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found it best for the benefit of them both。 Being thus eased of care
for his Son and Daughter； and they （though in different places） yet
under good and worthy government； the Count would continue no longer
in England： but； as best hee could procure the meanes； passed over
into Ireland； and being arrived at a place called Stanford； became
servant to an Earle of that Country； a Gentleman professing Armes；
on whom he attended as a serving man； and lived a long while in that
estate very painfully。
His daughter Violenta； clouded under the borrowed name of
Gianetta； dwelling with the Lady at London； grew so in yeares； beauty；
comelinesse of person； and was so gracefull in the favour of her
Lord and Lady； yea； of every one in the house beside； that it was
wonderfull to behold。 Such as but observed her usuall carriage； and
what modesty shined clearely in her eyes； reputed her well worthy of
honourable preferment； in regard； the Lady that had received her of
her Father； not knowing of whence； or what shee was； but as himselfe
had made report； intended to match her in honourable marriage；
according as her vertues worthily deserved。 But God； the just rewarder
of all good endeavours； knowing her to be noble by birth； and
（causelesse） to suffer for the sinnes of another； disposed otherwise
of her： and that so worthy a Virgin might be no mate for a man of
ill conditions； no doubt ordained what was to be done； according to
his owne good pleasure。
The Noble Lady； with whom poore Gianetta dwelt； had but one onely
Sonne by her Husband； and he most deerely affected of them both； as
well in regard he was to be their heire； as also for his vertues and
commendable qualities； wherein he excelled many young Gentlemen。
Endued he was with heroycall valour； compleate in all perfections of
person； and his minde every way answerable to his outward behaviour；
exceeding Gianetta about sixe yeeres in age。 Hee perceiving her to
be a faire and comely Maiden； grew to affect her so entirely； that all
things else he held contemptible； and nothing pleasing in his eye
but shee。 Now； in regard her parentage was reputed poore； he kept
his love concealed from his Parents； not daring to desire her in
marriage： for loath he was to loose their favour； by disclosing the
vehemency of his afflictions； which proved a greater torment to him；
then if it had beene openly knowne。
It came to passe； that love over…awed him in such sort； as he fell
into a violent sicknesse； and store of Physicions were sent for； to
save him from death； if possibly it might be。 Their judgements
observing the course of his sicknesse； yet not reaching to the cause
of the disease； made a doubtfull question of his recovery； which was
so displeasing to his parents； that their griefe and sorrow grew
beyond measure。 Many earnest entreaties they moved to him； to know the
occasion of his sickenesse； whereto he returned no other answere；
but heart…breaking sighes； and incessant teares； which drew him more
and more into weakenesse of body。
It chanced on a day； a Physicion was brought unto him； being young
in yeeres； but well experienced in his practise： and as hee made
triall of his pulse； Gianetta （who by his Mothers command； attended on
him very diligently） upon some especiall occasion entred into the
Chamber； which when the young Gentleman perceived； and that shee
neither spake word； nor so much as looked towards him； his heart
grew great in amorous desire； and his pulse did beate beyond the
compasse of ordinary custome； whereof the Physicion made good
observation； to note how long that fit would continue。 No sooner was
Gianetta gone forth of the Chamber； but the pulse immediately gave
over beating； which perswaded the Physicion； that some part of the
disease had now discovered it selfe apparantly。
Within a while after； pretending to have some speech with
Gianetta； and holding the Gentleman still by the arme； the Physicion
caused her to be sent for； and immediately shee came。 Upon her very
entrance into the Chamber； the pulse began to beate againe extreamely；
and when shee departed； it presently ceased。 Now was he thorowly
perswaded； that he had found the true effect of his sicknesse； when
taking the Father and mother aside； thus he spake to them。 If you be
desirous of your Sons health； it consisteth not either in Physicion or
physicke； but in the mercy of your faire Maide Gianetta； for
manifest signes have made it knowne to me； and he loveth the
Damosell very dearely： yet （for ought I can perceive； the Maide doth
not know it：） now if you have respect of his life； you know （in this
case） what is to be done。 The Nobleman and his Wife hearing this；
became somewhat satisfied； because there remained a remedy to preserve
his life： but yet it was no meane griefe to them； if it should so
succeede； as they feared； namely； the marriage betweene this their
Sonne and Gianetta。
The Physicion being gone； and they repairing to their sicke Sonne；
the Mother began with him in this manner。 Sonne； I was alwayes
perswaded； that thou wouldest not conceale any secret from me； or
the least part of thy desires； especially； when without enjoying them；
thou must remaine in the danger of death。 Full well art thou
assured； or in reason oughtest to be； that there is not any thing
for thy contentment； be it of what quality soever； but it should
have beene provided for thee； and in as ample manner as for mine
owne selfe。 But though thou hast wandred so farre from duty； and
hazarded both thy life and ours； it commeth so to passe； that Heaven
hath beene more mercifull to thee； then thou wouldest be to thy selfe；
or us。 And to prevent thy dying of this disease； a dreame this night
hath acquainted me with the principall occasion of thy sickenesse；
to wit extraordinary affection to a young Maiden； in some such place
as thou hast seene her。 I tell thee Sonne； it is a matter of no
disgrace to love； and why shouldst thou shame to manifest as much；
it being so apt and convenient for thy youth？ For if I were perswaded；
that thou couldst not love； I should make the lesse esteeme of thee。
Therefore deare Sonne； be not dismayed； but freely discover thine
affections。 Expell those disastrous drouping thoughts； that have
indangered thy life by this long lingering sicknesse。 And let thy
soule be faithfully assured； that thou canst not require any thing
to be done； remaining within the compasse of my power； but I will
performe it； for I love thee as dearely as mine owne life。 Set
therefore aside this nice conceit of shame and feare； revealing the
truth boldly to me； if I may stead thee in thy love； resolving thy
selfe unfaignedly； that if my care stretch not to compasse thy
content； account me for the most cruell Mother living； and utterly
unworthy of such a Sonne。
The young Gentleman having heard these protestations made by his
Mother； was not a little ashamed of his owne follie； but
recollecting his better thoughts together； and knowing in his soule；
that no one could better further his hopes； then shee； forgetting
all his former feare； he returned her this answere； Madam； and my
dearely affected Mother； nothing hath more occasioned my loves so
strict concealement； but an especiall errour； which I finde by daily
proofe in many； who being growne to yeeres of grave discretion； doe
never remember； that they themselves have bin yong。 But because herein
I find you to be both discreet and wise； I will not onely affirme what
you have seen in me to be true； but also will confesse； to whom it is：
upon condition； that the effect of your promise may follow it；
according to the power remaining in you； whereby you onely may
secure my life。
His Mother； desirous to bee resolved； whether his confession would
agree with the Physitians words； or no； and reserving another
intention to her selfe： bad him feare nothing； but freely discover his
whole desire； and forthwith she doubted not to effect it。 Then
Madame （quoth hee） the matchlesse beauty； and commendable qualities of
your Maid Gianetta； to whom （as yet） I have made no motion； to
commisserate this my languishing extremity； nor acquainted any
living creature with my love： the concealing of these afflictions to
myselfe； hath brought mee to this desperate condition： and if some
meane bee not wrought； according to your constant promise； for the
full enjoying of my longing desires； assure your selfe （most Noble
Mother） that the date of my life is very short。 The Lady well knowing；
that the time now rather required kindest comfort； then any severe
or sharpe reprehension； smiling on him； said： Alas deere sonne； wast
thou sicke for this？ Be of good cheare； and when thy strength is
better restored； then referre the matter to me。 The young Gentleman；
being put in good hope by his Mothers promise； began （in short time）
to shew apparant signes of well…forwarded amendment； to the Mothers
great joy and comfort； disposing her selfe dayly to proove； how in
honor she might keepe promise with her sonne。
Within a short while after； calling Gianetta privately to her； in
gentle manner； and by the way of pleasant discourse； she demanded of
hir； whither she was provided of a Lover； or no。 Gian