Canto 21

NOr Iron nailes make fast a planke or boord
More firme, nor cords a burden surer binde,
Then faith once giu'n by promise or by word,
Tyes most assuredly the vertuous minde,
Old times to vs good store of samples foord,
How praise deuine was vnto faith assinde,
And how in garments white she still was painted,
That echimal […]pot or staine might shew her tainted.

Faith euer should be kept in secret sort,
Although to one, or whether giuen to more,
Although in deserts farre from all resort,
Or else a iudge or multitude before:
What though the witnesse wants to make report?
Yet must we keepe our cou'nant euermore,
As well by word and priuate protestation,
As by record and publike obligation.

And so did Zerbin as before I told,
His promise firme vnuiolate preserue,
And though Gabrina was both foule and old,
Though her misdeeds all rigor did deserue:
Yet he his faith and promise firme doth hold,
And left his former busines her to […]erue,
Till as they traueld on the way by chance,
They met a Flemish knight late come to France.

The knight of statute comly was and tall,
And in his shield he bare an azure bend,
His name Ermonida they vse to call,
It seemd he was not this old womans frend,
For straight his fight her heart did to appall,
Vnto her guide her life she doth commend:
And praid him (as he promist) to vouchsafe,
From this her enemie to keepe her safe.

This man (quoth she) my guiltlesse father killed,
For malice onely that to me he bare:
This man my onely brothers blood hath spilled,
Because he wisht my safetie and welfare:
Yet with reuenge his rage cannot be filled,
But still he seekes to worke my farther care.
Well (quoth Zerbino) be of better cheare,
For none shall do thee harme whilst I am heare.

Now when the knight of Flaunders saw that face,
That of all faces he did most detest:
With me to combat in this present place,
You must prepare (quoth he) and trie your best,
Or yeeld to me this woman void of grace,
That as she hath deseru'd she may be drest:
If you resistance make you will be slaine,
For so it fals to such as wrong maintaine.

Zerbino curteously doth thus replie,
Bethinke your selfe with more consideration,
To make a woman of your hand to die,
What staine it is to knightly reputation;
As for the combat if you needs will trie,
Her to defend is my determination:
For I am sworne to fight in her defence,
And therefore cannot with mine oth dispence.

This and to this effect much more in vaine
He spake, him from his purpose to perswade,
At last they were so kindled with disdaine,
That one the other fiercely did inuade:
Zerbino was the stronger of the twaine,
And strake the tother through the shoulder blade,
So as he fell halfe dead and halfe aliue,
Not able any more with him to striue.

But Zerbin doubting left he had bene dead,
With much compassion from his horse did light,
And first he loosd his helmet from his head,
And seeketh to reuiue him if he might;
Who looking firmely on Zerbino, sed,
I cannot much lament that such a knight,
Hath hurt me in this fight and ouerthrowne,
In whom such valew and such worth is showne.

In this alone my hap I do lament,
That it should be for such a womans sake,
And much I maruell that you would consent,
To your protection such a one to take,
Which I am sure you would full fore repent,
If I to you her deeds should open make,
And that you should so greatly damage me,
For such a wicked caitiue as is she.

And saue my voice and strength will faile I doubt,
Before my tale will come to perfect end,
I will declare if you will heare it out,
The wicked life of this vngracious send;
I had a brother valorous and stout,
In Holland borne, who (for he did intend
To win by seruice honour and renowne)
Heraclio seru'd that bare of Greece the crowne.

A noble Gentleman Argeo hight,
Neare the confines of Seruia did dwell,
Who in my brother tooke so great delight,
That in short space they were acquainted well,
Argeo marride had this cursed wight,
Of whom the present storie I do tell,
And tooke in her (vnworthy) so great pleasure,
As past the bands of reason and of measure.

But she more light then leaues in Autumne season,
That eu'ry blast doth blow about and change,
Against all wiuely care, all cause and reason,
Because she doth delight her selfe in change,
With wicked hart and head full fraught with treason,
So farre she lets her raging loue to range,
She sues to haue my brother to her louer,
And doth to him the foule desire vncouer.

But neither doth a rocke more firmely stand
Vpon the shore against the surging waue,
[…]Nor doth the Cedar more vpon the land
Resist the tempest that doth rage and raue,
Then doth my brother her desire withstand,
Though she at sundrie times the same doth craue,
And though she seeketh many a meane and triall,
Yet still she turneth with a flat deniall.

At last it fell (as oft it doth befall
To valiant men that loue to fight and quarell)
My brother was sore wounded in a brall,
So that it seemd his life was in some parell:
Wherefore he gets within the castle wall,
Both that his frend might know & venge his quarell,
And other needfull things may be procured,
By which his hurt might be the sooner cured.

Now while my brother staid in this ill state,
His friend Argeo sometime absent thence,
This woman early visits him and late,
And offers him good store of pounds and peace:
But he that alwayes villany did hate,
And would not do his friend so great offence,
Thought (as in euill cases is the best)
Of two great mischiefes to chuse out the left.

He meanes to leaue Argeos friendship quite,
And get him home againe from whence he came,
Or hide himselfe where this most wicked wight
Shall neuer see his face nor heare his name:
This, though it grieu'd him, as it ought of right,
He chuseth as a way lesse worthy blame,
Then yeelding to her lust for to abuse her,
Or to her louing husband to accuse her.

Wherfore (though of his wound both saint and weake)
He doth resolue to part with constant mind,
He gets him thence, and not a word doth speake,
And leaues this filthy minded beast behind:
But fortune ill his purpose good doth breake,
And alterd quite the course he had designd,
Home came her husband finding her alone,
Complaining grieuously and making mone.

Her cheekes with teares all blubberd were and red,
Her lookes did shew her mind was ill apaid,
Her lockes all torne did hang about her hed,
With which her louing husband fore afraid,
Did aske her oft what chance such change had bred,
Till at the length the wicked wretch thus said,
With spiteful heart, with wicked voice & trembling,
And faind a cause, the cause it selfe dissembling.

Alas (quoth she) what should I seeke to hide
My wicked act and hainous deadly sinne,
Which though from you, and all the world beside,
I could conceale, yet doth the soule within,
And conscience grudge, a burden such to bide,
So as the inward torment I am in,
Doth passe the plague or penance far away,
That mortall man vpon my sinne can lay.

If so a sinne of right you may it name,
That one is forst vnto against her will,
But thus it is, your friend that hither came,
(I thinking he had thought nor meant none ill)
Inforced me to my perpetuall shame,
Against all lawes, all honestie and skill:
And doubting that I would the fact bewray,
Forthwith he gate him hence and fled away.

But though my bodie he haue so desild,
Yet is my mind from sinne deuoid and cleare,
Although from sight of men I am exild,
Nor dare I once in publike place appeare:
This […]a[…]d, with thousand names she him reuild,
So that Argeo that the tale did heare,
Beleeued it, and straight withall intended
To punish him that neuer had offended.

He taketh horse forthwith and followth post,
All on reuenge his mind was wholly bent,
And for he perfitly did know the cost,
And for my brother faire and softly went,
He met him in an hower at the most,
Bidding him stand or elíe he should be shent:
My brother would distwade him if he might,
But all in vaine, Argeo needs would fight.

The tone was strong and full of fresh disdaine,
The tother weake and l[…]th to hurt his frend,
So that himselfe defending long in vaine,
My brother was constraind to yeeld in th'end:
And thus at last he prisner doth remaine,
And yeelds, himselfe vnable to defend:
Which seene, Argeo doth surcease to strike,
But speaketh vnto him these words or like.

God neuer let my heart so farre be moued,
With rightfull wrath that I thy blood should spill,
Since once I thee esteemed well and loued,
Whom once I loued, I will neuer kill:
And though thy act may iustly be reproued,
The world shall see my goodnesse by thine ill,
For be […]t loue, or be it in disdaine,
I will be found the better of the twaine.

Another meane then death to vse I mind,
In panishing this sinne and soule misdeed,
This […] (with willow bands he there did find)
He makes a hurdle fit to le[…]ue such need,
On which my brothers bodie he doth bind,
That with old hurts and new did freshly bleed;
And to his castle he doth him conuay,
In mind to keepe him there a prisner ay.

Yet though with him a prisner he remaind,
In other things he felt no lacke nor want,
Saue that his libertie was him restraind:
But […]o, this wretch that late did him supplant,
And to her husband so of him complaind,
Thought she would trie if he would yet recant,
And […]tor at her commaund she had the kayes)
She goes to him, and thus to him she sayes.

Now sir (quoth she) I trust you feele the frute,
That this your foolish constancie hath wrought,
Had you not better bene to graunt the sute,
That I in friendly […]ort so often fought?
You see us vaine to argue or dispute,
Say what you can, you are a traitor thought[…]
And he to whom you shewd so great fidelitie,
Imputes to you treason and infidelitie.

I thinke both for your ease and reputation,
You had bene better graunted my request,
You see you haue a sorie habitation,
And in the same for euer looke to rest,
Except you change your first determination,
And mollifie your stonie hearted brest,
Which if you yet will do, I do assure you,
Both libertie and credite to procure you.

No, neuer hope, no said Filandro, neuer,
(So my vnhappie brothers name they call)
In vaine to change my mind you do endeuer,
And though Argeo caussesse keepe me thrall,
Yet I in faith and troth will still perseuer,
Sufficeth me, that he that seeth all,
Doth know mine innocencie and doth see me,
And when he list can both reward and free me.

I care not though the world of me thinke ill,
I hope another world will make amends,
Yet let Argeo slay me if he will,
Or let him (as it seemeth he intends)
Though wrongfully, in prison hold me still,
Yet one day he will find he hurts his frends,
And know by proofe how he hath bene beguild,
When truth appears, and time brings forth her child.

Yet for all this, this woman void of shame,
Did cease no whit Filandro still to tempt,
And oftentimes in vaine to him she came,
And euer turnes repulst and with contempt,
And in this frantike fancie she doth frame
A thousand sleights to further her attempt,
And many things in mind she doth reuolue,
Before on any one she do resolue.

Sixe months entire she doth her selfe absent,
Nor euer came Filandro to entice,
Which made him hope that she was now content
To cease her sute, and follow his aduice;
But lo, how fortune (that is euer bent
To further wicked persons in their vice)
Doth vnto her a fit occasion lend,
To bring her wicked lust to wofull end.

There had bene hate and enmitie of old,
Betweene her husband and another knight,
Morando cald, who often would be bold,
If so Argeo absent were a night,
To come with force and to assault his hold,
Or thereabout to do him some despight:
But if he were at home, then all that whiles
He came not neare him by a dozen miles.

Wherefore to be reueng'd on this his so,
That often did him wrong and great outrage,
Argeo giues it out that he will go
Vnto Ierusalem on pilgrimage:
And from his house disguysd he parted so,
In secret sort without or man or page,
And eu'ry night comes in at the posterne,
That none but she his comming might discerne.

Thus all the day he wànders all about,
In woods, in groues, in pastures here and thither,
To see if he could find Morando out,
That in his absence vsed to come hither:
And farre he keepes himselfe from any rout,
Vntill that darknesse doth obscure the wether,
Then would he get him home a secret way,
Of which his wife did keepe a priuie kay.

Thus all but she Argeo absent thought,
By which his wicked wise with wonted skill,
Another meanes and new occasion sought,
To bring to passe her foule vnbridled will:
With weeping eyes (her eyes to weepe she tought)
And all with teares her bosome she doth fill,
Then came she to my brother and complained,
That (but he helpe) her honour would be stained.

Nor mine alone, but mine Argeos too,
Who were he here (quoth she) I would not care,
You know what harme Morando wonts to doo,
When as mine husbands absence makes him dare,
And now behold the caitiue me doth woo,
And to intrap me sets full many a snare,
And offred seruants great reward and hire,
So they would helpe to further his desire.

And hearing that Argeo was away,
And would continue so no little space,
He came within the castle wall to day,
(His absence gaue him so much heart of grace)
Where, had my husband bene but in the way,
He durst not onely not haue shewd his face,
But sure he would not haue presum'd at all,
To come within a kenning of the wall.

And what by message he before had done,
Now face to face by mouth he doth the same,
So as I hardly know which way to shunne,
That which to do, would breed my endlesse blame.
Had not my sugred speech his fauour wonne,
By faining I my will to his would frame,
He would perforce haue had his foule intent,
Which now he hopes to get by my assent.

I promist him (but promise made for feare
Is voyd) and I performance neuer ment,
But so that act I made him to forbeare,
Which he to do by force was fully bent.
Now if you be a friend, or euer were,
Vnto Argeo, you may this preuent,
Not onely saue mine honour thus distressed,
But his to whom such loue you haue prosessed.

Which if you me denie, then I may say,
Not honestie, of which your boft you make,
But crueltie did cause you say me nay,
And of my sute so small regard to take:
And that you were not moued any way
With friendships rule, or for Argeos sake:
Although twixt vs it might haue secret beene,
But now my shame must needs be knowne & seene.

Tush (quoth Filandro) this is more then need,
To vie such circumstance in such a case,
As I began, so meane I to proceed,
And though Argeo hold me in disgrace,
Yet vnto him I not impute this deed,
But ready will be still in time and place,
To do him seruice any way I may,
So you but shew to me the meane and way.

Sir then (said she) the way were this, to kill
Him that doth seeke my husbands shame and mine,
Which you may easly do, if so you will
A while vnto my words your eare incline:
I haue put off his comming hither, till
It be betwixt the houres of ten and nine,
What time I promist him so to prouide,
To let him in, so as he were not spide.

Now then my counsell is, that you do stay
Here in my chamber, vntill I procure
Him to disarme himselfe, so as you may
Slay him with small ado, and make him sure.
This is (quoth she) the onely ready way,
And safest for your selfe, I you assure:
To this deuice Filandro doth assent,
Thinking hereby his friends hurt to preuent.

Now more and more approcht the cursed night,
When as his wife (if I a wife may call)
This hellish hag and foule infernall sprite,
Did place my brother armd behind a wall,
And as she wisht, eu'n so it fell aright,
For ill deuice amisse doth seldome fall;
Her husband in the eu'ning somewhat late,
Enterd his castle at the posterne gate.

Filandro at one blow cuts off his hed,
Taking him for Morando in exchange,
She stands fast by that him had thither led,
Nor shewes in word or gesture any change:
Argeo there remaineth slaine and ded,
And kild by him (ò chance most hard and strange)
That while he friendly thought to do him good,
Most cruell and vnfriendly shed his blood.

Now when this seate had thus bene brought to passe,
Gabrina (so is this good womans name)
That doth in craft the fiends of hell surpasse,
Vnto my brother for his weapon came,
Which he deliuerd as his promise was,
And that once done, then she without all shame,
Prayes him to take in hand a lighted candle,
And view him well whom he so ill did handle.

There first he saw how he had kild his frend,
A fight that made him at the heart repent,
And she afresh the matter to amend,
Doth threate, except he would to her assent,
That she should bring his life to shamefull end,
For to accuse him of this fact she ment,
Wishing him though his life he did despise,
To shunne a shamefull death if he be wise.

Filandro mazd, and full of feare did stand,
When of his error he was first aware,
He thought at first to kill her out of hand,
By whom he was intrapt in such a snare,
But she had got his weapons in her hand,
And to defend her selfe did straight prepare:
But sure he could haue found it in his hart,
By peecemeale to haue torne her eu'ry part.

Like as a ship in midst of seas opprest,
Betweene two winds that do together striue,
Can haue no time of respito or of rest,
But goes what way the stronger wind doth driue:
So now Filandro doubting which was best,
To die, or in such sort to bide aliue,
Stood long in doubt, and neither way did bend,
Yet chose the worier bargain in the end.

His reason open layes before his face,
The danger great if once the fact were knowne,
Beside the infamie and great disgrace,
That would about the world of him be blowne:
Beside to chuse he had but little space,
So as his wit and sence was scant his owne:
At last he doth conclude what euer come,
To swallow this vnlau'ry choking plum.

Wherefore against his will, inforst by feare,
He promiseth to take her for his wife,
And vnto her he solemnly doth sweare,
To marry her if now she saue his life:
And (for it was not safe to tarry theare)
When once the murder should be publisht rife,
He turnes vnto the place where he was borne,
And leaue; behind him infamie and scorne.

And still he carrid in his pensiue heart,
His friends mishap, lamenting it in vaine,
How for a iust reward of such defart,
A Progne and Medea he did gaine;
And saue his oth restrained him in part,
No doubt he would the wicked hag haue slaine:
But yet he hated her like to ade or snake,
And in her companie small ioy did take.

From that to this, to laugh or once to smile,
He was not seene, his words and looks were sad,
With often sighs, and in a little while,
He grew much like Orestes, when he had
First slaine his father by his mothers guile,
Then her, and last of all fell raging mad,
With spirits vext so was my brothers hed,
Still vext till sicknes made him keepe his bed.

But when this cursed strumpet plainly saw,
How small delight in her my brother tooke,
She doth her seruent loue from him withdraw,
And in short space that fancie she forsooke:
And lastly she resolues against all law,
So soone as she can sit occasion looke,
To bring Filandros life to wofull end,
And after her first husband him to send.

An old Phisition full of false deceit,
She findeth out most fit for such a feate,
That better knew to giue a poisond bait,
Then for to cure with herbs or wholsom meate:
Him, that for gaine most greedily doth wait,
By profers large she quickly doth intreate,
To take vpon him this vngracious cure,
With poysond cup to make her husband sure.

Now while my selfe was by, and others more,
This old Phisition came to him ere long,
And brought a cup, in which was poyson store,
And said, it cordiall was, to make him strong:
But lo, Gabrina that deuisd before,
Eu'n in the prise of wrong, to do some wrong,
Before Filandro of the cup did tast,
Stept twixt the leach and him in no small hast.

And taking in her hand against his will,
The cup in which the poysond drinke was plast,
She said, good Doctor do not take it ill,
That I require you first the drinke to tast,
I will not haue my husband drinke, vntill
You haue your selfe before him tane the tast:
I will (said she) be certaine by the rood,
That this you giue him, wholsome is and good.

Now in what pickle thinke you was the leach?
The time was short to take a sound aduice,
He might not vse perswasion now nor speach,
He durst not tell how she did him intice,
Nor could he guesse what was herein her reach,
To make him tast first of the poysond spice,
Wherefore to take a tast he thought it best,
And then he giues my brother all the rest.

Euen as a hawke that hath a partridge trust
In griping talents, sits and plumes the same,
Oft by a dog whom she doth not mistrust,
Is kild her selfe and reaued of her game:
So this Phisition gracelesse and vniust,
While he to greedie gaine his mind doth frame,
Was vsd by her euen as he well deserued,
And so I wish all such Phisitions serued.

The poore old man that felt his stomacke ake,
Began to take his leaue, and homeward hasted,
He thinks some strong Antidoton to take,
Against the poysond cup he lately tasted:
She sweares his home returne he may not make,
While th' operation of the potion lasted,
And that she will see plainly ere he go,
If so it do her husband good or no.

By humble sure and offers he doth trie,
That with her licence he may thence depart,
But all in vaine, his sute she doth denie:
Now had the liquor welnigh toucht his hart,
Wherefore perceiuing plainly he must die,
He doth the secret to vs all impart:
Thus to himselfe he did the same at last,
Which oft he did to others in time past.

And straight in little space my brother dyde,
And after him dide this same false Phisition.
We that had heard and seene the matter tride,
Of which my selfe before had some suspition;
Both hand and foote we then this monster tyde,
And bring her vnto such as had commission,
Where her confession, and our accusation,
Made them pronounce her doome of condēnation.

Thus in the gaile in fetters she was laid,
Adiudged to be burned at a stake,
Thus (said the knight) and more he would haue said
How she escapt, and how she prison brake,
But so he fainted, as they were affraid,
He would haue sounded as those words he spake:
Wherefore his page him to his horse doth lift,
And then to binde his wounds they make a shift.

Then Zerbin tooke his leaue and made a skuse,
That he had hurt the knight in her defence,
Affirming he had done, as is the vse,
To saue his charge from damage and offence:
And yt thenceforth with him he would haue truce,
This said, he tooke his leaue and parted thence,
And promist him with words of great ciuillitie,
To further him vnto his best abillitie.

Sir (said the knight) for this I do you thanke,
And wish you of that woman to beware,
Left that she serue you some such slipper pranke,
As may procure your farther woe and care:
For hard shall any scape from danger franke,
That in her companie long season are:
Gabrina silent all the while stands by,
For hard it is to proue the truth a lye.

Thus hence they part, and for his promise sake,
At her commandment Zerbin doth attend,
And wisht in heart, the diuell might her take,
Though with his hand he must her still defend:
And those last words the knight of Holland spake,
To giue him warning of the cursled send,
Do fill his mind with so great griefe and spight,
That now he scant could well abide her fight.

And this same old and weather beaten trot,
Perceiuing how Zerbino was inclind,
Would not once yeeld or be behind a iot,
In spitefull wishing, nor in euill mind:
Her eye and tongue and looke conceale it not,
Not yet her deeds as after he did finde,
Thus in this harmony and concord good,
It was their hap to trauell through the wood.

Now when the time approched neare the night,
They heard a noise of bustling and of blowes,
Causd as they guessed by some brall or fight,
But where it was yet neither of them knowes,
Zerbino longed much to see the fight,
And thither wards in no small hast he goes,
And in no lesse, Gabrina maketh after,
As shalbe shewd you more at large hereafter.