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Philomela to your Honour, and to christen it in your Ladyship's name, calling it the "Lady Fitzwater's Nightingale;" as if I should insinuate a comparison 'twixt you and him of equal and honourable virtues : imitating herein Master ABRAHAM FRANCE, who titled the Lamentations of Amintas, under the name of the Countess of Pembroke's Ivie-Church. For herein your Ladyship had far more perfections than years, and more inward excellence than external beauty, yet so beautiful, as few so fair, though none more virtuous. I thought the legend of an honourable and chaste lady would be grateful to your Honour, whose mind is wholly delighted in chaste thoughts, keeping herein a perfect decorum to appropriate the nature of the gift to the content of the person. For such as offer incense to Venus, burn myrrh mixed with eringo; those that glory Pallas, give her a shield; Dians present a bow; witty poems are fit for wise heads; and examples of honour for such as triumph in virtue: so that seeing there hath few led more chaste than an Italian Philomela, I thought none only more fit to patronize her honours than your Ladyship, whose chastity is as far spread as you are either known or spoken of. If then my well meaning may not be misconstrued, but my presumption pardoned, and my labours favoured with your gracious acceptation, I have what I aimed at, and what I expected: in the hope of which courtesy, setting down my rest, I humbly take my leave.

Your Ladyship's,

in all dutiful service,

ROBERT GREENE.

ΤΟ

THE GENTLEMEN READERS,

HEALTH.

If the contents of lines could at life discover the colour of the face, you should, Gentlemen, see my ruddy cheeks manifest my open follies but seeing paper cannot blush, I will confess my fault, and so humbly crave pardon. I promised, Gentlemen, both in my MOURNING GARMENT and FAREWELL TO FOLLIES, never to busy myself about any wanton pamphlets again, nor to have my brain counted so addle, as to set out any matter that were amorous; but yet am I come, contrary to vow and promise, once again to the press with a labour of love, which I hatched long ago, though now brought forth to light. If the printer had not been, I would have had it thrust out as an orphan, without any name to father it: but at his earnest entreaty I was content to subscribe, though I abide your hard censures and angry frowns for a penance. Therefore sith the work was writ afore my vow, and published upon duty to so honourable and beautiful a Lady, I humbly sue for favour, and crave that you will bear with this fault, and hold me every way excused; which courtesy if you grant me, I have more than I deserve, and as much as my desire every way can wish, and so farewell.

Yours,

ROBERT GREENE.

THE

LADY FITZWATER'S NIGHTINGALE.

THERE dwelt in the city of Venice, near the Rialto, an Earl of great excellence, both for the descent of his parentage, and largeness of his patrimony, called IL CONTE PHILIPPO MEDICO, a gentleman every way, not only by birth, as being by the mother's side of the Æmilii, but every way furnished with civil virtues for peace, and martial valour for the wars; as politic at home, as resolute abroad: reverenced of all, not for his grey hairs, for he was young, but for his many virtues, wherein he overwent men of age.

This Count PHILIPPO had by the favour of Fortune, and his own foresight, linked himself to a young gentlewoman in marriage, called PHILOMELA CELII, at that time the wonder of Venice, not for her beauty, though Italy afforded none so fair, nor for her dowry, though she were the only daughter of the Duke of Milan; but for the admirable honours of her mind, which were so many, and matchless, that Virtue seemed to have planted there the paradise of her perfection. Her age exceeded not seventeen; yet appeared there such a symmetry of more than womanly excellence in every action of this Venetian paragon, that Italy held her life as an instance of all commendable qualities: she was modest without sullenness, and silent, not as a fool, but because she would not be

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counted a blab: chaste, and yet not coy; for the poorest of all held her courteous: though she was young, yet she desired neither to gad nor to gaze, nor to have her beauty made common to every bad companion's eye. The veil she used for her face, was the covert of her own house; for she never would go abroad but in the company of her husband, and then with such bashfulness, that she seemed to hold herself faulty in stepping beyond the shadow of her own

mansion.

Thus was PHILOMELA famous for her exquisite virtues, and PHILIPPO fortunate for enjoying so virtuous a paramour'. But as there is no antidote so precious, but being tempered with antimony, is infectious; nor no heart so sovereign good, but art can make simply ill; so PHILIPPO was not so commendable for some good parts, as afterwards bad thought of for some unworthy qualities. For though he had a wife every way answerable to his own wish, both fair to please his eye, and honest to content his humour, yet in seeking to quittance these virtues with love, he so overloved her, that he plagued her more with jealousy, than recompensed her with affection; insomuch that with a deep insight, entering into the consideration of her beauty, and her youth, he began to suspect, that such as frequented his house for traffic (for the greatest men in Venice used merchandise) were rather drawn thither by a desire to see his wife, than for the special use of any other his commodities. Feeding upon this passion, that gnaweth like Envy upon her own flesh', he called to mind, to which of his friends she shewed

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Probably this story has its original in some Italian novel. The incidents are of a kind which modern compositions of this class have worn thread-bare; but the reader must constantly bear in mind the date of ROBERT GREENE's publications.

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