Now the destinies so ordered the matter that the king by chance cast a looke vpon this gorgeous goddesse and at the first view was so vanquished by vanitie that he thought his l◅fe no longer pleasant vnto him then when he was in her sight and failed not dayly familiarly to frequent the Mistresse cōmpanie for the Maides cause And having attempted her chastitie by shewing her his great good will by bestowing on her gifts by large promises of preferment and many other meanes nevertheles missing of his purpose at that time for as yet she stood at defiance with incontinencie in pensive perplexitie fell at parlee with himselfe to this purpose Why Amasias quoth he art thou so squeamish that thou canst not see wine but thou mu◅ surfeit Canst thou not draw nie the fire and warme thee but thou must with Satyrus kisse it and burne thee Art thou so little maister of thy aflections that if thou gaze on a Picture thou must with Pigmalion be passionate Canst thou not passe through Paphos but thou must offer incense to Venus Dost thou thinke it injurie to Cupid to looke if thou dost not love Ah fond foole know this fire is to be vsed but not to be handled the Baaran flower is to be worne in the hand not chawed in the mouth the precious stone Echites is to be applied outwardly and not to bee taken inwardly and beautie is made to feede the eye not to fetter the heart Wilt thou then swallow vp the bait which thou knowest to be bane Wilt thou hazard at that which can not be had without harme No stretch not too farre wade not too deepe violate not the rites of matrimonie impeach not thy faith plighted to Cleodora vse beauty but serve it not shake the tree but taste not of the fruit lest thou find it too hard to be disgested Why but Beautie is a god and will bee obeyed Love looketh to command not to bee conquered Iuno strove but once with Venns and she was vanquished Iupiter resisted Cupid but he went by the worst it is h◅rd for thee with the Crabbe to swimme against the streame or with the Salamander to strive against the fire for in wrastling with a fresh wound thou shalt but make the sore more dangerous Can Beautie fond foole be resisted which makes the gods to bow Love himselfe yeelded to the feature of Psyche and thinkest thou thy fancie to be of greater force But Amasias if thou wilt needes love vse it as a toy to passe away the time which thou may est take vppe at thy lust and lay downe at thy pleasure Love why Amasias doost thou dreame whome shouldest thou love Flori◅da what thy servant no sure thou art not so fond And with that as he vttered these words such thoughts such sighes such sobs such teares as◅ailed him as he was stricken dumb with the extremitie of these hellish passions scarce able to draw his breath for a good space till at last recovering his senses he fell to his former sorrow in this ◅ort I ever heretofore thought a Princes life to be voide of contention and that they had alwayes passed their time in pleasure wi◅hout moles◅ation but now I s◅e we are as soone exposed to sorrow as the meanest subject we have Likewise be◅ore this I was o◅ opinion that the number of friends abo◅nding in riches continuing in health and such like things which pertaine to the bodie were sufficient to attaine to felic◅tie in ◅his life but now I see it is the mind that maketh mi◅th and stirreth griefe yea the contented minde is the onely riches the onely quietnesse the onely happinesse Good God! how vnsavory seeme those sweet meates vnto me wherein I was wont to delight how vnpleasant are the s◅orts wherein I was woont to take pleasure how co◅bersome is the companie which was woont to content me no game pleaseth me no triumphs no shewes no hawking no h◅nting yea nothin◅ vnder the Sunne doth solace me And would I know the cause why I have not a contented mind The exquisite pa◅ts of Florinda do so diversly distract my minde that onely her sight is sweet onely her societie is comfortable onely her presence is delightful vnto me the reason is in her the Fates have fixed my happinesse in her the heavens have laid vp my felicitie her companie I must injoy and without it I must die Here vpon betaking himse◅e to his meditations hee framed a Letter to Florinda to this effect Amasias to the fairest Florinda health SVch and so extreame are the passions of love Florinda that the more they are quencht by Disdaine the greater flames are increased by Desire and the more they are galld with hate the more they gape after love like to the stone Tapozon which being once kindled burneth most vehemently in the water I speake this the greater is my griefe by proofe and experience for having my heart scorched with the beames of thy beautie and my mind inflamed with thy singular vertue neither can thy bitter lookes abate my love nor thy extreame discourtesie diminish my affection No Florinda it fareth with me as with the hearbe Basill the which the more it is crushed the sooner it springeth or the pure spice which the more it is pouned the sweeter it smelleth or the Cammomill which the more it is troden with the feete the more it flourisheth so in these extremities beaten downe to the ground with disdame yet my love reacheth to the top of the house with hope Sith then Florinda thy beautie hath made the sore let thy bo◅ntie apply the salve as thy vertue hath caused my maladie so let thy mercie give the medicine repay not my constancie with crueltie requite not my love with hate and my desire with despight lest thou procure my speedie death and thy endlesse infamie Thus hoping thou wilt have some remorse of my passions I attend thy friendly sentence and my fatall destinie Thine ever though never thine Amasias As soone as he had written his Letter he dispatched a Messenger as privily as might be who speedily delivering his Embassage was willed by Florinda to expect an answer who ruminating vpon the contents of his Epistle being incited by sordid preferment she thought by his approved loyaltie that her may denly modestie was sufficiently strayned and therefore after a sort was at length willing after long warding and awarding his waster to affoord him the vennie For who knowes not quoth she that this Hawke which comes now so faire to the fist may to morrow check at the Lure Having said this shee wrote as hereafter followeth Florinda to Amasias health THou hast followed fast Amasias and kept me long at a bay which maketh me willing now at length to obey and yeeld a branch of Lawrell as ensigne of thy conquest for this thy meede doth merite both Nobilitie and Courtesie Certes thy feature is neither crooked nor crabbed as for thy beautie I will not or at least I cannot signifie
the most a kisse wherby finding occasion shee sealed the same with her bright sanguine lippes saying that now she had given him his desired guerdon to which Amasias smiling replied after this maner Either my arrivall in this place is suspected or not suspected if suspected certes the outwardmost is suspected if not suspected neither will this be revealed Nay cut off my head quoth he if now I reape not the fruit of my hope I but it is sinne said Florinda Sinne quoth he It is sinne not to swallow in delights dangling at our lips it is sinne to abstaine from pleasure if that only may preserve our life Yet would I not preserve my life by doing wrong answered Florinda Nay thy selfe earst did dest say quoâ—…h Amasias that thou weâ—…t mine by right therfore where are now your weake reasons weake they were God-wote and scarce currant but let me see whether your selfe be as stout to resist as your gentle perswasions were substantiall to make mee desist This being said Amasias as it best beseemed Amasias offred her gentle violence and violent gentlenes which as some say seldome comes to women vnaccepted shee againe for fashions sake combated but willing to bee conquered for indeed ere long Amasias rode in triumph and which some men may maruaile at he behaved himselfe like Hydra whose neckes pared off with the heads were renued with two in each place like Anteus by each fall gathering more force or as the stone of Thracia which dipped in water to be cooled waxeth most fervent After this Florinda feasted him with as daintie and delicate dishes as her selfe could devise wherevnto wanted no Vâ—…num Cos the Whetstone of his fortitude Which done Amasias thanking his goddesse for his entertainment they both tooke their leave as though they had lost their lives especially Florinda who often wringing him by the wrests with her whitest handes kissed him as if her heart had desired to meete with his and his soule to joyne with hers and thence betaking her selfe into a window like the fairest garden flowers which beholding the departure of gladsome Phoebus to his purple bed whose being earst was their light and life some hanging downe their heades as deprived of all pleasure and others more erecting vp their loftie and leavie crests strive to injoy his sweete sight so farre as poâ—…sible they may so Florinda now pearched aloft to possesse his beloved sight as far as her watry eies could suffer and now againe hung downe her head in her bofome as not able to sustaine to behold his departure Now Amasias ever after was so wedded to the vaine suppose of pleasure and delight that his Peeres sorowed at the course of his vnbrideled follies and his subjects groned not vnder the burden of his covetous desires but were taxed with the griefe of his voluptuous appetite for such was the incontinencie of his life as sacietie of wanton affections never glutted his minde with content but as the Serpent Hydaspis the more he drinketh the more he is a thirst and as the Salamander the more he lieth in the fire the more desirous he is of the flame so Amâ—…sias the more hee offended in this intemperate concupiscence the more his thoughts were addicted to the vice insomuch as everie man did wish hee might fall headlong into the Centre of some deepe misfortune Wallowing thus in the selfe conceit of his wickednesse his â—…ife Clâ—…odora through over much impatience not sufficiently commanding his constancie or greatly moderating his affections began palpably to feele extraordinary passions within her to be praedominant For fond Affection like a heady ruler possessing the chiefest portion of her interests over-ruled her more honest resolutions at the entertainement of incestuous lust Which when she most evidently perceived for the better effecting of her purpose manifested her griefe vnto a damsell whom shee had brought w th her out of Lemnos and in whose confidence she reposed much Lucilla for so was the maid named being vpon a day in her Mistris chamber seeing that beyond measure she was melancholie and that her health not a little impeached through sorrow strained modesty and with these words interrupted her mournings Ah Cleodora more loved of me then mine owne life and more deere vnto me then my selfe would God I might be plagued with all earthly diseases so I might see thee free from distresse how can Lucâ—…lla be without sorrow to see Cleodora oppressed with sicknesse how can she but sinke in calamitie to see her but once touched with care alas vnfold vnto me thy sore and I will adde the meanes to apply the salve make me privie to thy malady and I will procure a medecine The regard which ever since my first being with you I have had of your welfare I had rather leave it to your consideration then with the rehearsall of it but wearie your patience Which endevours of mine if your Majestie shall recompence with advertisement of your griefe I will not onely studie to procure your contentment by my industrious resolutions but my selfe also not a little satisfied shall rest in great security Alas quoth the Queene it is not vnknowne not only to vs but to the whole Kingdome how my Lord seduced by the flattering allurements of strumpets hath not onely violated the law of our gods in prophaning my nuptiall bed made sacred by the holy law of matrimonie but also the law of Cyprus which vtterly forbiddeth such disorder and wanton actions But sith in a Monarchie the wills of Princes may bide no checke but their reasons howsoever vnreasonable are the principles that may not be infringed it resteth onely for me to complaine but not to redresse lest venturing too farre I set my rest on the hazard and so desperately throw at all What Madame answered Lucilla have you no other cause to disquiet your selfe then the foolish love of the King Truely this is a very small occasion and a cause more then frivolous after this manner to vexe your selfe remove away these dolorous passions and endevour to live joyfully with those amongst whom your reputation and credite shall be honourable attending til Time shal coole his ardent desires and enforce him to change his affections with this proviso that by vnlawfull acquaintance your honour likewise be not depraved Indeede replyed the Queene the whole can with facilitie minister counsell to them that are sicke but if thou didst but feele that distemperature which permitteth me to take no rest in my minde and the cause of the anguish that doth deprive me of sence I am assured that having pittie vpon me thou wouldest otherwise comfort me or else help to execute that which should serve for the intire solace and contentment of my spirit The King hath led this life a long time and it is now impossible but by death or extreamity of age he should alter it in the meane while I passe my time away in vaine no waies comforted which maketh my griefe seeme more intolerable Lucilla
altogether vncertaine as soone the enuious ennemie as the well-willer may haue the perusall thereof in which some word simply meant of you or me may be by them at their pleasure construed whereby both a slaunder which is not easily suppressed may be raised and your name brought into question Writing is a thing whereof the subtill Lawyer takes no small aduantage To auoyde all which casualties this may you doe pretend some matter of conference with him and appoynt the time when he at your lodging shall attend you whither comming secretly and at such a season as the king your husband shal be employed in serious affaires you may vse your speech at your pleasure This would Lucilla doe your grace may vse your discretion I like thy deuise well quoth Cleodora therefore faile not to meete him for thy promise sake Now in faith Madam said Lucilla you haue made a good choise for a sollicitor but take me as I am this is the first suite for which I euer was retained and I doubt not if I now speed well of many cliants As they were thus pleasant betweene themselues they heard which caused the Queene to send forth her page for the enquirie of the matter who returned her answer that the King with his traine were setting forward to hunt a wild Boare which his Forresters had roused this newes gaue them cause of ioy hoping that fortune had fauoured them with a happie time which doubting the like opportunitie they were loath to omit Cleodora especially who could not be quieted in minde vntill shee had heard of the Princes answer wherefore a Page was presently commanded to search for him willing him with such conuenient speed as he could to meete Lucilla in the garden the Page vsed such diligence that speedily he was brought vnto his presence whom he found solitarie as a holy father at his Orizons whom the Page awaked with his ioyfull message which was albeit doubtfull whether of weale or woe most welcome vnto him The suddaine hearing of which caused him to pause a while when hauing determined courteously returned answer to the gentlewoman that he would incontinently attend her The boy he so bounteously rewarded as that he had cause to boast himselfe of his well emploied seruice Lucilla hauing receiued his answer aduertised the Qu. thereof who commanded her to haste least by her absence she should giue him cause of disconteÌ„t but for al her speed Eliosto was long there before attending her comming who was no sooner of him perceiued to enter the place but his heart presaging some good hap was thence more delighted then at al the motions that euer could be imagined After his courteous salutations done he encontred her thus Sweet Lucilla I know not what to imagine of thy suddaine message yet willing to bee resolued as one that by thy answer expecteth his doome either of life or death I attend thy pleasure say therfore what saith the Queene to my letters Lucilla purposing to be pleasant yet not to cloy his stomacke with such pleasant confections that there with hee should surfet but framing her countenance to her speech shee tould him that of all the gentlemen in the Cyprian Court her good opinion was such of him that vpon his word shee thought shee might haue hazarded her greatest credit which expectation of mine being deceiued Thou art not worthy quoth shee to bee accounted among such honorable men at armes which deeme their chiefest reputation to consist in the perseuerance of their word to gentlewomen At the deliuery of which hee that had viewed the Princes countenance might haue supposed him to haue bin past Physicks recouerie and withal standing so mute Lucilla was verely perswaded that he was ready to deliuer his lifes interest which made her in altering her words with a smoother methode to file them suspecting that her Comedie begunne in mirth might prooue to the great griefe of the whole countrie who generally honoured him a dismal Tragedie Wherefore taking him by the hand shee said Sir I am sorie I haue charged you so farre but it is womanlike to be slaine with words and for one of your calling no fit Passion in such sort to be vanquished That you may comfort your selfe I first pardon the offence against mee committed and enioine you as you tender your credit with the Queene to repaire at such conuenient time to her lodging as you can best which if you performe the messenger wil be excused Oh Lucilla how haue thy speeches tormented me filling my entrailes with such a confusion of comfortlesse thoughts as haue ouercome my sences Yet if thou haue any sparke of gentilitie abiding within thee informe me how the Queene did countenance my bashfull paper vouchsafed she the reading of them What else quoth she for to discomfort you any longer it were pittie beeing already at so low a datum which not a litle troubles me Comfort I can giue none to thy desires but this thy suite is loue as your letters import in which albeit vnlawful despaire not for thy mother is a woman though a Qu how compassionate our sexe is I will not boast but wish thee not to diffide for since it is ineuitable I wil be a faithful solicitor Mis-take meâ—… not Eliosto I speake as a friend and so leaue thee vntill thy comming to my Lady which detract not for time lost is such a pretious thing as that it can againe neuer be recalled Before whom when thou shalt come plead thine owne cause and discouer thine owne griefe but with this caution alwaies thinke that whatsoeuer you goe about your aduersaries eies to be fixed ready to take any exceptions which may blemish the lustre of your estiâ—…ation Eliosto which by these her last words had some greater hope of his content was so surprised with ioy that he could not bidde her farewell yet after his memento past farewell quoth hee the faithfullest friend that euer I found in my distresse Oh Lucilla happie maist thou be in thy loues and highly regarded amongst men by whom my cares are thus lightened trustie Lucilla the worker of my hearts happie content by whom past all hope I am by thy fidelitie and trueth in deliuering my message freed from such a heauie burden which was likely to haue beene my vtter ruine Thus applauding Lucilla hee had almost forgotten his word But leauing further to descant vpon this plaine song returne we to the Queene who was aduertised by her woman of that which had passed between the Prince and her not omitting his heauie lookes and pittifull speeches And then againe as glad to please the Queene whom shee was assured loued him spared not at large to set out his honours gained his comelinesse of person 〈◊〉 and whatsoeuer else the world admired in him shee admirably aduanced to the greatest content of Cleodora who thought euery minute a yeare vntill shee saw him whom with heartie desire ardently shee expected and with that looking out at the casement
plea therefore omitting all friuolous prattle know that as well at the sight of thy Beautie as by the report of thine Honestie affection hath so fettered me in the snares of fancie that formy best refuge I am come to thy sweet selfe to craue a salue for those passions which no other can appease I deny not but thou hast both Loue and Law to withhold thee from this perswasion and yet we know women haue their seuerall friends Venus though shee loues with one eie yet she can look with th' other Cupid is neuer so vnprouided but he hath two arrowes of one temper Offences are not measured by proportion but by secrecy Sinon castè tamen cautè If not chastely yet charily thou maist both winne a frind and preserue thy fame yea Ballinea such a friend whose countenance shal shrowd thee from enuy and whose plentie shall free thee from penurie I will not stand longer vpon this point let it suffice that in louing me thou shalt reap preferrement and in denying my suite purchase to thy husband and thy selfe such an hatefull enemy as to requite thy deniall will seeke to preiudice thee with all mishaps Ballinea who knew the length of his arrow by the bent of his bow resolued rather to taste of any misery than for lucre to make shipwracke of hir chastity returned him this sharp answer Indeed my Liege a lesse haruest might haue serued for so bad corne that how warily soeuer you gleane it will scarce proue worth the reaping Tru it is that preambls are friuolous that perswade men to such follies therefore had you spar'd this speach your credit had bin the more your labor lesse If on the sodaine my beauty hath inueagled you for as for my virtue you hazard but a suppose sith ofttimes report hath a blister on her tong I must blame your eye that is bleer'd with euery obiect accuse such a mind as suffers honor to be suppressed with affection my Lord soone ripe soone rotten hot loue is so one cold Mens fancies are like fire in straw that flames in a minute ceaseth in a moment But to return you a denial with your own objection true it is that I am tide to my husband both by loue law which to violate both the gods and nature forbids vs vnles by death Venus may loue look as she list at last proue hirselfe but a wanton hir inordinate affections are no presidents wherby to direct my actions And whereas you say Offences are measured by secrecie I answer Euery thing is transparent to the sight of the gods their diuine eyes pierce into the hart and thoughts they measure not reuenge by dignity but by iustice For preferrement knowe mighty prince ther are no greater riches than content nor no greter honor than quiet I esteem more of fame than of gold rather chuse to die chast than liue rich threatnings are small perswasions little is her honesty that preferres life before credit Therefore may it please you this is my determined resolution which take from me as an Oracle that as preferment shall neuer perswade me to be vnchaste so death shall neuer disswade me from being honest Amazias hearing this rough replie of the woman was driuen into a maruellous choller so that skarce affording her a farewel he flung out of dores and going to horse he hied home to the court The good wife glad that he tooke the matter so in snuffe commanded her maid to say nothing to hir master lest it should disquiet his minde But the King impatient of this deniall thought that the Citie which would not yield at the parley might be conquered by an assault and that which intreaty could not command force would constraine therefore he commanded one of his Peeres whom he made priuie to his practise to giue him warning to depart out of his house but with this prouiso that if his wife were found tractable then she should remaine there still The Noble man fulfilling his Soueraignes command proued straight by experience that it was as possible to force the streame against his course or the earth to ascend from his center as to draw her minde from vertue and honestie and therefore contrarie to all law and conscience charged them to leaue their liuings The poore man after his wife had made him priuie to the cause of their suddaine calamitie tooke it very patiently chose rather to liue poorely content then richly discredited so that the prefixed time of his departure being come he quietly departed from the farme to a cottage where his wife and he liued as perfect louers in vnfained affection Amazias seeing his pollicie tooke small effect impatient stil in his restles passions accompanied one day with 5 or 6 of his nobles taking the aduantage of the time perforce brought Ballinea away priuily left two of his guard in ambush to kil Lewesohiln The neighbors hearing of this mischiefe secretly sent to Lewesohiln where he was at plow forewarnd him of all that Amazias had done and intended The poore man seeing that to striue with him was to shoote against the Heauens preferring life before wealth euen as he was apparrelled went farre from the place of his residence and as a man in distresse seeking seruice went to a Collier who entertained and gaue him such wages as hee deserued where quietly although disquieted in minde for the absence of his wife he passed away a few daies Diuerse were poore Lewesohilns thoughts for when hee considered the Chastitie of his wife Suspition hidde her face for shame but when he saw that womens thoughts are aspiring and gape after preferment and that the greatest assault to honestie is Honour he began to frowne so that thus betweene Dread and Hope he liued disquieted But poore Ballinea whose miserie was redoubled by hearing of her husbands mishappe powred out such continuall fountaines of teares as not onely Amazias but all men tooke pitie of her plaints But the vnbrideled furie of Lust that while it runnes headlong into a Laborynth of mischiefes feeleth no remorse had no consideration of her daily sorrowes but resolued if not by intreatie at least by force to come to the ende of his lasciuious desire Which resolution beeing knowne to Ballinea from Praiers shee went to Pollicie and therefore on the suddaine became more courteous desiring Amazias that he would giue her some space to forget her old Loue and entertaine a new choice Hee whose fancy was somwhat appeased with this good speech granted her the tearme of a Moneth with free libertie to walke in the garden and else-where at her pleasure Ballinea enioying her wish so fortunately taking Time by the forehead earely in a morning stole secretly from the Palace and fledde into the Countrie where in the day time hiding her selfe amongst bushes and in the night trauelling as fast as shee could at last shee came to the place where her husband was with the Collier and there
fruites of thy fauour I doe esteeme the dignities of 〈◊〉 as dâ—…egs in respect of thy diuine perfection Yea Cleodora I am so snared with thy beauty and so intangled in the trappe of thy bounty as I shall neuer leaue to loue nor euer beginne to like any other It is easie Eliosto quoth Cleodora to purchase credite where the partie is already perswaded and to inferre beliefe where euery word is esteemed as an Oracle Therefore omitting these friuolous protestations thus I say touching the purpose Cecillius Metelluâ—… was wont to say that as it was necessary that olde men should be graue in counsaile so it was expedient yong men should be se ret in loue and therefore when the contract was made betweene Fuluius and his daughter he sealed vp their lippes with his signet meaning that to violate the secret conference of Louers was to commit a second sacrilege I speake this of Eliosto as one carefull of thy state for if Amazias thy father should but once heare of our loue or suspect our liking it would breed thy euerlasting miserie and my eternall calamitie Dispose of our affaires at thy pleasure but discouer not our purposes if thou hast won the castle vaunt not on the conquest if thou hast made a good market bragge not of thy gaines lest by boasting of thy bootie thou heereafter be depriued of thy expectation and in the meane time bee deemed a pratler And Eliosto aboue all men beware of Rawcikew lest vnder the shape of a friend he prooue in time thy mortall foe lest his fained amitie prooue faithlesse enmitie that in trusting too much without triall thou finde not treason and then though thou repent yet had-I-wist commeth too late and so thou wish thou hadst neuer loued and I neuer liked for his suspitious speculations pretends mistrust and his praestigious actions discouer infidelitie I tell thee Eliosto in the fairest sandes is most ficklenesse out of the brauest blossome most commonly springeth the worst fruite the finest floure seldome hath the best smell the most glittering stone hath oftentimes the least vertue and in the greatest shew of good will lies ofttimes the smallest effect of friendshippe in most flattery least faith in the fairest face the falsest heart in the smoothest tale the smallest trueth and in the sweetest gloses most sowre ingratitude Yea I see that in trust lies treason that faire wordes make fooles faine and that the state of such men is like vnto the marygold which as long as the Sunne shineth openeth her leaues but with the least cloud beginneth to close like the Violets in America which in summer yeeld an odoriferous smell and in winter a most pestilent sauour so these parasites in prospâ—…ritie professe most but in aduersitie performe least When Fortune fauoreth they laugh when she frowneth they lowre at euery full sea they flourish but at euery dead neape they fade like to the fish Palerna which being perfectly white in the calme yet turneth passing blacke at euery storme to the trees in the desarts of Affrica that flourish but while the south winde bloweth or to the Celedonie stone which retaines his vertue no longer than when it is rubbed with golde Sith then 〈◊〉 quoth she there is such falshood in friendship and such 〈◊〉 deedes in such painted speeches shake both Rawcikew off and other fawning curres with the flagge of Defiance and from hence forth trie ere thou trust Tush Cleodora quoth Eliosto he that is afraid to venture on the buck because he is tapisht in the briars shall neuer haue Hunters hap and he that puts his doubt in loue for euery chaunce shall neuer haue louers lucke Can not the Cat catch mice without shee haue a bell hanging at her eare Can not the Hobbie seize on his prey but hee must checke cannot the Spaniel retriue the Partridge but hee must quest and cannot we deale so warily but all the world must wonder at it Yes it is a subtil bird that builds among the aerin of hawks and a shifting sheepe that lambes in the Foxes denne and he shall looke narrowly that spies me halting Let my father not onely weigh our workes but our words and let Rawcikâ—…w both deeme our deedes and diuine our thoughts and yet I hope we will deale so secretly in our affaires as neither the one shall haue cause to suspect our familiaritie nor the other to detect our affection And therefore Cleodora lest if we be spied the time and place giue occasion of mistrust I will leaue you as I found you and so farewell Well these tâ—…o Louers placâ—…d thus by Fortune in the palace of earthly prosperitie floated so securely in the streames of blisse as they thought no chippes of mischance might change their present happinesse to future heauines as long as their priuy meetings were kept so secret to themselues But as they which caÌ„no 〈◊〉 fire in the straw are stâ—…ne blind so hee that cannot see the flame of fancie is a foole It is hard to couer smoake but more hard to conceale Loue which these two louers in tract of time found verified who as closely as they kept their cloake yet it was most easie to espie the lining for fancie secretly restrained is like the sparke couered with ashes which at length bursteth into a flame For there passed betweene Eliâ—…sto and Cleodora such amorous glaunces such louing lookes such curteous coâ—…gies such countenances and such friendly familiarity such often meetings such open salutations such sighs such sobbes and such strâ—…nge passions as not onely Rawclkew but all the Court though they poore soules thought to daunce in a net and not be seene perceiued how entirely they loued and liked each other Which thing by Rawcikew being discried as a man whose minde either greatly labouring with the inconstant winde of voluble promotion or not a little suffocated with the pestilent sting of virulent malice vowed the contemplation of their proceedings with serpentine vigilancie Whose determinate intention by vnhappie occasion of the intercedencie of more weighty occurrences for a season we will not interrupt THE SECOND BOOKE WHen the Ambition of aspiring gouernors obscuâ—…ed the glorie of the Cypâ—…ian kingdome and the Maiestie of so famous a Monarchy was rent into pettie Regiments When Mâ—…cedonia the nurce of Factions was more infected with inward mutinies than infested with outward hostilitie then Cyprus still the wonder earst of immeasurable greatnesse now of incomparable basenesse earsâ—… the ioy full receiuer of triumphing souldiers and pompous harbour of renowned Conquerors now the sorrowfull spectacle of Times in constancie Fortunes spight and Honours incertaintie More famous for the ruines of her former dignitie than fortunate in the reliques of ambitious furie was no lesse troubled with tumults in the wane of her glorie than in the height of her praise warring with her selfe within the compasse of her owne walles and moist with the blood of men streaming through the channels whiâ—…h renued the lamentable memorie of former
wilfully the fury of his owne frantike fancie O that the date of his birth had beene the day of his buriall or that by some siâ—…ister storme of fortune hee had beene stifled on his mothers knees so that his vntimely death might haue preuented my ensuing sorrowes and his future calamities For I see that the yong frie will alwayes prooue olde frogs that the crooked twig wil proue a crabbed tree how that which is bred in the bone will not easily out of the slesh that hee which is carelesse in youth will be lesse carefull in age that where in prime of yeeres vice raigneth there in mature age iniquitie beareth sway Why Amazias if thou seest the â—…ore why doost thou not apply the salue and if thou perceiuest the mischiefe why doost thou not preuent it with a sublimatum Take away the cause and the effect faileth if Eliosto be the cause of thy ruth cutte him off betimes lest hee bring thee to ruine better hadst thou want a sonne than neuer want sorrow Perhappes thou wilt suffer him so long till hee fall sicke of the father and then hee will not onely seeke thy lands and possessions but life and all if thou in time pâ—…euent not his purpose yea and after thy death hee will be through his lasciuious life the oueâ—…throw of thy house the consumer of thy kingdome the wracke of thy common-weale and the very man that sâ—…al bring the state of Cyprus to mischiefe and miserie Sâ—…th then thy sonne is such a sincke of sorrowes in whose liâ—… lies hid a loathsome masse of wretched mishappes cut him off as a gracelesse graft vnworthy to growe out of such a Stocke Alas most miserable and lamentable case would to God as I said the Destinies had decreed his death in the swadling-clowts or that the Fates had prescribed his end in his infancie then should not I my selfe haue beene as I will be so vnnaturall as to seeke the spoile of mine owne child or more sauage than the bruite beastes in committing such crueltie Herevpon Amazias stumbling as fast as he could to his Peeres reuealed vnto them the whole cause of his distresse requiring their fauourable assistance in these his determinate proceedings Who with rage incens'd promising in what thing soeuer their allegeance hee commanded that his wife and Eliosto should be carried to straite prison vntill they heard further of his pleasure The Guaâ—…d vnwilling to lay their hands vpon their Queene and Prince and yet fearing the Kings furie went very sorrowfull to fulfill their charge Comming to the Queenes lodging they found her playing with her sonne and other Ladies at Cardes vnto whom with teares doing their message Eliosto and Cleodora were astonished at such a hard censure and finding their galled consciences sure aduocates to pleade in their cases went to Lymbo most willingly where with sighes and teares they past away the time till they might come to their triall Especially Cleodora who after shee had almost blubbered out her eies for griefe fell at length into this passion Infortunate Cleodora and therefore infortunate because thy sorrowes are more then thy yeares and thy distresse too heauie for the prime of thy youth Are the Heauens so vniust the Starres so dismall the Planets so iniurious that they haue more contrarie oppositions than fauourable aspects that their influence doth infuse more preiudice than they can inferre profit Then no doubt if their motions be so maligne Saturne conspiring with all balefull signes calculated the houre of thy birth full of disaster accidents Ah Cleodora thou maist see the birds that are hatched in winter are nipt with euery storme such as flie against the Sunne are either scorched or blinded and those that repugne against nature are euer crossd by Fortune Thy faithfull seruaunt Lucilla foresaw these euills and warned thee by experience thou reiectedst her counsaile and therefore art bitten with repentance Such as looke not before they leape oft fall into the ditch and they that scorne admonition can not possibly auoyd punishment The yoong tygres followe the braying of their olde sire the tender fawnes chuse their food by the old Bucke These bruite beasts and without reason stray not from the limites of nature thou a woman and indued with reason arte therefore thus sorrowfull because thou hast beene vnnaturall Better hadst thou beene borne a Beggar than a Prince so shouldst thou haue brideled Fortune with want where now shee sporteth her selfe with thy plenty Ah happy life where poore thoughts and meane desires liue in secure content not fearing fortune because too lowe For fortune thou seest now Cleodora that Care is a companion to Honour not to Pouertie that hie Cedars are frushed with tempests when lowe shrubs are not toucht with the winde pretious diamonds are cutte with the file when despised pearles lie safe in the sands Delphos is sought by Princes and not by Beggars and Fortunes Altars smoake with Kings presents not with poore mens giftes Happy are they Cleodora that curse Fortune for contempt not for feare and may wish they were not sorrow they haue beene Thou arte a Princesse and yet a prisoner borne to the one by discent assignâ—…d to the other by despight accused not without cause and therfore oughtest to die without care for patience is a shield against fortune Ah but infamy galleth vnto death and liueth after death Report is plumed with Times feathers and Enuy oftentimes soundeth Fames trumpet thy detected incest shall flie in the aire and thy knowne vertues shall lie hid in the earth One moale staineth a whole face and what is once spotted with infamy can hardely be worne out with Time Die then Cleodora Cleodora die for if the gods should say thou arte guiltlesse yet Enuy would heare the gods but neuer beleeue the gods After that she had many sighs and sobs most bitter teares passd ouer many melancholy thoghts one while seeing death ready to execute the last part of sorrow another while seeing sorrow increasing now looking towards heauen and anone seeing the kinde of hell that she liued in now reuiuing with a hope of some vnlooked for happinesse and by and by stroke dead with the despaire of all hope almost whatsoeuer In fine so beset with sorrowe as she had almost no thought of comfort in the midst of all this misery throwing herselfe vpon her bed after shee had laine a while musing vpon her incomparable crosses shee tooke penne and incke and paper and as a woman halfe bestraught wrote this issue of her humour being indeede a fancie which that learned Author N. B. hath dignifiâ—…d with respect Among the groâ—…s the woods and thickes The bushes brambles and the briers The shrubbes the stubbes the thornes and prickes The ditches plashes lakes and miers Where fish nor fowle nor bird nor beast Nor liuing thing may take delight Nor reasons rage may looke for rest Till heart be dead of hatefull spight Within the caâ—…e of cares vnknowne Where hope of comfort