compared to the riches of your loue O heauenly Artesia how fortunate haue you made Ornatus how haue you blest Ornatus how full of ioy is Ornatus by your swéete consent was euer any so vnworthie so exalted for his kindnesse and loue I wil performe more then my tongue can vtter and bee more faithfull then your heart can wish Then began they to imbrace each other and to surfet themselues in the sollaces true loue yeeldeth He sometimes lending her a kisse and she with interest paying two for one for one swéet looke two and so many imbracings as are not to be explicated their hands and hearts ioyned in such firme bandes of true affection as is not to be dissolued and surâ—etting with such excéeding content as is impossible to be described These stormes of loue somewhat mittgated they began to consult of their daungerous estate and to deuise how to preuent the intended mischiefe In this place they continued some two dayes in excéeding content still expecting to heare from Floretus who the third day fearing to trust any with a matter of such waight came himselfe to bring the potion yet in shew of kindnes to visite Artesia deliuering the same to Syluian willing her the next night to giue it her which she promised him faithfully to accomplish When he was gone Artesia came to Ornatus to knowe what newes Floretus brought who tolde her all and shewed her the poyson in a glasse which he had charged should be giuen to her the next day With that Artesia beganne to wayle and exclaime against her Vnckle in most extreame sort But Ornatus intreated her to cease such vaine griefe which could not hurt him but her selfe promising her to preuent the same if shée would follow his counsell which she willingly yeelded vnto Then quoth hée let vs presently depart hence to Adellenaes house which you know is not farre off who you know is agreed with vs alreadie where I will leaue you and returne Which said while the seruants were absent vpon some speciall occasion they departed with little labour arriuing at Adellenas house who was readie to receiue them and after many farwels Ornatus returned backe to the Lodge And when it was supper time the seruants brought vp meate but Ornatus tolde them that Artesia was scarce well and therefore they would not sup that night And being alone by himselfe he studied what excuse to make for Artesias absence when Floretus should come spending that night in much care and many vnquiet cogitations which tooke away his sleepe Floretus was no sooner returned from the Lodge but hée met Lenon who of purpose came to méete Artesia whom Floretus kindly saluted maruelling much wherefore hée came to ease which doubt Lenon said My friend Floretus I come to visite the faire Artesia to whose beawtie I am inthralled not as regarding her wealth but her sweete loue of whome you onely haue the gouernment therefore I pray befriend me so much that I may come to spéech with hâ—r Floretus was so â—xcéedingly amazed to heare his speeches that he could not tell what answere to make nor how to excuse her absence Lenon séeing him in such a studie continued his spéeches saying Floretus be not vnwilling I should match with Artesia for that shall no way binder your preferment who think peraduenture the longer shée liueth vnmarried the more wealth you shall get by her but to rid you of that doubt be but a meanes to win her consent and I vowe by heauen I will not take one peniworth of Arbastus substance from you but fréely giue it you all For it is not her possessions I regard but her loue therefore I pray resolue me of your minde herein My Lord replied hée your offer is so bountifull besides my dutie vrging me I am readie to performe your will to the vttermost of my power I thanke you good Floretus quoth Lenon then I pray thée bring mée to her for my loue is impatient of delay My Lord replied he that can I not do instantly for Artesia some two daies past with the straunge damosell Syluian departed thence and are nowe at the Lodge whither if you please to to take such entertainment as this place yéeldeth wée wil both goe to morrow morning Agreed quoth Lenon I will accept your profer When the time of rest was come Floretus being alone by himselfe entred into these cogitations What inconueniences hast thou runne into Floretus Thou hast hyred one to murther Artesia in hope to get her wealth and made Syluian acquainted with thy counsell which wealth thou maiest now attaine by preseruing her life and besides winning her to loue Lenon thou shalt finde him thy faithfull friend for euer What wert thou then best to doo if thou shouldest murther her hée would make enquirie of her death and so thou bée vndone If not then wil Syluian bée displeased and so bewray thy drift that the mischiefes thou by folly hast runne into are so intricate that thou knowest not which way to shunne them Were it not better to saue her life and winne her Loue for Lenon then to poyson her and so to die my selfe If I saue her life Syluian will be discontented what of that then let Sylùian smart for it for if she wil not bée contented with that I shall doo she shall neuer liue to bewray my counsell And therefore wil I first trie her and finding any suspition thereof I will stabbe her my selfe whose death I may eastlier answere then Artesias Early the next morning Lenon and he rode to the Lodge where no sooner arriued but he met with Syluian to whom he said How now Syluian I haue newes of importance to bewray to thée Lenon whome thou here beholdest is sonne to the King who is déeply in loue with Artesia and hath giuen me assurance of all Arbastus liuings if I can win Artesia to match with him now I thinke it good to deferre our purpose as concerning her death vntil wée haue made triall whether shée wil loue him or no. Which if we can effect we shall be quit of so cruel a déed enioy her heritage and haue an assured friend of Lenon whilest we liue therefore let me know your opinion herein Syluian was excéedingly amazed to heare his spéeches thinking that if he did tel him where Artesia was she should be wrested from his possession and so himselfe disappointed of her loue and on the other side he thought what michiefe would arise if he should say he had already giuen her the poyson yet his loue ouer-maistring the feare of any daunger made him say All this I like but Floretus it is now too late for I haue caused Artesia to drink the poyson you deliuered me and she is dead which was of such force that all her bodie purpled into blisters and swellings which because I knew would bewray what we had done I tooke her bodie and conueyed it into a deepe pit where it is impossible to
heare them kéepe them secret and withall adde your helpâ— to further him which you may with safetie performe you shoulde doo him an excéneding pleasure and withall bee so highly rewarded and thankefully gratified that you shoulde thinke your labour very well imployed doo a béede of pittie and binde him to you in the perpetuall bands of kinde friendship Sir replied Adellena I knowe not â—he Gentleman yet I haue heard him much commended in whome if I coulde any way pleasure I woulde vse both diligence and secrecie promising you vpon my saith and credit if you will make mée acquainted with your minde I will either doo my good will to further him or else conceale what you shall commit to my priuitie Then said hée my maister not long since walking in yonder valley beheld Artesia faire Artesia daughter to Arbastus to whose beawtie hée is exceedingly inthâ—alled that vnlesse some meanes of comfort be found to ease his torments I feare mée it will in daunger his life whom you onely may pleasure by making his loue knowne to her in such sort as shall best agrée with your wisedome This is all and yet so much that the reuealing thereof may doo much harme And to effect such a contract might procure peace and vnitie â—wixt their parents Therefore I intreate your aide and furtherance herein with which good newes if I returne to him I knowe it will bréed no little comfort to his disquiet heart Sir said shée since I perceiue his loue is grounded vpon vertue not drawne thereto by any desire of reward I vndertake to bée his assistant therein and will to the vttermost of my best indeuours labour to procure his content Which this day I will in some sort put in execution And if you returne to mée to morrow you shall knowe her answere I wil said he and so they departed Ornatus hauing left her entered into many cogitations of his rash attempt accounting himselfe ouer credulous to commit his secrets to her priuitie of whose fidelitie hee had neuer made tryall sometimes comforting himselfe with hope of good euent and againe dispairing of comfort for that hée supposed Artesia would rather esteeme him as an enemie then a friend by reason of their parents hatred and therefore would the more hardly bee drawne to giue any credit to his sute And reuoluing a chaos of these and such like confused cogitations he attained his fathers house thinking the time tedious vntill his appointed méeting with Adellena which hée ouerpast with great care Adellena after her departure from him soone attained to Arbastus house vsing her selfe as shee had formerly done yet withall carefull how to execute the charge shée had in hand which shee could by no occasion vtter till after dinner when shée found Artesia all alone in the gardein insinuated her self into her company which Artesia kindly accepted entring into varietie of discourses and continuing some time in giuing certaine hearbes their proper names amongst the rest Artesia espied an hearbe with partie coloured leaues demanding of Adellena if shee knewe the name thereof which she told her she did not I haue oftentimes quoth Artesia seene this hearbe and it hath two prettie names it is by some called Loue in Idlenesse and by some Haris Case with that Adellena fetcht a déepe thogh counterfeit sigh which Artesia noting said What maketh you sigh to heare it named Haris Case Mary quoth shée one way because those two names so all agrée an other for by the same I call to remembrance the hearts griefe I heard a young man complaine of procured by loue which was not in idlenesse but I think in good earnest Why quoth Artesia can loue procure such hartes griefe to any and not rather content Yea said shee because the partie in loue hath no hope to attaine the good liking of the partie be loueth TheÌ„ quoth Artesia I account him a foole that will loue so deeply without hope of reward and that to bée rather fondnesse then true friendship that pleaseth his affections with such inequalities But I pray tel mée what is he into whose secrets you were so suddenly admitted Not admitted quoth she for vnawares I heard his complaints which afterwardes I promised him not to make any acquainted withall but the partie whome he so inâ—ierly loueth Then quoth Artesia I may not know neither doo I care for it is but a vanitie that troubleth ones cogitations Yes quoth shée you may and shall if you please know who he is conditionally you will neither be offended with me for telling you nor reueale what I shall impart Why quoth she am I the pretie or doth it any way concerne me that I should be offended If it be then kéepe your counsels vnreuealed for it will proue vnsauorie to my stomacke for be it far from me to be troubled with the vaine sutes of doting louers Yet let me answere quoth Adellena you heare too greeuous a conceit of loue which is the diuine puritie whereby heartes are vnited in vertue Witâ—out the which neither mortals can attaine heauen nor other creatures haue their being therefore not to bée abhorred and for that any shoulde loue your selfe can that be an offence to you but rather bée accepted in kinde sort wée should by nature loue them that loue vs then will you contrarie to nature yéeld hatred for loue For you indéed are the partie that is beloued and the partie that is so farre in loue with you euery way to be commended one way discoÌ„mended whose name I will not reueale then I hope I shall bréed no offence to your eares Doe so quoth Artesia for in concealing the same you please me if you will be welcome into my coÌ„pany vse no more of these speeches Had I thought quoth she they would haue bin offeÌ„sius I would not haue vttered them but in so doing I did but fulfill your request then at my request againe quoth shée giue ouer After this communication ended they parted Adellena home to to her house and Artesia to her supper and afterwards to her chamber where at first some colde thoughts of those spéeches past in her fancie but afterwards shée spent the rest of that night in quiet sléepe CHAP. III. How Adellena coÌ„ueled Ornatus letter into Artesias Casket and with what impatiencie Artesia tooke the same THe morning being newly approched Ornatus who had long expected the same arose and soone gate to Adellenas house where he arriued before shée was vp who hauing knowledge thereof soone came downe to him taking him to bée no other then Ornatus man to whome shée declared the very truth of all her spéeches hadde with Artesia Which nipt him at the heart but being put in some hope by her perswasions at last giuing her a purse full fraught with Gold in recompence of her paines past and to entice her to vndertake more hee saide as followeth Good Adellena be not dismaied to prosecute my sute for Artesias first frowne for I am not
hath made entrance into my heart that I would willingly both pittie Ornatus and grant him his request for that with often remembring him I cannot forget him neither doth any thought please mee but when I thinke of him But there are so many slips to hinder our loue that though I loue him I shall neuer enioy him For should my parents know hereof they woulde prie so warily into my actions that it were impossible for mée once to haue a sight of him whome I doo scarce remember I haue so seldome séene him You may quoth Syluian both loue him and inioy him and since you haue begun to like of him he being worthy thereof and equalling you in affection increase that loue might I but once come to speake with him I woulde not doubt but â—ffect all things with such secrecie that you should with quiet enioy him Well quoth Artesia I commit all to you my life for that dependeth on my loue being willing to doo any thing that shall not disagrée with modestie Destring you to kéepe my counsells secret for to bewray them may indaunger both his and my life After many other spéeches past betwixt them Adellena entered the garden Artesia espying her at the first thus gréeted her God-morrowe Adellena I know not whether I may salute thée as a friend or a priuie foe for that by thy meanes I am brought into bandage I pray thée tell mée without dissembling which I feare mée thou canst doo too well when thou sawest Ornatus and yet I know thy answere before I aske Dost thou not know this letter didst thou not hide it in this garden that I might finde it did not Ornatus hire thee to say that hée was departed from his fathers whilest he lyeth at home in thy house I knowe thy aunswerâ— will bee no but howe may I beléeue that Doest thou not likewise say hée loueth mée when thou knowest the contrarie and doest but dissemble If thou harborest any vertue in thee tell mée the truth and dissemble not for in doing so thou shalt greatly conâ—ent me discharge thy conscience and peraduenture doe Ornatus a good turne Adellena hearing her spéeches was so astonish at theyr strangenesse that for a good while she stood as one sencelesse but at the last she made this answere Your demaunds are such as that I know not how to answere them but heauens punish mée if I dissemble I saw not Ornatus since the time hée came to mée to know how you accepted the letter I conueyed into your Casket For that Letter I am altogither ignorant therein neither did I euer sée the same before now I neuer spake with Ornatus sawe Ornatus or heard from him since I last gaue him your answere neither doo I know where hee is but this I know that hée is not to bée found but poore Gentleman languisheth in loue which I dare protest loueth you most dearely neither neede you misdoubt that hée is absent or thinke that hée is hidden at my house for it is too true hée hath taken such gréefe at your vnkindnesse as will I feare me indaunger his life I would it were not so but that he were at my house then would I counsaile him rather to forget to loue then indaunger his life thereby May I beléeue quoth Artesia that this thou sayest is true Heauens let me liue no longer quoth Adellena if I dissemble Then quoth Artesia howe should this Letter be conueyed into this garden but by himselfe With that the Christall teares fell from her eyes CHAP. VI. Howe Ornatus loue was hindered by the newes of Arbastus death Howe Floretus to attaine Sylulans loue both confest hee slew Arbasius and intended to poyson Artesia TO augment Artesiaes teares a messenger hastily running came in and brought this newes vttering the same with a gastly countenaunce O Artesiâ— heare my tragicke discourse your Father as you know rode forth this morning to chase the fearefull Déere who wandring from his company at last by his long stay was mist and all of vs comming together studied amongst our selues what should be become of him at last wée were commaunded by Floretus your Vnckle to poste seuerall wayes in search of him whom at last we found most gréeuously wounded and dead Artesia hearing his words with suddaine gréefe fell downe deade Which when Sylnian perceiued caught her in his armes rubbing her pale chéekes vntill shée was reuiued againe Then they conueyed her to her bed in such extremitie with that suddaine gréefe that they feared to loose her life which exceedingly tormented Syluian to behold Then was there such an vprore in Arbastus house as al séemed in vtter dispaire one coniecturing this an other that of Arbastus death but all in generall concluding that it was done by Allinus in reuenge of his brothers death Arbastus wife likewise conceiued such sorrow at this vnexpected euent that with very gréefe thereof shée dyed Artesia with both together was readie to yéelde vp her latest breath and had done so had shée not beene carefullie preserued by Syluian and Adellena Who by their counsaile and indeuours pacified the extremitie of her perplexitie This newes was soone spred into most places of the countrey but because there was no iust proofe of the murtherer there was no great question made thereof Arbastus hauing neuer a trustie friende to prosecute reuenge Floretus now tooke vpon him to rule and gouerne all that belonged to Arbastus as his brother and soone caused him and his Lady to be worthily interred and built a sumptuous monument in their remembrance Which being ouerpast he came againe to Artesia as in the meane time he had oftentimes done and finding her very weake vsed many spéeches to comfort her giuing such as were about her speciall charge to minister all things necessarie to restore her to her former health Séeming to bee most carefull of her guard promising and protesting to bée vnto her instead of a Father Syluian all this while was excéedinglie gréeued in mind to sée his loue growne so weake and in such danger of life not once forsaking her in all the time of her siknesse but continually comforting her with heartie spéeches carefull tendance not so much as once departing her chamber but taking excéeding pains to pleasure her that shée tooke great comfort in her supposed Syluian who oftentimes would steale a swéete kisse from Artesiaes lips which she permitted taking the same to procéede from a curteous minde when Syluian did it of déepe affection accounting the estate wherin hée liued to excéed all ioyes and his delight past compare profering many familiarities that Artesia tooke in kind part which otherwise she would haue refused had shée knowne whom her companion Syluian had beene Ornatus marueiled that all this time she spake not of him which he deuised to vrge her to do by many occasions but these extremities had bannished all remembrance of him out of her minde Which excéedingly tormented Ornatus fearing this delaye
would some way turne to his ill That wheras before time he was pleasant mery and oftentimes would mooue Artesia to myrth by his disporte now that humour was alienated and he became continually melancholly and sad oftentimes when Artesia was from him getting into a sollitary place to bewayle his hard fate Which shée noted and woondred at thinking the same had procéeded from being so long absent from his countrey and friends One day she found her déemed Syluian sollitarie alone and comming vnawares heard her vtter these words Oh how vnhappy am I to loue and not to be beloued Syluian espying her left off to whom Artesia said Why how now Syluian are you in loue can it be that your mind is attainted with that venemous serpent that poysoneth the sences altereth the complexion troubleth the head and heart Shake it off and cast it out of your sight for it neuer did any good but hath brought many to perpetuall miserie Since you haue ouerheard me quoth Syluian I must néeds confesse I am in loue which doth not any way worke any such effect in me as you speake off but I take all comfort therein my sences heart head all my parts take excéeding pleasure therein Why then quoth Artesia sit you thus pensiuely alone as it séemeth to me bewayling your estate to be in loue I do not quoth Syluian sorrow that I am in loue but that I am not beloued againe for being in loue I haue vowed to liue so euer and sooner shall end What hard-harted man said Artesia is he the knowing you loue him wil not loue you againe Such is my harâ— estate sayd Syluian that the partie whom I loue knoweth I loue and yet causelesly doth hate me neither am I farre absent from him but inioy his company without which my life would decay Is he in this house you loue can it bée you are intangled since you came hither No quoth Syluian I loued before I came hither How can that be when you are a stranger and cast in this country by shipwracker eyther you must néedes be some other then we take you for otherwise these things are impossible But if you dare put trust in my secrecie impart your minde to mée and I promise you I will do the best I caÌ„ to further your loue You may do much therein quoth Syluian and none more then your self but I beséech you pardon me for reuealing the same before you assure me of one thing which you may do without any harm to your self and be not offeÌ„ded with me if I ask you Tel me what it is quoth she I will answer you Then said Syluian I wold first know whether you loue Ornatus or no With the she started saying Ay me that name bringeth death to my heart thou woundest my souls with gréefe to heare him named Dost thou thinke I haue cause to loue not rather aboue al men to hate him dost thou not sée my father lately murdred by him or some by his appointment and thinkest thou I can loue so deadly a foe by whom I am brought to this miserie No assure thy selfe Syluian according as I haue iust cause I do hate him as the greatest enemie I haue Whose very name affrighteth mée with terror and if thou hadst loued me as I was perswaded thou didst thou wouldst not haue troubled my heart with that omnious name And yet for all this mischiefe that he hath done me didst thou not see how he sued for my loue and had so much preuailed that my heart beganne to yéeld to his sute With that she pulled out of her pocket the letter saying these lynes the trutes of his dissimulation were actors in his villainie with that she tare them into a thousand péeces Syluian séeing the same was readie to sound with gréefe breathing soorth a hart burning â—igh said O how is poore innocencie suspected And being readie to say more was disappointed by Floretus comming who euen then entred the garden and finding them out vsed many curteous spéeches to theÌ„ both especiallly coÌ„forting Artesia To whom he said Dear coozin since these mishaps caÌ„not be remedied let wisdome now ouersway your passionate sorrow and with patience remit all further gréefe for things past cure are not to be lamented but now commit the care of your safety to my trustines the will as tenderly regard your good as mine owne life Therfore be of comfort whatsoeuer you desire shal be to the vttermost accomplished Artesia yeelded him many thanks and so they went in Artesia being alone by her selfe could by no means forget what spéech she had with Syluian eyther thinking shée did dissemblâ— or was some other then she seemed or else that she was in loue with Floretus Then she remembred her spéeches saying Howe is innocencie suspected Which she knew she spake by her accusing of Ornatus which braue her into many doubtfull cogitotions and troubled her sences excéedingly but by reason of her little suspect of Syluians disguise shée could not iudge any thing thereof Syluian likewise not daring to offend her and louing her so dearely that hee could not indure to sée her disquietted vsed no more spéeches tending to loue but frequenting her company wherein hée tooke his whole felâ—ciâ—ie accounting himselfe most happie to liue and enioy her swéete presence béeing out of hope to attaine her loue refreshing his heart with many sollaces of sweete delight in beholding that which shée little thought he had noted Many daies continued Syluian in this disguise in which time Arbastus death was almost forgotten And Floretus drawn by Syluians manifolde vertues began exceedingly to affect her shewing such kinde behauiour towards her that she suspected that which afterwards she found true for Floretus coÌ„cealing his loue felt the flame to burne the more inwardly and liuing in that scorching pennariâ— thought it better for him to manifest his loue theÌ„ by hyding the same augment his torment Assuring himselfe to obtain his desire for that Syluian was a stranger far froÌ„ friends and without his friendship likelie to come to pouertie which hée thought woulde bée a meanes of importance to drawe her to like of him besides hée thought that hée might do as hée list with Artesia for that shée was onelye in his custodie And on a day finding Syluian alone in the garden comming to her with a submisse behauiour he said as followeth My dearâ— Syluian I would gladlie vtter a matter of an importance if you will vouchsafe me gentle audience So it is fayre Damosell that my heart hath long time béen inthralled to your bewtie which I haue retrained to vtter fearing to be refused but knew you how faithfully my heart is deuoted to your seruice and with what torment I haue concealed the same you would pittie me My estate is sufficient to maintaine you well though not so worthily as you deserue you shall liue with me in contented ease and haue so faithfull and constant a friend
Therefore make no doubt of my resolution for I am absolutely purposed to do it O thought Syluian rather shalt thou sée my blood then spill one drop of hers why Floretus would you haue me do any thing therin You onely may doo it quoth he with more safetie then any other and the maner how is this Within some mile from this Castle Arbastus hath a banquetting house in his Parke where oftentimes hée would for his recreation lye whither I will perswade Artesia to goe for a season to take the aire and to recreate her sences dulled with gréefe and none but you to keepe her company and some two seruants whose trustinesse I am assured of This done I will get a drinke to be made the force whereof shall expell life and yet by no meanes nor any cunning or skil be found out when you shall thinke it most conuenient giue vnto her being once dead who will make any enquirie but that she died of a naturall sicknesse and then you shall be mistresse both of her heritage and my selfe Syluian said when shall this be put in practise Within these two daies at the farthest said he in the meane time frequent you Artesiaes company in such familiar sort as heretofore you haue done and my selfe wil vse her with no lesse kindnesse Many other spéeches being past betwixt them at that time they parted CHAP VII How Ornatus told Artesia of Floretus intent and vpon what occasion he discouered himselfe Floretus being by himselfe began to consider howe rashly he had committed his secrets to Syluian entring into these meditations Doth Syluian thinke that my policie excéedeth not her shallow capacitie poore simple straunger she hath vndertaken a matter of great importance for me that meane nothing lesse then good wil to her she for my loue hath promised to poyson Artesia and is likely that once done to taste of the same sawce for loued she me neuer so well I will not trust her with my life but peraduenture she hateth me and will reueale my drift to Artesia No Floretus thou art deceiued she is so farre in loue that she doteth and would I am sure to any thing at my request What a world is this what villanie can be intended that some either for fauour or reward wil not execute If I should trust her that is so easily wonne to do such a hainous déed might I not be accounted madde yes and therefore I wil not trust her Artesia being once dispatcht she shall follow next Ornatus on the countrary part was glad that he had felt the depth of Floretus counsell thinking likewise that he was so farre in loue with him taking him for a woman that for his sake he sought Artesias death which was the onely meanes to helpe him attaine her loue which he likewise determined to giue her knowledge of and discouer himselfe hoping that when she sawe his innocencie his faithfull loue and how by his meanes her life was preserued she would yéeld him due guerdon for his good will Whilst he was in the depth of those cogitations he espied Artesia enter the garden and taking his Lute founde her seated vpon a flowrie banke vnder the shade of a mirtle trée and perceiuing that she was somewhat heauily inclinde he satte downe by her and with his swéete melodie brought her a sléepe when she had slept a good while being excéedingly affâ—ighted with a dreame she started vp looking earnestly vpon Syluian saying I pray thée Syluian do not poyson mée Syluian séeing her so affrighted was excéedingly amazed and she her selfe not yet fully recouered séemed to be affraid of him till at last Syluian said I beséech you what is it that affrighteth you O Syluian said she I drempt thou wouldst haue murthered me Heauens forbid quoth he that I should attempt to hainous a deede But woulde you vouchsafe to heare my tragicke report you should be rid of that doubt though Syluian is much tempted to do such a déede who estéeme your life more dearer then mne owne and would rather with my owne hands teare out my wofull heart then thinke the least thought to wrong you But because I haue so fit occasion and I hope your patience will permit me I will reherse a most monstrous and hainous intended michiefe The other day I remember you were excéedingly offended with me for naming Ornatus for that you supposed him to be an actor in Arbastus death but both he and Allinus are innocent and farre from any such thought for your vncle Floretus was his murtherer which hée tolde me himselfe he hath béene oftentimes importunate to win my loue which an other possesseth but I suspecting as much as I now find to be true held him of with this delay that he had not wealth to maintaine me Which when I had often alleaged hée tolde me all that belonged to Arbastus was his then I demaunded how that could be since you were liuing Quoth hee sweare but to be secret and I will tell you how With that vpon my protestations he tolde me that he had murdred Arbastus and ment to poison you perswading me to consent thereto for that hée said I onely could do it with that I not purposing to do it but to preserue you promised him my vttermost assistance which he tolde me should be done in this manner I will quoth he perswade Artesia to forsake this Castle and to soiâ—â—rne some few dayes in a house Arbastus hath in his Parke where none but you two others seruaÌ„ts whose secrecie I nothing doubt shall kéep her company where I will giue you such a potion as shall end her life and yet by no means be perceiued neither can there be any doubt thereof for that I and none else am left of her kindred to search the truth This is the summe of that he tolde me Artesia hearing her words sate like one without sence a good space being so farre ouercome with greefe and feare that she could not speake a word but at the last burst foorth into these lamentations Ay mee vnknde and most vnnaturall Vnckle canst thou speake me so faire and intend me so much harm Who would haue thought so foule impietie had ben shrowded vnder so faire pretext Couldst thou be so vnnaturall as to murther thy owne most naturall louing and dear brother and not contented with his tragedie to séek my vntimely death What frenzie or follie doth possesse thy brest that I estéemed replete with vertue How canst thou suffer so impious and haynous a thought to sink in thy brest much lesse to act such a notorious outrage against him the loued thee as his life her that honoreth thee as her friend O Syluian may I credit thy words and not rather accuse thée and excuse him May I thinke him so simple to trust thée with his secrets no I feare mee this is some pollicie inuented by thee to some bad cud Yet I pray thée pardon me for what canst thou
the same Ornatus was glad of this poore shifte and still cast downe one Apple and then another that in the ende he had almost throwne away all and notwithstanding that feared to be destroyed but the Boore féeling his belly full and his hunger stauncht left off his egar pursute and followed him more cearelesly whom he still fedde with Apples so long as his store lasted that in the ende the Boore being drunke with the pleasant fruite began to réele and stagger and lying downe fast a sléepe which Ornatus séeing hauing no other then a knife about him with the same approached the Boore and without feare violently thrust the same so déepe into the Boores briffled side that it pearced his heart and he after some strugling died Ornatus then helde vp his hands to heauen for ioy excéedingly applauding this his fortunate and vnexpected escape which he tooke as a fortunate presage of good successe But yet before he could determine what to doo Fortune once againe showed her mutabilitie for when Ornatus had parted the Boores head from his huge bodie and with the same was readie to depart there past by as it seemed a knight gallantly mounted in gréen armor who espying a woman bearing the Boores head drew towards her and said Woman where hadst thou that Boores head I pray thée deliuer it me Ornatus made this answere Sir I néed not doo either vnlesse I know more cause then as yet I doo The Knight hearing that short answere alighted and saide I will shewe no other reason but that I will haue it with that he beganne to striue for the same but Ornatus hauing more minde to his sword then to keepe the Boores head suddenly caught holde on the Natalians sword and drew the same out which when he had gotten he said Disloyall and discourteous Knight now wil I kéepe the Boores head in despight of thée with that hee thrust at him and contrary to his thought wounded him so déepe that he leâ—t him for dead wishing that he had not done that déed but not knowing how discurteously he would haue vsed him let passe all further remorse and casting off his womans apparell put on the Knights apparell and Armour mounted the stéede and with the Boores head roads backe the same way hée sawe the Knight come and within a little space found a beaten way that conducted him to a goodly Towne whose Turret toppes he sawe long before hée came to the same then began hée to studie what to doe sometimes thinking it best not to enter into the Towne from whence it is likely the Knight hée slewe came and so he béeing taken for him might bée knowne and so afterwards indaungered for his death For peraduenture the Knight might be of good estimation and of purpose sent to slay the Boore and if it should be knowne that he had slain him his friends would for the same and the rather for that he was a straunger prosecute sharpe reuenge against him Whilst he was in these meditations he came neare the Towne not fully resolued what to doo where he was soone espied of some of the people who séeing the Boores head came running towards him making excéeding ioy which when he saw he thought it too late to turne back but that he must go on and hazard the worst and being entred the Towne a number of the Inhabitants flocked about him some with garlands some with praises and all with ioy vttering these spéeches Welcome home most braue Alprinus Ornatus then perfectly knew that the Knights name was Alprinus and went of purpose to â—lea the Boore whome they tooke him to be and that he must of necessitie be knowne which draue him into excéeding care what excuse to make to auoide the danger of death Then presently he beheld a troope of bewtifull Damosels with the sowndes of swéete Musicke comming towards him amongst whom one as chiefe and more bewtifull then the rest was crowned with a wreathe of flowers bearing another in her hand who all at once applauded his victorie dancing before him vntill he came into the middest of the Towne where satte the chiefe Magistrates where the Damosell that was crowned thus spake to him Syr Alprinus your conquest hath released these Inhabitants of care extolled thy fame preserued thy life and wonne me for thy Loue. You haue well performed the talke you vndertooke and according to your desert I come to Crowne you with these flowers and to yéelde my selfe as yours for euer Ornatus hearing her spéeches thought to trie the end of this aduenture which could be no worse then death which of force he must now hazard alighted laying downe the Boores head vpon a Table that stood before the Auncients with humble and comely behauiour kissing the Damoselles hande who set the wreathe of Flowers vpon his head and taking him by the hand brought him before the Auncients one of whome stoode vp and said Worthie Gentleman whereas before thou wert by vs adiudged to die as worthie thereof for this thy valiant déed we fréely pardon thee and acquite thée from all trespasses that thou host commited against any whomsoeuer vntill this present houre And taking the Damosell by the hand saide Lucida according to thy desire and his desert I yéelde thée vp to be his wife And Gentleman quoth he take her as thine owne as freely as she was by birth adopted mine and after my death be thou inheritour of my land To all this Ornetus gaue a reuerent consent and the night now approaching he with Lucida went to her fathers house where was a great feast prouided from which Ornatus excused himselfe in this sort When he was entred the house being still Armed only lifting vp his Beuer he tooke Lucida by the hand and withdrawing her aside said Lucida I nowe finde your loue to bée infallible and your constancie to excell all women that I haue knowne and that Alprinus is so farre indebted vnto you as that he shall neuer might hée liue a thousande yeares bee able to recompence this inestimable fauour of your loue which hath preserued my vnworthie life from destruction But notwithstanding your Loue Alprinus his debt is so great as can no way bée gratified I request one further fauour at your handes wheron my chéefest felicitie dependeth yea my life your loue and perpetuall good which I feare to vtter lest you should misconceiue the same there being nâ— other thing to hinder the content Alprinus séeketh but onely your fauourable consent so banish all mistrust of my faith Lucida maruelled at his spéeches indéed louing him so well that she would haue spilt her owne blood for his sake saying Alprinus what neede you make doubt of my consent to any thing whatsoeuer it be for your sake knowe you not howe faithfull I haue continued â—hough you slue my onely brother and that I estéemed your loue farre dearer then his life and when you should haue died for that déed obtained this
Lenons loue to her might eyther by perswasion of his death force affect of dignitie or other meanes winne her to consent to him especially for that shee hadde no parenteâ— to gouerne her nor hee neuer a faithfull friende to counsaile her The next day Alprinus and hée went out to méete Lucida whome they met at the entrance into the Forrest and after many kinde salutations past betwixt the two louers they altogether went backe into the Towne to Lucidaes Fathers house who that morning was departed to a Hauen about businesse of importance Ornatus was most kindly vsed of them remaining there vntill Alprinus had wedded Lucida but then hee thought it high time for him to depart And on a time finding Alprinus alone who had showne sufficient tokens of his friendship hee declared vnto him the whole truth of his forepassed loue to â—rtesia requesting his helpe for his passage into Phrygia Alprinus with great regard attended the whole discourse promising his vttermost assistance which quoth hee none can effect so well as Lucida whose father is a merchant and sendeth for ships into sundrie Prouinces who onely may pleasure you which charge I will vndertake and cause her to deale so â—ffectually with him that you shall attaine your desire Ornatus continued in good hope somewhat abandoning his former dispaire whome for a time wee wil leaue attending the time that some of the ships should depart to speake of Artesia his carefull Louer CHAP. X. How Lenon caused Artesia by violence to bee caried from Adellenaes house to the greene Fortresse of the miseries she indured there How shee was rescued from thence by Allinus and from him taken by Pyrates And how Allinus accused by Lenon for her death was imprisoned AFter that Artesia by Adellenaes carefull teÌ„â—ance had somewhat recouered her health Lenon began to visit her againe béeing vnable to indure the heauie burthen of burning loue thinking her sicknesse had procéeded from feare of Floretus not for want of Ornatus company finding an occasion saluted her in this sorte Most fairest Artesia my heart is so firmely inthralled to your beautie and my affectionâ— so admire your vertues that I am constrained to vtter my minde and to tell you I loue your Beautie Vertues and other most rare perfections wherewith you are adorned That I humblie sue to you for fauour and prostrate my selfe your thrall desiring to be inriched with those Iewels of inestimable price which hauing once attained I shall thinke I had more wealth in my possession theÌ„ all the world besides my selfe doth conteine Your vnkinde vnckles crueltie you néed not feare nor other misfortune neither haue you any parents to ouerrule you in making your choyse then vouchsafe to accept my sute and yéelde consent to my loue My Lord replied Artesia I thanke you for your good will but I know not how to accept of your loue being yet so far from knowing what it is that if I should but dreame thereof my heart would be out of quiet besides many cares continually attend the same and my meane estate so farre vnworthy thereof with innumerable other discontents and cares that I would make my selfe subiect vnto that I had rather a thousand times remaine in the estate I am now in Therefore I intreate you to settle your loue elsewhere more agreeable to your estate and fancie for I shall thinke my selfe most fortunate if I neuer fall into that labyrinth of disquiets but will during my life labour to kéepe my selfe free from loues bands Lenon would not take this for an answere but with many other spéeches continued his sute whom Artesia still put out of hope that he departed for that time excéedingly disconteÌ„ted leauing her no lesse disquieted in her thoughts how to auoid his loue In this sort did he daily visite her still growing more importunate amongst many other this conference past betwixt them Artesia quoth he how long shall I sue and be frustrated in my hopes by your vnkindnesse is your heart hardned against me Or am I of so base conditions that you cannot conceiue well of me Or is it possible you beare so hatefull a conceit of loue as you make shewe for then may I accuse mine eyes that haue betrayed my sences in making them your thrall then may I thinke my woe began when I first began to loue O Artesia be not so cruel as to punish me with this disdaine My Lord replied shée I séeke not your disquiet for at the first motion I tolde you my minde which shall neuer alter neither is my heart hardened against you more then others for I am determined not to loue then seeing you sée my intent it were a point of wisedome in you to shake off this fonde and foolish loue which is but a toy and an idle fancie that is bred by vanitie and doo not séeke to make loue growe without a roote for in my heart it shall neuer take roote but rather when it is rooted I will pull out heart and all but I will â—oote it out Then quoth be you are led by obstinacie and not by reason for that you are subiect to loue you cannot denie then why not me before another considering my loue is more faithfull then any other And I being most worthy why should I not be first accepted Artesia was wearie of his spéeches hauing her constant thoughts onely bent on Ornatus therefore to rid him from her she said It is in vaine to vse many words neither am I like to those that will at the first séeme â—oye but afterwards yéelde but I desire you to bée satisfied with that which I haue alreadie sayde that I cannot loue Faire Damosell how can I be satisfied with that vnreasonable answere when my life dependeth on your consent which your deniall will finish then giue mée leaue to say I cannot bée so satisfied but being extreamely refused I must growe perforce to be as vnreasonable in my request Consider you not what dignitie I might aduance you too by making you my wife consider you not the pleasures ioyes and abaundance of all contents you might enioy with me and how faithfully I loue you and with what humilitie I séeke your loue and yet notwithstanding you remaine obdurate My power is great that whereas I sue I might commaunde and by authoritie compell you to consent then bée not so ouerconceited as so obstinatelie to reiect your good And think that if my loue were not constant I might vse extreames which would soone alter your minde Suppose replied Artesia I were so péeuish as you terme me yet being borne frée I am not to be made bond by constraint and were you the greatest king in the world you could not rule the heart though you might by iniustice punish the bodie for it is not kingdomes wealth nor crueltie can turne hatred to loue but it may sooner turne loue into hatred But by your spéeches I may partly know your thought and the lippes vtter what the heart
intendeth doo with mée what you will I cannot loue neither will I loue you were you Monarche of all the world Leanon was so much gréeued and vexed at her spéeches that hée was readie to tare his hayre his loues extremitie making him rather madde then sober that presently hée departed saying no more but this Farewell hard-harted Artesia Shée was glad hée was gone presently telling Adellena all that had past betwixt them and how peremptorilie shée had answered his importunate sute telling Adellena that since Ornatus was for her sake bannished shee would neuer loue any but him and preserue her life in hope to sée him once againe but the first knowledge of his death should bée the latest date of her life both shee and Adellena thinking that Lenon would neuer returne to prosecute his loue But hée beeing come to the Pallace betooke himselfe to his chamber raging more like a mad man then a passionate louer sometimes swearing cursing and stamping yéelding so much to that mad fancie that in the end he vowed to obtaine Artesiaes loue though he hazarded his life honour and good name that ranging in this sort vp and downe his Chamber hée espied an olde Gentlewoman named Flera going by his windowe whom hée called vnto him and thus saide Flera because I haue assured confidence in thy fidelitie and purpose to reward thée liberally I craue thy counsaile and with it thy consent to be faithfull in concealing my secretes and very diligent in dooing my commaunde The olde hagge making an euill fashioned lowe curtesie sayd My deare sonne Lenon be it to do you good I will hazard my life and rather bée torne into a thousande peâ—ces then reueale what you shall vouchsafe to tell me Then quoth hée counsaile me which way I should begin to win a faire Damosels loue Marrie my Lord quoth she giue her knowledge thereof and then with faire speeches woe her iâ— that will not preuaile giue her gold and there is no doubt that faire bayse will catch her No no quoth he these are of no force I haue made my loue knowne to her by humble sutes submisse behauiours and by all kinde of curteous meanes intreated her consent yet for all that she remaineth obstinate she is rich and therefore gold with her is of no force she is fayre vertuous noble and chaste then what engine hast thou to vndermine that chastifie Meanes enough quoth she peraduenture shée is ruled by others counsell which may preuaile more then your sute but might I haue accesse vnto her I would not doubt but to alter her minde for being faire young and rich she cannot chuse but delight to be praysed subiect to loue and therefore yéeld to desire Doest thou thinke quoth he thou couldest winne her wert thou her kéeper I warrant you quoth she I would doe it Then shalt thou bée her kéeper sée that thou beest to morrowe at my fathers Castle in the gréene forrest where to morrow by night this Damosell shall be whose name is Artesia daughter to Arbastus lately dead vse her kindly let her want nothing nor be not in any wise knowne that thou knowest mée nor that the Castle belongeth to my Father nor speake not of loue in any case vse her in this sort vntill I speake with thee for thou onely shalt haue her custodie Flera being gone about her businesse be fouÌ„d out two of his trustiest seruants to whom he imparted both his mind and intent willing them the next morning with spéed to go to Adellenaes house and either by force or faire meanes to take Artesia from thence and carrie her vnto the gréene â—ortresse in the gréen Forrest where they should find Flera â—o to whose custodie they should commit Artesia and themselues should remaine there to prouide all things necessarie vntill his comming Early the next morning the seruants rode to Adellenas house whereinto they boldly entred and comming to Artesia first spake her faire but afterwards tolde her shee must goe with them iâ— not willingly by constraint Artesia then began to buâ—st into teares wéeping and lamenting excéedingly vpon her knées intreating them not to offer by violence to carry her from thence but if they would néedes that they would take Adellena with them but all was in vaine for they constrained her to mount vp béehinde one of them and away they rode in great haste this heauie parting was so sodaine that Artesia coulde not a bid Adellena adue but with teares nor Adellena speake a word for griefe their sences being so farre confounded with care that their harts were readie to burst therewith Artesia thought this was Lenons dooing and therefore sorrowed the more not that hée vsed her vnkindly but that hée loued her not fearing his crueltie but his lust not regarding what crueltie hée could vse by hatred but fearing his loue would make him seeke her dishonour Béeing come to the Fortresse and committed to the custodie of Flera the olde woman began to speake her faire and vse her kindly yet her verie wordes and countenaunce bewraying her guiltie conscience to whome Artesia would not speake a word least thereby shée should giue her occasion to prate meate shée brought vnto her but shée refused to taste thereof and when shée came to her Chamber shee laie on the rushes refusing the bedde tormenting her heart with care vexing her head with thought and busying her sences or meditating to what issue this vsage would sorte sometimes calling on Ornatus name for comfort sometimes accusing Lenon of barbarous crueltie and cursing her crooked destenies vttering such plaints as would haue turned tyrants to ruth wéeping her eyes drie and her garments wet tearing her hâ—ire and tormenting euery one of her sences with vexation refusing sléepe rest ease or quiet The next day Lenon came thither asking Flera howe shée faâ—ed who tolde him that she would not speake eate nor sleepe but â—ared like one madde and sencelesse But let her alone quoth shée and you shall sée this fitâ—e will soone bée ouer the extremitie whereof being once past I will vse my skill to trie her Lenon giuing order to haue all thinges necessarie prouided departed Dinner time being come and meate set before Artesia she refused to eate likewise supper time being come she determined to do the like Which Flera perceiuing said Fayre gentlewoman to behold your outward appearence would make one iudge your minde harbored many hidden vertues but I comparing your actions with your apparant shewe suppose that you are either mad or carelesse this behauiour to séeme dumbe to refuse sustenaunce and to refraine from sleepe are instances of follie not of wisedome What if you speake what if you did eate or take rest should you be euer the worse or refraining can that doo you good or banish griefe and not rather make your estate worse doo you thinke to preuent any thing by dooing your selfe harme no fonde Childe eate thy meate and preserue thy â—fie for liuing thou maiest attaine thy desires
she not alter her loue Why shouldest not thou séeke thy owne content though it bée with his discontent thou art euery way as good as hée by birth though hée now rule the land hath not thy father said that his father was but a Captaine in the last Kings dayes and by treason put his lawfull King to death and so wanne the rule Then Ornatus reuiue thy spirites séeme not dismaied with any daunger feare not misfortune séeke to release thy Loue and venture thy life therein for liuing thus thou shalt be depriued of her loue Lenon will by force or faire meanes ouercome her and then maiest thou blame this delaie The King is now sicke and hee being dead Lenon must raigne who then may do what hée list Then take the aduantage of the time and do not frostrate thy blessed hopeâ— with slothfull delaie Hauing ended this mâ—ditation he then began to studie how to performe his will wherein hée found many contrarieties But presently he beheld Lenon entering the Court before whome he stood so opposite that he could not chuse but note him and withall remembred how earnestly Artesia had intreated him on the Pilgrims behalfe whome he thought she estéemed and therefore suddenly this cogitation arose in his fancie to vse him as an instrument to win her loue that calling Ornatus vnto him hée said Pilgrim I pray â—hée blame me not for forgetting to performe my promise made to Artesia as concerning thée which I haue not neglected for want of good will but by reason of thousands of cares that daily torment me only procured by her vnkindnesse but if thou wilt vndertake on my behalfe to perswade her to yéelde to my iust request for that I thinke thou maist preuaile with her aboue any I will not onely reward thy former kindnesse so shewen to her but also for thy paines herein promote thee to high dignitie Therefore I pray thee giue consent to follow my counsel herein Ornatus was willing to be imployed in that businesse which fell out according to his hearts desire and therfore made him this answere My Noble Lord for that I perceiue your intent is good I will be readie to follow your directions and do you any seruice I can wherein I know not whether I shall proue fortunate or no but assuring you that I will deale both faithfully and effectually in that which I shall vndertake Lenon was as glad as he that he yéelded to do that which he thought least to performe and therefore presently gaue command that the Pilgrim onely should haue her in custodie Artesia maruelled that her keepers were chaunged misdoubted some intent of hard vsage but séeing it was the Pilgrim that now had her custodie her heart was comforted CHAP. XIII How Ornatus had the custodie of Artesia how he discouered himselfe vnto her how Allinus and Trasus arriued in Armenia and gat the King to send Ambassadors into Phrygia ORnatus at his first comming found her sitting in the darkest corner of the Chamber bewayling her misfortune with salt teares bedeawing her purple cheeks her ornaments disorderly put on and her golden tresses hanging carelesly downe which added bewtie to her swéete beawtie and though disordered most comely Leaning her arme vppon a Chaire and her chéeke laide vppon the backe of her hand when hee beheld her sitting in this discomfortable sort his hart was ready to melt with remorse and hée breathed forth so bitter a sigh that shée heard the same which he perceiuing came towards her with humble behauiour saying Most vertuous Ladie pardon my presumption in presuming thus vnmannerly to interrupt your quiet Lenon the Prince hath appointed me to be your atteÌ„dant therefore I beséeche you notwithstanding I am his substitute commaund me in any doubtful sort and I will most willingly imploy my vttermost indeuours to purchase your content Artesia raising her selfe from the ground said Pilgrim I thanke you for your kinde profer and am glad you are my keeper for two causes one for that I trust your vertues will not suffer me to be iniured the other for that I would heare out your discourse of my deare friend Ornatus which I was hindred from by Lenons suddaine finding me Ladie quoth he you shal be assured of the one and heare more of the other if first you will vouchsafe without offence to heare my spéech and suffer me to execute the charge Lenon hath giuen mée and I haue vndertaken Why what is that quoth Artesia I wil not be offended Lenon hath made knowne to me his loue and how long and with what constancie it is grounded commaunding and intreating me in his behalfe to become an humble suter vnto you he telleth me that stil you vngently disdain him without cause reason or consideration Therefore I humbly desire both for that he is constant a Prince and of good and vertuous gifts yéelde to his loue or else to satisfie me of the chiefest reasons that withold you from the same Pilgrim quoth she for that my minde perswadeth me you in wisedome will conceiue of reason and will be faithfull in concealing that which I shall disclose I answere you thus First admit Lenon did loue mée yet by his vsage I finde the contrary nor I cannot fancie him for that I alreadie haue plighted my faith to another more worthie then himselfe which is that most vertuous kinde Gentleman Ornatus who likewise equalleth me in affection and therefore I should dishonour my name breake my faith and reape perpetuall infamy if I should shewe my selfe so inconstant These I thinke are reasons to a reasonable creature sufficient and of such force as none can contradict and therefore no more can be said therein Besides were not all this so you haue no reason to perswade me to that which I haue so often denied and will neuer yéeld vnto Your reasons indéed quoth he are great and the cause such as should no way be violated but now you are subiect to his mercie and he may inforce you to that which you are most vnwilling to haue done then what remedie haue you but rather to yéelde then indure such extremitie as he may vse Yes quoth she when I can preserue my selfe no longer from his lust death shall rid mee from his power which I will execute vpon my selfe rather then condiscend to yéeld him so much as an outward shewe of fauour Therefore I pray vse no more words tending to the breach of my faith and furtherance of his loue for kneâ— you but how hatefull his name were vnto me and howe odioâ—s to thinke of his doting loue you would of pittie desist to â—orment one with the sound of that ominous monster but rather seeke to comfort my distressed â—tate and poore pining heart almost most drowned with sorrow being more vnfortunate then euer any was by these afflictions and the losse of my déere Ornatus whose presence should release me from this thraldome and labyrinth of discontent Of whom if you can tell
daies yet without any hope how to enioy Artesias company But the third day it fortuned Arbastas being abroad hunting was by a violent storme driuen to séeke shelter and must fortunately lighted on the shepheards Cottage where he boldly entered without calling and suddenly espying Syluia was halfe astonisht to beholde a damosell so bewtifull and richly attired in that homely place but after that he had a while viewed her well Syluia being alone with a curteous behauiour he thus spake Faire damosell pardon my boldnesse if I haue disquietted you I little thought to haue found such guestes in this homely place Syluia knowing him to be Arbastus arose but made him no answere when presently the olde shepheard came in vsing great reuerence to Arbastus who demaunded of him what damosell that was whereupon the olde man declared all that he knew Arbastus then thus said Damosell I vnderstand by this shepheard some part of your misfortunes which I so much pitty that offer to do any thing resteth in me to do you pleasure And for that this homely place is not agréeable to your birth which may be greater then I can iudge of let me desire you to accept of such entertainment as my habitation yéeldeth whither you shall be welcome Syluia being glad of that profer yet fearing to be discouered by his willingnesse to yéeld made this answere Sir this homely place is best agréeing to my poore estate being by misfortune brought to miserie which I am also vnworthie of for that I know not how to make my hoste amends desiring rather to liue in this quiet pallace voyde of care then in places of more dignitie but for that I shall be too chargeable to this poore man and you so earnestly desire me I wil be so bolde as to take your profer though vnable to be so grateful as I would Many other spéeches past betwixt them and in the ende they departed towards Arbastus Castle where Syluia was kindly and worthily entertained hauing his hearts desire which was to enioy the sight of faire Artesi◠Ornatus being alone by himselfe began to meditate of the good successe he had in this attempt and how fortunatelie all things had fallen out to further him in his loue But most of all hée meruailed how the eyes of all that beheld him were blinded that they could not perceiue what he was In these many such like comfortable meditations he spent some thrée or foure dayes taking most great content in beholding Artesiaes perfections that he was more and more inthralled in the bands of vowed affection hearing her spéech noting her behauior admiring her vertue commending her curtesie affecting her bewtie and imprinting each liniament of her diuine torme in his deuoted affection with such immooueable resolue of constant loyaltie that hée did not onely loue her but also honor her as an I doll beeing by Arbastus admitted her companie that at all times hée was with her Artesia likewise tooke no little pleasure in Syluians company in whom so much curtesse abounded that euery one both liked and commended her CHAP. V. How Adellena brought newes to Arbastus house of Ornatus suddaine depature How he naming himselfe Syluian a long time enioyed her company and what successe he had in his loue ADellena hauing heard of Ornatus departure from his fathers house and of the excéeding care and grief his parents tooke fearing least he might by some trecherie be murdred with which newes shée came to Arbastus house and soone published the same that the newes came to Arbastus hearing who was excéedingly sorie to heare the same for that hée estéemed well o◠Ornatus And now comming into the garden where Artesia was walking with Syluian she could not withhold herselfe from speaking but vttered her minde in these words Artesia bée not offended with that I say but rather bée displeased with your selfe who are the originall of this woe Ornatus whom you supposed your enemie though indéede your most faithfull friend taking your vnkind refusall most heauily and accounting himselfe not worthy to liue if you dispised him eyther hath wrought his owne vntimely death or dispairing to finde fauour at your handes hath abandoned both this parents countrey and acquaintance to liue in exile What will bée sayd of you when the cause of his sorrow◠shall be knowne how may your owne concience accuse your selfe of hard-hartednesse that would not yéeld pittie to the distresse of so woorthie vertuous curteous a Gentlemā who for his humble sute was spightfully disdained and his heartie good will disdainfully reiected Which cruell déed of yours no doubt will be one day repayed with the like disdaine where you shall most affect I know his loue was firme constant and immoueable which maketh me so much the more pittie his estate I know his meaning was both vertuous honorable his birth you know what vertues abounded in him all can witnesse and how hartily he loued you the heauēs cā witnesse Poore Ornatus farewell Hard was thy hap to place thy true loue so firmly where thou reapest so little reward Artesia hearing her spéeches could not tell whether shée might blame her or accuse her selfe sometimes doubting whether she spake this of pollicie to try her or of truth Being as readie to blame her selfe as Adellena and yet willing to do neither For she thought if she spake true shée had good cause to say that shée did and her selfe more to be blamed then any For notwithstanding she had giuen Adellena so flat a denial yet her conscience knewe that some sparks of loue were kindled in her breast That her heart being somewhat opprest with these thoughts caused the water to stand in her eyes Ornatus séeing all this took no little comfort therat especially whē he perceiued Artesias heart to relent but for that by his disguise being known no other then a woman he kept silence when saine hée would haue spake least he should discouer himselfe Adellena séeing she had disquieted Artesia being her selfe full of griefe and vnwilling to vrge her any further departed And Artesia withdrawing her selfe from Syluians company into an Arbor vttered these spéeches And can it be that Ornatus loue was so great that for my sake hée hath done this Coulde hee loue her so constantly that was his professed enemie is loue of such a force to draw one into these extreames Then may I compare it to the hearb Artas found in Persia who being but holden in the hand causeth a heat through all the bodie so loue but entertained in thought disquieteth all the sences But why do I conceiue so well of Ornatus when I know not the truth of Adellenaes report it may be he hath hired her to doe this and thereby I may be deceiued yéelding to pittie when there is no cause and with the bird Akanthu◠readie to come at euerie call Admit it were so I am not bound to fauour him is he not my enemie sonne vnto my fathers cheefest foe
what reason then haue I eyther to giue credit to his loue or her protestation when both may be fayned Well I will be aduised before I yéelde my selfe to loues intangling baytes and before I loue I will know whome I loue I but Artesia thy fancie yéeldeth remorse alreadie and thy conscience bids thée pittie him because he loueth thée for loue in a reputed enemie may be as constant and loyall as in an open friend and an enemie becomming friend will be the more constant then what hast thou to do but make further proofe of his constancie and finding him true yéelde reward to his desert Soft Artesia wade not too far if he be constant if hee be loyall if he loue thée so intirely if nowe thou hast made him forsake this countrey or procure his vntimely death then is there nothing else to be don for thée but to pittie his death and accuse thy selfe of some discourtesie All this while Ornatus shrowding himselfe from her sight by the thicknesse of the gréene leaues heard her spéeches to his excéeding comfort and againe closelie withdrew himselfe Artesia hauing ended her spéeches her hart being opprest with many doubts arose and came to Syluian to whom she said My minde is much troubled with the newes Adellena told me of Ornatus absence whom for that you know not I wil tel you what he was There dwelleth not far hence one Allinus that mortally hateth my father and al that belong vnto him whose sonne Ornatus was whome if I should commend you might thinke me too cruel to refuse his loue so vnkindly onely thus much I wil say of him he was euery way worthy to be beloued though my fancie coulde neuer be drawne to like of him who vpon what occasion I know not but as Adellena tolde me made his loue knowne to her which she likewise told me of but I refusing to heare her answered her plainly that I was greatly ofâ—ended with her for making any such motion and forbad her for euer to speake of him againe But now this day you haue heard what shée hath told me which I can hardly beléeue to be true or that Ornatus would be so rash without wisedome to enter into such extreames But if it bee so as I would it were not it gréeueth me for him and I wish that I had not refused to heare his sute though I am not willing to yéeld thereto For I would not haue it said of me nor my name so much blazed that my crueltie procured him to that extremitie though his wisedome might haue foreséene such mischéefe and he more moderatelie haue tempered his loue Ornatus taking occasioÌ„ said I neither know the gentleman nor how constant his loue was but thus much my mind perswadeth me that had not his loue bene great he would not haue gréeued so much at your vnkindnesse but loue is of this force that it turneth the minde into extreames or vtterly breaketh the heart which force belike it had in him else would he not haue done himselfe so much hâ—rme But it may be as you say Ornatus hath not done himselfe outrage but onely abandoning company liueth in dispaire and so meaneth to die which if it bee so then in my fancie you might do well to let him by some meanes vnderstand that you did pittie him Stay there quoth Artesia you must first know whether I can do it or no for If I should say I pittie with my lips and he not find it so it would driue him to more dispaire and therefore I will leaue off to do that vntill I can finde whether I can do so or no. These her spéeches draue Ornatus into a perplexed doubt what to thinke being no way assured oâ— her loue nor yet vtterly dispairing thereof for that her spéeches gaue likelyhood of both Therefore hée durst not speake too boldlie least shée should suspect him but onely rested in good hope to finde comfort and by other meanes to trie her Then taking his Lute he began to play so swéetely as would haue rauisht a comfortlesse minde with great content to heare which harmonie pleased Artesia so well that when hée left shée would request him calling him Syluian to play againe Whilest he sat playing Artesia sitting close by his side fel fast a sléep which hee perceiuing left of his play to surâ—et himself with beholding her sweete bewtie in which hée tooke such delight as almost rauisht his sences sometimes thinking whilest she slept to imprint a kisse vpon her swéete ruddie lippe but fearing thereby to wake her and loose that delightfull contemplation hée desisted beholding each part of her visible forme which was most diuine his minde was affected with inward suppose what perfections her hidden bewties did comprehend which his fancie perswaded him he did in conceit absolutely contemplate Then seeing her stirre he suddainly catcht his lute againe striking his swéete noate to continue her in that slumber and then againe laying by the same to enter into his former contemplation Comparing his delight to excéed all heauenly ioy and wishing though Artesia coulde not loue him yet that shée woulde alwayes graunt him so to beholde her When hée had a good while continued in these meditations Artesia awooke which somewhat gréeued him but when hée beheld her bewteous eyes fired vppon him he thought himselfe inriched with a heauenly happines to whome Aâ—tesia said I thank thée good Syluian for thy swéet musicke hath somewhat eased my heart by this quiet sleepe O what content do they enioy that liue voyde of care and how happie was I before I heard Ornatus name With that she arose and ther togither went in when night approched which Ornatus thought soo soone come for by that he must loose Artesiaes sight euery one betooke themselues to their seuerall lodgings Ornatus studying what meanes to vse to further his loue wherein he found many difficulties sometimes in thinking Artesia was in hope neuer to heare of him againe and sometimes supposing she did pittie him and being ouercome with contrarieties of doubts he vttered these complaints What shuld I do to procure my content when my miseries are one way great my ioyes as excéeding when my dispaire excéedeth and yet â—y comfort aboundeth I enioy not Artesiaes loue yet she loueth me not I enioy her sight and yet not her sight I haue as much comfort as fills me with ioy yet I am desperate with dispaire How can that be She loueth me as I am Syluian but hateth me because she loueth not Ornatus Vnder the name of Syluian I enioy her sight but not as Ornatus and so am I depriued of her sight I reape excéeding comfort by beholding her bewty but I liue in dispaire that shée wold shun loue if she knew what I were Though I enioy many thinges by being Syluian yet am I depriued of all comfort as I am Ornatus For she déemed him either dead or fled hath no hope euer to sée him and
if I should shew any signe that hée were liuing or neare shée would presently eschew my company which being as I am I may enioy thus am I voyd of all meanes of attayning her loue yet liuing as I am I shall still enioy her loue Why Ornatus thou hast better meanes to giue her knowldge of thy loue in this disguise then if thou liuedst as Ornatus Suppose thou shuldest make knowne to her what thou art thinkest thou shée would bewray thée considering thou offerest no other behauiour towardes her then that which agreeth with vertue Or what if shée did betray thée wert thou not better to indare the greatest extremitie by her don then pyne away with griefe in her absence Yes Ornatus in being as thou art thou art more happie and therefore maiest thou be in some better hope of comfort What if shée will not loue thée yet for thy good will shée cannot hate thée And though shée know what thou art shee will rather conceale thée then bewray thée then try whether she loueth thée or no but how Make my selfe knowne No. I will write a letter which I will leaue in some place where she may finde it and so by that meanes I shall sée whether shée will loue or no. And taking pen Inke and paper he wrote as foâ—â—oweth To the most vertuous Artesia the forsaken Ornatus sendeth humble greeting WEre you but so mercifull as fayre I woulde not dispaire of pittie Or were you willing to know my truth and loyaltie you woulde though not yeeld to my sute yet pittie mee I cannot vse protestations nor dissemble greefe but be you most assured that what proceedeth out at my lippes commeth from my heart xtremitie maketh mee ouerbolde and dispaire maketh me more desperate in vttering my minde I cannot chuse but say I loue you for that I loue indeed I cannot set foorth my loue with fyled termes but in plaine truth protest that my loue is constant loyall vertuous immoueable and though you hate I must loue and though you for euer denie to loue yet will I persist in constancie for the woorst I can indure is death and that my soule alreadie inwardly feeleth I haue forsaken my parents friends and all to become acceptable to you for whilest I was Allinus sonne you did hate me then I beseech you now that I am not Allinus sonne nor Ornatus pitty mee For without your pitie I die litle can my death profit you but letting me liue you shall for euer enioy a faithfull seruant So most vertuous Artesia I commit my cause to your wise consideration Your inseparablie neyther Ornatus nor himselfe but your poore seruant When hee had written this Letter and sealed the same the next morning he laid it in a place of the garden where he knowe Artesia would walke And from thence comming to her chamber he found her readie to go forth Artesia welcommed Syluia kindely and forth they went together and walking vp and downe a prittie while Artesia espied the white paper and desirous to sée what it was took it vp reading the superscription maruelled what the contents shuld be and how it should come there and turning to Syluian sée you this letter it is directed to me I maruell how it should come here vnlesse it were laide of purpose well howsoeuer that was I will reade the contents and you shall be partaker of them When she had redde the same and well vnderstood that it was Ornatus at the first shee was so excéedingly vâ—xed that she said I now perceiue that Ornatus was wiser then I tooke him to bée for I sée he hath committed no outrage vpon himselfe but wiselie will trie me first and if I will not yéelde to loue him what will hée doo marrie returne to his father againe This is Adellenaes doing and according as I thought they are agréed shée left this letter here and her may I blame and not him For did not she promise him to do it he would neuer of himselfe attempt it Syluian I pray thée counsaile me what I should do herein for my heart is oppressed with many thoughts that I will not vtter vntill I know thy minde Syluian thus answered since you haue giuen me licence to speake that which my heart thinketh first I say iâ— Ornatus loueth according as he protesteth as no doubt but he doth you haue good reason to pittie him for that by your owne report he is euery way worthy thereof which if you doo you shal be sure of a constant friend preserue his life and make vnitie betwixt your parents As for Adellena if it were her déede she did but the part of a friend but it was very vnlikely for that shée was not here since yesterday Neither can I think any man can dissemble so much as to make these protestations and yet be false For his words in my fancie beare an euident likeliehood of truth Therefore if I may counsaile you yéeld to that which is vertuous and in so dooing you shall purchase your owne good his content and perpetuall quiet to both your families Would you haue mée then quoth shée yéelde to loue mine enemie How is hee your enemie quoth Syluian when hée loueth you Hée is mine enemie because his father hating me how can he loue me Nay rather quoth Syluian his father not louing you how can hee chuse but loue you because he seeth them hate you that are worthy to be beloued besides their haâ—red being vniust it sheweth his vertue the more to loue those his parents hate and it is commonly séene where there is hatred betwixt the parents the children haue loued most dearely as in common experience it is séene haue you not red the Histories of Pryamus and Thysbe Romeo and Iuliet and many other whose loue was the more constant by so much the more their parents hatred was deadly I remember such Histories quoth Artesia but what was the end of their loue was it not most miserable I grant it was quoth Syluian which was procured by their parents crueltie but not their loue wherein notwithstanding they tooke such felicitie that they rather chose to die togither then to be parted which argueth that the enmity twixt parents caÌ„not break off loue twixt the children yet might such tragical euents haue bin preuented by wisedom But how know I said Artesia whether Ornatus loue bée so constant or no Can you haue any greater proofe thereof then his own letters the forsaking of his parents and liuing peraduenture in pennurie but if you doubt of that once againe trie him Well said Artesia I asked but thy counsaile but in stead thereof thou vsest perswasion but séeing thou art so forward to doo me good which I hope is thy intent if thou wilt keep my counsell thou shalt know both my minde and what I intend Assure your selfe quoth Syluian I will rather loose my life then prooue vnfaithfull Then said shée I confesse to thée Syluian that loue
get by telling me so vnlesse it were so or not rather haue kept his counsell then thou mightest haue béen my heire And pardon I ask of thée good Ornatus though thou art absent for that I accused thee as accessarie to my fathers death when thou art innocent With that a floud of teares stopt the passage of her spéech Syluian said Artesia yet vouchsafe to heare my counsel which shal preuent al these imminent euils You may peradueÌ„ture make some doubt of the truth of that which I haue spoken but I take heauen to record no word is false for I regard your good aboue all thinges and your quiet aboue mine own content for shuld you dye I could not liue for by you I draw my breath I diued into Floretus counsails not to ayd him but to preuent them for that I knew Ornatus was no way guiltie of any such treason but would haue ventured his owne life to haue preserued your Fathers whome hée both loued honored as himselfe Of whome I could haue told you more but that fearing to offend you partly séeing how vehemeÌ„tly you accused him I durst not whose loue is loyall theron I will pawn my life Syluian quoth Artesia thou tellest mée things of woonder but especially the thou art so priuie to Ornatuâ— thoughts and the thou darest so boldely affiâ—me he loueth me when thou maiest be deceiued Most vertuous Artesia quoth he were you but so priuie to the thoughts of his hart as I am you would say as much as I beleeue all the I tel you and to put you in assurance of what I know I giue you knowledge the I am Ornatus yâ— in the disguise haue sought to attaine your loue for which boldnesse I most humbly beséech you to pardon mee With that a ruddie blush spred it selfe in Artesias cheekes before pale with feare being so much ashamed yâ— hée had bin to priuie to many of her actions that she could not tell with what countenaunce to behold him Then Ornatus said I beséech you pitie my sorment which hath vrged mée to this boldnesse being frustrated of other meanes to enioy your presence my meaning being no other then vertuous but resting at your mercifull disposition Desiring you to put assured confidence in me for preuenting Floretuâ— intent which you had not doubt of for to my gréefe I know it to bee soo true Artesia maruelled excéedingly at the straungenesse of these newes but most of all admired Ornatus loue which shée could not tell how to reiect for that she both well knewe hée deserued loue and the necessitie of time was such that her safetie rested in his secrecie yet being not willing at that instant to yeelde without further assault said I know not by what name to call you when neither I know whether you are Syluian or Ornatus but which of both your words beare great shewe of true friendship which I feare me is not grounded in your heart neither do I greatly care for since my vncle séeketh my life let him take it for I am weary thereof Let not your gentle heart quoth Ornatus make any doubt that I am Ornatus though my counterfeit disguise doth shewe me other but either vouchsafe me loue or giue me leaue to dis for Artesia for that potion that should dispatch you shall ende my life for my life is bound to your commaund and all my felicitie resteth in your fauour Which vnlesse you graunt my life without the same will be but shorte and the time I haue to liue an endlesse labyrinth of sorrow Adellena by occasion entered the garden and found Artesia wéeping and Syluian in a heauie dumps readie to torment himselfe to sée her sorrow but Artesia espying her said Adellena doest thou loue Ornatus so much as that thou wouldest hazard life and credit to doo him good for that I knowe him to bée a most vertuous honest Gentleman I but wouldest thou quoth shée kéepe my counsell if I reueale a secret of importance to you concerning Ornatus And vpon Adelleanas promise she said doo you know Ornatus if you see him behold there he is Adellena was at the first halfe astonisht at her spéeches but at last she perfectly remembred that was he indéed reioycing most exceedingly to see him there especially with Artesia Then they declared vnto her all that had happened and of Floretus intent desiring her to be secret and make no shewe of discontent least he should suspect Syluian had bewrayed his secrets and after some other speeches past they went in togither CHAP. VIII How Artesia departed to the Lodge with Syluian and from thence secretly departed to Adellenas house and how Ornatus taken to be Syluian was by Floretus accusation and Artesias want banished IT fel so out the next day that the King with diuers of his company amongst whom was his only sonne and heire Lenon being wearied with trauell arriued at Arbastus house thinking to haue founde him there but the King hearing of his suddaine death was excéedingly sorie perswading himselfe as all men else did that he was slaine by some of Allinus house which made him make small tariance there but departed to his Pallace Now it fortuned that Lenon behelde Artesias bewtie and was with the first view thereof excéedingly bewitched that after he was gone he could by no meanes forget her but determined ere long to returne to sée if he could attaine her loue Now the time was come that Floretus had appointed to set abroach his villany and according as Ornatus had before told Artesia he came to her perswading her for a season to lie in the Countrey which she as forearmed consented vnto and so the next morning she with Syluian Floretus and diuers others departed at night Floretus returning and leauing with her according as he had promised Syluian and onely two seruants that were to prouide them necessaries but knew no part of the conspiracie When Ornatus and Artesia were alone togither for that she was vndoubtedly assured of his loue faith and sidelitie she vsed these comfortable spéeches to him Ornatus whereas alwaies before this time too vnkindly I haue reputed you as a 〈◊〉 I now craue pardon being sorie that my hâ—aâ—t hath done you so much wrong which now I will requite with kindnesse I carresse it was strange to me to entertaine loue but now I willingly yeeld my selfe to be her subiect and your true and faithful friend committing my life to your custodie and my loue and selfe to be yours to dispose of Ornatus hearing her spéeches was rauished with a heauen of ioy with a gentle and kind behauiour foulding her in his armes and imprinting a swéete kisse vpon her rosiate lippes he said Neuer was poore wretch exalted to more happinesse then I am by being inriched with this inestimable treasure of your loue O how rich a reward haue I now reapt for my cares and what glorie ioy or wealth can be
safetie and therefore hée determined to goe with Adellena to visit her which likewise hée performed and entring where shee was making excéeding lamentation he said I beséech you gréeue not faire Damosell for Syluian for no harme is done to her onely my father vppon her owne confession and Floretus accusation hath banished her to her owne Countrey Artesia hearing his spéeches with verie gréefe fell into a deadly traunce both Lenon and Adellena hauing much a doo to bring her life againe And being conueyed to her bed when her sences were come to their perfect vse and Lenon standing by her whose sighâ— was most gréeuous to her shée turned her head from his sight sheading such aboundance of teares that shée bedrawed the place where shée laie Lenon perceiuing that shee was displeased with his presence withdrew himselfe giuing Adellena this charge Adellena since Artesia is in thy custodie I charge thée let her not depart hence vntill thou hearest of mee againe for if thou doest thou shalt answere the same but if thou wilt stand my friend and in my behalfe intreat her fauour I wil proue so gratefull a friend as thou shalt account thy labour wel imployed Hée was no sooner gone but Artesia vttered these lamentations Most accursed wretch that I am to bée thus separated from my deare Loue whose curteous minde is the fountaine of all vertue how vnfortunate am I made by my fathers death and my Vnckles crueltie but especially by his losse that is vniustly banished into a straunge Countrey where hee prooe true and loyall Gentleman neuer set foote how vnhappie was hée made when hée first beganne his loue but now most miserable by séeking to preserue my life hath cast away his owne and fearing to be disappointed of my loue hath quite dissâ—uered himselfe from my â—â—ght to hazard his person by sea and land Is it possible that hee should euer returne béeing so farre conueyed from his natiue soyle and left to the mercies of strange people that will be readie to destroy his guiltlesse life No I â—eare mée neuer shall I bée so happie as beholde him and though I doo not yet shall my loue to him remaine immoueable Therefore nowe will I arme my selfe to endure all perilles to liue in care and continuall lament for want of beloued Ornatus whose heart I knowe is replete with sorrowe and peraduenture misdoubteth my loyaltie hauing bene so vnkinde to him before and knowing Lenons affection may suppose his dignitie might alter my constancie But sooner shall Ornatus heare of my death then that I haue altered my loue or yéelded his right to an other were hee the greatest Potentate in the worlde Which saide another flood of brinishe teares ouerflowed her eyes and her passage of spéeche was stopt by heart-pearcing sighings which in confused multitudes issued with her swéete breath neuer ceasing her lamentes but still bewayling her true Loues absence that it pearced Adellenaes hearte with suche sorrowe that shée wept as fast as Artesia both being so much greeued that they seemed to striue howe to excéede one another in laments In which sorrowfull estate Artesia remained so long that shée waxed extreame sicke and grewe to that extremitie that Adellena feared her death Lenon likewise being come to the Court gatâ—e pardon of his Father for Floretus death but notwithstanding hée remained in prison all the dayes of his life Lenon likewise hearing of Artesias sicknesse refrained from visiting her onely he would oftentimes repaire to Adellenaes house to enquire howe shée did Ornatus being left in the Countrey of Natolia tooke his misfortunes in such heauie sort that had not his hope to see Artesia againe withheld him hée had offered himselfe some outrage for a season giuing himselfe to forlorne and carelesse desperation neyther regarding which way to prouide for his safetie nor otherwise respecting what daunger hee might runne into in that straunge Countrey for the Moores had landed him in a waste and desolate Coaste of the Countrey Thus carelesse did hée continue a whole night and a day not so muche as séeing toode to preserue him from famine but in the ende hunger constrained him to séeke succour but when his stomacke serued him hee coulde finde no meate that with the extremitie thereof calling to remembrance his estate hée vttered these plaints Thus contrary is Nature to her subiects sometimes hoysing them to the tappe of all felicitie and then with violence tumbling them downe headlong into the depth of extreame miserie Was euer more fortunate and suddenly miserable then I am Coulde euer any man whatsoeuer attaine more heauenly felicitie and happinesse then I did by being possess of Artesia and now againe more accurst being thus far absented from her and banished my natiue soyle into a straunge Countrey readie to be famished or deuoured by wild beasts or that which is worst neuer likely to see Artesia againe How could any man containe himselfe from desperatenesse being so miserable as I am How can I withholde my hands from murthering my selfe when by doing it I should bee ridde out of a wretched life What should I doo which way should I goe Here I am in a desolate and vnfrequented place where no humane creatures inhabit but wilde beasts without foode without weapons in womans apparrell and without hope of comfort Shall I state here then shall I bée famished shall I leaue this place and trauell further then I goe further from my beloued and méeting with some rauenous beast may be deuoured Now being hungrie I want foode and here is none vnlesse I will eate the earth leaues of trées or rootes of the grasse Well I will séeke my fortune bée it good or ill and in this desperate moode hee trauelled on and by good fortune founde a Tree laden with excéeding pleasant and goodly fruite with which hée slenched his hunger not farre from which place he tooke vp his nights lodging Early the next morning he arose first filling his belly and then his lappe with that pleasant fruite the taste whereof was lyke pleasant wine that being drunke in abundance will make the head light which made Ornatus hearte merrie that he trauelled on space but Fortune not contented with the miserie he had endured alreadie sent him in an other affliction hee entered into a place like a Forrest beset with Trées of huge proportion scattered here and there where hée met with a wild and fierce Boore that haunted those Desarts who espying Ornatus with a terrible groyning bristled himselfe comming towardes him Ornatus being now driuen to his vttermost shiftes beganne to runne with all his force from the beast but hee making the more spéede had almost ouertaken him when one of the Apples Ornatus carried about him fell downe and the Boore espying the same staled his haste to take it vp whereby Ornatus had gotten some little ground of him and séeing him so much affect the fruite cast downe another Apple after which the Boore runne with gréedinesse deuouring
at my fathers and the rest of the auncients handes that slaying the Boore that destroyed many people you should saue your owne life and winne me as your Loue. And notwithstanding all this doo you make a question whether I will yéelde consent to any thing that shall be for your good O Alprinus if your loue were so constant as mine if you intended to continue my loue for euer if your heart felt so déepe a sting of loue as mine you would not make such a doubt of my loyaltie of my truth true loue and constancie For you knowe whatsoeuer you should aske I will graunt whatsoeuer you should request I will performe and wherein soeuer a Louer may shewe infallible tokenes of her truth I will doo as much as any but since you will not beléeue mee without an oathe I sweare by my loâ—e my vnspotted virginitie and by all the good I wish my heart I will consent agrée performe or doo any thing not be offended with any thing be the newes neuer so vnwelcome so it be for Alprinus good nor leaue any thing vnperformed you shall require Ornatus hearing with what constancie her spéeches procéeded from her and how greeuously shée conceiued it that any doubt should be made of her loyaltie thought most certainely that he might put his life into her hands and therefore hauing alreadie studied a deuice said It ill agreeth with my nature to dissemble and hardly could I haue béene drawne thereto but that desire to preserue loue drewe me thereto for knowe most worthy Lucida that I am not Alprinus but one that for his sake hath vndertaken this The truth whereof if you will heare with patience I wil declare Yesterday I trauailed through the Forrest or desart where I met Alprinus sore wounded and flying from the Boore that pursued him with celeritie which when I behelde to rescue him from death I set vppon the Boore and by good fortune slew him which when he behelde he declared to me the cause of his coÌ„ming which when I heard pittying his estate I bid him take the boores head and withall helpe him to mount his stéed but his woundes would not suffer him to ride that I was in some feare of his life When presently wée beheld an auncient Hermitte comming towards vs who liued in a Caue in those wâ—â—ds who vndertooke to cure his wounds being glad of the Boores death To whose Cell I conueyed Alprinus At whose request I haue performed this which you sée and haue vndertaken to hazard my life to discharge him of death and to win the assured possession of your loue Now I most humbly intreat you for his sake to conceale what I am that I be not knowne and so both disappoint your selfe of his loue and him of safetie Onely deuise a meanes to excuse mee from this feast which I trust you will doo for Alprinus sake and then wee may haue time to studie for your further content Lucidas loue made her beléeue that all hée said was true and therefore saide Syr I trust there is no cause why I should mistrust you and therefore relying vppon the truth of that which you haue sad I will tell my father you are wounded and desire rather to goe to your Chamber then to the feast who I knowe will denie mee nothing This said she went to her father and so preuailed with him that he was contented shée should haue the tending of him whome she tooke to a chamber suffering none to come at him but her maide whome shée trusted and well might trust for her fidelitie Aâ—terwardes Lucida came to Ornatus to determine how shée might come to sée Alprinus being most carefull of his health and amongst many other spéeches they concluded that Ornatus the next morning should depart towardes the Forrest to Alprinus and that shee by some meanes would come thither the next day after if hee would méete her to giue her directions where to finde him which hée promised to doo According to this agréement Ornatus very earlie the next morning armed himselfe and as Lucida had instructed him tooke his leaue of his father who little suspected he had béene any other then Alprinus gaue his consent and so Ornatus in Alprinus armour againe departed the Towne being glad that hée was escaped from death which he was sure to haue indâ—red if it had bin any waies knowne that he had slaine Alprinus And being nowe alone by himselfe hauing she wide world to trauell into 〈◊〉 neuer a friende to go too voyd of feare but not oâ— care hee 〈◊〉 whither to direct his iourney sometimes his conscience accuâ—â—â—g him of too much disloyall dealing towardes Lucida in betraying her vertues by his dissimulation in tellâ—â—â— her Alprinus was liuing when hee knewe it to the coâ—â—â—ry Then hee contrarilie thought it was lawfull for him to dissemble with her to saue his owne life and though he had slaine Alprinus he did it but in defence of his honour Amongst at these this cogitation séemed most to acquite him oâ— dishonour that fortune and the destenies had by that meanes ordeined him to escape Whilest hée rode on in these déepe meditations he met with an ancient hermit who comming towards him said Discurteous gentleman how cammest thou by that armor and yet I need not aske thée for I know thou slewest the worthy gentleman Alprinus which I beheld to my gréefe Father quoth Ornatus if thou didst beholde the same thou canst witnesse I did it against my will and in mine owne defence for whose death I am so sory as thy self and would as willingly haue done any thing to preserue the same as any man liuing Will you then said the Hermite doe this for him vouchsafe to come and speake with him who is in reasonable good estate in my Cell I would to God said Ornatus thy wordes were true for if hée be liuing it will reuiue my heart with ioy that is almost vanquisht with care desiring nothing more then to sée him Hée is liuing said the Hermit and if you will goe I will bring you to him presently Ornatus being come to the Cell accordingly found Alprinus very weake by reason of his gréenâ—us wound to whom Ornatus declared al that happened betwéene him Lucida which added no little comfort to Alprinus heart that hée thought himselfe of sufficient strength to go and méete with her and therefore told Ornatus he would goe and méete with her and withall yeelded him so many thankes as if by his meanes his life had bin preserued In the meane time they continued in the 〈◊〉 Hermittes Caue Alprinus in great comfort and Ornatus in no lesse care for the absence of his deare Artesia breaking foorth many a scalding sighe and vttering many a sad and mournefull lamentation sometimes vtterly dispairing of attaining her loue and then againe by remembring her vertues growing into some better confidence of her constancie Yet most of all fearing that
but dying thou art past hope With that she departed smiling Artesia hearing her spéeches beganne to consider indéede what follie it was to refuse her meate and for feare to shorten her selfe by distemperating her selfe which might bee the meanes to further Lenons intent whome shee knewe would seeke her life if hée coulde not winne her loue shée presently left off suche desperate behauiour and with well wayed consideration attended the euent of the worst misfortune that from that time shee both eate her meate and did all that shée coulde to comfort her selfe still liuing in good hope of Ornatus returne Some fewe dayes after Lenon came to the Fortresse againe enquiring of Flera howe Artesia faâ—ed Well quoth shee but you willed mee to conceale that it was your dooing to bring her hither and some bodie else hath tolde her thereof for shée knoweth the truth as well as your selfe or I and therefore I would wishe you to visite her and after that let me alone to perswade her Lenon was ruled by the olde woman and came where Artesia was saluting her but shée disdaining either to looke on him or heare him speake withdrewe her selfe from his presence Wherewith hée departed willing Flera to doo that which shée had vndertaken And Flera finding her as shée thought in a fit moode beganne to commune with her of many thinges amongst which loue was one Artesia a while heard her but in the end perceiuing her drift cut her off with these spéeches Olde iniquitie I knowe whereto thy talke tendeth thinkest thou I will euer harbour a thought of Lenon that hath vsed mée thus dishonourably no rather will I rent my wofull heart from out my brest before his face neither néedest thou tell mée that hée hath intreated thee to speake for him for I knowe too well both his and thy intent which shall nothing preuaile but harden my heart against him Therefore doo not speake to me for I will not heare thée nor answere thée but hate him thée and thy counsell and remaine so constant in despising him that a thousand deathes shall not alter mée Is it loue that hath made him with violence carrie me from my friendes make me a prisoner and commit me to the custodie of such a hellishe hagge as thy selfe If that be his loue let him turne it to hatred and neuer trouble me but with hating me for in so dooing he shall better please me Often Flera would haue replied but Artesia would not suffer her that shee beganne to wâ—xe angrie and in the ende to plaine furie that running to Artesia she caught holde on her and beganne to teare her garments from her bodie and withall caught sometimes such firme holde on her pure flâ—she with her nayles that the blood followed that Artesia began to crie and shrike for feare and smart When the olde Beldame had executed some part of her intended reuenge and crueltie vpon her in this sort shee saide Proud girle thinkest thou to beare it away with out-facing mée No do not thinke I will leaue thée thus but thou shalt repent that euer thou commest héere and before I goe I will haue my â—â—inde of thée then puld shée out a knife and catching holde on her swore that vnlesse she would promise to vse Lenon kindly when hée next came shée would cut her throate which drane Artesia into that feare that shée began to intreate her and speake faire promising to condiscend to any thing that agreed to her honour Stand not vpon those nice tearmes with mée quoth Flera but here sweare to yéeld to loue him for so thou maiest delay him and frustrate his hopefull expectation whom thou art not woorthie to touch much lesse to beare such a presuming minde as thou doest in scorne of his loue Therefore yéelde to that which I request or stand to my mercy Canst thou bestowe thy loue better then on so honourable a Prince Canst thou attaine more dignitie reape more content or enioy more quiet with any then with him Then do not denie mee for I purpose not to be denied Artesia trembling for feare made this answere onely to satisfie her I am contented to bée ruled by Lenon whose meaning I knowe is honourable Therefore I pray do not offer mée this ouâ—rage but suffer me to liue in quiet vntil his comming If this will not satisfie you then do the worst you can for death is more welcome to mée then life in these extremities Well quoth shée I will trie you but if you dally beware what will ensue for I am resolued what to doo Artesia was glad shée had satisfied her though it were with vttering words which shée neuer intended to performe Adellena séeing how suddenly Artesia was taken from her caused one of her seruants priuilie to followe them to the gréene Fortresse who returning tolde her what he had séene Then Adellena began to studie how to release her from thence and with all haste rode to Allinus house where being arriued she declared al that shee knew as concerning Ornatus and how Lenon had carried Artesia by violence into the gréene Fortresse Allinus being glad to heare that Ornatus was aliue promised to redéeme Artesia from Lenons custodie and that to effâ—ct the next euening caused his men to mount themselues and himselfe with some fiâ—e of them disguised from being knowne came to the greene Fortresse and one of them knocking whilest the other hid themselues the seruants little suspecting any such ambush or intent opened the gate when presently they rushed in and soone found out Artesia whome Allinus told who he was and to what intent hée came Artesia was glad thereof and willingly yeelded to go with him but the olde woman made such an outcrie that all the place rung thereof one of Allinus seruants seeing shée would not bée pacified drew his sword and thrust it through her bodie and so with a yelling crie shée gaue vp the ghoast Then presently Allinus departed with her intending to carry her to his owne house to kéepe her there vnknowne vntil he could heare of Ornatus And remembring that the two seruants were fled and would no doubt certifie Lenon what was done would not go backe the same way hée came though the readiest for then hée thought hee should méete them but went a more secret way thinking by that means to passe vnséene and entring into the plaines where cattell fed Allinus espied a company comming towards them whom hée presently suspected to be Lenon which in reason he could not thinke but that feare perswaded him thereto the company likewise espying them who were certaine Pyrates that were wandred from their shippes to steale cattel wondred what they should be that were so late abroad and being readie to any mischiefe set vpon Allinus and his company who thinking it had bene Lenon would by no meanes yéeld nor speake fearing he should descrie them but resisted the Pyrates who being vsed to many such méetings soone slew two of Allinus seruants and
thereof brought to the Court the King being himselfe somewhat sickly sent Lenon to méete them and giue them entertainment who was loth to go from Artesias sight but assuring himselfe of the Pilgrims faith committed her wholly to his custodie Ornatus thought it now the fittest time to séeke to escape but he was hindred by other of Lenons seruants whome he had secretly appointed as ouerseers to looke into the Pilgrims action that it was impossible for him to attempt any thing that way but it must needs both be discouered and preuented Ornatus séeing himselfe disappointed of his purpose that way made Artesia acquainted with what hée intended and how he was preuented spending the time of Lenons absence continually in her company But hauing met the Armenian Ambassadors brought them to the Court where they were honourably entertained and hauing declared their Embassage Thaeon the King tolde them they should receiue answere within two daies Lenon hearing the articles counselled his father not to yéeld to performe any such conditions but rather to send Turbulus defiance For quoth hee your Maiestie are as absolutely King of Phrygia as hee of Armenia and then what dishonour were it vnto you to stoope to his commaund and shewe your selfe as it were affraid of his threats for to binde your selfe to this were to become his subiâ—ct which would soone be published through the whole world to your dishonour The King being ouerruled by his perswasions gaue the Ambassadours this answere that hée went not â—o performe the least of those articles they demaunded nor feared their Kings threats of warre for that hee was able to deale with a mightier foe then hée Vsing many other words and some of reproach that the Armenians denouncing open warre according as they were commanded departed CHAP. XIIII How Ornatus staying too late in Artesiaes chamber was accused by Lenons seruants whom he slew How Allinus with a band of Armenians landed in Phrygia and how Ornatus was imprisoned THaeon knew that the King of Armenia wold performe his word and therefore gaue Lenon charge to muster vp men throughout the whole land coÌ„mitting the chiefe charge of the Armie and ordering of these affaires vnto him who more hardie bold then wise vndertooke all and within short space had gathered an exceeding great Armie and furnished certaine shippes to méete with the Armenians by Sea if it might bee possible to vanquishe them before they shoulde land These troubles fiâ—led the Commons hearts with griefe and their mouths with murmurings for they vnderstanding that the King of Armenia did offer warre to Phrygia in the behalfe of Allinus that was generallie beloued there was fewe of those that were prest to those warres but came vnwillinglie and rather by constraint being more readie to turne their swoord points against Thaeon then against Allinuâ— Ornatus likewise hearing of these warres by his wisedome found out the opinion of the multitude and with what vnwillingnesse they came to the warres which when hee was in some sort assured off hee came to the Campe and amongst all the rest of his Familiars espied Phylastes who alwaies loued him most dearely him hee knewe to bee of a most faithfull and constant resolution in performing his promise and was by Lenon appointed one of the chéefest leaders Ornatus finding him remote from the Camp came to him and after salutation said Sir Phylastes I am sent vnto you by a deare friend of yours named Ornatus who trusteth so much in your vertues that he is willing to put his life into your hands which you shall hazard in denying him one small fauour which with safetie you may graunt First therefore I request but your promise for your warrantie and then I will declare what I haue in charge My friend quoth Phylastes thou tellest me newes of wonder when thou sayest thou comest from Ornatus whom I feare is long since dead but if thou knowest the contrary and canst resolue me thereof I promise and sweare to performe whatsoeuer thou shalt demaund for I am sure Ornatus knoweth that I loue him nor maketh any doubt thereof which if hee doo he iniurieth that loue and friendship that hath past betwéene vs. Then kinde sir quoth he that Ornatus is not dead but in safetie and I am that Ornatus that notwithstanding my spéech make no doubt of your loue Phylastes beholding his countenance knewe him well and for ioy caught him in his armes My deare friend Ornatus quoth hee I am gladde of your safetie and accursed bee my soule if I doo not any thing that you shall commaund I thanke you quoth Ornatus to enter into the tedious discourse of my afflictions would be tedious but in few words I will tell you all I loued Artesia long but found no hope nor meanes to attaine my loue which made mee disguise my selfe into womans apparell naming my selfe Syluian and was fortunately entertained by Arbastus whose death I founde to bee acted by Floretus who falling into loue with mâ—e tolde mée for my sake he would poyson Artesia at the Lodge whither hee conueyed her I fearing to haue her taken from me and hauing wonne her loue tolde her his intent and conueyed her to Adellenas house then Floretus and Lenon came thither demanding her of me whom I tolde I had poysoned her according to his counsell wée striuing were brought before Thaeon who banished me into Natolia from whence I came backe and by good fortune haue the kéeping of Artesia in this disguise the manner I will tell you at more leisure Now my deare friend Phylastes my desire is to chaunge my place with you you to haue the custodie of Aâ—tesia in my Palmers wéedes and I to march into the field in your Armour which if you graunt you shall bind mee vnto you for euer Phylastes yéelded to fulfill his request and so for that time they parted appointing to méete the next day Ornatus being come to Artesia told her where he had bene and what hee intended which made Artesia sad disswading him from his purpose in this sort My deare Loue what néed you venture your person in the daungers that are incident to war will you leaue me heare in doubt and not rather staie with me to my comfort there are inough besides and too many in the field and Phylastes is able to execute his own place then I beséech you do not leaue mée in discomfort for how can I be voyd of care when I shall thinke you are amonst so many enemies readie to be slaughtered My deare Loue quoth he that which I will do shal be without any hazard at all but shall procure both your and mine owne content Then I beséech you remit this care for my safetie for I will preserue my selfe from daunger for your sake Besides Phylastes vertue is such that you néed not once so much as thinke amisse of him who I knowe would venture his life for my sake Besides my honor vrgeth mée reuenge of iniuries done