Here begynneth y[e] hystory of Tytus & Gesyppus translated out of Latyn into Englysshe by Wyllyam Walter, somtyme seruaunte to Syr Henry Marney ... Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375. 1525 Approx. 41 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A16261 STC 3184.5 ESTC S207 22065367 ocm 22065367 25004

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A16261) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 25004) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1746:2) Here begynneth y[e] hystory of Tytus & Gesyppus translated out of Latyn into Englysshe by Wyllyam Walter, somtyme seruaunte to Syr Henry Marney ... Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375. Walter, William, fl. 1520. [32] p. : ill. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the synge of the Sonne by me Wynkyn de Worde, [London] : [1525?] Caption title. Imprint from colophon. Date of imprint suggested by STC (2nd ed.). Signatures: A⁶ B⁴ C⁶. "From the Decameron, 10th day, tale 8"--Cf. STC (2nd ed.). Reproduction of original in the British Library.

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Here begynneth ye hystory of Tytus & Gesyppus translated out of latyn in to englysshe by Wyllyam Walter / somtyme seruaunte to syr Henry Marney knyght / chaunceler of the duchy of Lancastre.

Tytus. Sophrone Gesyppus.

WHat tyme in Rome reygned Octauyan There was a senatour called Fuluius whiche had a sone / a noble gentylman Of wyt excellēt / whose name was Tytꝰ His noble vertues were harde to dyscus Fuluius sent hym / forthe to his study Unto Athenes / to lerne phylozophy This Tytus was put to be soiournynge With one Cremes a noble man of fame Whiche had a sone goynge to lyke lernynge Gesyppus was this noble yonge mannes name And for that Tytus sholde go to the same He put his sone with hy • • n company To arystip to lerne phylosopy These. ij. yonge men led togyder theyr lyfe Eche to other was so fauourable That neuer bytwene them was ony stryfe That one wolde the other was agreable In lernynge they were equiperable Thus they contynued by yeres thre At theyr lernynge as bretherne they had be At whiche tyme from this worlde dyd passe cremes Whose dethe these yonge men toke ryght heuely Tytus made lyke sorowe & heuynes As if he where his Sone naturally Cremes frendes yt were in company Knewe not whiche of theym for to cōforte best For with lyke sorowe they were bothe opprest But shortly after Cremes obscque Gesyppus kynnesmen came incontynent Sayenge yf y• he maryed wolde be They knewe a wyfe for hym expedyent Of beauty & substaunce ryght excellent Of athenes borne and come of noble blood Whiche vnto hym sholde be propice & good Sophrone was the name of this damoysell Whiche yf he wolde haue her in maryage He sholde haue her y• dothe other excell In beauty / wysdome / & eke personage And yet she is but xv. yeres of age Gesyppus of this report set on fyre With glad semblaunt graunted to theyr desyre And on a daye this damoysell to se He toke the way vnto her mancyon Tytus kepte hym famyliaryte And after they had take refeccyon Gesyppus to haue cōmunycacyon Toke her a parte his mynde for to disclose Wherby he myght knowe her wyll & purpose As Tytus sate by & dyd contemplayre Her noble beaute with the curius Her goodly countenaunce & vysage fayre Her membres and wysdome compendius Of her he was so hote and amerous His blood enchau • ed so yt with grete payne From chaungynge colour he coude hym refrayne After Gesyppus had ben there a space They toke theyr leue of the damsell foresayd And went togydre home vnto theyr place Tytus whiche by loue was full sore dysmayd Upon his bedde alone hymselfe he layd With musynge he called to his remembraunce Her noble beauty in eche circumstaunce The more he dyd thynke the more was his payne After many syghes & besy thought Unto hymselfe he gan thus to complayne Alas pore wretche wherto am I now brought Tytus this lyfe that yu hast chosen is nought Where is thy mynde where is thy loue so set Where is thy hope thou sholde no wyse forget Alas Tytus thou sholde well consyder That she y• thou louest with herte so fre Thou sholde her loue as she were thy thy syster Cremes kyndnes deserued so to be Thou arte also bounden by amyte With Gesyppus thou arte confyderate Wherfore nowe yu mayst not his honour hate Reason wolde yu sholde thy corage abate Refrayne thy selfe from loue so fraudulent For thy desyre is full disordynate Close thy syght & mynde from this ylle entent Knowledge thy selfe thy foly eke repent Let reason now thy mynde & herte excyte To exchue thyne vnlaufull apetyte Upon some thynge els do now thy mynde set With stonde the loue yt doth the so assayle Thou hast good cause this loue for to forget The dede were shame thy purpose is but frayle With honour thou mayst not therwith preuayle Loue & kyndnes sholde cause the fle therfro If thou consyder what thou ought to do Yf thou sholde breke thy loue and amyte And to Gesyppus cōmyt so grete shame What sholde happen of thyn ennormyte Euery man of vntrouth wolde the blame Therby thou sholde lese honoure & good name And where thou were namyd a frende stedfast As false & vntrue yu sholde be outcast But whan her beauty he dyd remember From his counsell he dyd this wyse replye The lawe of loue of myght is more strenger Than ony lawe the trouthe to verifye To goddes & mannes it dothe replye Amyte is ofte lost by vyolence Amonge many to Erre is small offence The father hathe by loue condiscended And with his doughter done his fowle pleasure Brother with syster eke haue offended Whiche is grete offence & displeasure Than from his frende his wyfe for to procure Wherfore none can one of this dede reproue Syth I am compelled by veruent loue My youthe & courage my dede shall excuse Loue to this pourpose dothe me sore compell This vyrgyn doth my herte suche wyse abuse In bewty and wysdome whiche dothe excell That loue and reason togyder rebell So that to loue her I can not refrayne Whome eche man desyreth for to optayne But fortune here I hauecause for to ban Whiche to my frende Gesyppus hathe her lent Rather than vnto some other straunge man From hym to take her I can not assent From an other I myght conuenyent Alas this chaunce dothe encomber me so That I can not tell what is best to do In this wyse Tytus wofully dyd playne Of his purpose beynge varyable That daye nor nyght he coude hymselfe refrayne From syghes & wepynge lamentable Mete nor slepe was to hym agreable He was so lowe brought by this heuynesse That from his bedde he coude not hym redresse Gesyppus whiche sawe hym so impotent The sodayn chaunce he gretely dyd bewayle And from his frende Tytus he seldome went But often asked of hym in counsayle What thynge myght best for his soro we preuayle And where the sykenes dyd his body greue Promysynge hym he wolde his payne releue Tytus made vnto hym fayned excuse Not she wynge hym the cause of his greuaunce But Gesyppus his sayenge dyd refuse That nede he must declare his wofull chaunce Wherfore to hym with deedly countenaunce With grete syghes & teres distillynge He shewed hym it in maner folowynge My frende yf it pleased god Immortall Dethe more than lyfe to me were ferre better For fortune hath made me so bonde & thrall That I am lyke from vertue dyffeuer Wherfore an honest deth I had leuer Than for to lyue & be in worldly shame Wherby I myght empayre & lese my name To tell the the chaunce I am ryght shamfast But for I ought not dyssemble with the To tell the trouthe I shall not be agast The cause of my grefe & ennormyte Loue beauty shame & also honeste Contend & stryue whiche shall haue maystry That I knowe not wherto I may apply Unto hym orderly he dyd declare How of Sophrone the excellent noblesse Was the chefe cause of his sorowe & care And how her loue his herte dyd so oppresse That of conforte he was remedylesse And how by loue he entended to dye For withoute shame he knewe no remedy Gesyppus of this was astonyed As he y• loued her with all his herte And to hym selfe this wyse he replyed Better it were from her for to departe Rather than Tytus by the cruell darte Of loue sholde thus fynysshe his wofull lyfe A frende to fynde is harder than a wyfe By Tytus te • es to pyte meued Was Gesyppus whiche wepte for company And in this 〈◊〉 Tytus be repreued Me thynketh ye be not to me frendly In kepynge your sorowe so secretly Ye sholde to me soner your mynde dysclose What had ben your desyre wyll & purpose Though ye thought the dede to be vnhonest Yet to your frende ye sholde it dyscouer As well the yll as good he wyll degest Yf he be a stedfast frende and louer Your helthe & mynde he wyll gladly further And yf you nede gyue you his best counsayle What thynge therin myght to you moost auayle Yf ye loue Sophrone. I do not meruell For knowynge her beauty and noblenes Her vertue wysoome whiche dothe so excell Wolde moue thy mynde of very gentylnes To loue a mayde of so grete worthynes For the greter a thynge is of valure The more a noble herte it dothe procure But where ye do nowe on fortune complayne Whiche hath Sophrone put in my gouernaunce Me thynke therof ye sholde be gladde & fayne For what man wolde thy desyre more auaunce Than his pleasure & namely in suche chaunce But alwaye I haue couerted thy helthe More than myne owne or ony singuler welthe And yf the matter stode in suche a case That I myght not refuse it honestly Ye had I rather myn honour dyffare Than by her cruell loue y• ye sholde dye But she is yet in suche estate truely That ye may haue her for to be your wyfe Whiche I shall do for sauynge of your lyfe Ye had good cause to dyspryse my frendshyp Yf in this case I left you destitute He is no frende yt kyndnes wyll let slyp With honoure whan he may it execute How sholde ye me for your frende now repute Yf I wolde not in this extremyte As a stedfast frende shewe you amyte Sophrone I haue loued with tender herte Desyrynge the daye of our maryage But my loue is not so veruent & smarte But yt I shall my selfe therfro aswage Ye loue her with a more better courage Wherfore be glad of her ye shall not fayle In my chambre shall be your espousayle Wherfore put from your mynd this thought & care Leue of your heuynes lamentable Restore your selfe to your former welfare Ye haue good cause to be confortable Apply your selfe to be stronge and able That ye may the fruyte of your loue attayne Whiche for to haue ye do so moche complayne Tytus with this was gretely conforted Yet of his profer he had grete meruayle To se his kyndnes so soone exorted To his desyre voluptuous & frayle Gesyppus loue whiche so moche dyd preuayle Made hym haue shame of his grete vsurpinge Wherfore he spake thus with teeres wepynge Gesyppus thy grete liberalyte Is openly to me now manyfest Whiche on my parte sholde be shewed to the But I shall not obey to thy request To take thy wyfe the dede were vnhonest Wherfore enioye y• fortune hath the lent My hard chaunce to suffre I am content Of thy good fortune vse the chaunce & lote And suffre me in sorowe to abyde And in salte teres my body to rote For harde fortune for me doth so prouyde And cruell loue to deth shall be my gyde Whiche by desyre me dayly dothe so greue That my wretched lyfe it shall me bereue Tytus yf amyte may nowe purchase That to my desyre ye wyll you assent I shall fynde the meane within a shorte space That ye shall haue your purpose & entent For ye knowe well that loue is so veruent That many haue lost theyr lyfe by y• payne Of theyr purpose whan they myght not attayne The grefe ye suffre is importunate That ye can not therwith longe contynue And yf ye sholde by suche mortall • ate Than by lyke chaunce I sholde after ensue Yf amyte my mynde coude not subdue Yet do I couet your lyfe for to haue Wherby I myght myn owne purchase & sau • Therfore Sophrone vnto you shall abyde Whiche is so excellent a creature That ye can not suche another prouyde That sholde be so moche vnto your plasure My veruent loue I shall ryght well endure To loue some other I shall me apply Bothe our myndes I may so satysfye Tho suche a wyfe be harde for me to fynde yet a sure frende is harder to purchase Wherfore to leue her reason doth me bynde Than I sholde lese my frende by her trespace A wyfe I may me get in lyke space But harde it is to fynde a frende stedfast A thousande yere yf yt my lyfe sholde last yet do I not my wyfe in this case lese Syth y• vnto my frende she shall remayne But of. ij. ylles the lest I do chese Wherfore yf my prayer may ought obteyne From so grete sorowe do your selfe refrayne Unto your former state your selfe restore That ye may haue yt ye desyre so sore Tytus of this was conforted gretely And to Gesyppus in this wyse he spake I am in doubt where I may apply And yf I sholde your profre now forsake Whome ye defyre so specyally to take But for your kyndenes dothe my shame expel I shall applye to your desyre and wyll God graunte y• I may be so fortunate You to auaunce with honoure & ryches Or to encrease your degre & estate Wherby I myght my faythfulnes expresse And deserue your benyuolent kyndnes That ye may knowe how moche acceptable Your mercy is to me agreable Gesyppus sayd I holde this counsayle best For asmoche as I haue made a promyse I must folowe and colour my behest For yf y• I sholde Sophrone nowe dyspyse Murmur amonge our frendes soone wolde ryse That to an other they wolde her mary And so we bothe sholde lese her wylfully Wherfore I thynke it best in my demynge That Sophrone as my wyfe y• I shall wedde And hyther to my house her for to brynge And after that she is brought vnto by bedde To her instede of me ye shall be ledde Where as ye may accomplysshe your pleasure As man & wyfe by lawe & eke nature And whan this chaunce is playnly manyfest If her frendes ther with wyll be content Than is the mater in good case & rest And yf they wyll not therunto assent yet at the lest ye shall haue your entent The dede so done amended can not be Wherfore nede shall cause them with you agre ¶ How Gesyppus went out of his chambre to Tytus and how Tytus lay with Sophrone.
This mariage in that tyme was vsed That after the tryumphe of the weddynge The spouse & bryde sholde be brought vnto bedde Where eche vnto other sholde gyue a rynge And yf they made therat no refusynge Than durynge lyfe they do eche other take And els they may promyse than forsake Tytus alowed the foresayd counsayle Gesyppus Sophrone as his wyfe dyd wedde And in his house was made theyr espousayle Whan Tytus had his helth recouered At nyght the wyues brought the bryde to bedde And Gesyppus as custome was truely Went to the chamber with her to lye Gesyppus chambre where as the bryde lay Tytus chambre annexed was vnto Whiche had a lytle dore & secret way From the one to the other for to go Gesyppus the candell lyght quenched tho And to Tytus chambre fast he hastyd And with his wyfe to ly he dyd hym bydde Tytus for shame at the fyrst dyd deny But Gesyppus of worde & dede stedfast Unto his sayenge dyd suche wyse reply That to lye with her he graunted at last To Sophrons bed he ascended in hast And asked in familiaryte His wyfe for euer yf yt she wolde be Sophrone wiche knewe nothynge of this mater Thought it was Gesyppus y• to her spake Wherfore vnto hym she made this answer For her husbonde she wolde hym not forsake Tytus his wedynge rynge forthe than dyd take And put it on the fynger of his wyfe Grauntynge to be her husbonde terme of lyfe Of venus they vsed the sporte & play As pastyme is of louers amerus This custome they vsed many a daye yet in y• tyme she coude neuer distus That her husbonde she lay with was Tytus But this coude not be hydde so pryuely But at length it must be knowen openly In the meane tyme from Rome were sent lettres How his father his mortall lyfe had past Wherfore he must his substaunce to possesse Resorte thyder in all possyble hast Whiche tydynges made Tytus full sore agast He couetynge Sophrone with hym to go With Gesyppus counseyle what to do This thynge they coude not do cōnuenyent Without Sophrone had therof knowledgynge Wherfore to shewe her bothe they dyd assent And in a secrete chambre they her brynge As ye haue herde tolde her of eche thynge Whiche for sorowre wepte in grete aboundaunce Reprouynge Gesyppus of this false chaunce Without declarynge her mynde & purpose Unto her fathers house she resorted And vnto hym the chaunce she dyd disclose How by Gesyppus she was deceyued And y• she was not as they supposed The wyfe of Gesyppus but contrary By couert meane Tytus dyd her mary This thynge her father and frendes dyd greue And to Gesyppus kynne they dyd complayne So y• they togyder dyd hym repreue And for the dede they dyd hym yll dysdayne Sayenge he deserued for his false trayne In depe pryson to suffre punysshement And that this dede he sholde ryght sore repent Gesyppus to theyr sayenge dyd reply Affyrmynge the dede to be cōmendable And that he deserued to haue truely Of them loue & thanke Inestymable Whiche had her wedded to one more able In ryches honour blood & dygnyte Wherby she & hers auaunced sholde be Tytus hauynge knowledge of this barate In his mynde he was gretly troublyd Knowynge the grekes maner and & estate With wordes & thretenynges to fyght & chyde Tyll they mete one that dare them well abyde Than are they of theyr wordes pacyent Theyr symple maner is so Innocent He knowynge theyr custome varyable To cause theym to leue theyr malyce & hate With a romayns herte he dyd hym able In actuall sapyence decorate Bothe theyr frendes he dyd there congregate Gesyppus beynge with hym in presence This wyse he rebuked theyr necligence The phylozophers haue determyned The actes of euery man mortall By the goddes sholde be predestined Afore theyr byrthe to be theyr chaunce fatall Therfore what fortune vnto vs do fall We can not thoughe we wolde therto reply Syth yt it is gyuen vs by destyny We ought also faythfully to beleue That the goddes haue suche preemynence Our fortune at theyr pleasure for to geue And yt is iuged by theyr sentence Can not be broken by our violence Wherfore he is a fole yt wyll dyspyse The workes done by the goddes aduyse To my purpose I haue knowledge truely That Gesyppus ye haue yll reproued For that Sophrone to me he dyd mary But yf reason your myndes had moued The dede so done ye sholde haue approued Sythe yt the goddes dyd it so ordayne Not to hym but to me she sholde remayne But for yt some this reason do despyce That fortune is by deuyne prouydence Whiche thynge to man sholde be grete preiudyce I wyll now treate of an other sentence Two thynges I am bounde by vyolence Whiche to my noblenes is contrary But I am compelled for to vary One is my selfe of honoure to auaunce The other to dysprayse myne enymy Whiche I shall do with good remembraunce As the matter doth now requyre Justly From the trouth of it I wyll not reply But with circumspect delyberacyon Of my purpose I shall make relacyon Your wordes are grounded more of malice Than of ony Just tytle or reason Whiche do Gesyppus shamefully dyspyce For y• he hath grete kyndnes to me done Of two thynges hath the best choson My lyfe to saue rather than to fulfyll His owne pleasure or your purpose & wyll We are confederate in amyte Wherfore the lawe of loue dothe hym thus bynde To helpe his frende in his extremyte Therfore to proue hymselfe stedfast & kynde He shewed loue contrary to your mynde Whiche thynge to hym is more cōmendable Than to folowe your mynde vnreasonable To one of athenes ye her maryed And he hathe geuen her vnto a Romayne Athenes to rome may not be compared Of all the worlde whiche y• is souerayne In whiche I was myn honour to sustayne Borne as a cytezyn therin to dwell In manhode & leruynge whiche dothe excell Ye be bonde & thrall but I am borne fre For vnto Rome ye be bonde & subiecte Bycause I am scoler in this cyte As come of vyle blood ye do me suspecte I wyll ye knowe yt I am not abiecte My places at rome declare my lynage Portured with myn auncestours ymage With tyles of Tryumphe the gate is set Whiche myn auncestours by theyr worthynes Within the capytoll longe tyme dyd get Whiche at this daye doth more and more encrase I am a shamed to boost my ryches And possessyon whiche are so importune As I were the frendly chylde of fortune What cause haue ye Gesyppus to reproue That hath wedded Sophrone to suche estate At Rome I maye do moche to your behoue For the comon welth publyke & priuate Yf ye be wyse ye be ryght fortunate Gesyppus dothe your blod to honoure rayse Wherfore ye haue cause hym to loue & prayse Some may fortune do not so moche dysdayne That Sophrone is gyuen me in espousynge But for yt I dyd get her by a trayne Her frendes therunto not consentynge Tho y• I dyd couertly do this thynge Lyke a lechour I haue not her forlayne Wherby I sholde her & her blood dystayne Her fayre beauty enflamed my courage That in her loue my herte was set on fyre I durst not atempte her in matyage Nor of your consent therin to requyre For I sholde not optayne of my defyre Syth with me to rome y• I sholde her take Whose company ye ar lothe to forsake Therfore I haue done this thynge couertly To you my mynde I durst not manyfest Gesyppus in my name her to mary To colour my purpose I thought it best Whiche dyd it accordynge to my request As a concubyn • I dyd not her vse But for my lawfull wyfe I dyd her chuse From Rome there is tydynges vnto me sent That my father hath lefte his mortall lyfe Wherfore as reason wolde I dyd assent Her to lede with me as my lawfull wyfe And for I must be from you fugetyue Therfore the matter I do many fest Requyrynge you it frendely to dysgest If your affynyte I dyd dispyce Sophrone with you yf I wolde I myght leue And as deluded I may her remyse Whiche sholde your hertes more angre & greue But god dyffende y• ye sholde me repreue Of suche a shame I beynge a Romayne Or that my frendes by it sholde dystayne Wherfore as a frende I do you requyre Your malyce y• ye remembre no more But as frendes apply to my desyre Sophrone my wyfe vnto me to restore With kyndnes I wyll acquyte you therfore For whether the dede done be good or yll It to amende ye can not thoughe ye wyll And yf my request ye do nowe dyspyse Gesyppus with me vnto Rome shall go With armed power I shall ageyn you ryse Sophrone with stronge honde for to take you fro By fell batayle I shall entreate you so That ye shall knowe what Indignacyon Romayns wyll take for your transgressyon These wordes sayd he arose frome his place And Gesyppus by the honde he dyd take Knyttynge his browes & frownynge with his face His heed for angre at theym he dyd shake Suche countenaunce vnto theym he dyd make As he dyd dyspyse all theym vtterly And as he wolde take vengeaunce cruelly They by these wordes parte for loue dyd gre And parte for fere of his grete manasynge With hym to haue loue & affynyte They thought it best for to be assentynge Sith y• Gesyppus had made refusynge Tytus affynyte not to forsake Wherby they sholde theym both theyr enmys make Wherfore all they after Tytus tho went Sayenge thy wolde not his wyfe hym witholde His frendeshyp to haue they were all content Gesyppus theyr talent forgyue they wolde And in theyr armes they hym claspe & folde With louynge maner as frendes sholde do Eche from other departed home to go Sophrone vnto Tytus they sent agayne Whiche lyke a noble lady & prudent From Gesyppus her loue she dyd refrayne And to Tytus her herte she dyd assent And with hym to Rome as his wyfe she went Where of Tytus frendes & famyly She was receyued ryght honorably Gesyppus at athenes styll dyd remayne Whiche for he shewed to Tytus amyte Of all the people was in grete dysdayne And by cruyle dyscorde & enmyte He was brought in to suche calamyte They hym exiled desolate & poore Within athenes neuer to come more He ledynge his lyfe in grete pouerte Unto Rome he toke his passage & waye To praye Tytus of his benygnyte Hym for to helpe in his nedefull afray Unto his place he came vpon a day Before the gate Tytus he gan abyde As he came in of hym to be espide Tytus from the market came at the last In to his house he went incontynent Gesyppus was so heuy & shamefast That to Tytus he wolde hym not present That he sholde fyrst knowe hym was his entent Whiche knewe hym not he was so yll arayd Wherfore he past by & to hym nought sayd Gesyppus whiche wrongfully supposed That Tytus dyd forsake his acquayntaunce Bycause y• he was so poorely clothed His grete kyndenes callynge to remembraunce To Tytus shewed in his moost nedefull channce Parte for sorowe & parte eke for dysdayne He went from thens & wofully gan playne Tyll it was nyght aboute he wandered Mete he wolde ete but mony had he none With thought & care he was so com bered That for his dethe he made rufully mone And as he was thus walkynge all alone Within the cyte he came at the last Unto a place whiche was forgrowen and wast

¶ How Gesyppus lyenge a slepe / two theues came & the stronger slewe the weyker in deuydynge of theyr pray.

Aderke caue by chaunce he there soone had founde In to the whiche he dyd dyscende and crepe And layd hym prostrate there vpon y• grounde Prouokynge hymselfe for to fall a slepe His hard fortune he dyd complayne & wepe With heuynesse he was so sore opprest That at the last he fell vnto his rest The same tyme to the caue there came by chaunce Two theues whiche had stolne a pray y• nyght Bytwene them two there fell grete varyaunce For theyr boty was not departed ryght Fyrst they do chyde & after y• they fyght The strenger thefe the weyker in y• str • fe Ouercame & bereued hym his lyfe Gesyppus seynge this was glad & fayne Knowynge this waye his dethe for to purchace Sholde be better than he hymselfe certayne His dispared lyfe by wepen difface All nyght he taryed in the same place Tyll the pretors men in the mornynge tyde Toke hym as gylty of the homycyde Bounden of theym lyke a these brought he was Before the pretor Uarro by his name Whiche asked hym yf he the sayd trespace Had cōmytted by his importune blame Gesyppus as gylty graunted the same Wherfore the pretor as the lawe had set Bad he sholde be hange on the gybet By fortune at the tyme of this iugement Tytus came in to the sayd pretory Of Gesyppus face takynge aduysement Merueyled gretely of his penury To saue his lyfe knowynge no remedy Before the pretor sorowfull dismayd In this maner vnto hym thus he sayd Uarro cōmaund this man Infortunate To be cald agayne whome y• foriuged He is gyltles for I by cruell fate This homycyde my selfe haue cōmytted Whom thy men founde this mornynge strangled By whiche offence the goddes Immortall I haue offended and the lawe with all Wherfore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 herte can not assent Unt • 〈…〉 suche I •• ury To suff • e this man 〈◊〉 innocent For my trespace thus wrongefully to dy Uarro of this was marueylous sory That Tytus 〈◊〉 audience this wyse spake Whiche confessyon he myght not forsake Wherfore to saue his honour & nobles Accordynge as the lawe hym comaunded Gesyppus was re •• ked than doubtles And in this wyse varro hym repreued What folysshe madnes hath thy mynde m • ued To graunte the 〈◊〉 without • ny ••• ment Wherof thou arte gyltles & Innocent Syth yt the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deth certayne Why dyd yu the sayd 〈◊〉 〈…〉 de confesse Thou beynge not compelled by no payne Beholde Tytus whiche 〈◊〉 dothe expresse That of this homycyde 〈◊〉 gyltles And yt he hymselfe the dede dyd commyt Wherfore the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hathe the now quyt Gesyppus behelde Tytus wofully Knowynge he dyd it his lyfe to purchace Unto the Juge this wyse he dyd reply For pyte teres rennynge 〈◊〉 his face Uarro he sayd my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tytus hath now shewed his pyte to late To me that am a man Infortunate Tytus contrary sayd pretor take hede This man Juged is a straunger doubtles Thou mayst perceyue yt he dyd not the dede By the deed man he was take wepenles He wolde fayne dye he is in suche dystresse Wherfore as vngylty let hym now go And me the trespassoure to dethe for to do The pretor meruayled of theyr constaunce His mynde perceyued they were not gylty Wherfore of them to make delyueraunce To saue them bothe his mynde he dyd apply And as he was castynge for remedy There came a yonge man named publius Of lyfe & dede whiche was susspecius This publius whiche the murdre had done Knowynge them bothe for to be Innocent He was moued with suche contricyon To dye for his trespare he dyd assent Before the pretor he dyd hym present And wylfully without ony askynge He tolde the dede in maner folowynge Pretor my grete 〈◊〉 dothe me compell Playnly to discusse this altercacyon What god doth moue my mynde I cannot tell Of myne offence to make the relacyon My herte is taken with compun • cyon To se theym offre theym selfe for to dye Of this trespate they beynge not gyltye Truely my selfe before the mornynge tyde Slewe this man whiche was my companyon This infortunate slepynge there besyde Of our boty makynge particyon We fell togyder at discencyon As moost strengest in y• debate & stryfe From my felowe I toke the mortall lyfe For to excuse Tytus it shall not nede For his noble fame & grete worthynes Do shewe yt he wolde not do suche a dede Wherfore pretor of this my wretchydnes Do quyte theym bothe as men yt be gyltles And to me whiche slewe this man my felawe Do Justyce accordynge vnto the lawe Octauyan had knowlege of this chaunce The parties before hym examyned Knowynge the mater in 〈◊〉 circumstaunce The two vngylty he there pardoned And also the thefe whiche was foruiged For the loue of Tytus he dyd forgyue His trespace & in liberte to lyue After Tytus had rebuked frendely Gesyppus of mystrust & ferefulnes He clasped hym in armes louyngly Unto his house with hym he went doubtles Sophrone Tytus wyfe wepte for heuynes To se Gesyppus in suche pouerte Complaynynge fortunes mutabylyte She receyued hym as her owne brother Reteynynge hym well & honorably Tytus lykewyse as a frendly louer Apparelyd hym in clothynge rychely With y• he was fedde ryght delycatly That in short tyme he was brought in suche plyght That he recouered bothe his helth & myght Tytus his substaunce euenly deuyded And to Gesyppus in matrymony With his syster fuluia so named A noble vyrgyn he gaue it frely This kyndnes for kyndnes he dyd truely And Gesyppus secrete Tytus gan take And vnto hym in this wyse he tho spake Frend & brother of two thynges nowe chuse For they shall be at your arbytrement Whiche for to take & whiche for to refuse The one is whyther ye can be content Here to abyde or y• ye wyll assent Unto athenes to go with this substaunce Whiche I haue gyuen to you in gouernaunce Gesyppus in his mynde consyderynge His vnkynde exile & grete Indygence With drewe his mynde from athenes retournynge And perceyuynge Tytus benyuolence Sayd vnto hym his mynde was & sentence yf his wyll were there to abyde certayne Desyrynge to be made a free Romayne In one house they ledde togyder theyr lyfe Tytus & Sophrone in prosperyte Gesyppus & fuluia eke his wyfe Abydynge with theym in tranquylite Dayly with them encreasynge amyte Tyll cruell deth with his furyous darte Theyr mortall lyfe from this worlde dyd departe
Lenuoy du translateur. AMyte is for to be cōmended As the true mother to magnyfycence Of whome all honeste is dyscended Germayne to charyte & benificence Enymy to auaryce & violence Flaterynge & praysynge it doth also fle Suche is the kynde of parfyte amyte Redy to helpe in eche extremyte Hir neyghboure by kyndnes fauourable As yf she were in suche necessyte They sholde to her be lyke agreable To stedfastnes alwaye conformable With eche man hauynge loue & vnyte Suche is the kynde of parfyte amyte What ryches frendshyp or affynyte Myght do so moche as Tytus heuynes To moue Gesyppus herte to suche pyte To gyue his wyfe of so grete worthynes Whome he loued more than ony ryches Unto Tytus in his aduersyte Hym to releue but onely amyte What thynge Gesyppus corage dyd thus moue Sophrons / & his frendes grete manasynge The peoples rumor whiche dyd hym remoue Theyr scornynge & theyr vnkynde exilynge To set at nought for to be maynteynynge Tytus quarell in eche maner degre But onely loue & parfyte amyte What thynge dyd thus moue Tytus consequent To offre hym selfe redy for to dye Affyrmynge Gesyppus as Innocent Of the murdre & hymselfe as gylty His acquayntaunce dissemblyge there frendly As he knewe not what man y• he sholde be But onely loue & parfyte amyte What thynge dyd moue Tytus herte & corage To gyue Gesyppus in his moost nedefull chaunce His syster fuluia in mariage With halfe his patrymony & substaunce Hym in honour & ryches to auaunce Whome fortune brought in extreme pouerte But onely loue & parfyte amyte But now a dayes amyte dothe decay Eche man couetyth his synguler profet Upon perylles they do forecast alwaye That by a frende they do but lytell set All theyr delyte is ryches for to get Ingratitude wo worthe vnto the Whiche doost exclude bothe loue & amyte Finis.

wynkyn de worde.

Thus endeth the frendly hystory of Tytus & Gesyppus. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne / by me Wynkyn de worde.