it selfe I will in yéelding to loue dissent from nature to leaâ—e my Father friends and Countrie and passe with thee into Deâ—marke And to cut off spéeches which might seeme to sauour either of flattery or deceit as thou art the first vnto whom I haue vowed my loue so thou shalt bâ— the laâ—â— requiring no meed for my merit nor no other gueâ—don for my good will but that thou wilt take mee to thy wife aâ—d in pledge of my truth see heere the keyes and all other things prouided for our spâ—ediâ— passage Myrania had no sooner vttered these wordes but my mind wâ—s so raâ—ished as I was driueâ— into an extasâ—e for ioy seeing that the terrour of my death was taken away with the hope of life that from heaâ—inesse I should â—e â—â—stored to happinesse â—â—d from most carefull miserie to most secure felâ—citie I therâ—fore â—ramed her this answerâ— Ah Myranâ—a â—he purest Cincelle â—â—ineth brightest when it hath no oyle and truth delighteth when it is apparelled worst Flatter I will notâ— faithfull I â—ust be willed from the one by conscience and driuen to the other by your câ—â—â—esie which by how much the lesse I haue meriâ—ed it by desert by so much the more I am bound to requitâ— it bâ— dutie To decipher in colourâ—d discourses and to paint out with curious shaâ—oâ—es how â—uâ—bly I accept of your oâ—fer and how â—reatly I thinke my selfe beholding to the Gods for blessing me wâ—th such an happy chance what my loyaltie and truth shall be were but to proue that which your Ladiship hoping of my constancie hath not put in question The guerdon you craue for your good will is such that iâ— your curtesie had not forced mee to it by constraint yeâ— your beauties and vertues are so great as fancie would haue compelled me by consent Myrania what thou canst wish in a true and trustie Louer I promise to performe swearing vnto thee that the â—louds shall flow against the streames the earth shall mount against his course yea my carcasse shall be consumed vnto dust and ashes before my minde shall be found disloyall and to this I call the Gods to witnesse of whom I desire no longer to liâ—e than I meane simply to loue Oh Arbasto quoth she would God I had neuer séene théeâ— or that I may finde thy workes according to thy wordes otherwise shall I haue cause to wish I had béene more cruell or lesse courteous But loue will not let me doubt the worst but bids mee hope the best yet thus much I may say when Iason was in danger who more faithfull when Theseus feared the Labyrinth 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 fearâ— Madamâ— quoth Egerâ—o Arbasto is my soueraigne and I both honour and â—eare him as a subiect yet if hee should but once in heart thinke to bee disloyall to Myrania the Gods confound mee with all earthly plagues if I would not of a trustie friend become his mortall foe It is easie to perswade her Egerio quoth she who alreadie is most willing to beleeue let vs leaue therefore these needlesse protestations and goe to the purpose delay bréedes danger time tâ—rrieth for no man spéed in necessitie is the best spurre let vs hast therefore till we get forth of France least if we be preuented it breed my mishap and your fatall misery Upon this we stayed not but shutting the prison close got couertly out of the Citie passing throuâ—â— France with many fearefull perils which to rehearse wereâ—â—â—he needlesse or â—ootlesse suffice this wee at last happily arriued at Denmarke where how I was welcommed home with triumphes were too long to relâ—te But how Pâ—lorus was perplexed after he knew of our happy departure thouâ—h God â—ot most haplesse vnto him I referre to thy â—ood consideration to coniecture The old man fretted not so fast in his mâ—lancholy but Doralicia chased as much in her choller blaspheming bitterly both against me and her sister Myrania but as wordes breake no bones so we cared the lesse for her scolding fearing not the noyse of the peece as long as we were without danger of the shot Well leauing them to their dumps to vs again which floated in delight â—ckiâ— Fortune hauing now hoysed vs vp to the top of her inconstant whéelâ— séeing how carâ—lesse I slumbred in the cradle of securitiâ— thought to make me a very mirrour of her mutabilitie for she began a fresh to turne my tyâ—pet on this wise As daily I flattered Myrania for fancie her I could not promising with speed to call a Parliament for the confirmation of the marriage I still felt the sâ—umpes of the old loue I bare Doralicia to sticke in my stomackâ— the morâ— closely I couered the sparkes the more the flame burst forth I found absence to increasâ— affection not to decrease fancy in the day my mind dotâ—d of her vertues in the night I dreamed of her beautie yea Cupid began to encounter mâ— with so fresh canmizados as by distance my distresse was farre more augmented such sighes such sobs such thoughts such paines and passions perplexed me as I felt the last assault worse then the former batterie If I loued Doralicia in France I now liked her thrice better being in Denmarke If in presence her person pleased me now in absence her perfection more contented me To conclude I sware to my selfe with a solemne sigh Doralicia was is and shall be the mistresse of my heart in despight of the froward destinies yet amazed at mine ownâ—â—olly I began thus to muse wiâ—h my selfe O foolish Arbasto nay rather frantike fondling hast thou lesse reason then vnreasonable creatures the Tyger flyeth the traine the Lion escheweth the nâ—ts the Déere auoydeth the coyles because they are taken with these instruments and art thou so mad as hauing escaped pikes wilfully to thrust thy selfe into perill The childe being burnt haâ—eth the fire but thou being an old foole wilt with the worme Naplitia no sooner come out of the coales but leap into the flame But alas what then I sée the measure of loue is to hâ—ue no meane and the end to be euerlastingâ— that to loue is allotted to all but to be happie in loue câ—ntent to feelâ— why shall I bee so mad to loue Doralicia or so frought with ingratefull periury as not to like Myâ—ania the one hath crossed me with bitter girds the other courted mee wiâ—h sweet glaunces Doralicia hath rewarded me with disdaineâ— Myranâ—a intreated me with desire the one hath saued my life the other sought my death O Arbasto thou seest the best but I feare like to follow the worst Alas I cannot but loue Doralicia what then what resâ—eth for me to do but to dyâ— with patience séeing I cannot liue with plâ—asure yea Arbasto die die rathâ—r witâ— a secret scar than an open scorne for â—hoâ— mâ—ist well suâ— but neâ—er shalt thou haue good
way for mee to mishap nay if â— had bâ—en wise I might the more â—aue fâ—ared misery in that I was so fully pampered vp with felicity But I pâ—ore wrâ—tch was not daunted with any dread because I saw no present danger I thought the sea being calme there couâ—d come no tempest that from the cléere ayre 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 discord But O fond and infortunate Arbasto for so I may be called thou now hast tried though by haplesse experience that when Niluâ— filleth vp his bounds ensueth a dearth wheÌ„ the Angâ—lica is laden with most sâ—ed then he dieth when musick was heard in the capitol then the Romans were plagued with pestilence when Circâ—s proferred most gifts shee presentâ—d most guile and when Fortune hath depriued thée of most care then she meanes to drowne thée in the greatest calamitie For as thus I safely floated in the seas of securitie and bathed in the â—treames of blisse Fortune thinking at length to giue me the mate began thus to profer the cheâ—ke I had but one onely brother called Tâ—baldo whom forced by nature I most intirely loued and liked who soiâ—urned in Fraunce as one desirous to sée the manners of strange Countries and to furnish himselfe with all qualities fit for a worthy Gentleman But on a sudden I happily receiued newes that he was cowardly without cause slaine in the Court which so appaled me as nature most cruelly exclaimâ—d against fortune in so much that contrary to the counsell of my Nobles with a resolute mindâ— I determined to inuade France and either to bring the whole Realme to ruine in reuenge or else to hazard life limme in the battel well no perswasion being able to driue me from this sâ—â—led determination I caused my ships to be rigged and with as mâ—â—h spéed as might bée sailed into France with a great Nauie wherâ— I had nâ— sooner laâ—ded my souldiers but as a professed foe crauing no other râ—cempence for my brothers death but their deâ—truction I 〈◊〉 their bordeâ—s fired their forts rased their Townes and â—â—ties to the earth vsing no mercy but thiâ— that hauing depriued thâ—m of their possessions I also bereaued them oâ— their liues Pelorus hearing with what violence I had inuaded his land for so the Fâ—â—nch king was called fearing that he was not able to withstand my foâ—ce séeing that Fortune so fauoured my enterprise passed spéâ—dily with his whole host vnto Orleance whither I â—asted being not greatly resisted laying valiantly a strong slege to the Citie which â—fter I had diuers times assaulted and so shaken the walles with Camion shot that they were force to strengâ—hen them with nâ—w couâ—termâ—â—es Pelorus halfe daunted with my desperate attempts coueted secretly to conclude a peace to coloâ—â— therefore this his intent with a false shadow he spéedily dispatched 〈◊〉 Herald to intreat a truce for thrée monâ—ths which being vnhappiâ—â— granted and therefore vnhappily because granted it was lawfull foâ— them of Denmarke peaceably to passe into the Citie and for them of Orleance quietly to come into our Campe. While thus the trucâ— continuedâ— I being desirous to take a view of the French Court accompanied with my Nobles went to Pelorus who willing to shew hiâ— martiall courage by vsing curtesie to his foe gaue me very sumptuâ—uâ— and courteous entertainement But alas such mischiefe ensued of this my fond desire that death had beene thrice more welcome then such distresse For Pelorus had onely two daughters the eldest called Myrania the youngest named Doralicia so faire and well featured as Venus would haue beene iealous if Adonis had liued to sée their beauties But especially loâ—ely Doralicia and therefore more louely because I so intirely loued her For shee was so beautified with thâ— gifts of nature and adorned with more then earthly perfection aâ— she séemed to be framed by nature to blemish nature and that beauty had skipt beyond her skill in framing a péece of such curious workemanship for that which in her respecting her other perfections waâ— of no price would bee counted in others a pearle her greatest want would in others be thought a store so that if any thing lacked in her it was not to be sought for in any earthly creature This Doralâ—cia being appointed by vniust Fortune to bee the instrument of my fall accompanied with her sister Myrania and other Ladies came into the Chamber where heâ— father and I was at parlâ— whose gorgious presence so appaled by sâ—â—ses that I stood aâ—tonished as if with Perseus shiâ—ld I had béene mâ—â—e a senselesse piâ—ture For as the Dormousâ— cannot shut her eyes as long as he lyeth in the beames of the Sunne as the Dâ—ere cannot câ—â—sâ— them braying wheâ—e the â—earbe Mâ—ly groweth so could not I but stare on the face of Doralicia aâ— long as her beautie was such an heauenly obiect Shee narrowlâ— marking my gazing â—ookes 〈◊〉 â—erceiued that I was galâ—ed and therefore to show how lightly shâ— accounted of my likingâ— passed out of the Chamber with a coy and Courtly countenaâ—â—â— but Myraniâ— as one perceiuing and pittyâ—ng my passions séemed with her lookes to say in heartâ— Aâ—basto farewell These two Goddesses being gone fâ—â—ling my mind somwhâ—t perplexed I tooke my leaue of Peloruâ— and departed Comming home to my Tent â—raught with a thousand toyish fancies I beganne to câ—â—iecture what should bee the cause of these contrary motions the â—â—â—ect I felt the occasion â— could not finde applying therefore a contrary â—alue to my sore it did rather increase than cure the mâ—ladie for company was a corrasâ—ue not a comfort and to be solitary the â—inke of all sorrow â—or then strange thoughts vâ—acquaintâ—d passions pinching fancies waking visions slumbring watchings disquieted my head Me thought I saw the counterfait oâ— Doralicia before mine eies then the harmony of her spéech sounded in mine eares her lookâ— her gestures yeâ— all her actionâ— were particularly deciphered by a secrâ—t imaginatiâ—n Wrapped thus in a labyrinth of endlesse fancies when reason could not suppresâ—â— will nor wisedome controll affectionâ— I cast my cards and found by manifest proofe that the lunaticke fit which so distempered my brains was that frantick passion which fooles â— Poets cal loueâ— which knowâ—e blaming my selfe of cowardise yâ— beauty shold make me bend I fâ—l at last into these terms Why Aâ—basto art thou so squemish that thou canst not sée Wine but thou must surfet canst thou not draw nye the fire and warmâ— thée but thou must with Satyrus kisse it and burne thee art thou so little master of thy affections that if thou gaze on a picture thou must with Pigmalion be passionate canst thou not passe through Paphos but thou must offer incense to Venus doost thou thinke it iniurie to Cupid to looke if thou doost not loue Ah fond foole knowe this fire is to be vsed but not to
left me to my secret and sorrowful passions If it be the custome of thy Country to be so discourteousâ— I like not the fruit of such a soyle If thy owne folly to be thus rash I craue not to be acquainted with such a bold guest but whether it be or no as thou camest in without my leaue I wish thé◠to goe out by iust command He had no sooner vttered these words but hee was ready to take vp the picture if I had not hindered him with this reply Sir where the offence is confessed there the fault is halfe pardoned and those facâ—s that are committed by ignorance alwayes claime remission by course I grant that I haue béene much too rash but I repent and thereâ—ore hope you will take the lesse offence and the sooner excuse my folly faults committed by will gaine oft times but a cheâ—â—â— then mine done by ignorance shall I hope escape without a mate Penalties are enioyned by the intent more then by the worke and things done amisse saith Tully euer ought to be measured by the passion aâ—â— not by the méere action Which considered if my presence hath béene prâ—â—â—diciall to your reposenesse I hope you will thinke I offende 〈…〉 stranger and will pardon me as one sorry for so rash an entâ—â—â—rise The old man very aâ—â—entiuelâ— hearing my talke hauing somewhat digested his cholar rising vp from his seat made mee this friendly answere Friend â—â—uoth he It is not gold that glisters the smoothest talkâ— hath oft times the smallest truth the Sunne when it glistereth moâ—â— bright brâ—ueth the greatest shower The Painter casteth the fairest câ—lour ouer the soulest boord and strangers flatterings arâ— oft times but méeâ—â— deceits yet whether thy talke be truth oâ— tales whether thou commest to note my passions as a spy or hast by chance â—it into my Câ—ll as a stranger I care not for if thou enuy me as a foe I feare not the spite of Fortune if thou muse at my sudden motions it shall little auayle thee to heare it and be a great griefe for me to reâ—earse it O sir quoth I if my credit might be such as without desert to obtaine so much fauour or if the prayer of a poore stranger might prâ—â—aile to perswade you to vnfold the cause of these your sudden passions I should think my former trauels counteruailed wiâ—h this your friendly curtesie It is good indéed quoth he by other mens harmes to learne to beware Phoeâ—us had neuer béene so waâ—y of Vulcane if Mars his mishâ—p had not bid him take héed Vlysses had not so wiselie eschewed Circes charmes if he had not seenâ— before his fellowes transformed perhaps the hearing of my former cares may free thée from ensuing calamity I haue béene my selfe a Prince which am now subiect vnto power alate a mighty Potentatâ— now constrained to liue vnder a seruilâ— law not contented erewhile with a kingly Palacâ— now sufficiently satisfied with a poore Cell and yet this present want excéeds my wonted weale I then had too much in penury and now I lacke in superstuitie being cloyed with abundance yet hauing nothing in that my minde remaineth vnsatisfied Fortune yea Fortune in fauouring me hath made me most infortunate Syren-like hiding vnder musick miserie vnder pleasure paineâ— vnder mirth mourning like the suâ—â—ed â—onicombe which while a man toucheth hee is stung witâ—â—â—es Sheâ— presenteth faire shapes which proue but fading shadowes shée proferrâ—th mountaines and perhaps kéepeth promise but the gaines of these golden Mines is losse misery Nonâ— roâ—e on Seianus horse which got not mishap None toucht the gold oâ— Tholossa whom some â—isaster did not assaile neither hath any béeâ—â—â—â—â—aynâ—ed by fortune which in time hath not béene crossed with some haplesse calamitie I speake this by experience which I 〈◊〉 the Gods thou neuer try by proofe for he onely is to be thought â—â—ppy whom the inconstant fauour of Fortune hath not made vnhâ—â—py The Pictâ—re which thou seest heere is the perfect counterâ—â—iâ—â— of her inconstant conditions for she like to the Polype Fish â—â—â—neth her self into â—â—ery obiect â—nd with the Cameâ—ion taketh her whole delight in change being sure in nothing but in this that she is not sure at all Which inconstancy after I had known by too much proofe I began to arme myself againâ—â— her guiles and to count her fâ—â—ning flattâ—ry and her froâ—nes of no force not to accept her as a friend but to despise her as a foe and in despight of her fained deity to oppose my selfe against her fickle power which I haue found the greatest shield to shrowde me from her secret iniuries I haue left my Palace and taken me 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 onely by this obscure life to please my selfe and displease Fortune whose picture when I sée I weep that I was so fond as to be subiect to such a seruile Dame and I laugh that at last I triumph both ouer mine own affections ouer Fortune Thus friend since thou hast heard 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 my gaine were to offer me double losse After he had vttered these words perceiuing by his parâ—e that he was a Prince I began with more reuerence to excuse my rashnesse framing my talke to this effect I am sorry quoth I if sorrow might be a mends for that which is amisse that my haâ—ty folly hath offended your highnesse and that my poore presâ—nce hath béene preiudiciall to your princely passions but since the fault once committed may bee repented but not reclaimed I hope your highnesse will pardon my vnwitting wilfulnesse and take Had I wiâ—â— for an excuse of so sudden an offence which granted the desire I haue to heare of your strange hap doth make me passe manners in being importunate with your Maiestie to heare the tragicall chance of this your strange change Well quoth he since thy dâ—sire is such and time allowes me conuenient leisurâ— sit downe and thou shalt heare what trust there is to be giuen 〈◊〉 inconsâ—â—â—â— Fortunâ— CHAP. 2. Arâ—asâ—â— reâ—â—â—â—th his story and discouereth himselfe VNtil I waxt wâ—ary of mâ— diâ—deme I was king of the famous Countrey of Denmaâ—ke whâ—rin after Bosphorus deceased for so was my father called I 〈◊〉 in happy prosperiâ—y comming to the Crowne at the age of one aâ—d â—â—entie yeeres being so honoured of my subiects for my vertue â—nd so loued for my curtesie as I did not onely gaine the heartes of thâ—m but also wan the good will of strangeâ—â— I could not complaine 〈◊〉 lacke in that my greatest want was store I fâ—ared not the force of fâ—rrain foeâ— for I knew none but were my faithfull friends I doubtâ—â— no mis-fortune for I could sée nâ—
Scyrus to shoot against the stars contend not with Niobe against Latoâ—â— nor striue not with Sapho against Venus for loue being a Lord lookes to câ—mmand by power and to â—e obeyed by force Truth Myrania but what then to loue is easie and perhaps good but to like wâ—ll is hard and a doubtfull chance fancy thy fill fond foole so thou bend not thy affection to thy fathers foe for to louâ— him who séekes his â—â—â—e is to war against nature Fortune Is there â—onâ— worthy to bee thy spheere but Arbasto the cursed enemy of thy country can none win thy good will but the bloudy wretch who séeketh to bréed thy Fathers bane Can the â—agle the bird Osiphage build in one trée wil the Faulken the Done couet to sit on one pearch wil the Ape the Beare be tied in one tedder wil the Fox the lamb lye in one den noâ— they want reason yet nature suffers them not to liue against nature wilt thou then be so wilful or witlesse as hauing reason to guide nature yet to be more vnnaturall then vnreasonable creatures be sure if thou fall in this thou stâ—iuest agaâ—nst the Gods and in strâ—uing wiâ—h them looke for a most sharpe reuenge Tâ—sh I know this but hath not loue set downe his sentence shal I appeale from his censure shal I deny that which the destiniâ—s haue decréed no for though Cydippa rebelled for a time yet she was forst at last to make suit tâ— Venus for a pardon I may séeke to hate Arbasto but neuer find â—â—hers to begin to mislike him And with that such flery paâ—â—ionâ— oâ—â—ressed her as shee was faine to send forth scalding sighs somâ—hat to ease her enflamed fancy which being sorrowfully sobbed forthâ— shee then began afresh to powre forth her pittifull complaints if â—er sister Doralicia being accompanied with other gentlewomen had not driâ—â—â— her â—â—t of these dumps whom shée no sooner spied but leauing her passions â—he wared pleasant couering care with conceits and a mourning hâ—art with a merry countenance least her sorrowfull lookes might giuâ— the company occasion to coniecture somewhat was amisse But I alas which felt the furious flames of fancie to broile incâ—ssantly within my breast could not so cuâ—ningly disâ—â—mble my passions but all my Peers saw I was perplexeâ—â— for whereas before this sudden chaunce Pelorus mis-fortunâ— â—rocured my mirth now the soile which I reaped by affection draue me to a deeper misery In the day I spent the time in solitary dumps in the night affâ—cted thoughts and visions suffered me scarce to slumber for alas there is no greater enemy to the minde than in loue to liue without hope which doubt was the sum of my endlesse sorrow that in seeing my selfe fettered I could sée no hope at all of my fréedome yet to mittigate my misery I thought to walke from the Campe toward the Citie that I might at the least féed my eye with the sâ—ght of the place wherein the Mistresse of my heart was harboured taking with me onely for company a Duke of my Countrey called Egeâ—io vnto whom I durst best commit my secret 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 drowsâ—e thoughts wakened me from my dumps with this pleasant deuice Sir quoth hee I haue often maruelled and yet cannot cease to muse at the madnesse of those men whom the common people thinke to honor with the glorious title of louers who when rashly they purchase their owne mishap in placing their affeâ—â—ion where either their disability or the destinies deny successe to their suites do either passe their daies in endlesse dolor or preuent miserie by vntimely death If these passionate patients listned a little to Venus allâ—â—ements as I to Cupids flatteries few men should 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 afâ—â—ict mortal men loue was the greatest in that they sought that as an heauenly blisse which at last they found their fatall bane â—earing Egeâ—io thus cunningly and couâ—â—â—ly to touch mee at the quicke I thought to dally with him in this â—â—se Why Egerio doest thou count it a madnesâ—e to loue or doest thou think him rash which yeeldeth willingâ—â—â—o it knowest thou not that loue iâ— diuine and therefore commâ—â—deth by power and cannot be resisted I am not of that mind with Mylciadâ—s that loue is a plague but rather I thinke he is fauoured of the gods and is a happy louer Truâ—h quoth hee but who is happâ— in loue he that hath the happieâ—â— successe no for I count him most vnhappy which in loue is most hâ—ppy Why then Egerio quoth I thou thinkâ—st him vâ—haâ—pâ— that â—ée loueth Or else may it please your highnesse quoth he I should thinke amisse for shall I count him fortuâ—ate which for one dram of prosperity reapeth a whole pound of misery or shall I â—stéeme that louer happy whose greatest gaine is but golâ—en griefe nay that is neuer to be called pleasure which is sâ—uced with paine nor that good lucke whoâ—â— guerdeon is losse Sith Egerio quoth I thou doest thus brâ—adly blaspheme against Cupid tell me why thou thinkeâ—â— ill of louâ— Because sir quoth hee it is louâ— being such a frenzy which so infecteth the mindes of men as vnder the taste of Nactar they are poysoned with the water of Stix for as hee which was charmed by Lara sought still to heare her inchantment or as the Dâ—ere after once hee brouseth on the â—amariske trée will not be driuen away till hâ—â— dyeth so our amorous louers haue their senselesse senses so besottâ—d with the power of this lasciuâ—ous God that they count not themselues happy but in their supposed vnhappinesse bâ—ing at most ease in disquiâ—t at greatest reâ—â— when they are most troubled seeking contentation in care delight in misery and hunting gréedily after that which alwayâ—s bringeth endlesse harmâ— This is but your sentence Egerio quoth I but what reason haue you to confirme your censurâ— Such quoth he as your highnesse can neither dislike nor infring for the first step to loue is the losse of libertie tying the minde to the will of her who either too curious little respecteth his sute or too coâ— smally regardeth his seruice yet hee is so blinded with a â—oâ—le of fond affection that hee coâ—nteth her sullennesse sobernesse her vaine charineâ— vertuous chastitie if she be wanton hée counteth her witâ—ie if too familiar courtâ—ous so besotted with the drugs of doting loue that euery fault is vertue and though euery string be out of tune yet the musick cannot be found amisse resembling Tamantus the Painterâ— who shadowed the worse pictures with the freshest colours The paines that Louers fâ—â—le for hunting after losse if their mindes wâ—re
on the coppie of my Letter which I sent to Doralicia and vpon the answere which I receiued from that ruthlesse Minion â—hich after shee had read perceiuing how traiterously I had requited her loue with hateâ— she conueyâ—d â—er selfe couertly into her Chamber where after she had almost dimmed her sight with flouds of teares and burst her heart with blowing sighs she fell into these complaints O infortunate Myrania O haplesse Myrania yea O thrice accursed Myrania whom Fortune by spight seeketh to soyle whom the destinies by fate are appointed to plague and whom the gods by iustice will and must most cruelly reuenge Thou hast beene a paricide to thy father in seeking to destroy him by thy disobedience thou art a traitor to thy Countrey in sauing the enemy of the Common-wealth thou art a foe to nature in louing disloyall Arbasto can the Gods but plague those monstroâ—s iniuries No no Myrania thou hast deserued more mishap then either Fortune can or will affoord thee Ah cruell and accursed Arbasto I see now that it fareth with thee as with the Panther which hauing made one astonished with his faire sight seeketh to deuoure him with bloudy pursute with me poore wench as it doth with them that view the Basiliske whose eyes procure delight to the looker at the first glimpse but death at the second glance Alas was there none to like but thy foe none to loue but Arbasto none to fancy but a periured Dane none to match with but a flattering mate Now hath thy lawlesse loue gained a lucklesse and now thou triest by experience that the treâ— Alpinâ— is smooth to bee touched but bitter to bâ—e tasted that the fairest Serpent is most infectious the â—â—est colour soonest stained the cleerest glasse most brittle and that louers though they beare a delicate shew yet they haue a deceitfull substance that if they haue hony in their mouthes yet they hauâ— galâ— in their hearts the more is the pittie in thee to truâ—t without tryall and the greatâ— impietie for him to be a traytor being so well trusteâ— Is this this the â—urteâ—â—e of Denmarke towards friends to intreat them so disâ—ightfullâ— is my goodwil not only reiected without cause but also disâ—ained without colour Alas what shall I doe to this extremity being a forlorne wretch in a forraine Country which waâ— shall I turne me of whom shall I seeke remedy Pelorus will reiect me and why should he not Arbasto hath reâ—â—cted me and why should heeâ— the one I haue offended wish too much griefe 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 fetch such a sigh as witnessed a heart pained with most intolerable passions yea carâ— and griefe so fiercely and freshly assaulted her as shâ—e fell into a feuer refusing all sustenance wishing and calling for nothing but death While shee thus pâ—ned away with griefe I thought to search out her sore but I could not pâ—rceiue the cause of her sorrow only I did coniecture this that she doubted my Nobles would not consent to our marriage to â—id her therefore of this care I presently called a Parliament where without any great controuersie it was concluded This newes being come to the eares of Myrania it no whiâ— decreased her dolor but did rather far the more augment her distresse which made Egerio to muse and draâ—e me into a great maze so that accompanied with my Nobles I went to comfort her and to carry her newes that if shee could but come into the Chamber of her presence she should there be crowned Quéen But alas when I came saw her â—o altered in one wâ—â—ke wasted to the hard bones more like a ghost â—han a liuing creature I began thus to comfort her Ah Myrania quoth I more loued of me than mine owne life and more deare vnto meâ— than my selfâ— would God I might be plagued with al earthly diseases so I might sée thée free from distresse how can Arbasto be without sorrow to sée Myrania oppressed with sickenesse how can he but â—inke in calamitie to see her but once toucht with care alas vnfold vnto me thy sore and I will apply the salue make mé◠priuie to thy malady I will procure a medâ—cine If want of wealth worke thy wor thou hast the kingdome of Denmark to dispose at thy pleasure if absence from friends thou hast such a friend â—f thy louing spouse Aâ—basto as death it selfe shall neuer dissolue our loue I had no sooner vttered this word but Myrania as one possessed with some hellish fury start vp in her bed with staring lookes and wrathfull countenance séeming by her raging gestures to be in a frenzyâ— but being kept downe by her Câ—â—es shee roared out thesâ— hatefull curses O vile wretches quoth she will you not suffer me in my life to reuenge my selfe on that periured traytor Arbasto yet shall you not deny mee but after death my ghost shall torment him with gaâ—â—ly viâ—â—ons O thrice accursed caitiâ—e doest thou séeme to helpe mee with thy scabbard and secâ—etly hurt me with thy sword doest thou offer mâ—e hony openly and priuily present mee with gall doest thou say thâ—u wilt cure me with loue when thou séekest to kill me with hate haue I redéemed thée from mishap and wilt thou requite me with misery waâ— I the meanes to saue thy life and wilt thou without cause procure my death haue I forsaken my Country betrayed my Father and yet wilt thou kill me with discurtesâ—e O haplesse Myrania could not Medeas mishap haue made thee beware could not Ariadnes ill lucke haue taught thee to take héeâ— could not Phillis misâ—fortune haue feared thee from the like folly but thou must like and loue a stragling stranger Aye mâ— that repentance should euer come too late folly is sooner remembred then redressed and time may be repented but not recalled But I sée it is a practise in men to â—aue as little care of their owne â—â—thes as of their Ladies honors imitating Iupiter who neuer kept â—ath he sware to Iuno diddest thou not false Arbasto protest with solemne vowes when thy life did hang in the ballaâ—câ— that thy loue to Myrania should bee alwayes loyall and hast thou not since sent and sued secretly to winne the good will of Dâ—â—alicia diddest thou not sweare to take me to thy mate and hast thou not since sought to contract with hâ—r a new match thou diddest promise to be true vnto me but hast prooued trusty vnto her what should I say thou hast preseâ—ted her with pleasant drinkes and â—â—ysoned me with bitter potions the more is my penurie and the greater is thy periurie But vilâ— wretch doest thou thinke this thy villany shall be vnreuenged Noâ— no Egerio I hope the Gods haue appointed thee to reuenge my iniuâ—ies thou hast sworne it and