not charmed with some secret inchantment were able either to keepe ââeir âiâdes from being inââamâd or else to coole desire being ãâã kindled for the dayes are spent in thoughts âhe nights in drââmes both in danger either begâââing vs of that wee had or promising vs that we haue not The head fraught with âancies sterââ with zeale troubled with both yea so many inconueniâncâs wâiâe vpon loue as to recken them all were infinite â to taste but one of them intolerable being alwayes begun with grâââe contiââââ with sorâow and ended with âeath for it is a paine shadowed with pleasure and iây stuffed with misery so that I conclude that as none euer saw the Altars of Basyris without sorrow nor banqueted with Pâolus without surfetting so as impossible it is to dealâ with Cupid and not incurre either spéedy death or endlesse danger As I was ready to reply to Egârios reasons drawing to a small thickât of trées which was hard adioyning to the City I spied where some of the French Dames were fâiendly ââtting about a cléere fountâin of whom after I had taken a narrow view easily perceiâed they werâ three Ladies accompanied with one Page namely Myrania Doralicia and their Nurse called Madame Vecchia which sudden sight so appalled my senses as if I had beene appointed a new Iudge to the three goddesses in the valley of Idââ yet seeing before my eyes the mistresse of my thoughts and the Saint ânto whom I did owe my deuotion I began to take courage thinking âhat by this fit opportunitie Loue and Fortune would fauour my enterprise willing therefore not to let slip so good an occasion I boldly paced to them whom I saluted in this sort Faire Ladiâs the sâght of your surpassing beauties so dazled mine âyes as at the first I was in doubt whether I should honour you as heauenly Nymphes or salutâ you as earthly creatures but as I was in this dumpe I readily called to minde the figure of your diuine facâs which being at my comming to your fathers Courte by some secret influence most surely imprinted in my fancy I haue hitherto without any sparke of forgetfulnes perfectly retained féeling âuer sânce in my hart such strange pâsâions an vnaccustomed deuoââon to your beautie and vertues as I would thinâe the Gods and âortâne did fauour mee if either I might fândââccâsion to manifest my affection or liue to doe you seruice Doralicâa hearing mee thus strangely to saluââ her although shée saw her selâe in the hands of her Fathâââ ãâã â yet nothing dismayed with a coy countenance she gaue me ãâã ââabbish answere Sir quoth she if at the first looke ãâ¦ã for Nymphes by the perfection of our diâânâ beautie ãâ¦ã that eâther your women in Denmark are very foâââ or your ãâ¦ã lemishâ since your comming into France for we ânow our imperâââââons far vnworthy of such dissembled praise But Diomedes smiled most when he pretended greatest mischiefe Scyron entertaineâ his guests best when he meant to intreat them worst Lycaon feasted Iupiter when he sought to betray him the Hiena euer fauneth at her preâ âhe Syrenâ sing when theâ meane to enchaunt Circes is most ãâã when she presenteth poyson and so you in praising our beautie séeke to spoile our bloud inâxtolling our perfecâion to make vs most imperfect in wishing openly out weale sâcreâly to worke ouâ death and destruction For your seruice you offer vs wee so much the more misâke it for his sake that makes the proffer for we are not so inueigled with loue or so sencelesse to conceiue but that we thinke he little fauoureth the steâs that cutteth dowâe the old stock he smally resâectâth the twig that tendereth not the root he lighâly loueth the âhild that deadly hateth the fâther Pol xena counted Achillâs a flâtterer because he continued the siege against Troy Cressid for sooke Troyâus because he warred against the Grecians nor can wee count him our prâuy friând which is our open foe Why Madame quoth I did not Tarpeia fauour Tatiâs thouâh a foe vnto Rome did not Scylla respect Mynos thogh he besieged Niâus Truth sir quoth Myrania but the gaines they got was pârpetuall shame and eâdlesse discredit for the one was slaine by the âabynes the other reâected by Mynos The yong Faunes cannot âbide to looke on the Tyger the Halciones are no soâ nor hatched but they ãâã thâ Eagle Andromache would neuâr trust the faire speeches âf Pyâââus nor Dydo laugh when shee saw Hiarbas smile where the partie is knowne to âe a professed foe there suspicious hate ensueth of course and foâd were that person that would thinke well of ââm that proâeââââh poyson though in a golden pot Madame quoth I I know it is hard where mistrâst is harboured to infer beliefe or to procure credit where his truth is called ãâã question but I wish no beâter successe to happen to my selfe than in âart I doe imagine to yââ all sweaâing by the gods that I do honor your beauties and âââtueâ so much that if I had wonne the conquest and you were my caââues yet would I honour you aâ my soueraigâes and obey you as a louing subââct But I pray God quâth ââââme Vecchia you haue neuer occasion to shew vs such fauoârââoâ we cause to staâââ ãâã your âââtesâe âor I doubt we should ãâã your âlowing heat turnâd to a chilling cold and your greââ promises to smââââârformance In the ââan time and with that she tooke Myrania and Doralicia by the hands wee will leaue you to âetârne ãâã the Campe and wee will ãâã to the Citie willing to gâue youââankes for your good will when we find you a friend and not beâoâââ Nay âadame quoth I not so for constrâe of my mââning how you please or accept of my company how you list I will not bee âo discourteous to leaue you so slânderly guided as in the gard of this little Page And with that taking Doralicia by the hand willing not to let slip so good opportunity I began to Court her in this manner The choise is hard Madame where the party is compelled either by silence to die with griefe or by vnâolding his minde to liâe with shame yet so swéete is the desire of life and so bitter the passâons of loue that I am enforced to preferre an vnseemely sute before an vnâimelâ death Loth I am to speak and in dispaire I am to speed For considering what loue is I faint and thinking how I am counted a foe I feare But sigh where loue commandeth there it is âolly to resist so it is Madame âhat intending to be victor I become a vassall coââing to conquer I am caught a captiue séeking to bring other into thrall I haue lost mine owne libertie Your heauenly beauty hâth brought me into bondage your exquisite perfection hath snared my fréedome your vertuous qualities haue subdued my minde and onely your curtesie may frée me from carâ or your crâeltie crosse me with calamitie To
infortunate Myrania what strange fits bee these that burne thée with heate and yet thou shakest with colde the body in a shiuering sweat and in a flaming Ice melting as âaxe and yet as hard as the Adamant is it loue then would it were death for likelier it is thou shall lose thy life than winne thy loue Ah haplesse Arbasto would to God thy vertues were lesse than thy beauty or my âertues greater then my auctions so should I either quickly free my selfe from fancie or be lesse subieââed âo folly But alas I âéele in my mind fierce skirmishes beââââne reason and appetite loue and wisedome danger and desire the one perswading to hate Arbasto as a foe the other constraining to loue him as a friend If I consent to the first I end my daies with death if to the last I shall lead my life with infamy What shall I then do Ah Myrania either swallow the iuyce of Mandrake which may cast thée into a dead sleepe or chew the hearb Caâysium which may cause thée to hate euâry thing so either shalt thou die in thy slumber or dislike Arbasto by thâ potion Tush poore wench what folliâs be âhese wilt thou with the Wolâe barke at the Moone or with the young Griphons pecke against the starres Doest thou thinke to quench fire with a sword or with affection to mortifâe loue No no if thou bee wise suffer not the grasse to bee cut from vnder thy féet strike while the yron is hotte make thy market while the chaffer is to sale Now Arbasto is thine owne now thou maâst winne him by loue and weare him by law thou maist frée him from miserie without thy âathers mishap thou maist saue his life without thy Fathers losse thou maist graât thy good will vnto loue and yet not falsiââo thy faith vnto nature Caâ Arbasto which is so courteous become so cruell but he will requite thy loue with loyaltie thy faithfull fancy with vnâained affection Noâ no he will and must loue thee of force since thou hast granteâ him his life of free will hee will like theâ in thy youth and honour thee in thine age he will be the port of prosperitie wherin thou maist rest and the hauen oâ happinesse wherein thou maist harbour without harme so that thou maist say of him as Andromache said by Hector Tu Dominus tu vir tu mihi frater âriâ Yea but Myrania yet looke before âhou leape aud learne by other mens harmes to beware Ariadne loueâ Theseus frâed from him the monstrous Mynotauâe taught him to passe the Laberinth yea forsooke Parents and Countrey for his cause and yet the guerdon hee gaue her for her good will was to leaue her a dâsolate wrâtch in a desert wildernesse Medea and Iason from the danger of the Dragons and yet shee found him trothlesse Phillis haâ bored Demophon and Dydo Eââas yet both repayed theiâ loue with hate Tush the âaiâe âower haââ not âheâ best sent the Lapidaries choose not the stone by the outward colour but by the secret veâtue Paris was faire yet false Thieâtes was beautifull but deceitfull Vulcan was carâed in white Iuory yet a Smith The pâecious stonâ of Mâsaulous sepulchâr could not make the dead carcaââe swéât Beautie Myrania is not alwayes accompanied with vertue honestie and constancie but oft times fraught with âice and ââriâry What then if some were Tâaytors shall Arbasâo be troâhlesse if some weââ faâse shall he be âaiâhlesse no his beatle vertue hath woon me and he himselfe shall wearâ me I will forsake Father âriends and Country for his cause âea I will venture ãâã and life to frée hââ from danger in despighâ of froward Fortune and the destinies CHAP. 6. Myrania in loue with Arbastoâ contriueth his deliuery out of prison by a secret policy MYrania being thus resolute in her opinion began to cast beyond the Moone and to frame a thousand deuises in her hâaâ tâ bring her purpose to passe fearing euery shadowâ doubting euery wind stumbling aââhe least straw yet at the last pricked forward by fancy she thought to preuent alâ cause of feaââân this wise The euening before she meant to atchieuâ her enterprise she secretly sent for the Iaylor by one of her maids to whom she durst commit âer secret affaires who being taught by her mistresse to play her part cunningly brought the Iaylor into Myranias chamber by a pâââârne gate so that they were neither séene nor suspected of any whâre hee no sooner came but hee was courteously entertained of thâ young Ladie who faining that she had to debate wiâh âim of weighâie affaires called him into her closet where treading vpân a falââ boord he fell vp to the shoulders not being able to helpe himselfe but âhat he there ended his life Myrania hauing desperately atchieâed this deed âhâe strait sought âot to rob him of his coyne but to bereaue him of his keyes which after she had gotâen aâd conueyed his carcasse into a sââret placeâ shée went in her night gowne accompanied onely with her maid to the prison Arbasto and Egerio hearing the doores oâân at such an vnaccustomed houre began straight to conieâture that Pâlorus sought to murther them secretly least his owne people should accuse him oâ crueltie but as âhey looked to haue seene the Iaylor they spiâd Myrania in her night gowne which sudden and vnlooked for sight so appaled their senses as they were driuen into a maze till Myrania wakened them from thâiâ dumps with this sugred harmony I percâiue Aâbasto that my presence doth make thâe to muze and my sudden ariuall hath driuen thée into a maze what strange wând should laâd me in this coast In trâth thou maist thinke either my message is great or my modesty little either that I take small care of my selfâ or repose very great trust in thee who at a time vnfit for my calling haue without any guard come to a stranger a captiue yea and my fathers fatalâ foe I confesse it is a fault if I were not âorst but seeing that necessitie hath no law I thinke I haue the lessâ broken the law But to leaue off these needlesse preambleâ where dâlay breeds no lesse danger then death know this Arbasto that since thy first arriuall at my Fathers Court my eyes haue béen so dazled with the beâmes of thy beautie and my minde so snareâ with view of thy vertues as thoâ onely art the man whom in heart I loue and like seeing thee therefore drowned héere by aduersâ Fortune in most haplesse âistresse willing to manifest the loyaltie of my loue in effect which I haue protested in words I haue rather chosen to hazard both my life and honor than not to offer thee peace if thou wilt agree vnto the conditions As my Father hath wrought thy woe I will worke thy weale as he hath sought thy bale I will procure thy blisse from peâurie I will set thee in prosperitie I will frée thââ from prison from danger yea from death
Scyrus to shoot against the stars contend not with Niobe against Latoââ nor striue not with Sapho against Venus for loue being a Lord lookes to câmmand by power and to âe obeyed by force Truth Myrania but what then to loue is easie and perhaps good but to like wâll is hard and a doubtfull chance fancy thy fill fond foole so thou bend not thy affection to thy fathers foe for to louâ him who séekes his âââe is to war against nature Fortune Is there âonâ worthy to bee thy spheere but Arbasto the cursed enemy of thy country can none win thy good will but the bloudy wretch who séeketh to bréed thy Fathers bane Can the âagle the bird Osiphage build in one trée wil the Faulken the Done couet to sit on one pearch wil the Ape the Beare be tied in one tedder wil the Fox the lamb lye in one den noâ they want reason yet nature suffers them not to liue against nature wilt thou then be so wilful or witlesse as hauing reason to guide nature yet to be more vnnaturall then vnreasonable creatures be sure if thou fall in this thou stâiuest agaânst the Gods and in strâuing wiâh them looke for a most sharpe reuenge Tâsh I know this but hath not loue set downe his sentence shal I appeale from his censure shal I deny that which the destiniâs haue decréed no for though Cydippa rebelled for a time yet she was forst at last to make suit tâ Venus for a pardon I may séeke to hate Arbasto but neuer find ââhers to begin to mislike him And with that such flery paââionâ oââressed her as shee was faine to send forth scalding sighs somâhat to ease her enflamed fancy which being sorrowfully sobbed forthâ shee then began afresh to powre forth her pittifull complaints if âer sister Doralicia being accompanied with other gentlewomen had not driâââ her âât of these dumps whom shée no sooner spied but leauing her passions âhe wared pleasant couering care with conceits and a mourning hâart with a merry countenance least her sorrowfull lookes might giuâ the company occasion to coniecture somewhat was amisse But I alas which felt the furious flames of fancie to broile incâssantly within my breast could not so cuâningly disââmble my passions but all my Peers saw I was perplexeââ for whereas before this sudden chaunce Pelorus mis-fortunâ ârocured my mirth now the soile which I reaped by affection draue me to a deeper misery In the day I spent the time in solitary dumps in the night affâcted thoughts and visions suffered me scarce to slumber for alas there is no greater enemy to the minde than in loue to liue without hope which doubt was the sum of my endlesse sorrow that in seeing my selfe fettered I could sée no hope at all of my fréedome yet to mittigate my misery I thought to walke from the Campe toward the Citie that I might at the least féed my eye with the sâght of the place wherein the Mistresse of my heart was harboured taking with me onely for company a Duke of my Countrey called Egeâio vnto whom I durst best commit my secret affaires who noting my vnaccustomed passions coniecturing the cause of my care by the outward effects coueting carefully to apply a salue to my sore and to driue me from such drowsâe thoughts wakened me from my dumps with this pleasant deuice Sir quoth hee I haue often maruelled and yet cannot cease to muse at the madnesse of those men whom the common people thinke to honor with the glorious title of louers who when rashly they purchase their owne mishap in placing their affeââion where either their disability or the destinies deny successe to their suites do either passe their daies in endlesse dolor or preuent miserie by vntimely death If these passionate patients listned a little to Venus allââements as I to Cupids flatteries few men should haue cause to call the Gods vniust or women cruell for I think of loue as Mylciades the Athenian did who was wont to say that of all the plagues wherwith the gods did afââict mortal men loue was the greatest in that they sought that as an heauenly blisse which at last they found their fatall bane âearing Egeâio thus cunningly and couâââly to touch mee at the quicke I thought to dally with him in this ââse Why Egerio doest thou count it a madnesâe to loue or doest thou think him rash which yeeldeth willingâââo it knowest thou not that loue iâ diuine and therefore commââdeth by power and cannot be resisted I am not of that mind with Mylciadâs that loue is a plague but rather I thinke he is fauoured of the gods and is a happy louer Truâh quoth hee but who is happâ in loue he that hath the happieââ successe no for I count him most vnhappy which in loue is most hâppy Why then Egerio quoth I thou thinkâst him vâhaâpâ that âée loueth Or else may it please your highnesse quoth he I should thinke amisse for shall I count him fortuâate which for one dram of prosperity reapeth a whole pound of misery or shall I âstéeme that louer happy whose greatest gaine is but golâen griefe nay that is neuer to be called pleasure which is sâuced with paine nor that good lucke whoââ guerdeon is losse Sith Egerio quoth I thou doest thus brâadly blaspheme against Cupid tell me why thou thinkeââ ill of louâ Because sir quoth hee it is louâ being such a frenzy which so infecteth the mindes of men as vnder the taste of Nactar they are poysoned with the water of Stix for as hee which was charmed by Lara sought still to heare her inchantment or as the Dâere after once hee brouseth on the âamariske trée will not be driuen away till hââ dyeth so our amorous louers haue their senselesse senses so besottâd with the power of this lasciuâous God that they count not themselues happy but in their supposed vnhappinesse bâing at most ease in disquiât at greatest reââ when they are most troubled seeking contentation in care delight in misery and hunting gréedily after that which alwayâs bringeth endlesse harmâ This is but your sentence Egerio quoth I but what reason haue you to confirme your censurâ Such quoth he as your highnesse can neither dislike nor infring for the first step to loue is the losse of libertie tying the minde to the will of her who either too curious little respecteth his sute or too coâ smally regardeth his seruice yet hee is so blinded with a âoâle of fond affection that hee coânteth her sullennesse sobernesse her vaine charineâ vertuous chastitie if she be wanton hée counteth her witâie if too familiar courtâous so besotted with the drugs of doting loue that euery fault is vertue and though euery string be out of tune yet the musick cannot be found amisse resembling Tamantus the Painterâ who shadowed the worse pictures with the freshest colours The paines that Louers fââle for hunting after losse if their mindes wâre
went to Orleance determining both to conclude a peace and to demaund Dolaricia in marriage where no sooner arriued and entred in at the gates of the City but I found Pelorus and all his men in Armes which sight so appaled my senses that I ãâã as one trans-formed fearing that which presently I found truâ for Pelorus hauing his force inflamed with furious choller commanded his Captaines to lay hold on me and to carrie me to close prison swearing that no lesse than the losse of life should mittigaâe his furie And raging in this choller after he had lodged me vp in Lymbo he went with all his army to the Campe where finding my souldiers secure as men little doubting of such misfortune he made such a monstrous and mercileââe slaughter as of fiftie thouâand he left âew a âue tâose which âemained he plagued with all kind oâ slauerie returning ââom with his shamelesse triumph he commanded that in the midst of the Ciâie there should be made a great scaffold whereupon within tânne daies I should be executed these heauie and haplesse newes being come to mine eares such sorrâwfull passions perplexed my mind as aâter flâudâ of brinish tâaâes I burst forth into these biâter termes O infortunate Arbasto quoth I art thou not worthy of this mishaâ which wilfully sought thine owne miserie canst thou accuse the Gods which didst striue against the Gods canst thou condemne âortune which hast warred against nature and Fortune No no in suffering reason to yeeld vnto appetiâe wisedome vnto will and wit vnto affection thou hast procured thine owne death and thy souldiers destruction Loue yea loue it is that hath procured thy seââe beautie that hath bred thy bale fancie hath giuen thee the âoâle and thine owne witlesse wil hath wrought thy owe the more is thy pain and the lesse thou art to be pittied was therâ none to like but Doralicia none to chuse but thy foe none to loue but thâââ enemy O vile wretch fraught with carelesse folly And âith that ãâã I was readie to exclaime againââ my cursed destinie I heard the prison doore âpen where I saw presently to enter Doraliciaâ and âadame Vâcchia who seeing me sât in such sorrowfull dumps began to smile at my âolor and to laugh at my mishap which wilfully thrust my selââ into such miserie thinking therfore to aggrauate my griefe by râbbing afresh my sore Doralicia began to gall me on this sort Hearing Arbasto quoth she that you were come to prosâcute your sâte playing the good Captaine that for the first foyle giuen not ouer the fâeld I thought good to giue you a smiling looke in recompence oâ your flâttering loue least if I should not be so courteous to so kinde a Gentleman thâ world should account me ângratefull It is truth ãâã quoth Myrania it seemes hee is a passing amorous louer but it is pittie he hath very ill lucke he chooseth his chafââr ãâã but yet is an vnskilfull chapman for if he buy at such an vnreasonable rate he is like to liue by the losse Tush Madame Vecchia he playeth like the Dragon who sucking bloud out of the Elephant killeth him and with the same poysoneth her selfe so Arbasto seeking to betray others is himselfe taken in the trap a iust râward for so vââââââealing and a âât âeuenge for so âretchlesse an enemy And yet quoth Doralicia his purpose hath taken small place for whatsoeuer his minde was his malice hath wanted might wherein he resembleth the Serpent Porphirius who is full of poyson but being toothlesse hurteth none but himselfe Surely whatsoeuer his chance be heâ hath made a very good choice for he preferreth sweete loue beforââitter death and the hope of euerlasting fame before the feare of momentary mis-fortune hee shall now for his constancy beâ canonized in Denmarke for a saint and his subiects may boast and say that Aâbasto our king died for loue Egerio seeing that extremity of gri ãâ¦ã er me to vtter one word not able any longer to abide these âcumps crost her with this chââlericke reply Gentlewoman quoth he although I so terme you rather to shew mââ own curtesie than to decipher your conditions it seemeth nurture hath taught you very few manners or nature affoorded very small moâââây that seeing one in distresse you should laugh at his dolor and where the partie is crossed with mishap you would with bitter taunts increase his misery if he be your foâ hee hath now the foyle he is taken in the snare his life hangeth in the ballance Though your father âee without piâtie yet in that you are a woman be not without pitty Hate him if you please as he is your eâemy but despise him not as hee iâ Arbasto a king and your haplesse louer wee are captiues not to a worthy conquerour but to a wretched catife not van ãâã ãâã by prowesse but by periury not by fight but by falshood Wâo in ouâ liueâ to thy fathers lesse woon continuall fame and he by our deaths shall purchase perpetuall infamy Doralicia not willing to suffer him wade any fuâther cut him short in this manner Sir if bragges could stand for paiment I am sure you wââld not die in any mââs debt but if your prowesse had beene as good as your prattle you needed not âaue daunced within so short a tâoder crâuen Cocks crow lowdest feareful curs barâe most and a hartlâsse coward hath alwaies more tongue thân a hauty Captaine But I bearâ with you for I doubt the feare of death and danger hath driuen thy master into a cold palsie and hath madâ thâe either fraâticke or lunaticke the one shewing his melancholly thâ othâr bewraying thy choller willing theâefore as a friend you should passe ouer your passions with more patience we will âeaue yâu as we found you vnlesse you meane to be shriâân then I will send you a ghostly father Our coâfeâsion good mistresse quoth Egerio requires but a small âhriât for we âaue very little to say but that Arbasto repents that eâeâ hee loued such a perueâse minion and I that euer trusted such a pâriâred traytor The Gentlewomân tooke this for a farewell paâsing merily to the Palace and leauing vs sitting sorrowfully in the prison bewayling our mishap with teares and exclaiming against Fortune with bitter curses what our complaints were it little auaileth to rehearseâ for it would but driue thee into dumpes and redouble my dolor Suffice this that we were so long tormented with care that at last wée were past cure counting this our greatest calamitie that liuing euery houre we lookt to die But as thus wee were drowned in distresse so âoore Myrania had her minde doubtfully perplexed Nature claimed by due to haue thâ preheminence and loue âought by force to winne the supremacy Nature brought in Peloruâ aged haires to make the challenge and Loue presented Aâbastoes swéet face to be the Champion ââssed thus with two contrarie tempests at last she began to plead with her pasâions Ah thrice
it selfe I will in yéelding to loue dissent from nature to leaâe my Father friends and Countrie and passe with thee into Deâmarke And to cut off spéeches which might seeme to sauour either of flattery or deceit as thou art the first vnto whom I haue vowed my loue so thou shalt bâ the laââ requiring no meed for my merit nor no other gueâdon for my good will but that thou wilt take mee to thy wife aâd in pledge of my truth see heere the keyes and all other things prouided for our spâediâ passage Myrania had no sooner vttered these wordes but my mind wâs so raâished as I was driueâ into an extasâe for ioy seeing that the terrour of my death was taken away with the hope of life that from heaâinesse I should âe ââstored to happinesse ââd from most carefull miserie to most secure felâcitie I therâfore âramed her this answerâ Ah Myranâa âhe purest Cincelle ââineth brightest when it hath no oyle and truth delighteth when it is apparelled worst Flatter I will notâ faithfull I âust be willed from the one by conscience and driuen to the other by your câââesie which by how much the lesse I haue meriâed it by desert by so much the more I am bound to requitâ it bâ dutie To decipher in colourâd discourses and to paint out with curious shaâoâes how âuâbly I accept of your oâfer and how âreatly I thinke my selfe beholding to the Gods for blessing me wâth such an happy chance what my loyaltie and truth shall be were but to proue that which your Ladiship hoping of my constancie hath not put in question The guerdon you craue for your good will is such that iâ your curtesie had not forced mee to it by constraint yeâ your beauties and vertues are so great as fancie would haue compelled me by consent Myrania what thou canst wish in a true and trustie Louer I promise to performe swearing vnto thee that the âlouds shall flow against the streames the earth shall mount against his course yea my carcasse shall be consumed vnto dust and ashes before my minde shall be found disloyall and to this I call the Gods to witnesse of whom I desire no longer to liâe than I meane simply to loue Oh Arbasto quoth she would God I had neuer séene théeâ or that I may finde thy workes according to thy wordes otherwise shall I haue cause to wish I had béene more cruell or lesse courteous But loue will not let me doubt the worst but bids mee hope the best yet thus much I may say when Iason was in danger who more faithfull when Theseus feared the Labyrinth who more loyall when Demophon suffered shipwracke who more louing but I will not say what I thinke Arbasto because thou shalt not suspect I fearâ Madamâ quoth Egerâo Arbasto is my soueraigne and I both honour and âeare him as a subiect yet if hee should but once in heart thinke to bee disloyall to Myrania the Gods confound mee with all earthly plagues if I would not of a trustie friend become his mortall foe It is easie to perswade her Egerio quoth she who alreadie is most willing to beleeue let vs leaue therefore these needlesse protestations and goe to the purpose delay bréedes danger time târrieth for no man spéed in necessitie is the best spurre let vs hast therefore till we get forth of France least if we be preuented it breed my mishap and your fatall misery Upon this we stayed not but shutting the prison close got couertly out of the Citie passing throuââ France with many fearefull perils which to rehearse wereâââhe needlesse or âootlesse suffice this wee at last happily arriued at Denmarke where how I was welcommed home with triumphes were too long to relâte But how Pâlorus was perplexed after he knew of our happy departure thouâh God âot most haplesse vnto him I referre to thy âood consideration to coniecture The old man fretted not so fast in his mâlancholy but Doralicia chased as much in her choller blaspheming bitterly both against me and her sister Myrania but as wordes breake no bones so we cared the lesse for her scolding fearing not the noyse of the peece as long as we were without danger of the shot Well leauing them to their dumps to vs again which floated in delight âckiâ Fortune hauing now hoysed vs vp to the top of her inconstant whéelâ séeing how carâlesse I slumbred in the cradle of securitiâ thought to make me a very mirrour of her mutabilitie for she began a fresh to turne my tyâpet on this wise As daily I flattered Myrania for fancie her I could not promising with speed to call a Parliament for the confirmation of the marriage I still felt the sâumpes of the old loue I bare Doralicia to sticke in my stomackâ the morâ closely I couered the sparkes the more the flame burst forth I found absence to increasâ affection not to decrease fancy in the day my mind dotâd of her vertues in the night I dreamed of her beautie yea Cupid began to encounter mâ with so fresh canmizados as by distance my distresse was farre more augmented such sighes such sobs such thoughts such paines and passions perplexed me as I felt the last assault worse then the former batterie If I loued Doralicia in France I now liked her thrice better being in Denmarke If in presence her person pleased me now in absence her perfection more contented me To conclude I sware to my selfe with a solemne sigh Doralicia was is and shall be the mistresse of my heart in despight of the froward destinies yet amazed at mine ownââolly I began thus to muse wiâh my selfe O foolish Arbasto nay rather frantike fondling hast thou lesse reason then vnreasonable creatures the Tyger flyeth the traine the Lion escheweth the nâts the Déere auoydeth the coyles because they are taken with these instruments and art thou so mad as hauing escaped pikes wilfully to thrust thy selfe into perill The childe being burnt haâeth the fire but thou being an old foole wilt with the worme Naplitia no sooner come out of the coales but leap into the flame But alas what then I sée the measure of loue is to hâue no meane and the end to be euerlastingâ that to loue is allotted to all but to be happie in loue cântent to feelâ why shall I bee so mad to loue Doralicia or so frought with ingratefull periury as not to like Myâania the one hath crossed me with bitter girds the other courted mee wiâh sweet glaunces Doralicia hath rewarded me with disdaineâ Myranâa intreated me with desire the one hath saued my life the other sought my death O Arbasto thou seest the best but I feare like to follow the worst Alas I cannot but loue Doralicia what then what resâeth for me to do but to dyâ with patience séeing I cannot liue with plâasure yea Arbasto die die rathâr witâ a secret scar than an open scorne for âhoâ mâist well suâ but neâer shalt thou haue good
THE HISTORY OF ARBASTO King of Denmarke Describing the Anatomy of Fortune in his loue to faire Doralicia Wherein Gentlemen may finde pleasant conceits to purge melancholy and perfect counsell to preuent mis-fortune By Robert Green Master of Art Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. Wherevnto is added a louely poem of Pyramus and Thisbe O WORMES MEATE O FROATH O VANITIE WHY ART THOV SO INSOLENT LONDON Printed by I. B. for Roger Iackson and are to be sold at his shop neere Fleet Conduit To the Right Honourable and Vertuous Ladie the Ladie Mary Tolâât wiâe to the right Honourable Gilbert Lord Talbot Robert Greene wisheth increase of Honour and Vertuâ MYRON that vnskilful Painter of Greece neuer drew any picture but the counterfait of Iupiter saying that if it were ill wrought his worthinesse should countenance out the meannesse of his workâ if well commend the perâection of his Art In like manner fareth it with me right Honourable who haâing vnskilfully shadowed wiâh bad colours the counterfait of Fortune presume boldly to shrowde it vnder your Ladiships patronage as able to defend it be it neuer so meane and to countenance it were it neuer so good Thus hopefull of your Ladiships acceptance I remaine The vnfained honourer and admirer of your Noble perfections Robert Greene. To the Gentlemen Readers health ALexander whether wearied with Buââphaluâ pace or deâârous of nouelââes as âhe nature of man delighteth in change rode on a time on ãâã horse for which being reprehended by one of his Captaines he made hiâ this answere Though all quoth he cannot haue Bucephalus cairiâge yet this is his horse So âentlemen if some too Cârious ãâã at your curtesie that vouchsafe to take a view of this Pampâlet I hope you wil answere Though it be not excellent yet it is a âooke Yours for a greater cuâââsie Robert Greene. The Contents of this History CHAP. I. HOw Arbasto is discouered in his retired life by the traueller Chap. 2 Arbasto relateth his story and discouereth himselfe Chap. 3 Arbasto in loue with Doralicia And Myrania with Arbasto hauing opportunity to discoueâ the same Chap. 4 Arbasto and Myrania with seuerall contraries for loue reuerts their complaints Chap. 5 Arbasto is traiterously surprised by Felorus and imprisoned in Orleance with all his army defeated Chap. 6 Myrania in loue with Arbasto contriueth his deliuery out of prison by a secret policy Chap. 7 Arbasto strangely transported with Doraliciaes loue forgetteth Myraniaes kindnes and sendeth couertly to ââralicia who againe deliuereth him Chap. 8 After Myraniaes death Doraliciaâelenteth âelenteth and sendeth to Arbasto who then hated her as much as hee loued her before Chap. 9. Doralicia hauing receiued Arbastoes vnkind answere dieth of a frenzy and Arbasto banished his kingdome THE HISTORIE of Arbasto with the Anatomy of Fortune CHAP. 1. Arbasto is discouered in his retired life by the Trauellerâ AFter an vntoward iourney and seuerall infortunate tempests besides the vnskilfulnesse of our Pilâte I happily arriued at the Citie of Sydon where being set on shore I straight with my companions went to offer incense to the goddesse of Prosperity wâich the Citizens call Araste âââhither being come my deuotion done and my oblations presented desired to take a view of the ancient Monuments of the Temple I passed through many places where most sumptuous sepulchers were erected which hauing seene as I thought to haue gone to my lodging I spied a Cell hauing the doore open whereinto as I entred I saw an Archslamin sitting as I supposed at his Orizons for so was the Priest of the goddesse termed who being clothâd in white Sattin Robes and crowned with a Diadem of perfect gold leaned his head vpon his right hand powring forth streames oâ teares as outward signes of some inward pasââons held in his leât hand the counterfeit of Fortune which with one foote trode vpon a Polâpe ãâã and with the other on a Camelion as assured baââiââ her mutabilitie Driuen into a dumpe with the siâht oâ this strange deâiââ as I long gazed at the vnacquainteâ gesture of this liue Flâmin willing to know both the cause of his care what the picture of fortune did import I was so bold to wake him out of âis passion with this parle Father quoth I if my presumpâion bee great in preasing âo rashly into so secret and sacred a place thaâ I hope weighing my will you will somewhat excuse my boldnesâ for I haue not presumed as thinking to giue any iust occasion of offence but as a stranger desirous to see the Monuments of this ancient Temple which ãâã I âarrowly viewed happâning by chancâ into this your Cell anâ seeing yâur old age pârplexed with âtrange passionâ stated as one willing to learn what disaster hath driuen you into these dumps which if I wââhout offânce may request and yoâ without preiudice grant I shall find my selfe by duty bound to requite your vndeserued curtesâe After I had vttered these wordes staying a good space to heare what the âlde man would answere seeing hâe did not so much as voâchsafe to giue an eare to my parâe or an eye to my person but still gazed on the picture of Fortune I saw a present Metamorphosis of his actions for from teares hee fell to trâflâng from lowring to laughing from mourning to mirth yet neuer casting his eyes from Fortunes counterfeit till at last after hee had long smiled as I thought at thâ piââure hee as in despâte cast it from ãâã ând taking his Lute plaied a dumpe whereto he warbleâ ouâââese wordâ VVHereat erewhile I wept I laugh That which I feard I now despise My victor oncâ my vassaile is My foe constrâind my weale supplies Thus doo I triumph on my foe I weepe at weale I laugh at woâ Mâ care iâ cuâ'd yet hath no end Not that I want but that I hauââ My chaâge waâ change yet still â endâ I would haue lesse if you me ãâã Aye me poore wretch ãâ¦ã dâe liue Constraind to taâe y wishâd to giââ Sheâ whose delights aâe signes of death Who when shee smiââs begins tâ lowreâ Constant in this thâââtill shee change Her sweetest gifâs time proueâ but sowreâ I liue in careâ frost with her guile Through ãâã I weepe at her I smile The graue Priest hauing with sigââs sobbed out this sorowfull ditty I was driuen into a maze what the contrary contentâ of these verses should meane vntill at last casting hiâ eye asidâ and séeing me stand so solemnely âe burst forth ânto these cholerickâ termes Friend quoth he if I may so terme thée thou hast either not hearâ much or learned very little either thy curtesie is small or thy conditions too currish that séekest to come to counsell before thou be calledâ If the secrecy of my Cell or the reuerânce of my age or thy small acquaintance with me were not sufficient to hold thée from pressing so nigh yet seeing me thus perplexed thou mightest for modesty sake haue
be handled the Barren flourââââ to be worne in the hand not chawed in the mouth the precious stone Echites to bee applied outwardly and not to bee taken inwardly and beautie is made to féed the eye not to âetter the heart wilt thou then swallow vp the bait which thou knowest to be âane wâlt thou hazard at that which cannot bee had without harâââ no stretch not too farre wade not too deepe vse bââutie but serue it not shake the trée but taste not of the fruite ãâã thou finde it too hard to bée disgestedâ Why but beautie is a God ãâã will be obeyed loue looketh to command not to be conquered ãâã stroue but once with Venus and she was vanquished ãâã senâââd Cupid but he went by the worst it is hard for thée ãâã the Crabâe to swimme against the streame or with the Salamanââr to striue againââ the fire for in wrastling with a fresh wound thou shalt but make the sore more dangâroâs Yea but what fondneâse is this Aâbasto to sââth thy selfe ân âhy âolly Thou didst come a Captaine and wilt thou returne a âaptiue thy intent was to conquer not to bee vanquished to fight âith the Laânce not to be âoââd with loue to vse thy speare not thy pen to challenge Mârs not to dally with Venus How doost thou thinke to subdue Fraunce which canst not rule thine owne affections Art thou able to quaile a kingdome which canst not quell thinâ own mind no it will be hard for thee to go in triumph which art not so much as Lord of thy selfe But Aâbasto if thou wilt needs loue vse it as a toy to passe away the time which thou mayest take vp at thy lust and lay downe at thine ownâ pleasure Loue why Arbasto doost thou drâame whom shouldest thou loue Doralâcia what thy foe one that wisheth thy mishap and partly prayeth to the Gods for thy mis-fortuâe no sure thou art not so fond And with that as I vttered these wordes such thoughts such sighes such sobs such teares assailed me as I was stricken dumbâ with the extremitie of these hellish passions scârce being able to draw my breath for a good space till at last recouering my senses I fell to my former sorrow in this sort Yes alas Arbasto it is the lucklâsse loâe of Doraliciâ and therefore the more lucklesse because thou louest Doralicia that hath thus inchaunted thy affections She is not thy friend whom thou mayest hope to get but thy foe whom thou art sure not to gaine for doest thou thinke shee will requite thy merit with méed or repay thy loâe with liking no she hateth thée Arbasto as sworne Pelorus foe ând her enemy Can shââ loue thee which sâekest her fathers life nay did she loue yet could she thinke thou dost like which layest sââge to her Citie no vnlesse by loue she were blinded with too much loue Sith then to fancy thy foe is with the Coâkatrice to peck against the sâéele subdue thy affections be master of thy mind vse Will as thy subiâct not as thy soueraigââ so mayest thou triumph and laugh at Cupid saying Fondâââ I was in loue what then I had âo ãâã sealed âp âhese secret meditations with a sorrowfull sigh but least being soââtary I should fall into farther dumps I went out of my Tent to passe away the time with some pleasant parââ thinking this the fittest meanes to driue away idle fancies hoping thât hât loue would grow cold that the greatest âaâin was but a blaze that loue most violentâ in me was euer least permanent CHAP. 3. Arbasto in loue with Doralicia and Myrania with Arbasto haue hauâ opportunitie to discouer the same Bât iâ you would see you must vnderstand how Loue and Fortune can play false when they list I âas not so drowneâ in desires towards Doralicia as poore Myrânia burned with affection tâwards me For Venus willing to shew she was a woman by her wilfull contrarieties so fierâd her fancies with the forme of my feature as the poore Lady was perplexed with a thousand sundry passions one whilâ she sought with hate to rase out loue but that was with the Déere to féed against âhe winde another while she deuised which way to obtaine hâr desire but then alas she heaped coales vpon her head for she saw no sparke of hopâ to procure so good hap Driuen thus into sundry dumpes she fell at last into these termes Alas Myrania quoth she happy yea thrice happy are those maides which are borne in the Isle Meroc which ân their virginitie are suffered to see none but him whom they shall marry and being wiues are forbidden by the law to sée any man but their husband vntill they be past fiftie In this country Myrania beautie is vsed as a naturall gift not honoured as a supernaturall God and they loue onely one because loue cannot force them to like any other so that they sowe their loue in ioy and reape it in pleasure Would God thou hadst beene borne in this soyle or brought vp in the same sort so shouldest thou haue triumphed ouer beautie as a slaue which now leadeth thee as a seruile captiue O infortunate Myranâa hast thou so little force to withstand fancy as at the first alarum thou must yéeld to affection canst thou not look with Salmacis but thou must loue canst thou not sâe with Smylax but thou must sigh canst thou not view Narcissus with Ecchoâ but thou must be vowed to his beautie Learne learne fond foole by others mishaps to beware for she that loueth in hast oft times nay alwâies repenteth at leisure The Hippians anointing theÌselues with the fat of the fish Mugrâ passe thorow most furious flames without any perâl the people called Pâilii as long as they sacrifâce vnto Vestâ can be hurt with no venimous Serpents Telephus as hee wore the counterfait of Pallas shield was inâulnârable thou as long as thy mind is fraught with the chast thoghâe of Diana canst neuer be fired with the haples flame of Venus arme thy selfe with reason and thou maist passe thorow Cytheria without danger lât thy wil and wit bâ dirâcted with aduised counsell thou maist say Cupid I defie thée Ah Myrania things are soone promised but not so quickly performed it is easie to sound the victory but passing hard to obtain the coÌquest all can say I would ouercome but few or none returne with triumph Beautie is therâfore to be obeyed because it is beauty and loue to be âeared of men bâcause honored of the Gods Dââââ reason abide the brunt when beautie bids the battell can wisâdome win the field when loue is Captaine No no loue is without law and therfore aboue all law honoured in heauen feared in earth and a very terror to the infernall Ghostes Bow then vnto that Myrania whereunto lawlesse necessity doth bend be not so fond as with Xerxes to bind the Ocean sea in fetters fight not with the Rascians against the winde séeke not with them of
recount the âârrowes I haue sustained since I first was inueigled with thy beauty or the seruice I haue vowed vnto thy vertue sânce thou ãâã count by talke though neuer so true but meere toyes were rather to bréed in thée an admiration then a beléefe But this I added for the tiâe which the end shall âry for a truth that so faithfull is my affection and so loyall is my loue that if thou take not pitây of my passâons either my life shall be too short or my misery too long Doralicia hearing attântiâely my talke oât times changed her colour as one in great choller being so inflamed âith a melancholike âinde of hate as shee was not of a long time able to âââer one word yet at last with a face full of fury shee âurst forth inââ thâse despightfull termes Why Arbasto quoth shee art thou of late become franticke or doeââ thoâ thinke me in a frenzy âast thou beene bitten with the serpent Amphisbena which procureth mâenes oâ doââ thou suppose me fraught with some lunaticke ãâã for thy speech mâketh me thinke eyther thou art âroubled with the one or that thou counts me combred with the otherâ if this thy poysoned parle were in âest it was too âroad weyâng the case if in earnest too bad considering the person for to talke âf peace amidst the pikes sheweth either a coâard or a counterfait to sue for loue by hate either frenzy or foâây It is a âad Hare Arbasto that will be caught with a Taber â gréedy fish that commeth to a bare booke a blind Gââse that runneth to the Fores sermon ând she a louing foole that stoopeth to her enemies lure No no thinke mee not so fond or at least hope not to find me so foolish as with Phryne to fancie Cecâops with Harpalice to like Archemerus with Scilla to loue Mynos with carelesse Minionâ so farre to forget my honor my honesty my parents and my Country as to loue nay not deadly to hate him which is a foe to the leaââ of these for experience tâacheth mâ that the fairer the stone is in the Toades head the more pesâilent is the poyson in her bowels the brigâtâr the Serpentâ scales be the more infâctious is her breath and the talke of an enemy the more it is seasoned with delight the more it sauoreâh of despight cââse then to séeke for loââ where tâou shalt âânde nothing but hate for assure thy selfâ ãâã thou didst fanây as faithfully as thou doest flatter falâây yet the guerdeon for thy loue should bee onely this that I will pray incessantly to the Gods in thy life to pâstâr thâe with earthly âorments and after death to plague thee with hellish tortures Although these bitter blastes of Doralicia had béene a sufficient cooâing cardâ to quench fond affâction yet as the waâer causeth the sea-coale to burne more freshly so her despightfull termes farre more inflamed my ââââre that I made her this friââdly reply Alas Madame weigh my case with equitie if you hate me as I am âoe to Pelorus yet fauour me as I am friend to Doralicia If you loath mee as a conqueror of your countrey yet pittie mee as I am a captiue to your beautie If you vouchsafe not to listen to the lure of your enemy yât heare the passionate complaints of a perplexed louer who leading others in triumph yet himselfe liueth in most haplâsse seruitude If I haue done aâisse Doralicia I will make amends if I haue committed a fault I will both requite it and recompence it aâ I haue béene thy fathers âoeâ so I will be his faithfull friend as I haue sought his bale I will procure his blisse yea I will goe against the haire in all things so I may please âhee in any thing But as I was about to make a longer discoursâ shee cut mo off in this wise In faith ãâã quoth shee so well doe I like you that you âannot more displease mee then in sâeking to please ãâã for if I knew no other causâ to hate thâe yet this ãâã suââise that I cannot but dislike thee he therefore my fathers friend or his foe like hââ or haââ him yet this assure thy selfe that I will nââââ loue thee And with that she flung from me in a great chaââ Reply I could not for by thââ wâe were come to the gates of the âiâie where though vnwilling I tooke my leaue of them in this sort I am sorây âadies that such is my lucke and so vnhââpy is my lot that in offering my selfe a companion I haue greatly offended you wiâh my company yet sith I cannot striue against chance I thinke my selfe happy that Fortune hath honoured me with the fruâtion of your presence hoping when time shall try my words no tales but truth you will at last make me amends with cryiuâ peccaui in the meane while I commit you to the tuition of the Gods praying Fortune rather to plaguâ me with all mishap then to crosse you with any mischance The thankes I had for this my friendly curtesieâ was a coy disdainfull looke of Doralicia and a câurlish vale of the old trot Vecchia but Myrania as one stung with the prickâ of fancy âad me farewell wâth a more curious gloze Iâ sir quoth she the secret intent of your friendship had béene agreeable to the outward manner of your curtesâe âee had ere this yeelded you great thankes for your company but sith you gréet vs with a Iudasâe kisse wee thinke wee haue small cause to gratifie you for your kindnes notwitâstanding least you should accuse vs wholly of discourtesâe we say we thanke you whatsoeuer we thinke and with that she cast on me such a louing looke as she séemed to play âoth to depart CHAP. 4. Arbasto and Myrania with seuerall coniectures for loue renewed their complaints THey now returning to the Court and I retâring to the Campe fââling my selfe déepely perplexed yet as much as I could dissembled my passions willing in loue nât to bee counted a louer ieââing therefore with Egerâo I thus began to drââ him on How now Egerio hath not the beauty of these âaires Ladies brought you from yoâr fond ãâã will you not âee content for blaspheming Loue in pennance to carry a burning ââggot before Cupid me thought your eyes were gazing wheresoeuer your heart was gadding but tell mee in good trothâ is not Doralicia worthy to bee loued Yes sir quoth he if she were not Doralicia for as shee is beauâââfull she is to be liked of all but as she is Pelorus daughter not to desired of Arbasto least in seeking to gaine her loue he get that which he least looked for Why Egerio what ill lucke can ensue of loue when I meane not to venâure but vpon trust nor to trust without tryall Such as happened to Achilles by Polexenâ and yet he feared Priamus But alas âir I sigh to thinke and I sorrow to sâe that reason should yeeld to affâction liberty to loâe freedome to
fancy that Venus should beare the target and Mars the distaâte that Omphale should handle the club and Hercules the spindle that Alexander should ârââch and Campaspe be coy that a warlike minde should yeeld to a little wauering beauty and that a Prince whose prowesse could not be subdued should by louâ become subiect at the fââst shot What Egerio quoth I knowest thou not that he whom no mortall câeature can controll loue can command that no dignitie is able to ââââst Cupids deitie Achilles was inuulnerable yet wounded by fancie Hercules not to be conquâred of any yet quickly vanquished by âffection Mars able to resist Iupiter but not to withstand beauty Loue is not onely kindled in the eye by desire but ingrauen in the minde by destiny which neither reason can eschew nor wisedome expell The more pitty quoth hee for poore men and greater impietie in the Gods that in giuing loue free libertie they granted him a lawlââse priuiledge But sith Cupid will be obeyed Arbasto is willing to be obedient would God loue had either aymed ââisse or else had not mâde Doralicia the marte I not willing that Egerio should bee priuy to my passions told him that what I spoâe was in iest and that if euer I did fancy I would vse loue as the Persians did the Sunne who in the morning honor it as a God and at noonâtiâe curse it as a diuell Concealing thus my care the couered smokes burst inâo great flames that comming to my Tent I was fârst to cast my selfe vpon my bed where I sobbed forth sorrowfully these words Alas Arbasto how art thou perplexed thou both liâest in ill hapâ and louest with out hope thou burnâââ with desire and art cooled wiâh disdaine thou art bidden to the fâast by loue and art bâaten with the spit by beauty But what then doest thou count it caâe which thou sufferest for Doralicia who shameth Venus for her hue and staineth Diâna for her chastitie Yea but Aâbasto the more beautie she âath the more ârââe the more vertue the more precisenesse None must play ân Mercuries pipe but Oâpheus none rule Luciââr but Phâebus none weare Venus in a tablet but Alexander nor none iââoâ Doralicia but such an one as farre excâedeth thâe in person and parenâage thou seest she hath denied thy suâe disdained thy seruice lightly respected thy loue and smally regarded thy liking onely promising this while she liues to be thy professed fâe And what then foâd foole wiât thou shrinke for an Aprill showre knowest thou not that a deniall is a grant and a gentle answere a flattering slâut that the more they sâeme at the first to loath the more they loue at the last Is not Venus painted catching the ball with her hands wââch shee seemeth to spurne with her âeet Doth not the Mirre trée being hâwen yéeld no say which not moued powreth forth âârrup and women being wâed deny that which of themselues they most earnestly desire The stone Sandrasta is not so hard but being heat in the fire it may be wrought no Iuory so âough but seasoned with Suâho it may be ingrauen no hawke so haggard which in time may not be called to the lure nor no women so wilfull which by some meanes may not be wonne Hope the best then and be bold for Loue and Forâune careth not for cowards Nay tush Arbasto what needest thou pine thus in hâplesse passions or séeke for that with sorrow which thou mayest obtaine with a small sute raise vp thy siege graunt but conditions of peace shew but a friendly countenance to Pelorus and hee neither will nor dare deny thee his daughter Doralicia Doâ this then Arbasto nay I would itâ and that with spéed for now I agrée to Tully that it is good Iniquissimam pacem iustissiâo bello anteponerâ Well being resolued vpon this point I felt my minde disburthened of a thousand cares wherewith before I was clâgged féeding my selfe with the hope of that pleasure which ââen ininioyed should recompence my former paine But alas poore Myrania could not féele one minute of such ease for she vncessantly turned the stone with Sysiphus rolled on the wheâle with Ixion and filled the bottomlesse tubâ with Belydes in so much that when she could âândâ no âeanes to mittigate her malady she fel into these bitter complaints Ah Myâania ah wretched wench Myâania how art thou without reason which sufferest reason to yeeld vnto appetite wisedome vnto sensuall will and a free mind vnto seruile loue but I perceiue when the Iuie riseth it wreatheth about the âlâe when the ââp groweth high it batââ need of a pole and when virgins war in yeeres they follow that which belongeth to their youth Loue loue yea but they loue expecting some good hap and I alas both loue and liue without all hope for Arbasto is my foâ and yet if he were my friend he liketh not me he looketh onely vpon Doralicia Sith then Myrania thou art pinched hast none to pittie thy passions dissemble thy loue though it shorten thy life for better it were to dye with griefe than liââ with shame The spunge is full of water yet it is not séene The leaâe of the trée Alpina though it be wet looketh alwayes dry a wise louer be she neuer so much tormented behâueth her self as though she were not touched Yea but fire cannot bee hidden in the Flax without smoake nor musicke in the bosome without smell nor loue in the breast without suspicion Why then sâeke some meanes to manifest thy loue to Arbasto for as the stone Draconites can by no meanes be polished vnlesse the Lapidarie burne it so thy minde can by no medicine be cured vnlesse Arbasto ease it alas Arbasto swéet Arbasto And with that she fetcht such a groaning sigh that one of her maides came into the chamber who by her presence putting her from her passions sate so long by till tyred with drousâe thoughts shee fell into a slumber Fortune frowning thus vpon her and âauning vpon mee I set my foote on the fairest sands although at last I âoând them most fickle thinking I must néedes tread the measures right when Fortune piped the daunce but though I threw at all yet my chance was hard for Pelorus triâling for truce pretended treason making a shew of feare sought subtilly how to ouerthrow me by deceit saying in ruling of Empires there is required as great policie as prowesse in in gouârning an estate close crueltie doth more good than open clemencie for the obtaining of a kingdome as well mischiefe as mercy is to be practised that better he were to commit an inconuânience in breaking his oath than suffer a mischiefe by kéeping his promise setting downe the staffe therefoâe in this secure periuâie thus it fell out CHAP. 5. Arbasto is traiterously surprised by Pelorus and imprisoned in OrOrleance with all his army defeated AFter two or thrée daies were passed accompanied onely with Egeââo a few of my guard I
on the coppie of my Letter which I sent to Doralicia and vpon the answere which I receiued from that ruthlesse Minion âhich after shee had read perceiuing how traiterously I had requited her loue with hateâ she conueyâd âer selfe couertly into her Chamber where after she had almost dimmed her sight with flouds of teares and burst her heart with blowing sighs she fell into these complaints O infortunate Myrania O haplesse Myrania yea O thrice accursed Myrania whom Fortune by spight seeketh to soyle whom the destinies by fate are appointed to plague and whom the gods by iustice will and must most cruelly reuenge Thou hast beene a paricide to thy father in seeking to destroy him by thy disobedience thou art a traitor to thy Countrey in sauing the enemy of the Common-wealth thou art a foe to nature in louing disloyall Arbasto can the Gods but plague those monstroâs iniuries No no Myrania thou hast deserued more mishap then either Fortune can or will affoord thee Ah cruell and accursed Arbasto I see now that it fareth with thee as with the Panther which hauing made one astonished with his faire sight seeketh to deuoure him with bloudy pursute with me poore wench as it doth with them that view the Basiliske whose eyes procure delight to the looker at the first glimpse but death at the second glance Alas was there none to like but thy foe none to loue but Arbasto none to fancy but a periured Dane none to match with but a flattering mate Now hath thy lawlesse loue gained a lucklesse and now thou triest by experience that the treâ Alpinâ is smooth to bee touched but bitter to bâe tasted that the fairest Serpent is most infectious the ââest colour soonest stained the cleerest glasse most brittle and that louers though they beare a delicate shew yet they haue a deceitfull substance that if they haue hony in their mouthes yet they hauâ galâ in their hearts the more is the pittie in thee to truât without tryall and the greatâ impietie for him to be a traytor being so well trusteâ Is this this the âurteââe of Denmarke towards friends to intreat them so disâightfullâ is my goodwil not only reiected without cause but also disâained without colour Alas what shall I doe to this extremity being a forlorne wretch in a forraine Country which waâ shall I turne me of whom shall I seeke remedy Pelorus will reiect me and why should he not Arbasto hath reââcted me and why should heeâ the one I haue offended wish too much griefe the other I haue serued with too great good will the one is lost with loue the other with hate Pelorus because I cared not for him Arbasto because I cared for him but alas too much And with that she fetch such a sigh as witnessed a heart pained with most intolerable passions yea carâ and griefe so fiercely and freshly assaulted her as shâe fell into a feuer refusing all sustenance wishing and calling for nothing but death While shee thus pâned away with griefe I thought to search out her sore but I could not pârceiue the cause of her sorrow only I did coniecture this that she doubted my Nobles would not consent to our marriage to âid her therefore of this care I presently called a Parliament where without any great controuersie it was concluded This newes being come to the eares of Myrania it no whiâ decreased her dolor but did rather far the more augment her distresse which made Egerio to muse and draâe me into a great maze so that accompanied with my Nobles I went to comfort her and to carry her newes that if shee could but come into the Chamber of her presence she should there be crowned Quéen But alas when I came saw her âo altered in one wââke wasted to the hard bones more like a ghost âhan a liuing creature I began thus to comfort her Ah Myrania quoth I more loued of me than mine owne life and more deare vnto meâ than my selfâ would God I might be plagued with al earthly diseases so I might sée thée free from distresse how can Arbasto be without sorrow to sée Myrania oppressed with sickenesse how can he but âinke in calamitie to see her but once toucht with care alas vnfold vnto me thy sore and I will apply the salue make méâ priuie to thy malady I will procure a medâcine If want of wealth worke thy wor thou hast the kingdome of Denmark to dispose at thy pleasure if absence from friends thou hast such a friend âf thy louing spouse Aâbasto as death it selfe shall neuer dissolue our loue I had no sooner vttered this word but Myrania as one possessed with some hellish fury start vp in her bed with staring lookes and wrathfull countenance séeming by her raging gestures to be in a frenzyâ but being kept downe by her Cââes shee roared out thesâ hatefull curses O vile wretches quoth she will you not suffer me in my life to reuenge my selfe on that periured traytor Arbasto yet shall you not deny mee but after death my ghost shall torment him with gaââly viââons O thrice accursed caitiâe doest thou séeme to helpe mee with thy scabbard and secâetly hurt me with thy sword doest thou offer mâe hony openly and priuily present mee with gall doest thou say thâu wilt cure me with loue when thou séekest to kill me with hate haue I redéemed thée from mishap and wilt thou requite me with misery waâ I the meanes to saue thy life and wilt thou without cause procure my death haue I forsaken my Country betrayed my Father and yet wilt thou kill me with discurtesâe O haplesse Myrania could not Medeas mishap haue made thee beware could not Ariadnes ill lucke haue taught thee to take héeâ could not Phillis misâfortune haue feared thee from the like folly but thou must like and loue a stragling stranger Aye mâ that repentance should euer come too late folly is sooner remembred then redressed and time may be repented but not recalled But I sée it is a practise in men to âaue as little care of their owne ââthes as of their Ladies honors imitating Iupiter who neuer kept âath he sware to Iuno diddest thou not false Arbasto protest with solemne vowes when thy life did hang in the ballaâcâ that thy loue to Myrania should bee alwayes loyall and hast thou not since sent and sued secretly to winne the good will of Dââalicia diddest thou not sweare to take me to thy mate and hast thou not since sought to contract with hâr a new match thou diddest promise to be true vnto me but hast prooued trusty vnto her what should I say thou hast preseâted her with pleasant drinkes and ââysoned me with bitter potions the more is my penurie and the greater is thy periurie But vilâ wretch doest thou thinke this thy villany shall be vnreuenged Noâ no Egerio I hope the Gods haue appointed thee to reuenge my iniuâies thou hast sworne it and
I feare not but thou wilt performe it And that thou maâst know I exclaime not without cause sée here the Letters which haue passed betwéene this false traytor and Doralicia The sight of these Letters so galled my guilty conscience as I stood as one astonished not knowing what to doe excuse my selfe I could not confirme my loue I durst not yet at last the water standing in mine eyes clasping her hand in minâ I was ready to craue pardon if she had not preuented me with these iniurious spéeches Cléere thy false trayteâââ Arbasto thou canst not perswade meâ thou shalt not forâiue thee I will not cease therefore to speake for in none of these thou shalt spéed Egerâo I saued thy life then reuengâ my death and so content I die yet onely discontent in this that I cannot liue to hate Arbasto so long as I loued him And with that turning vpon her left side with a gasping sigh she gaue vp the ghoste which sight draue me into such a desperate mindeâ that if Egerio and the rest had not holden mee I had sent my soule with heââ to the graue CHAP. 8â After Myranias death Doralicia relenteth and sendeth to Arbâsto who then hated her as much as he loued her before AFter Myranias death being carried by force to my bâd I lay for certaine dayes oppressed with such sorrow as if I had béenâ in a trancâ cursing and accusing my selfâ of ingratitude of periurie and of most despightfull disloyalty I lay perplexed with incâââant passions Wâll this heauy and haplesse newes being noysed in France Pelorus taking the death of his daughter to heartâ in short time died leauing Doralicia the onely inhâritour of his kingdome But yet sée how Fortune framed vp this tragedy who meant tâ caââ Doralicia from most happy felicitie to most haplesse miseriâ for shée séeing that no siniââer chance could change my affection that neyther the length of time nor the distance of place the spight of Fortune the feare of death nor hâr most cruell discourtâsiâ could diminish my louâ musing I say on this my inuiolable constancie Cupid meaning to reuângâ séeing her now at discouert drew home to thâ head and strooke her so déepe at the heart as in despight of Vesta shée vailed bonnet and giâing ground sobbed forth secretly to her selfâ these words Alas I loâe Arbasto and none but Arbasto Venus séeing that her boy had so well plaid the man began to triumph ouer Doralicia who now was in her dumps striuing as yet betwéene loue and hate till fancy sât in her foot and then shée yéelded vp the bulwarke in these peaceable termes Why how now Doralicia quoth she doest thou dreame or dote Is it folly or frenzy melancholy or madnesse that driueth thee thus into dumps and so strangely distresseth thee with doleâ what âonâ thoughts what vnacquainted passions what slumbring imaginations are these which perplexeth thee hast thou now ââele fire to spring out of the coâd flint heat to âry or ãâã thâ chilling frost loue to come from hate anâ dâsire from disââine Doest thâu fare as though thou hadst béene drencâed in the Riuer Iellus in Phrigâa which at the first brâedeth sorrow through extreame cold but forthwith burneth the sinewes târough raging heat Hath Vââus now in despight of Vestâ made thâe vaile âonnet the more poore wench is thy mishappe and the wârse iâ thy fortune for loue though neuer so sweete cannot yet hâ digeâted without a most sharpe sauce faring like the gold that is neuer pââect till it hath past through the furnaceâ Loue Dolaricia but whom doest thou loue Arbasâo what the man whom euen now thou diddest sâ deadly hate hast thou so littlâ force ouer thy affections as to fancy thy âoe No no fond foole Arbasto is thy friend and one that honoreth thee as a Saint and would seruâ thee as his soueraigne that loueth and liketh thee as much as thou canst desire but more than thou doest deserue who being bitterly crossed with discurtesâe could neuer be touchâd of inconstancy but still remaineth like to Aristoâles Quadratus which howsoeuer it is turned alwayes standeth stedfast Thou canst not then of consciencâ Doralicia but repay his loue with liking and his firme fancy with mutuall affection he is beautifull to please the eye vârtuous to content the mind rich to maintaine thy hânour of birth to counteruaile thy parentage wise courteous and constant and what wouldest thou âaue more Yea but alas I haue reiected his seruice and now hee will not respect my sute I haue detested him and now he will despise mee I haue requited his good will with crueltie and he will reuenge me witâ contâmpt Better hadst thou then conceale it with griefe than reueâle it tâ thine owne shame for if thou ayme at the white and misse the mark thou shalt bee pointed at of those that hate thee pittied of those that loue thee scorned at by him and talked of by all suffer rather then pooââ Doralicia death by silânce than dirisâon by reuealing thy sâcrets for death cutteâh off all care but decision breâdeth endlesse calamity Tush doest thoâ thinke Arbasto can so harden his heart as to hate thee so maâââr hiâ aâfections as to flee from fancy that he wil become so proud as to râfusâ thy prâffer No if thou sendest him but one line it will morâ harme him then all Circes inchantments if thou lendest but one friendly looke it will be more estéemed than liâe Why but Doraliciaâ and with that she sate still as one in a ârance building castlâs in the aâre haâging beâwâenâ feare and hope trust and dispâiâe doubt ãâ¦ã elfe thârforâ from these âumps shâ tooke her Luâe whereupon ãâ¦ã this dittâe IN time we see that siluer drops The cragglâ stones make softâ The slowâst ânâile in time we see Dâth creeâe and climbe aloât With feeble puffes the tallest pine In tract of time doth fallâ The hardest heart in time doth yeeld To Venus luring call Where chilling frost alate did nip There flasheth now a fire Where deepe disdaine bred noysome hate There kindleth now desire Time causeth hope to haue his hap What câre in time not easd In time I loath'd that now I loue In both content and pleasd Doralicia hauing ended her dittie laid downe her Lute and betooke her to her former passions wherein she had not long plodded but she determined to write vnto me with as much speed as might be framing her Letters to this effect Doralicia to Arbasto health VVEighing with my selfe Arbasto that to be vniust is to offer iniury to the Gods and that without cause to be cruell is against all conscience I haue thought good to make amends for that which is amisse of a fained foe to become thy faithfull friend for since the receipt of thy Letters calling to minde the perfection of thy body and perfectnes of thy minde thy beautiâ and vertuâ thy curtesâe and constancy I haue béene so snared with âancy and fettered with affection as