tolde you of before y t were foreshewed vnto me the battaile betwéene my sonnes But lette vs committe these thinges as well to the other Gods as also to the Ladies of destinie in whose power it consisteth whether they shall doo this or not who as well decreed my banishment for suche thinges as I gathered before as also that I shoulde finde Cariclia howe that happened you shall knowe by that which folowed After Theagenes was come in and badde me good morowe and I had saluted him againe I sette him on my bedde beside me and asked him what earnest matter draue you hether to me thus early After he had stroked his face a little I am in great daunger ê™ he and I am ashamed to tell you howe I thought it then a fitte time to glose with him and to gheasse at that whiche I knewe well inough Therefore lookinge vpon him cherefully I saide although you be ashamed to tell me yet nothinge can be hidde from my Wisedome and the knowledge of the Goddes And after I had lifted vp my selfe a little and made as though I woulde haue caste some accounte with my fingers and spredde my heare aboute mine eares like one that woulde haue Prophesied I saide my Sonne thou arte in Loue he started at that woorde and when I had added with Cariclia then he supposinge that I had knowen it of God missed but a little that he had not fallen downe and woorshipped me Whiche when I would not lette him doo he came to me and kissed my heade ofte and gaue God thankes that his hope had not fayled him and prayed me hartely that I woulde saue him For he shoulde not liue if he had not healpe that presently so greate was the mischéefe that he had and so vehemently did his harte burne the rather for that he neuer was in Loue before For he sware vnto me many othes that he neuer had to doo with woman that he vtterly refused Mariage and Loue if any were profered him vntil Cariclias bewtie had ouercomen him Not bicause he was chaste of nature or coulde not doo like other menne but bicause till then he neuer sawe woman woorthy to be loued as he said thus he wepte in token that by force and againste his will he was subdued by the Mayde I tooke him vp and comforted him and sayde be of good chéere for séeinge you haue come to me for helpe she shal not be stronger then my wisedome in déede shée is stoute and will hardly be made to loue vtterly despisinge loue and maie iudge if shée but heare them named but for your sake wée must trie al meanes Arte can breake nature onely you muste be bolde and of necessitie doo what so euer I commaunde you He promised to doo al that I would wil him and thus while he was praying and beséechinge me and for my paines promised to géeue me al that euer he had One came from Caricles and saide Sir Caricles desireth you to come to him He is in Apollóes Churche hereby and prayeth to God for that he hath benne troubled I knowe not how by certaine dreames Therewithall I rose and when I had sent Theagenes awaie was come into the Church I founde Caricles sittinge in a stalle very sadde and sorowfull I came to him and why be you so sadde ê™ I â–ª He answeared why shoulde I not â–ª Séeinge that diuerse visions in my sléepe haue troubled me my Daughter as I heare is very sicke and sleapte neuer a winke this nighte For my parte although for diuerse causes her disease gréeueth me yet the greatest is for that to morowe is a daie ordained for sporte the custome is that shée whiche is entred into these holy Orders shoulde holde the Garlande to those that runne in armoure and ouersée that pastime one of these twoo thinges muste néedes happeÌ„ that either her absence must breake of this longe accustomed Order or els by comminge againste her will shée shalbe more sicke Wherefore if before you could not yet now helpe her and doo vs this good turne whiche shal wel beséeme our friendship and deserue good at Gods hande I knowe that it is easy for you if you will euen to heale one as you saie bewitched For iâ— is not impossible for suche holy Priestes to bringe woonderful thinges to passe I tolde him that I had estéemed lightly of it til then bringing him also into a vaine opinion and nowe I craued libertie but one daie that I might make some medicine for her At this present saide I let vs goe to the Mayde to consider of her more diligently and to comforte her as much as wée maie And I would also y t you Caricles shoulde haue some talke of me with the Mayde and by your commendation bringe me into better credite with her that shée beinge more familiare with me maie the boldelier suffer me to heale her Contente saide he After wée came to Cariclia to what ende shoulde wée make many woordes Shée was altogether vanquished by affection the bewtie of her colour was gonne out of her face the heate therof was quenched with teares as if it had ben with water yet when shée sawe vs come in shée framed her selfe and wente aboute to call againe her accustomed countenaunce Caricles imbracinge her and makinge much of her leauing no kinde of courtesie my Childe my déere Daughter ê™ he wilte thou not tell thy Father what thy disease is And séeinge thou arte ouer looked doest thou holde thy peace like one that had donne wronge and not benne iniuried thy selfe by those eyes which haue so vnluckely looked vpon thée But haue y u a good harte This wise maÌ„ Calasiris is requested by me to finde some remedie for thée whiche he can wel perfourme for he is as excellente as any man els in heauenly knowledge as one by profession a Prieste and that whiche is the beste my very friende Wherefore you shall doo very well if you suffer him without any impedimente to vse for your healthe either any inchauntment or what els so euer he will for as muche as otherwise you are wel pleased with the familiaritie and companie of such wise men Cariclia saide nothing but by countenaunce made as though shée were well pleased with the councel he gaue her to suffer me to deale with her When these thinges were thus ordered wée wente our waie and Caricles alwaie put me in minde that I shoulde haue regarde to my promise and bethinke me howe I might make her haue a fansie to mariage and a desire of menne I therewith made him very gladde when I tolde him that within short time I woulde satisfie his minde Here endeth the Thirde Booke The Fourthe Booke THE nexte daie Apolloes games did ende but youthful disportes beganne Cupide in mine opinion moderatour and Arbiter thereof beinge in ful determination to declare his force in most ample wise by these
repented afterwarde suche a stomake as this I haue greater experience in these Venerious affaires then you This white head that you sée hath benne at many suche Banquettes but I neuer knew any so violent and vncureable as you At laste shée spake to Cariclia for shée was necessarily compelled to saie this in her presence my Daughter perswade this thy Brother also whom I know not how to terme This wilbe for your auaile too you shall not be loued the weight of a heare the lesse of her therefore you shal haue Ritches yenough shée will prouide to marry you wealthely whiche thinges are to be wished for of those who be in happy estate and not of straungers and 〈◊〉 as presently are in great pouertie Cariclia looked vpon her frowningly and with burninge eies saide It were to be wished also and were very wel too for euery bodie that good Arsace had no suche infirmitie but if shée haue to vse it discretely But séeinge that suche a humaine chaunce hathe happened vnto her and shée is ouercommed as you saie I woulde counsel Theagenes my selfe not to refuse the facte if he maie doo it without daunger least that his déede through folly may bréede him harme and her no good if this come to lighte and the Deputie happe to know of so shameful a thinge Cibele leapte for ioye when shee hearde this and imbracinge kissinge Cariclia saide My Daughter thou doest very well that thou haste pittie vpon a wooman like thy selfe and séekest for the safety of thy Brother but thou needest not doubt hereof for that the Sunne as the Prouerbe is shal not know thereof Lette me alone for this time sayde Theagenes and geue me leaue to consider hereupon and herewith Cibele wente out and as soone as shée was gonne Cariclia saide thus Theagenes God geueth vs suche successe wherein is more aduersitie harbored then our outwarde felicitie can conteruaile which thinge seinge it is so it is the pointe of wise menne to turne their il happes as muche as they maie to better whether therfore you be in minde to doo this déede or not I cannot tell Although I would not be greatly against it if there were no other waie to preserue vs but if you doo déeme that a filthy acte as honesty and duety would you should whiche is requested of you faine your selfe to be contented and with fayre woordes féeding the barbarous woomans desire cutte of the same with delayes and lette her liue in hope leaste in her rage shée put some cruell deuise in practise againste vs. For it is like by the grace of God that space of time may prouide some remedy for this but in any wise Theagenes beware that you fall not out of your consideration into the filthinesse of the facte Theagenes smiled hereat a little and saide I perceiue you are not without Ialousie woomens natural disease no not in aduersitie but be sure I cannot faine any suche thinge for to saie and doo vnhonest thinges are bothe almoste alike dishonest And that Arsace may be out of hope to obtaine bringeth an other commoditie with it that shée wil cease to trouble vs any more If I must suffer any thinge as well Fortune as also the constant opinion of my minde haue inured me ere now many times to take what so euer shal happen Then thinke ê™ Cariclia that so you shall bringe vs into greate mischiefe and therewith shée helde her tongue While they considered of these matters Cibele wente to Arsace and incouraged her to looke for better successe and that Theagenes was contente whiche donne shée came into the parlour alone and saide nothinge that night but exhorted Cariclia diuerse waies whom at the firste shée made her beddefellowe to healpe her in this case and in the morninge shée asked Theagenes what he meante to doo He gaue her a plaine deniall willed her neuer to looke for any suche thing at his hande With which answeare shée wente heauâ—â—y to Arsace where shée made reporte of Theagenes stoutenesse Arsace commaunded to breake his necke and wente into her Chamber and vexed her selfe cruelly on her Bedde The Olde wooman Cibele was no sooner in the Parlour but her Sonne Achemenes séeinge her sadde and wéepinge asked her Mother what mishap is befallen Are there any il newes come Are there any il tidinges comme from the Campe Haue our enimies in this warre the vpper hande of our Lorde Oroondates And many suche questions he moued Tushe ê™ shée thy pratinge is to no effecte This saide shée made haste to be gonne but he woulde not let her alone but wente after her and takinge her by the hande besoughte her that shée woulde tel her Sonne the cause of her griefe Then shée tooke him by the hande and leadde him aside into a parte of the Orchyarde saide I woulde neuer haue declared mine owne my Mistresse harmes to any other man But séeinge shée is in perill and I in daunger of my life for I knowe that Arsaces maddenesse wil fall in my necke I am constrained to tel you if happily you can helpe her any thinge who conceiued and bare you into the worlde and nourished you with these Breastes Our Mistresse doth loue the yonge man which is in our House not with tollerable or vsual Loue but so that shée is almoste madde therewith about whom shée I hopinge to spéede wel as wée would loste our labour hence came al courtesies manifold good wil toward y e strauÌ„gers But now séeing the yonge man like a foole and cruel felowe whiche wil not be ruled hathe refused to doo as wée woulde haue him I thinke shée wil not liue and I looke to be slaine and in this case are wée nowe If then thou causte helpe me any thinge doo it if not yet when thy Mother is deade sée that her Deathe Kites be duely finished What rewarde shal I haue Mother saide he for I haue no leasure to boaste my selfe or with longe circumstances to promise you any helpe séeinge you be in suche and so desperate a case Looke for what so euer you wil for shée hathe made you her chiefe Cuppe bearer for my sake already and if thou haue any higher Office in thy heade tel me As for the Ritches that thou shal haue in recompence if thou saue her vnhappy Creature of them shalbe no number Mother ê™ he I perceiued as muche a good while agoe but I saide nothinge and looked euer what would comme of it But I care for no honour nor regarde any Ritches but if shée wil geue me the Mayde whiche is called Theagenes Sister to wife shée shal haue her hartes desire For Mother I loue that Mayde without measure Wherefore seinge our Mistresse knoweth by her owne case what kinde and how great a griefe loue is shée hath good cause to healpe him who is sicke of that disease also seinge further he promiseth her so good lucke Haue no doubt saide Cibele for our Mistresse wil
at Memphis when you haue recouered y e honour of your Priesthoode for by that meanes it should come to passe that Marriage ioined with Victorie after good lucke celebrated shalbe muche more merie But whither this muste be donne before or after I leaue it to your discretion onely my request is that I may fulfil the Rites of my Countrie before I knowe that you wil hereunto agrée who haue ben brought vp from your childehoode aboute holy Offices thinke also very well reuerently of the Goddes With this shée made an ende of speaking and beganne bitterly to wéepe All they who were presente praised her and willed that it should be donne euen so for their partes they promised theire ready aide to doo what so euer he woulde Thyamis also partely willinge partely against his will consented thereunto For the more desire that he had towarde Cariclia he accompted that same houre wherein these thinges were a dooinge to be an infinite time Againe he was pleased with her Oration as it had benne with somme Meremaydes songe and was enforced to consente to her and therewithall he thought vpon his dreame supposing that he should be Married at Memphis This donne hauing first deuided their bootie and takinge somme of the beste Iuelles whiche of theire owne accorde they gaue him he suffered euery man to departe with further commaundemente to be ready the tenth daie after to goe towarde Memphis He let the Greekes haue the Tabernacle that they had before And with them was Cnemon not as a Kéeper nowe but as a companion and Thyamis furnished them with as good victuall as there might be gotten Whereof also Theagenes for his sisters sake had part He determined not to looke vpon Cariclia very ofte that her bewtie mighte not moue his hotte desire to doo somewhat contrarie to that which by common counsell was Decreed as was before rehearsed And for these causes Thyamis would not looke vpon the Mayde thinkinge it an vnpossible thinge that a man shoulde bothe looke vpon a faire Mayde and kéepe him self within the bondes of temperance But Cnemon after euery man was quickly dispatched and were crept into theire corners which they had in the Marishe went to séeke the Herbe whiche the daie before he promised Theagenes At this time Theagenes hauinge gotten fit oportunitie weapt cried out speakinge neuer a woorde to Cariclia but without seasing called vpon the Goddes And when shée asked him whither after his accustomed manner he deplored the common mishappe or had any newe gréefe befallen him what ê™ he can be more newe or contrarie to equitie then to breake an othe and finall agréemente Cariclia hathe forgotten me and is content to marrie another man God defende saide the Mayde I praie you be not more gréeuous vnto me then the miseries I haue already neither misdéeme any thinge by my talke applied to the time and perhappes to somme pourpose seinge you haue before by many argumentes tried howe I am affected towarde you Excepte perchaunce the contrarie maie happen and that you sooner chaunge your minde then I wil departe from any the leste iote of my promise For I am contente and take in good parte all theise calamities but that I shall not liue chastely and temperatly there shalbe no torment that maie constraine me In one thinge onely I know I haue not ruled my self that is in the loue that I haue borne to you from the beginninge but notwithstandinge it is bothe lawfull and honeste for I like not your Louer but at the firste concludinge marriage with you haue committed my selfe to you and haue liued chastely without copulation hitherto not without refusinge you oftentimes proferinge me such thinges and haue waited for occasion to be married if any where it might lawfully be donne whiche thinge at the firste was decreed bitwéene vs and aboue al thinges by othe established Beside this consider how vaine you are if you suppose that I estéeme more of a Barbarous fellowe then a Grecian of a théefe then of him whome with my harte I loue What did those thinges then meane said Theagenes which in that goodly companie were of you openly rehearsed For in y t you fained me to be your Brother it was a very wise diuise whiche caused Thyamis to be farre from the Ialousie of our loue and made vs to be togeather safely I perceiued also to what ende that tended whiche you saide of Ionia and of wandringe aboute Delos For they were shadowes which might easily couer the truth and deceiue in déede the Auditours But so readily to approue the marriage and openly to conclude the same and to appointe the time therefore what that shoulde signifie neither coulde I ghesse neither woulde I. But I wished that the Earthe mighte haue clouen and swallowed me vp rather then that I shoulde haue séene suche an ende of the trauelles and hope that for your sake I vndertooke Herewithall Cariclia embraced Theagenes and kissed him a thousande times and bemoystinge his face with her teares oh in howe good parte saide shée doo I take these feares that for my sake you sustaine For hereby you declare that you quayle not in your loue towarde me althoughe many miseries depende thereupon But knowe for a truthe Theagenes that at this time wée had not talked togeather If I had not made him such a promise For drawinge backe with labouringe a contrarie waie doothe muche kindell the force of vehemente desire Whereas in yéeldinge talke and applieinge the same to the mouinge of his wil hathe quieted his burning loue with the pleasantnesse of my promise hathe broughte on sléepe to his hastie appetite For rude Louers at the firste thinke that they muste laboure to haue a promise after are of quieter mindes still houeringe in hope and trustinge that at lengthe they shall enioye that whiche was promised All whiche thinges I foreséeinge by my present talke committed my selfe to him commendinge that whiche shall followe to the Goddes and the Angell that at the firste hathe obteyned the tuicion of our loue Oftentimes the space of a daie or twoo hathe benne very healthefull and brought thinges to happy passe whiche before by no deuice coulde any man bringe to prosperous ende Wherefore I also at this time haue preferred this inuention before all other ponderinge with vncertaintie that which is moste sure Wée muste therefore swéete loue vse this policie wisely and kéepe it secretely not onely from all other but also from Cnemon too For although he séeme to fauoure oure estate and is a Grecian yet beinge at this time a prisoner will perhappes if occasion serue be ready to doo the Captaine a good turne For neither this time of friendeshippe neither Countriemanshippe is a sufficiente pledge to vs of his fidelitie and truthe Wherefore if at any time by suspicion he geather any thinge touchinge oure estate at the firste wée muste denie it For that manner of
Aristippus to loue her the better Sometimes would shée kisse me oftentimes woulde shée wishe that shée might pastime her selfe with me whereof I was well content mistrustinge nothinge lesse then that shée wente about maruelinge also that shée bare sutche a Motherly affection towarde me But when shée came to me more wantonly and that her kisses were more hote then beséemed an honest woman and her countenance passed modestie then many thinges caused me to suspecte her therefore I conueyed my selfe awaie woulde nothinge regarde her faire woordes I will lette other thinges passe whiche would be to longe to tell by what meanes shée wente aboute to winne me what profers shée made howe sometime shee would call me her Prety boye sometime her Sweete harte then her Heyre after her owne Life laste of all to these her faire names would shée adde many intisementes with especiall consideration what I liked beste so that in graue affaires shée woulde behaue her selfe like my Mother but if shée liste to dally then would shée manifestly declare her loue At lengthe suche a chance befell when Pallas highe feaste called Quinquatria was celebrated on whiche the Athenians were accustomed to consecrate a shippe by lande and I for I was not then sixtene yéeres olde had Songe the vsuall Hymne of her praise and donne other Ceremonies and Kites due to the same eueÌ„ as I was attyred in my robes my Crowne on my head I came home shée as soone as shée espied me was by and by distraught of her wittes and not able with pollicie to couer her loue any lenger but for very desire ranne to me and tooke me in her Armes and saide Oh my younge Hippolitus and my deare Theseus In what case was I then thinke you who euen nowe am a shamed to tell you the same That nighte my Father supped in the Castell and as it often happeneth in suche companie and publique resort he determined to lie there all night that night shée came to me and striued to haue an vnlawful thinge at my hand But I with all my powre withstoode her and regarded neither her flatteringe woordes nor faire promises no nor her threateninges wherefore fetching a sighe from the bottom of her harte for that time departed but within twoo nightes after like a mischieuous queane shée sought all meanes possible to enterrupte me And firste of all shée kepte her bedde and when my Father came home and asked her how she fared made him answeare that shée was sicke but when he was very importunate and desirous to knowe what shée ailed The goodly yonge man saide shée that loued me so well Sonne to vs bothe whome I the Goddes knowe loued a greate deale better then you when he perceiued by certaine tokens that I was greate with childe by you whiche thinge I conceaued from you vntill I knewe the certeintic my selfe and waytinge for youre absence when I counsailed him as my manner was and perswaded him to leaue hauntinge of Harlottes and too much drinkinge whiche thinges I knewe well ynoughe But woulde neuer tell you of them leaste thereby I shoulde incurre the cruell suspicion of a Stepmother with you while I saie I talked with him of these things alone no more but he and I leaste he shoulde be ashamed I will not tell the worse for I am abashed so to doo nor in what manner he reuiled bothe you and me lastely spurned me on the belly and hath caused me to be in suche case as ye sée As soone as he hearde this he saide nothinge nor asked me no questions neither gaue me leaue to speake for my selfe but perswadinge him selfe that shée who loued me so well woulde by no meanes belie me as soone as he founde me in a certaine corner of the house boxed me with his fistes and callinge his seruantes togeather scourged me with roddes and woulde not suffer me to knowe whiche al menne doo why I was cruelly beten when his anger was wel cooled and he came to him selfe againe I saide to him Father yet nowe at length I pray you tell mée why I haue had thus many stripes wherewith he much more incensed Oh cleanly desembler saide he he would know his owne misdéede of me he wente in againe to Demeneta but shée not content with this deuised suche another shifte againste me Shée had a mayde called Thisbe which could playe wel on the Virginalles and was otherwise faire and a very propre wenche Her she made calle for me and commaunded her to loue me by and by shée did so in déede and where shée refused oftentimes attemptinge her before nowe allured me with countenaunce beckes and many other signes Nowe was I somewhat prowde for that of a sudden I was becomme bewtiful and in déede on a night when shée came to my bedde thought no scorne to make her roome shée liked her interteinement so well that shée came againe and continually haunted my bedde at length when I gaue her counsel to vse circumspection in this mater and take héede that hir Misters found her not with me Cnemon sayde shée you séeme to be too simple if you counte it a daungerous mater for me beinge a bonde mayde bought with money to be taken a bedde with you what pounishement thinke you her woorthy that professinge her selfe a frée woman and lawfully married to a husbande and yet plaieth the naughty packe Peace ê™ I I cannnot beléeue that Yes saide shée if you wil I wil deliuer the Adoulteroure to you euen in the déede dooinge If you wil so doo ê™ I you shal doo me a pleasure With al my hart said she not onely for your owne sake who haue benne iniured by hir tofore but for mine also who for that shée hathe me in Ielousie am vsed of her very extremely wherefore if thou be a man apprehende him I promised her I would so doo and shée for that time wente her waie aboute thrée nightes after shée came waked me out of my sléepe that an Adulter was come in and that my Father vppon occasion suddainely was gonne into the countrie and he accordinge to the appointmente was gonne to bedde to Demeneta therefore it was erpediente for me to haste me to be reuenged and put on my swoorde that the knaue mighte not escape I did so and takinge my sworde in my hande followed those whiche carried a candle before and wente to the beddechamber When I came neare the doore and perceiued the glimeringe of a candle through the sliuers and the doores lockte Very angrie as I was brake vp the doores and ranne in crieinge out where is that same villaine the woorthie louer of this chaste Dame â–ª Whiche when I had sayde I came to the bedde in minde to slea them bothe but there with my Father O God leapte out of the bedde and fallinge on his knées before me saide my Sonne haue pittie vpon thy Father spare his white heares that hath brought thée vp Wée haue
mouinge any whitte stoode quakinge in a greate admiration Therewithal Theagenes came some what to him selfe began to conceiue somme better hope in his minde comforted Cnemon whose harte nowe failed him and desired him in all haste to carrie him to Cariclia A while after when Cnemon came sommewhat to him selfe againe he looked more aduisedly on her It was Thisbe in déede and knew also the Swoorde that laie by her by the Hiltes to be Thyamis his whiche he for angre and haste lefte in the wounde Laste of all he sawe a little scrowle hange at her breaste whiche he tooke awaie and would faine haue readde it but Theagenes would not lette him but laie on him very earnestly saieinge lette vs firste receiue my swéete harte leaste euen nowe also somme God beguile vs as for these thinges wée maie know them hereafter Cnemon was contente and so takinge the Letter in his hande and the Swoorde also wente in to Cariclia who crepinge bothe on handes and féete to the light ranne to Theagenes hanged aboute his necke nowe Theagenes thou arte restoared to me againe saide shée Thou liuest mine owne Cariclia ê™ he oftentimes At length they fell suddainely to the grounde holdinge either other in their Armes without vtteringe any woorde except a little murmuringe and it lacked but a litle that they were not bothe deade For many times too muche gladnes is turned to sorrowe and immoderate pleasure hath ingendred gréefe whereof our selues are the causes As also these preserued coÌ„trary to their hope and opinion were in perill vntill Cnemon takinge a little water in his handes sprinkled it on their faces and rubbinge their nostrelles caused them to comme to them selues againe When they perceiued that they were so familiarly embraced and on grounde they starte vp suddainely and blushed but especially Cariclia because of Cnemon who had séene these thinges and desired him to pardon them He smilinge a little and willinge to turne their mindes to some mirthe In mine opinion saide he or any mans elles who hath before wrastled with loue and hath pleasantly yéelded thereunto ineuitable chance therof moderately these thinges are muche prayse woorthie But Theagenes I could by no meanes commende that wherof I also was ashamed when I sawe you shamefully embrace a strange woman and one to whome you were bounde by no bonde of fréendshippe for al that I boldely affirmed your dearest frende was aliue safe Cnemon ê™ Theagenes accuse me not to Cariclia whome in an others body I bewailed thinkinge her who was slaine to haue benne this wenche But forasmuche as the good will of God hath nowe declared that I was in so doinge beguiled remeÌ„ber I praie you your owne cowardenes in asmuche as firste you deplored my case in the suddaine knowledge of her who laie there and though you had a swoorde by your side yet you like a stoute and valiant warrioure were afraide of a woman and shée deade nolesse then if the Goddes had benne in presence Hereat they smiled a little but not without teares as it happeneth to men in suche miserie After Cariclia had staied a little and scratchinge her chéeke vnder her eare I iudge saide shée her happy who soeuer shée was whom Theagenes lamented and kissed also as Cnemon reporteth but excepte you thinke that I am in Ialoufie I woulde gladly knowe what happy woman that was for whiche were woorthy Theagenes teares If you can tell me and by what erroure you kissed her in stéede of me Suerly said he you wil wonder at it greatly for Cnemon saith it was that cunninge Player of the Harpe whiche was Thisbe the deuiser of the wyles against him and Demeneta Herewith Cariclia afraide asked him how is it like that shée should come out of y e middest of Greece as of set pourpose into the farthest parte of Egypte or howe is it possible that when we came hither wée sawe her not As touching this saide Cnemon I haue nothing to saie But thus much I hearde of her After that Demeneta preuented with her crafte had caste her selfe into the ditche and my Father had opened the mater to the people he at the firste obteined pardon and was altogeather busied that he might gette leaue of the people to restoare me againe and make preparation to séeke me Thisbe nowe bicause of his busines hauinge little to doo and banketting without care coÌ„tinually set as it were at sale both her selfe and her arte and in asmuche as shée passed Arsmoe in grace cunning play bothe in quicke fingering and also swéete singinge to her Intrumente shée perceiued not that she gotte thereby woorship enuie and emulation conioyned with singuler indignation chiefely for that shée was beloued of a certaine Marchaunt of Mancratia named Nansicles who despised Arsmoe with whom he accoÌ„panied before for al that while shée songe her chéekes swelled and were vnséemely with staringe eies almost leauinge their accustomed place Wherefore Arsmoe swellinge with anger and emulation came to Demenetas kinsfolkes and tolde them the whole maner of the whiles that Thisbe vsed againste her whereof somme shée suspected and Thisbe had tolde her other some for the familiar acquaintance which was bitwéene them When therefore Demenetas kinsfolkes came togeather to haue my Father condemned and had procured the most eloquente Oratours with greate Summes of mony to accuse him they saide that Demeneta was killed without Iudgement and not conuicted and that the Adulterie was pretended to colour the murther and therefore they required to haue the Adulterer either quicke or deade or at leste to knowe his name Laste of all that Thisbe might be brought to examination which when my Father had promised coulde not perfourme for she had prouided that before the daie of Iudgemente was assigned and wente her waie with the Marchaunt as they had appointed the people takinge the mater in euill parte Iudged him not the killer in as muche as he had tolde the mater plainely as it was donne but he helped to the death of Demeneta and mine vniuste bannishmente exiled him out of his Countrie and confiscated al his goodes and this commoditie gotte he by his seconde Marriage But the moste wicked Thisbe who is slaine in my sight sayled from Athens for that cause And thus muche ouely coulde I knowe whiche Anticles tolde me in Egma with whom I sayled twice into Aegypt of purpose if I might finde her in Mancratia to bring her backe to Athens and-deliuer my Father from suche suspitions and accusations as were laide against him and take reuenge of her for all the mischieues that shée did vnto vs and hereof in your presence I make enquirie Nowe as touchinge the cause of my comminge hither the manner thereof and the daungers that I suffered in this space you shal hereafter knowe But howe and by whom Thisbe was slaine in this Denne wée shall haue néede perhappes of some Oracle to tel vs. Neuerthelesse if you will let vs looke vpon the
Letter whiche wée founde in her bosome it maie be that wée shall learne sommewhat beside this in it They were content and he openinge it beganne to reade as foloweth To Cnemon my Maister Thisbe his enimie and reuenger Firste I tel you of the deathe of Demeneta whiche for your sake I deuised againste her the manner howe I brought it to passe if you doo Ransome me I wil tell you betwixte vs twoo Vnderstande that I was taken by one of the Théeues that are of this crewe and haue benne here tenne daies already he saithe that he is the Captaines Harnesbearer but he will not géeue me leaue so muche as to looke abroade and thus he pounished me as he saithe for the loue he hathe towarde me but as farre as I can geather it is leste somme man els should take mée from him Yet for all that by the benefite of the same God I sawe you my Maister yesterdaie and knewe you and haue therefore sente this Letter to you by an olde woman my bedfellowe charginge her to deliuer â–ª it to a bewtifull yonge man beinge a Grecian the Captaines friende Redéeme me I praie thée out of the handes of the Théefe and entertaine your Handmaide and if you will preserue her knowing this first that when so euer I offended against you I was constrained to doo it but in that I reuenged you of your enimie I did it of mine owne frée will but if your anger be so gréeuous againste me that it will not be asswaged vse it towarde me as you shall thinke good so that I maie be in your hande I care not if I die for I couet muche better to be slaine of your handes and to be buried after the manner of the Greekes then to leade a life more gréeuous then deathe or els to susteine suche Barbarous Loue as is more intollerable theÌ„ the hatred of Athens And thus spake Thisbe in her Letter But Cnemon saide Thisbe as reason is thou arte slaine and thy selfe art messenger to tell vs of thy miseries making declaration of them by thine owne deathe Thus hathe the Reuenger as now maie it appeare driuing thée ouer all the worlde not withdrawen her scourge before shée made me whom thou haste iniuried although liuinge in Aegypte to be y e beholder of thy pounishment But what mischiefe was that whiche thou diddest deuise againste me as by thy Letters it maie appeare whiche Fortune woulde not let thée bringe to ende Verily euen nowe also I muche mistruste thée and am in great doubte leste the death of Demeneta be but a tale and that bothe they beguiled me who tolde me of the same and that thou art come by Sea out of Greece to make in Aegypte another Tragedy of mée Will you not leaue saide Theagenes to be too valiant and feare the Shadowes Spirites of deade folkes For you cannot obiecte and saie that shée hather either beguiled me or deceiued my sight séeinge that I haue no parte in this plaie But be sure Cnemon that this body is deade and therefore haue you no cause to doubte But who did you this good turne in killinge her or how shée was brought hither or when I my selfe am in greate maruill As for the reste saide Cnemon I cannot tell But surely Thyamis slewe her as by the sworde whiche laie by her beinge deade wée maie ghesse For I knowe it to be his by the Hilt of Iuory wherein is an Aegle grauen Tell me therfore saide Theagenes how when wherefore he killed her How can I tel you aunsweared Cnemon For this Caue hathe not made me a Soothsaier as doothe Apolloes Churche or those that enter into Trophonius Denne which rapte with Diuine furie doo proficie When Theagenes and Cariclia hearde this suddainely lamentinge O Pitho O Delphi cried they wherewith Cnemon was abashed and wiste not what they had conceiued by the name of Pitho and thus were they occupied But Thermutis Thyamis Harnesbearer after he beinge wounded had escaped the battail and sailed to lande when nighte came he gotte a loose Boate and hasted to goe to the Iland Thisbe whom he tooke a fewe daies before froÌ„ Mansicles a Marchant in a narrowe waie at the side of the Hill But after the broile began and the enimies approched when Thyamis sente him to fetche the Sacrifice to the Goddes he desiringe to place her without the daunger of weapons and to kéepe her for him selfe in safety put her priuily into the Caue and for haste lefte her but in the entrie thereof In which place as shée at the first was lefte partly for feare of the present perilles partly for that shée knew not the waies that wente into the bottome of the Caue Thyamis finding her in stéede of Cariclia slewe her To her therefore Thermutis made haste after he escaped out of the battaile as soone as he was landed in the Ilande he ranne to the Tabernacles where beside asshes he founde nothinge But findinge at length the mouthe of the Caue by the stoane and the reade if any were left on fiere he ranne downe in great haste and called Thisbe by name whom after he founde deade and standinge a good while without mouinge in a greate studie at length hearinge out of the inner partes of the Caue a certaine noyse and sounde for Theagenes and Cnemon were yet in talke he straight déemed that they had slaine her was therefore much troubled in his mind could not wel tel what to doo For the Barbarous angre and fearcenesse whiche is naturally grafted in Théeues kindled the more for that he was nowe beguiled of his loue moued him to set vpon them whome he déemed to be the Authours of that murther but for that he neither had armour nor weapoÌ„ he was constrained whither he would or no to be quiet he thought it good therfore not to come vpon them as an enimie at the firste but if he could get any Armour then to set on them after When he had thus determined he came to Theagenes and loked about with eies frowning and terribly bent so that with his contenance he plainely bewraied the inwarde cogitation of his minde They séeinge a man comme in vppon them suddainely soare wounded naked and with a blouddy face behaued not them selues all alike but Cariclia ranne into a corner of the Caue fearinge perhappes to looke vpon a man so deformed and naked Cnemon séeinge Thermutes contrary to his expectation and knowinge him well mistrustinge that he woulde enterprise sommewhat helde his peace and stepped backe But that sight did not so muche feare Theagenes as moue him to wrath who drewe his sword and made as though he woulde strike him if he sturred and bad him stande or els ê™ he thou shalte knowe the price of thy comminge and the cause is for that I knowe thée not nor why thou commest Thermutis came neare him and spake him faire hauinge rather respecte to the
forthe also that poisoned breathe to that whiche is neare at hande That same ayre beinge a sclender and subtile thinge perseth euen to the boanes and very marowe and by that meanes hath enuy benne cause to many of that disease whiche wée call by a proper name Bewitchinge Consider that also Caricles how many haue gotten sore eies and the plague though they neither touched those that had suche diseases nor eate at their table nor laie in their beddes but onely by beinge in the same ayre as well as any thing els Let loue be an argument or proufe of this who taketh his beginning occasion of that whiche is séene so as if it were some preuy passioÌ„ by the cies is suffered to enter into the harte And this is like to be true For seinge of al our other Pores senses sighte is capable of moste mutations and the hotest it muste néedes receiue suche infections as are about it with a hote spirite entertaine the changes of Loue. Yf néede be I will bringe for examples sake some reason out of the holy Bookes gathered of the consideration of Nature Charadrius healeth those that haue the Kinges euill whiche birde flieth awaie as soone as any that hath this discase hath spied her turneth her taile towarde him shutteth her eies Not as some say because shée would not helpe him but that in lookinke vpon him shée draweth that euill disease vnto her by nature and therefore shée declineth suche sight as a presente perill And perhaps you haue hearde how the SerpeÌ„t Basiliscus with his onely breathe and looke dothe drie vp and corrupte all that it passeth by and it is no maruell if some doo bewitche suche as they holde moste déere and wishe beste vnto for seinge they be enuious by nature thei doo not what they woulde but what by nature they are appointed After he had staied a little at this he saide you haue discussed this doubte right wisely and with very probable argumentes I woulde to God that shée might once féele what affection and loue meaneth Then would I not thinke that shée were sicke but in moste perfite healthe and you knowe that I haue craued your healpe to bringe this aboute But now nothinge lesse then this is to be feared to haue happened to her who hateth her bedde and will be wonne with no Loue but shée rather semeth to be bewitched in déede and I doubte not but you will vndoo this witchcrafte for the friendshippe whiche is betwixte vs and to shewe vs some pointe of your singular wisedome I promised him if I coulde perceiue her gréefe to healpe her what I coulde And while wée yet talked of their matters one came to vs in hast and saide Good sirs you make suche tariance as if you should come to a battaile or skyrmishe and not to a banket The maker whereof is the excellent Theagenes and great Neoptolemus the president at the same Come thether neither let the Banket through your defaulte be continewed till nighte seinge none but you are awaie This felowe ê™ Caricles to me in mine eare biddeth vs with a cudgil in his hand O what a lofty felow Bacchus is if he be well washed But let vs goo for it is to be doubted least if wée tarrie he wil driue vs forward You iest saide I yet I am pleased let vs goo in déede When wée came Theagenes placed Caricles beside him selfe and honoured me also somewhat for his sake Why doo I trouble you nowe with tellinge how the Maydes daunced and what instrumentes were there and howe the yonge youthes daunced the daunce called Pyrricha in armoure others whiche Theagenes had mingled with fine and delicate meates orderinge his banket as if it had benne but a Drinkinge but that whiche is néedefull for you to heare and pleasaunt for one to tel was thus Theagenes sette a mery countenance on the matter and strained him selfe wonderfully that he might intertaine his gheastes courteously make them good chéere But I perceiued whereto his minde was bente by the rowlinge of his eyes and suddaine sighinge without cause Sometimes he was sadde and in a muse streightway as though he knewe his owne faulte and woulde correcte him selfe he would be merie to be shorte he changed his countenaunce a thousande waies For the minde as wel of a louer as of a dronken man is flexible and can tarie in no certaine state as though they bothe swimmed in a moiste affection And for that cause a Louer wil soone be dronke and a dronken man soone in Loue. Afterward by his sorowfull gapinge and careful countenance al those who were there sawe that he was not well So Caricles also perceiuinge that saide to me softely What meaneth this varietie Some enuious eie hath looked vpon him also Me thinketh that Cariclia and he haue one disease They haue one the same in déede by Isis said I and not without cause in as muche as in this royaltie nexte to her he was the fayrest person Thus talked we But after the cuppes should goo about Theagenes dranke to euery man although againste his will for courtesies sake When he came to me I saide that I thanked him for his gentel proferre but dranke not Thinkinge that I had despised him he looked vpon me angerly and with burninge eies Whiche assoone as Caricles perceiued he saide this man drinketh no wine nor eateth of the fleashe of any liuinge thinge He asked why He is ê™ he an Aegyptian borne at Memphis and Isis Prieste When Theagenes perceiued that I was an Aegyptian and a Prieste he conceiued a woonderfull pleasure and stretched him selfe for ioye as those who haue founde some greate treasure and called for water and after he had dronke a good draught he saide Right wise man I haue dronke to you of that whiche you like beste and I praie you let this table make a lasting league of Amitie betwéene vs. Let it doo so woorthy Theageanes ê™ I for I haue a good while desired the same and so receiuinge it at his hande did drinke and with suche talke wée made an ende of the banquet and went euery one to his owne lodgynge But Theagenes imbraced me very louingly and with diuerse kisses bothe oftener and more familiarely then our former acquaintance suffered After I came home I sleapte not the firste parte of the nighte thinkinge diuersly of the yonge couple and diligently studied what the later ende of the Oracle should meane When it was midnight I sawe Apollo and Diana as I thought if I thought and it was not rather so in déede and he deliuered Theagenes to me and shée Cariclia and callinge me by my name it is time saide they that you retourne into your Countrie for so the Ladies of destinie commaunde you Goo therefore hence thy selfe and take these with thée and loue them as thine owne Children and bringe them out of Egypte whether and howe it shall please the Goddes
twoo Champions whiche he had set togeather Sutche was the sight All Greece looked on and Thamphictiones sate in Iudgemente After all other disportes were sumptuously finished as Runninge Wrastlinge fight with Plommetes at laste the Crier by Proclamation called these in that shoulde runne in Armour And therewithall Cariclia glistered at the race ende For shée came althoughe againste her will for the customes sake partely but rather in my iudgemente vpon hope to sée Theagenes somewhere in her lefte hand shée had a burning Taper and in the other hand a branche of Palme and as soone as shée appeared euery man looked vpon her but I cannot tell whether any sawe her before Theagenes for a Louer is very ready to spie That with Loue whereof he is detained But he beside that after he knewe what should be donne thought vpon nothinge but to sée her Wherefore he coulde not keepe his owne councell but saide secretly to me for he satte nexte me of pourpose That same is Cariclia but I badde him be quiet After the Proclamation was ended there came foorthe one of goodly Personage and of greate courage like whom in honour was none in y e whole companie who in many courses before had wonne the Garlande mary then there was none to contende with him for that as I thinke none durste be so bolde The Thamphictiones therefore let him goe For by the Lawe he maie not haue the Crowne that hathe not ventured for the same Yet he made requeste that chalenge mighte be made against all menne The Iudges gaue commaundement that it should be so the Crier called for some man to runne with that other Theagenes saide to me This maÌ„ calleth for me For me ê™ I what meane you by that It shalbe so Father quoth he For none but I if I be in presence and looke on shall receiue rewarde of Victorie at Cariclias hande Doo you neither care for nor estéeme the shame that ensueth if you be ouercommed sayde I. What man saide he wil looke on Cariclia and appreche to her so hastily that he can get before me To whome â—an her eies geue like Winges as to me and cause him flie so faste Knowe you not that Painters make Loue with twoo Winges declaringe as by a Riddel the nimblenesse of those that be in Loue And if I muste néedes boaste beside that I saide already hetherto neuer any man vaunted that he out ranne me When he had saide thus he leapte foorth went downe declared his name and Countrie and wente to the leaste ende and when he had put on his Armoure he stoode at the place appointed pantinge for great desire he had to runne and was very vnwillinge and bad much adoo to tarrie the sounde of the Trumpet It was a goodly sight and woorthy to be looked on muche like that wherin Homer bringeth in Achilles as he ranne at Scamander al Greece was muche moued at this déede which fel contrarie to their expectation and wished the Victorie to Theagenes as hartily as if euery man had runne him selfe For the comelines of Personage is of great force to get the good will of men Cariclia also was moued out of measure and I sawe it by reason I looked vpon her a greate while and espied howe her countenaunce changed diuersly For after the Crier had in al mens hearinge named those that should runne Ormenus an Archadian and Theagenes a Thessalian they lefte theire standinges and finished theire race as faste almoste as menne coulde looke after them there coulde not the Mayde be quiet any more but her body was moued and her féete leapte for ioye as though her minde had benne with Theagenes and helpte him in his race All those that looked on waited to what ende this woulde come and were very careful But I aboue the rest who had now determined with my self to haue like care of him as if he had ben my sonne No maruell saide Cnemon if those that were there and sawe him were carefull nowe I my selfe am afraide for Theagenes and therefore if he get the price I praye you tell me so muche the sooner after they had runne the middel of the race Cnemon turned him a litle about and frowninge vpon Ormenus lifted vp his Shilde alofte and stretched out his necke and with face faste fixed vpon Cariclia at laste he got to the race ende and starte so far before that the Archadian was many yardes behinde whiche quantitie of grounde was after measured This donne he ranne to Cariclia of pourpose fel in her lappe as though he coulde not staye him selfe and when he had taken the Garlande I sawe wel yenough that he kissed her hande O happy turne that he got the Victorie and kissed her too But what then Thou canst not onely be satisfied with hearinge this tale neither easily ouercommed by sléepe and although a great part of the night be paste yet thou watchest and art not wery of so longe a tale I blame Homer Father sayde he for that he sayd a man might as well be wery of Loue as of any thinge els Whereof in mine opinion a man can not be wery neither if he be in Loue him self or heare of others Loue. And if any man talke of the Loue of Theagenes and Cariclia who is so stony or harde harted that he would not conceiue delight therein although he shoulde heare nothinge els a whole yéere Wherefore goe forewarde with your tale Theagenes Cnemon was crowned and proclaimed Victor and brought backe with all mennes ioyfull gratulations Nowe was Cariclia quite vanquished and bounde to Loue more then shée was before When shée had séene Theagenes the seconde time For the mutuall sight of Louers is a remembrance and renewinge of Loue dooth as much inflame the minde as fire when it is put to any drie mater After shée came home shée abode a like night to the other or a woorse I also sleapt but litle for consideringe whether we should goe to councell our flight and into what Countrie God woulde haue the yonge couple carried and I coniectured that wée muste take oure voiage by Sea by the Oracle where it sayde And saylinge surginge streames Shal come at length to Countrie scortche VVith burninge Phebus beames But whether they shoulde be conueied I coulde finde but one waie to knowe if I coulde by any meanes gette the fascia whiche was laide out with Cariclia wherein Caricles saide that he hearde saie all the Maydes estate was notified For I thought it was like that by it I shoulde knowe the Maydes Parentes and Countrie whiche I beganne already to suspecte and perhaps also whither the Ladies of destinie woulde sende theÌ„ When I came the next morning very early to Cariclia I founde all her kinsfolkes wéepinge Caricles as muche as any other when I came in what a doo is here saide I My Daughters disease answeared he waxeth woorse and woorse and shée hath had a woorse
iudge her disease by the beatinge of her pulse whiche declareth as I gheasse the state of the harte after he had felte her pulse a good while and had looked oft vpon euery parte of her he saide Caricles you haue brought vs hither in vaine for Phisicke can doo her no good O God saide I why saie you so muste my Daughter die without all hope of recouerie Make not suche adoo saide he but heare me and so when wée were in a corner that neither the Maide nor any other could heare vs he saide Our Arte dothe professe the curinge of distempered bodies not principally of the diseased minde but then when it is afflicted with the bodie so that when that is healed then is it also cured The Mayde in déede is diseased but not in bodie for no humour aboundeth the head ache gréeueth her not no ague burneth her nor any parte or parcelles of her body is gréeued accoumpt this and nothinge els to be true I hartely prayed him if he perceiued any thing by her to vtter it to me Dothe not the Mayde know ê™ he that Loue is an affection and manifest gréefe of the minde Doo you not sée that her eies be swollen and looketh euery waie and is pale in her face but findeth no faulte with her harte beside this shée raueth and vttereth what so euer cometh into her minde watcheth without cause At a woorde shée hath sodainely loste the moisture of her bodie and iuste amplitude thereof You must Caricles if it be possible finde her out a man and when he had saide thus he departed I come in haste to you my Sauiour and God whom both I and shée doo acknowledge to be onely hable to doo vs a good turne For when I desired her ofte and diuerse waies besought her to tell me what shée ailed shée made me this answeare that shée knewe not what disease shée had mary shée knew that none could healpe her but Calasiris and therefore shée desired me to call you to her Whereby I chiefely gheassed that your wisedome had brought her vnder Can you saide I to him tell as well whome shée loueth as that shée is in Loue No by Apollo saide he For how or by what meanes should I know that Mary I woulde aboue all thinges that shée loued Alcamenes my Sisters Sonne whom as muche as lieth in me I haue appointed to be her Husbande You maie saide I trie and bring him in and shewe him to her He liked my Counsell well and wente his waie When he mette me the nexte time in the middle of the Towne where greate resorte was you shall heare saide he a pitifull thinge my Daughter séemeth to be out of her wittes suche a strange infirmitie hath shée I brought in Alcamenes as you badde me and shewed him her very freashly apparailed shée as though shée had séene Gorgons head or some more fearefull thinge cried with a lowde voice and turned her countenance to the other parte of the chamber and put her hande to her throte in stéede of an halter and threatned that shée woulde kille her selfe bounde it with an Othe too if wée dispatched not our selues out of the chamber quickely Wée wente from her in lesse while then shée spake the woordes for what shoulde wée doo seinge so fearefull a sighte Nowe I come to beséeche you againe that you will neither suffer her to perishe nor me to be frustrate of my pourpose O Caricles saide I you saide truely that your Daughter was madde for shée is moued with the multitude that I haue burdened her with whiche are not of the least but suche as should force her to doo that whiche shée abhorred as well by nature as determination of minde But I suppose that some God taketh an him to hinder this businesse and to striue with my ministers Wherefore it is time that you shewe me her safetie whiche you saide was founde with her with the other Iewels I am afraide leaste that be inchanted and wrought with such thinges as doo nowe exasperate her minde by reason that somme Enimie had ordeined this for her as soone as shée was borne that shée shoulde be estraunged from all loue and die without Issue He allowed that I saide within a while after he brought me the same wherein were Aethiopian Letters not common but suche as the Princes vse whiche are like the Letters that the Aegyptians vse in theire Holy affaires as I readde it ouer I founde suche thinges written therein Persina Quéene of the Aethiopians to her Daughter onely in sorrowe by what name so euer shée shalbe called doothe write in haste this Lamentation conteined herein as her laste gifte I was astonied Cnemon when I hearde Persinas name yet I readde that whiche folowed whiche was thus My Daughter the Sunne beinge Authoure of our stocke is witnesse that for no misdéede I haue caste thée foorthe and concealed thée from thy Father Hydaspes sighte yet my Daughter I would haue my selfe excused to thée if thou happen to liue and to him who shal finde thée if God procure any and to al menne and therefore I declare the cause of thy Exposition The greatest of al our Goddes are the Sunne and Bacchus The noblest nexte to these are Perseus Andromeda and Memnon after them Those who haue by Succession edified and finished the Kinges Palaice haue portraied there many thinges that they did as for the dwellinge houses and Galleries they haue sette diuerse Images and Noble actes of theires in them but all the bedde chambers are garnished with Pictures containinge the Loue of Perseus and Andromeda in one of them after Hidaspes had benne Married to me tenne yéeres and wée had neuer a childe wée happened to reste after dinner in the SuÌ„mer for that wée were heauy a fléepe at which time your Father had to doo with mée swearinge that by a dreame he was commaunded so to doo and I by and by perceiued my selfe with Childe All the time after vntill I was deliuered was kepte Holy Sacrifices of thankes geuinge were offered to the Goddes for that the Kinge hoped to haue one nowe to succéede him in his Kingdome But thou werte borne white whiche colour is strange amonge the Ethiopians I knewe the reason because I looked vpon the picture of Andromeda naked while my Husbande had to doo with me for then he firste brought her from the rocke had by mishappe ingendred presently a thinge like to her yet I determined to ridde my selfe of shamefull deathe countinge it certaine that thy colour woulde procure me to be accused of Adulterie and that none woulde beléeue me when I tolde them the cause and to committe thée to the vnstablenesse of Fortune whiche is a great deale rather to be wished then present deathe or to be called a bastarde And tellinge my Husband that thou werte straight dead I haue priuely laide thée forthe with the greatest Kitches that I had for a rewarde
to him that shall finde thée and take thée vp And besides that I haue furnished thée with other thinges I haue wrapped thée in this blankette wherein is conteined the summe of bothe our Estates whiche I haue written with teares and bloude that I haue shedde for thée by reason that I bare thée and fell into muche sorrowe for thée at one and the same time But ô my swéete Childe and but for a small while my Daughter if thou liue remember thy Noble parentage and loue Chastitie whiche is the Character and marke of womanly vertue and Princely minde folowe thy Parentes by keepinge the same Aboue all thinges remember that thou séeke for a certaine Kinge amonge the Iewelles that are aboute thée whiche thy Father gaue me when wée were firste made sure in the hoope whereof is a Princely posie the stoane is a Pantarbe of secréete vertue consecrated in the place where it is sette These thinges haue I saide to thée inuentinge my writinge to this vse sithe that God had taken from me the Habilitie to tell thée them to thy face whiche as they maie be voide of no effecte with litle laboure so may they be profitable hereafter For no man knoweth the vncertainetie of Fortune To be shorte that I haue written if thou liue shalbe tokens to thée my bewtifull Daughter in vaine whiche by thy bewtie procurest my blame of thy birthe But if thou die whiche God graunt I neuer heare they shal serue to burie thée After I had redde this Cnemon I knewe what shée was and marueiled greatly at the gouernance of the Goddes and was full of pleasure and sorrowe and altogeather newely affected wéepinge and laughinge at ones my minde nowe became gladde for the knowinge of that whereof I was ignorant before and for remembringe that whiche was answeared by the Oracle but very muche troubled for that which was to come and had greate pitie and compassion of the life of man as a thinge very vnstable and weake and bendinge euery waie whiche I knewe them firste by the happe of Cariclia For I thought of many thinges of what Parentes shée was come whose Childe shée was thought to be howe farre shée was from her Countrie and was now called Daughter by a false name whereas shée had loste her naturall Countrie soyle and royall bloude of Aethiopia To make fewe woordes I was a greate while in studie for that I had good cause to haue pitie and bewaile her state passed and yet durst not commende that whiche was to come vntill pluckinge vp my harte I concluded that nowe it was not good to delaie the matter but with spéede to execute that I had begone And when I came to Cariclia I founde her alone altogeather weried with loue and striuinge to withstande her fancie Mary her body was muche afflicted by reason that it yéelded to her infirmitie and shée was not hable with any force to withstande the violence thereof After I had then farre put them awaie who were with her and gaue them charge that they shoulde make no noyse in maner as if I had made some Prayers and inuocations aboute the Mayde I saide to her Now is the time come Cariclia for so you promised yesterdaie to tell me your griefe not to conceale it any longer from a man that loueth you hartely and also can knowe it though you holde your tongue shée tooke me by the hand and kissed it and therewithal shée wepte And saide wise Calasiris graunte me this fauour firste suffer me to holde my peace be vnhappie in as muche as you will séeme to knowe my disease all readie and to account auoyded ignominie my gaine by concealinge that whiche to suffer is euill but to vtter woorse Although mine increasinge disease dothe muche gréeue mée yet that gréeueth me more that at the firste I ouercame it not but am yéelded vnto Loue whiche by hearinge onely dothe defile the honorable name of Virginitie With that I comforted her and saide My Daughter you doo wel for twoo causes to conceale your estate For I haue no néede to knowe that againe whiche by my skill I knewe before And not without cause you blushe to vtter that whiche it becometh wéemen to keepe secrete But bicause thou haste ones tasted of Loue and Theagenes hath subdewed thée for thus am I by diuine inspiration informed know that neither thou arte alone nor the first that hath benne thus affected but many other Noble wemen and many Maidens if you consider other thinges very chaste haue tasted hereof as well as you For Loue is the greatest of the Goddes and is saide also sometime to ouercome the Goddes them selues But nowe consider howe presently you may beste order your businesse in as much as at the firste not to be in Loue is a kinde of happinesse but wheÌ„ you are taken to vse it moderately it is a point of excellente wisedome which thinge you may well doo if you wil beléeue me by puttinge awaie the filthy name of luste and imbracinge the lawfull bande of weddinge and turninge your disease into Matrimonie After I had saide thus Cnemon shée was in a great swelte and it was euident that shée was gladde of that shée hearde and greately in feare and muche troubled for that shée hoped at length shée waxed redde to thinke in what maner shée was taken After shée had stayed a while Father saide shée you doo tell me of Mariage and bidde me imbrace that as thought it were plaine that either my Father woulde be contente therewith or mine enemy séeke that As for the yonge man saide I it is out of doubte For he is more in Loue then you beinge moued with like meanes so to doo by reason that bothe your mindes as is like at the firste sight knewe others excellencie and fell into like affection and I my selfe haue made his Loue the more to doo you a pleasure But he that is supposed to be your Father prouideth you an other Husbande Alcamenes whome you knowe well yenough Lette him ê™ shée rather séeke to late him in his graue then Marry him to me Either Theagenes shall haue me or that whiche is destinied to all men shall receiue me But I prayeyou tell me how you knowe that Caricles is not my Father in déede but supposed so to be By this fascia saide I and therewithal I shewed it her Where had you that or howe came you by it saide shée for after he had receiued me in Egypte of him who brought me vp he brought me hither I knowe not how and tooke that from me and keapte it in a Cheste that by continuance of time it might not be spoyled Howe I came by it saide I you shall heare afterwarde But tell me presently if you can tel what is contayned therein when shée tolde me that shée coulde not tell it declareth saide I your Parentes your Countrie and all your Fortune At laste for that
life with my déerest friende yet suche a one as in his companie should haue benne moste delectable for there is nothinge so troublesome and grieuous to me whiche is not tollerable with him But nowe the God who hath had charge of our businesse from the beginninge and hath graunted vs but small pleasure not yet satisfied hath deceiued vs againe I thought that I had escaped bondage but now I serue againe and am kepte in pryson I was in an Iland and darke place before this present state is like too it or rather to saye the trothe woorse because he who bothe coulde and woulde by comforte abate these sorowes is violently seperated taken from me A denne of Théeues the daye before was mine Inne and what was that habitation but a very Hel or woorse place yet my déere Louer beinge with me made it easie to be suffered There he lamented me aliue and shedde teares for me beinge as he thought dead and bewayled me as if I had benne slaine nowe am I depriued of all this he is gonne who was partaker of my calamities and who would haue deuided them as though it had benne a burden And I alone am forsaken a prysoner and by many waies to be lamented am obiected to the arbiterment of cruell Fortune And doo reteyne my life onely for that I hope my moste déere friende is aliue But ô my harte where art thou or what Fortune haste thou arte thou also alas bounde whiche haste a frée minde not able to abide any seruage but of Loue well doo nothinge but saue thy life to the intent thou mayst once beholde thy Thisbe againe for so shalte thou call me whether thou wilt or not Cnemon coulde abide no longer after he hearde this too heare the reste though he gheassed by the beginninge somewhat els yet by that he hearde in the ende concludinge that it was Thisbe wanted but litle that he sounded not at the gate But after he had ouercommed that passion with muche adoo for feare least he should be spied of any man for nowe the Cockes crewe the seconde time he ranne backe slumblinge sometime hurtinge his toes against the selles sometimes hittinge his head against the walles and doore postes When he came to his lodginge after muche trauell he fell into the bedde and all his body trembled and his téeth chattered sore and he had perhappes benne in extreame perill if Calasiris had not perceiued it and comforted him and brought him to him selfe againe After he was reuiued a little he asked of him the matter I am vndonne ê™ he for that most wicked Thisbe is aliue in déede and therewithall he sounded againe and Calasiris had much adoo to call him agayne and comforte him Surely some God plainely scorned Cnemon because as otherwise for the most parte it maketh a ieste or toie of humaine affayres so nowe it woulde not suffer him peaceably without disquietnesse to enioye that whiche was most pleasant and welcome to him but that whiche shortely after woulde make him very ioyfull was nowe turned into sorrowe either for that it shewed then the nature and custome of it selfe or els because the Nature of man can not take true ioye as should be Wherefore Cnemon stedde from that whiche he then should moste haue desired supposed that to be fearefull whiche was moste delectable to him For the woman that wepte was not Thisbe but Cariclia For thus it was after Thiamis came into his Enimies hande aliue and was kepte Prysoner the Ilande was sette on fire and the Heardemen who inhabited it were fledde Cnemon and Thermutis Thiamis Shielde Bearer in the morninge rewed ouer the Lake to spie in what case theire Captaine was with their Enimies the manner of their iourney was such as is declared before Then were Theagenes and Cariclia leafte in the Denne alone who accoumpted the prolonginge of their calamities a singulare benefite that was the firste time that euer they were by them selues and deliuered from al that mighte trouble them Wherefore they considered of theire estate not forgettinge to kisse and imbrace eche other so that they foregat all that they had to doo stoode either in others armes a greate while as if they had benne made one Body contente yet to satisfie them selues with Chaste Loue temperatinge their affection with teares and clenly kisses For Cariclia if at any time shée perceiued Theagenes to passe the boundes of séemelinesse and deale with her ouer want only would rebuke him by tellinge him of his Othe and he woulde suffer him selfe to be refourmed with litle laboure and brought againe to temperatenesse in as much as he was in Loue inferiour to her but in pleasure he far surmounted But at length though it were longe firste thei remembred what they had to doo and by force were constrained to contente them selues and then Theagenes beganne to speake thus That we Cariclia maie enioie one an other and attaine vnto that whiche we haue preferred before al other thinges and for whiche we haue susteined al our troubles bothe wée doo wishe the Goddes of Greece graunte But for as muche as wel because al worldly thinges are vnstable and incline diuerse waies and wée haue borne muche and hope for many thinges wée must nowe haste vs to Chemmis as wee haue concluded with Cnemon as also bicause wée knowe not what fortune wée shal haue wée haue as it séemeth a greate and woonderful deale of grounde to passe before wée can comme to the Lande whiche wée hope for Let vs diuise certaine Tokens whereby wée beinge one in others sighte maie knowe our secretes and if it happen vs to be Seawinded wée maie in absence séeke one an other For a watche woorde of friendes which is keapte in hope to finde is a greate easemente of longe trauel Cariclia praised his diuise and they agreed if they were seperated that Theagenes shoulde write Pithicus Cariclia Pithies vpon al famous Churches Pictures Monumentes and greate Stoanes in Crosse waies whether they were gonne the right hande waie or the lefte to what Cittie Village or Countrie and lastely that thei should declare the very daie and houre And if they might it shoulde be sufficiente one to sée the other For they thoughte no time shoulde be hable to put out of theire mindes suche Loue yet for the better assurance Cariclia woulde shewe her Fathers Kinge whiche was laide out with her and Theagenes a Scarre in his Thighe that a wilde Bore gaue him It was further concluded betwéene them that in stéede of woordes shée shoulde beare a Taper and he a Branche of Palme To confirme this they imbraced eche other and wepte powringe out their teares in stéede of Sacrifice as I gheasse and for an Othe they vsed many kisses After these thinges were thus ordered they came out af the Caue without touching any of the Treasures whiche were laied vp there For they coumpted those goodes vncleane whiche were gotten by Robberies but
Calasiris his euil lucke Rhodopis a Harlot Calasiris falleth in loue with Rhodopis Calasiris bannished him selfe Calafiris iourney to Delphi The situation of Delphi The pleasant commodities of Delphi Apolloes answeare to Calasiris Licurgus which gaue Lawes to the Lacedemonians Pretie Heathenish questions He confuteth the opinion of certaine Greeke Philosophers that thought the increase ther had proceeded of the resolution of Snowe Caricles Apolloes Prieste Caricles telleth Calasiris al his estate He was perhaps of Themistocles opinion who rather chose for his Daughter a man without Monie then Monie without a man It is not lawfull for a man to kil him selfe But of sight out of minde commonly Catadupi a Cittie of Aegypte What excelleÌ„t bewtie with talenesse of stature maketh a womaÌ„ seemely Cariclia layde foorthe and committed to Fortune That it is not lawfull to lette one die without succoure is a precepte of the Gymnosophisis Cariclias estate written in her Fascia Sisimithres findinge Cariclia prouideth for her bringing vp Bewtie cannot be hidde Cariclia deliuered to Caricles Caricles calleth Cariclia his owne Daughter ofte and named her after his owne name Sisimithers his Ambassadge Cariclia not onely passinge be wtifull but very witty also Caricilia not willinge to Marrie Aenians a people of Thessalia fetche their petigree from Deucalion How farre the Aenians Countrye goeth their chiefe Citie is Hipala The maner of the Aenians sacrifice to Pirrhus Pithius Agon The Captaine of this legation is of Achilles race his name is Theagenes A prety discourse of Achilles Countrie with the argumentes that the Aenians haue to proue that they are of Achilles bloud the chiefe whereof is this Sacrifice The description of a very comely man Apollo his Answeare as touchinge Theagenes and Cariclia The maner of the Sacrifice Hecatombe is a kinde of Sacrifice wherein were a hundred beastes of one kinde slaine as a hundred oxen Sheepe Swine or Goates The songe that the Thessaliaâ—â— Virgins songe in the honour of Thetis and Peleus Achilles â–ª and Pirrhus The Aenians apparell Theagenes his cloke with what was wrought thereon Theagenes his Horse VVhat the common sorte of weemen did to Theagenes and their opinion of him Theagenes beginneth to loue Cariclia Howe Cariclia was attyred Cariclias Girdell Menne and wemen happy â–ª if they were like Theagenes and Cariclia Calasiris was very superstitious The manner of the Sacrifice with the ductie of the Prieste of Apollo and the â—â—ians Captaine of their holy Embassadge The sundrie countenaunces and behauiours of Louers Cariclia in Loue. Calasiris proueth by diuerse reasons that there is witchinge The ayre is infectious The byrde Charadrius if one that hath the Kinges euill see her healeth him that is so diseased but dieth thereof her self The Nature of the serpent â—â—siliscus Calasiris espieth that Theagenes was in Loue. Dronken men and Louers in a maner like Isis Priesles drinke no wine neither eate they the fleashe of any liuing thing Apollo and Diana sente to deliuer Theagenes and Cariclia to Calasiris in his dreame A rule of Homer howe to know the Gods expounded by Calasiris Howe the Egyptians make the images of their Goddes A prety discourse whereby Calasiris proueth Homer to be an Egyptian Thebes a Citie of Egypte VVhy Homer concealed his Countrie Twoo kindes of wisedome are professed of the Egyptians and what they be Calasiris maketh as though he were a southsayer to Theagenes and so râ—uinge at the cause of his cominge happeneth to glaunce some what neare the marke Theagenes pained the more because he was neuer in Loue before VVherby may be gathered that the firste Loue pincheth â—â— sâ—â— Theagenes is in loue aginste his will Arte can breake nature It was Cariclias duety to holde the Garlande bicause she was Prieste Caricles thought that Calasiris coulde doo wonders belike Caricles commendeth Calasiris to Cariclia Cariclia loued the companie of wise menne Cupid fully determined to trie all that he was hable to doo with Theagenes and Cariclia The manner of their disportes A Louer is quicke eied He is not rewarded that ventureth not VVhy Cupide is pointed with twoo winges Theagenes light footed Comlinesse of Personage getteth the good will of menne Calafiris taketh Theagenes for his Sonne Theagenes got the Garlande for runninge Cnemon blameth Homer for saieinge that a man might be wery of Loue. A man can not be wery to heare the Loue of Theganes and Cariclia a whole yeare Mutual sight of louers is a renewinge of Loue. A prety commeÌ„dation of Theas genes for courtesie with a nippe to Achilles for his arâ—ogaÌ„cie and pride To muche lingringe maketh diseases vncurable Theagenes glad to see the house of Cariclia Amonge the DelphiaÌ„s death is ordained to suche as steale awaie any Mayde Howe Caricles perceiued that Cariclia was in loue Acestinus a Phisition Phisicke can doo Cariclia no good A prety discourse of phisicke where and when it auaileth VVhat loue is and the qualities thereof Cariclia madde almoste at the sighte of Alcamenes The contentes of Cariclias fascia whiche declareth who are her Parentes and the cause of her exposition The Aethiopians Goddes are the Sunne Bacchus Perseus Andromeda and Memnon VVhy Persina beinge blake brought foorthe a white Daughter Chastitie is the token of womanly vertue Fortune is vncertaine Mans Life vnstable Silence pleaseth vnhappy people well The name of Loue disgraceth virginitie VVemen shoulde not discouer their owne loue Many weemen and Maydes of noble race haue benne in Loue before Cariclia Good Counsel for Louers how they shal vse their loue well Cariclia wil haue Theagenes or none The Kinges Courte of Aethiopia is a place whereunto is greate resorte of wise menne and therein are they wel cherished Persina requireth Calasiris to seeke Cariclia and bringe her home againe The wisemen in olde time â–ª might not breake their Othe if they had sworne by the Sunne A woman is beste at a suddaine attempte Caricles dreame Great distance of place taketh awaie the sight of our eies Calasiris subtile exposition thereof Caricles geueth Cariclia al the Iewelles that her Mother gaue her at the time of her ExpositioÌ„ God is ready to helpe those that woorke by his will The Tyrians do Sacrifice to Hercules for a victory that one of their companions had The manner of the takinge away of Cariclia An example of passinge Chastitie Theagenes thinketh pacience par force scant woorthy prayse Calasiris dissembled OratioÌ„ Caricles pitifull Oration aboute the takinge away of Cariclia Hegesias Oration as touchinge the pursuite of those who tooke away Cariclia Occasion is of mosâ—â— force in VVarre The Thessalians are forbidden by common Councell to doo Sacrifice to Pirrhus for the takinge awaye of Cariclia This is when the steede is siolen to shutte the stable doore Age beside other discommodities maketh menne harde of beatinge Cariclias pitifull complainte beinge seperated from Theagenes The name of Thisbe troubleth Cnemon sore Cariclia more in Loue then Theagenes A very wise deuise of Theagenes The commoditie of a watchwoorde The
saide Right happy man our Mistresse hath sente for you and wée are commaunded to bringe you to her presence Wherefore goe and enioye that happinesse which shée voutchsaueth to very fewe and at seldome times He staied a while but at length as if he had bene violently drawen he rose against his wil and saide vnto them is her commaundemente that you bringe me alone or that this my Sister shal goe with me also You must goe alone saide they shée shall goe alone also another time Mary nowe there are certaine noble men of Persia with her and it is a custome to talke with men by them selues with woomen alone at another time Then Theagenes stouped downe and saide softely to Cariclia sure this is neither honest dealinge nor without great suspition Shée answeared him that there was no gainesayinge but that he muste goe and make suche countenaunce as if he woulde doo all her will This donne he followed them and when they taught him howe he should speake to her and that it was the custome that such as went in to her should fal downe and woorshippe her he gaue them no answeare When he came in and sawe her sittinge in her Chaire of Estate clothed in Purple and clothe of Golde glorious with iolly Iewelles and her costly Bonnet finely attired and decked with her Garde aboute her and the chiefe Magistrates of the Persians by her he was not abashed a whit but rather the more incouraged against the Persian brauerie as though he had quite forgotten that whereof he talked with Cariclia as touchinge Reuerence and woorshippinge so that he neither bowed knée nor fell downe to her but holdinge vp bis heade alofte saide Arsace of Royall bloude God saue thée whereat when those who were presente were offended and grudged against him as one rashe and ouerbolde in that he had not woorshipped her Arsace smiled a little and answeared for him thus pardon him as one ignorant of our customes and a straunger borne in Greece who by reason of the soyle despiseth our pompe and therewithall shée put of her Bonnette sore againste their willes that stoode by for so doo the Persians to render Salute to those who firste saluted them And when shée had bidden him to be of good chéere by an interpreter for although shée vnderstoode yet could shée not speake the Greeke tongue and willed him to speake if he wanted any thinge and he shoulde haue it Shée sent him backe againe commaundinge her Eunuches and Garde to wayte vpon him there Achemenes seing him againe called him better to his remembraunce for al that he iudged the cause of the ouer greate Honour he had yet he saide nothinge but determined to doo that whiche firste he intended Arsace made a sumptuous Banquette to the Magistrates of Persia vnder colour to Honour them as shée was wonte to doo but in déede for ioie that shée had talked with Theagenes To whome shée sente not onely parte of her meate as shée was wonte to doo but Carpettes Coueringes of sundry colours wrought in Sidon and Lydia shée sente also to waite vpon them a boye for him and a Mayde for Cariclia whiche were borne in Ionia and aboute foureteine yéeres of age Shée desired Cibele hartely to make haste and out of hande to doo what shée entended because shée coulde tarry no longer who before lefte no waie vnsearched but tried Theagenes minde by all manner of meanes Marry shée did not tell him Arsaces minde plainely but by diuerse biewaies and circumstaunces shée meante to make him vnderstande the same by tellinge him her Mistresse good will to him not onely commendinge her shape and bewty that all menne sawe but shée tolde him also of that whiche was vnder her Apparell by certaine reasonable occasioÌ„s then praised shée her manners for that thei were amiable and nothing coye that shée had greate delighte in fine and hable yonge menne The drifte of al her talke was to perceiue if he had any pleasure in Venus disportes Theagenes commended her good will that shée bare to the Greekes and her friendely fashion and els what so euer shée talked of and further for the same gaue her hartie thankes but he passed ouer that which conteined any dishonest thing as thoughe he vnderstoode it not at the firste Wherefore the Olde wooman was soare grieued and nipped at the harte for that shée thoughte he vnderstoode what shée meante but vtterly despised and sette at naughte al that shée did shée knewe moreouer that Arsace woulde abide no longer but beganne euen now to be angry and tell her plainely shée coulde not rule her selfe wherefore shée craued of her the perfourmonce of her promise which Cibele had deferred by diuers delaies sommetime saieinge that thoughe the yonge man woulde yet he was afraide sommetime that one or other mischaunce fell in the waie and nowe because fiue or sixe daies were past and Arsace had called for Cariclia ones or twise and vsed her honourably to doo Theagenes a pleasure shée was forced to speake more plainely to Theagenes and tel him of her loue without circumstances with promise that he shoulde haue sixe hundred good turnes if he woulde consente addinge moreouer for shame what lingringe is this Or what may be so farre from Venus delightes as so faire a yonge man and of good age to refuse to lye with a wooman like him selfe that dieth for his loue and doothe not rather coumpte it a vauntage to haue to doo with her especially for that he néede to feare nothinge and because her Husbande is out of the waie and I who broughte her vp prouide the same for him and kéepe all her counselles be they neuer so secrete and to you for that you haue neither Spouse nor Wife to lette you whiche also many menne that haue ben in theire wittes haue contemned for that they knewe they shoulde doo no harme at home and shoulde doo them selues good by gayninge greate Ritches and coumptinge the fruite of this pleasure also a good rewade At lengthe shée interlaced certaine threates in her taâ—ke saieinge Gentlewoomen and suche as longe for men wil not be appeased but conceiue greate displeasure when they are cruelly deceiued and wil pounishe the stubborne as if they had donne theÌ„ greate wronge and that not without cause Moreouer consider of her that shée is a Persian borne and of the Bloude Royall as you confessed and of greate power and authoritie so that shée maie prefer to honour whom shée will and pounishe suche as withstande her pleasure without controlment As for you you are a straunger alone without any to healpe you Wherefore partely spare your selfe partely fauour her Surely shée is woorthy that you shoulde haue regarde to her who is so furiously inflamed with your Loue which shee of right ought to reioice at stande in doubt of the wrathe whiche procéedeth of Loue and beware of the reuenge whiche followeth like contempt I haue knowen many who haue