had talked longe and eche theyr loue dyd knew ¶ Archelaus dyd returne agayne to Alfagus hys freinde No loue of Lady in the worlde myght take hym from hys mynde Yet often tymes when to study they together both dyd go Many times Archelaus when Alfagus dyd not know ¶ Stale secretly away and to hys Lady did resorte That he with her in pastyme good myght make some pleasaunt sport And not withstandyng the great loue whych to hys freynd he bare Yet ofte tymes to hys Lady he on this wyse dyd repayre ¶ But at the laste when shamefastnes surmounted in his brest Wythin his harte he coulde not haue at no tyme quiet rest Untyll hys secret iourneys were vnto Alfagus tolde Wherfore anone these wordes hee spake and said with courage bolde ¶ Dere freinde Alfagus so it is my freindes on mee did lye As you do knowe ryght well ynoughe to wed some fayre Ladie That so I myght increse the stocke of mee and of my father Howe be it god dooth knowe with yeâ— to â—yde yet had I rather ¶ What then it is so nowe that I haue chosen a Ladye bryght Who to my harte in all thynges is ryght pleasaunt in my sight And ofte tymes haue I stolne awaye from you vnknowne till nowe When as wee were at study both and ye wyst not hynge howe ¶ To goo and see her whom I loue shee doth mee so delyghte For wyth her beautie my whole harte is fyxed daye and nyght To morowe therfore will I go about this tyme and tyde And you with mee shall go that theare to gether wee maye abyde ¶ An houre or twayne and passe the tyme wyth some solace and playe Where as you maye beholde and sâ—e my Ladye freshe and gaye Alfagus answered hym and sayd I am ryght well content To go with you my freind I thinke the tyme no better spent ¶ And fayne I woulde beholde the mayd you playse so much to me For since you spake fyrst of her I haue longed her to see Thus when they talked had awhyle the nyght on them did drawe Wherfore to rest they went anon when best theyr tyme they sawe ¶ Thus when the darknes had his course and Phebus beames so bryght The restles Sonne I meane did shawe vppon the yearth same lyght The mornyng sonne with shininge beames all landes hath ouer spred And from the skyes the droppynge shade of nyght awaye was fled ¶ Alfagus rose and longed to see the mayden bryght of hewe Aryse vp Archelaus he sayde that I maye go with you To see her whom you praysed so my harte is very fayne Euen nowe anon Archylaus sayde wee will go thether both twayne ¶ Where with he rose and so they bothe anon to gether did go But how they sped if you wyll heare I wyll vnto you sho Forth goeth these two young gentlemen and when one houre was spent They came wheras the mayd dyd dwell and into the house they went. ¶ Who of the Damsell was anon receaued ioyfullye But as soone as Alfagus had vppon her set his eye Beholdynge her most comlye face with parsonage demure Adorned all in bewâ—ie and In espectable pure ¶ Her lyppes as red as anye Rose nothing there was aâ—ys With sober countenaunce myxed all with maydenlye shamefastnes Her taulke so sweete and pleasaunt was for Alfagus to beholde That with the syght of her anone hys sprytes were very colde ¶ Hys harte was persed thorow out blynde Copyds darte with all And wyth whych wound for deadly smart almost on sounde did fall So vâ—ment and so ferce his payne increased more and more Wyth styll beholdynge of that mayde which stood hys eyes before ¶ That nerther the great studye of Phylosophy nor yet The remembrauÌ„ce of his most dere freinde Archelaus any whyt Could once wythdrawe that vnkynde loue out of his harte and bresâ—e But more and more his payne dyd growe not knowynge what waye to rest ¶ But that of force hee must needes loue and that inordynatelye That Lady whych Archelaus his friende had chosen to marry All be it wyth incredyble paynes he kept hys thoughtes vnknowne Untyll they both returned were and to their lodgynges gone ¶ The myserable Alfagus then wyth wandrynge hymselfe a syde As though in secret studye hee intended to abydeâ— All tormented in sorowe and care wyth loue oppressed sore Uppon his bed hee layed him downe tormented more and more ¶ Rebukynge there him selfe of moste vnkynde and spytefull hate For with the syght of that fayre mayde whych hee had seene of late Hee had conspyred such great euyll agaynste hys freinde so dere Who had hym loued so wonderous well in faythfulnes many a yere ¶ Alas what euyll tyme quoth hee was it when I was borne Alas for coÌ„mynge to thys place why had I not forsworne Alas my father wherfore brought you mee here to thys place Why dyd you not keepe mee at home out of thys wretched case ¶ Alas that euer I dyd acquaynt my selfe wyth one so true As you my freind Archelaus are but I agayne to you Most lyke a brutyshe beast vnkynde from Nature gone awrye And haue deserued of your part great batred to imploye ¶ And with those wordes deepe sighes sore out from his harte hee sente That euer hee came to Athennes oft tymes hee dyd repent Thus styll in dollour and in care he tombled and he toste That lytle lacked it of his hart to be in peces brast ¶ But vnto no man durst he once dysclose his secret sore So that at length most greuous paines increased more and more And forced him would hee or not styll on his bed to lye Receauyng nought wherwith he myght haue him sustuyned bye ¶ No sleape at all nor rest hee tooke no sustinaunce nor foode He would receaue wherwith hee might haue done his bodye good That hee so feble was and faynt so weake of lyâ—â—â—e wyth all That in his legges his bodye to beare no strengthe there was at all ¶ Archelaus goeth to see Alfagus who lyeth sucke for loue to whome Alfagus conâ—esseth all the cause of hys sycknes greatly reyronynge hym selfe of vnkyndnes Cap. iii. TO Archelaus was folde a non parte of Alfagus care How he full sicke to bed was gone and almost in dispayre Wyth whych wordes he was sore abusht and went forthwith to see How his deere freinde Alfagus dyd and what his payne myght bee ¶ But when he did approch the place where as Alfagus laye Beholdynge there his most dere friende in such paynefull araye The red Rose collours in his face which was wont to appeere All tourned into sallow paie with wan and heauye cheere ¶ His red lyppes pale and almost blacke his eye lyds suncke full low That skarce beholâ—yng in his face he coulde his vissage know He myght from wepyng scarce refrayne the teaes â—y force out braste But then remembrynge hym agayne refrayned at the laste ¶ Feare leaste he thoughte suche sorowfull sight might most his freind anoy Wherfore
⧠THE Notable Hystory of two faithfull Louers named Alfagus anb Archelaus Whearein is declared the true fygure of Amytie and Freyndshyp Much pleasaunte and delectable to the Reader Translated into English meeter by Edwarde Ienynges With a Preface or Definytion of Freyndshyppe to the same ¶ Such as are troubled in Publyque afayres About common welthes by offyces and cares In faythfull freindshyp can neuer abyde For so sayth Tully the thinge hath ben tryde ¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetestreat beneath the Conduyt at the sygne of S. John Euangelist by Thomas Colwell Anno Domini 1574. ¶ Edward Ienynges to the Reader THe wyes Phylosopher Arystoetell doth saie Freindship is a vertue most incomparable And Tully doth his wordes not denaye Sayenge it is a thinge most commendable Both fyrme and sure nothing deceyuable For freinship with out vertue in no man can remaine Thus the wyse Phylosopher Tully telleth plaine ¶ Tully defyneth freindship on this wise also Sayenge it is none other thing at all But a perfecte consent of thinges for to kno Whych as well to God as to men doth befall Beneuolence and charitie imbraced of great and small Nothing is more comodious while men on earth do liue Then this except sapience which God to man doth giue ¶ Then which definicion is excelent and true For in God and all thinges which of God doth come Nothing of more estemacion doth ensue Then Loue called in latin Amoi all and some Amicitia desending and coming of Eum In english called Freindship which taken a waie The life of man wyll soone fall in decaie ¶ No house can stand in quiet peace and reste No feilde can bringe his fruyte in due season If hatred and enuie doth dwell both East and Weste All men may iudge then parfectly by reason Fynally of man is iudged by discretion He semeth from the worlde to take a way the sume That from mans life wold freindship daue vndon ¶ Syth frendshyp then to mans lyfe is so pure Then all other vertues it doth far excell And onely in good men remaines thys is sure From whose harte and mynde no paine maie excell But fyrmly and sure within them doth dwell So that therof none euyll may proceede Ne cause of thynge which euyll is in deede ¶ Betweene all men that be good can not be Amitie Alwayes abydynge without some decente Except they seme both of on quallitie Fourmed all a lyke by natures pretence In maners and study both equally bente And specyally in maners for that is the thynge Whych knytteth the hartes both of one lykinge ¶ For Grauytye and Affabylytie be laudable both And qualyties highlye to be had in este macyon So is Seuerytie and Placabylytie forsooth Magnyfycence and Lyberalytie is of the same fassion And yet Frugalitie by all wyse mens Oracyon Which showeth a lyfe both moderate and sober Is hygher extolled then any of the other ¶ Yet wheare these vertues and qualyties bee Seperately a sundre amongst persones manye Assembled together by tranquilitie May well be parfecte concorde trulie â—…t freyndshyp is there sildome verelye â—…or that which the one for a vertue imbraceth The other contemninge his minde it neglecteth And there wheare descension of mindes doth appere By reason can stande no parfecte Amytie Syth freindship is a consent entyre Of will and desires in one like quantytie Therfore is syldome seene for a certeinty That freyndshyp betweene such parsons should bee Whych in theyr desyres can nothinge agree ¶ Those which be liberall of harte and deede Withholoyng nothinge from them whom they loue Whearby increase of loue doth proceede And in them that be constante and wyll not remoueâ— Is neuer mystruste nor suspection to proue Ne anye surmysynge of euill reporte Can drawe theyr affection from them in any sorte ¶ And by this thinge is freindship made sure Parpetually for euer both firme and stable But if like studye or learnynge procure Theyr mindes in one thinge to be delectable Joyeing to those vertues agreable Freindship much rather doth happen to stande By mutuall agrement with faithfull bande ¶ Nothinge euill or vycious to man In faithfull freindship doth happen to bee The first election made of freindes than Receueth all the importaunce truely Wherfore it wolde be done nothing rashely But with a longe proofe and great deliberacion Deseruyng parfectly his former trade and fashyon ¶ For oft times by fortune it comith to passe A man now in welthe and great prosperytie Is brought in a momit much worsse then he was Standinge in peryll and great extremytie Freyndshyp oft times then faileth verely As Ouyâ—es sweete sentence to vs doth declare Hereafter folowyng with wordes good and fayre ¶ Whylste fortune thee fauoreth freindes thou hast plenty The time being troublous thou art alone And Culuere haunt houses made whyte and dayntie To the ruonous Lowers almost commeth none Of Emotes innumerable vnneth thou findest one In emptie barnes wheare fayleth substaunce Happeneth no freinde in whom is assurance ¶ But if amonge manie one chuse to be found In all cares of fortune hys freyndshyp to holde The prayse of hys nane shall highly rebounde And is more of valew then syluer or golde Or any comodytie that els can be tolde Of kyndred and blood none is so coÌ„mendable As one parfecte freynde in nothynge deceyuable ¶ For Tully saith from kyndred and lyne Beneuolence may soone be taken awaye But freyndshyp whych neuer at naught doth repine Can neuer be seuered by night nor by daye So though beneuolence in kindred doth staye Yet the name of kindred doth alwayes stand styll But take it from freindshyp and cleane it doth spyll ¶ I am not able of freindshyp to showe A true definycyon in euery thinge Though all a whole yere my wyt I bestowe In such like sentences still wrytinge With manie auncient Hystoryes searchynge Whearin I shulde fynde such stoore to indyte That in a large booke I scarce coulde them write ¶ But gentle Reader I praie you haue pacience In this malabour not worthy of praise Acceptinge well my mynde and dillygence Occupyenge my pen thus on many idle daies Wherby some profit doth come manie waies For vnto all men it showeth the vertue Of amytie and freyndshyp parfecte and true ¶ Many yonge wyts desyre for to read Hestoryes oide in Mecter delectable Of dyuers good Knyghtes and such as be dead Leauyng behynde them a fame much commendable Yet is the readynge therof nothinge profitable But in this small treatice a man maie beholde How freyndshyp is better then syluer or golde ¶ The vertue of freindshyp in this shal be seene Betweene two parsons most worthy of fame More truer in freinship hath neuer none bene Then these Alfagus and Archelaus by name Many yeres lyuynge wythout anie blame The one of Rome of Carthage the other Lyuing more truly then brother and brother ¶ And vnto God with all my harte I praye That by this treatice some may ensample take To learne to kepe theyr freinship night and
proue that you haue trespassed at all When wyth the mutable darte of loue your harte was strooke wyth all Why thynke you I am such a foole which can not vnderstande The myghtye stroake of Uenus power whom loue doth take in hande ¶ For where shee lysteth for to shew the vyolent course of care To presse the harte oportunatlye with panges shee doth not spare Haue not you well cesysted when to death you are neere brought And thus in tormentes for to slake that apetyte you haue sought ¶ What more importunate loue of you may I requyre then More faythfull loue in all the worlde hath neuer ben of men And should I seeke for to expell that thyng which god hath wrought Seth she predestinate was to you before I of her thought ¶ If I should so thynke of this thynge my wyt were spent in vayne What were my studye all my lyfe but foolyshe and no gayne Shoulde I seeke for the prudent Arte Phylosophye to knowe Nay nay Alfagus in my harte let neuer god do so ¶ But surely I confesse in deede to loue the mayde as well As any man possyble may which wysdomes arte can tell And tooke more pleasure in my harte berbeutye to beholde Then in my landes my father lefte my syluer or my goulde ¶ The which you know doth much aboūd in vallue for to be Yet at my harte they are not halfe so pleasaunt vnto me But now I know within your hart her loue surmouuteth more Then fiue tymes it hath done in me of all the tyme before ¶ Yea without measure in your harte I know the darte doth stinge Of ragyng loue but should I thinke that were wanton lustyng Or suddayne apetyte of your mynde delyghtyng in solace Haue I not knowen the manner of your lyfe in euery place ¶ How you were honest good and wyse in euery kynde of waye Uayne dalliaunce fond toyes vnmeete your vse was not to playe Shall I immagyn then in you mallis disceit or guyle Syth you and I haue fostered ben together of longe whyle ¶ Euen from our chyldhood vntyll nowe yet could I neuer see But that you haue byn gentle sweete and freindelye vnto mee Betweene vs twayne was neuer stryfe synce one the other knew But still agreed in euerye parte to lyue lyke breetheren trewe ¶ Nay godforbid that noble bande of friend shippe which hath ben Alfagus and Archelaus harte enclosed all within To he suspected anye deale of hatred and dispyte Or any fantasye of the mynde should presse my head vnryght ¶ Wherby the honorable loue which is betweene vs all and some Myght hyndred bee in anie parte the mountenaunce of a crome Nay nay Alfagus it is so as I before haue sayde For by selestiall power deuyne you poynted were that mayde ¶ God had apoynted her to you when fyrste he gaue her lyfe That only shee should be your loue your Ladye and your wyfe For such a feruent loue as this oppresseth not the harte Of anye man vertuous and wyse wyth suche an earneste smarte ¶ But by a prouydence deuyne wheare at if I should seeke To make resistaunce anye deale to haue the thyng I leeke I should not onelye be vniuste agaynst my friend most trewe Witholdinge that thyng which of ryght belongeth vnto you ¶ But also be repugnaunte frome goddes highe determynation Aduaunsyng vp my harte therin to make a confutacion Which thynge shall not befounde in me by helpe of god with all Therfore Alfagus my deare freinde dysmay you not at all ¶ Of this the chaunce of loue now fyxte within your harte to stande But ioyouslye do now receaue the yoake of louers bande For I am nothyng discontente wyth this my sudden chaunce But merueylouslye with feruent ioy my hart it doth aduaunce ¶ Syth that it is my chaunce for you a Ladye for to fonde Which is so greable to your harte and pleasaunt in your mynde Wyth whom you may hereafterlyue in great felycitie Receauyng fruyt by Gods hygh power your chyldren for to be ¶ Which may amplefie and increase great honour to your name And all your lynage wyll reioyce when they shall see the same Wherfore I will renounce to you my tytle and my ryght And clearly all that I shall haue wyth that fayre mayde so bryght ¶ I gyue it clearlye vnto you as it is geuen to me For euer more whyle lyfe doth last your Ladye for to be Call to your prestynate courage agayne washe cleane your vyssage whyte Amende your eyes forlorne with teares by weepyng all this nyght ¶ Abandon all your heauye cheere the day appeareth nye Whych you do know I dyd apoynt the mayd for to marrye Let vs consult betimes therfore how we may bryng about That you ryght wyselye may attayne your purpose thorow out ¶ And all your hole desires so for to atchyue wyth ioye Take heede therfore vnto my wordes and marke well what I saye you know right well that wee are bothe so lyke in euerye plate Preporshioned all in euerye lymme both bodye head and face ¶ Our speach countenaunce doth agree so lyke in euerye waye That if we were apparrelled both alyke in one araye And both apart for to be seene yet few men could then know Whych of vs were the other and vnto his fellow show ¶ Also you do remember well the custome of this land That not withstanding all these wordes by ioyoyng hand in hand The marryage not confirmed is all hoollye iust and ryght Untyll in Chamber they be come together both at nyght ¶ And that the husband hath put on his wyues finger a Ringe And also doth vnlose therwith the knot of her gyrdlynge Then is the marryage fullye knyt and they be man and wyfe To liue so longe in one accorde as God shall giue them lyfe ¶ Therfore will I my selfe be theare before my friendes in place Performynge all the brydemans parte in euery poynt and case And you I wyll in secreat hyde wheare none shall you espye Untyll at nyght when that to bedde eche man him selfe doth hye ¶ And then you shall conuaye your selfe in the most secreatest wyse In to the Chamber of the mayde as I shall best deuyse And nothyng shall the mayde espye or thynke of you a mis Because your rayment vnto myne so lyke in all thynges is ¶ Your parsonage also in all poyntes will seeme vnto her sight So lyke to myne that by no meanes shee can espie the sleyght And shortlye gea◠you to the bed delay not longe the thynge And on her fynger strayght wayes then put on your owne golde rynge Her Gyrdle of virgynitie vndoe without delaye Fulfyll your pleasure all the nyght as louers lyste to playe Comforte your selfe Alfagus therfore my louing friend moste deare With good refection and solace relyue your heauye cheare ¶ That this cullour wan and pale your cheekes so leane and thinne Be not the cause to let the thynge whych easely you may winne I knowe ryght well within my
That by so good lucke should escape his vyolent mynde and wyll When wyth his owne hands he did thinke his innocent blood to spyll ¶ By lawe now shall I dye quoth hee ryght glad I am therfore Good freindes make haste dyspatche my dayes that I may see no more The lyght of Sonne ne yet of skye which on the earth doth showe Theyr glystryng lyght gladsome heate on trees on earth belowe ¶ The mournyng feyldes by lymbo lake I woulde approche to see With those whom loue they re deathe dyd force that place is best for mee The offycers marueiled greatly then to see hym so content To take his death with spedy haste intreatyng as he went. ¶ That thay wolde not delaye the tyme wherfore was tolde anon Unto the Senate with reporte the deede of such a one Who as you harde before was slayne and that in such a place Was found a man in Carthage borne suspected in that case ¶ And how they founde the blood dye knyfe in his hande being styll And that it semed to be hee the whych the man dyd kyll Wherfore foorth with they dyd commaunde to brynge him to the barre Because that time in Judgement seate the counsell setten were ¶ Alfagus was cheife counceller then or in lyke dygnitie Syttyng in his royall seate wyth great felycitiy Archelaus then moste myserable man vnto the barre was brought With byls and staues most lyke a theefe and innocent was of thought ¶ Of whom it was demaunded then if he the man dyd slaye That was found dead as ye haue harde which he dyd not denaye But in moste sorowfull maner did his fortune cursse and â—an Sayeng he was in all the worlde the moste vnfortunatest man. ¶ O myserable wretche quoth hee what curssed starre dyd raygne When I my fatall thred of lyfe by nature did obtayne I woulde to god Lachesys had my fatall thred vntayed Before I knew that vnkynde wretche whych hath me now vpbrayed ¶ Thus syghyng in his harte be sayd but no man could espye For whom he sorrowed in such sorte in care and and mysery At length one dyd demaund of hym in what place he was borne And howe he traueyled had so farre with cotes so rent and torne ¶ In Carthagye good syr he sayde my mother dyd me bare And in my youthfull tyme and dayes full well I lyued thare But fortune with her fatall wheele my good lucke dyd enuye And therwith on Alfagus hee dyd caste a sorowfull eye ¶ With indignation much and braste into great syghes wyth all Wherby aboundantly the feares downe from his eyes dyd fall Whych when Alfagus did beholde esspyeng eke also A marke vppon his vysage whyche of certayne hee did kno ¶ It was Archelaus his deere freinde consyderyng therwythall That by some euyll aduenture hee into that case dyd fall Sodenly from his seate hee rose and kneeled on his knee Before the iudges all and sayde my Lordes gyue eare to mee ¶ This man my selfe I slewe quoth he of olde rancour and hate The which renewed was by vs of malyce now of late This man is gyltlesse of the thynge he is a straunger here For in the eyes of all men nowe ryght well it may appeete ¶ That he is desperate in his mynde and careth not for to dye And to abreue his sorowes hee doth not the facte denie He doth confesse the fact wherof he is moste innocent And so to fynysh his sorowfull dayes that is his hole intent ¶ Wherfore the sentence gyne on mee accordyng to my deede And haue accordyng to the lawe some shamefull death with speede Archelaus then perceauyng that contrary to his expectatyon His freind Alfagus did begin to make there such relacion ¶ And how he offered for to dye some shamefull death and so Delyuer hym from the death to whiche full lyke he was to go He more importunatlye dyd crye for iudgement to be done And that they would proceede on hym lyke as they had begonne ¶ For I am be withouten fayle that dyd thys man dystroye And as he walked by the waye withouten companye I dyd suppose to haue of hym some Juels ryche and sayre And started sadeynly from a bushe before that hee was ware ¶ Geuyng hym his deadly wound wherby I myght at ease Sâ—rche him well in euery place to do euen as I please But when I had destroyed hym so it dyd me not auayle For there no ryches coulde I fynde my purpose I dyd fayle ¶ And beyng then ryght sore in feare least any shoulde espye This cruell deede that I had done full faste I dyd me hye Into the barne where I was founde to reste me for a whyle But I had watched longe before and sleepe did me begyle ¶ So that before I was a ware full faste on sleepe I laye And had the knyfe styll in my hande the which that man dyd slaye The officers will confesse it so I muste needes dye therfore And thus he called for his death on them still more and more ¶ Alfagus dyd deny those wordes and sayde he dyd but fayne He doth inuent these wordes quoth hee the man he hath not slayne For if that he had done the deede hee would haue fled awaye And not haue tarryed in the place wher as he did him slaye ¶ Sum other thynge was in hys mynde when he did drawe hys knyfe By desperate minde perhappes he thought to haue tyd his owne lyfe Is that a weapon lyke to fyght or kyll a man wyth all No no my Lordes it is not so the knyfe is very small ¶ And he is lyke a Palmer poore which beggeth by the waye Not lyke a Ruffen you may see his coates are nothyng gay It was euen I that slewe the man the cause I tolde before Of olde hate which betweene vs was and kept so long in store ¶ For as in that place all alone a huntynge I dyd ryde By euell aduenture in the waye the man there I espyed And thynkyng that no bertter tyme I myght auenged bee But then when as we were alone and no man els to see ¶ I drewe my sworde without delaye and vnto him I sayde Thou vyâ—layne nowe to fynde the here I am ryght well apayde And therwithall on hym I layd without respect or care That so denly his deadly wounde he had or I was ware ¶ Which when I sawe out of the waye I drewe hym by and by I tooke my horse in all the haste and homwardes faste did flye This thyng is true whych I haue sayde the lawe now let me haue Why do ye deferre of so longe no man my lyfe maye saue ¶ Archelaus sayd it was not so but he the man dyd slaye Alfagus dyd withstand it tho and did hym styll denaye Thus argued they longe tyme for death who myght the other saue Aboundaytly theyr teares they shed with wishyng for theyr graue ¶ Wherat the Senat and people all was wonderouslye abasht Not knowing what the thing might mean but stoode full sore