in nature vnhappy by fortune But most wretched I am now loue awakes my desire Dorus when he had soong this hauing had all the while a free beholding of the faire Pamela who could well haue spared such honor and defended the assault he gaue vnto hir face with bringing a faire staine of shamefastnes vnto it let fall his armes and remained so fastened in his thoughts as if Pamela had graffed him there to growe in continuall imagination But Zelmane espying it and fearing he should too much forget himselfe she came to him and tooke out of his hand the Lute and laying fast hold of Philocleas face with her eyes she soong these Sapphikes speaking as it were to hir owne hope If mine eyes can speake to doo harty errande Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet But if eyes faile then when I most doo need them Or if eyes language be not vnto her knowne So that eyes message doo returne reiected Hâ—pe we doo both dye Yet dying and dead doo we sing her honour So become our tombes monuments of her praise So becomes our losse the triumph of her gaine Hers be the glory If the spheares senselesse doo yet hold a musique If the Swannes sweet voice be not heard but at death If the mute timber when it hath the life lost Yeldeth a Lutes tune Are then humane mindes priuiledg'd so meanly As that hatefull death can abridge them of powre With the vowe of truth to record to all worlds That we be her spoiles Thus not ending ends the due praise of her praise Fleshly vaile consumes but a soule hath his life Which is held in loue loue it is that hath ioynd Life to this our soule But if eyes can speake to doo harty errand Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet Great was the pleasure of Basilius and greater would haue bene Gynaecias but that she found too well it was intended to her daughter As for Philoclea she was swetely rauished withall When Dorus desiring in a secret maner to speake of their cases as perchance the parties intended might take some light of it making lowe reuerence to Zelmane began this prouoking song in hexameter verse vnto her Wherevnto she soone finding whither his words were directed in like tune and verse answered as foloweth Dorus. Zelmane Dorus. Lady reserud by the heau'ns to do pastors company honnor Ioyning your sweete voice to the rurall muse of a deserte Here you fully do finde this strange operation of loue How to the woods loue runnes as well as rydes to the Pallace Neither he beares reuerence to a Prince nor pittie to begger But like a point in midst of a circle is still of a neernesse All to a lesson he draw's nether hills nor caues can auoide him Zelmane Worthy shepeheard by my song to my selfe all fauor is happned That to the sacred Muse my anoyes somewhat be reuealed Sacred Muse who in one contaynes what nine do in all them But ô happy be you which safe from fyry reflection Of Phoebus violence in shade of sweet Cyparissus Or pleasant mirtell may teach th' vnfortunate Echo In these woods to resounde the renowmed name of a goddesse Happy be you that may to the saint your onely Idea Although simply atyrde your manly affection vtter Happy be those mishapps which iustly proportion holding Giue right sound to the eares and enter aright to the iudgement But wretched be the soules which vaild in a contrary subiect How much more we do loue so the lesse our loues be beleeued What skill salueth a soare of a wrong infirmity iudged What can iustice auaile to a man that tells not his owne case You though feares do abash in you still possible hopes be Nature against we do seeme to rebell seeme fooles in a vaine sute But so vnheard condemn'd kept thence we do seeke to abide in Selfe-lost in wandring banished that place we doe come from What meane is there alas we can hope our losse to recouer What place is there left we may hope our woes to recomfort Vnto the heau'ns our wings be too short earth thinks vs a burden Aire we do still with sighes encrease to the fire we do want none And yet his outward heate our teares would quench but an inward Fire no liquor can coole Neptunes realme would not auaile vs. Happy shepheard with thanks to the Gods still thinke to be thankfull That to thy aduauncement their wisdomes haue thee abased Dorus. Vnto the Gods with a thanckfull heart all thankes I do render That to my aduauncement their wisdomes haue me abased But yet alas O but yet alas our happs be but hard happs Which must frame contempt to the fittest purchase of honnour Well may a Pastor plaine but alas his plaints be not esteem'de Silly shepheards poore pype when his harsh sound testifi's anguish Into the faire looker on pastime not passion enters And to the woods or brookes who do make such dreery recitall What be the pangs they beare and whence those pangs be deriued Pleasd to receaue that name by rebounding answere of Echo May hope therby to ease their inward horrible anguish When trees daunce to the pype and swift streames stay by the musicke Or when an Echo begins vnmou'd to sing them a loue song Say then what vantage do we get by the trade of a Pastor Since no estates be so base but loue vouchsafeth his arrow Since no refuge doth serue from woundes we do carry about vs Since outward pleasures be but halting helpes to decayd soules Saue that dayly we may discerne what fire we do burne in Farre more happy be you whose greatnes gets a free accesse Whose faire bodily gifts are fram'd most louely to each ey Vertue you haue of vertue you haue left proofe to the whole world And vertue is gratefull with bewty and richnes adorned Neither doubt you awhit time will your passion vtter Hardly remains fyer hid where skill is bent to the hiding But in a minde that would his flames should not be repressed Nature worketh enough with a small help for the reuealing Giue therefore to the Muse great praise in whose very likenes You doo approch to the fruite your onely desir's be to gather Zelmane First shall fertill grounds not yeeld increase of a good seed First the riuers shall ceasse to repay their fludds to the Occean First may a trusty Greyhounde transforme himselfe to a Tigre First shall vertue be vice and bewty be counted a blemishe Ere that I leaue with song of praise her praise to solemnize Her praise whence to the world all praise hath his only beginning But yet well I doo finde each man most wise in his owne case None can speake of a wound with skill if he haue not a wound felt Great to thee my state seemes thy state is blest by my
to cary himself away from her sight and to run into the woods where throwing himselfe downe at the foot of a tree he did not fall to lamentation for that proceeded of pittying or grieuing for himself which he did no way but to curses of his life as one that detested himselfe For finding himselfe not onely vnhappy but vnhappy after being falne from all happines and to be falne from all happines not by any misconceiuing but by his own fault and his fault to be done to no other but to Pamela he did not tender his owne estate but despised it greedily drawing into his minde all conceipts which might more and more torment him And so remained he two daies in the woods disdaining to giue his bodie food or his mind comfort louing in himselfe nothing but the loue of her And indeede that loue onelye straue with the fury of his anguish telling it that if it destroyed Dorus it should also destroy the image of her that liued in Dorus and wheÌ„ the thought of that was crept in vnto him it begaÌ„ to win of him some compassion to the shrine of that image to bewaile not for himself whoÌ„ he hated but that so notable a loue should perish TheÌ„ began he onely so far to wish his owne good as that Pamela might pardon him the fault though not the punishmeÌ„t and the vttermost height he aspired vnto was that after his death she might yet pitie his error know that it proceeded of loue not of boldnes That coÌ„ceipt found such friendship in his thoughts that at last he yelded since he was banished her preseÌ„ce to seek some means by writing to shew his sorow and testifie his repeÌ„tance Therfore getting him the necessary instrumeÌ„ts of writing he thought best to couÌ„terfait his haÌ„d fearing that as already she knew his she would cast it away as soon as she saw it to put it in verse hoping that would draw her on to read the more chusing the Elegiac as fittest for mourning but neuer pen did more quakingly perform his office neuer was paper more double moistned with inke teares neuer words more slowly maried together neuer the Muses more tired thaÌ„ now with changes rechanges of his deuises fearing how to end before he had resolued how to begin mistrusting ech word condemning eche sentence This word was not significant that word was too plain this would not be coÌ„ceiued the other would be ill coÌ„ceiued Here Sorow was not enough expressed there he seemed too much for his own sake to be sory This senteÌ„ce rather shewed art theÌ„ passion that seÌ„tence rather foolishly passionate theÌ„ forcibly mouing At last marring with meÌ„ding and putting out better then he left he made an end of it and being ended was diuerse times readie to teare it till his reason assuring him the more he studied the worse it grew he folded it vp deuoutly inuoking good acceptation vnto it and watching his time when they were all gone one day to dinner sauing Mopsa to the other lodge stale vp into Pamelaes chamber and in her standish which first he kissed and craued of it a safe and friendly keeping left it there to be seene at her next vsing her inke himselfe returning againe to be true prisoner to desperate sorrow leauing her standish vpon her beds head to giue her the more occasion to marke it which also fell out For she finding it at her after noone-returne in another place then she left it opened it But when she saw the letter her hart gaue her from whence it came And therefore clapping it to againe she went away from it as if it had bene a contagious garment of an infected person and yet was not long away but that she wished she had read it though she were loth to read it Shall I said she secoÌ„d his boldnes so far as to read his presumptuous letters And yet said she he sees me not now to grow the bolder therby And how can I tel whether they be presumptuous The paper came from him therfore not worthy to be receiued and yet the paper she thought was not guiltie At last she concluded it were not much amisse to looke it ouer that she might out of his words pick some further quarrell against him Theâ— she opened it and threw it away and took it vp againe till ere she were aware heâ— eyes would needs read it conteining this matter VNto a caitife wretch whom long affliction holdeth and now fully beleeues helpe to be quite perished Grant yet grant yet a looke to the last monument of his anguishe O you alas so I finde cause of his onely ruine Dread not a whit O goodly cruell that pittie may enter into thy hart by the sight of this Epistle I sendâ— And so refuse to beholde of these strange wounds the recitall least it might th'allure home to thy selfe to returne Vnto thy selfe I do meane those graces dwell so within thee gratefulnes sweetnes holy loue hartie regard Such thing cannot I seeke Despaire hath giu'n me my answere Despaire most tragicall clause to a deadly request Such thing cannot he hope that knowes thy determinat hardnes hard like a rich marbell hard but a faire Diamond Can those eyes that of eyes drownd in most harty flowing teares teares and teares of a man had no returne to remorse Can those eyes now yeeld to the kind conceit of a sorow which inke onely relates but ne laments ne replies Ah that that I do I not conceiue though that to my blisse were more then Nestors yeares more then a Kings diademe Ah that that do I not conceiue to the heauen when a mouse climes then may I hope t' atchieue grace of a heauenly tiger But but alas like a man condemn'd doth craue to be heard speak not that he hopes for amends of the desaster he feeles But finding th'approch of death with an inly relenting giues an adieu to the world as to his onely delight Right so my boiling hart enflam'de with sâ—re of a faire eye bubling out doth breath signes of his hugie dolours Now that he findes to what end his life and loue be reserued and that he thence must part where to liue only he liu'd O faire O fairest are such thy triumphs to thy fairenesse can death beautie become must I be such monument Must I be onely the marke shall proue that vertue is angrie shall proue that fiercenes can with a white doue abide Shall to the world appeare that faith and loue be rewarded with mortall disdaine bent to vnendly reuenge Vnto reuenge O sweete on a wretch wilt thou be reuenged shall such high Plannets tend to the losse of a worme And to reuenge who doo bend would in that kinde be reuenged as th' offence was done and goe beyond if he can All my'offence was Loue with Loue then must I be chastned and with more by the lawes that to reuenge doo belong If that loue be a fault more
varnished Looke to thy selfe reach not beyond humanitie Her minde beames state farre from thy weake wings banished And loue which louer hurts is in humanitie Thus Reason said but she came Reason vanished Her eyes so maistering me that such obiection Seem'd but to spoyle the foode of thoughts long famished Her peereles height my minde to high erection Drawes vp and if hope fayling end liues pleasure Of fayrer death how can I make election Thyrsis Once my well waiting eyes espied my treasure With sleeues turnde vp loose hair and brest enlarged Her fathers corne mouing her fair limmes measure O cried I of so meane worke be discharged Measure my case how by thy beauties filling With seed of woes my hart brimme full is charged Thy father bids thee saue and chides for spilling Saue then my soule spill not my thoughts well heaped No louely praise was euer got by killing These bolde words she did beare this fruite I reaped That she whose looke alone might make me blessed Did smile on me and then away she leaped Dorus. Once O sweete once I saw with dread oppressed Her whom I dread so that with prostrate lying Her length the earth in Loues chiefe clothing dressed I saw that riches fall and fell a crying Let not dead earth enioy so deare a couer But deck therwith my soule for your sake dying Lay all your feare vpon your fearefull louer Shine eyes on me that both our liues be guarded So I your sight you shall your selues recouer I cried and was with open rayes rewarded But straight they fledd summond by cruell honor Honor the cause desart is not regarded Thyrsis This mayde thus made for ioyes ô Pan bemone her That without loue she spends her yeares of loue So faire a field would well become an owner And if enchantment can a hard hart moue Teach me what circle may acquiant her sprite Affections charmes in my behalfe to proue The circle is my round about her sight The power I will inuoke dwelles in her eyes My charme should be she haunt me day and night Dorus. Farre other case ô Muse my sorrow tries Bent to such one in whome my selfe must say Nothing can mend that point that in her lies What circle then in so rare force beares sway Whose sprite all sprites can foile raise damne or saue No charme holdes hir but well possesse she may Possesse she doth and makes my soule her slaue My eyes the bandes my thoughts the fatall knot No thrall like them that inward bondage haue Thyrsis Kala at length conclude my lingring lotte Disdaine me not although I be not faire Who is an heir of many hundreth sheep Doth beawties keep which neuer sunne can burne Nor stormes doo turne fairnes serues oft to wealth Yet all my health I place in your good will Which if you will ô doo bestow on me Such as you see such still you shall me finde Constant and kind my sheep your foode shall breed Their wooll your weede I will you musique yeeld In flowrie field and as the day begins With twentie ginnes we will the small birds take And pastimes make as nature things hath made But when in shade we meete of mirtle bowes Then loue allowes our pleasures to enrich The thought of which doth passe all worldlie pelfe Dorus. Lady your selfe whome neither name I dare And titles are but spots to such a worth Heare plaints come forth from dungeon of my mind The noblest kinde reiects not others woes I haue no shewes of wealth my wealth is you My beauties hewe your beames my health your deeds My minde for weeds your vertues liuerie weares My foode is teares my tunes wamenting yeeld Dispaire my fielde the flowers spirits warrs My day new cares my ginnes my daily sight In which doe light small birds of thoughts orethrowne My pastimes none time passeth on my fall Nature made all but me of dolours made I find no shade but where my Sunne doth burne No place to turne without within it fries Nor helpe by life or death who liuing dyes Thyrsis But if my Kala thus my sute denyes Which so much reason beares Let crowes pick out mine eyes which too much sawe If shee still hate loues lawe My earthy mould doth melt in watrye teares Dorus. My earthy mould doth melt in watrye teares And they againe resolue To aire of sighes sighes to the hartes fire turne Which doth to ashes burne Thus doth my life within it selfe dissolue Thyrsis Thus doth my life within it selfe dissolue That I growe like the beaste Which beares the bytt a weaker force doth guide Yet patient must abide Such weight it hath which once is full possest Dorus. Such weight it hath which once is full possest That I become a vision Which hath in others head his only being And liues in fancie seing O wretched state of man in selfe diuision Thyrsis O wretched state of man in selfe diuision O well thou saiest a feeling declaration Thy toong hath made of Cupids deepe incision But now hoarse voyce doth faile this occupation And others long to tell their loues condicion Of singing thou hast got the reputation Dorus. Of singing thou hast got the reputation Good Thyrsis mine I yeld to thy abilitie My hart doth seek an other estimation But ah my Muse I would thou hadst facilitie To worke my goddesse so by thy inuention On me to cast those eyes where shine nobilitie Seene and vnknowne hearde but without attention Dorus did so well in answering Thyrsis that euery one desired to heare him sing something alone Seing therfore a Lute lying vnder the Princesse Pamelas feete glad to haue such an errand to approch her he came but came with a dismaied grace all his bloud stirred betwixt feare and desire And playing vpon it with such sweetenes as euery bodie wondered to see such skill in a shepeheard he sang vnto it with a sorrowing voice these Elegiake verses Dorus. Fortune Nature Loue long haue contended about me Which should most miseries cast on a worme that I am Fortune thus gan say misery and misfortune is all one And of misfortune fortune hath only the gift With strong foes on land on seas with contrary tempests Still doo I crosse this wretch what so he taketh in hand Tush tush said nature this is all but a trifle a mans selfe Giues happs or mishapps eu'n as he ordreth his hearte But so his humor I frame in a mould of choller adusted That the delights of life shall be to him dolorouse Loue smiled and thus said Want ioynd to desire is vnhappy But if he nought do desire what can Heraclitus aile None but I workes by desire by desire haue I kindled in his soule Infernall agonies vnto a bewtye diuine Where thou poore nature left'st all thy due glory to fortune Her vertue is soueraine fortune a vassal of hers Nature abasht went back fortune blusht yet she replide thus And eu'n in that loue shall I reserue him a spite Thus thus alas wofull
onely in age and affection followed his suite with all meanes of vnhonest seruants large promises and each thing els that might help to counteruaile his owne vnlouelines And she whose husband about that time died forgetting the absent Plangus or at lest not hoping of him to obtaine so aspiring a purpose lefte no art vnused which might keepe the line from breaking whereat the fishe was alredy taken not drawing him violently but letting him play himselfe vpon the hooke which he had so greedily swalowed For accompanying her mourning garments with a dolefull countenaunce yet neither forgetting handsomnes in her mourning garments nor sweetenes in her dolefull countenance her wordes were euer seasoned with sighes and any fauour she shewed bathed in teares that affection might see cause of pity and pity might perswade cause of affection And being growen skilful in his humors she was no lesse skilfull in applying his humors neuer suffering his feare to fall to a despaire nor his hope to hasten to an assurance shee was content he should thinke that she loued him and a certaine stolne looke should sometimes as though it were against her will bewray it But if thereupon hee grewe bolde hee straight was encouÌ„tered with a maske of vertue And that which seemeth most impossible vnto me for as neere as I can I repeate it as Plangus tolde it she could not only sigh when she would as all can doo weep wheÌ„ she would as they â—ay some can doo but being most impudent in her heart she could when she would teach her chekes blushing make shamefastnes the cloake of shamelesnes In sum to leaue out many particularities which he recited she did not only vse so the spurre that his Desire ran on but so the bit that it ran on euen in such a careere as she would haue it that within a while the king seing with no other eys but such as she gaue him thinking on other thoughts but such as she taught him hauing at the first liberal measure of fauors theÌ„ shortned of theÌ„ wheÌ„ most his Desire was inflam'd he saw no other way but mariage to satisfie his longing and her minde as he thought louing but chastly louing So that by the time Plangus returned from being notably victorious of the Rebels he found his father not onely maried but alredy a father of a sonne and a daâ—ghter by this woman Which though Plangus as he had euery way iust cause was grieued at yet did his griefe neuer bring foorth ether contemning of her or repining at his father But she who besides she was growen a mother and a stepmother did read in his eies her owne fault and made his conscience her guiltines thought still that his presence caried her condemnation so much the more as that she vnchastly attempting his wonted fancieâ— found for the reuerence of his fathers bed a bitter refusallâ— which breeding rather spite then shame in her or if it were a shame a shame not of the fault but of the repulse she did not onely as hating him thirst for a reuenge but as fearing harm form him endeuoured to doo harme vnto him Therefore did she trie the vttermost of her wicked wit how to ouerthrow him in the foundation of his strength which was in the fauour of his father which because she saw strong both in nature and desert it required the more cunning how to vndermine it And therefore shunning the ordinary trade of hireling sycophants shee made her praises of him to be accusations and her aduancing him to be his ruine For first with words neerer admiration then liking she would extoll his excellencies the goodlines of his shape the power of his witte the valiantnes of his courage the fortunatenes of his successes so as the father might finde in her a singular loue towards him nay shee shunned not to kindle some fewe sparkes of ielousie in him Thus hauing gotten an opinion in his father that shee was farre from meaning mischiefe to the sonne then fell shee to praise him with no lesse vehemencie of affection but with much more cunning of malice For then she sets foorth the liberty of his mind the high flying of his thoughts the fitnesse in him to beare rule the singular loue the Subiects bare him that it was doubtfull whether his wit were greater in winning their fauours or his courage in imploying their fauours that he was not borne to liue a subiect-life each action of his bearing in it Maiestie such a Kingly entertainement such a Kingly magnificence such a Kingly harte for enterprises especially remembring those vertues which in successor are no more honoured by the subiects then suspected of the Princes Then would shee by putting-off obiections bring in obiectioÌ„s to her husbands head already infected with suspitioÌ„ Nay would she say I dare take it vpon my death that he is no such sonne as many of like might haue bene who loued greatnes so well as to build their greatnes vpon their fathers ruine Indeed Ambition like Loue can abide no lingring and euer vrgeth on his owne successes hating no thing but what may stop them But the Gods forbid we should euer once dreame of any such thing in him who perhaps might be content that you and the world should know what he can do but the more power he hath to hurte the more admirable is his praise that he will not hurt Then euer remembring to strengthen the suspition of his estate with priuate ielousie of her loue doing him excessiue honour wheÌ„ he was in presence repeating his pretie speaches and graces in his absence besides causing him to be imployed in all such dangerous matters as ether he should perish in them or if hee preuailed they should increase his glorie which she made a weapon to wound him vntill she found that suspition began already to speake for it selfe and that her husbands eares were growne hungry of rumours and his eies prying into euery accident Then tooke she help to her of a seruant neere about her husband whoÌ„ she knew to be of a hasty ambition and such a one who wanting true sufficiencie to raise him would make a ladder of any mischiefe Him shee vseth to deale more plainely in alleaging causes of iealousie making him knowe the fittest times when her husband already was stirred that way And so they two with diuers wayes nourished one humour like Musitians that singing diuers parts make one musicke He sometime with fearefull countenaunce would desire the King to looke to himselfe for that all the court and Cittie were full of whisperinges and expectation of some soddaine change vpon what ground himselfe knew not Another time hee would counsell the King to make much of his sonne and holde his fauour for that it was too late now to keepe him vnder Now seeming to feare himselfe because he said Plangus loued none of them that were great about his father Lastly breaking with him directly making a sorrowful countenance and an
possession And how possest he strengthens his invasion Dorus. Sight is his roote in thought is his progression His child hood wonder prentizeship attention His youth delight his age the soules oppression Doubt is his sleepe he waketh in inuention Fancie his foode his clothing is of carefulnes Beautie his booke his play louers dissention His eyes are â—urious search but vailde with warefulnesse His wings desire oft clipt with desperation Largesse his hands could neuer skill of sparefulnesse But how he doth by might or by perswasion To conquere and his conquest how to ratifie Experience doubts and schooles hold disputation Dicus But so thy sheepe may thy good wishes satisfie With large encrease and wooll of fine perfection So she thy loue her eyes thy eyes may gratifie As thou wilt giue our soules a deare refection By telling how she was how now she framed is To helpe or hurt in thee her owne infection Dorus. Blest be the name wherewith my mistres named is Whose wounds are salues whose yokes please more then pleasure doth Her staines are beames vertue the fault she blamed is The hart eye eare here onely find his treasure doth All numbring artes her endlesse graces number not Time place lifeâ— witt scarcely her rare gifts measure doth Is she in rage so is the Sunne in sommer hot Yet haruest brings Doth she alas absent her selfe The Sunne is hid his kindly shadows cumber not But when to giue some grace she doth content herselfe O then it shines then are the heau'ns distributed And Venus seemes to make vp her she spent herselfe Thus then I say my mischiefes haue contributed A greater good by her diuine reflection My harmes to me my blisse to her attributed Thus she is fram'd her eyes are my direction Her loue my life her anger my distruction Lastly what so she is that 's my protection Dicus Thy safetie sure is wrapped in destruction For that construction thine owne wordes do beare A man to feare a womans moodie eye Makes Reason lie a slaue to seruile sense A weake defence where weaknes is thy force So is remorse in follie dearly bought Dorus. If I had thought to heare blasphemous wordes My brest to swords my soule to hell haue solde I rather would then thus mine eares defile With words so vile which viler breath doth breed O heards take heed for I a woolfe haue found Who hunting round the strongest for to kill His breast doth fill with earth of others woe And loden so pulls downe pull'd downe destroyes O sheepheards boyes eschue these tongues of venome Which do enuenome both the soule and senses Our best defenses are to flie these adders O tongues like ladders made to clime dishonour Who iudge that honour which hath scope to slander Dicus Dorus you wander farre in great reproches So Loue encroches on your charmed reason But it is season for to end our singing Such anger bringing as for me my fancie In sicke-mans frenzie rather takes compassion Then rage for rage rather my wish I send to thee Thou soone may haue some helpe or change of passion She oft her lookes the starres her fauour bend to thee Fortune store Nature health Loue grant perswasion A quiet mind none but thy selfe can lend to thee Thus I commend to thee all our former Loue. Dorusâ— Well do I proue errour lies oft in zeale Yet it is seale though errour of true hart Nought could impart such heates to friendly mind But for to find thy words did her disgrace Whose onely face the little heauen is Which who doth misse his eyes are but delusions Barr'd from their chiefest obiect of delightefulnesse Throwne on this earth the Chaos of confusions As for thy wish to my enraged spitefulnesse The louely blow with rare reward my prayer is Thou mayst loue her that I may see thy sightfulnesse The quiet mind whereof my selfe empairer is As thou doest thinke should most of all disquiet me Without her loue then any mind who fairer is Her onely cure from surfet woes can diet me She holdes the ballance of my contentation Hâ—r cleared eyes nought els in stormes can quiet me Nay rather then my ease discontentation Should breed to herâ— let me for aye deiected be From any ioy which might her griefe occasion With so sweet plagues my happie harmes infected be Paine willes me dieâ— yet will of death I mortifie For though life irkes in life my loues protected be Thus for each change my changelesse hart I fortifie When they had ended to the good pleasing of the assistants especiallie of Zelmane who neuer forgat to giue due coÌ„mendatioÌ„s to her friend Dorus Basilius called for Lamon to end his discourse of Strephon Klaius wherwith the other day he marked Zelmane to haue bene exceedingly delighted But him sicknes had staied from that assemblieâ— which gaue occasion to Histor and Damon two yonge shepheards taking vpoÌ„ them the two frendly riualles names to present Basilius with some other of their complaints Ecloge-wise and first with this double Sestine Strephon. Klaius Strephon. Yee Goteheard Gods that loue the grassie mountaines Ye nymphes that haunt the springs in pleasant vallies Ye Satyrs ioyde with free and quiet forrests Vouchsafe your silent eares to plaining musique Which to my woes giue still an early morning And drawes the dolor on till weary euening Klaius O Mercurie foregoer to the euening O heauenly huntresse of the sauage mountaines O louelie starre entit'led of the morning While that my voice doth fill these woefull vallies Vouchsafe your silent eares to plaining musique Which oft hath Echo tir'de in secrete forrests Strephon. I that was once free burges of the forrests Where shade from Sunne and sports I sought at euening I that was once esteem'd for pleasant musique Am banisht now among the monstrous mountaines Of huge despaire and foule afflictions vallies Am growne a shrich owle to my selfe each morning Klaius I that was once delighted euery morning Hunting the wilde inhabiters of forrests I that was once the musique of these vallies So darkened am that all my day is euening Hart broken so that molehilles seeme high mountaines And fill the vales with cries in steed of musique Strephon. Long since alas my deadly swannish musique Hath made it selfe a crier of the morning And hath with wailing strength clim'd highest mountaines Long since my thoughts more desert be then â—orrests Long since I see my ioyes come to their euening And state throwne downe to ouertroden vallies Klaius Long since the happie dwellers of these vallies Haue praide me leaue my â—trange exclaming musique Which troubles their dayes worke ioyes of euening Long since I hate the night more hate the morning Long since my thoughts chaâ—e me like beasts in forrests And make me wish my selfe layd vnder mountaines Strephon. Me seemes I see the high and stately mountaines Transforme themselues to lowe deiected vallies Me seemes I heare in these ill changed forrests The Nightingales doo leâ—rne of Owles their musique Me seemes I
and the eyes delight Cherish the hiues of wisely painfull Bees Let speciall care vpon thy flock be staid Such actiue minde but seldome passion sees Philisides Hath any man heard what this old man said Truly not I who did my thoughts engage Where all my paines one looke of her hath paid Geron was euen out of countenance finding the words he thought were so wise winne so little reputation at this young mans hands and therefore sometimes looking vpon an old acquaintance of his called Mastix one of the repiningest fellows in the world and that beheld no body but with a minde of mislike saying still the world was amisse but how it should be amended he knew not sometimes casting his eyes to the ground euen ashamed to see his gray haires despised at last he spied his two dogges whereof the elder was called Melampus and the younger Laelaps in deede the iewells he euer had with him one brawling with another which occasion he tooke to restore himselfe to his countenance and rating Melampus he began to speake to his doggs as if in them a man should finde more obedience then in vnbridled young men Geron. Mastix Geron. DOwne downe Melampus what your fellow bite I set you ore the flock I dearly loue Them to defend not with your selues to fight Do you not thincke this will the wolues remoue From former feare they had of your good mindes When they shall such deuided weakenesse proue What if Laelaps a better morsell finde Then you earst knew rather take part with him Then iarle lo lo euen these how enuie blindes And then Laelaps let not pride make thee brim Because thou hast thy fellow ouergone But thanke the cause thou seest where he is dim Here Laelaps here in deed against the foen Of my good sheepe thou neuer trew's time tooke Be as thou art but be with mine at one For though Melampus like a wolfe doo looke For age doth make him of a woluish hew Yet haue I seene when well a wolfe he shooke Foole that I am that with my dogges speake grewe Come neerâ— good Mastix t is now full tway score Of yeeres alas since I good Mastix knewe Thou heardst euen now a yong man snebb me sore Because I red him as I would my son Youth will haue will Age must to age therefore Masttix What maruaile is in youth such faults be done Since that we see our saddest Shepheards out Who haue their lesson so long time begonne Quickly secure and easilie in doubt Either a sleepe be all if nought assaile Or all abroade if but a Cubb start out We shepeheards are like them that vnder saile Doe speake high wordes when all the coaste is cleare Yet to a passenger will bonnet vaile I con thee thanke to whom thy dogges be deare But commonly like currs we them entreate Saue when great need of them perforce apeare Then him we kisse whom before we beatt With such intemperance that each way grows Hate of the firste contempt of later feate And such discordtwixt greatest shepheards flowes That sport it is to see with howe greate art By iustice worke they their owne faultes disclose Like busie boyes to winne their tutors harte One saith He mockes the other saith he playes The third his lesson mist till all do smarte As for the rest howe shepeheardes spend their daies At blowe point hotcocles or els at keeles While Let vs passe our time each shepeheard saies So small accompt of time the shepeheard feeles And doth not feele that life is nought but time And when that time is paste death holdes his heeles To age thus doe they draw there youthfull pryme Knowing no more then what poore tryall showes As fishe tryall hath of muddy slyme This paterne good vnto our children goes For what they see their parents loue or hate Their first caught sence prefers to teachers blowes These cocklinges cockred we be waile to late When that we see our ofspring gaily bent Wemen man-wood men effeminate Geron. Fy man fy man what wordes hath thy tonge lent Yet thou art mickle warse then ere was I Thy too much zeale I feare thy braine hath spent We ost are angrier with the feeble flie For busines where it pertaines him not Then with the poisno'us todes that quiet lie I pray thee what hath ere the Parret gott And yet they say he talkes in greate mens bowers A Cage guilded perchaunce is all his lott Who of his tongue the lickowr gladly powrs A good foole call'd with paine perhapps may be But euen for that shall suffer mightie Lowers Let swannes example siker serue for thee Who once all birdes in sweetly-singing past But now to silence turn'd his minstralsie For he woulde sing but others were defaste The peacockes pride the pyes pild stattery Cormoraunts glutt Kites spoile king fishers waste The Falcons fercenes Sparrows letchery The Cockows shame the Gooses good intent Euen turtle toutcht he with hypocrisie And worse of other more till by assent Of all the birdes but namely those were grieued Of fowles there called was a parliament There was the swan of dignitie depriued And statute made he neuer shoulde haue voice Since when I thinke he hath in silence liued I warne thee therefore since thou maist haue choice Let not thy tonge become a firy matche No sword soe bytes as that euill toole annoyes Lett our vnpartiall eyes a litle watche Our owne demeane and soone we wondre shall That huntinge faultes our selues we did not catch Into our mindes let vs a little fall And we shall find more spottes then Leopards skinne Then who makes vs such iudges ouer all But farewell nowe thy fault is no great sinne Come come my currs t is late I will goe in And away with his doggs streight he went as if he would be sure to haue the laste worde all the assemblie laughing at the lustines of the olde fellowe who departed muttering to himselfe he had sene more in his daies then twentie of them But Basilius who neuer before had heard Philisides though hauing seldome failed to beat these metings desired him hee woulde begin some Ecloge with some other of the shepheardes according to the accustomed guise Philisides though very vnwilling at the Kings coÌ„maundemeÌ„t ofâ—red to sing with Thyrsis But he directly refused him seing he should within few dayes be maried to the faire Kala and since he had gotten his desire he would sing no more Then the king willed Philisides to declare the discourse of his owne fortunes vnknowen to them as being a stranger in that countrie but hee praied the King to pardon him the time being farre to ioyfull to suffer the rehearsall of his miseries But to satisfie Basilius someway hee began an Eclogue betwixt himselfe and the Echo framing his voice so in those desert places as what wordes he would haue the Echo replie vnto those he woulde sing higher then the rest and so kindelie framed a disputation betwixt himselfe and it which
with these hexam eters in the following order he vttered Philisides Echo Faire Rocks goodly riuers sweet woods when shall I see peace Peace Peace what barrs me my tongue who is it that comes me so ny I. Oh! I do know what guest I haue mett it is Echo 't is Echo Well mett Echo aproche then tell me thy will too I will too Echo what do I gett yelding my sprite to my grieues Grieues What medecin may I finde for a griefe that draw's me to death Death O poisonous medecin what worse to me can be then it It. In what state was I then when I tooke this deadly disease Ease And what manner a mind which had to that humor a vaine Vaine Hath not Reason enough vehemence the desire to reproue Proue Oft proue I but what salue when Reason seeks to be gone One Oh! what is it what is it that may be a salue to my Loue Loue. What do louers seeke for long seeking for to enioy Ioy. What be the ioyes which for to enioy they went to the paines Paines Then to an earnest Loue what doth best victorie lend Ende End but I can neuer end loue will not giue me the leaue Leaue How be the minds dispos'd that can not tast thy physick Sick Yet say againe thy aduise forth ' eu'lls that I told thee I told thee Doth th' infected wretch of his harme th' extremity know No. But if he know not his â—arms what guides hath he whil'st he be blind Blind What blinde guides can he haue that leanes to a fancy A fancy Can fancies want eies or he fall that steppeth aloft Oft. What causes first made these torments on me to light Light Can then a cause be so light that forceth a man to go die Yea. Yet tell what light thinge I had in me to draw me to die Eye Eysight made me to yeelde but what first pierst to my eies Eies Eies hurters eies hurt but what from them to me fall's Fall's But when I first did fal what brought most fall to my hart Arte. Arte what can be that art that thou dost meane by thy speche Speche What be the fruites of speaking arte what growes by the words Words O much more then words those words seru'd more me to blesse Lesse Oh when shall I be knowne wher most to be knowne I do longe Long. Long be thy woes for such newes but how reck's she my thoughts Oughts Then then what do I gaine since vnto hir will I do winde Winde Winde tempests stormes yet in ende what giues she desire Ire Silly rewarde yet among women hath she of vertu the most Most What great name may I giue to so heau'nly a woman A woe-man Woe but seems to me ioy that agrees to my thought so I thought so Think so for of my desired blisse it is only the course Curse Curs'd be thy selfe for cursing that which leades me to ioies Toies What be the sweet creatures wher lowly demaunds be not heard Hard. What makes them be vnkind speake for th' hast narroly pride Pride Whence can pride come there since springs of beawty be thence Thence Horrible is this blasphemy vnto the most holy O lie Thou list false Echo their minds as vertu be iust Iust. Mock'st thou those Diamonds which only be matcht by the gods Ods. Ods what an ods is their since them to the heau'ns I prefer erre Tell yet againe me the names of these faire form'd to do eu'lls Deu'lls Deu'lls if in hell such deu'lls do a bide to the hells I do go Go. Philisides was commended for the placing of his Echo but little did hee regarde their praises who had sett the foundation of his honour there where hee was most despisde and therefore retorning againe to the traine of his desolate pensiuenes Zelmanes seing no body offer to fill the stage as if her long restrayned conceates did now burst out of prison she thus desiring her voice should be accorded to nothing but to Philocleas eares threw downe the burden of her minde in Anacreous kinde of verses My muse what ail's this ardour To blase my onely secretts Alas it is no glory To sing my owne decaid state Alas it is no comfort To speake without an answere Alas it is no wisdome To shew the wound without cure My muse what ail's this ardour Mine eys be dym my lyms shake My voice is hoarse my throte scerchte My tong to this my roofe cleaues My fancy amazde my thought dull'd My harte doth ake my life faints My sowle beginnes to take leaue So greate a passion all feele To think a soare so deadly I should so rashly ripp vp My muse what ail's this ardour If that to sing thou arte bent Go sing the fall of old Thebes The warres of ougly Centaurs The life the death of Hector So may the songe be famous Or if to loue thou art bent Rocount the rape of Europe Adonis end Venus nett The sleepy kisse the moone stale So may thy song be pleasant My muse what ail's this ardour To blase my onely secretts Wherein do only flowrish The sorry fruites of anguish The song thereof a last will The tunes be cryes the words plaints The singer is the songs theame When no eare can haue ioy Nor ey receaue due obiect Ne pleasure here ne fame gett My muse what ail's this ardour Alas she saith I am thine So are thy pains my pains too Thy heated harte my seat is Wherein I burne thy breath is My voice too hott to keepe in Besides lo here the auther Of all thy harmes Lo here she That only can redresse thee Of her I will demaund helpe My muse I yeeld my muse singe But all thy songe herein knitt The life we leade is all loue The loue we holde is all death Nor ought I craue to feede life Nor ought I seeke to shun death But onely that my goddesse My life my death do counte hers Basilius when shee had fully ended her song fell prostrate vpon the ground and thanked the Gods they had preserued his life so longe as to heare the very musicke they themselues vsed in an earthly body And then with like grace to Zelmane neuer left intreating her till she had taking a Lyra Basilius helde for her song these Phaâ—eâ—ciakes Reason tell me thy mind if here be reason In this strange violence to make resistance Where sweet graces erect the stately banner Of vertues regiment shining in harnesse Of fortunes Diademes by beauty mustred Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell Her loose haire be the shott the breaste the pykes be Skowts each motion is the hands be horsmen Her lipps are the riches the warres to maintaine Where well couched abides a coffer of pearle Her legges carriage is of all the sweet campe Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell Her cannons be her eys myne eys the walls be Which at firste voly gaue too open entry Nor ramper did abide my braine was vp blowne
when they were softly layed but that if her sonne would follow her counsell he should take another course with her and so flang away from her Yet knowing the desperate melancholy of Amphialus in like cases framed to him a very thankefull message poudring it with some hope-giuing phrases which were of such ioy to Amphialus that he though against publike respect and importunity of dissuaders presently caused it to be made knowne to the campe that whatsoeuer Knight would trie the like fortune as Phalantus did he should in like sort be answered so as diuers of the valiantest partly of themselues partly at the instigation of Basilius attempted the combat with him and according to euery ones humour so were the causes of the challenge grounded one laying treason to his charge another preferring himselfe in the worthinesse to serue Philoclea a third exalting some Ladies beautie beyonde either of the sisters a fourth laying disgraces to Loue it selfe naming it the bewitcher of the witte the rebell to Reason the betrayer of resolution the defiler of thoughts the vnderminer of magnanimitie the flatterer of vice the slaue to weakenes the infection of youth the madnes of age the curse of life and reproch of death a fifth disdayning to cast at lesse then at all would make the cause of his quarrell the causers of loue and proclayme his blasphemies against womankinde that namely that sex was the ouersight of Nature the disgrace of reasonablenes the obstinate cowards the slaue-borne tyrants the shops of vanities the guilded wethercocks in whome coÌ„science is but peeuishnes chastitie way wardnes and gratefulnes a miracle But all these challenges how well so euer endited were so well answered that some by death taught others though past learning themselues and some by yeelding gaue themselues the lie for hauing blasphemed to the great griefe of Basilius so to see his Rebell preuaile and in his owne sight to crowne himselfe with deserued honour Whereupon thirsting for reuenge and else not hoping to preuaile the best of his campe being already ouerthrowne he sent a messenger to Argalus in whose approued courage and force he had and had cause to haue great considence with a letter requiring him to take this quarrell in hand from which hee had hetherto spared him in respect of his late mariage But now his honour and as he esteemed it felicitie standing vpon it hee coulde no longer forbeare to chalenge of him his faithfull seruice The messenger made speede and found Argalus at a castle of his owne sitting in a parler with the faire Parthenia he reading in a booke the stories of Hercules she by him as to heare him reade but while his eyes looked on the booke shee looked on his eies and sometimes staying him with some prety question not so much to bee resolued of the doubte as to giue him occasion to looke vpon her A happy couple he ioying in her she ioying in her selfe but in her selfe because shee enioyed him both encreasing their riches by giuing to â—ach other each making one life double because they made a double life one where desire neuer wanted satisfaction nor satisfaction euer bred sacietie he ruling because she would obey or rather because she would obey she therein ruling But when the messenger came in with letters in his hand and hast in his countenance though she knew not what to feare yet she feared because she knew not but she rose and went aside while hee deliuered his letters and message yet a far off she looked now at the messenger and then at her husband the same feare which made her loth to haue cause of feare yet making her seeke cause to nourish her feare And well she found there was some serious matter for her husbands countenance figured some resolution betweene lothnesse and necessitie and once his eie cast vpon her and finding hers vpon him he blushed and she blushed because hee blushed and yet streight grew pale because she knew not why he had blushed But when he had read and heard and dispatched away the messenger like a man in whom Honour could not be rocked a sleepe by Affection with promise quickly to follow he came to Parthenia and as sorie as might bee for parting and yet more sorie for her sorrow he gaue her the letter to reade She with fearfull slownes tooke it and with fearefull quicknesse read it and hauing read it Ah my Argalus said she and haue you made such hast to answere and are you so soone resolued to leaue me But hee discoursing vnto her how much it imported his honour which since it was deare to him he knew it would be deare vnto her her reason ouerclowded with sorrow suffered her not presently to replie but left the charge thereof to teares and sighes which he not able to beare left her alone and went to giue order for his present departure But by that time he was armde readie to go she had recouered a little strength of spirite againe and comming out and seing him armed and wanting nothing â—or his departure but her fearewell she ran to him tooke him by the arme and kneeling downe without regard who either heard her speach or sawe her demeanour My Argalus my Argalus said she do not thus forsake me RemeÌ„ber alas RemeÌ„ber that I haue interest in you which I wil neuer yeeld shal be thus adueÌ„tured Your valour is already sufficiently knowne sufficiently haue you already done for your country ennow ennow there are besides you to loose lesse worthie liues Woe is me what shall become of me if you thus abandon mee Then was it time for you to followe these aduentures when you aduentured no body but your self and were no bodies but your owne But now pardon me that now or neuer I claime mine owne mine you are and without me you can vndertake no danger and will you endanger Parthenia Parthenia shal be in the battle of your fight Parthenia shal smart in your paine and your blood must bee bled by Parthenia Deare Parthenia said he this is the first time that euer you resisted my will I thanke you for it but perseuer not in it and let not the teares of those most beloued eies be a presage vnto me of that which you would not should happen I shall liue doubte not for so great a blessing as you are was not giuen vnto me so soone to be depriued of it Looke for me therefore shortly and victorious and prepare a ioyfull welcome and I will wish for no other triumph She answered not but stood as it were thunder-striken with amazement â—or true Loue made obedience stand vp against al other passions But when he tooke her in his armes and sought to printe his harte in her sweete lippes she fell in a sounde so as he was faine to leaue her to her Gentlewomen and caried away by the tyrannie of Honour though with manie a backe-cast looke and hartie grone went to the campe Where vnderstanding the
armour and deuice streight knowne to be the notable Knight who the first day had giuen Fortune so short a stoppe with his notable deedes and fighting hand to hand the deemed inuincible Amphialus Fonthe very cowardes no sooner saw him but as borrowing some of his spirit they went like yong Eagles to the pray vnder the wing of their damme For the three aduenturers not content on For her exceeding faire eyes hauing with continual weeping gotten a little rednesse about them her roundy sweetly swelling lippes a little trembling as though they kissed their neighbour death in her cheekes the whitenesse striuing by little little to get vpoÌ„ the rosines of theÌ„ her necke a necke indeed of Alablaster displaying the wound which with most daintie blood laboured to drowne his owne beauties so as here was a riuer of purest redde there an Iland of perfittest white each giuing lustre to the other with the sweete countenance God-knowes full of an vnafected languishing though these thinges to a grosly conceauing sense might seeme disgraces yetâ—indeed were they but apparaling beautie in a new fashion which all looked-vpon thorough the spectacles of pittie did euen encrease the lynes of her naturall fairenes so as Amphialus was astonished with griefe compassion and shame detesting his fortune that made him vnfortunate in victory Therefore putting off his headpeece and gauntlet kneeling downe vnto her and with teares testifying his sorow he offred his by himselfe accursed handes to helpe her protesting his life and power to be readie to doo her honour But Parthenia who had inward messingers of the desired deathes approch looking vpon him and streight turning away her feeble sight as from a delightlesse obiect drawing out her words which her breath loath to departe from so sweet a bodie did faintly deliuer Sir said she I pray you if prayers haue place in enemies to let my maides take my body vntouched by you the onely honour I now desire by your meanes is that I haue no honour of you Argalus made no such bargaine with you that the handes which killed him shoulde helpe me I haue of them and I doo not onely pardon you but thanke you for it the seruice which I desired There rests nothing now but that I go liue with him since whose death I haue done nothing but die Then pawsing and a little fainting and againe comming to herselfe O sweete life wel come saide she nowe feele I the bandes vntied of the cruell death which so long hath helde me And O life O death aunswere for mee that my thoughts haue not so much as in a dreame tasted any comfort since they were depriued of Argalus I come my Argalus I come And O God hide my faultes in thy mercies and graunt as I feele thou doost graunt that in thy eternall loue we may loue eche other eternally And this O Lorde But there Atropos cut off her sentence for with that casting vp both eyes and hands to the skies the noble soule departed one might well assure himselfe to heauen which left the bodie in so heauenly a demeanure But Amphialus with a hart oppressed with griefe because of her request withdrewe himselfe but the Iudges as full of pitie had bene al this while disarming her and her gentelwomen with lamentable cries laboring to stanch the remediles wounds and a while she was dead before they perceiued it death being able to diuide the soule but not the beauty from that body But when the infallible tokens of death assured them of their losse one of the women would haue killed her selfe but that the squire of Amphialus perceauing it by force held her Others that had as strong passion though weaker resolution fell to cast dust vppon their heads to teare their garments al falling vpon the earth crying vpon their sweet mistres as if their cries could perswade the soule to leaue the celestiall happines to come againe into the elements of sorrow one time calling to remembrance her vertue chastnes sweetnes goodnes to them another time accursing themselues that they had obeyed her they hauing bene deceaued by her words who asâ—ured theÌ„ that it was reuealed vnto her that she should haue her harts desire in the battaile against Amphialus which they wrongly vnderstood Then kissing her cold hands and feete wearie of the world since she was gone who was their world The very heauens seemed with a cloudie countenance to loure at the losse and Fame it selfe though by nature glad to tell such rare accidents yet could not choose but deliuer it in lamentable accents and in such sort went it quickly all ouer the Campe and as if the aire had bene infected with sorow no hart was so hard but was subiect to that contagion the rarenes of the accideÌ„t matching together the rarely matched together pittie with admiration Basilius himselfe came foorth and brought the faire Gynecia with him who was come into the campe vnder colour of visiting her husband and hearing of her daughters but indeed Zelmane was the Sainct to which her pilgrimage was entended cursing enuying blessing and in her hart kissing the walles which imprisoned her But both they with Philanax and the rest of the principall Nobilitie went out to make Honour triumph ouer Death conueying that excellent body whereto Basilius himselfe would needes lende his shoulder to a Church a mile from the Campe where the valiant Argalus lay intombed recommending to that sepulchre the blessed reliques of faithfull and vertuous Loue giuing order for the making of marble images to represent them and each way enriching the tombe Vpon which Basilius himselfe caused this Epitaph to be written The Epitaph HIs being was in her alone And he not being she was none They ioi'd one ioy one griefe they grieu'd One loue they lou'd one life they liu'd The hand was one one was the sword That did his death hir death afford As all the rest so now the stone That tombes the two is iustly one ARGALVS PARTHENIA Then with eyes full of teares and mouthes full of her prayses returned they to the campe with more and more hate against Amphialus who poore Gentleman had therefore greater portion of woe then any of them For that courteous hearte which would haue grieued but to haue heard the like aduenture was rent with remembring himselfe to be the author so that his wisdome could not so far temper his passion but that he tooke his sword counted the best in the world which with much bloud he had once conquered of a mighty Giant and brake it into many peeces which afterwards he had good cause to repent saying that neither it was worthy to serue the noble exercise of chiualrie nor any other worthy to feele that sword which had stroken so excelleÌ„t a Lady and withall banishing all cheerfulnes of his countenance he returned home Where he gate him to his bed not so much to rest his restles mind as to auoid all company the sight wherof was tedious vnto him
and a Princesse aliue But once for them she might haue gone whether she would thinking it a sacriledge to touch her person when she finding she finding she was not a sufficieÌ„t oratour to perswade her own death by their haÌ„ds well said she it is but so much more time of miserie for my part I will not geue my life so much pleasure from hence forward as to yeeld to his desire of his own choise of death since all the rest is taken away yet let me excell in miserie Leade me therfore whether you will only happy because I can not be more wretched But neyther so much would the honest Shepheards do but rather with many teares bemoned this encrease of their former losse till she was faine to leade them with a very strange spectacle either that a Princesse should be in the hands of Shepheards or a prisoner should direct her gardiens lastly before either witnes or accuser a Lady condemne her selfe to death But in such monefull â—arch they went towards the other Shepheards who in the meane time had left nothing vnassaied to reuiue the King but all was bootles and their sorrowes encreased the more they had suffred any hopes vainly to arise Among other trialls they made to know at least the cause of his end hauing espied the vnhappy cup they gaue the little liquor that was left to a dogge of Damaetas in which within a short time it wrought the like effect although Damaetas did so much to recouer him that for very loue of his life he dasht out his braines But now all togither and hauing Gynaecia among them who to make her selfe the more odious did continuallie record to their mindes the excesse of their losse they yelded themselues ouer to all those formes of lamentacion that dolefull images do imprint in the honest but ouer tender hartes especially when they thinke the rebound of the euill falls to their owne smart Therefore after the auncient greeke maner some of them remembring the nobilitie of his birth continued by being like his Auncestors others his shape which though not excellent yet fauour and pittie drew all things now to the highest point others his peaceable gouernment the thing which most pleaseth men resolued to liue of their owne others his liberalitie which though it cannot light vpon all men yet men naturallie hoping it may be they make it a most amiable vertue Some calling in question the greatnes of his power which encreased the compassion to see the present change hauing a dolefull memorie how he had tempered it with such familier curtesie among them that they did more feele the fruites then see the pompes of his greatnes all with one consent geuing him the sacred titles of good iust mercifull the father of the people the life of his Countrie they ranne about his body tearing their beards and garments some sending their cryes to heauen other inuenting perticular howling musicke manie vowing to kill themselues at the day of his funeralls generallie geuing a true testimonye that men are louing creatures when iniuries put them not from their naturall course and howe easily a thing it is for a Prince by succession deeplie to sinke into the soules of his subiects a more liuely monument then Mausolus Tombe But as with such hartie lamentacion they dispersed among those woods their resounding shrikes the Sunne the perfectest marke of time hauing now gotten vp two howres iourney in his dayly changing Circle their voice helped with the only answering Echo came to the eares of the faithfull and worthy Gentleman Philanax who at that time was comming to visite the King accompanyed with diuers of the worthie Arcadian Lords who with him had visited the places adioyning for the more assurance of Basilius solitarines a thing after the late mutinie he had vsually done and since the Princesses returne more diligentlie continued which hauing nowe likewise performed thinking it as well his duty to see the King as of good purpose being so neare to receyue his further direction accompanied as aboue sayd he was this morning comming vnto him when these vnpleasant voices gaue his minde an vncertaine presage of his neere approching sorow For by and by he saw the bodie of his dearely esteemed Prince and heard Gynecias lamenting not such as the turtle-like loue is wont to make for the euer ouer-soone losse of her only loued make but with curfings of her life detesting her owne wickednes seeming only therefore not to desire death because she would not shew a loue of any thing The Shepheards especially Damaetas knowing him to be the second person in Aucthoritie gaue forthwith relacion vnto him what they knewe and had proued of this dolorous spectacle besides the other accidents of his children But he principally touched with his maisters losse lighting from his horse with a heauie cheare came and kneeled downe by him where finding he could do no more then the Shepheards had for his recouerie the constancie of his minde surprised before he might call together his best rules could not refraine such like words Ah deere maister sayd he what change it hath pleased the Almightie Iustice to worke in this place How soone not to your losse who hauing liued long to nature and to time longer by your well deserued glorie but longest of all in the eternall mansion you now possesse But how soone I say to our ruine haue you left the fraile barke of your estate O that the words in most faithfull dutie deliuered vnto you when you first entred this solitarie course might haue wrought as much perswasion in you as they â—prang from truth in me perchaunce your seruaunt Philanax should not nowe haue cause in your losse to bewayle his owne ouerthrowe And therewith taking himselfe and in deede euill fitteth it me sayde he to let goe my harte to womanish complaints since my Prince being vndoubtedly well it rather shewes loue of my selfe which makes me bewaile mine owne losse No the true loue must be proued in the honor of your memorie and that must be shewed with seeking iust reuenge vpon your vniust and vnnaturall enemies and farre more honorable it will be for your Tombe to haue the blood of your murderers sprinkled vpon it then the teares of your friendes And if your soule looke downe vppon this miserable earth I doubt not it had much rather your death were accompanyed with well deserued punishment of the causers of it then with the heaping on it more sorrowes with the ende of them to whome you vouchsafed your affection let them lament that haue wouen the webbe of lamentacion let theyr owne deathes make them crye out for your death that were the authors of it Therewith carying manfull sorowe and vindicatiâ—e resolucion in his face he rose vp so looking on the poore guiltlesse princesse transported with an vniust iustice that his eyes were sufficient herauldes for him to denounce a mortall hatred She whome furies of loue firebrands of her conscience shame of the
world with the miserable losse of her husband towardes whome nowe the disdaine of her selfe bred more loue with the remembrance of her vision wherewith she resolued assuredly the Gods had appointed that shamefull end to be her resting place had set her mind to no other way but to death vsed such like speeches to Philanax as she had before to the Shepheards willing him not to looke vpon her as a woman but a monster not as a princesse but a traytor to his prince not as Basilius wife but as Basilius murtherer She tolde him howe the worlde required at his handes the iust demonstration of his friendship if hee nowe forgot his Prince hee shoulde shewe hee had neuer loued but hys fortune like those vermine that sucke of the liuing bloud and leaue the body assoone as it is dead poore Princesse needelesly seeking to kindle him who did most deadly detest her which he vttered in this bitter answere Madame saide he you do well to hate your selfe for you cannot hate a worse creature and though we feele enough your hellish disposition yet we neede not doubt you are of counsell to your selfe of much worse then we know But now feare not you shall not long be combred with being guided by so euell a soule therefore prepare your selfe that if it be possible you may deliuer vp your spirit so much purer as you more wash your wickednes with repentaunce Then hauing presently giuen order for the bringing from Mantinea a great number of tents for the receipt of the principall Arcadians the maner of that countrie being that where the Prince died ther should be orders taken for the countries gouernment and in the place any murther was committed the iudgement should be giuen ther before the body was buried both concurring is this matter and alredy great parte of the Nobilitie being ariued he deliuered the Princes to a gentelman of greate trust and as for Damaetas taking from him the keyes of both the lodges calling him the moth of his Princes estate and onely spot of his iudgement he caused him with his wife and daughter to bee fettered vp in as manye chaines and clogges as they coulde beare and euery thirde howre to bee cruelly whipt till the determinate iudgement should be giuen of all these matters That done hauing sent alredy at his comming to all the quarters of the countrie to seeke Pamela although with smal hope of ouertaking them he himself went wel accompanied to the lodge where the two vnfortunate louers were attending a cruell conclusion of their long painefull and late most painefull affection Damaetas clownish eyes hauing ben the onely discouerers of Pyrocles stratagem had no sooner taken a full vewe of them which in some sightes would rather haue bred any thing then an accusing minde and locked the doore vpon these two yong folkes now made prisoners for loue as before they had bene prisoners to loue But that imediatly vpon his going downe whether with noyse Damaetas made or with the creeping in of the light or rather that as extreame griefe had procured his sleepe so extreame care had measured his sleepe giuinge his sences a very early salüe to come to themselues Pyrocles awaked And being vp the first euill hansell he had of the ill case wherein he was was the seeing himselfe depriued of his sworde from which he had neuer seperated himselfe in any occasion and euen that night first by the Kinges bedd and then there had laid it as he thought safe putting great parte of the trust of his well doing in his owne cowrage so armed For indeed the confidence in ones self is the chiefe nurse of magnanimitie which confidence notwithstanding doth not leaue the care of necessarie furnitures for it and therefore of all the Grecians Homere doth euer make Achilles the best armed But that as I say was the first ill token but by and by he perceaued he was a prisoner before any arest for the doore which he had lefte open was made â—o fast of the outside that for all the force he could employe vnto it he could not vndo Damaetas doing then went he to the windowes to see if that waye there were any escape for him and his deare Lady but as vaine hee founde all his employment there not hauing might to breake out but onely one barre wherin notwithstanding he strained his sinewes to the vttermost And that he rather took out to vse for other seruice then for any possibilitie he had to escape for euen then it was that Damaetas hauing gathered together the first comming sheepheards did blabber out what hee haâ— founde in the Ladye Philocleas chamber Pyrocles markingly harkned to all that Damaetas said whose voice and minde acquaintance had taught him sufficiently to know But when he assuredly perceaued that his being with the Lady Philoclea was fullie discouered by the follie or malice or rather malicious follie of Damaetas her honour therein touched in the hiest degree remembring withal the crueltie of the Arcadian lawes which without exception did condemn al to death who were fouÌ„d as Damaetas reported of them in acte of mariage without solemnitie of mariage assuring himselfe besides the law the King the Queene woulde vse so much more hate against their daughter as they had found themselues sotted by him in the pursute of their loue Lastly seing they were not only in the way of death but fittly encaged for death looking with a hartie griefe vpon the honour of loue the fellowes Philoclea whose innocent soule now enioying his owne goodnes did little knowe the daunger of his euer faire then sleeping harbour his excellent wit strengthened with vertue but guided by loue had soone described to himselfe a perfect vision of their present condition wherein hauing presently cast a resolute reckoning of his owne parte of the misery not only the chiefe but sole burthen of his anguish consisted in the vnworthy case which was like to fall vpon the best deseruing Philoclea He saw the misfortune not the mismeaning of his worke was like to bring that creature to end in whom the worlde as he thought did begin to receaue honour hee saw the weake iudgement of man woulde condemne that as death deseruing voice in her which had in troth neuer broken the bonds of a true liuing vertue how often his eye turned to his attractiue adamant so often did an vnspeakable horror strike his noble hart to coÌ„sider so vnripe yeares so fautles a beautie the mansion of so pure goodnes should haue her youth so vntimely cut off her naturall perfections vnnaturallie coÌ„sumed her vertue rewarded with shame somtimes he would accuse himselfe of necligence that had not more curiously looked to al the house entries yet coulde hee not imagine the way Damaetas was gotten in to call backe what might haue ben to a maÌ„ of wisdom courage caries but a vaine shadow of discourse somtimes he could not chose but with a dissolutioÌ„ of his inward
indeede you shall haue the ende you shoote at for in steede of one death you shall geue me a thousand and yet in the meane time depriue me of the helpe God may sende me Pyrocles euen ouerwayed with her so wisely vttred affection finding her determinacion so fixed that his ende should but depriue them both of a present contentment and not auoyde a comming euill as a man that ranne not vnto it by a sodayne qualme of passion but by a true vse of reason preferring her life to his owne nowe that wisedome did manifest vnto him that waye woulde not preuayle he retired himselfe with as much tranquillitie from it as before he had gone vnto it Like a man that had set the keeping or leauing of the bodye as a thing without himselfe and so had thereof a freed and vntroubled consideracion Therefore throwing away the barre from him and taking her vp from the place where he thought the consummating of all beawties very vnworthely lay suffring all his sences to deuoure vp their chiefest foode which he assured himselfe they should shortly after for euer be depriued of well said he most deere Lady whose contentment I preferre before mine own and iudgement esteeme more then mine owne I yeeld vnto your pleasure The gods send you haue not woon your owne losse For my part they are my witnesses that I thinke I do more at your commaundement in delayeng my death then another would in bestowing his life But now sayd he as thus farre I haue yeelded vnto you so graunt me in recompence thus much againe that I may finde your loue in graunting as you haue sound your authoritye in obteyning My humble suite is you will say I came in by force into your Chamber for so am I resolued now to affirme and that will be the best for vs both but in no case name my name that whtsoeuer come of me my house be not dishonored Philoclea fearing least refusall would turne him backe againe to his violent refuge gaue him a certayne countenance that might shewe she did yeeld to his request the latter part whereof indeed she meant for his sake to performe Neyther could they spend more wordes together for Philanax with twentie of the noblest personages of Arcadia after him were come into the Lodge Philanax making the rest stay belowe for the reuerence he bare to womanhood as stillie as he could came to the dore and opening it drewe the eyes of these two dolefull louers vpon him Philoclea cloasing againe for modestie sake within her bed the ritchesse of her beawties but Pyrocles tooke holde of his barre minding at least to dye before the excellent Philoclea should receyue any outrage But Philanax rested awhile vppon himselfe stricken with admiracion at the goodlie shape of Pyrocles whome before he had neuer seene and withall remembring besides others the notable acte he had done when with his courage and eloquence he had saued Basilius perchaunce the whole state from vtter ruyne he felte a kinde of relenting minde towardes him But when that same thought came waighted on with the remembraunce of his maisters death which he by all probabilities thought he had bene of Councell vnto with the Queene compassion turned to hatefull passion and lefte in Philanax a straunge medley betwixt pittie and reuenge betwixt lyking and abhorring O Lorde sayde hee to himselfe what wonders doth nature in our tyme to set wickednesse so beawtifully garnished and that which is straungest out of one spring to make wonderfull effectes both of vertue and vice to issue Pyrocles seeing him in such a muse neyther knowing the man nor the cause of his comming but assuring himselfe it was for no good yet thought best to begin with him in this sort Gentleman sayde hee what is the cause of your comming to my Lady Philocleas chamber is it to defende her from such violence as I might goe about to offer vnto her if it be so truly your comming is vayne for her owne vertue hath bene a sufficient resistaunce there needes no strength to be added to so inuiolate chastetie the excellencie of her mind makes her bodie impregnable Which for mine own part I had soone yelded to confesse with going out of this place where I found but little comfort being so disdainefully receiued had I not bene I know not by whom presently vpon my cōming hether so locked into this chamber that I could neuer escape hence where I was fettred in the most gilty shame that euer mā was seing what a paradise of vnspotted goodnes my filthy thoughts sought to defile If for that therfore you come alredy I assure you your arrāt is performed but if it be to bring me to any punishmēt whatsouer for hauing vndertaken so vnexcusable presumption Truly I beare such an accuser about me of mine own conscience that I willingly submit my selfe vnto it Only this much let me demaund of you that you will be a witnesse vnto the King what you heare me say oppose your selfe that neither his sodaine fury nor any other occasion may offer any hurt to this Lady in whome you see nature hath accomplished so much that I am faine to lay mine owne faultines as a foile of her purest excellency I can say no more but looke vppon her beawtie remember her bloud consider her yeares and iudge rightly of her vertues and I doubt not a gentlemans mind will then be a sufficient enstructer vnto you in this I may tearme it miserable chaunce happened vnto her by my vnbridled audacitie Philanax was content to heare him out not for any fauour he owed him but to see whether he would reueale any thing of the originall cause and purpose of the kings death But finding it so farre from that that he named Basilius vnto him as supposing him aliue thinking it rather cunning then ignorance Yong man said he whome I haue cause to hate before I haue meane to know you vse but a point of skill by confessing the manifest smaller fault to be beleeued hereafter in the deniall of the greater But for that matter all passeth to one end and hereafter we shal haue leisure by torments to seke the truth if the loue of truth it selfe will not bring you vnto it As for my Lady Philoclea if it so fall out as you say it shall be the more fit for her yeares comedy for the great house she is come of that an ill gouerned beawtie hath not cancelled the rules of vertue But howsoeuer it be it is not for you to teach an Arcadian what reuerent duty we owe to any of that progeny But said he come you with me without resistance for the one cannot auaile and the other may procure pitie Pitie said Pyrocles with a bitter smiling disdained with so currish an answere no no Arcadian I can quickly haue pitie of my selfe and I would think my life most miserable which should be a gift of thine Only I demaund this innocent Ladies securitie which vntill
thou hast cōfirmed vnto me by an oath assure thy selfe the first that layes hands vpō her shall leaue his life for a testimony of his sacriledge Philanax with an inward storme thinking it most manifest they were both he at least of counsell with the kings death well said he you speake much to me of the king I do here sweare vnto you by the loue I haue euer borne him she shal haue no worse howsoeuer it fal out then her own parents And vpon that word of yours I yeld said the poore Pyrocles deceiued by him that ment not to deceiue him Then did Philanax deliuer him into the hands of a noble man in the company euery one desirous to haue him in his charge so much did his goodly presence wherin true valure shined breede a delightfull admiration in all the beholders Philanax himselfe stayed with Philoclea to see whether of her he might learne some disclosing of this former conclusion But she sweet Lady whom first a kindly shamefastnes had separated from Pyrocles hauing bene left in a more open view then her modesty would well beare then the attending her fathers comming and studying how to behaue her selfe towards him for both their safeties had called her spirits all within her now that vpon a sodaine Pyrocles was deliuered out of the chamber from her at the first she was so surprized with the extreame stroke of the wofull sight that like those that in their dreames are taken with some ougly vision they would fain cry for help but haue no force so remained she awhile quite depriued not only of speach but almost of any other liuely actiō But whē indeed Pyrocles was quite drawne frō her eys that her vital strēgth begā to return vnto her now not knowing what they did to Pyrocles but according to the nature of loue fearing the worst wringing her hands and letting abundance of teares be the first part of her eloquence bending her Amber-crowned head ouer her bed side to the hard-hearted Philanax O Philanax Philanax sayd she I knowe how much authoritye you haue with my father there is no man whose wisedome he so much esteemes nor whose faith so much he reposeth vpon Remember how oft you haue promised your seruice vnto me how oft you haue geuen me occasion to beleeue that there was no Lady in whose fauor you more desired to remayne and if the remembrance be not vnpleasant to your mind or the rehearsall vnfitting for my fortune remember there was a time when I could deserue it Now my chaunce is turned let not your truth turne I present my selfe vnto you the most humble and miserable suppliant liuing neither shall my desire be great I seeke for no more life then I shall be found worthy of If my bloud may wash away the dishonor of Arcadia spare it not although through me it hath in deede neuer bene dishonored My only sute is you wil be a meane for me that while I am suffered to enioy this life I may not be separated from him to whom the Gods haue ioyned me and that you determine nothing of him more cruelly then you do of me If you rightly iudge of what hath past wherein the Gods that should haue bene of our mariage are witnesses of our innocencies then procure we may liue together But if my father will not so conceiue of vs as the fault if any were was vnited so let the punishmēt be vnited also There was no man that euer loued either his Prince or any thing pertaining to him with a truer zeale then Philanax did This made him euen to the depth of his heart receiue a most vehemēt griefe to see his master made as it were more miserable after death And for himselfe calling to mind in what sort his life had bene preserued by Philoclea what time taken by Amphialus he was like to suffer a cruell death there was nothing could haue kept him from falling to all tender pittie but the perfect perswasion he had that all this was ioyned to the packe of his maisters death which the misconceiued speech of marriage made him the more beleeue Therefore first muttering to himselfe such like words The violence the gentleman spake of is now turned to mariage he alledged Mars but she speakes of Venus O vnfortunate maister This hath bene that faire diuell Gynaecia sent away one of her daughters prostituted the other empoysoned thee to ouerthrowe the diademe of Arcadia But at length thus vnto her selfe he sayde If your father Madame were now to speake vnto truly there should no body be found a more ready aduocate for you then my selfe For I would suffer this fault though very great to be blotted out of my minde by your former led life your benefit towards my selfe and being daughter to such a father But since among your selues you haue taken him away in whome was the only power to haue mercy you must now be clothed in your owne working and looke for none other then that which dead pittilesse lawes may allot vnto you For my part I loued you for your vertue but now where is that I loued you in respect of a priuate benefit what is that in comparison of the publike losse I loued you for your father vnhappy folks you haue robbed the world of him These words of her father were so little vnderstood by the only well vnderstanding Philoclea that she desired him to tell her what he meant to speake in such darke sort vnto her of her lord and father whose displeasure was more dreadfull vnto her then her punishment that she was free in her owne conscience she had neuer deserued euill of him no not in this last fact wherein if it pleased him to proceed with patience he should finde her choise had not bene vnfortunate He that saw her words written in the plaine table of her faire face thought it impossible there should therin be contained deceite and therfore so much the more abashed Why said he Madame would you haue me thinke you are not of conspiracy with the Princesse Pamelas flight and your fathers death with that word the sweet Lady gaue a pittifull cry hauing streight in her face breast abundance of witnesses that her hart was far from any such abhominable consent Ah of all sides vtterly ruined Philoclea said she now in deed I may well suffer all conceite of hope to dye in mee Deare father where was I that might not do you my last seruice before soone after miserably following you Philanax perceiued the demonstracion so liuely true in her that he easily acquited her in his heart of that fact and the more was moued to ioyne with her in most heartie lamentation But remembring him that the burthen of the state and punishment of his masters murderers lay all vpon him Well sayde he Madame I can do nothing without all the states of Arcadia what they will determine of you I know not for my part your speaches would much preuaile
establish him as Lieutenant of the state and these were the most populer sorte who iudged by the commodities they felte But the principall men in honor and might who had long before enuyed his greatnes with Basilius did much more spurne against any such preferment of him For yet before theyr enuye had some kinde of breathing out his rancour by layeng his greatnes as a fault to the Princes iudgement who shewde in Damaetas he might easely be deceyued in mens valewe But nowe if the Princes choice by so many mouthes should be confyrmed what coulde they obiect to so rightly esteemed an excellencye They therefore were disposed sooner to yeeld to any thing then to his raysing and were content for to crosse Philanax to stoppe those actions which otherwise they could not but thinke good Philanax himselfe as much hindred by those that did immoderatly honour him which brought both more enuye and suspicion vppon him as by them that did manifestly resist him but standing onely vppon a constant desire of iustice and a cleere conscience went forwarde stoutly in the action of his maisters reuenge which he thought himselfe particularly bound to For the rest as the ordering of the gouernment he accompted himselfe but as one wherein notwithstanding he would imploy all hys loyall indeauour But among the Noble men hee that most openly set himselfe against him was named Timantus a man of middle age but of extreame ambition as one that had placed his vttermost good in greatnes thinking small difference by what meanes he came by it Of commendable wit if he had not made it a seruaunt to vnbrideled desires Cunning to creepe into mens fauours which hee prized onely as they were seruiceable vnto him He had bene brought vp in some souldiery which he knewe how to set out with more then deserued ostentacion Seruile though enuious to his betters and no lesse tirannycallie minded to them hee had aduauntage of Counted reuengefull but in deede measuring both reuenge and rewarde as the partye might eyther helpe or hurt him Rather shamelesse then bolde and yet more bolde in practises then in personall aduentures In summe a man that could be as euill as he listed and listed as much as any aduancement might thereby be gotten As for vertue hee counted it but a schoole name Hee euen at the fyrst assembling together finding the great stroke Philanax carried among the people thought it his readyest way of ambition to ioyne with him which though his pride did hardly brooke yet the other vice carrying with it a more apparant obiect preuayled ouer the weaker so that with those liberall protestacions of friendship which men that care not for their word are wont to bestowe he offred vnto him the choice in marriage of eyther the sisters so he would likewise helpe him to the other and make such a particion of the Arcadian estate Wishing him that since he loued his maister because he was his maister which shewed the loue began in himselfe he should rather now occasion was presented seeke his owne good substancially then affect the smoke of a glory by shewing an vntimely fidelitie to him that could not reward it and haue all the fruite he should get in mens opinions which would be as diuers as many fewe agreeing to yeeld him due prayse of his true heart But Philanax who had limitted his thoughtes in that he esteemed good to which he was neyther carryed by the vayne tickling of vncertayne fame nor from which he would be transported by enioying any thing whereto the ignorant world geues the excellent name of goodes with great mislike of his offer he made him so peremtorye an answere not without threatning if he found him foster any such fancie that Timantus went with an inward spite from him whome before he had neuer loued and measuring all mens marches by his owne pace rather thought it some further fetch of Philanax as that he would haue all to himselfe alone then was any way taken with the louâ—ly beawtie of his vertue whose image he had so quite defaced in his owne soule that he had left himselfe no eyes to beholde it but stayde wayting fitt oportunitie to execute his desires both for himselfe and against Philanax which by the bringing backe of Pamela the people being deuided into many motions which both with murmuring noyses and putting themselues in seuerall troupes they well shewed he thought apt time was layde before him the waters being as the prouerbe sayth troubled and so the better for his fishing Therefore going amongst the chiefest Lordes whome he knewe principally to repine at Philanax and making a kinde of conuocation of them he inueighed against his proceedings drawing euery thing to the most malicious interpretacion that malice itselfe could instruct him to doe He sayde it was season for them to looke to such a weede that else would ouergrowe them all It was not nowe time to consult of the dead but of the liuing since such a slye wolfe was entred among them that could make iustice the cloake of tirannye and loue of his late maister the destruction of his now being children Do you not see sayde hee howe farre his corruption hath stretched that hee hath such a number of rascalls voyces to declare him Lieutenant readye to make him Prince but that he instructs them matters are not yet ripe for it As for vs because we are too ritch to be bought he thinkes vs the fitter to be killed Hath Arcadia bredd no man but Philanax is she become a stepmother to all the rest and hath geuen all her blessings to Philanax Or if there be men amongst vs let vs shewe wee disdayne to bee seruaunts to a seruaunt Let vs make hym knowe wee are farre worthier not to bee slaues then hee to bee a mayster Thinke you hee hath made such haste in these matters to geue them ouer to another mans hande Thincke you he durst become the gaylor of his Princesse but either meaning to be her maister or her murtherer and all this for the dere good wil forsoth he beares to the kings memory whose authority as he abused in his life so he would now perseuer to abuse his name after his death O notable affection for the loue of the father to kill the wife and disenherit the children O single minded modestie to aspire to no lesse then to the princely Diademe No no he hath vired all this while but to come the sooner to his affected ende But let vs remember what we be in quallitie his equalls in number farre before him let vs deliuer the Queene and our naturall Princesses and leaue them no longer vnder his authoritye whose proceedings would rather shewe that he himselfe had bene the murderer of the King then a fit Gardien of his posteritye These wordes pearst much into the mindes already enclined that way Insomuch that most part of the nobilitye confirmed Timantus speech and were readye to execute it when Philanax came among them and with
fellowes accusation was double double likewise my aunswere must perforce be to the murder of Basilius and violence offred to the inuiolate Philoclea For the fyrst O heauenly gods who would haue thought any mouth could haue bene founde so mercenary as to haue opened so slight proofes of so horrible matters his fyrst Argument is a question who would imagine that Ginecia would accomplish such an Acte without some accessaries and if any who but I truly I and so farre from imagining any thing that till I sawe these mourning tokens and heard Ginecias confession I neuer imagined the King was dead And for my part so vehemently and more like the manner of passionate then giltie folkes I see the Queene persecute her selfe that I thinke condemnation may goe too hastely ouer her considering the vnlikelyhood if not impossibilitie her wisedome and vertue so long nourished should in one moment throw downe it selfe to the vttermost ende of wickednes But whatsoeuer she hath done which as I say I neuer beleeued yet how vniustly should that aggrauate my fault She founde abroade I within dores for as for the wearing my garment I haue tolde you the cause she seeking as you saye to escape I locking my selfe in a house without perchaunce the conspiracie of one poore straunger might greatly enable her attempt or the fortification of the Lodge as the trimme man alleadged might make me hope to resist all Arcadia And see how treacherously he seekes to drawe from me my chiefest cleering by preuenting the credit of her words wherewith she had wholie taken the fault vpon her selfe A honest and vnpartiall examiner her words may condemne her but may not absolue me Thus voide of all probable allegacion the crauen crowes vppon my affliction not leauing out any euill that euer he hath felt in his owne soule to charge my youth withall But who can looke for a sweeter breath out of such a stomacke or for honny from so filthye a Spyder What should I say more if in so inhumane a matter which he himselfe confesseth sincerest iudgements are lothest to beleeue and in the seuerest lawes proofes clerer then the Sunne are required his reasons are only the skumme of a base malice my answeres most manifest shining in their owne truth there remayne any doubt of it because it stands betwixt his affirming and my denyall I offer nay I desire and humblie desire I may be graunted the tryall by combat wherein let him be armed and me in my shirt I doubt not Iustice will be my shield and his hart will shew it selfe as faint as it is false Now come I to the second part of my offence towards the young Lady which howsoeuer you tearme it so farre forth as I haue tolde you I confesse and for her sake hartely lament But if herein I offred force to her loue offred more force to me Let her beawtie be compared to my yeares and such effectes will be found no miracles But since it is thus as it is and that iustice teacheth vs not to loue punishment but to flye to it for necessitye the salue of her honour I meane as the world will take it for else in truth it is most vntouched must be my marriage and not my death since the one shops all mouthes the other becommes a doubtfull fable This matter requires no more words and your experience I hope in these cases shall neede no more for my selfe me thinkes I haue shewed already too much loue of my life to bestowe so many But certainely it hath bene loue of truth which could not beare so vnworthy falsehood and loue of iustice that would brooke no wrong to my selfe nor other and makes me now euen in that respect to desire you to be moued rather with pittie at a iust cause of teares then with the bloudy teares this Crocodile spends who weepes to procure death and not to lament death It will be no honour to Basilius tombe to haue guiltlesse bloud sprinckled vpon it and much more may a Iudge ouerway himselfe in crueltie then in clemencie It is hard but it is excellent where it is found a right knowledge when correction is necessary when grace doth more auaile For my owne respect if I thought in wisedome I had deserued death I would not desire life for I knowe nature will condemne me to dye though you do not and longer I would not wish to drawe this breath then I may keepe my selfe vnspotted of any horrible crime only I cannot nor euer will denye the loue of Philoclea whose violence wrought violent effects in me with that he finished his speeche casting vp his eyes to the Iudge and crossing his hands which he held in their length before him declaring a resolute pacience in whatsoeuer should be done with him Philanax like a watchfull aduersary curiously marked all that he saide sauing that in the beginning he was interrupted by two Letters were brought him from the Princesse Pamela and the Lady Philoclea who hauing all that night considered and bewayled their estate carefull for their mother likewise of whome they could neuer thinke so much euill but considering with themselues that she assuredly should haue so due tryall by the lawes as eyther she should not neede their helpe or should be past their helpe They looked to that which neerelyest touched them and each wrate in this sort for him in whome their liues ioy consisted The humble harted Philoclea wrate much after this manner MY Lords what you will determine of me is to me vncertayne but what I haue determined of my selfe I am most certaine which is no longer to enioy my life then I may enioy him for my husband whom the heauens for my hyest glory haue bestowed vpon me Those that iudge him let them execute me Let my throate satisfye their hunger of murder For alas what hath he done that had not his originall in me Looke vppon him I beseech you with indifferency and see whether in those eyes all vertue shines not See whether that face could hide a murder Take leasure to knowe him and then your selues will say it hath bene too great an inhumanitie to suspect such excellency Are the gods thinke you deceaued in their workemanship Artificers will not vse marble but to noble vses Should those powers be so ouershot as to frame so precious an Image of their owne but to honorable purposes O speake with him ô heare him ô knowe him and become not the putters out of the worlds light Hope you to ioy my fathers soule with hurting him he loued aboue all the world Shall a wrong suspicion make you forget the certaine knowledge of those benefits this house hath receiued by him Alas alas let not Arcadia for his losse be accurssed of the whole earth and of all posteritie He is a great Prince I speake vnto you that which I knowe for I haue seene most euident testimonies Why should you hinder my aduancement who if I haue past my childhood hurtlesse to
naturall rest but that still it forced our thoughts to worke vpon this place where wee last alas that the word last should so long last did graze our eyes vpon her euer florishing beautie did it not still crie within vs Ah you base minded wretches are your thoughts so deeply bemired in the trade of ordinary worldlings as for respect of gaine some paultry wool may yeeld you to let so much time passe without knowing perfectly her estate especially in so troublesome a season to leaue that shore vnsaluted from whence you may see to the Island where she dwelleth to leaue those steps vnkissed wherein Vrania printed the farewell of all beautie Well then Remembraunce commaunded we obeyed and here we find that as our remembrance came euer cloathed vnto vs in the forme of this place so this place giues newe heate to the feauer of our languishing remembrance Yonder my Claius Vrania lighted the verie horse me thought bewayled to be so disburdned and as for thee poore Claius when thou wentst to helpe her downe I saw reuerence and desire so deuide thee that thou didst at one instant both blushe and quake and in stead of bearing her warre readie to fal down thy selfe There she sate vouchsafing my cloake then most gorgeous vnder her at yonder rising of the ground shee turned her selfe looking backe toward her woonted abode and because of her parting bearing much sorrow in her eyes the lightsomnes wherof had yet so natural a cherefulnesse as it made euen sorrow seeme to smile at that turning shee spake to vs all opening the cherrie of her lips and Lord how greedily mine eares did feed vpon the sweete words she vttered And here she laide her hand ouer thine eyes when shee saw the teares springing in them as if she would conceale them from other and yet her selfe feele some of thy sorrow But woe is me yonder yonder did shee put her foote into the boate at that instant as it were diuiding her heauenly beautie betweene the Earth and the Sea But when she was imbarked did you not marke how the windes whistled and the seas daunst for ioy how the sailes did swell with pride and all because they had Vrania O Vrania blessed be thou Vrania the sweetest fairnesse and fairest sweetnesse with that word his voice brake so with sobbing that he could say no further and Claius thus answered Alas my Strephon said he what needes this skore to recken vp onely our losses What doubt is there but that the light of this place doth cal our thoughtes to appeare at the court of affection held by that racking steward Remembrance Aswell may sheepe forget to feare when they spie woolues as we can misse such fancies when we see any place made happie by her treading Who can choose that saw her but thinke where she stayed where she walkt where she turned where she spoke But what is all this truely no more but as this place serued vs to thinke of those thinges so those thinges serue as places to call to memorie more excellent matters No no let vs thinke with consideration and consider with acknowledging and acknowledge with admiration and admire with loue and loue with ioy in the midst of all woes let vs in such sorte thinke I say that our poore eyes were so inriched as to behold and our lowe hearts so exalted as to loue a maide who is such that as the greatest thing the world can shewe is her beautie so the least thing that may be praysed in her is her beautie Certainely as her eye-lids are more pleasant to behold then two white kiddes climing vp a faire tree and browsing on his tendrest braunches and yet are nothing compared to the day-shining starres contayned in them and as her breath is more sweete then a gentle South-west wind which coms creeping ouer flowrie fieldes and shaddowed waters in the extreeme heate of summer and yet is nothing compared to the hony flowing speach that breath doth carrie no more all that our eyes can see of her though when they haue seene her what else they shall euer see is but drie stuble after clouers grasse is to be matched with the flocke of vnspeakeable vertues laid vp delightfully in that best builded folde But in deede as we can better consider the sunnes beautie by marking how he guildes these waters and mountaines then by looking vpon his owne face too glorious for our weake eyes so it may be our conceits not able to beare her sun-stayning excellencie will better way it by her workes vpon some meaner subiect employed And alas who can better witnesse that then we whose experience is grounded vpon feeling hath not the onely loue of her made vs beeing silly ignorant shepheards raise vp our thoughts aboue the ordinary leuell of the worlde so as great clearkes doe not disdaine our conference hath not the desire to seeme worthie in her eyes made vs when others were sleeping to sit vewing the course of heauens when others were running at base to runne ouer learned writings when other marke their sheepe we two marke our selues hath not shee throwne reason vpon our desires and as it were giuen eyes vnto Cupid hath in any but in her loue-fellowship maintained frindship between riuals and beautie taught the beholders chastitie He was going on with his praises but Strephon bad him stay and looke and so they both perceaued a thinge which floted drawing nearer and nearer to the banke but rather by the fauourable working of the Sea then by any selfe industrie They doubted a while what it should bee till it was cast vp euen hard before them at which time they fully saw that it was a man Wherupon running for pitie sake vnto him they found his hands as it should appeare constanter frendes to his life then his memorie fast griping vpon the edge of a square small coffer which lay all vnder his breast els in him selfe no shew of life so as the boord seemed to be but a beere to carrie him a land to his Sepulchre So drew they vp a young man of so goodly shape and well pleasing fauour that one would thinke death had in him a louely countenance and that though he were naked nakednes was to him an apparrell That sight increased their compassion and their compassion called vp their care so that lifting his feete aboue his head making a great deale of salt water come out of his mouth they layd him vpon some of their garments and fell to rub and chafe him till they brought him to recouer both breath the seruant and warmth the companion of liuing At length opening his eyes he gaue a great groane a dolefull note but a pleasaunt dittie for by that they founde not onely life but strength of life in him They therefore continued on their charitable office vntill his spirits being well returned he without so much as thanking them for their paines gate vp and looking round about to the vttermost lymittes of his sight
beyond the degree of a man and to looke with a certaine almost bâ—shfull kinde of modestie as if he feared the eyes of men who was vnmooued with sight of the most horrible countenaunces of death and as if nature had mistaken her woorke to haue a Marses heart in a Cupids bodie All that beheld him and all that might behold him did behold him made their eyes quicke messengers to their minds that there they had seene the vttermost that in mankind might be seene The like wonder Palladius had before stirred but that Daiphantus as younger and newer come had gotten now the aduantage in the moyst and â—icle impression of eye-sight But while all men sauing poore Argalus made the ioy of their eyes speake for their harts towardes Daiphantus Fortune that belike was bid to that banket and ment then to playe the good fellow brought a pleasant aduenture among them It was that as they had newly dined there came in to Kalander a messenger that brought him word a yong noble Lady neere kinswoman to the faire Helen Queene of Corinth was come thither and desired to be lodged in his house Kalander most glad of such an occasion-went out and all his other worthie guests with him sauing onely Argalus who remained in his chamber desirous that this company were once broken vp that he might goe in his solitarie quest after Parthenâ—a But when they met this Lady Kalander streight thought hee sawe his neece Parthenea and was about in such familiar sorte to haue spoken vnto her But shee in graue aud honorable manner giuing him to vnderstande that he was mistaken he halfe ashamed excused himselfe with the exceeding likenes was between them though in deede it seemed that this Lady was of the more pure and daintie complexion shee saide it might very well bee hauing beene many times taken one for another But assoon as she was brought into the house before she would rest her she desired to speak with Argalus publickly who she heard was in the house Argalus came hastilie and as hastilie thought as Kalander had done with sodaine chaunges of ioye into sorrow But she when she had staide their thoughts with telling them her name and qualitie in this sorte spake vnto him My Lord Argalus sayd she being of late left in the Court of Queene Helen of Corinth as chiefe in her absence she being vpon some occasion gone thence there came vnto me the Lady Parthenia so disfigured as I think Greece hath nothing so ougly to behold For my part it was many daies before with vehement oathes and some good proofes she could make me think that she was Parthenia Yet at last finding certainlye it was she and greatly pitying her misfortune so much the more as that all men had euer tolde me as now you doo of the great likenes between vs I tooke the best care I could of her and of her vnderstood the whole tragicall historieâ— of her vndeserued aduenture and therewithall of that most noble constancie in you my Lord Argalus which whosoeuer loues not shewes himself to be a hater of vertue and vnworthy to liue in the societie of mankind But no outwarde cherishing could salue the inwarde sore of her minde but a few dayes since she died before her death earnestly desiring and perswading me to thinke of no husbande but of you as of the onely man in the worlde worthie to be loued with-al she gaue me this Ring to deliuer you desiring you by the authoritie of loue commanding you that the affection you bare her you should turne to me assuring you that nothing can please her soule more then to see you and me matched together Nowe my L. though this office be not perchance sutable to my estate nor sex who should rather looke to be desired yet an extraordinarie desert requires an extraordinarie proceeding and therefore I am come with faithfull loue built vppon your worthines to offer my selfe and to beseech you to accept the offer if these noble gentlemen present will say it is great folly let theÌ„ withall say it is great loue And then she staid earnestly attending Argalus his answere who first making most hartie sighes do such obsequies as he could to Parthenia thus answered her Madame said he infinitly am I bound vnto you for this no more rare then noble courtesie but most bound for the goodnes I perceiue you shewed to the lady Parthenia with that the teares ranne downe his eyes but he followed on and as much as so vnfortunate a man fitte to be the spectacle of miserie can doo you seruice determine you haue made a purchase of a slaue while I liue neuer to faile you But this great matter you propose vnto me wherin I am not so blinde as not to se what happines it should be vnto me Excellent Ladie know that if my hart were mine to giue you before all other should haue it but Parthenias it is though dead there I began there I end all matter of affection I hope I shall not longe tarry after her with whose beautie if I had onely beene in loue I should be so with you who haue the same beautie but it was Parthenias selfe Lloued and loue which no likenes can make one no commandemeÌ„t dissolue no foulnes defile nor no death finish And shall I receiue said shee such disgrace as to be refused Noble Ladie saide he let not that harde word be vsed who know your exceeding worthinesse farre beyond my desert but it is onely happines I refufe since of the onely happines I could and can desire I am refused He had scarce spoken those words when shee ranne to him and imbracing him Why then Argalus said she take thy Parthenia and Parthenia it was in deede But because sorow forbad him too soon to beleeue she told him the trueth with all circumstances how being parted alone meaning to die in some solitarie place as she hapned to make her complaint the Queene Helen of Corinth who likewise felt her part of miseries being then walking also alone in that lonely place hearde her and neuer lefte till she had knowen the whole discourse Which the noble Queene greatly pitying she sent her to a Phisition of hers the most excellent man in the world in hope he could helpe her which in such sort as they saw he had perfourmed and shee taking with her of the Queenes seruants thought yet to make this triall whether he would quickly forget his true Parthenia or no. Her speach was confirmed by the Corinthian Gentlemen who before had kept her councell and Argalus easily perswaded to what more then ten thousand yeares of life he desired and Kalander would needes haue the mariage celebrated in his house principallie the longer to holde his deare guestes towardes whom he was now besides his owne habite of hospitallitie carried with loue and dutie therefore omitted no seruice that his wit could inuent and his power minister But no way he sawe he could so
So that you must resolue if you will plaie your parte to anie purpose whatsoeuer peeuish imperfections are in that sexe to soften your hart to receiue them the verie first downe-steppe to all wickednesse for doo not deceiue your selfe my deere cosin there is no man sodainelie either excellentlie good or extremelie euill but growes either as hee holdes himselfe vp in vertue or lettes himselfe slide to vitiousnes And let vs see what power is the aucthor of all these troubles forsooth loue loue a passion and the basest and fruitlessest of all passions feare breedeth wit Anger is the cradle of courage ioy openeth and enhableth the hart sorrow as it closeth so it draweth it inwarde to looke to the correcting of it selfe and so all of them generallie haue power towardes some good by the direction of Reason But this bastarde Loue for indeede the name of Loue is most vnworthylie applied to so hatefull a humour as it is engendered betwixt lust and idlenes as the matter it workes vpon is nothing but a certaine base weakenes which some gentle fooles call a gentle hart as his adioyned companions bee vnquietnes longings fond comforts faint discomforts hopes ielousies vngrounded rages causlesse yeeldings so is the highest end it aspires vnto a litle pleasure with much paine before and great repentaunce after But that ende how endlesse it runes to infinite euils were fit inough for the matter we speake of but not for your eares in whome indeede there is so much true disposition to vertue yet thus much of his worthie effects in your selfe is to bee seene that besides your breaking lawes of hospitallitie with Kalander and of friendship with me it vtterly subuerts the course of nature in making reason giue place to sense and man to woman And truely I thinke heere-vpon it first gatte the name of Loue for indeede the true loue hath that excellent nature in it that it doth transforme the verie essence of the louer into the thing loued vniting and as it were incorporating it with a secret and inwarde working And herein do these kinde of loues imitate the excellent for as the loue of heauen makes one heauenly the loue of vertue vertuous so doth the loue of the world make one become worldly and this effeminate loue of a wōman doth so womanize a man that if hee yeeld to it it will not onely make him an Amazon but a launder a distaff-spinner or what so euer other vile occupation their idle heads can imagin and their weake hands performe Therefore to trouble you no longer with my tedious but louiug wordes if either you remember what you are what you haue bene or what you must be if you cōsider what it is that moued you or by what kinde of creature you are moued you shall finde the cause so small the effect so daungerous your selfe so vnworthie to runne into the one or to bee driuē by the other that I doubt not I shal quicklie haue occasion rather to praise you for hauing conquered it then to giue you further counsell howe to doo it But in Pyrocles this speech wrought no more but that hee who before hee was espied was afraide after being perceiued was ashamed now being hardly rubd vpon left both feare and shame and was moued to anger But the exceeding good will he bare to Musidorus striuing with it hee thus partly to satisfie him but principally to loofe the reines to his owne motions made him answere Cosin whatsoeuer good disposition nature hath bestowed vpon me or howsoeuer that disposition hath bene by bringing vp confirmed this must I confesse that I am not yet come to that degree of wisedome to thinke light of the sexe of whom I haue my life since if I be any thing which your friendship rather finds then I acknowledge I was to come to it born of a womā nursed of a womā And certēly for this point of your speach doth neerest touch me it is strāg to see the vnman-like cruelty of mākind who not content with their tyrānous ābition to haue brought the others vertuous patience vnder them like childish maisters thinke their masterhood nothing without doing iniury to them who if wee will argue by reason are framed of nature with the same partes of the minde for the exercise of vertue as we are And for example euen this estate of Amazons which I know for my greatest honor do seek to counterfait doth well witnes that if generally the sweetnes of their disposition did not make them see the vainnesse of these thinges which wee accōpt glorious they nether want valor of mind nor yet doth their fairnes take away their force And truely we men and praisers of men should remember that if wee haue such excellēcies it is reason to thinke them excellent creatures of whom wee are since a Kite neuer brought foorth a good flying Hauke But to tell you true as I thinke it superfluous to vse any wordes of such a subiect which is so praysed in it selfe as it needes no praises so withall I feare lest my conceate not able to reach vnto them bring forth wordes which for their vnworthines may be a disgrace to them I so inwardly honor Let this suffice that they are capable of vertue and vertue ye your selues say is to be loued I too truly but this I willingly confesse that it likes me much better when I finde vertue in a faire lodging then when I am bound to seeke it in an ill fauoured creature like a pearle in a dounghill As for my fault of being an vnciuill guest to Kalander if you coulde feele what an inward guest my selfe am host vnto ye would thinke it very excuseable in that I rather performe the dueties of an host then the ceremonies of a guest And for my breaking the lawes of friendshippe with you which I would rather dye then effectually doo truely I could finde in my hart to aske you pardon for it but that your now handling of me giues me reason to my former dealing And here Pyrocles stayed as to breath himselfe hauing beene transported with a litle vehemency because it seemed him Musidorus had ouer-bitterly glaunsed against the reputation of woman-kinde but then quieting his countenance aswell as out of an vnquiet minde it might be he thus proceeded on And poore Loue said he deare cosin is little beholding vnto you since you are not contented to spoile it of the honor of the highest power of the mind which notable mē haue attributed vnto it but ye deiect it below all other passions in trueth somewhat strangely since if loue receiue any disgrace it is by the company of these passions you preferre before it For those kinds of bitter obiections as that lust idlenes and a weake harte shoulde bee as it were the matter and forme of loue rather touch me deare Musidorus then loue But I am good witnesse of mine owne imperfections and therefore will not defende myselfe but herein I must say you
a certaine Sycionian Knight was lost thorow want rather of valour then iustice her husband the famous Argalus would in a chafe haue gone and redeemed it with a new triall But shee more sporting then sorrowing for her vndeserued champion tolde her husbande shee desired to bee beautifull in no bodies eye but his and that shee would rather marre her face as euill as euer it was then that it should be a cause to make Argalus put on armour Then woulde Basilius haue tolde Zelmane that which she already knew of the rare triall of that coupled affection but the next picture made their mouthes giue place to their eyes It was of a young mayd which sate pulling out a thorne out of a Lambes foote with her looke so attentiue vppon it as if that little foote coulde haue bene the circle of her thoughts her apparell so poore as it had nothing but the inside to adorne it a shephooke lying by her with a bottle vpon it But with all that pouertie beauty plaid the prince and commanded as many harts as the greatest Queene there did Her beautie and her estate made her quicklie to be knowne to be the faire shepheardesse Vrania whom a rich knight called Lacemon farre in loue with her had vnluckely defended The last of all in place because last in the time of her being captiue was Zelmane daughter to the King Plexirtus who at the first sight seemed to haue some resembling of Philoclea but with more marking comparing it to the present Philoclea who indeed had no paragon but her sister they might see it was but such a likenesse as an vnperfect glasse doth giue aunswerable enough in some feitures and colors but erring in others But Zelmane sighing turning to Basilius Alas sir said she here be some pictures which might better become the tombes of their Mistresses thē the triumphe of Artesia It is true sweetest Lady saide Basilius some of them bee dead and some other captiue But that hath happened so late as it may bee the Knightes that defended their beauty knew not so much without we will say as in some harts I know it would fall out that death it selfe could not blot out the image which loue hath engrauen in them But diuers besides these said Basilius hath Phalantus woon but he leaues the rest carying onely such who either for greatnes of estate or of beauty may iustly glorifie the glory of Artesias triumph Thus talked Basilius with Zelmane glad to make any matter subiect to speake of with his mistresse while Phalantus in this pompous maner brought Artesia with her gentlewomen into one Tent by which he had another where they both wayted who would first strike vpon the shielde while Basilius the Iudge appointed sticklers and troumpets to whom the other should obey But non that day appeared nor the next till all ready it had consumed halfe his allowance of light but then there came in a knight protesting himselfe as contrarie to him in minde as he was in apparrell For Phalantus was all in white hauing in his bases and caparison imbroidered a wauing water at each side whereof hee had nettings cast ouer in which were diuers fishes naturally made and so pretily that as the horse stirred the fishes seemed to striue and leape in the nette But the other knight by name Nestor by birth an Arcadian in affection vowed to the faire Shepherdesse was all in black with fire burning both vpō his armour and horse His impresa in his shield was a fire made of Iuniper with this word More easie and more sweete But this hote knight was cooled with a fall which at the third course he receiued of Phalantus leauing his picture to keepe companie with the other of the same stampe hee going away remedilesly chafing at his rebuke The next was Polycetes greatly esteemed in Arcadia for deedes he had done in armes and much spoken of for the honourable loue he had long borne to Gynecia which Basilius himselfe was content not onely to suffer but to be delighted with he carried it in so honorable and open plainnes setting to his loue no other marke then to do her faithfull seruice But neither her faire picture nor his faire running could warrant him from ouerthrow and her from becomming as then the last of Artesias victories a thing Gynecias vertues would little haue recked at another time nor then if Zelmane had not seene it But her champion went away asmuch discomforted as discomfited Then Telamon for Polexena and Eurileon for Elpine and Leon for Zoana all braue Knights all faire Ladies with their going downe lifted vp the ballance of his praise for actiuitie and hers for fairenes Vpon whose losse as the beholders were talking there comes into the place where they ranne a shepheard stripling for his height made him more then a boy and his face would not allow him a man brown of complexion whether by nature or by the Suns familiaritie but very louely with all for the rest so perfectly proportioned that Nature shewed shee dooth not like men◠who slubber vp matters of meane account And well might his proportion be iudged for he had nothing vpon him but a paire of sloppes and vpon his bodie a Gote-skinne which hee cast ouer his shoulder doing all things with so pretie a grace that it seemed ignorance could not make him do a misse because he had a hart to do well holding in his right hand a long staffe so cōming with a looke ful of amiable fiercenes as in whō choller could not take away the sweetnes hee came towards the king and making a reuerence which in him was comely because it was kindly My liege Lord said he I pray you heare a few words for my heart wil break if I say not my mind to you I see here the picture of Vrania which I cannot tell how nor why these men when they fall downe they say is not so faire as yonder gay woman But pray God I may neuer see my olde mother aliue if I think she be any more match to Vrania then a Goate is to a fine Lambe or then the Dog that keepes our flock at home is like your white Greihounde that pulled downe the Stagge last day And therefore I pray you let me be drest as they be and my hart giues me I shall tumble him on the earth for indeede hee might aswell say that a Couslip is as white as a Lillie or els I care not let him come with his great staffe and I with this in my hand and you shall see what I can doo to him Basilius sawe it was the fine shepheard Lalus whom once he had afore him in Pastorall sportes and had greatly delighted in his wit full of prety simplicitie and therefore laughing at his earnestnesse he bad him be content since hee sawe the pictures of so great Queenes were faine to follow their champions fortune But Lalus euen weeping ripe went among the rest longing to
thy presence to such a dust-creeping worme as I am O you heauens which continually keepe the course allotted vnto you can none of your influences preuaile so much vpon the miserable Gynecia as to make her preserue a course so long imbraced by her O deserts deserts how fita guest am I for you since my hart can people you with wild rauenous beastes which in you are wanting O Vertue where doost thou hide thy selfe What hideous thinge is this which doeth Eclips thee Or is it true that thou weart neuer but a vaine name and no essentiall thing which hast thus left thy professed seruant when she had most need of thy louely presence O imperfect proportioÌ„ of reason which can too much foresee too little preuent Alas alas said she if there were but one hope for all my paines or but one excuse for all my faultinesse But wretch that I am my torment is beyond all succour and my euill deseruing doth exceed my euill fortune For nothing els did my husband take this straunge resolution to liue so solitarily for nothing els haue the windes deliuered this straunge guest to my country for nothing els haue the destinies reserued my life to this time but that onely I most wretched I should become a plague to my selfe and a shame to womankind Yet if my desire how vniust so euer it be might take effect though a thousand deaths folowed it and euery death were followed with a thousand shames yet should not my sepulcher receiue mee without some contentment But alas though sure I am that Zelmane is such as can answer my loue yet as sure I am that this disguising must needs come for some foretaken coÌ„ceipt And then wretched Gynecia where canst thou find any small ground plot for hope to dwel vpon No no it is Philoclea his hart is sett vpoÌ„ it is my daughter I haue borne to supplant me But if it bee so the life I haue giuen thee vngratefull Philoclea I will sooner with these handes bereaue thee of then my birth shall glory she hath bereaued me of my desires In shame there is no comfort but to bee beyond all bounds of shame Hauing spoken thus she began to make a piteous war with hir faire haire when she might heare not far froÌ„ her an extremely dolefull voice but so suppressed with a kind of whispering note that she could not conceaue the wordes distinctly But as a lamentable tune is the sweetest musicke to a wofull mind shee drewe thether heere-away in hope to find some companioÌ„ of her misery And as she paced on she was stopped with a number of trees so thickly placed together that she was afraide shee should with rushing thorow stop the speach of the lamentable partie which shee was so desirous to vnderstand And therefore setting her downe as softlie as she could for she was now in distaunce to heare she might first perceaue a Lute excellentlie well played vppon and then the same dolefull voyce accompanyinge it with these verses IN vaine mine Eyes you labour to amende With flowing teares your fault of hasty sight Since to my hart her shape you so did sende That her I see though you did lose your light In vaine my Hart now you with sight are burnd With sighes you seeke to coole your hotte desire Since sighes into mine inward fornace turnd For bellowes serue to kindle more the fire Reason in vaine now you haue lost my hart My head you seeke as to your strongest forte Since there mine eyes haue played so false a parte That to your strength your foes haue sure resorte Then since in vaine I find were all my strife To this strange death I vainely yeeld my life The ending of the song serued but for a beginning of new plaints as if the mind oppressed with too heauy a burtheÌ„ of cares was faine to discharge it self of al sides as it were paint out the hideousnes of the paine in all sortes of coulours For the wofull person as if the lute had euill ioined with the voice threw it to the ground with such like words Alas poore Lute how much art thou deceiu'd to think that in my miseries thou couldst ease my woes as in my careles times thou was wont to please my fancies The time is changed my Lute the time is changed and no more did my ioyfull minde then receiue euery thing to a ioyful consideration then my carefull mind now makes ech thing tast like the bitter iuyce of care The evill is inward my Lute the euill is inward which all thou doost doth serue but to make me thinke more freely off And alas what is then thy harmony but the sweete meats of sorrow The discord of my thoughts my Lute doth ill agree to the concord of thy strings therefore be not ashamed to leaue thy master since hee is not afraide to forsake himselfe And thus much spoke in steede of a conclusion was closed vp with so harty a groning that Gynecia could not refraine to shew her selfe thinking such griefes could serue fitly for nothing but her owne fortune But as she came into the little Arbour of this sorrowful musicke her eyes met with the eyes of Zelmane which was the party that thus had indited her selfe of miserie so that either of them remained coÌ„fused with a sodaine astonishment Zelmane fearing least she had heard some part of those complaints which she had risen vp that morning early of purpose to breath out in secret to her selfe But Gynecia a great while stood still with a kind of dull amasement looking stedfastly vpon her at length returning to some vse of her selfe she began to aske Zelmane what cause carried her so early abroad But as if the opening of her mouth to Zelmane had opened some great flood-gate of sorrow whereof her heart could not abide the violeÌ„t issue she sanke to the ground with her haÌ„ds ouer her face crying vehemently Zelmane helpe me O Zelmane haue pittie on me Zelmane ranne to her maruelling what sodaine sicknesse had thus possessed her beginning to aske her the cause of her paine offering her seruice to be imployed by her Gynecia opening her eyes wildly vpon her pricked with the flames of loue the torments of her owne conscience O Zelmane Zelmane said she doost thou offer me phisicke which art my only poyson Or wilt thou doo me seruice which hast alredy brought me into eternall slauerie Zelmane then knowing well at what marke shee shot yet loth to enter into it Most excelleÌ„t Ladie said she you were best retire your selfe into your lodging that you the better â—ay passe this sodaine fitte Retire my selfe said Gynecia If I had retyred my selfe into my selfe when thou to me vnfortunate guest camest to draw me from my selfe blessed had I bene no neede had I had of this counsaile But now alas I am forced to flie to thee for succour whom I accuse of all my hurt make thee iudge of my cause who
other turning my selfe to Mopsa but keeping mine eye where it was faire Mopsa said I well doo I finde by the wise knitting together of your answere that any disputation I can vse is asmuch too weake as I vnworthy I find my loue shal be proued no loue without I leue to loue being too vnfit a vessell in whom so high thoughts should be engraued Yet since the Loue I beare you hath so ioyned it selfe to the best part of my life as the one can not depart but that th' other will follow before I seeke to obey you in making my last passage let me know which is my vnworthines either of mind estate or both Mopsa was about to say in neither for her hart I thinke tumbled with ouermuch kindnesse when Pamela with a more fauourable countenance then before finding how apt I was to fall into despaire told me I might therein haue answered my selfe for besides that it was graunted me that the inward feeling of Mopsaes perfections had greatly beautified my minde there was none could denie but that my minde and bodie deserued great allowance But Dorus sayd she you must be so farre maister of your loue as to consider that since the iudgement of the world stands vpon matter of fortune and that the sexe of womankind of all other is most bound to haue regardfull eie to mens iudgements it is not for vs to play the philosophers in seeking out your hidden vertues since that which in a wise prince would be counted wisdome in vs will be taken for a light-grounded affection so is not one thing one done by diuers persons There is no man in a burning feuer feeles so great contentment in cold water greedily receiued which assoone as the drinke ceaseth the rage reneweth as poore I found my soule refreshed with her sweetly pronounced words and newly and more violently againe enflamed assoone as she had closed vp her delightfull speech with no lesse well graced silence But remembring in my selfe that aswell the Souldier dieth which standeth still as he that giues the brauest onset and seeing that to the making vp of my fortune there wanted nothing so much as the making knowne of mine estate with a face well witnessing how deeply my soule was possessed and with the most submissiue behauior that a thralled hart could expresse euen as my words had bene too thicke for my mouth at length spake to this purpose Alas most worthy Princesse said I and do not then your owne sweet words sufficiently testifie that there was neuer man could haue a iuster action against filthy fortune then I since all other things being granted me her blindnesse is my onely let O heauenly God I would either she had such eyes as were able to discerne my deserts or I were blind not to see the daily cause of my misfortune But yet said I most honoured Lady if my miserable speeches haue not already cloied you and that the verie presence of such a wretch become not hatefull in your eyes let me reply thus much further against my mortall sentence by telling you a storie which happened in this same country long since for woes make the shortest time seeme long whereby you shall see that my estate is not so contemptible but that a Prince hath bene content to take the like vpon him and by that onely hath aspired to enioy a mightie Princesse Pamela gratiously harkened and I told my tale in this sort In the countrie of Thessalia alas why name I that accursed country which brings forth nothing but matters for tragedies but name it I must in Thessalia I say there was well may I say there was a Prince no no Prince whome bondage wholly possessed but yet accounted a Prince and named Musidorus O Musidorus Musidorus but to what serue exclamations where there are no eares to receiue the sound This Musidorus being yet in the tendrest age his worthy father paied to nature with a violent death her last duties leauing his childe to the faith of his friends and the proofe of time death gaue him not such pangs as the foresight-full care he had of his silly successour And yet if in his foresight he could haue seene so much happie was that good Prince in his timely departure which barred him from the knowledge of his sonnes miseries which his knowledge could neither haue preuented nor relieued The young Musidorus being thus as for the first pledge of the destenies good will depriued of his principall stay was yet for some yeares after as if the starres would breath themselues for a greater mischiefe lulled vp in as much good luck as the heedfull loue of his dolefull mother and the fâ—orishing estate of his country could breed vnto him But when the time now came that miserie seemed to be ripe for him because he had age to knowe misery I thinke there was a conspiracy in all heauenly and earthly things to frame fit occasions to leade him vnto it His people to whom all matters in foretime were odious beganne to wish in their beloued Prince experience by trauaile his deare mother whose eyes were held open onely with the ioy of looking vpon him did now dispense with the comfort of her widowhead life desiring the same her subiectes did for the increase of her sonnes worthinesse And hereto did Musidorus owne vertue see how vertue can bee a minister to mischiefe sufficiently prouoke him for indeed thus much I must say for him although the likenesse of our mishaps makes me presume to patterne my selfe vnto him that well-doing was at that time his scope from which no faint pleasure could with-hold him But the present occasion which did knit al this together was his vncle the king of Macedon who hauing lately before gotten such victories as were beyond expectation did at this time send both for the Prince his sonne brought vp together to auoid the warres with Musidorus and for Musidorus himselfe that his ioy might be the more full hauing such partakers of it But alas to what a sea of miseries my plaintfull toong doth lead me thus out of breath rather with that I thought then that I said I stayed my speech til Pamela shewing by countenaÌ„ce that such was her pleasure I thus continued it These two young Princes to satisfie the king tooke their way by sea towards Thrace whether they would needs go with a Nauie to succour him he being at that time before Bizantium with a mighty Army beseeging it wher at that time his court was But wheÌ„ the coÌ„spired heauens had gotten this Subiect of their wrath vpoÌ„ so fit a place as the sea was they streight began to breath out in boystrous winds some part of their malice against him so that with the losse of al his Nauie he only with the Prince his cosin were cast a land farre off from the place whether their desires would haue guided them O cruell winds in your vnconsiderate rages why either began you this furie or
famous King Euarchus he was at this time you speake off King of Macedon a kingdom which in elder time had such a soueraintie ouer all the prouinces of Greece that euen the particular kings therein did acknowledge with more or lesse degrees of homage some kinde of fealtie thereunto as among the rest euen this now most noble and by you ennobled kingdome of Arcadia But he when hee came to his crowne finding by his latter ancestors either negligence or misfortune that in some ages many of those dueties had beene intermitted woulde neuer stirre vp olde titles how apparant soeuer whereby the publike peace with the losse of manie not guiltie soules shoulde be broken but contenting himselfâ— to guide that shippe wherin the heauens had placed him shewed no lesse magnanimitie in daungerlesse despising then others in daungerous affecting the multiplying of kingdomes for the earth hath since borne enow bleeding witnesses that it was no want of true courage Who as he was most wise to see what was best and moste iust in the perfourming what he saw and temperate in abstaining from any thing any way contrarie so thinke I no thought can imagine a greater heart to see and contemne daunger where daunger would offer to make anie wrongfull threatning vppon him A Prince that indeede especiallie measured his greatnesse by his goodnes if for any thing he loued greatnes it was because therein he might exercise his goodnes A Prince of a goodly aspect and the more goodly by a graue maiestie wherewith his mind did decke his outward graces strong of bodie and so much the stronger as he by a well disciplined exercise taught it both to do and suffer Of age so as he was about fisty yeares when his Nephew Musidorus tooke on such shepheardish apparell for the loue of the worlds paragon as I now weare This King left Orphan both of father mother whose father and grandfather likewise had died yong he found his estate when he came to the age which allowed his authoritie so disioynted euen in the noblest strongest lims of gouernment that the name of a King was growne euen odious to the people his authorytie hauing bin abused by those great Lords and litle kings who in those betweene times of raigning by vniust fauouring those that were partially theirs and oppressing them that would defende their libertie against them had brought in by a more felt then seene maner of proceeding the worst kind of Oligarchie that is when men are gouerned in deede by a fewe and yet are not taught to know what those fewe be to whom they should obey For they hauing the power of kings but not the nature of kings vsed the authority as men do their farms of which they see within a yeere they shal go out making the Kinges sworde strike whom they hated the Kings purse reward whom they loued and which is worst of all making the Royall countenaunce serue to vndermine the Royall souerainty For the Subiectes could taste no sweeter fruites of hauing a King then grieuous taxations to serue vaine purposes Lawes made rather to finde faultes then to preuent faults the Court of a Prince rather deemed as a priuiledged place of vnbrideled licentiousnes then as the abiding of him who as a father should giue a fatherly example vnto his people Hence grew a very dissolution of all estates while the great men by the nature of ambition neuer satisfied grew factious among themselues and the vnderlinges glad in deede to be vnderlinges to them they hated lest to preserue them from such they hated most Men of vertue suppressed lest their shining shuld discouer the others filthines and at leÌ„gth vertue it selfe almost forgotten when it had no hopefull end whereunto to be directed olde men long â—usled in corruption scorning them that would seeke reformation young men very fault-finding but very faultie and so to new fanglenesse both of manners apparell and each thing els by the custome of selfe-guiltie euill glad to change though oft for a worse marchaundise abused and so townes decaied for want of iust and naturall libertie offices euen of iudging soules solde publique defences neglected and in summe lest too long I trouble you all awrie and which wried it to the most wrie course of all witte abused rather to faine reason why it should be amisse then how it should be amended In this and a much worse plight then it is fitte to trouble your excellent eares withall did the King Euarchus finde his estate when he tooke vppon him the regiment which by reason of the long streame of abuse he was forced to establish by some euen extreme seuerity not so much for the very faultes themselues which hee rather sought to preuent then to punishe as for the faultie ones who strong euen in their faultes scorned his youth and coulde not learne to disgest that the man which they so long had vsed to maske their owne appetites shoulde now be the reducer of them into order But so soone as some fewe but in deede notable examples had thundered a duety into the subiectes hearts hee soone shewed no basenes of suspition nor the basest basenes of enuy coulde any whit rule such a Ruler But then shined foorth indeede all loue among them when an awfull feare ingendred by iustice did make that loue most louely his first and principal care being to appear vnto his people such as he would haue them be to be such as he appeared making his life the example of his lawes and his lawes as it were his axioms arising out of his deedes So that within small time he wanne a singular loue in his people and engraffed singular confidence For how could they chuse but loue him whom they found so truely to loue them He euen in reason disdayning that they that haue charge of beastes shoulde loue their charge and care for them and that he that was to gouerne the most excellent creature should not loue so noble a charge And therefore where most Princes seduced by flatterie to builde vpon false grounds of gouernment make themselues as it were an other thing from the people and so count it gaine what they get from them and as if it were two counter-ballances that their estate goes hiest when the people goes lowest by a fallacie of argument thinking themselues most Kinges when the subiect is most basely subiected He coÌ„trariwise vertuouslie and wisely acknowledging that he with his people made all but one politike bodie whereof himselfe was the head euen so cared for them as he woulde for his owne limmes neuer restrayning their libertie without it stretched to licenciousnes nor pulling from them their goods which they found were not imployed to the purchase of a greater good but in all his actions shewing a delight in their wellfare brought that to passe that while by force he tooke nothing by their loue he had all In summe peerelesse Princesse I might as easily sette downe the whole Arte of
but her own good behauiour hauing followed and seene Zelmane fighting had cried what she had seene while they were drying themselues and the water with some drops seemed to weepe that it should part from such bodies But they carefull of Zelmane assuring themselues that any Arcadian would beare reuerence to them Pamela with a noble mind and Philoclea with a louing hastily hiding the beauties whereof Nature was prowde and they ashamed they made quicke worke to come to saue Zelmane But already they found them in talke and Zelmane carefull of his wound But whē they saw him they knew it was their cousin germain the famous Amphialus whom yet with a sweete-graced bitternes they blamed for breaking their fathers commaundement especially while themselues were in such sort retired But he craued pardon protesting vnto them that he had onely bene to seeke solitary places by an extreme melancholy that had a good while possest him and guided to that place by his spaniell where while the dog hunted in the riuer he had withdrawne himselfe to pacifie with sleepe his ouerwatched eyes till a dreame waked him and made him see that whereof he had dreamed and withall not obscurely signified that he felt the smart of his owne doings But Philoclea that was euen iealous of her selfe for Zelmane would needs haue her gloue and not without so mighty a loure as that face could yeeld As for Zelmane when she knew it was Amphialus Lord Amphialus said she I haue long desired to know you heretofore I must confesse with more good will but still with honoring your vertue though I loue not your person and at this time I pray you let vs take care of your wound vpon condition you shall hereafter promise that a more knightly combat shal be performed betweene vs. Amphialus answered in honorable sort but with such excusing himselfe that more and more accused his loue to Philoclea and prouoked more hate in Zelmane But Mopsa had already called certaine shepheards not far off who knew and wel obserued their limits to come and helpe to carrie away Amphialus whose wound suffered him not without daunger to straine it and so he leauing himselfe with them departed from them faster bleeding in his hart then at his wound which bound vp by the sheetes wherewith Philoclea had bene wrapped made him thanke the wound and blesse the sword for that fauour He being gone the Ladies with mery anger talking in what naked simplicitie their cousin had seene them returned to the lodge-warde yet thinking it too early as long as they had any day to breake off so pleasing a company with going to performe a cumbersome obedience Zelmane inuited them to the little arbour only reserued for her which they willingly did and there sitting Pamela hauing a while made the lute in his language shew how glad it was to be touched by her fingers Zelmane deliuered vp the paper which Amphialus had at first yeelded vnto her and seeing written vpon the backside of it the complaint of Plangus remembring what Dorus had told her and desiring to know how much Philoclea knew of her estate she tooke occasion in the presenting of it to aske whether it were any secret or no. No truely answered Philoclea it is but euen an exercise of my fathers writing vpon this occasion He was one day somwhile before your comming hether walking abroade hauing vs two with him almost a mile hence and crossing a hie way which comes from the cittie of Megalopolis he saw this Gentleman whose name is there written one of the proprest and best-graced men that euer I sawe being of middle age and of a meane stature Hee lay as then vnder a tree while his seruaunts were getting fresh post-horses for him It might seeme he was tired with the extreme trauaile he had taken and yet not so tyred that hee forced to take any rest so hasty hee was vpon his iourney and withall so sorrowfull that the very face thereof was painted in his face which with pitifull motions euen groanes teares and possionate talking to him self moued my Father to fal in talke with him who at first not knowing him answered him in such a desperate phrase of griefe that my Father afterward tooke a delight to set it downe in such forme as you see which if you read what you doubt of my sister and I are hable to declare vnto you Zelmane willingly opened the leaues and read it being written Dialogue-wise in this manner Plangus Basilius Plangus ALas how long this pilgrimage doth last What greater ills haue now the heauens in store To couple comming harmes with sorrowes past Long since my voice is hoarce and throte is sore With cries to skies and curses to the ground But more I plaine I feele my woes the more Ah where was first that cruell cunning found To frame of Earth a vessell of the minde Where it should be to selfe-destruction bound What needed so high sprites such mansions blind Or wrapt in flesh what do they here obtaine But glorious name of wretched humaine-kind Balles to the starres and thralles to Fortunes raigne Turnd from themselues infected with their cage Where death is feard and life is held with paine Like players pla'st to fill a filthy stage Where chaunge of thoughts one foole to other shewes And all but iests saue onely sorrowes rage The child feeles that the man that feeling knowes With cries first borne the presage of his life Where wit but serues to haue true tast of woes A Shop of shame a Booke where blots be rife This bodie is this bodie so composed As in it selfe to nourish mortall strife So diuers be the Elements disposed In this weake worke that it can neuer be Made vniforme to any state reposed Griefe onely makes his wretched state to see Euen like a toppe which nought but whipping moues This man this talking beast this walking tree Griefe is the stone which finest iudgement proues For who grieues not hath but a blockish braine Since cause of griefe no cause from life remoues Basilius How long wilt thou with monefull musicke staine The cheerefull notes these pleasant places yeeld Where all good haps a perfect state maintaine Plangus Curst be good haps and curst be they that build Their hopes on haps and do not make despaire For all these certaine blowes the surest shield Shall I that saw Eronaes shining haire Torne with her hands and those same hands of snow With losse of purest blood themselues to teare Shall I that saw those brests where beauties flow Swelling with sighes made pale with mindes disease And saw those eyes those Sonnes such shoures to shew Shall I whose eares her mournefull words did seaze Her words in syrup laid of sweetest breath Relent those thoughts which then did so displease No no Despaire my dayly lesson saith And saith although I seeke my life to flie Plangus must liue to see Eronaes death Plangus must liue some helpe for her to trie Though in despaire
for Loue so forceth me Plangus doth liue and shall Erona dye Erona dye O heauen if heauen there be Hath all thy whirling course so small effect Serue all thy starrie eyes this shame to see Let doltes in haste some altars faire erect To those high powers which idly sit aboue And vertue do in greatest need neglect Basilius O man take heed how thou the Gods do moue To causefull wrath which thou canst not resist Blasphemous words the speaker vaine do proue Alas while we are wrapt in foggie mist Of our selfe-loue so passions do deceaue We thinke they hurt when most they do assist To harme vs wormes should that high Iustice leaue His nature nay himselfe for so it is What glorie from our losse can he receaue But still our dazeled eyes their way do misse While that we do at his sweete scourge repine The kindly way to beate vs on to blisse If she must dye then hath she past the line Of lothsome dayes whose losse how canst thou mone That doost so well their miseries define But such we are with inward tempest blowne Of windes quite contrarie in waues of will We mone that lost which had we did bemone Plangus And shall she dye shall cruell fier spill Those beames that set so many harts on fire Hath she not force euen death with loue to kill Nay euen cold Death enflamde with hot desire Her to enioy where ioy it selfe is thrall Will spoile the earth of his most rich attire Thus Death becomes a riuall to vs all And hopes with foule embracements her to get In whose decay Vertues faire shrine must fall O Vertue weake shall death his triumph set Vpon thy spoiles which neuer should lye waste Let Death first dye be thou his worthy let By what eclipse shall that Sonne be defaste What myne hath erst throwne downe so faire a tower What sacriledge hath such a saint disgra'st The world the garden is she is the flower That sweetens all the place she is the guest Of rarest price both heau'n and earth her bower And shall ô me all this in ashes rest Alas if you a Phoenix new will haue Burnt by the Sunne she first must build her nest But well you know the gentle Sunne would saue Such beames so like his owne which might haue might In him the thoughts of Phaëtons damme to graue Therefore alas you vse vile Vulcans spight Which nothing spares to melt that Virgin-waxe Which while it is it is all Asias light O Mars for what doth serue thy armed axe To let that wit-old beast consume in flames Thy Venus child whose beautie Venus lackes O Venus if her praise no enuy frames In thy high minde get her thy husbands grace Sweete speaking oft a currish hart reclaimes O eyes of mine where once she saw her face Her face which was more liuely in my hart O braine where thought of her hath onely place O hand which toucht her hand when we did part O lippes that kist that hand with my teares sprent O toonge then dumbe not daring tell my smart O soule whose loue in her is onely spent What ere you see think touch kisse speake or loue Let all for her and vnto her be bent Basilius Thy wailing words do much my spirits moue They vttred are in such a feeling fashion That sorrowes worke against my will I proue Me-thinkes I am partaker of thy passion And in thy case do glasse mine owne debilitie Selfe-guiltie folke most prone to feele compassion Yet Reason saith Reason should haue abilitie To hold these wordly things in such proportion As let them come or go with euen facilitie But our Desires tyrannicall extortion Doth force vs there to set our chiefe delightfulnes Where but a baiting place is all our portion But still although we faile of perfect rightfulnes Seeke we to tame these childish superfluities Let vs not winke though void of purest sightfulnes For what can breed more peeuish incongruities Then man to yeeld to female lamentations Let vs some grammar learne of more congruities Plangus If through mine eares pearce any consolation By wise discourse sweete tunes or Poets fiction If ought I cease these hideous exclamations While that my soule she she liues in affliction Then let my life long time on earth maintained be To wretched me the last worst malediction Can I that know her sacred parts restrained be From any ioy know fortunes vile displacing her In morall rules let raging woes contained be Can I forget when they in prison placing her With swelling hart in spite and due disdainfulnes She lay for dead till I helpt with vnlasing her Can I forget from how much mourning plainfulnes With Diamond in window-glasse she graued Erona dye and end this ougly painefulnes Can I forget in how straunge phrase she craued That quickly they would her burne drowne or smother As if by death she onely might be saued Then let me eke forget one hand from other Let me forget that Plangus I am called Let me forget I am sonne to my mother But if my memory must thus be thralled To that strange stroke which conquer'd all my senses Can thoughts still thinking so rest vnappalled Basilius Who still doth seeke against him selfe offences What pardon can auaile or who imployes him To hurt himselfe what shields can be desenses Woe to poore man ech outward thing annoyes him In diuers kinds yet as he were not filled He heapes in outward griefe that most destroyes him Thus is our thought with paine for thistles tilled Thus be our noblest parts dryed vp with sorrow Thus is our mind with too much minding spilled One day layes vp stuffe of griefe for the morrow And whose good haps do leaue him vnprouided Condoling cause of friendship he will borrow Betwixt the good and shade of good diuided We pittie deeme that which but weakenes is So are we from our high creation slided But Plangus lest I may your sicknesse misse Or rubbing hurt the sore I here doo end The asse did hurt when he did thinke to kisse When Zelmane had read it ouer marueyling verie much of the speeche of Eronas death and therefore desirous to know further of it but more desirous to heare Philoclea speake Most excellent Ladie saide she one may be little the wiser for reading this Dialogue since it nether sets foorth what this Plangus is nor what Erona is nor what the cause should be which threatens her with death and him with sorow therefore I woulde humbly craue to vnderstand the particular discourse thereof because I must confesse some thing in my trauaile I haue heard of this strange matter which I would be glad to finde by so sweet an authoritie confirmed The trueth is answered Philoclea that after hee knew my father to bee Prince of this countrie while hee hoped to preuaile something with him in a great request hee made vnto him hee was content to open fully the estate both of himselfe and of that Ladie which with my
possesseth thee But if thou wilt do it canst thou do it canst thou force thy hart Thinke with thy selfe if this man haue thee thou shalt neuer haue more part of Antiphilus then if he were dead But thus much more that the affection shal be still gnawing and the remorse still present Death perhaps will coole the rage of thy affection where thus thou shalt euer loue and euer lacke Thinke this beside if thou marrie Tiridates Antiphilus is so excellent a man that long he cannot be from being in some high place maried canst thou suffer that too If an other kill him he doth him the wrong if thou abuse thy body thou doost him the wrong His death is a worke of nature and either now or at another time he shal die But it shal be thy worke thy shamefull worke which is in thy power to shun to make him liue to see thy faith falsified and his bed defiled But when Loue had well kindled that partie of her thoughts then went he to the other side What said he O Erona and is thy Loue of Antiphilus come to that point as thou doost now make it a question whether he shall die or no O excellent affection which for too much loue will see his head off Marke well the reasons of the other side and thou shalt see it is but loue of thy selfe which so disputeth Thou canst not abide Tiridates this is but loue of thy selfe thou shalt be ashamed to looke vpon him afterward this is but feare of shame and loue of thy selfe thou shalt want him as much then this is but loue of thy selfe he shal be married if he be well why should that grieue thee but for loue of thy selfe No no pronounce these words if thou canst let Antiphilus die Then the images of each side stood before her vnderstanding one time she thought she saw Antiphilus dying an other time she thought Antiphilus sawe her by Tiridates enioyed twenty times calling for a seruaunt to carry message of yeelding but before he came the minde was altered She blusht when she considered the effect of granting she was pale when she remembred the fruits of denying For weeping sighing wringing her hands and tearing her haire were indifferent of both sides Easily she would haue agreed to haue broken all disputations with her owne death but that the feare of Antiphilus furder torments staied her At length euen the euening before the day apointed of his death the determination of yeelding preuailed especially growing vpon a message of Antiphilus who with all the coniuring termes he could deuise besought her to saue his life vpon any conditions But she had no sooner sent her messenger to Tiridates but her mind changed and she went to the two yong Princes Pyrocles and Musidorus falling downe at their feet desired them to try some way for her deliuerance shewing her selfe resolued not to ouer-liue Antiphilus nor yet to yeeld to Tiridates They that knew not what she had done in priuate prepared that night accordingly as sometimes it fals out that what is inconstancy seemes cunning so did this change indeed stand in as good steed as a witty dissimulation For it made the King as reckles as them diligent so that in the dead time of the night the Princes issued out of the towne with whom she would needs go either to die her selfe or reskew Antiphilus hauing no armour nor weapon but affection And I cannot tell you how by what deuise though Plangus at large described it the conclusion was the wonderfull valour of the two Princes so preuailed that Antiphilus was succoured and the King slaine Plangus was then the chiefe man left in the campe and therefore seeing no other remedie conueied in safety into her country Artaxia now Queene of Armenia who with true lamentations made known to the world that her new greatnes did no way comfort her in respect of her brothers losse whom she studied all meanes possible to reuenge vpon euery one of the occasioners hauing as she thought ouerthrowne her brother by a most abhominable treason In somuch that being at home she proclaimed great rewards to any priuate man and her selfe in mariage to any Prince that would destroy Pyrocles and Musidorus But thus was Antiphilus redeemed and though against the consent of all her nobility married to Erona in which case the two Greeke Princes being called away by an other aduenture left them But now me thinkes as I haue read some Poets who when they intend to tell some horrible matter they bid men shun the hearing of it so if I do not desire you to stop your eares from me yet may I wel desire a breathing time before I am to tell the execrable treason of Antiphilus that brought her to this misery and withall wish you all that from all mankind indeed you stop your eares O most happy were we if we did set our loues one vpon another And as she spake that word her cheekes in red letters writ more then her tongue did speake And therefore since I haue named Plangus I pray you sister said she helpe me with the rest for I haue held the stage long inough and if it please you to make his fortune knowne as I haue done Eronas I will after take hart againe to go on with his falshood and so betweene vs both my Ladie Zelmane shall vnderstand both the cause and parties of this Lamentation Nay I beshrow me then said Miso I will none of that I promise you as long as I haue the gouernmēt I wil first haue my tale then my Lady Pamela my Lady Zelmane my daughter Mopsa for Mopsa was then returned from Amphialus may draw cuts the shortest cut speake first For I tell you and this may be suffred when you are married you will haue first and last word of your husbands The Ladies laughed to see with what an eger earnestnesse she looked hauing threatning not onely in her Ferret eies but while she spake her nose seeming to threaten her chin her shaking lims one to threaten another But there was no remedy they must obey and Miso sitting on the ground with her knees vp and her hands vpon her knees tuning her voice with many a quauering cough thus discoursed vnto them I tell you true said she whatsoeuer you thinke of me you will one day be as I am I simple though I sit here thought once my pennie as good siluer as some of you do and if my father had not plaid the hasty foole it is no lie I tell you I might haue had an other-gaines husband then Dametas But let that passe God amend him and yet I speake it not without good cause You are full in your tittle tattlings of Cupid here is Cupid there is Cupid I will tell you now what a good old womā told me what an old wise man told her what a great learned clerke told him and gaue it him in writing and here I
haue it in my praier booke I pray you said Philoclea let vs see it read it No hast but good said Miso you shal first know how I came by it I was a young girle of a seuen and twenty yeare old I could not go thorow the streate of our village but I might heare the young men talke O the pretie little eies of Miso O the fine thin lips of Miso O the goodly fat hands of Miso besides how well a certaine wrying I had of my necke became me Then the one would wincke with one eye and the other cast daiseys at me I must confesse seing so many amorous it made me set vp my peacocks tayle with the hiest Which when this good old woman perceiued O the good wold woman well may the bones rest of the good wold woman she cald me to her into her house I remember full well it stood in the lane as you go to the Barbers shop all the towne knew her there was a great losse of her she called me to her and taking first a soppe of wine to comfort her hart it was of the same wine that comes out of Candia which we pay so deere for now adaies and in that good world was very good cheape she cald me to her Minion said she indeed I was a pretie one in those daies though I say it I see a number of lads that loue you Well said she I say no more doo you know what Loue is With that she brought me into a corner where there was painted a foule fiend I trow for he had a paire of hornes like a Bull his feete clouen as many eyes vpon his bodie as my gray-mare hath dappels for all the world so placed This monster sat like a hangman vpon a paire of gallowes in his right hand he was painted holding a crowne of Laurel in his left hand a purse of mony out of his mouth hong a lace of two faire pictures of a man and a woman and such a countenance he shewed as if he would perswade folks by those aluremēts to come thither be hanged I like a tender harted wench skriked out for feare of the diuell Well said she this same is euen Loue therefore do what thou list with all those fellows one after another and it recks not much what they do to thee so it be in secret but vpō my charge neuer loue none of them Why mother said I could such a thing come frō the belly of the faire Venus for a few dayes before our priest betweene him me had told me the whole storie of Venus Tush said she they are all deceaued and therwith gaue me this Booke which she said a great maker of ballets had giuen to an old painter who for a litle pleasure had bestowed both booke and picture of her Reade there said she thou shalt see that his mother was a cowe and the false Argus his father And so she gaue me this Booke and there now you may reade it With that the remembrance of the good old woman made her make such a face to weepe as if it were not sorrow it was the carkasse of sorrow that appeared there But while her teares came out like raine falling vpon durtie furrowes the latter end of her praier booke was read among these Ladies which contained this POore Painters oft with silly Poets ioyne To fill the world with strange but vaine conceits One brings the stuffe the other stamps the coine Which breedes nought else but gloses of deceits Thus Painters Cupid paint thus Poets do A naked God blinde young with arrowes two Is he a God that euer flies the light Or naked he disguis'd in all vntruth If he be blind how hitteth he so right How is he young that tam'd old Phoebus youth But arrowes two and tipt with gold or leade Some hurt accuse a third with horny head No nothing so an old false knaue he is By Argus got on Io then a cow What time for her Iuno her Ioue did misse And charge of her to Argus did allow Mercury kill'd his false sire for this act His damme a beast was pardon'd beastly fact With fathers death and mothers guiltie shame With Ioues disdaine at such a riuals seed The wretch compell'd a runnagate became And learn'd what ill a miser state doth breed To lye to steale to pry and to accuse Naught in himselfe ech other to abuse Yet beares he still his parents stately gifts A horned head clouen feete and thousand eyes Some gazing still some winking wilye shiftes With long large eares where neuer rumour dyes His horned head doth seeme the heauen to spight His clouen foote doth neuer treade aright Thus halfe a man with man he dayly haunts Cloth'd in the shape which soonest may deceaue Thus halfe a beast ech beastly vice he plants In those weake harts that his aduice receaue He proules ech place stil in new colours deckt Sucking ones ill another to infect To narrow brests he comes all wrapt in gaine To swelling harts he shines in honours fire To open eyes all beauties he doth raine Creeping to ech with flattering of desire But for that Loue is worst which rules the eyes Thereon his name there his chiefe triumph lyes Millions of yeares this old driuell Cupid liues While still more wretch more wicked he doth proue Till now at length that Ioue him office giues At Iunos suite who much did Argus loue In this our world a hang-man for to be Of all those fooles that will haue all they see The Ladies made sport at the description and storie of Cupid But Zelmane could scarce suffer those blasphemies as she tooke them to be read but humbly besought Pamela she would perfourme her sisters request of the other part of the storie Noble Lady answered she beautifying her face with a sweete smiling and the sweetnes of her smiling with the beautie of her face since I am borne a Princes daughter let me not giue example of disobedience My gouernesse will haue vs draw cuts and therefore I pray you let vs do so and so perhaps it will light vpon you to entertaine this company with some storie of your owne and it is reason our eares should be willinger to heare as your tongue is abler to deliuer I will thinke answered Zelmane excellent Princesse my tongue of some value if it can procure your tongue thus much to fauour me But Pamela pleasantly persisting to haue fortune their iudge they set hands and Mopsa though at the first for squeamishnes going vp and downe with her head like a boate in a storme put to her golden gols among them and blind Fortune that saw not the coulor of them gaue her the preheminence and so being her time to speake wiping her mouth as there was good cause she thus tumbled into her matter In time past sayd she there was a King the mightiest man in all his country that had by his wife the fairest
foote to trouble his daughter gaue her a stop for that while So away departed Philoclea with a new field of fancies for her trauayling mind For well she sawe her father was growen her aduerse partie and yet her fortune such as she must fauour her Riuall and the fortune of that fortune such as neither that did hurt her nor any contrarie meane helpe her But she walkt but a little on before she saw Zelmane lying vpon a banke with her face so bent ouer Ladon that her teares falling into the water one might haue thought that she began meltingly to be metamorphosed to the vnder-running riuer But by and by with speech she made knowen as well that she liued as that she sorrowed Faire streames said she that do vouchsafe in your cleerenes to represent vnto me my blubbered face let the tribute-offer of my teares vnto you procure your stay a while with me that I may beginne yet at last to finde some thing that pities me and that all things of comfort and pleasure doo not flie away from me But if the violence of your spring commaund you to haste away to pay your dueties to your great prince the Sea yet carrie with you these few wordes and let the vttermost ends of the world know them A loue more cleere then your selues dedicated to a Loue I feare more cold then your selues with the cleerenes layes a night of sorow vpon me and with the coldnes enflames a world of fire within me With that she tooke a willowe stick and wrote in a sandie banke these fewe verses OVer these brookes trusting to ease mine eyes Mine eyes euen great in labour with their teares I layde my face my face wherein there lyes Clusters of clowdes which no Sunne euer cleares In watry glasse my watrie eyes I see Sorrowes ill easde where sorrowes painted be My thoughts imprisonde in my secret woes With flamie breathes doo issue oft in sound The sound to this strange aier no sooner goes But that it dooth with Echoes force rebound And make me heare the plaints I would refraine Thus outward helps my inward griefe maintaine Now in this sand I would discharge my minde And cast from me part of my burdnous cares But in the sand my tales foretolde I finde And see therein how well the writer fares Since streame aier sand mine eyes and eares conspire What hope to quench where each thing blowes the fire And assoone she had written them a new swarme of thoughts stinging her minde she was ready with her foot to giue the new-borne letters both death and buriall But Philoclea whose delight of hearing and seeing was before a stay from interrupting her gaue her self to be seen vnto her with such a lightning of Beauty vpon Zelmane that neither she could looke on nor would looke off At last Philoclea hauing a little mused how to cut the threede euen betweene her owne hopelesse affection and her fathers vnbrideled hope with eyes cheekes and lips wherof each sang their part to make vp the harmonie of bashfulnesse began to say My Father to whom I owe my self and therfore When Zelmane making a womanish habite to be the Armour of her boldnesse giuing vp her life to the lips of Philoclea and taking it againe by the sweetenesse of those kisses humbly besought her to keepe her speach for a while within the Paradise of her minde For well she knew her fathers errand who should soone receiue a sufficient answere But now she demaunded leaue not to loose this long sought-for commoditie of time to ease her hart thus farre that if in her agonies her destinie was to be condemned by Philocleas mouth at lest Philoclea might know whom she had condemned Philoclea easily yeelded to graunt her owne desire and so making the greene banke the situation and the riuer the prospect of the most beautifull buildings of Nature Zelmane doubting how to beginne though her thoughts already had runne to the ende with a minde fearing the vnworthinesse of euery word that should be presented to her eares at length brought it forth in this manner Most beloued Ladie the incomparable excellencies of your selfe waited-on by the greatnesse of your estate and the importaunce of the thing whereon my life consisteth doth require both many ceremonies before the beginning and many circumstaunces in the vttering my speech both bolde and fearefull But the small opportunitie of enuious occasion by the malicious eie hatefull Loue doth cast vpon me and the extreme bent of my affection which will eyther breake out in words or breake my harte compell me not onely to embrace the smallest time but to passe by the respects due vnto you in respect of your poore caitifes life who is now or neuer to be preserued I doo therefore vowe vnto you hereafter neuer more to omit all dutifull forme doo you onely now vouchsafe to heare the matter of a minde most perplexed If euer the sound of Loue haue come to your eares or if euer you haue vnderstood what force it hath had to conquere the strongest hartes and change the most setled estates receiue here an example of those straunge Tragedies one that in himselfe conteineth the particularities of all those misfortunes and from hencefoorth beleeue that such a thing may be since you shall see it is You shall see I say a liuing image and a present storie of what Loue can doo when he is bent to ruine But alas whether goest thou my tongue or how doth my harte consent to aduenture the reuealing his neerest touching secrete But peace Feare thou commest too late when already the harme is taken Therefore I say againe O onely Princesse attend here a miserable miracle of affection Behold here before your eyes Pyrocles Prince of Macedon whome you onely haue brought to this game of Fortune and vnused Metamorphosis whome you onely haue made neglect his countrie forget his Father and lastly forsake to be Pyrocles the same Pyrocles who you heard was betrayed by being put in a ship which being burned Pyrocles was drowned O most true presage for these traytors my eyes putting me into a shippe of Desire which dayly burneth those eyes I say which betraied me will neuer leaue till they haue drowned me But be not be not most excellent Lady you that Nature hath made to be the Load-starre of comfort be not the Rocke of shipwracke you whome vertue hath made the Princesse of felicitie be not the minister of ruine you whom my choyse hath made the Goddesse of my safetie O let not let not from you be powred vpon me destruction Your faire face hath manie tokens in it of amazement at my words thinke then what his amazement is from whence they come since no words can carry with them the life of the inward feeling I desire that my desire may be waied in the ballances of Honour and let Vertue hold them For if the highest Loue in no base person may aspire to grace then may I hope your beautie
of shamefastnes and wanton languishing borrowed of her eyes the down-castlooke of modestie But we in the mean time farre from louing her and often assuring her that we would not so recompence her husbandes sauing of our liues to such a ridiculous degree of trusting her she had brought him that she caused him send vs worde that vpon our liues we should doo whatsoeuer she commaunded vs good man not knowing any other but that all her pleasures were directed to the preseruation of his estate But when that made vs rather pittie then obey his folly then fell she to seruile entreating vs as though force could haue bene the schoole of Loue or that an honest courage would not rather striue against then yeeld to iniurie All which yet could not make vs accuse her though it made vs almost pine away for spight to loose any of our time in so troublesome an idlenesse But while we were thus full of wearinesse of what was past and doubt of what was to follow Loue that I thinke in the course of my life hath a spot sometimes to poyson me with roses sometimes to heale me with wormewood brought forth a remedy vnto vs which though it helped me out of that distres alas the cōclusion was such as I must euer while I liue think it worse then a wracke so to haue bene preserued This King by this Queene had a sonne of tender age but of great expectation brought vp in the hope of themselues and already acceptation of the inconstant people as successour of his fathers crowne wherof he was as worthy considering his partes as vnworthie in respect of the wrong was thereby done against the most noble Plangus whose great desertes now either forgotten or vngratefully remembred all men set their sayles with the fauourable winde which blewe on the fortune of this young Prince perchaunce not in their harts but surely not in their mouths now giuing Plangus who some yeares before was their only champion the poore comfort of calamitie pittie This youth therefore accounted Prince of that region by name Palladius did with vehement affection loue a yong Ladye brought vp in his fathers court called Zelmane daughter to that mischieuouslie vnhappie Prince Plexirtus of whom already I haue and sometimes must make but neuer honorable mention left there by her father because of the intricate changeablenes of his estate he by the motherside being halfe brother to this Queene Andromana and therefore the willinger committing her to her care But as Loue alas doth not alwaies reflect it selfe so fell it out that this Zelmane though truely reason there was enough to loue Palladius yet could not euer perswade her harte to yeelde thereunto with that paine to Palladius as they feele that feele an vnloued loue Yet louing indeed and therefore constant hee vsed still the intercession of diligence and faith euer hoping because he would not put him selfe into that hell to be hopelesse vntill the time of our being come and captiued there brought foorth this ende which truely deserues of me a further degree of sorrow then teares Such was therein my ill destinie that this young Ladye Zelmane like some vnwisely liberall that more delight to giue presentes then pay debtes she chose alas for the pittie rather to bestowe her loue so much vndeserued as not desired vpon me then to recompence him whose loue besides many other thinges might seeme euen in the court of Honour iustly to claime it of her But so it was alas that so it was whereby it came to passe that as nothing doth more naturally follow his cause then care to preserue and benefite doth follow vnfained affection she felt with me what I felt of my captiuitie and streight laboured to redresse my paine which was her paine which she could do by no better meanes then by vsing the helpe therein of Palladius who true Louer considering what and not why in all her commaundements and indeed she concealing from him her affection which shee intituled compassion immediatly obeyed to imploye his vttermost credite to relieue vs which though has great as a beloued son with a mother faultye otherwise but not hard-harted toward him yet it could not preuaile to procure vs libertie Wherefore he sought to haue that by practise which he could not by praier And so being allowed often to visite vs for indeede our restraints were more or lesse according as the ague of her passion was either in the fit or intermission he vsed the opportunitie of a fit time thus to deliuer vs. The time of the marrying that Queene was euery year by the extreme loue of her husband and the seruiceable loue of the Courtiers made notable by some publike honours which did as it were proclaime to the worlde how deare shee was to that people Among other none was either more grateful to the beholders or more noble in it selfe then iusts both with sword launce mainteined for a seuen-night together wherein that Nation doth so excel both for comelines and hablenes that from neighbour-countries they ordinarilye come some to striue some to learne some to behold This day it happened that diuers famous Knights came thither from the Court of Helen Queene of Corinth a Lady whome fame at that time was so desirous to honor that she borrowed all mens mouthes to ioyne with the sounde of her Trumpet For as her beautie hath wonne the prize from all women that stande in degree of comparison for as for the two sisters of Arcadia they are far beyond all conceipte of comparison so hath her gouernment bene such as hath bene no lesse beautifull to mens iudgementes then her beautie to the eiesight For being brought by right of birth a woman a yong woman a faire woman to gouern a people in nature mutinously proud and alwaies before so vsed to hard gouernours as they knew not how to obey without the sworde were drawne Yet could she for some yeares so carry her selfe among them that they found cause in the delicacie of her sex of admiration not of contempt which was notable euen in the time that many countries about her were full of wars which for old grudges to Corinth were thought stil would conclude there yet so handled she the matter that the threatens euer smarted in the threatners she vsing so strange and yet so well-succeding a temper that she made her people by peace warlike her courtiers by sports learned her Ladies by Loue chast For by cōtinuall martiall exercises without bloud she made them perfect in that bloudy art Her sportes were such as carried riches of Knowledge vpon the stream of Delight and such the behauiour both of her selfe and her Ladies as builded their chastitie not vpon waiwardnes but choice of worthines So as it seemed that court to haue bene the mariage place of Loue Vertue and that herself was a Diana apparrelled in the garmēts of Venus And this which Fame only deliuered vnto me for yet I haue neuer
weapons was taken away But in the triall Pallâ—dius especially led by Musidorus and somewhat aided by me himselfe truelye behauing him selfe nothing like a beginner brought the honor to rest it selfe that night on the Iberian side and the next day both morning and after-noone being kept by our party He that sawe the time fitte for the deliuerie he intended called vnto vs to follow him which we both bound by oth and willing by good-will obeyed and so the gard not daring to interrupt vs he commaunding passage we went after him vpon the spur to a little house in a forrest neere by which he thought would be the fittest resting place till wee might goe further from his mothers fury wherat he shas no lesse angry and ashamed then desirous to obay Zelmane But his mother as I learned since vnderstanding by the gard her sonnes conuaying vs away forgetting her greatnes and resining modestye to more quiet thoughts flew out from her place and cried to be accompanied for she her-selfe would follow vs. But what she did being rather with vehemencie of passion then conduct of reason made her stumble while she ran by her own confusion hinder her own desires For so impatiently she commaÌ„ded as a good while no body knew what she coÌ„manded so as we had gotten so far the start as to be alredye past the confines of her kingdome before she ouertook vs and ouertake vs she did in the Kingdome of Bythinia not regarding shame or daÌ„ger of hauing entred into anothers dominions but hauing with her about a threescore hors-men streight coÌ„manded to take vs aliue and not to regard her sonnes threatening therin which they attempted to doo first by speach and then by force But neither liking their eloqueÌ„ce nor fearing their might we esteemed fewe swordes in a iust defence able to resist many vniust assaulters And so Musidorus incredible valour beating downe all lets made both me and Palladius so good way that we had little to doo to ouercome weake wrong And now had the victorie in effect without bloud when Palladius heated with the fight and angrie with his mothers fault so pursued our assaylers that one of them who as I heard since had before our comming bene a speciall minion of Andromanas and hated vs for hauing dispossest him of her hart taking him to be one of vs with a traiterous blow slew his young Prince who falling downe before our eyes whom he specially had deliuered iudge sweetest Lady whether anger might not be called iustice in such a case once so it wrought in vs that many of his subiects bodies we left there dead to wait on him more faithfully to the other world All this while disdaine strengthened by the furie of a furious loue made Andromana stay to the last of the combat and wheÌ„ she saw vs light down to see what help we might doo to the helplesse Palladius she came running madly vnto vs then no lesse threatning when she had no more power to hurt But when she perceiued it was her onely sonne that lay hurt and that his hurt was so deadly as that already his life had lost the vse of the reasonable and almost sensible part then onely did misfortune lay his owne ouglinesse vpon her fault and make her see what she had done and to what she was come especiallye finding in vs rather detestation then pittie considering the losse of that young Prince and resolution presentlye to departe which still she laboured to stay But depriued of all comfort with eyes full of death she ranne to her sonnes dagger and before we were aware of it who else would haue stayed it strake her selfe a mortall wound But then her loue though not her person awaked pittie in vs and I went to her while Musidorus laboured obout Palladius But the wound was past the cure of a better surgeon then my selfe so as I could but receaue some fewe of her dying words which were cursings of her ill set affection and wishing vnto me many crosses and mischaunces in my loue when soeuer I should loue wherein I feare and only feare that her praiers is from aboue granted But the noise of this fight and issue thereof being blazed by the countrye people to some noble-men there-abouts they came thither and finding the wrong offered vs let vs go on our iourney we hauing recoÌ„mended those royall bodies vnto them to be conueied to the King of Iberia With that Philoclea seeing the teares stand in his eyes with remeÌ„brance of Palladius but much more of that which thervpon grew she would needs drink a kisse from those eyes and he sucke another froÌ„ her lippes wherat she blushed and yet kissed him again to hide her blushing Which had almost brought Pyrocles into another discourse but that she with so sweete a rigor forbad him that he durst not rebell though he found it a great warre to keepe that peace but was faine to goe on in his storie for so she absolutely bad him and he durst not know how to disobey So said he parting from that place before the Sunne had much abased himselfe of his greatest height we sawe sitting vpon the drie sandes which yeelded at that time a verie hotte reflection a faire Gentlewoman whose gesture accused her of much sorow and euery way shewed she cared notwhat paine she put her body to since the better parte her minde was laide vnder so much agonie and so was she dulled withall that we could come so neare as to heare her speeches and yet she not perceiue the hearers of her lamentation But wel we might vnderstand her at times say Thou dost kill me with thy vnkinde falshood and It greeues me not to die but it greeues me that thou art the murtherer neither doth mine own paine so much vexe me as thy errour For God knowes it would not trouble me to be slain for thee but much it torments me to be slaine by thee Thou art vntrue Pamphilus thou art vntrue and woe is me therefore How oft didst thou sweare vnto me that the Sunne should loose his light and the rocks runne vp and downe like little kiddes before thou wouldst falsifie thy faith to me Sunne therefore put out thy shining and rockes runne madde for sorrow for Pamphilus is false But alas the Sun keepes his light though thy faith be darckned the rockes stand still though thou change like a wethercocke O foole that I am that thought I could graspe water and binde the winde I might well haue knowen thee by others but I would not and rather wished to learne poison by drinking it my selfe while my loue helped thy words to deceiue me Wel yet I would thou hadst made a better choise when thou didst forsake thy vnfortunate Leucippe But it is no matter Baccha thy new mistres wil reuenge my wrongs But do not Baccha let Pamphilus liue happy though I dye And much more to such like phrase she spake but that I who had occasion to know
had receiued that naughtie Plexirtus into a streight degree of fauour his goodnesse being as apt to be deceiued as the others craft was to deceiue Till by plaine proofe finding that the vngratefull man went about to poyson him yet would not suffer his kindnesse to be ouercome not by iustice it selfe but calling him to him vsed words to this purpose Plexirtus said he this wickednesse is founde by thee No good deedes of mine haue bene able to keepe it downe in thee All men counsell me to take away thy life likely to bring foorth nothing but as daungerous as wicked effects But I cannot finde it in my harte remembring what fathers sonne thou art But since it is the violence of ambition which perchaunce puls thee from thine owne iudgement I will see whether the satisfying that may quiet the ill working of thy spirites Not farre hence is the great cittie of Trebisonde which with the territorie about it aunciently pertained vnto this crowne now vniustly possessed and as vniustly abused by those who haue neither title to holde it nor vertue to rule it To the conquest of that for thy selfe I will lende thee force and giue thee my right Go therefore and with lesse vnnaturalnesse glut thy ambition there and that done if it be possible learne vertue Plexirtus mingling forsworne excuses with false-meant promises gladly embraced the offer and hastilie sending backe for those two Brothers who at that time were with vs succouring the gratious Queene Erona by their vertue chiefly if not onely obteined the conquest of that goodly dominion Which indeede done by them gaue them such an authoritie that though he raigned they in effect ruled most men honouring them because they onely deserued honour and many thinking therein to please Plexirtus considering how much he was bound vnto them while they likewise with â— certaine sincere boldnesse of selfe-warranting friendship accepted all openly and plainely thinking nothing should euer by Plexirtus be thought too much in them since all they were was his But he who by the rules of his own mind could construe no other end of mens doings but selfe seking sodenly feared what they could doo and as sodainely suspected what they would doo and as sodainly hated them as hauing both might and minde to doo But dreading their power standing so strongly in their owne valour and others affection he durst not take open way against them and as hard it was to take a secrete they being so continually followed by the best and euery way hablest of that region and therefore vsed this diuelish sleight which I will tell you not doubting most wicked man to turne their owne friendship toward him to their owne destruction He knowing that they well knew there was no friendship betweene him and the new King of Pontus neuer since he succoured Leonatus and vs to his ouerthrow gaue them to vnderstand that of late there had passed secrete defiance betweene them to meete priuately at a place apointed Which though not so fit a thing for men of their greatnes yet was his honour so engaged as he could not go backe Yet faining to find himselfe weake by some counterfait infirmitie the day drawing neere he requested each of them to go in his stead making either of theÌ„ sweare to keepe the matter secret euen ech from other deliuering the selfe same particularities to both but that he told Tydeus the King would meet him in a blew armour and Telenor that it was a black armour and with wicked subtiltie as if it had bene so apointed caused Tydeus to take a black armour and Telenor a blew appointing them waies how to go so as he knew they should not meet till they came to the place appointed where each had promised to keepe silence lest the King should discouer it was not Plexirtus and there in a wait had he laied these murtherers that who ouerliued the other should by them be dispatched he not daring trust more then those with that enterprise and yet thinking them too few till themselues by themselues were weakened This we learned chiefly by the chiefe of those way-beaters after the death of those two worthie brothers whose loue was no lesse then their valour but well we might finde much thereof by their pitifull lamentation when they knew their mismeeting and saw each other in despite of the Surgerie we could doo vnto them striuing who should runne fastest to the goale of death each bewailing the other and more dying in the other then in himselfe cursing their owne hands for doing and their breastes for not sooner suffering detesting their vnfortunately-spent time in hauing serued so vngratefull a Tyraunt and accusing their folly in hauing beleeued he could faithfully loue who did not loue faithfulnes wishing vs to take heed how we placed our good will vpon any other ground then proofe of vertue since length of acquaintance mutuall secrecies nor height of benefits could binde a sauage harte no man being good to other that is not good in himselfe Then while any hope was beseeching vs to leaue the care of him that besought and onely looke to the other But when they found by themselues and vs no possibilitie they desired to be ioined and so embracing and crauing that pardon each of other which they denied to themselues they gaue vs a most sorrowfull spectacle of their death leauing â—ew in the world behind them their matches in any thing if they had soone inough knowne the ground and limits of friendship But with wofull hartes we caused those bodies to be conueyed to the next towne of Bythinia where we learning thus much as I haue tolde you caused the wicked Historian to conclude his story with his owne well-deserued death But then I must tell you I found such wofull countenances in Daiphantus that I could not but much maruaile finding them coÌ„tinew beyond the first assault of pittie how the case of strangers for further I did not conceiue could so deepely pearce But the truth indeed is that partly with the shame and sorrow she tooke of her fathers faultinesse partly with the feare that the hate I conceiued against him would vtterly disgrace her in my opinion whensoeuer I should know her so vehemeÌ„tly perplexed her that her fayre colour decaied and dayly hastily grew into the very extreme working of sorowfulnes which oft I sought to learne and helpe But she as fearefull as louing still concealed it and so decaying still more more in the excellencie of her fairenesse but that whatsoeuer weakenesse tooke away pitie seemed to adde yet still she forced her selfe to waite on me with such care and diligence as might well shew had bene taught in no other schoole but Loue. While we returning againe to embarke our selues for Greece vnderstood that the mighty Otanes brother to Barzanes slaine by Musidorus in the battaile of the six Princes had entred vpon the kingdome of Pontus partly vpon the pretences he had to the crowne but principally
then waite for mischiefe And so against the Captaine wee went who straight was enuironned with most parte of the Souldiers and Mariners And yet the trueth is there were some whom either the authoritie of the councellour doubt of the Kinges minde or liking of vs made drawe their swords of our side so that quickely it grewe a most confused fight For the narrownesse of the place the darkenesse of the time and the vncertainty in such a tumult how to know friends from foes made the rage of swordes rather guide then be guided by their maisters For my cousin and mee truely I thinke wee neuer perfourmed lesse in any place doing no other hurte then the defence of our selues and succouring them who came for it draue vs too for not discerning perfectly who were for or against vs we thought it lesse euill to spare a foe then spoile a freend But from the highest to the lowest parte of the shippe there was no place lefte without cryes of murdring and murdred persons The Captaine I hapt a while to fight withall but was driuen to parte with him by hearing the crie of the Councellour who receiued a mortall wounde mistaken of one of his owne side Some of the wiser would call to parley and wish peace but while the words of peace were in their mouthes some of their euill auditours gaue them death for their hire So that no man almost could conceiue hope of liuing but by being last aliue and therefore euery one was willing to make him selfe roome by dispatching almost any other so that the great number in the ship was reduced to exceeding few wheÌ„ of those few the most part weary of those troubles leapt into the boate which was fast to the ship but while they that were first were cutting of the rope that tied it others came leaping in so disorderly that they drowned both the boate and themselues But while euen in that little remnant like the children of Cadmus we continued still to slay one an other a fire which whether by the desperate malice of some or intention to separate or accidentally while all thinges were cast vp and downe it should seeme had taken a good while before but neuer heeded of vs who onely thought to preserue or reuenge now violently burst out in many places and began to maister the principall partes of the ship Then necessitie made vs see that a common enimy sets at one a ciuill warre for that little all we were as if wee had bene waged by one man to quench a fire streight went to resist that furious enimie by all art and labour but it was to late for already it did embrace and deuoure from the sterne to the wast of the ship so as labouring in vaine we were driuen to get vp to the prowe of the ship by the worke of nature seeking to preserue life as long as we could while truely it was a straunge and ougly sight to see so huge a fire as it quickly grew to be in the Sea and in the night as if it had come to light vs to death And by and by it had burned off the maste which all this while had prowdly borne the sayle the winde as might seeme delighted to carrie fire bloud in his mouth but now it fell ouerboord and the fire growing neerer vs it was not onely terrible in respect of what we were to attend but insupportable through the heat of it So that we were constrained to bide it no longer but disarming and stripping our selues and laying our selues vpon such things as we thought might help our swimming to the lande too far for our owne strength to beare vs my cousin and I threw ourselues into the Sea But I had swomme a very little way when I felt by reason of a wound I had that I should not be able to bide the trauaile and therefore seeing the maste whose tackling had bene burnt of flote cleare from the ship I swaÌ„me vnto it and getting on it I found mine owne sworde which by chaunce when I threw it away caught by a peece of canuas had honge to the maste I was glad because I loued it well but gladder when I saw at the other end the Captaine of the ship and of all this mischiefe who hauing a long pike belike had borne himselfe vp with that till he had set him selfe vpon the mast But when I perceiued him Villaine said I doost thou thinke to ouerliue so many honest men whom thy falsehood hath brought to destruction with that bestriding the mast I gat by little and little towardes him after such a manner as boies are wont if euer you saw that sport when they ride the wild mare And he perceiuing my intention like a fellow that had much more courage then honestie set him selfe to resist But I had in short space gotten within him and giuing him a sound blowe sent him to feede fishes But there my selfe remainde vntill by pyrates I was taken vp among them againe taken prisoner and brought into Laconia But what said Philoclea became of your cousin Musidorus Lost saide Pyrocles Ah my Pyrocles said Philoclea I am glad I haue taken you I perceiue you loueâ—â— doo not alwaies say truely as though I knew not your cousin Dorus the sheepeheard Life of my desires said Pyrocles what is mine euen to my soule is youâ—â— but the secret of my friend is not mine But if you know so much then I may tâ—â—â—ly say he is lost since he is no more his owne But I perceiue your noble sister and you are great friends and well doth it become you so to be But go forward 〈◊〉 Pyrocles I long to heare out till your meeting me for there to me-ward is the best part of your storie Ah sweet Philoclea said Pyrocles do you thinke I can thinke so precious leysure as this well spent in talking Are your eyes a fit booke thinke you to reade a tale vpon Is my loue quiet inough to be an historian Deare Princesse be gracious vnto me And then he faine would haue remembred to haue forgot himselfe But she with a sweetly disobeying grace desired him that her desire once for euer might serue that no spote might disgrace that loue which shortly she hoped should be to the world warrantable Faine he would not haue heard till shee threatned anger And then the poore louer durst not because he durst not Nay I pray thee deare Pyrocles said she let me haue my story Sweet Princesse said he giue my thoughts a little respite and if it please you since this time must so bee spoiled yet it shall suffer the lesse harme if you vouchsafe to bestow your voice and let mee know how the good Queene Erona was betraied into such danger and why Plangus sought me For indeede I should pitie greatly any mischance fallen to that Princesse I will said Philoclea smiling so you giue me your worde your handes shall be quiet auditours They shall said he
because subiect Then began shee to speake but with so prettie and delightfull a maiestie when she set her countenaunce to tell the matter that Pyrocles could not chuse but rebell so far as to kisse her She would haue puld her head away and speake but while she spake he kist it seemed he fedde vpon her words but she gate away How will you haue your discourse said she without you let my lips alone Hee yeelded and tooke her hand On this saide hee will I reuenge my wrong and so began to make much of that hand when her tale his delight were interrupted by Miso who taking her time while Basilius backe was turned came vnto them and tolde Philoclea she deserued she knew what for leauing her mother being euill at ease to keepe companie with straungers But Philoclea telling her that she was there by her fathers commandement she went away muttering that though her back her shoulders her necke were broken yet as long as her tongue would wagge it should do her errand to her mother And so went vp to Gynecia who was at that time miserably vexed with this manner of dreame It seemed vnto her to bee in a place full of thornes which so molested her as she could neither abide standing still nor tread safely going forward In this case she thought Zelmane being vpon a faire hill delightfull to the eye and easie in apparance called her thither whither with much anguish being come Zelmane was vanished and she found nothing but a dead bodie like vnto her husband which seeming at the first with a strange smel to infect her as she was redie likewise within a while to die the dead bodie she thought tooke her in his armes and said Gynecia leaue all for here is thy onely rest With that she awaked crying very loud Zelmane Zelmane But remembring her selfe and seeing Basilius by her guiltie conscience more suspecting then being suspected she turned her cal and called for Philoclea Miso forthwith like a valiant shrew looking at Basilins as though she would speake though she died for it tolde Gynecia that her daughter had bene a whole houre togither in secrete talke with Zelmane And sayes she for my part I coulde not be heard your daughters are brought vp in such awe though I tolde her of your pleasure sufficiently Gynecia as if shee had heard her last doome pronounced against her with a side-looke chaunged countenance O my Lorde said she what meane you to suffer these yong folkes together Basilius that aymed nothing at the marke of her suspition smilingly tooke her in his armes sweete wife said he I thanke you for your care of your childe but they must be youthes of other mettall then Zelmane that can endaunger her O but cryed Gynecia and therewith she stayed for then indeede she did suffer a right conflict betwixt the force of loue and rage of iealousie Manie times was she about to satisfie the spite of her minde and tell Basilius how she knewe Zelmane to bee farre otherwise then the outwarde appearance But those many times were all put backe by the manifolde obiections of her vehement loue Faine shee would haue barde her daughters happe but loth she was to cut off her owne hope But now as if her life had bene set vppon a wager of quicke rysing as weake as shee was shee gat vp though Basilius with a kindnesse flowing onely from the fountaine of vnkindnesse being indeed desirous to winne his daughter as much time as might bee was loth to suffer it swearing hee sawe sickenesse in her face and therefore was loath shee should aduenture the ayre But the great and wretched Ladie Gynecia possessed with those deuils of Loue and Iealousie did rid herselfe from her tedious husbande and taking no body with her going toward them O Iealousie said she the phrensie of wise folkes the well-wishing spite and vnkinde carefulnesse the selfe-punishment for others fault and selfe-miserie in others happinesse the cousin of enuie daughter of loue and mother of hate how couldest thou so quietly get thee a seate in the vnquiet hart of Gynecia Gynecia said she sighing thought wise and once vertuous Alas it is thy breeders power which plantes thee there it is the flaming agonie of affection that works the chilling accesse of thy feuer in such sort that nature giues place the growing of my daughter seemes the decay of my selfe the blessings of a mother turne to the curses of a competitor and the faire face of Philoclea appeares more horrible in my sight then the image of death Then remembred she this song which she thought tooke a right measure of her present minde VVYth two strange fires of equall heate possest The one of Loue the other Iealousie Both still do worke in neither finde I rest For both alas their strengthes together tie The one aloft doth holde the other hie Loue wakes the the iealous eye least thence it moues The iealous eye the more it lookes it loues These fires increase in these I dayly burne They feede on me and with my wings do flie My louely ioyes to dolefull ashes turne Their flames mount vp my powers prostrate lie They liue in force I quite consumed die One wonder yet farre passeth my conceate The fuell small how be the fires so great But her vnleasured thoughtes ran not ouer the ten first wordes but going with a pace not so much to fast for her bodie as slowe for her minde shee found them together who after Misos departure had left their tale and determined what to say to Basilius But full abashed was poore Philoclea whose conscience now began to know cause of blushing for first salutation receyuing an eye from her mother full of the same disdainefull scorne which Pallas shewed to poore Arachne that durst contend with her for the prize of well weauing yet did the force of loue so much rule her that though for Zelmanes sake she did detest her yet for Zelmanes sake shee vsed no harder words to her then to bid her go home and accompany her solitarie father Then began she to display to Zelmane the storehouse of her deadly desires when sodainly the confused rumor of a mutinous multitude gaue iust occasion to Zelmane to breake of any such conference for well shee found they were not friendly voices they heard and to retire with as much diligence as conueniently they could towards the lodge Yet before they coulde winne the lodge by twentie paces they were ouertaken by an vnruly sort of clownes and other rebels which like a violent floud were caried they themselues knewe not whether But assoone as they came within perfect discerning these Ladies like enraged beastes without respect of their estates or pitie of their sexe they began too runne against them as right villaines thinking abilitie to doo hurt to be a great aduancement yet so many as they were so many almost were their mindes all knitte together only in madnes Some cried Take
fault in you to be louely Loue neâ—er had me opprest but that I saw to be lou'd You be the cause that I loud what Reason blameth a shadowe that with a body 't goes since by a body it is If that Loue you did hate you should your beauty haue hidden you should those faire eyes haue with a veile couered But fooole foole that I am those eyes would shine from a darke caue what veiles then doo preuaile but to a more miracle Or those golden lockes those lockes which lock me to bondage torne you should disperse vnto the blasts of a winde But foole foole that I am tho I had but a haire of her head found eu'n as I am so I should vnto that haire be a thrall Or with faire hands-nailes ô hand which nailes me to this death you should haue your face since Loue is ill blemished O wretch what do I say should that faire face be defaced should my too-much sight cause so true a Sunne to be lost First let Cimmerian darknes be my onel'habitacion first be mine eyes pulde out first be my braine perished Ere that I should consent to doo so excessiue a dammage vnto the earth by the hurt of this her heauenly iewell O not but such loue you say you could haue afoorded as might learne Temp'rance voide of a rages euents O sweet simplicitie from whence should Loue be so learned vnto Cupid that boy shall a Pedante be found Well but faultie I was Reason to my Passion yeelded Passion vnto my rage Rage to a hastie reuenge But what 's this for a fault for which such faith be abolisht such saith so staineles inuiolate violent Shall I not ô may I not thus yet refresh the remembrance what sweete ioyes I had once and â—hat a place I did hold Shall I not once obiect that you you graunted a fauour vnto the man whom now such miseries you awarde Bend your thoughts to the dear sweet words which then to me giu'n were thinke what a world is now thinke who hath altred her hart What was I then worthie such good now worthie such euill now fled then cherished then so nie now so remote Did not a rosed breath from lips more rosie proceeding say that I should well finde in what a care I was had With much more now what doo I finde but Care to abhor me Care that I sinke in griefe Care that I liue banished And banished doo I liue nor now will seeke a recou'rie since so she will whose will is to me more then a lawe If then a man in most ill case may giue you a farewell farewell long farewell all my woe all my delight What this would haue wrought in her she her selfe could not tell for before her Reason could moderate the disputatioÌ„ betwene Fauour Faultines her sister and Miso called her downe to entertaine Zelmane who was come to visite the two sisters about whom as about two Poles the Skie of Beautie was turned while Gynecia wearied her bed with her melancholie sicknes and made Misos shrewdnesse who like a sprite set to keep a treasure bard Zelmane from any further conference to be the Lieutenant of her iealousie Both she and her husband driuing Zelmane to such a streight of resolution either of impossible graunting or dangerous refusing as the best escape she had was as much as she could to auoyde their companie So as this day being the fourth day after the vprore Basilius being with his sicke wife conferring vpon such examinations as Philanax and other of his noblemen had made of this late sedition all touching Cecropia with vehement suspition of giuing either flame or fuell vnto it Zelmane came with her bodie to find her mind which was gone long before her and had gotten his seate in Philoclea who now with a bashfull cheerefulnesse as though she were ashamed that she could not choose but be glad ioyned with her sisâ—er in making much of Zelmane And so as they sate deuising how to giue more feathers to the wings of Time there came to the lodge dore sixe maides all in one liuerie of skarlet petticotes which were tuckt vp almost to their knees the petticotes them selues being in many places garnished with leaues their legges naked sauing that aboue the anckles they had little black silke laces vpon which did hang a few siluer belles like which they had a little aboue their elbowes vpon their bare armes Vpon their haire they ware garlands of roses and gilliflowers and the haire was so drest as that came againe aboue the garlandes enterchaunging a mutuall couering so as it was doubtfull whether the haire drest the garlandes or the garlands drest the haire Their breasts liberall to the eye the face of the formost of them in excellencie faire and of the rest louely if not beautifull and beautifull might haue bene if they had not suffered greedy Phaebus ouer-often and harde to kisse them Their countenaunces full of a gracefull grauitie so as the gesture matcht with the apparrell it might seeme a wanton modestie and an entising sobernes Each of them had an instrument of musick in their hands which consorting their wel-pleasing tunes did charge each eare with vnsensiblenes that did not lend it self vnto them The Musick entring alone into the lodge the Ladies were all desirous to see froÌ„ whence so pleasant a guest was come and therfore went out together where before they could take the paines to doubt much lesse to aske the question of their qualitie the fairest of them with a gay but yet discreete demeanour in this sort spake vnto them Most excellent Ladies whose excellencies haue power to make cities enuie these woods and solitarines to be accounted the sweetest companie vouchsafe our message your gracious hearing which as it comes froÌ„ Loue so comes it from louely persons The maides of all this coast of Arcadia vnderstanding the often accesse that certaine shepheards of these quarters are allowed to haue in this forbidden place and that their rurall sports are not disdained of you haue ben stird with emulation to them affectioÌ„ to you to bring forth some thing which might as well breed your contentment and therefore hoping that the goodnes of their intention the hurtlesnes of their sex shal excuse the breach of the commandemeÌ„t in comming to this place vnsent for they chose out vs to inuite both your princely parents and your selues to a place in the woods about halfe a mile hence where they haue prouided some such sports as they trust your gratious acceptations will interpret to be delightfull We haue bene at the other lodge but finding them there busied in weightier affaires our trust is that you yet will not denie the shining of your eies vpon vs. The Ladies stood in some doubt whether they should goe or not lest Basilius might be angry withall But Miso that had bene at none of the pastorals had a great desire to lead her old senses abroad to some pleasure
told them plainly they should nor will nor choose but go thether and make the honest countrie people know that they were not so squeamish as folkes thought of them The Ladies glad to be warranted by her authoritie with a smiling humblenesse obeied her Pamela only casting a seeking looke whether she could see Dorus who poore wretch wandred halfe mad for sorrow in the woods crying for pardon of her who could not heare him but indeed was grieued for his absence hauing giuen the wound to him through her owne harte But so the three Ladies Miso went with those six Nymphes conquering the length of the way with the force of musique leauing only Mopsa behind who disgraced weeping with her countenāce because her mother would not suffer her to shew her newskoured face among thē But the place apointed as they thought met them halfe in their way so well were they pleased with the sweete tunes prettie conuersation of their inuiters There found they in the midst of the thickest part of the wood a litle square place not burdened with trees but with a boord couered beautified with the pleasantest fruites that Sun-burnd Autumne could deliuer vnto thē The maids besought the Ladies to sit down and tast of the swelling grapes which seemed great with child of Bacchus and of the diuers coloured plums which gaue the eye a pleasant tast before they came to the mouth The Ladies would not shew to scorne their prouision but eat dranke a little of their coole wine which seemed to laugh for ioy to come to such lips But after the collation was ended and that they looked for the cōming foorth of such deuises as were prepared for them there rusht out of the woods twentie armed men who round about enuironed them and laying hold of Zelmane before she could draw her sword and taking it from her put hoods ouer the heads of all fower and so muffled by force set them on horsebacke and carried them away the sisters in vaine crying for succour while Zelmanes harte was rent in peeces with rage of the iniurie and disdaine of her fortune But when they had caried them a foure or fiue mile further they lefte Miso with a gagge in her mouth and bound hande and foote so to take her fortune and brought the three Ladies by that time that the Night seemed with her silence to conspire to their treason to a castle about ten mile frō the Lodges where they were fain to take a boat which wayted for them For the castle stood in the midst of a great lake vpon a high rocke where partly by Arte but principallie by Nature it was by all men estemed impregnable But at the Castle gate their faces were discouered there were mett with a great number of torches after whom the sisters knew their aunt in law Cecropia But that sight increased the deadly terrour of the Princesses looking for nothing but death since they were in the power of the wicked Cecropia who yet came vnto them making courtesie the outside of mischiefe and desiring them not to bee discomforted for they were in a place dedicated to their seruice Philoclea with a looke where Loue shined through the miste of Feare besought her to be good vnto thē hauing neuer deserued euill of her But Pamelas high harte disdayning humblenesse to iniurie Aunt said she what you haue determined of vs I pray you doo it speedily for my part I looke for no seruice where I finde violence But Cecropia vsing no more words with them conueyed them all three to seuerall lodgings Zelmanes harte so swelling with spite that she could not bring foorth a word and so lefte them first taking from them their kniues because they should do themselues no hurte before she had determined of them and then giuing such order that they wanted nothing but libertie comfort shee went to her sonne who yet kept his bed because of his wounde hee had receiued of Zelmane tolde him whom now he had in his power Amphialus was but euen then returned from far countries where he had wonne immortal fame both of courage courtesie when he met with the Princesses and was hurt by Zelmane so as hee was vtterly ignorant of all his mothers wicked deuises to which he would neuer haue consented being like a rose out of a brier an excellent sonne of an euill mother and now when hee heard of this was as much amazed as if he had seen the Sunne fall to the earth And therefore desired his mother that shee would tell him the whole discourse howe all these matters had happened Sonne saide shee I will doo it willingly since all is done for you I will hide nothing from you And howsoeuer I might be ashamed to tell it straungers who would thinke it wickednes yet what is done for your sake how euill soeuer to others to you is vertue To begin then euen with the beginning this doting foole Basilius that now raignes hauing liued vnmaried till hee was nigh threescore yeares old and in all his speaches affirming and in all his dooinges assuring that he neuer would marrie made all the eyes of this country to bee bent vpon your father his onely brother but younger by thirty yeares as vpon the vndoubted successour being indeed a mā worthy to raigne thinking nothing enough for himselfe where this goose you see puts downe his head before there be any thing neere to touch him So that he holding place and estimation as heyre of Arcadia obteyned me of my father the King of Argos his brother helping to the conclusion with protesting his bachelerly intention for else you may be sure the King of Argos nor his daughter would haue suffered their Royall bloud to bee stained with the base name of subiection So that I came into this countrie as apparant Princesse thereof and accordingly was courted and followed of all the Ladies of this countrie My porte and pompe did well become a King of Argos daughter in my presence their tongues were turned into eares and their eares were captiues vnto my tongue Their eyes admired my Maiestie happy was he or she on whom I would suffer the beames therof to fall Did I goe to church it seemed the very Goddes wayted for me their deuotions not being solemnized till I was ready Did I walke abroad to see any delight Nay my walking was the delight it selfe for to it was the concourse one thrusting vpon another who might shewe him selfe most diligent and seruiceable towardes me my sleepes were inquired after and my wakings neuer vnsaluted the very gate of my house full of principall persons who were glad if their presents had receaued a gratefull acceptation And in this felicitie wert thou borne the very earth submitting it self vnto thee to be troden on as by his Prince to that passe had my husbands vertue by my good help within short time brought it with a plot we laide as wee should not haue
And then melancholie only rich in vnfortunate remembrances brought before him all the mishaps with which his life had wrestled taking this not only as a confirming of the former but a presage of following miserie and to his harte alredy ouercome by sorrowfulnes euen trifling misfortunes came to fill vp the rolle of a grieued memorie labouring only his wits to pearce farther â—arther into his owne wretchednes So as all that night in despite of darknes he held his eyes open and the morning when the light began to restore to each body his colour then with curtaines bard he himselfe froÌ„ the enioying of it neither willing to feele the comfort of the day nor the ease of the night vntil his mother who neuer knew what loue meant but only to himward came to his bed side and beginning with louing earnestnes to lay a kind chiding vpoÌ„ him because he would suffer the weaknes of sorow to conquere the strength of his vertues he did with a broken peece-meale speach as if the teÌ„pest of passion vnorderly blewe out his words remember the mishaps of his youth the euils he had ben cause of his rebelling with Shame that shame increased with shamefull accidents the deaths of Philoxenus Parthenia wherein he found himselfe hated of the euer-ruling powers but especially and so especially as the rest seemed nothing when he came to that his fatall loue to Philoclea to whom he had so gouerned himselfe as one that could neither conquer nor yeeld being of the one side a slaue of the other a iaylor and with all almost vpbrayding vnto his mother the little successe of her large hoping promises he in effect finding Philoclea nothing mollified and now himselfe so cast downe as hee thought him vnworthy of better But his mother as she had plentifull cause making him see that of his other griefes there was little or no fault in himself and therfore there ought to be little or no griefe in him when she came to the head of the sore indeed seeing that she could no loÌ„ger patch vp her former promises he taking a desperat deafnes to all delaying hopes she confest plainly that she could preuaile nothing but the fault was his owne who had marred the yong Girle by seeking to haue that by praier which he should haue taken by authoritie That as it were an absurd cunning to make hie ladders to go in a plaine way so was it an vntimely and foolish flattery there to beseech where one might commaund puffing them vp by being besought with such a selfe-pride of superioritie that it was not forsooth to be held out but by a denial O God said Amphialus how wel I thought my fortune would bring forth this end of your labors assure yourself mother I wil sooner pull out these eies then they shall looke vpoÌ„ the heauenly Philoclea but as vpoÌ„ a heauen whence they haue their light to which they are subiect if they wil power downe any influeÌ„ces of comfort O happy I but if by the sacrifice of a faithful hart they wil not be called vnto me let me languish wither with languishing and grieue with withering but neuer so much as repine with neuer so much grieuing Mother ô Mother lust may wel be a tyrant but true loue where it is indeed it is a seruant Accursed more then I am may I be if euer I did approch her but that I friezed asmuch in a fearefull reuereÌ„ce as I burned in a vehemeÌ„t desire Did euer maÌ„s eye looke thorough loue vpoÌ„ the maiesty of vertue shining through beauty but that he becam as it wel becam him a captiue is it the stile of a captiue to write Our will and pleasure Tush tush sonne said Cecropia if you say you loue but withall you feare you feare lest you should offend offend and how know you that you should offend because she doth denie denie Now by my truth if your sadnes would let me laugh I could laugh hartily to see that yet you are ignorant that No is no negatiue in a womans mouth My sonne beleeue me a woman speaking of women a louers modesty among vs is much more praised then liked or if we like it so well we like it that for marring of his modestie he shall neuer proceed further Each vertue hath his time if you command your souldier to march formost and he for curtesie put others before him would you praise his modesty loue is your Generall he bids you dare and will Amphialus be a dastard Let examples serue doo you thinke Theseus should euer haue gotten Antiope with sighing and crossing his armes he rauished her and rauished her that was an Amazon and therfore had gotten a habite of stoutnes aboue the nature of a woman but hauing rauished her he got a child of her And I say no more but that they say is not gotten without consent of both sides Iole had her owne father killed by Hercules and her selfe rauished by force rauished and yet ere long this rauished and vnfathered Lady could sportfully put on the Lions skin vpon her owne faire shoulders and play with the clubbe with her owne delicate hands so easily had she pardoned the rauisher that she could not but delight in those weapons of rauishing But aboue all marke Helen daughter to Iupiter who could neuer brooke her manerly-wooing Menclaus but disdained his humblenes and lothed his softnes But so well she could like the force of enforcing Paris that for him she could abide what might be abidden But what Menelaus takes hart he recouers her by force by force carries her home by force inioies her and she who could neuer like him for seruiceablenesse euer aftâ—r loued him for violence For what can be more agreable then vpon force to lay the fault of desire and in one instant to ioyne a deare delight with a iust excuse or rather the true cause is pardon me ô woman-kinde for reuealing to mine owne sonne the truth of this mystery we thinke there wants fire where we finde no sparkles at lest of furie Truly I haue knowen a great Lady long sought by most great most wise most beautifull most valiant persons neuer wonne because they did ouer-superstitiously sollicite her the same Ladie brought vnder by an other inferiour to all them in all those qualities onely because he could vse that imperious maisterfulnesse which nature giues to men aboue women For indeede sonne I confesse vnto you in our very creation we are seruants and who prayseth his seruaunts shall neuer be well obeyed but as a ready horse streight yeeldes when he findes one that will haue him yeelde the same fals to boundes when he feeles a fearefull horseman Awake thy spirits good Amphialus and assure thy selfe that though she refuseth she refuseth but to endeere the obtaining If she weepe and chide and protest before it be gotten she can but weepe and chide and protest when it is gotten Thinke she would not striue but that
she meanes to trie thy force and my Amphialus knowe thy selfe a man and shew thy selfe a man and beleeue me vpon my word a woman is a woman Amphialus was about to answere her when a Gentleman of his made him vnderstand that there was a messenger come who had brought a letter vnto him from out of the campe whom he presently calling for tooke opened and read the letter importing this TO thee Amphialus of Arcadia the forsaken Knight wisheth health and courage that by my hand thou maiest receyue punishment for thy treason according to thine owne offer which wickedly occasioned thou hast proudly begun and accursedly mainteyned I will presently if thy minde faint thee not for his owne guiltinesse meete thee in thy Iland in such order as hath by the former beene vsed or if thou likest not the time place or weapon I am ready to take thine owne reasonable choise in any of them so as thou doo perfourme the substaunce Make me such answere as may shewe that thou hast some taste of honour and so I leaue thee to liue till I meete thee Amphialus read it and with a deepe sigh according to the humour of inward affliction seemed euen to condemne him selfe as though indeed his reproches were true But howsoeuer the dulnes of Melancholy would haue languishingly yeelded thereunto his Courage vnused to such iniuries desired helpe of Anger to make him this answere FOrsaken Knight though your namelesse challenge might carry in it selfe excuse for a man of my birth and estate yet herein set your harte at rest you shall not be forsaken I will without stay answere you in the woonted manner and come both armed in your foolish threatnings and yet the more fearelesse expecting weake blowes where I finde so sâ—rong words You shall not therefore long attende me in the Iland before proofe teach you that of my life you haue made your selfe too large a promise In the meane time Farewell This being written and deliuered the messenger tolde him that his Lord would if he liked the same bring two Knights with him to be his Patrons Which Amphialus accepted and withall shaking off with resolution his mothers importunate disswasions he furnished him selfe for the fight but not in his wonted furniture For now as if he would turne his inside outward he would needes appeare all in blacke his decking both for him selfe and horse being cut out into the fashion of very ragges yet all so daintely ioyned together with pretious stones as it was a braue raggednesse and a riche pouertie and so cunningly had a workeman followed his humour in his armour that he had giuen it a rustie shewe and yet so as any man might perceiue was by arte and not negligence carying at one instant a disgraced handsomnesse and a new oldnes In his shield he bare for his deuise a Night by an excellent painter excellently painted with a Sunne with a shadow and vpon the shadow with a speech signifying that it onely was barrd from inioying that whereof it had his life or From whose I am bannished In his creste he caried Philocleas kniues the onely token of her forced fauour So past he ouer into the Iland taking with him the two brothers of Anaxius where he founde the forsaken Knight attired in his owne liuerie as blacke as sorrowe it selfe could see it selfe in the blackest glasse his ornaments of the same hew but formed into the figure of Rauens which seemed to gape for carrion onely his raynes were snakes which finely wrapping themselues one within the other their heads came together to the cheekes and bosses of the bit where they might seeme to bite at the horse and the horse as he champte the bit to bite at them and that the white foame was ingendred by the poysonous furie of the combatt His Impresa was a Catoblepta which so long lies dead as the Moone whereto it hath so naturall a sympathie wants her light The worde signified that The Moone wanted not the light but the poore beast wanted the Moones light He had in his headpiece a whippe to witnesse a selfe-punishing repentaunce Their very horses were cole-blacke too not hauing so much as one starre to giue light to their night of blackenesse so as one would haue thought they had bene the two sonnes of Sorrow and were come thether to fight for their birth-right in that sorie inheritance Which aliance of passions so moued Amphialus alredy tender-minded by the afflictions of Loue that without staffe or sword drawne he trotted fairely to the forsaken Knight willing to haue put off this combat to which his melancholy hart did more then euer in like occasion misgiue him and therefore saluting him Good Knight said he because we are men and should know reason why we doo things tell me the cause that makes you thus eager to fight with me Because I affirme answered the forsaken Knight that thou dost most rebellious iniurie to those Ladies to whome all men owe seruice You shall not fight with me saide Amphialus vpon that quarrell for I confesse the same too but it proceeds from their owne beauty to inforce Loue to offer this force I maintaine then said the forsaken Knight that thou art not worthy so to loue And that confesse I too said Amphialus since the world is not so richly blessed as to bring forth any thing worthie thereof But no more vnworthy then any other since in none can be a more worthy loue Yes more vnworthy then my selfe said the forsaken Knight for though I deserue contempt thou deseruest both contempt and hatred But Amphialus by that thinking though wrongly each indeede mistaking other that he was his riuall forgat all minde of reconciliation and hauing all his thoughts bound vp in choler neuer staying either iudge trumpet or his owne launce drew out his sword and saying Thou lyest false villaine vnto him his words blowes came so quick together as the one seemed a lightning of the others thunder But he found no barren ground of such seede for it yeelded him his owne with such encrease that though Reason and Amazement go rarely togither yet the most reasonable eies that saw it found reason to be amazed at the fury of their combat Neuer game of death better plaid neuer fury set it selfe forth in greater brauerie The curteous Vulcan when he wrought at his more curteous wiues request AEnaeas an armour made not his hammer beget a greater sounde then the swords of those noble Knights did they needed no fire to their forge for they made the fire to shine at the meeting of their swords armours ech side fetching still new spirit from the castle window and carefull of keeping their sight that way as a matter of greater consideration in their combat then either the aduantage of Sun or winde which Sunne wind if the astonished eies of the beholders were not by the astonishmeÌ„t deceiued did both stand still to be beholders of this rare match For neither
sake one death may be thought inough for me I haue not liued so many yeares but that one death may be able to conclude them neither haue my faults I hope bene so many but that one death may satisfie them It is no great suite to an enemie when but death is desired I craue but that and as for the graunting your request know for certaine you lose your labours being euery day furtherof-minded from becomming his wife who vseth me like a slaue But that in stead of getting grace renued againe Cecropias fury so that excellent creature she was newly againe tormented by those hellish monsters Cecropia vsing no other words but that she was a proud and vngratefull wench and that she would teach her to know her owne good since of her selfe she would not conceaue it So that with silence and patience like a faire gorgeous armour hammered vppon by an ilfauoured Smith she abode their pittiles dealing with her till rather reseruing her for more then meaning to end they left her to an vncomfortable leysure to consider with her selfe her fortune both helplesse her selfe being a prisoner and hopelesse since Zelmane was a prisoner who therein onely was short of the bottome of miserie that she knew not how vnworthilie her Angell by these deuils was abused but wanted God wot no stings of griefe when those words did but strike vpon her hart that Philoclea was a captiue and she not able to succour her For well she knew the confidence Philoclea had in her and well she knew Philoclea had cause to haue confidence and all troden vnder foot by the wheele of senselesse Fortune Yet if there be that imperious power in the soule as it can deliuer knowledge to another without bodilie organs so vehement were the workings of their spirites as one mette with other though themselues perceaued it not but onely thought it to be the doubling of their owne louing fancies And that was the onely worldly thing whereon Philoclea rested her minde that she knewe she should die beloued of Zelmane and should die rather then be false to Zelmane And so this most daintie Nimphe easing the paine of her minde with thinking of anothers paine and almost forgetting the paine of her bodie through the paine of her minde she wasted euen longing for the conclusion of her tedious tragedie But for a while she was vnuisited Cecropia employing her time in vsing the like crueltie vpon Pamela her harte growing not onely to desire the fruite of punishing them but euen to delight in the punishing them But if euer the beames of perfection shined through the clowdes of affliction if euer Vertue tooke a bodie to shewe his els vnconceaueable beautie it was in Pamela For when Reason taught her there was no resistance for to iust resistance first her harte was enclined then with so heauenly a quietnes and so gracefull a calmenes did she suffer the diuers kindes of torments they vsed to her that while they vexed her faire bodie it seemed that she rather directed then obeyed the vexation And when Cecropia ended and asked whether her harte woulde yeelde she a little smiled but such a smiling as shewed no loue and yet could not but be louelie And then Beastlie woman sayde shee followe on doo what thou wilte and canst vpon me for I know thy power is not vnlimited Thou maist well wracke this sillie bodie but me thou canst neuer ouerthrowe For my part I will not doo theâ— the pleasure to desire death of thee but assure thy selfe both my life and death shall triumph with honour laying shame vpon thy detestable tyranny And so in effect conquering their doing with her suffering while Cecropia tried as many sorts of paines as might rather vexe them then spoyle them for that she would not do while she were in any hope to winne either of them for her sonne Pamela remained almost as much content with triall in her selfe what vertue could doo as grieued with the miserie wherein she found her selfe plunged only sometimes her thoughts softned in her when with open wings they flew to Musidorus For then she would thinke with her selfe how grieuously Musidorus would take this her miserie and she that wept not for herselfe wept yet Musidorus teares which he would weepe for her For gentle Loue did easlier yeeld to lamentation then the constancy of vertue would els admitte Then would she remember the case wherein she had left her poore shepheard and she that wished death for her selfe feared death for him and she that condemned in her selfe the feeblenes of sorrow yet thought it great reason to be sory for his sorow and she that long had prayed for the vertuous ioyning themselues together now thinking to die herselfe hartely prayed that long time their fortunes might be seperated Liue long my Musidorus would she say and let my name liue in thy mouth in thy harte my memorie Liue long that thou mayst loue long the chast loue of thy dead Pamela Then would she wish to her selfe that no other woman might euer possesse his hart and yet scarcely the wish was made a wish when her selfe would finde fault with it as being too vniust that so excellent a man should be banished from the comfort of life Then would she fortifie her resolution with bethinking the worst taking the counsell of vertue and comfort of loue So these diamonds of the world whom Nature had made to be preciously set in the eyes of men to be the chiefe workes of her workemanship the chiefe ornaments of the worlde and Princesses of felicitie by rebellious iniury were brought to the vttermost distres that an enemies hart could wish or a womans spite inuent Cecropia dayly in one or other sorte punishing them still with her euill torments giuing them feare of worse making the feare it selfe the sorest torment of all that in the ende wearie of their bodies they should be content to bestow them at her appointment But as in labour the more one doth exercise it the more by the doing one is enhabled to doo strength growing vpon the worke so as what at first would haue seemed impossible after growes easie so these Princesses second to none and far from any second only to be matched by themselues with the vse of suffering their minds gat the habit of suffring so as all feares and terrors were to them but summons to a battaile whereof they knew before hand they would be victorious and which in the suffering was painfull being suffered was a trophe to it selfe whereby Cecropia found her selfe still farder off for where at first she might perchance haue perswaded them to haue visited her sonne and haue giuen him some comforte in his sicknesse drawing neere to the confines of Deaths kingdome now they protested that they would neuer otherwise speake to him then as to the enemy of most vniust cruelty towards them that any time or place could euer make them knowe This made the poison swell in her
cankred brest perceiuing that as in water the more she grasped the lesse she held but yet now hauing run so long the way of rigour it was too late in reason and too contrary to her passion to returne to a course of meekenesse And therefore taking counsell of one of her olde associates who so far excelled in wickednesse as that she had not onely lost all feeling of conscience but had gotten a very glory in euill in the ende they determined that beating and other such sharp dealing did not so much pull downe a womans hart as it bred anger and that nothing was more enemy to yeelding then anger making their tender harts take on the armour of obstinacy for thus did their wicked mindes blinde to the light of vertue and owly eied in the night of wickednes interpret of it and that therefore that was no more to be tried And for feare of death which no question would doo most with them they had bene so often threatned as they began to be familiarly acquainted with it and learned to esteeme threatning words to be but words Therefore the last but best way now was that the one seeing indeede the others death should perceiue there was no dallying meant and then there was no doubt that a womans soule would do much rather then leaue so beautifull a body This being concluded Cecropia went to Philoclea and tolde her that now she was to come to the last part of the play for her part though she found her hard harted obstinacie such that neither the sweetnesse of louing meanes nor the force of hard meanes could preuaile with her yet before she would passe to a further degree of extremity she had sought to win her sister in hope that her sonne might be with time satisfied with the loue of so faire a Lady but finding her also rather more then lesse wilfull she was now minded that one of their deathes should serue for an example to the other that despising worthy folks was more hurtfull to the despiser then the despised that yet because her sonne especially affected her and that in her owne selfe she was more inclinable to pittie her then she had deserued she would begin with her sister who that afternoone should haue her head cut off before her face if in the meane time one of them did not pull out their il-wrought stiches of vnkindnes she bad her looke for no other nor longer time then she told her There was no assault giuen to the sweet Philocleas minde that entered so far as this for where to all paines and daungers of her selfe foresight with his Lieutenant Resolution had made ready defence now with the loue she bare her sister she was driuen to a stay before she determined but long she staied not before this reason did shine vnto her that since in herselfe she preferred death before such a base seruitude loue did teach her to wish the same to her sister Therefore crossing her armes and looking side-ward vpon the ground Do what you will said she with vs for my part heauen shall melt before I be remoued But if you will follow my counsell for your owne sake for as for praiers for my sake I haue felt how little they preuaile let my death first serue for example to win her who perchaunce is not so resolued against Amphialus and so shall you not onely iustly punish mee who indeede doo hate both you and your sonne but if that may mooue you you shall doo more vertuously in preseruing one most worthy of life and killing an other most desirous of death lastly in winning her in steed of a peeuish vnhappie creature that I am you shall blesse your sonne with the most excellent woman in all praise-worthy things that the world holdeth But Cecropia who had already set downe to her selfe what she would do with bitter both termes and countenaunce told her that she should not neede to woo death ouer-egerly â—or if her sister going before her did not teach her wit her selfe should quickly follow For since they were not to be gotten there was no way for her sonnes quiet but to knowe that they were past getting And so since no intreating nor threatning might preuayle she bad her prepare her eies for a new play which she should see within fewe houres in the hall of that castle A place indeed ouerfit for so vnfit a matter for being so stately made that the bottome of it being euen with the ground the roofe reached as hie as any part of the castle at either ende it had conuenient lodgings In the one ende was one storie from the ground Philocleas abode in the other of euen height Pamelas and Zelmanes in a chamber aboue her but all so vaulted of strong and thickly built stone as one could no way heare the other each of these chambers had a litle windowe to looke into the hall but because the sisters should not haue so much comforte as to looke one to another there was of the outsides curtaynes drawne which they could not reach with their hands so barring the reach of their sight But when the houre came that the Tragedie should beginne the curtaynes were withdrawen from before the windowes of Zelmane and of Philoclea a sufficient challenge to call their eyes to defende themselues in such an incounter And by and by came in at one ende of the hall with about a dozen armed souldiers a Ladie led by a couple with her handes bounde before her from aboue her eyes to her lippes muffled with a faire kerchiefe but from her mouth to the shoulders all bare and so was led on to a scaffold raised a good deale from the floore and all couered with crimsin veluet But neither Zelmane nor Philoclea needed to be tolde who she was for the apparell she ware made them too well assured that it was the admirable Pamela Whereunto the rare whitenesse of her naked necke gaue sufficient testimonie to their astonnished senses But the fayre Ladie being come to the scaffold and then made to kneele downe and so lefte by her vnkinde supporters as it seemed that she was about to speake somewhat whereunto Philoclea poore soule earnestly listned according to her speach euen minding to frame her minde her harte neuer till then almost wauering to saue her sisters life before the vnfortunate Ladie could pronounce three wordes the executioner cut off the ones speech and the others attention with making his sworde doo his cruell office vpon that beautifull necke Yet the pittilesse sworde had such pittie of so pretious an obiect that at first it did but hit flat long But little auailed that since the Ladie falling downe astonnished withall the cruell villayne forced the sworde with another blowe to diuorce the faire marriage of the head and body And this was done so in an instant that the very act did ouerrun Philocleas sorrow sorrow not being able so quickly to thunderbolt her harte thorough her senses but first
onely opprest her with a storme of amazement but when her eies sawe that they did see as condemning themselues to haue seene it they became weary of their owne power of seeing and her soule then drinking vp woe with great draughts she fell downe to deadly traunces but her waiting iaylors with cruell pitty brought lothed life vnto her which yet many times tooke his leaue as though he would indeed depart but when he was staied by force he kept with him deadly Sorrow which thus exercised her mourning speech Pamela my sister my sister Pamela woe is me for thee I would I had died for thee Pamela neuer more shall I see thee neuer more shall I enioy thy sweet companie and wise counsell Alas thou arte gone to beautifie heauen and hast left me here who haue nothing good in me but that I did euer loue thee and euer will lament thee Let this daye be noted of all vertuous folkes for most vnfortunate let it neuer be mentioned but among curses and cursed bee they that did this mischiefe and most accursed bee mine eyes that behelde it Sweete Pamela that head is striken of where onely wisedome might be spoken withall that bodie is destroyed which was the liuing booke of vertue Deare Pamela how haste thou lefte me to all wretchednesse and miserie Yet while thou liuedst in thee I breathed of thee I hoped O Pamela how much did I for thy excellencie honour thee more then my mother and loue thee more then my selfe Neuer more shall I lie with thee neuer more shall we bathe in the pleasant riuer together neuer more shall I see thee in thy shephearde apparell But thou arte gone and where am I Pamela is dead and liue I O my God And with that she fell againe in a soune so as it was a great while before they could bring her to her selfe againe but being come to her-selfe Alas said she vnkind women since you haue giuen me so many deathes torment me not now with life for Gods sake let me goe and excuse your hands of more blood Let me follow my Pamela whom euer I sought to follow Alas Pamela they will not let me come to thee But if they keepe promise I shall treade thine owne steppes after thee For to what am I borne miserable soule but to be most vnhappie in my selfe and yet more vnhappie in others But ô that a thousand more miseries had chanced vnto me so thou haddest not dyed Pamela my sister Pamela And so like lamentable Philomela complained she the horrible wrong done to her sister which if it stird not in the wickedly closed minds of her tormentors a pittie of her sorrow yet bredde it a wearinesse of her sorrow so as onely leauing one to preuent any harme â—he should doo her selfe the rest went away consulting againe with Cecropia how to make profite of this their late bloodie act In the ende that woman that vsed most to keepe company with Zelmane tolde Cecropia that she founde by many most sensible proofes in Zelmane that there was neuer woman so loued another as she loued Philoclea which was the cause that she further then the commandement of Cecropia had caused Zelmanes curtaines to bee also drawne because hauing the same spectacle that Philoclea had shee might stand in the greater feare for her whom she loued so well and that indeed she had hit the needle in that deuise for neuer saw she creature so astonished as Zelmane exceedingly sory for Pamela but exceedingly exceeding that exceedingnes in feare for Philoclea Therefore her aduice was shee â—houlde cause Zelmane to come and speake with Philoclea For there being such vehemencie of friendship between them it was most likely both to moue Zelmane to perswade and Philoclea to be perswaded Cecropia liked well of the counsell and gaue order to the same woman to go deale therin with Zelmane and to assure her with othe that Cecropia was determined Philoclea should passe the same way that Pamela had done without she did yeeld to satisfie the extremitie of her sonnes affection which the woman did adding thereunto many as she thought good reasons to make Zelmane thinke Amphialus a fit match for Philoclea But Zelmane who had from time to time vnderstood the cruell dealing they had vsed to the sisters and now had her own eies wounded with the sight of ones death was so confused withall her courage still rebelling against her wit desiring stil with force to doo impossible matters that as her desire was stopped with power so her conceit was darkned with a mist of desire For blinde Loue and inuincible valure still would cry out that it could not bee Philoclea should bee in so miserable estate and she not relieue her and so while shee haled her wit to her courage shee drew it from his owne limits But nowe Philocleas death a worde able to marshall â—ll his thoughts in order being come to so short a point either with small delay to be suffred or by the giuing her selfe to another to be preuented she was driuen to thinke and to desire some leasure of thinking which the woman granted for that night vnto her A night that was not halfe so blacke as her minde not halfe so silent as was fit for her musing thoughts At last he that would faine haue desperatly lost a thousand liues for her sake could not finde in his harte that she should loose any life for her owne sake and he that despised his owne death in respect of honour yet could well nye dispense with honour it selfe in respect of Philocleas death for once the thought could not enter into his harte nor the breath issue out of his mouth which could consent to Philocleas death for any bargaine Then how to preuent the next degree to death which was her being possest by another was the point of his mindes labour and in that he founde no other way but that Philoclea shoulde pretend a yeelding vnto Cecropias request and so by speaking with Amphialus and making faire but delaying promises procure libertie for Zelmane who only wisht but to come by a sword not doubting then to destroy them all and deliuer Philoclea so little did both the men and their forces seeme in her eyes looking down vpon them from the hye toppe of affections tower With that minde therefore but first well bound shee was brought to Philoclea hauing already plotted out in her conceite how she would deale with her and so came she with hart and eyes which did each sacrifice either to Loue vpon the aultar of Sorrow and there had shee the pleasing displeasing sight of Philoclea Philoclea whoÌ„ alredy the extreame sense of sorrow had brought to a dulnesse therein her face not without tokens that beautie had bene by many miseries cruelly battered and yet shewed it most the perfection of that beautie which coulde remaine vnouerthrowne by such enimies But when Zelmane was set downe by her and the women gone away because she might be the
better perswaded when no body was by that had heard her say she would not bee perswaded then began first the eyes to speake and the harts to crie out Sorrow a while would nedees speake his owne language without vsing their tongues to be his interpreters At last Zelmane brake silence but spake with the onely eloquence of amazement for all her long methodized oratione was inherited onely by such kinde of speeches Deare Ladie in extreame necessities we must not But alas vnfortunate wretch that I am that I liue to see this daye And I take heauen and earth to witnesse that nothing and with that her brest swelled so with spite and griefe that her breath had not leasure to turne it selfe into words But the sweet Philoclea that had alredie dyed in Pamela of the other side had the heauines of her hart something quickned in the most beloued sight of Zelmane ghessed somewhat at Zelmanes mind and therefore spake vnto her in this sort My Pyrocles saide shee I knowe this exceeding comfort of your presence is not brought vnto mee for any good-will that is owned vnto mee but as I suppose to make you perswade me to saue my life with the ransome of mine honour although no bodie shoulde bee so vnfit a pleader in that cause as your selfe yet perchance you woulde haue me liue Your honour God forbid saide Zelmane that euer for any cause I should yeeld to any touch of it But a while to pretend some affection til time or my libertie might worke somthing for your seruice this if my astonished senses would giue me leaue I would faine haue perswaded you To what purpose my Pyrocles said Philoclea of a miserable time what gaine is there hath Pamelaes example wrought no more in mee is a captiue life so much worth can euer it goe out of these lips that I loue any other but Pyrocles shall my tongue bee so false a traitor to my hart as to say I loue any other but Pyrocles And why should I do all this to liue O Pamela sister Pamela why shoulde I liue onely for thy sake Pyrocles I would liue but to thee I know too well I shall not liue and if not to thee hath thy loue so base allay my Pyrocles as to wish mee to liue sor dissimulation my Pyrocles my simplicitie is such that I haue hardly bene able to keepe a straight way what shall I doo in a crooked But in this case there is no meane of dissimulation not for the cunningest present answere is required and present performance vpon the answere Art thou so terrible ô Death No my Pyrocles and for that I doo thanke thee and in my soule thanke thee for I confesse the loue of thee is heerein my chiefest vertue Trouble mee not therefore deare Pyrocles nor double not my death by tormenting my resolution since I cannot liue with thee I will dye for thee Onely remember me deare Pyrocles and loue the remembrance of mee if I may craue so much of thee let me be thy last loue for though I be not worthy of thee who indeed art the worthiest creature liuing yet remember that my loue was a worthy loue But Pyrocles was so ouercome with sorrow which wisdome and vertue made iust in so excellent a Ladies case full of so excellent kindnes that words were ashamed to come forth knowing how weak they were to expresse his mind and her merit and therefore so stayed in a deadly silence forsaken of hope and forsaking comfort till the appointed gardians came in to see the fruits of Zelmanes labour and then Zelmane warned by their presence fell againe to perswade though scarcely her selfe could tell what but in sum desirous of delayes But Philoclea sweetly continuing constant and in the end punishing her importunity with silence Zelmane was faine to ende Yet crauing an other times conference shee obtained it and diuers others till at the last Cecropia founde it was to no purpose and therefore determined to follow her owne way Zelmane yet still desirous to win by any meanes respit euen wasted with sorrow and vncertaine whether in worse case in her presence or absence being able to doo nothing for Philocleas succour but by submitting the greatest corage of the earth to fall at the feete of Cecropia and craue stay of their sentence til the vttermost was seene what her perswasions might doo Cecropia seemed much to bee moued by her importunitie so as diuers dayes were wonne of painefull life to the excellent Philoclea while Zelmane suffred some hope to cherrish her minde especially trusting vpon the helpe of Musidorus who shee knew woulde not bee idle in this matter till one morning a noise awaked Zelmane from whose ouer-watchfull mind the tired body had stolne a little sleep streight with the first opening of her eyes Care taking his woonted place she ranne to the window which looked into the hall for that way the noise guided her and there might shee see the curtaine being left open euer since the last execution seuen or eight persons in a cluster vpon the scaffold who by and by retiring themselues nothinge was to bee seene thereupon but a basan of golde pittifully enameled with bloud and in the midst of it the head of the most beautifull Philoclea The horriblenes of the mischiefe was such as Pyrocles coulde not at first beleeue his owne senses but bent his woefull eyes to discerne it better where too well hee might see it was Philocleas selfe hauing no veile but beautie ouer the face which still appeared to be aliue so did those eyes shine euen as they were woont and they were woont more then any other and sometimes as they moued it might well make the beholder think that death therein had borowed her beautie and not they any way disgraced by death so sweet and pearsing a grace they caried with them It was not a pitie it was not an amazement it was not a sorrow which then laid hold on Pyrocles but a wilde furie of desperate agonie so that hee cried out O tyraunt heauen traytor earth blinde prouidence no iustice howe is this done how is this suffered hath this worlde a gouernment If it haue let it poure out all his mischiefes vpon mee and see whether it haue power to make mee more wrecthed then I am Did she excell for this haue I prayed for this abhominable hande that did it detestable deuill that commaunded it cursed light that beheld it and if the light be cursed what are then mine eyes that haue seene it And haue I seene Philoclea dead and doo I liue and haue I liued not to helpe her but to talke of her and stande I still talking And with that caried with the madnes of anguish not hauing a redier waye to kill himselfe hee ranne as hard as euer hee coulde with his head against the wall with intention to braine himselfe but the haste to do it made the doing the slower For as hee came to
to me that he would kill his mother if hee knewe how I had bene dealt with but that Cecropia keepes him from vnderstanding thinges howe they passe onely hauing heard a whispering and my selfe named he had of aboundaunce forsooth of honorable loue giuen this charge for vs. Whereupon this enlargement of mine was growne for my parte I know too well their cunning who leaue no mony vnoffered that may buy mine honour to beleeue any word they say but my deare Pyrocles euen looke for the worste and prepare my selfe for the same Yet I must confesse I was content to robbe from death and borrowe of my misery the sweet comfort of seeing my sweet sister and most sweete comfort of thee my Pyrocles And so hauing leaue I came stealing into your chamber where O Lord what a ioy it was vnto me to heare you solemnise the funerals of the poore Philoclea That I my selfe might liue to heare my death bewailed and by whom by my deere Pyrocles That I saw death was not strong enough to diuide thy loue from me O my Pyrocles I am too well paide for my paines I haue suffred ioyfull is my woe for so noble a cause and welcome be all miseries since to thee I am so welcome Alas how I pittied to heare thy pittie of me and yet a great while I could not finde in my hart to interrupt thee but often had euen pleasure to weepe with thee and so kindly came forth thy lamentations that they inforced me to lament to as if indeed I had beene a looker on to see poore Philoclea dye Till at last I spake with you to try whether I could remoue thee from sorrow till I had almost procured my selfe a beating And with that she pretily smiled which mingled with her teares one could not tell whether it were a mourning pleasure or a delightfull sorrow but like when a few Aprill drops are scattered by a gentle Zephyrus among fine coloured flowers But Pyrocles who had felt with so small distance of time in himselfe the ouerthrow both of hope and despaire knew not to what key he should tune his mind either of ioy or sorrow But finding perfite reason in neither suffred himself to be caried by the tide of his imagination and his imaginations to be raised euen by the sway which hearing or seing might giue vnto them he saw her aliue he was glad to see her aliue he saw her weep he was sory to see her weep he heard her comfortable speches nothing more gladsome he hard her prognosticating her own destruction nothing more dolefull But when he had a little taken breath from the panting motion of such contrarietie in passions he fell to consider with her of her present estate both comforting her that certainely the worst of this storme was past since alreadie they had done the worst which mans wit could imagine and that if they had determined to haue killed her now they would haue done it and also earnestly counselling her and inhabling his counsels with vehement prayers that she would so far second the hopes of Amphialus as that she might but procure him liberty promising then as much to her as the liberalitie of louing corage durst promise to himselfe But who would liuely describe the manner of these speeches should paint out the lightsome coulours of affection shaded with the deepest shadowes of sorrow finding then betweene hope and feare a kind of sweetenes in teares till Philoclea content to receaue a kisse and but a kisse of Pyrocles sealed vp his mouing lips and closed them vp in comfort and her-selfe for the passage was left betweene them open went to her sister with whom she had stayed but a while fortifying one another while Philoclea tempered Pamelas iust disdaine and Pamela ennobled Philocleas sweet humblenesse when Amphialus cam vnto them who neuer since he had heard Philoclea named could bee quiet in himselfe although none of them about him fearing more his mothers violence then his power would discouer what had passed and many messages he sent to know her estate which brought answeres backe according as it pleased Cecropia to indite them till his hart full of vnfortunate affection more and more misgiuing him hauing impatiently borne the delay of the nights vnfitnesse this morning he gat vp and though full of woundes which not without daunger could suffer such exercise he apparelled himselfe and with a countenance that shewed strength in nothing but in griefe he came where the sisters were and weakely kneeling downe he besought them to pardon him if they had not bene vsed in that castle according to their worthines and his duetie beginning to excuse small matters poore Gentleman not knowing in what sort they had bene handled But Pamelaes hye hart hauing conceiued mortall hate for the iniurie offred to her and her sister could scarcely abide his sight much lesse heare out his excuses but interrupted him with these words Traitor said she to thine owne blood and false to the profession of so much loue as thou hast vowed doo not defile our eares with thy excuses but pursue on thy crueltie that thou and thy godly mother haue vsed towards vs for my part assure thy selfe and so do I answere for my sister whose mind I know I do not more desire mine owne safetie then thy destruction Amazed with this speech he turned his eye full of humble sorrowfulnes to Philoclea And is this most excellent Ladie your doome of me also She sweete Ladie sate weeping for as her most noble kinsman she had euer fauoured him and loued his loue though she could not be in loue with his person and now partly vnkindnes of his wrong partly pittie of his case made her sweete mind yeeld some teares before she could answere and her answere was no other but that she had the same cause as her sister had He replyed no further but deliuering from his hart two or three vntaught sighes rose and with most low reuerence went out of their chamber and streight by threatning torture learned of one of the women in what terrible manner those Princesses had bene vsed But when he heard it crying out O God and then not able to say any more for his speech went backe to rebound woe vpon his hart he needed no iudge to goe vpon him for no man could euer thinke any other worthy of greater punishment then he thought himselfe Full therefore of the horriblest despaire which a most guiltie conscience could breed with wild lookes promising some terrible issue vnderstanding his mother was vpon the top of the leades he caught one of his seruants swords from him and none of them daring to stay him he went vp carried by furie in steede of strength where she was at that time musing how to goe thorough with this matter and resoluing to make much of her Neeces in shew and secreatly to impoison them thinking since they were not to be wonne her sonnes loue would no otherwise be mitigated But
any such were that felt not the losse yet others griefe taught them grief hauing before their compassionate sense so passionate a spectacle of a young man of great beautie beautified with great honour honoured by great valure made of inestimable value by the noble vsing of it to lye there languishing vnder the arrest of death and a death where the manner could be no comfort to the discomfortablenes of the matter But when the bodie was carried through the gate and the people sauing such as were appointed not suffred to goe further then was such an vniuersall crie as if they had all had but one life and all receaued but one below Which so moued Anaxius to consider the losse of his friend that his mind apter to reuenge then tendernesse hee presently giuing order to his brother to keepe the prisoners safe and vnuisited till his retourne from conueying Helen hee sent a messenger to the sisters to tell them this curteous message that at his retourne with his owne handes hee woulde cut off their heades and sende them for tokens to their father This message was brought vnto the sisters as they sate at that time together with Zelmane conferring how to carrie themselues hauing heard of the death of Amphialus And as no expectation of death is so paineful as where the resolution is hindred by the intermixing of hopes so did this new alarum though not remoue yet moue somwhat the constancy of their mindes which were so vnconstantly dealt with But within a while the excellent Pamela had brought her minde againe to his olde acquaintance and then as carefull for her sister whom most deerely she loued Sister saide shee you see how many acts our Tragedy hath Fortune is not yet a wearie of vexing vs but what A shippe is not counted strong for byding one storme It is but the same trumpet of death which now perhaps giues the last sounde and let vs make that profite of our former miseries that in them wee learned to dye willingly Truely saide Philoclea deare sister I was so beaten with the euils of life that though I had not vertue enough to despise the sweetnesse of it yet my weaknesse bredde that strength to be wearie of the paines of it onely I must confesse that little hope which by these late accidents was awaked in me was at the first angrie withall But euen in the darkenesse of that horrour I see a light of comfort appeare and how can I treade amisse that see Pamela steppes I would onely O that my wish might take place that my schoole-Mistres might liue to see mee say my lesson truely Were that a life my Philoclea said Pamela No no saide shee let it come and put on his worst face for at the worst it is but a bug-beare Ioy is it to me to see you so well resolued and since the world will not haue vs let it lose vs. Onely with that she stayed a little and sighed only my Philoclea then she bowed downe and whispered in her eare onely Musidorus my shepheard comes betwene me and death and makes me thinke I should not dye because I know he would not I shoulde dye With that Philoclea sighed also saying no more but looking vpon Zelmane who was walking vp and downe the chamber hauing heard this message from Anaxius and hauing in times past heard of his nature thought him like enough to performe it which winded her againe into the former maze of perplexitie Yet debating with her selfe of the manner how to preuent it she continued her musing humour little saying or indeede little finding in her hart to say in a case of such extremitie where peremptorily death was threatned and so stayed they hauing yet that comfort that they might tarrie togither Pamela nobly Philoclea sweetely and Zelmane sadly and desperately none of them entertaining sleep which they thought should shortly begin neuer to awake But Anaxius came home hauing safely conduct Helen and safely hee might well do it For though many of Basilius Knights would haue attempted something vpon Anaxius by that meanes to deliuer the Ladies yet Philanax hauing receaued his masters commandement and knowing his word was giuen would not consent vnto it And the black-Knight who by them was able to carry abroad his wounds did not knowe thereof but was bringing force by force to deliuer his Lady So as Anaxius interpreting it rather feare then faith and making euen chance an argument of his vertue returned and as soone as hee was returned with afelon hart calling his brothers vp with him he went into the chamber where they were all three togither with full intention to kill the sisters with his owne handes and sende their heads for tokens to their father Though his brothers who were otherwise enclined disswaded him but his reuerence stayed their perswasions But when hee was come into the chamber with the very wordes of cholerike threatning climing vp his throate his eyes first lighted vpon Pamela who hearing hee was comming and looking for death thought she would keepe her owne maiestie in welcomming it but the beames therof so strake his eyes with such a counterbuffe vnto his pride that if his anger could not so quickly loue nor his pride so easily honor yet both were forced to finde a worthinesse Which while it bred a pause in him Zelmane who had ready in her minde both what and how to say stept out vnto him and with a resolute stayednes void either of anger kindnes disdaine or humblenesse speake in this sort Anaxius said she if Fame haue not bene ouerpartiall to thee thou art a man of exceeding valour Therefore I doo call thee euen before that vertue will make it the iudge between vs. And now I doo affirme that to the eternall blot of all the faire actes that thou hast done thou doest weakely in seeking without daunger to reuenge his death whose life with daunger thou mightst perhapes haue preserued thou doost cowardly in going about by the death of these excellent Ladies to preuent the iust punishment that hereafter they by the powers which they better then their father or any other could make might lay vpon thee and doost most basely in once presenting thy selfe as an executioner a vile office vpon men and in a iust cause beyond the degree of any vile worde in so vniust a cause and vpon Ladies and such Ladies And therefore as a hangman I say thou art vnworthy to be counted a knight or to be admitted into the companie of Knights Neither for what I say will I alleadge other reasons of wisdome or iustice to prooue my speech because I knowe thou doost disdaine to be tied to their rules but euen in thine own vertue whereof thou so much gloriest I will make my triall and therfore defie thee by the death of one of vs two to proue or disproue these reproaches Choose thee what armes thou likest I onely demaund that these Ladies whome I defende may in liberty see the combate
gates and walles leauing none within but himselfe and his brothers his thoughts then so full of their intended pray that Mars-his lowdest trumpet could scarcely haue awaked him But while he was directing what he would haue done his yongest brother Zoilus glad that he had the commission went in the name of Anaxius to tell the sisters that since he had answere from their father that he and his brother Licurgus should haue them in what sort it pleased them that they would now graunt them no longer time but presently to determine whether they thought it more honorable comfort to be compelled or perswaded Pamela made him answere that in a matter whereon the whole state of her life depended and wherein she had euer answered she would not lead but follow her parents pleasure she thought it reason she should either by letter or particular messenger vnderstand somthing from theÌ„selues not haue her beleef bound to the report of their partiall seruant and therfore as to their words she her sister had euer a simple true resolution so against their vniust force God they hoped would either arme their liues or take away their liues Well Ladies said he I will leaue my brothers who by and by will come vnto you to be their owne embassadors for my part I must now do my selfe seruice And with that turning vp his mustachoes and marching as if he would begin a pauen â—e went toward Zelmane But Zelmane hauing had all this while of the messengers being with Basilius much to do to keepe those excellent Ladies from seeking by the pasport of death to escape those base dangers wherevnto they found themselues subiect still hoping that Musidorus would finde some meanes to deliuer theÌ„ and therefore had often both by her owne example and comfortable reasons perswaded them to ouerpasse many insolent indignities of their proud suters who thought it was a sufficient fauour not to do the vttermost iniurie now come againe to the streight she most feared for them either of death or dishonor if heroicall courage would haue let her she had bene beyonde herselfe amazed but that yet held vp her wit to attend the vttermost occasion which euen then brought his hairie forehead vnto her for Zoilus smacking his lippes as for the Prologue of a kisse and something aduancing himselfe Darling said he let thy hart be full of ioy and let thy faire eies be of counsell with it for this day thou shalt haue Zoilus whom many haue loÌ„ged for but none shall haue him but Zelmane And oh how much glory I haue to think what a race wil be betwne vs. The world by the heaueÌ„s the world will be too little for them And with that he would haue put his arme about her necke but she withdrawing her selfe from him My Lord said she much good may your thoughts do you but that I may not dissemble with you my natiuitie being cast by one that neuer failed in any of his prognostications I haue bene assured that I should neuer be apt to beare children But since you will honor me with so hie fauor I must onely desire that I may performe a vow which I made among my countriwomen the famous Amazons that I would neuer marrie none but such one as was able to withstand me in Armes therefore before I make mine owne desire seruiceable to yours you must vouchsafe to lend me armor and weapons that at least with a blow or two of the sword I may not finde my selfe periured to my selfe But Zoilus but laughing with a hartie lowdnes went by force to embrace her making no other answere but since she had a mind to trie his Knighthood she should quickly know what a man of armes he was and so without reuerence to the Ladies began to struggle with her But in Zelmane then Disdaine became wisdome and Anger gaue occasion For abiding no longer aboad in the matter she that had not put off though she had disguised Pyrocles being farre fuller of strong nimblenes tript vp his feete so that he fell downe at hers And withall meaning to pursue what she had begun puld out his sword which he ware about him but before she could strike him withall he gat vp and ranne to a faire chamber where he had left his two brethren preparing themselues to come downe to their mistresses But she followed at his heeles and euen as he came to throw himselfe into their armes for succor she hit him with his owne sword such a blow vpon the waste that she almost cut him asunder once she sundred his soule from his body sending it to Proserpina an angry Goddesse against rauishers But Anaxius seing before his eyes the miserable end of his brother fuller of despite then wrath and yet fuller of wrath then sorow looking with a wofull eye vpon his brother Lycurgus Brother said he chastice this vile creature while I go downe and take order lest further mischiefe arise and so went downe to the Ladies whom he visited doubting there had bene some further practise then yet he conceiued But finding them only strong in pacience he went and lockt a great Iron gate by which onely any body might mount to that part of the Castle rather to conceale the shame of his brother slaine by a woman then for doubt of any other anoyance and then went vp to receaue some comfort of the execution he was sure his brother had done of Zelmane But Zelmane no sooner saw those brothers of whom Reason assured her she was to expect reuenge but that she lept to a target as one that well knew the first marke of valure to be defence And then accepting the oportunitie of Anaxius going away she waited not the pleasure of Lycurgus but without any words which she euer thought vaine when resolution tooke the place of perswasion gaue her owne hart the contentment to be the assailer Lycurgus who was in the disposition of his nature hazardouse and by the luckie passing through many dangers growne confident in himselfe went toward her rather as to a spoile then to fight so farre from feare that his assurednesse disdained to hope But when her sword made demonstrations aboue all flattery of arguments and that he found she prest so vpon him as shewed that her courage sprang not from blinde despaire but was garded both with cunning and strength self-self-loue then first in him diuided it selfe from vain-glory and made him finde that the world of worthines had not this whole globe comprised in his brest but that it was necessarie to haue strong resistance against so strong assailing And so between them for a fewe blowes Mars himselfe might haue bin delighted to looke on But Zelmane who knew that in her case slownesse of victory was little better then ruine with the bellowes of hate blew the fire of courage and he striking a maine blow at her head she warded it with the shield but so warded that the shield was cut in two pieces
face to the top of the house shrugging all ouer his bodie and stamping somtimes vpon the ground gaue Mopsa occasion who was as busie as a Bee to know any thing to aske her louer Dorus what ayled him that made him vse so strange a behauiour he as if his spirits had beene rauished with some supernaturall contemplation stoode still muett somtimes rubbing his forehead sometime starting in him selfe that hee set Mopsa in such an itche of inquirie that she would haue offred her maydenhead rather then belonge kept from it Dorus not yet aunswearing to the purpose still keeping his amazement O Hercules saide he resolue me in this doubt A tree to graunt ones wishes Is this the cause of the Kinges solitarie life Which parte shall I take Happie in either vnhappie because I cannot know which were my best happ These doubtful selfe speches made Mopsa yet in a further longing of knowing the matter so that the prettie pigge laying her sweete burden about his neck my Dorus saide she tell mee these words or els I know not what will befal mee honny Dorus tell them me Dorus hauing stretched her minde vpon a right laste extremely loued Mopsa saide hee the matters be so great as my harte failes me in the telling them but since you holde the greatest seate in it it is reason your desire should adde life vnto it Ther with he told her a farre fet tale how that many millions of yeares before Iupiter fallen out with Apollo had throwne him out of heauen taking from him the priueledge of a God So that poore Apollo was faine to leade a verie miserable life vnacquainted to worke and neuer vsed to begge that in this order hauing in time learned to bee Admetus heardman he had vpon occasion of fetching a certaine breed of beastes out of Arcadia come to that verie deserte where wearied with trauaile and resting himselfe in the boughes of a pleasaunt Ashe tree stoode little of from the lodge hee had with pittifull complaintes gotten his father Iupiters pardon and so from that tree was receaued againe to his golden spheare But hauing that right nature of a God neuer to be vngratefull to Admetus hee had graunted a double life and because that tree was the chappel of his prosperous prayers he had giuen it this equality that whatsoeuer of such estate and in such maner as he then was sate downe in that tree they should obtaine whatsoeuer they wished This Basilius hauing vnderstoode by the oracle was the onely cause which had made him trie whether framing himselfe to the state of an heardman he might haue the preuiledge of wishing onely graunted to that degree but that hauing often in vaine attempted it because indeede hee was not such he had now opened the secret to Dametas making him sweare hee should wish according to his direction But because said Dorus Apollo was at that time with extreme griefe muffled round aboute his face with a skarlet cloake Admetus had giuen him and because they that must wish must be muffled in like sorte and with like stuffe my master Dametas is gone I know not whither to prouide him a skarlet cloake and to morrow doth appointe to returne with it my Mistresse I cannot tell how hauing gotten some inckling of it is trudged to Mantinea to get her selfe a cloake before him because she woulde haue the first wishe My master at his parting of great trust tould me this secret commaunding me to see no bodie should clime that tree But now my Mopsa said he I haue here the like cloake of mine owne and am not so verie a foole as though I keep his commaundement in others to barre my selfe I rest onely extreemely perplexed because hauing nothing in the worlde I wish for but the enioying you your fauour I think it a much pleasanter conquest to come to it by your owne consent then to haue it by such a charming force as this is Now therefore choose since haue you I will in what sorte I shall haue you But neuer child was so desirons of a gay puppet as Mopsa was to be in the tree and therefore without squeamishnes promising all he woulde shee coniured him by all her precious Loues that she might haue the first possession of the wishing tree assuring him that for the enioying her he should neuer neede to clime farre Dorus to whom time was precious made no great ceremonies with her but helping her vp to the top of the tree from whence likewise she could ill come downe without helpe he muffled her round about the face so truely that she her selfe could not vndoe it And so he tolde her the manner was she should hold her mind in continuall deuotion to Apollo without making at al any noyse till at the farthest within twelue howers space she should heare a voice call her by name three times that till the thirde time shee must in no wise aunswere then you shall not need to doubt your cōming down for at that time said he be sure to wish wisely in what shape soeuer he come vnto you speake boldly vnto him and your wish shall haue as certaine effecte as I haue a desire to enioy your sweet Loues in this plight did hee leaue Mopsa resolued in her hart to be the greatest Lady of the world neuer after to feede of worse then furmentie Thus Dorus hauing deliuered his hands of his three tormentors took speedely the benefit of his deuise and mounting the gracious Pamela vpon a faire horse he had prouided for her he thrust himselfe forthwith into the wildest part of the desarte where he had left markes to guide him frō place to place to the next sea porte disguising her very fitly with scarfes although he rested assured he should meet that way with no body till he came to his barck into which hee ment to enter by night But Pamela who al this while transported with desire troubled with feare had neuer free scope of iudgemēt to look with perfect consideratiō into her own enterprise but euē by the lawes of loue had bequeathed the care of her self vpō him to whom she had geuē her self Now that the pang of desire with euident hope was quieted most part of the feare passed reason began to renew his shining in her hart make her see her self in her selfe weigh with what wings she flew out of her natiue contry and vpon what ground she builte so strange a determinaciō But loue fortified with her louers presence kept still his own in her hart So that as they ridde together with her hand vpon her faithfull seruants shoulder sodainly casting her bashfull eies to the ground and yet bending her self towards him like the clyent that committes the cause of all his worth to a well trusted aduocate frō a milde spirit saide vnto him these sweetely deliuered wordes Prince Musidorus for so my assured hope is I may iustlie call you since with no other my
suffering them to haue so full a course as it did exceedinglie weaken the estate of her bodie aswell for which cause as for that shee could not see Zalmane without expressing more then shee woulde how farr now her loue was imprisoned in extremitie of sorrow she bound her selfe first to the limits of her own chamber and after griefe breeding sicknes of her bed But Zelmane hauing now a full libertie to cast about euery way how to bring her conceaued attempt to a desired successe was ofte so perplexed with the manifould difficultie of it that sometimes she would resolue by force to take her a way though it were with the death of her parents somtimes to go away herself with Musidorus and bring both their forces so to winne her But lastly euen the same day that Musidorus by feeding the humor of his three loathsome gardiens had stolne awaye the Princes Pamela whether it were that loue ment to match them euerie waie or that her friendes example had holpen her inuention or that indeede Zelmane forbare to practise her deuise till she found her friend had passed through his The same daye I saye shee resolued on a way to rid out of the lodge her two combersome louers and in the night to carrie away Philoclea where vnto shee was assured her owne loue no lesse then her sisters woulde easely winne her consent Hoping that although their abrupt parting had not suffered her to demaund of Musidorus which way he ment to direct his iorney yet either they should by some good fortune finde him or if that course fayled yet they might well recouer some towne of the Helotes neere the frontieâ—es of Arcadia who being newly againe vp in armes against the Nobilitie shee knew would bee as glad of her presence as she of their protection Therefore hauing taken order for all thinges requisite for their going and first put on a sleight vndersute of mans apparel which before for such purposes she had prouided she curiously trimmed her self to the beautifâ—ing of her beauties that being now at her last triall she might come vnto it in her brauest armour And so putting on that kinde of milde countenaunce which doth encourage the looker on to hope for a gentle answere according to her late receaued maner she lefte the pleasant darkenes of her melancholy caue to goe take her dinner of the King and Queene and giue vnto them both a pleasant foode of seing the owner of their desires But euen as the Persians were aunciently wont to leaue no rising Sun vnsaluted but as his faire beames appeared clearer vnto theÌ„ wold they more hartely reioyce laying vpoÌ„ them a great fortoken of their following fortunes So was ther no time that Zelmane encouÌ„tred their eies with her beloued presence but that it bred a kind of burning deuotioÌ„ in theÌ„ yet so much the more glading their gredy soules as her couÌ„tenance were cleared with morefauour vnto theÌ„ which now being determinatly framed to the greatest desceÌ„t of kindnesse it took such hold of her infortunate louers that like children aboute a tender father from along voyage returned with louely childishnes hange about him and yet with simple feare measure by his countenance how farr he acceptes their boldnes So were these now throwne into so seruiceable an affection that the turning of Zelmanes eye was a strong sterne enough to all their motions wending no way but as the inchaunting force of it guided them But hauing made a light repaste of the pleasunt fruites of that countrye enterlarding their foode with such manner of generall discourses as louers are woont to couer their passions in when respecte of a thirde person keepes them from plaine particulars at the earnest entreatie of Basilius Zelmane first saluting the muses with a base voyal hong hard by her sent this ambassade in versified musicke to both her ill requited louers BEautie hath force to catche the humane sight Sight doth bewitch the fancie euill awaked Fancie we feele encludes all passions mighte Passion rebelde oft reâ—sons strength hath shaked No wondre then though sighte my sighte did tainte And though thereby my fancie was infected Though yoked so my minde with sicknes fainte Had reasons weight for passions ease reiected But now the fitt is past and time hath giu'ne Leasure to weigh what due deserte requireth All thoughts so spronge are from their dwelling driâ—'n And wisdome to his wonted seate aspireth Crying in me eye hopes deceitefull proue Thinges rightelie prizde loue is the bande of loue And after her songe with an affected modestie shee threwe downe her eye as if the conscience of a secret graunt her inward minde made had sodainely cast a bashfull vaile ouer her Which Basilius finding and thinking now was the time to vrge his painefull petition beseeching his wife with more carefull eye to accompanie his sickly daughter Philoclea being rid for that time of her who was content to graunt him any scope that she might after haue the like freedome with a gesture gouerned by the force of his passions making his knees his best supporters hee thus saide vnto her Yf either said he O Ladie of my life my deadly pangues coulde beare delaye or that this were the first time the same were manifested vnto you I woulde nowe but maintaine still the remembraunce of my misfortune without vrging any further reward then time and pittie might procure for me But alas since my martirdome is no lesse painefull then manifest and that I no more feele the miserable daunger then you know the assured trueth thereof why shoulde my tonge deny his seruice to my harte Why should I feare the breath of my words who daylie feele the flame of your workes Embrace in sweete consideration I beseech you the miserie of my Case acknowledge your selfe to bee the cause and thinke it is reason for you to redresse the effectes Alas let not certaine imaginatife rules whose trueth standes but vpon opinion keepe so wise a mind from gratefulnes and mercie whose neuer fayling laws nature hath planted in vs. I plainly lay my death vnto you the death of him that loues you the death of him whose life you maye saue say your absolute determination for hope it selfe is a paine while it is ouer mastered with feare and if you do resolue to be cruel yet is the speediest condemnation as in euills most welcome Zelmane who had fully set to her selfe the traine she would keepe yet knowing that who soonest meanes to yeelde doth well to make the brauest parley keeping countenaunce alofte Noble prince said she your wordes are to well couched to come out of a restlesse minde and thanked be the Gods your face threatens no daunger of death These are but those swelling speeches which giue the vttermost name to euerie trifle which all were worth nothinge if they were not enammeled with the goodly outside of loue Truely loue were verie vnlouely if it were halfe fo deadly as your louers still liuing tearme it
with his Ladie at the stately pallace of Pella among the exceeding ioyes of his father and infinite congratulacions of his frends geuing order for the royall entertayning of Philoclea and for sumptuous shewes and triumphes against their mariage In the thought wherof as he found extremity of ioy so well found he that extremitie is not without a certayne ioyfull paine by extending the heart beyond his wonted limits and by so forcible a holding all the senses to one obiect that it confounds their mutuall working not without a charming kinde of rauishing them from the free vse of their owne function Thus grieued only with too much gladnes being come to the doore which should be the entrie to his happines he was met with the latter end of a song which Philoclea like a solitarie Nightingale bewayling her guiltlesse punishment and helplesse misfortune had newly deliuered ouer meaning none should be iudge of her passioÌ„ but her owne conscience The song hauing bene accorded to a sweetly playde on Lute conteyned these verses which she had lately with some arte curiously written to enwrap her secret and resolute woes VErtue 1 beawtie 2 and speach 3 did strike 1 wound 2 charme 3 My harte 1 eyes 2 eares 3 with wonder 1 loue 2 delight 3 First 1 second 2 last 3 did binde 1 enforce 2 and arme 3 His workes 1 showes 2 suites 3 with wit 1 grace 2 and vow's 3 might Thus honour 1 liking 2 trust 3 much 1 farre 2 and deepe 3 Held 1 pearst 2 possest 3 my iudgement 1 sence 2 and will 3 Till wrong 1 contempt 2 deceipt 3 did growe 1 steale 2 creepe 3 Bandes 1 fauour 2 faith 3 to breake 1 defile 2 and kill3. Then greefe 1 vnkindnes 2 proofe 3 tooke 1 kindled 2 tought 3 Well 1 grounded noble 2 due 3 spite 1 rage 2 disdaine 3 But 1 ah 2 alas 3 In vayne my minde 1 sight 2 thought 3 Doth him 1 his face 2 his words 3 leaue 1 shunne 2 refraine 3 For no thing 1 time 2 nor place 3 can loose 1 quench 2 ease 3 Nine owne 1 embraced 2 sought 3 knot 1 fire 2 desease3. The force of loue to those poore folke that feele it is many wayes very strange but no way stranger then that it doth so enchaine the louers iudgement vpon her that holdes the raines of his minde that what soeuer she doth is euer in his eyes best And that best being by the continuall motion of our changing life turned by her to any other thing that thing againe becommeth best So that nature in each kinde suffring but one superlatiue the louer only admits no positiue If she sit still that is best for so is the conspiracie of her seuerall graces held best together to make one perfect figure of beawtie If she walke no doubt that is best for besides the making happie the more places by her steps the very sturring addes a pleasing life to her natiue perfectioÌ„s If she be silent that without comparison is best since by that meanes the vntroubled eye most freely may deuoure the sweetnes of his obiect But if she speake he will take it vpon his death that is best the quintessence of each worde beeing distilled downe into his affected soule Example of this was well to be seene in the giuen ouer Pyrocles who with panting breath and somtime sighes not such as sorrowe restrayning the inwarde partes doth make them glad to deliuer but such as the impacience of delay with the vnsuretie of neuer so sure hope is wont to breath out nowe being at the doore of the one side hearing her voice which hee thought if the Philosophers said true of the heauenly seuen sphered harmony was by her not only represented but farre surmounted and of the other hauing his eyes ouerfilled with her beautie for the King at his parting had left the chamber open and she at that time laye as the heate of that countrie did wel suffer vpon the toppe of her bedd hauing her beauties eclipsed with nothing but with a faire smock wrought al in flames of ash-coullour silke and golde lying so vpoÌ„ her right side that the left thigh downe to the foote yeelded his delightfull proportion to the full vew which was seene by the helpe of a ritche lampe which thorowe the curtaines a little drawne caste forth a light vpon her as the moone doth when it shines into a thinne wood Pyrocles I saye was stopped with the violence of so many dartes cast by Cupid altogether vpon him that quite forgetting him selfe and thinking therein alreadie he was in the best degree of felicitie he would haue lost much of his time and with too much loue omitted the enterprise vndertaken for his loue had not Philocleas pittifull accusing of him forced him to bring his spirites againe to a newe bias for shee laying her hand vnder her faire cheek vpon which there did priuilie tickle the sweet droppes of her delightfull though sorrowfull teares made these wordes waite vpon her monefull songe And hath that cruell Pyrocles saide shee deserued thus much of me that I should for his sake lift vp my voice in my best tunes and to him continually with powring out my plainte make a diâ—dayned oblacion Shall my soule still doe this honour to his vnmercyfull tirranie by my lamenting his losse to show his worthines and my weakenes He heares thee not simple Philoclea he heares thee not and if he did some hartes grow the harder the more they find their aduantage Alas what a miserable constitution of minde haue I I disdaine my fortune and yet reuerence him that disdaines me I accuse his vngratefulnes and haue his vertue in admiration O yee deafe heauens I would either his iniury could blot out myne affection or my affection could forget his iniury With that geuing a pittiful but sweet shriche shee tooke againe the lute and beganne to sing this sonnet which might serue as an explaining to the other THe loue which is imprinted in my soule With beauties seale and vertue faire disguis'de With inward cries putts vp a bitter role Of huge complaintes that now it is despis'de Thus thus the more I loue the wronge the more Monstrous appeares long trueth receaued late Wrong sturres remorsed greefe griefes deadly sore Vnkindnes breedes vnkindnes fostreth hath But ah the more I hate the more I thinke Whome I doe hate the more I thinke on him The more his matchlesse giftes do deepely sinck Into my breste and loues renewed swimme What medicin then can such desease remoue Where loue draws hate and hate engendreth loue But Pyrocles that had heard his name accused coÌ„demned by the mouth which of all the world and more then all the worldâ— he most loued had then cause enough to call his minde to his home and with the most haste he could for true loue feares the accident of an instant to match the excusing of his faulte with declaration of his arrand thither And therefore blowne vp
proue The pistle selfe such kinde of wordes it had My sweetest ioy the comfort of my sprite So may thy flockes encrease thy deere hart glad So may each thing euen as thou wishest lighte As thou wilt deigne to reade and gentlie reede This mourning inck in which my hart doth bleeds Long haue I lou'd alas thou worthy arte Long haue I lou'd alas loue craueth loue Long haue I lou'd thy selfe alas my harte Doth breake now toong vnto thy name doth moue And thinke not that thy answere answere is But that it is my doome of bale or blisse The iealous wretch must now to Courte be gone Ne can he faile for prince hath for him sent Now is the time we may be here alone And geue a long desire a sweet content Thus shall you both reward a louer true And cke reuenge his wrong suspecting you And this was all and this the husband read With chafe enough till she him pacified Desiring that no griefe in him he bread Now that he had her words so truely tried But that he would to him the letter show That with his fault he might her goodnes know That streight was done with many a boistrous threat That to the King he would his sinne declare But now the Courtier gan to smell the feate And with some words which shewed little care He stayd vntill the goodman was departed Then gaue he him the blow which neuer smarted Thus may you see the iealous wretch was made The Pandare of the thing he most did feare Take heed therefore how you ensue that trade Least the same markes of iealousie you beare For sure no iealousie can that preuent Whereto two parties once be full content Behold sayd Pas a whole dicker of wit he hath pickt out such a tale with intention to keepe a husband from iealosie which were enough to make a sanctified husband iealous to see subtleties so much in the feminine gender But sayd he I will strike Nico dead with the wise words shall flowe out of my gorge And without further entreatie thus sang WHo doth desire that chaste his wife should be First be he true for truth doth truth deserue Then such be he as she his worth may see And one man still credit with her preserue Not toying kinde nor causlesly vnkinde Not sturring thoughts nor yet denying right Not spying faults nor in plaine errors blinde Neuer hard hand nor euer raines too light As farre from want as farre from vaine expence The one doth force the later doth entise Allow good company but kepe from thence Al filthy mouth 's that glory in their vice This done thou hast no more but leaue the rest To vertue fortune time womans brest Wel coÌ„cluded said Nico When he hath done al he leaues the matter to his wiues discretion Now whensoeuer thou mariest let her discretion decke thy head with Actaeons ornament Pas was so angrie with his wish being in deede towards mariage that they might perchaunce haue falne to buffets but that Dicus desired Philisides who as a stranger sate among them reuoluing in his mind al the tempests of euil fortunes hee had passed that he woulde doe so much grace to the companie as to sing one of his country songes Philisides knowing it no good maners to besquemish of his comming hauing put himself in their company without further studie began to vtter that wherewith his thoughtes were then as alwaies most busied and to shew what a straunger he was to himselfe spake of himselfe as of a thirde person in this sorte THe ladd Philisides Lay by a riuers side In flowry fielde a gladder eye to please His pipe was at his foote His lambs were him besides A widow turtle neere on bared rootes Sate wailing without bootes Each thing both sweet sadd Did draw his boyling braine To thinke thinke with paine Of Miras beames eclipst by absence bad And thus with eyes made dimme With teares he saide or sorrow said for him O earth once answere giue So may thy stately grace By north or south still rich adorned liue So Mira Long may be On thy then blessed face Whose â—oote doth set a heau'n on cursed thee I aske now answere me If th' author of thy blisse Phoebus that shepheard high Do turne from thee his eye Doth not thy selfe when he long absent is Like Rogue all ragged goe And pine away with daily wasting woe Tell me you wanton brooke So may your sliding race Shunn lothed-louing bankes with conning crooke So in you euer new Mira may looke her face And make you faire with shadow of her hue So when to pay your due To mother sea you come She chide you not for stay Nor beat you for your play Tell me if your diuerted springs become Absented quite from you Are you not dried Can you your selues renew Tell me you flowers faire Cowslipp Columbine So may your Make this wholsome springtime aire With you embraced lie And lately thence vntwine But with dew dropps engendre children hy So may you neuer dy But pulld by Miras hande Dresse bosome hers or hedd Or scatter on her bedd Tell me if husband springtime leaue your lande When he from you is sent Whither not you languisht with discontent Tell me my seely pipe So may thee still betide A clenly cloth thy moistnes for to wipe So may the cheries redd Of Miras lipps diuide Their sugred selues to kisse thy happy hedd So may her eares be ledd Her eares where Musique liues To heare not despise The liribliring cries Tell if that breath which thee thy sounding giues Be absent farre from thee Absent alone canst thou then piping be Tell me my Lamb of gold So maist thou long abide The day well fed the night in faithfull folde So grow thy wooll of note In time that richly di'de It may be part of Miras peticoate Tell me if wolues the throte Haue cought of thy deare damme Or she from thee be staide Or thou from her be straide Canst thou poore lamme become anothers lamme Or rather till thou die Still for thy Dam with bea-waymenting crie Tell me ô Turtle true So may no fortune breed To make thee nor thy better-loued rue So may thy blessings swarme That Mira may thee feede With hand mouth with lapp brest keepe warme Tell me if greedy arme Do fondly take away With traitor lime the one The other left alone Tell me poore wretch parted from wretched pray Disdaine not you the greene Wayling till death shun you not to be seene Earth brooke flowr's pipe lambe Doue Say all I with them Absence is death or worse to them that loue So I vnlucky lad Whome hills from her do hemme What fitts me now but teares sighings sadd O fortune too too badd I rather would my sheepe Thad'st killed with a stroke Burnt Caban lost my cloke When want one hower those eyes which my ioyes keepe Oh! what doth wailing winne Speeche without ende were better not
great beastes as for the weakers good He chose themselues his guarders for to bene Gainst those of might of whom in feare they stood As horse and dogge not great but gentle blood Blith were the commons cattell of the fielde Tho when they saw their foen of greatnes kilde But they or spent or made of slender might Then quickly did the meaner cattell finde The great beames gone the house on shoulders light For by and by the horse faire bitts did binde The dogge was in a coller taught his kinde As for the gentle birds like case might rewe When faloon they and gossehauke saw in mewe Worst fell to smallest birds and meanest heard Whom now his owne full like his owne he vsed Yet first but wooll or fethers off he teard And when they were well vs'de to be abused For hungrie teeth their flesh with teeth he brused At length for glutton taste he did them kill At last for sport their sillie liues did spill But yet ô man rage not beyond thy neede Deeme it no glorie to swell in tyrannie Thou art of blood ioy not to see things bleede Thou fearest death thinke they are loth to die A plaint of guiltlesse hurt doth pierce the skie And you poore beastes in patience bide your hell Or know your strengths and then you shall do well Thus did I sing and pipe eight sullen houres To sheepe whom loue not knowledge made to heare Now fancies fits now fortunes balefull stowers But then I homewards call'd my lambkins deare For to my dimmed eyes began t' appeare The night growne old her blacke head waxen gray Sure shepherds signe that morne should soone fetch day ACcording to the nature of diuerse cares diuerse iudgements streight followed some praising his voice others his words fit to frame a pastorall stile others the strangenes of the tale and scanning what he should meane by it But old Geron who had borne him a grudge euer since in one of their Eclogues he had taken him vp ouer-bitterly tooke hold of this occasion to make his reuenge and sayd He neuer saw thing worse proportioned then to bring in a tale of he knewe not what beastes at such a sport-meeting when rather some song of loue or matter for ioyfull melody was to be brought forth But said he This is the right conceipt of young men who thinke then they speake wiseliest when they cannot vnderstand themselues But little did the melancholike shepherd regard either his dispraises or the others praises who had set the foundation of his honour there where he was most despised And therefore he returning againe to the traine of his desolate pensiuenesse Geron inuited Histor to answere him in Eclogue-wise who indeed hauing bene long in loue with the faire Kala and now by Lalus ouergone was growne into a detestation of mariage But thus it was Geron. Histor. Geron. In faith good Histor long is your delay From holy marriage sweete and surest meane Our foolish lust in honest rules to stay I pray thee doo to Lalus sample leane Thou seest how friske and iolly now he is That last day seem'd he could not chew a beane Beleeue me man there is no greater blisse Then is the quiet ioy of louing wife Which who so wants halfe of himselfe doth misse Friend without change playfellow without strife Foode without fulnes counsaile without pride Is this sweet doubling of our single life Histor. No doubt to whom so good chance did betide As for to finde a pasture strawed with golde He were a foole if there he did not bide Who would not haue a Phoenix if he could The humming Waspe if it had not a sting Before all flies the Waspe accept I would But this bad world few golden fieldes doth bring Phoenix but one of Crowes we millions haue The Waspe seemes gay but is a combrous thing If many Kalaes our Arcadias gaue Lalus example I would soone ensue And thinke I did my selfe from sorrow saue But of such wiues we finde a slender crew Shrewdnes so stirres pride so puffes vp the hart They seldome ponder what to them is due With meager lookes as if they still did smart Puiling and whimpring or else scolding flat Make home more paine then following of the cart Either dull silence or eternall chat Still contrarie to what her husband sayes If he do praise the dog she likes the cat Austere she is when he would honest playes And game some then when he thinkes on his sheepe She bids him goe and yet from iorney stayes She warre doth euer with his kinsfolke keepe And makes them fremb'd who friends by nature are Enuying shallow toyes with malice deepe And if forsooth there come some new found ware The little coine his sweating browes haue got Must goe for that if for her lowres he care Or els Nay faith mine is the lucklest lot That euer fell to honest woman yet No wife but I hath such a man God wot Such is their speech who be of sober wit But who doo let their tongues shew well their rage Lord what bywords they speake what spite they spit The house is made a very lothsome cage Wherein the birde doth neuer sing but cry With such a will as nothing can asswage Dearely the seruants doo their wages buy Reuil'd for ech small fault sometimes for none They better liue that in a gaile doo lie Let other fowler spots away be blowne For I seeke not their shame but still me thinkes A better life it is to lye alone Geron. Who for ech fickle feare from vertue shrinkes Shall in his life embrace no worthy thing No mortall man the cuppe of suretie drinkes The heau'ns doo not good haps in handfuls bring But let vs pike our good from out much bad That still our little world may know his king But certainly so long we may be glad While that we doo what nature doth require And for th' euent we neuer ought be sad Man oft is plag'de with aire is burnt with fire In water drownd◠in earth his buriall is And shall we not therefore their vse desire Nature aboue all things requireth this That we our kind doo labour to maintaine Which drawne-out line doth hold all humane blisse Thy father iustly may of thee complaine If thou doo not repay his deeds for thee In granting vnto him a grandsires gaine Thy common-wealth may rightly grieued be Which must by this immortall be preserued If thus thou murther thy posteritie His very being he hath not deserued Who for a selfe-conceipt will that forbeare Whereby that being aye must be conserued And God forbid women such cattell were As you paint them but well in you I finde No man doth speake aright who speakes in feare Who onely sees the ill is worse then blind These fiftie winters maried haue I beene And yet finde no such faults in womankind I haue a wife worthie to be a Queene So well she can command and yet obay In ruling of a house so well shee 's
a constant but reuerent behauiour desired them they would not exercise priuate grudges in so common a necessitye Hee acknowledged himselfe a man and a faultye man to the cleering or satisfyeng of which he would at all times submit himselfe since his ende was to bring all things to an vpright iudgement it should euill fitt him to flye the iudgement But sayde he my Lordes let not Timantus rayling speech who whatsoeuer he findes euill in his owne soule can with ease lay it vppon another make me loose your good fauour Consider that all well doing stands so in the middle betwixt his two contrarye euils that it is a readye matter to cast a slaunderous shade vpon the most approued vertues Who hath an euill toong can call seueritie crueltie and faithfull dilligence dilligent ambition But my ende is not to excuse my selfe nor to accuse him for both those hereafter will be time enough There is neyther of vs whose purging or punishing may so much import to Arcadia Now I request you for your owne honours sake and require you by the duety you owe to this estate that you doo presently according to the lawes take in hande the chastizement of our maisters murderers and laying order for the gouernment by whom soeuer it be done so it be done and iustly done I am satisfyed My labour hath bene to frame things so as you might determine now it is in you to determine For my part I call the heauens to witnesse the care of my heart stands to repaye that wherein both I and most of you were tyed to that Prince with whome all my loue of worldly action is dead As Philanax was speaking his last wordes there came one running to him with open mouth and fearefull eyes telling him that there were a great number of the people which were bent to take the young men out of Sympathus hands and as it should seeme by their acclamacions were like inough to proclayme them Princes Nay sayde Philanax speaking alowde and looking with a iust anger vppon the other noble men it is nowe season to heare Timantus idle slanders while strangers become our Lordes and Basilius murderers sit in his throne But who soeuer is a true Arcadian let him followe me With that he went towarde the place he heard of followed by those that had euer loued him and some of the noble men Some other remayning with Timantus who in the meane time was conspiring by strong hand to deliuer Gynaecia of whome the weakest guard was had But Philanax where he went found them all in an vprore which thus was fallne out The greatest multitude of people that were come to the death of Basilius were the Mantineans as being the nearest Citie to the lodges Among these the chiefe man both in authoritye and loue was Kalander he that not long before had bene hoste to the two Princes whome though he knewe not so much as by name yet besides the obligacion he stood bound to them in for preseruing the liues of his sonne or nephewe theyr noble behauiour had bred such loue in his heart towardes them as both with teares he parted from them when they left him vnder promise to returne and did keepe their iewells and apparrell as the relicks of two demy gods Among others he had entred the prison and seene them which forthwith so inuested his soule both with sorrowe and desire to helpe them whome he tendred as his children that calling his neighbours the Mantineans vnto him he tould them all the prayses of those two young men swearing he thought the gods had prouided for them better then they themselues could haue imagined He willed them to consider that when all was done Basilius children must enioy the state who since they had chosen and chosen so as all the world could not mende their choise why should they resist Gods doing and theyr Princesses pleasure This was the only way to purchase quietnes without blood where otherwise they should at one instant crowne Pamela with a Crowne of golde and a dishonoured title Which whether euer she would forget he thought it fit for them to way such said he heroicall greatnes shines in their eyes such an extraordinary maiestie in all their actions as surely either fortune by parentage or nature in creation hath made them Princes And yet a state already we haue we neede but a man who since he is presented vnto you by the heauenly prouidence embraced by your vndoubted Princesse worthy for their youth of compassion for their beawtie of admiracion for their excellent vertue to be monarkes of the world shall we not be content with our owne blisse Shall we put out our eyes because another man cannot see or rather like some men when too much good happens vnto them they thinke themselues in a dreame and haue not spirits to taste their owne goods No no my friends beleeue me I am so vnpartiall that I knowe not their names but so ouercome with their vertue that I shall then thinke the destenyes haue ordayned a perpetuall florishing to Arcadia when they shall allot such a gouernor vnto it This spoken by a man graue in yeares great in authoritie neere allyed to the Prince and knowen honest preuayled so with all the Mantineans that with one voyce they ranne to deliuer the two Princes But Philanax came in time to withstand them both sides yet standing in armes and rather wanting a beginning then mindes to enter into a bloudy conflict Which Philanax foreseeing thought best to remoue the prisoners secretly and if neede were rather without forme of iustice to kill them then against iustice as hee thought to haue them vsurpe the state But there agayne arose a new trouble For Sympathus the noble man that kept them was so stricken in compassion with their excellent presence that as he would not falsifye his promise to Philanax to geue them libertye so yet would he not yeeld them to himselfe fearing he would do them violence Thus tumult vppon tumult arising the Sunne I thinke aweary to see theyr discords had alreadye gone downe to his Westerne lodging But yet to knowe what the poore Shepherds did who were the fyrst descryers of these matters will not to some eares perchance be a tedious digression Heere endes the fourth booke or acte The fourth Eglogues THE Shepheards finding no place for them in these garboyles to which their quiet hearts whose highest ambition was in keeping themselues vp in goodnes had at all no aptnes retired themselues from among the clamorous multitude and as sorowe desires company went vp together to the Westerne side of a hill whose prospect extended it so farre as they might well discerne many of Arcadias beawtyes And there looking vpon the Sunnes as then declining race the poore men sate pensiue of their present miseries as if they founde a wearines of theyr wofull wordes till at last good olde Geron who as he had longest tasted the benefites of Basilius gouernment so seemed to
shal be well to knowe how the poore and princely prisoners passed this tedious night There was neuer tyrante exercised his rage with more grieuous torments vpon any he most hated then afflicted Gynecia did crusifie her owne soule after the guiltines of her harte was surcharged with the sodainenes of her husbāds death for although that effect came not frō her minde yet her mind being euil the effect euill she thought the iustice of God had for the beginning of her paines copled thē together This incessantly boyled in her brest but most of al whē Philanax hauing cloasely imprisoned her she was lefte more freely to suffer the fierbrands of her owne thoughts especially when it grewe darke and had nothing left by her but a little lampe whose small light to a perplexed mind might rather yeld feareful shadowes then any assured sight Then beganne the heapes of her miseries to waye downe the platforme of her iudgement then beganne despaire to laye his ougly clawes vpon her shee beganne then to feare the heauenly powers shee was woont to reuerence not like a childe but like an enemie neither kept she herselfe from blasphemous repyning against her creation O Gods would she crye out why did you make me to destruction If you loue goodnes why did you not geue me a good minde Or if I cannot haue it without your gifte why doe you plague mee Is it in me to resist the mightines of your power Then would she imagine she sawe strange sights and that she heard the cries of hellish ghostes then would she skritch out for succour but no man comming vnto her shee woulde faine haue killed her helfe but knewe not how At sometimes againe the very heauines of her imaginations would cloase vp her senses to a little sleepe but then did her dreames become her tormentors One time it would seeme vnto her Philanax was haling her by the heare of the head and hauing put out her eyes was redy to throw her into a burning fornace Another time she would thinke she sawe her husband making the complainte of his death to Pluto and the magistrates of that infernall region contending in great debate to what eternal punishment they should allot her But long her dreaming would not hold but that it woulde fall vpon Zelmane to whom shee would think she was crying for mercy and that she did passe away by her in silence without any shew of pittying her mischief Then waking out of a broken sleep and yet wishing she might euer haue slept new formes but of the same miseries would seaze her minde shee feared death and yet desired death shee had passed the vttermost of shame and yet shame was one of her cruellest assaulters she hated Pyrocles as the originall of her mortall ouerthrowe and yet the loue shee had conceaued to him had still a hie authoritie of her passions O Zelmane would she say not knowing how neere he himselfe was to as great a daunger now shalt thou glut thy eyes with the dishonoured death of thy enemie Enemie alas enemie since so thou haste wel shewed thou wilt haue me accompt thee couldest thou not aswel haue giuē me a determinate deniall as to disguise thy first diguising with a doble dissembling Perchaunce if I had bene vtterly hopelesse the vertue was once in me might haue called together his forces and not haue beene led captiue to this monstrous thraldome of punished wickednes Then would her owne knowing of good enflame a new the rage of despaire which becomming an vnresisted Lorde in her brest shee had no other comforte but in death which yet she had in horror when she thought of But the wearisome detesting of her selfe made her long for the dayes approach at which time shee determined to continue her former course in acknowledginge any thing which might hasten her ende Wherein although shee did not hope for the end of her torments feeling alreadye the beginning of hell agonies yet according to the nature of paine the presente being most intollerable shee desired to change that and put to aduenture the ensuing And thus rested the restlesse Gynecia no lesse sorrowfull though lesse ragefull were the mindes of the Princesse Pamela and the Lady Philoclea whose only aduantages were that they had not consented to so much euill and so were at greater peace with themselues and that they were not lefte alone but might mutually beare parte of each others woes For when Philanax not regarding Pamelas princely protestations had by force left her vnder garde with her sister and that the two sisters were matched aswell in the disgraces of fortune as they had beene in the best beauties of nature those thinges that till then bashfullnes and mistrust had made them holde reserued one from the other now feare the vnderminer of all determinations and necessitie the victorious rebell of all lawes forced them enterchaungeably to lay open There passions then so swelling in them as they woulde haue made Auditors of stones rather then haue swallowed vp in silence the choking aduentures were falne vnto them Truely the hardest hartes which haue at any time thought womans teares to be a matter of sleight compassion imagining that faire weather will quickly after followe would now haue beene mollyfied and bene compelled to confesse that the fayrer a diamond is the more pittie it is it shoulde receaue a bleamish Although no doubte their faces did rather beautifie sorrow then sorrow coulde darken that which euen in darkenes did shine But after they had so long as their other afflictions would suffer them with doleful ceremonies bemoned their fathers death they sate downe together apparrelled as their misaduentures had founde them Pamela in her iournying weedes nowe conuerted to another vse Philoclea onely in her night gowne which she thought should bee the rayment of her funeralls But when the excellent creatures had after much panting with their inwarde trauell gotten so much breathing power as to make a pittifull discourse one to the other what had befallne them and that by the plaine comparing the case they were in they thorowlye founde that their greiues were not more like in regarde of themselues then like in respecte of the subiecte the two Princes as Pamela had learned of Musidorus being so minded as they woulde euer make both their fortunes one it did more vnite and so strengthen their lamentation seing the one coulde not bee miserable but that it must necessarilie make the other miserable also That therfore was the first matter their sweet mouths deliuered the declaring the passionate beginning troblesome proceeding and daungerous ending their neuer ending loues had passed And when at any time they entred into the prayses of the young Princes to long it woulde haue exercised their tonges but that their memory foorthwith warned them the more prayse worthy they were the more at that time they were worthy of lamentation Then againe to crying and wringing of handes and then a newe as vnquiet greefe sought
protested the lawes of Arcadia would not allowe any iudgement of her although she her selfe were to determine nothing till age or marriage enabled her Then the Kings body being layde vppon a Table iust before Euarchus and all couered ouer with blacke the prisoners namely the Queene and two young Princes were sent for to appeare in the Protectors name which name was the cause they came not to knowledge how neere a kinseman was to iudge of them but thought him to be some Noble man chosen by the Country in this extremitye So extraordinary course had the order of the heauens produced at this time that both nephewe and sonne were not only prisoners but vnknowen to their vncle and father who of many yeares had not seene them And Pyrocles was to pleade for his life before that throne in which throne lately before he had saued the Kings life But first was Gynecia led foorth in the same weedes that the daye and night before she had worne sauing that in stead of Zelmanes garment in which she was founde she had cast on a long cloake which reached to the ground of russed course cloath with a poore felt hat which almost couered all her face most part of her goodly heare on which her hands had layd many a spitefull holde so lying vpon her shoulders as a man might well see had no artificiall carelesnes Her eyes downe on the ground of purpose not to looke on Pyrocles face which she did not so much shunne for the vnkindnes she conceaued of her owne ouerthrow as for the feare those motions in this short time of her life should be reuiued which she had with the passage of infinite sorrowes mortified Great was the compassion the people felt to see their Princesse state and beawtie so deformed by fortune and her owne desert whome they had euer found a Lady most worthy of all honour But by and by the sight of the other two prisoners drewe most of the eyes to that spectacle Pyrocles came out led by Sympathus cloathed after the Greeke manner in a long coate of white veluet reaching to the small of his legge with great buttons of Diamonds all along vppon it His neck without any coller not so much as hidden with a ruffe did passe the whitenes of his garments which was not much in fashion vnlike to the crimson rayment our Knightes of the order first put on On his feete he had nothing but slippers which after the auncient manner were tyed vp with certayne laces which were fastened vnder his knee hauing wrapped about with many pretty knots his naked legs His fayre auberne heare which he ware in great length and gaue at that time a delightfull shew with being sturd vp and downe with the breath of a gentle winde had nothing vppon it but a white Ribbin in those dayes vsed for a Diademe Which rolled once or twise about the vppermost parte of his forehead fell downe vppon his backe cloased vp at each ende with the richest pearle were to be seene in the world After him followed an other Noble man guiding the noble Musidorus Who had vpon him a long cloake after the fashion of that which we call the Apostles mantle made of purple Satten not that purple which we now haue and is but a counterfet of the Getulian purple which yet was farre the meaner in price and estimacion but of the right Tyrian purple which was neerest to a cullour betwixt our murrey and skarlet On his head which was blacke and curled he ware a Persian Tiara all set downe with rowes of so rich Rubies as they were inough to speake for him that they had to iudge of no meane personage In this sorte with erected countenaunces did these vnfortunate Princes suffer themselues to be ledd shewing aright by the comparison of them and Ginecia how to diuers persons compassion is diuersly to be sturred For as to Ginecia a Ladie knowne of great estate and greatly esteemed the more miserable representation was made of her sodaine ruyne the more mens heartes were forced to bewayle such an euident witnesse of weake humanitie so to these men not regarded because vnknowne but rather besides the detestacion of their facte hated as straungers the more they shoulde haue falne downe in an abiecte semblance the more in steed of compassion they shoulde haue gotten contempt but therefore were to vse as I may tearme it the more violence of magnanimitye and so to conquer the expectation of the lookers with an extraordinarye vertue And such effecte in deede it wrought in the whole assemblye theyr eyes yet standing as it were in ballance to whether of them they should most directe theyr sight Musidorus was in stature so much higher then Pyrocles as commonly is gotten by one yeares growth His face now beginning to haue some tokens of a beard was composed to a kinde of manlike beawtie His cullour was of a well pleasing brownenes the features of it such as they caried both delight and maiestie his countenance seuere and promising a minde much giuen to thinking Pyrocles of a pure complexion and of such a cheerefull fauour as might seeme either a womans face on a boy or an excellent boyes face in a woman His looke gentle and bashfull which bred the more admiracion hauing shewed such notable proofes of courage Lastly though both had both if there were any ods Musidorus was the more goodly and Pyrocles the more louely But assoone as Musidorus saw himselfe so farre forth led among the people that he knew to a great number of them his voyce should be heard misdoubting their intention to the Princesse Pamela of which he was more carefull then of his owne life euen as he went though his leader sought to interrupt him he thus with a lowde voyce spake vnto them And is it possible ô Arcadians sayd he that you can forget the naturall dutie you owe to your Princesse Pamela hath this soyle bene so little beholding to her noble Auncesters hath so long a time rooted no surer loue in your hearts to that line Where is that faith to your Princes blood which hath not only preserued you from all daungers heretofore but hath spred your fame to all the nations in the world Where is the iustice the Arcadians were wont to flourish in whose nature is to render to euery one his owne Will you now keepe the right from your Prince who is the only geuer of iudgement the keye of iustice and life of your lawes Do you hope in a fewe yeares to set vp such another race which nothing but length of time can establish Will you reward Basilius children with vngratefulnes the very poyson of manhood Will you betray your long setled reputation with the fowle name of traytors Is this your mourning for your Kings death to encrease his losse with his daughters misery Imagin your Prince do looke out of the heauens vnto you what do you thinke he could wish more at your hands then
stonie thy brest so tygreshe as the sweete and beautifull shewes of Philocleas vertue did not astonish thee O wofull Arcadia to whom the name of this mankinde curtisan shall euer be remembred as a procurer of thy greatest losse But too farre I finde my passion yet honest passion hath guided mee the case is euerie way too too much vnanswearable It resteth in you O excellent protector to pronounce iudgement which if their bee hope that such a yonge man may proue proffitable to the world who in the first exercise of his owne determination farre passed the arrantest strumpet in luxuriousnesse the conningest forger in falsehoode a player in disguising a Tygre in crueltie a Dragon in ingratefulnes let him be preserued like a iewell to doe greater mischeefe Yf his youth bee not more defiled with trecherie then the eldest mans age let I say his youth be some cause of compassion If hee haue not euery way sought the ouerthrowe of humaine societie if hee haue done any thing like a Prince let his naming himselfe a Prince breede a reuerence of his base wickednesse If hee haue not broken all lawes of hospitalitie and broken them in the most detestable degree that can be let his being a guest be a sacred protection of his more then sauage doings or if his whorish beawtye haue not bene as the hye waye of his wickednesse let the picture drawne vppon so poysonous a wood be reserued to shewe howe greatly coulours can please vs. But if it is as it is what should I saye more a very spirit of hellish naughtines if his acte be to be punished and his defiled person not to be pittied then restore vnto vs our Prince by duly punishing his murderers for then wee shall thinke him and his name to liue when wee shall see his killers to dye Restore to the excellent Philoclea her honour by taking out of the world her dishonour and thinke that at this daye in this matter are the eyes of the worlde vppon you whether any thing can sway your minde from a true administracion of iustice Alas though I haue much more to saye I can saye no more for my teares and sighes interrupt my speeche and force me to geue my selfe ouer to my priuate sorrowe Thus when Philanax had vttered the vttermost of his mallice he made sorrowe the cause of his conclusion But while Philanax was in the course of his speeche and did with such bitter reproches defame the princely Pyrocles it was well to be seene his heart was vnused to beare such iniuries and his thoughtes such as could arme themselues better against any thing then shame For sometimes blushing his bloud with diuers motions comming and going sometimes cloasing his eyes and laying his hande ouer them sometime geuing such a looke to Philanax as might shewe hee assured himselfe hee durst not so haue spoken if they had bene in indifferent place with some impaciencie he bare the length of his Oration which being ended with as much modest humblenes to the Iudge as despitefull skorne to the accuser with words to this purpose he defended his honour My accusors tale may well beare witnes with me most rightfull Iudge in how hard a case and inuironed with how many troubles I may esteeme my selfe For if hee who shewes his toong is not vnaquainted with rayling was in an agonye in the beginning of his speech with the multitude of matters he had to lay vnto me wherein notwithstanding the most euill could fall vnto him was that hee should not do so much euill as hee would howe combred do you thinke may I acknowledge my selfe who in things no lesse importing then my life must be mine owne aduocate without leasure to aunswere or foreknowledge what shoulde be obiected in things I say promoted with so cunning a confusion as hauing mingled truthes with falsehoodes surmises with certaintyes causes of no moment with matters cappitall scolding with complayning I can absolute neyther graunt nor denye neyther can I tell whether I come hether to be iudged or before iudgement to be punished being compelled to beare such vnworthye woordes farre more grieuous then any death vnto me But since the forme of this gouernment allowes such toong libertye vnto him I will picke aswell as I can out of his inuectiue those fewe poyntes whiche may seeme of some purpose in the touching of mee hoping that by your easye hearing of me you will shewe that though you hate euill yet you wishe men may proue themselues not euill so in that hee hath sayde you will not waye so much what hee hath sayde as what hee hath proued remembring that truth is simple and naked and that if hee had guided himselfe vnder that banner hee needed not out of the way haue sought so vilde and false disgracings of mee enough to make the vntruest accusation beleeued I will therefore vsing truth as my best eloquence repeate vnto you as much as I knowe in this matter and then by the only cleerenes of the discourse your wisedome I knowe will finde the difference betwixt cauilling supposition and directe declaration This Prince Palladius and I being enflamed with loue a passion farre more easely reprehended then refrayned to the two peerelesse daughters of Basilius and vnderstanding howe hee had secluded himselfe from the worlde that like Princes there was no accesse vnto him wee disguised our selues in such formes as might soonest bring vs to the reuealing of our affections The Prince Palladius had such euent of his doings that with Pamelas consent hee was to conuey her out of the thraldome she liued in to receaue the subiection of a greater people then her owne vntill her fathers consent might be obteyned My fortune was more hard for I bare no more loue to the chaste Philoclea then Basilius deceaued in my sexe shewed to me insomuch that by his importunacy I could haue no time to obtayne the like fauour of the pure Philoclea till this pollicye I founde taking vnder cullour of some deuotions my lodging to drawe Basilius thether with hope to enioye me which likewise I reuealed to the Queene that she might keepe my place and so make her husband see his error While I in the meane time being deliuered of them both and hauing lockt so the dores as I hoped if the immaculate Philoclea would condescend to goe with me there should be none to hinder our going I was made prisoner there I knowe not by what meanes when being repelled by her deuine vertue I would faynest haue escaped Heere haue you the thread to guide you in the Labyrinth this man of his toong had made so monstrous Heere see you the true discourse which hee mountbanke fashion doth make so wide a mouth ouer Heere may you conceaue the reason why the Queene had my garment because in her going to the caue in the Moone-shine night she might be taken for me which he vseth as the knot of all his wise assertions so that as this double minded
him and you shall not want a childe A childe cried out Musidorus to him that killes Pyrocles with that againe he fell to intreate for Pyrocles and Pyrocles as fast for Musidorus each employing his wit how to shew himselfe most worthy to die to such an admiration of all the beholders that most of them examining the matter by their owne passions thought Euarchus as often extraordinarie excellencies not being rightly conceiued do rather offend then please an obstinate hearted man and such a one who being pittilesse his dominion must needes be insupportable But Euarchus that felt his owne miserie more then they and yet loued goodnesse more then himselfe with such a sad assured behauiour as Cato killed himselfe withall when he had heard the vttermost of that their speach tended vnto he commaunded againe they should be carried away rising vp from the seate which he would much rather haue wished should haue been his graue and looking who would take the charge whereto euerie one was exceeding backward But as this pittifull matter was entring into those that were next the Dukes bodie might heare from vnder the veluet wherewith he was couered a great voice of groning Whereat euerie man astonished and their spirites appalled with these former miseries apt to take anie strange conceite when they might perfitly perceiue the bodie stirre Then some beganne to feare spirits some to looke for a myracle most to imagine they knew not what But Philanax and Kerxenus whose eies honest loue though to diuerse parties held most attentiue leapt to the table and putting of the veluet couer might plainly discerne with as much wonder as gladnesse that the Duke liued For so it was that the drinke he had receiued was neither as Gynecia first imagined a loue potion nor as it was after thought a deadly poyson but a drinke made by notable Arte and as it was thought not without naturall magicke to procure for thirtie houres such a deadly sleepe as should oppresse all shew of life The cause of the making of this drinke had first been that a Princesse of Cyprus graundmother to Gynecia being notably learned and yet not able with al her learning to answere the obiections of Cupid did furiously loue a yoong noble man of her fathers Court. Who fearing the kinges rage and not once daring either to attempt or accept so high a place shee made that sleeping drinke and found meanes by a trustie seruaunt of hers who of purpose inuited him to his chamber to procure him that suspected no such thing to receiue it Which done he no way able to resist was secretly carried by him into a pleasant chamber in the midst of a garden she had of purpose prouided for this enterprise where that space of time pleasing her selfe with seeing and cherishing of him when the time came of â—â—e drinks end of working and he more astonished then if he had falne from the cloudes she bad him choose either then to marrie her and to promise to flie away with her in a bark she had made readie or else she would presently crie out and shewe in what place he was with othe hee was come thither to rauish her The noble man in these straightes her beautie preuailed he married her and escaped the Realme with her And after many strange aduentures were reconciled to the king her father after whose death they raigned But she gratefully remembring the seruice that drinke had done her preserued in a bottle made by singular Arte long to keepe it without perishing great quantitie of it with the foretold inscription which wrong interpreted by her daughter in law the Queene of Cyprus was giuen by her to Gynecia at the time of her marriage and the drinke finding an old body of Basilius had kept him some houres longer in the trance then it would haue done a yoonger But a good while it was before good Basilius could come again to himself in which time Euarchus more glad then of the whole worldes Monarchie to be rid of his miserable magistracie which euen in iustice he was now to surrender to the lawful Prince of that countrie came from the Throne vnto him and there with much adoe made him vnderstand how these intricate matters had fallen out Many garboiles passed through his fancie before he could be perswaded Cleofila was other then a woman At length remembring the Oracle which now indeede was accomplished not as before he had imagined considering all had fallen out by the highest prouidence and withall waying in all these matters his owne fault had been the greatest The first thing he did was with all honorable pompe to send for Gynecia who poore Ladie thought she was leading forth to her liuing buriall and when she came to recount before all the people the excellent vertue was in her which she had not onely maintained all her life most vnspotted but nowe was contented so miserably to die to follow her husband He told them how she had warned him to take heede of that drinke and so withall the exalâ—inges of her that might be he publikely desired her pardon for those errours he had committed And so kyssing her left her to receiue the most honourable fame of anie Princesse throughout the world all men thinking sauing onely Pyrocles and Philoclea who neuer bewraied her that she was the perfit mirrour of all wifely loue Which though in that point vndeserued she did in the remnant of her life daily purchase with obseruing al dutie faith to the example glorie of Greece So vncertain are mortall iudgments the same person most infamous and most famous and neither iustly Then with Princely entertainment to Euarchus and many kinde words to Pyrocles whom still he dearely loued though in a more vertuous kinde the marriage was concluded to the inestimable ioy of Euarchus towardes whom now Musidorus acknowledged his fault betwixt these peerelesse Princes and Princesses Philanax for his singular faith euer held deare of Basilius while he liued and no lesse of Musidorus who was to inherite that Dukedome and therein confirmed to him and his the second place of that Prouince with great increase of his liuing to maintain it which like proportion he vsed to Kaledulus in Thessalia Highly honouring Kalander while he liued and after his death continuing in the same measure to loue and aduannce this sonne Clitophon But as for Sympathus Pyrocles to whom his father in his owne time gaue the whole kingdome of Thrace held him alwaies about him giuing him in pure gift the great Citie of Abdera But the solemnities of these marriages with the Arcadian pastoralles full of many comicall aduentures hapning to those rurall louers the straunge stories of Artaxia and Plexirtus Erona and Plangus Helene and Amphialus with the wonderfull chaunces that befell them The shepheardish loues of Menalcas with Kalodulus daughter the poore hopes of the poore Philisides in the pursuite of his affections the strange continuance of Klaius and Strephons desire Lastly the sonne of Pyrocles named Pyrophilus and Melidora the faire daughter of Pamela by Musidorus who euen at their birth entred into admirable fortunes may awake some other spirite to exercise his penne in that wherewith mine is already dulled FINIS LONDON Printed for William Ponsonbie dwelling in Paules Church yard neere vnto the great north doore of Paules Anno Domini 1593.