seeke Alfagus sith that hee was clad in such araye In which full poorelye he had gone and traueyled nyght and daye Wherfore to tarry thear besydes he held it for the best And so he set him downe a whyle his weerye lymmes to rest ¶ And sayd if fortune so prouyde that Alfagus come thys way I will present my selfe to him to heare what he will saye I know ryght well be knoweth me my face when he doeth ser Therfore if fortune woulde do so ryght ioyfull should I bee ¶ Archelaus being in this thought and as he dyd deuyse Alfagus and his Ladie hee within his gate espyse Who issuing out immedyatly for theyr dysporte and playe Amounted in moste pleasaunt wyse vppon theyr Palfrayes gaye ¶ And rydynge thus for theyr solace Archelaus did beholde But seing hym clad with such arare all ragged in euery folde So vyle and fylthy to theyr syght his rayment did appeere That no regarde they had to hym ne did behoulde his cheere ¶ And so dyd passe foorth on their waye not knowyng whom it was The which within Archelaus harte â–ª such cares did bringe to passe That sure Alâ—agns he did thinke his fortune had contemned That beyng opprest with mortall cares and heauines longe defended ¶ Downe in a sound be fell for why no longer might be stand But one amongst them which stoode by did take hym by the hand And wyth the helpe of others theare reuyued him agayne Thinkyng that he had bin sycke not knowyng hys carefull payne ¶ And when he to him selfe was come he made no longe delay But forthwith did depart and from the Citie tooke hys waye Intendyng to abyde nomore with Alfagus for to taulke But as awild beast wander about thorow all the world to walke ¶ But for to rest his wearye lymmes then force did him constrayne Within an old barne for to go that theare he myght complaynt His cruell fortune all alone the which place when he found Without respect of death or lyfe he cast hym on the grounde ¶ And wepyng with most dolorous cryes his fortune dyd bewayle ¶ O thou Alfagus then quoth he why doest thou mee dysdayne O fayned freindship why so longe hast thou dwelt with vs twayne Myne owne kynde harte hath caused thys alas why did I so Why let I not that vnkynde wretche haue dyed full longe a go ¶ Alfagus I had thought thou wouldst not haue ben so vnkynde To me which of so many yeares hath ben thy louynge freinde Alas my kynsfolkes nowe I fynde your wordes to be full true I would to god that I had byn â–ª aruled then by you ¶ Where is Alfagus thy kinde harte which thou wast wont to showe Where is thy sweete acquayntauÌ„ce whych betweene vs I did knowe O cruell fortune why hast thou me thus farre in disdayne You spsters three by fatall doome why do you now refrayne ¶ To stop my breath and send my soule where Lymbowes kingdomes lye On Limbo lake in Charons boate to take my destynie I will no longer lyue quoth hee in this great wretchednes But ryd this â—elly Ghost of myne from payne and eke dystresse ¶ And therwithall his knyfe he drew in poynt hym selfe to kyll But god so wrought agaynst his mynde and former wicked wyll And by the knowledge which he had longe in Phylosophye Consyderyng wysely euery thynge withstood that destenie ¶ Yet oft tymes would he take the knyfe hys fatall wound to make But wysdome did perswade him styll hys folly to forsake And on this wyse within hym selfe alone contendynge styll With cruell cares and tormentes thus betweene wisdome and wyll ¶ Fatigated with longe watche and iourneyes great with all As god would haue it in this wyse on deadly sleepe dyd fall His knyfe wherwyth he dyd intende hym selfe as then to slaye Fell downe hym by as hee on sleepe hys wery bones dyd laye ¶ common robber hauynge flayne a man entreth into the Barne wheare Archelaus sleepeth He taketh vp the knife and putteth it in the deade mans wound and layeth it agayne by Archelaus who beyng so founde is accused to dye At laste he is knowen of Alfagus who taketh the fact vpon him to saue his frendes lyfe offereth to dye Cap. viii THe whilste be on thys wyes did lye as fortune dyd prouyde A coÌ„mon theefe or robber was a waytyng there besyde To do sum vyllanous acte or deede on traueylers by the waye Naught els his practyce was but so dyd lyue both nyght and daye ¶ And by aduenture at that tyme a marchaunte traueylyng by The fore sayd theefe behynde a bushe dyd well his tyme espye And sodenly the man he tooke who thought no harme ne ill And not contented with his goods foorthwith he dyd hym kyll ¶ Wherfore that he myght well eskape and not to be espyed In the barne where Aâ—chelaus laye full fast hym selfe he hyed Who when he entred was and on Archelaus dyd beholde And that full faste on sleepe he laye as I before haue tolde ¶ Hee looked on hys face and sawe with cares hee was opprest And that the sorowfull teares he shed all sprynkeled had his brest Ryght well he knew a desperate man he was and there did lye With sorowfull syghes so brought on sleepe to ease his myserye ¶ This man quoth he will serue right well to hyde my facte wyth all And then tooke vp the knyfe which from Archelaus hand dyd faâ—lâ— Puttyng it in the wounde of hym whych hee before dyd slaye And in Archelaus hand it selte as there on sleepe he laye ¶ So then the theefe with harte full glad departed with all speede And tydynges to the Cytie came of this his cruell deede Wherfore they serched dyllygâ—ntly in euery hollow tree And euery place which they suspecte the theefe might hidden bee ¶ At laste into the barne they came where as Archelaus was Styll faste on sleepe be laye and thoughte no barme at all alas Poore innocent man vnto his lot this mans death nowe must fall The searchers therfore busylie to wake him they do call ¶ Who from his sleepe when hee awooke to sygh he did not spare And entryng in most sorowfully to his accustomed care Complaynyng of his fortune then as he had done before With dolfull teares dystyllyng from his eyes styll more and more ¶ O curssed be the tyme quoth he that euer I dyd knowe â–ª That vnkynde wretch for wiues sake nowe I suffer all this woo But when the officers earnestlye vnto his charge did laye The mans death which they found therby and that he dyd him slaye ¶ The knyfe a token is they sayde that lyes downe by thee heere For all be blooddyed wyth the wound to vs it doth appeere Thou must needes suffer death therfore dyspatche and come at once With ropes they bounde hym hande and foote which were brought for the nonce ¶ He nothyng dyd denay at all but what to hym they layde Confessed that it was euen so and helde him well apayede
hee tourned backe agayne hys countenaunce vnto ioye Comfortynge hys dere freind in all that euer hee myght do Desyrynge hym and sayd howe came thys great dysease in you ¶ And why haue you byn so vnkynde not shewynge mee att all Of this dysease which vnto you of late tyme dyd â—efall But thus vnkyndly and vnwyse to seeke your owne decaye When as I myght by knowyng therof haue sought some helpe and waye ¶ If any thynge for syluer or golde to helpe you myght be bought I woulde not staye my selfe till all thys regyon I had sought And though that it shoulde coste mee all the substaunce I coulde make Yet woulde I thynke it well bestowed to spende it for your sake ¶ With which woordes then the mortall sighes tenued more and more Within Alfagus harte and he began to weepe full sore So that abundauntlie the teares downe from his eyes did fall And many a sorowfull syghe hee sent out from his harte with all ¶ The which when Archelaus saw he coulde no more forbeare But was resolued to teares a non his harte all fyxed in care And sayd Alfagus most dere friend do not your mynde delaye But shewe me all and euerye deale most hartely I you pray ¶ Alas whye are you so vnkynde that you will not disclose Your secret sicknes vnto mee when as I did suppose You would not haue kept backe from mee no secrete thyng at all For I woulde haue hid nought from you what soeuer myght befall ¶ Therfore I pray you let me know what greuous payne you haue That I may seeke some helpe with haste you from the death to saue For nothyng is to me so dere nor precious in my syght But for youâ— sake hee wyll anon depart with it forth ryght ¶ Although myne owne lyfe I should lose It would I not delay But runne and go all that I myght for your helpe nyght and day The whyth woordes when Alfagus harde and sawe the mone and greefe Which his deere friende â—…laus made to seeke for his releefe ¶ All â—…yng and in shamefast wyse by force as then constrayned Unto his friend his tale he tolde and in this wyse complayned My most deere friend and faythfull mate leaâ—e of your faythfull mynde Call backe agayne the wordes you spake some helpe for mee to fynde ¶ And rather slaye mee where I lye drawe out your knyfe therfore Dyspatch my dayes that I may see the â—eâ—ght of heauen nomore Most myserable wretch and Traytorfalce to you my feiende am I And of all men vppon the Earth most worthye for to dye ¶ For lyke as god by hys great power hath formed vs as one All lyke in euerye forme and part for men to looke vppon So hath he made ouâ— myndes agree in euery thynge alyke For looke what one of vs would haue the other therto doth seeke ¶ Our myndes and apetytes are as one they dyffer nought at all I thynke that neuer wyth no men lyke friend shyppe dyd befall And now so soone alas I say so soone this loue is gone Good friend shyppe is excluded and of reason there is none ¶ No doctryne doth anayle nor man in wysdome may not truste Nor no fydelytye in a friende in this case maye be iuste Yea Archelaus the great truste Whych you on me dyd laye Hath caused me for to conspyre agaynste you nowe this daye ¶ Alas agaynste you my deere friend to do thys thyng vnâ—yght How haue I â—en intaâ—gâ—ed with some foule â—…ous spryght What thyng was in your mynde alas when wysdome was awaye Why tolde you mee of that fayre mayde which is so freshe and gay ¶ And you haue chosen her to wyfe alas why did you se Why had you not left me at home but let me wyth you go Ahlas I saye where was your wyt remembrynge not at all The great fragillitie of our loue and Natures bonde wyth all ¶ What neede you haue regarde of me what pleasure you dyd fynde In the beholdynge of her whome you loued in your mynde Why would you haue me se her whom your selfe could not beholde But with the beutie of her face your loue to her had tolde ¶ Your mynde was fyxed and your harte was rauyshed her to see And yet for that in all this thynge you had no mynde of mee Alas why dyd you so forget and coulde not thynke vppon That both our wills and apetytes hath byn alwayes as one ¶ For alwayes that which in your eyes was pleasaunt for to see Hath alwayes byn in euery parte in lyke sarte vnto mee What neede more wordes Archelaus for your truste in me I saye Hath caused me with vnkynd loue to be intrapt this daye ¶ The raynes and pleasaunt beames most fayre ensuyng from her eyne Whom you haue chosen for to loue hath pearst thys hart of myne Yea the remembraunce of her and her vertues manyfold Hath strouken me with a deadlye wound and made my hart full colde ¶ So that I do desyre nought els but lyke an vnkynd wretche I myght departe out of this lyfe this myserye to dispatche As one not worthye to haue lyfe and felowshyp wyth you My most deere friende which alway hath ben vnto me so true ¶ But I haue ben to you vnkynde alas why should I lyue And with those wordes out from his harte full heauye syghes dyd gyue Desolued all with teares great store which from his eyes did runne Con â—…dyng these his wordes in care as he had them begunne ¶ Archelaus accuseth hym selfe of Follye He renounceth hys tâ—… that he hath in the Lady to Alfagus and showeth him the way howe hee shall haue her to hys wyfe vnwares to all his friendes Cap. iiii WHen Alfagus made an ende and had confessed all How with the syght of y faire mayd what payne dyd hym befall Hys deere friend Archelaus then as nothyng discontente Nor yet astoyned at the thynge in which his friende was be â—te ¶ But with a merye countinaunce Alfagus did imbrace He kyssed hym and on this wyse his woordes foorthwith did place Why friende Alfagus at your harte is this same all the greefe And had you thought within your harte there could be no reliefe ¶ Alas whye were you so vnkynde that ye would not declare The cause of thys your payne to me but in your hatte it bare Alas why keepe you of so long and would not let me kno Why werâ— you so vnkynde to keepe your secret mynd mee fro ¶ I do confesse my folly here wherwith I am attaynte You haue disclosed my fond wyt to me in your complaynt For shewynge vnto you the mayde wom I chose to my wyfe I dyd remember nothyng in the nature of our lyfe ¶ Nor how our myndes and apetytes in all thynges doth agree Nor yet the vnytie of our hartes remembred was of mee Wherfore it is no man but I which hath done all this ill Surelye I can not well excuse my selfe by reasons skyll ¶ For who of ryght can
by our counsell wyse and sage ¶ But leaueth of the Ladie whom for him with care we sought With shame he hath begyled vs Alfagus hath her cought My goods and landes all that I had they tooke from me therfore No not a garment for my backe they woulde to mee restore ¶ But almost naked lyke a man whome fortune dyd dyspyse They draue me from the Citie in the moste dyspytefull wyse And no man coulde I fynde that once woulde seeke my helpe or ayde For those in whom I trusted moste hath cheifly me vpbrayde ¶ Then wandred I vp and downe w care and mysery sore opprest To begge my bread constraynde I was no place I founde of rest At length through trauelyng long with paine I came thys Cytie to And ioyfull was my harte as then in hope to speke with you ¶ But when I came your palyce nye beholdynge it so gaye I was ashamed to approche and to my selfe did saye I will abyde without the gates and tarrye for a space Perhaps I shall or it be longe beholde by fortunes grace ¶ My freinde Alfagus come this waye so then hee shall mee see And as I was deuysyng thus the best waye that myght bee I did espye you come and eke your Ladye in your hande Whych made my harte full glad and I vppon my feete did stande ¶ That so you myght beholde me as ye passed by the waye But as you passed by and sawe me clad in such araye No mynde on mee ye had at all whych made mee to surmyse That for my poore estate I had you dyd me now dyspyse ¶ And in a sounde for care I fell opprest wyth mortall woo But beyng then reuyâ—ed agayne I thought foorthwyth to gooâ— Moste lyke a beast about the worlde to wander vp and downe And drewe my knyfe to slaye my selfe wher as nowe I was founde ¶ But god withstood that cruell deede so I on sleepe dyd fall And helde the knyfe styll whych I thought to slaye my selfe with all O freynd Archelaus Alfagus sayde my harte may not endure To heare the wofull state you had my death it wyll procure ¶ I am the cheifest cause of thys alas why dyd I so O spytefull eyes where was your syght when as you could not know My deere freinde standynge in the waye in hope to haue releefe Alas alas vnto my harte how terryble is the greefe ¶ But when Archelaus sawe hys freinde Alfagus to relent And inwardly with doulfull teares his neclygence repente Moste louyngly imbraced hym and sayde my freynde be styll Leaue of your sorowfull syghes ye make your vysage for to spyll ¶ The thyngs which nowe are past gone no man may call agayne Why hurte you now your selfe therfore and weepe with greuous payne I knowe ryght well no faulte in you in this thynge was at all But my owne neclygence causeth moste of this vnluckye fall ¶ For if my wyt had byn so good when as you paste me bye To haue declared what I was and eke my myserie I had not felte the halfe of this whych now I dyd sustayne But syth the thynge is paste of it to talke it is but vayne ¶ My freind Archelaus Alfagus sayde to god gyue prayse alwaye Who hath you helped in your cares vnto this present daye And looke what thynge there lyeth in mee demaunde and you shall haue My lyfe and goods I will not spare you my freinde for to saue ¶ If that you wyll abyde in Roome and dwell here styll with mee My house my goods my landes and all euen as your owne shall bee In felowwyp we will remayne as longe we wonted were To ryde and go both daye and nyght for you I will not spare ¶ My leuyng freind Archelaus sayde I thanke you hartelye For this your kyndnes to me shewed of my parte vnworthye But I intende to go agayne my countrey to beholde If of your helpe and ayde therin to craue I myght be bolde ¶ All that is myne Alfagus sayde as I haue tolde before Ye may coÌ„maunde now at this tyme and shall do euer more And sith it is your mynde to go into your owne countree You shall haue all the ayde and helpe that can be made by mee ¶ In haste I will prouyde therfore an Armye fearce and stoute Whom I to Carthage wyll conducte to hunte those rebells oute Not one of them there shall escape vnponyshed for the thynge So that all Carthage rounde aboute of theyr desarte shall rynge ¶ The Senate by aucthorytie then theyr Romayne Hoste dyd call And twenty thousand men in raye they set both stronge and tall Whych were on horsebacke poynted well for to resyste their foo And eke as many foote men stood in redynes to goo ¶ Alfagus tooke his leaue then of Andromyca his Ladye And Archelaus he dyd conducte strayght vnto Carthagye Where as by force of powre he slewe and ponyshed those that he Myght here or learne by any meane Archelaus foes to be ¶ And those also which dyd dysdayne â–ª to helpe him in his neede Alfagus ponyshed sundry wyse accordynge to theyr meede And set hys freind Archelaus cheefe in dygnytye to raygne Aboue those which in Carthagye the Citie dyd mayntayne ¶ Restorynge to hym all the lande and goods he had before Agmented by the death of them which hated hym before Now when Alfagus had done thys and set in quyet peace Hys deere freinde Archelaus whom wyth goods he did increase ¶ He made the Senatours all to sweare obedyence for to gyue To his freynde Archelaus whylste he theare on earth dyd lyue And no man for to be so boulde hys counsell to dyspyse But take hym as he is a man both noble sage and wyse ¶ Thys done and all thynge set at reste the beste waye that myght bee He sayde freynd Archelaus nowe come take your leaue of mee For I must needes to Roome agayne myne armye to conuaye And you I shall not see no more agayne thys many a daye ¶ O freind Alfagus Archelaus sayde great kyndnes you haue showed On mee and I may thynke my loue on you right well bestowed I gyue you harty thankes therfore no better mendes I make But looke what lyeth in me to do I am redye for your sake ¶ Sease of those wordes Alfagus sayde my louynge freinde moste dere And better then your selfe let mee not to your eyes appeare For thankynge mee in thys my payne now taken for your sake Is nothyng but as vnto you a symylytude I shall make ¶ Which is euen as though my left hande my ryght hand thankes shoulde gyue For sekyng helpe when it was hurte the wounde for to relyue Wee are as one you knowe ryght well and euer more will bee And looke what anye man doth for you he doth it eke for me ¶ For if one member the bodye to ayde doth seeke with all indeuer To finde some redye for to heale and cure hys payne for euer Doth he ought but his duty then euen so my freynde haue I And still do whyle my life doth last though for you I shulde dye ¶ In deede quoth Archelaus then of ryght it shoulde be so And syth it is your mynde so soone to Roome wardes ye will go The gods conduct you on your waye accordyngeto your mynde And sende you quyet passage that no daunger you may fynde ¶ Commend me to your Ladye fayre and thus I take my leaue With that he caste his armes abrode hys freinde for to receaue He kyssed him sweetlye then and sayde farewell my hartes delyght Farewell my louyng frende on whom I thynke both daye and nyght ¶ Alfagus kyssed hym also with the lyke salutacyon And saide the hoste is redy I haue no longer delyberacion But must nedes now departe from you the Gods ye helpe and guyde And ther with all amongst the route vppon hys horse dyd ryde ¶ Who in short space to Rome was brought with great magnyfycye And was receyued ioyously of And dromyca his Lady ¶ Finis ê™ E. Jenynges
had talked longe and eche theyr loue dyd knew ¶ Archelaus dyd returne agayne to Alfagus hys freinde No loue of Lady in the worlde myght take hym from hys mynde Yet often tymes when to study they together both dyd go Many times Archelaus when Alfagus dyd not know ¶ Stale secretly away and to hys Lady did resorte That he with her in pastyme good myght make some pleasaunt sport And not withstandyng the great loue whych to hys freynd he bare Yet ofte tymes to hys Lady he on this wyse dyd repayre ¶ But at the laste when shamefastnes surmounted in his brest Wythin his harte he coulde not haue at no tyme quiet rest Untyll hys secret iourneys were vnto Alfagus tolde Wherfore anone these wordes hee spake and said with courage bolde ¶ Dere freinde Alfagus so it is my freindes on mee did lye As you do knowe ryght well ynoughe to wed some fayre Ladie That so I myght increse the stocke of mee and of my father Howe be it god dooth knowe with yeâ— to â—yde yet had I rather ¶ What then it is so nowe that I haue chosen a Ladye bryght Who to my harte in all thynges is ryght pleasaunt in my sight And ofte tymes haue I stolne awaye from you vnknowne till nowe When as wee were at study both and ye wyst not hynge howe ¶ To goo and see her whom I loue shee doth mee so delyghte For wyth her beautie my whole harte is fyxed daye and nyght To morowe therfore will I go about this tyme and tyde And you with mee shall go that theare to gether wee maye abyde ¶ An houre or twayne and passe the tyme wyth some solace and playe Where as you maye beholde and sâ—e my Ladye freshe and gaye Alfagus answered hym and sayd I am ryght well content To go with you my freind I thinke the tyme no better spent ¶ And fayne I woulde beholde the mayd you playse so much to me For since you spake fyrst of her I haue longed her to see Thus when they talked had awhyle the nyght on them did drawe Wherfore to rest they went anon when best theyr tyme they sawe ¶ Thus when the darknes had his course and Phebus beames so bryght The restles Sonne I meane did shawe vppon the yearth same lyght The mornyng sonne with shininge beames all landes hath ouer spred And from the skyes the droppynge shade of nyght awaye was fled ¶ Alfagus rose and longed to see the mayden bryght of hewe Aryse vp Archelaus he sayde that I maye go with you To see her whom you praysed so my harte is very fayne Euen nowe anon Archylaus sayde wee will go thether both twayne ¶ Where with he rose and so they bothe anon to gether did go But how they sped if you wyll heare I wyll vnto you sho Forth goeth these two young gentlemen and when one houre was spent They came wheras the mayd dyd dwell and into the house they went. ¶ Who of the Damsell was anon receaued ioyfullye But as soone as Alfagus had vppon her set his eye Beholdynge her most comlye face with parsonage demure Adorned all in bewâ—ie and In espectable pure ¶ Her lyppes as red as anye Rose nothing there was aâ—ys With sober countenaunce myxed all with maydenlye shamefastnes Her taulke so sweete and pleasaunt was for Alfagus to beholde That with the syght of her anone hys sprytes were very colde ¶ Hys harte was persed thorow out blynde Copyds darte with all And wyth whych wound for deadly smart almost on sounde did fall So vâ—ment and so ferce his payne increased more and more Wyth styll beholdynge of that mayde which stood hys eyes before ¶ That nerther the great studye of Phylosophy nor yet The remembrauÌ„ce of his most dere freinde Archelaus any whyt Could once wythdrawe that vnkynde loue out of his harte and bresâ—e But more and more his payne dyd growe not knowynge what waye to rest ¶ But that of force hee must needes loue and that inordynatelye That Lady whych Archelaus his friende had chosen to marry All be it wyth incredyble paynes he kept hys thoughtes vnknowne Untyll they both returned were and to their lodgynges gone ¶ The myserable Alfagus then wyth wandrynge hymselfe a syde As though in secret studye hee intended to abydeâ— All tormented in sorowe and care wyth loue oppressed sore Uppon his bed hee layed him downe tormented more and more ¶ Rebukynge there him selfe of moste vnkynde and spytefull hate For with the syght of that fayre mayde whych hee had seene of late Hee had conspyred such great euyll agaynste hys freinde so dere Who had hym loued so wonderous well in faythfulnes many a yere ¶ Alas what euyll tyme quoth hee was it when I was borne Alas for coÌ„mynge to thys place why had I not forsworne Alas my father wherfore brought you mee here to thys place Why dyd you not keepe mee at home out of thys wretched case ¶ Alas that euer I dyd acquaynt my selfe wyth one so true As you my freind Archelaus are but I agayne to you Most lyke a brutyshe beast vnkynde from Nature gone awrye And haue deserued of your part great batred to imploye ¶ And with those wordes deepe sighes sore out from his harte hee sente That euer hee came to Athennes oft tymes hee dyd repent Thus styll in dollour and in care he tombled and he toste That lytle lacked it of his hart to be in peces brast ¶ But vnto no man durst he once dysclose his secret sore So that at length most greuous paines increased more and more And forced him would hee or not styll on his bed to lye Receauyng nought wherwith he myght haue him sustuyned bye ¶ No sleape at all nor rest hee tooke no sustinaunce nor foode He would receaue wherwith hee might haue done his bodye good That hee so feble was and faynt so weake of lyâ—â—â—e wyth all That in his legges his bodye to beare no strengthe there was at all ¶ Archelaus goeth to see Alfagus who lyeth sucke for loue to whome Alfagus conâ—esseth all the cause of hys sycknes greatly reyronynge hym selfe of vnkyndnes Cap. iii. TO Archelaus was folde a non parte of Alfagus care How he full sicke to bed was gone and almost in dispayre Wyth whych wordes he was sore abusht and went forthwith to see How his deere freinde Alfagus dyd and what his payne myght bee ¶ But when he did approch the place where as Alfagus laye Beholdynge there his most dere friende in such paynefull araye The red Rose collours in his face which was wont to appeere All tourned into sallow paie with wan and heauye cheere ¶ His red lyppes pale and almost blacke his eye lyds suncke full low That skarce beholâ—yng in his face he coulde his vissage know He myght from wepyng scarce refrayne the teaes â—y force out braste But then remembrynge hym agayne refrayned at the laste ¶ Feare leaste he thoughte suche sorowfull sight might most his freind anoy Wherfore
proue that you haue trespassed at all When wyth the mutable darte of loue your harte was strooke wyth all Why thynke you I am such a foole which can not vnderstande The myghtye stroake of Uenus power whom loue doth take in hande ¶ For where shee lysteth for to shew the vyolent course of care To presse the harte oportunatlye with panges shee doth not spare Haue not you well cesysted when to death you are neere brought And thus in tormentes for to slake that apetyte you haue sought ¶ What more importunate loue of you may I requyre then More faythfull loue in all the worlde hath neuer ben of men And should I seeke for to expell that thyng which god hath wrought Seth she predestinate was to you before I of her thought ¶ If I should so thynke of this thynge my wyt were spent in vayne What were my studye all my lyfe but foolyshe and no gayne Shoulde I seeke for the prudent Arte Phylosophye to knowe Nay nay Alfagus in my harte let neuer god do so ¶ But surely I confesse in deede to loue the mayde as well As any man possyble may which wysdomes arte can tell And tooke more pleasure in my harte berbeutye to beholde Then in my landes my father lefte my syluer or my goulde ¶ The which you know doth much aboūd in vallue for to be Yet at my harte they are not halfe so pleasaunt vnto me But now I know within your hart her loue surmouuteth more Then fiue tymes it hath done in me of all the tyme before ¶ Yea without measure in your harte I know the darte doth stinge Of ragyng loue but should I thinke that were wanton lustyng Or suddayne apetyte of your mynde delyghtyng in solace Haue I not knowen the manner of your lyfe in euery place ¶ How you were honest good and wyse in euery kynde of waye Uayne dalliaunce fond toyes vnmeete your vse was not to playe Shall I immagyn then in you mallis disceit or guyle Syth you and I haue fostered ben together of longe whyle ¶ Euen from our chyldhood vntyll nowe yet could I neuer see But that you haue byn gentle sweete and freindelye vnto mee Betweene vs twayne was neuer stryfe synce one the other knew But still agreed in euerye parte to lyue lyke breetheren trewe ¶ Nay godforbid that noble bande of friend shippe which hath ben Alfagus and Archelaus harte enclosed all within To he suspected anye deale of hatred and dispyte Or any fantasye of the mynde should presse my head vnryght ¶ Wherby the honorable loue which is betweene vs all and some Myght hyndred bee in anie parte the mountenaunce of a crome Nay nay Alfagus it is so as I before haue sayde For by selestiall power deuyne you poynted were that mayde ¶ God had apoynted her to you when fyrste he gaue her lyfe That only shee should be your loue your Ladye and your wyfe For such a feruent loue as this oppresseth not the harte Of anye man vertuous and wyse wyth suche an earneste smarte ¶ But by a prouydence deuyne wheare at if I should seeke To make resistaunce anye deale to haue the thyng I leeke I should not onelye be vniuste agaynst my friend most trewe Witholdinge that thyng which of ryght belongeth vnto you ¶ But also be repugnaunte frome goddes highe determynation Aduaunsyng vp my harte therin to make a confutacion Which thynge shall not befounde in me by helpe of god with all Therfore Alfagus my deare freinde dysmay you not at all ¶ Of this the chaunce of loue now fyxte within your harte to stande But ioyouslye do now receaue the yoake of louers bande For I am nothyng discontente wyth this my sudden chaunce But merueylouslye with feruent ioy my hart it doth aduaunce ¶ Syth that it is my chaunce for you a Ladye for to fonde Which is so greable to your harte and pleasaunt in your mynde Wyth whom you may hereafterlyue in great felycitie Receauyng fruyt by Gods hygh power your chyldren for to be ¶ Which may amplefie and increase great honour to your name And all your lynage wyll reioyce when they shall see the same Wherfore I will renounce to you my tytle and my ryght And clearly all that I shall haue wyth that fayre mayde so bryght ¶ I gyue it clearlye vnto you as it is geuen to me For euer more whyle lyfe doth last your Ladye for to be Call to your prestynate courage agayne washe cleane your vyssage whyte Amende your eyes forlorne with teares by weepyng all this nyght ¶ Abandon all your heauye cheere the day appeareth nye Whych you do know I dyd apoynt the mayd for to marrye Let vs consult betimes therfore how we may bryng about That you ryght wyselye may attayne your purpose thorow out ¶ And all your hole desires so for to atchyue wyth ioye Take heede therfore vnto my wordes and marke well what I saye you know right well that wee are bothe so lyke in euerye plate Preporshioned all in euerye lymme both bodye head and face ¶ Our speach countenaunce doth agree so lyke in euerye waye That if we were apparrelled both alyke in one araye And both apart for to be seene yet few men could then know Whych of vs were the other and vnto his fellow show ¶ Also you do remember well the custome of this land That not withstanding all these wordes by ioyoyng hand in hand The marryage not confirmed is all hoollye iust and ryght Untyll in Chamber they be come together both at nyght ¶ And that the husband hath put on his wyues finger a Ringe And also doth vnlose therwith the knot of her gyrdlynge Then is the marryage fullye knyt and they be man and wyfe To liue so longe in one accorde as God shall giue them lyfe ¶ Therfore will I my selfe be theare before my friendes in place Performynge all the brydemans parte in euery poynt and case And you I wyll in secreat hyde wheare none shall you espye Untyll at nyght when that to bedde eche man him selfe doth hye ¶ And then you shall conuaye your selfe in the most secreatest wyse In to the Chamber of the mayde as I shall best deuyse And nothyng shall the mayde espye or thynke of you a mis Because your rayment vnto myne so lyke in all thynges is ¶ Your parsonage also in all poyntes will seeme vnto her sight So lyke to myne that by no meanes shee can espie the sleyght And shortlye gea◠you to the bed delay not longe the thynge And on her fynger strayght wayes then put on your owne golde rynge Her Gyrdle of virgynitie vndoe without delaye Fulfyll your pleasure all the nyght as louers lyste to playe Comforte your selfe Alfagus therfore my louing friend moste deare With good refection and solace relyue your heauye cheare ¶ That this cullour wan and pale your cheekes so leane and thinne Be not the cause to let the thynge whych easely you may winne I knowe ryght well within my
mynde that when this thynge is done And that you do enioy the mayde by me as now begonne ¶ I shall deryded bee of all the foalke that shall it know And all my kynted wyth dispyte theyr Irefull hate wyll show In seekyng all the meanes they can me to expulce and dryue Out of this Cytye in short tyme a bannyshed lyfe to lyue ¶ And thynke me to be suche a one as hath done great out rage By geuyng of a great reproche vnto my parentage But god shall worke his wyll therin my mynde is fully bente To do the thyng that I haue sayde is all my whole intent ¶ I force not for the furyous rage of anye spytefull foe Ne yet what payne I do abyde by Fortunes frownyng blow So that you my friend Archelaus may lyue in fortunes grace And haue felyrytie to increace your honoure with solace ¶ Archelaus marriethe the Ladye for Alfagus Alfagus coÌ„firmeth matrymonye and lyeth with her all the night Archelaus defireth al hys frendes to gyue eare to the Oracion which Alfa gus would make Cappit v. WYth this Alfagus turnde himselfe as one awakte from sleepe And thought hee had but seene a dreame more cares on him to heape And doubtyng whether he had harde Archelaus speake or no Or seene a vision in his mynde deuysed to be so ¶ As he before had harde his friende with frendly wordes declare But lookynge vp with stedfaste eyes ryght well perceaued tharâ— Hys friende Archelaus standyng by with teares lamentyng styll Left Fortune by her fatall wheele hys hole deuyce should spyll ¶ The wofull Alfagus set hym vp not knowyng what to saye But comfortyng his most dere friende in all that euer he maye Thankyng hym then for his kynde wordes which were incompetable Refusyng it syth that he sayd I am so â—aryable ¶ More better were it that there shoulde a hondred suche as I Lyke vnkynde wretches to be slayne or some euell death to dye Then that so noble a man as you should sustayne any ill Or that reproche or dammage should come anye wayes you till ¶ But then Archelaus in his armes his freind Alfagus tooke Comfortyng hym all that he myght with many a merye looke And therwith all dyd swere and eke protest as not dysmayd That with glad harte al things should bee as he before had sayd ¶ He sweetlye kyssed him also and sayd my friend most dere All thynges shal be accomplysht well therfore be of good chere Alfagus then perceauyng that all thynges were fyrme and sure And that no fayned friendshyp did his faythfull friend alure ¶ He set him vp wyth ioyfull harte ryght in his bed as he Had felt before no payne at all but wakt from sleepe to be The quicke blood in his vyssage then began for to restore Suche coloure as by nature he receaued had before ¶ And after hee had well sustayned wyth some good drynke and meate His feeble bodye which before had no desyre to eate In fewe dayes was brought agayne vnto his woonted state Lyke to Archelaus in all thynges his faythfull freinde and mate ¶ The daye of maryage did approche ech one with busye care Did seeke for such thynges as should neede the weddyng to prepare Archelaus was deuysyng styll the best and surest way How he his friend Alfagus myght is to his roâ—me conuaye ¶ Now thought be this now thought hee that as fancie did him guyd At length he found the secrâ—test feat that els be myght prouyde And shewed Alfagus all the thyng in what place hee should stande Take heede therfore quoth he that you be reddye at my hande At nyght when wee to bed shall go within the chamber dore Behinde the cloth there is a hole where you may be full sure And before wee to bed moste come I will conuaye you thatâ— So that when I shall come and brynge with me the maybe so fayre ¶ You shall come forth behynde my backe and I will slyp awaye So no man shall â—spâ—e the sleyght because that your araye Is lyke to myne in euery thynge your vyssage eke also Resembleth myne so that the mayde of this can nothynge â—â—o ¶ Be of good cheere Archelaus sayd my friende Alfagus now Leaue studyeng in all other thynges and thynke on nought but how you maye accomplyshe your desyre be of good cheere therfore The daye is come that now from death to lyfe I muste restore ¶ The day was come and then anon the Ladye freshe and gaye Archelaus tooke and to the chuâ—the her lead without delay Acompanyed with his friendes and hers ryght honorable to beholde The couenauntes were agâ—eâ—id vppon and eche theyr mynde had tolde ¶ Unto the other and anon when all thynges els was done They hasted home where as the feast wyth great ioye was begonne That daye they passed with much myrth and sportes in sundrye wyse Ech man a sundrye game and playe for pastyme dyd deuise ¶ Betweene Archelaus and the mayde such entertaynement grewe That all men theare had great delyte their louely lookes to â—ewe Praysyng greatlye Gods good gyfte syth Nature did agree To gyue them beautie vertue and the arte of curtesye ¶ Which were ryght exceleÌ„t in thes twayn excelling others farre That in the Cytie of eche sorte before tymes wededd ware What shall I say the daye was spent and Phebus beames so bryght Descended downe into the west where hidden was his lyght ¶ The twyncklyng stars by wonted course appeared in the lâ—ye And euery man and woman faste vnto their rest did byâ— Archelaus and the mayden then acompaned with her kyn were brought vnto theyr chamber doore and as they entred in ¶ Alfagus hydden in the wall ryght well did them beholde And fearyng least he myght not speede hys harte was very colde But then Archelaus thynkyng on his friend Alfagus case Deuysynge how or by what meanes he might come in his place ¶ Dismissed all the foalke awaye and thankt them for theyr payne And sayd I wyth my ladye nowe must taulke a worde or twayne Gyue place to vs now at this tyme most hartely I you praye To morrow wyll we passe the tyme with more disport and playe ¶ Eche one departed them anon no wyght was left behinde But euen Archelaus and the mayde eche one to saye their mynde Alfagus lyuyng still in hope thought euery mynute a yeare Archelaus carefull was also that Alfagus myght appeare ¶ Howbeit he with ardent loue desired her to haue Aboue all worldlye treasures but his friendes lyfe then to saue He had most ardent care of all fayre mayde therfore sayd he A little whyle I must departe I praye you tarrye me ¶ And made as though to ease him selfe vnto the stoole he went He to Alfagus tooke his waye nought els was his intent Alfagus ioyfull for to see his friende Archelaus cheare Wythout delaye came foorth anon all frustrate was his care ¶ Archelaus stoode in Alfagus place and Alfagus foorth did go Unto the mayd the whych as then