Lisana, _the Daughter of a Florentine Apothecary, named_ BernardoPuccino, _being at_ Palermo, _and seeing_ Piero, _King of_ Aragon_run at the Tilt; fell so affectionately enamored of him, that shelanguished in an extreame and long sickenesse. By her owne devise,and means of a Song, sung in the hearing of the King: he vouchsafedto visite her, and giving her a kisse, terming himselfe also to beeher Knight for ever after, hee honourably bestowed her in marriage ona young Gentleman, who was called_ Perdicano, _and gave him liberallendowments with her._
The Seventh Novell.
_Wherein is covertly given to understand, that howsoever a Prince maymake use of his absolute power and authority, towards Maides or Wivesthat are his Subjects: yet he ought to deny and reject all things, asshall make him forgetfull of himselfe, and his true honour._
Madame _Fiammetta_ being come to the end of her Novell, and the greatmagnificence of King _Charles_ much commended (howbeit, some of theCompany, affecting the _Ghibelline_ faction, were otherwise minded)Madame _Pampinea_, by order given from the King, began in this manner.
There is no man of good understanding (honourable Ladies) but willmaintaine what you have said of victorious _Charles_; except such ascannot wish well to any. But because my memory hath instantly informedme, of an action (perhaps) no lesse commendable then this, done byan enemy of the said King _Charles_, and to a yong Maiden of ourCity; I am the more willing to relate it, upon your gentle attentionvouchsafed, as hitherto it hath been courteously granted.
At such time as the French were driven out of _Sicilie_, there dwelt at_Palermo_ a _Florentine_ Apothecary, named _Bernardo Puccino_, a man ofgood wealth and reputation, who had by his Wife one onely Daughter, ofmarriageable yeares, and very beautifull. _Piero_, King of _Arragon_,being then become Lord of that Kingdom, he made an admirable FeastRoyall at _Palermo_, accompanyed with his Lords and Barons. In honourof which publique Feast, the King kept a triumphall day (of Justs andTurnament) at _Catalana_, and whereat it chanced, that the Daughter of_Bernardo_, named _Lisana_, was present. Being in a window, accompaniedwith other Gentlewomen, she saw the King runne at the Tilt, whoseemed so goodly a person in her eye; that being never satisfied withbeholding him, she grew enamoured, and fell into extremity of affectiontowards him.
When the Feastivall was ended, she dwelling in the house of her Father,it was impossible for her to thinke on any thing else, but onelythe love, which she had fixed on a person of such height. And thatwhich most tormented her in this case, was the knowledge of her ownecondition, being but meane and humble in degree; whereby she confessed,that she could not hope for any successefull issue of her proud love.Neverthelesse, she would not refraine from affecting the King, whotaking no note of this kindnesse in her, by any perceivable meanes;must needs be the more regardles, which procured (by wary observation)her afflictions to be the greater and intollerable.
Whereon it came to passe, that this earnest love encreasing in hermore and more, and one melancholly conceit taking hold on another: thefaire Maide, when she could beare the burden of her griefe no longer;fell into a languishing sickenesse, consuming away daily (by evidentappearance) even as the Snow melteth by the warme beames of the Sunne.
The Father and Mother, much dismayed and displeased at this haplesseaccident, applying her with continuall comforts, Phisicke, and the bestskill remayning in all the Phisitions, sought all possible meanes wayesto give her succour: but all proved to no effect, because in regardof her choyce (which could sort to none other then a desperate end)she was desirous to live no longer. Now it fortuned, that her parentsoffering her whatsoever remained in their power to performe, a suddenapprehension entred her minde, to wit, that (if it might possible bedone) before she dyed, she would first have the King to know, in whatmanner she stood affected to him. Wherefore, one day she entreated herFather, that a Gentleman, named _Manutio de Arezza_, might be permittedto come see her. This _Manutio_ was (in those times) held to be a mostexcellent Musitian, both for his voyce in singing, and exquisite skillin playing on Instruments, for which he was highly in favour with King_Piero_, who made (almost) daily use of him, to heare him both sing andplay.
Her tender and loving father conceived immediately, that shee wasdesirous to heare his playing and singing, both being comfortable to abody in a languishing sickenesse, whereupon, he sent presently for theGentleman, who came accordingly, and after he had comforted _Lisana_with kind and courteous speeches; he played dexteriously on his Lute,which purposely hee had brought with him, and likewise he sung diversexcellent Ditties, which insted of his intended consolation to theMaid, did nothing else but encrease her fire and flame.
Afterward, she requested to have some conference with _Manutio_ alone,and every one being gone forth of the Chamber, she spake unto him inthis manner.
_Manutio_, I have made choyce of thee, to be the faithfull Guardian ofan especial secret, hoping first of al, that thou wilt never revealeit to any living body, but onely to him whom I shall bid thee: Andnext, to helpe me so much as possibly thou canst, because my onelyhope relyeth in thee. Know then my dearest friend _Manutio_, that onthe solemne festivall day, when our Soveraigne Lord the King honouredhis exaltation, with the noble exercises of Tilt and Turney; his bravebehaviour kindled such a sparke in my soule, as since brake forth intoa violent flame, and brought me to this weake condition as now thouseest. But knowing and confessing, how farre unbeseeming my love is, toaime so ambitiously at a King, and being unable to controule it, or inthe least manner to diminish it: I have made choyce of the onely andbest remedy of all, namely, to dye, and so I am most willing to doe.
True it is, that I shall travaile in this my latest journey, withendlesse torment and affliction of soule, except he have someunderstanding thereof before, and not knowing by whom to give himintelligence, in so oft and convenient order, as by thee: I doetherefore commit this last office of a friend to thy trust, desiringthee, not to refuse me in the performance thereof. And when thou hastdone it, to let me understand what he saith, that I may dye the morecontentedly, and disburdened of so heavy an oppression, the onelycomfort to a parting spirit: and so she ceased, her teares flowingforth abundantly.
_Manutio_ did not a little wonder at the Maides great spirit, and herdesperate resolution, which moved him to exceeding commiseration, andsuddenly he conceived, that honestly he might discharge this duty forher, whereupon, he returned her this answer. _Lisana_, here I engagemy faith to thee, that thou shalt find me firme and constant, anddie I will, rather then deceive thee. Greatly I doe commend thy highattempt, in fixing thy affection on so Potent a King, wherein I offerthee my utmost assistance: and I make no doubt (if thou wouldest be ofgood comfort) to deale in such sort, as, before three dayes are fullypast, to bring such newes as will content thee, and because I am loathto loose the least time, I will goe about it presently. _Lisana_ theyong Maiden, once againe entreated his care and diligence, promisingto comfort her selfe so well as she could, commending him to his goodfortune. When _Manutio_ was gone from her, hee went to a Gentleman,named _Mico de Sienna_, one of the best Poets in the composing ofverses, as all those parts yeelded not the like. At his request, _Mico_made for him this ensuing Dittie.
The Song sung in the hearing of King _Piero_, on the behalfe ofLove-sicke _Lisana._
_Goe Love, and tell the torments I endure, Say to my Soveraigne Lord, that I must die Except he come, some comfort to procure, For tell I may not, what I feele, and why._
_With heaved hands Great Love, I call to thee, Goe see my Soveraigne, where he doth abide, And say to him, in what extremity, Thou hast (for him) my firm affection tryed. To die for him, it is my sole desire, For live with him I may not, nor aspire, To have my fortunes thereby dignified, Onely his sight would lend me life a while: Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile. Goe love and tell the torments, &c._
_Since the first houre that love enthralled me, I never had the heart, to tell my griefe, My thoughts did speake, for th
oughts be alwayes free, Yet hopefull thoughts doe find but poore reliefe. When Gnats will mount to Eagles in the ayre, Alas! they scorne them, for full well they know, They were not bred to prey so base and low, Aloft they look, to make their flight more faire. And yet his sight would lend me life a while: Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile. Goe love, and tell the torments, &c._
_If sight shall be denyed, then tell them plaine, His high triumphall day procurd my death, The Launce that won him Honour, hath me slaine, For instantly it did bereave my breath. That speake I could not, nor durst be so bold, To make the Ayre acquainted with my woe: Alas! I lookt so high, and doing so, Justly deserve by death to be controld. Yet mercies sight would lend me life a while, Grant it (great love) mine anguish to beguile._
_Goe love, and tell the torments I endure, Say to my Soveraigne Lord, that I must die: Except he come, some comfort to procure, For tell I may not, what I feele, and why._
The lines contained in this Ditty, _Manutio_ fitted with noates somooving and singularly musicall, that every word had the sensiblemotion of life in it, where the King being (as yet) not risen from theTable, he commanded him to use both his Lute and voyce.
This seemed a happy opportunity to _Manutio_, to sing the dittie sopurposely done and devised: which hee delivered in such excellentmanner, the voice and Instrument concording so extraordinary pleasing;that all the persons then in the Presence, seemed rather Statues, thenliving men, so strangely they were wrapt with admiration, and the Kinghimselfe farre beyond all the rest, transported with a rare kinde ofalteration.
When _Manutio_ had ended the Song, the King demanded of him, whencethis Song came, because he had never heard it before? My gracious Lord,answered _Manutio_, it must needes seeme straunge to your Majesty,because it is not fully three dayes, since it was invented, made, andset to the note. Then the King asked, whom it concerned? Sir (quoth_Manutio_) I dare not disclose that to any but onely your selfe. Whichanswer made the King much more desirous, and being risen from theTable, he tooke him into his Bed-chamber, where _Manutio_ related allat large to him, according to the trust reposed in him. Wherewith theKing was wonderfully well pleased, greatly commending the courage ofthe Maide, and said, that a Virgin of such a valiant spirit, did welldeserve to have her case commiserated: and commanded him also, to goe(as sent from him) and comfort her, with promise, that the very sameday, in the evening, he would not faile to come and see her.
_Manutio_, more then contented, to carry such glad tydings to _Lisana_;without staying in any place, and taking his Lute also with him, wentto the Apothecaries house, where speaking alone with the Maide: hetold her what he had done, and afterward sung the song to her, in asexcellent manner as he had done before, wherein _Lisana_ conceived suchjoy and contentment, as even in the very same moment, it was observedby apparant signes, that the violence of her fits forsooke her, andhealth began to get the upper hand of them. So, without suffering anyone in the house to know it, or by the least meanes to suspect it; shecomforted her selfe till the evening, in expectation of her Soveraignesarrivall.
_Piero_ being a Prince, of most liberall and benigne nature, havingafterward divers times considered on the matters which _Manutio_ hadrevealed to him, knowing also the yong Maiden, to bee both beautifulland vertuous: was so much moved with pitty of her extremitie, asmounting on horse-backe in the evening, and seeming as if he rodeabroad for his private recreation; he went directly to the Apothecarieshouse, where desiring to see a goodly garden, appertaining then to theApothecarie, he dismounted from his horse. Walking into the garden, hebegan to question with _Bernardo_, demaunding him for his Daughter, andwhether he had (as yet) marryed her, or no? My Gracious Lord, answered_Bernardo_, as yet shee is not marryed, neither likely to bee, inregard shee hath had a long and tedious sickenesse: but since Dinnertime, she is indifferently eased of her former violent paine, which wecould not discerne the like alteration in her, a long while before.
The King understood immediately, the reason of this so suddenalteration, and said. In good faith _Bernardo_, the world wouldsustaine a great maine & imperfection, by the losse of thy fairedaughter; wherefore, we will goe our selfe in person to visite her.So, with two of his Lords onely, and the Father, he ascended to theMaides Chamber & being entred, he went to the Beds side, where shesate, somewhat raised, in expectation of his comming, and taking herby the hand, he said. Faire _Lisana_, how commeth this to passe? Youbeing so faire a Virgin, yong, and in the delicacy of your daies, whichshould be the chiefest comfort to you, will you suffer your selfe to beover-awed with sickenesse? Let us intreat you, that (for our sake) youwill be of good comfort, and thereby recover your health the sooner,especially, when it is requested by a King, who is sorry to see sobright a beauty sicke, and would helpe it, if it consisted in his power.
_Lisana_, feeling the touch of his hand, whom she loved above allthings else in the world, although a bashfull blush mounted up into hercheekes: yet her heart was seazed with such a rapture of pleasure, thatshe thought her selfe translated into Paradise, and, so well as shecould, thus she replyed. Great King, by opposing my feeble strength,against a burden of over-ponderous weight, it became the occasion ofthis grievous sickenesse: but I hope that the violence thereof is(almost) already kild, onely by this soveraigne mercy in you; anddoubtlesse it will cause my speedy deliverance. The King did bestunderstand this so well palliated answere of _Lisana_, which as he didmuch commend, in regard of her high adventuring; so he did againe asgreatly condemne Fortune, for not making her more happy in her birth.
So, after he had stayed there a good while, and given her manycomfortable speeches, he returned backe to the Court. This humanityin the King, was reputed a great honour to the Apothecary and hisdaughter, who (in her owne mind) received as much joy and contentmentthereby, as ever any wife could have of her owne Husband.
And being assisted by better hopes, within a short while after, shebecame recovered, and farre more beautifull (in common judgment) thenever she was before.
_Lisana_ being now in perfect health, the King consulted with hisQueene, what meete recompence he should gratifie her withall,for loving and affecting him in such fervent manner. Upon a daydetermined, the King mounting on horsebacke, accompanied with many ofhis cheefest Lords and Barons, he rode to the Apothecaries house, wherewalking in his beautifull Garden, hee called for _Bernardo_ and hisdaughter _Lisana_. In the meane space, the Queene also came thither,Royally attended on by her Ladies, and _Lisana_ being admitted intotheir company, they expressed themselves very gracious to her. Sooneafter, the King and the Queene cald _Lisana_, and the King spake inthis manner to her.
Faire Virgin, the extraordinary love which you bare to us, calleth foras great honour from us to you; in which respect, it is our Royalldesire, by one meanes or other to requite your kinde Love. In ouropinion, the chiefe honour we can extend to you, is, that being ofsufficient yeares for marriage, you would grace us so much, as toaccept him for your Husband, whom we intend to bestow on you. Besidethis further grant from us, that (notwithstanding whatsoever else) youshall call us your Knight; without coveting any thing else from you,for so great favour, but only one kisse, and thinke not to bestow itnicely on a King, but grant it the rather, because he begges it.
_Lisana_, whose lookes, were dyed with a vermillian tincture, or ratherconverted into a pure maiden blush, reputing the Kings desire to be herowne; in a low and humbled voyce, thus answered. My Lord, most certaineam I, that if it had beene publikely knowne, how none but your highnes,might serve for me to fixe my love on, I should have been termed thefoole of all fooles: they perhaps beleeving, that I was forgetfull ofmy selfe, in being ignorant of mine owne condition, and much lesse ofyours. But the Gods are my witnesses (because they know the secretsof all hearts) that even in the very instant, when Loves fire tookehold on my yeelding affection: I knew you to be a King, and my selfethe daughter of poore _Bernardo_ the Apothecary: likewise, how farreun
fitting it was for me, to be so ambitious in my loves presuming.But I am sure your Majestie doth know (much better then I am able toexpresse) that no one becommeth amourous, according to the duty ofelection, but as the appetite shapeth his course, against whose lawesmy strength made many resistances, which not prevailing, I presumed tolove, did, and so for ever shall doe, your Majestie.
Now Royall Soveraigne, I must needes confesse, that so soone as Ifelt my selfe thus wholly conquered by loving you, I resolved forever after, to make your will mine owne, and therefore, am not onelywilling to accept him for my Husband, whom you shall please to appoint,befitting my honor and degree: but if you will have me to live in aflaming fire, my obedience shall sacrifice it selfe to your will, withthe absolute conformity of mine owne. To stile you by the name of myKnight, whom I know to be my lawfull King and Soveraigne; you are notignorant, how farre unfitting a word that were for me to use: As alsothe kisse which you request, in requitall of my love to you; to thesetwo I will never give consent, without the Queenes most gracious favourand license first granted. Neverthelesse, for such admirable benignityused to me, both by your Royall selfe, and your vertuous Queene: heavenshower downe all boundlesse graces on you both, for it exceedeth allmerit in me, and so she ceased speaking, in most dutifull manner.
The answer of _Lisana_ pleased the Queene exceedingly, in findingher to be so wise and faire, as the King himself had before informedher: who instantly called for her Father and Mother, and knowingthey would be well pleased with whatsoever he did; he called for aproper yong Gentleman, but some what poore, being named _Perdicano_,and putting certaine Rings into his hand, which he refused not toreceive, caused him there to espouse _Lisana_. To whome the Kinggave immediately (besides Chaines and Jewels of inestimable valew,delivered by the Queene to the Bride) _Ceffala_ and _Calatabelotta_,two great territories abounding in divers wealthy possessions, sayingto _Perdicano_. These wee give thee, as a dowry in marriage with thisbeautifull Maid, and greater gifts we will bestow on thee hereafter, aswe shall perceive thy love and kindnesse to her.
When he had ended these words, hee turned to _Lisana_, saying: Heeredoe I freely give over all further fruits of your affection towardsme, thanking you for your former love: so taking her head betweenehis hands, he kissed her faire forhead, which was the usuall customein those times. _Perdicano_, the Father and Mother of _Lisana_, andshe her selfe likewise, extraordinarily joyfull for this so fortunatea marriage, returned humble and hearty thankes both to the King andQueene, and (as many credible Authors doe affirme) the King kept hispromise made to _Lisana_, because (so long as he lived) he alwaiestermed himselfe by the name of her Knight, and in al actions ofChivalry by him undertaken, he never carried any other devise, but suchas he received still from her.
By this, and divers other like worthy deeds, not onely did he winthe hearts of his subjects; but gave occasion to the whole worldbeside, to renowne his fame to all succeeding posterity. Whereto (inthese more wretched times of ours) few or none bend the sway of theirunderstanding: but rather how to bee cruell and tyrranous Lords, andthereby win the hatred of their people.