such tumbling waues such fearefull surges such roaring stremes such hideous goulfs as it made the passage séeme a thousand times more perillous This terrible sight was such a cooling Card to my former conceits as hope was turned to feare blisse to bale supposed happinesse to assured heauinesse And yet my fancie was not quenched but rather far the more inflamed my desire was not diminished but augmented my liking no lesse but rather inlarged so that to liue in loue without hope was loathsome to séeke redresse was losse of life to want my wish was horror to inioy my will was hell to liue in care without comfort was calamitie to séeke for cure was more thâ— miserie not to possesse y e pray was hellish daunger to venture for the prize was haples death Thus crossed with cares daunted with such diuers doubts desperate hope so repulsed direfull feare y â— incouraged by ventrous desire I hadde either obtained my wish or wanted of my will if your Ladyshippe had not so sodainely wakened me out of my slumber Thus madame Castania you haue heard my dreame now the doubt is whether it had ben better to haue ventured vppon the brickle bridge and so either desperatly to haue ended cares with death or else valiantly to haue inioyed desire with renowme or still like a fearefull dastard to haue ended my dayes in lingering loue with myserie Castania hearing the surmised dreame of Gwydonius both smelled the fetch and smiled at the follie of this young youth knowing that these fantastical visions and presupposed passions would in time if he tooke not héed proue but too true to preuent therefore such imminent perills shée nipt her young nouice on the pate with this parle GWydonius quoth shée I haue listened to thy drousie dreame with déep deuotion by so much the more desirous attentiuely to heare it by howe much the more I finde it straunge and wonderfull yea so straunge as if I my selfe had not wakened thée out of thy slumber I would either haue thought it a fained vision or a fantasticall inuention but sith these Gentlemen héere present mine owne eyes are witnesses thine owne tongue a testimonie of thy talke suffice I beléeue it though I can not diuine it to giue a verdit where the euidence is not vnderstood is vanitie to yéeld a reason of an vnknowen case is méere folly and to interpret so straunge a dreame without great practise is but to skip beyond my skill and so lay fast in the mire Yet least I might séeme to promise much and performe nothing I will decide your doubt if you please to take my doome for a censure It is a saying Gwydonius not so common as true that the hastie man neuer wantes woe and that hée which is rash wythout reason seldome or neuer sléepeth without repentaunce To venture amiddest the Pikes when perills cannot bée â—schewed is not fortitude but folly to hazarde in daungers when death ensueth is not to bée worthely minded but wilfully mooued Uertue alwayes consisteth betwéene extremities that as too much fearefulnesse is the signe of a quaking coward so too much rashnesse betokeneth a desperate Ruffian Manhoode Gwydonius consisteth in measure and worthynesse in fearing to hazard without hope But to giue a verdite by thine owne voyce I perceiue thou art guiltie of the same crime for when the bricklenesse of the Bridge portended death and the surging Seas inferred losse of lyfe yet desire draue thée to aduenture so desperate a daunger Better it is Gwydonius to liue in griefe then to die desperatelye without grace better to choose a lingering lyfe in miserie then a spéedie death without mercie better to bée tormented wyth haplesse fancie then with hellish fiends for in lyfe it is possible to represse calamity but after death neuer to redresse miserie Tully Gwydonius in his Tusculans questions discoursing of the happinesse of life and heauinesse of death sayth that to lyue we obtaine it of the louing Gods but to die of the vnluckie destinies meaning heereby that lyfe though neuer so loathsome is better then death though neuer so welcome whereby I conclude Gwydonius that to liue carfully is better then to die desperatly Gwydonius perceiuing that Castanias parle was nothing to the purpose and that shée toucht not that point whereof hée desired most to bée absolued but meant to shake him off wyth a fléeâ—elesse aunswere beganne to drawe her to the Trappe wyth this traine MAdame Castania quoth he I confesse that rashnesse neuer raigneth without repentaunce nor hastie hazarding without haplesse harmes that he which aduentureth desperate daungers is a foole he that passeth ineuitable perills is worse then an Asse Yet from these so generall rules Madame I exempt these perticular exceptions namely Loue Necessitie which two are tied w tin no bonds nor limitted within no law for whom y e diuel driues he must néedes run be the passage neuer so perillous and whom Loue or Necessitie forceth he must venture be the daunger neuer so desperate for as there is no enterprise so easie which to an vnwilling man séemeth not verie hard to bée atchieued so there is no incounter so combersome where will wisheth that séemeth not passing easie to bée perfourmed nowe this will is with nothing sooner pricked forwarde then either with the force of Loue or sting of necessitie So that whosoeuer aduentureth in a daunger though neuer so desperate is not to be blamed if inforced by fancie or incouraged by affection and especially where the perill is in possibilytie to bee passed without death and in the performaunce thereof the possession of such a prise as the passionate person more estéemeth then lands limmes or lyfe it selfe bée it neuer so swéete In which case madame my cause consisteth For the Ladie who was an heauenly obiect to my glasing eies was so beautified with the giftes of nature and so perfectly pollished with more then naturall perfection that with the only view of such diuine beutie my sences were so besotted my wit will so inueigled my affection so inflamed any fréedome so fettered yea Loue alreadie had made so greate a breach into the bulwarke of my breast that to obtaine so gorgeous a Goddesse I thought death no daunger though neuer so direfull nor losse of lyfe no torment though neuer so terrible In déed Gwydonius quoth Thersandro I agrée with thée in this poynt that there is no carpet Knight so cowardly that wold not passe most perillous pikes to possesse so liuely a Dame as thou doost decypher nor no dastard so daunted with dread which would not greatlye indanger himselfe to inioy so louely a damsell in y â— fruition of whom consisteth nothing but ioy blisse rest contentation of minde delight happinesse yea all earthlye felicitie And yet Sir quoth Gwydonius your sister Castania condemnes me of follye in ventring for so precious a price when as hope perswaded me that no hazarde could be haples and assured me that Loue
by whose péeuish pollicy thou hadst not only brought the common wealth to confusion but didst pretend to be preiudiciall to my fathers person if thy deadly practise diuellish purpose had not by Valericus his meanes ben preuented Hast thou ben so trained vp in trecherie or is thy minde so spotted with villany as to repaie my Fathers good wil with such barbarous ingratitude and to deuise his destruction which simply foresought thy preferment Yea to counsel my sister Castania not onely to consent to thy desire but to my fathers death Is this the manner of Metelyne or the custome of thy countrie to be such cosoning counterfaits Well since I haue happely attached thée as a traitour as a villanous rebell both transgressing humane and diuine lawes thou shalt abide the paine punishment due to such diuellish offenders Now let thy cruell sire Clerophontes frée thée from those torments that thou art like to suffer for thy trecherie let the Lords of Metelyne deliuer thée from his hands who meanes in most miserable wise to martir thée Yea let thy Concubine Castania who is like for her gracelesse disobedience to sippe of the same sorrowe sée if her teares will now preuaile to mooue Orlanio to pittie No if Iupiter himselfe sent Mercurie to mittigate his moode neither the authoritie of the one nor the eloquence of the other might preuaile to pacifâ—e his furie GWydonius séeing that not onely his purpose was preuented and his secretes disclosed but that also Valericus most villanously had accused him and Castania of that which they neuer so much as once imagined was so perplexed and driuen into such dumpes as he séemed by â—â—lence â—o aâ—erre that which Thersandro had alleadged yet at last he began thus to replie THersandro quoth he as I meane not to affirme that which is false so I will not denie that which is true but come dolor come death come miserie come martyrdome come torture come torments I wil neither accuse my selfe iniustly nor excuse my selfe by periurie I confesse Thersandro that I am sonne and heire to the Duke of Meteline contracted to thy sister Castania that Clerophontes is my father by the lawe of nature Castania my wife by the league of loue but that I either pretended or purposed to be preiudiciall to Orlanios person or y â— Castania was counsailed or euer consented to her Fathers confusion I not onely denie but I will proue by combat that Valericus most villanously doth accuse vs of that whereof we are altogether sacklesse WHy Gwydonius quoth he wilt thou séeke to proue thy self loial when the hearers déeme thée a lyar or to make a tryall of thy troth when thy words can haue no trust Doest thou thinke my fathers furie will suffer thée to fable Doest thou thinke his wrathfull rage will abide thy reasons or that he wil be so patient as to heare thée pleade thine owne cause No if thou wert as cléere from these crimes alleadged against thée by Valericus as I am yet in that thou art sonne to Clerophontes the coine of Croesus and kingdomes of Caesar were not sufficient raunsome to redéeme thée from death But Gwydonius since thy health hangeth in my handes and thy lyfe or death is in my power I will neither bée so bloudie minded as to bréede thy bane nor so cruell as to be the cause of thy confusion The guerdon Gwydonius I craue for this my good will and the recompence I claime for this curtesie is that when thou commest to Metelyne thou certifie thy sister and my loue and Ladie Lewcippa that for her sake I haue procured thy safetie that her perfection hath preserued thée from perill the loue I beare her hath saued thy lyfe the duetifull deuotion I owe vnto her hath redéemed thée from death and daunger And in token of this my vnfained affection I will lift my hand against none that commeth from Metelyne but against Lucianus onely Before Thersandro was able fullye to vnfolde his minde or that Gwydonius had time to yéeld him thanks for the sauegard of his lyfe they hearde a greate noise which made Gwydonius flie and Thersandro hie him hastely to Castanias lodging Nowe the companie which came was Orlanio himselfe who certified by Valericus that Gwydonius could not be found laid not only watch and ward throughout all his Dukedome to attach him but went in proper person with his Garde to apprehend Castania and laie her in close prison whom he found all blubbered with teares for that she had vnderstoode the cause before of her brother Thersandro Orlanio no sooner spied her thus wéeping but he raged against her in this wise HAth the force of loue nay rather the furie of lust vild wretch so blinded thy vnderstanding that to accomplish it thou passest not to peruert both humane and diuine lawes Doth lasciuious affection and fleshly fancie so furiously frie within thée as thou woldest procure thy fathers death to purchase thy diuellish desire Could no rules of reason no prick of conscience no respect of honestie no feare of God nor dread of man prohibit thée from pretending such a monstrous mischiefe as to conclude w t my mortal foe to worke my fatall confusion The young Storkes so tender the old ones in their age as they will not suffer theÌ„ so much as to 〈◊〉 to get their owne liuing The Bird called Apis Indica being young séeing the old ones through age growen so weake as they are not able to waâ—e their wings carriâ— them continually from place to place on their backs these sauage creatures haue but onely sence and are obedient thou hast both reason sence art more vnnatural these bruite beasts are most dutifull to their parents and thou a reasonable creature art most disobedient to thy Father yea contrarie both to the lawes of Nature and nurture thou séekest to bath thy handes in his guiltlesse bloude and without care or conscience to commit most cruell murther which is so hatefull to all things as the sencelesse plantes and stones most deadlye detest such villanie The Oliue trée so hatefully abhorreth a Parracide that who so béeing guiltie of that crime attempteth to plant it dooeth not onely himselfe presently perish but the trée forthwith wayneth and wythereth The stone Epistrites so loatheth this offence counting it a fact so repugnaunt to nature that it wil not vouchsafe to be worne by a murtherer And shall I then let thée liue whoÌ„ the sencelesse creatures do so deadly loath No this haÌ„d which cherisht thée being a child shall now chastise thée béeing such a cursed caitife And with that he drew out his Fawlcon redie to haue slaine her But that Thersandro knéeling down desired him that he would not so in his furie forget himselfe as without the sentence of the law put her to death but to commit her to ward vntill the wars betwéen him Clerophontes were happely ended then vppon more straight examination if she wer found
mée I aunswere that as he which is wounded of the Bores tuske if his sore take aire is verie hardly healed as hée which stroken with a Scorpion if his wound take wind can neuer be cured so madame many inward maladies carry this nature that if they be once discoueredâ— they are far the more hardly recouered that it is better to conceale them with griefe then reueale them in hope of reléefe Not so Castania your principle is not true for if your passions procéeded of loue which of all other inward sores requireth greatest secrecie yet vndoubtedly y â— more it is discouered the sooner it is curâ—d for as the stoâ—e of Armenia béeing couered with sande burneth most extreamly and no sooner taketh aire but it cooleth so the firie flames of loue raked vp in silence frie most furiously but béeing by discourse disâ—losed they soone conuert from flame to fume and smoke Wherfore good Castania impart vnto me the matter which doeth import thée so néere and I sweare vnto thée by the sacred rites of Caeres which is so honoured in Alexandria that if thou doost loue where thy friends do not like and thy wish be contrarie to their will yet I will séeke all meanes possible to redresse thy sorrowe Alasse good madaâ—â—e rather then you shoulde thinke mée so incredulous or suspitious as not to beléeue your oth or doubt of your secret dealing I will without delay make you priuie to the cause of my paine what perill so euer I incurre by reuealing it So it is Melytta that the perfection of Gwydonius his exquisite qualities and excellent vertues haue fiercely assaulted the fort of my fancie as I am perforce constrained to resigne my libertie captiue vnto his curtesie and to make his person the prison of my heart This lucklesse and vnlikely loue madame is the cause of my care the sum of my sorrowe this frantike affection hath driuen my drouping heart to shew forth these drousy looks this is it which hath made me an enimie to my selfe a foe to all good companie to delight in nothing but sorrow solitarinesse yea this is the sore which if in time it be not salued will preuent by death all other miseries And is this quoth Melytta the paine that so greatly perplexeth you is this the â—â—re which so coÌ„bers thy conscience is this the daunger which driues thée into such deepe distresse Doest thou thinke so superstiâ—iously of Gwydonius or so abiectly of thy selfe y â— thou deemest this 〈◊〉 impossible to be brought to passe no no doubte not Castania I my self dare absolutely promise thée that thy loue shall sort to such happie successe as thou thy self doest séeke for And with that Melytta staied by a sodaine sight shée had of y â— Saint that Castania so hartely serued for Gwydonius was entering in at the chamber doore with a dish of delicates which Orlanio hearing his Daughter was sicke had sent her Melytta séeing y â— Cupid began to fauor the cause of his clients in giuing them such fit opportunitie to discouer their cares weÌ„t her way leauing Gwydonius y â— first man to play his part in this tragicall Comedie who seeing his goddesse thus surprised with sicknesse was so galled with griefe so pinched with hellish passions so tortured with extreame torments y â— his colour began to change he fetcht a deep sigh or two which Castania hearing she perceiued w tout touching his pulses the cause of these his sodain passions In fine such melancholike motions so amazed his minde that he was almost mute in his message yet at length incouraging himselfe he presented it vnto her in this wise Madame quoth he the Duke your Father hearing of your sodain sicknesse in token of his fatherly affection amongst all his dainties hath sent you this dish which he thinks most méete for your diet wishing your Ladyship to let no doubtfull motions distresse your minde nor no carefull thoughtes cumber your conscience for you shall lacke nothing if you reueale to him your want which either your will or wish can desire And truely madame to manifest my willing duetie if the prayers of a poore Gentleman may be heard of the heauenly Gods I wish that before you tast of this foode it may turne to Nectar whereby not onely your sicknesse should be salued but your diuine beautie and vertue according to desert shuld be crowned with immortalitie Castania perceiuing with what seruent affection Gwydonius vttered these wordes began to chéere vp her selfe in hope y â— her good will should not be repaied with ingratitude taking therfore the present at his hands and liking it neuer the worse for his sake that brought it she returned him this replie Gwydonius quoth she as I haue cause most reuerently to accept of my fathers louing curtesie to repay his natural affection with most dutiful obedience so I haue cause to thanke thée for thy paines and to thinke wel of thée for thy wish promising in recompence of thy good will if in any respect I may plesure thée to séeke and sue to my father for preferment Madame I account the performance of my message no paine but pleasure and I think my selfe as much honoured by this office thrice more happie theÌ„ if I shuld in Ganimedes place present the cup to Iupiter But Madame sith that to stop the streame is to make the floud flow more fiercely to represse the fire is to make it flame more furiously and to restraine the force of loue is to kindle a greater flame least too long delaie shoulde bréede too great daunger and by concealing my sorrow I shuld make the sore incurable I thought good either presently to heare the curteous sentence of my lyfe or the cruell doome of my death So it is Madame that too long gasing vpon the beames of your heauenly beautie to narrowlye construing ouer your vertuous conditions I remaine so caught in the snare of your bounty so thralled in the thridde of your vertue that the staie of my life hangeth in your hands either to driue me downe to hellish miserie or to hoist me vp to heauenly felicitye For although I haue not héeretofore by duetifull seruice made manifest the loyaltie of my loue yet since I first framed in my fancie as in a mirrour the shape of your surpassing beautie my heart hath bene crossed with such cruell Camizados for your sake as if with the Target of hope I had not withstoode the furious force of such raging furies I had by dispaire bene dashed against most dangerous rocks Sith theÌ„ Madam y â— sight of your swéet face hath fast fettered my fancie in the linkes of loue as without your meanes I can neither bée redressed nor released I humbly desire you neither to resist the motion of my wel meaning nor to reiect the deuotion of my good will but to accept your poore Gwydonius as a faithfull seruant Castania hearing diligently the faithfull discourse of distressed
the Gods séeing their faithful amitie would take pitie of their passions in time redresse their miserie But Thersandro hauing with spéede dispatchte hys affaires all his train being set aboord and they coasting the straights with a luckie gale was so combred with care and so ouer-growen with griefe that he passed no hower minute nor moment without wofull waylyng sorrowfull sobs and farre fetcht sighes so that the Gentlemen his companions supposing that he was thus painfully perplexed for feare of Clerophontes puâ—ssance began both to comfort and incourage him not to doubte or dread the force of the enimie sith his father was able to repulse him without any daunger to himselfe or any great damage to his subiects But these their perswasions could no whit preuaile to asswage his passions this their incouragement coulde not cure his care But as there is no greater bane to the bodye than trouble of the minde so Thersandro so long continued in these pensiue passions and carefull cogitations concealing his griefe so couertly which so much the more furiously flamed within him that he was constrayned to kéepe his Cabbin till his arriuall at Alexandria Where being set on shore and presently conueyed to the Courte he remained for the space of thrée dayes so strangely perplexed as he was not able to make report of his message which so griped Orlanio with such inspeakable griefe as he wished rather to haue died valiantly w t the force of hys enimye than to put the health of his sonne in hazard by passing so perillous a iournie But Thersandro séeing that sorrow would not salue his sore but rather increase his sicknesse that mourning would not appease his maladie but rather augment his miserie began to take heart at grasse and within few dayes began to recouer his former health And then hée declared to his Father what he had in charge from Clerophontes how he meant spéedely to wage war against him by force of armes to driue him out of his Dukedome which he had alreadie promised to one Lucianus in dowrie with his Daughter Orlanio hearing this proud presumption of this bragging Duke thought the greatest barkers were not alwaies the sorest biters and that it was farre more easie with words to obtayne the victorie than with déeds to attayne the Conquest Yet least he might be taken at vnwares he made a generall muster throughout all his Dominions prouiding in euery place necessarye munition for the defence of hys Countrey And assembling his Nobilitie to giue theyr verdite who were fittest to bée Captaines in this skirmish after some consultation had in this cause they concluded that since Clerophontes meant to ioyne battayle in his owne person that lykewise hée shoulde bee Generall of the field and Gwydonius who surpassed all the rest in martial exploites should be Lieuetenant and conduct the armie which he no sooner hearde but hée was tormented with inspeakable griefe he beganne to pull downe his Peacockes feathers to hang his wings and crye creake euery man hoping to winne fame was merrie but he alone mourning euery man laughed he alone lowred insomuch that he was generallye suspected to be a fearfull cowarde and that dread of daunger draue him into these dolefull dumpes But as they rashly coniectured the cause of his sorrowe so they mist the nature of his sicknesse for Gwydonius séeing that of this cruel conflict his calamitie should ensue and that this bloudie broyle would bréed his bane he fell into such solitarie surmises and such musing meditations that Valericus his open friende and yet his secrette foe sought by sundry meanes to search out the cause of his care but not being able to wring out any thing eyther by flattering promises or fained protestations he ceased froÌ„ his importunate sute But froward fortune brought it so to passe that Valericus comming by the chamber of Gwydonius heard him thus desperatly discoursing with himselfe ALas quoth he I sée the Sunne being at the highest declineth the Sea being at full tide ebbeth calme continueth not long without a storme neither is happinesse had long without heauinesse blisse without bale weale without woe mirth without mourning For who a late so floated in the flouds of felicitie as I which now by the sinister meanes of frowning fortune am sowsed in the seas of sorrow exalted alate to the highest degrée of happines am nowe driuen to the greatest extremitiâ— of euill alate puffed vp with prosperitie now pushed downe with aduersitie yea alate placed in Paradise and now plunged in perplexitie Oh Gwydonius if thy fathers friendlye preceptes might haue perswaded thée if his aduice had bene thy aduertisement and thou hadst carefully kept his counsaile then by his fore-warning thou hadst bene fore-armed against all mishap and miserie The force of fickle fancie had not then giuen thee the foyle loue had not so lyghtly procured thy losse nor the painted shew of beautie had not so soone procured thy bane My bane Why fond foole beautie hath bred my blisse fancie hath not giuen me the foyle but hath yéelded me the fort Loue hath not wrought my losse but requited me with treble gaine Hath not Castania requited my loue with loyaltie and repayed my good will with mutuall affection Is shee not my Saint and I her seruaunt Are wée not contracted together by loue and shall continue together by lawe May I not dispose of her in the waye of marriage at my pleasure Yes but what then the more is my grief and the greater is my care For if her presence procureth my delight will not her absence bréede my despight If her consent preserued my life will not her contempt inferre my death Yes For alas sinâ—e the destinies meane to dissolue that fancie hath decréed since the frowning fates séeke to vnloose that which loue hath linked since froward fortune means to break the bonds wherin beautie hath bouÌ„d vs since these bloudie broiles will cause Castania where before shée accepted mée for a friend nowe to reiecte mée for a foe What better lucke canne I looke for then a loathsome lyfe or what better happe can I hope for than horrour and heauinesse Yea which waye so euer I tourne mée I sée nothing but woe and wretchednesse For if Orlanio perceyued our liking how would he storme at our loue If he knew my chaunce how woulde he fret at his Daughters choyce Woulde hée euer consent that Castania should match with so meane a mate that her princely personage should be disgraced with my base parentage that her calling shuld be crazed with my slender countenaunce no he would no doubt first banish me out of all his dominions Tush Gwydonius would God this were the worst and then thou mightest hope in time by some meanes to redresse this doubt But if Orlanio shoulde knowe thou wert heire apparaunt to the Dukedome of Metelyne and onely sonne to Clerophontes his fatall foe what torment were there so terrible which thou shouldest not trie What paine so pinching
which thou shouldst not passe What hap so hard which thou shouldest not hazard Yea what death so direfull which at his cruell hands thou shouldest not suffer And what if Castania were priuy to thy state dost thou think her so constaunt as to consent to her Fathers foe doest thou thinke she would wish the sonnes weale when the Father wisheth her mishap No assure thy selfe if thy state be once knowen that Castania wil most deadly detest thée which will be more grieuous to thée then death it selfe be it neuer so terrible Sith then Gwydonius thou must shortly either go in armes against thine owne father or else loose both thy loue and thy life let not delaie bréede daunger but strike on the stith while y ◠yron is hot Castania hath promised to forsake both Father friendes and her owne countrie to passe wher and when it pleaseth thée she doubteth no daungers shée forceth of no misfortune she careth for no calamitie she passeth for no perills so she inioy thy desired companie and therefore as spéedely as may be conueie her closely into y ◠confines of Metelyne before eyther she know thy staie or thy state And shall I so practise her with pollicies shall I so sift her with subtiltie shall I put so little trust in her troth and so small confidence in her constancie as to cōceale from her anye secret No come woe come wretchednesse come death come daunger hap what hap will I will presently impart vnto her my present state and my pretended purpose Valericus hearing this doubtfull discourse of Gwydonius was driuen into an extasie for ioy to sée that hée had found such fit meanes whereby he might not onely purchase the Dukes fauour aspire vnto honour and dignitie but also obtaine the loue of Castania for he meant spéedely to preuent the pretence of Gwydonius by vnfolding to the Duke the summe of his secrete purpose assuring himselfe that after Orlanio knew his parents and parentage that hée was sonne and heire to Clerophontes no price though neuer so precious no raunsome though neuer so rich might redéeme him from the most despightfull death that could be deuised And of these premisses he inferde this conclusion that the cause bée taken awaie the effect faileth that Gwydonius béeing reiected hée should bée receiued that hée being despighted with hate he shoulde be requited with loue and vppon this hope he went presentlye to bewraie this matter to Orlanio whom he found with his sonne Thersandro and diuerse other noble men consulting what course they had best take against Clerophontes whome Valericus saluted in this wise PLato right worthie Prince that graue and wise philosopher whose sentences in all ages haue bene holden as most diuine Oracles portrayeth out in the books of his Common wealth the picture of a perfect Citizen whose liniaments béeing first leuelled hée tricketh vp with these coulours that he loue his Prince loyallye kéepe the lawes carfully and defend his Countrie valyantly in which thrée pointes saith he consisteth the chiefest duetie of a trustie subiecte this saying of Plato throughly considered and calling to minde the sundrie good tournes which without desert your grace hath bestowed vppon me I thought if I shoulde not repaye your fauour with faithfulnesse and your trust you repose in me with inuiolable troath I might bée counted a vicious vassall deuoide of all vertue a trecherous Citizen rather then a trustie subiect a carelesse slaue then a carefull Gentleman yea a gracelesse monster misled with ingratitude I am come right worthie Sir not to betraie my foe but to bewraie my friende not to discouer the fault of my enimie but to disclose his offence which liueth with me in perfect amitie in whose companie hetherto hath ben all my ioy pleasure and delight but since his pretence is greatlye preiudiciall to your graces person I thought to preferre your profite before mine owne pleasure and the commoditie of my countrie before mine owne priuate contentation So it is that Gwydonius whome your grace hath honoured and all the Court estéemed is sonne and heire to Clerophontes the Duke of Metelyne who by the péeuish pollicie of his Father vnder the pretence of seruice is purposed to procure your fatall death and the finall destruction of your Dukedome And the better to performe this diuellish practise hée hath contracted himselfe to my Ladie Castania who blinded with his beautie and inueagled with his wit hath consented not onely to kéepe his counsaile to your confusion but also closely to conuey her selfe with him into his Countrie Which pretence if your grace doth not spéedely preuent you shall finde that delaie bréedes daunger that procrastination in perils is but the mother of mishap And haue I quoth Orlanio brought vp the Birde that will picke out mine owne eyes Haue I fostered vp the Serpent in my bosome that will bréede my bane Haue I giuen her lyfe that séekes to yéelde me death Haue I cherisht her béeing younge and wyll shée consume me being older was there none to choose but Gwydonius nor none to loue but the son of her fathers foe Will she preferre her lust before my life her priuate pleasure before the safetie of my person Well as she forgets the dutie of a child so I will forget the natural affection of a Father and therefore Valericus goe spéedely with these noble men to Gwydonius chamber and apprehend him that I may requite his hatefull trecherie with most hellish torments And Thersandro sée you that Castania be closely kept vntill we haue caught the traytour least she vnderstanding that their deuise is disclosed she saue her selfe by flight Valericus hauing this commission giuen him from the Duke made no delay but passed to Gwydonius lodging with as much spéed as might be but Fortune who after euery chip of mischaunce sendeth some lot of good lucke and after euerie storme of aduersitie sendeth a quiet calme of prosperitie so carefully prouided to frée Gwydonius from mishap that he was newlye gone towardes Castania to impart vnto her this his pretence but before he came to her chamber he was incountred by Thersandro who stearnly taking Gwydonius by the bosome pulling out his Rapier commaunded him as a traitour to stand or else without anye farther doome he shoulde féele the dint of death Gwydonius amazed with this sodaine motion stoode as one in a traunce neither being able to defend himselfe with word or weapon but yéelded himself into y ◠hands of Thersandro who shakt him vp with these bitter spéeches THou traiterous wretch quoth he as it is impossible for the flame so closely to bée couered but it wyll bée spied so it is impossible but that treason though neuer so secret should in tract of time bée disclosed which now by experience is verified in thée for although thou hast hetherto falsely fained thy selfe to be a straunger of a foraine nation thou art now knowen to be sonne and heire to Clerophontes that cruell tyraunt my Fathers foe
and courage of the Captaines Thus continued they in fight euen almost vntill éeuen with meruaylous slaughter on both sides the victorie yet doubtfull till in the ende the Alexandrians began to faint and flye more oppressed with the excesse of the multitude than distressed for want of manhoode for there were two and fortie thousand slaine but not one taken prisoner and of Clerophontes companie eight and twentie thousand slain and sixe hundred mortally wounded This monstrous massacre and fearefull slaughter so amazed the mindes of these two Captaines that for the better burying of the dead and healing of them which were hurte they concluded a truce betwéene them for fiftéene dayes in which time Orlanio sent Ambassadors to parle of peace w t Clerophontes but in vaine for he was resolued either valiantly to die in the field with glorie or to inioye the Dukedome of Alexandria with renowme Yet as a worthie Prince preferring the securitie of his soldiers before the safetie of his owne person he offered them the combat which Orlanio to auoide the effusion of bloud most willingly accepted Nowe it was agréed and concluded betwéene thē that two champions might be chosen who by the dint of the swoord should stint the strife betwéene these two armies If he of Metelyne remained victor then Orlanio shuld not onely paie his former tribute but deliuer vp his Dukedome into the hands of Clerophontes But if y ◠Alexandrians obtained y ◠conquest y ◠Duke of Metelyne should peaceably depart the countrie release the tribute and also resigne his state and become a subiect to Orlanio And for the better kéeping confirming of these conditions they presentlye dispatcht Embassadours to Fernandus the king of Bohemia to intreate his maiestie that he would vouchsafe to become iudge in the combat who for that he wished wel to both these dukes graunted to their requests and with as much spéede as might be came to Alexandria But in the meane time there was some difference aboute the champions For Clerophontes sayd that sith in loosing the field consisted the losse of liuing life and libertie and in getting y ◠victorie the gaine of a Dukedome he would in proper person fight the combat and trie the chance of Fortune and therefore made a challenge to Orlanio But he finding himselfe farre vnfit to resist his furious force refused it Yet promising that none vnlesse he were descended of Nobilitie should enter the lists wherwith Clerophontes was verie well contented Nowe while this truce continued which was prolonged for thirtie dayes it was lawfull for them of Alexandria to come and viewe the campe of Metelyne and for the Metelynes to goe and sée the Citie Wherevpon Clerophontes desirous to sée Orlanio and his Court went onelye accompanied with his garde to Alexandria where he was most royally entertained and sumptuously feasted by Orlanio both of them remitting the rigour of their mallice till it shoulde bee shewed in effect by reason of their manhood But as soone as Thersandro and the other Lords saw Clerophontes y ◠he was rather a monster then a man hauing each lim so strongly couched each part so proportioned so huge of stature so fierce of countenance they were so daūted with the sight of his persō as they almost feared to come in his presence saying that thereof the boldest blouds in Alexandria were not able to abide the force of Clerophontes Who now peaceably departing to his hoast lefte Orlanio as greatly perplexed for assēbling his nobilitie together amongst whom he appointed the champion shuld be chosen They not onely with one consent withstood his cōmaund but began to murmure and mutine against him condempning him of folly that he would so vnaduisedly commit his own state ther stay to the doubtful hazard of one mans hap Orlanio seeing y ◠it was now no time to chastise this their presumption vnlesse he meant to raise ciuill dissention in the citie which were the next way to confirme the enimie bréed his owne confusion he dissēbled his cholar began to work a new way For first he fréed Castania out of prison thē made generall proclamation throughout his Dukedome y ◠what Lord so euer w tin his land would try the combat with Clerophontes if he remained victor in the conquest he would not onely giue him his daughter Castania to wife let him possesse peaceably the Dukedome of Metelyne as her dowry but be content to acknowledge him as his liege paye him tribute as he was wont to Clerophontes While he lingered and listened how this proclamition would preuaile Castania hearing this seuere sentence dolefull doome pronounced séeing that shoulde not onely be forced to forsake Gwydonius but be constrained to match in marriage with one whome shée should neyther loue nor like burst forth into these bitter complaintes A Alasse quoth she how pinching a pain it is to be perplexed with diuers passions what a noisome care it is to be combred with sundrie cogitations what a woo it is to hang betwéene desire despaire what a hell it is to houer betwéene feare and hope For as to him which is assured to die death is no dolour in that he perfectlye knowes there is no salue can cure his sorrow so to him which feares to die yet hopes to liue death were thrice more welcome then to linger in such doubt In which cursed case alas my case consisteth for as out of the riuer Cea in Sicillia bursteth most feareful flames and yet the streame is passing colde neither is the water able to quench the fire nor the fire cause the water to bée hotte so the heate of hope flameth out of the chilling fountaine of feare yet the force of the one is not able to asswage the vehemencie of the other but still my heauie heart is diuersly assailed with them both If my Father Orlanio winne the conquest I doubt my desire shall neuer haue happie successe if Clerophontes triumphe as victour I greatly feare his crueltie is such as I shall not escape most haplesse death And yet againe I hope that then my own Gwydonius wil accept me for his and with triumphant armes imbrace me But alas will Clerophontes suffer him to match with his mortal so wil he not rather preuent it by my peril Yes no doubt if he returne with triumph my Father shal serue him as a subiect my brother shall become his vassall my friendes shall bée forlorne my Citie sackt and my natiue Countrie brought to vtter confusion And shall I for the loue of a straunger wishe these straunge stratagemmes Shall I to féede mine owne fancie and content my lustinge minde wish my Fathers death my Brothers bane my friends mishap my Countries confusion and perhappes my owne miserie For though Gwydonius loued mée when our parents were friendes he will not now lyke me béeing foes but to reuenge the iniuries my Father offered him will subtilly séeke to sacke my honour and honestie and so
of his lodging fraught with a thousand sundry fancies accompanied with men and pages passing to the place where he may haue a sight of his Mistres obtaining for his trauell no gain but perhaps some amorous glaunce making long sutes spending his time and his treasure consuming his wit and wasting his wealth and yet reaping nothing but disdaine and discredite But if it chaunce that his Mistresse condiscend vnto his requests she appoynteth him to come at some suspitious houre which he cannot performe without great perill To come with companie were to bewray his secrets to go alone most daungerous to goe openly too manifest so that he must passe disguised sometime like a woman other times like a peasant or some vilde person scaling the walles with ladders clyming vp to the windowes by cordes yea continually in daunger of death if Follye did not holde him vp by the hand It is not also vnknowen vnto you how manye sundrye passions doo perplexe the poore passionate Louers all which procéede of Folly as to haue ones heart seperated from himselfe to be nowe in peace and than in warre now couering his dolour blushing one while and looking pale another fraught wholly with feare hope and shame séeking that carefully which he séemeth to flie yet doubtfully dreading not to find it to laugh seldome to sigh often to burn in cold fréeze in heate to be crossed altogether w t coÌ„traries which be signs not only of folly but of phreÌ„sie Who shall excuse Hercules handling so carefully the distaffe of Omphale or Salomon for combring himselfe with so many Concubines Annibal in submitting himselfe to his loue Aristotle in obeying Hermia and Socrates in yéelding to Aspasia and many other which we sée daily to be so blinded as they knowe not themselues and what is the cause héereof but folly so that we sée that it is she which maketh loue to be so feared â—â—doubted it is shée that honoureth him exalteth his name and causeth him to be counted as a God Further whosoeuer loueth must applie himselfe to the affection of his mistresse although it be contrarie to his natural constitution if he be quiet wise and discréete yet if his louer please to haue him chaunge his state he must turne his stearn and hoise his saile to goe with another winde Zethius and Amphion could not agrée for because the delight of the one was a despight to the other vntill Amphion left his musicke If the Lady whom thou louest be couetous thou must chaunge thy selfe into golde and so fall into her bosome if she be merrie thou must be pleasaunt if sullen thou must be sad All the seruauntes and sutors to Atlanta were hunters because she delighted in that sport Many Gentlewomen to please their louers which were Poets left the rocke and the néedle and tooke in hand pens and bookes now tell me if these straunge Metamorphosis be not méere pointes of folly Doe you thinke that a souldier which goeth to the assalt marketh y e trenches thinketh of his enimies or of a thousande harguebushes wherof euerie one is sufficient to destroy him No he only hopeth to win the conquest and doth not so much as once imagine the rest He which first inuented sailing doubted not of the perillous daungers and he that playeth neuer thinketh to become a looser yet are they all thrée in daunger to be slaine drowned and vndoone But what then they neither doo sée nor will sée what is hurtfull vnto them So we must coniecture the like of louers for if they did sée the dreadfull dangers the fearefull perills wherein they are how they be deceiued and beguiled they wold neuer honour loue as a God but detest him as a diuell and so should the kingdome of loue be destroyed which now is gouerned by ignorance carelesnesse hope blindnesse which are all the handmaides of folly Remainâ— in peace then fond loue and séeke not to breake the auncient league which is betwéene thée folly For if thou doest thy bowe shall be broken thy darts shall be of no force Contemtaeque faces et sine luce â—acent ¶ When Mercurie had finished the defence of Folly Iupiter seeing the Gods to be diuersly affected that some held with Cupid and some with Folly to decide the doubt he pronounced this sentence FOr the difficultie and importaunce of this difference and diuersitie of opinions we haue remitted the deciding of it vntill three times seauen times and nine ages be past in y â— meane while we straightly command you to liue friendly together without offering iniurie one vnto another And Folly shall guide and conduct blind Loue whether she séemeth best and for the restoring of his eyes after wee haue spoken with the Destinies it shall be decréed FINIS AT LONDON Printed by T. East for William Ponsonby 1584.
loued Helena Sparta had neuer reioyced nor Troy ben brought to ruine But did not I cause him to goe to Menelaus vnder coulour of Embassage to Court vnto his wife to leade her awaie by force and after to defend his vniust quarrel against all Greece Who had spoken of the loue of Dido if he had not deuised to goe a hunting that she might haue the better commoditie to communicate with Aeneas that by such priuate familiaritie he might not be ashamed to take from her that which long before most willingly she would haue giuen him I beléeue no mention had béene made of Artemizia if I had not caused her drinke the cynders of her husbands dead carcasse for else who had knowen whether she had loued her husband more then other women The effect and issues of things alwayes make them to be praised or dispraised If thou makest men to loue yet I am oft times the chiefest cause But if any straunge aduenture or greate effect chaunceth in that thou hast no part but the onely honour belongeth vnto me Thou rulest nothing but y â— heart the rest I gouerne yea I leade thée I conducte thée and thine eyes serue thée to no more vse then the beames of the Sunne to a blinde man But to the ende thou knowe mée from hence foorth and that thou mayst giue mée thankes for conducting thée carefullye Beholde nowe howe greatlye thine eyes dooe profite thée Follie putteth out Cupids eies Loue. Alasse Iupiter O my mother Venus what auayleth it to bée thy sonne so feared so redoubted both in heauen and in earth if I be subiect to bée iniured as the most vile slaue in the worlde Alasse haue I thus lost mine eies by an vnknowen woman Folly Take héede sond foole another time to rayle vppon those who perhappes are of more force and puissaunce then thou Thou hast offended the Quéene of men thou hast outraged her who gouerneth the heart the braine and the minde Under whose shadowe euerie one once in his lyfe shroudeth himselfe and ther remaineth either long or short time according to his merite thou hast displeased her who procureth thy renowme thou hast contempned her who hath aduaunced thée and therfore hath this misfortune fallen vpon thy head Loue. Alasse how is it possible for me to 〈◊〉 her whom I neuer knew or to reuerence that person whom before I neuer sawe but if thou hast borne me such great good will as thou saist pardon this my offence and restore me my sight Folly To restore thée thine eyes is not in my power but I will couer the place to hide the deformitie Folly couereth Cupids face with a Scarfe and giueth him wings And in liew of this haplesse lucke thou shalt haue these wings which shal cary thée whether thou wilt wish Loue. But where hadst thou this vaile so readie to couer my deformitie Folly It was giuen me as I came hether by one of the destinies who told me it was of that nature that if it were once fastned it could neuer be vnloosed Loue. How vnloosed am I then blinde for euer O vile and traiterous wretch coulde it not suffice to pull out mine eyes but to take awaie the meanes that the Gods cannot restore them now I sée the sentence verified on my selfe that it is not good to take a present at the hande of an enimie O cruell destinies O cursed daie shall not the heauens the earth and the seas haue cause to waile sith loue is blinde But why doe I complaine héere in vaine it is better for me to sue to the Gods for reuengement The second discourse Loue goeâ—â— from the Pallace of Iupiter lamenting to himselfe his mischiefe Loue. Alasse in what miserable case am I what can eyther my bowe or mine arrowes auaile me nowe can I not cause whom I 〈…〉 â—oue but without respect of persons euerie one is in daunger of my darts Hetherto I haue onely caused daintie damsells and young youths to loue I did choose out the brauest blouds and the fairest and most well featured men I did pardon vile and base persons I excused the deformed creatures and let olde age remaine in peace But now thiâ—king to hit a young gallaunt I light vpon some olde â—â—â—ting lecher in stéed of some braue Gentleman I strike some filthie foule lurden And it shall happen I dâ—â—bt that they shall bée most fortunate in their loue so that by patrimonie presence or wealth they shall soonest winne the fauour of women and by this meanes my kingdome shall come to ruine when men sée in it such disorder and euill gouernment Venus hauing long sought Cupid now meeteth him I haue carefully long sought thée my deare sonne meruailing what the cause shoulde bée that thou hast not bene present at the banket of Iupiter Who is greatly incensed against thee not onely for thy absence but for the complaintes which are 〈◊〉 out against thée by sundrie poore artificers labouring men pesaunts slaues hand maides olde men and toothlesse aged women crying all vnto Iupiter that they loue thinking themselues greatly iniured in this respect that the passion which is proper to worthy and noble men should be inflicted vpon them which are of the base and vildest sort Loue. Had not the great misfortune which is chaunced vnto me happened I had neither bene absent from the banquet nor these gréeuous complaints had not bene inferred against mée Venus Why and art thou hurt Who hath thus vailed thine eies Loue. Folly hath not onely pulled them out but also hath put this bande before mine eies which can neuer be taken away Venus O cursed enimie of all wisedome O haplesse wretch vniustly called a Goddesse and more vnrightly tearmed immortall hast thou depriued me of my chiefest delight and felicitie O disaster loue O dissolute mother O wofull Venus who séest thy sonne thy ioy and onely care thus cruelly depriued of his sight Well since thy mishap is so great I vowe that euerie one that shall loue what fauour or happie successe so euer he shall haue shall not be without some care trouble or calamitie that hée vaunt not himselfe to be more happie then the sonne of Venus Loue. Cease off good mother from these sorrowfull complaints redouble not my griefe by these your dolorous discourses suffer mée to beare mine owne misfortune and wish not euill vnto them which shall bée my subiectes Venus Well let vs then goe to Iupiter and complaine of this cursed inchauntresse The third discourse Venus If euer thou hadst pittie of my plaintes most iust Iupiter when thou sawest me labour to saue my son Aeneas from the furie of the raging Seas and to defend him from other daungers in the which he was present at the siege of Troy If my teares for the death of my deare Adonis moued thée to compassion The surpassing sorrow that I doe conceiue for the great iniurie offered to Cupid I hope shall moue thée to pittie If teares wold suffer me I would
bewraie the cause of my sorrow but behold my sonne in what plight he is and thou shalt easily perceiue the cause of my complaint Iupiter Alasse my deare daughter what doe these teares preuaile knowest thou not what fatherly affection I haue alwaies borne thée what doest thou distrust that I wyll not succour thée or that I cannot Venus No I neither doubt the one nor distrust the other I onely demaund iustice against Folly the most outragious furie in the world which hath thus grieuously abused Cupid Folly Most mightie and soueraigne Iupiter beholde I am héere readie to answere to Venus complaints and to debate my right against Cupid Iupiter Folly I will neither accuse nor excuse thée vntill I haue heard the defence of the one as well as the plaint of the other least I should be thought parciall neither for the more auoiding of iniustice in the matter wil I suffer you to plead your owne causes but Venus choose you one of the Gods and Folly take you an other Venus I choose Appollo to defend my cause Folly And I Mercurie to maintaine my right Iupiter Then Apollo Mercurie prepare your selues to plead well in your clients cases and Apollo since you take the plaintiefes part let vs heare what you can say Apollo THe common people right soueraigne Iupiter although their minds be sotted almost seÌ„celes yet they haue al way had loue in such sacred estimation y â— they haue carefully rewarded theÌ„ w t the titles of honor dignity which haue excelled in y â— holy affection estéeming this only vertue if so rightly it may be tearmed sufficient of a maÌ„ to make one a God The Scithians for this cause canonized Pilades Orestes erecting temples vnto theÌ„ calling theÌ„ the Gods of amitie Castor Pollux were made immortal by this meanes not in y â— they were brothers but in y â— which is rare their loue was inuiolable Howe hath fame blazed abroad y â— loue of Dauid Ionathas y â— amitie of Pithias Damon of Titus Gysippus But y â— better to make manifest y â— force of loue amitie I will alledge the saying of Darius who opening a Pomgranat being demanded wherof he would haue as many as ther were graines within answered of Zopyres this Zopyre was his faithful friend by the meanes of whom he conquered Babylon I remember also a certaine Syrian demanding a maide in marriage and being willed to shew of what wealth he was said that he had no other riches but two friends estéeming himself rich inough with such possessions to craue y â— daughter of a great lord in mariage Did not loue cause Ariadne saue Theseus life Hyperminestra redéeme Linceus froÌ„ danger Medea frée Iason from perill Haue not many poore soldiers ben aduanced to high dignities by y â— meanes of loue yea doth not all pleasure profit procéed to man by loue causing him to looke w t an amiable countenance to speake pleasantly and to be curious in his ieastures although by nature he be dull sottish of a fierce looke What causeth a man to go braue fine in his apparell séeking euerie day new fashions but loue What procureth Gentlewomen to haue their haire frizeled crisped and embrodered with golde to be dressed after the Spanish French or Italian fashion but Loue. Painting their faces if they be foule with liuely colours But if they be faire they so carfully kéepe their beautie from the parching heate of Summer from the chilling colde of Winter from Wine raine and age as they remaine almost euer young not so much as forgetting to haue their shooes made fine and neate because the curiousnesse of men is such as they leaue not to looke from the crowne of the head to the soale of the foote to haue their iemmes iewells ouches ringes perfumed gloues and what not In fine what beautie or brauerie is in the apparell eyther of man or woman all proceedeth of Loue. Shall I saie that Musicke was onely inuented by loue yea truely for eyther it mittigateth the passions wherewith men are perplexed or else augmenteth their pleasure so that dayly they inuent diuerse kindes of instrumentes as Lutes Citrons Uiolls Flutes Cornets Bandoras whereon they plaie Madrigalis Sonnettes Pauins Measures Galiardes and all these in remembraunce of Loue as he for whom men doe more then for anie other What causeth men to iust tourney runne at tilt and combat but loue Who caused Comedies shews Tragedies and Masks to be inuented but Loue. Wherof commeth it that men delight to rehearse their amorous chaunces and straunge passions and to relate them to their companions some praising the courtesie of his Ladie another condempning his mistresse crueltie yea recounting a thousande mishappes which happen in theyr loues as Letters disclosed euyll reportes suspitious iealousie sometimes the husband comming home sooner than either the louer would or the wife doeth wish sometimes coniecturing without cause and other times beléeuing nothing but trusting vppon hys wiues honestie To be short the greatest pleasure after loue is to tell what perillous daungers are passed But what maketh so many Poets in the worlde is it not Loue the which séemeth to be the plaine song whereon all Poets doo descant yea there is few which write vppon any serious matter but they close vp their worke with some amorous clause or els they are the worse accepted Ouid hath celebrated the fame of Cupid Petracke and Virgil Homere and Liuâ—us Sapho yea that seuere Socrates wrote somewhat of his loue Aspasia Tush who rightly can denye that Loue is not the cause of all the glorie honour profite and pleasure which happeneth to man and that without it he cannot conuenientlye lyue but shall runne into a thousande enormities All this happie successe came by Loue as long as hée had his eyes but now being depriued of his sight and accompanied with Folly it is to be feared nay certainly to be beléeued that he shall be the cause of as manie discommodities mischiefes and mishaps as hethertoo hée hath bene of honour profit and pleasure The noble men which loued their inferiours and the subiects which dutifully serued their Lords shall be meruailously chaunged by the meanes of folly for the master shall loue his seruaunt onely for his seruice and the seruaunt his master onely for commoditie Yea there is none so addicted vnto vertue but if once he loue he shall presently commit some foolish touch and the more straight and firme loue is the greater disorder there shall be by the meanes of Folly There will returne into the world more then one Biblis more then one Semyramis then one Myrrha then one Canace then one Phaedra There shall be no place in the world vnspotted The high walls and treâ—lissed windowes shall not kéepe the Nunnes and Uestall Uirgins in sauegard Olde age shall tourne her aged affections into fond fancies and wanton desires Shame shall lyue as an exile There shall