feele the comfort of the morning Turnde to the mortall serene of an euening Klaius Me seemes I see a filthy clowdie euening As soone as Sunne begins to clime the mountaines Me seemes I feele a noysome sent the morning When I doo smell the flowers of these vallies Me seemes I heare when I doo heare sweete musique The dreadfull cries of murdred men in forrests Strephon. I wish to fire the trees of all these forrests I giue the Sunne a last farewell each euening I curse the fidling finders out of musicke With enuie I doo hate the loftie mountaines And with dispite despise the humble vallies I doo detest night euening day and morning Klaius Curse to my selfe my praier is the morning My fire is more then can be made with forrests My state more base then are the basest vallies I wish no euenings more to see each euening Shamed I hate my selfe in sight of mountaines And stoppe mine eares lest I grow mad with musicke Strephon. For she whose parts maintainde a perfect musique Whose beautie shin'de more then the blushing morning Who much did passe in state the stately mountaines In streightnes past the Cedars of the forrests Hath cast me wretch into eternall euening By taking her two Sunnes from these darke vallies Klaius For she to whom compar'd the Alpes are vallies She whose lest word brings from the spheares their musique At whose approche the Sunne rose in the euening Who where she went bare in her forhead morning Is gone is gone from these our spoyled forrests Turning to desarts our best pastur'de mountaines Strephon. These mountaines witnesse shall so shall these vallies These forrests eke made wretched by our musique Klaius Our morning hymne is this and song at euening But as though all this had bene but the taking of a taste of their wailings Strephon againe begā this Dizaine which was answered vnto him in that kind of verse which is called the crowne Strephon. Klaius Strephon. I Ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Despise delight am tyr'd with thought of ease I turne my minde to all formes of annoyes And with the chaunge of them my fancie please I studie that which may me most displease And in despite of that displeasures might Embrace that most that most my soule destroyes Blinded with beames fell darkenes is my sight Dwell in my ruines feede with sucking smarte I thinke from me not from my woes to parte Klaius I thinke from me not from my woes to parte And loth this time call'd life nay thinke that life Nature to me for torment did emparte Thinke my harde haps haue blunted deaths sharpe knife Not sparing me in whom his workes be rife And thinking this thinke nature life and death Place Sorrowes triumph on my conquerd harte Whereto I yeeld and seeke none other breath But from the sent of some infectious graue Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue Strephon. Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue And seeke to nourish that which now containes All what I am if I my selfe will saue Then must I saue what in me chiefely raignes Which is the hatefull web of sorrowes paines Sorrow then cherish me for I am sorrow No being now but sorrowe I can haue Then decke me as thine owne thy helpe I borrowe Since thou my riches art and that thou haste Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Klaius Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Is that huge storme which powres it selfe on me Hailestones of teares of sighes a monstrous blast Thunders of cries lightnings my wilde lookes be The darkned heau'n my soule which nought can see The flying sprites which trees by rootes vp teare Be those despaires which haue my hopes quite wast The difference is all folkes those stormes forbeare◠But I cannot who then my selfe should flie So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Strephon. So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Both cause effect beginning and the ende Are all in me what helpe then can I trie My ship my selfe whose course to loue doth bende Sore beaten doth her mast of comfort spend Her cable Reason breakes from anchor Hope Fancie her tackling torne away doth flie Ruine the winde hath blowne her from her scope Brused with waues of Cares but broken is On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse Klaius On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse I long do◠plowe with plough of deepe desire The seed Fast meaning is no truth to misse I harow it with Thoughts which all conspire Fauour to make my chiefe and onely hire But woe is me the yeare is gone about And now I faine would reape I reape but this Hatefully growne Absence new sprongen out So that I see although my sight empaire Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire Strephon. Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire For so did I when with my angle Will I sought to catch the fish Torpedo faire Eu'n then Despaire did Hope already kill◠Yet fancie would perforce employ his skill And this hath got the catcher now is caught Lamde with the angle which it selfe did beare And vnto death quite drownde in dolours brough◠To death as then disguisd in her faire face Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase Klaius Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase When first that crowned Basiliske I knewe Wose footesteps I with kisses oft did trace Till by such hap as I must euer rue Mine eyes did light vpon her shining hue And hers on me astonisht with that sight Since then my hart did loose his wonted place Infected so with her sweet poysons might That leauing me for dead to her it went But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Strephon. But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Her flight from me from me though dead to me Yet liuing still in her while her beames lent Such vitall sparke that her mine eyes might see But now those liuing lights absented be Full dead before I now to dust shall fall But that eternall paines my soule haue hent And keepe it still within this body thrall That thus I must while in this death I dwell In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Klaius In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Alas I doo from which to finde release I would the earth I would the heauens sell. But vaine it is to thinke these paines should cease Where life is death and death cannot breed peace O faire ô onely faire from thee alas These foule most foule desastres to me fell Since thou from me o me ô Sunne didst passe Therefore esteeming all good blessings toyes I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Strephon. I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes But now an ende O Claius now an ende For euen the hearbes our hatefull musique stroyes And from our burning breath the trees do bende So well were these wailefull complaints accorded to the passions of all the princely hearers while euery one
varnished Looke to thy selfe reach not beyond humanitie Her minde beames state farre from thy weake wings banished And loue which louer hurts is in humanitie Thus Reason said but she came Reason vanished Her eyes so maistering me that such obiection Seem'd but to spoyle the foode of thoughts long famished Her peereles height my minde to high erection Drawes vp and if hope fayling end liues pleasure Of fayrer death how can I make election Thyrsis Once my well waiting eyes espied my treasure With sleeues turnde vp loose hair and brest enlarged Her fathers corne mouing her fair limmes measure O cried I of so meane worke be discharged Measure my case how by thy beauties filling With seed of woes my hart brimme full is charged Thy father bids thee saue and chides for spilling Saue then my soule spill not my thoughts well heaped No louely praise was euer got by killing These bolde words she did beare this fruite I reaped That she whose looke alone might make me blessed Did smile on me and then away she leaped Dorus. Once O sweete once I saw with dread oppressed Her whom I dread so that with prostrate lying Her length the earth in Loues chiefe clothing dressed I saw that riches fall and fell a crying Let not dead earth enioy so deare a couer But deck therwith my soule for your sake dying Lay all your feare vpon your fearefull louer Shine eyes on me that both our liues be guarded So I your sight you shall your selues recouer I cried and was with open rayes rewarded But straight they fledd summond by cruell honor Honor the cause desart is not regarded Thyrsis This mayde thus made for ioyes ô Pan bemone her That without loue she spends her yeares of loue So faire a field would well become an owner And if enchantment can a hard hart moue Teach me what circle may acquiant her sprite Affections charmes in my behalfe to proue The circle is my round about her sight The power I will inuoke dwelles in her eyes My charme should be she haunt me day and night Dorus. Farre other case ô Muse my sorrow tries Bent to such one in whome my selfe must say Nothing can mend that point that in her lies What circle then in so rare force beares sway Whose sprite all sprites can foile raise damne or saue No charme holdes hir but well possesse she may Possesse she doth and makes my soule her slaue My eyes the bandes my thoughts the fatall knot No thrall like them that inward bondage haue Thyrsis Kala at length conclude my lingring lotte Disdaine me not although I be not faire Who is an heir of many hundreth sheep Doth beawties keep which neuer sunne can burne Nor stormes doo turne fairnes serues oft to wealth Yet all my health I place in your good will Which if you will ô doo bestow on me Such as you see such still you shall me finde Constant and kind my sheep your foode shall breed Their wooll your weede I will you musique yeeld In flowrie field and as the day begins With twentie ginnes we will the small birds take And pastimes make as nature things hath made But when in shade we meete of mirtle bowes Then loue allowes our pleasures to enrich The thought of which doth passe all worldlie pelfe Dorus. Lady your selfe whome neither name I dare And titles are but spots to such a worth Heare plaints come forth from dungeon of my mind The noblest kinde reiects not others woes I haue no shewes of wealth my wealth is you My beauties hewe your beames my health your deeds My minde for weeds your vertues liuerie weares My foode is teares my tunes wamenting yeeld Dispaire my fielde the flowers spirits warrs My day new cares my ginnes my daily sight In which doe light small birds of thoughts orethrowne My pastimes none time passeth on my fall Nature made all but me of dolours made I find no shade but where my Sunne doth burne No place to turne without within it fries Nor helpe by life or death who liuing dyes Thyrsis But if my Kala thus my sute denyes Which so much reason beares Let crowes pick out mine eyes which too much sawe If shee still hate loues lawe My earthy mould doth melt in watrye teares Dorus. My earthy mould doth melt in watrye teares And they againe resolue To aire of sighes sighes to the hartes fire turne Which doth to ashes burne Thus doth my life within it selfe dissolue Thyrsis Thus doth my life within it selfe dissolue That I growe like the beaste Which beares the bytt a weaker force doth guide Yet patient must abide Such weight it hath which once is full possest Dorus. Such weight it hath which once is full possest That I become a vision Which hath in others head his only being And liues in fancie seing O wretched state of man in selfe diuision Thyrsis O wretched state of man in selfe diuision O well thou saiest a feeling declaration Thy toong hath made of Cupids deepe incision But now hoarse voyce doth faile this occupation And others long to tell their loues condicion Of singing thou hast got the reputation Dorus. Of singing thou hast got the reputation Good Thyrsis mine I yeld to thy abilitie My hart doth seek an other estimation But ah my Muse I would thou hadst facilitie To worke my goddesse so by thy inuention On me to cast those eyes where shine nobilitie Seene and vnknowne hearde but without attention Dorus did so well in answering Thyrsis that euery one desired to heare him sing something alone Seing therfore a Lute lying vnder the Princesse Pamelas feete glad to haue such an errand to approch her he came but came with a dismaied grace all his bloud stirred betwixt feare and desire And playing vpon it with such sweetenes as euery bodie wondered to see such skill in a shepeheard he sang vnto it with a sorrowing voice these Elegiake verses Dorus. Fortune Nature Loue long haue contended about me Which should most miseries cast on a worme that I am Fortune thus gan say misery and misfortune is all one And of misfortune fortune hath only the gift With strong foes on land on seas with contrary tempests Still doo I crosse this wretch what so he taketh in hand Tush tush said nature this is all but a trifle a mans selfe Giues happs or mishapps eu'n as he ordreth his hearte But so his humor I frame in a mould of choller adusted That the delights of life shall be to him dolorouse Loue smiled and thus said Want ioynd to desire is vnhappy But if he nought do desire what can Heraclitus aile None but I workes by desire by desire haue I kindled in his soule Infernall agonies vnto a bewtye diuine Where thou poore nature left'st all thy due glory to fortune Her vertue is soueraine fortune a vassal of hers Nature abasht went back fortune blusht yet she replide thus And eu'n in that loue shall I reserue him a spite Thus thus alas wofull
possession And how possest he strengthens his invasion Dorus. Sight is his roote in thought is his progression His child hood wonder prentizeship attention His youth delight his age the soules oppression Doubt is his sleepe he waketh in inuention Fancie his foode his clothing is of carefulnes Beautie his booke his play louers dissention His eyes are â—urious search but vailde with warefulnesse His wings desire oft clipt with desperation Largesse his hands could neuer skill of sparefulnesse But how he doth by might or by perswasion To conquere and his conquest how to ratifie Experience doubts and schooles hold disputation Dicus But so thy sheepe may thy good wishes satisfie With large encrease and wooll of fine perfection So she thy loue her eyes thy eyes may gratifie As thou wilt giue our soules a deare refection By telling how she was how now she framed is To helpe or hurt in thee her owne infection Dorus. Blest be the name wherewith my mistres named is Whose wounds are salues whose yokes please more then pleasure doth Her staines are beames vertue the fault she blamed is The hart eye eare here onely find his treasure doth All numbring artes her endlesse graces number not Time place lifeâ— witt scarcely her rare gifts measure doth Is she in rage so is the Sunne in sommer hot Yet haruest brings Doth she alas absent her selfe The Sunne is hid his kindly shadows cumber not But when to giue some grace she doth content herselfe O then it shines then are the heau'ns distributed And Venus seemes to make vp her she spent herselfe Thus then I say my mischiefes haue contributed A greater good by her diuine reflection My harmes to me my blisse to her attributed Thus she is fram'd her eyes are my direction Her loue my life her anger my distruction Lastly what so she is that 's my protection Dicus Thy safetie sure is wrapped in destruction For that construction thine owne wordes do beare A man to feare a womans moodie eye Makes Reason lie a slaue to seruile sense A weake defence where weaknes is thy force So is remorse in follie dearly bought Dorus. If I had thought to heare blasphemous wordes My brest to swords my soule to hell haue solde I rather would then thus mine eares defile With words so vile which viler breath doth breed O heards take heed for I a woolfe haue found Who hunting round the strongest for to kill His breast doth fill with earth of others woe And loden so pulls downe pull'd downe destroyes O sheepheards boyes eschue these tongues of venome Which do enuenome both the soule and senses Our best defenses are to flie these adders O tongues like ladders made to clime dishonour Who iudge that honour which hath scope to slander Dicus Dorus you wander farre in great reproches So Loue encroches on your charmed reason But it is season for to end our singing Such anger bringing as for me my fancie In sicke-mans frenzie rather takes compassion Then rage for rage rather my wish I send to thee Thou soone may haue some helpe or change of passion She oft her lookes the starres her fauour bend to thee Fortune store Nature health Loue grant perswasion A quiet mind none but thy selfe can lend to thee Thus I commend to thee all our former Loue. Dorusâ— Well do I proue errour lies oft in zeale Yet it is seale though errour of true hart Nought could impart such heates to friendly mind But for to find thy words did her disgrace Whose onely face the little heauen is Which who doth misse his eyes are but delusions Barr'd from their chiefest obiect of delightefulnesse Throwne on this earth the Chaos of confusions As for thy wish to my enraged spitefulnesse The louely blow with rare reward my prayer is Thou mayst loue her that I may see thy sightfulnesse The quiet mind whereof my selfe empairer is As thou doest thinke should most of all disquiet me Without her loue then any mind who fairer is Her onely cure from surfet woes can diet me She holdes the ballance of my contentation Hâ—r cleared eyes nought els in stormes can quiet me Nay rather then my ease discontentation Should breed to herâ— let me for aye deiected be From any ioy which might her griefe occasion With so sweet plagues my happie harmes infected be Paine willes me dieâ— yet will of death I mortifie For though life irkes in life my loues protected be Thus for each change my changelesse hart I fortifie When they had ended to the good pleasing of the assistants especiallie of Zelmane who neuer forgat to giue due coÌ„mendatioÌ„s to her friend Dorus Basilius called for Lamon to end his discourse of Strephon Klaius wherwith the other day he marked Zelmane to haue bene exceedingly delighted But him sicknes had staied from that assemblieâ— which gaue occasion to Histor and Damon two yonge shepheards taking vpoÌ„ them the two frendly riualles names to present Basilius with some other of their complaints Ecloge-wise and first with this double Sestine Strephon. Klaius Strephon. Yee Goteheard Gods that loue the grassie mountaines Ye nymphes that haunt the springs in pleasant vallies Ye Satyrs ioyde with free and quiet forrests Vouchsafe your silent eares to plaining musique Which to my woes giue still an early morning And drawes the dolor on till weary euening Klaius O Mercurie foregoer to the euening O heauenly huntresse of the sauage mountaines O louelie starre entit'led of the morning While that my voice doth fill these woefull vallies Vouchsafe your silent eares to plaining musique Which oft hath Echo tir'de in secrete forrests Strephon. I that was once free burges of the forrests Where shade from Sunne and sports I sought at euening I that was once esteem'd for pleasant musique Am banisht now among the monstrous mountaines Of huge despaire and foule afflictions vallies Am growne a shrich owle to my selfe each morning Klaius I that was once delighted euery morning Hunting the wilde inhabiters of forrests I that was once the musique of these vallies So darkened am that all my day is euening Hart broken so that molehilles seeme high mountaines And fill the vales with cries in steed of musique Strephon. Long since alas my deadly swannish musique Hath made it selfe a crier of the morning And hath with wailing strength clim'd highest mountaines Long since my thoughts more desert be then â—orrests Long since I see my ioyes come to their euening And state throwne downe to ouertroden vallies Klaius Long since the happie dwellers of these vallies Haue praide me leaue my â—trange exclaming musique Which troubles their dayes worke ioyes of euening Long since I hate the night more hate the morning Long since my thoughts chaâ—e me like beasts in forrests And make me wish my selfe layd vnder mountaines Strephon. Me seemes I see the high and stately mountaines Transforme themselues to lowe deiected vallies Me seemes I heare in these ill changed forrests The Nightingales doo leâ—rne of Owles their musique Me seemes I
him through And the boy fearce though beautifull beautifull though dying not able to keepe his failinge feete fell downe to the earth which he bit for anger repining at his Fortune and as long as he could resisting Death which might seeme vnwilling to so long he was in taking away his yong struggling soule Philanax himselfe could haue wished the blow vngiuen when hee saw him fall like a faire apple which some vncourteous bodie breaking his bowe should throw downe before it were ripe But the case of his brother made him forget both that and himselfe so as ouerhastily pressing vpon the retiring enemies hee was ere hee was aware further engaged then his owne souldiers could relieue him where being ouerthrowne by Amphialus Amphialus glad of him kept head aginst his enemies while some of his men caried away Philanax But Philanax-his men as if with the losse of Philanax they had lost the fountaine of their valure had their courages so dried vp in feare that they began to set honour at their backs and to vse the vertue of pacience in an vntimely time when into the presse comes as hard as his horse more afraied of the spurre then the sworde coulde carie him a Knight in armor as darke as blacknes coulde make it followed by none and adorned by nothing so far without authoritie that hee was without knowledge But vertue quickly made him knowne and admiration bred him such authoritie that though they of whose side he came knew him not yet they all knew it was fitte to obey him and while he was followed by the valiantest hee made way for the vilest For taking part with the besiegers he made the Amphialians bloud serue for a caparison to his horse and a decking to his armour His arme no oftner gaue blowes then the blowes gaue wounds then the wounds gaue deathes so terrible was his force and yet was his quicknes more forcible then his force and his iudgement more quick then his quicknes For though his sword went faster then eyesight could follow it yet his owne iudgement went still before it There died of his hand Sarpedon Plistonax Strophilus and Hippolitus men of great proofe in warres and who had that day vndertaken the guard of Amphialus But while they sought to saue him they lost the fortresses that Nature had placed them in Then slew he Megalus who was a little before proude to see himselfe stained in the bloud of his enemies but when his owne bloud came to be married to theirs he then felt that Crueltie dooth neuer enioy a good cheape glorie After him sent he Palemon who had that daye vowed with foolish brauerie to be the death of tenne and nine already he had killed and was careful to performe his almost performed vowe when the Blacke Knight helpt him to make vp the tenth himselfe And now the often-changing Fortune began also to chaunge the hewe of the battailes For at the first though it were terrible yet Terror was deckt so brauelie with rich furniture guilt swords shining armours pleasant pensils that the eye with delight had scarce leasure to be afraide But now all vniuersally defiled with dust bloud broken armours mangled bodies tooke away the maske and sette foorth Horror in his owne horrible manner But neither could danger be dreadfull to Amphialus his vndismayable courage nor yet seeme oâ—gly to him whose truely-affected minde did still paint it ouer with the beautie of Philoclea And therefore he rather enflamed then troubled with the encrease of dangers and glad to finde a woorthie subiect to exercise his courage sought out this newe Knight whom he might easilie finde for he like a wanton rich man that throwes downe his neighbours houses to make himselfe the better prospecte so had his sworde made him so spatious a roome that Amphialus had more cause to wonder at the finding then labour for the seeking which if it stirred hate in him to see how much harme he did to the one side it prouoked as much emulation in him to perceaue how much good he did to the other side Therefore they approaching one to the other as in two beautifull folkes Loue naturally stirres a desire of ioyning so in their two courages Hate stirred a desire of triall Then began there a combatte betweene them worthy to haue had more large listes and more quiet beholders for with the spurre of Courage and the bitte of Respect each so guided himselfe that one might well see the desire to ouercome made them not forget how to ouercome in such time and proportion they did employ their blowes that none of Ceres seruaunts could more cunningly place his flaile while the left foote spurre set forward his owne horse the right set backward the contrarie horse euen sometimes by the aduauntage of the enemies legge while the left hande like him that helde the sterne guyded the horses obedient courage All done in such order that it might seeme the minde was a right Prince indeede who sent wise and diligent Lieutenants into each of those well gouerned partes But the more they fought the more they desired to fight and the more they smarted the lesse they felte the smarte and now were like to make a quicke proofe to whome Fortune or Valour would seeme most friendly when in comes an olde Gouernour of Amphialus alwayes a good Knight and carefull of his charge who giuing a sore wound to the blacke Knights thigh while he thought not of him with an other blowe slewe his horse vnder him Amphialus cried to him that he dishonoured him You say well answered the olde Knight to stand now like a priuate souldier setting your credite vpon particular fighting while you may see Basilius with all his hoste is getting betweene you and your towne He looked that way and found that true indeede that the enemie was beginning to encompasse him about and stoppe his returne and therefore causing the retreite to be sounded his Gouernour ledde his men homeward while hee kept himselfe still hindmost as if hee had stoode at the gate of a sluse to let the streame goe with such proportion as should seeme good vnto him and with so manfull discretion perfourmed it that though with losse of many of his men he returned in him selfe safe and content that his enemies had felte how sharpe the sworde could bite of Philocleas Louer The other partie being sorie for the losse of Philanax was yet sorrier when the blacke Knight could not be found For he hauing gotten a horse whom his dying master had bequeathed to the world finding him selfe sore hurt and not desirous to be knowen had in the time of the enemies retiring retired away also his thigh not bleeding bloud so fast as his harte bledde reuenge But Basilius hauing attempted in vaine to barre the safe returne of Amphialus encamped himselfe as strongly as he could while he to his griefe might heare the ioy was made in the towne by his owne subiects that he had that
owne nature sauing onely Man who while by the pregnancie of his imagination he striues to things supernaturall meane-while hee looseth his owne naturall felicitie Be wise and that wisedome shal be a God vnto thee be contented and that is thy heauen for els to thinke that those powers if there bee any such aboue are moued either by the eloquence of our prayers or in a chafe at the folly of our actions caries asmuch reason as if flies should thinke that men take great care which of them hums sweetest and which of them flies nimblest She woulde haue spoken further to haue enlarged and confirmed her discourse when Pamela whose cheeks were died in the beautifullest graine of vertuous anger with eies which glistered foorth beames of disdaine thus interrupted her Peace wicked womā peace vnworthy to breath that doest not acknowledge the breath-giuer most vnworthy to haue a tongue which speakest against him through whom thou speakest keepe your affection to your selfe which like a bemired dog would defile with fauning You say yesterday was as to day O foolish woman and most miserablely foolish since wit makes you foolish What dooth that argue but that there is a constancie in the euerlasting gouernour Woulde you haue an inconstant God since wee count a man foolish that is inconstant He is not seene you say and woulde you thinke him a God who might bee seene by so wicked eyes as yours which yet might see enough if they were not like such who for sport-sake willingly hood-winke themselues to receaue blowes the easier But though I speake to you without any hope of fruite in so rotten a harte and there bee no bodie else here to iudge of my speeches yet be thou my witnesse O captiuitie that my yeares shal not be willingly guiltie of my Creators blasphemie You saie because we know not the causes of things therfore feare was the mother of superstitiō nay because we know that each effect hath a cause that hath engendred a true liuely deuotion For this goodly work of which we are in which we liue hath not his being by Chaūce on which opiniō it is beyōd meruaile by what chaūce any braine could stumble For if it be eternall as you would seeme to conceiue of it Eternity and Chaunce are things vnsufferable together For that is chaunceable which happeneth and if it happen there was a time before it happned when it might haue not happened or els it did not happen and so if chaunceable not eternall And as absurd it is to thinke that if it had a beginning his beginning was deriued from Chaunce for Chaunce could neuer make all things of nothing and if there were substaunces before which by chaunce shoulde meete to make vp this worke thereon followes another bottomlesse pitt of absurdities For then those substaunces must needs haue bene from euer and so eternall and that eternall causes should bring forth chaunceable effectes is as sensible as that the Sunne shoulde bee the author of darkenesse Againe if it were chaunceable then was it not necessarie whereby you take away all consequents But we see in all thinges in some respect or other necessitie of consequence therefore in reason we must needs know that the causes were necessarie Lastly Chaunce is variable or els it is not to be called Chaunce but wee see this worke is steady and permanent If nothing but Chaunce had glewed those pieces of this All the heauie partes would haue gone infinitely downward the light infinitely vpwarde and so neuer haue mett to haue made vp his goodly bodie For before there was a heauen or a earth there was neyther a heauen to stay the height of the rising nor an earth which in respect of the round walles of heauen should become a centre Lastly perfect order perfect beautie perfect constancie if these be the children of Chaunce let wisedome be counted the roote of wickednesse But you will say it is so by nature as much as if you saide it is so because it is so if you meane of many natures conspiring together as in a popular gouernemēt to establish this faire estate as if the Elementishe and ethereall partes shoulde in their towne-house set downe the bounds of each ones office then consider what followes that there must needes haue bene a wisedome which made them concurre for their natures beyng absolute contrarie in nature rather would haue sought each others ruine then haue serued as well consorted partes to such an vnexpressable harmonie For that contrary things should meete to make vp a perfection without a force and Wisedome aboue their powers is absolutely impossible vnles you will flie to that hissed-out opinion of Chaunce againe But you may perhaps affirme that one vniuersal Nature which hath ben for euer is the knitting together of these many partes to such an excellent vnitie If you meane a Nature of wisdome goodnes prouidence which knowes what it doth then say you that which I seeke of you and cannot conclude those blasphemies whith which you defiled your mouth mine eares But if you meane a Nature as we speake of the fire which goeth vpward it knowes not why and of the nature of the Sea which in ebbing and flowing semes to obserue so iust a daunce and yet vnderstands no musicke it is but still the same absurditie superscribed with another title For this worde one being attributed to that which is All is but one mingling of many and many ones as in a lesse matter when we say one kingdome which conteines many citties or one cittie which conteines many persons wherein the vnder ones if there be not a superiour power and wisedome cannot by nature regarde to any preseruation but of themselues no more wee see they doo since the water willingly quenches the fire and drownes the earth so farre are they from a conspired vnitie but that a right heauenly Nature indeed as it were vnnaturinge them doth so bridle them Againe it is as absurde in nature that from an vnitie many contraries should proceede still kept in a vnitie as that from the number of contrarieties an vnitie should arise I say still if you banish both a singularitie and pluralitie of iudgement from among them then if so earthly a minde can lift it selfe vp so hie doo but conceaue how a thing whereto you giue the highest and most excellent kind of being which is eternitie can be of a base vilest degree of being and next to a not-being which is so to be as not to enioy his owne being I will not here call all your senses to witnes which can heare nor see nothing which yeeldes not most euident euidence of of the vnspeakeablenesse of that Wisedome each thinge being directed to an ende and an ende of preseruation so proper effects of iudgement as speaking and laughing are of mankind But what madd furie can euer so enueagle any conceipte as to see our mortal and corruptible selues to haue a reason and that this
armour and deuice streight knowne to be the notable Knight who the first day had giuen Fortune so short a stoppe with his notable deedes and fighting hand to hand the deemed inuincible Amphialus Fonthe very cowardes no sooner saw him but as borrowing some of his spirit they went like yong Eagles to the pray vnder the wing of their damme For the three aduenturers not content on For her exceeding faire eyes hauing with continual weeping gotten a little rednesse about them her roundy sweetly swelling lippes a little trembling as though they kissed their neighbour death in her cheekes the whitenesse striuing by little little to get vpoÌ„ the rosines of theÌ„ her necke a necke indeed of Alablaster displaying the wound which with most daintie blood laboured to drowne his owne beauties so as here was a riuer of purest redde there an Iland of perfittest white each giuing lustre to the other with the sweete countenance God-knowes full of an vnafected languishing though these thinges to a grosly conceauing sense might seeme disgraces yetâ—indeed were they but apparaling beautie in a new fashion which all looked-vpon thorough the spectacles of pittie did euen encrease the lynes of her naturall fairenes so as Amphialus was astonished with griefe compassion and shame detesting his fortune that made him vnfortunate in victory Therefore putting off his headpeece and gauntlet kneeling downe vnto her and with teares testifying his sorow he offred his by himselfe accursed handes to helpe her protesting his life and power to be readie to doo her honour But Parthenia who had inward messingers of the desired deathes approch looking vpon him and streight turning away her feeble sight as from a delightlesse obiect drawing out her words which her breath loath to departe from so sweet a bodie did faintly deliuer Sir said she I pray you if prayers haue place in enemies to let my maides take my body vntouched by you the onely honour I now desire by your meanes is that I haue no honour of you Argalus made no such bargaine with you that the handes which killed him shoulde helpe me I haue of them and I doo not onely pardon you but thanke you for it the seruice which I desired There rests nothing now but that I go liue with him since whose death I haue done nothing but die Then pawsing and a little fainting and againe comming to herselfe O sweete life wel come saide she nowe feele I the bandes vntied of the cruell death which so long hath helde me And O life O death aunswere for mee that my thoughts haue not so much as in a dreame tasted any comfort since they were depriued of Argalus I come my Argalus I come And O God hide my faultes in thy mercies and graunt as I feele thou doost graunt that in thy eternall loue we may loue eche other eternally And this O Lorde But there Atropos cut off her sentence for with that casting vp both eyes and hands to the skies the noble soule departed one might well assure himselfe to heauen which left the bodie in so heauenly a demeanure But Amphialus with a hart oppressed with griefe because of her request withdrewe himselfe but the Iudges as full of pitie had bene al this while disarming her and her gentelwomen with lamentable cries laboring to stanch the remediles wounds and a while she was dead before they perceiued it death being able to diuide the soule but not the beauty from that body But when the infallible tokens of death assured them of their losse one of the women would haue killed her selfe but that the squire of Amphialus perceauing it by force held her Others that had as strong passion though weaker resolution fell to cast dust vppon their heads to teare their garments al falling vpon the earth crying vpon their sweet mistres as if their cries could perswade the soule to leaue the celestiall happines to come againe into the elements of sorrow one time calling to remembrance her vertue chastnes sweetnes goodnes to them another time accursing themselues that they had obeyed her they hauing bene deceaued by her words who asâ—ured theÌ„ that it was reuealed vnto her that she should haue her harts desire in the battaile against Amphialus which they wrongly vnderstood Then kissing her cold hands and feete wearie of the world since she was gone who was their world The very heauens seemed with a cloudie countenance to loure at the losse and Fame it selfe though by nature glad to tell such rare accidents yet could not choose but deliuer it in lamentable accents and in such sort went it quickly all ouer the Campe and as if the aire had bene infected with sorow no hart was so hard but was subiect to that contagion the rarenes of the accideÌ„t matching together the rarely matched together pittie with admiration Basilius himselfe came foorth and brought the faire Gynecia with him who was come into the campe vnder colour of visiting her husband and hearing of her daughters but indeed Zelmane was the Sainct to which her pilgrimage was entended cursing enuying blessing and in her hart kissing the walles which imprisoned her But both they with Philanax and the rest of the principall Nobilitie went out to make Honour triumph ouer Death conueying that excellent body whereto Basilius himselfe would needes lende his shoulder to a Church a mile from the Campe where the valiant Argalus lay intombed recommending to that sepulchre the blessed reliques of faithfull and vertuous Loue giuing order for the making of marble images to represent them and each way enriching the tombe Vpon which Basilius himselfe caused this Epitaph to be written The Epitaph HIs being was in her alone And he not being she was none They ioi'd one ioy one griefe they grieu'd One loue they lou'd one life they liu'd The hand was one one was the sword That did his death hir death afford As all the rest so now the stone That tombes the two is iustly one ARGALVS PARTHENIA Then with eyes full of teares and mouthes full of her prayses returned they to the campe with more and more hate against Amphialus who poore Gentleman had therefore greater portion of woe then any of them For that courteous hearte which would haue grieued but to haue heard the like aduenture was rent with remembring himselfe to be the author so that his wisdome could not so far temper his passion but that he tooke his sword counted the best in the world which with much bloud he had once conquered of a mighty Giant and brake it into many peeces which afterwards he had good cause to repent saying that neither it was worthy to serue the noble exercise of chiualrie nor any other worthy to feele that sword which had stroken so excelleÌ„t a Lady and withall banishing all cheerfulnes of his countenance he returned home Where he gate him to his bed not so much to rest his restles mind as to auoid all company the sight wherof was tedious vnto him
harte woulde euer haue yeelded to goe And if so I doe not rightlie tearme you all other wordes are as bootelesse as my deede miserable and I as vnfortunate as you wicked my Prince Musidorus I saye nowe that the vehement shewes of your faithfull Loue towardes mee haue brought my minde to answeare it in so due a proportion that contrarie to all generall rules of reason I haue layde in you my estate my life my honour it is your part to double your former care and make me see your vertue no lesse in preseruing then in obtaining and your faith to bee a faith asmuch in freedome as bondage Tender now your owne workemanshippe and so gouerne your loue towardes me as I may still remaine worthie to bee loued Your promise you Remember which here by the eternall giuers of vertue I coniure you to obserue let me be your owne as I am but by no vniust conquest let not our ioyes which ought euer to last bee stayned in our own consciences let no shadow of repentaunce steale into the sweet consideration of our mutuall happines I haue yeelded to bee your wife staye then till the time that I may rightly bee so let no other defiled name burden my harte What shoulde I more saye If I haue chosen well all doubte is past since your action onely must determine whether I haue done vertuously or shamefully in following you Musidorus that had more aboundaunce of ioye in his hart then Vlisses had what time with his owne industrie he stale the fatall Palladium imagined to bee the only relicke of Troies safetie taking Pamelas hand and many times kissing it What I am said he the Gods I hope will shortly make your owne eyes Iudges and of my minde towards you the meane time shal be my pledge vnto you your contentment is dearer to me then mine owne therfore doubt not of his mind whose thoughts are so thralled vnto you as you are to bend or slack them as it shall sâ—eme best vnto you You do wrong to your selfe to make any doubte that a base estate could euer vndertake so high an enterprise or a spotted minde bee hable to beholde your vertues Thus much onely I must confesse I can neuer doe to make the worlde see you haue chosen worthily since all the world is not worthy of you In such delightfull discourses kept they on their Iournye mayntaining their hartes in that right harmonie of affection which doth enterchangeably deliuer each to other the secret workinges of their soules till with the vnused trauaile the Princesse being weary they lighted downe in a faire thyckwood which did entise them with the pleasantnes of it to take their rest there It was all of Pine trees whose brodeheades meeting togither yeelded a perfit shade to the ground where their bodies gaue a spacious and pleasant roome to walke in they were sett in so perfet an order that euerie waye the eye being full yet no way was stopped And euen in the middest of them were there many sweete springes which did loose themselues vpon the face of the earth Here Musidorus drew out such prouision of fruites other cates as he had brought for that dayes repaste and layde it downe vpon the faire Carpet of the greene grasse But Pamela had much more pleasure to walke vnder those trees making in their barkes prettie knottes which tyed togither the names of Musidorus and Pamela sometimes entermixedly changing there to Pammedorus and Musimela with twentie other flowers of her trauiling fancies which had bounde them selues to a greater restrainte then they could without much painewell endure and to one tree more beholdinge to her then the rest she entrusted the treasure of her thoughtes in these verses DO not disdaine ô streight vp raised Pine That wounding thee my thoughtes in thee I graue Since that my thoughtes as streight as streightnes thine No smaller wound alas farr deeper haue Deeper engrau'd which salue nor time can saue Giu'ne to my harte by my fore wounded eyne Thus cruell to my selfe how canst thou craue My inward hurte should spare thy outward rineâ— Yet still fairetree lifte vp thy stately line Liue long and long witnesse my chosen smarte Which barde desires barde by my selfe imparte And in this growing barke growe verses myne My harte my worde my worde hath giu'ne my harte The giuer giu'n from gifte shall neuer parte Vpon a roote of the tree that the earth had lefte something barer then the rest she wrat this couplet SWeete roote say thou the roote of my desire Was vertue cladde in constant loues attire Musidorus seing her fancies drawne vp to such pleasaunt contemplations accompanied her in them and made the trees aswell beare the badges of his passionsâ— As this songe engraued in them did testifie YOu goodly pines which still with braue assent In natures pride your heads to heau'nwarde heaue Though you besides such graces earth hath lent Of some late grace a greater grace receaue By her who was O blessed you content With her faire hande your tender barkes to cleaue And so by you O blessed you hath sent Such pearcing wordes as no thoughts els conceaue Yet yeeld your graunt a baser hand may leaue His thoughtes in you where so sweete thoughtes were spent For how would you the mistresse thoughts bereaue Of waiting thoughts all to her seruice ment Nay higher thoughtes though thralled thoughtes I call My thoughtes then hers who first your ryne did rente Then hers to whom my thoughts a lonely thrall Rysing from lowe are to the highest bente Where hers whom worth makes highest ouer all Comming from her cannot but downewarde fall While Pamela sitting her downe vnder one of them and making a posie of the fayer vndergrowinge flowers filled Musidorus eares with the heauenly sounde of her musicke which before he had neuer heard so that it seemed vnto him a new assaulte giuen to the castle of his hart alredye conquered which to signifie and with all replie to her sweete noates hee sang in a kinde of still but rauishing tune a fewe verses her song was this and his Replie followes Pamela LIke diuers flowers whose diuers beauties serue To decke the earth with his well-colourde weede Though each of them his priuate forme preserue Yet ioyning formes one sight of beautie breede Right so my thoughts where on my hart I feede Right so my inwarde partes and outward glasse Though each possesse a diuers working kinde Yet all well knit to one faire end do passe That he to whome these sondrie giftes I binde All what I am still one his owne doe finde Musidorus All what you are still one his owne to finde You that are borne to be the worldes eye What were it els but to make each thing blinde And to the sunne with waxen winges to flie No no such force with my small force to trye Is not my skill or reach of mortall minde Call me but yours my title is most hye Holde me most yours
word coulde his eloquence procure of Mopsa who indeed was there attending for greater matters This was yet a newe burthen to poore Damaetas who thought all the worlde was conspired against him and therefore with a seely choler he began another tune Thou vile Mopsa saide he now the vengeance of my fatherly curse light ouerthwart thee if thou doe not streight answere me But neither blessing nor cursing coulde preuaile Mopsa who was now great with childe with the expectation of her may-game hopes and did long to be deliuered with the thirde time being named Which by and by followed For Damaetas rubbing his elbowe stamping and whining seing neither of these take place began to throwe stones at her and withall to coniure her by the name of hellish Mopsa But when he had named her the third time no chime can more sodainly follow the striking of a Clocke then shee verily thinking it was the God that vsed her fathers voice throwing our armes abroade and not considering she was muffled vpon so high a tree came fluttering down like a hooded hawke like enough to haue broken her neck but that the tree full of bowes tossed her from one bow to another and lastly well brused brought her to receiue an vnfrindly salutation of the earth Damaetas as soone as she was downe came running to her and finding her so close wrapt pulled of the scarlet cloake in good time for her for with the sorenesse of the fall if she had not had breath giuen her she had deliuered a foolish soule to Pluto But then Damaetas began a fresh to desire his daughter not to forget the paines he had taken for her in her childhoode which he was sure she could not remember and to tell him where Pamela was O good Apollo saide Mopsa if euer thou didest beare loue to Phaethons mother let me haue a King to my husband Alas what speakest thou of Phaethon Saide Damaetas If by thy circumspect meanes I finde not out Pamela thy father will be hanged to morrow It is no matter though he be hanged answered Mopsa doe but thou make Dorus a King and let him bee my husband good Apollo for my courage doth much pricke mee towarde him Ah Mopsa cryed out Damaetas where is thy witt Doest thou not know thy father How hast thou forgotten thy selfe I do not aske witt of thee mine owne God said shee but I see thou wouldest haue me remember my father and indeede forget my selfe No no a good husband thou shalt haue thy fill of husbandes saide Damaetas and doe but answere me my question O I thanke thee saide Mopsa withall my harte hartely but let them bee all Kinges Damaetas seing no other way preuaile fel downe on his knees Mopsa Mopsa saide he doe not thus cruelly torment me I am already wretched enough alas either helpe me or tell me thou canst not She that woulde not bee behinde Apollo in curtesie kneeled downe on thother side I wil neuer leaue tormenting thee said Mopsa vntill thou hast satisfied my longing but I will proclaime thee a promise breaker that euen Iupiter shall heare it Now by the fostring thou hast receaued in this place saue my life saide Damaetas now by the faire Ash aunswered Mopsa where thou didest receaue so great a good turne graunt post haste to my burning fancie O where is Pamela saide Damaetas O a lustie husband saide Mopsa Damaetas that nowe verely assured himselfe his daughter was madd beganne vtterly to dispaire of his life and therefore amazedly catching her in his armes to see whether hee coulde bring her to her selfe hee might feele the weight of of a greate cudgell light vpon his shoulders and for the first greeting hee knew his wife Misos voice by the calling him ribaulde villaine asking him whether she coulde not serue his turne as well as Charita For Miso hauing according to Dorus counsaile gone to Mantinea and there harboured her selfe in an olde acquaintaunce house of hers as soone as tenne of the clocke was striken where shee had remayned closely all that while I thinke with such an amiable cheare as when iealous Iuno sate crosse-legged to hinder the child-birth of her husbands loue with open mouth shee went to the Magistrate appointed ouer such matters and there with the most scolding inuectiue her rage rather then eloquence could bring forth she required his ayde to take Damaetas who had lefte his dutie to the Kinge and his daughter to cōmit adultery in the house of Charitas vncle in the Ondemian streete But neither was the name of Charita remembred nor any such streete knowne Yet such was the generall mislike all men had of Damaetas vnworthy aduancement that euery man was glad to make himselfe a minister of that which might redounde to his shame and therfore with Panike cries and laughters there was no suspected place in all the cittie but was searched for vnder the title of Damaetas Miso euer formost encowraging them withall the shamefull blasings of his demeanoure encreasing the sporte of hunting her husband with her diligent barking till at length hauing already done both him and her selfe as much infamous shame as such a tonge in such an action might performe in the end not being able to find a thing that was not to her mare again she wēt hauing neither suspition nor rage any thing mitigated But leauing behinde her a sufficient comedie of her tragicall fancies away homewarde she came imputing the not finding her husband to any chaunce rather then to his innocencie For her harte being apt to receaue and nourish a bitter thought it had so swallowed vp a determinate condemnation that in the verie anotomie of her spirits one should haue found nothing but diuelish disdaine and hatefull iealousie In this sorte grunting out her mischeuous spite shee came by the tree euen as Damaetas was making that ill vnderstoode intercession to his foolish Mopsa As soone as she harde her husbands voice she verily thought she had her playe and therefore stealing from her mare as softely as she coulde shee came creeping and halting behinde him euen as he thinking his daughters little witts had quite lefte her great nowle beganne to take her in his armes thinking perchaunce her feeling sence might call her mind partes vnto her But Miso who sawe nothing but thorowe the coulloure of reuenge-full anger established vpon the fore-iudgement of his trespasse vndoubtedly resoluing that Mopsa was Charita Dorus had tolde her of mumping out her hoarse chafe she gaue him the wooden salutation you hearde of Damaetas that was not so sensible in any thing as in blows turned vp his blubbred face like a great lowt newe whipte Alas thou woman said hee what hath thy poore husband deserued to haue his owne ill lucke loaden with thy displeasure Pamela is lost Pamela is lost Miso still holding on the course of her former fancie what tellest thou mee naughtie varlet of Pamela doest thou thinke that doth aunswere me for abusing the lawes of
it shoulde not onely be vniust and against the lawe of Nations not well to receyue a Prince whome good will had brought among them but in respecte of the greatnes of his might very daungerous to geue him any cause of due offence remembring withall the excellent tryalls of his equitie which made him more famous then his victoryes hee thought hee might bee the fittest instrumente to redresse the ruynes they were in since his goodnes put hym without suspicion and hys greatnesse beyonde enuye Yet weighing with himselfe howe harde many heads were to be brideled and that in this monstrous confusion such mischiefe mighte be attempted of which late repentance should after be but a simple remedie he iudged best first to knowe how the peoples mindes would sway to this determinacion Therefore desiring the Gentleman to returne to the King his maister and to beseech him though with his paynes to stay for an houre or two where he was till he had set things in better order to receiue him he himselfe went fyrst to the Noble men then to Kalander and the principall Mantineans who were most opposite vnto him desiring them that as the night had most blessedly stayed them from entring into ciuill bloud so they would be content in the night to assemble the people together to heare some newes which he was to deliuer vnto them There is nothing more desirous of nouelties then a man that feares his present fortune Therefore they whome mutuall diffidence made doubtfull of their vtter destruction were quickly perswaded to heare of any newe matter which might alter at least if not helpe the nature of their feare Namely the chiefest men who as they had most to lose so were most iealous of their owne case and were alreadye growne as wearye to be followers of Timantus ambition as before they were enuyers of Philanax worthinesse As for Kalander and Sympathus as in the one a vertuous friendship had made him seeke to aduaunce in the other a naturall commiseration had made him willing to protect the excellent though vnfortunate prisoners so were they not against this conuocation For hauing nothing but iust desires in them they did not mistrust the iustifyeng of them Only Timantus laboured to haue withdrawne them from this assemblye sayeng it was time to stop their eares from the ambitious charmes of Philanax Let them fyrst deliuer Gynaecia and her daughters which were fit persons to heare and then they might begin to speake That this was but Philanax comming to liâ—ke broyle vpon broyle because he might auoyd the answering of his trespasses which as he had long intended so had he prepared coullored speeches to disguise them But as his words expressed rather a violence of rancour then any iust ground of accusation so pierced they no further then to some partiall eares the multitude yeelding good attention to what Philanax would propose vnto them Who like a man whose best building was a well-framed conscience neyther with plausible words nor fawning countenance but euen with the graue behauiour of a wise father whome nothing but loue makes to chide thus sayd vnto them I haue said he a great matter to deliuer vnto you and thereout am I to make a greater demaund of you But truly such hath this late proceeding bene of yours that I knowe not what is not to be demaunded of you Me thinkes I may haue reason to require of you as men are woont among Pirates that the life of him that neuer hurt you may be safe Me thinkes I am not without apparence of cause as if you were Cyclopes or Cannibals to desire that our Princes body which hath thirtie yeares maintained vs in a flourishing peace be not torne in pieces or deuoured among you but may be suffred to yeeld it selfe which neuer was defiled with any of your blouds to the naturall rest of the earth Me thinkes not as to Arcadians renowmed for your faith to Prince and loue of Country but as to sworne enemyes of this sweete soyle I am to desire you that at least if you will haue straungers to your Princes yet you will not deliuer the seignory of this goodly Kingdome to your noble Kings murtherers Lastly I haue reason as if I had to speake to mad men to desire you to be good to your selues For before God what either barbarous violence or vnnaturall follie hath not this day had his seate in your mindes and left his footsteps in your actions But in troth I loue you too well to stand long displayeng your faults I would you your selues did forget them so you did not fall againe into them For my part I had much rather be an orator of your prayses But now if you will suffer attentiue iudgement and not foreiudging passion to be the waigher of my wordes I will deliuer vnto you what a blessed meane the Gods haue sent vnto you if you list to embrace it I thinke there is none among you so young either in yeares or vnderstanding but hath heard the true fame of that iust Prince Euarchus King of Macedon A Prince with whom our late maister did euer holde most perfit alliance He euen he is this day come hauing but twenty horse with him within two miles of this place hoping to haue found the vertuous Basilius aliue but now willing to do honor to his death Surely surely the heauenly powers haue in so full a time bestowed him on vs to vnite our diuisions For my part therefore I wish that since among our selues we can not agree in so manifold partialities we do put the ordering of all these things into his hands aswell touching the obsequies of the King the punishment of his death as the mariage and crowning of our Princesse He is both by experience and wisedome taught how to direct his greatnesse such as no man can disdaine to obey him his equitie such as no man neede to feare him Lastly as he hath all these qualities to helpe so hath he though he would no force to hurt If therfore you so thinke good since our lawes beare that our Princes murther be chastized before his murthered bodie be buried we may inuite him to sit to morowe in the iudgement seate which done you may after proceede to the buriall When Philanax first named Euarchus landing there was a muttring murmur among the people as though in that euil ordered weaknes of theirs he had come to conquer their country But when they vnderstood he had so small a retinue whispring one with another and looking who should begin to confirme Philanax proposition at length Sympathus was the first that allowed it then the rest of the Noblemen neither did Kalander striue hoping so excellent a Prince could not but deale graciously with two such young men whose authoritie ioyned to Philanax all the popular sort followed Timantus still blinded with his owne ambitious haste not remembring factions are no longer to be trusted then the factious may be perswaded it is for their
magnanimity seemed to triumph ouer misery Only receiuing of Plangus perfit instruction of all things coÌ„cerning Plexirtus Artaxia with promise not only to aid him in deliuering Erona but also with vehemeÌ„t protestation neuer to returne into Macedon til he had pursued the murtherers to death he dispatched with speed a ship for Byzantium coÌ„manding the gouernor to prouide all necessaries for the war against his owne comming which he purposed should be very shortly In this ship Plangus would needs go impacient of stay for that in many days before he had vnderstood nothing of his Ladies estate Soone after whose departure newes was brought to Euarchus that all the ships detained in Italy were returned For the Latines finding by Euarchus procedings their intent to be frustrate as before by his sodaine returne they doubted it was discouered deeming it no wisdom to shew the will not hauing the abilitie to hurt had not only in free frendly maner dismissed them but for the time wholy omitted their enterprise attending the oportunitie of fitter occasion By meanes wherof Euarchus rid froÌ„ the cumber of that war likely otherwise to haue staied him longer with so great a fleete as haste would suffer him to assemble forthwith imbarqued for Byzantium And now followed with fresh windes he had in short time runne a long course when on a night encountred with an extreme tempest his shippes were so scattered that scarcely any two were lefte together As for the Kings owne shippe depriued of all company sore brused and weather-beateÌ„ able no loÌ„ger to brooke the seas churlish entertainmeÌ„t a litle before day it recouered the shore The first light made theÌ„ see it was the vnhappy coast of Laconia for no other country could haue shown the like euideÌ„ce of vnnatural war Which hauing long endured betwene the nobilitie and the Helotes and once compounded by Pyrocles vnder the name of Daiphantus imediately vpon his departure had broken out more violently then euer before For the King taking the oportunitie of their captaines absence refused to performe the condicions of peace as extorted from him by rebellious violence Whereupon they were againe deepely entred into warre with so notable an hatred towardes the very name of a King that Euarchus though a straunger vnto them thought it not safe there to leaue his person where neither his owne force could be a defence nor the sacred name of Maiestie a protection Therefore calling to him an Arcadian one that comming with Plâ—ngus had remained with Euarchus desirous to see the warres hee demaunded of him for the next place of suretie where hee might make his staye vntill hee might heare somewhat of his fleete or cause his ship to bee repaired The gentleman glad to haue this occasion of doing seruice to Euarchus and honour to Basilius to wâ—om he knew hee shoulde bring a most welcome gueste tolde him that if it pleased him to commit himselfe to Arcadia a parte whereof laie open to their vewe he woulde vndertake ere the next night were farre spent to guide him safely to his master Basilius The present necessitie much preuailed with Euarchus yet more a certaine vertuous desire to trie whether by his authoritie he might withdrawe Basilius from burying himselfe aliue and to imploy the rest of his olde yeares in doing good the onely happie action of mans life For besides the vniuersall case of Greece depriued by this meanes of a principall piller he weighed and pitied the pittyfull state of the Arcadian people who were in worse case then if death had taken away their Prince For so yet their necessitie would haue placed some one to the helme now a Prince being and not doing like a Prince keeping and not exercising the place they were in so much more euill case as they coulde not prouide for their euill These rightly wise vertuous coÌ„sideratioÌ„s especially moued Euarchus to take his iourny towards the desert where arriuing within night and vnderstanding to his great griefe the newes of the Princes death hee wayted for his safe conduct from Philanax in the meane time taking his rest vnder a tree with no more affected pompes then as a man that knew how soeuer he was exalted the beginning and end of his body was earth But Philanax as soone as he was in sight of him lighting from his horse presented himselfe vnto him in all those humble behauiours which not only the great reuerence of the partie but the conceit of ones owne miserie is woont to frame Euarchus rase vp vnto him with so gratious a couÌ„tenaunce as the goodnes of his mind had long exercised him vnto carefull so much more to descend in all curtesies as he sawe him beare a lowe representation of his afflicted state But to Philanax assoone as by neere looking on him he might perfectly behold him the grauitie of his countenaunce and yeares not much vnlike to his late deceassed but euer beloued master brought his forme so liuely vnto his memorie and reuiued so all the thoughtes of his wonted ioyes within him that in steede of speaking to Euarchus hee stoode a while like a man gone a farre iorney from himselfe calling as it were with his minde an account of his losses imagining that this paine needed not if nature had not ben violently stopped of her owne course and casting more louing then wise conceites what a world this woulde haue bene if this sodaine accident had not interrupted it And so farre strayed hee into this rauing melancholy that his eyes nimbler then his tounge let fall a floud of teares his voice being stopped with extremitie of sobbing so much had his friendshippe caried him to Basilius that hee thought no age was timely for his death But at length taking the occasion of his owne weeping he thus did speake to Euarchus Let not my teares most worthely renowmed Prince make my presence vnpleasant or my speach vnmarked of you For the iustnes of the cause takes away the blame of any weakenes in me and the affinitie that the same beareth to your greatnes seemes euen lawfully to clayme pitty in you A Prince of a Princes fall a louer of iustice of a most vniust violence And geue me leaue excellent Euarchus to say I am but the representer of all the late florishing Arcadia which now with mine eyes doth weepe with my toong doth complaine with my knees doth lay it selfe at your feete which neuer haue bene vnreadie to carie you to the vertuous protecting of innocents Imagine vouchsafe to imagine most wise and good King that heere is before your eyes the pittifull spectacle of a most dolorously ending tragedie wherein I do but play the part of all the newe miserable prouince which being spoiled of their guide doth lye like a ship without a Pilot tumbling vp and downe in the vncertaine waues till it either runne it selfe vpon the rockes of selfe-diuision or be ouerthrowne by the stormie winde of forreine force Arcadia finding her selfe in these desolate tearmes doth
that you do well by his children And what more honor I pray you can you do to his obsequies then to satisfie his soule with a louing memorie as you do his body with an vnfelt solemnitie What haue you done with the Princesse Pamela Pamela the iust enheretrix of this Countrey Pamela whom this earth may be happy that it shall be hereafter sayde she was borne in Arcadia Pamela in her selfe your ornament in her education your foster childe and euery way your only Princesse what accompt can you render to your selues of her Truly I do not thinke that you all knowe what is become of her so soone may a Diamond be lost so soone may the fayrest light in the world be put out But looke looke vnto it O Arcadians be not so wilfully robbed of your greatest treasure make not your selues ministers to priuate ambitions who do but vse your selues to put on your owne yokes Whatsoeuer you determine of vs who I must confesse are but strangers yet let not Basilius daughters be straungers vnto you Lastly howsoeuer you barre her from her publicke souereigntie which if you do little may we hope of equitie where rebellion raignes yet deny not that childs right vnto her that she may come and do the last duties to her fathers body Deny not that happines if in such a case there be any happines to your late King that his body may haue his last touch of his deerest child With such like broken maner of questions and speeches was Musidorus desirous as much as in passing by them he could to moue the people to tender Pamelas fortune But at length by that they came to the iudgement place both Sympathus and his guider had greatly satisfied him with the assurance they gaue him this assemblie of people had neyther meaning nor power to do any hurt to the Princesse whome they all acknowledged as their souereigne Lady But that the custome of Arcadia was such till she had more yeares the state of the country to be guided by a Protector vnder whome he and his fellow were to receiue their iudgement That eased Musidorus hart of his most vehement care when he found his beloued Lady to be out of daunger But Pyrocles assoone as the Queene of the one side he and Musidorus of the other were stayed before the face of their iudge hauing only for their barre the Table on which the Kings body lay being nothing lesse vexed with the doubt of Philoclea then Musidorus was for Pamela in this sort with a lowlie behauiour and only then like a suppliant he spake to the Protector Pardon me most honoured Iudge said he that vncommaunded I begin my speech vnto you since both to you and me these wordes of mine shall be most necessary To you hauing the sacred exercise of iustice in your hand nothing appertaines more properly then truth nakedly freely set downe To me being enuironed round about with many daungerous calamities what can be more conuenient then at least to be at peace with my selfe in hauing discharged my conscience in a most behouefull veritie Vnderstand therefore and truly vnderstand that the Lady Philoclea to whose vnstayned vertue it hath bene my vnspeakeable miserye that my name should become a blot if she be accused is most vniustly accused of any dishonorable fact which by my meanes she may be thought to haue yelded vnto Whatsoeuer hath bene done hath bene my only attempt which notwithstanding was neuer intended against her chastetye But whatsoeuer hath bene enformed was my fault And I attest the heauens to blaspheame which I am not now in fit tune that so much as my comming into her chamber was wholie vnwitting vnto her This your wisdome may withall consider if I would lye I would lye for mine owne behoofe I am not so olde as to be weary of my selfe But the very sting of my inward knowledge ioyned with the consideracion I must needes haue what an infinite losse it should be to all those whose loue goodnes in good folkes if so pure a child of vertue should wrongfully be destroyed compells me to vse my toong against my selfe and receiue the burden of what euill was vppon my owne doing Looke therefore with pittifull eyes vppon so fayre beames and that misfortune which by me hath fallen vppon her helpe to repaier it with your publicke iudgement since whosoeuer deales cruelly with such a creature shewes himselfe a hater of mankinde and an enuier of the worlds blisse And this peticion I make euen in the name of iustice that before you proceed further against vs I may knowe how you conceiue of her noble though vnfortunate action and what iudgement you will make of it He had not spoken his last word when all the whole people both of great and low estate confirmed with an vnited murmur Pyrocles demaund longing for the loue generally was borne Philoclea to knowe what they might hope of her Euarchus though neither regarding a prisoners passionate prayer nor bearing ouerplausible eares to a many hedded motion yet well enough content to winne their liking with things in themselues indifferent he was content first to seeke asmuch as might be of Philocleas behauior in this matter which being cleered by Pyrocles but weakely gaynesayd by Philanax who had framed both his owne Damaetas euidence most for her fauour and in truth could haue gone no further then coniecture yet finding by his wisedome that she was not altogether faultlesse he pronounced she should all her life long be kept prisoner among certaine women of religion like the vestall nonnes so to repaye their touched honour of her house with well obseruing a stryctt profession of chastitie Although this were a greate preiudicating of Pyrocles case yet was hee exceedingly ioyous of it being assured of his Ladies life and in the depth of his minde not sorry that what ende soeuer he had none should obtaine the after enioying that Iewell whereon he had set his liues happines After it was by publicque sentence deliuered what should be done with the sweete Philoclea the lawes of Arcadia bearing that what was appointed by the magistrates in the noneage of the Prince coulde not afterwards be repealed Euarchus still vsing to himselfe no other name but protector of Arcadia commaunded those that had to say against the Queene Gynecia to proceede because both her estate required shee shoulde bee first heard and also for that shee was taken to bee the principall in the greatest matter they were to iudge of Philanax incontinently stepped foorth and shewing in his greedy eyes that he did thirst for her bloud beganne a well thought on discourse of her in his iudgement execrable wickednes But Gynecia standing vp before the iudge casting abroad her armes with her eyes hiddē vnder the bredth of her vnseemely hart laying open in all her gestures the despairefull affliction to which all the might of her reason was conuerted with such like words stopped Philanax as hee was entring