who without any respecte either of her renowme or noble estate, canst be content to seeke the wracke and vtter ruine of her honour? but frame thy self to make such satisfaction as she requireth, although I knowe vnworthie wretche, that thou art not able to make her the least parte of amendes, or I sweare that thou shalt not escape the death which I will minister to thee with myne owne handes, and therefore aduise thee well what thou doest.

Siluio hauyng heard this sharpe sentence, fell doune on his knees before the Duke crauyng for mercie, desiryng that he might be suffered to speake with the Ladie Iulina aparte, promising to satisfie her accordyng to her owne contentation.

Well (quoth the Duke) I take thy worde, and there with all I aduise thee that thou performe thy promis, or otherwise I protest before God, I will make thee suche an example to the worlde, that all Traitours shall tremble for feare, how they dooe seeke the dishonouryng of Ladies.

But now Iulina had conceived so greate greefe against Siluio, that there was muche a dooe to perswade her to talke with hym, but remembryng her owne case, desirous to heare what excuse he could

make, in the ende she agreed, and beyng brought into a place seuerally by them selues, Siluio beganne with a piteous voice to saie as followeth :

I know not Madame, of whom I might make complaint, whether of you or of my self, or rather of Fortune, whiche hath conducted and brought vs both into so greate aduersitie, I see that you receiue greate wrong, and I am condemned againste all right, you in perill to abide the brute of spightful tongues, and I in daunger to loose the thing that I moste desire; and although I could alledge many reasons to proue my saiynges true, yet I referre my self to the experience and bountie of your minde. And here with all loosing his garmentes, saiyng: Loe Madame, behold here the partie whom you haue chalenged to bee the father of your childe, sce I am a woman the daughter of a noble Duke, who onely for the loue of him, whom you so lightly haue shaken of, haue forsaken my father, abandoned my Countrie, and in maner as you see am become a seruing man, satisfiyng my self, but with the onely sight of my Apolonius, and now Madame, if my passion were not vehement, & my tormentes without comparison, I would wish that fained greefes

Jo Jordan 32 zuerna & me desembled naines

to be rewarded with floutes But my loue beyng pure, my trauaile continuall, & my greefes endlesse, I trust Madame you will not onely excuse me of crime, but also pitie my destresse, the which I protest I would still haue kept secrete, if my fortune would so haue permitted.

Julina did now thinke her self to be in a worse case than euer she was before, for now she knewe not whom to chalenge to be the father of her child, wherfore, when she had told the duke the very certantie of the discou[r]se, which Siluio had made vnto her, she departed unto her owne house, with suche greefe and sorrowe, that she purposed neuer to come out of her owne doores againe aliue, to be a wonder and mocking stocke to ye worlde.

But ye duke more amased to heare this straunge discourse of Siluio, came vnto him, whom when he had vewed with better consideration, perceiued in deede that it was Silla, the daughter of Duke Pontus, and imbrasing her in his armes, he saied:

Oh the braunche of all vertue and the flowre of curtesie it self, pardon me I beseche you of all suche discourtesies, as I haue ignorantlie committed towardes you desiring you that without farther memorie of auncient greefes, you will accept of me,

who is more ioyfull and better contented with your presence then if the whole worlde were at my commaundement. Where hath there euer bin founde suche liberalitie in a Louer, which hauyng been trained vp and nourished emongest the delicacies and banquettes of the Courte, accompanied with traines of many faire and noble ladies liuing in pleasure, and in the middest of delightes, would so prodigallie aduenture your self, neither fearing mishapps, nor misliking to take suche paines, as I knowe you haue not been accustomed vnto. О liberalitie neuer heard of before! O facte that can neuer bee sufficiently rewarded! O true Loue moste pure and vnfained: here with all sendyng for the moste artificial! woorkmen, he prouided for her sundrie sutes of sumpteous apparell, and the Marriage daie appoincted, which was celebrated with greate triumphe through the whole Citie of Constantinople, euery one prasing the noblenesse of the Duke, but so many as did behold the excellent beautie of Silla, gaue her the praise aboue all the rest of the Ladies in the troupe.

The matter seemed so wonderfull and straunge that the brute was spreade throughout all the partes of Gretia, in so muche that it came to the

:

hearyng of Siluio, who as you haue heard, remained in those partes to enquire of his sister, he beyng the gladdest manne in the worlde, hasted to Constantinople, where comming to his sister he was ioyfullie receiued, and moste louynglie welcomed, and entertained of the Duke, his brother in Lawe. After he had remained there twoo or three daies, the Duke reuealed unto Siluio, the whole discourse how it happened, betweene his sister and the Ladie Iulina, and how his sister was chalenged Siluio blushyng with these woordes, was striken with greate remorse to make Iulina amendes; vnderstanding her to bee a noble Ladie, and was left defamed to the worlde through his default, he therefore bewraied the whole circumstaunce to the Duke, whereof the Duke beyng verie ioyfull, immediatlie repaired with Siluio to the house of Iulina, whom they found in her chamber, in great lamentation & mourning. To whom the Duke saide, take courage Madam for beholde here a gentilman, that will not sticke, bothe to father your childe and to take you for his wife, no inferiour persone, but the sonne and heire of a noble Duke, worthie of your estate and dignitie.