where fancy forced friendship was of no force These suchlike doubtfull thoughts a long time smothering in his stomacke began at last to kindle in his minde a secret mistrust which increased by suspition grew at last to flaming iealousie that so tormented him as he could take no rest He then began to measure all their actions and misconstrue of their too priuate familiarity iudging that it was not for honest affection but for disordinate fancy so as hee began to watch them more narrowly to sée if he could get any true or certaine proofe to confirme his doubtfull suspition While thus he noted her lookes and gestures and suspected their thoughts and meanings they two silly soules who doubted nothing of thishis treacherouas intent frequented daily each others company which draue him into such a franticke passion that he began to beare a secret hate to Egistus and a lowring countenance to Bellaria who maruelling at such vnaccustomed frownes began to cast beyond the Moone and to enter into a thousand sundry thoughts which way shee should offend her husband but finding in her selfe a cleere conscience ceased to muse till such time as shee might find opportunity to demand the cause of his dumps In the meane time Pandostos mind was so farre charged with iealousie that he no longer doubted but was assured as he thought that his friend Egistus entred a wrong point in his tables and so had played him false play Whereupon desirous to reuenge so great an iniury he thought best to dissemble the grudge with a faire and friendly countenance so under the shape of a friend to shew him the tricke of a foe deuising with himselfe a long time how he might best put away Egistus without suspition of treacherous murther concluded at last to poyson him Which opinion pleasing his humour he became resolute in his determination the better to bring the matter so passe hee called to him his Cup-bearer with whom in secret he brake the matter promising him for the performance thereof â—to giue him a thousanâ— Crowns of yeerely reuenue His cup-bearer either being of a good conscience be willing for fashions sake to deny such a 〈◊〉 request began with great reasons to perswade Pandosto from his determinate mischiefe shewing him what an offence murther was to the gods how much vnnaturall actions did more displease the heauens then men and that causelesse cruelty did seldome or neuer escape without reuenge hée laid before his face that Egistus was his friend a King and one that was come into this Kingdome to confirme a league of perpetuall amity betwixt them that hee had and did shew him a most friendly countenance how Egistus was not onely honoured of his owne people by obedience but also loued of the Bohemians for his courtesie And that it hee now should without any iust or manifest cause poyson him it would not only be a great dishonour to his Maiesty and a meanes to sow a perpetuall enmity betwéen the Sycilians and the Bohemians but also his own subiects would repine at such trecherous cruelty These and such like perswasions of Franion for so was his cap-bearer called could no whit preuaile to diswade him from his diuellish enterprize but remaining resolute in his determination his fury so fixed with rage as it could not be appeased with reason he began with bitter taunts to take up his man and to lay before him two baits preferment and death saying that if he would poyson Egistus hée would aduance him to high dignities if he refused to doe it of an obstinate minde no torture should be too great to requite his disobedience Franion séeing that to perswade Pandosto any more was but to striue against the streame consented as soone as opportunity would giue him leaue to dispatch Egistus wherewith Pandosto remained somewhat satisfied hoping now hee should be fully reuenged of such mistrusted iniuries intending also as soone as Egistus was dead to giue his wife a sop of the same sauce and so to be rid of those which are the cause of his restlesse sorrow while thus he liued in this hope Franion being secret in his chamber began to meditate with himselfe in these termes AH Franion treason is loued of many but the traytor hated of all vniust offences may for a time escape without danger but neuer without reuenge Thou art seruant to a King and must obey at command yet Franion against law and conscience it is not good to resist a tyrant with armes nor to please an vniust King with obedience What shalt thâ—u doe Folly refused gold and frenzy preferment wisdome séeketh after dignity and counsell looketh for gaine Egistus is a stranger to thée and Pandosto thy Soueraigne Thou hast little cause to respect the one and oughtest to haue great care to obey the other Thinke this Franion that a pound of Gold is worth a Tunne of leade great gifts are little gods and preferment to a meane man is a whet-stone to courage There is nothing swéeter than promotion nor lighter than report care not then though most count thée a traytor so all call thée rich Dignity Franion aduanceth thy posterity and euill report can but hurt thy selfe Know this where Eagles build Faulcons may prey where Lions haunt Foxes may steale Kings are knowne to command seruants are blamelesse to consent feare not thou then to lift at Egistus Pandosto shall beare the burthen Yea but Franion conscience is a worme that euer biteth but neuer ceaseth That which is rubbed with the stone Galactities will neuer be hot Flesh dipped in the Sea Aegeum will neuer be swéete The Herbe Trigion being once bit with an Apsis neuer groweth and conscience once stained with innocent blood is alwaies tyed to a guilty remorse Preferre thy content before riches and a cleare minde before dignity so being poore thou shalt haue rich peace or else rich thou shalt enioy disquiet FRanion hauing muttered out these or such like words séeing either he must die with a cleare minde or liue with a spotted conscience hée was so cumbred with diuers cogitations that hée could take no rest vntill at last he determined to breake the matter to Egistus but fearing that the King should either suspect or heare of such matters hée concealed the deuice till opportunity would permit him to reueale it Lingring thus in doubtfull feare in an Euening he went to Egistus lodging and desirous to speake with him of certaine affaires that touched the King after all were commanded out of the Chamber Franion made manifest the whole conspiracy which Pandosto had deuised against him desiring Egistus not to account him a traytor for bewraying his Masters counsell but to thinke that hée did it for conscience hoping that although his Master inflamed with rage or incensed by some sinister reports or slanderous spéeches had imagined such causelesse mischiefe yet when time should pacifie his anger and try those tale-bearers but flattering Parasites then he would count him
THE PLEASANT HISTORIE OF Dorastus and Fawnia Wherein is discovered that although by the meanes of sinister Fortune Truth may be concealed yet by Time in spight of Fortune it is manifestly revealed Pleasant for age to avoyd drowsie thoughts Profitable for Youth to avoyd other wanton Pastimes And bringing to both a desired Content Temporis filia Veritas By ROBERT GREENE Master of Arts in Cambridge Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. LONDON Printed for Francis Faulkner and are to be sold at his shop in Southwarke neere Saint Margarets Hill 1636. THE HISTORIE OF DORASTVS AND FAWNIA AMongst all the passions wherewith humane minds are perplexed there is none that sogalleth with restlesse despight as that infectious sore of iealousie For all other griefes are either to be appeased with sensible perswasion to be cured with wholesome counsell to be relieued in wâ—nt or by tract of time to be worne out Iealousie only excepted which is sauced with suspitious doubts and pinching mistrust that who so séekes by friendly counsell to raze out this hellish passion it forthwith suspecteth that he giueth this aduice to couer his owne guiâ—tines Yea who so is pinched with this restlesse torment doubteth all disturbeth himselfe is alwayes frozen with feare fired with suspition hauing that wherein consisteth all his ioy to be the breeder of his misery Yea it is such an heauy enemy to that heauy estate of matrimony sowing betweene the married couples such deadly séeds of secret hatred as loue being once razed oâ—t by spightfull distrust there often ensueth bloody reuenge as this ensuing History manifestly proueth wherein Pandosto furiously incensed by a causeles iealousie procured the death of his most louing and loyall wife and his owne endlesse sorrow and misery IN the Country of Bohemia there raigned a King called Pandosto whose fortunate successe in Warrs against his foes and bountifull courtesie towards his friends in Peace made him to be greatly feared and loued of all men This Pandosto had to wise a Lady called Bellaria by birth Royall learned by education faire by nature by vertues famous so that it was hard to iudge whether her beauty fortune or vertue wâ—n she greatest commendations These two linked together in perfect loue led their liues with such fortunate content that their subiects greatly reioyced to sée their quiet disposition They had not béen married long but fortune willing to increase their happinesse lent them a Sonne so adorned with the gifts of Nature as the perfection of the Child greatly augmented the loue of the Parents and the ioy of their Commons in so much that the Bohemians to shew their inward ioyes by outward actions made Bone-fires and Triumphes thorowout all the Kingdome appoynting Iusts and Turneis for the honour of their young Prince whether resorted not onely his Nobles but also diuers Kings and Princes which were his neighbours willing to shew in their friendship they ought to Pandosto and to win fame glory by their prowesse valour Pandosto whose mind was fraught with Princely liberality entertained the Kings Princes and Noble-men with such submisse courtesie and magnificall bounty that they all saw how willing hée was to gratâ—fie their good wills making a generall feast for all his Subiects which continued by the space of twenty dayes all which time the Iusts and Turneis were kept to the great content both of the Lords and Ladies there present This solemne Triumph being once ended the assembly taking their leaue of Pandosto and Bellaria the young Son who was called Carinter was nâ—rsed vp in the house to the great ioy and content of their Parents Fortune enuious of such happy successe willinâ— to shew some signe of her inconstancy turned her whéele and darkned their bright Sunne of prosperity with the misty clouds of mishap and misery For so it hapned that Egistus King of Sicila who in his youth had béen drought vp with Pandosto desirous to shew that neither tract of time or distance of place could diminish their former friendship prouided a Nauie of ships and sailed into Bohemia to visit his old friend and companion who hearing of his arriuall went himselfe in person and his wife Bellaria accompanied with a great tâ—aine of Lords Ladies to meét Egistus esâ—ying him alighted from his horse embraced him very louingly protesting that nothing in the world could haue hapned more acceptable for him then his comming wishing his wife to welcome his old friend and acquaintance who to shew how she liked him whom her husband loued entertained him with such familiar curtesie as Egistus perceiued himselfe to be very well welcome After they had thus saluted and embraced each other they mounted againe on Horsebacke and rode towardâ— the City deuising and recounting how being children they had passed their youth in friendly pastimes where by the meanes of the Citizens Egistus was receiued with triumphs and shewes in such sort that he maruelled how on so small a warning they rould make such proparation Passing the Stréets thus with such rare sights they rode on to the Palace where Pandosto entertained Egistus and his Sicilians with such bâ—nqueâ—ing and sumptuous chéere so royally as they had all cause to commend his princely liberality yea the very basest flaue that was knowne to come from Sicilia was vsed with much curtesie that Egistus might easily pereiue how both he and his were honoured for his friends sake Bellaria who in her time was the flowre of courtesie willing to shew how vnfainedly she loued her husband by her friends entertainemet vsed him like wise so familiarly that her countenance bewraied how her heart was affected toward him oftentimes comming her selfe into his bed chamber to sée if nothing should be amisse to dislike him This honest familiarity increased daily more and more betwixt them for Bellaria noting in Egistus a Princely and bountifull mind adorned with sundry excellent qualities and Egistus finding in her a vertuous curteous disposition there grew such a secret vniting of their affections that the one could not well be without the company of the other insomuch that when Pandosto was busied with such vrgent affaires that he could not be present with his friend Egistus Bellaria would walk with him into the garden there they two in priuate pleasant deuices would passe away their time to both their contents This custome still continuing betwixt them a certain emelantholy passion entrring the mind of Pondosto droue him into sundry and doubtfull thoughts First he called to mind the beauty of his wife Bellaria the comelines and brauery of his friend Egistus thinking that loue was aboue all Lawes therfore to be staied with no law that it was hard to put â—â—re flax together without burning that their open pleasure might bréed his secret displeasure He considered with himselfe that Egistus was a man and must needs loue that his wife was a woman and therfore subiect to loue and that
as a faithfull seruant that with such care had kept his Masters credit Egistus had not fully heard Franion tell forth his tale but a quaking feare possessed all his limmes thinking that there was some treason wrought and that Franion did but shadow his craft with these false colours wherefore hée began to waxe in choller and said that he doubted not Pandosto sith hée was his friend and there had neuer as yet béene any breach of amity he had not sought to inuade his Lands to conspire with his enemies to disswade his Subiects from their allegians but in word and thought he rested his at all times he knew not therefore any cause that should moue Pandosto to séeke his death but suspected it to be a compacted knauery of the Bohemians to bring the King and him at oddes Franion staying him in the midst of his talke told him That to dally with Princes was with the Swannes to sing against their death and that if the Bohemians had intended any such mischiefe it might haue béene better brought to passe than by reuealing the conspiracy therefore his Maiesty did ill to misconstrue of his good meaning sith his intent was to hinder treason not to become a Traytor and to confirme his promises If it pleased his Maiesty to flye into Sycilia for the safegard of his life hee would goe with him add if then hée found not such a practice to be pretended let his imagined treachery be repayed with most monstrous torments Egistus hearing the solemne protestations of Franion beganne to consider that in Loue and Kingdomes neither Faith nor Law is to be respected doubting that Pandosto thought by his death to destroy his men and with spéedie Warre to inuade Sycilia These and such doubts throughly weighed hée gaue great thankes to Franion promising if he might with life returne to Syracusa that he would create him a Duke in Sycilia crauing his counsell how hée might escape out of the Countrey Franion who hauing some small skill in Nauigation was well acquainted with the Ports and Hauens and knew euery danger of the Sea ioyning in counsell with the Master of Egistus Nauy rigged all their ships and setting them afloat let them lie at anchor to be in the more readinesse when time and wind should serue Fortune although blinde yet by chance fauouring this iust cause sent them within six daies a good gale of winde which Franion séeing fit for their purpose to put Pandosto out of suspition the night before they should sayle hée went to him and promised that the next day he would put the deuice in practice for hée had got such a forcible poyson as the very smell thereof would procure sudden death Pandosto was ioyfull to heare this good newes and thought euery houre a day till he might be glutted with bloody reuenge but his suit had but ill successe for Egistus fearing that delay might bréed danger and willing that the grasse should not be cut from vnder his féete taking bag and baggage by the helpe of Franion conueyed himselfe and his men out at the Posterne gate of the City so secretly and spéedily that without any suspition they got to the Sea shore where with many a bitter curse taking their leaue of Bohemia they went aboard weighing their Anchors and hoysting saile they passed as fast as winde and Sea would permit toward Cycilia Egistus being a ioyfull man that he had safely passed such trecherous perills But as they were quietly floating on the sea Pandosto and his Citizens were in an vprore for séeing that the Cycilians without taking their leaue were fled away by night the Bohemians feared some treason and the King thought that without question his suspition was true séeing the Cup bearer had bewrayed the summe of his secret pretence Whereupon he began to imagine that Franion and his wise Bellaria had conspired with Egistus and that the feruent affection she bare him was the only meane of his secret departure insomuch that incensed with rage he commanded that his wife should be carried straight to prison vntill they heard further of his pleasure The Guards vnwilling to lay their hands on such a vertuâ—us Princesse and yet fearing the Kings fury went very sorrowfully to fulfill their charge comming to the Quéenes Lodging they found her playing with her young Sonne Garinter vnto whom with teares doing their message Bellaria astonished at such a hard censure and finding her cleare conscience a sure aduocate to plead in her cause went to the Prison most willingly where with sighes and teares she past away the time till she might come to her tryall But Pandosto whose reason was suppressed with rage and whose vnbridled Folly wks incensed with fury séeing Franion had bewrayed his secrets and that Egistus might well be railed on but not reuenged determined to wreake all his wrath on poore Bellaria Hee therefore caused a generall proclamation to be made through all his Realmè that the Quéene and Egistus had by the helpe of Franion not onely committed most iucestuous adultery but also had conspired the Kings death whereupon the traytor Franion was fled away with Egistus and Bellaria was most iustly imprisoned This Proclamation being once blazed through the countrey although the vertuous disposition of the Quéene did halfe discredit the contents yet so sudden and spéedy message of Egistus and the secret departure of Franion induced them the circumstances throughly considered to thinke that both the Proclamation was true and the King greatly enuied yet they pittied her case as sorrowfull that so good a Lady should be crossed with such aduerse Fortune But the King whose restlesse rage would admit no pitty though that although hee might sufficiently requite his wiues falshood with the bitter plague of pinching penury yet his minde should neuer be glutted with reuenge till hée might haue a fit and opportunity to repay the trechery of Egistus with a fatall iniury But a curst Cow hath oftentimes short hornes and a willing minde but a weake arme For Pandosto although he felt that reuenge was a spurre to warre and that enuy alwaies proffereth stéele yet he saw that Egistus was not onely of great puissance and prowesse to withstand him but had also many Kings of his alliance to aid him if néed should serue for hee married the Emperous daughter of Russia These and the like considerations something daunted Pandosto his courage so that he was content rather to put vp a manifest iniury with peace then hunt after reuenge dishonour and losse determining since Egistus had escaped scot-frée that Bellaria should pay for all at an vnreasonable price Remaining thus resolute in his determination Bellaria continuing still in prison and hearing the contents of the Proclamation knowing that her minde was neuer touched with such affection nor that Egistus had euer offered her such discourtesie would gladly haue come to her answer that both she might haue knowne her iust accusers and cléered her selfe of that
guiltlesse crime But Pandosto was so enflamed with rage and infected with iealousie as he would not vouchsafe to heare her nor admit any iust excuse so that shée was faine to make a vertue of her néed and with patience to heare these heauy iniuries As thus shée lay crossed with calamities a great cause to increase her griefe shée found her selfe quicke with childe which as soone as she felt stirre in her body shée burst forth into bitter teares exclaiming against Fortune in these termes ALas Bellaria How infortunate art thou because fortunate Better thou hadst béene borne a Begger then a Prince so shouldest thou haue bridled Fortune with want where now shée sporteth her selfe with thy plenty Ah happy life where poore thoughts and meane desires liue in secure content not fearing Fortune because too low For Fortune thou séest now Bellaria that care is a companion to Honour not to pouerty that high Cedars are crushed with tempests when low shrubs are not touched with the winde precious Diamonds are cut with the File when despised Pebbles lies safe in the sand Delphos is sought to by Princes not Beggers And Fortunes Altars smoke with Kings presents not with poore mens gifts Happy are such Bellaria that curse Fortune for contempt not feare and may wish they were not sorry they haue béene Thou art a Princesse Bellaria and yet a prisoner borne to the one by descent assigned to the other by despight accused without cause and therefore oughtest to die without care for patience is a shield against Fortune and a guiltlesse mind yéeldeth not to sorrow Ah but infamy galleth vnto death and liueth after death Report is plumed with Times Feathers and Enuy oftentimes soundeth Fames Trumpet the suspected Adultery shall flie in the Ayre and thy knowne vertues shall lie hid in the Earth one Mole staineth a whole Face and what is once spotted with Infamy can hardly be worne out with Time Die then Bellaria Bellaria die for if the gods should say thou art guiltlesse lesse yet Enuy would heare the gods but neuer beléeue the gods Ah haplesse wretch cease these Termes Desperate thoughts are fit for them that feare shame not for such as hope for credit Pandosto hath darkened thy Fame but shall neuer discredit thy Vertues Suspition may enter a false Action but proofe shall neuer put in his Plea Care not then for Enuy sith Report hath a blister on her Tongue and let sorrow bite them which offend not touch thée that art faultlesse But alas poore Soule how canst thou but sorrow Thou art with Childe and by him that in stead of kinde pity pincheth thée in cold Prison And with that such gasping sighes stopping her breath that shée could not vtter any more words but wringing her hands and gushing forth streames of teares shée passed away the time with bitter complaints THe Iaylor pittying those her heauy passions thinking that if the King knew she were with childe he would somewhat appease his fury and release her from prison went in all hast and certified Pandosto what the effect of Bellaria's complaint was who no sooner heard the Iaylor say she was with childe but as one possessed with a frenzie hée rose vp in a rage swearing that shée and the bastard brat shée was withall should die if the gods themselues said no thinking surely by computation of time that Egistus and not he was father to the child This suspitious thought galled afresh his halfe-healed Sore insomuch as hée could take no rest vntill hée might mittigate his choler with a iust reuenge which happened presently after Bellaria was brought to bed of a faire and beautifull Daughter which no sooner Pandosto heard but he determined that both Bellaria and the young Infant should be burned with fire His Nobles hearing of the Kings cruell sentence sought by perswasions to diuert him from his bloody determination saying before his face the innocency of the childe and vertuous disposition of his wife how she had continually loued and honoured him so tenderly that without due proofe he could not nor ought not to appeach her of that crime and if she had faulted yet it were more honorable to pardon with mercy then to punish with extremity and more Kingly to be commended of pitty then to discredit her And as for the Childe if he would punish it for the mothers offence it were to striue against nature and iustice and that vnnaturall actions doe more offend the gods then men how causelesse cruelty nor innocent blood neuer escapes without reuenge These and such like reasons could not appease his rage but hée rested resolute in this that Bellaria being an Adultresse the childe was a bastard and hee would not suffer that such an infamous Brat should call him Father Yet at last séeing his noble men were importunate vpon him hée was content to spare the childs life and yet to put it to a worse death For he found out this deuice that séeing as hée thought it came by Fortune so hée would commit it to the charge of Fortune and therefore hee caused a little cock-boate to be prouided wherein hee meant to put the babe and then send it to the mercies of the seas and the destinies From this his Péeres in no wise could perswade him but that he sent presently two of his Guard to fetch the childe who being come to the prison and with wéeping teares recounting their Masters message Bellaria no sooner heard the rigorous resolution of her mercilesse husband but shee fell downe in a swound so that all thought shée had béene dead yet at last being come to her selfe she cried and scréeked out in this wise ALas swéete infortunate Babe scarce borne before enuied by fortune would the day of thy birth had béene the terme of my life then shouldest thou haue made an end to care and preuented thy Fathers rigour Thy faults cannot yet deserue such hatefull reuenge thy daies are too short for so sharpe a doome but thy vntimely death must pay thy Mothers debts and her guiltlesse crime must be thy gastly curse And shalt thou swéet Babe be committed to Fortune when thou art already spighted by Fortune Shall the seas be thy harbour and the hard boat thy cradle Shall thy tender mouth in stead of swéete kisses be nipped with bitter stormes Shalt thou haue the whistling windes for thy Lullaby and the salt sea some in stead of swéet Milke Alas what destinies would assigne such hard hap What father would be so cruell Or what gods will not reuenge such rigour Let me kisse thy lips swéete Infant and wet thy tender chéekes wilh my teares and put this chaine about thy little necke that if Fortune saue thée it may helpe to succour thée Thus since thou must goe to surge in the gastfull Seas with a sorrowfull kisse I bid thée fare well and I pray the gods thou maist farewell Such and so great was her griefe that her vitall Spirits being supprest with sorrow shee
Fawnia desiring one of her companions to beare her company went home by the flocke to see if they were well fowlded And as they returned it fortuned that Dorastus who all that day had beene hawking and killed store of game incountred by the way these two maides fraring that with Acteon he had seene Diana for he thought such exquisite perfection could not be found in any mortall creature As thus he stood in a maze one of his Pages told him that the maid with the garland on her head was Fawnia that faire Shepheardesse whose beauty was so much talked of in the Court Dorastus desirous to see if nature had adorned her mind withany inward qualities as she had decked her body with outward shape began to question with her whose daughter she was of what age and how shee had beene trained vp Who answered him with such modest reuerence and sharpnesse of wit that Dorastus thought her outward beauty was but a counterfeit to darken her inward qualities wondring how so courtly behauiour could be found in so simple Cottage and cursing Fortune that had shaddowed wit and beauty with such hard Fortune As thus he held her a long time with chat beauty séeing him at discouert thought not to loose the vantage but strucke him so déepely with an inuenomed shafte as he wholly lost his liberty and became a slaue to Loue which before contemned Loue glad to gaze vpon a poore shepheardesse who before refused the offer of rich Princesse For the perfection of Fawnia had so fixed his fancie as he felt his mind greatly changed and his affection altered cursing Loue that had wrought such a change and blaming the basenesse of his minde that would make such a choyce But thinking these were but passionate toyes that might be thrust out at pleasure to auoyd the Syren that inchanted him hee spurs his horse and had his faire Shepheardesse farewell Fawnia who all this while had marked the Princely gesture of Dorastus séeing his face so well featured and each limbe so perfectly framed began greatly to praise his perfection commending him so long till she found her selfe faulty and perceiued that if she waded but a little further she might slip ouer the shooes She therefore seeking to quench that fire which neuer was put out went home and faining her selfe not well at ease gother to bed where casting a thousand thoughts in her head shée could take no rest for if shée had waked she began to call to mind his beauty and thinking to beguile such thoughts with sléepe shée then dreamed of his perfection Pestered with these vnacquainted passions she passed the night as shée could in short slumbers Dorastus who all this while rode with a flea in his eare could not by any meanes forget the sweete fauour Fawnia but rested so bewitched with her wit and beauty as hee could take no rest He felt fancie to giue the assault and his wounded mind ready to yéeld as vanquished yet hee began with diuers considerations to suppresse his franticke affection calling to mind that Fawnia was a Shepheardesse one not worthy to be looked at of a Prince much lesse to be loued of such a Potentate thinking what a discredit it were to himselfe and what a griefe it would be to his father blaming fortune and accusing his owne folly that should be so fond as but once to cast a glance at such a Country slut And as thus he was raging against himselfe Loue fearing if she dallyed long to lose her Champion stept more nigh and gaue him such a fresh wound as it pierst him at the heart that he was faine to yéeld maugre his face and to forsake the company and get him to his chamber where being solemnly set he burst into these passionate termes AH Dorastus art thou alone No not alone while thou art tyred with these vnacquainted passions Yéeld to fancie thou canst not by thy fathers counsell but in a frenzie thou art by iust destinies Thy father were content if thou couldest loue and thou therefore discontent because thou dost loue O diuine Loue feare of men because honoured of gods not to be suppressed by wisedome because not to be comprehended by reason without law and therefore aboue law How then Dorastus why dost thou blaze that with praises which thou hast cause to blaspheme with curses Yet why should they curse loue which are in loue Blush Dorastus at thy Fortune thy choyce thy loue thy thoughts cannot be vttered without shame nor thy affections without discredit Ah Fawnia sweet Fawnia thy beauty Fawnia Shamest not thou Dorastus to name one vnfit for thy birth thy Dignities thy Kingdomes Die Dorastus Dorastus die Better haddest thou perish with high desires then liue in base thoughts Yea but beauty must be obeyed because it is beauty yet framed of the gods to féed the eye not to fetter the heart Ah but he that striueth against loue shooteth with them of Scyrum against the wind and with the Cockatrice pecketh against the steele I will therefore obey because I must obey Fawnia yea Fawnia shall be my fortune in spight of fortune The gods aboue disdaine not to loue women beneath Phoebus liked Daphne Iupiter Io and why not 3 then Fawnia one something inferiour to these in birth but farre superiour to them in beauty borne to be a Shepheardesse but worthy to be a goddesse Ah Dorastus wilt thou forget thy selfe as to suffer affection to suppresse wisdome and loue violate thine honour How sowre will thy choice be to thy father sorrowfull to thy subiects to thy friends a griefe most gladsome to thy foes Subdue then thy affection and cease to loue her whom thou couldest not loue vnlesse blinded with too much loue Tush I talke to the wind in séeking to preuent the causes I further the effects I will yet praise Fawnia honour yea and loue Fawnia and at this day follow content not councell Doe Dorastus thou canst repent and with that his Page came into the chamber whereupon hee ceased from complaints hoping that time would weare out that which fortune had wrought As thus he was pained so poore Fawnia was diuersly perplexed For the next morning getting vp very early she went to her shéepe thinking with hard labours to passe away her new conceiued amours beginning very busily to driue them to the field and then to shift the folds At last wearied with toyle she sate her downe where poore soule she was more tyred with fond affection For loue began to assault her insomuch that as she sate vpon the side of a hill she began to accuse her owne folly in these termes IN fortunate Fawnia And therefore infortunate because Fawnia thy Shepheards hook sheweth thy poore estate thy proud desires an aspiring mind the one declareth thy want the other thy pride No bastard Hawke must sore so high as the Hobby no fowle gaze against the Sun but the Eagle Actions wrought against nature reape despight and thoughts aboue fortune
the one and thy high dignities the other Beggers thoughts ought not to reach as farre as Kings and yet my desires reach as high as Princes I dare not say Dorastus I loue thée because I am a Shepheardesse but the gods know I haue honoured Dorastus pardon if I say amisse yea and loued Dorastus with such dutifull affection as Fawnia can performe or Dorastus desire I yeeld not ouercome with prayers but with loue resting Dorastus hand-maid ready to obey his will if no preiudice at all to his honour nor my credit DOrastus hearing this friendly conclusion of Fawnia embraced her in his armes swearing that neither distance time nor aduerse fortune should diminish his affection but that in despight of the destinies hee would remaine faithfull to death Hauing thus plight their troth each to other seeing they could not haue the full fruition of their loue in Sicilia for that Egistus consent would neuer be granted to so meane a match Dorastus determined as soone as time and opportunity would giue him leaue to prouide a great masse of mony and many rich and costly Iewels for the easier carriage and then to transport themselues and their Treasure into Italy wherethey should lead a contented life vntill such time as either hée could be reconciled to his father or else by succession come to the Kingdome This deuice was greatly praised of Fawnia for shee feared if the King his father should but heare of the contract that his fury would be such as no lesse than death should stand for payment Shée therefore told him that delay bred danger that many mishappes did fall out betwéene the cup and lip and that to auoyd danger it were best with as much spéede as might be to passe out of Sicilia least fortime might preuent their patience with some new despight Dorastus whom loue pricked forward with desire promised to dispatâ—h his affaires with as great haste as either time or opportunity would giue him leaue and so resting vpon this point after many embracings and swéet kisses they departed Dorastus hauing taken his leaue of his best beloued Fawnia went to the Groue where he had his rich apparell and there vncasing himselfe as secretly as might be hiding vp his Shepheards attyre till occasion should serue againe to vse it hée went to the Palace she wing by his merry countenance that either the state of his body was amended or the cause of his minde greatly addressed Fawnia poore soule was no lesse ioyfull that being a Shepheardesse fortune had fauoured her so as to reward her with the loue of a Prince hoping in time to be aduanced from the daughter of a poore Farmour to be wife to rich a King So that she thought euery houre ayéere till by their departure they might preuent danger not ceasing still to goe euery day to her sheepe not so much for the care of the flocke as for the desire she had to sée her Loue and Lord Dorastus who oftentimes when opportunity would serue repaired thither to feed his fancy with the swéet content of Fawnia's presence And although hée neuer went to visite her but in these Shepheards ragges yet his oft repayre made him not onely suspected but knowne to diuers of their neighbours who for the good will they bare to old Porrus told him secretly of the matter wishing him to kéepe his daughter of home lest shee went so long to the field that she brought him home a young sonne For they feared that Fawnia being so beautifull the young Prince would allure her to folly Porrus was stricken in a dumpe at these newes so that thanking his neighbours for their good will he hyed him home to his wife and calling her aside wringing his hands and shedding forth teares hee brake the matter to her in these termes I Am afraid wife that my daughter Fawnia hath made her selfe to sinne that she will buy repentance too déere I haue newes which if they be true some will wish they had not proued true It is told me by my neighbours that Dorastus the Kings sonne begins to looke at our daughter Fawnia which if it be so I will not giue her a halfe-peny for her honesty at the yéeres end I tell thée wife now a dayes beauty is a great staâ—e to trap young men and faire words and swéet promises are two great enemies to maides honesty and thou knowest where poore intreat and cannot obtaine there Princes may command and will obtaine Though Kings sonnes daunce in nets they may not bee séene yet poore mens faults are espied at a little hole Well it is a hard care where Kings lusts are lawes and that they should bind poore men to that which they themselues wilfully breake Peace husband quoth his wife take heed what wee say Speake no more then you should least you heare what you would not Great streames are to be stopped by sleight not by force and Princes to be perswaded by submission not by rigour Doe what you can but no more then you may least in sauing Fawnia's maiden-head you lose your owne head Take heed I say it is ill iesting with edged tooles and bad sporting with Kings The Wolfe had his skin pulled ouer his eares for but looking into the Lyons den Tush wife quoth he thou speakest like a foole If the King should know that Dorastus had gotten our daughter with child as I feare it will fall out little better the Kings fury would be such as no doubt we should both lose our goods and liues necessity therefore hath no law and I will preuent this mischiefe with a new deuice that is come into my head which shall neither offend the King nor displease Dorastus I meane to take the chaine and the Iewels that I found with Fawnia and carry them to the King letting him then to vnderstand how shee is none of my daughter but that I found her beaten vp with the water alone in a little boat wrapped in a rich mantle wherein was inclosed this treasure By this meanes I hope the King will take Fawnia into his seruice and wee whatsoeuer chance shall be blamelesse This deuise pleased the good-wife very well so that they determined as soone as they might know the King at leisure to make him priuy to this case In the meane time Dorastus was not slacke in his affaires but applied his matters with such diligence that he prouided all things fit for their iourney Treasure and Iewels he had gotten great store thinking there was no better friend then mony in a strange Countrey Rich attire he had prouided for Fawnia and because hee could not bring the matter to passe without the helpe and aduice of some one he made an old seruant of his called Capnio who had serued him from his child hood priuy to his affaires who séeing no perswasions could preuaile to diuert him from his setled determination gaue his consent and dealt so secretly in the cause that within short space he had gotten a
and no newes heard of Dorastus Egistus being fearefull that he was deuoured with some wild beasts and with that made out a great Troupe of men to goe séeke him who coasted through all the Country and searched in euery dangerous and secret place vntill at last they met with a Fisher-man that was sitting in a little couert hard by the sea side mending his nets when Dorastus and Fawnia tooke shipping who being examined if hee either knew or heard where the Kings sonne was without any secresie at all reuealed the whole matter how he was sailed two dayes past and had in his company his man Capnio Porrus and his faire daughter Fawnia This heauy newes was presently carried to the King who halfe dead for sorrow commanded Porrus wife to be sent for shee being come to the Palace after due examination confessed that her neighbours had oft told her that the Kings sonne was too familiar with Fawnia her daughter Whereupon her husband fearing the worst about two dayes past hearing the King should goe a hunting rose early in the morning and went to make his complaint but since she neither heard of him nor saw him Egistus perceiuing the womans vnfained simplicity let her depart without incurring further displeasure conceiuing such secret griefe for his sons wretchlesse folly that hee had so forgotten his honour and Parentage by so base a choice to dishonour his father and discredit himselfe that with very care and thought he fell into a quartaine feuer which was so vnfit for his aged yéeres and complexion that hee became so weake as the Physicians would grant him no life But his sonne Dorastus little regarded either father Countrey or kingdome in respect of his Lady Fawnia for Fortune smiling on this yong nouics sent him so lucky a gale of wind for the space of a day and a night that the Marriners lay slept vpon the hatches but on the next morning about the breake of the day the ayre began to ouer-cast the winds to rise the seas to swell yea presently there arose such a fearefull tempest as the ship was in danger to be swallowed vp in euery sea the maine mast with the violence of the wind was throwne ouer-boord the sailes were torne the tackling rended a sunder the storme raging still so furiously that poore Fawnia was almost dead for feare but that she was greatly comforted with the presence of Dorastus The tempest continued thrée dayes all which time the Marriners euery minute looked for death and the aire was so darkened with clouds that the master could not tell by the compasse in what coast they were But vpon the fourth day about ten of the clocke the winde began to cease the sea to waxe calme and the skie to be cléere and the Marriners descried the coast of Bohemia shooting off their Ordinance for ioy that they had escaped such a fearefull tempest Dorastus hearing that they were arriued at some Harbour swéetly kissed Fawnia and bade herbe of good chéere When they told him that the Port belonged to the chiefe Citty of Bohemia where Pandosto kept his Court Dorastus began to bee sad knowing that his father hated no man so much as Pandosto and that the King himselfe had sought secretly to betray Egistus this considered he was halfe affrayd to goe on Land but that Capnio counselled him to change his name and his Countrey vntill such time as they could get some other Barke to transport them into Italy Dorastus liking this deuice made his case priuy to the Marriners rewarding them bountifully for their paines and charging them to say that he was a Gentleman of Trapolonia called Meleagrus The ship-men willing to shew what friendship they could to Dorastus promised to be as secret as they could or he might wish and vpon this they landed in a little village a mile distant from the City where after they had rested a day thinking to make prouision for their marriage the fame of Fawnia's beauty was spred throughout all the City so that it came to the eare of Pandosto who then being about the age of fifty had notwithstanding young and fresh affections so that the desired greatly to sée Fawnia and to bring this matter the better to passe hearing they had but one man and how they rested at a very homely house he caused them to be apprehended as Spies and sent twelue of his Guard to take them who being come to their lodging told them the Kings message Dorastus no whit dismayed accompanied with Fawnia and Capnio went to the Court for they left Porrus to kéepe the stuffe who being admitted to the Kings presence Dorastus and Fawnia with humble obeisance saluted his Maiesty Pandosto amazed at the singular perfection of Fawnia stood halfe astonished viewing her beauty so that hee almost forgot himselfe what he had to do at last with sterne countenance he demanded their names and of what Country they were and what caused them to land in Bohemia Sir quoth Dorastus know that my name is Meleagrus a Knight borne and brought vp in Trapolonia and this Gentlewoman whom I meane to take to my wife is an Italian borne in Padua from whence I haue now brought her The cause I haue so small a traine with me is for that her friends vnwilling to consent I entended secretly to conuey her into Trapolonia whither I was sayling and by distresse of weather I was driuen into these Coasts Thus haue you heard my name my Country and the cause of my voyage Pandosto starting from his Seat as one in choller made this rough reply MEleagrus I feare this smooth taâ—e hath but small truth and that thou couerest a foule skin with faire paintings No doubt this Lady by her grace and beauty is of higher degrée more méet for a mighty Prince then for a simple Knight and thou like a periured traytor hast bereft her of her Parents to their present griefe and her ensuing sorrow Till therefore I heare more of her Parentage and of her calling I will stay you both here in Bohemia Dorastus in whom rested nothing but Kingly valour was not able to suffer the reproaches of Pandosto but that he made him this answer IT is not meete for a King without due proofe to appeach any man of ill behauiour nor vpon suspition to inferre beliefe strangers ought to be entertained with courtesie not to be entreated with cruelty lest being forced by want to put vp iniuries the gods reuenge their cause with rigour Pandosto hearing Dorastus vtter these words commanded that he should straight be committed to prison vntill such time as they heard further of his pleasure but as for Fawnia he charged that she should be entertained in the Court with such courtesie as belonged to a stranger and her calling the rest of the ship-men put in the Dungeon Hauing thus so hardly handled the supposed Trapolonians Pandosto contrary to his aged yeeres began to be some what tickled with the beauty of Fawnia insomuch