and thirst of honor hath haled out of your natiue kingdomes to sacrifice your bloode at the walls of Troy sith in martiall myndes enmity ought to hange at the Swords point and thoughtes in maiesty ought to bee measured by promise A league of friendship being passe for a prefixed tyme I account our citty a free mart for the Grecians and your Tents a Sanctuary for the peaceable Troians which my daughters confirmed by proofe in hazarding vpon the othe of an enemy and you now ratefie by committing your selues into a walled city peopled with your professed foes But honor and maiesty brooking no treacherous suspition putteth in assurance of safty omitting therefore all friuolous protestation the Ladies first as respecting that once I was young and the Lordes as now I am olde and both as I am Priamus are heartely and vnfaynedly welcome to the poore besiedged citty of Troy where if you finde no sights but Armour no musicke but the Drumme nor no delicates but souldiers fare impute it to your owne wilfulnesse and our necessities which are forced to beare reueng with fortune hoping therefore you will measure your intertainement by the time Followe mee to the Pallace of Ilâ—um The Grecians thanking Priamus for his Pryncely courtesie paced on to the Pallace where alighting and entering they found all things ready furnished for dynner so that set downe euery man in his degrée they fell to such cheere as so sodaine a warning would afford which was so sumptuous and to say troth serued in with such prodygall magnificence as the Gretians thought Bacchus and Caeres ment there to discouer their superfluity Feeding thus more with the eye then glutting the stomacke yet taking their repast with good appetite they past ouer dynner with many pleasant discourses which for breuity sake I omitte Well the Tables vncouered Hecuba and the Ladies went to walke and to see the pleasures of the Pallace but the Lordes sat still silent vntill Priamus began to put them from their muses with these woordes I remember mighty princes of Greece and Asia that my sonne Helenus commended the Gretian banquets to bee more delicate then any other that before hee had seene his reason was thus that their fare was not so sumptuous as their philosophicall discourses were delightfull so that to spend tyme well they amidst their cuppes ceased not to learne precepts of morall vertue so alaying the heate of Bacchus vynepresse with the sweete conserues fetcht from Myneruaes Library which as I greatly commend he discoursed vnto mee your late disputation about the perfection of a souldier consisting by your distinct diuision in thrée partes wysedome fortitude and liberalitie all thrée necessary but the question which of them is most pretious the first being discussed bad enough as I coniecâ—â—re by the man it resteth if with your good fauours I might craue it that now to adapt a fit digestion wee might heare the second question decided Aged Nestor seeing they sat all silent rising vppe and vncouering his hoary heade that shyned like the Syluer gleaming Iuory made him this answere Mighty Priamus honorable for thy thoughts and famous for thy Issus feared of Fortune because in resolute maiesty aboue Fortune the Gretians knowing their discent from the gods therefore couet in actions to resemble the gods which they Imagin to doe by studying phylosophie to be come vertuous so that they measure their time by pleasures and their pleasures by profit counting nothing delightfull which is not both profitable and honest which inforced vs to intertaine thy sonnes with our philosophicall discourses to trie if their vertues were onely ingrauen by nature or perfected by learning How wee found them giue vs leaue to reporte in Greece not in Troy but so wée estéeme of them as wee desire thy highnesse to forward our former disputation which belongeth vnto thy sonne Hector namely to discourse of fortitude Priamus promised to farther so good a motion and therefore commaunded Hector sith hee tooke the defence of such a vertue to maintaine his charge who duetifully obeying his fathers commaunde seeing the Princes began to be attentiue began his discourse in this manner ¶ Hectors discourse of Fortitude ALthough it might amase Esculapius to alledge any of his Aphorismes in the presence of Apollo or Silenus to treat of the nature of Grapes in the hearing of Bacchus yet it is no offence in Pallas temple to treate of wisdome nor at Venus altars to parle of loues sith the goddesses doo patronage such affections So although the presence of such mighty prynces whose chieualry is famous from the East to the West and whose valour by experience is able to deliuer principles of magnanimitie might affray mee from this inioyned discourse of fortitude yet for that my fathers commaunde is a lawe of constraint which Nature willes mee to obey and the request of the Grecians such a clayme as duety forceth mée to graunt I will rather hazarde my credit on the honorable thoughts of these mighty Potentates then seeme eyther scrupulous or froward in gainesaying such a charge hoping they will with Prometheus censure well of the workmanship of Lisias rather cast an eye at the nature of the stone by secret instinct then at the beauty pollished by arte in which hope resting thus to the purpose The Phylosophers whose liues spent in metaphusicall contemplation hauing set downe in their precepts the perfect pourtraiture of vertue figure hir bare counterfait placed by equall proportion betwéene two vyces noting thereby that the meane kept betweene two extremes is that laudable action which by no other name can bee tearmed but by the title of vertue neither in excesse soaring too high with Bolerophon and so to hasard on the heate of y e sunne nor in defect falling too lowe with Icarus by the moysture of the Sea wetting his feathers but flying with Dedalus in the meane so with case and quiet attayning to the desired ende as for an instance fortitude seated betweene two extremities Timiditas and Audacia feare fayling in defect and rashnesse faultie in excesse the meane being that courage which ought to bee in a Souldier For all desperate attempts that beare the shadowe of prowesse and are of the common sorte honored with the name of fortitude are not comprehended within the precinct of this vertue for hée only is counted a valiaunt man that without any furious or rash resolution feareth not to hasard him selfe in y e greatest perills whatsoeuer for the weale of his countrey So that by this definition wee see that hee limited within the bonds of measure is not to vâ—â—ture or make proofe of his valour in euery light cause yea for euery trifling thing but with such proportion as in scorning death yet hee may honorably seâ—ke not to bee counted desperate For I remember that Isadus a worthy Lacedemonian seeing their Citty besieged and thaâ— the Souldiers resolutely issued out to fight with the enemy hée being their Captayne stript him selfe naked and
e others tents made Achilles this answere My Lords of Greece the talke of a Souldiour ought to hang at the point of his sword threats are not to be menaced with the tounge but with the Launce tune craues a proportion in all thinges wee came to see the order of your Pauilions not to discourse of atteÌ„pts in battaile To sacrifice the talke of warres to Mars before Ladyeâ— is to offer a drumme and Trumpet to dainty Venus for a present Greece complayneth of iniury Troy is impatient of dishonour both greeued ayme at reuenge The Truce expired let the doubt by the fauour of the gods and fortunâ—â—e decided The Gretians greatly commended the reply of Troilus so tempered with myldnesse and valour as he seemed to hold a martiall peace in his forehead Vlisâ—es greeuing that hee was the author of this Iarre seeking subtilly to cast the Shackle from his owne foote followed his former parle in this manner Thinke me not so forgetfull worthy Troians eyther of tyme or place that my intent was to mingle the bytter potions of Mars wyth the sweete lyquor of Bacchus that I ment to make a consort betweene the Trumpet and the Lute or by rehearsing of Paris loues to call in question our open warres Only least time should accuse vs of niggardise and the Ladyes grow to melancholy by ouermuch silence by accusing Paris of folly I thought to discouer the force of fancy which partiall in her Cenzures prooueth â—â—â—wty more predominant in affâ—ction then vertue Helena was fayre and a Queene witty and therefore the sooner woonne but yet diâ—honest a cooling Carde to desire a stayne manifest to the mynde and yet so quickly ouerslipt by the eye as it shâ—wes how litle Iuditiall the thoughtes bee of vnâ—ridled affection Had the Troians quoth Iphigenia Academis like to the Gretians or were their cytties peopled as well with Philosophers as Souldiours Paris had learned by their wise precepts to haue preferred Uertue before Beawty not to haue bought repentaunce so deare Pallas stands sacred in Troy but Priamus and his Sonnes lookes at her Speare not at her booke they finde in her foreheade warres but they see not in hir Breast the pourtrature of Wisdome they pen downe volumes of martiall discipline but knowe not Apian of morrall Philosophy which is the cause they measure all their passions by will and call Veâ—â—â— a goddesse onely for hir outwarde glory Andromacâ—e hearing howâ— hardly Iphigenia did inueigh against theyr want of learning thought a litle to be pleasaunt and yet Satyâ—icall so that shee made hir this sharp answere In deede Madame you say well The Gretians haue such a selfe conceipt in theyr wysedome as they count all Barbarians that are not lymâ—ted wythin the confines of Greece and so studious are they of philosophie that euery oeconomicall state standes vppon precepts the wyfe sayes not Salue to hir husbande but shee hath a warrant of hir action from the Philosopher our Ladyes like homely huswyfes beguile time wich the Dystaffe your Dames apply their myndes to their bookes and become so well lettered that after long study they prooue as vertuous as Helena giue mee leaue Madame to bring hir for a president of your philosophicall wysedome as well as you induced Paris for an instaunce of our barbarous ignoraunce Iphigenia séeing hir selfe so clarkly ouertakeÌ„ in hir own inuectiue blusht the noble men smiled to sée how smoothly Andromache thwarted hir presumption But Bryses willing to shew hir skil made Andromache this answere And yet Madame by your leaue the particular instance of one woman condemnes not the generall profit of good letters Helenas dishonesty is no preiudice to the study of philosophy neyther doo our Gretian Ladyes blush at hir folly sith what Greece refuseth as an abiect Troy harboreth as an Idoll wherein wee may say without offence that such lipps such lettyce that which the Citizens loue in their hearts they maintayne with the sworde Venus intreated Iupiter for Calisto when Diana had exiled hir for a refuse and so Priamus honours hir for a Goddesse that wee hated for a Strumpet Cassandra who all this while buried vp this talke in silence at last as forced to speake in defence of hir countrey began in this maner Greece in deede swarmeth with Philosophers the fathers and forepointers of wysedome but â—he learned delyuer that in precepts which the people neuer put in prâ—ctise Apollo the glory of Greece and God and prophet at Delphos saithâ— that vertue is not perfit without action that study and contemplation is friuolous nisi adiungatur actio for it is not sufficient as Hermes Tresnygistus your great Philosopher affirmes to spend time in the knowledge of any Science vnlesse by attayning vnto that skill wee shewe the fruites of such doctrine in our liues Then if action must of necessity be ioyned to study and contemplation otherwise a vertuous and happy life is not perfected then we Barbarians may boast of our owne disposition that honour vertue in our deedes which you onely account for a goddesse in thought wee through ignoraunce haue fetcht a Harlot from Greece and you that are learned make a challeng to recall vyce with the sword whose folly is the greatest let the verdict of one of your owne Philosophers witnesse whose censure is that Qui inuito peccat minus peccat quà m qui sponte peccat This philosophicall answere of Cassandra so satisfied the Gretians as they admyred hir speech and held hir reason for an Oracle All driuen with this censure into silence Vlisses as he was first thought to be last and therefore made this reply It is not seene Madame by your sweete selfe but Philosophers are honouâ—ed in Troie that you haue theyr precepts so well in memorie They which sacrifice to Neptune can talke of the Sea and such as honor Mars of warlike discipline the stringes of y e heart reach to the tip of the tounge thoughts are blossomes of the minde wordes the fruites of desiers Your phisicall reasons bewraies a good naturalist your opinion of morall actions an in-sight into philosophy therefore Madame to giue euery one theyr due wee cannot but confesse the Troians are as wise as warlike the Ladies can apply the eye as wel to the booke as the fingar to the dissafe yet to sett truth in hir prime lâ—t mee say thus much without offence that neuer haue I seene lawlâ—sse loue end without losse nor the nuptiall bed defiled escape without reuenge mâ—n dâ—termine but the godâ—â—ispose humaine actions are oft measured by will but the â—â—â—sures from aboue are iust and peremptorie Fortune is a goddesse but hath no priuiledge in punishing of faultes which one of our Poets noâ—ing well by a plague inferred for some offâ—nce yeeldeth this reâ—son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was the will of Iupiter To conâ—irmâ— which if the Troian Lordes and Ladies giue mee leauâ— I will rehearse a pleasaunt hystorie Wee hard quoth Cassandra before any Bâ—rke
Greece honoured thee for thy vertues and shall the whole world at last abhorre thee for thy vanities shall the Ladies of Ithaca who alledge thée for a president of chastity blush when they heare of thy vnbridled fancy Nay shall Polumestor who desired thée for thy honorable qualities haue cause to loath thée for thy dishonest conditions No Moedyna thinke this there is no swéeter frinde then fame nor worse enemy then report Princes thoughts as they are royall so they ought to looke no lower then honor More is homely Bawcis accounted of for hir honesty in hir poore Cotage then Venus withall hir amours in hir sumptuous Temples And yet Moedyna Loue is deuine feareâ— of men because honored of the Gods not to bee suppressed by wisedome because not to bee comprehended by reason without law and therefore aboue all lawe And why fond woman doost thou blase that with praâ—â—es which thou hast cause to blaspheme with curses offer not Doues to Venus but hemblocke seeke not to extinguish the flame with oyle but temper the sweetest potions with the sharpest Uinegar yea Moedyna blush at thy fortune thy choice thy loue sith thy thoughts caÌ„not bee conceiued without secret shame nor thy affections vttered without open discredit farre are these fancies or rather fâ—llies vnfit for thy birth thy dignities thy kingdomes hast thou not heard as an oracle from Apollo y t it is better to perish with high desires then to liue in base thoughts Daphne chose â—ather to loose hir humaine shape then to make shipwracke of hir honestiâ— But yet Voâ—tymis is beawtifull a fauour fond foole framed to feede the eye not to â—etter the heart hee is wise so thinke he is vertuous and will censure of thy actions according to desert not desire Tush being both beawtifull and wise why should hee not be loued wilt thou so farre forget thy selfe Moedyna as to suffer affection to suppresse wisedome loue to violate thine honor Let coÌ„sideration the enemy to vntimely attempts tell thee that repentance in infamy is no amends that there is no salue against the hurt that cometh from report that honor lost biddeth a farrewell to hope feare then to hasard that for the gaine of a momentary pleasure as is so pretious that once crackt it can neuer bee recouered how dismall would the fact bee to thy husband how sorrowfull to thy subiects how greeuous to thy frinds how gladsome to thy foes the greatest greefe of all sith the smile of a foe that proceedeth from enuie is worse then the teare of a frinde that cometh of pittie These premises then duely considered prefer not a barlie corne before a pretious Iewel set not a fading content before a perpetuall honor suppresse thy affections and cease to loue him whom thou couldst not loue vnlesse blindâ—d with too much loue As thus shee was perplexed with sondry passions one of hir Ladies came into the Arbour wherevpon shee ceased hir complaintes hoping that time would weare out that which fond Loue and Fortune had wrought calling for her worke that with easie labouâ—â— she might passâ— ouer hir new conceiued â—mours But see the olde saying Naturam expellas furea tamen osque reccurrâ—t Nature hath such a predominant power ouer the minde as the ramage Hawke will hardlie be reclaimed the Tygre will neuer bee tamed the Snayle cannot be inforced to bee swiâ—â— Nor a woman that resolueth possible to bâ—e perswaded by reason which Moedyna prooued true â—or so did the remembrance of hir late conceiued Loue alienate hir thoughts from hir woonted disposition that shame and dishonor the greatest preuenters of mishap were no meanes to diswade hir â—rom hir determined â—ffection iâ— so much that nâ—t possible to hide fier in straw nor to smother vp fancie in youth she bare such a fauorable countenanâ—s to Vortymis that not only hir selfe but the rest of the court marueiled at hir submisse familiarity yet in that hir grace had heretofore troden hir shooe so euen as no step was so much as thought awry they construed all to the best and thought hir fauours toward Vortymis proceeded as a rewarde for his vertues not from a regarde to his beawtie But at last being Venus scholler therefore daring with hir to dancâ— in a Net shee so manifestlie discouered hir affections as all Ithaca spake of hir fancy and the Gentleman him selfe began to blush at hir follie For wheresoeuer hee was resident shée made it hir Chamber of presence his words were musike and conserued with proportion his lookes were Kalenders of hir thoughts for if hee smyled shee could not but laugh euery frowne of his made a wrinckle in hir foreheade hée did nothing but if shee were present past with a plauditie to bée breefe shée noted the sâ—quell of his life by the censure of his owne doings Which well markeâ— by Polumestor hée began to be a litle Ieâ—lows â—ut measuring in his consideration hir fore passed life hee began thus for his owne suspicion to inuâ—igh against him selfe Shamest thou not Polumestor to bee so inequall a Iudge as to reward vertue with distrust or to bâ—e suspicious where no occasion of doubt is offred Knowest thou not that â—mong all the passions wherewith human mindes are perplexed there is none that galâ—eth with restlesse despight as thâ—t infectious sâ—â—re of iealowsie for al other greefes are to be appeased with sensible perswasions to be cuâ—ed with holesome counsaile to bee relieued by want or by tract of time to bee worne out Iealowsie onelie excepted which is sâ— sawsed with susities doubtes and pinching miâ—trust that who so seekes by frindly coâ—nsâ—â—â—e to race out this hellish passâ—on forthwiâ—h suspecteth that hee giueth this counsaile to couer his owne guilâ—inesse yea who so is payâ—ed with this restlesse tormâ—nt doubteth all distrusteth him self is alwaies frozen with feare fiered with suspition hauing that wherein consisteth all his Ioy tâ— be the breeder of his misery Yea Polumestor it is such a heauy enemy to that holy estate of matrimonie sowing betwéene the married couple such deadly seedes of secret hatred as loue being once raced out by sacklesse distrust thereof through enuy eâ—sueth blooddy reuenge If then Iealowsie be such a fiend as pesâ—ureth the mynde with incessant passions suffer not Polumestor such a Saturnine infusion of melancholie to bee predominant in thy thoughts oppose y e proofe of thy wyues vertue as a deâ—ensorie to withstand suspition think hir priuate familiaritie with Vortymis is an honest â—ourtesie y â— springs from a royall courage not from a dishonest Concubine suppose the best least in vrging a blamelesse minde shee begin to hate and indeuour to reuenge And in this resolution Polumestor rested vsing his Ladie with such good and woonted fauour as might haue drawen hir from hir foolâ—sh determination for seeing hir giuen to bee solitarie and sad hee prouided shewes triumphes maskes and other pastimes â—o recreate hir minde but loue that attâ—mpteth a secrâ—t Ioy with an
to inchaunt fancy is a sorceresse that bewitcheth the senses euery misse must not breede a mislike and fiâ—st offences they say craue pardons of course I consider Moedyna the purest glasse is most brittle the finest Lawne taketh the soonest stayne the highest honour the rediest fall and the quickest wit the more easly woonne others haue forerunne thee in the like fault haue beene forgiuen returne thou with such resolued repentance I vow before the gods to graunt thee like pardon Let Vortymis remaine there for his pâ—nishment in exile but for that he was thy fâ—inde leaue him thy Iewells that although he liue banished hee may liue rich Doo this Moedyna and doubt not for I write no treachery and if I should better were thou die in Ithaca repentant then lyue in Samos dishonest Farewell and whatsoeuer thou doost I haue forgiuen thee but shall neuer forget thee Hee whom no iniury shall Alienate Polumestor of Ithaca THis letter thus ended by the consent of his counsayle he sent it by the forenamâ—d messenger to Samos causing him to be accompanied with two or three of his nobles disguised that his commaunde might bee wrought with more efficacy they hauing receyued their charge apparelled like Marchaunâ—s carying ouer some small commodities with them departed and as fast as wynde and weather would permit Came ouer to Samos where bâ—ing safely spâ—edely arriued making offer of theyr chaffer to sale the â—etter to passe the country without suspition the messenger that brought newes first to Polumestor leauing the nobles went him selfe alone with the letter to the Uyllagâ— where the Quéene remayned Comming thither contrary to his expectation hee founde that Time the mother of mutabilitie had made a strange Metamorphosis since his last departâ—re for méeting with hir seruaunt who through hir inconstancie grudged at hir actions hee did vnderstand that Moedyna misliking of hir olde choyce through the tickling desire of a new chaunge had so cunningly feasted Vortymis at a Banquet that closely giuing him some impoysoned potion the nâ—xt day he was founde dead in his bed the end of such Adoulterous ingratitude as preferring the loue of a strompet before the lawes of the Gods runne headlong vppon mishap and reuenge His death being passed ouer with a feawe fayned teares as womens eyes shed both sorrowe and dissimulation hir mourning moneth was scarse ended but shee was fallen in loue with a gentleman in the same towne the supposed cause of Vortymis ouerthrow who ayming at hir beawty and ryches two great perswasions to affection intertayned hir with such fauours that shee onely thought hir content in his company This notyce by hir seruaunt giuen to the messenger somâ—what amased him when hee entred into the consideration of the inconstant disposition of Concubins yet going forwarde in his purpose hée found oportunity to deliuer hir the letter which when she had redde and throughly construed ouâ—r the contents conscience the worme that galleth with râ—morse pincht hir so at the heart with remâ—mbrance of hir forepassed lyfe and shame of â—â—r present esâ—ate that blushing at hir owne thoughtâ—s shee burst forth into â—eares halâ—e resolued to accept of hir husbands proffâ—r But Lust that still kindleth a restlesse heate of dâ—sire had so drowned hir in obstinacie feared that hir husbands promises were but traynes to reuâ—nge shame to reâ—urnâ— into Ithaca from whence so shamelesse she had fled with such infamy all these considered madâ— hir oppose râ—solution to râ—morsâ— and to cast the letter presently into the fire with straight command to the Messenger that hee shoulde with as much spéede and secrecie as might be hast him out of Samos least if by his meanes hir calling or estate were discouered in reuenge shee repaied his villany with death Hee that by other mens harmes thought best to beware fearing if hee made any stay he might with Vortymis tast of reuenge as fast as horse would carry him posted to the noble men who amidâ—t their marchaundize were attending his comming after hee had discoursed vnto them from pointe â—o pointe the forerehearsed premises of y e impoysonement of Vortymis hir new loue hir obstinate resolution hir threats to reueng all of them woondring at the wilfulnesse and wickednes of such a Lasciuious woman thought their kinge happy that Fortune by ill fortune had at hazard giuen him such good fortune Long had they not stayed in the country to haue a faire wynd for their departure but that Moedynaes Seruant séeking to finde out the messenger was by meere chance come to the Porte where the nobles were who seeing a Lord of Ithaca whom for all his disguised apparrell hee knew calling him a side was desirous to speake with him The noble man narrowly noting his face called him to remembrance and desirous to heare what newes he carried him to his chamber where the rest of his company gathered togither the poore man suppressed with anguishe remorse brast foorth into teares and after longe repentant stile for the sorrow of his fact tolde them that the next night after shee receiued the letter from Polumestor being all blubbred with teares and as a woman in dispaire she delyuered him a Scroule which shee charged him vpon his lyfe to deliuer vnto Polumestor after receipt whereof before he could make preparation for his Iourney she had slaine hir selfe The noble men seâ—ing by the sequell of this tragicall stratageeme the guerdon of Adultry and the Iustice of the gods receiued the Scrowle and woulde haue had the man passed with them into Ithaca but hee made a vowe in penance of his former fault to lyue a poore exiled life in Samos they as soone as the wynde came about hauinge all thinges necessarie aboorde they made way home into theyr owne countrey no sooner they were gotte into the coast of Ithaca but posting with all speede to the courte they reuealed to the king the successe they had in their iourney of Vortymus mishap and his wyues death delyuering him the Scrowle which contayned these fewe lines The contents of the Scrowle MOedyna once the vnhappie wyfe of happie Polumestor as gracelesse in hir deedes as hee princely in his thoughts wisheth him that she rest from hir selfe a long and contented life Wisedome taught by experience the dearest price to buie witt tolde mee my fault was so impious as dispaire serued better to call on reuenge then repentance to wish a remorse Infamie and shame the inseperable sequels of Adultrie forbad mee to see the smoake of Ithaca for that death is more sweete then discredit A guiltie conscience being a hell of restlesse passions wisht mee as I sought mishap so to ende miserie preferring thereâ—ore thy fame which was impaired by my follie and seeking quiet of minde by quicknesse of death dispaire and sorrow closing minâ— eyes let the messenger report how willinglie I died Moâ—dyna POlumestor hauing red the â—ontents perceyuing howe shame and remorse had made hir repentant grieuing that dispaire had
the kingdome betwixt vs therefore without any more friuolous circumstances for your welcome take this of mâ—e wee haue it and wée will keepe it despight of him that dare gain say swearing vntill death to maintaine our right by the sword Frontinus whose courage could not brooke intreaties especially for his owne right told them that he sorrowed at their follies sith they did not with a déepâ— in-sight fore see their owne myseries and espy reueng that presented a fatall Tragedy of their misfortunes and with that hee turned his backe in great choller swearing before night either to weare the Crowne or leaue his Carcase in the field Orâ—ellius smiling at his Brothers attempt for that they had ten to one passing with Martignanus to the army set their men in array and imbattailed them with great speede the one giuing incouragment by sweete orations the other with the remembrance of his forepassed liberality Frontinus hauing ordred his souldiers and come within view by computation might coniecture that his enemies were about thréescore thowsand and séeing his men halfe frighted at y e presence of such a multitude began to hasten them forward in this manner I neede not worthy gentlemen souldiers of Africa séeke to incourage you with a long discourse vnlesse putting oyle in the flame I should ad a spur to a free horse your former valiant resolutions manifested in many battailes the honor whereof still glories your names with renowne assures me were the enemy like the sands in the sea and Mars oppoâ—ed against our forces yet the quarrell good our mindes armed with inuincible fortitude the vertue that dareth Fortune in hir face maugrefates and destinies we shall as euer hetherto we haue done returne with conquest And for that y e cause toucheth my selfe and you fellow partners of my fortunes I will be the first man in the battaile and the last man in the field vnlesse death giue mée an honorable quittaunce of my kingdome let mee be a mirrour this day of your magnanimity let my actions bee your presidents presse but as far as your generall courage gentlemen the victory is ours see how my sorrowful couÌ„trymen stâ—nd to receiue vs whose cowardize dare scaresly march a foote to méete I sée yea I sée in déed in their very faces the portraiture therefore God our right with that catching a stroÌ„g staffe pulling down his beuier putting spurs to his horse he furiouâ—ly rusht vpon y e enemy his souldiers following with such a desperat resolution that y e Egyptians amazed at y e valor of their king who like a lyon massacring whom he met ran without stop through the troupes they layed down their weapons yéelded w tout any great slaughter whervpon y â— Africans staied but Frontinus forgetfull y â— they were his natiue couÌ„trymen still raged till méeting his brother Martignanus hee slew him neuer left murthering till finding out Ortellius that fled in chase he gaue him his deaths wound staied at last by one of the Lords of Africa told how the battaile was ended by y e submission of his subiects who were ashamed that they had bene so forgetfull of their allegeance causing the retreat to be sounded he peaceably marched on towards Memphis where putting certaine of the chiefe offenders to the sword and interring his brethren after his Coronation he sent the Africans home well rewarded with many rich presents to their king liuing him selfe afterward most fortunate Hector hauing ended his Tragedie The Grecians noting in his Countenaunce the very counterâ—ayte of magnanimity and in discoursing of valour his very face preseâ—ted a myrrour of fortitude measuring his inward thoughts by his outwarde gestures did both commend the Hystorie and alowe of censure saying that where courage manaceth reuenge with the Sworde there it is folly to bring in wysedome in hir Purple Roabes Helenus hearing how the Grecians fauored his Brother Hectors verdite wisht them to take heede they infringed not the sacred prayse of wysedome for quoth heâ— as Pallas is learned so shee is martiall and Minerua hath as well a Speare as a â—en perhaps Martignanus was onely a Philosopher no souldier whereas by the sequell it is inferred that Frontinus was both wise and valiaunt so that adding to his wisedome fortitude hee did the more easely obtayne the conquest Truth quoth Nestor for Hector him selfe confest that fortitude coulde not bee without wisedome seeing being placed betweene too extréeme want of wisdome might make him offend in defect and so bee counted a coward or in excesse and bee thought too desperate If then fortitude cannot bee perfect without wisedome and yet a man may bee wise without courage it may bée coÌ„cludedâ— that wisdome is the most necessary point in a souldier Wee deny not quoth Troilus but it is necessarie but not in the superlatiue degrée for wisdome supposed the cause fortitude consequently is the effect sith the one of it selfe may intend by pollicie but the other is put in practise by prowesse Still for our purpose quoth Helenus for the Logicians hold it as a principle that the cause is greater then the effects the Philosophers account a wise man onely to bee vertuous thinking that wisedome being the chiefe vertue produceth the rest as seedes sprong from so faire a Stemme for it is possible for a man to want others hauing this but to possesse none if this bee absent Hector a litle chollericke that so brauely they went about to prooue his haruest in the grasse stammered out these or such like woordes I tell you brother Helenus both you and the rest are deceiued that I will prooue against the wisest souldier in the world with my sword that Senators who sit to giue counsaile for Ciuill pollicie had neede to be wise sith their opinions are holden for Oracles Captaines valiant whose deedes are accounted peremptorie conquests put case wisedome fortitude be in a Generall yet is hee called wise as hee giues iudgement and couragious as with a hardy minde hee attempts the victories Let men haue science in their heades and no weapons in their hands and whom can they preiudice I say therefore which none rightly can gainesay that fortitude is most necessarie for a souldier sith our common phrase confirmes my reason with euidence in saying hee is a wise Senator and a hardy souldier The Grecians séeing the sparkling flames of choller to burne in the face of Achilles smiled to sée how hot he was in disputation measuring by probable coniecture that if hee met them in the field hee woulde affright them more wyth his sword theâ— eyther Nestor or Helenus with all theyr Bookes Vlisles merrily disposed being ready to reply the Ladies came in who broake of their talk with telling them the vnlookt for brauery of Ilium discoursing so long of the sundry sights they had séene within the walls of Troy till the boordes being couered aged Priamus rysing from his seate placed all his guests downe