Telegonus sad nipped on the pate with these new thoughts resembling the melancholy disposition of Troilus for the inconstancy of Cressida yet after hee had mused awhile and past ouer a fewe dreaming dumpes Hope clad in purple suted robes tolde him that Cupid had but one string to his bowe one head to one arrow that Venus greatest number was an vnity how the heart could harbour but one fancy and one woman be wedded but to one man Therefore though they mist as either infortunate or crossed by some contrary influence sith loues fee simple was registred in the court of their destinies there was no cause of his despaire but that hee might bee the man that should enioy Fiordespine and set vp the trophee of loue maugre all the sinister determinations of Cupid Floting thus between despaire and hope he passed ouer three or foure dayes melancholy and passionate taking his only content in being solitary so that at last finding himselfe all alone feeling the fire too great to smother in secrecy he burst forth into these flames Ah Telegonus miserable in thy life and infortunate in thy loues is thy youth blasted with fancy or the prime of thy yeeres daunted with affection canst thou no sooner see Paphos but thou must prouide sacrifice for Venus Canst thou not heare the Syrens sing but thou must bend thy course to their musike may not beauty kindle a fire but 〈◊〉 must straight step to the flame wilt thou dally with the flye in the candle sport with the Salamander in the heate of AEtna and with Troilus hazard at that which will bréede thy harme knowest thou not loue is a â—…rantike frenzie that so inforceth the minds of men that vnder the taste of nurture they are poisoâ—…ed with the water of Stix for as hee which was charmed by Laon sought still to heare her inchauntment or as the Deere after he once brouseth on the Tamariske he wil not be driuen away vntill he dyeth so Louers haue their sencelesse sences so besotted with the power of this lasciuious god they count not themselues happy but in their supposed vnhappinesse beeing at most ease in disâ—…uiet at greatest rest when they are most troubled seeking contentation in care delight in misery and hunting gréedily after that which alwaies bréedeth endlesse harme Yea but Telegonus beauty is therefore to be obeyed because it is beauty and loue to be feared of men because it is honoured of the gods Dare reason abide the brunt when beauty bids the battell can wisedome win the field where loue is captaine No no loue is without law and therefore aboue all lawe honoured in heauen feared in earth and a very terror to the infernall ghosts Bow then vnto that Telegonus whereunto lawlesse necessity doth bend be not so fond as with Zeuxes to bind the Ocean in fetters fight not with the Rascians against the wind bark not with the Wolues against the Moone seeke not with them of Sâ—…yros to shoot against the Starres striue not with Thesides against Venus for loue bring on lewd lookes to command by power and to be obeyed by force truth Telegonus for Iuno stroue but once with Venus and hee was vanquished Iupiter resisted Cupid but hee went by the worst It is hard for thee with the Crabbe to striue against the stream or to wrastle with a fresh wound lest thou make the sore more dangerous Wel Telegonus what of all this prate thou dost loue thou honorest beauty as supernatural thou sayst Venus amongst al the goddesses is most mighty that there is no Iland like Paphos no bird like the doues no god like Cupid what of this but why dost thou loue no meaner woman then Fiordespine the daughter of the Prince the fairest in Taprobane Ah Telegonus derogate not from her beauty the fairest in the world vnhappy man in recounting her beauty in reckoning her perfections thou doest imblaze thine owne misfortunes for the more shee is excellent the lesse will be her loue and the greater her disdaine Can the Eagle and the blind â—…syphage build in one tree will the Falcon the Doue couet to â—…t on one pearch will the Ape and the Beare be tyed in one tedder will the Fox and the Lambe be in one den or Fiordespine who thinketh her selfe fairer then Venus stoope to the lure of one so base as I No for the more beauty the more pride and the more pride the more precisenesse None must play on Ormenes harpe but Orpheus none rule Lucifer but Phoebus none weare Venus in a tablet but Alexander nor none enioy Fiordespine but such a one as farre exceedeth thee in person and personage Tush Telegonus enter not into these doubts Sapho a Quéene loued Phao a Ferri-man shee beautiful and wise he poore and seruile she holding a scepter hee an Oare the one to gouerne the other to labour Angelica forsooke diuers Kings and tooke Medon a mercenary Souldier Loue Telegonus hath no lack Cupid shooteth his shafts at randon Venus as soone looketh at the sun as at a star Loue feareth a Prince as soone as a peasant and fancy hath no respect of persons Then Telegonus hope the best Audaces fortuna adâ—…at Loue and fortune fauoreth them that are resolute The stone Sandastra is not so harâ—… but being heat in the fire it may be wrought nor Iuory so tough but seasoned with Zathe it may be ingrauen The gates of Venus temple are but halfe shut Cupid is a churle and peremptory yet to be intreated women are wilfull but in some meanes they may be won were she as full of beauty as Venus or as great in Maiesty as Iuno Hope then the best and be bold for 〈◊〉 are admitted to put in no plea at the barre of loue Telegonus hauing by vttering these passions disburdened some part of his paines and yet not in such sort but his temples were restlesse his griefe much his content none at all his care in his sleepe incessant his mind melancholy so that his only delight was to be in dumpes in so much that he gadded solitary vp and downe the Groues as a Satyre enamoured of some Country Nymph Cupid seeing his art did well thought to shews him some sport for on a day as hee walked contemplating the beauty of Fiordespine being sore athirst with inward sorrow he went to a fountaine hard by to coole his heate where he found his heart set on fire with a great â—…ame for there he espied Fiordespine and her other two sisters sitting solacing themselues about the spring which sodaine sight so appalled his senses as if he had been appointed a new Iudge to the three goddesses in the vally of Ida yet seeing before his eyes the mistris of his thoughts and the saint vnto whom he did owe his deuotion hee began to â—…ke heart at grasse thinking that by this fit opportunity Loue aud Fortune began to fauour his enterprise willing therfore not to omit so good an occasion he saluted them in this sort Muse not
thy faire face but thy faithful heart not thy parentage but thy manners not thy possessions but thy vertues for she that builds her loue vpon beauty meanes to fancie but for a while would God I might find thee such a one as I will trie my selfe to be for whereas thou dost protest such loialtie which suppose it be true yet shall it be but counterfait respecting mine be thou but Admetus and I will be Alcest no torments no trauell no only the losse of life shal diminish my loue in liew thereof remaine thou but constant and in pledge of my protested good will haue heere my heart and hand to be thine in dust and ashes Here son maist thou iudge into what quandary Meribates was driuen when he heard the answer of his mistris so correspondent to his sute the prisoner being condemned hearing the rumor of his pardon neuer reioiced more then Meribates did at this pronouncing of his happinesse Wel these louers thus agréeing broke off from their parle for feare of suspicion and ioined with companie where falling into other talke we past away the afternoone in many pleasant deuices Eriphila and Meribates thus satisfied liuing in most happy content honoring no deity but Venus determined as well as opportunity would minister occasion to breake the matter to mee and â—…er betime but in the meane while my Sonne proclaymed for his delight certaine Iustes and Turneyes whither resorted all the brauest Noblemen and Gentlemen in Taprobane where they performed many worthie and honourable deedes of Cheualry The Iustes ended my sonne bade them all to a banket where to grace the boord and to honour the companie was placed my daughters Etiphila and Marpesia gazed on they were for their beauties and admired for their honourable behauiour Eriphila whose eye walked about the troope of these lustie Gallants espied a young gentleman midst the rest called Lucidor the sonne of an Esquire a man of personage tall and well proportioned of face passing amiable of behauiour well nâ—…rtured This Gallant furnished with these singular qualities so set on fire Eriphilaes fancie that as if she had drunk of the fountaine in Ardenia her hot loue was turned to a â—…ld liking Now her heart was set vpon Lucidor which of late was vowed to Merâ—…ates in such sort that her stomake lost the wonted appetite to feed the eyes with the beauty of her new louer as that shee seemed to haue eaten of the herbe Sputania which shutteth vp the stomake for a long season Yea so impatient was her affection as shee could not for beare to giue him such lookes that the Gentleman perceiued shee was either resolued to out-face him or else affected towards him Wel the dinner ended and the Gentlemen all departed Eriphila getting secretly to her closet began to fall into these â—…earm es Infortunate Eriphila what a contrariety of passions breeds a confused discontent in thy minde what a warre doest thou feele betweene the constant resolution of a louer and the inconstant determination of a lecher betweene fancie and faith loue and loyaltie Wilt thou proue Eriphila as false as Venus who for euery effemiâ—…ate face hath a new fancy and faith loue and loialtie Wilt thou prooue Eriphila as false as Venus who for euery eâ—…feminate face hath a new fancie as trethlesse as Creâ—…da that changeâ—… her thoughts with her yeeres as inconstant as Helena whose heart had more louers than the Camelion colours wilt thou vowe thy loyaltie to one and not proue â—…edfast to any The Turtle chooseth but neuer changeth the Lâ—…on after that he hath enâ—…red league with his matâ—… doth neuer coâ—…et a new choice these haue but nature for their guide and yet are constant thou hast both nature and nurture and yet art moueable breaking thine oth without compulsion and thy faith without constraint wheras nothing is so hated as periury and a woman hauing crackt her loyaltie is halfe hanged Ciuillia being betrothed to Horatius secundus chose rather to be rackt to death than to falsiâ—…e her constancie Lamia a â—…oncubine could by no torments bee haled from the loue of Aristogiton what perils suffered Cariclia for Theagynes Let these examples Eriphila moue thee to be constant to Meribates be thou stedfast and no doubt thou shalt not finde him stragling Caustana when she came into the Court to sweare thaâ—… she neuer loued Sudalus became dumbe and after fell mad beware of the like rewarde if thou commit the like offence Tush they that would refraine from drinke because they heard Anacreon dyed with the pot at his head or that hateth an egge because Appeyus Sauleyus dyed in eating of one would bee noted for persons halfe mad so if I should stand to my peny-worth hauing made my market like a foole and may change for the better because other in like case haue had ill hap I may either bee counted faint hearted or foolish What Eriphila Iupiter laught at the periurie of louers Meribates is faire but not second to Lucidor he is wittie but the other more wife well what of this but how wilt thou answere Meribates tush cannot the Cat catch mise but shee must haue a bell hanged at her eare he that is afraid to venter on the Buck for that he is wrapt in the bryers shall neuer haue hunters hap and hâ—… that puts a doubt in loue at euery chance shall neuer haue louers lucke well howsoeuer it be Lucidor shall â—…e hee shall haue my heart and This or else I will sit beside the saddle and thus hauing debated with her selfe she rested perplexed till shee might haue a sight of her new louer which was not long for Lucidor no sooner got home but calling to minde the amorous glances of Eriphila and noting both her beauty and her wit although her honour was farre beyond his parentage yet presuming vpon her fauours showen him at the banket hee boldly as loues champion ventured to winne what Cupid had set as a prize so that he began to frequent the Court and became a Courtier first brauing it amongst the Lords then by degrées créeping into fauour with the Ladies where in time he found opportunity to parle with Eriphila whom for fashion sake at the first hee found somewhat strange but in short time became so tractable that there was but one heart in two bodies in so much that not only Meribates and my sonne but all the whole Court saw how Eriphila doted on Lucidor whereat my sonne beganne to frowne but Meribates would not see it lest his Mistris should thinke him iealous but smothered vp the griefe in secrecie and thought either time or the perswasion of her friends or his continued affection would disswade her from her follies Well Eriphila had not faâ—…ored Lucidor long but there came to the Court another young Gentleman called Perecius Who likewise was enamored of Eriphila and she of him that she proued more light of loue then shâ—… was wittie yet shee excelled in wit all the Uirgins
with one of her Gentlewomen being abroad in the lanes espsed him thus solitary stealing therefore behind him to heare what humor the man was in heard him sing to his Lute this mornefull madrigall Rest thee desire gaze not at such a Starre Sweet fancy sleepe loue take a nappe a while My busie thoughts that reach and rome so farre With pleasant dreames the length of time beguile Faire Venus coole my ouer-heated brest And let my fancy take her wonted rest Cupid abroad was lated in the night His wings were wet with ranging in the raine Harbour he sought to me he tooke his flight To drie his plumes I heard the boy complaine My doore I oped to grant him his desire And rose my selfe to make the Wagge a fire Looking more narrow by the fires flame I spyed his quiuer hanging at his backe I fear'd the child might my misfortune frame I would haue gone for feare of further wracke And what I drad poore man did me betide For foorth he drew an arrow from his side He pierst the quicke that I began to staÅ•t The wound was sweete but that it was too hie And yet the pleasure had a pleasing smart This done he flyes away his wings were drie But left his arrow still within my brest That now I greeue I welcom'd such a ghest He had no sooner ended his sonet but Marpesia perceiuing by the contents that it was meant of her stepped to him and draue him thus abruptly from his passions If you grieue Eurimachus for intertaining such a ghest your sorrow is like the raine that came too late to beléeue loue is such an vnruly tenant that hauing his entrance vpon courtesie he will not bee thrust out by force you make me call to mind the counterfait of Paris when he was AEnones darling for Phidias drew him sitting vnder a Béech trée playing on his pipe and yet teares dropping from his eyes as mixing his greatest melody with passions but I see the comparison will not hold in you for though your instrument bee answerable to his yet you want his luke-warme drops which sheweth though your musike bee as good yet your thoughts are not so passionate but leauing these ambages say to me Eurimachus what may she bee that is your Mistresse Eurimachus amazed at the sight of his Ladie more then Priamus sonne was at the view of the three goddesses sate still like the picture of Niobe turned into marble as if some strange apoplexy had taken all his senses Gaze on her face hee did speake hee could not in so much that Marpesia smiling at the extremity of his loues wakened him out of this trance thus What cheere man hath loue so witched thy heart as all thy sences haue left their powers is thy tong tied as thy heart is fettered or hath the feare of your mistris cruelty driuen you into a cold palsie if this be the worst comfort your selfe for women will be true and if shee be too hard hearted let me but know her and you shall see how I will prattle on your behalfe what say you to me what makes you thus mute By this Eurimachus had gathered his sences together that rising vp and doing reuerence to Marpesia he thus replyed Madam it is a principle in Philosophy that Sensibile sensui superposituÌ„ nulla fit sensasio the colour clapt to the eye hindâ—…h the sight the flower put in the nostrill hindreth the smell and what of this Philosophicall Gnigma quoth Marpesia I dare not madam quoth Eurimachus infer what I would but to answere more plainly Endimion waking and feeling Phebe grace him with a kisse was not more amazed than I at your heauenly presence fearing if not Acteons fall yet that I had committed the like fault for at the first blush your excellency draue me into such a maze that I dreamed not of the Lady Marpesia but of some goddesse that had solaced in these woods which supposition made me so mute You fly still quoth Marpesia from my demand playing like the Lapwing that cryeth farthest from her nest I asked who it was that you loued so as to honour her with such a sonet It was Madam to kéepe accord to my lute not to discouer any passions for all the amordelayes Orpheos 〈◊〉 on his harp were not amorous nor euery sonet that Arion warbled on his instrument vowed vnto Venus I am too young to loue for feare my youth be ouerbidden fancy being so heauy a burden that Hercules who could on his shoulder sustaine the heauens groned to beare so weighty a lode If then Madame I striue aboue my strength especially in loue I shall but with the Giants heape Peleon vpon Ossa passions vpon passions so long till I be â—…rooken to death with loues thundering bolt therefore Madame I dare not loue Marpesia who determined to sound the depth of his thoughts tooke him before hee fell to the ground and made this reply Trust mee Eurimachus your looks your actions your sighes and gesture argues no lesse than a louer therefore seeing we are alone none but we thrée I le haue you once in shrift and therefore I coniure you by your Mistresse fauour and beautie to tell me whether you be in loue or no. You straine me so hard Madam quoth Eurimachus that I am in loue and loue so farre in mee as neither time nor fortune can raze out the name of my mistresse Madam pardon for in naming her I discouer mine owne presumption hauing aymed so by the meanes of aspiring loue as her excellency crosseth all my thoughts with disdaine For Madam giue me leaue to say making no compare that the Graces at her birth did agree to make her absolute I hauing soared so high as the sunne hath halfe melted my feathers I feare with Icarus to fall into the Ocean of endlesse miseries for be her disdaine neuer so great yet my desire will neuer belesse scorne she I should looke so hie affection will not bate an ounce of his maine but seeing the dice be in his hands will throw at all But Madam so farre I am out of 〈◊〉 to haue but one fauour at her hands as I passe euery day and houre in as 〈◊〉 perplexed estate as the ghosts greened by the infernall furies and with this the water stood in his eyes which Marpesia not able to brooke began to salue thus I will not Eurimachus be inquisitiue of your Mistresse name sith you haue yeelded a reason to conceale it but for your loues that are lodged so hie feare not man the Black-smith dared to couet faire Venus the little Sparrow pecketh sometimes wheat the Eagle taketh stand and the little Mouse feedeth where the Elephant hath eaten hay loue as soone stoopeth to visite a poore cottage as a Palace to dare I tell thee Eurimachus in loue is the first principle and Helena told Paris Nemo succenset amanti Thou must then to Paphos and not vse bashfulnesse in Venus temple sacrifices serue at her altars
am olde I would bee lesse prodigall and more churlish lest with Phillis I might intertaine Demophon which did make account of the trothlesse Troian or with Ariadne tye my selfe to the proportion of Theseus But age hath put water in the flame many yeeres turned the glowing sparkes to cold windes Time sonne is like the worme Tenedes which smoothly lying on the barke of the tree yet eateth out the sappe It stealeth on by minutes and fareth like the Sunne whose shadow hasteth on yet cannot be perceiued but letting this parle passe séeing thou art weary and hungrie two fruits that grow from shipwracke rest theâ—… till I prouide Supper which how homely soeuer it be yet must thou account it dainty for that it is my delicates and accept it as a prodigall banket for that euery dish shall bee sauceâ—… with welcome With this shee rose from her stoole and went to prouide supper leauing me amazed at her gracious reply making me to coniecture by her words that as she was wise so shee had beene well brought vp and was descended of no small Parentage I sate in a muse till shee had made ready our rates which being set on the table we fell to make tryall of our téeth as before we had done of our tongues that we began and ended supper without any great chat Well our repast taken the old woman séeing me fitter for sleepe than for prattle gaue me leaue to goe to bedde where I past away the night in golden slumbers lying so long in the morning till Phoebus glimmering on my face bade me good day Awakt by the summons of the Sunne I arose and found mine old Oastesse sitting at her doore in her old melancholly mood sighing and sorrowfull an interchange of salues passed betweene her and me I with thankes for my great and courteous intertainment and shee with oft repetitions of welcomes taking a stoole and siâ—…ting down by his old dame seeing shee fell againe to her dumpes I began to bee thus inquisitiue Mother if I may without offence presume to vse a question I would inquire what I muse at and be absolued in a darke Enigma that I haue found in your cottage but rather had I still hold my thoughts in suspence than be offensiue either to your age or to so courteons an Oastesse The old woman smiling at my feare or at my folly bade me say on and I boldly prosecuted my purpose thus Since my arriuall in your Cottage I haue noted your thoughts to be passionate and your passions to be violent I haue seene care lurking midst the wrinkles of your age and sorrow breath'd out with broken sighes I do not deny but age is giuen to melancholy and many yeeres acquainted with many dumps but such farre fetcht grones the hecalts of griefes such deepe sighes the Ambassadors of sorrow make me thinke either you grieue at your sinnes with repentance or else recount some great forepassed misfortunes this is the doubt and here lies the question I had no sooner vttered these words but the old woman leaning her head against her staffe fell into such bitter teares as did discouer a multitude of sorrowes and perplexed passions insomuch as taking pittie of her griefes I lent her a fewe luke warme drops to shew how in minde I did participate of her vnknowne â—…olours After shee had filled the furrows of her face with the streams of her teares ending the catastrophe of her passions with a volée of sighes she blubâ—…ered out this reply Ah son ill haue those painters deciphered time with a pumice stone as rasing out both ioyes and sorrowes with obliuie seeing experience tels mee that deepe conceiued sorrowes are like the Sea Iuie which the older it is the larger rootes it hath resembling the Eagle which in her oldest age reneweth her bill Passions my sonne are like the arrowes of Cupid which if they touch lightly prooue but toyes but piercing the skin proue déep wounds as hardly to be raseâ—…â—…ut as the spots of the Leopard I was sonne and with that shee entred her narration with a deepe sigh once young and buxsome as thou art beauty discouering her pride where now a tawny hiew pulleth downe my plumes the lineaments of my facâ—… were leueld with such equall proportion as I was counted full of fauour and of so faire a Dye had Nature stained my chéekes that I was thought beautifull yea son giue me leaue a little to sauour of selfe loue I tell thée I was called the Venus of Taprobane my parentage did no whit disgrace what nature had imparted vpon mee for I was the daughter of an Earle To be briefe my sonne as well the qualities of my mind as my exteriour fauours were so honored in Taprobane that the Prince of the â—…and called Cleomachus took me to wife and had by me foure children one son and thrée daughters and with this she fell afresh to her teares pouring forth many passionate plaints til at last the sorrow of her teares stopping she went forward in her tale My Husband in the primâ—… of yeeres dyed my sonne succéeded in the gouernment and I and my daughters courted it as their youth and my direction would permit Liuing thus contentedly and as I thought armed against fortune in that we foregarded all our actions with vertue the Fates if there be any or the destinies some star or planet in some infortunate and cursed aspect calculated such ill hap to all my daughters natiuities as they proued as misâ—…able as I would haue wished them happy And here multiplying sigh vpon sigh with double and trebble reuies shee ceased but I desirous to know the sequell of their misfortunes asked her the cause and manner of their mishaps she replyed not but taking mee by the hand shee led mee from her cottage to a valley hard by where she brought me to a marble piller fashioned and pourtraied like a woman which made me remember Pigmalions picture 〈◊〉 hee 〈◊〉 with his hand and doted on with his heart No sooner were wee come to the stone but Alcida for so was the old ladies name taking it in her armes kissed it and washt it with her teares I amased at this strange gréeting of Alcida and the stone drew more nigh and there I might perceiue the Image to hold in either hand a table In the right hand was depainted the protraiture of Venus holding the ball that brought Troy to ruine and vnder were written these verses When Nature forged the faire vnhappy mould Wherein proud beauty tooke her matchlesse shape She ouer-slipt her cunning and her skill And aym'd to faire but drew beyond the marke For thinking to haue made a heauenly blisse For wanton gods to dally with in heauen And to haue fram'd a precious iem for men To solace all their dumpish thoughts with glee Shee wrought a plague a poyson and a hell For gods for men thus no way wrought she well Venus was faire faire was the queene of loue Fairer then
Pallas or the wife of Ioue Yet did the Gigglets beauty greeue the Smith For that she brau'd the Creeple with a horne Mars said her beauty was the starre of heauen Yet did her beauty staine him with disgrace Paris for faire gaue her the golden ball And bought his and his fathers ruine so Thus nature making what should farre excell Lent gods and men a poison and a hell In her left hand was curiously pourtraied a Peacocke clad glorioâ—…y in the beauty of his feathers vnder was written as followeth The bird of Iuno glories in his plumes Pride makes the Fowle to prune his feathers so His spotted traine fetcht from old Argus head With golden rayes like to the brightest sunne Inserteth self-selfe-loue in a silly bird Till midst his hot an glorious fumes He spies his feete and then le ts fall his plumes Beauty breeds pride pride hatcheth forth disdaine Disdaine gets hate and hate calls for reuenge Reuenge with bitter prayers vrgeth still Thus self-selfe-loue nursing vp the pompe of pride Makes beautie wracke against an ebbing tide After I had viewed the pictures and read the poesies I grew to be more desirous to know what this imagement intreating Alcida to discourse vnto me what this portraiture did meane shee sitting downe at the foot of the stone began to tell her tale in this manner ALCIDA her first Historie WHile I liued in the Court honoured of all as mother to the Prince and loued of euery one as one that laide the methode of my sonnes happy and vertuous gouernment beeing princely wedded to the higher and affable to the lower a Mother to them that were in want and a Nurse to the distressed I coâ—…ed my glorie the more and my fortune the greater in that I was guarded with my thrée daughters Uirgins adorned so with excellent qualitiâ—… both of mind and body I meane as well exteriour fauours as interiour vertues that fame made report of their honors not only through all Taprobane but through all the Ilands adiacent especially of my elâ—… daughter called for her beauty in her cradle Flordespine Nature had so inricht her with supernaturall beauty that shee séemed an immortall creature shrowded in a mortall carcase in somuch that if her times had been equall with Troy Paris had left Greece and come to Taprobane for her loue Liuing thus loued and admired of all selfe-houe the moth that créepeth into young mindes so tickled her with the conceit of her owne beauty that shee counted no time well spent which shee bestowed not in setting out that more glorious by Art which Nature had made so absolute and excellent no drugges from Arabia that might cleere the skinne were vnsought for no herbes nor secrets that any Philosopher in Physicke had found out which might increase beautie but she made experience of following Venus euery way in such vanities and playing the right woman for to confesse the truth their sexe careth more for the tricking of their faces than the tearing of their soules spending an houre rather in righting the tresses of their haire than a moment in bending their thoughts to deuotion The foulest must be faire if not in déed yet in conceit and she that is faire must venter her soule to kéep her beauty inuiolate but leauing off this digression my daughter Flordespine being thus selfe conceited was more curious than wise and could sooner afford a pound of pride then an ounce of humility for diuers Noble men resorted from all the bordering Ilande to be sutors vnto her but her beauty made her so coy that happy was hee that might haue a glance of her perfection So that many came ioyful in hope to haue fauor but departed sorrowfull answered with disdaine For as none pulleth vp the barran root but he is stifled with the sauour as none looketh into the poole of Babylon but he hasardeth his health as none gaseth against the Cockatrice but either hee loseth his sight or his life so none tooke view of the beauty of Flordespine but they returned either frantike in affection fond with fancy or pained with a thousand perplexed passions Yet she taking delight in their griefes resembled the Crysolite which the mere it is beaten with hammers the harder it is and as the Palme trée can by no meanes be depressed nor the Margarites of Europe wrought into no other forme than Nature hath fram'd them so no praiers promises passions sighes sorrowes plaints teares nor treaties could preuaile to make her showe some fauour to any of her sutors In so much that the poore Noble men finding themselues fettered without hope of fréedome séeing their liberties restrained within an endlesse labyrinth and no courteous Ariadne to giue them a clew of thréed to draw them out of their miseries cried out against loue against Venus against women as mercilesse monsters hatched to torture the mindes of men and at last spying their owne follies shaking off the shackles of 〈◊〉 with disdaine went home and at their departure pronounced with Demosthenes that they would not Poenitentiam tantiemere Cupid séeing how his schollers florked from his schoole thought hee would retaine some one with whom to dally and therefore pulling forth a fierce inflamed arrow hee strooke the sonne of a Noble man here in Taprobane to the quicke that he of all the rest remained fast snared in her beauty his name was Telegonus a Youth euery way equall to Fiordespine except in parentage and yet he was no meaner man than the son of an Earle This Telegonus omitting his proportion and qualities for that it shall suffice to say they were excellent hauing had a sight of Fiordespine stood as the Deere at the gaze swallowing vp gréedily the inuenomed hooke that Venus so subtilly had baited for him for after the Idea of her person and perfection had made a déepe impression in his minde and that hee had passed thrée or foure daies in ruminating her excellency and debated in his bed with many lewtene slumber how swéete a saint she was he fell from liking to so deepe loue that nothing but death did rase it out And thus he marched vnder the standard of fancy being but a fresh water souldier to abide the alarums of affection feeling a restlesse passion that fretted his minde as the caterpiller the fruit he could not tell on which care to sleep but builded Castles in the ayre and cast beyond the moone first hee began to consider with himselfe how many braue Noble men of sundry Ilands rich in possessions honourable in parentage in qualities rare in property excellent had sought her loue and yet missed When hee had made comparison betweene himselfe and them despaire began with darke perswasions to disswade him from attempting such high loues knowing that Aquila non capit muscas Ladies of great beauty looke not at meane 〈◊〉 that Venus frowned on the smith with a rinkle on her forehead when she smiled on Mars with a dimple on her 〈◊〉 These premises considered poore
faire creatures if I stand in a maze sith the sight of your surpassing beauties makes me doubt whether I should honour you as earthly ladies or adore you as heauenly goddesses for no doubt Paris neuer saw fairer in Ida. But now noting with déep insight the figure of your diuine faces I acknowledge your honours to bee sisters to our prince whom I reuerence as allyed to my souereigne and offer my sernice as a seruant euer deuoted to such faire and excellent saints The ladies hearing this strange and vnlooked for salutation began to smile but Fiordespine frowning as halfe angry he should presume into her presence with a coy countenance returned him this answere If sir Telegonus for so I suppose is your name your eye-sight be so bad perhaps with péering too long on your bookes or your selfe so far beside your sences as to take vs for Nymphes I would wish you either to read lesse or to prouide you a good Physicion else shall you not iudge colours for me and yet since I would you should know wee count our penny good siluer and thinke our faces if not excellent yet such as may boote compare Telegonus taking opportunity by the forehead and thinking to strike the yron at this heat made reply Maiden hee might be thought either blinde or enuious that would make a doubt of Venus beauty and he be déemed either frantike or foolish that cannot see and say as you are superior to most so are you inferiour to none Pardon Madam if my censure be particular I meane of your sweet selfe whose fauours I haue euer loued and admired though vnworthy to set my fancy on such glorious excellency Fiordespine hearing her self thus praised was not greatly displeased yet past she ouer what was spoken as though her eares had beene stopt with Vlisses but Eriphila the second who was as wise as her sister was beautifull desired Telegonus to rest him by them on the grasse and that they would at their departure aske him as a guard to the court Telegonus as glad of this command as if he had been willed by the gods to haue béen chamberlaine to Venus saâ—…e downe with a mind full of passions hauing his eye fixed still on the beautie of Fiordespine which Eriphila espying thinking to be pleasant with Telegonus she began thus to prattle Your late passionate speech Telegonus to my sister Fiordespine makes me think that Venus is your chiefe goddesse and that loue is the lord whose liuery you weare if it be so neighbour take heede for fancie is a Shrew many like that are neuâ—…r loued Apollo may cry long after Daphne before she heare him and Troilus may stand long enough on the walls before Cresida waue her gloue for a salue I speak Telegonus against our selues take héed we be coy and wily we with our lookes can change men though Venus will weare the target and Mars the distaffe Omphalo handle the club and Hercules the spindle Alexander must crouch and Campaspe looke coy women will rule in loues howsoeuer men bee lâ—…fty in courage Indeed Madam quoth Telegoâ—…us him whom no mortall creature can controle loue can command no dignity is able to resist Cupids deitie Achilles was made by his mother Thetis invulnerable yet wounded by fancie Hercules not to be conquered of any yet quickly conquered by affection Mars able to resist Iupiter but not to withstand beautie Loue is not onely kindled in the eye by desire but ingrauen in the minde by destinie which neither reason can eschew nor wisedome expell the more pittie I confesse Madam for poore men and the greater impietie in the gods that in giuing loue free libertie they grant him a lawlesse priuiledge but since Cupid will bee obeyed I am contented to bowe especially seeing I haue chanced to set my affection on so excellent a creature And who might that be I pray you quoth Fiordespine taking the matter in dudgeâ—… that Telegonus should make report that is of such great excellencie dwelleth shee in Taprobane In Taprobane Madam replied Telegonus but with such a peale of sighes bewraying his loues in silence that Eriphila smiling sayd I see fire cannot bée hidden in the Flaxe without smoke nor Muske in the bosome without smell nor loue in the brest without suspition I perceiue in faith neighbour by your lippes what lettice you loue the saint that you account of such excellency whose perfection hath so snared your sences is my sister Fiordespine I quoth Fiordespine filling her Iuory browes full of Shrewish wrinkles I hope the young lord Telegonus knowes what Suters I haue shaken off and therefore not inferring comparisons because they bee odious I may giue him his answere with an c. There are more Maydes then Maulkin and more birds for the Faulcon to pearch with then the Eagle the Lyon is a bloudy beast for that he knoweth his strength I will not conclude but lord Telegonus if I be the woman you mean cease from your sute for in faith so well I doe loue you that you cannot more displease mee then in seeking to please mee for if I knew no other cause to mislike yet this might suffice that I cannot loue At this flat and peremptorie answere Telegonus sate nipped on the pate like to them which taste of the fish Mugra whose operation maketh them for a time sencelesse which Eriphila espying thinking to iumpe euen with the Gentleman pittying his passions in that Fiordespine was so coy to so courteous a Youth sayd You may see now Telegonus that Venus hath her frownes as shee hath smiles that Cupid hath arrowes headed with â—…ead to procure disdaine as well as with golde to increase loue heare mee that am a Uirgin as dutifull to Vesta as reuerent to Venus The paines that louers take for hunting after losse if their mindes were not confirmed with some secret inchantment were able to keepe their fancies for being inflamed or else to coole desire alreadie kindled for the daies are spent in thoughts and the nights in dreames both in danger either of beguiling vs of that wee had or promising vs that wee haue not The head fraught with fantasies fiered with ielosie troubled with both yea so many inconueniences waite vpon loue as to reckon them all were infinite and to taâ—…te but one of them were intollerable being alwaies begun with griefe continued with sorrow and ended with death for it is a paine shadowed with pleasure and a ioy stuffed with misery So that I coÌ„clude that as none euer sawe the altars of Busiris without sorrow nor banqueted with Phoebus without surfetting so as impossible it is to deale with Cupid and not either to gaine speedie death or endlesse danger As I was ready in defence of loue to make reply there came a little page from their lady mother to call them home to dinner wherupon they all rose and would haue taken their leaue but boldly I stood to my tackling and told them Ladies you passe not so for
gray which houered ouer the head of Alcida as though she had saluted her with her wings I maruelled at the familiaritie of the fowle and with that she changed colours from grà y to white and then to redde so to greene and as many sundry shapes as enery Iris blazed in the Firmament so that by the changing of hiewes I perceiued it to be Cameleon As thus I stood musing at the bird Alcida tooke me by she hand and sate downe at one of the roots of the Cedars bidding mee be attentiue and shee would discourse the euill fortune of her second daughter Eriphila the which I willingly consented vnto shee began her tale in this manner The second Historie of ERIPHILA of Taprobanâ—… AFter that my daughter Fiordespine was metamorphosed by the gods in reuenge of her cruelty to Telegonus time hauing rooted out some part of my sorrowes I beganne to â—…ace my selfe with the other two daughters Eriphila and Marpesia This Eriphila was as wittie as her sister was beautifull so that she was admired in Taprobane and all the bordering regions about accounted though not in yéeres yet in wit a Sibil beeing able to answere as darke an Enigma as the subtillest Sphinx was able to propound and I tel thee sonne as she was fauoured by Pallas so Venus was not behind in her fauours for she was beautifull insomuch that these gifts co-vnited made sundrie Suters come from sundry coasts to bee wooers to such a wily Minton Amongst the rest by fortune there arriued in this coast imbarked in a small Pinace the Dukes sonne of Massilia called Meribates who comming on shoare for fresh water came to see the Court of Taprobane where being greatly welcommed by my sonne falling into talk with my daughters hee found Eriphila so adorned with a supernaturall kinde of wit as hee was snared in the sweetnesse of her answeres swallowing downe the conceit of her wisedome with such greedinesse that hee lay drunks in the remembrance of her qualities finding seuerall delayes to make stay in the country couertly causing his Mariners to crack their tackling to vnrigge their Shippe in the night that they might haue iust cause to lye there the most part of that Summer Loue beginning to make this youngster politike caught him so fast by the heart that Mars was neuer more feately intangled in Vulcans net nor the forerunners of Iason more subtilly wrapped in the labyrinth then Meribates waâ—… in the snares of fancie for what he talked euen amongst the meanest of his Mariners was of Eriphila his thoughts his musing his determinations his resolutions his dayes watchings his night slumbers were of the excellent wit of Eriphila insomuch that loue lodged the Nouice vnder her Canapie where hee breathed out these passions Infortunate Meribates whom the enuious Fates haue scorned to make infortunate Hast thou mann'd thy selfe in a Barke to scoure the Seas and in this quest art thou like to lose thy sences Soughtest thou to abide the pleasure of Neptune and art faine to stand to the courtesie of loue Hast thou found flames amidst the waues Fire in the water and fancy where no affection was meant well now I see that as the Bee that flyeth from flowre to flowre hauing free choyse to choose at libertie is at last taken by the wings and so fettered In like mannerâ—… my fancy taking the view of manie a face hath a restraint of his freedome and is brought into bondage with the wit of a stranger But Meribates wâ—…it thou loue so lightly shall fancy giue thee the foile at the first 〈◊〉 Shall thin cares bee the cause of thy misery Wilt thou with Vlisses heare the Syrens sing listen to their melody and runne vnto endlesse misfortune Eriphila is wise so was Helena yet shee played the wanton with Paris shee answeres like the Uirgin at Delphos and her words are as Nectar Roses are sweete yet they haue pricâ—…es the purest hunny Bee is not without his â—…ing wit in a woman is like Dyle in the flame which either kindleâ—…h too great vertue or extreme vanity Well Meribates howsoeuer it bee wit cannot bee placed so bad but it is precious What is beauty but a colour dasht with euery breath a flowrenipt with euery frost a fauour that time and age defaceth whereas wit increaseth by yecres and that loue continueth longest that is taken by the eare not by the eye yeeld then Meribates when thou must néedes consent runne when thou art called by command Pallas is wife and will not bee ingratefull to her votaries say none but Eriphila for sure if euer thou wilt bestowe thy fréedome shee is worthy to haue thee captiue If thou meanest to marrie thou canst not haue a méeter match yea but how if her heart be placed and her mind settled vpon some Gentleman in Taprobane then were I a great deale better to wayle at the first then to weepe at the last to be content with a little pricke then a deepe wound to 〈◊〉 at the brimme than at the bottome The Scorpion if he touch neuer so lightly inuenometh the whole body the least sparke of wilds fire will set an whole house on flame the Cockatrice killeth euen with his sight the sting of loue woundeth deadly the flame of fancie sets on fire all the thoughts and the eyes of a louer are counted incurable Fearefulnesse Meribates in loue is a vertue hast thou turned ouer so many bookes of Philosophy and hast thou not quoted Phocas precept to bee fruitfull that louers should procéede iu their suite as the Crabbe whose pace is euer backward that though loue bee like the Adamant which hath vertue to drawe yet thou shouldest bee sprinkled with Goates bloud which resisteth his operation If the wit of some Pallas Nymphes haue inclosed thy minde yet thou shouldest take the Dyle of Nenuphar that cooleth desire what Meribates wilt thou become a precise Pythagoras in recounting of loue No let not the precepts of Philosophy subject the will of nature youth must haue his course he that will not loue when hee is young shall not bee loued when hee is olde say then Meribates and neuer gaine-say that Eriphila is the marke thou shoote at that her surpassing wit is the Syren whose song hath inâ—… chanted thee and the Cyrces cup which hath so soâ—…ed thy senees as either thou must with Vlisses haue a spéedy remedie or else remaine transformed Consider Meâ—…bates the cause of thy loue lest thou faile in the effects Is the foundation of thy fancy fixed vpon her feature think with thy selfe Beautie is but a blossome whose flowre is nipt with euery frost it is like the grasse in India which withereth before it springeth What is more faire yet what more fading What more delightfull yet nothing more deadly What more pleasant and yet what is more perilous Beautie may well bee compared to the bath in Calycut whose streams flow as cleere as the floud Padus and whose operation is as pestilent as the Riuer Ormen
Uirginitie inuiolate without spot so thy choice may bee without blemish know this it is too late to call againe the day past therefore kéepe the memorie of Meribates as needfull but not necessarie like him whom thou shalt haue occasion to loue and loue where thou hast tried him loyall vntill then remaine indifferent When Eriphila had vttered these words she straight to auoide all dumpes that solitarinesse might breede came to me and her sister and there passed away the day in prattle Thus these two louers passionate and yet somewhat patient for that hope had ministred lenitiue plaisters to their new wounds passed ouer two or three daies onely with glances and lookes bewraying their thoughts with their eyes which they could not discouer with their tongues Venus taking pitty of her patients found them out so fit occasion that as Eriphila with her sister Marpesia were walking alone in the garden gathering of flowers at that instant guided by loue and fortune Meribates went into the garden to be solitarie where straight he espied his mistris walking with her sister now Meribates was driuen into an 〈◊〉 with the extreme pleasure hee conceiued in the sodaine sight of his goddesse insomuch as hee stood amazed for feare and necessity found a deadly combate in the mind of Meribates he doubted if he should be ouer bold to giue offence to Eriphila and so spill his pottage But the law of necessitie saith Plato is so hard that the gods themselues are not able to resist it for as the water that by nature is cold is made hot by the force of fire and the straight tree pressed downe groweth alwayes crooked so nature is subiect to necessitie that kind cannot haue his course and yet if there be any thing which is more forcible then necessitie it is the lawe of loue which so incensed Meribates that casting all feare aside he offered himselfe to his mistresse with this courteous parle Gentle women if my presumption do trouble your muses yet the cause of my boldnesse deserueth pardon 〈◊〉 where the offence proceedeth of loue there the pardon ensueth of course I stood in a maze at the first â—…ght for mee thought you resembled Pallas and Iuno departing away from Venus after shee had wonne the ball you Madam Eriphila like the one for wit and Marpeâ—…a like the other for maiestie but howsâ—…euer sweet saints you grace this Garden with your presence as Diana doth the Groues and honour mee in admitting 〈◊〉 vnworthy a man into the company of such excellent personages Eriphila hearing Meribates in these tearmesâ—… giuing a glory to her face by staining her cheekes with a vermillion blush both sharply and shortly made this reply It is neuer presumption lord Meribates that fortune presents by chance and therefore no pardon where is no offence our musing was not great onely gathering floâ—…res which wee like by the hiew but know not by the vertue herein resembling louers that aiming at the fairest oft stumble on such as are little worth If you haue made vs any fault it is in giuing vs so kinde a â—…umpe with your vnlikely comparison I being as vnlike to Pallas in wit as Vulcan to Mars in property and shee as far different from Iuno in maiestie as olde Bawcis was to Venus in beauty but you Gentlemen of Massilia haue the habite of iesting and therefore since it is a fault of Nature we brooke it and beare with it Meribates hearing so courteous and witty an answere swilled in loue as merrily as euer Iupiter did vertue so that delighting to heare his mistresse prattle hee prosecuted his talke thus As I am glad Madam that my rashnesse was no occasion of offence so I am sorrie you take what I vttered in earnest to be spoken in sport my comparison as I iâ—…erred it so by your paâ—…ience I â—…re maintaine it if not able by reasons for that I â—…no Scholler yet by loue for that I shall drawe mine arguments from fancie which hath set on fire a poore strangers heart that he deemes your sweet selfe not only like Pallas but Pallas her selfe so that had I in this humour beene Iudge for Paris in the vale wit not beauty had gotten what they stroue for I but sir quoth Marpesia from whence will you drawe your arguments to prooue mee in maiestie like Iuno you dare not say from reason in regard yâ— the persons are without compare and from loue if you argue you proue your selfe double faced like Ianus and double hearted like Iupiter to haue two strings to a bowe and two loues at one time Yes Madam quoth Meribates my common place in this Enthymema shall bee also from loue for in affecting so dearely your sister I cannot but déeply honour you if not in loue as my Paramour yet in friendly affection as her sister You harpe still answered Eriphila on one string which is loue if you be in earnest looke for a frowne as I gaue you a fauour beleeue me lord Meribates there is nothing easier than to fall in loue nor harder than to chance well therefore omitting such serious matter as fancie for that I am vowed to Vesta tell mee will you prouide you as we of a Nosegay And if you be so minded tell me of all flowers which like you best Those Madam that best fit with my present humour And what bee they quoth Marpâ—…sia Penses Madam answered Meribates for it is a prettie flowre and of sundrie colours seeding the eye with varietie which is the chiefest pleasure to the sight especially I like it for the agnonimation in that the word comming from France signifies fancies Now how I am contented with fancies I would you could as well see as I feele One while imagination presents vnto me the Idea of my mistris face which I allow with a fancie another while a thought of her beautie wakens my sences which I conâ—… with a â—…ie straight her vertue sayes shee is most excellent which I gratifie with a fancie then to seale vp what may bee sayd her raâ—…e and supernaturall wit sayes her conceits are diuine which auowed with a catalogue of solemne oathes I set downe as a maxime with a fancie Thus are my thoughts sed with fancies and to be brief my life is lengthned out by fancies then Madam blame me not if I like Penses well and thinke nothing if I set no other flowre in my nosegay And truly lord Meribates answered Eriphila you and I are of one mind I meane in choice of flowres but not sir as it is called a Pense or as you descant on fancie but as we homely Huswiues call it Hearts-ease for of all contents I thinke this the greatest for in naming this word Hearts-ease I banish as with a charme the frownes of fortune and the follies of loue for the partie that is toucht by the inconstancy of the one or the vanitie of the other cannot boast hee meaneth hearts ease seeing then it â—…eedeth such rest vnto the minde
of Taprobane To be briefe so many faces so many fancies that shee became as variable in her loues as the Polype in colours which so perplexed the minde of Meribates that falling into melancholy and grieuous passions he exclaimed against the inconstancie of women who like Fortune stood vpon a globe and were winged with the feathers of ficklenesse yet not willing to rage too far till hee had talked with Eriphila hee would not stay till opportunity would serue but early in a morning stepped into her bed-chamber where finding her betweene halfe sleeping and waking he saluted with great courtesie being resaluted againe of Eriphila with the like priuate kind of familiaritie after a few ordinary spéeches Meribates taking Eriphila by the hand began to vtter his mind in these words Swéet mistresse I feele in my mind a perilous and mortall conflict between feare and loue by the one doubâ—…g in discouering my mind to purchase your disfauour by the other forced to hewray what I thinke lest I perish through my owne secrecie hoping therefore you will take that comes from me as from your second selfe giue me leaue to say that greeues me to repeate How I doubt Madame of your constancie what vowes there haue past betweene vs what protestations what promises I referre to your â—…wne conscience What vnseemly fauors you haue shewed to Lucidor what extreme fancie to Perecius all Taprobanc wonders at with sorrow that so witty a lady should proue so light and I especially whom the cause toucheth at the quicke and paineth at the heart feele more miserable passions for your disloialtie than I did receiue ioyes in hope of your constancie As Meribates was readie to haue prosecuted his parle my daughter broke off his discourse in this manner And what of this lord Mâ—…ribates may not a woman looke but she must loue are you iealous forsooth before the wedding well suppose I fauoured Lucidor and Perecius Si natura hominum sit nouitatis auida giue women leaue to haue more fancies than one if not as we are louers yet as we are women Venus temple hath many entrances Cupid hath more arrowes than one in his quiuer and sundry strings to his bowe women haus many lookes and so they may haue many loues What lord Meribates thinke you to haue a womans whole heart no vnlesse you can procurâ—… Venus to make her blind or some other deity deafe for if either she see beauty or gold or heare promises or passions I thinke shee will keepe a corner for a friend and so will I. But Madam the glorious frame of the world consists in vnitie for wee see that in the firmament there is but one sunne yea quoth Eriâ—…ila but there be many stars The Iris or Rainbow Madam qd he hath but one quality Truth answred my daughter but it hath many colours but to come to a familiar example replyed Meribates the heart hath but one string yea but quoth Eriphila it hath many thoughts and from these thoughts spring passions and from passions not loue but loues therefore content you sir for if you loue me you must haue riuals and so turning her face as in châ—…ller to the other side of the bed she bade him good morrow he passing away out of the chamber in great melancholy began assoon as he was alone to exclame against the inconstancy of women saying they were like marigolds whose forme turneth round with the sunne as wauering as wethercoks that mooue with euery winde as fléeting as the Northwest Ilands that flote with euery gale wittie but in wiles conceited but in inconstancy as brittle as glasse hauing their harts fram'd of the Polipe stones their faces of the nature of the Adamants and in quality like the Iacinth which when it seemeth most hot is then as cold as Iron carrying frownes in their foreheads and dimples in their chéekes hauing their eyes framed of Iette that drawe euery beauty in a minute and let them fall in a moment Thus he exclaimed against women but such was his feruent affection towards Eriphila that he would neither rage against her openly nor secretly but smothered his passions in silence which growing to the extreme brought him into a feuer wherein lingring awhile he dyed but in such sort that all Taprobane said it was for the inconstancy of Eriphila Wel. his Gentlemen and mariners mourned and sorrowed in that their Pynace should bring him home dead whome tâ—…ey brought forth aliue al ioyntly praying that the gods would be reuenged on Eriphila who as she was then attending with me and her brother on the dead corps to the shippe suddenly before all our sights was turned into this byrd a Camelion wherevpon the mariners reioyced hoising vp sailes and thrusting into the maine we scowred and returned home to the court Thus Sonne thou hast heard the misfortune of my two daughters the one for her pride the other for her inconstancie it is late and the setting of the sunne calleth vâ—… home with the Bée to our poore hiue therfore we will now to our cottage and to morrow at thy breakfast I will satisfie thee with the hard fortune of Marpesia with that I gaue the Countesse Alcida great thankes and accompanied my courteous Oastesse to her cottage The third Discourse of MARPESIA NO sooner was the day vp and Phoebus had marched out the greatest gates of heauen lighting the world with the sparkling wreath circled about his head but old Alcida got vp and called me from my bedde ashamed that old age should bee more early then youth I start vp to waite vpon mine Oastesse who being readie with her staffe in her hand carried me forth into the fields hard adioining to the Sea side where wee came to a tombe on which lay the picture of a Gentleman very artificially carued by him hung two tables without any simbole embleme imprest or other Hierogliphicall caracter onely there were written certaine verses to this effect The Graces in their glorie neuer gaue A rich or greater good to womankind That more impall's their honors with the Palme Of high renowne then matchlesse constancie Beauty is vaine accounted but a flowre Whose painted hiew fades with the summer sunne Wit oft hath wracke by selfe-conceit of pride Riches is trash that fortune boasteth on Constant in loue who tries a womans minde Wealth beautie wit and all in her doth find In the other table were set downe these verses The fairest Iem oft blemisht with a cracke Loseth his beauty and his vertue too The fairest flowre nipt with the winters frost In shew seemes worser then the basest weede Vertues are oft farre ouerstain'd with faults Were she as faire as Phoebe in her sphere Or brighter then the paramour of Mars Wiser then Pallas daughter vnto Ioue Of greater maiestie then Iuno was More chaste then Vesta goddesse of the Maides Of greater faith then faire Lucretiá Be she a blab and tattles what she heares Want to be secret giues farre greater staines Then
construe my meaning how you please or accept of my repay how you list I will not bee so discourteous to leaue you so slenderly guided as in the guard of this little page and with that I conducted them vnto the court and there with a loth to depart tooke my leaue hauing a courteous farewell of all but of Fiordespine who parmning like Iuno in her maiâ—…stie gaue mee a niggardly A dio with a nod which notwithstanding loue commanded me to take as a prodigall courtesie Well Telegonus thus left alone fearing too much solitarinesse might breede intemperate passions went home musing on the strange qualities of his mistresse where câ—…sting himselfe on his bed he began to consider that as she was beautifull so she was proud and that her exteriour fauour was blemished with an interiour disdaine that Venus was as much despised for her lightnesse as honoured for her deity that the blacke violet was more esteemed for her smell then the Lilly for her whitenesse that the darkest Topas was held more precious then the brightest Crystall and women are to bee measured by their vertues and not by their beauties And why dost thou vrge this Telegonus for that shee hath not fawned on thee at the first meeting giuen ouer the fort at the first assault and consented to thy loue at the first motion wouldest thoâ—… haue her so light fond youth as to stoope to the lure at the first call Helena was wanton yet was shee long in wooing Paris courted her before he caught her if a straggler made it strange blame not her that is vertuous and a Uirgin if she be somewhat coy resting in this hope he somewhat appeased his passions driuing away his melancholy and despairing humours by setting his rest on this point But loue that is impatient was in the day his companion and in the night his pillow Venus commanded her sonne to be beaten with Roses which as they are faire coloured and sauour sweet so they are full of prickes and pierce the skin Loue thus hammering in the head of Telegonus hee was doubtfull what to do or how best to prosecute his purpose to repaire to the court and there to court her was to attempt an aduenture very perilous and halfe impossible to seeke meanes to parle with her was to offer blank papers to Venus therefore he resolued to write vnto her and therupon entering into his studie hee tooke pen and paper and sent vnto her in this effect Telegonus to Fiordespine health THey honorable Fioâ—…despine that are inuâ—…nomed with the Hidaspis if they presently discouer not their paine perish such as are stung with the Tarantula must haue musicke at their eare before the poison come at their heart Venus temple is neuer shut Cupids register euer vnfolded and the secrets of loue if they bee concealed bréed either danger by silence or death by secrecy I speake this by experience for the déepe impression of your diuine beauty co-united with the admiration of your excellent vertues haue printed such a character in my thoughts since first I sawe your swéet selfe as either must bee confirmed with your mercie or I shall be confounded with misery where Cupid striketh there no salues can preuaile where loue serueth his writ of commaund there a Supersedeas of reason is of no auaile Beauty forceth the gods and therefore may fetter men but perhaps your honour will say that the Fox is no phere for the Lion none so meane a man as I worthy to gaze at so glorious a personage so that I may rather be counted impudent than passionate in attempting that which so many my betters haue missed To this obiection giue mee leaue â—…o say that Venus 〈◊〉 not the robes but the minde not the parentage but the minde not the Parentage but the person not the wealth but the heart not the honours but the loyaltie if then faith in fancie not possessions are to bee respected I hope as Nature by her secret iudgement hath endewed al creatures with some perfect quality where want bréeds mislike as the Mole depriued of sight hath a wonderful hearing the Hare being very feareful is most swift the Fish hauing no eares hath most cleere eyes so I of parentage meaâ—…e of wealth little of wit lesse yet haue I giuen mee by nature such a loyall heart as I hope the perfection of the one shall supply the want of the other coueting not to rule as a Husband but to liue dutifull and louing euer to the Lady Fiordespine Blame me not Madame if I pleade with my penne for euer since I fell into the labyrinth of your lookes I haue felt in my heart as in a little worke all the passions and contrarieties of the elements for mine eyes I call the gods to witnesse I speake without fayning almost turne into water through the continuall streames of teares and my sighes flie as winde in the ayre procéeding from the flaming fire which is kindled in my heart as that without the droppes of your pittie it will turne my bodie into drie earth and cinders Then Fiordespine sith your beauty hath giuen the wound let it like Achilles speare cure the same sore couet not to set out the trophe of disdaine where already you are conquered striue not for life sith you haue any liberty but fetch water from the fountaine of Alcidalie â—…ples from the hill Erecius conâ—… from the temple of Venus to appease that passion that otherwise cannot be cured render but loue for loue yea Madame such loue as time shall neuer blot out with obâ—…iuion neither any sinister fortune diminish So that if the world wondred at the loyalty of Petrarch to his Lawra or of Amadis to his Gryance they shall haue more cause to maruell at the loue of Telegonus to Fiordespine whose life and death standeth in your answere which I hope shall bee such as belongeth to the desert of my loue and the excellencie of your beautie Yours if he be Telegonus of Taprobane TElegonus hauing finished his letter caused it to be deliuered to Fiordespine with great trustinesse and secrecie who receiuing it with a frowning looke as halfe suspecting the contents yet vnripped the seales and read it which when shee had throughly perused draue her into such a furie that shee in a rage rent it and flung it into the fire saying There end his letters and his loues But as the Sea once hoysed with a gale calmeth not till it hath passed with a storme as the stone Pyrites once set on fire burneth in the water so a womans stomake once stirred ceaseth not to be discontent till it bee glutted with reuenge for Fiordespine not satisfied with tearing the letter of Telegonus could take no rest till either shee had breathed out some hard speeches with her tongue or set downe bitter taunts with her pen séeing therefore no fit meanes for the one shee stept in great choller to her standish and wrote to him thus satyrically Fiordespine to
Telegonus THough Vulcan with his polt foote presumed to couet the queene of beauty though Ixion aduentured to attempt the loue of Iuno yet lord Telegonus no offence to your person these paltring presidents are no conclusions that persons vnworthy should disgrace by their impudent and worthlesse motions the honours of excellent personages How I am greeued at your letters gesse by my sharp reply how I like of your lines examine in my writing how I disdaine them both time shall put you in euidence My beautie you say hath made an impression in your heart a man of soft metall that so soone takes the stampe a louer of great conceit that is fixed at the first looke but since it is your gentle nature to be so full of fancie I would haue the gods to make you either Venus chamberlaine or Cupids chaplaine or both because being so amorous you should not want offices you forestalled me in red letters with an obiection that many your betters haue courted me and mist then good louely lord Telegonus thinke not if I delighted not to gaze at stars that I meane to stumble at stones if I vouchsafe not to smel to most fragrant flowers that I mean to make me a nosegay of wéeds If honorable princes offered to Venus and could not be heard and sought for my fauours but found them not I thinke suppose the rest for I list not be tedious lest I should weary my selfe and grace thée with writing so much For thy loyalty keep it for thy equals for thy loue lay it not on me lest as I disdaine thy person so I reuenge thy presumption And so my hand was weary my eyes sleepie and my heart full of contempt and with that I went to bed Her owne Fiordespine of Taprobane THis letter was no sooner sealed but as women are impatient of delaies it was conueied with all possible speed to Telegonus who receiuing it kissed and 〈◊〉 it as comming from the hands of his goddesse changing colour oft as one betweene feare and hope at last vnripping the seales he read such a corasiue as cut him to the heart The Aspis stingeth not more deadly the serpent Porphirius inuenometh not more déepely neither did euer the sight of Medusas head more amaze a man than the contents of this satyricall letter did Telegonus yea it draue the poore Gentleman into so many passions that he became halfe lunaticke as if hee had eaten of the seed of sputanta that troubleth the braine with giddinesse he fell to exclaime against Venus and her deitie blaming the gods that would suffer such a gigglet to remaine in heauen repeating her lawlesse loues with Adonis and her scapes with Mauors Cupid he called a boy a fondling blind in his ayme and accursed in hitting the marke rageth against women saying they were mercilesse cruell vniust deceitfull like vnto the Crocodile in teares in sight they seeme to be Carnations in smelling Roses in hearing Syrens in taste wormewood in touching nettles Thus he rayled and raged casting himselfe on his 〈◊〉 and there forging a thousand perplexed passions one while accusing loue as a lunacie and then againe saying Beautie was diuine and the richâ—… iewell that euer nature bestowed vpon men Lingring a day or two in this frenzie he thought not to giue ouer the Castle at the first repulse nor to prooue so lewd a Huntsman as to giue ouer the chase at the first default therefore he once againe armed himselfe with his pen and paper and gaue a fresh alarum to his friendly â—…oe in this manner Telegonus to faire Fiordespine of Taprobanâ—… HOnourable Ladie the Pysicians say salues seldome helpe an once long suffered sore and too late it is to plant Engines to batter when the walls are already broken Autumne showres are euer out of season and too late it is â—…o dislodge loue out of the brest when it hath infected euery part of the body The sore when the settering fistulo hath by long continuance made the sound flesh rotten can neither with lenitiue plaisters nor cutting corasiues be cured so loue craueth but onely time to bring the body and mind to ruine Your honor séeing how déeply I am deuâ—…ted to your beauty and vertue hath sent mee pilles of hard digestion to asswage the force of my loue and qualifie the flame set on fire by fancy but as the biting of the Uiper rankleth til it hath brought the body bitten to bane so your exquisite perfection hath so pierced euery veins with the sting of loue that neither your bitter reply nor â—…atyrical innectiue can in any wise preuaile only the mild medicine of your mercie may salue the sore and cut away the cause of my carefull disease The extremity of my loue and the violence of my passions hath forced mee to hazard my selfe on your clemencie for I was neuer of that minde to count him martiall that at the first shoot would yéeld vp the keyes of the Citie for the more hard the rebut is the more hautie is the conquest the more doubtfull the fight the more worthy the victorie the more paine I take about the battery the more pleasure to win the bulwarke of your brest which if I should obtaine I would count it a more rich prize then euer Scipio or any of the nine Worthies wonne by conquest and that these words be verily and not vanity troth and not triâ—…ing I appeale to your good grace and fauor minding to be tried by your courtesie abiding either the sentence of consent vnto life or deniall vnto death Yours euen after death Telegonus of Taprobane THis letter finished and sent vnto Fiordespine so troubled her patience for that Telegonus was importunate that she fared like the frownes of Bacchus halfe mad at this secret motion swearing reuenge if either her selfe or her friends could performe it and in this humor she sent him by her Page these few lines Fiordespine to Telegonus I Had scarce read thy letters before I rent them estéeming thy papers and thy loue a like for as I mislike the one so I disdaine the other Hath ouer-much folly driuen thee into a frensie or hath want of manners made thee impudent Wilt thou bragge with Irus the begger amongst Penelopes sutors or séeke with the smoky Cyclops to kisse Venus hand looke on thy feete and so let fall thy plumes stretch not so high vnlesse thy sleeue were longer for Fiordespine scorneth so much as to looke at Telegonus in respect of loue as Iuno did to iest with the father of the Centaures If I knew thy passions were as great as thou decipherest thy griefe and thy thoughts as fiery as the hils in Sycily I would laugh at the one as ioying at thy sorrowes and put oyle in the flame as delighting to aggrauate thy miseries Sith then thou séest my resolution to be so regorous ouer-rash youth betake thée to thy dumpes and fare how thou list for know I mislike thy sute and hate thy person and will liue
and dye thine enemy if for no other cause yet for that thou hast dared to court Fiordespine Thy mortall enemy Fiordespine of Taprobane AFter that Telegonus had read this letter sawâ—…ed with such perempâ—…ory disdaine hee fell in a trance lying in his bed as a dead carcase but when he was come to himself hee fell into such extreme passions that his father and his friends comming into the Chamber thought him possessed with some spirit the Physician felt his pulses and found hee had a sound body whereupon they did coniecture it was loue and to verifie the same after he had raised himself vp in his bed with a gastly looke he cryed nothing but Fiordespine fetching such gréeuous grones déepe sighes that all the chamber fell into teares whereupon the old Earle hauing his haire as white as snowe came himself trudging to the Court telling the exâ—…me pasâ—…ion of his son entreating Fiordespine that she would so much as vouchsafe to come to his house onely with her presence somewhat to mitigate his sonnes passions but such was the pride and disdaine of my daughter that neither theteares of the old Earle the intreaty of my son nor my command could preuaile with her insomuch that the old man returned comfortlesse and sorrowing Well Telegonus lying thus distrest by the space of a weeke at last faining himselfe to amend would needes walk abroad that he might be solitary and stumbled weake as hee was into this vale and to this place where sitting downe he fell into these paâ—…ons Infortunate Telegonus whose stars at thy â—…irth were in some cursed aspect why didst thou not perish at thy birth or how did fortune frowns that thou wert not 〈◊〉 in thy swadling cloathes now growne to ripe yéetes thou feelest more miseries than thou hast liued moments ah loue that labyrinth that leadeth men to worse dangers then the Mynotaure in Greece loue that kindlest desire but allowest no reward inconstant Venus whose sacrifices sauour of death whose lawes are tyrannous whose fauours are misfortunes strumpet as thou art for I disdaine to call thee goddesse thou and the bastard brat thy sonne shew your power your deitie reuenge my blasphemies how you can for how great soener your choller be my calamitie cannot bee more Mercilesse women whose faces are lures whose beauties are baites whose lookes are nets whose words are charmes and all to bring men to ruine But of all cruell Fiordespine borne of a Tyger and nursed of the shee Wolues in Syria whose heart is full of hate whose thoughts are disdaine whose beautie is ouerlaid with pride Let Venus if shee haue any iustice or Cupid if he haue the equitie of a god make thee loue where thou shalt be mislikâ—… Alas Telegonus cease not with these praiers the reuenge is too easie but cry to the bitternesse of thy passions that they quit thy reueâ—…ge against Fiordespine and with this his spéech ceasing hee beat himselfe against the ground in such pitifull sort that the gods tooke compassion and resolued a reuenge But while hee lay thus perplexed his father mist him and taking some of his Gentlemen with him sought him and found him in this Malley passionate and speechlesse The rumour of Telegonus distresse came to the Court whereupon I and my sonne with my other two daughters so intreated Fiordespine that she granted to go see the Gentleman walking therfore to this place here we found him accompanied with his friends all signiâ—…ying with teares how they greeueâ—… at his mishap Telegonus no sooner sawe Fiordespine but turning himselfe vpon the grasse with a bitter looke hee first gaz'd her on the face then lifting vp his eyes to heauen gaue a great sigh as though his heart-strings had broke which Fiordespine perceiâ—…ing triâ—…mphing in the passions of her louer shee turned her backe and â—…miled Scarce had she fram'd this scornefull countenance but Mercury sent from the gods in a shâ—…pheards attirâ—… strooke her on the head with his Caduceus and turned her into this marble picture which we amazed at and Telegonus noting turning himselfe on his left side groned forth these words the gods haue reuenged and I am satisfied and with that hee gaue â—…y the ghost The old Earle gréened at the death of his sonne taking vp his body departed I sorrowing at the Metamorphosis of my daughter wept but to small effect for euer since she hath remained as thou seest a wonder to the world and a perpetuall griefe to me Thus sonne hast thou heard the discourse of my daughters misfortune which hath not been so delightfull for thee to heare as greeuous for me to reueale but seeing I am entred into the discoueries of their ills no sooner shall wee haue taken our repast but I will shew thee what fortuned to her second sister Eriphila for I knowe the nature of men is desirous of nouelties and with that taking mee by the hand we went home to her Cottage The second Discourse Wâ—…e had no sooner diued with our homely delicates tempring our times with prattle of Fiordespine but Alcida rose vp and walked to a Groue hard by a place inter seamed with shrubbes but placed between two hills like the supposed entrance of hell as there seemed that melancholy Saturneâ—…ad â—…ad erected an Academie Entring into this Groue so thicke as Phoebus was denied passage wandring awhile by many vncoth paths at last wee came into a fairs place where was a goodly Spring the situation round enuironed with 〈◊〉 hard by this fount stood two Cedars tall and straight on whose barke was curiously 〈◊〉 certaine 〈◊〉 Embleames on the one was 〈◊〉 Mercury throwing feathers into the winde and vnder was written these verses The richest gift the wealthy heauen astords The pearle of price sent from immortall Ioue The shape wherein we most resemble gods The fire Prometheus stole from lofty skies This gift this pearle this shape this fire is it Which makes vs men bold by the name of wit By wit we search diuine aspect aboue By wit we learne what secrets science yeelds By wit we speake by wit the mind is rul'd By wit we gouerne all our actions Wit is the Load stâ—…rre of each humane thought Wit is the toole by which all things are wrought The brightest Iacynth hot becommeth darke Of little steeme is Crystall being crackâ—… Fine heads that can conceit no good but ill Forge of that breedeth ruine to themselues Ripe wits abus'd that build on 〈◊〉 desire Do burne themselues like flyes within the fire On the other â—…edar was cut very cunningly Cupid â—…idwing bladders in the ayre the poesis vnder written was this Loue is a locke that linketh noble mindes Faith is the key that shuts the spring of loue Lightnesse a wrâ—…st that wâ—…ingeth all awâ—…y Lightnesse a plague â—…hat â—…ancie cannot brooke Lightnesse in loue so bad and base a thing As foule 〈◊〉 to greatest States do bring As I was reading these vâ—…rses from the thicket there came a bird flittering of colour
I but Meribates what more cleere then the Crystall and what more precious what more comely then cloth of Arras so what more costly what creature so beautifull as a woman and what so estimable Is not the Diamond of greatest dignity that is most glistering and the pearle thought most precious that is most perfect in colour Aristotle saith they cannot be counted absolutely happy although they had all the vertues if they want beautie yea Apollonius an arch-heretike and a professed enemy against the sacred lawes of beauty is driuen both by the lawes of Nature and nurture to confesse that Uertue is the more acceptable by how much the more it is placed in a beautifull bodie but what long digressed discourse is this thou makest of beautie Meribates it is not vpon such a â—…ckle foundation thou buildest thy loue but vpon her wit which only parteth with death and therefore whatsoeuer Philosophie or learning wils I will consent vnto nature for the best Clarkes are not the wisestmen whatsoeuer wisdome wills I wil at this time giue the crimes of beautie to my amorous passions for he that makes curiositie in loue will so long straine courtesie that either hee will be counted a solemne suter or a witlesse wooer therefore whatsoeuer the chance be I will cast at all Meribates hauing thus debated with himselfe reâ—…ed on this resolution that he would moderate his affection vntill he found opportunity to discourse his mind to Eriphila who on the contrary side noting the perfectioÌ„ of Meribates was more enamored of his person and qualities then Phillis of Demophon or Dido of the false and vniust Troian for he was so courteous in behauiour so liberall not onely of his purse but his courtesie that he had wonne all their hearts in Taprobane These considerations so tickled the mind of Eriphila that shee fell thus to debate with her selfe What meanes Eriphila these strange and sodaine passions shall thy stayed life be compared now to the Camelion that turneth her self into the likenesse of euery obiect to the herbe Phanaros whose budde is sweet and the roote bitter to the Rauens in Arabia which being young haue a pleasant voice but in their age a horrible crie Wilt thou consent vnto lust in hoping to loue Shall Cupid claime thee for his captiue who euen now wert vowed a vestall Uirgine Shall thy tender age bee more vertuous then thy ripe yéeres What shall the beauty of Meribates inchant thy minde or his filed speech be witch thy senses Shall the property of a stranger drawe thee on to affection If thou shouldest hap to like him would hee not thinke the Castle wanted but scaling that yeeldeth at the first shot That the bulwarke wanteth but batterie that at the first parley yeelds vp the keyes Yes yes Eriphila his beauty argues inconstancy and his painted phrases deceit and if he see thee wonne with a word hee will thinke thee lost with the winde he will iudge that which is lightly to be gained is as quickly lost The Hawke that commeth at the first call will neuer proue stedfast on the stand The Niese that will be reclaimed to the fist at the first sight of the lure will bate at euery bush The woman that will loue at the first looke will neuer be charie of her choyce Take heed Eriphila the finest scabbard hath not euer the brauest blade nor the goodliest chest hath not the most gorgeous treasure the Bell with the best sound hath an iron clapper the fading apples of Tantalus haue a gallant shewe but if they be touched they turne to ashes So a faire face may haue a foule mind swéet words a sowre heart yea rotten bones out of a painted sepulchre for all is not gold that glisters UUhy but yet the Iemme is chosen by his hiew and the cloth by his colour condemne not then Eriphila before thou hast cause accuse not so strictly without tryall search not so narrowly till thou hast occasion of doubt Yea but the Mariners sound at the first for feare of a Rocke the Chirurgion tainteth betimes for his surest proofe one fore-wit is worth two after it is not good to beware whon the act is done too late commeth repentance what is it the beauty of Meribates that kindleth this flame who more beautifull then Iason yet who more false for after Medea had yeelded he sacked the fort and in liew of her loue he killed her with â—…indnesse Is it his wit who wiser then Theseus yet none more traiterous Beware Eriphila I haue heard thee say she that marries for beautie for euery dramme of pleasure shall haue a pound of sorrow choose by the â—…are not by the eye Meribates is faire so was Paris and yet fickle hee is witty so was Corsiris and yet wauering No man knoweth the nature of the hearbe by the outward shew but by the inward iuice and the operation consists in the matter not in the forme The Foxe winnes the fauour of the Lambes by play and then deuours them so perhaps Meribates shewes himselfe in outward shewe a demy god whereas who tries him inwardly shall finde him but a solemne saint Why since his arriuall in Taprobane all the Iland speakes of his vertue and courtesie but perchance hee makes a vertue of his néede and so layes this baulmed hooke of fained honesty as a luring baite to trap some simple Dame The cloth is neuer tried vntill it come to the wearing nor the linnen neuer shrinkes till it comes to the wetting so want of liberty to vse his will may make a restraint of his nature and though in a strange place hee vse faith and honesty to make his marriage yet she perhaps that shall try him shal either find he neuer had them or quite forgot them for the nature of men as I haue heard say is like the Amber-stone which will burne outwardly and frieze inwardly and like the barke of the Mirtle trees that grew in Armenia that is as hot as fire in the taste and as colde as water in the operation The dogge biteth sorest when he doth not barke the Onix is hottest when it lookes white the Syrens meane most misâ—…hiefe when they sing the Tyger then hydeth his crabbed countenance when he meaneth to take his prey and a man doth most dissemble when hee speaketh fairest Trie then Eriphila ere thou trust especially since hee is a stranger prooue ere thou put in practise cast the water before thou appoint the medecine doe all things with deliberation goe as the Snaile faire and softly haste makes waste the malt is euer sweetest where the fire is softest let not wit ouercome wisedome nor the hope of a husband be the hazard of thine honestie cast not thy credite on the chance of a stranger who perchance may proue to thee as Theseus did to Ariadne wade not too far where the fâ—…rd is vnknowne rather bridle thy affections with reason and mortifie thy mind with modesty that as thou hast kept thy
and such quiet to the thoughts we will both weare this flowre as a fauour you as a Pense bat I as Hearts-ease As these two louers were thus merrily descanting vpon flowres I came into the Garden and found this young lord and my daughter at chat no whit displeased in that I knew the honour of his house his great possessions and parentage I winkt at their loues and after a little ordinary parle called them in to dinner where there was such â—…anding of â—…es and amorous lookes betweene Meribates and Eriphila as a blinde man might haue seene the creeples hault well dinner being ended as Meribates entred into the conuÌ„deration of Eriphilaes wit so shee more impatient as the horse that neuer hauing felt the 〈◊〉 runneth at the first pricke so she neuer hauing felt before the like flame was more hot and 〈◊〉 wearie than if before she had beene scorched with affection Now she called him in her thoughts beautifull saying that the fayrest and 〈◊〉 herbes haue the most secret operation shee sayd hee was well proportioned and so the reddest Margarites had the most precious vertues that hee was 〈◊〉 and then shee called to minde the olde verse Gratior est pulchro veniens è corpore virtus But when shee weighed his wise and witty arguments that he vttered in the garden how they not onely sauored of wit but of mirth then Omnia vincit amor nos cedamus aâ—…ori Shee could not but in her conscience sweare that hee should be the saint at whose shrine she would offer vp her deuotion These two louers thus liuing the more happily for that they rested vpon hope it pleased my sonne and mee to walke abroad into a parke hard â—…ining to the Court and with vs my two Daughters and forget the strangers we could not pacing thus abroad to take aire when wee were in the greene meades Meribaâ—…s and my daughter had singled themselues and he taking time while she proffered opportunity began boldly to court her in this manner It is an olde saying Madam holden as an Oracle that in many words lyeth mistrust and in painted speech deceit is often couered Therefore I sweet mistresse whose acquaintance with you is small and credit lesse as beeing a stranger dare vse no circumstance for feare of miâ—…rust neither can I tell in what respect to bring a sufficient triall of my good will but only that I wish the end of my loue to be such as my faith and loialtie is at this present which I hope tract of time shall trie without 〈◊〉 Thy wit Eriphila hath bought my fréedome and thy wisedome hath made me captiue that as he which is hurt of the scorpion séeketh a salue from whence he receiued the â—…ore so you onely may minister the medicine which procures the disease The burning feuer is driuen out with a hot poâ—…on the shaking palsie with a cold drinke loue onely is remedied by loue and fancie must be cured by continuall affection Therefore Eriphila I speake with teares outwardly and with drops of bloud inwardly that vnlesse the miâ—…ing showres of your mercy mitigate the fire of my fancy I am like to buy loue repentance with death but perhaps you will obiect that the beasts which gaze at the Panther are guilty of their own death that the mouse taken in the trap deserueth her chance that a louer which hath free-will deserueth no pittie if he fall into any amorous passions Can the straw resist the vertue of the pure Iet or flaxe the force of the fire can a louer with stand the brunt of beauty or fréeze if he stand be the flame or preuent the lawes of nature weigh all things equally and then I doubt not but to haue a iust iudgement and though small acquaintance may bréede mistrust and mistrust hinders loue yet tract of time shall inferre such tryall as I trust shall kindle affection And therefore I hope you will not put a doubt till occasion be offered nor call his credit in question whome neyther you haue found nor heard to be halting what though the Serpentine powder is quickly kindled and quickly out yet the Salamander stone once sette on fire can nâ—…uer bee quenched as the sappie Myrtle tree will quickly rotte so the Sethim wâ—… wil neuer be eaten with wormes though the Polype changeth colour euery houre yet the Saphyr will cracke before it will consent to disloyalty As al things are not made of one mould so all men are not of one minde for as there hath beene a trothlesse Iason so there hath béene a trustie Troylus and as there hath béen a dissembling Damocles so there hath beene a loyall Lelius And sure Eriphila I call the gods to witnesse without fayning that sith thy wit hath so bewitched my heart my loyaltie and loue shall bee such as thy honour and beautie doth mâ—…rite Sith therefore my fancie is such repay but halfe so much in recompence and it shall bee sufficient Eriphila hearing this passionate speech of Meribates made him this answere Lord Meribates it is hard taking the fowle when the net is descried and ill catching of fish when the hooke is bare and as impossible to make her beleeue that will giue no credite and to deceiue her that spieth the fetch When the string is broken it is hard to hit the white when a mans credite is called in question it is hard to perswade one Blame me not Meribates if I vrge you so strictly nor thinke nothing if I suspect you narrowly a woman may knit a knot with her tongue that shee cannot vntie with all her teeth and when the signet is set on it is too late to breake the bargaine therefore I had rather mistrust too soone then mislike too late I had rather feare my choice then rue my chance for a womans heart is like the stone in Egypt that will quickely receiue a forme but neuer change without cracking If then I feare thinke mee not cruell nor scrupulous if I be wise for my selfe the Wolfe hath as smooth a skin as the simple sheepe the sowre Elder hath a fairer barke then the sweete Iuniper where the sea is calmest there it is deepest and where the greatest colour of honestie is there oftentimes is the most want for Venus vessâ—…ls haue the lowdest sound when they are most emptie and a dissembling heart hath more eloquence then a faithfull minde for truth is euer naked I will not Lord Meribates runne from my particular comparison Thus I cast all these doubts and others haue tryed them true yet am I forced by fancy to take some remorse of thy passions Medea knew the best but yet followed the worst in choosing Iason but I hope not to finde thee so wauering Well Meribates to be short and plaine thou hast wonne the castle that many haue besieged and hast obtained that which others haue sought to gaine it is not the shape of thy beautie but the hope of thy loyalty which inticeth me not
vertues glorie which in her remaines After I had read ouer the verses Alcida sayd sonne I perceiue thou dost muse at this tombe set in so vncoth a place hard by the steepe-downe cliffes of the Sea especially furnished with Enigmaticall posies yet hast thou not considered what after thou shalt finde and therefore let vs sit downe vnder the shadowe of this Rose tree which thou seest â—…orished in this barren place so faire and beautifull and I will driue thee out of these doubts by discouering the fortune of my daughter Marpesia I desirous to heare what the meaning of this monument seated so prospeâ—…iue to Neptune should be sate mee downe very orderly vnder the Rose tree and began to settle my selfe very attentiue to heare what old Alcida would say who began in this manner The third Historie of MARPESIA of Taprobane MY two daughters beeing thus metamorphosed and transformed for their follies into strange shapes I had left mee onely my youngest daughter Marpesia in face little inferiour to her eldest sister Fiordespine for shee was passing beaâ—…ll wise she was as not second to Eriphila but other speciall vertues she had that made her famous through all Taprobane and as the burnt childe dreads the fire and other mens harmes learne vs to beware so my daughter Marpesia by the misfortune of Fiordespine feared to be proud and by the â—…nister chance of Eriphila hated to be inconstant insomuch that fearing their natiuities to be fatall and that hers being rightly calculated would proue as bad as the rest Shée kept such a strict method of her life and manners and so foregarded all her actions with vertue that she thought shee might despise both the fates and fortune Liuing thus warily I and her brother conceiued great content in her modestie and vertue thinking though the gods had made vs infortunate by the mishappe of the other two yet in the fortunate successe of Marpesias life amends should bee made for the other mishap Perswaded thus it fortuned that my sonne intertained into his seruice the son of a Gentleman a bordering neighbour by a youth of greater beauty then birth for hee was of comely personage of face louely and though but meanly brought vp as nusled in his fathers house yet his nature discouered that hee was hardie in his resolution touching courage and courteous in disposition as concerning his manners This youth called Eurimachus was so diligent and dutifull towards his lord so affable to his fellows and so gentle to euery one that hee was not onely well thought on by some but generally liked and loued of all Continuing in this method of life hee so behaued himselfe that in recompence of his seruice my sonne promoted him not onely to higher office and some small pension but admitted him into his secret and priuate â—…amiliarity Liuing thus in great credit it chanced that Venus seeing how my daughter Marpesia liued carelesse of her loues and neuer sent so much as one sigh to Paphos for a sacrifice shee called Cupid complaining that shee was atheist to her deitie and one opposed to her principles whereupon the boy at his mothers becke drewe out an inuenomed arrow and leuelling at Marpesia hit her vnder the right pappe so nigh the heart that giuing a grone she felt she was wounded but how or with what she knew not as one little skilfull in any amorous passions yet shee felt thoughts vnfitting with her wonted humor for noting the person of Eurimachus which she found in property excellent and admiring the qualities of his minde co-vnited with many rare and precious vertues which she perceiued to bee extraordinarie she fell to conceiue a liking which for the basenesse of his birth shee passeth ouer as a toy but the blinded wagge that suffers not his wounds to bee cured with easie salues nor permitteth any lenitiue plaisters to preuaile where hee pierceth with his arrowes put oyle in the flame and set fire to the flaxe that she felt her fancy scarce warme to grow to such a scalding heate as euery veine of her heart swet passions feeling this new lord called loue to be so imperious shee stooped a little and entred into deeper consideration of Eurimachus perfection and so deepe by degrees that although shee coueted with the Snaile to haue her pace slow yet at length she waded so farre that she was ouer her shooes so that feeling her selfe passing into an vnknowne forme shée fell into this doubtfull meditatiou What flame is this Marpesia that ouer heateth thy hart what strange fire hath Venus sent from Cipres that scorcheth thee heere in Taprobane hath Cupids bowe such strength or his arrowes such flight as being loosed in heauen hee can strike here vpon earth a mighty goddesse is Venus and great is Cupid that work effects of such strange operation make not a doubt Marpesia of that is palpable dreame not at that which thou seest with thine eyes nor muse not at that which thou feelest with thy heart then confesse and say thou art in loue and loue in thee so deeply as Pumice-stones of reason will hardly raze out the characters In loue thou art young Marpesia so is Cupid a very childe a maid so was Venus before shee lost her Uirginitie and yet for her lightnesse shee was the goddesse of loue but with whom art thou in loue with Eurimach one of base birth and small liuing of no credite a meane Gentleman and thy brothers seruant Consider Marpesia that loue hath his reasons and his rules to settle fancy and gouerne affections honour ought not to looke lower in dignitie nor the thoughts of Ladies gaze at worthlesse persons Better is it for thee to perish in high desires then in lowe disdaine oppose thy selfe to Venus vnlesse her presents be more precious say loue is folly except her gifts be more rich count rather to dye in despising so meane a choice then liue in liking so vnlikely a chance what will thy mother thy brother thy friends nay all Taprobane say but that thou art vaine carelesse and amorous but note this Marpesia loue is a league that lasteth while life thou art in this to feede thine eye not thine humour to satisfie the desire of thy heart not the consideration of their thoughts for in marying either a perpetuall content or a general mistike is like to fall to thy selfe what though he be poore yet hee is of comely personage though he be base of birth yet he is wise what hee wanteth in gifts of fortune hee hath in the minde and the defect of honours is supplied with vertues Venus her selfe loued Adonis Phoebe stooped from heauen to kisse a poore Shepheard AEnone loued Paris as hee was a Swaine not as the son of Priamus loue is not alwaies companion to dignity nor fancy euer lodged in kings Palaces Then Marpesia looke at Eurimachus for hee is courteous and loue him as he is vertuous supply thou his want with thy wealth and increase his credite with thy
countenance but how dare he motion loue that is so low or enterprise to attempt so great an assault Neuer stand in doubt Marpesia giue him thou but fauors and loue and fortune will make him bold Marpesia hauing thus meditated with her selfe sought by all meanes possible how to make him priuy to her affections she vsed in her salutations affable courtesie and somwhat more then ordinary her lookes were full of fauours her glances many and milde he vsed no exercise but she did commend nor performed any thing which shee sayd not to be excellent The young Eurimachus was not such a Nouice but hee could espie a pad in the straw and discerne a glowing coale from colde cinders hee noted her glances her looks her gestures her words examining euery particular action in the depth of his thoughts finding by the touchstone that all tended vnto meere loue or extreme dissimulation for whatsoeuer she did was in extremes Well hope put him in comfort that shee was too vertuous to dissemble and feare that she was too honorable to loue so base a man yet supposing the best he tooke her passions for loue had a desire to return a liking with affection but the consideration of his parentage of his small possessions of her honour his lords disfauour and the impossibility of his sute was a cooling card to quench the hottest flame that Cupid could set on fire with his inchanted brand but Venus had pittied the fondling gaue him such precious comfortiues to incourage her champion that he resolued to attempt whatsoeuer his fortune were thus in suspence he began to debate with himselfe It hath béene an old saying Eurimachus suckt from his mothers â—…eate that it is good to looke before thou leape and to sound the Ford before thou venter to wade too farre sith time paâ—… cannot be recalled nor actions performed reuoked but repented gaze not at starres lest thou stumble at stones looke not into the Lions denne leâ—…t for thy presumption thy skinne be pulled ouer thine eares In loues thoughts are to be measured by fortunes not by desires for Venus tables are to be gazed at with the eye not to be reacht at with the hand In loue Eurimachus why it fifâ—…eth not with thy present estate fancy is to attend on high lords not on such as are seruile it were meeter for thee to sweate at thy labours then to sigh at thy passions to please thy lord then to dote on thy mistresse busie then thy hands to free thy heart bee not idle and Venus charmes are to a deafe Adder Cedit amor rebus res age tutus eris But Eurimachus Phidias painteth loue young and her garlands are made with the bads of Roses not with withered flowres Youth holdeth the fire and fancy puts in the oyle but age carries the colde cinders now that heate of young peeres hath yeelded therefore if thou refuse to loue when wilt thou finde time to fancie wrinkles in the face are spelles against Cupid and Venus starteth backe from white haires then now or else neuer â—…oue is a greater lord then thy master for hee hath deity to counteruaile his diguitie Thou tattlest Eurimachus of loue but say who is the obiect thy thoughts ayme at no lesse nor no lower than Marpesia sister to thy lord a Princesse by birth faire and beautifull full of honourable and vertuous qualities sought by men of high parentage to say all in one wâ—…rd the flowre of Taprobane fond foole thinkest thou the Kite and the Eagle will pratch on one tree the Lyon and the Wolfe lye in one denne Ladies of great worth looke on such worthlesse pesants No thinke her disdaine will bee greater then thy desire and assure thee this if thou presume shee will reuenge why is Cupid blind and shoots he not one shaft at random may he not as soone hit a Princesse as a Milk-maid truth but his arrowes are matches he shoots not high with the one and low with the other hée ioynes not the Mouse and the Elephant the Lambe and the Tiger the Flie and the Faulcon nor sets not honor in any seruile roome yet Omphiâ—…a the queene of the Indians loued a Barber Angelica Medes a mercinary souldier Yea Venus her selfe those a Blacke-smith Women oft resemble in their loues the Apothecaries in their art they choose the weed for their shop when they leaue the fairest â—…owre in the garden they oft respect the person more then the parentage and the qualities of the man more then his honors feeâ—…ing the eye with the shape and the heart with the vertues howsoeuer they liue discontent for want of riches but build not Eurimachus on these vncertaine instances nor conclude on such premises lest thy foundation faile and thy Logike prooue not worth a lowse what reason hast thou to perswade thee ouce to aime a thought at Marpesia such as Venus if she heard them pleaded would allow for Aphorismes if fauors be a signe of fancie what glances haue I had that haue pearced deep what looks as discouering loue what courteous speeches to my face what praises behind my backe Nay what hath Marpesia done of late but talke of Eurimachus and honor Eurimachus what of this young Nouice are not women Arch-practisers of flattery and dissimulation lay they not their lookes to intrap when they meane to keepe the fowle for tame fooles haue they not desire in their faces when then haue disdaine in their hearts did not Helena kisse Meneâ—…aus when shee winked on Paris did not Cresida wring Troylus by the hand when her heart was in the tents of the Grecians euery looke that women lend is not loue euery smile in their face is not a prioke in their bosome they present Roses and beate men with Nettles burne perfumes and yet sâ—…ifle them with the blacke speak faire and affable when God wot they meane nothing lesse If then Eurimachus thou knowest their wiles feare to make experience of their wits rest thee as thou art let Marpesia vse fauors cast glances praise and dispraise how she list thinke all is wanton dissimulation and so rest In this melancholy humour he left his loues and went to his labours Loue espying how in the day he withstood her face with diligence she caused Morpheus to present him in his sléepes with the shape of his Mistresse which recording in the day hee found that where fancie had pierced deepe there no salue would serue to appease the Maladie that from these light paines he fell into extreme passions As he could take no rest he sought alwaies to be solitary so to féed his thoughts with imaginations that like Cephalus he delighted to walke in the Groues and there with Philomela to bewaile his loues Cupid pittying his plaints sent opportunity to find her who brought it so to passe that as on a day he walked into a place hard adioining to the parke hauing his Lute in his hand playing certaine melancholy dumpes to mitigate his pinching humor Marpesia