Iupiter said hee speaking to Palladius how happens it that beautie is only confined to Arcadia But Palladius not greatly attending his speach som daies were continued in the solemnising the marriage with al conceipts that might deliuer delight to mens fancies But such a chaunge was growen in Daiphantus that as if cheerefulnesse had bene tediousnesse good entertainement were turnd to discourtesie he would euer get himself alone though almost whē he was in company he was alone so little attentiō he gaue to any that spake vnto him euen the colour figure of his face began to receaue some alteration which hee shewed little to heede but euerie morning earlie going abroad either to the garden or to some woods towards the desert it seemed his onely comfort was to be without a comforter But long it could not be hid from Palladius whom true loue made redy to marke long knowledge able to marke therefore being now growen weary of his abode in Arcadia hauing informed him selfe fully of the strength and riches of the coūtry of the nature of the people and manner of their lawes seeing the courte coulde not be visited prohibited to all men but to certaine sheapheardish people hee greatly desired a speedy returne to his owne countrie after the many mazes of fortune hee had troden But perceauing this great alteration in his friend hee thought first to breake with him thereof and then to hasten his returne◠whereto hee founde him but smally enclined whereupon one day taking him alone with certaine graces and countenances as if he were disputing with the trees began in this manner to say vnto him A minde well trained and long exercised in vertue my sweete and worthy cosin doth not easily chaunge any course it once vndertakes but vpon well grounded and well wayed causes For being witnes to it selfe of his owne inward good it findes nothing without it of so high a price for which it should bee altered Euen the very countenaunce and behauiour of such a man doth shewe foorth Images of the same constancie by maintaining a right harmonie betwixt it and the inward good in yeelding it selfe sutable to the vertuous resolution of the minde This speech I direct to you noble friende Pyrocles the excellencie of whose minde and well chosen course in vertue if I doo not sufficiently know hauing seene such rare demonstrations of it it is my weakenes and not your vnworthynes But as in deede I know it and knowing it most dearely loue both it and him that hath it so must I needes saye that since our late comming into this countrie I haue marked in you I will not saye an alteration but a relenting truely and a slacking of the maine career you had so notablye begon and almost performed and that in such sorte as I cannot finde sufficient reason in my great loue toward you howe to allowe it for to leaue of other secreter argumentes which my acquaintaunce with you makes mee easilie finde this in effect to any man may bee manifest that whereas you weere wont in all places you came to giue your selfe vehemently to the knowledge of those thinges which might better your minde to seeke the familiaritye of excellent men in learning and souldiery and lastly to put all these thinges in practise both by continuall wise proceedinge and worthie enterprises as occasion fell for them you now leaue all these thinges vndone you let your minde fall a sleepe beside your countenaunce troubled which surely comes not of vertue for vertue like the cleare heauen is without cloudes and lastly you subiect your selfe to solitarines the slye enimie that doth most separate a man from well doinge Pyrocles minde was all this while so fixed vpon another deuotion that hee no more attentiuely marked his friendes discourse then the childe that hath leaue to playe markes the last parte of his lesson or the diligent Pilot in a daungerous tempest doth attende the vnskilfull wordes of a passinger yet the very sound hauing imprinted the generall pointe of his speech in his hart pierced with any mislike of so deerelie an esteemed friende and desirous by degrees to bring him to a gentler consideration of him with a shamefast looke witnessing he rather could not helpe then did not know his fault answered him to this purpose Excellent Musidorus in the praise you gaue mee in the beginning of your speech I easily acknowledge the force of your good will vnto mee for neither coulde you haue thought so well of me if extremitie of loue had not made your iudgement partiall nor you could haue loued me so intirelie if you had not beene apt to make so great though vndeserued iudgementes of me and euen so must I say to those imperfections to which though I haue euer through weaknes beene subiect yet you by the daily mending of your mind haue of late bin able to looke into them which before you could not discerne so that the chaunge you speake of falles not out by my impairing but by your bettering And yet vnder the leaue of your better iudgement I must needes say thus much my deere cosin that I finde not my selfe wholie to bee condemned because I do not with continuall vehemency follow those knowledges which you call the bettering of my minde for both the minde it selfe must like other thinges sometimes be vnbent or else it will be either weakned or broken And these knowledges as they are of good vse so are they not all the minde may stretch it selfe vnto who knowes whether I feede not my minde with higher thoughts Truelie as I know not all the particularities so yet I see the boundes of all these knowledges but the workinges of the minde I finde much more infinite then can bee led vnto by the eye or imagined by any that distract their thoughts without themselues And in such contemplation or as I thinke more excellent I enioye my solitarines and my solitarines perchaunce is the nurse of these contemplations Eagles wee see flye alone and they are but sheepe which alwayes waies heard together condemne not therefore my minde sometime to enioy it selfe nor blame not the taking of such times as serue most fitte for it And alas deere Musidorus if I be sadde who knowes better then you the iust causes I haue of sadnes And here Pyrocles sodainly stopped like a man vnsatisfied in himselfe though his witte might well haue serued to haue satisfied another And so looking with a countenaunce as though hee desired hee shoulde know his minde without hearring him speake and yet desirous to speake to breath out some part of his inwarde euil sending againe new blood to his face hee continued his speach in this manner And Lord dear cousin said he doth not the pleasauntnes of this place carry in it selfe sufficient reward for any time lost in it Do you not see how all things conspire together to make this country a heauenly dwelling Do you not see the grasse how
deale contrary to your selfe for if I be so weak then can you not with reason stir me vp as ye did by remembrance of my owne vertue or if indeed I be vertuous then must ye confesse that loue hath his working in a vertuous hart and so no dout hath it whatsoeuer I be for if we loue vertue in whom shall wee loue it but in a vertuous creature without your meaning bee I should loue this word vertue where I see it written in a booke Those troblesome effectes you say it breedes be not the faults of loue but of him that loues as an vnable vessell to beare such a licour like euill eyes not able to looke on the Sun or like a weake braine soonest ouerthrowen with the best wine Euen that heauenly loue you speake of is accompanied in some harts with hopes griefes longinges and dispaires And in that heauenly loue since there are two parts the one the loue itselfe th' other the excellencie of the thing loued I not able at the first leap to frame both in me do now like a diligent workman make ready the chiefe instrument and first part of that great worke which is loue it selfe which when I haue a while practised in this sorte then you shall see me turne it to greater matters And thus gentlie you may if it please you thinke of me Neither doubt ye because I weare a womans apparell I will be the more womannish since I assure you for all my apparrel there is nothing I desire more then fully to proue my selfe a man in this enterprise Much might be saide in my defence much more for loue and most of all for that diuine creature which hath ioyned me and loue together But these disputations are fitter for quiet schooles then my troubled braines which art bent rather in deeds to performe then in wordes to defende the noble desire that possesseth me O Lord saide Musidorus how sharp-witted you are to hurt your selfe No answered he but it is the hurt you speake of which makes me so sharp-witted Euen so saide Musidorus as euery base occupation makes one sharp in that practise and foolish in all the rest Nay rather answered Pyrocles as each excellent thing once well learned serues for a measure of all other knowledges And is that become saide Musidorus a measure for other things which neuer receiued measure in it selfe It is counted without measure answered Pyrocles because the workings of it are without measure but otherwise in nature it hath measure since it hath an end allotted vnto it The beginning being so excellent I would gladly know the ende Enioying answered Pyrocles with a deepe sigh O saide Musidorus now set ye foorth the basenes of it since if it ende in enioying it shewes all the rest was nothing Ye mistake me aunswered Pyrocles I spake of the ende to which it is directed which end ends not no sooner then the life Alas let your owne braine disenchaunt you saide Musidorus My hart is too farre possessed saide Pyrocles But the head giues you direction And the hart giues me life aunswered Pyrocles But Musidorus was so greeued to see his welbeloued friend obstinat as he thought to his owne destruction that it forced him with more then accustomed vehemency to speake these words Well well saide he you lift to abuse your selfe it was a very white and red vertue which you could pick out of a painterly glosse of a visage Confesse the truth and ye shall finde the vtmost was but beautie a thing which though it be in as great excellencye in your selfe as may be in any yet I am sure you make no further reckning of it then of an outward fading benefite Nature bestowed vpon you And yet such is your want of a true grounded vertue which must be like it selfe in all points that what you wisely account a trifle in your selfe you fondly become a slaue vnto in another For my part I now protest I haue left nothing vnsaid which my wit could make me know or my most entier friendship to you requires of me I doo now beseech you euen for the loue betwixt vs if this other loue haue left any in you tovvards me and for the remembrance of your olde careful father if you can remēber him that forget your selfe lastly for Pyrocles ovvn sake who is novv vpon the point of falling or rising to purge your selfe of this vile infection other vvise giue me leaue to leaue of this name of freindship as an idle title of a thing vvhich cannot be vvhere vertue is abolished The length of these speaches before had not so much cloied Pyrocles though he vvere very impatient of long deliberations as this last farevvell of him he loued as his ovvne life did vvound his soule for thinking him selfe afflicted he vvas the apter to conceiue vnkindnesse deepely insomuch that shaking his head and deliuering some shevve of teares he thus vttered his greifes Alas said he prince Musidorus hovv cruelly you deale with me if you seeke the victorie take it and if ye list the triumph haue you all the reason of the world and with me remaine all the imperfections yet such as I can no more lay from me then the Crow can be perswaded by the Swanne to cast of all his blacke fethers But truely you deale with me like a Phisition that seeing his patient in a pestilēt feuer should chide him in steed of ministring helpe and bid him be sick no more or rather like such a friēd that visiting his friend condemned to perpetuall prison and loaden with greeuous fetters should will him to shake of his fetters or he would leaue him I am sick and sick to the death I am prisoner neither is there any redresse but by her to whom I am slaue Now if you list leaue him that loues you in the hiest degree But remember euer to cary this with you that you abandon your friend in his greatest extremitie And herewith the deepe wound of his loue being rubbed a fresh with this new vnkindnes began as it were to bleed againe in such sort that he was vnable to beare it any longer but gushing out aboundance of teares and crossing his armes ouer his woefull hart he suncke downe◠to the ground which sodaine trance went so to the hart of Musidorus that falling downe by him and kissing the weping eyes of his friend he besought him not to make account of his speach which if it had beene ouer vehement yet was it to be borne withall because it came out of a loue much more vehement that he had not thought fancie could haue receiued so deep a wound but now finding in him the force of it hee woulde no further contrary it but imploy all his seruice to medicine it in such sorte as the nature of it required But euen this kindnes made Pyrocles the more melte in the former vnkindenes which his manlike teares well shewed with a silent look vpon Musidorus as who should say
shall make Basilius willing or vnwilling to knowe his owne happe in graunting you Philoclea then I will cheerefullie goe about this my most desired enterprise and shall thinke the better halfe of it alreadie atchieued beeing begunne in the fortunate houre of my friendes contentment These wordes as they were not knitte together with such a constant course of flowing eloquence as Dorus was woont to vse so was his voice interrupted with sighes and his countenaunce with enterchanging coulour dismayed So much his owne hearte did finde him faultie to vnbende any way the continuall vse of theyr deare friendshippe But Zelmane who had all this while gladlie hearkened to the other tydings of her friends happye successe when this last determination of Dorus strake her attentiue eares she stayed a great while oppressed with a dead amazement Ther came streight before her mind made tender with woes the images of her own fortune Her tedious longings her causes to despaire the combersome follie of Basilius the enraged Iealousie of Gynecia her selfe a Prince without retinewe a man annoyed with the troubles of woman-kinde lothsomely loued and daungerouslie louing And now for the perfecting of all her friend to be taken away by himself to make the losse the greater by the vnkindnes But within a while she resolutely passed ouer all in warde obiections and preferring her friends proffitt to her owne desire with a quiet but hartie looke she thus aunsweared him If I bare thee this Loue vertuous Musidorus for mine owne sake and that our friendshipp grew because I for my parte might reioyce to enioye such a friend I shoulde nowe so thorowly feele mine owne losse that I should call the heauens and earth to witnesse howe cruelly yee robbe mee of my greatest comforte measuring the breach of friendshippe by myne owne passion But because indeede I loue thee for thy selfe and in my iudgement iudge of thy worthines to beloued I am content to builde my pleasure vppon thy comforte And then will I deeme my happe in friendshippe great when I shall see thee whome I loue happie Let me be onely sure thou louest me still the onely price of trew affection goe therefore on worthye Musidorus with the guide of vertue and seruice of fortune Let thy loue be loued thy desires prosperous thy escape safe and thy iornye easie Let euery thing yeeld his helpe to thy deserte for my part absence shall not take thee from mine eyes nor afflictions shall barre mee from gladding in thy good nor a possessed harte shall keepe thee from the place it haâ—h for euer allotted vnto thee Dorus would faine haue replied againe to haue made a liberall confession that Zelmane had of her side the aduantage of well performing friendshippe but partelie his owne griefe of parting from one he loued so dearely partly the kinde care in what state hee shoulde leaue Zelmane bredd such a conflicte in his minde that many times he wished he had either neuer attempted or neuer reuealed this secreat enterprise But Zelmane who had now looked to the vttermoste of it and established her minde vpon an assured determination my onely friend said shee since to so good towardnes your courteous destinies haue conducted you let not a ceremoniall consideration of our mutuall loue be a barre vnto it I ioye in your presence but I ioye more in your good that friendshipp brings foorth the fruites of enmitie which preferres his owne tendernes before his friendes domage For my parte my greatest griefe herein shal be I can bee no further seruiceable vnto you O Zelmane saide Dorus with his eyes euen couered with water I did not think so soone to haue displayed my determination vnto you but to haue made my way first in your louing iudgement But alas as your sweet disposition drew me so farre so doth it now strengthen me in it To you therefore be the due commendation giuen who can conquere me in Loue and Loue in wisedome As for mee then shall goodnes turne to euill and vngratefulnes bee the token of a true harte when Pyrocles shall not possesse a principall seate in my soule when the name of Pyrocles shall not be helde of me in deuout reuerence They would neuer haue come to the cruell instant of parting nor to the il-faring word of farewell had not Zelmane sene a farre off the olde Basilius who hauing perfourmed a sacrifice to Apollo for his daughters but principally for his mistresse happy returne had since bene euery where to seeke her And nowe being come within compasse of discerning her he beganne to frame the loueliest couÌ„tenance he could stroking vp his legges setting his bearde in due order and standing bolte vpright Alas said Zelmane behold an euill fore-token of your sorrowfull departure Yonder see I one of my furies which doth daylie vexe me farewell fare wel my Musidorus the Gods make fortune to waite on thy vertues and make mee wade through this lake of wretchednes Dorus burst out into a floud of teares wringing her fast by the hande No no said he I go blindfold whither the course of my ill happe caries me for now too late my harte giues me this our separating can neuer be prosperous But if I liue attend me here shortly with an army Thus both appalled with the grieuous renting of their long Combination hauing first resolued with theÌ„selues that whatsoeuer fell vnto them they should neuer vpon no occasion vtter their names for the coÌ„seruing the honour of their Royal parentage but keep the names of Daiphantus Palladius as before had ben agreed between theÌ„ they tooke diuerse waies Dorus to the lodg-ward wher his heauy eyes might be somthing refreshed Zelmane towards Basilius saying to her selfe with a skornefull smiling yet hath not my friendly fortune depriued me of a pleasant companion But he hauing with much searche come to her presence Doubt Desire bred a great quarrel in his mind For his former experience had taught him to doubt true feeling of Loue made doubts daungerous but the working of his desire had ere long wonne the fielde And therefore with the most submissiue maner his behauiour could yeeld O Goddesse said hee towardes whom I haue the greatest feeling of Religion be not displeased at some shew of deuotion I haue made to Apollo since he if he know any thing knowes that my harte beares farre more awful reuereÌ„ce to your self then to his or any other the like Deity You wil euer be deceaued in me answered Zelmane I wil make my selfe no competitor with Apollo neither can blasphemies to him be duties to me With that Basilius tooke out of his bosome certaine verses he had written and kneling downe presented them to her They contained this PHaebus farewell a sweeter Saint I serue The high conceits thy heau'nly wisedomes breed My thoughts forget my thoughts which neuer swerue From her in whome is sowne their freedomes seede And in whose eyes my dayly doome I reede Phaebus farewell a sweeter Saint I serue
brest saying O miserable wretch whether do thy destenies guide thee The voice made Zelmane hasten her pace to ouertake him which hauing done she plainly perceaued that it was her deare friend Musidorus whereat maruailing not a little she demaunded of him whether the Goddesse of those woods had such a powre to transforme euery body or whether as in all enterprises else he had done he meant thus to match her in this newe alteration Alas said Musidorus what shall I say who am loth to say and yet faine would haue said I find indeed that all is but lip-wisdome which wants experience I now woe is me do try what loue can doo O Zelmane who will resist it must either haue no wit or put out his eyes can any man resist his creation certainely by loue we are made and to loue we are made Beasts only cannot discerne beauty and let them be in the role of Beasts that doo not honor it The perfect friendship Zelmane bare him and the great pitie she by good triall had of such cases could not keepe her from smiling at him remembring how vehemently he had cryed out against the folly of louers And therefore a litle to punish him Why how now deere cousin said she you that were last day so hie in the Pulpit against louers are you now become so meane an auditor Remember that loue is a passion and that a worthie mans reason must euer haue the masterhood I recant I recant cryed Musidorus and withall falling downe prostrate O thou celestiall or infernall spirit of Loue or what other heauenly or hellish title thou list to haue for effects of both I finde in my selfe haue compassion of me and let thy glory be as great in pardoning them that be submitted to thee as in conquering those that were rebellious No no saide Zelmane I see you well enough you make but an enterlude of my mishaps and doo but counterfaite thus to make me see the deformitie of my passions but take heede that this iest do not one day turne to earnest Now I beseech thee said Musidorus taking her â—ast by the hand euen for the truth of our friendship of which if I be not altogether an vnhappy man thou hast some rememberance and by those secret flames which I know haue likewise neerely touched thee make no iest of that which hath so ernestly pearced me thorow nor let that be light to thee which is to me so burdenous that I am not able to beare it Musidorus both in words and behauiour did so liuely deliuer out his inward griefe that Zelmane found indeede he was thorowly wounded but there rose a new ielousy in her minde lest it might be with Philoclea by whome as Zelmane thought in right all hartes and eyes should be inherited And therefore desirous to be cleered of that doubt Musidorus shortly as in hast and full of passionate perplexednes thus recounted his case vnto her The day said he I parted from you I being in mind to returne to a towne from whence I came hether my horse being before tired would scarce beare me a mile hence where being benighted the light of a candle I saw a good way off guided me to a young shepheards house by name Menalcas who seing me to be a straying stranger with the right honest hospitalitie which seemes to be harboured in the Arcadian brests and though not with curious costlines yet with cleanly sufficiencie entertained me and hauing by talke with him found the manner of the countrie something more in particular then I had by Kalanders report I agreed to soiourne with him in secret which he faithfully promised to obserue And so hether to your arbour diuers times repaired and here by your meanes had the sight O that it had neuer bene so nay O that it might euer be so of the Goddesse who in a definite compasse can set forth infinite beauty All this while Zelmane was racked with iealousie But he went on For saide he I lying close and in truth thinking of you and saying thus to my selfe O sweet Pyrocles how art thou bewitched where is thy vertue where is the vse of thy reason how much am I inferior to thee in the state of the mind And yet know I that all the heauens cannot bring me to such thraldome Scarcely thinke I had I spoken this word wheÌ„ the Ladies came foorth at which sight I thinke the very words returned backe againe to strike my soule at least an vnmeasurable sting I felt in my selfe that I had spokeÌ„ such words At which sight said Zelmane not able to beare him any longer O said Musidorus I know your suspition No no banish all such feare it was it is and must be Pamela Then all is safe sayd Zelmane proceede deare Musidorus I will not said he impute it to my late solitarie life which yet is prone to affections nor to the much thinking of you though that cald the consideration of loue into my mind which before I euer neglected nor to the exaltation of Venus nor reuenge of Cupid but euen to her who is the Planet nay the Goddesse against which the onely shield must be my Sepulchre When I first saw her I was presently striken and I like a foolish child that when any thing hits him will strike himselfe againe vpon it would needs looke againe as though I would perswade mine eyes that they were deceiued But alas well haue I found that Loue to a yeelding hart is a king but to a resisting is a tyrant The more with arguments I shaked the stake which he had planted in the ground of my harte the deeper still it sanke into it But what meane I to speake of the causes of my loue which is as impossible to describe as to measure the back-side of heauen Let this word suffice I loue And that you may know I doo so it was I that came in black armour to defende her picture where I was both preuented and beaten by you And so I that waited here to do you seruice haue now my selfe most need of succor But whereupon got you your selfe this aparrell said Zelmane I had forgotten to tell you said Musidorus though that were one principall matter of my speech so much am I now master of my owne minde But thus it happened being returned to Menalcas house full of tormenting desire after a while faynting vnder the weight my courage stird vp my wit to seeke for some releefe before I yeelded to perish At last this came into my head that very euening that I had to no purpose last vsed my horse and armour I tolde Menalcas that I was a Thessalian Gentle-man who by mischaunce hauing killed a great fauorit of the Prince of that country was pursued so cruelly that in no place but either by fauour or corruption they would obtaine my destruction and that therefore I was determined till the fury of my persecutors might be asswaged to disguise my selfe among the shephards
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
meeting then returne againe to her inward thoughts sometimes despaire darkning all her imaginations sometimes the actiue passion of Loue cheering and cleering her inuention how to vnbar that combersome hinderance of her two ill-matched louers But this mourning Basilius himself gaue her good occasion to go beyond them For hauing combd and trickt himselfe more curiously then any time fortie winters before comming where Zelmane was he found her giuen ouer to her musical muses to the great pleasure of the good old Basilius who retired himselfe behinde a tree while she with a most sweete voice did vtter these passionate verses LOued I am and yet complaine of Loue As louing not accus'd in Loue I die When pittie most I craue I cruell proue Still seeking Loue loue found as much I flie Burnt in my selfe I muse at others fire What I call wrong I doo the same and more Bard of my will I haue beyond desire I waile for want and yet am chokt with store This is thy worke thou God for euer blinde Though thousands old a Boy entit'led still Thus children doo the silly birds they finde With stroking hurt and too much cramming kill Yet thus much Loue O Loue I craue of thee Let me be lou'd or els not loued bee Basilius made no great haste from behind the tree till he perceaued she had fully ended her musick But then loth to loose the pretious fruite of time he presented himselfe vnto her falling downe vpon both his knees and holding vp his hands as the old gouernesse of Danae is painted when she sodainly saw the golden shoure O heauenly woman or earthly Goddesse said he let not my presence be odious vnto you nor my humble suite seeme of small weight in your eares Vouchsafe your eies to descend vpon this miserable old-man whose life hath hitherto bene maintained but to serue as an encrease of your beautifull triumphs You only haue ouerthrowne me and in my bondage consists my glory Suffer not your owne worke to be despised of you but looke vpon him with pittie whose life serues for your praise Zelmane keeping a countenance ascanses she vnderstood him not told him It became her euill to suffer such excessiue reuerence of him but that it worse became her to correct him to whom she owed duetie that the opinion she had of his wisedome was such as made her esteeme greatly of his words but that the words themselues sounded soâ— as she could not imagine what they might intend Intend said Basilius proud that that was brought in question what may they intend but a refreshing of my soule and a swaging of my heat and enioying those your excellencies wherein my life is vpheld and my death threatned Zelmane lifting vp her face as if she had receaued a mortall iniurie of him And is this the deuotion your ceremonies haue bene bent vnto said she Is it the disdaine of my estate or the opinion of my lightnesse that haue emboldned such base fancies towards me enioying quoth you now little ioy come to them that yeeld to such enioying Poore Basilius was so appalled that his legges bowed vnder him his eyes lookt as though he would gladly hide himselfe and his old blood going to his hart a generall shaking all ouer his bodie possessed him At length with a wanne mouth he was about to giue a stammering answere when it came into Zelmanes head by this deuise to make her profite of his folly and therefore with a relented countenance thus said vnto him Your words mightie Prince were vnfit either for me to heare or you to speake but yet the large testimonie I see of your affection makes me willing to suppresse a great number of errors Onely thus much I thinke good to say that the same words in my Ladie Philocleas mouth as from one woman to another so as there were no other bodie by might haue had a better grace and perchance haue found a gentler receipt Basilius whose senses by Desire were held open and conceipt was by Loue quickned heard scarcely halfe her answere out but that as if speedie flight might saue his life he turned away and ran with all the speede his bodie would suffer him towards his daughter Philoclea whom he found at that time duetifully watching by her mother and Miso curiouslie watching her hauing left Mopsa to doo the like seruice to Pamela Basilius foorthwith calling Philoclea aside with all the coniuring words which Desire could endite and authoritie vtter besought her she would preserue his life in whom her life was begonne she would saue his graye haires from rebuke and his aged mind from despaire that if she were not cloyed with his companie and that she thought not the earth ouer-burdened with him she would coole his fierie griefe which was to be done but by her breath That in fine whatsoeuer he was he was nothing but what it pleased Zelmane all the powers of his spirite depending of her that if she continued cruell he could no more sustaine his life then the earth remaine fruitefull in the Sunnes continuall absence He concluded she should in one payment requite all his deserts and that she needed not disdaine any seruice though neuer so meane which was warranted by the sacred name of a father Philoclea more glad then euer she had knowen her selfe that she might by this occasion enioy the priuate conference of Zelmane yet had so sweete a feeling of vertue in her minde that she would not suffer a vile colour to be cast ouer her faire thoughts but with humble grace answered her father That there needed neither promise nor perswasion to her to make her doo her vttermost for her fathers seruice That for Zelmanes fauour she would in all vertuous sort seeke it towards him and that as she would not pearce further into his meaning then himselfe should declare so would she interprete all his doings to be accomplished in goodnes and therefore desired if otherwise it were that he would not impart it to her who then should be forced to beginne by true obedience a shew of disobedience rather perfourming his generall commandement which had euer beene to embrace vertue then any new particular sprong out of passion and contrarie to the former Basilius content to take that since he could haue no more thinking it a great point if by her meanes he could get but a more free accesse vnto Zelmane allowed her reasons and tooke her proffer thankfully desiring only a speedie returne of comfort Philoclea was parting and Miso streight behind her like Alecto following Proserpina But Basilius forced her to stay though with much a doo she being sharp-set vpon the fulfilling of a shrewde office in ouer-looking Philoclea and so said to Basilius that she did as she was commanded and could not answere it to Gynecia if she were any whit from Philoclea telling him true that he did euill to take her charge from her But Basilius swearing he would put out her eyes if she stird a
as that she perceiued in her certaine flawes of il-concealed discontentmeÌ„t Insomuch that wheÌ„ Zelmane would sweeten her mouth with the praises of the sisters especially setting forth their noble gratefulnes in neuer forgetting welintended seruices inuoking the iustice of the gods not to suffer such treasures to be wroÌ„gfully hidden somtimes with a kind vnkindnes charging Artesia that she had ben abused to abuse so worthy persons Artesia though falsly wold protest that she had bin beguiled in it neuer meaning other matter theÌ„ recreatioÌ„ yet withall by alleaging how vngratefully she was dealt with it was easie to be seene it was the vnrewarding and not the euill employing her seruice which grieued her But Zelmane vsing her own bias to bowle neer the mistres of her own thoughts was content to lende her beleefe and withall to magnifie her desert if willingly she would deliuer whom vnwillingly she had imprisoned leauing no argument which might tickle ambition or flatter reuenge So that Artesia pusht â—orward by Clinias drawne on ward by Zelmane bound her selfe to that practise wherin Zelmane for her part desired no more but to haue armour and weapons brought into her chamber not doubting therwith to perfourme any thing how impossible soeuer which longing Loue can perswade and inuincible Valour dare promise But Clinias whose faith could neuer comprehende the misteries of Courage perswaded Artesia while he by corruption had drawne the guard of one gate to open it when he would appoint the time to the enemie that she should impoyson Amphialus which she might the easier do because she her selfe had vsed to make the broaths when Amphialus either wearied or wounded did vse such diet And all things alredy were ready to be put in execution wheÌ„ they thought best to break the matter with the two excellent sisters not doubting of their consent in a thing so behoofefull to theÌ„selues their reasons being that the Princesses knowing their seruice might be sure to preserue them from the fury of the entring souldiers whereof Clinias euen so could scarcely be sufficiently certaine and withall making them priuie to their action to binde them afterwardes to a promised gratefulnes towards them They went therefore at one time when they knew them to be alone Clinias to Philoclea and Artesia to Pamela and Clinias with no fewe words did set forth what an exploite was intended for her seruice But Philoclea in whose cleere minde treason could finde no hiding place told him that she would be glad if he could perswade her cosin to deliuer her and that she would neuer forget his seruice therein but that she desired him to lay downe any such way of mischiefe for that for her part she would rather yeeld to perpetuall imprisonment then consent to the destroying her cosin who she knewe loued her though wronged her This vnlooked-for answere amazed Clinias so that he had no other remedie in his minde but to kneele downe to Philoclea and beseech her to keepe it secret considering that the intention was for her seruice and vowing since she misliked it to proceed no further therein She comforted him with promise of silence which she perfourmed But that little auayled for Artesia hauing in like sort opened this deuice to Pamela she in whose mind Vertue gouerned with the scepter of Knowledge hating so horrible a wickednes and streight iudging what was fitte to doo Wicked woman said she whose vnrepenting harte can finde no way to amend treason but by treason now the time is come that thy wretched wiles haue caught thy selfe in thine owne nette as for me let the Gods dispose of me as shall please them but sure it shall be no such way nor way-leader by which I will come to libertie This she spake something with a lowder voice then she was woont to vse so as Cecropia heard the noise who was sooner then Artesia imagined she would come vp to bring Pamela to a window where she might see a notable skirmish happened in the Campe as she thought among themselues and being a cunning fisher in troubled waters streight found by their voices and gestures there was some matter of consequence which she desired Pamela to tell her Aske of her said Pamela and learne to know that who do falshoode to their superiours teach falshoode to their inferiours More she would not say But Cecropia taking away the each-way guiltie Artesia with feare of torture gat of her the whole practise so as Zelmane was the more closely imprisoned and Clinias with the rest of his corrupted mates according to their merites executed For as for Artesia shee was but lockt vp in her chamber Amphialus not consenting for the loue hee bare to Ismenus that further punishment should be laide vpon her But the noyse they heard in the campe was occasioÌ„ of the famous Prince Anaxius nephewe to the Giant Euardes whom Pyrocles slew A Prince of body exceedingly strong in armes so skilfull and fortunate as no man was thought to excell him of courage that knew not howe to feare partes worthie praise if they had not beene guyded by pride and followed by vniustice For by a strange composition of mind there was no man more tenderly sensible in any thing offered to himselfe which in the farthest-fette construction might be wrested to the name of wrong no man that in his owne actions could worse distinguish betweene Valour and Violence So proud as he could not abstaine from a Thraso-like boasting and yet so vnluckie a lodging his vertues had gotten he would neuer boast more then he would accomplish falsly accounting an vnflexible anger a couragious constancie esteeming feare and astonishment righter causes of admiration then Loue and Honour This man had foure sundrie times fought with Amphialus but Mars had bene so vnpartiall an arbiter that neither side gate aduauntage of the other But in the end it hapned that Anaxius found Amphialus vnknowen in a great danger and saued his life whereupon louing his owne benefite began to fauour him so much the more as thinking so well of himselfe he coulde not choose but like him whom he found a match for himselfe which at last grewe to as much friendship towardes him as could by a proud harte conceiued So as in this trauaile seeking Pyrocles to be reuenged of his vncles death hearing of this siege neuer taking paines to examine the quarrell like a man whose will was his God and his hand his lawe taking with him his two brothers men accounted little inferiour to him selfe in martiall matters and two hundred chosen horsemen with whome hee thought him selfe able to conquere the world yet commaunding the rest of his forces to follow hee himselfe vpon such an vnexpected suddainnesse entred in vpon the backe of Basilius that many with great vnkindnesse tooke their death not knowing why nor how they were so murdred There if euer did he make knowne the wonderfulnes of his force But the valiant and faithfull Philanax with well gouerned speed
of late taken a course which yet makes him more spoken of then all these blessings For hauing made a iourney to Delphos and safely returned within short space he brake vp his court and retired himselfe his wife and children into a certaine Forrest hereby which he calleth his desert wherein besides a house appointed for stables and lodgings for certaine persons of meane calling who do all houshold seruices he hath builded two fine lodges In the one of them him selfe remaines with his younger daughter Philoclea which was the cause they three were matched together in this picture without hauing any other creature liuing in that lodge with him Which though it bee straunge yet not so straunge as the course hee hath taken with the princesse Pamela whom he hath placed in the other lodge but how thinke you accompanied truly with none other but one Dametas the most arrant doltish clowne that I thinke euer was without the priuiledge of a bable with his wife Miso and daughter of Mopsa in whom no witt can deuise anie thing wherein they may pleasure her but to exercise her patience and to serue for a foile of her perfections This loutish clowne is such that you neuer saw so ill fauourd a visar his behauiour such that he is beyond the degree of ridiculous and for his apparrel euen as I would wish him Miso his wife so handsome a beldame that onely her face and her splay-foote haue made her accused for a witch only one good point she hath that she obserues decorum hauing a froward minde in a wretched body Betweene these two personages who neuer agreed in any humor but in disagreeing is issued foorth mistresse Mopsa a fitte woman to participate of both their perfections but because a pleasant fellow of my acquaintance set foorth her praises in verse I wil onely repeate them and spare mine owne tongue since she goes for a woman The verses are these which I haue so often caused to be song that I haue them without booke What length of verse can serue braue Mopsas good to shew Whose vertues strange beauties such as no maÌ„ them may know Thus shrewdly burdned theÌ„ how caÌ„ my Muse escape The gods must helpe and pretious things must serue to shew her shape Like great God Saturn faÃre and like faire Venus chaste As smooth as Pan as Iuno milde like goddesse Iris faste With Cupid she fore-sees and goes god Vulcans pace And for a tast of all these gifâ—s she steales god Momus grace Her forhead iacinth like her cheekes of opall hue Her twinkling eies bedeckt with pearle her lips as Saphir blew Her haire like Crapal-stone her mouth O heauenly wide Her skin like burnisht gold her hands like siluer vre vntryde As for her parts vnknowne which hidden sure are best Happie be they which well beleeue neuer seeke the rest Now truely hauing made these descriptions vnto you me thinks you should imagine that I rather faine some pleasant deuise then recount a truth that a Prince not banished from his owne wits could possibly make so vnworthie a choise But truely deare guest so it is that Princes whose doings haue beene often soothed with good successe thinke nothing so absurde which they cannot make honourable The beginning of his credite was by the Princes straying out of the way one time hee hunted where meeting this fellow and asking him the way and so falling into other questions he found some of his answeres as a dog sure if he could speake had wit enough to describe his kennell not vnsensible and all vttered with such rudenes which he interpreted plainnesse though there be great difference betweene them that Basilius conceauing a sodaine delight tooke him to his Court with apparant shew of his good opinion where the flattering courtier had no sooner taken the Princes minde but that there were straight reasons to confirme the Princes doing and shadowes of vertues found for Dametas His silence grew wit his bluntnesse integritie his beastly ignorance vertuous simplicitie and the Prince according to the nature of great persons in loue with that he had done himselfe fancied that his weaknesse with his presence would much be mended And so like a creature of his owne making hee liked him more and more and thus hauing first giuen him the office of principall heardman lastly since he tooke this strange determination hee hath in a manner put the life of himselfe and his children into his hands Which authoritie like too great a sayle for so small a boate doth so ouer-sway poore Dametas that if before he weare a good foole in a chamber he might bee allowed it now in a comedie So as I doubt mee I feare me in deede my master will in the end with his cost finde that his office is not make men but to vse men as men are no more then a horse will be taught to hunt or an asse to mannage But in sooth I am afraid I haue geuen your eares too great a surfette with the grosse discourses of that heauie peece of flesh But the zealous greefe I conceue to see so great an error in my Lord hath made me bestowe more words then I confesse so base a subiect deserueth Thus much now that I haue tolde you is nothing more then in effect any Arcadian knows But what moued him to this strange solitarines hath bin imparted as I thinke but to one person liuing My selfe can coniecture and in deede more then coniecture by this accident that I will tell you I haue an onely sonne by name Clitophon who is now absent preparing for his owne mariage which I meane shortly shal be here celebrated This sonne of mine while the Prince kept his Court was of his bed-chamber now since the breaking vp thereof returned home and shewed me among other things he had gathered the coppie which hee had taken of a letter which when the prince had read he had laid in a windowe presuming no body durst looke in his writings but my sonne not only tooke a time to read it but to copie it In trueth I blamed Clitophon for the curiositie which made him breake his dutie in such a kind whereby kings secrets are subiect to be reuealed but since it was done I was content to take so much profite as to know it Now here is the letter that I euer since for my good liking haue caried about me which before I read vnto you I must tell you from whom it came It is a noble-man of this countrie named Philanax appointed by the Prince Regent in this time of his retiring and most worthy so to be for there liues no man whose excellent witte more simplye imbraseth integritie beesides his vnfained loue to his master wherein neuer yet any could make question sauing whether he loued Basilius or the Prince better a rare temper while most men either seruile-ly yeeld to all appetites or with an obstinate austeritie looking to that they fansie good in effect neglect the
choice but because her obedient minde had not yet taken vpon it to make choice and the daie of their assurance drew neere when my yonge lord Clitophon brought this noble Argalus perchaunce principallie to see so rare a sight as Parthenia by all well iudging eyes was iudged But though fewe dayes were before the time of assurance appointed yet loue that sawe hee had a great iourney to make in short time hasted so him selfe that before her word coulde tie her to Demagoras her hart had vowed her to Argalus with so gratefull a receipte in mutuall affection that if shee desired above all thinges to haue Argalus Argalus feared nothing but to misse Parthenia And now Parthenia had learned bothe lyking and misliking louing and lothing and out of passion began to take the authoritie of iudgement in so much that when the time came that Demagoras ful of proude ioye though to receaue the gift of her own self shee with woordes of resolute refusal thoughâ— with teares shewing she was sorie shee must refuse assured her mother shee woulde first be bedded in her graue then wedded to Demagoras The chaunge was no more strange then vnpleasant to the mother who beeyng determynatelye least I shoulde saye of a greate Ladie wilfully bent to mary her to Demagoras tryed all waies which a wittie and hard harted mother coulde vse vppon so humble a daughter in whome the onely resisting power was loue But the more shee assaulted the more shee taught Parthenia to defende and the more Parthenia defended the more shee made her mother obstinate in the assault who at the length finding that Argalus standing betweene them was it that moste eclipsed her affection from shining vpon Demagoras she sought al means how to remoue him so much the more as he manifested himself an vnremoueable suiter to her daughter first by employing him in as many dangerous enterprises as euer the euil stepmother Iuno recommended to the famous Hercules but the more his vertue was tryed the more pure it grewe while all the things she did to ouerthrowe him did set him vp vpon the hight of honour inough to haue mooued her harte especially to a man euery way so worthy as Argalus but she strugling against all reason because she would haue her wil and shew her authoritie in matching her with Demagoras the more vertuous Argalus was the more shee hated him thinking her self conquered in his conquestes and therfore stil imploying him in more more dangerous attempts in the meane while shee vsed all extremities possible vpon her faire daughter to make her giue ouer herselfe to her directioÌ„ But it was hard to iudge whether he in doeing or she in suffering shewed greater constancie of affection for as to Argalus the world sooner wanted occasions then he valour to goe thorow them so to Parthenia malice sooner ceased then her vnchanged patience Lastly by treasons Demagoras and she would haue made away Argalus but he with prouidence and courage so past ouer all that the mother tooke such a spitefull greefe at it that her hart brake withall and she died But then Demagoras assuring him selfe that now Parthenia was her owne shee would neuer be hit and receiuing as much by her owne determinate answere not more desiring his owne happines then enuying Argalus whom he saw with narrow eyes euen ready to enioy the perfection of his desires strengthning his conceite with all the mischieuous counsels which disdained loue and enuious pride could geue vnto him the wicked wretch taking a time that Argalus was gone to his countrie to fetch some of his principall frendes to honour the mariage which Parthenia had most ioyfully consented vnto the wicked Demagoras I say desiring to speake with her with vnmercifull force her weake armes in vaine resisting rubd all ouer her face a most horrible poyson the effect whereof was such that neuer leaper lookt more vgly then shee did which done hauing his men horses ready departed away in spite of her seruants as ready to reuenge as they could be in such an vnexpected mischiefe But the abhominablenes of this fact being come to my Lâ— Kalander he made such meanes both by our kings intercession and his owne that by the king Senat of Lacedaemon Demagoras was vpon paine of death banished the countrie who hating the punishment where hee should haue hated the fault ioynde himselfe with all the powers he could make vnto the Helots lately in rebellion against that state and they glad to haue a man of such authority among them made him their general and vnder him haue committed diuers the most outragious villanies that a base multitude full of desperate reuenge can imagine But within a while after this pitifull fact committed vpon Parthenia Argalus returned poore gentleman hauing her faire image in his heart and alredy promising his eies the vttermost of his felicitie when they no bodie els daring to tell it him weare the first messengers to themselues of their owne misfortune I meane not to mooue passions with telling you the greefe of both when hee knew her for at first he did not nor at first knowledge could possibly haue vertues aide so ready as not euen weakly to lament the losse of such a iewell so much the more as that skilfull men in that arte assured it was vnrecouerable but within a while trueth of loue which still held the first face in his memorie a vertuous constancie and euen a delight to be constant faith giuen and inward worthines shining through the foulest mistes tooke so full holde of the noble Argalus that not onely in such comfort which witty arguments may bestow vpon aduersitie but euen with the most aboundant kindnesse that an eye rauished louer can expresse hee lauboured but to driue the extremitie of sorow from her to hasten the celebration of their mariage wherunto he vnfainedly shewed himselfe no lesse cherefully earnest then if she had neuer beene disinherited of that goodly portion which nature had so liberally bequeathed vnto her and for that cause deferred his intended reuenge vpon Demagoras because he might continually be in her presence shewing moe humble seruiceablenes and ioy to content her then euer before But as he gaue this rare ensample not to be hoped for of any other but of an other Argalus so of the other side she tooke as strange a course in affection for where she desired to enioy him more then to liue yet did shee ouerthrow both her owne desireâ— and his and in no sorte would yeeld to marry him with a strange encounter of loues aâ—fects and effects that he by an affection sprong from excessiue beautie should delight in horrible foulnesse she of a vehement desire to haue him should kindely buyld a resolution neuer to haue him for trueth is that so in heart she loued him as she could not finde in her heart he should be tied to what was vnworthy of his presence Truely Sir a very good Orator might haue a
fayre fielde to vse eloquence in if he did but onely repeate the lamentable truely affectionated speeches while he coniured her by remembrance of her affection true oathes of his owne affection not to make him so vnhappie as to thinke hee had not onely lost her face but her hart that her face when it was fayrest had beene but as a marshal to lodge the loue of her in his minde which now was so well placed as it needed no further help of any outward harbinger beseeching her euen with teares to knowe that his loue was not so superficial as to go no further then the skin which yet now to him was most faire since it was hers how could hee bee so vngratefull as to loue her the lesse for that which she had onely receiued for his sake that he neuer beheld it but therein he saw the louelines of her loue towarde him protesting vnto her that hee would neuer take ioy of his life if he might not enioy her for whom principally he was glad he had life But as I heard by one that ouerheard them shee wringing him by the hand made no other answere but this my Lord said she God knowes I loue you if I were Princesse of the whole world and had withal all the blessings that euer the world brought forth I should not make delay to lay my selfe and them vnder your feete or if I had continued but â—s I was though I must confesse far vnworthy of you yet would I with too great a ioy for my hart to think of haue accepted your vouchsafing me to be yours and with faith and obedience would haue supplied all other defects But first let me bee much more miserable then I am ere I match Argalus to such a Parthenia Liue happy deare Argalus I geue you ful libertie and I beseech you take it and I assure you I shall reioyce whatsoeuer become of me to see you so coupled as may be fitte both for your honor satisfaction With that she burst out in crying and weeping not able longer to conteine her selfe from blaming her fortune and wishing her owne death But Argalus with a most heauie heart still pursuing his desire she fixt of minde to auoid further intreatie and to flie all companie which euen of him grew vnpleasant vnto her one night she stole away but whether as yet is vnknowen or in deed what is become of her Argalus sought her long and in many places at length despairing to finde her and the more he despaired the more enraged weerie of his life but first determining to bee reuenged of Demagoras he went alone disguysed into the cheefe towne held by the Helots where comming into his presence garded about by many of his souldiers he could delay his fury no longer for a fitter time but setting vpon him in despight of a great many that helped him gaue him diuers mortall wounds and him selfe no question had been there presently murthered but that Demagoras himselfe desired he might bee kept aliue perchaunce with intention to feed his owne eyes with some cruell execution to bee layd vpon him but death came soner then he lookt for yet hauing had leisure to appoint his successor a yong man not long before deliuered out of the prison of the King of Lacedaemon where he should haue suffered death for hauing slaine the kings Nephew but him hee named who at that time was absent making roades vpon the Lacedaemonians but Being returned the rest of the Helots for the great liking they conceiued of that yongman especially because they had none among themselues to whom the others would yeeld were content to follow Demagoras apppointment And wel hath it succeded with theÌ„ he hauing since done things beyond the hope of the yongest heads of whom I speake the rather because he hath hetherto preâ—erued Argalus aliue vnder pretence to haue him publiquelie and with exquisite tormentes executed after the ende of these warres of which they hope for a soone and prosperous issue And he hath likewise hetherto kept my young Lord Clitophon aliue who to redeeme his friend went with certaine other noble-men of Laconia and forces gathered by them to besiege this young and new successor but hee issuing out to the wonder of all men defeated the Laconians slew many of the noble-men and tooke Clitophon prisoner whom with much a doo he keepeth aliue the Helots being villanously cruel but he tempereth them so sometimes by following their humor sometimes by striuing with it that hetherto hee hath saued both their liues but in different estates Argalus being kept in a close hard prison Clitophon at some libertie And now Sir though to say the truth we can promise our selues litle of their safeties while they are in the Helots handes I haue deliuered all I vnderstande touching the losse of my Lords sonne and the cause thereof which though it was not necessarie to Clitophons case to be so particularly told yet the strangenes of it made mee think it would not be vnplesant vnto you Palladius thanked him greatly for it being euen passionatly delighted with hearing so straunge an accident of a knight so famous ouer the world as Argalus with whome he had him selfe a long desire to meete so had fame poured a noble emulation in him towardes him But theÌ„ well bethinking himselfe he called for armour desiring them to prouide him of horse guide and armed all sauing the head he weÌ„t vp to KalaÌ„der whom he found lying vpoÌ„ the grouÌ„d hauing euersince banished both sleepe and foode as enemies to the mourning which passion perswaded him was reasonable But Palladius raysed him vp saying vnto him No more no more of this my Lord Kalander let vs labour to finde before wee lament the losse you knowe my selfe misse one who though he be not my sonne I would disdayne the fauour of life after him but while there is hope left let not the weaknes of sorrow make the strength of it languish take comfort and good successe wil follow And with those wordes comfort seemed to lighten in his eyes and that in his face and gesture was painted victorie Once Kallanders spirits were so reuiued withall that receiuing some sustenance and taking a little rest he armed himselfe those few of his seruantsâ— hee had left vnsent and so himselfe guided Palladius to the place vpon the frontiers where alredy there were assembled betwene three and four thousand men all wel disposed for Kalanders sake to abide any perill but like men disused with a long peace more determinate to doo then skilfull how to doo lusty bodies and braue armours with such courage as rather grew of despising their enimies whom they knew not then of any confidence for any thing which in them selues they knewe but neither cunning vse of their weapons nor arte shewed in their marching or in caÌ„ping Which Palladius soone perceiuing he desired to vnderstand as much as could bee deliuered vnto him the estate of
beguiled the times hast and shortned the wayes length till they came to the side of the wood where the hounds were in couples staying their comming but with a whining Accent crauing libertie many of them in colour and markes so resembling that it showed they were of one kinde The huntsmen handsomely attired in their greene liueries as though they were children of Sommer with staues in their handes to beat the guiltlesse earth when the houndes were at a fault and with hornes about their neckes to sounde an alarum vpon a sillie fugitiue The houndes were straight vncoupled and erelong the Stagge thought it better to trust to the nimblenes of his feete then to the slender fortification of his lodging but euen his feete betrayed him for howsoeuer they went they themselues vttered themselues to the sent of their enimies who one taking it of an other and sometimes beleeuing the windes aduertisements sometimes the viewe of their faithfull councellors the huntsmen with open mouthes then denounced warre when the warre was alreadie begun Their crie beeing composed of so well sorted mouthes that any man would perceiue therein some kinde of proportion but the skilfull woodmen did finde a musicke Then delight and varietie of opinion drew the horsmen sundrie wayes yet cheering their houndes with voyce horne kept still as it were together The wood seemed to conspire with them against his own citizens dispersing their noise through all his quarters and euen the Nimph Echo left to bewayle the losse of Narcissus and became a hunter But the Stagge was in the end so hotly pursued that leauing his flight hee was driuen to make courage of dispaire and so turning his head made the hounds with change of speech to testifie that he was at a bay as if from hotte pursuite of their enemie they were sodainly come to a parley But Kalander by his skill of coasting the Countrey was among the first that came in to the besieged Deere whom when some of the younger sorte would haue killed with their swordes he woulde not suffer but with a Crossebowe sent a death to the poore beast who with teares shewed the vnkindnes he tooke of mans crueltie But by the time that the vvhole companie vvas assembled that the Sagge had bestovved himfelfe liberally among them that had killed him Daiphantus vvas mist for vvhom Palladius carefully enquiring no nevves could bee giuen him but by one that saide he thought hee was returned home for that hee markt him in the chiefe of the hunting take a by way which might lead to Kalanders house That answere for the time satisfying and they hauing perfourmed all dueties as well for the Stagges funerall as the hounds triumph they returned some talking of the fatnes of the Deeres bodie some of the fairenes of his head some of the hounds cunning some of their speed and some of their cry till comming home about the time that the candles begin to inherit the Suns office they found Daiphantus was not to bee found Whereat Palladius greatly maruailing and a day or tvvo passing vvhile neither search nor inquirie could help him to knovvledge at last he lighted vpō the letter vvhich Pyrocles had vvritten before he vvent a hunting and left in his studie among other of his vvritings The letter vvas directed to Palladius himselfe and conteyned these wordes My onely friend violence of loue leades me into such a course whereof your knowledge may much more vexe you then helpe me Therefore pardon my concealing it from you since if I wrong you it is in the respect I beare you Return into Thessalia I pray you as full of good fortune as I am of desire and if I liue I will in short time follow you if I die loue my memorie This was all and this Palladius read twise or thrise ouer Ah said hee Pyrocles what meanes this alteration what haue I deserued of thee to bee thus banished of thy counsels Heretofore I haue accused the sea condemned the Pyrats and hated my euil fortune that depriued me of thee But now thy self is the sea which drounes my comfort thy selfe is the Pirat that robbes thy selfe of me Thy owne wil becomes my euill fortune Then turned he his thoughts to all formes of ghesses that might light vpon the purpose and course of Pyrocles for hee was not so sure by his wordes that it was loue as hee was doubtfull where the loue was One time he thought some beautie in Laconia had layed hold of his eyes an other time hee feared that it might be Parthenias excellencie which had broken the bands of al former resolution But the more he thought the more he knew not what to thinke armies of obiections rising against any accepted opinion Then as carefull he was what to doo himselfe at length determined neuer to leaue seeking him till his search should bee either by meeting accomplished or by death ended Therfore for all the vnkindnesse bearing tender respect that his friends secrete determinatiō should be kept from any suspition in others he went to Kalander and told him that he had receaued a message from his friend by which he vnderstood he was gone backe againe into Laconia about some matters greatly importing the poore men whose protection he had vndertaken and that it was in any sort fit for him to follow him but in such priuate wise as not to bee knowne and that therefore he would as then bid him farewell arming himselfe in a blacke armour as either a badge or prognostication of his minde and taking onely with him good store of monie and a fewe choise iewels leauing the greatest number of them and most of his apparell with Kalander which he did partly to giue the more cause to Kalander to expect their returne and so to be the lesse curiously inquisitiue after them◠and partly to leaue those honorable thankes vnto him for his charge and kindenes which hee knewe hee woulde no other way receaue The good old man hauing neither reason to dissuade nor hope to persuade receaued the things with minde of a keeper not of an owner but before he went desired he might haue the happines fully to know what they were which he saide he had euer till then delaid fearing to be any way importune but now he could not be so much an enemy to his desires as any longer to imprison them in silence Palladius tolde him that the matter was not so secrete but that so worthie a friend deserued the knowledge and should haue it as soone as he might speake with his friend without whose consent because their promise bound him otherwise he could not reueale it but bad him hold for most assured that if they liued but a while he should finde that they which bare the names of Daiphantus and Palladius would giue him and his cause to thinke his noble courtesie well imploied Kalander would presse him no further but desiring that he might haue leaue to goe or at least to sende his
I liue must continue in fewe wordes while he pleaded for another he wanne me for himselfe if at least with that she sighed he would account it a winning for his fame had so framed the way to my mind that his presence so full of beautie sweetnes and noble cōuersation had entred there before he vouchsafed to call for the keyes O Lorde how did my soule hang at his lippes while he spake O when he in feeling maner would describe the loue of his frend how well thought I dooth loue betweene those lippes when he would with daintiest eloquence stirre pittie in me towarde Philoxenus vvhy sure said I to my selfe Helen be not afraid this hart cannot vvant pittie and vvhen he vvould extoll the deeds of Philoxenus vvho indeede had but vvaited of him therin alas thought I good Philoxenus hovv euil doth it become thy name to be subscribed to his letter vvhat should I saie nay vvhat should I not say noble Knight vvho am not ashamed nay am delighted thus to expresse mine ovvne passions Dayes paste his eagernes for his friend neuer decreased my affection to him euer increased At length in vvay of ordinarie curtesie I obteined of him vvho suspected no such matter this his picture the onely Amphialus I feare that I shall euer enioy and grovven bolder or madder or bould vvith madnes I discouered my affection vnto him But Lord I shall neuer forget how anger and curtesie at one instant apeared in his eyes vvhen he harde that motion hovv vvith his blush he taught me shame In summe he left nothing vnassayed vvhich might disgrace himselfe to grace his friēd in svveet termes making me receiue a most resolute refusall of himselfe But when he found that his presence did far more perswade for himselfe then his speeche could doo for his frend hee left my court hoping that forgetfulnesse which commonly waits vpon absence woulde make roome for his friende to whome hee woulde not vtter thus much I thinke for a kinde feare not to grieue him or perchance though he cares litle for me of a certain honorable gratefulnes nor yet to discouer so much of my secrets but as it should seeme meant to trauell into farre countryes vntill his friends affectiō either ceased or preuailed But within a while Philoxenus came to see how onward the fruites were of his friends labour when as in trueth I cared not much how he tooke it he found me sitting beholding this picture I know not with how affectionate countenance but I am sure with a most affectionate mind I straight found ielousie and disdaine tooke holde of him and yet the froward paine of mine owne harte made mee so delight to punish him whom I esteemed the chiefest let in my way that when he with humble gesture and vehement speeches sued for my fauor I told him that I would heare him more willingly if hee woulde speake for Amphialus as well as Amphialus had done for him he neuer answered me but pale quaking went straight away and straight my heart misgaue me some euill successe and yet though I had authoritie inough to haue stayed him as in these fatall thinges it falles out that the hie-working powers make second causes vnwittingly accessarie to their determinations I did no further but sent a foot-man of mine whose faithfulnes to me I will knew from place to place to follow him and bring me word of his proceedings which alas haue brought foorth that which I feare I must euer rewe For hee had trauailed scarsea dayes iorney out of my Countrey but that not farre from this place he ouer-tooke Amphialus who by succouring a distressed Lady had bene here stayed and by and by called him to fight with him protesting that one of them two should die you may easily iudge how straunge it was to Amphialus whose hart could accuse it selfe of no fault but too much affection towarde him which he refusing to fight with him woulde faine haue made Philoxenus vnderstand but as my seruant since tolde me the more Amphialus went back the more he followed calling him Traytor and coward yet neuer telling the cause of this strange alteration Ah Philoxenus saide Amphialus I know I am no Traytor and thou well knowest I am no coward but I pray thee content thy selfe with this much and let this satisfie thee that I loue thee since I beare thus much of thee but hee leauing wordes drew his sworde and gaue Amphialus a great blow or two which but for the goodnes of his armour would haue slaine him and yet so farre did Amphialus containe himselfe stepping aside and saying to him Well Philoxenus and thus much villany am I content to put vp not any longer for thy sake whom I haue no cause to loue since thou dost iniury mee and wilt not tell me the cause but for thy vertuous fathers sake to whom I am so much bound I pray thee goe awaye and conquer thy owne passions and thou shalt make mee soone yeeld to be thy seruant But he would not attend his wordes but still strake so fiercely at Amphialus that in the end nature preuailing aboue determination he was faine to defend him selfe and with-all to offend him that by an vnluckye blow the poore Philoxenus fell dead at his feete hauing had time onely to speake some wordes whereby Amphialus knew it was for my sake which when Amphialus sawe he forthwith gaue such tokens of true felt sorrow that as my seruant said no imagination could conceiue greater woe But that by and by and vnhappye occasion made Amphialus passe himselfe in sorrow for Philoxenus was but newelie dead when there comes to thesame place the aged and vertuous Timotheus who hauing heard of his sonnes sodaine and passionate manner of parting from my Court had followed him as speedily as he coulde but alas not so speedily but that hee founde him dead before hee coulde ouertake him Though my heart bee nothing but a stage for Tragedies yet I must confesse it is euen vnable to beare the miserable representation thereof knowing Amphialus and Timotheus as I haue done Alas what sorrowe what amasement what shame was in Amphialus when hee sawe his deere foster father finde him the killer of his onely sonne In my heart I knowe hee wished mountaines had laine vpon him to keepe him from that meeting As for Timotheus sorrow of his sonne and I thinke principally vnkindenesse of Amphialus so deuoured his vitall spirites that able to say no more but Amphialus Amphialus haue I he sancke to the earth and presently died But not my tongue though daily vsed to complaints no nor if my heart which is nothing but sorrow were turned to tongues durst it vnder-take to shew the vnspeakeablenes of his griefe But because this serues to make you know my fortune he threw away his armour euen this which you haue now vppon you which at the first sight I vainely hoped hee had put on againe and then as ashamed of the light hee ranne
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
And is it possible that Musidorus should threaten to leaue me And this strooke Musidorus minde and senses so dumbe too that for greefe being notable to say any thing they rested with their eyes placed one vpon another in such sort as might well paint out the true passion of vnkindenes to be neuer aright but betwixt them that most dearely loue And thus remained they a time till at length Musidorus embrasing him said and will you thus shake of your friend It is you that shake me of sayde Pyrocles being for my vnperfectnes vnworthie of your friendshippe But this said Musidorus shewes you more vnperfect to be cruell to him that submits himselfe vnto you but since you are vnperfect said he smiling it is reason you be gouerned by vs wise and perfect man And that authoritie will I begin to take vpon me with three absolute cōmandemēts The first that you increase not your euill with further griefes the second that you loue her with all the powers of your mind and the last commandement shal be ye command me to do what seruice I can towardes the attaining of your desires Pyrocles hart was not so oppressed with the two mighty passions of loue and vnkindnes but that it yeelded to some mirth at his commaundement of Musidorus that he should loue so that some thing cleering his face from his former shewes of griefe Well said he deare cousin I see by the well choosing of your commandementes that you are farre fitter to be a Prince then a Counseller therfore I am resolued to imploy all my endeuour to obey you with this condition that the commandementes ye commaund me to lay vpon you shall onely bee that you continue to loue me and looke vpon my imperfections with more affection then iudgement Loue you said hee alas how can my hart be seperated from the true imbrasing of it without it burst by being too full of it But said he let vs leaue of these flowers of newe begun frendship and now I pray you againe tel me but tell it me fully omitting no circumstance the storie of your affections both beginning and proceeding assuring your selfe that there is nothing so great which I will feare to doo for you nor nothing so small which I will disdaine to doo for you Let me therefore receiue a cleere vnderstanding which many times we misse while those things we account small as a speech or a looke are omitted like as a whole sentence may faile of his congruitie by wanting one particle Therefore betweene frends all must be layd open nothing being superfluous nor tedious You shal be obeyed said Pyrocles and here are we in as fitte a place for it as may be for this arbor no body offers to come into but my selfe I vsing it as my melancholy retiring place and therefore that respect is born vnto it yet if by chance any should come say that you are a seruant sent from the Queene of the Amazons to seeke mee and then let mee alone for the rest So sate they downe and Pyrocles thus said Cousin said he then began the fatall ouerthrow of all my libertie when walking among the pictures in Kalāders house you your selfe deliuerd vnto me what you had vnderstood of Philoclea who much resembling though I must say much surpassing the Ladie Zelmane whom so well I loued there were mine eyes infected and at your mouth did I drinke my poison Yet alas so sweete was it vnto me that I could not be contented till Kalander had made it more and more strong with his declaration Which the more I questioned the more pittie I conceaued of her vnworthie fortune and when with pittie once my harte was made tender according to the aptnesse of the humour it receaued quickly a cruell impression of that wonderfull passion which to be definde is impossible because no wordes reach to the strange nature of it they onely know it which inwardly feele it it is called loue Yet did I not poore wretch at first know my disease thinking it onely such a woonted kinde of desire to see rare sights and my pitie to be no other but the fruits of a gentle nature But euen this arguing with my selfe came of further thoughts and the more I argued the more my thoughts encreased Desirous I was to see the place where she remained as though the Architecture of the lodges would haue beene much for my learning but more desirous to see her selfe to be iudge for sooth of the painters cunning For thus at the first did I flatter my self as though my wound had bene no deeper but when within short time I came to the degree of vncertaine wishes and that those wishes grew to vnquiet longinges when I could fix my thoughts vpon nothing but that within little varying they should end with Philoclea when each thing I saw seemed to figure out some parte of my passions when euen Parthenias faire face became a lecture to me of Philocleas imagined beautie when I heard no word spoken but that me thought it caried the sounde of Philocleas name then indeed then I did yeeld to the burthen finding my selfe prisoner before I had leasure to arme my selfe and that I might well like the spaniell gnaw vpon the chaine that ties him but I should sooner marre my teeth then procure liberty Yet I take to witnesse the eternall spring of vertue that I had neuer read heard nor seene any thing I had neuer any tast of Philosophy nor inward feeling in my selfe which for a while I did not call to my succour But alas what resistance was there when ere long my very reason was you will say corrupted I must confesse conquered and that me thought euen reason did assure me that all eyes did degenerate from their creation which did not honour such beautie Nothing in trueth coulde holde any plea with it but the reuerent friendship I beare vnto you For as it went against my harte to breake any way from you so did I feare more then any assault to breake it to you finding as it is indeed that to a hart fully resolute counsaile is tedious but reprehension is lothsome and that there is nothing more terrible to a guilty hart then the eie of a respected friend This made me determine with my selfe thinking it a lesse fault in frendship to do a thing without your knowledge then against your will to take this secret course Which conceit was most builded vp in me the last day of my parting and speaking with you whē vpō your speach with me my but naming loue whē els perchaūce I would haue gone further I saw your voice and countenance so chaunge as it assured me my reuealing it should but purchase your griefe with my cumber therfore deere Musidorus euen ran away from thy wel knowne chiding for hauing writtē a letter which I know not whether you found or no and taken my chiefe iewels with mee while you were in the middest of your
see some bodie that would reuenge Vranias wronge and praying hartely for euery bodie that ran against Phalantus then beginning to feele pouerty that he could not set him selfe to that triall But by and by euen when the Sunne like a noble harte began to shew his greatest countenaunce in his lowest estate there came in a Knight called Phebilus a Gentleman of that country for whom hatefull fortune had borrowed the dart of Loue to make him miserable by the sight of Philoclea For he had euen from her in fancie loued her and was striken by her before shee was able to knowe what quiuer of arrowes her eyes caried but he loued and dispaired and the more hee dispaired the more hee loued He sawe his owne vnworthines and thereby made her excellencie haue more terrible aspect vpon him he was so secrete therein as not daring to be open that to no creature he euer spake of it but his hart made such silent complaintes within it selfe that while all his senses were attentiue thereto cunning iudges might perceaue his minde so that hee was knowne to loue though hee denied or rather was the better knowne because hee denied it His armour and his attire was of a Sea couler his Impresa the fish called Sepia which being in the nette castes a blacke inke about it selfe that in the darkenesse thereof it may escape his worde was Not so Philocleas picture with almost an idolatrous magnificence was borne in by him But straight ielousie was a harbinger for disdaine in Zelmanes harte when shee sawe any but her selfe shoulde bee auowed a champion for Philoclea in somuch that she wisht his shame till shee sawe him shamed for at the second course he was striken quite from out of the saddle so full of griefe and rage withall that he would faine with the sworde haue reuenged it but that being contrary to the order set downe Basilius would not suffer so that wishing him selfe in the bottome of the earth hee went his way leauing Zelmane no lesse angry with his losse then shee would haue bene with his victory For if she thought before a riuals prayse would haue angred her her Ladies disgrace did make her much more forget what she then thought while that passion raigned so much the more as shee sawe a pretie blush in Philocleas cheekes bewray a modest discontentment But the night commaunded truce for those sportes and Phalantus though intreated would not leaue Artesia who in no case would come into the house hauing as it were suckte of Cecropias breath a mortall mislike against Basilius But the night measured by the short ell of sleepe was soone past ouer and the next morning had giuen the watchfull stars leaue to take their rest when a trumpet summoned Basilius to play his iudges parte which he did taking his wife and daughters with him Zelmane hauing lockt her doore so as they would not trouble her for that time for already there was a Knight in the fielde readie to proue Helen of Corinth had receaued great iniury both by the erring iudgement of the challenger and the vnlucky weakenesse of her former defender The newe Knight was quickly knowne to be Clitophon Kalanders sonne of Basilius his sister by his armour which all guilt was so well handled that it shewed like a glittering sande and grauell enterlaced with siluer riuers his deuice hee had put in the picture of Helen which hee defended It was the Ermion with a speach that signified Rather dead then spotted But in that armour since hee had parted from Helen who woulde no longer his companie finding him to enter into termes of affection hee had performed so honourable actions still seeking for his two friends by the names of Palladius and Daiphantus that though his face were couered his being was discouered which yet Basilius which had brought him vp in his court woulde not seeme to do but glad to see triall of him of whom he had heard very well he commaunded the trumpets to sound to which the two braue Knights obeying they performed their courses breaking their six staues with so good both skill in the hitting and grace in the maner that it bred some difficulty in the iudgement But Basilius in the ende gaue sentence against Clitophon because Phalantus had broken more staues vpon the head and that once Clitophon had receiued such a blowe that hee had lost the raines of his horse with his head well nie touching the croper of the horse But Clitophon was so angry with the iudgemēt where in he thought he had receiued wrong that he omitted his duty to his Prince and vncle and sodainly went his way still in the quest of them whom as then he had left by seeking and so yeelded the field to the next commer who comming in about two houres after was no lesse marked then all the rest before because he had nothing worth the marking For he had neither picture nor deuice his armour of as old a fashion besides the rustie poorenesse that it might better seeme a monument of his graundfathers courage about his middle he had in steede of bases a long cloak of silke which as vnhandsomely as it needes must became the wearer so that all that lookt on measured his length on the earth alreadie since hee had to meete one who had beene victorious of so many gallants But hee went on towardes the shielde and with a sober grace strake it but as he let his sworde fall vpon it another Knight all in blacke came rustling in who strake the shielde almost assoone as hee and so strongly that hee brake the shielde in two the ill appointed Knight for so the beholders called him angrie with that as hee accounted insolent iniurie to himselfe hit him such a sound blowe that they that looked on saide it well became a rude arme The other aunswered him againe in the same case so that Launces were put to silence the swords were so busie But Phalantus angry of this defacing his shield came vpon the blacke Knight and with the pommell of his sworde set fire to his eyes which presently was reuenged not onely by the Blacke but the ill apparelled Knight who disdained another should enter into his quarrell so as who euer sawe a matachin daunce to imitate fighting this was a fight that did imitate the matachin for they being but three that fought euerie one had two aduersaries striking him who strooke the third and reuenging perhaps that of him which he had receaued of the other But Basilius rising himselfe came to parte them the sticklers authoritie scarslie able to perswade cholerike hearers and parte them he did But before he could determine comes in a fourth halting on foote who complained to Basilius demaunding iustice on the blacke Knight for hauing by force taken away the picture of Pamela from him whiche in little forme hee ware in a Tablet and couered with silke had fastened it to his Helmet purposing for want of a bigger
folly of the keeper who thinking himselfe able to rule them had caried them abroad and so was deceiued whom yet if Basilius would punish for it she was readie to deliuer Basilius made no other answere but that his Mistres if she had any more such beastes should cause them to be killed and then hee told his wife and Zelmane of it because they should not feare those woods as though they harbored such beasts where the like had neuer bene seene But Gynecia tooke a further conceit of it mistrusting greatly Cecropia because she had heard much of the diuellish wickednesse of her heart and that particularly she did her best to bring vp her sonne Amphialus being brothers sonne to Basilius to aspire to the crowne as next heire male after Basilius and therefore saw no reason but that she might coniecture it proceeded rather of some mischieuous practise than of misfortune Yet did shee onely vtter her doubt to her daughters thinking since the worst was past shee would attend a further occasion least ouer much haste might seeme to proceede of the ordinarie mislike betweene sisters in Lawe onely they maruelled that Basilius looked no further into it who good man thought so much of his late conceiued common wealth that all other matters were but digressions vnto him But the shepheards were ready and with well handling themselues called their senses to attend their pastimes The first Ecloges BAsilius because Zelmane so would haue it vsed the artificiall day of torches to lighten the sportes their inuentions could minister And because many of the shepheardes were but newlie come hee did in a gentle manner chastise their negligence with making them for that night the Torchbearers and the others he willed with all freedome of speech and behauiour to keepe their accustomed method Which while they prepared to do Dametas who much disdayned since his late authority all his old companions brought his seruant Dorus in good acquaintance and allowance of them and himself stood like a directer ouer them with nodding gaping winking or stamping shewing how he did like or mislike those things he did not vnderstand The first sports the shepheards shewed wearful of such leapes and gambols as being accorded to the pipe which they bare in their mouthes euen as they daunced made a right picture of their chiefe God Pan and his companions the Satyres Then would they cast away their Pipes and holding hand in hand daunce as it were in a braule by the only cadence of their voices which they would vse in singing some short coplets whereto the one halfe beginning the other halfe should answere as the one halfe saying We loue and haue our loues rewarded The others would answere We loue and are no whit regarded The first againe We finde moste sweete affections snare With like tune it should be as in a quire sent backe againe That sweete but sower dispairefull care A third time likewise thus Who can dispaire whom hope doth beare The answere And who can hope that feeles despaire Then all ioyning their voyces and dauncing a faster measure they would conclude with some such wordes As without breath no pipe doth mone No musicke kindlye without loue Hauing thus varied both their songs and daunces into diuers sorts of inuentions their last sport was one of them to prouoke an other to a more large expressing of his passions which Thyrsis accounted one of the best singers amongst them hauing marked in Dorus dauncing no lesse good grace hansome behauiour then extreame tokens of a troubled mind began first with his Pipe and then with his voice thus to chalenge Dorus and was by him answered in the vnder-written sorte Thyrsis and Dorus. Thyrsis Come Dorus come let songs thy sorrowes signifie And if for want of vse thy minde ashamed is That very shame with loues high title dignifie No stile is held for base where loue well named is Each eare suckes vp the words a true loue scattereth And plaine speach oft then quaint phrase better framed is Dorus. Nightingales seldome sing the Pie still chattereth The wood cries most before it throughly kindled be◠Deadly wounds inward bleed each sleight sore mattereth Hardly they heard which by good hunters singled be Shallow brookes murmure most deep silent slide away Nor true loue loues his loues with others mingled be Thyrsis If thou wilt not be seene thy face goe hide away Be none of vs or els maintaine our fashion Who frownes at others feastes doth better bide away But if thou hast a loue in that loues passion I challenge thee by shew of her perfection Which of vs two deserueth most compassion Dorus. Thy challenge great but greater my protection Sing then and see for now thou hast inflamed me Thy health too meane a match for my infection No though the heau'ns for high attempts haue blamed me Yet high is my attempt O Muse historifie Her praise whose praise to learne your skill hath framed me Thyrsis Muse holde your peace but thou my God Pan glorifie My Kalas giftes who with all good gifts filled Thy pipe ô Pan shall help though I sing sorilie A heape of sweetes she is where nothing spilled is Who though she be no Bee yet full of honie is A Lillie field with plowe of Rose which tilled is Milde as a Lambe more daintie then a Conie is Her eyes my eyesight is her conuersation More gladde to me then to a miser monie is What coye account she makes of estimation How nice to touch how all her speeches peized be A Nimph thus turnde but mended in translation Dorus. Such Kala is but ah my fancies raised be In one whose name to name were high presumption Since vertues all to make her title pleased be O happie Gods which by inward assumption Enioy her soule in bodies faire possession And keepe it ioynde fearing your seates consumption How oft with rayne of teares skies make confession Their dwellers rapt with sight of her perfection From heau'enly throne to her heau'n vse digression Of best things then what world can yeeld confection To liken her decke yours with your comparison She is her selfe of best things the collection Thyrsis How oft my dolefull Sire cried to me tarrie sonne When first he spied my loue how oft he said to me Thou art no souldier fitt for Cupids garrison My sonne keepe this that my long toyle hath laide to me Loue well thine owne me thinkes woolles whitenes passeth all I neuer found long loue such wealth hath paide to me This wind he spent but when my Kala glasseth all My sight in her faire limmes I then assure my selfe Not rotten sheepe but high crownes she surpasseth all Can I be poore that her golde haire procure my selfe Want I white wooll whose eyes her white skinne garnished Till I get her shall I to keepe enure my selfe Dorus. How oft when reason saw loue of her harnised With armour of my hart he cried O vanitie To set a pearle in steele so meanly
likerouse is offered vnto it But before any other came in to supplie the place Zelmane hauing heard some of the shepheards by chaunce name Strephon and Klaius supposing thereby they had bene present was desirous both to heare them for the fame of their frindly loue and to know them for their kindenesse towardes her best loued frinde Much grieued was Basilius that any desire of his mistresse should bee vnsatisfied and therefore to represent them vnto hir aswell as in their absence it might be he commaunded on Lamon who had at large sett down their country pastimes and first loue to Vrania to sing the whole discourse which he did in this manner A Shepheards tale no height of stile desires To raise in words what in effect is lowe A plaining songe plaine-singing voice requires For warbling notes from inward chearing flow I then whose burd'ned brest but thus aspires Of shepheards two the seely case to show Nede not the stately Muses helpe inuoke For creeping rimes which often sighings choke But you ô you that thinke not teares to deare To spend for harms although they touch you not And deigne to deeme your neighbors mischefe neare Although they be of meaner parents gott You I inuite with easie eares to heare The poore-clad truth of loues wrong-ordred lot Who may be glad be glad you be not such Who share in woe weygh others haue as much Ther was ô seldome blessed word of was A paire of frends or rather one cal'd two Train'd in the life which on short-bitten grasse In shine or storme must sett the doubted shoe He that the other in some yeares did passe And in those gifts that years distribute doe Was Klaius cald ah Klaius wofull wight The later borne yet too soone Strephon hight Epeirus high was honest Klaius nest To Strephon AEoles land first breathing lent But East West were ioin'd by frendships hest As Strephons eare heart to Klaius bent So Klaius soule did in his Strephon rest Still both their flocks flocking togither went As if they would of owners humour be And eke their pipes did well as frends agree Klaius for skill of hearb's shepheards art Among the wisest was accounted wise Yet not so wise as of vnstained harte Strephon was yonge yet markt with humble eies How elder rul'd their flocks cur'd their smart So that the graue did not his words despise Both free of minde both did clear-dealing loue And both had skill in verse their voice to moue Their chearfull minds till pois'ned was their cheare The honest sports of earthy lodging proue Now for a clod-like hare in fourm they peere Now bolt cudgill squirrels leape do moue Now the ambitiouse Larke with mirror cleare They catch while he foole to himself makes loue And now at keels they trie a harmles chaunce And now their curr they teach to fetch daunce When mery May first early calls the morne With mery maids a mayeng they do go Then do they pull from sharpe niggard thorne The plenteous sweets can sweets so sharply grow Then some grene gowns are by the lasses worne In chastest plaies till home they walke a rowe While daunce about the may-pole is begun When if nede were they could at quintain run While thus they ran a low but leaueld race While thus they liu'd this was indede a life With nature pleas'd content with present case Free of proud feares braue begg'ry smiling strife Of clime-fall Court the enuy-hatching place While those restles desires in great men rife To visite so low folkes did much disdaine This while though poore they in themselues did raigne One day ô day that shin'de to make them darke While they did ward sun-beames with shady bay And Klaius taking for his yongling carke Lest greedy eies to them might challenge lay Busy with oker did their shoulders marke His marke a Piller was deuoid of stay As bragging that free of all passions mone Well might he others beare but leane to none Strephon with leauy twiggs of Laurell tree A garland made on temples for to weare For he then chosen was the dignitie Of village-Lord that whitsontide to beare And full poore foole of boyish brauery With triumphs shews would shew he nought did feare But fore-accounting oft makes builders misse They found they felt they had no lease of blisse For ere that either had his purpose done Behold beholding well it doth deserue They saw a maid who thitherward did runne To catch hir sparrow which from hir did swerue As she a black-silke cap on him begunne To sett for foile of his milke-white to serue She chirping ran he peeping flew away Till hard by them both he she did stay Well for to see they kept themselues vnsene And saw this fairest maid of fairer minde By fortune meare in Nature borne a Queene How well apaid she was hir birde to finde How tenderly hir tender hands betweene In iuory cage she did the micher binde How rosy moist'ned lipps about his beake Mouing she seem'd at once to kisse speake Chastned but thus thus his lesson tought The happy wretch she putt into hir breast Which to their eies the bowles of Venus brought For they seem'd made euen of skie-mettall best And that the bias of hir bloud was wrought Betwixt them two the peeper tooke his nest Where snugging well he well appear'd content So to haue done amisse so to be shent This done but done with captiue-killing grace Each motion seeming shott from beauties bow With length laid downe she deckt the lonely place Proud grew the grasse that vnder hir did growe The trees spred out their armes to shade hir face But she on elbow lean'd with sigh's did show No grasse no trees nor yet hir sparrow might To long-perplexed minde breed long delight She troubled was alas that it mought be With tedious brawlings of her parents deare Who would haue hir in will worde agree To wedd Antaxius their neighbour neare A heardman rich of much account was he In whome no euill did raigne nor good appeare In some such one she lik'd not his desire Faine would be free but dreadeth parents ire Kindly sweete soule she did vnkindnes take That bagged baggage of a misers mudd Should price of hir as in a market make But golde can guild a rotten piece of wood To yeeld she found hir noble heart did ake To striue she fear'd how it with vertue stoode This doubting clouds ore-casting heau'nly braine At length in rowes of Kisse-cheeke teares they raine Cupid the wagg that lately conquer'd had Wise Counsellors stout Captaines puissant Kings And ti'de them fast to leade his triumph badd Glutted with them now plaies with meanest things So oft in feasts with costly chaunges cladd To crammed mawes a spratt new Stomake brings So Lords with sport of Stagg Hearon full Sometimes we vse small birds from nests do pull So now for pray these shepheards two he tooke Whose mettall stiff he knew he could not bende
With hear-say pictures or a window looke With one good dawnce or letter finely pend That were in Court a well proportion'd hooke Where piercing witts do quickly apprehend Their sences rude plaine obiects only moue And so must see great cause before they loue Therfore Loue arm'd in hir now takes the fielde Making hir beames his brauery might Hir hands which pierc'd the soules seau'n-double shield Were now his darts leauing his wonted fight Braue crest to him hir scorn-gold haire did yeeld His compleat harneis was hir purest white But fearing lest all white might seeme too good In cheeks lipps the Tyran threatens bloud Besides this force within hir eies he kept A fire to burne the prisoners he gaines Whose boiling heat encreased as she wept For eu'n in forge colde water fire maintaines Thus proud fierce vnto the hearts he stept Of them poore soules cutting Reasons raines Made them his owne before they had it wist But if they had could shephookes this resist Klaius streight felt groned at the blowe And cal'd now wounded purpose to his aide Strephon fond boy delighted did not knowe That it was Loue that shin'de in shining maid But lickrous Poison'd faine to her would goe If him new-learned manners had not stai'd For then Vrania homeward did arise Leauing in paine their wel-fed hungry eies She went they staid or rightly for to say She staid in them they went in thought with hyr Klaius in deede would faine haue puld a way This mote from out his eye this inward burre And now proud Rebell gan for to gainsay The lesson which but late he learn'd too furre Meaning with absence to refresh the thought To which hir presence such a feauer brought Strephon did leape with ioy iolitie Thinking it iust more therein to delight Then in good Dog faire field or shading tree So haue I sene trim bookes in veluet dight With golden leaues painted babery Of seely boies please vnacquainted sight But when the rod began to play his part Faine would but could not fly from golden smart He quickly learn'd Vrania was her name And streight for failing grau'd it in his heart He knew hir haunt haunted in the same And taught his shepe hir shepe in food to thwart Which soone as it did batefull question frame He might on knees confesse his faulty part And yeeld himselfe vnto hir punishment While nought but game the selfe-hurt wanton ment Nay eu'n vnto hir home he oft would go Where bold and hurtles many play he tries Her parents liking well it should be so For simple goodnes shined in his eyes There did he make hir laugh in spite of woe So as good thoughts of him in all arise While into none doubt of his loue did sinke For not himselfe to be in loue did thinke But glad Desire his late embosom'd guest Yet but a babe with milke of Sight he nurst Desire the more he suckt more sought the brest Like dropsy folke still drinke to be a thyrst Till one faire eau'n an howr ere Sun did rest Who then in Lions caue did enter fyrst By neighbors prai'd she went abroad therby At Barly brake hir swete swift foot to trie Neuer the earth on his round shoulders bare A maid train'd vp from high or low degree That in her doings better could compare Mirth with respect few words with curtesy A careles comelines with comely care Self-gard with mildnes Sport with Maiesty Which made hir yeeld to deck this shepheards band And still beleue me Strephon was at hand A field they goe where many lookers be And thou seke-sorow Klaius them among In dede thou said'st it was thy frend to see Strephon whose absence seem'd vnto thee long While most with hir he lesse did kepe with thee No no it was in spite of wisdomes song Which absence wisht loue plai'd a victors part The heau'n-loue lodestone drew thy iron hart Then couples three be streight allotted there They of both ends the middle two doe flie The two that in mid place Hell called were Must striue with waiting foot and watching eye To catch of them and them to hell to beare That they aswell as they Hell may supplie Like some which seeke to salue their blotted name With others blott till all do tast of shame There may you see soone as the middle two Do coupled towards either couple make They false and fearfull do their hands vndoe Brother his brother frend doth frend forsake Heeding himselfe cares not how fellow doe But of a straunger mutuall help doth take As periur'd cowards in aduersity With sight of feare from frends to fremb'd do flie These sports shepheards deuiz'd such faults to show Geron though olde yet gamesome kept one ende With Cosma for whose loue Pas past in woe Faire Nous with Pas the lott to hell did sende Pas thought it hell while he was Cosma fro At other end Vran did Strephon lend Her happy-making hand of whome one looke From Nous and Cosma all their beauty tooke The play began Pas durst not Cosma chace But did entend next bout with her to meete So he with Nous to Geron turn'd their race With whome to ioyne fast ran Vrania sweet But light-legd Pas had gott the middle space Geron straue hard but aged were his feet And therfore finding force now faint to be He thought gray haires afforded subtletie And so when Pas hand-reached him to take The fox on knees and elbowes tombled downe Pas could not stay but ouer him did rake And crown'd the earth with his first touching crowne His heels grow'n proud did seme at heau'n to shake But Nous that slipt from Pas did catch the clowne So laughing all yet Pas to ease some dell Geron with Vran were condemn'd to hell Cosma this while to Strephon safely came And all to second barly-brake are bent The two in hell did toward Cosma frame Who should to Pas but they would her preuent Pas mad with fall and madder with the shame Most mad with beames which he thought Cosma sent With such mad haste he did to Cosma goe That to hir breast he gaue a noysome blowe She quick and proud and who did Pas despise Vp with hir fist and tooke him on the face Another time quoth she become more wise Thus Pas did kisse hir hand with little grace And each way luckles yet in humble guise Did hold hir fast for feare of more disgrace While Strephon might with preatie Nous haue met But all this while another course he fet For as Vrania after Cosma ran He rauished with sight how gracefully She mou'd hir lims and drew the aged man Left Nous to coast the loued beauty ny Nous cri'de and chaf'd but he no other can Till Vran seing Pas to Cosma fly And Strephon single turned after him Strephon so chas'd did seme in milke to swimme He ran but ran with eye ore shoulder cast More marking hir then how himselfe did goe Like Numid Lions by
hart by thee my promise sent Vnto my selfe let after-liuers know No fancy mine nor others wrong suspect Make me ô vertuous Shame thy lawes neglect O Chastitie the chiefe of heauenly lightes Which makst vs most immortall shape to weare Holde thou my hart establish thou my sprights To onely thee my constant course I beare Till spotlesse soule vnto thy bosome flye Such life to leade such death I vow to dye But now that her memorie serued as an accuser of her change and that her own hand-writing was there to beare testimony against her fall she went in among those few trees so closed in the toppes together as they might seeme a little chappell and there might she by the help of the moone-light perceiue the goodly stone which serued as an altar in that wooddie deuotion But neither the light was enough to reade the words and the inke was alreadie foreworne and in many places blotted which as she perceaued Alas said she faire Marble which neuer receiuedst spot but by my writing well do these blots become a blotted writer But pardon her which did not dissemble then although she haue chaunged since Enioy enioy the glorie of thy nature which can so constantly beare the markes of my inconstancie And herewith hiding her eyes with her soft hand there came into her head certaine verses which if she had had present commoditie she would haue adioyned as a retractation to the other They were to this effect MY words in hope to blaze my stedfast minde This marble chose as of like temper knowne But loâ— my words defaste my fancies blinde Blots to the stone shames to my selfe I finde And witnesse am how ill agree in one A womans hand with constant marble stone My words full weake the marble â—ull of might My words in store the marble all alone My words blacke inke the marble kindly white My words vnseene the marble still in sight May witnesse beare how ill agree in one A womans hand with constant marble stone But seeing she could not see meanes to ioyne as then this recantation to the former vowe laying all her faire length vnder one of the trees for a while she did nothing but turne vp and downe as if she had hoped to turne away the fancie that mastred her and hid her face as if she could haue hidden her selfe from her owne fancies At length with a whispring note to her selfe O me vnfortunate wretch said she what poysonous heates be these which thus torment me How hath the sight of this strange guest inuaded my soule Alas what entrance found this desire or what strength had it thus to conquer me Then a cloud passing betweene her sight and the moone O Diana said she I would either the cloud that now hides the light of my vertue would as easily passe away as you will quickly ouercome this let or els that you were for euer thus darkned to serue for an excuse of my outragious folly Then looking to the starres which had perfitly as then beautified the cleere skie My parents said she haue told me that in these faire heauenly bodies there are great hidden deities which haue their working in the ebbing and flowing of our estates If it be so then O you Stars iudge rightly of me and if I haue with wicked intent made my selfe a pray to fancie or if by any idle lustes I framed my hart fit for such an impression then let this plague dayly encrease in me till my name be made odious to womankind But if extreame and vnresistable violence haue oppressed me who will euer do any of you sacrifice ô you Starres if you do not succour me No no you will not help me No no you can not help me Sinne must be the mother and shame the daughter of my affection And yet are these but childish obiections simple Philoclea it is the impossibilitie that dooth torment me for vnlawfull desires are punished after the effect of enioying but vnpossible desires are punished in the desire it selfe O then ô tenne times vnhappie that I am since where in all other hope kindleth loue in me despaire should be the bellowes of my affection and of all despaires the most miserable which is drawen from impossibilitie The most couetous man longs not to get riches out of a ground which neuer can beare any thing Why because it is impossible The most ambitious wight vexeth not his wits to clime into heauen Why because it is impossible Alas then ô Loue why doost thou in thy beautifull sampler set such a worke for my Desire to take out which is as much impossible And yet alas why doo I thus condemne my Fortune before I heare what she can say for her selfe What doo I sillie wench knowe what Loue hath prepared for mee Doo I not see my mother as well at lest as furiouslie as my selfe loue Zelmane And should I be wiser then my mother Either she sees a possibilitie in that which I thinke impossible or els impossible loues neede not misbecome me And doo I not see Zelmane who doth not thinke a thought which is not first wayed by wisdome and vertue doth not she vouchsafe to loue me with like ardour I see it her eyes depose it to be true what then and if she can loue poore me shall I thinke scorne to loue such a woman as Zelmane Away then all vaine examinations of why and how Thou louest me excellent Zelmane and I loue thee and with that embrasing the very ground whereon she lay she said to her selfe for euen to her selfe she was ashamed to speake it out in words O my Zelmane gouerne and direct me for I am wholy giuen ouer vnto thee In this depth of muzes and diuers sorts of discourses would she rauingly haue remained but that Dametas and Miso who were round about to seeke her vnderstanding she was to come to their lodge that night came hard by her Dametas saying That he would not deale in other bodies matters but for his part he did not like that maides should once stirre out of their fathers houses but if it were to milke a cow or saue a chicken from a kites foot or some such other matter of importance And Miso swearing that if it were her daughter Mopsa she would giue her a lesson for walking so late that should make her keepe within dores for one fortnight But their iangling made Philoclea rise and pretending as though she had done it but to sport with them went with them after she had willed Miso to waite vpon her mother to the lodge where being now accustomed by her parents discipline as well as her sister to serue her selfe she went alone vp to Pamelas chamber where meaning to delight her eies and ioy her thoughts with the sweet conuersation of her beloued sister she found her though it were in the time that the wings of night doth blow sleep most willingly into mortall creatures sitting in a chaire lying backward with her head almost
ouer the back of it and looking vpon a wax-candle which burnt before her in one hand holding a letter in the other her hand-kerchiefe which had lately dronke vp the teares of her eyes leauing in steed of them crimsen circles like redde flakes in the element when the weather is hottest Which Philoclea finding for her eyes had learned to know the badges of sorow she earnestlie intreated to know the cause thereof that either she might comfort or accompanie her dolefull humor But Pamela rather seeming sorie that she had perceiued so much then willing to open any further O my Pamela said Philoclea who are to me a sister in nature a mother in counsell a Princesse by the law of our countrey and which name me thinke of all other is the dearest a friend by my choice and your fauour what meanes this banishing me from your counsels Do you loue your sorrowe so well as to grudge me part of it Or doo you thinke I shall not loue a sad Pamela so well as a ioyfull Or be my eares vnworthie or my tongue suspected What is it my sister that you should conceale from your sister yea and seruant Philoclea These words wanne no further of Pamela but that telling her they might talke better as they lay together they impouerished their cloathes to inrich their bed which for that night might well scorne the shrine of Venus and there cherishing one another with deare though chaste embracements with sweet though cold kisses it might seeme that Loue was come to play him there without darte or that weerie of his owne fires he was there to refresh himselfe betweene their sweete-breathing lippes But Philoclea earnestly againe intreated Pamela to open her griefe who drawing the curtaine that the candle might not complaine of her blushing was ready to speake but the breath almost formed into words was againe stopt by her and turned into sighes But at last I pray you said she sweete Philoclea let vs talke of some other thing and tell me whether you did euer see any thing so amended as our Pastorall sports be since that Dorus came hether O Loue how farre thou seest with blind eyes Philoclea had straight found her and therefore to draw out more In deed said she I haue often wondred to my selfe how such excellencies could be in so meane a person but belike Fortune was afraide to lay her treasures where they should be staind with so many perfections onely I maruaile how he can frame himselfe to hide so rare giftes vnder such a block as Dametas Ah said Pamela if you knew the cause but no more doo I neither and to say the trueth but Lord how are we falne to talke of this fellow and yet indeed if you were sometimes with me to marke him while Dametas reades his rusticke lecture vnto him how to feede his beastes before noone where to shade them in the extreame heate how to make the manger hansome for his oxen when to vse the goade and when the voice giuing him rules of a heardman though he pretend to make him a shepheard to see all the while with what a grace which seemes to set a crowne vpon his base estate he can descend to those poore matters certainly you would but to what serues this no doubt we were better sleepe then talke of these idle matters Ah my Pamela said Philoclea I haue caught you the constancy of your wit was not wont to bring forth such disiointed speeches you loue dissemble no further It is true said Pamela now you haue it and with lesse adoo should if my hart could haue thought those words suteable for my mouth But indeed my Philoclea take heed for I thinke Vertue it selfe is no armour of proofe against affection Therefore learne by my example Alas thought Philoclea to her selfe your sheares come too late to clip the birds wings that already is flowne away But then Pamela being once set in the streame of her loue went away amaine withall telling her how his noble qualities had drawne her liking towardes him but yet euer waying his meanenes and so held continually in due limits till seeking many meanes to speake with her and euer kept from it as well because she shund it seing and disdaining his mind as because of her iealous iaylours he had at length vsed the finest pollicie that might be in counterfaiting loue to Mopsa and saying to Mopsa what soeuer he would haue her know and in how passionate manner he had told his owne tale in a third person making poore Mopsa beleeue that it was a matter fallen out many ages before And in the end because you shall know my teares come not neither of repentance nor misery who thinke you is my Dorus fallen out to be euen the Prince Musidorus famous ouer all Asia for his heroicall enterprises of whom you remember how much good the straunger Plangus told my father he not being drowned as Plangus thought though his cousin Pyrocles indeed perished Ah my sister if you had heard his words or seene his gestures when he made me know what and to whom his loue was you would haue matched in your selfe those two rarely matched together pittie and delight Tell me dear sister for the Gods are my witnesses I desire to do vertuously can I without the detestable staine of vngratefulnesse abstaine from louing him who far exceeding the beautifulnesse of his shape with the beautifulnesse of his minde and the greatnesse of his estate with the greatnesse of his actes is content so to abase him selfe as to become Dametas seruaunt for my sake you will say but how know I him to be Musidorus since the handmaid of wisdome is slow beliefe That consideration did not want in me for the nature of desire it selfe is no easier to receiue beliefe then it is hard to ground beliefe For as desire is glad to embrace the first shew of comfort so is desire desirous of perfect assurance and that haue I had of him not onely by necessary arguments to any of common sense but by sufficient demonstrations Lastly he would haue me send to Thessalia but truly I am not as now in mind to do my honorable Loue so much wrong as so far to suspect him yet poore soule knowes he no other but that I doo both suspect neglect yea and detest him For euery day he finds one way or other to set forth himselfe vnto me but all are rewarded with like coldnesse of acceptation A few daies since he and Dametas had furnished themselues very richly to run at the ring before me O how mad a sight it was to see Dametas like rich Tissew furd with lambe-skins But ô how well it did with Dorus to see with what a grace hee presented himselfe before me on horseback making maiestie wait vpon humblenes how at the first standing still with his eies bent vpon me as though his motions were chained to my looke he so staid till I caused Mopsa bid him do something
a temple of your deitie to be rased But he dieth it is most true he dieth and he in whom you liue to obey you dieth Wherof though he plaine he doth not complaine for it is a harme but no wrong which he hath receiued He dies because in wofull language all his senses tell him that such is your pleasure for since you will not that he liue alas alas what followeth what followeth of the most ruined Dorus but his ende Ende then euill destinied Dorus ende and ende thou wofull letter end for it sufficeth her wisedom to know that her heauenlie will shal be accomplished O my Philoclea is hee a person to write these wordes and are these words lightly to bee regarded But if you had seene when with trembling hande hee had deliuered it how hee went away as if he had beene but the coffin that carried himselfe to his sepulcher Two times I must confesse I was about to take curtesie into mine eies but both times the former resolution stopte the entrie of it so that hee departed without obtaining any further kindenesse But he was no sooner out of the doore but that I looked to the doore kindely and truely the feare of him euer since hath put me into such perplexitie as now you found me Ah my Pamela saide Philoclea leaue sorrow The riuer of your teares will soone loose his fountaine it is in your hand as well to stich vp his life againe as it was before to rent it And so though with selfe-grieued mind she comforted her sister till sleepe came to bath himselfe in Pamelaes faire weeping eyes Which when Philoclea found wringing her hands O me said she indeede the onely subiect of the destinies displeasure whose greatest fortunatenes is more vnfortunate then my sisters greatest vnfortunatenesse Alas shee weepes because shee would be no sooner happy I weepe because I can neuer be happie her teares flow form pittie mine from being too farre lower then the reach of pittie Yet doo I not enuie thee deare Pamela I do not enuy thee only I could wish that being thy sister in nature I were not so farre off a kin in fortune But the darkenesse of sorrow ouershadowing her mind as the night did her eyes they were both content to hide themselues vnder the wings of sleepe till the next morning had almost lost his name before the two sweet sleeping sisters awaked froÌ„ dreames which flattered them with more coÌ„fort then their waking could or would consent vnto For then they were called vp by Miso who hauing bene with Gynecia had receiued commaundement to be continually with her daughters and particularly not to let Zelmane and Philoclea haue any priuate confereÌ„ce but that she should be present to heare what passed Miso hauing now her authoritie encreased But caÌ„e with skowling eyes to deliuer a slauering good morrow to the two Ladies telling them it was a shame for them to marre their complexions yea and conditions to with long lying a bedde and that when shee was of their age shee trowed shee would haue made a handkerchiefe by that time a day The two sweete Princes with a smilinge silence answered her entertainement and obeiyng her direction couered their daintie beauties with the glad clothes But as soone as Pamela was readie and sooner she was then her sister the agony of Dorus giuing a fit to her selfe which the words of his letter liuely imprinted in her minde still remembred her of she called to Mopsa and willed her to fetch Dorus to speake with her because she said shee woulde take further iudgement of him before shee woulde moue Dametas to graunt her in mariage vnto him Mopsa as glad as of sweet-meate to goe of such an arrant quickly returned with Dorus to Pamela who entended both by speaking with him to giue some comfort to his passionate harte and withall to heare some parte of his life past which although fame had alreadie deliuered vnto her yet she desired in more particular certainties to haue it from so beloued an historian Yet the sweetnesse of vertues disposition iealous euen ouer it selfe suffred her not to enter abruptlie into questions of Musidorus whom shee was halfe ashamed she did loue so well and more then halfe sorie she could loue no better but thought best first to make her talke arise of Pyrocles his vertuous father which thus she did Dorus said she you told me the last day that Plangus was deceaued in that he affirmed the Prince Musidorus was drowned but withall you confessed his cosen Pyrocles perished of whom certainly in that age there was a grâ—at losse since as I haue heard he was a young Prince of whom all men expected as much as mans power could bring forth and yet vertue promised for him their expectation should not be deceaued Most excellent Ladie said Dorus no expectation in others nor hope in himselfe could aspire to a higher mark then to bee thought worthy to be praised by your iudgement and made worthy to be praised by your mouth But most sure it is that as his fame could by no means get so sweet noble an aire to flie in as in your breath so coulde not you leauing your selfe aside finde in the worlde a fitter subiect of commendation as noble as a long succession of roiall ancestors famous and famous for victories could make him of shape most louely and yet of minde more louely valiaunt curteous wise what should I say more sweete Pyrocles excellent Pyrocles what can my words but wrong thy perfections which I would to God in some small measure thou hadst bequeathed to him that euer must haue thy vertues in admiration that masked at least in them I might haue founde some more gratious acceptation with that hee imprisoned his looke for a while vppon Mopsa who thereuppon fell into a very wide smiling Truely saide Pamela Dorus I like well your minde that can raise it selfe out of so base a fortune as yours is to thinke of the imitating so excellent a Prince as Pyrocles was Who shootes at the midde day Sunne though he bee sure he shall neuer hit the marke yet as sure hee is he shall shoote higher then who aimes but at a bushe But I pray you Dorus saide shee tell me since I perceiue you are well acquainted with that storie what Prince was that Euarchus father to Pyrocles of whom so much fame goes for his rightly roiall vertues or by what waies he got that opinion And then so descend to the causes of his sending first away from him and then to him for that excellent sonne of his with the discourse of his life and losse and therein you may if you list say something of that same Musidorus his cosen because they going together the storie of Pyrocles which I onely desire may be the better vnderstood Incomparable Lady said he your commaundement doth not onely giue mee the wil but the power to obey you such influence hath your excellencie And first for that
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
willingly hood-winking themselues from seeing his faultes and binding themselues to beleeue what he said often abused the vertue of courage to defend his fowle vice of iniustice But now they were sent for to aduaunce a conquest he was about while Pyrocles and Musidorus pursued the deliuerie of the Queene Erona I haue heard saide Pamela that parte of the story of Plangus when hee passed through this country therefore you may if you list passe ouer that warre of Eronaes quarrell lest if you speake too much of warre matters you should wake Mopsa which might happily breed a great broile He looked and saw that Mopsa indeede sat swallowing of sleepe with open mouth making such a noise withall as no bodie could lay the stealing of a nappe to her charge Whereupon willing to vse that occasion he kneeled downe and with humble-hartednesse and hardy earnestnes printed in his graces Alas said he diuine Lady who haue wrought such miracles in me as to make a Prince none of the basest to thinke all principalities base in respect of the sheephooke which may hold him vp in your sight vouchsafe now at last to heare in direct words my humble sute while this dragon sleepes that keeps the golden fruite If in my desire I wish or in my hopes aspire or in my imagination faine to my selfe any thing which may bee the lest spot to that heauenly vertue which shines in all your doings I pray the eternall powers that the words I speake may be deadly poysons while they are in my mouth and that all my hopes all my desires all my imaginations may onely worke their owne confusion But if loue loue of you loue of your vertues seeke onely that fauour of you which becommeth that gratefulnes which cannot misbecome your excellencie O doo not He would haue said further but Pamela calling aloud Mopsa she sodainly start vp staggering and rubbing her eies ran first out of the doore and then backe to them before she knew how she went out or why she came in againe till at length being fully come to her little selfe she asked Pamela why she had called her For nothing said Pamela but that you might heare some tales of your seruants telling and therfore now said she Dorus go on But as he who found no so good sacrifice as obedience was returning to the story of himselfe Philoclea came in and by and by after her Miso so as for that time they were faine to let Dorus departe But Pamela delighted euen to preserue in her memory the words of so well a beloued speaker repeated the whole substance to her sister till their sober dinner being come and gone to recreate themselues something euen tyred with the noysomnes of Misos conuersation they determyned to goe while the heate of the day lasted to bath themselues such being the manner of the Arcadian nymphes often to doo in the riuer of Ladon and take with them a Lute meaning to delight them vnder some shadow But they could not stir but that Miso with her daughter Mopsa was after them and as it lay in their way to passe by the other lodge Zelmane out of her window espied them and so stale down after them which shee might the better doo because that Gynecia was sicke and Basilius that day being his birth-day according to his maner was busie about his deuotions and therefore she went after hoping to finde some time to speake with Philoclea but not a word could shee beginne but that Miso would bee one of the audience so that shee was driuen to recommend thinking speaking and all to her eyes who diligently perfourmed her trust till they came to the riuers side which of all the riuers of Greece had the price for excellent purenesse and sweetenesse in so much as the verie bathing in it was accounted exceeding healthfull It ranne vpon so fine and delicate a ground as one coulde not easely iudge whether the Riuer did more wash the grauell or the grauell did purifie the Riuer the Riuer not running forth right but almost continually winding as if the lower streames would returne to their spring or that the Riuer had a delight to play with it selfe The banckes of either side seeming armes of the louing earth that faine woulde embrace it and the Riuer a wanton nymph which still would slippe from it either side of the bancke being fringed with most beautifull trees which resisted the sunnes dartes from ouer-much pearcing the naturall coldnes of the Riuer There was the 〈…〉 But among the rest a goodly Cypres who bowing her faire head ouer the water it seemed she looked into it dressed her greene lockes by that ruÌ„ning Riuer There the Princesses deteâ—mining to bathe theÌ„selus though it was so priuiledged a place vpoÌ„ pain of death as on bodie durst presume to come thither yet for the more surety they looked round about and could see nothing but a water spaniell who came downe the riuerâ— shâ—wing that he hunted for a duck with a snuffling grace disdaining that his smelling force could not as well preuaile thorow the water as thorow the aire therefore wayting with his eye to see whether he could espie the duckes gâ—tting vp a gaine but then a little below them failing of his purpose he got out of the riuer shaking off the water as great men do their friends now he had no further cause to vse it in-weeded himselfe so as the Ladies lost the further marking his sportfulnesse inuiting Zelmane also to wash her selfe with them she â—xcusing her selfe with hauing takeÌ„ a late cold they begaÌ„ by peece-meale to take away the eclipsing of their apparel Zelmane would haue put to her helping hand but she was taken with such a quiuering that shee thought it more wisedome to leane herselfe to a tree and looke on while Miso and Mopsa like a couple of foreswat melters were getting the pure siluer of their bodies out of the vre of their garments But as the rayments went of to receaue kisses of the ground Zelmane enuied the happinesse of all but of the smocke was euen iealous and when that was taken away too and that Philâ—clea remained for her Zelmane onely marked like a Dyaâ—on taken from out the rocke or rather like the Sun getting from vnder a cloud and shewing his naked beames to the full vew then was the beautie too much for a patient sight the delight too strong for a stayed conceipt so that Zelmane could not choose but runne to touch â—mbrace and kisse her But conscience made her come to her selfe and leaue Philoclea who blushing and withall smiling making shamefastnesâ—e pleasant and pleasure shamefast tenderly moued her feete vnwonted to feele the naked ground till the touch of the cold water made a prettie kinde of shrugging come ouer her bodie like the twinckling of the fairest among the fixed stars But the Riuer it selfe gaue way vnto her so that she was streight brest high which was the deepest that
sisters help said she who remembers it better then I I will declare vnto you and first of Erona being the chiefe Subiect of this discourse this storie with more teares and exclamations then I liste to spende about it hee recounted Of late there raigned a King in Lydia who had for the blessing of his mariage this onely daughter of his Erona a Princesse worthie for her beautie as much praise as beautie may be prayse-worthy This princesse Erona being 19. yeeres of age seeing the countrie of Lydia so much deuoted to Cupid as that in euery place his naked pictures and images were superstitiously adored ether moued thereunto by the esteeming that could be no Godhead which coulde breed wickednes or the shamefast consideration of such nakednes procured so much of her father as vtterly to pull downe and deface al those statues pictures Which how terribly he punished for to that the Lydians impute it quickly after appeared For she had not liued a yeare longer whē she was striken with most obstinate Loue to a young man but of meane parentage in her fathers court named Antiphilus so meane as that hee was but the sonne of her Nurse and by that meanes without other desert became knowen of her Now so euill could she conceale her fire and so wilfully perseuered she in it that her father offering her the mariage of the great Tiridates king of Armenia who desired her more then the ioyes of heauen shee for Antiphilus sake refused it Many wayes her father sought to with drawe her from it sometimes perswasions sometimes threatnings once hiding Antiphilus and giuing her to vnderstand that he was fled the countrie Lastly making a solemne execution to be done of another vnder the name of Antiphilus whom he kept in prison But nether she liked perswasions nor feared threateninges nor changed for absence and when she thought him dead she sought all meanes as well by poyson as knife to send her soule at least to be maried in the eternall church with him This so brake the tender fathers hart that leauing things as he found them hee shortly after died Then foorth with Erona being seazed of the crowne and arming her will with authoritie sought to aduance her affection to the holy title of matrimonie But before she could accomplish all the solemnities she was ouertaken with a war the King Tiridates made vpon her only for her person towards whom for her ruine Loue had kindled his cruel hart indeed cruell and tyrannous for being far too strong in the field he spared not man woman and child but as though there could be found no foile to set foorth the extremitie of his loue but extremity of hatred wrote as it were the sonets of his Loue in the bloud and tuned them in the cries of her subiects although his faire sister Artaxia who would accompany him in the army sought all meanes to appease his fury till lastly he besieged Erona in her best citie vowing to winne her or lose his life And now had he brought her to the point ether of a wofull consent or a ruinous deniall when there came thether following the course which Vertue and Fortune led them two excellent young Princes Pyrocles Musidorus the one Prince of Macedon the other of Thessalia two princes as Plangus said and he witnessed his saying with sighes and teares the most accomplished both in body minde that the Sun euer lookt vpon While Philoclea spake those words O sweete wordes thought Zelmane to herselfe which are not onely a praise to mee but a praise to praise it selfe which out of that mouth issueth These 2. princes said Philoclea aswell to help the weaker especially being a Ladie as ta saue a Greeke people from being ruined by such whom we call and count Barbarous gathering to gether such of the honestest Lycians as would venture their liues to succour their Princesse giuing order by a secret message they sent into the Citie that they should issue with al force at an appointed time they set vpon Tiridates campe with so well-guided a fiercenes that being of both sides assaulted he was like to be ouerthrowen but that this Plangus being Generall of Tiridates hors-men especially ayded by the two mightie men Euardes and Barzanes rescued the footmē euen almost defeated but yet could not barre the Princes with their succoures both of men and victuall to enter the Citie Which when Tiridates found would make the war long which length seemed to him worse then a languishing consumption he made a challenge of three Princes in his retinue against those two Princes and Antiphilus and that thereupon the quarrell should be decided with compact that neither side should helpe his fellow but of whose side the more ouercame with him the victorie should remaine Antiphilus though Erona chose rather to bide the brunt of warre then venture him yet could not for shame refuse the offer especially since the two strangers that had no interest in it did willingly accept it besides that he sawe it like enough that the people werie of the miseries of war would rather giue him vp if they saw him shrinke then for his sake venture their ruine considering that the challengers were farre of greater worthinesse then himselfe So it was agreed vpon and against Pyrocles was Euardes King of Bithinia Barzanes of Hircania against Musidorus two men that thought the world scarse able to resist them and against Antiphilus he placed this same Plangus being his owne cousin germain and sonne to the King of Iberia Now so it fell out that Musidorus slewe Barzanes and Pyrocles Euardes which victory those Princes esteemed aboue all that euer they had but of the other side Plangus tooke Antiphilus prisoner vnder which colour as if the matter had bene equall though indeed it was not the greater part being ouercome of his side Tiridates continued his war and to bring Erona to a compelled yeelding sent her word that he would the third morrow after before the walles of the towne strike off Antiphilus head without his suite in that space were graunted adding withall because he had heard of her desperate affection that if in the meane time she did her selfe any hurt what tortures could be deuised should be layed vpon Antiphilus Then lo if Cupid be a God or that the tyranny of our owne thoughts seeme as a God vnto vs. But whatsoeuer it was then it did set foorth the miserablenes of his effectes she being drawne to two cōtraries by one cause For the loue of him commaunded her to yeeld to no other the loue of him commaunded her to preserue his life which knot might well be cut but vntied it could not be So that Loue in her passions like a right makebate whispered to both sides arguments of quarrell What said he of the one side doost thou loue Antiphilus ô Erona and shall Tiridates enioy thy bodie with what eyes wilt thou looke vpon Antiphilus when he shall know that an other
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
daughter that euer did eate pappe Now this King did keepe a great house that euery body might come and take their meat freely So one day as his daughter was sitting in her window playing vpon a harpe as sweete as any Rose and combing her head with a combe all of precious stones there came in a Knight into the court vpon a goodly horse one haire of gold and the other of siluer and so the Knight casting vp his eyes to the window did fall into such loue with her that he grew not worth the bread he eate till many a sorry day going ouer his head with Dayly Diligence and Grisly Grones he wan her affection so that they agreed to run away togither And so in May when all true hartes reioyce they stale out of the Castel without staying so much as for their breakfast Now forsooth as they went togither often all to kissing one another the Knight told her he was brought vp among the water Nymphes who had so bewitched him that if he were euer askt his name he must presently vanish away and therefore charged her vpon his blessing that she neuer aske him what he was nor whether he would And so a great while she kept his commandement til once passing through a cruell wildernes as darke as pitch her mouth so watred that she could not choose but aske him the question And then he making the greeuousest complaints that would haue melted a tree to haue heard them vanisht quite away and she lay downe casting forth as pitifull cries as any shrich-owle But hauing laien so wet by the raine burnt by the Sun fiue dayes and fiue nights she gat vp and went ouer many a high hill and many a deepe riuer till she came to an Aunts house of hers and came and cried to her for helpe and she for pittie gaue her a Nut and bad her neuer open her Nut till she was come to the extremest misery that euer tongue could speake of And so she went and she went and neuer rested the euening where she went in the morning till she came to a second Aunt and she gaue her another Nut. Now good Mopsa said the sweete Philoclea I pray thee at my request keepe this tale till my marriage day and I promise thee that the best gowne I weare that day shal be thine Mopsa was very glad of the bargaine especially that it should grow a festiuall Tale so that Zelmane who desired to finde the vttermost what these Ladies vnderstood touching her selfe and hauing vnderstood the danger of Erona of which before she had neuer heard purposing with her selfe as soone as this pursuit she now was in was brought to any effect to succour her entreated againe that she might know as well the story of Plangus as of Erona Philoclea referred it to her sisters perfecter remembrance who with so sweet a voice and so winning a grace as in themselues were of most forcible eloquence to procure attention in this maner to their earnest request soone condiscended The father of this Prince Plangus as yet liues and is King of Iberia a man if the iudgement of Plangus may be accepted of no wicked nature nor willingly doing euill without himselfe mistake the euill seeing it disguised vnder some forme of goodnesse This Prince being married at the first to a Princesse who both from her auncesters and in her selfe was worthy of him by her had this sonne Plangus Not long after whose birth the Queene as though she had perfourmed the message for which she was sent into the world returned againe vnto her maker The King sealing vp all thoughts of loue vnder the image of her memorie remained a widdower many yeares after recompencing the griefe of that disioyning from her in conioyning in himselfe both a fatherly and a motherly care toward her onely child Plangus Who being growne to mans age as our owne eies may iudge could not but fertilly requite his fathers fatherly education This Prince while yet the errors in his nature were excused by the greenenes of his youth which tooke all the fault vpon it selfe loued a priuate mans wife of the principall Citie of that Kingdome if that may be called loue which he rather did take into himselfe willingly then by which he was taken forcibly It sufficeth that the yong mā perswaded himself he loued her she being a womā beautifull enough if it be possible that the onely outside can iustly entitle a beauty But finding such a chase as onely fledde to be caught the young Prince brought his affection with her to that point which ought to engraue remorse in her hart to paint shame vpō her face And so possest he his desire without any interruption he constantly fauouring her and she thinking that the enameling of a Princes name might hide the spots of a broken wedlock But as I haue seene one that was sick of a sleeping disease could not be made wake but with pinching of him so out of his sinfull sleepe his minde vnworthie so to be lost was not to be cald to it selfe but by a sharpe accident It fell out that his many-times leauing of the court in vndue times began to be noted and as Princes eares be manifolde from one to another came vnto the King who carefull of his onely sonne sought and found by his spies the necessarie euill seruaunts to a King what it was whereby he was from his better delights so diuerted Whereupon the King to giue his fault the greater blow vsed such meanes by disguising himselfe that he found them her husband being absent in her house together which he did to make him the more feelingly ashamed of it And that way he tooke laying threatnings vpon her and vpon him reproaches But the poore young Prince deceiued with that young opinion that if it be euer lawful to lie it is for ones Louer employed all his wit to bring his father to a better opinion And because he might bende him from that as he counted it crooked conceit of her he wrested him as much as he coulde possiblie to the other side not sticking with prodigal protestations to set foorth her chastitie not denying his own attempt but thereby the more extolling her vertue His Sophistrie preuayled his father beleeued and so beleeued that ere long though he were already stept into the winter of his age he founde himselfe warme in those desires which were in his sonne farre more excusable To be short he gaue himselfe ouer vnto it and because he would auoide the odious comparison of a yong riuall sent away his sonne with an armie to the subduing of a Prouince lately rebelled against him which he knew could not be a lesse worke then of three or foure yeares Wherein he behaued him so worthilie as euen to this country the fame thereof came long before his owne comming while yet his father had a speedier succes but in a far vnnobler conquest For while Plangus was away the old man growing
humble gesture beare false witnesse for his true meaning that he found not onely souldiery but people weary of his gouernment and all their affections bent vpon Plangus Both he and the Queene concurring in strange dreames and each thing else that in a minde already perplexed might breed astonishment so that within a while all Plangus actions began to be translated into the language of suspition Which though Plâ—ngus found yet could he not auoid euen contraries being driuen to draw one yoke of argument if he were magnificent he spent much with an aspiring intent if he spared hee heaped much with an aspiring intent if hee spake curteously he angled the peoples harts if he were silent he mused vpon some daungerous plot In summe if hee could haue turned himselfe to as many formes as Proteus euery forme should haue bene made hideous But so it fell out that a meere trifle gaue them occasion of further proceeding The King one morning going to a vineyard that lay a long the hill where vpon his castle stood he saw a vine-labourer that finding a bowe broken tooke a branch of the same bowe for want of another thing and tied it about the place broken The King asking the fellow what he did Marry said he I make the sonne binde the father This word finding the King alredy supersticious through suspition amazed him streight as a presage of his owne fortune so that returning and breaking with his wife how much he misdoubted his estate she made such gaine-saying answeres as while they straue straue to be ouercome But euen while the doubtes most boiled she thus nourished them She vnder-hand dealt with the principall men of that country that at the great Parliament which was then to bee held they should in the name of all the estates perswade the King being now stept deeply into old age to make Plangus his associate in gouernment with him assuring them that not onely she would ioine with them but that the father himfelfe would take it kindly charging them not to acquaint Plangus withall for that perhaps it might be harmefull vnto him if the King should finde that he were a party They who thought they might do it not onely willingly because they loued him and truely because such indeed was the mind of the people but safely because she who ruled the King was agreed thereto accomplished her counsell she indeed keeping promise of vehement perswading the same which the more she and they did the more shee knew her husband woulde feare and hate the cause of his feare Plangus found this and humbly protested against such desire or will to accept But the more hee protested the more his father thought he dissembled accounting his integrity to be but a cuÌ„ning face of falshood and therefore delaying the desire of his subiects attended some fit occasion to lay hands vpon his sonne which his wife thus brought to passe She caused that same minister of hers to go vnto Plangus and enabling his words with great shew of faith and endearing them with desire of secresie to tell him that he found his ruine conspired by his stepmother with certaine of the noble men of that country the King himselfe giuing his consent and that few daies shoulde passe before the putting it in practize with all discouering the very truth indeede with what cunning his stepmother had proceeded This agreing with Plangus his owne opinion made him giue him the better credit yet not so far as to flie out of his country according to the naughty fellowes persuasion but to attend and to see further Whereupon the fellow by the direction of his mistresse told him one day that the same night about one of the clocke the King had appointed to haue his wife and those noble men together to deliberate of their manner of proceeding against Plangus and therefore offered him that if himselfe would agree hee woulde bring him into a place where hee should heare all that passed and so haue the more reason both to himselfe and to the world to seeke his safetie The poore Plangus being subiect to that onely disaduantage of honest harts credulitie was perswaded by him and arming himselfe because of his late going was closely conueied into the place appointed In the meane time his stepmother making al her gestures cuÌ„ningly counterfait a miserable affliction she lay almost groueling on the flower of her chaÌ„ber not suffering any body to comfort her vntill they calling for her husband and he held of with long enquiry at length she tolde him euen almost crying out euery word that she was wery of her life since shee was brought to that plunge either to conceale her husbands murther or accuse her sonne who had euer beene more deare then a sonne vnto her Then with many interruptions and exclamations she tolde him that her sonne Plangus solliciting her in the olde affection betweene them had besought her to put her helping hand to the death of the King assuring her that though all the lawes in the world were against it he would marrie her when he were King She had not fully said thus much with many pitifull digressioÌ„s when in comes the same fellow that brought PlaÌ„gus ruÌ„ning himself out of breath fell at the Kings feet beseeching him to saue himself for that there was a man with a sword drawen in the next roome The King affrighted weÌ„t out called his gard who entring the place fouÌ„d indeed Plangus with his sword in his hand but not naked but standing suspiciously inough to one already suspicious The King thinking hee had put vp his sworde because of the noise neuer tooke leasure to heare his answer but made him prisoner meaning the next morning to put him to death in the market place But the day had no sooner opened the eies eares of his friends followers but that there was a little army of them who came by force deliuered him although numbers on the other side abused with the fine framing of their report took armes for the King But Plangus though he might haue vsed the force of his friends to reuenge his wrong and get the crowne yet the naturall loue of his father and hate to make their suspition seeme iust caused him rather to choose a voluntarie exile then to make his fathers death the purchase of his life and therefore went he to Tiridates whose mother was his fathers sister liuing in his Court eleuen or twelue yeares euer hoping by his intercession and his owne desert to recouer his fathers grace At the end of which time the warre of Erona happened which my sister with the cause thereof discoursed vnto you But his father had so deeply engraued the suspition in his hart that he thought his flight rather to proceed of a fearefull guiltines then of an humble faithfulnes and therefore continued his hate with such vehemencie that he did euen hate his Nephew Tiridates and afterwardes his neece Artaxia because in their Court
will not be without pittie If otherwise you be alas but let it neuer be so resolued yet shall not my death be comfortles receiuing it by your sentence The ioy which wrought into Pygmalions minde while he found his beloued image was softer and warmer in his folded armes till at length it accomplished his gladnes with a perfect womans shape still beautified with the former perfections was euen such as by each degree of Zelmanes words creepingly entred into Philoclea till her pleasure was fully made vp with the manifesting of his being which was such as in hope did ouer-come Hope Yet Doubt would faine haue playd his parte in her minde and cald in question how she should be assured that Zelmane was Pyrocles But Loue streight stood vp and deposed that a lie could not come from the mouth of Zelmane ◠Besides a certaine sparke of honour which rose in her well-disposed minde made her feare to be alone with him with whome alone she desired to be with all the other contradictions growing in those minds which neither absolutely clime the rocke of Vertue nor freely sinke into the sea of Vanitie but that sparke soone gaue place or at lest gaue no more light in her minde then a candle doth in the Sunnes presence But euen sicke with a surfet of ioy and fearefull of she knewe not what as he that newly findes huge treasures doubts whether he sleepe or no or like a fearefull Deere which then lookes most about when he comes to the best feede with a shrugging kinde of tremor through all her principall partes she gaue these affectionate words for answere Alas how painefull a thing it is to a deuided minde to make a well-ioyned answere how hard it is to bring inward shame to outward confession and what handsomnes trow you can be obserued in that speeche which is made one knowes not to whom Shall I say ô Zelmane Alas your words be against it Shall I say Prince Pyrocles wretch that I am your shew is manifest against it But this this I may well say If I had continued as I ought Philoclea you had either neuer bene or euer bene Zelmane you had either neuer attempted this change set on with hope or neuer discouered it stopt with despaire But I feare me my behauiour ill gouerned gaue you the first comfort I feare me my affection ill hid hath giuen you this last assurance I feare indeed the weakenesse of my gouernment before made you thinke such a maske would be gratefull vnto me and my weaker gouernment since makes you to pull off the visar What shall I doo then shall I seeke far-fetched inuentions shall I labour to lay marble coulours ouer my ruinous thoughts or rather though the purenes of my virgin-minde be stained let me keepe the true simplicitie of my word True it is alas too true it is ô Zelmane for so I loue to call thee since in that name my loue first began and in the shade of that name my loue shall best lie hidden that euen while so thou wert what eye bewitched me I know not my passions were fitter to desire then to be desired Shall I say then I am sory or that my loue must be turned to hate since thou art turned to Pyrocles how may that wel be since when thou wert Zelmane the despaire thou mightest not be thus did most torment me Thou hast then the victorie vse it with vertue Thy vertue wan me with vertue preserue me Doost thou loue me keepe me then still worthy to be beloued Then held she her tongue and cast downe a self-accusing looke finding that in her selfe she had as it were shot out of the bow of her affection a more quick opening of her minde then she minded to haue done But Pyrocles so caried vp with ioy that he did not enuy the Gods felicitie presented her with some iewels of right princely value as some little tokens of his loue and qualitie and withall shewed her letters from his father King Euarchus vnto him which euen in the Sea had amongst his iewels bene preserued But little needed those proofes to one who would haue fallen out with herselfe rather then make any contrarie coniectures to Zelmane speeches so that with such imbracements as it seemed their soules desired to meete and their harts to kisse as their mouthes did which faine Pyrocles would haue sealed with the chiefe armes of his desire but Philoclea commaunded the contrary and yet they passed the promise of mariage And then at Philocleas entreaty who was willing to purloine all occasions of remayning with Zelmane she told her the storie of her life from the time of their departing from Erona for the rest she had already vnderstood of her sister For saide she I haue vnderstood how you first in the companie of your Noble cousin Musidorus parted from Thessalia and of diuers aduentures which with no more daunger then glory you passed through till your comming to the succour of the Queene Erona and the ende of that warre you might perceiue by my selfe I had vnderstood of the Prince Plangus But what since was the course of your doings vntill you came after so many victories to make a conquest of poore me that I know not the fame thereof hauing rather shewed it by pieces then deliuered any full forme of it Therefore deere Pyrocles for what can mine eares be so sweetly fed with as to heare you of you be liberall vnto me of those things which haue made you indeede pretious to the worlde and now doubt not to tell of your perils for since I haue you here out of them euen the remembrance of them is pleasaunt Pyrocles easily perceiued she was content with kindnesse to put off occasion of further kindnesse wherein Loue shewed himselfe a cowardly boy that durst not attempt for feare of offending But rather Loue prooued himselfe valiant that durst with the sworde of reuerent dutie gaine-stand the force of so many enraged desires But so it was that though he knewe this discourse was to entertaine him from a more streight parley yet he durst not but kisse his rod and gladly make much of that entertainement which she allotted vnto him and therefore with a desirous sigh chastning his brest for too much desiring Sweete Princesse of my life said he what Trophees what Triumph what Monuments what Histories might euer make my fame yeeld so sweete a Musicke to my eares as that it pleaseth you to lend your minde to the knowledge of any thing touching Pyrocles onely therefore of value because he is your Pyrocles And therefore grow I now so proud as to thinke it worth the hearing since you vouchsafe to giue it the hearing Therefore onely height of my hope vouchsafe to know that after the death of Tiridates and setling Erona in her gouernment for setled we left her howsoeuer since as I perceiued by your speech the last day the vngratefull treason of her ill-chosen husband ouerthrew her a
in malice that neyther during nor after the fight she gaue anie truce to her crueltie but still vsed the little instrument of her great spight to the well-witnest paine of the impatient patient and was now about to put out his eyes which all this while were spared because they should doe him the discomfort of seeing who preuayled ouer him When I came in and after much adoe brought her to some conference for sometime it was before she would harken more before she would speake and most before shee would in her speeche leaue off the sharpe remembrance of her bodkin but at length when I puld off my head-peece and humbled entreated her pardon or knowledge why she was cruell out of breath more with choller which increased in his owne exercise then with the paine she tooke much to this purpose she gaue her griefe vnto my knowledge Gentleman said she much it is against my will to forbeare any time the executing of my iust reuenge vpon tâ—is naughtie creature a man in nothing but in deceiuing women But because I see you are yoong and like enough to haue the power if you would haue the mind to do much more mischief then he I am content vpoÌ„ this bad subiect to read a lecture to your vertue This man called Pamphilus in birth I must confesse is noble but what is that to him if it shal be a staine to his dead auncestors to haue left such an offspring in shape as you see not vncomely indeed the fit maske of his disguised falshood in conuersation wittily pleasant and pleasantly gamesome his eyes full of merie simplicitie his wordes of heartie companablenesse and such a one whose head one would not thinke so staied as to thinke mischieuously delighted in all such things which by imparting the delight to thers makes the vser therof welcome as Musick Daunsing Hunting Feasting Riding and such like And to conclude such a one as who can keepe him at armes end need neuer wish a better companion But vnder these qualities lies such a poysonous addar as I wil tell you For by those gifts of Nature and Fortune being in all places acceptable he creepes nay to say truely he flies so into the fauour of poore sillie womeÌ„ that I would be too much ashamed to confesse if I had not reuenge in my hande as well as shame in my cheekes For his hart being wholy delighted in deceiuing vs we could neuer be warned but rather one bird caught serued for a stale to bring in more For the more he gat the more still he shewed that he as it were gaue away to his new mistresse when hee betrayed his promises to the former The cunning of his flatterie the readines of his teares the infinitenes of his vowes were but among the weakest threedes of his nette But the stirring our owne passions and by the entrance of them to make himselfe Lord of our forces there lay his Masters part of cunning making vs now iealous now enuious now proud of what we had desirous of more now giuing one the triumph to see him that was Prince of many Subiect to her now with an estranged looke making her feare the losse of that minde which indeede could neuer be had neuer ceasing humblenes and diligence till he had imbarked vs in some such disaduantage as wee could not returne dryshod and then suddenly a tyrant but a craftie tyrant For so would hee vse his imperiousnes that we had a delightfull feare an awe which made vs loath to lose our hope And which is strangest when sometimes with late repentance I thinke of it I must confesse euen in the greatest tempest of my iudgement was I neuer driuen to thinke him excellent and yet so could set my minde both to get and keepe him as though therein had laien my felicitie like them I haue seene play at the ball growe extremely earnest who should haue the ball and yet euery one knew it was but a ball But in end the bitter sauce of the sport was that wee had ether our hartes broken with sorrow or our estates spoyled with being at his direction or our honours for euer lost partly by her owne faults but principally by his faultie vsing of our faults For neuer was there man that could with more scornefull eyes beholde her at whose feete he had lately laine nor with a more vnmanlike brauerie vse his tongue to her disgrace which lately had song Sonets of her praises being so naturally inconstant as I maruell his soule findes not some way to kill his bodie whereto it had beene so long vnited For so hath he dealt with vs vnhappie fooles as we could neuer tell whether hee made greater haste after he once liked to enioy or after he once enioyed to forsake But making a glorie of his owne shame it delighted him to bee challenged of vnkindenesse it was a triumph vnto him to haue his mercie called for and hee thought the fresh colours of his beautie were painted in nothing so well as in the ruines of his Louers yet so farre had we engaged our selues vnfortunate soules that we listed not complaine since our complaints could not but carrie the greatest accusation to our selues But euerie of vs each for her selfe laboured all meanes how to recouer him while he rather daily sent vs companions of our deceipt then euer returned in any sound and faithfull manner Till at length he concluded all his wronges with betrothing himselfe to one I must confesse worthie to be liked if any worthinesse might excuse so vnworthie a changeablenesse leauing vs nothing but remorse for what was past and dispaire of what might followe Then in deede the common iniurie made vs all ioyne in fellowshipp who till that time had employed our endeuours one against the other For wee thought nothing was a more condemning of vs then the iustifiing of his loue to her by mariage then Despaire made Feare valiant and Reuenge gaue Shame countenance whereupon we that you saw here deuised how to get him among vs alone which hee suspecting no such matter of them whom he had by often abuses he thought made tame to be still abused easily gaue vs opportunitie to do And a man may see euen in this how soone Rulers grow proud and in theyr pride foolish he came with such an authoritie among vs as if the Planets had done inough for vs that by vs once he had beene delighted And when wee began in courteous maner one after the other to lay his vnkindnes vnto him he seeing himselfe confronted by so many like a resolute Orator went not to deniall but to iustisie his cruell falshood and al with such iestes and disdainfull passages that if the iniurie coulde not bee made greater yet were our conceites made the apter to apprehend it Among other of his answeres forsooth I shall neuer forget howe hee woulde proue it was no inconstancie to chaunge from one loue to another but a great constancie and
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
seene her I am the willinger to speake of to you who I know know her better being your neer neighbor because you may see by her example in her self wise and of others beloued that neither folly is the cause of vehement loue nor reproch the effect For neuer I think was there any woman that with more vnremoueable determination gaue her selfe to the coūcell of loue after she had once set before her minde the worthines of your cosin Amphialus and yet is nether her wisedome doubted of nor honor blemished For O God what doth better become wisedome then to discerne what is worthy the louing what more agreable to goodnes thē to loue it so discerned and what to greatnes of hart then to be constant in it once loued But at that time that loue of hers was not so publikely known as the death of Philoxenus and search of Amphialus hath made it but then seemed to haue such leasure to send thither diuerse choise knights of her court because they might bring her at lest the knowledge perchaūce the honor of that triumph Wherin so they behaued thēselues as for three daies they carried the prize which being come from so far a place to disgrace her seruaunts Palladius who himselfe had neuer vsed armes perswaded the Queene Andromana to be content for the honour sake of her court to suffer vs two to haue our horse and armour that he with vs might vndertake the recouerie of their lost honour which she grāted taking our oath to goe no further then her sonne nor euer to abandon him Which she did not more for sauing him then keeping vs and yet not satisfied with our oth appointed a band of horsemen to haue eye that we should not go beyond appointed limits We were willing to gratifie the young Prince who we saw loued vs. And so the fourth day of that exercise we came into the field where I remember the manner was that the forenoone they should run at tilt one after the other the afternoone in a broad field in manner of a battell till either the strangers or that countrie Knights wan the field The first that ran was a braue Knight whose deuise was to come in all chayned with a Nymph leading him his Impresa was Against him came forth an Iberian whose manner of entring was with Bagpipes in steed of trumpets a shepheards boy before him for a Page and by him a dozen apparelled like shepherds for the fashion though rich in stuffe who caried his Launces which though strong to giue a launcely blow indeede yet so were they couloured with hooks neere the mourn that they pretilye represented shephooks His own furniture was drest ouer with wooll so enriched with Iewels artificially placed that one would haue thought it a mariage betweene the lowest and the highest His Impresa was a Sheepe marked with pitch with this woord Spotted to be knowne And because I may tell you out his conceipt though that were not done till the running for that time was ended before the Ladies departed from the windowes among whom there was one they say that was the Star whereby his course was onely directed The Shepherds attending vpon PHILISIDES went among them and sang an eclogue one of them answering another while the other shepherds pulling out recorders which possest the place of pipes accorded their musicke to the others voice The Eclogue had great praise I onely remember sixe verses while hauing questioned one with the other of their fellow-shepheards sodaine growing a man of armes and the cause of his so doing they thus said ME thought some staues he mist if so not much amisse For where he most would hit he euer yet did misse Once said he brake a crosse full well it so might be For neuer was there man more crossely crost then he But most cryed O well broke O foole full gaily blest Where failing is a shame and breaking is his best Thus I haue digrest because his maner liked me well But when he began to run against LElius it had neere growne though great loue had euer bene betwixt them to a quarell For Philisides breaking his staues with great commendation Lelius who was knowne to be second to none in the perfection of that art ranne euer ouer his head but so finely to the skilfull eyes that one might wel see he shewed more knowledge in missing then others did in hitting For with so gallant a grace his staffe came swimming close ouer the crest of the Helmet as if he would represent the kisse and not the stroke of Mars But Philisides was much moued with it while he thought Lelius would shew a contempt of his youth till Lelius who therefore would satisfie him because he was his friend made him know that to such bondage he was for so many courses tyed by her whose disgraces to him were graced by her excellencye and whose iniuries he could neuer otherwise returne then honors But so by Lelius willing-missing was the oddes of the Iberian side and continued so in the next by the excellent running of a Knight though fostred so by the Muses as many times the very rusticke people left both their delights and profites to harken to his songs yet could he so well performe all armed sports as if he had neuer had any other pen then a Launce in his hand He came in like a wilde man but such a wildenes as shewed his eye-sight had tamed him full of withered leaues which though they fell not still threatned falling His Impresa was a mill-horse still bound to goe in one circle with this word Data fata sequutus But after him the Corinthian knights absolutely preuailed especially a great noble man of Corinth whose deuise was to come without any deuise all in white like a new Knight as indeede he was but so new as his newnes shamed most of the others long exercise Then another from whose tent I remember a birde was made flie With such art to carry a written embassage among the Ladies that one might say If a liue bird how so taught if a dead bird how so made Then he who hidden man and horse in a great figure liuely representing the Phoenix the fire tooke so artificially as it consumed the bird and left him to rise as it were out of the ashes thereof Against whom was the fine frosen Knight frosen in despaire but his armor so naturallye representing Ice and all his furniture so liuely answering therto as yet did I neuer see any thing that pleased me better But the delight of those pleasing sightes haue carried me too farre into an vnnecessary discourse Let it then suffice most excellent Ladye that you know the Corinthians that morning in the exercise as they had done the daies before had the better Palladius neither suffring vs nor himself to take in hand the partie til the after noone when we were to fight in troupes not differing otherwise from earnest but that the sharpenesse of the
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
because he would reuenge vpon him whom he knew we loued the losse of his brother thincking as indeede he had cause that wheresoeuer we were hearing of his extremitie we would come to relieue him in spite whereof he doubted not to preuaile not onely vpon the confidence of his owne vertue and power but especially because he had in his company two mighty Giants sonnes to a couple whom we slue in the same realme they hauing bene absent at their fathers death and now returned willingly entered into his seruice hating more then he both vs and that King of Pontus We therfore with all speede went thetherward but by the way this fell out which whensoeuer I remember without sorrow I must forget withall all humanitie Poore Daiphantus fell extreme sick yet would needs conquere the delicacie of her constitution and force her selfe to waite on me till one day going towarde Pontus we met one who in great hast went seeking for Tydeus and Telenor whose death as yet was not knowne vnto the messenger who being their seruaunt and knowing how deerely they loued Plexirtus brought them word how since their departing Plexirtus was in present daunger of a cruell death if by the valiantnesse of one of the best Knightes of the world he were not reskewed we enquired no further of the matter being glad he should now to his losse finde what an vnprofitable treason it had bene vnto him to dismember himselfe of two such friends and so let the messenger part not sticking to make him know his masters destruction by the falshood of Plexirtus But the griefe of that finding a bodie alreadie brought to the last degree of weakenesse so ouerwhelmed the little remnant of the spirits left in Daiphantus that she fell sodainely into deadly soundings neuer comming to her selfe but that withall she returned to make most pittifull lamentations most straunge vnto vs because we were farre from ghessing the ground thereof But finding her sicknesse such as began to print death in her eyes we made all hast possible to conuey her to the next towne but before we could lay her on a bed both we and she might find in herselfe that the harbingers of ouer-hastie death had prepared his lodging in that daintie body which she vndoubtedly feeling with a weake chearefulnes shewed comfort therein and then desiring vs both to come neere her and that no bodie els might be present with pale and yet euen in palenes louely lips Now or neuer and neuer indeed but now is it time for me said she to speake and I thanke death which giues me leaue to discouer that the suppressing whereof perchance hath bene the sharpest spur that hath hasted my race to this end Know then my Lords and especially you my Lord and master Pyrocles that your page Daiphantus is the vnfortunat Zelmane who for your sake caused my as vnfortunate louer and cosen Palladius to leaue his fathers court and consequētly both him and my Aunt his mother to loose their liues For your sake my selfe haue become of a Princesse a Page and for your sake haue put off the apparell of a woman and if you iudge not more mercifully the modestie We were amazed at her speach and then had as it were new eies giuē vs to perceiue that which before had bene a present strāger to our minds For indeed we forthwith knew it to be the face of Zelmane whō before we had knowen in the court of Iberia And sorrow pittie laying her paine vpon me I comforted her the best I could by the tendernes of good-will pretending indeed better hope then I had of her recouery But she that had inward ambassadors from the tyrant that shortly would oppresse her No my deere master said she I neither hope nor desire to liue I know you would neuer haue loued me and with that word she wept nor alas had it bene reason you should considering manie wayes my vnworthines It sufficeth me that the strange course I haue taken shall to your remembrance witnesse my loue and yet this breaking of my hart before I would discouer my paine will make you I hope thinke that I was not altogether vnmodest Thinke of me so deare Master and that thought shall be my life and with that languishingly looking vpon me And I pray you said she euen by these dying eies of mine which are onely sorrie to dye because they shall lose your sight and by these pouled lockes of mine which while they were long were the ornament of my sex now in their short curles the testimonie of my seruitude and by the seruice I haue done you which God knowes hath beene full of loue thinke of me after my death with kindnes though ye cannot with loue And whensoeuer ye shall make any other Ladie happie with your well placed affection if you tell her my folly I pray you speake of it not with scorne but with pittie I assure you deare Princesse of my life for how could it be otherwise her words and her manner with the liuely consideration of her loue so pearced me that though I had diuerse griefes before yet me thought I neuer felt till then how much sorow enfeebleth all resolution For I could not chuse but yeeld to the weakenes of abundant weeping in trueth with such griefe that I could willingly at that time haue chaunged liues with her But when she saw my teares O God said she how largely am I recompenced for my losses why then said shee I may take boldnesse to make some requests vnto you I besought her to doo vowing the performance though my life were the price thereof She shewed great ioy The first said she is this that you will pardon my father the displeasure you haue iustly conceiued against him and for this once succour him out of the daunger wherein he is I hope he will amend and I pray you whensoeuer you remember him to be the faultie Plexirtus remember withall that he is Zelmanes father The second is that when you come once into Greece you will take vnto your selfe this name though vnlucky of Daiphantus and vouchsafe to be called by it for so shall I be sure you shall haue cause to remember me and let it please your noble cousin to be called Palladius that I doo that right to that poore Prince that his name yet may liue vpon the earth in so excellent a person and so betwene you I trust sometimes your vnluckie page shall be perhaps with a sigh mencioned Lastly let me be buried here obscurely not suffering my friends to know my fortune till whē you are safely returned to your own countrie you cause my bones to be conueied thither and laid I beseech you in some place where your selfe vouchsafe sometimes to resort Alas small petitiōs for such a suter which yet she so earnestly craued that I was faine to sweare the accomplishment And then kissing me and often desiring me not to condemne her of lightnesse in mine armes she
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
valure and fore-preparation put all his companie to the sword but such as could flie away As for Antiphilus she caused him and Erona both to be put in irons hasting backe toward her brothers tombe vpon which she ment to sacrifice them making the loue of her brother stand betwene her and all other motions of grace from which by nature she was alienated But great diuersitie in them two quickly discouered it selfe for the bearing of that affliction For Antiphilus that had no greatnesse but outward that taken away was readie to fall faster then calamitie could thrust him with fruitlesse begging of life where reason might well assure him his death was resolued and weake bemoning his fortune to giue his enemies a most pleasing musique with manie promises and protestations to as little purpose as from a little minde But Erona sad indeede yet like one rather vsed then new fallen to sadnesse as who had the ioyes of her hart alreadie broken seemed rather to welcome then to shun that ende of miserie speaking little but what she spake was for Antiphilus remembring his guiltlesnesse being at that time prisoner to Tiridates when the valiant princes slue him to the disgrace of men shewing that there are women both more wise to iudge what is to be expected and more constant to beare it when it is happened But her wit endeared by her youth her affliction by her birth and her sadnesse by her beautie made this noble prince Plangus who neuer almost from his cousin Artaxia was now present at Eronaes taking to perceyue the shape of louelinesse more perfectly in wo then in ioyfulnesse as in a picture which receiues greater life by the darkenesse of shadowes then by more glittering colours and seeing to like and liking to loue and louing straight to feele the most incident effects of loue to serue and preserue So borne by the hastie tide of short leysure he did hastily deliuer together his affection and affectionate care But she as if he had spoken of a small matter when he mencioned her life to which she had not leisure to attend desired him if he loued her to shew it in finding some way to saue Antiphilus For her she found the world but a wearisome stage vnto her where she played a part against her will and therefore besought him not to cast his loue in so vnfruitfull a place as could not loue it selfe but for a testimonie of constancie and a sutablenes to his word to do so much comfort to her minde as that for her sake Antiphilus were saued He tolde me how much he argued against her tendeâ—ing him who had so vngratefully betraied her and foolishly cast away himselfe But perceiuing she did not only bend her very good wits to speake for him against herselfe but when such a cause could be allied to no reason yet loue would needes make it-selfe a cause and barre her rather from hearing then yeeld that she should yeeld to such arguments he likewise in whom the power of Loue as they say of spirits was subiect to the loue in her with griefe consented though backwardly was diligent to labor the help of Antiphilus a man whom he not only hated as a traitour to Erona but enuied as a possessor of Erona Yet Loue sware his hart in spite of his hart should make him become a seruant to his riuall And so did he seeking all the meanes of perswading Artaxia which the authority of so neere and so vertuous a kinsman could giue vnto him But she to whom the eloqueÌ„ce of hatred had giuen reuenge the face of delight reiected all such motions but rather the more closely imprisoning them in her chiefe citie where she kept them with intention at the birth-day of Tiridates which was very nere to execute Antiphilus and at the day of his death which was about halfe a yeere after to vse the same rigor towards Erona Plangus much grieued because much louing attempted the humors of the Lycians to see whether they would come in with forces to succor their Princesse But there the next inheritor to the crowne with the true play that is vsed in the game of kingdoÌ„s had no sooner his mistres in captiuity but he had vsurped her place and making her odious to her people because of the vnfit electioÌ„ she had made had so left no hope there but which is worse had sent to Artaxia perswading the iusticing her because that vniustice might giue his title the name of iustice WaÌ„ting that way Plangus practised with some deere friends of his to saue Antiphilus out of prison whose day because it was much neerer then Eronaes and that he well found she had twisted her life vpoÌ„ the same threed with his he determined first to get him out of prison and to that end hauing prepared all matters as well as in such case he could where Artaxia had set many of Tiridates old seruants to haue well-marking eyes he coÌ„ferred with Antiphilus as by the aucthoritie he had he found meanes to do and agreed with him of the time maner how he should by the death of some of his iaylors escape But all being well ordered and Plangus willinglie putting himselfe into the greatest danger Antiphilus who like a bladder sweld redie to breake while it was full of the winde of prosperitie that being out was so abiected as apt to be trode on by euery bodie wheÌ„ it came to the point that with some hazard he might be in apparant likelihood to auoid the vttermost harme his hart fainted and weake foole neither hoping nor fearing as he should gat a conceit that with bewraying this practise he might obtaine pardon and therefore euen a little before Plangus should haue come vnto him opened the whole practise to him that had the charge with vnpittyed teares idly protesting he had rather die by Artaxias commaundement then against her will escape yet begging life vpon any the hardest and wretchedest conditions that she would lay vpon him His keeper prouided accordingly so that when Plangus came he was like himselfe to haue bene entrapped but that finding with a luckie in-sight that it was discouered he retired and calling his friendes about him stood vpon his guard as he had good cause For Artaxia accounting him most vngratefull considering that her brother and she had not only preserued him against the malice of his father but euer vsed him much liker his birth then his fortune sent forces to apprehend him But he among the martiall men had gotten so great loue that he could not onely keep himselfe from her malice but worke in their mindes a compassion of Eronas aduersitie But for the succour of Antiphilus he could get no bodie to ioyne with him the contempt of him hauing not bene able to qualifie the hatred so that Artaxia might easilie vpon him perfourme her will which was at the humble suite of all the women of that citie to deliuer him to their censure who mortally hating him for
the way passing through my country it was my hap to find him the most ouerthrowne man with griefe that euer I hope to see againe For still it seemed he had Erona at a stake before his eies such an apprehension he had taken of her daunger which in despite of all the comfort I could giue him he poured out in such lamentations that I was moued not to let him passe till he had made full declaration which by peeces my daughters and I haue deliuered vnto you Faine he would haue had succour of my selfe but the course of my life being otherwise bent I onely accompanied him with some that might safely guide him to the great Euarchus for my part hauing had some of his speeches so feelingly in my memory that at an idle time as I told you I set them downe Dialogue-wise in such manner as you haue seene And thus excellent Ladie I haue obeyed you in this storie wherein if it well please you to consider what is the straunge power of Loue and what is due to his authoritie you shall exercise therein the true noblenesse of your iudgement and doo the more right to the vnfortunate Historian Zelmane sighing for Eronaes sake yet inwardly comforted in that she assured her selfe Euarchus would not spare to take in hand the iust deliuering of her ioyned with the iust reuenge of his childrens losse hauing now what she desired of Basilius to auoide his further discourses of affection encouraged the shepheards to begin whom she saw allready ready for them The second Eclogues THE rude tumult of the Enispians gaue occasion to the honest shepheards to begin their Pastoralls this day with a daunce which they called the skirmish betwixt Reason and Passion For seuen shepheards which were named the reasonable shepheards ioined themselues foure of them making a square and the other two going a little wide of either side like wings for the maine battell and the seuenth man formost like the forlorne hope to begin the skirmish In like order came out the seuen appassionated shepheards all keeping the pase of their foot by their voice and sundry consorted instruments they held in their armes And first the formost of the Reasonable side began to sing R. Thou Rebell vile come to thy master yeeld And the other that met with him answered P. No Tyrant no mine mine shall be the field Reason Can Reason then a Tyraunt counted bee Passion If Reason will that Passions be not free R. But Reason will that Reason gouerne most P. And Passion will that Passion rule the rost R. Your will is will but Reason reason is P. Will hath his will when Reasons will doth misse R. Whome Passion leades vnto his death is bent P. And let him die so that he die content R. By nature you to Reason faith haue sworne P. Not so but fellow-like togither borne R. Who Passion doth ensue liues in annoy P. Who Passion doth forsake liues void of ioy R. Passion is blinde and treades an vnknowne trace P. Reason hath eyes to see his owne ill case Then as they approched nearer the two of Reasons side as if they shot at the other thus sang R. Dare Passions then abide in Reasons light P. And is not Reason dimme with Passions might R. O foolish thing which glory doth destroy P. O glorious title of a foolish toy R. Weakenes you are dare you with our strength fight P. Because our weaknes weakeneth all your might R. O sacred Reason helpe our vertuous toiles P. O Passion passe on feeble Reasons spoiles R. We with our selues abide a daily strife P. We gladly vse the sweetnesse of our life R. But yet our strife sure peace in end doth breede P. We now haue peace your peace we doo not neede Then did the two square battailes meete and in steed of fighting embrace one another singing thus R. We are too strong but Reason seekes no blood P. Who be too weake do feigne they be too good R. Though we cannot orecome our cause is iust P. Let vs orecome and let vs be vniust R. Yet Passions yeeld at length to Reasons stroke P. What shall we winne by taking Reasons yoke R. The ioyes you haue shall be made permanent P. But so we shall with griefe learne to repent R. Repent in deed but that shall be your blisse P. How know we that since present ioyes we misse R. You know it not of Reason therefore know it P. No Reason yet had euer skill to show it R. Then let vs both to heauenly rules giue place P. Which Passions kill and Reason do deface Then embraced they one another and came to the King who framed his prayses of them according to Zelmanes liking whose vnrestrained parts the mind eie had their free course to the delicate Philoclea whose looke was not short in well requiting it although shee knew it was a hatefull sight to her iealouse mother But Dicus that had in this time taken a great liking of Dorus for the good partes he foūd aboue his age in him had a delight to taste the fruites of his wit though in a subiect which he himselfe most of all other despised so entred to speach with him in the manner of this following Eclogue Dicus Dorus. Dicus Dorus tell me where is thy wonted motion To make these woods resound thy lamentation Thy sainte is dead or dead is thy deuotion For who doth holde his loue in estimation To witnes that he thinkes his thoughts delicious Thinks to make each thing badge of his sweet passion Dorus. But what doth make thee Dicus so suspicious Of my due faith which needs must be immutable Who others vertue doubt themselues are vicious Not so although my mettals were most mutable Her beames haue wrought therein most faire impression To such a force some chaunge were nothing sutable Dicus The harte well set doth neuer shunne confession If noble be thy bandes make them notorious Silence doth seeme the maske of base oppression Who glories in his loue doth make Loue glorious But who doth feare or bideth muet wilfully Shewes guilty harte doth deeme his state opprobrious Thou then that fram'st both wordes and voice most skilfully Yeeld to our eares a sweet and sound relation If Loue tooke thee by force or caught thee guilefully Dorus. If sunnie beames shame heau'nly habitation If three-leau'd grasse seeme to the sheepe vnsauorie Then base and sowre is Loues most high vocation Or if sheepes cries can helpe the Sunnes owne brauerie Then may I hope my pipe may haue abilitie To helpe her praise who decks me in her slauerie No no no words ennoble selfe nobilitie As for your doubts her voice was it deceaued me Her eye the force beyond all possibilitie Dicus Thy words well voyc'd well grac'de had almost heaued me Quite from my selfe to loue Loues contemplation Till of these thoughts thy sodaine ende bereaued me Goe on therefore and tell vs by what fashion In thy owne proofe he gets so straunge
Vndermin'd with a speech the pearcer of thoughts Thus weakned by my selfe no helpe remaineth Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell And now fame the herald of her true honour Doth proclaime with a sound made all by mens mouths That nature souerayne of earthly dwellers Commands all creatures to yeeld obeysance Vnder this this her owne her only dearling Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell Reason sighes but in end he thus doth answere Nought can reason auaile in heau'nly matters Thus natures Diamond receaues thy conquest Thus pure pearle I do yeeld my senses and soule Thus sweete paine I do yeeld what ere I can yeelde Reason looke to thy selfe I serue a goddesse Dorus had long he thought kept silence from saying somwhat which might tend to the glorie of her in whom all glory to his seeming was included but nowe hee brake it singing these verses called Asclepiadikes O sweet woods the delight of solitarines O how much I do like your solitarines where mans mind hath afreed consideration Of goodnes to receiue louely direction Where senses do behold th' order of heau'nly hoste And wise thoughts do behold what the creator is Contemplation here holdeth his only seate Bowndedwith no limitts borne with a wing of hope Clymes euen vnto the starres Nature is vnder it Nought disturbs thy quiet all to thy seruice yeelds Each sight draws on a thought thought mother of science Sweet birds kindly do graunt harmony vnto thee Faire trees shade is enough fortification Nor danger to thy selfe if be not in thy selfe O sweete woods the delight of solitarines O how much I do like your solitarines Here nor treason is hidd vailed in innocence Nor enuies snaky ey finds any harbor here Nor flatterers venomous insinuations Nor comming humorists puddled opinions Nor courteous ruin of proffered vsury Nor time pratled away cradle of ignorance Nor causelesse duty nor comber of arrogance Nor trifling title of vanity dazleth vs Nor golden manacles stand for a paradise Here wrongs name is vnheard slander a monster is Keepe thy sprite from abuse here no abuse doth haunte What man grafts in a tree dissimulation O sweete woods the delight of solitarines O how well I do like your solitarines Yet deare soile if a soule closedin a mansion As sweete as violetts faire as lilly is Streight as Cedar a voice staines the Cannary birds Whose shade safely doth hold danger auoideth her Such wisedome that in her liues speculation Such goodnes that in her simplicitie triumphs Where enuies snaky ey winketh or els dyeth Slander wants aprelext flattery gone beyond Oh! if such a one haue bent to a lonely life Her stepps gladd we receaue gladd we receaue her eys And thinke not she doth hurt our solitarines For such company decks such solitarines The other Shepeheards were offring themselues to haue continued the sportes but the night had so quietlie spent the most parte of herselfe among them that the king for that time licēsed thē And so bringing Zelmane to her lodging who would much rather haue done the same for Philoclea of all sides they went to counterfett a sleepe in their bedd for a trewe one there agonies could not aforde them Yet there they Lay so might they be moste solitarie for the foode of their thoughts til it was neere noone the next day after which Basilius was to continue his Appollo deuotions and the other to meditate vpon their priuate desires The end of the second Eclogues THE THIRDE BOOKE OF THE COVNTESSE OF PEMBROKES ARCADIA THis last dayes danger hauing made Pamalaes loue discerne what a losse it should haue suffered if Dorus had bene destroied bred such tendernesse of kindnes in her toward him that she could no longer keep loue from loking out through her eyes and going forth in her words whom before as a close prisoner she had to her hart onely committed so as finding not only by his speeches and letters but by the pitifull oration of a languishing behauiour and the easily discyphered character of a sorowfull face that Dispaire began now to threaten him destruction she grewe content both to pittie him and let him see she pityed him as well by making her owne beautifull beames to thawe awaye the former icinesse of her behauiour as by entertaining his discourses whensoeuer he did vse them in the third person of Musidorus to so farre a degree that in the ende she said that if she had bene the Princes whom that disguised Prince had vertuously loued she would haue requited his faith with faithfull affectiō finding in her hart that nothing could so hartily loue as vertue with many mo words to the same sence of noble fauour and chast plainnesse Which when at the first it made that expected blisse shine vpō Dorus he was like one frozen with extremitie of colde ouer-hastilye brought to a great fire rather oppressed then relieued with such a lightning of felicitie But after the strength of nature had made him able to feele the sweetnes of ioyfulnes that againe being a childe of Passion and neuer acquainted with mediocrity could not set bounds vpon his happines nor be content to giue Desire a kingdome but that it must be an vnlimitted Monarchie So that the ground he stoode vpon being ouer-high in happines and slippery through affection he could not holde himselfe from falling into such an error which with sighs blew al comfort out of his brest washt away all cheerfulnes of his cheer with teares For this fauour filling him with hope Hope encouraging his desire and Desire considering nothing but oportunitie one time Mopsa being called away by her mother and he left alone with Pamela the sudden occasion called Loue and that neuer staide to aske Reasons leaue but made the too-much louing Dorus take her in his armes offering to kisse her and as it were to establish a trophee of his victorie But she as if she had bin ready to drink a wine of excellent tast colour which suddenly she perceiued had poison in it so did she put him away frō her loking first vp to heauen as amazed to finde herselfe so beguiled in him then laying the cruell punishment vpon him of angry Loue and lowring beautie shewing disdain a despising disdain Away said she vnworthy man to loue or to be loued Assure thy self I hate my selfe for being so deceiued iudge then what I doo thee for deceiuing me Let me see thee no more the only fall of my indgement and staine of my conscience With that she called Mopsa not staying for any answer which was no other but a flood of teares which she seemed not to mark much lesse to pity chid her for hauing so left her alone It was not an amazement it was not a sorrow but it was euen a death which then laid hold of Dorus which certainly at that instant would haue killed him but that the feare to tarrie longer in her presence contrarye to her commaundement gaue him life
needed to haue waited the tedious worke of a naturall end of Basilius when the heauens I thinke enuying my great felicity then stopt thy fathers breath when he breathed nothing but power and soueraigntie Yet did not thy orphancie or my widdowhood depriue vs of the delightfull prospect which the hill of honour dooth yeeld while expectation of thy succession did bind dependencies vnto vs. But before my sonne thou wert come to the age to feele the sweetnesse of authoritie this beast whom I can neuer name with patience falsely and foolishly married this Gynecia then a young girle and brought her to sit aboue me in al feasts to turne her shoulder to me-warde in all our solemnities It is certaine it is not so great a spite to bee surmounted by straungers as by ones owne allies Thinke then what my minde was since withall there is no question The fall is greater from the first to the second then from the second to the vndermost The rage did swell in my harte so much the more as it was faine to bee suppressed in silence and disguised with humblenes But aboue all the rest the griefe of grieues was when with these two daughters now thy prisoners she cut of all hope of thy successioÌ„ It was a tedious thing to me that my eies should loke lower then any bodies that my self being by anothers voice then mine should be more respected But it was in supportable vnto me to think that not only I but thou shouldst spend al thy time in such misery and that the Sun should see my eldest son lesse then a Prince And though I had ben a sainct I could not choose finding the chaunge this chaunge of fortune bred vnto me for now from the multitude of followers sileÌ„ce grew to be at my gate absence in my presence The guesse of my mind could preuaile more before then now many of my earnest requests And thou my deare sonne by the fickle multitude no more then an ordinary person borne of the mud of the people regarded But I remembring that in all miseries weeping becomes fooles and practize wise folks haue tried diuers meanes to pull vs out of the mire of subiection And though many times Fortune failed me yet did I neuer faile my selfe Wild beastes I kept in a caue harde by the lodges which I caused by night to be fed in the place of their pastorales I as then liuing in my house hard by the place and against the houre they were to meet hauing kept the beastes without meate then let them loose knowing that they would seeke their food there and deuoure what they founde But blind Fortune hating sharpe-sighted inuentions made them vnluckily to bee killed After I vsed my seruant Clinias to stir a notable tumult of country people but those loutes were too grosse instruments for delicate conceits Nowe lastly finding Philanax his examinations grow daungerous I thought to play double or quit and with a sleight I vsed of my fine-witted wench Artesia with other maids of mine woulde haue sent these goodly inheritrixes of Arcadia to haue pleaded their cause before Pluto but that ouer-fortunatly for theÌ„ you made me know the last day how vehemeÌ„tly this childish passion of loue doth torment you Therfore I haue brought them vnto you yet wishing rather hate then loue in you For Hate often begetteth victory Loue commonly is the instrument of subiection It is true that I would also by the same practise haue entrapped the parentes but my maides failed of it not daring to tary long about it But this sufficeth since these being taken away you are the vndoubted inheritor and Basilius will not long ouer-liue this losse O mother said Amphialus speak not of doing them hurt no more theÌ„ to mine eyes or my hart or if I haue any thing more deare then eyes or hart vnto me Let others finde what sweetnes they will in euer fearing because they are euer feared for my part I will think my selfe highlye intitled if I may be once by Philoclea accepted for a seruant Well said Cecropia I would I had borne you of my minde as wel as of my body then should you not haue suncke vnder these base weaknesses But since you haue tied your thoughts in so wilful a knot it is happie my policy hath brought matters to such a passe as you may both enioy affection and vpon that builde your soueraigntie Alas said Amphialus my hart would faine yeeld you thanks for setting me in the way of felicitie but that feare killes theÌ„ in me before they are fully borne For if Philoclea be displeased how can I be pleased if she count it vnkindenes shal I giue tokens of kindnes perchance she condemnes me of this action and shall I triumph perchance she drownes now the beauties I loue with sorrowfull teares and where is then my reioycing You haue reason said Cecropia with a fained grauitie I will therefore send her away presently that her contentment may be recouâ—red No good mother saide Amphialus since she is here I would not for my life constraine presence but rather would I die then consent to absence Pretie intricate follies said Cecropia but get you vp and see how you can preuaile with her while I go to the other sister For after we shal haue our hands full to defend our selues if Basilius hap to besiege vs. But remembring herselfe she turned back and asked him what he would haue done with Zelmane since now he might be reuenged of his hurt Nothing but honorably answered Amphialus hauing deserued no other of me especially being as I hear greatly cherished of Philoclea and therfore I could wish they were lodged together O no said Cecropia company confirmes resolutions and lonelines breeds a werines of ones thoughts and so a sooner consenting to reasonable profers But Amphialus taking of his mother Philocleas kniues which he kept as a relique since she had worne theÌ„ gat vp and calling for his richest apparell nothing seemed sumptuous inough for his mistresses eyes and that which was costly he feared were not daintyâ— and though the inuention were delicat he misdoubted the making As carefull he was too of the colour lest if gay he might seem to glory in his iniury her wrong if mourning it might strike some euil presage vnto her of her fortune At length he took a garmeÌ„t more rich then glaring â—he ground being black veluet richly embrodered with great pearle precious stones but they set so among certaine tuffes of cipres that the cipres was like black clowds through which the stars might yeeld a dark luster About his neck he ware a brode gorgeous coller whereof the pieces enterchaÌ„geably answering the one was of diamoÌ„ds pearle set with a white enamell so as by the cunning of the workman it seemed like a shining ice and the other piece being of Rubies and Opalles had a fierie glistring which he thought pictured the two passions of Feare Desire wherein he
and taking euen precepts of preuailing in Pamela by her fayling in Philoclea shee went to her chamber and according to her owne vngratious method of subtile proceeding stood listning at the dore because that out of the circumstance of her present behauiour there might kindly arise a fitte beginning of her intended discourse And so shee might perceaue that Pamela did walke vp and downe full of deepe though patient thoughts For her look and countenance was setled her pace soft and almost still of one measure without any passionate gesture or violent motion till at length as it were awaking and strengthning her selfe Well said she yet this is the best and of this I am sure that how soeuer they wrong me they cannot ouer-master God No darkenes blinds his eyes no Iayle barres him out To whom then else should I flie but to him for succoure And therewith kneeling downe euen where she stood she thus said O all-seeing Light and eternall Life of al things to whom nothing is either so great that it may resist or so small that it is contemned looke vpon my miserie with thine eye of mercie and let thine infinite power vouchsafe to limite out some proportioÌ„ of deliuerance vnto me as to thee shal seem most conuenient Let not iniurie ô Lord triumphe ouer me and let my faultes by thy hande be corrected and make not mine vniuste enemie the minister of thy Iustice But yet my God if in thy wisdome this be the aptest chastizement for my vnexcuseable follie if this low bondage bee fittest for my ouer-hie desires if the pride of my not-inough humble harte bee thus to bee broken O Lorde I yeeld vnto thy will and ioyfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt haue me suffer Onely thus much let me craue of thee let my crauing ô Lord be accepted of thee since euen that proceedes from thee let mee craue euen by the noblest title which in my greatest affliction I may giue my selfe that I am thy creature and by thy goodnes which is thy selfe that thou wilt suffer some beame of thy Maiestie so to shine into my mind that it may still depende confidently vpon thee Let calamitie bee the exercise but not the ouerthrowe of my vertue let their power preuaile but preuaile not to destruction let my greatnes be their praie let my paine bee the sweetnes of their reuenge let them if so it seem good vnto thee vexe me with more and more punishment But ô Lord let neuer their wickednes haue such a hand but that I may carie a pure minde in a pure bodie And pausing a while And ô most gracious Lorde said she what euer become of me preserue the vertuous Musidorus The other parte Cecropia might well heare but this latter prayer for Musidorus her hart helde it as so iewel-like a treasure that it woulde scarce trust her owne lippes withall But this prayer sent to heauen from so heauenly a creature with such a feruent grace as if Deuotion had borowed her bodie to make of it selfe a most beautifull representation with her eyes so lifted to the skie-ward that one woulde haue thought they had begunne to flie thetherwarde to take their place among their fellow starres her naked hands raising vp their whole length and as it were kissing one another as if the right had ben the picture of Zeale and the left of Humblenesse which both vnited themselues to make their suites more acceptable Lastly all her senses being rather tokens then instruments of her inwarde motions altogether had so straunge a working power that euen the harde-harted wickednesse of Cecropia if it founde not a loue of that goodnes yet it felt an abashment at that goodnes and if she had not a kindly remorse yet had she an yrksome accusation of her own naughtines so that she was put from the biasle of her fore-intended lesson For well shee found there was no way at that time to take that mind but with some at lest image of Vertue and what the figure thereof was her hart knew not Yet did she prodigally spend her vttermost eloquence leauing no argument vnproued which might with any force inuade her excellent iudgement the iustnes of the request being but for marriage the worthinesse of the suiter then her owne present fortune which shoulde not onely haue amendment but felicitie besides falsely making her belieue that her sister would thinke her selfe happie if now shee might haue his loue which before shee contemned and obliquely touching what daunger it should be for her if her sonne should accept Philoclea in marriage and so match the next heire apparant shee being in his powre yet plentifully periuring how extreamely her sonne loued her and excusing the little shewes hee made of it with the duetifull respect he bare vnto her and taking vpon her selfe that she restrayned him since shee found shee could set no limits to his passions And as shee did to Philoclea so did she to her with the tribute of gifts seeke to bring her mind into seruitude and all other meanes that might either establish a beholdingnesse or at lest awake a kindnes doing it so as by reason of their imprisonment one sister knew not how the other was wooed but each might thinke that onely shee was sought But if Philoclea with sweet and humble dealing did auoid their assaults she with the Maiestie of Vertue did beate them of But this day their speach was the sooner broken of by reason that he who stood as watche vpon the top of the keepe did not onely see a great dust arise which the earth sent vp as if it would striue to haue clowdes as well as the aire but might spie sometimes especially when the dust wherein the naked winde did apparaile it selfe was caried a side from them the shining of armour like flashing of lightning wherewith the clowdes did seeme to bee with childe which the Sunne guilding with his beames it gaue a sight delightfull to any but to them that were to abide the terrour But the watch gaue a quicke Alarum to the souldiers within whome practise already hauing prepared began each with vnabashed hartes or at lest countenaunces to looke to their charge or obedience which was allotted vnto them Onely Clinias and Amphialus did exceed the bounds of mediocrity the one in his naturall coldnesse of cowardise the other in heate of courage For Clinias who was bold onely in busie whisperings and euen in that whisperingnes rather indeede confident in his cunning that it should not bee bewraied then any way bolde if euer it should bee bewrayed now that the enemy gaue a dreadfull aspect vnto the castle his eyes saw no terror nor eare heard any martiall sounde but that they multiplied the hideousnesse of it to his mated minde Before their comming he had many times felt a dreadfull expectation but yet his minde that was willing to ease it selfe of the burden offeare did somtime â—aine vnto it selfe possibilitie of let as the death of Basilius
steade of blood and making courage arise against faintnesse like a Candle which a little before it goes out giues then the greatest blaze so did he vnite all his force that casting away the little remnaunt of his shielde and taking his sword in both hands he stroke such a notable blow that he cleft his shield armour and arme almost to the bone But then Amphialus forgat all ceremonies with cruell blowes made more of his best blood succeed the rest til his hand being staied by his eare his eare filled with a pitifull crie the crie guided his sight to an excellent faire Ladie who came running as fast as she could and yet because she could not as fast as she would shee sent her lamentable voyce before her and being come and being knowne to them both to be the beautifull Parthenia who had that night dreamed shee saw her husbande in such estate as shee then found him which made her make such haste thither they both maruailed But Parthenia ranne between them feare of loue making her â—orget the feare of Nature and then fel downe at their feete determining so to part them till shee coulde get breathe to sigh out her dolefull speeches and when her breath which running had spent dismayednesse made slowe to returne had by sobbes gotten into her sorow-closed breast for a while she could say nothing but O wretched eyes of mine O wailefull sight O day of darkenesse at length turning her eyes where in sorrow swamme to Amphialus My Lorde saide she it is saide you loue in the power of that loue I beseech you to leaue of this combate as euer your harte may finde comfort in his affection euen for her sake I craue it or if you be mortally determined be so pitifull vnto me as first to kill me that I may not see the death of Argalus Amphialus was about to haue aunswered when Argalus vexed with his Fortune but most vexed that she shoulde see him in that fortune Ah Parthenia said he neuer till now vnwelcome vnto me do you come to get my life by request And caÌ„not Argalus liue but by request Is that a life With that he went aside for fear of hurting her would haue begun the coÌ„bate afresh But Amphialus not only coÌ„iured by that which held the Monarchie of his mind but euen in his noble hart melting with coÌ„passion at so passionate a sight desired him to withhold his haÌ„ds for that he should strike one who sought his fauour would not make resistauÌ„ce A notable example of the wonderful effectes of Vertue where the conquerour sought for friendship of the conquered the conquered would not pardon the conquerour both indeede being of that minde to loue eche other for accepting but not for giuing mercie neyther afâ—ected to ouer-liue a dishonour so that Argalus not so much striuing with Amphialus for if he had had him in the like sorte in like sorte he woulde haue dealt with him as labouring against his owne power which he chiefly despised set himselfe forward stretching his strength to the vttermost But the fire of that strife blowen with his inward rage boyled out his bloud in such aboundance that hee was driuen to rest him vpon the pommel of his sworde and then each thing beginning to turne round in the daunce of Death before his eyes his sight both dazled dimmed till thinking to sit downe he fel in a sowne Parthenia and Amphialus both hastely went vnto him Amphialus tooke off his helmet and Parthenia laid his head in her lap tearing of her linnen sleues partlet to serue about his wounds to bind which shee tooke of her hair-lace and woulde haue cut of her faire haire herselfe but that the squires and iudges came in with fitter things for the purpose while she bewayled her selfe with so lamentable sweetnes as was inough to haue taught sorrow to the gladdest thoughts and haue engraued it in the mindes of hardest mettall O Parthenia no more Parthenia said she What art thou what seest thou how is thy blisse in a moment fallen how art thou euen-now before all Ladies the example of perfect happines and nowe the gasing-stocke of endles miserie O God what hath bene my desert to be thus punished or if such haue bene my desert why was I not in my selfe punished O wandring life to what wildernes wouldst thou lead me But Sorow I hope thou art sharp inough to saue my labour from other remedies Argalus Argalus I will folow thee I will follow thee But with that Argalus came out of his sowne and lifting vp his languishing eyes which a paineful rest and iron sleep did seeke to lock vp seeing her in whom euen dying he liued and him selfe seated in so beloued a place it seemed a little cheerefull bloud came vp to his cheekes like a burning cole almost dead if some breath a little reuiue it and forcing vp the best he coulde his feeble voice My deare my better halfe saide hee I finde I must now leaue thee and by that sweete hand and faire eyes of thine I sweare that Death bringes nothing with it to grieue me but that I must leaue thee and cannot remaine to answere part of thy infinit deserts with being some comfort vnto thee But since so it pleaseth him whose wisedome and goodnesse guideth all put thy confidence in him and one day wee shall blessedly meet againe neuer to depart meane while liue happily deare Parthenia and I perswade my selfe it will encrease the blessednes of my soule so to see thee Loue well the remembrance of thy louing and truely louing Argalus and let not with that word he sighed this disgrace of mine make thee one day thinke thou hadst an vnwoorthie husband They could scarcely vnderstand the last wordes for Death began to seaze him selfe of his harte neither coulde Parthenia make answere so full was her breast of anguish But while the other sought to stanch his remediles wounds she with her kisses made him happie for his last breath was deliuered into her mouth But when indeede she found his ghost was gone then Sorrowe lost the witte of vtterance and groâ—e ragefull and madde so that shee tare her beautifull face and rent her haire â—â—â—â—oâ—gh they coulde serue for nothing since Argalus was gone till Amphialus so â—â—oued with pittie of that sight as that hee honoured his aduersaries death with â—â—â—es caused her with the helpe of her women that came with her partelie by â—â—rce to be conueyed into the boat with the dead body of Argalus from which she â—ould not depart And being come of the other side there she was receaued by Baâ—â—â—â—us him self with all the funerall pompe of militarie discipline trayling all their â—â—â—ignes vpon the ground making these warlike instrumentes sound dolefull notes and Basilius with comfort in his mouth and woe in his face sought to perswade some ease into Parthenias mind but all was as easefull to her as the handling of sore woundes all
made such head against him as would haue shewed how soone Courage falles in the ditch which hath not the eie of Wisdome but that Amphialus at the same time issued out and winning with an abundaunce of courage one of the sconses which Basilius had builded made waie for his friend Anaxius with great losse of both sides but especially of the Basilians such notable monuments had those two swords especially lefte of their Maisters redoubted worthynesse There with the respect fit to his estate the honour dewe to his worthinesse and the kindnesse which accompanies friendship made fast by enterchaunged benefits did Amphialus enforce him selfe as much as in a besieged towne he could to make Anaxius know that his succour was not so needefull as his presence gratefull For causing the streetes and houses of the towne to witnes his welcome making both souldiers and Magistrates in their countenaunces to shewe their gladnesse of him he led him to his mother whom hee besought to entertaine him with no lesse loue and kindnesse then as one who once had saued her sonnes life and now came to saue both life and honour Tush said Anaxius speaking alowde looking vpon his brothers I am onely sorie there are not halfe a dozen Kinges more about you that what Anaxius can do might be the better manifested His brothers smiled as though he had ouer-modestly spoken farre vnderneath the pitch of his power TheÌ„ was he disarmed at the earnest request of Amphialus for Anaxius boiled with desire to issue out vppon the enemies perswading himself that the Sun should not be sette before he had ouerthrown them And hauing reposed himselfe Amphialus asked him whether he would visite the yong Princesses But Anaxius whispered him in the eare In trueth saide hee deare friende Amphialus though I am none of those that loue to speake of themselues I neuer came yet in companie of Ladies but that they fell in loue with me And I that in my hart scorne them as a peeuish paltrie sexe not woorthie to communicate with my vertues woulde not doo you the wrong since as I heare you doo debase your selfe so much as to affect them The curteous Amphialus could haue beene angrie with him for those wordes but knowing his humour suffered him to daunce to his owne musicke and gaue himselfe to entertaine both him and his brothers with as cheerefull a maner as coulde issue from a mind whom vnluckie loue had filled with melancholie For to Anaxius he yeelded the directioÌ„ of all He gaue the watchwoorde and if any grace were graunted the meanes were to be made to Anaxius And that night when supper was ended wherein Amphialus woulde needes himselfe waite vpon him he caused in Boates vpon the Lake an excellent musicke to be ordered which though Anaxius might conceiue was for his honour yet indeede he was but the Bricke-wall to conuey it to the eares of the beloued Philoclea The musicke was of Cornets whereof one aunswering the other with a sweete emulation striuing for the glorie of musicke and striking vpon the smooth face of the quiet Lake was then deliuered vp to the castle walles which with a proude reâ—erberation spreading it into the aire it seemed before the harmonie came to the eare that it had enriched it selfe in trauaile the nature of those places adding melodie to that melodious instrument And when a while that instrument had made a braue proclamation to all vnpossessed mindes of attention an excellent consort streight followed of fiue Violles and as many voyces which all being but Oratours of their maisters passions bestowed this song vppon her that thought vppon another matter THe Fire to see my wrongs for anger burneth The Aire in raine for my affliction weepeth The Sea to ebbe for griefe his flowing turneth The Earth with pittie dul his center keepeth Fame is with wonder blazed Time runnes away for sorrow Place standeth still amazed To see my night of euils which hath no morrowe Alas all onely she no pittie taketh To know my miseries but chaste and cruell My fall her glory maketh Yet still her eyes giue to my flames their fuell Fire burne me quite till sense of burning leaue me Aire let me drawe thy breath no more in anguish Sea drown'd in thee of tedious life bereaue me Earth take this earth wherein my spirits languish Fame say I was not borne Time hast my dying hower Place see my graue vptorne Fire aire sea earth fame time place show your power Alas from all their helpes I am exiled For hers am I and Death feares her displeasure Fie Death thou art beguiled Though I be hers she makes of me no treasure But Anaxius seeming a weary before it was ended tolde Amphialus that for his part he liked no musick but the neighing of horses the sound of trumpets and the cries of yeelding persons and therefore desired that the next morning they should issue vpoÌ„ the same place wher they had eÌ„tred that day not doubting to make them quickely a wearie of being the besiegers of Anaxius Amphialus who had no whit lesse courage though nothing blowne vp with pride willingly condiscended and so the next morning giuing false alarum to the other side of the campe Amphialus at Anaxius earnest request staying within the towne to see it garded Anaxius and his brethren Lycurgus and Zoilus sallied out with the best chosen men But Basilius hauing bene the last day some what vnprouided now had better fortified the ouerthrowne sconse and so well had prepared euery thing for defence that it was impossible for any valour from within to preuaile Yet thinges were perfourmed by Anaxius beyonde the credite of the credulous For thrife valiantly followed by his brothers did he set vp his banner vpon the rampire of the enemie though thrise againe by the multitude aduauntage of the place but especially by the comming of three valiant Knights he were driuen downe againe Numbers there were that day whose deathes and ouerthrowes were excused by the well knowen sworde of Anaxius but the rest by the length of time iniurie of Historians haue bene wrapped vp in darke forgetfulnesse onely Tressennius is spoken of because when all abandoned the place he onely made head to Anaxius till hauing lost one of his legs yet not lost the harte of fighting Lycurgus second brother to Anaxius cruellie murthered him Anaxius him selfe disdayning any further to deale with him But so farre had Anaxius at the third time preuayled that now the Basilians began to let their courage descende to their feete Basilius Philanax in vaine striuing with reuerence of authoritie to bridle the flight of astonishment and to teach Feare discretion so that Amphialus seeing Victorie shewe such a flattering countenaunce to him came out with all his force hoping that day to end the siege But that fancie altered quicklie by the suddaine comming to the other side of three Knights whereof the one was in white armour the other in greene and the third by his blacke
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 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
all excelling in all those excellencies wherewith Nature can beautifie any body Pamela giuing sweetnes to maiesty Philoclea enriching noblenes with humblenes Zelmane setting in womanly beautie manlike valour to be thus subiected to the basest iniury of vniust Fortune One might see in Pamela a willingnesse to dye rather then to haue life at others discretion though sometimes a princely disdaine would sparkle out of her Princely eyes that it should be in others power to force her to dye In Philoclea a pretie feare came vp to endamaske her rosie cheekes but it was such a feare as rather seemed a kindly childe to her innate humblenes then any other dismayednes or if she were dismayed it was more for Zelmane then for her selfe or if more for her selfe it was because Zelmane should loose her As for Zelmane as she went with her hands bound for they durst not aduenture on her well knowne valour especially among a people which perchance might be moued by such a spectacle to some reuolte she was the true image of ouermaistred courage and of spite that sees no remedie For her breast swelled withall the bloud burst out at her nose and she looked paler then accustomed with her eies cast on the ground with such a grace as if she were fallen out with the heauens for suffering such an iniury The lookers on were so moued withall as they misliked what themselues did and yet still did what themselues misliked For some glad to rid themselues of the dangerous annoyance of this siege some willing to shorten the way to Amphialus-his succession whereon they were dependents some and the greatest some doing because others did and suffring because none durst begin to hinder did in this sort set their hands to this in their owne conscience wicked enterprise But when this message was brought to Basilius and that this pittifull preparation was a sufficient letter of credit for him to beleeue it hee called vnto him his chiefe councelors among which those he chiefly trusted were Philanax Kalander lately come to the campe at Basilius cōmandement and in him selfe wery of his solitary life wanting his sons presence neuer hauing heard from his beloued guestes since they parted from him Now in this doubt what he should do he willed Kalander to giue him his aduise who spake much to this purpose You commaund me Sir said he to speake rather because you will keepe your wonted graue and noble manner to do nothing of importance without coūcell then that in this cause which indeed hath but one way your mind needs to haue any councell so as my speech shall rather be to confirme what you haue alredy determined then to argue against any possibillitie of other determination For what sophistical scholler can find any question in this whether you will haue your incomparable daughters liue or dye whether since you be here to cause their deliuerance you wil make your being here the cause of their destruction for nothing can bee more vnsensible then to thinke what one doth and to forget the end why it is done Do therfore as I am sure you meane to do remoue the siege and after seeke by practise or other gentle meanes to recouer that which by force you cannot and therof is indeed when it please you more counsel to be taken Once in extremities the winning of time is the purchase of life worse by no meanes then their deaths can befal vnto you A man might vse more words if it were to any purpose to guild gold or that I had any cause to doubt of your mind But you are wise and are a father He said no more for he durst not attempt to perswade the marrying of his daughter to Amphialus but left that to bring in at another consultation But Basilius made signe to Philanax who standing a while in a maze as inwardly perplexed at last thus deliuered his opinion If euer I could wish my faith vntried my counsell vntrusted it should be at this time whē in truth I must confesse I would be cōtent to purchase silence with discredit But since you command I obey onely let me say thus much that I obey not to these excellent Ladies father but to my Prince a Prince it is to whō I giue coūsel Therefore as to a Prince I say that the graue I well know true-minded counsell of my Lord Kalander had come in good time when you first tooke armes before all your subiects gate notice of your intention before so much blood was spent and before they were driuen to seeke this shift for their last remedy But if nowe this force you away why did you take armes since you might be sure when euer they were in extremitie they would haue recourse to this threatning and for a wise man to take in hand that which his enimy may with a word ouerthrow hath in my conceit great incongruity and as great not to forethinke what his enemy in reason will doo But they threaten they wil kil your daughters What if they promised you if you remoued your siege they would honorably send home your daughters would you bee angled by their promises truly no more ought you be terrified by their threatnings For yet of the two promise binds faith more thē threatning But indeed a Prince of iudgement ought not to consider what his enimies promise or threaten but what the promisers and threatners in reason wil do and the neerest coniecture thereunto is what is best for their owne behoofe to do They threaten if you remoue not they wil kil your daughters and if you doo remoue what surety haue you but that they will kil them since if the purpose be to cut off all impediments of Amphialus-his ambition the same cause will continue when you are away and so much the more encoraged as the reuenging power is absent and they haue the more oportunitie to draw their factious friends about them but if it be for their security onely the same cause will bring forth the same effect and for their security they will preserue them But it may be said no man knows what desperate folks wil do it is true and as true that no reason nor policie can preuent what desperate folks wil do therfore they are among those dangers which wisdome is not to recken Only let it suffice to take away their despaire which may be by granting pardon for what is past so as the Ladies may be freely deliuered And let them that are your subiects trust you that are their Prince doo not you subiect your selfe to trust them who are so vntrusty as to be manifest traitors For if they finde you so base-minded as by their threatning to remoue your force what indignitie is it that they would not bring you vnto still by the same threatning since then if Loue stir them loue will keep them from murthering what they loue and if Ambition prouoke them ambitious they will be when you are
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
In her lap there lay a Shepheard so wrapped vp in that well liked place that I could discerne no piece of his face but as mine eyes were attent in that her Angellike voice strake mine eares with this song MY true loue hath my hart and I haue his By iust exchange one for the other giu'ne I holde his deare and myne he cannot misse There neuer was a better bargaine driu'ne His hart in me keepes me and him in one My hart in him his thoughtes and senses guides He loues my hart for once it was his owne I cherish his because in me it bides His hart his wound receaued from my sight My hart was wounded with his wounded hart For as from me on him his hurt did light So still me thought in me his hurt did smart Both equall hurt in this change sought our blisse My true loue hath my hart and I haue his But as if the Shepheard that lay before her had bene organes which were only to be blowen by her breath she had no sooner ended with the ioyning her sweete lips together but that he recorded to her musick this rurall poesie O Words which fall like sommer deaw on me O breath more sweete then is the growing beane O toong in which all honyed likoures bâ—e O voice that doth the Thrush in shrilnes staine Do you say still this is her promise due That she is myne as I to her am true Gay haire more gaie then straw when haruest lyes Lips red and plum as cherries ruddy side Eyes faire and great like faire great oxes eyes O brest in which two white sheepe swell in pride Ioyne you with me to seale this promise due That she be myne as I to her am true But thou white skinne as white as cruddes well prest So smooth as sleekestone-like it smoothes each parte And thou deare flesh as soft as wooll new drest And yet as hard as brawne made hard by arte First fower but say next fowr their saying seale But you must pay the gage of promist weale And with the conclusion of his song he embraced her about the knees O sweet Charita said he when shall I enioy the rest of my toyling thoughts And when shall your blisfull promise now due be verified with iust performance with that I drew neerer to them and saw for now he had lifted vp his face to glasse himselfe in her faire eyes that it was my master Damaetas but here Miso interrupted his tale with rayling at Damaetas with all those exquisite termes which I was neuer good skolde inough to imagine But Dorus as if he had ben much offended with her impacieÌ„ce would proceed no further till she had vowed more stillnes For said he if the first drumme thus chafe you what will you be when it commes to the blowes Then he told her how after many familiar entertainments betwixt them Damaetas laying before her his great credit with the Duke and withall giuing her very faire presents with promise of much more had in the ende concluded together to meete as that night at Mantinea in the Oudemian streete at Charitas vncles house about tenne of the clocke After which bargaine Damaetas had spied Dorus and calling him to him had with great brauery told him all his good happe willing him in any case to returne to the olde witch Miso for so indeede mistresse of liuelinesse and not of ill will he termed you and to make some honest excuse of his absence for sayde he kissing Charita if thou didst know what a life I lead with that driuell it would make thee euen of pittie receaue me into thy only comfort Now Mistresse sayde he exercise your discretion which if I were well assured of I would wish you to goe yourselfe to Mantinea and lying secrete in some one of youre gossypps houses till the time appoynted come so may you finde them together and vsing mercie reforme my Maister from his euill wayes There had nothing more enraged Miso then the prayses Dorus gaue to Charitas bewtie which made her iealosie swell the more with the poyson of enuye And that being increased with the presents she heard Damaetas had giuen her which all seemed torne out of her bowells her hollow eyes yeelded such wretched lookes as one might well thinke Pluto at that time might haue had her soule very good cheape But when the fire of spite had fully caught hold of all her inward partes then whosoeuer would haue seene the picture of Alecto or with what maner of countenance Medea kild her owne children needed but take Miso for the full satisfaction of that point of his knowledge She that could before scarce go but supported by crutches now flew about the house borne vp with the wings of Anger there was no one sort of mortall reuenge that had euer come to her eares but presented it selfe nowe to her gentle minde At length with few words for her words were choakt vp with the rising of her reuengefull hart she ran downe and with her own hands sadled a mare of hers a mare that 7. yeare before had not bene acquainted with a sadle so to Mantinea she went casting with her selfe how she might couple shame with the punishmeÌ„t of her accursed husband but the person is not worthie in whose passion I should too long stand Therefore now must I tell you that Mistresse Mopsa who was the last party Dorus was to practise his cunning withal was at the parting of her parents attending vpon the Princes Pamela whom because she found to be placed in her fathers house she knew it was for suspicion the Duke had of her This made Mopsa with a right base nature which ioyes to see anie hard hap happen to them they deeme happie grow prowd ouer her vse great ostentation of her own diligeÌ„ce in prying curiously into each thing that Pamela did Neither is there any thing sooner ouerthrows a weak hart then opinioÌ„ of authority like too strong a liquor for so feebl a glasse which ioined it self to the humor of enuying Pamelas beauty so far that oft she would say to her self if she had ben borne a Duchesse as well as Pamela her perfections then should haue beene as well seene as Pamelas with this manner of woman and placed in these termes had Dorus to play his last parte which hee would quickly haue dispatched in tying her vp in such a maner that she should litle haue hindred his enterprise But that the vertuous Pamela wheÌ„ she saw him so minded by countenaunce absolutlie forbad it resolutely determining she would not leaue behinde her any token of wrong since the wrong done to her selfe was the best excuse of her escape So that Dorus was compelled to take her in the maner hee first thought of and accordingly Pamela sitting musing at the strange attempt shee had condiscended vnto and Mopsa harde by her looking in a glasse with very partiall eyes Dorus put himselfe between them and casting vp his
harte woulde euer haue yeelded to goe And if so I doe not rightlie tearme you all other wordes are as bootelesse as my deede miserable and I as vnfortunate as you wicked my Prince Musidorus I saye nowe that the vehement shewes of your faithfull Loue towardes mee haue brought my minde to answeare it in so due a proportion that contrarie to all generall rules of reason I haue layde in you my estate my life my honour it is your part to double your former care and make me see your vertue no lesse in preseruing then in obtaining and your faith to bee a faith asmuch in freedome as bondage Tender now your owne workemanshippe and so gouerne your loue towardes me as I may still remaine worthie to bee loued Your promise you Remember which here by the eternall giuers of vertue I coniure you to obserue let me be your owne as I am but by no vniust conquest let not our ioyes which ought euer to last bee stayned in our own consciences let no shadow of repentaunce steale into the sweet consideration of our mutuall happines I haue yeelded to bee your wife staye then till the time that I may rightly bee so let no other defiled name burden my harte What shoulde I more saye If I haue chosen well all doubte is past since your action onely must determine whether I haue done vertuously or shamefully in following you Musidorus that had more aboundaunce of ioye in his hart then Vlisses had what time with his owne industrie he stale the fatall Palladium imagined to bee the only relicke of Troies safetie taking Pamelas hand and many times kissing it What I am said he the Gods I hope will shortly make your owne eyes Iudges and of my minde towards you the meane time shal be my pledge vnto you your contentment is dearer to me then mine owne therfore doubt not of his mind whose thoughts are so thralled vnto you as you are to bend or slack them as it shall sâ—eme best vnto you You do wrong to your selfe to make any doubte that a base estate could euer vndertake so high an enterprise or a spotted minde bee hable to beholde your vertues Thus much onely I must confesse I can neuer doe to make the worlde see you haue chosen worthily since all the world is not worthy of you In such delightfull discourses kept they on their Iournye mayntaining their hartes in that right harmonie of affection which doth enterchangeably deliuer each to other the secret workinges of their soules till with the vnused trauaile the Princesse being weary they lighted downe in a faire thyckwood which did entise them with the pleasantnes of it to take their rest there It was all of Pine trees whose brodeheades meeting togither yeelded a perfit shade to the ground where their bodies gaue a spacious and pleasant roome to walke in they were sett in so perfet an order that euerie waye the eye being full yet no way was stopped And euen in the middest of them were there many sweete springes which did loose themselues vpon the face of the earth Here Musidorus drew out such prouision of fruites other cates as he had brought for that dayes repaste and layde it downe vpon the faire Carpet of the greene grasse But Pamela had much more pleasure to walke vnder those trees making in their barkes prettie knottes which tyed togither the names of Musidorus and Pamela sometimes entermixedly changing there to Pammedorus and Musimela with twentie other flowers of her trauiling fancies which had bounde them selues to a greater restrainte then they could without much painewell endure and to one tree more beholdinge to her then the rest she entrusted the treasure of her thoughtes in these verses DO not disdaine ô streight vp raised Pine That wounding thee my thoughtes in thee I graue Since that my thoughtes as streight as streightnes thine No smaller wound alas farr deeper haue Deeper engrau'd which salue nor time can saue Giu'ne to my harte by my fore wounded eyne Thus cruell to my selfe how canst thou craue My inward hurte should spare thy outward rineâ— Yet still fairetree lifte vp thy stately line Liue long and long witnesse my chosen smarte Which barde desires barde by my selfe imparte And in this growing barke growe verses myne My harte my worde my worde hath giu'ne my harte The giuer giu'n from gifte shall neuer parte Vpon a roote of the tree that the earth had lefte something barer then the rest she wrat this couplet SWeete roote say thou the roote of my desire Was vertue cladde in constant loues attire Musidorus seing her fancies drawne vp to such pleasaunt contemplations accompanied her in them and made the trees aswell beare the badges of his passionsâ— As this songe engraued in them did testifie YOu goodly pines which still with braue assent In natures pride your heads to heau'nwarde heaue Though you besides such graces earth hath lent Of some late grace a greater grace receaue By her who was O blessed you content With her faire hande your tender barkes to cleaue And so by you O blessed you hath sent Such pearcing wordes as no thoughts els conceaue Yet yeeld your graunt a baser hand may leaue His thoughtes in you where so sweete thoughtes were spent For how would you the mistresse thoughts bereaue Of waiting thoughts all to her seruice ment Nay higher thoughtes though thralled thoughtes I call My thoughtes then hers who first your ryne did rente Then hers to whom my thoughts a lonely thrall Rysing from lowe are to the highest bente Where hers whom worth makes highest ouer all Comming from her cannot but downewarde fall While Pamela sitting her downe vnder one of them and making a posie of the fayer vndergrowinge flowers filled Musidorus eares with the heauenly sounde of her musicke which before he had neuer heard so that it seemed vnto him a new assaulte giuen to the castle of his hart alredye conquered which to signifie and with all replie to her sweete noates hee sang in a kinde of still but rauishing tune a fewe verses her song was this and his Replie followes Pamela LIke diuers flowers whose diuers beauties serue To decke the earth with his well-colourde weede Though each of them his priuate forme preserue Yet ioyning formes one sight of beautie breede Right so my thoughts where on my hart I feede Right so my inwarde partes and outward glasse Though each possesse a diuers working kinde Yet all well knit to one faire end do passe That he to whome these sondrie giftes I binde All what I am still one his owne doe finde Musidorus All what you are still one his owne to finde You that are borne to be the worldes eye What were it els but to make each thing blinde And to the sunne with waxen winges to flie No no such force with my small force to trye Is not my skill or reach of mortall minde Call me but yours my title is most hye Holde me most yours
her liues enterprise for well shee knewe deceite cannot otherwise be mayntayned but by deceite and how to deceyue such heedfull eyes and how to satisfye and yet not satisfye such hopefull desires it was no small skill But both their thoughtes were called from themselues with the sight of Basilius who then lying downe by his daughter Philoclea vppon the fayre though naturall bed of greene-grasse seeing the sunne what speede hee made to leaue our West to doo his office in the other Hemisphere his inwarde Muses made him in his best musicke sing this Madrigall WHy doost thou haste away O Titan faire the giuer of the daie Is it to carry newes To Westerne wightes what starres in East appeare Or doost thou thinke that heare Is left a Sunne whose beames thy place may vse Yet stay and well peruse What be her giftes that make her equall thee Bend all thy light to see In earthly clothes enclosde a heauenly sparke Thy running course cannot such beawties marke No no thy motions bee Hastened from vs with barre of shadow darke Because that thou the author of our sight Disdainst we see thee staind with others light And hauing ended Deere Philoclea said he sing something that may diuerte my thoughts from the continuall taske of their ruinous harbour She obedient to him and not vnwilling to disburden her secret passion made her sweete voice be heard in these words O Stealing time the subiect of delaie Delay the racke of vnrefram'd desire What strange dessein hast thou my hopes to staie My hopes which do but to mine owne aspire Mine owne ô word on whose sweete sound doth pray My greedy soule with gripe of inward fire Thy title great I iustlie chalenge may Since in such phrase his faith he did attire O time become the chariot of my ioyes As thou drawest on so let my blisse draw neere Each moment lost part of my hap destroyes Thou art the father of occasion deare Ioyne with thy sonne to ease my long annoy's In speedie helpe thanke worthie frends appeare Philoclea brake off her Song as soone as her mother with Zelmane came neere vnto them rising vp with a kindly bashfulnes being not ignorant of the spite her mother bare her and stricken with the sight of that person whose loue made all those troubles seeme fayre flowers of her deerest garlond Nay rather all those troubles made the loue encrease For as the arriuall of enemyes makes a towne so fortifye it selfe as euer after it remaynes stronger so that a man may say enemyes were no small cause to the townes strength So to a minde once fixed in a well pleased determinacion who hopes by annoyance to ouerthrowe it doth but teach it to knit together all his best grounds and so perchance of a chaunceable purpose make an vnchangeable resolucion But no more Philoclea see the wonted signes of Zelmanes affection towardes her she thought she sawe an other light in her eyes with a bould and carelesse looke vpon her which was wont to be dazeled with her beawtie and the framing of her courtesyes rather ceremonious then affectionate and that which worst liked her was that it proceeded with such quiet setlednes as it rather threatned a full purpose then any sodayne passion She founde her behauiour bent altogether to her mother and presumed in her selfe she discerned the well acquainted face of his fancies now turned to another subiecte She sawe her mothers worthines and too well knewe her affection These ioyning theyr diuers working powers together in her minde but yet a prentise in the paynefull misterye of passions brought Philoclea into a newe trauers of her thoughtes and made her keepe her carefull looke the more attentiue vppon Zelmanes behauiour who in deede though with much payne and condemning her selfe to commit a sacriledge against the sweete saincte that liued in her in most Temple yet strengthening herselfe in it beeing the surest waye to make Gynecia bite off her other baytes did so quite ouerrule all wonted showes of loue to Philoclea and conuert them to Gynecia that the parte she played did worke in both a full and liuely perswasion to Gynecia such excessiue comforte as the beeing preferred to a riuall doth deliuer to swelling desire But to the delicate Philoclea whose calme thoughtes were vnable to nourish any strong debate it gaue so stinging a hurt that fainting vnder the force of her inwarde torment she withdrewe her selfe to the Lodge and there wearye of supporting her owne burden cast her selfe vppon her bed suffering her sorrowe to melt it selfe into abundance of teares at length closing her eyes as if eache thing she sawe was a picture of her mishap and turning vpon her hurtside which with vehement panting did summon her to consider her fortune she thus bemoned her selfe Alas Philoclea is this the price of all thy paynes Is this the rewarde of thy giuen awaye libertye Hath too much yeelding bred crueltye or can too greate acquaintance make mee helde for a straunger Hath the choosing of a companion made mee lefte alone or doth graunting desire cause the desire to bee neglected Alas despised Philoclea why diddest thou not holde thy thoughtes in theyr simple course and content thy â—elfe with the loue of thy owne vertue which would neuer haue betrayed thee Ah sillie foole diddest thou looke for truth in him that with his owne mouth confest his falsehood for playne proceeding in him that still goes disguised They say the falsest men will yet beare outward shewes of a pure minde But he that euen outwardly beares the badge of treacherie what hells of wickednes must needes in the depth be contayned But ô wicked mouth of mine how darest thou thus blaspheme the ornament of the earth the vessell of all vertue O wretch that I am that will anger the gods in dispraysing their most excellent worke O no no there was no fault but in me that could euer thinke so high eyes would looke so lowe or so great perfections would stayne themselues with my vnworthines Alas why could I not see I was too weake a band to tye so heauenly a hart I was not fit to limit the infinite course of his wonderfull destenies Was it euer like that vpon only Philoclea his thoughtes should rest Ah silly soule that couldst please thy selfe with â—o impossible an imagination An vniuersall happines is to flowe from him How was I so inueagled to hope I might be the marke of such a minde He did thee no wrong ô Philoclea he did thee no wrong it was thy weakenes to fancie the beames of the sonne should giue light to no eyes but thine And yet ô Prince Pirocles for whome I may well begin to hate my selfe but can neuer leaue to loue thee what triumph canst thou make of this conquest what spoiles wilt thou carry away of this my vndeserued ouerthrow could thy force finde out no fitter field then the feeble minde of a poore mayde who at the first sight did wish thee all
happines shall it be sayde the mirrour of mankinde hath bene employed to destroy a hurtlesse gentlewoman O Pirocles Pirocles let me yet call thee before the iudgement of thine owne vertue let me be accepted for a plaintiffe in a cause which concernes my life what need hadst thou to arme thy face with the enchanting mask of thy painted passions wht need hadst thou to fortefy thy excelleÌ„cies with so exquisit a cunning in making our own arts betray vs what needest thou descend so far froÌ„ thy incomparable worthines as to take on the habit of weake womankinde Was all this to winne the vndefended Castle of a friend which being wonne thou wouldest after raze Could so small a cause allure thee or did not so vniust a cause stop thee ô me what say I more this is my case my loue hates me vertue deales wickedly with me and he does me wrong whose doing I can neuer accompt wrong With that the sweet Lady turning her selfe vppon her weary bed she happly sawe a Lute vpon the belly of which Gynecia had written this song what time Basilius imputed her iealous motions to proceed of the doubt she had of his vntimely loues Vnder which vaile she contented to couer her neuer ceassing anguish had made the Lute a monument of her minde which Philoclea had neuer much marked till now the feare of a competitour more sturred her then before the care of a mother The verses were these MY Lute which in thy selfe thy tunes enclose Thy mistresse song is now a sorrow's crie Her hand benumde with fortunes daylie blows Her minde amaz'de can neithers helpe applie Weare these my words as mourning weede of woes Blacke incke becommes the state wherein I dye And though my mones be not in musicke bound Of written greefes yet be the silent ground The world doth yeeld such ill consorted shows With circkled course which no wise stay can trye That childish stuffe which knowes not frendes from foes Better despisde bewondre gasing eye Thus noble golde downe to the bottome goes When worthlesse corke aloft doth floting lye Thus in thy selfe least strings are loudest founde And lowest stops doo yeeld the hyest sounde Philoclea read them and throwing downe the Lute is this the legacie you haue bequeathed me O kinde mother of mine said she did you bestow the light vpon me for this or did you beare me to be the Author of my buriall A trim purchase you haue made of your owne shame robbed your daughter to ruyne your selfe The birds vnreasonable yet vse so much reason as to make nestes for their tender young ones my cruell Mother turnes me out of mine owne harbour Alas plaint bootes not for my case can receaue no helpe for who should geue mee helpe shall I flye to my parents they are my murtherers shall I goe to him who already being woon and lost must needs haue killed all pittie Alas I can bring no new intercessions he knows already what I am is his Shall I come home againe to my self ô me contemned wretch I haue giuen away my self With that the poore soule beate her breast as if that had bene guilty of her faults neither thinking of reuenge nor studying for remedy but sweete creature gaue greefe a free dominion keeping her chamber a few days after not needing to faine her self sick feeling euen in her soule the pangs of extreeme paine But little did Gynecia reck that neyther when she sawe her goe awaye from them neyther when she after found that sicknes made her hide her faire face so much had fancye preuailed against nature But ô you that haue euer knowen how tender to euery motion loue makes the louers hart how he measures all his ioyes vpon her contentment doth with respectful eye hang al his behauiour vpoÌ„ her eyes iudg I praye you now of Zelmanes troubled thoughts when she saw Philoclea with an amazed kinde of sorrow carrie awaye her sweete presence and easely founde so happie a coniecture vnhappie affection hath that her demeanour was guiltie of that trespasse There was neuer foolish softe harted mother that forced to beate her childe did weepe first for his paines and doing that she was loath to do did repent before she began did finde haâ—fe that motion in her weake minde as Zelmane did now that she was forced by reason to giue an outward blowe to her passions and for the lending of a small time to seeke the vsury of all her desires The vnkindnes she conceaued Philoclea might conceaue did wound her soule each teare she doubted she spent drowned all her comforte Her sicknes was a death vnto her Often woulde shee speake to the image of Philoclea which liued and ruled in the highest of her inwarde parte and vse vehement othes and protestations vnto her that nothing shoulde euer falsifie the free chosen vowe she had made Often woulde she desire her that she would looke wel to Pyrocles hart for as for her shee had no more interest in it to bestow it any way Alas woulde shee saye onely Philoclea hast thou not so much feeling of thine owne force as to knowe no new conquerer can preuaile against thy conquestes Was euer any daseled with the moone that had vsed his eyes to the beames of the Sunne Is hee carried awaye with a greedie desire of Akornes that hath had his senses rauished with a garden of most delightfull fruites O Philoclea Philoclea be thou but as mercifull a Princesse to my minde as thou arte a trewe possessour and I shal haue as much cause of gladnes as thou hast no cause of misdoubting O no no when a man 's owne harte is the gage of his debte when a man 's owne thoughts are willing witnesses to his promise lastly when a man is the gaylour ouer himselfe There is little doubte of breaking credit and lesse doubt of such an escape In this combat of Zelmanes doubtfull imaginations in the ende reason well backed with the vehement desire to bring her matters soone to the desired hauen did ouer rule the boyling of her inward kindnes though as I say with such a manifest strife that both Basilius and Gynecias well wayting eyes had marked her muses had laboured in deeper subiecte then ordinarie which she likewise perceauing they had perceaued a waking her selfe out of those thoughtes and principally caring howe to satisfie Gynecia whose iudgement and passion shee stood most in regarde of bowing her head to her attentiue eare Madame saide she with practise of my thoughts I haue found out a way by which your contentment shall draw on my happines Gynecia deliuering in her face as thankfull a ioyfulnes as her harte coulde holde saide it was then time to retire themselues to their rest for what with riding abroade the day before and late sitting vp for Egloges their bodyes had dearely purchased that nightes quiet So went they home to their lodge Zelmane framing of both sides bountifull measures of louing countenaunces to eithers ioye and neythers
iealousie to the especiall comforte of Basilius whose weaker bowels were streight full with the least liquour of hope So that still holding her by the hand and sometimes tickling it he went by her with the most gay conceates that euer had entred his braines growing now so harted in his resolucion that hee little respected Gynecias presence But with a lustier note then wonted clearing his voice and chearing his spirits looking still vpon Zelmane whome now the moone did beautifie with her shining almost at the full as if her eyes had beene his songe booke he did the message of his minde in singing these verses VVHen two Sunnes do appeare Some say it doth betoken wonders neare As Princes losse or change Two gleaming Sunnes of splendour like I see And seeing feele in me Of Princes harte quite lost the ruine strange But nowe each where doth range With ouglie cloke the darke enuious night Who full of guiltie spite Such liuing beames should her black seate assaile Too weake for them our weaker sighte doth vaile No saies faire moone my lighte Shall barr that wrong and though it not preuaile Like to my brothers raise yet those I sende Hurte not the face which nothing can amende And by that time being come to the lodge and visited the sweete Philoclea with much lesse then naturall care of the parents and much lesse then wonted kindenes of Zelmane each partie full fraught with diuersly working fancies made their pillowes weake proppes of their ouer loaden heades Yet of all other were Zelmanes braynes most tormoyled troubled with loue both actiue and passiue and lastely and especially with care howe to vse her shorte limitted time to the beste purpose by some wise and happie diuerting her two louers vnwelcome desires Zelmane hauing had the night her onely councellour in the busie enterprise shee was to vndertake and hauing all that time mused and yet not fully resolued howe shee might ioyne preuailing with preuenting was offēded with the daies bould entrie into her chamber as if he had now by custome growne an assured bringer of euill newes Which she taking a Citterne to her did laye to Auroras chardge with these wel songe verses Aurora now thou shewst thy blushing light Which oft to hope laies out a guilefull baite That trusts in time to finde the way aright To ease those paines which on desire do waite Blush on for shame that still with thee do light On pensiue soules in steede of restfull baite Care vpon care in steede of doing right To ouer pressed brestes more greeuous waight As oh my selfe whose woes are neuer lighte Tide to the stake of doubt strange passions baite While thy known course obseruing natures right Sturres me to thinke what dangers lye in waite For mischeefes greate daye after day doth showe Make me still feare thy faire appearing showe Alas said she am not I runne into a strange gulfe that am faine for loue to hurt her I loue And because I detest the others to please them I detest O onely Philoclea whose beautie is matched with nothing but with the vnspeakeable beautie of thy fayrest minde if thou didst see vpon what a racke my tormented soule is set little would you thinke I had any scope now to leape to any new chaunge with that with hastie hands she got her selfe vp turning her sight to euerie thinge as if chaunge of obiecte might helpe her invention So went she againe to the caue where forthwith it came into her head that shoulde bee the fittest place to performe her exploite of which she had now a kinde of confused conceipte although she had not set downe in her fancie the meeting with each particularitie that might fall out But as the painter doth at the first but showe a rude proportion of the thing he imitates which after with more curious hande hee drawes to the representing each lineament So had her thoughts beating about it continually receaued into them a ground plot of her deuise although she had not in each parte shapte it according to a full determination But in this sorte hauing earelie visited the morninges beautie in those pleasant desartes she came to the King and Queene and tolde them that for the performance of certaine her countrie deuotions which onely were to be exercised in solitarines shee did desire their leaue shee might for a fewe daies lodge her selfe in the Caue the fresh sweetnes of which did greately delight her in that hot countrie and that for that smal space they would not otherwise trouble themselues in visiting her but at such times as she would come to waite vpon them which shoulde bee euerie daye at certaine houres neither should it be long shee would desire his priuiledged absence of them They whose mindes had alredie taken out that lesson perfectly to yeelde a willing obedience to all her desires which consenting countenaunce made her soone see her pleasure was a lawe vnto them Both indeede inwardlie glad of it Basilius hoping that her deuiding her selfe from them might yet giue him some freer occasion of comming in secrete vnto her whose fauourable face had lately strengthened his fainting courage But Gynecia of all other most ioyous holding her selfe assured that this was but a prologue to the play she had promised her Thus both flattering them selues with diuersly grounded hopes they rang a bell which serued to call certaine poore women which euer lay in cabins not far off to do the houshould seruices of both lodges and neuer came to either but being called for And commaunded them to carry foorthwith Zelmanes bed and furniture of her chamber into the pleasaunt Caue and to decke it vp as finelie as it was possible for them That their soules rest might rest her body to her best pleasing maner that was with all diligence performed of them and Zelmane alredie in possession of her newe chosen lodging where she like one of Vestaes nunnes entertaind herselfe for a fewe dayes in all showe of streightnes yet once a day comming to doe her dutie to the King and Queene in whom the seldomnes of the sight encreased the more vnquiet longing though somwhat qualified as her countenaunce was decked to either of them with more comforte then wonted Especially to Gynecia who seing her wholy neglecting her daughter Philoclea had now promisd her selfe a full possession of Zelmanes harte still expecting the fruite of the happie hoped for inuention But both she and Basilius kept such a continuall watch about the Precincts of the Caue that either of them was a bar to the other from hauing any secret commoning with Zelmane While in the meane time the sweete Philoclea forgotten of her father despised of her mother and in apparance lefte of Zelmane had yeelded vp her soule to be a pray to sorow and vnkindnes not with raging conceite of reuenge as had passed thorow the stout and wise harte of her mother but with a kindly meeknes taking vpon her the weight of her owne woes and
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
spite All waywardnes which nothing kindly brookes All strife for toyes and clayming masters right Be hence aye put to flight All sturring husbands hate Gainst neighbors good for womanish debate Be fled as things most vaine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine All peacock pride and fruites of peacocks pride Longing to be with losse of substance gay With retchlesnes what may thy house bâ—tide So that you may on hyer slippers stay For euer hence awaye Yet let not sluttery The sinke of filth be counted huswifery But keeping holesome meane O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine But aboue all away vile iealousie The euill of euils iust cause to be vniust How can he loue suspecting treacherie How can she loue where loue cannot win trust Goe snake hide thee in dust Ne dare once shew thy face Where open hartes do holde so constant place That they thy sting restraine O Himen long their coupled ioyes maintaine The earth is deckt with flowers the heau'ns displaid Muses graunt guiftes Nymphes long and ioyned life Pan store of babes vertue their thoughts well staid Cupids lust gone and gone is bitter strife Happy man happy wife No pride shall them oppresse Nor yet shall yeeld to loathsome sluttishnes And iealousie is slaine For Himen will their coupled ioyes maintaine Truly Dicus sayd Nico although thou didst not graunt me the price the last day when vndoubtedly I wan it yet must I needes say thou for thy parte hast soong well and thriftelie Pas straight desired all the companie they would beare witnes that Nico had once in his life spoken wisely for sayde he I will tell it his father who will be a glad man when he heares such newes Very true sayd Nico but indeede so would not thine in like case for he would looke thou shouldest liue but one houre longer that a discreate word wandred out of thy mouth And I pray thee sayd Pas gentle Nico tell me what mischaunce it was that brought thee to taste so fine a meate Mary goodman blockhead sayde Nico because hee speakes against iealousie the filthie traytor to true affection and yet disguising it selfe in the rayment of loue Sentences Sentences cried Pas. Alas howe ripe witted these young folkes be now adayes But well counselled shall that husband be when this man commes to exhort him not to be iealous And so shall he aunswered Nico for I haue seene a fresh example though it be not very fit to be knowen Come come sayde Pas be not so squeamish I knowe thou longest more to tell it then we to heare it But for all his wordes Nico would not bestowe his voyce till he was generally entreated of all the rest And then with a merry marriage looke he sang this following discourse for with a better grace he could sing then tell A Neighbor mine not long agoe there was But namelesse he for blamelesse he shall be That married had a trick and bonny lasse As in a sommer day a man might see But he himselfe a foule vnhansome groome And farre vnfit to hold so good a roome Now whether mou'd with selfe vnworthines Or with her beawtie fit to make a pray Fell iealousie did so his braine oppresse That if he absent were but halfe a day He gest the worst you wot what is the worst And in himselfe new doubting causes nurst While thus he fear'd the silly innocent Who yet was good because she knewe none ill Vnto his house a iollie shepeheard went To whome our prince did beare a great good will Because in wrestling and in pastorall He farre did passe the rest of Shepheards all And therefore he a courtier was benamed And as a courtier was with cheere receaued For they haue toongs to make a poore man blamed If he to them his dutie misconceaued And for this Courtier should well like his table The goodman bad his wife be seruiceable And so she was and all with good intent But fewe dayes past while she good maner vs'de But that her husband thought her seruice bent To such an end as he might be abus'de Yet like a coward fearing strangers pride He made the simple wench his wrath abide With chumpish lookes hard words and secret nips Grumbling at her when she his kindnes sought Asking her how she tasted Courtiers lips He forst her thinke that which she neuer thought In fine he made her gesse there was some sweet In that which he so fear'd that she should meet When once this entred was in womans hart And that it had enflam'd a new desire There rested then to play a womans part Fuell to seeke and not to quench the fire But for his iealous eye she well did finde She studied cunning how the same to blinde And thus she did One day to him she came And though against his will on him she leand And out gan cry ah well away for shame If you helpe not our wedlocke will be staind The goodman starting askt what did her moue She sigh'd and sayd the bad guest sought her loue He little looking that she should complaine Of that whereto he feard she was enclinde Bussing her oft and in his hart full faine He did demaunde what remedy to finde How they might get that guest from them to wend And yet the prince that lou'd him not offend Husband quoth she go to him by and by And tell him you do finde I doo him loue And therefore pray him that of courtesie He will absent himselfe least he should moue A young girles hart to that were shame for both Whereto you knowe his honest harte were loath Thus shall you show that him you do not doubt And as for me sweete husband I must beare Glad was the man when he had heard her out And did the same although with mickle feare For feare he did least he the young man might In choller put with whom he would not fight The Courtlie shepheard much agast at this Not seeing earst such token in the wife Though full of scorne would not his duty misse Knowing that euill becommes a houshold strife Did goe his way but soiourn'd neere thereby That yet the ground hereof he might espie The wife thus hauing settled husbands braine Who would haue sworne his spowse Diana was Watched when she a furder point might gaine Which little time did fitlie bring to passe For to the Courte her man was calld by name Whither he needes must goe for feare of blame Three dayes before that he must sure depart She written had but in a hand disguisde A letter such which might from either part Seeme to proceede so well it was deuisde She seald it first then she the sealing brake And to her iealous husband did it take With weeping eyes her eyes she taught to weepe She told him that the Courtier had it sent Alas quoth she thus womens shame doth creepe The goodman read on both sides the content It title had Vnto my only loue Subscription was Yours most if you will
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
insupportable and yet in deapth of her soule most deserued made it more miserable At length letting her tong goe as her dolorous thoughts guided it she thus with lamentable demeanour spake O bottomles pit of sorrowe in which I cannot conteyne my selfe hauing the fyrebrands of all furyes within me still falling and yet by the infinitenes of it neuer falne Neyther can I ridde myselfe being fettred with the euerlasting consideracion of it For whether should I recommend the protection of my dishonored fall to the earth it hath no life and waites to be encreased by the reliques of my shamed carcasse to men who are alwayes cruell in their neighboures faultes and make others ouerthrowe become the badge of their ill masked vertue to the heauens ô vnspeakeable torment of conscience which dare not looke vnto them No sinne can enter there oh there is no receipt for polluted mindes Whether then wilt thou leade this captiue of thine ô snakye despayre Alas alas was this the free-holding power that accursed poyson hath graunted vnto me that to be held the surer it should depriue life was this the folding in mine armes promised that I should fould nothing but a dead body O mother of mine what a deathfull sucke haue you geuen me O Philoclea Philoclea well hath my mother reuenged vppon me my vnmotherly hating of thee O Zelmane to whome yet least any miserye should fayle me remayne some sparkes of my detestable loue if thou hast as now alas now my minde assures me thou hast deceaued me there is a fayre stage prepared for thee to see the tragicall ende of thy hated loues With that worde there flowed out two riuers of teares out of her fayre eyes which before were drye the remembraunce of her other mischiefes being dryed vp in furious fyre of selfe detestation loue only according to the temper of it melting it selfe into those briny tokens of passion Then turning her eyes agayne vpon the body she remembred a dreame she had had some nights before wherein thinking herselfe called by Zelmane passing a troublesome passage she found a dead body which tolde her there should be her only rest This no sooner caught holde of her remembraunce then that she determining with her selfe it was a directe vision of her fore-appoynted ende tooke a certayne resolucion to embrace death assoone as it should be offred vnto her and no way to seeke the prolonging of her annoyed life And therefore kissing the cold face of Basilius And euen so will I rest sayd she and ioyne this faultye soule of mine to thee if so much the angry gods will graunt mee As shee was in this plight the Sunne nowe climing ouer our Horizon the first Shepherds came by who seeing the King in that case and hearing the noyse Damaetas made of the Lady Philoclea ranne with the dolefull tidings of Basilius death vnto him who presently with all his company came to the Caues entrye where the Kings body lay Damaetas for his parte more glad for the hope he had of his priuate escape then sorye for the publike losse his Countrie receaued for a Prince not to be misliked But in Gynaecia nature preuayled aboue iudgement and the shame shee conceaued to be taken in that order ouercame for that instant the former resolucion so that assoone as she sawe the formost of the pastorall troupe the wretched Princesse ranne to haue hid her face in the next woods but with such a minde that she knewe not almost her selfe what she could wish to be the grounde of her safetie Damaetas that sawe her runne awaye in Zelmanes vpper rayment and iudging her to be so thought certaynely all the spirits in hell were come to play a Tragedie in these woods such strange change he sawe euery way The King dead at the Caues mouth the Queene as hee thought absent Pamela fledde away with Dorus his wife and Mopsa in diuers franzies But of all other things Zelmane conquered his capacitie sodainly from a woman growne to a man and from a lockt chamber gotten before him into the fieldes which hee gaue the rest quicklie to vnderstande for in steede of doing any thing as the exigent required he beganne to make circles and all those fantasticall defences that hee had euer hearde were fortifications against Diuells But the other Shepheards who had both better wittes and more faith forthwith deuided themselues some of them running after Gynecia and esteeming her running away a great condemnation of her owne guiltinesse others going to their Prince to see what seruice was left for them eyther in recouerie of his life or honoring his death They that went after the Queene had soone ouertaken her in whome nowe the fyrst feares were stayde and the resolucion to dye had repossessed his place in her minde But when they sawe it was the Queene to whome besides the obedient dutie they ow'de to her state they had alwayes carried a singuler loue for her courteous liberalities and other wise and vertuous partes which had filled all that people with affection and admiracion They were all sodainely stopped beginning to aske pardon for their followinge her in that sorte and desiring her to be their good Ladie as she had euer bene But the Queene who nowe thirsted to be ridde of her selfe whome she hated aboue all thinges with such an assured countenance as they haue who alreadie haue dispensed with shame and digested the sorrowes of death she thus sayde vnto them Continue continue my friends your doing is better then your excusing the one argues assured faith the other want of assurance If you loued your Prince when he was able and willing to doo you much good which you could not then requite to him doo you now publish your gratefulnes when it shall be seene to the world there are no hopes left to leade you vnto it Remember remember you haue lost Basilius a Prince to defend you a Father to care for you a companyon in your ioyes a friend in your wants And if you loued him shew you hate the author of his losse It is I faithfull Arcadians that haue spoyled the Countrie of their protector I none but I was the minister of his vnnaturall end Cary therfore my blood in your hāds to testifie your own innocencie neither spare for my titles sake but consider it was he that so entituled me And if you think of any benefits by my meanes thinke with it that I was but the instrumēt and he the spring What stay ye Shepheards whose great Shepheard is gone you neede not feare a woman reuerence your Lords murtherer nor haue pittie of her who hath not pittie of herself With this she presented her faire neck some by name others by signes desired them to do iustice to the world dutie to their good king honor to themselues and fauour to her The poore men looked one vpon the other vnused to be arbiters in Princes matters and being now falne into a great perplexitie betwixt a Prince dead
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
the meane of perturbacions doth onely liue in the contemplatiue vertue and power of the omnipotent good the soule of soules and vniuersall life of this great worke and therefore is vtterly voide from the possibilitie of drawing to it selfe these sensible considerations Certenly answered Pirocles I easely yeeld that we shall not knowe one another and much lesse these passed things with a sensible or passionate knowledge For the cause being taken away the effect followes Neither do I thinke we shall haue such a memorye as nowe we haue which is but a relicke of the senses or rather a print the senses haue left of things passed in our thoughtes but it shall be a vitall power of that very intelligence which as while it was heere it helde the chiefe seate of our life and was as it were the last resorte to which of all our knowledges the hyest appeale came and so by that meanes was neuer ignorant of our actions though many times rebelliously resisted alwayes with this prison darkened so much more being free of that prison and returning to the life of all things where all infinite knowledge is it cannot but be a right intelligence which is both his name and being of things both present and passed though voyde of imagining to it selfe any thing but euen growen like to his Creator hath all things with a spirituall knowledge before it The difference of which is as hard for vs to conceaue as it had for vs when wee were in our mothers wombes to comprehende if any body would haue tould vs what kinde of light we nowe in this life see What kinde of knowledge we nowe haue yet nowe we do not only feele our present being but we conceaue what we were before we were borne though remembrance make vs not do it but knowledge and though we are vtterly without any remorse of any misery we might then suffer Euen such and much more odds shall there be at that second deliuery of ours when voyde of sensible memorye or memoratiue passion wee shall not see the cullours but lifes of all things that haue bene or can be and shall as I hope knowe our friendship though exempt from the earthlie cares of friendship hauing both vnited it and our selues in that hye and heauenly loue of the vnquenchable light As he had ended his speeche Musidorus looking with a heauenly ioy vpon him sang this song vnto him he had made before loue turned his muse to another subiecte SInce natures workes be good and death doth serue As natures worke why should we feare to dye Since feare is vaine but when it may preserue Why should we feare that which we cannot flye Feare is more paine then is the paine it feares Disarming humane mindes of natiue might While each conceate an ouglie figure beares Which were not euill well vew'd in reasons light Our owly eyes which dimm'd with passions bee And scarce discerne the dawne of comming day Let them be clearde and now begin to see Our life is but a step in dustie way Then let vs holde the blisse of peacefull minde Since this we feele great losse we cannot finde Thus did they like quiet Swannes sing their owne obsequies and vertuously enhable theyr mindes against all extremities which they did thinke woulde fall vppon them especially resoluing that the fyrst care they would haue should be by taking the faulte vpon themselues to cleere the two Ladyes of whose case as of nothing else that had happened they had not any knowledge Although their friendly hoste the honest Gentleman Kalander seeking all meanes how to helpe them had endeuored to speake with them and to make them knowe who should be their iudge But the curious seruaunt of Philanax forbad him the entrye vppon paine of death For so it was agreed vppon that no man should haue any conference with them for feare of newe tumults Insomuch that Kalander was constrayned to retire himselfe hauing yet obtayned thus much that he would deliuer vnto the two Princes their apparell and iewells which being left with him at Mantinea wisely considering that theyr disguised weedes which were all as then they had would make them more odious in the sight of the iudges he had that night sent for and now brought vnto them They accepted their owne with great thankefulnes knowing from whence it came and attired themselues in it against the nexte daye which being in deede ritch and princely they accordinglye determined to maintaine the names of Palladius and Daiphantus as before it is mencioned Then gaue they themselues to consider in what sort they might defende their causes for they thought it no lesse vaine to wish death then cowardly to feare it till something before morning a small slumber taking them they were by and by after callde vp to come to the aunswere of no lesse then theyr liues imported But in this sort was the iudgement ordred As soone as the morning had taken a full possession of the Element Euarchus called vnto him Philanax and willed him to draw out into the middest of the greene before the chiefe lodge the throne of iudgement seate in which Basilius was woont to sit and according to their customes was euer carried with the Prince For Euarchus did wisely consider the people to be naturally taken with exterior shewes farre more then with inward consideracion of the materiall pointes And therefore in this newe entrie into so entangled a matter he would leaue nothing which might be eyther an armour or ornament vnto him and in these pompous ceremonyes he well knewe a secreat of gouernment much to consist That was performed by the diligent Philanax and therein Euarchus did set himselfe all cloathed in blacke with the principall men who could in that sodainenes prouide themselues of such mourning rayments The whole people commaunded to keepe an orderly silence of each side which was duly obserued of them partly for the desire they had to see a good conclusion of these matters and partly striken with admiracion aswell at the graue and princely presence of Euarchus as at the greatnes of the cause which was then to come in question As for Philanax Euarchus woulde haue done him the honour to sit by him but he excused himselfe desiring to be the accuser of the prisoners in his maisters behalfe and therefore since he made himselfe a partie it was not conuenient for him to sit in the iudiciall place Then was it awhile deliberated whether the two young Ladies should be brought forth in open presence but that was stopped by Philanax whose loue and faith did descend from his maister to his children and only desired the smart should light vpon the others whome he thought guiltie of his death and dishonour alleaging for this that neyther wisedome would they should be brought in presence of the people which might herevpon growe to new vprores nor iustice required they should be drawen to any shame till some body accused them And as for Pamela he
but falsehoode it coulde not be since I made my selfe partaker of whatsoeuer I wished her vnto who will euer counsaill his King if his counsaill be iudged by the euent and if it be not found wise shall therefore be thought wicked But if I be a traytor I hope you will graunt me a correlatiue to whom I shall be the traytor For the Princesse against whom the treasons are considered I am sure will avowe my faithfulnes without you will saye that I am a traytor to her because I left the contrie and a traytor to the contrie because I went with her Heere do I leaue out my iust excuses of loues force which as thy narrow hart hath neuer had noble roome inough in it to receaue so yet to those manlike courages that by experience know how subiect the vertuous mindes are to loue a most vertuous creature witnessed to be such by the most excellent guiftes of nature will deeme it a veniall trespasse to seeke the satisfaction of honourable desires Honourable euen in the curiousest pointes of honour whereout there can no disgrace nor disperagement come vnto her Therfore O iudge who I hope doest know what it is to be a iudge that your ende is to preserue and not to destroy mankinde that lawes are not made like limetwigges or nets to catch euery thing that toucheth them but rather like sea markes to auoide the shipwracke of ignoraunt passingers since that our doinge in the extremest interpretation is but a humaine error and that of it you may make a proffitable euent we being of such estate as their parents would not haue misliked the affinitie you will not I trust at the perswasion of this brabler burne your house to make it cleane but like a wise father turne euen the fault of your children to any good that may come of it since that is the fruite of wisdome and ende of all iudgements While this matter was thus handling a silent and as it were astonished attention possest all the people A kindely compssion moued the noble Gentleman Simpathus but as for Kalander euery thing was spoken either by or for his own deere guestes moued an affect in him somtimes teares sometimes hopefull lookes sometimes whispering perswasions in their eares that stoode by him to seeke the sauing the two yong Princes But the generall multitude wayted the iudgemēt of Euarchus who shewed in his face no motions either at the ones or other speeche letting passe the flowers of rhetoricke and onely marking whether their reasons tended hauing made the question to be asked of Gynecia who continued to take the whole faulte vpon her selfe and hauing caused Damaetas with Miso and Mopsa who by Philanax order had bene helde in most cruell prison to make a full declaration howe much they knewe of these passed matters and then gathering as assured satisfaction to his owne minde as in that case he could not needing to take leasure for that whereof a long practise had bred a well grounded habit in him with a voice of gesture directed to the vniuersall assemblie in this forme pronounced sentence This weightie matter wherof presently we are to determine doth at the first consideration yeeld two important doubtes The first whether these men be to be iudged The second how they are to be iudged The first doubt ariseth because they geue themselues out for Princes absolute a sacred name and to which any violence semes to be an impietie For how can any lawes which are the bonds of all humane societie be obserued if the lawe giuers and lawe rulers bee not helde in an vntouched admiration But heereto although alredy they haue beene sufficiently aunswered yet thus much againe I will repeate vnto you That what soeuer they be or be not heere they be no Princes since betwixt Prince and subiect there is as necessarie a relation as betweene father and sonne and as there is no man a father but to his childe so is not a Prince a Prince but to his owne subiects Therefore is not this place to acknowledge in them any principallitie without it should at the same time by a secreate consent confesse subiection Yet hereto may be obiected that the vniuersall ciuillitie the lawe of nations all mankinde being as it were coinhabitors or worlde-citizens together hath euer required publicke persons shoulde be of all parties especially regarded since not onely in peace but in warre not only Princes but herauldes and trumpets are with great reason exempted from iniuryes This pointe is true but yet so true as they that will receaue the benefit of a custome must not be the first to breake it For then can they not complaine if they be not helpt by that which they themselues hurte Yf a Prince do actes of hostilitie without denouncing warre if he breake his oath of amitie or innumerable such other thinges contrary to the lawe of armes he must take heede how he fall into their hands whom he so wrongeth for then is courtesie the best custome he can claime much more these men who haue not onely lefte to doe like Princes but to be like Princes not onely entred into Arcadia and so into the Arcadian orders but into domesticall seruices and so by making them selues priuate depriued themselues of respecte due to their publicke calling For no proportion it were of iustice that a man might make himselfe no Prince when he woulde doe euill and might a newe create himselfe a Prince when he would not suffer euill Thus therefore by al lawes of nature and nations and especially by their owne putting themselues out of the sanctuary of them these yong men can not in iustice auoide the iudgement but like priuate men must haue their doinges either cleared excused or condemned There resteth then the second point howe to iudge well And that must vndoubtedly bee done not by a free discourse of reason and skill of philosophy but must be tied to the lawes of Greece and municipall statutes of this kingedome For although out of them these came and to them muste indeede referre their offspringe yet because philosophicall discourses stande in the generall consideration of thinges they leaue to euery man a scope of his owne interpretation Where the lawes applyinge them selues to the necessary vse folde vs within assured boundes which once broken mās nature infinitly rāgeth Iudged therfore they must be by your lawes iudged Nowe the action offereth it selfe to dewe ballance betwixte the accusers two-folde accusation and their aunsweare accordingly applied The questions beeinge the one of a facte simplie the other of the quallity of a fact To the first vse direct deniall to the second quallification and excuse They deny the murder of the king mightie against presumptiōs bring forth some probable answers which they do principally fortefie with the Queenes acknowledging her selfe only culpable Certainely as in equallitie of coniectures we are not to take holde of the worse but rather to be glad we may finde any hope
that mankind is not growen monstrous being vndoubtedly lesse euill a guiltie man shoulde escape then a guiltlesse perish so if in the rest they be spotlesse then is no farther to be remembred But if they haue aggrauated these suspitions with newe euills then are those suspitions so farre to showe themselues as to cause the other pointes to be thorowly examined and with lesse fauour wayed since this no man can deny they haue beene accidentall if not principall causes of the Kinges death Now then we are to determine of the other matters which are laide to them wherein they doe not deny the facte but deny or at leaste diminish the faulte but first I may remember though it were not first alleaged by them the seruices they had before done truely honourable and worthy of greate rewarde but not worthy to counteruaile with a following wickednes Rewarde is proper to well doing punishment to euill doing which must bee confounded no more then good and euill are to be mingled Therefore hath bene determined in all wisedomes that no man because he hath done well before should haue his present euils spared but rather so much the more punished as hauing shewed he knew how to be good woulde against his knowledge bee naught The facte then is nakedly without passion or partialitie to bee viewed wherein without all question they are equallie culpable For though he that termes himselfe Daiphantus were sooner disapointed of his purpose of conueying away the Lady Philoclea then he that perswaded the Princesse Pamela to flie her countrie and accompanied her in it yet seing in causes of this nature the wil by the rules of iustice standeth for the deed they are both alike to bee founde guiltie and guiltie of hainous rauishment For though they rauished them not from themselues yet they rauished them from him that owed them which was their father An acte punished by all the Graecian lawes by the losse of the head as a most execrable thefte For if they must dye who steale from vs our goodes how much more they who steale from vs that for which we gather our goodes and if our lawes haue it so in the priuate persons much more forcible are they to bee in Princes children where one steales as it were the whole state and well being of that people being tyed by the secret of a long vse to be gouerned by none but the next of that bloud Neither let any man maruaile our ancestours haue bene so seuere in these cases since the example of the Phenician Europa but especially of the Grecian Helene hath taught them what destroying fires haue growen of such sparckles And although Helene was a wife and this but a child that booteth not since the principall cause of marrying wiues is that we may haue children of our owne But now let vs see how these yong men truely for their persons worthy of pittie if they haue rightly pittied themselues do goe about to mittigate the vehemencie of their errors Some of their excuses are common to both some peculiar onely to him that was the sheepeheard Both remember the force of loue and as it were the mending vp of the matter by their marriage if that vnbrideled desire which is intituled loue might purge such a sickenes as this surely wee shoulde haue many louing excuses of hatefull mischiefe Nay rather no mischiefe shoulde be committed that should not be vailed vnder the name of loue For as well he that steales might alleage the loue of mony he that murders the loue of reuenge he that rebells the loue of greatnesse as the adulterer the loue of a woman Since they do in all speeches affirme they loue that which an ill gouerned passion maketh them to follow But loue may haue no such priuiledge That sweete and heauenly vniting of the mindes which properly is called loue hath no other knot but vertue and therefore if it be a right loue it can neuer slide into any action that is not vertuous The other and indeed more effectuall reason is that they may be married vnto them and so honourably redresse the dishonour of them whom this matter seemeth most to touch Surely if the question were what were conuenient for the parties and not what is iuste in the neuer changing iustice there might much bee saide in it But herein we must consider that the lawes look how to preuent by due examples that such thinges be not done and not how to salue such things when they are doone For if the gouernors of iustice shall take such a scope as to measure the foote of the lawe by a show of conueniencie and measure that conueniencie not by the publike societie but by that which is fittest for them which offende young men stronge men and rich men shall euer finde priuate conueniences howe to palliate such committed disorders as to the publike shall not onely bee inconuenient but pestilent The marriage perchaunce might be fit for them but verie vnfit were it to the state to allowe a patterne of such procurations of marriage And thus much doe they both alleage Further goes he that went with the Princesse Pamela requireth the benefit of a councellor who hath place of free perswasion and the reasonable excuse of a seruant that did but waite of his mistres Without all question as councellors haue great cause to take heede how they aduise any thing directly opposite to the forme of that present gouernement especially when they doe it singly without publike alowaunce so yet is the case much more apparant since neither she was an effectuall Princesse her father being then aliue though he had bene deade she not come to the yeares of aucthoritie nor hee her seruant in such manner to obey her but by his owne preferment first belonging to Dametas and then to the Kinge and therefore if not by Arcadia lawes yet by housholde orders bounde to haue done nothing without his agreement Thus therefore since the deedes accomplished by these two are both abhominable and inexcuseable I doe in the behalfe of iustice by the force of Arcadia lawes pronounce that Daiphantus shal be throwne out of a hie tower to receaue his death by his fall Palladius shall bee behedded the time before the sunne set the place in Mantinea the executioner Dametas which office he shall execute all the dayes of his life for his beastly forgetting the carefull dutie he owed to his charge This saide he turned himselfe to Philanax and two of the other noble men commaunding them to see the iudgement presently performed Philâ—nax more greedie then any hunter of his praye went straite to laye holde of the excellent prisoners who casting a farewell looke one vpon the other represented in their faces asmuch vnappalled constancie as the most excellent courage can deliuer in outward graces Yet if at all there were any shewe of change in them it was that Pyrocles was somthing neerer to bashfulnes and Musidorus to anger both ouer ruled by
into thickest of the woods lamenting and euen crying out so pitifully that my seruant though of a fortune not vsed to much tendernes could not refraine weeping when he told it me He once ouertooke him but Amphialus drawing his sword which was the onely part of his armes God knowes to what purpose he carried about him threatned to kil him if he followed him and withal bad him deliuer this bitter message that he wel inough found I was the cause of all this mischiefe and that if I were a man he would go ouer the world to kill me but bad me assure myselfe that of all creatures in the world he most hated mee Ah sir Knight whose eares I think by this time are tired with the rugged waies of these misfortunes now weigh my case if at least you know what loue is For this cause haue I left my countrie putting in hazard how my people will in time deale by me aduenturing what perilles or dishonors might ensue onely to follow him who proclaimeth hate against me and to bring my necke vnto him if that may redeeme my trespasse and asswage his fury And now sir saide she you haue your request I pray you take paines to guide me to the next towne that there I may gather such of my company againe as your valor hath left me Palladius willingly condiscended but ere they began to go there came Clitophon who hauing bene something hurt by one of them had pursued him a good way at length ouertaking him and ready to kill him vnderstoode they were seruants to the faire Queene Helen and that the cause of this enterprise was for nothing but to make Amphialus prisoner whō they knew their mistresse sought for she concealed her sorrow nor cause of her sorrow frō no body But Clitophon very sory for this accident came backe to comfort the Queene helping such as were hurt in the best sort that he could and framing friendly constructions of this rashly vnder-taken enmitie when in comes an other till that time vnseene all armed with his beuer downe who first looking round about vpon the cōpany as soone as he spied Palladius he drew his sword making no other prologue let flie at him But Palladius sorie for so much harme as had already happened sought rather to retire and warde thinking he might be some one that belonged to the faire Queene whose case in his heart he pitied Which Clitophon seeing stept betweene them asking the new come knight the cause of his quarrel who answered him that hee woulde kill that theefe who had stollen away his masters armour if he did not restore it With that Palladius lookt vpon him and sawe that hee of the other side had Palladius owne armour vpon him truely saide Palladius if I haue stolne this armour you did not buy that◠but you shall not fight with me vpon such a quarrell you shall haue this armour willingly which I did onely put on to doo honor to the owner But Clitophon straight knewe by his words and voyce that it was Ismenus the faithfull and diligent Page of Amphialus and therefore telling him that he was Clitophon and willing him to acknowledge his error to the other who deserued all honour the yong Gentleman pulled of his head-peece and lighting went to kisse Palladius hands desiring him to pardon his follie caused by extreame griefe which easilie might bring foorth anger Sweete Gentleman saide Palladius you shall onely make me this amendes that you shall cary this your Lords armour from me to him and tell him from an vnknowen knight who admires his worthines that he cannot cast a greater miste ouer his glory then by being vnkind to so excellēt a princesse as this Queene is Ismenus promised he would as soone as he durst find his maister and with that went to doo his duetie to the Queene whom in al these encounters astonishment made hardy but assoone as she saw Ismenus looking to her picture Ismenus saide shee here is my Lord where is yours or come you to bring me some sentence of death from him if it be so welcome be it I pray you speake and speake quickly Alas Madame said Ismenus I haue lost my Lorde with that teares came vnto his eyes for assoone as the vnhappie combate was concluded with the death both of father and sonne my maister casting of his armour went his way forbidding me vpon paine of death to follow him Yet diuers daies I followed his steppes till lastly I found him hauing newly met with an excellent Spaniell belonging to his dead companion Philoxenns The dog straight fawned on my master for old knowledge but neuer was there thinge more pittifull then to heare my maister blame the dog for louing his maisters murtherer renewing a fresh his complaints with the dumbe counceller as if they might comfort one another in their miseries But my Lord hauing spied me rase vp in such rage that in truth I feared he would kill me yet as then he said onely if I would not displease him I should not come neere him till he sent for me too hard a commaundement for me to disobey I yeelded leauing him onely waited on by his dog and as I thinke seeking out the most solitarie places that this or any other country can graunt him and I returning where I had left his armour found an other in steede thereof and disdaining I must confesse that any should beare the armour of the best Knight liuing armed my selfe therein to play the foole as euen now I did Faire Ismenus said the Queene a fitter messenger could hardly be to vnfold my Tragedie I see the end I see my end With that sobbing she desired to be conducted to the next towne where Palladius left her to be waited on by Clitophon at Palladius earnest entreatie who desired alone to take that melancholy course of seeking his friend and therefore changing armours againe with Ismenus who went withall to a castle belonging to his master he continued his quest for his friend Daiphantus So directed he his course to Laconia aswell among the Helots as Spartans There indeede hee found his fame flourishing his monuments engraued in Marble and yet more durably in mens memories but the vniuersall lamenting his absented presence assured him of his present absence Thence into the Elean prouince to see whether at the Olympian games there celebrated he might in such concourse blesse his eyes with so desired an encounter but that huge and sportfull assemblie grewe to him a tedious louelinesse esteeming no bodie founde since Daiphantus was lost Afterward he passed through Achaia and Sicyonia to the Corinthians prowde of their two Seas to learne whether by the streight of that Isthmus it were possible to know of his passage But finding euerie place more dombe then other to his demaundes and remembring that it was late-taken loue which had wrought this new course he returned againe after two moneths trauaile in vaine to make a freshe searche in Arcadia
so much the more as then first he bethought him selfe of the picture of Philoclea which resembling her he had once loued might perhaps awake againe that sleeping passionâ— and hauing alreadie past ouer the greatest part of Arcadia one daie comming vnder the side of the pleasant mountaine Maenalus his horse nothing guiltie of his inquisitiuenes with flat-tyring taught him that discrete stayes make speedie iourneis And therefore lighting downe and vnbrideling his horse he him selfe went to repose him selfe in a little wood he sawe there by Where lying vnder the protection of a shadie tree with intention to make forgetting sleepe comfort a sorrowfull memorie he sawe a sight which perswaded and obteined of his eyes that they would abide yet a while open It was the appearing of a Ladie who because she walked with her side toward him he coulde not perfectly see her face but so much he might see of her that was a suretie for the rest that all was excellent Well might he perceiue the hanging of her haire in fairest quantitie in locks some curled and some as it were forgotten with such a carelesse care an arte so hiding arte that shee seemed she would lay them for a paterne whether nature simply or nature helped by cunning be the more excellent the rest whereof was drawne into a coronet of golde richly set with pearle and so ioyned all ouer with golde wiers couered with feathers of diuers coulours that it was not vnlike to an helmet such a glittering shew it bare so brauely it was held vp from the head Vpon her bodie she ware a doublet of Skie colour sattin couerd with plates of golde as it were nailed with pretious stones that in it she might seeme armed the nether part of her garment was so full of stuffe cut after such a fashion that though the length of it reached to the ankles yet in her going one might sometimes discerne the small of her leg which with the foot was dressed in a shorte paire of crimson veluet buskins in some places open as the ancient manner was to shew the fairenes of the skin Ouer all this she ware a certaine mantell made in such manner that comming vnder her right arme and couering most of that side it had no fastning of the left side but onley vpon the top of the shoulder where the two endes met and were closed together with a very riche iewell the deuise whereof as he after saw was this a Hercules made in litle fourme but set with a distaffe in his hand as he once was by Omphales commaundement with a worde in Greeke but thus to be interpreted Neuer more valiant On the same side on her thigh she ware a sword which as it witnessed her to be an Amazon or one following that profession so it seemed but a needlesse weapon since her other forces were without withstanding But this Ladie walked out-right till he might see her enter into a fine close arbour it was of trees whose branches so louingly interlaced one the other that it could resist the strongest violence of eye-sight but shee went into it by a doore she opened which moued him as warely as he could to follow her and by by he might heare her sing this song with a voice no lesse beautifull to his eares then her goodlinesse was full of harmonie to his eyes TRansformd in shew but more transformd in minde I cease to striue with double conquest foild For woe is me my powers all I finde With outward force and inward treason spoild For from without came to mine eyes the blowe Whereto mine inward thoughts did â—aintly yeeld Both these conspir'd poore Reasons ouerthrowe False in my selfe thus haue I lost the fielde Thus are my eyes still Captiue to one sight Thus all my thoughts are slaues to one thought still Thus Reason to his seruants yeelds his right Thus is my power transformed to your will What maruaile then I take a womans hew Since what I see thinke know is all but you The dittie gaue him some suspition but the voice gaue him almost assurance who the singer was And therefore boldly thrusting open the dore and entring into the arbour hee perceaued in deed that it was Pyrocles thus disguised wherewith not receauing so much ioy to haue found him as griefe so to haue found him amazedly looking vpon him as Apollo is painted when hee saw Daphne sodainelie turned into a Laurell he was not able to bring forth a worde So that Pyrocles who had as much shame as Musidorus had sorrow rising to him would haue formed a substantiall excuse but his insinuation being of blushing and his diuision of sighes his whole oration stood vpon a short narration what was the causer of this Metamorphosis But by that time Musidorus had gathered his spirites together and yet casting a gastfull countenaunce vpon him as if he would coniure some strange spirits he thus spake vnto him And is it possible that this is Pyrocles the onely yong Prince in the world formed by nature and framed by education to the true exercise of vertueâ— or is it indeede some Amazon that hath counterfeited the face of my friend in this sort to vexe me for likelier sure I would haue thought it that any outward face might haue bene disguised then that the face of so excellent a mind could haue bene thus blemished O sweete Pyrocles separate your selfe a little if it be possible from your selfe and let your owne minde looke vpon your owne proceedings so shall my wordes be needlesse and you best instructed See with your selfe how fitte it will be for you in this your tender youth borne so great a Prince and of so rare not onely expectation but proofe desired of your olde Father and wanted of your natiue Countrie now so neere your home to diuert your thoughtes from the way of goodnesse to loose nay to abuse your time Lastly to ouerthrow all the excellent things you haue done which haue filled the world with your fame as if you should drowne your ship in the long desired hauen or like an ill player should marre the last act of his Tragedie Remember for I know you know it that if we will be men the reasonable parte of our soule is to haue absolute commaundement against which if any sensuall weaknes arise wee are to yeelde all our sounde forces to the ouerthrowing of so vnnaturall a rebellion wherein howe can we wante courage since wee are to deale against so weake an aduersary that in it selfe is nothinge but weakenesse Nay wee are to resolue that if reason direct it we must doo it and if we must doo it we will doo it for to say I cannot is childish and I will not womanish And see how extremely euery way you endaunger your minde for to take this womanish habit without you frame your behauiour accordinglie is wholie vaine your behauiour can neuer come kindely from you but as the minde is proportioned vnto it
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
contrarie that which we call constancie to be most chaungeable For said he I euer loued my delight and delighted alwaies in what was Louely and where-soeuer I found occasion to obtaine that I constantly followed it But these constant fooles you speake of though their Mistres growe by sicknesse foule or by fortune miserable yet still will loue her and so commit the absurdest inconstancie that may be in changing their loue from fairenesse to foulenesse and from loulinesse to his contrarie like one not content to leaue a friend but will streight giue ouer himselfe to his mortall enemie where I whome you call inconstant am euer constant to Beautie in others and Delight in my selfe And so in this iolly scoffing brauerie he went ouer vs all saying He left one because she was ouerwaiward another because she was too soone wonne a third because she was not merrie inough a fourth because she was ouer-gamesome the fifth because shee was growne with griefe subiect to sicknesse the sixt because she was so foolish as to be ielous of him the seuenth because shee had refused to carrie a letter for him to another that he loued the eight because she was not secret the ninth because she was not liberall but to me who am named Dido and indeede haue mette with a false AEneas to me I say ô the vngratefull villanie he could finde no other fault to obiect but that perdie he met with many fayrer But when he had thus plaide the carelesse Prince we hauing those seruants of ours in readines whom you lately so manfully ouercame laide holde of him beginning at first but that trifling reuenge in which you foūd vs busie but meaning afterwardes to haue mangled him so as should haue lost his credit for euer abusing more but as you haue made my fellowes flie away so for my part the greatnesse of his wrong ouershadowes in my iudgement the greatnesse of any daunger For was it not inough for him to haue deceiued me and through the deceipt abused mee and after the abuse forsaken me but that hee must now of all the company and before all the company lay want of beautie to my charge Many fairer I trow euen in your iudgement Sir if your eies do not beguile me not many fairer and I know whosoeuer saies the contrary there are not many fairer And of whom should I receiue this reproch but of him who hath best cause to know there are not many fairer And therefore how-soeuer my fellowes pardon his iniuries for my parte I will euer remember and remember to reuenge this scorne of all scornes With that she to him afresh and surely would haue put out his eies who lay mute for shame if hee did not sometimes crie for feare if I had not lept from my horse and mingling force with intreaty staied her furie But while I was perswading her to meekenes comes a number of his friends to whom he forthwith cried that they should kill that woman that had thus betraied and disgraced him But then I was faine to forsake the ensigne vnder which I had before serued and to spend my vttermost force in the protecting of the Ladie which so well preuailed for her that in ende there was a faithfull peace promised of all sids And so I leauing her in a place of securitie as she thought went on my iourney towards Anaxius for whom I was faine to stay two daies in the apointed place he disdaining to waite for me till he was sure I were there I did patientlie abide his angrie pleasure till about that space of tyme he came indeede according to promise alone and that I may not say too little because he is wont to say too much like a man whose courage was apt to clime ouer any daunger And assoone as euer he came neere me in fit distaunce for his purpose he with much fury but with fury skilfully guided ran vpon me which I in the best sort I could resisted hauing kept my selfe ready for him because I had vnderstood that he obserued few complements in matter of armes but such as a proud anger did indit◠vnto him And so putting our horses into a full careere we hit each other vpon the head with our Launces I think he felte my blowe for my parte I must confesse I neuer receiued the like but I thinke though my senses were astonished my mind forced them to quicken themselues because I had learned of him how little fauour he is woont to show in any matter of aduantage And indeede hee was turned and comming vpon me with his sworde drawne both our staues hauing beene broken at that encounter But I was so ready to answere him that truely I knowe not who gaue the first blowe But whosoeuer gaue the first was quickly seconded by the second And indeed excellentest Ladie I must say truly for a time it was well fought betweene vs he vndoubtedly being of singular valour I would to God it were not abased by his too much loftinesse but as by the occasion of the combate winning and loosing ground we chaunged places his horse happened to come vpon the point of the brokē speare which fallen to the ground chaunced to stand vpward so as it lighting vpon his hart the horse died He driuen to dismount threatned if I did not the like to do as much for my horse as Fortune had done for his But whether for that or because I would not be beholding to Fortune for any part of the victorie I descended So began our foote-fight in such sort that we were well entred to bloud of both sides when there comes by that vnconstant Pamphilus whom I had deliuered easie to be knowne for he was bare faced with a dosen armed men after him but before him he had Dido that Ladie who had most sharpely punished him riding vpon a palfery he following her with most vnmanlike crueltie beating her with wandes he had in his hande she crying for sense of paine or hope of succour which was so pittifull a sight vnto me that it mooued me to require Anaxius to deferre our combate till an other day and now to performe the duties of Knighthood in helping this distressed Ladie But hee that disdaines to obey any thing but his passion which hee cals his minde bad mee leaue of that thought but when hee had killed mee hee woulde then perhaps go too her succour But I well finding the fight would bee long betweene vs longing in my hart too deliuer the poore Dido giuing him so great a blowe as somwhat staied him to terme it a right I flatly ran away from him towarde my horse who trotting after the companie in in mine armour I was put to some paine but that vse made mee nimble vnto it But as I followed my horse Anaxius followed mee but his prowde harte did so dis times bitterlye warne his daughter of bringing such costlye mates vnder his roofe which she grieuing at desired much to know my name I
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
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