famous with vs.

=So.= Haue you euer seene his persone?

=Lu.= Neuer, but in good fayth I woulde I might, bycause I haue hearde
so much euill of hym.

=So.= Perhaps of them that be euill themselues.

=Lu.= Nay truely, euen of reuerend personages.

=So.= What be they.

=Lucres.= I may not tell you that.

=So.= And why so I pray.

=Lu.= Bicause if you should blab it out, and it come vnto their eares,
I should loose no small part of my lyuing.

=So.= Feare thou not, thou shalt speake it to a stone.

=Lu.= Harken hither in thine eare the.

=So.= A fonde wench, what needeth it to lay mine eare to thine, seing
we be alone? except it were that God shoulde not heare it. Oh lyuing
God, I see thou art a religious whore, thou doest thy charity vpon
Mendicants.

  [Sidenote: _Mendicant Friers._]

=Lu.= Well, I get more by these Mendicants & simple beggers, than by
you riche folke.

=So.= So I thinke, they spoyle and prowle from honest matrones to cast
at whores tayles.

=Lu.= But tell on your tale concerning the booke.

=So.= I will so doe, and better it is. Therein Paule taught me a
lesso, who being indued with the spirite of truth could not lie, that
neyther whores, nor whore haunters shall inherite the kingdome of
heauen. When I had reade this, I beganne to consider with my selfe in
this wise. It is a small thinge, which I looke to be heire of by my
father, and yet neuerthelesse rather I had to shake hands with all
wanton women, then to be set beside that inheritance, how muche more
then doth it sit me on, to beware y^e my father in heaue doth not
disinherite me of that far more excellent inheritance, for against
mine earthly father, which goeth about to disinherite me, or to cast
me off, the ciuill lawes doe offer a remedie, but if God list to cast
of, or disinherite, there is no helpe at all. Wherevpon, I foorthwith
vtterlie forefended my selfe, the vse and familiaritie of all euill
disposed women.

=Lu.= That is if you be able to lyue chaste.

=So.= It is a good parte of the vertue of continencie, hartilie to
couit and desire the same, if it will not so bee, well, the vttermost
remedie is to take a Wife. When I was come to Rome, I powred out the
hole sincke of my conscience into the bosome of a certayne Frier
penitentiarie, who with many words, right wiselye exhorted mee to
puritie, and cleannesse of minde and bodye, and vnto the deuout
reading of holie scripture, with oft prayer & sobernesse of life, for
my penaunce he enioyned me naught else, but that I shoulde kneele on
my knees before the high alter, and say y^e Psalme _Miserere mei
deus_. And if I had mony to giue in almoys vnto some poore bodie a
_Carolyne_. And wheras I meruayled much, that for so many times, as I
hadde confessed my selfe to haue played the brothell, he layed vppon
me so small a penaunce, hee aunswered me right pleasauntlye thus.
Sonne (quoth he) if thou truely repent, if thou change thy
conuersation, I passe not on thy penance, but if thou proceed stil
therin, thy very lust it self shal at the length bring thee to paine
and penaunce ynough I warrant thee, though the Priest appointeth thee
none, for example loke vpon my selfe, whome thou seest now, bleare
eyed, palsey shaken, and crooked, and in time paste I was euen such a
one as thou declarest thy selfe to be. Thus loe haue I learned to
leaue it.

=Lu.= Why then for ought that I can see I haue loste my _Sophronius_.

=So.= Nay rather thou hast him safe, for before he was in deede loste,
as one which neyther loued thee nor hymselfe. He now loueth thee with
a true loue, and thirsteth thy saluation.

=Lu.= What aduise you me then to doe, friende _Sophronius_?

=So.= As soone as possible you may to withdrawe your selfe from this
kinde of lyfe, you are yet but a girle (to speake off) and the spot of
your misdemeanour maye be washed away. Either take an husband (so
doing we wyll contribute some thing to preferre you) eyther else get
you into some godly Colledge or Monestery which receyueth those that
haue done amisse, vpon promise of amendment, or at the leastwyse
departing from this place, betake your selfe into the seruice of some
vertuous and well disposed Matrone. And to which of these you liste to
enclyne your minde, I offer you my friendly helpe and furtheraunce.

=Lu.= Now I besech you with all my hart _Sophronie_ looke about &
prouide for me, I will follow your counsayle.

=So.= But in the meane while conuey your selfe from out of this place.

=Lu.= Alack so sone,

=So.= Why not, rather this day than to morrow? namely since lingering
it is damage, and delay is daungerous.

=Lu.= Whether should I then repaire, where should I stay my selfe?

=So.= You shall packe vp all your apparell and Iewels, & deliuer it
vnto me in the euening, my seruaunt shall closelye carrie it, vnto a
faithfull honest Matrone. And within a while after, I will leade you
out, as it were to walke with me and you shal secretly abide in that
Matrons house, at my charge, vntill I prouide for you: And that time
shall not bee long.

=Lu.= Be it so my _Sophronius_, I betake my selfe wholy vnto you.

=So.= For so doing here-after, you shall haue ioy.


    _FINIS._





End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Modest Meane to Mariage, by
Clarke Erasmus Roterodamus

*** 