ich expected no better
meede than death, ioyfull of that sentence, fell downe prostrate
before the Duke in signe of consente, and the lyke did his
Companions. But the ioy of the Miller and his daughter cannot be
expressed, who extolled the vertue and iustice of the Prynce vp
into the heauens: to whom with sutch humility they rendred theyr
humble thanks, as he would doe that saw himselfe in so great
calamity, and brought to sutch dishonour as earst they were
seene to be, by meanes of him that acknowledged one of them for
his sonne, and the other for hir lawfull Spouse. Thus was the
mariage consummat in presence of the Duke, with so great ioye,
and content of all partes, as there was rage and trouble for the
Rape of the Bryde. The Duke beinge retourned to Florence, the
Brute of this act incontinently was disparkled almost throughout
the Region of Italy, and this iudgement no lesse praysed, than
the sentence which Kynge Solomon gaue vppon the Controuersie of
the two Harlots for the liuing childe, which eyther of them
claimed for hir owne. And for this cause was hee extolled aboue
any other Prynce or Lorde that in tymes passed did commaund or
rule the Common wealth wythin the Countrey of Thuscan. In thys
wyse that modesty made him worthy of the Principality, which
almost against all ryght he had vsurped, and of a prayse whych
shall no lesse continue, than the Memory of man is able to
extende the same from one generation to an other, and which
those that be Couetous of the prayse of a Prince so vertuous,
iust and modest, shal not cease to illustrate and gloriously
aduaunce him in open euydence, to the ende that hys like may
exercise like things, or of greater consequence, by not
sufferinge venemous and vnprofitable hearbs to grow within the
Garden of their Common wealth. Wythin the which, a little mildew
or vntimely rayne, is able to marre and corrupt all the good
Seedes and Plantes sowen, and grifted there before: For commonly
wicked Weedes and Bastard Impes take deeper roote than those
that beare a good and fauorous fruict, for conseruation whereof,
the diligent husbandman imployeth his labour throughout all the
Seasons of the yeare.

END OF VOL. II.

BALLANTYNE PRESS: EDINBURGH AND LONDON.

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Errors and Inconsistencies:

The printed book did not include an Errata list. It is therefore
impossible to tell whether irregularitie