consent so such 〈◊〉 vnequall match will they fonde foole nay they shall in despight of them my will shall stand for a law and I will followe content not counsaile Rhodope is worthy to be a Queene and I say that none in Egypt dare gainsay shâ— shal be a Queene And with that feeding him self in his humour he fel asleepe passing away the latter part of the night with many pleasant dreames On the morning assoone as he goe vp he assembled the Dukes and nobles of Egypt and commaunded them vpon their allegance they should not depart from the 〈◊〉 till they heard further of his pleasure The same day hee caused writtes to be directed into euery part of his kingdome to sâ—mmon the Lords and Barrons to a Parliament which shoulde be holden within xv dayes This straunge and sodaine newes made the Lords of the counsaile to maruell what weightie affaires the king had to enact by statute which hee would not make them priuie vnto so many men so many witsâ— euery one yeelded his verdicte but all mist the Cushion especiallâ—e Philarâ—â—â— began to 〈◊〉 that his Father had not tolde him the cause of this sodaine conuocation but seeing it was the kings pleasure to conceale the secrete to him selfe they rested contente till it might be made manifest in the open assemblie The day of the Parleament being come the nobilitie arayâ—â— in their roaâ—es attended vppon the Kinge to the Parleament house where euery one set in his degree as the common speaker was ready to haue made his Oration the Kinge willed him to silence commaunding that Rhodope shoulde bee sent for and that then he would declare the cause of their assemblie This draue them al into dumpes euerie one whispering to other their virdict of the Kinges wil. Some thought there was some great complaints made to the king against her for her lasciuious life Other thought she had preteÌ„ded some treason against his personâ— al by imagination suspecting the worst yet not halfe so ill as the sequell proued The message was no sooner deliuered to Rhodope but a quaking feare possessed al her ioyntes doubtinge shee had committed some haynous facte whiche deserued death or y â— because she was a common curtisan the King meant to confiscate her goods to the Crown These such like doubts daunted her mynde yet chering her selfe somewhat for that she knewe she was guiltlesse from murther or treason decking her selfe in riche and costlie attyre shee wente with the garde to the Parleament house whereinto assoone as she was entered with reuerent obeysaunce kneelinge before the Kinge shee fearefullie attended to heare his Maiesties pleasure The Dukes and Lordes of Egipte were driuen in a maze at the excellent beautie of Rhodope cursing accusing the gods of iniustice that had blemisht such excellent perfection with suche imperfecte qualities But Psamnetichus gazing a long while on her face began almost to fall a sleepe in sweete conceites til at last putting such thoughtes out of his mind with a sterne and disdayneful looke he vttered these speeches It is no marueile if you stande amazed Right mightie Princes of Egipte to see your King who was woont to craue youre consent in small affayres without youre councell nowe to begin a thing of such greate importance I meane a Parleamente But hee that seeketh to haue his purpose vnpreuented must not plume his actions with times feathers leaste either fortune or counsayle hinder his enterprise Many thinges fall out betweene the cuppe and the lippe and daunger is alwaies a companion to delay To take away therefore all occasions of hindrance I haue vpon the sodayne assembled you not onely to heare what I can saye but without either doubt or denial to confirme what I shall say death hauing depriued me of her in my latter yeares who was my onlie Ioye in the prime of my youth I meane your good Queene Farina And although I am olde yet not so striken in age but that I muste and can yeeld to affection so that I intende nay I wil in dispight of asâ—menne take Rhodope heere present to my wife and before we depart from this session shee shalbe crowned Queene It may be nay I am assured you all wil greatly mislike of the match grudge that your king should marry with a Curtisan But I charge you all in generall I wish each one that loueth his owne life neither with counsaile nor reason to perswade mee from that I haue purposed least he incurre further daunger and my perpetuall displeasure Psamnetichus vttering these wordes with a furious countenaunce draue the Noble men to sylence But Rhodope into a greater maze that the king vppon so small acquaintance shoulde choose heâ— for his wife whereuppon conceiuing an vnspeakeable ioy for a womans heart sweâ—eth with nothing more then honour shee with humble reuerence kneeling vppon her knees extolled Psamnetichus curtesie that he woulde vouchsafe being a king to looke an so base and infamous a creature as shee was promising to remaine his handmaide prest to performe what his grace coulde either wish or commaunde if the losse of her life might accomplish his desire But Philarkes who sat nipped on the pate with this straunge newes inraged with wrath and choller coulde starse keepe his handes from preuenting his fathers miserie by the violent death of such a vile strumpet which Psamnetichus partlie perceiued by his countenance wished him to speake his minde without controlement whether hee liked of the match or no promising to pardon whatsoeuer was saide Philarkes with a face fraught full of furie and a minde inflamed with choller choosing if he might rather present death then to see his Fathers dignitie attainted with such dishonour vttered his minde briefly in these woods May it please your highnesse I feare to offend if I say what I should yet were loath to flatter in saying what I woulde not but sith I may haue free libertie to speak what I think my verdict shalbe soone giuen I confesse that what pleaseth the father ought to content the sonne and therfore I count Psamnetichus will a law to Philarkes yet as obedience wisheth a consent so nature willeth with a friendly denyall to diswade from things that offende not onely men but are euen hateful to the gods I say therefore that Psamnetichus should get more honour by exiling such an infamous strumpet not onely from Memphis but out of al the confines of Egypt then if he had obtained more triumphes then that inuincible Caesar. No doubt your grace shall soone nay I feare too soone finde my words to be true that in hoping to get a sweete content you shal gaine a sowre disquiet like to them which pleased with the couler of the tree Lotos are poysoned assoone as they tast of the Apples Psamnetichus such was his loue or rather vnbridled lust as he would not suffer Philarkes to speake any word more but in great choller protested if his promise had not beene past hee
rather the bladder wherein the gall lyeth which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latins Bilis folliculum or rather Biliosi humoris armarioluÌ„ And thus much briefly for the Astronomicall description of Mars Now as touching the disposition of the Martialistes They are commonly ouer rash not fearing to rush through sword and fire seeking to mooue immoueable things carying a head without a braine impatient in iniuries doing al things with preposterous aduise beeing variable in their purposes prodigall of their owne and desirous of other means enterprising great matters making of loathsome Sinckes loftie Towers lifting vp their browes euery where touching the heauen with their fingers and speaking tragically as Gyants wearing Haye in their hornes and mingling the heauens with the earth hauing their feathers farre bigger then their neasts carying Waines loden with reprochfull slaunder wearing Nettles in their nose and whetting their teeth vpon bitter Sorrell Inraged as though they were stung with a Briese and more imperious then Phalaris As cruell to them which yeeld as Wolues giuing to those which runne a spurre wearing a bodie without a breast whetting Iron with Iron and putting fire to towe quenching flames with Oyles bearing gall in their mouth fire in their hearts cutting large thongs out of other mens leather As touching the diseases incident to Martialistes they be Tertian feuers Iaundice Phrensies hot Agewes Inflammations Bloodie flix Megrimes hotnesse of Urine and such like which commonly proceede of the quantitie or qualitie of yellowe choller abounding of aduston of blood of fierie and chollericke euaporations Further they which participate of the nature of Mars haue their pulses great and swift Urine yellowe fierie and biting sweate sharpe salt and bitter deiections yellow the tongue commonly drie their dreames of fire burning slaughters strife warres armours and such like Thus I haue described Mars his maligne disposition and meane to confirme my sayinges with a tragicall historie Iupiters Tragedie IN those daies when taking the shape of a man I visited the poore house of Philemon and Baucis coasting diuers Countries happely I arriued in Scithia whereof after Tomyris was Queene beeing nighted in those partes I chaunced on a fayre and sumptuous Pallace scituated hard by the Sea side comming to the gates I found the wicket open whereon was ingrauen this Posie Enteraunce is denied to none Seing such a free passage I passed through the base Court came into y e Hall where I found a yong and beautifull Ladie accompanied with sixe Damosells all ouergrowne with griefe doing Sacrifice as I thought to some of the Gods but drawing more nye I espied the Ladie which by her porte seemed to be Mistresse to them all burning Frankensence vpon Coales and holding the heart of a man in her hand she violently stabo it through in many places which wheÌ„ she had done two of her Maides presented vnto her two dead mens skulles full of wine whereof when she had drunke a little of either gushing forth aboundaunce of teares she called for a Lute whereon she plaide and warbled out this wofull dittie What more mishap can fret the minde then wish each day to dye And yet to liue in lingring greefe alas such life leade I. Whose life if life thrise worse then death is fraught with such annoy As pinde with care can neuer taste one dram of happie ioy I rue to see that most I wish most hatefull wordes I blengeâ— My surest ioye to weepe my fill my greatest wealth reuenge Thus doe I leade a haplesse fate Content with woe enricht with hate Assone as she had ended this mornefull Madrigale she gaue the Lute to one of her Maides and the rest ready to depart but casting her eye aside she espied me wherewith she came pacing toward the place where I stoode and with a courteous and princely countenaunce she gaue me a friendly welcome and taking mee by the hande led mee into her bed chamber where supper was alreadie prouided after we had taken our repast I desirous to knowe the straunge maner of her Sacrifice made request to know the cause of her continuall sorrow what both the pearcing of the heart and the drinking of the dead mens skulles did meane She nothing coy to condiscend to a straungers intreatie began her talke in this maner Iupiter In this Countrie of Scithia there raigned a King not long since called Euandrus who by his naturall inclination was wholy addicted vnto martiall prowesse taking such delight in blooddie wars and cruell Skirmishes as he thought himselfe vnfortunate when either his enimies for feare or he for want of some iust occasion was driuen to liue in vnwilling quiet This EuaÌ„drus had such happy successe in his attempts as by his valour courage he had made a conquest of all the kingdoms adiacent to his dominions Libia onely excepted which was possed by a cruell mercilesse Tyrant named Charaxes who seeing that fortune without any checke had long time fauoured Euandrus thought that after great calmes would ensue little stormes that low ebbes followed hie tydes that fortune after so many sweete fauours could not but shewe some sower frownes whereupon he leuied a mightie Hoast and made a suddayne inuasion into the borders of Scithia burning and spoyling all the countrey thinking by his desperate attempt to make the king shrinke and seeke for Truce But the euent fell out contrarie to his expectation For Euandrus hearing howe Charaxes had attempted the Conquest of his Countrie gathered a greate Armie to the number of a hundreth and fiftie thousand Footemen and fower thousand Horsemen manfully marching forwarde to defend his Countrie and withstand the force of his iniurius enemie Wherein Fortune not willing at this time to giue him the foyle shewed him such accustomed fauour that he valiantly discomfited Charaxes and all his Hoste yea and tooke the King himself prisoner retourning into Scythia with such triumphes that his subiects had both cause to feare and honour such a King Charaxes being thus brought prysoner into Scythia Euandrus as he was fortunate in obtayning the conquest so he was fauourable in vsing the victories thinking it as Kingly to pardon as to conquer and as great renowne to be gotten by shewing mercie to professed foes as curtesie to assured frends For he intreated not Charaxes as a wretâ—hed Captiue but as a worthy Prince entertaining him with such frendly familiaritie as the Lybians had great cause to extoll his clemencie Euandrus bathing thus in the streames of blisse sitting firmely on y e fickle top of prosperity had y e check giueÌ„ him by fortune on this wise Hee had by his wife which was the lately deceased three Children two were sonnes borne twinnes at one instant and in such a moment that it was almost hard to gesse which was y e eldest the one was called Fresnitus y e other Rhomphanus his daughter named Lyndana a Ladie of such exquisite perfection and singuler beautie that she stayned not
force to infuse a certaine pronesse to vnlawfull venery yet being preuented by a prouident and well disposed mind it doth little auaile quia sapiens dominabitur astris Then incensed with an enuious rage she seeketh to intrap vertue with the stumbling blocks of vice and to inchant the minds of the wise with her poysoned and alluring sorceries letting passe neither time nor toil◠till shee hath brought wisdome to such a bay as either shee must yeelde to her masking follie or buy her quiet with perpetual torment but leauing Venus to her vanities againe to Psamnetichus Who seeking to shake of this new found affection flong out of the garden into the chamber of presence where hee founde his sonne Philarkes and other noble men dauncing with the Ladies and Gentlewomen vnto whom both he shewed the shoe and reaueled the chaunce promising that what Ladie coulde pull it on shoulde haue what Lawfull demaunde shee woulde make All desirous of gaine and glorie beleeue mee two Idols that women most honour assailed to winne the price but it was as easie for them as for Vulcan to drawe on Thetis slipper on his poult foote whereat Philarkes and the noble men smiled but Psamnetichus pinched with an vnacquainted passion began to imagine what heauenly creature she was to whom this shooe did belong feeding himselfe in this musing humor vntill such a burning desire crept into his minde that neither reason nor counsaile could asswage so that withdrawing himselfe into his secreat chamber holding the shooe in his hand he cast himselfe on his bedde where he murmured out these or such like complaints Ah thrise vnhappie Psamnetichus what vnfitte fancies bee these for thy aged yeares what fonde thoughtes for thy gray heares what vnmeete musings for thy stayed minde wilt thou feeke to rake for quicke coales among dead cynders to search for freshe flowers among withered weedes to sow youthfull desires in aged mindes if thou doe this Psamnetichus thinke though thou hast but a short time to liue yet thou shalt haue a long time to repent For loue in age is like fyre among drie sticks which kindled with y e least puffe is quenched in the least moment Loue Psamnetichus whie art thou in loue yea with whome Alas I knowe not◠and therefore the more infortunate is my loue Pigmalion fell in loue with his Marble picture an affection so straunge as he was both blamed and pittied for doating on such a senslesse Image A Senators sonne in Rome loued extreemly the Iuory picture of Vesta whiche wroughte him such discredit as he was exempted for bearing office in the citie Were my case such I wold think my selfe fortunate But a shoe of golde is the only thing that bewitcheth my mind such a straunge fancie as time hath neuer made report of the like Tush Psamnetichus it is not the shoe but the Dame that oweth the shoe which hath inchanted thy affection it is the Idea of her person which by a secret imagination is imprinted in thy minde that hath pearced thy heart seeke then by some meanes to free thy selfe from those fetters whiche vnlesse thou vnloose thou canst not but loose Dye then Psamnetichus for nothing can free thee from loue but death It is no earthly creature but some heauenlie goddesse that oweth this Iewell the excellent shape of her to whom this precious gemme doeth belong was neuer placed on earth but enthronysed amongest the heauens the woorse is thy happe and the lesse cause hast thou to hope to hope why not Psamnetichus no doubt shee is a woman and therefore to bee wonne with prayses or promises for that shee is a woman As thus he continued his complaints his sonne Philarkes came into the chamber wherevpon Psamnetichus ceased and for that time made no shew of sorrow but passed away the daye with other talke The night beeing come faining himselfe not well at ease hee giuing his sonne and the other noble men the good night went to his bedde thinking by sleep to haue driuen away such fonde affections but he was no sooner layd but waking slumber and halfe dreaming thoughts so tormented him that he coulde take no rest wherevpon he began to cast a thousand doubtful coniectures in his minde what he had best to do at last he found out this deuise He called to remembrance that there was in his court a certayne skilfull magician called Nestor who by his secret science might not only be a meanes to discouer what Ladye was the owner of the shoe but also if through frowardnesse a disease cōmon to Venus darlings she refused his proffer might by some amorous potions ayde him to obtaine his purpose This polliticke conceite pleased him passing well so that on the morrowe fearing that delay might breede daunger hee sent for this olde doating Nestos who comming to the kings presence and with great reuerence doing his obeisance craued to know his Maiesties pleasure Psamnetichus curteously resaluting him tooke him by the hand and led him into his priuy garden where charging him firste vppon his life and alleageaunce moste secretely to conceale whatsoeuer he shoulde in that place make manifest then hee broke with him in the matter promysing if hee coulde tell him by his arte who owed the shoe hee woulde rewarde him so largely as he should haue cause to speake of his bountie otherwise if by negligence he should be found slacke he would so bitterly reuenge hys frowarde disobedience as hee shoulde haue cause both to curse hym selfe and his science Nestos allured with the large promises of the King and feared wyth his sharpe and cruell threateninges made aunsweare that what were able to bee doone by Arte shoulde wyth all skilfull diligence bee perfourmed and hereuppon hee craued three dayes to make a shewe of his cunning Psamnetichus suche was the heate of his newe kindeled fancie thought it a longe time to yeelde so small a verdict yet hee was content hoping by this meanes hee shoulde bee fully satisfied Calchos leauing the King in his dumpes hyed him home to his lodging and entring into his study began to fal to erecting of figures to take the eleuation of the pole and the houre wherein the shoe was found but these superstitious ceremonies would not shew what hee sought for so that in fine from consecrating hee was faine to fall to flatte coniuring wherein after hee had swette lyke a dogge to adiure the Dyuell hee perceiued by the Oracle that hee had made an ende of his woorke whiche hee had no sooner doone but with all speede that mighte bee hee posted to the Courte where beeyng admitted to Psamnetichus presence all the nobles commanded to auoyde the chamber hee vttered these wordes I am sory right mightye Prince that I cannot iustly conceale that your Grace hath straightly cōmanded me to reueale my alleageance for bidding the one your highnesse so stricklye vrging the other I haue done what learning science cā allow yet vnwilling to shewe what y ◠froward destinies do
allot But I hope wisdom shal preuent that which fancy seeketh to preteÌ„d The Lady which oweth this shoe is one whose perfectioÌ„ of body is greatly darkened with the imperfection of the mynde and whose singular beauty is such yet so stained with the spot of lasâ—iuious vanity as all may iudge shee was framed by nature to despight vertue It is Rhodope that infamous strumpet of Memphis Nestos had scarse vttered these words but Psamnetichus as one inraged with a franticke passion beganne in most cruel termes to exclaime against Loue and Fortune braying out such bitter curses against Venus her inequall lawes that poore Nestos seeing his vnbrideled furie was more afraid to perswade him then to coniure a diuell trembling a while for feare that the king should wrecke his wrathon his old carkase At last when Psamnetichus had somwhat appeased his furious passions he rewarded Calchos and licensed him to depart with drawing himselfe into a secret place where hee powred foorth these complaints Ah vniust Venus and most accursed Cupid whose hatefull delight is to drowne men in vnequall thoughtes and to make them doate in vnfitte fancies seeking moste to assayle those myndes whiche thinke themselues moste safe vnder the shielde of vertue coueting with bitter pleasures to procure sweet tormentes and with seruyle affections to intangle free myndes Alas I see and I sigh and sorrowe to see that there is no dignitye honour age nor yeeres whiche canne resist the alluring charmes of Loue. Loue Psamnetichus why doest thou loue It is a worde vnmeet for thy mouth but a passion farre more vnfit for thy minde Thy graye hayres are fruites for death not blossomes for Venus Thy yeeres are too bee spente in repentyng thy former follyes not in renewing freshe and amorous fancies It is more â—itte for thy age to caste howe to dye then to care howe to loue Peace Psamnetichus doe not so much as once name loue why not Trees may haue rootes though no leaues and though flowers fal hearbes maye haue sap Loue in age is a vertue so it be not blemished with inequall choyse Trueth fonde foole but what choice haste thou made Of some famous Princesse oh no it were too well of some begger were she vertuous why not Oh Psamneticus woulde to God it were so wel No no thou hast chosen Rhodope a strumpet not halfe so famous for her beauty as infamous for her vanity one whose honesty nay dishonesty is to be bought by euery stragling stranger Loue is vnfit for thy yeeres because thou art old but such loue is vnmeet for thee wert thou neuer so young What wil the peeres of Egypt say if they heare but of thy doting thoughts wil not thy poore subiects sorrow to be ruled by suche a Queene But alas what will Philarkes doe Surely either seeke to cut her daies shorte with vntimely death or to ende his owne life with continuall griefe Ah Psamneticus it were more honourable for thee to die by concealing loue then liue and inioy such haplesse loue And with that he fetcht such a deep sigh as it might wel witnesse how he sought with hatefull disdaine to quench such fonde desires striuing with reason to bridle appetite and with wisedome to suppresse affection flying from that by his owne will wherevnto he was led by an infortunate influence but he found that to wrestle with loue was with the crab to swimme against the stream and with the Deere to feed against the wind wherupoÌ„ feeling such a deep impression to enter into his heart as neither counsel nor reason could race out he yeelded an vnwilling consent to loue thogh the only thing he sought to hate Pinched a long time with these contrary passions his care and sorrow so increased sorrowing that he had made so ill a choyce yet careful how he might obtaine his choyce that his aged and feeble complexion weakened with a more heauie burden then he was able to beare had almost yeelded vnto death His sonne Philarkes marueling at his fathers vnaccustomed dumpes seing that he had made a change of his wonted pastime and pleasures for solitary thoughts and contemplations cast diuers coniectures 〈◊〉 his headâ— what might be the cause of his fathers sodain sorow 〈…〉 it could not be for want of honour in that he was a kingâ— if gold might make one merry as no doubt it is the onely wheâ—â—stoâ—e to mirth his father wanted no treasure Egypt was not pestered with ciuil tumults nor troubled with forrain inuasions Al which things duly coÌ„sidered hee coulde not coniecture what shuld be the occasion of his fathers sorrow so y e desirous to know what should be the cause of his care and willing if it lay in his power to redresse it finding his father within few dayes alone in y e garden at his accustomed dumps he brake wyth him to know the cause of his dolor crauing reuerently of his father if it were his pleasure that he would make him partaker of his griefes seeing that there is no better remedye for a troubled minde then to participate his care to some secrete friend promising as it was his duty by the law of nature to protest that if his life might bee a meanes to appease his heauye passions hee would most willingly free him from those perplexed sorrowes Psamnetichus hearing the dutifull obedience of his sonne noting with what vnfained protestatioÌ„s he vttered these words partly for the ioy hee conceiued of his sonnes good nature and partly for the remembrance of his owne doating affections hee burst forth into teares yet seeking to conceale that shame forbad him to reueale finding this excuse most fit for the time and his straunge passions Philarkes thou knowest euery thing is measured by his due time The spring hath fresh flowers and pleasant gleames Autumne withered leaues and bitter stormes Youth is paynted gazing at the starres Age looking downe to the ground Pleasaunt conceytes are the blossomes of young yeeres and melancholy thoughts the fruites of gray haires I tell thee Philarkes when I was young I delighted in mirth and labour and nowe being old I ioy in ease and sadnes Thou marueilest how I can be so subiect to dumpish thoughts and I wonder how thou caÌ„st be so free froÌ„ care and griefs It is not want of prosperity but the experience of many yeeres y â— hath taught me in age to think how to die The ioy of my youth and the comfort I should haue haâ— being old is gone I meane thy mother Farina the remembrance of whose death makes me as sorowful as thy life and â—bedience makes me ioyfull Cease then good Philarkes to enquire the cause of my care and seeke not to redresse that whiche nature denieth to haue any remedy Philarkes was satisfied with his fathers answere but Psamnetichus more troubled with his sons demand so that he could take no rest but lingred in doubtfull thoughts til at last reason yeelding to appetite and wisedome to affection he determined to