offered to their King and how willing if it might be to make amendes As PaÌ„dosto made report to them how one Meleagrus a Knight of Trapolonia was lately ariued with a Lady called Fawnia in his land comming very suspitiously accompanied onely with one seruant and an olde shepheard The Embassadours perceiued by the halfe what the whole tale ment and began to coniecture that it was Dorastus who for feare to bee knowne had chaunged his name but dissembling y e matter they shortly ariued at the Court where after they had bin verie solemnly and sumptuously feasted the noble men of Sicilia being gathered togither they made reporte of their Embassage â— where they certified Pandosto that Meleagtus was sonne and heire to the King Egistus and that his name was Dorastus how contrarie to the Kings minde he had priuily conuaied away that Fawnia intending to marrie her being but daughter to that poore shepheard Porrus wherevpon the Kings request was that Capnio Fawnia and Porrus might bee murthered and put to death and that his sonne Dorastus might be sent home in safetie Pandosto hauing attentiuely and with great meruaile heâ—rd their Embassage willing to reconcile himselfe to Egistus and to shew him how greatlie he estéemed his labour although loue and fancy forbad him to hurt Fawnia yet in despight of loue hee determined to execute Egistus will without mercy and therefore he presently sent for Dorastus out of prison who meruailing at this vnlooked for curtesie found at his comming to the Kings presence that which he least doubted of his fathers Embassadoursâ— who no sooner sawe him but with great reuerence they honored him and Pandosto embracing Dorastus set him by him very louingly in a chaire of estate Dorastus ashamed that his follie was be wraied sate a long time as one in a muse til Pandosto told him the summe of his Fathers embassage which he had no sooner heard but he was toucht at the quicke for the cruell sentence that was pronounced against Fawnia but neither could his sorrow nor perswasions preuaile for Pandosto commaunded that Fawnia Porrus and Capnio should bee brought to his presence who were no sooner come but Pandosto hauing his former loue turned to a disdainful hate began to rage against Fawnia in these tearmes THou disdainfull vassal thou currish kite assigned by the destinies to base fortune and yet with an aspiring minde gazing after honor how durst thou presume being a beggar to match with a Prince By thy alluring lookes to inchant the sonne of a King to leaue his owne countrie to fulfill thy disordinate lusts O despightfull minde a proud heart in a beggar is not vnlike to a great fire in a smal cottage which warmeth not the house but burneth it assure thy selfe thou shalt die and thou old doating foole whose follie hath bene such as to suffer thy daughter to reach aboue thy fortune looke for no other méede but the like punishment But Capnio thou which hast betrayed the King and hast consented to the vnlawfull lust of thy Lord and maister I know not how iustly I may plague thée death is too easie a punishment for thy falsehood and to liue if not in extreme miserie were not to shew thée equitie I therefore award that thou shall haue thine eyes put out and continually while thou diest grinde in a mil like a brute beast The feare of death â—rought a sorrowfull silence vpon Fawnia and Capnio but Porrus séeing no hope of life burst forth into these spéeches PAndosto and ye noble Emabassadours of Siciliâ—â— séeing without cause I am condemned to die I am yet glad I haue opportunitie to disburdeÌ„ my conscience before my death I will tel you as much as I know and yet no more than is true whereas I am accused that I haue bene a supporter of Fawnias pride and shee disdained as a vilde begger so it is that I am neither Father vnto her nor she daughter vnto me For so it happened that I being a poore shepheard in Sicilia liuing by kéeping others mens flockes one of my shéepe straying downe to the sea side as I went to séeke her I saw a little boat driuen vpon the shoare wherein I found a babe of sixe daies olde wrapped in a mantle of skarlet hauing about the necke this chainâ— I pittying the child and desirous of the treasure carried it home to my wife who with great care nursed it vp and set it to keepe sheepe Heere is the chaine and the Iewels and this Fawnia is the childe whome I found in the boate what shee is or of what parentage I knowe not bâ—â—t this I am assured that shee is none of mine Pandosto would scarce suffer him to tell out his tale but that he enquired the time of the yeere the manner of the boate and other circumstaunces which when he found agreeing to his count he sodainelie leapt from his seate and kissed Fawnia wetting her tender cheeks with his teares and crying my daughter Fawnia ah swtete Fawnia I am thy Father Fawnia This sodaine passion of the King draue them all into a maze especially Fawnia and Dorastus But when the King had breathed himselfe a while in this newe ioy hee rehearsed beefore the Embassadours the whole matter how hee hadde entreated his wife Bellaria for iealousie and that this was the childe whome hee sent to floate in the seas Fawnia was not more ioyfull that she had found such a Father then Dorastus was glad he should get such a wife The Embassadors reioyced that their yong prince had made such a choice that those Kingdomes which through enmitie had long time bin disseuered should now through perpetual amitie be vnited and reconciled The Citizens and subiects of Bohemia hearing that the King had found againe his Daughter which was supposed dead ioyfull that there was an heire aparant to his Kingdome made Bonstres and showes throughout the Cittie The Courtiers and Knights appointed Iusts and Turneis to signifie their willing mindes in gratifying the Kings hap Eighteene daies being past in these princely sports Pandosto willing to recompence old Porrus of a shepheard made him a Knight which done prouiding a sufficient Nauie to receiue him and his retinue accompanied with Dorastus Fawnia and the Sicilian Embassadours he sailed towards Sicilia where he was most princelie entertained by Egistus who hearing this comicall euent reioyced greatly at his sonnes good happe and without delay to the perpetuall ioy of the two yong Louers celebrated the marriage which was no sooner ended but Pandosto calling to mind how first he betraied his friend Egistus how his iealousie was the cause of Bellarias death that contrarie to the law of nature hee had lusted after his owne Daughter moued with these desperate thoughts he fell in a melancholie fit and to close vp the Comedie with a Tragicall stratageme hee slewe himselfe whose death being many daies bewailed of Fawnia Dorastus and his deere friend Egistus Dorastus taking his leaue of his father went with his wife and the dead corps into Bohemia whâ—â— after they were sumptuouslie â—â—â—â—â—â—bed Dorastus ended his daies in contented quiet FINIS
the storme grewe so great that with much labour and perill they got to the shoare But leauing the Childe to her fortunes Againe to Pandosto who not yet glutted with sufficient reuenge deuised which way he should best increase his Wiues calamitie But first assembling his Nobles and Counsellors hee called her for the more reproch into open Court where it was obiected against her that she had committed adulterie with Egistus and conspired with Franion to poyson Pondosto her husband but their pretence being partely spyed shee counselled them to flie away by night for their better safety Bellaria who standing like a prisoner at the Barre feeling in her selfe a cleare Conscience to withstand her false accusers seeing that no lesse then death could pacifie her husbands wrath waxed bolde and desired that she might haue Lawe and Iustice for mercy shee neyther craued nor hoped for and that those periured wretches which had falsly accused her to the King might be brought before her face to giue in euidence But Pandosto whose rage and Iealousie was such as no reason nor equitie could appease tolde her that for her accusers they were of such credite as their wordes were sufficient witnesse and that the sodaine secret flight of Egistus Franion confirmed that which they had confessed and as for her it was her parte to deny such a monstrus crime and to be impudent in forswearing the fact since shee had past all shame in committing the fault but her stale countenaunce should stand for no coyne for as the Bastard which she bare was serued so she should with some cruell death be requited Bellaria no whit dismayed with this rough reply â— tolde her Husband Pandosto that he spake vpon chollerâ— and not conâ—â—â—â—ence for her vertuous life had beene euer such as no spot of suspition could euer staine And if she had borne a frendly countedaunce to Egistus it was in respect he was his friende and not for any lusting affection therefore if she were condemned without aâ—y further proofe it was rigour and not Law The noble men which sate in iudgement said that Bellaria spake reason and intreated the king that the accusers might be openly examined and sworne and if then the euidence were such as the Iury might finde her guilty for seeing she was a Prince she ought to be â—ryed by her péeres then let her haue such punishment as the extremitie of the Law will assigne to such malefactors The king presently made answere that in this case he might and would dispence with the Law and that the Iury being once panneld they should take his word for sufficient euidence otherwise he would make the proudest of them repent it The noble men séeing the king in choler were all whist but Bellaria whose life then hung in the ballaunce fearing more perpetuall in famie then momentarie death tolde the kingâ— if his furie might stand for a Law that it were vaine to haue the Iury yéeld their verdit and therefore she fell downe vpon her knées and desired the king that for the loue he hare to his young sonne Garinter whome she brought into the world that hee woulde graunt her a request which was this that it would please his maiestie to send sixe of his noble men whome he best trusted to the Isle of Delphos there to enquire of the Oracle of Apollo whether she had committed adultery with Egistus or conspired to poyson him with Franion and if the God Apollo who by his deuine essence knew al secrets gaue answere that she was guiltie she were content to suffer any torment were it neuer so terrible The request was so reasonable that Pandosto could not for shame deny it vnlesse he woulde dâ—e counted of all his subiects more wilfull then wise he therefore agréed that with as much speede as might be there should be certaine Embassadores dispatâ—â—ed to the Ile of Delphost â—â—d in the meane season be commanded that his wife should be kept in close prison Bellaria hauing obtained this graunt was now more carefull for her little babe that floated â—â— the Seas then â—â—â—â—â— full for her owne mishap For of that she doubted of her selfe shee was assured knowing if Apollo should giue Oracle according to the thoughts of the hart yet the sentence should goe one her sidâ— such was the clearenes of her minde in this case But Pandosto whose suspitious head still remained in one song chose out six of his Nobility whom hee knew were scarse indifferent men in the Quéenes behalfe and prouiding all things fit for their iourney sent them to Delphos they willing to fulfill the Kinges commaund and desirous to see the situation and custome of the Iland dispatched their affaires with as much spéede as might be and embarked themselues to this voyage which the wind and weather seruing fit for their purpose was soone ended For within three weekes they arriued at Delphos where they were no sooner set on lande but with great deuotion they went to the Temple of Apollo and there offring sacrifice to the GOD and giftes to the Priest as the custome was they humbly craued an aunswere of their demaund they had not long kneeled at the Altar but Apollo with a loude voice saide Bohemians what you finde behinde the Alter take and depart They forthwith obeying the Oracle founde a scroule of parchment wherein was written these words in letters of Golde The Oracle SVspition is no proofe Iealousie is an vnequall Iudge Bellaria is chast Egistus blamelesse Franion a true subiect Pandosto treacherous his Babe an innocent and the King shal liue without an heire if that which is lost be not founde AS soone as they had taken out this scroule the Priest of the God commaunded them that they should not presume to read it before they came in the preseÌ„ce of Pandosto vnlesse they would incurre the displeasure of Apollo The Bohemian Lords carefully obeying his commaund taking their leaue of the Priest with great reuerence departed out of the Temple and went â—â— their ships and assoone as wind would permit them sailed toward Bohemia whither in short time they safely arriued with great tryumph issuing out of their Ships went to the Kinges pallâ—â—e whom they found in his chamber accompanied with other Noble men Pandosto no sooner saw them but with a merrie countenaunce he welcomed them home as king what newes they tolde his Maiestie that they had receiued an aunswere of the God written in a scroule bâ—t with this charge y t they should not reade the contents before they came in the presence of the King and with that they deliuered him the parchment but his Noble men intreated him that sith therein was contayned either the safetie of his Wiues life and honestly or her death and perpetuall infamy that he would haue his Nobles and Commons assembled in the iudgement Hall where the Queene brought in as prysoner should heare the contents if shee were found guilty by the Oracle of the
PANDOSTO ¶ The Triumph of Time VVHEREIN IS DISCOUERED by a pleasant Historie that although by the meanes of sinister fortune Truth may be concealed yet by Time in spight of fortune it is most manifestly reuealed Pleasant for age to auoyde drowsie thoughtes profitable for youth to eschue other wanton pastimes and bringing to both a desired content Temporis filia veritas ¶ By Robert Greene Maister of Artes in Cambridge Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Cadman dwelling at the Signe of the Bible neere vnto the North doore of Paules 1588. TO THE GENTLEMEN READERS HEALTH THe paultring Poet Aphranius being blamed for troublinge y e Emperor Traian with so many doting Poems aduentured notwithstanding stil to present him with rude and homely verses excusing himfelfe with the courtesie of y e Emperour which did as friendly accept as he fondly offerd So Gentlemen if any condemne my rashnesse for troubling your eares with so many vnlearned Pamphlets I will straight shroud my selfe vnder the shadowe of your courtesies with Aphranius lay the blame on you aswell for frendly reading them as on my selfe for fondly penning them Hoping though fond curious or rather currish backbiters breathe out slaunderous speeches yet the courteous Readers whom I feare to offend wil requite my trauell at the least with silence and in this hope I rest wishing you health and happines Robert Greene. TO THE RIGHT HOnorable George Clifford Earle of Cumberland Robert Greene wisheth increase of honour and vertue THE Rascians right honorable when by long gazing against the Sunne they become halfe blinde recouer their sightes by looking on the blacke Loade stone Vnicornes being glutted with brousing on roots of Licquoris sharpeÌ„ their stomacks with crushing bitter grasse Alexander vouchsafed as well to smile at the croked picture of Vulcan as to wonder at the curious counterfeite of Venus The minde is sometimes delighted as much with small trifles as with sumptuous triumphs and as wel pleased with hearing of Pans homely fancies as of Hercules renowmed laboures Syllie Baucis coulde not serue Iupiter in a siluer plate but in a woodden dish Al that honour Esculapius decke not his shrine with Iewels Apollo giues Oracles as wel to the poore man for his mite as to the rich maÌ„ for his treasure The stone Echites is not so much liked for the colour as for vertue and giftes are not to be measured by the worth but by the will Misâ—n that vnskilfull Painter of Greece aduentured â—o giue vnto Darius the shielde of Pallas so roughlie shadowed as he smiled more at the follie of the man then at the imperfection of his arte So I present vnto your honour the triumph of time so rudelie finished as I feare your honour wil rather frowne at my impudencie then laugh at my ignorancie But I hope my willing minde shal excuse my slender skill and your honours curtesie shadowe my rashnes They which feare the biting of vipers doe carie in their hands the plumes of a Phoenix Phydias drewe Vulcan sitting in a chaire of luory Caesars Crow durst neuer cry Aue but wheÌ„ she was pearked on the Capitoll And I seeke to shroude this imperfect Pamphlet vnder your honours patronage doubting the dint of such inuenomed vipers as seeke with their slaunderours reproches to carpe at al being oftentims most vnlearned of all and assure my selâ—e that your honours renowmed valure and vertuous disposition shall be a sufficient defence to protect me from the Poysoned tongues of such scorning Sycophants hoping that as Iupiter vouchsafed to lodge in Philemons thatched Cotage and Phillip of Macedon to take a bunche of grapes of a country pesant so I hope your honour measuring my worke by my will and wayghing more the mind than the matter will when you haue cast a glaunce at this toy with Minerua vnder your golden Target couer a deformed Owle And in this hope I rest wishing vnto you and the vertuous Countesse your wife such happy successe as your honours can desire or I imagine Your Lordships most duetifully to commaunde Robert Greene. THE HISTORIE OF DORASTUS AND FAWNIA AMong al the Passions wherewith humane mindes are perplexed there is none that so galleth with restlesse despight as y e infectious soare of Iealousie for all other griefes are eyther to bee appeased with sensible perswasions to be cured with wholesome counsel to be relieued in want or by tract of tune to be worne out Iealousie only excepted which is so sawsed with suspitious doubtes and pinching mistrust that whoso seekes by friendly counsaile to rase out this hellish passion it foorthwith suspecteth that he geueth this aduise to couer his owne guiltinesse Yea who so is payned with this restlesse torment doubteth all dystrusteth him-selfe is alwayes frosen with feare and fired with suspition hauing that wherein consisteth all his ioy to be the brâ—eder of his miserie Yea it is such a heauy enemy to that holy estate of matrimony sowing betweene the married couples such deadly seedes of secret hatred as Loue being once rased out by spightful distrust there oft ensueth bloudy reuenge as this ensuing Hystorie manifestly prooueth wherein Pandosto furiously incensed by causelesse Iealousie procured the death of his most loving and loyall wife and his owne endlesse sorrow and misery IN the Countrey of Bohemia there raygned a King called Pandosto whose fortunate successe in warres against his foes and bountifull curtesie towardes his friendes in peace made him to be greatly feared and loued of all men This Pandosto had to Wife a Ladie called Bellaria by birth royall learned by education faire by nature by vertues famous so that it was hard to iudge whether her beautie fortune or vertue wanne the greatest commendations These two lincked together in perfect loue led their liues with such fortunate coÌ„tent that their Subiects greatly reioyced to sée their quiet disposition They had not beene married long but Fortune willing to increase their happines lent them a sonne so adorned with the gifts of nature as the perfection of the Childe greatly augmented the loue of the parentes and the ioy of their commons in so much that the Bohemians to shew their inward ioyes by outwarde actions made Bonefires and triumphs throughout all the Kingdome appointing Iustes and Turneyes for the honour of their young Prince whether resorted not only his Nobles but also diuers Kings and Princes which were his neighbours willing to shewe their friendship they ought to Pandosto and to win fame and glory by their prowesse and valour Pandosto whose minde was fraught with princely liberality entertayned the Kings Princes and noble men with such submisse curtesie and magnifical bounty that they all sawe how willing he was to gratifie their good wils making a generall feast for his Subiects which continued by the space of twentie dayes all which time the Iustes and Turneys were kept to the great content both of the Lordes Ladies there
no whit puffed vp with pride but humbled her selfe as became a country mayde and the daughter of a poore sheepheard Eâ—â—ry day she went forth with her sheepe to the field keeping them with such care and diligence as al men thought she was verie painfull defending her face from the heat of the sunne withâ—â—â— other vale but with a garland made of bowes and flowers which atire became her so gallantly as shee seemed to bee the Goddesse Flora her selfe for beauty â— Fortune whâ— al this while had shewed a frendly face began now to turne her back and to shewe a lowring countenance intending as she had giuen Fawnia a flenderchecke so she woulde gâ—â—â— her a harder mate to bring which to passe she layd her trains on this wise Egistus had but one only son called Dorastus aboue y e age of twenty yeeres a Prince so decked and adorned with the gifts of nature so fraught with beauty and vertuous qualities as not onely his father ioyed to haue so goode a sonne â— al his commons reioyced that God had lent them such a noble Prince to succeede in the Kingdom Egistus placing all his ioy in the perfection of his sonne seeing that hee was now mariage-able sent Embassadors to the King of Denmarke to intreate a mariâ—ge betweene him and his daughter who willingly consenting made answer that the 〈…〉 please Egistus with his sonne to come into Denmarke hee doubted not but they shoulde agrée vpon reasonable conditions Egistus resting satisfied with this friendly answer thought conuenient in the meane time to breake with his sonne finding therfore on a day fit oportunity he spake to him in these fatherly tearmes DOrastus thy youth warneth me to preuent the worst and mine age to prouide the best Oportunities neglected are signes of folly actions measured by time are seldome bitten with repentance thou art young and I olde age hath taught me that which thy youth cannot yet conceiue I therefore will counsell thee as a father hoping thou wilt obey as a childe Thou séest my white hayres are blossomes for the graue and thy freshe colour fruite for time and fortune so that it behooueth me to thinke how to dye and for thée to care how to liue My crowne I must leaue by death and thou enioy my Kingdome by succession wherein I hope thy vertue and prowesse shall bee such as though my subiectes want my person yet they shall see in thee my perfection That nothing either may faile to satisfie thy minde or increase thy dignities the onely care I haue is to see thee well marryed before I die and thou become olde Dorastus who from his infancy delighted rather to die with Mars in the Fielde then to dally with Venus in the Chamber fearing to displease his father and yet not willing to be wed made him this reuerent answere SIr there is no greater bond then duetie nor no straiter law then nature disobedience in youth is often galled with despight in age The commaund of the father ought to be a constraint to the childe so parentes willes are laws so they passe not all lawes may it please your Grace therefore to appoint whome I shall loue rather then by deniall I should be appeached of 〈…〉 re I rest content to loue though it bee the only thing I hate Egistus hearing his sonne to 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 began to be somewhat chollericke another 〈…〉 WHat Dorastus canst thou not 〈…〉 cynicall passion of prâ—ne deâ—â—res or pâ—â—uish â—â—â—wardnesse What dorst thou thinke thy selfe to good for all or none good inough for thee I tel thee Dorastus there is nothing sweeter then youth nor swifter decreasing while it is increasing Time past with folly may bee repented but not recalled If thou marrie in age thy wâ—â—â—es freshe couloures will breede in thee dead thoughtes and suspicion and thy white hayres her lothe somnesse and sorrowe For Venus affections are not fed with Kingdomes or treasures but with youthfull conceits and sweete amours Vulcan was allotted to shake the tree but Mars allowed to reape the fruit Yeelde Dorastus to thy Fathers perswasions which may preuent thy perils I haue chosen thee a Wife faire by nature royall by birth by vertues famous learned by education and rich by possessioÌ„s so that it is hard to iudge whether her bounty or fortune her beauty or vertue bee of greater force I meanâ— Dorastus Euphania Daughter and hâ—ire to the King of Denmarke EGistus pausing here a while looking when his son should make him answere and seeing that he stoode still as one in a trance he shooke him vp thus sharply WEll Dorastus take heâ—de the tree Alpya wasteth not with fire but withereth with the dewe that which loue nourisheth not perisheth with hate if thou like Euphania thou breedest my content and in louing her thou shalt haue my loueâ— otherwise and with that hee flung from his sonne in a race leauing him a sorrowfullman in that he had by deniall displeased his Father and halfe angrie with him selfe that hee coulde not yeelde to that passion whereto both reason and his Father perswaded him but see how fortune is plumed with times feathers and â—ow shee can minister stâ—â—â—â—ge causes to breede straunge effectes It happened not long â—fter this that 〈…〉 ng of all the farmers Dâ—â—â—hters 〈…〉 whither Fâ—â—â—â—â— was also bidden as the mistres of the feast who 〈…〉 her selfe in her best garments went among the rest of her companions to the merry meetingâ— there spending the day in such homely pastimes as shepheaâ—â—s vse As the euening grew on and their sportes ceased ech taking their leaue at other Fawnia desiring one of her companions to beare her companie went home by the flocke â—o see if they were well folded and as they returned it fortuned that Dorastus who all that daye had bene hawking and â—â—â—de store of game incountred by the way these two mayds and casting his eye sodenly on Fawnia he was halfe afraid fearing that with Acteon he had seene Diana for hee thought such â—â—uisite perfection could not be founde many mortall creature As thus he stoode in â— maze one of his Pages told him that the maide with the garland on her head was Fawnia the faire shepheard whose beauty was so much talked of in the Court Dorastus desirous to see if nature had adorned her minde with any inward qualities as she had decked her body with outward shape began to question with her whose daughter she was of what age and how she had but trained vp who answered him with such madess reuerence and sharpnesse of witte that Dorastus thought her outward beautie was but a counterfait to darken her inward qualities wondring how so courtly behauiour could be found in so simple a cottage and cursing fortune that had shadowed wit and beauty with such hard fortune As thus he held her a long whise with that Beauty seeing him at discouerâ— thaught not to lose the â—â—tage but strooke him in deepely with an inuenomed
of Dorastus to thinke on the witte and beautie of Fawnia and to sée how fond hée was being a Prince and how froward she was being a beggar then he began to loose his wonted appetite to looke pale and â—an in stead of mirth to féede on melancholy for courtly â—aunces to vse cold dumpes in so much that not onely his owne men but his father and all the court began to maruaile at his sudden change thinking that some lingring sickenes had brought him into this state wherfore he caused Phisitions to come but Dorastus neither would let them minister nor so much as suffer them to sée his vrine but remained stil so oppressed with these passions as he feared in him selfe a farther inconuenience His honor wished him to ceasse from such folly but Loue forced him to follow fancyâ— yea and in despight of honour loue wonne the conquest so that his hot desires caused him to find new deuises for hée presently made himselfe a shepheards coate that he might goe vnknowne and with the lesse suspition to prattle with Fawnia and conueied it secretly into a thick groue hard ioyning to the Pallace whether finding fit time and oportunity he went all alone and putting off his princely apparel got on those shepheards roabes and tâ—â—â—â—g a great hooke in his hand which he had also gotten he wâ—â—â— very â—â—ciently to stode out the mistres of his affection but as he went by the way séeing himselfe clad in such vnseemely ragges he began to smile at his owne folly and to reproue his fondnesse in these tearmes WEll said Dorastus thou kéepest a right decorum base desires and homely attires thy thoughtes are fit for none but a shepheard and thy apparell such as only become a shepheard A strang change from a Prince to a pesant What is it thy wretched fortune or thy wilful folly Is it thy cursed destinies Or thy crooked desires that appointeth thée this penance Ah Dorastus thou canst but loue and vnlesse thou loue thou art like to perish for loue Yet fond foole choose flowers not weedes Diamondes not peables Ladies which may honour thée not shepheards which may disgrace thée Venus is painted in silkes not in ragges and Cupid treadeth on disdame when he reacheth at dignitie And yet Dorastus shame not at thy shepheards wéede the heauenly Godes haue sometime earthly thoughtes Neptune became a Ram Iupiter a Bul Apollo a shepheard they Gods and yet in loue and thou a man appointed to loue Deuising thus with himselfe hée drew nigh to the place where Fawnia was kéeping her shepe who casting her eye aside and seeing such a manerly shepheard perfectly limmed and comming with so good a pace she began halfe to forget Dorastus to fauor this prety shepheard whom she thought shee might both loue and obtaine but as shee was in these thoughts she perceiued then it was the yong prince Dorastus wherfore she rose vp and reuerently saluted him Dorastus taking her by the hand repaied her curtesie with a sweete kisse and praying her to sit downe by him he began thus to lay the batterie IF thou maruell Fawnia at my strange attyre thou wouldest more muse at my vnaccustomed thoughtes the one disgraceth but my outward shape the other disturbeth my inward sences I loue Fawnia and therefore what loue liketh I cannot mislike Fawnia thou hast promised to loue and I hope thou wilt performe no lesse I haue fulfilled thy request and now thou canst but graunt my desire Thou wert content to loue Dorastus when he ceast to be a Prince and to become a shepheard and see I haue made the change and therefore not to misse of my choice TRueth quoth Fawnia but all that weare Cooles are not Monkes painted Eagles are pictures not Eagles Zeusis Grapes were like Grapes yet shadowes rich clothing make not princes nor homely attyre beggers shepheards are not called shepheardes because they were hookes and bagges but that they are borne poore and liue to keepe sheepe so this attire hath not made Dorastus a shepherd but to steme like a shephherd WEll Fawnia answered Dorastus were I a shepherd I could not but like thee and being a prince I am forst to loue thee Take heed Fawnia be not proud of beauties painting for it is a flower that fadeth in the blossome Those which disdayne in youth are despised in age Beauties shadowes are trickt vp with times colours which being set to drie in the sunne are stained with the sunne scarce pleasing the sight ere they beginne not to be worth the sight not much vnlike the herbe Ephemeron which flourisheth in the morning and is withered before the sunne setting if my desire were against lawe thou mightest iustly deny me by reason but I loue thee Fawnia not to misuse thee as a Concubine but to vse thee as my wife I can promise no more and meane to performe no lesse Fawnia hearing this solemne protestation of Dorastus could no longer withstand the assault but yeelded vp the forte in these friendly tearmes AH Dorastus I shame to expresse that thou forcest me with thy sugred speeche to confesse my base birth causeth the one and thy high dignities the other Beggars thoughts ought not to reach so far as Kings and yet my deâ—â—es reach as high as Princes I dare not say Dorastus I 〈◊〉 thee because I am a shepherd but the Gods know I haue honored Dorastus pardon if I say amisse yea and loued Dorastus with such dutiful affection as Fawnia can performe or Dorastus desire I yeeld not ouercome with prayers but with loue resting Dorastus handmaid ready to obey his wil if no preiudice at all to his honour nor to my credit DOrastus hearing this freendly conclusion of Fawnia embraced her in his armes swearing that neither distance time nor aduerse fortune should diminish his affection but that in despight of the destinies he would remaine loyall vnto death Hauing thus plight their troath each to other seeing they could not haue the full fruition of their loue in Sycilia for that Egistus consent woulde neuer bee graunted to so meane a match Dorastus determined assone as time and oportunitie would giue them leaue to prouide a great masse of money and many rich costly iewels for the easier cariage and then to transporte them selues and their treasure into Italy where they should leade a contented life vntil such time as either he could be reconciled to his Father or els by sucession come to the Kingdome This deuise was greatly praysed of Fawnia for she feared if the King his father should but heare of the contract that his furie would be such as no lesse then death would stand for payment she therefore tould him that delay bred daunger that many mishaps did fall out betweene the cup and the lip and that to auoid danger it were best with asmuch speed as might be to passe out of Sycilia least fortune might preuent their pretence with some newe despight Dorastus whom loue pricked forward with
affection yet he could take no rest y â— beautie of Fawnia had made such a déepe impression in his heart But on a day walking abroad into a Parke which was hard adioyning to his house he sent by one of his seruants for Fawnia vnto whome he vttered these wordes FAwnia I commend thy beauty and wit and now pittie thy distresse and want but if thou wilt forsake Sir Meleagrus whose pouerty though a Knight is not able to maintaine an estate aunswerable to thy beauty and yeld thy consent to Pandosto I wil both increase thee with dignities and riches No sir answered Fawnia Meleagrus is a knight that hath wonne me by loue and none but he shal weare me his sinister mischance shall not diminishe my affection but rather increase my good will thinke not though your Grace hath imprisoned him without cause that feare shall make mee yéeld my consent I had rather be Meleagrus wife and a begger then liue in plenty and be Pandostos Concubine Pandosto hearing the assured aunswere of Fawnia would notwithstanding prosecute his suite to the vttermost séeking with faire words and great promises in scale the fort of her chastitie swearing that if she would graunt to his desire Meleagrus should not only he fet at libertie but honored in his course amongst his Nobles but these alluring baytes could not intise her minde from the loue of her â—â— we betrothed mate Meleagrus which Pandosto séeing he left her alone for that time to consider more of the demaund Fawnia being alone by her selfe began to enter into these solitarie meditations AH infortunate Fawnia thou â—éest to desire aboue fortune is to striue against the Gods and Fortuneâ— Who gazeth at the suâ—â—e we akeneth his sight they which stare at the skie fall oft into déepe piâ—s haddest thou rested content to haue bene a shepheard thou neededst not to haue feared mischaunce better had it bene for thée by sitting lowe to haue had quiet then by climing high to haue fallen into miserie But alas I feare not mine owne daunger but Dorastus displeasure Ah swéete Dorastus thou art a Prince but now a prisoner by too much loue procuring thine owne losse haddest thou not loued Fawnia thou haddest bene fortunate shall I then bée false to him that hath forsaken Kingdomes for my cause no would my death might deliuer him so mine honor might be preserued With that feching a déepe sigh she ceased froÌ„ her complaints and went againe to the Pallace inioying a libertie without content and profered pleasure with smal ioy But poore Dorastus â—â—â— all this while in olose prison being pinchâ—d with a hard restraint and pained with the burden of colde and heauie Irons sorrowing sometimes that his fond affection had prâ—cured him this mishappe that by the disobedience of his parentes he had wrought his owne despight an other while cursing the Gods and fortune that they should crosse him with such sinister chaunce vttering at last his passions in these words Ah vnfortunate wretch borne to mishappe now thy folly hath his desert art thou not worthie for thy base minde to haue bad fortune could the destinies fauour thée which hast forgot thine honor and dignities wil not the Gods plague him w t despight that payneth his father with disobediâ—nce Oh Gods if any fauour or iustice bâ—â—left plague me but fauour poore Fawnia and shrowd her from the tirannies of wretched Pandosto but let my death frée her from mishapâ— and then welcome death Dorastus payned with these heauie passions sorrowed and sighed but in vaine for which he vsed the more patience But againe to Pandosto who broyling at the heat of vnlawfull lust coulde take no rest but still felte his minde disquieted with his new loue so that his nobles and subiectes marueyled greatly at this sudaine alteration not being able to coniecture the cause of this his continued care Pandosto thinking euery hower a yeare til he had talked once againe with Fawnia sent for her secretly into his chamber whither though Fawnia vnwillingly comming Pandosto entertained her very courteously vsing these familiar speaches which Fawnia answered as shortly in this wise Pandosto Fawnia are you become lessâ— wilfull and more wise to preâ—erre the loue of a King before the liking of a poore Knight I thinke ere this you thinke it is better to be fauoured of a King then of a subiect Fawnia Pandosto the body is subiect to victories but the mind not to be subdued by conquest honesty is to be preferred before honour and a dramme of faith weigheth downe a tunne of gold I haue promised Meleagrus to loue and will performe no lesse Pandosto Fawnia I know thou art not so vnwise in thy choice as to refuse the offer of a King nor so ingrateful as to dispise a good turne thou art now in that place where I may commaunde and yet thou séest I intreate my power is such as I may compell by force and yet I suâ—â—y prayers Yéelde Fawnia thy loue to him which burneth in thy loue Meleagrus shall be set frée thy countrymen discharged and thou both loued and honoured Fawnia I sée Pandosto where lust ruleth it is a miserable thing to be a virgin but know this that I will alwaies preferre fame before life and rather choose death then dishonour Pandosto séeing that there was in Fawnia a determinate courage to loue Meleagrus and a resolution without feare to hate him flong away from her in a rage swearing if in shorte time she would not be wonne with reason he would forget all courtesie and compel her to graunt by rigour but these threatning wordes no whit dismayed Fawnia but that she still both dispighted and dispised Pandosto While thus these two louers stroue the one to winne loue the other to liue in hate Egistus heard certaine newes by Merchauntes of Bohemia that his sonne Dorastus was imprisoned by Pandosto which â—â—â— hâ—â—â— feare greatly that his sonne should be but hardly intreated yet considering that Bellaria and hee was cleared by the Oracle of Apollo from that crime wherewith Pandosto had vniustly charged them hee thought best to send with all spéed to Pandosto that he should set free his sonne Dorastus and put to death Fawnia and her father Porrus finding this by the adâ—â—â—e of Counsaile the spéediest remedy to release his sonne he â—aused presently two of his shippes to be rigged and thoroughly furnished with prouision of men and victuals and saâ—ediuers of his nobles Embassadoures into Bohemia who willing to obey their King and receiue their yong Prince made no delayes for feare of danger but with as much speede as might be sailed towards Bohemia the winde and seas fauored them greatly which made them hope of some good happe for within three daies they were landed which Pandosto no soner heard of their arriuall but hee in person went to méete them intreating theÌ„ with such sumptuous and familiâ—â— courtesie that they might well perceiue how sory he was for the formet miâ—ries hee had