might not be séene Béeing placed in this order they went forward to méete Charmides desiring him that he would take pittie on theyr olde age and spare theyr whole Cittie promising that they would giue him a hundreth talents of gold priuatly and as many men if he would cease to besiege their citie which hee might send vnto the gouernour of Aegypt as spoyles taken in war All which they would haue done if hee would haue accepted of the condition but Charmides hauing heard what they could say would not graunt them their requests wherefore said the olde men if you will not haue pittie vpon vs we must indure this miserie patiently and if that wee shall die slay vs heere before our Cittie walles that in our fathers habitations where we had our beginning there also we may make our end hauing this citie to be our tombes and we our selues will be the authâ—urs of our own death When Charmides heard this he dismissed his army sending them backe againe to their tents Now the théeues had layd certaine spies which did see all that was doone to whome it was giuen in charge that as soone as they saw the enemies comming breaking downe the banke of the riuer they should let the water in vpon them for there are diuers ditches made with high bankes which do keepe in the Water of Nilus y t it shall not ouerflow vntill time require which when they will let the Water round about they plucke downe the bankes wherefore the spies séeing them come neere plucked downe the bankes so that the Water began to ouerflow amaine and in an instant the old men got themselues away the yong men which dragd their weapons behind them beganne to rush vpon them the Waters increased and waxed so high that all the marishes were ouerflowen so that it seemed a little Sea This assault beeing giuen thus on the sodaine they slewe all which they mette but first they dispatched Charmides the other souldiours were in such an amaze they knowe not what to do the darts came so thicke vppon them that they were nowe in despaire of succour flie they coulde not the straights were so narrow and offer violence to them they were not able the Water now came vppe to their middle wherefore many astonished with feare stood still expecting their death others striuing to go forward were borne downe with the force of the Water some indeuouring to flie away stucke fast in the mud the waters beeing ouerflowen tooke away the vse of their bucklers neither could one tel which was the field or which the marish for he which thought he was vppon the field running apace stucke fast in the sâ—ime and pursued was taken of his enemies and he which was in the marish supposing he had beene vpon the firme land and making quicke spéede was drowned in some hole without doubt this was a new kinde of misfortune and shipwracke by sea when as round about there was not a ship to be séene neither was it so straunge but euen ouercomming humane cogitation in the water was fought a battaile by land and on the land was suffred shipwracke The théeues being now aloft with this successe began to vaunt and brag thinking how that they had gotten the victorie by valour not by deceit or ambushes for the nature of the Aegyptian is that in aduersitie hee is of no courage but in prosperitie hée plucketh vp his heart again so that he is euer in the extremes for either he cowardly yéeldeth or else doth proudly dominere Ten daies were now expired since Leucippe fel into her madnesse which did not séeme to cease any thing at all wherefore one day as she was in a sléepe shée spake verie earnestly these words For they cause Gorgias did I fall madde which I hearing assoone as it was day I told to Menelaus thinking with my selfe whether there were any in the Towne which was called Gorgias Whilest I went downe out of my lodging there met me a certaine yoong man which after he had saluted me spake to me in this maner I am the preseruer of thée and thy wife wherefore being amazed what said I art thou Gorgias He answered no but I am Chaerea Gorgias was he which was the cause of her mishap then I being more astonished then before what mishap said I or what is this Gorgias Tell me I pray you what these sayings do meane Then said he this Gorgias was an Aegyptian souldier which now is dead for he was one of the first which was slain of the théeues he was in loue with your wife and when by nature he was giuen to sorceries hee made an amorous Potion and perswaded your Aegyptian seruaunt that hee should mingle it with Leucippes drinke but so it came to passe that he made the Potion stronger then he should and in stead to make her loue he made her madde all this Gorgias seruant tolde mee yesternight which escaped out of the same warre where his maister was slaine and it séemeth to be most likely that by the sacred Destinies decrée hee was saued aliue for your sakes Thus hauing ended he demaunded of me foure péeces of gold promising it I would giue him so much he woulde presently restore her to her health saying that he had a medicine nowe readie mingled which would cure the former disease But beside this rewarde sayde I I will giue thée immortall thankes for this thy good turne but first send for this man which you talked off So he departed from me but I comming home did giue my Aegiptian seruant his desert striking him three or foure times vpon the face with threatning words I asked of him what that was which he mingled and gaue to Leucippe and for what cause she fell mad wherwithall he being affraid declared all to me as Chaerea hadde spoken before We procured him therefore to be shut vp in prison In the meane time Chaerea returned with Gorgias maÌ„ to whom I presently payed the money saying I pray you marke this of me and heare my opinion héerein you knowe that the potion was the cause of all this mishappe wherefore I doo not thinke it good that her belly béeing once infected with drugges you go about to distemper it with the like But procéede on forwarde and shewe me what is in your medicine and make it ready while I doo stand by which if you shall bring to passe I wil giue you both well double my reward Then sayde the Seruant you doo séeme to feare not without a cause But those things which are to be prouided are edible and common and I my selfe will eate as much of them before as I will giue vnto her And immediately they went and bought euerie thing and before mée they pund them and being diuided into two parts this first said he will I drinke this other part I will giue to the maide which after she hath dronk she will sléepe all the night when morning commeth she will both be fréed of her
me neare vnto Charmides house wherein assoone as I came I tooke her in my armes kissed her determining to abstaine no longer from my desire But when I sawe my enterprise went not forward how long saide I shall wee want the frutes of Venus Doo not you sée how many daungers in so short space haue fallen out vnlooked for for we haue suffered shipwracke fell into the théeues hands and lastly you were offered in stéede of a sacrifice wherefore while we are in safetie let vs not refuse a fit occasion offered before some greater mishap do fall out Then said Leucippe but yet it may not be lawfull for when I was offered vpon the aultar as a sacrifice I greatly lamented my misfortune and in my dreame Diana séemed to appeare vnto me saying doo not wéepe for thou shalt not die I my selfe will helpe thée kéepe thou as yet thy virginitie vntil I shall otherwise appoint thée for thou shalt marry none but Clitiphon I although I did gréeuously take this delay yet I reioyced with the hope of the thing to come and when she had made mention of her vision I did remember also that I had dreamed to the like effect for the night before me thought I was in Venus temple and there standing alone I did beholde an image erected before mee and when I had approached neare to say my prayers I shut the doore and being troubled in minde there appeared a thing to me in shape of a woman which saide that as yet it was not lawfull for me to enter into the temple but if that I would stay a little space it should come to passe that the doores would open of theyr owne accord and also that I should be created a Priest vnto the goddesse this therefore I tolde Leucippe neyther did I striue to offer her violence any more but thinking vppon her dreame I was somewhat heauie in minde In the meane season Charmides who was euer desirous to sée Leucippe hauing a fit occasion seruing him for the purpose sent for vs both bechance certaine fishermen of the Towne had taken a beast in the Riuer a spectacle not vnworthie to bee séene the Aegyptians did call it the Horse of Nilus and truly his back head belly and feete are like to another Horse sauing that his hoofe is clouen in bignesse of bodie he is like to an Oxe hee hath a short tayle and full of haire all the other partes of his bodie being without his head is rounde and great his iawes almost like to a Horse his nosthrils somewhat broad and breathing foorth a fiery kind of smoke as it were the breath of a furnace the widenesse of his mouth reached to both his temples his téeth were crooked made altogither both in forme and standing like to a horse Charmides inuited vs to see this beast Leucippe was there also togither with vs earnestly we did behold the beasâ— but he whose mind was occupied about an other matter neuer cast his eyes from Leucippe Therefore we iudged him to be in loue with her and because he would haue vs stay the longer there that hee might the more satisfie himselfe with the sight of her he began to finde some discourses and first hee did declare vnto vs the nature of the beast and the maner of taking him saying that it was a most rauenous creature how that he wold deuour a whole field of corne neither is he caught without a prettie wile for y e hunters marking in what place he accustometh to lye to dig a pit and couer it with turfes and réeds laying vnder it a little coale made of boords whose doores are open to the height of the pitte then hiding themselues vntill he fell in they rush vpon a sodaine and shut the doores of the little house and so is taken which else by no meanes could bee caught because he is of so great a strength hee is most strong in euery part of his body but his skin is so hard that it cannot be pearced with Iron and worthily may he be called the Egyptian Elephant wherupon Menelaus demanded of Charmides to eâ—presse the nature of them who answered I haue heard report of them which are the curious searchers of theyr nature to affirme their qualities aboue all creatures to be most admired And that I will not suffer you to be ignorant heerein any longer know that she is of a long life and doth keepe the séede of her belly ten yeeres before shee bee deliuered of it and when this time is past she bringeth forth her yong of large proportion and for this cause I thinke that he is of so huge mightie body and inuincible strength and a most long life for it is reported that he liueth longer then the crowes which Hesiode writeth of The iaw of an Elephant is like the head of a Bull and if you saw his mouth you would thinke he had two hornes growing therin which are his fore téeth from betwéene which commeth downe a long snout which is in forme and fashion like vnto a shaulme by this he taketh his meat and sustenance and whatsoeuer is throwne to him he will eate it with conueighing it into his snout if it be good hee bringeth it downe into his mouth but if it be bad hee giueth it to his mâ—ster there sitteth vpon his backe a Moore which is his horseman he doth fawne and feare and doth vnderstand any which speake vnto him and doth suffer himselfe to be beaten with an Iron rodde which is in stéede of a whip and I doo remember that once I did beholde a strange fight a Graecian once lying down ioyned his head to the ElephaÌ„ts who without any resistance stryked his head with his snout wherein I meruailed at the boldnesse of the man and the gentlenesse of the beast but the Graeâ—ian answered that he first did giue him foode to eate before he would open his mouth and breath forth the pleasant breath of the Indian spices which he did vse to do to take away the head-ach But the Elephant which knoweth the cure which he doth effect doth first denie his aide vntill he haue receiued his sustenance like vnto a proude Phisition which first will haue his foe before he minister any thing to his patient but taking first his reward he will thanke you holding open his mouth vntill you be cured knowing wel that he had sold this swéete odour Then said I how commeth it to passe that so deformed a creature hath so swéete a sauour Of his meate said Charmides whereof hee féedeth the countrey of the Indians is very neere the sunne and they be the first people which inhabite the East and do féele the force of his beaâ—â—s more hot In Greece therâ— groweth a flower which in India is not a flower but a blossom such as those which grow vpon trées as it groweth it hath no sauour neither is in any estimation whether because it will giue no pleasure where it is knowen or
Therfore this one thing especially I exhort you to do that you endeuor by all meanes to bring it so to passe that she may think she is beloued of you soone after wil she imitate you but how may these de done which you tell me I pray thée instruct me better what I may do for you before this time haue sacrificed at Loues altars and haue béen a scholer in his scholes and know well howe to behaue your selfe in these matters for I am altogither ignorant a more nouice in loues affaires and one who neuer sawe his colours displayed before Then answered Clinias you néed not take such paines to learne this of others for Cupid himselfe herein will be your maister for euen as litle infants whoÌ„ no man teacheth to suck yet they by themselues do learne naturally do know norishment to be in their mothers dugs so yong men being first with child of loue haue néede of no maister to instruct them to bring forth but if griefe torment you the length of time do cause any necessitie although that this bee your first deliuery yet you shall not erre in any thing for this God himselfe will take vpon him to play the Midwife as time and occasion shall affoord so must you apply your talke but aboue all things take héed of vnchast and immodest dealings but vse the matter so with silence as that by your action they might conceiue your meaning For yong men and maids are affected with like modesty and although they be desirous of copulation yet they wold not séeme to haue any talke concerning such matters for why they thinke dishonestie in the words but they who haue bin well experienced in mens matters holde it no disgrace to talke more amply of such a subiect but virgins knowing the first assayes of their louers to procéed for cause of triall by some pleasant actions do séeme to shew their willingnesse to them wherefore if in words at first you wold haue her to try dame Venus sports that spéech will offend her eares for she will blush and vtterly denie your requests and take them as a great indignitie and disgrace offred to her neither at first will she grant because she may not séeme to yéeld of her owne accord but in the end when she hath perceiued how â—long with your petitions you haue knocked at the posterne of her heart then will she séeme more mollified and yéeld her selfe more tractable to your desires but not so much that you might thinke she is wholy woon already but then you must begin to vse some merry familiar toyes betwéene you and when oportunitie liketh you best requite her kindnesse with a kisse for the kisse of a louer to a willing wench is a silent woing but to an vnwilling is in stéed of an humble petition But yet although she were loth to refuse this your kindnesse she wil séeme with a litle violence to resist that by an opinion of necessitie this might séeme to excuse her maydenly modestie And although she do resist yet enforce her not but in resâ—â—â—â—ng marke how she doth behaue her selfe for in this matter you had néed to be circumspect and if you perceiue that she remaine stil in her accustomed guise vse no violence but thinke that as yet shée is not perswaded and if that you would haue her more tractable to your hand dissemble the matter cunningly nor rashly do not you go about to marre your whole match Then said I thou hast helped mee wonderfully O Clinias in my procéedings and I do not doubt but that the matter wil go forward as you would wish but I am greatly affraid lest this new happinesse be a beginning of further mishaps and cast me into a more burning fire wherefore if this my griefe should daily encrease what should I do or whither should I turn me I cannot haue her to my wife because my father hath appointed alreadie another to supply that place neither is she a forreiner or deformed neither as it is with Charicles doth my father sell me to her but he doth giue me his own daughter the most bewtiful creature aliue except Leucippe but I now am blind and cannot iudge of her excellent fauour which truly doth deserue to be commended for I do sée nothing but Leucippe and surely at this time I am betwéene two contraries for the vehemency of loue and the commandements of my father doo draw my minde almost a sunder who shall decide this controuersie necessitie doth striue with nature my minde deare father is willing to obey the might of the aduersary withstaÌ„deth me he doth shewe my torments to the Iudge he is here ready with his arrowes holding firebrands in his hands argueth my case I will yéelde vnto you father but alas I am compassed round with a scorching fire Thus did we dispute togither of the god of Loue and his behests when on a suddaine one of Charicles playfellowes came hastily running in presaging some ill newes by his countenance so that Clinias in a maze cried out Sure some harme is happened to Charicles he had scant sayd so but the messenger told that Charicles was dead with which message Clinias was so astonied that like vnto one strooken with lightening his voyce and sences fayled him and presently fell into a swoune but the boy telling forward his tale said hée got vpon your horse Clinias and at first spurred him gently but when he had ridden two or thrée courses about he stayed and rayned him vppe wiping his face all dropping downe with sweate and as hee was standing thus behold a suddaine noise arose behinde him wherewith the horse béeing afraide gaue a mightie Iumpe began to runne headlong about biting of his bit writhing of his necke shaking of his maine incensed with feare was caried violentle euery where his foreféete prauncing forwarde his hinderféet striuing to ouertake the former hastened his course and droue him the faster forward the poore boy in this contention was tossed vp and downe like vnto a floting ship in the mainâ— sea tossed on the waues with a mightie tempest thus was he vnhappy boye shaked vppe from the heade to the tayle from this side to that now euery minute readie to fall at length when he could hold the raynes no longer hée then gaue himselfe to the custody of fortune but the horse béeing violentye caried went ranging abroad leauing the beaten way and ran into a wood where he dashed the poore child against a trée as a bullet is cast out of the mouth of a roaring cannon with such force fel he out of the saddell his face was deformed with so many woundes as there were sharpe knags on the stocke which fearing not to kil pearsed to the bones his body was tangled in the bridell and was laid in the very high way to death but the horse was so astonied at y e fall that he could run no further and being thus hindred from his flight he
it is gone again neither giueth any possibility for y e louer to enioy it but is like to Tantalus in the riuer Stix that when he would drinke of the water it flyeth away from him neither is there any sustenance left for him to receiue and that also which is drunke is first taken away before that hé◠which drinketh can be satisfied euermore he must depart so from his louer as if there hadde béene nâ—uer no such loue or else but newe beganne and the pleasure is mingled with a kinde of sorrow and hee is euer drie but his thirst can neuer bee quenched Then sayde Menelaus but you Clitiphon doo not séeme to knowe which is the chéefest felicitie in loue that alway is most to be wished for which bringeth no lothasomenesse and wherewith one is neuer satisfied for those things which remaine the longer to vs for to enioy them do take away the delight thereof with too much sacietie but those thinges which sometimes are taken away are alway newe and do daily flourish and as much as is taken away from them by the shortnesse of time so much is added to the greatnesse of the desire and theyr pleasure doth not fade and wherefore is the Rose accounted the fairest of all plants but because it soonest doth fade away surely I doo thinke that there is two kindes of bewtie which is amongst mortall men the one heauenly the other common which indéede are the verie giuers of all bewtie and the heauenly bewtie scorneth to be ioyned with our mortall and therfore striueth to flie vp to heauen the common bewtie créepeth on the ground and cleaue to euery base bodie and if you will that I shall bring you a witnesse for this which I haue sayde marke you the Poet Homere whose verses are these The Goddes incensed with bewtie of this Boy To heauen him brought to serue great Ioue aboue In filling of sweet Nectar and Ambrosian wine Who can deny but that the cause was loue Neuer was there woman for bewtie brought vp to heauen although Iupiter loued women well Alcmena fell into lamentations and was constrained to hide her selfe the Tower and the Sea kept Dianae prisoner Semele was consumed by fire But when he fel in loue with this Phrygian boy Ganymedes he tooke him vp to heauen with him that he might dwell togither with him and serue him at his table and cast Helle down from heauen which did supply the place before for shée was a woman But I taking his words out of his mouth thus replyed Nay quoth I woman-kinde séeme to be most heauenly and that for a strong reason because their bewtie doeth not so quickly fade that commeth next vnto heauenlinesse which is farthest from corruption and contrary that ought not to bee called heauenly but earthly which is most subiect to alteration because it is most like to mens nature Iupiter loued this Phrygian boy and tooke him vp to heauen what then This doth not detract any thing from womens bewtie for a womans loue he transformed himselfe into a Eull so he did not for the loue of him for the loue of Leda he chaunged himself into a Swan and oftentimes did he take the shape of a Satyre Gold and many such like things But let Ganymedes fill the cuppe for Iupiter while Iuno lye with the Goddes since the Goddesse hath a boy to be her cup-bearer It pittieth me truly to heare or thinke how he was carryed vp to heauen a rauenous bird snatched him away and he was no otherwise dealt withall theÌ„ those who fal into the hands of a tirant Was it not I pray you a grief to sée a boy catched vp in the talents of such a bird his head hanging down as if he were now readie to fall such a carrion deuouring bird did not carry Semele to heauen but the fire which is the chiefest of the element and let not this séeme straunge vnto you that some haue bene taken vp to heauen in flames of fire For Hercules went no otherwise to heauen Do you laugh at Danaes imprisonment in the Tower and her seruituds at the rocke I pray you remember Perseus this one thing satisfied Alcmena that Iupiter for her fake tooke thrée whole dayes from the world But if omitting these fables you will make mention of that true pleasure which is conceiued in women although herein I haue not bin much conuersant but one who hath experience in these matters may speake more if he please neither hath there bene any vse or delight wherewith I haue enured my selfe yet I will speake as much as I can their bodies are tender to imbrace their lippes soft for to kisse whose whole proportion of the bodie is onely made to moue delight and he which doth enioy a bewtifull woman hath the true felicitie of all pleasure for he doth imprint in her lippes as they who seale in waxe shée also doth kisse as it were by art seasoning her kisses with a swéeter delight neither is it sufficient to kisse her lippes but also to â—éed as it were vpon her mouth In touching of her tender breasts what great delight there is I leaue to them whom experience hath made perfect herein and euen in their naturall actions shée doth so delight as that he might thinke himselfe in another world The kisses of boyes are rude their imbracings vnapt and vnnaturall whose delight doth languish and is veyd of all true pleasure indéed Then said Menelaus you séeme not to be a neuice in this art but one who haue serued in Cupid his warres a lonâ—â—ime you haue reckoned vp so many curiosities of women But now marke you me againe and I will shewe you what pleasure is reaped in the loue of boyes In a woman not only her words but also all her actioÌ„s are ful of subtiltie if some be faire they may thanke the Painters shoppe all whose bewtie is compacted of nothing else then of painting colouring and curling their haire and in kissing from whom take away this painting and counterfetting of colours and truly you will thinke them barer then a Iaye as the Prouerbe is when all his stolne feathers are plucked from his backe but the bewtie of boyes is not besmeared with the counterfeyt of painting neither spunged vp with borrowed perfumes the very sweate of the browes of a boy doth excell all the swéete sauours of Muske and Ciuet about a woman and a man may openly talke and play with them and neuer bee ashamed neither is there any tendernesse of flesh which is like to them their kisses do not sauour of womens curiositie neither beguile with a foolish error the kisses of them are swéete and delightfull not procéeding of art but of nature and the very image and picture of their kisses are so swéete and pleasant that you might very wel thinke that heauenly Nectar to bee betwéene your lippes The third Booke The Contents The description of their shipwracke how Menelaus was cast on shore at Paralia
also could not chuse but be angry with the letter but loue was opposed against her anger that hauing aide of slaunder at length gotte the victorie wherefore when night was come Thersander went to a friendes house of his in the Cittie but Melite went to the man who had the custody of me hauing talked with him she came in to mée the other Seruants not knowing but onely two whom she had appointed to stay at the doore vntill her returne again and hauing found me lying vpon the grounde and comming neere to mee although shee coulde not speake all her mind at that instant yet her countenance did séeme to deliuer it saying O vnhappie woman that I am and borne first to my owne perdition which also do so much desire that which I cannot attaine O more then mad which loue him that despiseth me which being tormented with gréefe doo take pitie vpon him which is light affected yet I cannot cease to loue the author of these so many my mishappes against me there is both a man and a woman conspiring wherof the one doth scorne me the other is gone to gather hearbes yet could not I know before that I craued aide of my veriest enemie Hauing spoken thus incensed with furie she flung it into my face which when I vnderstood I was astonied and cast down my head as if I hadde béene guilty of some hainous crime But she beganne still to lament and wéepe crying out Alas alas what shal be come of me affliected with so many calamities for thy sake I lost my husbande neyther yet could I enioy thée but shortly also I shall loose thy sight which alone is graunted to me And moreouer for thy cause my husband hateth and detesteth me accusing me of adulterie and that with him with whom I neuer receiued any delight or pleasure so much shame reproch hath happened to me Other womeÌ„ by their dishonesty can reape their pleasure but I alone without pleasure haue gotteÌ„ reproch and shame ignominie O trecher O barbarian O thou Clitiphon more cruell then pirates more hard hearted then tyrants canst thou finde in thy heart to sée a weake woman burning in thy loue and so cruelly tormented and cannot thou take pittie on her since thou also art in loue Doest thou not feare the wrath of Cupid Doest thou not care for his firebrandes and secret misteries art not thou moued so pittie with these teares which these eyes haue shed so aboundantly wherwithall euen very robbers will be mooued to compassion what were not my prayers of force to persweade thée to embrace mée or to do that which I haue long desired did neither the oportunitie of the time serue had neither my embracings or dalliance any force to mooue Moreouer that which was the most reprochfull of all abandoning my kissing embracing and toying as if you were nothing affected towards me I pray you what is this but a shadowe of mariage you did not ly with one which was past child bearing who did refuse your kindnesse but with a yong one a louing and another perhappes will say faire and beautifull O thou Eunuch O thou gelding O despiser of beautie Now do I beséeche the immortall goddes that al thing may fall out contrary to thy desires that the three sisters may conspire to crosse thée which thou now doost prepars against mée Thus did Melite speak not without teares then did she held her peace a litle assoone as she saw y t I replied nothing cast mine eies vpon the ground her mind being changed she begaÌ„ to vtter these words What I haue hitherto spoken swéet youth choler grief forced me thereunto but now loue constraineth me to speake Howe could I be angry or cast such reproaches vpon thée when as I was all in a heate the very fire did possesse the inward parts of any body Now at the leÌ„gth obey I do not desire many days or perpetual mariage which thou hast hitherto prolonged the more vnfortunate I one only accoÌ„panying is sufficieÌ„t so litle ayd will driue away so great a wouÌ„d Come therfore extinguish this fire a litle whatsoeuer I haue spokeÌ„ more sharply against thée pardoÌ„ me since it is incideÌ„t to passioÌ„s it caÌ„not otherwise be but she y t loueth vnhappily must raue sometimes neither do I forget how filthy a cause I plead But yet I am not ashamed to declare the secrets of loue To some Cupids dartes are not felt and the wounds of louers are made knowne to none but those which are in loue this day remaineth yet wherein I pray thée performe thy promise Remember Isis and doo not séeme litle to regard that oath which thou swarest in her Temple but if thou wouldest performs thy promise as it was confirmed by oathes betwéene vs I would not care for a thousand Thersanders But because Leucippe cannot be found by any meanes I would wish you to marry some other although that al things séeme to offer warre against me and the very dead are risen from their graues O sea thou hast preserued a Sayler but by preseruing him thou hast cast him into greater daungers two dead persons are reuiued again to my perdition as though one Leucippe were not sufficient but let her liue so that Clitiphon do not liue in sorrow Who can endure this that wicked Thersander should returne now and I standing by to strike thee and could not helpe thée As yet good goddes all thy face is full of blew wales I thinke Thersander was blind But now O maister Clitiphon for thou alone doest possesse my heart I begge this one thing that thou wouldst giue me now the first and last thing which I will craue of thée this little delay seemes longer to me then many dayes so neither you haue lost your Leucippe neither she dyed a false death doo not neglect my loue for whose cause when amongst other commodities yet thou shalt haue Leucippe restored againe vnto thée had not I loued thée and brought thée hither thou wouâ—dst yet haue thought thy Leucippe to haue bin dead Moreouer you are to thanke fortune for this kindnesse as a man did vpon a time who hauing founde a great treasure in the earth honoured the place where he found it consecrating an altar offring of sacrifices he crowned the earth Thou doest not onely giue me no thankes for finding thy treasure with me but also doest despise the author of this thy good turne Thinke that for my sake loue did speake to thée in this maner O Clitiphon graunt me this one thing which am standerd bearer to thée in thy warre that Melite doo not depart from thée vntouched it is my fire which burneth her wherefore Clitiphon obey the commaundements of thy God since thou wilt that I shall looke to all thy other affaires I will deliuer thée from bands although Thersander would not haue it so and I will adorne a chamber for thee wherein thou shalt liue as long as thou
hast deliuered the adulterer thou hast set him frée from his bondes thou hast sent him out of the house why doest not thou follow him why doest thou stay heere rather follow thy louer that thou maist beholde him bounde in more stronger chaines Then said Melite what adulterer do you meane are you well in your wits which talke thus vainly If you wil lay aside your choler heare what I shal say you may easily know the truth This one thing I request you that you would shew your self an equal iudge and casting slaunder out of your eares placing reason in stéed of anger I pray you listen to my tale This man is neither an adulterer nor my husbaÌ„d he is a Phaenician born in Tyrus inferior to none of y e country As he sailed fortune séemed to frown vpoÌ„ him for his ship was split his merchandice all lost in shipwrack which wheÌ„ I heard being moued with the misfortune of the man being also mindful of you I entertained him thinking with my self that it might so fal out that you also might wander abroad and some woman would take pittie vpon your aduersitie and if indéed you hadde perished in the waters as it was reported abroad doo not thinke then that I did amisse if I succoured all such as suffered shipwracke How many doo you thinke I haue relieued which haue endured the violence of the Sea what number do you belieue I haue buried which haue perished in the water and if I could get but a boord of some broken ship which came to land I would take it vp saying Perhaps my Thersander was carried in this shippe Of those which haue escaped the daunger of the sea he is one and the last whom when I offred what other thing did I doo then be obedient vnto you he sayled as you did and therefore deare husband I pittied his mishappe as a picture of yours Now doo you knowe after what order I brought him hither Moreouer he did bewaile the death of his wife whome hée thought to haue perished although she did not whom I know not who it was which did certifie me that she was aliue and did lodge at our Steward Sosthenes his house And the matter was found out thus for going into the Countrey we found a woman which bewayling and making great mone followed me you know where Sosthenes dwelleth she is with him in the Countrey you may demaund of him of all things concerning her at your pleasure if you can finde I haue not spoken the truth in any thing then shall you accuse me of adultery lawfully Thus spake Melite faining as though she had not heard of the rape of Leucippe determining also in her minde that if Thersander had gone about to haue knowne the truth of the matter she would haue brought the seruants to witnesse with whom she went that morning into the Country that now she can be found in no place neither did she moue this enquiry of Leucippe to him for any other intent then y t she would haue him belieue y e rest to be true which she had spoken and althogh she séemed to answer euery thing oppositly inough yet she wold infer this also and y â— swéet husband I wold not haue you thinke that these are fables remeÌ„ber how I led my life while we liued togither wherfore you do wrong me to think amisse of me now This report of the yong man procéeded to his honour because the cause was not knowne to many why I did receiue him into familiaritie and if a man must beléeue fame were not you thought to be drowned in the sea for flaunder and fame are two mischiefes propinquall to wit because this her daughter is more sharpe thâ—n a sword more hoter then fire and more apter then the Maremayde to perswade shee is more voluble then water more swifter then the wind more quicker then the lightening wherefore the spéech which is vttered with slaunder flyeth in manner of an arrow which woundeth him being absent against whom it is sent for hee which heareth and easilie beleeueth beeing incensed with anger doth rage against him which is wounded but fame procéeding from such a wound is manifold and dispersed into diuers places and being driuen with the winde of the spéech and being kept vp with the feathers of the tongue is carried round about euery where and falleth into their eares which she méeteth These two plagues haue coÌ„spired against me the same do now possesse your mind and driue my spéeches from your eares which when Melite had said tooke Thersander by the hand and would haue kissed it but hee mooued with the likelyhood of her words remitted his anger conceiued for that which she had reported of Leucippe agréeing with Sosthenes wordes which he had signified to him before did take away all suspition from him yet he would not beléeue all for a slaunder being once crept into ones mind will very hardly be rooted out But Thersander hearing that the maid which he loued was my wife was wonderfully troubled in minde and conceiued more hatred against me saying that he would enquire if the matter were so as he hadde heard Being thus disquieted he went to bed alone Melite â—ow being sore gréeued because she could not performe that which she had promised to mee but Sosthenes hauing dismissed Thersander requesting him to be absent a while hee came againe to Leucippe promising her many things and pretending some happinesse to her by his countenance hee hadde her be of good courage saying All things Lacaena will fall out prosporously Thersander is so farre in loue with you that he is readie to goe madde perhappes hée will marry you and I woulde you should knowe it is by my helpe alone which did commende the rarenesse of your excellent bewtie vnto him aboue all measure I fastened this conceyt in his verie marrowe wherefore leaue off this wéeping and be of good cheare and sacrifice to Venus for this felicitie besides haue care you remember mée then sayd Leucippe God graunt that such happinesse euer come to thée as thou hast reported vnto mée But Sosthenes little suspecting that shée mocked him thinking shée spake from her heart sayd I will recount to thée the estate and wealth of Thersander that thou maist knowe thou hast greater cause to reioyce Therefore know this for certaintie that hée is Melites husband which you sawe héere in the Countrey and the chéefest in birth amongest the Ionians whose stocke surpasseth his wealth but his gentlenesse excelleth all his riches Moreouer what should I talke of his age Thou seest that hée is a young man and bewtifull which two things women chiefely desire Héere Leucippe could not endure Sosthenes to prate any longer saying How long thou most infamous tempter wilt thou procéede to defile my eares with this thy vncleane talke What care I for Thersander let him bee fayre for Melite rich for his Countrey curteous and couragious to them which haue néede of his
index of the wounde from which being touched dooth flowe whole streames of bloud so the mind being wounded with the sharpe poynt of some ill nâ—wes dooth not instantly gape neyther doo the teares immediately come foorth which is as it were the bloud of the wounded heart but after that the tooth of sorrow hath somewhat touched it then is the minde rent asunder and the teares hauing made passage for their streame through the eyes doo flowe abundantly for my minde so soone as it was strooken with the spéech of him that reported the death of Leucippe as it were with a dart beganne after a little space to breathe from griefe and make passage for the teares Then sayd I what feare was this which allured me with so short ioy who shewed Leucippe to me that shée might be the cause of newe calamities vnto mée what because I coulde not satisfie my eyes with beholding by which alone I was happie or if I did beholde I was not filled with sight all my pleasure beeing like vnto a dreame O wretched man that I am for whom howe often haste thou died Leucippe shall I neuer cease from wéeping I thinke not for I sée a newe death commeth vpon one anothers backe but fortune before this time hath mocked me with her calamities but this I sée is no spoâ—â—ng matter After what meanes was Leucippe taken awaye before in those other suppposed deathes I hadde euer some comfort left first thy whole body thy head being taken awaye which I buried but now thou hast died a double death both of bodye and soule togither whaâ— hath it auailed thée to haue escaped the daunger of théeues twice if that this receiuing of Melites be the taking of thée away from me Why did I so often kisse the author of of thy death Why did I so swéetely embrace her and bestowe vppon her my first fruites of Venus before I gaue them to thée As I was thus complaining with my selfe Clinias came in whom I certified of the whole matter But said hée bée of good courage who knoweth whither â—he be aliue againe hath not shée béene often dead and yet reuiued Why then doest thou thus rashly disquiet and vexe thy selfe you may meditate of it at your leysure when you knowe certainely that shée is deade indéede You séeme to ieste with mee sayde I for howe can you knowe it more apparantlye surelie I doo thinke I haue founde a happie waye to death and it is such a one that Melite also shall not escape frée For I had deeréede as you knowe if so the destenies woulde suffer mée to wash awaye this obiected cryme of adultery by iudgement But newe I purpose to take a quite contrary course I will acknowledge the crime saying that I and Melite burning in loue togither did hire this miscreant priuily to murder Leucippe so shée shal suffer worthy punishment and I will leaue my lothsome life the gods wil grant al things I hope to fal out more happily What sayde Clinias dare you vndertake so filthy a facte committed and confesse her death which was your onely loue then said I There is nothing dishonest which bringeth shame and confusion to the enemie I beeing in this case not long after there came one to deliuer this man accused of the false murther who sayd he was appointed by the Archontes and that hee shoulde bée brought to aunswere those things which shoulde bée obiected against him In the meane time Clinias and Satyrus comforted mée and perswaded me aâ—so not to confesse any thing in iudgement as I hadde decréed But they the next day hired a house and there dwelt in that that they might not be séene in companie with Melite the next day I was brought into the Court and where Thersander was present with a great apparance hauing brought no lesse then ten lawyers to plead his cause neither I being readie to die would go about to sue for Melites defence After that they had made an ende of theyr argument and licence was graunted to mee to speake all these sayd I which haue pleaded for Thersander and Melite haue declared nothing but méere toyes you shall heare mee faithfully and dilligently declare the whole matter as it is I hadde a friende sometimes borne at Byzantium her name was Leucippe which I did thinke to haue perished for shee was violently taken from mee by the Aegyptian pyrates after it so chanced I fell in companie with Melite at Alexandria with whome growing into better acquaintance I came from thence hither where I found Leucippe seruing Sosthenes chéefe steward of Thersanders landes but howe Sosthenes could receiue a frée woman into bondage or what familiaritie hee hadde with the Pyrates I leaue to your gentle consideration Melite after shee perceiued that I hadde recouered my olde loue againe fearing least I shoulde settle my minde vppon her tooke counsell to make her awaie which I also allowed for why shoulde I denie it and when shee had promised to make me Lorde of all her wealth I hired a damned pesant to murther her promising him a hundreth péeces of Gold so he hauing committed the fact fled away neither since that time did I euer heare of him But loue séeing himselfe thus troubled suffered me not to go long vnreuenged for knowing the mayde was murthered being charged with an euill conscience I neuer ceased to wéepe since that time but nowe being burned with the desire of her I do loue her dead neither do I accuse my selfe for any other cause but that I would haue you send me thither where my louer is since that in your presence I am a murtherer and desire to die I cannot endure to liue any longer which when they had heard me apparantly confesse were amazed at the vnlooked for issue of the matter but especially Melite The lawyers which defended Thersanders cause when they heard that cryed out for ioy but they of Melites side did examine her if the cause were thus certaine But she being wonderfully distempered denied vtterly some things other things she granted and of purpose very closely she séemed to confesse but what I had told of Leucippe she verily affirmed that all was most true except her death wherefore when her spéech agréed with my confession they which defended Melite came so into suspition of her as that they were vncertain what spéech they should vse to defend her But Clinias when there was a great cry and tumult risen stood vp in the middle giue me leaue said he to speake a little since the iudgement is now to be giuen of his life which when he had obtained he wept saying O you men of Ephesus doo not rashly condemne this young man to death which you sée is desirous to die which is the onely easing of mischiefes to miserable men he hath taken vpon him the impious fact of wicked men that suffering punishment hee might finde some refuge for his aduersities I will declare to you in few words as breefe as
againe into seruitude if perhappes shee were aliue Moreouer hee added this Clitiphon hath confessed that hee hath murthered her and maketh himselfe guiltie of the fact but Melite denieth it but the proofes of the maides do gainsay that for it is knowne that they receiued Leucippe of Melite who as yet is not returned what may wee thinke to become of her what will you haue more she is sent away to whom they are silent wherefore it is manifest enough that some one which hath murthered her was hired by them which the maides do knowe very well but would not declare it to any more least the matter should come to light They left her perhaps amongst a number of théeues that by them shee might bee carried away I knowe not what they haue deuised of one which was in prison of whom this matter was first reported when therefore will you leaue off to lende your eares to such foolish tales and dispatch this weightie matter What say you doo you thinke that this man woulde accuse himselfe except it were Gods prouidence it should be so Héere Thersander had made an end of all his spéeches and had approued it with an oath that he could not tel what was become of Sosthenes it séemed to the Prince to giue iudgement he was of the kings stocke in whose power it was to examine all matters of life and death and to giue iudgement thereof although it was decréed by the ancient laws that hee should haue councellers which should direct him what to doe wherefore saide he it séemeth to me the matter béeing communicated also to my fellowes in this office according to the order of the lawe to punish him with death which saith that hee which accuseth himself should be condemned without any further inquissition but for Melites iudgement it shall be deferred vntill the two maides be examined Thersander caused his oath to be registred down that he was altogether ignorant what was become of Sosthenes it was decréed that I should be tormented vpon some engine to confesse whether Melite were guiltie or no my clothes being plucked from my backe I was hoised vp aloft some bringing fire some whips some a whéele but Clinias wept bitterly when behold a Priest of Diana crowned with a garland of bayes beganne to câ—me into the market place for that was a signe that strangers came to offer sacrifices vnto the goddesse which when it came to passe they ought to stay so long from the execution vntill the sacrifice of the goddesse was ended wherefore I was let downe againe The author of this sacrifice was Sostratus Leucippes father for when the Byzantians had gotten the victorie in the battell against the Thracians before the goddesse Diana they thought it meete to offer sacrifice to her as it were giuing her thankes for her ayde which shee did sende them The Goddesse appeared in the night priuatly to Sostratus and foretolde him that he shoulde finde a daughter and a sonne in law at Ephesus By this time Leucippe hauing opened the doores of the house fearing least Sosthenes which went foorth a little before hadde stood at the doore looked round about to sée if she could espie him but when she saw that he was not there she beganne to be of good courage séeing then that vnlooked for she was deliuered out of these dangers she beganne to plucke vppe her heart and decréed to vse the benefit of fortune for when as Diana her Temple was not farre off from those fieldes going out of the house shee went thither This temple in ancient times was not opened without some great occasion wherein it was lawfull for men and virgins to enter especially when any matter of life was in question It was counted a hainous matter for we men to enter therein except seruants which were called into questions of law by their masters for then it was lawfull for them to flie to the Goddesse for succour While Sostratus lead the Priest into the market place to defer the execution Leucippe was going into the Temple and it so happened that shee had almost mette her father but I the companie being dismissed was lette loose a great number of people following me some pittied my case some prayed to the gods for me some asked me diuers questions amongst whom was Sostratus who assoone as hee sawe me foorthwith knewe mee for as I spoke in the beginning hee was at Tyrus when Hercules sacrifices were solemnized and there hee stayde vntill the accustomed rights were solemnized wherefore since that time hee carried mee in remembrance especially when hée was admonished in a dreame that hee should finde vs héere Wherefore comming neare vnto me he saide This truly is Clitiphon but where is Leucippe Then I assoone as I knew him cast my eyes vpon the ground they which were present began to repeate vnto me that which I had confessed but he gréeuously fighing and shaking his head cast his eyes vppon me in such sort as if he would haue looked through me neither durst I resist him for he strooke me vpon the face but Clinias comming betwéen vs staid his hand and sharply rebuked him saying What doo you now why doo you so rashly offer violence vnto him which doth loue Leucippe better then your selfe which of his owne accord offered himselfe to death because he had heard Leucippe was dead speaking many more things to him that he might pacifie his fury But he calling vpon the goddesse began thus to complaine O goddesse is this the cause wherefore thou didst bring me hither Is this that which thou didst foretell me in my dreame I truly did beléeue it thinking I should finde my daughter also and surely I haue receiued a goodly reward I haue found her murtherer Then Clinias hearing mention of the dreame was wonderfull glad saying Father be of good cheare for the goddesse will not be a lyer beléeue my prophecies thy daughter Leucippe is aliue do not you see how she hath escaped from the hands of her torturers in the meane season one of the Sextens came running to the Priest and tolde him that there was a straunge mayde which came to Diana for succour which when I heard I began to plucke vp my spirits and lifting vp my eyes againe I I séemed to be aliue But Clinias turning to Sostratus said Beléeue me father my Oracles are true and hee asked the Sexten whether she was faire to whom the Sexten answered I neuer saw one more bewtiful except she were Diana Then I leaping for ioy what saide I doest thou say it is Leucippe He answered yea for so she saith she is called her Ceuntrey is Bizantium her father is Soâ—tratus Clinias for verie ioy shouted and clapped his handes Sostratus for the great gladnesse which he conceiued fell downe in a maze I leaped in my fetters as it were to the skie and presently went into y e temple the kéepers thinking that I would haue runne away spake to euery man that met
to Ephesus do not you know the calamities of the sea to be dangerous and that the changings of the windes are mutable O Clitiphon I burne beléeue mee I burne and I would I could shewe vnto thee the greatnesse of my fire I would that by my embracing and kissing I could put the same force into thée which loues flames haue alreadie kindled in me But this my fire is greater then any common flame which wanting matter to féede it is quickly burnt out since all louers do greatly desire to embrace one another this my heart working a more feruent operation in me will not be contented nor satisfied with it O hidden fire O fire shining in the darke O fire vnwilling to transgresse thine owne lawes But why do not wee O my most déere Clitiphon sacrifice together at Venus Altars Then said I good Melite do not seeke nor with mee to violate my word before I haue doone my sacrifice to the dead for as yet wee are not passed the bondes of this vnhappie maide vntill we are arriued on another coast Did you heare mee tell you howe that shee lost her life in the water the vastnesse of the Sea through the which wee nowe are carried is the tombe of Leucippe for what do you know may not her ghost wander héere about this shippe For their soules who perish in the waters doo not descend to hell but as it is sayd doo flote aboute the waters And perhaps she may be aboute vs as we do embrace now But doth this séeme a fitte place to you to ende the marriages doo you thinke that they can be soleÌ„nised amongst the boysterous waues and raging billowes of the sea woulde you haue vs to begin our marriages from so vnsure a bedde Then saide Melite by Castor you talke very pretily Truly I doo thinke that any place may be a fitte chamber for louers No place is prescribed to God Cupid wee haue heard that the sea is the most fittest place for his misteries what I praye you was not his mother gotten of the sea Wherfore I thinke wée should doo an acceptable thing vnto this god if we honour his mother so much as to finish our nuptialls in this place For are not they your ropes and cordes which tye the maste the crospéece and the sayle yard present tokens and signes of our mariage why then doo we differre it is it not the best signe of all to beginne ones marriage vnder the yoke the cables are tyed togither and the masts erected by them that is an argument too that fortune would haue vs celebrate theÌ„ héere behold Neptune maried his wife Amphitrite in the sea the troupes of the Nereides did accompany them and the swéete murmuring of the windes about the cables did seeme to sing the bridall song to Hymenaeus doo not you sée the sayle which doth swell as it were like a belly great with child which I trulye do hold tokens of good lucke coniecturing that it will come to passe that shortlye you shall be a father Wherefore when I saw her so ready for it lette vs dispute thus Melite vntill we do come to the land Moreouer I doo sweare vnto thée againe by the sea and by the good fortune of this our iourney that my desire is of no other then of thée if Leucippe be not aliue and now we must kéepe the lawes of the seas for I haue often heard it reported of marriners that a shippe ought to be kept cleane and voyd from all libidinous actes eyther that they bée holye or else because we ought not to deale any thing lasciuiously among those daungers which are alwaies readie at the sea let not vs therefore defile the sea with our marriages or mingle terrour to our nuptiall rites we will not be the séekers of our owne mishaps if the ioy doo not fall out which we do expect Which when I had said soothing her vp with kisses I brought her to be of my opinion the rest of the night we spent in sléepe The first day from our departure we arriued at Ephesus where I did beholde the magnificent house of Melite the rich furniture the stately hangings the great number of Seruants when wee were come home shee appoynted a sumptuous feast to be made and in the meane while shée carried me forth of the Citie about halfe a mile into the countrey whither we both did ride in a coach to take the ayre when we came thither we went to walke vnder a most pleasant thicket of trées so artificially planted that on what side soeuer you did looke they stood all of euen rowes as we were walking together there came vnto vs a maide heauie loden with chaines carrying a spade her haire cut her body all ill fauoured in long and ragged garments and falling down at our feete she cried O mistris take pittie vpon me and deliuer me which once was free but now am bound since it hath pleased fortune to haue it so with that shee helde her tongue Then said Melite rise vp good woman and tell me who thou art what countreywoman and who he was which bound thée thus for thy countenance although thou be plucked down with aduersitie doth shew that thou art nobly borne Then answered she the steward of your house did binde me thus because I would not submit my selfe to his filthie desire I am a Thessalian borne my name is Lacaena to you humbly intreating do I giue my whole estate deliuer me then from these miseries wherewith you see I am oppressed and let mee be your creditour vntill I pay you two hundred peeces of money for so much did Softhenes giue for me when he bought me of the pirates which beléeue me I will pay you againe so soone as I can in the meane time let me intreate you to accept of my seruice humbly beséeching you to beholde how hardly hee hath vsed me then turning her backe and putting off her vpper garment she shewed her backe full of great wales blâ—w strokes which when I had heard I was greatly astonished for she séemed to represent Leucippe in countenance But Melite bad her be of good chéere saying I will deliuer thee from these miseries and afterwards thou shalt dwell with me at home Presently they caused Softhenes to be sent for and to deliuer her from these bonds but Softhenes béeing afraide with so sodaine a message came in presence to whom Melite sayd Thou vile varlet when didst thou sée me vse the meanest seruant I had in so hard a manner but tell me quickly laying all untruthes and dissemblings aside what she is I knowe not truely mistresse what she is a merchant whose name was Callisthenes solde her to me saying that he bought her of pirates assuring also that shee was a frée woman her name was Lacaena Melite dispossessed her steward of his office made her one of her chéefest maides caused her to be washed and apparrelled in a new gowne and brought into the
citie Then hauing giuen certain instructions about her husbandrie for which cause chéefely shee came thither she returned in her coach home to the Citie when supper was brought in we sate downe but Satyrus séemed by his countenance to haue some weighty matter to speake vnto me priuily made a signe to me to rise wherefore I fained as though I went to exonerate my belly I came forth but Satyrus saying not a word gaue me a letter which being sealed before I could breake it open a chill colde did shiuer through my bones for the letter was written with Leucippes hande after this manner Leucippe to her maister Clitiphou sendeth salutations DO not maruel though I cal you maister for with what other name I should call you I know not since you are my mistresses Husbande although you doo not very well know the great troubles which I haue suffered for your sake yet I thought it necessarie to certifie you of a few things for your sake I left my mother and vndertooke with you a voiage for your cause I was a sacrifice and after fell into the hands of pyrates I suffered shipwracke and also I suffered another kinde of death for your sake also I was bound in iron chaines I caried a spade I digged the ground and was scourged that you might become another womans husband and I another mans wife but I pray the gods forbid it I haue indured these calamities with a valiant minde but you not hurt free from wounds go about to solace your selfe with new marriages But if you thinke I deserue any thanks at all for these mishaps which I haue suffered request your wife that I may be set free as shee hath promised and pay her the money which Sosthenes laide out for me and because I am not farre from Byzantium take care that I may be carried thither and if you do not beleeue me thinke that my troubles are satisfied with this one thing Fare well The gods send you ioy of your new marriage These do I write vnto you being yet a Virgin WHen I had read the letter my minde was distracted into a thousand parts I did burne in loue waxe pale and sometime maruailed otherwhiles I did beleeue the letters being perplexed betwéene feare and ioy Then said I to Satyrus what hast thou brought this letter to mée from hell or what do these meane What is Leucippe aliue Yea said Satyrus and that is she which you saw bound in the countrey but the cutting of her haire hath so disguised her that she can scant be knowne of any why dost thou saide I fill mine eares with such good newes and will not shew mee my chéefest felicitie Be silent said Satyrus and dissemble the matter cunningly least you cast vs all away before some more surer counsell be had in the matter you sée that this is the chéefest woman in the citie and almost madde for your loue and we are now betwéene the two nettes destitute of all hope I cannot saide I for a delight and pleasure is spread throughout al the vaines of my body the letter doth expostulate with me Wherefore I red ouer the letter againe and answered in particular euery thing as if she had bin present being now absent Thou speakest to me O most swéet Leucippe and where thou didst write this thou hast suffred all these misfortunes for my sake I must néedes confesse I was the author of all these thy miseries but when I came to these words which contained the reproches and hard measure offred to her of Softhenes I wept as bitterly as if I had stood by séene them For y e cogitations turning the very edge of y e mind to those things which are signified in the paper doth represent to y e mind those things which are written no otherwise theÌ„ if they wer opposite before the eyes But when shée obiected my mariage a blushing red did couer all my face as if I had béen taken in manifest adulterie the very letters had mooued me so farre Then turning to Satyrus I cryed Alas what shall I doo what excuse shall I vse now Satyrus We are now takeÌ„ manifestly Leucippe knoweth all and I pray god her loue do not begin to be turned into hatred But I would willingly know how she escaped safe the pyrates hands whose carcase y t was which wée buried TheÌ„ sayd Satyrus she will tell you all at more leysure but necessity biddeth you to write back pacifie her for I did sweare y t willingly you would not marry Melite what hast thou tolde that I am maried now thou hast vndoone me for as yet all the whole cittie is ignorant of my mariage Moreouer I do sweare by Hercules and my good fortune that I am not maried to her Then said Satyrus I hope sir you doo but iest as though it is not manifestly knowne that you haue bin in bed togither But I know said I that I speak of greater knowledge for Melite hath not enioyed mee according to her will But first tell mée what I shuld write for this change hath wonderfully mooued me so much as y t I know not what I may do Then said Satyrus I am not wiser then you therefore beginne to write loue will indite the rest but dispatch as soone as you can and haue very great care what you set down wherefore I wrote a letter after this forme Clitiphon to Leucippe sendeth salutations AL health to my deare mistresse Leucippe For I present do behold you present but by your letters as though you were absent The selfe-same thing doth make me happy and wretched But if omitting all other things thou wiâ—t looke into the truth of the matter making no preiudice of me you shaâ—l find that my virginitie if there be any virginitie of men hath followed your example but if for a wroÌ„g cause you begin to hate me I earnestly beseech you that you would change your opinion For I do promise as the gods be my helpers that it will come to passe that you shall verily knowe that I am in no fault Farwell And let me vnderstand from you that you be fauourable to me THe letters being writteÌ„ and sealed vp I gaue theÌ„ to Satirus to conuey requesting him to speake no more of me theÌ„ becommed him being thus full of pleasure sorrow I returned to supper but it came into my minde how that Melite would not let me depart that night because the marriage was not full finished betwéene vs neither could it be that Leucippe being found I should once looke vpon another Wherefore I determined to set my couÌ„tenance so as y t she might knew my mind to be changed and least she should enforce my promise for I fained that I had caught a shaking with a cold Melite although she perceiued that I went about to séeke an occasion because I would not kéepe my promise yet she could not openly conuince me Wherefore not hauing supped I rose vp â—o go