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greatnesse of my minde and constant resolution。 True it is； that I
have loved； and still do； honourable Guiscardo； purposing the like
so long as I shall live； which will be but a small while： but if it be
possible to continue the same affection after death； it is for ever
vowed to him onely。 Nor did mine owne womanish weaknesse so much
thereto induce me； as the matchlesse vertues shining clearly in
Guiscardo； and the little respect you had of marrying me againe。 Why
royall Father； you cannot be ignorant； that you being composed of
flesh and blood； have begotten a Daughter of the selfe same
composition； and not made of stone or iron。 Moreover； you ought to
remember （although now you are farre stept in yeeres） what the Lawes
of youth are； and with what difficulty they are to be contradicted。
Considering withall； that albeit （during the vigour of your best time）
you evermore were exercised in Armes； yet you should likewise
understand； that negligence and idle delights； have mighty power；
not onely in young people； but also in them of greatest yeares。
I being then made of flesh and blood； and so derived from your
selfe； having had also so little benefit of life； that I am yet in the
spring； and blooming time of my blood： by either of these reasons； I
must needs be subject to naturall desires； wherein such knowledge as I
have once already had； in the estate of my marriage； perhaps might
move a further intelligence of the like delights； according to the
better ability of strength； which exceeding all capacity of
resistance； induced a second motive to affection； answerable to my
time and youthfull desires； and so （like a yong woman） I became came
againe； yet did I strive； even with all my utmost might； and best
vertuous faculties abiding in me； no way to disgrace either you or
my selfe； as （in equall censure） yet have I not done。 But Nature is
above all humane power； and Love commanded by Nature； hath prevailed
for Love； joyning with Fortune： in meere pitty and commiseration of my
extreame wrong； I found them both most benigne and gracious；
teaching mee a way secret enough； whereby I might reach the height
of my desires； howsoever you became instructed； or （perhaps） found
it out by accident； so it was； and I deny it not。
Nor did I make election of Guiscardo by chance； or rashly； as many
women doe； but by deliberate counsell in my soule； and most mature
advise； I chose him above all other； and having his honest
harmelesse conversation； mutually we enjoyed our hearts contentment。
Now it appeareth； that I have not offended but by love； in imitation
of vulgar opinion； rather then truth： you seeke to reprove me
bitterly； alleaging no other maine argument for your anger； but
onely my not choosing a Gentleman； or one more worthy。 Wherein it is
most evident； that you do not so much checke my fault； as the
ordination of Fortune； who many times advanceth men of meanest
esteeme； and abaseth them of greater merit。 But leaving this
discourse； let us looke into the originall of things； wherein we are
first to observe； that from one masse or lumpe of flesh； both we；
and all other received our flesh； and one Creator hath created all
things； yea； all creatures； equally in their forces and faculties； and
equall likewise in their vertue： which vertue was the first that
made distinction of birth and equality； in regard； that such as have
the most liberall portion thereof； and performed actions thereto
answerable； were thereby tearmed noble； all the rest remaining
unnoble： now although contrary use did afterward hide and conceale
this Law； yet was it not therefore banished from Nature or good
manners。 In which respect； whosoever did execute all his actions by
vertue； declared himselfe openly to be noble； and he that tearmed
him otherwise； it was an errour in the miscaller； and not in the
person so wrongfully called； as the very same priviledge is yet in
full force among us at this day。
Cast an heedfull eye then （good Father） upon all your Gentlemen； and
advisedly examine their vertues； conditions； and manner of
behaviour。 On the other side； observe those parts remaining in
Guiscardo： and then if you will Judge truly； and without affection；
you will confesse him to be most Noble； and that all your Gentlemen
（in respect of him） are but base Groomes and villaines。 His vertues
and excelling perfections； I never credited from the report or
judgement of any person； but onely by your speeches； and mine owne
eyes as true witnesses。 Who did ever more commend Guiscardo； extolling
all those singularities in him； most requisite to be in an honest
vertuous man； then you your selfe have done？ Nor neede you to be
sorry； or ashamed of your good opinion concerning him： for if mine
eyes have not deceived my judgement； you never gave him the least part
of praise； but I have knowne much more in him； then ever your words
were able to expresse： wherefore； if I have beene any way deceived；
truly the deceit proceeded onely from you。 How wil you then maintaine；
that I have throwne my liking on a man of base condition？ In troth
（Sir） you cannot。 Perhaps you will alledge； that he is but meane and
poore； I confesse it； and surely it is to your shame； that you have
not bestowne place of more preferment； on a man so honest and well
deserving； and having bene so long a time your servant。
Neverthelesse poverty impayreth not any part of noble Nature； but
wealth hurries into horrible confusions。 Many Kings and great
Princes have heeretofore beene poore； when divers of them that have
delved into the earth； and kept Flockes in the field； have beene
advanced to riches； and exceeded the other in wealth。
Now； as concerning your last doubt； which most of all afflicteth
you； namely； how you shall deale with me； boldly rid your braine of
any such disturbance； for if you have resolved now in your extremity
of yeres； to doe that which your younger dayes evermore despised； I
meane； to become cruell； use your utmost cruelty against me： for I wil
never intreat you to the contrary； because I am the sole occasion of
this offence； if it doe deserve the name of an offence。 And this I
dare assure you； that if you deale not with me； as you have done
already； or intend to Guiscardo； mine owne hands shall act as much：
and therfore give over your teares to women； and if you purpose to
be cruel； let him and me in death drinke both of one cup； at least
if you imagine that we have deserved it。
The King knew well enough the high spirit of his Daughter； but yet
（neverthelesse） he did not beleeve； that her words would prove
actions； or she do as she said。 And therefore parting from her； and
without intent of using any cruelty to her； concluded； by quenching
the heat of another to coole the fiery rage of her distemper；
commanding two of his follow （who had the custody of Guiscardo） that
without any rumour or noise at all； they should strangle him the night
ensuing； and taking the heart forth of his body； to bring it to him；
which they performed according to their charge。 On the next day； the
King called for a goodly standing cup of Gold； wherein he put the
heart of Guiscardo； sending it by one of his most familiar servants to
his Daughter； with command also to use these words to her。 Thy
Father hath sent thee this present； to comfort thee with that thing
which most of all thou affectest； even as thou hast comforted him with
that which he most hated。
Ghismonda； nothing altered from her cruell deliberation； after her
Father was departed from her； caused certaine poisonous roots and
hearbes to be brought her； which shee （by distillation） made a water
of； to drinke sodainly； whensoever any crosse accident should come
from her Father； whereupon； when the Messenger from her Father had
delivered her the present； and uttered the words as he was commaunded：
shee tooke the Cup； and looking into it with a setled countenance；
by sight of the heart； and effect of the message； she knew certainely；
that was the heart of Guiscardo； then looking stearnely on the
servant； thus she spake unto him。 My honest friend； it is no more then
right and justice； that so worthy a heart as this is； should have
any worser grave then gold； wherein my Father hath dealt most
wisely。 So； lifting the heart up to her mouth； and sweetly kissing it；
she proceeded thus。 In all things； even till this instant； （being
the utmost period of my life） I have evermore found my Fathers love
most effectuall to me； but now it appeareth farre greater； then at any
time heretofore： and therefore from my mouth； thou must deliver him
the latest thankes that ever I shall give him； for sending me such
an honourable present。
These words being ended； holding the Cup fast in her hand； and
looking seriously upon the heart； she began againe in this manner。
Thou sweete entertainer of all my dearest delights； accursed be his
cruelty； that causeth me thus to see thee with my corporall eyes； it
being sufficient enough for me； alwayes to behold thee with the
sight of my soule。 Thou hast runne thy race； and as Fortune
ordained； so are thy dayes finished： for as all flesh hath an
ending； so hast thou concluded； albeit too soone； and before thy due