按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
those also of more divine consequence。 How many times hath it bin
noted； the father to affect his own daughter； the brother his
sister； and the stepmother her son in law； matters far more monstrous；
then to see one friend love the wife of another； a case happening
continually？ Moreover； I am yong； and youth is wholly subjected to the
passions of Love： is it reasonable then； that those should be bard
from me； which are fitting and pleasing to Love？ Honest things； belong
to men of more years and maturity； then I am troubled withall； and I
can covet none； but onely those wherein Love is directer。 The beauty
of Sophronia is worthy of generall love； and if I that am a yongman do
love her； what man living can justly reprove me for it？ Shold not I
love her； because she is affianced to Gisippus？ That is no matter to
me； I ought to love her； because she is a woman； and women were
created for no other occasion； but to bee Loved。 Fortune had sinned in
this case； and not I； in directing my frends affection to her；
rather then any other； and if she ought to be loved； as her
perfections do challenge； Gisippus understanding that I affect her；
may be the better contented that it is I； rather then any other。
With these； and the like crosse entercourses； he often mockt
himselfe； falling into the contrary； and then to this againe； and from
the contrary； into another kind of alteration； wasting and consuming
himselfe； not only this day and the night following； but many more
afterward； til he lost both his feeding and sleepe； so that through
debility of body； he was constrained to keepe his bed。 Gisippus； who
had divers dayes noted his melancholly disposition； and now his
falling into extreamitie of sicknesse； was very sorry to behold it：
and with all meanes and inventions he could devise to use； hee both
questioned the cause of this straunge alteration； and essayed everie
way； how hee might best comfort him； never ceassing to demaunde a
reason； why he should become thus sad and sickely。 But Titus after
infinite importuning （which still he answered） with idle and frivolous
excuses； farre from the truth indeede； and （to the no meane affliction
of his friend） when he was able to use no more contradictions； at
length； in sighes and teares； thus he replyed。
Gisippus； were the Gods so wel pleased； I could more gladly yeild to
dye； then continue any longer in this wretched life； considering； that
Fortune hath brought mee to such an extremity； as proofe is now to
be made of my constancie and vertue； both which I finde conquered in
me； to my eternall confusion and shame。 But my best hope is； that I
shal shortly be requited； as I have in justice deserved； namely with
death； which will be a thousand times more welcome to me； then a
loathed life； with remembrance of my base dejection in courage；
which because I can no longer conceale from thee； not without blushing
shame； I am well contented for to let thee know it。
Then began hee to recount； the whole occasion of this straunge
conflict in him； what a maine battaile hee had with his private
thoughts； confessing that they got the victory； causing him to die
hourely for the love of Sophronia； and affirming withall； that in
due acknowledgement； how greatly hee had transgressed against the
lawes of friendship； he thought no other penance sufficient for him；
but onely death； which he willingly expected every houre； and with all
his heart would gladly bid welcome。
Gisippus hearing this discourse； and seeing how Titus bitterly wept；
in agonies of most moving afflictions： sat an indifferent while sad
and pensive； as being wounded with affection to Sophronia； but yet
in a well…governed and temperate manner without any long delaying； hee
concluded with himselfe； that the life of his friend ought to be
accounted much more deare； then any love hee could beare unto
Sophronia： And in this resolution； the teares of Titus forcing his
eyes to flow forth like two Fountaines； thus he replyed。
Titus； if thou hadst not neede of comfort； as plainly I see thou
hast； I would justly complaine of thee to my selfe； as of the man
who hath violated our friendship； in keeping thine extreamitie so long
time concealed from mee； which hath beene overtedious for thee to
endure。 And although it might seeme to thee a dishonest case； and
therefore kept from the knowledge of thy friend； yet I plainly tell
thee； that dishonest courses （in the league of amitie） deserve no more
concealment； then those of the honestest nature。 But leaving these
impertinent wandrings； let us come to them of much greater necessitie。
If thou doest earnestly love faire Sophronia； who is betroathed
and afflanced to me； it is no matter for me to marvaile at： but I
should rather be much abashed； if thou couldst not intyrely affect
her； knowing how beautifull she is； and the nobility of her minde；
being as able to sustaine passion； as the thing pleasing is fullest of
excellence。 And looke how reasonable thou fanciest Sophronia； as
unjustly thou complainest of thy fortune； in ordaining her to be my
wife； although thou doest not speake it expresly： as being of opinion；
that thou mightst with more honesty love her； if she were any
others； then mine。 But if thou art so wise； as I have alwayes held
thee to be； tell me truely upon thy faith； to whom could Fortune
better guide her； and for which thou oughtest to be more thankfull；
then in bestowing her on me？ Any other that had enjoyed her；
although thy love were never so honest； yet he would better affect her
himselfe； then for thee； which thou canst not （in like manner） looke
for from me； if thou doest account me for thy friend； and as
constant now as ever。
Reason is my warrant in this case； because I cannot remember；
since first our entrance into friendship； that ever I enjoyed any
thing； but it was as much thine； as mine。 And if our affaires had such
an equall course before； as otherwise they could not subsist； must
they not now be kept in the same manner？ Can any thing more
perticularly appertaine to me； but thy right therein is as absolute as
mine？ I know not how thou maist esteeme of my friendship； if in any
thing concerning my selfe； I can plead my priviledge to be above
thine。 True it is； that Sophronia is affianced to me； and I love her
dearely； daily expecting when our nuptials shall be celebrated。 But
seeing thou doest more fervently affect her； as being better able to
Judge of the perfections； remaining in so excellent a creature as
she is； then I doe： assure thy selfe； and beleeve it constantly；
that she shall come to my bed； not as my wife but onely thine。 And
therefore leave these despairing thoughts； shake off this cloudy
disposition； reassume thy former joviall spirit； with comfort and what
else can content thee： in expectation of the happy houre； and the just
requitall of thy long； loving； and worthy friendship； which I have
alwayes valued equall with mine owne life。
Titus hearing this answer of Gisippus； looke how much the sweet hope
of that which he desired gave him pleasure； as much both duty and
reason affronted him with shame； setting before his eyes this du
consideration； that the greater the liberality of Gisippus was；
farre greater and unreasonable it appeared to him in disgrace； if
hee should unmannerly accept it。 Wherefore； being unable to refrain
from teares； and with such strength as his weaknesse would give leave；
thus he replyed。
Gisippus； thy bounty and firme friendship suffereth me to see
apparantly； what （on my part） is no more then ought to be done。 All
the Gods forbid； that I should receive as mine； her whom they have
adjudged to be thine； by true respect of birth and desert。 For if they
had thought her a wife fit for me； doe not thou or any else imagine；
that ever she should have beene granted to thee。 Use freely
therefore thine owne election； and the gracious favour wherewith
they have blessed thee： leave me to consume away in teares； a mourning
garment by them appointed for me； as being a man unworthy of such
happinesse； for either I shall conquer this disaster； and that wil
be my crowne； or else will vanquish me； and free me from all paine：
whereto Gisippus presently thus answered。
Worthy Titus； if our amity would give me so much licence； as but
to contend with my selfe； in pleasing thee with such a thing as I
desire； and could also induce thee therein to be directed： it is the
onely end whereat I aime； and am resolved to pursue it。 In which
regard； let my perswasions prevaile with thee； and thereto I conjure
thee； by the faith of a friend； suffer me to use mine authority；
when it extendeth both to mine owne honour； and thy good； for I will
have Sophronia to bee onely thine。 I know sufficiently； how farre
the forces of love doe extend in power； and am not ignorant also；
how not once or twice； but very many times； they have brought lovers
to unfortunate ends； as now I see thee very neere it； and so farre
gone； as thou art not able to turne backe againe； nor yet to conquer
thine owne teares； but proceeding on further in this extremity； thou
wilt be left vanquished； sinking under the burthen of loves
tyrannicall oppression； and then my turne is nex