maketh not dainty, for quis nisi mentis inops oblatum respuit aurum,' but stoopeth very mannerly and taketh it up. Then one of the cony catchers behind, crieth half part, and so challengeth half of his finding. The countryman content, offereth to change the money. "Nay faith, friend," saith the verser, "'tis ill luck to keep found money, we'll go spend it in a pottle of wine (or in a breakfast, dinner or supper, as the time of day requires)." If the cony say he will not, then answers the verser, "Spend my part." If still the cony refuse, he taketh half and away. If they spy the countryman to be of a having and covetous mind, then have they a further policy to draw him on: another that knoweth the place of his abode, meeteth him and saith, "Sir, well met, I have run hastily to overtake you, I pray you, dwell you not in Darbyshire, in such a village?" "Yes, marry, do I, friend," saith the cony. Then replies the verser, "Truly, sir, I have a suit to you, I am going out of town, and must send a letter to the parson of your parish. You shall not refuse to do a stranger such a favour as to carry it him. Haply, as men may in time meet, it may lie in my lot to do you as good a turn, and for your pains I will give you twelve pence." The poor cony in mere simplicity saith, "Sir, I'll do so much for you with all my heart; where is your letter?" "I have it not, good sir, ready written, but may I entreat you to step into some tavern or alehouse? We'll drink the while, and I will write but a line or two." At this the cony stoops, and for greediness of the money, and upon courtesy goes with the setter into the tavern. As they walk, they meet the verser, and then they all three go into the tavern together. . . .

GREENE'S NEVER TOO LATE

FROM THE PALMER'S TALE

In those days wherein Palmerin reigned king of Great Britain, famoused for his deeds of chivalry, there dwelled in the city of Cærbranck a gentleman of an ancient house, called Francesco, a man whose parentage though it were worshipful, yet it was not indued with much wealth, insomuch that his learning was better than his revenues, and his wit more beneficial than his substance. This Signor Francesco, desirous to bend the course of his compass to some peaceable port, spread no more cloth in the wind than might make easy sail, lest hoisting

1 Who but a fool refuses offered gold?

up too hastily above the main yard, some sudden gust might make him founder in the deep. Though he were young, yet he was not rash with Icarus to soar into the sky, but to cry out with old Dedalus, Medium tenere tutissimum,1 treading his shoe without any slip. He was so generally loved of the citizens, that the richest merchant or gravest burghmaster would not refuse to grant him his daughter in marriage, hoping more of his ensuing fortunes, than of his present substance. At last, casting his eye on a gentleman's daughter that dwelt not far from Cærbranck, he fell in love, and prosecuted his suit with such affable courtesy as the maid, considering the virtue and wit of the man, was content to set up her rest with him, so that her father's consent might be at the knitting up of the match. Francesco, thinking himself cocksure, as a man that hoped his credit in the city might carry away more than a country gentleman's daughter, finding her father on a day at fit opportunity, he made the motion about the grant of his daughter's marriage. The old churl, that listened with both ears to such a question, did not in this in utramvis aurem dormire, but leaning on his elbow, made present answer, that her dowry required a greater feofment than his lands were able to afford. And upon that, without farther debating of the matter, he rose up, and hied him home. Whither as soon as he came, he called his daughter before him, whose name was Isabel, to whom he uttered these words: "Why, housewife," quoth he, "are you so idle tasked, that you stand upon thorns while you have a husband? Are you no sooner hatched with the Lapwing but you will run away with the shell on your head? Soon pricks the tree that will prove a thorn, and a girl that loves too soon will repent too late. What, a husband? Why, the maids in Rome durst not look at Venus' temple till they were thirty, nor went they unmasked till they were married; that neither their beauties might allure other, nor they glance their eyes on every wanton. I tell thee, fond girl, when Nilus overfloweth before his time, Egypt is plagued with a dearth; the trees that blossom in February are nipped with the frosts in May; untimely fruits had never good fortune; and young gentlewomen that are wooed and won ere they be wise, sorrow and repent before they be old. What seest thou in Francesco that

It is safest to keep the middle way. 2 provided sleep on either ear ⚫ huzzy ⚫ until

thine eye must choose, and thy heart must fancy? Is he beautiful? Why, fond girl, what the eye liketh at morn, it hateth at night. Love is, like a bavin,' but a blaze; and beauty, why how can I better compare it than to the gorgeous cedar, that is only for show and nothing for profit; to the apples of Tantalus, that are precious to the eye, and dust in the hand; to the star Artophilex, that is most bright, but fitteth not for any compass; so young men that stand upon their outward portraiture, I tell thee they are prejudicial. Demophon was fair, but how dealt he with Phillis? Æneas was a brave man but a dissembler. Fond girl, all are but little worth, if they be not wealthy. And I pray thee, what substance hath Francesco to endue thee with? Hast thou not heard, that want breaks amity, that love beginneth in gold and endeth in beggery; that such as marry but to a fair face, tie themselves oft to a foul bargain? And what wilt thou do with a husband that is not able to maintain thee? Buy, forsooth, a dram of pleasure with a pound of sorrow, and a pint of content with a whole ton of prejudicial displeasures? But why do I cast stones into the air, or breathe my words into the wind; when to persuade a woman from her will is to roll Sisiphus' stone; or to hale a headstrong girl from love, is to tie the Furies again in fetters. Therefore, housewife, to prevent all misfortunes I will be your jailer." And with that, he carried her in and shut her up in his own chamber, not giving her leave to depart but when his key gave her license; yet at last she so cunningly dissembled, that she got thus far liberty, not to be close prisoner, but to walk about the house. Yet every night he shut up her clothes, that no nightly fear of her escape might hinder his broken slumbers.

Where leaving her, let us return to Francesco; who to his sorrow heard of all these hard fortunes, and being pensive was full of many passions, but almost in despair, as a man that durst not come nigh her father's door, nor send any letters whereby to comfort his mistress, or to lay any plot of her liberty. For no sooner any stranger came thither, but he, suspicious they came from Francesco, first sent up his daughter into her chamber; then as watchful as Argus with all his eyes, he pried into every particular gesture and behaviour of the party; and if any jealous humour took him in the head, he would not only be very inquisitive with

1 a dry twig

cutting questions, but would strain courtesies and search them very narrowly, whether they had any letters or no to his daughter Isabel.

3

This narrow inquisition made the poor gentleman almost frantic, that he turned over Anacreon, Ovid de Arte amandi, and all books that might teach him any sleights of love; but, for all their principles, his own wit served him for the best shift, and that was haply' begun and fortunately ended thus. It chanced that as he walked thus in his muses, fetching the compass of his conceit beyond the moon, he met with a poor woman that from door to door sought her living by charity. The woman, as her custom was, began her exordium with "I pray, good master," and so forth, hoping to find the gentleman as liberal, as he was full of gracious favours. Neither did she miss of her imagination; for he, that thought her likely to be drawn on to the executing of his purpose, conceipted 3 this, that gold was as good as glue to knit her to any practice whatsoever, and therefore out with his purse, and clapped her in the hand with a French crown. This unaccustomed reward made her more frank of her curtsies, that every rag reached the gentleman a reverence with promise of many prayers for his health. He, that harped on another string, took the woman by the hand, and sitting down upon the green grass, discoursed unto her from point to point the beginning and sequel of his loves, and how by no means, except by her, he could convey any letter. The beggar, desirous to do the gentleman any pleasure, said she was ready to take any pains that might redound to his content. Whereupon he replied thus; "Then, mother, thou shalt go to yonder abbey, which is her father's house; and when thou comest thither, use thy wonted eloquence to entreat for thine alms. If the master of the house be present, show thy passport, and seem very passionate; but if he be absent or out of the way, then, oh then, mother, look about if thou seest Diana masking in the shape of a virgin, if thou spiest Venus, nay, one more beautiful than love's goddess, and I tell thee she is my love, fair Isabel, whom thou shalt discern from her other sister, thus: her visage is fair, containing as great resemblance of virtue as lineaments of beauty, and yet I tell thee she is full of favour, whether thou respects the outward portraiture or inward perfection; her eye like the diamond, and so pointed that it pierceth to

4

the quick, yet so chaste in the motion as therein is seen as in a mirror courtesy tempered with a virtuous disdain; her countenance is the very map of modesty, and, to give thee a more near mark, if thou findest her in the way, thou shalt see her more liberal to bestow, than thou pitiful to demand; her name is Isabel; to her from me shalt thou carry a letter, folded up every way like thy passport, with a greasy backside, and a great seal. If cunningly and closely thou canst thus convey unto her the tenure1 of my mind, when thou bringest me an answer, I will give thee a brace of angels." The poor woman was glad of this proffer, and thereupon promised to venture a joint, but she would further him in his loves; whereupon she followed him to his chamber, and the whiles 3 he writ a letter to this effect.

Signor Francesco to Fair Isabel :

When I note, fair Isabel, the extremity of thy fortunes, and measure the passions of my love, I find that Venus hath made thee constant to requite my miseries; and that where the greatest onset is given by fortune, there is strongest defence made by affection; for I heard that thy father, suspicious, or rather jealous, of our late-united sympathy, doth watch like Argus over Io, not suffering thee to pass beyond the reach of his eye, unless, as he thinks, thou shouldest overreach thyself. His mind is like the tapers in Janus' temple, that, set once on fire, burn till they consume themselves; his thoughts like the sunbeams, that search every secret. Thus watching thee he overwaketh himself; and yet I hope profiteth as little as they which gaze on the flames of Etna, which vanish out of their sight in smoke.

I have heard them say, fair Isabel, that, as the diamonds are tried by cutting of glass, the topaz by biding the force of the anvil, the sethin wood by the hardness, so women's excellence is discovered in their constancy. Then, if the period of all their virtues consist in this, that they take in love by months, and let it slip by minutes, that, as the tortoise, they creep pedetentim, and, when they come to their rest, will hardly be removed, I hope thou wilt confirm in thy loves the very pattern of feminine loyalty, having no motion in thy thoughts, but fancy, and no affection, but to thy Fran

1 tenor 2 a slang phrase ⚫ meanwhile 'cautiously love

4 lest

1

cesco. In that I am stopped from thy sight, I am deprived of the chiefest organ of my life, having no sense in myself perfect, in that I want the view of thy perfection, ready with sorrow to perish in despair, if, resolved of thy constancy, I did not triumph in hope. Therefore now rests it in thee to salve all these sores, and provide medicines for these dangerous maladies, that, our passions appeased, we may end our harmony in the faithful union of two hearts. Thou seest love hath his shifts, and Venus' quiddities are most subtle sophistry; that he which is touched with beauty, is ever in league with opportunity. These principles are proved by the messenger, whose state discovers my restless thoughts, impatient of any longer repulse. I have therefore sought to overmatch thy father in policy, as he overstrains us in jealousy, and seeing he seeks it, to let him find a knot in a rush. As therefore I have sent thee the sum of my passions in the form of a passport, so return me a reply wrapped in the same paper, that as we are forced to cover our deceits in one shift, so hereafter we may unite our loves in one sympathy: Appoint what I shall do to compass a private conference. Think I will account of the seas as Leander, of the wars as Troilus, of all dangers as a man resolved to attempt any peril, or break any prejudice for thy sake. Say when and where I shall meet thee; and so, as I begun passionately, I break off abruptly. Farewell.

Thine in fatal resolution,

Seigneur Francesco.

After he had written the letter, and despatched the messenger, her mind was so fixed on the brace of angels' that she stirred her old stumps till she came to the house of Seigneur Fregoso, who at that instant was walked abroad to take view of his pastures. She no sooner began her method of begging with a solemn prayer and a pater noster but Isabel, whose devotion was ever bent to pity the poor, came to the door, to see the necessity of the party, who began to salute her thus: "Fair mistress, whose virtues exceed your beauties (and yet I doubt not but you deem your perfection equivalent with the rarest paragons in Britain), as your eye receives the object of my misery, so let your heart have an insight into my extremities, who once was young, and then favoured by fortunes, now old and crossed by the destinies, driven, when I am weakest, to the wall, and, when I am worst,

1 subtleties 2 gold coins worth 135. 4d. each

forced to hold the candle. Seeing, then, the faults of my youth hath forced the fall of mine age, and I am driven in the winter of mine years to abide the brunt of all storms, let the plenty of your youth pity the want of my decrepit state; and the rather, because my fortune was once as high as my fall is now low. For proof, sweet mistress, see my passport, wherein you shall find many passions and much patience.' At which period, making a curtsey, her very rags seemed to give Isabel reverence. She, hearing the beggar insinuate with such a sensible preamble, thought the woman had had some good parts in her, and therefore took her certificate, which as soon as she had opened, and that she perceived it was Francesco's hand, she smiled, and yet bewrayed' a passion with a blush. So that, stepping from the woman, she went into her chamber, where she read it over with such pathetical impressions as every motion was intangled with a dilemma; for, on the one side, the love of Francesco, grounded more on his interior virtues than his exterior beauties, gave such fierce assaults to the bulwark of her affection, as the fort was ready to be yielded up, but that the fear of her father's displeasure armed with the instigations of nature drave her to meditate thus with herself:

"Now, Isabel, Love and Fortune hath brought thee into a labyrinth; thy thoughts are like to Janus' pictures, that present both peace and war, and thy mind like Venus' anvil, whereon is hammered both fear and hope. Sith, then, the chance lieth in thine own choice, do not with Medea see and allow of the best, and then follow the worst: but of two extremes, if they be Immediata, choose that may have least prejudice and most profit. Thy father is aged and wise, and many years hath taught him much experience. The old fox is more subtil than the young cub, the buck more skilful to choose his food than the young fawns. Men of age fear and foresee that which youth leapeth at with repentance. If, then, his grave wisdom exceeds thy green wit, and his ripened fruits thy sprouting blossoms, think if he speak for thy avail, as his principles are perfect, so they are grounded on love and nature. It is a near collop," says he, is cut out of the own flesh; and the stay of thy fortunes, is the staff of his life. No doubt he sees with a more piercing judgment into the life of Francesco; for thou, overcome with fancy, censurest

1 disclosed 2 emotional since that which slice

of all his actions with partiality. Francesco, though he be young and beautiful, yet his revenues are not answerable to his favours: the cedar is fair, but unfruitful; the Volgo a bright stream, but without fish; men covet rather to plant the olive for profit, than the alder for beauty; and young gentlewomen should rather fancy to live, than affect to lust, for love without lands is like to a fire without fuel, that for a while showeth a bright blaze and in a moment dieth in his own cinders. Dost thou think this, Isabel, that thine eye may not surfeit so with beauty, that the mind shall vomit up repentance? Yes, for the fairest roses have pricks, the purest lawns their moles, the brightest diamonds their cracks, and the most beautiful men of the most imperfect conditions; for Nature, having care to polish the body so far, overweens herself in her excellency, that she leaves their minds imperfect. Whither now, Isabel; into absurd aphorisms? What, can thy father persuade thee to this, that the most glorious shells have not the most orient margarites,' that the purest flowers have not the most perfect favours,2 that men, as they excel in proportion of body, so they exceed in perfection of mind? Is not nature both curious and absolute, hiding the most virtuous minds in the most beautiful covertures? Why, what of this, fond girl? Suppose these premises be granted, yet they infer no conclusion; for suppose he be beautiful and virtuous, and his wit is equal with his parentage, yet he wants wealth to maintain love, and therefore, says old Fregoso, not worthy of Isabel's love. Shall I, then, tie my affection to his lands or to his lineaments? to his riches or his qualities? Are Venus' altars to be filled with gold or loyalty of hearts? Is the sympathy of Cupid's consistory united in the abundance of coin? Or the absolute perfection of constancy? Ah, Isabel, think this, that love brooketh no exception of want, that where Fancy displays her colour there always either plenty keeps her court, or else Patience so tempers every extreme, that all defects are supplied with content." Upon this, as having a farther reach, and a deeper insight, she stepped hastily to her standish," and writ him this answer:

Isabel to Francesco, Health!

3

Although the nature of a father, and the duty of a child might move me resolutely to reject 1 pearls 2 beauties assembly love inkstand

thy letters, yet I received them, for that thou art Francesco and I Isabel, who were once private in affection, as now we are distant in places. But know my father, whose command to me is a law of constraint, sets down this censure, that love without wealth is like to a cedar tree without fruit, or to corn sown in the sands, that withereth for want of moisture; and I have reason, Francesco, to deem of snow by the whiteness, and of trees by the blossoms. The old man, whose words are oracles, tells me that love that entereth in a moment, flieth out in a minute, that men's affections is like the dew upon a crystal, which no sooner lighteth on, but it leapeth off; their eyes with every glance make a new choice, and every look can command a sigh, having their hearts like saltpeter, that fireth at the first, and yet proveth but a flash; their thoughts reaching as high as cedars, but as brittle as rods that break with every blast. Had Carthage been bereft of so famous a virago,' if the beauteous Trojan had been as constant as he was comely? Had the Queen of Poetry been pinched with so many passions, if the wanton ferryman had been as faithful as he was fair? No, Francesco, and therefore, seeing the brightest blossoms are pestered with most caterpillars, the sweetest roses with the sharpest pricks, the fairest cambrics with the foulest stains, and men with the best proportion have commonly least perfection, I may fear to swallow the hook, lest I find more bane in the confection than pleasure in the bait. But here let me breathe, and with sighs foresee mine own folly. Women, poor fools, are like to the harts in Calabria, that knowing Dictannum to be deadly, yet browse on it with greediness; resembling the fish Mugra, that seeing the hook bare, yet swallows it with delight; so women foresee, yet do not prevent, knowing what is profitable, yet not eschewing the prejudice. So, Francesco, I see thy beauties, I know thy want, and I fear thy vanities, yet can I not but allow of all, were they the worst of all, because I find in my mind this principle: "in Love is no lack." What should I, Francesco, covet to dally with the mouse when the cat stands by, or fill my letter full of needless ambages when my father, like Argus, setteth a hundred eyes to overpry my actions. While I am writing, thy messenger stands at the door praying. Therefore, lest I should hold her too long in her orisons, or keep thee, poor man, too long

in suspense; thus, briefly: Be upon Thursday next at night hard by the orchard under the greatest oak, where expect my coming, and provide for our safe passage; for stood all the world on the one side, and thou on the other, Francesco should be my guide to direct me whither he pleased. Fail not, then, unless thou be false to her that would have life fail, ere she falsify faith to thee.

Not her own, because thine,

Isabel.

As soon as she had despatched her letter, she came down, and delivered the letter folded in form of a passport to the messenger, giving her after her accustomed manner an alms, and closely clapped her in the fist with a brace of angels. The woman, thanking her good master and her good mistress, giving the house her benison, hied her back again to Francesco, whom she found sitting solitary in his chamber. No sooner did he spy her but, flinging out of his chair, he changed colour as a man in a doubtful ecstasy what should betide; yet conceiving good hope by her countenance, who smiled more at the remembrance of her reward than at any other conceit, he took the letter and read it, wherein he found his humour so fitted that he not only thanked the messenger but gave her all the money in his purse, so that she returned so highly gratified as never after she was found to exercise her old occupation. But, leaving her to the hope of her housewifery, again to Francesco, who, seeing the constant affection of his mistress, that neither the sour looks of her father, nor his hard threats could affright her to make change of her fancy, that no disaster of fortune could drive her to make shipwreck of her fixed affection, that the blustering storms of adversity might assault, but not sack, the fort of her constant resolution, he fell into this pleasing passion: "Women," quoth he, "why, as they are heaven's wealth, so they are earth's miracles, framed by nature to despite beauty; adorned with the singularity of proportion, to shroud the excellence of all perfection; as far exceeding men in virtues as they excel them in beauties; resembling angels in qualities, as they are like to gods in perfectness, being purer in mind than in mould, and yet made of the purity of man; just they are, as giving love her due; constant, as holding loyalty more precious than life; as hardly to be drawn from united affection as the salamanders from the caverns of Etna. Tush," quoth Francesco, "what should I say? They