to me that he would kill his mother if hee knewe how I had bene dealt with but that Cecropia keepes him from vnderstanding thinges howe they passe onely hauing heard a whispering and my selfe named he had of aboundaunce forsooth of honorable loue giuen this charge for vs. Whereupon this enlargement of mine was growne for my parte I know too well their cunning who leaue no mony vnoffered that may buy mine honour to beleeue any word they say but my deare Pyrocles euen looke for the worste and prepare my selfe for the same Yet I must confesse I was content to robbe from death and borrowe of my misery the sweet comfort of seeing my sweet sister and most sweete comfort of thee my Pyrocles And so hauing leaue I came stealing into your chamber where O Lord what a ioy it was vnto me to heare you solemnise the funerals of the poore Philoclea That I my selfe might liue to heare my death bewailed and by whom by my deere Pyrocles That I saw death was not strong enough to diuide thy loue from me O my Pyrocles I am too well paide for my paines I haue suffred ioyfull is my woe for so noble a cause and welcome be all miseries since to thee I am so welcome Alas how I pittied to heare thy pittie of me and yet a great while I could not finde in my hart to interrupt thee but often had euen pleasure to weepe with thee and so kindly came forth thy lamentations that they inforced me to lament to as if indeed I had beene a looker on to see poore Philoclea dye Till at last I spake with you to try whether I could remoue thee from sorrow till I had almost procured my selfe a beating And with that she pretily smiled which mingled with her teares one could not tell whether it were a mourning pleasure or a delightfull sorrow but like when a few Aprill drops are scattered by a gentle Zephyrus among fine coloured flowers But Pyrocles who had felt with so small distance of time in himselfe the ouerthrow both of hope and despaire knew not to what key he should tune his mind either of ioy or sorrow But finding perfite reason in neither suffred himself to be caried by the tide of his imagination and his imaginations to be raised euen by the sway which hearing or seing might giue vnto them he saw her aliue he was glad to see her aliue he saw her weep he was sory to see her weep he heard her comfortable speches nothing more gladsome he hard her prognosticating her own destruction nothing more dolefull But when he had a little taken breath from the panting motion of such contrarietie in passions he fell to consider with her of her present estate both comforting her that certainely the worst of this storme was past since alreadie they had done the worst which mans wit could imagine and that if they had determined to haue killed her now they would haue done it and also earnestly counselling her and inhabling his counsels with vehement prayers that she would so far second the hopes of Amphialus as that she might but procure him liberty promising then as much to her as the liberalitie of louing corage durst promise to himselfe But who would liuely describe the manner of these speeches should paint out the lightsome coulours of affection shaded with the deepest shadowes of sorrow finding then betweene hope and feare a kind of sweetenes in teares till Philoclea content to receaue a kisse and but a kisse of Pyrocles sealed vp his mouing lips and closed them vp in comfort and her-selfe for the passage was left betweene them open went to her sister with whom she had stayed but a while fortifying one another while Philoclea tempered Pamelas iust disdaine and Pamela ennobled Philocleas sweet humblenesse when Amphialus cam vnto them who neuer since he had heard Philoclea named could bee quiet in himselfe although none of them about him fearing more his mothers violence then his power would discouer what had passed and many messages he sent to know her estate which brought answeres backe according as it pleased Cecropia to indite them till his hart full of vnfortunate affection more and more misgiuing him hauing impatiently borne the delay of the nights vnfitnesse this morning he gat vp and though full of woundes which not without daunger could suffer such exercise he apparelled himselfe and with a countenance that shewed strength in nothing but in griefe he came where the sisters were and weakely kneeling downe he besought them to pardon him if they had not bene vsed in that castle according to their worthines and his duetie beginning to excuse small matters poore Gentleman not knowing in what sort they had bene handled But Pamelaes hye hart hauing conceiued mortall hate for the iniurie offred to her and her sister could scarcely abide his sight much lesse heare out his excuses but interrupted him with these words Traitor said she to thine owne blood and false to the profession of so much loue as thou hast vowed doo not defile our eares with thy excuses but pursue on thy crueltie that thou and thy godly mother haue vsed towards vs for my part assure thy selfe and so do I answere for my sister whose mind I know I do not more desire mine owne safetie then thy destruction Amazed with this speech he turned his eye full of humble sorrowfulnes to Philoclea And is this most excellent Ladie your doome of me also She sweete Ladie sate weeping for as her most noble kinsman she had euer fauoured him and loued his loue though she could not be in loue with his person and now partly vnkindnes of his wrong partly pittie of his case made her sweete mind yeeld some teares before she could answere and her answere was no other but that she had the same cause as her sister had He replyed no further but deliuering from his hart two or three vntaught sighes rose and with most low reuerence went out of their chamber and streight by threatning torture learned of one of the women in what terrible manner those Princesses had bene vsed But when he heard it crying out O God and then not able to say any more for his speech went backe to rebound woe vpon his hart he needed no iudge to goe vpon him for no man could euer thinke any other worthy of greater punishment then he thought himselfe Full therefore of the horriblest despaire which a most guiltie conscience could breed with wild lookes promising some terrible issue vnderstanding his mother was vpon the top of the leades he caught one of his seruants swords from him and none of them daring to stay him he went vp carried by furie in steede of strength where she was at that time musing how to goe thorough with this matter and resoluing to make much of her Neeces in shew and secreatly to impoison them thinking since they were not to be wonne her sonnes loue would no otherwise be mitigated But
suddaine alteration who after some trifling excuses in the ende confessed vnto him that his maister had receiued newes that his sonne before the daie of his neere marriage chaunst to bee at a battaile which was to bee fought betweene the Gentlemenne of Lacedaemon and the Helots who winning the victorie he was there made prisoner going to deliuer a friend of his taken prisoner by the Helots that the poore young Gentleman had offered great raunsome for his life but that the hate those paysaunts conceaued agaynst all Gentlemen was such that euerye houre hee was to looke for nothinge but some cruell death which hether-vnto had onelye beene delayed by the Captaines vehement dealing for him who seemed to haue a hart of more manlie pittie then the rest Which losse had stricken the old Gentleman with such sorrowe as if abundance of teares did not seeme sufficiently to witnesse it hee was alone retyred tearing his bearde and hayre and cursing his olde age that had not made his graue to stoppe his eares from such aduertisementes but that his faithfull seruantes had written in his name to all his friendes followers and tennants Philanax the gonernour refusing to deale in it as a priuate cause but yet geuing leaue to seeke their best redresse so as they wronged not the state of Lacedaemon of whom there were nowe gathered vpon the frontiers good forces that he was sure would spende their liues by any way to redeeme or reuenge Clitophon Now sir saide hee this is my maysters nature though his grief be such as to liue is a griefe vnto him that euen his reason is darkned with sorrow yet the lawes of hospitalitie long and holily obserued by him giue still such a sway to his proceeding that he will no waie suffer the straunger lodged vnder his roofe to receyue as it were any infection of his anguish especially you toward whom I know not whether his loue or admiration bee greater But Palladius could scarce heare out his tale with patience so was his heart torne in peeces with compassion of the case liking of Kalanders noble behauiour kindenesse for his respect to him-warde and desire to finde some remedie beesides the image of his deerest friend Daiphantus whom he iudged to suffer eyther alike or a worse fortune Therefore rising from the boorde hee desired the stewarde to tell him particularly the ground and euent of this accident because by knowledge of many circumstances there might perhaps some waie of helpe be opened Whereunto the Steward easilie in this sorte condiscended My Lorde said he when our good king Basilius with better successe then expectation tooke to wife euen in his more then decaing yeares the faire younge Princes Gynccia there came with her a young Lord cousin german to her selfe named Argalus led hether partly with the loue and honour of his noble kinswoman partlie with the humour of youth which euer thinkes that good whose goodnes hee sees not in this court he receiued so good increase of knowledge that after some years speÌ„t he so manifested a most vertuous mind in all his actions that Arcadia gloried such a plant was transported vnto them being a Gentleman in deede most rarely accomplished excellentlie learned but without all vayne glorie friendly without factiousnes valiaunt soe as for my part I thincke the earth hath no manne that hath done more heroicall actes then hee howsoeuer now of late the same flies of the two princes of Thessalia and Macedon and hath long doone of our noble prince Amphialus who indeed in our partes is onely accounted likely to match him but I say for my parte I thinke no man for valour of minde and habilitie of bodie to be preferred if equalled to Argalus and yet so valiant as he neuer durst doe any bodie iniurie in behauiour some will say euer sadde surely sober and somewhat giuen to musing but neuer vncourteous his worde euer ledde by his thought and followed by his deede rather liberall then magnificent though the one wanted not and the other had euer good choise of the receiuer in summe for I perceiue I shall easily take a great draughte of his praises whom both I and all this countrie loue so well such a man was and I hope is Argalus as hardly the nicest eye can finde a spot in if the ouer-vehement constancie of yet spotles affection may not in hard wrested constructions be counted a spot which in this manner began that worke in him which hath made both him and it selfe in him ouer all this countrie famous My maisters sonne Chlitophon whose losse giues the cause to this discourse and yet giues me cause to beginne with Argalus since his losse proceedes from Argalus being a young Gentleman as of great birth being our kings sisters sonne so truely of good nature and one that can see good and loue it haunted more the companie of this worthie Argalus then of any other so as if there were not a friendship which is so rare as it is to bee doubted whether it bee a thing in deede â—or but a worde at least there was such a likeing and friendlines as hath brought foorth the effectes which you shall heare About two years since it so fell out that hee brought him to a great Ladies house sister to my maister who had with her her onely daughter the faire Parthenia faire in deede fame I thinke it selfe daring not to call any fairer if it be not Helena queene of Corinth and the two incomparable sisters of Arcadia and that which made her fairenesse much the fairer was that it was but a faire embassadour of a most faire minde full of wit and a wit which deliteth more to iudge it selfe then to shew it selfe herspeech being as rare as pretious her silence without fullennesle her modestie without affectation her shamefastnes without ignorance in summe one that to praise well one must first set downe with himselfe what it is to be excellent for so shee is I thinke you thinke that these perfections meeting could not choose but find one another and delight in that they found for likenes of manners is likely in reason to drawe liking with affection mens actions doo not alwayes crosse with reason to beshorte it did so in deed They loued though for a while the fire therof hopes wings being cut of were bloweÌ„ by the bellows of dispaire vpoÌ„ this ocasioÌ„ There had beene a good while before and so continued a suter to this same lady a great noble man though of Laconia yet neere nieghbour to Parthenias mother named Demagoras A man mightie in riches power and proude thereof stubbornly stout louing no bodie but him selfe and for his owne delights sake Parthenia and pursuing vehemently his desire his riches had guilded ouer all his other imperfections that the olde Ladie though contrarie to my Lord her brothers minde had giuen her consent and vsing a mothers authoritie vppon her faire daughter had made her yeeld therunto not because shee liked her
sonne and seruauntes with him Palladius brake of all ceremonies by telling him his case stood so that his greatest fauour should be in making lest adoo of his parting Wherewith Kalander knowing it to bee more cumber then curtesie to stâ—iue abstained from further vrging him but not from hartie mourning the losse of so sweete a conuersation Onely Clitophon by vehement importunitie obteyned to go with him to come againe to Daiphantus whom he named and accounted his Lord. And in such priuate guise departed Palladius though hauing a companion to talke withall yet talking much more with vnkindnes And first they went to Mantinaea wherof because Parthenia was he suspected there might be some cause of his abode But finding there no newes of him he went to Tegaea Ripa Enispae Stimpahlus and Pheneus famous for the poisonous Stygian water and through all the rest of Arcadia making their eyes their eares and their tongue serue almost for nothing but that enquirie But they could know nothing but that in none of those places he was knowne And so went they making one place succeed to an other in like vncertaintie to their search many times encountring strange aduentures worthy to be registred in the roulles of fame but this may not be omitted As they past in a pleasant valley of either side of which heigh hills lifted vp their beetle-browes as if they would ouer looke the pleasantnes of their vnder-prospect they were by the daintines of the place the wearienes of themselues inuited to light from their horses pulling of their bits that they might somthing refresh their mouthes vppon the grasse which plentifully grewe brought vp vnder the care of those well shading trees they them selues laid them downe hard by the murmuring musicke of certain waters which spouted out of the side of the hills in the bottome of the vallie made of many springs a pretie brooke like a common-wealth of many famylies but when they had a while harkened to the perswasion of sleepe they rose and walkt onward in that shadie placeâ— till Clitophon espied a peece of armour not far of an other peece and so the sight of one peece teaching him to looke for more he at length found all with headpeece and shield by the deuice whereof which was 〈…〉 he straight knew it to be the armour of his cousin the noble Amphialus WhereupoÌ„ fearing some inconuenience hapned vnto him he told both his doubte and cause of doubte to Palladius who considering thereof thought best to make no longer stay but to follow on least perchaunce some violence were offered to so worthie a Knight whoÌ„ the fame of the world semed to sett in ballance with any Knight liuing Yet with a soddaine coÌ„ceipt hauing long borne great honour to the name of Amphialus Palladius thought best to take that armour thinking thereby to learne by them that should know that armour some newes of Amphialus yet not hinder him in the search of Daiphantus too So he by the helpe of Clitophon quickly put on that armour whereof there was no one piece waÌ„ting though hacked in some places bewraying some fight not long since passed It was some-thing to great but yet serued well enough And so getting on their horses they trauailed but a litle way when in opening of the mouth of the valley into a faire field they met with a coach drawen with foure milke white-horses furnished al in blacke with a blacke a more boye vpon euerie horse they all apparelled in white the coach it selfe very richly furnished in blacke and white But before they coulde come so neere as to discerne what was within there came running vppon them aboue a dosen horsmen who cried to them to yeelde them selues prisoners or els they should die But Palladius not accustomed to graunt ouer the possession of him selfe vppon so vniust titles with sworde drawne gaue them so rude an answer that diuers of them neuer had breath to reply again for being well backt by Clitophon hauing an excellent horse vnder him when he was ouerprest by some he auoided them and ere th' other thought of it punished in him his fellows faults and so either with cunning or with force or rather with a cunning force left none of them either liuing or able to make his life serue to others hurt Which being done he approched the coach assuring the blacke boies they should haue no hurt who were els readie to haue run away and looking into the coach he found in the one end a Lady of great beautie such a beautie as shewed forth the beames both of wisdome good nature but all as much darkned as might be with sorrow In the other two Ladies who by their demeanure shewed well they were but her seruants holding before them a picture in which was a goodly Gentleman whom he knew not painted hauing in their faces a certaine waiting sorrow their eies being infected with their mistres weeping But the cheife Ladie hauing not so much as once heard the noise of this coÌ„flict so had sorrow closed vp all the entries of her mind loue tied her seÌ„ces to that beloued picture now the shadow of him falling vpon the picture made her cast vp her eie and seing the armour which too well knew thinking him to be Amphialus the Lord of her desires bloud comming more freely into her cheekes as though it would be bolde yet there growing new again pale for feare with a pitiful looke like on vniustly condemned My Lord Amphialus saide she you haue enough punished me it is time for crueltie to leaue you and euill fortune me if not I praie you to graunt my praier fitter time nor place you can haue accomplish the one euen now finish the other With that sorrow impatient to be slowly vttered in her ofteÌ„ staying speeches poured it self so fast in teares that Palladius could not hold her longer in errour but pulling of his helmet Madam said he I perceaue you mistake me I am a stranger in these parts set vpon without any cause giueÌ„ by me by some of your seruants whom because I haue in my iust defence euill entreated I came to make my excuse to you whom seing such as I doo I finde greater cause why I should craue pardon of you When she saw his face heard his speech she looked out of the coach seing her men some slaine some lying vnder their dead horses striuing to get from vnder them without making more account of the matter Truly said she they are wel serued that durst lift vp their armes against that armour But Sir Knight said she I pray you tell me how come you by this armour for if it be by the death of him that owed it then haue I more to say vnto you Palladius assured her it was not so telling her the true manner howe hee found it It is like enough said shee for that agrees with the manner he hath lately vsed But I
woman for certainly a noble cause dooth ease much a grieuous case But as it stands now nothing vexeth me as that I cannot see wherein I can be seruisable vnto you I desire no greater seruice of you answered Pyrocles thē that you remayn secretly in this country some-times come to this place either late in the night or early in the morning where you shall haue my key to enter bicause as my fortune eyther amends or empaires I may declare it vnto you and haue your counsell and furtheraunce and hereby I will of purpose leade her that is the prayse and yet the staine of all womankinde that you may haue so good a view as to allowe my iudgement and as I can get the most conuenient time I will come vnto you for though by reason of yonder wood you cannot see the Lodge it is harde at hande But now sayd she it is time for me to leaue you and towardes euening we will walke out of purpose hetherward therefore keepe your selfe close in that time But Musidorus bethinking him selfe that his horse might happen to bewray them thought it best to returne for that day to a village not farre of and dispatching his horse in some sort the next day early to come a foote thither and so to keepe that course afterward which Pyrocles very well liked of Now farewell deere cousin said he from me no more Pyrocles nor Daiphantus now but Zelmane Zelmane is my name Zelmane is my title Zelmane is the onely hope of my aduauncement And with that word going out and seeing that the coast was cleare Zelmane dismissed Musidorus who departed as full of care to helpe his friend as before he was to disswade him Zelmane returned to the Lodge where inflamed by Philoclea watched by Gynecia and tired by Basilius she was like a horse desirous to runne and miserablie spurred but so short raind as he cannot stirre forward Zelmane sought occasion to speake with Philoclea Basilius with Zelmane and Gynecia hindered them all If Philoclea hapned to sigh and sigh she did often as if that sigh were to be wayted on Zelmane sighed also whereto Basilius and Gynecia soone made vp foure parts of sorrow Their affection increased their conuersation and their conuersation increased their affection The respect borne bred due ceremonies but the affection shined so through them that the ceremonies seemed not ceremonious Zelmanes eyes were like children before sweet meate eager but fearefull of their ill-pleasing gouernors Time in one instant seeming both short and long vnto them short in the pleasingnes of such presence long in the stay of their desires But Zelmane fayled not to intice them all many times abroad because she was desirous her friend Musidorus neere whom of purpose she led them might haue full sight of them Sometimes angling to a little Riuer neere hand which for the moisture it bestowed vpon rootes of some flourishing Trees was rewarded with their shadowe There would they sit downe and pretie wagers be made betweene Pamela and Philoclea which could soonest beguile silly fishes while Zelmane protested that the fit pray for them was hartes of Princes She also had an angle in her hand but the taker was so taken that she had forgotten taking Basilius in the meane time would be the cooke himselfe of what was so caught and Gynecia sit still but with no still pensifnesse Now she brought them to see a seeled Doue who the blinder she was the higher she straue Another time a Kite which hauing a gut cunningly pulled out of her and so let flie caused all the Kites in that quarter who as oftentimes the world is deceaued thinking her prosperous when indeede she was wounded made the poore Kite find that opinion of riches may well be dangerous But these recreations were interrupted by a delight of more gallant shew for one euening as Basilius returned from hauing forced his thoughts to please themselues in such small conquests there came a shepheard who brought him word that a Gentleman desired leaue to do a message from his Lord vnto him Basilius granted whereupon the Gentleman came and after the dutifull ceremonies obserued in his maisters name tolde him that he was sent from Phalantus of Corinth to craue licence that as he had done in many other courts so he might in his presence defie all Arcadian Knights in the behalfe of his mistres beautie who would besides her selfe in person be present to giue euident proofe what his launce should affirme The conditions of his chalenge were that the defendant should bring his mistresse picture which being set by the image of Artesia so was the mistresse of Phalantus named who in sixe courses should haue better of the other in the iudgement of Basilius with him both the honors and the pictures should remaine Basilius though he had retired himselfe into that solitarie dwelling with intention to auoid rather then to accept any matters of drawing company yet because he would entertaine Zelmane that she might not thinke the time so gainefull to him losse to her graunted him to pitch his tent for three dayes not farre from the lodge and to proclayme his chalenge that what Arcadian Knight for none els but vpon his perill was licensed to come would defende what he honored against Phalantus should haue the like freedome of accesse and returne This obteyned and published Zelmane being desirous to learne what this Phalantus was hauing neuer knowne him further then by report of his good iusting in somuch as he was commonly called The faire man of armes Basilius told her that he had had occasion by one very inward with him to knowe in part the discourse of his life which was that he was bastard-brother to the faire Helen Queene of Corinth and deerly esteemed of her for his exceeding good parts being honorablie courteous and wronglesly valiaunt considerately pleasant in conuersation and an excellent courtier without vnfaithfulnes who finding his sisters vnperswadeable melancholy thorow the loue of Amphialus had for a time left her court and gone into Laconia where in the warre against the Helots he had gotten the reputation of one that both durst and knew But as it was rather choise then nature that led him to matters of armes so as soone as the spur of honor ceased he willingly rested in peaceable delightes being beloued in all companies for his louely qualities and as a man may terme it winning cherefulnes whereby to the Prince and Court of Laconia none was more agreable then Phalantus and he not giuen greatly to struggle with his owne disposition followed the gentle currant of it hauing a fortune sufficient to content and he content with a sufficient fortune But in that court he sawe and was acquainted with this Artesia whose beautie he now defends became her seruant sayd himselfe and perchaunce thought himselfe her louer But certainly said Basilius many times it falles out that these young companions make themselues beleeue they loue
when they were softly layed but that if her sonne would follow her counsell he should take another course with her and so flang away from her Yet knowing the desperate melancholy of Amphialus in like cases framed to him a very thankefull message poudring it with some hope-giuing phrases which were of such ioy to Amphialus that he though against publike respect and importunity of dissuaders presently caused it to be made knowne to the campe that whatsoeuer Knight would trie the like fortune as Phalantus did he should in like sort be answered so as diuers of the valiantest partly of themselues partly at the instigation of Basilius attempted the combat with him and according to euery ones humour so were the causes of the challenge grounded one laying treason to his charge another preferring himselfe in the worthinesse to serue Philoclea a third exalting some Ladies beautie beyonde either of the sisters a fourth laying disgraces to Loue it selfe naming it the bewitcher of the witte the rebell to Reason the betrayer of resolution the defiler of thoughts the vnderminer of magnanimitie the flatterer of vice the slaue to weakenes the infection of youth the madnes of age the curse of life and reproch of death a fifth disdayning to cast at lesse then at all would make the cause of his quarrell the causers of loue and proclayme his blasphemies against womankinde that namely that sex was the ouersight of Nature the disgrace of reasonablenes the obstinate cowards the slaue-borne tyrants the shops of vanities the guilded wethercocks in whome coÌ„science is but peeuishnes chastitie way wardnes and gratefulnes a miracle But all these challenges how well so euer endited were so well answered that some by death taught others though past learning themselues and some by yeelding gaue themselues the lie for hauing blasphemed to the great griefe of Basilius so to see his Rebell preuaile and in his owne sight to crowne himselfe with deserued honour Whereupon thirsting for reuenge and else not hoping to preuaile the best of his campe being already ouerthrowne he sent a messenger to Argalus in whose approued courage and force he had and had cause to haue great considence with a letter requiring him to take this quarrell in hand from which hee had hetherto spared him in respect of his late mariage But now his honour and as he esteemed it felicitie standing vpon it hee coulde no longer forbeare to chalenge of him his faithfull seruice The messenger made speede and found Argalus at a castle of his owne sitting in a parler with the faire Parthenia he reading in a booke the stories of Hercules she by him as to heare him reade but while his eyes looked on the booke shee looked on his eies and sometimes staying him with some prety question not so much to bee resolued of the doubte as to giue him occasion to looke vpon her A happy couple he ioying in her she ioying in her selfe but in her selfe because shee enioyed him both encreasing their riches by giuing to â—ach other each making one life double because they made a double life one where desire neuer wanted satisfaction nor satisfaction euer bred sacietie he ruling because she would obey or rather because she would obey she therein ruling But when the messenger came in with letters in his hand and hast in his countenance though she knew not what to feare yet she feared because she knew not but she rose and went aside while hee deliuered his letters and message yet a far off she looked now at the messenger and then at her husband the same feare which made her loth to haue cause of feare yet making her seeke cause to nourish her feare And well she found there was some serious matter for her husbands countenance figured some resolution betweene lothnesse and necessitie and once his eie cast vpon her and finding hers vpon him he blushed and she blushed because hee blushed and yet streight grew pale because she knew not why he had blushed But when he had read and heard and dispatched away the messenger like a man in whom Honour could not be rocked a sleepe by Affection with promise quickly to follow he came to Parthenia and as sorie as might bee for parting and yet more sorie for her sorrow he gaue her the letter to reade She with fearfull slownes tooke it and with fearefull quicknesse read it and hauing read it Ah my Argalus said she and haue you made such hast to answere and are you so soone resolued to leaue me But hee discoursing vnto her how much it imported his honour which since it was deare to him he knew it would be deare vnto her her reason ouerclowded with sorrow suffered her not presently to replie but left the charge thereof to teares and sighes which he not able to beare left her alone and went to giue order for his present departure But by that time he was armde readie to go she had recouered a little strength of spirite againe and comming out and seing him armed and wanting nothing â—or his departure but her fearewell she ran to him tooke him by the arme and kneeling downe without regard who either heard her speach or sawe her demeanour My Argalus my Argalus said she do not thus forsake me RemeÌ„ber alas RemeÌ„ber that I haue interest in you which I wil neuer yeeld shal be thus adueÌ„tured Your valour is already sufficiently knowne sufficiently haue you already done for your country ennow ennow there are besides you to loose lesse worthie liues Woe is me what shall become of me if you thus abandon mee Then was it time for you to followe these aduentures when you aduentured no body but your self and were no bodies but your owne But now pardon me that now or neuer I claime mine owne mine you are and without me you can vndertake no danger and will you endanger Parthenia Parthenia shal be in the battle of your fight Parthenia shal smart in your paine and your blood must bee bled by Parthenia Deare Parthenia said he this is the first time that euer you resisted my will I thanke you for it but perseuer not in it and let not the teares of those most beloued eies be a presage vnto me of that which you would not should happen I shall liue doubte not for so great a blessing as you are was not giuen vnto me so soone to be depriued of it Looke for me therefore shortly and victorious and prepare a ioyfull welcome and I will wish for no other triumph She answered not but stood as it were thunder-striken with amazement â—or true Loue made obedience stand vp against al other passions But when he tooke her in his armes and sought to printe his harte in her sweete lippes she fell in a sounde so as he was faine to leaue her to her Gentlewomen and caried away by the tyrannie of Honour though with manie a backe-cast looke and hartie grone went to the campe Where vnderstanding the
onely opprest her with a storme of amazement but when her eies sawe that they did see as condemning themselues to haue seene it they became weary of their owne power of seeing and her soule then drinking vp woe with great draughts she fell downe to deadly traunces but her waiting iaylors with cruell pitty brought lothed life vnto her which yet many times tooke his leaue as though he would indeed depart but when he was staied by force he kept with him deadly Sorrow which thus exercised her mourning speech Pamela my sister my sister Pamela woe is me for thee I would I had died for thee Pamela neuer more shall I see thee neuer more shall I enioy thy sweet companie and wise counsell Alas thou arte gone to beautifie heauen and hast left me here who haue nothing good in me but that I did euer loue thee and euer will lament thee Let this daye be noted of all vertuous folkes for most vnfortunate let it neuer be mentioned but among curses and cursed bee they that did this mischiefe and most accursed bee mine eyes that behelde it Sweete Pamela that head is striken of where onely wisedome might be spoken withall that bodie is destroyed which was the liuing booke of vertue Deare Pamela how haste thou lefte me to all wretchednesse and miserie Yet while thou liuedst in thee I breathed of thee I hoped O Pamela how much did I for thy excellencie honour thee more then my mother and loue thee more then my selfe Neuer more shall I lie with thee neuer more shall we bathe in the pleasant riuer together neuer more shall I see thee in thy shephearde apparell But thou arte gone and where am I Pamela is dead and liue I O my God And with that she fell againe in a soune so as it was a great while before they could bring her to her selfe againe but being come to her-selfe Alas said she vnkind women since you haue giuen me so many deathes torment me not now with life for Gods sake let me goe and excuse your hands of more blood Let me follow my Pamela whom euer I sought to follow Alas Pamela they will not let me come to thee But if they keepe promise I shall treade thine owne steppes after thee For to what am I borne miserable soule but to be most vnhappie in my selfe and yet more vnhappie in others But ô that a thousand more miseries had chanced vnto me so thou haddest not dyed Pamela my sister Pamela And so like lamentable Philomela complained she the horrible wrong done to her sister which if it stird not in the wickedly closed minds of her tormentors a pittie of her sorrow yet bredde it a wearinesse of her sorrow so as onely leauing one to preuent any harme â—he should doo her selfe the rest went away consulting againe with Cecropia how to make profite of this their late bloodie act In the ende that woman that vsed most to keepe company with Zelmane tolde Cecropia that she founde by many most sensible proofes in Zelmane that there was neuer woman so loued another as she loued Philoclea which was the cause that she further then the commandement of Cecropia had caused Zelmanes curtaines to bee also drawne because hauing the same spectacle that Philoclea had shee might stand in the greater feare for her whom she loued so well and that indeed she had hit the needle in that deuise for neuer saw she creature so astonished as Zelmane exceedingly sory for Pamela but exceedingly exceeding that exceedingnes in feare for Philoclea Therefore her aduice was shee â—houlde cause Zelmane to come and speake with Philoclea For there being such vehemencie of friendship between them it was most likely both to moue Zelmane to perswade and Philoclea to be perswaded Cecropia liked well of the counsell and gaue order to the same woman to go deale therin with Zelmane and to assure her with othe that Cecropia was determined Philoclea should passe the same way that Pamela had done without she did yeeld to satisfie the extremitie of her sonnes affection which the woman did adding thereunto many as she thought good reasons to make Zelmane thinke Amphialus a fit match for Philoclea But Zelmane who had from time to time vnderstood the cruell dealing they had vsed to the sisters and now had her own eies wounded with the sight of ones death was so confused withall her courage still rebelling against her wit desiring stil with force to doo impossible matters that as her desire was stopped with power so her conceit was darkned with a mist of desire For blinde Loue and inuincible valure still would cry out that it could not bee Philoclea should bee in so miserable estate and she not relieue her and so while shee haled her wit to her courage shee drew it from his owne limits But nowe Philocleas death a worde able to marshall â—ll his thoughts in order being come to so short a point either with small delay to be suffred or by the giuing her selfe to another to be preuented she was driuen to thinke and to desire some leasure of thinking which the woman granted for that night vnto her A night that was not halfe so blacke as her minde not halfe so silent as was fit for her musing thoughts At last he that would faine haue desperatly lost a thousand liues for her sake could not finde in his harte that she should loose any life for her owne sake and he that despised his owne death in respect of honour yet could well nye dispense with honour it selfe in respect of Philocleas death for once the thought could not enter into his harte nor the breath issue out of his mouth which could consent to Philocleas death for any bargaine Then how to preuent the next degree to death which was her being possest by another was the point of his mindes labour and in that he founde no other way but that Philoclea shoulde pretend a yeelding vnto Cecropias request and so by speaking with Amphialus and making faire but delaying promises procure libertie for Zelmane who only wisht but to come by a sword not doubting then to destroy them all and deliuer Philoclea so little did both the men and their forces seeme in her eyes looking down vpon them from the hye toppe of affections tower With that minde therefore but first well bound shee was brought to Philoclea hauing already plotted out in her conceite how she would deale with her and so came she with hart and eyes which did each sacrifice either to Loue vpon the aultar of Sorrow and there had shee the pleasing displeasing sight of Philoclea Philoclea whoÌ„ alredy the extreame sense of sorrow had brought to a dulnesse therein her face not without tokens that beautie had bene by many miseries cruelly battered and yet shewed it most the perfection of that beautie which coulde remaine vnouerthrowne by such enimies But when Zelmane was set downe by her and the women gone away because she might be the
might lamentably consider with what face he might looke vpon his till then ioy Philoclea when the next light waking should deliuer vnto her should perchaunce be the last of her hurtles life And that the first time she should bend her excellent eyes vpon him shee should see the accursed aucthor of her dreadfull end euen this consideration more then any other did so set it selfe in his well disposed minde that dispersing his thoughts to all the wayes that might be of her safetie finding a verye small discourse in so narrowe lymits of time and place at length in many difficulties he saw none beare any likelyhood for her life but his death For thē he thought it would fal out that when they foūd his body dead hauing no accuser but Damaetas as by his speach he found there was not it might iustly appeare that either Philoclea in defending her honour or els he himself in dispaire of atchieuing had left his carcase profe of his intent but witnes of her clearenes hauing a small while staied vpon the greatnes of his resolution and loked to the furthest of it be it so said the valiant Pyrocles neuer life for better cause nor to better end was bestowed for if death be to follow this doing which no death of mine could make me leaue vndon who is to die so iustly as my self And if I must die who can be so fit executioners as mine owne hands Which as they were accessaries to the doing so in killing me they shall suffer their owne punishment But then arose ther a new impediment for Damaetas hauing caried away any thing which he thought might hurt as tender a man as himselfe hee coulde finde no fit instrument which might geue him a finall dispatch at length makinge the more haste leaste his Lady should awake taking the Iron barre which being sharper something at the one end then the other he hoped ioynd to his willing strength might breake of the former threed of mortallitie truely said he fortune thou hast well perseuered mine enemie that wilt graunt me no fortune to be vnfortunate nor let me haue an easie passage now I am to troubl thee no more But said he O bar blessed in that thou hast done seruice to the chamber of the paragon of life since thou couldest not help me to make a perfitter escape yet serue my turne I pray thee that I may escape from my selfe there withall yet once looking to fetch the last repast of his eyes and newe againe transported with the pittifull case hee lefte her in kneeling downe he thus prayed O great maker and great ruler of this worlde saide hee to thee do I sacrifice this bloud of mine and suffer Lorde the errors of my youth to passe away therein and let not the soule by thee made and euer bending vnto thee be now reiected of thee neither be offended that I do abandon this body to the gouernment of which thou hadst placed me without thy leaue since how cā I know but that thy vnsearchable minde is I should so doe since thou hast taken from me all meanes longer to abide in it And since the difference stāds but in a short time of dying thou that hast framed my soule enclyned to do good howe can I in this smal space of mine benefit so much all the humane kinde as in preseruing thy perfittest workmanship their chiefest honour O iustice it selfe howsoeuer thou determinest of me let this excellent innocency not bee oppressed Let my life pay her losse O Lord geue me some signe that I may die with this comfort And pawsing a little as if he had hoped for some token and when soeuer to the eternall darknes of the earth she doth followe me let our spirits possesse one place and let them bee more happie in that vniting With that word striking the barre vpon his harte side withall the force he had and falling withall vpon to giue it the thorower passage the barre in troth was to blunt to do theffect although it pearced his skinne and brused his ribbes very sore so that his breath was almost past him But the noyse of his fall draue away sleepe from the quiet sences of the deere Philoclea whose sweete soule had an earely salutation of a deadly spectacle vnto her with so much more astonishment as the falling a sleepe but a litle before she had retired her selfe from the vttermost pointe of wofulnes and sawe now againe before her eyes the most cruell enterprise that humane nature can vndertake without discerning any cause therof But the liuely printe of her affection had soone taught her not to stay long vpon diliberation in so vrgent a necessitie therefore getting with speede her weake though well accorded limmes out of her sweetned bedd as when Iuells are hastely pulled out of some riche coffer she spared not the nakednes of her tender feete but I thincke borne as fast with desire as feare carried Daphne she came running to Pyrocles and finding his spirits somthing troubled with the fall she put by the barre that lay close to him and strayning him in her most beloued embracement my comforte my ioye my life saide shee what haste haue you to kill your Philoclea with the most cruell torment that euer Lady suffred Do you not yet perswade your selfe that any hurte of yours is a death vnto me And that your death shoulde bee my hell Alas if any sodaine mislike of mee for other cause I see none haue caused you to loath your selfe if any fault or defect of mine hath bred this terriblest rage in you rather let mee suffer the bitternes of it for so shal the deseruer be punished mankind preserued from such a ruine I for my part shall haue that comforte that I dye by the noblest hande that euer drew sword Pyrocles greued with his fortune that he had not in one instant cut of all such deliberation thinking his life onely reserued to be bound to bee the vnhappie newes teller Alas said he my onely Starre why doe you this wrong to God your selfe and me to speake of faultes in you no no most faultlesse most perfet Lady it is your excellencie that makes me hasten my desired end it is the right I owe to the generall nature that though against priuate nature makes me seek the preseruation of all that she hath done in this age let me let me dye There is no way to saue your life most worthy to be conserued then that my death be your clearing then did he with farre more paine and backward loathnes then the so neere killing himselfe was but yet driuen with necessitie to make her yeeld to that hee thought was her safetie make her a short but pithie discourse what he had heard by Damaetas speeches confirming the rest with a plaine demonstratiō of their imprisonment And then sought he new meanes of stopping his breath but that by Philocleas labour aboue her force he was stayed to heare her In whom a
daies what death is so euil as vnworthy seruitude But that opinion soone ceased when he sawe the gallie setting vpon an other shippe which held long and strong fight with her for then he began a fresh to feare the life of his friende and to wish well to the Pirates whome before he hated least in their ruyne he might perish But the fishermen made such speed into the hauen that they absented his eyes from beholding the issue where being entred he could procure neither them nor any other as then to put themselues into the sea so that being as ful of sorrow for beyng vnable to doe any thing as voide of counsel how to doe anything besides that sicknesse grew something vpon him the honest shepheards Strephon and Claius who being themselues true friends did the more perfectly iudge the iustnesse of his sorrowe aduise him that he should mitigate somwhat of his woe since he had gotten an amendment in fortune being come from assured persuasion of his death to haue no cause to dispaire of his life as one that had lamented the death of his sheepe should after know they were but strayed would receiue pleasure though readily he knew not where to finde them Now sir saide they thus for our selues it is We are in profession but shepheards and in this countrie of Laconia little better then straungers and therefore neither in skill nor abilitie of power greatly to stead you But what wee can present vnto you is this Arcadia of which countrie we are is but a little way hence and euen vpon the next confines there dwelleth a Gentleman by name Kalander who vouchsafeth much fauour vnto vs A man who for his hospitalitie is so much haunted that no newes sturre but comes to his eares for his vpright dealing so beloued of his neighbours that he hath many euer readie to doe him their vttermost seruice and by the great good will our Prince beares him may soone obtaine the vse of his name and credit which hath a principall swaie not onely in his owne Arcadia but in all these countries of Peloponnesus which is worth all all these things giue him not so much power as his nature giues him will to benefit so that it seemes no Musicke is sweete to his eare as deserued thanks To him we wil bring you and there you may recouer againe your health without which you cannot bee able to make any diligent search for your friend and therefore you must labour for it Besides we are sure the comfort of curtesie and ease of wise counsell shall not be wanting Musidorus who besides he wâ—s meerly vnacquainted in the countrie had his wits astonished with sorrow gaue easie consent to that from which hee savve no reason to disagree and therefore defraying the Mariners with a ring bestovved vpon them they tooke their iourney together through Laconia Claius and Strephon by course carying his chest for him Musidorus only bearing in his countenance euident markes of a sorovvful-mind supported vvith a vveake bodie vvhich they perceiuing and knovving that the violence of sorovv is not at the first to be striuen vvithall being like a mighty beast soner tamed vvith follovving than ouerthrovven by vvithstanding they gaue vvay vnto it for that day and the next neuer troubling him either vvith asking questions or finding fault vvith his melancholie but rather fitting to his dolor dolorous discourses of their ovvne and other folks misfortunes Which speeches though they had not a liuely entraÌ„ce to his sences shut vp in sorow yet like one halfe a sleepe he tooke hold of much of the matters spoken vnto him so as a man may say ere sorow was a wareâ— they made his thoughts beare away somthing els besid his own sorow which wrought so in him that at leÌ„gth he grew content to marke their speeches then to maruell at such wit in shepheardes after to like their company and lastly to vouchsafe conference so that the third day after in the time that the morning did strow roses and violets in the heauenly floore against the comming of the Sun the nightingales striuing one with the other which coulde in most dainty variety recount their wrong caused sorow made them put of their sleep and rising from vnder a tree which that night had bine their pauilion they went on their iorney which by and by welcomed Musidorus eyes wearied with the wasted soile of Laconia with delightfull prospects There were hilles which garnished their proud heights with stately trees humble valleis whose base estate seemed comforted with refreshing of siluer riuers medowes enameld with all sortes of eypleasing floures thickets which being lined with most pleasant shade were witnessed so too by the cheerefull disposition of many wel-tuned birds ech pasture stored with sheep feeding with sober security while the prety lambes with bleting oratory craued the dams comfort here a shepheards boy piping as though he should neuer be olde there a yong shepherdesse knitting and withall singing and it seemed that her voice comforted her hands to worke and her hands kept time to her voices musick As for the houses of the country for many houses came vnder their eye they were all scattered no two being one by th' other and yet not so far off as that it barred mutuall succour a shew as it were of an accompanable solitarines of a ciuil wildnes I pray you said Musidorus then first vnsealing his long silent lips what countreyes be these we passe through which are so diuers in shewe the one wanting no store th' other hauing no store but of want The country answered Claius where you were cast a shore and now are past through is Laconia not so poore by the barrennes of the soyle though in it selfe not passing fertill as by a ciuill warre which being these two yeares within the bowels of that estate betweene the gentlemen and the peasants by them named Helots hath in this sorte as it were disfigured the face of nature and made it so vnhospitall as now you haue founde it the townes neither of the one side nor the other willingly opening their gates to strangers nor strangers willingly entring for feare of being mistaken But this countrie where now you set your foot is Arcadia euen hard by is the house of Kalander whether we lead you this country being thus decked with peace the child of peace good husbandrie These houses you see so scattered are of men as we two are that liue vpon the commoditie of their sheepe and therefore in the diuision of the Arcadian estate are termed shepheards a happie people wanting litle because they desire not much What cause then saide Musidorus made you venter to leaue this sweet life and put your selfe in yonder vnpleasant and dangerous realme Guarded with pouertie answered Strephon and guided with loue But now said Claius since it hath pleased you to aske any thing of vs whose basenes is such as the very knowledge is darkenes geue vs leaue
into thickest of the woods lamenting and euen crying out so pitifully that my seruant though of a fortune not vsed to much tendernes could not refraine weeping when he told it me He once ouertooke him but Amphialus drawing his sword which was the onely part of his armes God knowes to what purpose he carried about him threatned to kil him if he followed him and withal bad him deliuer this bitter message that he wel inough found I was the cause of all this mischiefe and that if I were a man he would go ouer the world to kill me but bad me assure myselfe that of all creatures in the world he most hated mee Ah sir Knight whose eares I think by this time are tired with the rugged waies of these misfortunes now weigh my case if at least you know what loue is For this cause haue I left my countrie putting in hazard how my people will in time deale by me aduenturing what perilles or dishonors might ensue onely to follow him who proclaimeth hate against me and to bring my necke vnto him if that may redeeme my trespasse and asswage his fury And now sir saide she you haue your request I pray you take paines to guide me to the next towne that there I may gather such of my company againe as your valor hath left me Palladius willingly condiscended but ere they began to go there came Clitophon who hauing bene something hurt by one of them had pursued him a good way at length ouertaking him and ready to kill him vnderstoode they were seruants to the faire Queene Helen and that the cause of this enterprise was for nothing but to make Amphialus prisoner whō they knew their mistresse sought for she concealed her sorrow nor cause of her sorrow frō no body But Clitophon very sory for this accident came backe to comfort the Queene helping such as were hurt in the best sort that he could and framing friendly constructions of this rashly vnder-taken enmitie when in comes an other till that time vnseene all armed with his beuer downe who first looking round about vpon the cōpany as soone as he spied Palladius he drew his sword making no other prologue let flie at him But Palladius sorie for so much harme as had already happened sought rather to retire and warde thinking he might be some one that belonged to the faire Queene whose case in his heart he pitied Which Clitophon seeing stept betweene them asking the new come knight the cause of his quarrel who answered him that hee woulde kill that theefe who had stollen away his masters armour if he did not restore it With that Palladius lookt vpon him and sawe that hee of the other side had Palladius owne armour vpon him truely saide Palladius if I haue stolne this armour you did not buy that◠but you shall not fight with me vpon such a quarrell you shall haue this armour willingly which I did onely put on to doo honor to the owner But Clitophon straight knewe by his words and voyce that it was Ismenus the faithfull and diligent Page of Amphialus and therefore telling him that he was Clitophon and willing him to acknowledge his error to the other who deserued all honour the yong Gentleman pulled of his head-peece and lighting went to kisse Palladius hands desiring him to pardon his follie caused by extreame griefe which easilie might bring foorth anger Sweete Gentleman saide Palladius you shall onely make me this amendes that you shall cary this your Lords armour from me to him and tell him from an vnknowen knight who admires his worthines that he cannot cast a greater miste ouer his glory then by being vnkind to so excellēt a princesse as this Queene is Ismenus promised he would as soone as he durst find his maister and with that went to doo his duetie to the Queene whom in al these encounters astonishment made hardy but assoone as she saw Ismenus looking to her picture Ismenus saide shee here is my Lord where is yours or come you to bring me some sentence of death from him if it be so welcome be it I pray you speake and speake quickly Alas Madame said Ismenus I haue lost my Lorde with that teares came vnto his eyes for assoone as the vnhappie combate was concluded with the death both of father and sonne my maister casting of his armour went his way forbidding me vpon paine of death to follow him Yet diuers daies I followed his steppes till lastly I found him hauing newly met with an excellent Spaniell belonging to his dead companion Philoxenns The dog straight fawned on my master for old knowledge but neuer was there thinge more pittifull then to heare my maister blame the dog for louing his maisters murtherer renewing a fresh his complaints with the dumbe counceller as if they might comfort one another in their miseries But my Lord hauing spied me rase vp in such rage that in truth I feared he would kill me yet as then he said onely if I would not displease him I should not come neere him till he sent for me too hard a commaundement for me to disobey I yeelded leauing him onely waited on by his dog and as I thinke seeking out the most solitarie places that this or any other country can graunt him and I returning where I had left his armour found an other in steede thereof and disdaining I must confesse that any should beare the armour of the best Knight liuing armed my selfe therein to play the foole as euen now I did Faire Ismenus said the Queene a fitter messenger could hardly be to vnfold my Tragedie I see the end I see my end With that sobbing she desired to be conducted to the next towne where Palladius left her to be waited on by Clitophon at Palladius earnest entreatie who desired alone to take that melancholy course of seeking his friend and therefore changing armours againe with Ismenus who went withall to a castle belonging to his master he continued his quest for his friend Daiphantus So directed he his course to Laconia aswell among the Helots as Spartans There indeede hee found his fame flourishing his monuments engraued in Marble and yet more durably in mens memories but the vniuersall lamenting his absented presence assured him of his present absence Thence into the Elean prouince to see whether at the Olympian games there celebrated he might in such concourse blesse his eyes with so desired an encounter but that huge and sportfull assemblie grewe to him a tedious louelinesse esteeming no bodie founde since Daiphantus was lost Afterward he passed through Achaia and Sicyonia to the Corinthians prowde of their two Seas to learne whether by the streight of that Isthmus it were possible to know of his passage But finding euerie place more dombe then other to his demaundes and remembring that it was late-taken loue which had wrought this new course he returned againe after two moneths trauaile in vaine to make a freshe searche in Arcadia
at the first liking of a likely beautie louing because they will loue for want of other businesse not because they feele indeed that diuine power which makes the heart finde a reason in passion and so God knowes as inconstantly leaue vpon the next chaunce that beautie castes before them So therefore taking loue vppon him like a fashion he courted this Ladie Artesia who was as fit to paie him in his owne monie as might be For she thinking she did wrong to her beautie if she were not prowde of it called her disdaine of him chastitie and placed her honour in little setting by his honouring her determining neuer to marrie but him whome she thought worthie of her and that was one in whome all worthinesse were harboured And to this conceipt not only nature had bent her but the bringing vp she receaued at my sister in lawe Cecropia had confirmed her who hauing in her widowhood taken this young Artesia into her charge because her Father had bene a deare friend of her dead husbandes had taught her to thinke that there is no wisdome but in including both heauen and earth in ones selfe and that loue courtesie gratefulnesse friendship and all other vertues are rather to be taken on then taken in ones selfe And so good a disciple she found of her that liking the fruits of her owne planting she was content if so her sonne could haue liked of it to haue wished her in mariage to my Nephew Amphialus But I thinke that desire hath lost some of his heate since she hath knowne that such a Queene as Helen is doth offer so great a price as a Kingdome to buie his fauour for if I be not deceaued in my good sister Cecrâ—pia she thinks no face so beautifull as that which lookes vnder a Crowne But Artesia indeede liked well of my Nephew Amphialus for I can neuer deeme that loue which in hauty harts proceeds of a desire onely to please and as it were peacock themselues but yet she hath shewed vehemencie of desire that way I thinke because all her desires be vehement in so much that she hath both placed her only brother a fine youth called Ismenus to be his squire and her selfe is content to waite vpon my sister till she may see the vttermost what she may worke in Amphialus who being of a melancholie though I must say truly courteous and noble mind seemes to loue nothing lesse then Loue and of late hauing through some aduenture or inward miscontentment withdrawne himselfe from any bodies knowledge where he is Artesia the easier condiscended to goe to the court of Laconia whether she was sent for by the Kings wife to whome she is somewhat allied And there after the war of the Helots this Knight Phalantus at least for tongue-delight made him selfe her seruaunt and she so little caring as not to showe mislike thereof was content onely to be noted to haue a notable seruaunt For truely one in my court neerely acquainted with him within these few dayes made me a pleasaunt description of their loue while he with cheerefull lookes would speake sorowfull words vsing the phrase of his affection in so high a stile that Mercurie would not haue wooed Venus with more magnificent Eloquence but els neyther in behauiour nor action accusing in himselfe anie great trouble in minde whether he sped or no. And she of the other side well finding how little it was and not caring for more yet taught him that often it falleth out but a foolish wittinesse to speake more then one thinkes For she made earnest benefite of his iest forcing him in respect of his profession to doo her such seruice as were both cumbersome and costly vnto him while he still thought he went beyond her because his harte did not commit the idolatrie So that lastlie she I thinke hauing in minde to make the fame of her beautie an oratour for her to Amphialus perswading her selfe perhaps that it might fall out in him as it doth in some that haue delightfull meate before them and haue no stomacke to it before other folkes prayse it shee tooke the aduauntage one daye vppon Phalantus vnconscionable praysinges of her and certaine cast-awaie vowes howe much hee would doo for her sake to arrest his woord assoone as it was out of his mouth and by the vertue thereof to charge him to goe with her thorow all the courts of Greece and with the chalenge now made to giue her beauty the principality ouer all other Phalantus was entrapped and saw round about him but could not get out Exceedingly perplexed he was as he confest to him that tolde mee the tale not for doubt hee had of him selfe for indeede he had little cause being accounted with his Launce especially whereupon the challenge is to be tryed as perfect as any that Greece knoweth but because he feared to offend his sister Helen and withall as he said he could not so much beleeue his loue but that he must thinke in his hart whatsoeuer his mouth affirmed that both she my daughters the faire Parthenia wife to a most noble Gentleman my wiues neere kinsman might far better put in their clayme for that prerogatiue But his promise had bound him prentice and therefore it was now better with willingnes to purchase thankes then with a discontented doing to haue the paine and not the reward and therefore went on as his faith rather then loue did lead him And now hath he already passed the courts of Laconia Elis Argos Corinth and as many times it happens that a good pleader maks a bad cause to preuaile so hath his Lawnce brought captiues to the triumph of Artesias beautie such as though Artesia be amoÌ„g the fairest yet in that coÌ„pany were to haue the prehemineÌ„ce for in those courts many knights that had bene in other far countries defended such as they had sene liked in their trauaile but their defeÌ„ce had ben such as they had forfaited the pictures of their Ladies to giue a forced false testimonie to Artesias excellencie And now lastly is he come hether where he hath leaue to trye his fortune But I assure you if I thought it not in dew and true consideration an iniurious seruice and churlish curtesie to put the danger of so noble a title in the deciding of such a dangerles combat I would make yong master Phalantus know that your eyes can sharpen a blunt Launce and that age which my gray haires onely gotten by the louing care of others make seeme more then it is hath not diminished in me the power to protect an vndeniable verity With that hee bustled vp himselfe as though his heart would faine haue walked abroad Zelmane with an inwarde smiling gaue him outward thanks desiring him to reserue his force for worthier causes So passing their time according to their woont they wayted for the comming of Phalantus who the next morning hauing alredy caused his tents to be pitched neere to a
mother she did in this maÌ„ner As soone said she as ye were all runne away and that I hoped to bee in safetie there came out of the same woods a foule horrible Beare which fearing belike to deale while the Lion was present as soone as he was gone came furiously towardes the place where I was and this young shepheard left alone by me I truly not guilty of any wisedom which since they lay to my charge because they say it is the best refuge against that beast but euen pure feare bringing forth that effect of wisedome fell downe flat of my face needing not counterfait being dead for indeed I was litle better But this yong shepheard with a wonderfull courage hauing no other weapon but that knife you see standing before the place where I lay so behaued himselfe that the first sight I had when I thought my selfe already neare Charons ferry was the shepheard shewing me his bloudy knife in token of victory I pray you said Zelmane speaking to Dorus whose valour she was carefull to haue manifested in what sorte so ill weaponed could you atchiue this enterprise Noble Ladie saide Dorus the manner of these beastes fighting with any man is to stande vp vpon their hinder feete and so this did and being ready to giue me a shrewd imbracement I thinke the God Pan euer carefull of the chiefe blessings of Arcadia guided my hand so iust to the hart of the beast that neither she could once touch me nor which is the only matter in this worthy remembrance breed any danger to the Princesse For my part I am rather withall subiected humblenes to thanke her excellencies since the duety thereunto gaue me harte to saue my selfe then to receiue thankes for a deede which was her onely inspiring And this Dorus spake keeping affection as much as he could backe from comming into his eyes and gestures But Zelmane that had the same Character in her heart could easily discipher it and therefore to keepe him the longer in speach desired to vnderstand the conclusion of the matter and how the honest Dametas was escaped Nay sayd Pamela none shall take that office from my selfe being so much bound to him as I am for my education And with that word scorne borrowing the countenance of myrth somewhat shee smiled and thus spake on When said she Dorus made me assuredly perceiue that all cause of feare was passed the truth is I was ashamed to finde my selfe alone with this shepheard and therefore looking about me if I could see any bodie at length wee both perceiued the gentle Dametas lying with his head and breast as farre as hee could thrust himselfe into a bush drawing vp his legges as close vnto him as hee coulde for like a man of a very kinde nature soone to take pittie of himselfe hee was full resolued not to see his owne death And when this sheephearde pushed him bidding him to be of good cheere it was a great while ere we coulde perswade him that Dorus was not the beare so that he was faine to pull him out by the heeles and shew him the beast as deade as he could wish it which you may beleeue me was a very ioyfull sight vnto him But then he forgate all courtesie for he fell vpon the beast giuing it many a manfull wound swearing by much it was not well such beasts should be suffered in a common welth And then my gouernour as full of ioy as before of feare came dauncing and singing before as euen now you saw him Well wel said Basilius I haue not chosen Dametas for his fighting nor for his discoursing but for his plainnesse honestie therin I know he wil not deceaue me But then he told Pamela not so much because she should know it as because he would tell it the wonderfull act Zelmane had perfourmed which Gynecia likewise spake off both in such extremitie of praising as was easie to be seâ—ne the construction of their speach might best be made by the Grammer rules of affectioÌ„ Basilius told with what a gallant grace shee ranne with the Lyons head in her hand like another Pallas with the spoiles of Gorgon Gynecia sware shee sawe the very face of the young Hercules killing the Nemean LioÌ„ al with a grateful assent coÌ„firmed the same praises only poore Dorus though of equal desert yet not proceeding of equal estate should haue bene left forgotteÌ„ had not Zelmane again with great admiratioÌ„ begun to speake of him asking whether it were the faâ—hion or no in Arcadia that shepherds shoulde performe such valorous enterprises This Basilius hauing the quicke sence of a louer tooke as though his Mistres had giuen him a secret reprehension that he had not shewed more gratefulnesse to Dorus and therefore as nymblie as he could enquired of his estate adding promise of great rewards among the rest offering to him if hee would exercise his courage in souldierie he would commit some charge vnto him vnder his Lieutenant Philanax But Dorus whose ambition clymed by another stayre hauing first answered touching his estate that he was brother to the shepheard Menalcas who among other was wont to resort to the Princes presence and excused his going to souldierie by the vnaptnesse he found in himselfe that way he tolde Basilius that his brother in his last testament had willed him to serue Dametas and therefore for due obedience thereunto he would thinke his seruice greatly rewarded if hee might obtaine by that meane to liue in the sight of his Prince and yet practise his owne chosen vocation Basilius liking well his goodly shape and handsome manner charged Dametas to receiue him like a sonne into his house saying that his valour and Dametas truth would be good bulwarkes against such mischiefes as hee sticked not to say were threatned to his daughter Pamela Dametas no whit out of countenance with all that had bene said because he had no worse to fall into then his owne accepted Dorus and withall telling Basilius that some of the shepheards were come demaunded in what place hee would see their sports who first curious to know whether it were not more requisite for Zelmanes hurte to rest then sit vp at those pastimes and she that felt no wound but one earnestly desiring to haue the Pastorals Basilius commanded it should bee at the gate of the lodge where the throne of the Prince being according to the auncient manner he made Zelmane sit betweene him and his wife therein who thought her selfe betweene drowning and burning the two young Ladies of either side the throne and so prepared their eyes and eares to be delighted by the shepheards But before all of them were assembled to begin their sports there came a fellow who being out of breath or seeming so to be for haste with humble hastines tolde Basilius that his Mistres the Lady Cecropia had sent him to excuse the mischance of her beastes ranging in that dangerous sort being happened by the
gouernement as to lay before your eyes the picture of his proceedings But in such sorte hee flourished in the sweete comforte of dooing much good when by an accasion of leauing his Countrie he was forced to bring foorth his vertue of magnanimitie as before hee had done of iustice He had onely one sister a Ladie lest I should too easilie fall to partiall prayses of her of whom it may be iustly saide that she was no vnfit branch to the noble stock whereof she was come Her he had giuen in mariage to Dorilaus Prince of Thessalia not so much to make a frendship as to confirm the frendship betweene their posteritie which betweene them by the likenes of vertue had beene long before made for certainly Dorilaus could neede no amplifiers mouth for the highest point of praise Who hath not heard said Pamela of the valiant wise and iust Dorilaus whose vnripe death doth yet so many yeares since draw teares from vertuous eyes And indeede my father is wont to speake of nothing with greater admiration then of the notable friâ—ndship a rare thing in Princes more rare betweene Princes that so holily was obserued to the last of those two excellent men But said she go on I pray you Dorilaus said he hauing married his sister had his marriage in short time blest for so are folke woont to say how vnhappie soeuer the children after grow with a sonne whom they named Musidorus of whom I must needes first speake before I come to Pyrocles because as he was borne first so vpon his occasion grew as I may say accidentally the others birth For scarcely was Musidorus made partaker of this oft-blinding light when there were found numbers of Southsayers who affirmed strange and incredible thinges should be performed by that childe whether the heauens at that time listed to play with ignorant mankinde or that flatterie be so presumptuous as euen at times to borrow the face of Diuinitie But certainly so did the boldnesse of their affirmation accompanie the greatnesse of what they did affirm euen descending to particularities what kingdoms he should ouercome that the king of Phrygia who ouer-superstitiously thought himselfe touched in the matter sought by force to destroy the infant to preuent his after-expectations because a skilfull man hauing compared his natiuity with the child so told him Foolish man either vainly fearing what was not to be feared or not considering that if it were a worke of the superiour powers the heauens at length are neuer children But so he did and by the aid of the Kings of Lydia and Crete ioining together their armies inuaded Thessalia and brought Dorilaus to some behind-hand of fortune when his faithfull friend and brother Euarchus came so mightily to his succour that with some enterchanging changes of fortune they begat of a iust war the best child peace In which time Euarchus made a crosse mariage also with Dorilaus his sister and shortly left her with child of the famous Pyrocles driuen to returne to the defence of his owne countrie which in his absence helped with some of the ill contented nobilitie the mighty King of Thrace and his brother King of Pannonia had inuaded The successe of those warres was too notable to be vnknowne to your eares to which it seemes all worthy fame hath glory to come vnto But there was Dorilaus valiantly requiting his friends helpe in a great battaile depriued of life his obsequies being no more solemnised by the teares of his partakers then the bloud of his enimies with so pearcing a sorrow to the constant hart of Euarchus that the newes of his sons birth could lighten his countenance with no shew of comfort although all the comfort that might be in a child truth it selfe in him forthwith deliuered For what fortune onely southsayers foretold of Musidorus that all men might see prognosticated in Pyrocles both Heauens and Earth giuing tokens of the comming forth of an Heroicall vertue The senate house of the planets was at no time so set for the decreeing of perfection in a man as at that time all folkes skilfull therein did acknowledge onely loue was threatned and promised to him and so to his cousin as both the tempest and hauen of their best yeares But as death may haue preuented Pyrocles so vnworthinesse must be the death of Musidorus But the mother of Pyrocles shortly after her childe-birth dying was cause that Euarchus recommended the care of his only sonne to his sister doing it the rather because the warre continued in cruell heat betwixt him and those euill neighbours of his In which meane time those young Princes the only comforters of that vertuous widow grewe on so that Pyrocles taught admiration to the hardest conceats Musidorus perchaunce because among his subiects exceedingly beloued and by the good order of Euarchus well perfourmed by his sister they were so brought vp that all the sparkes of vertue which nature had kindled in them were so blowne to giue forth their vttermost heate that iustly it may be affirmed they enflamed the affections of all that knew them For almost before they could perfectly speake they began to receaue conceits not vnworthy of the best speakers excellent deuises being vsed to make euen their sports profitable images of battailes and fortifications being then deliuered to their memory which after their stronger iudgements might dispense the delight of tales being conuerted to the knowledge of all the stories of worthy Princes both to moue them to do nobly and teach them how to do nobly the beautie of vertue still being set before their eyes and that taught them with far more diligent care then Grammaticall rules their bodies exercised in all abilities both of doing and suffring and their mindes acquainted by degrees with daungers and in sum all bent to the making vp of princely mindes no seruile feare vsed towards them nor any other violent restraint but still as to Princes so that a habite of commaunding was naturalized in them and therefore the farther from Tyrannie Nature hauing done so much for them in nothing as that it made them Lords of truth whereon all the other goods were builded Among which nothing I so much delight to recount as the memorable friendship that grew betwixt the two Princes such as made them more like then the likenesse of all other vertues and made them more neere one to the other then the neerenes of their bloud could aspire vnto which I think grew the faster and the faster was tied betweene them by reason that Musidorus being elder by three or foure yeares it was neither so great a difference in age as did take away the delight in societie and yet by the difference there was taken away the occasion of childish contentions till they had both past ouer the humour of such contentions For Pyrocles bare reuerence full of loue to Musidorus and Musidorus had a delight full of loue in Pyrocles Musidorus what he had learned either for body or minde
lesse daungerous But after that yeares began to come on with some though more seldome shewes of a bloudie nature and that the prophecie of Musidorus destenie came to his eares deliuered vnto him and receiued of him with the hardest interpretation as though his subiects did delight in the hearing thereof Then gaue he himselfe indeede to the full currant of his disposition especially after the warre of Thessalia wherein though in trueth wrongly he deemed his vnsuccesse proceeded of their vnwillingnes to haue him prosper and then thinking himselfe contemned knowing no countermine against contempt but terror began to let nothing passe which might beare the colour of a fault without sharp punishment and when he wanted faults excellencie grew a fault and it was sufficient to make one guiltie that he had power to be guiltie And as there is no humour to which impudent pouertie cannot make itselfe seruiceable so were there enow of those of desperate ambition who would build their houses vpon others ruines which after should fall by like practises So as seruitude came mainly vpon that poore people whose deedes were not onely punished but words corrected and euen thoughts by some meane or other puld out of them while suspition bred the mind of crueltie and the effects of crueltie stirred a new cause of suspition And in this plight full of watchfull fearefulnes did the storme deliuer sweete Pyrocles to the stormie minde of that Tyrant all men that did such wrong to so rare a stranger whose countenaunce deserued both pitie and admiration condemning themselues as much in their hearts as they did brag in their forces But when this bloudy King knew what he was and in what order he and his cosin Musidorus so much of him feared were come out of Thessalia assuredly thinking because euer thinking the worst that those forces were prouided against him glad of the perishing as he thought of Musidorus determined in publique sort to put Pyrocles to death For hauing quite lost the way of noblenes he straue to clime to the height of terriblenes and thinking to make all men adread to make such one an enemie who would not spare nor feare to kill so great a Prince and lastly hauing nothing in him why to make him his friend he thought he woulde take him away from being his enemie The day was appointed and all things appointed for that cruell blow in so solemne an order as if they would set foorth tyranny in most gorgeous decking The Princely youth of inuincible valour yet so vniustly subiected to such outragious wrong carrying himself in all his demeanure so constantly abiding extremitie that one might see it was the cutting away of the greatest hope of the world and destroying vertue in his sweetest grouth But so it fell out that his death was preuented by a rare example of friendship in Musidorus who being almost drowned had bene taken vp by a Fisherman belonging to the kingdome of Pontus and being there and vnderstanding the full discourse as Fame was very prodigall of so notable an accident in what case Pyrocles was learning withall that his hate was farre more to him then to Pyrocles hee found meanes to acquaint him selfe with a noble-man of that Countrie to whome largely discouering what he was he found him a most fit instrument to effectuate his desire For this noble-man had bene one who in many warres had serued Euarchus and had bene so mind-striken by the beautie of vertue in that noble King that though not borne his Subiect he euer profest himselfe his seruaunt His desire therefore to him was to keepe Musidorus in a strong Castle of his and then to make the King of Phrygia vnderstand that if he would deliuer Pyrocles Musidorus would willingly put him selfe into his hands knowing well that how thirstie so euer he was of Pyrocles bloud he would rather drinke that of Musidorus The Nobleman was loath to preserue one by the losse of another but time vrging resolution the importunitie of Musidorus who shewed a minde not to ouer-liue Pyrocles with the affection he bare to Euarchus so preuayled that he carried this strange offer of Musidorus which by that Tyrant was greedelie accepted And so vpon securitie of both sides they were enterchanged Where I may not omitte the worke of friendshippe in Pyrocles who both in speache and countenance to Musidorus well shewed that he thought himselfe iniured and not releeued by him asking him what he had euer seene in him why he could not beare the extremities of mortall accidentes as well as any man and why he should enuie him the glorie of suffering death for his friendes cause and as it were robbe him of his owne possession But in this notable contention where the conquest must be the conquerers destruction and safetie the punishment of the conquered Musidorus preuayled because he was a more welcome praie to the vniust King and as chearefully going towardes as Pyrocles went frowardly fromward his death he was deliuered to the King who could not be inough sure of him without he fed his owne eies vpon one whom he had begon to feare as soone as the other began to be Yet because he would in one acte both make ostentation of his owne felicitie into whose hands his most feared enemie was fallen and withall cut of such hopes from his suspected subiects when they should knowe certainly he was dead with much more skilfull crueltie and horrible solemnitie he caused each thing to be prepared for his triumph of tyrannie And so the day being come he was led foorth by many armed men who often had beene the fortifiers of wickednes to the place of execution where comming with a minde comforted in that he had done such seruice to Pyrocles this strange encounter he had The excelling Pyrocles was no sooner deliuered by the kings seruants to a place of liberty then he bent his witte and courage and what would not they bring to passe how ether to deliuer Musidorus or to perish with him And finding he could get in that countrie no forces sufficient by force to rescue him to bring himselfe to die with him little hoping of better euent he put himselfe in poore rayment and by the helpe of some few crownes he tooke of that noble-man who full of sorrow though not knowing the secrete of his intent suffered him to goe in such order from him he euen he borne to the greatest expectation and of the greatest bloud that any Prince might be submitted himselfe to be seruant to the executioner that should put to death Musidorus a farre notabler proofe of his friendship considering the height of his minde then any death could be That bad officer not suspecting him being araied fit for such an estate and hauing his beautie hidden by many foule spots he artificially put vpon his face gaue him leaue not onely to weare a sworde himselfe but to beare his sworde prepared for the iustified murther And so Pyrocles taking his time when Musidorus
for Loue so forceth me Plangus doth liue and shall Erona dye Erona dye O heauen if heauen there be Hath all thy whirling course so small effect Serue all thy starrie eyes this shame to see Let doltes in haste some altars faire erect To those high powers which idly sit aboue And vertue do in greatest need neglect Basilius O man take heed how thou the Gods do moue To causefull wrath which thou canst not resist Blasphemous words the speaker vaine do proue Alas while we are wrapt in foggie mist Of our selfe-loue so passions do deceaue We thinke they hurt when most they do assist To harme vs wormes should that high Iustice leaue His nature nay himselfe for so it is What glorie from our losse can he receaue But still our dazeled eyes their way do misse While that we do at his sweete scourge repine The kindly way to beate vs on to blisse If she must dye then hath she past the line Of lothsome dayes whose losse how canst thou mone That doost so well their miseries define But such we are with inward tempest blowne Of windes quite contrarie in waues of will We mone that lost which had we did bemone Plangus And shall she dye shall cruell fier spill Those beames that set so many harts on fire Hath she not force euen death with loue to kill Nay euen cold Death enflamde with hot desire Her to enioy where ioy it selfe is thrall Will spoile the earth of his most rich attire Thus Death becomes a riuall to vs all And hopes with foule embracements her to get In whose decay Vertues faire shrine must fall O Vertue weake shall death his triumph set Vpon thy spoiles which neuer should lye waste Let Death first dye be thou his worthy let By what eclipse shall that Sonne be defaste What myne hath erst throwne downe so faire a tower What sacriledge hath such a saint disgra'st The world the garden is she is the flower That sweetens all the place she is the guest Of rarest price both heau'n and earth her bower And shall ô me all this in ashes rest Alas if you a Phoenix new will haue Burnt by the Sunne she first must build her nest But well you know the gentle Sunne would saue Such beames so like his owne which might haue might In him the thoughts of Phaëtons damme to graue Therefore alas you vse vile Vulcans spight Which nothing spares to melt that Virgin-waxe Which while it is it is all Asias light O Mars for what doth serue thy armed axe To let that wit-old beast consume in flames Thy Venus child whose beautie Venus lackes O Venus if her praise no enuy frames In thy high minde get her thy husbands grace Sweete speaking oft a currish hart reclaimes O eyes of mine where once she saw her face Her face which was more liuely in my hart O braine where thought of her hath onely place O hand which toucht her hand when we did part O lippes that kist that hand with my teares sprent O toonge then dumbe not daring tell my smart O soule whose loue in her is onely spent What ere you see think touch kisse speake or loue Let all for her and vnto her be bent Basilius Thy wailing words do much my spirits moue They vttred are in such a feeling fashion That sorrowes worke against my will I proue Me-thinkes I am partaker of thy passion And in thy case do glasse mine owne debilitie Selfe-guiltie folke most prone to feele compassion Yet Reason saith Reason should haue abilitie To hold these wordly things in such proportion As let them come or go with euen facilitie But our Desires tyrannicall extortion Doth force vs there to set our chiefe delightfulnes Where but a baiting place is all our portion But still although we faile of perfect rightfulnes Seeke we to tame these childish superfluities Let vs not winke though void of purest sightfulnes For what can breed more peeuish incongruities Then man to yeeld to female lamentations Let vs some grammar learne of more congruities Plangus If through mine eares pearce any consolation By wise discourse sweete tunes or Poets fiction If ought I cease these hideous exclamations While that my soule she she liues in affliction Then let my life long time on earth maintained be To wretched me the last worst malediction Can I that know her sacred parts restrained be From any ioy know fortunes vile displacing her In morall rules let raging woes contained be Can I forget when they in prison placing her With swelling hart in spite and due disdainfulnes She lay for dead till I helpt with vnlasing her Can I forget from how much mourning plainfulnes With Diamond in window-glasse she graued Erona dye and end this ougly painefulnes Can I forget in how straunge phrase she craued That quickly they would her burne drowne or smother As if by death she onely might be saued Then let me eke forget one hand from other Let me forget that Plangus I am called Let me forget I am sonne to my mother But if my memory must thus be thralled To that strange stroke which conquer'd all my senses Can thoughts still thinking so rest vnappalled Basilius Who still doth seeke against him selfe offences What pardon can auaile or who imployes him To hurt himselfe what shields can be desenses Woe to poore man ech outward thing annoyes him In diuers kinds yet as he were not filled He heapes in outward griefe that most destroyes him Thus is our thought with paine for thistles tilled Thus be our noblest parts dryed vp with sorrow Thus is our mind with too much minding spilled One day layes vp stuffe of griefe for the morrow And whose good haps do leaue him vnprouided Condoling cause of friendship he will borrow Betwixt the good and shade of good diuided We pittie deeme that which but weakenes is So are we from our high creation slided But Plangus lest I may your sicknesse misse Or rubbing hurt the sore I here doo end The asse did hurt when he did thinke to kisse When Zelmane had read it ouer marueyling verie much of the speeche of Eronas death and therefore desirous to know further of it but more desirous to heare Philoclea speake Most excellent Ladie saide she one may be little the wiser for reading this Dialogue since it nether sets foorth what this Plangus is nor what Erona is nor what the cause should be which threatens her with death and him with sorow therefore I woulde humbly craue to vnderstand the particular discourse thereof because I must confesse some thing in my trauaile I haue heard of this strange matter which I would be glad to finde by so sweet an authoritie confirmed The trueth is answered Philoclea that after hee knew my father to bee Prince of this countrie while hee hoped to preuaile something with him in a great request hee made vnto him hee was content to open fully the estate both of himselfe and of that Ladie which with my
thing in trueth neuer till this time by me either heard or suspected for who could thinke without hauing such a minde as Antiphilus that so great a beautie as Eronas indeed excellent could not haue held his affection so great goodnes could not haue bound gratefulnesse and so high aduancement could not haue satisfied his ambition But therefore true it is that wickednesse may well be compared to a bottomlesse pit into which it is farre easier to keepe ones selfe from falling then being fallen to giue ones selfe any stay from falling infinitely But for my Cosen and me vpon this cause we parted from Erona Euardes the braue and mighty Prince whom it was my fortune to kill in the combat for Erona had three Nephewes sonnes to a sister of his all three set among the foremost rancks of Fame for great minds to attempt and great force to perfourme what they did attempt especially the eldest by name Anaxius to whom all men would willingly haue yeelded the height of praise but that his nature was such as to bestow it vpon himselfe before any could giue it For of so vnsupportable a pride he was that where his deeds might wel stir enuie his demeanor did rather breed disdaine And if it bee true that the Gyants euer made war against heauen he had bene a fit ensigne-bearer for that company For nothing seemed hard to him though impossible and nothing vniust while his liking was his iustice Now he in these wars flatly refused his aid because he could not brooke that the worthy Prince Plangus was by his cosen Tiridates preferred before him For allowing no other weights but the sword and speare in iudging of desert how-much he esteemed himselfe before Plangus in that so much would he haue had his allowance in his seruice But now that he vnderstood that his vncle was slaine by me I think rather scorne that any should kil his vncle then any kindnesse an vn-vsed guest to an arrogant soule made him seeke his reuenge I must confesse in manner gallant enough For he sent a challenge vnto me to meete him at a place appointed in the confines of the kingdome of Lycia where he would proue vpon me that I had by some trecherie ouercome his vncle whom els many hundreds such as I could not haue withstood Youth and successe made mee willing enough to accept any such bargaine especially because I had heard that your cosen Amphialus who for some yeares hath vniuersally borne the name of the best Knight in the world had diuers times fought with him and neuer bene able to master him but so had left him that euery man thought Anaxius in that one vertue of curtesie far short of him in all other his match Anaxius still deeming himselfe for his superiour Therefore to him I would goe and I would needs goe alone because so I vnderstood for certaine he was and I must confesse desirous to do something without the company of the incomparable Prince Musidorus because in my hart I acknowledge that I owed more to his presence then to any thing in my selfe whatsoeuer before I had done For of him indeed as of any worldly cause I must grant as receiued what euer there is or may be good in me He taught me by word and best by example giuing mee in him so liuely an Image of vertue as ignorance could not cast such mist ouer mine eyes as not to see and to loue it and all with such deare friendship and care as ô heauen how can my life euer requite vnto him which made me indeed finde in my selfe such a kind of depending vpon him as without him I found a weakenesse and a mistrustfulnes of my selfe as one strayed from his best strength when at any time I mist him Which humour perceiuing to ouer-rule me I straue against it not that I was vnwilling to depend vpon him in iudgement but by weakenesse I would not which though it held me to him made me vnworthy of him Therefore I desired his leaue and obtained it such confidence he had in me preferring my reputation before his owne tendernesse and so priuately went from him hee determining as after I knew in secret maner not to be far from the place where we appointed to meete to preuent any foule play that might be offered vnto me Full loth was Erona to let vs depart from her as it were forefeeling the harmes which after fel to her But I ridde fully from those combers of kindnesse and halfe a dayes iorney in my way toward Anaxius met an aduēture which though in it self of smal importance I wil tel you at large because by the occasion thereof I was brought to as great comber and danger as lightly any might escape As I past through a Laund ech side whereof was so bordred both with high tymber trees and copses of farre more humble growth that it might easily bring a solitarie minde to looke for no other companions then the wild burgesses of the forrest I heard certaine cries which comming by pawses to mine eares from within the wood of the right hand made mee well assured by the greatnesse of the crie it was the voice of a man though it were a verie vnmanlike voice so to crie But making mine eare my guide I left not many trees behinde me before I sawe at the bottome of one of them a gentle-man bound with many garters hand foot so as well he might tomble and tosse but neither runne nor resist he coulde Vpon him like so many Eagles vpon an Oxe were nine Gentle-women truely such as one might wel enough say they were hansome Eche of them held bodkins in their handes wherewith they continually pricked him hauing bene before-hand vnarmed of any defence from the wast vpward but onely of his shirte so as the poore man wept and bled cried and praied while they sported themselues in his paine and delighted in his praiers as the argumentes of their victorie I was moued to compassion and so much the more that hee straight cald to me for succour desiring me at lest to kill him to deliuer him from those tormenters But before my-selfe could resolue much lesse any other tell what I would resolue there came in cholericke hast towards me about seuen or eight knights the foremost of which willed me to get me away not to trouble the Ladies while they were taking their due reuenge but with so ouer-mastring a maner of pride as truly my heart could not brooke it and therefore answering them that howe I woulde haue defended him from the Ladies I knew not but from them I would I began a combat first with him particularly and after his death with the others that had lesse good maners ioyntly But such was the ende of it that I kept the fielde with the death of some and flight of others In so much as the women afraid what angrie victorie would bring forth ran all away sauing onely one who was so flesht
and the eyes delight Cherish the hiues of wisely painfull Bees Let speciall care vpon thy flock be staid Such actiue minde but seldome passion sees Philisides Hath any man heard what this old man said Truly not I who did my thoughts engage Where all my paines one looke of her hath paid Geron was euen out of countenance finding the words he thought were so wise winne so little reputation at this young mans hands and therefore sometimes looking vpon an old acquaintance of his called Mastix one of the repiningest fellows in the world and that beheld no body but with a minde of mislike saying still the world was amisse but how it should be amended he knew not sometimes casting his eyes to the ground euen ashamed to see his gray haires despised at last he spied his two dogges whereof the elder was called Melampus and the younger Laelaps in deede the iewells he euer had with him one brawling with another which occasion he tooke to restore himselfe to his countenance and rating Melampus he began to speake to his doggs as if in them a man should finde more obedience then in vnbridled young men Geron. Mastix Geron. DOwne downe Melampus what your fellow bite I set you ore the flock I dearly loue Them to defend not with your selues to fight Do you not thincke this will the wolues remoue From former feare they had of your good mindes When they shall such deuided weakenesse proue What if Laelaps a better morsell finde Then you earst knew rather take part with him Then iarle lo lo euen these how enuie blindes And then Laelaps let not pride make thee brim Because thou hast thy fellow ouergone But thanke the cause thou seest where he is dim Here Laelaps here in deed against the foen Of my good sheepe thou neuer trew's time tooke Be as thou art but be with mine at one For though Melampus like a wolfe doo looke For age doth make him of a woluish hew Yet haue I seene when well a wolfe he shooke Foole that I am that with my dogges speake grewe Come neerâ— good Mastix t is now full tway score Of yeeres alas since I good Mastix knewe Thou heardst euen now a yong man snebb me sore Because I red him as I would my son Youth will haue will Age must to age therefore Masttix What maruaile is in youth such faults be done Since that we see our saddest Shepheards out Who haue their lesson so long time begonne Quickly secure and easilie in doubt Either a sleepe be all if nought assaile Or all abroade if but a Cubb start out We shepeheards are like them that vnder saile Doe speake high wordes when all the coaste is cleare Yet to a passenger will bonnet vaile I con thee thanke to whom thy dogges be deare But commonly like currs we them entreate Saue when great need of them perforce apeare Then him we kisse whom before we beatt With such intemperance that each way grows Hate of the firste contempt of later feate And such discordtwixt greatest shepheards flowes That sport it is to see with howe greate art By iustice worke they their owne faultes disclose Like busie boyes to winne their tutors harte One saith He mockes the other saith he playes The third his lesson mist till all do smarte As for the rest howe shepeheardes spend their daies At blowe point hotcocles or els at keeles While Let vs passe our time each shepeheard saies So small accompt of time the shepeheard feeles And doth not feele that life is nought but time And when that time is paste death holdes his heeles To age thus doe they draw there youthfull pryme Knowing no more then what poore tryall showes As fishe tryall hath of muddy slyme This paterne good vnto our children goes For what they see their parents loue or hate Their first caught sence prefers to teachers blowes These cocklinges cockred we be waile to late When that we see our ofspring gaily bent Wemen man-wood men effeminate Geron. Fy man fy man what wordes hath thy tonge lent Yet thou art mickle warse then ere was I Thy too much zeale I feare thy braine hath spent We ost are angrier with the feeble flie For busines where it pertaines him not Then with the poisno'us todes that quiet lie I pray thee what hath ere the Parret gott And yet they say he talkes in greate mens bowers A Cage guilded perchaunce is all his lott Who of his tongue the lickowr gladly powrs A good foole call'd with paine perhapps may be But euen for that shall suffer mightie Lowers Let swannes example siker serue for thee Who once all birdes in sweetly-singing past But now to silence turn'd his minstralsie For he woulde sing but others were defaste The peacockes pride the pyes pild stattery Cormoraunts glutt Kites spoile king fishers waste The Falcons fercenes Sparrows letchery The Cockows shame the Gooses good intent Euen turtle toutcht he with hypocrisie And worse of other more till by assent Of all the birdes but namely those were grieued Of fowles there called was a parliament There was the swan of dignitie depriued And statute made he neuer shoulde haue voice Since when I thinke he hath in silence liued I warne thee therefore since thou maist haue choice Let not thy tonge become a firy matche No sword soe bytes as that euill toole annoyes Lett our vnpartiall eyes a litle watche Our owne demeane and soone we wondre shall That huntinge faultes our selues we did not catch Into our mindes let vs a little fall And we shall find more spottes then Leopards skinne Then who makes vs such iudges ouer all But farewell nowe thy fault is no great sinne Come come my currs t is late I will goe in And away with his doggs streight he went as if he would be sure to haue the laste worde all the assemblie laughing at the lustines of the olde fellowe who departed muttering to himselfe he had sene more in his daies then twentie of them But Basilius who neuer before had heard Philisides though hauing seldome failed to beat these metings desired him hee woulde begin some Ecloge with some other of the shepheardes according to the accustomed guise Philisides though very vnwilling at the Kings coÌ„maundemeÌ„t ofâ—red to sing with Thyrsis But he directly refused him seing he should within few dayes be maried to the faire Kala and since he had gotten his desire he would sing no more Then the king willed Philisides to declare the discourse of his owne fortunes vnknowen to them as being a stranger in that countrie but hee praied the King to pardon him the time being farre to ioyfull to suffer the rehearsall of his miseries But to satisfie Basilius someway hee began an Eclogue betwixt himselfe and the Echo framing his voice so in those desert places as what wordes he would haue the Echo replie vnto those he woulde sing higher then the rest and so kindelie framed a disputation betwixt himselfe and it which
fault in you to be louely Loue neâ—er had me opprest but that I saw to be lou'd You be the cause that I loud what Reason blameth a shadowe that with a body 't goes since by a body it is If that Loue you did hate you should your beauty haue hidden you should those faire eyes haue with a veile couered But fooole foole that I am those eyes would shine from a darke caue what veiles then doo preuaile but to a more miracle Or those golden lockes those lockes which lock me to bondage torne you should disperse vnto the blasts of a winde But foole foole that I am tho I had but a haire of her head found eu'n as I am so I should vnto that haire be a thrall Or with faire hands-nailes ô hand which nailes me to this death you should haue your face since Loue is ill blemished O wretch what do I say should that faire face be defaced should my too-much sight cause so true a Sunne to be lost First let Cimmerian darknes be my onel'habitacion first be mine eyes pulde out first be my braine perished Ere that I should consent to doo so excessiue a dammage vnto the earth by the hurt of this her heauenly iewell O not but such loue you say you could haue afoorded as might learne Temp'rance voide of a rages euents O sweet simplicitie from whence should Loue be so learned vnto Cupid that boy shall a Pedante be found Well but faultie I was Reason to my Passion yeelded Passion vnto my rage Rage to a hastie reuenge But what 's this for a fault for which such faith be abolisht such saith so staineles inuiolate violent Shall I not ô may I not thus yet refresh the remembrance what sweete ioyes I had once and â—hat a place I did hold Shall I not once obiect that you you graunted a fauour vnto the man whom now such miseries you awarde Bend your thoughts to the dear sweet words which then to me giu'n were thinke what a world is now thinke who hath altred her hart What was I then worthie such good now worthie such euill now fled then cherished then so nie now so remote Did not a rosed breath from lips more rosie proceeding say that I should well finde in what a care I was had With much more now what doo I finde but Care to abhor me Care that I sinke in griefe Care that I liue banished And banished doo I liue nor now will seeke a recou'rie since so she will whose will is to me more then a lawe If then a man in most ill case may giue you a farewell farewell long farewell all my woe all my delight What this would haue wrought in her she her selfe could not tell for before her Reason could moderate the disputatioÌ„ betwene Fauour Faultines her sister and Miso called her downe to entertaine Zelmane who was come to visite the two sisters about whom as about two Poles the Skie of Beautie was turned while Gynecia wearied her bed with her melancholie sicknes and made Misos shrewdnesse who like a sprite set to keep a treasure bard Zelmane from any further conference to be the Lieutenant of her iealousie Both she and her husband driuing Zelmane to such a streight of resolution either of impossible graunting or dangerous refusing as the best escape she had was as much as she could to auoyde their companie So as this day being the fourth day after the vprore Basilius being with his sicke wife conferring vpon such examinations as Philanax and other of his noblemen had made of this late sedition all touching Cecropia with vehement suspition of giuing either flame or fuell vnto it Zelmane came with her bodie to find her mind which was gone long before her and had gotten his seate in Philoclea who now with a bashfull cheerefulnesse as though she were ashamed that she could not choose but be glad ioyned with her sisâ—er in making much of Zelmane And so as they sate deuising how to giue more feathers to the wings of Time there came to the lodge dore sixe maides all in one liuerie of skarlet petticotes which were tuckt vp almost to their knees the petticotes them selues being in many places garnished with leaues their legges naked sauing that aboue the anckles they had little black silke laces vpon which did hang a few siluer belles like which they had a little aboue their elbowes vpon their bare armes Vpon their haire they ware garlands of roses and gilliflowers and the haire was so drest as that came againe aboue the garlandes enterchaunging a mutuall couering so as it was doubtfull whether the haire drest the garlandes or the garlands drest the haire Their breasts liberall to the eye the face of the formost of them in excellencie faire and of the rest louely if not beautifull and beautifull might haue bene if they had not suffered greedy Phaebus ouer-often and harde to kisse them Their countenaunces full of a gracefull grauitie so as the gesture matcht with the apparrell it might seeme a wanton modestie and an entising sobernes Each of them had an instrument of musick in their hands which consorting their wel-pleasing tunes did charge each eare with vnsensiblenes that did not lend it self vnto them The Musick entring alone into the lodge the Ladies were all desirous to see froÌ„ whence so pleasant a guest was come and therfore went out together where before they could take the paines to doubt much lesse to aske the question of their qualitie the fairest of them with a gay but yet discreete demeanour in this sort spake vnto them Most excellent Ladies whose excellencies haue power to make cities enuie these woods and solitarines to be accounted the sweetest companie vouchsafe our message your gracious hearing which as it comes froÌ„ Loue so comes it from louely persons The maides of all this coast of Arcadia vnderstanding the often accesse that certaine shepheards of these quarters are allowed to haue in this forbidden place and that their rurall sports are not disdained of you haue ben stird with emulation to them affectioÌ„ to you to bring forth some thing which might as well breed your contentment and therefore hoping that the goodnes of their intention the hurtlesnes of their sex shal excuse the breach of the commandemeÌ„t in comming to this place vnsent for they chose out vs to inuite both your princely parents and your selues to a place in the woods about halfe a mile hence where they haue prouided some such sports as they trust your gratious acceptations will interpret to be delightfull We haue bene at the other lodge but finding them there busied in weightier affaires our trust is that you yet will not denie the shining of your eies vpon vs. The Ladies stood in some doubt whether they should goe or not lest Basilius might be angry withall But Miso that had bene at none of the pastorals had a great desire to lead her old senses abroad to some pleasure
were eternized if you could conceiue what a hart-tickling ioy it is to see your owne litle ones with awfull loue come running to your lap like litle models of your selfe still cary you about them you would think vnkindnes in your owne thoughts that euer they did rebel against the mean vnto it But perchaÌ„ce I set this blessednes before your eies as Captains do victorie before their souldiers to which they must come through many paines grieues dangers No I am coÌ„tent you shrinke froÌ„ this my counsel if the way to come vnto it be not most of all pleasant I know not answered the sweet Philoclea fearing least silence would offend for sullennes what contentment you speake of but I am sure the best you can make of it which is mariage is a burdenous yoke Ah deere neece said Cecropia how much you are deceiued A yoke indeed we all beare laid vpoÌ„ vs in our creation which by mariage is not increased but thus far eased that you haue a yokefellow to help to draw through the cloddy cumbers of this world O widow-nights beare witnes with me of the difference How often alas do I embrace the orfan-side of my bed which was wont to be imprinted by the body of my deare husband and with teares acknowledge that I now enioy such a liberty as the banished maÌ„ hath who may if he list waÌ„der ouer the world but is for euer restrained froÌ„ his most delightful home that I haue now such a liberty as the seeled doue hath which being first depriued of eies is theÌ„ by thâ— falconer cast off For beleue me neece beleue me mans experieÌ„ce is womaÌ„s best eie-sight Haue you euer seene a pure Rosewater kept in a christal glas how fine it lokes how sweet it smels while that beautifull glasse imprisons it Breake the prison and let the water take his owne course doth it not imbrace dust and loose all his former sweetnesse fairenesse Truly so are we if we haue not the stay rather then the restraint of Cristalline mariage My hart melts to thinke of the sweet comforts I in that happy time receiued when I had neuer cause to care but the care was doubled when I neuer reioiced but that I saw my ioy shine in anothers eies What shall I say of the free delight which the hart might embrace without the accusing of the inward consciceÌ„e or feare of outward shame and is a solitary life as good as this then can one string make as good musicke as a consort then can one colour set forth a beautie But it may be the generall consideration of mariage doth not so much mislike you as the applying of it to him He is my sonne I must confesse I see him with a mothers eyes which if they doo not much deceiue me he is no such one ouer whom Contempt may make any iust chalenge He is comely he is noble he is rich but that which in it selfe should carie all comelinesse nobilitie and riches he loues you and he loues you who is beloued of others Driue not away his affection sweete Ladie and make no other Ladie hereafter proudly bragge that she hath robbed you of so faithfull and notable a seruant Philoclea heard some pieces of her speches no otherwise then one doth when a tedious pratler combers the hearing of a delightfull musicke For her thoughts had left her eares in that captiuitie and conueied themselues to behold with such eies as imagination could lend them the estate of her Zelmane for whome how well she thought many of those sayings might haue ben vsed with a farre more gratefull acceptation Therfore listing not to dispute in a matter whereof her selfe was resolued and desired not to enforme the other she onely told her that whilest she was so captiued she could not conceiue of any such persuasions though neuer so reasonable any otherwise then as constraints and as constraints must needs euen in nature abhor them which at her libertie in their owne force of reason might more preuaile with her and so faine would haue returned the strength of Cecropias perswasions to haue procured freedome But neither her wittie words in an enemie nor those words made more then eloquent with passing through such lips could preuaile in Cecropia no more then her perswasions could winne Philoclea to disauowe her former vowe or to leaue the prisoner Zelmane for the commaunding Amphialus So that both sides being desirous and neither graunters they brake off conference Cecropia sucking vp more and more spite out of her deniall which yet for her sonnes sake she disguised with a visarde of kindnes leauing no office vnperfourmed which might either witnes or endeare her sonnes affection Whatsoeuer could be imagined likely to please her was with liberall diligence perfourmed Musickes at her windowe and especially such Musickes as might with dolefull embassage call the mind to thinke of sorow and thinke of it with sweetnes with ditties so sensiblie expressing Amphialus case that euerie word seemed to be but a diuersifying of the name of Amphialus Daily presents as it were oblations to pacifie an angrie Deitie sent vnto her wherein if the workmanship of the forme had striuen with the sumptuousnes of the matter as much did the inuention in the application contende to haue the chiefe excellencie for they were as so many stories of his disgraces and her perfections wheâ—e the richnes did inuite the eyes the fashion did entertaine the eyes and the deuice did teach the eyes the present miserie of the presenter himselfe awefully seruiceable which was the more notable as his authoritie was manifest And for the bondage wherein she liued all meanes vsed to make knowen that if it were a bondage it was a bondage onely knitte in loue-knots but in harte alreadie vnderstanding no language but one The Musicke wrought indeede a dolefulnes but it was a dolefulnes to be in his power the dittie intended for Amphialus she translated to Zelmane the presents seemed so many tedious clogs of a thralled obligation and his seruice the more diligent it was the more it did exprobrate as she thought vnto her her vnworthie estate that euen he that did her seruice had authoritie of commanding her onely construing her seruitude in his owne nature esteeming it a right and a right bitter seruitude so that all their shots how well soeuer leuelled being carried awrie from the marke by the storme of her mislike the Prince Amphialus affectionately languished and Cecropia spitefullie cunning disdained at the barrennes of their successe Which willingly Cecropia would haue reuenged but that she saw her hurt could not be diuided from her sonnes mischiefe wherefore she bethought her selfe to attempt Pamela whose beautie being equall she hoped if shee might bee woonâ— that her sonnes thoughtes would rather rest on a beautifull gratefulnes then still be tormented with a disdaining beautie Therefore giuing new courage to her wicked inuentions and vsing the more industry because she had mist in this
him through And the boy fearce though beautifull beautifull though dying not able to keepe his failinge feete fell downe to the earth which he bit for anger repining at his Fortune and as long as he could resisting Death which might seeme vnwilling to so long he was in taking away his yong struggling soule Philanax himselfe could haue wished the blow vngiuen when hee saw him fall like a faire apple which some vncourteous bodie breaking his bowe should throw downe before it were ripe But the case of his brother made him forget both that and himselfe so as ouerhastily pressing vpon the retiring enemies hee was ere hee was aware further engaged then his owne souldiers could relieue him where being ouerthrowne by Amphialus Amphialus glad of him kept head aginst his enemies while some of his men caried away Philanax But Philanax-his men as if with the losse of Philanax they had lost the fountaine of their valure had their courages so dried vp in feare that they began to set honour at their backs and to vse the vertue of pacience in an vntimely time when into the presse comes as hard as his horse more afraied of the spurre then the sworde coulde carie him a Knight in armor as darke as blacknes coulde make it followed by none and adorned by nothing so far without authoritie that hee was without knowledge But vertue quickly made him knowne and admiration bred him such authoritie that though they of whose side he came knew him not yet they all knew it was fitte to obey him and while he was followed by the valiantest hee made way for the vilest For taking part with the besiegers he made the Amphialians bloud serue for a caparison to his horse and a decking to his armour His arme no oftner gaue blowes then the blowes gaue wounds then the wounds gaue deathes so terrible was his force and yet was his quicknes more forcible then his force and his iudgement more quick then his quicknes For though his sword went faster then eyesight could follow it yet his owne iudgement went still before it There died of his hand Sarpedon Plistonax Strophilus and Hippolitus men of great proofe in warres and who had that day vndertaken the guard of Amphialus But while they sought to saue him they lost the fortresses that Nature had placed them in Then slew he Megalus who was a little before proude to see himselfe stained in the bloud of his enemies but when his owne bloud came to be married to theirs he then felt that Crueltie dooth neuer enioy a good cheape glorie After him sent he Palemon who had that daye vowed with foolish brauerie to be the death of tenne and nine already he had killed and was careful to performe his almost performed vowe when the Blacke Knight helpt him to make vp the tenth himselfe And now the often-changing Fortune began also to chaunge the hewe of the battailes For at the first though it were terrible yet Terror was deckt so brauelie with rich furniture guilt swords shining armours pleasant pensils that the eye with delight had scarce leasure to be afraide But now all vniuersally defiled with dust bloud broken armours mangled bodies tooke away the maske and sette foorth Horror in his owne horrible manner But neither could danger be dreadfull to Amphialus his vndismayable courage nor yet seeme oâ—gly to him whose truely-affected minde did still paint it ouer with the beautie of Philoclea And therefore he rather enflamed then troubled with the encrease of dangers and glad to finde a woorthie subiect to exercise his courage sought out this newe Knight whom he might easilie finde for he like a wanton rich man that throwes downe his neighbours houses to make himselfe the better prospecte so had his sworde made him so spatious a roome that Amphialus had more cause to wonder at the finding then labour for the seeking which if it stirred hate in him to see how much harme he did to the one side it prouoked as much emulation in him to perceaue how much good he did to the other side Therefore they approaching one to the other as in two beautifull folkes Loue naturally stirres a desire of ioyning so in their two courages Hate stirred a desire of triall Then began there a combatte betweene them worthy to haue had more large listes and more quiet beholders for with the spurre of Courage and the bitte of Respect each so guided himselfe that one might well see the desire to ouercome made them not forget how to ouercome in such time and proportion they did employ their blowes that none of Ceres seruaunts could more cunningly place his flaile while the left foote spurre set forward his owne horse the right set backward the contrarie horse euen sometimes by the aduauntage of the enemies legge while the left hande like him that helde the sterne guyded the horses obedient courage All done in such order that it might seeme the minde was a right Prince indeede who sent wise and diligent Lieutenants into each of those well gouerned partes But the more they fought the more they desired to fight and the more they smarted the lesse they felte the smarte and now were like to make a quicke proofe to whome Fortune or Valour would seeme most friendly when in comes an olde Gouernour of Amphialus alwayes a good Knight and carefull of his charge who giuing a sore wound to the blacke Knights thigh while he thought not of him with an other blowe slewe his horse vnder him Amphialus cried to him that he dishonoured him You say well answered the olde Knight to stand now like a priuate souldier setting your credite vpon particular fighting while you may see Basilius with all his hoste is getting betweene you and your towne He looked that way and found that true indeede that the enemie was beginning to encompasse him about and stoppe his returne and therefore causing the retreite to be sounded his Gouernour ledde his men homeward while hee kept himselfe still hindmost as if hee had stoode at the gate of a sluse to let the streame goe with such proportion as should seeme good vnto him and with so manfull discretion perfourmed it that though with losse of many of his men he returned in him selfe safe and content that his enemies had felte how sharpe the sworde could bite of Philocleas Louer The other partie being sorie for the losse of Philanax was yet sorrier when the blacke Knight could not be found For he hauing gotten a horse whom his dying master had bequeathed to the world finding him selfe sore hurt and not desirous to be knowen had in the time of the enemies retiring retired away also his thigh not bleeding bloud so fast as his harte bledde reuenge But Basilius hauing attempted in vaine to barre the safe returne of Amphialus encamped himselfe as strongly as he could while he to his griefe might heare the ioy was made in the towne by his owne subiects that he had that
againe let fastest concorde make Our yeares doo it require you see we both doo feele The weakning worke of Times for euer-whirling wheele Although we be diuine our grandsire Saturne is With ages force decay'd yet once the heauen was his And now before we seeke by wise Apollos skill Our young yeares to renew for so he saith he will Let vs a perfect peace betweene vs two resolue Which lest the ruinous want of gouernment dissolue Let one the Princesse be to her the other yeeld For vaine equalitie is but contentions field And let her haue the giftes that should in both remaine In her let beautie both and chastnesse fully raigne So as if I preuaile you giue your giftes to me If you on you I lay what in my office be Now resteth onely this which of vs two is she To whom precedence shall of both accorded be For that so that you like hereby doth lie a youth She beckned vnto-me as yet of spotlesse truth Who may this doubt discerne for better witt then lot Becommeth vs in vs fortune determines not This crowne of amber faire an amber crowne she held To worthiest let him giue when both he hath beheld And be it as he saith Venus was glad to heare Such proffer made which she well showd with smiling cheere As though she were the same as when by Paris doome She had chiefe Goddesses in beautie ouercome And smirkly thus gan say I neuer sought debate Diana deare my minde to loue and not to hate Was euer apt but you my pastimes did despise I neuer spited you but thought you ouerwise Now kindnesse profred is none kinder is then I And so most ready am this meane of peace to trie And let him be our iudge the lad doth please me well Thus both did come to me and both began to tell For both togither spake each loth to be behinde That they by solemne oth their Deities would binde To stand vnto my will their will they made me know I that was first agast when first I saw their showe Now bolder waxt waxt prowde that I such sway must beare For neere acquaintance dooth diminish reuerent feare And hauing bound them fast by Styx they should obaye To all what I decreed did thus my verdict saye How ill both you can rule well hath your discord taught Ne yet for ought I see your beauties merit ought To yonder Nymphe therefore to Mira I did point The crowne aboue you both for euer I appoint I would haue spoken out but out they both did crie Fie fie what haue we done vngodly rebell fie But now we needs must yeelde to that our othes require Yet thou shalt not go free quoth Venus such a fire Her beautie kindle shall within thy foolish minde That thou full oft shalt wish thy iudging eyes were blinde Nay then Diana said the chastnesse I will giue In ashes of despaire though burnt shall make thee liue Nay thou said both shalt see such beames shine in her face That thou shalt neuer dare seeke helpe of wretched case And with that cursed curse away to heauen they fled First hauing all their giftes vpon faire Mira spred The rest I cannot tell for therewithall I wak'd And found with deadly feare that all my sinewes shak'd Was it a dreame O dreame how hast thou wrought in me That I things erst vnseene should first in dreaming see And thou ô traytour Sleepe made for to be our rest How hast thou framde the paine wherewith I am opprest O cowarde Cupid thus doost thou thy honour keepe Vnarmde alas vnwarn'd to take a man asleepe Laying not onely the conquests but the hart of the conquerour at her feet *** But she receiuing him after her woonted sorrowfull but otherwise vnmoued māner it made him thinke his good successe was but as a pleasant monumēt of a dolefull buriall Ioy it selfe seeming bitter vnto him since it agreed not to her taste Therefore still crauing his mothers helpe to persuade her he himselfe sent for Philanax vnto him whome he had not onely long hated but now had his hate greatly encreased by the death of his Squire Ismenus Besides he had made him as one of the chiefe causes that mooued him to this rebellion and therefore was enclined to colour the better his action and the more to embrewe the handes of his accomplices by making them guiltie of such a trespasse in some formall sort to cause him to be executed being also greatly egged thereunto by his mother and some other who long had hated Philanax onely because he was more worthy then they to be loued But while that deliberation was handeled according rather to the humour then the reason of ech speaker Philoclea comming to knowledge of the hard plight wherein Philanax stood she desired one of the gentlewomen appoynted to waite vpon her to goe in her name and beseech Amphialus that if the loue of her had any power of perswasion in his minde he would lay no further punishment then imprisonment vppon Philanax This message was deliuered euen as Philanax was entring to the presence of Amphialus comming according to the warning was giuen him to receyue a iudgement of death But when he with manfull resolution attended the fruite of such a tyrannicall sentence thinking it wrong but no harme to him that shoulde die in so good a cause Amphialus turned quite the fourme of his pretended speech yeelded him humble thankes that by his meanes he had come to that happinesse as to receiue a commaundement of his Ladie and therfore he willingly gaue him libertie to returne in safetye whether he would quiting him not onely of all former grudge but assuring him that he would be willing to do him any friendshipp and seruice onely desiring thus much of him that hee would let him know the discourse and intent of Basilius-his proceeding Truely my Lorde answered Philanax if there were any such knowne to mee secrete in my maisters counsaile as that the reuealing thereof might hinder his good successe I should loath the keeping of my blood with the losse of my faith would thinke the iust name of a traitour a hearde purchase of a fewe yeares liuing But since it is so that my maister hath indeede no way of priuie practise but meanes openly forcibly to deale against you I will not sticke in few words to make your required declaration Then told he him in what a maze of a mazemēt both Basilius Gynecia were when they mist their childrē Zelmane Somtimes apt to suspect some practise of Zelmane because she was a straunger somtimes doubting some reliques of the late mutinie which doubt was rather encreased thē any way satisfied by Miso who being foūd almost dead for hunger by certaine Countrey-people brought home word with what cūning they were trayned out with what violence they were caried away But that within a few dayes they came to knowledge wher they were by Amphialus-his own letters sent abroad to procure
owne nature sauing onely Man who while by the pregnancie of his imagination he striues to things supernaturall meane-while hee looseth his owne naturall felicitie Be wise and that wisedome shal be a God vnto thee be contented and that is thy heauen for els to thinke that those powers if there bee any such aboue are moued either by the eloquence of our prayers or in a chafe at the folly of our actions caries asmuch reason as if flies should thinke that men take great care which of them hums sweetest and which of them flies nimblest She woulde haue spoken further to haue enlarged and confirmed her discourse when Pamela whose cheeks were died in the beautifullest graine of vertuous anger with eies which glistered foorth beames of disdaine thus interrupted her Peace wicked womā peace vnworthy to breath that doest not acknowledge the breath-giuer most vnworthy to haue a tongue which speakest against him through whom thou speakest keepe your affection to your selfe which like a bemired dog would defile with fauning You say yesterday was as to day O foolish woman and most miserablely foolish since wit makes you foolish What dooth that argue but that there is a constancie in the euerlasting gouernour Woulde you haue an inconstant God since wee count a man foolish that is inconstant He is not seene you say and woulde you thinke him a God who might bee seene by so wicked eyes as yours which yet might see enough if they were not like such who for sport-sake willingly hood-winke themselues to receaue blowes the easier But though I speake to you without any hope of fruite in so rotten a harte and there bee no bodie else here to iudge of my speeches yet be thou my witnesse O captiuitie that my yeares shal not be willingly guiltie of my Creators blasphemie You saie because we know not the causes of things therfore feare was the mother of superstitiō nay because we know that each effect hath a cause that hath engendred a true liuely deuotion For this goodly work of which we are in which we liue hath not his being by Chaūce on which opiniō it is beyōd meruaile by what chaūce any braine could stumble For if it be eternall as you would seeme to conceiue of it Eternity and Chaunce are things vnsufferable together For that is chaunceable which happeneth and if it happen there was a time before it happned when it might haue not happened or els it did not happen and so if chaunceable not eternall And as absurd it is to thinke that if it had a beginning his beginning was deriued from Chaunce for Chaunce could neuer make all things of nothing and if there were substaunces before which by chaunce shoulde meete to make vp this worke thereon followes another bottomlesse pitt of absurdities For then those substaunces must needs haue bene from euer and so eternall and that eternall causes should bring forth chaunceable effectes is as sensible as that the Sunne shoulde bee the author of darkenesse Againe if it were chaunceable then was it not necessarie whereby you take away all consequents But we see in all thinges in some respect or other necessitie of consequence therefore in reason we must needs know that the causes were necessarie Lastly Chaunce is variable or els it is not to be called Chaunce but wee see this worke is steady and permanent If nothing but Chaunce had glewed those pieces of this All the heauie partes would haue gone infinitely downward the light infinitely vpwarde and so neuer haue mett to haue made vp his goodly bodie For before there was a heauen or a earth there was neyther a heauen to stay the height of the rising nor an earth which in respect of the round walles of heauen should become a centre Lastly perfect order perfect beautie perfect constancie if these be the children of Chaunce let wisedome be counted the roote of wickednesse But you will say it is so by nature as much as if you saide it is so because it is so if you meane of many natures conspiring together as in a popular gouernemēt to establish this faire estate as if the Elementishe and ethereall partes shoulde in their towne-house set downe the bounds of each ones office then consider what followes that there must needes haue bene a wisedome which made them concurre for their natures beyng absolute contrarie in nature rather would haue sought each others ruine then haue serued as well consorted partes to such an vnexpressable harmonie For that contrary things should meete to make vp a perfection without a force and Wisedome aboue their powers is absolutely impossible vnles you will flie to that hissed-out opinion of Chaunce againe But you may perhaps affirme that one vniuersal Nature which hath ben for euer is the knitting together of these many partes to such an excellent vnitie If you meane a Nature of wisdome goodnes prouidence which knowes what it doth then say you that which I seeke of you and cannot conclude those blasphemies whith which you defiled your mouth mine eares But if you meane a Nature as we speake of the fire which goeth vpward it knowes not why and of the nature of the Sea which in ebbing and flowing semes to obserue so iust a daunce and yet vnderstands no musicke it is but still the same absurditie superscribed with another title For this worde one being attributed to that which is All is but one mingling of many and many ones as in a lesse matter when we say one kingdome which conteines many citties or one cittie which conteines many persons wherein the vnder ones if there be not a superiour power and wisedome cannot by nature regarde to any preseruation but of themselues no more wee see they doo since the water willingly quenches the fire and drownes the earth so farre are they from a conspired vnitie but that a right heauenly Nature indeed as it were vnnaturinge them doth so bridle them Againe it is as absurde in nature that from an vnitie many contraries should proceede still kept in a vnitie as that from the number of contrarieties an vnitie should arise I say still if you banish both a singularitie and pluralitie of iudgement from among them then if so earthly a minde can lift it selfe vp so hie doo but conceaue how a thing whereto you giue the highest and most excellent kind of being which is eternitie can be of a base vilest degree of being and next to a not-being which is so to be as not to enioy his owne being I will not here call all your senses to witnes which can heare nor see nothing which yeeldes not most euident euidence of of the vnspeakeablenesse of that Wisedome each thinge being directed to an ende and an ende of preseruation so proper effects of iudgement as speaking and laughing are of mankind But what madd furie can euer so enueagle any conceipte as to see our mortal and corruptible selues to haue a reason and that this
vniuersalitie whereof wee are but the lest pieces shoulde bee vtterly deuoide thereof as if one shoulde saie that ones foote might be wise and him selfe foolish This hearde I once alledged against such a godlesse minde as yours who being driuen to acknowledge this beastly absurditie that our bodies should be better then the whole worlde if it had the knowledge whereof the other were voide he sought not able to answere directly to shifte it off in this sorte that if that reason were true then must it followe also that the world must haue in it a spirite that could write and read too and be learned since that was in vs commendable wretched foole not considering that Bookes bee but supplies of defects and so are praysed because they helpe our want and therefore cannot be incident to the eternall intelligence which needes no recording of opinions to confirme his knowledge no more then the Sunne wants waxe to be the fewell of his glorious lightfulnes This world therfore cannot otherwise consist but by a minde of Wisedome which gouernes it which whether you will allow to beâ— the Creator thereof as vndoubtedly he is or the soule and gouernour thereof most certaine it is that whether he gouerne all or make all his power is aboue either his creatures or his gouernement And if his power be aboue all thinges then consequently it must needes be infinite since there is nothing aboue it to limit it For beyond which there is nothing must needes be boundlesse and infinite if his power be infinite then likewise must his knowledge be infinite for else there should be an infinite proportion of power which he should not know how to vse the vnsensiblenesse whereof I thinke euen you can conceaue and if infinite then must nothing no not the estate of flies which you with so vnsauerie skorne did iest at be vnknowne vnto him For if it were then there were his knowledge bounded and so not infinite if knowledge and power be infinite then must needs his goodnesse and iustice march in the same rancke for infinitenes of power and knowledge without like measure of goodnesse must necessarily bring foorth destruction and ruine and not ornament and preseruation Since then there is a God and an all-knowing God so as he sees into the darkest of all naturall secretes which is the hart of Man and sees therein the deepest dissembled thoughts nay sees the thoughts before they be thought since he is iust to exercise his might and mightie to performe his iustice assure thy selfe most wicked woman that hast so plaguily a corrupted minde as thou canst not keepe thy sickenesse to thy selfe but must most wickedly infect others assure thy selfe I say for what I say dependes of euerlasting and vnremooueable causes that the time will come when thou shalt knowe that power by feeling it when thou shalt see his wisedome in the manifesting thy ougly shamefulnes and shalt onely perceiue him to haue bene a Creator in thy destruction Thus she saide thus she ended with so faire maiestie of vnconquered vertue that captiuitie might seeme to haue authoritie ouer tyrannie so fowly was the filthinesse of impietie discouered by the shining of her vnstayned goodnes so farre as either Cecropia saw indeed or else the guilty amazement of a selfe-accusing conscience made her eies vntrue iudges of their naturall obiect that there was a light more then humaine which gaue a lustre to her perfections But Cecropia like a Batte which though it haue eyes to discerne that there is a Sunne yet hath so euill eyes that it cannot delight in the Sunne found a trueth but could not loue it But as great persons are woont to make the wrong they haue done to be a cause to doo the more wrong her knowledge rose to no higher point but to enuâ—e a worthier and her will was no otherwise bent but the more to hate the more she found her enemie prouided against her Yet all the while she spake though with eyes cast like a horse that would strike at the stirrop and with colour which blushed through yellownesse she sate rather still then quiet and after her speech rather muttered then replied for the warre of wickednesse in her selfe brought forth disdainefull pride to resist cunning dissimulation so as saying little more vnto her but that she should haue leysure inough better to bethinke her selfe she went away repining but not repenting condemning greatly as she thought her sonnes ouer-feeble humblenesse and purposing to egge him forward to a course of violence For her selfe determining to deale wiâ—h neither of them both any more in maner of a suter for what maiestie of vertue did in the one that did silent humblenesse in the other But finding her sonne ouer-apt to lay both condemnation and execution of sorrow vpon himselfe she sought to mitigate his minde with feigned delayes of comfort who hauing this inward ouerthrow in himselfe was the more vexed that he could not vtter the rage thereof vpon his outward enemies For Basilius taught by the last dayes triall what daungerous effectes chosen courages can bring forth rather vsed the spade then the sworde or the sworde but to defende the spade girding about the whole towne with trenches which beginning a good way off from the towne with a number of well directed Pioners he still caryed before him till they came to a neere distance where he builded Fortes one answering the other in such sort as it was a pretie consideration in the discipline of warre to see building vsed for the instrument of ruine and the assayler entrenched as if he were besieged But many sallies did Amphialus make to hinder their working But they exercising more melancholie then choller in their resolution made him finde that if by the aduauntage of place fewe are able to defende themselues from manie that manie must needes haue power making themselues strong in seate to repell fewe referring the reuenge rather to the ende then a present requitall Yet oftentimes they dealt some blowes in light skirmishes eche side hauing a strong retyring place and rather fighting with manie alarums to vexe the enemie then for anie hope of great successe Which euerie way was a tedious comber to the impacient courage of Amphialus till the fame of this warre bringing thither diuerse both straungers and subiects as well of princely as noble houses the gallant Phalantus who refrained his sportfull delightes as then to serue Basilius whome he honoured for receyued honours when he had spent some time in considering the Arcadian manner in marching encamping and fighting and had learned in what points of gouernement and obedience their discipline differed from others and so had satisfied his minde in the knowledges both for the cutting off the enemies helpes and furnishing ones selfe which Basilius orders could deliuer vnto him his yong spirits wearie of wanting cause to be wearie desired to keepe his valure in knowledge by some priuate acte since the publique policie restrayned him
And then melancholie only rich in vnfortunate remembrances brought before him all the mishaps with which his life had wrestled taking this not only as a confirming of the former but a presage of following miserie and to his harte alredy ouercome by sorrowfulnes euen trifling misfortunes came to fill vp the rolle of a grieued memorie labouring only his wits to pearce farther â—arther into his owne wretchednes So as all that night in despite of darknes he held his eyes open and the morning when the light began to restore to each body his colour then with curtaines bard he himselfe froÌ„ the enioying of it neither willing to feele the comfort of the day nor the ease of the night vntil his mother who neuer knew what loue meant but only to himward came to his bed side and beginning with louing earnestnes to lay a kind chiding vpoÌ„ him because he would suffer the weaknes of sorow to conquere the strength of his vertues he did with a broken peece-meale speach as if the teÌ„pest of passion vnorderly blewe out his words remember the mishaps of his youth the euils he had ben cause of his rebelling with Shame that shame increased with shamefull accidents the deaths of Philoxenus Parthenia wherein he found himselfe hated of the euer-ruling powers but especially and so especially as the rest seemed nothing when he came to that his fatall loue to Philoclea to whom he had so gouerned himselfe as one that could neither conquer nor yeeld being of the one side a slaue of the other a iaylor and with all almost vpbrayding vnto his mother the little successe of her large hoping promises he in effect finding Philoclea nothing mollified and now himselfe so cast downe as hee thought him vnworthy of better But his mother as she had plentifull cause making him see that of his other griefes there was little or no fault in himself and therfore there ought to be little or no griefe in him when she came to the head of the sore indeed seeing that she could no loÌ„ger patch vp her former promises he taking a desperat deafnes to all delaying hopes she confest plainly that she could preuaile nothing but the fault was his owne who had marred the yong Girle by seeking to haue that by praier which he should haue taken by authoritie That as it were an absurd cunning to make hie ladders to go in a plaine way so was it an vntimely and foolish flattery there to beseech where one might commaund puffing them vp by being besought with such a selfe-pride of superioritie that it was not forsooth to be held out but by a denial O God said Amphialus how wel I thought my fortune would bring forth this end of your labors assure yourself mother I wil sooner pull out these eies then they shall looke vpoÌ„ the heauenly Philoclea but as vpoÌ„ a heauen whence they haue their light to which they are subiect if they wil power downe any influeÌ„ces of comfort O happy I but if by the sacrifice of a faithful hart they wil not be called vnto me let me languish wither with languishing and grieue with withering but neuer so much as repine with neuer so much grieuing Mother ô Mother lust may wel be a tyrant but true loue where it is indeed it is a seruant Accursed more then I am may I be if euer I did approch her but that I friezed asmuch in a fearefull reuereÌ„ce as I burned in a vehemeÌ„t desire Did euer maÌ„s eye looke thorough loue vpoÌ„ the maiesty of vertue shining through beauty but that he becam as it wel becam him a captiue is it the stile of a captiue to write Our will and pleasure Tush tush sonne said Cecropia if you say you loue but withall you feare you feare lest you should offend offend and how know you that you should offend because she doth denie denie Now by my truth if your sadnes would let me laugh I could laugh hartily to see that yet you are ignorant that No is no negatiue in a womans mouth My sonne beleeue me a woman speaking of women a louers modesty among vs is much more praised then liked or if we like it so well we like it that for marring of his modestie he shall neuer proceed further Each vertue hath his time if you command your souldier to march formost and he for curtesie put others before him would you praise his modesty loue is your Generall he bids you dare and will Amphialus be a dastard Let examples serue doo you thinke Theseus should euer haue gotten Antiope with sighing and crossing his armes he rauished her and rauished her that was an Amazon and therfore had gotten a habite of stoutnes aboue the nature of a woman but hauing rauished her he got a child of her And I say no more but that they say is not gotten without consent of both sides Iole had her owne father killed by Hercules and her selfe rauished by force rauished and yet ere long this rauished and vnfathered Lady could sportfully put on the Lions skin vpon her owne faire shoulders and play with the clubbe with her owne delicate hands so easily had she pardoned the rauisher that she could not but delight in those weapons of rauishing But aboue all marke Helen daughter to Iupiter who could neuer brooke her manerly-wooing Menclaus but disdained his humblenes and lothed his softnes But so well she could like the force of enforcing Paris that for him she could abide what might be abidden But what Menelaus takes hart he recouers her by force by force carries her home by force inioies her and she who could neuer like him for seruiceablenesse euer aftâ—r loued him for violence For what can be more agreable then vpon force to lay the fault of desire and in one instant to ioyne a deare delight with a iust excuse or rather the true cause is pardon me ô woman-kinde for reuealing to mine owne sonne the truth of this mystery we thinke there wants fire where we finde no sparkles at lest of furie Truly I haue knowen a great Lady long sought by most great most wise most beautifull most valiant persons neuer wonne because they did ouer-superstitiously sollicite her the same Ladie brought vnder by an other inferiour to all them in all those qualities onely because he could vse that imperious maisterfulnesse which nature giues to men aboue women For indeede sonne I confesse vnto you in our very creation we are seruants and who prayseth his seruaunts shall neuer be well obeyed but as a ready horse streight yeeldes when he findes one that will haue him yeelde the same fals to boundes when he feeles a fearefull horseman Awake thy spirits good Amphialus and assure thy selfe that though she refuseth she refuseth but to endeere the obtaining If she weepe and chide and protest before it be gotten she can but weepe and chide and protest when it is gotten Thinke she would not striue but that
all excelling in all those excellencies wherewith Nature can beautifie any body Pamela giuing sweetnes to maiesty Philoclea enriching noblenes with humblenes Zelmane setting in womanly beautie manlike valour to be thus subiected to the basest iniury of vniust Fortune One might see in Pamela a willingnesse to dye rather then to haue life at others discretion though sometimes a princely disdaine would sparkle out of her Princely eyes that it should be in others power to force her to dye In Philoclea a pretie feare came vp to endamaske her rosie cheekes but it was such a feare as rather seemed a kindly childe to her innate humblenes then any other dismayednes or if she were dismayed it was more for Zelmane then for her selfe or if more for her selfe it was because Zelmane should loose her As for Zelmane as she went with her hands bound for they durst not aduenture on her well knowne valour especially among a people which perchance might be moued by such a spectacle to some reuolte she was the true image of ouermaistred courage and of spite that sees no remedie For her breast swelled withall the bloud burst out at her nose and she looked paler then accustomed with her eies cast on the ground with such a grace as if she were fallen out with the heauens for suffering such an iniury The lookers on were so moued withall as they misliked what themselues did and yet still did what themselues misliked For some glad to rid themselues of the dangerous annoyance of this siege some willing to shorten the way to Amphialus-his succession whereon they were dependents some and the greatest some doing because others did and suffring because none durst begin to hinder did in this sort set their hands to this in their owne conscience wicked enterprise But when this message was brought to Basilius and that this pittifull preparation was a sufficient letter of credit for him to beleeue it hee called vnto him his chiefe councelors among which those he chiefly trusted were Philanax Kalander lately come to the campe at Basilius cōmandement and in him selfe wery of his solitary life wanting his sons presence neuer hauing heard from his beloued guestes since they parted from him Now in this doubt what he should do he willed Kalander to giue him his aduise who spake much to this purpose You commaund me Sir said he to speake rather because you will keepe your wonted graue and noble manner to do nothing of importance without coūcell then that in this cause which indeed hath but one way your mind needs to haue any councell so as my speech shall rather be to confirme what you haue alredy determined then to argue against any possibillitie of other determination For what sophistical scholler can find any question in this whether you will haue your incomparable daughters liue or dye whether since you be here to cause their deliuerance you wil make your being here the cause of their destruction for nothing can bee more vnsensible then to thinke what one doth and to forget the end why it is done Do therfore as I am sure you meane to do remoue the siege and after seeke by practise or other gentle meanes to recouer that which by force you cannot and therof is indeed when it please you more counsel to be taken Once in extremities the winning of time is the purchase of life worse by no meanes then their deaths can befal vnto you A man might vse more words if it were to any purpose to guild gold or that I had any cause to doubt of your mind But you are wise and are a father He said no more for he durst not attempt to perswade the marrying of his daughter to Amphialus but left that to bring in at another consultation But Basilius made signe to Philanax who standing a while in a maze as inwardly perplexed at last thus deliuered his opinion If euer I could wish my faith vntried my counsell vntrusted it should be at this time whē in truth I must confesse I would be cōtent to purchase silence with discredit But since you command I obey onely let me say thus much that I obey not to these excellent Ladies father but to my Prince a Prince it is to whō I giue coūsel Therefore as to a Prince I say that the graue I well know true-minded counsell of my Lord Kalander had come in good time when you first tooke armes before all your subiects gate notice of your intention before so much blood was spent and before they were driuen to seeke this shift for their last remedy But if nowe this force you away why did you take armes since you might be sure when euer they were in extremitie they would haue recourse to this threatning and for a wise man to take in hand that which his enimy may with a word ouerthrow hath in my conceit great incongruity and as great not to forethinke what his enemy in reason will doo But they threaten they wil kil your daughters What if they promised you if you remoued your siege they would honorably send home your daughters would you bee angled by their promises truly no more ought you be terrified by their threatnings For yet of the two promise binds faith more thē threatning But indeed a Prince of iudgement ought not to consider what his enimies promise or threaten but what the promisers and threatners in reason wil do and the neerest coniecture thereunto is what is best for their owne behoofe to do They threaten if you remoue not they wil kil your daughters and if you doo remoue what surety haue you but that they will kil them since if the purpose be to cut off all impediments of Amphialus-his ambition the same cause will continue when you are away and so much the more encoraged as the reuenging power is absent and they haue the more oportunitie to draw their factious friends about them but if it be for their security onely the same cause will bring forth the same effect and for their security they will preserue them But it may be said no man knows what desperate folks wil do it is true and as true that no reason nor policie can preuent what desperate folks wil do therfore they are among those dangers which wisdome is not to recken Only let it suffice to take away their despaire which may be by granting pardon for what is past so as the Ladies may be freely deliuered And let them that are your subiects trust you that are their Prince doo not you subiect your selfe to trust them who are so vntrusty as to be manifest traitors For if they finde you so base-minded as by their threatning to remoue your force what indignitie is it that they would not bring you vnto still by the same threatning since then if Loue stir them loue will keep them from murthering what they loue and if Ambition prouoke them ambitious they will be when you are
subiect to ende onely your Philoclea because she is yours should be exempted But indeede you bemone your selfe who haue lost a friende you cannot her who hath in one act both preserued her honour and leste the miseries of this worlde O womans philosophie childish follie said Pyrocles as though if I do bemone my selfe I haue not reason to doo so hauing lost more then any Monarchie nay then my life can be woorth vnto me Alas saide shee comforte your selfe Nature did not forget her skill when she had made them you shall find many their superiours and perchaunce such as when your eyes shall looke abroad your selfe will like better But that the speech put al good manners out of the conceit of Pyrocles in so much that leaping out of his bed he ran to haue striken her but comming neere her the morning then winning the field of darkenesse he saw or hee thought hee sawe indeed the very face of Philoclea the same sweetenesse the same grace the same beautie with which carried into a diuine astonishment he fell downe at her feete Most blessed Angell said he well haste thou done to take that shape since thou wouldest submit thy selfe to mortall sense for a more Angelicall forme coulde not haue bene created for thee Alas euen by that excellent beautie so beloued of me let it be lawfull for me to aske of thee what is the cause that shee that heauenly creature whose forme you haue taken shoulde by the heauens bee destined to so vnripe an ende Why should vniustice so preuaile Why was she seene to the world so soone to be rauished from vs Why was shee not suffered to liue to teach the worlde perfection Doo not deceiue thy selfe answered shee I am no Angell I am Philoclea the same Philoclea so truely louing you so truely beloued of you If it be so said he that you are indeede the soule of Philoclea you haue done well to keepe your owne figure for no heauen could haue giuen you a better Then alas why haue you taken the paines to leaue your blisfull seat to come to this place most wretched to mee who am wretchednes it selfe not rather obtaine for me that I might come where you are there eternally to behold and eternally to loue your beauties you knowe I know that I desire nothing but death which I onely stay to bee iustly reuenged of your vniust murtherers Deare Pyrocles said shee I am thy Philoclea and as yet liuing not murdred as you supposed and therefore bee comforted And with that gaue him her hand But the sweet touch of that hand seemed to his astraied powers so heauenly a thing that it rather for a while confirmed him in his former beliefe till she with vehement protestations and desire that it might be so helping to perswade that it was so brought him to yeeld yet doubtfully to yeelde to this height of all comfort that Philoclea liued which witnessing with teares of ioy Alas saide he how shall I beleeue mine eies any more or doo you yet but appeare thus vnto me to stay me from some desperate end For alas I sawe the excellent Pamela beheaded I sawe your head the head indeede and chiefe parte of all natures workes standing in a dishe of golde too meane a shrine God wote for such a relike How can this be my onely deare and you liue or if this be not so how can I beleeue mine owne senses and if I can not beleeue them why should I now beleeue these blessed tidings they bring me The truth is said she my Pyrocles that neither I as you finde nor yet my deare sister is dead although the mischieuously suttle Cecropia vsed slights to make either of vs thinke so of other For hauing in vaine attempted the fardest of her wicked eloquence to make eyther of vs yeeld to her sonne and seeing that neither it accompanied with great flatteries and riche presents could get any ground of vs nor yet the violent way she fell into of cruelly tormenting our bodies could preuayle with vs at last she made either of vs thinke the other dead and so hoped to haue wrested our mindes to the forgetting of vertue and first she gaue to mine eyes the miserable spectacle of my sisters as I thought death but indeede it was not my sister it was onely Artesia she who so cunningly brought vs to this misery Truly I am sory for the poore Gentlewoman though iustly she be punished for her double falshood but Artesia muffled so as you could not easily discerne her and in my sisters apparell which they had taken from her vnder colour of giuing her other did they execute And when I for thy sake especially deare Pyrocles could by no force nor feare be won they assayed the like with my sister by bringing me downe vnder the scaffolde and making me thrust my head vp through a hole they had made therein they did put about my poore necke a dishe of gold whereout they had beaten the bottome so as hauing set bloud in it you sawe how I played the parte of death God knowes euen willing to haue done it in earnest and so had they set me that I reached but on tiptoes to the grounde so as scarcely I could breathe much lesse speake And truely if they had kept me there any whit longer they had strangled me in steed of beheading me but then they tooke me away and seeking to see their issue of this practise they found my noble sister for the deare loue she vouchsafeth to beare me so grieued withall that she willed them to doo their vttermost crueltie vnto her for she vowed neuer to receiue sustenaunce of them that had bene the causers of my murther and finding both of vs euen giuen ouer not like to liue many houres longer and my sister Pamela rather worse then my selfe the strength of her harte worse bearing those indignities the good woman Cecropia with the same pittie as folkes keepe foule when they are not fatte inough for their eating made vs knowe her deceipt and let vs come one to another with what ioye you can well imagine who I know feele the like sauing that we only thought our selues reserued to miseries and therefore fitter for condoling then congratulating For my part I am fully perswaded it is but with a little respite to haue a more feeling sense of the torments she prepares for vs. True it is that one of my guardians would haue me to beleeue that this proceedes of my gentle cousin Amphialus who hauing heard some inckling that we were euill entreated had called his mother to his bedside from whence he neuer rose since his last combat and besought and charged her vpon all the loue she bare him to vse vs with all kindnesse vowing with all the imprecations he could imagine that if euer he vnderstood for his sake that I receiued further hurt then the want of my libertie hee would not liue an houre longer And the good woman sware
any such were that felt not the losse yet others griefe taught them grief hauing before their compassionate sense so passionate a spectacle of a young man of great beautie beautified with great honour honoured by great valure made of inestimable value by the noble vsing of it to lye there languishing vnder the arrest of death and a death where the manner could be no comfort to the discomfortablenes of the matter But when the bodie was carried through the gate and the people sauing such as were appointed not suffred to goe further then was such an vniuersall crie as if they had all had but one life and all receaued but one below Which so moued Anaxius to consider the losse of his friend that his mind apter to reuenge then tendernesse hee presently giuing order to his brother to keepe the prisoners safe and vnuisited till his retourne from conueying Helen hee sent a messenger to the sisters to tell them this curteous message that at his retourne with his owne handes hee woulde cut off their heades and sende them for tokens to their father This message was brought vnto the sisters as they sate at that time together with Zelmane conferring how to carrie themselues hauing heard of the death of Amphialus And as no expectation of death is so paineful as where the resolution is hindred by the intermixing of hopes so did this new alarum though not remoue yet moue somwhat the constancy of their mindes which were so vnconstantly dealt with But within a while the excellent Pamela had brought her minde againe to his olde acquaintance and then as carefull for her sister whom most deerely she loued Sister saide shee you see how many acts our Tragedy hath Fortune is not yet a wearie of vexing vs but what A shippe is not counted strong for byding one storme It is but the same trumpet of death which now perhaps giues the last sounde and let vs make that profite of our former miseries that in them wee learned to dye willingly Truely saide Philoclea deare sister I was so beaten with the euils of life that though I had not vertue enough to despise the sweetnesse of it yet my weaknesse bredde that strength to be wearie of the paines of it onely I must confesse that little hope which by these late accidents was awaked in me was at the first angrie withall But euen in the darkenesse of that horrour I see a light of comfort appeare and how can I treade amisse that see Pamela steppes I would onely O that my wish might take place that my schoole-Mistres might liue to see mee say my lesson truely Were that a life my Philoclea said Pamela No no saide shee let it come and put on his worst face for at the worst it is but a bug-beare Ioy is it to me to see you so well resolued and since the world will not haue vs let it lose vs. Onely with that she stayed a little and sighed only my Philoclea then she bowed downe and whispered in her eare onely Musidorus my shepheard comes betwene me and death and makes me thinke I should not dye because I know he would not I shoulde dye With that Philoclea sighed also saying no more but looking vpon Zelmane who was walking vp and downe the chamber hauing heard this message from Anaxius and hauing in times past heard of his nature thought him like enough to performe it which winded her againe into the former maze of perplexitie Yet debating with her selfe of the manner how to preuent it she continued her musing humour little saying or indeede little finding in her hart to say in a case of such extremitie where peremptorily death was threatned and so stayed they hauing yet that comfort that they might tarrie togither Pamela nobly Philoclea sweetely and Zelmane sadly and desperately none of them entertaining sleep which they thought should shortly begin neuer to awake But Anaxius came home hauing safely conduct Helen and safely hee might well do it For though many of Basilius Knights would haue attempted something vpon Anaxius by that meanes to deliuer the Ladies yet Philanax hauing receaued his masters commandement and knowing his word was giuen would not consent vnto it And the black-Knight who by them was able to carry abroad his wounds did not knowe thereof but was bringing force by force to deliuer his Lady So as Anaxius interpreting it rather feare then faith and making euen chance an argument of his vertue returned and as soone as hee was returned with afelon hart calling his brothers vp with him he went into the chamber where they were all three togither with full intention to kill the sisters with his owne handes and sende their heads for tokens to their father Though his brothers who were otherwise enclined disswaded him but his reuerence stayed their perswasions But when hee was come into the chamber with the very wordes of cholerike threatning climing vp his throate his eyes first lighted vpon Pamela who hearing hee was comming and looking for death thought she would keepe her owne maiestie in welcomming it but the beames therof so strake his eyes with such a counterbuffe vnto his pride that if his anger could not so quickly loue nor his pride so easily honor yet both were forced to finde a worthinesse Which while it bred a pause in him Zelmane who had ready in her minde both what and how to say stept out vnto him and with a resolute stayednes void either of anger kindnes disdaine or humblenesse speake in this sort Anaxius said she if Fame haue not bene ouerpartiall to thee thou art a man of exceeding valour Therefore I doo call thee euen before that vertue will make it the iudge between vs. And now I doo affirme that to the eternall blot of all the faire actes that thou hast done thou doest weakely in seeking without daunger to reuenge his death whose life with daunger thou mightst perhapes haue preserued thou doost cowardly in going about by the death of these excellent Ladies to preuent the iust punishment that hereafter they by the powers which they better then their father or any other could make might lay vpon thee and doost most basely in once presenting thy selfe as an executioner a vile office vpon men and in a iust cause beyond the degree of any vile worde in so vniust a cause and vpon Ladies and such Ladies And therefore as a hangman I say thou art vnworthy to be counted a knight or to be admitted into the companie of Knights Neither for what I say will I alleadge other reasons of wisdome or iustice to prooue my speech because I knowe thou doost disdaine to be tied to their rules but euen in thine own vertue whereof thou so much gloriest I will make my triall and therfore defie thee by the death of one of vs two to proue or disproue these reproaches Choose thee what armes thou likest I onely demaund that these Ladies whome I defende may in liberty see the combate
heauens do sende The heauens conspir'd to make my vitall sparke A wreched wracke a glasse of Ruines ende Seeing Alas so mightie powers bende Their ireful shotte against so weake a marke Come caue become my graue come death and lende Receipte to me within thy bosome darke For what is life to dayly dieng minde Where drawing breath I sucke the aire of woe Where too much sight makes all the bodie blinde And highest thoughts downeward most headlong throw Thus then my forme and thus my state I finde Death wrapt in flesh to liuing graue assign'd And pawsing but a little with monefull melodie it continued this octaue Like those sicke folkes in whome strange humors flowe Can taste no sweetes the sower onely please So to my minde while passions daylie growe Whose fyrie chaines vppon his freedome feaze Ioies strangers seeme I cannot bide their showe Nor brooke oughte els but well acquainted woe Bitter griefe tastes me best paine is my ease Sicke to the death still louing my disease O Venus saide Zelmane who is this so well acquainted with mee that can make so liuely a portracture of my miseries It is surely the spirit appointed to haue care of me which doth now in this darke place beare parte with the complaints of his vnhappie charge For if it be so that the heauens haue at all times a measure of their wrathefull harmes surely so many haue come to my blistlesse lot that the rest of the world hath too small a portion to make with cause so wailefull a lamentation But saide she whatsoeuer thou be I will seeke thee out for thy musique well assures me wee are at least-hand fellowe prentises to one vngracious master So raise shee and went guiding her selfe by the still playning voice till she sawe vppon a stone a little waxe light set and vnder it a piece of paper with these verses verie lately as it should seeme written in it HOwe is my Sunn whose beames are shining bright Become the cause of my darke ouglie night Or howe do I captiu'd in this darke plight Bewaile the case and in the cause delight My mangled mind huge horrors still doe fright With sense possest and claim'd by reasons right Betwixt which two in me I haue this fight Wher who so wynns I put my selfe to flight Come clowdie feares close vp my daseled sight Sorrowes suck vp the marowe of my might Due sighes blowe out all sparkes of ioyfull light Tyre on despaier vppon my tyred sprite An ende an ende my dulde penn cannot write Nor mas'de head thinke nor faltring tongerecite And hard vnderneath the sonnet were these wordes written This caue is darke but it had neuer light This waxe doth waste it selfe yet painelesse dyes These wordes are full of woes yet feele they none I darkned am who once had clearest sight I waste my harte which still newe torment tryes I plaine with cause my woes are all myne owne No caue no wasting waxe no wordes of griefe Can holde shew tell my paines without reliefe She did not long stay to reade the wordes for not farre off from the stone shee might discerne in a darke corner a Ladie lieng with her face so prostrate vpon the ground as she could neither know nor be knowen But as the generall nature of man is desirous of knowledge and sorrow especially glad to find fellowes she went as softely as she could conuey her foot neere vnto her where she heard these words come with vehement sobbings from her O darkenes saide shee which doest light somly me thinks make me see the picture of my inward darknes since I haue chosen thee to be the secret witnesse of my sorows let me receiue a safe receipte in thee and esteeme them not tedious but if it be possible let the vttering them be some discharge to my ouerloaden breast Alas sorrowe nowe thou hast the full sack of my conquered spirits rest thy selfe a while and set not stil new fire to thy owne spoiles O accursed reason how many eyes thou hast to see thy euills and thou dimme nay blinde thou arte in preuenting them Forlorne creature that I am I would I might be freely wicked since wickednesse doth preuaile but the foote steppes of my ouer-troden vertue lie still as bitter accusations vnto me I am deuided in my selfe howe can I stande I am ouerthrowne in my selfe who shall raise mee Vice is but a nurse of new agonies and the vertue I am diuorsed from makes the hatefull comparison the more manyfest No no vertue either I neuer had but a shadow of thee or thou thy selfe art but a shadow For how is my soule abandoned How are all my powers laide waste My desire is payned because it cannot hope and if hope came his best shoulde bee but mischiefe O strange mixture of humaine mindes onely so much good lefte as to make vs languish in our owne euills Yee infernall furies for it is too late for mee to awake my dead vertue or to place my comforte in the angrie Gods yee infernall furies I say aide one that dedicates her selfe vnto you let my rage bee satisfied since the effecte of it is fit for your seruice Neither bee afraide to make me too happie since nothing can come to appease the smart of my guiltie cōscience I desire but to asswage the sweltring of my hellish longing deiected Gynecia Zelmane no sooner heard the name of Gynecia but that with a colde sweate all ouer her as if she had ben ready to treade vpon a deadly stinging Adder she would haue withdrawne her selfe but her owne passion made her yeelde more vnquiet motions then she had done in comming So that she was perceaued Gynecia sodainely risne vp for in deed it was Ginecia gotten into this Caue the same Caue wherein Dametas had safelie kept Pamela in the late vprore to passe her pangs with change of places And as her minde ranne still vpon Zelmane her piercing louers eye had soone found it was she And seeing in her a countenance to flye away she fell downe at her feete and catching fast hold of her Alas sayd she whether or from whome doost thou flye awaye the sauagest beastes are wonne with seruice and there is no flint but may be mollifyed How is Gynecia so vnworthie in thine eyes or whome cannot aboundance of loue make worthie O thinke not that crueltie or vngratefulnes can flowe from a good minde O weigh Alas weigh with thy selfe the newe effectes of this mightie passion that I vnfit for my state vncomely for my sexe must become a suppliant at thy feete By the happie woman that bare thee by all the ioyes of thy hart and successe of thy desire I beseech thee turne thy selfe to some consideration of me and rather shew pittie in now helping me then into late repenting my death which hourely threatens me Zelmane imputing it to one of her continuall mishaps thus to haue met with this Lady with a full weary countenance Without doubt Madame said
then my longe suite is signde You none can clayme but you your selfe aright For you do passe your selfe in vertues might So both are yours I bound with gaged harte You onely yours too farr beyond desarte In this vertuous wantonnes suffering their mindes to descend to each tender enioying their vnited thoughts Pamela hauing tasted of the fruites and growinge extreame sleepie hauing ben long kept from it with the perplexitie of her dangerous attempte laying her head in his lappe was inuited by him to sleepe with these softly vttered verses LOcke vp faire liddes the treasure of my harte Preserue those beames this ages onely lighte To her sweete sence sweete sleepe some ease imparte Her sence too weake to beare her spirits mighte And while ô sleepe thou closest vp her sight Her sight where loue did forge his fayrest darte ô harbour all her partes in easefull plighte Let no strange dreme make her fayre body start◠But yet ô dreame if thou wilt not departe In this rare subiect from the common right But wilt thy selfe in such a seate delighte Then take my shape and play a louers parte Kisse her from me and say vnto her spirite Till her eyes shine I liue in darkest night The sweete Pamela was brought into a sweete sleepe with this songe which gaue Musidorus opportunity at leasure to beholde her excellent beauties He thought her faire forehead was a fielde where all his fancies fought and euery haire of her heade semed a strong chain thattied him Her fairer liddes then hiding her fairer eyes seemed vnto him sweete boxes of mother of pearle riche in themselues but contaning in them farre richer Iewells Her cheekes with their coullour most delicately mixed would haue entertained his eyes somewhile but that the roses of her lippes whose separating was wont to bee accompanied with most wise speeches nowe by force drewe his sight to marke how preatily they lay one ouer the other vniting their deuided beauties and thorough them the eye of his fancy deliuered to his memorie the lying as in ambush vnder her lippes of those armed rankes all armed in most pure white and keeping the most precise order of military discipline And lest this beautie might seeme the picture of some excellent artificer fourth there stale a softe breath carying good testimony of her inward sweetnesse and so stealingly it came out as it seemed loath to leaue his contentfull mansion but that it hoped to bee drawne in againe to that well cloased paradise which did so tyrannize ouer Musidorus affectes that hee was compelled to put his face as lowe to hers as hee coulde sucking the breath with such ioye that he did determine in himselfe there had ben no life to a Camaeleons if he might be suffered to enioye that foode But long hee was not suffered being within a while interrupted by the comming of a company of clownish vilaines armed with diuers sortes of weapons and for the rest both in face and apparell so forewasted that they seemed to beare a great conformity with the sauages who miserable in themselues taught to encrease their mischieues in other bodies harmes came with such cries as they both awaked Pamela and made Musidorus turne vnto them full of a most violent rage with the looke of a shee Tigree when her whelpes are stolne away But Zelmane whome I left in the Caue hardly bestead hauing both great wittes and sturring passions to deale with makes me lend her my penne a while to see with what dexteritie she could put by her daungers For hauing in one instant both to resist rage and goe beyond wisedome being to deale with a Ladie that had her witts a wake in euery thing but in helping her owne hurte she saw now no other remedy in her case but to qualifie her rage with hope and to satisfie her witt with plainesse Yet lest to abrupt falling into it shoulde yeelde too great aduantage vnto her shee thought good to come to it by degrees with this kind of insinuation Your wise but very darke speeches most excellent Lady are wouen vp in so intricate a maner as I know not how to proportiō mine answere vnto thē so are your prayers mixte with threates and so is the shew of your loue hidden with the name of reuenge the natural effect of mortal hatred You seeme displeased with the opinion you haue of my disguising and yet if bee not disguised you must needes be much more displeased Hope then the only succour of perplexed mindes being quite cut off you desire my affection and yet you your selfe thinke my affection already bestowed You pretend crueltie before you haue the subiection and are iealous of keeping that which as yet you haue not gotten And that which is strangest in your iealousie is both the vniustice of it in being loath that should come to your daughter which you deeme good and the vaynnesse since you two are in so diuers respects that there is no necessitie one of you should fall to be a barre to the other For neyther if I be such as you fancie can I mary you which must needes be the only ende I can aspire to in her neither neede the maryeng of her keepe me from a gratefull consideracion how much you honor me in the loue you vouchsafe to beare me Gynaecia to whome the fearefull agonies she still liued in made any small repriuall sweete did quickly finde her words falling to a better way of comfort and therefore with a minde readie to shewe nothing could make it rebellious against Zelmane but to extreme tyrannie she thus sayd Alas too much beloued Zelmane the thoughts are but outflowings of the minde and the tongue is but a seruant of the thoughtes therefore maruaile not that my words suffer contrarieties since my minde doth hourely suffer in it selfe whole armyes of mortall aduersaries But alas if I had the vse of mine owne reason then should I not neede for want of it to finde my selfe in this desperate mischiefe but because my reason is vanished so haue I likewise no power to correct my vnreasonablenes Do you therefore accept the protection of my minde which hath no other resting place and driue it not by being vnregarded to put it selfe into vnknowne extremities I desire but to haue my affection answered and to haue a right reflection of my loue in you That graunted assure your selfe mine owne loue will easily teach me to seeke your contentment and make me thinke my daughter a very meane price to keepe still in mine eyes the foode of my spirits But take heede that contempt driue me not into despaire the most violent cause of that miserable effect Zelmane that alreadie sawe some fruite of her last determined fancie so farre as came to a mollifyeng of Gynecias rage seeing no other way to satisfye suspicion which was help open with the continuall prickes of loue resolued now with plainnesse to winne trust which trust she might after deceyue with a greater subtletie Therefore looking
her liues enterprise for well shee knewe deceite cannot otherwise be mayntayned but by deceite and how to deceyue such heedfull eyes and how to satisfye and yet not satisfye such hopefull desires it was no small skill But both their thoughtes were called from themselues with the sight of Basilius who then lying downe by his daughter Philoclea vppon the fayre though naturall bed of greene-grasse seeing the sunne what speede hee made to leaue our West to doo his office in the other Hemisphere his inwarde Muses made him in his best musicke sing this Madrigall WHy doost thou haste away O Titan faire the giuer of the daie Is it to carry newes To Westerne wightes what starres in East appeare Or doost thou thinke that heare Is left a Sunne whose beames thy place may vse Yet stay and well peruse What be her giftes that make her equall thee Bend all thy light to see In earthly clothes enclosde a heauenly sparke Thy running course cannot such beawties marke No no thy motions bee Hastened from vs with barre of shadow darke Because that thou the author of our sight Disdainst we see thee staind with others light And hauing ended Deere Philoclea said he sing something that may diuerte my thoughts from the continuall taske of their ruinous harbour She obedient to him and not vnwilling to disburden her secret passion made her sweete voice be heard in these words O Stealing time the subiect of delaie Delay the racke of vnrefram'd desire What strange dessein hast thou my hopes to staie My hopes which do but to mine owne aspire Mine owne ô word on whose sweete sound doth pray My greedy soule with gripe of inward fire Thy title great I iustlie chalenge may Since in such phrase his faith he did attire O time become the chariot of my ioyes As thou drawest on so let my blisse draw neere Each moment lost part of my hap destroyes Thou art the father of occasion deare Ioyne with thy sonne to ease my long annoy's In speedie helpe thanke worthie frends appeare Philoclea brake off her Song as soone as her mother with Zelmane came neere vnto them rising vp with a kindly bashfulnes being not ignorant of the spite her mother bare her and stricken with the sight of that person whose loue made all those troubles seeme fayre flowers of her deerest garlond Nay rather all those troubles made the loue encrease For as the arriuall of enemyes makes a towne so fortifye it selfe as euer after it remaynes stronger so that a man may say enemyes were no small cause to the townes strength So to a minde once fixed in a well pleased determinacion who hopes by annoyance to ouerthrowe it doth but teach it to knit together all his best grounds and so perchance of a chaunceable purpose make an vnchangeable resolucion But no more Philoclea see the wonted signes of Zelmanes affection towardes her she thought she sawe an other light in her eyes with a bould and carelesse looke vpon her which was wont to be dazeled with her beawtie and the framing of her courtesyes rather ceremonious then affectionate and that which worst liked her was that it proceeded with such quiet setlednes as it rather threatned a full purpose then any sodayne passion She founde her behauiour bent altogether to her mother and presumed in her selfe she discerned the well acquainted face of his fancies now turned to another subiecte She sawe her mothers worthines and too well knewe her affection These ioyning theyr diuers working powers together in her minde but yet a prentise in the paynefull misterye of passions brought Philoclea into a newe trauers of her thoughtes and made her keepe her carefull looke the more attentiue vppon Zelmanes behauiour who in deede though with much payne and condemning her selfe to commit a sacriledge against the sweete saincte that liued in her in most Temple yet strengthening herselfe in it beeing the surest waye to make Gynecia bite off her other baytes did so quite ouerrule all wonted showes of loue to Philoclea and conuert them to Gynecia that the parte she played did worke in both a full and liuely perswasion to Gynecia such excessiue comforte as the beeing preferred to a riuall doth deliuer to swelling desire But to the delicate Philoclea whose calme thoughtes were vnable to nourish any strong debate it gaue so stinging a hurt that fainting vnder the force of her inwarde torment she withdrewe her selfe to the Lodge and there wearye of supporting her owne burden cast her selfe vppon her bed suffering her sorrowe to melt it selfe into abundance of teares at length closing her eyes as if eache thing she sawe was a picture of her mishap and turning vpon her hurtside which with vehement panting did summon her to consider her fortune she thus bemoned her selfe Alas Philoclea is this the price of all thy paynes Is this the rewarde of thy giuen awaye libertye Hath too much yeelding bred crueltye or can too greate acquaintance make mee helde for a straunger Hath the choosing of a companion made mee lefte alone or doth graunting desire cause the desire to bee neglected Alas despised Philoclea why diddest thou not holde thy thoughtes in theyr simple course and content thy â—elfe with the loue of thy owne vertue which would neuer haue betrayed thee Ah sillie foole diddest thou looke for truth in him that with his owne mouth confest his falsehood for playne proceeding in him that still goes disguised They say the falsest men will yet beare outward shewes of a pure minde But he that euen outwardly beares the badge of treacherie what hells of wickednes must needes in the depth be contayned But ô wicked mouth of mine how darest thou thus blaspheme the ornament of the earth the vessell of all vertue O wretch that I am that will anger the gods in dispraysing their most excellent worke O no no there was no fault but in me that could euer thinke so high eyes would looke so lowe or so great perfections would stayne themselues with my vnworthines Alas why could I not see I was too weake a band to tye so heauenly a hart I was not fit to limit the infinite course of his wonderfull destenies Was it euer like that vpon only Philoclea his thoughtes should rest Ah silly soule that couldst please thy selfe with â—o impossible an imagination An vniuersall happines is to flowe from him How was I so inueagled to hope I might be the marke of such a minde He did thee no wrong ô Philoclea he did thee no wrong it was thy weakenes to fancie the beames of the sonne should giue light to no eyes but thine And yet ô Prince Pirocles for whome I may well begin to hate my selfe but can neuer leaue to loue thee what triumph canst thou make of this conquest what spoiles wilt thou carry away of this my vndeserued ouerthrow could thy force finde out no fitter field then the feeble minde of a poore mayde who at the first sight did wish thee all
happines shall it be sayde the mirrour of mankinde hath bene employed to destroy a hurtlesse gentlewoman O Pirocles Pirocles let me yet call thee before the iudgement of thine owne vertue let me be accepted for a plaintiffe in a cause which concernes my life what need hadst thou to arme thy face with the enchanting mask of thy painted passions wht need hadst thou to fortefy thy excelleÌ„cies with so exquisit a cunning in making our own arts betray vs what needest thou descend so far froÌ„ thy incomparable worthines as to take on the habit of weake womankinde Was all this to winne the vndefended Castle of a friend which being wonne thou wouldest after raze Could so small a cause allure thee or did not so vniust a cause stop thee ô me what say I more this is my case my loue hates me vertue deales wickedly with me and he does me wrong whose doing I can neuer accompt wrong With that the sweet Lady turning her selfe vppon her weary bed she happly sawe a Lute vpon the belly of which Gynecia had written this song what time Basilius imputed her iealous motions to proceed of the doubt she had of his vntimely loues Vnder which vaile she contented to couer her neuer ceassing anguish had made the Lute a monument of her minde which Philoclea had neuer much marked till now the feare of a competitour more sturred her then before the care of a mother The verses were these MY Lute which in thy selfe thy tunes enclose Thy mistresse song is now a sorrow's crie Her hand benumde with fortunes daylie blows Her minde amaz'de can neithers helpe applie Weare these my words as mourning weede of woes Blacke incke becommes the state wherein I dye And though my mones be not in musicke bound Of written greefes yet be the silent ground The world doth yeeld such ill consorted shows With circkled course which no wise stay can trye That childish stuffe which knowes not frendes from foes Better despisde bewondre gasing eye Thus noble golde downe to the bottome goes When worthlesse corke aloft doth floting lye Thus in thy selfe least strings are loudest founde And lowest stops doo yeeld the hyest sounde Philoclea read them and throwing downe the Lute is this the legacie you haue bequeathed me O kinde mother of mine said she did you bestow the light vpon me for this or did you beare me to be the Author of my buriall A trim purchase you haue made of your owne shame robbed your daughter to ruyne your selfe The birds vnreasonable yet vse so much reason as to make nestes for their tender young ones my cruell Mother turnes me out of mine owne harbour Alas plaint bootes not for my case can receaue no helpe for who should geue mee helpe shall I flye to my parents they are my murtherers shall I goe to him who already being woon and lost must needs haue killed all pittie Alas I can bring no new intercessions he knows already what I am is his Shall I come home againe to my self ô me contemned wretch I haue giuen away my self With that the poore soule beate her breast as if that had bene guilty of her faults neither thinking of reuenge nor studying for remedy but sweete creature gaue greefe a free dominion keeping her chamber a few days after not needing to faine her self sick feeling euen in her soule the pangs of extreeme paine But little did Gynecia reck that neyther when she sawe her goe awaye from them neyther when she after found that sicknes made her hide her faire face so much had fancye preuailed against nature But ô you that haue euer knowen how tender to euery motion loue makes the louers hart how he measures all his ioyes vpon her contentment doth with respectful eye hang al his behauiour vpoÌ„ her eyes iudg I praye you now of Zelmanes troubled thoughts when she saw Philoclea with an amazed kinde of sorrow carrie awaye her sweete presence and easely founde so happie a coniecture vnhappie affection hath that her demeanour was guiltie of that trespasse There was neuer foolish softe harted mother that forced to beate her childe did weepe first for his paines and doing that she was loath to do did repent before she began did finde haâ—fe that motion in her weake minde as Zelmane did now that she was forced by reason to giue an outward blowe to her passions and for the lending of a small time to seeke the vsury of all her desires The vnkindnes she conceaued Philoclea might conceaue did wound her soule each teare she doubted she spent drowned all her comforte Her sicknes was a death vnto her Often woulde shee speake to the image of Philoclea which liued and ruled in the highest of her inwarde parte and vse vehement othes and protestations vnto her that nothing shoulde euer falsifie the free chosen vowe she had made Often woulde she desire her that she would looke wel to Pyrocles hart for as for her shee had no more interest in it to bestow it any way Alas woulde shee saye onely Philoclea hast thou not so much feeling of thine owne force as to knowe no new conquerer can preuaile against thy conquestes Was euer any daseled with the moone that had vsed his eyes to the beames of the Sunne Is hee carried awaye with a greedie desire of Akornes that hath had his senses rauished with a garden of most delightfull fruites O Philoclea Philoclea be thou but as mercifull a Princesse to my minde as thou arte a trewe possessour and I shal haue as much cause of gladnes as thou hast no cause of misdoubting O no no when a man 's owne harte is the gage of his debte when a man 's owne thoughts are willing witnesses to his promise lastly when a man is the gaylour ouer himselfe There is little doubte of breaking credit and lesse doubt of such an escape In this combat of Zelmanes doubtfull imaginations in the ende reason well backed with the vehement desire to bring her matters soone to the desired hauen did ouer rule the boyling of her inward kindnes though as I say with such a manifest strife that both Basilius and Gynecias well wayting eyes had marked her muses had laboured in deeper subiecte then ordinarie which she likewise perceauing they had perceaued a waking her selfe out of those thoughtes and principally caring howe to satisfie Gynecia whose iudgement and passion shee stood most in regarde of bowing her head to her attentiue eare Madame saide she with practise of my thoughts I haue found out a way by which your contentment shall draw on my happines Gynecia deliuering in her face as thankfull a ioyfulnes as her harte coulde holde saide it was then time to retire themselues to their rest for what with riding abroade the day before and late sitting vp for Egloges their bodyes had dearely purchased that nightes quiet So went they home to their lodge Zelmane framing of both sides bountifull measures of louing countenaunces to eithers ioye and neythers
suffering them to haue so full a course as it did exceedinglie weaken the estate of her bodie aswell for which cause as for that shee could not see Zalmane without expressing more then shee woulde how farr now her loue was imprisoned in extremitie of sorrow she bound her selfe first to the limits of her own chamber and after griefe breeding sicknes of her bed But Zelmane hauing now a full libertie to cast about euery way how to bring her conceaued attempt to a desired successe was ofte so perplexed with the manifould difficultie of it that sometimes she would resolue by force to take her a way though it were with the death of her parents somtimes to go away herself with Musidorus and bring both their forces so to winne her But lastly euen the same day that Musidorus by feeding the humor of his three loathsome gardiens had stolne awaye the Princes Pamela whether it were that loue ment to match them euerie waie or that her friendes example had holpen her inuention or that indeede Zelmane forbare to practise her deuise till she found her friend had passed through his The same daye I saye shee resolued on a way to rid out of the lodge her two combersome louers and in the night to carrie away Philoclea where vnto shee was assured her owne loue no lesse then her sisters woulde easely winne her consent Hoping that although their abrupt parting had not suffered her to demaund of Musidorus which way he ment to direct his iorney yet either they should by some good fortune finde him or if that course fayled yet they might well recouer some towne of the Helotes neere the frontieâ—es of Arcadia who being newly againe vp in armes against the Nobilitie shee knew would bee as glad of her presence as she of their protection Therefore hauing taken order for all thinges requisite for their going and first put on a sleight vndersute of mans apparel which before for such purposes she had prouided she curiously trimmed her self to the beautifâ—ing of her beauties that being now at her last triall she might come vnto it in her brauest armour And so putting on that kinde of milde countenaunce which doth encourage the looker on to hope for a gentle answere according to her late receaued maner she lefte the pleasant darkenes of her melancholy caue to goe take her dinner of the King and Queene and giue vnto them both a pleasant foode of seing the owner of their desires But euen as the Persians were aunciently wont to leaue no rising Sun vnsaluted but as his faire beames appeared clearer vnto theÌ„ wold they more hartely reioyce laying vpoÌ„ them a great fortoken of their following fortunes So was ther no time that Zelmane encouÌ„tred their eies with her beloued presence but that it bred a kind of burning deuotioÌ„ in theÌ„ yet so much the more glading their gredy soules as her couÌ„tenance were cleared with morefauour vnto theÌ„ which now being determinatly framed to the greatest desceÌ„t of kindnesse it took such hold of her infortunate louers that like children aboute a tender father from along voyage returned with louely childishnes hange about him and yet with simple feare measure by his countenance how farr he acceptes their boldnes So were these now throwne into so seruiceable an affection that the turning of Zelmanes eye was a strong sterne enough to all their motions wending no way but as the inchaunting force of it guided them But hauing made a light repaste of the pleasunt fruites of that countrye enterlarding their foode with such manner of generall discourses as louers are woont to couer their passions in when respecte of a thirde person keepes them from plaine particulars at the earnest entreatie of Basilius Zelmane first saluting the muses with a base voyal hong hard by her sent this ambassade in versified musicke to both her ill requited louers BEautie hath force to catche the humane sight Sight doth bewitch the fancie euill awaked Fancie we feele encludes all passions mighte Passion rebelde oft reâ—sons strength hath shaked No wondre then though sighte my sighte did tainte And though thereby my fancie was infected Though yoked so my minde with sicknes fainte Had reasons weight for passions ease reiected But now the fitt is past and time hath giu'ne Leasure to weigh what due deserte requireth All thoughts so spronge are from their dwelling driâ—'n And wisdome to his wonted seate aspireth Crying in me eye hopes deceitefull proue Thinges rightelie prizde loue is the bande of loue And after her songe with an affected modestie shee threwe downe her eye as if the conscience of a secret graunt her inward minde made had sodainely cast a bashfull vaile ouer her Which Basilius finding and thinking now was the time to vrge his painefull petition beseeching his wife with more carefull eye to accompanie his sickly daughter Philoclea being rid for that time of her who was content to graunt him any scope that she might after haue the like freedome with a gesture gouerned by the force of his passions making his knees his best supporters hee thus saide vnto her Yf either said he O Ladie of my life my deadly pangues coulde beare delaye or that this were the first time the same were manifested vnto you I woulde nowe but maintaine still the remembraunce of my misfortune without vrging any further reward then time and pittie might procure for me But alas since my martirdome is no lesse painefull then manifest and that I no more feele the miserable daunger then you know the assured trueth thereof why shoulde my tonge deny his seruice to my harte Why should I feare the breath of my words who daylie feele the flame of your workes Embrace in sweete consideration I beseech you the miserie of my Case acknowledge your selfe to bee the cause and thinke it is reason for you to redresse the effectes Alas let not certaine imaginatife rules whose trueth standes but vpon opinion keepe so wise a mind from gratefulnes and mercie whose neuer fayling laws nature hath planted in vs. I plainly lay my death vnto you the death of him that loues you the death of him whose life you maye saue say your absolute determination for hope it selfe is a paine while it is ouer mastered with feare and if you do resolue to be cruel yet is the speediest condemnation as in euills most welcome Zelmane who had fully set to her selfe the traine she would keepe yet knowing that who soonest meanes to yeelde doth well to make the brauest parley keeping countenaunce alofte Noble prince said she your wordes are to well couched to come out of a restlesse minde and thanked be the Gods your face threatens no daunger of death These are but those swelling speeches which giue the vttermost name to euerie trifle which all were worth nothinge if they were not enammeled with the goodly outside of loue Truely loue were verie vnlouely if it were halfe fo deadly as your louers still liuing tearme it
returnes an imagined wrong with an effectuall iniury O foole to make quarell my supplication or to vse hate as the mediator of loue childish Philoclea had thou throwne away the Iewell wherein all thy pride consisted Hast thou with too much hast ouerrun thy selfe Then would she renew her kisses O yet not finding the life retourne redouble her plaintes in this manner O diuine soule saide she whose vertue can possesse no lesse then the highest place in heauen if for mine eternall plague thou haste vtterly lefte this most sweet mansion before I follow thee with Thisbes punishment for my rashe vnwarinesse heare this protestation of mine That as the wrong I haue done thee proceeded of a most sincere but vnresistable affection so led with this pittifull example it shall ende in the mortall hate of my selfe and if it may be I will make my soule a tombe of thy memory At that worde with anguish of minde and weakenes of body encreased one by the other and both augmented by this feareful accident she had falne downe in a sounde but that Pyrocles then first seuering his eye liddes and quickly apprehending her daunger to him more then death beyond all powers striuing to recouer the commaundement of al his powers staied her from falling and then lifting the sweet burthen of her body in his armes laid her againe in her bedd So that she but then the Physition was nowe become the pacient he to whom her weaknesse had bene seruiceable was now enforced to do seruice to her weaknesse which performed by him with that hartie care which the most carefull loue on the best loued subiect in greatest extremitie could employ preuailed so farre that ere long shee was able though in strength exceedingly deiected to call home her wandering senses to yeelde attention to that her beloued Pyrocles had to deliuer But he lying downe on the bed by her holding her hand in his with so kind an accusing her of vnkindnes as in accusing her he condemned himself began from pointe to pointe to discouer vnto her all that had passed betwene his loathed louers him How he had entertained by entertaining deceiued both Basilius Gynecia that with such a kind of deceipt as either might see the cause in the other but neither espie the effect in themselues That al his fauors to theÌ„ had tended only to make them strangers to this his actioÌ„ al his strangnes to her to the final obtaining of her long promised now to be perfourmed fauour Which deuise seing it had so well succeeded to the remouing all other hinderances that only her resolutioÌ„ remained for the taking their happy iournie he coniured her by al the loue she had euer borne him shee would make no longer delay to partake with him whatsoeuer honors the noble kingdoÌ„e of Macedon al other Euarchus dominioÌ„s might yeeld him especially since in this enterprise he had now waded so farr as he could not possibly retire himself back without being ouerwhelmed with dauÌ„ger dishoÌ„our He neded not haue vsed further arguments of perswasioÌ„ for that only coniuratioÌ„ had so forcibly bound all her spirits that could her body haue secoÌ„ded her mind or her mind haue strengthened her body without respect of any worldly thing but only feare to be againe vnkind to Pyrocles she had condiscended to goe with him But raising her selfe a litle in her bed finding her own vnabilitie in any sorte to endure the aire My Pyrocles said she with tearefull eyes a pittifull couÌ„tenance such as well witnessed she had no will to deny any thing she had power to performe if you can conuey me hence in such plight as you see me I am most willing to make my â—xtreamest dauÌ„ger a testimonie that I esteme no dauÌ„ger in regard of your vertuous satisfaction But if shee fainted so faste that she was not able to vtter the rest of her conceiued speech which also turned Pyrocles thoughts from expecting further answere to the necessary care of reuiuing her in whose fainting himself was more theÌ„ ouerthrown And that hauing effected with al the sweet meaÌ„s his wits could deuise though his highest hopes were by this vnexpected downfall sunke deeper theÌ„ any degree of dispaire yet lest the appearaÌ„ce of his inward grief might occasioÌ„ her further discoÌ„fort hauing racked his face to a more coÌ„fortable semblaÌ„ce he sought some shew of reason to shew shee had no reason either for him or for her selfe so to be aflicted Which in the sweete minded Philoclea whose consideration was limited by his wordes and whose conceite pearced no deeper then his outwarde countenaunce wrought within a while such quietnesse of mind and that quietnesse againe such repose of bodie that slepe by his harbingers weakenesse wearines and watchfulnes had quickly taken vp his lodging in all her senses Then indeed had Pyrocles leasure to sit in iudgement on himselfe and to heare his reason accuse his rashnes who without forecaste of doubte without knowledge of his friende without acquainting Philoclea with his purpose or being made acquainted with her present estate had falne headlong into that attempt the successe whereof hee had long since set downe to himselfe as the measure of all his other fortunes But calling to minde howe weakely they do that rather finde faulte with what cannot be amended then seek to amend wherein they haue beene faultie he soone turned him from remembring what might haue beene done to considering what was now to be done and when that consideration fayled what was now to be expected Wherein hauing runne ouer all the thoughts his reason called to the strictest accountes could bring before him at length he lighted on this That as long as Gynecia bewraied not the matter which he thought she woulde not doe aswell for her owne honour and safetie as for the hope she might stil haue of him which is loth to die in a louers hart all the rest might turne to a preatie meryment and enflame his louer Basilius againe to cast aboute for the missed fauour And as naturally the harte stuffed vp with wofulnes is glad greedelie to sucke the thinnest aire of comforte so did hee at the first embrace this conceite as offeringe great hope if not assurance of well doing Till looking more neerely into it and not able to answere the doubts and difficulties he sawe therein more and more arising the night being also farre spent his thoughtes euen wearie of their owne burthens fell to a straying kind of vncertaintie and his minde standing onely vpon the nature of inward intelligences lefte his bodie to giue a sleeping respite to his vitall spirites which he according to the qualitie of Sorrow receiued with greater greedines then euer in his life before According to the nature of sorrow I say which is past cares remedie For care sturring the braines and making thinne the spirites breaketh rest but those griefes wherein one is determined there is no preuenting do brede a dull
good reason saye that the constant man abides the painefull surgery for feare of a further euill but he is content to waite for death it selfe but neither is true for neither hath the one any feare but a well choosing iudgement nor the other hath any contentment but onely feare and not hauing a harte actiuely to performe a matter of paine is forced passiuely to abide a greater damage For to doe requires a whole harte to suffer falleth easeliest in the broken minds And if in bodely torment thus much more in shame wherein since vallure is a vertue and vertue is euer limited we must not runne so infinitely as to thinke the valiant man is willinglie to suffer any thing since the very suffering of some things is a certaine proofe of want of courage And if any thing vnwillinglie among the chiefest may shame goe for if honour be to be held deere his contrarye is to be abhorred and that not for feare but of a true election For which is the lesse inconuenient either the losse of some yeares more or lesse for once we knowe our liues be not immortall or the submitting our selues to each vnworthy misery which the foolish world may lay vpon vs As for their reason that feare is contrary to hope neither do I defend feare nor much yeeld to the aucthoritye of hope to eyther of which great enclining shewes but a feeble reason which must be guided by his seruaunts and who builds not vppon hope shall feare no earthquake of despaire Their last alleadging of the heauenly powers as it beares the greatest name so it is the only thing that at all bred any combate in my minde And yet I do not see but that if God hath made vs maisters of any thing it is of our owne liues out of which without doing wrong to any body we are to issue at our owne pleasure And the same Argument would asmuch preuayle to say we should for no necessitie lay away from vs any of our ioyntes since they being made of him without his warrant we should not depart from them or if that may be for a greater cause we may passe to a greater degree And if we be Lieutenants of God in this little Castle do you not thinke we must take warning of him to geue ouer our charge when he leaues vs vnprouided of good meanes to tarrye in it No certainelie do I not answered the sorrowfull Philoclea since it is not for vs to appoint that mightie Maiestie what time he will helpe vs the vttermost instant is scope enough for him to reuoke euery thing to ones owne desire And therefore to preiudicate his determinacion is but a doubt of goodnes in him who is nothing but goodnes But when in deede he doth either by sicknes or outward force lay death vpon vs then are we to take knowledge that such is his pleasure and to knowe that all is well that he doth That we should be maisters of our selues we can shewe at all no title nor clayme since neyther we made our selues nor bought our selues we can stand vpon no other right but his guift which he must limit as it pleaseth him Neyther is there any proporcion betwixt the losse of any other limme and that since the one bends to the preseruing all the other to the destruction of all the one takes not away the minde from the actions for which it is placed in the world the other cuts off all possibilitie of his working And truly my most deere Pyrocles I must needes protest vnto you that I can not thinke your defence euen in rules of vertue sufficient Sufficient and excellent it were if the question were of two outward things wherein a man might by natures freedome determine whether he would preferre shame to payne present smaller torment to greater following or no. But to this besides the comparison of the matters vallewes there is added of the one part a direct euill doing which maketh the ballance of that side too much vnequall Since a vertuous man without any respect whether the griefe be lesse or more is neuer to do that which he can not assure himselfe is allowable before the euerliuing rightfulnes But rather is to thinke honoures or shames which stande in other mens true or false iudgements paynes or not paynes which yet neuer approach our soules to be nothing in regarde of an vnspotted conscience And these reasons do I remember I haue heard good men bring in that since it hath not his ground in an assured vertue it proceedes rather of some other disguised passion Pyrocles was not so much perswaded as delighted by her well conceaued and sweetely pronounced speaches but when she had cloased her pittiful discourse and as it were sealed vp her delightfull lippes with the moistnes of her teares which followed still one another like a precious rope of pearle now thinking it hye time Be it as you saye sayde hee most vertuous beawtye in all the rest but neuer can God himselfe perswade me that Pyrocles life is not well lost for to preserue the most admirable Philoclea Let that be if it be possible written on my Tombe and I will not enuye Codrus honour With that he would agayne haue vsed the barre meaning if that failde to leaue his braynes vppon the wall When Philoclea now brought to that she most feared kneeled downe vnto him and embracing so his legges that without hurting her which for nothing he would haue done he could not ridde himselfe from her she did with all the coniuring wordes which the authoritye of loue may laye beseeche him he would not nowe so cruelly abandon her he woulde not leaue her comfortlesse in that miserye to which he had brought her That then in deede she woulde euen in her soule accuse him to haue most fouly betrayed her that then she should haue cause to curse the time that euer the name of Pyrocles came to her eares which otherwise no death could make her do Will you leaue me sayde she not onely dishonoured as supposed vnchaste with you but as a murderer of you Will you geue mine eyes such a picture of hell before my neere approaching death as to see the murdred bodie of him I loue more then all the liues that nature can geue With that she sware by the hyest cause of all deuocions that if he did perseuer in that cruell resolucion she would though vntruly not onely confesse to her father that with her cōsent this acte had bene committed but if that would not serue after she had puld out her owne eyes made accursed by such a sight she would geue her selfe so terrible a death as she might think the paine of it would counteruaile the neuer dying paine of her minde Now therefore kill your selfe to crowne this vertuous action with infamy kill your selfe to make me whome you say you loue as long as I after liue change my louing admiracion of you to a detestable abhorring your name And so
indeede you shall haue the ende you shoote at for in steede of one death you shall geue me a thousand and yet in the meane time depriue me of the helpe God may sende me Pyrocles euen ouerwayed with her so wisely vttred affection finding her determinacion so fixed that his ende should but depriue them both of a present contentment and not auoyde a comming euill as a man that ranne not vnto it by a sodayne qualme of passion but by a true vse of reason preferring her life to his owne nowe that wisedome did manifest vnto him that waye woulde not preuayle he retired himselfe with as much tranquillitie from it as before he had gone vnto it Like a man that had set the keeping or leauing of the bodye as a thing without himselfe and so had thereof a freed and vntroubled consideracion Therefore throwing away the barre from him and taking her vp from the place where he thought the consummating of all beawties very vnworthely lay suffring all his sences to deuoure vp their chiefest foode which he assured himselfe they should shortly after for euer be depriued of well said he most deere Lady whose contentment I preferre before mine own and iudgement esteeme more then mine owne I yeeld vnto your pleasure The gods send you haue not woon your owne losse For my part they are my witnesses that I thinke I do more at your commaundement in delayeng my death then another would in bestowing his life But now sayd he as thus farre I haue yeelded vnto you so graunt me in recompence thus much againe that I may finde your loue in graunting as you haue sound your authoritye in obteyning My humble suite is you will say I came in by force into your Chamber for so am I resolued now to affirme and that will be the best for vs both but in no case name my name that whtsoeuer come of me my house be not dishonored Philoclea fearing least refusall would turne him backe againe to his violent refuge gaue him a certayne countenance that might shewe she did yeeld to his request the latter part whereof indeed she meant for his sake to performe Neyther could they spend more wordes together for Philanax with twentie of the noblest personages of Arcadia after him were come into the Lodge Philanax making the rest stay belowe for the reuerence he bare to womanhood as stillie as he could came to the dore and opening it drewe the eyes of these two dolefull louers vpon him Philoclea cloasing againe for modestie sake within her bed the ritchesse of her beawties but Pyrocles tooke holde of his barre minding at least to dye before the excellent Philoclea should receyue any outrage But Philanax rested awhile vppon himselfe stricken with admiracion at the goodlie shape of Pyrocles whome before he had neuer seene and withall remembring besides others the notable acte he had done when with his courage and eloquence he had saued Basilius perchaunce the whole state from vtter ruyne he felte a kinde of relenting minde towardes him But when that same thought came waighted on with the remembraunce of his maisters death which he by all probabilities thought he had bene of Councell vnto with the Queene compassion turned to hatefull passion and lefte in Philanax a straunge medley betwixt pittie and reuenge betwixt lyking and abhorring O Lorde sayde hee to himselfe what wonders doth nature in our tyme to set wickednesse so beawtifully garnished and that which is straungest out of one spring to make wonderfull effectes both of vertue and vice to issue Pyrocles seeing him in such a muse neyther knowing the man nor the cause of his comming but assuring himselfe it was for no good yet thought best to begin with him in this sort Gentleman sayde hee what is the cause of your comming to my Lady Philocleas chamber is it to defende her from such violence as I might goe about to offer vnto her if it be so truly your comming is vayne for her owne vertue hath bene a sufficient resistaunce there needes no strength to be added to so inuiolate chastetie the excellencie of her mind makes her bodie impregnable Which for mine own part I had soone yelded to confesse with going out of this place where I found but little comfort being so disdainefully receiued had I not bene I know not by whom presently vpon my cōming hether so locked into this chamber that I could neuer escape hence where I was fettred in the most gilty shame that euer mā was seing what a paradise of vnspotted goodnes my filthy thoughts sought to defile If for that therfore you come alredy I assure you your arrāt is performed but if it be to bring me to any punishmēt whatsouer for hauing vndertaken so vnexcusable presumption Truly I beare such an accuser about me of mine own conscience that I willingly submit my selfe vnto it Only this much let me demaund of you that you will be a witnesse vnto the King what you heare me say oppose your selfe that neither his sodaine fury nor any other occasion may offer any hurt to this Lady in whome you see nature hath accomplished so much that I am faine to lay mine owne faultines as a foile of her purest excellency I can say no more but looke vppon her beawtie remember her bloud consider her yeares and iudge rightly of her vertues and I doubt not a gentlemans mind will then be a sufficient enstructer vnto you in this I may tearme it miserable chaunce happened vnto her by my vnbridled audacitie Philanax was content to heare him out not for any fauour he owed him but to see whether he would reueale any thing of the originall cause and purpose of the kings death But finding it so farre from that that he named Basilius vnto him as supposing him aliue thinking it rather cunning then ignorance Yong man said he whome I haue cause to hate before I haue meane to know you vse but a point of skill by confessing the manifest smaller fault to be beleeued hereafter in the deniall of the greater But for that matter all passeth to one end and hereafter we shal haue leisure by torments to seke the truth if the loue of truth it selfe will not bring you vnto it As for my Lady Philoclea if it so fall out as you say it shall be the more fit for her yeares comedy for the great house she is come of that an ill gouerned beawtie hath not cancelled the rules of vertue But howsoeuer it be it is not for you to teach an Arcadian what reuerent duty we owe to any of that progeny But said he come you with me without resistance for the one cannot auaile and the other may procure pitie Pitie said Pyrocles with a bitter smiling disdained with so currish an answere no no Arcadian I can quickly haue pitie of my selfe and I would think my life most miserable which should be a gift of thine Only I demaund this innocent Ladies securitie which vntill
of euill hap then flowers are marred with the timely raynes of Aprill For how can I want comforte that haue the true and liuing comforte of my vnblemished vertue And how can I want honour as long as Musidorus in whom indeed honour is doth honour me Nothing bred from my self can discomfort me fooles opinions I wil not recken as dishonour Musidorus looking vp to the starres O mind of minds said he the liuing power of all things which dost with al these eies behold our euer varying actiōs accept into thy fauorable eares this praier of mine Yf I may any longer hold out this dwelling on the earth which is called a life graunt me abilitie to deserue at this Ladies handes the grace shee hath shewed vnto me graunt me wisdome to know her wisdome and goodnes so to encrease my loue of her goodnes that all mine owne chosen desires be to my selfe but second to her determinations What soeuer I be let it be to her seruice let me herein be satisfied that for such infinite fauours of vertue I haue some way wrought her satisfaction But if my last time aprocheth and that I am no longer to be amongst mortall creatures make yet my death serue her to some purpose that hereafter shee may not haue cause to repent her selfe that she bestowed so excellent a minde vpon Musidorus Pamela coulde not choose but accord the conceite of their fortune to these passionate prayers in so much that her constant eyes yeelded some teares which wiping from her faire face with Musidorus hande speaking softly vnto him as if she had feared more any body should be witnes of her weakenes then of any thing els shee had said you see said she my Prince and onely Lord what you worke in me by your much greuing for me I praye you thinke I haue no ioye but in you and if you fill that with sorrow what do you leaue for mee What is prepared for vs we know not but that with sorrow we cannot preuent it wee knowe Now let vs turne from these things and thinke you how you will haue me behaue my selfe towardes you in this matter Musidorus finding the authoritie of her speach confirmed with direct necessitie the first care came to his minde was of his deare friend and cosin Pyrocles with whome long before hee had concluded what names they shoulde beare if vpon any occasion they were forced to geue them selues out for great men and yet not make them selues fully knowen Now fearing least if the Princes should name him for Musidorus the fame of their two being together would discouer Pyrocles holding her hand betwixt his handes a good while together I did not thinke most excellent Princesse saide hee to haue made any further request vnto you for hauing bene alredie to you so vnfortunate a suiter I knowe not what modestie can beare any further demaūd But the estate of on young man whom next to you far aboue my selfe I loue more then all the world one worthy of all well being for the notable constitution of the mind and most vnworthy to receaue hurt by me whom he doth in all faith and constancie loue the pittie of him onely goes beyond all resolution to the contrarie Then did hee to the Princesse great admiration tell her the whole story as farre as he knew of it and that when they made the greuous disiūction of their long company they had concluded Musidorus should entitle himself Paladius Prince of Iberia and Pyrocles should be Daiphantus of Lycia Now said Musidorus he keeping a womans habit is to vse no other name then Zelmane but I that finde it best of the on side for your honour you went away with a Prince and not with a sheepheard of the other side accompting my death lesse euil then the betraying of that sweete frende of mine will take this meane betwixt both and vsing the name of Paladius if the respect of a Prince will stop your fathers furie that will serue aswell as Musidorus vntil Pyrocles fortune being som way established I may freely geue good proofe that the noble contrie of Thessalia is mine and if that will not mitigate your fathers opinion to me wards nature I hope working in your excellencies wil make him deale well by you for my parte the image of death is nothing fearefull vnto me and this good I shall haue reaped by it that I shall leaue my most esteemed friend in no danger to be disclosed by me And besides since I must confesse I am not without a remorse of his case my vertuous mother shal not know her sonnes violent death hid vnder the fame will goe of Paladius But as long as her yeares now of good number be counted among the liuing shee may ioye her selfe with some possibilitie of my returne Pamela promising him vpon no occasion euer to name him fell into extremytie of weping as if her eyes had beene content to spend all their seing moistnes now that there was speech of the losse of that which they held as their chiefest light So that Musidorus was forced to repaire her good counsailes with sweete consolations which continued betwixt them vntill it was about midnight that sleep hauing stolne into their heauie sences and now absolutely commaunding in their vitall powers lefte them delicately wound on in anothers armes quietly to waite for the comming of the morning Which as soone as shee appeared to play her parte laden as you haue heard with so many well occasioned lamentations Their lobbish garde who all night had kept themselues awake with prating how valiant deedes they had done when they ranne away and how faire a death their felowe had died who at his last gaspe sued to bee a hangman awaked them and set them vpon their horses to whom the very shining force of excellent vertue though in a very harrish subiect had wrought a kinde of reuerence in them Musidorus as he rid among them of whom they had no other holde but of Pamela thinking it want of a well squared iudgement to leaue any meane vnassayed of sauing their liues to this purpose spake to his vnseemly gardians vsing a plaine kind of phrase to make his speach the more credible My maisters said he there is no man that is wise but hath in what soeuer hee doth some purpose whereto hee directes his doinges which so long he followes till he see that either that purpose is not worth the paines or that another doinge caries with it a better purpose That you are wise in what you take in hand I haue to my cost learned that makes me desire you to tell me what is your ende in carying the Princesse and me backe to her father Pardon saide one rewarde cried another well saide he take both although I know you are so wise to remember that hardly they both will goe togeather being of so contrary a making for the ground of pardon is an euill neither any man pardons but remembers an
euill done the cause of rewarde is the opinion of some good acte and who so rewardeth that holdes the chief place of his fancie Now one man of one companie to haue the same consideration both of good and euill but that the conceite of pardoning if it bee pardoned will take away the minde of rewarding is very hard if not impossible For either euen in iustice will he punish the fault as well as reward the desert or els in mercie ballance the one by the other so that the not chastising shal be a sufficient satisfiing Thus then you may see that in your owne purpose rests greate vncertaintie But I will graunt that by this your deede you shall obtaine your double purpose Yet consider I pray you whether by another meane that may not better be obtained then I doubt not your wisdomes wil teach you to take hold of the better I am sure you knowe any body were better haue no neede of a pardon then enioy a pardon for as it carries with it the suretie of a preserued life so beares it a continuall note of a deserued death This therefore besides the daunger you may runne into my Lady Pamela being the vndoubted enheritrixe of this state if shee shall hereafter seeke to reuenge your wrong done her shall bee continually cast in your teeth as men dead by the lawe the honester sorte will disdaine your company your children shal be the more basely reputed of you yourselues in euery slight fault hereafter as men once condemned aptest to bee ouerthrowne Now if you will I doubt not you will for you are wise turne your course and garde my Lady Pamela thither ward whether shee was going first you neede not doubt to aduenture your fortunes where shee goes and there shall you be assured in a countrie as good and rich as this of the same manners and language to bee so farre from the conceate of a pardon as we both shall be forced to acknowledge we haue receaued by your meanes what soeuer we holde deere in this life And so for rewarde iudge you whether it be not more likely you shall there receaue it where you haue done no euill but singuler and vndeserued goodnes or here where this seruice of yours shal be diminished by your dutie and blemished by your former fault Yes I protest and sweare vnto you by the faire eyes of that Lady there shall no Gentlemen in all that country bee preferred You shall haue riches ease pleasure and that which is best to such worthy mindes you shall not bee forced to crie mercy for a good facte You onely of all the Arcadians shall haue the prayse in continuing in your late valiaunt attempte and not basely bee brought vnder a halter for seeking the libertie of Arcadia These wordes in their mindes who did nothing for any loue of goodnes but onely as their senses presented greater showes of proffit beganne to make them wauer and some to clappe their hands and scratch their heades and sweare it was the best way Others that would seeme wiser then the rest to capitulate what tenements they should haue what subsidies they should pay others to talke of their wiues in doubt whether it were best to send for thē or to take new wher they went most like fooles not reddely thinking what was next to bee done but imagining what cheere they woulde make when they came there one or two of the least discourses beginning to turne their faces towards the woods which they had lefte But being nowe come within the plaine neere to the lodges vnhappily they espied a troupe of horsmen But then their false harts had quickly for the present feare forsaken their last hopes and therfore keeping on the way toward the lodge with songes of cries and ioye the horsemen who were some of them Philanax had sent out to the search of Pamela came gallowping vnto them marueyling who they were that in such a generall mourning durst singe ioyfull tunes and in so publicke a ruine were the lawrell tokens of victorie And that which seemed straungest they might see two among them vnarmed like prisoners but riding like captaines But when they came neerer they perceaued the one was a Lady and the Lady Pamela Then glad they had by happ found that which they so litle hoped to meete withall taking these clownes who first resisted them for the desire they had to be the deliuerers of the two excellent prisoners learning that they were of those rebells which had made the daungerous vprore aswell vnder cullour to punish that as this their last withstanding them but indeed their principal cause being because they themselues would haue the onely praise of their owne quest they suffered not one of them to liue Marry three of the stubbernest of them they lefte their bodies hanging vppon the trees because their doing might carry the likelier forme of iudgement Such an vnlooked for end did the life of iustice worke for the naughtie minded wretches by subiects to be executed that would haue executed Princes and to suffer that without lawe which by lawe they had deserued And thus these yonge folkes twise prisoners before any due arrest deliuered of their iayloures but not of their iayle had rather change then respit of misery these souldiers that tooke them with verie fewe wordes of entertainement hasting to carrie them to their Lorde Philanax to whom they came euen as he going out of the Lady Philocleas chamber had ouertaken Pyrocles whom before hee had deliuered to the custody of a noble man of that countrie When Pyrocles led towardes his prison sawe his friend Musidorus with the noble Lady Pamela in that in expected sorte returned his griefe if any griefe were in a minde which had placed euery thing according to his naturall worthe was verie much augmented for besides some small hope hee had if Musidorus had once bene cleere of Arcadia by his dealing and aucthoritie to haue brought his onely gladsome desires to a good issue The hard estate of his friend did no lesse nay rather more vexe him then his owne For so indeede it is euer founde where valure and friendshipp are perfectly coopled in one hart the reason being that the resolute man hauing once disgested in his iudgement the worst extremitie of his owne case and hauing either quiet expelled or at least repelled all passion which ordinarilie followes an ouerthrowne fortune not knowing his friendes minde so well as his owne nor with what pacience he brookes his case which is as it were the materiall cause of making a man happie or vnhappie doubts whether his friend accomptes not him selfe more miserable and so indeede bee more lamentable But assoone as Musidorus was brought by the souldiers neere vnto Philanax Pyrocles not knowing whether euer after hee should bee suffered to see his friende and determining there could be no aduauntage by dissembling a not knowing of him leapt sodainelie from their hands that helde him and passing
magnanimity seemed to triumph ouer misery Only receiuing of Plangus perfit instruction of all things coÌ„cerning Plexirtus Artaxia with promise not only to aid him in deliuering Erona but also with vehemeÌ„t protestation neuer to returne into Macedon til he had pursued the murtherers to death he dispatched with speed a ship for Byzantium coÌ„manding the gouernor to prouide all necessaries for the war against his owne comming which he purposed should be very shortly In this ship Plangus would needs go impacient of stay for that in many days before he had vnderstood nothing of his Ladies estate Soone after whose departure newes was brought to Euarchus that all the ships detained in Italy were returned For the Latines finding by Euarchus procedings their intent to be frustrate as before by his sodaine returne they doubted it was discouered deeming it no wisdom to shew the will not hauing the abilitie to hurt had not only in free frendly maner dismissed them but for the time wholy omitted their enterprise attending the oportunitie of fitter occasion By meanes wherof Euarchus rid froÌ„ the cumber of that war likely otherwise to haue staied him longer with so great a fleete as haste would suffer him to assemble forthwith imbarqued for Byzantium And now followed with fresh windes he had in short time runne a long course when on a night encountred with an extreme tempest his shippes were so scattered that scarcely any two were lefte together As for the Kings owne shippe depriued of all company sore brused and weather-beateÌ„ able no loÌ„ger to brooke the seas churlish entertainmeÌ„t a litle before day it recouered the shore The first light made theÌ„ see it was the vnhappy coast of Laconia for no other country could haue shown the like euideÌ„ce of vnnatural war Which hauing long endured betwene the nobilitie and the Helotes and once compounded by Pyrocles vnder the name of Daiphantus imediately vpon his departure had broken out more violently then euer before For the King taking the oportunitie of their captaines absence refused to performe the condicions of peace as extorted from him by rebellious violence Whereupon they were againe deepely entred into warre with so notable an hatred towardes the very name of a King that Euarchus though a straunger vnto them thought it not safe there to leaue his person where neither his owne force could be a defence nor the sacred name of Maiestie a protection Therefore calling to him an Arcadian one that comming with Plâ—ngus had remained with Euarchus desirous to see the warres hee demaunded of him for the next place of suretie where hee might make his staye vntill hee might heare somewhat of his fleete or cause his ship to bee repaired The gentleman glad to haue this occasion of doing seruice to Euarchus and honour to Basilius to wâ—om he knew hee shoulde bring a most welcome gueste tolde him that if it pleased him to commit himselfe to Arcadia a parte whereof laie open to their vewe he woulde vndertake ere the next night were farre spent to guide him safely to his master Basilius The present necessitie much preuailed with Euarchus yet more a certaine vertuous desire to trie whether by his authoritie he might withdrawe Basilius from burying himselfe aliue and to imploy the rest of his olde yeares in doing good the onely happie action of mans life For besides the vniuersall case of Greece depriued by this meanes of a principall piller he weighed and pitied the pittyfull state of the Arcadian people who were in worse case then if death had taken away their Prince For so yet their necessitie would haue placed some one to the helme now a Prince being and not doing like a Prince keeping and not exercising the place they were in so much more euill case as they coulde not prouide for their euill These rightly wise vertuous coÌ„sideratioÌ„s especially moued Euarchus to take his iourny towards the desert where arriuing within night and vnderstanding to his great griefe the newes of the Princes death hee wayted for his safe conduct from Philanax in the meane time taking his rest vnder a tree with no more affected pompes then as a man that knew how soeuer he was exalted the beginning and end of his body was earth But Philanax as soone as he was in sight of him lighting from his horse presented himselfe vnto him in all those humble behauiours which not only the great reuerence of the partie but the conceit of ones owne miserie is woont to frame Euarchus rase vp vnto him with so gratious a couÌ„tenaunce as the goodnes of his mind had long exercised him vnto carefull so much more to descend in all curtesies as he sawe him beare a lowe representation of his afflicted state But to Philanax assoone as by neere looking on him he might perfectly behold him the grauitie of his countenaunce and yeares not much vnlike to his late deceassed but euer beloued master brought his forme so liuely vnto his memorie and reuiued so all the thoughtes of his wonted ioyes within him that in steede of speaking to Euarchus hee stoode a while like a man gone a farre iorney from himselfe calling as it were with his minde an account of his losses imagining that this paine needed not if nature had not ben violently stopped of her owne course and casting more louing then wise conceites what a world this woulde haue bene if this sodaine accident had not interrupted it And so farre strayed hee into this rauing melancholy that his eyes nimbler then his tounge let fall a floud of teares his voice being stopped with extremitie of sobbing so much had his friendshippe caried him to Basilius that hee thought no age was timely for his death But at length taking the occasion of his owne weeping he thus did speake to Euarchus Let not my teares most worthely renowmed Prince make my presence vnpleasant or my speach vnmarked of you For the iustnes of the cause takes away the blame of any weakenes in me and the affinitie that the same beareth to your greatnes seemes euen lawfully to clayme pitty in you A Prince of a Princes fall a louer of iustice of a most vniust violence And geue me leaue excellent Euarchus to say I am but the representer of all the late florishing Arcadia which now with mine eyes doth weepe with my toong doth complaine with my knees doth lay it selfe at your feete which neuer haue bene vnreadie to carie you to the vertuous protecting of innocents Imagine vouchsafe to imagine most wise and good King that heere is before your eyes the pittifull spectacle of a most dolorously ending tragedie wherein I do but play the part of all the newe miserable prouince which being spoiled of their guide doth lye like a ship without a Pilot tumbling vp and downe in the vncertaine waues till it either runne it selfe vpon the rockes of selfe-diuision or be ouerthrowne by the stormie winde of forreine force Arcadia finding her selfe in these desolate tearmes doth
stonie thy brest so tygreshe as the sweete and beautifull shewes of Philocleas vertue did not astonish thee O wofull Arcadia to whom the name of this mankinde curtisan shall euer be remembred as a procurer of thy greatest losse But too farre I finde my passion yet honest passion hath guided mee the case is euerie way too too much vnanswearable It resteth in you O excellent protector to pronounce iudgement which if their bee hope that such a yonge man may proue proffitable to the world who in the first exercise of his owne determination farre passed the arrantest strumpet in luxuriousnesse the conningest forger in falsehoode a player in disguising a Tygre in crueltie a Dragon in ingratefulnes let him be preserued like a iewell to doe greater mischeefe Yf his youth bee not more defiled with trecherie then the eldest mans age let I say his youth be some cause of compassion If hee haue not euery way sought the ouerthrowe of humaine societie if hee haue done any thing like a Prince let his naming himselfe a Prince breede a reuerence of his base wickednesse If hee haue not broken all lawes of hospitalitie and broken them in the most detestable degree that can be let his being a guest be a sacred protection of his more then sauage doings or if his whorish beawtye haue not bene as the hye waye of his wickednesse let the picture drawne vppon so poysonous a wood be reserued to shewe howe greatly coulours can please vs. But if it is as it is what should I saye more a very spirit of hellish naughtines if his acte be to be punished and his defiled person not to be pittied then restore vnto vs our Prince by duly punishing his murderers for then wee shall thinke him and his name to liue when wee shall see his killers to dye Restore to the excellent Philoclea her honour by taking out of the world her dishonour and thinke that at this daye in this matter are the eyes of the worlde vppon you whether any thing can sway your minde from a true administracion of iustice Alas though I haue much more to saye I can saye no more for my teares and sighes interrupt my speeche and force me to geue my selfe ouer to my priuate sorrowe Thus when Philanax had vttered the vttermost of his mallice he made sorrowe the cause of his conclusion But while Philanax was in the course of his speeche and did with such bitter reproches defame the princely Pyrocles it was well to be seene his heart was vnused to beare such iniuries and his thoughtes such as could arme themselues better against any thing then shame For sometimes blushing his bloud with diuers motions comming and going sometimes cloasing his eyes and laying his hande ouer them sometime geuing such a looke to Philanax as might shewe hee assured himselfe hee durst not so haue spoken if they had bene in indifferent place with some impaciencie he bare the length of his Oration which being ended with as much modest humblenes to the Iudge as despitefull skorne to the accuser with words to this purpose he defended his honour My accusors tale may well beare witnes with me most rightfull Iudge in how hard a case and inuironed with how many troubles I may esteeme my selfe For if hee who shewes his toong is not vnaquainted with rayling was in an agonye in the beginning of his speech with the multitude of matters he had to lay vnto me wherein notwithstanding the most euill could fall vnto him was that hee should not do so much euill as hee would howe combred do you thinke may I acknowledge my selfe who in things no lesse importing then my life must be mine owne aduocate without leasure to aunswere or foreknowledge what shoulde be obiected in things I say promoted with so cunning a confusion as hauing mingled truthes with falsehoodes surmises with certaintyes causes of no moment with matters cappitall scolding with complayning I can absolute neyther graunt nor denye neyther can I tell whether I come hether to be iudged or before iudgement to be punished being compelled to beare such vnworthye woordes farre more grieuous then any death vnto me But since the forme of this gouernment allowes such toong libertye vnto him I will picke aswell as I can out of his inuectiue those fewe poyntes whiche may seeme of some purpose in the touching of mee hoping that by your easye hearing of me you will shewe that though you hate euill yet you wishe men may proue themselues not euill so in that hee hath sayde you will not waye so much what hee hath sayde as what hee hath proued remembring that truth is simple and naked and that if hee had guided himselfe vnder that banner hee needed not out of the way haue sought so vilde and false disgracings of mee enough to make the vntruest accusation beleeued I will therefore vsing truth as my best eloquence repeate vnto you as much as I knowe in this matter and then by the only cleerenes of the discourse your wisedome I knowe will finde the difference betwixt cauilling supposition and directe declaration This Prince Palladius and I being enflamed with loue a passion farre more easely reprehended then refrayned to the two peerelesse daughters of Basilius and vnderstanding howe hee had secluded himselfe from the worlde that like Princes there was no accesse vnto him wee disguised our selues in such formes as might soonest bring vs to the reuealing of our affections The Prince Palladius had such euent of his doings that with Pamelas consent hee was to conuey her out of the thraldome she liued in to receaue the subiection of a greater people then her owne vntill her fathers consent might be obteyned My fortune was more hard for I bare no more loue to the chaste Philoclea then Basilius deceaued in my sexe shewed to me insomuch that by his importunacy I could haue no time to obtayne the like fauour of the pure Philoclea till this pollicye I founde taking vnder cullour of some deuotions my lodging to drawe Basilius thether with hope to enioye me which likewise I reuealed to the Queene that she might keepe my place and so make her husband see his error While I in the meane time being deliuered of them both and hauing lockt so the dores as I hoped if the immaculate Philoclea would condescend to goe with me there should be none to hinder our going I was made prisoner there I knowe not by what meanes when being repelled by her deuine vertue I would faynest haue escaped Heere haue you the thread to guide you in the Labyrinth this man of his toong had made so monstrous Heere see you the true discourse which hee mountbanke fashion doth make so wide a mouth ouer Heere may you conceaue the reason why the Queene had my garment because in her going to the caue in the Moone-shine night she might be taken for me which he vseth as the knot of all his wise assertions so that as this double minded
fellowes accusation was double double likewise my aunswere must perforce be to the murder of Basilius and violence offred to the inuiolate Philoclea For the fyrst O heauenly gods who would haue thought any mouth could haue bene founde so mercenary as to haue opened so slight proofes of so horrible matters his fyrst Argument is a question who would imagine that Ginecia would accomplish such an Acte without some accessaries and if any who but I truly I and so farre from imagining any thing that till I sawe these mourning tokens and heard Ginecias confession I neuer imagined the King was dead And for my part so vehemently and more like the manner of passionate then giltie folkes I see the Queene persecute her selfe that I thinke condemnation may goe too hastely ouer her considering the vnlikelyhood if not impossibilitie her wisedome and vertue so long nourished should in one moment throw downe it selfe to the vttermost ende of wickednes But whatsoeuer she hath done which as I say I neuer beleeued yet how vniustly should that aggrauate my fault She founde abroade I within dores for as for the wearing my garment I haue tolde you the cause she seeking as you saye to escape I locking my selfe in a house without perchaunce the conspiracie of one poore straunger might greatly enable her attempt or the fortification of the Lodge as the trimme man alleadged might make me hope to resist all Arcadia And see how treacherously he seekes to drawe from me my chiefest cleering by preuenting the credit of her words wherewith she had wholie taken the fault vpon her selfe A honest and vnpartiall examiner her words may condemne her but may not absolue me Thus voide of all probable allegacion the crauen crowes vppon my affliction not leauing out any euill that euer he hath felt in his owne soule to charge my youth withall But who can looke for a sweeter breath out of such a stomacke or for honny from so filthye a Spyder What should I say more if in so inhumane a matter which he himselfe confesseth sincerest iudgements are lothest to beleeue and in the seuerest lawes proofes clerer then the Sunne are required his reasons are only the skumme of a base malice my answeres most manifest shining in their owne truth there remayne any doubt of it because it stands betwixt his affirming and my denyall I offer nay I desire and humblie desire I may be graunted the tryall by combat wherein let him be armed and me in my shirt I doubt not Iustice will be my shield and his hart will shew it selfe as faint as it is false Now come I to the second part of my offence towards the young Lady which howsoeuer you tearme it so farre forth as I haue tolde you I confesse and for her sake hartely lament But if herein I offred force to her loue offred more force to me Let her beawtie be compared to my yeares and such effectes will be found no miracles But since it is thus as it is and that iustice teacheth vs not to loue punishment but to flye to it for necessitye the salue of her honour I meane as the world will take it for else in truth it is most vntouched must be my marriage and not my death since the one shops all mouthes the other becommes a doubtfull fable This matter requires no more words and your experience I hope in these cases shall neede no more for my selfe me thinkes I haue shewed already too much loue of my life to bestowe so many But certainely it hath bene loue of truth which could not beare so vnworthy falsehood and loue of iustice that would brooke no wrong to my selfe nor other and makes me now euen in that respect to desire you to be moued rather with pittie at a iust cause of teares then with the bloudy teares this Crocodile spends who weepes to procure death and not to lament death It will be no honour to Basilius tombe to haue guiltlesse bloud sprinckled vpon it and much more may a Iudge ouerway himselfe in crueltie then in clemencie It is hard but it is excellent where it is found a right knowledge when correction is necessary when grace doth more auaile For my owne respect if I thought in wisedome I had deserued death I would not desire life for I knowe nature will condemne me to dye though you do not and longer I would not wish to drawe this breath then I may keepe my selfe vnspotted of any horrible crime only I cannot nor euer will denye the loue of Philoclea whose violence wrought violent effects in me with that he finished his speeche casting vp his eyes to the Iudge and crossing his hands which he held in their length before him declaring a resolute pacience in whatsoeuer should be done with him Philanax like a watchfull aduersary curiously marked all that he saide sauing that in the beginning he was interrupted by two Letters were brought him from the Princesse Pamela and the Lady Philoclea who hauing all that night considered and bewayled their estate carefull for their mother likewise of whome they could neuer thinke so much euill but considering with themselues that she assuredly should haue so due tryall by the lawes as eyther she should not neede their helpe or should be past their helpe They looked to that which neerelyest touched them and each wrate in this sort for him in whome their liues ioy consisted The humble harted Philoclea wrate much after this manner MY Lords what you will determine of me is to me vncertayne but what I haue determined of my selfe I am most certaine which is no longer to enioy my life then I may enioy him for my husband whom the heauens for my hyest glory haue bestowed vpon me Those that iudge him let them execute me Let my throate satisfye their hunger of murder For alas what hath he done that had not his originall in me Looke vppon him I beseech you with indifferency and see whether in those eyes all vertue shines not See whether that face could hide a murder Take leasure to knowe him and then your selues will say it hath bene too great an inhumanitie to suspect such excellency Are the gods thinke you deceaued in their workemanship Artificers will not vse marble but to noble vses Should those powers be so ouershot as to frame so precious an Image of their owne but to honorable purposes O speake with him ô heare him ô knowe him and become not the putters out of the worlds light Hope you to ioy my fathers soule with hurting him he loued aboue all the world Shall a wrong suspicion make you forget the certaine knowledge of those benefits this house hath receiued by him Alas alas let not Arcadia for his losse be accurssed of the whole earth and of all posteritie He is a great Prince I speake vnto you that which I knowe for I haue seene most euident testimonies Why should you hinder my aduancement who if I haue past my childhood hurtlesse to
that mankind is not growen monstrous being vndoubtedly lesse euill a guiltie man shoulde escape then a guiltlesse perish so if in the rest they be spotlesse then is no farther to be remembred But if they haue aggrauated these suspitions with newe euills then are those suspitions so farre to showe themselues as to cause the other pointes to be thorowly examined and with lesse fauour wayed since this no man can deny they haue beene accidentall if not principall causes of the Kinges death Now then we are to determine of the other matters which are laide to them wherein they doe not deny the facte but deny or at leaste diminish the faulte but first I may remember though it were not first alleaged by them the seruices they had before done truely honourable and worthy of greate rewarde but not worthy to counteruaile with a following wickednes Rewarde is proper to well doing punishment to euill doing which must bee confounded no more then good and euill are to be mingled Therefore hath bene determined in all wisedomes that no man because he hath done well before should haue his present euils spared but rather so much the more punished as hauing shewed he knew how to be good woulde against his knowledge bee naught The facte then is nakedly without passion or partialitie to bee viewed wherein without all question they are equallie culpable For though he that termes himselfe Daiphantus were sooner disapointed of his purpose of conueying away the Lady Philoclea then he that perswaded the Princesse Pamela to flie her countrie and accompanied her in it yet seing in causes of this nature the wil by the rules of iustice standeth for the deed they are both alike to bee founde guiltie and guiltie of hainous rauishment For though they rauished them not from themselues yet they rauished them from him that owed them which was their father An acte punished by all the Graecian lawes by the losse of the head as a most execrable thefte For if they must dye who steale from vs our goodes how much more they who steale from vs that for which we gather our goodes and if our lawes haue it so in the priuate persons much more forcible are they to bee in Princes children where one steales as it were the whole state and well being of that people being tyed by the secret of a long vse to be gouerned by none but the next of that bloud Neither let any man maruaile our ancestours haue bene so seuere in these cases since the example of the Phenician Europa but especially of the Grecian Helene hath taught them what destroying fires haue growen of such sparckles And although Helene was a wife and this but a child that booteth not since the principall cause of marrying wiues is that we may haue children of our owne But now let vs see how these yong men truely for their persons worthy of pittie if they haue rightly pittied themselues do goe about to mittigate the vehemencie of their errors Some of their excuses are common to both some peculiar onely to him that was the sheepeheard Both remember the force of loue and as it were the mending vp of the matter by their marriage if that vnbrideled desire which is intituled loue might purge such a sickenes as this surely wee shoulde haue many louing excuses of hatefull mischiefe Nay rather no mischiefe shoulde be committed that should not be vailed vnder the name of loue For as well he that steales might alleage the loue of mony he that murders the loue of reuenge he that rebells the loue of greatnesse as the adulterer the loue of a woman Since they do in all speeches affirme they loue that which an ill gouerned passion maketh them to follow But loue may haue no such priuiledge That sweete and heauenly vniting of the mindes which properly is called loue hath no other knot but vertue and therefore if it be a right loue it can neuer slide into any action that is not vertuous The other and indeed more effectuall reason is that they may be married vnto them and so honourably redresse the dishonour of them whom this matter seemeth most to touch Surely if the question were what were conuenient for the parties and not what is iuste in the neuer changing iustice there might much bee saide in it But herein we must consider that the lawes look how to preuent by due examples that such thinges be not done and not how to salue such things when they are doone For if the gouernors of iustice shall take such a scope as to measure the foote of the lawe by a show of conueniencie and measure that conueniencie not by the publike societie but by that which is fittest for them which offende young men stronge men and rich men shall euer finde priuate conueniences howe to palliate such committed disorders as to the publike shall not onely bee inconuenient but pestilent The marriage perchaunce might be fit for them but verie vnfit were it to the state to allowe a patterne of such procurations of marriage And thus much doe they both alleage Further goes he that went with the Princesse Pamela requireth the benefit of a councellor who hath place of free perswasion and the reasonable excuse of a seruant that did but waite of his mistres Without all question as councellors haue great cause to take heede how they aduise any thing directly opposite to the forme of that present gouernement especially when they doe it singly without publike alowaunce so yet is the case much more apparant since neither she was an effectuall Princesse her father being then aliue though he had bene deade she not come to the yeares of aucthoritie nor hee her seruant in such manner to obey her but by his owne preferment first belonging to Dametas and then to the Kinge and therefore if not by Arcadia lawes yet by housholde orders bounde to haue done nothing without his agreement Thus therefore since the deedes accomplished by these two are both abhominable and inexcuseable I doe in the behalfe of iustice by the force of Arcadia lawes pronounce that Daiphantus shal be throwne out of a hie tower to receaue his death by his fall Palladius shall bee behedded the time before the sunne set the place in Mantinea the executioner Dametas which office he shall execute all the dayes of his life for his beastly forgetting the carefull dutie he owed to his charge This saide he turned himselfe to Philanax and two of the other noble men commaunding them to see the iudgement presently performed Philâ—nax more greedie then any hunter of his praye went straite to laye holde of the excellent prisoners who casting a farewell looke one vpon the other represented in their faces asmuch vnappalled constancie as the most excellent courage can deliuer in outward graces Yet if at all there were any shewe of change in them it was that Pyrocles was somthing neerer to bashfulnes and Musidorus to anger both ouer ruled by
hauing made a lawe of Polygamie after many tortures forst him to throw himselfe from a high Pyramis which was built ouer Tiridates tombe and so to end his false-harted life which had planted no strong thought in him but that he could be vnkinde But Plangus well perceiuing that Artaxia staied onely for the appointed day that the faire Eronas bodie consumed to ashes should make a notorious testimonie how deepely her brothers death was engrauen in her brest he assembled good numbers of friends whom his vertue though a stranger had tied vnto him by force to giue her libertie Contrariwise Artaxia to whom Anger gaue more courage then her sexe did feare vsed her regall authoritie the most she could to suppresse that sedition and haue her will which she thought is the most princely thing that may be But Plangus who indeede as all men witnes is one of the best captaines both for policie and valour that are trained in the schoole of Mars in a conflict ouerthrew Artaxias power though of far greater number and there toke prisoner a base sonne of her brothers whom she deerly affected and then sent her word that he should run the same race of fortune whatsoeuer it was that Erona did and happy was that threatning for her for els Artaxia had hastened the day of her death in respect of those tumults But now some principall noble-men of that countrie interposing themselues it was agreed that all persons els fullie pardoned and all prisoners except Erona deliuered she should be put into the hands of a principall nobleman who had a castle of great strength vpon oath that if by the day two yeare from Tiridates death Pyrocles and Musidorus did not in person combat and ouercome two knights whom she appointed to maintain her quarrell against Erona and them of hauing by treason destroyed her brother that then Erona should be that same day burned to ashes but if they came and had the victorie she should be deliuered but vpon no occasion neither freed nor executed till that day And hereto of both sides all toke solemne oath and so the peace was concluded they of Plangus partie forcing him to agree though he himselfe the sooner condiscended knowing the courtesie of those two excellent Princes not to refuse so noble a quarrell and their power such as two more like the other two were not able to resist But Artaxia was more and vpon better ground pleased with this action for she had euen newly receiued newes frō Plexirtus that vpon the sea he had caused them both to perish and therefore she held her selfe sure of the match But poore Plangus knew not so much and therefore seeing his partie as most times it falles out in like case hungry of any conditions of peace accepted them and then obteined leaue of the Lord that indifferently kept her to visite Erona whom he found full of desperate sorow not suffering neither his vnworthinesse nor his wrongs nor his death which is the naturall conclusion of all worldly acts either to couer with forgetfulnes or diminish with consideration the affection she had borne him but euen glorying in affliction and shunning all comfort she seemed to haue no delight but in making herselfe the picture of miserie So that when Plangus came to her she fell in deadlie traunces as if in him she had seene the death of Antiphilus because he had not succoured him and yet her vertue striuing she did at one time acknowledge her selfe bound and professe her selfe iniured in steede of allowing the conclusion they had made or writing to the Princes as he wisht her to doo crauing nothing but some speedie death to follow her in spite of iust hate beloued Antiphilus So that Plangus hauing nothing but a rauisht kisse from her hand at their parting went away toward Greece whetherward he vnderstoode the Princes were embarked But by the way it was his fortune to intercept letters written by Artaxia to Plexirtus wherein she signified her accepting him to her husband whom she had euer fauoured so much the rather as he had perfourmed the conditions of her mariage in bringing to their deserued end her greatest enemies withall thanking the sea in such tearmes as he might well perceiue it was by some treason wrought in Plexirtus shippe Whereupon to make more diligent search he tooke shippe himselfe and came into Laconia enquiring and by his enquirie finding that such a shippe was indeede with fight and fire perished none almost escaping But for Pyrocles and Musidorus it was assuredly determined that they were cast away for the name of such Princes especially in Greece would quickly els haue bene a large witnesse to the contrarie Full of griefe with that for the losse of such who left the world poore of perfection but more sorie for Eronas sake who now by them could not be relieued A new aduertisement from Armenia ouertooke him which multiplied the force of his anguish It was a message from the Noble-man who had Erona in ward giuing him to vnderstand that since his departure Artaxia vsing the benefite of time had besieged him in his castell demaunding present deliuery of her whom yet for his faith giuen he would not before the day appointed if possibly he could resist which he foresaw long he should not do for want of victuall which he had not so wisely prouided because he trusted vpon the generall oth taken for two yeares space and therefore willed him to make hast to his succour and come with no small forces for all they that were of his side in Armenia were consumed and Artaxia had encreased her might by mariage of Plexirtus who now crowned King there stickt not to glory in the murder of Pyrocles and Musidorus as hauing iust cause thereto in respect of the deaths of his sister Andromana her sonne his nephew and his owne daughter Zelmane all whose losse he vniustly charged them withall and now openly stickt not to confesse what a reuenge his wit had brought forth Plangus much astonished herewith bethought himselfe what to doo For to returne to Armenia was vaine since his friends there were vtterly ouerthrowne Then thought he of going to his father but he had already euen since the death of his stepmother and brother attempted the recouering his fauour and all in vaine For they that had before ioined with Andromana to do him the wrong thought now no life for them if he returned and therefore kept him still with new forged suspicions odious to his father So that Plangus reseruing that for a worke of longer time then the sauing of Erona could beare determined to goe to the mighty and good King Euarchus who lately hauing to his eternall fame fully not onely conquered his enemies but established good gouernment in their countries he hoped he might haue present succour of him both for the iustnes of the cause reuenge of his childrens death by so hainous a treason murthered Therefore with diligence he went to him by
the way passing through my country it was my hap to find him the most ouerthrowne man with griefe that euer I hope to see againe For still it seemed he had Erona at a stake before his eies such an apprehension he had taken of her daunger which in despite of all the comfort I could giue him he poured out in such lamentations that I was moued not to let him passe till he had made full declaration which by peeces my daughters and I haue deliuered vnto you Faine he would haue had succour of my selfe but the course of my life being otherwise bent I onely accompanied him with some that might safely guide him to the great Euarchus for my part hauing had some of his speeches so feelingly in my memory that at an idle time as I told you I set them downe Dialogue-wise in such manner as you haue seene And thus excellent Ladie I haue obeyed you in this storie wherein if it well please you to consider what is the straunge power of Loue and what is due to his authoritie you shall exercise therein the true noblenesse of your iudgement and doo the more right to the vnfortunate Historian Zelmane sighing for Eronaes sake yet inwardly comforted in that she assured her selfe Euarchus would not spare to take in hand the iust deliuering of her ioyned with the iust reuenge of his childrens losse hauing now what she desired of Basilius to auoide his further discourses of affection encouraged the shepheards to begin whom she saw allready ready for them The second Eclogues THE rude tumult of the Enispians gaue occasion to the honest shepheards to begin their Pastoralls this day with a daunce which they called the skirmish betwixt Reason and Passion For seuen shepheards which were named the reasonable shepheards ioined themselues foure of them making a square and the other two going a little wide of either side like wings for the maine battell and the seuenth man formost like the forlorne hope to begin the skirmish In like order came out the seuen appassionated shepheards all keeping the pase of their foot by their voice and sundry consorted instruments they held in their armes And first the formost of the Reasonable side began to sing R. Thou Rebell vile come to thy master yeeld And the other that met with him answered P. No Tyrant no mine mine shall be the field Reason Can Reason then a Tyraunt counted bee Passion If Reason will that Passions be not free R. But Reason will that Reason gouerne most P. And Passion will that Passion rule the rost R. Your will is will but Reason reason is P. Will hath his will when Reasons will doth misse R. Whome Passion leades vnto his death is bent P. And let him die so that he die content R. By nature you to Reason faith haue sworne P. Not so but fellow-like togither borne R. Who Passion doth ensue liues in annoy P. Who Passion doth forsake liues void of ioy R. Passion is blinde and treades an vnknowne trace P. Reason hath eyes to see his owne ill case Then as they approched nearer the two of Reasons side as if they shot at the other thus sang R. Dare Passions then abide in Reasons light P. And is not Reason dimme with Passions might R. O foolish thing which glory doth destroy P. O glorious title of a foolish toy R. Weakenes you are dare you with our strength fight P. Because our weaknes weakeneth all your might R. O sacred Reason helpe our vertuous toiles P. O Passion passe on feeble Reasons spoiles R. We with our selues abide a daily strife P. We gladly vse the sweetnesse of our life R. But yet our strife sure peace in end doth breede P. We now haue peace your peace we doo not neede Then did the two square battailes meete and in steed of fighting embrace one another singing thus R. We are too strong but Reason seekes no blood P. Who be too weake do feigne they be too good R. Though we cannot orecome our cause is iust P. Let vs orecome and let vs be vniust R. Yet Passions yeeld at length to Reasons stroke P. What shall we winne by taking Reasons yoke R. The ioyes you haue shall be made permanent P. But so we shall with griefe learne to repent R. Repent in deed but that shall be your blisse P. How know we that since present ioyes we misse R. You know it not of Reason therefore know it P. No Reason yet had euer skill to show it R. Then let vs both to heauenly rules giue place P. Which Passions kill and Reason do deface Then embraced they one another and came to the King who framed his prayses of them according to Zelmanes liking whose vnrestrained parts the mind eie had their free course to the delicate Philoclea whose looke was not short in well requiting it although shee knew it was a hatefull sight to her iealouse mother But Dicus that had in this time taken a great liking of Dorus for the good partes he foūd aboue his age in him had a delight to taste the fruites of his wit though in a subiect which he himselfe most of all other despised so entred to speach with him in the manner of this following Eclogue Dicus Dorus. Dicus Dorus tell me where is thy wonted motion To make these woods resound thy lamentation Thy sainte is dead or dead is thy deuotion For who doth holde his loue in estimation To witnes that he thinkes his thoughts delicious Thinks to make each thing badge of his sweet passion Dorus. But what doth make thee Dicus so suspicious Of my due faith which needs must be immutable Who others vertue doubt themselues are vicious Not so although my mettals were most mutable Her beames haue wrought therein most faire impression To such a force some chaunge were nothing sutable Dicus The harte well set doth neuer shunne confession If noble be thy bandes make them notorious Silence doth seeme the maske of base oppression Who glories in his loue doth make Loue glorious But who doth feare or bideth muet wilfully Shewes guilty harte doth deeme his state opprobrious Thou then that fram'st both wordes and voice most skilfully Yeeld to our eares a sweet and sound relation If Loue tooke thee by force or caught thee guilefully Dorus. If sunnie beames shame heau'nly habitation If three-leau'd grasse seeme to the sheepe vnsauorie Then base and sowre is Loues most high vocation Or if sheepes cries can helpe the Sunnes owne brauerie Then may I hope my pipe may haue abilitie To helpe her praise who decks me in her slauerie No no no words ennoble selfe nobilitie As for your doubts her voice was it deceaued me Her eye the force beyond all possibilitie Dicus Thy words well voyc'd well grac'de had almost heaued me Quite from my selfe to loue Loues contemplation Till of these thoughts thy sodaine ende bereaued me Goe on therefore and tell vs by what fashion In thy owne proofe he gets so straunge
and taking euen precepts of preuailing in Pamela by her fayling in Philoclea shee went to her chamber and according to her owne vngratious method of subtile proceeding stood listning at the dore because that out of the circumstance of her present behauiour there might kindly arise a fitte beginning of her intended discourse And so shee might perceaue that Pamela did walke vp and downe full of deepe though patient thoughts For her look and countenance was setled her pace soft and almost still of one measure without any passionate gesture or violent motion till at length as it were awaking and strengthning her selfe Well said she yet this is the best and of this I am sure that how soeuer they wrong me they cannot ouer-master God No darkenes blinds his eyes no Iayle barres him out To whom then else should I flie but to him for succoure And therewith kneeling downe euen where she stood she thus said O all-seeing Light and eternall Life of al things to whom nothing is either so great that it may resist or so small that it is contemned looke vpon my miserie with thine eye of mercie and let thine infinite power vouchsafe to limite out some proportioÌ„ of deliuerance vnto me as to thee shal seem most conuenient Let not iniurie ô Lord triumphe ouer me and let my faultes by thy hande be corrected and make not mine vniuste enemie the minister of thy Iustice But yet my God if in thy wisdome this be the aptest chastizement for my vnexcuseable follie if this low bondage bee fittest for my ouer-hie desires if the pride of my not-inough humble harte bee thus to bee broken O Lorde I yeeld vnto thy will and ioyfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt haue me suffer Onely thus much let me craue of thee let my crauing ô Lord be accepted of thee since euen that proceedes from thee let mee craue euen by the noblest title which in my greatest affliction I may giue my selfe that I am thy creature and by thy goodnes which is thy selfe that thou wilt suffer some beame of thy Maiestie so to shine into my mind that it may still depende confidently vpon thee Let calamitie bee the exercise but not the ouerthrowe of my vertue let their power preuaile but preuaile not to destruction let my greatnes be their praie let my paine bee the sweetnes of their reuenge let them if so it seem good vnto thee vexe me with more and more punishment But ô Lord let neuer their wickednes haue such a hand but that I may carie a pure minde in a pure bodie And pausing a while And ô most gracious Lorde said she what euer become of me preserue the vertuous Musidorus The other parte Cecropia might well heare but this latter prayer for Musidorus her hart helde it as so iewel-like a treasure that it woulde scarce trust her owne lippes withall But this prayer sent to heauen from so heauenly a creature with such a feruent grace as if Deuotion had borowed her bodie to make of it selfe a most beautifull representation with her eyes so lifted to the skie-ward that one woulde haue thought they had begunne to flie thetherwarde to take their place among their fellow starres her naked hands raising vp their whole length and as it were kissing one another as if the right had ben the picture of Zeale and the left of Humblenesse which both vnited themselues to make their suites more acceptable Lastly all her senses being rather tokens then instruments of her inwarde motions altogether had so straunge a working power that euen the harde-harted wickednesse of Cecropia if it founde not a loue of that goodnes yet it felt an abashment at that goodnes and if she had not a kindly remorse yet had she an yrksome accusation of her own naughtines so that she was put from the biasle of her fore-intended lesson For well shee found there was no way at that time to take that mind but with some at lest image of Vertue and what the figure thereof was her hart knew not Yet did she prodigally spend her vttermost eloquence leauing no argument vnproued which might with any force inuade her excellent iudgement the iustnes of the request being but for marriage the worthinesse of the suiter then her owne present fortune which shoulde not onely haue amendment but felicitie besides falsely making her belieue that her sister would thinke her selfe happie if now shee might haue his loue which before shee contemned and obliquely touching what daunger it should be for her if her sonne should accept Philoclea in marriage and so match the next heire apparant shee being in his powre yet plentifully periuring how extreamely her sonne loued her and excusing the little shewes hee made of it with the duetifull respect he bare vnto her and taking vpon her selfe that she restrayned him since shee found shee could set no limits to his passions And as shee did to Philoclea so did she to her with the tribute of gifts seeke to bring her mind into seruitude and all other meanes that might either establish a beholdingnesse or at lest awake a kindnes doing it so as by reason of their imprisonment one sister knew not how the other was wooed but each might thinke that onely shee was sought But if Philoclea with sweet and humble dealing did auoid their assaults she with the Maiestie of Vertue did beate them of But this day their speach was the sooner broken of by reason that he who stood as watche vpon the top of the keepe did not onely see a great dust arise which the earth sent vp as if it would striue to haue clowdes as well as the aire but might spie sometimes especially when the dust wherein the naked winde did apparaile it selfe was caried a side from them the shining of armour like flashing of lightning wherewith the clowdes did seeme to bee with childe which the Sunne guilding with his beames it gaue a sight delightfull to any but to them that were to abide the terrour But the watch gaue a quicke Alarum to the souldiers within whome practise already hauing prepared began each with vnabashed hartes or at lest countenaunces to looke to their charge or obedience which was allotted vnto them Onely Clinias and Amphialus did exceed the bounds of mediocrity the one in his naturall coldnesse of cowardise the other in heate of courage For Clinias who was bold onely in busie whisperings and euen in that whisperingnes rather indeede confident in his cunning that it should not bee bewraied then any way bolde if euer it should bee bewrayed now that the enemy gaue a dreadfull aspect vnto the castle his eyes saw no terror nor eare heard any martiall sounde but that they multiplied the hideousnesse of it to his mated minde Before their comming he had many times felt a dreadfull expectation but yet his minde that was willing to ease it selfe of the burden offeare did somtime â—aine vnto it selfe possibilitie of let as the death of Basilius
the discord of the nobilitie and when other cause fayled him the nature of chaunce serued as a cause vnto him and sometimes the hearing other men speake valiantly and the quietnesse of his vnassailed senses woulde make himselfe beleue that hee durst doo something But now that present daunger did display it selfe vnto his eye and that a daungerous dooing must be the onely meane to preuent the danger of suffering one that had marked him woulde haue iudged that his eies would haue run into him and his soule out of him so vnkindly did either take a sent of daunger He thought the lake was too shallow and the walles too thin he misdouted ech mans treason and coniectured euery possibilitie of misfortune not onely fore-casting likely perils but such as all the planets together coulde scarcely haue conspired and already began to arme him selfe though it was determined he should tarrie within doores and while he armed himselfe imagined in what part of the vault he would hide himselfe if the enimies wonne the castle Desirous he was that euery body should do valiantly but himselfe and therefore was afraid to shew his feare but for very feare would haue hid his feare lest it shoulde discomfort others but the more he sought to disguize it the more the vnsutablenes of a weake broken voice to high braue wordes and of a pale shaking countenance to a gesture of animating did discouer him But quite contrarily Amphialus who before the enimies came was carefull prouidently diligent not somtimes with out doubting of the issue now the nearer danger approched like the light of a glow-worme the lesse still it seemed and now his courage began to boile in choler and with such impatience to desire to powre out both vpon the enimie that he issued presently into certaine boates he had of purpose and carying with him some choise men went to the fortresse he had vpon the edge of the lake which hee thought would bee the first thing that the enimy woulde attempt because it was a passage which commanding all that side of the country and being lost would stop victuall or other supply that might be brought into the castle in that fortresse hauing some force of horsemen he issued out with two hundred horse fiue hundred footmen embushed his footmen in the falling of a hill which was ouer shadowed with a wood he with his horsmen went a quarter of a mile further aside hand of which he might perceaue the many troupes of the enimie who came but to take view where best to encampe themselues But as if the sight of the enimie had bene a Magnes stone to his courage he could not containe himselfe but shewing his face to the enimie and his backe to his souldiers vsed that action as his onely oration both of denouncing warre to the one and perswading help of the other Who faithfully following an example of such authoritie they made the earth to grone vnder their furious burden and the enimies to begin to be angry with them whom in particular they knew not Among whom there was a young man youngest brother to Philanax whose face as yet did notbewray his sex with so much as shew of haire of a minde hauing no limits of hope nor knowing why to feare full of iollitie in conuersation and lately growne a Louer His name was Agenor of all that armie the most beautifull who hauing ridden in sportfull conuersation among the foremost all armed sauing that his beauer was vp to haue his breath in more freedome seing Amphialus come a pretty way before his cōpany neither staying the commaundement of the captaine nor recking whether his face were armed or no set spurs to his horse and with youthfull brauerie casting his staffe about his head put it then in his rest as carefull of comely carying it as if the marke had beene but a ring and the lookers on Ladies But Amphialus launce was already come to the last of his descending line and began to make the ful point of death against the head of this young Gentleman when Amphialus perceyuing his youth and beautie Compassion so rebated the edge of Choller that hee spared that faire nakednesse and let his staffe fal to Agenors vampalt so as both with braue breaking should hurtleslie haue perfourmed that match but that the pittilesse launce of Amphialus angry with being broken with an vnlucky counterbuffe ful of vnsparing splinters lighted vpon that face farre fitter for the combats of Venus geuing not onely a suddaine but a fowle death leauing scarsely any tokens of his former beautie but his hands abandoning the reynes and his thighes the saddle hee fell sidewarde from the horse Which sight comming to Leontius a deere friende of his who in vaine had lamentably cried vnto him to stay when he saw him beginne his careere it was harde to say whether pittie of the one or reuenge against the other helde as then the soueraigntie in his passions But while hee directed his eye to his friende and his hinde to his enimie so worngly-consorted a power coulde not resist the ready minded force of Amphialus who perceyuing his il-directed direction against him so paide him his debt before it was lent that hee also fell to the earth onely happy that one place and one time did finish both their Loues and liues together But by this time there had bene a furious meeting of either side where after the terrible salutation of warlike noyse the shaking of handes was with sharpe weapons some launces according to the mettall they mett and skill of the guider did staine themselues in bloud some flew vp in pieces as if they would threaten heauen because they fayled on earth◠But their office was quickly inherited either by the Prince of weapons the sworde or by some heauy mase or biting axe which hunting still the weakest chase sought euer to light there wher smallest resistance might worse preuent mischiefe The clashing of armour and crushing of staues the iustling of bodies the resounding of blowes was the first parte of that ill-agreeing musicke which was beautified with the griselinesse of woundes the rising of dust the hideous falles and grones of the dying The very horses angrie in their masters anger with loue and obedience brought foorth the effects of hate and resistance and with minds of seruitude did as if they affected glorie Some lay deade vnder their dead maisters whome vnknightly wounds had vniustly punished for a faithfull dutie Some lay vppon their Lordes by like accidents and in death had the honour to be borne by them whom in life they had borne Some hauing lost their commaunding burthens ranne scattered about the fielde abashed with the madnesse of mankinde The earth it selfe woont to be a buriall of men was nowe as it were buried with men so was the face thereof hidden with deade bodies to whom Death hade come masked in diuerse manners In one place lay disinherited heades dispossessed of their naturall seignories in an
the rather because his olde mistresse Artesia might see whome she had so lightly forsaken and therefore demaunding and obteyning leaue of Basilius he caused a Heraulde to be furnished with apparell of his office and tokens of a peaceable message and so sent him to the gate of the towne to demaunde audience of Amphialus who vnderstanding thereof caused him both safely and courteously to be brought into his presence who making lowly reuerence vnto him presented his Letters desiring Amphialus that whatsoeuer they conteyned he would consider that he was onely the bearer and not the inditer Amphialus with noble gentlenesse assured him both by honourable speeches and a demeanure which aunswered for him that his reuenge whensoeuer should sort vnto it selfe a higher subiect But opening the Letters he found them to speake in this maner PHalantus of Corinthe to Amphialus of Arcadia sendeth the greeting of a hatelesse enemie The liking of martiall matters without anie mislike of your person hath brought me rather to the companie then to the minde of your besiegers where languishing in idlenesse I desire to refresh my minde with some exercise of armes which might make knowne the dooers with delight of the beholders Therefore if there be any Gentleman in your Towne that eyther for the loue of Honour or honour of his Loue will armed on horsebacke with launce and sworde winne another or loose himselfe to be a prisoner at discretion of the conquerour I will to morrowe morning by Sunne rising with a trumpet and a Squire onely attende him in like order furnished The place I thinke fittest the Iland within the Lake because it standes so well in the view of your Castell as that the Ladies may haue the pleasure of seeing the combate which though it be within the commaundement of your Castell I desire no better securitie then the promise I make to my selfe of your vertue I attende your aunswere and wish you such successe as may be to your honour rather in yeelding to that which is iust then in mainteyning wrong by violence AMphialus read it with cheerefull countenance and thinking but a little with himselfe called for inke and paper and wrote this aunswere AMphialus of Arcadia to Phalantus of Corinthe wisheth all his owne wishes sauing those which may be hurtfull to another The matter of your letters so fit for a worthy minde and the maner so sutable to the noblenesse of the matter giue me cause to thinke how happie I might accounte my selfe if I coulde get such a friende who esteeme it no small happinesse to haue mette with so noble an enemie Your chalenge shall be aunswered and both time place and weapon accepted For your securitie from any treacherie hauing no hostage woorthie to counteruaile you take my woord which I esteeme aboue all respectes Prepare therefore your armes to fight but not your hart to malice since true valure needes no other whetstone then desire of honour HAuing writte and sealed his letter he deliuered it to the Heraulde and withall tooke a faire chaine from off his owne necke and gaue it him And so with safe conuoy sent him away from out his Citie and he being gone Amphialus shewed vnto his mother and some other of his chiefe Counsailours what he had receyued and howe he had aunswered telling them withall that he was determined to aunswere the chalenge in his owne person His mother with prayers authorized by motherly commaundement his olde gouernour with perswasions mingled with reprehensions that he would rather affect the glorie of a priuate fighter then of a wise Generall Clinias with falling downe at his feete and beseeching him to remember that all their liues depended vppon his safetie sought all to dissuade him But Amphialus whose hart was enflamed with courage and courage enflamed with affection made an imperious resolution cutte off the tediousnesse of replyes giuing them in charge what they shoulde doo vppon all occasions and particularly to deliuer the Ladies if otherwise then well happened vnto him onely desiring his mother that she woulde bring Philoclea to a window whence she might with ease perfectly discerne the combat And so as soone as the morning beganne to draw dewe from the fairest greenes to washe her face withall against the approach of the burning Sunne hee went to his stable where himselfe chose out a horse whom though he was neere twentie yeere olde he preferred for a peece of sure seruice before a great number of yonger His colour was of a browne bay dapled thick with black spots his forhead marked with a white starre to which in all his bodie there was no part sutable but the left foote before his mane and taile black and thick of goodly and well proportioned greatnes He caused him to be trimmed with a sumptuous saddle of tawnie and golde ennamell enriched with pretious stones his furniture was made into the fashion of the branches of a tree from which the leaues were falling and so artificiallie were the leaues made that as the horse moued it seemed indeed that the leaues wagged as when the winde plaies with them and being made of a pale cloath of gold they did beare the straw-coloured liuerie of ruine His armour was also of tawnie and golde but formed into the figure of flames darckened as when they newelie brake the prison of a smoakie furnace In his shielde he had painted the Torpedo fish And so appointed he caused himselfe with his trumpet and squire whom he had taken since the death of Ismenus to be ferried ouer into the Iland a place well chosen for such a purpose For it was so plaine as there was scarcely any bush or hillock either to vnleuell or shadow it of length and breadth enough to trie the vttermost both of launce and sword and the one end of it facing the castle the other extending it selfe toward the campe and no accesse to it but by water there could no secret trecherie be wrought and for manifest violence ether side might haue time inough to succour their party But there he found Phalantus alredy waiting for him vpon a horse milke white but that vpon his shoulder and withers he was freckned with red staines as when a few strawberies are scattered into a dish of creame He had caused his mane and taile to be died in carnation his reines were vine branches which ingendring one with the other at the end when it came to the bitte there for the bosse brought foorth a cluster of grapes by the workeman made so liuely that it seemed as the horse champed on his bitte he chopped for them and that it did make his mouth water to see the grapes so neere him His furniture behind was of vines so artificially made as it seemed the horse stood in the shadow of the vine so pretily were clusters of rubie grapes dispersed among the trappers which embraced his sides His armour was blew like the heauen which a Sun did with his rayes proportionately deliuered guild in