and to discipher a verie trothe, it is contracted betweene our aged parentes, that your father (as you see) should first take me to his wife, whiche weddyng beyng once performed, then my Father in like maner, should chalenge you, accordyng as it is concluded betweene them.

Alas (q. Brisilla) these newes bee straunge indeede, and it should seem by your woordes so fullie resolued on, that there is no hope of redresse to be had in the matter.

None in the worlde (q. Philerno) but thus betweene ourselues, the one of vs to comfort the other.

A colde comforte (q. Brisilla) wee shall finde in that, but oh pitilesse parentes, that will preferre your own pleasures with your childrens paine: your owne likyng, with your childrens loathyng: your owne gaine, with your childrens greefe: your owne sporte, with your childrens spoile: your owne delight, with your childrens despight. O how muche more happie had it been, that we had neuer been borne.

Alas my Brisilla (q. Philerno) tormente not your self with suche extreame anguishe, for if that would haue serued for redresse, the matter had been remedied, and that long sithence: But I would to God my Brisilla, that I were a man for your only sake, and hauing so good leisure, as thus beyng together by our selves, we should so handle the matter, that our fathers should seeke newe wiues.

Alas (q. Brisilla) suche wishes are but waste, and vnpossible it is, that any suche thing should happen.

Impossible (quoth Philerno) naie surely Brisilla, there is nothing impossible, but I haue knowne as greate matters as these haue been wrought: Doe we not read that the Goddesse Venus, transformed an Iuorie Image, to a liuely and perfect woman, at the onelie request of Pygmalion. Diana likewise conuerted Acteon to a Harte. Narcissus for his pride was turned to a flower. Archane to a Spider, with a greate number of others haue bin transformed, some into Beastes, some into Foules, and some into Fishes,

but amongst the rest of the miracles that haue bin wrought by the Goddesse, this storie falleth out moste meete and fittyng to our purpose.

There was sometime remainyng in the Countrey of Phestos a maried couple, the housbande called by the name of Lictus, the wife Telethusa, who beyng with childe, was willed by her housbande so sone as she should be deliuered, if it were not a lad, that the childe should presently be slaine, his wife beyng deliuered at her appointed tyme, brought forthe a girle, and yet notwithstandyng her housbandes commaundement, brought vp the childe, makyng her housebande beleeve it was a boye, and called it by the name of Iphis, and thus as it grew in yeares, was apparelled like a lad, and beeyng after by his father assured to a wife called by the name of Ianthe, a young Maiden, and the daughter of one Telest dwellyng in Dictis, Telethusa the mother of Iphis, fearyng her deceipt would bee knowne, deferred of the Marriage daie so long as she could, sometymes fainyng tokens of ill successe, sometimes faining sicknesse, sometymes one thyng, sometymes an other, but when all her shiftes were driuen to an ende, and the Mariage daie at hande, Telethusa comming to the Temple of the Goddesse Isis, with her heire scattered aboute her eares, where before the Aulter of Isis, she made her humble supplications, and the gentle Goddesse hauing compassion, transformed Iphis

to a man.

Loe here Brisilla, as greate a matter brought to passe as any wee haue spoken of yet, and the Goddesse bee of as greate force and might in these daies, as euer thei were in times past, we want but the same zeale and faith to demaunde it, and sure in my opinion, if either of vs made our request to the Goddes, who commonly bee still assistant to helpe distressed wightes, thei would neuer refuse to graunt our reasonable requestes, and I will aduenture on it my self, and that without any farther circumstance.

And here with all he seemed, with many piteous sighes, throwyng vp his handes to the heauens, to mumble forth many woordes in secrete, as though he had beene in some greate contemplation, and sodainly, without any maner of stirryng either of hande or foote, did lye still as it had been a thyng im

mouable, whereat Brisilla beganne for to muse, and in the end spake to hym, but Phylerno made no maner of auns were, but seemed as though he had bin in some traunce, wherewith Brisilla began to call and with her arme to shake him, and Phylerno giuyng a piteous sigh, as though he had bin awaked sodainly out of some dreame, saied, O blessed Goddesse Venus, I yeeld thee humble thankes, that hast not despised to graunt my request; and then speakyng to Brisilla, he saied: and now my Brisilla be of good comforte, for the same Goddesse whiche haue not disdained to heare my supplication, will likewise be assistaunt to further our farther pretences, as hereafter at our better leisure we shall consider of, in the meane tyme receiue thy louyng freende, that to daie was appoincted to bee thy fathers wife, but now consecrated by the Goddesse to be thy louyng housbande ; and here withall imbrasyng Brisilla in his armes, she perceiued in deede that Emelia was perfectly metamorphosed, which contented her very well, thinkyng her self a thrise happie woman to light of suche a bedfellowe: thus bothe of them the one pleased very well with the other, thei passed the tyme, till Phylotus had prepared and made all thinges readie for his Mariage daie, and then callyng his frendes and neighbours about him, to the Churche thei goe together, where Alberto gaue Phylerno his sonne, in the steede of his daughter Emelia to Phylotus for his wife: when all the rest of the Mariage rites that are to bee doen in the Churche were performed, thei passed forthe the daie with feastyng and great mirthe vntill it was night. When the companie beganne to breake vp, and euery one to take his leaue, and Phylotus with his bride were brought into their Chamber, where Phylerno desiryng the companie to auoyde, and makyng fast the doore he saied to Phylotus, there resteth yet a matter to bee decided betweene you and me, and seyng we bee here together by our selues, and that tyme and place doeth fall out so fit, I hold it for the best that it be presently determined.

What is the matter then (q. Phylotus) speake boldly my Emelia, and if there be any thyng that hanges in dispence betweene vs, I trust it shall easely bee brought to a good agreement.

I praie God it maie (q. Phylerno) and to reueale the matter in breefe and shorte circumstaunce, it is this. You are now my housebande, and I your lawful wife, and for that I dooe knowe the difference in our yeares, your self beyng so old and I very yong, it must needes fall out there wil be as greate deuersitie in our conditions; for age is commonly giuen to bee frowarde, testie, and ouerthwart : youth againe to be frolique, pleasaunt, and merrie, and so likewise in all our other conditions wee shall bee founde so contrary and disagreyng, that it will be impossible for vs to like the one of the others doinges, for when I shall seeme to followe my owne humour, then it will fall out to your discontentment. And you againe to followe that diet whiche your age doeth constraine, will be most lothsome vnto me, then you beyng my housbande will thinke to commaunde me, and I must be obedient to your will, but I beyng your wife will thinke scorne to be controlde, and wil dispose of my self according to my owne liking, and then what braules and brabbles will fall out, it were to muche to be rehearsed, and thus we shall liue neither of vs bothe in quiet, nor neither of vs bothe contented, and therefore for the auoidyng of these inconueniences, I haue deuised this waie, that beyng thus together by our selues, we will trie by the eares whiche of vs shall bee maister and haue authoritie to commaunde: if the victory happen on your side, I am contented for euer after to frame my self to your ordinaunce and will as it shall please you to appoinct: if otherwise the conquest happen on my side, I will triumph like a Uictor, and will looke to beare suche a swaie, that I will not be contraried in any thing, what so euer it shall please me to commaunde.

Phylotus knowyng not what to make of these speeches, and thinkyng the tyme very long, till he had taken his first fruites, saied: Come, come my Emelia let vs goe to bed, where I doubt not but we shall so well agree, that these matters wil easely be taken vp, without any controuersie, suche as you haue spoken of.

Neuer while I liue (q. Phylerno) before I knowe whereon to resolue; and whether you shall rest at my commaundement, or I at yours.

Why (q. Phylotus) doe you speake in earnest, or would you looke to commaunde me that am your housbande, to whom you ought to vse all duetie and obedience.

Then were I in good case (q. Phylerno) that should be tied to vse duetie or obedience to a man of your yeares, that would not let to prescribe vs rules of your owne dotage, to be obserued in steede of domesticall discipline.

"Then I perceiue (q. Phylotus) wee shall haue somethyng adoe with you hereafter, that will vse me with these tearmes the very first night. But see you make no more to dooe, but come on your waies to bed.

And I perceiue (quoth Phylerno) the longer that I beare with you, the more foole I shall finde you; and with this vp with his fiste and gaue Phylotus a sure wheritte on the eare. Phylotus, in a great rage, flies againe to Phylerno: there was between them souse for souse, and boxe for boxe, that it was harde to Judge who should haue the victorie. In the ende Phylerno gettes Phylotus faste by the graie bearde, and by plaine force pulles him doune on the flower, and so be pomels hym aboute the face, that he was like to haue been strangled with his owne bloud, which gushed out of his nose and mouth. Wherefore, holdynge vp his handes, he cried, Oh Emelia, I yeeld my self vanquished and ouercome; for Gods sake holde thy handes, and I will neuer more contende with thee during life.

Phylerno, staiyng hymself, saied: Art thou contented then to yeeld me the conquest, and hereafter this according as thou hast saied: neuermore to striue with me, neuer to gainsaie any thyng, what soeuer it shall please me to commaunde.

Neuer while I liue (q. Phylotus) and therefore for Gods sake let me arise, and chalenge to your self what superioritie you please, whiche for me shall neuer be denaied so long as I shall liue.

Well (q. Phylerno) but before I will let you arise, I will haue you promise me to confirme these conditions, whiche folowe in this maner. First, that at my pleasure, I maie goe abroade with my freendes, to make merrie

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