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
goddes beholde such sacrifices from heauen and not consume them with fire But now O Leucippe take these sacrifices worthy of thy ghost when I had said so I tooke my sword and being in despair setting it to my throate I was now about to giue me my deadly wound but behold I saw two men running in hast towardes me for the Moone did shine bright wherfore I staied my hand thinking they had bene théeues I wished rather to be slaine by them but comming somewhat nearer vnto me they showted with a loud voice for they were Satyrus and Menelaus Hauing noted them well I gessed them to be my friendes by their gesture in comming but so farre was it from me to shewe them any kinde of entertainment that I wished rather to dye then beholde them the crueltie of these mischances had so rent my heart They tooke me by the right hand and did striue to take away my sword from me But I cried out no by the immortall goddes do not enuy this my happie death or rather the remedie of my sorrowe For Leucippe being thus taken away from me what Antidatory is now left to preserue my safetie will you then go about to plucke my sword from my handes knowing that the sting of griefe hath pearced to the quicke and grated me at the verie heart what will not you haue me die an immortall death Then answered Menelaus if you would kill your selfe for no other cause then this then by Hercules you may very well cast away your sword for Leucippe is aliue and will be here to reproue this your womanish condition But I casting mine eyes sternely vpon him saide Can you sée me tormented with so great mishaps and laugh at me Ah remember Iupiter Hospitalis Then hee tumbling downe the graue with his foote said Go too Leucippe witnesse your self whether you be aliue or no since Clitiphon will not beléeue me Scant had he ended his words when the Sepulchre began to moue three or foure times and I heard a slender voyce comming from the bottome thereof wherefore being astonied with feare I looked gasily vpon Menelaus thinking that he had bene skilfull in the Magicke art he tooke away the graue stone and presently Leucippe arose looking with a dreadfull and fearefull countenance her belly was cut vp from the bottome to the top her bowels being all taken away and looking vpon me fell vpon my face and embraced me I also took her in my armes and sate downe vpon the ground Being now throughly come to my selfe againe I asked Menelaus what the cause was why he would not tell me how this had happened what is not this Leucippe which I sée which I hold which I heare speake it is she what visions then were those which I did beholde yesternight surely either that was a diuellish illusion or this is a dreame Then said he you shall sée that in an instant she will recouer her entrailes againe and the wounde of her brest will be whole againe and no skarre will be séen Couer you your face and to this O Proserpina I do call vpon thée wherfore beléeuing him I did sée he began to speak and to do strange things and while he was speaking hee tooke away from Leucippes belly those things wherewith he deceiued the théeues restoring her into her former shape hée commaunded me boldly to looke vpon her But I being very fearefull thinking Proserpina her selfe had bene there I vncouered my face where I did behold my Leucippe frée from any wound then greatly wondring at this straunge miracle saide I O deare Menelaus if thou bee minister to any god I pray thée tel me where we are for what do these mean which I do behold Then said Leucippe I pray thée Menelaus do not holde him in admiration any longer but delcare to him the meanes wherewith these traiterous Rouers were deceiued Then said Menelaus thou knowest Clitiphon that I am an Aegyptian as I told you before when we were in the shippe the most of my liuing lyeth here in this Towne where with the Gouernours I am very well acquainted For when we suffered shipwracke togither the water brought me to the shores of Aegypt the théeues which were gouernors of that Towne tooke me togither with Satyrus wherefore they brought vs to their Captaine but because many of them knew me they deliuered me from bondes and bad me be of good courage and promised also that they would helpe in whatsoeuer was in their powers to doo Then I requested them also to let Satyrus to goe frèe which they did willingly graunt In the meane season it was reuealed to them by an Oracle that hée should sacrifice a virgine and offer it vp as an oblation vppon their Altars and taste togither of the liuer and bowels of her which was dedicated but they should bury the bodie and go backe againe hoping that this sacrifice woulde hinder the comming of the enemies what remaineth I pray thée Satyrus declare Then saide Satyrus when as I was brought a captiue to the armie and was certified of the misfortune of Leucippe gréeuing for her hard mischaunce I wept requesting Menelaus that he would preserue her safe wherin I know not what God it was which was so fauourable to vs. The day before these sacrifice should be we sate downe vpon the shoare heauie and full of sorrow thinking what we should best do in this matter the theeues hauing espyed a ship wandring and floting about the coast made violence vpon her the marriners within knowing them to be théeues striued to go back yet al in vaine for when they sawe that they could not retire they beganne stoutly to resist In that ship there were certaine stage-plaiers who accustomed to play Homers fables in theaters who with the rest of his companions adorning themselues as they do when they play vpon a stage beganne to offer force vppon the theeues and for a short space they did well endure but with a fresh supplie came in ayde many fishboates of théeues who imediatly sunke the ship al the men were put to the sword there was a certaine chest amongst other fardels which floted about whereof they did not know but onely Menelaus and I wherefore we priuily conueied it away hoping some treasure to be laide therein we priuily opened it wherein wee found a cloake and a knife whose handle was foure handfull broade the blade was three fingers broad when Menelaus had wrenched by chaunce vnawares the knife slipt forth as long as the handle was which there lay couered like to a case and turning it the other way the blade againe ranne vp and was hidden in the handle when wee thought that those players did vse to make fained wounds vpon the stage Then said I to Menelaus if now you will do your good will to saue her you shall see the Gods wil lend vs their ayde and we may preserue the maide aliue and satisfie the theeues expectations the manner I wil declare how it
prouided all things which were necessary for our flight part of that potion wherewithall Cynops was cast into a sleepe Satyrus reserued and whilest he serued vs at supper he gaue it to Panthia in a glasse wherefore the table being taken away euery one went to his owne chamber but Panthia féeling the potion to worke caused vs to make more hast wherfore Satyrus gaue vnto Leucippes bedfellow of the same potion whom hee did faine to be in loue withall Moreouer he gaue some of it to the Porter which made him instantly to sléepe in the meane season Clinias stood without the doores with a Coach ready furnished expecting our comming after all were fast a sléepe about the first watch of the night with all silence we departed out of the house locking the doores fast againe and laying the keyes vnder the doore Satyrus led Leucippe forth by the hand and by very good chance Cynops which did accustome to watch vs was sent foorth a Towne of an arrant wherefore hauing departed thus out of the house we came thither where Clinias stayed for vs wée were in number sixe I and Leucippe Satyrus Clinias and his two men after we were gotten vp we directed our course toward Sydon the other part of the night being spent wee came vnto a citie which was Berytium where hoping to find a ship readie to saile from thence neither did our expectation deceiue vs for assoone as we came into the hauen we founde a ship readie to launch foorth and we went into it before we asked of them whither they went all our necessary thinges beeing brought into the ship we were euen now about to sayle foorth when Lucifer began to appeare Then did we know that we sayled towards Alexandria a most famous Cittie of Aegypt Then did I begin to reioyce that we were thus safely come to sea the shippe scant out of the hauen and new entering into the maine Ocean after that a fit winde serued vs there began to arise a great noyse of the Saylers in the shippe first drawing of the Cables the noyse of the maister exhorting them then was the crosse peece brought foorth the Saileyard hung vp the Sayles readie to be hoysed vp the Anchors plucked vp the hauen being left we began to sayle foorth a prosperous iourny the lande did séeme to go backe from the shippe as if that it did saile it selfe then was there a great reioycing and clapping of handes throughout all the shippe and many prayers bestowed on the Gods praying them to send a prosperous nauigation In the meane while the winde increased the saile was full and the ship sailing very safe there was by chance in the same ship a yoong man sitting by vs which because it was now dinner time very curteously inuited vs that we also would eate with him wherefore when Satyrus had made readie that which hée prouided for vs we did eate togither in common making our selues both partakers of our dinner and talke also when I began thus I pray you sir what country-man are you and what is your name Then answered he I am an Aegyptian borne my name is Menelaus but by your leaue may I demaund the same of you Then quoth I my name is Clitiphon his Clinias both Phaenicians by birth And if it please you sir first to declare vnto vs the cause of this your trauaile we also will recompence you with the like Then said Menelaus the summe of this my nauigation is vngratefull loue and an vnfortunate hunting from which although I did diuers times earnestly exhort him yet I could not preuaile wherefore when he would not obey my gentle admonitions I also did then accompany him in hunting and vpon a day when both of vs went foorth on horseback we discoursed of many seuerall kinds of hunting but of all I commended to him the hunting of the Hare and such little beasts and so long as he pursued such game I was wel satisfied in mind but when by chance a wilde â—ore rushed forth of the woods which he séeing being nothing afraide weÌ„t to méete him and wilfully did run vpon him I stil crying stay stay hold your horse or else you are slaine the boore did séeme to be of such a huge bignesse when séeing him comming vppon him ran also forward to méete him and both of them did violently rush one vpon another which when I saw I was sodainely astonied with feare fearing least the boore should get vnderneath him fling down his horse I cast a dart which I had at him it so chanced I would that chance had neuer bin the boy ran by receiued the wound but in what case do you think I was in then and if at that instant there was any life in me it was euen like vnto those who at euery moment are about to giue vp the ghost and that which was most to be gréeued my hand which cast the dart being helde forth was presently benummed as hauing a due reward for so an vnluckie chance as it were hating of it selfe for being author of so vile a death wherefore the parents of the boy accused me in the court as principall of his death which I did not denie and I willingly liked of their accusation which if they had not brought I wold haue sacrificed to his soule wherfore I iudged my selfe worthy to die but the iudges moued with pittie banished me for the space of thrée yeares which time being passed I now am returned into my countrey againe while that Menelaus did recount these strange misfortunes not much vnlike to the hard chance of Patroclus Clinias being put into remeÌ„brance of his beloued Charicles could not chuse but wéepe wherfore said Menelaus what doo you wéepe for my misfortune or whether are you banished also for the like mishap theÌ„ Clinias not without many â—iâ—he repeated y e hard hap of Chaâ—icles and the horse after whom also I recounted my History But when I saw Menelaus very sad by the remembrance oâ— his gréefes and Clinias also weeping for the death of his Charicles being destrous to wipe away both their sorrowes I began a discourse mingled with an amorous delight for Leucippe was then absent who imediately before went into a more close place of the ship to take a nap turning my self to them I smiled Clinias said I for the most part in argument ouercometh me and euen now for he desireth to inueigh against women as his maner is he may do it the better because hee hath found a like companion of his loue what is the cause why so many are in loue with boyes surely I my selfe cannot tell neither sée any cause why Then answered Menelaus what is it not I pray you better then the loue of women boyes are more perfect then women and their beautie is of more force to delight y e senses with pleasure But I pray you quoth I how is it more vehement what for because as soone as it appeareth
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
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
〈◊〉 the Egyptians Serapis the Latins Iupiter was celebrated wherin the the lights did shine through the citie a sight worthie the beholding for when euening came and now the Sun was set neyther was it night altogither but about twilight me thought the citie did then contend with heauen in bewtie I saw Melichius Iupiter and his temple whose godhead when we had worshipped we made our prayers that here might be an end of all our calamities and then we departed thence came to Menelaus who had hired a house in the citie but the god would not grant vs our praiers for there was another danger behinde which fortune séemed to threaten vpon vs for Chaerea had loued Leucippe priuily long before who gaue her the medicine hoping to haue occasion therby to come into acquaintance with her and that he might preserue her for himself whom when he saw how hard a matter it was to get he weÌ„t about to lay wiles and ambushes to take her away wherfore hauing gotten certain théeues like himselfe togither he told them all what he purposed to do therefore counterfeiting to celebrate his byrth day he inuited vs to sée the Iland Pharus And as we went out of the house there appeared to vs a sign of ill luck for a hawke following a swallow strooke with his wing Leucippe vpoÌ„ y e head wherfore being troubled in mind and looking vp into the aire what straÌ„ge signe said I is this O Iupiter which thou shewest vnto vs But rather if this bird be truly thine why doest not thou shew vs a more manifest signe wherefore turning me about for we stood neare vnto a Painters shop I did beholde a table wherin was drawen the mishap of Progne the violence of Tereus the cutting out of the tongue of Philomela conteining all the whole history therof There was to be séene y e sampler which Philomela wrought Tereus also sitting at his table and a seruant holding abroad the sampler and Philomela pointing in it with her finger Progne did séeme to grant to her desire and looking eagerly knitting the browes did séeme as though she would be reuenged vpon Tereus which had dealt thus traiterously with her sister which did stand by hauing her haire plucked off her face beaten her garments rent and torne her white breast did lye open her right hande wyping her eyes shée did greatly and gréeuously accuse Tereus with her left hand she endeuours to couer her naked breasts with a péece of her torne garment Tereus plucked her to him with all his strength straightly imbracing her in his armes in the other part of the picture the women brought to Tereus in a dish the reliques of his sonne to supper which was his head and hands laughing togither and trembling but he rising vp with his drawne sword in his hand séemed to thrust downe the table with his arme which now did neither stand nor fall yet séemed as though it did fall Then said Menelaus if you will take my counsell I thinke it good if you did not go to Pharos for two signes of ill fortune haue happened to you the flying of the hauke and the threatning of the picture for the soothsayers and diuinators do warn vs not to despise such tokens as thâ—se but if that we haue any affairs at all we should talk with them for whose cause we vndertooke the trauaile if there be any likelihood in the matter do not you sée the picture full of filthy loue impudent adultery womens mishaps to conclude full of al iniquitie I truly would deferre this going to another ende This spéech of Menelaus seemed to be very true wherefore I badde Chaerea farewell which went away very sad saying that to morrow he would come for vs againe Then Leucippe turning to me for women are desirous to know euery toy I pray you said shée tell me what this picture these birdes and these women about that impudent man do meane Then saide I those which you sée now to be birdes were once men the women there Progne Philomela for these were their names were sisters born at Athens this was turned into a Swallow the other into a Nightingall the mans name was Tereus a Thracian borne and the husband of Progne was transformed into a Lapwing To satisfie the lust of a barbarous man one woman is not sufficient especially when occasion serueth him to fulfill it by violence the loue of Progne towards her sister did giue the occasion to this intemperate man which following his owne sensualitie did fall into all intemperance and immodestie for she sent him being her husband to sée her sister which departed her husband but returned her sisters Louer and as he returned he made another Progne which when he would haue made knowne he gaue her a rewarde for her virginitie lost he cut out her tongue notwithstanding he had thus dismembred her yet she found out a dumbe reporter of her misfortune for in a cloth with Stella she wrought all the villanie committed by him her hand serued in stéede of her tongue when she could not deliuer to the eares what she had suffered she laid it before the eyes Progne hauing read the worke and knowing how her husband had rauished her she determined to torment him with a newe kinde of punishment surpassing the common opinion And when both these women did burne in anger a conspiracy being made they prouided a supper farre more delectable then the marriage of Philomela They did set his sonne before him at dinner to be eaten During her anger Progne was not his mother Itys was not her sonne for shée had forgotten that shee brought him soorth into the world for the rage of slaunder is farre more mightie then the griefe of the wombe although that this was troublesome to them yet when they sawe they should reuenge him who had violated the lawes of wedlocke they did recompence this trouble with pleasure of reuenge After Tereus sitting down at this supper and hauing eaten sufficiently these women smiling and fearing brought foorth in a Charger the reliques of his sonne which when he saw perceiuing that hée had eaten the séede of his owne loynes hée shedde teares aboundantly then incensed with choler drawing out his swoord ranne vpon them but the ayre tooke them vp suddainly chaunging them into birdes with whom also Tereus was taken vp who as yet all doo carry about them a remembraunce of theyr déede the Nightingale euermore flieth away the Lapwing pursueth her which signifieth that hatred doth remaine still after their mutation And by these meanes at that time we auoyded his wiles reioycing greatly we did not fall into our enemies hands The next morning Chaerea came againe and we for modesties sake could not deny him the second time wherefore taking shippe we came to Pharos Menelaus staying behind because hée was not in his perfect health Chaerea first brought vs vnto the top of the tower shewing to vs the most admirable and wonderfull building
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
what was meant by the head which was cut off froÌ„ the body y t your father also may know it for this alone is wanting Then said she The woman which you saw was slaine was one of them which sell apples and peares by the sea shore whom they got into their ship promisâ—ng hir that they would marry her vnto one of the marriners but after that they had gotten me hoysing vp their sayles and plying their cares when they saw how neare they were pursued they plucked off my apparell and put it on her backe apparelling mee likewise in hers And hauing thus attired her they placed her vpoÌ„ the top of the hinder end of the ship that she might be séene of them which pursued her and there they cut off her head the bodie as you saw they floong into the sea but the head they kept a little space in the ship But wheÌ„ they perceyued that no bodie pursued them they cast it out also I do not certainly knowe for what intent they tooke in that woman except that as it happened to mee afterward that they would sell her but she was slaine in my stead that the pursuers might be deceyued thinking that they could gaine the more by the sale of mée then of her There did I beholde Chaerea which was the authour and counsellor of her death to suffer worthy punishment For when as the other pyrates denied that he should inioy mée alone because that he had taken that other woman and slaine her which perhaps might haue béene againe to them said that I should be sold and the money equally distributed amongest them but he defending his owne cause denied saying that he agréed with them before that hée should take her for his priuate profite alone and not to the common vtilitie but one of them which stoode behind him hearing him thus wrongfully chalenging me alone tooke his swoord and stroke off his head and so suffering iust punishment for his rape was cast into the sea Two dayes after being carried I know not whither the pyrats solde me to a merchant who receyuing his money againe sold me to Sosthenes Then said Sostratus since that you my children haue reported your mishaps heare of me what happened to Calligone Clitiphon his sister at home that I may not go frée alone without declaring something but I hearing my sisters name did listen more attentiuely speake sayde I father when you please so that you say she liueth Then he rehearsed all as I had shewed before the Oracle as well the sacrifice as the shippe and the maner of her rape adding moreouer that when Callisthenes perceiued she was not his daughter although he knew that the matter went forth otherwise then he thought yet he ceased not to loue her but casting himselfe downe at her féete he spake to her in this sort O mistresse do not think me to be a pyrate or such a wicked person I am borne of a noble house in Byzantium and will giue place to none in birth loue constrained me to lay after the maner of théeues these ambushes for you but thinke me henceforward your seruant And first I giue to you my self and willingly also bestow on you all my wealth and substance which neuer your father would haue imparted to you I will abstaine as long as you will from violating of your virginitie With these words and many other more apter to perswade for he was of comely personage and in talke very pleasant and earnest to moue he woonne the maid to his owne desire And after he returned to Byzantium he indowed her with most of his liuing he atired her richly with goold and precious stones and many other iewels which are requisite to the adorning of a woman And as shée was a virgin when he tooke her away so he suffered her to continue before he had promised but hée himselfe in handling many matters he haued himselfe verie gently courteously and ciuilly and vppon a suddaine there was a newe reformation of the man for be did giue place to his elders and readie he was to salute whom soeuer hee met when before hee was a great spender of his good his former riot was turned into libertie To conclude he dealt so wisely in all his affayres that all men maruelled that of a suddaine from so lauish hée was become so thriftie he alwayes loued me and I likewise had a good opinion of him thinking that this excessiue prodigalitie did father shewe a bountifulnesse of nature then any intemperaunce in the man remembring what was sayde once of Themistocles that when hée was verie dissolute in his youth yet in the ende hée excelled all the Athenians in wisedome and fortiâ—ude wherefore it repented mée that I had denyed him my daughter when he would haue had her into marryage for hee did giue me great honour calling mée father and béeing armed he accompanyed me through the Market place neither did his minde abhorre from martiall affayres for when hée was a horseman hee behaued himselfe couragiously so that in those intemperate yong yeares in valour and chiualrie hée séemed to excell But câ—mming to mans estate when his strength increased in his bodie his cheifest desire was to follow millitarie affayres to profite the common wealth with his suâ—staunce wherefore he was created generall of the aâ—mie with mée whereby hee wan great honour willing to obey me in all things After wée had gotten the vicâ—orie â—uer â—ur enemyes the Gods assisting vs wée returned to Byzantâ—um I came hither to giue thankes to the Gods hée went to sacrifice to Hercules at Tyrus But first Callisthenes tooke mee by the hande and tolde mee all what hée had done for Calligones sake wherefore my father sayde the cause of these things which 〈◊〉 hee in â—ur youth is the fierie heate of those years but what 〈◊〉 afterwards are doone with discretion and iudgement wh 〈◊〉 sayde Callisthenes to me I haue kept her a Uirgin yet especially in tyme of warre when no man then by his good wiâ—â— will let slippe such occasions to his pleasure wherefore now I determine to carrie her to Tyrus to her father and there according to the lawes to marrie her if that I can get his good will it will bee well but if hee bee frowarde and will not let him take his daughter againe a virgin as â—he was when I tooke her which when I haue married I wil endew her with a large patrimonie wherefore since al things haue fallen out so well contrarie to Thersanders expectations I haue determined first to go to Bizantium and from thence to failâ— to Tyrus When he hâ—â— made an ende of his tale wee went euery man to bed as we did before The next day Clinias returned vnto â—s and certified vs now that Thersander was fled away Wee stayed there thrée dayes for our appâ—rance did last so long then we went againe to the prince and hâ—uing recited the lawes wherby he found that Thersander had no cause of iust accusation against vs we departed and taking ship with a gentle gale of winde we came to Byzaantium where we finished our long desired marriages Then we sayled to Tyrus â—â—ither when Calisthenes was come two dayes before we found â—y father offering sacrifice the next day for my sisters mariage â—â—â—â—fore we also were present that we might be partakers of the same requesting the gods to graunt our mariages to be happy and fortunate where we agreed to stay vpon this condition that winter being past we should returne againe to Byzantium FINIS