= Neyther: but shée is a
Goddesse
of the Sea.
Erasmus
=Pam. = Thus with disdaine ynough you mocke a man in state rather to be
pittied.
=Ma. = Why in case you beléeue not mee, take the Glasse, & beléeue your
owne eyes.
=Pam. = I woulde wishe no better Glasse, neyther (I suppose) is there
anye, more cléere, 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, Léekes and Lupines.
=Ma. = But you (I hope) let not to eate Capons and Partriches.
=Pam. = I graunt, howbeit I féele no more pleasure in eating them, than
if I should crashe vpon Mallowes, or Béetes, without Pepper, wine and
vinegar.
=Ma. = Alack for you good man, and yet you are in méetely 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 fóeble pardie. Moreouer I beséech you
tell me this, doe ghostes vse to walke; are they clad in garments; doe
they eftsoones sléepe.
=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 féele 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 féele it.
=Ma. = Now truely I am a yong wench, not a stone.
=Pam. = Truth, but more harde yet than the Adamant stone.
=Ma. = But procéede with your argument.
=Pam. = Those which are rapt in the spirite, or fallen into a traunce
(as they call it) neyther heare, nor sée, nor smell, nor féele 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 bée 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
reasō 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 sée 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 shée which is beloued is but the sufferer, she should be
infamed for a murtherer, which is beloued. When as in verie déede, 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 frée 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 thréeforked mase like _Neptune_?
=Pam. = Not so.
=Ma. = Hath she a speare as _Pallas_?
=Pam.
= Neyther: but shée 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 cōmaundement 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 déede, 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 shée?
=Pam. = Of what disease, quoth you, for méere 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 mā.
=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 péece?
=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 téeth, and a stamering
tongue, a scuruy beard, a hunch backe, a belly like a tode, and legges
as right as a paire of horse hāmes.
[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 shée 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 séeke 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 réede you) take héede, 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 sée you to be such a one.
=Ma. = Beware I say, you mistake me not, you maye bée ouerséene, 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 séene 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 néede 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 betwéene vs two, as betwéene both our parentes in a maner equall.
Lastly that which in friendship is the chiefe thing, your maners
séemeth 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 méete 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 betwéene vs two, shall be
right ioyfull, pleasant, stable, & swéete, 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 déede 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 & swéete 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 déere) 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, wée
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 trées 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 néedes 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 thā 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.
