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
it were vnder the grounde but woulde thence also appeare fearinge leaste her estate should be knowen and so shée killed and I brought in trouble therefore I sewed that I might be sente in Ambassadge to y e Deputie of Aegypte and obtained wherefore I come and bringe her with me desirous to sette her busines in good order And now muste I vtter to him the cause of mine Ambassadge for he hath appointed this daie for the hearinge of me As touching the Mayde I commende her to you and the Goddes who haue hitherto conserued her vpon such conditions as you are bounde by Othe to perfourme That is that you wil vse her as a Frée woman and marrye her to a Frée man as you receiue her at my hande or rather of her Mother who hathe so leafte her I hope that you wil perfourme al thinges whereof we haue commoned aswel by credite of your othe as also by trust y e I haue in your maners whiche I haue by many daies experienced to be very Greekishe in déede Thus much I had to say to you before I executed my cōmission as concerninge mine Ambassadge as for other secresies belonging to the maide I wil tel you them to morow in more ample wise if you wil mete with me about Isis temple I did as he requested and caried the maide muffled to mine owne house and vsed her very honorably that daie comfortinge her with many faire meanes gaue God greate thankes for her from that time hitherto accoumpting meaning her my daughter The next daie I went to Isis Temple as I had appointed with the stranger and after I had walked there a greate while alone and sawe him not I wente to the Deputies house inquired whether any man sawe the Legate of Ethiopia The one tolde me that he was gonne or rather dryuen homeward the last day before Sunne sette for that the Deputie thretned to kyll hym if presently he departed not I asked him the cause for that quoth he by his Ambassadge he willed him not to meddle with y e mines out of which the Smaradges were digged as those y t appertained to Ethiopia I came home againe much greued like one that had had some greate mishap because I coulde not knowe any thynge as touchynge the mayde neither whence shée was or who were her Parentes Maruaile not thereat saide Cnemon interpretinge him for I my selfe take it heauily that I cannot knowe it nowe yet perhaps I shal knowe it hereafter You shal in déede saide Calasiris But nowe wil I telle you what Caricles saide more After I came into my house quoth he the maide came foorth to méete me but saide nothinge bicause shée coulde not yet speake Greeke yet shée tooke me by the hande and made me good chéere with her countenance I marueiled that euen as good Grayehoundes doo fawne vpon euery one though they haue but litle acquaintance with them so shée quickly perceiued my good wil towarde her and did imbrace me as if I had benne her Father I determined therefore not to tarry longer in Catadupi leste some spite of the Goddes shoulde depriue me of my other Daughter too and so comminge by Boate dawne alonge Nilus to the Sea I gotte a Shippe sailed home now in this my Daughter with me this Daughter I saie surnamed also by my name for whose sake I leade scant a quiet life And beside other thinges wherein shée is better then I could wishe shée learned the Greke tongue in so shorte space came to perfite age with suche spéede as if shée had benne a péerelesse branche and so farre passed al other in excellente bewtie that al mennes eies as wel strangers as Greekes were set on her To be shorte whersoeuer she was either in the Tēples or at Publike exercises or in the places of Commō resort shée tourned al mens mindes and countenaunces vnto her as if shée had benne the Image of somme God lately framed And althoughe shée be suche a one yet shée gréeueth me soare Shée hathe bidden Marriage farewel and determine the to liue a Maiden stil and so becomming Dianas seruant for the moste parte appliethe her selfe to huntinge and doothe practise shootinge For my parte I set litle by my life who hoped to marrye her to my Nephew my Sisters Sonne a courteous younge man wel mannered and faire spoken but I can neither by praier nor promise nor force of Argumente perswade her thereto but that whiche greueth me moste is that as the Prouerbe saithe shée vsethe mine owne Fethers againste me and addethe greate experience and many reasons to proue that shée hath chosen the beste kinde of life commending Virginitie with immortal praise and placing it in Heauen by the Goddes callethe it immaculate vnspotted and vncorrupted as for Loue Venus disporte and euery Ceremonie that apperteineth to Marriage shée vtterly dispraisethe In this matter I require your helpe and therfore nowe I hauinge good occasion whiche hathe in a manner profered it selfe to me vse a longer tale then néede requirethe Doo thus muche for me good Calasiris vse somme pointe of your wisedome though it be by Inchantemente to perswade her either by woorde or déede to knowe her owne nature and to consider that shée is borne of a woman This you can doo if you wil. For shée disdaineth not to talke with men for that shée hath bene commonly brought vp amonge them And shée dwelleth in the same house with you here I meane within the circuite and compasse of this Temple Despise not mine humble Prayers and suffer me not to liue in mine age without children and comforte and hope of any to succéede me This I beséech you to doo for Apolloes sake and all the Goddes of your owne Countrie I wepte when I harde this Cnemon because he him selfe not without teares thus humbly besought me and promised to doo what I coulde for him in this pointe While wée yet talked of these matters one came to vs in haste and tolde vs that the Captaine of the Aenians ambassadge was at the gate and made prouision and therefore desired the Prieste to come awaie and beginne the Sacrifice I asked Caricles what those Aenians were and what holy message theirs was and what sacrifice they made The Aenians saide he is the noblest parte of Thessalia and right Gréeke whiche fetche theire petigrée from Deucalion and stretch to the borders of Malia their chiefe Cittie is Hipala so called as they saie because it is Mistres and ruler of the reste but as other thinke for that it is cituate vnder the Hill Oeta This Sacrifice the Aenians sende to Pirrhus Achilles sonne euery fourthe yéere at suche time as the feaste Agon is kepte to Apollo whiche is now as you knowe for here was he killed at the very Aultars of Apollo by guile of Orestes Agamemnons Sonne This message is donne more honorably then any of the reste because the Captaine saithe he is one
⧠AN AETHIOpian Historie written in Greeke by Helidorus very vvittie and pleasaunt Englished by Thomas Vnderdoune With the Argumente of euery Booke sette before the whole VVoorke Jmprinted at London by Henrie VVykes for Fraunces Goldocke dwellinge in Powles Churcheyarde at the signe of the greene Dragon TO THE RIGHT HOnorable Edward Deuiere Lord Boulbecke Earle of Oxenford Lord greate Chamberlayne of Englande Thomas Vnderdowne wisheth longe and blessed life with encrease of Honour AS they somewhat be more precise than I righte Honorable Earle whiche woulde haue noble menne and suche as beare sway and rule in the weale Publike to be in all manner of Sciences greate Artistes and altogether Bookishe so doo I farre dissent from them that woulde contrarily haue them vtterly vnlettered and flatte idiotes for the Bookishe man busily attendinge his owne study cannot carefully yenough tender the state For suche is the propertie of knowledge that it breadeth a contempt of all other thinges in respect of it selfe As for the ignorant it is moste euident and plaine that he can haue no manner of Gouernance or skill of Regiment in his heade The Greekes in all manner of knowledge and Learninge did farre surmounte the Romanes but the Romanes in administringe their state in warlike factes and in common sense were muche their Superiours for the Greekes were wedded to theire learninge alone the Romanes content with a mediocritie applied them selues to greater thinges I doo not denie but that in many matters I meane matters of learninge a Noble man ought to haue a sight but to be to muche addicted that waye I thinke is not good Now of all knowledge fitte for a Noble Gentelman I suppose the knowledge of Histories is moste seeminge For furtheringe whereof I haue Englished a passing fine and wittie Historie written in Greeke by Heliodorus and for righte good cause consecrated the same to your Honorable Lordshippe For such vertues be in your Honour so hautie courage ioined with great skill suche sufficiency in learning so good nature and common sense that in your Honour is I thinke expressed the right patterne of a Noble Gentelman whiche in my head I haue conceiued It nothinge did dismay me or for that I was not knowen to your Honour neither maye it seeme any rashe attempte for that cause For suche is the force of vertue that shee maketh vs to loue not onely our owne Countrie men by sight vnknowen but also Straungers whiche by Lande and Sea be seuered from vs. Therefore I beseeche your Honour fauourably to accepte this my small trauaile in translatinge Heliodorus whome if I haue so well translated as he is woorthy I am perswaded that your Honour will like very well of Sure I am that of other translatours he hath benne dedicated to mighty Kinges and Princes Therefore accept my good will Honorable Earle and if opportunitie shall serue hereafter there shall greater thinges appeare vnder your Honours name Almighty God geue you increase of Honour and keepe and defende you for euer and euer Your Honours moste humble to commaunde Thomas Vnderdowne The Contentes of the firste Booke In it is declared the takinge of Theagenes and Cariclia by Thiamis Captaine of the Theeues of Aegipte and how they were brought into their Countrie whiche is called the Pasture where in Thiamis his house they fell acquainted with Cnemon a Grecian who telleth an excellent tale of his estate After this is declared the takinge of Thyamis by Mitranes and the burninge of the Ilande and this did Nausicles by a greate summe of monye procure Mitranes Captayne of the watches to doo because Thermutes one of Thiamis his men had taken from him a Louer of his named Thisbe whiche he brought from Athens The Contentes of the Seconde Booke In this seconde Booke is contained the councelles of Theagenes and Cariclia and the iourney of Cnemon and Thermutes to seeke Thiamis And howe by composition Cnemon came to Chemmis where he mette with Calasiris very sorowfull who telleth him a notable tale of his owne ill happe and annexeth thereto the beginninge of the story of the whole Booke howe Caricles came by Cariclia and howe Theagenes was sente out of Thessalia to perfourme the Funerall of Pirrhus Achilles his Sonne The Contentes of the Thirde Booke In the thirde Booke is contained the maner of the Funeralles and howe Theagenes fell in Loue with Cariclia and shee with him and the moane that Caricles made for her to Calasiris The Contentes of the Fourthe Booke In this fourthe Booke is contayned the victory of Theagenes againste Ormenes and how by councell of Calasiris he tooke Cariclia away and what adoo was thereaboute in Delphi The Contentes of the fifthe Booke In this fifthe Booke is conteined the seperation of Theagenes and Cariclia and howe that Nausicles the Merchante gotte her of Mitranes in steede of Thysbe and after he had brought her to his house he desired Calasiris to tell him the Story of her and Theagenes who prosequuteth it so farre vntill he commeth to the great Slaughter wherof mention is made in the firste Booke The Contentes of the sixte Booke The sixte Booke conteineth the Marriage of Cnemon to Nausiclia Nausicles Daughter and the viage of Calasiris and Cariclia to seeke Theagenes at Bessa where they heare of an olde woman that the Inhabitantes therof had slaine Mitranes and rescued Thiamis and Theagenes and were gonne with them to Memphis to helpe Thiamis to recouer againe his Priestehoode The same olde woman that tolde them this tale was a VVitche and shewed before them parte of her cunninge by raisinge againe her owne Sonne and after in their sighte receiued suche ende as all her former life had deserued The Contentes of the seuenth Booke In the seuenthe Booke is sette foorthe the Battaile betweene the twoo Brethren Thiamis and Petosiris for the Priesthoode and howe the ende was made betweene them by theire Father Calasiris At this Battaile Cariclia founde her Theagenes againe Arsace falleth in loue with Theagenes and is almoste madde for desire towarde him Calasiris dyeth and his Sonne Thiamis succeedeth him Achemenes is Espoused to Cariclia but he is defeated of the Marriage by Theagenes The Contentes of the eighte Booke This Booke conteineth the warre and cause thereof betweene Hidaspes Kinge of Aethiopia and Oroondates Lieutenante of Aegypte Also the complainte that Achemenes made to Oroondates of Arsace with a commendation of Cariclia and Theagenes to him who sendeth for them Bagoas one of his Eunuches But before he came Theagenes was sore tormented because he would not consent to Arsaces vnlawful desire Cariclia also because shee was thought to hinder Arsaces pourpose should haue bene priuily poysoned by Cybele Arsaces Bawde but the mischiefe fell vpon her selfe Mary Cariclia was accused therefore and should haue benne burned but is woonderfully deliuered by vertue of a Pretious stoane called Pantarbe Then commeth Bagoas and taketh them away for sorrowe wherof Arsace hangeth her selfe After this Bagoas and they fall
a Goddesse woulde a Goddesse kisse a dead man with suche compassion they determined therefore with them selues that it was best to take harte of grace and goe knowe what the matter was in déede When they had therefore encouraged eche other a little they ranne downe and founde the Mayde busie in dressinge the younge mannes woundes and cominge behinde her sodainely stoode still and durste neither speake nor doo any thing more for there liues WheÌ„ shée harde the sounde of somewhat aboute her and their shadowes before her eies shée lifted her selfe vp a litle and looked backe but stouped againe straight no whitte abashed to sée the Théeues in harnes but applied her selfe onely to binde vp his woundes that lay before her Sutche is the force of earnest desire and true loue it despiseth all outwarde chaunces be thei pleasant or otherwise onely beholdinge that whiche it loueth and thereaboute bestoweth all diligence and trauell But when the Théeues passed by and stoode before her and séemed that they would enterprise somewhat shée lifted her self vp againe and beholdinge them blacke coloured euell fauoured said if ê™ shée you be the Spirites of those who are slaine here you trouble vs wrongfully for moste of you were slaine with yoâ—â— owne handes As for vs if we flewe any we did it 〈◊〉 in our owne defence to repelle the violence whiche was profered to my Virginitie but if you be men aliue it séemeth you are Théeues as maie be déemed by the time you come in you maie doo vs a pleasure to ridde vs from these presente miseries and by deathe to finishe this our vnhappie Tragedie Thus did shée sorrowfully lamente but they not vnderstandinge what shée saide leafte them there accountinge their owne inuÌ„rmitie a sufficient garde to kéepe them and hasted to the Shippe and brought out that whiche was in the same euery man bearinge out as muche as he could of Gould Siluer Precious stoanes and Silke not regarding other thinges whereof therein was great stoare And when they thought they had enough and there was suche plentye as mighte séeme to satisfie the Théeues desire layinge their praye on the shoare fell to diuision of the same not accordinge to the woorthe and value of that they had but contented them selues with equalitie of waight As for the yonge Man the Mayde thei would take order for them afterward In the meane time an other companie of Théeues wherof twoo Horsemen were Captaines came towarde them whiche thing as soone as those sawe that had benne there before not of courage to sturre against theÌ„ ranne away as fast as thei could without taking with theÌ„ any parte of the Praye that they might geue their enemie no occasion to pursue them For they were in number but tenne and those who came vppon them were thrée times as many And nowe was the Mayde a prisoner againe but yet not in durance at all The Robbers although they hasted to the spoyle yet partely bicause they knewe not what those thinges signified whiche they sawe and partely also for feare staied them selues a while thinkinge that the former slaughter had benne made by the Théeues that had benne there before But when they behelde the Mayde though straungly yet séemely apparailled whiche despised those daungers that hanged ouer her head as though they had benne none and altogeather imployed her trauell to ease the yonge Mans woundes tooke his gréefe as heauily as her owne sorowe they were not onely stroken with her beawtie and hawtines of minde but wonderfully moued with the cumlines of the wounded Mans person Suche was the séemelines of his countenance and talenesse of his stature euen as he laye along afore them For by this time was he a little amended and his personage had recouered his olde handsomenesse againe At length after they had behelde them a good while and he drewe neare who was theire Maister he laide hande on the Mayde and bad her arise and folowe him Shée although shée vnderstoode not what he saide yet coniecturinge what he willed her to doo drewe the yonge Man with her otherwise shée woulde not onely not departe from him but pointinge with a knife to her harte threatned that shée woulde kill her selfe if they carried them not bothe togeathers Which thinge when the Maister partly by her talke but more plainely by her gesture vnderstoode hoping also to vse his further helpe in great affaires if he might recouer his health againe alighted himself from his Horse coÌ„maunded his hranesbearer likewise so to doo sette his prisoners on them Commaundinge the rest when they had gathered vp the praye to folowe them him selfe like a lackie ranne by theire side and staied them vpright if by meanes of their infirmitie they were in daunger to fal Surely this déede was not without muche glorie for he who was their Maister waited vppon them and he who tooke them prisoners was contente to serue them Suche is the appearance of very Nobilitie and the force of cumlines which canne subdue the disposition of Théeues and bringe vnder the wilde and sauage When they had gone aboute a sixtene furlonges by the Sea side they turned downe straight to the foote of the Hill and left the Sea on their right hande And hauing gone ouer the toppe of the said Hill they hasted to a Poole that laye on the other side thereof the maner whereof was thus The whole place is called the Pasture of the Egyptians about the whiche is a lowe Valeye which receiueth certaine exundations of Nylus by meanes whereof it becommeth a Poole and is in the midste very deape aboute the brimmes whereof are marishes or sennes For looke as the shoare is to the Sea suche is the fennes to euery greate Poole In that place haue the Théeues of Egypte howe many so euer they bée their common Wealthe And for as much as there is but a litle land without the water some liue in smal Cotages other in Boates that they vse as wel for theire house as also for passage ouer the Poole In these doo theire women serue them and if néede require be also brought to bedde When a Childe is borne firste they let him sucke his mothers milke awhyle but after thei féede him with Fishes taken in the Lake and rosted in the hoate Sunne And when they perceiue that he beginnes to goe they tie a corde about his legges and suâ—him but onely to goe aboute the Boate teachinge him euen at the first after a new fashion to goe by a haulter And thus what rudesbie so euer is borne and bred in the Poole accounteth the same his countrie and a sufficient defence for the saftie of Théeues And for that cause all suche people come thether very faste for they all doo vse the water in stéede of a wall Moreouer the great plenty of Réede that groweth there in the moorie grounde is in manner as good as a Bulwarke vnto them For by deuisinge many crooked comberous waies
thorough which the passages to them by ofte vse are very easy but to others harde they haue made it a sure defence that by no sodeine inuasion they maye be endamaged And thus muche as touchinge the Lake and those Roges that inhabite the same About the sunne setting commeth home theire Captaine with all his retinew Then tooke they the yonge couple froÌ„ their Horses and laide their praye aboorde Certaine Boates and the reste of the Robbers that taried at home whiche was a greate sorte ranne to méete the Captaine from out euery parte of the Fenne and welcomed him as if he had benne theire Kinge But when they considered the multitude of the spoyles that they had wonne and sawe the beawtie of the Mayde to be so heauenly a thinge they geassed that their companions had robbed some Churche that they had brought awaie the Prieste of the Goddes or rather the liuely picture of the Goddesse her selfe And this they coniectured to the Mayde bicause they knewe not what had benne donne And therefore they gratulated theire Captaine in hartie wise for his valiante exploite and so brought him into his owne house whiche was an Ilande farre from the reste separated to his onely vse and a fewe other who moste commonly vsed to kéepe him company Whither after he was broughte he commaunded the other to departe euery man to his owne house charginge them the nexte daie all to wayte vppon him Him selfe with a fewe other that taried with him after they had made a shorte supper deliuered the yonge folkes to the custodie of a Grecian whome he had taken a fewe daies before that he might be their Interpreter lettinge them haue a corner of his owne house not farre from his lodginge with commaundemente as wel diligently to sée the wounded yonge Man as curiously to looke to the Mayde that shée by no meanes shoulde be anoyed But he what with his former trauel the daie before and also with care of his present affaires fell a fléepe And when al was whist in the marishe and euery man at reste the Maide tooke that occasion and absence of men to be a fyt time to lament and waile and the rather for that in the night shée coulde neither sée or heare any thinge that might comforte her but contrariewise moue her to sorowe when therefore with her selfe secretely shée had wailed alone for shée was by the Captaines commaundement separated from companie and layde in a simple bedde and wept very bitterly Apollo saide shée howe much more gréeuous punishement doest thou take of vs then wée haue deserued Hast thou not benne sufficiently reuenged on vs with that that is paste For as much as wée are farre from our friendes and kinsfolkes and that we were taken by Pyrates and subiecte to sixe hundred daungers more by Sea but that nowe againe we muste on the lande fall into the handes of Théeues and Robbers beside who knoweth wither any thinge worse is like to light vppon vs when wilt thou make an ende if in deathe that shalbe voide of Iniurie Oh that deathe woulde like me well but rather then any man shoulde filthely knowe me whiche Theagenes neuer did truely with halter I woulde ende my life referringe my selfe pure and chaste as hitherto I haue donne euen vnto deathe and thereby gaine a bewtifull Epitaphe for my singuler Virginitie and no Iudge shalbe so cruell as thou While shée spake thus Theagenes willed her to be contente and saide Mine owne deare harte and onely ioye Eariclea sease youre mourninge I knowe you haue iuste cause to complaine but in youre thus dooinge you displease God a greate deale more then you thinke neither haue wée néede to prouoke God to wrathe but rather to praye for that whiche is mightier muste with Praiers and not with accusacion be appeased You geue me in déede good Counsell ê™ shée but I praye thée tell me howe you fare Better saide he then I did yesternight since this yonge man trimmed my wouÌ„des wherby the burninge heate of them is wel cooled Yea ê™ he who had the charge to looke to them in the morning you shal sée they shalbe in better case for I wil prouide suche an hearbe for you that within thrée dressinges shal heale vp your wounde And this I haue proued trewe by experience for if any that were vnder this Capitaine since I was taken prisoner in any conflict happened to be wounded he neuer néeded many daies to be cured For that I am greatly moued with your estate you néede not maruell at al for you séeme to be in as ill case as I I haue the more compassion on you for that you be Grecians because also I my selfe am a Grecian borne A Grecian Oh immortal God cried they out sodenly for ioie a Grecian in déede bothe tongue countrie Hereafter we trust to haue some respite from our mishaps But what must wée calle you saide Theagenes Cnemon answeared he Of what parte of Greece saide Theagenes Of Athens answeared he And howe came you here saide Theagenes Peace I praie you ê™ he aske me that questioÌ„ no more let vs leaue that to such as write Tragedies Neither at this time woulde I gladly encrease your sorrowes with repeting mine besides that the night is so farre spent that the reste would not serue to tell you the same and wée haue greate néede to take reste and sléepe after our greate trauel But when they would not cease but were stil very instant to haue me tel the same accompting it a greate comforte to heare any man haue as ill lucke as they had them selues Cnemon beganne in this sorte My Fathers name was Aristippus he was borne in Athens one of the vpper Senate as riche as any Comoner in the Cittie he after the decease of my Mother applied his minde to Marrie againe thinkinge it an vnreasonable thinge for me his onely Sonnes sake still to be of an vncertaine and doubtful minde He dothe therfore bringe home a little woman somewhat fine but passinge malicious named Demeneta as soone as shée was Maried shée reclaimed my Father al to her owne lure made him doo what shée liste entising the olde Man with her bewtie was very curiouse in many other pointes for if any woman euer knew how to make a man madde of her shée was better skilled in that Arte then any man woulde thinke but especially when my Father wente foorthe shée would be sorrowfull and renne to him when he came home and blame him mutche for his longe tarriynge and not sticke to tell him that shée woulde haue died if he had taried neuer so little longer At euery woorde woulde shée imbrace him and moiste her kisses with teares with whiche meanes my Father was so bewitched that he neuer was well but when he either had her in his Armes or els looked vppon her aboue all other shée woulde haue mée in her sighte as if I hadde benne her owne Sonne by this meanes also makinge
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
this sort Apolloes Preist called Caricles my familiare friende said vnto me It is very well saide you I my selfe am of your opinioÌ„ also for I haue harde the Priestes of Aegypt that inhabite about Nilus saie so also And haue you ben there then Caricles ê™ I I haue quoth he Calasiris What mischance draue you thether I asked him then The ill lucke that I had at home saide he whiche for al that turned to my great felicitie I wondred at that and thought it coulde not be so You will not marueile ê™ he if you heare the whole processe of the matter whiche you shall doo when you please Then ê™ I tel me nowe for I am wel pleased you should so doo Caricles then when he had let the people depart said know that for a certaine cause I haue desired a greate while that you mighte be made priuie to mine estate A longe time after I was maried I had no Children yet at lengthe when I was olde and had made earneste Praiers to God I had a Daughter the whiche God foreshewed me shoulde be borne in an il time For al that shée became mariageable and I prouided her a Husbande of one of her Suiters for shée had many whiche in my iudgemente was the moste honestest man The firste nighte that shee vnhappy wenche laie with her Husbande died either with a Thunderbolte or els for that by negligent handelinge her bedde was set on fire And thus the Marriage Songe not yet ended was tourned to mourninge and shée was carried out of her Bridebedde into her Graue and the Tapers that gaue her lighte at her Wedding did nowe serue to kindle her Funeral Fire Biside this vnhappy fortune God gaue me an other Tragicall missehappe in that he tooke the Mother from me beinge too sorrowful for the Deathe of her Daughter I therefore not able to beare this greate pounishmente at any Goddes hande did not kil my selfe in obeieinge their Preceptes who are occupied aboute Holy controuersies and affirme it not to be lawful but leafte my Countrie priuily fledde far from the sorrowes I fcalte at home for the quicke remeÌ„brance of the minde is greately holpen to forgeate euilles passed if it be obscured and darkened by tourninge of the eies from the same After I had trauailed ouer many Countries at length I came into your Aegypte and into the Cittie Catadupi to sée the Sluces of Nilus And thus my frende I haue tolde you the manner of my trauaile into those places But I desire that you shoulde knowe the principal cause why I tel you this tale As I walked aboute in the Cittie as my leasure serued and did buie sutche thinges as are very scarce in Greece for newe by continuance of time hauinge wel digested my sorrowes I hasted to returne into my Countrie there came a sobre man to me and sutche a one as by countenance appeared to be wise that had lately passed his youtheful yéeres of coloure blacke and saluted me and saide that he woulde talke with me aboute a certaine matter not speakinge Greeke very wel And when he sawe that I was willinge to goe with him he brought me into a certaine Temple and by and by saide I sawe you buie certaine Hearbes and Rootes that growe in India and Ethiopia If you wil buie such thinges of me in good faith without guile I wil shewe you them with al my harte That I wil ê™ I shewe me theÌ„ I praie you With that he tooke a little bagge from vnder his arme and shewed me certaine precious stoones of wonderfull price For there were Margarites among them as bigge as a little nutte perfite rounde and Smaragdis and Hiachinthes they were in coloure as the gréene Grasse and shined very bright These were like the Sea banke that lieth vnder a harde rocke which maketh all that is vnderneath to be like Purple coloure At fewe woordes their mingled and diuers shining colour delighted and pleased the eies wonderfully whiche as soone as I sawe You must séeke other Chapmen ê™ I good Sir for I al my ritches are scant able to buie one of the stoones that I sée Why saide he if you be not able to buie theÌ„ yet are you able to take them if they be géeuen you I am able saide I to receiue them in déede but I knowe not what you meane so to mocke me I mocke you not ê™ he but meane good faithe I sweare by the God of this Churche that I will geue you al these thinges if you wil take them beside an other gifte whiche farre excelleth them all I laughed when I heard this he asked me why I laughed Because ê™ I it is a thinge to be laughed at séeinge you promise me thinges of so greate price and yet assure me to géeue me more Truste me saide he but sweare that you will vse this gifte well and as I shall teache you I maruailed what he meante and stayed a while yet in hope of those greater rewardes I tooke an Othe After I had sworne as he willed me he brought me to his Lodginge and shewed me a Mayde of excellente bewtie which he saide was but seuen yéere Olde me thought shée was almoste Marriageable suche grace dothe excellente bewtie geue to the talenesse of Stature I stoode in a mase aswell for that I knewe not what he meante as also for the vnsaciable desire I had to looke vpon her Then spake he thus to me Sir the Mother of this Mayde whiche you sée for a certaine cause that you shal knowe hereafter laide her foorthe wrapped in suche Apparell as is commonly vsed for suche pourposes committinge her to the doubtfulnesse of Fortune And I by channce findinge her tooke her vp for it is not lawful to despise and neglecte a soule in daunger after it hath once entered into an Humayne bodie For this is one of the VVise mens preceptes that are with vs to be whose Scholer my selfe was once iudged woorthy Besides that euen in the Infantes eies there appeared some wonderfull thinge shée behelde me with suche a steadie and amiable countenaunce as I looked vpon her With her was also founde this bagge of precious stoanes whiche I shewed you of late and a Silken clothe wrought with letters in her Mother tongue wherein was her whole estate contained her Mother as I ghesse procuringe the same Whiche after I had redde I knew whence and what shée was and so I carried her into the Countrie farre from the Cittie and deliuered her to certaine Shepeheardes to be broughte vp with charge that they should tel no man As for those thinges that were founde with her I detained with my selfe leaste for them the Maide shoulde be brought into any daunger And thus at the firste this matter was concealed But after in processe of time the Mayde growinge on and becominge more fayre then other wemen were for bewtie in mine opinion cannot be concealed though
of Achilles line By chaunce I mette with him too daies agoo and there semeth verily to appeare in him somewhat woorthy those that come of Achilles bloude suche is the comelinesse of his person and talenes of stature that it may easily proue he was borne of somme Goddesse I marueiled how they beinge Aenians did saie they came of Achilles bloude because the Egyptian Poete Homer safeth that he was borne in Phthia The yonge man and the reste of the Aenians saie plainely that he is their progenitoure and that Thetis was maried to Peleus out of Malia that in olde time Phthia was there aboutes and that who so euer beside them doo chalenge the noble man for his valiaunt actes saie vntruely For his parte he proueth him selfe to be of Achilles bloude by an other reason for that Menesthius his Grandfather who was the Sonne of Sperchius and Polidora Peleus daughter which went with Achilles amonge the noble Captaines to Troye and because he was his Kinsman was one of the chiefest Captaines of the Mirmidones And although he him selfe be very neare on euery side to Achilles and ioyne him to the Aenians yet he accoumpteth these funeralles to Pirrhus for a moste assured proufe whiche all the Thessalians as he saith haue graunted to them bearinge them witnesse that they be the nexte of his bloude I enuy them not Caricles ê™ I whether they chalenge this to them selues vntruely or it be so in déede But I praie you sende for y t Captaine in for I desire muche to sée him Caricles was content Therewith entered in a yonge man of Achilles courage in déede who in countenaunce and stomake appeared no lesse with a streight necke hie forehedded with his heare in comely sorte rebendinge downe his nose and nosthrilles wide inoughe to take breathe whiche is a token of courage strength his eies not very greye but greye and blacke whiche made him looke somewhat fiercely yet very amiably not muche vnlike the Sea whiche is newe calmed after a boysterous tempest After he had saluted vs as the maner was and we him againe it is time saide he to doo Sacrifice to the God that wée may finishe the Noble mans rightes the pompe thereto belonginge by times let it be so saide Caricles and as he rose he tolde me softly you shall sée Cariclia to daie if you haue not séene her before for shée muste be at the pompe and Funeralles of Neoptolemus by custome I had séene the maide before Cnemon and done Sacrifice with her and shée woulde enquire of me of our holy customes and ordinances Yet I saide nothinge to him waytinge to sée what woulde come hereof and so we wente to the Temple bothe togeather For all thinges that belonged to the Sacrifices were made readie by the Thessalians Assoone as we came to the Aulter and the yonge man beganne to doo the Sacrifice hauinge leaue firste of the Prieste Phthia saide thus Yee men of Delphi singe of her and Goddes ofspringe prayse VVho nowe in grace beginnes to growe but fame shal ende her daies VVho leauinge these my Temples here and passinge surginge streames Shall come at length to Countrie scortche with Phebus blasinge beames VVhere they as recompences due that vertues rare doo gaine In time to come ere it belonge white Miters shal obtaine After the God had saide thus those that stoode by caste many doubtes but knewe not what that answeare shoulde meane Euery man had his seuerall exposition as he desired so he coniectured yet coulde none attaine to the true meaninge thereof for Oracles and dreames are for the moste parte vnderstoode when they be come to passe And although the menne of Delphos were in amaze for that was saide yet they hasted to goo to this gorgeous solemnitie not caringe to make any diligent enquirie of the answeare whiche was geuen Here endeth the Seconde Booke The Thirde Booke AFter the Pompe and Funerall was ended Nay Father ê™ Cnemon interruptinge him it is not donne yet seinge your talke hath not made me also a looker thereon But you slippe from me who desire wonderfully to beholde the whole order thereof no lesse then one who as the Prouerbe is came after a feast in as mutche as you haue but opened the Theater and straight shutte it vp againe Cnemon saide Calasiris I woulde not trouble you with suche impertinent matters as you doo nowe desire but would haue brought you to the principall pointes of my tale and that whiche you desired at firste But because you desire by the waie to be a looker hereupon hereby you declare your selfe to be an Athenian I will briefly declare to you the brauerie thereof as wel for it selfe because it is famous as also for certaine thinges that happened thereat The Hecatombe wente before suche menne as were but lately entered into the Holy Ministerie leadde the same eche one had a white garment knitte aboute them their right hande and arme with their breast naked and a Polaxe therein All the Oxen were blacke but very lustie wagginge their heades and liftinge them vp a little they had euen hornes parte whereof was gilded other had Garlandes of flowers vpon them their legges were somewhat crooked their throtes hanged beneath their knées and there were so many as woulde make a iuste Hecatombe in déede After these folowed a greate sorte of other offeringes euery kinde of beastes was leadde by it selfe in order alone with an instrumente that appointed when with what they shoulde beginne These beastes and their leaders did certaine virgines of Thessalia standinge in a ringe with their heare loose aboute their eares intertayne The Maides were deuided into twoo companies those who were in the firste carried flowers and fruite The other caried in baskettes other fine knackes and perfumes and filled all the place with pleasant odor they caried not these thinges in their handes but on their heades for that they helde their handes forwarde backwarde that they might the more easily bothe goe and daunce They receiued their Songe of an other coÌ„panie for it was the duetie of these to singe the whole Hymne In the Songe was Thetis praysed and Peleus then their Sonne and after his after these Cnemon what Cnemon ê™ Cnemon Now Father yée take from me the pleasantest parte of this tale as though you woulde make me a beholder onely of that that was done in this Royalite not a hearer also You shal heare it said Calasiris séeing it pleaseth you this was y e Songe O Nereus God in surginge Seas we prayse thy Daughter deare VVhom Peleus at commaundemente of Joue did make his feare Thou arte our Lady Venus braue in Sea a glimsinge Starre VVho thee Achilles did bringe foorthe a very Mars in VVarre And Captaine good vnto the Greekes thy glorie scales the skyes To thee did thy redheaded VVife cause Pirrhus rough to rise The Troians vtter ouerthrowe but staie to Greekishe hoste Be
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
to condemne him and brought the people in suspection that he had donne that Murther Then how Thisbe fledde from Athens with a Louer of hers whiche was a Merchant of Naucratia Laste of al he rehersed how that he with Anticles sailed into Egypte to séeke Thisbe that if by happe they coulde finde her they woulde bringe her backe to Athens and deliuer his Father from that slaunder and take reuenge of her and after he had fallen into diuerse mishappes by the waie at length he was taken by Pyrates then after he had escaped by a meane he arriued againe in Egypt and was taken of the Heardmen and there fell acquainted with Theagenes and Cariclia And thereto he added Thisbes deathe and other thinges in order vntil he came to that whiche Calasiris and Nausicles knewe well yenough This tale ended Nausicles had sixe hundred thoughtes in his minde sometime thinkinge to tell them of Thisbe and him selfe and yet determininge to deferre it a while At last with muche adoo he helde his tongue partly for that he thought it beste so to doo partely also for that an other chaunce stayed him For after they had gonne about seuen miles and a halfe were almoste at the towne where Mytranes dwelled they mette one whom Nausicles knewe well and asked him whither he weÌ„t so faste Doo you aske ê™ he whither I goe Nausicles as though you knewe not what I haue to doo at this time all that I doo tendeth to one ende to doo the commandementes of Isias of Chemmis For her I till my Lande for her I séeke and prouide all thinges for her I wake night and daie refusinge nothinge although thereby I gayne nothinge but griefe and sorrow for my paines that the same Isias commaundeth me and I am in haste to carry this birde Phoenicopterus whiche vseth aboute Nylus as my déere Mistris hath bidden me O howe easie a Louer haue you gotten saide Nausicles and howe light be her commaundementes in that shée badde you gette her a Phoenicopterus and not rather a Phoenix it selfe whiche Byrde commeth to vs euen from the Ethiopians and men of Inde Shée ê™ he againe maketh but a ieste of me and my trauelles but tell me now whither and where aboutes you goe When they had tolde him to Mytranes You loose your labour ê™ he for Mytranes is not here nowe but this night with his Armie is gonne againste Heardemen the inhabitantes of Bessa For they with their Capitaine Thiamis haue taken away kéept a yongeman whiche he sente to Memphis to Oroondates From thence to be carried to the greate Kinge for a present When he had sayde thus he wente his waie sayinge I muste in haste to Isias who euen nowe perhappes with her angry eies looketh aboute for me least this longe tariynge be any impediment to me in my Loue for shée is too politike to accuse and finde faulte with me without cause When they hearde this they were amased and stoode still a great while without saying any woorde for that they were disappointed contrary to their exspectation vntill at length Nausicles coÌ„forted and chéered them sayinge that they ought not for beinge a little disappointed whiche shall not be longe to dispayre of al that they haue in hande But now it is best to returne to Chemmis and there to consulte of the matter and goe to séeke Theagenes with better prouision whether he be with the Heardmen or els wheresoeuer and to haue good comforte to finde him euery where For wée maie not thinke this is donne without the prouidence of God that wée mette with one of our acquaintance who by that he tolde vs hath ledde vs as it were by the hande thither where wée maie séeke Theagenes and hath taught vs the waie to the place where the Heardmen dwell as to a certaine place of spéede When he had saide this he easily perswaded theÌ„ for as I thinke they gathered a farther hope by that whiche was tolde them And Cnemon also by him selfe comforted Calasiris and badde him be of good chéere for that Thiamis woulde vse Theagenes well So it pleased them to returne when they were come home they fouÌ„de Cariclia in the doore lookinge for them into euery coaste who seinge not Theagenes with them tooke vp a pitifull crie saide Are you comme home alone as yée wente hence Father Without doubte as I may gheasse Theagenes is deade Wherefore I pray you by al the Goddes if you haue any thinge to saie tell me and increase not my sorrowe with prolonginge the rehersall thereof Surely it is a pointe of curtesie to tell a mishappe quickly as that which causeth the minde to be ready to resist the greatnesse of the euill and soone maketh it weary of the griefe Then Cnemon with much adoo breakinge of her sorrow saide for shame Cariclia what fascion is this you are alwaies ready in a manner to iudge the woorste but that falsely in whiche pointe you doo well For Theagenes is and by grace of the Goddes shall be well and therewith he tolde her briefly how and with whome To that sayde Calasiris it séemeth by this that you haue saide Cnemon that you were neuer in Loue for then shoulde you know for certaintie that thinges wherein is no daunger at all are fearefull to Louers and they truste nothinge but theire owne cies in that whiche they beste like and would fainest haue the absence of whiche bréedeth feare and heaninesse in the hartes that be entangled with such desire Another cause is that either moste déere to other haue perswaded them selues that they will neuer be parted except some great impediment procure their seperation Wherefore Cnemon wée pardon Cariclia who loueth perfectly in déede and lette vs goe in and consulte of that wée haue to doo This saide he tooke Cariclia by the hand and with a certaine Fatherly obseruaunce he brought her into the house Nausicles willinge to refreshe them after their cares and also goinge aboute somme other thinge ordeined a more sumptuous Banquette then he was wonte to doo placed them alone with his Daughter deckinge her in more braue and costly sorte then before And after they were well suffised with the feaste as he thought he spake thus to them My gheastes the Goddes are witnesses of that I saie your presence is very acceptable to me if you would liue here alwaies and take all that is mine though I estéeme it neuer so well for your owne And for as muche as I accoumpt you no Straungers but as my Louers and trewe Friendes henceforwarde it shall be no burthen that I bestowe vpon you And also I will be ready as longe as I tarry with you to craue of my friendes to doo for you what so euer they can in all matters But you your selues know that my trade of life standeth by Merchaundise and this I vse and practise as if it were a Farme Now therfore seinge that the Easterly windes blowe
prepared for vs The God that hathe charge of me hath me nowe alone and without my Husbande Alas wretch that I am I meane him that by name onely is my Husbande Cnemon daunceth and is married Theagenes is abroade and perhappes a Prisoner and in Holde and if he be aliue Fortune is sommewhat gentle Nausiclia hathe a Husbande and is seperated from me who vntill this nighte laste paste laie with me onely Cariclia is alone and forsaken of al. I am not for al this offended with her Fortune ô ye Goddes and Heauenly Powers but praie that they maie haue their hartes desire but at our Fortune that ye be not so fauourable vnto vs as to them You haue drawen our acte of suche a lengthe as it now passeth al sense But why doo I complaine of the miseries which the Gods sende vs let the rest also be fulfilled vntil they be pleased But ô Theagenes ô care onely pleasante to me if thou be dead I heare thereof which God grante I neuer doo I wil deferre no time to be with thée for this time I offer this Funerals to thée therewithal shée pulled of her Heare laied it on her bedde poure out these Libations out of y e eies which thou louest so déerely then shee moysted her Bed with her teares But if thou be wel as thou of good righte oughtest to be come sléepe with me appearinge to me in thy shape yet spare me spare me thine owne Mayde I saie and vse me not after the guise of married folkes and haue not to doo with me no not in my sléepe beholde I imbrace thée and thinke that thou arte here and lookest vpon mée And as shée had spoken thus shée caste her selfe grouelinge on her Bedde and sore sighinge and pitifully mourninge shée clasped her armes harde togeather vntil a certaine amasednesse and dazeling caste as it were a miste before her vnderstandinge parte of the minde and brought her asléepe and helde her til it was lighte daie Wherfore Calasiris marueiled that he saw her not as he was woont to doo in searchinge for her came to her Chamber where knockinge sommewhat harde and callinge alowde Cariclia waked her at lengthe Shée was abasshed at that suddaine calle and came as shée was attyred and vnbolted the doore to lette in the Olde man Who séeinge her Heare disordered and her Garmentes cutte before her breaste with her eies ful of water vnderstoode the cause and when he had broughte her to her Bedde againe and had caused her to attyre her selfe cast a Cloke vpoÌ„ her he saide for shame Cariclia what arraye is this why doo you vexe your selfe so sore without ceasing why yéelde you to all chaunces without reason Surely nowe I knowe you not whom till nowe I euer knewe to be of excellente courage and very modest Wil not you leaue of from this woonderful madnesse Wil you not thinke that you are borne mortal that is to saie an vnsteadye thinge bendinge for euery light occasion sundrie waies Haue pitie on vs my Daughter I saie haue pitie if not for your own sake yet for Theagenes cause who desireth to liue with none but you and accoumpteth it a vantage that you are aliue Cariclia blusshed when shée hearde him speake thus and after shée had held her peace a great while and Calasiris desired her to geue him somme answeare shée saide Father you haue good cause to chide but perhappes I deserue pardon for neither any common or straunge desire hathe forced me vnhappy Creature to doo this but pure aud chaste Loue that I beare to a man although he neuer touched me y t is Theagenes who maketh me thus sadde because he is not here with me I am the more afraide also for that I caÌ„not knowe whether he be aliue or not As touchinge this matter saide Calasiris be of good chéere and thinke that he is aliue and one whom the Goddes haue appointed to liue with you if wée muste geue any credite to that whiche the Oracle hath foreshewed vs. Wée muste also beléeue him who tolde vs yesterdaie that Thyamis tooke him prysoner as he was carried towarde Memphis and if he be taken without doubte he is wel for as muche as there hath benne acquaintaunce and familiaritie betwixte theÌ„ before Wherefore wée ought not to staie but goe to Bessa and séeke you for Theagenes and I for my Sonne for you haue heard ere now that Thyamis is my Sonne Then was Cariclia in great thought and saide If Thyamis be your Sonne in déede then are wée in woorse case then euer wée were Calasiris marueiled hereat and asked her why You know ê™ shee howe I became prisoner to the Heardmen where the vnhappy bewty with whiche I am indewed forced Thyamis to Loue me and it is to be feared least if he finde vs as we make inquiry and sée me remembringe that I am shée who dalied and draue of with diuerse disceiptfull promises the Mariage whiche he meante to make with me that he wil take me and by force compell me to finishe the same God defende sayde Calasiris that the vehemency of his luste should be suche that the same should disdaine his Fathers countenaunce and not represse his licencious desire if any such moue him But for all that why cannot you inuent some deuise to delude that whiche you stande so in doubte of for you are very diligent and crafty also to make shiftes and delaies against them that séeke to haue you Cariclia was sommewhat mery with these woordes and answeared whether you speake this in earnest or in ieste lette it passe for this time But I will tell you the waye that Theagenes and I deuised but Fortune woulde not let vs put it in practise because it was very good For when necessitie forced vs to leaue the Iland of y e Heardmen it pleased vs to change our apparell and wander aboute in the Villages and good Townes ragged like beggers Wherfore if it please you lette vs counterfeite this habite and playe the beggers so shall wée not be so muche in daunger of those who would our harme For in suche a case by pouerty wée shalbe more safe for commonly it is rather pittied then enuied and thus shal wée gette our dayly sustenaunce more easily For al thinges are more déerely solde to Straungers whiche haue néede to buie and knowe not the manner of the Country but will be fréely geuen to suche as begge Calasiris praised her deuise made haste to be gonne therefore the nexte day after they came to Nausicles and Cnemon and tolde them when thy were determined to departe thei set forwarde but tooke no Horse with them though one were profered them nor suffered any man to beare them company saue that Nausicles and Cnemon and the reste of the house broughte them on theire waye Nausiclia also wente with them crauinge so muche of her Father for that the Loue shée bare to Cariclia was more then
Battaile at Bessa Then Thyamis commaunded his Souldiers at a parte of the walle to laye aside their Armoure and after their continuall trauell to take some ease and he determined to laie siege to the Cittie The Townes menne whiche were before afrayde of a great Army when they sawe there were so fewe from the walles dispisinge thē by and by gathered the fewe Archers and Horsemenne whiche were lefte in Garrison in the Towne and the reste of the Citizens also tooke suche weapons as came to their handes and determined to goe foorthe fight with them againste the will of a wise and noble man in the Towne who saide that although it happened the deputy to be at the Warre in Ethiopia yet the matter ought to be brought before Arsace his wife that the Souldiers whiche were in the Cittie might be the rediar to defende the same And because he séemed to speake well they wente all to the Kinges Pallaice wherein the Deputies lodge in the Kinges absence Arsace was a bewtifull woman and of tale stature singuler wisedome to doo any thinge and of a stoute stomake for the Noblenesse of her birthe as is like would be in her that is Sister to the great Kinge yet for her vnlawful and dissolute luste shée was not without reprehension and blame And beside other factes shée was in a manner parte of the cause of Thyamis bannishmente when he was constrained to forsake Memphis For presently after Calasiris wente priuily from Memphis for that whiche was tolde him by the Goddes of his Sonnes and coulde not be founde so that it was thought he was deade Thyamis as his elder Sonne was called to the Office of Priesthoode and as he was dooinge sacrifice publikely at his first entry into Isis Churche Arsace seinge him to be a proper yongue man and of good age for that he was the handsomest man in that company best attyred caste many wanton lookes and dishonest countenaunces at him Whiche Thyamis regarded no whitte bothe for that he was of nature very honest and well instructed from a childe and perhappes that whiche shée did was further fetched then that he perceiued it or he thought perhappes shée did it for some other pourpose for that he was altogeather busted aboute his Sacrifices But his brother Petosiris who before enuied that his Brother shoulde be Prieste and had wel marked Arsaces allurementes tooke her vnlawful intisementes for a good occasion to endamage his Brother Wherefore he came to Oroondates secretely and tolde him not onely her desire but that Thyamis also had made the matche with her adding that very falsely He suffered him selfe easily to be perswaded for suspition that he had conceiued of Arsace yet he molested her not either for that he could not manifestly conuince her or els thought it beste to conceale and wincke at it for reuerence and honour that he bare to the Bloud Royall But he tolde Thyamis plainely neuer ceased to threaten to kill him vntill he put him to exile and placed his Brother Petosiris in his roume but this was donne before At that time when the whole multitude came on heapes to her house and certified her of the comminge of theyr enemies and besought her that shée woulde géeue commaundement that the Souldiers should be in a readinesse answeared that shée would not lightly so doo for because shée knewe not of what force her enimies were nor what they were nor whence they came nor for what occasion It was therefore beste firste to goe on the walles and sée all their ordinaunces and then prouide such thinges as shalbe thought cōuenient They thought shée saide wel and wente euery man to the walles there by Arsaces commaundement was a tente of purple silke garnished with Golde pitched and shée her selfe very costly arrayed came and satte in a hie seate with her Garde about her glisteringe in gilte armoure shée helde out her Mace in token of a peaceable Parlamente and commaūded the Captaines of their enimies to approche neare to the Walles After Theagenes and Thyamis elected of the Army came all armed saue theire heades and stoode vnder the wall the Heraulte at Armes saide vnto them Arsace wife of Oroondates chiefe Deputie and Sister to the greate Kinge asketh what you are what your meaninge is and wherefore you are so bolde to comme hither They answeared that they were of Bessa but of him selfe spake Thiamis what he was and that wronged his Brother Petosiris and Oroondates and depriued craftily of his Priestehoode was broughte to be restoared againe by the Bessians and if he mighte recouer the Priestes Office then shoulde it be Peace and the people of Bessa returne home againe without any more harme dooinge If not he meante to committe the matter to the iudgemente of Warre and force of Armes and that Arsace had good cause if shée remembred that whiche was paste to take reuenge of Petosiris for the falsehedde he practised againste her and the vntrue occasions that he laied againste her to Oroondates whereby he broughte her into suspition of vile and vnlawful dealinge with her Husbande and caused him to be bannished by his subtile and craftie meanes All the Cittie of Memphis was troubled with these woordes When they knewe Thiamis and the cause of his bannishmente whiche when he was bannished none of them knewe and denied al that he had saide to be trewe but Arsace of al other was moste troubled so that a whole storme of thoughtes in a manner ouerwhelmed her for shée was soare incensed againste Petosiris and callinge to minde that whiche was paste deuised with her selfe howe shée mighte be reuenged Then beholdinge Thiamis and after him Theagenes was diuersly affected to them both to the one by callinge to minde her olde loue but in the other shée founde occasion of newe and that more earnest loue so that those that stoode by her mighte wel perceiue the troublesome carefulnesse of her minde yet for al this when shée had pawsed a while and came to her selfe not muche vnlike one who is recouered of the Holy Euil shée saide thus Good menne surely you were not wel deuised to take this Warre in hande for you haue nowe brought as well al the people of Bessa as also your selues beinge youthfull yonge menne and therewithall bewtifull of good parentage as may be gheassed into apparent perill for the Théeues quarrell in as muche as if wée woulde fight with you you were not hable to sustaine the firste assaulte of our force For the greate Kinges estate is not brought to so lowe an ebbe but that you may be inclosed of the leauinges of the Army which is behinde him in the Cittie though the Deputie him selfe be away but in mine opinion the whole powers on bothe sides néede not to be troubled and it is better seinge that the quarrell is priuate and not common that it be priuately ended and so be finished as the Goddes shal appointe
and make accoumpte of her as Mother to you bothe and be contente with her entertainemente Thus muche saide he and Theagenes did so either for that he was ouerwhelmed with the skorne of those thinges which happed to him contrary to his hope or els for that in suche cause he was contente to take any lodginge in good parte I thinke he would haue taken héede to him selfe if he had suspected what tragicall and intollerable thinges that lodginge woulde haue procured them to their great harme But then the Fortune whiche gouerned their affayres when it had refreshed them well a fewe howers and geuen them leaue to be merry one daie suddainely ioyued thereto heauy and terrible thinges and brought them into their enimies hande in manner as if they shoulde haue yéelded them selues to be bounde Makinge them prysoners vnder colour of courteous intertainement without any knowledge of that whiche shoulde happe to them afterwarde Suche folly and in manner blindnesse dothe the wanderinge life caste before theire eies who trauell through straunge and vnknowen Countries When they came vnto the Deputies house and wente through the sumptuous entries whiche were greater higher then might beséeme any priuate mans estate furnished with the Princes garde and the other Courtly route the whole Pallaice woondred and was troubled seinge theire present Fortune so farre to excell Yet for al that they followed Cibele who comforted them many waies and badde them be of good chéere promised that they should haue excellente good lucke At length when shée had brought them into a parlour wherein dwelt an olde woomen whiche was farre from the noise of the Courte sittinge by them alone without more company saide thus my Children I knowe that you take this griefe and sorrowe wherein you be nowe of the deathe of the Prieste Calasiris whom for good cause you honoured as your Father Mary it is requisite that beside this you tell me what you be and of whence for that you be Grecians I vnderstande and it may appeare also by that whiche is in you that you be of good Parentage for so comely countenaunce and elegant bewty is a manifest token of hie bloude but I pray you tell me of what Country in Greece and Cittie you be and how you happened to trauell hither for that I desire to heare the same for your commoditie and may certifie my Mistresse Arsace therof also who is Sister of the greate Kinge and wife of Oroondates chiefe Deputie a Louer of Greekes al handsomnesse and very liberall to straungers to the intent you may come into her sight in suche Honorable sorte as your estate shal require You shal tel it to a wooman who is not vtterly your enimie for I my selfe am a Grecian borne in Lesbos surnamed of the Cittie wherein I was borne brought hither Captiue yet haue I had better Fortune here then in mine owne Countrie For I serue my Mistresse in all matters so that without me shée doth nothinge but breathe and liue I am her minde I am her eares to be shorte I am all to bringe her acquainted with good and honest menne Theagenes comparinge that whiche Cibele saide with that whiche Arsace did the daie before and thinkinge howe wantonly with steady eies continually shée behelde him so that her beckes declared scante a chaste minde whereby he gathered small good would ensewe and now beinge ready to saie somewhat to the Olde wooman Cariclia saide softely to him in his eare in your talke remember your Sister I praie After he perceiued what shée meante by that shée saide to him he gaue suche answeare Mother you know that we be Greekes already Then knowe this further that wée be Brother and Sister who takinge our viage to séeke our Parentes taken prisoners by Pyrates haue had woorse lucke then they by fallinge into crueller mens handes Whereafter wée were robbed of all our ritches which was muche scante wée escapinge with our liues by the good will of God mette with the noble Calasiris came with him hither in minde to passe y e reste of our life here but now are as ye sée foresaken of al men lefte quite alone haue loste him who séemed was in déede a Father to vs with our other Parentes suche is our estate As for the courteous and gentle entertainement whiche wée haue at your hande wée geue you therfore very harty thankes and you shal doo vs more pleasure if you procure vs a dwellinge alone from other company deferringe the courtesie whereof you talked But now that is to acquainte vs with Arsace and neuer bringe a straunge bannished and restlesse life into so excellente hie Fortune for you knowe wel yenoughe that friendshippe and acquaintaunce ought to be betwéene suche as are of one condition When he had saide thus Cibele coulde not rule her selfe but gaue manifest tokens by the chéerefulnesse of her countenaunce that shée was very gladde to heare the names of Brother and Sister thinkinge then surely that Cariclia should be no impediment to Arsaces disportes and saide O bewtiful yonge man you wil not saie thus of Arsace when you haue tried her fashions for shée is conformable to al Fortune and is readier to healpe them who vnwoorthy to theire estate haue had mishappe And althoughe shée be a Persian yet in her nature shée imitateth the Greekes much reioicinge in those who comme from thence and is woonderfully delighted with their companye and manners Wherefore be you of good chéere for that you shal be adourned with al honoure that maie happen to a man and youre Sister shalbe of her familiare and neare acquaintaunce but I muste tel her too what be your names After shée had hearde them saie Theagenes and Cariclia shée badde them tarry there a while and shée ranne to Arsace geuinge charge to the doore kéeper which also was an Olde woman that shée shoulde let no man comme in nor suffer the yonge folkes to goe any whither abroade no said shée not if your Sonne Achamenes comme for he wente out a litle while after you were gonne to the Churche to dresse his eie whiche yet is sommewhat soare No ê™ shée not if he comme but locke the doore and kéeping the Baye with you saie I haue carried it awaie And so it happened For Cibele was scante gonne foorthe so soone as that they beinge alone ministred to Theagenes and Cariclia good time to lamente and remember their olde ill happes so that they both in manner with one minde yea and almoste with the same woordes bewayled eche other oft cried shée ô Theagenes ô Cariclia oft saide he What Fortune haue wée ê™ he In what case are wée saide shee And at euery woorde they imbraced ehch other and when they had wepte a while then fel they to kissinge againe Laste of al when they thoughte vpon Calasiris they bewayled him with teares but espectally Cariclia because by longer space of time shée had tried his loue and
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
willingly because whither you wil or not they shal be taken from you and I will credite Achemenes To Euphrates chiefe Eunuche at Memphis he wrote thus Of the negligent ordering of my house you shal hereafter giue accompt At this time deliuer to Bagoas the twoo Grecian Prisoners to be brought to me whither Arsace be content therewith or not without excuse lette them be deliuered els knowe that I haue commaunded to bringe thée also in bondes that thou maiest be put out of thine office Bagoas wente aboute his businesse had his Letters sealed with the Deputies one Signet that those who were at Memphis shoulde the better credite them and deliuer to him the yonge folkes Oroondates also wente him selfe to warre againste the Ethiopians Achemenes was commaunded to folowe him too and certaine menne were priuily sette to kéepe him he thinkinge nothing lesse vntil that was proued trewe which he had shewed him And at this time these thinges were donne at Memphis Presently after Achemenes was gonne and Thiamis was full Prieste and therefore the chiefe of that Cittie and had perfourmed what so euer appertained to the burial of Calasiris within the appointed daies he remembred to make enquiry after Theagenes and Cariclia because nowe it was lawfull for the Priestes by theire owne ordinaunces to deale with Straungers After he had made diligent searche euery where for them he hearde that they were lodged in the Princes Courte wherefore he 〈◊〉 to Arsace in haste and asked for them as though for many causes they appertained to him but especially for that his Father Calasiris with the laste woordes he spake commaunded him to prouide for their liuinge defend them from wronge And that he gaue her thankes for so curteously intertaininge them those few daies wherein it was not lawfull for any but suche as were in orders to be in the Church Mary nowe he desired to haue them him selfe againe Arsace answeared him thus I maruaile that for all you with your owne woordes commended vs for our humanitie and gentlenesse that yée wil condemne vs straight againe of discurtesie and inciuilitie whilest you would haue vs séeme that either wée can not or wil not prouide for straungers and doo for them as reason shall require I meane not so saide Thiamis for I know that they shal fare better here with you then at my house if thei would abide but seinge they be of good Parentage and haue benne diuersly tormented with Fortune and presently are from their Natiue Countrie they care for nothinge so muche as to recouer their Friendes and gette home againe Wherein that I should healpe them my Father hath leafte me his heire who haue also beside this further causes of amitie with them You doo wel saide Arsace that you leaue brawlinge and pleade equitie which shal be so muche the more on our side by howe muche to Rule is of greater force then fondely to prouide for Thiamis wondred at this and saide haue you rule ouer them how I praie you By martiall Lawe ê™ she which maketh prisoners bonde seruantes Then perceiued Thiamis that shée spake of Mytranes and saide But there is no Warre Arsace but Peace at this time The propertie in déede of the one bringeth into Bondage but the other maketh frée The one is a Tyrannous wil the other a Princely decrée At a woorde Warre and Peace ought not to be scanned by theire names but by the meaninge and intente of those who haue to doo therein Wherfore you shal make a better definition of Equitie if you consente to this So shal neither honesty nor profitablenesse come in question For what honesty is it for you or what gaine to saie vnreasonably that you wil withhold from me these straungers Arsace could rule her selfe no longer but that chaunced vnto her whiche is common to all Louers so longe as they thinke they are not spied they blushe but when they are perceiued they are paste all shame The secrete Louer is not very hasty but he that is taken with the manner is made more bolde As her guilty minde accused her who thinkinge that Thiamis suspected sommewhat set not a Rushe by the Prieste nor the Honoure of his Priestehoode but castinge of all woomanly shamefastnesse saide You shal not be pardoned neither for that you did to Mytranes but there wil be a time when Oroondates wil take reuenge of them who â—lewe him and those also who were with them As for these I wil not parte with them who presently are my seruanntes and within a shorte space muste be sente to my Brother the greate Kinge accordinge to the Persian custome Wherefore plaie the Oratour as longe as ye liste and define Iustice Honesty and Vtilitie you loose your labour because he who hath power ouer an other néedeth none of these but measureth eche of them as he thinketh good and gette you straight out of our Courte and that willingly leaste if you deale vnaduisedly you be forced to departe spite of your Téeth Then wente Thiamis a waie callinge the Goddes to witnesse saide nothinge els but that these thinges woulde not come to good ende yet he thought to tell this to the Cittie and craue the ayde thereof herein When Arsace had saide I care not for your Office for Loue careth onely for that whiche maye healpe to geite that it desireth shée wente into her chamber whither sendinge for Cibele shée deuised of that they had to doo For by this time shée began to suspect that Achemenes was gonne to Oroondates because he came not into sight And Cibele if at any time shée asked for him made diuerse and sundry excuses to perswade her any thinge rather then that he was gonne to Oroondates for al that shée was not beleued alwaies but nowe for the continuaunce of time shée loste her credite quite Then spake Arsace and saide Cibele what shal wée now doo what waie maie be deuised to ridde me out of all these perilles that I am in my Loue relenteth no whitte but is rather greater and greater as though the yonge man by his obstinatenesse gaue me occasion thereof who is cruel and wil not be ruled and was more gentell before then nowe then he comforted me with fayre promises but now he openly refuseth to doo any request and I am grieued the more for feare least he haue hearde of Achemenes that whiche I suspect and therefore is the rather afrayde to doo it Surely Achemenes angreth me aboue all other thinges who is gonne to Oroondates and is like either to perswade him or els tell him a woonderful tale But lette me onely sée Oroondates I know he will not be hable to abide one flatteringe welcome or the least teare of Arsaces cies For woomens eies and such as dwel in one house togeather be of great force to perswade menne But this grieueth me moste if happely I be accused yea and punished before I haue reioyced Theagenes if Oroondates heare
that whiche séemed to be drie at the toppe there was muche wetnesse whiche as well deceiued men as Horses So they passed their time twoo or thrée daies and in token of peace the people of Siene sette open their gates and the Aethiopians laide a side theire Armoure And so was there a truce yet came they not togeather neither was there kepte watche and warde with either of them But they that were in the Cittie gaue them selues to pastime pleasure for then it hapned that the hiest feast that the Egyptians haue fel which is kept holy aboute midsomer at what time the Floudde encreasde and it is honoured more then al other for this cause The Egyptians faine Nylus to be a God and the greatest of al ▪ Gods equal to Heauē because he watereth their Countrie without Clowdes or Raine that commeth out of the Apre and thus dothe he euery yéere without faile as wel as if it shoulde raine And this is the common sortes opinion But the cause why they gaue him so Diuine honoure is because they thinke that the mixture of moyste and drie is the especial cause of the beginninge and continuaunce of mannes life as for the other Elementes they depende vpon these and are where so euer these be and they deeme that moisture procéedeth from Nylus and driues from the Earthe but this euery man knoweth also Mary their Diuines saie that the Earthe is Isis and Nylus Osiris geuinge to either a newe name Therefore the Goddesse is very desirous of his companie and reioiseth when he is with her but lowreth when he is absent as if some vnhappy blaste by lightninge had touched her This tale haue the skilful men in Natures secretes diuised because as I thinke they woulde not make prophane personnes priuie of the secresies conteined therein but they instructe those that are desirous to knowe these priuities in their vestery by Candell lighte And lette this suffise to be spoken at this time by the leaue of the Gods as for the greate secretes they shall not be reueled for reuerence sake Nowe let vs procéede with that whiche was donne aboute Siene orderly When the feast of Nylus was come the inhabitantes fel to killing of Beastes and to doo Sacrifice and for al that their bodies were busied with theire presente perilles yet theire mindes as muche as they might were godly disposed Oroondates waytinge his time when the Sienians were faste a sléepe after theire feastinge conueyed his Army priuily out for he had secretely geuen the Persians warninge before at what howre and whiche gate he woulde goe foorthe Euery decurion was charged to leaue all their Horses and other Cattell behinde that they mighte not trouble them in their way nor make a noyse whereby that they did should be discouered but euery man to take his Armoure and a Boorde or Planke vnder his arme When they were comme togeather as he had commaunded he caste the boordes that euery man carried ouerthwart the Ose and laide them in suche sorte that one touched another and so conducted ouer his Army with little paine and great spéede as if there had benne a bridge for that they who came after deliuered theire boordes to them that wente before When he came to lande he went priuily by the Aethiopians who suspected nothinge lesse nor kepte watche any longer but sleapte soundly as fast as his breathe woulde geue him leaue wente to Eliphantina and was lette in by by for that the twoo Persians whiche were sente from Siene as was appointed wayted for his comminge euery nighte and when they hearde theire watche woorde they sette open the gates When it was daye the people of Siene firste knew of this escape suspectinge the same for that euery man missed the Persian that was Lodged in his house and coulde not heare of them and by the bridge whiche they sawe before the Towne Then was the Cittie in great feare againe and looked for grieuous punishment for this seconde iniury because they had shewed them selues so vnfaithfull to let the Persians escape after they had founde suche clemency at the Aethiopians handes Wherefore they determined euery man to goe out of the Cittie and yéelde them selues to the Aethiopians and by Othe to confirme their ignoraunce if happely they may mooue them to pitie When all of euery age were come togeather and had taken bowes in their handes to declare their lowlinesse and humilitie and with Tapers burninge carried all their Goddes and holy Images in tooken of peace were come ouer that brydge to the Aethiopians they fell vpon their knées and sate a farre of gaue all at once a sorrowfull lamentable crie crauinge in humble sorte the forgeuenesse of their offence and to obteine it the rather they laied their Infantes before them sufferinge them to goe whither they woulde so asswaginge the wrathe of the Aethiopians with their age whiche was without suspition and blame Those children for feare ranne from theire Parentes and Nources with a woonderful crie somme crepte in the waie whiche wente towarde the Aethiopians Hoste other laie and cried whiche coulde not speake perfitely and would haue made any man to take compassion vpon them because Fortune euen in them printed out an humble estate When Hidaspes sawe this he thoughte that they craued mercye in more earnest sorte then they did before and therefore sente one to knowe what they woulde haue and howe it happened that they ranne out alone and not the Persians with them They tolde him all the Persians Flight their Innocency the Hie Feaste of the Coūtrie and howe that they priuily slipte awaie while they were busie in the seruice of their God and when thei had banqueted and were fallen asléepe Whereas perhappes if they had sente them without Armour they shoulde not haue ben hable to haue staied them beinge armed When Hidaspes hearde this he suspected as the trothe was in déede that Oroondates would doo sommewhat to entrap and hurte him Wherfore he sent onely for the Priestes when he had woorshipped the Goddes of greatest price he asked them if they coulde infourme him of any thinge that they meante to doo and whither they were gonne and where in was their greatest truste They answeared that they knewe nothinge certainely mary they déemed that he was gonne to Eliphantina where the chiefe strengthe of his Armye laie and that Oroondates beste truste was in his Barde Horses When they had saide thus thei desired him to goe into y e Towne as his owne and to take from them all his displeasure But Hidaspes would not enter into it at that time yet he sente thither twoo Troupes of Armed men to sée whether there were any guile as he suspected if not that they shoulde be a Garrison to defende the Cittie this donne he sent away the people of Siene with gentle promises and went him selfe forwarde with his Army either to receiue the Persians if they set vpon him or if they would
he is ouercomme with liberalitie But what was the matter that you were so false I was false to you answeared he but trewe to mine owne Prince Then ê™ Hidaspes what pounishmente thinke you that you haue deserued seing that you are ouercome Suche as my Prince oughte to take ê™ he of any of your Captaines that had kepte their allegeance to you Truly saide he he woulde commende him and sende him awaie highly rewarded if he be a true Kinge and not a Tyrante and is desirous that other men by his example shoulde doo the like But Sir saide Hidaspes you saie that you be faithful but will not confesse that you plaied the foole in aduenturinge to matche so many score thousandes He answeared I did not foolishly perhaps seinge I considered my Princes nature who doth more pounish the cowardly Souldier then rewarde the valiaunt man I determined therfore to ioine with you doo some woonderful thinge contrary to the opinion of men as the like occasion of well doinge dothe oft happen in warre or if I hapned to escape that I might haue a good excuse because I remitted nothinge that I ought to haue donne When Hidaspes hearde him saye thus he praysed him greatly and sente him to Siene and gaue the Chirurgians charge to looke very well to him Him selfe also entred the Towne with certaine picked men of his Armie and all the menne of what sorte or age soeuer they were of the Cittie mette him and caste vpon him his Armie Garlandes and Flowers suche as grewe aboute Nylus and commended him greately for his notable Victory As soone as he came into the Towne ridinge vpon an Elephant in stéede of a Charriot he busied his minde aboute the seruice of the Goddes and sacred thinges and asked of the Driginall of the feastes of Nylus and if they could she we him any straunge thinge woorthy to be looked on They shewed him a déepe well whiche shewed the manner of Nylus like vnto that at Memphis made of hewed frée stoone wherein were lines drawen an ell one from an other into the whiche the water of Nilus brought vnder the earthe by a springe and fallinge into these lines declareth to the Inhabitauntes the Ebbes and Fluddes of Nylus by the number of the Figures whiche bare or couered doo plainely tell the risinge and fallinge of the water thereof They shewed him also the strykes of Dialles whiche made no shadowe because the Sunne aboute Midsomer at Siene goinge directly ouer the pointe thereof geueth no shadowe and by the like reason it shineth vpon the water whiche is in the bottome of theire welles Hidaspes maruailed not at this as a thinge straunge to him for he sawe the like at Meroe but when they talked of theire feaste and praysed Nylus woonderfully callinge him the summe and Author of al fruitefulnesse the vpholder of the vpper Egypte and Father and maker of y e inferiour which bringeth euery yéere a newe inued thether whereof the Grecians call it Nylus and telleth them the course of the yéere by flowing in Sommer and ebbinge in Autume and the Flowres whiche growe in it in the spring time and the broode of the Crocodiles and saide that Nilus was nothinge els but the yéere Whiche opinion also the name approued for if you deuide the Letters contained therein into vnities if thei be put togeather will make thrée hundred sixtie and fiue and so many there be daies in the yéere To be shorte when they added thereunto y e properties of the flowers and beastes that bréede thereaboute Hidaspes saide This tale doth not only belonge to Egypte but Aethiopia also And séeing that Aethiopia bringeth this Floud to you whether it be a God as you thinke or a mingle mangle of al other Flouddes you haue good cause to honour that whiche is the Mother of your God Wée doo so saide the Priestes as wel for other causes as that it hath geuen vs a preseruour and a God When Hidaspes tolde them that they ought to prayse reasonably he entred into Siene and solaced him selfe in the other parte of the daye in Banquetinge with the chiefe Lordes of Aethiopia and the Priestes of Siene he gaue leaue to his Army to doo so too There were great heardes of beastes flockes of Shéepe many Goates and Swine whereof the Sienians gaue some to the Armie and some they solde The next daie after Hidaspes sittinge in his Royall Throne deuided to his Army the Cattel Horses and al the other booty as well that whiche he had in the Towne as that he wonne in the fielde accordinge as euery man had deserued When he was come to him that tooke Oroondates Hidaspes saide to him aske what thon wilte for thy labour He answeared I néede aske nothinge ô Kinge but will be contente with that I haue if you be pleased there with whiche I tooke from Oroondates and saued him according to your commaundement and therewith shewed him the Deputies Dagger sette with pretious stoanes of great valewe and woonderful much woorthe so that somme of those that stoode by cried out it was too muche for a pryuate man and a Iewell more fitte for the Kinge Thereat Hidaspes smiled a litle and saide what can be more méete for a Kinge then that I shoulde be of suche courage of minde that I am not mooued with his couetousnesse but despise the same beside the Lawe of Armes geueth the victor leaue to take what so euer he findeth aboute his prysoners body wherefore wée geue him leaue to kéepe that whiche he might haue concealed and wée neuer the wiser After him came they who tooke Theagenes and Cariclia and saide ô Kinge our booty is not Golde nor precious stoanes whiche is little woorthe in Aethiopia are caste aboute by heapes in the Kinges Palaice but wée bringe you a yonge Man and a Mayde Brother and Sister borne in Greece whiche except your grace are the talest and fayrest Creatures in the world wherefore wée craue that wée may be partakers also of your large liberality and bounty well remembred saide Hidaspes for when you brought them to me then I looked vpon them sleightly wherefore let some man bringe them hither streight and the other prysoners also They were brought out of hande for that one ranne foorthe to the impedimentes without the walles and tolde the kéepers that they shoulde bringe them to the Kinge foorthwith They asked one of their kéepers whole Father was a Greeke whither they should be carried He answered that Kinge Hidaspes would sée them and therewith as soone they hearde Hidaspes named they cried out the Goddes be our comforte because till then they were afraide leaste any other had Reigned Then saide Theagenes softely to Cariclia now my harte you shall tell the Kinge of our affayres séeinge Hidaspes reigneth whom you haue told me oft was your Father Cariclia answeared My déere great businesse must be donne with great circumspectioÌ„ For it is necessary
the Herault asked him whether all shoulde comme togeather or orderly euery Nation by it selfe Lette euery one comme orderly ê™ he that I may honour euery man as he deserues Therefore ê™ the Heraulte shal Meroebus your Brothers Sonne come first who came euen nowe but he tarrieth till the Souldiers that be aboute vs doo make him roume Thou dolte ê™ Hidaspes why diddest not thou tell me of him presently seeing thou knowest that he was no Legate but a King and my Brothers Sonne that deceased but late whom I haue placed in his Throne and by adoption haue made mine owne heyre too All this I knâ—we ô Kinge saide Harmonias but I thought it beste to tarry a time for if a Heraulte haue néede to doo any thinge especially he ought to tarry and waite for opportunitie of time Pardon me therefore I beseche you if I durst not be so bolde as to breake of the pleasant talke that you had with the Quéenes Let him come therefore now saide the Kinge He wente as he was commaunded and came by and by againe with his charge Then came Meroebus a tale proper yonge man at that time comminge to mans estate for he was seuentiene yéeres olde and hier then all other that were there and had a comely crewe of goodly fellowes that wayted vpon him and the Aethiopian Army with greate admiration and reuerence made him ready waie Neither did Hidaspes tarry in his seate but arose to welcome him and imbraced him with a Fatherly affection and sette him beside him and takinge him by the right hande saide My Sonne you come in good time you shall beside celebration of this solemne Sacrifice with me for my Victory be Royally Married For our Goddes and the Founders of our stocke and the other Heauenly personages haue prouided me of a Daughter belike whiche shal be your wife The secresies whereof you shal know hereafter at this time if you haue ought to doo with the people vnder youre dominion tell me Meroebus when he hearde of a wife what for ioye and shame coulde not hide him selfe so in his blacke colour but that men mighte perceiue that he blushed and after he had staied a while he saide thus Father the other Legates that come wil geue you of the beste and most pretious thinges that growe in there Countries but I because you haue ben valiant in Battaile declared your excellente manhoode in noble Exploytes haue thought it good to geue you a like gift hereunto and therfore I geue you a man so wel practised in bloudsheadde and warre that there can none be founde whiche dareth to haue to doo with him in wrastlinge and fighte with plummettes of Leade and in all manner of other exercises so sturdy that no man is hable to withstande his strengthe Therwith he badde the man come foorthe He stepte out and fell downe before Hidaspes and was of suche stature beinge a man of the olde makinge that when he stouped to kisse the Kinges knée he was as highe almoste as those that stoode aboute him This donne he tarried not til he was commaunded but put of his apparel and stoode naked and made a chalenge againste al that woulde come either with weapon or with hande After the Kinge sawe that none woulde come foorth though he had made diuers proclamations he said You shal haue a gifte of vs like youre selfe And then he commaunded to fetche an olde Elephante which was very greate When the beast was broughte he receiued it gladly and the people suddainely fel in a greate laughter beinge wel pleased with the Kinges ciuilitie mary after they had laughed and iested yenough it séemed they were ashamed of their facte After him came the Embassadoures that the Seres sente and brought to him twoo garmentes one Purple and an other White the yarne whereof was spunne of the Spiders that bréede in their Country After these giftes were receiued and they had desired the Kinge that suche of their Countrie men as were condemned in his prison might be deliuered and had obteined their sute the Embassadours of Arabia foelix came and offered to him odoriferous leaues bothe of Oliues Cinamon and other swéete sauours that growe in Arabia woorthe many talentes so that euery place was ful of swéete odours After these came they of Trogloditis and broughte Golde and a couple of Gryphes with Bridles of Golde on their heades Then came the Bleminges which carried bowes and arrowes made of Dragons boanes and saide Wée bringe you ô Kinge such giftes as are not in value equal to the other yet was there good accoumpte made of them as you can saie your selfe at the floudde in Battaile against the Persians They are ê™ Hidaspes more woorth then other of greater price for these are the cause why the other are brought vs and then he badde them tel him what they requested When they desired to haue theire tribute abated he released them of all fourtiene yéeres This donne when all were come that had any Message to doo and were as well or better rewarded then theire giftes deserued Laste there came the Legates of the Axiomitae who paied no tributes but were his Confederates and in League with him wherefore they reioiced with him for his prosperous and luckye viage and broughte him giftes too and emonge other a beaste of woonderful and rare nature as bigge as a Camel whose colour was spotted and vpon his skinne there was like scales his latter parte was very lowe and Lionlike but his shoulders foreféete and breste were far beyonde the proportion of his other members his necke was slender and though the reste of his body was greate yet was his throate very small his heade was in fascion like a Camels heade but it was not paste twise so bigge as the Lybian Ostriches heade wherein he rowled his eies terribly as if there had benne in them somme redde leade His gate was neuer changed but wente not like no beaste either of the earthe or water but he moued his legges on either side bothe at ones so that he moued his right legges and lefte legges not in order nor one after an other but all his halfe body with either of them He was so tame and gentell to be dealte with all by vse that he would be ruled of his kéeper with a litle coarde and rather followe his will then the line he was tied in as soone as the beaste was brought in sight al the people were afraide and suddainely called it of the fascion and principal partes of his body Cameloperdalis and it made a greate araye in al the place aboute the whiche the men stoode For suche a chaunce befell at the Aultare of the Moone stoode twoo Bullockes and at the Aultare of the Sunne foure white Horses to be Sacrificed when the Monstrous and straunge beaste came in sight they were as sore troubled and afraide as if they had séene a sprite and one of the