om the company he was in, and withdraw himselfe
alone, to muse vppon hys thoughts, brought thereby into a
melancholy and meane estate, hauing lost his sleepe, and stomak
of eating meate: iudged that the amorous Wormes of loue did
bitterly gnaw and teare his heart with the nebs of their forked
heades. They three then being vppon a time together, debatinge
of diuers thinges amonges themselues, chaunced to fall in
argument of loue, and maister Baldo, and Borgo, the other
Gentlemen, sayd to mayster Philippo, how they were wel assured
that he was straungly attached with that passion, by marking and
considering that new life, which lately he led contrary to
former vse, intreating him very earnestly, that he would
manifest his loue to them, that were his deere and faythfull
frends, tellinge him that as in weighty matters otherwise he was
already sure what they were, euen so in this he might hardily
repose his hope and confidence, promisinge hym all their helpe
and fauour, if therein their indeuour and trauayle might
minister ayde and comfort. Hee then like one raysed from a
trance, or lately reuiued from an extasie, after he had composed
his Countenaunce and Gesture, wyth teares and multitude of
sobbes, began to say these woordes: "My welbeloued freendes, and
trusty companions, being right well assured that yee (whose
fidelity I haue already proued, and whose secret mouthes be
recommended amongs the wise and vertuous), will keepe close and
couert the thinge which you shall heare me vtter, as of sutch
importaunce, that if the yong Romane Gentleman Papyrus had been
here, for all his silence of graue matters required by hys
Mother, I woulde vnnethes haue dysclosed the same vnto hym.
Indeede I cannot deny, but must needes confesse that I am in
loue, and that very ardently, which I cannot in sutch wyse
conceale, but that the blinde must needes clearely and euidently
perceyue. And although my mouth would fayne keepe close, in what
plight my passions do constrayne my inward affections, yet my
face and straung maner of life, which for a certayne tyme and
space I haue led, doe wittnesse, that I am not the man I was
wont to bee. So that if shortly I doe not amend, I trust to
arriue to that ende whereunto euery Creature is borne, and that
my bitter and paynful life shall take ende, if I may call it a
lyfe, and not rather a lyuing death: I was resolued and
throughly determined, neuer to discouer to any man the cause of
my cruell tormen