Battaile at Bessa Then Thyamis commaunded his Souldiers at a parte of the walle to laye aside their Armoure and after their continuall trauell to take some ease and he determined to laie siege to the Cittie The Townes menne whiche were before afrayde of a great Army when they sawe there were so fewe from the walles dispisinge thē by and by gathered the fewe Archers and Horsemenne whiche were lefte in Garrison in the Towne and the reste of the Citizens also tooke suche weapons as came to their handes and determined to goe foorthe fight with them againste the will of a wise and noble man in the Towne who saide that although it happened the deputy to be at the Warre in Ethiopia yet the matter ought to be brought before Arsace his wife that the Souldiers whiche were in the Cittie might be the rediar to defende the same And because he séemed to speake well they wente all to the Kinges Pallaice wherein the Deputies lodge in the Kinges absence Arsace was a bewtifull woman and of tale stature singuler wisedome to doo any thinge and of a stoute stomake for the Noblenesse of her birthe as is like would be in her that is Sister to the great Kinge yet for her vnlawful and dissolute luste shée was not without reprehension and blame And beside other factes shée was in a manner parte of the cause of Thyamis bannishmente when he was constrained to forsake Memphis For presently after Calasiris wente priuily from Memphis for that whiche was tolde him by the Goddes of his Sonnes and coulde not be founde so that it was thought he was deade Thyamis as his elder Sonne was called to the Office of Priesthoode and as he was dooinge sacrifice publikely at his first entry into Isis Churche Arsace seinge him to be a proper yongue man and of good age for that he was the handsomest man in that company best attyred caste many wanton lookes and dishonest countenaunces at him Whiche Thyamis regarded no whitte bothe for that he was of nature very honest and well instructed from a childe and perhappes that whiche shée did was further fetched then that he perceiued it or he thought perhappes shée did it for some other pourpose for that he was altogeather busted aboute his Sacrifices But his brother Petosiris who before enuied that his Brother shoulde be Prieste and had wel marked Arsaces allurementes tooke her vnlawful intisementes for a good occasion to endamage his Brother Wherefore he came to Oroondates secretely and tolde him not onely her desire but that Thyamis also had made the matche with her adding that very falsely He suffered him selfe easily to be perswaded for suspition that he had conceiued of Arsace yet he molested her not either for that he could not manifestly conuince her or els thought it beste to conceale and wincke at it for reuerence and honour that he bare to the Bloud Royall But he tolde Thyamis plainely neuer ceased to threaten to kill him vntill he put him to exile and placed his Brother Petosiris in his roume but this was donne before At that time when the whole multitude came on heapes to her house and certified her of the comminge of theyr enemies and besought her that shée woulde géeue commaundement that the Souldiers should be in a readinesse answeared that shée would not lightly so doo for because shée knewe not of what force her enimies were nor what they were nor whence they came nor for what occasion It was therefore beste firste to goe on the walles and sée all their ordinaunces and then prouide such thinges as shalbe thought cōuenient They thought shée saide wel and wente euery man to the walles there by Arsaces commaundement was a tente of purple silke garnished with Golde pitched and shée her selfe very costly arrayed came and satte in a hie seate with her Garde about her glisteringe in gilte armoure shée helde out her Mace in token of a peaceable Parlamente and commaūded the Captaines of their enimies to approche neare to the Walles After Theagenes and Thyamis elected of the Army came all armed saue theire heades and stoode vnder the wall the Heraulte at Armes saide vnto them Arsace wife of Oroondates chiefe Deputie and Sister to the greate Kinge asketh what you are what your meaninge is and wherefore you are so bolde to comme hither They answeared that they were of Bessa but of him selfe spake Thiamis what he was and that wronged his Brother Petosiris and Oroondates and depriued craftily of his Priestehoode was broughte to be restoared againe by the Bessians and if he mighte recouer the Priestes Office then shoulde it be Peace and the people of Bessa returne home againe without any more harme dooinge If not he meante to committe the matter to the iudgemente of Warre and force of Armes and that Arsace had good cause if shée remembred that whiche was paste to take reuenge of Petosiris for the falsehedde he practised againste her and the vntrue occasions that he laied againste her to Oroondates whereby he broughte her into suspition of vile and vnlawful dealinge with her Husbande and caused him to be bannished by his subtile and craftie meanes All the Cittie of Memphis was troubled with these woordes When they knewe Thiamis and the cause of his bannishmente whiche when he was bannished none of them knewe and denied al that he had saide to be trewe but Arsace of al other was moste troubled so that a whole storme of thoughtes in a manner ouerwhelmed her for shée was soare incensed againste Petosiris and callinge to minde that whiche was paste deuised with her selfe howe shée mighte be reuenged Then beholdinge Thiamis and after him Theagenes was diuersly affected to them both to the one by callinge to minde her olde loue but in the other shée founde occasion of newe and that more earnest loue so that those that stoode by her mighte wel perceiue the troublesome carefulnesse of her minde yet for al this when shée had pawsed a while and came to her selfe not muche vnlike one who is recouered of the Holy Euil shée saide thus Good menne surely you were not wel deuised to take this Warre in hande for you haue nowe brought as well al the people of Bessa as also your selues beinge youthfull yonge menne and therewithall bewtifull of good parentage as may be gheassed into apparent perill for the Théeues quarrell in as muche as if wée woulde fight with you you were not hable to sustaine the firste assaulte of our force For the greate Kinges estate is not brought to so lowe an ebbe but that you may be inclosed of the leauinges of the Army which is behinde him in the Cittie though the Deputie him selfe be away but in mine opinion the whole powers on bothe sides néede not to be troubled and it is better seinge that the quarrell is priuate and not common that it be priuately ended and so be finished as the Goddes shal appointe
the Herault asked him whether all shoulde comme togeather or orderly euery Nation by it selfe Lette euery one comme orderly ê™ he that I may honour euery man as he deserues Therefore ê™ the Heraulte shal Meroebus your Brothers Sonne come first who came euen nowe but he tarrieth till the Souldiers that be aboute vs doo make him roume Thou dolte ê™ Hidaspes why diddest not thou tell me of him presently seeing thou knowest that he was no Legate but a King and my Brothers Sonne that deceased but late whom I haue placed in his Throne and by adoption haue made mine owne heyre too All this I knâ—we ô Kinge saide Harmonias but I thought it beste to tarry a time for if a Heraulte haue néede to doo any thinge especially he ought to tarry and waite for opportunitie of time Pardon me therefore I beseche you if I durst not be so bolde as to breake of the pleasant talke that you had with the Quéenes Let him come therefore now saide the Kinge He wente as he was commaunded and came by and by againe with his charge Then came Meroebus a tale proper yonge man at that time comminge to mans estate for he was seuentiene yéeres olde and hier then all other that were there and had a comely crewe of goodly fellowes that wayted vpon him and the Aethiopian Army with greate admiration and reuerence made him ready waie Neither did Hidaspes tarry in his seate but arose to welcome him and imbraced him with a Fatherly affection and sette him beside him and takinge him by the right hande saide My Sonne you come in good time you shall beside celebration of this solemne Sacrifice with me for my Victory be Royally Married For our Goddes and the Founders of our stocke and the other Heauenly personages haue prouided me of a Daughter belike whiche shal be your wife The secresies whereof you shal know hereafter at this time if you haue ought to doo with the people vnder youre dominion tell me Meroebus when he hearde of a wife what for ioye and shame coulde not hide him selfe so in his blacke colour but that men mighte perceiue that he blushed and after he had staied a while he saide thus Father the other Legates that come wil geue you of the beste and most pretious thinges that growe in there Countries but I because you haue ben valiant in Battaile declared your excellente manhoode in noble Exploytes haue thought it good to geue you a like gift hereunto and therfore I geue you a man so wel practised in bloudsheadde and warre that there can none be founde whiche dareth to haue to doo with him in wrastlinge and fighte with plummettes of Leade and in all manner of other exercises so sturdy that no man is hable to withstande his strengthe Therwith he badde the man come foorthe He stepte out and fell downe before Hidaspes and was of suche stature beinge a man of the olde makinge that when he stouped to kisse the Kinges knée he was as highe almoste as those that stoode aboute him This donne he tarried not til he was commaunded but put of his apparel and stoode naked and made a chalenge againste al that woulde come either with weapon or with hande After the Kinge sawe that none woulde come foorth though he had made diuers proclamations he said You shal haue a gifte of vs like youre selfe And then he commaunded to fetche an olde Elephante which was very greate When the beast was broughte he receiued it gladly and the people suddainely fel in a greate laughter beinge wel pleased with the Kinges ciuilitie mary after they had laughed and iested yenough it séemed they were ashamed of their facte After him came the Embassadoures that the Seres sente and brought to him twoo garmentes one Purple and an other White the yarne whereof was spunne of the Spiders that bréede in their Country After these giftes were receiued and they had desired the Kinge that suche of their Countrie men as were condemned in his prison might be deliuered and had obteined their sute the Embassadours of Arabia foelix came and offered to him odoriferous leaues bothe of Oliues Cinamon and other swéete sauours that growe in Arabia woorthe many talentes so that euery place was ful of swéete odours After these came they of Trogloditis and broughte Golde and a couple of Gryphes with Bridles of Golde on their heades Then came the Bleminges which carried bowes and arrowes made of Dragons boanes and saide Wée bringe you ô Kinge such giftes as are not in value equal to the other yet was there good accoumpte made of them as you can saie your selfe at the floudde in Battaile against the Persians They are ê™ Hidaspes more woorth then other of greater price for these are the cause why the other are brought vs and then he badde them tel him what they requested When they desired to haue theire tribute abated he released them of all fourtiene yéeres This donne when all were come that had any Message to doo and were as well or better rewarded then theire giftes deserued Laste there came the Legates of the Axiomitae who paied no tributes but were his Confederates and in League with him wherefore they reioiced with him for his prosperous and luckye viage and broughte him giftes too and emonge other a beaste of woonderful and rare nature as bigge as a Camel whose colour was spotted and vpon his skinne there was like scales his latter parte was very lowe and Lionlike but his shoulders foreféete and breste were far beyonde the proportion of his other members his necke was slender and though the reste of his body was greate yet was his throate very small his heade was in fascion like a Camels heade but it was not paste twise so bigge as the Lybian Ostriches heade wherein he rowled his eies terribly as if there had benne in them somme redde leade His gate was neuer changed but wente not like no beaste either of the earthe or water but he moued his legges on either side bothe at ones so that he moued his right legges and lefte legges not in order nor one after an other but all his halfe body with either of them He was so tame and gentell to be dealte with all by vse that he would be ruled of his kéeper with a litle coarde and rather followe his will then the line he was tied in as soone as the beaste was brought in sight al the people were afraide and suddainely called it of the fascion and principal partes of his body Cameloperdalis and it made a greate araye in al the place aboute the whiche the men stoode For suche a chaunce befell at the Aultare of the Moone stoode twoo Bullockes and at the Aultare of the Sunne foure white Horses to be Sacrificed when the Monstrous and straunge beaste came in sight they were as sore troubled and afraide as if they had séene a sprite and one of the
propertie of bewtifull personages A Merchaunt like that is to saie a crafty deuise vsed by Nausicles to get Cariclia in steede of Thisbe Cariclia saithe her name is Thisbe Nausicles receiueth of Mytranes Cariclia whom he beguileth by a flatteringe praise Theagenes and Cariclia seperated Theagenes is sente to Groondates A wise man is neuer poore Persians and Merchantes are alike conctous Mercurie the God of Merchauntes The description of the Ringe that Calasiris gaue Nausicles to redeeme Cariclia The giftes of the Goddes ought not to be refused VVhat gaine is beste The Calidonian Sea is very trouble some VVhy the Calidonian Sea is so troublesome Pleiades vuluckie Starres to Marriners Calasiris with his children lodge with Tyrrhenus Once vnhappy and euer vnhappy The Merchaunt with whome Calasiris sayled falleth in Loue with Cariclia That is a commm practise whiche Louers vse Theeues vse courtesie to their acquaintaunce Vlisses appeareth to Calasiris and rebuketh him for not dooinge Sacrifice to him Many times Iestes turned to good earnest as did his now VVarres are made with slaughter and blondshedde The sight of bloude maketh menne egar to fighte Men sette more by their liues then any thinge els It is wisedome to haue respect of time A prety descriptioÌ„ of a shippe in a tempest in which are none but vnskilfull Marriners It is wisedome to foresee It is better to die with honour then liue with shame Trachinus would Marrie Cariclia out of hande It is a good sight at a Brydale to see the Bride mery Successe not looked for dothe make menne doo otherwise often times then els they would doo The crafty deuise of Calasiris to hinder the Marriage of Trachinus and Cariclia wherby all the Pyrates are slaine A Lawe of the Pyrates Another Lawe or decree The Pyrates fal together by the eares and are al slaine with mutuall woundes Theagenes and Pelorus fighte hande to hande for Cariclia The firste booke declareth howe they were handled afterward the beginninge and processe whereof orderly foloweth vntill the beginninge of Calasiris tale almost in the ende of the seconde Booke VVine maketh men apte to weepe Calasiris foresheweth an impediment in the iourney by the creepinge of a Crocodyle Aristippus vndonne by meanes of his seconde wife Naucratia a Cittie in Egypt Phoenicopterus a byrde Nausicles frend had a gentle Louer VVhence the Phoenix commeth It is a pointe of courtesie to tell a mischaunce quickely Louers truste nothinge but their owne eyes Nausicles Oration tendinge to this end to haue Cnemon marrie his Daughter No estate is stable in this worlde To what ende paines shoulde be taken To leaue Issue to succeede is a thinge specially to be desired One Louer can soone espie an other that is like affected Thisbe was carried from Athens by Nausicles Cnemon marrieth Nausiclia Nausicles Daughter The sorrowe that Cariclia was in at CnemoÌ„ his Mariage with a plaine prouse of her excellent good nature VVhat it is to be mortall Thyamis was Calasiris Sonne The commodities of beggery â–ª Pouertie is rather pitied then enuied Straungers buie deerely Feare maketh menne iudge the worste A great battaile aboute Theagenes to reseue him froÌ„ Mytranes Mitranes slaine In extremitie desperation may stande for a singular vertue Vna salus victis nullam sperare salutem Virgilius A very prety description of an olde woman â–ª Sorceres playinge her pagent The tree called Bdellium The Priestes of Egypte though they were Heathen dealte not with Sorcerie Sorcerie is a thinge againste nature Deade menne he saithe reuerence theire parentes The Heathen Philosophers were of opinioÌ„ that the Soules of menne whose bodies were not buried shoulde not come into the felowshippe of other their felowes The VVitche had suche death as all her former life well deserued Arsace Oroondates wife Sister to the great Kinge of Persia Thyamis made Prieste after the departure of Calasiris his Father Petosiris dothe play an vnbrotherly parte with Thyamis and by meanes of Arsaces waÌ„ton lookes procureth his vniust banishment Arsace inquireth the cause why the people of Bessa comme in armoure to Memphis Thiamis declareth the cause of his comminge Arsace dothe answeare This amis Arsace sentence betwene Thiamis and Petosiris as touchinge the Priesthoode An excellent example of Brotherly nature in Thiamis wherby is plainely declared the force against his wil caused him to folowe his former trade of lyfe Nothinge is certaine in this worlde The Battaile betwene Thiamis and Petosiris Calasiris commeth to the Battaile of his 〈◊〉 A Louers eie is quicke of sight Arsace in Ialousie of Cariclia Calasiris agreeth his Sonnes Calasiris maketh his Sonne Thiamis Prieste Arsace almoste madde with Loue to warde Theagenes Cibele Arsaces Chamberlaine and Bawde doth comforte her and promiseth to subdue Theagenâ—s A description of Theagenes Calasiris death Theagenes and Cariclia are conueyed into Arsaces house by Cibeles crafty meanes The discommodities of a wandringe life Comely 〈…〉 betweene whoÌ„ acquaintaunce oughte to be Cariclias lameÌ„tation for the death of Calasiris Achemenes Sonne of Cibele falleth in Loue with Cariclia Theagenes and Cariclia were serued very cortuously at the firste but their sweete meate had sower sauce in the ende Theagenes is sente for to Arsace After Cibele had by many circumstances vttered the Loue that Arsace bare towarde Theagenes and he woulde not vnderstande the same shee was forced plainely to tell the same with a shamelesse Oration wherein she declareth the properties of suche like Lasciuious woomeÌ„ passinge finely Ialousie â–ª a naturall disease to woomen troubleth Cariclia a little Loue is a mischieuous thing Arsace sweareth to geue Cariclia in Mariage to Achemenes in recoÌ„pence wherof he proueth Theagenes to be her bondeman Necessitie deuisâ—th many shiftes Theagenes his talke with Arsace whereby is the Mariage of Cariclia and Achemenes broken oâ— It is not meete that a wooman of good parentage shoulde be Married to a bonde slaue An excellente sentence Theagenes geueth Achemenes a cruell nippe VVhat anger Ialousie Loue c. woulde make a maÌ„ doo Phaeil Siene Eliphantina are Citties in Egypte Smaragdi A wise policie whereby Hydaspes tooke Philae Archamenes dothe accuse Arsace to her husbande Oroondates Oroondates sendeth Bagoas to 〈…〉 Theagenes and Cariclia to him His Letters to Arsace His Letters to Euphrates Thiamis desireth to haue Theagenes and Cariclia to prouide for them as his Father commaunded him Though a man do trauell all the daies of his youthe yet he desireth to draw homewarde at length Therefore home hath no felowe The properties of warre and peace Arsace denieth the deliuery of the prisoners to Thiamis and in so doinge dothe declare the property of disclosed Louers VVhat woomen whiche dwell togeather with menne be hable to doo Cibeles vnhappy Councell to Arsace againste Theagenes VVhat the eye seeth not the harte rueth not All Eunuches are by nature Ialous Cibele goeth aboute to poyson Cariclia VVee soone beleue what wee woulde haue come to passe Cibele dothe fall into the pitte that shee digged for Cariclia whereby wee maie
donne thée wronge in déede yet not so greate that therefore with deathe thou shouldeste be reuenged on me Géeue not so much to thy wrathe neither by thy Fathers bloude imbrewe thy handes this with muche more spake my Father humbly vpon his knées desiringe me to saue his life But as I had ben striken with a thonder boulte stoode still amased and looked rounde aboute after Thisbe who had I knowe not howe conueied her selfe awaie neither had one woorde to saie neither coulde I tel what was beste to doo and in this case my sworde fel out of my handes which Demeneta straight way caught vp my Father then out of daunger laied handes vpon me and commaunded me to be bounde Demeneta in the meane while many waies mouinge and setting him on did I not tell you this before cried shée that it was beste to looke to the princokes which woulde no doubt if time serued attempt somewhat I looked in her face and perceiued her minde well yenough And he answeared you tolde me in déede but I beléeued you not And thus was I in bondes and he would not géeue me leaue to tel him how the mater was handled As soone as it was date he brought me bounde as I was before the people and strewinge asshes on his heade saide I brought not vp my Sonne Yée menne of Athens to sée him come to this ende but trustinge he would be a staffe to staie mine age vpon As soone as he was borne I brought him vp gentlemanlike and set him to schoole and when I had well placed him amonge our kinsfolkes and written him in the number of other yonge menne his equalles and accordinge to the lawes of this Cittie made him one of our Citizens Lastly I leade not a very quiet life for his sake he hath not onely forgotten al these thinges but also diuersly iniured me beaten this woman who accordinge to our Lawe is my second wife At length he came to me by night with a sworde in his bande and was no further from beinge a parricide but that Fortune hindred him by a suddaine feare his sworde fel out of his hande I flie to you and tell you thereof And althoughe by the Lawe I might with mine owne hande slea him yet I woulde not therefore remit I my whole cause to your discretion thinking that I shal doo better if I pounishe my Sonne rather by publike Lawe then priuate bloudeshedde and therewithall he weapt so did Demeneta also and fained her selfe to be very sorrowfull for my mishap Callinge me an vnhappy Creature as truely shée mighte beinge in daunger to die before my naturall time whome euill sprites had sturred against my Parentes Not onely did shée so much outwardly lament as shée testified the same with her teares and as though her accusation had benne true with wéeping shée confirmed the same And when I craued licence to speake for my self the Scribe came to me propounded this streight questioÌ„ Whether I came to my Father or not w t a sworde in my hand I did ê™ I But I wil tell you how therewith euery man cried out saied that I ought not to speake for my self wherefore some iudged me woorthy to be stoned to death other to be hanged and some to be caste hedlonge into the dungeon Al this while that they weare consultinge of my punishment I cried out oh my cruell stepmother alas for my Stepmothers sake am I thus troubled my Stepmother killeth me without Iudgemente and many marked my woordes very well and beganne to suspecte as it was in déede but for al that at that time could I not be hearde suche was the tumult and noyse of the people and when the voyces were reckned those who condemned me to die were a thousande seuen hundred whereof the one halfe woulde haue me stoned the other caste into the dungeon the other of whome was aboute a thousande creditinge somewhat the suspicion that they had conceiued of my Stepmother gaue sentence that I shoulde be bannished for euer yet those preuailed for although they were fewer then the whole number of the reste yet forasmuche as the other voices differed seuerally compared with euery one alone a thousande was the greater number and thus was I bannished from my Fathers house Natiue countrie And for al that yet was not Demeneta vnpounished but howe you shal hereafter knowe Now wée muste fall to sléepe for it is farre in the nighte you haue néede to take a great deale of ease Nay saide Theagenes you shall more greue vs if you telle vs not howe this mischiefous woman was pounished Sith you wil néedes knowe then saide Cnemon geue eare I in suche case as I was after I was absolued came to the hauen and findinge a shippe ready to departe sayled to Egnia for I knewe I had some kinnesfolkes there by my mothers side when I arriued there and had founde those I sought for at the firste I liued pleasantly ynough there aboute a twentie daies after runninge aboute as I was woonte to doo I walked downe to the hauen and beholde a barke was within kenninge I staied there a little and deuised with my selfe whence that barke shoulde come and what manner of people should be in her The bridge was scante wel placed when one leapte out and ranne imbraced me his name was Charias one of my companions and saide Cnemon I bringe thee mery tidinges nowe arte thou wel reuenged vpon thine Enimie Demeneta is deade Charias sayde welcome but why doo you not tell me these ioyfull newes but passe ouer them as if they were not needefull to be knowen I praye tell me the manner of this reuenge Surely I feare mutche that shée died not as other folkes doo neither escaped shee suche deathe as well shee had deserued Iustice quoth Charias hathe not vtterly foresaken vs accordinge to Hesiodus minde But althoughe shée wincke a while vpon the misdéedes of menne and prolonge the Reuenge a good season yet althoughe shée casteth a terrible eye vpon sutche offendours who also hathe taken iuste pounishemente of the mischeiuous Demeneta neither was any thinge either saide or donne whereto by Thisbe for our olde acquaintaunce I was not made priuie After thine vnhappy Father had procured thine vniust bannishement repentinge of that he had donne conueied him selfe to a certaine solitarie manoure of his from the companie of menne into the countrie and there liued eatinge as the Prouerbe saithe his owne harte out But shée straight waie became madde almoste and with more hotte desire loued thée absente neither at any time seased shée from sorrowe although shee lamented thy chaunce but rather in déede her owne mishappe and oh Cnemon by pretie Boye daie and nighte woulde shée crie callinge thée her owne life in so muche that when wéemen or her acquaintance came to visit and comforte her they wondred greately that shée a Stepmother shoulde beare sutche motherly
that the God whose turne was then to rule woulde plaie that parte I determined not to dishonest the Priestehoode in whiche from my youthe I had benne brought vp neither to defile the Churches and secrete places of the Temples of the Goddes and to auoide that whiche was by destinie decreed not for dooinge the déede whiche God forebid but to pounishe my desire with conuenient pounishment as in my minde I determined whiche by reason rulinge in that Iudgemente I bannished my selfe and vnhappy name foresooke my Countrie as well to yéelde to the necessitie of the Ladies of destinie geue them leaue to determine of vs what they would as also to leaue the cursed Rhodopis For I was afraide my gest leste if he who then had Dominon should violently enter into the Cittie I should be forced to doo some viler thinge But the chiefe cause aboue all other that bannished me were my Sonnes for the secrete wisedome that I had of the Goddes foreshewed to me that they shoulde fighte a blouddy battaile bitwéene them selues that I might therefore remoue suche a cruell spectacle from mine eyes which I thinke the Sonne him selfe would not beholde and to acquite these fatherly eyes of the sighte of my Sonnes death I went my way to preuent these thinges pretendinge as though I woulde goe to greate Thebes to sée my elder Sonne who was then with his Grandfather his name was Thyamis Cnemon started when he hearde the name of Thymis yet he kepte his counsell as well as he coulde the better to heare that whiche folowed but he tolde on as foloweth I omitte that whiche happened to me by the waie yonge man for it nothinge apperteineth to that you aske for But when I hearde that there was a certaine Cittie of Greece Sacred to Apollo whiche was a Temple of the Goddes a Colledge of Wise and farre from the troublous resort of the common people I wente thither thinking that Cittie which was dedicated to Holinesse Ceremonies to be a méete place for a man beinge a Prophete to resorte vnto So when I had sailed by y e coaste of Cressye was arriued at Cirrhus I went in haste out of my shippe to the Towne whither after I was comme I felt a certaine Diuine Odore bréeth vpon me So that for many causes I accouÌ„pted that Cittie a méete place for me to abide in the leste wherof was not the natural sighte of the same For as it were a naturall defense or Tower Pernassus reacheth ouer it inclosinge the Cittie as it were with a Walle with his twoo toppes You saie very wel ê™ Cnemon and like one in déede who had tasted of Pithos Sprite for I remeÌ„ber that my Father tolde me y t sighte of the Tower was suche when the Athenians sente him to the Councel of Thamphictiones Are you then an Athenian Sonne saide he Yea sir saide Cnemon What is your name Cnemon answeared he How came you hither You shall heare that hereafter nowe tell on your tale Contente quoth he I wente into the Cittie and praysed it muche in my minde for the places of exercise there and the pleasant fieldes and the springes with the fountaine of Castalius this donne I wente to the Temple For the report of the people that saide the Prophetes would geue answeare presently moued me so to doo as soone as I had gonne into the Churche and saide my praiers and made a certaine secrete request to the God Pythias answeared me thus To shunne the destinies sure decree thou takest all this toyle And therefore leaust the fruitfull coast of Nilus fertile soyle Haue a good harte for I will geue the blakishe fieldes againe Of Aegypte vnto thee till then our friende thou shalt remaine As soone as the Oracle had geuen me this answeare I tell grouelinge on the Aultar desired him in al thinges to be my good God But a greate sorte of those that stoode by me praised the God muche for geuinge me suche an answeare at my firste comminge Euery man talked of Fortune and behelde me and saide that I was the welcommest man to the God that euer came there but one Licurgus of Sparta wherefore when I desired to dwell in the Churcheyearde they gaue me leaue and decreed that I shoulde be nourished of their common charges To be shorte I wanted no good thinge For there I inquired the causes and manner of the Sacrifices whiche were very diuers and many that as wel the menne that inhabite there as also strangers make or els I conferred with Philosophers vnto whiche Cittie no final number of suche menne comme so that the Cittie is in manner a studie dedicated to Prophesies vnder the God who is Captaine of the Muses And at the firste there were diuers questions as touchinge many matters moued among vs. For some would aske after what sort wée Aegyptians honoured our Gods an other why diuers couÌ„tries woorshipped diuers kindes of Beastes what they could say of euery of them other inquired of the maner forme of the buildingê called Pyramides many of their framinge of instrumentes and their diuers tunes At a woorde they lefte nothinge that apperteined to Aegypt vnsearched For the Grecians eares are wonderfully delited with tales of Aegypte At laste certaine of the ciuilest sort fel in talke of Nylus and asked me whence were his heades and what speciall propertie it had aboue other Riuers and why it alone of all others in Summer did rise I tolde them what I knewe and was written in the Holy Bookes and was lawful onely for the Priestes to knowe Howe that the heade thereof was in the hiest partes of Aethiopia and formoste boundes of all Libia at the ende of the Easte Clime and beginninge of the South It floweth in the summer not as some thinke by reason of contrarie blastes of the Windes called Etestie as some thinke but for that those same windes blowing out of the North gather together driue al the cloudes of the Ayre into the South about the middel of the summer till they come to the burning Line where their violence is abated for the vncredible heate thereaboutes so that al the moysture whiche was before geathered togeather and congeled Melthethe and is resolued into abouÌ„dance of water wherwith Nilus waxeth proude and wil be a Riuer no longer but runneth ouer his bankes couereth Aegypte with his waters as with a Sea and maketh the grounde very fruitefull Wherefore it ministreth sweete waters to drinke as is like for that they come from Heauen is pleasant to be touched not now so hoate as at the firste yet is it luke warme as one that springeth in such a place For which cause of that stoude and none other arise no Vapors for if there should then were it like that it receiued his encrease of snowe resolued of whiche opinion some learned men of the Greekes haue ben as I talked of these matters in
to him that shall finde thée and take thée vp And besides that I haue furnished thée with other thinges I haue wrapped thée in this blankette wherein is conteined the summe of bothe our Estates whiche I haue written with teares and bloude that I haue shedde for thée by reason that I bare thée and fell into muche sorrowe for thée at one and the same time But ô my swéete Childe and but for a small while my Daughter if thou liue remember thy Noble parentage and loue Chastitie whiche is the Character and marke of womanly vertue and Princely minde folowe thy Parentes by keepinge the same Aboue all thinges remember that thou séeke for a certaine Kinge amonge the Iewelles that are aboute thée whiche thy Father gaue me when wée were firste made sure in the hoope whereof is a Princely posie the stoane is a Pantarbe of secréete vertue consecrated in the place where it is sette These thinges haue I saide to thée inuentinge my writinge to this vse sithe that God had taken from me the Habilitie to tell thée them to thy face whiche as they maie be voide of no effecte with litle laboure so may they be profitable hereafter For no man knoweth the vncertainetie of Fortune To be shorte that I haue written if thou liue shalbe tokens to thée my bewtifull Daughter in vaine whiche by thy bewtie procurest my blame of thy birthe But if thou die whiche God graunt I neuer heare they shal serue to burie thée After I had redde this Cnemon I knewe what shée was and marueiled greatly at the gouernance of the Goddes and was full of pleasure and sorrowe and altogeather newely affected wéepinge and laughinge at ones my minde nowe became gladde for the knowinge of that whereof I was ignorant before and for remembringe that whiche was answeared by the Oracle but very muche troubled for that which was to come and had greate pitie and compassion of the life of man as a thinge very vnstable and weake and bendinge euery waie whiche I knewe them firste by the happe of Cariclia For I thought of many thinges of what Parentes shée was come whose Childe shée was thought to be howe farre shée was from her Countrie and was now called Daughter by a false name whereas shée had loste her naturall Countrie soyle and royall bloude of Aethiopia To make fewe woordes I was a greate while in studie for that I had good cause to haue pitie and bewaile her state passed and yet durst not commende that whiche was to come vntill pluckinge vp my harte I concluded that nowe it was not good to delaie the matter but with spéede to execute that I had begone And when I came to Cariclia I founde her alone altogeather weried with loue and striuinge to withstande her fancie Mary her body was muche afflicted by reason that it yéelded to her infirmitie and shée was not hable with any force to withstande the violence thereof After I had then farre put them awaie who were with her and gaue them charge that they shoulde make no noyse in maner as if I had made some Prayers and inuocations aboute the Mayde I saide to her Now is the time come Cariclia for so you promised yesterdaie to tell me your griefe not to conceale it any longer from a man that loueth you hartely and also can knowe it though you holde your tongue shée tooke me by the hand and kissed it and therewithal shée wepte And saide wise Calasiris graunte me this fauour firste suffer me to holde my peace be vnhappie in as muche as you will séeme to knowe my disease all readie and to account auoyded ignominie my gaine by concealinge that whiche to suffer is euill but to vtter woorse Although mine increasinge disease dothe muche gréeue mée yet that gréeueth me more that at the firste I ouercame it not but am yéelded vnto Loue whiche by hearinge onely dothe defile the honorable name of Virginitie With that I comforted her and saide My Daughter you doo wel for twoo causes to conceale your estate For I haue no néede to knowe that againe whiche by my skill I knewe before And not without cause you blushe to vtter that whiche it becometh wéemen to keepe secrete But bicause thou haste ones tasted of Loue and Theagenes hath subdewed thée for thus am I by diuine inspiration informed know that neither thou arte alone nor the first that hath benne thus affected but many other Noble wemen and many Maidens if you consider other thinges very chaste haue tasted hereof as well as you For Loue is the greatest of the Goddes and is saide also sometime to ouercome the Goddes them selues But nowe consider howe presently you may beste order your businesse in as much as at the firste not to be in Loue is a kinde of happinesse but wheÌ„ you are taken to vse it moderately it is a point of excellente wisedome which thinge you may well doo if you wil beléeue me by puttinge awaie the filthy name of luste and imbracinge the lawfull bande of weddinge and turninge your disease into Matrimonie After I had saide thus Cnemon shée was in a great swelte and it was euident that shée was gladde of that shée hearde and greately in feare and muche troubled for that shée hoped at length shée waxed redde to thinke in what maner shée was taken After shée had stayed a while Father saide shée you doo tell me of Mariage and bidde me imbrace that as thought it were plaine that either my Father woulde be contente therewith or mine enemy séeke that As for the yonge man saide I it is out of doubte For he is more in Loue then you beinge moued with like meanes so to doo by reason that bothe your mindes as is like at the firste sight knewe others excellencie and fell into like affection and I my selfe haue made his Loue the more to doo you a pleasure But he that is supposed to be your Father prouideth you an other Husbande Alcamenes whome you knowe well yenough Lette him ê™ shée rather séeke to late him in his graue then Marry him to me Either Theagenes shall haue me or that whiche is destinied to all men shall receiue me But I prayeyou tell me how you knowe that Caricles is not my Father in déede but supposed so to be By this fascia saide I and therewithal I shewed it her Where had you that or howe came you by it saide shée for after he had receiued me in Egypte of him who brought me vp he brought me hither I knowe not how and tooke that from me and keapte it in a Cheste that by continuance of time it might not be spoyled Howe I came by it saide I you shall heare afterwarde But tell me presently if you can tel what is contayned therein when shée tolde me that shée coulde not tell it declareth saide I your Parentes your Countrie and all your Fortune At laste for that
prepared for vs The God that hathe charge of me hath me nowe alone and without my Husbande Alas wretch that I am I meane him that by name onely is my Husbande Cnemon daunceth and is married Theagenes is abroade and perhappes a Prisoner and in Holde and if he be aliue Fortune is sommewhat gentle Nausiclia hathe a Husbande and is seperated from me who vntill this nighte laste paste laie with me onely Cariclia is alone and forsaken of al. I am not for al this offended with her Fortune ô ye Goddes and Heauenly Powers but praie that they maie haue their hartes desire but at our Fortune that ye be not so fauourable vnto vs as to them You haue drawen our acte of suche a lengthe as it now passeth al sense But why doo I complaine of the miseries which the Gods sende vs let the rest also be fulfilled vntil they be pleased But ô Theagenes ô care onely pleasante to me if thou be dead I heare thereof which God grante I neuer doo I wil deferre no time to be with thée for this time I offer this Funerals to thée therewithal shée pulled of her Heare laied it on her bedde poure out these Libations out of y e eies which thou louest so déerely then shee moysted her Bed with her teares But if thou be wel as thou of good righte oughtest to be come sléepe with me appearinge to me in thy shape yet spare me spare me thine owne Mayde I saie and vse me not after the guise of married folkes and haue not to doo with me no not in my sléepe beholde I imbrace thée and thinke that thou arte here and lookest vpon mée And as shée had spoken thus shée caste her selfe grouelinge on her Bedde and sore sighinge and pitifully mourninge shée clasped her armes harde togeather vntil a certaine amasednesse and dazeling caste as it were a miste before her vnderstandinge parte of the minde and brought her asléepe and helde her til it was lighte daie Wherfore Calasiris marueiled that he saw her not as he was woont to doo in searchinge for her came to her Chamber where knockinge sommewhat harde and callinge alowde Cariclia waked her at lengthe Shée was abasshed at that suddaine calle and came as shée was attyred and vnbolted the doore to lette in the Olde man Who séeinge her Heare disordered and her Garmentes cutte before her breaste with her eies ful of water vnderstoode the cause and when he had broughte her to her Bedde againe and had caused her to attyre her selfe cast a Cloke vpoÌ„ her he saide for shame Cariclia what arraye is this why doo you vexe your selfe so sore without ceasing why yéelde you to all chaunces without reason Surely nowe I knowe you not whom till nowe I euer knewe to be of excellente courage and very modest Wil not you leaue of from this woonderful madnesse Wil you not thinke that you are borne mortal that is to saie an vnsteadye thinge bendinge for euery light occasion sundrie waies Haue pitie on vs my Daughter I saie haue pitie if not for your own sake yet for Theagenes cause who desireth to liue with none but you and accoumpteth it a vantage that you are aliue Cariclia blusshed when shée hearde him speake thus and after shée had held her peace a great while and Calasiris desired her to geue him somme answeare shée saide Father you haue good cause to chide but perhappes I deserue pardon for neither any common or straunge desire hathe forced me vnhappy Creature to doo this but pure aud chaste Loue that I beare to a man although he neuer touched me y t is Theagenes who maketh me thus sadde because he is not here with me I am the more afraide also for that I caÌ„not knowe whether he be aliue or not As touchinge this matter saide Calasiris be of good chéere and thinke that he is aliue and one whom the Goddes haue appointed to liue with you if wée muste geue any credite to that whiche the Oracle hath foreshewed vs. Wée muste also beléeue him who tolde vs yesterdaie that Thyamis tooke him prysoner as he was carried towarde Memphis and if he be taken without doubte he is wel for as muche as there hath benne acquaintaunce and familiaritie betwixte theÌ„ before Wherefore wée ought not to staie but goe to Bessa and séeke you for Theagenes and I for my Sonne for you haue heard ere now that Thyamis is my Sonne Then was Cariclia in great thought and saide If Thyamis be your Sonne in déede then are wée in woorse case then euer wée were Calasiris marueiled hereat and asked her why You know ê™ shee howe I became prisoner to the Heardmen where the vnhappy bewty with whiche I am indewed forced Thyamis to Loue me and it is to be feared least if he finde vs as we make inquiry and sée me remembringe that I am shée who dalied and draue of with diuerse disceiptfull promises the Mariage whiche he meante to make with me that he wil take me and by force compell me to finishe the same God defende sayde Calasiris that the vehemency of his luste should be suche that the same should disdaine his Fathers countenaunce and not represse his licencious desire if any such moue him But for all that why cannot you inuent some deuise to delude that whiche you stande so in doubte of for you are very diligent and crafty also to make shiftes and delaies against them that séeke to haue you Cariclia was sommewhat mery with these woordes and answeared whether you speake this in earnest or in ieste lette it passe for this time But I will tell you the waye that Theagenes and I deuised but Fortune woulde not let vs put it in practise because it was very good For when necessitie forced vs to leaue the Iland of y e Heardmen it pleased vs to change our apparell and wander aboute in the Villages and good Townes ragged like beggers Wherfore if it please you lette vs counterfeite this habite and playe the beggers so shall wée not be so muche in daunger of those who would our harme For in suche a case by pouerty wée shalbe more safe for commonly it is rather pittied then enuied and thus shal wée gette our dayly sustenaunce more easily For al thinges are more déerely solde to Straungers whiche haue néede to buie and knowe not the manner of the Country but will be fréely geuen to suche as begge Calasiris praised her deuise made haste to be gonne therefore the nexte day after they came to Nausicles and Cnemon and tolde them when thy were determined to departe thei set forwarde but tooke no Horse with them though one were profered them nor suffered any man to beare them company saue that Nausicles and Cnemon and the reste of the house broughte them on theire waye Nausiclia also wente with them crauinge so muche of her Father for that the Loue shée bare to Cariclia was more then
her late Marriage permitted And when they had accompanied them almost thrée quarters of a mile eche one accordinge to their kinde tooke theire laste leaue and farewel and shooke handes and after thei had shedde a great many of teares and prayed that the partinge mighte be lucky to them and Cnemon craued pardon for that he wente not with them by reason of his newe Mariage and had tolde them that if he coulde gette occasion he would followe them they lefte either other and these wente to Chemmis but Calasiris Cariclia turned them selues into beggers habite and put on suche ill fauoured clowtes as they had prouided before for that pourpose This donne Cariclia defowled her face with durte and soote and tied a parte of her Fascia that was foule about her heade fufferinge it to hange ilfauouredly ouer her eies in stéede of a Bonnegrace shée had moreouer a scrip vnder her arme as though shée would put péeces of bread and broken meate therein but in déede to carry the holy Vesture whiche shée brought from Delphi her Crowne and the reste of the remembraunces whiche her Mother layde foorthe with her Calasiris carried Cariclias quiuer wrapped in a torne and naughty péece of leather the wronge ende downe warde on his shoulders as if it had benne some other thinge and he vsed her Bowe whiche as soone as it was vnbent stoode very straight for a staffe leaninge very heauily thereon and if happily they mette any man of pourpose he would make his backe more croked then his age required and be lame of one legge and sometime be ledde of Cariclia by the hande When they could play this parte well and had iested one at another and besought the God that had their affaires in charge that he would be content with that whiche was past and suffer their euill lucke to procéede no farther they went to Bessa where hopinge to finde Theagenes and Thyamis they failed of theire pourpose for comminge neare to Bessa aboute the Sunne settinge they behelde a great slaughter of men lately made of whom the moste were Persians which might easily be knowen by their armour and a fewe of those that dwelled there also so that they might coniecture that there had benne a battaile but thei knew not what y e parties were that had foughten it vntil at length by raunginge about the deade bodies lookinge if perhaps any of their friendes were there slaine for hartes whiche be in feare and careful for that they loue beste oftentimes doo déeme the woorste At laste they sawe an Olde wooman whiche laie vpon a deade body of one of those Countrie men and wayled woonderfully They determined therefore if they mighte to enquire sommewhat of her and so comminge to her at the firste wente aboute to comforte her and appease her greate sorrowe Whiche when shée accepted they asked for whom shée lamented and what Battaile had benne there Calasiris talkinge to her in the Egyptian tongue shée tolde them al in fewe woordes that shée sorrowed for her Sonne and came of pourpose to those deade bodyes that somme armed man mighte runne on her and kill her and in the meane time shée woulde doo suche Kites to her Sonne as shée was hable with teares lameÌ„tations As touching the battaile shée told them thus There was a strange yonge man carried to Memphis of goodly stature and excellente bewtie to Oroondates the greate Kinges Deputie he was sente from Mytranes the Captaine of the Watches for a great Present as they saide him did our men that dwel in this Towne shewing theÌ„ a Towne harde by saie was theirs whether it were so in déede or they made it a colour for them I knowe not When Mytranes hearde this beinge angry and good cause why he conducted his Army hither twoo daies agoe and the people of this Towne are very warlike and liue euer by spoylinge and sette not a strawe by Deathe and haue therefore taken from me as wel as other woomen at other times our Husbandes and Children When our menne knewe certainely of his comminge they placed their Ambushmente in places conueniente for this pourpose and when their Enemies came emonge them they easily subdued them somme with Banners displaide comminge before them and other breaking out of y e Ambushment with greate clamour set on the Persians backes So Mytranes was slaine as he fought with the foremost almoste al the reste also for y t thei being inclosed had no way to flée a fewe of our people also Of whom by the great wrath of God my Sonne was one who had a wouÌ„de in his breaste with a Persian Darte as you sée and for him thus slaine doo I vnhappy Creature sorrowe shal I feare to doo the like hereafter for him y t is yet aliue because yesterday he went with the reste against the Inhabitantes of Memphis Calasiris asked her why they tooke vpon them that viage And the Olde wooman answeared that shée heard her Sonne saie which was aliue that they knewe wel yenough that because y e Kinges Souldiers their Captaine were slaine that they shoulde be for that they had donne not in any small perill but in daunger of al that they had for that the Prince Oroondates who lieth at Memphis hath very greate power with him who as soone as he shal be certified hereof wil come and compasse this Towne aboute at the firste and reuenge this iniury with the destruction of al the Inhabitauntes of the same and are therefore determined seinge that they are once in so greate daunger to redéeme theire greate attempte with a greater if they maie and to take Oroondates vnprouided supposing that if they maie comme on the suddaine â–ª either they shal kill him if he be at Memphis or if he be not there as reporte goeth that he is busied in the Aethiopian warre that they shal the sooner force the Citie to yéelde for that it is without suche as maie defende the same and so they shal be safe afterwarde and moreouer to doo their Captaine Thiamis seruice in recoueringe the Office of the Priesthoode whiche his yonger Brother by violence holdeth from him vniustly but if al theire hope faile them then are they determined valiauntly to die and not to comme into the Persians handes to be scorned and tormented of them But for as much as you be straungers wither goe you To the Towne saide Calasiris It is not good ê™ shée for that you be not knowen and comme at suche vnlawful time to be emong them that are lefte If you will vouchesaue to entertaine vs saide Calasiris wée hope wée shalbe safe I cannot saide shée nowe for I muste doo certaine nighte Sacrifices But if you can â—arry as perhappes there is no remedie but you muste whether you wil or not gette you into somme place beside these deade bodyes to passe this nighte and in the morninge I promise you I wil entertaine you and be your warrante Thus shée saide
ashamed of the case he founde them in and they were in doubte also of that whiche after shoulde befall And while they of the Cittie marueiled at this that was donne and neither saide nor did any thinge but stoode in a manner like doumbe Pictures because they knewe not what it meante An other acte was interlaced in the tragedie Cariclia as shée folowed Calasiris spied Theagenes a farre of for a Louers eie is quicke of sighte so that oftentimes though it be a greate waie of yet wil it iudge a likelihoode by mouinge or habite or gesture and that behinde and as if she had benne striken with his visage ranne to him like a madde wooman and hanginge by her Armes aboute his necke saide nothinge but saluted him with certaine pitieful Lamentations He séeinge her fowle face belike of pourpose beblacked and her Arparel vile and al torne supposinge her to be one of the makeshiftes of the Cittie and a vacabonde caste her of put her awaie and at lengthe gaue her a blowe on the eare for that shée troubled him in séeinge Calasiris Then spake shée to him softly Pithius haue you quite foregotten this Taper Theagenes was striken with that woorde as if he had benne pearsed with a Darte and by Tokens agreed on betwéene them knewe the Taper and lookinge stedfastly vpon her espied her bewty shining like the Sunne appearing through the Clowdes caste his Armes aboute her necke To be shorte al that parte of the wall where Arsace sate which was soare swollen and coulde not without greate ialosie looke vpon Cariclia was ful of suche woonderful affections as is commonly represented in Comedies The wicked Battaile betwéene the twoo Brothers was ended and that whiche menne thoughte shoulde be finished with Bloude had of a Tragical beginninge a Comical endinge A Father sawe his Sonnes in Armoure one againste the other hande to hande came to that pointe that almoste before his eies he sawe his Childrens Deathe made him selfe their louedaie and peace who coulde not escape the necessitie of Destinie but séemed to vse Fortunes greate fauoure for that he came in dewe time to that whiche was determined before The Sonnes recouered theire Father after tenne yéeres absence and adourned him with the furniture of the Priestehoode who aboute the same had almoste benne the cause of a Bloudy strife and so broughte him home But emonge al the reste Theagenes and Cariclia whiche plaied the Louers partes in this Comedie were moste talked of and for that they had founde eche other contrary to theire hope made the Cittie to looke vpon them more then al other sightes whiche were there to be séene for great companies of euery age came out at the Gates into the open fieldes suche as were youthful newely comme to mannes estate came to Theagenes suche as were of riper yéeres menne growen in déede drewe to Thiamis for that they also by reason of their age knewe him wel but the Maydenly sorte who now thought vpō Husbandes flocked aboute Cariclia but the Old menne and suche as were of the Holyer kinde stoode aboute Calasiris and thus was there made a suddaine Sacred Pompe and brauerye After Thiamis had sente backe the people of Bessa geuen them thankes for the paines they tooke in his quarrel with promise that at the nexte full Moone he woulde sende them a thousande Oxen a thousande Shéepe and tenne groates a péece in Money he suffered his Father as he went for ease to leane vpon his shoulders who nowe for his suddaine ioie beganne to ware féeble and very fainte Petosiris did the like on the other side thus was the Olde man brought into Isis Temple with Tapers lighted and with greate ioie and many Instrumentes of Musike so that the lusty youthes beganne also to daunce Beside these Arsace also was not behinde but with her traine folowed in braue wise and offered greate giftes of Golde in Isis Temple vnder pretence to doo as other did in the Cittie but in déede her eies were alwaies vpon Theagenes and shée looked more on him then any other and was not very honestly minded towarde him And when Theagenes ledde Cariclia by the hande and put the thrust aside that shée might take no harme Arsace conceiued a woonderful Ialousie But Calasiris after he came into the inner parte of the Temple fell vpon his face and helde the féete of the Image fast and laie so so longe that he was almoste deade so that he had muche adoo to rise when they called vpon him who stoode by And when he had donne Sacrifice to the Goddes and perfourmed his vowes takinge the Crowne of the Priesthoode from his owne heade he Crowned therewith his Sonne Thiamis tellinge the people that he was Olde and sawe that he shoulde not liue longe and that his eldest Sonne ought to succéede him by the Lawe and that he had all thinges requisite bothe to body and minde sufficient to vse the same After the people had by a greate shoute declared that they approued y t whiche he did he wente him self to a certaine parte of the Church which is appointed for the Priestes and remained there with his Sonnes and Theagenes quickly Al the other people wente euery man to his owne house Arsace also departed with muche adoo but shée returned diuers times and vsed as it were great diligence aboute the seruice of the Goddes yet shée wente awaie at lengthe turninge her selfe as longe as shée mighte to Theagenes As soone as shée came into the Palaice shée wente straighte waye to her Bedde and caste her selfe thereon attyred as shée was without speakinge any woorde beinge a wooman otherwise very laciuiously bente but then especially enflamed when shée had séene Theagenes excellente bewtie whiche farre passed al that euer shée had séene before So laie shée al that nighte tossinge her bodye from one side to an other soare lamentinge sommetime woulde shée rise vp sommetime leane vpon her Elbowe sommetime woulde shée caste her Cloathes almoste al from her then woulde shée suddainely fal into her Bedde againe sommetime woulde shée calle her Mayde and without biddinge her doo any thinge sende her awaie againe To be shorte loue had made her madde and none shoulde haue knowen why if and Olde wooman called Cibele her Chamberleine and Bawde had not comme into her Chamber for shée might wel perceiue al that was donne by reason of a Candle that burnte and made Arsaces face more vehement also saieinge Mistresse for shame what adoo is this Dothe any newe or straunge disease paine you Hathe the sighte of any man troubled my Darlinge What man is so prowde and madde that wil not be entangled with your bewtie and accoumpte it a passinge blessed estate to lie and haue to doo with you but wil despise your desire and wil Tel me my déere Daughter for there is no man so stoany harted but he shal be made to yéelde with our flatteringe allurmentes Tel me
saide Right happy man our Mistresse hath sente for you and wée are commaunded to bringe you to her presence Wherefore goe and enioye that happinesse which shée voutchsaueth to very fewe and at seldome times He staied a while but at length as if he had bene violently drawen he rose against his wil and saide vnto them is her commaundemente that you bringe me alone or that this my Sister shal goe with me also You must goe alone saide they shée shall goe alone also another time Mary nowe there are certaine noble men of Persia with her and it is a custome to talke with men by them selues with woomen alone at another time Then Theagenes stouped downe and saide softely to Cariclia sure this is neither honest dealinge nor without great suspition Shée answeared him that there was no gainesayinge but that he muste goe and make suche countenaunce as if he woulde doo all her will This donne he followed them and when they taught him howe he should speake to her and that it was the custome that such as went in to her should fal downe and woorshippe her he gaue them no answeare When he came in and sawe her sittinge in her Chaire of Estate clothed in Purple and clothe of Golde glorious with iolly Iewelles and her costly Bonnet finely attired and decked with her Garde aboute her and the chiefe Magistrates of the Persians by her he was not abashed a whit but rather the more incouraged against the Persian brauerie as though he had quite forgotten that whereof he talked with Cariclia as touchinge Reuerence and woorshippinge so that he neither bowed knée nor fell downe to her but holdinge vp bis heade alofte saide Arsace of Royall bloude God saue thée whereat when those who were presente were offended and grudged against him as one rashe and ouerbolde in that he had not woorshipped her Arsace smiled a little and answeared for him thus pardon him as one ignorant of our customes and a straunger borne in Greece who by reason of the soyle despiseth our pompe and therewithall shée put of her Bonnette sore againste their willes that stoode by for so doo the Persians to render Salute to those who firste saluted them And when shée had bidden him to be of good chéere by an interpreter for although shée vnderstoode yet could shée not speake the Greeke tongue and willed him to speake if he wanted any thinge and he shoulde haue it Shée sent him backe againe commaundinge her Eunuches and Garde to wayte vpon him there Achemenes seing him againe called him better to his remembraunce for al that he iudged the cause of the ouer greate Honour he had yet he saide nothinge but determined to doo that whiche firste he intended Arsace made a sumptuous Banquette to the Magistrates of Persia vnder colour to Honour them as shée was wonte to doo but in déede for ioie that shée had talked with Theagenes To whome shée sente not onely parte of her meate as shée was wonte to doo but Carpettes Coueringes of sundry colours wrought in Sidon and Lydia shée sente also to waite vpon them a boye for him and a Mayde for Cariclia whiche were borne in Ionia and aboute foureteine yéeres of age Shée desired Cibele hartely to make haste and out of hande to doo what shée entended because shée coulde tarry no longer who before lefte no waie vnsearched but tried Theagenes minde by all manner of meanes Marry shée did not tell him Arsaces minde plainely but by diuerse biewaies and circumstaunces shée meante to make him vnderstande the same by tellinge him her Mistresse good will to him not onely commendinge her shape and bewty that all menne sawe but shée tolde him also of that whiche was vnder her Apparell by certaine reasonable occasioÌ„s then praised shée her manners for that thei were amiable and nothing coye that shée had greate delighte in fine and hable yonge menne The drifte of al her talke was to perceiue if he had any pleasure in Venus disportes Theagenes commended her good will that shée bare to the Greekes and her friendely fashion and els what so euer shée talked of and further for the same gaue her hartie thankes but he passed ouer that which conteined any dishonest thing as thoughe he vnderstoode it not at the firste Wherefore the Olde wooman was soare grieued and nipped at the harte for that shée thoughte he vnderstoode what shée meante but vtterly despised and sette at naughte al that shée did shée knewe moreouer that Arsace woulde abide no longer but beganne euen now to be angry and tell her plainely shée coulde not rule her selfe wherefore shée craued of her the perfourmonce of her promise which Cibele had deferred by diuers delaies sommetime saieinge that thoughe the yonge man woulde yet he was afraide sommetime that one or other mischaunce fell in the waie and nowe because fiue or sixe daies were past and Arsace had called for Cariclia ones or twise and vsed her honourably to doo Theagenes a pleasure shée was forced to speake more plainely to Theagenes and tel him of her loue without circumstances with promise that he shoulde haue sixe hundred good turnes if he woulde consente addinge moreouer for shame what lingringe is this Or what may be so farre from Venus delightes as so faire a yonge man and of good age to refuse to lye with a wooman like him selfe that dieth for his loue and doothe not rather coumpte it a vauntage to haue to doo with her especially for that he néede to feare nothinge and because her Husbande is out of the waie and I who broughte her vp prouide the same for him and kéepe all her counselles be they neuer so secrete and to you for that you haue neither Spouse nor Wife to lette you whiche also many menne that haue ben in theire wittes haue contemned for that they knewe they shoulde doo no harme at home and shoulde doo them selues good by gayninge greate Ritches and coumptinge the fruite of this pleasure also a good rewade At lengthe shée interlaced certaine threates in her taâ—ke saieinge Gentlewoomen and suche as longe for men wil not be appeased but conceiue greate displeasure when they are cruelly deceiued and wil pounishe the stubborne as if they had donne theÌ„ greate wronge and that not without cause Moreouer consider of her that shée is a Persian borne and of the Bloude Royall as you confessed and of greate power and authoritie so that shée maie prefer to honour whom shée will and pounishe suche as withstande her pleasure without controlment As for you you are a straunger alone without any to healpe you Wherefore partely spare your selfe partely fauour her Surely shée is woorthy that you shoulde haue regarde to her who is so furiously inflamed with your Loue which shee of right ought to reioice at stande in doubt of the wrathe whiche procéedeth of Loue and beware of the reuenge whiche followeth like contempt I haue knowen many who haue
repented afterwarde suche a stomake as this I haue greater experience in these Venerious affaires then you This white head that you sée hath benne at many suche Banquettes but I neuer knew any so violent and vncureable as you At laste shée spake to Cariclia for shée was necessarily compelled to saie this in her presence my Daughter perswade this thy Brother also whom I know not how to terme This wilbe for your auaile too you shall not be loued the weight of a heare the lesse of her therefore you shal haue Ritches yenough shée will prouide to marry you wealthely whiche thinges are to be wished for of those who be in happy estate and not of straungers and 〈◊〉 as presently are in great pouertie Cariclia looked vpon her frowningly and with burninge eies saide It were to be wished also and were very wel too for euery bodie that good Arsace had no suche infirmitie but if shée haue to vse it discretely But séeinge that suche a humaine chaunce hathe happened vnto her and shée is ouercommed as you saie I woulde counsel Theagenes my selfe not to refuse the facte if he maie doo it without daunger least that his déede through folly may bréede him harme and her no good if this come to lighte and the Deputie happe to know of so shameful a thinge Cibele leapte for ioye when shee hearde this and imbracinge kissinge Cariclia saide My Daughter thou doest very well that thou haste pittie vpon a wooman like thy selfe and séekest for the safety of thy Brother but thou needest not doubt hereof for that the Sunne as the Prouerbe is shal not know thereof Lette me alone for this time sayde Theagenes and geue me leaue to consider hereupon and herewith Cibele wente out and as soone as shée was gonne Cariclia saide thus Theagenes God geueth vs suche successe wherein is more aduersitie harbored then our outwarde felicitie can conteruaile which thinge seinge it is so it is the pointe of wise menne to turne their il happes as muche as they maie to better whether therfore you be in minde to doo this déede or not I cannot tell Although I would not be greatly against it if there were no other waie to preserue vs but if you doo déeme that a filthy acte as honesty and duety would you should whiche is requested of you faine your selfe to be contented and with fayre woordes féeding the barbarous woomans desire cutte of the same with delayes and lette her liue in hope leaste in her rage shée put some cruell deuise in practise againste vs. For it is like by the grace of God that space of time may prouide some remedy for this but in any wise Theagenes beware that you fall not out of your consideration into the filthinesse of the facte Theagenes smiled hereat a little and saide I perceiue you are not without Ialousie woomens natural disease no not in aduersitie but be sure I cannot faine any suche thinge for to saie and doo vnhonest thinges are bothe almoste alike dishonest And that Arsace may be out of hope to obtaine bringeth an other commoditie with it that shée wil cease to trouble vs any more If I must suffer any thinge as well Fortune as also the constant opinion of my minde haue inured me ere now many times to take what so euer shal happen Then thinke ê™ Cariclia that so you shall bringe vs into greate mischiefe and therewith shée helde her tongue While they considered of these matters Cibele wente to Arsace and incouraged her to looke for better successe and that Theagenes was contente whiche donne shée came into the parlour alone and saide nothinge that night but exhorted Cariclia diuerse waies whom at the firste shée made her beddefellowe to healpe her in this case and in the morninge shée asked Theagenes what he meante to doo He gaue her a plaine deniall willed her neuer to looke for any suche thing at his hande With which answeare shée wente heauâ—â—y to Arsace where shée made reporte of Theagenes stoutenesse Arsace commaunded to breake his necke and wente into her Chamber and vexed her selfe cruelly on her Bedde The Olde wooman Cibele was no sooner in the Parlour but her Sonne Achemenes séeinge her sadde and wéepinge asked her Mother what mishap is befallen Are there any il newes come Are there any il tidinges comme from the Campe Haue our enimies in this warre the vpper hande of our Lorde Oroondates And many suche questions he moued Tushe ê™ shée thy pratinge is to no effecte This saide shée made haste to be gonne but he woulde not let her alone but wente after her and takinge her by the hande besoughte her that shée woulde tel her Sonne the cause of her griefe Then shée tooke him by the hande and leadde him aside into a parte of the Orchyarde saide I woulde neuer haue declared mine owne my Mistresse harmes to any other man But séeinge shée is in perill and I in daunger of my life for I knowe that Arsaces maddenesse wil fall in my necke I am constrained to tel you if happily you can helpe her any thinge who conceiued and bare you into the worlde and nourished you with these Breastes Our Mistresse doth loue the yonge man which is in our House not with tollerable or vsual Loue but so that shée is almoste madde therewith about whom shée I hopinge to spéede wel as wée would loste our labour hence came al courtesies manifold good wil toward y e strauÌ„gers But now séeing the yonge man like a foole and cruel felowe whiche wil not be ruled hathe refused to doo as wée woulde haue him I thinke shée wil not liue and I looke to be slaine and in this case are wée nowe If then thou causte helpe me any thinge doo it if not yet when thy Mother is deade sée that her Deathe Kites be duely finished What rewarde shal I haue Mother saide he for I haue no leasure to boaste my selfe or with longe circumstances to promise you any helpe séeinge you be in suche and so desperate a case Looke for what so euer you wil for shée hathe made you her chiefe Cuppe bearer for my sake already and if thou haue any higher Office in thy heade tel me As for the Ritches that thou shal haue in recompence if thou saue her vnhappy Creature of them shalbe no number Mother ê™ he I perceiued as muche a good while agoe but I saide nothinge and looked euer what would comme of it But I care for no honour nor regarde any Ritches but if shée wil geue me the Mayde whiche is called Theagenes Sister to wife shée shal haue her hartes desire For Mother I loue that Mayde without measure Wherefore seinge our Mistresse knoweth by her owne case what kinde and how great a griefe loue is shée hath good cause to healpe him who is sicke of that disease also seinge further he promiseth her so good lucke Haue no doubt saide Cibele for our Mistresse wil
that whiche séemed to be drie at the toppe there was muche wetnesse whiche as well deceiued men as Horses So they passed their time twoo or thrée daies and in token of peace the people of Siene sette open their gates and the Aethiopians laide a side theire Armoure And so was there a truce yet came they not togeather neither was there kepte watche and warde with either of them But they that were in the Cittie gaue them selues to pastime pleasure for then it hapned that the hiest feast that the Egyptians haue fel which is kept holy aboute midsomer at what time the Floudde encreasde and it is honoured more then al other for this cause The Egyptians faine Nylus to be a God and the greatest of al ▪ Gods equal to Heauē because he watereth their Countrie without Clowdes or Raine that commeth out of the Apre and thus dothe he euery yéere without faile as wel as if it shoulde raine And this is the common sortes opinion But the cause why they gaue him so Diuine honoure is because they thinke that the mixture of moyste and drie is the especial cause of the beginninge and continuaunce of mannes life as for the other Elementes they depende vpon these and are where so euer these be and they deeme that moisture procéedeth from Nylus and driues from the Earthe but this euery man knoweth also Mary their Diuines saie that the Earthe is Isis and Nylus Osiris geuinge to either a newe name Therefore the Goddesse is very desirous of his companie and reioiseth when he is with her but lowreth when he is absent as if some vnhappy blaste by lightninge had touched her This tale haue the skilful men in Natures secretes diuised because as I thinke they woulde not make prophane personnes priuie of the secresies conteined therein but they instructe those that are desirous to knowe these priuities in their vestery by Candell lighte And lette this suffise to be spoken at this time by the leaue of the Gods as for the greate secretes they shall not be reueled for reuerence sake Nowe let vs procéede with that whiche was donne aboute Siene orderly When the feast of Nylus was come the inhabitantes fel to killing of Beastes and to doo Sacrifice and for al that their bodies were busied with theire presente perilles yet theire mindes as muche as they might were godly disposed Oroondates waytinge his time when the Sienians were faste a sléepe after theire feastinge conueyed his Army priuily out for he had secretely geuen the Persians warninge before at what howre and whiche gate he woulde goe foorthe Euery decurion was charged to leaue all their Horses and other Cattell behinde that they mighte not trouble them in their way nor make a noyse whereby that they did should be discouered but euery man to take his Armoure and a Boorde or Planke vnder his arme When they were comme togeather as he had commaunded he caste the boordes that euery man carried ouerthwart the Ose and laide them in suche sorte that one touched another and so conducted ouer his Army with little paine and great spéede as if there had benne a bridge for that they who came after deliuered theire boordes to them that wente before When he came to lande he went priuily by the Aethiopians who suspected nothinge lesse nor kepte watche any longer but sleapte soundly as fast as his breathe woulde geue him leaue wente to Eliphantina and was lette in by by for that the twoo Persians whiche were sente from Siene as was appointed wayted for his comminge euery nighte and when they hearde theire watche woorde they sette open the gates When it was daye the people of Siene firste knew of this escape suspectinge the same for that euery man missed the Persian that was Lodged in his house and coulde not heare of them and by the bridge whiche they sawe before the Towne Then was the Cittie in great feare againe and looked for grieuous punishment for this seconde iniury because they had shewed them selues so vnfaithfull to let the Persians escape after they had founde suche clemency at the Aethiopians handes Wherefore they determined euery man to goe out of the Cittie and yéelde them selues to the Aethiopians and by Othe to confirme their ignoraunce if happely they may mooue them to pitie When all of euery age were come togeather and had taken bowes in their handes to declare their lowlinesse and humilitie and with Tapers burninge carried all their Goddes and holy Images in tooken of peace were come ouer that brydge to the Aethiopians they fell vpon their knées and sate a farre of gaue all at once a sorrowfull lamentable crie crauinge in humble sorte the forgeuenesse of their offence and to obteine it the rather they laied their Infantes before them sufferinge them to goe whither they woulde so asswaginge the wrathe of the Aethiopians with their age whiche was without suspition and blame Those children for feare ranne from theire Parentes and Nources with a woonderful crie somme crepte in the waie whiche wente towarde the Aethiopians Hoste other laie and cried whiche coulde not speake perfitely and would haue made any man to take compassion vpon them because Fortune euen in them printed out an humble estate When Hidaspes sawe this he thoughte that they craued mercye in more earnest sorte then they did before and therefore sente one to knowe what they woulde haue and howe it happened that they ranne out alone and not the Persians with them They tolde him all the Persians Flight their Innocency the Hie Feaste of the Coūtrie and howe that they priuily slipte awaie while they were busie in the seruice of their God and when thei had banqueted and were fallen asléepe Whereas perhappes if they had sente them without Armour they shoulde not haue ben hable to haue staied them beinge armed When Hidaspes hearde this he suspected as the trothe was in déede that Oroondates would doo sommewhat to entrap and hurte him Wherfore he sent onely for the Priestes when he had woorshipped the Goddes of greatest price he asked them if they coulde infourme him of any thinge that they meante to doo and whither they were gonne and where in was their greatest truste They answeared that they knewe nothinge certainely mary they déemed that he was gonne to Eliphantina where the chiefe strengthe of his Armye laie and that Oroondates beste truste was in his Barde Horses When they had saide thus thei desired him to goe into y e Towne as his owne and to take from them all his displeasure But Hidaspes would not enter into it at that time yet he sente thither twoo Troupes of Armed men to sée whether there were any guile as he suspected if not that they shoulde be a Garrison to defende the Cittie this donne he sent away the people of Siene with gentle promises and went him selfe forwarde with his Army either to receiue the Persians if they set vpon him or if they would
this he asked which of these is this y â— seketh for his Daughter They shewed him a certaine Old man to whom he said straunger I will doo any thinge at Oroondates request but I commaunded tenne onely to be brought hither for as muche as one of them is knowen not to be thine looke vpon all the reste if thou canst finde her take her with thée The Old man fell downe and kissed his féete after he had looked vpon them al as they were brought before him and founde her not whom he sought he was very sadde and saide none of these ô Kinge is shée You know ê™ Hidaspes there is no wante of good will in me if you finde her not that you séeke for blame Fortune For I geue you leaue to looke that neither hers is any other beside these nor in the Tentes when the Olde man had bente his browes and wepte he lifte vp his face and looked rounde about him and suddainely ranne foorth as though he had benne madde And when he came to the Aultare he did winde his cloke rounde like a rope for he had a cloke on then by chaunce cast it about Theagenes necke and cried that all men might heare I haue founde thée mine enimy I haue gotten thée thou mischieuous accursed fellowe And although the Officers would haue staied him and plucked him from him he hanged so faste vpon him that he obtained leaue to bring him before Hidaspes and the Councell And there he spake thus This man ô Kinge is he who like a Théefe hath taken my Daughter from me this is he who hath made my house desolate without any childe he hath taken my harte euen from the Aultars of Apollo And nowe he sitteth at the Aultars of the Goddes like a good and deuoute man Al that were there were moued with that whiche he did Mary thei vnderstoode not his woordes but they maruailed at his woorke And when Hidaspes badde him tell plainely what he meante The Old man that was Caricles concealed the truthe of Cariclia fearinge least if shée were dead by the waye that he shoulde haue muche adoo with her trewe Parentes But he tolde that briefely that was little hurtefull in this sorte I had a Daughter ô Kinge if you had séene howe wise and faire with all shée had benne you woulde haue thought that I had good cause to saie as I doo Shée leade her life in Virginitie was one of Dianas Priestes whiche is honoured at Delphi That Mayde this iolly Thessalian hath stolen out of Apolloes Churche as he came beinge Captaine of a holy Ambassage to Delphi my Natiue Cittie there to celebrate a certaine Feaste Wherefore it may well be déemed that he hathe offended also againste you for that he hathe displeased youre God Apollo whiche is all one with the Sunne and defiled his Temple Furthermore a false Prieste of Memphis was his companion in perfourmance of this his shameful and heinous facte After I had benne in Thessalia and required to haue this felowe and they were all contente to deliuer him to me as a common plague of their Countrie where so euer he were founde I wente to Memphis whiche I déemed to be a place whither Calasiris woulde goe for diuers causes When I came thither I founde him deade as well he had deserued and was tolde by his Sonne Thyamis of all that belonged to my Daughter how that shée was sente to Siene to Oroondates where not findinge Oroondates for I came thither too At Eliphantina I was taken prisoner and staied from whence I came at this presente in humble sorte to séeke my Daughter and you shall doo me vnhappy man a good turne and a déede wel beséeminge a Kinge if you will accepte the Deputies requeste made in my behalfe And then he helde his peace and wepte bitterly to confirme that he saide Hidaspes turned to Theagenes and what saie you to this ê™ he Theagenes answeared all that he hathe laide againste me in this accusation is true I am the thiefe the vniust man and the Robber As touching him yet haue I done you a good turne Therefore saide Hidaspes restoare that whiche is not your owne that because ye are vowed to the Goddes ye maye be a cleane and glorious Sacrifice and not séeme to be pounished for your offence Nay ê™ Theagenes not he that did the wronge but he that hathe the commodity of it ought by iustice to make restitution Saeinge therefore you haue her restoare her for it is Cariclia whom he also will confesse to be youre Daughter No man coulde rule him selfe any longer but they were disordred in euery place Sisimithres who had withhelde him selfe a good while for all that he knew the whole matter that was in handlinge till it were boulted out whiche by litle and litle came to lighte then he came to them and imbraced Caricles and saide Your Adoptiue Daughter which I ones deliuered you is wel founde and knowen to be theire Daughter whom you know your selfe well yenough Cariclia also ranne out of the Tabernacle like a madde wooman without regard what became of her kinde and age and fell at Caricles féete and saide O Father no lesse déere to me then those that begat me take what reuenge you wil of me without any regarde to the excuse whiche somme man might alleage that it was the Goddes will and theire dooinge Persina on the other side kissed Hidaspes and saide Husband iudge that all this is so and be sure that this yonge Greeke is youre Daughters Husbande The people in an other place reioiced and almoste daunced for ioie and with one consente were all gladde of that whiche was donne mary all they vnderstoode not but gathered the moste parte of Cariclia Perhappes also they were sturred to vnderstande the trothe by inspiration of the Gods whose will it was that this shoulde fall out woonderfully as in a Comedy Surely they made very contrarye thinges agrée and ioined sorrowe and mirthe teares and laughter togeather and tourned fearefull and terrible thinges into a ioyfull Banquette in the ende many that wepte beganne to laughe and suche as were sorrowfull to reioice when they founde that they soughte not for and loste that they hoped to finde and to be shorte the cruell slaughters whiche were looked for euery moment were turned into holy Sacrifice Then saide Hidaspes to Sisimithres Right wise man what muste wée doo to refuse the Sacrifice of the Gods is a wicked acte but to offer them whiche they haue prouided for vs is the duety of deuaute men wée muste therefore bethinke vs what is beste to doo Whereto Sisimithres answeared not in Greeke but in the Aethiopian tongue that all might vnderstande him thus Through too muche pleasure ô Kinge the wisest menne are oftentimes blinded you mighte haue perceiued at the firste that the Goddes liked not the Sacrifice whiche was ordeined who haue nowe euery waie declared that happy Cariclia is your