Circes inchantments if thou lendest but one fréendly looke it will be more estéemed of him than life Why but Doralicia and with that she sate stil as one in a trance building Castles in the aire hanging betwéen feare and hope trust and dispaire doubt assurance to rid her selfe therfore froÌ„ these dumps she tooke her Lute whereupon she plaied this dittie IN time we see that siluer drops The craggy stones make soft The slowest Snaile in time we see Doth creepe and clime aloft With feeble puffes the tallest pine In tract of time doth fall The hardest hart in time doth yeeld To VENVS luring call Where chilling frost alate did nip There flasheth nowe a fire Where deepe disdaine bred noysome hate There kindleth nowe desire Time causeth hope to haue his hap What care in time not easde In time I loath'd that now I loue In both content and pleasde Doralicia hauing ended her dittie laid down her Lute and betooke her to her former passions wherein shee had not long plodded but shee determined to write vnto mée with as much spéed as might be framing her Letters to this effect Doralicia to Arbasto health WEighing with my selfe Arbasto that to be vniust is to offer iniurie to the Gods and that without cause to be cruell is against all conscience I haue thought good to make amendes for that which is amisse and of a fained foe to become thy faithfull fréend for since the receit of thy Letters calling to minde the perfection of thy bodie and perfectnes of thy mind thy beautie and vertue thy curtesie and constancie I haue béene so snared with fancie and fettered with affection as the Idea of thy person hath pinched mee wyth most haplesse passions If I haue béene recklesse of thy good will I repent mee if ruthles thorow cruell spéeches I recant them as one louing now that of late I loathed and desiring that which euen now I despised which as often as I call to mind I can not but blushe to my selfe for shame and fall out with my selfe for anger But the purest Diamond is to be cut before it be worne the Frankencense is to be burnt before it be smelt louers are to be tried before they be trusted least shining like the Carbuncle as though they had fire yet beeing toucht they prooue passing colde for the minde by tryall once scowred of mistrust becommeth more fitte euer after to beléefe so that Arbasto as I haue pined thée with bitter pils I will nowe pamper thee with swéete potions as I haue galled thée with crueltie I will heale thée with curtesie yea if thy good nature can forget that which my ill tongue doth repent or thy most constant kindnesse forgiue that my vnbridled furie did commit I will counteruaile my former discurtesie with insuing constancie I will be as readie after to take an iniurie as I was to giue an offence thou shalt find my loue duetie such and so grett as either Doralicia can performe or Arbasto desire And thus committing my life and my liuing into your hands I attende thine answere and rest more thine than her owne Doralicia The Messenger by whom she sent this message making spéede to performe his Mistresse commaunde arriued within few dayes at Denmark where deliuering me the Letter I was greatly amazed at the sight thereof musing what the contents should be at last vnripping the seales I perceiued to what Saint Doralicia bent her deuotion but the showre came too late when the grasse was withered yet I stood for a time astonished houering betweene loue and hate But at the last such lothsome misliking of her former curtesie so incensed my mind that to displease her and to despight Fortune I returned her spéedily this hateful answere To Doralicia neither health nor good hap I Receiued thy Letter Doralicia which no sooner I reade with mine eie but I threw into the fire with my hande least by viewing them I should grow into great furie or by kéeping them shew thee any friendship For we shunne the place of pescilence for feare of infection the eies of the Catharismes because of diseases the eyes of the Corkatrice for feare of death Cyrces drinkes are dreadfull charmes and Syrens tunes doubting inchantments should I not then eschew thy alluring baits when thou hast galled me with the hooke yes I will and must least I be intrapped wyth thy subtiltie or intangled with thy sorcerie Truely Doralicia that once I loued thée I cannot denie that now beeing frée I should fall to such folly I more than vtterly refuse for as before I liked thée in constant hope so now I leath with hatefull contempt comparing thy cursed nature to the herbe Basil which both ingendereth Serpents and killeth them so the shew of thy vertue inflamed me with loue but the tryall of thy vanitie hath quenched it with hate Hate yea I more then hate thée most cruell and ingratefull Monster whose beautie I hope was giueÌ„ thée of the Gods as well to procure thine owne miserie as others mishap which if I might liue to sée as Infortunio did by Eriphila I woulde thinke I did leade my haples life to a most happy end Thus thou seest I account of thy loue and accept of thy Letters esteeming the one as filthie chaffer and the other as forged charms and saying to them bothe that proffered seruice stinkes Waste more wind I will not to spend more time is most ill spent therefore take this as a farewell that if I heare of thy good hap I liue displeased if of thy mis-fortune content if of thy death most sorrowfull that the Gods did not giue thée many daies and much distresse so wishing thée what spight either Fortune or the Fates can affoord Adiew Sworne thy foe till death Arbasto Doralicia hauing receiued these Letters and reade the contents was so impatient in her passions that shée fell into a frenzie hauing nothing in her mouth but Arbasto Arbasto euer doubling this word with such pittifull cryes scriches as would haue mooued any but me to remorse she continued not in this case long before shee died But I alas leading a lothsome life was more cruellie crossed by Fortune for Egerio conspiring with the Péeres of my Realme in shorte time by ciuill warres dispossessed me of my crown and kingdome Forced then to flee by mine owne Subiects after some trauaile I arriued at this place where considering wyth my selfe the fickle inconstancie of vniust Fortune I haue euer since liued content in this Cell to despight Fortune one while sorrowing for the mishappe of Myrania and another while ioying at the misery of Doralicia but alwaies smiling that by contemning Fortune I learne to leade her in tryumph Thus thou hast hearde why in meane estate I passe my dayes content rest therefore satisâ—fied that thus I haue liued and thus I meane to die
in this that still she change Hir sweetest gifts time prooues but sowre I liue in care crost with her guile Through her I weepe at her I smile The old sire hauing with sighes sobbed out this sorrowfull dittie I was driuen into a maze what the contrarie contents of these verses should meane vntill at last casting his eye aside and séeing me stand so solemnlie he burst forth into these chollericke termes Friend quoth he if I may so terme thée thou hast eyther not heard much or learned very little either thy curtesie is small or thy conditions too currish that séekest to come to counsell before thou be called If the secrecie of my Cell or the reuerence of my age or thy small acquaintance with me were not sufficient to holde thée from preasing so nigh yet séeing me thus solemnly perplexed thou mightest for modestie sake haue left me to my secret and sorrowfull passions If it be the custome of thy Countrey to be so discourteous I like not the fruite of such a soyle If thy owne reckles follie to be thus rash I craue not to be acquainted with such a bold guest but whether it be as thou cammest in without my leaue I wishe thée to goe out by iust commaund He had no sooner vttered these words but he was readie to take vppe the picture if I had not hindered him with this replie Sir ê™ I where the offence is confessed there the fault is halfe pardoned and those facts that are committed by ignoraunce alwaies claime them pardons by course I graunt that I haue beene much too rash but I repent and therefore hope you will take the lesse offence and the sooner excuse my follie faults committed by will gaine oft times but a checke then mine doone by ignorance shall I hope escape without a mate Penalties are enioyned by the will more than by the worke and thinges doone amisse saith Tullie euer ought to be measured by the intent and not by the méere action Which considered if my presence hath béene preiudiciall to your passions I hope you will think I offended as a stranger and will pardon mee as one sorrie for so rash an enterprise The olde man very attentiuelie hearing my talke hauing somewhat digested his choller rysing vppe from his seate made me this friendly answer Friend ê™ he all is not gold that glisters the smoothest talk hath oft times the smallest trueth the Sunne when it glistreth most bright then bréedeth the greatest showre when the Bore laieth down his bristles theÌ„ he meaneth to strik The Painter casteth the fayrest colour ouer the foulest boord and strangers flatterings are oft times but méere fallacions yet whither thy talke be truth or tales whither thou commest to note my passions as a spie or hast by chaunce hit into my Cell as a stranger I care not for if thou enuie me as a foe I force thée not in that I feare not the spight of Fortune if thou muse at my suddaine motions as one desirous to be acquainted with my case it shall little auaile thée to heare it and be a great griefe for me to rehearse it O sir ê™ I if my credite might be such as without desert to obtaine so much fauour or if the Prayer of a poore stranger might preuaile to perswade you to vnfold the cause of these your suddaine passions I should thinke my former trauels counteruailed with this your friendly curtesie It is good indéed ê™ he by other mens harmes to learne to beware Phoebus had neuer béen so warie of Vulcane if Mars his mishap had not bid him take héede Vlisses had not so wisely eschewed Circes charms if he had not séene before his fellowes trans-formed and perhaps the hearing of my former cares may frée thée from ensuing calamitie I haue béen my selfe a Prince which am nowe subiect vnto power alate a mightie Potentate and now constrained to liue vnder a seruile law not coÌ„tented ere while with a princelie Pallace nowe sufficiently satis-fied with a poore Cell and yet this present want excéedes my wonted weale I then had too much in penury and now I lack in superfluitie being cloyed with aboundance yet hauing nothing in that my mind remaineth satis-fied Fortune yea Fortune in fauouring me hath made me most infortunate Syrenlike hiding vnder musick misery vnder pleasure paine vnder mirth mourning like the sugred Honicombe which while a man toucheth he is stoong with Bées She presenteth fayre shapes which proue but fading shadowes shee proffereth Mountaines and perhaps keepeth promise but the gaines of these golden Mines is losse misery None rode on Seianus horse which got not mishap None toucht the golde of Tholossa whom some desaster chaunce did not assaile neither hath any béen aduanced by fortune which in time hath not béen crossed with some haples calamitie I speake this by experience which I pray the gods thou neuer try by proofe for he onlie is to be thought happy whom the inconstant fauour of Fortune hath not made happy The Picture which thou séest heere is the perfect counterfaite of her inconstant conditions for she like to the Polype Fysh turneth herselfe into the likenes of euery obiect and with the Camelion taketh her whole delight in change beeing sure in nothing but in this that shee is not sure Which inconstancie after I had known by too much proofe I began to arme my selfe against her guiles and to count her fauning flatterie and her frownes of no force not to accept her as a friende but to despise her as a foe and in despight of her fained deitie to oppose my selfe against her fickle power which I haue found the greatest shielde to shrowde me from her secret iniuries I haue left my Pallace and taken me to a simple Cell in the one I found often displeasure but in the other neuer but contentation From a Prince of the earth I am become a Priest to the Gods séeking only by this obscure life to please my selfe and displease Fortune whose picture when I sée I wéepe that I was so fonde as to be subiect to such a seruile Dame and I laugh that at last I triumph bothe ouer myne owne affections and ouer Fortune Thus friend since thou hast hearde the cause of my care cease off to enquire farther in the case passe from my Cell and leaue me to my passions for to procure my griefe and not thy gaine were to offer me double losse After he had vttered these wordes perceiuing by his parle that he was a mighty Prince I beganne with more reuerence to excuse my rashnes framing my talke to this effect I am sorrie ê™ I if sorrowe might be amendes for that which is amisse that my hastie follie hath offended your highnesse and that my poore presence hath béen preiudiciall to your princely passions but since the fault once committed may be repented but not reclaimed I hope your highnesse will pardon my vnwitting wilfulnes and take had I will for an excuse of so
suddaine an offence which graunted the desire I haue to heare of your strange happe doth make mee passe manners in being importunate with your Maiestie to heare the tragicall chance of this your strange change Well ê™ hee since thy desire is such and time allowes me conuenient leysure sit downe and thou shalt heare what trust there is to be giuen to inconstant Fortune Arbasto VNtill I waxt weary of my diademe ê™ he I was king of the famous Countrey of Denmarke wherein after Bosphorus deceassed for so was my father called I raigned in happie prosperitie comming to the Crowne at the age of one and twentie yeeres beeing so honoured of my Subiects for my vertue and so loued for my courtesie as I did not onely gaine the harts of mine own Countrimen but also win the good wil of strangers I could not complaine of lack in that my greatest want was store I feared not the force of forraine foes for I knew none but were my faithful friendes I doubted no mis-fortune for I coulde sée no waie for me to mishap nay if I had béene wise I might the more haue feared miserie in that I was so fullie pampered vppe with felicitie But I poore wretch was not daunted with anie dread because I sawe no present danger I thought the sea being calme there could come no tempest that from the cléere aire could ensue no storme that quiet ease was not the mother of dissention and that where Fortune once tuned in the strings could neuer be found any discorde But O fond and infortunate Arbasto for so is my name and therfore infortunate in that thou art Arbasto thou now hast tried though by haplesse experience that when Nilus filleth vp his bounds ensueth a dearth when the Angelica is laden with most seede then hee dieth when musicke was heard in the Capitoll then the Romanes were plagued wyth pestilence when Circes proffered most gifts shee pretended most guile and that when Fortune hath depriued thee of moste care then shee meanes to drowne thee in the greatest calamitie for as thus I safelie floated in the Seas of securitie and bathed in the stréames of blysse Fortune thinking at length to giue me the mate began thus to prosfer the check I hauing but one onely brother called Tebaldo whom forced by nature I most entirely loued and liked who soiourned in Frannce as one desirous to see the manners of strange Countries to furnish himselfe wyth al qualities fit for a worthy Gentleman I vnhappily receiued newes that he was cowardly without cause slain in the French Court which so appalled my sences as nature most cruelly exclaimed against Fortune in so much that scorched with the flame of spéedie reuenge contrarie to the counsaile of my nobles with a resolute mind I determined to inuade France and either to bring the whole realme to ruine or els to hazard life and limme in the battell well no perswasion beeing able to driue me from this setled determination I caused my Ships to be rigged and with as much spéede as might be sayled into France with a great nauie where I had no sooner landed my soldiers but as a professed foe crauing no other recoÌ„pence for my brothers death but their destruction I burnt their borders fired their forts rased their Townes and Cities to the earth vsing no mercie but this that hauing depriued them of their possessions I also bereaued them of their liuesâ— Pelorus hearing with what violence I had inuaded his lande for so the French king was called fearing that he was not able to withstand my force séeing that Fortune so fauoured my enterprise passed spéedily with hys whole host vnto Orleance whither I hasted being not greatly resisted laying valiantly a strong siege to the citie which after I had diuers times assaulted had so shaken the walls with Cannon shot that they were forced to strengthen them with new counter mures Pelorus halfe daunted with my desperat attempts coueted secretly to conclude a peace to colour therfore this his intent with a false shadowe he spéedily dispatched an Heralde to intreat a truce for thrée moneths which being vnhappily graunted and therefore vnhappily because graunted it was lawfull for them of Denmarke peaceably to passe into the Cittie and for them of Orleance quietly to come into our Campe. While thus the truce continued I beeing desirous to take a viewe of the French Court accompanied with my Nobles went to Pelorus who willing to shewe his martiall courage by vsing courtesie to his foe gaue me very sumptuous and courteous entertainment But alas such desaster hap ensued of this my fond desire that death had béene thrise more welcome theÌ„ such endles distresse For Pelorus had onely two daughters the eldest called Myrania the yongest named Doralicia so faire and well featured as Venus would haue beene iealous if Adonis had liued to sée their beauties But especiallie louely Doralicia and therefore more louely because I so entirely loued was so beautified with the gifts of nature and so adorned with more then earthly perfection as she séemed to be framed by nature to blemish nature and the beauty had skipt beyond her skil in framing a péece of such curious workmanshippe for that which in her respecting her other perfections was of no price woulde be counted in others a pearle her greatest want woulde in others bee thought a store so that if any thing lacked in her it was not to be sought for in any earthly creature This Doralicia beeing appointed by vniust Fortune to be the instrument of my fall accoÌ„panied with her sister Myrania and other Ladies came into the Chamber where her father I was at parle whose gorgious presence so appaled my sences that I stood astonished as if with Perseus shield I had béene made a sencelesse picture not knowing from whence this suddaine and vncertaine passion should procéed yet this fond affection I felt to rule my fancie that as the Dormouse can not shut his eies as long as he lieth in the beames of the Sun as the Deare can not cease from braying where the herbe Moly groweth so could not I but stare on the face of Doralicia as long as her beauty was such an heauenly obiect Shee narrowlie marking my gazing lookes straight perceiued that I was galled therfore to shewe how lightly she accounted of my liking passed out of the Chamber with a coye and courtlie countenance but Myrania as one perceiuing and pittying my passions séemed with her lookes to say in hart Arbasto farewell These two Goddesses beeing gone féeling my minde somewhat perplexed I tooke my leane of Pelorus and departed Comming home to my Tent fraught with a thousand toyish fancies I began to coniecture what should be the cause of these contrarie motions the effect I felt the occasion I could not find applying therfore a contrary salue to my sore it did rather increase than cure the maladie for companie was a corsiue not a comfort thinking Musick shoulde be a
others mishaps to beware for shee that loueth in hast oft times nay alwaies repenteth at leysure The Hippians anointing themselues with the fat of the Fish Mugra passe through most furious flames without any perrill The people called Psilli as long as the sacrifice vnto Vesta can be hurt with no venimous Serpents Telephus as he wore the counterfeit of Pallas shielde was inuulnerable and thou as long as thy minde is fraughte with the chaste thoughts of Diana canst neuer be fired with the haples flame of Venus arme thy selfe with reason and thou mayst passe through Cytheria without daunger let thy will and wit be directed with aduised counsaile and thou maist say Cupid I defie thée Ah Myrania things are soone promised but not so casilie performed it is easie to sound the victory but passing hard to obtaine the conquest all can say I would ouercome but few or none returne with triumph Beauty is therfore to be obeied because it is beautie and loue to be feared of men because honored of the Gods Dare reason abide the brunte when beautie bids the battell can wisedome win the fielde when loue is Captaine No no loue is without law and therefore aboue all lawe honored in heauen feared in earth and a very terror to the infernall Ghostes Bow then vnto that Myrania wherunto lawlesse necessitie doth bend be not so fond as with Xerxes to bind the Ocian Sea in fetters fight not with the Rascians against the winde seeke not with them of Scyrus to shoote against the stars contende not with Niobe against Latona nor striue not with Sapho against Venus for loue being a Lord lookes to commaund by power and to be obeyed by force Trueth Myrania but what then to loue is easie and perhaps good but to like well is hard a doubtfull chance fancie thy fil fond foole so thou bend not thy affection to thy fathers foe for to loue him who séekes his life is to war against nature and Fortune Is there none woorthy to be thy pheere but Arbasto the cursed enemie to thy Countrey can none win thy good will but the bloodie wretch who séeketh to bréed thy fathers bane can the Eagle the bird Osiphage builde in one trée will the faulcon and the doue couet to sit on one pearch will the Ape the Beare be tied in one tedder will the foxe and the lambe lie in one den no they want reason and yet nature suffers them not to liue against nature wilt thou then be so wilfull or witles as hauing reason to guide nature yet to be more vnnaturall then vnreasonable creatures be sure if thou fal in this thou striuest against the gods and in striuing with them looke for a most sharpe reuenge Tush I know this but hath not loue set down his sentence and shal I appeale froÌ„ his censure shall I deny that which the destenies haue decréed no for though Cydippa rebelled for a time yet she was forst at last to make sute to Venus for a pardon I may séek to hate Arbasto but neuer find where to begin to mislike him And with that such fiery passions oppressed her as shee was faine to sende foorth scalding sighes somewhat to ease her inflamed fancie which being sorowfullie sobbed forth she had begun a fresh to poure forth her pittiful complaints if her sister Doralicia beeing accompanied with other Gentlewomen had not driuen her out of these dumps whom shee no sooner spied but leauing her passions she waxed plesant couering care with conceits and a mourning hart with a merry couÌ„tenance least her sorowful lookes might giue the company occasion to coniecture somwhat was amisse But I alas which felt the furious flames of fancie to broile incessantly within my brest could not so cunningly dissemble my passions but al my Péeres saw I was perplexed for wheras before this sudden chaunce Pelorus mis-fortune procured my mirth now the foile which I reaped by affection draue me to a déeper misery In the day to the increasing of my care I spent the time in sollitarie dumpes in the night affected thoughts and visions suffered mee scarce to slumber for alas there is no greater enemy to the mind than in loue to liue without hope which doubt was the sum of my endles sorrow that in séeing my selfe fettered I could sée no hope at all of my fréedom yet to mittigate my misery I thought to walke from the Campe towarde the Cittie that I might at the least féede my eye with the sight of the place wherein the Mistresse of my hart was harboured taking with me onelie for companie a Duke of my Countrey called Egerio vnto whom I durst best commit my secrete affaires who noting my vnaccustomed passions coniecturing the cause of my care by the outward effects coueting carefully to apply a salue to my sore and to driue me from such drowsie thoughts wakened me from my dumps with this pleasant deuise Sir quoth he I haue often meruailed yet cannot cease to muse at the madnes of those men whom the common people thinke to honour with the glorious title of louers who wheÌ„ rashly they purchase their own mishap in placing their affection where either their disabilitie or the destinies denie successe to their suites doe either passe their daies in endles dolor or preueÌ„t misery by vntimely death If these passionate patients listned a litle to Venus allurments as I to Cupids flatteries few men shold haue cause to call the Gods vniust or women cruell for I think of loue as Mylciades the Athenian did who was wont to say that of all the plagues wherwith the Gods did afflict mortal men loue was the greatest in that they sought that as an heauenly blisse which at last they found their fatall bane Hearing Egerio thus cunningly and couertly to touch me at the quick thought to dally with him in this wise Why Egerio ê™ I dost thou count it a madnes to looue or dost thou thinke him rashe which yéeldeth vnto affection knowest thou not that loue is diuine and therefore commandeth by power and that hee enioyneth by destiny and cannot be resisted I am not of that mind with Mylciades that loue is a plague but rather I thinke hee is fauoured of the gods that is a happy louer Truth ê™ he but who is happie in loue he that hath the happiest successe no for I count him most vnhappy which in loue is most happy Why then Egerio ê™ I thou thinkest him vnhappy in that he loueth Or els may it please your highnes quoth hee I shoulde think amisse for shall I count him fortunate which for one dram of prosperity reapeth a whole pound of misery or shal I estéeme that louer happy whose greatest gaine is but golden griefe nay that is neuer to be called pleasure which is sauced with paine nor that good luck whose guerdon is losse Sith Egerio ê™ I thou doost thus broadly blaspheme against Cupid tell me why thou thinkest ill of loue Because sir quoth
sir quoth she the secret intent of your friendship had beene agreeable to the outward manner of your curtesie wée had without rubbing our memories ere this yéelded you great thanks for your companie but sith you gréet vs with a Iudas kisse we thinke wee haue small cause to gratifie you for your kindnes notwithstanding least you shold accuse vs wholie of discourtesie we say we thank you whatsoeuer wée think and with that she cast on me such a louing looke as she seemed to play loth to depart Well they now returning to the Court and I now retiring to the Campe féeling my self déeply perplexed yet as much as I could dissembled my passions willing in loue not to be counted a louer iesting therefore with Egerio I thus began to draw him on How now Egerio ê™ I hath not the beautie of these faire Ladies brought you from your fonde heresie will you not be content for blaspheming of Looue in pennaunce to carrie a burning Faggot before Cupid me thought your eyes were gazing wheresoeuer your hart was gadding but tell mee in good troth is not Doralicia worthy to be loued Yes sir quoth he if shee were not Doralicia for as shee is beautifull shee is to bee liked of all but as shee is Pelorus daughter not to be desired of Arbasto least in séeking to gain her loue he get that which he least looketh for Why Egerio quoth I what ill lucke can ensue of loue when I meane not to venture but vppon trust nor to trust without triall Such quoth hee as happened to Achilles by Polexena and yet he feared Priamus But alas sir I sigh to think and I sorrow to sée that reason should yéeld to affection liberty to loue fréedome to fancie that Venus should beare the target and Mars the distaffe that Omphale shoulde handle the club and Hercules the spindle that Alexander shoulde crouch and Campaspe be coy that a warlike mind should yeelde to a little wauering beautie and that a Prince whose prowesse could not be subdued shoulde by loue become subiect at the first shot What Egerio quoth I knowest thou not that hee whem no mortall creature can controule loue can commaund that no dignitie is able to resist Cupids deitie Achilles was invulnerable yet wounded by fancie Hercules not to be conquered of anie yet quicklie vanquished by affection Mars able to resist Iupiter but not to withstande beautie Looue is not onely kindled in the eye by desire but ingrauen in the mind by destenie which neither reason can eschew nor wisdome expell The more pittie quoth hee for poore men and the greater impietie in the gods that in giuing loue frée libertie they graunted him a lawlesse priuiledge But sith Cupid will be obeyed Arbasto is willing to be obedient woulde God loue had either aimed amisse or els had not made Doralicia the marte I not vnwilling that Egerio shoulde be priuie to my passions tolde him that what I spoke was in iest and that if euer I did fancie as yet I knew not what it meant I would vse loue as the Persians did the Sunne who in the morning honor it as a God and at noone-tide curse it as a deuill Concealing thus my care the couered sparks burst into greate flames that comming to my Tent I was forst to cast my selfe vppon my bedde where I sobbed foorth sorrowfullie these wordes Alas Arbasto how art thou perplexed thou both liuest in ill hap and louest without hope thou burnest in desire and art cooled with disdaine thou art bidden to the feast by loue and art beaten with the spit by beautie But what then dost thou count it care which thou sufferest for Doralicia who shameth Venus for her hue and staineth Diana for her chastitie Yea but Arbasto the more beautie she hath the more pride and the more vertue the more precisenesse None must play on Mercuries pipe but Orpheus none rule Lucifer but Phoebus none were Venus in a tablet but Alexander nor none enioy Doralicia but such an one as farre exceedeth thee in person and parentage thou seest she hath denied thy sute disdained thy seruice lightly respected thy loue smally regarded thy liking onely promising this while she liues to be thy professed foe And what then fonde foole wilt thou shrinke for an Aprill shoure knowest thou not that a deniall at the first is a graunt and a gentle answere a flattering floâ—â—e that the more they seeme at the first to loathe the more they loue at the last Is not Venus painted catching at the ball with her handes which shee seemeth to spurue at with her feete Doth not the Mirre tree being hewen yéeld no sap which not mooâ—ed poureth foorth sirop and women beeing woed denie that which of themselues they most earnestlie desire The stone Sandrasta is not so hard but béeing heate in the fire it may be wrought no Iuory so tough but seasoned with Sutho it may be ingraueÌ„ no hawke so haggard which in time may not be called to the lure nor no woman so wilful which by some meanes may not bee won Hope the best then and be bold for Loue and Fortune careth not for cowardes Nay tush Arbasto what needest thou pine thus in haplesse passions or séeke for that with sorrow which thou maist obtaine with a small sute raise vp thy siege grant but conditions of peace shew but a friendlie countenance to Pelorus and he neither will nor dare denie thee his daughter Doralicia Doe this then Arbasto nay I will doe it and that with spéed for now I agree to Tullie that it is good Iniquissimam pacem iustissimo bello anteponere Well being resolued vpon this point I felt my minde disburthened of a thousand cares wherewith before I was clogged feeding my selfe with the hope of that pleasure which when I enioyed sholde recompence my former paine But alas poore Myrania coulde not feele one minute of such ease for she vncessantly turned the stone with Sysiphus rolled on the whéele with Ixion and filled the bottomlesse tubs with Belydes in so much that when shee could finde no meanes to mittigate her maladie shee fell into these bytter complaints Ah Myrania ah wretched wench Myrania how art thou without reason which sufferest reason to yeelde vnto appetite wisedome vnto sensuall wil and a frée mind vnto seruile loue but I perceiue when the Iuie riseth it wreatheth about the Elme when the Hop groweth high it hath need of a poale and when virgins waxe in yeeres they followe that which belongeth to their youth Loue loue yea but they loue expecting some good hap and alas both loue and liue without all hope for Arbasto is my foe and yet if he were my fréend he liketh not mee he looketh onelie vppon Doralicia Sith then Myrania thou art pinched and hast none to pittie thy passions dissemble thy loue though it shorten thy life for better it were to die with griefe than liue with shame The spunge is full of water yet is not seene The leafe
crueltie but as they looked to to haue séene the Iaylor they spyed Myrania in her night gowne which suddaine and vnlooked for sight so appalled their sences as they were driuen into a maze till Myrania wakened them from their dumpes with this sugred harmonie I perceiue Arbasto quoth she that my presence dooth make thee to muze and my suddaine arriuall hath driuen thee into a maze what strange wind should land mee in thys coast In truth thou maist think either my message is great or my modestie little either that I take small care of my selfe or repose verie great trust in thee who at a time vnfit for my calling haue without any guarde come to a stranger a captiue yea and my fathers fatall foe I confesse it is a fault if I were not forst but sith necessitie hath no law I thinke I haue the lesse broken the law But to leaue off these needlesse preamples where delay breedes no lesse daunger then death know this Arbasto that since thy first arriuall at my fathers Court my eyes haue béen so dazeled with the beams of thy beautie and my minde so snared with the viewe of thy vertues as thou onely art the man whoÌ„ in hart I looue and like seeing thée therefore drowned héere by aduerse fortune in most haplesse distresse willing to manifest the loyaltie of my loue in effect which I haue protested in wordes I haue rather chosen to hazard both my life and honour than not to offer thée peace if thou wilt agrée vnto the conditions As my father hath wrought thy woe I will work thy weale as he hath sought thy bale I will procure thy blisse from penurie I will set thee in prosperitie I will frée thee from prison from daunger yea from death it selfe I will in yeelding to loue dissent from nature to leaue my father freendes and Countrey and passe with thee into Denmarke And to cutte off spéeches which might séeme to sauour either of flatterie or deceit as thou art the first vnto whom I haue vowed my loue so thou shalt be the last requiring no méede for my merite nor no other guerdon for my good wil but that thou wilt take mée to thy Wife and in pledge of my trueth sée héere the keyes and all other things prouided for our speedie passage Myrania had no sooner vttered these words but my minde was so rauished as I was driuen into an extasie for ioy seeing that the terror of my death was taken away with the hope of life that from heauines I shoulde bée restored to happines and from most carefull miserie to most secure felicity I therefore framed her this answer Ah Myrania the purest Emeralde shineth brightest when it hath no Oyle and trueth delighteth when it is apparrelled worst Flatter I wil not faithfull I must be willed from the one by conscience and driuen to the other by your curtesie which by howe much the lesse I haue merited it by deserte by so much the more I am bounde to requite it by duetie To decipher in coloured discourses and to painte out with curious shaddowes howe humbly I accept of your offer and howe greatlie I thinke my selfe beholding to the Gods for blessing me with such an happie chaunce what my loyaltia and truth shal be were but to prooue that which your Ladiship hoping of my constancie hath not put in question The guerdon you craue for your good will is such that if your curtesie had not forced me to it by constraint yet your beautie and vertues are so great as fancie woulde haue compelled mee by consent Myrania what thou canst wishe in a true and trusty Louer I promise to performe swearing vnto thee that the floodes shall flowe against their streames the earth shall mount against his course yea my carcasse shal be consumed vnto dust an ashes before my minde shall bee found disloyall and to this I call the Gods to witnesse of whom I desire no longer to liue than I meane simply to loue Oh Arbasto quoth she woulde God I had neuer seene thee or that I may find thy works according to thy wordes otherwise shall I haue cause to wishe I had been more cruell or lesse curteous But loue will not let mee doubt the worst but bids me hope the best yet thus much I may say when Iason was in danger who more faithfull when Theseus feared the Laborinth who more loyall when Demophon suffered shipwracke who more louing but I will not say what I thinke Arbasto because thou shalt not suspect I feare Madame ê™ Egerio Arbasto is my soueraigne I bothe honor and feare him as a subiect yet if he shoulde but once in hart think to be disloyall to Myrania the Gods confound mée with all earthly plagues if I would not of a trustie Freend become his mortall foe It is easie to perswade her Egerio quoth she who already is most willing to beléeue let vs leaue therefore these needelesse protestations and goe to the purpose delay bréedes danger time tarrieth no man speede in necessitie is the best spurre let vs haste therefore till we gette forth of France least if we be preuented if breede my mishap and your fatall miserie Upon this we staied not but shutting the pryson close gotte couertlie out of the Cittie passing through Fraunce with many fearefull perrils which to rehearse were either needlesse or bootlesse suffise this we at last happily arriued at Denmark where how I was welcommed home with triumphes were too long to relate But how Pelorus was perplexed after he knewe of our happy departure though God wot most haples vnto him I refer to thy good consideration to coniecture The old father fretted not so fast in his melancholie but Doralicia chafed as much in her choller blaspheming bitterlie both against me and her sister Myrania but as words breake no bones so wee cared the lesse for her scolding fearing not the noyse of the péece as long as wee were without daunger of the shot Well leauing them to theyr dumpes to vs againe which floted in delight Fickle Fortune hauing now hoysed vs vp to the toppe of her inconstant wheele seeing howe careles I slumbered in the cradle of securitie thought to make mee a verie mirrour of her mutabilitie for shee beganne a freshe to turne my typpet on this wise As dailie I flattered Myrania for fancie her I could not promising with spéed to call a parliament for the confirmation of the mariage I still felt the stumpes of the olde loue I bare Doralicia to stick in my stomacke the more closelie I couered the sparkes the more the flame burst forth I found absence to increase affection not to decrease fancie in the day my minde doted of her vertues in the night I dreamed of her beautie yea Cupid began to encounter mee with so fresh canmizados as by distance my distresse was far more augmented such sighes such sobs such thoughts such paines and passions perplexed mee as I felt the last assault worse
than the former batterie If I loued Doralicia in Fraunce I now liked her thrise better being in Denmark If in presence her person pleased mee nowe in absence her perfection more contented mee To conclude I sware to my selfe with a sollemne sighe Doralicia was is and shall be the Mistresse of my hart in despight of the froward destinies yet amazed at mine owne follie I began thus to muse with my selfe O foolish Arbasto nay rather frantick fondling hast thou lesse reason then vnreasonable creatures the Tyger fléeth the traine the Lyon escheweth the nettes the Déere auoideth the coyles because they are taken with these instruments and art thou so mad as hauing escaped pikes wilfullie to thrust thy selfe into perrill The child being burnt hateth the fire but thou béeing an old foole wilt with the worme Naplitia no sooner come out of the coales but thou wilt leape into the flame But alas what then I sée the measure of loue is to haue no mean and the end to be euerlasting that to loue is allotted to all but to be happy in loue incident to fewe why shall I be so mad to loue Doralicia or so fraught with ingratefull periurie as not to like Myrania the one hath crossed me with bitter girds the other courted me with sweet glaunces Doralicia hath rewarded me with disdain Myrania intreated me with desire the one hath saued my life the other sought my death O Arbasto thou séest the best but I feare like to follow the worst Alas I cannot but loue Doralicia what then what resteth for me to doe but to die with patience séeing I cannot liue with pleasure yea Arbasto die die rather with a secret scar than an open scorne for thou maist well sue but neuer shalt thou haue good successe And yet Lyons fawne when they are clawed the most cruell Tygers stoope when they are tickled and Women though neuer so obstinate yéeld whē they are courted There is no Pearle so hard but vinegar breaketh no Diamonde so stonie but blood molifieth no hart so stiffe but loue weakeneth what though Doralicia sought thy death perhaps now she repents and wil giue thée life though at the first she cast thée a stone she will now throw thée an Apple Why then Arbasto assault her once againe with a freshe charge séeke to get that by Letters which thou couldest not gaine by talke for one line is of more force to perswade then a months parle for in writing thou mayst so set downe thy passions and her perfections as she shall haue cause to thinke wel of thée and better of her selfe but yet so warilie as it shall be harde for her to iudge whither thy loue bee more faithfull or her beautie amiable I haue thus determined with my selfe though as couertlie as I could to conceale my affaires least either Myrania or Egerio should spie my halting conueying therfore my affaires as cunninglie as I could I priuilie sent an Embassadour to Pelorus to intreat for a contract betwéen vs and also to craue his daughter Doralicia in mariage promising to send him Myrania safe vpon this consent and with all I framed a Letter to Doralicia to this effect Arbasto to the fairest Doralicia health SUch and so extreame are the passions of looue Doralicia that the more they are quenched by disdaine the greater flames is increased by desire and the more they are galled with hate the more they gape after looue like to the stone Topazon which being once kindled burneth most vehemētlie in the water I speake this the greater is my griefe by proofe and experience for hauing my heart scorched with the beames of thy beautie and my minde inflamed with thy singular vertue neither can thy bitter lookes abate my looue nor thy extreame discourtesie diminish my affection No Doralicia I am not he that will leaue the swéete Eglantine because it pricks my finger and refuse the golde in the fire because it burnt my hand for the minde of a faithfull loouer is neither to bee daunted with despighte nor afrighted wyth danger but as the Loadstone what wind soeuer doth blow turneth alwaies to the North so the loue of Arbasto is euer more bent to the beautie and vertue of Doralicia whatsoeuer mis-fortune happeneth Yea it fareth with me as wyth the herbe Basill the which the more it is crushed the sooner it springeth or the pure spice wich the more it is pouned the swéeter it smelleth or the Camomil which the more it is troden with the féete the more it florisheth so in these extremities beaten down to the ground with disdaine yet my loue reacheth to the toppe of the house with hope Sith then Doralicia thy beautie hath made the sore let thy bounty applie the salue as thy vertue hath caused my maladie so let thy mercie giue the medicine repay not my constancie with crueltie requite not my loue with hate and my desire wyth despight least thou procure my spéedie death and thy endlesse infamie Thus hoping thou wilt haue some remorse of my passions I attend thy fréendlie sentence and my fatall destinie Thine euer though neuer thine Arbasto As soone as I had written my Letter I dispatcht the Messenger as spéedily and priuilie as might be who within the space of thrée wéekes arriued at Orleance where deliuering his Embassage to Pelorus my letter to Doralicia hee staied for an answer the space of tenne daies in which time Pelorus consulting with his Counsell was verie willing to graunt me his daughter in marriage but that by no meanes he could win the good will of Doralicia seeing therefore no perswasions coulde preuaile hee dispatcht my Messenger with deniall and Doralicia returned mée this frowarde answere Doralicia to Arbasto WHere didst thou learne fonde foole that being forbidden to be bold thou shouldest grow impudent that willed to leaue off thy sute yet thou shouldest be importunate doost thou think with the spaniell by fawning when thou art beaten to make thy foe thy friende no let others déeme of thee what they list I will count thee a cur Doost thou thinke I will be drawn by thy counterfeit conceits as the strawe by the Iet or as the gold by the minerall Chrisocolla no no if thou séekest to obtaine fauour at my hands thou doost striue to wring water out of the Pumniice and doost worke the meanes to increase thine own shame and seueritie for as by instinct of nature there is a secrete hate betwéene the Uine and the Cabbish betweene the Boxe and the Goord and betwéen the yron and the Theamides so in my minde I féele a secret grudge between Arbasto and Doralicia cease then to gape for that thou shalt neuer gette and take this both for a warning and an answer and if thou prosecute thy sute thou doost but persecute thy selfe for I am neither to bee woed with thy passions whilst thou liuest nor to repent me of my rigor when thou art dead For this I sweare that I will neuer
consent to loue him whose sight if I may say with modestie is more bitter vnto me than death Short I am thogh sharpe for I loue not to flatter take this therefore for thy farewell that I liue to hate thee Willing after death if it could be thy foe Doralicia After that the Messenger was returned to Denmarke and that I had receiued and reade the Letter such sundrie thoughts assailed me that I became almost franticke feare dispaire griefe hate choller wrathe desire of reuenge and what not so tormented my minde that I fell to raging against the Gods to rayling at Doralicia and to cursing of all womankind conceiuing such an extreame hate against her as before I loued her not so hartilie as nowe I loathed her hatefullie counting my selfe an vngrate wretch towarde Myrania and calling to mind her beautie vertue her bountie and curtesie I fel more déeply in loue with her than euer with Doralicia so that I coulde not spare one glaunce from gazing vpon her person nor draw my minde from musing on her perfection A suddaine change but alas a sorrowfull chance For Myrania séeing me soused in these sorrowful dumps began straight without casting anie water to coniecture my disease and to shoot at that which indeede she hytte without anie great ayme But as loue is most suspicious so she began to doubt the worst fearing that as yet the beautie of Doralicia was not blotted out of my minde searching therfore narowly what she could eyther heare or learne of my secretes at last she found out that which wrought her finall mishap and my fatall miserie For by lucklesse chaunce leauing the doore of my closet open Myrania thinking to finde me at my Muses stumbled on the copie of my Letter which I sent vnto Doralicia and vpon the answer which I receiued from that ruthles Minion which after shee had reade perceiuing how traiterously I had requited her loue with hate she conueied herselfe couertlie into her Chamber where after shee had almost dimmed her sight with floods of teares and burst her hart with blowing sighes she fel into these complaints O infortunate Myrania O haples Myrania yea O thrise accursed Myrania whom Fortune by spight séeketh to foyle whom the destinies by fate are appointed to plague whom the Gods by iustice will must most cruelly reuenge Thou hast béen a paracide to thy father in séeking to destroy him by thy disobedience thou art a traytor to thy Country in sauing the enemie of the Common welth and thou art a foe to nature in louing disloyall Arbasto and can the Gods but plague these monstrous iniuries no no Myrania thou hast deserued more mishap then either Fortune can or wil affoord thée Ah cruell and accursed Arbasto I sée now that it fareâ—h with thée as with the Panther which hauing made one astonished with his faire sight seeketh to deuâ—ure him wyth bloodie pursute and with me poore wench as it dooth with them that view the Basiliske whose eies procure delight to the looker at the first glimse but death at the second glance Alas was there none to like but thy foe none to looue but Arbasto none to fancie but a periured Dame none to match with but a flattering mate Nowe hath thy lawlesse loue gained a lucklesse end nowe thou triâ—st by experience that the trée Alpina is smooth to be touched but bitter to bee tasted that the fairest Serpent is most infectious the finest colour soonest stained the cléerest glasse most brittle and that louers though they beare a delicate shewe yet they haue a deceitfull substance that if they haue hony in their mouthes yet they haue gall in their harts the more is the pittie in thee to trust without triall and the greater impietie for him to be a traytor beeing so well trusted Is this the curtesie of Denmark towardes friends to intreate them so despightfullie is my good will not onelie reiected without cause but also disdained without colour Alas what shall I doe to this extremitie beeing a forlorne wretch in a forraine Country which way shall I turne me of whoÌ„ shall I seeke remedie Pelorus wil reiect me and why shold he not Arbasto hath reiected me and why should hee the one I haue offended with too much greefe the other I haue serued with too great good will the one is lost with loue the other with hate Pelorus because I cared not for him Arbasto because I cared for him but alas too much And with that she fetcht such a sigh as witnessed a hart pained wyth most intollerable passions yea care and griefe so fiercely and freshly assaulted her as she fell into a Feuer refusing all sustenance wishing and calling for nothing but death While shee thus pined away with gréefe I thought to search out her sore but I could not perceiue the cause of her sorrow onely I did coniecture this that she doubted my Nobles would not consent to our mariage to rid her therefore of this care I presently called a parliament where without anie great controuersie it was concluded This newes being come to the eares of Myrania it no whit decreased her dolor but did rather farre the more augment her distresse which made Egerio to muse draue mee into a great maze so that accompanied with my Nobles I went to comfort her to carrie her newes that if she coulde but come into the Chamber of presence she should there bee crowned Quéene But alas when I came and sawe her so altered in one weeke wasted to the hard bones more like a ghost than a liuing creature I began thus to comfort her Ah Myrania ê™ I more loued of mee then myne owne life and more déere vnto me than my selfe woulde God I might be plagâ—ed with all earthly diseases so I might see thée free from distresse howe can Arbasto bee without sorrow to sée Myrania oppressed with sicknes how can hee but sinke in calamitie to sée her but once toucht with care alas vnfold vnto me thy sore I will apply the salue make me priuie to thy maladie I will procure a medicine If want of welth work thy woe thou hast the kingdom of Denmarke to dispose at thy pleasure if absence from fréends thou hast such a fréende of thy louing spouse Arbasto as death it selfe shall neuer dissolue our loue I had no sooner vttered this worde but Myrania as one possessed with some hellish furie start vp in her bed with staring lookes and wrathfull countenaunce séeming by her raging gestures to bee in a frenzie but béeing kept downe by her Ladies she roared out these hatefull curses O vile wretches ê™ she will you not suffer me in my life to reuenge my selfe on that periured Traytor Arbasto yet shall you not denie me but after death my ghost shal tormeÌ„t him with gastlie visions O thrise accursed caitife doost thou seeme to helpe me with thy scabbard and secretly hurte mee with thy sword dost thou offer me hony openlie and priuilie