r her faythful seruant
tyl she had bountifully with hir own hands and commendation,
rendred vnto hym a most Pryncely rewarde. And as the funne in
beautye and bryghtnesse doeth surmounte the other furniture of
the Skies, euen so Magnyfycence, and liberality in ech Lady doth
excell all other vertues, specially in those personages, that
keepe the state of Princes. But to conclude, mete and requisite
it is, that yee beautify this most curtuous and liberall Queene
wyth due prayses: For surely in my iudgement, if all Women would
confer theyr heades and Wittes together, and deuise Hymnes and
Sonnets of Liberality, they can neuer sufficiently be able to
celebrate the prayse and glory of thys Queene.

THE TWENTY-SECOND NOUELL.

_The gentle and iust act of Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence,
vpon a Gentleman whom he fauoured, who hauing rauished the Daughter
of a poore Myller, caused him to mary hir, for the greater honour
and celebration whereof, he appoynted hir a rich and honourable
Dowry._

If the Force of Vertue were apparant at the sight of eye, it
would be deemed to be of lesse value than the greatnesse thereof
deserueth (for sundry causes rising in the mindes of men) and
that by performinge the little which rested for th'entier
perfection of hir whole vnited glory. Now because that hir
effects be diuerse, and that dyuersly they be vsed, the examples
also of sutch diuersity, do variate and make diuerse the
affections of men: some to follow that quality and other that
part, proceeding from the whole and perfect body of vertue,
which hath caused some to win the price of modesty and
temperance in their deedes, other full of magnanimity (not
familiar to many) haue resisted the assaults of fortune. Many
other haue embraced that only honor whych is the nourice of ech
good act, whereby they haue either wel ruled the state of free
citties, or guided the armies of mighty Monarchs. And sutch
whilom the cities of Rome, Athenes, Sparta, and the auncient
Monarchs of the Medes, Persians, and the Assyrians did see.
I wil omit a good company of the sage and wyse, which haue
appaysed the troubles of Citties, the inquietations of Palaces,
the cries of Iudgement seates, the dissimulation and deceiptfull
flatteries of Courts, the carefull griefs which the householder
by gouernment of his house and family doth sustaine and feele,
of purpose more frankly to retire to the study of sapience,
which alone is able to make