contended with her
lyke. But not to say so mutch of hir as I finde in Plinie his
naturall history, in Suetonius, and Cornelius Tacitus, I leaue
hir to hir selfe, bycause I haue made promise to remember the
dishonest loue for example sake, which I read of Faustina, whose
beauty of al Writers is vouched to be most excellent, if
excellency of good life had thereunto ben coupled. She was the
daughter and wyfe of two holy and vertuous Emperours, the one
called Antonius Pius, the other Marcus Antonius. This
M. Antonius in all vertuous workes was perfect and Godly, and
singulerly loued his wife Faustina, and although she was
infamous to the world, and a Fable to the people, yet he cared
not for the same, sutch was the passing loue hee bare vnto hir.
Leaue we to speake of hir beastly behauiour amongs the noble
sort, without regard vnto hir most noble husbande, and come wee
to treate of a certaine sauage kind of lust she had to one of
the Gladiatores, whych were a certaine sort of Gamsters in Rome,
which we terme to be Maisters of defence. She was so far in loue
with this Gladiator, as she could not eat, drink, or slepe, ne
take any rest. This Faustina was so vnshamefast, as not
regarding hir state, being as I sayde before the daughter and
wife of two most worthy Emperors, dysdayned not to submitte her
Body to the Basenesse of one of the vilest sort, a Rascal
Fencer, and many times would goe to Caieta, a Citie and hauen of
Campania, to ioyne hir selfe with the galye slaues there. Hir
husbande which loued her dearely, comfortying his feble louing
wyfe so well as he coulde, caused the best Physicians he could
finde, to come vnto hir for recouery of hir health. But all the
deuysed physike of the world was not able to cure her, she was
so louesicke. In the end knowing by long experience the fauour
and loue hir husband bare vnto hir, and knowing that nothing
could withdraw his continued minde, she tolde him, that al the
torment and payne shee sustained, was for the loue of a
gladiator, towards whom hir loue was so miserably bent, that
except she had his company, death was the next medicine for hir
disease. The good husband whych beyond measure loued his wife,
comforted hir with so louing wordes as he could, and bad hir to
bee of good cheare, promisinge hee would prouide remedy.
Afterwards consulting with a wise man a Chaldee born, opened
vnto him the effect of his wiue's disease, and how she was
louesicke with sutch a person one o